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Curse of the Mightyena

It was a peaceful day in Lillycove City. Wingull squawked overhead as trainers gathered on the beach to witness what was turning into quite the battle. "Spinda, Dizzy Punch!"

"Lombre, Counter with Fury Swipes!" The opposing trainer yelled.

The two Pokémon clashed as Zack watched from the crowd. Zack's white and red outfit with a symbol of a Zangoose marked him as a member of the newly formed Normal type gym in town. One of the two trainers fighting was also a member of the new gym. "Looks like you lose" the boy with the Spinda said as the other trainer's Lombre fainted.

"Fine whatever" the other trainer said as he called his Lombre back.

"You're so handsome Luce" A girl said as she swooned over the triumphant trainer. Zack didn't recognize the other trainer from the gym so he didn't bother congratulating him.

Just as Zack was turning to leave a voice pierced the relative calm of the day, "Help! Help! Somebody help me!" A frightened woman said as she burst through the crowd. "My precious Cleffa and I got attacked and separated by a pack of Mightyena!"

"Listen lady, the ranger H.Q. is right up the road, this is their job after all" Luce said as the lady grabbed him and pulled him towards the western road.

"You're a gym trainer right! Aren't you supposed to help people?"

The murmurs of the crowd around Luce didn't sound too happy at his response. "We'll help you" Zack said and stepped forward, "Right Luce?"

"Umm..."

"Oh thank you! I'll take you as far as the road, but without a Pokémon I doubt I'd be much help"

The lady, whose name was Grace, showed the two boys to the edge of town and gave them directions to where she was attacked, "How'd she get out this far?" Luce said as he and Zack pushed through tall grass towards the cave the lady had explained.

"Zigzagoon, help us find this Cleffa" Zack said as he let his only Pokémon out of its Pokéball.

Zigzagoon sniffed around in the grass for a while before bouncing off. "Follow him!" Zack yelled.

Zack nearly stumbled over Zigzagoon as the grass abruptly ended and the entrance to a cave appeared before him. Luce did stumble as he crashed into Zack and they both went sprawling head first into the dirt. "My jacket's dirty..." Luce whined as he picked himself up off the ground.

"I think we have bigger problems now" Zack said as black furred shapes began to emerge from the grass and surround the boys.

After an antagonizing few moments of waiting for the pack of Mightyena to descend on his party Zack realized that they weren't attacking. Instead they seemed to be watching the cave as something with two huge glowing red eyes began to emerge from the darkness.

The eyes belonged to the biggest Mightyena Zack had ever seen, and it didn't look too happy to see him. Faster than lightning Zack was thrown to the ground and the huge Mightyena sank it's fangs into Zack's shoulder. "Sucker Punch, Now!"

The giant Mightyena turned as Luce's Spinda punched it and it took the blow without even flinching. It then pounced on Luce and bit him as well. "Zigzagoon, Sand attack," In the flurry of air born sand particles Zack called out, "Luce, Run for it! I'll get the Cleffa and we meet back at town!"

Luce didn't need an invitation, he took off like there was no tomorrow, taking most of the Mightyena with him. Zack dived into the cave "Cleffa? Cleffa," He called into the darkness"

The call of the tiny Pokémon from the back of the cave drove Zack onward, but what he found shocked him. Something, or rather someone, was living in this cave! The baby Cleffa was stuffed into a cage in the back of the dimly lit cave. Zack pulled the pin on the cage and grabbed the frightened Pokémon and ran towards the surface. "Zigzagoon, You ok" Zack asked as he emerged into bright sunlight.

"Zag!"

"Alright, let's book it!"

Just as Zack started running a brown Poochyena jumped out of the brush to block his way. "Tackle it Zigzagoon!" Zack yelled. Zigzagoon tackled the odd Poochyena and before it could get back up Zack tossed a Pokéball at it. To his amazement the Poochyena actually stayed in the ball and without a moment to lose Zack snatched the ball off the ground and ran for town.

...

