000
Joey Short whistled a tune to himself as he cleaned out his motorcycle. He has a crew cut, and a very brutal face. His gang of bikers chatted around him, having a drink and laughing.
And then out of nowhere, a woman stepped out of the clearing. She had dark, silky hair and a beautiful face, but it was also cruel. Her eyes were pink, and she seemed to radiate power.
"Aye. Whaddu you want!?" said Joey, slowly taking out his knife from his back pocket. The woman smiled at him, a cold reptilian smile that seemed anything but human.
"Oh, I'm just here for an offer you can't refuse." She crooned, not even remotely afraid the leering men with knives.
"And what would that be?" asked Joey, folding her arms. Sabrina slowly walked around him in a circle, and it put an uncomfortable feeling in the thug's stomach.
"Oh, it's simple really. All you need to do is capture a kid who should be riding by your territory. He only wears red, so he's not exactly hard to find," Sabrina explained nonchalantly.
"Sorry girl, but we don't attack kids." Joey muttered. "Clearly you think us so low, but even we have boundaries-Ah!"
He began to glow in a red aura, and his hands crept to his throat as Sabrina made a chocking motion with her hands. Her eyes were now a bright and glittering red.
"You think I care about what your boundaries are? No, I said it was an offer you couldn't refuse, didn't I? Well here it is!"
With a warning cry, two of Joey's bikers charged, but Sabrina simply flicked a finger, and they were throw backwards, hitting twin trees.
She gave the now terrified and turning purple Joey a cruel grin. "Now you will capture Red, kill as many of his Pokemon as you can, preferably one of his starters, and you will bring him to me. If you fail to do any of those things you die. Understand?"
000
"What….IS that?"
Red looked at the huge figure lying down in front of him. It resembled a bear, but it was huge and seemed to be overweight. It had a very content expression as it slept.
Ash sprinted to it, sniffing him all around. Red looked at his Pokedex. "It says he's a Snorlax, and apparently he'll sleep for hours. But if we wake him up, he'll be extremely angry. Since he's blocking the road, I suppose we'll have to stay here for a while."
As he released his team, he pressed a button on it bike. It folded up perfectly into a small suitcase like box that he easily fit into his bag.
Ash smiled at Will, who was shamelessly trying to flirt with Sydney, who responded with dry quips. Luca was showing Lucina his new powers as a Venusaur, his now numerous vines reaching twice as far as they had while being an Ivysaur.'
And Tyrone was….Ash paled. He was stomping towards the soundly sleeping Snorlax. He stared for a moment, before grinning and punching the Snorlax hard in the stomach.
"Ty No!"
The Snorlax roared in pain, slowly rising to its feet. Tyrone grinned as he got into a fighting position. The Snorlax roared at him, before aiming kick that punted Tyrone and sent him flying. Red cursed under his breath. "Guys, get ready to battle it out!"
Ash fired a thunderbolt, while Will used a powerful bubble beam. Lucina's eyes glowed blue with psychic power as she flew forward. Sydney burrowed into the ground.
Snorlax moved with surprising speed, dodging both Ash and Will's attacks and throwing a powerful punch at Lucina, who barely managed to put up a barrier in time. Tyrone roared as he rose to his feet and lunged, but the Snorlax caught the Nidoking's arm and struck him hard in the face.
When Tyrone went down, Snorlax aimed a mega punch, but flinched in pain as Sydney appeared on the back of his neck, using her entire body to put him in a chokehold. When Snorlax stumbled back, Luca's powerful vines shot out, wrapping around the Snorlax. With a grunt, he hurled the bear like Pokemon off a near cliff face, where he fell down in the water below.
Sydney yelped as she fell too, digging her claws into the cliff. Her eyes were terrified. Another one of Luca's vine's wrapped around her, carrying her up to safety.
Sydney was breathing heavily, her eyes dilated. If she had landed in the water, she'd be dead for sure.
"Hey Syd? You okay?"
Sydney sighed, relieved. She gave Red a tired smile. Red nodded, and then turned to the rest of team.
