FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Chapter 4

Alone...

"Phew. Frinda saw me exit outside but only grinned at me, that little," Sabetha thought raising a shaking clenched fist, now hiding behind some bushes growing near the cave exit. The bright afternoon sun washed over her and she let out a deep, exasperated sigh resting up against the rocky wall.

"Did I do the right thing? If those people who did this to me learn I'm alone and traveling... no," Sabetha thought shaking her head. "I can't have someone's blood on my hands because of fear... I know I did what I wanted to do," she thought sighing softly, opening her eyes half way staring at her hands, the bright rings beginning to fade away. "At least I change back rapidly when in sunlight just like if I'm in my Flareon form, any ice or water hitting me rapidly changes me back," she thought closing her eyes letting the change wash over her.

"Sabetha! Are you alright?!" Sapphire cried out in relief seeing the girl stumbling out of the bushes. Sabetha let out a sheepish laugh rubbing the back of her head.

"Hahaha, yep!" Sabetha said laughing shakily glancing down seeing Frinda grinning at her in amusement.

"I was so worried when you ran off into the darkness like that! I'm guessing Frinda found you and guided you out, and you were just looking around the area for help to get me?" Sapphire asked curiously. Sabetha blinked, before smiling shakily with closed eyes.

"A-Ahahaha... I got separated from Frinda and ran into some thugs inside. Tremi just rescued me and I tripped, falling into the bushes and well... here I am!" Sabetha exclaimed laughing weakly with sweat dripping down her face, a guilty look on it. But before Sapphire could ask what she meant, she let out a cry of surprise seeing Tremi walk out of the cave.

"What?! You're too weak to be walking on your own!" Sabetha exclaimed in shock seeing the beaten and bruised Pokemon limping of the cave behind Tremi.

"She refuses to accept my assistance, demanding I allow her walk on her own," Tremi said with a concerned look on her face. Sapphire let out a gasp of shock covering her mouth with a hand.

"What happened to it?!" Sapphire exclaimed looking at Sabetha nearly in tears causing her to sigh looking down.

"The thugs I told you about were beating it, trying to kill it I believe... I tried to stop them, but I was outnumbered and couldn't stop them until Tremi came and blasted them, saving my hide," Sabetha said looking down with shame, walking past Tremi crouching down a few feet away from the Pokemon which stared at her skeptically, as if confused why she appeared as she did with a look of fear in it's eyes.

"You really shouldn't be walking yet!" Sabetha exclaimed with a tender smile. "There's nothing to be scared of from us, but we really need to take your to Pokecenter and get those wounds treated," Sabetha said smiling reassuringly. The Absol's eyes lit up shaking it's head, letting out a whimper of pain as it backed away, Sabetha hesitated looking up at Tremi.

"What's wrong with her?" Sabetha asked. Tremi glanced down at the Pokemon listening as it made a quiet sound barely audible to Sapphire and Sabetha.

"She is scared to go near the human's settlement. She says those men will come and take her away again, that she would rather die then let that happen," Tremi translated. Sabetha covered her mouth, her eyes tearing up.

"Uhm... I have a Potion in my bag, would that help??" Sapphire asked curiously. The Pokemon hesitated stepping back, wincing in pain.

"No. She is scared of anything human made, including both of you," Tremi said looking to one side with half closed eyes. Sabetha looked away feeling terrible to have a Pokemon so terrified of humans. She gasped in shock as the Pokemon collapsed onto the ground rushing over to it.

"Please, I know you're scared, but we do not want to hurt you," Sabetha said in a gentle tone lifting the Pokemon up in her arms. It stared at her with uneasy eyes seeing a tear rolling down Sabetha's face. "Just please, stay with us for the night until you recover. I promise we won't try to take you anywhere, nor try anything... I... I just want make sure you're safe," Sabetha said with a shaky, fond smile. The Pokemon suddenly made another quiet sound causing Sabetha to look up at Tremi who smiled gently.

"She said 'Yes' to your request," Tremi said. Sabetha smiled widely looking back at Sapphire.

