Despite the prologue, this story is written in third person omniscient. In this chapter, I kind of jump into a couple flashbacks, not including the prologue. There will be a little bit of a warning before them, but I won't outright tell you that they're going into these flashbacks. I know the first chapter is a little short, the next ones will be longer. Between characters, there will be seven(*) Thank you for reading. I'm always looking for good criticism, so if you spot anything, please mention it.

Ultimatum

"Shine! Flamethrower now!" I commanded as the Aggron charged towards us. The Flames hit just in time, the charging Pokemon feinted. My heart was beating like a drum, that had been too close, far far too close.

"Senka! NO, how could you, you brought your Pokemon!" One of the women, someone I was becoming friends with, cried.

I just nodded, and watched as the others in the warehouse began to surround me. A boy, just eleven, the owner of the Aggron, sat and cried as someone shot his Pokemon, his former friend, the sound of the gun firing resounded in the metal building like a bell. My Charizard stood closer to me, I wrapped my arms around her neck and climbed on.

"Senka, don't! It would be easier if you just got rid of them, don't get yourself killed!" One of the men looked sadly up at me, someone else was holding a gun, aiming at her. It was the same one who had shot the Aggron, he was the best shot, I'd seen him shoot bird Pokemon out of the air, he almost never missed.

"My life means nothing without them now, don't you understand? They're all I have!" I shouted, frightened of how hostile the people I had been living with for months had become.

"Honey, just let her go, you don't have to kill them, but please, don't get yourself killed by keeping them!" A little old woman said, the rest of them nodded, she held out her hand as if to help me down.

"I can't, they aren't the same, they haven't been affected by it!" I felt tears begin to form, the man with the gun had just realized that he was out of bullets and was putting more in. It was the same excuse others had given, but I knew it was true for me, I felt it. I knew, they couldn't be the same.

"I know honey, now please come back, where would you go? Even if they aren't the same, where would you go? There's no one else out there, come down now." The old woman spoke again, I shook my head, Shine began to back away.

Suddenly I knew, there was no time to talk anymore. "NORTH!" I shouted on instinct, as she used a flamethrower, we were almost to the doors, she was getting them to back away. We were so close, so close to a freedom that had been terrifying just a few minutes ago, now our only hope.

"Honey, see? She's violent, honey, you can't go north, the Pokemon up there are even worse!" The old woman again.

I Growled with my Charizard, the blood was rushing in my ears. "Open the doors." I said calmly, we were close to our way out, so close. I knew that once I left there would be no turning back, I would be on that list with the others. I was breathing hard, I knew that no one would do it for me, they would kill me so that they could get to my Pokemon, Pokemon were the enemy now.

I heard a rumbling sound as someone pulled open the door, I was shocked, no one would dare. "Get the hell out now, while you can, get the hell out of here!"

Annabel, I could always count on her, her Pokemon had been murdered last week, under similar circumstances, I had forgotten, no one talked about their Pokemon anymore, for any reason. My Charizard roared as she opened her wings and shot out of the warehouse, I heard gunfire, Shine screamed. I couldn't breathe as I gripped onto her for dear life, if she was hurt there was no way we could escape. "Please, you can do it girl, please." I Whispered to her as she tried to regain her balance.

I heard someone scream form below as a fifth shot rang out into the air, staining the sky with the sound. "THAT'S ENOUGH! Let her go. She's the rangers problem now." The words sounded more aimed at me than the crowd that was hurrying back into the warehouse. They were all afraid, and had every right to be, but I couldn't let their fear affect me, I couldn't get rid of my pokemon, they were my family.

I'm a problem now, but I was free, money didn't mean anything anymore, I could go where I wanted. My parents had died, so they weren't a problem… I suddenly felt bad about calling them a problem, but they would have been, if they were alive, this wasn't exactly your normal situation, and to everyone else I was placing myself in grave danger. My mother, gone long before this madness, I had never known her, my father… he had never supported my Pokemon training anyway, so it wasn't a surprise that he died hunting them down when they started going insane. I had begun to grow apart from him when I got a Charmander, and even more when I started traveling, I felt strange about not missing him, but I had never seen his body, so it didn't feel real. I could live with that, not missing him, I didn't need any more pain right now.

