Through a sniper scope

Where am I?

The room blurred into focus. Slowly. Layla stared at the cuts lacing her thighs and peered at the surroundings. Typical. The space she came too contained four cameras, a low wooden table with a recording device whilst a bare bulb hung over her head. Thick rope leashed her to a spindly, metallic chair and she valiantly struggled against an oppressive brace clamped around her throat. Thrashing cut new welts into hazelnut skin and she face planted on the floor. Crawling towards the entrance, an unbreakable barrier of frosted glass; she inhaled deeply and spun, ramming her chair into the door. Each pounding of metal on glass rattled the teeth in her skull, and she bit her lip into a swollen mess. Undeterred by pain, she pounded, the legs and the headrest of the chair broke and the seat stuck to her body. With a sweet crash, the first layer of the glass broke and the second layer splintered, spider web cracks distorting her reflection. Picking up a piece of jagged glass, she cut her bindings and wrestled with the neck brace. The brace failed to disengage and she weighed the discarded chair legs, using them to rain blows on the remaining, pockmarked sheet of glass. The entrance whined open and the iron rods found their target in two armed men. One gasped and fell and she grabbed the other lifeless body.

A hail of bullets greeted her after she stepped out of confinement. Layla grabbed hold of her corpse shield, crouching behind it and scrutinizing the room. The spacious chamber contained an ash grey carpet riddled with bullet shells and holes, the smell of gunpowder and cigarette smoke hung in the air. Office desks, computers and pot plants shattered, showering chips of wood, silicone and shards of earth. The deafening gunfire stopped and Layla wiped traces of blood from her face, her shield disintegrated into scraps of cloth, bone and contused skin. Armed personnel stepped backwards, wary of her and another man, clothed in a suit and wearing the pompous air of a leader, stepped forward. Her golden irises dipped to the revolver tucked at his waist and the man chuckled.

He moved closer and she inched back, arms protectively crossed over her chest. "You live up to your name as an Ace Trainer," he praised warmly, "no doubt we will be very happy if you swopped your alliance to us. I am sure the Johto government is not paying you enough for your services eh?" The man grinned self-assuredly and pushed his glasses up. His words sickened her, this was the second time the Silph Company kidnapped her and she did not appreciate the invitation. "I admit, our business ventures can be rather...Illegal, but I assure you, my boss will pay you hand-some...l...y." Layla shot from her place and drove a knee into his solar plexus. Stepping back, she swerved to the side and kicked him, her foot caught in the hollow of his neck and the bone snapped satisfyingly. The guards turned to her. Quickly, she grabbed the pistol from the executive's holster and buried two bullets in the groaning man's chest, twirling it; she aimed the smoking weapon at the nearest soldier.

They meekly handed her pokemon belt. Pocketing the pistol and some nifty gadgets she swiped from the facility, the Ace Trainer left, jumping from the helipad and summoning her skarmory before plummeting to her death.

Tender fingers skirted over the scars lining her chocolate skin and her fiancé murmured, admonitions for her brazen ways. Layla's amber eyes softened and she missed his caresses when he moved behind the counter, rinsed a porcelain cup in the sink and ranted about a normal life. But no! His Layla happened to be an Ace Trainer in service of Johto's intelligence department and he, a home executive, waited anxiously for the authorities to tell him about her untimely demise. Running a hand through auburn hair, he huffed and shuffled in the immaculate kitchen, waving his arms and wiping them on his apron. Placing a piping hot sandwich on a plate, he plopped on the counter with an adorable pout and crammed a piece of toasted bread in his mouth. "So who or what kidnapped you this time?" her fiancé asked, rose tinted eyes trailing the bruises on Layla's slender neck.

"The Silph Company," she replied, toyed with her braids and flashed a set of pearly whites when he frowned. "Don't worry Abel, I put down one of their executives so they should stop coming for me." Abel made an odd, rumbling noise, something between a defeated sigh and a concerned groan. "I am heading to Kanto next week," Layla informed him and his face twisted further. "Team Rocket acted up again and some kid trainer is caught in their shenanigans." The man raised a disbelieving eyebrow, a kid? "Yeah," she answered his unasked question. "Apparently this child is competing for the league and got sidetracked along the way. His name is censored. Anyway, I have orders to gather intelligence on Team Rocket, it's rumored their headquarters is in Kanto." Layla eyed the half-eaten sandwich and Abel slid the plate over the granite countertop. A bark issued from her bedroom and she turned to see her Absol jumping on the living room couch, it promptly buried ivory fangs in its favorite stuffed toy. "I'll stay in Kanto for around two weeks and-"

The man's eyes hardened. "No." Abel placed his hands flat on the counter and leaned closer. "Sweet heart, you will not go to Kanto and put your life in danger again," he whispered against her cheek. "Please, just give up this assassination job of yours and do something more..." He drew back and frowned, trying to explain himself. "Do something more...Friendly. I absolutely hate it when you come home with bruises and broken bones and I loathe that dead look in your eyes each time you scrub your hands raw in the basin!"

