Disclaimer: I don't own pokémon. I, like so many others, wish I did. I
do however own the plot of this story.
"" Human speech and regular pokémon speech () Thoughts * * Translated pokémon speech [] Telepathy
The Scattered: perspective one
The changeling, chapter 1
Sunset fell over the peaceful mountains and forests northwest of the lake of rage. The nocturnal pokémon where just starting to come out of there daylight slumber and where setting out to do there nightly business. But not only the pokémon where waking up. In a cabin deep in the woods, a teenager woke up from his bed. He yawned, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Putting on his black wire framed glasses and slipping out of his bed in a half-asleep daze he picked up some clothes from a near by desk and stepped out of his room. He entered the bathroom two doors down from his room and to the left. A few minutes pass, and then he came back out of the bathroom, more awake and dressed in a gray wool long sleeve shirt, black jeans with white socks. He walked in to his room and stepped around his gamestaion box and all his games, and walked in front of his full-length mirror. The teenager looked at his reflection with a wiry smirk. He took in his light brown complexion, red-black eyes staring out from his glasses. He brushed back his short black curly hair with his right hand then turned and sat on his unmade bed to put on his black boots. As he was tying the laces, he heard a voice yelling out to him.
"Michael, breakfast is ready. Place come down as soon as you can!" The female voice vocalized loudly.
"Ok Mom! I will be down in a moment!" Michael yelled back. The teenager finished with his boots and looked around his room. It was rectangle shaped with a dresser and a closet to the right of his bed, which was in the center of the room across from the door and against the back wall. There was a full-length mirror on the wall next to a desk with a computer on it. There was also a stand with a small reading light on it next to the bed on that side of the room. Also at the foot of the bed and on the floor across from it and next to the door, were a TV on a stand and his game system on the floor. He found what he was looking for, a pair of night vision goggles on the desk with the computer on it. He placed those on the top of his head, and pulled a black trench coat from the closet, completing his outfit. He pulled a sliver pokédex out from the drawer on the desk along with a matching pokégear. The pokégear went on his right wrist under the coat sleeve and the pokédex went in his pocket. He sauntered out of his room with a confident smirk and headed down the stairs at the end of the hall. He took the stairs two at a time and turned from the landing and walked though a small living room and in to a neat kitchen. His mother turned from cooking on the stove at his entrance. She was a middle-aged woman wearing a long short-sleeved purple dress. She had some light scars on her face and body. She had on black shoes with white socks and had short black hair. She has black-brown eyes and a light brown complexion.
"Are you still leaving tonight?" She asked as he fixed a plate of scrambled eggs and pancakes.
"Yes. I want to get to Mahogany town by first light. There is supposed to be ancient artifacts and explores convention in Ecruteak City in two night and don't want to miss a minute of it, so I have leave as soon as possible," he responded as he poured himself a glass of juice.
"I will miss you, you know. It just seems like you got back from you last trip. But I understand that you like finding new artifacts. I guess your poor mother will have to content herself by translating and categorizing what you brought home," She said with a slight smirk sitting down across from him and starting to eat her breakfast too. He smirked back at her and in that moment you could see the resemblance between the two of them.
"Don't you try to guilt trip me. I know you want to have some new things to study," he said playfully.
"I guess you know me to well? And here I was hoping I could still somewhat control you. Anyway, if you are so dead set on going, I suggest you leave as soon as you are done in order to get there own time," she said. He nodded after checking the watch in his pokégear and started to eat a bit faster. And short time later found him standing in front of his home the two-story cabin standing alone in the evening air. He shrugged on a gray backpack and turned to say goodbye to his mother, who was standing by the door.
"Good bye for now. I'll call you when I reach town," He said to her giving her a hug.
"Godspeed and stay out of trouble. I worry you know," she said somewhat sadly.
"Of course," he said with a small smile. He turned and one last wave he headed off. As he entered the woods at the edge of the clearing his house stood on, his form blurred and changed smaller, so instead of a teenage boy, a small pokémon with dark blue fur that was almost black walked out of the bushes. The human turned sneasel climbed up a nearby tree and went racing through the forest, jumping from tree to tree. A few hours later found the dark/ice type walking through the woods, letting the moonlight play across sliver claws. Suddenly a sound caught Michael's attention, and the changeling looked around to see where the crashing sound came from. A faint crying was heard, and he quickly made his way in that direction. He silently moved from around a tree and his red-black eyes took in the picture in front of him. A pichu was softly crying. It seemed that the young pokémon had fallen out of a tree.
*Hey kid, are you hurt? * He said walking up to the fallen pokémon. It looked at him with tear filled eyes and shook its head. *Well in that case, I'll leave you here for your parents, * he said walking away.
*Wait, * said a soft female voice. He turned around and looked quizzically at her. The pichu stood up from her sitting position and asked, *I'm lost and I need to get to Mahogany Town a large human settlement nearby. Can you help me? * She looked at Michael with a very intense stare.
*Are your parents there? * Michael asked.
*No, but my guardian is there. So can you help me? * She asked hopefully.
Michael sighed, then said, *Sure, come on kid, * He said waving her on.
*Thank you! * She said brightly. *My name is Alicia Cassie, but all my friends call me AC! * As she stood up, she leaned over and picked something off the ground. It was pair of rose-tinted sunglasses, which she put on the top of her head; right over a strand of gold hair in-between her large black bordered ears. *Let's go, * she said happily. Michael shook his head and with his new companion following moved on his way.
