Lost in the Wrong Darkness

Crap.

I was officially doomed. After ten hours of wandering around this maze-like cave, I discovered I was out of usable Pokémon, healing items and Escape Ropes. Hm. Buying those Ultra Balls over those Revival Herbs probably wasn't a good idea. I guess it didn't help that I mainly used fire types in this rock type haven.

Anyway, back to being doomed. I could see all right, but my flashlight's battery was going to run out of batteries soon. When that went out, I was really in trouble, well, more so anyway. Peeking around a corner, I saw a faint light. Hoping that luck was finally on my side, I ran to the source. My heart was crushed when I realized it was only the remains of a once-blazing fire. I guess Cherén still had all the luck.

I slumped down, defeated. Without any help, I would never make it out of this accursed cave alive. Wait a minute, help! That was my answer! I brought my X-Transceiver up to my face and pressed the backlight button. Nothing. Flicking on my barely lit flashlight, I shined it on the screen and squinted to make it out. Emptiness. Well, now I was doomed.

As I sat against the wall, I began to hear something in the difference. At first it sounded like my little sister laughing. As I listened, I it started to sound like screams. I listened harder. Yes, it was definitely screams. Scrambling to my feet, I tried to make out where the pained sounds came from. With all the echoing, it was very difficult to tell. Finally, I decided it was to my right. Jogging in that direction, the noise got louder. Breaking into a run, I determined it was a Pokémon. I could also hear the laughter of other Pokémon as well now!

I skidded into a turn and spotted the source of the noise: Two pokémon, a Gigalith and a Klang, were terrorizing a Pokémon I had only seen pictures of: a Charmander. The only reason I recognized it was because, my dad had been on a business trip to Kanto when I was four, and had brought me back a picture book about the regional Pokémon. Nostalgia aside, the two bullies had backed the victim into a corner, their backs turned away from me. I was about to reach for my Pokémon, but I remembered that the only one that hadn't fainted (knocked out more like) was definitely not battle worthy. Slowly and quietly, I set down my pack and tiptoed over behind the two attackers.

Thinking back on this, this was probably the most stupid thing I've ever done. Lifting up a rock, I slammed it over one of the Klang's gears. The noise echoed all throughout the cave, but I doubt anyone who heard would have thought it anything more than a battle. The Klang, unfazed, whirled around and seemed to glare at me. For a moment, the only sound was the Klang's gears clinking together, then it flung one of its gears at me (which I didn't know it could do), and knocked me off my feet, gasping for air.

The hostile Pokémon both turned their full attention towards me and started strolling toward me, as if they were walking through the park. I stood up shakily and lifted up my pack. Suddenly, the Gigalith started charging at me, a move I quickly recognized as Giga Impact. I tried to side-step it, even going so far as to swing my pack at it as it approached, but it merely altered its course and hit me head on. I heard something crack as he collided, and heard even more cracking when I reached the wall.

As I struggled to get up, the Gigalith stomped on the ground, earthquake obviously, which knocked me back to the ground. I lay, out of breath, on the floor as I watched the two pocket monsters approach me. I thought grimly about how they looked as if they had found easy prey, and were moving in for the kill.

Looking around desperately for something, anything, to give me a better advantage. Amazingly enough, luck was on my side for once. Not two feet from where I lay stood a pokéball. Wasting no time, I reached over and grabbed the orb, lifting it over my face. As I observed it in the dim light, lit only by the fire on the Charmander's tail, I realized it was a master ball, the rarest pokéball in existence, able to catch any Pokémon instantly.

Not pressing my luck, I threw the ball, hoping the Pokémon that would come out would be powerful enough. The familiar click and flash somewhat startled the Klang and Gigalith, but they recovered quickly. I was more focused on the Pokémon that had come out, largely disappointed. There, standing in between me and the hostiles was a mere Lillipup. Extremely disappointed, and with a growing sense of doom, I hauled myself to my feet, preparing to call the weaker Pokémon back inside its ball where it would be safer. After I got on my feet, I wondered why the two attackers hadn't tried to knock me down. After I looked up, I saw why.

The Gigalith was too busy being knocked back by an immensely powerful shadow ball attack, and the Klang was too busy standing in shock at the unexpected attack. I looked back at the Lillipup, I saw it standing confidently- and was it smirking? It certainly had enough power to taunt them.

