RUFF!

  The low growl echoed through the hollowness of Route 102. Rough in its quality, loud enough for the Pokémon around to hear, startling more than a few as the sound vibrated from tree to tree. The Pokemon opened its mouth, determined to let rip another bark. But, a gentle nudge from its trainer put the dog's howls to silence.

  "Shh, there's nothing to bark at." Harry ruffled the top of his Poochyena's head, pale fingers caressing the dog's jet black fur. Whether all this had been a ploy to be rewarded with affection, or perhaps a treat once it had been silent for long enough, Harry didn't quite know. Not that he particularly minded either way; the silence offered was good enough to do anything for.

  The calming white noise of the Route returned to normality as Poochyena settled into silence. The fresh air, the long winding trees, the small chirps of the Pokémon inhabiting the trees. The rustling of the leaves as bugs scuttled through the bushes. Or, those that could climbing atop the bushy branches, taking a look down at the trainer and Pokemon that wandered below. Harry could feel their stares, yet it didn't feel like a judging stare. Rather, one of wonder. Something comforting lay in their expressions that Harry couldn't explain with a phrase other than...

  "It feels like home."

  Harry smiled. A rather obvious statement. Relative to Littleroot, they'd only moved through a fraction of the vast region that lay ahead of them. Yet, even with the town only a short while away, the point of no return still weighed heavy on his conscience. A spirit clawing at his shoulder, whispering that he couldn't go back. And, with that, came the reflection upon his time in Littleroot, now that he had cast himself away from the borders of the small town. Harry couldn't help but get a little homesick, even knowing that he wouldn't want to turn back either.

  A ping came from his Rotom Phone, casting those thoughts to the side. Rotom shot from his pocket shortly after the vibration had lifted, slipping into his hand and revealing what had been sent. A message from Lucas, attaching a short video, with a thumbnail of someone dressed in a Nidoqueen costume. Harry smirked, slipping the phone back into his pocket. He'd reply later, once he'd settled down in a comfortable spot.

  For now, he just had to scale the hill and see what awaited him at the top. All while his eyes tracked the two Pokemon by his side. Treecko swinging from the trees, coiling its tail around each branch then leaping through the air. Then, Poochyena, whose fierce look met every Pokemon by their side. The pooch resisted the urge to growl at every single one, fighting not to warn its trainer of the danger ahead.

  After all, Harry didn't seem respondent to the danger Poochyena thought they faced. A couple Wurmples wouldn't harm them. Even the few Pokemon that had attacked didn't leave more than a scratch on either of his Pokemon on the walk up to the hill. So, they continued to trod (or leap, in Treecko's case) forward, reaching the very apex of the hill.

  Poochyena stopped, like something in the wind had suddenly changed. Tail wagging, it sniffed at the ground, following the trace of something unknown to Harry. Not like the fields gave any clues either, it seemed like more unending greenery as far as he could see. But, his canine clearly thought differently, leading Harry along to the left side from the beaten path, between a few trees.

  A little more walking, and Poochyena settled. Before it, sat some metallic trapdoor. Two handles at its centre, a lock wrapped around the two of them, painted so as to blend in with the terrain. Although, Harry had to call seriously doubt as to anyone overlooking something so obvious. Still, it did call into question...

  "What's this doing here?" Harry thought aloud, crouching and looking to Poochyena. The dog sniffed a little closer to the door, nose wrinkling from the scent inside. Harry then looked to Treecko next, swinging from a branch down onto the ground, with less grace in its landing than it would've liked. The gecko coiled its tail around the handles, attempting to pull it open. When that failed, Harry helped. But, the lock remained absolute.

  Harry thought for a moment, foot tapping rhythmically against the door, metallic echo thudding with each step. "Think you can break the lock, Treecko?" his eyes met his starter's, who inspected the lock, gently tapping it twice with its tail, then nodding with an assurance to try its best. Poochyena looked between the two, eyes lit with worry, letting out another chorus of barks.

  "Hey, hey, calm down, it's ok!" Harry attempted to calm his dog, but the pooch continued barking on. Presumably, about the danger they'd find themselves in. Of abandoning the glorious nature outdoors to search through a shady trapdoor that stuck out in the ground like a Mimikyu in a crowd of Pikachus. Not to mention the smell strong to Poochyena's nose, similar to that of decomposing berries.

  But, the barks quietened as soon as Harry reached into his bag, and pulled out a long dog chew. One that Harry had been saving for occasions just as these. Poochyena sat instantly, jaws opening then snapping down upon the chew. "There we go, just chew on that!" Harry smirked, bribe working just as intended, as he turned to find Treecko smashing its tail against the lock. A couple smacks of its fists for good measure, then a hefty pull, and the lock snapped in half.

  Harry stared blankly at the trapdoor, then at the wounded lock held in his grasp, half expecting to look up a lock picking tutorial. "Must be old," he guessed, throwing it aside, and pulling back on one of the handles. With Treecko for assistance, they heaved open one of the doors, swinging and landing on the earth with a mighty clank. Poochyena jumped, tensing enough to nearly snap its dog chew in half.

  Inside was darkness. So dark, Harry struggled to pick out anything beyond the very faint hint of light that the midday sun gave. Fishing through his pockets, he pulled out his Rotom Phone, flashlight glimmering through the darkness. At least he could see a set of stairs, which seemed stable all things considered. Testing and placing one foot's weight onto the first step proved it, too.

  "I think everything's good." Harry gave the thumbs up, gesturing his dog and gecko inside. From there, they ducked and moved, Harry's hand combing against the rough concrete walls. Occasionally, his hand made contact with glass panelled, dormant lights that once flickered supposed to have lit up the way. But, they did so no longer. Especially with a couple being shattered, Harry pricking his finger on one close to the bottom of the stairwell.

  At the bottom of the stairwell, stood a similarly decaying sight. A crumbling wooden door, begging to be put out of its misery. Harry could've smashed through it on his own, finding gaps in the corners of the door and feeble creaking when he applied so much as a fingers pressure to it. But, Harry knew one certain Pokemon who would appreciate the chance to show off by smashing open the door.

  Harry stood back, gesturing to the entrance. "You have the honours," he said, Treecko smirking as its tail swished from side to side, before battering the door through, sending wooden splinters crawling onto the dirty concrete floor.

  "That's my little show off." Harry smirked, letting the Grass type back onto his arm. Then, his eyes adverted up to take in what stood inside. Harry didn't quite know what to expect. But, what he saw hadn't even occured to him until his eyes laid upon it.

  A ring. Not unlike what you would expect at a typical wrestling or boxing event. A shattered spotlight flickered overhead, on and off, casting a faint light over the shattered bottles and rubble held at its centre. Harry watched in awe, wondering how it could even operate in this state. But, it seemed that, as soon as the question popped into his mind, the sparks fizzled out.

  Outside of the ring, chairs lay strewn about like bunting on a raging ocean, tipped over in seemingly random places. Doors lay in abundance, stretching out all across the walls. Some of the seats still remained standing, often leaning against a battered table. But, Harry gave them a small kick as he went past, ensuring none remained standing in defiance of their fallen brothers.

  "What a mess..." he muttered, flashing his Rotom Phone all over. With only dead lights replacing where there would be windows, he certainly needed the extra lighting. Stomping a firm foot down, his light flashed to the foundations of the building. Seemingly still solid, if a little misshapen. Likely, it was a Pokemon's work to carve out the foundations of this place. So, it was without the steadiness and precision man-made buildings possessed.

  Harry's eyes slowly moved from the walls, scanning the environments for anything of interest, investigating each room he saw individually.

  A couple of bathrooms, one for each sex, although Harry felt right to only inspect one. To Harry's surprise, there seemed to be little disarray behind the bathroom. Only one vulgar image sprayed behind one of the stalls. Although, the other remained locked, preventing entry.

  One of the rooms resembled an office left in a rush, with paperwork strewn across the concrete floor. A couple of books seemed displaced, dropped onto the floor eons ago. Still, nothing that interested Harry. Even if it would help him understand more of what was going on, he could look at all that later. Or not at all, if he were honest about his intent.

  Exiting the room, Harry's eyes settled on a staircase just to the left of the entrance. Decaying, crumbling, but leading elsewhere regardless. Maybe somewhere that felt a little less like the apocalypse. Poochyena trailed behind, watching intently at the flickering shadows that seemed to pounce out of every corner. Though, nothing in reality ever came to be.

  The second floor, Harry found to be a lot alike to the first one. In the way that it still looked like the result of a raging Tauros. Chairs were more neatly arranged this time, although around half still sat upturned and strewn about. Harry's mission of not leaving a single standing continued, pushing over each and every one as he strutted past. They thundered against the floor, giving Poochyena a scare every time, until the canine adjusted to the sound of wood slamming against concrete.

  A door clicked open, only to reveal another storage room. Filled bottles of drink lay arranged on shelves at either side of the room. Boxes of peanuts and other snacks sat at the bottom of said shelves, some overturned, some completely empty. The drinks varied wildly. From standard cola or bottles of water, to decanters of tequila and vodka that lay on the top of the shelf. A chair even sat in the middle of the room, decorated with a half-open bottle of vodka. To the side sat two shot glasses, although it could not be told if they were freshly used. Harry smirked, picking up the glass bottle. His eyes traced the worn label.

  "Hmm, it's not cheap stuff either," he remarked, then chuckled, asking his Treecko, "Would you like a drink?"

