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**Luna and Thief:

The Orange Isles Chapter Five: A Quiet Night.**

It had been that restlessness that got to him. Thief had been awake the whole time; everyone had only listened to Griffin talk from outside. He was quiet, alongside the night around them as that ear twitched and lightly jolted down every bone in it. The cone had caught onto a small frequency somewhere as that softer singe ran through his pelt. The elder Pikachu let out a curious huff that followed the dreadful stillness around the small room.

_It's static; tonight, Griffin is letting us sleep in this dome. The bed is lovely, but he can't just stay awake. Vibrava is on his lap. It sounds like he's humming or buzzing a frequency. Strange. I feel like it wants to push me away._The Pikachu let in a slow, deep breath while Thief twitched his ear to it.

"I... I dozed off is..."

"She's fine, Thief." The Pikachu replied and softly sighed after that fact. His eye fell onto Luna and, oddly enough, Seviper.

"Is she cold? Does she feel cold?" Thief's voice slipped into the partially chilled room as the Snake in the corner - between a heating vent and Luna gave him an eye in return.

"Thief..." Scarf's voice came through again as the Growlithe began to still. Seviper had glanced at them and twitched the two slits of his eyes, annoyed.

"Look, pup. I'm curled around Luna because she's very... very warm. My body freezes out here, but with Absol out of commission for the night..."

"She's in the Pokeball, the Volcano Biome." Scarf interrupted with a courteous nod, recalling how the Absol had spent her time wearily talking to Luna. "I wonder if we could make a hot spring!" He'd comment as the Seviper lapped his long tongue in return, a kind gesture even though it left Scarf on a peak of instinctive fear.

"A hot spring sounds nice... She took my Pokeball, however..."

"You offered." The Seviper gave a guilty look down.

"Of course I did... do you remember any wild law? The elderly are to be respected amongst every territory. Pokemon agreed to that. Hunters agreed to that." The extended S came into the air; it seemed tight or stagnant. "The damn dust hurts my lungs sometimes." He'd say as the Pikachu looked at the Sevipers' tail that had been shoved into the corner of the small pod they all sat in.

"That must also be a pain to deal with; your tail crammed in the corner." The Pikachu expressed.

"I'd rather that then cut one of you and kill you." The Seviper replied. "The Elderly willingly offer themselves first anyways." The Seviper expressed softly, somberly. It had been unexpected from him - Scarf thought. "For those that can't handle an all berry diet." Seviper rolled his eyes and glanced curiously at Griffin with his one fang prominent towards him. "Your trainer is strange to accompany some of my tastes."

"You seem a little... open tonight." The Seviper deviously grinned at Scarf.

"Aren't all hunters in the eyes of prey?" The snake replied and wiggled his long-jagged knife at the end of his tail to stretch it harmlessly. "That's the easiest way, no fight; no trauma. Just a time to come and go. It kept me alive and well-fed." The Pikachu began to gently chuckle.

"A generic talker. Any hunter would say that. I'd assume that the best respect that." The Seviper rolled his tail sharply towards a Pokeball, the tip of the blade pointed at Griffin.

"Clearly, but don't test those assumptions." The Seviper mentioned with a grin. "I did. I told that to Luna. The Chesshira feels like a big... emptiness in the air. I figured it come right for me; it did. I played the role of the bad guy - a Buddy Pass to stay alive with Luna." The Pikachu laughed softly.

"By Arceus... they still teach that?"

"Of course, all the young ones are taught! Always have a buddy, no matter who they are; make a buddy. Groups are stronger." Seviper nodded softly and directed at Thief. "Now Growlithe, could you heat up like she is? I'd very much appreciate that." He sighed in return as Scarf narrowed on the bandage covered Growlithe.

Thank Arceus for giving you a little luck... The Pikachu gently sighed. Or at least when you need it, but that's sure to run out.

"Well...? Could you?" Thief shook his head no.

"It hurts my lungs too much to heat up. The medicine doesn't help either." The Pikachu made a squeak in return - one that left his whisker-laden cheek to twitch.

"The medicine helps plenty, you know that! Remember Hoenn last year? You badly sprained your paw all that time ago; if you don't, I do."

"A Minun." Thief muttered back. "I remember it. There was a Zigzagoon, too; they were both...?" Thief blinked. "That's what a buddy pass is?"

"Humans call it the buddy system." Scarf commented with a smile. Seviper laughed amid it.

"The "get out of eaten" free card to Pokemon. Cubs are protected. So, what did you do, little Growlithe?" Pikachu gently laughed.

"You tried to catch the Minun mid-air; panicked when it fell from a tree." The Pikachu softly said. "You got so narrow-minded that you missed the fact that the tree you bounced off for height was a dead one. Your paw went right into it!" Thief lightly pouted

"How would I have known that the tree nearby was hit with lightning in THAT light!"

"The sun was directly on us!" The Pikachu giggled in return.

"It blinded me!"

"Clearly not, you caught the Minun half clung in the air!" Thief twitched his ear to that. "I remember you twisted with your paw stuck. It's why you sprained it so badly." Scarf expressed, "It didn't help that you scared it too, so it shocked you!"

"I know... I couldn't walk for a week!" Thief mentioned in reply and softly huffed; his muzzle put on a small frown.

"And Bandit teased you all about it, trained you through that too!" Pikachu mentioned in his calm, soothed voice and softly smiled, "A discharge like that is crazy, right?"

"The welt turned blue!" Thief mentioned again as the Seviper laughed.

"The Minun had discharged in fear, and the Zigzagoon ran off after collecting it. They waste powerful charged moves and flee in a fight for their lives situations."

"Best of all, it knocked the wind right out of him." Scarf lightly chuckled, a hint proudly. "I don't know why, but I felt a little proud, I know Griffin did." The Growlithe had stilled and lightly twitched his ear. He stared at the wall for a moment before he silently glanced at Luna. The soft sigh passed Scarf's lip.

