Chapter one: Trust Someone

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The embers of the rapidly dying fire flickered back and forth while two lone figures sat on a thick log that lie in front of it. Their supplies were strewn about in two piles behind them. The obviously larger of the two tore her gaze from the flame long enough to issue a command to her companion.

"Kurasai, you got any juice left?" She asked. The slender Quilava that sat on her left cooed its name before releasing white hot flames from its mouth and into the fading warmth. Any signs of the fire going out were completely washed away as it sprung to life with renewed vigor. The girl's pale blue eyes turned from nervous and slightly fearful to a more relaxed look, fear still evident in her eyes. She reached back along her belt-line and stuck a hand into her pocket, pulling out two more pokeballs.

"Okie Dokie, guys, get on out here, I'm starting to get really freaked out." She said, releasing the pokemon from their confinements. The first to bee seen in the dim firelight was giggling Sentret perched happily on it's fluffy brown tail. The girl quickly grabbed it and gave the ball of fluff a loving squeeze.

"Oooh, I hate the dark... It isn't fair." She said angrily into the Sentret's fur. The second pokemon, a Taillow, flapped its way onto the girls shoulder. She smiled kindly at it.

"I'm not a statue, so don't get any ideas... Wait, are you a girl?" She suddenly inquired, having just caught the pokemon hours before. The small bird puffed its chest indignantly and the girl smiled.

"Ahh, so you're a boy, eh?" She asked. The pokemon hopped onto her leg and turned to face her expectantly. The girl raised an eyebrow.

"What? Stop looking at me like- oh, you want a nickname, right?" She asked The small bird gave her a sharp squeeze on the leg in agreement. The girl tapped her chin in thought.

"Hmmmm. How about... Gaki?" She asked, in an almost joking manner, except the bird took to it right away, leaving the girl a flushed pink. Before she could have her say, the Taillow had already begun flying around in circles, chanting its newfound name in the native tongue. She groaned and gingerly dropped her head into her left hand while her right one hung limply at her side.

"Kurasai, please tell me I did not just name that bird Brat." She pleaded. The Quilava glanced at her, its eyes shining with mirth. The Sentret, hopping nearby, bounced up to her and poked her in the ribs with its tail. The girl patted it on the head before pulling out a pokeball.

"Okay Gaki, return." She said, calling back the happy bird. She sighed and laid across her back, hoping the dark would soon recede. An audible snap came from the forest and she shot up, her back ramrod straight, while her heart began beating furiously. Millions of images shot through her head, hungry Houndour, an angry Usaring. All of them after her imagination. A figure wearing a forest green cloak with a sword strapped to its back stepped out. Facial features were barely audible as the shadowed guest spoke.

"What kind of person are you to name an innocent pokemon such a cruel name?" Her voice was definitely feminine, but icy cold. She stepped out more to reveal steel blue eyes and ebony hair littered with an array of silver highlights. Eerily natural looking. Her pale face barely reflected in the firelight. The young trainer waved her hands in desperation.

"No no, yo see, he wanted a name an I was messin' around when I said that, he doesn't speak Japanese." She said quickly, placing her hand out.

"I'm Zeta. Man, you scared the living daylights out of me." She said hoping to make small talk. The girl eyed Zeta's hand, but did not take it, instead, looking back at the kind trainer.

"Why would you be so off guard as to be frightened by the mere snapping of a twig, or does my presence induce fear inside of you?" She asked, her steel voice devoid of visible emotion. Zeta looked to the starry sky for any help on the situation. None.

"I'm nyctophobic." She responded. The girl gave Zeta a hard glare.

"A ditz like you can say big words?" She asked. Zeta fell backward off the log from the sudden comment. She sprang forward for a comeback.

"I'm afraid of the dark, doofus." She replied. The girl's eyes shone with mockery, but she didn't smile.

"How old are you?" She asked. Zeta shrugged.

"I'm fourteen, why?" She responded.

"You act childish for a fourteen year old, are you retarded?" She inquired. Zeta's face flushed bright red.

"No, for your information, I have a short attention span and a hyperactive problem, and that's it!" She said angrily. The corner of the girl's lips nearly curved upward and she nodded.

"I'm Rally." Her icy voice had broken down a tone with that statement. Obviously, the girl had just started her journey maybe a week ago, probably because her parents wanted to make sure she wouldn't get off task or something. Zeta motioned to the empty spot next to her and Rally glanced at it.

"You gotta be cold, it's like, seventy degrees out." Zeta said. Rally shook her head.

"The cold doesn't affect me, but, my pokemon may need the warmth." She said, taking the seat. Her hands were hidden underneath the cloak that was draped over her shoulders. Zeta sighed and released the energetic Taillow once more.

"Hey buddy, are you SURE you want that name?" She asked the flying blur. It immediately went after her head and Zeta ducked, only to fall off the log. The Taillow perched itself on her foot and ###### it's head at her. Giving a small nod, he took of again. Zeta looked at Rally and shrugged.

"Told ya." She said. Rally turned her head to the fire. Her hands moved about from under her cloak and she tossed out six pokeballs. The entire camp was surrounded in the hazy red light for a millisecond before it died down to reveal Rally's pokemon. The Umbreon ran at Rally and sat next to her, staring into the campfire. Her Charmander went straight for Kurasai, smiling happily. Rally's Electrike plopped down and immediately went to sleep. Zeta stared in utter disbelief at the three remaining pokemon.

"H.. How did you get an Absol, a Bagon, AND a Beldum?!" She cried. Rally's face remained emotionless.

"Team Rocket, Team Rocket, Professor Willow." She replied quietly. Zeta's eyes sparkled and she leapt at the Absol, jerking Rally from her thoughts.

"Hey, what're you-"

"Ooooh, you're so cute!" Zeta squealed, hugging the slightly irritated pokemon. He gave Rally a look that clearly asked for help. His trainer answered with a look of pity as her poor Absol got the life hugged out of him. Zeta finally released him and instead began to pet him.

"His name's Chaos." Rally piped up. Zeta looked at her, still petting the gray pokemon.

"Why's that?" She asked. Rally shrugged.

"It's my life so far." She replied. Zeta nodded and continued petting Chaos, who was now looking a little content. The Beldum soon floated over to Zeta and began to rotate around her. After the fourth or fifth time, it headed towards Rally and began to flash continuously. Rally nodded at her pokemon's telegraphic communication. Zeta stared warily at the Bagon.

"Uh, Rally, is there something wrong with your Bagon?" She asked. Rally looked over to where the small pokemon was staring at the sky.

"No, she's likes to look at the sky, that's why her name is Sora." She replied. Zeta nodded once more.

Almost an hour had passed and Chaos was now lying with his head leaning on Zeta's lap while the girl petted him rhythmically. The two fire pokemon were also sleeping as they gathered up the warmth provided from being next to the fire, having talked for almost forty- five minutes. Rally looked down at the Umbreon that was now snoozing next to her.

Zeta's Sentret was still trying to attempt a conversation with Sora, who kept staring at the sky. Zeta had stopped petting Chaos long enough to get a pillow, then walked over to him and started to pet him again, keeping a few feet away from him so he didn't get irritated. Rally looked at the now resting Beldum in her lap. It seems that all of them were comfortable around this girl. Just maybe, she could trust her.

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