The Story of Team Yukon

Um, hi... This is my first fanfic on this site, or any forum site really (though I have this one on fanart-central.net along with a few others). I guess I'll explain some things about it. Yes, it is a Mystery Dungeon fanfic. And though it follows the general storyline of the game, there are differences in events, characters, and other parts, so it did turn out a bit different from most normal Mystery Dungeon fics that follow everything in the game. And, there's also an alternate ending to it included. I have finished it, but first I'll only post the first chapter with a prologue to see what people think (please give me adive and comments!). My chapters aren't as long as I'd like them to be (I'm working on this with my fanfiction, and this was by far the longest fanfic I've made, so I'm getting there...), so that kind of works out.

Note that there will be some violence (I.e. blood, fighting) and the use of some profanity (I.e. hell, bastard, damn). I wouldn't exactly call it PG-13, but it's not intended for people who are easilly bothered by that sort of thing.

Also, at the beginnings of most of the chapters, there are quotes from other things that can relate to the chapter or line of the story. Books mainly, but there are a two or three (or maybe even four) quotes from TV shows and previews. The place where the quotes came from (as well as the author for books) is listed afterwards, and I discclaim that I do not own any of the quotes/books/TV shows mentioned, or Pokemon, for that matter.

Well, here's the beginning...

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Prologue



"Ha!", the trainer laughed. A cruel laugh.

So this was a Ninetales. A Pokemon spoken of only in legends... Of course it was real, but, it was almost like a myth, fur white as snow covering all nine of its magnificent, long tails. Tuavii had always wanted to see and meet one. Not like this though. How could her trainer dare to aggrivate it? To pull one of those tails. One of those oh-so-perfect tails. How big of an insensitive idiot was he? And had he never heard the legend? Her trainer yanked one of the tails again, this time much harder. Stupid boy.

"Ha! Now what're you gonna do about that?! Huh? Huh?" his voice taunted and teased. So immature...

"You're in for it now..." Tunavii whispered to him in her way of telepathy. The trainer scoffed.

"In for what? You're just chicken! I'll make you fight it if you say anything else!"

Suddenly, the sleeping Ninetales' eyes flicked open. They were a deep, crimson red, with no pupils, and refleceted the light in a way that semed to make them glow. But they soon did glow, as they changed to a bright yellow.

"Huh?!" the trainer repeated, only in a nervous, uncertain tone rather than a childish taunting tone.

"Oh no..." Tunavii sighed under her breath.

"WHO DARES DISTURB MY SLEEP?!" Ninetales hissed loudly in an odd mixture of human and Pokemon language that both Tunavii and her trainer could understand. They both backed away, but could not go more than a few steps, almost litterally frozen with fear. The Pokemon advanced toward them, fur bristling and yellow eyes gleaming, with all nine tails raised in an aggressive stance. It was a vicious beast, snarling and baring fangs that seemed too big to fit in such a small mouth.

"I AM NINETALES. I AM THE GODDESS OF LEGENDS AND THE QUEEN OF SOULS. AND NOW YOU, YOUNG HUMAN, WHO HAS PULLED BY SEVENTH ROYAL TAIL, SHALL SUFFER THE SEVENTH OF MY CURSES!!!"

It came closer still, so that Tunavii could feel its hot, fiery breath against her chest. I have to do this... For my trainer. And she flung herself before the flames now erupting from Ninetales' mouth as its seventh tail began to glow. A sudden pain tore through her flesh, making her writhe in pain and shriek for help. And then, as sudden as it began, it stopped, leaving her weak and helpless floating above Ninetales and its blue flame.

"TRAINER, YOUR PARTNER AND POKEMON HAS CHOSEN TO GIVE HERSELF FOR YOUR SAFETY. DO YOU WISH TO MAKE YOUR OWN SACRIFICE TO SAVE HER INSTEAD?" Ninetales asked the trainer. Tunavii twisted her head around to see her trainer's responce, but saw only a tree he had been standing near and the ground where his feet had been only a moment ago. She suddenly whirled around, crying and calling out his name. But no reply came. He was gone. And she was abandoned.

"Tunavii," Ninetales whispered in a suddenly calm and soothing voice, "I am sorry. It seems your trainer has abandoned you and fled. I am bound my the laws of the gods and my kind to continue the curse, but I will make it as light on you as possible. I am, truly, sorry."

And Tunavii felt her consiousness leave her slowly, bringing her into a black void where she floated above the stars and sky. A voice called from above as light filtered into the darkness.

"This is the Spirit Realm, Tunavii... And we welcome you as one of the Guardians now."




Chapter One: Soto



Bright light illuminated Ameri's vision as she opened her eyes. Tired and drowsy, it took her a moment to adjust to her surroundings. Grass underfoot... Trees circling... River to the right... Wait! Where in the world was she?! And how did she get here?

"Wha?!" she cried, looking at the strange new place around her. All the trees seemed so much bigger than any she had seen before. Huge, actually. Everything seemed to be bigger in fact. Or... was she smaller?

"Where is my... I... Where did I fall asleep?" Ameri said aloud, "I can't remember anything about last night... Or... before... What happened?!"

There was a sudden rustle in the bushes not far from where Ameri stood. Frightened, she fell backwards and suddenly found herself plunging into cold, slowly moving water. She tried to stand back up, but it weighed her down somehow, keeping her wet and barely sputtering over the top for air, legs flailing uselessly. A round head whith a long, thin nose popped up from over the small ridge leading down to the river.

"Hey! Are you okay? I heard yelling," said the Cyndaquil, sounding concerned. He looked like an ordinary Cyndaquil, small and plump with an expression that seemed cheery, but worried now for Ameri's sake.

"Huh?" Ameri managed to utter from the river flowing. Her head almost went under then, and she felt a pair of tiny paws helping to pull her out. The grass became wet under her soaked body, laying there weakly.

"So, who are ya'? Never seen you around here. My name's Soto!" the Cyndaquil greeted in an overly-friendly tone. A tone that slightly annoyed Ameri at the moment.

"How are you speaking to me?! I... Where is this?" Ameri exclaimed, full of scared confusion.

"Calm down; you're getting all nervous!" Soto replied, "Your fur's all sticking on end!"

"Wha... fur?! What fur?"

Soto laughed. "You're kinda funny! Are all Eevees sarcastic jokers like you? I think we could get along great!"

Ameri's heart skipped a beat, full of fear and shock. Eevee?! She ran to the river and looked down into the reflection. A furry, brown face with long ears tilted down looked back at her with a pair of big, round black eyes. She jumped back with a yelp.

"Oh my god!!"

"Are you... okay?" Soto asked, still ignorant to whatever she was going through. All he knew was that some crazy Eevee had appeared by the river.

"I'm not supposed to be an Eevee!! I'm... I'm a human! A human girl!" Ameri cried.

"What?! How the heck does that sorta thing happen? Are you joking here or being serious?"

"I'M NOT JOKING!!!" Ameri hissed, anger loud with her voice.

"Hey! No need to get all ticked off... At least tell me what's going on," Soto muttered, backing away.

"I don't know!! I just woke up here only a moment ago and now I have no idea what happened to me!"

"Okay... Well, what's your name. I don't wanna go about calling you 'Eevee' all day."

"Ameri... Ameri Yukon," she replied, breath heavy with shock.

"It's Ameri or Yukon?" Soto asked.

"What?"

"You said 'Ameri Yukon'. Which is your name?"

"Ameri is my name. Yukon is my last name."

"What's a last name?"

"... Never mind."

"Well... Okay," Soto replied. Ameri had to let out a laugh. This made Soto's mouth curl into a smile.

"Hah! I knew you'd get a better attitude at some point! I know a place where you can stay for a while. Get used to whatever you need to and all that. Even if you are just a Pokemon who got anmesia or something and then ended up carried down here on the river, you'll need rest and a chance to relax," the rodent-like Pokemon reccomended. Ameri gave a slight nod, and the two of them began walking into the trees, so much bigger and so close together all the same.

I hope he is right, thought Ameri as she stepped on new and uncertain paws, I hope that I really am just a Pokemon gone a bit crazy. And they made their way, Soto's confidence the only thing to stop Ameri from going mad with fright. Her heart was in her throat and beating faster, harder. She was a Pokemon! An Eevee! A tiny, brown foxlike creature with a mane of white fur around her neck. A helpless little animal with virtually no way of defending herself, in a world that she guessed would be more dangerous than her own. Her own... She couldn't remember anything about it. When she focused on her family, several blank faces appeared in her mind, blurred as if covered by dust and dirt. The same thing happened when she tried to recall anything else, except her name. That was clear as anything could possibly be. And she was thankful for that much.


Night drew closer as a yellow sun dipped lower and lower into the horizon. Soto had led her into a quiet hut, right on the edge of the woods. A paved stone path led out from the front door, leading to a town Soto said. But Ameri did not want to go anywhere until tomorrow. If this wasn't a dream. If she would wake up and still find herself here.

"Where do you think it goes, Ameri?" Soto asked.

"Where does what go?"

"The sun. You can chase after it and never get to it, like it's really, really far away. I've tried to get at it when its sets, but it always disappears before I can, and leaves me tired out."

"That's because you can't catch it," Ameri replied, a sudden flicker of memory striking her. It was a bit of knowledge she'd known from... She couldn't remember where. But it was certain to her. She knew it.

"What? Then where is it if you can't get to it?"

"Outside of this world, in a place called outer space. It stays in the same place, and the world goes around it. That's why it seems like it's moving, but really we are. And it's actually incredibly far away. Millions of miles."

"Miles?"

"That's a way to measure distance. Just one is a really long way. The sun is millions of them away from us."

"Wow..." Soto stared out of a little window in awe. "That's... amazing. How do you know that though? Are you making it up?"

"I... I can't remember where I learned it. I can't remember much of anything. But it was a reliable source. It had to be. A person I knew..."

Ameri closed her eyes and tried to focus on it, but Soto came over and gave her a pat on the back, making her open hen suddenly.

"It's okay. Try to sleep. Then you may feel better in the morning," he told her. He was right. Ameri had noticed the pile of soft leaves prepared beside her. Soto was already curled up in his own pile, a tightly coiled little ball of dark turquoise fur. Four red spots in the fur stuck out in thinner patches of fur. Ameri couldn't help but smile. And she laid down in her own 'bed' and drifted off to sleep.

*********

Please read and reply! I want to improve my fanfiction, so if you have anything to reccomend, or just want to say it's good, please post a reply! I'd greatly appreciate it.

I quite like your story. It's good to see a PMD fic, but there are one or two problems...

1) Description is a little bit lacking. There's not really much description of Ameri's environment, and having never played PMD, I was a bit confused. And while on the subject of characters...

2) Who were Tunavii and Tuavii? I know that one pulled Ninetailes' tail, but other than that, I'm clueless.

3) Just one more thing. It says that 'YOU'RE POKEMON HAS MADE A SACRIFICE FOR YOU, TRAINER' or something aalong those lines, yet in the next chapter, Tuavii and Tunavii have vanished, and Ameri is the pokemon. Correct me if I missed summat out, but it was a bit confusing.

Other than that, this is a great try. I hope you continue it, and best of luck:)

Tunasii was the Gardevoir who sacrificed herself. I like how you made her trainer venomously cruel.

President Showaddywaddy said:

I quite like your story. It's good to see a PMD fic, but there are one or two problems...

1) Description is a little bit lacking. There's not really much description of Ameri's environment, and having never played PMD, I was a bit confused. And while on the subject of characters...

2) Who were Tunavii and Tuavii? I know that one pulled Ninetailes' tail, but other than that, I'm clueless.

3) Just one more thing. It says that 'YOU'RE POKEMON HAS MADE A SACRIFICE FOR YOU, TRAINER' or something aalong those lines, yet in the next chapter, Tuavii and Tunavii have vanished, and Ameri is the pokemon. Correct me if I missed summat out, but it was a bit confusing.

Other than that, this is a great try. I hope you continue it, and best of luck:)

Click to expand...

Tuavii must've been a typo. The trainer is currently unnamed for the prologue, because the name would give away a very important part early in the later story. Tunavii is, well... you'll find out later (this'll be cool to read especially if you've never played MD). And, the intro is just a prologue. Later you meet Tunavii through Ameri's eyes, but the human, now an Eevee, is the main character, not Tunavii. Anyways, onward with chapter 2!

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Chapter Two-Cries for Help

Morning dawn slanted through the glassles window, open to the world. Ameri instantly woke up, rising quickly with a great yawn. She stretched herself and looked around, to be sure of where she was. The little hut was around her, pale wood and grassy floor easily recognizable. A bucket of water sat near a tree stump where three rocks were placed as chairs and a basket of fresh berries sat on to of the stump. Just where she had fallen asleep. Soto was still sleeping in his leaf pile, grunting slightly in little snores and twitching with excitement of a dream. Ameri looked down. There were her tiny brown paws; the paws of an Eevee. Now she knew she'd never been dreaming.

Oh well... It's... not so bad, she assured herself, half-heartedly. Wondering what to do exactly, she took a few steps toward the 'table' stump, and fell over with sudden clumsiness, letting out an instinctual yelp. Ameri shook herself and stood back up, noticing Soto look up with surprise.

"What happened?" he asked in a weary morning-voice.

"Oh? Nothing..." Ameri replied, feeling slight sorrow in being able to understand his language. More reminders of what had happened so suddenly and unexplainably.

"Do you feel any better?"

"Maybe a bit..."

"Well, now that we're awake, let's eat some breakfast!"

Soto stood up on his hind legs, which were much bigger and more powerful than his tiny forepaws, and walked over to the table, plopping down onto one of the rocks and grabbing the basket. He pulled out a rather fat round, blue berry.

"Come on! You don't know what you're missing. Ever had fresh Oran Berry?"

"I... I don't know," Ameri replied, feeling stupid with her terrible loss of memory. She sat herself down and pulled a berry out with her paw.

"You'd better do it now then! It's the greatest thing in the world!" Soto finished his sentence by taking a huge bite out of his berry, revealing a lavender-colored tender inside. Ameri caught a wiff of the juices and her eyes widened with surprise. The smell was incredible, and she could even taste the sweet air of it on her tongue. Wow! I've heard Pokemon have stronger senses, but this is amazing!!

Immediately she bit into the Oran Berry. Her sharp teeth penetrated the thin blue skin of it as soon as they touched it, and the clear juice leaked into her mouth. The sensation was impossible to fully describe.It wa sfar too great. The berry had a very sweet tang of flavor with just the slightest hint of tart sourness that perfected its flavor to the fullest. Right then Ameri recalled tasting an Oran Berry before, indeed, but never had they tasted anything like this. Never anything close.

"Heh! You look like you just went to heaven or something!" Soto laughed. Ameri swallowed the chunk of berry and closed her eyes, savoring the remains of the taste in her mouth.

"I think I did..." she replied softly, as if speaking too loud would erase the flavor. But suddenly everything was interrupted by a new voice. It was a sad, longing voice, begging for help from outside.

"Please, help me!" the Pokemon whined. Ameri and Soto whirled around and saw through the open doorway a Mightyena and a Shiftry, standing outside. A Nuzleaf stood beside the Shiftry, ignoring the conversation and tugging impatiently on a tattered black bandana around its wrist. A similar black bandana was wrapped around the leg of the Shiftry as it stood over the whimpering Mightyena with a careless expression.

"A Rescue Team Leader..." Soto gasped. Ameri was about to ask him what that was, but the Shiftry spoke first.

"In your dreams!" he spat in a rough voice, "Team Shifty doesn't work for low-pay jobs in places like Tiny Woods! You can just forget it!"

"But my son has been lost for days!!" the female Mightyena moaned, eyes shimmering with the glint of forming tears. But the Shirfty merely turned away, head high.

"Come on, Kunea," he commanded his Nuzleaf partner, "Let's see if the board up by the Post Office has anything better than this!"

The pair left, not looking back at the sobbing Mightyena still hunched over by Soto's hut. She looked hurt bu his words, as if they themselves had put her son to death.

"We have to help," Soto whispered under his breath, "We can't just stay and do nothing..."

Before Ameri could reply, he ran out to the long-furred, doglike creature, looking ready to aid her.

"Hey! We overheard what just happened!" the Cyndaquil called, Ameri close behind him.

"You... Are you a Rescue Team?" the Mightyena asked.

"No, but we... We want to help."

"You'll help? You'll help my son?!"

"You sound relieved. Why wouldn't you find an actual Rescue Team to do it?"

The Mightyena sighed. "No one will. I've asked every local team and none of them care. Who would want to do a low-rank mission for a mother with no pay..."

"We would!" Soto replied. "We can do it!"

"R-Really? My son, Joku has been lost in Tiny Woods for four days now. I haven't been able to do anything about it."

"Okay! We'll do whatever we can to help! Isn't that right, Ameri?"

Both of them turned to Ameri, the nervous little Eevee who couldn't understand half of what they were saying. Ameri hesitated.

"Well?" Soto asked.

"Oh... Okay," Ameri said, "We'll help find your son."

"Thank you so much!!" the Mightyena yelped, crying with relief, "I'm sure you'll find him!"

"By the way... We never got your name," Soto said.

"Right. Fyra. Fyra is my name."

