-The situation is really beginning to get out of hand. Can Nightslice manage as a human? Can Kris survive the trials of being a wild Pokemon? And how about the rest of the team? Fifteenth in a series.
Pokemon and all related trademarks belong to Nintendo.
The story, its original contents and ideas, and any original characters belong
to the author and cannot be used or reprinted without the author's permission.
By Gregory Stephen nightdragon0@hotmail.com
Kris
I looked my opponent right in the eye.
The Scizor stood ready, watching my every move. It was a rather large risk on his part, challenging me like this, in front of his swarm. Lose, and he'd be forever dishonored.
Unfortunately, him losing wasn't much of my concern. Keeping my head on my shoulders was more of the utmost priority. Knowing I lacked experience in fighting as a Pokemon, I assumed a defensive stance and waited for him to make the first move.
He finally broke the stare down, attacking with blinding speed.
Reacting swiftly, I sidestepped and slashed at him. The Steel warrior was able to twist his claws enough to block my attack. The force of impact pushed us apart.
Roaring, we clashed again, with similar results. Unfortunately, it was hurting me much more than him. Additionally, I still had the scars from the previous fights.
Deciding that a frontal assault wasn't effectively, the Scizor used Agility to try and get in a side attack. My response was to use Double Team, creating several images of myself to confuse him. The ploy did have him attack empty air in confusion.
I rushed in for what I thought would be a free hit, however I'd underestimated my opponent. Apparently I'd moved in a slightly different manner from the copies and he picked that up, probably through his years of experience.
A Metal Claw got me right under the chin. I staggered backwards and was immediately bombarded by a vicious series of attacks.
It was a furious claw to blade fight, but my stamina fell short in the end. I was smacked against a tree and had the Scizor's claw around my neck before I could do so much as blink.
In desperation, I swatted at him with my blades.
That only caused him to tighten his grasp, cutting off my air supply. As my face was beginning to go blue from the lack of oxygen, I saw him raising his other claw. The sharp, cutting edge gleamed in the sunlight.
Horrified, I wondered if he was going to quickly take my head off or slowly dismember me and watch me bleed to death.
Then, I heard the cry of another Scyther.
Though I was quite dazzled, it seemed like a warning cry to me. Immediately, the Scizor dropped me and the entire swarm disappeared just as quickly.
They must've had sentries. I though, And they'd spotted something! I've got to get out of here!
Through weakened as I was, I forced myself up onto my feet.
No sooner had I done that, a cloud of foul smelling green gas covered the area. It was made even worse by my enhanced sense of smell.
I stumbled about blindly, coughing and gasping. I felt a prick in my side, then two more.
I'd been shot with tranquilizer darts!
Almost immediately, my feet gave way. I collapsed, unable to move my weary body anymore. My senses were failing, but I could still hear shouting.
Humans...and some Pokemon. A man walked up in front of me.
Even with my vision terribly blurred, I could still see the black colored uniform. And the red-colored alphabet printed on its front. I was hoping against hope it wasn't what I thought it was, but fate had not been so kind to me.
No...NO! This...can't...be...
Had I been spared from one death only to face another?
My world was fading out and the last thing I felt was the Pokeball being thrown against my back.
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Nightslice
"This was it?" I asked.
The other Pokemon nodded.
I was looking at the charred remains of a tree that had most certainly been struck by lightning. Fortunately, Jolteon had both a good sense of smell and a good memory. He'd brought us to the last place they clearly remembered Kris being with them.
"Kris! Kris! Please answer me!"
Riptide shook his head, as if to tell me it wasn't working. Jolteon had been sniffing around for clues and suddenly came up with a weird expression on his face.
[I got her scent...but it doesn't seem right.] He muttered, [Keeps on changing.]
"Can you follow it?" I asked. I'd gotten a very bad feeling about the 'scent not right part'.
The electric Pokemon leapt over a fallen log and carefully treaded down the slope. As we followed, something caught my eye.