I sighed and I positioned myself more comfortably on Shines back, I stroked her neck, I was worried about her, I could see blood dripping down one of her wings, the dark red streaming down and dripping into the air, like tiny red raindrops. "Land as soon as you find a good place, far away from any towns." I watched the Johto forests go by beneath us, and winced as I heard more gunshots, even though I knew that the bullets couldn't reach us.

I stared up at the stars overhead, the only thing keeping me from curling up and crying. The dark, my world had changed, filled with the thing I feared most, darkness was closing in on our home. For some reason the north seemed like the answer, it was like someone had opened my eyes, north… I needed to go north.

CHAPTER ONE

Senka sighed as she stood up and walked over to the small radio sitting on the table, she messed with some of the switches and got the same message that hadn't stopped since the whole thing had started.

"This is a warning to all of those who own Pokemon, your Pokemon are to be released or killed, all Pokemon have been presumed dangerous and are to be killed on sight. The ranger union and police will be searching for all those who disobey orders, we are currently searching for:

David Makuhis, Savanah Jordens, Senka…"

She sighed and turned it back off, the only station that was running was the news, and she was sick of hearing her name on the 'most wanted' list. It had been two months since she'd left that horrible building, hiding from the world as if it were out to get her, oh wait, it was. She yawned and pushed her hair out of her face, then went into the small bathroom of the house. It was getting darker in the day now too, clouds covered the sun and it had begun to snow, The Lake of Rage was beginning to freeze.

She pulled her hair back out of her eyes and placed the white headband over her pitch black hair. She hated looking at it, she hated the dark. "I'm such a coward! I left two months ago, saying I would go north! And I haven't gotten further than this stupid lake!" She growled, looking at herself. She took in the reflection, sighing at the girl standing there, the girl with the sad gray eyes, and skinny, slightly pale complexion, the one who was too much of a coward to go where she felt pulled, because she was afraid of something so stupid. The north, the north was supposed to be the darkest, she couldn't go there, she began to feel dizzy at the thought.

She sighed again, and walked out of the small bathroom, she grabbed her Pokemon belt and backpack and walked out the door. She was stalling, she knew that she could have just left then, but the idea gave her shivers, she could see the darkness when she looked north.

"I need more supplies, again." She threw out a Pokéball, and her Charizard popped out, she smiled at her, then gave her a pet on the head.

"We have to go further this time, I'm thinking about Ecruteak City, if there isn't anything there we'll stay the night and move further south." She suddenly felt a pull to start north again, but gave herself the same excuse, not enough supplies.

Senka moved over to her Charizards wing and went over the scars where the bullet holes had been, there were three of them. She carefully felt them, then examined them for any damage, one of the holes had reopened once already. "Are you okay to fly? We're going to be out for a while." Senka asked.

The Pokemon gave her an offended look, then turned and motioned for her to get on. Senka smiled, then laughed. "I know, but I do worry about you, you were my first Pokemon after all."

Senka smiled, remembering how she'd gotten her. She had gone, by herself, from Pewter City, through Varidian city and forest, down to pallet when she was twelve. By the time she'd gotten to the lab she was a nervous wreak, twitching at every small noise. The aid had asked what she was doing there so early.

"I came to get a Pokemon, I want to get a Charmander. It's one of my favorites…" The aide had rolled his eyes.

"Everyone wants a Charmnder. We only have five that we're giving out this year, and they've been reserved already. Why not Squirtle, or Bulbasaur?"

She hated to say it, but she needed one, Charmander was a Pokemon that banished the dark. Fire wasn't just something to keep her warm, it was something to keep the dark away. "I need Charmander though… I can't go without one-"

"Kid, I don't have all day to listen to why kids need a certain Pokemon more than another. If you can give me a really good reason that you actually NEED a Charmander, one is yours."

She had immediately hated this man, and wished she could talk to professor Oak. "I'm terrified of the dark." She had said it quietly. Ashamed.

"What are you? Twelve? Why are you afraid of the dark? That's a little childish." Senka had wanted to punch him.

She took two deep breaths, she had known that it was going to be like this, Oak rarely dealt with the trainers himself anymore. "Turn out the lights then."

