The Children Are Hunted

Zaria smiled wryly. "I hate Words," she told him wisely. "Brother hates them too." She giggled weakly, hollowly, until transparent tears ran down her face. "But that's all we know about now are Words. That's all we can use now." She listened to him purr.

"I don't miss it," she told him after a moment. "I don't miss being alive exactly. I would be all alone at home if I was right now. I miss..." She struggled a moment, then laughed hollowly. "I miss being a kid and being able to grow." She ran out of anything and swung her legs where she sat, whistling softly through her pain. "You'll have to show Thomas that sometime," she stated. Zaria lowered her eyes. "It's not the worst memory I have of ours but it's bad. I just hope... that when Thomas sees the Dawn Project himself... he'll remember that. Because it's a bad thing no matter how much good it does."

She sighed and looked over at Mickey, who kept teasing Thomas. "Don't be jealous of Mia," she called, looking playful. "It's not her fault you can't catch a guy Mickey!" Mickey turned red and rolled his eyes, laughing hysterically.

"Jealous?" He shook his head. "No way. Thomas is not my type. He's all pure-hearted and stuff. Ew." There was a snort from above. Ash cackled from where she lay, rolling over.

"Is that it Mickey?"
 
"I'll show him later. He's happy now. He hasn't been in a very long time. Not like this. I'm going to let him have that. And don't worry. Even if he doesn't see it, which I will make sure he does, he will fight. He hates seeong people suffer. He is just odd like that," Esper said as he continued purring. He hoped he was doing well. He thought he was, but all he could see from her was the odd useless snips that flitered through the link. Thomas grinned.
"Why Mickey, I had no idea you felt that way! I'm flattered you think so highly of me!" he teased, shoving him again.
"Ash!" Marcus shouted when he heard her voice.
"Calm down cousin, she likely has a monster headache right now. Shouting won't help. And you scared off Vulpix!" Robby said quietly. Van had indeed yelped at the loud noise and leapt to the ground, though he stopped himself from running.
"What is wrong with me!" Van said angry and confused.
"Van," Winny said quietly.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," Marcus said. Van shook his head. Why had he been startled? He sat back down again, still wondering what was wrong with him.
 
"Marcus made a loud noise," Alyss stated softly. "You have good ears. It scared your ears. It's okay Vulpix. I jumped too."

Mickey shoved back with an innocent grin. "Please Thomas, you need to do better than this to get on my radar." He stuck out his tongue and Ash groaned with a laugh.

"Mickey enough. I think he likes his preferences where they are." Zaria snorted. "I heard that Zari. And hi Vulpix. I'd pet you too if it weren't for the fact I'm half-conscious and can't move for crap."

"Oh there's an idea..."

"Mickey you try that and I swear I'll convince Zora to drop you in the Forever Ocean." Mickey pouted at his cousin as she cackled.

"Yep she's fine," Zaria commented. She smiled at Esper. "You relax already."
 
"Why would you need to convince Zora? I'm here!" Winny said, joining in the fun for the first time. She had no idea who Zora was, but she knew where the joke was going.
"You guys are nuts," Van grumbled.
"I agree with you there," Marcus muttered.
"Hah! Whatever dude! I've got my sights set on someone else!" Thomas said.
"And so the conversation turns back to this. I thought we'd run out of all jokes on this subject!" Robby said. Esper looked up at Zaria.
"I am as relaxed as I think I can be. I've never dealt with this kind of thing before. Even before I evolved, I was empathic. Becoming an Espeon was just the next step in that regard. Finding myself without it is very... Sress inducing," Esper said.
 
"Zora'd get mad," Ash told her wisely. "You have to go through him to get to Mickey." She laughed at Vulpix and Marcus. "You guys have no right to say that. You're still here!"

"If you're stressed, you're not relaxed," the girl remarked with a grin. "Maybe you're overdoing it a lot. If you take a rest, your powers might not be back but you might beable to start coaxing them into healing again. You are tired after all. It doesn't help."

Mickey snorted. "Oh don't we know." He hummed as Sneasel laughed from where he was. Alyss giggled and pet Vulpix again, looking amused.
 
Duos of Death.

Agatha continued looking through files of only the greatest RDM agents to take with her to the AAPM Tournament. All Ghost Pokemon...she thought they had the most potential. A Haunter came by and waved hello as he continued through the hallway. Royal, an obvious choice for the tournament. Smart and capable, strong and able to hold his own. She finished up her team and put a nice purple bow on the top. She sent it out to those mentioned on the party. She hadn't noticed that those Pokemon had all been guarding the hallway, leaving it wide open for a certain Arcanine to walk in.


