Dear Diary. Hi, it's Feathers again. You know, the Torchic? I'm sure you hear from plenty of pokemon(considering they all write to you!), so I hope I don't bother you too much with the events of my life.

I've been travelling with my best friend Kiloh for awhile now, since before we even joined Xatu's academy. Speaking of Xatu, he recently teamed everyone up into pairs. Luckily, he thought it would be a good idea for me and Kiloh to team up! I can tell you, I was really nervous that I'd have to team up with someone… intimidating. Haha, I just shuddered and Slash looked at me funny!

Oh, me and Kiloh teamed up with Slash the Zangoose and Fangs the Seviper after some events in a mountain pass. It was weird though… we asked Xatu if it was okay and he… smiled really creepily. It was as if knew we would ask to team up before we did. He disturbs me sometimes, but everyone else seems okay with him, so I guess I'll just try to ignore it. Oh, and in case you're wondering, Slash and Fangs hate each other. It's honestly a miracle they haven't attacked each other; they fight about everything. I mean EVERYTHING. Slash told me herself that it's because he's a Seviper and she's a Zangoose. According to them, Zangoose and Sevipers have feuded for thousands of generations… I tell you, it all sounds really epic to hear! I wonder what could have caused something that serious... Xatu didn't seem to care when he made the two team up, and he didn't even hesitate to give us all our current mission! We're to travel firstly to the Zangoose colony, with further instructions to be given upon the completion of negotiations. Yeah, you can tell those aren't my words!

Oh, Kiloh looked at me just now; I think he wants me to wrap up this entry and get some sleep. Speaking of Kiloh, Xatu made him reveal his special ability to the rest of the academy. Kiloh has this weird sense thing that allows him to tell how powerful a pokemon is… I asked him about it and he said he can see a pokemon's "level" when he comes into contact with it. And yeah, I asked him already. He told me that I was the same level as him. What level that is, I don't really know… and I can't really say how much it matters. Okay, Slash just gave me a look. Seeing as I'd hate to be on anyone's bad side, (especially Slash's or Fangs's… sheesh!) I'm going to end off here for tonight.

Feathers looked over the entry she had written with apparent satisfaction. It was a good thing she had found time to write another entry, as most other times she was too busy… not to mention she'd forget to as often as not. Not wanting to anger her companions, she hastily stuffed the paper into the backpack that Kiloh and her shared. The light of the fire was dying down; it would have been tough to successfully write much more anyway. Feathers glanced at the rest of the group.

Fangs was coiled up comfortably, poking at the dirt with his bladed tail. Feathers couldn't see what Slash was doing as the Zangoose had rolled over and was now facing away from the rest of the group. Kiloh was lying down, staring at the fire as it withered into hot, glowing coals.

"Hey Slash, when do you think-" Feathers started to ask rather meekly.

"We'll be there sometime tomorrow," Slash finished simply without stirring in any visible way. As Xatu had requested, the four were to head to the known Zangoose colony within the forest. Obviously, Slash was to lead them as she was the only one who knew where it was. Fangs seemed to stir uncomfortably, flipping onto his back and stretching out to compensate.

"Hey, Fangs, are you nervous?" Kiloh asked after a moment of uneasiness. Fangs looked at Kiloh but didn't respond. Surprisingly, there was no apparent fear in Fangs's eyes; instead, it appeared that he was anticipating the encounter with apprehensiveness.

"Of course he's nervous," Slash stated dryly, "he's about to casually stroll into a colony of very skilled hunters who automatically hate him and want to kill him. Believe me, I would join them in the hunt if Xatu hadn't told me to side with everyone on my team. You're lucky that Zangoose by nature are true to their word."

Only Kiloh could see Fangs smirk amusedly. Kiloh and Feathers both knew that Zangoose would find all Sevipers untrustworthy just as Sevipers would find all Zangoose untrustworthy. It was a never-ending cycle, and honestly, both Feathers and Kiloh were nervous at the reception they would receive upon arrival. Would they attack Fangs on sight? Would defending him result in a potentially fatal battle?

