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**Luna and Thief:

The Orange Isles Chapter Three: Sparks and Fangs**

Naval Island, Seo knew it well - the sizeable mountainous volcano which overlooked the entirety of the island from every angle.

She knew that home had hardly been a step away.

A small town came into a clearing while everyone followed that teenager away from the city that. He took the boat, and Griffin went with him.

According to trainers they fought against, the gym on the island was solely for the trainers and not the Pokemon. The very idea of the Sea-Ruby badge hadn't taunted a single on of their minds, save for Melody.

But without Smokey, she couldn't get through alone - Seo heard her say that; a genuine veil of security surrounded the humans' voice with every pitch and tone of a hushed voice. Seo only dug her paws into the surface of the dirt trail - the scent of the sea wind...

The strange and frightening pressure that came from the four islands of elements; towards the direction of Hoenn too.

It made Seo's back gently sting as she took a glance around the skies.

Articuno... Zapdos... Moltres... I've felt them before, but who in the world is that other faded pressure? Lugia? If so, I've never felt it.

Stuck to Griffin's side and her mind half lost in her own trace of thought, that Seo followed in silence; the teenager hadn't a clue what all of them were following him.

He doesn't even have Pokemon out, but regardless of how I search around here...? Seo made a shorter stop and gently exhaled.

I can't hear any insects. No buzzing...? Nothing. There's something dangerous around here.

Seo let out a quiet exhale as she rechecked her age-ridden ears and was sure by then. There wasn't a single insect... a small pointless detail, which made her eyes widen and her world to become a crisp black and white with every step along the trail. The overpowering smell of cooked fish, raw fish, fruits... all sorts of things filled her nose after a moment.

I remember this town. It's changed a little - grown... but it's still lovely, like Maiden's Peak was. Humble, filled with tradition. Seo softly dug her paws into the grass.

If this teen is part of whatever the hell is going on and to soil such with their disgust... I'll rip him apart.

It made her neck stretch, and the crack ran down her entire spinal column - pain... numbed pain entered her grayscale blur of a world as a gentle incandescent pain poked at her chest.

Like a clock on a timer.

There couldn't have been much more doubt as the small town passed them by and followed the arc of a sandy beach-head around the massive inactive volcano. The terrain became a cross of pathway and rock before that Teenager stopped and did a small headcount with several other trainers there.

They only watched in a section of bushes until they all began to follow a different stranger into the caverns; after a moment, Seo followed Griffin into them too.

Griffin voted on going alone, with only his Pokemon when they noticed the headcount.

He even entrusted Brad with a number of them.

Haxorus, Lycanroc, Scarf, Seviper, Vibrava, and herself. It made her run through the tally.

Wait. Seo bit at Griffin's jacket right at the entrance, and it left the human still. A look went down to her as she sat in place. A huff came from her muzzle along with a stranger, quiet sound from her lips. Griffin only stared back, blank.

"Griffin... the trainer only had three. Remember? I think they all do." Melody quietly whispered his way; Griffin gave a swallow in reply and went back.

He gave Haxorus and Lycanroc too. Moonlight wouldn't have much chance in the pitch-black like this.

It left the Absol to dilate her eyes when the cavern went dark. _Find them._Seo touched her nose to the air and stretched out her body slowly as she half hobbled on the stone floor.

The walking already took a toll; they had done plenty all day long.

Seo shot out a chilled breath as the dark cavern slowly caught the faint trails against its walls... but the network was a labyrinth, and it only got darker. Eventually...

Scarf took the lead.

"If I may, I'm quite nifty with puzzles; I love caverns." The Pikachu softly expressed, "I have a knack for them." Seo had no qualms of it. She couldn't care as long as she got there on time.

The Pikachu was invariably helpful and loyal; she noticed the odd traits in him.

Then her eyes went to his entirely stuck and perked up ears. It left her to narrow them as she followed the smaller Pikachu cross the cavern on all fours.

Smart choice Griffin, you can't control Haxorus yet, and Lycanroc is only here for her convenience. She won't listen and Seviper...? He would be our most durable choice, but he's fresh out the gate as Moonlight can't fight in here. The Absol whipped her odd, skinned tail - the kind that could quickly appear like a Houndoom's... but with a Sevipers blade on the back. She only had four inches of sharpened, bone-like steel to work with.

Her tail was best used for stabbing, but her slash could be just as devastating if timed correctly.

There was nothing but the transparent black and white disposition around her dark - cavern world... until footprints came to their ears.

Griffin acted like he got 'lost' from the tour group and filed into the line in silence. Scarf had clung closer to Seo by then, as though to hide from view and think of their next steps.

Partway through, Griffin fiddled with his Pokenav as he regularly checked for the reception to the Pokemon Associations Network with every step-down.

Then came a smaller unexpected lantern light from ahead in the darker tunnel of the cavern - one that opened into a massive near dome-shaped room.

_Water? No...? This carving or sanding is malicious. It's from Psychic and a lot of users by the looks of it. Naturally formed - it's Pokemon formed?

These humans built a battleground inside a cavern. How far underground could we be then?_ Seo gently rolled her shoulders as Scarf had methodically glanced around his surroundings and counted on his fingers - his ears had perched, and he hid on her left side.

Hid in her shadows like a misguided and confused friend in the rain, one that only wanted to talk honest words to her in a careful and caring way.

One that saw her as every bit sharp as she always had been.

That was another odd trait she caught onto. The Pikachu had a knack for figuring out unique quirks with the Pokemon around him; it left Seo to huff and shake her head in near annoyance and glared at the colorless lantern light.

Well... luckily Underworld hadn't taken the lanterns from town...? They look different.

"Color of the Lanterns... Scarf?"

"Will - O - Wisp color. Ghastly blue." The Pikachu softly muttered in reply; it made his long whiskers edge and brush wildly in the air. "A blue-white, it even feels like a Pokemon move." A tender swallow touched around the Pikachu's throat as the small crowd had filed in and lined up. Griffin was solely lucky that he already had his Pokemon out in the open that many trainers Pokemon had been.

Her competition hadn't looked in the least bit eventful to her, and it only left the Absol to stare, colorblind to the world in a haze.

_Every wall is lit with torches about two feet apart. The center? Rounded - curved on all sides. Running up the wall is easy for some. No cover across the middle; this doesn't seem like a boxed match.

It's a free one, no different than any wild Pokemon fight. There's not even chalk on the ground - the trainers could get hit too._

A small tsk came from her muzzle as the long gray fur fell before her emotionless lips, thick hazy strands that touched her eyes as her celestial red irises grew brighter. _Of course, it's a beginner's fight. They're going to cull out the trainers that can't handle putting their Pokemon through hell

But I know you, Griffin, I know that you let out your anger in these fights; it's the emotion you can't break when it has control of you._

A smaller glimmer caught her eye, one of a near Yellow hue; a trainer had stood there, a young man around Griffin's age. A Houndour had sat obediently beside the human as she did. She took a glance at his Pokeballs and then Griffin's. It only took her that second glance to curiously crack a small grin.

Griffin never returned Haxorus and Lycanroc; Scarf and Seo's Pokeballs were broken. He walked in with a five-member team under the guise of a group of three.

She had this gentle urge to cackle loudly about it; her trainer had cheated, and that made Seo gently snicker under her breath.

Maybe you have grown a little.

The thought crossed by the Seo's mind as she rolled her shoulders again; the painful crack left her black and white word to jostle with that strange blurred hue of grayscale. Right as that one pop came through, along her back and shoulders - the elder solely looked at a human stand before them.

One that made her eyes narrow before the stranger began to speak.

They wore a Mimikyu costume with blood splattered eyes as though they had stitched downward and to the end of the stranger's waist. Her voice came across as appealing, wondrous - curious, and all-around conniving. Seo solely listened to her explain the rules; they were quite simple. In fact, there was only one.

"The time to kill is only during the finals. We have a wondrously high IV and Power Level Snivy here today."

"That's the reward! Welcome to our Wonder Trade."

She gave a gentle laugh and rolled her palm in a way that caught Seo's attention; they wore gloves to match the outfit - the kind that made it hard to figure a print from them. When all they did was urge the crowd to pick an opponent and let her vote who went first...

Everybody had raised their hands up no different than an obedient classroom.

Logan:

"You're sure about leaving Shadow with him? I'm astonished you've put your trust and life in our hands." Logan made a little scoff in reply to his words, just that large - stoic and balding man that spoke to him.

"You were at the shop," Logan mentioned as the man had stirred in reply. "I remember you. You bought us hot chocolate. How do you know my father? How do you really know him?" Logan continued and began to tap against a laptop keyboard in front of him. "And my software? How could you...?" The man had stalled and stayed quiet in response to him. "Akiyama? That son of a bitch knew him. For how long? When?"

A shrug came from his reply. "What else can I say? We're Team Rocket, Kid."

"You were Team Aqua then Magma; what is that about?"