"Alright, then! We'll get on it by the time the sun is all the way up!" Soto replied. And Fyra nodded as she walked away, leaving them alone on their paved path.

"What just happened, Soto?!" Ameri yowled, "I have no idea what any of these things are! Rescue Teams, missions, ranks! Please explain to me what is going on!!"

"What? You mean you don't know?"

"Of course not! I told you, I'm a human! I'm not from this place and I'm surprised enough to see Pokemon communicating like this!"

"Oh... sorry about that... It's just that everyone knows about Rescue Teams."

"Well what the heck are they?!"

"A Rescue Team is a group of Pokemon who go on 'missions' to rescue others in need. It's the major business here. You get paid in money and get cool things from clients when you do rescues, and you get to save lives sometimes. It's been my lifelong dream to be in a Rescue Team some day. I guess I got a bit carried away..."

"...No. You did the right thing," Ameri replied. Soto looked up at her with surprise.

"You mean it? I wasn't just yabbering at her and going out of my league with promises I can't keep?"

"Not at all! We can do it. Her son needs us. You've got me to help you now."

"Cool..." Soto awed, "We'll be so great! Just like my sister!"

"Your sister?"

"Yeah. My sister Sasha is the leader of a Rescue Team. Team Blaze. She's kinda my role model. But she lives in another town a ways away, so we don't really see each other often. Still, I think you should meet her someday... Well, what are we waiting for? Let's finish breakfast and get ready to go!"

Chapter Three! No one's replied, so...
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Chapter Three-The Woods



"This really isn't so bad here," Ameri said aloud, finding herself walking through the peaceful green forest with a smile curled in her fur-rimmed lips. The air was crisp and the setting was peaceful. Soto nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, along the course of the river it's all pretty nice in Tiny Woods. But we'll need to stray into the deep wood if we intend on finding Joku. And in there, it's an entirely different place," he told her. Ameri turned to him with concern.

"Do you think he's okay?" A feeling of worry came over her, along with a flicker of her old self. I've always felt like a mother toward young and weak Pokemon...

"Let's just hope; and if he isn't, then let's hope we can help. Here's about where we should turn into the trees, right where that big rock is up ahead."

Ameri looked forward. Indeed, there was a big rock. A huge, gray one on the edge of the river, covered in dark green moss that reflected the shards of yellow light that shimmered through the canopy of leaves overhead. And to the right of it a couple feet was a gap between two gigantic trees, seemingly linked together in their branches, leading into a deeper, darker place.

"They call this part," Soto muttered as they padded in front of the great opening of darkness, "The Black Woods. And it is only the first part of the Western Wood's 'Howling Forest'. You'd enter that dreadful place through another way, but I honestly don't see why you'd want to."

The little furry creature steeped forth, then took a step back. "You go first, Ameri! I'm... I'm scared!"

Ameri started at him for a second, filled by a strange mix of surprise and a feeling that she'd somehow knew he'd say something like that. In the next second, her paws had carried her into the woods.

"Ah! Wait up!" Soto yelped. And he raced forward after her.

Sounds of insects and movement immediately filled the air. Spinarak and Wurmple had spun webs all along tree branches and ground, putting Soto into a nervous shivering. Ameri didn't mind. She felt a strange calmness about her. She wasn't scared of Bug Pokemon. Unless they proved to be a threat, she was fine with this all. Soto dared not ask her anything, in fear that his voice would attract whatever lied beneath the leaves. Ameri knew that his fear would do that if anything would. But alas, nothing came after them, and as the minutes drew on, Ameri became more and more sure that Soto had exaggerated this place with every step.

Exactly how long they were travelling through the forest, they couldn't tell. Maybe less than half an hour, or maybe more than two hours. Without any light anyways, and only their senses of smell, touch, and hearing to navigate, it was impossible to tell. But Ameri soon realized that an Eevee didn't rely on its sight too much. She could easilly determine where she stepped and what was around her by an incredible sense of touch on the pads of her paws. Every step told her many things. Rock there, root underfoot, nearby tree, a web to my left... This soon became automatic in her mind to pick up this sort of information in the darkness. And her nose and ears told her how close aything that moved was. From this, she could make conclusions of her surroundings almost instantly through a system of calculation. It was unlike any way she or any human had ever viewed the world, or ever could.

"Soto," Ameri said.

"Wha!" he yelpled, "Oh, it's you, Ameri. Yeah?"

"Do you know how much further we should go?"

"No idea. Why?"

"I think I heard something... Something like crying."



"Mommy?!" the Poochyena whimpered. He heard movement. Maybe that was her. Please... I'm so cold... and hungry... Help...

He weakly lifted one eyelid and saw through the blurry coat of a tear and in the sense of his slight night vision, approaching feet, but that was all. He couldn't even tell if they were paws or... or something else. Mom? No. It felt different. And it smelled like blood.

"He-lp!" he cried, voice echoing into the air in a loud whine. The other Pokemon twitched, then came straight at him, intent on killing.

A sharp pain jabbed into the Poochyena's stomach as he screamed again. He felt a claw dig through his coarse fur and penetrate the skin almost immediately, and warm blood slipped through the opening in great quantities. The pain was so bad, and he was so weak, that he couldn't even anticipate the next blow, to the head.

Suddenly, a loud screech sould be heard. And in the next moment, sounds of two Pokemon having a vicious fight nearby came to his ears. Oh Arceus, no! They're fighting over who gets to eat me!

And then a bite tore into his flesh from behind. What are they doing?! They're all trying to kill me at once! he realized with horror. PLEASE!! HELP ME!!! ANYBODY!



"Ameri!" Soto called, "Look over there! Predators! Fighting over something!! I see a furry body!"

Ameri immediately lifted her head, ready for action. At that moment something happened to every muscle in her body. She tensed up uncontrollably and felt her mind screaming. Run!! Run!!

No, she told herself determinedly, I have to fight the Eevee's instincts. That Poochyena will die if I don't. And against all the fear and tenseness pounding in the back of her mind, Ameri lunged forward.

There was a Linoone, sleek and tan with fresh blood dripping from its huge claws. It had whirled around from its fight with a Pidgeotto flying overhead to see Ameri, and then its blue eyes gleamed with what looked like desire. Desire to kill.

It attacked, fangs bared, right for Ameri. But the Eevee found it in herself to make a nimble dodge and ram into it from behind. The Linoone yelped, but didn't stop. Instead, it came back twice as hard, and it was Ameri who cried out when its claw hit her flank. Feeling vibrations in the ground, she could tell it was coming back at her for a finishing blow. Not likely...

"Urah!!" she cried, sinking her sharp teeth into the Linoone's back. The larger Pokemon shook itself free, but ran off whimpering before she could even get back up. What about the Pidgeotto?

Ameri turned and saw that the birdlike Pokemon was gone, and also noticed a group of Spinaraks on top of the gray, furry body. Wait, she asked herself, How can I see them clearly?

"GET OFF OF HIM!!!" a voice roared, in a tone that was so angry that Ameri could hardly recognize it. But she saw him, standing there with a brust of orange flame erupting from his curved back. And it was Soto.

The spider-like creatures looked up and let out tiny screams when they saw the fire, and skittered off in a series of grunts and chirps. Soto's flame calmed, but did not go out. He kept it lit to light the darkness. Ameri saw the Poochyena panting heavilly, breath weak and raspy. The poor thing's fur was all spiked out by dried blood and who knows what else, and all of his ribs showed visibly as if the skin was perfectly attatched and stuck to them. He looked like he had barely any muscle to walk, and much less of the energy he'd need to do that.

"Joku?" Ameri asked. One eye looked up weakly, bloodshot and with white showing. "We're here to take you home."

The Poochyena did not reply, and his eyelid fell shut with a sigh. But it was a sigh of relief. Soto stepped by and heaved Joku's head and shoulders over his own head.

"Come on," he told Ameri. She held up his rear with her back, and they began walking back the way they came.

And... Chapter Four... (someone reply!)
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"Oh my goodness! You... You made it back!!" cried Fyra as Ameri and Soto appeared from the trees and stepped onto the stone paving, Joku still heaved onto their backs. As soon as the Mightyena saw her son though, she raced over to meet them with instant concern and worry.

"Ugh!" Soto groaned, falling over with exhaustion. He was too tired to say another word, and lay there, fur matted and tongue lolling out. Joku had also trailed down with him, and lay weakly beside the Cyndaquil. Ameri nudged Soto with her paw.

"Soto, now's not the time to let yourself give in. He's a lot worse off than you, and he needs us."

"You're... right," he managed to utter. With all his strength he stood up and saw Fyra standing there, tears already forming in her eyes.

"I don't know how to feel... Happy that he's here or... or sad that to see him in this state..." she said, voice barely louder than a soft whisper. "How can we help him? There's no Chansey that can work with him here, and I doubt we'll find anyone else at this hour."

Ameri looked at the sky, surprised to see it already orange and full of melted shades. Then she turned back down to Joku. The Poochyena was even worse than before, unconsious and breathing ever such small, weak breaths. His wounds from the attack in the woods were already starting to scab up, but the trip back had opened some of them again, and those wounds has crimson blood leaking from them like sap from a tree's bark. He was the image of utter helplessness, and it seemed as if every second brought him an inch closer to death. How many inches would it take?

"Alas," an unfamiliar voice said, deep and strong. All three of them whirled around, and saw another Pokemon standing behind them. He looked very dignified, with skin that was golden-yellow and a badge gleaming on a sash tied around his neck. The Pokemon stood proud and tall, hind legs supporting his whole body and hands clutching a pair of silver spoons. Ameri could not remember ever seeing a Pokemon as noble or as wise-looking as he, and in the rest of her days never did.

"I can do my best efforts to help this poor child in need," he added in that rich voice of his. Ameri noticed Soto gasping in awe, and Fyra's tail low in a way that seemed submissive with respect.

"It's... It's Alakazam..." Soto gasped, "One of greatest Rescue Team Leaders in all history..."

Ameri looked up at the Pokemon now standing before her and Joku in front of her. He sure does look like a grand leader, she thought to herself. And Alakazam put one of his claws onto Joku's lame body, closing his eyes in deep meditation. Soto's gaze became even more amazed as they watched Joku's fur rise and fall back, much more calm and clean, and his wounds seal up. They saw the Poochyena's chest heave up in a deep inhale, and then release a refreshing stream of air. Alakazam lifted his claw, and opened his eyes. Joku twitched, then let out a huge yawn and slowly let his own eyes drift open. They were bright gold, like sunflowers in the summer with petals so brilliant.

"M... Mommy?" He sounded just like a young child who had been releaved of a great stress. And so he was.

"Joku!"

"What... What happened? I was in the woods... And I was attacked, but then... Then someone saved me. Was it you? Or... Or was it..." Joku looked up and saw Alakazam standing above him, "Alakazam!! You... Your team rescued me?! That's... that's an honor, sir!"

"No," Alakazam laughed, "It was these two brave little Pokemon here, Soto and..."

Ameri saw his eyes meet hers in a sudden pause. That split second seemed like a long time, when their eyes met and looked infinately into each other, as if to look through the pupils and into the souls. Then, as quickly as it had begun, it ended.

"... and Ameri," Alakazam finished.

"Wow! How'd you know our names?!" Soto exclaimed.

"My psychic powers tell me a lot about the world," Alakazam replied happily. Joku gave Ameri and Soto a look so full of admiration and awe that it felt like they had just saved a whole world from doom. But Ameri didn't notice that as much. She was staring at Alakazam, who now seemed to have completely forgotten that he had made that pause in his words. That or, he was trying to make it seem like he had.

He found something, she thought, He definately just noticed something about me. Do I know what it is? Does it matter?

But her thoughts were inturrupted by Joku's excited voice.

"I wanna be in your Rescue Team! Can I mommy?" he yelped, full of energy and hope. Fyra did not reply before Soto, but pride shone in her eyes clearly.

"Really?" Soto asked, "That would be great, except... We're not a Rescue Team..."

He sounded very disappointed to admit that, and Joku's spirits seemed to fall as well for that moment. Alakazam broke in though, and saved them all from a depressing truth.

"Well, not until now!"

"What?!" Soto cried, joy cracking through his voice.

"You obviously proved that you two are the perfect Pokemon to be a Rescue Team! Why you could easilly be one of the great Teams like mine! It just takes time and effort."

"You... You can do that? You can make us a Rescue Team?" Soto asked.

"Why of course! All you will need is a name and a registration, and you're in business," Alakazam replied, "And I doubt there would be anyone better to name it than Ameri now."

Ameri's eyes widened with surprise as everyone turned to her expectantly. What does he expect of me?

"Well?" Fyra said, head tilted to one side with interest.

"Rescue Team..." Ameri uttered, nervous and uncertain. A name suddenly hit her mind. A name she had become all too familiar with, yet at this moment, could not remember where it came from. But it seemed perfect. Perfect for the place. Somehow, she knew it was. "... Rescue Team Yukon?"

There was a slight moment of silence, as if everyone were tasting the name on their tongues; getting its feel. Soto's face broke into a smile.

"Okay!" he exclaimed, "Rescue Team Yukon it is!"

"Yay!!" howled Joku, "And whenever I can, I'll join your Team!! You guys are cool! Thank you so much! You saved my life."

"Yes," added his mother, "I have no idea how I could possibly repay you, for not only did you save my son, but you saved my whole world when no one else would, and I was giving up hope."

Ameri felt tears of pride and happiness swell up in her eyes, warm and wet. She had done something great. No doubt if they hadn't gone, this hopeful, happy little Pokemon before her wouldn't be here. He would be dead, with his only remains being some fur in the woods and the sadness of his mother. They had made that difference, her and a friend she had only met yesterday, in a wolrd and body she'd never known. It was a new and wonderful feeling.

"Meet me in the town square tomorrow," Alakazam told them, "And we will officially have you registered. But for now, I think you brave heroes should get some sleep. Team Yukon begins tomorrow."

"Yes!" Soto cried, "Ameri, my dream is about to come true!! Thank you! Thank you so much!!" The tears came flowing from both Ameri and Soto then, and as they siad their goodbyes, they watched the sun set above the horizon.



"... Soto?" Ameri asked, laying down near him in the dark hut. It was night, and they were prepared to go to sleep finally, before the big day tomorrow The day when Team Yukon would become a real Rescue Team.

"Yeah?"

"How do you see with your eyes slanted almost shut like that?"

"Huh? Well, I guess I just do. That's the way Cyndaquil's eyes are I guess."

"Hm..." Ameri now felt close to Soto, and he seemed to feel the same way. They were already just great friends, and felt like they could share everything. It was an awkward, yet wonderful bond they shared. I guess after you save a life with someone, you really get to know them...

"Why ask?" Soto replied.

"Just wondering... I always just thought it was weird how Cyndaquils have their eyes so squinted that they look like they're closed..."

"... Hey Ameri... Are you still worried about what happened? You know, yesterday when we first met by the river? Have you even thought about it?"

"I... I don't know..."

"Are you still sure you were human before?"

"...Yes. I am not a Pokemon... But I have no idea why I am here now, or why I'm an Eevee or what I was like before..."

"Do you... want to go back?"

"Back to what?"

"Life as a human in your other world?"

Ameri was silent with wonder of how to answer his question. She didn't know what to say. Today had changed everything, and there would be a bright future for them no matter what happened here, even if she wasn't really a Pokemon and knew next to nothing about being one. And then, she could go back to the life she had known. But did she really want something like that? To forget what she had started here and risk returning to another world without knowledge of anything? She shook her head.

"I don't know, but I think I want to make something here," she replied. Soto looked surprised.

"Really? You mean... You really want to be a on a Rescue Team with me?"

"Well, sure. We're friends. I'd hate to say goodbye. Not that I could, even if I did want to..."

"That's true. I'm sorry I bothered you with the question."

"No, that's fine."

The two of them did not speak any more, for there was nothing else to be said. And they fell asleep in calm harmony, dreaming of a promising furture, full of dangers and adventures, friends and foes, loyalty and trust.

*sigh*... Chapter Five and Six I guess... If you read it at all, please reply! Even if you thought it was terrible, uninteresting, and totally pointless! I want to know, even if you do think it was bad, or if you think it was good, or anything! I'm begging that you reply!
_____


It had been maybe a couple weeks since Joku was saved from the Black Woods. The fright of that place still came back to him every time it was dark at night and he settled down to sleep, but he was getting better about dealing with it by now. I'm safe now. Ameri and Soto saved me. I won't have to go back there again until I'm ready to save another helpless Pomemon's life... And that was really all he wanted to think about: Being in Team Yukon. Mother said that he still needed to heal and get some of his strength back. Alakazam couldn't rebuild muscle and meat. But she also said that he might be too young to be on a Rescue Team.

"Pah!" he'd barked when she first told him that, "I can handle it! Ameri and Soto can teach me!"

None of it worked though! Why couldn't his mother understand? She said it was too dangerous, and that even when he was all better he'd still need at least a few months of age. Months! I want to be on their team now!! It's bad enough I have to wait for my strength to come back to me!

And that part of it was painful as well. Joku had to walk and exercise more, his mom said that it would make him strong again. Why couldn't he be on a Rescue Team if he was such a strong, tough Pokemon? She said he was very tough, and brave, and all that stuff, but he was too young. Oh, too young.