Michael and AC moved along without much more drama. The pichu showed a lot of energy and sprit, moving around in a hyper active flurry. They stopped for Michael's lunch and AC's dinner on the shore of the Lake of Rage. Michael ducked behind a tree when AC was distracted by some magikarp splashing about. Michael changed back into a human, just long enough to take out some sandwiches for himself, and an apple and a pear for AC. He quickly switched back just as his newfound friend started to look for him.
*Hey, where did you go? * She asked looking around.
*Right here, * he said coming back into view. As he handed her the fruit she looked at him curiously.
*Where did you get this? * She asked.
*Careless trainer, * he said, quickly shrugging off her question. She looked at him with some suspicion, like she didn't quite believe him. She let it go and took a bite of the apple. He too started to eat and watched the crescent moon move over the lake.
*So do you live out here? * AC asked.
*I live close by, but I tend to travel a lot. I like seeing new places and new things. I have a.hobby that takes me places. Right now I am looking for something, part of a map. What where you doing out in the woods anyway? * Michael inquired.
*Well, a friend was practicing an attack, and I kind of got caught in it," she said embarrassed.
*Oh, well that is nothing to worry about. If your friend were young as you, you would both need some time to get used to your powers, * Michael said.
*I suppose you are right. But I know how to handle my powers, * AC said pouting a bit.
*But I bet you couldn't handle me, * a voice said from behind the two sitting pokémon. They both turned to find a houndour and a natu sitting behind them.
*Yeah, we're both twice as strong as you, * the psychic/flying type said.
*Do you two have a problem with pichu are something? * Michael asked standing up and nonchalantly examined his claws. *Or do you need to brag about how strong you are to children? *
*Very funny, wise guy. Just for that, we're going to take care of you and the kid, * the houndour said snarling.
*Goody, I always wanted to have servants," Michael said getting into a combat stance claws out stretched and ready.
*If you didn't notice my friend here has a type advantage and we both know perfectly well we can beat the girl over there, * the natu said. AC, tired of the bluff and banter, simply hit the bird with a thunder wave, momentarily lighting up the shore with a flash of yellow light. The houndour fired an ember attack in Michael's direction. The sneasel dodged the fireball easily and shoulder tackled the dark hound in a quick attack. Now that he was close, he cut lose with a dynamic punch to the jaw with his left followed by a scratch attack to the face for the finish, effectively knocking the dazed houndour out. Using the moment from his scratch he spun around in a turn and a blue glow surrounded him. Crossing his arms in front of him, the glow condensed into a ball of white light. He threw his arms to the side as the ice beam fired at the paralyzed natu. As the psychic bird was hit by the ice attack, AC attacked with a thunder shock. The two super effective attacks sent him in to dream land as well.
*Dolts, thinking that level advantage doesn't apply to me, * Michael said shaking his head at the sorry shape the two aggressive pokémon where left in.
AC blinked at him and asked, *Just how strong are you? *
*Level twenty-five. And you? * He asked as he went back to eating lunch.
*Level nine. At least that is what Lisa said, * AC answered.
*Well those two losers weren't kidding when the said they were twice as strong as you. Dog boy is level eighteen and the bird is twenty, * He said.
*Oh, how can you be sure? You're not psychic or something? * AC asked.
*A talent I have. It comes in handy sometimes. But I think we should go, just go before these two wake up, * Michael said. AC nodded and quickly darted off. Michael followed her around the lake and down route forty-three. Unfortunately AC started to get tired on her way down, and Michael had to carry her swinub back style.
*Now that I have had some time, I have a question. If you could read those other two's levels, how come you couldn't with me? * She asked over Michael's shoulder.
*Because it would be rude to look with out asking. That and the fact is you didn't seem to want to fight me. Now I suggest you get some rest. I really don't think you are nocturnal like me, * Michael said.
*Yawn.I guess your right. Good night, * she said sleepily. Michael moved on and when he felt she was sleeping deep enough, he changed back in to a human and carried her in his arms. He headed for the sleeping town at a faster pace.
Behind him the two pokémon they had trounced, had woken up and were trying to get their act together.
*I can't believe we lost to that kid, * the houndour grumbled.
*Shut up. I am trying to concentrate over here. The boss needs to know that those two are headed for Mahogany Town. He probably still thinks the girl is by herself. If he is still with her, then the forces he has there may not be enough to stop them, * the natu shouted. As his partner glared at him as he the ruffled bird sent a telepathic warning to Mahogany. Elsewhere, Michael and AC had reached the limits of Mahogany just as the sun started to rise. Michael was standing at the city gates in human form looking in to the city.
(I better find a place to hold up for the day. If AC wakes up, she would know I am not what I appear to be,) Michael thought as he entered the city. He moved quickly through the dawn roads, moving pass early risers. The people of the city assumed he was a trainer and never gave him a second glance. Or so he thought. As he was walking he noticed out of the corner of his eye that several people were following him. He slowly started to speed up his stride. As the group evened out to ten people Michael raced off in a dash. As the group followed him around a corner they found an empty street. They looked around in confusion as to where he went.
