The Children Are Hunted

"Volt, you love sick pup! Thanks, I'll switch out. Razor! Take flight!" Thomas said. He returned Volt. Then he hurled Razor's pokeball. This wasn't good. Zoran wasn't taking him seriously. He was getting cocky, and letting his guard down. Well, Thomas decided to punish him for that.
"Get some altitude, Razor!" Thomas shouted. Razor flew up so high you could barely see her. Thomas smiled at Zoran, although he twisted it into a threatoning sneer at the last second. He really sucked at acting like some kind of thug.
 
Zoran sighed. "Sorry man, I know you expected something exciting but..." He shrugged. "If I get caught, well, I'll just escape won't I? Or they'll do bad stuff to me and you and then I'll get out anyway. No big deal."

"Zora!" Zaria hissed. "Take this seriously! Don't you want to win?"

"Not really. But if I have to... How about..." He shook his head. "I knock him off this building, huh Sparx?" Sparx paused then nodded, instantly running to ram Thomas from the rail. Normally she wouldn't do it, but she knew what would likely happen. Zoran gave Thomas a calm smile. "Is this serious enough for you?"
 
Thomas hadn't expected that, but he reacted instantly. He dropped to the ground, barely keeping himself from falling off the ledge. He kicked straight up, and caught Sparx under the chin, stopping her momentum and knocking her to the ground. Thomas got back to his feet.
"What are you, stupid?! Why would you risk your pokemon like that?! You don't deserve to be a trainer, not after that display! You're no better than the ones I'm working for! You don't care about anything but yourself! It never even occured to you that some people might have other responsiblities! This is going to be the end! Razor, dive down here and use Steel Wing!" Thomas shouted. Carlson hissed a warning in his ear, which Thomas ignored. Thomas hopped down off the edge of the building and moved away from Sparx as Razor dived toward her. He glared at Zoran.
 
Sparx lost it at that. She roared wildly and attacked Razor with a new move, a Thunderbolt. Don't insult him! she seemed to be screaming. Don't you ever insult him like that you bastard! He knew I wouldn't stop, he knew I wouldn't fall! He believed in me! Shut up! he believed in you, that's why we're not fighting well! Shut up! He did that so you would stop don't you get it? You selfish bastard! The electricity warped everywhere. Zoran could tell now, not like before. Sparx was trying to kill Thomas now. He had expected her to stop just before she made it to Thomas and turn back towards Razor. Humanity complicated things.

"Sparx, watch out!" That was when Zoran moved, because the Steel Wing was still going, still aiming to kill his Pokemon. He knocked her to the side, only to get his arm and back torn open. He hissed sharply and forced himself back up, ignoring the blood that was now pooling from his useless left arm. "There... happy?" Zoran hissed. "I'm cut up now just like you. You don't understand anything do you...I know Sparx! I knew how she was going to interpret my command and I knew you would likely do something dumb! You have Razor to catch you and Sparx isn't an idiot! She was going to stop you fool! I may be a selfish bastard pretty damn often but you want to know something? So are you! You never trusted us; you just expected things to go your way! You spoiled, childish idiot!" The rage drained out of him, replaced by something dull. "Go on Thomas. Capture me, complete this mission, whatever. I'll probably die before I get there anyway. I'll just join Zaria." His arms gave way and he hit the ground again. Sparx ran to help him.

Zaria stared for a moment, then floated forward to her brother's side. She made sure Thomas could hear her. "You worthless trash. You wanted him serious right? Well you got it. Happy now? Now he could die thanks to you and your game! You could have just told us with Esper what was going on! We're not as stupid as you assume we are!"
 
Thomas remained silent. He ignored Zaria, she was a ghost already and couldn't do anything. He ignored Carlson, who was yelling in his ear for him to do something. He picked up Sparx pokeball and returned her. He put the ball back where Zoran got it from. Razor flew down and trilled sadly. Thomas picked up Zoran and hefted him onto Razor's back. He climbed up after him. They flew toward the hospital. Thomas landed and carried Zoran inside. He walked into the ICU and shouted. a doctor ran up. The doctor called for a stretcher, and Zoran was placed on it. Thomas left before they could ask him any questions. He saw Marcus running down the street, but Thomas leapt on Razor and took off.
"What are you doing? Bring him back here!" Carlson said.
"Go to hell! I'm never fighting my friends again! Nothing is worth that!" Thomas said. He flew back to the base. He knew that he was going to pay for that, but he didn't care. Razor trilled soothingly at him as she flew.
 