It was a piece of cloth. And a tattered one too. I grabbed it and turned it over several times, noting that it had been apparently ripped and torn off. It looked a lot like Kris' shirt, though I couldn't be sure.
"Jolteon, here." I held the rag out to him.
[It's got that scent again, but I can barely recognize it as Kris' now.] He muttered, having trouble comprehending the situation.
Some marks on the dirt came to my attention. From personal experience, I clearly recognized the pair of long, single lines as Scyther claw marks. The Scyther seemed to have been sliding down the slope, dragging his claws in the dirt. Several chopped shrubs and short plants also hinted of this.
"Does it reassemble my scent? I mean, the Scyther me that is?" I finally asked.
From the look on his face, Jolteon's answer was 'yes'. As I'd already done so, Jolteon and the others had just put 2 and 2 together.
Kris...she'd become a Scyther. Just like I'd become a human. I was beginning to wonder whether it had anything to do with Euphoria's deal, but the time for debating that would have to wait.
"Kris!"
I took off running, stumbling more times than desirable, grasping onto tree limbs and anything else that would help get my balance back.
At the bottom of the slope lay a small, grassy area beside a stream. It seemed like a peaceful spot, but only to the untrained eye. What I saw was a battlefield: grass trampled, twigs snapped and scattered, plants bent at unnatural angles. It couldn't have been more than 20 minutes ago, I estimated.
[Over here!] Called Jolteon. He was sniffing at a spot around a nearby tree. [Kris was here...and so was a whole bunch of other Scyther.]
That wild Scyther swarm! I realized, shuddering at the memory of my own encounter with them. I noticed the blade-shaped impressions in the grass too, indicating that Kris had been lying there, possibly having been knocked down.
[There were some humans and other Pokemon too.] Jolteon said grimly, [Kris' trail stops here, but theirs goes off along that path.] he pointed with his nose.
[Hey guys! Look at this!] Ivysaur retrieved a partially buried, shinny object with his vines.
Riptide took it in his webbed hands and examined it. Even from my distance, I could tell it was a bullet or dart of some sort.
[A tranquilizer dart.] The psychic duck muttered. [With the 'R' symbol on it. Team Rocket...]
The scenario hit me all at once. Kris, confused and alone at suddenly having been turned into a Scyther, attacked by the wild swarm and kidnapped by Team Rocket after that.
"KKKRRIIISSSSS!"
Losing all sense of rational thinking, I dashed off in the direction Jolteon had pointed to.
If those bastards dared lay a finger on her...I'm gonna hunt down every last one of em' and rip their guts out!!!!!!!
I ran till my lungs burned and my muscles ached. I realized I'd run out onto a beach, splashing into the waves. My body finally gave way and Jolteon pulled me back to shore. The other two where no where in sight, presumably still back in the forest.
Desperately, I stared out across the ocean. It seemed strangely empty, without a single boat or any other vehicle in sight.
[The trail...stops here.] Jolteon said slowly.
I'd know it. My instincts had told me so. I just couldn't bring myself to admit it.
"KRIS! KRIS!" I screamed out over and over again. My voice fell across nothing but the empty ocean. "GODDAMMIT! WHY! WHY! WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME????!!!!!!!!!!"
I don't really want to go into detail about every curse and swear word I was spitting out, but I kept that up like a madman until my voice was hoarse and my strength was absolutely drained.
Eventually, I collapsed to my knees, throwing off my sunglasses, weeping in pure despair and anger. I felt Jolteon brush up against my face and attempt to wipe away my tears with his paws, even though he was crying too.
My world...had simply been shattered.
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Firestorm
"Damn, this is a really bad time to get sick...ugh..." I was close to puking my guts out. The wave of nausea hit me really hard and I coughed again, unintentionally spewing out flames.
"You doing all right?" Dracia asked, coming up beside me.
"No..." I groaned.
Although the trainer didn't look too good himself, Jade was running round packing up our equipment. Kris had just disappeared with three of her Pokemon, leaving practically all her equipment here. Including her cell phone and laptop, meaning we had absolutely no way to contact her.
