FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Legal Stuff: I do not own Pokémon or anything from, never have, never will, all characters in this story are my original characters, any similarities to anything is strictly coincidental.

(Pokémon speak)

Character thought

xXx = scene transition

RJ's Adventure

Chapter 4: Enter Team Storm

Only a few seconds had passed after the Zoroark reverted back to her original form when she opened her eyes again. Her eyes are the same color as the pearl in her red and black hair that nearly flows down to her feet when standing, a magnificent blue. Her body is covered in a dark gray fur that is almost black at her shoulders. The shape of her c cup breasts are easily visable in her fur.

She tries to stand up again but she is still too weak to do so and ends up falling but back down into a sitting position. All the time she tries this Rachael takes up a defensive stance. While she never did get to her feet, Rachael could tell that she was almost twice her height. Rachael barely came up to RJ's waist and he is six foot even.

(That no way to treat a fellow lady.)

"Lady my ass! I've heard of all the things that your species is known for."

(What exactly have you heard about my species little one?)

"I know that you all assist Darkrai in whatever sick and twisted things he is planning."

(Typical. That's exactly what all the other Pokémon say when they see me. Why do think I was running around disguised as a Poochyena?)

"To hide yourself so no one knows what you're up too?"

(You should know that just because everyone says we help Darkrai, it doesn't mean that it's true for all of us. Have you ever even met another Zoroark before and talked to them? Most will tell you the same thing.)

"You think just because you say that you don't help Darkrai is going to be enough proof for me to believe you?!" Rachael yells out loud enough to spook some nearby Starly which fly off.

"Hey, hey, what's all the yelling about Rachael?" RJ says as he comes into the campsite with his arms full of berries. He looks at the Zoroark sitting where the injured Poochyena once sat and the broken bandages scattered around her. "Well I see that our guest isn't who she seemed to be. I must have missed something big if you two are fighting."

Rachael points at Darkrai. "She's a Zoroark. A follower of Darkrai and she acting like we are nothing compared to her."

"Rachael, I never thought I would say this, but right now I'm really ashamed of you right now. I know enough of these stupid stereotypes about Zoroark and Darkrai and to be honest, I don't believe a word of it. Until our guest here does anything to prove those rumors are true, I see no reason for you to treat her that way."

Rachael can't believe what she is hearing. "But, but she..."

"Enough Rachael!"

Rachael sees that she won't be able to talk RJ out of it so she sits down defeated, but never taking her eyes off Zoroark. Zoroark herself is simply starring at the fire and RJ is slicing up some of the oran berries he gathered out in the woods.

Maybe RJ's right. She hasn't done anything to show she is a follower of Darkrai. I guess there's no problem in giving her a chance, but I still have to keep my eye on her.

RJ places the sliced up berries next to Zoroark and retakes his seat around the fire. After he sits back down he takes out his pokedex and presses one of the buttons and a translator comes out and he places it in his ear.

"I'm sorry if Rachael here gave you a lot of trouble." Rachael's ears droop down in embarrassment. "She's normally very nice around others."

"I'm sorry ok?" Rachael blurts out.

(It's in the past. Normally if other pokemon learn of my identity they either scold me worse than she did or just go all out and attack me. So don't worry about it, ok Rachael?) Rachael merely nods back in thanks.

"Well now that we got the apologies out of the way, my name is RJ."

(Well RJ, let me ask you something. Why would you help me when you don't even know me?)

"Do I need a reason to help someone in need? Believe it or not, Rachael is the one who found you, not me."

(So you do not believe the rumors about my species and Darkrai?)

"Like I said before, I haven't seen any proof, so there is no reason to believe them. Besides I don't believe any Pokémon are evil, at least not by choice. I've heard about the Pokémon that assist people like Team Rocket and Team Galactic, but I doubt they would be that way if they were still wild."

(You truly are unique RJ. I have never seen or heard of a human being this kind to Pokémon of my species, let alone any other.)

"Rachael said the same thing when I first met her."