What about Ameri and Soto? They weren't grown up yet. Joku'd known Soto before from one day when they met in the town. He seemed fun-loving and cheerful, like a child. But what about Ameri? She was pretty silent when he had met her. Where had she come from? In a tiny town like Wezla, you generally knew everyone, even if you weren't very old yet. Joku knew a lot of Pokemon who lived around here. Lombre, Snubbull, Whiscash... So where was Ameri before all this?

Maybe she came from another town, he thought, or Soto rescued her too. I want to be just like them, wherever they came from!

Joku pounced up and tried to attack a little flying insect with his paw, and landed clumsilly on the grass. His mother turned around from the shop counter, eyes showing concern.

"Be careful, son," she warned before turning back. Joku sat up and let out a small snarl. I'm not a little kid any more! I can look after myself.

"Pleasure doing business with you, Miss Fyra," Ginkja, one of the Keckleon merchants said in his strange, exotic tone.

"Yes, yes! Thank you for stopping by!" added in his brother, Gankji. Joku looked up at them from below their wooden counter and stick canopy, the common sea of questions popping into his naive mind.

"Why are you green when your brother is purple?" he asked Ginkja, head tilted in wonder. Ginkja curved his long reptillian mouth into a smile like he always did when he was asked a question. A strange smile, as if he was itching to give an answer, eyes narrowed slightly.

"Why, that is simple. Most of us Keckleon are indeed green, but my brother, here, he is a special case. He was born a different color, which is very rare. One in a million chance our mother always said," he replied.

"Wow!" Joku awed, feeling pleased with himself on gaining some small new piece of knowledge. "And how come you talk a bit different from most of us from around here?"

"Joku! Hurry along; We still need to give a letter to Pelipper and get home!"

"We will tell you some other time," Gankji said,"But now you should probably listen to your mother."

"Indeed," his brother threw in, "When we did not listen to our mother, we would have to clean the merhchant's counters with our tongues! Very gross!"

Joku left quickly while they rambled on with each other, and trailed after his mother in frustration. Why did she always have to take him away when he was just about to get into something? Joku liked the Keckleon brothers. He thought they were neat because of their strange accent and the different kinds of responces he would get when he asked questions.

Choklo (who a lot of people just called 'Pelipper') wasn't like them at all. Sure, he was fun to talk to, just like everyone really, but his answers were average and normally predictable. They never actually saw Choklo very often, since he was off delivering mail. Instead, there were the Delibirds that worked with oranizing and carrying the mail to him well as Post Office Customer Service.

Today was different, however, because the blue-winged bird came flying down from the opening in the roof right as Joku and his mother came in, huge beak no longer full of mail to be delivered.

"Hey!" he called, flapping downward onto a small wooden stand that he always sat on while taking a break. "We've got visitors!"

"Hello, Pelipper," Joku's mother replied, "Joku, would you grab the letter out of my bag?"

Joku nodded and used his paw to lift open the brown bag hanging around his mother's furry neck. He moved it around and pulled out a folded white paper with letters carefully scribbled onto it by his mother's claws. claw. To Umbrya of Kilaku, it read on the front. Umbrya was a friend of hers; an Umbreon. She said they'd been friends ever since they were pups, and then when Umbrya's merchant skills were requested for a job in Kilaku, another town, she moved away. But they still wrote to each other.

"Well, I'll get right on that one ASAP," Choklo called, sounding ready to be stocked up with mail.

"You want me to bring it to you, boss?" one of the Delibirds squaked. Choklo nodded.

"Yeah, with any other mail we may have. And stop calling me boss, Rey. You don't gotta do that."

"Okay, boss," Rey replied. Choklo let out a sigh that was half laughter.

"Alrighty then!" he said, after the bottom of his beak had been filled with about five letters. "Oh, and Igzy?"

"Huh?" asked a bored looking female Delibird.

"Post up the new stuff for the message board! It's by the shelf where it always is!"

"Right, boss!" Igzy replied, heading right toward a collection of rolled up papers and things by a shelf full of mail. It was all pressed against the back wall, which was incredibly high and tall. Igzy stuffed the papers into her tail, which was exactly like a big white bag, and rushed outside to post it up. Choklo shrugged and flew off, out into the sky.

"Come on then, Joku," the Mightyena urged, "Let's get home."

As they passed the message board outside (which surprisingly had the new papers put up already), Joku saw the Rescue Mission articles. Oh how he wanted to do those missions with Ameri and Soto. Oh well, he told himslef, When I get a bit better off, then I'll show mom that I can do it!




"Am-meri..."

"Am...meeeri..."

It's you.
You again.
I feel your presence every night.
Hear your voice in my ears.
But I never see you.

"Ammeeeerriii..."

If I can talk with you...
If I can see you and ask you
All the questions that I have...
If I can find out who you are,
Can I find out who I am?

...

"Ameri... Ameri..."

...


Ameri woke up to the same feeling of loss and frustration that she had every day since... Since a long time ago. She'd stopped keeping track of the days. Who cared? They were a Rescue Team, and there wasn't time for her to worry about herself and her own matters when lives were at stake and Pokemon were in need of help. She couldn't pay much attention to those dreams, even if they did seem like more than just dreams. Especially since she was the leader. Well, Soto had sort of fallen into a submissive position while she took the dominant stance and ended up with him as her deputy and partner.

Right now though, there wasn't much to be deputy or leader of. Just them. No one else had joined yet, and they were fine with that. There was a little Shroomish who lived in the woods nearby with hopes, but he knew his limits well, and he was still very young. Younger than Joku. His name was Orion, and he proved to be a very good potential recruit for the future, but for now, he seemed content with groing a little bit older and getting a little bit stronger. Ameri saw this as commendable, and would make him a great member if he would remain so agreeable.

Neither she nor Soto minded the lack of other members. As long as they were there, the Rescue Team worked and operated well. Green bandanas and Bronze-coloreed badges symbolized their team. It was a sort of proud team spirit, the bandanas around their necks, and the badges were what showed the world what they could do to help. Sadly, however, the base wasn't as great as they had hoped. It was the same old hut that Soto had given Ameri shelter in all those nights before. She was now standing at the table munching on a Pecha Berry with Soto still asleep. So tasty...

There was suddenly a loud knock on the door, causing Soto to jump up. The little Cyndaquil's fur was all up on end, and Ameri's ear flicked up with surprise. She bounded over to the door, and saw a Murkrow standing there, black feathers fine and yellow beak sharp.

"Oh, please!!" she screeched, in such a way that Soto flinched back and tried to cover his ears. It was a loud, high screech, like she was straining her beak to pull it off while she spoke.

"Please, you have to help me!! Rescue Team Yukon, my friend is lost! Oh so lost in the woods!"

"Okay! We can do it," Ameri replied, ears flat against the sides of her face as to prevent from hearing the screech so loud. It didn't really help though.

"Oh how... excellent!" the Murkrow caaed back with a glint in her red eyes, "My firend is a Starly, such a helpless Starly! The tiny brid got lost in the Darkwood of the Badlands! Won't you come to his rescue?"

"Ameri-" Soto was about to say, but Ameri cut in.

"Alright. We will rescue your friend," she replied, when suddenly, another Pokemon came up behind the Murkrow. He was a big creature, with purple skin and huge red eyes. He lifted a claw and curled his face into a grin, revealing a great many sharp, pointed fangs.

"Don't leave it to these fools," he hissed, "Team Domnae can handle the job without any complaint. These ammatures will just fail again and again!"

"But... But Mister Gengar, sir!" the Murkrow squaked back, "They sure don't look like weaklings and ammatures!"

"Well then I'll tell ya' what. If they rescue your Starly friend first, I'll pay you handsomely. If I do it, you join my team! How's that sound?"

The Gengar did not leave time to reply, and left for the forest with confidence in his step. The Murkrow bore a saddened expression.

"I do not want to join his team. Please, go and save my friend!"

"Alright! Come on Soto!" Ameri called, "You can bring a berry with you."

Soto hopped up, grabbed an Oran Berry, and followed Ameri out.



"I can't believe what that Gengar said about us! Who does he think he is?" Soto growled as they walked through the Darkwood.

"I'm not sure if I trust this mission..." Ameri said, "It's like that Murkrow is up to something."

"Oh, don't be silly, Ameri! Of course it's okay!"

"I guess..."

The Darkwood really wasn't as bad as it sounded. The trees had smooth bark, black as coal, and their leaves were yellow and crisp, falling onto the cracked soil, dried by drought. But this is exactly why it was an easy place to do missions in. Not many Pokemon lived here, and those that did were small and skittish. It was not a land that one could survive well in, and that was also why there were no towns for many miles all around the Badlands. It seemed awkward that Murkrow would ask them to go here of all places to perform such an important-seeming mission.

The closely-knit trees began to clear into an opening as they appreached the requested location. Ameri was the first to step through the last of them, and feel the hard, gray-brown earth that lie unbroken. Soto follwed. But there was no tiny brown bird in the clearing. Not even a trace of one. Just three Pokemon; a Zangoose, a Medicham, and a Gengar. And all three looked as if they had pulled off a sly prank.

"Where's Starly?!" Soto spat. The Gengar laughed.

"What Starly?" asked his Zangoose companion, "There never was a Starly here."

"We fooled you," added the Medicham, "And now you have to answer to Rexus!"

The Gengar stepped forward, implying that his name had been called.

"Grakl, the Murkrow, was on our Rescue Team the whole time. You see, we are a Rescue Team that works differently. We want money and power, so that we can one day accomplish a power over the world, Pokemon, Legendaries, and all."

"What?" Soto hissed, "World Domination? That's insane!"

"But it is our goal," Rexus replied, "We are giving you an option. Join us, Team Domnae, and one day we shall accomplish greatness. Refuse, and we'll crush you!"

"Well then bring it on!" Ameri spat back.

Rexus pointed at them, and his partners lunged in first. Zangoose went for Soto while Medicham went for Ameri. The Eevee jumped up high enough, and gave a huge ram with her own head into Medicham's. Medicham fell backwards, but delivered a sharp kick into Ameri's flank. The Eevee landed hard on the ground, and stood up, tottering. These guys are pretty tough. That kick almost knocked me into a tree! she thought. And then, she leapt at Medicham again, only to be blown back.

Suddenly, an idea sprung to mind, which formed into action immediately. Ameri struck Medicham with her tail in a mock hit, and then raced toward Soto, who was fighting Zangoose. In the last second, right before breaking into their clash, she leapt aside, and Medicham crashed into Zangoose. The two tustled in confisuion, but after a moment of fighting, stood back up. Zangoose looked worse off than Medicham, though bouth were fairly hurt. Medicham lifted a hand, and with its psychic energy pulled the exhausted Zangoose into the air. Then, it flung Zangoose at them, full speed.

The large, white-furred creature knocked right into Ameri, flinging her back. The force used to make the attack, however, made Medicham fall from its own exhaustion. Both of the foes were out, unable to continue. And Ameri was barely hanging on. Who fights like that?! she asked herself, Using their partners as weapons!

Rexus smiled darkly, and stepped over Ameri. She turned to see Soto, weak and breathing heavilly. He looked too helpless to do much. Rexus's grin grew wider still, and she felt his hot breath on her fur.

"Your puny little Cyndaquil friend can't help you now. You know what I do with fools who refuse to join me?" he asked. Ameri shivered with fear. "I kill them."

And a dark fury of black energy swirled around him, as he prepared to slam it all into the helpless little Eevee below his claws.



In that moment, something clicked inside Soto. He could not stand by and watch this twisted stranger do this to Ameri. She was his friend. And she needed him now more than ever. The rage against Rexus built up inside of him. It was like a beast, imprisoned and in a fit to escape. In that moment, it did.

Soto let out a roar that sounded unnatural coming from a tiny, fuzzy rodent. The flames of his anger erupted from his back, and flew over him, covering his body. He saw through their orange embrace Rexus stopping to look up at him, fright plain in his eyes. Ameri looked all the more surprised. And Soto felt himself begin to glow with a warm light, flames still circling him, and his body begin to change.

The long nose of a Cyndaquil shrunk down and his skull became more curved in the face, joining with the nose. His tiny ears, barely visible being so small, grew longer and broader, until they were similar to those of some sort of cat. Soto felt his curved, bunched spine shift into a long and outstretched position, which made it very long indeed. And he could feel new and stronger muscles growing from his insides, bundling up and itching to release their energy. Itching to show the world their strength. A new hot sensation came to his forehead, just like the sensation in his lower back which was still lit with flames. And a new flame burned there, between his ears and above his eyes. The last thing he did was let his eyes widen fully, and open into a full sight of the flames and world once more. Not a puny little Cyndaquil anymore! Ain't that right?



Ameri could not believe what she had just seen. Soto was a Quilava now, a Pokemon full of energy and flames. And his own flame burned brightly now, two great beasts spouting all their fume. He had a sly smile on his face, and his eyes shone with the same expression. They were a bright shade of blue, full and hopeful.

She turned to Rexus, and saw that he was shivering with fear now. The Gengar cried out and rushed away, into the black trees. And Soto slowly let his flames calm down, and retreat back into the red spots of fur from whence they came.

"You did it, Soto!!" Ameri exclaimed, with all the strength she could muster. "You rescued your own leader! I couldn't have a better deputy!"

Soto's eyes seemed to fill up with pride in that moment. Then, he grabbed the Rescue Team Badge kenpt in the fold of his bandana, which still hung at his neck as always. Ameri remembered the day when they had been given those bandanas. 'If they can teleport you back home, then why can't all Pokemon just have them? Then we wouldn't need Rescue Teams," she had suggested to Alakazam.

'But alas, they are made from only the best materials, and fitted with only the best of power. These badges are not things that can be produced for everyone. They are very special," he had replied. And that made both Ameri and Soto understand what an honor it really was to be a Rescue Team.

"Let's get back," he told her, in the same voice he'd always had. Just a hint of difference hung in it. Ameri closed her eyes as their Rescue Badges glowed with white light and brought them home.
*****
And yes, I know you don't evolve until you've beaten the game in MD. I just thought that this is more realistic, and that the only reason it was prevented in the game was because that would make your members too powerful for the early game.

Prologue:

I am bound my the laws

Click to expand...

I think you meant to put 'by' instead of 'my' there.

"Ha!", the trainer laughed. A cruel laugh.

Click to expand...

You could have made that little line sound a lot better:

"Ha!", the trainer laughed cruelly.

Click to expand...

or

"Ha!", the trainer laughed. It was a cold, cruel laugh.

Click to expand...

There are definitely more options, but those are the main two.

So this was a Ninetales. A Pokemon spoken of only in legends... Of course it was real, but, it was almost like a myth, fur white as snow covering all nine of its magnificent, long tails. Tuavii had always wanted to see and meet one. Not like this though. How could her trainer dare to aggrivate it? To pull one of those tails. One of those oh-so-perfect tails. How big of an insensitive idiot was he? And had he never heard the legend? Her trainer yanked one of the tails again, this time much harder. Stupid boy.

Click to expand...

You could have also changed things around here, too:

So this was a Ninetales. A Pokemon spoken of only in legends... Of course it was real, but, it was almost like a myth, fur white as snow covering all nine of its magnificent, long tails.

Tuavii had always wanted to see and meet one. Not like this though. How could her trainer dare to aggrivate it?

To pull one of those tails... one of those oh-so-perfect tails. How big of an insensitive idiot was he? And had he never heard the legend?

Her trainer yanked one of the tails again, this time much harder.

Stupid boy.

Click to expand...

See? This way, Tuavii's thoughts stand out more to the reader, and helps him or her distinguish them from the rest of the text.

Chapter 1:

"So, who are ya'? Never seen you around here. My name's Soto!" the Cyndaquil greeted in an overly-friendly tone that slightly annoyed Ameri at the moment.

Click to expand...

It flows better when you put 'Slightly annoyed Ameri at the moment' into another sentence. You could have also worked some more on Cyndaquil's description in those lines.

There were some minor mispellings I noticed too:

anmesia

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reccomended

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The story, overall, was really good. It's really different from other PMD fics I've seen, and really drew me in! You have a really nice idea here, but you need to work on your description a little more. Hope I helped!

Thanks! I was about to give up on adding this from lack of replies! I already wrote the story, and I'm just putting it here chapter by chapter, but I'm looking for advice so my future stories are better than this... Thank you so much for the reply! And here's the next chapter...

_________________pie_______________________

Chapter Seven-Allies and Enemies


It was yet another day. Two days after the even with Team Domnae. Soto was still angry about it all, but Ameri had gotten over it. The way she saw it, they would never do anything against them again and get away with it. So, days went as usual. They checked the Message Board for missions and completed simple tasks. Commonly there would be lost Pokemon and sometimes friends who wanted to see each other and needed help to cross a harsh place, like the Western Forest or the Badlands. By this time, they did missions with very little hardships and had begun to feel like just another good Rescue Team.

Ameri still had the dreams. The dreams of a voice, talking to her and calling her. She tried to ignore them, but they were becoming more and more vivid. And she was convinced that someone was trying to talk to her in these dreams. Still, she didn't think about it too much. She told Soto, that was all.