"It's getting dark and we have no idea where we are right now since we fell through that hole. Let's go find somewhere safe to make camp," Sabetha called back, looking down at the Pokemon sliding her arms under it gently lifting it up. "And you, you just keep calm and don't be stubborn! You are not walking when this badly hurt," Sabetha said sternly. Tremi snickered softly, smiling at the pair with a fond look.

"Why is she absolutely terrified of me, yet she'll at least stay semi-near to you??" Sapphire asked with an upraised eyebrow staring at the Pokemon laying a distance to Sabetha's right in a light slumber. Sabetha laughed weakly shrugging helplessly.

"I-I'm just happy she agreed to stay with us. With those kinds of injuries she could have very well died if all alone," Sabetha said in concern staring at the Pokemon feeling guilty she had arrived so late into the attack being unable to have prevented this amount of injury.

"Oh, she's an Absol by the way," Sapphire noted with a smile tinkering on the small computer pad. Sabetha looked up at her confused.

"What's that??" Sabetha asked curiously.

"Mmm... they're called the 'Disaster' Pokemon often being able to sense when something terrible is about to happen. Though they aren't 'evil', far from, supposedly they try to warn humans of the impending danger and since they are always near such disasters, they have been branded that," Sapphire explained reading off information with a smile, looking up at Sabetha.

"I wonder if she has a Trainer?" Sapphire asked curiously. The Absol suddenly lifted her head up glaring at Sapphire causing her to recoil waving her hands frantically. "A-Ahahahaha! N-Not that I want to catch you!" Sapphire exclaimed laughing shakily. Sabetha giggled softly reaching out gently stroking the Absol's back causing it to look at her.

"Don't worry, Sapphire is a good human, she won't try to do anything against your wishes, I promise," Sabetha said smiling reassuringly, her eyes closed. The Absol stared at her for a moment before slowly lowering it's head back down onto it's paws.

"But I really wonder could have been done to her to make her so hateful of humans," Sapphire muttered staring off in thought slowly running a hand down Frinda's icy back.

~*~ Later that Night after everyone had fallen to sleep ~*~

"Mmm...?" Sabetha mumbled in her sleep feeling something nudge her arm, her eyes opening into a slit staring eye to eye with a pair of crimson eyes staring at her. "What's wrong...?" Sabetha asked in a groggy tone seeing the Absol sitting in front of her, it's back to the crackling fire, a glossy look to it's eyes. "Don't worry... the others won't do anything, I promised you," Sabetha said smiling softly closing her eyes. The Absol nudged her in the shoulder with her head. "Fine fine," Sabetha mumbled slowly sitting up yawning loudly letting the heavy Grey wool blanket fall off of her. She reached up rubbing her eyes.

"Are you hungry?" Sabetha asked still half asleep staring at Sapphire and Frinda curled up together a short distance away, both asleep. Tremi was on the opposite side of the fire having fallen asleep with her head on her knees sitting up keeping watch.

"Abb!" the Absol cried out softly shaking it's head. It turned away walking a few steps towards the forest before looking back at Sabetha expectantly, continuing to slowly walk off disappearing into the dark forest.

"Huh? Does she want me to follow her?" Sabetha thought climbing to her feet looking back at the others still sound asleep before following after the Pokemon.

"Oh, you just wanted someone to come with you to get a drink," Sabetha said with a smile seeing the Absol sitting at the edge of a small lake, the moon shifted and danced across it's reflective surface.

"Abb!" the Absol called out looking at Sabetha expectantly, looking down at the water below on a small drop off. Sabetha rubbed her head groggily walking over to the Pokemon.

"What what? Is there something in the lake bothering you?" Sabetha asked stopping at the edge leaning over staring at the dark water cocking her head not seeing anything. She got down onto all fours leaning down closer, slowly shaking her head. "I really don't see anything out of the ordina-!!!" Sabetha was cut off letting out a cry of surprise as the Absol charged at her headbutting her square in the rump sending her head first into the lake.

A moment later...

"Gah! That was not funny!" Sabetha cried out grabbing hold of the ledge, her voice high pitched and bubbly, her skin having turned to a light watery blue. She quickly pulled herself out of the water having rapidly changed due to the full body exposure to the icy lake.

