okemon belongs to who ever owns it.
The Poke Wars alternate universe was created by Cornova who was nice enough to let me muck about in it with Dawson. Ho-oh's planned genocide is rather interesting when you think about it. He wants to kill humans because he saw no redeeming value in them. Yet all this war has done is wipe out any sympathetic person that might have redeemed the race as a whole. Furthermore all that's left are ones that want his head on a pike and will do anything to get it.
August 19th
The road to Blackthorn from Agricola wasn't an easy trek for anyone using the route. Agricola often sent it's food to the larger more easily accessed towns and cities, which in turn, allowed the townspeople to earn better profits and get more necessary supplies. This decision clearly showed as Dawson's group made their way down the route. The dirt road was poorly maintained as potholes were abundant and much of it was covered in mud from the recent rain.
Thankfully the trip was mostly through once used farmland. Large fields surrounded by rock walls composed the initial landscape eventually leading into trees and woods off in the distance. The fields themselves were overgrown and thick save for the immediate area around the road which was only partially maintained. The farmland here showing signs of use once a great while ago but now apparently left to the elements for some unknown reason.
Dawson led the group though the area as they made their way towards the city constantly on the look out for wild Pokemon. The wagon he took from the town, pulled by two of the three Poneyta, followed immediately after him. It was flanked by both Torterra and Luxray on either side. Both Pokemon walked off the road and between the everyone and the long grass at all times. Togekiss was delegated to look out, flying high over the group, and keeping an eye out for threats from above.
The Mareep followed behind the cart in an orderly line. The children were used to herding the Pokemon up the mountains to the alpine pastures and were able to keep them together without much difficulty. It also helped that the Mareep were used to the children and were mellow by nature. The children also being well behaved throughout the trip much to Dawson's relief.
Gardevoir floated at the head of the party as they traveled towards Blackthorn being placed at the front of the group. Her position was key as she was keeping a constant watch over the group using future sight. Several times already she signaled the other Pokemon and Dawson of an impending attack. Even with several seconds worth of warning it was enough to easily rout any potential combat.
Gardevoir paused in her constant surveying of the future to look back at the group as they traveled. Her trainer was the one closest walking alongside the two Poneyta as they pulled the cart his mind occupied with deeper thoughts then she could detect with just a subtle glance. She debated actually reading her trainers mind for a moment before deciding not to, choosing to respecting his privacy.
The children drew her attention next, their thoughts were everywhere as her psychic powers allowed her to view each one's surface thoughts. She worried about her mind's contact with them, something she never thought was possible beyond understanding their simple feelings, but couldn't help herself. Human thoughts were in such a constant state of change and had so many nuances that she lost herself several times simply watching them think about even the simplest of things.
Both Lisa and May's minds drew her attention the most. May's having formed such a strong image of her in it after she healed the young girls leg. To Gardevoir it was like looking into a warped mirror, she saw her self in the image but it was stretched or compacted. Lisa's thoughts drew her in due to their similarities to her own. Her mind was diverse like any other humans but every now and then she'd find a thought that almost mirrored her own. Each time she looked closer it turned out to be similar but different in some fundamental way.
Shaking her head Gardevoir pulled back, feeling herself get lost in the thoughts again, and continued to scan the mental status of the party. The last mind she viewed was that of the Poochyena that currently lay on the wagon. Joy had the luck of sitting next to the Pokemon and not tiring out by walking everywhere. She had to make sure to constantly watch the Pokemon in case of the poison doing more damage. The Poochyena only had a semblance of consciousness every time it started to grasp what happened it retreated back terrified of the strange place, smells, and people around it.
Gardevoir was about to resume scanning the future for threats when her thoughts drifted to just before they left the camp back at Agricola. Letting her mind expand she let it connect to the other Pokemon guarding the party. One by one her mind touched and signaled the other Pokemon. Togekiss was the first to respond to Gardevoir's mental connection.
"What is it Gardevoir, is something attacking?" She mentally queried.
"No," Thought Gardevoir, "I just wanted to get all of your opinions on what Dawson... demanded... of us earlier."
"Oh come on, that's not going to happen!" Torterra responded his thoughts louder then the others due to their simple nature.