This particular day, after the usual breakfast, there was a familiar face to meet Ameri and Soto outside. It was Joku. They hadn't seen the Poochyena in a while, and he was looking much better. No ribs stuck out, and he walked strong and well. Ameri smiled when she saw him so healthy. She still remembered how weak he had been when they made their first rescue. Immediately she pushed the thought away with a shiver. At leat he was doing great now.

"Hey guys! Woah!!" he gasped, looking over at Soto, "Is that... Soto?"

"Yup!" Soto replied, "I'm a Quilava now! Isn't it cool?"

"Yeah! I can't wait 'til I evolve some day!" Joku said with plain admiration.

"Well, what brought you here?" Ameri asked. Joku's eyes flicked back to her, looking more serious again.

"Right. There was something going on in the town square. I think it has to do with Team Shifty. You know them, right?"

Ameri tilted her head, trying to think of where she'd heard that name. Oh yeah! That Shiftry and Nuzleaf had rejected Fyra's mission. I wonder if Joku knows that they did that...

"Uh-hu," Ameri said.

"I'm not quite sure... You two should come though," Joku urged, and padded off with bounding, hyper energy toward the square. The pavement lead onto a bridge that crossed the Wezla River (the same river that lead into the Tiny Woods), and across there were all the buildings of the square. As Ameri and Soto walked, the thoughts of the town came to mind. It was a very busy plase, full of Pokemon normall rushing around to do their business. There was a store and a bank and a storage, and all sorts of other little places to take care of things. Townsfolk always seemed to have something to talk and gossip about, so Ameri knew quite a few Pokemon who hung around there by now.

As they came into the stone-paved square, they noticed a commotion in the center. There was that Shiftry, just as Joku had said, with his black bandana around his left leg as it had been the first day Ameri saw him. Kunea, the Nuzleaf, also stood there beside him. And another Pokemon, a Jumpluff, was in front of them. Ameri felt as if she were looking back on that day when Fyra was so distressed, through some sort of break in time.

"My friend just needs to be blown from a rock! And Mt.Raggidre isn't too tough to scale, particularly for a Team of your level! Please!"

"And why would we do it for next to nothing?" Kunea spat.

"You're gonna need to do better than a few lousy coins!" added the Shiftry. Ameri realized she still hadn't gotten his name.

The Jumpluff sighed, and began walking away, when she suddenly stopped. Blocking her way was a Pokemon Ameri, Soto, and Joku all remembered perfectly. Without him, Team Yukon would never have been made, and Joku maybe would be dead. Alakazam... The Jumpluff's face lit up as she saw him and looked up at him.

"Rescue Teams are not formed for the sole purpose of money," said a great orange dragon behind him with a flame burning on the tip of its tail. A green, craggy beast on the opposite side of Alakazam nodded in agreement.

"They are formed to aid all Pokemon in need, no matter what the reward is," added he.

"And true that is," Alakazam replied, "As it always has been since the first Rescue Team formed centuries ago. So it was when you declined a mission save the mother of a particular Seedot, and not too long ago when you chose not to save the son of Fyra the Mightyena, who was lost in the woods. Many need help, Deyarcus, and you are a leader who should give that help."

Upon the mention of the Seedot, Kunea lowered his head, an uncertain look in his eyes. Upon the mention of himself, Joku's expression became cold and loathing. "You..." he growled under his breath.

Deyarcus let out a snarl and turned his shaggy head away from Alakazam, looking angered.

"Fine! We will do it!" he spat. And he rushed off. Kunea hesitated, but followed with slight reluctance. Alakazam gave a slight triumphant smile. Jumpluff looked back at him and blushed.

"Thank you," she said. Alakazam shook his head.

"It is my pleasure." And with that, they turned and left. Lombre, a Pokemon who was standing nearby, jumped up and clapped.

"Whoo!! Alakazam's Team is so cool!!"

Joku turned to Ameri. "Ameri... Is what he said... true? Deyarcus didn't want to rescue me? Please be honest."

Ameri sighed. "Yes. It is. Your mother says a lot of teams would not help you, because she had no pay and the mission didn't seem worth it."

Joku lowered his head. "I'm not worth it, huh?" he asked in a small voice as a tear dripped from his eye. Soto stepped over and put a comforting paw on his shoulder.

"Don't worry, Joku," he said, "Some Pokemon are just like that. But you're friends with nice Rescue Teams like us and Alakazam's Team. Everyone around you is here to help."

Lombre also nodded his head in a sympathetic gesture.

"Yeah," he said, "We care about our Joku!"

Joku flicked an ear, but didn't lift his head. Fyra stepped over.

"He can be sensitive about things like this. He'll be okay," she whispered to them. And the Mightyena and Poochyena left back toward the southern path, leading to a sort of village with many huts and homes. Lombre shrugged.

"I guess he's just a bit young," he said.

"Heh," another voice broke in. Ameri and Soto recognized it, and both of thair minds clicked to the same thoughts. Not him! Why him or all people, now?! "They're all just damn stupid if you ask me!"

"Rexus!" Ameri hissed. The Gengar stepped forward and glared at her and Soto.

"Especially you two!" he added with a laugh.

"I wouldn't come around in public, Rexus," Soto growled, "You tried to kill Ameri and we can report it with you around!"

"Oh, but me? Kill? Why I never!" he replied in a mocking voice, "Without no proof you ain't gonna get nowhere! And Team Domnae ain't done with you yet! Just you wait, Soto! We'll get back at you for that humiliation!"

And Rexus left them, cackling darkly. Ameri grolwed slightly.

"The nerve of that dirty rotten bastard!" Soto cursed. Ameri gave him a look that said, Calm down. It's not worth it here.

"Why are some people so rude?" Lombre asked, not expecting an answer.

"What I'd like to know is why we can't all just get along," Ameri replied. "We're all Rescue Teams here. I don't see why we can't work together for once and accept things! So what if there's low pay? So what if you can't be the most powerful Pokemon ever? That's not what Rescue Teams are about!"

"You sound just like Sasha," Soto said, admiringly. Ameri felt a strange feeling there, finding it a bit awkward to be compared with someone Soto loved as family and respected as a role model.

"Well, I guess we should get back to our job," Ameri said, ending that topic of discussion. Soto nodded. And they headed off for the Message Board by the Pelipper Post Office.



NOTE-This next chapter is a bit weird, so just so you know, it's supposed to be. It switches from the thoughts of many Pokemon; only one of which has been introduced so far. They will all appear later. It's the fears, predictions, and current words of the Pokemon mentioned. So when you read it, don't think it's about Ameri and Soto directly, or anything directly involved in the previous chapter(s).

Chapter Eight-Disturbance


He felt it.

Oh yes, Koro could feel it. It pounded against him with the beating of his heart, and he could sense it in the blood that pulsed through his veins. It was getting stronger with the air's movements. Koro knew. He was destined to know. He was born to know.

He looked up at the clouds, sniffing anxiously. They were thick and dark, heading West. Quickly. Too quickly. The clouds never moved so fast. A cold breeze brushed through Koro's fur, sending it up in white strands. It is strong. It cannot be fought against. Only can it be stopped by a stronger force. The destruction of its source. And I must bring about the destruction of that force. I am the primary guradian of Balance. And the Balance is disturbed.

Where was he to go, to uphold his duty? His instincts would lead him. They controlled half his being. More than that. He was lead by them and them alone, to guide his paws and keep his goal in reach. Koro could never let it slip out of reach...

To the Mountain, his heart whispered, To the Mountain of Frost where the Queen of Curses lies. There your way will be revealed.

And so Koro turned away from the clouds and land of green grass that felt so close to utter demise. He turned away and ran, not slowing or speeding, on his four legs, toward the place his instinct led him to. To the Mountain, for there lies the answer to what is yet to come.


"Ameri..."

...

"Ameri... I... I am your..."

Yes?

"I am your... Guardian..."

And do you know... who I am... why I am here?

"You are... not ready... Yet. There is great disaster coming, Ameri. And... You need to face... it..."

...

Fading...

"Au... Revoir..."



"THIS IS MY DOMAIN! NONE SHALL PASS! ALL INTRUDERS ARE EVIL, AND THEY BRING DISASTER!! I SHALL DESTROY YOU!"



Kwaaah!!!
I feel it!
It is coming!
So much closer now!
Demise...
Death...
Destruction...
It is as if all myths are coming true!
Kwaaah!!!



My mountain...
My flames...
I shall raise you...
I shall help you...

My forest...
My snow...
I shall free you...
I shall help you...



What is this?
All this that is coming.
I forsee danger and destruction.
Times of terror.
And I see one hero.
And I see the one.
The one reincarnated
from their world to ours.
By the curse of my tails.
And the life of their companion.



"Oh, Ameri..."

Sorry for the late reply, but I was busy with other things such as my own fic and this annoying project I have to finish by Monday... Anyways, here's the review for your latest chapters!

Some misspellings I noticed in both:

foolsih

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even

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normall

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furure

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Somethething's

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leat

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plase

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grolwed

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guradian

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forsee

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One question: Do you use Microsoft Word when you type your fic? It'll help you alot in detecting misspellings! ;)

Chapter 7:

Nice job on this one! I can see yuor description has improved, and the story builds with every chapter!

Oh no, it's me with my phrasing again :|

It was yet another day. Two days after the even with Team Domnae.

Click to expand...

becomes:

It was yet another day. Exactly two days had passed by since the event with Team Domnae.

Click to expand...

Sounds better, doesn't it?

Commonly there would be lost Pokemon and sometimes friends who wanted to see each other and needed help to cross a harsh place, like the Western Forest or the Badlands.

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That was bit of run-on sentence there! Try inserting some more commas:

Commonly there would be lost Pokemon, and sometimes friends, who wanted to see each other and needed help to cross a harsh place like the Western Forest or the Badlands.

Click to expand...

One more I noticed:

"Fine! We will do it!" he spat. And he rushed off.

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becomes...

"Fine! We will do it!" he spat. With that, he rushed off.

Click to expand...

Chapter 8:

I really liked how you wrote out this chapter. I can pretty much visulaize what was going on there!

They were thick and dark, heading West. Quickly. Too quickly. The clouds never moved so fast.

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becomes:

They were thick and dark, heading West. Quickly. Too quickly. The clouds had never moved so fast before.

Click to expand...

It sounds better that way^^

Overall, I really enjoyed reading these last two chapters. This is getting to be a really interesting story, and I can't wait to see what happens in the next chapter! ;)

Thanks for the review! I only had Word Pad to type this story up, so errors are common :disappoin... I'll put up the next two chapters now I guess though!

___________________________pie____________________-

Chapter Nine-The Thunderbird


He hadn't made it back. Deyarcus was still gone, and now Ameri would lead the expedition to save him. It was a party of three Pokemon: Her, Soto, and Lombre, who had volunteered to come along. Now, everyone had a serious air about them, like the anticipation of a storm about to break. Indeed, the air was thick and foggy, and clouds did hang in the sky, waiting for the perfect time to unleash their rage. The group stood in front of the Team Yukon Base, prepared for anything. Who knew what would happen? If Deyarcus couldn't return within a week, something bad had to be up there. But there was no one else to go. Alakazam said his team was busy with a much tougher mission, and that they should go. Or did he mean it as something else...

"Ameri," Soto said, "Are you ready?"

Ameri nodded, and flicked her ears toward Lombre.

"I'm all set. It's you I'm worried about, though. You're the only one of us who hasn't evolved, and you're only an Eevee..."

"Don't underestimate one for their size," Soto answered for Ameri, trying to take a wise tone, "She's stronger than anyone would think. Just because she's not evolved doesn't mean anything."

A sillhouette appeared in the fog, coming from the town square area. All three of them turned toward it in interest. A Pokemon wishing to see us off? Alakazam or Fyra maybe? No. It was Joku.

"Hey guys," he said in a low, solemn way.

"Joku," Soto greeted, "Were you coming to wish us good luck?"

"No," replied the Poochyena. He loked up at them, eyes more serious and loyal than they had ever been. "I came to join you."

Lombre's mouth hung open slightly with surprise. Ameri flicked her eyes back to where Joku had walked from, and then back to him.

"What about your mother?" she asked.

"She's still asleep. But I want to go."

"We're rescuing Deyarcus. I thought you were still upset about how he handled your mother when you were lost," reminded Soto.

"That would make me just as bad as him if I chose not to help for such a reason."

Ameri was surprised by the wisdom in the young Pokemon's words. She turned to Soto and Lombre.

"He can come."

And with that, the four of them left for Mt.Raggidre, in the center of the Badlands.



"WHO ENTERS MY DOMAIN? MORE INTRUDERS! MORE EVIL! THIS IS MY MOUNTAIN!"



The cold, sharp wind bit Ameri's face like daggers of ice. She clenched her eyes shut and tensed her muscles, shivering with the cold. It was frozen and dry, though the humid black clouds still hung high in the sky above Mt.Raggidre. They were close. The mountain had been high and steep, but they were coming close to the opening in the top that Lombre said he knew of. And there, they would find Deyarcus and Jumpluff's friend.

"It is said..." a voice rang in Ameri's mind, "That a great monster lives here. Go with caution, Ameri."

"Who was that?" the Eevee asked aloud. Everyone stopped climbing the gray rock and turned to her. They starred with silence for a moment, only the slight howling of the wind in the background.

"No... No one said anything, Ameri," Joku replied with an awkward tone.

Ameri stared at them, the voice still echoing in her mind. He was right. This wasn't any of her companions. It was a graceful, feminine voice, bright and vivid. Soto, Lombre, and Joku couldn't have said anything.

"It's just the wind I guess," she lied, "Let's keep on."

"Well it looks like we're close," Soto said, pointing his clawed paw up at a dark hole in the mountain nearby.

"Yep! That's it," Lombre confirmed.

Joku took the first step upwards to break the stop, followed by the others. They came to the opening, breat heavy with exhaustion, and turned to see what they had just scaled.

The whole Mr.Raggidre lay below them, dark and craggy. The ground was too far down to see exactly where it began, but a deep tan ran through the earth furthest below, so they guessed that was the bottom. Suddenly, a loud roar of thunder broke the wind, followed instantly by lightning. and another crash of thunder. Joku shivered for a moment, eyes wide with fear and fur sticking on end, but then the Poochyena shook himself and relaxed. That's right, Ameri thought, Don't let the little things get to you. We're okay.



Inside the cavern, it was pitch-black. Soto's flames lit up the darkness, but he didn't want to waste too much energy on light when there could be something bad ahead. They padded along, Lombre taking up the rear, Soto beside Joku in the middle, and Ameri at the front. Suddenly, Soto's flames lit an opening in the narrow walls; a place where they spread out completely. His flames flickered out. A new light lit the cavern, a light from a huge hole in the top of the mountain, where the outside world streamed in. Lightning flashed and illuminated the dim but visible area, and they saw a pile of grizzly, white fur laying on the stony ground. Deyarcus!

"There he is!" Lombre exclaimed. "Deyarcus! Are you okay?"

The Shiftry twitched and turned his head slightly. His left ear was in tatters, blackened scabs covering it, and they saw bloodstains on the ground under him, red and deep.

"It... it came... It was... Terrible... Ugh... A great bird... A Bird of Thunder... Killed... Hurt..." Deyarcus let out a weak sigh and his head fell back down.

"Guys! Look!" Joku yelped, paw on a strange spot of the ground. There was a series of scrapes and scratches carved into the stone, and still more dried blood. It was splattered in a trail, and also with it were little spots of clear liquid that had dried hard like sap. The trail of blood led to behind a rock, where Soto turned and looked. He froze with shock. Ameri and Joku followed, Lombre still standing beside Deyarcus.

"What... is it?" Lombre asked.

"It's... a Jumpluff..."

"Is it alright?"

"... No. It's... dead."

The Jumpluff was litterally in tatters. The cotton-puffs it bore were all scattered and thrown around, and its blue skin was covred in gashes and bad cuts. One eye was gone, as if it had been pecked out, and the bloodstain covred the ground. A string on the same sappy material mixed with crimson blood still hung from its open mouth, dried permanently to the flesh. The scrapes and spay of blood showed an obvious struggle, and the dead Jumpluff still sitting there instead of being eaten proved that whatever Pokemon did this had been trying to kill out of pleasure or rage.Ameri saw Joku back away, eyes wide and ears folded down, shivering and twitching.

"W-W-What could have done that?" he whimpered, voice pitiful with fear, "It-It-It- killed her!! What if it kills us?!"

"We won't let it," Ameri growled back. Suddenly, Deyarcus's eyes split open.

"It's Zapdos," he whispered.

And a huge crackle of thunder that shook the cavern and split the air tore through the atmosphere. Joku was still whimpering. A loud screech followed the thunder, along with several shards of lightning. Soto and Lombre stood surprised, but ready. A great shadow flew into the cavern from the opening in the roof, shrieking and hissng. Ameri narrowed her eyes and positioned herself, unafraid.

"I AM ZAPDOS, THE THUNDER BIRD!! THIS IS MY MOUNTAIN, AND YOU ARE TRESPASSERS! IS IT YOU WHO BRINGS THE DESTRUCTION WHICH IS TO COME?! IS IT YOU WHO BEARS THE DEMISE THAT WE ALL FEEL IS COMING?!"

