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Luna And Thief Chapter 4 Challenge of Pewter Gym!

The next morning was quiet, Luna had just opened her eyes to have the bright morning light touch them. Her world a dream; she felt something... Something warm that was perched over the back of her neck "Morning" She knew that voice. Thief? The soft gentle, whispered tone echoed through the morning light; she was somewhere else but that quickly changed to the sight of the bright sun shining into the front doors of the Pokémon center. There was the front foyer - where she stayed - and then there was the actual lounge where everyone else was, everyone except Bandit who was still sleeping on the couch across from Luna. Stretching, standing, and squinting from the sunlight in her eyes and yawning; Luna was the first one awake. After a moment of waiting something struck her, the blood was all rushed to her head she was blushing through. What was I dreaming of last night? A little tone of panic reached that thought "Hey." That voice? Luna turned to see Thief who sluggishly yawned while stretching his paws out. "Why are you awake this early?" Frozen for a few seconds Luna shook herself awake "I could ask you the same thing... How's your cold doing?" "Gone I hope" Thief replied, sitting down next to her "Oh so you're both awake." That voice made both their fur go on ends, Bandit was already awake and aware, and stared from the sofa she laid down upon "Yes Bandit..." Thief spoke with a soft tone. "A- and I'm ready to go for this gym badge!" Bandit smirked and laid back down "Yeah you go do that." Why is she the way she is? Luna wanted to know but... after staring into that Mightyena's sharp deep-gold eyes she couldn't find the courage to say anything "Oh lay off them you." A set of dark violet eyes stared from the darkness of a doorway and out from the shadows came a slim lilac figure. Moonlight - Griffin's Espeon - stood watching them. Yawning a little before coming closer, his eyes staring into Bandits and he gave a warm smile to her before going to Luna and Thief. "So you're that little Vulpix everyone was talking about." Luna nodded her head and got a small kind smile in return. "Sorry for not introducing myself sooner, my name's Moonlight as you may already know." Luna studied him closely. There's a word I'm thinking of to describe him.... He almost seemed to bow on introduction, his warm smile and the way he showed off his tail when he walked. _Hmmmmm..._He was talking about his trainer at first before drawing in Thief -who slowly gave an embarrassing blush- and talking about him and how they met. "I got it!" Luna thought aloud "Huh?" Moonlight muttered in confusion "Flamboyant!" Moonlight hit the floor with that, slowly he stood back up with a small chuckle "I guess it's simply right to spot that out." A very matter-of-fact tone before he walked off, a small strut in his step. It made Luna question him more. _Is that Espeon"Hey! Who's hungry?" Thief interrupted her thoughts. Luna could spot out that he was still embarrassed. "Let's just go wake Griffin up!" Thief had decided to urge Luna to come with him and she did without much question. She started to blush herself and was a little overwhelmed that she already trusts Thief. It was the noise from the other room that stopped them; Griffin was already awake, took off his grey cotton over-shirt and stepped outside the center. Luna studied closely -being as naturally observant as she was- and noticed the small purple hairs that covered his white and grey over-shirt before he gave it a few decent shakes. Light grumbling softly began hitting the air, Luna knew he was speaking. "Night after night, why does he have such an obsession with cuddling?" Her eyes caught the movement of his lips. Griffin looked at his Pokédex, and watched the time carefully "A little early..." He thought out-loud before walking back in and noticing Luna was awake. "You're up early too." Griffin spoke, yawning and stretching his arms. Walking by her, he began staring back to the gym; which wasn't all too far away. Almost right over a few hedges really. Griffin made a determined fist and grinned into it and walked further inside the Pokécenter.