  His partner didn't share the same jovial feeling Harry felt. It stared at the bottle for an extended period of time, before finally realizing it was being addressed, turning again to Harry. Treecko shook its head, looking around the room, then gesturing to leave.

  "Seriously? Not a fan of drink, I suppose," Harry continued to tease, much to Treecko's displeasure. The Grass type folded its arms, huffing until Harry finally groaned out another sentence. "Ugh, fine then. One more room then we'll get out of this place."

  Treecko seemed satisfied enough with the solution, unfolding its arms as the two wandered out of the room. Then, taking a left, they ducked into the room just adjacent. But, unlike the previous door, this one was marked with steel, rather than wood. If a little rusted with age, it still held solid. Harry didn't risk smashing through it with sheer brute force. Rather, his eyes drifted to a lock holding the door shut. Similar to the one holding the trapdoors closed.

  "Do your thing, my showoff." Harry gestured once more, as Treecko nodded with a smirk, jumping off of his shoulder, giving the lock a firm whack with its tail. Treecko bowed, then dived back onto its trainers shoulder. Harry took one cautious look around. Then, he pushed the door through.

  But, not with the ease he had accessed the other rooms. This door must've been twice his weight. For it to fall down would be to crush him entirely. So, he took his time, even when chills ran down his spine, its metallic hinges grinding against the harsh ground. Harry imagined this to be the sound an Aggron's Metal Sound was like. Agonizing. And heavy. Harry only pushed through what was necessary, however. Stopping halfway through, and sliding through, his narrow frame helping enormously.

  His eyes glanced around, light flickering up from his Rotom Phone to illuminate the room. There, he found Pokeballs. Lots and lots of Pokeballs.

  Rows of the devices lined the two desks pitched at the sides of the rooms. Although, the bulk of the balls sat elsewhere. Piles and piles discarded, thrown into a box, then slid underneath the table. The few that lined the desks seemed to have locks on the outsides of the capsules, keeping them sealed together. But, unlike the regular padlocks on the doors, these locks seemed to crackle slightly.

  Energy built on the outside, jolting Harry's hand as soon as he tried to pick up one of the Pokeballs. The Pokeball rattled, falling back onto the desk. In fact, a lot of the Pokeballs seemed to rattle. Even when Harry applied no force to the table, they shook, like something was kept inside. Trapped, by these special locks.

  That was when Harry, too, felt the unease inflicted upon the rest of his team. He glanced around for a moment, trying to make sense of what the place was. But, whatever it was, it wasn't for him. Not even to explore. It wasn't for anyone anymore. Or, it shouldn't have been.

  BARK!

  Harry jumped at the sound, only to turn and realize it was merely his own Pokemon barking. He sighed, chuckling gently, letting the anxiety loosen from his chest.

  "You almost gave me a-"

  Harry's expression froze, finding Poochyena's gaze fiercely fixed on something lurking just outside the door. The outline, figure of a man. A shadow, with a pair of eyes glaring inwards, staring at the three. Wide, unflinching. Even if Harry couldn't see its full form exactly, he could still feel the eyes bury deep into his.

  Poochyena began to bark. But, its barks soon turned to whimpers. The harsh metal grinding against the floor had overpowered its cries, as the door continued to slide open. Treecko toppled from Harry's shoulder, running in front of its trainer. An act of protection. Even if they had very little idea of what they were up against.

  The light from the Rotom Phone flickered up to mark the man's face. Not even a smile. Just a cold unflinching stare. An expressionless face.

  "Don't you children know not to trespass?" the voice spoke in a gravelly tone, arming himself with a Pokeball.

  "Woah, woah!" Harry threw up his hands in retreat. "Listen, I don't want any trouble."

  "And here, you've found it." the man's eyes darted down to the two Pokemon. Observing their conditions, species. "A Treecko and a Poochyena. The Poochyena might as well be nothing, but a Treecko is a rare find. Hand it over, and I'll let you go."

  ...

  Harry glanced to the man again. The request seemed laughable. It should've been a mere joke. After all, it had been a misunderstanding. A simple misunderstanding that got them into the situation. But, the man offered no light laugh, nor shine in his eyes as he made the request.

  No, request was too inviting of a word. A demand. A demand that burned Harry inside. The gall to think he could just take his starter. Or, that his Treecko would follow a man like him.

  "Like hell I'll let that happen," Harry snarled. The man's face changed ever so slightly, gritting his teeth, as he stared at Treecko. Then, to Poochyena. Both raring and ready to fight.

  "I warned you."

  In a flash of light, the Pokeball in the man's hand exploded open. Harry and his team jumped back, watching the Pokemon form in front of them. A blue coloured, toad like Pokemon burst from its confinements, stretching its muscles, standing tall, matching Harry's height and then some. Its stance sharpened, arms thrust outwards, resembling that of a trained martial artist. A disparity in their experience immediately reared its head.

  "We'll end this quickly," the man added, almost snickering at the opponents put against him. Poochyena and Treecko took no mind of it. They stepped up to battle without a second thought about their own safety. Poochyena's howl began to pick up once more, echoing through the hollow halls of the crumbling building. Treecko swirled a storm of leaves behind its back, expression fixed on the Pokemon that stood in front of it.

  Harry took a deep breath.

  "Then bring it."

  "Look, two Mudkips!"

  "Lucas, while this is amusing, I don't see how this counts as training."

  Lucas pouted at Ellie. How rude of her to suggest this wasn't important training! He would've been thrilled to see Torchic around. Heck, he'd been so overjoyed back on Route 101 he wanted to start a Torchic Troop. Even just having the one, perched on his shoulder, nuzzling into his neck, seemed like the greatest blessing from Arceus anyone could ever receive. Yet, it seemed two Mudkip's didn't faze her at all.

  Fine then, she could be on her own. Lucas would still appreciate that of the original and its clone, eyes settling onto the two of them. Pulling faces at each other. One leading the way, with the other following along in tow. The copy's physical form kept up with Mudkip's movements excellently. Running around, jumping into the air, even swishing its tail find around.

  Yet, when the first Mudkip fired off a Water Pulse, the copy found its abilities coming up short. With a sigh, Zorua reverted back to its base form, trodding over to Lucas and placing itself in his lap.

  "Great job! Your Illusion work continues to impress." Lucas' hand brushed over the fox's blackened fur, lulling it quietly to a well deserved rest. Then, turning his focus to Ellie, he spoke, "And we can surprise attack people with that ability. So, it is training."

  "Most people won't fall for that," Ellie answered, commanding Ralts to do another Confusion as she turned to look at Lucas.

  "They might! Still useful to practice, don't you think?"

  "I just think a number of things should come first. But, it's your training." Ellie shrugged, before hearing the jolt of Ralts' energy. The Pokemon had teleported into the sky, letting gravity carry Ralts right into its trainer's arms. Ellie opened her arms, Ralts falling light as a feather into her embrace. She smiled, brushing Ralts' cheek, then turning. "Just remember you have a gym battle in a couple days."

  "And a battle against Harry today!" Lucas exclaimed with usual infectious optimism, firing up his phone. His fingers flickered through the phone, still brimming with optimism. But, just the same as before. A message sent two hours ago, left on read, with no response. "That's not like him..."

  "What is?"

  "He hasn't responded in like...a few hours."

  "Maybe he's just busy travelling?" Ellie suggested, deeming it a rather non-issue that he'd been an hour or so late to responding. But Lucas seemed to think otherwise. Still, it was more comforting to believe Harry was simply busy enjoying himself. Lucas had been captured by the splendour of Route 102. Harry must be the same.

  "Yeah, maybe!" Lucas scooped Zorua into his arms, then jumped up to his feet. "We'll just keep training till he gets here."

  But, before he could make any further progress, a deep growl echoed through the battlefield. A growl coming from Lucas' very arms. The sound of Zorua's stomach. Lucas giggled, brushing the Dark type's head. "Or maybe we can break for food.

  "You two ok for food?" Ellie dropped Ralts to the floor alongside Mudkip. Both the Pokemon answered with a nod. Seemed everyone was in agreement.

  "You wanna rest in your Pokeball for a little bit?" Lucas glanced down to Zorua. The Dark type glanced to its trainer, then answered with a yawn mixed with a nod. Good enough. So, with Zorua's entry back into its capsule, they made a quick exit from the battlefield, dipping in through the backdoor of the Pokemon Centre. Lucas took a glance at the scenery, finding the usual crowds of people awaiting their Pokemon's health.

  A buzz came from Lucas' pocket. Instantly, his hand shot down to grab his phone. A notification. From Harry!

  "He responded!" Lucas showed Ellie, then ripped it away before she could even begin to comprehend what had been sent. "Says he's here already! Awesome!"

  Lucas shot off, pushing through the crowd of people gathered in the Pokemon Centre. Then, once central, his eyes made one sweeping scan of the entire lobby. Not a moment more was needed to scout his best friend out from the hordes of people. Throwing his Rotom Phone back into his pocket, he skidded through the lobby. Sneakers burning rubber, squeaking as he arrived in front of his friend, beaming.

  "Harry, it's so g-"

  Lucas froze. Harry sat, hunched over. Leg bouncing up and down, with no end in sight. It took a moment for him to even register he was being spoken to. His eyes curled up to meet Lucas' concerned stare. Lucas glanced to the side. No Pokemon lay there. Not sat on the empty space beside him, nor curled around his arm, nor perched on his shoulder. No Treecko, no anything. Lucas looked back at his friend. The two made eye contact.