Wartortle, Kris' last remaining Pokemon besides me, had gone out with Jade's Electabuzz and Ponyta. Ehrgeiz and Mirage, as they'd been named respectively, the latter of whom had been acquired in a trade for his Magmar.
The trio had returned and gave negative responses.
"Really, nothing?" Jade asked again.
They disappointedly shook their heads.
"You did your best guys, but I'm sure Kris can take care of herself." Jade reassured, "It may be bad to just leave like this, but Storm's come down with something and I'm not too good myself. We'd better get medical attention soon."
My heart sank, feeling utterly miserable at myself. Dracia snuggled her head against my shoulder in an attempt to cheer me up.
"Storm," Jade held up a Pokeball, "You'd best get in."
"No." I replied firmly, walking over and heaving the bulk of our equipment onto my back. "I'll be all right. Besides, you need me to carry these, or we won't get to town before the next ice age."
Jade knew better than to argue with me and acknowledged with a nod.
"But don't say I didn't warn you!" he called as an afterthought.
After climbing onto his Ponyta 's back, we set off.
Kris...please be safe. I prayed silently. Riptide, Jolteon, Ivysaur...watch out for her, OK?
Because, I had a really bad feeling about this.
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Nightslice
It didn't take too long for Riptide and Ivysaur to catch up to us.
I was in absolutely no mood for talking, so I left the three to their own conversation. I wasn't even listening either. I sat down and kept playing the scene over and over again in my head.
If I in my true body, I could've gotten to her in time! I wouldn't have had to stop and explain myself to the others! I could've...
I was abruptly slapped across the cheek and looked up in surprise to see Riptide standing over me.
"Ow! What the F*** was that for?!"
[To get you to your senses.] He replied calmly, [Sitting here and pouting over what could've been won't help Kris now. Get back to the present first and then we can work it out!]
[He's a bit harsh on that,] Ivysaur reached out a vine and handed me my dropped sunglasses, [But he's right.]
Jolteon nodded and awaited my go. Everyone was looking up to me now and I couldn't afford to let them down. Unfortunately, I was quite lost myself.
"Yeah, you're right guys. Thanks. I just need to think." I said, trying to sound confident. I ran my hand across the sand, drawing some patterns on the beach.
"Wait a minute! The beach! It's near the cave! Euphoria!" I sprang to my feet. That was the only option I could think of. "We have to find her. Come on!"
No one argued with me as I led them down the beach. It took a while to get my bearings, but I recognized the rock formation which I'd previously seen nearby. Beneath was an underwater channel that led into the hidden cave. Soon, we emerged into the cavern and immediately started calling out her name.
"Euphoria! Show yourself!"
"I am here, my lord." The ghostly Ninetales materialized.
"I have something to discuss about our 'deal'." I growled, walking over to her.
"I..."
"And while we're at it, how about telling me about what you did to Kris too." I cut in. I would've strangled her if I could've physically touched the ghost.
"My lord, please..."
"Enough with your excuses already!" I shouted angrily.
[Calm down!] Ivysaur wrapped his vines around my arms.
[Kris' problem needn't be her fault.] Riptide said.
I stopped, trying to get my emotions in place.
"Sorry..." I muttered.
"No," Euphoria said softly, staring at the ground, "It is my fault."
All heads turned towards her.
"Let me explain." she continued, "Do you remember during the battle at Silph Company, you and the girl stepped on a teleporter together? To be more precise, a slightly malfunctional one?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"Both of you felt the electric shocks too, I assume. Well, the teleporter did not only function as one, but also as a somewhat DNA combiner, although a temporary one. And the shocks were physical symptoms of that."
"What the hell..." I cursed under my breath.
"When you first wanted me to change you into a human, I sensed this odd change in your body and probed your memories for the reason."
"So...I already had the DNA in my body?"
"Yes. I sensed it and it was almost too convenient. Although the temporary exchange of traits was beginning to fade away, I changed that. Your Scyther genes were stronger, but I accelerated the development of the few human ones with my powers and let them take over. Alas, I didn't consider the alterations in the flow of the Karma. I could only think of trying to please you, my lord."