"Well, in any case, Xatu must have sent all of us for a reason… despite the obvious danger," Kiloh stated in a matter-of-fact sort of way. This seemed the obvious way of looking at things. Xatu had sent them in order to enlist their help given the recent troubles in the world. These recent troubles included many natural disasters and, more disturbingly, rumors of a disease that affected almost all types of pokemon. Needless to say, Xatu's academy, even as prestigious as it was, couldn't handle everything itself.

"We'd better get some sleep in case… well… let's get some sleep," Feathers stammered softly. Nobody answered, but her advice had clearly been acknowledged.

As Slash had predicted, it was well into the day before they came within view of what the Zangoose took to be the colony. The trail they were on had been slow-going on account of the forest growing over the less-travelled road. Fangs seemed to be looking around suspiciously, as if perceiving some threat behind every tree.

"Okay, we should be coming up to the war-zone," Slash told them as she observed the light ahead. Feathers looked disturbed by the title.

"War-zone?" Kiloh enquired uneasily.

Fangs's eyes narrowed as they approached the break in the trees. "It's an enormous clearing between the Zangoose colony and the Seviper colony. Both sides have been trying to gain control of it for years. It has great strategic value in terms of resources and even its military standpoint." Fangs's explanation was greeted with a nod of approval by Slash.

"I've fought my fair share in this clearing," Slash whispered reflectively. She looked over her claws, as if remembering a specific moment in that past. "Sometimes… sometimes they put up a good fight."

"Likewise," Fangs responded. It was apparent that he had witnessed his fair share of battles as well.

Slash hesitated for a moment before saying "you'd better stick close to me; if they see you by yourself in Zangoose territory… well, just don't expect it to end well." Fangs heeded her warning. Ironically enough, it seemed that their mutual hatred allowed them to empathize with each other.

The sight of the clearing provoked a gasp from Feathers and wide eyes from Kiloh. To be truthful, it hardly resembled a clearing at all; it stretched out for at least a mile in every direction. From where they had first entered, Slash led them to the right. "It's so strange," Fangs observed, "I've only ever gone this way on raids. I feel like I should be heading back to the left."

"We'll be heading there in a few days. Just hold out until then, okay Fangs?" Kiloh reassured the Seviper. Fangs glanced at Kiloh sardonically, although appreciativeness was evident in his eyes.

Slash stopped suddenly, her ear twitching. She gestured for them all to stop and be quiet with a quick "shhh". Fangs flicked his tongue out suspiciously.

Over the next hill came a patrol of four Zangoose. When they caught sight of Slash, one of them raced forward. "Slash?! Is that you?"

Slash smiled warmly as the other Zangoose approached her, "yeah, it is. It sure has been awhile."

"Years!" the largest Zangoose agreed, "we haven't seen you since you went to form a rescue team all those years ago. I tell you, Rash had a really hard time replacing you in the militia. From what I remember, you were quite the asset!"

"If she was good then, she's even better now!" Feathers chirped happily, eager to be introduced to Slash's friend. Feathers had always been the shy one, but recent events had taught her to befriend others whenever she could. Slash rolled her eyes at the little bird.

"Oh! How rude of me. Feathers, this is my old friend Bruce. I can't say I'm acquainted with the others though," Slash explained.

Bruce smiled warmly, glancing at the other Zangoose around him. "They are mostly new members to the patrol. I'm supposed to show them the ropes, as it were. Is this the rescue team you wanted to create?"

Slash smirked, "I guess you could say part of it. Actually, I joined an academy that works to roughly the same end as a rescue team. Anyways, this is Feathers the Torchic." Feathers chirped a quick greeting. "This is Kiloh the Treecko." Kiloh waved shyly. "And this… this is…"

None of the Zangoose had even noticed Fangs until she had gestured towards him. She couldn't even finish what she was saying before a wave of hostility rushed over all of them.

