Wow! Two updates in a day- I must really not want to do my school work.

This story has almost reached the 5,000 views milestone and hopefully this chapter will bring me to 50 reviews. Also, we're officially 60,000 words with the addition of the last chapter...and this story has gotten 106 views today :D

Shinymudkip25= Thanks for the encouragement. It's always nice to hear from new reviewers! I hope you enjoy this chapter as much as the others or, I dunno more. That's my goal, at least!

I.C. 2014= I honestly don't know how you do it. Not only do you comment very quickly, you provide an honest opinion that I've learned to count on to adjust my story. And you answer questions I write at the bottom. You are amazing, my friend. Don't worry, I don't intend to use the Pokémon School for a long while, so it won't used unless I need it to help speed the plot along. I was really happy to see you mention Abra as an underdeveloped character because this chapter does help with that. Part of the reason this chapter is following only a few hours behind the last one is because I agree, Abra needs some development. I'm also glad you think Nova's progress is natural :D

This chapter's about 2500 words of literary delight (in my incredibly biased opinion) so enjoy!


"We're…actually going in…there?" I asked quietly, staring up at the bustling train station.

"If you want to walk to Vermillion, feel free. Personally, I'd rather nap on a train than walk for days," Poison responded, unconcerned by the pedestrian traffic throughout the building.

Within a week, our team's Nidoran had changed from an unexperienced cave-dweller to someone who was well-adapted to people. Even his brown fur was starting to change into its natural pink color thanks to the sunlight and exercise he got.

I wish I could adapt to people. I decided maybe I'd try. I jumped into Sam's arms and let him carry me through the station.

Not a minute into our walk through the building, Poison, Gold and Missile were recalled into their Pokéballs for trying to steal food, trying to pick a fight with a crying baby and flitting around spastically in front of televisions, respectively.

Azurill was perched on Rae's shoulder, tail across her neck like a scarf.

"Got the tickets," Kurt said, handing one to Sam and Rae. I grumbled as Sam adjusted me in his arms in order to take the ticket.

When we reached the nearly empty platform, I jumped out of his arms and walked. We boarded the train and found our compartment, a nice, two-bench, small room with a window sliding door. I was rather excited about my first experience in a vehicle until it pulled away from the station. Sam who was sitting next to me leaned down and smiled.

"Motion sick?" He asked, grinning.

Rae looked up from where she was playing with Azurill and gave a little frown, "Don't patronize her, Sam. She'll get sick on you."

I growled weakly in agreement and stretched out on the cool wood to try to take a nap. Just as I was about to doze off, Sam leaned over me.

"Hey, Nova, we're going to the food car to get something to eat and make plans for Vermillion. You have the compartment to yourself so get some rest, alright?" He rubbed his thumb soothingly behind my ear like I love.

"Alright," I yawned. I was probably asleep before his footsteps faded from my ears.


I was dreaming about dancing Chansey when the sound of the sliding door being open woke me up. I didn't know why Sam had to be that loud—

But it wasn't Sam. It wasn't Kurt or even Rae. In fact, I had never met this human before in my life. But I knew something about human expressions.

The man before me had his dry lips contorted into a strange smirk and he wore black clothes with a large red letter 'R' on it. I tried to think of words that I knew started with the letter 'R' but I drew a blank.

I raised my head from its lounging position as if I was disinterested but my muscles were taught. The man's twisted smile widened when he heard the sound of other doors being pulled open and the vocal protests of trainers inside other compartments.

Is this an attack?

"Here, little Eevee, here," he crooned.

"What kind of idiot would fall for that?" I asked, eyeing the sturdy rope he was preparing in his other hand. The man came closer, eliminating my escape route. Across the hall, I heard the sound of battle but it seemed that the 'R' humans were winning. Smirky tried to lower the rope around my neck. I growled.

"You don't want to do that," I told him. He kept moving so I sprung up and clamped my jaws onto his upper arm.

"Yehhh!" He shouted, using the heel of his hand to bash my head. After two solid connections with my skull, black dots started to float around my vision so I jumped off him and put some distance between us.

I lashed my tail and bore my teeth. Judging by the taste of copper in my mouth, I decided my message couldn't have been clearer.

Unfortunately, he just didn't seem to get it.

"Damn pest, you'll pay for that!" He fished a Pokéball from his belt and threw it onto the ground.

"Bulbasaurrr!" The plant-animal Pokémon growled.

"Eevee," I retorted, "oh, sorry, I thought we were just saying our names." I was in a bad mood from having my nap interrupted and I still hadn't gotten used to riding in a train.