A hysterical Grace greeted the bloody and panting Zack. "What happened, why are you hurt?" She asked the two boys.

"A huge Mightyena with red eyes... attacked us! Bit us!" Luce said and gestured to his arm"

"Let's get you two to the Pokécenter right away!"

The rest of the day whizzed by as Grace took the two boys to the Pokécenter and they, and their Pokémon were treated for their injuries. "...And you're sure they were attacked by wild Pokémon?" A burly man asked Grace.

"Of course they were! What else could have done this?" She replied.

"Hmm... I'll have to look into it then" The man said and left.

Zack sat up in bed and looked at Grace, "Who was that?"

"You're awake! Oh my, that was Captain Tide; he runs the port here in town. He came right away when he heard you had been attacked.

The sound of a Pokéball opening and the sudden appearance of a Poochyena made grace spring away from Zack's bedside. The Poochyena then turned to Zack and attacked him with bite. "Ouch!" Zack yelped as he jumped out of bed and away from the Poochyena. "Did it hurt you?"

"No, it just hurt a lot" Zack said and gave the Poochyena a nasty face. Why'd you do that?"

"Woof!" it said and ran around in a circle.

"Return, you little pest" Zack said as a beam of light collected the naughty Pooch and put it safely away.

"Looks like you have a way with dark types" Grace said and giggled.

"No kidding, say, where's Luce?"

"Luce, oh, he left yesterday. Said he wanted to get as far away from here as possible and took the first boat out"

"That's odd... He seemed like the type to train at a gym, but who knows"

"After being attacked like that maybe he found a different calling? Oh, and about that Poochyena, did you know it is a rare breed? I bet it would be a hit in a fashion show!"

"I'll just be happy when he doesn't bite me anymore!"

"Ha-ha well in case you were wondering about your reward I already gave it to you; look in the case by your bed"

Zack looked into the small wooden box and to his surprise saw a ribbon inside. "A ribbon... but I'm"

"It's a Hero Ribbon. I bet you didn't know you were saving a contest league champion were you?"

"You!?"

"Don't act so surprised, I've given it to trainers less apt than you! Besides... what you did back there... that's what a true hero is, someone who helps people. That ribbon qualifies you for entry into any advanced contest you choose. Try not to embarrass me and I'll be watching you're progress! Until we meet again!" and with that Grace left and Zack was alone.

Zack stumbled out of bed and towards his backpack on the stand by the sink in the bathroom. He looked at his face in the mirror. His eyes looked strange to him, almost like they were changing from green to a bright blue. "That's weird" Zack said as he ran his hands through his blond hair and sighed, "I need some fresh air, maybe it's time for me to move on too"

Zack thanked Nurse Joy at the front desk and checked out of the room. He also made sure his Pokémon were battle ready before he left. Zack had grown up in Lillycove, but he didn't have any family there. He had lived out of Pokécenters since he was a little kid with only his Zigzagoon to take care of him. As soon as he was outside the center said Zigzagoon popped out of its Pokéball and looked up concerned at Zack. "Doesn't anyone listen to me around here? I'm the trainer after all!"

"Zig? Zag?" it said and then darted up Zack's body and into his backpack.

Poochyena popped out next and made a lunge for Zack's leg, and this time it drew blood. "OUCH!" Zack yelled and danced away from the tiny dog Pokémon. The bite wasn't too severe but it had hurt a lot. "Listen, you!" Zack said and grabbed the Pokémon by the scruff of its neck, "No more biting!"

"Sure thing boss" The Poochyena said back and Zack nearly dropped it from surprise.

"You TALK!?" Zack shouted.

"No, you're just hearing me better now, I've always talked to you, you just weren't listening then"

Poochyena said cutely and Zack swore it was smiling at him.

"And you can understand what I'm saying?"

"When you're speaking Pokémon it's much easier"

"I'm not speaking Pokémon, am I?" Zack noticed the looks he was getting from onlookers. "Sir, are you ok?" a lady asked.