From the leather sofa, Absol growled, studying the humans. The man resumed his quick pacing and nervously picked at his apron, pale skin flushed angrily. "Abel, this is my work, okay?" Layla quietly asserted. "Someone... has to do these things, no matter how abhorred. Besides, I am proud of what I do." Abel stopped pacing and looked at her, lips pressed into a thin line. "And I shall continue to offer my services to Johto's government till I retire."

Layla never retired.

She received missions all over the world. Her work took her as far as Kalos and alone, she sat on a bench and admired the Prism tower, resplendent in the evening sun. Scarred hands fumbled over each other, desperately wishing for Abel to calmly take her hands in his; laugh softly and smile in a way that made her melt.

The situation at home degraded. Abel hardly spoke and occupied himself with watching television and keeping the house spotlessly clean. Layla, her life dictated by her superior, a cynical old man whose frail form possessed hidden strength; routinely woke up and cleaned all her weapons with her fiancé's disapproving glare trained on the sniper scope she revered. After breakfast, she curled on the velvet carpet and memorized her targets' locations, mannerisms and habits; this was followed by lunch and a strict exercise regimen to keep fit. At night, Abel and Absol's snores winded together, sneaking under the study's closed door. A fire crackled in the hearth and she shunned these simple pleasures to retreat in a stark room full of weapons, white walls and steel. Here, she practiced killing with minimal blood spillage and messes. Her department repeatedly told her that they will not tolerate any mishaps during a mission. Layla's arms ached but she ignored the pain and pummeled her sand bag with bare fists till they bled.

What am I doing?

Soft snores emanated from the sleeping man next to her. Wide awake, Layla stared at the ceiling, ears strained for suspicious sounds in the house. She bolted up when the silk curtains, draping the windows, billowed. Her eyes narrowed predatorily when wood creaked and whipping around, she observed the sleepy form of Abel. He lazily lit the bedside lamp. Scratching his stubble, he pushed the duvet, slowly sat up in bed and groggily eyed Layla who scrutinized him wordlessly. "Can't sleep honey?" he asked and she nodded miserably, shoulders sagging. Sighing, he wound his arms around her. Layla stiffened for a moment before thawing into his affectionate embrace and breathing deeply. Abel smelled of spices and warm bread and she held tighter, grateful for his presence. "Layla," his gentle voice lulled her to sleep, "why...Don't you retire?" Her eyes snapped open and she drowned in the intensity of his crimson gaze. "You look different." He hugged her fiercely, fingers tracing the scars on her back. "I hardly recognize you anymore." her fiancé whispered and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

A manila envelope lay teasingly on top of her superior's mahogany desk. The boss droned monotonously and briefed her on the protocols of a new mission. Team Rocket finally made their move in Johto and the authorities suspect a network of supporters in the upper echelons of society. Bowing, she grabbed the envelope and tore it open, resolving to go home and get to work. A pokeball on her belt wriggled and irritated, she glanced at the capsule before her attention snapped back to the documents in her hands.

Absol forcibly tumbled from an ultra-ball and fixated its stormy eyes at Layla's petrified form.

The world around her faded into nothingness.

On the first page, a mug-shot of Abel stared back at her. Dark, cold and absolutely ruthless. That skew smirk on his face did not belong there.

"Those are top secret orders, Layla." She inhaled sharply, her senior's bland tone squeezed color back to her gray surroundings and she instinctively spun around. "I hope you do not forget your duty, we are counting on you to eliminate those targets." He held her gaze, making sure she understood her responsibility.

Layla saluted. "Yes sir!" And pressed her lips to prevent them from trembling.

The Silph Company headquarters, a skyscraper dwarfing all other buildings around it, rose in the middle of Saffron City. A joint team consisting of Ace Trainers from both Kanto and Johto, crammed in a helicopter and Layla impatiently pulled her shorts and thrust guns in holsters. She hefted a sniper rifle, pride flared in her as she fiddled with the scope and the scintilla of emotion melted into despair. Golden roofs and traditional houses glinted in the morning sun and the quiet hubbub in the vehicle drove her to an edge. After finding about Abel's involvement with Team Rocket, Layla did not have the courage to confront him. Every time she returned home and opened the door to her smiling fiancé, her legs quivered and she buried her suspicions behind a mask. Days flashed by and she grew miserable, stewing in poisonous thoughts and wallowing in anxieties. Abel often talked about Saffron City, a hub metropolis surrounded by woodland and teeming with yellow brick houses. The magnet train, which offered easy transportation to Goldenrod in Johto, was a favorite topic of his and he often dreamt about a holiday to the Sevii Islands. Unstrapping herself from the seat, Layla rose and peered through bullet proof windows. The Silph Company head office sported a flat rooftop and as the helicopter circled the gargantuan domicile, she gritted her teeth.

Abel never told her what he did in his spare time.