Michael reappeared as a sneasel again inside of a small warehouse behind a pokémart. He found a small out of the way corner to spend the day in. One quick change and pulling out a sleeping bag, he made a comfortable place for AC to sleep. He also pulled out a blanket and leaned against a crate of super potions. He looked outside and rested and thought. He didn't notice AC open a still somewhat sleepy eye and smirked, then she closed her eyes.
Michael woke up suddenly and looked around. It was late afternoon and he knew he shouldn't have woken up, unless there was something wrong. Michael looked around and noticed AC was gone. Michael also noticed that the sleeping bag was gone as well. He looked around and using his own sense of smell he noticed that she had walked away, but she had carried the sleeping bag with her. He followed and found the trail left the building. Shrugging he walked back in to the building. He changed back in to a human, but as he was placing the folded blanket back into his bag he felt someone watching him. He looked back over his shoulder and noticed a girl watching him from the top of a stack of boxes. He noticed she was a small eight-year-old girl with gold hair that reached down to mid-back and stuck up on the sides. She had a short brown skirt on that reached to her knees and a multi-colored tank top on. She was wearing red boots and gloves. She had one dark red-brown eye and one violet-blue eye and had a pair of rose tinted sunglasses on her head. She has dark brown skin and she was smiling at him.
"Gotcha. I knew you had to be one too!" She said hopping down to the floor.
"One what?" Michael asked suspiciously. He could almost place her voice. The pitch was slightly off from the voice he remembered. Then a sudden thought about of her words allowed him to put two and two together. "AC is that you?" He asked surprised.
"Yeap! I am a changeling too! I didn't think I would meet one of the scattered out there," she said thoughtfully. She handed him back his sleeping bag before he could say anything else.
"Well, this does make things easier. But can you tell me why the minute I stepped in to this city some people attacked me?" Michael asked.
"Well. my da has a few enemies. They kinda know what I look like as a pokémon, but not as a human," she said shyly.
"Never mind that know. Do you know where this guardian of yours is?" He asked.
"Well, she knows we're here and she said she would come to get me," AC said.
"Alright then.wait some one is coming," Michael said. They both quickly changed back into a pokémon and hid just as someone came in the front door. A familiar head looked into the warehouse. The houndour that Michael beat up earlier looked around the building then went back to following a scent. Following him where the people from that morning as well as a new face. He was a large intimidating man whom almost eight feet in height and covered in muscle. He had dark orange-red hair, wavy and short, black eyes, with a scar across his face. It started from above his right eye and went down his face to partially cover his nose. He was wearing a red coat with black pockets and cuffs. Underneath he was wearing a white shirt, with a pair of red pants. He also was wearing white boots.
The huge man looked around the barked out an order. "Spread out and search. We know they are in her some where."
*Ok, see that small window across the room? We are going to make a break for it, * Michael whispered.
*Sure but there are four people in front of us. How are we going to get by them? * AC asked quietly.
*I am pretty fast. If you can thunder wave those other two, we have a chance. Ready? * He asked. She nodded and they followed their plan. They duck around and about the boxes in the storeroom and ended up above two of the searchers and the pokémon. Michael jumped one of them with a dynamic punch, while AC hit the other one with quick and quiet thunder wave.
The duo moved faster toward the door, and dart out from in-between two boxes and hit the two guards with an ice beam and thunder shock respectively. One of the two men dropped a handgun when he fell. Michael stopped short for a moment, and AC slowed a bit as well. The two moved forward to the window, but that moment of hesitation cost them as soon as they where close a fire ball blazed in front of them causing them to pull up short. They turned to the right where the fireball came from and say the large scared man standing there with the houndour and two of the other people. The humans had handguns, but the large guy was un-armed.
"So we meet again little one. And this time without your annoying guardian," The large man said. "Now will you come quietly or do I have to snap your neck?" He asked.
*Leave the kid alone. What did she every do to you? * Michael asked warily. As he spoke the other four humans surrounded him. The humans were wearing black shirts and matching blue pants with brown boots. They also had on black coats. One of the humans was holding a small cage. Michael and AC stood back to back facing off the stranger men and glanced at each other worriedly.
*Do you think you can beat these guys? * AC asked red cheeks sparking with electricity.
*Yes, except that big guy. I don't know what he is, except he is very strong, * Michael said back in a whisper.
"Kill the sneasel but try to take the pichu alive, * the big guy ordered.
*Follow my lead! * Michael said. He tensed to charge as the humans pulled out guns, then quickly turned and grabbed AC. With a ripple of air and a crash of gunfire the two vanished in a faint attack and jumped through the window, the bullets hitting where they were. Michael reappeared when he landed and took off in a sprint, pulling AC behind him. The men in the building where about to open fire when the large man screamed out an order.
"Not in public. You idiots go seal off the city exits. I'll get them myself," he growled. The houndour followed him out as he left the others. AC and Michael where running through the streets of Mahogany, darting around and between pedestrians. They ducked into an ally to get some rest from there mad dash.
*Are.you.all right? *Gasped a winded AC.
*Yes, just tired. I'm normally asleep at this time, Michael said. Suddenly he stiffened and looked up. He dove and tackled AC to the side just as a large arcanine pounced where they where resting.
*All right children, playtime is over, * the large firedog said.