  "Didn't expect you to get here so fast." Harry dryly chuckled, attempting to mask the heavy breaths his lungs were forced to take. But, when he spoke, a coughing fit soon after came crashing onto his lungs. "I mean...I've looked worse."

  "W-What happened?" Lucas felt the sting of Torchic's claws tense on his shoulder. An action he couldn't bring blame to the Fire type for. A gentle hand steadied Harry's chest, before Lucas' arm wrapped around him, bringing the two into a tight hug.

  "I-I guess it's just as you said. I got attacked." Harry's gloved hands went to return the embrace. But, hesitation prevented the action.

  "Attacked? W-Wait-" Lucas broke the hug, eyes widened, scanning the space again. No sign of any Pokemon. Anywhere. Only a trace of purple lining his gloves, slowly eroding the fabric that wound the garment together. "Where are your Pokemon?"

  "Healing," Harry answered. A strange relief to Lucas. Not enough to breathe a sigh, but enough to slow his heart rate a little. They'd managed to make it out without splitting up. Something Lucas wish he hadn't to be thankful for. But, given the circumstances, it had been reasonable to expect the worst.

  Ellie finally caught up with the two, eyes glancing over the scene. But, she found a far cry from the joyful reunion she'd expected from two supposed best friends. After all, a quiet Lucas only really meant one thing. One thing that became abundantly clear as her eyes scanned the scene. Poison dripped from Harry's glove to the ground, sickening Ellie to her core. Instantly, she knew of the severity of the situation. But, without the gall to ask more. She simply waited for Lucas to begin speaking.

  "Do you know who attacked you?" he asked.

  "I...I was too focused on running away after he threatened to steal my Pokemon. I was just at Route 102, exploring an old black building-"

  "Oh, Arceus." Ellie suddenly cut into Harry. Harry glanced up at her, his eyes narrowed. A quick glance around later, Ellie turned to Harry, going into a lower whisper, "You should report this to the police. I know you're shaken, and I would be too. But, they should know if someone's attacked you there."

  "Obviously. I will." Harry shot her a glare, quickly putting her to silence. Harry sighed. "I just...need to know if Treecko is okay first."

  "Well, maybe you could use a distraction?" Lucas suggested, breaking the tension in the room with the most light hearted suggestion he could think of. "How about we go get some Pokepuffs?"

  He cringed as he said it. A creeping sense of guilt crawling up his back at suggesting something so jovial. Especially at a time like this. With the remnants of the attack still fresh on Harry's clothes, leaving its acidic stained marks. But, Lucas couldn't think of a better distraction. Nor a better way to deal with the hunger, slowly creeping up on all of them.

  "What about Treecko?" Harry asked, eyes turning up to meet Lucas' gaze.

  "Nurse Joy and the other doctors will be doing their absolute best to fix Treecko up. It'll be ok to leave for a moment. Plus, we can surprise Treecko with something nice when it's woke up." Lucas got up from the stool, extending a hand down for Harry to grab. Lucas' bright smile shined through the room. "Come on, you can't sit here worrying all day."

  "Fine then." Harry found the strength to smile, if only for a moment, seeing Lucas' own contagious beam. A friendly hand helped him back to his feet. Then, Lucas led him along, out of the Pokemon Centre, with Ellie hanging at the back. Her eyes shot around, tracking any person perhaps interested in following them. Or, even prying too closely. But, no one came.

  She hustled into step with the two boys, careful not to be left behind. Her hands fidgeted, clicking together for a second, trying to find any way to find out more without seeming insensitive. Lucas seemed to pull ahead, with Harry mindlessly following behind him regardless of whether he knew the way or not. Not the usual chatter that she'd expect between the two. Lucas looked back each time, pouting as Harry said nothing. Guess it was up to Ellie to say something.

  "Are you hurt anywhere else? Just making sure you're all ok," Ellie asked.

  "Well, the trainer tried to hurt me. But, Treecko took every blow for me," Harry spoke in a low tone, wiping the residue of the Poison attacks from his gloves. "Poochyena took some of the brunt of the damage too, then sneak attacked the trainer so we could slip away."

  "Did you get a good look at them at all?" Ellie asked, aware of how much she sounded like she was interrogating him. But, Harry supposed it was better to get everything that he knew off of his chest instead of keeping it all to himself.

  "Not really. He had a rough voice, and demanded my Pokemon. His Pokemon was like...a toad? It spewed out poison. That's about all I know. Maybe I'll remember more later but..." Harry trailed off, murmuring something under his breath.

  "Mhm..." Ellie' hands shook, looking down to her partner. Mudkip growled, Ralts jumping a beat away from the Water type. Mudkip didn't settle until brought into Ellie's arms, either, comforted with a rub on the head. Ellie thought for a moment more. It shouldn't have been. But...

  The familiar scent of the bakery assaulted Ellie's nostrils, breaking her from her thoughts. Lucas smiled, trying to bring enough optimism for the two of them, exclaiming,

  "Doesn't it smell so good?"

  "Yeah, I guess it does..." Harry answered, seeing the line of people out the door, queueing for whatever was inside. "Why are there so many people?"

  "I told you, they're really good! Come on, I promise it'll be worth it," Lucas spoke, swiftly joining the back of the queue, waving Harry to join his side. Harry took a look at the queue. If he'd had been in a better mood, he'd have remarked about how it was a waste of time. But, in a worse mood, he was oddly more enticed to waste what time he had. So, he joined Lucas quickly. Ellie met up with them shortly after, although she didn't stick around for long. Rather, she grabbed Lucas, pulling him aside for a moment.

  "I'm going to report everything to the police while you get the Pokepuffs. Get one for me, Ralts and Mudkip. If you don't mind."

  Lucas nodded. Then, she disappeared beyond the crowd of people. Ralts on her shoulder, Mudkip in her arms.

  "Where's she going?" Harry asked, eyes squinting to track her through the crowd.

  "Oh, she doesn't like the strong smell from the place. She's going to go do some stuff to occupy herself." Lucas waved his wrist as he explained.

  "Right..." Harry responded, already knowing what Ellie was trying to do. The interrogation wasn't slick, and Lucas had all the tell tale signs of lying. Harry'd known him long enough to recognise that. Being vague was his go-to. And what was more vague than doing 'stuff'? Still, it was a kind gesture in of itself, doing it so that he didn't have to. But his mind still drifted back to the old black building, even as Lucas seemed to chat to himself endlessly about this that and the other.

  "You should've been there for Ellie's gym battle, it was-"

  Lucas didn't seem to care that Harry didn't give an answer other than a simple nod or an 'mhm'. Harry could not have been listening at all, and the conversation wouldn't have changed. Lucas continued regardless. Harry appreciated the effort.

  The queue began to die down, moving more towards the front of the building, as people and Pokémon armed with pastries began to stumble away from the shop. Then, it finally came to their turn, Lucas stepping and finding the familiar face of the woman who first served him. Her husband worked the counter behind them, slinging some pastries into the oven. The woman leant over the counter, exclaiming,

  "Welcome back! I see you've brought a friend with you!"

  "I certainly have! So, I suppose that tells you how much me and Zorua liked them, huh?"

  "Yes, so I do believe that is my debts due." the woman chuckled, grabbing a box and opening it up. "What can we do for you today?"

  "How many Pokepuffs do we need?" Lucas asked, doing a mental tally in his head of all the people and Pokémon to be accounted for. "Would it be possible to get nine?"

  "You really came back for the whole shop, didn't you?" the elder laughed, beginning to assemble the box of treats. And, attempting to guess what had been picked last time, to surprisingly great effect. Sitrus Berry Pokepuff, Blackberry Pokepuff, Honey Pokepuff, Oran Berry Pokepuff and a Strawberry Pokepuff. Lucas nodded along with each selection before looking down at the Pokepuffs, saying to Harry,

  "Pick whichever three you think Treecko, Poochyena and yourself would like."

  "Right." Harry nodded, crouching down and looking beyond the glass panel. His eyes glanced around, trying to find a Pokepuff that would sit right with him, Treecko and Poochyena. The Blackberry Pokepuff stuck out as the obvious choice for Poochyena. Its fur resembled the colour of the pastry so closely, he wouldn't have noticed if the dog got its coat dirty with frosting. Treecko was another easy choice, too, picking out the greenest Pokepuff Harry could find. Even better, atop the pastry, sat the exact berries Harry had been feeding Treecko. Aguav Berries, with a stalk at the top, then yellow highlights along its green flesh.

  Lucas picked out one for Ralts, a pink frosted one with a Pecha Berry placed on top. Now, all Harry had to do was pick one for himself. Which proved a more difficult task than he'd first thought, looking at the sheer scale of all the different Pokepuffs on display. Eventually, he opted for a very standard flavor. Chocolate Pokepuff, with a rich brown frosting layered on the top and a small chunk of chocolate stuck into the Pokepuff. Boxing the large assortment of treats up, she passed them over the counter, saying,

  "A good selection. But, I can't let you get them for free this time."

  "Of course. How much do I owe you?" Lucas spoke, pulling out his wallet and finding the money he'd been given by his mother and the professor sat in the very back.

  "2000 Pokedollars," she answered. Lucas found two 1000 dollar notes and passed them over the counter. The woman smiled, saying,

  "I hope you enjoy them just as much as you did last time!"

  "Thank you so much!" Lucas responded, waving as he and his friend both left the shop. Lucas knocked Harry on the shoulder, saying, "We'll get these to the Pokémon Centre, Ellie will meet up with us there."

