Chapter 2: Trust

Our 'hero' begins to wake up, as his thoughts travel lightly to his partner, who is currently still in her slumber... As our 'hero' awakes, he is greeted with an all too familiar feeling (one he thought he had cast aside, never to fall under its so called guile)...

Time: 6:53 am

As I slowly rose from the small bed I was in, I instinctively looked around me, unsure as to wether this was still my dream, or if I had managed to finally leave everything behind... To my dismay, some barely audible snoring brought me back to the reality I was now faced with.

'I suppose I should train her, once she's able to do so.' My thoughts were precise, but my heart was still unsettled... Wether I wanted to go back to being a hired killer, or escape this cicle of bloodshed & pain, it was too early for me to decypher my true feelings... Now that's a word I haven't used in a long time.

My thoughts were disrupted by a clearly audible yawn. I looked at the queen's bed, to see that my new partner was now awake; it seemed her injury was getting better, which reminds me...

"Here. Should've given you one before going to bed." I said, releasing a pill from the capsule the nurse gave me & handed it to Mia. I also gave her some sparkling water, courtesy of the minibar.

"Thank you." She said, downing her pill with said water.

"You're welcome... Now... Let's talk..." I said, sitting on the small chair which had my other clothing items, not before putting them on (save my trench coat, which I placed on the floor). I motioned Mia to sit on the trench coat & told her to get comfortable.

"First thing's first: You may call me... 'X' (Cross)." I said, getting her to give me another suspicious glare.

"I mean no offense, but if we're going to be partners, you should at least give me your real name." Said Mia, visibly pouting.

"Fine... My name is Riley." I said, adjusting myself to the chair I was in.

"What was your clan like?" She asked, now sitting in the traditional legs-crossed position.

"My clan... Well, we were all like family; we treated eachother with the love & respect any family member would recieve." I said, making Mia get interested.

"You were only five strong, yet you always supported eachother, correct?" She asked.

"Correct. In fact: We knew eachother's strengths, as well as our weaknesses... One of us could've killed the other four easily, yet we saw no point in doing so..." I said, which made Mia get slightly confused. She yawned, not because she was bored, but because she was still slightly asleep. I noticed how her feathers ruffled slightly when she yawned.

"There's Trick: the silent shooter. He rarely spoke, and when he did, it sounded like a whisper in the wind... But even the smallest whisper can cause violent echoes. He was easily the best in our clan... Then there's Snip: the flying guillotine (tf2 fans will get this). He was short in stature, coming in at 5 feet. His favorite weapons always involved blades, hence his code name, or clan status, if you will. He had a wild temper, which only seemed to aid in our battles. Next there's Neko. The better of the two females in our clan. She recieved that name after getting captured; when we saved her, she had six knife wounds across her face, which made her look feline-esk. She always carried small weaponry, but she was a marksman with them, no doubt... Finally there was Green. The second female, but still very resourceful. She was named Green, because she had the smallest number of battles in her wake... Regardless, she was good with weapons all around. In fact if she were here, she could've bested me in a matter of weeks." I said, staying silent as if saying I was done talking.

Mia looked worried. Before I could say anything, I felt something wet on my face... I've been crying for a while.

"I'm sorry I brought so many bad memories up, Riley." She said, as if she did something wrong.

"It's ok. We're partners, which gives me as much right as you to know who you are & viceversa." I said, motioning her to get up. I got up from the chair & instructed her on how to sit on it. Once she got comfortable, I petted her head & sat on the trench coat.

"My turn." I said, with a small smile. Mia picked up on my intentions, to which she reacted softly.

"Alright, I'll try to answer as best as I can." She said.

"Where was your clan before being found by snatchers?" I asked, being careful with my choice of words.

"We were in a small forest clearing in Hoenn. It was near a lake, with a few sink holes in the perimiter... The clan leader claimed it to be a hinderance to any poachers or killers. It was those very same sink holes that aided in the capture of so many in my clan..." She talked, with a few tears streaming down her face. I stretched out & wiped away those tears from her eyes, to which she smiled.

"... I had recently evolved into a combusken, when the snatchers started attacking the village, but something was wrong... They moved unlike any other snatcher: Sticking to the shadows & launching a few feints, disorienting us in the process... Those of us that tried fighting back were... killed... almost instantly. I remember my parents yelling at me to run & to not look back. I had found a small bush, where I thought I was well hidden. My parents took a defensive stance, back to back. The snatchers showed up from their hiding places, carrying these wicked blades. My parents fought valiantly..." She stopped, unable to say more...

"You were found & brought on a slave cruiser, yes?" I asked, to which she silently nodded with an expression of sadness...

'I gotta do something to cheer her up.' I said, as I pulled out one of my empty luxury balls...

"Here, let's get your mind off such pain. I'm going to make you my official pokemon. Is thath ok?" I said, handing her the luxury ball.