He'll be like that for a while, has been since Veridian. He's cursing himself for not being strong enough.

The thought came to his mind, but in a voice that made his eyes widen before it faded.

Faded as soon as it came along, like a wind that passed by effortlessly.

"You know... I don't have a lot of stories; I wish I did. But I'll... I'll try to make one up." Thief shook his head no.

"I don't need a story." Scarf returned his look with a frown. "You're great at making them up. You make them short." Thief lightly smiled, a soft, quiet one passed onto his face. "Even the sad endings feel happy." The Growlithe expressed, his eyes had welt up. "But that's just the fantasy of it all... I can't..." The Pikachu's eyes had sharpened onto him, even though the strain had left a dull ache in that one spot.

It felt like the worst kind of brain freeze, but with plenty of heat, a sharp pain that told him to calm himself.

"Thief, you're hyperventilating: there's no need to panic." He's also begun this too; he starts to remember something; even when it's something good or funny - the poor thing just breaks down. It's worse now that Luna fainted after all that. "Breathe Thief, I know a trick. It can even help make you stronger." The Seviper writhed a little.

"A trick, you say?" The Pikachu almost felt as if he could get used to Seviper being about.

"Yes, there are ways to breathe. Use your stomach. You're using your chest too much. It's not a Flail, thank Arceus for that; do you know why that is Thief?" The Growlithe, amid his dizzy headed pant, had slowly taken air in. "You're tougher than you think you are, even if that light blow injured you. Your muscles protected that; you buffeted the blow - I could tell from how it bruised when I first saw you. I was there that night too, I tried to look for you after Natasha first panicked." Scarf expressed. "You took the blow just like Bandit always told you how she taught you. You remembered that you've fought and trained too. Even if all you could do was use your head and shoulders to protect them... that's the toughest thing I've heard anyone do for a while." Scarf expressed gently. "I'm proud of that because I still remember and dearly miss those times you came to me to learn about what I had to teach too." The Pikachu expressed and gently smiled. "Remember that? Be calm because if this time feels wasted...

"To me, it's worth every cent I've spent to get here; these times are the ones I cherish Thief."

"I don't really..."

"The currency is the most simplistic and confusing thing in the world." The Pikachu replied with a friendly laugh. "Now, breathe in slowly and let the muscles underneath do the work. It may hurt a little. Lay on the injury too, your spine and neck are okay." The Seviper hissed.

"Very wise," Seviper mentioned

"I heard it from one story told to young."

"Not the Ekans one..." Thief begrudged sighed as the Seviper lightly rolled his eyes.

"Yep, Ekans and Dedenne." The Seviper huffed while his scales glistened in the dim, dark hovel they were in. "Please, I respect your words, but; don't tell that story - I've heard it very, very often - recited it endlessly too," The Seviper mentioned and lightly coughed. Scarf had only sighed and looked towards Griffin after that

It's pitch black Griffin, and you're still talking to them like you do with Brad and everyone else. You do that every night when you could. We all tried to sleep through it, exhausted.

"Then if not stories -"

"How do I...? I still feel weak. I'm scared." Thief expressed as though it only took one look at Luna to remind him. "S - Scarf... I mean... your smaller and..." The Pikachu went lightly blank before he gave a tiny nod.

"I think I remember an old saying." The Pikachu began to say as he rested his little yellow paw against his chin. "Those without the resolution to face fear; will find themselves holding onto threads. Those who don't... won't realize it was a ploy to throw off the timid." The Pikachu mentioned softly. "I think it went something like that, Thief. Being weak... all strong people began there. Me? I honestly feel my weakest point was when I was my strongest too." The Pikachu expressed softly. "I feel that with all of you. It's something we have in common, and that's not a bad thing. Calm, you haven't panicked like this since-"

"Logan challenged Griffin, gave him a week. I remember that... I remember Lavaridge Town too; the ash was all pretty, I guess..." Pikachu smiled and laughed as Thief made a partial glance to her.

"I taught you to charge ember. I think that firecracker you made is the thriftiest move you have yet." Thief gingerly sighed in reply and noticed that Seviper curled closer to Luna as though to fall into a drowsy lull.

"Because of the injury too... during the fight - my Fireblast scattered. It felt more like an ember blast to me, and it just gets too hot for me to handle." Thief gave a gentle roll of his pelt. A frustrated sigh crossed his mouth.

"What?"

"I want to scratch so darn bad, but I'd rip the bandage. I hate these things." The Pikachu sighed as he pushed to his feet. They wobbled as he realized they were half asleep. Thief had locked on him, yet Scarf only held up his paw.

"They fell asleep. Both you and Moonlight are acting extra tense; you stress me anymore, and I swear my blood pressure will go through the roof." The Pikachu mentioned as Thief tilted his skull.

"How do you know about that?" Thief commented while that Pikachu stepped closer and curiously glanced along every inch of his pelt. That river of that shocked him before he shook his head.

"Know of what?" Scarf asked shortly after.

"Blood pressure? The elderly human in Hoenn taught me a lot! I remember that she said I was one of her favorite pupils... I don't really get it completely, but I remember it." Scarf calmly giggled in reply.

"It's always nice to...?" Scarf trailed off in a flash of thoughtlessness, blood pressure? He didn't even know what it entailed even though he felt he understood a moment earlier. He only glared at Thief concerningly. _His injuries are extensive, but they could easily be so much worse - if that Abra hit him with full force, that be it. Why didn't it? In fact, the blow looks to have welted more on his stomach. Good thing, you're a little pudgy._Scarf gave a small, relieved laugh. "I feel a touch forgotten, as has Marill."

"He always came out to play during Hoenn until Griffin had one good look at him." The Pikachu glanced at the human and a strange, ominous cloud above a building away. "I don't know what he saw... I don't get it. Marill hardly chats much to anyone anymore." After a moment, the Pikachu gave a broader grin.