"That Snorlax was strong. We're very lucky no one got hurt. Ty….can you PLEASE not pick a fight with every Pokemon we meet?"
Tyrone scoffed, but nodded slightly. Red, shrugging his shoulders, returned him and the rest of his team. Ash hopped on his shoulder.
"Sometimes, I feel like Tyrone is more trouble then he's worth…" Red said with a sigh.
"Piiika."
000
That night, close to cycling road, Red and the team decided to camp for the night. Sydney started a fire with her tail, and Ash, Luca, Will and Red toasted marshmallows. Lucina used her psychic powers to make barriers, protecting the team from possible attacks.
It wasn't long before nearly everyone was asleep. Red was snoring slightly, with Ash cuddled up to him. Will and Luca was sleeping side by side. Even Lucina was asleep, sitting on a high branch, looking lonely without Hawkeye's presence.
But both Sydney and Tyrone were still awake, staring at the fire….and each other.
As usual, Sydney spoke first. "Gerald…I need to know what happened to you. You've been acting….really recklessly. I don't hate you, but I won't deny that you've been driving this team to chaos."
Tyrone gave her a cold look. "What happened to me is none of your business."
Sydney's eyes flashed. "Actually, I think it is. If what happened to you is negatively affecting your stability, and causing you to act recklessly….it isn't just you that's in danger. It's all of us together. And if you do that, then we at least deserve a right to know…"
Tyrone growled softly.
"Gerald, we only-"
"Enough! Fine, I'll tell you! Your words just make me sick."
Sydney was too shocked by his assent to be hurt. "Really?"
Tyrone rolled his eyes. "Whatever, if it stops you from going on in another speech. You want my story? Then you'd better be able to handle it, sister."
Sydney hissed indignantly. "Of course I can."
For the first time, Tyrone smirked. "We'll see. Now I guess the start begins with….."
0000
"C'mon you goof! Is that the best you can do?"
Nidoran gasped and wheezed as he struggled to catch up to his much faster sister. "C'mon Nidorina, you're evolved! I'm at a disadvantage!"
Nidorina simply giggled, reaching the top of the cliff. Nidoran soon arrived, panting.
"Why did you even take me here? We're really far from home. Mom will be worried."
"Oh come down, you're supposed to be the tough man."
"Hey! You are way tougher than me, that's not fair!"
Nidorina giggled again. "Whatever, just look over at the cliff already."
Nidoran did so and gasped, but this time out of amazement. "Wow! The beautiful valleys, the trees! The mount-"
"That's not what I meant you dolt. Look over there, by the road." Nidoran followed where she was pointing, and his eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. "Humans!"
There were a lot of them, and they wore dark suits. One of them seemed to be yelling at all the others.
Nidorina grinned widely. "Let's go get a closer look!"
Nidoran looked down. "But mom said we can never get close to humans, or we'll never see each other again!"
"Oh don't be such a worrywart. They won't even see us."
Nidoran had a bad feeling about this, but nonetheless followed his sisters. The two were quick, quiet and stealthy. Eventually, the found the humans, who had scaled further up the path and were somewhat closer to the cave the two poison pin Pokemon lived with their parents.
Nidoran's hesitation ebbed away and was replaced by curiosity and wonder. Nidorina grinned at him as the humans marched, talking to each other and muttering curses.
"Why did that damn Nidoking have to get in our way?" said one testily. "It took forever to kill, and now we're a half an hour off schedule." Nidoran's eyebrow rose at this, but was too busy staring at the human's actions. Some kicked at the dirt, a few others put a small white stick in their mouth, smoke seemingly coming out with it. When they talked loudly, shouting that seemingly boomed through the entire forest.
"Why are they so loud?" Nidorina hissed, covering her ears. Nidoran ignored her, transfixed.
But then they were interrupted by a huge explosion in the ground, both Nidoran and Nidorina thrown off the tree they were hiding on top of.
A huge Nidoqueen roared hopping down towards team Rocket. Tears were dripping down her face.
"Where are they!? TELL ME! Don't take them away too!"
The humans fell backward, disarray befalling them. Some managed to release their Pokemon, but she easily batted them aside, before creating another powerful earthquake.
