Hello everybody. Gunner here, and here is chapter two of my story. Here we see a couple more main charaters, and see what it's like in the Ruins of Manhattan Island... but be warned: Manhattan, now a days, isn't such a great tourist spot anymore... The morphs made sure of that.

Chapter 02: The Manhattan Ruins

Date: 6/26/2038
18:45 Hours
Subject: Richard Evon
Age: 16
Species: Umbreon Morph
Location: New Morph Port

I stood on the docks holding my little sister's padded paw. We stood there, watching the sunset, just to get away from all the craziness of everyday life. I mean I go to school, I work hard, and deserve this summer vacation. Stephanie, on the other paw, she just tricks and cons her way through school.

Anyway, Sophie really wanted to see the ocean and the sunset so… here we are. Sophie turned to look at me. "Richie look how pretty it is." She said to me wagging her fluffy brown, white tipped tail. "Yes, it really is beautiful." I commented.

She continued to look at the sky, until we heard the sound of a ship entering port. She looked at the big cargo ship. "Richie! Look at the big boat!" I pointed at the large vessel. "That's a ship, Sophie."

"Wow… Where do the boats go?" Sophie asked, completely ignoring the correction I made. "Well… it's hard to say for sure, but basically they travel to different ports all over the world." I explained to my easily amused little sister. "Wow… you mean places like China and Japan?" She asked is amazement. "Yes and other places as well." I said.

"What about that island?" she asked pointing a small clawed finger to the Ruins.

"That island? That's where the humans live." My sister's long, Eevee ears fell back against her head as excitement was quickly replaced by fear. "You mean the big, scary animals the grown-ups told us about?" Sophie asked a little afraid of the island.

I quickly hugged her. "Don't worry, Sophie," I told my little Eevee sister in a soft soothing voice. "If anything happens I'll protect you." I assured her, messing up her brown shoulder length hair.

"I hate it when you do that!" The Eevee suddenly yelled breaking free of my hug. "Do what?" I asked, confused. "Mess up my hair. Stephanie says that my hair is most valuable an Eevee girl has." She responded. I shook my head in disgust. Stephanie is a bad influence on Sophie. Before you know it, she'll be bringing home art other kids made, just like her older sister.

"Yeah, well, Stephanie is wrong, Sophie." I said. "The most valuable thing anyone has is family. Got it?" I asked the girl. "Can we go home now?"

Subject: Mark Taylor
Age: 16
Species: Human
Location: Manhattan Ruins

Finally, we're here. Manhattan Island… or what's left of it. Years ago, during the Morph War, this island was the site of a long bloody battle that lasted about a mouth, humans and Pokémon valiantly fought to defend their homes from the morphs. Today it's nothing but ruble, ruins and a shell of its former self. Now a days, humans are only allowed in the ruins themselves, and a small section near the mainland the morphs fenced off. In that area, humans entertain the morphs in exchange for small amounts of food, however, the morphs don't always give food to poor souls… most of the time… they just point and laugh at us… and even go as far as putting us against each other…

The only time I remember going there and being part of the "act", was when I was kid and a morph told my older sister to kill me for a loaf of bread. My sister and I were very close, she'd never do anything to hurt me… It was then when she started to fight back. She refused to kill, pissing off the morph. He continued to order her, demanding my death… or else… he'd torture her dead. She still refused… so the morph attacked her… It was his final mistake. She drew a knife she'd hidden away, killed the morph, grabbed me and ran home. The very next day, she started going on what we call "supply runs," going into the morph city to steal food for us. She taught me everything I know… she is… was reason the reason I'm still alive… I miss her.

Me and Tricky walked through the ruins, and what's left of the human population here in New York. The city on the main land was completely destroyed, and replaced by the Morph City. Forcing us humans and some Pokémon live here, the only place where the morphs wouldn't dare set foot, paw, tentacle, fin, hoof, or any other body part on. Why? To be honest I don't know.

We continued walking through the sad looking "City", finding people on the streets, sleeping under old cars, in dumpster, some living in the remains of the few buildings that actually survived the war, and its aftermath. People in alleyways warming themselves with barrels they set on fire, wearing nothing but rags and old, worn clothes. Walking through the debris and body filled streets… avoiding the blank stares that the bodies made. On this island, it's every creature for itself. Though there are a few humans that still value teamwork and family, myself included… it's very small number of people.

And when a creature dies… it's forgotten. No one comes to bury or burn the body, no tears are ever shed, no words are said about the deceased, and the bodies are just left on the streets to rot. The stench is almost unbearable. It gets sadder every time I go out to the morph city, which is what a city is suppose to be like, and come home to this… hell.

"Well, well, well… look who it is." We heard a man speak from a pile ruble. "Mark Taylor… what'd you snag for us this time?" The man sneered. "Brian Paulson… What the hell are you doing here?" I asked, with a hand over my knife. "We were hoping you could give us some food. After all, not of us can steal from the morphs and live tell the tale." He said, stating the obvious. "Anyway, we appreciate that you went through all this trouble, just to get us some food. Thank you. Now, leave the bag, turn around and let us eat in peace." A few of his goons came out from the ruble behind him and glared at me.