Her trained gaze zeroed on two individuals conversing on the concrete roof, one wore dark glasses, a tailored suit and stood ramrod straight with hypno tethered to a leash. Opposite the imposing man, another person, hands thrust in pockets of faded jeans, slouched and shook his head. Layla sighed; the thick shock of auburn hair gave Abel away. Exhaling softly, she demanded to be released and the Kanto natives stared at her incredulously. Her boss reluctantly nodded and without wasting a heartbeat, she jumped out of the flying vehicle amidst gasps of horror. The concrete ground rushed up, folding her body, she rolled on the ground to avoid crushing her legs, pulled out her gun and smoothly fired a shot at the Rocket executive. A dark red stain spread over his charcoal suit and he dropped dead; mouth open in a wordless gasp of surprise. The helicopter lowered and she pointed her gun at Abel's head. Ever the calm person, he studied the dead man and unhesitatingly held up his hands. Layla shuddered in rage, his face remained unapologetic and the sad, downward tilt of his lips infuriated her further.

"Sweet heart..." Abel softly called and she glared at him furiously. "This isn't what it looks like."

Behind her, the boss and a higher ranking member of the Kanto intelligence stepped out of the vehicle. A team of armed soldiers tore past Abel and stormed downstairs. Minutes later, gun shots and explosions ricocheted from deep within the building. Layla's arms ached from holding the gun still. Her entire body became rigid and beads of sweat collected on her face. Abel simply stared at her with his wine tinted irises. Pale face whiter than a ghost's.

"You lied to me." For a moment, Layla forgot about her superior and her work. "You...Told me you don't work..." Her gun wavered, the rifle on her back, weighed her down. "Do you know...How betrayed I felt when I found out you were one of Team Rocket's Four Executives?"

His eyes widened in astonishment and he shook his head. "They are lying to you!" Abel desperately pleaded and stepped forward. Layla fired a warning shot and the asphalt near his feet exploded into dust. "I was a former executive, the International Police caught me and I agreed to work for them in exchange for my freedom. I work as a spy." His accusatory eyes shifted slightly to the left and landed, no doubt, on her boss. "I work with the International Police. The Johto government is lying to you Layla," he repeated. "Don't listen to them."

She paused, suddenly unsure.

"Ace Trainer," her senior droned. "I believe there is a target standing right in front of you." A heavy pause. "We are running out of time." He tapped his foot impatiently.

There was still no sign of regret in Abel's face. He seemed so sure of himself.

So calm.

So infuriatingly calm.

The stillness on his rather pleasant face shattered when Layla squeezed the trigger. In a split second, she saw it, disbelief. Abel's mouth opened. Tears pooled at the edge of his eyes as his head flew back. A bullet smashed against his forehead, piercing bone and rocketing through his skull. He crumpled uselessly on the tarmac, chest stilling. Exhaling deeply, the assassin lowered her gun.

Goal accomplished. She spun around and saluted the higher ups, hot tears prickled her eyes and she blinked them away.

Her Absol climbed out of the vehicle and her heart drummed in an inexplicable fear. Absol, the disaster pokemon, regarded its owner with a placid gaze.

What?

The world tilted sideways. Flecks of red dotted her vision of skewed buildings, glass windows and a grey roof. A starburst of blood erupted from her temple and a searing bolt of pain skewered her head. Layla gasped for air but air escaped her. She collapsed to the floor, unblinking and unmoving, her honeyed stare fixated accusingly on the smirking form of her superior and his smoking gun. He walked away. Grunting, she moved herself, it was like moving a ton of bricks. In the periphery of her vision, lay Abel, his arm outstretched. She tried to reach him, struggling valiantly till her surroundings folded into black.


Dawn

Gehenna

Park

A tiny plant squirmed and Red cleaned its leaves, whispering words of comfort. Despite his best efforts; the herb quivered violently and gave up on him. On either side of the sapling, Bulbasaur eyed his other works, sturdy shrubs bearing fruit and fragrant leaves, he beamed at them and they stood taller. A breeze blew through the emporium, carrying with it the fresh scent of morning dew; Red inhaled deeply and plastered a smile on his pockmarked maw. His smile slipped and mirroring the rapidly wilting plant, the leaves on his back curled. Shutting his eyes, he resolved to shake free from the vestiges of a nightmare he witnessed, this morning, he rushed to Green's room and heaved a sigh of relief on seeing him snoring comfortably in a burning heath.

Bulbasaur would never forget the look of utter shock on Charmander's face when the latter was frozen solid.

A rustle alerted him to the presence of Serperior, dropping his facade, Red spun around and helplessly shrugged at the regal pokemon. As usual, Cyng regarded the seed monster with emotionless eyes before shifting his gaze to the struggling plant. "Care to share your problems with me?" The grass snake murmured and Bulbasaur stepped to the side, allowing the serpent to tend to the ailing weed. "I have heard you and your friends tackled the Dungeon of Pride." A faraway look writhed in the beast's contemplative gaze before he refocused on the plant and wrapped a tender vine around it. Cyng methodically coaxed the sapling to grow and added, "You have matured." He pointed to the pinkish bulb and elongated fangs.

