The Omega
Welcome to Constant Box, where we not only take care of your Pokémon and their needs, but also you and your needs. And we'll do the best we can. Promise.
HA! HA! HA! {Mew and Celebi fly past a forest.}
HA! HA! HA! {Articuno and Meloetta fly by the daycare.}
Even with the pretty tough opponents, {Ricka smirks and throws a Poké Ball onto the field.}
The battles keep heating up more and more! (really?) {Ace comes out and uses Leaf Blade.}
Staggering, worn out, we're in big trouble! {Yuri dodges a Flame Burst and then uses Play Rough.}
Decide on Iron Tail while smiling! {Buster uses Iron Tail on the ground, causing it to break apart.}
(Everything is Good!) {Rei jumps from the trees in a leaf-made outfit, Spiky-eared Pichu on her shoulder.}
OH! With our Hidden Power, {Rei smiles as she swings through a forest before jumping off a branch.}
(Never Give Up!) {Swinub, Chikortita, and Squirtle dive after her playfully.}
Come on, stand up and let's ride all the tailwinds! {Muk and Snorlax catch them, the team laughing.}
Motivation, Changing, and Enthusiasm! {Shun looks at the sky as his eyes flash red for a brief moment.}
Let's continue together everyday! {He smiles gently as his Pokémon surround him.}
Crossing through forests, rivers, and mountains, {Ricka, Rei, and Shun look at the night sky from a roof.}
This feeling is the greatest! (The greatest!) {Ricka smiles as she sees Ace resting.}
Friendship, love, and sheer power! {Shun watches as his Mawile tries to converse with Yuri, smiling.}
We're evolving everyday! {Rei watches in amazement as light surrounds her Chikorita.}
How nice, how nice, how nice, now let's go! {All three trainers throw a Poké Ball up to the sky.}
We've got a good combination! {Shun's Milotic and Mawile create fireworks from a beautiful attack combo.}
Perfect communication! {Rei happily speaks with the several Pokémon surrounding her.}
Always at high tension! {Ricka and a trainer glare at each other as they're about to battle.}
WOW WO shalala... It's gonna be alright! {Mew and Meloetta play as Celebi and Articuno watch.}
We've got a good vibration! {Ricka uses the Mega Stone as Yuri Mega Evolves into Mega Mawile.}
Towards tomorrow, congratulations! {Tyranitar roars proudly as he wins a battle, Shun complimenting him.}
It's always a revolution! {Spiky-Eared Pichu fights Hotaru's Zorua.}
Let's go on this road, we aim to be a Pokémon Master! {The three trainers stand in front of the daycare.}
…
The thunderclaps kept the child awake. She was used to rain and lighting; have you ever lived in a forest without shelter? But somehow, this all felt eerie. The ten-year-old, no matter how hard she tried, just couldn't get herself some rest. The rain on the window, the powerful winds outside, the horrid sound of lighting strikes; it all echoed into her bed. Once again, she was used to all of this; then why was it so hard to ignore now?
Rei stared toward the ceiling, almost infinitely. It was dark in their bedroom, with the only light coming from the occasional lighting flash. The child wasn't sure what was going on within her; why couldn't she sleep. It's not like Ricka couldn't; the redhead was sleeping harder than a Snorlax right now. And, no, it wasn't because the woman was sleep talking either. She hadn't done so in quite sometime.
So Rei had no excuse for being awake right now. She thought about getting herself some soda, but not after the last time she drank it. Soda doesn't make someone go to sleep faster, in fact it seems like quite the opposite. So Rei thought about getting herself some Moo Moo Milk. That makes people go to sleep, right?
So the ten-year-old got up from her bed, gently, as to not disturb Ricka. She passed by Ri-Ri, who slept on his own little map near their bed, and silently hopped over Pichu and Yuri, who generally slept together. Rei walked through the silent halls of the main building, stepped down the stairs, and came to the main lobby. Where in which, the floor was virtually littered with Pokémon. Ricka's Pokémon and Rei's Pokémon rested on the ground; well, those that weren't Water-types anyway. They could deal with the rain.
Rei hopped over her and Ricka's Pokémon with gentle steps, her young frame silent enough to keep them from waking up. Well, save for him. Ace's eyes snapped open, right when Rei stepped by. She looked at him, and he looked back. It didn't take long for him to return to rest, however. Rei continued stepping through the darkness, eventually arriving at the home's refrigerator. Opening it, she found that bottle of Moo Moo Milk, and smiled from the sight.