"No Torterra..." Luxray replied, "It is likely to happen, if it wasn't then Dawson would never have given such an order. What ever happened to this world has made life for the humans that much more dangerous. He knows that."
"I'd like to think that it won't come to that." Togekiss stated, "Do you guys realize how much more powerful we are? I feel like everything I do is not only easier but more powerful. At times I feel like I'm almost bursting with power. We have the strength to protect everyone here against anything I think!"
Gardevoir looked up at her companion, "Anything? While I do concede that we are likely stronger then most wild Pokemon we'd find here. I doubt very much all of our powers combined would suffice against something of a legendary's power."
"Oh yeah we're totally going to to run into one of them." Togekiss quipped sarcasticly, "Its unlikely we'll even see a legendary much less one we have to fight."
Gardevoir sighed at the response, "Ever the optimist..."
Meanwhile within the grass several pairs of eyes watched the group move along the road. The Rattata had been keeping an eye on them from the safety of the grass for hours now. After their first attempts at attacking had ended in complete failure they started watching hoping for any signs of weakness. Finally finding what they needed they moved deeper into the grass and quietly moved away.
Making their way though the fields the Rattata eventually reached the forest at the edge of the farmland. Passing though the woods they came to a clearing in the forest just out of sight of the road. The clearing was currently occupied with two groups of Pokemon on either side. The hostility of both sides was heavy in the air as the Rattata approached
One side of the clearing was occupied by a large group Pokemon. Many Rattata, a few Raticate, and an occasional Sentret. A large Sandslash dominated the group of Pokemon with its presence. He was the only one near the center and looked considerably stronger then many of the other Pokemon.
The other side of the clearing stood a large number of Nidoran's of both genders, several Nidorino and Nidorina, along with a few Ekans. Near the center, like his Sandslash counterpart, was a large Arbok towering over many of the assembled Pokemon. Seeing the Rattata return it hissed out at them.
"Well what did you ssssee? Tell usss!" It demanded.
The Sandslash opposite him let out a low growl. "They don't take order from you or your kind!"
In response the Arbok let out a sharp hiss at his Sandslash counterpart. The Pokemon responded by crouching and scraping his claws together. Sparks from the Sandslash's claws and venom from the Arbok's fangs showed their desire to kill each other. The Pokemon on each side began making similar aggressive stances and threatening poses in response to their leaders blood lust.
Both groups were never friendly with each other. Ever since the message they heard in their minds several days ago they had both felt the surge of power and immediately though of usurping the position of the other. The resulting battles had displayed to both sides clearly that their newfound strength applied to all Pokemon.
Not that it stopped them from fighting. Both sides nursing grudges and hatred for slights long past. The road leading though the area acting as an impromptu line in the sand. It was in the mists of one of their many battles that the strangers had arrived. Both sides preparing to attack each other regardless of what was in the way proved costly as the group of humans and their Pokemon had entered their war zone.
For them it would have been another battle but the green and white Pokemon at the front set out a signal to the others and both sides were thrown into chaos as they were suddenly attacked by the trainers Pokemon with such ferocity they immediately routed. Both sides hated each other but now hated the newcomers even more. It didn't take long for them to form a temporary truce with the sole purpose of making the humans pay for their unknowing transgressions.
The Rattatas, hopeing to avoid conflict, began giving their report before a battle broke out. "We know how they see us coming every time." One quickly blurted out. "Each time we attacked it was that lead Pokemon that told the others of us. We... We lost a few of our own but its definitely that one. There seems to only be one trainer which the Pokemon belong to. All the others don't seem to have Pokemon.
"Sssso... we attack that one firssst then!" The Arbok said cooling down slightly, "Then we kill the resssst."
"umm... that's probably not going to work." One of the Rattata replied.
"What?" Came the angered response from the Arbok. "YOU THINK YOU KNOW BETTER THEN ME!"
The Rattata collectively cowered back slightly. "N-No, i-its just that the one who predicts the attacks seems to be the most powerful of the group."