"So, she wasn't lying," the Absol said in a deepish feminine voice staring at Sabetha with wide, curious eyes, "you are not a human, are you?" Sabetha flinched trying to strain her shirt free of water.

"B-But how did you figure this out?!" Sabetha exclaimed in surprise not understanding how the Absol knew she changed if coming into contact with water. A gentle, friendly smile grew across the Absol's face resting her rump down onto the cool, dew-laden grass.

"The Pokemon called Frinda. She talked to me earlier and when I asked why you looked different, she told of this 'change' that occurs with you, not that she understood it very well beyond if you contact water that you change into... this beautiful form," the Absol said continuing to smile, her blade like tail swishing along the grass behind her.

"But... why? Are you trying to expose me? To get me in trouble?" Sabetha asked staring at the Absol with her black, pupil-less eyes. The Absol shook it's head walking up to beside Sabetha sitting back down staring out across the lake.

"No... when you attacked those men earlier, you came to save me, a stranger... a useless being," the Absol murmured closing her eyes, "I didn't understand why, but when I saw you outside of the cave, you were a human... I began to fear you did it to exploit me, because you wanted me for your own purpose." The Absol let out a soft, shaky sigh "but I could only hear kindness in your voice, and I knew I was in no shape to try and run away, not that I really felt compelled to run," the Absol said looking up at Sabetha with a tiny smile. Sabetha laughed weakly.

"You're a smart one to have figured this out so quickly," Sabetha muttered smiling back kicking her feet back and forth in the cool water rather enjoying the sensation on her skin, "but then... why did you do this??" Sabetha asked confused, the Absol looked down blushing.

"Because I never got to thank you, to thank you for saving my life from those men, for putting your own well being at risk... it confused me greatly, as I have only known others to bring me pain and suffering. Never have I had someone act in such a way to protect me without a reason for it," the Absol muttered looking to one side with sorrow filled eyes.

"W-Well, you're free of them now. We really have no intent of hurting you, capturing you, or anything like that. I'm just glad to see you're alive and recovering uhm...?" Sabetha asked smiling softly with closed eyes unsure what to call her.

"O-Oh... my name is Elisa," she said looking up at Sabetha with a tiny smile. Sabetha smiled back.

"Elisa? That's a beautiful name," Sabetha said in a cheerful tone. Elisa gasped, looking down her cheeks going a dark Grey blushing in embarrassment.

"Y-You must be curious why those humans were attacking me," Elisa muttered quietly. Sabetha looked at the Absol slowly nodding her head.

"But I won't pressure you about it. I'm sure it's something hard on you, as this is to me," Sabetha muttered sighing softly closing her eyes. Elisa looked up at her with surprise, her tiny smile growing looking up at the full moon in the sky.

"... those Men, they work for an organization that breed Pokemon like myself for a single purpose: Sex," Elisa said in a low, uneasy tone. Sabetha snapped her glance down at Elisa, her eyes wide in shock.

"W-What? Sex?!" Sabetha exclaimed in disbelief feeling uneasy saying that word. Elisa slowly nodded her head looking down with an ashamed look moving her paw back and forth in the cool water.

"We are born for that purpose only. We are raised, trained, and used only for our owner's pleasure... mostly for other Pokemon, but sometimes the trainers do it too... they are the worst," Elisa said in a low, uneasy tone obviously not feeling easy talking about this. "If we defied our owners, they would beat us and rape us against our will... we had no choice but to obey or suffer further humiliation," Elisa said closing her eyes. A single tear rolled down her smooth face falling off into the crystal clear lake below.

"People... are actually into that type of thing...?" Sabetha muttered wide eyed in surprise, but more so in disgust. Her black sideways oval shaped eyes leaking tears down her smooth face unable to fathom the suffering Elisa must have endured.

"...I managed to escape earlier in the day from a human settlement nearby. I took refuge in that cave hoping they would not find me and that I could rest to heal my wounds from the escape, but they did, and I was helpless to muster any form of a resistance," Elisa said in a low tone. Elisa looked up at Sabetha smiling shakily, a few tears rolling down her cheeks still. "But Sabetha has shown me not all humans are evil, that some are kind and true... just like I was told. But it has not swayed my view of humans," Elisa muttered letting out a soft sigh standing up turning away, "I will not trouble you any longer. I do not want those humans to seek you out because of me." Elisa began to walk away.