Voices swelled and dimmed, deep inside the greenhouse, plant types toiled; some pruned shrubs, others watered them whilst a team shipped the bigger trees around Treasure Town. Bulb itching, Red pawed a hollow in the earthen ground and planted himself. The first time he did this, Serperior walked in on him and internally panicking, Bulbasaur profusely apologized only to see an amused half smile on the serpent's lips. "After we completed Adulari's trial, my best friend, the charmander..." Cyng nodded and motioned for Red to continue. "He was frozen during our fight with Adulari and he is not recovering properly. I've tried getting medicine for him; he refuses to eat it since it's bitter so I slip it in his milk and berry juice… Green isn't getting any better, he sleeps in a fireplace but in the morning, his body is cold. He tells me he's doing fine however, I'm not blind and Layla isn't fooled either." Red huffed and poked holes in the ground. "Green stumbles when he walks." Cyng opened his mouth but the seed pokemon cut him off. "I know proper healing takes time but it's been weeks! I'm so stressed I can't do my work." He hysterically pointed to a row of half dead saplings. "I tried meditating but I keep on thinking about how we will fail our next trial and it... it scares me." Gritting his teeth, Red grumpily climbed out of the hollow and shook himself clean.

"Pride...Is a difficult beast to handle." Cyng nodded sagely, his collar rings jingled. "And it is a tougher beast to tame...I should know." He murmured and gazed blankly. "As far as I am concerned, you are doing rather excellent on the trials." Bulbasaur perked at the sudden praise and his bud gurgled. "I understand you are conflicted and yet, you faithfully do your duty. I sometimes wonder...Why our nonsensical actions led us here, though, there is no use complaining." The emerald locket on Serperior's neck gleamed dully and he reared to his full height whilst Red shrunk instinctively. "Hello Tamen, what brings you here at the greenhouse?" Cyng greeted and whipping around, Bulbasaur caught a glimpse of Umbreon, stalking inside with his perpetually mistrusting expression glued to his face. Elegantly sitting on the floor, he ignored the snake and proceeded to wash his face. "Red, I cannot help you because your friend is a fire type, therefore, I suggest you speak to Wigglytuff-" Umbreon hissed at the name, "the guild master will assist you better." Cyng concluded and the moonlight pokemon turned its glowing eyes on Bulbasaur as he scampered away. Umbreon sensed the regal pokemon's glare, if he did not respond soon enough, the serpent will paralyze him.

"I came back from patrolling the Beach of Evocation," Tamen droned and Cyng's glare softened. "What about you? Have you decided on what dungeon to conquer next?" Laying his head on his paws, Umbreon observed the regal beast tend to plants, for some reason, the sight calmed him. "I do not want you to become a fallen one." Cyng did not reply, instead, he quietly worked.

By mid-morning, Bulbasaur barreled through the guild gates, greeted his acquaintances milling in the guild vestibule and tried to snatch a glimpse of Melody through the meeting room's agape doors. The sight of evolved pokemon disappointed him severely. Zigzagging over cracked tiles, he grinned at Manectric's puffed fur and skewed glasses. The receptionist swallowed a yawn and Red felt sorry for him. He enquired about Wiggly and Manectric directed him to the Team Emblem living quarters on the fourth floor. Resolve renewed, Red tore upstairs, pinning his hopes on the pink blob, he skidded to a halt before a set of wide, sliding doors. Prying them open, he slid inside the opulent space and gasped in wonder. A lush carpet of arcanine fur spread over the floor, walls bedecked with jewels and paintings partitioned the room into three spacious chambers. Each room was decorated with a motif and an eye watering shade of pink smeared over Wiggly's front door, the color contrasted horribly with the pleasant shade of mauve painted on Gothitelle's door and the metallic trim of Steelix's gate. The flak of wood opened and an irritated balloon pokemon tumbled out. The look of irritation melted when Wiggly spied Red.

Pointing to dragon hide couch tucked in the central area, Wigglytuff refused to listen to Red's pleas until he drowned his coffee. Rubbing a pudgy hand on his equally pudgy temple, he nodded and quietly absorbed everything Bulbasaur poured. "I understand Green could not control himself in Pride and ended up as a popsicle?" A smirk ghosted over Wiggly's lips and Red lashed a vine, hissing in pain when the guild master caught the tendril and ripped it off. "Your body control is good, I'm proud of you." Another tight look flitted across his face before dissolving like the cubes of sugar in his coffee. "Green's condition sounds really serious." Bulbasaur paled. "I'm not joking." Wiggly breathed and leaned back, uncharacteristic fatigue rimming his normally bubbly eyes. "Normally, fire types should recover if they are surrounded by their element, he eats well but he is losing weight is it?" Red nodded vigorously whilst Wigglytuff muttered to himself. "Perhaps he is suffering from nutrition deficiency?"

"Green eats his nutrients like a freaking tepig!" Red snarled, he wanted to shake the guild master so he could cough a sensible solution. "I make sure of that, so how in Giratina's name is he suffering from malnutrition?"

