Light woke up groggily to the same darkness that was in the night. He could tell the time by how he felt most days, usually only being off by less than an hour. The group had no schedule and never hustled except when they were on a mission that day. Most days Light was simply being trained, studying, and moseying. today was usually one of these days, but Light had to ask the higher-ups a favor and make it look worthwhile.
The Angel branch of the Nightlight Association was actually unidentified. Besides their powers, no one knew what the pokemon actually looked like, potentially because they were under eighteen. If he could make enough connections, he was sure he could figure out at least one of them.
"And there's a perfect place to make connections with pokemon that should be around my age."
Light sat up and left his small area.
As one of the best and youngest fighters, Light always had his own space in his time there. In other bases as well, he always was made room for, and expected of intensely.
Light nor anyone else wasted common courtesy or greetings in the base. The motto here was 'born to survive', and they did little else. He had conversed with every base member to find they had dry ideals and little sense of direction. The most determination he'd heard was from a Luxio named Joey who wanted to join the Nightlights someday. Of course, Light was the only one who knew.
Light took a deep breath before entering a larger part of the cave. The leaders usually weren't awake, but Light became brave when he heard one of them quietly rambling. The room he looked into was an awkward shape and very difficult to see in.
"I want to g-go out and learn at a school." Light said bluntly. He made sure his voice was audible but not loud. They had told him time and time again to be straightforward whenever speaking with them. He didn't think he had said a simple hello to them in years.
"What even mate?!" a voice rung out followed by laughter, "You weirdo kid, you know how many kids don't want to go to school and you just walk in here!"
"This is the first I'm hearing about this..." a lower voice chimed.
"Oi. You all stay here, I'll talk to the kid real quick."
"Well, hurry up now! The storm is two minutes from moving and I'm not losing this round of Fortnight! We's way too good stuff this time!"
A Heliolisk groggily rubbed the back of his head as he approached vhim just outside the room.
"I know you could handle it, kid, but it's a waste of time. We already have alll the standard books and they don't know how to fight like we do."
"I w-want to talk to people. And t-they have things above standard, you know." Light added sarcastically.
"Yeah, but I need you to explain how it'd be useful for us." he looked back, "And quick, the storm's comin."
"I'd be able to be completely self-sufficient. I could learn everything necessary on my own time and accord."
"And for learning to fight like us?" he questioned seriously, "It ain't daisies, kid."
"They've t-things for that too."
"Bah, you spend too much time with that dreamer." the Heliolisk rolled his eyes, "Listen kid, I like that hunger you've got. But we'll fill it nice ourselves."
"No one here can f-fill the talking part." he sassed.
"Ain't our fault you don't like Fortnight." the Heliolisk's eyes thinned, "Know what? No. This screams itself as a lousy idea. You're not going anywhere today except fetching some grub. Go into the city and out, nothing more." he turned away, "And I don't want you talking today either since things are looking riled up."
"There isn't even a-any risk i-in that because o-of my f-fur!" he argued.
"There is. If we knew every enemy we've got then there wouldn't be. Now scram, kid."
"Alright. W-who do I have to t-take with me?" Light replied without emotion.
"You can do something like this alone, I'll trust you." he nodded, "Just no funny business."
As usual, Light was left angry and doing what they told him to do. He skulked away slowly with new daggers in his eyes.
"I didn't expect it to work... But I don't feel like just not talking to anyone today. This sucks... But at least I get to go out alone today."
Light grabbed money from a small bucket left outside their room and a bag from the side of the entrance. The cave they stayed at own a dirty entrance that was easy to miss and displeasing to find. The entrance was more or less a hole in the ground crowded with weeds, thorns, and dust. With experience, he was able to climb outside with brushing up against the sides of the hole following a usual path.
"Gr, stupid stuff." Light emerged shaking dirt off himself, "I hate being stuck in in this rut..."
Light skulked through the forest feeling much better. Being alone was always a recharge on his energy he spent being around others.
"Ugh, forgot to ask what we needed..." Light rolled his eyes to himself, "I'll just grab a bunch of bad stuff that they eat and get a little bit of actual food for myself on the side..."
Light ate completely differently from everyone else at his base. He tracked himself for what he looked up in his textbook as "optimal". He was self-conscious enough to never eat in front of anyone else, although there were lots of things he never did around anyone. He could hold laughs in for hours.
"Ugh, forgot to bring my cloth... I'll take the long route so less pokemon see me."
Light walked along the very outskirts of the city for a short while. Buildings were scattered unevenly and had no correlation in purpose. When he started to continue further in, the buildings gained lines they began to follow. He was still in a heavily local area that wasn't' overly-excited to interact like the pokemon in the more populated areas. While most here minded their own business, every single pokemon he met in the other regions had the need to comment on his fur.
The roads were still dirt at this point in the city, which still resembled a simple village with how far in he went.
"Eh? What's that?"
As Light walked into the plain looking store, he heard a happy sounding song being sung as a small group of pokemon went down the street. He had never seen them before, but he was able to tell all of their species'.
"Eh? Wondering about those guys?" The store clerk, an Ampharos, asked. "They're promoters for the Nightlight Association. Lancelot in particular."
"Uhm, Lancelot?" he questioned quietly.
"You really do live under a rock." the Ampharos sulked, "Lancelot is the Overlord Rank of the Association. He's pretty much leader, and happens to be their strongest to boot. If the N.A. had a king, it's him. He's a harsh leader, but many Nightlights advocate for him. I mean, he organized the Angel Branch himself."
"I d-don't really watch t-the news." Light relented, "I have enough stresses."
"Well, kid. You shouldn't be watching the news because you're still young, not cause of that." he shrugged, "So, whatcha buyin?"
"Just the usual. T-thanks Mr. Spencer."
Light returned quickly without anything usual befalling him. He was going about his business stocking the food and returning to his room when he saw the Heliolisk in front waiting for him.
"Hey, got someone for you." Help satisfy those thirsts to learn and such." he grinned.
"No, j-just forget I s-said anything." Light denied.
"Eh, too late. The offer was given out and taken very quickly, and by the best. You're one lucky kid! Your new master will suit you perfectly!"
"T-that's now w-what I meant by l-learning!" Light's eyes thinned, "And I s-said by myself!"
"Listen kid." he hushed, "Don't burst out too loudly. Alright, listen up. This is a deal between us and that group on the others side of town. It's the both of us putting up a white flag, y'hear?! It's life and death important that you just roll with this."
"This i-isn't quite what I asked f-for." Light whispered.
"Saw an opportunity and took it, kid. You should do the same." he said like a command, "She's a beast."
"She?"
"Deal with it, Light." he sighed.
"So that's your name? Hmph, seems as an odd choice, especially for this band of brutes to pick."
A Leafeon with a formal accent walked into torchlight. Her high voice made Light feel uneasy.
"This is Charlotte." the Heliolisk introduced, "She'll teach skills that are actually useful to us, and only those skills."
"It's good to finally meet you, Light." she added, "Now I don't have to fear your skills as that of an enemy."
"Nice t-to meet you." Light replied with effort.
From what Light could observe, the Leafeon was about twice his age of fourteen. However, she seemed to carry herself carefully as if she were much more delicate. Light couldn't even imagine a possible reason.
"Your training starts now, by the way." she sounded like a bell, "First I just need to assess your condition."