Now, all she needed to do was figure out how to work a microwave. Is, or isn't, aluminum foil necessary to get things to heat up? The child had some in her hand, though she wasn't sure. And man, this was one of those newer microwaves. Rei remembered how much Ricka gushed over the machine when she first bought it. It's buttons were flat and thin like paper, and it seemed to light up and beep whenever she pressed it. Which was good for Rei; made it easier to figure out where the buttons were. Now, all the ten-year-old needed now was that aluminum foil.
Another flash of lighting occurred, followed shortly by the thunderclap. Rei wasn't bothered by it, for she was gently moving the aluminum foil covered Moo Moo Milk into the microwave. After closing the machine, her fingers floated around the '30 secs' button. Ricka was going to be so proud when she told her how she used the microwave on her own.
Another flash of lighting, this time making Rei gaze toward the window. It was raining so hard, she almost didn't notice the being trudging through the fields. Almost. Rei flinched when she saw that darkened shadow. Instead of dealing with the microwave, the ten-year-old instead began walking toward the kitchen door. Opening it, she allowed the powerful nighttime wind to blow into her. But instead of closing the door, Rei continued on.
The winds were so strong, it must have been caused by Tornadous himself. But Rei was not deterred. She kept her eyes peeled, searching out for the being that trekked behind the ranch. She couldn't see it anymore thanks to all the rain. She would need some light.
So lightning flashed, bringing light to the fields just briefly. Thanks to the brief flash, Rei was able to see the body of the being she noticed before. It was laying near the Constant Box ranch, just resting there. The ten-year-old toiled in her footsteps, fear that which she did not know yet. She didn't bow out however, and instead continued on into the fields.
It was such a shame too. Ricka brought Rei a nightshirt specifically for her. It was one adorned with Munnas and Musharnas. And now it was all drenched, meaning Rei was going to have some explaining to do to Ricka in the morning. Nonetheless, she continued on toward the body. Even as her feet sank into the wet grass a little.
Was that blood? Rei stared down to her bare feet, seeing an odd mixture of water and blood. It oozed between her toes, making the child gasp as she sprang up and away. Her eyes continued to gaze upon the strands of blood and rain that led to the body she searched for. Now the child had cold feet, both figurative and literative. So she kept moving.
Only to stop, just a few seconds later. Rei now stood above this being, the one she noticed the night before. Laying there, on the ground. It had a long flowing red and black mane, on top of its jet black fur body. Skinny frame with red claws on its hands and feet. Rei felt this odd feeling quake through her body; she had seen this Pokémon before. It reminded her of Hotaru's Zorua, but Ricka had this Pokémon as well.
"Anubis?" the child whispered.
No, this wasn't Anubis. While the species was the same, this was obviously a different Pokémon. Obviously a different Zoroark. It laid there on the ground, weak and dying. Rei gazed at it, terrified by the sight of this Pokémon. She didn't know what to do, but she knew she had to do something fast. This Pokémon was bleeding out, right before the girl's eyes.
She hooked her hands beneath the Zoroark's shoulders, and began dragging her back toward the main building's back porch. Rei didn't know if this Zoroark belonged to someone or not, but she didn't care. It needed her help; there was no way she was going to turn her back on it now. Rei didn't stop until the Zoroark and her were on the back porch.
Now, what happened here? Who was this Pokémon that laid in Rei's arms and did it belong to someone? Was it wild? What happened to it, no wait, her to cause all of this? There were claw marks on her chest and body; something attacked her. Something big.
…
"What the flying fuck!?" the redhead yelled.
All the Pokémon in the building who were still resting was definitely awake now. The woman pulled back from the microwave, inside she discovered an aluminum foil covered bottle of Moo Moo Milk. Can you imagine finding a bottle of milk filled with foil? It's like the worse plan to burn down a house ever!
There was only one answer to this. A ten-year-old girl with indigo hair. The same one who just so happened to be her younger 'sister'. It's like sharing a house with thirteen black cats. Okay, maybe they aren't that unlucky, but this Moo Moo Milk thing could've burned down the whole house. Seriously.