"You don't seem so panicked now." It made the bandage laden Growlithe subtly stop, frozen from the comment while the Pikachu lent a small grin. "I'm glad about that." Those orange eyes in front of him rolled partially as Thief flicked his tail - the orange cream had caught his eye.

Reminds me of dried out straw or hay. It makes me think of a snack... He gently laughed as Thief tilted his head in reply. "Breathe and listen tonight. Arceus is sure to have given us a moment to rest. We have no need to rush into things; anyways, I'm confident Seviper is more than capable of protecting us." The Pikachu mentioned silently. "If he tried anything, I'd give him one good wack with my Iron Tail." Seviper had softly hissed.

"That would hurt like all sin." The Seviper joked in reply. "I hear you mention Arceus plenty." The Pikachu nodded with a cheerful hum.

"I don't see any reason not to. It's all a balance. It's one reason I like to speak to Leafeon when I can. I have since I met him. He isn't always around Moonlight!" The Pikachu softly commented back and smiled warmly while Thief lightly blinked in reply. "There are many things I do. Marill likes to speak to Sephiran - a lot actually. I think they may have known each other or have something in common." The Pikachu expressed and laughed right as his claws had graced a spot-on Thief's pelt. It left the Growlithe to lightly breathe in and shudder painfully.

"Sorry, I had to inspect your injuries and figure out how to work around it. But that's the one that itches, right?" Pikachu had mentioned while his smaller claws peeled against the Growlithe's skin lightly.

"Yeah, Griffin forgot the rub..."

"Rub?"

"It's the lotion for the burns." The Pikachu stopped and stumbled for a moment before he went towards the outside world, embezzled by the cleared night sky. A frost touched his lungs as he squirmed past the opening. The door had been mainly shut, and it took that Pikachu more effort than he thought it would move it. "Scarf?" Thief's voice touched against Scarf's ear before he left into his usual trance of thought.

I'm lucky I only got some bruises. Griffin used small potions on us at dinner. Well... every trainer did in fright.

It's understandable.

Scarf glanced towards Griffin on a quiet night. The Human sat there, or more leaned against one artistic beam - An A-frame into a concrete block; The other trainer had still been there, with their Houndour on their lap.

"You've... stolen... Pokemon from them?" His voice came up after a while.

"Lycanroc jumped to my side when she saw me." Griffin expressed softly. "I didn't steal her from anyone. She simply came on her own. Vibrava came too on his own... Haxorus." The Trainer shivered for a moment.

"A Haxorus...?"

"Yes. Its tusks are."

"Cut...?" They said again. "People showed the video of... of its tusks getting cut off. At least I heard about that." They mentioned. "They said the Haxorus was the most disobedient Pokemon they've ever had." Scarf scanned Griffin's bag before he easily unzipped it with his fingers and rummaged through it. "It's... it's really cut?"

"Yes..."

"They take all the trainers Pokemon but one..." He mentioned softly. "They don't tell you until they do when you join. I was told that someone needed a favor, and I could only take one. I should have gotten Snivy back by now. They said that I'd get her back yesterday; I just had to make sure the wonder trade went smoothly." He ran his fingers down his arms as though a none too pleasant shiver ran through him. "I'm just... I don't know - scared to leave right now. It's pitch-black and..."

"Some officers are still around; they'll be here all night."

"I don't trust that."

They said back as Griffin gave a curious blink, "Then how about we both go, right now? I can grab Haxorus, Lycanroc... I have my team ready to go." Griffin had gone towards his room and swapped the team around. It left Scarf to blink after a moment, the paste or tube in his claws.

"Stay here, Scarf. I have everyone I need to bring. They may be asleep, but I have medicine for that." Griffin commented and went pale at the sight of the tube. "Huh...?" He made a small noise and bit his lip. "I did forget. I'll apply it when I'm back." The younger trainer hadn't budged. "I was honest with you completely. We'll request the highest rank and bring you to them."

"We?"

"My Pokemon and I, and you. I mean, it is a short walk in the dark; but two is better than one, and Five is better than two." Griffin laughed lightly. "Safer than sorry." Griffin expressed and chuckled as the Trainer nervously did too. "A - Alright..." He mentioned, and as he stood, a light blue shadow had jolted over them and clung against the thick edge of the awning above them. The younger trainer jumped Griffin only laughed after a moment.

"Aura, do you ever sleep?" Griffin expressed with a small chuckle and a shake of his skull, "It's Brad's Lucario, you..."

"I met Melody too, she's nice; Smokey is wonderful around my Pokemon too."

"And they're further in town tonight. I think everything has gotten everyone a little spooked." Griffin explained softly, "In some dumb way, it's why I'm closer to the woods."

"So, you can warn everyone..." They said in reply as they both began to wander further into the Trainer Village. It had been a small minimalist Village with the accents of lighter ribbons and soft lights along the pathway; Scarf watched them leave and felt a sigh come to his lips.

I'll have to trust Griffin. Anyways, I should figure out how to rub this onto Thief.

Old chap, I'd say that's the smartest thing to do knowing the trouble he gets into.

Moonlight:

"You said a word before." The noise had come from just underneath his neck, pinned onto a strange blanket of the weightless forest floor. "or a name... I think. Two of them." Leafeon mentioned in his usual tone and rolled back so that Moonlight could see his muzzle and that fluffy moss-gold chest - it rose and fell. In some ways, he pictured Leafeon no differently than any feline. _Maybe one from a continent midway? A mountainous one, by the way, he breathes. Why go for a house cat?

It's what I am, after all... One with one painless and clear head for a minute..._

"Hmm?" Leafeon twitched his ear. "I see. You're scared of the leaves giving way."