Zaria snarled low. She was sitting invisibly, silently outside the ICU. She was feeling hate, something she hadn't in a long time. She hated Thomas with every fiber of her being. She knew what people thought: ghosts couldn't do anything. She wasn't a normal ghost though: she knew that. Young children who became ghosts had something, something powerful that they never managed to access in life. Regardless, if Zoran regarded Thomas as a friend after that, he was insane. Zaria was a child, despite her brother's jokes, and Zoran was her whole world, the only one who was always there. And Thomas, who had forced her brother to go too far, had nearly destroyed that world. She wouldn't forgive him and with what little power she had, she would find a way to make him pay for it.

Or if she couldn't... she knew someone who could. Zaria flew up and out of the building, not noticing her brother was being moved to another room with his Pokemon. Zaria hated this separating tug but ignored it, finding the high penthouse she was looking for. The woman had given them both directions when he Zoran had called her hours ago. Inside was a young brunette woman, carefully feeding her Audino.

"Ash!" she cried, causing the teen to nearly drop the bowl. Ash turned to see her.

"Zaria! What are you doing here? Where's your brother?" Zaria felt like crying but managed out.

"Hospital!" Ash's eyes narrowed and she returned Audino.

"Let's move." Within moments they were back at the hospital, surprising Marcus, who was inside.
 
Thomas landed next to Carlson. Carlson said nothing, instead he handed Thomas a ring. It was his mother's ring, and she never took it off. Thomas understood the meaning, and fell to his knees. He had made his friends hate him for nothing. Now, there was only one thing to do. He stood up.
"You will go back and-" Carlson said.
"Shut up!" Thomas said.
"What did you say?" Carlson asked. Thomas punched him in the stomach, and Carlson crumpled over.
"You bastards took everything from me! Now, I'm going to do the same to you!" Thomas said. He called out Volt, Esper, and Deluge. Esper sent out a very powerful Psychic, causing everyone in the building to cry out in pain. Thomas walked to the door, which Volt Double Kicked in. The two trainers there were no match for him. Volt blasted the Rattata with Discharge, while Deluge froze the Swablu with an Ice Beam. Esper sent out another of those brain scrambling pulses, then followed him inside. Razor took off and flew around the building.
 
Ash somehow found her friend's room and saw Zoran deeply unconscious and bandaged. If she were many other girls, she would have screamed and cried. But Ash was not normal. She walked up to his bed, sighed, and whacked him over the head. No response. "He's fine," she reported. "Just bleeding and exhausted, like the guy usually is." She sighed and shook her head. "Let's help his Pokemon then." The three Pokeballs were shaking on the desk. "Audino Heal Pulse!"The Pokemon obeyed, releasing a gentle pink pulse from her body. The Pokeballs didn't stop shaking but it did ease slightly.

Zaria watched this, having explained everything as they walked. "Are you angry?"

"Do you think he's angry?"

"I dunno... Zora's not good at being mad at people, even with they do stuff like this."

"Doesn't that answer your question?"

"No..." Ash sighed.

"We don't know all of what's going on so let's wait and see." She went outside to go check on that odd boy she had passed, Marcus. "Are you okay?"
 
"I don't know. What happened? I saw Thomas carry Zoran in here! Then Thomas left! What's going on?!" Marcus said, sounding slightly panicked. It made no sense. Thomas was his best friend! Why would he just bring Zoran here then leave? Marcus didn't get it. Then it clicked in his mind.
"Oh my god! Did Thomas do this to him?! Why would he do that?!" Marcus said.