*It's you again, * Michael said noticing the same scar the large man had. He also noticed a curious red stone hanging from a cord around his neck. *You're a changeling! * The arcanine answered with a fire blast, which they both narrowly avoided by jumping apart and allowing it to pass harmlessly between them. The arcanine hit Michael with an extreme speed attack, charging forward and ramming the smaller pokémon. Michael was hurtling back further into the alley. The fire type prepared to send the young dark/ice type to a blazing demise, but AC hit him with a thunder shock attack. He turned and with a bound and a slap of a large paw sent her into a tumbling into a wall. He looked down at her as she curled in a ball, winded and whimpered in pain. He jumped to the side and avoided the scratch from Michael and using agility darted out of the way of a shadow ball. The ball of shadow and astral light hit the wall behind the now charging pokémon causing it to crack. He fired a flamethrower at Michael, who flipped back on to the wall behind him and used it as a spring to jump over the charging pokémon and the rushing flames. He let out a deafening screech as he moved in a quick attack. The sound was loud enough to allow him to hit the enemy pokémon in the side. Even with his guard momentarily down, the hit did little damage. He lashed out with a scratch attack, but the arcanine batted him away with one massive paw. The larger pokémon attested to hit him with a flamethrower, but he rolled as he hit the ground. Michael looked at the fire type and noticed he hadn't made a mark on him. However he was tired, bruised and completely out of ideas. He knew it was a matter of time before he was hit by a fire attack, and then the larger pokémon would either; a. snaps his neck or b. rip his throat out.
*Who are you anyway, and why are you doing this? * He asked. The only response he got was a low growl, and a psychotic glimmer in the fire types eyes. Michael braced himself for the end when a ball of psychic energy blasted his would be executioner across the alley and through the ally wall. He turned as a glowing blue figured floated down in front of him. The figure hovered over to AC and placed a glowing three-fingered paw on her forehead. Some of the blue glow transferred to her, and she opened her eyes. *Lisa? * She asked softly. The blue figured nodded. The glow died down to reveal a floating pink and small white pokémon with triangle shaped ears. She had had large feet and small arms. She also has a long tail with a rounded tip and large blue eyes. She also had a small tattoo of a psychic eye on her left hip and a stone around her neck, a purple one.
*I'll get back to you and your friend in a moment, * the mew said. With a flash of energy a shield of light appeared and absorbed the fire blast that was heading for all three of them. *But first I have to take care of Saber here. * She darted toward the hole in the wall just as the arcanine named Saber bounded out ahead of her in a double edge attack. The fire hound's rush was checked by a brutal psychic attack. The mental attack threw Saber into a wall to his right. Lisa lifted her arms up and two geyser of water blasted out of the street to the right and left of her. She threw her hands forward and sent a wave of water forward in a surf attack. The wave caught a staggering Saber and sent him out of the alley.
*This isn't over, I'll be. * he said before he was carried out of hearing range. Footsteps could be here over the receding water, and the three pokémon in the alley looked at each other and the devastation around them. Out side of town off of route 42, a flash of light appeared. Three shapes found themselves standing in the afternoon sun.
*Are you all right? * Lisa asked turning her attention to Michael.
*Nothing a few hours of rest won't cure. Are you AC's guardian? * He asked.
*Yes. I am a family friend of her parents. By the way there are no people nearby, so you can show yourself as you truly are, * She said. And in a ripple of air and light she changed into what she truly was. She was dressed in a white fleece with a hood and light purple shorts and she had on an armband with three blue symbols on it. She had no shoes because she had mew paws. Her long tail now came out through a hole in her pants. Her triangle shaped ears poked out of her straight lavender neck length hair, and she had the same white fur with pink fur on the end of tail, ear tips and toe tips. She had three-fingered hands with thumbs. The ends of the cord could be seen but not the purple stone, and she still had her eye tattoo.
AC changed next, she had gold hair that reaches down to mid - back and sticks up on the sides. She had on a short brown skirt on that reaches to her knees and a multi-colored tank top on. She had pichu paws for feet and a three-finger hands plus thumbs. She has the same light yellow fur with black markings, and the large yellow ears with the black borders sticking out of her gold hair. She has a hole in her skirt for her black tail, and the same black nose and red cheeks. She had one dark red-brown eye and one violet-blue eye and a pair or rose-tinted sunglasses on her head. "Finally, I can be myself. Can I stay this way till we get to the changeling village on Mt. Mortar?" AC asked.
"Yes, the route we're going won't be inhabited. How about you.what is your name anyway?" Lisa said.
The sneasel smirked then changed himself. He had the same outfit on as a human, except he was not wearing the boots. He had paws like his pokémon form, and had a two fingered paw like hands with thumb. He had two long claws that could be retracted into his forearms and came out of his two fingers. When they were out he could not splay his fingers however. He had the same dark blue fur and had the black nose and short muzzle. The long red ear stuck out of his hair, and the trench coat covered his three tails and his backpack. "The name's Michael, junior historian," he said. "Nice to meet you ladies. Since we are going the same way, do you want to travel together?" he asked with a bow.
"Of course. After all, such delicate flowers such as us need an escort," Lisa said playfully.
"Then let's escort away, cause I don't think those goons would have given up. And on the way could you be so kind as to explain what I have gotten into?" He asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Sure," Lisa said with a small and a laugh. "Come then," she said walking off at a good pace. Michael and AC followed as the sun set further.
