The Children Are Hunted

Alyss remained quiet before patting Zanna's head. "Stop," she whispered. "Please. It hurts my ears." Instantly, Zanna complied, looking guilty as she leapt into Alyss' arms. She kept looking down at her feet as she stood up. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "Zanna doesn't trust many. She's scared and angry but she won't hurt you unless you do first. I won't let her; I promise." On the belt at the folds of her dress, her Pokeballs shook irritably. Zanna could be an annoying brat to them too but she was getting better. Slowly, she was getting better.
 
"It's allright," Thomas said. He was feeling a bit better, and let Marcus pull him to his feet.
"We need to get going, Thomas," Marcus said.
"If you want to come with us, you can," Thomas said. He had a feeling he knew the answer already.
"Of course I will accompany you, Pokeboy! You have only to as-" TGP started to say.
"He wasn't talking to you! Moron!" Vulpix snarled. If there was two things he didn't like, it was pups with attitudes, and humans that didn't know when to shut up. Somehow, he had been settled with both!"
"Relax, Vulpix. It's fine!" Marcus said. Thomas and Marcus put everything away quickly, including the leftover fruit from breakfast. They had to have something for dinner too!
 
Alyss looked away. "Thank you," she whispered, looking at the strange masked trainer as she followed them. He made her ears hurt worse than Zanna. Maybe he had that ability. She shivered. That was a scary idea.

"Want me to turn his brain to mush?" Zanna asked, pouting when Alyss shook her head no. Zanna looked right. "Careful Alyss, your..." Alyss nodded and attempted to pull her wings back against her dress, in case that Espeon could see through the cover. Certain Pokemon could see through it and always exposed her. That was why Zanna was there: in case they tried to take it off instead of simply see it. Alyss hoped it wouldn't come to that.
 
Esper saw the movement of the wings, and sent it to Thomas. Thomas wasn't that surprised. He had figured something like that would happen.
"Don't tell anyone else. She's obviously trying to hide it. She has probably been shunned by everyone as a freak. So act like you didn't see anything. When she's ready, she'll tell us herself." Thomas said mentally to Esper. Esper agreed with him on that one. Calling her out would do more harm than good. Best to let her tell them herself. TGD and Marcus didn't notice anything. And Vulpix was out scouting ahead. So Thomas walked along. He looked at Alyss.
"So, I don't know anything about you but your name. You don't have to answer these questions if you don't want to, but where are you from? You look a little too young to be on a pokemon journey like me, at least, that's what Esper says. Is there anyone who is missing you, maybe someone that you should be getting back to? If so, then don't worry, I'll help you as best I can," Thomas said with a smile. He didn't want to frighten her, but he had to know something about her. Something terrible had obviously befallen her, or she would not be here, not in this condition, at anyrate. He just had to do something.
 
Alyss seemed to think about it and decided on truth, some part of the truth, anyway. Zanna pawed her arm and she nodded. He was being quiet. Thank goodness. "I don't remember," she said. That was true. She didn't remember a lot of where she had been born or had lived. She only vaguely remembered running away from it. "I woke up... out in a forest with them." She held out her five Pokeballs in helpless confusion. This was true as well. She hadn't meant to grab them when she had first left. "I don't know if anyone is looking for me," she admitted with a slightly crestfallen face. "I had someone but they were taken away."
 
"I'm sorry to hear that. It must be terrible, being all alone somewhere you don't know. I suppose I'm lucky. I have good friends with me. Marcus and Vulpix and even you. Does that surprise you? That I consider you my friend? Well, don't worry to much about it. You're not alone anymore. I'll do everything I can to make sure nothing happens to you. And it looks like your pokemon love you. You should be happy about that. Pokemon are only drawn to people they care about," Thomas decided to let it stand at that. Vulpix came out of the woods.
"I found a good spot nearby! We may want to camp soon. Thomas, you need to train some more, or you'll never beat the gym leader!" Vulpix said. Thomas chuckled.
"Sounds like you enjoyed it! Otherwise you wouldn't be so eager to train!" Thomas said.
"I can't let myself go soft! I have to keep up my skills! C,mon! I'll take you to it!" Vulpix said. Thomas laughed as he disappeared in the underbrush. He felt sure that Alyss would be alright with him training. He didn't push it too hard. And he had no imposing pokemon. He just hoped Amber would behave with the newcomers. She always tried to make friends with everyone.
 
