-21: Exploring the Union Cave, Nightslice / Yorukiru discovers more secrets regarding the genetic experiments performed years ago ...

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.

The Chimera Saga and the Legendary Dragons belong to Theo 'Blitz' Leung and are used with permission.

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The Lapras of the Lake

By Gregory Stephen nightdragon0@hotmail.com

Jade

The sun shone onto my face, arousing me. It was streaming in through several cracks in the ceiling.

This cavern that I'd found was small, but partially concealed as well. I was using this area as a temporary home, resting before carrying on with my journey west.

I had to be cautious through; humans sometimes came to the fields and surrounding areas. Where there were humans, I knew I couldn't stay for long. I certainly had no desire to be added to their collection of slaves.

There was a decent amount of prey here and I generally had my fill. Still, I knew that time had come for me to move on. I stretched my muscles a little, deciding that there was time for one last meal.

I swiftly stopped and lay still when I heard the fluttering of wings. By some luck, a couple of Pidgey had chosen a branch just outside my cavern on which to roost.

Ah, the meal comes to me. I chuckled happily.

However, the pair begun discussing something that made me hesitate and listen.

[You heard about the Charizard around these parts?] One asked.

[The Spearow are all talking about it. But I don't really trust 'em.] His companion replied. [Those birdbrains couldn't tell a Charizard from a Charmander.]

[But what if they're right?] The first continued.

[Anyway, it should be moving west, just like the others they talk about.]

[What others?]

[Oh, haven't you heard anything? They say that many Charizard head west of here, towards a high mountain range with fierce winds and harsh grounds. They say there lies a hidden valley, a sacred place where only the mightiest Charizard may live.]

[Oh, it was that one? The story about the 'Valley of the Charizard'?]

[Yeah. Seems like this Charizard may not make it if he's into hiding so much.]

All the time, I had been slowly creeping closer and closer. I was practically right beneath them as they continued their discussion.

[Well, for all you know, he could be right under our breaks.]

[Indeed.] I roared, pouncing. I gave both the benefit of a swift death, a couple of bites and a quick swallow. [Hahaha ... information tidbits.] I laughed to myself.

I had some firm directions now. I most certainly deserved that place.

I would go then, to this 'Charisific Valley'. To join the most powerful of my brethren.

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Nightslice

"This is it, it seems." I commented, shining my torchlight. "Union Cave."

"Boy, sure is creepy at night." Hazuki said, shivering. "We just did have to come out at midnight, didn't we?"

Whether it was from fear or from the cold night air, I couldn't tell.

"You can go back to the Pokemon Center if you want to, Hazuki."

"No way! I can do whatever you can!" She lowered her voice to a whisper. "Whether you're a Pokemon God or not!"

In the two weeks I'd spent traveling with her, Hazuki had proven to be quite capable of handling herself. It was a little hard for her to get used to my story at first, but after a few more 'demonstrations', she was convinced. Hazuki was a prodigy at picking up on Pokemon language too, making communicating with the rest of the party easier.

I'd made it a point to avoid larger towns and cities, stopping only at smaller ones or outlying motels. I still feared I had other enemies on my tail, but surprisingly, nothing had come up during our journey so far.

I'd pretty much expected Alugard to show up, or a bunch of military guys trying to capture me for lab experiments, or even Team Rocket, but there had been nothing. Unfortunately, that only served to make my 'bad' feeling worse.

I had my own personal quest, however, and I could let nothing deter me from that.

"All right then. Stay close." I looked over to the Pokemon. "You too guys."

[Right!] Ahsura, Luminair and Riptide nodded.

Following the glow of the fox-shaped pendant, I led the way through the dark cave. It was a maze of tunnels with various Pokemon like Sandshrew and Digletts running about. Fortunately for us, they did their best to avoid our lights and left our party alone.

Even in human form, I still had pretty decent night vision. That was how I spotted that concealed entrance leading down.

As I shone my torchlight down into the hole, a swarm of Zubat suddenly emerged from it.

