FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Unearthing truths

[This is a continuation to 'the adventure begins.' All chapters linked with that story are canon to Max's personal timeline as well as the rest of my characters, This does not however apply to guest characters belonging to other people. Max's adventures are simply a way for me to bring to life his canon storyline from my head to paper so to speak. Anyways enjoy ^^]

Max and Fang started making their way through route 30 which according to the nurse at the pokemon center, it would take them right to Violet city where their first gym challenge would await them. "Um...Max?" The wolf scratched his head as if trying to figure out how to phrase his next sentance then decided it's smarter to just be straight forward. "How did you know what to do out there with the sentret...I mean with the attacks...you knew exactly what types of moves your bulbasaur knew from the get go...but you'd never trained him yet!"

Max ignored the question for a couple of seconds as he used an old wooden knife to cut some twigs and leaves out of their way. the path they'd taken through route 30 had a ton of thorns, of course this was the only way he could avoid the various trainers that would likely be waiting to challenge him on the ordinary road. "You didn't get to study me while I was up in the mansion did ya? My master's security was tight so I'm not suprised." He kept cutting through the vines and thorns as he explained. "My master had me read books in the morning...and practice battling with his own pokemon in the afternoon. at night it was more book reading and learning how to operate the standard pokedex." He decided it was worth it now to take a short break after making his way through the thick thorns and branches and sat down against a tree. "How can I put it..." That was when he took out his pokedex and started laying out all the different functions it had. "The pokedex can read the current moveset of the pokemon you carry around so I know for a fact Bulbasaur already knows vine whip, sleep power, stun spore, and of course tackle."

Fang yelped as some of the thorns cut away smacked at him before coming apart and was thankful once they got out of that unpleasant area and sat opposite of his human companion. "So you already knew everything you'll need to know as a trainer before you even knew you'd be able to get your license...I take it that's also why we're taking an alternative route rather than challenging the trainers because normally pokemon gain experience by battling..."

Max put his knife away into his bag then smiled. "You'd be right about that! I read in a book that it's not always the battling that gives a pokemon experience it's the journey itself. So there's no reason to fight if I don't have to. Also they say you can find very rare and interesting pokemon if you go off the beaten track!"

All it took was the mention of the word pokemon for Bulbasaur to open one eye ontop of Max's head before leaping off. A grin spreading across is broad muzzle before it started running circles around it's trainer excitedly, tugging on his pants for them to keep moving. "Well! Bulbasaur is certainly eager to keep going. Lets not dissapoint him." It wasn't a very long break but it let them rest their legs for a couple minutes before trudging through the thick bushes again. about 15 minutes after they'd taken off again they could hear the cries of several pokemon, Max knew that something was definitely wrong with this and his suspicions confirmed when he spotted what looked like a human made camp with a campfire around the center and cages dotting the area filled with captured and wounded pokemon.

Max was about to rush straight in to help the captured pokemon when a orange clawed hand grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him away from the campsite. "Are you trying to get yourself killed? I already know what you're planning to do and it's gonna get you killed." The scaled hand removed itself from his shoulder to reveal a 5.7 tall orange dragon with blue scales on his belly, he was about average adult height but diminutive compared to most dragons. "I'm sorry...I'll introduce myself a little more clearly...My name is...Well I prefer most people to call me by my code name ScavengerDragon." He rubbed at the blue horns on the top of his head and smiled a little softer. "At any rate...why are you taking this route you look like a trainer not a bounty hunter."

That comment definitely confused the young trainer since he'd never heard of a bounty hunter before. "What...is that? What's a bounty hunter if you're willing to tell me..."

SD couldn't believe his own hearing when Max said this but decided to explain anyway. "I guess you didn't grow up with much of an education aye? Well a bounty hunter is a person who chases outlaws and thieves for money. It's honest enough work without actually breaking the law." He turned his attention back to the cages, in particular the larvitar. "Now listen to me kid...if you can give me a hand here I'll give you a reward how's that sound? Normally I'd tackle this myself but it's usually best to work in groups of two"

"What kind of guy do you think I am!" Max exclaimed despite knowing they were in the pouching vicinity. "I'll help you but I don't want any reward for it. I just want to save those pokemon...I think it'd be smarter though to do this when it gets dark, that way any poachers won't be able to spot us approaching."

The dragon was about to protest when Max pointed out that campsites were built around the cages and the fact that a few of the poachers they caught a glance of were gathering wood which indicated that they were staying another night for more game. "Alright...I see your point. I take it this isn't your first time huh kid?"

Max was seriously starting to get annoyed but he tried to keep his temper in check. "I used to work as a junior Pokemon ranger where I grew up. I helped the forest rangers keep the peace and stop poachers from hurting innocent Pokemon so yeah...this isn't my first time doing this sort of thing. It's just the first time doing it with a complete stranger."

The two stared each other down for about a minute before settling down, SD spoke first. "Well...I guess we just wait until nightfall then...You get your Pokemon and I get my bounty..."

The day passed by slowly, the group kept an eye on the vicinity until nightfall where they would finally make their move to liberate the trapped Pokemon. "Alright...the suns setting...and the dark of night is our ally." Max whispered, bulbasaur taking refuge in Max's backpack as the hunter and the trainer snuck their way into the poacher's camp. Before they'd gone, SD gave Max a couple of lock picks so he could open the cages while SD went around through the bushes and knocking out each crook that he came by. This gave Max the opportunity to walk in and open the cage doors which when opened the pokemon would run off happy, the only one that refused to leave however was the larvitar which kept it's arms crossed and glared at Max as if issuing him a challenge.

Max glared right back at the Larvitar which wouldn't budge out of the cage then sighed. "Fine...I'm trying to let you go out free but if you won't leave this dangerous place I'll just have to catch you before these poachers do." with that he reached over his belt and grabbed the ball of his previously captured sentret and let it out, ready to do battle with this new challenger.

The larvitar blinked when Max called out the sentret and even started laughing before speaking right to Max in it's native language. "You think that puny Pokemon can beat me?!"

Though the larvitar didn't exactly know it, Max could understand every word it said and smirked. "No but it'll keep you busy. Sentret go ahead, use tackle!" At the single command, Sentret ran at it's challenger with full speed, hitting the rock type square in the stomach while knocking down the cage as well. From there Max couldn't exactly see what was happening now.

after a minute of thrashing and brawling his sentret was flung out of the cage, the Larvitar following suit and using a rock slide attack to smash his sentret into the ground with a large boulder. "That...was a pretty high level attack...nothing in this area should be able to use a move that advanced...not yet anyway." Max recalled his Sentret and was about to put it into his bag before his bulbasaur came flying out of it and using his vine whip to wrap around the Larvitar and pin it down. "Whoa! H-hey buddy you came out just in time!"

His bulbasaur nodded, smiled at the praise before uttering it's first word. "Catch!"

Max's eyes lit up with happiness when he heard his partner speak for the first time, even if it was in it's native language he could understand it and nodded in confirmation as he took out a pokeball and tossed it at the Larvitar who growled slightly in annoyance. The ball rolled a few times before the click of confirmation. Max had caught the larvitar and his partner seemed quite pleased with the new catch as they now had a pretty rare and powerful teammate if they could teach it to be more friendly.

(Part 2 coming soon)