"He… he is Fangs." Feathers chirped awkwardly. "He travels with us."

Bruce growled threateningly brandishing his claws. "This is obviously some sort of joke! A Zangoose would not be caught dead travelling with a Seviper… unless… is this some sort of compensation for being gone all that time; an offering of free Seviper target practice to make up for your absence? I must say, I commend your effort."

Fangs narrowed his eyes menacingly, hefting his bladed tail at the ready. Feathers stepped in between the massive Zangoose and Fangs in an attempt to stop them from fighting.

"Feathers is… right... unfortunately. We all need to succeed on this task, and for that, we can't fight here. I know I'm asking a lot, but we need safe passage to our colony," Slash muttered, trying to wave off the air of awkwardness, "all of us."

"Are you serious? Are you honestly suggesting that I let a Seviper live… and furthermore, allow it free passage to our village?! This had better be a joke. I'm ashamed that you would even agree to team up with it!"

"It has a name," Fangs hissed dryly. He was obviously as eager to fight as the Zangoose were.

Bruce gazed with hatred at the Seviper just as all the smaller Zangoose did. "Hey Slash, you aren't going to let me pass up free Seviper-fighting lessons to these new recruits, are you?" Bruce laughed

Slash smirked, "believe me, I know what you mean. But my academy master would throw me out of the academy for that, and I have a great standing at the academy… a lot of respect. Above that… well… the academy needs him, and I'm not about to jeopardize my position there."

Bruce seemed very dissatisfied by this answer, but seemed to mull it over. Finally, he grunted and nodded his head, "Fine, you may go, but I'm not taking you. I'm not going to be held responsible for bringing a Seviper into our society. We are going to finish our patrol. If he wants access to the village, he's going to have to persuade like crazy to get it. All I can say is good luck to you, Slash. Don't expect too much of a warm welcome after this." With that, Bruce turned and left hastily. The other Zangoose growled at the Seviper with hostility, but then followed after Bruce.

"Well, that's not a good sign," Fangs hissed when they were out of earshot.

Slash sighed and turned to him. "Look, I know what Xatu told us to do… but if you're nervous about just strolling into enemy territory, we could meet up with you later…"

Fangs stared at her, clearly surprised. His mouth gaped a moment, as though he were going to say something, but instead he just glared confusedly. "I'm sorry… were you just being nice to me?" he enquired after a while.

Slash scoffed. Feathers decided to ask "well?" in anticipation of his response. Fangs looked at her, his eyes glinting with determination. "I'm not nervous," he stated with an unusually steely voice, "and I'm certainly not going to back down now. I guess we all have to hope Kiloh was right about Xatu: that there is a reason I am to go as well." Fangs stabbed his tail into the dirt in frustration, "and if it turns out there wasn't a reason, I'll kill him myself." Slash smirked in agreement.

And so they continued on, finally reaching the trees at the edge of the clearing. Slash seemed more at home with each step, increasing the speed and confidence of her stride. Fangs, however, appeared increasingly uncomfortable and wary.

Feathers and Kiloh, for the most part, were filled with awe and excitement. Each tree stretched high overhead, with the bright blue sky just visible between the shimmering leaves. As they made their way deeper, they began to notice several shallow gashes in the bark of the trees. Slash told them that they had entered the training area which was on the outskirts of the village.

"Where is everyone?" Feathers asked worriedly.

Slash rolled her eyes, deciding to refrain from explaining that training was only done early in the morning to noon. Seeing as it was currently late in the afternoon, most of the activity would be occurring within the colony itself.

They made their way quickly through the training grounds, finally making it to the edge of the town. There, they were greeted by two guards.

One of the guards spoke as Slash drew near. "Slash! You're back! It's been such a long time… does anyone else know you're coming?"

Slash shook her head in response, glad that all eyes were on her as opposed to her companions. "No, think of it as a surprise visit. Do you know where my father is?"