*****************************************

Tony. Mia. Simon. Siblings. How truly strange it was. And this oracle telling thing only confused the latter. Mia asked her question.

"You want to meet them? Most of them are tired and hurt right now, but they're very nice," she said.

"Yes...I would like that. But first, I have a question. Do you remember me...at all? Because...I remember a kidnapping now." he asked with a trickle of fear in his tone. Should I say something about the experiment, the one with Abra. He looked over through the window of the RV, hoping to catch some glimpse of the hooded figure again. But no luck...instead, there was a familiar outline walking towards the RV. Clair?!

******************************************

Mark and Dust quietly crept through the woods. They whispered softly to each other, a way of making sure they were still close.

"It's still following us. I can sense it. You see, I have the power to sense Aura."

"You have a power as well?"

"Yes, that is why I was accepted into the Black Ones. You must have a trained skill, and my skill is being able to sense that spiritual presence. I believe the one who is following us also possesses that power."

"Lucario...Leo? He had heard that name back with the Arcanine. So....maybe, we should try to trick him. Can you summon Aura Spheres as well."

"Yes...I think I know what you want to do. Send maybe two orbs in six different directions, then run. We'll see which aura he follows."

"Make sure to make them as big as us. That way, he won't be able to tell them apart." They continued North East, sending away the others. Mark hoped the plan worked.
 
Mickey frowned as he heard Dratini beginning to squeal and whine. Was a Dragon-type nearby? Or a user of the type? Those always rattled his young Pokemon. He quietly patted his head, anxious to soothe the little Pokemon before he worried everybody else. "Don't worry," he told the others. "He's just being a kid." He didn't want to worry them over what might be nothing. Ash's eyes narrowed slightly, rolling to the outside. She couldn't see but she could sense. SOmeone was out there. But if Mickey wasn't worried...

Zoran straightened abruptly. He could feel it; feel him. He wasn't sure why right now... his emotions had kind of faded more. Either he was getting over it or he was just too exhausted to care anymore. His shadows had been assaulting him for hours, years it felt like. That was probably more likely.

Master? The voice whispered. It was slightly older, more mature. He would almost say deeper, but he wasn't too sure about. Master, we must move on. If the child is ahead as your heart says, we must catch him. He should not be alone and neither should you.

"Ah..." he agreed gently, getting up from the tree where he had been slumped against. He seemed to listen, then he began to walk away. He didn't know who the CT was, but he did know the boy had to be found. And whoever else is with him, might have some answers too. But he doubted it, unless they planted her voice in his head themselves.

Doom (Houndoom) Level 31- Fire Fang, Bite, Smog, Flamethrower
Sparx (Luxray) Level 32-Ice Fang, Roar, Return, Thunderbolt
Cody (Marshtomp) Level 30- Whirlpool, Mud Shot, Water Gun, Tackle
Adler (Rufflet) Level 28- Aerial Ace, Slash, Wing Attack, Protect
Dora (Gardevoir) Level 30- Heal Pulse, Magical Leaf, Psychic, Shadow Sneak
 
"I... I remember that a long time ago, I had two big brothers. Then I had only Simon. I don't know what happened, but I remember asking about it, and not getting any answers. And th others are right out there. Alright?" Mia said standing up. She reached a hand out to help Tony up. She glanced out the window Vulpix had jumped through earlier.
"Tony, am I seeing things, or is that woman coming this way?" Mia asked.

"Then he takes after his partner," Robby said with a jovial grin. He looked at the rest of them. Esper tried to extend his senses, but couldn't. He wanted to scream. Instead, he lay his head down. He just had this feeling of danger. He couldn't explain it. Was this his instinct everyone seemed to be on to him to relearn? He wasn't sure he liked it. He didn't like hunches. He wanted to always be sure.

Van sniffed the air. Yup, he had been right. Someone was coming. He wanted to bolt right there. He didn't know this person. He shook his head. He was being stupid. It was just one person. He was surrounded by powerful trainers with powerful pokemon.
"You ok, Van?" Winny asked glancing at him. She had seen him frown, as though he was a little scared. Her psychic senses weren't that sharp, and she didn't sense anything.
"I'm fine. Just being a little silly," he said.