Wiggly rubbed his temples. "Stop screaming, I had a nightmare last night, thanks to you." A look of unspeakable hatred skimmed across his face. "...Pardon me, I am not feeling very well either." Wiggly stated and his back sizzled, the curse imparted by the Lord of the Underworld, plagued his sleep. "Green is a dragon and thus a carnivore, he eats meat." Bulbasaur blinked, the healthy flush of his skin paled a few shades. "Therefore stuffing him with pills and vitamin gummis will not sustain him. Vespiquen's eatery will not sell you any meat-based dishes because...Umbreon, stupid prick...And besides, those dishes are frightfully expensive and reserved for evolved pokemon." Red wilted to the floor, bulb leaking. "However...I'm really not supposed to be telling you this," Wigglytuff mumbled and grabbed his head, "the black market sells meat and they are willing to part with it if you can hash the cash." Another distorted smile wound Wiggly's lips. "I doubt you have the funds though."

Red's eye twitched. "Thanks for your assistance," he growled, "but I can't help wanting to run you through with bisharp's arm blades." Bulbasaur spat when Wiggly simpered. "That scar on your face looks good on you by the way, mind telling me where you got it? It might make a good bed time story."

Manectric, who persuaded a guild member to bring him a berry smoothie from the chaotic eating hall, eagerly lapped his merge breakfast whilst skimming a ream of forms, he wondered about the happenings in the real world and concentrated, but the memories escaped him, like fuzzy fragments of a misaligned jigsaw puzzle. Rubbing his eyes, he resumed weeding obsolete forms. Manectric stamped papers, checked his schedule and huffed, he needed to complete a dungeon soon or else his actions will be the end of him. Stuffing morbid contemplations to the back of his mind, he hefted a stack of documents on his polished desk and frowned, while Wigglytuff encouraged pokemon to form exploration or rescue teams, the resulting applications created a boatload of work for the electric type and he often stayed up nights, approving or rejecting applications. Frowning, he failed to see a shadow land on his table and the more he scowled at the papers, the quicker Layla's patience ran thin.

A rattle of bone against bone prompted Manectric to blink owlishly at the impassive absol. He smoothly greeted her as she rasped a tongue over her bone necklace. Absol's face showed deceptive calm and she asked, "Did that gurgling bulb pass this way? I've been looking for him since the morning." Layla woke up early to sounds emanating from the kitchen, unable to sleep, she doggedly crawled downstairs and observed Red muttering and packing, he slung a satchel around his bulb and disappeared through the gate. Resolving to catch a few snoozes before heading to the library to study on the Dungeon of Envy, Layla stalked upstairs and froze when Green yowled. Fur fluffed, she barged into his room to see the dragon kid tottering out of his fiery bed and crumpling to the floor. Oak whimpered to himself, clawing the air and calling names. Daisy, Grandpa, Red, Blue... Yellow. He mumbled and scored overgrown nails on the floor. Charmander repeated the names frenziedly, eventually hiccupping and demanding only for Grandpa. Gingerly, Layla picked him by the scruff and he slashed her cheek, she deposited him in a welcome rush of haematic flames and Green immediately clutched a burning branch to his chest and quieted. He refused offers for food and balled up to sleep.

Wolfing a quick breakfast, she ambled to the park; however, instead of finding Bulbasaur, she stumbled upon the sleeping form of her superior. Curled up akin to a cat in front of the emporium, Umbreon softly snored in a patch of shadows. Tamen's face, when not twisted into an authoritative sneer was rather good looking; Layla decided and quickly drew back when the moonlight pokemon flicked its ears. Resisting the urge to prod her commander, she curtly queried for Red's whereabouts and Serperior pointed her to the guild.

"So, has Red come here?" Layla demanded, vexation seeping into her words, "I wasted a whole morning searching for the bundle of tree sap, he better be doing something productive or I'll flay him from limb to limb," she growled and speared her amber gaze at Manectric who inwardly sighed.

The electric type filed papers whilst Layla vented, when she paused to catch her breath, he interjected. "He walked in here and asked for the guild master, I believe they are on the fourth floor." She thanked him and bounded up the stairs. Manectric blinked, Layla thanking him?

Must be a figment of his imagination.

The doors leading to the private quarters were open, warily; Layla entered and watched Red moodily drinking a mug of milk. His eyes lit up and tiny part of her dreaded the words half tumbling out of his mouth. "Sparks!" he cheerfully greeted and she frowned at the disorientating warmth in his voice. "I found a solution to Green's predicament," Red animatedly declared and tumbled off the dragon hide couch. "Wiggly over there says Green is malnourished." Expression doing a complete revolution, Bulbasaur tossed his head at the simmering balloon pokemon and snarked, "Apparently the Black Market sells meat...Green is gonna miraculously recover if he eats a grilled steak-"

"It is possible." Layla cut in. "He is a carnivore and they are not sustained by mere frui-"

"But we don't have any money!" the seed pokemon wailed. "Okay...fine, let's say Green will get better after eating something more suited to his tastes...However...I don't have that much money. Why is meat so expensive anyway?" Red stopped pacing and stared at her quizzically. "Some pokemon need it so why?" The distressed expression on his face piqued Layla and she curled her lips. Bulbasaur backtracked and loured at Wiggly.