As the night goes on, RJ and Zoroark continue to make mild conversation and Rachael continues to watch carefully, although not showing enough for RJ to notice. After Zoroark finishes the berries RJ had given her, he brings out another potion and starts to spray down what's left of her wounds. While he is doing this Zoroark starts looking around the area, as if she is suspecting something. RJ can't help but notice.

"Something bothering you?"

(Kind of. It's nothing you need to worry about.) She continues to look around the area. Rachael raises her ears to pay closer attention to the conversation.

"Is it about who attacked you?"

Zoroark's face turns to that of disbelief. (How did you know?)

"Well you started looking around a lot more when I was spraying down these wounds. I figured that the reminder of you still having them made you think you're going to be attacked again. So who attacked you exactly?"

Zoroark lets out a sigh. (For the last couple weeks I have been pursued by an organization known as Team Storm.)

RJ starts thinking back about the known evil organizations. "I've heard of Team Rocket, Team Aqua and Magma, Team Galactic and Team Plasma. But Team Storm is a new one for me."

(I actually used to be a captive of theirs and I was only able to escape about a month ago. They haven't stopped trying to chase me down since. The whole time I was their captive, I learned that they were just now making themselves known after years of planning.)

"Why are they so interested in you?"

(They kept saying that some Zoroark have a hidden power that they want to try and harness. I doubt I have any of that hidden power. I might be an expert at my illusions, but other than that I'm weak in the ways of fighting. I do know some attacks but nothing out of the ordinary for my species. The only reason I ever evolved was because of some kind of drug they used on me.)

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Rachael had been watching Zoroark during the conversation with her aura sight. She can tell that Zoroark is telling the truth with how calm and relaxed her aura is. Suddenly she can sense another presence nearby. "RJ, someone's coming, and I'm not sure it's friendly."

Upon hearing this Zoroark quickly reverts back to her Poochyena disguise and pretends to be asleep, but keeps her ears open. A few seconds later, a middle aged woman walks through the bushes into their campsite. She is dressed in a long sleeved black shirt and matching long black pants. The pants have a light blue, almost white, colored stripe running down each leg. The shirt on the front had a letter S in the same light blue color near her left shoulder. On the back of her shirt is a picture of a cloud which seems to be raining icicles, representing a hailstorm. Her hair is would be about shoulder length if it weren't spiked up and dyed the same color blue as the symbols on her clothing. She takes a quick look around the site and then speaks.

"Excuse me trainer, but did you happen to see a Zoroark in the area anywhere?"

"Can't say I have, they are pretty rare around this region, if I saw one I would probably try to catch it myself."

"I see. I apologize for disturbing you." She then turns around and walks back off into the bushes.

After several minutes Rachael speaks up. "She's out of my range, so I guess she's gone for good. Something about her was really suspicious."

"I know. She's the one from Team Storm that has been chasing you isn't she Zoroark?"

(Yes.) She says without dropping her illusion. (Her name is Hail. She is one of the six higher-ups of Team Storm. I bet you can guess by her name and her looks that she specializes in ice types.)

"I figured. I also see that she sticks to the whole evil team stereotype of dressing like your name."

(If she is here, then there is no doubt she knows I am nearby. By just staying here I have put both of you in danger. I apologize, for leaving so quickly, but if she captures me all I will be used for is more experiments to find this stupid hidden power. When they learn I do not have it, they will most likely kill me. If I can get to Luka Town I can at least hide amongst the crowds for a while.)

Zoroark stands up and begins to walk away with her illusion still up, but soon drops it as she falls down to one knee and lets out a pained grunt. RJ and Rachael both quickly get up from where they are sitting and assist her by bringing her back to her spot around the fire. Surprisingly, as they are sitting back down Rachael is the first to speak up.

"Honestly Zoroark I don't think you can run off and keep your illusion up at the same time. You might want to wait until you're feeling better."

(Why the change of heart around my presence Rachael?) Zoroark asks while putting her illusion back up.