"EEEEaarrggghh!" Hazuki screamed, startling the rest of us as well.

"Calm down." I growled. "It's just a bunch of Zubat."

"Yeah. Don't worry." She forced a nervous smile.

The glowing light in the center of the pendant formed an arrow that pointed downwards.

"Ahsura, I need you to lower me down there."

[No problem.] The Ivysaur replied.

"Are you sure it's safe, Yorukiru-san?" Hazuki asked. She'd gotten used to addressing me by the human alias I'd come up with for myself.

"I've done things worse then jumping down holes." I assured, as Ahsura wrapped his vines around my waist.

"I guess." She nodded, stepping away. Hazuki backed into a wall by mistake, causing an Ekans to drop down onto her shoulder.

"Ekkkaaannssssssss!" The snake hissed.

Hazuki's face went bluish-white.

"AAAAARRRGGGGHHHH! Help! Help! Help! Get it off! HELP ME!" She yelled wildly, throwing the snake off and running round in circles.

(Doing a pretty good impersonation of Misty when she sees a bug Pokemon. Everyone else sweatdrops.)

[With a scream like that, she could wake the dead.] Luminair said, cringing.

[Yeah, no kidding.] Riptide agreed.

"OK, funs over. Let's get moving." I waved to get everyone's attention.

"Hey ... whew ... you're ... not ... gonna comfort me after that ordeal?" Hazuki panted, with her hands on her knees.

"Oh really? Hey Luminair, go give her a nice long licking."

[With pleasure.] The Jolteon grinned.

"No! No! I'll be ... urk!"

Luminair pounced on her and started licking her face.

"Heheheh! Stop it! That tickles! Hey! Luminair!"

With that done, Ahsura lowered me down the hole. It didn't turn out to be very deep, but as I examined the area around it, the pendant pointed down, into another hole.

"It's not deep, so you guys can just jump down!" I called back up to my friends. "But it looks like we'll be doing quite a bit of climbing."

Our party descended three levels before arriving at a huge, underground lake. The place looked practically ancient, like nature had taken great pains to conceal it from any trespassers.

[This lake has never seen the sun for thousand of years.] Riptide commented.

"Wow." Hazuki gasped. "Looks like it stretches out all the way beneath the Union Cave."

"Well, time I went for a little swim." I threw off my vest and shirt and started doing a few stretches.

"B ... But, don't you know what they say about swimming in dark waters like this?" Hazuki asked.

"Oh, what they say about the monsters at night? Pah, they're just fairy tales your mothers tell you so you don't go swimming at night. But I'm a professional."

[Yeah right.] Riptide muttered.

"Shut up." I whispered to him. "Anyway Hazuki, I need you to wait here with Ahsura and Luminair to look after our equipment."

"All right, I can do that." She nodded.

"Riptide, let's go!" Together with the Golduck, we dove into the dark waters and begun swimming across the underground lake.

Suddenly, I heard Hazuki scream.

"What is it?!" I asked, trapping water and holding my position.

"There was ... something there!" She cried, pointing the flashlight at a spot in the water.

I was more than 10 feet from shore and Riptide was much further on, being able to swim faster than me.

"What?" I asked, turning over to where she shone the light.

"I was moving the light around ... and I saw a shadow!" She insisted. "But ... it's gone now."

[You're seeing things kid.] Luminair growled.

"It really was there! I saw it!"

I frowned.

"Luminair, keep a look out." I ordered.

I continued on for a while more until Hazuki cried out again.

"I definitely saw it this time!" She said, pointing her flashlight.

[You know, I think she may be right.] Luminair muttered.

[Something stinks.] Ahsura commented.

"Look there to your left!" Hazuki pointed.

I turned my head and saw nothing at first. However, I then noticed the bubbles that were rising to the surface. They stopped after a while.

I heard a soft 'splash' from behind and turned round to see the water stirring slightly.

"Riptide?" I called out.