"" Human speech and regular pokémon speech () Thoughts * * Translated pokémon speech [] Telepathy
The Scattered: perspective one
The changeling, chapter 1
Sunset fell over the peaceful mountains and forests northwest of the lake of rage. The nocturnal pokémon where just starting to come out of there daylight slumber and where setting out to do there nightly business. But not only the pokémon where waking up. In a cabin deep in the woods, a teenager woke up from his bed. He yawned, and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. Putting on his black wire framed glasses and slipping out of his bed in a half-asleep daze he picked up some clothes from a near by desk and stepped out of his room. He entered the bathroom two doors down from his room and to the left. A few minutes pass, and then he came back out of the bathroom, more awake and dressed in a gray wool long sleeve shirt, black jeans with white socks. He walked in to his room and stepped around his gamestaion box and all his games, and walked in front of his full-length mirror. The teenager looked at his reflection with a wiry smirk. He took in his light brown complexion, red-black eyes staring out from his glasses. He brushed back his short black curly hair with his right hand then turned and sat on his unmade bed to put on his black boots. As he was tying the laces, he heard a voice yelling out to him.
"Michael, breakfast is ready. Place come down as soon as you can!" The female voice vocalized loudly.
"Ok Mom! I will be down in a moment!" Michael yelled back. The teenager finished with his boots and looked around his room. It was rectangle shaped with a dresser and a closet to the right of his bed, which was in the center of the room across from the door and against the back wall. There was a full-length mirror on the wall next to a desk with a computer on it. There was also a stand with a small reading light on it next to the bed on that side of the room. Also at the foot of the bed and on the floor across from it and next to the door, were a TV on a stand and his game system on the floor. He found what he was looking for, a pair of night vision goggles on the desk with the computer on it. He placed those on the top of his head, and pulled a black trench coat from the closet, completing his outfit. He pulled a sliver pokédex out from the drawer on the desk along with a matching pokégear. The pokégear went on his right wrist under the coat sleeve and the pokédex went in his pocket. He sauntered out of his room with a confident smirk and headed down the stairs at the end of the hall. He took the stairs two at a time and turned from the landing and walked though a small living room and in to a neat kitchen. His mother turned from cooking on the stove at his entrance. She was a middle-aged woman wearing a long short-sleeved purple dress. She had some light scars on her face and body. She had on black shoes with white socks and had short black hair. She has black-brown eyes and a light brown complexion.
"Are you still leaving tonight?" She asked as he fixed a plate of scrambled eggs and pancakes.
"Yes. I want to get to Mahogany town by first light. There is supposed to be ancient artifacts and explores convention in Ecruteak City in two night and don't want to miss a minute of it, so I have leave as soon as possible," he responded as he poured himself a glass of juice.
"I will miss you, you know. It just seems like you got back from you last trip. But I understand that you like finding new artifacts. I guess your poor mother will have to content herself by translating and categorizing what you brought home," She said with a slight smirk sitting down across from him and starting to eat her breakfast too. He smirked back at her and in that moment you could see the resemblance between the two of them.
"Don't you try to guilt trip me. I know you want to have some new things to study," he said playfully.
"I guess you know me to well? And here I was hoping I could still somewhat control you. Anyway, if you are so dead set on going, I suggest you leave as soon as you are done in order to get there own time," she said. He nodded after checking the watch in his pokégear and started to eat a bit faster. And short time later found him standing in front of his home the two-story cabin standing alone in the evening air. He shrugged on a gray backpack and turned to say goodbye to his mother, who was standing by the door.
"Good bye for now. I'll call you when I reach town," He said to her giving her a hug.
"Godspeed and stay out of trouble. I worry you know," she said somewhat sadly.
"Of course," he said with a small smile. He turned and one last wave he headed off. As he entered the woods at the edge of the clearing his house stood on, his form blurred and changed smaller, so instead of a teenage boy, a small pokémon with dark blue fur that was almost black walked out of the bushes. The human turned sneasel climbed up a nearby tree and went racing through the forest, jumping from tree to tree. A few hours later found the dark/ice type walking through the woods, letting the moonlight play across sliver claws. Suddenly a sound caught Michael's attention, and the changeling looked around to see where the crashing sound came from. A faint crying was heard, and he quickly made his way in that direction. He silently moved from around a tree and his red-black eyes took in the picture in front of him. A pichu was softly crying. It seemed that the young pokémon had fallen out of a tree.
*Hey kid, are you hurt? * He said walking up to the fallen pokémon. It looked at him with tear filled eyes and shook its head. *Well in that case, I'll leave you here for your parents, * he said walking away.
*Wait, * said a soft female voice. He turned around and looked quizzically at her. The pichu stood up from her sitting position and asked, *I'm lost and I need to get to Mahogany Town a large human settlement nearby. Can you help me? * She looked at Michael with a very intense stare.
*Are your parents there? * Michael asked.
*No, but my guardian is there. So can you help me? * She asked hopefully.
Michael sighed, then said, *Sure, come on kid, * He said waving her on.
*Thank you! * She said brightly. *My name is Alicia Cassie, but all my friends call me AC! * As she stood up, she leaned over and picked something off the ground. It was pair of rose-tinted sunglasses, which she put on the top of her head; right over a strand of gold hair in-between her large black bordered ears. *Let's go, * she said happily. Michael shook his head and with his new companion following moved on his way.