Absol stared at the dejected seed pokemon. The stress on his system must have delayed his evolution; she mused and locked her honeyed eyes with Wigglytuff's bleak ones. "Sir, may I suggest we form a team?" Layla jerked her muzzle at Red who tilted his head in confusion. "I'll register with the three of us, I know a team must consist of pokemon in the second or third stage of evolution but Red is almost an ivysaur and I do not evolve. And for our first mission, Green is too ill to accompany us. If you please, allow us to take a request to earn more money." Wigglytuff smiled approvingly and waved his hand. "Thank you." She bowed and Red hastily followed suit. "I'll inform Manectric of your decision." Layla recoiled when Bulbasaur wrapped his stubby forepaws around her hind leg. "I appreciate your gratitude; now get off me before I tear your bulb into quarters."

Mid-afternoon

Treasure Town

Village Square

The information board in the village commons offered many jobs. They ranged from mundane duties such as sweeping streets, picking litter or part-time help in a mart. Other jobs were ranked on their difficulty and Bulbasaur, neck wrapped in a fancy scarf, checked the rewards. A measly rescue mission offered mind boggling sums of money and he snatched requests from the board whilst Layla mulled over her stack of papers. An extraordinary amount of missions came from the Dungeon of Wrath and Sloth. Pride had a fair share, after defeating Adulari, the poor trial goers were stuck with no means of escape. Sighing, Red re-pinned the jobs and paused when one petition snagged his attention. An image of a battered luvdisc prefaced a plea of help. The water type was stuck in Lust; Red shivered, and needed urgent rescue. Ten days, Bulbasaur mused as he looked at the flier, Luvdisc has been confined in Lust for over a week, could they help him?

No, they had to help him.

Red waved the flier in front of Absol who scowled disapprovingly. "Rescue missions are too risky; and don't forget you are absolutely useless in Lust's dungeon." Pouting, Bulbasaur passionately declared he will do his best, unconvinced, Layla searched for a suitable job, one that will hopefully keep him busy. She found none. A scarlet piece of cloth wound around her forepaw and she lamented on being swayed by Red and his shenanigans. Manectric, disproval stamped in lamp-like eyes, reluctantly registered their team. When asked for a suitable group name, the stupid Bulbasaur announced that they were the Green rescue team. The receptionist chuckled, sniggers morphing in a gleeful howl. Peeved, Red promptly announced a new name: Team Phoenix and released a cloud of poison spores. The guild promptly quieted and stared.

"Phoenixes," Red quietly stated, "never die, they are reborn over and over again." When they walked outside, complete with a starter package, identifying pieces of cloth and a rule book bestowed to each new Team, he softly added, "We are all like phoenixes; we never die, not truly. If we pass out from this world, we will reincarnate to the next..." He paused and looked up at the sky. "Isn't it true? Sparks?"

We never truly die.

Five minutes later, Bulbasaur, shaking free from his contemplatively depressing mood, dragged Layla to a clear stream and they examined their reflections. Excitedly, Red wound a scarlet scarf around his neck and smiled proudly, a breeze buffeting the ends of the cloth. Flushing in embarrassment, Layla tied her cloth around her forearm, her prudent expression mirrored from the water's surface and she turned to witness Red eagerly tearing the starter pack and spilling the contents on the grassy bank. High quality teleporting gems tumbled out of a clear container, vials of golden elixir, wonder orbs and hidden machines glittered under the sun. The grass type seemed unhappy and restlessly pawed the premium goods. Earlier elation melting, he scowled dissatisfiedly and muttered about badges. Searching some more, he plopped dejectedly to the ground and when Layla hesitatingly asked what bothered him, Bulbasaur launched into a lecture about the spirit of friendship and ended his outburst by demanding custom made Team Phoenix badges. Huffing angrily, a contrast to his gurgling, pinkish bulb, Red haphazardly tossed the items back into the bag and carelessly threw the rule book with the entire lot.

"...We will get identification badges," Absol stated and tapped into her hidden reserve of patience; she prayed for Green to get better, if she hung around the frivolous Bulbasaur, murder might pop up on her bucket list. "It takes time to make them, the badges are pure silver and they ward off evil and since silver is a precious metal, it has to be recycled." The grassy banks of the stream rippled, a tidal wave of green and brown. Red, appeased by her explanation, flashed a sunny smile and she snarled when he struck a pose and demanded she do the same. "You, have a death wish don't you?" she barked.

"For Team Phoenix!" Red bubbled and speared his crimson gaze at her. The look in his eyes and the smile on his face did not complement each other.

"...For Team Phoenix..." Layla mumbled and raised a paw to bump fists with Red. Face heating, she heard well wishes ricocheting from the opposite bank. A team of wide eyed neophytes stared glassily at them and she wilted in mortification, cursing at the grinning Bulbasaur. Absol desperately fought with her twitching lips as it inched into a content smile. If she completed the trials and moved on, perhaps...She will miss the presence of a level headed charmander and a bulbasaur who painted rainbows from the dreary colors of black, white and grey. The duo crash landed in her life and a part of her was grateful for their existence. Her heartfelt smile crawled downwards and the corners of her black lips descended till she frowned.