  Harry nodded, both strolling towards the centre. Ordinarily, Lucas would've made it a competition of sorts. Just like the two always did. But, with the box of artistry kept firmly in his grasp, the black haired trainer couldn't afford to bring harm to them. Just walking jostled the pastries, filling Lucas' head with thoughts of crushed cakes.

  But, when they swung the curtain of the centre back, Lucas inspected the treats inside. Perfectly in tact, to his relief. Although, it seemed Harry's priorities lay elsewhere. Rushing ahead, waving for the attention of a nurse behind the counter.

  "Hello, is it possible for me to check on my Pokémon?" Harry ushered in an uncharacteristically polite tone. No doubt wanting to avoid conflict at all cost. Only one thing rested on his mind.

  "You're the trainer with the Treecko and Poochyena, right?" she asked, Harry giving a nod in response. Opening a little flap on the desk, she gestured for Harry to come forward. "Follow me."

  Lucas gathered up the box once more, squeezing through the gap in the desk and flipping the hatch back over with a kick, setting the desk to how it was. Then, joining the two who had already began to move on, entering the back rooms of the Pokémon Centre, finding a staircase leading downwards.

  Leaping from the final step, Lucas found a corridor, so vast in its length. Yet, so homogenous in its outline that it resembled more of an infinite corridor than one with finite space. Doors to either side, with the occasional doctor or nurse briskly walking between destination. Both Pokemon and people resided in rooms. Taking on all the more dire injuries. Injuries that gave a deep pang in Lucas' heart to witness. No matter if it was a faded looking Lopunny, or an elderly man plugged to life support.

  Lucas stumbled into the staff member leading them along, having come to a stop sooner than anticipated. Apologising profusely, Lucas took a quick glance into the room. Where a lone Treecko sat cradled. Bandages adorning its body. Poison seeping beneath the surface, bubbling even above the confines of the cotton plasters. Eroding the bandages layer by layer.

  The door burst open, Harry throwing any caution or advised medical practice out of the window. Treecko cracked a smile, just conscious enough to notice its trainers presence. An expression wracked with deep pain, Harry could tell. Yet, it lifted his spirits regardless. A sign of slow recovery. Even when the poison fluctuated up and down across its chartreuse shaded skin.

  Lucas followed soon after, placing the box onto a chair to the side of the room. Then, when his eyes passed over Treecko again, Lucas understood Harry's concern more than words could ever explain. Flickers of memories faded back. Of Zorua and Torchic's conditions. The terror he had felt then, seeing the poison mat on their fur and feathers, burning through and poisoning the blood beneath.

  "This one's a trooper," a doctor strutted into the room, holding a medicinal bottle Lucas recognised as an Antidote. A quick spray over the wounded injuries, then a little into its mouth, the Poison began to subside. It never went away fully. That'd have been a miracle at this stage. But, it bubbled less. "The Pokemon that did this must've been really powerful to do such significant damage. Have you reported it to the police?"

  Just before Harry went to answer, Ellie burst through the door, announcing her presence with Ralts and Mudkip by her side. Nurse Joy jumped as the door slammed against its hinges, with even the one throwing the door open shuddering at the loud noise.

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  "Speak of the devil," Harry answered with some amusement hiding behind the tired expression.

  "Let myself past the desk, sorry." Ellie apologised to a confused Nurse Joy, before turning to Harry. "Everything has been sorted, I've told them you might be back when your mind is a little clearer, but there's no obligation for you to return."

  "Thank you," Harry answered, turning back to the doctor. "Is my Poochyena okay, as well?"

  The doctor combed through a drawer to the side of the table, taking out a Pokeball and handing it straight back to Harry. Harry cracked open the Pokeball against the floor, spilling the contents for the world to see. A happy, healthy Poochyena, its tail wagging affectionately as it looked up to its trainer. Good as new.

  "Glad to see you're okay." Harry muttered with a hefty sigh of relief, catching the Dark type as it jumped up at him, cradling the dog in his arms. Its tail continued to swish, gently smacking against the side of Harry's face. But, it slowed once Poochyena turned, eyes widening at the injuries of its friend. A chorus of barks shattered the silence in an instant. And, it took more than a few head rubs to settle the pooch back down. "Shhh, it's ok. Treecko will be okay."

  A moment of silence followed, as Harry slowly let Poochyena back onto the floor. Leaping up at the bed, Poochyena made eye contact with the Grass type, letting out a whine of sympathy. Of which Treecko could only answer with a course cry.

  "Well, I'll give you three some privacy, I have some other patients to tend to." the doctor began briskly walking to the door, only to be stopped by Lucas halfway through, slowly lifting the lid of the Pokepuffs.

  "Before you go, will it be alright for Treecko to eat one of these? With its injuries and everything?"

  "Yes, the berries it is made with have certain healing properties for Pokemon. So, it can only do good," the doctor said with a smile, before resuming with her quick exit. Nurse Joy glanced to the doctor, bowing kindly before the three, and making her way out the room. The door shuttered and Ellie glanced for prying eyes. Then, she leaned against the wall, addressing the group.

  "From what the police told me, these attacks are becoming more and more common. Particularly around Petalburg and its surrounding areas." Ellie began the conversation on a grim note. But, better to deliver the bad news while the mood couldn't be ruined. "Seems there's a common theme between them, though."

  "What's that?" Lucas asked, taking residence on a chair just beside the Pokepuffs.

  "All the attacks were done by people wearing the insignia of an S. Just like those people who stole Zorua's family."

  At the mention of its name, the Dark type erupted from its Pokeball. It snarled at Ellie, then the rest of the room. Poochyena cowered in the face of its growl. As did Ralts. Lucas crouched down towards Zorua, gentle hands reaching out to scoop it from the floor. Zorua gave little resistance, huffing and panting its way through its remaining cries.

  "Shh, shh, Ellie's just talking about it." Lucas applied the same technique as Harry. Rubs on the head, with the special addition of a rub behind the ears. "They're not here right now, they can't hurt you."

  Zorua' eyes turned from blind panic, to timid acceptance, shivering even in the comfort of its trainers arms.

  "So, this was the one you told me about, right?" Harry looked to Zorua. The urge to comfort the panicked creature dawned on Harry. But, the expectation of rejection kept him from acting upon it, instead choosing to let Lucas do his work.

  "Yes, had its family taken, I couldn't stop them, now we're here." Lucas spoke in a hurried breath, trying not to hang on Zorua long enough to pay attention to his failings. Not that either of them did, thankfully.

  "And, you said it was by someone with an S on their...outfit?"

  "Is that familiar?" Ellie asked.

  "Can't say it is. But, if I had the light of day, maybe I could've been able to tell." Harry leaned against the back wall, eyes flickering towards his injured partner, then back towards the ground, where Poochyena offered a little comfort with a gentle rub against his leg. "They're becoming more frequent..."

  "Are you scared? That you'll get attacked again." Lucas asked, worry hanging on every word. But, he only got a quiet chuckle in response.

  "Scared? No, I'm not scared." Harry's eyes shot up to meet Lucas'. Only then did Lucas realise what lay behind those red eyes. A deep piercing rage that threatened to shred his soul with only a stare. "I'm furious."

  A quiet anger Lucas had only heard a couple of times before. He never wanted to see it again. Yet, here it was. What once thought to be shakes of fear proved different in light of his eyes. In the intensity of his voice, barely able to contain his anger enough for the hospital they found themselves in. And, for the partner who lay wounded by his side.

  "They're the scum of the earth. Trying to steal Treecko from me, then murder me and my Pokemon when I refused. Zorua's family is gone because of them. To be sold on the black market, just for filling some asshole's wallet."

  Zorua's ears flopped down, whimpering as it slumped to the floor. Harry's eyes drifted towards the Dark type, and the fire began to cool, doused by the tears of guilt. Glancing to the ceiling, he closed his eyes. Centering himself, taking one breath in, then one out. Then, glancing to meet Lucas' expression. An even deeper twinge of guilt chilled Harry's spine then. "Sorry...for my outburst, it's just..."

  "No, no, it's okay." Lucas shook his head in reassurance. "Let that anger out. It's completely understandable to be furious. I mean, I am too. They tried to hurt you, and they shouldn't get away with that." Lucas glanced to the ground, biting his lip. "But..."

  Ellie immediately picked up where Lucas left off, slinking to the floor beside Ralts and Mudkip. "The police say they're doing everything in their power to try and crack down on them, but they don't know what they're looking for. No patterns appear in the thieves' attacks, other than that they don't seem to target towns or cities. Routes around the outside, sure. But cities or other extremely populated areas are off limits."

  Another grim note. One of which no one had any idea on how to comment on. Both pair of eyes settled onto Harry, and Harry's onto his partner. Treecko's arm jolted, wincing as it attempted to move its arm. Only to be held in place by Harry.

  "Anything you want, just try and say something. Don't move." he instructed. Treecko nodded, letting out a weak cry, a finger raised to point towards the box of Pokepuffs. "You want your treat?"

  "Maybe we'd all feel a little better after having our pastries." Lucas commented with a smile. Seemed it took no time for them to find an agreement either. Harry dived into the box first, of course, selecting Treecko's from the different array of baked goods. Then, laying it near to Treecko's mouth, where it could take bites and swallow without as much movement. Slow chomps ate away at the pastry, each bite an alleviation to its suffering.

  With every bite, too, the pained smile seemed to grow more genuine than forced. Whether that had just been Harry's mind convincing himself of Treecko's improvement, they couldn't quite say. But, it helped improve the mood regardless. Seeing the Grass type find some solace in the pastry.

