Chapter 4

Silent Guardian

The sun rose over the mountains in the distance, it cast beautiful rays of warmth over the forest. Forest dwelling pokemon start to stir and awaken as they prepare to welcome a new day.

A couple of Spewpa emerged from its home in a tree, one of them pointed to a large pile of snow ahead excitedly. This snow pile seemed quite out of place and the Spewpa was about to find out why as portion of snow slid off revealling a large bipedal frog – like pokemon hidden underneath. The pokemon opened its eyes and glanced down at the Spewpa group for a moment. It stood up suddenly, causing the Spewpa to bristle its fur. The bipedal frog – Greninja shook its head cordinally and leaped to the ground.

"Rettt!" screeched another pokemon, Greninja peered up. A frightened ferret scooted into its burrow and a group of caterpies stared cautiously in its direction. Their behaviour wasn't surprising since Greninja belonged to a trainer and not a wild pokemon. Greninja looked down, it had dark blue skin with large white bubbles on its legs and arms. On the sides of each of its upper thighs was a light blue, four pointed star which resembled a shuriken. Its feet were also webbed.

It wasn't hard to figure out which pokemon was the odd one here.

A couple more forest pokemon disappeared quickly, as Greninja came into view. Even though Greninja was mildly amused by their actions initally, it recalled a time when it was also conisdered a wild pokemon – before it met Ash. If Greninja hadn't joined up with Ash then, would it too had become a wild pokemon that was easily afraid of strange new sights? Greninja didn't quite like the idea.

Greninja walked past a tree, a sentret that had been spying came crashing down, it landed near Greninja feet. A broken branch lay beside it. The sentret gluped, as Greninja approached. It saw its webbed hands come closer and flinched as it was picked up. The next thing sentret realized, was that it was back on the tree again, on a stronger branch. Feeling nothing more than waves of fear, Sentret dashed into its hole in the tree. Greninja shook its head and looked away, we have been on this journey together for so long. I chose you as my trainer. We share this bond. Greninja recalled Ash's arms around its shoulders and laughing alongside him when they won the last gym battle against Olympia.

With its fist clenched tight, it trudged forward.

A large bare oak tree appeared before Greninja as it turned right after coming past the bridge. The oak tree was a landmark, for there was only one for miles around. And it happened to be in the vicinty of a large empty clearing that had a long dead log right at the centre.

The clearing was no doubt deserted, Greninja nodded silently but felt slightly disappointed – Ash wasn't here. It peered over to a pine tree further south that looked different from the others. A pair of deep claw marks etched into that tree. Greninja placed its webbed hands on the marks and reflected on how much the attack would have hurt, if they had landed on anything that had flesh instead.

Greninja felt relieved that its reflexes was extensively trained while it was with Ash. If not - Greninja recalled seeing Serena, frozen in fear at this very spot. Her attacker looming behind her, its sharp claws extended…

Last night, Greninja waited for Nurse Joy to switch off the lights and leave the room. It listened carefully for the last of her footsteps to disappear before leaping to its feet. It moved to the door and strode quickly along the coridoor. Greninja heard Nurse Joy talking on the phone. It crept past her and went upstairs.

There, Greninja peered into the room where its trainer and his friends were staying for the night. It saw the empty bed right beside the window and Pikachu curled up at the foot of the bed.

Clemont and Bonnie were sound asleep, Serena on the other hand; was not. Greninja saw Serena peering over to the same empty bed. She turned towards the door as though she had heard something. It closed the doors as fast and quietly as it could.

Fearing that it had been spotted, Greninja bolted to the main doors just as Nurse Joy and her assistant came around the corner. It clambered upward and avoided the sun roofs that was on the roof of the pokemon centre; it did not want its shadows to be cast into the building.

Greninja inched sideways and peered down, Serena entered the lobby and spoke to Nurse Joy. The latter shook her head and then embraced Serena in a tight hug. Greninja noticed tears steaking the sides of her face. It sighed.

Greninja jumped to the tree next to the pokemon centre. It caught the branches and expertly used its tongue to swing itself to another tree. Greninja could hear Ash's last words ringing in its mind. "I'm really sorry for today, if only I got my act together. We should be able to draw out that power of yours…If only if I got my act together…"

Greninja punched the trunk of the tree hard; unable to believe that its trainer had such depressing thoughts. The kind, enthusastic and positive trainer that it respected and loved with its heart; did Ash disappear?

Isn't this our bond? Our power? Our battle?