Michael and AC moved along without much more drama. The pichu showed a lot of energy and sprit, moving around in a hyper active flurry. They stopped for Michael's lunch and AC's dinner on the shore of the Lake of Rage. Michael ducked behind a tree when AC was distracted by some magikarp splashing about. Michael changed back into a human, just long enough to take out some sandwiches for himself, and an apple and a pear for AC. He quickly switched back just as his newfound friend started to look for him.
*Hey, where did you go? * She asked looking around.
*Right here, * he said coming back into view. As he handed her the fruit she looked at him curiously.
*Where did you get this? * She asked.
*Careless trainer, * he said, quickly shrugging off her question. She looked at him with some suspicion, like she didn't quite believe him. She let it go and took a bite of the apple. He too started to eat and watched the crescent moon move over the lake.
*So do you live out here? * AC asked.
*I live close by, but I tend to travel a lot. I like seeing new places and new things. I have a.hobby that takes me places. Right now I am looking for something, part of a map. What where you doing out in the woods anyway? * Michael inquired.
*Well, a friend was practicing an attack, and I kind of got caught in it," she said embarrassed.
*Oh, well that is nothing to worry about. If your friend were young as you, you would both need some time to get used to your powers, * Michael said.
*I suppose you are right. But I know how to handle my powers, * AC said pouting a bit.
*But I bet you couldn't handle me, * a voice said from behind the two sitting pokémon. They both turned to find a houndour and a natu sitting behind them.
*Yeah, we're both twice as strong as you, * the psychic/flying type said.
*Do you two have a problem with pichu are something? * Michael asked standing up and nonchalantly examined his claws. *Or do you need to brag about how strong you are to children? *
*Very funny, wise guy. Just for that, we're going to take care of you and the kid, * the houndour said snarling.
*Goody, I always wanted to have servants," Michael said getting into a combat stance claws out stretched and ready.
*If you didn't notice my friend here has a type advantage and we both know perfectly well we can beat the girl over there, * the natu said. AC, tired of the bluff and banter, simply hit the bird with a thunder wave, momentarily lighting up the shore with a flash of yellow light. The houndour fired an ember attack in Michael's direction. The sneasel dodged the fireball easily and shoulder tackled the dark hound in a quick attack. Now that he was close, he cut lose with a dynamic punch to the jaw with his left followed by a scratch attack to the face for the finish, effectively knocking the dazed houndour out. Using the moment from his scratch he spun around in a turn and a blue glow surrounded him. Crossing his arms in front of him, the glow condensed into a ball of white light. He threw his arms to the side as the ice beam fired at the paralyzed natu. As the psychic bird was hit by the ice attack, AC attacked with a thunder shock. The two super effective attacks sent him in to dream land as well.
*Dolts, thinking that level advantage doesn't apply to me, * Michael said shaking his head at the sorry shape the two aggressive pokémon where left in.
AC blinked at him and asked, *Just how strong are you? *
*Level twenty-five. And you? * He asked as he went back to eating lunch.
*Level nine. At least that is what Lisa said, * AC answered.
*Well those two losers weren't kidding when the said they were twice as strong as you. Dog boy is level eighteen and the bird is twenty, * He said.
*Oh, how can you be sure? You're not psychic or something? * AC asked.
*A talent I have. It comes in handy sometimes. But I think we should go, just go before these two wake up, * Michael said. AC nodded and quickly darted off. Michael followed her around the lake and down route forty-three. Unfortunately AC started to get tired on her way down, and Michael had to carry her swinub back style.
*Now that I have had some time, I have a question. If you could read those other two's levels, how come you couldn't with me? * She asked over Michael's shoulder.
*Because it would be rude to look with out asking. That and the fact is you didn't seem to want to fight me. Now I suggest you get some rest. I really don't think you are nocturnal like me, * Michael said.
*Yawn.I guess your right. Good night, * she said sleepily. Michael moved on and when he felt she was sleeping deep enough, he changed back in to a human and carried her in his arms. He headed for the sleeping town at a faster pace.
Behind him the two pokémon they had trounced, had woken up and were trying to get their act together.
*I can't believe we lost to that kid, * the houndour grumbled.
*Shut up. I am trying to concentrate over here. The boss needs to know that those two are headed for Mahogany Town. He probably still thinks the girl is by herself. If he is still with her, then the forces he has there may not be enough to stop them, * the natu shouted. As his partner glared at him as he the ruffled bird sent a telepathic warning to Mahogany. Elsewhere, Michael and AC had reached the limits of Mahogany just as the sun started to rise. Michael was standing at the city gates in human form looking in to the city.
(I better find a place to hold up for the day. If AC wakes up, she would know I am not what I appear to be,) Michael thought as he entered the city. He moved quickly through the dawn roads, moving pass early risers. The people of the city assumed he was a trainer and never gave him a second glance. Or so he thought. As he was walking he noticed out of the corner of his eye that several people were following him. He slowly started to speed up his stride. As the group evened out to ten people Michael raced off in a dash. As the group followed him around a corner they found an empty street. They looked around in confusion as to where he went.