In front of her, Red warbled for help as he stumbled over a tree root and waved stubby legs in the air.


Unknown time

Gehenna

Dungeon of Lust

Ten days.

Ten days, Luvdisc pondered and scored another tally on a sheet of stone. He quivered in a hidden alcove he stumbled upon when escaping a horde of rabid female pokemon. A lopunny viciously trailed him and squeaking in fear, luvdisc put on an extra burst of speed and hovered away. The fighting type somersaulted and he shrieked, meeting a jump kick with a hydro pump; the flouncing bunny smacked into the side of a crystal wall. The partition caved in to reveal an area unlike the rest of the dungeon. Rough grey stone and paper charms, glued to the rocky walls, made up the cave. A rusty red and shimmering yellow, like spilled gold and blood, weaved a sigil on the cave floor. Wailing in fear, lopunny backed away and Luvdisc gratefully entered the grotto while his pursuers snarled from the lip. Alone and afraid, the water type shivered and carefully rationed his merge supplies. Sleep, held at bay by the constant threat of Lust's specters, who, Luvdisc suspected, might one day overcome the protective spells attributed to the hollow and drag him back to the plain of colored crystal. He vividly remembered his team mates' gruesome deaths. Swalot was the first to fall prey. Horrified, luvdisc and furret watched the bag of poison rupture, creating a foul puddle of acid on the glassy floor. Grief welled in Luvdisc and dazedly; he watched the bevy of ghosts slurp the remnants of his friend. They licked every last drop of acid and, Furret screamed, fainting on sight.

And luvdisc abandoned her in the quest to save his own life.

He trembled and bemoaned the lack of appendages. He tried to save her, but the enemy was fast, furious and lethal. They pulled her fur and skin off. And he looked away as the apparitions sunk their teeth in furret's tender flesh.

In the cave, his body shriveled due to lack of water and the lustrous heart-scales flaked, carpeting the grotto. Several days ago, he sent a plea for help and frenziedly prayed for someone. A moldy gummy lay on the floor and his stomach growled. Fighting nausea, Luvdisc listlessly pecked the half rotted food before holding his breath and swallowing it whole. Stomach rumbling, he crawled to the corner and slipped into a restless sleep.

A piece of crinkly parchment lay on the ground and inked the dungeon's floor plan. Psychic magic, Absol intoned and watched breathlessly as each and every detail in Lust's dungeon came alive on the paper. A pulsing dot, their target, remained stationary in a corner hanging off the edge of the map. The duo traced a suitable path and set off with confident strides. To Red's credit, he steered clear of the crystal beams and did not pause to the ethereal sight of light dancing on the floor. The haunted, childish singing inside the dungeon sounded less terrifying and grim faced, he pushed forward, only the trickle of his partially open bulb belied his anxiety. A monolith of mauve glass imprisoned an array of gardevoir and gothita, each wide eyeball swiveling to face them. As the duo skirted the pillar, they heard the unmistakable sound of cracking glass. The humungous beam splintered, a tangle of limbs emerged along with puffs of powder pink smoke. Ghosts thrashed against their opulent confines and broke free, gripping silvers of crystal and hurling them at the rapidly escaping duo. Red skidded to a halt when a whirlpool of shadows gathered in front of him, he snappily moved away by maneuvering his vines. Layla shadow sneaked across the ground, teleporting out of the way when a furious mienshao smashed the floor, littering the crystalline ground with spider web fissures.

Mind fuzzing, Bulbasaur gritted his teeth, refusing to fall under the spell of attraction; for Green and the poor soul who needed rescuing, he reminded himself and articulated a war cry, a gothita stuck its arm into his gullet and Red chomped, severing the appendage. A flurry of magical leaves reduced gothita into smoke. Absol, bone necklace rattling, buried her jaws in larger enemies and licked her lips free of smoke. They checked their map again and the plant type whooped gleefully, they were much closer to the target than they initially thought. Popping a handful of roses and showering the petals all over the ground, Bulbasaur rolled the map and pushed forward, a particle littered gale howled in front of him and instead of slowing down or screeching, he scattered the winds with a solar beam. Impressed by his growth, Layla padded after him and stopped in front of a perfect rose lying on the floor. Irritated for no reason, he picked the rose between her teeth and inhaled. The sweet scent brought a rush of warm emotions and alarmed, she spat the flower, slightly perturbed.

"Layla!" Red hollered from deep within the cavern. "Are you stuck? Do you need help?" His voice echoed everywhere, drowning the snickering baby and her ruffled fur lay flat. Red's tone was soothing if he wasn't screaming like a deranged monster.

"I'm fine," she replied, "stay where you are, I'm coming...I was just caught up in...Nothing, never mind. I'll be there in a second."

They found the wrinkled luvdisc gasping for water in a protected cave.