[Over here!] He replied. The Golduck was far away from my position.

I was genuinely scared now. If it wasn't him that made the splash, then who was it? Or what?

[There is something in there...] Luminair growled.

[Really.] Ahsura nodded.

"Riptide, can you see it?" I asked.

[No, it's pitch black under water.] He said.

"Go psychic." I told him.

[Good idea. I'll just ... yargh!]

The Golduck was suddenly dragged underwater.

"Riptide!"

[Riptide!]

While everyone else was screaming, I was nearly paralyzed with fear. It wasn't so much as fear of the enemy, but rather of the element of the unknown.

"Get out of the water!" Hazuki screamed.

Adrenaline was pumping into my system. Every instinct was telling my to run, or on this case, swim for it. But my sense of honor told me I couldn't leave Riptide to the mercy of that monster. I silently cursed myself for leaving my sword back on shore.

Ignoring my better judgment, I swam towards the flight. With all the water and splashing everywhere, it was impossible to see anything.

Suddenly, Riptide was thrown out of the water. The stunned Golduck landed on a rocky outcropping and lay still. Leaving me alone the water.

The creature abruptly went back underwater instead of coming for me.

I floated there, in the middle of the lake, waiting for it to surface. Several uneasy moments passed. The suspense was absolutely killing me.

Hazuki was shining the light around, trying to help find it. Luminair and Ahsura were yelling for me to get back to shore. Riptide was still unconscious. Finally, I managed to get my muscles to move and I started swimming like I was in the Olympic Games.

Then, a black shape arose in front of me.

"HOLY SH----!!!!" I never got to complete that, being shoved underwater.

I forced my eyes open, only to see the pitch-blackness of the water. I reached out blindly and surprisingly grabbed onto something. It was the scaly neck of the monster.

Apparently, it felt me too and begun struggling and trying to shake me off. I held on with all that I was worth, at the same time pushing myself up towards its head.

My lungs were already screaming from the lack of oxygen. I took a chance and pushed myself forward. I thanked god that I caught onto its lower jaw. Its head wasn't really too big and I was able to, with much difficult, wrap my legs around its jaws.

I ended up wrestling it like that Crocodile Hunter on TV. It surfaced occasionally during the struggle, allowing me to catch a breath. Everyone was screaming at once, but I couldn't make out anything.

<Hold on buddy! > Riptide's telepathic voice was a welcomed turn of events. <I'm coming! >

There was more splashing as the Golduck joined in the fray. It was a tag-team, underwater wrestling match.

"Luminair!" I heard Hazuki say as my head went above water. "Thunder attack!"

Thunder?! WHAT THE F***! DON'T DO TH---!

That was when I felt the electrical charge of the lightning elemental attack.

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Hazuki

"Yorukiru-san!" I shook the unconscious Pokemon/human. "Please wake up! Oh, maybe that wasn't such a good idea."

[Damn, this is what I get for being so used to taking orders from females.] Luminair groaned.

Ahsura had just finished dragging Riptide back to shore and was swimming out again to drag in our 'monster'. The Golduck was conscious, groaning and stirring about.

[Hey sorry about that man.] Luminair walked over to him and licked his face.

[Ugh ... don't worry. I had a Light Screen activated.] Riptide moaned. [But you should worry about Nightslice. When he wakes up, the first thing he's gonna say is 'Hazuki, I'm going to kill you'.]

[Guys, check this out!] Ahsura called. He was dragging something big up to shore.

I was too far away to see exactly what it was. I reached for the flashlight when Nightslice started coughing.

"Yorukiru-san! Are you all right?" I asked, kneeling down.

"Hazuki, I'm going to kill you!" He growled angrily.

"Well, at least it worked out OK, didn't it?" I asked, helping him to his feet.

" 'OK' is not the word I'd use for a near death experience." He practically yelled. "You're lucky I'm a Pokemon in human form, or else you could've shocked me to death."

"Sorry ... " I sighed.

