Hey! So, this is my first published fanfiction (I've written one other one, and I might publish it sometime...) so I hope you enjoy it or are amused by my attempt.
I DON'T OWN POKEMON
Trees rushed past me, the only audible sounds that I could focus on were my heavy breathing and the crunch of dry, dead twigs under my and my Espeon's feet. My breath was visible in front of me in the chilly, December air, and a thin layer of white snow blanketed the ground. Even though I couldn't hear them, I knew they were behind us, probably closer than I imagined. Much too close for comfort. They were after my Pokemon, I knew it. They always were, ever since I achieved something that had seemed impossible. They'd never gotten this close, however, and I was running out of breath. My Espeon-the first Pokemon I had ever gotten (as an Eevee) and currently my strongest-tried to keep a slow pace for me, not wanting to get too far ahead. A cramp in my side twinged painfully, but still I pressed on, not about to give up and let my Pokemon-my friends-get stolen. The trees ahead seemed to be thinning, and I could make out some sort of structure-a bridge, perhaps-through the branches. Feeling a new burst of adrenaline, I sprinted forward, determined to make it to the open area where I could put up much more of a fight.
I could hear them behind me now, their footsteps much quieter than my own but their breathing much louder. Epseon keeping the same pace as I, we raced to the center of the bridge. I spun around, skidding the bottom of my boots on the rock that formed the bridge. Any other time I would have admired the view of the coursing blue river that sparkled and flowed beneath us, but it wasn't the time for such simple carefree things. Reaching into my bag, fingering one of the ten Pokeballs I kept there, I prepared to fight, shifting into what I hoped was a threatening stance. Two people, a boy and a girl, probably not much older than I, emerged from the trees, a Pokeball in each of their hands. I narrowed my gaze, straightening my spine, not ready to lose a battle, especially not to these goons. Sensing my determination-or so I presume-the girl stepped forward, lowering her hand to stick it in the pocket of her skin-tight pants.
"Whoa, whoa, there's no need for alarm, darling," she called, standing a safe twenty-foot distance away from me. Her voice was deep and throaty, and I immediately disliked it. "We just want to talk for a little bit, OK?" I didn't move. How could I trust these people after they spent nearly half an hour chasing me through the dense forest? Normally, I'd give them the benefit of the doubt, but seriously? I wasn't letting my guard down with these people. "Oh, come now. We just want to have a word or two with you, nothing more." I could practically taste the lie in her words, and I inched backward a step, wary of her true motives.
"You expect me to believe you?" I demanded, finding my voice, holding back a cough as realized it had been probably a few days since I had spoken aloud. Espeon, always supportive of me, growled menacingly in agreement. The girl breathed out heavily, blowing out her exaggerated bangs. The boy merely chuckled, his facial expression not changing.
"Dear, we know who you are and what you've done in less than four years," the girl proclaimed, her lips twisting into a wicked smile. Her declaration sent ice through my veins. No one should know what I had accomplished besides the few that had witnessed it. I had tried so hard to keep my identity under wraps, even going so far as wearing disguises whenever I went into public. How could they know? Unless... "My dear, do you even know who we are, who we represent? We are members of Team Rocket, ranking right beneath our leader. We've been tracking the best trainers in all the regions, and you've shown up quite a lot. Naturally, we were sent to investigate. So, I guess you've seen through our little fibs on just wanting to talk. You know what Team Rocket does, and, if you cooperate, you won't get hurt. Alright?" Anger burned deep inside me, and my tightly clenched fists began quivering.
"Do you really think I would just give up my Pokemon?" I demanded, my voice even louder and more forceful than before. "They're my friends, my family, more than just objects of my possession. No, I would never give them up, and I won't go down without a fight!" The girl stared at me for a moment before shrugging her shoulders in a manner that spoke to me, her motions saying "Suit yourself." She gestured limply to her partner who stepped forward, a tight-lipped grin plastered on his face, as he tossed a Pokeball into the air.