"Rei!" Ricka yelled, anger on her voice, "What the hell?" she took a sip of that Milk, "Damn good milk too... uh... Rei! The hell are you!?"
She placed her hand on the kitchen door before stepping through angrily. It was nine in the morning, so the woman hadn't done her usual morning spiel. She hadn't washed or showered, so the woman just wore her usual t-shirt and panties. Hopefully, anyone staying at the Box wouldn't notice her morning routine.
Scratch that; what the hell? Why was there a bleeding Zoroark on her back porch, and why was Rei holding it up in her lap? The ten-year-old gazed up to Ricka with a meek face, while she motioned down to her shotty patch work. The Zoroark's body held various coils on it, thanks to the many open First-Aid kits around.
"What the...?" Ricka murmured.
"She's not doing to well, Ricka," the ten-year-old said, "Rei tried her best, but she doesn't know what to do anymore."
"Ah... damn..." the woman said, "Go... go and get Buster, he knows Heal Pulse. That'll come in hand... I'll... I'll see what I can do here..."
Rei nodded as she stood up, gently resting the Zoroark's head onto the wood floors. She soon after sprinted for the Shell Fish Pokémon Ricka sent her for. The woman on the other hand began to think back on all that medical training she took. After all, its necessary for a Pokémon Trainer to know how to deal with his or her own Pokémon, just in case a Pokémon Center isn't in reach. Dealing with a Zoroark isn't necessarily hard for her, after all she has her own, but dealing a Zoroark with such extensive injuries may prove to be difficult.
Rei soon returned, Buster at her side. The woman beckoned to her Pokémon, and gave her an order soon after. The Slowbro placed his hands over the injured Zoroark's body, this wonderful pink shock wave spreading out from his nubs soon after. Rei stood idly by, watching with unsure eyes as Ricka tended to the Illusion Fox Pokémon.
Hours passed, where in which Ricka brought her to the lobby of her home. The Zoroark's body was covered of all the injuries she had sustained, though things still weren't looking to good. At least from Rei's point-of-view. The Illusion Fox wasn't moving much, so she asked about her condition. Every time, Ricka would answer the same way. She would smile, nod, and say, 'It's coming along well'.
Ricka spent hours within the building, with Rei and Shun running the daycare outside. The clock eventually reached '5 PM', when the child returned. Walking up to the building in her usual clothes, hand meeting the doorknob. She turned it and entered the kitchen, where in which she had a surprise. Ricka was just sitting there, still in her morning clothes, stinky from the fact that she hadn't washed yet. Enjoying herself a nice cup of whatever, while she gazed down to the newspaper in hand.
"R-Ricka!" Rei cried, Ri-Ri in her arms, "Ricka! What's going on!? Where is the Zoroark!?"
"SSSSSHHHHH!" the woman shushed, before gazing back down to the newspaper, "Jeeze, Rei... can't you see I'm busy right now?"
The woman went back to reading the newspaper intensely, while Rei gazed on in pure astonishment. What was going on!? Where was the Zoroark, and was it okay!? She decided to ignore Ricka and let the woman read her newspaper, and investigate on her own. Passing the redhead aside, she stepped into the lobby of the main building. She had to slow down though, for she almost tripped over her own Pokémon. Squirtle, Chikorita, Pichu, Celebi too, and Swinub (not Snorlax cause he's too freaking huge), all stood in the lobby together. And all had their eyes on one.
A Pokémon taller than them, but noticeably smaller than her own kind. A bipedal black and red fox with various coils all around her body. She sat, wide awake, on the couch, gazing down to the Pokémon that stood before her. She was embarrassed, and kinda put off by the Pokémon that gazed at her so intensely.
"Oh!" Rei said as she approached the Illusion Fox Pokémon, "You're finally awake! Uh... I'm Rei, I found you," she lifted the Riolu in her arms, "And this is Ri-Ri!"
The Zoroark just gazed at Rei, silently. The child was taken aback by the Illusion Fox's silence. Call her a bit immature (she is ten), but Rei expected a thanks or something. A 'hello' or 'how do you do', or something! Not just silence. Because that's all Rei was getting; silence.
