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**Luna and Thief:

The Orange Isles Chapter Nine: Two Steps Behind.**

There was something off about the cage. The Pikachu knew that for sure, as he sat with all sorts of noise around him. Gentle noise... while this large Arcanine had laid down alongside two Growlithes; she hadn't made a sound, but her vest was the same one that he had seen before. As a stir of noise came up, the sound of teeth rattled against bars - the Arcanine hadn't moved; in fact, she only sighed as the frustrated voice yelped into the air.

"W - Where's Griffin? This isn't like... like the police station in Fuchsia; we weren't put in cages!" Luna's voice had come up as her fangs noisily rattled against the bars once more, with every attempt to spark up her fire; nothing came up. Scarf couldn't even get any line of static through his pelt as Luna continued to rant about Thief and everyone else; All the injured, marked, and brought elsewhere.

Moonlight did help heal his stomach and quickly. The pain had still been there, the kind that made him wary on how he moved or leaned, yet the Pikachu could restfully stretch out his back now. It made the Growlithe glare at him in response. He was much closer than Luna was if anything her stamina taxed to the limit. She only needed rest yet consistently refused to properly lay down and do so.

That made the Pikachu twitch his muzzle and nose as the Growlithe narrowed his eyes.

"I swear to Arceus if you sneeze on me..."

"Calm." The Arcanine replied as Luna continued to banter with this newfound anger, one that didn't suit her well.

"So you do talk! Answer me, please!" She continued to say as Scarf long tuned it out before he said

"The police are talking to him. Calm down, Luna." His raspy voice slipped into the air, a soft, gentle lull that made the Arcanine quirk a brow.

"Has your throat been injured before?" The Pikachu shrugged in reply

"I haven't a clue. Before Griffin, I just remember a forest with plenty of my kind." He continued to say and twitched his nose again. "Sorry, the water and that drug makes me-"

"It tickles like soda water, I know. The Vulpix..."

"She's had a rougher than normal month, we all have. Those bad people... they seem to be everywhere. She's badly hurt by an Abra."

"That's true for many trainers, but... your trainer is the first caught like... like THIS since this whole ordeal began. They could've killed all of them; I'm confused about how they didn't. I don't respond to calls like that; nothing should need to." The Arcanine expressed and gently huffed as her muzzle pointed to the end of the room. "Vulpix, darling, you'll hurt your teeth." Luna snarled in reply

"To hell with them! This isn't helping us find Bandit!" The Arcanine twitched an ear and swished her tail.

"Bandit...? That name sounds vaguely familiar... do you...?"

"She's that... Daisho 'Yena,' right?" The Growlithe beside her replied

"Daisho! Right, she almost killed that Skarmory in the championship in Hoenn years ago. What's she doing out here?"

"She was stolen from us! Please let me go!" Luna had slammed her shoulder against the cage; that made the two Growlithes perk over to her.

"It's chained to the wall Vulpix, you can't break it with your size." The Growlithe turned his head to the other one, that second Growlithe in the blind corner of the room. "Hey, Vulpix! I'm talking to you." Scarf twitched his ear momentarily after Luna's endless banter and growls.

"Can she see you?"

"Huh? See me? No, why?" The Growlithe continued to say as Scarf twitched his tail.

"She looks at everyone's nose, I see her do that all the time - only when they talk. I've tried to talk to her before with her back turned, but if she isn't feeling well or rested..." The Pikachu twitched and jolted. "Luna!" There wasn't any response from her.

"Are you going to answer me?" The Arcanine gently blinked back at Luna as the Vulpix turned her head and huffed; it left the hair in front of her eyes to dangle wildly.

"Oh... She's deaf? The drug disables Pokemon moves... that's why... her Psychic is gone."

"What? No, I'm not! I can hear fine!" The Growlithe, the one closest to Scarf, looked at Luna.

"There are two Growlithes in the room, Vulpix. You walked in using a psychic move, freaked out some of our Pokemon here - you're using one to try and sense sound. I've seen many Pokemon do it, just not a Vulpix. That's... different." He partially turned her head as Luna made a noise.

"I'm not!" The Vulpix said once again and flicked her tail wildly. Scarf simply racked his claws against the cage. "I can hear just fine. Thank you." She rebutted sternly - this odd firm voice slipped out of her throat.

"Can you turn the cage so she can see me?" The Pikachu mentioned, and the Growlithe chuckled

"Say no more, I've gotten tired of your staring. If it quiets her down, be my guest." His paw pushed against one side of the cage and directed Scarf into Luna's sightline. It made the Vulpix twitch her head and starkly stiffen her tails.

"Griffin is talking to a police officer, Luna. All the humans are. They could be in HUGE trouble... we could never see Griffin again."

"It wasn't our fault! If that Chesshira thing never came around, we'd never have had an issue."

"And like Shadow said, we never had any issues until you." That left Luna silent - dead silent. A chill ran through her in a way that left the Pikachu to lower his eyes to his feet. "We all could never see Griffin. You could never see Thief. Bandit even - they could euthanize her even if they found her. That's the somber truth." Scarf continued to say softly and tenderly. "So please. Just quiet down for a moment. Let me think." The ragged voice cut through the air as Luna had solely looked at her paws... After a little while, she went pale sickly. He said the words confidently and softly, a serrated and soothing tone, bittersweet.

Like warm sand, you can bring it into caverns and make the rocks warmer over time. The Pikachu continued to stare at the lock in front of him. He knew it would be easy enough to jumble the pins with his claws...

He loved to learn about the nifty and crafty things that the humans made.

All he really needed to do was graze his fingers a certain way and use his claws to turn the lock, with the right size... he could use his tail. It's strange; it's too easy. The Pikachu had to sit, think, and listen. Luna had stayed quiet the entire time, finally curled up against the corner of the cage.

It's your adrenaline. You get panicky. Words hurt you plenty - that's what you had seen in Thief, regardless of how he held himself.

Griffin and Thief share that in common. Words can't hurt them because they hurt themselves more than that.

_He could screw this up so badly if this strange group can convince local trainers to help them... like I suspect with Seok. Then whatever you're hiding Griffin, they're going to want to know. With all of you. They're going to try and see if you're helping them, the convenience of dividing Luna away...

The bastard's been playing us from the start - that Chesshira.

I bet you followed Luna right to us, for Moonlight; that's what the old man's been spouting about. That Alolan Vulpix is tracking her too._

The Pikachu felt his fur rile up as a twitch ran down his back. A sudden flush of air went through his lungs right before he examined the lock again.

Right old chap, it's not pinned to the wall. It's on a pivot. I felt like the cage moved too smoothly.

A gentle whine cut into his thoughts, like a muffled one as Scarf twitched his ear to the suspicious sound before he jumped back into deep thought.

There's a lock to stop it from rotating freely. If that Umbreon we saw is like this Arcanine and Growlithe... then they know of a way to tell the humans.

Cheat, that's what Bandit always says... I like to call it an 'alternative method.'

The Pikachu looked over at the top lock again, the one he could fumble with and simply let his nimble claws run through the pins. It hardly took him that long to pop the first lock. The second, held from the top-down, unlocking that made him freely drift or rotate - and that could make the gate slam down.