A burst of white light emerged, revealing the shape of a Scyther, before falling back into the boy's hand. I stepped forward, a cautious smile on my face, as I reached my right hand out to the Pokemon. I had always had a talent for befriending Pokemon; even wild Pokemon would come to me to play when I was young and still would whenever I was alone. However, as my hand almost reached the Pokemon's hard skin, its eyes following me the whole way, it lashed out suddenly with its bladed arm, slashing the soft skin on my wrist open. Shocked, I jerked my arm back, staring wide-eyed at the Pokemon as I wrapped my left hand around the wound. Looking closely, I noticed its pupils were different, smaller, than normal. Anger surging inside of me again, I shouted at the Team Rocket members.
"What have you done to this poor creature?" I asked forcefully, stepping forward again, momentarily forgetting the Scyther that radiated evil in front of me. It attacked again, this time cutting deep into my left side. Gasping, I grabbed at the cut with my right hand, letting go with my left hand as I did so. My wrist still bleeding, I was already feeling the material of my shirt dampen. Espeon leaped to my side, eying down the Pokemon while simultaneously providing some support by leaning against my legs. My vision went momentarily blurry, and I stumbled backwards a step before catching myself. The girl just laughed, stepping up beside her partner's Pokemon.
"Oh, we used our boss's newest invention, the Corrupt ball. Yes, it does sound rather terrible, but it works wonders," she explained casually, sweeping her hair to the side with a flick of her wrist. "In fact, it's almost like the Dark ball many Pokemon Poachers use, except ours makes the Pokemon forever obedient and ten times as powerful. It's a fantastic utensil." I bit my lip, hard. These members of Team Rocket were far worse than any others I had ever seen or faced; they seemed to truly be evil, no ounce of good in their souls. Unable to really think clearly, I moved forward another step, clutching my left side with my bleeding right wrist.
In hindsight, I should have seen it coming. The Scyther screeched its name and slashed again, hitting my left shoulder with incredible force, sending me spinning to the right. I tripped over my own feet, my knee coming into contact with the short barrier on the edge of the bridge, and I pitched over the side. I didn't even have time to scream. Just as I thought I would end up taking an unpleasant bath that would lead to my death, I stopped in midair. Floating, slowly turning so I was upright instead of facing the water, I saw that my Espeon-my trustworthy, amazing Espeon-had jumped onto the barrier and used her psychic attack to levitate me and lift me back to safety. I stretched my arms out, ready to grab onto the barrier of the bridge just feet from where she perched. I was just over the side of the bridge when a small cube hit my Pokemon and opened into a large metal cage that surrounded her. The cage had no openings whatsoever, just solid metal walls that enclosed my friend. My Espeon, no longer able to see me or use her psychic, lost her hold on me, and I dropped, scrambling to hold onto the ledge. I was barely hanging on as the girl stepped over to where I hung.
"See? It would have been so much easier if you had just given her to us in the first place," she whispered menacingly. "But that was your choice. Goodbye, girl. Hope you said goodbye to your precious Pokemon. We'll be back for the rest of them once you fall to your death." With that pleasant message, she laughed, jumped away, and ran off the bridge in the opposite direction from whence we came into another dense forest. Tears streamed down my face. It was the end. There was no way out. I was weak, bloody, tired, and there was a hole in my heart where my love for my precious Espeon resided. I tried but failed to pull myself over the edge. When I had decided I would just give up, that there was no way I could make it out alive, I heard a voice, smooth and sweet but frantic, shout to me.
"Grab a hold of my hand! Hurry!" the lovely voice said loudly. I tilted my head up, peering at the mass of spiky brown hair, piercing green eyes, and concerned expression surrounded by a glimmering spectacle of sunlight. I squinted my eyes, mostly because I was exhausted but also because of my suspicions. No man could look like that without having an ulterior motive.
"Are you here to take my Pokemon, too?" I snapped, amazed at how much strength I heard in my words. The guy, his eyes wide, shook his head fiercely.
"No! I want to help you not die!" He cried, and the ghost of a smile played on my lips at how funny those words sounded. But maybe it was just my mind in a state of pure exhaustion. "Take my hand! Please!" he repeated desperately. I think it was the please that did it. That or the agony I heard in his voice, surprisingly enough. As I did as he said, our eyes met, and a feeling I couldn't describe swept over me. He smiled gently, and my heart skipped a beat. Could this be love? I thought to myself. His eyes sparkled as he helped me up. If it is, I sure hope I live long enough to see it through.