Bulbasaur whipped a vine at me experimentally, to see how I'd react. I took advantage of that and gripped it between my teeth. Bulbasaur's eyes widened in pain but then turned into a grin. Before I had the chance to figure out why he was so happy, his vine wrapped around my neck, effectively limiting my movement.

"Razor Leaf," the man told his Pokémon. I tried to dodge but wasn't able to. Four sharp leaves collided into me, drawing blood.

Hopefully, my fur will help the blood clot, I thought darkly. I started pulling away from Bulbasaur before I realized there might be another way out. Bulbasaur's vine was acting like a leash, a humiliating comparison, but effective all the same. Leashes were meant to prevent someone from getting further away. It did nothing to stop someone from getting closer.

Offensive, then. I charged at the unsuspecting bulb Pokémon with a fast Tackle, bowling the Pokémon over onto its back. Its vine retracted as it lay there dazed. It didn't get back up so Smirky recalled him angrily.

Not wanting to let the man get another shot at me, I jumped onto the bench and jumped into his chest with another Tackle. The impact jarred my spine and made my vision fuzzy for a moment but the sound of the collision was enough to ensure that he was down for the count. I managed to stay standing while he hit the floor. I walked out the door, intentionally stepping on his face.

When I was looking for another 'R' member, I ran into a Machop and a similarly dressed woman carrying a dozen Pokéballs. Not being an idiot, I dropped back into my battle stance. I was hoping for a breather before I took someone else on but there wasn't a chance I could sit there and let the train-jackers get away.

I charged up a Shadow Ball and fired it at the Machop. My attack glanced his side, leaving a red scorch mark on his blue skin.

Machop countered, sweeping his leg under my feet, causing me to face-plant into the ground. I stood back up, legs aching only a little less than my pride.

Fighting moves are strong against Normal-types, I remembered hearing at the Trainer School. Well, crap.

I was going to have to resort of evasive maneuvers. I mentally thanked the designers of the train for including wide hallways. As Machop charged at me with a punch, I dodged to the side, mindful of where its trainer was. I couldn't be sure she wouldn't try to attack me.

As I dodged another strike, I winced at what would surely be bruises on my legs. On the bright side, the pain in my legs was effectively distracting me from both the cuts Bulbasaur gave me and the headache its trainer had given me.

I wouldn't be able to get close to Machop long enough to bite him but I could try a Quick Attack. Didn't work too well—I nearly bounced off and Machop barely looked damaged at all. I quickly put distance back between us.

Experimentally, I shot out a move I had been working on at the Trainer School. I fired a few star-like projectiles out of my mouth and they collided with Machop. Although it was a direct hit, he didn't even flinch. The maddened blue Pokémon came in again and I couldn't dodge fast enough. I saw his fist open into a flattened hand. He swung down on my cringing form, sending me flying into the door of my compartment.

I pulled myself up quickly and almost fell back down when a spasm of pain pulsed through my back. His hit had been incredibly powerful and now I was having trouble standing. I tried to use Tackle again but this time, gravity seemed to double. I lay there in the bed of splintered wood, stunned by my weakness as Machop raised his fist…

"Whoa, Nova!"

Sam? I swiveled my head, as did Machop and his trainer. Standing in the ruined corridor were Kurt and Abra. Kurt dropped his take-out bag and approached me. Abra stepped forward to face Machop.

I was surprised to see the usually mellow, cowardly Abra looked ready for battle. Was he upset I was hurt? Huh.

Machop swung a fist at Abra, frustrated that he had to switch targets so close to winning but Abra teleported out of the way and used Confusion.

"Are you alright?" Kurt asked, crouching down to check my injuries. Usually I would have been more wary of him but either the floaty sensation in my head or the dire situation made me to want to trust him.

"Ee," I said but my voice didn't sound very strong.

"Hold on," Kurt said, starting to scoop me up. Then he remembered who he was dealing with and almost pulled back. His face changed into a victorious smile when he noticed me watching him but not growling or trying to move away. "You'll be alright," he said, picking me up more gently than I'd ever seen him. He didn't seem to want to screw up the frail trust I was placing in him. I was grateful for that. He patted my head and returned his attention to the battle.

Machop was gripping his head in pain with one hand and blindly swinging at Abra with the other. Abra was taking measured, silent steps backwards, escaping the range of every punch swung at him. Finally, when the superpower Pokémon was sweating and his punches sloppy and slow, Abra saw his opening and palmed him in the nose.