[Guys, take a look!] Luminair said excitedly.

The three Pokemon had already gathered around our 'monster form the deep'. I picked up a flashlight and shone it in their direction.

"A Lapras!" Nightslice gasped, walking over.

"Wow!" I ran over and knelt down beside it.

I'd read a lot about these fantastic water Pokemon, but this was my first time seeing one. It was unconscious now, but Ahsura had his vines wrapped around its neck and upper body, just in case. Not too tightly through, he didn't want to choke it to death.

"It's a male adult." Nightslice commented. "Wonder what's it doing down here?"

"Can I keep him, please?" I asked, giving Nightslice a teary-eyed look.

"Well, since you did give the command that knocked it out, fine." He tossed me an empty Pokeball from his belt.

The Lapras then stirred. He opened his eyes and looked up at me, holding the Pokeball.

[NO! NO!] He screamed, panicked. [Please don't catch me! Please don't take me back there! Please!!! I don't want to go back!!!]

Ahsura struggled with all his might to restrain the Lapras.

"Go back where?" Nightslice asked, surprised.

The Lapras suddenly stopped struggling.

[You ... you understand me?]

"Yes, I do."

[You, really understand me?!]

"Yes, really. But what ... "

[I don't believe it!] The Lapras cried happily, jumping forward, knocking Nightslice over and licking his face. [After all these years, someone actually understands me!]

"Ow! Ow! I'm happy for you too." Nightslice moaned. "But please get off and you can explain yourself."

"Yes, what was that about not want to go back?" I asked.

[To that ... lab.] He said, cringing.

"Were you an experimental Pokemon or something?" Nightslice asked, getting to his feet.

[I'm not really a Lapras, or even a Pokemon for that matter.] He said. [I'm a human, like you. Or, I was anyway. A long time ago...]

A tear fell down onto my hand. I reached out and wiped his face. It was hard to believe, but he sincerely looked like he was telling the truth. Either that or he was an exceptional actor.

"Will you explain then?" Nightslice asked, still playing cautious.

[My name's Kyle.] He nodded sadly. [I was a researcher, working at a lab. It was a top-secret thing and my job was just to collect test results. But my curiosity got the better of me and I tried to hack into some of the files. It sounded an alarm and guards barged in, and I got shot. After that, I only remember being held inside glass tanks and such. Then, I was somehow in the body of a Lapras. I kept crying out, but no one ever understood me...]

The memories were definitely very painful to him. He started sobbing at this point and I put my arms around his head, trying to comfort him.

"This lab you were at, was it an under sea one?" Nightslice queried.

[Yes.] Kyle nodded. [But I no longer remember where it was or what I was doing.]

"But how did you get down here then?" I asked.

[They preformed all sorts of experiments on me, and then they dumped me here. This is where I've been ever since. I only saw humans come down here a few times, but I scared them off in fear for myself and they eventually stopped coming. I don't even know how long it's been. The last year I can remember is 1983.]

"Geez, that's 15 years, give or take a few." I gasped.

[Has it ... really been that long?] He asked. His failed attempt to put on a smile instantly made me regret my sentence.

"Under sea lab, 1983. The year that Storm and I escaped, blowing it up behind us." Nightslice was talking to himself.

"What's that about?" I asked.

"Oh, it seems similar to the lab I was raised in. It could just be coincidence through." He replied. "Kyle, I think I can trust you with my story ... "

He went on to tell Kyle about his past, his real one, and our current situation.

The human-turned-Lapras took it in more easily than I had. When you've been through something like he had, I suppose it's not too difficult.

[I'm afraid I can't remember what I used to do in that lab.] He spoke. [But about your 'dragon', well I've heard growls and roars echoing from further inside the cave. I've lived in constant fear that that 'thing' would come and eat me when he felt like it. Luckily, the fact that this lake is isolated by itself gave me some reassurance.]

"Can you take us to the 'dragon'?" Nightslice asked.