He sneered at her. "You're going to put on some stupid act, I'm sure, but I'll turn them out anyway." He walked over and flipped the first switch. She winced. Half of the lights went out.

"Never mind, I'll just catch one or something." The man paused for a second, then, rolling his eyes, flipped the switch.

She could feel it, closing in on her. She couldn't breathe. She started backing up, running into a table. She knocked something down, and fell over. The dark was there, it was folding in on her, there was nothing she could do. She stared, shaking, at the wall of blackness. She didn't know when she started to scream, she only realized when she stopped.

She kept telling herself it was a stupid plan, that she didn't think the lights would be out that long, she thought that he would turn them back on. Weren't there windows in the lab? Suddenly she saw a flash of light, it disappeared, but then a point grew. She stopped screaming as a dim light flooded the room, just enough to see. Just enough to calm her down.

The light came towards her, and she realized it was a Pokemon, the creature had broken out of it's Pokéball, and was running over as fast as it could. The aid tripped it and picked it up. "What the hell are you doing?"

The small Pokemon hissed at him. It was small, for a Charmander, and it was throwing a fit, whacking him with it's tail, and biting down on his arm. He shook it off and threw it into a piece of equipment. Senka stood up, carefully watching the aid. He kicked the Charmander, yelling something at it. She didn't stop to listen as she jumped on his back.

Senka looked down from Charizards back, they were almost there.

The aid had immediately attacked her, but they were interrupted by someone flipping on the lights. "What is going on here, that my neighbor had to wake me up, and call the police, to get me over here?"

The Aid immediately let go of Senka, who stared at the professor, who angrily glared at the Aid.

"She attacked me, trying to get a Charmander." The one behind him hissed, and bit his leg, Senka could see blood seeping into the white pants. There were several bruises on the pokemons orange body, but the flame was shining bright and hot.

"For some reason I don't believe you." He turned to Senka. "Please explain to me what happened. Geoffry, if you try to run, the poliece are waiting just outside the door."

The Charmander let go of the leg, and walked over to her. She explained what had happened.

"We don't usually give out females, they're very rare, but in this case I think we can make an exception." Professor Oak, Technically the fourth Oak, handed her the Pokéball.

"Do you remember that Shine? When I got you? That was a nightmare, I was terrified."

Shine turned her head to roll her eyes at Senka. Of course she remembered. The jerk had been abusing the Pokemon in the lab for weeks. Shine let out a short puff of fire, slowly decending towards a group of trees. Going directly over the town would be suicide.

*******

Hikaru sat in front of his tent, his Absol purring next to him. The fire was working to cook a package of popcorn, and four hot dogs. "Nice day out. I have a feeling that we won't have days for very much longer though." The Absol sounded his agreement.

"Popcorn is done, I suppose I should let out Tirade, and I have to give Rukko the rest of the Pokemon food. Good thing you like Hot Dogs huh?" He threw out two Pokéballs, they flashed open to reveal a huge Skarmory, large enough to fit two people on, and a lethal looking Kabutops. The Skarmory, Tirade, began to eat the popcorn. It didn't look like it would be enough for a Pokemon half his size.

"Rukko, come and eat." The Kabutops walked over slowly, sliding the dish with the food away, and sat down to eat.

Hikaru threw two of the hotdogs to the Absol, then ate one himself. The last one he ate only half of. The Absol looked at him with slight worry. "Relax Storm, you remember that Stunky? The one we saw yesterday. I'm going to see if I can catch it."

Storm whined.

"You've been living with me for six years now. I've done more dangerous things than capture a Stunky. Besides, what's the point of having the world to ourselves if we don't take advantage of it?"

Storm let out a small sigh, then stood up to follow. He knew why Hikaru was going after it, but he sometimes wondered if his master was suicidal. A week ago they had been attacked by four Stantler, if the Stunky was the same as the other Pokemon, he could get himself into trouble.

Hikaru pulled out a Cigarette from a case in his front pocket, and lit it with a lighter that was almost out of fluid. "Running out again. I'll have to go to the town later. After this."

