Happy First Birthday Shocks and Static!

Disclaimer- after a year of doing this I still don't own Pokémon!

Aurora's Illusions

Luke's POV

"I'm so tired…" Paula complained as we walked along route 7.

"Paula we can't keep stopping!" Billy yelled "We have to get to Celadon city!"

"Billy what's wrong with travelling slowly?" Bubbles questioned sighing. "I'm beginning to feel like my blisters are getting blisters…"

"No kidding…" Liz said sighing from Billy's hood. "I swear sometimes it feels like we've been walking for a whole year…"

"You can't complain!" I argued "You've been lying in Billy's hood for most of today!"

"Still tired…" Liz muttered rolling over.

"Luke I'm tired as well…" Shadow complained from besides me.

"Billy… everyone's tired..." I said sighing "let's take a little break…"

"No way!" Billy cried in protest. "We'll only stop when it becomes impossible to continue!" As soon as he spoke these words the sky became covered in dark clouds and we got drenched with rain.

"You just had to tempt fate didn't you?" Liz cried in annoyance covering herself with Billy's hood.

"We have to find shelter!" Aurora cried looking oddly unconcerned about the fact we were getting soaked. "We passed a cave not too long ago!"

"What are we waiting for then?!" I cried and all of us sprinted towards the cave. We all walked in and sat down feeling very relieved to have a break.

"We're sort of lucky this storm broke out…" Sparky said grinning "Now we can have a well deserved break!"

"Yes… lucky…" Adolfo said mischievously while grinning.

"Is this an illusion?" Sparkette guessed

"Who knows…?" Adolfo said shrugging.

"You do!" Sparkette argued.

"It doesn't look like this storm's going to pass for a while…." Paula said, oblivious to the Pokémon's conversations, while looking outside.

"Why don't we do something to pass time?" I suggested looking at the ground "That way we won't be bored…"

"Aurora…" Bubbles began slowly "do you think you can tell us how you got captured by Question Mark?" Bubbles questioned nervously causing Aurora to pale. Outside the cave was a violent flash of lighting and the rain increased. "It's okay if you don't want to!" Bubbles said quickly.

"No…" Aurora said slowly "I probably need to get it off my chest anyway… and you guys are my friends… you have a right to know…"

"Aurora…" Adolfo said nuzzling against Aurora's leg "You don't have to tell them…"

"But I want to." Aurora said with some of the colour going back into her face. She picked her brother and held him close. "Our story started in the Unova region. I and Adolfo were living with my father and mother in Driftveil forest…"

Flashback

Aurora's POV

"Watch this!" My brother called confidently leaping into the air and spinning a few times before in his place was a Venipede.

"Venipede? Is that the best you can do? Watch this!" I cried leaping into the air while activating my illusion ability. I spun around in the air a few times thinking of what I wanted to look like before landing on the ground. I was now standing on two legs wearing some strange fur humans called clothes. I also looked like a human only with white hair and red eyes. Not many humans had these features but I could tell by my brother's gaping mouth that he was impressed.

"You can transform into a human?" My brother said gaping in shock. "I've been practicing for ages to be able to do that!" Suddenly, the bushes nearby began rustling causing the two of us to look at each other with worry. I quickly cancelled the illusion ability so that I would have more energy to fight, if needed. Our worst fears were confirmed when a female human burst through the undergrowth holding one of those red and white spheres. "Aurora!" Adolfo called.

"Don't worry I've got this! You take care of the battle I'll take care of the illusions!" out of the two of us Adolfo was at a higher level but I had better control of my illusion ability. The human threw the sphere onto the ground and a Pidgeotto appeared, flapping its powerful wings. I concentrated on my illusion ability. It was easy to perform simple illusions on myself to make me look like a different Pokémon but it was a lot more difficult covering the surrounding area. Eventually I made it look like there was only one Zoura (Adolfo), the trainer and her Pidgeotto.

"Alright a Zoura what a rare find! This should be easy! The trainer called arrogantly. Adolfo and I grinned in unison at the trainer's arrogance."Flappers knock that Zoura out with steel wing!" she called and the Pidgeotto sped towards Adolfo with its wings glowing silver. I activated my illusion ability again as Adolfo jumped into the air as the Pidgeotto flew under him just missing its attack. Adolfo grinned arrogantly and fired a Shadow ball and I used my illusion ability to make the attack look several time larger than it really was. The attack collided with the Pidgeotto knocking it to the ground and I used my illusion ability to make the Pidgeotto look like it had fainted when in reality it could have continued battling. "No way!" the trainer cried in surprise before returning her fainted Pokémon (this confused the Pidgeotto greatly as in reality it was fine). "Then in that case..." she said reaching for another one of the spheres. I smirked and activated my illusion ability again and Adolfo began glowing a bright white light. "Huh? It's evolving?" the trainer remarked in surprise. "That's great! A Zorark is a much better Pokémon than a Zoura!" the trainer cried happily causing me to smile softly.