[I can definitely take you across this lake.] Kyle assured. [There's a shallow stream that I can't cross, but I believe that there are more interconnected waterways that I can use if you bring me to them. But I have on condition: that you take me along with you. After these years of living down here in darkness, eating nothing but small fish, living in fear of both that dragon and scientists coming back for me, anything would be better than this.]

"We'd ... " Nightslice begun.

"Definitely!" I cut him off. "Say, do you think you could, well, be my Pokemon? If you don't mind me asking."

"Hazuki." Nightslice gave me an annoyed stare.

[Don't worry about it Hazuki. For someone as cute as you,] He winked. [I'd definitely be honored. Well, enough talking. Climb on my back and let's go find your dragon!]

"Wow, thanks." I smiled.

"Well, you've officially commandeered this Lapras." Nightslice sighed, shoving the Pokeball into my hand.

Everyone clambered onto Kyle's back. The Lapras grunted, but failed to move.

[Erm ... guys, I just remembered I'm not too good out of water, especially with passengers.] He laughed sheepishly. [Could you get me back in the water, please?]

(Everyone else faints.)

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Nightslice

Kyle had said it would be a smooth journey, but if he calls rapids and a waterfall smooth, then I wonder what's his version of rough? Hazuki was actually laughing like she was on a water theme park ride.

The waterfall wasn't really very high, and was probably more like a diving board to Kyle. Still, I did fall off, so I was rather pissed.

Anyway, we eventually found ourselves going along a long, underground pathway. It was a flooded cavern with no land, just a tunnel half-filled with water. It would've been a tiring swim if not for Kyle.

"Geez, it's like this tunnel goes on forever." Hazuki commented. "I don't think we're under Union cave anymore."

"Let's see, we're headed in a slightly North-Western direction." I looked at the compass. "Not sure if there's any significance through."

[Don't ask me guys.] Kyle turned his head back towards us. [I don't really know this part either.]

"Erm ... guys, can I ask what happens if we run into a whirlpool?" Hazuki suddenly asked.

[We avoid it, why?] Kyle remarked.

"Great, cause there's one right in front of us!"

"F***! Kyle get away from it!" I yelled. We'd gotten too caught up in our discussion to shine our flashlights in front of us.

[Damn! I think I'm already caught in its pull!] Kyle was suddenly jerked to the left, causing Riptide to fall off.

[I'm OK!] He gasped. [Don't think ... we can fight it! Just hold your breath and go with the flow!]

The Golduck's warning came not a moment too soon. Kyle was tipped over, shoving the rest of us off. Holding my breath, I grabbed onto Hazuki's shirt just as the force of the whirlpool pulled us away.

I closed my eyes, spinning off into the darkness.

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Sabrina

I watched the Sliph Company truck roll away from the Saffron Gym, almost disappointed.

I knew that someone from the company had been trying to kidnap me. Back when I was 'evil', so to say, I'd simply killed any poor fool who'd tried that. There was no official proof that they were from Sliph, but I sensed it.

The attempts stopped after a while, around the time I met the boy, Ash, who got me to change and reunite with my better half. Then, Kris had come along. She seemed to have enough to do already, so I decided against adding my personal problems to hers.

I was certainly no damsel in distress waiting a handsome knight to show up from nowhere and rescue me.

The recently deceased President had obviously not been in power, having been played out by one of his subordinates. His death had definitely been set up, as was his son's, whom they'd deemed guilty of killing his father. I suspected the current President was the real mastermind behind all of this, although there was no proof as usual.

I had taken a chance while the previous President was alive and ordered a bunch of the new 'warp panels', hoping that they'd think I had let my guard down. I'd been fully prepared for them to strike, and catch them in action, but nothing had happened.

The workers sent, I sensed, were just a bunch of lowly grunts. My subordinates and I had checked almost three times afterwards for radio bugs and traps, only to find none.

They don't seem too worried about me at all. Like they've got something else in mind ...

The videophone beeped and I picked it up.