The creature lay on a stone pedestal, surrounded by litter and chafed scales. Seeing the bulbasaur, Luvdisc shrieked and feebly flopped deeper into the cave, it fell off the pedestal with a sickening splat and spat a pathetic water gun to shield itself. Red, oblivious to the water type's fear, offered a vine and luvdisc whimpered, teeth chattering violently and preventing coherent speech. Carefully, Red placed an apple on the floor. Luvdisc stared at it, crawled forward and eagerly buried its snout in fresh food. "Th-thank you so much..." The heart shaped creature sobbed and quenched his parched throat. "I thought...I thought I was going to die here. When I stumbled into this cave, I immediately sent mail via a charm fixed to this place...But as the days slipped by, my hopes dwindled. Several times, I thought of going back and letting the specters finish me off. I am so scared." Luvdisc trembled uncontrollably and Red placed another gummi in front of him. "No thank you, I'm quite full, I want to get out of here as soon as possible." For the first time in ten days, the pokemon smiled and the edges of his lips cracked and bled pink.

Luvdisc hitched a ride atop Red's back as they retraced their steps back to the entrance. The water type napped, refreshing sleep punctuated by frequent arguments. A tiny grin tugged at his lips at the banter, the duo often referred to a sick dragon kid named Green, whom they left at home. Miserable and lonely, Luvdisc wondered how to spend the remainder of his days without any companions and shook himself, he will just have make new friends at the guild. Layla and Red, argued again, one stabbed the map and pointed forward, whilst the other wanted to collect dungeon loot so 'Green' could have more food. The exit loomed, a pale circle in a vast sky of black. Rays of light filtered through the open mouth of the baby and they bounced from one platform to the other and reached the top. A fresh breeze wafted from the south, carrying hope and new dreams. Above them, a waning moon created pools of ivory light in a tangle of shadows. Red jumped from the scarred surface of the wooden baby doll and helped Layla down. Or tried to. The female Absol smiled when he offered a vine and caught herself, primly pushing his help away, she smoothly bounded to the ground and cast protect. From there, the trio rolled in a fiery bauble all the way to the edge of Treasure Town.

The sleeping hamlet snored peacefully.

Climbing off Bulbasaur's back, Luvdisc floated across stone streets and wooden bridges. He ambled into the residential area where a magnificent block of flats swallowed them. The domicile, light peach in the moonlight, was designed with large dewott and cloyster shells. Quickly ushering them into a scale tiled foyer, Luvdisc and his saviors rode the glass elevator and stopped at the fifth floor. The water type quickly zipped into his apartment to fetch the monetary reward. Meanwhile, Layla raised her eyebrow at a cowrie shell chandelier dangling from the roof. The sliding door to Luvdisc's apartment whirred open and he staggered underneath the weight of a small chest. Hefting it at their feet, the pink pokemon burst into tears and thanked them profusely. He handed a thick wad of crisp notes to Absol and pried open the chest, revealing a mountain of polished jewels. Voice quivering, he implored his rescuers to take their pick.

"We are fine with the money, thanks." Red declined the offer of jewels and shut the trunk. "It isn't fair to milk you just because we rescued you...But don't give up on the trials simply because you lost your companions alright?" Bulbasaur remembered black fire. "We didn't save you so you could spontaneously combust on us. Promise you will complete the trials of Gehenna for your friends." Luvdisc nodded eagerly and Red grinned. "Excellent." He stifled a yawn. "I'm really tired after that dungeon crawling expedition so I'm gonna head home for some rest." The disaster pokemon and grass type bid goodbye to their rescuee and walked off.

Back at the peeling paint condominium, a far cry from Luvdisc's luxurious flat, Green weakly left his dying bed of fire and added more logs. He puffed a minuscule fireball and the orange flame died before igniting anything. Tired and dizzy beyond comprehension, he mindlessly hacked on his stone slate. The house remained deathly quiet and it choked him. Where was everyone? He wondered and viciously raked his claws. The screeching of claw on rock shattered the graveyard silence and he felt less alone. Standing on wobbly legs, he placed the slab back on the table and tottered downstairs to the kitchen. It leapt up to him, cold, unfriendly and empty. Sighing, he blew the lamps, visited the bathroom and trudged back upstairs. Knocking on Red's door yielded no responses and muttering an apology, Oak peeked into the room where no bulbasaur grinned at him. Panic welling in his chest, he wheezed to the third floor and banged his fists on Layla's door. No muffled yelling reached his ears and he threw the door open.

Nothing.

Just more silence.

Breathing heavily, Green returned to bed, shivering and ignoring the hungry growling from his stomach. Wrapping forearms around a burning branch, he tucked his head in and gnawed on a twig. Charmander slipped into unconsciousness, a restless sleep punctuated by water, dead bodies and occasional flashes of beastly, red eyes.

One floor below, the door quietly opened. Green jerked in his sleep and mumbled an apology.


A/N: And there you have it, Layla's back story. Much thanks to all those who read and reviewed, feedback and constructive criticism are always appreciated. At Jack54311: I think goofy, childish turning into a war machine describes Red perfectly. I just have this image of him. Eh? I'm really happy you like Layla, whilst writing her, I tried to make her unpleasant as possible but a memorable character in her own right. I didn't want her to be defined by Red and Green. I hope you enjoy her backstory, did her past come as a surprise or did you suspect it all along?