"I do as I'm required." The man expressed back in a more cheerful way as his Poochyena stuck his head up from a chair. It seemed that the word or phrase was common enough that the Poochyena listened in. "I could see right away that you needed our guy on your brother. He's on Naval...? Worried, he found a fight already?"

"No, I'm worried my idiot brother found the most OBVIOUS thing and followed it," Logan replied in return. "He tunnel-visions; he's like that. It makes him narrow on only what's important - the small checks don't matter." Logan mentioned back with a hint of stress in his tone and looked to a window.

It was nothing but a motel, one in Johto.

One that was utterly empty and had been for the last couple days; save for just them.

"You got a new sample from it?" The man softly replied as Logan gave the nod.

"The water, it's contaminated, but I'm worried if I interrupt the process... if Esi finds me hostile, humans hostile, it'll kill people." Logan expressed, "If there is more then one, then hopefully they have the brains to see more than one side; if my hunch is remotely correct, then it could evolve into something horrifically deadly." Logan mentioned somberly, but his back tensed - his shoulder had followed. "I know that she can be better than that. She's never eaten meat before; that has to be some proof." Logan rolled his fingers and gently coughed into his arm. "What about Trevor?"

"He's been practicing, Boxing - Kendo even; in fact, you took away his sparring partner."

"Kendo...? Kendo!? He hasn't done that since Highschool; top of his class once, sure, but... it's been years for him." Logan lightly laughed even though the man gave him a sharp narrow look

"Don't tell me about years - kid."

"Right, sorry." Logan gently swallowed by the snap; this man seemed strange - dangerous, but it felt like he fought the right tone out of his voice. "I tried asking Professor Elm, he won't let me touch it - brings up this 'serious' or 'experienced' professors only excuse." The man chuckled

"Well, I have a plan for that; I'll test my experience against his. I'll get you in."

"But Logan, that does come with a price; sending a man out for your brother - guarding you here."

"We'll discuss any terms later, for now - I don't believe there to be time; if I may be as bold to say it."

"And boldly, you do. I want to know about Esi as much as you do, but Kid. I have to put a price."

"Money...?" Logan said with an eerie hesitation

"Fuck, no."

"We want you, kid, in our team."

"This again...?" Logan sighed in reply to him, "I'm not some thief or murderer; I can't even bring myself to the thought of hurting someone; I flinched with that shotgun! I couldn't pull the trigger, I... can't..." Logan replied to him, yet the man politely held up his hand.

"I never said anything about you hurting anyone." He recoiled, and Logan felt a strange swallow touch his throat as the man sighed, and his Poochyena twitched his ear.

Then a Mightyena stirred in the darker corner of the room.

"If you believe all us 'criminals' as you say are evil - then you're quite the fool. Young man; we're the kind of people who believe in those around us. We're the kind of 'tough love' society needs. Those teams never want to harm anyone; we want to change our lives - the better for everyone by the end." He spoke the words, as though on the spot with it said many different ways.

"With people like you on a team like ours, the researchers, doctors, even social outreach - we can tell those what they need to hear even across borders. The group you have in front of you now is solely a crew that enforces the right things when it goes lop-sided."

That had come from the man with the injured leg, the other man that Trevor kicked.

Logan gently swallowed to both the men's words, "You have to support yourself before others, Young Man. You had the fortunate luck of hardly needing much to support yourself and give plenty to your family. Not everyone hits that veil of gold - Logan." Logan could only nod in reply and desperately looked at his computer screen. He knew that Griffin had gone underground, that the Pokeballs outside had still been connected to the ones inside.

Faint as hell signal, but it tells me they're within two hundred meters of one another - could be depth... like they went down in a spiral? That's not natural.

"He found a fight, alright. There must be a cavern they dug on Naval." The man nodded in reply

"I'll let my crew know and... think about the offer, Logan." He retorted and then pulled out some older mobile phone and left for a walk. Logan solely tapped away at his keyboard with sharpened eyes until he finally interlocked his fingers together and stared at the screen.

I can't figure Esi's blood type here; the water doesn't make sense either - I just don't have the right tech. I need Elm's equipment so it can sift and divide everything accordingly. I see the compounds that make them up, subtract the blood from it, and figure a type. I can even do it to the water.

But... Why water - Esi? I want to ask you that myself, but all I see you do is swing your tails and chitter at me endlessly about it when I ask as though you think I understand. What's that about? Are you trying to show me?

His fingers continued to furiously grace against the keyboard for what felt like an eternity, every glance at the clock; every check on Griffin's Pokemon left Logan to tap his feet on the ground. He half sat in the smaller den of a room with only a pack of Mightyena's to stare at him studiously.

Curiously.

All he could do was type at his laptop - the one that stranger gave him, the man with the crossbow. Logan skipped the thought of it all, not worried about the past, and solely focused on his screen.

Solely watched what Griffin saw through his own Pokenav strapped on his shoulder.

Big brother calling. Christ, if the Association knew of this - they'd kick my ass for illegal surveillance. It wasn't even supposed to be like this; I had to change the software around myself, but frankly, I don't give a shit - it's him, and he'll need my help.

He solely continued to type away at the keyboard as he noticed after fights and fights... A Pikachu had jumped in front of him. A Pikachu against a Scyther.

Griffin's first fight in the so-called 'Wonder Trade.'

Scarf:

"An electric type against a Grass; you're nuts." The other trainer remarked, "Hell, both your Pokemon look old and brittle; are you just here to throw their lives away? Sweet mercy; I've barely seen a trainer like it..." Her voice had touched Scarf's ears - the human that had spoken with a stranger sense of glee that left some contestants on edge. "Wondrous! It's my dream battle! I'd love to experience how this old mouse can compete against the stronger and more prime beasts!"

"If only there wasn't that stupid rule, I'd want to see the fight done properly." The thought left Scarf's back to crawling as he glanced back at Griffin in a light fit of worry, yet all he held on his face was determination.

That and trust.

The kind the two of them had built over countless battles when they were in Hoenn. Back when Thief had no interest in the fights.

Mortified out of his wits every. Single. Time.

The thought left his back to crawl with every conversation they had back then. What they hadn't known was when he trained with Bandit - Scarf taught him the smaller tricks. How to think little. A soft exhale shot down his throat - it left for its gentle rasp from his strained throat; it made him wonder if he ever yelled a lot as the Scyther began to hesitantly pull into a stance.

_He doesn't want to fight either... but this trainer? His eyes are much like Griffin's.

Like he's searching for a way to keep a promise too; the young man is bluffing. _

Scarf simply angled his tail and pushed to his hind legs - Iron Tail began to charge behind him. Somehow, he'd have to stall to pull off the move.

At least one strong enough to break a Scythers speed and guard.

It nearly felt like a crawl of vicious sweat that broke down his fuzzy forehead as the hairs slowly stood on the edge, and his eyes dilated to the Will-o-Wisps on the curved wall around them.

_It's faster then I am, but I'm smaller. I can use my angle of that against Scythers accuracy; my tail to deflect any move that does get to me, I'll need to continually move.

And without Thunder to help me either; there's no charge in here I haven't a faint chance in hell to pull off a move like that. _

The Pikachu gently stilled his breathing and focused his eyes on the silhouette in front of him.

Scarf used Laser Sight and glared down every joint he could see in the Scythers natural exoskeleton. The Green and near scaled beast left his cheeks to numbly sting.

Seo...? You're using shock wave...? I can feel it in my cheeks - in the tips of my ears. They twitched and flinched as the Pikachu kept his feet on the ground, and the Scyther tilted his head.

"Enough waiting with this boring revelation on death, Trainer use your moves!" The cloaked Halloween costume of a person had let out and lightly showed off their arms as though they promised to give out a hug.

"Scyther Air Slash!" The Trainer had called out as Griffin simply went quiet and watched, wide-eyed.

"Hold," Griffin said while Scyther cast the slash of wind through the air. The Scyther overshot his attack and struck at the wall behind the Pikachu. The Result had nasty slashes into the solid rock, yet Scarf had to contend against a wind that tried to throw him.

It's tossing me back!? It's using its wind to attack from behind me. I'm too close. The Pikachu simply held into the ground as the flurry of wind hung behind him like some twisted sickle before the force nearly popped as it dissipated, his tweaked and perched ears flicked. He almost lost his grip on the floor.

Vibration; it's using Vibration - if I can even spark up my pelt... even a little with your Shock Wave, I can dissipate it?

How could you read him already, Seo?

The Pikachu didn't flinch when Griffin called out Agility as he simply chirped his own call-in reply.

"Keep it close!" His own trainer had called out in return while Scarf's ear twitched once more and a blade shot of his eyes. Scarf hit the ground with a flurry as the blade just went to skin his folded down ears, and as the Scythers arm had near hit him - the Pikachu shot forward and between the Scythers legs in a tizzy.

Minute openings, fit yourself in minute openings. It left Scarf's smaller heart to pound against his chest as the Pikachu skidded across the stone, barely moving a foot or two in any direction with a burst of quick speed.