"Yes Koga, my phone isn't bugged. So how may I help you?"

"Same as always." The Fuchsia City Gym leader laughed from the other end. "But we have some business to discuss. An old 'friend' of mine, Alken, recently contacted me. And it has some relation to that 'vision' you told me about, plus your good friend Nightslice ... "

Koga went on to tell me what he'd learnt from the Scyther-turned-human about Kris' disappearance. And then from Alken about TR's and Sliphs' secret war and their Chimera Project, the experiment to blend human and Pokemon DNA. Jade had apparently been targeted as a Chimera, putting him at risk.

"Unfortunately, even I can't contact any of them at this distance." I told him.

"Even if you could, we risk not only putting them in greater peril, but also ourselves as well." Koga replied. "So, we have to provide aid in a more 'shadowed' method."

"You do know that I'm not a ninja master like you."

"Of course. I would just like you to keep a watch out on Sliph and see if they do anything big. Besides, I heard they've got a new building in Saffron as their headquarters since Kris and company blew it up."

"And it's two blocks away from the old one, while it's being rebuilt." I finished. "I would say it's a bad omen, but I suspect they want to watch their property closely."

"Meanwhile, I'm going to see if I can check up on Team Rocket." He said. "It's a big job, so it may take a while. And while I'm at this, I believe there are a few other Gym Leaders I could trust with this. Some even from Johto. I'll see if I can persuade them to help."

"So, it's settled then." I nodded.

"Indeed. Good luck."

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Nightslice

I groaned, coughing out excess water from my system. Around me, most of the others were doing the same. At least we'd ended up on dry land.

"Is everybody all right?" I asked.

"Yeah, fine." Hazuki gasped.

[Ouch, that was a real spin.] Kyle commented.

The others just gave affirmative nods.

"But where are we?" Hazuki asked, looking around.

We were in a much larger cavern with a pool of water behind us. I guessed that that was how we'd gotten in. There was some light seeping into this cavern, like it was nearer to the surface.

"So, we meet again Nightslice." A deep voice growled.

"Kioi?" I gasped, looking towards the figure. The Legendary Fighting Dragon stood several feet away, with his arms folded.

"Luckily, I heal pretty fast." He grinned, smashing his fists together. "So I can give your a little payback from our previous battle."

"Hey, I'm supposed to be the one talking here." A female voice said. "My vacuum whirlpools certainly deserve to be mentioned first, don't they?"

Another dragon stepped into view. She was smaller than her companion, a ‘plump’ lizard like dragon that currently walked on all fours. She had bright blue scales like the color of water and something like a 'sail' along her back.

"Issui, it's a fact that no one ever enjoys your whirlpools." Kioi said.

"IDIOT!" Issui whacked him in the shin with her tail.

"Ow! Hey, lighten up girl, that was just a joke."

"Just shut up and fight already. You know it's the drill before we can say anything."

"Yeah, I know." Kioi muttered. "Just watch yourself, Issui."

"Don't concern yourself with my well-being. I'd be more worried about yours, considering what happened to you the last time you fought him."

"Hey! That's a low blow Issui!" He protested.

"Oh really? As low as this?!" The female dragon whacked him in the shin again.

"Ow! Ow! Ow!" He moaned, holding his leg. "You don't have proper shins, so you don't know how much that hurts!"

"That's lucky for me then!" She continued, giving him a third smack for good measure.

(Everyone else sweatdrops.)

"Geez, these two fight like an old married couple." Hazuki whispered to me.

That gave me an idea.

"Hey, you two in a relationship or something?" I called out cheerfully.

"NO!" Both dragons simultaneously yelled back.

"Well, certainly looks like it." I grinned. "What was that they say? 'You always hate the one you love'."

"Grrrr ... that's it! You're mine!" Issui growled furiously.

"Come on then! You're about to see some fireworks!" I crossed my hands in front on my chest, hoping that I could tap into my Forbidden powers. I didn't want to turn the Knight Blazer on her, but there was something else I could do.

