[PKMN OPEN] [IC] Darker than it Seems: A Brighter Future

​

Before Alex walked across the long bridge that went over the dark river, he healed up his Dratini in case it turned into a pokemon battle. He was a little worried about Emery as the the sun went down below the horizon. He was pretty sure that there would be more out there, looking for them. He was sure she could handle 1 or 2, maybe even 3 people. But no one could handle more than that, especially with an Eevee at a low level.

"What the hell was she thinking trying to leave, at night, by herself? Especially after what had happened." He said, trying to spot Emery. It was dark, so it would be difficult.

He didn't risk calling out her name, it may cause her to run or attack. It may also draw unwanted attention. Not only that, but it felt like something was watching him and possibly her when he had gotten to the far side of the bridge.

For most, it's foolish to run out in the dead of night; however, Versai has never felt the slightest ounce of trouble traveling in the dark. In fact, she prefers it, which she can now chalk up to her dark typing. She could see clearly, she could hear sounds that she was oblivious to in the day, and she felt somehow more awake and aware as the sun set.

That being said…neither Emery nor Alex had her typing. Emery stormed off in a frantic huff, angry at Ryan and frightened of encountering the police…there's no way she's thinking clearly. Alex is trailing her, angry that she took off on them, and likely on edge due to the darkness that surrounded them. She had to find the both of them, and fast…before the darkness of the night envelopes them both. There could still be grunts, there could be wild Pokémon, hell, there could be random thugs and thieves that simply don't want to be seen by children.

Fennekin, perched on Versai's shoulder, nudged her trainer with her nose. Her ears were perked upward, detecting footsteps not far off. Versai nods and quickly, though quietly, jogs towards those footsteps. "Emery?" She whispers. "Alex?"

Alex thought he heard foot steps behind him. He thought he heard a voice. Further away he thought it heard multiple voices. Quickly he started to panic. He wanted to find her quickly before she was caught. It was then he remembered that she was a fire type and had flash fire as her ability. As an ice type, he might be able to feel her out. He stopped near a bush that was off to the side and started to feel for Emery's heat. The reason she had given him the weary feeling was because she was giving off heat because of her fire type.

He closed his eyes to enable his other senses to become stronger for a few moments. After about five minutes of trying to sense out her heat, he picked up the heat signal and quickly ran in that direction. The heat signal was getting stronger with every step, finally he found her. He tackled her to the ground, pinned her arms with his hands and firmly place his body on her's pinning her so she couldn't move. The voices got closer. Afraid that she was going to yell, he kissed her so she couldn't talk. If he had used a hand to cover her mouth, she would have a free arm.

At that moment, at least five grunts ran by, "Do you think they went this way!?" One called.
"Possibly! We can't go back to the lab, but we know a few of them headed north. We might be able to catch them in the forest!" Another yelled.

As they were out of ear shot. He stopped the kiss, but kept her pinned.

"What the hell were you thinking!?" Alex yelled. "And be quiet! We can't get in another battle like the one at the lab!" He spit off to the side.

Just as Myra got inside of the Lab, people were already running out. The peices she got were that Emery ran away and people were going to get her. Myra dropped the pecha berries on Brians chest and ran out of the lab grabbing Garett's hand. There was no way she was going in the dark and alone. Myra continued to run following the warmth in the air. She wasn't sure why it was warm but it was.

Garett stood by the door and watched as people ran out. "What's going on?" Garett asked before Myra ran by and grabbed his hand. Meric fell off Garett's shoulder and flew after the two as they ran out of the lab. "Is there another fight or something?" Garett asked, but got no answer.

Myra stopped for a minute. She felt some kind of connection close to her. She looked around her until she saw what looked like Alex kissing Emery. At least that was what she thought. She dragged Garett further into the trees and saw it really was Alex and Emery.

"Oh. My. God." she said letting her jaw drop open. I mean, they just met and they're already kissing? Myra looked at Garett and blushed looking back at Emery who was pinned to the ground. She wanted to see how she handled being kissed. Not like it's ever happened before.

Garett followed Myra's eyes and saw Alex and Emery kissing. "Um, this is what you dragged me out here for?"

"No! We can leave." she said her face red as a Cherubi.

"Okay..." Garett shrugged and turned around then started making his way back.

"Do you think they went this way?!" Cried an unfamiliar voice, which immediately caused Versai to sidestep behind a large tree. She didn't dare peer away from the bark, lest they see her face, but she was able to see their shadows move along the ground as they ran by. Five. Five on three aren't terrible odds, if she can find Alex and Emery. Five on one…if they find them separately…

Versai grits her teeth as she jogs back onto the path. She has to work faster, has to find them—

And that's when she sees a struggling flock of red hair being held down by a male figure. Versai jerks into action, darting towards the two and jerking the man upward by his collar. Her knee jerks upward to smash into his groin, but stops in the knick of time. Alex…

"Are you out of your mind?" She whispers, though it's a harsh whisper.