"Fine, just fine" Zack said and dropped the brown Poochyena.

"Ooof, Geeze, why'd you drop me, huh?"

"Quiet you!"

"Sir why are you barking at your Pokémon?" a kid asked.

Instead of answering Zack took off in the direction of the port. "Am I going crazy?" Zack wondered aloud to himself.

"No, you're not" Poochyena said.

"Thanks" Zack replied as he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"Hey pops! You got any food in that backpack" Poochyena barked at Zack.

"Don't call me pops, my name is Zack"

"Not you, the one in your back pack!"

"Watch it kid! You're the new kid on the block and even if I did have food in here it's mine!" a voice said from Zack's backpack.

"What the hell! You both talk!?" Zack said in surprise as he turned to look at his Zigzagoon.

"We always have Zack, you just couldn't understand us" Zigzagoon said and smiled just before it disappeared back into the dark of the backpack.

"Dose he always stay in there?" Poochyena asked.

"I can still here you!"

"Sometimes, he's never liked direct sunlight ever since..." Zack paused as he noticed people looking at him funny as he walked down the road, "Wait a minute here! Why am I telling you this?"

"I agree, let's not share my embarrassing back story with the miniature hound" Zigzagoon said.

"No, why am I talking to you two! This is not going to be common place because people will think I'm crazy if I walk around BARKING all day!" By now people were outright avoiding Zack who stopped himself from growling.

"Geeze you're touchy, have you always been this tense?" Poochyena asked.

"Yes!" Zigzagoon said from the back pack.

Zack sighed and took a deep breath while his Pokémon had a conversation about him and he tried to ignore it. "I should go to the ranger station and ask if there are any positions open. That would at least get me out of Lillycove"

"Sounds like a plan boss!" Poochyena barked happily, "Let's ditch this place and live in the wild! Too many humans around here anyway"

Zack sighed and made his way towards the Ranger H.Q. "What do we have here?" A short woman with brown hair said when Zack walked through the door. "Looks like another kid who wants to be a Ranger huh? Well we have openings, but I'm not just going to hire you on the spot, you have to have something to prove your worth as a trainer first"

"I have this" Zack said and pulled out the Hero Ribbon.

"A... Hero..." She gasped, "Big deal, so you have a champion class ribbon, it doesn't prove anything! You have to pass our obstacle course before you can be hired, and your Pokémon stay here!"

"Ok" Zack said and took his backpack off. "Show me this course"

"This way" The lady led him to a large room filled with what Zack could only describe as traps. "You get to use these three Pokémon" she said and opened three balls. A Bulbasaur, Squirtle, and Charmander popped out.

"Look at this one guys! He looks as weak as the last one we had in here" The Bulbasaur said and laughed.

"I heard that" Zack growled.

"Huh, did he just talk..."

"Looks like he's smarter than the last one at least!" the Charmander said.

"Give him a break guys, he's new to this!" Squirtle said and pushed the other two Pokémon.

"Looks like they like you" The lady said.

"If only you knew" Zack said.

"Whatever, I'll be waiting on the other side, if you're going to give up try to do it before the log trap; that one hurts"

Zack watched as the lady disappeared through a door leaving him alone with the three Pokémon and a room full of obstacles. "Ok guys, who knows how to get through this room? "

"Ha! We're not letting you get off that easy!" The Bulbasaur said and pointed at the first obstacle, "You get to use our power to get you through this room, but we won't do it for us, you have to tell us what to do"

"Alright" Zack said and looked at the first obstacle. A wall of grass blocked the path. "First off, Charmander, use ember on that grass"

"If you say so" Charmander said as he took a breath and sent a blast of fire at the grass. It caught fire all right, but Zack realized the folly right away.

"Put it out Squirtle!"

"He's good" Bulbasaur said.