"Wait!" Sabetha exclaimed turning around grabbing a hold of Elisa's fur stopping the Pokemon dead in her tracks, looking back at Sabetha with a confused stare.

"Please... please don't leave. I can see you're suffering, that you're all alone in the world," Sabetha muttered looking down. "I couldn't stand being alone in the world. Without Tremi... I don't know if I would even be alive now, she has always saved my butt... and I can't live without her, without my friends," Sabetha said looking up with a weak, shaky smile. "Please... I can feel your suffering. I can't just let you walk away while in such pain without at least trying. I want you to stay with me, we can share your burden, your suffering together, as friends. All of us, Tremi, Sapphire, me, and you," Sabetha said smiling shakily. Elisa stared at her with wide eyes.

"F-Friends...?" Elisa muttered in surprise, before shaking her head. "No... you mean you want to take me as a pet, as a slave..." Elisa said coldly.

"No. Tremi is my Pokemon, but if you talk to her she can tell you I have not once treated her as a 'slave'. She does what she chooses to, even if I don't agree with it. She's my precious friend whom I love dearly... my sister in truth," Sabetha said smiling going a deep blue on her cheeks. Elisa shifted her gaze down to the ground falling into thought.

"Why would you take on the burden I will cause? Those men... they will not stop seeking me until I am dead," Elisa said quietly. Sabetha smiled fondly, crawling closer lunging at Elisa wrapping her arms around the Absol's neck playfully. Elisa looked at her wide eyed in surprise.

"Because I need you, as you need me, Elisa," Sabetha said with closed eyes hugging the Pokemon. Elisa hesitated feeling a strange sensation in her chest she had never felt before, she let out a shaky sigh gently pulling away from the embrace.

"I... deep down I really wanted to hear words like those," Elisa muttered staring at the ground, before suddenly looked up tackling Sabetha causing her to cry out falling onto her back with Elisa standing on her chest.

"What are you doing??" Sabetha asked with a confused look watching Elisa walking up her chest, a joyful smile on her face stopping looking down at Sabetha.

"I... I want to say thank you, to show how grateful I am to have met you... such a wonderful being, whatever you might be," Elisa said softly leaning down placing a tender kiss onto Sabetha's lips. Her eyes shot open in shock watching Elisa pull away smiling widely with closed eyes, her tail flicking excitedly behind her, "I... I will come with you, Sabetha." Sabetha blinked a couple of times still in shock at what she had just done, but a wide, cheerful smile grew across Sabetha's face reaching up grabbing Elisa into a tight hug causing the Pokemon to break out laughing in happiness, a thing she had never done before in her life.

"But you need to remember, I can't be like this too often to speak with you, though I'm sure you understand me in my normal appearance," Sabetha said smiling placing Elisa down beside her, climbing to her feet. Sabetha cried out as her legs split apart across the slippery grass.

"I understand that. Tremi I believe she called herself is able to speak to you, so I can ask her to translate for me as she did earlier," Elisa said smiling.

"Hehehe, of course. Tremi may come off as rude, or cold, but she's really just shy. Once you get to know her you'll be great friends I'm sure," Sabetha said smiling with closed eyes. "Oh? It looks like my shirt dried off enough." Sabetha said smiling watching a bubbling sensation appearing at her hands beginning to change back.

"Thank you... for everything," Elisa said in a grateful tone as the strange bubbly sensation washed across Sabetha turning her back to normal.

~*~ Back at the Camp ~*~

"Well, we need to do this so some mean person can't just walk up and take you away from us," Sabetha whispered sitting down on her blanket near the fire wearing only her shirt and panties which were now a deep verdant green. She reached over dragging her pants closer, diving a hand into her side pocket pulling out a tiny Pokeball, the others nearby sound asleep still. "The choice is yours alone, Elisa. I won't force anything on you," Sabetha said quietly, expanding the Pokeball to full size placing it down onto the ground in front of Elisa, who looked at it for a moment before looking up at Sabetha with a small smile walking towards it. Elisa let out a soft sigh using her nose to poke the 'button' causing a bright red light to shoot out, grabbing hold of her pulling her into the ball. Sabetha watched on silently with a tiny smile watching the ball rock back and forth a couple of times, before finally coming to a stop. "A new friend! Oh... I'm so happy she agreed to come, she really needs a friend," Sabetha thought holding the ball up to her chest closing her eyes with a fond smile on her face.