"Don't mind her," Ricka said to the Zoroark, like it was some guess, "Rei is just checking up on you is all. She's the one who found you and started patching you up; I think you should say 'thanks'," the woman's face grew lax, "But I'm pretty sure you won't. Rei, take our guest here to the Ghost House. I'm pretty sure she will find save haven there, okay?"
"Uh... okay..." the child answered.
"Good... now I'm going to go and take a shower, because I smell like your fuckin Muk. I can't take this no damn more..."
Rei nodded as she listened to Ricka's commands, while the woman left to do as she said she would do. Shortly after, the ten-year-old gazed up to the Zoroark. She looked back with her blue eyes, still as silent as the floorboards. Immobile, even as Rei reached forward with her hand. The ten-year-old knew wild Pokémon, and she knew injured wild Pokémon. It was wise not to be fast and erratic with her movements, as to not terrify the beast. Still, Rei took the Zoroark's hand into her hand. And ever so gently, she lead the Illusion Fox Pokémon away from the building.
Rei felt slightly awkward by what she was doing. Leading this Zoroark toward building #15, AKA the Ghost House, she felt somewhat deranged. Or maybe the child was just feeling that darkness that swarmed from off of the Zoroark's body. Which is odd; she's never felt that feeling from a Dark-type before.
Whatever the case may be, Rei led the Zoroark to the Ghost House. Her hand met the knob, and she turned it slowly. Ever so slowly, until the door flew open. The child had been to the Ghost House often before, after all she lives at the Constant Box, so the feeling of it all didn't bother her one bit. She walked inside with a smile, gazing toward all the Dark and Ghost-types that existed within this place. They all stared at her as well.
"Hello!" Rei called, "We have a new guest here!"
"Is that so?" a slightly mysterious voice echoed.
Rei gazed down, watching as a red-eyed, black furred Eeveelution with golden rings on his body walk up. The ten-year-old giggled at the sight of him, especially as he leaped up into her arms.
"Captain!" she said to the Moonlight Pokémon.
"Good evening, Rei," Ricka's Umbreon said, "I dare say... is that a new guest for the Ghost House?"
"Uh-huh," the child said as she glanced at the Zoroark, "She... I found her last night... I think she was attacked by something, but I'm not sure what..." she looked back, "Captain, can you please take care of her? She's a wild Pokémon, but is too weak to be on her own as of right now."
"Take care of her, eh?" he answered, "Easy..." he hopped from Rei's arms soon after as he trekked to the Zoroark, "Welcome to the Ghost House, there are a few rules I must say. Rule Number 1, please don't mess with the Gengars. Rule Number 2, please don't mess with the Hypnos. Rule Number 3, and I think this is important, please don't, I repeat, please don't, mess with Anubis... he's the, uh... Zoroark that's been making googly eyes at you this whole time..."
Mid-Nite motioned with his eyes to his right, making her gaze left. In the shadows, staring back, was another Zoroark. One taller than her, stronger looking as well. Just as Mid-Nite claimed, he was making goggly eyes at the female member of his species. At least, that's what it looked like. He was staring at her intensely.
"He may look like he wants to mate with you," the Umbreon claimed, "But that's not true... he will attempt to prank you. At least once. Other than that," he turned around and began walking off all sassy like, "Welcome to the Ghost House. Please make sure to watch your step."
Mid-Nite trekked off into the shadows soon after, leaving Rei alone with that Zoroark. The ten-year-old turned and faced her; eyes meeting eyes. The child tried to say something, but before she could the Illusion Fox whisked herself away into the shadows of the Ghost House. Rei felt slightly crestfallen by the sudden shift; she thought the Zoroark would say something. Say 'thanks' at the very least. But, no, she wasn't given that.
"Hey Rei," the woman said as she scratched her thigh and flipped through channels lazily.
"Hey Ricka," she replied dishearteningly, before gazing up to the woman in confusion, "Didn't Ricka say she was going to wash?"
"I was, but I decided against it," the woman replied, "I mean, what's the point when it's already five o'clock? Virtually none... but now I smell all nasty..." she grimaced, "What of you Rei? You look kinda unhappy over there."
"Rei saved the Zoroark's life and she didn't thank her," the child bemoaned, "Why is that?"
"She got attacked by Arceus knows what, Rei," the woman said, "Can't really expect her to thank you out of the blew like that. But, knowing Zoroarks, she's probably fretting for her pack or something like that. Give her time, Rei. You'll get your thanks sooner or later..."