"H - Hey, you said a 'little' trust, okay. This is a 'lot' of faith if I don't use psychic too..." Moonlight retorted back and sighed. "Hercules. I could talk for hours; start one mythology story, and I'd go on forever into history and all of it." The Espeon sighed. "But I don't feel like that tonight. Autumn remembered the small fascinating details. He obsessed about the regular life of people and Pokemon back then."

"It's a human legend?" Leafeon twitched his orange-tipped ears as his muzzle turned or leaned with curiosity. "They have those...?"

"Yeah. The stories come from all over; that's just a common one." Moonlight mentioned as the frosty breath passed his thin chalk fur. The hint of light pink-purple fluttered through his pelt with every small brush of wind.

"There are many Pokemon legends too, some even are..." Leafeon traile of as Moonlight smiled softly in return to Leafeon's speech, one that just creased the edge of his cheek. "I've heard of multiple humans being turned into Pokemon. It's based on their core according to old myth." He glanced up to the stars for a moment as Moonlight had stifled a chuckle.

"Now that's foolhardy! A human doesn't have a 'core!' They're non-existent - even to the best of Psychic types."

"It's why it's only fair that they're worth more than us."

The Espeon twitched his ear and froze to that; it left his forked tail rigid while he looked down at Leafeon's dilated eye - they had focused high in the clear night. "It's why we protect them much more than they understand. Even to this day, we do. I feel like it's possible to bring the territories between us together without any real issue."

"I wish I could speak to Griffin, but he barely remembers it when I try to." The Leafeon laughed lightly.

"Be careful with wishes and how you spend them."

"It's a figure of speech. I've never truly wished for anything; that's foolish thinking. If I spent my time... time wishing... Autumn would've died sooner." Leafeon gently sighed.

"I never knew the territory you lived in had such lax laws for wild Pokemon to hunt. You haven't fully told me about that."

"Humans aren't allowed to train us. We become overpopulated naturally because of that - wild types naturally have more young. The hunters get to eat more. Some just are worse than others." The Espeon mentioned in reply and frowned. "It's simple enough to say that I got my fill of revenge on that." The Espeon muttered softly and mewled. "Autumn, when I became an Espeon, Leafeon... I never left his side. I threatened any wild Pokemon that came close to him." He mentioned once again and stared down at the disc of leaves which held them in the air.

"Did you kill them...?"

"I disfigured a Fearow, skinned him alive. I tore half his face off.... With Psychic." The Espeon somberly mentioned back, and that left the Leafeon to sharpen his look. "I went absolutely red-headed. I stayed awake day after day. I'd only get a few hours a night, and the moment I saw him..."

"Autumn held you back."

"Naturally... He cut in front of me - even used flamethrower; that startled the hell out of me, Autumn never had used it before. I've never seen one so colorful." Moonlight mentioned in return. "I don't see Canis Major and Minor." The Leafeon pointed his paw up.

"There... I hunted a crazed Rhyhorn." The Leafeon muttered in response. "Cold blood, it broke a serious law, and I took it too far."

"So, I guess we're just rejects."

"We all see red, some of us don't get to all the time and when we finally do... You shouldn't say that - you get surprisingly depressed when you soak in so much."

"I know." Moonlight mentioned back and softly sighed, "I think this was a good idea, Leafeon."

"Your headache...?"

"I just feel numb all over. It's calm, tingly kind. Just calm."

"Well, I don't need rest, not with the moonlight here too. You could sleep... Friend." The Espeon let out a chortle.

"Friend...? Do you do this with ALL your friends?" The Leafeon went partially red.

"No, but there are some that I find special, even when I first meet them. I'd love a cozy fire to be next to, a little extra warmth; if only the grass had..."

"Then how about we go down? I have to waste this excess energy, right?" Leafeon nodded in reply, "How about I try moving clouds? I should be able to now - it's sparse enough, and my 'cone' isn't as focused."

"Clouds...? Leafeon gently muttered and lightly laughed. "That's a strange idea!"

"Well... I remember because November had always felt rainy, most of it was. I promised that I'd move clouds for him, one day." Moonlight softly smiled. "I did for only one night because we had to camp out while berry hunting - it had cleared up enough. If I could see it or dream it again..." Leafeon had somberly frowned as the leaves slowly drifted downward. It left Espeon's heart to pound.

A pressure? What was that...? It felt like a spike ... of outright dread or death. A tremble ran down his spine. "Are you okay Leafeon?"

"It's not what you need." He replied in turn with his usual tone, there was this more serious underline that came from his muzzle. "That's not how you'll... I want a little trust." Leafeon commented as Moonlight rolled his eyes. The height had gone from thirty feet and trickled further and further down.

"... I know. A little trust. I promised you that I'd stop, but." Moonlight mentioned in turn. "I get this feeling that he's still talking to me.."

"There's this anxiety, it's what lets me read you - it's so subtle, but I can notice it, as though it's under the guise of a Guardian. It's how you were raised; you did what you did because you've done it for a long time. Those dreams will come, and you'll understand what you need, Moonlight, but until that time," Leafeon lightly huffed, partially annoyed as his paws had touched the ground on a bed of ruby, orange, green and yellow. It had a delightful warmth to it as they pushed onto the soil. A sharp sigh ran past the Leafeon's muzzle as he covered Moonlight's entire gaze of the cloud rolled sky above him. His muzzle had leaned into him.

Their noses touched together; the cold left Moonlight rose-colored from head to toe in a flurry of shivers.

Yet... once again, Leafeon hadn't kissed him. The hot breath pushed against both their muzzles; his whiskers touched Moonlights. His cheek twitched from the little brush as Moonlight felt the cold air touch the tip of his tongue. The silence, the anxiety, came on like wildfire. Moonlight went slump from that sense of anticipation...

"You're still using a shield on that scarf..." Leafeon expressed softly as Moonlight's ear twitched.

"You didn't finish... your..." Moonlight muttered and fought the urge of leaning inward. Leafeon's paw pushed his chest down, both safely planted on the ground.