"Yea Rachael, what made you change your mind?" RJ asks.

"I thought about what you said earlier, and you were right RJ. She has done nothing to live up to the rumors and she has treated us with respect, even after I yelled and insulted her species."

"Well after that display I think I can forgive you for earlier. And I agree with her Zoroark, I think you might want to get some rest. Besides we are heading to Luka Town as well. If you stay tonight we could escort you there tomorrow, we are only a half days walk from their anyway."

(I wouldn't want to put you two in any danger. I appreciate the offer but I feel like if I stay around for too much longer you two will get attacked as well.)

"If you can keep up that illusion while you are sleeping I don't think we will need to worry. Just relax for tonight, if anything happens, we can hold our own."

(I don't know why you keep insisting that I stay, but it's true that I can't hold my illusion in this condition. I'll stay for tonight, but tomorrow when we get to Luka Town, I will have to make my leave.)

After a few more minutes of idle conversation, Zoroark and RJ both fall asleep. Rachael however can't seem to fall asleep. In her head she is wondering about Hail and the rest of Team Storm. She also can't scratch the feeling that they are being watched, so she decides to practice her aura sight more. As she looks around, she notices that she can see things a little more clearly than usual. While she doesn't understand why, she doesn't question it. Now she can at least tell the different between living things and the rest of nature. After about an hour she succumbs to her own fatigue and falls asleep as well. However, she has failed to notice a looming figure just outside of her range watching over the campsite.

xXx

The looming figure puts down her binoculars and sits down on the branch she was standing on.

"There is something that boy isn't telling me. I know he did see Zoroark and tomorrow I'm going to find out where he saw it."

Just then a small device begins beeping in her pocket and she pulls it out and looks onto the screen. A man's face appears on the screen, his hair is a bright crimson color and spiked similar to the woman's.

"Report Hail." The man says to her.

"I was able to attack the Zoroark this morning before it managed to get away. It was badly injured. I think I have located it again. I will make my move in the morning."

"Very well. I'll be sure to inform our leader on your progress. Blaze out." The screen goes blank.

That punk better tell me where he saw that Zoroark, if this is dry lead I'm going to have to go back to blind searching and the boss will kill me.

"Well at least if it is a dry lead, that Riolu could be useful when it evolves. At least I don't have to worry about coming back empty handed."

xXx

The next morning, RJ was the first to wake up. As he looked around he saw both Zoroark and Rachael still sleeping. Looking at Rachael he couldn't help but let out a small laugh seeing her on her side with her tongue hanging out her mouth. To pass the time and to let the others sleep a little longer RJ sets out some breakfast and packs up for day, which was pretty easy since they all fell asleep sitting around the fire. He looks at his watch and sees that it is 8am and he decides to wake the others, but is surprised when Zoroark starts to stir and opens her eyes.

(Good morning RJ.)

"Good morning, would you mind waking Rachael, I'm almost done packing up."

After Rachael wakes up, the trio have a quick breakfast and are soon on the move. Moving along Route 74 they start walking along the river that runs parallel to the path for some time. After about an hour of walking along the river they come to where the river turns and goes under a bridge along the route. About halfway across the bridge, Hail come out from around the corner and stop at the opposite end of the bridge.

"Hello boy, remember me?" The boy comment really gets on RJ's nerves.

"First of all, I'm twenty-one, so don't call me boy. Secondly yes I do remember you."

"Good, so then you won't mind telling me where that Zoroark is that I mentioned yesterday."

"I haven't seen a Zoroark around here. And to think yesterday you were so polite."

"I am very polite to people who don't lie to me."

"What makes you think I'm lying?"

"Call it woman's intuition, so how about I make a deal with you? Tell me where you saw the Zoroark, and I won't take your Pokémon from you. Continue to lie to me," she throws three Pokéballs in the air releasing two Golbat and a Beartic. "And I can't guarantee yours or your Pokémon's safety."

Rachael takes her battle stance preparing for the attack. "Well she certainly has spunk doesn't she? When we make her evolve she will make a great asset to our cause."