"We have no idea what you're talking about!!" Soto yelled back over the howling wind. Zapdos frayed its golden, jagged feathers and thunder came with lightning, loud and bright.

"NONSENSE!! YOU CAME TO RETRIEVE YOUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE BROUGHT THE PLAGUE OF DESTRUCTION! ONE OF THEM HAS ALREADY BEEN SLAIN! AND THE REST OF YOU EVIL-BRINGERS SHALL GO WITH HER!!"

The Thunder Bird flapped its great wings and a shard of lightning tore from them, striking Lombre. Soto spat a fury of flames and smoke, at which Zapdos spat and coughed. This gave Ameri the chance to burrow underground and strike from behind, with such surprising force that Zapdos fell over. Just as the three of them were about to attack again though, its feathers surged with electricity and they were all blasted back, slamming into the craggy walls with a thud. Joku looked at them, eyes full of tears and mouth gaping with fright. Ameri looked at him, gioving him a look that he would remember for the rest of his life. Go, it said, Help us! You can do it.

"Raah!!!" Joku snarled, jumping in and landing a bite on Zapdos's flank. The great bird shrieked and tried to shake Joku off, but the Poochyena would not let go. With that, Zapdos charged with electricity, and Joku fell to the ground, twitching. Ameri, Soto, and Lombre were given their chance. They all struck at once, with a string of fire, a shot of water, and a sharp ramming blow to the chest. Zapdos caaed loudly, and fell back onto the back wall, wincing with pain.

"Joku!" Soto called, "Are you okay?!"

Joku stood up, shivering slightly with his fur all up. The pup shook himself, and turned back to Soto. "Yeah!"

They all jumped back when Zapdos rose, sparks flying through its feathers. But it folded its wings and lowered its head.

"Enough," it said in a now calm voice.

"Huh?" Lombre said aloud.

"Enough fighting. You have shown strength and courage that is not in any way evil. I trust that you are not the bringers of demise."

"But what demise?" Soto asked, "What are you talking about?"

In that moment, a violent shaking began to ripple through the mountain. Soto yelped and jumped up.

"What is this? An earthquake?" Joku cried.

"It has begun," Zapdos said simply. The mountain shook and began to crumble, chunks of rock falling from the ceiling.

"Whaa!! The mountain's falling apart!" Lombre exclaimed.

"You must get out of here," Zapdos commaned, "Now!!"

Ameri and Soto grabbed their badges, and focused on the energy inside them. Lombre rushed back over to Deyarcus's weak body and lifted him, carrying him over to them. Bright light began to glow, and the four Pokemon all huddled close, touching the badges. The last thing they saw before the light illuminated all else was Zapdos rising into the sky as a giant chunk of the mountain fell over where it had been stadning only a moment ago.



Chapter Ten-Everyone's Victory

The town square was full of excitement upon the return of the group. Deyarcus had woken up and managed to get a bandage around the great wound in his stomach from which so much blood had come in Mt.Raggidre. Now he stood to the side of the commotion with Kunea, who was talking to him in privacy.

"I'm glad to be back," Deyarcus said. Kunea gave him a serious and slightly saddened look.

"I wanted to talk to you... About how I joined your team. And became your deputy."

Deyarcus lowered his gaze, looking regretful.

"I know you didn't mean for my mother to die. Regardless, you were driven by greed and didn't really care. But... If you can promise me one thing, since now you know how it feels to be in need of rescue and have no one to help for so long... Promise me... that you will take every mission that is offered to you, regardless of the rewards. Because... I don't want anyone to lose someone like I did. Can you understand?"

"...Yes. I do, Kunea. And I promise you that I will be a better leader from now on. A true Rescue Team Leader, who works for the good of Pokemon. A leader... Like Ameri."

And Kunea smiled with a nod.



"Joku!!" Fyra cried, pushing through the small crowd of Pokemon waiting to ask the brave heroes what happened. "Joku!"

There he was, just as Pelipper had said he would be. "I saw him headed to Mt.Raggidre with Team Yukon's group," he had told her.

"Oh no! I have to go get him before he gets hurt!" she had replied.

"Excuse me, Miss Fyra, but if it were up to me I'd let him go," Pelipper said, "After all, it's his dream to be on a Rescue Team. He's gotta grow up sometime."

"Mom?" Joku barked over the crowd, turning toward her.

"Joku!"

The Poochyena leapt over to her, ignoring the Pokemon around him. He came straight at Fyra and pushed his face into her fur. She licked his ear lovingly. I'm so glad you're safe...

"Mom! It was great! We did it!"

"But what all happened? From what I'm hearing it was anything but pleasant."

"Well, what we really found was scary..."

"And that would be?"

"... Jumpluff's friend. You remember, that was why Deyarcus went."

"Yes?"

"In there, we faced a Legendary Pokemon. It was Zapdos, and it said something about a disaster coming. And, in its rage, Zapdos had already killed her. She was dead."

"Oh... Oh Arceus..."

"And afterwards, when Zapdos had calmed down, the worst quake ever came. Did you feel it here?"

"Yes but it was only a mild one..."

"I think it tore down Mt.Raggidre. Zapdos flew away just as we were teleporting back, and itthe mountain fell apart."

"That's... bad news. Jumpluff will be devistated. But... I'm glad you are safe. At least we have that. And I am proud of you."

"Does this... Does this mean I'm ready to be in a Rescue Team?"

Fyra hesitated, unable to tell what she should say. If I say yes, he will be risking his life every day... And he could die or get seriously hurt at any given time. He would be in constant danger... And if I say no, that would crush his dream and he would hate me forever...

"Well..." I would love to see him happy for the rest of his life, working for justice and saving others. "How about we talk with Ameri tomorrow. And we'll see how it all works out. But I'm fine with it."

"YES!!" Joku howled. And he smiled and barked with excitement and thanks.



"We are honored to have such heroic customers, Miss Ameri and Mister Soto," Ginkja said to the members of Team Yukon, smiling brightly.

"Yes, I am most honored as well," Gankji added in. The two Kecleons stood in front of them along with a crowd of others.

"Hey!" Lombre yowled, "What about me! I helped out!"

"Oh, er, yes," Gankji laughed falsly, "We are honored to have you as our customer as well, Mister Lombre!"

"Hmph," Lombre scoffed. Soto smiled and nudged him.

"Someone's a little jealous!"

"Aww, shut up!"

Ameri laughed out loud, and the two others soon began laughing as well. Next to come up was Choklo, the mail-deliverer. The Pelipper stepped up close to Ameri's ear and lifted his wing to his beak so he could whisper something.

"Later, I'll drop by and get a report from you guys at your base. Bring Lombre, Deyarcus, and Joku too if you can. The Pokemon News is gonna eat this up!"

Ameri nodded. "Alright, Choklo. Thanks for telling me."

Just as Soto was about to ask what he had said, Alakazam came up. Lombre's eyes gleamed with admiration as he bowed down at the great leader's feet.

"Ameri, Soto. I wanted to have a quick word with you..."

"Alrighty!" Soto replied.

"This is a very serious matter. Ameri... I... I know about you. It's not that I've spied or listened in or anything, but I can just sense these things. You are not a Pokemon, and I know it. I have not told anyone of this, but there is someone you should see. His name is Xatu. He lives in the Southern Desert's Great Canyon, and he will be able to explain more. I sense something. Something serious and dangerous. And I think it would be best for you two to go alone and see Xatu. He is wise and knowing, much moreso than I. You should leave tomorrow."

"...Okay," Ameri said. And Alakazam nodded and left, leaving them standing there with wonder.

"Wh... Wha?" Lombre asked, suddenly looking dizzy, "What just happened. I think I dozed off... So, what did Alakazam say, you guys?"

"Nothing," Ameri repied before Soto could say anything. It was obvious that Alakazam had put a sleeping move over him, as to keep Ameri and Soto's message secret. Ameri did not want to ruin that intention.

"Hey!!" a Pokemon cried. It was Snubbull, who normally hung around the village. "Old Whiscash is going to tell a story to celebrate! The Ninetales Legend! I heard it's really good! Anyone who wants to listen can come he says!"

Ameri turned to Soto. Why not? their gazes asked. Lombre joined them.

"Sounds like fun," he said.The three of them made their way along the north path from the square, where Old Whiscash lived in his pond.

Eleven and Twelve. After twelve, the real action of the story begins! To the people that do read this, enjoy~


____________pie_______________



"Come one, come all, and gather round," Old Whiscash called as a group of Pokemon came around his pond. They all gathered on the brilliantly green grass, on the edge of the stone that paved down into the clear waters of the pond. Under the water maybe a few feet was the bottom, made of soft, dark rock that over the ages hed become covered in deep green algae. And the Old Whiscash had been there to watch it all happen. There was a waterfall in the back of the pond, behind which Old Whiscash would go to sleep and do more for himself rather than just tell stories to any who would listen. He raised his blue fins and opened his mouth in a deep breath. He looked to see who the audience was.

"Ah... We have Snubbull and Fyra, as well as our heroes to be honored! Lombre, Joku, Soto, and Ameri! I do welcome you with my highest appreciation. It's Rescue Teams like you who help keep us all well off. Now, I suppose I should find where to begin, eh?"

"Come on, Nepharlil!" Joku pleaded, "We want to hear it!"

"Now now, Joku! Be patient! Nepharlil the Old Whiscash has had plenty of years to forget important details," Old Whiscash laughed, "Ah, now I beleive I remember. The Ninetales Legend. Well, let us begin.

"There once lived a brilliant Pokemon called Ninetales. And, respectively, she had nine beautiful tails, each embedded with a special power of its own. Ninetales was very proud of her tails, as she had been granted them and their power by the Legendary Mew itself. However, that whole issue is another story. All that you must know to understand this story, is that Ninetales was granted her magical tails to teach those who disrespected Pokemon and the laws of the Legends to understand how important it was to respect those laws. And to do that, each tail had an individual power and an individual curse. Each curse was an unthinkable and terrible punishment, but you would only be cursed if you were to be as disrespectful and foolish as to pull one of the nine tails.

"Now, you would immagine there would be no one as foolish, as cruel, or as stupid as to pull one of Ninetale's fine tails, but alas, there was one. And it was a human."

At the end of that sentence, everyone gasped excpt Ameri and Soto. Old Whiscash felt a bit of pride for himself, having gotten them so involved in the story already. He continued.

"And so, Ninetales rose to meet the human, and she saw them with their loyal companion, a Pokemon by the name of Gardevoir. She was a Psychic type, and she could predict that the only way to save the human would be to give herself instead of them, and take the curse. She threw herself before Ninetales's flames, and almost suffered the full curse. But, Ninetales stopped and asked the human if they were willing to suffer the curse, and let their partner go free. And what do you think happened then?"

"Did they say that they would accept the curse?" asked Snubbull. But Old Whiscash shook his head.

"No, they did not. This human was not the sort to be kind and loving. Rather, they were a cruel and selfish person. And when Ninetales had turned to ask, the human had fled, leaving their Gardevoir abandoned."

"That's so sad!" Lombre said, "And so heartless! How could anyone do that?"

"Wait! There is more," replied Old Whiscash, "For this is what the legend says. That human will one day be reborn as a Pokemon, in this world. And when it happens, an ancient stargazer predicted that in that time, the worl'd balance would be disturbed, and that destruction and demise would happen to come right when the human would become a Pokemon. And that is the end of the Ninetales Legend."



"Phew! We've come a long way!" Soto inquired, as they stepped up over a great red boulder. Ameri shook herself, and sand flew from her fur. Indeed they had been travelling for a long way. The Great Canyon was a hot and dry place, not to mention big. But at least they were out of the bottom of the canyon and now headed up toward the Hill of the Ancients. If Alakazam was correct, it wasn't far off at all now.

All of a sudden, the hill they were stepping over simply stopped going up. It just went straight on, and cut off at a great cliff. The whole sky was above that cliff, huge and majestic in the light of the setting sun. And there, looking over it all, stood a tall birdlike Pokemon with several markings on his green feathers and white wings. Xatu...

"Hello!!" Soto called from where he stood, looking reluctant to step further. Xatu did not reply, let alone move. He just stood there, unmoving and silent. Soto tilted his head and looked at Ameri.

"Um... Hello?" he called again. No response.

"Ameri... What shoukd we do? Do ya' think he's okay?"

"I don't know," Ameri replied, "Maybe we should come closer."

She walked over beside him. Soto twitched and looked at her like she was crazy, but the glare she threw back sent him scurrying over in a heartbeat. Ameri nudged Xatu. No response.

"Well... I hope he's alright," Ameri said, "Because I really don't see what we're going to do now..."

Xatu twitched, suddenly. He froze, then twitched again, eyes still turned to the setting sun.

"Xatu?" Soto asked.

"KWAAAH!!!" Xatu cried, "I feel it! I can feel it again!! The same demise! The same threat! And I feel something else! Yes, a strange presence!" He whirled around, eyes directly on Ameri. "You are a human."

"You... You can tell? Just like that?" Ameri breathed. Xatu turned back to the setting sun.

"I am indeed Xatu, the fifth Stargazer of the Konalihu Stargazers Line. We have existed for centuries, far longer than any can imagine. And we stare into the sky, without rest, for days on end. We understand what the stars do, and our sense of vision and Psychic powers allow us to predict the future. Perfectly." Xatu turned back to his visitors once more. "And our predictions have never proved false."

"Then please, Xatu. Tell us," Soto said, "My friend here-"

"Ameri," Xatu finished.

"Er... yes. Alakazam told us that you could help explain why she became a Pokemon. And that he senses something serious. Something bad is coming."

Xatu looked up at the sky from where he stood, and Ameri and Soto were compelled to look up with him as well. Already there were stars appearing in the great expansion of deep, dark blue sky. Almost black, the sky was.

"Indeed there is disaster coming. I sense it. Zapdos could sense it when you met it. And many Pokemon with the power to tell these things do. And the disaster, the unthinkable fate, is coming closer. And if it reaches us, then, I fear that this world will come to an end. We will all perish with it. Because of this, the world's balance is upset. Pokemon are facing natural disasters such as quakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, fires, terrible thunderstorms, floods... In places that have never been effected by these disasters. Never. It is all because of this. And until something is done, the disasters will get worse. And then, in the final moment, whether we will all be destroyed by this oncoming peril or the disasters at their worst peak, even I cannot guess. But all of this... the demise of the world... I am sorry to say that I feel it has a connection with you, Ameri. You are linked to it, whether you prefer it or don't, and that is how it is."

Xatu turned back to his view over the cliff. Ameri was looking at the ground, as if it would give her an answer. I... It's my fault then. I am the human in the Ninetales Legend. And because of me, this world will be destroyed...

"Hey! Are you blaming Ameri for this? Are you saying that she is evil and corrupt?!" Soto spat angerly at Xatu. Xatu did not reply.

"I'm talking to you!!"

"..... It is not my place to blame or judge, Soto. I am only telling what I forsee. And what is true. I never said that it was Ameri's fault, only that she is connected. It does not have to be so that she did anything wrong."

They stood there for a long while, waiting to see if Xatu had anything more to say, but he merely stood there, as if he had forgotten that he had even met them. And finally, Ameri and Soto grabbed their Rescue Badges and used the Teleport Power inside of them. The two Pokemon disappeared in a flash of light, leaving only Xatu in his solitude. Or... was that really all they left?

"... Disturbances in nature, I can see. But there is something else about this. A missing piece. As if we are living in a story and a character was pulled out. Perhaps one of the most important characters in the story..." Xatu said.

And another light illuminated behind him, just like the one from before. A teleport from a Badge. Xatu narrowed his eyes.

"That missing character just revealed himself to me."



"Ameri..." Soto muttered, "I... I'm sure it wasn't you."

Ameri did not reply. She merely stood there, staring vacantly into the trees, waiting for nothing.

Footsteps came up behind her. She did not turn to see who it was. She didn't care. All she could feel was this strange emotion of guilt, as if she indeed knew she had broutght this whole world to disaster. Everyone will die... And I'm to blame... I... I'm so sorry... Soto... Joku... Everyone! I didn't mean to do anything! I didn't even know that I did anything!! She was shivering violently and beginning to cry, uncontrollably. The whole world was like a blur, and she felt like she didn't belong there. I never did...

"Ameri?" Joku's little voice asked. The Poochyena sounded nervous, like something bad was about to happen. "Are you... okay?"

"I'm sorry..." she heard herself whisper, "...For everything..."

"There's something going on in the square... It's... It's some guy named... Rexus. And it's not good," Joku told them.

Soto immediately sprung up, flames twitching from his back and forehead. The rage was clearly visible in his blue eyes.

"Ameri, come on," he said in a dark, serious voice. Ameri lifted her paw and wiped off the tears. I have to face it all. No choice.



Rexus stood at the center of the square, and everyone stood around him. Fyra, Lombre, the Kekleon merchants, Choklo, even Alakazam's Team. His own two team mates, Medicham and Zangoose, stood near him in case they'd need to back up his words. These were hopefully the words that would begin the new era of Team Domnae.