Greninja returned to the roof of the pokemon centre and perched itself there. It crept to the sunroof and peered in, it was slightly surprised to see Serena asleep on the couch. Nurse Joy and her assistant were perparing to close for the night. Wigglytuff proceeded to wake Serena from her slumber. Greninja felt slight ache in its heart as it watched Serena get up;clearly exhausted from being worried for Ash.

Even as a froakie, it noticed that Serena had quite adored its trainer. The way she looked at Ash and how much she cheered for him as he battled against a stream of trainers and gym leaders. Her feelings for him probably grew over the months as they journeyed together. And then…there was another – Serena's Braxien.

Greninja shook his head repeatedly, as though trying to get rid of an annoying fly.

It tried so hard to focus and looked down into the pokemon centre again, it realized that the lobby was in darkness. Nurse Joy must have turned off the lights. Greninja looked up and stared into the forest. Chilly winds indicated that the weather would turn bad soon. It wondered if Ash had managed to find somewhere safe of the night. All of the sudden, it heard the main doors open and shut.

Greninja peered over the ledge and caught a glimpse of Serena coming down the steps, she stood before the lamp post silently for a second. It saw her face light up with determination before running into the forest. The trees swayed ominously as chilly winds started to pick up, Greninja glanced up at the sky and felt snow – marble like - hitting against its face. It stared after Serena, her figure was beginning to disappear from view. Without hesitation – understanding that Ash would have also instructed him to – Greninja jumped onto the nearby tree and then to another until it could spot Serena walking in the snow beneath him.

The snow – pebbles like – were falling from the sky, it didn't hurt being hit by snow of this size. But obviously, the cold winds had started evolving into a strong gale. Greninja perched on the branches high above, it glanced down at Serena from time to time – to make sure that she was safe. Serena shivered uncontrollably, and kept her arms wrapped around her in order to preserve some warmth.

Greninja noticed that she had forgotten to put on her coat. She must have dashed out recklessly.

"Ash! Where are you?"

Greninja glanced down. Serena had reached the clearing, where they had took a break earlier that day. She approached the dead log at the centre.

"Please come back!"

Her voice tired and desperate but it was also filled with some type of warmth. Greninja wondered if Serena had realized it too. Ash isn't behaving like himself. A gust of wind blew through the forest, nearly throwing Greninja off its balance. The snow was beginning to pelt down heavier then before.

Greninja shook his head – it can't let Serena stay in the forest any longer, she will catch a cold especially without her coat - Ash wouldn't want that to happen to her.

It stood up and began to descend when it sensed - a piercing glare thrown in its direction. Greninja turned quickly, its sharp eyes narrowed into the distance. The darker part of the forest, where the moonlight did not shine upon. Greninja couldn't see what it was, but there was something watching it – her.

Greninja leaped to another branch, it took a quick glance at Serena. She had stood up and began to walk away in the opposite direction - south. It considered the situation swiftly, and decided that Serena would be safe going in that direction even without it following her.

With haste, Greninja jumped to another tree – towards the area where it sensed the danger from.

This was another part of the forest, north of the clearing. Greninja walked silently through the forest, the canopy were dense compared to before. Sighting of forest pokemon were rare, and it understood perfectly why. Greninja peered up, before it were rocky cliffs and hundreds of caves littered those cliff edges. And yes, the caves were inhabited.

Bipedal, ursine pokemon with broad bodies covered in brown fur started to emerge from the caves; they too were going to enjoy and soak up the sun in the morning. The ursarings had similar narrow eyes, a triangular, black nose and wide mouth with small visible fangs in the upper jaw. Female Ursaring – Greninja noticed were in company of several offsprings – Teddisura. It must be mating season.

Greninja leaped up into the trees, and observed the Ursarings for a moment. Even though they looked intimidating – A teddisura jumped onto its mothers body and nipped playfully, its mother grunted but did not seem bothered by her child's acts – Ursarings do not normally attack other pokemon, or humans. However…

Greninja perched on the branch, it glanced around the surrounding cautiously. The strong intense glare came from this spot, it could still feel it even though there seemed to be nothing around at first glaze.

A growl.

The tree that Greninja had perched on, started to sway. It caught Greninja off guard, but Greninja leaped away to another tree before this tree came crashing onto snow beneath it. The tree had been ripped out from its roots, and the cause of that was massive pokemon.

Its claws and fangs gleamed under the moonlight. It roared and tackled the tree that Greninja was on.

Greninja croaked, and jumped down quickly. Why are you attacking me?

Ursaring did not reply, it roared at Greninja and raised its paws.