Thomas decided that he would rather forget the last half an hour. He found himself panting with fatigue. He was standing on the steps to a basement. There was nothing left above. Thomas had made sure of that. And anyone that got in his way? He prefered not to think about it. But he wasn't done yet. He had to explore downstairs too. The first door he walked to had some bodies in it. He didn't want to see that, so he continued. He opened the next door. a small brown creature was huddled in the corner. He recognized it as an Eevee. She looked up at him with large amber eyes. Those eyes melted him. He sat down and started to cry. Deluge walked over to him, followed by Esper and Volt.
"I'm so sorry guys! I've messed up badly! I don't think anyone will ever be able to forgive me! I'm so sorry! You must hate me as well. I'm a terrible person!" Thomas cried for what felt like hours. Esper came over to him, sending him waves of comfort and relief. He had feared he had lost Thomas in his rage and grief. Deluge was there, crying with him. Volt huffed to himself, as though he was to cool to join them. The Eevee sat watching him with her large child-like eyes. She seemed to be waiting for something.
"And you! You must think I'm an absolute wreck!" Thomas said to her. She squeeked at him, and walked over to him. Esper watched her carefully, then moved out of the way. She rubbed her face all over his pants. Then they all heard something banging down the hall. Thomas stood up and walked down the hall. He was followed by his pokemon and the Eevee. He pushed on the door. Another bang came, and the door shook. He heard a muffled cry. Thomas kicked the door, but it wouldn't open. Whatever was inside kicked it back.
"Stand back! Esper, can you rip the door off?" Thomas asked. Esper signaled his agreement. Esper then set to work on the door. It creaked and groaned under the pressure Esper put on it. It was warping badly. Thomas tried the door. He was barely able to shove it open. His stomach turned at what he saw. It was Vulpix, but very different. His fur had been shorn down almost to nothingness. The crest on his head had disappeared, leaving a gash that was bleeding slightly. Two of his six tails had been broken, and now dragged on the ground. He had a muzzle on very tight. He stared at Thomas with defience in his eyes. Thomas took the muzzle off and was bitten.
"OW! I'm on your side!" Thomas said. His hand was bleeding.
"Yeah? Then why are you dressed like them!?" Vulpix asked angrily. Thomas told him what had been going on. Vulpix looked at him as though he was a fool. He didn't say anything, but huffed and walked out of the room. He turned around and looked at Thomas.
"I thought your friend meant more to you than that! You should be at his side helping him recover, not out here getting revenge! After all, this is your own fault, not just the AAPM!" Vulpix said, and he left Thomas's view. Thomas bit back an angry retort. He was right. Eevee tugged on his pants leg. He looked down at her. She was pleased that she got his attention.
"Poor thing! You've probably had it worse than I ever did. Do you want to come with me?" Thomas asked. He returned to the room he had found her in. He saw a folder that he had missed. Inside was a history of her life, written in terms like 'clinical project'. There was also a Fire Stone. He held it up to examine it, and noticed that Eevee was backing away and growling. He chuckled at her and pocketed the stone.
"It's not for you. I'll save it in case my angry friend that left wants it!" he said. She brightened at that. Thomas read the memo carefully. Apparently, this Eevee had been bred by the AAPM. She had no trainer, and wouldn't get one until she evolved. No wonder she had hated that stone. She hadn't been taught to talk, nor had she been given a name.
"Hey, I want you to join me! I'll call you Amber, cause of your eyes!" Thomas said. Those big eyes brightened at that, and he tossed the pokebal and caught her. He sighed. He had added another pokemon to his team. But it was at the cost of his mother, his two childhood friends, two kind old men, losing the best friends he had ever had, and all the people he had just killed. He turned and left the building. Razor dropped down and trilled at him. He returned his pokemon. He decided to take a walk to think about things.

Current team:
Esper (espeon): level 20, Psybeam, Psychic, Shadow Ball, Bite
Volt (elektrike): level 19, Discharge, Zap Canon, Quick Attack, Double Kick
Razor (skarmory): level 20, Steel Wing, Brave Bird, Air Cutter, Whirlwind
Deluge (Squirtle): level 17, Water Gun, Ice Beam, Rapid Spin, Withdraw
Amber (eevee): level 10, Tackle, Helping Hand, Sand Attack, Growl
 
"He would do it because he's a fool," Zaria snarled low.

Ash smiled pityingly and rested a hand on Marcus' shoulder. "He likely did it because he had something at stake. And then he brought Zoran here because he believed it didn't matter anymore. Now I bet he's doing something he'll regret later. Anyway, I'm going to introduce myself. My name is Ashara Harris and you can call me Ash. And I'm going to go off and see if I can find your friend before he shoots himself." She almost exited the room before asking. "Hey Zari... does your brother still have room on his team?"

Zaria nodded and she smiled again. "Good, he's going to need it. Deena watch this place. Bye bye." Audino saluted as she disappeared.
 