"It was terrible, I tell you! I saw it all! There was a Pokemon there, talking to this Stargazer Xatu, and guess what Xatu told it? He said that this Pokemon was the cause for something horrifying! Disaster! Hurricanes and earthquakes and pure disaster!! He said that it will all come, and get worse, and worse, until the unthinkable will happen, and we will all perish! And you know that what a Stargazer tells is always certain to come true!"

Gasps broke out though the crowd. Rexus looked around with glee, seeing them worry and panic at his words. This is just the attention I'll need...

"But who could be such a terrible person?" voices asked.

"And why would someone try to bring us all to our deaths?"

"I think we should find them and teach them a lesson!"

"Oh, and we'll need to do more than that," Rexus told them all, "We'll need to kill them! Kill the damn fool who thinks they can destroy us like this! We are strong! And isn't it logical? If that Pokemon is gone, then wouldn't everything turn out okay? If we can slaughter that Pokemon and pound their body into rubble, then everything should turn out okay?!"

"Yeah!!" came the roar of the crowd. Even Charizard and Tyranitar of Alakazam's team were of those who shouted their approval. "As soon as we find out who it is, they're dead meat!! Tell us, Rexus! Who?"

"Exactly! We must find them and kill them, or we will surely all perish. Now... isn't that just right... Ameri?"

Everyone turned around to see the little Eevee with the green bandana around her neck. Soto stood behind her with Joku, and all three looked uncertain.

"No..." whispered Fyra, "Oh Mew, no!!"

"Not Ameri..." Lombre murmered, "How could it really be her? Of all the Pokemon here..."

"Wait!!" Soto cried, "It's not like that! Not at all!!"

"Did anyone ask you, rodent?" Zangoose growled, "He asked Ameri, so shut your mouth if you know what's good for ya'!"

"But..." Soto could not finish his sentence. Ameri could not speak. She merely stood there, unable to answer her question. I don't know... I don't know... her heart thumped. She could hear the blood in her ears.

"Well, there you have it!" Rexus laughed, "And now let's kill her!!"

Lombre lunged, claws bared and ready. But Joku leapt in front of Ameri in defense. He looked back at her. Run, his gaze said. They obeyed while everyone was distracted by the Poochyena.

"No!!" he yowled, "You all know this isn't true!! She's saved lives! The last thing Ameri would do is kill, much less a whole world! How is it even possible for just an Eevee to do anything like that?! Huh?"

"Then explain her silence!" Rexus spat back through his jagged fangs, "You are a traitor to your whole world if you are on her side! The same applies to all of you! Amd we need to take action now! So get outta our way, pup!"

"Never," snarled Joku.

"Medicham," Rexus called. Medicham nodded and jumped over to Poochyena. She picked him up with effortless ease, and threw him into a pole to the side, hard.

"Now let's go get them!!" Rexus roared.



Ameri and Soto stood by the river in Tiny Woods, gasping and panting. The distance was nothing, but they'd never run so fast in either of their lives. A tall figure emerged from behind. Alakazam! Soto stood protectively in front of Ameri, flames bursting from bristling fur.

"If you wanna hurt her, you'll have to go through me!!" he growled.

Alakazam stopped advancing on them, and looked down at the pair of Pokemon. This was Rescue Team Yukon. And he was the kind, good leader they believed him to be. Please don't do what you know to be wrong...

"I am not here to attack," he said, trying to sound calm and rational, "I have come to give you a chance no one else will. You both need to run away. Now. It doesn't matter where. Just so far that no one will find you."

"But... Won't it be dangerous?" Soto asked, "The natural disasters are only going to get worse! We'll never make it back!"

"If you run, you risk that. If you don't then the rest of the Pokemon from the square will have you tarred and feathered, then stabbed onto sharp sticks and burnt to ashes, and that's at best. Run, or I will take care of you here and now. Don't reply. Just go!"

Ameri stood up, gave her head a shake, and took off running, not looking to see if Soto followed. She didn't know where, and didn't care. Alakazam had given them an opportunity, and she took it. Soto's footsteps trailed behind, and soon they left behind Wezla Town, their friends, and Team Yukon. Maybe for good.

And just then, as they were fleeing for their lives, the black clouds above that had gathered broke, and a downpour of thundering rain crashed down on them all.

Yes, I'm still adding chapters to this. Why? No real reason. Just hoping someone'll read it. And there's many more to go (I made it a 31 chapter fic, so...). Read if you will... Enjoy if you do...

_____________pie____________________


Several days had gone by. They said little, and never looked back, in fear of seeing old allies chasing them down with spears and torches. Both Ameri and Soto were hurt by this whole thing; too hurt to speak of it. Because they understood each other. There was no need to speak.

The going was hard and rough. Everywhere they went, there seemed to be some sort of suffering. Flames tore across fields and tornadoes left woodlands in tatters. Even though the rain hadn't fully cleared up since they left, fires still burned, winds still spun, and the ground still shook. Nothing would stop natural disasters here. Just as Xatu had said...

Ameri's dreams had stopped. Just as she needed her more than ever her 'Guradian' left her. Who was she to ask for help now?

Where was Lombre when you needed him, ready to give a comforting pat on the back and look at the bright side? Where was Joku when you needed him, there to make you smile with a small comment? Where was Soto's normally positive attutude when you needed it? Ameri wondered if she'd ever see it again. But, depression hung over the Quilava like the rain did over their heads.

"It's like for once I don't know whether my good hopes will end up coming true," he'd said to her one day. She had merely nodded in agreement.

They were headed East. As far East as they could go, and then North. That seemed like the best way to get away. Supposedly there were at least two firey, lava-filled caverns to be found in the East, and the north was frozen and unbearable. They were't positive where they were going, but at least it was away from the pursuers that had to be on their trail. How could Rexus do this?



"It's no use," Deyarcus told Zangoose, "The rain's washing up their trail! Houndoom's nose can't do anything on water!"

"Tell me something," Zangoose snapped, "How can Alakazam's party be right up on them, and your party be lagging behind?! You all need to get in there and kill those two fugitives!!"

"I for one am done hunting, and I'm ashamed that you're not, Deyarcus!" growled Kunea. Zangoose struck him his his claw, and the Nuzleaf fell back. His hands were tied up, and he had a rope binding him to a pole not too far away.

"If you even think about quitting, you can join your little rebel friend as a prisoner!" Zangoose growled, "Now get back out there!"

Deyarcus ran with a quick nod, and flicked some rain off his ears. Nearby, in the bushes, a pair of Pokemon watched. It was Joku and a Shroomish. The Shroomish was named Orion, and he said he was close with Ameri and Soto. They were the two members who hadn't been recruited yet into Team Yukon. And it was all thanks to Rexus. That was what Joku knew.

"What are we going to do?" asked Orion, "We can't live on like this in hiding! Before long they'll get it out of your mother, Joku! She's already been taken and who knows what Team Domnae has done to her?"

"We have to stay strong," Joku whispered in reply, "And rebel. We know that Ameri and Soto are good, and we're going to help save them."

"But how?"

"I thought that we should go looking for them, but I don't know. Maybe if Choklo gets any news on it..."

"Choklo? He's not working with Team Domnae. He left for Tiny Woods saying that he wasn't going to work for a war-hungry tyrant."

"Perfect," Joku said. And he lunged through the bush to a tree, still in cover. Orion folowed nervously.



Choklo was sitting in a tree by the river, overlooking the town. He saw patrols come and go, as they had for the past few days. What is this world coming to?

"Choklo!" a familiar voice called. He flicked his head down, and saw Joku. The little Poochyena bore an old, tatterd green bandana on his neck, just like a Yukon bandana. He was one of the rebels who hadn't been captured.

"Not so loud," the Pelipper replied, flying down to meet him.

"We need to ask you a favor. For Ameri and Soto. I want you to fly and find them. Tell us where they are, and let them know we're coming. Me and Orion. You have to do it. It's the only hope for us."

"I'll... I'll do it. Anything to stop this Rexus guy. He's the biggest full-of-lies, cheating, sickening, son of a ***** I've ever known. And I'll take care of this for you if that'll help."

"Immediately if you can. We need to know what to do next ASAP."

"Right. I'll be on my way. Stay hidden until I get back. It could be anywhere between tonight and tomorrow evening. But I'll do it."

"Thanks, Choklo."

And the Pelipper flew off into the distant sky. Please return safely... You and Ameri.



"Sir! Alakazam, sir!" called Lombre, with a hint of reluctance in his voice, "We found evidence of a camp, left by Ameri and Soto!"

Alakazam stepped over to where Lombre stood, and looked down at a mark in the ground he was pointing at. It was a dark spot, as if someone had burned a flame into it. There was no evidence of a nearby natural fire here, and it was too small to be lightning. Some Pokemon had to have lit it.

"Yes, that is likely. Alert the search party. This indeed seems to be Soto's fire. Go, now!"

"Yes'r" Lombre nodded, almost falling over as he jumped up and ran off. Alakazam narrowed his eyes as he turned to the vast expansion of black, rocky ground. He was looking into the distance, trying to see something he knew to be there.

We must get them before we come to Mt.Blaze, he told himself, Otherwise we'll lose any ground on them, and it's likely we'll never know if they died in there or not, bad for telling Rexus. Few would dare enter it, but they would. My patrol, on the ther hand... It would take at least a day or two to get around it. Too long. If Ameri and Soto make it out, it will definately be before then. And they'll keep going. That could be when we lose them.

"Have you alrerted them that we're on their trail?" Alakazam asked when Lombre returned. Lombre nodded vigorously. "Good. We leave now."

"What?! But we just got here!"

"Do not argue! This is our world to protect! We must kill Ameri as soon as possible!"



Soto woke with a start. He hadn't slept well. He never did. His dreams were dark and haunting, full of the blood of Ameri and Joku and himself. The Quilava twitched his ears, and then heard something. Something like roaring. He immediately twisted around, looking for Ameri. She was already standing up.

"They're coming," she said, "Run."

The two of them tore off like hares, across the great expansion of black stone wet with rain. The advancing Pokemon ere faster, ior at least, the ones they could see were. Charizard and a Fearow were in the sky, wings flapping and they overlooked their prey. The Fearow dove down, talons outstretched, and grabbed Soto's back. He lit the flames as hot as he could, and the Fearow let go, screeching. Ameri could hear voices she knew. Lombre, Snubbull, Alakazam... They tried to run even faster. A spear flew through the air and cracked apart right beside Ameri's face, only to be left shattered on the rock by passsing footsteps.

"We'll never make it!" Ameri cried to Soto.

"Don't say that!" he growled, "We've gotta try!!"

And the Quilava whirled around and lit a huge stream of fire all along the rock behind them. A wall of it. Somehow with the natural disasters in high effect, fire could stay burning for days on end, anywhere it seemed. And indeed, this wall of fire burned high and mighty, threatening all who came toward it with its orange glow. Soto then turned back around and kept running.

The patrol behind them was farther off now, and close to being lost, but Charizard and Fearow still flew overhead. Along with... Something else. It was a white bird with a huge, yellow beak and blue-tipped wings, and it had a forest-green bandana tied around one of its feet. Pelipper!! Choklo!!

"What are you doing here, rebel?!" they heard Charizard roar.

"Trying to help them? We can't allow that!" hissed Fearow.

"AMERI!! SOTO!! LEAVE ME!!!" the Pelipper screamed. And as they continued running, and their range of hearing began to fade from that area, the sounds of a Pelipper's screeches, a Charizard's fire, and a Fearow's squaking echoed out. Something gigantic was coming into view. It started as a pointed tip, spewing with lava, and then as they came closer and raced down a hill of dark stone, formed into a huge volcano, black and covered in lava streams. A gaping hole stood as an entrance before them, seeming to breathe heat onto them. Ameri winced.

"Come on, Ameri," Soto urged.

"But it's... Won't we burn up?"

"Remember what Alakazam said? If we go, we risk that, and if we stay, we're dead for sure."

Ameri looked into his eyes, and saw a gleam of that old Soto she once knew. He was right. She needed to come back herself. They had to be risk-takers or they'd really never make it. And the two of them entered the fiery mountain.


A great bird was flying over Mt.Blaze, searching the ground to see if there would be intruders anywhere. Maybe they had something to do with it... Anyone entering Mt.Blaze with bad intention. By all the flame on her feathers, Moltres could not allow that. She flapped her great, fiery wings, and tilted her long neck down, with incredible vision that could allow her to see a tiny piece of rock from high above the mountain.

A pair of flying Pokemon appreared suddenly, quickly followed by a crowd of land-walkers. Moltres narrowed her eyes and let out a hissing sound from her beak. No one shall curse my mountain!

"FLEE!!!" she screeched as she made a huge dive to the ground, fire intensifyng with each beat of her mighty heart. "ALL YE CAUSERS AND BRINGERS OF THE DESTRUCTION AHEAD, FLEE MY DOMAIN!! FLEE MY MOUNTAIN!!"

A few land-walker Pokemon, an Alakazam, a Tyraniter, and the Charizard as it landed back on the ground which it was always eventually confined to, stood still, looking up at her. The rest ran back, terrified. A telepathic message fom the Alakazam hit Moltres's mind.

There is someone who will cause destruction in your mountain already, he told her, Amd we are here to hunt them down. Let us through.

"NEVER!!! YOU LIE!" Moltres shrieked. And her flames burned white, encircling her great body, as she flew at them and burned a huge section of the ground. But there were no shadows screaming in agony as their flesh burned and twisted into a blackened crisp. It seemed the Alakazam had teleported them away. Still, Moltres left her flame to burn at the entrance of Mt.Blaze, to ensure that none would pass. The fire burned bright white with such intense heat that the rock under it began to turn pink and liquify. Moltres let out another screech as her feathers cooled back to their normal shade of bright gold.

Still, she told herself, I should see if there really is anyone who ahs made it into the mountain. I feel a presense. But it isn't dark. Their presense is angry and strong, and I can't trust them. This feeling from the mountain... it's fainter. More of fear than anger. Definately not harm. I must confirm my thoughts, none the less.

She flew quickly around the back of Mt.Blaze, through the black smoke flying from its open hole at the top, which also cried tears of lava, and into the blackness leading inside.




"Are you all okay?" Deyarcus asked as his patrol came up to the mountain. He jumped back when he saw the flames, eyes wide with fear. Alakazam stepped forward, giving Charizard a signal. The great orange dragon spread his wings and roared loudly, sending echos for miles and spewing a stream of yellow flame into the sky. All the Pokemon in the patrol gathered round, ready to listen to Alakazam.

"All gather, including the group that has just come. Moltres has blocked our direct path into the mountain, and it is positive that any who enter those flames, even our strongest fire Pokemon, Charizard, will be burnt alive until they are nothing more than a pile of blackened mass. That said, there is no way into the volcano, unless we wait out the flames, and, due to conditions, it is likely they will last many days. Ameri and Soto will either be dead or have already made it through by then. Moltres will more than likely come back and attack with twice as much force if we stay much longer. We will have to go around Mt.Blaze, which will take at least two days evading lava flows and the treacherous flames that rise from the pits. Some say the way around the mountain is the closest place to Hell you can find. Yet, we must cross it, or lose all hope of finding the fugitives. All who feel they are not strong enough have the option to give up chase, and go back to see what Rexus says. Those who come with my team may never make it back, but they must take that risk. For the good of us all!"

There was a silent moment, in which everyone considered their options. Most did not want to go that far. Who would? It was almost guaranteeing death. Tyranitar spoke next.

"Those who wish to leave will form a return party, and bring Pelipper, the prisoner, back to Wezla."

After another hesitation, Lombre stepped back, over to the wooden pole Choklo was bound to. That pole had the Pelipper's red blood already covering it. Deyarcus followed Lombre, and a great deal more Pokemon. In fact, in the end, only Alakazam's team was left. And Charizard raised his head.

"You're all a bunch of damn bloody cowards!!" he roared, "I'd like to see you do anything to help us, you filthy traitors!!" Nobody stopped. They just moved onward, as if all of them had a great relief now that it was over for them. Charizard snarled and prepared to bark something else out at them, but Alakazam silenced him.

"Save your strength," he told him, "Ameri and Soto are still out there, and that means we shall need as much as we can preserve. For the world's sake."

Tyranitar nodded. And the three of them set off.



"Ameri," Soto whispered, "Look!"

He was pointing his paw toward the volcano, from where they stood on a cliff. They had made it, so far. It really hadn't been so bad. All they had to do was travel through tunnels that had been carved out by lava now long gone. Ameri stared in awe at the view, which included not only Mt.Blaze, but a vast field of black ash and burning flames scattered here and there. It was unlike any place they had ever, and would ever know. And a great birdlike creatue flew circles around it all. Ameri thought it was Charizard at first, but then she noticed the flames bruning all over its body instead of just on the tip of its tail. Alas, it was something else. And it wasn't hunting them.

"Tired?" Soto asked.

"Yeah, but We should still get on," Ameri replied. Soto nodded.

"Let's go then. Alakazam's Team won't quit, even if everyone else does. The longer we wait, the closer they get."

The two Pokemon made their way off, a pair of lonely figures in the hellish landscape.



They have passed. All of them, Moltres felt the mountain whisper, You saw the two Pokemon making their way. And I feel the absense of the group who was here before. Now all that remains is the feeling of pain, coming back. Moltres, my Guardian, please... Help me... I am weak... All is disturbed. And I feel that one of the Great Mountains has fallen to this force already. Protect me...
Yes... Moltres replied, My mountain... My flames... I shall raise you... I shall help you...

