The Allies
#2 of Burning Embers
(POV: Logan)
"Lilly! We have to keep moving!" I shouted as I skidded to a halt near a tree. I looked back and saw my mate, a red-and-black-furred Lucario, running up to me as a group of Team Blaze grunts chased not too far behind. I grabbed a handful of rocks and threw it at her pursuers, giving her a few extra seconds to catch up. They had obviously grown tired of running, because they had each pulled out a pokeball and had thrown it down, unleashing a group of evil-looking pokemon. I saw an Emboar, a Magmortar, a Typhlosion, and a Darmantian, now joining the already overwhelming ranks. They quickly surrounded us and began to press closer.
"Alright, pal, just hand over the Lucario and we'll let you go scot-free." One of the grunts said with false gentleness. I looked at him with a look of fake relief.
"Alright, take her." I said lightly. He looked at me, confused.
"R-really?" he stammered. I smiled, then pulled a throwing knife from my belt.
"No." I said quickly as I threw the knife down at his leg. There was a loud crunch as the blade shattered his kneecap. He dropped to the ground instantaneously, howling in pain and clutching his bleeding leg.
"KILL HIM!" He commanded between cries. They advanced faster now, but I was ready. I ran for the Emboar first, dodging its punches expertly and returning them evenly. After three or four hits, I ducked low to the ground and tripped it, sending it sprawling into the Typhlosion.
Three down, I thought as I quickly backflipped over to one of the grunts and chopped a nerve connecting his shoulder to his neck, knocking him out. I grabbed him and used him as a human shield from the Magmortar's attacks, his fireproof clothing dissipating each of the fireballs that shot out from its arm-cannon. I drew close, and then threw the man aside as I uppercutted the giant flaming duck pokemon. The impact of my brass knuckles sent it staggering backward as if I had concussed it, and it flattened one of the other grunts. I turned around and saw the last one had drawn a gun on me. I held my hands up, knowing there was no chance of disarming him before he could shoot.
There was a tense moment as he decided whether to just shoot me right then and there, when suddenly a dark blue ball of pure energy flew from his left and staggered him. I looked over and saw Lilly with an unconscious Damrantian beside her, then wasted no time in grabbing the grunt's gun and throwing it away, then pinning him to the ground with my foot.
"Now, why don't you tell me why you were chasing us?" I demanded. He spat at my foot.
"Why would I tell you anything we have planned?" he shouted.
I sighed and pulled my trusty Barrett sniper rifle from its case on my back, and held it against his nose with one hand. "Because with the way this is angled, the shot would take most of your face off before it actually killed you; then you and your kneeless pal over there can sit here and scream until either A: backup shows up, or B: you die. And I don't think you want either of those, wouldn't you agree?"
He stared at me speechlessly for a moment, but a quick jab with the barrel woke him from his shock. "We're positioned about a mile north from here. It's just a small compound with about 50 guards keeping an eye out for-" he stopped right there.
"For what?" I growled as I pressed harder.
"Logan, please stop!" I heard Lilly say from behind me. I kept going, though.
"What are you looking for?" I yelled angrily. He shook his head slightly.
"I can't tell you, or our plan will fail! My life is meaningless when compared to its secrecy!" he whimpered. I growled, my finger slowly tightening around the trigger, and then I stopped when I realized what I was doing. Instead, I flipped the rifle around, and struck the side of his head with the butt, knocking him out.
I turned to Lilly and looked at her apologetically. "I'm sorry, but I couldn't let them get away with trying to hurt you; that's the one thing that I will kill for, is your safety."
She nodded understandingly. "I know, but you really shouldn't worry so much; you know I have to watch out for you, too." We kissed for a moment, but I quickly broke and fired a few shots into the trees where I had seen some movement. I kept a steady aim on that spot, but was surprised when I felt something press against my head. I glanced over and saw a figure in a black suit and white mask aiming a crossbow at me. I looked the other way and saw a Gardevoir holding a ball of energy in its hands, keeping Lilly at bay.
"Drop the rifle." The figure commanded in a low voice. I hesitated, then dropped my gun reluctantly.
He started to speak, but I quickly kicked the crossbow out of his hands, then pulled a machete out of a sheath on my forearm and charged at him. He jumped to the side faster than anyone I had seen, and pulled out a pair of daggers, one red and one blue, both gleaming brightly in the afternoon sun. I swung at him, but he blacked my strike by holding his weapons in an X-shape.
"I am not the one you should be fighting," he said as if his teeth were gritted, "we both have the same enemy."