"So, We separate that one and deal with the others first." The Sandslash stated drawing the attention of the irate Arbok. "Then we-"
In a second it stopped talking an launched itself towards it's own group of Pokemon. Darting though them he brought his claws up readying an attack. In one smooth steady motion sweapt his claw forward and grabbed a Furret from the back of the group slamming and pinning the Pokemon against a tree.
"And who do we have here?" He growled out, his claws drawing thin rivulets of blood from the Pokemon's neck. "I don't recognize you. Be quick in your explanation or your furry little head parts with it's body."
"I-I'm not from this area..." The Furret managed to reply, "I've been following the humans for the last few days."
The Pokemon on the Arbok's side struggled to see what their Sandslash rival was doing near his own army. The Arbok itself just lifted himself up higher and watched from its overhead view. The rest of the Sandslash's Pokemon had backed away from their leader to give him room to work. If he chose to start attacking the Furret they might get caught in the crossfire.
"I-I can help you!" The Furret said quickly trying to prop himself up on the tree to stop the Sandslash's claws from digging into his neck. "The Pokemon at the head is the strongest but there are others too!"
Sandslash looked at the struggling Furret pulling away his claws. "So tell us then." He said walking back to the center.
Falling the ground Pokemon Furret nervously kept his head down. All eyes were on him as he moved to the center of the clearing. Standing before the two Pokemon he gulped softly before continuing.
"The trainer," he started hesitantly, "He has at least three other Pokemon with him. One is another Ponyta like the ones pulling the cart but he also has a Rapidash with him as well. The nurse Joy also has a Chansey with her in addition to that."
"That's all easily dealt with." replied the Sandslash.
"But the last Pokemon the trainer owns... it is a Gyarados." The Furret said.
At the mention of the last Pokemon murmurers ran though the collected groups. Few had ever seen a Gyarados but all of them knew of the terrible wrath and power they possessed. Their leaders were powerful they all knew but a Pokemon of that caliber was worlds apart and many of them wondered how much more terrible it would be with the newfound power they all possessed.
"That's why you need to go after the trainer first." The Furret continued, "Take him out and the Pokemon lose their direction and if your lucky that Gyarados will never be let out of it's ball."
"That sssstill doesss not help usss when that contemptible human-like Pokemon can forsssse usss attacking!" The Arbok hissed at the Furret.
"That's why I said I could help." He replied, "As I've been following them one of the children has been giving me food. He already tried to capture me." The Furret felt the crowd go slightly more hostile at this revelation, "I responded by trying to bite off his hand though!" He hastily amended. "But I can get get in close to them, get near the trainer, and even with that lead Pokemon's predictions I could get that trainer's Pokeballs away from him before the attack."
"So, you get all close to the humans then stab them in the back right before we attack... I like that thinking." The Sandslash replied, "How soon can you do this? The quicker this is finished and over the quicker we can be done with the present company!"
The Furret paused thinking about how much time he would need. "Tomorrow at the earliest, I could do with more time but I can work with that. Wait until the sun is at the highest point then attack!" He said.
"Yessss, tomorrow the interlopersss will finally be dealt with. Their blood and bodiessss will ssserve asss a warning to all who would dare interfere!" Hissed the Arbok, "Go and prepare the humanssss!"
Without any further prompting the Furret all but bolted towards the forest. Without even looking back he franticly headed towards the road Dawson and the others occupied.
Evening
Torterra readied the tree on its back as it faced one last column of long grass. Dawson watched from nearby, standing on patch of previously cut grass. In a moment the Pokemon launched a flurry of razor leaves at the last bit of foliage around them. Within seconds the grass was shredded and the farm plot they chose to make camp in was cleared.
The area was large with stone walls forming the plot into a square. The tents were currently being put up in the center the children divided between setting them up and cooking supper. Joy watched from the wagon, offering occasional advice to the ones making dinner, while she tended to the Poochyena. While the area beyond the wall still had grass and fields to cover any Pokemon's approach if they wanted to get near the tents they would have to move over exposed land on the way in.
Dawson patted Torterra's shell and smiled. "Good job Torterra."
The Pokemon smiled as it went about munching on the cut grass. Dawson walked back over to the camp and, more specifically, his backpack. Reaching inside one of the pouches he fumbled about for a few moments before pulling back his hand. Letting out a sigh he looked about the site and saw the culprit of his missing berries.