"That's where we come to Kris, right?" I asked.
"Your friend, she was different." Euphoria acknowledged.
[Nightslice, we only found out later, but Kris is really part Scyther in a way.] Jolteon told me.
"What?" I gasped.
[To be more precise, your birth was part of an experiment to enable an embryo to be fertilized and survive outside the body.] Riptide explained. [When you, the first of their experiments to survive, finally hatched, they had what they needed. Kris's mother wasn't able to conceive, so they took what modified genes from you that had enabled you to survive the process, put them into the mix...and I suppose you can guess what happened after that. We can explain everything else to you later.]
I just stood there, utterly stunned by the revelation.
[Haven't you noticed you and Kris have the same birth date, 18 January, just that it's 5 years apart?] Jolteon asked.
[Kris said that it was probably their way of celebrating their success.] Ivysaur added in.
"Then...that practically makes her...my sister." I couldn't help but say aloud.
All this time, I'd felt like it was that way. I'd wanted it to be that way. And now that I had it...it was something else entirely. I also had to deal with the consequences.
"That and more." Euphoria nodded. "Kris already had the Scyther genes lying dormant within her. Added to the DNA combiner and my doing, her transformation was inevitable, yet beyond my control. I unbalanced forces even beyond my knowledge. Ancient magic and modern science were never meant to mix, but now that they have..."
"Chaos." I muttered. "But now, she's been take by Team Rocket. And I'm sure Alugard now knows I'm human. You have to undo this! Or at least, change me back to my true self."
Euphoria was silent for so long that I already knew her answer.
"I can do neither." She was in tears. "Never before have I seen humans and Pokemon bond as strongly. I want to help you find your sister too, but my powers are fading. Soon, I will no longer have any grip on the mortal realm. I'm...sorry, my lord. This was all a result of my own overconfidence."
"Don't be, Euphoria, it was my doing too." I spoke up. "It's time I stopped running and stood to face my world. I have to abide for my own actions as well."
"My lord...I understand now why you've chosen as you have. Your actions prove the vision you seek for the future. Not to destroy by conquest, but to unite."
"Euphoria..."
"Neither your goal nor you journey will be easy, but let me give you this."
I caught a small white crystal attached to a string. It was a beautiful pendant, modeled in the shape of a Ninetales' head.
"This is the last of my powers, a guide to help you seek out not only the Forbidden Skills, but also the rest of my peers, the Knights of Kaiser." Her voice was growing more distant now. "Watch for its glow."
We gasped as her image begun to fade away.
"One of the others will definitely be able to restore your true form, but be warned, they may not be very negotiable. They will likely want to test you. Seek out the Union Cave in Johto first."
"Thank you, Euphoria." I held out a hand to touch her shimmering image, "Rest now. You've waited a long time for it."
"Be well, my friends. Until we meet again..." With that, she vanished completely.
For a while, everyone was silent.
[So, are we really going then?] Ivysaur asked.
"Yes." I nodded firmly. "Jade and Firestorm will be all right, but I have my own quest now. So, let me ask you all, will you come with me?"
[Definitely!] Jolteon snapped.
[Don't be stupid, why not?] Ivysaur asked.
[Of course! Did you ever doubt us?] Riptide added in.
"One more thing. Ivysaur, Jolteon, I want you to pick names for yourselves." I smiled. This would be quite a show. "From a fellow Pokemon, I don't like just using your species name. I don't feel right doing that."
[Really?!] Jolteon asked, jumping up excitedly. [Then, I wanna be Luminair!]
[Hey, I wanted that one!] Ivysaur protested, [All right then. I'll be Ahsura.]
"When did you all get into RPGs?" I muttered, a little disappointed that I didn't get a full-scale debate. "Well, ready team?"
My friends gave an affirmative response.
"Then, let's go." I turned around and put on my sunglasses. "I have to find my sister."