"Alright!" Griffin called out only to get startled yelps and whines from both Brad and the Pokémon. "Who's ready to take on that gym!?" "Griff..." A slug voice beat the air only to be met by the glow of a Pokédex "its SIX IN THE MORNING!" Like that wouldn't wake and startle everyone; from the foyer Bandit began to chuckle. The laughter was quiet but shrill and almost twisted and dark. Luna felt her legs shake, it was terrifying to see the fangs gleam in the morning light and the eyes narrow down on the under-disciplined companions. Luna swallowed dryly and took a step "What's your point Brad?" Griff began not knowing what he was getting into "First off." Brad smiled sarcastically. "WHAT TEENAGER GETS UP BEFORE TEN!?" Griffin responded with a nervous chuckle. "Uh... Well." "WHAT GYM WOULD BE OPEN AT SIX IN THE MORNING!?" Luna couldn't figure out which was more frightening, seeing Bandit laugh... Or watching Brad without his beauty sleep. Griffin softly spoke "The early... bird gets the worm?" The voice sounded minuscule as Brad's eyes narrowed like Bandits "If you don't want the crap beaten outta you, I suggest you let me get another FOUR HOURS OF SLEEP IN!" Brad put stress on the last five words and then slammed his head back down on his pillow. "Go for a jog if you're so high energy!" He taunted his hand up and pointed to the door. "There's plenty of ways how to kill time here. Anyways the gym doesn't open until TEN!" Griffin was standing outside looking up to the sky and chuckling nervously "I am never waking him up early again..." From the back Luna heard more chuckles Bandit almost began laughed hysterically to herself I don't see how this is very funny...Her eyes caught Griffin walking to the door he seemed shaken up while he stared outside of the center. Luna went towards him but was held by a paw that tugged at her. It was Thief who stared at her with an awkward look "It's been kind of weird this morning, it'll be probably best to leave him be." Thief gave a warm smile. "It's nice to see you're concern though." Luna softly began to blush, her eyes went wide for a moment before she was taken back "I -I am not concerned about him!" Where are you going with this Luna? "I - I mean why should I?" Thief looked as if he was struck down "Well, I don't think that's entirely true... After-all you've stayed with us for this long." He's just so blunt about it "Well... Uh..." Luna cut off, played with her paws and booked out of the center "Excellent work Thief." Bandit snickered from the back. "You chased her off!" Thief grinned; the soft curve touched his rosy cheeks

"She'll be back." Thief giggled and knew what Bandit didn't see was the small kiss Luna gave him before she ran out.

Griffin walked down the road and watched the sunrise. His hands clasped behind his head as if he'd lie on the grass and cloud-gazed. Gently he felt a paw at his leg it made his brows curl "Oh?" His Vulpix had followed him and he brought out a smile. "I guess you're worried I'm upset." She jumped onto a small wooden railing that separated the trees from the town; matching his waist height. I swear I feel like she has a hearing problem... Griff talked to her, noticed that she hardly flinched to any sound he'd make. Every now and then she seemed to look up to him as if expecting he was talking "Well I heard Brock is the gym leader here." Griff chuckled. "I may play with fire but I'll show him what happens when you heat up rock enough!" He stood heroically his hand making a fist of excitement to the rising sun. "You can count on it!" He then paused. Well after-all rock eventually cracks... EventuallyThe Vulpix continued to walk even after Griffin stopped. Griff almost chuckled to himself and tilted his head down. I've been denied... "Hey there, you're a trainer?" Griffin turned to a tan skinned man, well into age. He wore a toque and a tan-like shirt. Griffin seemed to frown. Is this ANOTHER crazy old guy? Like the last one hardly twelve hours ago? Or maybe.... More? "Whoa I didn't think the question would make you think that hard." The man gave a hearty laugh and looked down to Luna. "Hey." He went to pet her but she backed right up "Uh yes I am! My name is Griffin." He held his hand out to greet the older man "Nice to meet you, my name is Flint." He smiled. "I'm guessing you're here for a Boulder Badge?" "Yeah! I'm going to challenge Brock!" Flint almost burst into tears laughing

"I guess you haven't heard?"