"Matrix, activate!"

This was one of my hidden abilities that I hadn't used for a long time. I closed my eyes as I felt the changes begin. My body was shifting back to its original Scyther form. But it was also becoming clad in a golden armor.

I pictured it in my mind: the mask covering my face, leaving just his eyes, mouth and end the snout exposed. Three sharp horns, one on the nose and two at the back of the head. Shoulders covered with a straight set of golden shoulder pads. Likewise for the upper body with a golden chest plate. At back of the body armor was the symbol of the Yin and Yang. A pair of shin pads that stretched from the lower legs down and around the feet.

With a roar, I swiped my sword-like claws against each other, making a 'swish' as if it'd been done with a pair of swords, showing off the armor to my awestruck comrades.

"Hmmm ... the Matrix ability. Haven't seen that one in a while." Kioi muttered.

"Pah, I can take him on!" Issui roared, charging.

I met her attack head on, our fore claws clashing repeatedly before I jumped up and gave her a two-legged kick in the chest. She recovered in mid-air, landed on four legs and fired off a Hydro Pump.

I somersaulted away and landed beside my friends.

"Not bad ... " I growled. "But try this!"

I opened the hidden sections beneath the shoulder panels and fired off several energy blasts in Issui's direction. The water dragon swiftly dodged each one, and attacked before I had a chance to defend myself. The Faint Attack caught me in the chest, sending me flying back into the wall.

"Aargh!" The blow felt a lot harder than it should've been.

"Yorukiru-san!" Hazuki and the Pokemon (except for Kyle, who was still lying on the shore) came running over. "You changed back!"

"Shimatta!" I cursed, realizing that I was back in human form. (Here, it means something along the lines of 'dammit' in Japanese.)

"Too bad it's hard to maintain when you waste all your energy missing." Issui taunted.

Unfortunately, she was right in a way. This fight was going to get messy after all.

"Luminair, you and I are going to fight that b***h." I instructed, drawing my sword. "Everyone else, keep Kioi out of it."

"And how about me?" Hazuki asked.

"You can fight Kioi." I grinned as I ran off.

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Hazuki

He wanted me to what?!

Too late to protest through. Nightslice and Luminair had already rushed the water dragon and the three seemed to be engaged in an Agility competition. Leaving the fighting dragon to come charging with his head lowered.

I cried out as I back away, but an Ice Beam abruptly hit the ground in front of him, creating an ice wall that temporarily stopping the dragon.

[That won't hold him for long!] Kyle, who'd fired the beam, warned.

Kioi promptly shattered the ice wall. Riptide stepped forward and fired his Hydro Pump, which Kioi blocked by folding his wings in front of himself, like shields. Kyle joined in with his own water attack.

<Get the tranquilizer gun! > Riptide telepathically told me.

"Yeah, good idea." I dug the pistol out of Nightslice's backpack. "Oh, how does it work again?"

[It's something about pulling the safety switch.] Ahsura said, running over to me.

"I think I found it. There! Yikes!" The gun accidentally went off in my hands. Sending a dart right into Riptide's behind.

[Hey! What was that ... ugh.] The Golduck fell over and begun snoring.

"Oops! I'm sorry!" I cried, letting the gun slip out of my hand. It fell, hit the floor and went off again.

[Thanks a lot...] Kyle muttered, before going joining Riptide in dreamland.

"Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!" I panicked, bringing my hands up to my mouth.

Without the barrage of water to hold him back, Kioi came forward.

[Don't worry! I will protect you, my lady!] Ahsura declared, wrapping his vines around Kioi's neck and pulling them taunt. [Ha! How you like that?!]

"GGrrrrr...." Kioi looked very pissed as he grabbed onto the Ivysaur's vines and lifted him up.

[Help! This is gonna huuuurrrrrttttttt!!!!!!!] Ahsura yelled as Kioi swung him round in circles like a yo-yo before chucking the unfortunate grass type into the water.

Leaving just the dragon and me.