"T-Tremi?" Sabetha stuttered jumping in surprise watching the Gardevoir slowly sit up staring at Sabetha with wide awake eyes.

"I know what has transpired, Sabetha." Tremi said calmly closing her eyes.

"Y-You're not mad about what she did... or what I did, right? She didn't trick me to be bad," Sabetha said in concern. But instead her worries were eased seeing a gentle smile grow across Tremi's face.

"Why would I be? I am pleased to see you truly have not changed from the day we first encountered each other," Tremi said softly opening her eyes, staring at Sabetha from across the fire. "You threw yourself into the path of those humans without hesitation snatching me up out of their grasp. Even when I bit you, kicked you, and punched you hurting you badly, you still didn't stop," Tremi said looking down with uneasy eyes letting out a shaky sigh. "Then after we escaped that mob, you put me down only smiling at me, telling me I'm safe now and free to go," Tremi said snickering to herself slowly shaking her head. Sabetha smiled back.

"You were just a little Ralts then! All those jerks were picking on someone smaller then them, I don't like that," Sabetha said making an angry face. Tremi covered her mouth chuckling.

"You make a very poor angry face, Sabetha." Tremi said smiling gently. Sabetha laughed weakly staring down at the fire.

"I'm glad you understand, Tremi. She really needs a friend or two right now until she is ready to make her own way in life," Sabetha said smiling fondly holding out the ball pressing the button releasing a bright flash of light, Elisa reappeared a few feet away near the fire.

"Don't worry Elisa, you don't have to ever go back in there if you don't wish too." Sabetha said smiling at the Absol looking up at her with a smile. Elisa walked over to Sabetha affectionately nudging her side causing the girl to break out giggling, gently rubbing Elisa's head, sliding her hand down the Pokemon's back causing Elisa to quiver from the affection.

"We should rest now Sabetha. We still have a distance to travel to our next town," Tremi stated calmly.

"Okay, okay mom," Sabetha said giggling quietly. Tremi's eyes widened ever so slightly looking away with a soft glow to her face. "Mmm... you're so warm, and your fur is so soft and silky," Sabetha murmured reaching out an arm grabbing Elisa, dragging her closer. Elisa purred in contentment snuggling her bum up against Sabetha obviously enjoying the affection compared to what she was used to doing.

"Her name is Elisa by the way," Sabetha said smiling watching Tremi walking towards her. Sabetha looked down at Elisa, her smile widening see Elisa had closed her eyes drifting off into a light slumber.

"W-What?" Sabetha stuttered in surprise seeing a slender white arm wrap around her belly, looking back. "Tremi?" Sabetha asked in surprise seeing the Gardevoir laying behind her, a grin growing across Sabetha's face. "Awww, is Tremi getting jealous?" Sabetha asked teasingly. Tremi blushed deeply shifting her gaze away.

"No. You are cold from that swim and you will get ill if you remain like this... me and Elisa will make sure you stay warm," Tremi said in a low, shaky tone. Sabetha smiled at her laying down resting her head onto a bundled up blanket snuggling her back up against Tremi causing her to go an even deeper red shade.

"Mmm... Tremi means a lot to me... you're such a great sister," Sabetha murmured slowly closing her eyes.

"You are dear to me too, Sabetha," Tremi whispered placing her head just behind Sabetha's, the trio drifting off into a pleasant slumber.

~*~ The Next Morning ~*~

"Mmm," Sabetha mumbled in her sleep feeling a cool air lapping at her face. "Wow!" Sabetha cried out in surprise jumping back as she opened her eyes seeing Frinda staring at her with an amused grin less then an inch away from her face.

"Frinny! Stop teasing her!" Sapphire called over giggling. Frinda slowly turned around making sure to give a flash of her 'rear goodies' before batting Sabetha in the face with her tail walking off.