"Until that time, make a shield above us; a small one high above." Moonlight shook his head no.

"It's going to start small and get wi-" Moonlight partially went deep rose. "I... mean... uhm..." Moonlight shook his head again. "That sounds... no..." I can't talk. I'm entirely tongue-tied - "it sounded dirty" came to my mind. All of this has me tongue-tied... I don't know what to do, aside from getting frustrated for NOT knowing what to do.

"Looks like a Liepard caught you again." The Leafeon subtly sauntered those words back to him in a way that left his eyes dilated; Moonlight felt the hotter breath against his cheek and neck. "I hadn't realized you were this... submissive." Moonlight shocked red in the next seconds; he even hid under a bundle of leaves. "Strange indeed, you mustn't have had much contact with any Pokemon, scared them off." Leafeon lightly chuckled. A lighter blush had come across his cheek. "I'm flattered. You find my company; appealing."

"N - Now, don't..."

"Let that go to my head? I think it should go back to yours, friend. It's found comfort elsewhere." The Leafeon laughed lightly as Moonlight left an embarrassing streak of red.

I can't stop purring either. I can feel it go through my throat; it has since we touched the ground. My head is spinning too? It's hot, so hot. The Leafeon twitched an ear and went redder in reply. It was a glance of subtly that pulled with a turn from his head. He looked away politely, and cleared his throat so that his quiet voice came through. A deeper, softer voice left Moonlight's heart to beat him for that time - red from top to bottom.

"You've... Abstained from...?"

"Of course, of course, I have." Moonlight commented back in a flurry of shock; his cheeks had been a full, rich wine, one that spoke volume. "I'd never... his condition got worse over time. I wouldn't... couldn't." Moonlight huffed with a shudder of disgust in his throat about the whole thing and praised something would make it fade away. "my grandfather is the... whatever when it comes to that, Leafeon. I've never done anything like... that. I... I just..." Moonlight bitterly frowned. "I didn't expect t..." Leafeon gave a small, silent sigh.

"I understand, Moonlight. You have been storing a lot of excess psychic tension. I wouldn't want to play a boast and say you find me handsome."

"I... know..." Moonlight mentioned in reply as Leafeon looked up towards the clouds and left Moonlight to his sheepish, anxious side, hiding in paws.

" I wouldn't need to Moonlight. So much for stargazing with that plain expression; it is difficult for you to focus."

"...I... I know." Moonlight mentioned more hoarsely, and that left Leafeon to laugh.

"It's fine. Your sleep told me plenty." It left Moonlights back to crawl for a moment while his eyes dilated further, which barely came to mind for him until then. "Because I barely can or do. It doesn't bother me in the slightest, yet you seem more ashamed then most."

"I... already know, Leafeon." Moonlight muttered again, red-cheeked looked him straight in the eye; like sharp spite came from his chest

Easily more than one shade of allure and rage.

The word 'idiot' ran through his skull as the awkward silence settled in. He had to still his heart for a moment. Slowly he pulled in air and taken a scent.He smells like spring, early morning. I'd feel as though he'd live right on the edge of territory somewhere humid. The kind of Pokemon that would talk to passerby's, offer advice and aid. He smells... wonderful. A plant, he's a plant - I'm having this cheap nomadic feeling over a freaking soil-filled pot. The crawl shot up his back this time as the ragged breath slipped from his muzzle. His purrs had still rung out in the otherwise silent night.

"It appears that Griffin has stepped back to the village for a time," Leafeon said after that awkwardness which left Moonlight's skull on a spring, the way the Espeon shot up had left Leafeon to twitch.

"Forget about your...?" Leafeon quietly muttered and politely looked away again. This time it made Moonlight's jaw click, annoyed more than embarrassed.

"What do you mean he's gone?" Moonlight muttered as Leafeon nearly shot a paw onto the Espeon's shoulder blade as though to put him back down on the bed below them.

"As I said, it appears, judging by the scent trail... he brought some Pokeballs with him. He's fine. I can feel his footprints - he's a heavy walker and doesn't even realize. I know exactly where he is, how close to that smooth rock ground. He must be speaking to a... a... police...?"

"Maybe make a missing report for Bandit. I hope to god he does."

"God? More of Arceus." Leafeon replied, "But really, what is the difference?" Moonlight sighed and shook his head wildly.

"Are you okay?"

"Hm?" Moonlight tilted his ear after a second. The flood had slowly pushed itself down - the embarrassment of it all helped with that.

"You've been twitching..."

"Twitching?" Moonlight mentioned back with confusion, "It must be nerves." The Espeon expressed with an off-centered shiver. "The cold doesn't help either, especially with this now... I'm a complete fool; I'm sorry."

"No need to be." Leafeon softly mentioned in the reply, "But now that you have your thoughts under control, we could keep watching the sky." Leafeon said back and flopped onto the leaves. "Like I said, I think this is the calm... I feel like there's a big presence in Hoenn."

"Hoenn? What makes you say that?"

"Something woke up... I don't know. There are a few things over there." Leafeon sighed softly. "There's even a particular human I wish to see one day." Moonlight tossed his head up sighed and then laid back down with weird writhes - Moonlight gave a soft jolt. Every leaf seemed to cover him now, and Leafeon had turned his eyes to him. "You mentioned you were cold, so I figure that may help cover you." Moonlight froze a hiss from slithering it's way out.

"T - Thanks... It's one of the reasons why I sleep alone or against a tree branch."

"This company is rare for you."

"I had the same screw up with Shadow, actually." Moonlight laughed subtly. "Granted, we hadn't been floating thirty freaking feet high prior.

"I went to the tallest tree height. The leaves kept moving around us, remember?" Moonlight sighed softly.

"It's a touch hazy..."

"For an Espeon, you've certainly abstained... Issues with your grandfather, however?" Moonlight scoffed gently and tussled the scarf around his neck. A sigh ran down his throat - exhausted.