"I was trying to help." Alex said, relieved that it was Versai and not one of the grunts who had dragged him off.

Garett stopped and turned back as he heard another person moving. He walked back to Myra and watched as Versai stopped just s kneeing Alex.Damn.

As if she weren't pissed off enough. To top off Alex tackling her, then kissing her, he then decided to belittle her. As if it were her fault that the loudmouth called the police and she left to avoid that catastrophe.

If Versai hadn't ripped him off of her - Emery would have done damage far beyond repair.

Getting to her feet, Emery grabs onto his shoulders, pushing him out of Versai's grasp and against a tree.

"Give me one reason why I shouldn't kill you where you stand."

As he was pinned to a tree by Emery, he used his body weight to his advantage, turning it against Emery and slamming her into the same tree she slammed him into.

"What do you think you can do alone! I did what I had to to save your ass and mine. If I hadn't slammed you to the ground and kissed you to make you shut up, we would have been caught, out numbered. Nothing to do, but give up or die. I wasn't aware that Versai or the others were following!" He hissed in a low voice.

He glared into her eyes, "I have studied about the hybrids for a long time. If they are after us, they will come in large numbers! If it hadn't been for Shadow, one of the Prime 5, Arryn would have died the night they met because she was too stubborn to understand the danger! She almost died and she was a hybrid! What chance do you have if more than three had attacked you? You don't have your powers and your Eevee is a new born!" He scolded.

He looked at the others for a moment and turned back to her, letting her go and stepping back, "They could have done all kinds of things to you and me, more so to you! Far worse than what I did! I didn't won't you to fall victim to something like that because of stubborness. I know you are afraid of the cops, I can tell by the way you ran from the lab. Everything possible by the police, pales in comparrison to what these men can do to a young 20 year old, stubborn, immature, little girl! Especially when there's more than one normal person can handle! We don't have our powers yet. We aren't hybrids and I highly doubt we will ever be as strong." He growled in a low tone so he couldn't be heard by the enemy that was running to the forest.

"You are coming back with us, and that is final." He demanded. It was in the moment that Alex knew he had messed up.

[I}Shit.... this is gonna hurt.[/I] He thought. He wasn't even sure why he had been so harsh to her. Was it really just because he wanted to keep himself safe, or did he truly want to keep them all safe now that they were all in the same boat?

With her arms free, she feigns looking elsewhere and aims a punch directly at his jaw. She follows it through, almost stumbling with the force she put behind it. This kid was out of his mind - all day he had been pushing her but this, this was just asking for trouble.

"You don't know me," she says in a low voice, daunting. "You have no clue what I've done to survive."

Three men was a challenge, but not more than she could handle. She knew how to fight, not just to punch and get her way - but fight. She had learned from the best and she had no problem showing this outspoken worm what she was capable of.

The fool knew nothing. Afraid of the cops, immature, thinking I might actually listen to him?

From his spot on the ground, she grabs his shirt to lift him towards her and slams her knee into his ribs.

"If you think I'm stepping foot near that Lab, then maybe you're more stupid than I gave you credit for."

Alex had been punched in the jaw, hard, making him fall to the ground. He tried to get up, but he was lifted and slammed in the ribs, where the burn had been. He collpses to the ground. He couldn't feel his side. He wanted to convience her, but how? Why did he even care.

"Emery, do you honestly think the cops are going to show up after what he said? There is probably cameras in the lab that we can checkm proving we had nothing to do with what happened. All I am trying to do, is do what is best for all of us." Alex tried to explain.

"But you won't listen. I know far more than anyone, but maybe Brian, about the hybrids. And what you are doing.... is a death sentence because you are too stubborn to listen to someone who actually cares," Alex said, falling to the ground. He struggled to stand, but he was able to with the help of the tree, He spit blood from his mouth and leaned up against said tree, trying to recover.

"No one can survive alone. I don't care what you have survived in the past. You are walking into something you know nothing of.... little girl." Alex finished, trying to taunt her into listening to him in the dumbest way possible.

Not a single thing Alex just did was right. His actions, his reactions, his words, his understanding. Does he truly think that knowing about previous hybrids was going to help them survive? That it made him better and more capable than the rest of them? Knowing fanboyish facts about the first hybrids was hardly something to be bragging about in this situation. If anything; thinking that such facts were in anyway helpful was going to get him killed that much faster.

Manhandling his teammates, running off without a word or a plan into the unknown, leaving the rest of them in the vulnerable state of simply following. Demanding that Emery go with him, like kissing her established him as her owner. Not even she, who holds so dearly to the idea of a peaceful resolve, can force herself to step in as Emery dishes back out everything she was just served.