He couldn't beat it from far away and lacked the Stamina to get up close.

Patience, I'm comfortable with that. I have the time to spend.

The Pikachu felt the wind caress the fur on his cheek as another wild slash through the air went by him, all thanks to the large carnivorous blades that rested across the Scyther's more massive arms. His swings seemed wild and hesitant; Scarf knew that to be true.

Two reluctant heroes, I know a short story like that, just the average being. No one exquisite in the tale. The Pikachu sharpened his gaze once again and crossed his tail upwards - the lighter bend on his Iron tail left the sparks of white-gold to flicker off, then the rotate left the Scyther to overshoot his momentum.

That's the problem.

Scarf shot his legs in and cheaply landed a massive, charged blow against the thin line between its leg and the knee. It wouldn't break from the strike - but it would hurt; the Pikachu aimed for a pressure point.

I don't get a Daisho, fangs... or even an element to protect me. All I have is my tail and the desire to figure thrifty knick-knacks....

His claws touched the ground after the slide; it put the blunt of his movements on three of his ankles and paws. The strain was already sung through them as Scarf opened his mouth.

"I have no will or desire to fight either, not like this, but in my case - It's something I must do, and it's worth every single cent I have."

The Pikachu mentioned and gingerly smiled as his raspy and charismatic voice seeped through. "I hate to ask, but may you stand down - I believe it to be the best way to protect your trainer; these humans are evil, so let this elder throw themselves to the cause first." The Pikachu continued to say as the Scyther solely glanced at its pollen shaded hinge, that exposed section where the armor hadn't covered them by any means. "You are younger, able. You can fight the long fight, but the short...? There's no need to risk that. So, I ask of you. Please relinquish your choice to fight." The Scyther partially buzzed and vibrated before it spoke with a hint of a chuckle.

"That's the best damn idea I've heard all year." It replied to him and pushed itself to its feet. "We've lost friends here too. Pikachu."

"Then let us, we... go through; you can rally the wild ones - I know that for a fact just by the look of you." The Pikachu held his posture - his stance as he dug his smaller claws into the stone below him tediously. I can't dig out of here; I can't even try it to cover a move. I have a sensible argument, and the best fights have always been fought with words. Another small tilt of his tail came over him as the Scyther had finally put his forearms downward - pointed to the stone below its huge feet.

Scarf could see it plain as day from his height.

Imagine scuffed rock - laminated, but underneath it's all claw marks; thousands and thousands overlapping one another just to make this. It's all from Psychic chewing away at it frantically.

"Whatever did this is in horrific pain." The words slipped out of his muzzle as the Scyther looked at him. "Horrible... endless pain. Could you not let me hold my own and carry another's with me? They'd think an elder like me were senile, but you see it."

"Every Pokemon here sees it." The Scyther returned and gave nothing short of a gentle huff before he went towards his trainer and recalled himself. The Trainer solely stood there perplexed, confused even more when their Pokemon wouldn't leave the capsule after. It left the Pikachu still and hold his breath.

Damn good play old chap. Any more of that tension and my heart was going to stop on a dime. Calm yourself.

The Pikachu only watched as that trainer began to wander away out of confusion, frantically holding out his capsules to let his Pokemon leave on command.

It made the Pikachu smile softly to himself over the fact that some still held their integrity.

His tail flickered and dimmed as he called his move off while finally letting out an array of pants.

He was moving at half speed, smoothly. The humans could see that speed to their eye, but I'm already exhausted. As it ran through his head, the optimistic perspective hadn't broken down entirely.

Not when the crawls of shocks ran down his pelt.

_Well, Arceus? Is this just you telling me that I can't define my own fate? Or is this me spending every waking moment to break that chain we all have tied between us? _ The Pikachu lightly chuckled to himself, a warm, friendly chuckle.

As though the sheer silent return of his thoughts made him laugh of the quips he knew between.

Even more, he wondered what he'd do the day it spoke back to him; the usual thought on his tired mind as a crackle eventually fell before him once again.

Another trainer? There're no rests in-between, but it's expected now, I count more than three-quarters of the group walked out. One Pokemon is all it takes, especially a strong one, and the rest follow.

I'll thank you for that one, Arceus.

The Pikachu flicked down his heavy-set tail and let the move charge once more as the foe shot out in a flurry; Scarf's eyes sharpened and with a tinge of sparks that shot down his pelt. He used Agility to afterimage a few paces away and rotated outward to face his opponent.

He strained his eyes again as Laser Sight fixed over the Sneasel immediately, then he instinctively shot his tail upward - like a baton of sorts.

It barely met with the Sneasels razor-sharp claws and like any light sort of wind; the pressure built down against the Pikachu's chest in the moments that followed.

_They're impressive, and that force feels more lethal than it should._Within that very moment, the Pikachu's eyes widened, and with a small discharge, he maneuvered and moved with a faint after-image which barely let him avoid a delayed move.

Shadow claw? He used something to buffer or hold his attack and release it after he's swung? The Pikachu landed on all fours as his fur became spiked terrain - a slight ripple ran through him as his whole body quivered.

There was a small vein of nickel, zinc, or silver within this cavern, and by chance - the Pikachu happened upon it with Seo's Shock Wave to help.

The slight limber movement shocked through his paws and with a toss of his chest upward; that move strained his back as the Pikachu swung himself rearward to avoid another close-range attack from its feather-light claws.

_Its upper body is healthy and quick - lean muscle with explosive force._The thoughts had pelted against the Pikachu's skull as he ground his claws across the ground - stuck on two legs as both claws struck at him.

All he needed was the one blow with his iron tail

Yet... the adrenaline had tapered, and the Pikachu recoiled to a vicious two-pronged head butt; his ears stuck out firmly while he moved unexpectedly back.

He couldn't twist his body in time, and in reflex - he shot towards the Sneasels chest.

There was a wild slash that snuck against his ear and left the Pikachu to wince from the slowed' world around him. The adrenaline always made his world slower; it gave him time to think.

A calm, gentle world and that one little cut alongside the tip of the Pikachu's ear sent a shock which left Sneasel back in an uproar of static, silent cheer. The expulsion of sparks that barely curled around the Pikachu's fur and ears created a crystalline shape in that instant.

Scarf used Electro Ball, and it left the Pikachu wide-eyed and in a fit of shock.

The damned move hit back just as hard.

That left the Pikachu to crumple and pant; a jolt ran through his three paws while that sudden jerk and tugged against his lungs. A cough fought through all his pants and recoiled force, which weighed him down.

The best he could do was act like an attached conduit, one that played chance with the charge around or beneath him.

A gentle shiver ran through his spine as the light trickles of blood touched the floor of the cavern, one that left his adrenaline to chase his fears away.

In a way, it was the rare times; a silence filled his head as though to speak softer words to him. With a gentle, disoriented stumble forward, Scarf went towards that veil in the ground - that one section where the rock had been cut down deep enough.

_That's a thick veil of iron; thick enough that I think this seaside cavern was never seaside generations ago.

Like this used to be a more immense mountain or the water just came up over the last couple hundred thousand years?_

A tremor ran down his back as the claw marks lightly shimmered in view.

That one veil held a palm print in the middle of it like something physically left a mark as though the rest would cover the sound with their scratches.

It was a smaller disc of iron under the ground, and the Pikachu knew it went down even further the moment he stepped on it. Yet it concerned Scarf as his paws touched it, and the Sneasel hadn't stood back up the entire time. His eyes sharpened in the darker light.

_He's unconscious? I hadn't...? No, he was airborne; I hadn't realized that the disc would be dangerous. The entire center circle of the battleground has a veil of iron, one that's been forced up through the ground by psychic.

Seo's charge; she seeped it into the ground, and this cavern seems to glimmer...? It's droplets, smaller droplets?_

I think I may have killed him. The whole battlefield is an electrified birdcage.

The fright and paranoia shocked through his body as the Pikachu half urged his paws to move.

_He's young, but if it rebounded me enough to send me back against the ground... I could've launched him into the wall. The velocity and impact alone...

Not to mention the volts. _

The frightened tremor ran down his entire spine as the Pikachu half held a claw to his chest and swirled his tail to walk... then run over to them. As he did, the Pikachu reflexed and moved his sudden fright had been over; just at the end of that disc - Scarf shocked a volt through his legs and after imaged nearly two spaces left.

The effect of Shadow Claw had just swung past his nose.

With near curses, the Pikachu stretched and cracked his back; the movement left him near brittle after.

Is this charge intense? No... is there a stone under this rock too? It would keep a continuous current running through it.

In moments the Pikachu flattened his ears entirely, as though in fear and fright.

The reality was that he dimmed his own switch and changed the current. The Sneasel had already jolted back to its feet and began a charge at him. The Pikachu after imaged back; then again... again, all while he evaded the Sneasels movement.

_Damnit Arceus, you played me like a fool; I respect you for that. For just a moment, I forgot...