"Okay..." the child replied, before this horrid smell entered her nose, "Ah!? Ricka smells really, really bad!"
"COMING FROM THE GIRL WHO HUGS HER PET MUK ALL THE TIME, THAT'S AN UNDERSTATEMENT!" the woman roared back.
…
The foggy morning overlay was the setting for this hour. Silent all around, with that frothy morning mist taking over the land. It was a place easy to get lost into, and just as easy to never be found. Building #15's backdoor opened slowly within. It was the only sound that echoed out.
Soon after, gentle footsteps, one after another. Walking along the foggy day, roaming deeper and deeper into absolutely nothing. Trying her hardest to escape the place where she was placed. Her body heavily covered by coils, by that human girl and woman. Those sisters, even though the do not share the same scent, did well in taking care of her. Why?
They shouldn't have helped her. If she died because of that Ursaring then that would have been a good thing. To be helped by someone else would be to show weakness. Absolute weakness.
"I figured you'd make your way out of there," a snide voice suddenly echoed, catching the female Zoroark off guard, "Oh yes, let me guess here. Hm, let's see... you were the Omega, weren't you? The weak one. I can tell, I can. Your mane. You lack that blue ring, you do. I can tell. Let me guess; they kicked you out to toughen you up, right?"
"Who's there!?" she yelled.
"Just another... wayward soul," the voice replied before laughing.
Her nose quivered, while her lips bent down into a frown. She could smell him; his body smelt musky and sweaty. But above all, she recognized the smell. It was a smell that existed within the building she pulled herself free of. One she slowly started to pick apart from all the ghosts and other dark-types. Speaking of which; that smell was right behind her.
"Found you!" she yelled as she swiped with her claw toward the being directly behind her.
To the Illusion Fox's surprise however, her assailant caught the attack with his hand. She gazed in awe toward the being, and her blue eyes slowly moved up. Her eyes met another pair of blue eyes, that gazed down upon her in a scowling fashion. He was tall, muscular, stronger. He was Anubis, that Zoroark she was warned to steer clear of.
"Good attack," Anubis claimed, "But I can see why they kicked you out. If this is how much stronger you've become now, I'd hate to see how weak you were before."
"How dare you!" she yelled in utter disbelief.
Angered by his words, the female Zoroark began striking at the male. With great ease, he dodged the strikes like they were nothing. One after another, and in such a skillful manner, he dodged the blows like they were nothing. This angered the female further.
"Do you not understand how difficult it was to face that Ursaring!?" she yelled in anger.
"An Ursaring, huh?" Anubis replied.
She struck again, but he easily swatted the attack away like it was nothing. Immediately after, the male Zoroark dashed into the fog, vanishing like the air. She stared around in circles, awaiting the moment he would return. Instead, a powerful shade was cast over her body. The Illusion Fox felt her voice get caught in her throat, before she turned around. Her eyes fell onto the eyes of a great brown bear, one with circle on his belly and extremely sharp claws. He stared down to her, face lax, while she stared back up in absolute horror.
"An Ursaring, huh?" Anubis asked, his body now that of the Ursaring, "I can see where it would be difficult, but a wild one should have been nothing to you... I'm even more disappointed..."
The female Zoroark snarled at the statement, while the tall Ursaring became a Zoroark once more. She clashed her claws together honing them to a powerful state, while her eyes settled upon her enemy. Anubis couldn't help but to laugh, and he only laughed more when she dashed to strike him. He dodged each and ever swipe skillfully, like it were a child that was attacking him, and not a fully evolved Pokémon.
"Please, tell me," he said as he grabbed both of her hands, "Where were you planning on going exactly? If you just stay at the Box, Rei and Ricka will take care of you as best they can. But if you are to leave then," he smirked, "You'd die. And your body will be nothing more than Mandibuzz food."
"How... dare... you..." she growled, "TALK THAT WAY TO ME!"
She pried her hands free of his grasp, before pulling back. The next second she leaped for her enemy, poised to slam her body into his. Anubis didn't even move; he allowed her to tackle her. The two rolled on the floor, before they stopped with her on top, and Rei on the bottom. The female Zoroark pulled back, as she saw the malicious sight of a ten-year-old girl with red highlights in her hair stare back up.