The Klang snapped out of his state of shock and rushed toward the tiny Pokémon, intent on killing. The Lillipup stood its ground, then bit the steel type with a dark aura around its jaws. The Klang shrieked; a sound I have never heard and never want to hear again. The Lilipup flung the Klang against a corner farther away, causing itself to be too preoccupied to avoid the oncoming Giga Impact. As It skidded back, its form started wavering until it revealed a Zoroark. Well, that made a lot more sense than a Lillipup beating up two rather powerful Pokémon.

Realizing I could do nothing else to help in my condition, I slumped against the wall and hoped the Zoroark would continue annihilating the hostile Pokémon. I watched the battle intently, and managed to figure out that while it had power, it somewhat lacked skill. I guessed that its past owner had enough money to buy stat increasing substances such as Iron or Calcium and used Technical Machines to teach moves. I doubted any of these were learned by skill, judging by its style.

After a while, I noticed the Klang hadn't shown up after the Zoroark flung it. Glancing over, I saw the Charmander had taken initiative and used its type advantage to fight back the Klang- and winning as well. This one seemed to have a bit more experience in this, for though he was slower and his attacks were less effective, he appeared to be winning.

Eventually, the two former bullies grew tired of the fight and ran off into the darkness of the cave. I hoisted myself to my feet and stumbled over to the two Pokémon who ended up rescuing me.

"Thanks for saving my life," I said somewhat pained. The broken ribs and whatnot didn't exactly feel good after all. "Where did you come from? Why are you stranded here?"

The Zoroark regarded me for a second, then responded mentally. My captor was rich, but was sent to complete his so-called Pokédex . He uses only Master Balls, so he calls them, to capture anything and everything. He enhanced my power, but grew tired of me quickly, so he dropped my pokéball instead of release me, or so I imagine. He then barked a few noises to the Charmander, who responded with a short speech.

He claims to be traded from a different world than this, one vastly different, the Pokémon there all so alien to these. However, his trainer had no interest in "weak" Pokémon, and when he wouldn't evolve out of fear of the unknown, the trainer left him at the entrance of this cave and ordered him to leave him. He has been wandering this darkness ever since.

And I thought I had been lost for a long time. "Well, let's see if we can find a way out of this place. I know I'm tired of it." As I said this, I lifted my pack and turned to walk in a random direction, hoping I could get lucky again.

Wait! The Zoroark's voice stopped me before I had taken a single step. You're too injured to travel!

"I'm fine," I responded. A lie, of course. "I've been worse off." A bigger lie. Nevertheless, I started walking away, then stopped to clutch my cracked ribs, which had suddenly started exploding in pain.

You certainly seem in perfect shape to me, the Zoroark sarcastically said, er, thought.

"My Pokémon with healing pulse fainted, okay? I'm stuck here until we find a way out," I gritted my teeth to try and mask some of the pain. Continuing to limp in the same direction, I felt the Zoroark slide underneath my arm and help support me. The Charmander climbed up my other side and grabbed my pack, holding it as he walked next to me with its short stubby legs.

After about thirty minutes of wandering around, we saw a light in the distance. Not daylight, we knew, but firelight. Quickening our pace, we approached the source sooner than we thought we would.

In the range of light sat on old man who appeared serious, but happy. "Hello, who might you be?"

"Erm, I'm Nate, and these are…" I realized I didn't yet know the names of my companions. Apparently, the Zoroark decided to inform the man directly, because he swiveled his attention to my impromptu crutch.

"Ah, lost," the man smiled, as though it was a game. "Yes that can happen when searching for legendary pokémon. It's all the risk that makes it all the more exciting!"

"Actually, I'm just trying to go to Minstralton City," I responded.

The man laughed in his wheezy voice. "But surely you know that this cave doesn't lead to there! This cave goes to the legendary Cobalion!"

"What? Why is it called Minstralton Cave then?"

"To confuse people!"

"AAAAAAAAGGGGHHH!"

A/N

Sorry to interrupt all your quality fics with this crummy one, but my friend asked me to write this and I had nothing better to do! I don't know, I might do a few more, but only if I see some interest in it. And yeah, fire types FTW!