A/N - Thanks for the subscriptions to this story! I really appreciate it ! I've been mass-breeding Cottonee for a competitive Whimsicott for the upcoming UK Nationals. As a thanks to you subscribers, I have seven male breedjects looking for a home with between 3-5 IVs, Prankster and the egg move Encore. I can nickname them Mischief and send them out if you would like? Just subscribe if you haven't already, PM me your friend code (mine is on my Twitter account DeliriousAbsol) and I can send them out next week. Of course, there are time zones but I think we can work around that =) the first seven to contact me get one =D depending on success, I may breed more characters later XD

Disclaimer - I do NOT own Pokemon or any of its critters!

3 – Massacred

Cleo was beginning to grow worried. If finding a suspicious Pokemon with fragmented memories wasn't worrying enough – not to mention the possibility it could all be a ruse – it was becoming night time and there seemed to be nowhere reliable to sleep. Spark was battling to stay awake on her shoulder, her large, round ears twitching at every noise, most of which came from behind them as Mischief occasionally stood on a brittle twig or dry clump of tough grass. It made more noise in the dark than his light-footed gait should have allowed, or it was just the Meowstic's sensitive hearing. Either way it made him sound deceptively heavy.

Another worry was what they would do when they reached New City. They couldn't let a non-Guild member into the city, it was too risky. He could be a spy, or even an infiltrator planning to cause problems or a sneak attack. Letting an unauthorised Pokemon into a protected area, one who could possibly slip away and alert the Heretics or Hydreigon's troops to the city's existence was just too risky.

"I think we're just going to have to take risks," Spark finally said, "And use the tent."

"It'll stand out too much on this route," Cleo answered quietly.

"So will three travelling Pokemon."

"Yes, but I'd rather be awake and able to defend my life than be asleep and unaware of enemies."

"We could keep lookout?" Mischief suggested.

Cleo glanced back at him sharply, trying to mask the fact his voice had surprised her.

"Hmm." She looked back down the long road, fading into the dark horizon. "That's not a bad plan."

"Great." Spark yawned widely. "Shall I start?"

"No." Cleo pulled a dark blue sheet of cloth from her bag. "I'll start-"

"I'll go first," Mischief quipped. "It's the least I can do for letting me travel with you."

Cleo glanced back over her shoulder at him, wanting to remind him that he'd forced his presence on them, but stopped herself and instead sighed as she threw the cloth over a low hanging branch.

Spark busied herself on the floor, stabbing long pins into each of the four corners. It was a simple tent that failed to keep out drafts but did keep the rain off. Its simplicity allowed for one to quickly move on without messing around with more intricate structures.

Cleo took a step back from the tent and looked at Mischief. "Are you sure you don't want to sleep?"
He shook his head. "No, no. I'll take first watch. You sleep."

Cleo sighed again and ducked into the tent, curling up on the dry ground next to Spark. She watched Mischief as he seated himself in the entranceway with his back to them. She closed her eyes, but she had no intention to sleep.

Mischief might seem friendly, but she had her doubts. He'd come from nowhere, tried to rob her, then suddenly showed himself to be a friendly, chatty and rather annoying Pokemon who insisted on being their shadow.

Then there was this 'clean place', somewhere that seemed to be a mystery even to him, unless this fragmented memory he seemed to be suffering was an act. She couldn't take any risks if he was hiding something.

And if they fell asleep and he did turn out to be an enemy...

Her eyes snapped open and she stared at the dark wall of the tent. No, she couldn't risk sleeping. That would have to wait until they reached New City.

...

The night had been uneventful. Cleo hadn't slept, even after Spark and Mischief swapped places. She'd taken the last watch in a hope it would mask the fact she'd not slept, but Spark had noticed straight away.

"Is it that obvious?" Cleo had asked under her breath.

"Of course. You're eyes are bloodshot," The Dedenne chuckled. "Although he probably won't notice since you've been firing leers at him since the moment he crashed into you."

So that was that. They moved on in silence, the road as desolate and eerily quiet as it had been the previous night. It was unnerving to those not used to it, but Cleo and Spark were indeed used to it. Most of the Pokemon that had lived in this area had either been chased out or had gone to seek refuge in New City.

Time seemed to drag. The sun was high above them, clouds occasionally blocking out the light as they rolled through the sky.

'Not far now.' Cleo squinted into the horizon. Of course, New City wasn't visible to the naked eye, it was just a habit.

Vibrations thrummed through the air and she came to a halt, her body freezing as she slowly looked up at the sky.

"You have to be kidding me," She scoffed. She turned to Mischief and nudged him off the road. "Get into the trees."

With a glance over her shoulder, she followed a confused Mischief into the foliage. If it was what she thought it was, it wouldn't be able to spot them easily in the sunlight.

The thrumming noise grew louder, splitting through the air with an almost ear-splitting ferocity. Cleo looked up through the canopy. It was right above them now, solidifying her fears.

It was a Noivern.

Usually a nocturnal Pokemon and a force to be reckoned with in the dark. Whatever it was doing here she didn't want to find out.

They would just have to wait until it had passed and was out of sight before continuing on to New City.

"Found some!"

The voice had come from above them. They looked up sharply, and Cleo's blood turned to ice in her veins.

Murkrow! Sitting nonchalantly in the branches of the canopy. The flock burst out in fits of shrill giggles.