"So tell me," Anubis asked, "How good are you at your illusionist powers? I noticed your entire time at the Ghost House, you didn't transform. Not once! Tell me, do you even remember how to do so? Or do you suck at it so much you don't even do so? That would explain how you got attacked by an Ursaring instead of running away. Or did you have something to prove, hm?"
His words had angered her enough. He may have been one of those froufrou Trainer Pokémons, but she was still wild. The words 'kill' and 'survive' were interchangeable in her world. If she wanted to kill something, there was nothing holding her back from doing so. She pulled her hand back, pointing her sharp claws toward the male Zoroark. Just one thrust, and he'd be dead. Right for the heart.
She dashed; ready for the kill. But right before her hand met skin, she was pulled directly back. Her eyes grew wide, while she fell upon her back. Gazing up, she no longer saw just the male Zoroark, but another. A blue, black, with a creamy fur chest, not to mention the various spikes that existed on said chest as well as his hands. He had red eyes that gleamed, and black bangs that sat four side-by-side.
She gasped at the sight of him, while Anubis chuckled. This stoic Pokémon glared up at the chuckling being however, still holding great resentment.
"You are an idiot, Anubis," the Aura Pokémon claimed.
"Oh Terios, you wound me with your words," the Illusion Fox Pokémon replied.
They both gazed down upon the female Zoroark together, while she gazed back up. She couldn't believe what she saw before her. A Lucario. Never before in her life had she seen a Lucario before. Tall, powerful; it was just like she thought they'd be. What was it doing here; she did not remember a Lucario ever being on the ranch until now.
"Now who are you?" Terios asked as he lent her a helping hand, "And why did you just try to kill my brother here?"
"Brother?" she asked in utter confusion, her hand grabbing his.
"Yes, yes," Anubis said, "Egg Groups are such a fickle thing, now aren't they?"
"We're not really brothers," Terios groaned, "Thank Arceus for that... we were just caught around the same time."
She placed her hands on Terios' hands, where her claws graced something metallic on his right hand. She looked at it, noticing a weird gauntlet, with an even weirder stone placed within it. She pulled her hand away when her hand met the steel contraption.
"So what's going on here?" Terios asked as he looked at Anubis.
"She's trying to leave," the Zoroark answered, "And I'm pretty sure if she does that, she will die. And, no, not in a great way. More in a very slow way, if she doesn't find a Pokémon that will tear her to shreds."
"Oh yeah," the Aura Pokémon said, "You're that Zoroark, aren't you? The one Rei saved," he squinted, as he read her aura, "I see. You've been running around here for a year now, haven't you? I can see you're stronger now than you were last time but... Anubis is right," he turned around, "If you left in this condition, you will die."
"I'd rather die than to accept help from all of you!" she stated, "To get help from someone who is not in the pack, that's as bad as death!" she crossed her arms, "As far as I'm concerned, I am dead. The whole point was to get stronger, and yet I'm still so weak I need to get help from others..."
"That doesn't make any sense..." Terios said, "You think getting help from others makes you weak? At the sake of sounding cliché, it really doesn't. You've already seen what happens when you try to go your own way; trying things our way for a change..."
"And where are you going, Terios?" Anubis asked.
"To sleep... this is screwing with my eternal clock..."
The Lucario stepped into the morning mist, eventually vanishing. The female Zoroark stared to her right, seeing Anubis again. He laughed and snarled at her, before transforming into something as small and as meek as a Rattata. And, upon doing so, he scurried off into the mist. Whatever he was doing, one could suspect it would deal with scaring someone.
So she stood all alone within the center of the fields, confused and unsure of their words. The idea of having someone else help was such a blasphemous idea. To gain help from someone who is not apart of the pack; its something unheard of before.
But. Hey. It's either that or death.
…
"Well, well, well, look whose here," Ricka said.
"What is Ricka talking about?" Rei asked.
"Just look..."
It was Friday. For Ricka and Rei, that's a very special day. Instead of the usual where they deal with people and their Pokémon all day, Friday was they day they spent together, doing what Pokémon Trainer's do best; Train. But they weren't alone this time. A Bandaged Zoroark had decided to join them today. For now, the two would just try to ignore her.