She steps aside as Alex makes his final attack on Emery, and she can't help but question what part of him thinks that a single thing he just said will in any way encourage her to come back to them. He stumbles away, and Versai draws in a deep breath, her shoulders relaxing and her eyes softening from their previous intensity.

"No one will make you go back to the lab, Emery. No one has that power, or that right." There's something about this girl, likely the fierce coldness in her eyes that draws Versai (and apparently Alex) to her. A large, and currently, very vocal part of her wants to reach out to this one—in a calmer, less forceful and less…enslaving way.

Myra watched as the whole scene unfolded. It was absolutely wild. Myra loved every second of it. Alex was getting beat up left and right, then he did a dramatic exit, it was very powerful. Myra's jaw was still open, the whole time. She was a little offended though.

"Excuse me? I think I know more about Hyrbid's then you do." she chimed in and crossed her arms. She took a step closer to Emery and Versai. "I mean do you even know who Tulip's boyfriend was before she met Arryn? No. It was Volkner. See." she said with a know it all attitude.

"And for another thing. Emery isnt alone. She has us." she said simply.

Alex laughed as the three girls somewhat teamed up against him, "Yeah that is why she left the group isn't it? She doesn't care about anyone here, but herself. Just like me." Alex said as he walked toward the females, and then pass them, going toward the forest.

"If you don't want my help. Then there is no reason for me to stay with any of you. i'd rather die on my own, then watch people I failed to try to protect, die" Alex announced harshly.

"Oh please. You can't speak for her. And please just cut the shit. We are safer in a group. How about you pull up your big boy pants, suck in your ego, and realize if you throw this diva fit that you have a chance of getting hurt. Okay? Okay. Now if this is done, lets all go back to the lab. Forgive but not forget. That's the motto." she said tossing her signature golden locks.

Emery scoffs at Myra's attempt. She's had no one. For years. Not once did that spoilt brat ever approach her - and she was right not to. Myra wouldn't have lasted simply from her tongue-lashing.

The only reason why she's even still lingering around is Versai's words - talking like she understands, and will respect whatever decision Emery makes in the end. Interest peaked, Emery watches her, eyes searching hers for a kindred spirit.

She's smarter than the rest, deadly to those that meant harm - Emery's lips twitch when she remembers the deathly cold look as Versai held a grunt by the throat. It's almost enough to make her stay.

"Alex, let's make a deal," Emery challenges. He didn't seem like one to say 'no' to a competition. "Battle me. If you win, I'll go back to the Lab. If I win, I never see your face again."

Those eyes, those fiery eyes that somehow managed to entrance her, they look back to her for the first time—and Versai can't help but feel a small spark. A…flicker of something…understanding, perhaps? A willingness to give the shadow hybrid a chance if she sticks to her promise not to trap Emery. Fire cannot be contained, Alex's attempts to do so only made that fire more wild.

Eyes are the window to the soul, and Emery's seem to be searching Versai for something—perhaps that same spark she just felt. Understanding, acceptance. Versai smiles kindly when Emery's lips twitch in the tiniest of smiles. It's a wonderful sight, seeing her warming up, if only the slightest bit.

Versai's caring eyes only leaving the fire type when she offers to make a deal with Alex, which makes the dark type rather proud. She nods encouragingly to Emery before looking to Alex for his answer. If he says no…she'll stay with Emery while the others return to the lab. They can meet back here later, if that's what it takes.

Alex stopped as he heard Emery speak. In truth, he was willing to leave. He thought his actions were just for someone like Emery, but apparently he had been wrong. He didn't want to leave the group to face something like this alone. He had studied the hybrid conflict over the internet and newspapers when they had happened. He was 10 after all when everything was going on. He had envied them and he felt sorry for them. He wanted to see them treated like normal people, but they were always cast aside. He had watched news takes of battles that had happened.

"Why now? And how can we even trust each other's word? Neither of us are exactly the trust worthy types." He asked.

"But I accept your challenge." Alex said, turning around to face the others, even if he lost, he would watch Emery from afar to make sure she stayed safe. He was drawn to her like a moth to a flame. He might die in a fiery death, but at least he could try to get her to understand that she isn't alone and that more people out there were like her.

"Excuse me? I am very trustworthy. My parents raised me with morals. I dont know about others bu-"

"Not you blondey. I know you are trustworthy." He smiled, walking over to her, messing up her hair once again.

"Versai... Thank you for coming. Without you, I am not sure my chance would have been there if you hadn't come. Everything could have went wrong. I am glad there is someone who cares for the group." Alex said, he was harsh. But the only way to fight fire, was with fire. At least, that is what he thought. He winced in pain as he tried to stand straight. He tried to hide it, but he was in pain. Water Veil wouldn't protect him from anything, It wasn't exactly common to be burned, but if he was going to be around Emery, it was a good ability to have.