My team:
Esper (Espeon): level 34, Swift, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Bite.
Volt (Manectric): level 30, Discharge, Zap Canon, Quick Attack, Double Kick
Razor (Skarmory): level 30, Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Whirlwind
Deluge (Wartortle): level 29, Water Gun, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, Protect
Amber (Leafeon): level 27, Synthesis, Quick Attack, Solar Beam, Razor Leaf
Draco (Bagon): level 28, Ember, Dragonbreath, Dragon Rage, Zen Headbutt

Current sub-characters:
Van Flaresoul: level 42, Flamethrower, Flash, Flamewheel, Dig
Marcus: power; future sight. Team: Clefairy, level 20; Magby, level 21; Gyarados, level 23; Poochyena, level 21
Robby: power; telekinesis.
Mia: power; being a brat :P. Team: Delcatty, level 17; Glameow, level 16; Ursaring, level 41; Sparkles (Rattata), level 25
Winny Shieldmaker: level 33, Mirror Coat, Counter, Light Screen, Teleport
 
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Mickey grinned. "Oh is that it?" he asked Robby playfully. "So if I'm a kid, what does that make you?"

Zaria looked at Esper and guessed his frustration. "Life is full of uncertainty," she told him innocently. "You would be more certain if you looked more often." Alyss giggled softly. She knew someone was outside but if Mickey and Asha weren't panicking, neither would she. Riley, who had been snoozing nearby, got up and padded over to everyone else. She wasn't too concerned. After all, nothing was Riley-proof, not even titanium. She grinned at the thought of blowing up titanium. Ash snickered, guessing her partner's thoughts. The Raichu smirked.
 
Of the Shadows Arises Clair.

"Y-yeah. That's...That's Clair. Don't worry, she's a friend." Tony spoke quickly out of excitement. He ran out of the RV and straight towards her. "Clair! It's Tony!"

"Tony? Where's Mark, is he here with you?"

"No. He's not. I'm sorry." Tony frowned as Clair fell to the ground where she buried her head in her knees. "I've got my memory back!"

"Memory..back? You mean you had lost your memory? That was something you could have mentioned before." she spoke slowly and quietly after hearing the harsh news. She was soaking wet.

"Well...yeah, but guess how I got it." Tony filled her in on the hooded figure and the prophecy thing.

"A Black One? So to speak."

"Black Ones! Those were in the prophecy. Is there something you aren't telling me."

"Yes." Clair answered before walking back towards the RV.
 
Marcus watched as Tony went running out of the RV. Mia joined them in the room.
"Man, have I got a lot to tell you guys! That was Tony, my big brother! He got some kind of prophecy earlier. Something about a tournament and Black Ones," she said excitedly.
"Tournament... The only one I know of is one you get to enter if you get eight badges. I've been thinking about entering it. Of course, I'll need to beat your brother first. And then get four more badges," Thomas said. Van walked away from the doorway. He turned around to watch the door for when the two of them enter.
"A teenager!" Robby told Mickey with a laugh. He was paying attention, but not too much. He still enjoyed joking around.
"You're probably right. But that answer is just hard to accept. I get the feeling things are about to get a lot tougher," Esper said to her.
 
"The harder to accept something is, the more you benefit from it," she chirped cheekily. "And of course things are going to get tougher. That's how journeys work."

"Recommendation Thomas," Ash remarked. "When you get to Siberia or anywhere near there, you run in, get the badge, get the heck out. I swear, if it weren't for Carrie I'd have been dead." Alyss shivered her agreement. She had never been there but every instinct screamed freeze!

"That's worse than me!" Mickey retorted at Robby, laughing.
 
Wanted. (Very Important Post.)

Two. That's how many badges he had. That's it. That means six more. Mark realized that the date of the Tournament wasn't far. It was maybe two months away. He took out his small red computer. From Venice he would head to Stonehenge then New York. Then to Mt. Saint Helen. Then Machu Piccu. After that, the Amazon Jungle. That would be eight. He wouldn't even have to go to Africa or Australia. It would be nice to escape all this RDM and AAPM business. Just return to what he knew. There it was. That was what Dust had taken him to?

A hole. A ginormous hole in the middle of the ground.

"It's not a hole, it's a tunnel. From here you can go all over the world." Dust added onto her giant speech about how the Black Ones had worked so hard to make it. But she stopped so suddenly. Mark was sure she had noticed he wasn't listening until he looked at her eyes. They had tears in them, and they were glossy. "She betrayed the entire group." She must have truly cared about whoever she was talking about. They hopped into the tunnel. Mark wasn't even nervous. He had gotten used to these sort of things.

The tunnel was a huge branch of electronic...stuff. He didn't know another word for all the...stuff. There were machines and lit up electronics. It was a post-modern transportation things. Dust pulled him in front of a machine. She handed him a map, a few black fox-looking things, and pushed him through.

"Where do I go now? What do I do with these? Where am I going?"

"To Venice! I have to go now, just follow the map!"