"Mmm... what's going on?" Sabetha asked letting out a loud yawn, stretching her arms into the air sitting up. The bright morning sun peeking through the forest from the west.

"Oh, I uh went through your backpack and gave those two your last sandwich you had since they looked hungry, I hope you don't mind." Sapphire said smiling. Sabetha smiled softly shaking her head.

"I'm surprised Elisa likes it," Sabetha said smiling spotting the pair of Pokemon a short distance away side by side. Elisa was eating her half of the Sandwich off the grass, while Tremi took small, lady like bites out of hers.

"Who's Elisa??" Sapphire asked cocking her head staring at Sabetha who flinched realizing she shouldn't know her name.

"O-Oh! Uhm... Tremi talked to the Absol last night and learned her name is Elisa! Hahaha!" Sabetha laughing an awkward tone lying outright.

"Awww, that's an adorable name!!" Sapphire exclaimed rocking back forth with a giddy look on her face. Sabetha looked down with a smile seeing Elisa rubbing her self up against her leg.

"She also agreed to come along with us," Sabetha said smiling widely crouching down ruffling up Elisa's fur around her face causing Elisa to laugh playfully.

"Really?! That's awesome! Absol's are such neat Pokemon too! She can warn of us impending earthquakes, or volcanic eruptions, or all those things!" Sapphire exclaimed smiling widely. Sabetha chuckled at Sapphires over dramatic reaction.

"Well, I didn't ask her to come with us because of her abilities, but rather because of who she is," Sabetha said giggling as Elisa playfully tackled her knocking her to the ground. Tremi watched the pair from nearby with a tiny smile on her face.

"Oh! And I found where we are, the town of Tri'la is only a few hours away from here," Sapphire said smiling. Sabetha panted softly from laughing too hard slowly sitting up placing Elisa down onto the ground beside her.

"Well, that's good. We really need to get some supplies like food, and especially Flashlights!" Sabetha exclaimed laughing. Sapphire covered her mouth giggling.

"Good point! Well, let's not waste time! Come on Frinny!" Sapphire exclaimed in a cheerful, upbeat tone leaping to her feet beginning to clean up the campsite.

"Ok! The Fire is out, garbage cleaned up, beds packed up, the Pokemon fed... what am I forgetting," Sapphire murmured holding up a cupped finger to her chin lost in though. "I could swear I've forgotten something though," Sapphire muttered with a hard look on her face trying to remember. Her eyes suddenly lit up seeing a small Grey pad dangled in front of her face.

"Maybe you forgot this?" Sabetha asked teasingly.

"What?! N-No way! Did i...?!" Sapphire cried out frantically patting her pockets, slouching over letting out a deep, shaky sigh. "I dropped my Uncle's Handy Map," she said in a low, embarrassed tone. Sabetha burst out giggling handing the device to Sapphire's hand who was refusing to look up from shame.

"That's what friends are for, being there when you're a forgetful ditz hehehe!" Sabetha giggled with a teasing grin. Sapphire laughed weakly standing up properly smiling at Sabetha.

"We'll watch out for each other!" Sapphire exclaimed with a grin raising up a clenched fist. Sabetha did similar causing Tremi to let out an exasperated sigh.

"Those two are so alike it disturbs me," she muttered looking to one side with closed eyes. Elisa stared at her with a confused look...

"Elisa? What's wrong?" Sabetha asked looking back seeing the Pokemon had stopped dead on the road, a fearful look in her eyes staring at the city coming into view over the horizon of the forest.

"Abb!" Elisa cried out. Sabetha looked up at Tremi who had an uneasy expression.

"She says that's where she was held during her captivity, in this town," Tremi said. Sabetha's eyes widened, a frown growing across her face.

"Who? Held? What? Where???" Sapphire asked staring at Sabetha with confusion. Sabetha let out a shaky sigh looking back at Elisa seeing the Pokemon staring at her with wide, uneasy eyes. Sabetha remembered Elisa didn't want her past discussed.

"...Elisa was held here in this town by those men who were beating her. They were trying to sell her on some kind of sick black market," Sabetha muttered in a spiteful tone. Sapphire gasped, covering her mouth staring at Elisa with sad, glossy eyes.