Chapter fifteen. Just that chapter, because it's probably the longest one I've made.

If you've been wanting some humor in this, then the place where I got this quote should do it. Ya' know, the quotes are about symbolism, and this one symbolizes that you can find symbolism in the most unexpected of places... If that makes sense :P



"Joku!! Come quick," Orion called, running in from the bushes.

"What is it?" Joku asked, turning away from the Wezla River's waters and looking up at the Shroomish.

"A massive patrol just came in! Huge! Almost everyone! And... they have Choklo."

"What?!"

"Come on!!"

The two of them ran back into the trees and through the small section of woods between there and the town square. They were all too lucky no patrols looked for them in the woods, and that Rexus was sending everyone out for Ameri and not scattered rebels. Otherwise, they'd probably be prisoners by now. Just like Fyra, and Kunea.

Orion led Joku up to their watchpost, a gnarled tree that hung over a little merchant's counter and was easy to climb and look through without being seen. Its dark green leaves concealed the two Pokemon perfectly as they watched from a high view, several Pokemon gathering in the square. Rexus was standing on the stone podium he had made for himself in the very center, looking over the great crowd with an angry look in his gleaming red eyes.

"Why aren't you all searching?!" he snarled.

"Alakazam said we could return! They went on... around Mt.Blaze," Deyarcus replied.

"That doesn't answer my question, because if any of you cared about saving us all, you would go with them!"

A roar of disapproval sprung forth, with Pokemon talking about things like how dangerous it was, or how they didn't really believe Ameri was bad, and only worked for Rexus because of the consiquences for disobeying him.

"You don't control us!!" Lombre barked. Rexus curled his lips into a crooked smile.

"No? Well you can join the prisoner you've brought me, fool! Sieze him!"

And a group of Pokemon rose from the crowd, obediently grabbing Lombre by his arms and legs and carrying him away.

"Wait!!" he yelped, "How can you let him do this?! You all know as well as I that Ameri is good-"

But he came out of hearing range, and everyone resumed, the crowd surprised and frightened.

"Now, anyone else want to join him?" Rexus asked. No one spoke. "Then get back out there!! If you die it'll be for all of us! Take the route through Tiny Woods since it's quicker, but just go!!!"

Everyone looked reluctant, but they obeyed with only grumbles amongst each other. "It's his fault we'll all be burned alive... We'll never make it... Ameri and Soto aren't worth this..."

"Orion," Joku whispered, "Let's go. As fast as we can."

"Where?"

"Just folow me!!"

Joku raced back through the trees, paws scrabbling on the ground as he lolled out his pink tongue. He had to get back to the woods. Now. If he had any opportunity, it was now or never.

"WAIT!!" he shouted as he skidded out of a bush and into the open by the river. Orion jumped beside him, turned, and gasped at who they were looking straght at. It was the return patrol. All of them. Almost every single Pokemon who hadn't rebelled, and they were staring at them both. Fifteen to twenty against two. Rexus's orders were to take any who defied him, and kill them if they wished. But no one moved, as they were all clouded with uncertainty. They knew what Joku and Orion were. Their green bandanas proved it. They were a pair of rebels, and they knew they were supposed to kill them both.

"Don't you see what you are doing?! You can all rise against him! Together, we can find justice!" Joku pleaded, "Join me! We need more than a Poochyena and a Shroomish to defeat Rexus and save not only Ameri and Soto, but all the prisoners who've been taken! Please!!"

There was a moment of hesitation. Then, a Scyther muttered nervously, "But... Rexus has it ordered to kill traitors..."

"And a huge group of us fighting him is more dangerous than the desolation of Mt.Blaze? I'm just a pup, and I've already heard enough dreadful tales about it to make me whimper with fear! All who want to fight for what is truly just and right, come over behind me!"

He expected no one to move, and for everyone to just stare at him like he was crazy. That or they would all attack him and Orion, and it would be over then and there. But instead, almost immediately after he finished, Deyarcus stepped forth and came behind him.

"He's right! I don't care what anyone says! Ameri is not evil, and we are not going to live under this Rexus guy's cruel rules! Don't you see what he's done! He'd using this all as a trick! A way to control us and form an army at his command!"

At these words, they all turned to each other, back in the direction of the town, and then slowly, one by one, began to step back to Joku. The Poochyena smiled. Orion still looked surprised as ever.

"Alright, then! Tonight, we free the prisoners!!"



Indeed, it had been hard to navigate through the back alleys of trees and shrubs with a bigger group, even if it was only five. Joku had brought with him Orion and Deyarcus, and the Scyther he'd met before. Luckilly, there were no guards in the town, and they were able to make a bit of noise without fear, but Joku knew there were guards at the place where they kept the prisoners. That was why he'd never actually seen it. Deyarcus and Scyther had, and that was part of the reson he brought them. Deyarcus's other reason was that his team mate was a prisoner, and he had a grudge against Rexus's way of imprisonment by now. The Scyther's long blades that served as her arms would be useful if they had to cut rope or bamboo.

The night was dark, but at least the clouds had poured down, so the sky was clear and full of stars to light their path. They'd run through the plan twice now, and they all had it. But it involved a risk. They had to take out the guards. Normally, Deyarcus had said, they were a Kangaskahn and a Combusken. Not an easy combo. But with Orion's powders and the fighting skills of Deyarcus, Joku could sneak in with Scyther. In just a few moments, they'd see how it would work.

"Alright," Joku whispered, "When we come out of these bushes, we'll be right there. Group One will go for the guards. Me and Scyther are going in. Got it all?"

"Yeah," Orion murmured, "But be careful."

"You be careful yourself. Taking a Kangaskhan and a fire-type's gonna be hard on you all."

Deyarcus merely nodded. He signalled to Orion with his leafy fan, and the two jumped out of the green brush. Joku and Scyther then continued, hurrying a little ways more through the bushes. Sounds of surprise and then quick attacks to shut up the guards could be heard from behind, but despite Joku's urges to help them, he'd need as much time as possible to free the prisoners. There were still several Pokemon in town who worked for Rexus, even if they'd gotten ahold of the patrol, but with the prisoners they would otnumber them greatly.

"Just over this fence, right?" Joku asked Scyther. She nodded.

"Right. And then you'll be in there."

With a helpful lift from her scythes, Joku climbed over the fence, and plopped down into a dark alley of the neighborhood village There were no huts now. They had all been torn down, and the wood from homes now kept several Pokemon behind bars. And they all were covered in bloody scabs and bruises. Scyther scaled the fence, and looked around with surprise.

"There's more than when I last came..." she whispered. Joku turned to her, and noticed that all the Pokemon in wooden cages and tight ropes were turned to them, looking surprised and hopeful. They knew that Joku's bandana meant he was a rebel, and that he might help them. If they were lucky, they'd be free.

"Okay. I'll go around telling everyone what's going on. You follow up behind me and break everyone free with your blades. And if we get the signal from the guards, I'll go handle it, leaving you to inform everyone. Alright?"

"Got it," Scyther replied. And the two of them stepped toward the first cage. To their surprise, the Pokemon kept in it was a bird, white feathers stained by blood and reeking of its own fluids. Blackened fleshwounds went along his wings. And Joku knew him. It was Choklo.

"Joku... Is that... You?" he rasped.

"Choklo... What happened?"

"Charizard... Mt.Blaze... They got me..."

"Well, I'll ask you more when we get you free. Scyther?"

"Right," replied the tall green insect. But Choklo weakly lifted a wing in a stopping posture.

"Wait! Joku... Your... Your mother..."

Choklo tried to finish, but his beak was too tired to continue, and he simply fell, breathing slowly.

"Quickly with him!" Joku insisted. Then he raced to the next cage and began telling Pokemon after Pokemon to quietly make their way to Tiny Woods. But he was searching for his mother. Even the sights of Lombre and Kunea's thanks couldn't bring him to focus on anything else. Have to free her... Have to save her...

"Joku! That's all of them!" Scyther called after hacking the last rope and letting a Teddiursa wriggle its chestnut-colored paws free. Joku stood there, staring into nothing with tears in his eyes. But suddenly, something interrupted their rescue. A spiral of wind rising into the air. Deyarcus!

"Joku! Scyther!" the Shiftry called, avoiding a sharp blow from the Kangaskahn's paw. It was bleeding from a gash in its chin, but it held an arm protectively over the baby in its huge pouch. Joku flinched at the sight of it. The Pokemon was huge! And angry.

"We tried to just put it to sleep or paralyze it, but Orion conked out after battling the Combusken! Kunea knows how to use powder-moves, but I..."

That's it!

"Kunea!!" Joku called. The Nuzleaf ran over, having been one of the last to go free and not being far. Joku pointed his paw toward Deyarcus and the Kangaskahn.

"Put it to sleep! Before your leader ends up hurt!"

Kunea nodded without question. He lifted the green leaf on his head, and a stream of blueish, silvery powder flew onto the Kangaskahn. It inhaled this, and slowly its eyes fell shut. The great beast fell over, snoring and grunting. Joku then flicked his ears towad Deyarcus, Orion, the Scyther and Kunea.



"That was awesome!!" Deyarus cried, "We got all of them?"

"All of them," Syther replied.

"But... My mother..." Joku muttered. He felt the tears coming back. Have to be strong... I'm the leader here. Must... be... strong...

"Joku-" Orion cooed, but he was inturrupted by Kunea.

"Your mother..."

Not dead. Please, not dead!

"...she was in a frenzy to escape and find you when Zangoose came and shut her up. For good..."

"... No... No! She's not dead!! SHE ISN'T!"

"Joku, there's nothing we can do... And we need to finish our plans," Orion urged. Joku sniffled and looked up at him. The Shroomish was turned to him, concerned.

"You're right..."

"What plans?" Deyarcus asked.

"To rescue Ameri and Soto. We're going. You're in charge here, Deyarcus," Joku commanded, "And we leave now."

"What?!" exclaimed Deyarcus, "Are you mad?! You'll never make it!!"

"If all the great Pokemon Rescue Team Leaders said that... Alakazam, Lucario, Ameri... Then where would they be now?" Joku said with a grin. He winked to Deyarcus, and turned back to Orion.

"Let's go, friend. For Team Yukon!!"

The two Pokemon then ran into the distance, leaving Deyarcus with a whole mini-army. An army of rebels. The Rebellion Army against Rexus's command. The Shiftry looked down at Kunea, who was staring off in awe and admiration at the two brave Pokemon who had left.

"Deputy," Deyarcus said, "Let's get to healing some of these injured Pokemon. There's gonna be a great change around here starting tomorrow."

Kunea nodded, and with a smile, turned to the group ready to start his newly appointed job.

HOWCANTHEREBEALMOSTNOCOMMENTSHERE!?!?!?

Serously, I LOVE this story!

This is awesome. Can't wait for the next chapter.

Sixteen! And thanks for the past two replies. They were much needed.

______________________pie________________________


Must... Keep... On... Must... Keep... On... Koro's leaps had become shorter and shorter as he ran through the frozen lands. The land of icy trees coated in blizzardy wind and snow. He had to go even farthr north than here, to the land he and his father and mother before him had called 'Fyriyia', the Land of Ice. And at the heart of Fyriyia lay Mt.Freeze. Ninteales's mountain.

I need... to be strong... his mind thumped while his paws thudded into the ground. Again, and again, and again... Would his race against time, wind, and exhaustion ever end? ...No. No, it wouldn't. He was an Absol. And Absols were destined to defeat corruption in balance and disasters that occured. It was in his blood, which now felt as if it was turning to a frozen state. Yet even if his blood had turned to icicles he would keep running, because when his instinct called, exhaustion nor ailments nor death could stop him. Even if his soul departed from his body it would go on to complete his task. And so he couldn't give up. Not only would that go against all he knew, but it was bound to him tighter than the blade on his head and the claws of his feet to uphold his duty.

Must... Keep... Going...



Soto lifted his head into the icy breeze, taking a instinctual sniff, even though there was nothing to smell but the ice chips that flew past his nose. Everything was white. White and gray. And cold. So cold that it chilled Ameri to the ends of her thick fur. She was shivering, but Soto didn't seem to mind at all. Of course he didn't. He had a natural heat inside of him, and blood that didn't only keep a steady tempurate, but burned inside his veins like liquid fire. And there were special chemical paticles grown onto the tips of his dark turquoise hairs that kept fire from scorching them, and also happened to prevent the temperature from affecting him. In this respect, a Quilava had a bubble of relative warmth surrounding them at all times, unless their fur was cut off for some reason. Ameri didn't know this much deatail of it, but she knew that he was not cold, and it was impossible for him to feel cold exept on his nose, which had only the shortest, finest whitish hairs growing over it.

"Ameri," he said, after letting loose a quick sneeze. Even though he couldn't feel the cold, it could still get to him. "Do you... think that we've found a place? The place where no one will find us?"

"... I... Don't know. What about Alakazam's Team?"

Soto sighed. "Yeah. They'll go anywhere to find us. To the edge of the world if they have to... But we have to go farther!"

"But... Are we doing the right thing?"

"What?"

"Running away from fate, like we have a choice not to accept it. What if I am to blame? What if I do need to be dead in order to save this world?"

"Ameri..."

"That's not true!"

"Huh?" Ameri asked, suddenly surprised. Soto looked around, expecting to see someone who she had heard, but there was nothing but the snow and the frozen trees around them.

"No one's here but me," he said.

"You need to go on..."

"Where?" she asked.

"Many nights..."

"A long ways away?"

"To a Mountain of Ice."

"Why?"

"There you will find..."

"What? Who?"

"The Queen of Curses..."

"Who are you talking to, Ameri?"

"And the Goddess of Souls."

"Ameri?"

The Eevee stood there, staring blankly into the air, as if someone had just appeared before her. She'd heard that voice... Her Guardian. The Pokemon in her dreams. And she had said that... She didn't need to die. But how could she know?

"Who are you?!" Ameri yelled, angerly. The journey had left her in no mood to be calm or polite. "All this time you've woven yourself in and out of my dreams and mind, and I don't even know who you are!! Show yourself!"

"Ameri, I cannot show my being to you."

"Why not?!"

"Because I have no body."

"...What?"

"I am a spirit."

"A spirit of who?"

"I am... Gardevoir."

"... Gardevoir..."

The name came off ther tongue as cold as the snowflakes that fell from the sky. The Pokemon in the Ninetales Legend. The Pokemon who had sacrificed herself for her human master out of loyalty. The Pokemon who accepted the Seventh Curse. And this Pokemon was her 'Guardian'. This was who had been speaking to her since so many days ago. How long had it been since she became a Pokemon? A week? A month? A year? A lifetime? It all felt so far now, and she stood there with quick breaths and a mouth that hung open slightly, exhaling breaths of warm fog.

"Are you... okay?"



I feel it. Life. More presence. Here? Of all places? No. Can't be. Thud. Thud. Thud.



"Gardevoir..."



There is someone. I can smell their trail on the snow. Thud. Thud. Thud.



"Gardevoir? But that's..."



Thud. Thud. Thud.



"SOL!!"



A great, four-legged Pokemon burst from the trees, mane flying behind. Its fur was as white as the snow and as fine as the flakes that fell with it. He had a crescent of fur covering a head the color of midnight with a curved blade sticking out and curving over his mane. And he glared at them with eyes as red as blood.

"Who are you? Why are you here?" the Pokemon asked urgently. Ameri opened her eyes. There was the world of snow again. Gardevoir was gone, and Soto was beside her once more.

"We were being chased, and are passing through to escape," Soto replied. The Absol bent his blade forward.

"So there are others? Coming?"

"We hope not."

"I must continue onward to Mt.Freeze... I do not have time to warn this forest's Guardian-"

"Wait!" Ameri called. Absol turned to her. "We are going to Mt.Freeze as well."

"So?"

"So... Tell us. Who is this Guardian?"

"The Guardian of Fyriyia's Forest? The Phoenix of Blizzards? Articuno?"

"Yes."

"She is a bird... A great phoenix with wings as blue as crystals of ice. But why-"

"Excellent. Bring us to her."

"I... Why should I?"

"Because we need help, and we're both headed in the same direction, and we can give you a fight to remember if you don't."

Absol hesitated, appalled that someone would give him such a threat it seemed, but continued on with a solemn nod. He walked through the trees at a pace Soto had trouble matching. But Ameri was fine. She had the idea of what to do clear in mind now. She just had to follow this Absol and get to Articuno. If she could pull this off, not only would they have a chance at osing Alakazam's trail, but they could get to Mt.Freeze before nightfall.



The cliff was high and large, overlooking Articuno's grand frozen forest. There was no rock to it, only dark, solid ice that chilled even the pads of Soto's little whitish-tan paws. He twitched upon feeling the cold chill, as it was obviously unnatural for a Quilava to feel cold when they lived in hot places like near-desert prairies in the wild. Even though he didn't choose the wild life, he still had the blood in him that made him dislike all cold temperatures if he could feel them. Ameri kept her feet planted, despite the frost, and looked up as Absol stepped onto the ciff's edge adnd raised his great head.

