Chapter X: The Chase

As we emerged from the tunnel that led us into Aquarhont, I instantly knew that something was very wrong. The air seemed to grow still and stagnant and all around there was a dark sense of foreboding. The waters of the Clear Sea even seemed unwell. I looked at everyone else and I could tell that they were feeling something similar.

"Something's not right," I said.

"I feel it too," said Fluffi.

"It's as if the earth itself is silent," said Duran.

"Stay alert," said Ivy.

Everyone stood on high alert, shifting our gaze everywhere we could to find the source of the disquiet. Eventually my gaze shifted to the forest a few yards away. I soon noticed strange shapes moving within. I then noticed that all around us were strange shadows that seemed to have no origin. Then it hit me-

"Look out!" I warned, "we're surrounded!"

"Well, well, observant are we?"

Both mine and Fluffi's eyes grew wide.

"We know that voice!" Said Fluffi.

Then, the invisibility was lifted and we found ourselves surrounded by Weezings, Tentacruels, Haunters, and much to our surprise, Honchkrow, Malamar, and the one who spoke to us, Zoroark.

"Look at what our trap has caught," said Honchkrow.

"Fluffi, Drake, who are they?" Asked Ivy, "you two act as if you know them."

"Honchkrow is an outlaw that we caught selling black market, defective TMs," said Fluffi, "Malamar is the outlaw we fought on Steadfast Island and Zoroark I hate the most because he is the one who got us lost in the Hydro Temple!"

"Oh, I'm flattered, you remember us," said Malamar.

"Aren't you all supposed to be in jail or something?" Asked Duran.

"We escaped," said Zoroark, "those fools put us three in one cell."

"No jail can hold our team back," said Honchkrow.

"Team?" Asked Ivy.

"The three of us make up Team Clandestine," said Malamar, "our goal is to rule the world from the underworld and these Pokémon are our underlings."

"I understand why you want to trap us," I said, "but I don't understand how you knew we'd be here."

"Our leader told us you'd be here," said Zoroark.

"Your leader?" Asked Ivy.

"Yes, she knew exactly where you would be, so we opened the floodgates in order to lure you here," said Malamar.

"You were the ones sinking the city!?" I asked angrily.

"Every prey has their bait," said Honchkrow.

"You were supposed to die there," said Zoroark, "but now, it seems we've got to take a more personal touch with you. Get them!"

"We won't be able to take them all," I said, "make a hole and run!"

The nearest Weezing to me took the initiative and tried to hit me with Double Hit, but I managed to dodge it. Ivy then jumped and hit that Weezing with Iron Tail.

"Water Pulse!" Yelled a Tentacruel, launching the attack at Duran, but he leapt to the side and caused the attack to hit a Weezing behind him, confusing it.

"Acid!" Yelled another Tentacruel, managing to cover me in that burning substance.

The confused Weezing floated away a little bit and used Explosion. Duran was caught in the blast, but it barely did anything to him due to being a Steel-Type, but that Weezing took down itself along with 13 other Pokémon and, as luck would have it, provided the exact avenue for escape that we needed, so we booked it. We didn't know which direction we headed in, all we knew is that we had to get out of there, and fast.

We ran for as far as our legs could carry us. We only took a few minutes to rest then we heard our foes gaining up on us, so we continued running. This would be so much easier with wings. We eventually gained a little bit of distance over them, so we stopped a little while to rest and to get our bearings.

"Geez, won't those guys ever give up?" Asked Fluffi, catching her breath.

"Probably not," said Duran, also short on breath.

"Let's see, a rock shaped like a Nosepass, a narrow valley, hmm," I said looking at the map.

"Right there!" Said Ivy pointing at a spot on the map, "we're right beside Compass Cave."

"Oh no," I said.

"What is it?" asked Duran, walking over to us while Fluffi listened for signs of pursuit.

"We started at Aquarhont and we're now at Compass Cave, we're running away from town," I said.

"We need to correct our course," said Ivy.

"I don't think that's a option right now," said Fluffi, "they're closing in; and fast."

"Time to move on," said Duran, "once we're done here, we are all going to have chiseled abs and rock-hard buns."