"I can see why she's scared," Sapphire said in a concerned, sad tone. Sabetha closed her eyes, her hands trembling in rage.

"Those filthy... Tremi, we're going to put a stop to these jerks!" Sabetha exclaimed turning to face Tremi with a fierce expression on her face. Tremi looked at her with surprise, before sighing softly closing her eyes.

"Sabetha, these men belong to an organization of humans who show no respect for life. These are not Pokemon, humans are by far the most dangerous creatures on this world, and they would likely not hesitate to kill us if we were to try and interfere," Tremi said softly. Sabetha hesitated letting out a grunt of disgust looking down to one side.

"Yea... just leave it to the authorities, Sabetha. I'm sure they'll catch those dirt bags soon!" Sapphire exclaimed holding a clenched fist with a defiant grin on her face.

"I guess... just seeing Elisa cower like this pains me," Sabetha muttered holding her hand out. "Elisa, return," Sabetha said pressing the button on the Pokeball, a bright red light shot out grabbing hold of Elisa disappearing in a flash. "There... now no one can hurt you," Sabetha said with a weak smile placing the ball onto her belt before nodding at Sapphire, the group continuing on their way.

"Hmm... it isn't as pretty when cloudy," Sapphire said with a pouty face staring at the sticky Grey clouds above. Sabetha chuckled softly watching a flock of Pidgey's zip off into the sky.

"It's still a unique place, with unique people you'll not find anywhere else," Sabetha said smiling at Sapphire, who smiled back.

"True! But are you sure Tremi won't eat Pokemon food? It supposedly tastes fine," Sapphire asked curiously. Tremi glared at Sapphire from the corner of her eyes, but remained silent.

"Hahaha. I tried to talk her into it once, but she told me to eat it first, and I nearly got sick, it's that horrible tasting," Sabetha said smiling with closed eyes at Tremi.

"Really? Frinny and Lefy seem to love it... huh. I kinda wish I could talk to them now, I wonder if they hate it?" Sapphire asked looking down at Frinda, who stared back with a blank, calm look.

~*~ The group decided to stop at a small Grocers on the corner of a street to resupply~*~

"See, I try to change what me and Tremi eat so we don't get bored, as well so that she doesn't need to eat junk, she's a rather fickle eater," Sabetha said smiling looking at a wide cool shelf with various vegetables piled onto it. Tremi looked to one side blushing softly seeing Sapphire staring at her with a cheerful smile.

"That's great! You act so caring to her, it's almost as if you were a Pokemon yourself," Sapphire said laughing happily. She recoiled in surprise seeing both Sabetha and Tremi were now staring at her a strange look. "A-Ahahaha! Not that you are, I just mean you're so nice to them, and you understand them so well!" Sapphire said with a shaky laughing waving her hands frantically. Sabetha let out a deep sigh closing her eyes, her smile returning.

"I... I wasn't angry, just taken back having never had that said to me before," Sabetha said smiling weakly. Sabetha glanced down seeing Frinda staring at her, a strong unease in her chest thinking about how Sapphire would react if she only knew...

"A-Anyways, I think this should be enough once we go grab some bread and broth," Sabetha said smiling shakily holding Tomatoes, Celery, Carrots, and Lettuce in her arms heading over towards the till near the far back end of of the building.

"Why, hello there!" an mid-aged man said with a cheerful smile on his face as the group approached. The man's hair was a salt and pepper color with his hair graying. The top of his head was completely bald with a ring of curly, puffy hair lining the edges of his head. A pair of spectacles sat on his rather large nose.

"Hi!" Sabetha exclaimed smiling back placing the variety of vegetables down onto the counter.

"It is truly wonderful to see you children still eating vegetables. Far, far too much of that processed non-sense now a days!" the man exclaimed with a friendly smile ringing in the produce. Sabetha covered her mouth giggling at the old man.

"Yep! Good for me, and good for my Pokemon too," Sabetha said smiling.

"Oh well my my! That is quite a beautiful Gardevoir you have there my young miss. You must take very good care of her," the man asked smiling at Tremi who had her arms crossed, her eyes closed looking downwards not feeling comfortable being near others.