"You never told me who my dad was!" Mark yelled out as the machine behind him grew louder. A giant light flashed and he was sent off into oblivion.

*********************************************

Regis smiled at his latest plan. It was easy enough. Two calls, one to the Central Airport of the World and one to the President of the company.

"These children are escapees! They're running from their parents. Oh, I just can't believe it. I wanted to help them, but their Pokemon left me injured."

A sympathetic President had responded to his call by putting the children's pictures on wanted posters all over the world. They wouldn't be able to ride planes or trains. There was no other way to get around. They would be spotted and sent right to him. Mark may have escaped, but he'd be caught soon enough along with that black shadow of an escapee.

"Sir. The boy has left the area. He's somehow managed to elude our scanners."

***********************************************

Mark saw the RV. It took a while, but he found a similar tunnel leading him onto the upper ground. Then, the hole resealed itself. What? How would he get back? Could he get back? He pulled out the three fox-like things he had been given. They glowed and the hole opened back up. It appeared that by using one of these fox-like things, you could open up that transportation tunnel. This could be useful. No more planes or trains.

Suddenly, his father's phone rang. Mark picked it up as he walked slowly towards the RV.

"Hello? Regis, it's Matthew, the President of the CAW. The airport. I've put up those pictures of the kids you've sent. Bless your heart. We'll find them. If they try to use a plane or train, we'll get them and hand them over. Regis? Regis? Hello? Must've entered a tunnel or something. Bye."

Mark smiled. He had found a way to elude his father. How...wonderful. He ran up to the RV and waved. Clair fell back and fainted. He had lots to tell his friends.
 
"What the!? Where did he come from!?" Van yelled when the boy popped up out of the ground.
"Tell Zor to come back. The third CT found us first," Esper said to Zaria. He walked over and Thomas stood up. He grabbed Mia's arm and nodded at her, and she blushed but didn't let go. The two of them walked out of the RV. At first glance it might look like they were holding hands, and maybe they were, but the real purpose was that she was guiding him.
"Hey, big brother! He a friend of yours?" Mia called out to Tony in Italian. Thomas glanced at her, not understanding what she was saying.
"Hey! Welcome to this little haven of fools. I'm Thomas. It's nice to finally meet you," Thomas called to the boy that had popped out of the ground. Esper followed him outside. He gently prodded the boy with his mind wondering if he meant them any harm.

Robby looked outside. Thomas and Mia were holding hands. He snickered.
"Heh, not much worse. Check them out!" he said, pointing at the pair.
"What? I think they look cute!" Winny said. Van said nothing, but he glanced at her. He knaew that she was wishing it was him and her, not Thomas and Mia. That wasn't going to happen.
 
Zoran's whole body twitched and he hit the ground. He was there. That boy was by Asha! He had to get there... but... what were the shadows doing? They were hissing and snarling, but it wasn't hostile. It was... frustration? Impatience? What? But why?

We've waited long enough for you to grow like this! What? You are useless the way you are! They boiled and screamed, latching themselves onto his body. What were they doing? His vision was growing hazy. He was tired all of a sudden, so tired. Then his whole body was engulfed in pain. His body was burning, tearing itself to pieces.

Zoran screamed before the shadows muffled his voice and dragged him down into their depths. For a moment, he heard a kind voice in his ears.

~~

Zaria had been about to obey Esper before her whole body was wracked with agony. She kept quiet. The shadows that formed her seemed surprised, uncomfortable. What are they doing to Zora? she asked them and they seemed to shrug.

We are castoffs from them, they told her. Whatever they are doing to the master, we have nothing to do with it now. It is guessed it is to correct a great error.

Correct an error?

The wrong path after death. She had a feeling they didn't even understand it, so they spoke in riddles. So she floated outside, a few feet from where the others were. There, only moments later, Dora teleported into view. Her whole body screamed exhaustion as she dropped. The Gardevoir clutched a bundle in her arms. Five Pokeballs, including her own, rested on what appeared to be Zoran's clothing. She examined the bundle more closely before stepping back.

"What... what did they...? Zo-Zoran!" Her brother was a child now, one barely older than her. What did his power just do?
 
"Hey! Welcome to this little haven of fools. I'm Thomas. It's nice to finally meet you,"

"I'm Mark. Now, I need to ask you a question. Do you have a special...power." Mark looked at him with serious eyes. He felt his mind being entered. Strange... he focused on the strange telekinetic power. He twisted it onto Thomas. Now, he could read his mind for a short time. He does have power, some kind of light.

"Okay...I just read your mind. So...you do have powers."