*8:07* the clock showed the number back to Thief, by now EVERYONE was awake from Brad's outburst... Well everyone but Brad was awake "I know she'll be back." Moonlight almost playfully slithered around Thief's small chest. "And even if she's not, I'm still here." Thief swayed him away with his paw "Stop that! You creep me out with that stuff!" Moonlight innocently chuckled "Awe am I making the puppy nervous?" "I'm not a puppy!" "Shut up both of you or I'll make you!" Bandit snarled and put her head back down on the cushion. "You're already annoying me. Even if they're never back good riddance! It's one less headache for me!" It did shut both of them up, Thief in particular "Well fine if you're going to be all moody" Moonlight sassed. "I may as well go join them." He almost strutted off "Don't let the door hit you on the way out." Bandit mumbled something into the cushion, Thief almost perked right up "You have an itch?" Bandit turned to him "Just shut up and go talk to the lightning rat or something." She bared her fangs. "And don't you ever repeat anything you hear me say! Understand!" Thief swallowed hard and nodded "God I should be home, not around here with that idiot trainer." Bandit rolled over into the sofa "Griffins not an idiot." Thief whispered back, Bandit almost rolled back over "Yes. He is, if Trevor was here" "Well he's not!" Thief cut her off, his face almost flushed with anger "Excuse me? You want to cut me off?" "Yes I will! Griffin's not an idiot! He's kind and he cares about us! I'm surprised he's put up with you!" Thief clamped his eyes shut in sheer anger. "HOW DOES SHADOW EVEN PUT UP WITH YOU!?" Thief heard a small snarl and in the next moment his face hit the floor, vicious growls almost bit into his ears; Bandits sharp breath almost dug into them "YOU WANT TO TALK BACK TO ME? AND YOU BRING MY MATE INTO IT!? TELL ME WHY I SHOULDN'T JUST!" "Hey." Thief unlocked his eyes, Bandit snapped up with a growl. Aura "He is just a puppy after all. Anyways, you say you have a mate? I'm certain you wouldn't act like this to your cubs." Bandit's fang kept at bay for a moment, she then snarled softly and got off Thief; after she gave one more parting phrase. "Watch your tongue mutt! It tends to bring trouble." She left, left the center with a small thunder-cloud almost floating around her head "Are you okay?" Aura was fairly tall... for a Lucario, soft-toned too. Thief thought her voice was gentle and tender, like a mother's "Yes I am." Thief still shook all over "Bandit's pulled stunts like that before" He frowned "I've even been bit by her, a few good times too, Griffin even wasted an entire day looking for herbs in a forest because she's bit me that hard." "That's terrible" Aura almost held a paw under her muzzle

"Yeah that's why Moonlight tends to stay so close to me, he tries to act like some guardian." Thief lay down for a moment before his eyes went wide. "I'm sorry." He booked out of the center and into the bushes nearby and retched. He still shook violently in fear.

"Wait, Brock's gone?" "Yep." Flint replied "With some trainer named Ash?" "Left at least six months ago." Flint replied again "Well who's the gym leader?" Griffin watched a dark smile form on Flint's face. "Uhhh Flint?" "I guess it's time to introduce myself properly." His hand clasped the back of his head. "Hello my name is Flint, leader of Pewter City Gym." Griffin's eyes went deep "WHOA!" "What?" "I've never actually met one before! You were just completely casual about it and everything!" Gosh this is going to take a while.Luna sat down on the pavement, watched Griffin almost flail around in excitement. I swear he can be a bit of an idiot... "Now you shouldn't think" "MOONLIGHT!?" Luna almost fell back, her heart bolted into action "... like that about Griffin. Girls... always so jumpy." "WELL WHEN WE HAVE A CREEPER FOLLOWING US!" "Hey now, I was looking for Griffin." Luna shivered... that feeling, something else watched her "Well Flint, I challenge you to a ma- ... I need to get my Pokémon from the center..." Griffins head almost hit his feet

"You actually forgot!?"