She carefully tapped the button, expanding it.

"Yes... Yes, I'd like that." She said, standing up.

"Alright, here goes." I said, tapped her forehad slightly, causing the ball to suction her inside. Two slight movement shifts & a 'ping'... Success.

"Alright, that should do it. Come out, then." I said, tossing my Luxury Ball, causing Mia to be summoned. She then turned around & hugged me, thanking me in the process.

"C'mon. It's still early & we should look around. Pewter City is only five minutes away by foot." I said, picking up my trench coat, dusting it off & putting it on, carefully buttoning it up. I then opened the door & she walked outside. I locked the door & pocketed the key. We walked downstairs to the reception area. We found someone I've heard about.

"Your sister's looking for you." I told him, as he woke up from his trance & looked my way.

"Oh she is, is she?" He said, with an eeriely calm voice.

"Tell you what: If you can best me in a pokemon duel, I'll take her shift for three weeks." He retorted, eyeing my pokeballs & Mia.

"Hmm... Ok, but since I'll be fighting, I expect a small reward for me..." I said, still walking, now walking away from his standing spot.

"150." He said, which caught my attention.

"200. If you're so sure about yourself, why don't you ante up more? I'll even throw in one of my luxury balls." I said, showing him the aforementioned object.

"Deal." He said, shrugging & meeting my gaze.

"What now, Riley?" I heard Mia ask.

"I've been challenged to a duel." I said, stretching slightly.

"I can't fight like this..." She said.

"Don't worry about that. I used to be called the 'Salandit Tongue'. You'll se why soon enough." I told her, reassuring her with a smile.

"What's your name anyways?" I asked the innkeep's brother.

"James. Yours?" He asked.

"Cross." I said, winking at Mia when James turned around.

"Alright, here we are." Said James, as he pulled out a key & opened a door, leading into a Trainer Arena.

"You said it was a duel. One participant per trainer, correct?" I said, which caught his attention.

"Yes. Step up to whichever side you want..." He said, as he started talking into an intercom...

I inspected the arena; It was made of some synthetic rocks & dirt, with a small solid fence to avoid ring outs & spills. There was something odd about it, though... I pulled out a ruler & set it on the exact middle of the arena...

'Just as I thought... The left side is 181 degrees, while the right side is 179 degrees.' I thought, assessing my strategy from there. Star Wars fans should understand this reference/meme.

"You done? I wanna get this over with quickly." Said James, who was still off the arena's platform.

"I'll go left." I said, followed by Mia, who James noticed to be injured.

"You're not going to make your combusken fight like that, are you?" He asked.

"No." I said, then pulled out a luxury ball, knowing fully well it was empty. I expanded it & waited for him to choose his pokemon.

"Let's put him in his place, Jack." He said to the pokeball, then he threw it, revealing a lucario. He looked young, but the last thing I need is to underestimate him.

"Welcome, fellow trainer." Said jack, crossing his arms, watching carefully where his spikes went.

"A lucario... Last time I saw one of your kind, I was left with a massive stab wound on my right peck." I said, giving him a small wave.

"Is that so?" He said, looking at his spikes & then at me.

"Well... Let's do this." I said, tossing the luxury ball. Mia caught it with her left wing & held on to it. I then proceeded to remove my holster, sheathe & boots, leaving my socks & pants on, for I had also removed my trench coat. I set my belongings in the trainer's area & walked forward until I was outside of said area.

"You're kidding... He's kidding, right?" Said James to Jack, who just shrugged, not taking his eyes off me for an instant.

"Rule one of every single battle: Do NOT underestimate your oponent." I said, as I stretched, loosening my muscles in the process.

"This should be interesting..." Said James, as he saw that the doors to the crowd area opened, revealing at least seventeen people & twenty pokemon. Amongst those people, James' sister showed up, with a riolu on her right shoulder.

"Show him what you're made of, Jack." Scram the riolu.

"Hey, what the hell?! Why is that guy shirtless & in the dueling area?" Said one of the spectators.

"You're attention Ladies, pokemon & gentlemen: This man has wagered a duel with me. I've acceptd it, regardless of the fact that he has no other pokemon other than the injured combusken you see in his Trainer's Area. The man has decided to fight in her stead. Though this is considered illegal, I'll let it slide. The man has insulted me by going into the ring, now I will not let him back down!" Said James to the crowd.

"Ugh... Why are you so hot headed sometimes, James?" Said the innkeep.

"Alright. The rules are simple: You each have one... 'participant'. You fight until either side is unable to battle. Any questions?" Said the makeshift ref.

"None." I said, as I took a fighting stance I was familiar with. Jack the lucario did the same.

"Get ready... to D-D-D-D-Duel!" Said the referee, lowering both of the flags he was carrying.