It was clear that it wasn't a powerful shot. It barely qualified as an attack at all, but the exhausted Machop crumpled to the ground all the same.

The angry 'R' man removed another Pokéball from his belt. Another man dressed in the same outfit seemed to be done taking Pokémon from people joined him.

Abra was now staring down a Spearow and a Polywhirl. My throbbing headache had diminished by now and I had regained some of my energy. I squirmed a little bit in Kurt's arms and he set me back onto the ground.

Abra had fared exceptionally well for a Pokémon not trained in combat, even if he had had the type advantage. But he wouldn't be able to take two Pokémon at once. But we had another problem; I was very sure that one solid hit could knock me out. We needed back-up. Kurt could go but then Abra wouldn't know what to do. Abra could go, but then Kurt wouldn't be able to help. I was hard for me to run from a fight, but I barked at Kurt and Abra and ran as fast as I could towards the dining car. I just hoped they'd be able to hold them off long enough so I could bring the others.

Maybe I had underestimated the damage I had taken battling. The pain in my back was starting to spread to my ribs, constricting my breathing. Running across the floor kept jarring my legs. I tried to focus on the diminishing number on the cars as I ran towards the front.

Finally, I got to the dining car, where everyone was sitting, pouring over plans.

"Hurry! Kurt and Abra are holding off train-jackers! They need back-up!" I barked, breathing heavily. Sam and Rae may not have understood the exact words I had said but my wild gesturing towards the direction I had come and my unruly appearance was enough for Sam. He call out Missile and start running towards the car. Azurill took a flying leap from Rae's shoulder to Missile's back and they flew down the hallway.

I took a laborious deep breath and started to follow at an uneven jog. Gold, who was running on four legs matched my pace.

"You alright?" He looked at me. I looked at me too. My furry collar had thin streaks of blood, my fur was dusty. I imagined I looked pretty worn out.

"Still not used to being on a moving surface. You need to go help Abra," I insisted, exhausted.

Gold narrowed his eyes for a moment. "Right," he said and ran ahead.

"You're not alright," Poison said, jogging next to me now.

"W-what..is this…pester…Nova day?" I panted.

"Maybe you should slow down."

"Don't wait for me, go ahead." Did. I. Have. To. Spell. It. Out?

"No, I don't want to leave you alone!" The Nidoran protested, twitching his whiskers.

I grimaced, too anxious and exhausted to care now. "Are you actually worried about me or are you just trying to avoid battling?"

Poison's eyes widened, hurt, but it worked and he ran ahead as well. I slowed to a walk for the last two train-car-lengths.

By the time I arrived, the offending Spearow and Polywhirl were looking worse-for-wear. Sam ran up to me as soon as he saw me and scooped me up. I slowly relaxed in his arms.

I remember a few parts of the battle. I know that when Spearow was flitting around the room dodging attacks, it was little Igglybuff that slugged the sucker in the face, dropping him like dead meat. I also know Missile got Polywhirl right through the center with his needle-like arm, like some sick game of target practice. I felt the change of hands and watched as one of the train-jackers tried to call back-up on his communicator got dropped by a sound punch in the temple by Sam. Then he said, 'Learned that at Trainer's School, ass.'


I woke up in the middle of the night. I felt better—my headache was barely perceptible. Though my back and legs hurt, they didn't seem like they would hinder my walking anymore. Likely, Sam had used a Potion on me. I later found out that the train had made a short stop for the authorities to gather the four train-jackers (one defeated by me, one defeated by Abra and Igglybuff, one defeated by Missile and one defeated by a very angry Pikachu in the next train car).

I thought about how Kurt had come through for me. I don't know what I had expected would happen, I knew he would never hurt me—but I didn't know. But now I felt I could trust him. And Rae too. I had spent the last month living afraid in the shadow of my past but that was over now and the two humans had earned by trust. Laying on Sam's gently rising chest, I knew what I should do…

I carefully climbed down from my trainer, jumped on to the other bench and settled down in the nook of Kurt's arm next to Rae's head.

It felt good to trust.

But I wasn't sure I could sleep like this.


So we get a little of Nova coming out of her shell around Kurt and Rae. Finally! I've been pressuring her to warm up to them for several chapters now.

Also, Abra gets to be useful. Now that he is, we should be seeing more of him.

Please review! I'd love to hear your feedback!

1. Were the fights written in an exciting and clear way or were they strained and hard to picture?

2. Seems like Nova's toughening up now. That isn't a question, I kind of just felt like doing that. Sorry.