I begun to walk, making it look like a very dramatic exit.... until the part where I tripped and fell face-first into the water.
"F***!"
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Jade
I soon decided that 'parading' around with all our Pokemon out was an unnecessary way to attract unwanted attention and recalled everyone except Firestorm and Mirage, whom I was riding.
The two fire types had the privilege of having their own private conversation, due to the fact that I wasn't too proficient in understanding Pokemon language. The Ponyta hadn't seen much action yet, something she constantly complained about, but I was sure that was soon to change.
We were riding down the road when I heard the melody. We stopped and listened for a while.
Up ahead, a musician sat with his Vaporeon under the shade of a tree, playing an odd-looking flute.
He was a pale-skinned man in his early twenties. His shoulder length hair was silver with blue streaks, and seemed to flap in the breeze in accordance with his tune. He was dressed completely in white too, except for a silver colored cloak with a hood over his white suit. The flute too seemed to be a seashell combined with a hollow stick.
And his song, it was beautiful. Very smoothing and strangely familiar too. Like I'd heard it somewhere before.
"Hello stranger." He looked up from his flute, "Anything I can help you with?"
I started, realizing I'd been so transfixed by the melody that I'd been staring at him.
"Oh, nothing. It's just that you play such a wonderful song." I returned his smile as best as I could.
"Ah, your comments are much appreciated." He replied, "My name is Aigul. And this is Serac."
The Vaporeon looked up as the blue-eyed man offered his hand.
"I'm Jade." I said, climbing off my Ponyta to shake hands. "And that's Firestorm and Mirage."
I'd barely let go of his hand when my knees buckled over.
"Jade, you all right?" Aigul asked, catching me before I hit the ground.
"Yeah...just a little under the weather right now. So, perhaps if you could direct me to a nearby clinic, that'll be really helpful."
"Certainly, it's not..."
A growl from Firestorm cut his sentence short. The Charizard dropped the equipment he was carrying and begun to glance around for whatever it was that he'd heard.
"Storm, what is it?" I asked.
Firestorm finally pointed to a nearby bush and growled.
"Darn, spotted!" A familiar male voice cursed.
"Well, since what's done is done," A female voice followed that, "Let them prepare for trouble!"
Aw shit, why these two clowns?
"And make it double."
"To protect..."
Firestorm sent a flaming breath straight into the bush. Immediately, the two green-haired Rocket agents sprang up, screaming, running around in circles and trying to douse the flames on their white uniforms.
The Charizard simply couldn't control himself.
"Woohoo! I messed up their motto again!" He cheered happily, doing a little dance and ending with a 'V' for victory pose with his claws.
" Aaron and Scarlet!" I put on my most intimidating tone, "What do you two screw-ups want now?"
"You see, we missed the transport ship..." Aaron begun. Scarlet kicked him in the knee.
"Oh it doesn't matter!" She yelled, "We got demoted after you messed us up at Mount Moon and we're to make sure you pay for that!"
"Oh gee, I'm so sorry." I replied sarcastically, "So, cash or check?"
That made them even madder.
"Grrr...We'll show you, wise-cracker!" the pair pulled out their Pokeballs.
"Ha, throw all you want." I taunted, tossing Firestorm my vest, "I could beat you without Pokemon at all! Come on, let's rock!"
"Jade, what the hell are you doing?!" Firestorm whispered.
"Hey, they're mine! Don't interfere." I growled, annoyed.
Aaron's Golbat and Gastly materialized, followed by Scarlet's Nidorino.
" Nidorino, Horn Attack!" Scarlet ordered.
With a roar, the poison Pokemon lowered its horn and charged.
Ha, that all?
I stood my ground, grinning.
"Jade!" Firestorm yelled. He was either too weak or too far away to do anything, not like it mattered anyway.
As the horn came at me, I caught it firmly with both hands and pushed back. I heard everyone else gasp as Nidorino's upper body was lifted up. Nidorino's eyes went wide.
"What?! Impossible!" Aaron gasped.