  "Which one's for Ralts?" Ellie asked, being the next to dive in. Lucas overlooked the box, then pointed to a pink frosted Pokepuff. Ellie nodded, mentally remarking its cuteness, before dropping it right into Ralts' hands. The Psychic type slowed the fall of the Pokepuff, telekinesis commanding the pastry to a slow and graceful descent. The Feeling Pokemon looked upon it with joy, a much needed break from the heavy weight of the human's conversations.

  But, upon a glance at the surface of the pastry, Ralts stopped itself from taking a bite. Blankly staring at the cake, eyes flickering between the creation, and their bed ridden accomplice. Ellie noted her Pokemon's stare, crouching to the ground to glance into those pink eyes. Confusion settled in its expression.

  "D-Do you not like it?" Ellie muttered, wondering if her Pokemon were to be a harsh critic around food. After all, it had taken a little while to find the particular type of berries it liked. But, Pecha Berries ranked highly in Ralts' taste test anyways?

  The Psychic type let out a small murmur. Its thoughts returned to the emotions bubbling across the room. Anger, loss, pride and fear. The latter most Ralts having grown long used to. Yet, amongst all of that, Treecko' happiness blossomed. It remained the most jovial in the room, despite the poison that spat out of its arm like a water hose, oozing into its battered bandages. Ralts found itself smiling. Then, glancing down at its Pokepuff. Its pink shape with dots of white along its flesh. Perfect for this exact situation.

  In a flash, the Pokepuff had suddenly disappeared from Ralts' grasp. Ellie's eyes widened, glancing to where it could've ended up at. But, she didn't have to look long, as her eyes settled onto Treecko's hospital bed. Just as the Grass type finished its own treat, another one had graced its presence. But, not as a gift from the Gods above. Rather, from a caring Ralts, who looked at Treecko with a smile.

  It gestured with its green helmet towards the Pokepuff, holding up an imaginary Pokepuff and beginning to take slow bites. Treecko nodded, hesitating as its teeth went gnashing into the treat. The pink frosted pastry turned to crumbs in record time, with the berry on top being the last piece. Treecko just expected it to be a delicious pastry. A simple act of kindness that Ralts wanted to do, as pity for Treecko's poor situation. But, it found ulterior motives baked into the pastry. Nothing harmful though. Quite the opposite.

  A sense of serenity passed over Treecko's body, staring at the ceiling with bliss and wonder in its eyes. Those poisonous bubbles trickled to nothingness. Settling completely, where even modern medicine had faltered. Acidic burns cleared up, chlorophyllic flesh beginning to surround the wounds once more. A miracle.

  "Did that berry Pokepuff make it better?" Lucas asked, glancing to Ralts. The Pokémon blushed, sheepishly nodding.

  "Ralts must've known it could heal poison from its time in Route 102." Ellie commented, crouching down and picking up her Pokémon. "Well, aren't you a smart cookie? Yes you are!"

  Harry stared at Treecko for a moment. His hand almost shot out to settle his starter when it began to move again. But, Treecko seemed more able to. Those Pokepuffs were like magic. A miracle found in a cake.

  "Well I'll be damned." Harry smiled, holding out a fist. Close to Treecko so as to not spend too much effort returning the gesture. No need for such a thing, however, as Treecko struck Harry's fist with a power he believed unattainable just a moment prior. Sure signs of a recovery, maybe even in a day or so.

  "Thank you so much." Harry turned to Ralts, speaking as earnestly as he could. He walked to the box, retrieving his selected Pokepuff. "Here, you can have mine."

  Ralts took the pastry in its mitts, inspecting its shape, taking a small lick of the frosting. Then, nodded with acceptance.

  "Wow Harry, never seen you so thankful for anything. You sure you're the same person who stole 1000 dollars offa me?" Lucas teased.

  "Just shut up and eat your Pokepuffs," Harry retorted with a smirk.

  "If you insist." Lucas answered, although Torchic seemed to be quicker to respond. It dived from Lucas' shoulder, sinking its beak right into the Sitrus Berry Pokepuff, then leaping back onto its perch. It attempted to swallow the Pokepuff in one bite, despite the very obvious size difference between its beak and the baked good. Lucas soon had to put a stop to the choking hazard, plucking the Pokepuff from its beak, and letting Torchic feed from his hand instead.

  "Mind if I squeeze by?" Ellie asked, Lucas stepping aside to allow her through. There, she quickly found Mudkip's Pokepuff, ocean blue to match its skin. Placing it gently onto the ground, Mudkip began by swiping away the frosting, plucking away every ounce of the sweet topping before delving into the bulk of the cake.

  Ellie's finger began to trace over the selection of Pokepuffs, identifying what was rightfully hers in the midst of the popping colours. But, a gentle paw interrupted her thoughts. She turned, finding Poochyena sat on the ground, gently pawing at her leg. The dog whimpered, begging for its treat, soon accompanied by another black furred friend. Now, she had two Dark types begging, one with its whimpers, and one using Illusions to make its eyes glimmer innocently in ways Ellie previously thought impossible. She sighed.

  "Are these two black Pokepuffs for them two?" Ellie asked.

  "Yup, pick either one!" Lucas flickered a thumbs up. Ellie nodded, reaching into the box, then sliding both onto the floor. Zorua began its usual hack and slash method of eating, ripping apart the pastry with its bare claws, leaving a mess for whoever had to clean up afterwards. In contrast, a single bite from Poochyena just about halved its pastry. Then, another bite finished it off for good, its tail wagging in satisfaction.

  "And, lastly..." Ellie slipped out her Strawberry Pokepuff, then passed Lucas his honey drizzled bun.

  "Thank you very much!" Lucas eagerly took the pastry, taking a page from Poochyena's book and scarfing down half the Pokepuff down in one bite. Then, waved the other half around, talking with a mouth full of frosting, "There's the other half here Harry, if you want it."

  "You know, I would've accepted, if you didn't offer with a mouth full of food." Harry responded. Not a problem for Lucas, who swallowed the remaining half without a lick of issue. Ellie chuckled at the display, barely managing two small bites in the time it had taken Lucas to inhale the entire thing. But, seeing the pace which everyone else ate theirs spurred her to take a few bigger bites, until nothing remained but crumbs.

  "Just as good as the first time." Ellie sighed in satisfaction, Harry feeling a twinge of regret at not taking up Lucas' offer. But, ultimately shrugging things off. Seeing Treecko back up to speed was worth any amount of cake and pastry.

  "Seems everything's worked out in the end then, right?" Lucas commented, watching Torchic finish the last of its Pokepuff, before hopping back onto his shoulder. "We've just gotta get stronger to beat out whatever comes our way. Show them that we, and every other trainer in the region, won't go down without a fight!"

  "Well said." Harry responded. "We'll just have to battle until we're strong enough to deal with whatever stands in our way."

  "Is that a challenge?"

  "Well, a challenge for when Treecko's recovered."

  "2v2?" Lucas asked, Harry giving a firm nod in response. Lucas smirked, looking down at his two Pokemon and exclaiming, "You're on!"

  "This shall be two vs two battle! No items allowed, no substitutions, and the battle will be over when either trainer has no more Pokemon left! Understood?" Ellie announced from the side of the battlefield, acting as the referee for this battle, with Mudkip and Ralts as assistants.

  "Got it!" Lucas exclaimed, flickering through the two Pokeballs at his disposal. But, looking to the other side, it became obvious which Pokémon they'd both select. When they both had Dark types, they had to go for the mirror match. And so, out came the dark furred 'Mons.

  "Zorua, I choose you!"

  "Go get 'em Poochyena!"

  Poochyena burst from its Pokeball, tongue hanging freely from its mouth, letting out an excited woof. Zorua appeared soon after, from flickering between various illusions. Mudkip, Torchic, even an imperfect form of Poochyena. But, when those claws settled onto the floor, it came back to its original form. The dog's tail whipped from side to side. The fox's red tuft frolicked in the wind. Each made eye contact.

  "Battle begin!"

  "Let's start off strong! Tackle!"

  Harry called out the first move, Poochyena charging headstrong across the battlefield. Head arched forward, ready to strike. Zorua's eyes narrowed, claws crushing the gravel beneath, tensing its body.

  "Jump over and Scratch!" Lucas commanded. A command that, given a second of hesitation, would've lead to injury. Poochyena came dangerously close. But, Zorua had managed to slip away at the last second, soaring above the pooch. From the air, it dived towards Poochyena, its claws out and primed to attack. Harry wasn't going to sit and let Zorua attack for free, however. They were going to tackle it head-on. Literally.

  "Tackle!" he cried, Poochyena kicking off of its hind legs and boosting itself into the air, its head coming to clash with Zorua's thrashing claws. The blows traded. Zorua's claws delving beneath fur, cutting at the skin underneath. Poochyena's head, bashing into Zorua's stomach, sending the Pokemon flying away.

  "Zorua, are you okay?" Lucas cried, Zorua tumbling through the air, tensing its limbs. It came to a smoother landing than initially thought, claws digging into the earth. Zorua huffed, nodding at its trainer.

  "Keep it going! Tackle!" Harry gave no rest for either Pokemon. After all, Poochyena feinted strength like it hadn't been hit at all. Not only fooling its trainer into reckless abandon, but fooling the opposition into thinking their attack resulted in nought. As such, Lucas needed a stronger way to deal with the pooch. Settling down, not fluttering around the pooch like before.

  "Zorua, get ready, and use Fury Swipes!" Lucas countered. Even if this defence proved fruitless, better something new than making do with the ineffective old.