Greninja dodged it effortlessly. I did nothing to you, stop attacking!

Another swipe from Ursaring, Greninja spin to dodge that attack before jumping up into a tree.

Its claws glowed – the pokemon grabbed the truck and pulled itself up; trying to get at Greninja who was right at the top.

Stop it!

Ursaring howled, it reached up with its claws. Greninja doged it and dived to the ground, somersaulted perfectly in order to land on its feet. If you don't stop, I won't hesitate to attack you

Greninja saw Ursaring expression change, it smirked.

Good

All of the sudden, Ursaring raised both its arms and brought it down on the tree. The force of it doing so, caused the tree to split into half. The pokemon landed on the ground, with both feets. The ground shook, Ursaring glared at its opponent angrily. Your human will pay for what they done to my family.

What?!

A Flash of Ash's face appeared in Greninja mind, the moment Ursaring mentioned 'its human'.

Ursaring came in fast, it had finally found an opening to get close to its felt the force of Ursaring kick, strike it across the chest. The impact sent it rocketting backwards and into a large rock painfully hard. Greninja peered up just in time to see its opponent rushing towards it at breakneck speed.

Months of practice did not fail Greninja at that moment. Just when Ursaring was inches away from making contact,Greninja pressed its arms hards on the ground before it, using the energy to jump high above its opponent. Ursaring was definitely caught off guard and wasn't able to stop in time.

Ursaring crashed into the rock, causing it to crumble pathetically.

Greninja reached for his shuriken on his back and threw it at the incapacitated pokemon. Its water shuriken hit its mark perfectly, the pokemon howled in pain.

Explain! What do you mean by my human?

The ursaring groaned but glared at Greninja, oh, your humans; I mean.

The pokemon waved its paws towards another direction, Greninja glanced over and immediately felt its heart drop a thousand miles.

We did nothing to you, leave her alone!

Ursaring snorted and growled angrily, My family did not do anything to your humans either, so why didn't you leave them alone?

Greninja shook its head, I don't understand.

Ursaring had risen to its feet, it glared at greninja with a plain look - Don't pretend.

For a moment, Greninja thought it was going to receive an explaination for these random attacks. But instead Ursaring began to hulk, its massive body puffed up and made it look terribly intimidating.

Then Ursaring opened it mouth and howled, a stream of powerful white beam shot towards Greninja.

Greninja barely jumped away, but the beam could be directed in any direction Ursaring wanted. And Ursaring made sure that Greninja did not even have a second to rest while avoiding the attacks. With every turn and twist it made, injuries from its previous battle started to hinder its movements.

A moment of folly, Greninja felt a long sharp pain across its chest and unable to resist it, it fell to its knees.

Ursaring smirked when its attack found its target at last. This is the end for you! The beam went through and tossed Greninja unceremoniously up into the sky by the blast.

The wave of fresh air seemed to clear Greninja's mind. We'll be stronger as long as we keep going at it and keep practicing. Ash said that once, and that was when it was struggling to learn quick attack…instead… it learnt something else more important… and suitable.

Do not ever…

Greninja felt the falling sensation, its eyes snapped open and narrowed. It saw its oponent crouched beneath him.

Ever

It reached for his back

Ever

Ursaring was getting closer. Greninja could see it's smirk slide of its face, replaced with a frown. Greninja knew what to do, all it needed was to imagine and see itself at different position. It's body felt warm and it got hotter until its skin was burning – that's when it knew its ready.

Give up!

In an instant, Greninja materalized; several Greninja's appeared in all positions. 5 – 10 – 15 -20! , all of them; reached out for their glowing blue shuriken and with great strength – flung it towards Ursaring who looked simply stunned. The attack created flumes of white smoke that covered the area and also caused the ground to shake for several seconds. Greninja appeared several feet from its fallen opponent – underestimating my abilities is your wrong move.

Serena!

Greninja knew that Serena walked away earlier, but what if…

Fearing the worst, it leapt up to the trees, tore through many of the branches towards the direction given by Ursaring when it had threatened to hurt 'its humans'. The intentions were clear, they were going to hurt Ash and his friends; but why?

No matter what, it must protect Serena from danger. And hopefully, it wasn't too late.

(Hi! My friends! It has been forever since I have written so much in a day. Yes; I lack in practice recently but don't worry, I will be trying to finish up stories that hadn't been completed for ages in the next few weeks – hopefully. Please keep reading and reviewing my stories – all of your encouragement has kept me and my passions for writing going for so long. I love you guys! )