Storm was the only one of his team that could tolerate his smoking habit, only because he'd been with him the longest. He wondered how long it would take Hikaru to quit. It was only a matter of years before he would be unable to get any more. It was a habit he'd picked up while part of team rocket.

Before the world had unofficially ended, Hikaru had been part of Team Rocket. He had only joined to see how far he could go with the bosses nerves. He had begun by stealing a valuable Pokemon from the society, then using it to get to Kapa, who had been the leader at the time.

The leader had asked him if he was stupid, or just wanted to die.

"I'll die when I'm meant to." He had returned the Pokemon to it's Pokéball, was smiling at Kapa.

"What do you want then?"

"A uniform, skipping grunt status. I need a job, and I figured that I may as well have as much fun as I possibly can with it."

He got his uniform, and a more fitting Pokemon to go with it. One that he actually liked. An Absol, who he promptly named Storm.

"It was easier than trying to get an apartment, or to just keep living on the streets. I couldn't have gotten through some of those missions without you, you know." Hikaru smiled at his Pokemon.

Storm wagged his tail slightly, acknowledging his statement. He was on the hunt now, sniffing for that Stunky, the scent was easy to catch, and pulled him along, Hikaru followed silently.

Storm stopped, crouching. Hikaru got down on his hands and knees and waited with him. Soon the creature came into view, walking and sniffing the ground for any trace of food. Hikaru threw out a small piece of half the hotdog.

The Stunkey jumped slightly as it landed, looking around nervously, then it walked over to the piece of food, and quickly ate it. The Pokemon glanced around, sniffing the air. The Stunky was red, a dark red, with soft tan markings on it's face, back, tail, and belly. It's fur was a little ruffled, but clean and glossy. "What do you think? Male or Female?" Hikaru murmered. He was sure that the stunky could hear him, but it didn't matter now that it could also smell him. He threw out another piece of hotdog.

Storm cocked his head slightly, then sniffed the air. Definitely female. He scratched the ground twice, and let out a quiet whine.

"A girl then? Hmm." She ate the other piece of hotdog, and seemed to relax. He threw out another piece.

It was sane, for sure. None of the wild ones had clean fur like that, and they would have attacked before now. Storm was itching to attack, that was the best part, the chase, the battle, knowing that no matter what, he'd done his best for his master. Hikaru looked over at him, then threw out the last piece of hotdog. "When it starts to eat, use ice beam, then Razor wind. I want you to pin it as soon as possible, on it's front."

The Stunky bit down on the last piece of hotdog.

*******

Kane Lovel sighed as he sat in front of the base leader. He was being lectured again, about the importance of staying with the group, that he couldn't just go off in any direction he wanted bla bla bla.

"What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I captured three trainers, and killed thirteen insanes. The trainers Pokemon were released as soon as I walked into the clearing. They ran."

"That isn't the damn point! You could have been killed, you could have gotten your group killed! Is that what you want?! To get killed?!"

"No sir."

"Then what the hell were you thinking? That you could play hero? It isn't the time for that, you don't go out there alone. Ever. What was going through your head?"

"This is the third time I have been placed with that hunting party. They refuse to listen to any of my suggestions, and instead of hunting down the trainers, they spend time just walking around, sniping off Pokemon at random. I took my gun and made better progress myself than the entire party has in months. I feel my actions to be justified, even though they were not properly thought through. I understand that I could have been killed sir, but my goal is to make a difference, not spend my days looking at clouds and picking off Pidgy. If I have to put myself in danger to make that difference, then you can bet that I sure as hell will." He stared into the leaders eyes, intent on making his point. The leader had dark skin, and shining blue eyes. They pierced like ice sometimes. He was tall and thin, well muscled, was around sixty-five, and had that complete air of 'if you mess with me, I will mess you up.'

"Fine then," He smiled. "We've had reports of a boy living near Ecruteak, His name is Hikaru Sovet. He's around average hight, and has dark red hair. His eyes are a light brown. He's around average build, but he's fast. He previously worked for team rocket, and was an accomplished thief. He stole everything he cold get his hands on, from money to Pokemon, and in between. He always managed to get his target. If you can bring him in, the base is yours to command. I'm getting too old for this crap anyway."

"Thank you sir. Don't forget, I always get my target too. I will not fail."