Marcus had that funny feeling again that meant that Zaria was talking to him. Before he could ask the woman what Zaria had said, because she seemed able to undetstand her, the woman introduced herself as Ash. Her explaination made sense, and Marcus almost felt sorry for Thomas. That is, if he hadn't hurt Zoran. Marcus looked at Zoran. He never could tell if he was awake or asleep. Marcus guessed he was asleep, he had lost a lot of blood, if what the doctors said was true.

Thomas found himself standing outside of the hospital. He hadn't been paying any attantion to where he was going. He wanted to go inside, but couldn't bear to face his old friends. That and he doubted that they would let him in. He was a mess. His shirt had a rather large reddish brown stain that was Zoran's blood from where Thomas had held him when he flew him here. The shirt also had a great deal of rips and tears. His pants also looked like they had gone through a tornado, but weren't as bad as the shirt. His hair was an untidy mess, and he had a great deal of cuts and bruises all over him. His face was no exception, and he had a black eye, and his lip was bleeding. One of his teeth had been chipped. The cast on his arm had several cracks in it from where he had used it as a bludgeon. His other hand had the headband wrapped around the spot where Vulpix had bitten him. That hand was still dripping a little blood.
"So, you going in? Or are you going to stand there feeling sorry for yourself?" Vulpix asked, startling Thomas. Thomas turned to look at him.
"How did you get here?" Thomas asked.
"I tracked you! You're not that hard to follow! If you go in, I'm going too! I'll pose as your pokemon!" Vulpix said. He was determined!
"You look like a train wreck!" Thomas said.
"Then we are a match!" Vulpix said. Before Thomas could come up with a response, a girl walked over to him. She was only a few years older than Thomas was, and from the way she was acting, Thomas guessed that she was the Ash that Zoran had mentioned.
"Alright, I'm leaving. I know Zoran probably doesn't want to see my face right now. I wouldn't either, if I was him," Thomas said. He turned to walk away.
 
"So you're just going to run away?" the girl asked softly, looking at him with curious blue eyes. "Zoran's not like you, if that's how you'd be. He's a stupid guy who forgives everybody he gets hit by unless they do something to one of us few people he cares for. Then, he kills them. And, from what Zaria told me, he's already done that for you." She sighed and adjusted her skirt, hating the thing. "Zoran's asleep, for once. You don't have to confront him right away. So come inside and explain to me why a good friend of mine is in this situation. Explain it to your friend who's confused and hurt and slightly betrayed. Tell us your side of the story, all of us. And hand me your Pokemon, all of them. They need to be healed. And I can do basic first-aid on you too. You deserve that much. Come on now before I drag you in there."
 
Thomas couldn't help but grin at her. He rather liked her. She was a little abrasive, but he had earned that. He wouldn't have complained if she had beat the crap out of him and left him in the street. He handed over the pokeballs.
"Touch me and I'll bite your hand off!" Vulpix said. He was very untrusting of people he didn't know, but then, look what he had just gone through. Thomas followed her into the building. He was led down the hall to the ICU. Marcus was waiting right there, and Zaria was probably there too.
"Thomas! You're ok! What's going on? What happened?" Marcus said. Vulpix walked up and sat down next to the door. He didn't say anything, but Thomas could tell he was interested. Thomas sighed, and told what had happened to him. He told his tale in a sad tone of voice, leaving nothing out. When he was done, he sat down in a chair and began fiddling with the ring that Carlson had given him. Thomas realized that bastard had got away. He knew that he would be the one to catch him. He would pay for this!
 
Ash listened quietly then gave Zaria a pointed look. The ghost girl shrugged, not looking ready to forgive him. "You'll have to excuse Zari," Ash said cheerily. "There are times when she chooses to act her age." Zaria pouted, crossing her arms sulkily. The elder instantly sobered and reached out to pat Thomas' arm. "You are allowed to cry you know. When you're with your friends, you're allowed to break down and be a human being." The Audino stepped up to Vulpix and released another Heal Pulse, this one slower and more concentrated for careful healing
 