"H - Hey!" The Arcanine had jolted to her feet in a way that made the Pikachu stiffen. "Call it." The Growlithe only made one strange yowl, and that left a human to walk in.

"Oh god, she's..." The human went for a small syringe from his top right pocket and opened Luna's cage; it left the Vulpix to squirm from fright and jolt as the tiny needle pricked her. "It's okay. Calm down..." The stranger began as the Pikachu twitched his ear to his voice. It sounded too familiar for his comfort.

Dumb cub, she's biting her paw now. I overheard Bandit and Absol speak of that. Absol is gone. Bandit is gone. Everyone else... injured.

As the human unlocked the cage, Scarf unlocked his second bolt; and that left the enclosure to roll open. He gently held back and let the cage open.

All he did was follow the human out with the Arcanine and the Growlithe. The man applied potion as Scarf snuck behind a narrow crevice of a bench and looked around the room.

It's on a higher floor, the wind is battering on the windows - shutters keep them closed; there's hardly a single officer in sight. That doesn't make me feel good. They better have reception somehow; I don't want to see another Fuchsia incident. My cheek throbs every time I look at Hoenn's direction. Something terrible is happening or soon to be.

We're all be together by the end of this.

His optimistic thoughts ran down his spine as the Pikachu snuck between planters, chairs - with rare people on them. It seemed so easy once more, yet eventually, he followed his nose, and as the drug slowly wore off, he occasionally felt sparks through his ears.

_Amazing, I wonder if I'm some distant cousin to an Electivire. I heard that every trait slowly passes on through Pokemon. I'm using my ears like antenna's and the static in my fur to create a charge.

Weak... it'll never be full again, but I can fine-tune it and play with my environment._

The Pikachu wearily sighed and rolled his paws down his cheeks - by now, he was getting tired until a voice came into his ears, one that pulled him from his stealthy and calculative stupor.

"I'd never do that. I don't... I can't accept that. I don't want anyone to die, no matter what it gave me in return - that's not worth it. I've told you everything you have... more information there then I've been told in my life. I never... That's not what they would want. It would break a promise."

"Can you tell me that promise?" A softer silence followed suite.

"That would break it too, until I know I've kept it... but you know more..."

That other voice, that accent in that human's tone. It's not Jean. It's foreign like Natasha's...?

"Griffin, I know this is the first time we've met. What happened there, what you have here..." Scarf couldn't see it through the door, yet he hid close by and listened in carefully. "It's factory new, from the original shipment models; this phone. This phone just... appeared from the nineties and into your hands and with a lot of evidence on it. A tremendous amount from that truck." Griffin was silent the way through... an eerie silence.

Damnit, Griffin... don't cave in. I don't remember the phone. When did you take that? Did anyone see? Scarf gently sneezed and at once covered his muzzle. He leaned closer to the door... as the man sighed.

"You understand, as I repeat it once more, beginning and end..."

"I don't need a lawyer present. I spoke the entire truth; you can look through my PokeNav, phone. It shows you everywhere we've been. I don't know why those strange trainers are around all of us. They just arrive and target everyone! I think they recognize us because we've been in the wrong place at the wrong time from the start."

"And the old man? From Pewter?"

"I figure he's one of them! He always pops up at the weirdest times... Jean saw him and his Keo-Keo at Viridian's gym" There came a nod and a huff that left Griffin quiet. "I just don't know why all I wanted to do was take a breather away from family, some time to myself because... because of that." Griffin's tone faltered a little. "It's what I wanted to do, now I don't know - I haven't known since the first time, but they make it clear that they're everywhere." A silence came through the room and the hallway again.

"Alright. That is everything I need from you. The phone and the folder in the truck, the silent stranger; another masked man. We can't search for him in this conveniently. Brad is okay; coping." The stranger sighed. His accent was odd and reminded Scarf... of Natasha."You're all going to have to be moved into witness protection."

"You can do that? I mean... how does that work?"

"You have the Tri-Research Certificate Griffin, Jean had considered doing it sooner - but there hadn't been any direct confrontation. Only Pokemon. As for Bandit - even with what you've talked about, they could do terrible things to her. We haven't been in contact with Natasha either. She was last seen leaving the city of Lumiouse in Kalos with someone. There's a search there too now." Griffin dryly swallowed and stared down at his hands.

"And my brother too... Why...?" Scarf pushed his ear tight against the door and listened more. "No one should do this to anything. Human or Pokemon." A gentle rack came across a desk as the officer stood up. Scarf could hear the way how his vest weighed him down.

"You three are strange, speaking without a lawyer present - permitting us to record. Most teens are much too stubborn about that. I'm glad you've been helpful, but until we investigate the scene further, along with this weather and the dangers it presents... we can't let you leave the station for your personal safety even though the twenty-four hours are up. You're free to speak to me, what Pokemon you have Griffin - you can see. Your Vulpix is there, along with your Pikachu. We have little space; we'll even let your Pokemon interact with you under my watch. As for Melody and Brad... they're both sent to a hospital."

"Why... Melody? Is she okay?" Scarf had been close to the door as something blew against his neck - something that left him rigid.

"It's a personal manner with her young man. You've all become major parts of our investigation; I'd suggest not leaving the country until permitted." The officer gave a softer sigh, as though to warmly smile, Scarf felt that. "I'm thankful you all got out alive. Pokemon saved you. I'm relieved in hearing that." The man mentioned softly, and as Scarf tried to listen to closer - his ear firm against the door...

"He-"

"Sweet Arceus! H - hey..." The Growlithe; one of them stayed behind when they sedated Luna. The Pikachu just stood there, half-aware and defensive of the door.

"I've been listening too, most of the time to all of them. They all have it rough. They can't be members of that team. I listen to that strange voiced man; I think it is cruel, but it's always so kind. Even more than Jean. There's that other teenager that came in too. He was honest as well; When he first broke down upon seeing Griffin for even a glance..." The Growlithe shook his head. "I had a cousin that fought that weird thing in Viridian, a passing Spearow told me. He said he got cut up bad." Scarf partially nodded, "I wanted to hear for myself."

"Luna saw it directly, the Pokemon that attacked us aimed for her and our trainer."

"Is it true that Jean shot it?" The Pikachu nodded once more and dryly coughed

"Only because it was a threat, it went to attack a human. It's that simple. Luna had backed right up to Griffin - the Chesshira was going to attack him next."

"Chesshira... I don't like that name. I feel unhappy that Jean used a gun."

"That Pokemon isn't any like we know. It freely speaks of the worst things and commits to them. It's a threat, a powerful threat. All Pokemon need to know that it's dangerous... that only the bravest and strongest should face it if they have to." Scarf explained and sighed, "A human got sick from a cut by it." The Growlithe lightly sighed as Scarf spoke to him, "Your cousin could be deathly ill, I'm..."

The Growlithe lowered his head for a moment and gingerly exhaled.

"Follow me, we're going back to the cage. Your trainer... well, hopefully, you all get to stay together. I noticed the food in his rucksack; I'm surprised that he makes food like that and for all of you too? Those others arrested didn't have anything like it... I don't see your trainer as one. I just hope they put you in witness protection and quick."

"Griffin can never be one of their members, but wherever he goes, I want to be there with him. We all do... Please."