inside the Boulder gym Griffin marveled at the large, almost open space. It was a sunny day out, a plus for fire types "Alright Griffin, You have your Pokémon?" "Much as I need." Griffin called back "Well there is a limit. You are allowed two Pokémon in this battle!" "What?" "Yes, I have two you have two. You can't honestly believe that I'll let you fight with all six!" "Well that's fair!" Brad was still asleep in the rafters behind him Aura was tugging at his shirt. He sleeps way too much Luna thought, felt another shiver claw her back. She looked to Thief. She did a few times and knew that he appeared... Pale. Thief's cold came back? "Let's start!" Griffin tossed away his cotton overcoat, to show a black muscle-shirt underneath. "Give it your all Thief." Thief sluggishly nodded and took up a stance. His breathings way off, and his stance is out of proportion Luna almost slapped herself. NO! You are not allowed to think like that anymore! That voice is gone! Long gone! She ended up going down to the battle, away from the bleachers. A violent chill hit the air, it took her a moment to notice, and there was six Pokémon. Not seven. Her sharp eyes darted all over and sure enough, she was there. Watching, calculating. Bandit seemed different, just a little bit. A darker aura almost spawned from her devious eyes and sharp-bright fangs; Luna looked into them and back to Thief. She sat at the edge, the first Pokémon out on Flint's play. A Geodude, pretty original. Luna almost snickered though. Why would Brad not lead with water type? It's the only thing that would help him here. Luna's eyes sunk, Thief took a blow, a rather strong one too. What is going on? She remembered the day she saw him in the forest. That's not the Thief I remember from that day. She took a closer look, his fur quivered. Is he... Scared? A second blow landed to his gut, Griffin tried to call commands "Geodude, Takedown now!" Flint casually called out and that was that. The response was quick the Geodude landed a blow from the front which reeled Thief back to a column on the gym floor. Luna felt a bitter shock "THIEF! GET UP! MOVE!" Why am I yelling?He hardly groaned though he was wide awake even Luna knew it would take more. Why isn't he fighting? "Geodude, finish this! Magnitude!" "Thief!" Griffin called. I'm going to regret this choice. Luna closed her eyes, took a breath in and went into the fray "V - VULPIX you're..." Luna knew she couldn't be called back now "Now wait Griffin you can't tag team." Luna pulled Thief from the battle and took up a stance "The Vulpix wasn't supposed to run in, Marill was..." Luna felt a shake Bandit was standing further to the battle scene now watching. Suddenly Luna felt a small smile touch her face, a dark one. Why? Why am I remembering all this now? I hated him! All of the stuff he did. A single word bounced in her head. Drowning. That was his form of training? I couldn't swim. She felt her teeth bare out, the earth shook around her. This Geodude only hit a magnitude of four "Geodude." Flint smiled. "Let's try Earthquake! Go!"_ Luna sprung her legs she was small and quick slipping beneath and behind Geodude before he had the chance. Her adrenaline pumped through her as she spouted fireballs around the base of him. She bolted to the right side, along the small hill-cliff on the side of the match. I can use the layout of the stage to my advantage. She sprouted more fire, ringing the Geodude. NOW Luna sprung down breathed in and let out gouts of fire

