FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

*Chapter 2 *

Lightning struck a tree just off the path, creating an ear-splitting explosion of sound. Groven ducked, wincing as his hands flew up to cover his ears. Shards of wood were thrown in each direction, some hitting Groven, knocking him to the soaked ground. He looked up at the cloud-filled sky, letting rain drops fall on him, feeling one run off his cheek. Closing his eyes as if they stung, he opened them while standing tall and let out a fierce roar.

"My sweet Juju, I will find you!" He shouted to the sky.

***

Juju walked slowly behind her trainer, keeping her tail tucked as close to her chest as possible, using her flamethrower to keep the flame strong. The rain was weakening her, surely her trainer must have known she was weak against water and needed to stay out of rain. Not paying attention, Juju tripped on a small rock in the ground, stumbling forward and falling into a puddle. Her tail was instantly soaked in the collected water just enough to cause serious damage. The flame on her tail was dim and very small, any more damage from water to her tail flame would kill her. Her trainer finally noticed when he looked back only to see Juju several feet away in the puddle, crying out for help. He ran over to her in a hurry, helping her out of the puddle.

"Dude you have to get her to a Pokemon Center right away, her tail flame is badly lit!" Said Cody's trainer.

"Where is the next Pokemon Center?" The other trainer said on the edge of tears for letting his Pokemon suffer.

"Well Eterna City is just up the road, we can take her there."

"I hope it's not too late!" Juju's trainer picked her up and tried to carry her. Cody's trainer released him from his Pokeball, asking him to carry Juju and keep an eye on her tail flame while they hurried the rest of the way.

***

Groven heard Juju's cry for help, he knew she was hurt. He burst through the trees and into the forest, taking a quick short cut to appear on the other side of a bend in the road. Looking each way, he couldn't see her or the trainers. Groven lowered himself to the rain-soaked earth, sniffing for Juju's scent. He came upon the very puddle she fell into, a look of utter horror deformed his face as he gazed at the skid mark her back foot made in the mud before falling into the murky water. Growling with disgust, Groven continued down the road in search of his mate.

***

The door flew open as the trainers ran inside the Pokemon Center, turning their heads frantically in search for Nurse Joy.

"Oh my, can I assist you two boys?" She asked, alarmed by their sudden arrival.

"Yes ma'am, my Charmeleon fell into a puddle and the flame on her tail got soaked, please help her!" Said Juju's trainer with a choked voice.

Cody rested Juju on top of a stretcher that a Chansey brought out moments before. Juju opened her eyes, squinting and roaring angrily at the bright lights. She made an attempt to get up, thrashing at the Chansey gripping the edge of the stretcher. Nurse Joy quickly pulled out a small needle, getting Cody to pin Juju down as she administered a mild sleeping drug to make Juju relax and fall asleep.

"This may take a few hours boys, please wait patiently. I suggest taking a walk around the City while we help your Charmeleon." Nurse Joy smiled before departing to a room in the back of the Center.

Juju's trainer turned to the other with a worried frown on his lips, "I can't believe I neglected her like this, she could have died!"

"Don't worry bud, she's a very strong Pokemon, just look at the way she slashed when she opened her eyes, definitely a fighter!" The other trainer patted his back in reassurance. "Yes, you're right, she'll be just fine I know it, let's go check out the City."

The two trainers exited the Pokemon Center, Cody following close behind. They turned to head for the PokeMart when Cody was slammed hard and thrown from a powerful Razor Leaf attack produced by Groven. He hissed wildly, charging for Cody to land another attack; Leaf Blade this time. Cody was stunned and confused, getting to his feet slowly. Groven struck the Wartortle hard on the head, spinning faster than the blink of an eye to finish his movement with a hard slash to the shell, leaving a long deep scrape behind. Cody cried with pain as he trembled trying to see where Groven would come from next. Cody's trainer was just as astonished as he was, acting quick he threw a Pokeball and shouted, "Go Geodude!"

Geodude eyed Groven angrily, bearing its teeth in a show of confidence. Groven smirked, waving his arms in a swooping motion from right to left, before drawing them back to release a Razor Leaf attack. Sharp leaves raced towards the Geodude at mach speed, aiming right for its face. As the leaves traveled, Groven was in motion, running straight for the Geodude. At the last moment, before Geodude could block the on-coming attack or elude Groven, the Grovyle jumped, gaining ten feet of height easily. This distracted the Geodude into looking up, just as the Razor Leaf attack smashed into it, pelting the Rock Pokemon with dozens of sharp leaves. Geodude screamed for help, but Cody was still laying on the ground helpless from Groven's assault. Raising the giant leaf growing from Groven's head, he began to absorb all the light he could, opening his mouth and blasting the Geodude with a Solar Beam attack. Dust was thrown up, obscuring the view of the battling Pokemon. When the dust settled, Geodude was at the bottom of a small crater in the ground, eyes dizzy and swirled like tiny whirlpools. During the Solar Beam, Groven aimed the end of the attack at Cody, who was also in the same state, knocked out. Groven stood between the two Pokemon, his arms crossed, eyes glaring dead ahead at the trainer who captured Juju. The trainer froze, not sure if the Grovyle would attack him next or flee. Groven then set his eyes on the Pichu that was once again cowering behind the trainer's leg. He pointed at the small electric mouse and relayed a message only it could understand.