"The hell she will! I would never let you take her and force her to evolve and do your dirty work."

"Have it your way. Golbat use Air Cutter!"

The two Golbats unleash a fury of Air Cutter at Rachael. She is easily able to dodge but the explosion caused by the attack send a shockwave out that causes RJ and Zoroark to flinch. Zoroark also loses her focus enough that her illusion drops.

"Well I'll be, I knew you saw that Zoroark somewhere, but I never would have guessed you had I traveling around with you. I guess that a Poochyena is a bit too obvious, I should have known."

Rachael calls out with her aura speak. "RJ I can't take all three of these guys, I am going to need some help."

"I know, I know, just let me think for a minute."

"Listen boy, you don't have a minute. Golbat, you two take care of that Riolu, but don't kill her. Beartic and I will take this punk and the Zoroark."

Zoroark starts to back up in fear knowing how strong the Beartic is from encounters on the run and while she was their captive. As the two Golbat attack, Rachael starts fighting back on her own, tell RJ with her aura speak to focus on the ice bear. RJ takes out his pokedex and quickly scans Zoroark and gets a look at what moves she knows. He learns Zoroark knows scratch, hone claws, fury swipes, fake tears, quick attack and faint attack.

"Zoroark we don't have much of a choice but to fight back."

(Are you crazy? I'm not strong enough to stand a chance against that thing!)

"Maybe on your own you can't, but let me help and I bet we can win this. Or at least hold out until Rachael is done dealing with those Golbat."

Zoroark seems to be shaking while being stared down by the Beartic. (Alright. I guess I don't have much to lose here don't I?)

"Just do what I say when I say it without hesitation and we will get through this."

Hail begins laughing. "You think you can take me on with that timid little creature? It's too scared to defend itself on its own and you think your commands will help that? What a joke. Let's end this quick Beartic, use Icicle Crush!"

The Beartic let out a roar and at the same time a cold air came from it mouth and began freezing the moisture in the air forming giant icicles that began to rain down on Zoroark who just stands there quivering.

"Use quick attack to dodge and get in close!"

Something inside Zoroark's mind snapped and she immediately did what RJ said. She nimbly dodged every icicle that came raining down and was soon right in Beartic face. The Beartic could only stand there in shock never seeing her fight back like this before.

"Now use fury swipes!"

Her claws began to glow and lengthen slightly and she lashed out at the Beartic's face. After close to ten swipes she pulled back looking at the Beartic seeing the damage that she had caused and see couldn't help but stare in awe.

Did I really have all this potential? She thought to herself as the Beartic regained his senses and began to speak to her.

(So the little bitch does have some fight in her. Well I won't be fooled by that again.) it said with a hint of amusement.

"You know Beartic, it's not nice to talk a lady that way. Let's show him what else you can do Zoroark. Use Hone Claws and wait for his attack!"

Zoroark begins the scrape her claws together making them sharper while Beartic charges in with an ice punch. "Now use faint attack!"

Just as the beartic's fist comes down on Zoroark she disappears and he does nothing but leave a patch of ice on the ground. A split second later she reappears to his left and rakes her claws along his side, leaving a descent gash and drawing a bit a blood.

"Beartic what's wrong with you? You used to beat that weakling to a pulp everyday and know you can't even hit her. Use blizzard and break their momentum.

Again the Beartic lets out a mighty roar as the blizzard attack hits full force. It's so powerful that RJ can feel it from how far back he is standing and even one of the Golbats Rachael was fighting froze in midair and fell to the ground. Zoroark's fur is covered in patches of frost and snow but quickly shakes it off and looks back at RJ. He too is covered in frost and is visibly taking the cold worse than Zoroark was.

"Don't worry about me Zoroark focus on the enemy!"

She gives a quick nod and turns back to look at her opponent and notices he is charging he quickly. "Beartic Rock Smash!" The Beartic's fist glows red and raises it into the air. Just as he is about to bring in down on Zoroark, she falls to her knees and starts crying her eyes out. Out of shock and confusion the Beartic stops and looks down at her.