Garett decided to walk up to the group, getting tired of the constant fighting. "I understand you wanting to go solo. I'm not too keen on the idea of traveling with a group of strangers either". Garett said as he turned to face Emery. "Under normal conditions I would be alone at the other end of this forest by now. But things aren't normal. We all just learned that we're half pokemon freaks. People attacked us and will attack us again."

Garett looked to Alex then back to Emery. "If you two still want to fight, then fine. I won't stop you. But I'm sure even you will agree that the most logical thing to do, for our own survival, is to be in a group. At least until we figure out how to properly use our powers. You heard that woman. Those people will be back. And none of us are capable of taking on a large group of people on our own".At least not yet.

Their audience had grown - or maybe she hadn't noticed Garett there before. It unnerved her how much these people cared; not about her, but keeping her with them.

Eevee who had perched herself in a tree came down as Emery whistled to her. We're alike already, Emery thinks, more than warmed that they bonded so fast. They did well in the battle against Team Morons - there's no reason why they won't do even better now.

Ten minutes had passed by the time Emery and Alex had taken up spots in the center of Route 2. Garett was on his way back to the lab, dragging Myra with him. Alex and Emery had reluctantly made up their minds to wait in case the grunts were still near.

"Wave, come out!" Alex commanded.

Eevee takes her place in front of Emery.

Dratini came out of its pokeball and Eevee took up its place. Alex couldn't tell if they shared the same feelings for one another as Emery and Alex currently did. If the pokemon did, they didn't show it too much.

"Emery, are you ready?" Alex asked.

"If you are," Emery smirks.

Alex sighed. He really didn't want this to be a rivalry of hate, even though it seemed like that is what he was aiming for. His words had been harsh. He wished he could take back everything, but that wasn't possible.

"Eevee! Sand Attack!"

"Aqua Jet!" Alex commanded.

The Eevee immediately started to try to fling sand at the Dratini. However, this failed, much like the Sandile had in the lab. The sand turned to mud and Eevee was struck by the veil of water around the Dratini, making it slide back.

"Tail Whip!"

"Wave use thunder wave!" Alex yelled.

Dratini tried to summon a thunder wave, but Eevee was quicker and slammed the Dratini with its tail. Dratini rolled over a few times, but sprang back up.

"Eevee, Tackle while he's stunned!"

"Wave, use aqua jet to get away from Eevee!"

Dratini listened as Eevee started to charge at Dratini. Dratini easily dodged the tackle attack with aqua jet.

"Sand attack!" Emery repeats.

Eevee listened, but the attack failed as it hit the water, turning to mud.

"Use Sand attack again!"

Alex kept his cool. It seemed obvious that he was better when it came to Pokemon battles for now.

"Wave... Aqua Jet, knock down the sand and then wrap!" Alex yelled.

As sand flew, Dratini easily knocked it down, once again turning it to mud. It sprang at Eevee, wrapping it around, squeezing it. The Eevee cried out in pain as it was being squeezed.

Emery stops herself from running in to intervene. All she can do is watch in mixed horror and frustration as her Eevee cries.

"Wave finish it! Spring in the air with your tail and change into an aqua jet! Use thunder wave and slam Eevee into the ground!"

Wave started to do this, it sprang into the air.

"Enough!" Emery runs forward, ready to knock the Dratini out herself if Eevee wasn't released.

"Wave, let Eevee down gently." Alex said.

The Dratini did, Emery ran over to Eevee to check on it. Alex started to walk toward her, returning Dratini. He stopped just over her and squated down to look at Eevee.

"I win." Alex said, placing a hand on Eevee to feel it.

On her knees, Emery returns her Eevee to it's caramel coloured Pokeball just as Alex touches the small Fox. Angered that he took it that far, Emery springs to her feet and shoves him back by his shoulders, her amber eyes flashing. Kai always remarked that they resembled fire when she was at her angriest - how right he was.

"You won? Let's see how long you last against me," Emery clenches her hand and lashes out - before her fist can connect with his jaw, fire flickers before her knuckles. It's not much, not nearly enough to cause a burn; just the strike of a match, but it shocks her enough that she tries to stop herself last second and stumbles backwards.

Alex watches as her fist lights up with fire. He puts his hand up to catch it, but Emery stops herself and falls backwards. His hand is scorched, but he ignores the pain as water veil takes over. He walks over to where Emery had fallen back. Looking down at her for a moment. He offers a hand down to her to help her to her feet.

"Yes I won. But it was hardly a fair fight. Emery, I am not going to force you to come back with us, but we need you and you need us. I would rather not see you go. I cannot end a fight when the trainer doesn't give up. I wanted to see if you had a nice side. And you do. Now please take my hand and let me help you up." Alex explained.

She stares at him, bitter. Nice side. As if I'm some kind of villain. Emery grabs his hand and pulls herself up.