"Tell me where Juju is, and I'll spare you from a battle you would most certainly lose!"

The Pichu winced at the power of Groven's voice, nodding it's head without a second thought. The mouse Pokemon pointed a small finger towards the Pokemon Center before ducking behind its trainer's leg. Satisfied, Groven started to make his way for the building. Juju's trainer suddenly stepped forward with an angry look, "you're that Grovyle that attacked my friend's Wartortle for taking the Charmeleon!"

Groven nodded, never blinking nor taking his eyes off the trainer.

"Well she's mine now, you can't have her! If you want to be with her so bad, then join my team, it's the only option!" The trainer cursed under his breath.

He looked down for a moment, considering the offer. It would mean him and Juju would be together, and he could protect her in battles and in any situation they faced. Groven looked into the trainer's eyes and nodded once, accepting his fate. The trainer took out an empty Pokeball, touching the middle button to make it open, watching as it took Groven into it's small circular chamber, closing with a click.

***

Juju opened her eyes, looking around the room she was being held in to heal. The beeping of the instruments she was hooked up to irritated her. She raised a weak arm, alarmed as she saw half a dozen cords stuck to her arms by small suction cups. She thought for a moment, swearing she heard Groven's voice, but not sure where it came from, or if it was from the medication they gave her. She sat up on the bed, feeling the soft blanket fall off her chest and stomach. The same Chansey she startled when she threw a fit upon arrival entered the room. It smiled as it noticed Juju sitting up and looking around. It left, returning a moment later with Nurse Joy.

"Oh hello sweetheart, you're a very lucky Pokemon, we managed to get your flame stable again and gave you some Pokemon medicine to cure any nausea you may have." She smiled.

Juju looked at her and the Chansey for a moment, a frown spread across her lips, her eyes turning soft and sad. She put her paws over her eyes and began to sob quietly. Nurse Joy didn't understand the reason for her tears, placing a hand on Juju's arm to calm her. "What's the matter sweety?" Nurse Joy chided.

Juju wasn't sure how to tell her what she was feeling. Instead, she placed a hand over her heart, then pointed towards the window. Nurse Joy followed her arm out the window, she understood.

"Aw don't worry, your trainer will be back soon."

Juju roared and looked around the room, finding a small PokeDex on the table beside the bed. Opening it, she tried to find Groven, searching through hundreds of Pokemon she never knew existed before. Once she came upon Groven's image, she showed it to Nurse Joy, pointing at the male symbol. Nurse Joy giggled and apologized for misunderstanding before, "ah you miss him dearly."

She nodded, looking down at her tail that was blazing bright within a glass chamber lined with small holes to allow air in and out.

***

Groven kicked down the door to the Pokemon Center, causing the Chansey to go into a panic, running into the back room where Nurse Joy and Juju were. Groven's trainer, who was now also Juju's trainer, ran up behind Groven shouting commands for Groven to settle down and go back into his ball. Groven ignored all his trainer's words, not even making an attempt to notice he was speaking. He looked around the building quickly, trying to find his precious Juju. Nurse Joy appeared from the room, screaming in horror as Groven leaped directly at her, claws ready. She put up her arms to block the on-coming blow, only Groven had different ideas. He stepped around her and slammed shoulder-first into the door that separated him from Juju. The door was built to slide open, not swing, in turn all Groven managed to do was leave a dull dent, and severely hurt his right shoulder. Getting mad, Groven wedged his claws in the seam of the door, driving it open hard.

Juju looked up startled at the sudden burst of noise from outside the room. As the door slid open, and Juju's eyes beheld Groven's figure in the doorway, she nearly jumped from the bed where she lay, cooing with joy, her arms outstretched towards Groven. He heard her cries for him, looking up, a storm of pure joy and affection overcame everything within himself. Groven rushed to her, wrapping his arms around her sides, as she wrapped hers around his neck, licking his cheek softly. Nurse Joy, Chansey, and both trainers watched with amazement through the open doorway as Juju and Groven were reunited once more.

Juju and Groven's trainer spoke up just then, "I think Grovyle should be on your team, he's far too strong and won't obey me." He handed Groven's Pokeball back to the other trainer.

"Well, seems I was wrong, I should have kept you all along, but I want a fair battle, how about it?"

Juju's trainer frowned, looking back at Groven.

"No, I won't let those two hurt one another, it'll upset them and they'll never obey us." He tried to say.

"I don't care, that Grovyle messed with Cody, so he'll learn the consequences!" The trainer shoved his friend, heading for the entrance, stepping outside.

Juju's trainer looked back at Nurse Joy and Juju, very worried and upset by the other trainer's decision. Groven followed behind Juju when she was released from the Pokemon Center, in full health.

"Come on Grovyle, get over here!" Cody's trainer shouted, startling Juju.