"Yes, Sabetha does look after me well," Tremi said calmly. The elderly man stepped back in surprise reaching up adjusting his spectacles doing a double take. Sapphire and Sabetha burst out giggling at the man's response.

"She can answer for herself. Thanks! Keep the change!" Sabetha called back placing the money down on the counter handing the bag to Tremi, the group exited the grocers. A sinister grin grew across the man's face.

"Hmmm... a talking Gardevoir? 'They' will definitely want to hear about this," he muttered turning away, shuffling off into the back of the store.

"Hm. Where to now?" Sabetha asked curiously, the group now standing on a sidewalk with human's passing by lost in their own little worlds. Sapphire reached up a finger tapping her chin falling deeply into thought, until a moment later her eyes lit up.

"Pictures!!" She cheered raising a Camera overhead. Sabetha covered her mouth giggling.

"I guess we should take pictures of the towns we visit too," Sabetha said smiling. Tremi and Frinda both let out exasperated sighs.

"Is she always like this?" Tremi asked with a dumbfounded look on her face staring at Frinda beside her. Frinda nodded her head.

"Sigh... we'll be here until night-time taking pictures of walls, trees, and basically anything else that she doesn't have a picture of," Frinda muttered in a depressed tone knowing there was a very boring day ahead.

"Wow! Look at all the Pidgey's!" Sapphire exclaimed pointing at a flock of bird like Pokemon gathered around a fountain in the town square. Sapphire ran towards the Pokemon sending them scurrying into the air, her laughter filling across the area slowly spinning around, stopping to look at Sabetha with a wide smile.

"So many things to take pictures of!" Sapphire exclaimed wrapping her arms around herself rocking back and back with a giddy expression on her face. Sabetha laughed softly approaching the girl. Sabetha stopped beside Sapphire, the pair peering at the statue in the fountain which appeared to be some kind of Pokemon, but it was upside down causing the pair to fall into thought trying to figure out what it may be.

"Who?" Tremi thought snapping her gaze over to a small Alley just near the west side of the Square. A figure suddenly vanished down the alley. Tremi looked over at Sabetha posing with a V shape to her fingers in front of the fountain for Sapphire. "...I feel a strange unease about that figure... I should check, the last thing we need is to be found out by 'them' in such a populated town," Tremi thought calmly heading off towards the alley. Frinda watched Tremi with an upraised eyebrow curious what the Gardevoir was doing, but simply shrugged it off watching the pair of girls laughing uncontrollably.

"Hmph... whoever it was is gone. Perhaps I am simply being to overly protective," Tremi thought letting out a soft sigh staring down the empty alley. A dumpster sat near the middle of it, with a chain-link fence at the far end cutting of all exits. "Mmm... but I don't see any exits or doorways...?" Tremi thought making her way down into the alley to investigate further.

"Huh? Where did Tremi go??" Sabetha asked curiously looking around not seeing her. Sabetha reached up a hand scratching her head with a puzzled look on her face.

"Is something wrong?" Sapphire asked curiously stopping beside Sabetha.

"Hahahaha, no. Tremi just wandered off which is unusual for her... but she's a big Pokemon and can take care of herself," Sabetha said laughing until a a surprised scream echoed out from nearby, Sabetha's entire body locking up knowing that voice. "TREMI!" Sabetha cried out hearing the scream come from the Alley nearby, breaking off into a sprint.

"Tremi?!" Sabetha called out down the alley cautiously making her way down it looking around, her heart beating quickly in fear. Sabetha's eyes widened in horror seeing a small plastic bag in the middle of the alley, the one that Tremi had taken earlier. "T-The bag," Sabetha muttered, her eyes filled with fear shaking her head. "N-No... Tremi... TREMI!!!!" Sabetha screamed falling to her knees, her voice echoing out across the alley.

end of chapter 4

and here is chapter 4. What happened to Tremi? x.x Though a word of warning, chapter 5 is going to get into the darker side of things with a lot of NC and rape (though not specifically to the characters, and it will be soft rape, not hardcore rape, that's just too sick. ;P). Well... unless it's a woman raping a guy. That's just hot. =P