Alyss watched him. He seemed to be trying to make her relax. She didn't quite understand why but it was all right. You had to do things at your own pace, not someone else's. That was the joy of life; it was yours. She patted Zanna's head as she followed. "Um... your Electrike is going to evolve soon," she told him with quiet curiosity. Her fingers clutched one of her Pokeballs and Zanna huffed. She knew Alyss was curious about their ability but she wasn't sure what she wanted to do yet.
 
Thomas smiled. That was the first time she had said anything that wasn't an answer to a question or to her pokemon.
"I know, and I'm very proud of him. All of my pokemon have worked very hard to become strong. But this is only the begining. My journey is very hard, and they all know that. I'm glad that they're here," Thomas said. He loved talking about his pokemon. Especially Esper and Volt. They had been with him from the begining of his journey. He turned around and saw Marcus lagging behind.
"What's wrong, city boy? Can't keep up? Don't worry, we'll be camping soon!" Thomas said. TGP was back trying to bolster his spirits and morale, but was making Marcus look like he was going to kill him. Thomas wondered, again, why they were bringing him along.
 
"That boy is scary," Alyss told Thomas, knowing he wanted her to trust him, seeing it in his earnest, innocent eyes. "Why is he here? You don't want him here, right?"

Zanna snorted. "Probably so they have a meat shield when there's a gunfight." Alyss paled. She hated guns and gunshots. It didn't matter if they were loud, their death was so cold and precise, not like blades or fists where you had a chance to truly block it. They put holes in you, holes that sometimes couldn't heal.

One of her Pokeballs opened and out popped what appeared to be a Glaceon. "Be quiet Zanna you morbid fool!" she snapped. "You're scaring Alyss." Zanna huffed and fell silent. She turned to Thomas and bobbed her head politely as Alyss managed a smile.
 
"He annoys me to no end. But I can't just leave him here. He's helpless without someone to look after him. As much as I don't like him, it wouldn't feel right abandoning him until I know he'd be somewhere he couldn't cause any harm. I wish there was something more I could do for him though. I can't fix everything," Thomas said with a sigh.
"You only want to fix him so that he'll stop pestering you, Pokeboy!" Vulpix said. They had finally reached the camp. Thomas looked around. It was at the bottom of a hill, just on the outskirts of the forest. Several other people had made camps here, as the stone circle that was made to stop a campfire from getting out of control was a testement to. Thomas called out Razor.
"Go get us some wood for a campfire, please," Thomas said. She trilled happily at him and flew off. Marcus and TGP caught up to the group.
"For the last time, forget it! I'm not moving any faster!" Marcus said.
"Nonsense! The Great Pokemaster never fails! Tell him Pokeboy-" TGP
"Stop calling me that, please. I'm not anyones sidekick. I'm just Thomas. Now, why don't you tell me your name," Thomas said.
"Not now, Pokeboy! The minions of darkness are everywhere!" TGP said.
"Then, why don't you sit down and keep an eye out for them. And don't talk! The sound of your, uh, magnifecent voice will let them know we are!" Thomas said. TGP sat down.
"Ready to train?" Vulpix asked once Razor came back with the wood. Thomas nodded. He called out Amber, who started running around happily. She caught sight of Alyss, and more importantly, the Zorua and Glaceon. She bounded toward them, wanting to play with them. Thomas called her and she turned and ran towards him. She was ready to train now!
 
"The only minions of darkness here are all of you," Zanna snarled quietly and Alyss sighed. The Glaceon walked over to Amber and bobbed her head in greeting.