Luna hadn't returned that night. It even left the Pikachu to sit in that strange backroom in utter silence; wind pounded down against the walls outside as he twitched his white-gold tail awkwardly. Now that Growlithe only stared at him with a keen gaze, he seemed curious about how the Pikachu got out of that strange partially octagonal cage. The Growlithe only glanced and studied it carefully before it let out a huff - gave up on the thought and finally resorted to his occasional gazes.

Scarf only sat there with an innocent look hinted on his face as he stared back at the door, where the Growlithe looked to it too.

"She chewed up her paw, I know what you said was rough but you-"

"I said it honestly, not harmfully. I spoke to Luna gently. She panics; loses her head. It's a youthful joy honestly, being ignorant and blissful to the reality around her. She only wanted a chance to see Thief again; I know that."

"Weird Growlithe, weirder tail too - I've never seen one colored like it before; makes him look silly cause the fur on his head doesn't match" The Growlithe explained with a soft giggle "Our loyalty is to our trainers, our family; the pack in a sense. That Growlithe acts like he's not even part of it and still defends it. Quiet too."

Thief...? Quiet? That doesn't sound like him at all. Come to think of it; he's only talked to Luna as of late. Back in Viridian too. Our last talk; the first time we talked in days, just him and I.

The Pikachu flicked his tail and lightly rolled his shoulder; this ache rested further inside as he gently placed his paw on his stomach.

That Machoke pinched the nerves in my shoulder when he squeezed down; I'm lucky Leafeon got there when he did, but why did Aura stop fighting? Did she see it as a gym battle? The Pikachu shook his skull as the sounds of footprints came towards a corner. It left his head to turn, and the scruffier fur on his chin had rustled with a light breeze as Griffin had opened it.

**_He was joyful that at least Scarf had been there. The Pikachu had no qualms when the human lightly picked him up from the open cage and hugged him.

_**

The light pain numbly stabbed at his shoulder as Griffin's arms had gently squeezed. The teen white as a sheet, pale, was vomit ridden. It made Pikachu's eyes lightly open.

You haven't eaten, stress. Anxiety. You're terrified since the start of your journey; I knew that when you caught me. Why do you keep going? It doesn't make sense what you say. Why do you keep going? The Pikachu gently flicked out his tail; Griffin had cried lightly, but his pale expression left Scarf utterly somber. _You wanted to be ignorant about it. You just wanted a pure, easy adventure - that's why you were so calm with Natasha.

You weren't planning on doing any gyms. You were... running away to be with us? A human that Pokemon barely look at. You're not on anyone's consideration... but for us and... even then we aren't the best for you._ The Pikachu coughed and hacked as his heart gently raced. He held back any tears that came over him, worried it would leave Griffin to cry harder. You never were considered, except for those closest to you.

We all remind you of part of that in some ways, but we still always forget your voice. The Pikachu frantically rubbed his temples and stirred; Griffin barely loosened his grip - yet he refused to burden the white-gold Pikachu with his weight. The Pikachu simply nuzzled his nose into Griffin's collarbone. His entire body lightly vibrated with a charge. The Growlithe twitched his ear and came in closer to inspect.

"Don't worry, the Pikachu is helping him. It's using static to slow his trainers' nervous system, calm him. All Pikachu's do that to Pichu's to calm down each other from hunters." The Pikachu didn't stir or move with the man's comment, yet it stopped the Growlithe from intervening. The man lightly narrowed his eyes and gently sighed. "I haven't seen any Pikachu do that since Surge was deployed. He was one of the best Pikachu trainers I knew." The Pikachu lightly twitched his tail as a scent barely fluttered to his nose

That's what it was. I could smell a fiber, a weird one at Vermillion. Those Team Rocket grunts... And when I caught onto it at Maiden's Peak.

"Growlithe, where did Luna go?"

"To see her friend."

"Where are the Arcanine and the man? I just smelled Team Rocket... It's faint, but."

"What?" The Growlithe began to sniff around the air, then around his cage.

"A fiber; think about fiber. It's padded or insulated; smells strange - plastic. You know what that smells like." The Growlithe gently froze as he came around a corner

"Huh...? I do smell it. The trail follows where they went."

"Get the human here to go... that officer wasn't." Wait... I smelt that in Fuchsia too, at the department there. They all let us out for a check-up also. The showers sucked, cold, freezing cold. A light wash of laundry... now's not the time! Where I think we talked to Jean, it passed by. "He was in Fuschia too, when the incident came up; I couldn't remember until..."

"Scent's great, right! Sucks for us, we remember EVERYTHING." The Growlithe commented back and made a yowl to the human, one that made him tilt his head curiously as the Growlithe gave a stranger wag of his tail - a silent signal.

"Alright, I'll follow you; Griffin follows me." The man commented as the teenager gave him a look. Scarf only half wondered why the officer picked up on it right away. That left the Pikachu stunned and in wonder as his thoughts fell on that strange Vulpix, Tazer.

"What...? Why?" Griffin asked as the officer gently nodded back at him as he landed his hand under his chin in thought.

"There's one fellow, always talks when I'm just distracted enough. It does nothing but office work, great with numbers and computers. He said that he brought your Vulpix to a Pokemon center when we took a short break. The medical wing is downstairs, but it's not a 'Pokemon Center' - I hadn't thought of it. Let's move for now. After what I saw, I think you need to see all of them anyway. They need you; I know that for a fact, your Growlithe has been temperamental since he came in." The officer explained and gently urged Griffin to follow, then Scarf's tail rattled something as Griffin lightly put him down. Handcuffs, policy... the Pikachu figured that was the reason for them, yet they were bound around Griffin's wrists regardless.

The shackles frightened the Pikachu, the sight of them. Bound or wrapped to the ground... trapped - it was a constant fear he felt with those around him, those who had it.

In silence, he could only wonder his small legs next to the Growlithe, with these strange eyes that ran down his back. He walked on his two legs, still concerned about the pain in his shoulder. The throb and gentle pressure built inside it.

_This isn't good. If I can only stand like this and not put pressure on my shoulder...?_The Pikachu spent a moment to glance back at the large, fit man. This stranger obscurity stopped him from studying his face.

_Moonlight worked quickly, but he was already exhausted. I must watch my stomach too. For a few more days. Arceus... are you against me or telling me my odds?

I don't like that omen..._

The Pikachu tilted his tail to follow with the balance of his body as he adjusted his ears to keep himself upright. A thought occurred to him as he fiddled with them like antenna wires.

Absol... you've noticed me every single time; climbing. Thank you for telling me to use my ears like this. I now know why I used Thunder against the Beartic... it was one of the first times I saw you entirely out in the open.

_You must... have noticed it there, remembered, like I did with the fiber.

Thank you, just... get out alive._

The Pikachu gently rolled his right shoulder but fought the urge to move his injured one. It feels like I'm over-stretching it... It hurts a lot. Scarf lightly narrowed his eyes as he followed the Growlithe down the corridor. Griffin jolted at the sound of branches snapping and the wind slamming against the glass. _The storm got even worse the longer I've been in here. Thank that stranger... he knew the police were nearby.