"M-mom!?" Nidoran cried, running out to meet her. The Nidoqueen turned, relief flooding her face when she saw her two children safe and alive.
"RUN! I'll hold them here!"
"But-"
"Go!"
Two powerful Sandslash leapt forwards, digging their claws into Nidoqueen, who roared in pain. Nidorina hissed at him. "C'mon, run!"
Nidoran stared at the humans, once his greatest wonder, become his greatest fear. Nidorina dragged him along, but he looked back. Nidoqueen fought like a monster, but she was clearly overwhelmed. Nidoran had seen enough fights to know when someone was losing.
And then, Nidoran scampered away without another look back, never to see his mother again.
000
It was raining. Nidoran ran as fast as he could, chasing his older sister through the woods. His tears and the heavy rain made it difficult to see. It was not long before he couldn't find Nidorina. He cried out her name, but she was gone, and he began shivering in the cold.
Just as he was about to give up hope, Nidorina's voice called his name. Nidoran's ears perked up. She called again.
"Nidorina, I'm here!" He immediately ran forward as fast as he could, but before he could find her, he felt a tap on his head, and a bright flash of light…..
000
Nidoran woke up slowly. He was lying on something soft. Slowly he yawned, before opening his eyes. He scrambled backwards immediately.
He was in a place he didn't know. Somewhere inside, like a cave, but somehow much more homier and comfortable. He was sitting on a soft mattress. A young human kneeled on the bed next to him. Nidoran shivered in fear. What if he was like the humans who had attacked his mother?
But the human simply smiled and patted him on the team. "We caught you yesterday! You were alone in the rain, so I thought you'd want some shelter. We're assembling a team to take on the Pokemon league! We can train together, and take down every gym leader in Kanto."
Nidoran however, was not excited. On the contrary, his eyes bugged out and he hopped off the bed, sprinting outside the room. He had to find his family. The young human gave him a surprised look and returned him to his poke ball.
"It's gonna be a while to break you in, huh?'
000
At first Nidoran refused to cooperate, running away whenever he was released. Eventually, realizing he simply could be tracked down, decided to calm down and resist in other, more subtle ways. He would refuse meals, avoid the rest of the boy's (who said his name was Jeffery) Pokemon. He even tried to hide his own Pokemon.
Jeffery however, was never angry. He knew about Nidoran secretly sneaking down to the food pantry late at night, or how his Dragonair comforted him in the early mornings. Nidoran also hid his Poke ball in obvious places like the milk jug or the freezer.
Normally, Jeffery would have simply let the unhappy Pokemon leave. But Jeffery could sense that the Nidoran secretly liked being there, and only tried to leave out of a sense of duty or guilt.
Jeffery could see the bright look on Nidoran's face when he arrived every day after work. He could see the excitement on his face when battling was mentioned. Jeffery simply needed something to push the poison pin Pokemon over the edge.
And then he found it.
During a battle that he was clearly going to win. Jeffrey sent out Nidoran against the other trainer's last Pokemon, a Rattata.
"Rattata use scratch!"
"Dodge and use tackle!"
The Rattata sprinted forward, but Nidoran managed to duck under the swing and leap to the side. Excitement took over him, and without thinking rammed into the rodent, defeating it.
Nidoran swelled with pride when Jeffery collected his prize money. He forgot about his mother, father and sister. He was a battling Pokemon.
And he wanted to fight.
0000
Nidoran quickly moved up, catching up to the rest of team in terms of strength. He no longer wanted to escape. He was entered into the competition with the name "Gerald", the one Jeffrey gave him.
For three days, Nidoran fought and loved and laughed with his team, slowly making their progress to their first gym, Koga's.
It was then however, that tragedy struck.
000
"Crud….That's team Rocket!"
Jeffery cursed under his breath, looking out through a pair of binoculars. Gerald climbed on a rock to get a closer view. It was men in black clothing.
The same group who had separated him and his family.
Anger boiled in his veins, and it struck him that he had never truly felt anger before. He began to make angry barking noise that Jeffery hushed quickly.