"That's a riot," I said, laughing. "Why were you holding a crossbow to my head? That sure sounds like something an enemy would do." I said as I pressed harder.
"You shot at me!" he cried, a heavy strain in his voice. "Just trust me; we're going after Team Blaze too. We're even going to the same compound!"
Just then, he quickly swung to the side, throwing me away from him. We stood a few feet apart, weapons aimed at each other, when he did something surprising: he held his hands out and dropped the daggers at his sides.
"I'm not fighting you anymore. We need to work together." He said as he nodded to the Gardevoir. She dispelled the energy ball, and Lilly ran to my side. She looked at me, and her aura told me what she was thinking.
We should trust them, she said, after all, we could use some help.
I nodded, and then put away the machete. I held out my hand. "Name's Logan Meister. You?"
He removed his mask, and I saw the face of a young boy, probably about 15 or 16 years old, but his eyes told a different story: they were cold and dark, as if he were an old war veteran. He had messy brown hair that hung low to his shoulders, and a short stubble all over his face, which added to the old man appearance. "Wesley Gilmore." He said as he shook my hand, "and this is Morgana." He said as he pointed to the Gardevoir.
Lilly spoke up. "I'm Lilly, Logan's mate." She said, running up and shaking hands with Wesley. I blushed as he gave me a strange look.
"I know, I know; I've gotten a lot of crap for being with a pokemon, please don't add to it."
He shook his head, smiling slightly. "No, that's not it, it's just... it reminds me of a friend I parted ways with a few days ago." He said, as if he were having a flashback. He shook his head suddenly. "Anyways, we had better set up camp." He took off a backpack he had been wearing and began to pitch a tent.
This kid is good, I thought slowly, being able to match me with all that stuff on his back. I took Lilly aside and discussed with her.
"What do you think of them?" I asked slowly.
She smiled. "They have good auras. The boy has a mysterious and tormented one, similar to yours, and the Gardevoir has a sad one, as if she lost someone close to her recently."
I nodded. "So we can trust them?"
She looked over at Wesley, who was finishing the tent. "As far as I can tell, we can trust these two to the ends of the earth."
I looked at him again. It was so strange, as if I were looking at a slightly younger version of me. No, that's not right, I thought suddenly, He seems... more serious and confident than I am, as if he never had a childhood. He looked at the tent, nodding appreciatively, and then looked over at us.
"It's all set up," he called to us, "I'll get started on a fire while you two settle in." he retrieved his daggers and walked over to a fallen tree to cut off some of the branches. Lilly and I went inside the ten. It was quite spacious; it looked like you could fit a whole family inside it. I lied down near the edge and started to sleep, grateful for a rest after the chase. As I nodded off, I felt Lilly lay next to me, one arm draped over my shoulders.
When I woke up, I saw it was nighttime outside. I got up slowly, careful not to wake Lilly, and exited the tent. I saw Wesley sitting by a crackling fire, staring at it intently. He was wearing his mask again, so the only part of his face I could see were his dark eyes.
"Hey," I called softly, "mind if I join?"
He nodded slightly, still focused on the fire. I sat down a few feet away from him and held my hands over the flame, keeping them warm in the cool night air. "So, what's your story? Why are you fighting Team Blaze?" I asked nonchalantly.
He stayed silent for a few moments, before quietly replying "Because I have to."
I looked over at him, confused. "What do you mean? Nobody has to do anything. It's all a matter of choice."
He looked back at me, dark seriousness in his eyes. "I do. No matter what, I have to continue down this path. I don't know where it's leading, but fighting them will get me there." He looked back at the fire. "I've seen things. A vision, warning me of a terrible future that I will help prevent. And with the vision came special gifts: the ability to alter my perception of time, and limited psychometry, a power that lets me discover an objects purpose through touch."
I looked back at the fire. "Know where I can get some powers like that?" I laughed. He laughed too, saying "Not even I know exactly how I got them. I just woke up with them today." As he said this, I heard a rustling from the tent, and when I turned I saw Lilly walking out, stretching and yawning. She walked over and sat next to me. "Where is Morgana?" she asked curiously.
"She went for a walk; she's had a pretty tough couple of days." There was a hint of sadness when Wesley replied to this. I nodded slowly. "We all have, I bet."
Suddenly Wesley stood up. "We'd better go to bed; we need to get moving right away tomorrow." Saying this, he walked over to the tent and climbed inside. I saw Morgana emerge from between a pair of trees, looked at us shyly, and went inside. I looked at Lilly, who shrugged, and we followed suit. Just before zipping the flap shut, I took one last look at the star-lit sky, wondering what tomorrow would hold for us.