They could have already been investigating... Did Griffin blow one of their operations?_

Another corridor, a row of stairs, left the Pikachu uneasy, and with a gentle chitter, he asked if he could hold onto the Growlithe. Then there was his fur, coarse and boiling hot; unlike Thief, this Growlithes pelt near scalded Scarfs paw. All he did was cling as the Growlithe stepped slowly down the steps, ever tedious pawprint left the Scarf to anxiously stare at the quiet corner.

Could that man have tampered with the devices in Fuchsia? Somehow, they couldn't call the police... it was a trap. Why would the Chesshira waste time testing us then... Why give us false hope and not kill us outright?

A strange chill ran down his back as he thought of Luna and Fuchsia... Maiden's Peak. How can a Vulpix like her use Keo-Keo moves...? Like Heal bell. I never expected Yuny to use Thunder Shock either. Even if it was just a bolt in Fuchsia... That's what it felt like.

Like a quick swing of a sword, one that slashed downward intending to keep anyone alive, selflessly.

It left the Pikachu to lightly narrow his eyes as he flexed his legs.

I can use it... Extreme Speed to jump. I always jump up at a tree with my hindlegs first; iron tail to strike from a higher height... If I have enough of a current - the blow could overwhelm an opponent. I have no possibility, but to fight to stand, I hate that more than anything. Scarf twitched his tail as his little paws rested against the tile floor below him. They had gotten closer and closer towards the medical wing as he partially looked at Griffin in his variable silence. A faint tinge touched his fur. He could tell as the shock dispelled from his pelt and left his eye to sharpen.

That happens when Psychic is...? That's not Luna? The Pikachu froze as a light scent barely lingered around his nose. Zoroark; it left Scarf's eyes to widen just as they stepped into the next room, yet it left him frozen as all it did was sit cross-legged on a medical platform, with Luna next to her while Thief rested on the same bed. The Zoroark simply looked at him and gently smiled.

"Hello, I saw you at Cinnabar too. You're standing... did you hurt something? I see remnants of paste on your stomach."

She's observant. This could be an illusion, Luna, or Thief - both might not be there. "Hey, Luna." The Pikachu began to say as she lightly drifted her head towards him. It made him cough dryly as he tilted his head. She's not using heal bell, how could she hear me? All the Pikachu did aside from standing was furrow his brow and clear his throat. "How's your paw? I didn't mean for you to get hurt about what I said, I was as honest as I could be." The Pikachu lightly tapped his claw in a way that the Growlithe beside him tilted his head.

"I - it's... Okay. I just... I'm..."

"Terrified, I know, and the truth hurts too. Honesty does. Before Pewter, do you remember much of anything? You went wide-eyed when you saw Thief. I remember that you were like that the entire time." The Pikachu gently inhaled as the Zoroark tilted its skull. The wind and rain peppered against the glass and left Scarf's ear to ring with the sound of crackles. Muffled, loud crackles.

Gunshots...?

The frightening sound popped in his memory; it left another cough to slip out from his muzzle as he gently looked up in a haze.

Another crackle rang through the air and left his ears to twitch - static touched from end to end. The Pikachu gently angled his shoulder and stared the Zoroark down right before something trembled up his spine.

"You're not giving off any scent, Zoroark." The Growlithe gave a gentle jolt as the Pikachu talked; the machinery had given off a current of electricity. "Where's Luna... Where's Thief?"

"Oh, the Growlithe is here." The Zoroark replied and gently huffed, "The Vulpix is elsewhere."

"Like I thought." Scarf gently twitched his whiskers and stretched his neck. He had to remind himself about the pain that throbbed and grew in his shoulder. "So, you take her when she's wounded? Even when she foolishly wounded herself more?"

"I let her talk to him; that Espeon - knocked out for a while. Too bad they couldn't let out Lycanroc and Haxorus; the Police found tracking chips in them, they're elsewhere. Leafeon isn't even in this building! He's being sent back home." She began to gently smile, warm and strangely...

Step-motherly, in a way, smile."Don't worry too much about her... She's Team Rocket Property now. Valuable property." Scarf firmly tightened his grip as the strange Growlithe took a stance. "She has Granbull with her; they're both safe and well."

Where's the other officer then? The Arcanine too? If this is the stranger from Cinnabar... is he a cop? Scarf swallowed bitterly as the Zoroark gently grinned. "As for Bandit, leave it to us. After all; Even I have a bone to pick with them." She expressed once more and tsked, "They'll all live! Those that are here, and Luna, with us."

"Why take her now? Why not..." The Pikachu commented as the Growlithe tediously paced to listen... Scarf couldn't blow the fact that they just ran into the supposed Team Rocket.

"I haven't seen you before. We don't use Zoroarks! This area is restricted. Regardless of why you took her, where is she!?" The Growlithe snarled and lowered his head as Thief gently stirred awake, his head wobbled as the Pikachu tilted his.

He's on those painkillers again. With her illusions... what the hell could she make him see? Scarf gently widened his eyes as she simply whispered something into Thief's ear.

They've watched us from afar, even closer now. Bandit must've been suspicious of them. They waited for a chance to nab one of them. The Pikachu gently swallowed and coughed as he twitched his tail once more. _Those fights...? They're going to lure Bandit out with her!? I need...

I can't leave Griffin alone, Leafeon could help me for just a little while he can. I need to find him._ The Pikachu gently rolled his right shoulder again as the Zoroark tilted her head and giggled.

"Doing that won't help you, try to splint it, but that'll throw you off balance, Pikachu. Your Vulpix may have just what we need for a fun project." The Zoroark passed a strangely cheerful smile - one that could resemble Aura's, and that made the Pikachu twitch a brow right as she'd playfully shrug and wagged her tail.

"What are you doing to Thief?" The Illusionary Vulpine creature only smiled and played with her claws

"Feeding his subconscious, it's so delicately wonderful to see them at times. I'm helping him. I already know what he's been through; for whatever reason, I can see them both, unlike your Espeon friend." The Zoroark mentioned again, and that left the Pikachu to grind his little claws into his paw. Griffin just stared at the Zoroark for the entire time, as though he just clued into the tension.

"S - Scarf, it's fine. We've seen her before!" Griffin commented lightly and gently winced when the officer sighed.

"That's not possible. Moonlight even said he can't."

"Oh? Dream eater, I bet. You see, I know a legend too, Pikachu. I always wondered if it was true."

"What?"

"That we illusionary foxes used to live with them. That we were at every shrine for a purpose unknown to us."

She commented and changed her stance. Her foot dangled off the bed as she lifted her other knee chest-bound. It was this strange studious pose, as though she silently laughed or mocked him. "I do know that Vulpix's and Growlithes are very susceptible to us. Luna is the only one that I can't fully crack... but Thief did. He cracked like an egg."

"What could that do to him?" The Growlithe began to say, "What could happen? We won't stop until we track them down!" The Zoroark let out a gentle, somber, and long sigh.

"Well, think of it like a corkscrew. I just released a little pressure on a wine bottle, so now... he'll remember more a little sooner. I thought I'd help him; get him through that." The Zoroark began and gently laughed. "If he can handle it, I kept the good memories for when he needs them most." She said and lightly whisked her tail in the air. "We're much too far away to talk longer... but I'll give you some comfort." The Pikachu's eyes gently opened as the tail began to fade in a trail of... stars. "Your friend Seo-Yun was it? She's alive, but we lost track of her quickly. I know Bandit is too... for now."