"Probably at his place, I guess. That didn't occur to you?" The Zangoose grinned toothily. Slash gazed back sarcastically.

"Fine, we'll be going now. Tell Rash that I'm back. I hear you've gotten a whole bunch of new recruits, so hopefully he'll see to it that I help out in their training," Slash responded as the guard looked over her companions. "Oh, and hopefully they can help too; they're my team members."

Slash hoped that by acting like nothing was wrong, the Zangoose wouldn't notice… or at least wouldn't overreact to Fangs's presence. As expected, however, the guard immediately tensed up, fur standing on end as it caught site of the serpent behind them. Slash sighed miserably.

"Is that a Seviper?!"

Slash groaned. Things weren't going as well as she had hoped; she was getting irritated. "Let me guess, you can't let him in. Just get my father."

The guard hesitated, looking first at Fangs and then back at Slash. Finally, shifting uncomfortably, the guard took a step backward, saying, "Fine then, but don't expect a different answer just because he's your daddy."

Feathers watched the guard leave, confusion etched out on her face. "How'd you get that Zangoose to do what you wanted? And your father… can he really let us in?"

The remaining guard looked down at the Torchic. "Cilicia's father is head of the guard; if he doesn't have the power, no one does."

"Cilicia?" Kiloh enquired curiously.

Slash shifted in embarrassment. "I'm Cilicia. Rash, the head of the Zangoose militia, is my father. In theory, I should be able to bring whoever I want into the colony, but this circumstance goes way past mere theory," Slash muttered miserably. "Oh, and Fangs… if something goes wrong… I don't care what you think you might accomplish by staying, I want you to run. I'm hoping it won't come to it, but you could be locked up."

Fangs nodded. He understood the risk, but moreover, he really wanted to catch a glimpse of the area he had been trained to reach. All his life, he was raised to hate and taught to fight Zangoose, but now he was about to explore his enemy's territory with, hopefully, little danger.

Rash came running up faster than any of them had expected. He was a huge Zangoose, almost double the size of Slash and just larger than Bruce had been. But where Bruce had youth and brawn to spare, age was clearly visible through the many battle scars that Rash had all over his body. Currently, his eyes were blazing with both relief and anger. "Cilicia…" he grunted, "welcome back."

Slash hugged her father. "Father, these are my fellow academy members," Slash proceeded to introduce each member individually, to which Rash greeted briefly.

"Cilicia," Rash enquired, "why did you bring a Seviper here?" The huge Zangoose kept his voice very level, neither bearing his teeth nor narrowing his eyes. Obviously, he had earned his position in society by keeping a level head. "You must understand, Fangs, that we Zangoose harbor a deep loathing of Sevipers, just as I'm sure you do for us. To simply allow you access to the village would be an injustice to all who have died before us."

Slash shrugged, taking a step back. "Father, I know that I'm asking a lot, but my academy master requires that I stay with my team members, and I plan to respect his request. I'm not asking for more than safety; Fangs is only to stay with us, not gain any information or anything like that."

"And you trust him?"

Slash nodded briefly, explaining, "I have to." Rash groaned unhappily at this, knowing that he had to do this for her to stay.

"Oh, and Father, my friends are here to help as well. I've already offered to help train your new recruits," Slash whispered, hoping for the answer she wanted.

Rash stared at the ground for a moment, thinking things over intently. Finally, he sighed and agreed, "fine, you all may stay. But I would prefer," he added, "that the Seviper stay away from my new recruits."

"You won't even know he's there," Slash laughed. Rash smiled; to not notice a Seviper in Zangoose territory would be an outrageous oversight.

"Cilicia, show your friends to their rooms. Unfortunately, we don't have enough for everyone to have their own. I hope you have no qualms about two sharing a-"

"Oh! Kiloh and I will share!" Feathers tweeted eagerly.

"Well… I guess that… settles that," Rash muttered amusedly. "I hope to see you three at sunrise tomorrow at the training grounds. And as for you, Seviper, don't do something to make me regret this."