I'm not the only good one here. There's always that fact. _

Scarf hadn't known where he had heard the phrase, but it's what he thought about as the Sneasel's claws shot dangerously close to his eyes.

Scarf after imaged behind him, using short bursts of the energy below himself, his only conduit was the energy in his cheeks and what came naturally to his ears.

Extreme Speed while the Pikachu could hold his iron tail to defend himself when he needed it.

The more his tail charged, the heavier it got... the more Sneasel moved - exhaustion slowly crept up to Scarf; finally, his eyes were strained from Laser Focus

_I push myself with using anything other than my clutch moves. I'll faint from exhaustion alone.

If I hold them any longer, the repercussions will put me down. Quickly, end it._

The Pikachu, rather than move back - being exhausted in comparison to the fit Sneasel had shot forwards and covered his Iron Tail to the Sneasels right side with an unexpected shield bash manoeuver.

Scarf broke through the weaker side of Sneasel by using that weighted tail to push Sneasel down.

Claws darted towards Scarf's right side as his ears flicked downward, a narrow evade left the Pikachu in range of the Sneasel's left hand; in his curled position - pinned to the floor for a moment; the Pikachu flicked his right ear up and discharged from the steel-like plate below him.

With a little static, even on the stone below him - the Pikachu could discharge and launch himself forward. Scarf used a riskier body slam, combined with the weight from his charged tail to nearly pinning the Sneasels arm down to the veil of iron below them.

All he did then was finally perk both his ears up, attentive, and pinned the Sneasel to the electric table below him.

"A good job, using that delay on Shadow Claw to impact the wall; you swung a claw behind yourself to set up a cover while you attacked." The Sneasel - shocked and paralyzed to the ground had partially blinked as though to fight the paralysis which overtook its complete form. It was slightly larger than Scarf was, but it hadn't been anything as colossus as Scyther.

Scarf only needed to lightly spark his cheeks to shock him again. "And you had Kurabo Fruit, very intelligent. So, I'd say your boss knows this terrain has iron in it. No, trainers do. You had an advantage, so most of these Pokemon are Electric-type; you're the test, and I screwed your plan up." The Pikachu gave a little laugh, right when one of the trainers commented on it. I also screwed ours, played again. A gentle cough overcame him as his back slowly crawled. He still shocked and paralyzed the Sneasel I didn't see this Pokemon out earlier? The Pikachu felt something crawl over him as some strange dark shadow shot overtop his form. It made his ears twitch and turn his head while another shadow swung in from behind.

A knife swung over his scalp and struck the other shadow down with a dominant tackle. The stillness in Scarf's lungs felt cold in the air around him as a strange, green-eyed creature stared him down. The gentle creepy feeling came over him as a voice cut through the dim blue light.

"I see" The emphasis on the S left Scarf to blink gently. "What a curious and wonderful heartbeat! I've yet to hear one better!" The Seviper mentioned and showed off his long tongue - the chipped tooth and tauntingly swung his sickly tail behind him. "Per our ancient accord... Zangoose" The Pikachu partially flinched, there wasn't any way it could be. Its fur had been a meadow- near light moss green and accented with a pearl white - marked with subtle differences in its hair.

_No, it's different, the pressure - the feeling...? It's like Leafeon's. He's grass dominant? I've never heard of that from one.

Think old chap..._ The Pikachu lightly swallowed and instinctively shocked the ground and stunned the Sneasel once again as the Seviper showed an interested grin; his scars ran all through his significant, reflective reptilian skin.

"I'll be your opponent in this battle, Zangoose." The Seviper lagged on his last S as he nimbly whipped his tail around tauntingly. All the Zangoose did was tilt his head.

"One of your sizes would devour the small, brittle Pikachu." The Zangoose expressed back as the Seviper showed off his scars in return. "You're sickly too." The Seviper lightly stirred and lightly whipped his tail down again. Scarf instinctively pulled his tail inward as his eyes trembled wide.

I can hear... the rock hissing? A shock and tremor ran down his back. It didn't do that before... Is Griffin feeding him wrong? He could be, and it'll make him frailer. "Seviper, stand down." The Seviper trilled and hissed slightly as the Zangoose checked his claws and curiously looked at the Pikachu. "Let Seo replace you here. There is no need to... be a risk." Scarf commented as Seo lightly tilted her head and stared back with her full, empty eyes. The Seviper glanced back at him with a sharpened gaze before it grinned.

"Zangoose!" The Seviper expressed, "Per our ancient accord."

"I see." The Zangoose adjusted his claws once more as though to partially retract them. "Then an honor, from one scarred like yourself." The Pikachu shocked the disc in the ground again - any time the Sneasel moved, it was the first thing he had done; just twitch his ears. The Seviper gently laughed in reply and shook his head. Then the Pikachu's back crawled once again.

No... the Zangoose is much too healthy - his pelt shines, luxurious. Bandit's coat is much the same. This Sneasel isn't evil... I just blurted all that out because of some foolish assumption. The Pikachu delayed before he slowly retracted his paws...

Something tapped a wall.

"What the hell is with the Pokemon in this country?" The masked ghost of a human expressed. "Half of them just halt! Fight! FIGHT!" It made the Pikachu tremble as Seviper gently hissed again. The teenager in the cloak had begun to pace, yet it appeared the unexpected action from Scarf made every Pokemon second guess. Every time Scarf looked at the young woman, this strange robe of a Mimikyu stared back at him, one that looked hand-made and utterly disturbing.

"No, not every scar is one of honor; many on my pelt are distraught, gone through the ruination of pride and greed. My friend... it's an honor to challenge you; one untouched and unfazed all the same." The Seviper continued as Scarf gently pulled his paws away entirely. The Sneasel solely twitched as sparks shot in all directions; Scarf simply glanced at every little sparkle as the silence filled the cavern now, and a light tinge touched his cheek.

Sneasel just lay on the ground breathing heavily.

I can feel vibration... like a hum? Seviper is... mimicking the wave a bird would make? Like one peacefully on the ground, pecking at seeds and berries. He is a hunter; he's using his natural camouflage to calm the other Pokemon around us. Mimic the world.

I feel as though the Chesshira would do the same.

Scarf gently coughed again as the Sneasel finally stood up while he scratched the back of his scalp. I haven't met a hunter better than him, not in my entire life have I met one better. The Pikachu planted his feet to the ground and huffed gently; his shoulders sagged and his chest flooding with air.

"Then, without moves it is, we fight naturally." The Zangoose expressed in return as the Seviper nodded back.

"I shall only use my tail - the blunt side." The Seviper returned as the Zangoose retracted his claws in return. Then Scarf caught onto that cloaked teen. She looked like she was about to pull her own hair out. Even that made him chuckle with a shock of disbelief.

_I almost selfishly feel if we were anywhere else in the world, this wouldn't have happened. Yet there's something off about that Zangoose; the pressure is much like Leafeon's, but this Zangoose looks much more dangerous.

Very... very dangerous. _

The Pikachu swallowed once again - dry throated and all. Griffin had simply stayed in the back with some sigh of relief... None of the trainers made a single sound. It's why he let others go first. Griffin solely let the others teach him the real rules of the fight, and as the crowd slowly began to disperse...

Wait... Where did that large Mimikyu go? She stormed off somewhere - the girl in that cloak. Another tremble ran down Scarf's back.

"Seviper! They have other trainers here!" Scarf called out in this softer, rasped tone - much more delicate than Sevipers.

He had a unique quality in his tone, like the wind that curled through fertile underbrush; his voice stirred them both in a look of attentiveness. The Zangoose simply clicked his claws as the Seviper tilted his head and leaned in with curiosity.

"The girl in the cloak is gone; she must have more of them further on. They'll trap us in here, I'm sure of it, chip." Seo simply twitched her ear and flicked her tail for a moment; Scarf could see it with his strained eyes - it left his head to lightly pound. "We should all leave." Zangoose solely made a trill as the Sneasel pushed to his feet.

I understand now... Arceus. There's good Pokemon here too. You're always the chess player that's one step ahead of me. There's too many good Pokemon here. Too many. Why lure all of us in here, however? It's not poison. The walls are stable - strong. Scarf felt one last tremble that ran down his back.

Will...o...wisp...? It's like... Luna's. I didn't think twice of it; this isn't a battleground - they cursed the entire room? I haven't heard anything like that in a long time. Griffin gave an estranged cough and began to walk out of the cavern...

Only to bump into a wall. It left Scarf's Trainer near breathless when he did, and Scarf pitched his ear up.

There's no echo? The entrance is entirely blocked by something... invisible - but it's just black - like a void wall? Not even sound. "They're stacked behind the wall. Blowing out a torch could work..." the Pikachu began to say

"Then, we take out the-wisp lights." Seo slowly began to tread towards the Zangoose.

"It could be a Vulpix or Ninetales element." The Absol expressed, "To dispel the flame, would kill you. It's based on how the curse is spoken; you know that Zangoose."