(After all this fighting back, saying you have nothing to lose, you start crying in the middle of our fight? What is wrong with you?) He says almost yelling at her.

(Gotcha!) She yells as her claws shine again as she lashes out with another fury swipes to the beartic's face. (And here I thought you were too smart to far for such a childish trick.)

RJ saw the whole display and looked on with awe. Who would've thought that a pokemon of Team Storm's higher-ups would fall for a fake tears attack. And now Zoroark is taking parts of the battle into her own hands, err, paws, can't focus on that now. She must be starting to believe in herself.

The Beartic is now bleeding from the side and from several gashes on its face and arms. It also seems to be wobbling as it stands up. "Dammit Beartic, use your icicle crush on that weakling!"

"Quick attack!" Zoroark charged in and rammed into the Beartic's gut before it can unleash the attack and then follows up with a simple uppercut to the bottom of its jaw. The Beartic staggers backward eventually falling onto it's back unconscious. Hail can only stare in shock and disbelief. The Zoroark she thought to be a weakling all those months they held her captive had just defeated her strongest pokemon while barely taking a scratch herself. Zoroark too stare in disbelief.

(Did I really just do that?) she said out loud oblivious to the outside world for the moment until RJ's voice snaps her back to reality.

"I knew you had it in you Zoroark! You knocked that Beartic out cold!"

(Was that supposed to be a joke?)

"No but now that I think about it..........nah not funny."

Suddenly Hail lets out a scream of frustration. "How could defeat me? All you have is a weak Zoroark and a young Riolu, if you think you have beaten me yet, I still have..." she gets cut off as a knocked out Golbat flies into her face knocking her out as well. Rachael soon speaks up.

"Those two were tougher then I thought, if he hadn't frozen one by accident I could've been in real trouble."

"I knew you could handle yourself against those two, now let's get these Pokémon back in their balls and tie up Hail so we can take her to Officer Jenny in Luka Town." After putting the Beartic and Golbats back into their Pokéballs he gets out the roll of rope from his pack and ties Hail's wrists and ankles together, he then flings her over her shoulder and the three continue towards Luka Town.

"I knew you had potential Zoroark, all you needed was confidence."

(Well I think being their captive for several months and being forced to evolve would damage one's confidence wouldn't you think?)

"Yea I guess you're right. At least now you know you can defend yourself."

(If you hadn't been so nice to me and helped me during that battle I never would've known.)

Rachael joins in. "Yea, he has that effect on pokemon, you think I knew my potential before I met him?"

RJ lets out a small chuckle and the three continue idle conversation until Luka they could see the Luka Town police station which was conveniently located near the entrance to town they arrived at. On the way to station, Hail regained consciousness and started to struggle but was quickly knocked back out with a soft hit to the back of her head, courtesy of Rachael. Although upon doing so they received several extra looks from the people, who were already starring because of RJ having a woman tied up on his shoulder.

xXx

Finally at the police station, RJ walks up to the receptionist and rolls Hail off his shoulders onto the desk.

"I think this is someone you might have been looking for."

"Who exactly is this?" He replies.

"She goes by the name Hail, she a higher-up of Team Storm." The receptionist quickly calls Officer Jenny, while they are all waiting, Zoroark realized she never put up an illusion and everyone is starring at the group.

(RJ, everyone is starring at us.)

Rachael pats her in the side. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure it's not just you. Both you and me are rare in these parts and RJ just brought in a wanted criminal, of course they are going to stare."

Officer Jenny walks into the room. "I see you were able to capture someone pretty high up in Team Storm."

"Well she attacked us for no reason and when she threatened to steal my Pokémon I knew she had to be brought in."

"So both of these pokemon are yours?"

"Well just Rachael here," as he says her name she jumps up and hangs over RJ's shoulder with a smile. "And Zoroark here was the one she was originally after. We managed to help each other out, and we were able to come out on top."