  Poochyena pounced without a concern for its wellbeing, confident it would win the trade without a hitch. Zorua stood ready, its claws beginning to glow. Then, as Poochyena began to tackle it to the ground, the Tricky Fox Pokemon pounced right back. In an instant, Poochyena found itself overwhelmed.

  Lines of scratches painted its body from all sides, the dog like Pokemon abandoning all sense of offense in favor of backing off. Whelps of pain erupted, tufts of fur falling to the gravelly floor. The sound chorused, loudly erupting for everyone to hear. Yet, it only spurred Zorua. Continuing to hack, slash, scratch, chipping the pooch's energy one blow at a time.

  "Poochyena, bite one of Zorua's limbs!" Harry belted out, conscious of the space Poochyena had to give up in its retreat. Even then, its retreat proved fruitless when Zorua pounced on it no matter what. So, defence quickly made way for offence. Even if it seemed a dirty tactic, all's fair in love and war.

  Taking a couple swipes to its fur, Poochyena lurched forward. One paw swiped at its head, determined to strike the Pokemon away. Only for Poochyena to catch the limb in its mouth. Even with claws ripping against its gums, Poochyena held on tight, jaws snatching up Zorua's limb.

  "Free yourself, Scratch!"

  Lucas attempted to command his Pokemon free. But, the attack proved a great mistake. Zorua pushed forward, attempting to swipe with its free front limb. But, a small tug from Poochyena's mouth knocked its entire balance, sending the fox plunging forward. Poochyena's jaws snatched on tighter. Zorua's only form of resistance proved to be a useless wiggle, attempting to free itself only to come up pitifully short.

  "Slam Zorua down, don't hold anything back!"

  With a great push and a heave, Poochyena reared its head upwards, Zorua's limb still firmly grasped in its closed off jaws. For only a moment, Zorua felt the cooling air pass through its gentle black fur. Soaring higher into the air than anticipated. Letting its body ease for a moment. Poochyena's jaw eased ever so slightly, the biting pain numbing.

  Then, gravity showed itself. Coming quicker than the Dark type could've ever anticipated. The release. A flash. Then, dust, debris, scuffs of stone sticking to its fur. Its head hit the coldness of the concrete.

  "ZORUA!"

  A migraine of pain passed through its head. Light became hard to glance at. Agony seeping into its blood and bones. Pain unlike a single battle. Only harkened back to that day. The one Zorua hated to remember. Its vocals let out a howl. Although, it couldn't be told if it were the memories, or the throbbing pain of slamming into the ground.

  "Tackle!"

  Harry wouldn't waste the opportunity. Even when Zorua's eyes barely blinked to show signs of consciousness. It could barely even take in Poochyena's form. From its hazy vision, it resembled the Mightyena that had chased it. The one. Owned by that awful human. Trying to take away its life. Who took away its families life. Zorua's jaws gritted against one another.

  "Roll away!"

  Zorua tucked in its body, swiftly moving away. Incredible dexterity, even with its injuries. Lucas smiled. But, Zorua could only let out huffs and howls. Adrenaline coursing through its veins, ignoring all that which caused pain. Ignoring the blasting headache. Only the memories as fuel. And, the present? A reason to let loose.

  "Bite!"

  Zorua pounced. Quick, before Poochyena had a chance to recover from its failed Tackle. Why afford its enemy luxury which it had none? Especially to this hellhound. The dog's eyes portrayed fear. Zorua couldn't care. Its fangs shot into its side regardless. The hound let out a howl. But, Zorua wouldn't be finished with it. It had to endure everything it had put Zorua through.

  Poochyena attempted to retch itself from the fox's grasp. Paws scuffling against the earth, throwing its weight away from the fox. It succeeded. Zorua's jaws drew apart. But, the pain still settled in its bones. One jolt of that agony, and Poochyena's limbs stuttered. Freezing, sending it crashing to the ground. Limbs dangling free.

  "Give it a taste of it's own medicine!"

  Trainer on its side? Good. Zorua wouldn't have to hold back. Not when its trainer commanded it. All blame fell to him now. Nothing on itself. Not even as its jaws dove deep into Poochyena's leg, hard and tight as Zorua could. The single slam wouldn't be good enough. Everything up to the point of there needed to hurt too.

  Poochyena let out another yelp, attempting to weave its head to bat away Zorua from its leg. But, once more, a tug from the mouth sent its limbs tumbling down. Zorua didn't quite have the strength to just heave the dog into the air, however. Rather, it needed to build up momentum. Swinging the hound around, letting it feel the cold embrace of the ground grind against its fur. Then, with one final push of momentum, drag Poochyena into the air, only to slam it back down once more. Right where it hurt.

  Poochyena whimpered, its head hitting the ground. Its heart rate quickened, staring at Zorua. The fox still looked to pounce. Dragging its claws through the stone, pouncing upon the hound. Honour fell to the wayside. Bitten until all that remained were shards. Then slashed until it turned to fragments.

  "Fury Swipes!"

  "Bite!"

  Whimpers turned to growls. Poochyena shot out for a Bite. But, a claw slashed at its mouth first. A burst gum forced the hound's mouth shut. Then, Zorua's claws settled down onto Poochyena's paws. Pinning it against the earth. Poochyena attempted to bite the limbs that tore its fur asunder. But, its power drained with each repeated blow.

  One after the other. Even as its lungs ran dry of oxygen, the fox kept fighting. Slashing, hacking, howling with each repeated blow. Its vision hazy, still not sure if it'd been hacking at the memory of a Pokemon, or the opponent it found itself staring at. One after the other. Poochyena's paws flopped down. No longer resisting against the pin. Stagnant, frozen. Both trainers stood, gaping.

  Ralts' body cringed. Murmuring, covering its head, shaky limbs. Too many emotions. Zorua wouldn't stop. Ellie's eyes tracked its form. Eyes focused on the pooch, but upon nothing else. Traces of blood had lined its claws. Not to suggest Zorua had penetrated deep beneath the surface. But, a sure sign things had gone too far. Her legs carried her quickly.

  "Zorua!" she beckoned. Zorua's attacks slowed, but didn't stop. Whether fatigue had set in, or it'd heeded her warning, Ellie didn't quite know. She went to approach, only to find Lucas moving before her, dashing onto the battlefield.

  "Hey, hey!" Lucas' arms quickly snatched behind Zorua's body, dragging it away from the pooch. Zorua's breaths grew heavier, claws nearly snapping away at Lucas' skin. Until it noticed the pale complexion of where it'd attack. Not the target. And, now that Zorua looked, it seemed the target had been on the cusp of fainting long ago. It'd just been Zorua's attacks keeping it awake. When they subsided, so did Poochyena's consciousness. Swirls replaced its iris.

  "P-Poochyena is-" Ellie's announcement cut off halfway through, as Harry stumbled onto the battlefield. His hands went digging underneath the furry coat, seeing no signs of any cuts. Opening the mouth revealed where Zorua had drawn blood, at least. A cut across the gum, spilling small licks of blood. Not serious injuries. Thankfully enough. "Is everything okay?"

  "Seems it," Harry responded with a hefty breath. Ordinarily, he'd have made a deal of Zorua's outburst. But, of kindred spirits birthed forgiveness for the fox. "Return, Poochyena."

  "You ok to keep going?" Lucas ducked to look at Harry's eyes. The brown haired trainer scoffed in response.

  "I ain't giving you a free win. Course we're gonna keep going." Harry strutted back to his post, as did Ellie. Lucas looked down to his arms, holding Zorua intently. The Dark type panted. A lot. Still with a lot left a good distance from fainting. But, if left to fight now, would succumb to exhaustion. Not to mention its outburst.

  "You did well, buddy," Lucas muttered to Zorua. Its eyes, unapologetically vulnerable, darted to Lucas. The boy hesitated in his decision for a moment. Even as his hand rose upwards, with the Pokeball clenched. But, before any second thoughts could be given, Zorua returned of its own admission. Lucas sighed, repeating, "You did good. Take a good rest, me and Torchic will handle it from here."

  One Pokeball slipped into his pocket, and another emerged shortly after. Lucas glanced up, making eye contact with his best friend. Harry returned the gesture. Although, with a face of stoic concentration. Acutely aware of the odds stacked against him, now that Lucas stood a Pokemon ahead. Especially with the type advantages of the Pokemon they knew to soon be popping out their Pokeballs.

  "Jeez, trying to do some psychological damage with that stare?" Lucas joked, breaking Harry's concentration. He rolled his eyes, a small smile creeping onto his face. Still didn't quite match Lucas' wide beam. But, good enough.

  "Treecko, it's your time to shine!"

  "Torchic, I choose you!"

  Both starters burst from their Pokeballs in a flash of light. Treecko dived towards the ground, landing on all fours. Its eyes darted from the ground, up towards Lucas. It climbed to its feet, a stray strand of grass hanging limply from its mouth, observing the Fire Chick exploding to life.

  Torchic burst out its Pokeball mid air, letting out an excitable cry. Stretching out its legs, its feathery coat glowing with fiery energy. Then, it dived towards the earth, spinning as it landed. The two locked eyes. Both in faux seriousness, eyes narrowing, but each with a small smile.

  Ellie thrust her hand up, then straight down. The battle was back on.

  "Leafage!"

  "Ember!"