"A legend? I don't need some old tale to tell me what to do." The Seviper gently hissed back at him.

"Friend, calm. Foe, calm. Seo...? You mean we can't just leave because of a legend?"

"There's no way to tell, the curse from a Pokemon can last for a thousand years - some Pokemon age for that time before death or die instantly from them. The curse hasn't gone away. It's strong. Age has its benefit." Seo expressed calmly and with her strained voice - one that made Pikachu's eyes widen.

I do feel that it's like a fog; an odd chilly fog - there should be no airflow if the only access in is there. "Scarf, is there a way to bring Luna here? If the tale I know is true, she can dispel it." Seo glanced at Griffin; he had spent his time to methodically stare at the void wall and then the cavern around it. The Pikachu glanced at Griffin's Pokeball for a moment.

"If his phone can still connect...?" Pikachu twitched an ear. "Vermillion City. I overheard Griffin talking to his brother on the phone during my way back. "He said that the Pokeballs connect in many ways. If I can get to it..." Seo gave him a curious glance and gently huffed.

"That's true, but the curse could still affect you; not only that, they may still not have a way out - Luna would be here alone with Seviper and a few other odd Pokemon. You and I both know they're out there right now, waiting." The Pikachu took a moment to sit down as Seo glanced over at the Zangoose. They were both quiet. The Trainers were more enveloped in confusion then panic.

The only time Scarf had a chance to think, reflect on it all, was right then.

"Haxorus could dig through it," Seo commented as the Pikachu nodded his head no. It made Seo twitch her ear.

"It's made from Psychic... Moonlight. If they condensed the cavern, we could get him to weaken the walls... I don't know much about ghost types..." Scarf commented softly in return

"Me either... Scarf. Elusive until you're like I am."

"Well, be sure to tell those ghosts that I said hi." Scarf lightly quipped back and gave a gentle laugh - one that made her crack this soft, somber smile.

"Then you know it's a fifty-fifty chance. It'll either make us live until we're killed - aging a thousand years, or it'll kill us both instantly. I know these people. They had Vulpix's too." Seo gave a little laugh. "Or we starve, because looking around this room - there are no psychic types, there are no ghost types. There must've been hidden rules underneath it - like ruminations passed around, and these humans honestly broke down to them." The Absol gently sighed as Scarf nodded back. "Well, let's kick Haxorus and Lycanroc out and make ourselves at home," Seo replied and began to walk over to Griffin. He simply stared at the wall curiously, then the fire on the walls.

"The girl also left... but her...?" Seo twitched her tail, the menacing thin sword of a tail. "You can't see any part of her - those gloves were tucked around her sleeves. The wisp lights. The curse affects you if the light touches you." Seo gently whipped her tail once again, and it made the Pikachu blink.

"You seem agitated, Seo."

"Angry about a certain Leafeon. Talking about Arceus and Xerneas, we can take pointless chances..."

"An offering to Xerneas...?" The Pikachu twitched his ears and flicked his tail. "Spices...?" The Pikachu began to laugh as Seo pulled her ear. "Griffin always carries dried Thyme and Rosemary; it's said to ward off evil spirits - he uses it in his cooking."

"Dried herbs? Better than nothing... I fear what it may do to me." The Absol narrowed her eyes lightly as Scarf gently nodded while rubbing his paws.

"I believe to be in good standing." The Pikachu nodded his head in return and scampered over to Griffin.

He hadn't his bag on him, but his baggy cargo-like pants had plenty of pockets. Griffin only really wore them when he knew he'd be out in the deep woods. It left his small fuzzy chest to huff. The trainers were all in the middle of trying to figure it out.

"Hey, don't touch the fire!" Griffin commented as though he had simply listened behind him, "If it's anything like my Vulpix's, it'll burn the hell out of you." Griffin expressed and continued to stare around the entire dome of a battleground. "There has to be a simple trick to it... The wall doesn't let us go in or out... Sunlight." Griffin softly expressed, and that made Scarf and Seo flinch, even Seviper had to the sound of Griffin's voice.

"Right, where are we going to get sunlight, smartass?" A trainer commented, "It's eerie down here. I'm... I don't..." Scarf twitched an ear

"Zangoose?"

"You got me. I never learned it." He expressed in return, and Scarf twitched his eyes.

It's going to hurt, but it's one hell of an idea. "I have a thought, but I need the center of the room and as much static as we can make."

"Sunny day could work." Griffin mentioned back, "Someone has to have a Pokemon that can use it. Anyone? It's a fire type move, sunlight will naturally affect it - enough of it, and we'd burn away the wisp entirely!" Griffin said again, "It's why you don't see ghost types in the sun for too long." Scarf twitched his ear again and looked around the cavern.

I can see plenty of veins running along the walls, thin threads. I could drain all the electricity below me in one shot and use the rocks to hope I knock out the flames. I wouldn't touch them directly; neither would my move. Scarf gently twitched an ear. "I can use the rocks to knock out the fire without touching them. If a rock falls and flattens out a wisp, they're flames; after all, it can be smothered naturally. The curse can't just target anyone, certainly not a rock!" The Pikachu tenderly laughed. "I'll be in some serious pain after." Scarf expressed and gently gave a laugh, "Our trainers really can't do a lot without us, can they?" It made the Pikachu giggle and the few odd chuckles here and there.

"You have a way with words, almost like your Seviper friend here. Wh-" The Zangoose had begun to speak.

"A Mightyena named Bandit." Seo returned to him, something that made Scarf twitch his tail. The Zangoose lightly twitched his ear. "You're after her too." The Absol gently curled her head - and the sharp blade with it... then her legs braced herself as though to arch her body and stretch out her tail.

Stiff as a spear yet limber thanks to the shaved or skinned section near the base. The Zangoose narrowed his eyes and clicked his claws.

"You're quite perceptive; So, you're all that trainer's Pokemon? He's out of his league, look." The Zangoose slowly tilted his head to Seviper and then towards Absol with a keen, observant gaze. "If my owner wants nothing to do with her, I will personally return her alive and well to you. Unlike some monsters...

"I never mess around when it comes to family. Whatever these people are, they're an insult to the word."

The phrase made Pikachu's fur still out. The entire pelt riled up as the pressure gently built around him. Buffet as the whole even made Seviper twitch his sharp - predatorial eyes on the Zangoose as it curiously checked its claws.

The only one that didn't flinch was Seo - one with a resolve stronger than any of them.

Logan:

The laboratory floor plan, it's what he stared at after a while - stuck in studious thought and silent prayer. His screen had gone entirely grey and white. Static.

It was a trap. I've never seen Will-O-Wisp and Hex before, not together like that. Wisps that linger with the flame of hex...? Logan gently went for a quick search over the web, tapping away furiously. I remember something...? I remember something. Logan began to type faster and searched through anything he could find on it; his fingers touched his temples for a moment. The URL, I remember the URL. He began to type it in and loaded up a page; all he had done was read through it.

Some fantastical legend about a swordsman from a land untold who fought Pokemon without any intention of killing and helped Xerneas, if not Arceus, itself. Logan felt his blood chill lightly before he ran through a section on the site that read

"They listened to the words of a Fox, one painted with beauty beyond measure. One which rested a pyre to them and asked them for silence: patience. In that solitude, they could hear voices help find a path to peace from the mistakes behind them."

Logan solely brushed his long brown hair from his face, legs crossed on the bed of that inn; it made his eyes gently narrow while he read through the tale.

There's so much to it. I never thought anything of these silly stories, but... A ghost and fire move don't mix naturally - not like that Will-o-Wisp does. There wasn't a single Pokemon there that could cast it. It just stayed endlessly? A small tremble ran down his back - a strange, creepy thing writhed through him.

_It's not a trap. It's too intricate...

It's a god damn test; they're being recruited into their ranks - It's bloody simple if they wanted to kill them; they just would. _

Logan simply remembered the folded down portrait, untouched and left to collect dust for years as he clenched a fist. One of the Mightyena's shot it's head up at him the moment he did and solely stared; this feeling pushed into the back of his eyes.

Thanks, great to know you're treating me like a full-on prisoner. He went back to the keyboard and ran through the list.

Curses... curses... There's hardly anything on Vulpix Curses - just what the Pokedex frequently says and untrustworthy articles; I haven't a clue where or who wrote these legends... they're fantastical for sure, but the ethnicities are all over the map. Logan continued to read through anything and everything he could as he looked back to Esi's first test for blood; he had to take his mind off it.

Everything looked reptilian to him. _Elm's lab. I can figure out this crazy crap - because if they have some fancy Pokemon curse, they can use... if it can convince people, then I'd say I understand how they can.

Everybody still wants something to come back to them. _

Logan continued to read through the sheet and then glanced up to someone. The one middle-aged man with a limp, he had a calm look about him; studious and focused.

"Hey, kid." He spoke with a kind but firm tone, "I'll be the one looking over you for later. We're still trying to figure when we can get you in." They expressed as Logan gave a gentle cough in reply. "You found something; you always have this lump in your throat when you do. What do you have to say?"