Squirtle was standing in the center of the meadow, doing a few squats up and down with a face of determination on. Standing some ways away was his sparing partner, the massive Thorn Pod Pokémon known as Fortitudo. The Ferrothorn was shaking left and right as he usually did, awaiting the move his opponent decided to throw out.
"Okay," Squirtle said with vigor, "Watch out Fortitudo! I'mma show you what I learned!"
"Go ahead, Squirtle!" he replied, his voice like an old man, "I await anything you throw!"
"Okay! AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!"
He opened his mouth wide, charging up a blistering mist of ice. Fortitudo awaited the attack, while Squirtle fired. His beam of ice slammed into the Ferrothorn, where he was sure he did major damage. Instead, when all the ice subsided, the massive Thorn Pod Pokémon remained just as strong as he was before.
"Good hit!" he said, "But you may have to try a tad bit harder!"
"I'll show you!" the Tiny Turtle Pokémon replied.
The female Zoroark gazed toward the training with eyes of confusion. What was all of this? The way these Pokémon Trainers trained their Pokémon was so weird. Where was the hunting, the killer instinct of it all? Sparing yes, but shouldn't these Pokémon be learning how to properly defend themselves on their own?
"Interested?" a voice asked from behind.
She turned around, watching as this grinning Zoroark walked up on all fours. He was staring around in a very apprehensive manner, before standing up tall on his two feet.
"What are they doing?" the female asked.
"Training, doofus," Anubis replied, "It's what Pokémon Trainers do with their Pokémon. Train them so they can become stronger!"
"Yeah... that Squirtle doesn't look too strong..." she said in disbelief.
"I swear! I'll make you rust!" the Tiny Turtle Pokémon claimed as she pointlessly spewed water onto Fortitudo's body.
"Okay, maybe it doesn't look like it, but he's getting there," Anubis claimed, "That Squirtle was afraid of his own shadow when he first arrived. Now, he's got enough galls to attack march in Volito's way."
"Yeaaaaaaaaah..." the female replied, "And what of them?"
She pointed over a few feet a little grove that existed within the forest. Lining it for yards were various swords, all made of grass. And in the center of the madness was a Forest Pokémon with his arms cross, and a Leaf Pokémon that sat on his head.
"Oh, that's Chikorita and Ace," Anubis said, "Just uh... just don't bother them, okay? They've got their own special amounts of training... even though it looks like they're just sleeping over there..."
Which they were.
"So how do we... train...?" the female asked.
"Simple," Anubis said, as he roamed to the center as well, "Just do as I do!"
He roamed to his own little section of the forest, beckoning to her with his claw. She decided to follow, although not after her own time of thinking about it. The female Zoroark joined Anubis in the center, where they both stopped.
"It's easy, really," he said, "Just stand right there," darkness began to swarm around his claws, making her fret, "This will be real easy! Check this out! Shadow Claw!"
Skillfully, the Zoroark performed a few slashes to the wind. They fluttered around the female, missing her just barely. Each slash was powerful enough to cut the trees around them, because they did just that. The female Zoroark turned around, watching as a tree behind her was stripped down to its bark. But, more importantly, the slashes struck at the Lucario who stood behind her.
Terios gazed up, eyes flaring red. Anubis immediately began to fear the Lucario, as he stepped back with hands cutting the air in front of him.
"No, no, Terios!" the male Zoroark said, "It was an accident! I swear!"
"Yeah..." he replied as a blue orb appeared right into his hands.
He tossed the blast in a curved manner, where it missed the female completely and instead struck the male. Anubis was tossed, face first, into a tree, where he was immediately rendered unconscious.
"I swear..." Terios said as he started walking off, "He annoys me..."
"W-wait! Terios!" she called, "What about..."
"Rei..." he merely replied as he stopped, "Talk to Rei... she'll train you... you see, she can understand us..."
The female Zoroark stopped, utterly confused by Terios' words. He continued on into the forest, going his own way. This left her alone, to think on his words. What did he mean by Rei can understand them? No human can understand a Pokémon. It's simply impossible! Then again...
"Rei didn't know Ricka had a Lucario..." the child said.
"Oh, him?" Ricka replied, "Oh, this is just Terios..."
The Lucario, despite its powerful exterior, was a lot like a dog at the end of the day. The way he smiled as he sat in Ricka's lap, while her hand glided down his furry body, it was so cute.