Thomas shrugged. He hadn't expected forgiveness. He said as much.
"I didn't tell you because I hoped you would forgive me. I just needed to tell why. I wasn't exactly thinking clearly. But that doesn't excuse what I did. Looking back, I can see that I would never have seen them alive again. And as for crying, I've cried all I can for the moment. I can't cry anymore, at least not right now. Crying won't bring them back, or take away what I did! It won't help anything whatsoever!" Thomas said. His body betrayed him, however, and there were tears running down his face. He wiped them away, but more seemed to come. He tried to pull himself together. This wasn't going to help!
"I undetstand. You were trying your best to keep everyon safe," Marcus said, looking like he was about to cry himself. Thomas totally broke down at this. He felt like his world was falling apart, and nothing he could do would stop it. He lost track of everything else. He didn't even see when Esper popped out of his pokeball and walked over to him. Esper leapt up into his lap. He briefly sent his sorrow for what had happened to Zaria, then connected his mind to Thomas. He sent his love and his compassion to Thomas. He did his best to comfort Thomas, but right now, he wasn't recived that coherently. He stayed there, though. Nothing would get in his way. Vulpix lay down under the pulse. He let himself be healed with no resistance. He watched Thomas break down, and decided that he was another one that could be trusted.
 
"Well," came a weak groan. "It looks like crying's good for fixing your heart. Cryin' changes lo's of stuff." Zoran groaned again. "Jeez... hi Ash. This was not how I planned to see you."

"It better not have been," she laughed, watching Zaria smile and swoop around the room. Seeing her brother awake and semi-decent gave her a bit more of her joy and empathy and she reached out to pat Thomas's hair as she passed, giving him a slightly forgiving look.

Zoran rolled over with a wince to face Thomas. "Dude... s'up? Did I worry you that much mate? Geez, I didn't know I was that much of a big deal. Sorry for scarin' ya. I'll be fine in two days."

"Not if I beat you into the hospital again," Ash countered nonchalantly and the boy paled.

"Don't pull out the Charizard please," he begged.
 
"Zoran!" Marcus said. Thomas looked over at him.
"Dude, I'm so sorry!" Thomas said. Esper purred loudly. Vulpix smiled to himself. He was just about to sneak away, when he was lifted into the air. He turned to bite whoever had him, but he was floating on his own. One glance at Esper, and he knew it was that cats doing. He was dropped onto the bed beside Zoran. He glared at Esper, who gave him a long and deliberate wink.
 
Zoran grinned. "For what? This? I'm alive so who cares?" Zoran forced himself up. "It's cool man. I really don't mind. You were trying to do what you thought was right. I'm sorry for how it turned out though." He saw Vulpix and smiled lightly. "It's my buddy!" He gently lifted him onto his lap with his good arm. "Are you feeling okay?"

Zaria groaned and Ash laughed. They had called it.
 
Thomas shook his head a little, and wiped away the tears. Vulpix uttered a protest, but didn't dare actually say anything. He had to keep up the appearence that he was tame. He barked out an affirmative. Thomas smiled sadly.
"You'll never guess where I found him. Well, you won't have to if you were awake while I told the others what's been going on. I'm going to guess you were, because I don't want to tell the tale again!" Thomas said. Amber took that moment to burst from her pokeball and say hello.
"EEVEE!!!" she shouted, landing on the bed.
"And that is Amber. Isn't she cute!" Thomas said. Esper felt a pang of jelousy, which was extinguished by Thomas petting him. Amber stood proudly for a moment, then began sniffing at Zorans arm.
"He'll be alright!" Thomas said to the clearly worried Eevee. He turned to Zoran.
"You WILL be ok, right? I didn't cause any lasting damage? Man, I can't believe how stupid I was!" Thomas said. He was still angry at himself. He probably would be for a long time.
"If you knew then what you knew now... Hindsight can be so cruel," Marcus said, almost sounding far away. He seemed to be going down memory lane, but wouldn't elaborate any further.
 
Zoran nodded and smiled. "Yeah I'll be good. The thing just won't move is all." He tried and winced. "Yeah not trying that for a while." He smiled at Amber. "By the way, I will steal your Eevee."

Ash snorted."Smart buddy." Ash leaned over and whispered something and they both laughed then Zoran nodded. "Okay enough being depressed over my sickbed. I am bored and want to get checked out." Ash laughed and stood up, intent on going to make that happen. Sensing protest rising, he laughed. "What? It's not like it's broken, just stabbed. I can deal." He widened out doe-eyes. "Please can I get out of here? We're probably better off with Ash than anyone else. I'm not just saying that because she has a team of Pokemon that could beat the leaders!" More like because she has a gun obsession...

"Before or after you use that?" Zaria growled and her brother shrugged.

"Chill Zari, I won't."
 
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