Alyss smiled faintly. This was a good sign. "Arca wants to help you." Alyss knew the Pokemon really just wanted to test herself against a full team but she had faith her Pokemon knew what she was doing.

~~~

Asha stepped back, dodging a stray blow. Zora's Pokemon were incredible! Kira was actually having trouble with them. Even two at once it shouldn't be this hard! Doom and Cody were holding their own well. Zora's mental commands were good. The boy's hazel gaze was fixed on her from where he lay. His hair was tied in a ponytail with a strange band, one they had found in his pocket. It had been a headband, now it was tying his hair out of his face. Asha found it funny the ponytail made him look more girly than ever.

She tossed her braid behind her back and called out. "Aura Sphere!" Training was not over yet
 
Thomas smiled at the Glaceon.
"I'd be honored to train with you. Hey Vulpix, why don't you go train with Marcus tonight. I'm sure Arca will be able to keep up with Amber!" Thomas said. Vulpix gave what could have been a shrug and walked off.
"But I-" TGP began.
"We have to train! We aren't all as tough as a real superhero, you know! That's why we need you to, uh, watch our backs for us!" Thomas said quickly, before he could protest.
"Um... Quite right Pokeboy! Get to it then, and fear not! For as long as I am here, you shall be able to train in peace!" TGP said.
"I wish that were true," Thomas mumbled under his breath. He hoped that Alyss knew what she was doing, letting Arca train with him. His training was rough!
"Allright, Amber! Let's see how much stronger you can get! Quick Attack!" Thomas said. Amber stopped fawning over the attention she was getting, and began the attack.
 
Arca dodged easily with her own Quick Attack before breathing a Frost Breath. Alyss could see her Pokemon's fur beginning to stand on end like quills. She could already feel the temperature dropping. Arca was faster than most Pokemon, had been since he was an Eevee. Alyss smiled faintly as Arca kept moving as she fired.
 
Amber was shocked at how fast this Glaceon was. It was worse than fighting Esper when he was mad! She rolled to the right, and came up Using Sand Attack, as Thomas had said to. She didn't wait to see if it hit, she kept moving herself.

Thomas was aware that Amber was not as fast as the Glaceon. She was probably 10 or so levels lower, maybe more. But even so, she was doing well. Thomas was fond of his lowest level pokemon. But then again, he was fond of all his pokemon. But she always gave her best. And she was getting tougher.
 
Good question.

Garet jumped back a few feet, but he was unable to avoid the Dragonbreath, which hit his left forepaw. "Why?" he said to the Dragonair, speaking in Pokemon so the humans wouldn't understand. "It's the best way to complete my mission right now, since they're not coming quietly."

Testing his paw on the ground, Garet learned that it could still work, just not at the same pace as his other paws. More attacks like that would leave him less able to defeat the Dragonair if they connected.

Nice strategy.

Garet blasted the Dragonair with another Flamethrower before dashing with Extremespeed to try and bowl her over again. If that connected, then he'd turn and bite her with Fire Fang.
 
Arca smiled softly. "Nice movements," she said quietly to herself and to Alyss. The human's blue eyes were analyzing carefully. Arca moved in close, having avoided the Sand Attack. She released a beam of ice and the temperature kept falling around her. The ground was beginning to freeze where she ran.

Alyss looked up. "Be careful," she said softly to Thomas. "Arca's using the ice to run faster."
 
Amber was hit by the Ice Beam. She was back on her feet, but her back left paw was incased in ice. Her movement would be hampered. Esper sent this to Thomas, who smiled.
"Let's see this through. Amber, use Quick Attack again!" Thomas said. Amber charged, just as fast as Arca. Her paw was causing problems, though, and she couldn't control her turns as well. Thomas knew she would adapt to this, and be better for it.
 
Arca sidestepped and closed her eyes. Then she leapt into the air and slashed the cold with her tail, creating Ice Shards and firing them at Amber. Alyss wasn't smiling; rather, she looked kind of sad. Zanna had fallen quiet and calm, gently butting her hand with her head. Alyss absently pet her, still watching dismally.

"Why do we have to fight?" she asked no one, speaking of something different than the training.

"Because peace doesn't exist," Arca said softly. "It will never exist so long as negative emotions are in the world. And perhaps that is the way the world must be." She fired more Ice Shards.
 
Almost Gone.

Dragonair didn't fully understand his answer. Had he ever felt the warmth of a trainer who truly cares about you? She looked at him as he fired a Flamethrower that hit home. Dragonair took the attack and looked at where he once was. He had darted to the right and hit Dragonair. Then his teeth began to grow and fire sprouted from them. He tried to bite but Clair had given Dragonair a good idea.

As he bent down, she pulled her tail around and wrapped it around his mouth. Then, it quickly turned into water and she held it against his snout. Some steam began to flow from the attack. Dragonair shot out another Dragonbreath while holding the Arcanine. She aimed it towards his leg, but she knew she couldn't hold his mouth for long.
 
Amber skidded to a stop. Thomas called her back before the Ice Shards could hit her. He was deep in thought about what she just said. Why did they have to fight? Not just him and his friends, but people in general.
"I don't have an answer for you. People all fight, and hurt other people. Then those people that were hurt, they fight too. And it just continues on and on. And there seems to be no way of stopping it. Because if you refuse to fight for those you care for, they get hurt. It makes no sense at all. And it won't stop at all! I don't like it! But how can anyone change it. I want to stop fighting, but I can't let anyone else get hurt. But, how is my hurting people to stop them from hurting other people right?" Thomas said. He walked over to the fire and sat down. He wanted to stop now. What made him any different than the ones he was fighting? He had no answer for that. So he sat and thought about it. Esper came over to him and sat down. Marcus and Vulpix had stopped training, and had sat down to rest. TGP had fallen asleep. Thank godness for that. Thomas really didn't want to deal with him right now.
 
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