"Well, Griffin is trapped on Navel Island for one, yet I think I figured out one thing that may influence them. A method of recruitment. I didn't think about it until now. Remember that issue about three months back? It was on the news. Something stirred the legendary trio of birds..." Logan mentioned, yet the man solely stared at him. "Then on Griffin's Pokenav; I noticed the cave they were in - it led me to this." The man looked over to the small laptop screen as one Mightyena snorted. Logan hadn't moved, but those sharp eyes were all over him, intense, curious, and utterly deadly.

"A fairytale? An old fairytale?" The man began to mention and looked over the section that Logan highlighted. "You think there's a curse on the cave? That's ridiculous Logan, I don't have time for this."

"Yeah... but I can't shake the hunch now." Logan had solely scratched that one spot on his scalp, like second nature, as always."He could be in danger if a Zoroark can create -"

"We'll tell our guy to check up on it. He'll be out of sight for the whole time. As will Shadow. My assumption is that they got caved in. You got disconnected."

"I know what I saw. It wasn't a cave in. Just... as dumb as it sounds - please tell your man to try NOT entering the room himself. I know it's..."

"Hm." Was all he made in reply, something that made Logan swallow and gently held his own throat.

That man suddenly went from... It felt like one of the Mightyena's nearby me. I think... I've been too antsy; I'm getting paranoid. Something about him throws me off, a story? Logan ran his fingers through his hair once again and softly breathed; in many ways...

It could be like a prayer, no matter the language.

It made his back tremble gently as his lungs filled with air. A hand touched the keyboard as Logan continued to search and browse endlessly through sites and his own research. Then he took a curious glance at the Pokeball.

It's blinking yellow - a caution light. I wonder if the connected holograms broke the inner-outer wall; they can only take so much stress as Pokemon aren't digital. What the hell happened, Griffin? A little tremble ran down Logan's back as he flipped towards his other work; he pulled up his designs and then the software.

_Where is it...? I know it, Ayumu talked about it. If one...? No, I did. When I added the Flareon to the box, I used it under my administration. I made a damn mistake. That's why the Pokeballs clacked open in Vermillion.

The piece of shit updated at some point after... _

It made Logan sigh. It reset a code I put in. Ayumu had to confirm the changes - was he drunk? It updated back to the masters' list... but Esi is still put under as a stock Flareon on my screen. He did half the job?

You drink more, come November, and I've been with you every step of the way for you to quit, but don't screw with me, please, Ayumu.

Logan looked at the screen blankly before he opened the shared files between them. Logan simply went quiet after something caught his eye. It made him lean back against the wall of that small dorm in the hotel.

Son of a bitch, you completed the... the combat module? That's what you've been doing. Another swallow passed through his lips as Logan gave a small sheepish grin. _The language module needs work, but... you completed the damn combat module. That explains your silence.

I need another Software ball for Esi and quick._

"Hey boss, I'll need to get a new Pokeball of mine for Esi too." Logan gave a gentle call out. The man had solely looked up from the corner of the room with a chuckle - he sat on this bed with his leg supported as he glanced from his book. His hair was vaguely salt and pepper, with a thick beard to boot. He had weight behind him, and that left him to resemble a proudly experienced miner. Logan could see the injury plainly through his pants. Any thought of it left him silent.

_They can't be bad people, not with what he told me in detail.

These people can't be._

But I can't shake the feeling that they're fucking with me. It has to be hell on earth for them to be here with those memories. I need to play the 'still fell for it' part for now.

"I need to get Akiyama on the phone as well. Now, I know why that old bugger has been quiet. It's new software for the Pokeball." Logan sighed partially. "I'll go over and show you," Logan mentioned with a dry smile as it made the man tilt his skull while Logan made his way over with the laptop in his hands. He took an awkward seat and showed the stranger his work. After a few glances over some of it, the man slowly began to chuckle.

"What?"

"It is our bloody software - at least how it works. It's a complete overhaul of the older system... Those notes are the comparison; Akiyama did this?"

"No, I did the majority of the design; Akiyama just helped me with the finishing touches - taught me a bit too," Logan mentioned and gingerly sighed as he went into his rucksack... The note from his Grandfather... and... "I had this Pokeball from my time training." Logan showed the broken - snapped and partially charred Pokeball. "It... wasn't normal. I noticed that with my old Poke-Pilot. I brought that too." It made the stranger chuckle louder and look back to his book. "My father gave it to me, the Pokeball." Then there was silence. "It's the one that caught Bandit. She was wild... with us for years. We never chose to use a Pokeball against her." The man gently sighed.

"I understand what you're saying, kid." There was a flipped page from his book. "But I can't rightfully care at this moment - my job is to watch you; not listen to your story because you want to understand me." He commented again as Logan gave a nervous smile in reply.

"I got so many freaking questions." Logan mentioned back, "It's... distracting."

"So don't ask em." He shot back. "Don't let them 'fester' I told you what you needed to know before, mister 'millionaire.'" The man mentioned as it made Logan wince and awkwardly chuckle.

"Sorry, I don't make a convincing bad guy! My brother does a better job with that then I do... that's why I'm worried. I'm worried about the whole thing." Logan continued to say, "He's a... little off the wall at times."

"Oh, I know, One of Giovanni's boy's have been stalking him for weeks; says the kid holds back his anger and barely realizes it affects his Pokemon." The man mentioned back. "If they took Bandit, they'd bring them here - as ordered." He continued to say, "How else can we train them?" Logan felt a shiver run through his back.

"What...?"

"I gave you that one because you trusted me with some serious information, Logan. You showed our head guy already, then you decided to show me personally." He simply nodded, "Don't let that pride or ego blind you; I'm rather level-headed compared to the rest of this group - I don't call it luck."

"Believe me, it's not that... I have trouble with it... adrenaline."

"... Adrenaline?" Logan nodded as he repeated the word. "So, you are a junkie."

"I've been hooked ever since an accident." Logan continued to say and gave an awkward swallow. "If you have any advice."

"Well, how about I give honest advice to you." He replied in return with a wry smile. "I like my books, and I like silence to read." Logan simply went quiet after that and continued to type on his keyboard. His eyes had caught a strange glossy hue, one that left Logan to look back at the man with his knee lightly raised. A Psychic-type Pokemon had helped brace, support, and even tried to heal his injury - in fact, the Pokemon slowly did. It made Logan silent as his eyes made his way back to the screen - a recommended video in some local news site.

A dance video from Veridian...? That's Griffin's Vulpix in the thumbnail - I'd recognize the fur and size anywhere. Logan turned the computer silent and hit play on the video. Natasha... Laurent...? He solely looked at the billboard-like screen from the Colosseum quietly until both his hands gently cuffed under his chin as though to give a studious look.

Seo:

That one bone in her back had finally popped into place just to send painful waves down her spine, it would have been if her world wasn't a blurred black and white. With every tremor of her splendid and stiffen tail, the Zangoose had partially stalled; she hated the position she was in, solely her rear... yet a calm sense ran through it now. A snarl passed her lips, a light one that just clawed at her throat yet even with her half-bladed tail pointed outward to the Zangoose.

The pressure she showed silenced the room.

Griffin, as expected, hadn't even paid mind to Seo's gentle change in stance and poise; yet the Pikachu and Seviper beside her certainly had, along with the Zangoose which stared her down with futile comparison. Then she gently began to speak. Her soft strained voice came through.

Like a bird that lost its talent in it.

"If I may, I am to believe that we should focus on the task at paw. Our trainers, along with ourselves, are trapped at this moment. We can't risk putting the fire out - you must be able to feel the odd vibe it gives. When the room is utterly still and silent, it could trigger something." Seo continued to say and gently let her eyes glance at the ground.

Zinc. Your idea is smart, Scarf, but you'd overcharge yourself - without your cheeks, it could melt you to the floor. Seo softly sighed. "My soul and only opinion are that we stay utterly silent for a moment. Every one of us - quiet." Seo solely sat back down to the floor. Griffin had continued to pace around... he even got closer to a wisp which eerie floated above a torch - some decretive steel torch. A hidden base...? Seo felt a tremor run down her back as that thought came to mind as she solely waited and listened.

One trainer slowly hyperventilated, and Griffin had slowly wandered over to them; they talked about nothing in particular - but it quieted them down after a while. Whenever his voice spoke, Seo would twitch her ear until the cavern eventually grew quiet - the trainers solely fell to every Pokemon's example.

Griffin finally stopped his pace and solely looked at the blue flame, which floated nearly two spaces between each one.

Then every single trainer hit the ground unconscious. It made the Absol twitch her ears again as every Pokemon looked around in shock.

"I know what it is. I've heard about it."

"W - what...?"