"Well I want to personally thank all three of you. And as for you, what's your name?"

"My friends call me RJ."

"Well RJ, Hail here is a wanted criminal, I think you deserve a cash reward for her capture." RJ opens his mouth to protest but is cut off. "Don't bother to trying to decline this, you truly deserve it." She pulls out a money card and punches a few buttons transferring the money to RJ's account on his pokedex. RJ looks at how much she gave him and is in shock.

"Are you sure this is ok?"

"I reward people handsomely for those who deserve it."

"With all this money, my expenses would be set for half the year."

"That's just from her. Out of the six higher-ups we have learned of for Team Storm, she was bottom of the list, and we don't even know who their leader is yet."

"Well thank you for the money, but I think we need a couples days of rest and relaxation, so we are going to grab a room at the center and see where we are going next."

"You three take care now." She says to the group as RJ gives her wave while walking towards the door.

xXx

Outside the police station the three head out towards the road, when RJ and Rachael turn towards town to head to the center, Zoroark stays standing looking at the sky.

"You ok Zoroark?"

(I am for now. But now I need to go back on the run to make I am not captured by those people again. Even though Hail has been captured, the rest will still look for me. I thank you again for your kindness and hospitality, but I'm afraid here is where we part. Maybe someday we will meet again. Goodbye my friends.) She turns and starts walking toward the entrance of town to head back out into the wild.

Rachael looks up at RJ and opens her mouth to speak but before she can say anything, RJ nods and starts to walk off toward Zoroark.

"Hey Zoroark, hold up a minute." She stops in her tracks but doesn't turn to look at him. He comes up behind her and puts his hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to go this alone."

(What do you mean exactly?) She says while turning her head to look at him.

"I guess what I am asking is, do you want to come along with me and Rachael?"

Zoroark's eyes open wide as she stares at him. (After everything that has happened, you still would want me around you?)

"Hey, we are all friends now, and I can't let a friend get taken captive by some crazy organization to just be experimented on. And with us by your side, there is even less of a chance of that happening." He reaches into one of the pockets on his pack and pulls out an empty pokeball and holds in out to her in his hand. "So what do you say?"

(I can't believe you are giving me a choice in this matter.)

Rachael chimes in. "Yea I couldn't believe it either, but RJ keeps his promises, and I second the fact that we are friends and we won't let Team Storm take you."

Zoroark shuts her eyes tight as tears begin to stream down her face, all the while still smiling. Without even answering the question, she reaches out a taps the activator on the ball. Her body is surrounded by the red light and is sucked into the ball and it pings without a struggle.

As soon as the capture is complete. RJ flicks the ball into the air and it pops open with a bright light and a Poochyena forms on the ground.

"That's strange, I thought I caught a Zoroark, but all I get is a little Poochyena."

(Very funny.) She says dropping the illusion.

"Well there is only one thing left to do."

(And that would be?)

"I think you need a name. Zoroark can sometimes be so hard to say in a critical situation. How does the name Zeta sound?"

(I think it will do.) After her response her stomach lets out a loud growl, shortly followed by RJ's.

"I guess after today's little skirmish, we are all kind of hungry aren't we? Let's get to the center to get you two looked at and then some food and a room. Then we can relax for a day or two and get going towards the next town, and our first badge."

"Finally a bed, something more comfortable then the ground sounds like heaven right now." Rachael says with a hint of excitement.

And with Zeta puts her illusion back up and the three head towards the pokemon center for a much needed rest.

To Be Continued...........................

That's chapter 4. I think I did a better job at the battle scene this time. So a new friend and an introduction to the enemy known as team storm. What are their intentions? We will soon find out. Next chapter we meet another member of the team, but after that not for a while, still working on the plot. I am still looking for further suggestions, especially for future members of the team, so far I just have Rachael, Zeta, and......well if I told you now it would spoil the surprise. Hopefully chapter 5 will be up by the end of the weekend. Don't forget to vote and comment.