"How can you maneuver in this storm?" She gently giggled and whisked her tail more.

"Pokemon are our friends! Team Rocket wants Pokemon to be with everyone to bring order and balance between us all. That's our vision to control the world peacefully." The Zoroark expressed, and as she waved, those specks of stardust pulled off her form; both she and Luna were gone. That left Thief to stare at the bed in utter confusion. While Scarf softly cracked his knuckles, she was long gone, but a gentle huff crossed his muzzle.

She's alive. I hope you're not a liar, Zoroark. Can I go alone...? I'll have to, and I'll take your words to heart.

Pokemon are friends. They'll help me find them.

The Pikachu lightly huffed as the Zoroark had faded into dusk light and left Thief in a strange utter of silent shock. A gentle ripple ran down the older Pikachu's side as the pain lightly throbbed in his shoulder. He knew that he had to watch his adrenaline too.

I'm smaller than everyone but Luna.

That gentle and constant realization came to his mind.

I can get out alone, they'd spot everyone else; tonight I'll go. The Pikachu gently flicked his tail as the Officer lightly grimaced and left Griffin in silence.

"This makes your case about Bandit one hell of a priority." He'd express and narrowed his eyes. "A Zoroark, you talked about it vaguely in our discussion. There is more than one group targeting you and your friends."

"I don't know why!" Griffin began, but the officer held up a hand gently to hush him.

"Bandit for one, strange to take your Vulpix, though. I investigated every part of their medical profiles. Even Logan's Pokemon. A basic as bones Flareon, I haven't seen that one much." Griffin's back gently jolted.

"He caught it somewhere in Hoenn." Griffin explained.

"You already told me, and good on you. All your friends have spoken to the truth. All of them have been brutally honest. One of our Officers had to step out midway through. She's always had a weak stomach when it comes to children and teenagers. I always have too." He explained and gently folded his arms. They were large, imposing - yet silently friendly or hopeful.

Like strength that was built from the weak carrying those around them.

It made the Pikachu gently frown, this trainer or officer... only had one Pokeball on his belt. His size left the Pikachu to picture Surge.

_It's like you subdue Pokemon personally. Isn't that near-lethal? One cut or..._The Pikachu's ear perked up to the sound of a chain. It only came into his ear as he stepped past the Pikachu, this firm, and the cautious way that left him to softly huff.

His vest looks utterly dense; it's like a prison guard...? The Pikachu felt his lower body twitch and spark as he hit the ground with a brutal cough. Something stung at his lungs in a sudden sharp way that left his world blurry and black... before he woke up and looked at the strange trainer.

"No, he's fine." A muffled voice came to his ears. "I see, your cheeks are scarred up. You're collecting energy between your ears; you can't hold that for long. It's better to keep the charge in your pelt, like a battery." The Pikachu gently blinked and stared at the clean-cut face in front of him. "Lt. Surge always told his Pikachu that when it's cheeks started to hurt." He continued to say, and that left the Pikachu to tilt his head.

Wait... I know what happened. When I got angry, I charged myself... I overcharged what I could handle, like a Pichu. I backfired. I've...?

The Pikachu went still and stiff.

I've done this... but as a Pikachu countless times...?

A waft of rain and seawater touched the station, and all it could do was leave the Pikachu to stare at his paws anxiously. It left him wide-eyed as his tail jolted again. _I... I know I remembered something. There was a shadow when I looked up, a stranger... who...? Where...?

What's a Prison Guard? I've never heard that... Phrase... before?_

Scarf went stiff... frozen as his arms gently dangled, and his eyes contrasted for only a second, one that left Griffin to stall.

"You're okay. They're okay. I'll... I'll make a good dinner if the station lets me..." Griffin gently coughed as Scarf felt weightless against Griffin's shackled arms. "We just need... need to wait out the storm. They can search for... after that." The Pikachu tilted his scalp lightly.

They'd be gone forever. Damn... With everyone injured and Lycanroc - Absol went or not, she won't go, and I can't sneak her out if she did. But what the hell is going to help me get through that storm...? The Pikachu gently rolled his arm again and sucked back air. If I can even just find them and keep tabs... Spy. I can break them out quietly. We can all break out softly then. The Pikachu had gently held his paw under his chin and huffed If only I had Akamaru, I could dig under the storm. What can I do...?

The thought had left the Pikachu to ponder and wonder as the sunset crawled into the night; by then, most Officers had been out assisting citizens or rode out the storm with the silent wind-beaten walls that surrounded them. Pikachu curled, waited restlessly - convinced even Growlithe slept. Tediously the Pikachu played with the two locks and reopened his cage. He half stared at Luna's as he walked past.

Dumb, foolish. Why hurt yourself over something so honest...? And yet it's my fault, that's the most entertaining crap about it. The Pikachu shook his head left and right as he gently froze and shuddered. _There's that frosty wind again. What is that? An Articuno... maybe? No... it feels like... like

Kyogre? _

The Pikachu silently grinned as he carefully grabbed and stepped to the next shelf. Right, blessed by the thoughts of my wishful age, am I? I don't need my memories, not if I get to keep the ones here; focus. The Pikachu gently used his tail as a spring and lowed himself tediously towards the shelf below him. Without his other shoulder, the one he kept tight to his stomach, the Pikachu had to use his tail for everything... and his weaker right side. Again, it left him to smile and grin. Everything huh? It's as though all your problems would fade if we all did... right, Arceus? The Pikachu kept his delicate balance and lowered until his feet gently touched the floor. But Will is a necessary strength too. For as long as I can, I'll hold onto my will.

I've yet to finish business, and I don't want that weight dragging me down into a little match-box coffin.

The Pikachu had just as tediously, studiously... snuck by the Growlithe; all it did was peacefully sleep. Strangely, Scarf wondered if Luna had something to do with it.

He was annoyed, but he looked tired, to begin with. I bet the scent... He was subconsciously aware of the faint trail

The Pikachu continued to gently sneak past him and gently slipped through the crack in the door. A door-crack that left the Pikachu to notice the Growlithe's tail. It nearly made the Pikachu wince.

Talk about an original door stopper. Why keep it open...? The Pikachu gently creaked the door open by using his tail and his right paw. _I'll tire myself out before I even get outside. I got a plan for that too, sweet fate._The Pikachu gently shrugged and made his way towards one of the desks. There was this line of yarn. He noticed it when Griffin picked him up.

Their Pokemon plays with it, I noticed nails or a box of them. I can take the two largest, tie the yarn to them and hammer them down into the ground; It'll help brace me and weigh me down if I can find the right thing to tether with, out there. They're large, thick looking nails, but Iron Tail will help me out with that. The Pikachu gently huffed and reached for them after he quietly climbed atop the desk. He had all the time he needed tonight, and that didn't stop the Pikachu from taking pride in his handiwork.

He tied the nails to the yarn and lowered them to the chair and then to the floor. A full half-hour had passed in complete silence as he finally made his way past the door to the office and out into the hallway; it was no different than before.