"The trainers end up going through some search for answers," Seo commented and softly sighed

"I heard they become Pokemon themselves, and only if they find that answer... do they wake up." Scarf commented in his calm, rasped tone. "Silence is important." He expressed gently. "If anything, we all should rest; we have a fight upcoming. Don't use your capsules. The clack will interrupt them." Seo softly nodded in agreement and laid down on the stone; Scarf had tuned his ears down to his back. Whenever he did that, it made the fur on his body drop - Seo could notice the thin silky coat which chased down his neck and chest. It made him go red after a moment. "I hope... I didn't mean to... I mean..." Seo solely twitched an ear and curled up, poised, and held her elegant stance.

His words fell short of deafened ears like nothing more than a small field mouse that found it's way to a statue.

There wasn't a word to be spoken as she gently inhaled. The blur crossed her eyes while she glanced at an obsidian void that blocked them. I remember those old tales. Seo felt her heart gently jostle - a flicker of vibrant color painted sections of her world, like the tide coming inward as the pain wrecked every joint. I remember them being told to me too...

She couldn't hold her stance when the world seemed filled with luster and gloss; it only faded to its usual swirl of fuzzy greys. All she knew was that the fault in her breath helped her hold the recovery.

Her vision started to sharpen

Like any cruel witch, she gave a slight toothy grin - the kind that hid her face from view using her hair. Every way it looked, she spared the world a glance - at least those strangers in the cavern. Her focus has solely trained on the obsidian like void beside her, her form curved with her sharpened tail pointed outward. Silence flooded Seo's ears; she even tuned out the windless flicker from the Wisp around each wall of the near pitch-black cavern. Her rear paw pushed against something with relentlessness - The soft firm cloth made her jolt. The torches don't cast light further into the room. It's like they glow entirely around themselves. There's absolutely no sunlight in here; no Pokemon thought it was essential to learn Sunny Day. Seo gently growled and tossed and eye to her left. Not to mention you, I can't use any other type but Electricity; it's your only chance for surviving. The thought meticulously went through her mind, one that left a singe of hesitation through her spine. Another light splash of color touched her eye, and her body racked with every set of pain. The light change of posture left Seo to narrow her brow as Scarf twitched his ear to the sight of it.

"S - Seo... I'd like to voice something." Scarf mentioned quietly. "There's a plate of minerals under this cavern. I think there's even a thunderstone below it all." The Pikachu gently whispered again; his tone touched against the walls of the cavern. "I can help plenty, but as long as they stay close enough to it, you... needn't worry about me - you're more attuned to dark type moves." Seo partially swayed her tail. Scarf had flinched, unaware that she solely adjusted her posture. She stayed silent for a moment and eventually sparked her element, changed it from a light tussle of static towards a ghastly dark-black and purple - one that ultimately sparked red and white. Then Scarf passed a gentle swallow, a sickly kind that made his stomach filled with a sense of dread.

"I agree," Seo replied in return. "I'll hold my attack unless it's needed, I'll let them charge us, and you can take over with the center.

"Having you here would -"

"In other words, Scarf... buy me time." The Pikachu lightly twitched his ears to her words while his four legs touched and sparked against the ground. It sent a shock through her naturally.

"My paralysis..."

"I've been hit with much harder." Seo replied, "Don't worry about me. Focus on what I told you." The Pikachu hadn't twitched his ear that time and solely dug every paw against the ground. It sent ripples of shocks throughout the Pikachu's now still-ended fur.

It left Seo to tilt her head at the sight of that as she focused solely on that strange obsidian veil - like an endless corridor of pure black smog.

A second flashed by while every single lantern light went out at once.

When the moment a patter touched the ground ahead of her, a fast-paced and utterly silent rush, Seo knew they were Linoone's by the sound alone. Seo was moment's away from calling out the word 'ahead' when the Zangoose had jumped ahead of her with sharpened and white glowed claws.

"Eleven and One!" it had called out and bolted towards them without any dismay for his well being.

Seviper had shot off with him. "Seviper and I will cover a wider flank!" He called back to her; his voice left her to twitch her ear.

Like Tsurara?

"I full-heartedly agree!" The Seviper viciously hissed out, "Now a contest! Beat down the most to win!" His tail flickered out as the near glimmer of steel caught her eye, a silver no different then a faithful chime caught her colorless world.

Unlike Bandit, who knew the fault and accepted it with her pride, that Seviper knew the same and solely received it with guilt. It's what left his tail to grow with a strange mossy white. Two shadows had shot their way towards the Zangoose first, and Seviper cut in with a weighted lunge and swung in reply. It left the Absol to sharpen her focus.

It's starting to clear up.

Then the flicker of lightning caught her peripheral vision, one who left the world to jolt in a strange light hop of a move. Scarf somehow lunged from one spot to the next his ears had flickered back - tweaked right - yet in every moment, sparks stung and stabbed their way into her brown-grey paw pads. _Nightslash,_the painless shock ran through her tail; a roar of dismay and reprimand would have shocked and shredded a world of color for her. The black and white shroud still blurred around her. She'd only see the lights from Scarf's electricity cut in front of her. She could see him in perfect vision. The sparks left the ground around him to flicker and jolt in this hopped like dance before his tail thumped the field. He panted for a moment, already tired or mentally stressed.

"Take on what you can. Don't fight needlessly." Absol replied to him, "You've reversed your own polarity to make yourself lighter on the plate that way you use Iron tail more heavily." The Absol gently chuckled to herself, yet only moved the muscles in her face. "Is that what you learned climbing trees?" The Pikachu sharpened his eye and with a lighter near skate on the Zinc hardly inches below them; the Pikachu bellowed his tail into a Linoone so that it struck the second one.

"N - No... I climb them for a much different reason."

"Oh?"

"It's so I can look up to clear my questions... and look down to find my answers." The Pikachu gently smiled in reply. "Too bad these Linoone barely understand that." The Absol nodded in response.

"They have gotten weaker over the years. Odd, are they feeding them rare candies?" Seo found her voice cutting in as Scarf panted and chuckled again.

"It's not that. Inexperienced too; a headlong rush using a Pokemon from a different region and in the dark."

"A scare tactic clearly."

"When that fails..."

"Why else do you think I'm in my stance?" The Pikachu sheepishly went quiet. "Back right side."

"I got it." He replied and made that strange jolt like lunge again, then shot up into the air.

Static charge, no; he's controlling the current of electricity? He could avoid a rebound by rapidly using discharge.

The longer he does that, the harder he'll get hit in return; he needs to deflect his own lash back.

Seo twitched her brow as her 'fog of war' slowly revealed more and more of the battlefield. Every shock cleared up her vision until she could just see the light, the blurry light that poured back the way they came from.

"Six humans." Seo called out, "They're blocking the entrance out." The Zangoose gave a unique sound before using Focus Punch on a midair Linoone - it launched it across the cavern with the impact, and it hit the ground with a frightened yelp by the human's feet. This odd tremor coursed in the air as though to barely rustle the molted patches of fur, which rested down her entire pelt.

There's a pressure, a faint push that changes how my body feels; it's off - chaotic. Whatever Underworld has or whatever they're holding back... it'll kill everything here. It could even kill them. What have they done? One-shot. Her posture slowly eased while that long strange tail - hooked at one end, dared to point ahead of her. The acute, dull sense of nerve pain slithered through the edge of her direct tail.

I've held it long enough to bear the pain, yet I know that look on his face - I can see it in the dark

These Humans lack the integrity of consideration, even for themselves... They're disgustingly selfish like horrid psychotic outlaws.

The odd, frightful shock touched the base of her tail while Scarf had panted heavily now - even Seviper cut in to assist him as Zangoose went off on his own; every intention of thrill and combat seeped down his Fury Claw. The Linoone had run off by then, terrified of the steep pressure from that strange mossy Zangoose. Seo gently slithered out a breath while her ears perked from the clack of a Pokeball, a loud, sharp crackle which wicked a brisk wind down her spine.

That fight was over the moment it begun.

A Machamp burst out of the ball and after-imaged toward all of them with ruthless, murderous intent.

Seo softly panted and let her front paws gently drop forward; her pelt had just fallen ahead when she exhaled for her recovery and slowly, tediously inhaled. For just a moment... I hesitated. That curious Pikachu actually listens to me. However, why did I wait...?

All that played through her head were the seconds, three to be precise; she ordered Scarf to discharge entirely... with her currently held static charge - all the electric force directed into her paws. The sharp stun-hitting blow forced her entire body to 'flash' forward. She entirely held her Dark Slash throughout the whole fight and toppled it with Psycho Cut.

Even with that jolt through her feet, Seo felt a second of hesitation enter her mind. The second passed by and gave way for the flash on the third. Her utterly near stoic tail slithered and waved with the gloss of shadowy-white flame as though to temper a folded solid mineral. It left her breathless for a moment, and like any statue, her entire body froze on the spot.

She couldn't move after. She didn't even try.