We continued on through the only path we could, Compass Cave. Compared to what we usually face, this place was pretty calm and placid. We breezed right through the dungeon. It wasn't long before we found the exit. We were about to go through it when Honchkrow cut us off.

"Are we done playing games?" Asked Honchkrow.

Just then, two Weezing and three Haunters caught up to us.

"Surrounded again!" spat Duran.

"If we beat them quickly, we can get out of here before any more show up," said Fluffi.

"Quite a cleaver move, using the chaos caused by that Explosion to cover your escape, but it won't happen again," said Honchkrow, "swarm them!"

Fluffi abruptly responded by nailing Honchkrow in the beak with a Power-Up Punch.

"I'll handle Honchkrow," said Fluffi, "the rest of you take care of the henchmen!"

A Haunter used Shadow Ball and the two Weezings used Sludge Bomb.

"Shadow Claw!" I yelled attacking the haunter which just attacked, scoring a critical hit and KOing it in one hit.

"Night Shade!" yelled the two remaining Haunters, hitting me with the double attack.

Ivy tossed me an Oran Berry, which I ate.

"Aerial Ace!" Yelled Honchkrow, dealing damage to Fluffi.

"Heavy Slam!" Yelled Duran landing the attack on Weezing, who was apparently injured from the Explosion before, and KO'd it in one hit.

Fluffi used Shadow Ball on Honchkrow, who then retaliated with his own Shadow Ball. Unfortunately for Honchkrow, Fluffi only meant that as a distraction, because she then hammered Honchkrow with Charge Beam.

"Smog!" Yelled Weezing, poisoning me, but I got my revenge when I KO'd Weezing with Iron Tail.

"Venoshock!" Yelled the haunters, but only one of those attacks hit me.

Ivy and Duran double teamed the Haunter that managed to hit me, Ivy using Iron Tail and Duran using Rock Slide and somehow managed to KO it.

"Steel Wing!" Yelled Honchkrow after he got up.

"Power-Up Punch!" Yelled Fluffi, parrying Honchkrow's attack.

"Shadow Claw!" I yelled, finishing off the last remaining Haunter.

"Are you serious? You actually managed to beat them?" Asked Honchkrow, "grr, I'll have to retreat for now."

Honchkrow then turned and flew away so we decided to get going before even more enemies show up. We ran and ran until we came across a large, dense, forest. We then adjusted our course as best we could to be on a more direct course toward town. We soon found ourselves lost in the forest. It quickly became night so, we decided to get some rest and set up a watch in case of a surprise attack. I was second to take the watch and it was around 11pm when I got started. I was wondering what everyone back at the guild was doing and if anyone was worried over our prolonged absence. As I was pondering these things, I heard a familiar voice.

"Well, well, I never thought I'd see you again."

I looked atop a nearby tree stump and noticed Pyroar standing there, looking at me.

"Pyroar?" I asked, "is that really you?"

"Of course it is," said Pyroar, "did you find the treasure you were after?"

"Yes," I said, "did you find what you were looking for."

"Not yet," said Pyroar, "Yggdrasil will not be so easily found."

"Yggdrasil?" I asked.

"You need not concern yourself with that," said Pyroar, "what have you been doing all this time?"

"We're hunting the Accursed Ones," I said.

"Really, you're wasting your time on something as inconsequential as that?" Asked Pyroar.

"The Accursed ones are a threat to all the world."

"They're not important. Join me and we can stop a real threat."

"What threat?"

"To cleanse the world, we must purge it of its evil."

"Meaning?"

"You will find the meaning in time, if you would come with me now."

"What about my friends."

"Leave them. They're not important."

"How could you say that!? I need them and they need me."

"It is weakness to rely on others. It is only logical to do it alone, after all you wouldn't want them hurt, would you?"

"I will not leave them. Especially not right now, they're counting on me."

"I see your heart won't be swayed. Hearts are so stubborn."

"..."

"I will give you some time. Time to learn to quit listening to your emotions and decide, for once, what is truly best for the world."

Pyroar then leapt out of view and after a moment to take in the conversation we just had, I returned to my watchman's duties, until a few hours later, Duran relieved me. We woke up the next day to Fluffi telling us it was time to go. However, we had only gotten a few acres before we found ourselves surrounded yet again, but this time by three Tentacruel, two Haunters and Malamar.