"Oh Guardian, so mighty and high... Please come before me, so I can see you with my eye... Oh Phoenix of Blizzards, with wings so great... Show me your prescence, and fufill our fate."

A faint noise came through the air, like a bird crying out in song, but ending up stuck on the first note. With it came a light, just as pale, and a shadow in the center of it flying toward them. As it came closer, so did the light and the cry, growing louder, brighter, stronger. She was soon more than a shadow, and now becoming a bright blue creature of feathers and being, as she came closer and closer, bringing with her the cry and bright which was her essence. And just as her huge talongs touched the ice before them, her beak opened, as it had been closed the whole time, yet the cry could still be heard in the background of her chorusing voice.

"My forest, My snow... I shall free you, I shall help you... My guests, My visitors... I shall show my hospitality and find what you seek. For I am," she inhaled deeply, "Articuno..."

The name was released in a calm and soothing tone that made Soto stop tiwtching and shivering uncomfortably where he stood. Ameri and him looked up at the bird of Legend before them, with her wings outstretched so strong.

"Articuno," Absol whispered, unable to keep a loud voice out of the respect they saw he had in his eyes.

"Koro. You have called me out of the command of these two. I know. I also know of your quest to the Mountain of Ice, and of theirs as well," replied Articuno in her chiming voice. Soto turned to Ameri, then to Articuno.

"But... I don't know why. Ameri just said..."

"I had a vision. A vision from my Guardian," Ameri answered. Koro the Absol gave her a surprised and weird look.

"Pokemon do not have Guardians. Only sacred places such as this land and-"

"Mt.Blaze," Articuno added, interrupting him, "But Ameri is a special case, my friend. She is not a Pokemon... Her guardian is not a great Legendary Pokemon, but the spirit of a Pokemon, cursed by the Goddess of Legend to serve the spirits."

"You mean... Gardevoir? Of the Legend of the Queen of Souls? That is your Guardian?" asked Koro. Ameri nodded.

"And her mission is the same as yours," Articuno continued, "You must all make your way to Mt.Freeze, to meet with Ninetales."

When she actually said 'Ninetales', instead of 'Queen of Souls' or 'Goddess of Curses', Koro stared in shock as if she had said an unnecissary curseword.

"But, Articuno," Ameri said, "We have a request to ask of you. We are cold and hungry, and have been pursued for the past several days. For us, unlike you or Koro, the journey will take at least several days. But, atop your back, we could make it by nightfall. Gardevoir has shown me so. Please, if it isn't too much to ask-"

"It isn't at all," Articuno replied. Soto's eyes widened with something like surprise and something like fear as Articuno continued, "The disasters are here too. Air is warming here. Snow is melting. And fissures in the earth are pulling it away. Fires may burn here before long, and I cannot stay until this is cleared up. I will take you. And Koro can run under us. He is the swiftest runner you could find when he is one with destiny. Swifter than a Rapidash."

Ameri did not know what a Rapidash was, but did not ask as she nimbly leapt ofto Articuno's outstretched back. She turned to Soto, who looked nervous, but he made a clumsy climb onto the back of the blue bird.

"I'm a bit... afraid of h-WAAH!!"

Soto's words were cut short as Articuno spread her wings and tore off the cliff, diving down to the trees. Soto clenched his paws around her back, eyes wrenched shut, and Ameri looked up and felt the wind flying through her fur. It was amazing. Articuno went down, down, almost to the trees, before zipping back up at an incredible speed. And as she flapped to a steady pace above the trees, they noticed Koro already running far below. Articuno was right. He was fast. Fast as and like the wind.

"To the Mountain!!" Articuno cried. The great bird disappeared into the white landscape then, the setting sun reflecting light off her feathers and long tail.

Nice. Keeps getting better. Can't wait for the next chapter.

It does keep getting better and better! I enjoyed this one the most with the snow and ice and Articuno. It was awesome!

I'm so thankful for the replies! For the first long while barely anybody ever said anything about it... So... Here's the next TWO chapters!

________________pie____________________



"Lombre! What happened this time?!" Kunea insisted, hands clenching Lombre's shoulders as he pressed him to the gray stone wall he had fallen against. Fresh blood dripped from his mouth, and several gashes in his flesh. Lombre took a deep breath again,and coughed up a bit more blood, which sprayed small drops into Kunea's face.

"They're strong..." he growled, "But we can't give up! Let be back at that tyrant Rexus! I'll carve his face out! I'll gouge his eyes!! I'll-"

"Yelling and screaming isn't going to help," Kunea cut in. Lombre sighed.

"You're right..."

"Did they have any word on Ameri?"

"Not that I heard before Deyarcus commanded the attack. But we're gonna need a lot more to beat them in battle."

"Hm," Kunea breathed, lowering his head slightly, "They've been gone at least two weeks now..."

"Ameri and Soto?" asked Lombre, "I seems like a lot longer than that!"

"No, I'm talking about Joku and Orion."

Lombre did not reply for a moment, merely hung his head and sighed. And what a two weeks it had been. Maybe closer to just one and a half, but few payed attention to time. Rexus's guards found out about the prison-break as soon as morning came, and it was then that Rexus assembled his remaining Pokemon and prepared to drive out the rebels, if not kill them. They found that they were far outnumbered, but Rexus had some very tough Pokemon on his side, like Zangoose and Kangaskahn. Already there had been at least four battles breaking out between them, and each had ben bloodier than the last. It was war amongst Pokemon who had been allies and friends not less than a month ago, in a peaceful little town that had before been Rescue Team capital of the world. The thought that now it was in chaos and tatters, and a rancid stench of blood, death, and disease hung overhead was depressing.

"Yeah... That seems about right," Lombre finally replied, distress in his voice, "We'd send Choklo to look for them, but he's still healing from the last time we sent him. No doubt, he'd do it out of loyalty, but his wings are still burnt and we think a bit of The Daze has gotten to his eyes."

The Daze. That was just one of the diseases that had come over the town. It blinded the eyes and ended your vision. Today, in a spying mission, they'd confirmed that Rexus's side had illnesses as well, but the rebels were probably the worse off of the two sides. After all, they had wounds and open bleeding before the wars even broke out. As Kunea's mother had always told him, so long ago, when he was only a little Seedot...

"Now remember, Kunea, there are two things that bring sickness: Sadness and blood. If you are very depressed, the bacteria that carries the disease will be attracted to you, and if you have an open wound, it will smell it even faster. So be sure to bandage your feet when they get cut, and keep a positive attitude!"

"Mom..." Kunea heard himself whisper, a tear forming at his eye. Lombre turned to him, concerned. "If only you were here right now, you would know what to do... You could bring these Pokemon to health and get us back on track..."

"You okay, Kunea?"

"...Yeah... Yeah! No time to wallow over that now! It happened too many years ago. Lombre, let's get back to the camp. We have a battle to prepare for. And hopefully our last!"

"That's the spirit!" a familiar voice came in. They turned around and saw Deyarcus. For a twinge of a second, Kunea felt the uncomfortable feeling that he was on the side of the Pokemon who killed his mother, in a sort of way. But then, he pushed that away. Now was not the time, as he had said. Deyarcus had changed. For the better.

"Alright," he said, "For us! For Joku!! For Team Yukon!!!"




"Articuno! Is that it? Is that the mountain?" Ameri called over the howling, frozen wind. The blue bird nodded her head on its long neck. Wind bit into Ameri's face as she nuzzled it down into Articuno's feathers to keep it off. Soto had finally adjusted to the height, but he said he was getting a bit sick now. Ameri didn't ask for the details.

"In the top, there is a cavern, leading inside!" cried Articuno, "And I will take you there, so that you do not have to scale the Mountain! Then, I will wait for you outside."

"Right," replied Ameri. The bird flew a broad circle around the mountain's silvery peak, then curved back around and performed a smooth landing onto the icy ridge of the opening. Soto blinked his eyes and shivered slightly.

"We're... here?" he asked. In that moment, a white flurry of fur came over the edge of the peak, and leapt aside beside them. It was Koro.

"Let's go," he growled, seeming not the least bit tired from his all-night-run. Alas, it had not been quite as quick as they would have hoped. The star-covered-night had already passed, and now the sun was rising in the sky once more. But that was better than nothing, so Ameri had told herself. Articuno took off again, into the sky. I'll be back, her tail seemed to say as it trailed behind her, thin and blue.

They did not have to walk far, for after a few feet there was simply an opening in the mountain, a huge cavern like the one they'd found in Mt.Raggidre, and one in Mt.Blaze, with a wide open top. They'd though Mt.Blaze's cavern had been a coincidence since it was a volcano, but now they seemed to get it. Moltres's' Mountain, Zapdos's Mountain, and now, Articuno's Mountain. It was also and moreso Ninetale's mountain, which they knew as well. And instantly, the feeling of nervousness overcame Ameri once more. I might really be the Pokemon... The human... who abandoned Gardevoir. It might really be my fault that the world is being destroyed now...

"I know what you're thinking," Soto suddenly inturrupted her thoughts, "And I'm sure it will be okay."

Ameri nodded solemnly, and looked around. There was nobody there, only the icy core of the mountain. The Eevee turned her head to the hole in the roof of the cavern

"Ninetales?" she cried. Koro stepped forward.

"You don't call her like that," he said, in a tone that was more instructive than rude, "Especially not by her real name. Call her with a Legend-Summon, like this...

Oh Goddess, so bright and pure..."

"Halt!!" a loud voice boomed. A streak of red fire streamed through another entrance in the mountain (probably the way they would have entered if not for Articuno), lighting the frozen walls. Soto jumped back, fur up and bristling. Then, a large Pokemon stepped into the cavern. A Pokemon they hadn't seen for a long time.

"I found you," Charizard growled. Alakazam stepped forth as well, looking at Ameri as if she were an angry Houndoom, but with the courage to face her.

"Ah, so at last we meet again. For the last time!" he spat. He turned to Koro and smiled confidently. "So, you stooped as low as to pick up a wild Pokemon to aid you? You know, that Absol is likely to have all sorts of unruly habits and diseases about him."

"I am NOT an unruly, diseased creature, and my name is NOT 'That Absol'!!" their friend barked, fangs bared, "My name is Koro, and you'll be best off not to forget it! And if you ever insult me, the Guardian of Guardians and Primary Watcher of the Balance, again, then I'll tear your lowly ass to shreds!!"

Ameri and Soto were surprised to see him so angry, as so far he had been calm and even-tempered. But Alakazam merely chuckled at this threat.

"Big talk for such a pathetic Pokemon, Koro," he replied calmly, "You probably wouldn't know this, but we are not the sort of Pokemon to be taken lightly. We are a Rescue Team, and one of the best. If you were really the Guardian of Balance you see yourself to be, then you would see what a danger Ameri is to our world!"

Koro tilted his blade forward with aggression. "That's where you are worng. If Ameri had anything bad about her, I would have sensed it and killed her myself a long time ago." Those words made Ameri flinch, but at the same time brought her a feeling of encouragement. He... is probably right... But maybe not...

"Regardless, you are resisting the commands of Rexus of Wezla, and of my Team. We do not take kindly to those who fail to accept the threat coming for us, as my friend Tyranitar can show you."

As if he had been called on que, waiting for his name, Tyranitar took a few mighty steps into the cavern, and the bodies he had slumped over his back made Ameri and Soto shiver. On the side they could see, there was a Breloom, covered in bloody bruises, and all they saw of the opposite side was a clump of gray hair and a long black tail. Fyra... Is that... Fyra?

"We picked these two up on the way," Tyranitar growled, "And they bore the green bandanas of Team Yukon. We couldn't let the little devils just come and find you, now could we?"

The Breloom slowly opened one eye, and Ameri recognized him immediately. That same look from that same Shroomish she'd spoken with, a few days after Joku's rescue. Orion!! It's really Orion! And he's alive at least!

"Ameri..." he whispered. Tyranitar lifted the two Pokemon up and threw them against the cavern wall with a huge thud.

"Keep your mouth shut!!" he snarled. Yes, the other Pokemon was a Mightyena. And unlike Orion, it wasn't breathing. Poor Fyra... Poor Joku...

"How dare you kill her!!" Soto spat, "Fyra didn't deserve to die! You've ruined her son's life!!"

"... You don't recognize him?" Alakazam asked. Ameri froze and stared at him, speechless. Soto took a step back, eyes wide and now forming tears.

"What..."

"I thought you would know him a bit better, even if he has 'matured' a bit more..."

Soto's flames began to flicker. "You dirty... bastard..."

Ameri felt the tears of loss forming in her eyes. Now it didn't matter if she was evil or not. They had killed an innocent Pokemon, someone brave and young, with incredible potential. Joku had been lost, and it was all over her. That was wrong, if her fleeing and whatever she might have done before changing into an Eevee was anything. And immediately she felt anger. Anger toward Alakazam's Team for being so narrow-minded. Anger against Rexus for convincing everyone so much of her 'evil', that they were driven to kill those who are innocent. Anger that burned inside her strongly.

"You will pay," she heard herself growl. And with a flick of her tail to Koro, signalling him to ready himself, she lifted her head back to Alakazam. "No one had to die over this. We could have settled it, here, where the truth is to be found. But now, there may be three more who end up in tatters today! Koro! Summon Articuno."

"What?!" Koro yowled, "Use a Legendary Guardian for-"

"These Pokemon killed an innocent and young friend of ours! They KILLED him! He's dead!! Joku died because of me, don't you understand?!!" she wailed. The little Eevee fell over with a shiver and began sobbing uncontrollably.

"Ameri!" Soto cried, running over to her shaking body. "It's okay!! It's not your fault!"

"How do you know?!" Ameri barked back, "No one in this world has ANY idea what I did or when I was like when I was a human! Not even me!! I can't remember anything, and the only Pokemon who can tell me the truth isn't here, after such a long journey!! And all because of this, this mess of everyone blaming me for a terrible crime I might have done in a time of my life I can't even remember, Joku is killed! Who else, you have to ask!! WHO ELSE?!!"

Charizard snorted. "What is this?! Some sorry attempt to stop us? To make us feel sympathy? I don't beleive a word of it! Soto, Koro-Whatever-Your-Name-Is, join us now to kill this human-demon and save our world, or I'll crush you between my jaws!"

"Never..." Soto snarled, "I would NEVER, EVER hurt Ameri, and I would also NEVER tolerate anyone talking about her like that!! She is good, and every one of you knows it!! You're just caught up in the lies of that moron Rexus! He's just telling gossip! We went to the Hill of the Ancients, on Alakazam's request! Xatu said that Ameri was connected to the demise, but that she wasn't necissarilly the cause of it! And when everyone tried to kill us, your leader came and told us to run for our lives! It's his reason we went to ask Xatu about Ameri, it's his reason we're still alive, and that's because he knows deep inside that this whole thing is wrong!!"

Charizard and Tyranitar turned to Alakazam with shock in their eyes.

"You did what?!" Tyranitar exclaimed, "Then... By our rule, we must kill you!!"

"NO!!" screamed Ameri, "No one has to die! No one else needs to as much as shed blood! Because this very mountain, this summit of Mt.Freeze, is where we can get the truth!! This is Ninetales's Mountain!! So shut the hell up and just listen! Stop acting like violence is the only answer because it's not!!"

"No..." Charizard gasped, "It can't be. Ninetales--"

"--Oh, but indeed it is," replied Koro, interrupting him, "So let me prove it to you...

Oh Goddess, so bright and pure...
Come before me, with light and cure.
Show me, oh Goddess, your presense now...
So I can see your greatness how."

"Your summon is accepted, Guardian of Guardians," a female voice whispered, "I have overheard all of this fuss, and I indeed have the answer for you all."

And then, in a flash of bright light, a blurry figure appeared. The light cleared away, slowly dimming to nothingness, revealing a Pokemon in the center of the group. She stood tall on her four strong legs, with a crown of fur fraying out from her head. Red eyes glowed in their deep-set sockets, and every other part of her was of fine, white fur, including the tails. And oh how magnificent they were, long and flowing like wind or water, all held up in a fine and delicate manner. The seven Pokemon in the cavern, Ameri, Soto, Koro, Alakazam, Charizard, Tyranitar, and Orion (now awake again) stared at her in awe. Ninetales flicked her ears toward Alakazam, and narrowed those menacing yet radiant eyes.

"It's a blessing I don't lay a curse upon you for your foolishness. All three of you," she growled in a chiming voice like flowing honey, directing her words toward Alakazam's Team. She then turned to Ameri, and fanned her nine great tails in a way that appeared to all, showing that her words were for all to hear.

"So, ask me, human. Ask me and find the truth you seek."

Ameri inhaled deeply, then exhaled, and with a deep sigh, opened her mouth to find the words eagerly jumping out. "Am I the cruel, heartless human... spoken of in your legend?"

Everyone's eyes were set on the tow of them, Ninetales and Ameri, as anticipation rose into the air. Soto, however, had his eyeslids shut tightly, as his ears flexed, anxious for the final answer. If I am, and I am to blame for all of this, then there will be no stopping them from killing me here. If I'm not... If... I can only hope...

"And I suppose that this one word of answer will change this whole turn of events, for an incredibly terrible outcome, or an incredibly relieving outcome? Am I right?"

Ameri nodded. Ninetales curled her black lips into a smile.