  Each exploded into the battle with ferocity. Torchic let a hot piece of coal rip from its beak, striking through the air, oxidising with every second it streamed through the sky. Treecko spread out its arms, then slammed its tail against the ground. With the thud against the concrete, a tornado of leaves erupted behind its body, thrust forward with a wave of its arms. One concentrated shot versus a valley of small, sharp cutting leaves. With their attacks ultimately coming to collide at its centre. One proved stronger, however.

  The Ember punctured through the leaves like paper. The foliage only slowed the trajectory slightly, before the Ember struck Treecko right in the chest. Treecko grimaced, feeling over the burn with its hand. Blackened soot seeped onto its fist. Harry gritted his teeth. But, even with the seemingly ineffective Leafage, came some surprising benefits.

  While the Ember burned through the leaves in its path without issue, it hadn't the surface area to contest all of Leafage's blows. Only about half reduced to cinders under the weight of Torchic's attack. The rest barrelled towards the chick, leaving cuts in the tufts of its feathery coat.

  An exchange that likely benefitted Lucas more than Harry. Yet, an exchange where neither sides got off too cleanly without a hitch. Harry would have to fight without those risky exchanges. Couldn't make up the deficit any other way. Lucas simply didn't want Torchic to be hurt any more than it needed to be.

  "Use Quick Attack!" Harry called out. Time to show off the fruits of their training. An attack Torchic could only be ready for should it anticipate the attack. But, confusion wracked the chick's brain first. Breeding hesitation, as Treecko's agile legs began darting along the battlefield. Side to side, leaving trails of dust in its wake. Until it appeared in front of Torchic, smashing its chin with an uppercut.

  "Nice work!" Harry clenched his fist, watching as Torchic went flying into the sky, propelled by the force of the uppercut.

  "Torchic, are you okay?" Lucas cried. The Fire type answered with a chirp, coming to its senses just in time to use its new aerial position to great use.

  "Ember!"

  "Dodge it!" Harry responded instantly, not letting himself slack, or get caught off guard. Treecko dived to the side, landing on all fours, looking up at Torchic as it landed on the ground once more. Just the same as Taillow, it seemed the Quick Attack traded off power for its lightning fast speed, letting Torchic off with a light scratch. But, something had shifted regardless.

  The feeling, knowing Treecko would be much harder to pin down. Blitzing along the field, in speedy pursuit of Torchic no matter where it went. Lucas' mind sprouted an idea to deal with its dashes. But, only time would tell its effectiveness.

  "Ember!" Lucas cried once more. His mind screamed for something different. But, maintaining distance would be crucial if he wanted to bait Harry into doing something reckless. What better than a flaming bullet to do it?

  "Dodge with Quick Attack!" Harry cried out, Treecko disappearing in an instant. Lucas, this time, kept an eye out for where it would end up after its initial blitz. Tracking its clouds of dust as it dashed around the flames, seemingly in a zigzag pattern. But, never in one place for long.

  A spritz of dust appeared close to Torchic. For Torchic to whiff an Ember here would be a sure fire way to get an uppercut rocketed up to its chin. Torchic could even recognise that. Without any other options, Lucas simply decided to bide his time. Fist clenching, charging the Ember, waiting for Treecko to pounce forward.

  And so Treecko did, anticipating the release of the Ember earlier. But, only when it began to charge its blow did the Grass type realise its error.

  "Ember, with all you got!"

  "Dodg-"

  An explosion blasted the two Pokemon away. Treecko taking the brunt of a super effective Ember, while Torchic suffered recoil for its heavy blast. Seemed holding the charged flame for too long leant itself to a bit of blowback. But, no doubt, Treecko came out worse for wear. The burn mark on its chest turned from a small graze to a great blackened spot, flickers of cinders dancing from the wound.

  "Nice work, Torchic!" Lucas cried out, Torchic hopping on its feet, chirping in agreement. But, a lesson forgotten would soon come to bite Lucas in the shin. Never celebrate a victory until certain the enemy would fall.

  "Pound, let's go!"

  Treecko's eyes awakened with a glint. Whatever ashes remained stuck to its chest fluttered from its body. It dived forwards, scampering to all fours, only assisting in the speed of the blow. Seemed they didn't even need Quick Attack to catch Torchic off guard. The Fire type made eye contact, but ultimately froze. As did the trainer. Until, at the last second...

  "Wait, DODG-"

  The last second proved too late. Dust flew up like a tornado had just whipped through the area, a mighty thud sounding from the impact of the blow. A sickening feeling struck Lucas like a club to the head. The dust settled to find his partner struggling to breathe, its head having came to clash with the cold ground. Its legs were pinned by Treecko's, with the Grass type on top. Revenge, it appeared.

  "Mega Drain, suck all its energy!"

  A glow enveloped Treecko's hands. Aching spreading from its hands, seeping into Torchic's veins. Sweeping through every limb, penetrating the marrow below its coat. A burning energy fleeting with every second. Lucas could feel it too. Slight fatigue overcoming his arm, yet still forcing it outward, pointing and yelling,

  "Ember!"

  "Punch the fire out!" Harry bounced back without a second thought. While Torchic fished the fire from its belly, heading up to its mouth, ready to launch, a swift punch to the head knocked the cinders back down its throat. Torchic cried out, thrashing its body. But, Treecko's hands grabbed tight hold of Torchic's torso, fatigue continuing to infect Torchic.

  Lucas took a deep breath. He needed composure now more than ever. But, with legs pinned down, and the flames punched out of Torchic's throat, what could he do? Every second wasted thinking, Treecko's strength revigorated, while Torchic's energy drained out. A forced battery for its foe to recharge from. Torchic continued to struggle. Body tossing and turning, sweat fluttering from its coat.

  A flash of an idea ripped through Lucas's brain like wildfire.

  "Torchic, build up an Ember deep in your heart!" Lucas cried. Torchic, with the last of its energy, began to build up a fire deep inside. Pits of coal began to build up deep in its stomach. Its blood gasoline, its heart an engine, its soul a fiery machine. Slowly, that comfortable, warm temperature gave way. Gave way, to a blazing inferno. One which neither human nor Pokemon would dare touch. Especially those without a resistance.

  Treecko attempted to hold its position. Convince itself to go harder on the Mega Drain. Take out Torchic before its body could reach uncomfortable temperatures. But, the conflagration built fast. Once it got going, it couldn't be stopped. Its green skin began to burn and wilter, forcing the Grass type from Torchic's body. Scampering away, letting Torchic back onto its feet.

  The heat continued to burn. Torchic's huffs turned to steam. From there, the flames inside transformed to an external firestorm. Spurring the chick forward, bursting straight into Treecko. Now's the time for you to be caught with overwhelming speed, showoff.

  The collision exploded in a fiery blaze. A resounding shriek echoed from Treecko's throat, launched a good half length across the battlefield. It skidded against the earth, landing at Harry's feet. Not yet fainted. But, without the confidence in which it had once gained.

  Lucas' eyes dazzled. The bright orange flames flickered around his starter, fresh coal keeping the flames burning bright. Even small proximity gave weight to the heat of the flames. He couldn't imagine what it'd be like to get hit by it. Nor the actual form of the move. Torchic glanced back at its trainer, smiling as the flames subsided. Lucas' Pokedex buzzed.

  Torchic learned Flame Charge!

  "Alright then! Torchic, Flame Charge!" Lucas punched forward with a smile. Torchic nodded, its body already bursting with fiery energy before the Flame Charge. The Flame Charge only further boosted its power, speeding across the battlefield like a bullet. Surely a side effect of the move. Lucas might've been so bold as to say, even faster than Treecko's Quick Attack. Only one way to find out.

  "Let's test out that Flame Charge's speed, then! Quick Attack!" Harry beckoned. His partner wouldn't be beat out on speed just yet. They'd engage in a game of chicken until Torchic's flames subsided. Then, snipe the kill once the energy had burnt away. With Treecko's tanks filled with Torchic's energy, the game should last a good moment, too. Treecko seemed in agreement with the plan too, a white outline flourishing over its body as it hugged the exterior of the battlefield, running as fast as it could.

  "Don't let it get away! Follow it!" Lucas responded, Torchic changing direction to match Treecko's speedy escape. The burning comet soared after Treecko, the Grass type scarcely being able to take a look back to check how close Torchic was to landing a clean blow. It just had to hope that its Quick Attack was enough to outspeed it.

  But, as it continued to run, it seemed that the gap between them was only getting closer and closer. In sharp contrast to what Harry had anticipated, Torchic only got faster. Speeding up and up. Not slowing down for a moment. "Push through, right to the end!"

  Seemed Harry would have to be the one attacking. Making one desperate attempt to stop Torchic dead in its tracks.

  "Stop this chase! Attack, now!"

  Treecko turned on its heel, using the momentum from the Quick Attack to burst right into Torchic's range. Holding a fist out to the side, it struck into the burning flame that was Torchic's body. Torchic's head came to clash with the Normal-type attack. The starters, locked in a fierce engagement, Treecko's grit and determination showing on its face. Torchic's expression couldn't quite be made out in the flash of the bright fire. Yet, Lucas could feel its smile regardless.

  With a great heave, Torchic kicked off of the floor, tackling into Treecko's body, driving the gecko to the ground. Lucas snapped his fingers. The bed of flames subsided, Torchic's beak opening to fire off a final piece of coal, striking Treecko in the head. An explosion burst from the conflict. Then, it faded right before Ellie's eyes.

  "Treecko is unable to battle!" Ellie spoke in between hacking coughs, waving away the dust that filled the air and refilling her lungs with the oxygen they needed. "The winner is Torchic, therefore the victor is Lucas!"