Before Emery can start walking away, he puts a hand on her shoulder, "Wait. I am sorry for what I have said. I could have handled things better. But what I did earlier, was the best idea I had in my head at the time. I pinned you down, so you wouldn't be seen and I kissed you because I didn't won't you to yell and attract the attention of the idiots after us. I didn't mean to be harsh as I was. And I certainly didn't mean to belittle you like I did. I was angry and I lost control. I deserved everything you did to me. But I don't won't us to hate each other forever." Alex finished, letting go of her shoulder and walking by her. He held his side as he started heading back toward Aquacorde.

Uncomfortable with apologies and meaningful moments, Emery pointedly looks away. Only few people have been able to get close to her, and she wasn't fine with adding any more to her short list. Before anyone else can try to appeal to her 'nice side', Emery walks straight back down Route 2, towards the Lab.

As Alex was walking back toward Aquacorde, he heard a chuckle in his head. One he was not familiar with. He looked around, but no one else seemed to hear it. He said nothing and continued walking.

---

shatteredxfrost as Emery • IcyIce as Alex • ElBurrito as Garett • LinearAxel as Versai • Zatanna as Myra​

​

​

---

Night had completely fallen now as Alex walked back toward the lab. He was in serious pain now as he walked all the way. Sneaking, away from the group, he hid behind a tree. He put his back to the tree and as soon as he did, his body gave out and crashed to the ground. He cringed in pain as all of it hit him at once. The pain was so strong that it made his eyes water. It was just physical pain either, he felt useless to the group. He felt that everyone had turned on him. Everyone ignored everything he had done to save Emery. He looked back, still holding his side. He looked back at Route 2, wanting to get away from them. He closed his eyes, wishing all of it would end. He could hear the breathing of a bug pokemon above him.

"I bet they wouldn't even know if I was gone. And if they did, they would probably over joyed." Alex muttered to himself.

He slowly got to his feet and started walking back toward Route 2. He didn't hear anyone come after him. He was sad and happy at the same time.

He saw a beautiful polar pattern Vivillon flying over. He threw a poke ball and it was easily caught.. He ran over to the poke ball and instantly fell in love with the snowy night design. He smiled and continued to walk away from the group, still not hearing anyone coming after him. As he walked, getting closer to the forest, a voice hit him.

"Are you really going to give up so soon?" A unisex voice sounded.

"That voice... you are what I heard earlier?" Alex asked.

"Indeed, I was laughing at the strong feelings that the group has. Reminds me of the Prime 5 and the others." The voice sounded.

"Why talk to me like this? Why not show yourself?"

"Very well." The voice said, and a figure in a black cloak appeared.

Alex tried to see if it was a man or a woman, but there was no way of telling.

"Who are you?" Alex asked.

The figure chuckled, "Who knows? I could be Arryn, Gray, Shadow, Phoena, Lydia, Rex, Orchid, Tulip, or Jason. I could even be Giovanni."

"Giovanni!? But you are evil! Why come to me?" Alex asked.

"Evil... in some eyes yes. But Giovanni was hardly the evil one. He helped the hybrids become what they are. And he indirectly saved the world because of that." The cloaked figure said.

"Leave me alone. It isn't like anyone cares. All I am is a big nobody. Everyone would be glad if I was gone." Alex snarled.

"Do you really believe that? If no one cared about you, Dratini wouldn't have chosen you. What you did may have been harsh, but it is far from what Orchid or the others could have done to Emery if she had been caught. You are truly stupid if you believe they wouldn't notice you were gone." The cloaked figure said.

"What does that have anything to do with Dratini choosing me? I said I would help it fly. Wave agreed to go with." Alex spat.

"Wrong you idiot. Dratini chose you because you have the heart of a dragon. You see something and you go after it. You didn't stop trying to get Emery to stay with the group until she agreed." The cloaked figure said.

"She came back because she lost! She didn't care. She was probably going to leave."

"But she didn't. She chose to return with the group. She respected and honored that deal because you agreed to it. Why ask you and not Versai if she didn't have the slightest respect for you?" The cloaked man questioned. "She may have more respect for others right now, but you did just meet."

Alex couldn't think of anything to say.

"See. Do you understand now?"

"I guess, but it is hard to believe they would want me back. They didn't even come after to me."

"Idiot!" The cloaked figure said, knocking the hell out of Alex.

Suddenly the pain returned to Alex. He cried out in pain from his side and a poke ball rolled in his lap. He picked it up. He was next to the tree he had collapsed at.

"Was that a dream?" Alex asked.

No longer hearing the snoring bug pokemon that was above him. He tried to regain his composer and slowly got up. He looked at Route 2 and back at Aquacorde. The dream filled his head and he turned toward Aquacorde and walked back toward the group, but slowly.

He looked at the pokeball and scanned it with the holodex. A Polar design Vivillon appeared on the holo.

"How..... how did I catch this? Did I catch it in my sleep?" Alex asked himself.