I stop by the Medical wing. There's an exit from there. If only I knew anything about pills, I could find something for my shoulder. The Pikachu shook his head and wiggled his whiskers. Nah, no time for shortcuts. I'll just tell Thief bye. With him dead quiet as of late, there's no one he'll talk to without Luna. The Pikachu rolled his neck, or at least his one right side - so that it gently cracked. This position is going to be hell on my neck and back. I got a little left to risk. The quip left the Pikachu to nearly laugh to himself in silence.

That strange thought came to his head as he wandered into the medical wing. Another quirky blur rushed over his face and left him pale before he shook his skull and let his long whiskers brush against the side of a Healing Deck. The Pikachu only looked up at the machine; it took him a moment to realize that he walked in with Griffin in the room.

Then the cold and chilly frost ran down his back.

Griffin is... here...?

"I had a feeling." It left the Pikachu to stiffen as the Growlithe had gently spoken. "This stranger is really good at understanding us. I sometimes feel like I can hold a conversation with him. You should see him with his Sceptile. It's the weirdest thing too!" The Pikachu twitched his ear.

_A different type of Sceptile? That's insane. Sceptile is a Reptillian._As the thoughts ran through Pikachu's mind, the stranger had let out a Pokeball... and it left The Pikachu's eyes to widen.

It looks camouflaged to me, except for certain shades; I see... The Pikachu's back quivered lightly as the swirls of regal colors painted down the Sceptiles oddly colored scales.

It's like a forest in the fall. It's red... Yellow... Orange? I can't see, orange, I can't. It blurs...

"Are you done staring?" Her voice cut into his ears, enough that it left the Pikachu to blink and jolt back. "I don't need your eyes on me. I get enough of that."

"I - Is that Sceptile? Did you... paint it?" Griffin muttered softly as the large man, the one that spoke to him before, had softly smiled.

"These Sceptile's have the lowest capture rate in my country. Their colors come from a rare seasonal migration. They just pass through my country... three days. This one stayed behind with me; they're there in the fall. Every citizen back home knows of it. It's a rare spawning ground, those born there grow colors that match their environment." The man gently nodded. "Since she's orange, she's affective for forest operations. We can see her immediately."

"Isn't that dangerous?" The man gently huffed

"Almost anyone that sees her asks that. They're more agile in tight woods then a trained Greninja. Humans have always encroached on Sceptile's territory. They'll kill humans on sight if provoked enough, naturally fighting them. They're sensitive to their trainers, especially. She's aware that we can see her, broad as daylight. It's a real fright to see, walking through the woods and then this fierce Sceptile staring you down. We don't permit anyone nearby." He explained and nodded, "So, if it calms you, look at her all you like." Griffin's hand half jolted for his pocket, and that left the man to laugh kindly.

"This, right?" He held up a clear bag that showed Griffin's Pokedex. "We couldn't get a hold of your professor." Moonlight half stirred with that, one that left him to cough. "Logan is still missing... We can't just jump into it with your permission alone. I have already asked my supervisor for permission to look over you personally, Griffin. I even inquired about the idea of asking you to demonstrate the device for us. Logan's Pokeballs, all the information we need has been provided, yet that implies this Pokedex has been entirely overhauled... custom made or modified." Griffin gently coughed

"T - that's true. Logan added in all his personal research to it; it's like adding a folder to the home screen or how he explained it to me."

"I understand, that's not illegal to do as it's still connected to The Pokemon Associations network. Yet the device is in your brother's name, and your professor is the main Associate member." Griffin gently coughed and nodded as the officer had pulled out the Pokedex with his gloved hands. The Pikachu had stayed stiff as the Sceptile burned a hole into the back of his scalp; he could feel the pressure of her intimidation alone.

The pressure comes from her claws... Dragon Claw... but the existential is from Aerial Ace. I feel like it would look like a swirl of flames darting through the branches, day or night. She's focusing energy on the very tips of her body...? Concentrating them. Explosive power with minimal loss.

The only other Pokemon I've ever felt do that is Absol. She did that after Pewter when we first met her.

Pikachu wearily glanced Sceptile while Griffin showed the device functions.

"Tsmoklye...?" Griffin gently muttered to himself as Logan's voice came over the device.

"There's nothing else to say, but if you've found this one, I'm sure as hell proud of you. I've yet to see it."

It's all the voice said as Logan gently huffed, his speech was so silent that Griffin had to turn up the volume - max it out. "Now... match your breath and maintain eye contact no matter what. This Sceptile specializes in extreme speeds; up close, it can move faster and maneuver better than a Dragonite could. It's movements up close is like how a Dragonite flies; You'd be dead in a fraction of a second..." Logan's voice gently trailed off the speaker. It was near dead quiet - even at full volume. It left the officer to silence his breathing as though to hold or focus it. "Now, slowly match its attentive pose and stay silent, like a stone. Let it come up to you. If you don't match it perfectly... it could attack." Logan went silent for a long minute as though something extravagant was supposed to happen. "Right? Now watch it jump around the woods; its fiery leaf-like skin looks like a hurricane darting in the treetops. How I've read it...

"' It's a fire that can't burn the forest like it shows a cycle of fall that has ever graced its home. You can tell their age by how many they have and the more complex patterns they make. The Sceptile says you may respect our forest, that's what I believe.'"

It made the officer tilt his head and gently snort.

"I've read that from a book, he worked on Pokemon behavior years ago. British author." The officer gently blinked as he shrugged. "These Sceptile are more attuned to approaching human children. They're heavily protective of them. All school children closer to the mountains learn about them."

The Sceptile slightly tilted her orange-fiery skin as though to stretch her back. She held every color of fall in her skin. Bright and nearly fluorescent in a way that left Scarf to twitch his tail as Thief gently nipped his own as though to desperately search under it.

"Well, they'll be at that for a while. I'll guess you can sleep back at your ca-"

"Here." The strange Sceptile began to say and left the Growlithe police unit - Scarf's guard into utter silence. "You shoulder, correct?" The Pikachu gently flinched as her tail came into view.

It's a totally different shape...? Sceptile have tails in the form of a long-angled cross. This one's tail is more like a... an arrowhead Trident.

"Oh. Manchurian Maple, my tail is exactly as sharp and fierce as you think it to be. The shape comes from our nest - mine was in that tree. Many friends of mine nested among Ash trees and Larch. I'm a touch rare for the tree that I lived in. That is what you're wondering... amongst you staring at other things." The Pikachu gently brought his head back before he cleared his throat. Her eyes were of a curious nature, a color of red-like amber or sap, nothing like the steel yellow-like sheen he had used to see in them. With the presentation of her tail, ...she had half shown her back, and it left the Pikachu to notice those Trident-like leaves that covered each sphere among her. Those were bright ember, near reflective.

A hurricane of fire, the leaves on her back flicker the orbs to make bright lights. The shock and flash would stun any Pokemon - in the right place, I bet it can stun a human, blind them like a moving strobe light.

"I hadn't meant for that; I've never seen anything like you before - I can barely really see you at all. Can you see the colors on your scales? You're half invisible to me. It makes a pattern down your whole body that frightens me to look at" She looked down her otherwise bladed arms - they followed much in suite with her tail and rolled each side as though to casually inspect herself for injuries.