  Torchic's energy finally began to die, the poker of battle no longer stirring the flames that coursed through its veins. Looking down at Treecko's faint expression, it let out a meager cry before flopping right into Lucas' arms, its trainer arriving just in time to save it from another encounter with the cold floor. Lucas hugged the Pokemon, finding its temperature back to that cosy feeling of a hot water bottle.

  "You did so good! I'm so proud of you!" he exclaimed at the top of his lungs, laughing with his Torchic. Torchic's light head didn't stop it from chirping along with the celebrations too. Harry sighed. But, couldn't even find the energy to be mad about the result. Something something, contagious energy. Harry didn't think about it much as that. Rather, he just thought of it as Lucas being Lucas.

  Kicking the floor, dust covering his trousers, he began to walk onto the battlefield. Taking his place next to his Pokemon, his eyes met Treecko's just as they began to flare back to life. It winced, feeling the burns striking its head and body. It began to get up to its feet, the Grass type somehow convincing itself that the battle hadn't been lost. Yet, a calm and steadfast hand from Harry placed its fears and body to rest.

  "It's all over. You did well. Someone just has a type advantage." Harry teased, his soft voice growing louder to alert Lucas of his speech. Lucas turned, cradling Torchic in his arms as he smirked,

  "Oh, is that why my Zorua beat your Poochyena?"

  "Your Zorua fought dirty."

  "Hm? I recall you calling out to attack Zorua while it was down."

  "I was simply making the most of the opportunity."

  "Sounds pretty dirty to me," Lucas finished, their gazes fiercely clashing against one another. Then, their expressions softened, bursting into laughter. Harry's hands grazed the ground, picking his partner up like a warrior felled in battle.

  "Come on. Let's get them healed up."

  "I told you for the last time, that kid ain't coming back!"

  A loud growl echoed through the storage room. A rugged hand tugging around a flip-phone nearly tensed it enough to break. But, he held steady for now. Even if he felt like shredding it down to bare wires and circuitry. A bottle of tequila lay shattered on the floor, leaving residue of spilled alcohol, filling the room with the strong stench.

  Toxiccroak leaned against the wall, watching the liquid pool at its feet. Faint drips of venom mixed with the liquid. Poison meeting poison. The toad's eyes observed its trainer. Growing more and more frustrated by the second. Whatever the person on the other side was saying, it wasn't what its trainer wanted to hear. Only confirmed by another groan.

  "Yes, the police are probably coming. That's what I'm concerned about," the man spoke in a growl, shooting daggers into his Pokemon as he noticed its stare. Toxiccroak quickly averted its eyes, and so did the man, looking to the door. His fist tensed, thudding against the wall.

  "Yes, I know I shouldn't have let the kid get away. But, his Pokemon got a lucky shot on me. A mistake that won't be repeated. Now, can we please move onto how the hell we're going to clean it up?"

  Toxiccroak should've shuddered at the shout. But, with enough time, it could grow accustomed to any noise. Especially when shouting rang out much more often than silence. The moments that really made it uncomfortable were the moments where neither party spoke. Its trainer just listening, face scrunching up.

  Sighing, the man jumped up to his feet. Only to be struck with a painful reminder of his previous failure. Bite marks, from when that feral dog had sunk its teeth into his shin. The kid only got away because of that, too. Even in spite of that, the man still persevered. A fraction of the pain he'd once felt. Gesturing wordlessly for his Pokemon to follow him, he spoke once more.

  "How's that gonna work? It's been ages since that part of the network was last online. Lights barely even work in this damn place."

  Faint light illuminated his path forward. No modern light of a Rotom Phone, or flashlight to help him through. Still, the layout stuck out in his mind. Enough to navigate through. Only stumbling when a new obstacle appeared in his path. Curses to the impotent child, who'd only contribution would be one of annoyance. Forcing the chairs to fall. Just to mess with him. The admin snarled. Then, rolled his eyes into the back of his skull.

  "Of course you say that it'll never fail, you made the damn thing."

  With a brisk pace, the man wandered down the hallway. Past the storage room, where venom began to rust away at the metallic door. Then, into the next room across, stacked with boxes of what appeared to be technological junk. Little gadgets, cracked phones of either the Rotom or Polygon kind. Toys to be broken, scrapped for parts then discarded.

  "Stay put." the man instructed, flipping the phone then slipping it into his pocket. Then, began to heave the boxes of junk, one after another. His eyes drifted to Toxiccroak. But, before the man could bark out to help him, the Poison type had already rushed to his assistance. He scoffed. "Took you long enough."

  With the boxes safely moved aside, a strangely coloured tile appeared on the floor. In sharp contrast to the rest of the brutalist hell they found themselves in. Red in colour, like the deepest magma had coated it. It also stood slightly elevated from the floor, not quite fitting in with the building's foundations. It held no significance to the man. But, something told him the person on the other side thought of it slightly differently.

  "Found the thing. Why on Earth did we move a bunch of boxes in a room that might be needed for esca-" the man stopped mid sentence, groaning. "Right, no use complaining. Just tell me how to get this thing working again."

  His rough, pale hands felt at the earth, grasping at the coloured tile and looking around for any loose electrical outlets or sockets just as he was instructed. Lo and behold, a loose electrical wire hung from the back of the tile. Rearing its ugly, exposed electrical head up for the world to see. Grabbing the plastic connector, his eyes darted around for a place to plug it in. With only the faint light of the flip phone as his guide.

  "Arceus fuckin' Christ, the shit you make me do for this job." his eyes eventually tracked a plug, dug into the side of the wall. The two met like lock and key, joining together cleanly. Yet, nothing happened. The man looked at the tile. Expecting something. Yet, nothing. He snickered.

  "Yeah, so much for never failing." he taunted the other side. Although, it appeared not to give a hint of emotion in response. Sailing over their head.

  "The spare generator...in the back...turn it on..."

  The voice spoke calmly, space between her words, even in the face of the man's clear frustration. Cursing the child who had gotten him into this mess, he stormed out the room. Toxiccroak stepped aside, not allowing itself to be caught in his crosshairs.

  With a punch, the box covering the electrical covers smashed. Found in the back office, where paperwork shredded under the stamping of the man's boots. Blinky dials and flickering switches glimmered a little light into the room. Just enough to see what he'd be doing. Following her instructions, it worked with a few hitches. But, it worked. The flickering light bulb overhead pleaded to that.

  The man smashed the door shut as he left, wooden shards finding their home amongst the rest of the wreckage. Returning to the place he started, with the light bulb flashing overhead, and the tile finally illuminating a crimson red light. Sighing, the man looked back at the mound of boxes that were stacked outside the room. "Now, what do I do about all this stock?"

  "One at a time...one at a time. Grunts will pick up...what is left." a faint keyboard clack could be heard in the background, "Rerouting tile to the warehouse...when you are done...I will reroute it to the admin room."

  The man sighed, walking to his Pokemon, kicking it in the back of its shin.

  "Get to work," he commanded. "I'm injured."

  A flimsy excuse. He'd moved the boxes just moments ago. Nor had he been the only one injured in battle. If anything, Toxiccroak had came out worse. But, the toad knew better than to question its trainer at a time like this. Rather, it just let him sit down in his chair, sighing. His hand flipped the phone up and down, considering talking to the person on the other side. But, her mannerisms made conversation impossible. Silence seemed better. Or, shouting at his Pokemon.

  "Hurry it up already!" the man bellowed. Toxiccroak quickened its movements. Those boxes of Pokeballs transported with greater haste. Throwing caution for the contents of the boxes, in favour of getting the task done quickly. A Pokeball rattled onto the tile, spilling from its box. But, as soon as it touched against the ground, it flickered into nothingness. Then, when the box had been set down, so did the collection of balls.

  Remarkable technology, although the man would never admit to it being thus. Especially with the creator (or 'core refiner' as she liked to call herself) of the technology sitting on the other side of the flip phone. Instead, his eyes focused on his Pokemon. Thinking for a moment back to the battle. That Treecko, who'd picked up reckless abandon, protecting its trainer no matter what. Even as sickening poison threatened to dismantle its plant-like organs. The man wondered. Would his Pokemon do the same for him?

  The man smirked, then laughed, yelling, "Come on, you're almost there!"

  A motivational quote turned insincere by tone. Half a thought told Toxiccroak to slow down. But, it wouldn't risk its hide for spite. Another Pokeball tumbled from the boxes, rolling to the man's foot. Locked tight. He lobbed the device against Toxiccroak's head, a thunk echoing through the room, before the device fell to the tile, teleported away. Toxiccroak paid it no mind.

  His eyes observed the path Toxiccroak took. Checking any additional mistakes. But, it had done a surprisingly remarkable job. Though he'd never admit it. Made him slightly angrier. No imperfections to critique. So, when all was said and done, all Toxiccroak got was a hard knock of its Pokeball to the head, returning it to its confines.

  "Alright, every Pokeball's over. Change it. Now."

  "A warning...before you return..." the female voice seemed to hesitate at the last part of the sentence, "Our Leader will not be happy with you..."

  "I know," the man answered bluntly.

  "Our Leader is looking for a new mission...calling it a redemption mission...it will...it will...await you...when you come back."

  The phone clicked, and the man was left in silence. Not that he minded the phone call being over. Finally an excuse to let the phone fall to ruin. Crumbling under the intense grip of his hand, smashing into a thousand pieces of circuitry and wires. Then, a step forward, onto the tile. He looked back at the warehouse one last time, smiling for a mere moment, before his body disappeared from that cursed place...