Michael reappeared as a sneasel again inside of a small warehouse behind a pokémart. He found a small out of the way corner to spend the day in. One quick change and pulling out a sleeping bag, he made a comfortable place for AC to sleep. He also pulled out a blanket and leaned against a crate of super potions. He looked outside and rested and thought. He didn't notice AC open a still somewhat sleepy eye and smirked, then she closed her eyes.
Michael woke up suddenly and looked around. It was late afternoon and he knew he shouldn't have woken up, unless there was something wrong. Michael looked around and noticed AC was gone. Michael also noticed that the sleeping bag was gone as well. He looked around and using his own sense of smell he noticed that she had walked away, but she had carried the sleeping bag with her. He followed and found the trail left the building. Shrugging he walked back in to the building. He changed back in to a human, but as he was placing the folded blanket back into his bag he felt someone watching him. He looked back over his shoulder and noticed a girl watching him from the top of a stack of boxes. He noticed she was a small eight-year-old girl with gold hair that reached down to mid-back and stuck up on the sides. She had a short brown skirt on that reached to her knees and a multi-colored tank top on. She was wearing red boots and gloves. She had one dark red-brown eye and one violet-blue eye and had a pair of rose tinted sunglasses on her head. She has dark brown skin and she was smiling at him.
"Gotcha. I knew you had to be one too!" She said hopping down to the floor.
"One what?" Michael asked suspiciously. He could almost place her voice. The pitch was slightly off from the voice he remembered. Then a sudden thought about of her words allowed him to put two and two together. "AC is that you?" He asked surprised.
"Yeap! I am a changeling too! I didn't think I would meet one of the scattered out there," she said thoughtfully. She handed him back his sleeping bag before he could say anything else.
"Well, this does make things easier. But can you tell me why the minute I stepped in to this city some people attacked me?" Michael asked.
"Well. my da has a few enemies. They kinda know what I look like as a pokémon, but not as a human," she said shyly.
"Never mind that know. Do you know where this guardian of yours is?" He asked.
"Well, she knows we're here and she said she would come to get me," AC said.
"Alright then.wait some one is coming," Michael said. They both quickly changed back into a pokémon and hid just as someone came in the front door. A familiar head looked into the warehouse. The houndour that Michael beat up earlier looked around the building then went back to following a scent. Following him where the people from that morning as well as a new face. He was a large intimidating man whom almost eight feet in height and covered in muscle. He had dark orange-red hair, wavy and short, black eyes, with a scar across his face. It started from above his right eye and went down his face to partially cover his nose. He was wearing a red coat with black pockets and cuffs. Underneath he was wearing a white shirt, with a pair of red pants. He also was wearing white boots.
The huge man looked around the barked out an order. "Spread out and search. We know they are in her some where."
*Ok, see that small window across the room? We are going to make a break for it, * Michael whispered.
*Sure but there are four people in front of us. How are we going to get by them? * AC asked quietly.
*I am pretty fast. If you can thunder wave those other two, we have a chance. Ready? * He asked. She nodded and they followed their plan. They duck around and about the boxes in the storeroom and ended up above two of the searchers and the pokémon. Michael jumped one of them with a dynamic punch, while AC hit the other one with quick and quiet thunder wave.
The duo moved faster toward the door, and dart out from in-between two boxes and hit the two guards with an ice beam and thunder shock respectively. One of the two men dropped a handgun when he fell. Michael stopped short for a moment, and AC slowed a bit as well. The two moved forward to the window, but that moment of hesitation cost them as soon as they where close a fire ball blazed in front of them causing them to pull up short. They turned to the right where the fireball came from and say the large scared man standing there with the houndour and two of the other people. The humans had handguns, but the large guy was un-armed.
"So we meet again little one. And this time without your annoying guardian," The large man said. "Now will you come quietly or do I have to snap your neck?" He asked.
*Leave the kid alone. What did she every do to you? * Michael asked warily. As he spoke the other four humans surrounded him. The humans were wearing black shirts and matching blue pants with brown boots. They also had on black coats. One of the humans was holding a small cage. Michael and AC stood back to back facing off the stranger men and glanced at each other worriedly.
*Do you think you can beat these guys? * AC asked red cheeks sparking with electricity.
*Yes, except that big guy. I don't know what he is, except he is very strong, * Michael said back in a whisper.
"Kill the sneasel but try to take the pichu alive, * the big guy ordered.
*Follow my lead! * Michael said. He tensed to charge as the humans pulled out guns, then quickly turned and grabbed AC. With a ripple of air and a crash of gunfire the two vanished in a faint attack and jumped through the window, the bullets hitting where they were. Michael reappeared when he landed and took off in a sprint, pulling AC behind him. The men in the building where about to open fire when the large man screamed out an order.
"Not in public. You idiots go seal off the city exits. I'll get them myself," he growled. The houndour followed him out as he left the others. AC and Michael where running through the streets of Mahogany, darting around and between pedestrians. They ducked into an ally to get some rest from there mad dash.
*Are.you.all right? *Gasped a winded AC.
*Yes, just tired. I'm normally asleep at this time, Michael said. Suddenly he stiffened and looked up. He dove and tackled AC to the side just as a large arcanine pounced where they where resting.
*All right children, playtime is over, * the large firedog said.