"Use razor Leaf" This time the grass floated down to the ground without catching the building on fire. Zack walked to the next obstacle, "this is too easy" he said when he saw the flames on the ground. "Squirtle water gun" As soon as the water hit Zack once again realized that it was not as easy as he had believed. The fire was an oil fire and it was only spreading. "Stop, I get the idea, Charmander, use ember on the oil"

The additional heat caused the oil to burn more rapidly and it quickly died down enough to allow passage. "Wow, usually they give up by now" Charmander said.

"I'm too stubborn for that" Zack said and looked at the three Pokémon. The next obstacle was the weirdest yet. A wall of glass and no way around or under it, Zack thought for a moment before he got an idea, "Hey Bulbasaur do you think you could use a leach seed on the wall?"

"Nobody has ever gotten this far, so I suppose I could try it"

"Make it a big one; I want vines, Lots of vines" Bulbasaur shot three seeds at the wall. They quickly spread over the whole wall making a thick covering of vines that Zack figured he could climb. "You're very powerful Bulbasaur!"

"Thanks, but flattery won't get you any help kid"

"Alright then, start climbing guys" Zack said. Once they were over the wall the last obstacle loomed before them. A narrow log bridge and an obvious trap above it, Zack figured that whoever got on the bridge first would be the one to get hit by the log. "Someone is going to have to take the log"

"But surely there's another way!" Squirtle said, Maybe I can..."

"No, I'll take the log and you three run across, you're not even my Pokémon and I don't want you getting hurt" Before they could object Zack ran onto the log and not to his surprise another log fell from above, he caught it on his shoulders and to his surprise managed to hold it. "Hurry, I can't hold it forever!"

The three Pokémon ran through his feet and as soon as they were across the log spanning the water broke and Zack and both logs went crashing into the murky water. "Ha you're some kind of freak!" the woman said as Zack swam to the side of the fake river.

"I know I failed..."

"Whatever! You passed kid!"

"Huh?"

"You put your companions before your own safety; I guess you really did earn that Hero Ribbon. By the way, my name is Wanda. You passed your entrance exam kid; you're as much a ranger as I am... that is if you still want to be one"

"I'd love it, when can I start?"

"As soon as you dry off and change into your uniform"

Zack looked at himself in the mirror. The Green vest buttoned in the middle, but it wasn't very comfortable. Leaving it unbuttoned revealed his bare chest. There was no under shirt and the jacket had short sleeves so most of Zack's torso showed. The boots were nice, very sturdy and stylish, if a bit bulky. The shorts were green and red like the vest and had adjustable parts that changed for winter or summer. Lastly the backpack was very high-tech with a Pokéradar and compartments for medicine and extra gear. "You look cute" Wanda said when he emerged, "You'll grow into it kid" she said and smiled at how lewd it made him look, and the blush on Zack's face. "This belongs to you" she said and handed him a strange device, "It's a Pokérod, It emits a beam similar to a Pokéball, but it is used to immobilize Pokémon, not catch them. If you ever meet a dangerous Pokémon use the Pokérod to stop, or slow it down"

"I understand" Zack said and put the rod and its sheath on his belt.

"I already registered you with the rangers. I have a call from station 4 on route 119. Seems they're short on members out there and they're looking for help, you're new and green so that's where you'll go! By the way, the ranger leader out there is a friend of mine; he'll look after you well enough. Take care and be safe!"

With that Zack was escorted to the entrance the Ranger H.Q. and put out on the street. "Hey boss!" Poochyena said when he got outside, "I guess we're moving out huh?"

"Sure thing, wait, I thought I said..."

"Hmmm, this new back pack is nice and roomy! I like this!" Zigzagoon said as he climbed up and into Zack's new backpack.

"This is going to be a long trip" Zack said and sighed as the two Pokémon started up a conversation about how Zack's new gear looked.

...

Far from Zack on a ship bound for Slateport City another young man turned to his Spinda and said, "So you think this Team Umbra can help me?"

"Who knows" The Spinda said.

"Let's hope so, this is starting to get weird, hearing Pokémon and everything...

...

Stay tuned for more! Until next time!