"No, I just don't like him."

"You've never told him?"

"Oh, he knows." Moonlight muttered back. "I'm just not the kind of... I can't, even as... I can't."

"Fright?" Moonlight reluctantly nodded.

"Because..." Leafeon gave a wry smile, one that had those somber hints to it.

"You're cursing love? Strange for a Pokemon evolved from happiness."

"and I still feel like I screwed that up too." Moonlight muttered. "Autumn told me I'd be an Umbreon."

"Fearow? Had you evolved then, during the fight?"

"No... I used the potion on myself already."

"Potion?" Leafeon went blank as Moonlight shook his head.

"The potion my owner and I made... for Autumn. It was an early stage; we needed a subject. Before Ayumu really could desperately consider a Pokemon as one. I've already used it..."

"It's where the tumor came from, Leafeon." The Leafeon softly widened his eyes. "It forced me to evolve; immediately. No stone. It came from a mutated Eevee."

"One that changed forms between all of them."

"You could've killed yourself that long ago?"

"I didn't want him to choose Autumn or end up using wild Pokemon for 'mad science' doesn't sound very legal to me." Moonlight muttered back. "I put myself on that clock; that's why..." Leafeon had softly glanced away. "I can't handle this anymore. It's why I didn't know how to react when I saw you the other day."

"I remind you of him... too much."

Moonlight reluctantly nodded again.

"So... I think tonight, we don't need to change the sky. I think we'll just... just let this roll by us."

"That's why you said what you said in Vermillion."

"I broke down there too. Since Maiden's peak..." Moonlights eyes had softly welled up. "I just feel like I still smell him. I'm absolutely... fucking pathetic. I already know that."

"I've always known you've believed that."

Leafeon passed a soft sighed and looked up at the fog wall above them - it's what that felt like to the Espeon.

"I feel like we haven't made any progress. Much at all." Leafeon softly sighed.

"Kind of strange for a therapist to sit here sauntering with their patients."

"Therapist?" Leafeon tilted his ears as Moonlight huffed sharply in return. The evident weak look had fallen over the Espeon's maw. "I haven't a clue what that is, but if it's anything like helping plants grow, well naturally, I love doing that."

"I don't know anymore. I feel ill, frustrated - upset all around and anything that should make me... make me happy just... hurts."

"Thief is like that," Leafeon mentioned in turn.

"Thief holds his ground and a hell of a lot more than I ever can. It's why I get so irritated with him."

"Jealousy?"

"I can get envious." Leafeon chuckled

"Well, if you bottle your emotions like you do your Psychic, I can see why you have these meltdowns." Moonlight sharply sighed.

"Yeah..."

"There's no need to be ashamed of that," Leafeon mentioned back. "I bottle up my rage and a lot of it. It's one reason why I dislike being called feral. Back home, that's an insult."

"But you... are wild." Leafeon sighed with irritation to Moonlight's words.

"I live in a wondrous territory, one quite the polar opposite of yours." Leafeon softly muttered in turn and fixed his eyes onto a cloud further away.

Moonlight stilled too until they both had pushed to their feet.

"You felt that?"

"Something teleported." Moonlight mewled. "One by the road and the other by the woods. You don't think..."

"I do. Let's check on Griffin." Leafeon commented as Moonlight relaxed his shoulders and pushed into the woods.

_Put it past you. You're panicking. It's what's breaking you. I can't disagree with what he says, though. I will...

I honestly will give you a little trust. _

"Let's go Moonlight, his footsteps stopped; there's another pair - four feet."

"It could be Lycanroc." Moonlight replied with a smaller huff and followed behind the Leafeon. The Espeon let him lead, so all he could do was keep himself aware and vigil.

It doesn't make much sense unless they... they took the trainer and the Weavile. They just... pinned it on him, hadn't they? "Leafeon, I haven't a clue how your law works, but I believe they're trying to get Griffin arrested.

"Why?" Leafeon had called back to him. "There wouldn't be much of a reason."

"Even under protections, if they are influential... all they need is one person they could bend and break." Moonlight called back in turn. "It's a domino effect. Find the weakest link."

"They were testing the trainer? You think all of this was to test one of them?"

"It makes sense currently." Moonlight mentioned back, "It's thrown me off from the start, the few odd looks here and there. The anticipation around us. Local people... They're attempting to push into weaker links to control territory." The Espeon called out, "It's been true for any plan... I just don't want to believe humans doing it." Leafeon firmly bared his teeth.

"If there is anything I know of humans, it's that even though there's only a small percent of true evil in this world, it paints it black and white," Leafeon called back. "It's how they're so tightly knit together and expected to behave. Like I said, there were no rules - we made them all; we agreed on them." Leafeon expressed and smiled, "Yet I know that the strongest have peace beyond any other. They have a community." Leafeon mentioned as Moonlight softly laughed. "What?"

"I think you're getting used to talking normally."

"I'm confused." Leafeon made a sharp turn through the village, and Moonlight curved, touching the walls with his paws to keep himself from a headfirst collision.

Right, a little trust The Espeon hissed and bolted further to catch up. Moonlight calmly focused his sense while he called out to Leafeon.

"This way is faster! Over here." Leafeon came to a skid and rotated back to him.

"Alright."

"See what I mean. You appear more relaxed too."

"Actually, I was worried you hated me more then I thought." Leafeon lightly laughed, and it left Moonlight to nip for his jaw.

"There's plenty I dislike about you." The Espeon remarked. "Plenty... but I know what buttons you've pushed. I just feel like it's because you genuinely want to help."

"I do," Leafeon commented and began to go down the other pathway.

"Well, hear me out. I think this group is trying to impersonate members too."

"Members?"

"Like Team Rocket, I saw a man at Maiden's peak; remember the Ambulance? It had red and white lights."

"I saw the human that was hurt."