*It's you again, * Michael said noticing the same scar the large man had. He also noticed a curious red stone hanging from a cord around his neck. *You're a changeling! * The arcanine answered with a fire blast, which they both narrowly avoided by jumping apart and allowing it to pass harmlessly between them. The arcanine hit Michael with an extreme speed attack, charging forward and ramming the smaller pokémon. Michael was hurtling back further into the alley. The fire type prepared to send the young dark/ice type to a blazing demise, but AC hit him with a thunder shock attack. He turned and with a bound and a slap of a large paw sent her into a tumbling into a wall. He looked down at her as she curled in a ball, winded and whimpered in pain. He jumped to the side and avoided the scratch from Michael and using agility darted out of the way of a shadow ball. The ball of shadow and astral light hit the wall behind the now charging pokémon causing it to crack. He fired a flamethrower at Michael, who flipped back on to the wall behind him and used it as a spring to jump over the charging pokémon and the rushing flames. He let out a deafening screech as he moved in a quick attack. The sound was loud enough to allow him to hit the enemy pokémon in the side. Even with his guard momentarily down, the hit did little damage. He lashed out with a scratch attack, but the arcanine batted him away with one massive paw. The larger pokémon attested to hit him with a flamethrower, but he rolled as he hit the ground. Michael looked at the fire type and noticed he hadn't made a mark on him. However he was tired, bruised and completely out of ideas. He knew it was a matter of time before he was hit by a fire attack, and then the larger pokémon would either; a. snaps his neck or b. rip his throat out.
*Who are you anyway, and why are you doing this? * He asked. The only response he got was a low growl, and a psychotic glimmer in the fire types eyes. Michael braced himself for the end when a ball of psychic energy blasted his would be executioner across the alley and through the ally wall. He turned as a glowing blue figured floated down in front of him. The figure hovered over to AC and placed a glowing three-fingered paw on her forehead. Some of the blue glow transferred to her, and she opened her eyes. *Lisa? * She asked softly. The blue figured nodded. The glow died down to reveal a floating pink and small white pokémon with triangle shaped ears. She had had large feet and small arms. She also has a long tail with a rounded tip and large blue eyes. She also had a small tattoo of a psychic eye on her left hip and a stone around her neck, a purple one.
*I'll get back to you and your friend in a moment, * the mew said. With a flash of energy a shield of light appeared and absorbed the fire blast that was heading for all three of them. *But first I have to take care of Saber here. * She darted toward the hole in the wall just as the arcanine named Saber bounded out ahead of her in a double edge attack. The fire hound's rush was checked by a brutal psychic attack. The mental attack threw Saber into a wall to his right. Lisa lifted her arms up and two geyser of water blasted out of the street to the right and left of her. She threw her hands forward and sent a wave of water forward in a surf attack. The wave caught a staggering Saber and sent him out of the alley.
*This isn't over, I'll be. * he said before he was carried out of hearing range. Footsteps could be here over the receding water, and the three pokémon in the alley looked at each other and the devastation around them. Out side of town off of route 42, a flash of light appeared. Three shapes found themselves standing in the afternoon sun.
*Are you all right? * Lisa asked turning her attention to Michael.
*Nothing a few hours of rest won't cure. Are you AC's guardian? * He asked.
*Yes. I am a family friend of her parents. By the way there are no people nearby, so you can show yourself as you truly are, * She said. And in a ripple of air and light she changed into what she truly was. She was dressed in a white fleece with a hood and light purple shorts and she had on an armband with three blue symbols on it. She had no shoes because she had mew paws. Her long tail now came out through a hole in her pants. Her triangle shaped ears poked out of her straight lavender neck length hair, and she had the same white fur with pink fur on the end of tail, ear tips and toe tips. She had three-fingered hands with thumbs. The ends of the cord could be seen but not the purple stone, and she still had her eye tattoo.
AC changed next, she had gold hair that reaches down to mid - back and sticks up on the sides. She had on a short brown skirt on that reaches to her knees and a multi-colored tank top on. She had pichu paws for feet and a three-finger hands plus thumbs. She has the same light yellow fur with black markings, and the large yellow ears with the black borders sticking out of her gold hair. She has a hole in her skirt for her black tail, and the same black nose and red cheeks. She had one dark red-brown eye and one violet-blue eye and a pair or rose-tinted sunglasses on her head. "Finally, I can be myself. Can I stay this way till we get to the changeling village on Mt. Mortar?" AC asked.
"Yes, the route we're going won't be inhabited. How about you.what is your name anyway?" Lisa said.
The sneasel smirked then changed himself. He had the same outfit on as a human, except he was not wearing the boots. He had paws like his pokémon form, and had a two fingered paw like hands with thumb. He had two long claws that could be retracted into his forearms and came out of his two fingers. When they were out he could not splay his fingers however. He had the same dark blue fur and had the black nose and short muzzle. The long red ear stuck out of his hair, and the trench coat covered his three tails and his backpack. "The name's Michael, junior historian," he said. "Nice to meet you ladies. Since we are going the same way, do you want to travel together?" he asked with a bow.
"Of course. After all, such delicate flowers such as us need an escort," Lisa said playfully.
"Then let's escort away, cause I don't think those goons would have given up. And on the way could you be so kind as to explain what I have gotten into?" He asked with one eyebrow raised.
"Sure," Lisa said with a small and a laugh. "Come then," she said walking off at a good pace. Michael and AC followed as the sun set further.