"Oh, this?" Placing one hand around the Pokemon's neck, I lifted it up, swung it round a few times and flung it into its companions, sending all down in a large heap. "And now for the trash." I turned towards the Rockets, cracking my knuckles.
The startled agents were reaching for their weapons, but I didn't give them time for that. I charged, punching Scarlet in the face and sending a back thrust into Aaron's stomach. Grabbing Scarlet by the hair before she hit the ground, I swung her into Aaron.
Both cried out in pain and shock as they fell.
A purple fog shrouded the area and I realized it was the Gastly. Bad news because physical attacks wouldn't harm the gaseous Pokemon. The other Pokemon were recovering as well.
"Mirage! Storm! Hit the Gastly with some flames!" I ordered. "Now!"
I felt the flames rush past me as I approached my opponents at a frightening pace. Next thing I knew, I was caught up in a wild adrenaline rush, throwing punches and kicks at an insane rate. My enemies were simply too stunned to strike back.
"No way..." Scarlet muttered, rubbing her sore chin. Aaron was just staring, mouth opened with his jaws practically hitting the floor.
Satisfied, I somersaulted backwards.
"Storm, how about doing the honors?"
"Errm...right!" The Charizard caught himself. "Mega Quake!"
Storing the Earth's energy into his fists, Firestorm unleashed one of his Sacred Skills, sending a huge fissure towards the fallen Team Rocket group. The huge explosion that resulted from that sent them flying off into the distance.
"Wwwaaaaaaaaa....Team Rocket's blasting off again!!!!!"
"Ace guys!" I commented.
It was then that I realized what I'd done. Beaten up a group of Team Rocket agents and Pokemon with my bare hands. With techniques I couldn't possibly know, let alone use properly. And considering my not so excellent physical condition, it was theoretically impossible.
"What's...happening to me?" I muttered, dropping to my knees.
I'm not this strong or agile. And I've never been this violent before...
"Jade..." Firestorm was saying something, but I wasn't paying attention.
"Jade!" The Charizard ran over to me, "Jade! You have a tail!"
"Storm, are you kidding?! I..."
"Oh yeah, watch this then!"
Firestorm yanked something and I immediately felt a sharp pain at my butt.
"Ow! What the?!" I turned my head...and found myself staring at my tail! "What the hell?!"
It was an orange Charizard-like tail, although slightly smaller and thinner. It had ripped a neat hole through my jeans. Dumbfounded, I moved it around and watched as its tip burst into flames.
"When did I get it?" I staggered.
"You didn't hear? During the battle, the ripping sounds and all that?"
"No way! This...must be a dream or something, right?"
"Let's see." Firestorm stomped his foot down on my tail.
"Argh! Storm! That hurt you bastard!"
"It's real all right." Firestorm muttered.
"Storm, you gotta help me! Do something!"
"Just because I'm a descendant of Harasalt doesn't mean I automatically know how to do everything."
"Harasalt, the Dragon God of Light? As in the legends?" Aigul's voice came from over at the side.
I wanted to slap myself. I'd completely forgotten that he'd been standing right there and we'd gone on babbling about our secrets. Not to mention showing off a whole lot of other things.
"The Dragon Gods are reawakening then?" Aigul asked, walking over with Serac.
"You...you know about that?" I inquired.
"Stories from my village elders. My people have always been close to the spiritual sides of the world. We seek out the ancient knowledge lost in today's modern times." he told us, "I believe there is much we need to talk about."
"Yeah, it is a long story." I nodded.
"Hmmm..." Aigul knelt down and took hold of my tail, "A most fascinating phenomena. One that depicts further study."
"Excuse me, I'm not anybody's lab rat." I growled.
"My apologies. I didn't mean it in an insulting manner."
Serac and Mirage stared at each other in confusion.
"Jade, do you know about the fire attacks just now?" Firestorm asked.
"You guys helped out with that one."
"No. We were too baffled to do anything until right at the end of the fight." Firestorm shook his head. "I don't know what you saw it as, but you spit the flames out from YOUR mouth."