"Boy, you four are easy to surround," said Malamar, "you really shouldn't have had a Charmander keep watch, his tail was like a beacon that led us straight to you."

I caught Fluffi, Duran and Ivy staring at me.

"Hey! I can't help it if my tail produces its own light," I said.

"Next time, you're staying inside the shelter," said Duran.

"Well, anyway, I've been looking for a new punching bag," I said, "you think you can manage, You overgrown, topsy-turvy, mollusk?"

"Well, he's dead," said Fluffi.

A Tentacruel used Bubblebeam on me, which I dodged.

"Night Slash!" Yelled Malamar, whipping me and causing a slight stinging sensation.

"Charge Beam!" Yelled Fluffi.

"Rock Slide!" Yelled Duran.

The two attacks knocked out a poor innocent Tentacruel.

"Leaf Blade!" Yelled Ivy, slamming the Tentacruel that attacked me with her tail.

A Haunter then floated over and managed to hit Ivy with Venoshock.

"Dragon Claw!" I yelled, KOing the weakened Tentacruel.

"Shadow Ball!" Yelled the other Haunter, blasting me with the attack.

The remaining Tentacruel then coated Fluffi with Acid Spray.

Malamar's tentacles started glowing, and then he yelled, "Psycho Cut!" and launched pink blades from them, hitting me square in the chest and cutting into my flesh.

Fluffi and Duran then did their Charge Beam and Rock Slide combo on the remaining Tentacruel, KOing it.

"Iron Tail!" Yelled Ivy, hitting the nearest Haunter.

"Dark Pulse!" Yelled Haunter, but Ivy used her Vine Whip just in time to help her dodge it.

"Shadow Claw!" I yelled as I KO'd the Haunter that Ivy attacked.

The remaining Haunter then used Shadow Ball on me again, but I dodged that one.

"Aerial Ace!" Yelled Malamar, catching me off guard with that attack and plummeting me into critical HP.

Fluffi then used Charge Beam and Duran used Rock Slide on the remaining Haunter KOing it.

Then I seen my body glowing red, and the fire on my tail had gotten much bigger.

"Blaze is active, all right!" I said, "Flamethrower!"

Malamar took my newly dubbed 'nitro-thrower', seriously burning him and then Ivy threw me an Oran Berry, which I ate.

"I'll never win at this rate!" Spat Malamar, "I'll let you live, for now."

Malamar then vanished and after some first aid, we continued onward. We passed through a few Mystery Dungeons and gained some distance over our pursuers. Eventually, night came again and we camped out again, however I was forbidden from ever going outside the shelter we had prepared. When morning came, we took down the shelter and continued on through Misty Forest, another Mystery Dungeon, and eventually arrived at, you guessed it, a dead end.

"Oh no, a dead end," said Ivy.

"You four must like falling into traps or something."

We turned to see Zoroark standing there, blocking our only exit with five Haunter flanking him.

"How easily you fall into my maze of illusions," said Zoroark, "not once, but twice."

"When we get back home, I'll never run another day in my life," said Fluffi.

"If you get home," said Zoroark, "I usually play with my prey before devouring it, but you four are so great a nuisance, that I'll make an exception. Kill the males, but restrain the females. They're my property."

"Property!?" Asked Ivy in disbelief, "you boys take the Haunters, we're going to have a little, violent, chat with 'Foxy'."

The Haunters didn't give us much choice as three of them tried hitting us with a triple Dark Pulse, which Duran and I dodged.

"Frenzy Claw!" I yelled, KOing a Haunter with a flurry of Shadow Claws.

"Heavy Slam!" Yelled Duran, KOing another Haunter, "Frenzy Claw, Drake?"

"What? I'm not allowed to make up my own move names?"

"No, you are not."

"Shadow Ball!" Yelled Haunter, but I slashed the attack in half with Shadow Claw.

"Night Slash!" Yelled Zoroark, scoring a crit on Fluffi.

Ivy tossed her a Oran Berry, which she ate and then hit Zoroark with Power-Up Punch.

"Venoshock!" Yelled a Haunter, attacking Duran, which he didn't even bother to dodge.

"Dark Pulse!"