"Just one little girl, I see." He laughed.

"Eep ... " I muttered, backing off.

Nightslice had taught me a few things about fighting and had helped to fashion a staff for me. It was about the length of my arm and made out of some hard wood. That was what I pulled out as I tossed my backpack aside.

"Stay back!" I ordered, holding the short staff out. Somehow, my voice didn't come out as intimidating as I'd hoped for it to be.

"Oh my, a stick. I'm soooooooo scared." Kioi grinned sarcastically.

"I'm warning you!"

"Mahahahahah! Watcha gonna do? Hit me with that stick?"

Kioi suddenly begun charging towards me. I screamed as I stepped backwards. As I did so, I stepped on a rock and slipped, falling onto my back.

It so happened that that was the moment Kioi was upon me. The motion caused me to slide between his legs, considering how tall he was. But you can guess that, as I went down, my staff went up.

It so happened that the staff was between Kioi's legs.

The dragon's eyes practically popped out of their sockets as he got hit, well, in 'that' place. As in, the one no guy wants to be hit in. His scream was just as loud as he fell, leaving me sitting there, still in a state of shock.

When I finally could feel my heart beating again, I realized the dragon was lying facedown next to me, moaning and clutching his groin area. Then I looked over to Nightslice, who was still battling Issui.

Luminair was lying off to the side, having been knocked out cold. Nightslice was swinging his sword to counter Issui's claw attacks. He got a little careless and received a blow to his sword arm, causing him to drop the sword in pain. Issui immediately slashed his face, leaving a bloody claw mark across his left cheek.

"AARRGGHH!" Nightslice screamed in outrage.

Wiping his face with his arm, he gave her a very fierce stare before charging. It looked as if he was going to attack with his bare hands, but then he flashed, and changed into his Scyther form. The normal green one, that is.

Issui lashed out at him, but he parried her attack and threw a Skull Bash right into her chest. The water dragon flew into the wall and finally lay still.

"Yorukiru-san?" I ran over to the kneeling Scyther and put a hand on his shoulder.

"What happened?" He panted, looking over himself. "I'm back ... in my own body!"

"The magic component that changed you has been broken." Issui said, lifting her head. "Using your Forbidden Powers destabilized whatever had been done to you before. However, you still must solve the part science played in this ... "

"Kris?" He asked.

"Yes. If you remain like this, you will be able to switch back and forth between human and Pokemon forms. This is due to the greater strength of your Forbidden powers. But your half 'sister' cannot. Only you can restore her to her true form now."

"Kris ... "He said softly. "Hold on, just a while more. I'm coming ... "

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Kris

Somehow, I regained consciousness. My sense of smell told me I was back in the cell before my blurred vision did. I hadn't expected to live through that. I would've been much happier if that creature had killed me outright.

Yet, I clung on to life, but why?

[You're awake.] A voice said. A Pokemon voice. In my weakened state, I'd failed to detect another presence in the cell.

I did my best to sit up and defend myself, but the pain that shot through my body forced me back down.

[Relax I'm a friend.] The voice came closer. I found myself looking up into the face of a Skarmory. [You're pretty badly beat up, so try to get some rest.]

[You talk...] I muttered.

[You sound so surprised.] The Skarmory laughed. [We all do, of course.]

[No, it's just, no Pokemon or human has ever talked to me like this, well since I got thrown in here.]

[That because they don't know what you truly are, Swordia. Or perhaps I should call you Kris.]

This time, I didn't let the pain stop me from bolting up and holding my claws in front of me for defense

[How did you know that?! Who or what are you anyway?! And ...] I'd noticed an orange armband tied around my right arm. [And what's this thing?!]

[Slow down, which question do you want answered first?]

[About you.] I demanded.

[Scantrix is my current name. And I am like you, a human once ... a long time ago.]

[What?!] I gasped.

Could it be true? Was I no longer alone? But could I trust this figure?

And yet, I didn't seem to have a choice ...