"Jack, use close combat!" Said James, to which Jack responded by nodding lightly & approached me, running.

I crouched slightly, waiting for the first strike... Jack lunged with a straight left punch, which I countered by grabbing his paw with my right hand, lowering it & pulling him close to me, when I responded with my left elbow making serious contact with his right collarbone.

"Agh! Damn!" Said Jack, as he stumbled backwards, holding his collarbone.

"My turn." I said as I jogged towards him & breathtakingly fast sweeped under his legs before he could recover, but he managed to dodge it, yet didn't stick the landing & almost fell back, giving me an opening. I repositioned my self & launched a brutal right hook, to which he blocked with his paw, yet it was strong enough to make him spin lightly & hold his left paw.

"Fuck!" He said, as he clutched his left paw, from where I saw some blood starting to leak.

"Shake it off! You've been worse off." Said James, the desperation sounding clearly in his voice.

"Right." Said Jack, as he repositioned himself to face me.

"Bone rush!" Said James, which caught Jack off guard. He however formed the aura bone staff & sprinted towards me.

I ducked the initial thrust & parried his strikes with a few low & high kicks.

"Now, strike at his left side!" Said James, seeing as I had left my left side open. Jack attempted to strike with his right paw, but was caught off guard when I avoided it by pushing him away with my left foot. I then pulled out a quarterstaff & extended it.

"Bone rush once more." Said James, trying to find an opening or a sign of my next moves.

I proceeded to hurl the staff in the air & rushed Jack. He took a defensive stance with his staff & waited. When I was close enough, he used his staff as leverage for a roundhouse kick, which was effectively blocked by my staff, which landed right between us. Jack was still in shock, so I slid behind him & grabbed the back of his head & flung him over my left shoulder, straight to the ground under me. Once he made contact with the ground, I jumped on him & struck his lower jaw with a fully curved backhand from my left. He instantly felt limp & closed his eyes. I got up & slowly retreated to my side of the arena, then bowed.

"Lucario is unable to battle. The challenger wins!" Said the referee, after checking Jacks vitals, confirming him to be unconscious.

"Jack... Return.." Said James, lowering his head in defeat.

I looked at my injuries: A few bruises where Jack managed to connect & a few small cuts, likely from his spikes. They won't leave a permanent mark, thankfully.

I walked over to my 'Trainer's Area' & picked up my trench coat & put it on, along with my sheathe & holster. I then walked up to James & stretched out my left hand.

"Good match." He said, still sounding a little sour over his loss. He shook my hand & gave me the 200 pokedollars. I pocketed them & then crossed my arms.

"Your bond with your lucario is growing... Do not squander it." I said, turned around & headed to the exit, with Mia following me closely, as silent as a shadow.

"Something up?" I asked, snapping Mia back to reality.

"I had no idea you were this strong." She said, with a small tone of praise/amazement.

"I have my old clan to thank for that." I said, adjusting my trench coat.

"So, how's about that trip to Pewter City?" I said, not being exactly keen on maintaining the subject alive for too long.

"Sure." She said, walking sightly faster when I said that, inciting me to catch up. I looked at my watch (1:32 pm), then pocketed my hands, walking out of the inn & headed with Mia walking ahead of me. We walked silently for three minutes, then she spoke up.

"Can you tell me who trained you?" She asked, now slowing down.

"I was trained by my mother & her pokemon." I said, recounting how many times I've trained with my mother's tyranitar, mightyena, braixen & gabite.

"Were they nice?" She asked.

"Yes. They were the best. I remember Lucy once gave me a severe burn on my left leg after I tried to land a sneak attack on her." I said.

"Lucy?"

"My mother's braixen... At least, she was a braixen the last time we all saw eachother." I said, sounding slightly sad.

"Oh..." She said, feeling a little sad herself.

"Look, we're here." I said, pointing to the town in no particular direction.

"Yay! Can we go to the pokepark?" She asked, surprising me.

"Sure. Let's go." I said, following Mia, who had run off to the park as soon as she heard me confirm. I jogged to catch up with her.

'This should help me cope with my new life well.' I thought to myself, reflecting on today's events...

And so, our hero is now getting a well deserved break... With his new partner & his first battle resulting victorious, our hero walks on to enjoy his break. It seems that things might be looking up for him.

A/N: Alright, third chapter in less than five days! I need a hobby! XD Regardless of my seemingly wasted time, I must say, this story is turning out way better than I'd initially hoped. Two things for today:

1: Thank you to: Medtactics for following my story.
2: My publishing time might be erratic from time to time, given that I am STILL trying to get my MLP fanfic up-and-running after two years... Regardless, I will not abandon this story, not while it's still very young.

That's about it, thank you all for sticking by this story & I hope to hear from any fans of this story. Don't be shy... Until the next chaper, Ciao.
-Blood Moons