"I can see myself fine. We have the same color receptors as humans do; you only see something that you'd see in a Seviper or an Ekans. Something dangerous or poisonous by nature..." She tauntingly spoke and partially grinned. "Nice try with the nails and string... you look determined and funny with all that wrapped around your waist. A little Pikachu out on a childish venture, I bet you'd hammer the nails down with Iron Tail. You can't leave until the storm clears up, and even then, we're still here. I don't like how none of you cracked under pressure - a full day of questioning and nothing but the same story from all of you, save for some details. I'm personally skeptical." The Pikachu twitched his ear to her firm, calm and quiet voice. Scarf knew she was the lead, the breacher - the Pointman in a way by how she casually studied the room, knew it in the instant glance.

"I assure you that there's no need to be." Scarf replied confidently and kept his tone down, respectful as always. His raspy voice touched the room once more and left Thief to stir as the Growlithe looked around more seriously now, half snarled under his breath. It left Scarf's tail to twitch as Thief solely growled audibly at nothing.

Fighting the drug. A swallow teased Scarf's throat as he finally realized exactly how dry it had become, as though the Sceptile intimidated him slowly over time; her presence had a pure effect of that. A strange shock jostled between his ears and down his cheek - a tinge of numbness touched them for a moment and left him to rub them. His cheek, or his spot... had fallen asleep again, and it made for what felt to be the worst toothache. _If I went out there, I know I couldn't fight... not like she can. Be safe,

Both of you. I'll do my best to hold down the fort here and protect Griffin. _

No matter what

Absol:

Finally, there had been a period of rest; her 'trainer' had been drenched naturally, but by then, he had stripped off his coat, hung up his umbrella, shoes off respectfully. A Pokemon mart, that's where they ended up, and that made the Absol's back crawl once more at the simple thought of that gun she saw in the cavern he changed outfits in.

You'd endanger them like that...? Or do you not have a choice? I saw the chalk on the walls. The thought viciously spat at her in the late hours of the night. The powerful storm had still gone firmly outside, yet Absol knew it was no hurricane; if it were to get worse, the singe in her horn; the crescent on her cheek would burn more. It stayed stagnant, telling her that the storm would run its course for hours...

Days even.

The gentle, ragged sigh came through as her shoulder and pectorals began to ache - color returned to her world as a sharp pain ran through it.

The rotation, I let off so much force that I may have squeezed the nerve going down my arm? No, it's from the round I took; my paw is dead of feeling.

Congrats Bandit, I made the same exchange you did; let's hope that doesn't change a balance. She shook her head and gently scoffed as Leafeon's words came back to her. The very idea half made her grimace as she stared out at the hurricane before her. Her mind flickered back to Vermillion, where she had spoken to Moonlight in the dead of night and then fell towards Luna in the morning. A narrow of her eyes and her thoughts went to Scarf and Leafeon.

A Pokemon of Life. What gift could one honestly offer that...? She simply shook out the remains of her pelt and gently panted. The human had already made an excellent excuse for her and fed her kibble once again. A rescue, I bet. As per usual, that story. _I always hate that story. I'm not some weak..._She half pushed her paw to straighten out her posture, and it left her spine to crack and pop. The singe of mild pain ran through her, all while her lungs gently stilled. Breath in and her world delicately lost luster even as the Umbreon tilted his head. He obnoxiously sat next to her - many with her injured paw under his rear-end or stomach. Luckily the human had a smarter excuse than 'breeding partners'

At least he had the decency to say that the Absol belonged to his late brother and that he'd promised to care for her best he could. That was at least a story she could follow behind, and the Umbreon played the part perfectly as though he knew what to do and say, like second nature.

He copied body languages from other Pokemon, those with stories he knew, and that left the Absol lightly rigid in her dark world of dull colors.

They've heard the stories before, from all of them. Why store the gun that way and explicitly state he's from Team Rocket?

The Muk told the truth? Then Bandit very well could be on Fairchild Island like he told me.

Team Rocket is the one that's kept them enlisted or funded? It would explain why they consider me as 'expendable.' But that Umbreon chittered to his owner, and a lot - he gave me a look. I didn't like it.

The thought crept up in her mind as she gently twitched and flinched as though a spark ran through her neck. It left her to think of those two grunts from Cerulean all that time ago; when she had a shock collar on.

They were kind too. The odd realization settled into Seo's gut. I didn't kill them because I... she lightly shook it as though the guilt just dropped into an endless pit. They respected me in many ways, fed me food, water. They were the closest to Griffin before him that I had met in years._It made her back crawl again; she remembered how they forced the grunts to collar her most the time - said she was a threat. _What's the difference between that Team Rocket and...? They're not the same thing? It's like a horrible underbelly or parasite that's clung to them... or all of them? Another tremble ran down her back as the thought crept up once again, and her world suddenly came into luster as a letter gently touched her forehead, and a name came to her mind.

Seo...

The memory snuck itself in once more, and she gently retired from her firm upright posture to one where she only stared out the window, laid down on the tile as a shadow overtook her. It made the Umbreon tilt his head, the store owner had come in with large Pokemon pillows from the back, and it left her to nearly scoff. Now I'm apprehensive about you Bandit. Don't you dare fold on me. She only stared down at the tile as something crackled red.

"Great..." His silvery-black paws graced the floor below him; the bristles gently touched nearby his paw pads as he shook his pelt about and stretched out his legs. Strangely toned for his build, conditioned for speed and agility, the Pokemon stood there, just under Absol's height. It made the Absol tilt her brow as he shook out his leg as though it had fallen asleep, eyes glued to the window with endless intentions.

"My horn never lies; they'd even vibrate in death I've heard." Shadow gave a gentle twitch and turned his head.

His eyes seemed a touch larger than Bandit's, dilated in a way that showed off his off-red hue. The Mightyena huffed and stared out at the water, which pelted the ground outside. Wave after wave of rain slammed sideways. "It's a storm, not a hurricane; for the weight of the rain, there's less wind then I expected. Something's happening or happened in Hoenn, and this is the effect." Shadow solely huffed as the Absol twitched her eye. "I have my doubts about where she could be; when I was out here, in those fights... they were confusing - always the same look. The truck tells me that they can't be oversea. There's a strange new island off the coast of Seafoam... yet I remember that the police had been looking into it already - burn marks, building imprints." Absol tiredly sighed and blinked. "There are so many deserted islands and campsites I still know too..." It made her twitch gently. "But there's one I know better than most" Shadow gently tilted his head. "It's a campsite occasionally, but trainers don't cross deeper into the terrain. It's too dangerous for even the most experienced. A boat could easily scope that out... I damn near say we're still looking for an old decommissioned bunker, but the Umbreon told me wrong, the moment they took over the territory the Police knew." A tremble ran down her back as the thought came into her mind. A gentle swallow came over her to follow as something touched her ear - a sand-felt voice.

Ra...? that Abra was half painted, like the paint was wearing thin. Bandit told me the whole story. That stranger doesn't work with them either, but the Abra; no, all his Pokemon have...? It made the Absol jump to Moonlight for a moment as the trembles ran further; a sudden sharp swallow touched her throat. Son of a... Le... He meant letter; that Sandslash. The Letters on their sides, they're Pokemon that came in willingly. "We can't find them... they move the fight using Abra...? And use active Pokemon to train them - use Pokemon that come willingly as fodder." The idea further crept down her back as the Umbreon twitched his ear.