Near the edge of the field Marcus held out a berry towards the wall. The pouch which he got it from behind him in the cut grass. From the wall near where he squatted a Furret slowly approached. The boy remained as still as he could as he remember the previous times he gave the Furret some of Dawson's berries. He knew sudden movements often panicked the wild Pokemon.
The Furret slowly approached Marcus's hand from it's hiding spot near the edge of the field. Each step was taken tentatively while the boy waited as still as stone. Crawling up to Marcus's hand it finally took the berry and began to munch on the fruit in front of the young man. Finally daring to move Marcus placed his hand to the head of the Furret and gently stroked the Pokemon while it munched.
"See its not that bad being with a human..." He said softly.
"Hey Marcus what did I tell you about taking my berries!" Dawson called out to the boy as he approached.
Hearing the trainer the Furret stuffed the berry in it's mouth a bolted back to the edge of the field. Marcus saw the Pokemon watch him and the trainer from its hiding spot in the grass Darting further back in once Dawson go close. Letting out a grumble of irritation he stood up and looked back at the trainer.
"Dawson I almost had him!" He said with a hint of a whine.
The trainer cocked an eyebrow at him when he responded, "Almost had what?"
"The Pokemon, there's a Furret that's been following us. I finally got it so that he eats the berry without bolting or biting my hand." Marcus replied.
Dawson paused for a minute as he processed what he had just heard. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait... WHAT!? Marcus you've been using my berries in some attempt at taming a wild Pokemon that already showed aggressive behavior towards you? Are you shitting me?"
"Uhh... no?" Came the boy's worried response.
"Marcus, I've already explained back at the town what is going on right now. Which then led into me explaining why you can't do stuff like that! Dammit Marcus I thought you were smarter then this!" Dawson said picking up his bag of berries.
"But Dawson like I said its almost at the point where he's comfortable around me... if I can get a few more berries I'm sure he would listen to me!" The boy pleaded looking up at the trainer.
Dawson closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead. On a certain level he wanted to see Marcus succeed at his endeavor. On another level every ounce of common sense was flat out telling him they didn't have the time, opportunity, or ability to do such a task. A brief tally was conducted within his mind about the pros and cons of such a situation. Eventually Dawson sighed and took his bag pulling out a small handful of the berries and giving them over to Marcus.
"Two requirements." He said leveling a stern look at the boy, "First, What you have there is all you get, if you can't get that Pokemon to accept you by the time they run out thats it. Secondly, Like the other rules I stated before you do this close to the campsite. If you hang out near the edge away from the perimeter you're going to get yourself killed. Now come on supper is going to be ready soon."
Nodding Marcus left one more berry on the ground where he was squatting and followed Dawson as they walked back to the tents.
Later that night
The Furret had spent most of the evening working on making the human seem like he was taming him. Several times he would approach knowing someone would walk by soon and then bolt as they approached. After that he played up his skittishness as someone approached laying flat on the ground and making himself as small as possible. The boy seemed to buy the act though as each time he changed his performance to reflect the illusion of progress the human seemed more and more excited.
Eventually night fell and the trainer had all the children wrap up what they were doing and head to bed. He only stayed up for about an hour later before heading to bed after the Pokemon nurse. From there the Furret noticed only two of the trainer's Pokemon keeping watch. The humanoid one that could predict the attack of the warring Pokemon and strange plant Pokemon he never saw before.
Crawling along the ground, keeping as low as possible, to hide in what was left of the grass. As the Furret made his way along the perimeter he listened to each tent he passed. Once he was sure the occupants were asleep he would move onto the next one. It was at the third tent that he stopped and held perfectly still at the sound of someone inside the tent thrashing and letting out a quick cry.
Inside the tent Joy had just opened her eyes only to feel them begin to well up with tears at the nightmare. Bringing both hands to her face she tried to wipe the tears from her face and only managed to smudge them as she started to cry. Sobbing quietly in the tent she had to constantly wipe her eyes on her sleeves to keep the tears from running down her face.
"Why... why... why" she repeated to herself as quietly as her sleepy frayed mind would allow hoping not to wake anyone else with her break down.