The Noivern's yellow eyes turned towards the trees, straining to focus in the bright sunlight. He licked his lips thoughtfully and ducked into the trees. His wicked eyes eventually found them and his rounded muzzle split into a grin.

"I thought this place was empty," He purred. Every noise he made seemed to be amplified by his giant, dish-like ears. "But I guess I was wrong. There are still some stragglers."

"This one has a Guild badge." One of the Murkrow pointed a wing at Cleo.

"Guild members?" The Noivern threw his head back and laughed. The Murkrow joined in, probably more out of fear than anything else. Once he'd regained himself, he looked back down at them and snorted. "Probably out to cause more trouble for Hydreigon? Well... I think you'd make tasty little hostages."

Cleo restrained herself from taking a step back. If she'd been alone, she'd have been in a lot of trouble. Her attacks would be useless against the Murkrow flock, but she had a chance at taking down the Noivern. But attempting that would draw the Murkrow to her and she'd be at a major disadvantage.

But with Spark...

The Dedenne poked her head out of Cleo's fur.

"Oh this is just great!" She snarled. "You think you're so big ganging up on smaller Pokemon? Well, I'll show you just how much of a bad idea that is!"

Luckily, the Murkrow and Noivern had been surprised by the sudden appearance of the small Dedenne. Before they could regain themselves, she launched herself from Cleo's shoulder and filled the air with a powerful discharge.

Several of the Murkrow dropped from the trees, electricity dancing over their oily black feathers. The rest leapt away from the trees, flapping their wings in surprise and cawing wildly. Before they could retaliate, Spark sent out another attack.

Cleo took this opportunity to strike the Noivern with a Psybeam. Purple light shot from her unfurled ears and struck the dragon Pokemon on the nose. He took a step back and shook his head sharply.

It wasn't enough. His yellow eyes fixed on her and he snorted, smoke swirling from his nostrils.

"I'll make you regret that, little kitty." He lunged at her, fangs glinting in his mouth.

Cleo sidestepped, just narrowly dodging the Noivern's wicked bite. She sent another Psybeam into his side, knocking him off balance and causing Mischief to hop out of the way.

Great. Now she had another Pokemon holding her back. If she was reckless he'd end up getting hurt.

Crack!

Cleo was sent rolling backwards as the Noivern's massive wing struck her across the face. Before she could leap to her feet, the dragon loomed over her, his face split into a malicious grin.

"I was hoping to take you back as a hostage," He sneered. "But now I think I'd rather kill you right here!"

A deep rumble filled the air, growing in volume. The Noivern's ears seemed to vibrate and he opened his mouth wide. Cleo closed her eyes. This was it. No one ever survived a fight with a Noivern. All that would be left of her would be scattered throughout this forest.

A sharp snap and the Noivern grunted, the dreadful sound coming to an abrupt stop. Cleo opened her eyes warily. The Noivern was looking behind him, but Cleo couldn't see what had distracted him.

Spark was still jumping around in the trees, distracting the remaining Murkrow. That only left...

Cleo rolled out of the way and leapt to her feet. Prancing about like a fool was that odd Whimsicott, drawing the Noivern's confused gaze.

The Noivern let out a snort and charged at him. Mischief leapt back and a flash of pink and purple light shot out of him, striking the Noivern and sending the dragon rolling tail over head into a tree.

The Murkrow, seeing that their leader had taken a nasty hit, diverted their attention away from the Dedenne and shot out of the canopy towards Mischief. Another flash of pink and purple and they dropped like ripe berries.

Mischief's face split into a manic grin and he strode slowly over to the dragon. The Noivern struggled to his feet and turned his fierce yellow eyes on the Whimsicott. He opened his mouth wide and sent a pulsing shock-wave at the grass Pokemon. Purple energy pulsated through the air, engulfing him completely. Mischief's grin grew wider and he strode right through it.

The Noivern's mouth snapped shut and he took a step back, his yellow eyes darting from left to right.

Mischief lunged at him, striking the dragon square in the chest and knocking him to the floor. Maniacal laughter erupted from him as he struck the dragon over and over, oblivious to the Noivern's flailing wings colliding with his fluffy body, sending wisps of white cotton into the air.

Cleo and Spark watched, dumbfounded, as the Noivern was reduced to a bloody pulp. His flailing wings came to a halt, and he lay there motionless as the Whimsicott's merciless attacks continued, his maniacal laughter echoing through the forest. Neither of them could move, their bodies frozen in place by the nightmarish image.

Cleo shook herself, and braved a step towards Mischief.

"Okay, I think you're done."
Her words fell on deaf ears. Michief seemed to be enjoying himself too much. The Noivern was barely recognisable now and Cleo couldn't help feeling sorry for the fallen dragon.

She grit her teeth. "Mischief!"

Still no response. She moved a few steps closer to him. If she had to drag him off the Noivern, she would. But before she could reach him, his frantic pounding stopped and his head snapped to face her, still wearing that manic grin.

In one swift motion, he pounced from the Noivern and collided with her, sending her reeling backwards.

"Cleo!"

A jolt of electricity shot through Mischief. His body jerked and he fell off her.

Cleo pushed herself to her feet and looked down at him. His orange eyes met hers, filled with what she could only describe as madness. In a mere few moments it faded into confusion. He looked as if he was about to say something, but all strength appeared to leave his body and he collapsed onto the forest floor.

...

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