"Strange, that was our suspicion too; we don't know of any Pokemon that could move it so rapidly or help us find it." The Strong set Umbreon had replied, there had been a strange thing with his trainer - how they fed them both something - a potion. It dilated their eyes to an astounding degree.

"They use more than one - that's proven from the Litwicks we dealt with." Absol brought up as the Umbreon tilted his head along with Shadow. "If we had a Psychic-type that could easily teleport us all or a ghost type that could sense them..." The Umbreon huffed

"No, they're smart enough to find a way to stop that." The Umbreon explained back and half laid on her paw. It made her eyes bloodshot and wide-eyed. "Or Unown would have found them by now - the Police would have all of them."

Don't touch me. It ripped into her skull as the Umbreon felt her paw - a growl lulled in the bottom of her neck

"You're covered in fresh slashes," Shadow spoke softly, stressed - his voice had been rough, lightly rugged, but soft when he quieted down. "Are you okay? It looks like something tried to break through your chest head-on."

"This is nothing." The Absol responded back, unfazed from the pain that ran through her, head to toe. "It takes a lot more than this to stop me. It always has and will." Shadow only tossed his rose-wood eyes to the tile below them, stared at the idly marks of muddy footprints which crisscrossed in complete disorder before he gave a huff. She wearily panted as he paced.

"There's a difference between luck and fate, you know," Shadow mentioned, and it left the Absol to irritably twitch her ear. "Those lines become a hell of a lot closer the older you are." It made her lightly growl and settle her shoulder.

"You dare to believe you know more of that then I do, Mightyena?" Absol gently twitched her tail and huffed against the tile with a sudden sharp exhale. The chill slithered down her chest - the kind that burned her throat as if she extinguished candlelight with a thumb. "You haven't any understanding of that, of me. Frankly, it explains to me why you've been with things the way you do. I don't care about who you thought had taught you, but you don't know everything; Shadow. I can read you like a book."

"You simply trained harder and studied with Logan to impress her."

The Absol sharply spat, and her new 'trainer' had brought up that she had her 'dislikes' with his team; when the market owner asked. That it's all unfamiliar territory with her. He made up the most fantastic story she ever heard.

That Absol was the only one in a little mountain town with troubles... and that she alone protected people for years.

The only thing that felt fitting for her was the nickname he gave her for now.

Lark.

The name had shocked her for just a moment as she let out a huff and partially rolled her eyes. The name of a songbird... How a simplistic human-defined - the kind that sung.

She only wondered if there could be a story of a songless one, the kind with an Estoc tied across their hip, a fable to be told to children all about a bird that fought to protect the innocent.

She didn't care for complaining about it. Lark would have been plenty beautiful as her mind fluttered to a different name.

If Seo forces me to hesitate. A light bitter swallow touched her throat, pain gently clamped down around it as she pushed her tail to still and rest against the tile. Lark... I guess I can play that role. A little village hero, trying to lighten my mentality; how much can that Umbreon and Vaporeon figure...? I can see the Umbreon glow and sparkle as though it talks to his trainer using Morse. The Absol only drew her eyes towards the window as Shadow gently laid against the bare muddy tile. He hardly cared for it; his appearance appeared wild and ragged compared to his usual self as the Umbreon twitched his ear and let his fur rile upward.

A pressure began to beat and press down against her already pained throat as the man gently chuckled with the shopkeep. "I personally would like to name her Mai" The name left the Absol to twitch another ear and flutter into a moment of thought.

Dance...? Or love and affection? She gently expressed a little curve on her cheek. _It's a reliable name and with a story like his... Fine. I'll become Mai the Absol for now.

Just a dancing lyric-less songbird - devoted to protecting others. _

The Absol softly huffed as Shadow twitched an ear.

"Such a human-Esque name." Shadow expressed softly and huffed, "Do you want to be called that?" The Mightyena asked as Absol leisurely looked at him.

"For now." She replied with her tired voice a flush of color pressed against her wrinkled nose; the one that appeared midnight-blue; her disfigured pale scars crossed all down it like claws. The bloom of pain left her lungs to burn and sting - a heavy feeling weighed them down.

Exhaustion had already crept up on her as she tossed a wary eye towards the stranger talk about all sorts of stories.

About this fantastical Absol named Mai.

The Umbreon listened in on every detail before he'd idly cough.

"Again, for my earlier comment. I apologize." The Umbreon gently bowed his scalp to her, and it made the Absol tilt her head with partially bared fangs. There had been plenty of back and forth conversations between them throughout the night. "The potion he uses and the side effects it has, I can't always control them." The Umbreon expressed and gingerly sighed, "Let's say, I used too much to try and save him once." The Umbreon only looked at his paws for a moment, entirely dilated, yet a strange smile or smirk remained. "So please, don't kill any humans; I know it's scary... no matter how brave you are. I know there may not be any choice but find away."

"It'll benefit both your health and mine."

The Absol gently growled in the back of her skull, lost in a flurry of sharp memories; if it meant thinning their ranks, she had been utterly okay with that. Up until the Snivy came into her mind, along with what Scarf had realized in the beginning.

With Seok. It left her breath to turn gingerly, warm as the Absol stretched against the pillow and straightened her back. Shadow had done nothing but pace and pace as the Umbreon began to talk about strange stories. All beginning with, "Remember the time." Or "Hey, this was funny!" His entire thoughts had begun a backstory as a strange chill ran down her spine.

It's sophisticated humor. It's as though they're mocking me in away. I'm alive. I haven't any time left.

"I'd consider against betraying either Shadow or me, Umbreon. We're getting her back - I'm getting her back." The Absol began as the Umbreon twitched an ear as she near mouthed the words silently. "Whatever you're thinking of in your tales..."

No... wait. "Tell me the one about the missing hiker again. I always liked that one!" Absol spoke louder as a creepy-crawly feeling touched down her back. A chill, one that left her to shiver. Corrupt and kill bug types...? The Chesshira is a ghost type or the one that Luna has been dealing with. Ghost, Psychic, and... Steel as a tertiary? Absol felt her back a shiver. I understand, like Luna with Fire, Psychic, and Ghost... it's a tertiary type - Ice is.... I just hope it doesn't have a fourth like she does. There is a further connection, and if I remember Crescent correctly - god, I hated that name when I had it. She spoke that Luna had to return home, that a travesty would unfold through a mirror.

The Chesshira asked if she had learned anything?

Another creepy chill ran down her mind as her eyes softly began to dilate all while she listened to the Umbreon tell the story. He spoke cryptically, words behind words. The story was simple and held a charm that only the young could behold, yet she read through it instantly.

The lost hiker is... what he's after. A simple story and another theory considered. Absol's eyes went from a crescent red to a dim, faded shone in her eyes; she refused to let a single other thought come into her mind except one. The very notion that a monster like that could easily bide it's time and listen from any place, anywhere... and at any time of day.

The Chesshira had played them; Seo's own thoughts of Luna, in themselves, were a danger.

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