Groven ignored his order at first, but the trainer opened a small case in his pocket, showing three shimmering badges to Groven.

"You see those? That means you have to obey me!" He grinned as he put the case back in his pocket.

Groven snorted in protest, he was not going to fight any Pokemon. Juju watched helplessly as Groven made slow steps back towards his new trainer.

"Alright, how will the match go?" Asked Juju's trainer.

"1 on 1, a simple battle." The other replied.

"Which Pokemon shall we use?"

"I think we should see my Grovyle battle your Charmeleon." A deep evil grin contorted his lips as he looked from Groven to Juju, satisfied to get revenge for the earlier assault.

Groven stomped his foot in frustration, if there was one thing he would never do, it was to hurt Juju. He gazed ahead at her, dropping to his knees as he remembered his trainer's badges, he couldn't get out of this, he had to battle. Juju too tried to refuse, but her trainer had two badges of his own, just enough to make her obey his commands.

Groven and Juju stepped forward, facing each other for the battle to come. The battle began with a command from Juju's trainer to use flamethrower. She ran at Grovyle, stepping to the side to counter his slash. Her maw opened as she attempted to bathe Groven in a sea of hot flames. Groven dropped on his back, rolling as Juju swept her head, trying to hit him. Groven used his tail to swish Juju off balance, catching her before she hit the ground. His trainer scolded him for preventing her from the fall, which only made him angry. The trainer used this outburst to his advantage, telling Groven to ain a Razor Leaf attack for Juju's head, followed by a Body Slam. Juju managed to dodge the Razor Leaf by using a flamethrower to burn up the leaves. She was too slow to evade his Body Slam as he came down hard, temporarily paralyzing her. Tears started to fill his eyes as his trainer asked him to follow up with a finishing Solar Beam. Juju tried to get up only to fall down. Groven's trainer noticed a puddle a few feet from where Juju lay. He ordered Groven to grab Juju and slam her hard into the water, making sure to get her tail wet.

"NO YOU'LL KILL HER!" Cried Juju's trainer.

Tears spilled down Groven's cheeks, he had to obey. He picked up Juju and walked over to the puddle. Once there, he looked in her eyes, sneaking a quick lick on her lips before throwing her skyward, jumping up higher for a bigger impact. Groven drove Juju down hard, slamming her into the puddle. To his amazement, the water was thrown away from them upon hitting it, saving Juju from certain death. After the attack, Groven was declared the winner. His trained jumped and hooted with joy at the victory while Groven lay over Juju's weak body. Groven put a hand on her stomach and turned to look his trainer dead in the eyes.

"What have you done?" Nurse Joy's voice called out from the Pokemon Center's entrance, she witnessed the entire battle. "You don't deserve to have a Pokemon young man," she pointed at Groven's trainer, "you forced these two Pokemon to fight, with the indication to inflict serious life-threatening injuries. You also ignored the fact those two Pokemon love each other and would do anything to protect one another!"

He looked at her shocked, not sure if he should speak or keep his mouth shut. Nurse Joy hurried towards Juju who was once again seriously injured. She and the Chansey lifted Juju up, carrying her into the Pokemon Center for further treatment. Groven growled and spat on the ground, his fists balled tight. His trainer fell to his knees, keeping his eyes down from the overwhelming pain, and how ashamed he was.

"I...I'm so sorry Grovyle, I was too busy worrying about getting my revenge on you for your attack on my Pokemon earlier...I didn't see..." He wiped a tear from his eye before standing. "I'll never hurt you or her like that again, if you wish to be with her, I have no objections just please no more attacking my other Pokemon."

Groven eyed him angrily for a moment, then nodded in agreement. They went inside the Pokemon Center to wait for Juju to be healed. All the while, Groven was growing impatient with each hour that passed. He asked the Chansey many times if he could go in to see Juju, only to be denied as she was trying to recover from their battle.

***

It took Juju nearly three days to be completely healed from their battle. When Juju was let out of the healing room, she took one look at Groven and growled before looking away from him, never looking back. He felt his whole inner being die all at once, his trainer had not only forced him to hurt her, she also no longer trusted him. Groven nodded to himself and tried to accept her warning. They left the Pokemon Center, both Juju and Groven kept their gaze on the ground, not looking at each other. Groven just couldn't take it anymore, he walked up to her and grasped her arms gently with his hands. Looking deep in her eyes, making sure she was listening, he said to her, "you know I didn't hurt you on purpose, I didn't have a choice, my trainer has 3 badges so I had to obey no matter what. Trust me if I could take back all the pain I put you through I would in a heartbeat. I'd even take all the pain for you, so I would be in that hospital bed, not you. I'll never hurt you again, I'll always protect you, and you can be sure that I will always be here for you. I may be a Grovyle, and you a Charmeleon, but that will not stop us, nor will the type differences, I know we can do this together if we just try." He licked Juju on her snout and smiled with joy as a smile changed her expression.

"I love you..." She cooed.

Groven looked at her with an adoring expression, hugging her protectively against his massive chest. ***************************** Chapter 2 of 'Pokemon: A Love Story' Enjoy!