"I used to do that Amie thing with him all the time," she said, "He's a little spoiled boy!" she suddenly flinched, "Hey, Rei... you're up..."
The ten-year-old, confused by the statement, looked up. Walking toward them was that same Zoroark, the one in her coils. She walked up to Rei, and came to a complete stop.
"Zo... ru... a..?"
"Zo, zo?" Rei replied.
"Here we go," Ricka said as she threw her arms up, "I'm going back to the Box Rei, you finish things up over here, okay?"
"Zrooa..." Rei answered, before she settled her eyes back onto the Zoroark, "Are you okay?"
"I'm... fine..." she answered meekly, trying her hardest to avoid eye contact, "Terios said you can understand us. I now know that to be true..."
"Then... can I ask if you have a name or not?" Rei asked.
"Alice..." the Zoroark replied, "My name is... Alice..." she then looked up, "Can you train me?"
…
"So..." Ricka said. It must have been some weeks later, "Where did that Zoroark go, anywhere?"
"Who? Alice?" Rei replied.
"Yeah... Alice..." Ricka asked.
The woman was folding up her clothes, preparing for tomorrow, not to mention Rei's. Seriously, Ricka was sure she brought more clothing for Rei in her time knowing her, than she did herself. But the woman didn't mind. Really, she didn't. If anything, clothes shopping with Rei was slowly starting to become a fun little pass-time for the two.
"Alice had to leave Rei," the ten-year-old said, as she gently laid Ri-Ri to bed, "Her training was done..."
"I'm surprised you didn't try to catch her," Ricka mused, her hand twisting the knob of their lamp.
"Rei didn't think it would be right to catch Alice," the child said as she too laid in their bed, "It's like... Alice... sorta reminded Rei of Rei, when she were younger..."
"Eh?" Ricka grumbled as she got comfortable, "How's that?"
"You see," the child said, "Rei was proud like her once. She didn't want to get help from a lot of people. It took Rei a long time before she started accepting humans again. It was... it was when Rei was caught in a forest fire and..." she started prodding her fingers, "And this woman saved Rei... she can't really remember her face, she can't even remember how she sounded... but..."
Thanks to the darkness of the night, Rei couldn't see the smile on Ricka's face. But she did feel how the woman hugged her tightly.
"Rei hopes Alice finds what she's looking for, in the end..."
"Yeah, Rei," Ricka replied, "I do too... c'mon, it's been a long day... let's get some rest."
"Yeah Ricka," the child replied as she hugged the woman, "Rei is tired..."
…
It was raining. Lightning, in the sky. This storm befitted Zapdos itself. Her legs were part, as she stared toward her enemy with her blue eyes. This beast, this massive beast. It was much greater than her; a brown bear with a great ring on its chest. It roared out, threatening to sever her to pieces. But she wouldn't let it. The Zoroark was fully prepared to transform and run away, but no, not now. She was too strong to simply run away.
The Ursaring rushed her, she leaped back. Alice struck.
Maverick Talks!
Another day, another chapter. Ya'see, when I just focus on one story, I can easily update it day after day! Uber, right!
Anyway, the character for the day in this chapter is the Zoroark known as Alice, and she comes to us from blazingawesome007. Funny thing, her name 'Alice' comes from a story request asked of me by blazingawesome007. We have an story trade thing going on. But I'm not gonna talk anymore about that story, since it is his story.
As one can see, this chapter had a lot more talking in it from the Pokemon instead of Ricka and Rei. I felt like that was a better choice, seeing as how this chapter focuses mainly on a Zoroark. But in all honesty, I had a different idea planned out for it. Originally, they were going to go to Alice's tribe, and beat the living hell out of them. But I sat back and thought 'what kinda lesson does that teach?' Not a good one, I'll have you know. Besides, the last chapter had fighting in it, let's focus on some other things.
But, to me, I feel as if its a short chapter. As if something is left 'wanting'. Or maybe that's just me, I don't know.
Anyway, next chapter won't have an OC in it. But the chapter after the next will, and it'll have a returning guest as well! And then after that one, another returning guest! Yes, yes, yes! Returning guests!
I sat with my sister today and watched every single Pirates of the Caribbean moving with her while writing this. Well, every single one except the fourth one because TNT decided not to play it. Oh well...
Maverick Kay Prime