"Hey jackass!" Tricky shouted. "That food's meant for Mark's little sister. Steal from us is indirectly stealing from a seven year old child!"

"Does it look like we care? We are all starving to death! Now are we going to do this the easy way… or the hard way?" Paulson asked as his henchmen surrounded both me and my partner. I smiled as my body shook in anticipation of the coming fight. These goons really think they could take both me and Tricky on? They must be outta their mind. "We're doing this the Taylor way!" I shouted as I drew my knife and charged Paulson. He drew his knife and blocked my attack with its blade.

"Never the easy way with you, is it Taylor?" he growled trough clenched teeth. "Nope… I like doing things my way… it's more exciting like that, ya know?" I said as we broke our deadlock. He trusted his knife, aiming from my stomach, but I evaded and countered by grabbing his arm and flipping him over my shoulders. "Don't just stand there, you retards!" he shouted from the floor to his lackeys. "Kill Taylor!" All of them surrounded me and Tricky, drew knifes, broken bottles, and prepared themselves for a fight.

"Uh… Mark… you got a plan to get us outta this… right?" Tricky asked in a fearful voice. "Yeah, I do… let's show these bastards whose boss!" I shouted. "KILL HIM!!!" immediately they charged all me and my Vulpix. "BRING IT!" I shouted as I knifed one of the bastards, and kicked another. Two bad guys down… another nine to go. "FLAMETHROWER!" Tricky shouted as he opened his muzzle and a red hot stream of fire flew out, frying two more, but pissing the others.

"Damn you two." Paulson said. "Mark!" a voice shouted from behind me. I turned to see a friendly face for once. A middle aged man, dressed in an only military uniform, came charging down street, knife drawn. "Ben! Am I glad to see- AH!" I yelled barely avoid getting a knife imbedded in my neck. "HEAT WAVE!!!" Tricky shouted as he unleashed scorching wave of flames, burning three more of them. "Ben! Better late than never! What kept ya, anyway?" "Long story short, while you guys were gone, I was looking after Marcia."

"Benjamin Bloomfield… dammit. We're going to need more men." Paulson said to himself. "You worthless whelps! Kill them all and take the food… and the Vulpix too. I hear raw Vulpix is quite the meal in China." the man grinned. "SAY WHAT?! MARK SAVE ME!!!" Tricky whined as more goons surrounded us.

"What the hell? Where did all these guys come from?" I asked, as the hungry men surrounded us. "Hunger's a powerful thing Mark… When you're starving to death you'll believe anything you're told."Ben explained as he quickly attacked and killed two bad guys.

"So Paulson lied to them? What he'd say to them? 'I'll help give you freshly killed Vulpix meat if you kill Mark Taylor?'" I asked. "Don't even joke about that, Mark." Tricky whined. "You know I hate it when you say stuff like that."

"Mark, Tricky, get outta here now! I'll cover you." He ordered us as he got the attention of the others. "Fine by me! Mark run!" Tricky shouted as he ran away from the scene as fast as his little paws could carry him. "Ben…" "Mark, go! Don't worry about me… I'll be fine. After all, this nothing for ex-marine." The man said as he blocked an attack from one of Paulson's lackeys. "Right. Thanks old man… I owe you one." I nodded as I turned to run.

"Oh no you don't! After him." Paulson ordered. "Hey! I'm your opponent, not the boy! So if you want him… you'll have to go through me!" Ben courageously shouted.

After about an hour of running, we finally made to the remains of a once twenty-four, now four story build. "(Gasping) I… I think we lost them…" I told my vulpine friend. "(Gasping) I hope so… What's with that guy and want to eat me, anyway?" I don't know… maybe-" "Taylor, behind you!" someone shouted as a knife flew past my head and entered the skull of a man behind me that had followed us.

"What the…?" I asked in shock. "God dammit, Taylor, when are gonna learn to watch your back out here?" I looked at the boy that threw the knife. I chucked when I saw him. "Dave, where the hell did you come from, man?" I asked my childhood friend. "Well you see, Taylor, when a mommy and daddy love each other very much…" The blonde haired boy chuckled. "That's not what I meant."

"Alright, well while you were out trying to get killed, me, Ben, Marcia and Anna have been scavenging the old buildings." "Did you find anything useful?" I asked. "Yeah, a great big pile of crap." I cursed under my breath.

"That's just great. Another fruitless scavenge, it's been like this for months hasn't it?" I said remembering the weeks of searching the ruined buildings, and debris filled streets for anything that people used to use when the island was a metropolis.

"(Sigh) Anyway, how's Marcia?" I quickly asked, concerned about the little girl."She-" "Mark?" We turned to see a seven year old girl, with long dark hair, and blue eyes come out of the ruined building. "Mark! Where have you been, big brother?" My kid sister shouted as she jumped on to me and hugged me.