---

Alex had stopped by a 24-Hour Poke Mart before he returned to the others. He needed to heal up from today's activities, and he still had a torn shirt. It probably wouldn't be a good idea for him to walk around with his now very bruised side. His mouth was also still bleeding and he was as hungry as a snorlax still. He thought for a few moment, trying to remember if anyone else had been injured to day. He thought he remembered Ryan getting bit by a pokemon and he knew that Emery had fallen twice and slammed up against a tree.

"Hmm... Emery will be fine, I doubt she was really hurt. Ryan probably needs the bite cleaned and Brian probably needs to be looked at as well." Alex said to himself.

In the end, Alex bought 5 potions, a burn heal, and an antidote. He also bought some water so that he could make a mix of berry juice with the Pecha Berries that Myra was supposed to have gotten. He also went to the edge of town to get some oran berries. He placed everything in his bag and visited a Cafe that was still open at night.

"Ah, you must be a new trainer. Nice to have young people still interested in my cafe. What can I get you?" The woman at the counter asked, watching Alex enter. She wasn't too much older than Alex, but still older, maybe around the age of Versai.

"Good heavens! Your shirt is torn! My husband might have an extra if you wish to take one. He has more than enough shirt. He won't miss one." The woman announced.

Alex smiled, "I do not want to cause you any trouble, but a shirt like this would be nice. Also I would like..... eight mocha lattes if you could make those to go."

"Not a problem at all! I can also get you some to go cups as well! Just give me a few minutes." The woman clapped as she went to the back.

After a few minutes, she returns with two trays of what he assumed was Mochas and also a shirt that matched his.

"Here you go young man! Don't worry about paying me this time around! Seems like you have already had a pretty rough day. Just make sure you come on back now you hear!" The young woman places the stuff on the counter.

"Well thank you ma'am. And you have no idea how appreciative I am. I will make sure to return when i come back around." Alex said.

The woman at the counter smiled as Alex took the stuff and left. He placed the drinks on a table that had six chairs around it. He took his bag on the table and took off his old shirt. He pulled out two potions and a burn heal. He sprayed his side and and burned as bad as what he thought Emery's flames would feel like, but then a icy coolness over came the burning and most of the pain drifted away. He did this to his face with the second he had pulled out. The same sensations crossed his face. And again, the pain drifted away. Some pain remained, which he thought it would for a bit.

Last he looked at his hand. Emery had attempted to punch him again, but she had stopped when a fire engulfed her fist. However, he still felt it. His hand was black from the burn. He grabbed the burn heal and cringed as he sprayed it. He let out a silent cry, followed by furious hand waving. He wanted to jump into the water, because it was burning so bad. His ability was not yet strong enough to heal a burn, but with the help of a burn heal. The black skin changed into a more normal color. He felt so much better. He quickly put on the new shirt and took a bite one of the oran berries. He grabbed the mochas and walked back to the lab.

He walked back into the lab and he completely forgot about the kid who had arrived right after the battle.

Oh well. He shouldn't have been late. He can enjoy watching everyone drinking these drinks. I guess someone could give him their drink, but that is none of my concern.

He walked into the lab, looking as he did that morning. His shirt was new and he had healed his bruises and wounds, though some of the pain remained. He went to one of the tables and put down the drinks and his bag.

"Sorry I am late. I went to buy some supplies and got everyone some mocha lattes if you wish to have one. Except for the new guy, but he showed up late... so I forgot about him." Alex said, taking his own mocha and bringing out the potions and berries.

"I also got oran berries and potions. With us having some sort of pokemon DNA or something, the potions and things work on us. I have already healed myself, so take what you need." Alex said, placing three more potions and oran berries on the counter.

Alex grabbed a bottle of water and went over to Brian, however, it looked like Brian had already been tended to, so Alex returned everything back to his bag, but the potions.

Alex ignored the to pokemon and started searching for more poke balls. He took a few and placed them in his bag. He took a seat over in the corner and started to drink his latte. He wondered where all the grunts had went, but wasn't sure what had happened to them. Maybe the cops had come after all.

And about that time the C-Gear, that the girl Ayla had slapped over his wrist, started to ring.

---

His C-Gear continued to ring as he watching everyone in the room in silence. After a few more seconds, Alex finally let out a long sigh and put his mocha down for a second. He clicked on the call button and an angry girl, with a mad jigglypuff face appeared on his screen.

"What took you so long!?" The girl scolded him.

"Well-"

"Be quiet! You better be glad you answered! I was about to jump on Gogoat and come looking for your little ass!" The girl yelled.

Alex put his free hand on his face, covering it. It shook his head as the girl continued to nag about everything little thing as if he were listenign.

"A-Are you even listening!?" Ayla yelled.

The sudden scream from the C-Gear made Alex jumped.

"No.. not really... What did you want? It has been a long day." Alex asked.