Surprisingly, that revelation wasn't as shocking as the ones before. Still, I'd probably gotten more than enough shocks in the past five minutes.
"I dunno, it's like you're somehow turning into a Charizard or something." Firestorm continued, rubbing his chin.
"WHAT?!" I yelled, "There's NO way I want to become a fat, ugly, stupid, bad breathed, dino-brained dragon like you!"
"We'll see who has the last laugh on that one." He calmly replied.
Aigul stood silent, obviously with a lot on his mind, but not wanting to voice any of it.
As much as I hated to admit it, I though Firestorm was right.
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Nightslice
"So, it's this one, right?" I asked, comparing the map and the building in front of us.
[Yes, definitely.] Riptide said. [Fuchsia City Gym.]
I clenched a fist and walked up to the door of the Japanese building. Right now, I needed some help and I felt this was the only way I could get any. Kris was a childhood friend of the leader, Koga. I'd personally seen the Ninja only once, briefly during the attack on Silph Company.
The others had given me some additional information and I'd come up with a way to convince the gym leader to help me. At least I hoped I had.
"Hello?" I asked, banging a fist on the door. "Anybody there?"
When there was no reply, I tried the handle and found the door unlocked. I cautiously pushed it open and stared down the dark corridor.
"Hello?" I called again. I had one hand on the tranquilizer pistol, although not my ideal weapon of choice, certainly better than none.
[This smells like a trap.] Jolteon... Luminair muttered.
"I know. But I have to go. For Kris."
Using what knowledge I had of detecting traps, I examined the immediate area and carefully stepped inside.
They do not want to make this easy...
Walking down the corridor, I heard a soft click and immediately jumped, shoving the others back. Though it seemed as if nothing had happened, I reached forward and found myself tapping an invisible wall. Just one of the many traps set up throughout the dojo.
A growl from Luminair alerted me to yet another impending danger. I heard it too, the whirl of metal objects cutting through the air. I rolled towards the left and sprang into a defensive stance, narrowly avoiding the rows of shurikens that imbedded themselves in the wooden flooring.
"Impressive reflexes." A female voice spoke.
I turned to face an attractive female Ninja in an electric pink outfit. A bit of an odd color choice, I thought, but at least it had given me some confirmation to her identity. Koga's younger sister.
"You must be Ia." I said, still holding my stance, "I don't mean to sound rude, but I must speak with your brother immediately."
"For what purpose?"
"A friend of his, Kris Invorce, in grave danger. I am a friend who wishes to help her."
The girl hesitated, unsure of what course of action to take.
"Please, just pass him this message. He'll know." I said with more resolution in my voice. "I'll wait outside if..."
"No, please come this way." She gestured. "I will get my brother for you."
My party was led into a Japanese style waiting room with two couches. The door behind us immediately slammed shut.
"What the?" I gasped, spinning around. Only then did I realize my mistake and turned my attention back to Ia. Unfortunately, the Ninja had already disappeared, the only other door on the far side slamming shut as well.
I cursed my own stupidity for letting my guard down. However, I also had to take point and gave some silent commands to the Pokemon. Luminair, Ahsura and Riptide took defensive positions, ready to fight.
Anxiously, we awaited what they had in store for us.
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Kris
The haze surrounding me finally lifted.
I was lying on some cold metal surface. The whole place seemed to saw back and forth until I realized it was the sea. This was a boat and the waves were brushing against it as it sped through the water.
Memories came back...not very promising ones. Ones of this nightmare. I was still Scyther; I could feel the claws and my wings.
Finally I gathered up the strength and courage to open my eyes. The sight that greeted me was something I never wanted to see ever again.
I was in a cage, stashed in the cargo hold of an unknown ship. All around, cages filled with many other Pokemon lined the walls and shelves. All doomed to a horrible future, whether they knew it or not.
I could actually understand them too. The few legible words that were spoken basically reassembled those of a bunch of inmates being shipped off to the nearest jail.