That Haunter then hit me with the attack, but I returned the favor by hitting it with another Frenzy Claw, KOing it.

"Two to go!" Said Duran "Heavy Slam!"

Another Haunter bites the dust.

"Iron Tail!" Yelled Ivy, attacking Zoroark, who had somehow tied Fluffi up.

"Free me, Ivy!"

"Working on it!"

No matter how much Fluffi tried, she could not break free of her bonds, so the remaining Haunter took her to the top of a nearby tree and gagged and left her there.

"Shadow Claw!" I yelled, KOing the Haunter when I had seen it again, however, I had no clue where Fluffi was at this time.

Duran then used Rock Slide on Zoroark and Ivy used Aqua Tail.

"Gah! I'll just take my prize and be out of here!" Growled Zoroark.

As Zoroark leapt toward the tree, I pounded him with some of my moves as Ivy used her vines to get Fluffi down and untie her.

"You four are a real thorn in my side!" Spat Zoroark.

Just then, Malamar and Honchkrow flew down and landed at Zoroark's side.

"You never change," said Honchkrow, "we plot revenge and you try to grab 'trophies'."

"There is only one way we can beat them now," said Malamar, "we must band together and beat them here and now. You can claim your 'trophies' after the battle."

"You're right," said Zoroark, "and when we beat them you two may share my 'trophies' as you call them."

"Hello, we're right here!" Said Fluffi.

"And no one is going to make a trophy of me!" Said Ivy.

"All of you will share the same fate," said Zoroark, "en Garde!"

"Aerial Ace!" Yelled Duran, causing unavoidable damage.

"Big deal, I can do that too!" Said Zoroark, "Aerial Ace!"

The Aerial Ace caused far less damage to Duran than it did to Zoroark.

"Shadow Ball!" Yelled Fluffi, attacking Malamar who retaliated by also using Aerial Ace.

"Iron Tail!" Yelled Ivy, slamming Honchkrow, but he ignored Ivy and almost hit me with Shadow Ball.

"Flamethrower!"

"Oh, sweet, salty Espeon, no!" Honchkrow yelled as he got a face full of searing hot flames.

Duran then focused his attention on Honchkrow and literally buried him with Rock Slide.

"Flamethrower!" Yelled Zoroark, singing Duran.

"Charge Beam!" Yelled Fluffi.

"Superpower!" Yelled Malamar.

The two attacks hit each other and almost KO'd Fluffi, so Ivy tossed her an Oran Berry.

"Shadow Claw!" I yelled.

"Aerial Ace!" Yelled Duran.

The two attacks knocked out Malamar and Zoroark.

"Wow, that was... surprisingly easy," I said.

"You wore us down," said Honchkrow, through the rocks.

"And if our boss was here," said Malamar, "this would be very different."

We then heard a loud rumbling noise somewhere in the distance.

"That would be our henchmen, waking up and wanting blood, your blood," said Zoroark, "if you want to keep living, I suggest you get out of here, before they heal us and find you."

"I suggest we do as he says," said Ivy.

She didn't need to say that as we were already on our way out of there. we left Misty Forest and continued onward. Our pursuers had obviously not given up as we had to fight off some following Weezings and Tentacruels and the occasional Haunter. We eventually came across a ruined town and decided to hide at the bottom of a nearby dry well until we were sure we lost them. Meanwhile at the edge of the town, Team Clandestine had followed us. We could hear them clearly."

"They went in there, let's get them!"

"No leave them," said Zoroark.

"But why?"

"This place is called the Deadlands," said Malamar.

"For a good reason too," said Zoroark, "let's go back to HQ. The Deadlands will do our work for us."

We heard them leave and I looked around and noticed that Ivy was as white as a, well, ghost.

"The D-D-Deadlands...? We have to get out of here, now!" Said Ivy.

Ivy used her vines to grab onto the well's canopy and pull herself up. Well, she would've but as she applied some pressure, the canopy collapsed and blocked the entrance. It was now so dark that the only light we could see was from my tail's fire.

"Oh no, oh no, oh no, we can't be trapped here," said Ivy.

"Why? What's so scary about this place?" Asked Fluffi, "other than the pitch blackness, I mean."

"No one who ever has entered this place has come out alive," said Ivy, "only the dead live here."