A/N: Yeah, yeah I'm lazy. But I've been busy with other stuff. So here's your dose of Selfishness. Like it or not.

'Pep Talk'

Willow and Rylte

Celadon City

A trickle of warmth over my eyes told me that it was morning, and with a tired grunt I pulled myself from my rented bed in the Pokemon Centre, giving Rylte a gentle kick to wake him as I did so. Naturally he protested and complained about a lack of peaches, as if to argue with me over dragging him out of bed.

I shot a glance at my sleeping companion, it irked me that I was growing accustomed to his presence and I would have to remedy that sooner or later. Red was getting better, rapidly so, at current I knew I would struggle to beat him even with my experience. I needed to train.

I reached for my bag and shoes and quietly left the room, entering the main hall of the Pokemon Centre. I needed to know my team better if I was going to place my life their hands.

Glade, he said he hated me… pretty much whenever I sent him out and never even asked him why. He seemed to content to assist me when my life was in danger, but enjoyed pulling cheap stunts, if what he did during the bicycle race was anything to go by. If I could evolve him again that would deal with my aerial transport problems, but I couldn't have him throwing me off his back in midair and fall screaming to my death. I don't want to give him any ideas

Volte, the Electabuzz used by Surge, he acted very aggressive under his command, yet under mine he seemed calmer. He also warned me of a Rocket problem Celadon before we entered the city. If I wasn't under their watch list for my interference at Mt Moon, I was certain that I would be under it for breaking up their operation in Vermillion. My distrust of Volte was based on his little 'cheery' act; nobody undergoes a 360-personality change, not that quickly at least. He could turn on me at any time and do away with me with relative ease… I needed to ensure his trust somehow.

Rylte, he was the only individual in this world I could trust, but as fate would have it, I can't hold a straight conversation with him.

As I exited the Pokemon Centre I cursed, rather loudly too, at my dreadful luck and wondered if I would last a year at this "Trainer" profession.

I made my way to the park and released Volte and Glade in a nice empty field. (The main word being empty) The two promptly shot each other vicious glares and took battle positions. Snarling at each other as they readied themselves for an onslaught of attacks.

This was going to be a long day.

"Alright!" I announced getting their attention; Rylte sat on my shoulder ready to pounce at any signs of attack from either. "Now I know I haven't been particularly good at this 'trainer' thing so far…" I started awkwardly and both grunted and made some sort of snarky remark at my expense. "And you have probably guessed by now that I'm new to this. I not some skilled trainer with shitloads of badges pouring out of my pockets, nor am I particularly good at understanding you, but that's going to change. I want to know who I'm fighting with."

The two stared at me with skeptical looks (a glare in Glade's case).

"We've done enough to warrant attention from Team Rocket," I told them. "And from past experience with them you probably know that it isn't a good thing."

Both nodded slowly in agreement. I was making some progress at least.

"So, Glade." I turned my attention to the Pidgeotto, who simply stared back with a passive gaze. "Why do you 'hate me'?"

He cawed once and was silent.

I glanced to Rylte for a translation. 'Because I do.'

I turned back to the bird my patience already running thin. "But why?"

He let out a series of caws snorts.

It was probably him commenting about how much of a dick I was to everyone and how I was a terrible person, what Rylte translated almost made me feel guilty about thinking that. Almost.

'You stole me from my home, the place I have always known as home. You stole me from my brethren, weak as individuals we may be, prey, we may be. But the Pidgey of the Viridian forest are not the mindless creatures you deem us to be. We work together when we hunt; we protect each other's young and form powerful bonds with our kin. You, master trainer, like many others simply stride into our homes and spirit us away, tearing us from our kin to take us on an adventure we never wanted nor asked for. You caught me as I was protecting one of my kin's eggs from predators, leaving them vulnerable to the beasts that hide far from the eyes of humans, waiting for the opportunity to taste flesh.'

Glade cawed a few more times and Rylte was more than happy to translate.

'That, and you're a dick.'

"You helped protect me before, surely I mean something to you then?" I probed not sure what to make of his little speech. He began to caw once more.

'I believe in loyalty. You have proven that you are somewhat capable as being my master and have indeed made me stronger, but do not misinterpret my actions as care. Betray my trust in you… and I shall rip out your throat with my talons without hesitation.'

"Noted." I replied dully. "You won't go trying to kill me without provocation then?

'No, but things change.'

Well that clarifies things about my murderous Pidgeotto, somewhat. Now I had to deal with Volte. I turned to Electabuzz who shot me a goofy grin at I glanced at him.

"Alright you, what are you up to?" I asked rather bluntly, getting a confused look in return. "What's with the 360-personality change, earlier you seemed rather eager to electrocute me and my friend."

Volte made some buzzing noises, which Rylte translated.

'I've always been like this, but being chained up and tortured really pisses you off. I can't say I'm that fond of you, but I'm willing to give you a chance. As for the other boy… I didn't like his hat.'

I couldn't help it. I broke out laughing earning a curious glare from Glade and causing Volte to also break into laughter. An Electabuzz with fashion sense… that was a new one…

I spent the next hour conversing with Volte and effectively grilled him for information about Team Rocket, and to my surprise he was more than willing to comply. He informed me about a Rocket operation in Celadon, where he was taken after being captured at the abandoned Power Plant near Cerulean, Surge had taken an interested in him and decided to make him his pet. Volte decided that it would be easier (and vastly more painless) for him to accept his new role. I didn't blame him for it, given the circumstances I probably would have done the same… albeit with a knife behind my back waiting for an opportunity.

'Master.' Volte started, again translated by Rylte, 'I was a coward before and succumbed to the darkness, give me the opportunity to assist you in your fight against the men in black, and in return, I shall protect you to the best of my ability.'

Sounded more than reasonable, but I made a mental note to remain wary about the Electabuzz nonetheless.

It was getting late into the afternoon by the time we had finished 'bonding', we grew hungry so and we started to trek back to the Pokémon centre. Who knew tell each other your life stories could be so tiring. But reflecting back, maybe it wasn't such a bad thing; I had taken the first steps towards forging a team. A real one. Not just a group of weapons and tools I could just fling at a problem. Maybe, just maybe… my luck was starting to turn around.

And then I turned around a corner, and found myself staring down a group of Rocket Thugs, Pokeballs at the ready, all with wicked grins on their faces.

So much for my luck turning around…

Rylte reacted pretty much on instinct, pouncing on the nearest Rocket's face and distracting them long enough for me to send out Volte and Glade. Both seemed to know what to do immediately and threw themselves into the fray as the Rockets Ratatta and Zubats began to take shape.

No Contest.

The battle ended rather abruptly with one Rocket intercepting a message on his radio about some girl and a data disc and immediately scurried off like insects in the light. Some didn't even bother to recall their unconscious minions before they fled. Some sent me curses as they retreated, to an outsider it would have looked rather farcical, a dozen bulky men in black costumes running scared from a ten-year-old. I smiled warmly at the three figures in front of me. Rylte with his usual mischievous smile, Volte glanced over his shoulder at me sending me a smirk, while Glade simply cawed his usual 'hate you' before activating his own Pokeball. A warm feeling flowed through my chest. This must be what pride feels like I told myself, it feels pretty good.

There was a sound of thunder, and then a sharp burning pain struck my body dumb. I glanced down at my left shoulder a patch of red already forming on my clothing. I looked back up. Gone were the looks of joy from the faces of my Pokemon, instead, terror and shock. From them I glanced up at the end of the alleyway were a lone Rocket stood… a smoking gun in his hand.

I fell back. My mind going numb and only one thought on my mind:

'Just when it was going so well…'

Then there was nothing.