"Firespin?" Griffin muttered from behind. "She set it up to heat the rocks around Geodude." Griffin paused and smiled. "YEAH LITTLE VULPIX!" This is child's-play... Luna held the fire, used flame-thrower around the base of the small spin. If the fire sprinklers go off in here I'm done for, with fire-spin keeping him somewhat in place I can heat the rocks around him right up. From there rock cracks She held flamethrower tight, condensing the spin into a tight fast flame "Geodude Dig!" Flint called out NOW Luna shot the firespin right up almost taking it - and Geodude - to the roof of the stadium, the water hit on right after he slammed into the metal I-beams above. She canceled the fire and he fell back down, counting pebbles circling around in the air above him "Yeah!" Griffin jumped up and down "Gah." Flint reached for his second PokèBall after calling Geodude back "Heh, might as well. Go Rhydon!" The Pokèball hit the floor, releasing the huge Pokémon hardly a few feet in front of her. "Rhydon here, I'm taking care of for a close friend." "Rhydon use Horn attack!" The Pokèmon charged Luna chuckled to herself. Wait for it. Closer now, much closer Wait... The horn pointed dead on for her. NOW! She bolted forward, dodging the horn... barely and jumping right at the Rhydon's face, unleashing a gouge of fire right there. She jumped off, turning to unleash wisps of blue flame all over the Rhydon. Burns doesn't it? The Rhydon charged again, this time she dodged left. Fire Blast! She called it out hitting the Rhydon square "That Vulpix is well trained." Flint commented Griffin, who still kept calling out commands to Luna, not like she could understand him, or even hear him at all. "Yeah... We have this kind of thing all the time." "Rhydon use Ice Beam!" Luna held mark, almost giggling. "You sure that's smart." "Don't be so cocky." The Ryhdon replied in a hoarse matter, unleashing gouts of freeze clean at her. Luna took the hit entirely "Rhydon, Tackdown Now!" The Rhydon charged Luna exhaled. Heat Wave the scorch cut most of the ice in front of her, a dry and bitterly hot breath. Fire... The Rhydon sprang closer Blitz. Luna charged forward, the flames engulfing all around her fur in a phoenix bloom of flowers and blaze. It was unearthly potent, spurning off another small Firespin nearby her tails. It crackled and peeled at the furred ends with ambers of small white-blue flames. The Rhydon called off Flint's commands, spinning back for a second Ice beam. It was too late Luna struck the Rhydon full force and bit clean. In short, it was all over, ending with the Rhydon knocked out and Luna stumbling out of the stage only to crumple exhausted just outside the chalk line. Her fur smoked black plumes and she coughed out a cloud just as dark "L - Luna?" Thief's voice was wavy

"You... didn't move silly."

"OH MY GOD!" Griffin almost hit the roof Brad was wide awake for the performance. "B - Brad did you just see that?" "Yeah I was there." Aura almost lightly punched him. "Hey!" "Well Griffin." Flint returned the Rhydon. "That is one heck of a Vulpix, You know, I've really never had a trainer beat me with one before. I'm just going to say one thing though." Flint threw Griff a burn ointment "It looks like she could use some rest and a little medicine. That was a risky thing she did." It took Griffin a moment to clue it "Oh! Yes, of course sir!" Flint started chuckling "You're one weird guy, but." Flint reached into his pocket. "I present you with this Boulder Badge, indicating you have defeated the Pewter City Gym." Brad came up behind Griff and put his arm around him

"Now Flint, can I challenge you?"

Luna woke up in the Pokècenter, extensive care it turned out. The burns she took were worse than anybody thought and it took Griffin a while to realize the ointment didn't help her at all! From there he had run to the center Thief booked after him too, before they found out about the bruising all over his chest and stomach. Luna woke hearing wavy voices; EVERYTHING was wavy to her, the lights, the walls, everything. She learned that she scorched her ear and the sound was shrill enough to throw her off balance. (It was from the dry air and wet air mixing, the sudden ignite caused a huge steam effect) It wasn't permanent but it would stay like that for a decent hour or so "Oh you're awake!" The nurse put an apple by her bed. "You should be much better now. I also went ahead and gave your trainer a bit of a scolding too. Pokémon shouldn't be put under all that stress in such a short time." Luna read her lips carefully. It was more my fault, I haven't been in a trainer battle in way too long. I forgot my limits... Luna nibbled softly on the apple and she swore, even it tasted WAVY. She felt her head touch the pillow "My head hurts." Whined a sound, a small familiar "Thief?" "Wait? Luna?" They talked for a decent few minutes, Luna was dozing off (She was sleeping for most of the day and was still exhausted not to mention hungry because Griffin got too excited and forgot about breakfast for them) They were talking about Nurse Joy for a bit. "Yeah I heard her scold him they're people out there too tonight." Thief giggled. "He must've been so embarrassed!" Thief softly frowned. "Well we are going to Cerulean City tomorrow." "Oh well." "Are you going to stay?" Thief softly chimed. After all of this... Am I? Luna didn't need to think twice and nodded "Of course!" She smiled "After all someone needs to help you out from time to time! I got your back and you got mine!" I am making a fool of myself... "Oh..." Thief nodded. "Yeah... friends?" Luna started to blush "Yeah, we're definitely friends!"

End Chapter.