There were three Team Rocket members standing nearby, two men and a younger woman. All three had their caps pulled low, so I couldn't see their faces.
"Look, its awake." One of the men noticed me getting up.
"Good, at least we know you didn't kill it with too much drugs." His male colleague said.
"Well, how was I supposed to know? The logistics guy was on leave."
"You still pumped it with the whole bloody syringe. And how many CCs was that? Heck, even I don't know!" The guy shook his head. "It just isn't cost efficient to kill em' after all the trouble we went through."
"OK, time out boys!" the woman cut in. "That's the only Scyther we got today and they're pretty much in demand. Better start taming it now."
"You're asking us?" The first man asked.
"Well, you're the guys."
"Oh, fine then."
I tried to look intimidating and growled menacingly as he approached.
"Hey, take it easy there." He frowned, reaching of a bundle of keys. "We can do this the easy way, or the hard way, whichever you like it."
[Grrrr...just try it tough guy!] I threatened, although he clearly didn't understand me.
I waited until the lock clicked open, then snapped at his fingers with my teeth, causing him to jump back in pain.
"Ow! Damn! You'll pay for that!" He cursed.
"Don't blame your own mistakes on the beast, it doesn't know any better." The other male laughed. "Besides, with a face like yours, I'd want to chew your hands off too!"
The Rocket turned back to yell at his colleague. Examining the door and taking into account my own anatomy, I came up with a course of action. With the tip of my claw, I carefully lifted the latch on the outside of the door and pushed it away. I waited till the Rocket came back within range, then kicked the door open. The agent cried out in surprise as the metal door slammed into his face.
With a triumphant roar, I leapt out and attacked the other man before he could do anything, slashing him across the face and knocking him down.
Now, just the girl and I can get...
I never even saw it coming. All of a sudden, pain simply exploded into my brain. I was both tasting my own blood and seeing it in my field of vision. The whip crackled as the female agent withdrew it.
"Hurry! Restrain it!" she yelled.
I tired to run, but the barbed whip caught me on my left thigh, cutting through to the flesh beneath my thick hide. I stumbled forward and was immediately lashed again and again along the back, disabling the use of my wings.
Screaming out in pure agony, I slashed around blindly, my vision hampered by the blood in my eyes.
A thin wire loop was thrown around my neck and another around my mouth. The torment intensified as both were pulled back, sealing my mouth shut and choking me at the same time. I was forced to move with them or risk having the sharp wires cut my throat open.
I was desperately trying to balance when the whip was lashed against my ribs. As thick as a Scyther's scales were, they certainly didn't help much.
I was continuously whipped in the chest, making it even harder to breathe. Before I knew it, more wires were around my arms and being pulled back. The men twisted my claws at an angle where I couldn't bend them to cut the wires.
In desperation, I tugged hard with my head and neck, not caring about the consequences. Somehow, that managed to de-stabilize the two men with the wires in each of their hands. I heard both cry out as they fell.
In spite of my blurred vision, I saw the light from the exit up ahead. Making a mad dash, I got five steps before the whip attack to my back took me down again. I was lashed again as I struggled to get up.
I don't know how long I struggled for, but the female Rocket was still lashing me with the whip.
[No!] I cried out in anguish, [Please...stop. I beg you! PLEASE!]
However, still speaking in Pokemon tongue, no one understood me.
As I looked up at the female Rocket, I found myself staring at...me. Not literally of course, but a vision of myself, back when I was in Team Rocket.
I saw myself, with the whip, lashing away mercilessly.
[No...]
Firestorm...back in Team Rocket, I'd done much of this to him. I'd put him through this by my own hand.
Storm...was I...this kind of a monster? I'm...so sorry...my friend. You hid...your emotional scars so well...you always smiled. You said to forget it, it was all in the past. And I...I took it...
My senses were beginning to fade away into darkness. I silently beckoned the blackout to relieve me of this torture.
I...should've...known.... Firestorm...
I've heard they say
you can never truly understand what someone has been through till you've
stepped into their shoes. How painfully right they are...