She stopped hugging me and then looked at Tricky. "Hi Marcia, how ar- AGH!" Tricky was unable to finish his sentence as Marcia grabbed him and gave him a big hug. "Tricky!!! It's good to see the morphs haven't eaten you like Dave said they did." Marcia said as she started to hug him to death. "Oh did he now?" I said as I glared at Dave, who was 'innocently' whistling.

"Marcia… (Cough) Can't… breathe… need… air… (Gag) Can't talk… in normal…… sentences…" Tricky coughed out. Marcia paid no attention to the oxygen deprived fox she was slowly and accidently choking to death.

"Uhh… Marcia… your choking Tricky, you know." Dave pointed out. My sister stopped hugging him and looked at his once red, now blue face. "Oppsie, sorry Tricky." Marcia said to the fox. He didn't respond. "Tricky?" She said as she shook him a bit. "Tricky, wake up." She shook him harder. "Tricky bedtime's later not now!"

"Let me handle this, Marcia." I said as I took Tricky's unconscious body. Once in my hands I did the only thing I could, I turned him upside down dropped him on his head. "Is he okay?" Tricky answered her question by letting out a loud groan. "He'll be fine." I chuckled.

"Anyway, I got something that'll make you feel better." I said as I took a small bottle of medicine. "Aw, Mark, do I have to?" My sister whined. "You want to feel better don't you?" I asked with the bottle in hand.

"But I am feeling better, big brother. I-" She was stopped suddenly and started coughing dryly. "…really am feeling better." She said in a raspy voice. "Marcia," I said giving her a serious look.

"Okay." She said in a disappointed voice. I gave her some of the medicine and gave her some water to wash it down. "Good," I smiled. "Now lie down and take nap, kid, and you'll feel better in no time."

"But I'm not (Yawns) even tired yet." She sleepily said, her eyes half open. I chuckled and shook my head. "Bed, now." I commanded. "Mark? Can you tuck me in?" My sister asked. "Sure thing kid." I said as I went with her to tuck her in her bed, made out old, discarded cushions and pillows.

After she was fast asleep I went back out, I saw Dave looking at the mainland as it got dark, and city started to light up. Tricky was taking a little nap by some ruble. I woke him up and told him to sleep next to Marcia to keep her warm. He responded with a big, loud yawn, and went inside to where my sister was sleeping.

I went out and joined Dave, who was looking at the mainland. "…That city used to be a place of culture." Dave suddenly said. "A place of diversity and would have millions people, from all over world, in it in one day. But now…"

"Heh, where the hell did you hear this?" I asked. "From my gramps. He said that New York City was the 'center of the world'." "Yeah, and your gramps also said that he was fifty feet tall, and could shoot lasers beams out of his eyes, his ears, his butt, and won't go any further." I said with a slight chuckle, reminding him of his insane, half blind grandfather's wild imagination.

"…Yeah… well the war did rob him of his sanity. And he does tend to …exaggerate a little." Dave admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "But my gramps told me of what New York used to be like, and how great it was to be an American… to be human… but now…" he stopped talking and continued to look at the morph city. I looked at it too, and wondered… what life was like before the war and this poverty ridden slice of hell I call home.

(Later that night)
Location: Evon Penthouse
00:02 Hours

Silence) "Finally… now to commence phase one of operation: End Game." A Dragonite morph said as he eyed a small Eevee girl, sleeping in her bed. He grabbed her and left a note. As he flew to the outskirts of the city, with the girl in under his arm. Just as he left, a dark furred figure had just gotten out of bed. After going to the bathroom, he went to his little sister's room to ckeck up on her. His blood red eyes widen when he saw that there was a small note where his sister sould be sleeping. He grabbed the note and read it.

Note: I have kidnapped your sister. If you ever want to see her again find me, the dark haired, light skinned, blue eyed human boy, wearing a worn black coat, and worn blue jeans, in the middle of the Ruins, and we'll "talk" there… P.S. Bring back up… you're going to need it.
-Mark Taylor

The Umbreon crushed the note in his paw, crusing under his breath and quickly ran to wake his siblings and inform them of what had happened.

Mark and Marcia live with other people who knew their parents, or who have been with them since birth. Mark and Dave, for example, have known each other for since they were babies... but like Mark said, life in the Ruins isn't easy... especially when your you're being jumped for a backpack full of food meant for your only living relative.

But can you imagine what's it like to be told that the hell you live in... was once a great city? People all over the world are told this. after all New York isn't the only major city that the morphs pillaged... All large cities were the first to be targeted and attacked during the war... and who knows... maybe we'll get to see them all soon...

But for now... who was the Dragon that nabbed Sophie? What's with operation "End Game"? Should anyone be worried? Why blame Mark? Why take Sophie? What's going to happen him and his friends now?
Well your gonna have to wait for the next chapter to find out.

Once again, if you guys have any problems with this story, any at all, just tell me. And as always:
Love it, hate it, just review it. Gunner out.