"Gerald? What's the matter?"
Gerald sighed. It was time for him to open up.
Using Jeffrey's powerful Slowbro to translate, Gerald explained what happened between him and the apparent members of Team Rocket.
Jeffery bit his lip, pale. "I didn't know…..Oh Arceus I'm sorry. I never realized how bad they were. I knew they were criminals but the fact that they are strong or organized…"
He gulped. "That means…whatever they are doing here is…not legal. We should stop them. We're strong I know we can handle it. And maybe they know where your family is Gerome? Are you guys in?"
Most of his team was loyal without question, and would die for him if they had too. The question was Gerome.
He looked into Jeffery's eyes, the determination. And then he made the worst decision of his life.
He nodded.
000
The attack had no strategy, no logical sense, and no chance of success. It started out well enough, the element of surprise was on Jeffery's side, and Team Rocket was caught completely off guard. When they managed to release their team, Jeffery's superior team easily thrashed them.
But then everything was ruined when the Nidoqueen appeared, screaming angrily. She looked like she was in an intense rage, and threw herself on Jeffrey's team. But Gerald saw something, the way she fought and held herself. It looked familiar.
"Nidorina?"
If the Nidoqueen had heard him, she didn't notice. She roard, aiming a punch that shot through Jeffery's Arbok, killing it instantly. Gerald heard Jeffery's shout and wailing, and Gerald was running toward her, knowing she had to stop his sister.
"Nidorina, please stop it! You have to stop! You're hurting everybody!"
Nidoqueen turned toward him and roared, swinging the arm down like a club. Gerald managed to roll to the side to avoid it. He ran up, his eyes boring into hers.
"It's me…Nidoran."
For a moment, the Nidoqueen's expression softened. And then with another cry she, slammed her fist upwards, knocking Gerald like a rag doll. He hit a tree, and the last thing he heard before he blacked out was Jeffery crying out his name.
000
Gerald rose to his feet. It was much darker now. He saw on the ground, blood….lots of blood.
He stepped into the clearing without speaking, feeling no emotion at all. Bodies, of Jeffery and Team Rocket's Pokemon alike were lying, dead. He ignored the pain at the thought of his friends, instead looking for the two who mattered most to him; Nidorina (or Nidoqueen now) and Jeffrey.
Team Rocket was gone without a trace, Nidoqueen obviously with them. Several of Jeffrey's Pokemon were nowhere in sight, perhaps they had somehow escaped. With a lurch in his stomach, Gerald noticed Jeffrey, who was lying on his side.
He sprinted forward, relief flooding in his body. But when he got to Jeffrey, his relief was gone. He was staring out into space, his mouth slightly open. A knife was in his chest, and blood was still dripping down his shirt.
Gerald threw up on the ground, the shock finally getting to him. He stumbled backwards, trying to escape the dead body that he did not comprehend, a fear taking over his body. He turned and ran…alone.
It wasn't long before fear turned to anger and hatred, and as he ran away to the nearest city, his jumbled thoughts formed perfectly. I will kill every member of Team Rocket myself. I will avenge Jeffrey.
000
Sydney looked at Tyrone, horrified. "I….I didn't know…."
"Of course you didn't." Tyrone grunted, his teeth bared. "No one does. Team Rocket destroyed both of my families, so excuse me if I don't want to lose a third one. My parents are probably dead, Team Rocket brainwashed my sister and turned her to a monster, and murdered my trainer. Next time, learn someone's story before you judge them next time. I'm going to the bathroom."
He turned, stomping into the trees. Sydney called after him. "Gerald….wait!"
He froze, but didn't turn towards her. "Don't call me that. It's not my name anymore."
And he left without another word.
000
This was a filler chapter, but we finally get some insight on our purple friend/
Just to be clear, Team Rocket went into the woods where Ty lives for some unknown reason. They kill his dad, who tries to defend his territory, and his mom, who sacrifices herself for her children to escape. His sister was captured by Team Rocket, who brainwashed her into a fighting monster, similar to Brock's Onix.
Dark huh.
Well on that note, review and wait for the next chapter!