Tony stepped up, "You can read minds?"

"No...I just felt a strange Psychic power," he looked at the Espeon, "Then, I used my Amplification power, to send it across the field. Sorry if I'm coming on too strong. It's just that...you must be one of the other children. My father, Regis, is the leader of the AAPM," before they could judge him to quickly he spoke, "and he has your picture and now you can't ride planes or trains without getting turned into him."

Mark paused for the dramatic effects. Then he showed them the small fox-like objects. "I'm not exactly sure how you use these, but, back at that hole I came from there is an underground tunnel. These small black objects open tunnels like that. There, you use this map," Mark unfolded another map underneath the one he had, "to find the right route to another city. I know...it is much harder...but, if you don't, you'll get caught by the AAPM. And it's awful there. It's...awful." his voice weakened. Mark looked beyond the kids who were there. Something strange was going on to another boy. A burst of darkness...a scream. Where'd he go?
 
Garet stopped to look at Agatha for a few seconds, then said, "Agatha, I've been thinking about something for a while now. I have had reason to, and I want to know something that, it seems, only you know."
He paused before asking, "Why, exactly, have we been trying to capture these children? What would we gain by having them in custody? There is no reason to think that they have any affiliation with the AAPM, and from the Espeon's actions, I can only assume that he, and likely the other Pokemon, are loyal to the children and their companions. If they want to stay with the humans, then there's hardly any reason I can see for pursuing children." Garet waited patiently for Agatha's reply.

~~~~~

When he'd extended his Aura-sense, Leo had stopped in confusion as he'd found several more of the same Auras. So, the CT's rescuer was an Aura-user who was trying to throw off the trail. The Lucario had continued to watch the different Auras, then determined that one particular pair was moving more like humans than the rest of them.

Now, Leo was on the verge of coming into the area where the one remaining Aura still hung around. How had the CT's Aura vanished like that?! He hadn't seen a third Aura, so it couldn't have been a Pokemon teleporting the boy away. The Lucario finally came to where the tunnel, open or closed, was, though he knew nothing of it. The boy's rescuer was around here somewhere...
 
Secrets, Secrets Are No Fun.

Agatha looked at Garet and then walked across the room where she closed the door. Then, she pressed a button. "Malik, hold any calls for the next half hour. I do not want to be interrupted." she looked back at Garet.

"The children each have a special power. You do understand that? Now, when enough of these "CT's" are united, a strong power is made. The strongest in the world, you see. We need that power to finish Plan RISE. That is simple enough. But there is another reason. There is a group of sorcerers, named the Black Ones. They threaten the very existence of Pokemon. They believe they are the ones who keep the world in balance and think that with Pokemon, the world will unhinge. Their power comes from a strange source, one that can only be silenced by a greater power. You see Garet...if we fail to unite those children, you along with all other Pokemon will be banished."
 
A New Reason to Continue the Chase...Perhaps...

Garet blinked. Banished? His mind was trying to digest this new information. To where, though? How would these Black Ones accomplish this? Why would the presence of Pokemon 'unhinge' the world? How many CTs would need to be together for this strong power to emerge?

These questions and others were running through the Arcanine's head. He was surprised at himself when the question he did ask was, "Would the children be alive and free after we harness this power?" Garet didn't let it show, but he was a little startled. Why did he care about the CTs' well-being? They were humans, and much of his experience with humans outside the RDM showed them to be generally uncaring toward Pokemon.
 
Dust on the Door.

Agatha didn't respond for a few minutes. She looked deep into his eyes, "I..I do not know. I won't let Pokemon be banished. I do not know why they think Pokemon cause the world to become unbalanced, but I do know they possess the skills to get rid of Pokemon. I do not know to where. But...they also possess the power to get rid of humans. If push comes to shove...we may need that power. Garet...I think it's best you leave to think over the information. You must not tell anyone about this. The only other person who knows is...Shauntal.


*********************************************

Dust panicked at the sight of the Lucario. She wasn't prepared for a confrontation. But, she knew this tunnel like the back of her hand. She moved swiftly and quietly through the tunnel until she reached where she was going. The Black Ones' secret location was dreadfully near the AAPM base, but there was nothing she could do. She ran up to the spot when she felt something vibrate. The Earth began to shake. Dust fell to the ground. An Earthquake? Some upper ground collapsed onto the tunnel. As a boulder was about to fall on her, she screamed. She ran into the nearest room and shut the door. Who knew where she was going. She took out her small fox-like badges. Badge? Only one badge? Where were the other ones. NO! She would be yelled at for this. She was about to open the door when she was zoomed to a random location.
 
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