"... Maybe." Moonlight commented back grimly. "Bandit knew too, but if that person isn't who they say they are... Back in Cerulean City, I saw a stranger in the crowd - a local that stared at Misty and me."

"You think this group is trying to leech from the others? So, it's a territory infecting anywhere it can?" Moonlight shrugged.

"I think so." The Espeon explained softly, "In a way, I think it's all our fault, the Pokemon Association - everything has it's flawed, and then there are those that outrightly oppose it or laws."

"So something saw a weakness on both sides? It makes sense, Moonlight. I'll keep that in mind." Leafeon mentioned, "That's a dangerous thing to do."

"If they're using innocent people... It makes it that much harder." The Espeon mewled towards him. It's pitch black out, Griffin could get... Leafeon stalled to a halt as Moonlight stumbled behind him.

"Shh." It barely passed his lips and left the Espeon's ear to twitch. They saw it, the creature on two legs. How its white paws dug into the cobblestone pathway, its eyes had gleamed in a way no different then Absols. It hit Moonlight then and there.

"The strong pressure I felt is... is Lycanroc?" Leafeon's back crawled for a moment.

"I believed that to be you..." he mentioned with a hint of guilt.

"And I, you." Moonlight muttered tenderly in reply as Lycanroc, unblinking, had walked on two legs down a path with Griffin close behind her. He's calm...? Breathing and all; he doesn't know? Or care? Moonlight softly blinked as Leafeon closed in a glance. Lycanroc's eye had dilated for a moment as she barely stilled and stared right at them both with her glowed, unblinking eye.

It creeped them both out the moment they saw it.

_I get we were barely whispering, barely moving... but Lycanroc could sense us that quickly? I have a feeling her midnight form is nothing to even compete against. I think it surpasses Bandit, surprisingly I must focus on Absol more too. I suppose even Absol could, in her youth. Lycanroc won't be an easy one to speak with - Bandit had done most of the talking with her when she could.

It disgusts me because I feel she believes that her place is quiet and underneath others. _

Moonlight felt his paw dig into the ground as he lightly huffed. His blood had been boiling by then, every bit rage.

Absol told me not to say a word; let her deal with it. Moonlight felt his eyes widen as his mind flushed towards Vermillion City.

She had fang marks on her neck. The size was from the Arcanine; but the claws marks were...? The angles make no sense. A sickened crawl ran up his spine as he gave a firm swallow. All Espeon had done was glance at Leafeon and shrugged his head with a small "Shh" Leafeon tilted his skull and followed the Espeon until they made it back to their little loft near the woods.

"Let's put some trust in her too."

"Clearly, you walked us."

"You say one wrong phrase, you could set her off like that. Didn't you feel that pressure?"

"It's lethal. I feel as though it was charged ferociously - the pain." Leafeon looked at his paws. "I think she's using a move in that form - it explains her eyes."

"I noticed it too. She's burning off that energy in that form. I think she has a little trust in Griffin, at least. Maybe Bandit drilled that into her."

"That's what our wild types are like back home," Leafeon said back. "They become cruel, Pokemon."

"Some Pokemon do, I know that... I guess Arceus - I hate saying that... but they're going to have a real hay-day the moment we actually MEET a Liepard." Leafeon lightly chuckled in return.

"I wouldn't doubt that." Leafeon softly mentioned back as Moonlight took a glance at the sky... and parted the clouds above them.

"I also feel that if she wanted to hurt Griffin, she would've done so long before we got there." Moonlight softly muttered. "I hadn't even realized it was her. But enough on that, I... want to try." Leafeon tilted his head in confusion

"Try?"

"Putting a little trust in you, I mean. I want tonight to have a different story, one where I get to spend it with a friend."

Leafeon only smiled in return, a cheery wondrous smile - albeit a hint nervous.

"Only if you promise, that if I do doze off, or if you do... you're not mad if I let you sleep." Moonlight smiled softly and landed back onto the bed of leaves.

"Only if you promise to cover me..." The Espeon stuck out his tongue as Leafeon had promptly done what was asked of him.

He covered the Espeon head to toe.

Scarf:

Whatever it was, he certainly hated it on his paws - arms... chest even. The bandages...? Scarf noticed the pins and always curiously investigated those knick-knacks. Thief, as whipped as he looked, had straightened his back as Scarf told him to and breathed deeply with his diaphragm. Scarf had a full look at his injuries.

"Quite the off-balanced Growlithe. The cuts upfront, they smell..." Scarf had sharply twitched his tail as though to pass the Seviper a firm reminder. "My bad, it gets to the best of us. I'm no exception." The Snake had his eyes trained on them both. "It nearly looks like the poor thing has been mangled, burned, pummeled, and stabbed - hell, I dare say in that order." Thief softly sighed

"Thanks for reminding me... it was more like mangled, burned, mangled, and then shotgunned - a lot." The Seviper grinned deviously in return.

"You're lucky you're a Pokemon. Many don't realize it, but we Pokemon can take a lot of punishment." Scarf twitched his ear. "You grow into that, but at least you have yours - Growlithe - through some honest means. I heard all about the Eevee cub." Thief shook his head wildly.

"They were closer than everybody realized. I don't know, but something drew me to it."

"Justified?" Seviper gently hissed and let out a strange laugh that made Thief's eyes dilate. "Those with it can sense things that others can't; they get stronger when something bad comes to them." Seviper toothily grinned. "It makes me want to picture that nature for the Furret. I have so much to tell him - if he doesn't finish the job, that is." Seviper commented and shook around that knife of a tail. The Pikachu could only focus on the task ahead of him.

"Are you okay, Thief? I'm surprised, it's healed nicely; the burns - I think a little too much luck is on your side." The Pikachu laughed as Thief found a little giggle.