The Furret, realizing she was making enough noise to cover his movements, began to crawl towards the last tent knowing that the boy was in it with the other child. As it approached the tent it began wonder about the intelligence of this action. If he had more time he might have been able to space out his infiltration of the group but the warring Pokemon wanted these humans dead right away. The idea was simple enough, sleep next to the child and make it seem like he trusted him, and from there use him to get close to the trainer when the time of the attack arrived.
As his mind wondered about them he felt the sting of the cuts on his neck thinking of the Sandslash and other Pokemon how terrified he felt by them. His mind, in response, took his thoughts in an unexpected direction. As he readied himself to sneak into the tent he found a question firmly planted in his mind. Every time he felt ready to go inside the question seemed to worm it's way to the forefront of his mind. Over and over again he tired to move in only for the question to distract him further.
'Is this right?' The question asked.
'Wait... why am I even asking myself that. These humans are horrible beings. They screwed up my home and the homes of my friends with their roads and campgrounds and places to live. They capture Pokemon for their stupid sport and they all enjoy the fighting like barbarians.' He thought nodding to himself as he felt his logic score a decisive victory against the question.
With that pushed out of his mind he got ready to sneak into the tent. He had to be quick but quiet and stealthy as to not to attract the attention of the two Pokemon guards. Just as he was about to go he felt another question waylay him.
'But are these humans like that?' His mind asked
'Yes of course they are!' he replied,
'But how? These ones are all so young they couldn't have built the roads, ruined our home and captured our friends.' The question fought back using logic he thought was on his side.
'Then they'll grow up into that!' he thought.
'Do you know that?' The questioning part replied, 'Do you know how they'll grow up? Should sins of the parent be held to the child? Are these children deserving to be betrayed like this... just because they were born human? Is that right?'
The Furret felt himself squirm on the ground at the inner turmoil he was experiencing, 'It doesn't matter if its right! I have the power to get back at the humans for all they've done, I have the power to make sure they pay for their carelessness with the environment, I have the power to strike back for all the captured Pokemon. I have to do this, I have to...'
The response was simple and concise, 'Why?'
'B-because... because I...' His mind fumbled with the reason, 'I don't know why! But if I don't do this the other Pokemon... they'll kill me if I don't, I know it. I can't run I'm sure they'll hunt me down after killing everyone here tomorrow. I can't survive on my own in this world. I need friends, allies, protectors, ANYONE!'
'The Sandslash will protect you?' Replied the questioning voice.
'Y-Yes, If I help them with this...' He thought. 'The Sandslash and his group, the ones who are constantly fighting, the ones who only stopped killing their enemies because of strangers, the ones who almost killed me when I got close... the ones who... the ones who will kill me because I'm not, or ever will be, part of their group.'
At the moment his mind finally realized the Sandslash's group, along with the other Pokemon, would never accept him he let out a soft cry and buried his face in the ground. Staring into the dirt he felt the energy drain from him and a cold dread fill his heart. The sudden awareness of just how scared he was filled his mind. Away from home, surrounded by Pokemon far more powerful then he could ever be, caught in a situation he saw no way out of. He couldn't do anything but curl himself up into a ball on the grass and close his eyes.
A few moments later another question found its way though the anguish the Furret was feeling. 'What about the humans?'
Twitching slightly at the thought he closed his eyes tightly and shook his head, 'I can't, I don't want to be a trainer's Pokemon. I- I have to do this... I have to hope the other Pokemon can accept me. Its my only choice.'
With that the Furret steeled himself and darted into the tent flap. Gardevoir sighed as the Pokemon disappeared from sight. Her mind receded when the Furret filled himself with resolve at his course of action. She wanted to find out more about the impending attack but she couldn't push him too far otherwise he might have figured out that it was her asking the questions. She could only hope at this point that the Furret might let slip something about the apparent attack in it's mind tomorrow.
Torterra watched as the Furret went inside the tent then glanced over at Gardevoir. He couldn't tell what she was doing to it however from what he could see from the Furret's reactions whatever she did to him wasn't pleasant. The idea that she was so flagrantly invading peoples mind concerned him.