"Don't give me that! You ruined my camera and then I had to explain was I was short a few pictures! My boss is not someone you was to piss off!!" Ayla yelled.

"And I care... why?" Alex asked again, a bored look on his face.

Ayla closed her eyes and her cheeks puffed out like an angry jigglypuff again.

"You fu-" Ayla started to yell, Alex quickly muted the volume. And her mouth was moving at 100mhp.

Alex put a finger over his lips to get her to calm down, she finally did, flatting out her shirt and fixing her hair. He unmuted the volume.

"You better have a damn good reason why you muted me." Her voice was sinister.

"Could you please just explain what you wanted Ayla."

"Hmpf! Fine." Ayla took a deep breath.

"Your first photo shoot is within the next few days. It will take place on Route 3, Route 4, or Santalune City. You will need 2 Vivillon. One would remind people of the sun and the other would remind people of the moon. You will have to wear certain clothing and then you will have to pose a few times so I can take a few pictures. You will be payed $100, but then I will take it all and you get nothing. However you will get some new clothing to represent my business." Ayla explained.

"Wait what... Why-"

"Quiet! Let me finish. There is a festival in a different region that celebrates the Sun and the Moon. They would like photos of a male and female with the two Vivillon. The make and female will both where colors to match the Vivillon." Ayla explained.

"Why Vivillon? And why form some unknown model like me?"

"I don't know, why does a boy not watch where he is going when looking around a town, tripping over my pokemon, fall into me and knock my camera into the fountain! Huh why!?"

Alex let out a loud sigh, "You are never gonna let that go are you?"

"Nope! Never! Not even after you pay me back." Ayla smiled, holding up a peace sign with her fingers, sticking her tongue out at me.

"Ok fine... but when?" Alex asked.

"Whenever we run into one another again. I would have much rather asked a better model, but since I now have to get a new camera, because I am using an old piece of a grimer camera, I couldn't afford one! So until then, we are stuck together as partners!" Ayla yelled.

"You got to stop yelling...." Alex said.

"Well I am going to go now. You better show up or-"

"Yeah yeah, or you will hunt me down yourself and let you Gogoat trample over me." Alex finished.

"Hmpf! Bye!" Ayla said, hanging up.

Alex let out yet another sigh and clicked the C-Gear off. He leaned his head up against the wall to rest. The remaining pain slowly going away.

---

Alex hear his holocaster starting to beep. He got up from his spot and walked by Myra who was now sleeping on the floor on an air mattress, he smiled, but continued to walk. He walked by Emery and the others, he took up a second Mocha and walked upstairs.

He walked up stairs and into the night air on the roof. He could hear the small waterfall that Dratini was in when they met. He walked over to the edge of the room and looked down. He could see the dumpster moving and eventually a few grunts crawled out and fell to the ground. Some of them were being helped, by others were on their own. They all ran away from the lab, getting as far away as possible. He continued to hear a faint beeping sound in his pack. He quickly opened his bag and saw the holocaster blinking.

He looked for a boulder and then placed the holocaster on it. He pressed a button and a hologram of his parents appeared.

"Ah finally!" His father exclaimed.

"Where have you been young man? We have been worried sick." His mother scolded him.

Alex put a hand on his head, rubbing his forehead again.

"Sorry guys. It has been a long day and a lot has happened." Alex explained

"Has something happened? Where are you?" His father asked.

"A lot of different things, but don't worry. It is all handled now. I am still at the lab. Spending the night... maybe." Alex answered.

"You are still at the lab? I figures you would be at the forest at least by now. Well anyway, have you made new friends? Maybe a girl?" His mother asked with a smirk, elbowing his ribs.

Alex thought at this for a moment. He thought about everyone he had met. So far he mainly knew about Myra and Emery. He knew nothing about the other guys.

"Four girls and four guys. I have mainly only talked to the girls. I wouldn't exactly call them friends." Alex said.

"What a pity. Well tell us, how were the girls? Were any of them keepers?" His mom asked.

Alex put his face and his palm and shook his head, "Really mom? And currently I don't know. All I do know is one is a rich girl who seems to nice. I upset her a few times because I messed her hair up. I like teasing her though in a fun way. We should get along. I think she is younger though, but not sure. She hasn't given her age. One of the girls is older, I think, but she hasn't said much, but she seems protective. One girl... has had a rough history and I fear she is going down a wrong path. When i tried to help her, she punched me in the face and nearly broke my ribs. And one girl got pissed because I was looking for the lab and tripped over her pokemon, knocking her over and her camera into the water. She then slapped a C-gear over my wrist and is forcing me to work with her until I pay her off. So you tell me if they are keepers. As far as I am concerned, I would be better off alone, but we have insisted to travel together."

He looked at his parents's faces, they were both blank, blinking and his dad started to laugh chaotically.