"I always told you I'd give you a little luck..." Thief sagged his shoulders. "Marill, I promised him I'd help him find..." Thief trailed and partially rolled out his tongue in this strange way - one that read disgust. The Pikachu flicked his whiskers and chuckled

"Yeah. A lot has changed." He mentioned and put another amount medicine into his paws. "I'm glad that your fur has grown in. In this light, it feels a shade... fader."

"I get about as much sun time as a Zubat now." Thief commented back, "Oh... the second skin."

"Second... skin?" Scarf twitched his ears.

"Yeah, Griffin had to pick up some. I... I can walk." Thief went for all fours and lightly staggered on his feet. "Sorry, the pills and the funny water..." Thief commented softly as Seviper twitched his tail.

"From the hospital?"

"Griffin can get all sorts of stuff from the Pokemon Center. While I take my pills, I drink the water. Nurse Joy's been doing this weird thing, though... all of them..." Scarf squirmed as he watched the Growlithe wander outside. All he could do was naturally follow him even as this horrible thing slowly crawled up his spine.

"S - Scarf?" The Pikachu had wandered beside Thief to help the Growlithe stay balanced.

"It's your medication." Scarf mentioned back. "Now, I'm certain Griffin can help you." _I learned something from Absol when she gets stressed or unblinking.

Direct, no powder; a closed sentence. There is nothing I can do to help you at this point, Thief. That hurts me... because my words just don't seem to reach you.

I think that only Absol... and Bandit can._

Scarf had to fight the urge to shake as the Lycanroc passed by him while tediously opening the heavy door to the den.

There was really no other way to word it - it looked just like one but unbelievably warm until she passed by and pressed the capsule on her Pokeball.

"Your shaking?" Thief's voice came out

"Just cold, it's freezing outside - I don't get how Leafeon does it." He pointed a claw at them both. "It's clear up there, look. That reminds me of a little of Lavaridge. The stars look blurry to me now - like the ash and soot. I like to picture it as speckled obsidian. It's beautiful in my mind."

"I know what obsidian is!" Thief mentioned as Scarf gave a chilly laugh.

"I'm sure you do, but that's a school session I'd rather skip out on."

"H - Hey..." Scarf softly joked and smiled even more warmly as Thief laughed to his words.

"I feel like you've moved past a little more than you know. To laugh a little from pain, it's another step, a sign of acceptance." Scarf softly expressed with a gentle curve of his cheek. Everything seemed quizzical and studious in the second that passed for the Growlithe.

I've joked with him like that before. He got mad at me because his human grandmother was a teacher.

"You've..." Thief had gone a little quiet.

"You also catch on quick. Remember?" Thief had softly smiled as Griffin had glanced out of the small hovel. The two-story building had been lined with them - the whole thing supported an awning under the second level - a concrete-like roof.

It's a modern construction, I see now. Compared to the rest - the Orange Isles must've been filled with trainers a while back. From this, maybe installed a year or two ago. I believe them to be following behind the events.

"I do, now that you mention it. I got..."

"You couldn't walk or talk to me for a week, not until we hit the springs at Lavaridge." Thief found a giggle out of his throat.

"I do. I do remember that too. You got so antsy because I got in first. Then you asked me if it was 'hot!' You're a Growlithe!"

"And you fell in!" Thief lightly giggled frantically as Scarf remembered his paw slipped when his tail barely touched the water. The recollection of thought - the flood of warmth around him.

"You scared the absolute..." Scarf trailed off and shook his head wildly in laughter. "I hadn't laughed like that in a long while back then! I'm glad you are now." Thief began to tame his laughter.

"Ow... the giggling." Thief chuckled again. "Ow... ow..." Scarf softly smiled and glanced at Griffin while his guilty clawed hands had the tube of medicine in them.

Griffin had been silent the whole time, utterly blank and stared at the anti-burn foamed rat.

"Okay... I'm kinda scared about how smart all of you are." Griffin lightly muttered. "I must be exhausted... Three am.... Thief's just hungry... Scarf's just finding berries. It's normal... freaking fantastically normal." He mumbled and went over to them. Another blank look hit him when he noticed Leafeon and Espeon halfway across the lawn too. "Right... Is it the Pokeball? I wonder... I'll have to write that down in the morning." Griffin's yawn crossed into the air, which made Thief yawn in response - Scarf had been guilty himself.

Write that down? Scarf found a dumb grin on his cheek, stared at Thief's yawning maw. "I don't remember much of Griffin's writing..."

"He does a lot of texting before bed. He always does - it's not just messages." Thief mentioned, "He writes about the Pokeballs, compares us to other trainers - but he notes that the training styles are vastly different..."

"Griffin trains us?" Thief partially shrugged

"I don't know. Sometimes I think I hear his commands; I just don't know if I actually follow them. Even when Griffin tries to, Bandit always takes over." Scarf laughed softly

"I know! Zero control over her, but she hasn't left his side since." Thief nodded back somberly

"Neither has Seo." He said, and it left Scarf's ear to perk.

"It's still such a strange name. I haven't liked Seok's story from the start. It's kind of hard not to notice." The Pikachu replied. "But judging by both stories I heard tonight... It makes me feel ill. It's a twisted cult, no doubt about that." His ears, perked and attentive, had gently brushed against the Growlithes skull, even though he knew Griffin had his eyes on them the entire time he wandered over.

"Scary... scary smart." He mumbled softly, went through his bag, and finished the work that the Pikachu had started. "At this rate, you all really wouldn't need me around, would ya? Except for groceries, right?" Griffin softly laughed. "It just means I need to find a different way to earn Bandit's respect." The Pikachu only squeaked back at him; his hand had gently nudged against Scarf's cheek after a few minutes of the Pikachu's complete rant to argue it. A defeated sigh overtook the half-sagged rodent as he followed Griffin into the little hovel; Thief had been in his arms for that time. With just a smaller warmer smile on his face to break that nearly formed silence.

Scarf already knew the cost of a promise...

And that true ones are worth every cent.