Ryxa soared through the clouds that streaked the sapphire-blue skies above Veilstone City. I, being stuck as a Jolteon, was being held in Ryxa's grip, while the Grunt that commanded the latter kept jabbering on about her soon-to-be promotion.
"Does she ever shut up?" I muttered to Ryxa. She shook her head and flew on.
I didn't want to hurt my new-found friend. Unfortunately, I didn't see any way out of my predicament that didn't involve hurting her. I cursed myself for getting into this situation. Why, oh why couldn't I have decided to escape on Sunday, when no-one was at the HQ? I cursed myself over and over until we reached the Team Galactic HQ. Ryxa descended slowly. Once I heard her free talon hit the ground, I heard the thud of human feet, and felt myself being pulled up by the ear.
I found myself face-to-face with the arrogant Grunt. I chuckled in my mind. Only someone with an ego bigger than their brain, heart and lungs put together would pick me up as a Jolteon!
I fully charged up my Thunderbolt attack in the blink of an eye. The Grunt seemed to be as stupid as she was arrogant, and didn't even realise the electricity coursing through my body.
"Come, Ryxa!" she was crowing. "Soon, I will be promo - AAARGH!"
I released my Thunderbolt attack at that particular moment. The Grunt let out an ear-splitting scream, then fell to the floor, twitching and smoking.
I devolved and leaped onto Ryxa's back. "Haul butt!"
Ryxa stared at the unconscious Grunt. I felt her muscles tense as she walked towards the Grunt, and saw her head dip. When she raised her head, I saw the two-coloured sphere that had imprisoned her for years in her beak. I watched as, with a crack, she bit down hard on the Pokeball. I saw it shatter into a million pieces. Suddenly, all the pieces glowed a blinding white, a glow brighter than evolution light. The light died down gradually. Once it had completely disappeared, every remain of the Pokeball had vanished.
Ryxa was free.
"You..." I began, quite flabbergasted. "I mean, you're free..."
"I noticed." Ryxa was looking down at the Grunt with disgust. "You can have my gratitude for today."
"Why?" I asked, surprised.
"You attacked the Grunt, thus knocking her out," said Ryxa dully, "therefore opening up the opportunity for me to break the Pokeball. I thank you most profoundly."
"Uh... you're welcome, I guess," I replied, unsure of what to say.
Suddenly, a violent banging and crashing reached our ears. We whirled round and saw that the door I had sealed before was bulging outwards like a rotund belly. The crashing was coming from inside.
"They're trying to get out!" I exclaimed, scrambling up onto Ryxa's back. "Let's get outta here!"
Ryxa spread her wings immediately. She took off just as the door exploded outwards and a mob of Grunts and Pokemon burst forwards. But it was too late for anyone to catch us. I evolved into Flareon and blasted all the Dustox with Flamethrower. Ryxa kept scattering the Grunts with Flash Cannon.
Soon, we had reached the clouds. Ryxa flew even higher, and we could see Sinnoh beneath us, unravelling before our eyes like a carpet rolling open. The fields looked like small pieces of confetti neatly arranged. The people and Pokemon weren't even visible. The towering buildings of Jubilife and Veilstone City loomed above the land like sinister scouts. Mount Coronet rose in the middle of it all, like a scar disfiguring an otherwise beautiful space. As we flew, some Wingull surrounded us, then broke their V-like formation, once again revealing the air in front of us.
I was awed, overwhelmed. I devolved and leaned right over the edge of Ryxa's wings. Amazed, I evolved into Espeon and used my Psychic abilities to look down on the region below me. I saw humans and Pokemon working together tirelessly. I saw humans ordering other Pokemon to attack each other, the Pokemon looking - was I imagining it? - willing and happy. I saw humans walking alongside Pokemon, chatting to them as though they were both of the same species. Everywhere I looked, I saw Pokemon, I saw humans, and I saw - no, impossible. They couldn't be friends... they just couldn't be!
Suddenly, I felt my tail quivering, and at the same time, a sudden change in the air. I whipped my head up and, as I did, felt my body contract with fear.
"RYXA! FEAROW, DEAD AHEAD!"
The Skarmory, who had been examining the view with as much awe as me, whipped her head up in alarm. She screeched suddenly and swerved upwards to avoid a collision.
"Close call!" she exclaimed.
"Don't rest now!" I yelped.
I devolved and pointed - with a trembling paw - at a flock of Spearow, being led by the Fearow we had just narrowly missed. Ryxa's screech had alerted the attention of a couple... oh, who am I kidding? Her screech had alerted the entire flock of Spearow! And they were all looking angrily at us!
The Fearow looked up and, as it did, screeched a warning cry to Ryxa, who did not move from her spot in the air.
I tapped Ryxa lightly on the head. "Uh, Ryx, we'd better get going..."
"No way am I backing down from a challenge!" Ryxa yelled, and swooped so fast that I had about point-five seconds to brace myself. Ryxa's wing began to glow white, and she slammed it into the Fearow, who was blown backwards. I decided to help her out. I evolved into Jolteon and threw a Thunderbolt at the Fearow, who took the full brunt of the attack.
"RRRROOOOWWWW!" it screamed.
"Let's get outta here!" I said.
"I agree," said Ryxa, indicating the angry Spearow who were flying towards us like bullets.
The Skarmory swerved round and sped towards Mount Coronet. I turned around and blasted the Spearow out of the air with Thunderbolt.
"How long is it gonna take us to get to Mount Coronet?" I yelled over my shoulder, blasting a couple of nearby Spearow.
"About ten minutes! Can you keep this up for that long!"
"I've already gotten through half of the flock!"
"Good! Keep it up!"
Barely five minutes had passed, and I had already KO'ed all of the Spearow. The Fearow was too far away to pose a significant threat, and we were about two minutes away from Mount Coronet.
I only wish that we had known the danger back then.