Only a small inhale left the elderly Absol to blink as her world had become a perfect twenty-twenty. Clearly black and white, the entire cavern quaked as the massive Pokemon hit the ground ferociously. A simple recovery breath was all she could take into her lungs as the world slowly churned and faded into a blurry colorless image. Wonderful. I got lucky and held my posture - I think his paralysis had some turn in it. Seo's shoulders lightly slumped while a chilly breath passed her lips, the thought in return...

I only apologized for the fact that it wasn't a clean decapitation.

In the light she was in, there wasn't any way to see it; the Machamp hardly made a sound - she knew what that had meant and softly slithered out the name in her head.

Number. I know why I hesitated... Number. That name is dangerous to hold high here... It doesn't need to tarnish itself with blood.

Seo wouldn't be here like this. She'd be home doing a much harder and rewarding quest.

She gingerly exhaled after the light flood of thoughts ran through her head, her eyes fixed on the humans ahead of her; from the center of the cavern - she stood just two feet into the darkness ahead of them. Close enough to see the whites of her pale - faded eyes as though she were an apparition that appeared before the humans.

That followed her near squatted posture, and the eerie jolted, head creaked shadow. After that, she did something that left Scarf's ear to twitch.

Absol's were unique. They sensed danger and disasters, yet the hidden talent of it all left the Pikachu behind her wide-eyed.

With her ruined, horrid throat and rough-scratched like a voice; Seo mimicked the sound the Chesshira made when it threatened prey.

The sound was enough to make Scarf's fur rustle. The human began to whisper between one another while Seo started to charge her Dark Slash. That strange sound came out again; that odd hiss like Mrowl passed her lips yet louder now. The pain clawed and tore at the inside of her throat while she sharpened her tail. The change of weight left her entire waist and legs yell in protest; so, she did too...

Mimicking the sound of a Pokemon threatened, or more accurately, she called out a sign of danger. One so freakish that even Seviper had stalled in his tread.

One human froze when he heard the sound again. A quick deaf altercation left that one human to bolt out of the cave; Seo made it yet.

As though to teach them that they're not the only ones that know, understand, and masterfully use fear.

The group of humans had nearly gone wide-eyed and booked off to anywhere else; that's when Seo broke out in a fit of pants and coughs. She heard one of them yell 'They're all dead.' As they ran off.

I wasn't fully prepared. My throat burns. Those humans were dumb enough to fall for it - but we can't stay here. Damnit... we need Luna. We need her now."Scarf! We must get Luna out here!" The Pikachu jolted and staggered as he hobbled over to Griffin's belt. There was a fit of vicious pants that rang from his smallmouth.

"Right..." The Pikachu went towards Griffin's belt and partially yelled or called out at the Pokeball, hoping Luna would hear it. Absol went remotely quiet and shook her head.

"Tell Haxorus! He should be able to hear from you if you're loud enough!" Seo gingerly put her voice out and ended with a fit of harsher coughs; only one left her gently out of the posture, and the pain shot down her right side. That'll be the nerve warning me to hold.

Scarf only continued his altercation as Seo flicked her ear and snarled. "Seviper, I'll need help with humans." The snake had twitched and writhed its long spine in repulse.

"That's breaking many..."

"I don't care for wild arrangements, Seviper. The humans will kill everyone here when they realize there's no Chesshira." Absol let her voice slither past her muzzle with its sharp, agitated tone; it left her lungs to scream in resentment. "We need to find the humans a way out even with a curse on the cavern." She continued to say as a crackle touched her ears and rumbles sparked the cavern again. The Absol tilted her eyes towards Griffin - his silhouette lay nearly lifelessly on the cavern floor along with all the other trainers in the cavern. Her eyes gently twitched as that breath chillingly passed through her lips.

You switched places with Haxorus to tell Luna directly; you foolish Pikachu. I told you it was a fifty-fifty chance if curses are real after all.

With Pokemon, it's real enough to be a considerable threat.

Absol swallowed down the name in her skull and whipped out her long, stoic, and utterly razor-tipped tail; her paws dug into the cavern floor as something sickly touched her paw pads. The stronger scent of iron, or what felt appeared like it, touched her nose until a crackle followed in suite... And Luna limped out from Griffin's side; her paw had still seemed to be strained and swollen from the blow she took; that wiry Vulpix only stared around the pitch-black cavern and the snippets of light which flooded in from the end of the domed cavern with a fold of her ears. The smaller brown nose touched the cavern floor as though to sniff at it extensively.

"A - Absol, there's blood; is Griffin okay? He's not moving!" Absol snarled bitterly in retort

"The cavern is cursed. Didn't Scarf say that?"

"He only told me that Griffin needed me desperately before he collapsed." The Vulpix replied again and nervously trembled her paws; she could barely put weight on her leg and panted extensively. "A curse...? That makes no sense. That's nonsense, Absol." Luna's entire pelt riled up and shivered. "There's... There's..."

"Keep calm," Seo's voice slipped out from her lips. "Tricks are something foxes are good at, riddles much the same. Can you hear anything out of place in the cavern? There must be some way for you to break the spell - I don't know if anyone can leave without it killing them, including you. Scarf already knew that..." Seo shook her head wildly and put a vice on her hesitation. "Luna, figure it out; we don't have much time, or they're dead."

The smaller Vulpix went solid, trembled at the hind legs with a sense of fright and dread, one who made Absol narrow her eyes on the fuzzy shadow covered blur nearby her. She saw something that looked like a nod, and Luna simply went to sniff and push her ears against anything she thought could help them.

"Hey! Is everything...?" Absol immediately snarled and roared out a name to the delicate fabric of sound which touched her blurry ears.

"AURA HOLD HIM BACK!" The Lucario, that blurry shade - yet Absol recognized her posture, her body type, and it left the Lucario to shimmer overtop Brad and hold him. "The cave is cursed! We have Luna trying to figure it out!" Seo felt the sting grasp at her throat as she'd bitterly cough. "Can you cover us from out there?" The Elder growled gingerly in reply and dug her paws into the static-faded steel below her.

My vision... The color is coming back - the blur is fading slowly; it's beginning to hurt more all over. Scarf had been helping my bitter tail too. Now I'm just paralyzed and unable to even try to dispel it.

Don't you think it's time to let go of the past? Seo?

Her voice replied to herself and left her eyes in a nearby burnt-out shade from a bulb above her skull. The faded, strange sounds filled her ears too as her heart began to throb and pound harder.

A Poochyena had stared back in her in turn. The creepy feeling shot down her spine in that instant. The bitter coughs and growls left her eyes to water.

"Luna... were you around Esi...?" Luna stirred and gently rippled a tremble down her back.

"N - Not really. I didn't know you kn-"

"Her water kills the elderly. Roll along the ground... it's..." Luna's eyes shot wide with their light faded amber-brown before she nearly tackled the dirt and rolled obscenely. This strange sense of awareness shot down Seo's stomach when she stared at the Vulpix's fluffy, cream-like belly. Mentally...? No wonder why you used Heal Bell; you can't handle it mentally - the reality. "Mind your injuries," Seo replied in a softer tone. "The fight slowly gets to me too. There's no need for fright here; breathe and focus - like Moonlight and Bandit taught you." Seo gently muttered as Luna slowed her crazed, panicky movements; like any pet that found a fresh batch of soil - she rolled along the stony cavern floor. "What they've been teaching you has kept you safe. You know that. Fright is fine... Luna, it always has been. Cowardice, in its own way and used properly; that can become the strongest of tools." Absol gently snarled under her breath for a moment...

She remembered vividly that a Houndour told her that... Solely because a Rockruff was too terrified to understand where they were. It left her to bitterly bare her teeth from just behind those long locks of smoky-patchy grey fur.

I remember a nickname. They all called me a variation of it. Seo's paws nearly clawed into the zinc infused floor below her; she left a near grooved claw in the rock itself as whatever shock - and static Luna's pelt made stabbed into her feet. She couldn't feel them though, long numb after her first move

Her only move, now she only held her ground with blood pooling at her four paws in utter darkness.

"We have it handled, Aura! Just keep Melody and Brad there. They'd faint the moment they walk into the room!" Seo called back to her and turned to Luna. She sniffed whatever she could and listened against the walls.

"I haven't a clue of what I'm looking for..." Luna commented back, "I think about home - but I feel I forget everything I remember." Luna's pelt trembled and shook wildly as her step bellowed into the cavern floor; she fell on her lousy paw. "S - Sorry..." was all she meekly replied back in a way that left the Absol's ear to twitch.

"Proud." She replied calmly. "I've gone through this with you, Luna. That Abra... we all have fights like that - something you don't realize. You didn't 'get lucky'; you fought with every intention you had to live; you refused to give up until you couldn't move." Seo commented once more, and Luna staggered to her feet. She's been using heal bell so heavily that her balance is off. There isn't any other Pokemon we have that's close to a ghost type - no one here either. The human youths honestly fell for rumors. Her eyes fixed back onto that slit of light in the distance as her ear twitched.

A fight broke out again, but this time within the confines of that spiral, which led down to them.