"Women are a handful aren't they lad! Welcome to the real world." The man laughed.

"Well... that seems to be a very active day. But that still doesn't explain why you are still at the lab. Are you all sleeping there? Well at least each guy gets a girl."

"One girl left on her Gogoat, she had to report to whoever her boss is to explain what happened. She wasn't one of the new trainers. Which happens to be the one I pissed off this morning." Alex said. "As far as the lab goes, we got attacked by some psychos, who I just watched leave the dumpster that one of the boys seemed to have put them in. We tried to call the cops, but they didn't listen. I went to get the one girl back so she wasn't alone with whoever those people were that attacked us, which led to me getting messed up."

"Wait you were attacked? By who?" His father asked.

"I don't know." Alex answered.

"Me and your father will be leaving town for a few days on a trip. Keep us up-to-date with that group who attacked you. We will see if we can find anything on them. Maybe we can get the police to listen in the future. Just try to enjoy your journey for now. Bye, Love you." His mom said and the hologram ended.

"Easier said than done..." Alex said, picking up his hologram and placing it back in the bag.

Alex walked to the edge. He saw a shadow disappear from one of the roof tops, but he didn't take too much notice in it. Disregarding it as if it was never there or was a pokemon that was flying by, which happened all the time. He pointed his hand to the sky, trying to summon ice in a similar way as Emery had done with the fire. He felt a surge of power, but as it was about to release, it poofed and only a small bit of mist or very small and fine ice crystals fell to the ground, melting before touching.

"Hmm... I know I saw her fist light up with fire... was it unlocked from anger? But I usually never get that mad... how am I possibly going to learn how to use my typing if I can't even get an ice crystal to form... Damn it..." Alex muttered to himself, taking a seat on the boulder he had placed his holocaster on, trying to think of a way to unlock his powers.

Fire is the opposite of Ice... so maybe I need to be overly happy to unlock my powers. Alex thought.

--Tyre's Data--​

Tyre​

​

---

For 30 minutes, Alex tried his best to use his powers. He was starting to become annoyed with himself, and ready to kick himself to try harder. He didn't want to sit on the side lines if there was another fight.

Tyre had disappeared and Alex had no motive to find him. He didn't care about someone who cared nothing for others who only seemed to care about themselves. Not only that, but the last time he went after someone, he turned into be a terrible choice. But he couldn't let her go. Everything he had done was right to him. Nothing was wrong, although he guessed the kiss was a little much.

He knew he shouldn't have left the other when they walked back to the lab, but the pain was unbearable and he had no wish to show how injured he was. He wanted to get something to make up for what he had done, but it seemed like mostly everyone had ignored the drinks he had brought.

He looked up at the sun, wishing the day would end as it was a terrible first day to him. He has been useless to the whole group. Hell, he couldn't even use his powers like everyone seemed to be able to have a knowledge of something about them. All he knew was a useless ability that did nothing. He couldn't even full protect him from the burns.

"I got to do something..." He said, bringing his town map out, looking at the news.

He couldn't find anything about the people who had attacked them. He wished he could be useful in the least, but so far, all of his acts have only had negative results. There wasn't a single positive result from anything he had done today, other than get a Dratini.

"Is this the price for getting such a strong pokemon at the start? To be completely useless?" He asked himself, walking back and forth on the roof. He could hear voices down below, he thought they were Emery and Versai, but he wasn't 100% sure. And he didn't want to try to listen more than he should. Both already seemed to dislike him.

He wonder if the others even cared about the situation they were in. He wondered if anyone had the slightest clue about what they faced.

He had studied so much about the hybrids in Vanville, by listening to the news and reading posts online about these hybrids. He searched through reports of old villains. Finally he found something about the Orre Region, his eyes widened in fear.

"Oh no..." He muttered to himself.

'Shadows have fallen over the Orre Region again, but this time, there is no hope. A new evil has said to be rising as Shadows cross the borders of Orre and spread to the rest of the world. If rumors are true, may Arceus help all of us.'

A news post said.

"Could these be connected? And if so.... does that mean they have found a new way to close the heart to pokemon again? And if so.... could they use this on hybrids... and even us?" Alex talked to himself.

"No it can't be... there is no way...." Alex said, quickly closing the map.

New worries crept into his mind. He had a possible lead, but he didn't want to mention it to the group until Brian had woken up. He started to worry about everyone, including his parents. If these people knew about their identity, did that also make their parents a target? Did simply fighting back, put their families at risk? Do they know about our families?

He tried his best not to allow it to get to him. Until he knew more, he wouldn't say anything.

"It isn't like they would believe me anyway. To them, I am just a sicko who likes dragging females to the ground and kissing them. Just look how people reacted when I tried to get Emery back and then tried to save her from the people looking for them. They could careless about my true motives, so until I know more... I will stay silent." Alex told himself, as he walked back down to the main floor.