Adolfo grew and soon reached the height of a normal Zoroark but he was still growing. He surpassed the trainer in height making her gape and kept growing until he was as tall as the trees. For added effect I made it look like he was knocking over trees and making the many Pidoves fly away in fear as he grew. In reality Adolfo was standing in the same place (not evolving) and the forest was fine. We sniggered as we looked at the trainer gaping at nothing. The trainer continued to gape at the illusion so I decided to make Adolfo look like he had stopped evolving. Adolfo now looked like a massive Zoroark which towered far above the tree tops of Driftveil forest (well to the trainer). Adolfo roared fiercely making the trainer jump in fright and collapse with fright.

"I think we might have overdone it..." Adolfo said sheepishly sniffing the trainer's boot.

"Adolfo! Don't tell me you didn't realise!" I giggled causing Adolfo to look at me in confusion.

"What are you talking about?" he asked in confusion.

"Ma! You can stop now I know it's you!" I giggled as the trainer sat up and sighed.

"I guess I can't fool you..." she sighed as she leapt in the air spinning until in her place was a familiar Zoroark.

"What!" Adolfo gasped in surprise "Ma don't surprise us like that! I was convinced that trainer was the real thing!"

"You need to be more observant Adolfo." Our mom said laughing causing Adolfo to frown and me to snigger. "I don't know why you're sniggering at young lady!" My mum scolded me causing me to flinch. "There were a few moments when I could see right through the illusion that was meant to be hiding you! You two need to be prepared! One day a real trainer might walk through these woods! And unless you actually decide to go with the trainer you're going to be captured against your will!" my mom shouted.

"Who would willing go with a trainer?" Adolfo muttered softly causing my mum to glare at him.

"Some trainers are very respectable people Adolfo!" my mother scolded "One day you might want to go on a journey with a trainer!"

"Yer that will happen when poachers stop attacking the forest..." Adolfo muttered rolling his eyes.

"The point is," My mum said sternly "you need to be prepared if you don't want to get captured that means Adolfo you need to learn how to support your own illusion ability and Aurora you need to work on your battle abilities! Though it wouldn't do any harm working on your illusion abilities either..." she mused as the two of us stayed silent while staring at the ground. "Come on let's go back to the den." She said sighing as she scurried away on all fours with me and Adolfo running after her. We ran until we reached a small cave were my mother lied down and we curled up against her.

"Where's da?" Adolfo asked sniffing the air and his stomach growled loudly. "I'm hungry..."

"He should be back soon..." Our mom said looking outside. "I hope he had better luck hunting then I did..." my mother sniffed the air with her ears twitching."I can smell him he should be here soon..." as soon as she said this our father appeared with a dead Deerling in his mouth.

Present day

"Eww! I don't want to hear about eating a dead Pokémon!" Paula cried in disgust putting her hands over her ears.

"Paula... it's a fact of nature that Pokémon eat other Pokémon..." Liz said sighing.

"Just be glad that I can also eat berries." I said looking at the young girl.

"What do you think is in Felicity's food?" Luke said bluntly.

"Ahhh! Felicity eats Pokémon?!" Paula cried in fear while growing increasing pale.

"Well… actually it's not real Pokémon… just creatures like Pokémon… that can't use moves…" Luke stuttered trying to cover up his mistake.

"I think we might have ruined Paula's innocence…" Liz said sheepishly.

"Just don't tell her what's in the burgers…" Billy whispered but unfortunately Paula heard.

"I'm becoming a vegetarian." Paula swore looking very pale.

"Moving on..." I said sheepishly

Flashback

"That was really good..." Adolfo said licking his lips. "I feel like I couldn't eat anything else!"

"Does that mean I don't have to go hunting tomorrow?" Dad joked

"Da don't say that!" Adolfo complained causing dad to burst out laughing.

"I was only joking!" dad cried laughing. "How was the illusion training?"

"These two have really improved." My mother answered for us. "They make quite the tag team!"

"Well done you two." he said grinning causing Adolfo and I to grin. "but illusion masters in training need a good night's sleep if they want to improve!"

"But I'm not tired..." I said yawning.

"Aurora listen to your father." My mother said sternly "Doing that illusion earlier must have taken a lot of energy out of you." She said softly. "Come here you two." She said pulling Adolfo and I close to her. I relaxed in the scent of my mum and closed my eyes before falling asleep.

Later that night...

I woke up feeling fairly cold and I noticed that my mum was missing. I looked around with worry noticing Adolfo snoring next to me. I glanced around the cave before noticing my mum sitting next to my dad at the entrance of the cave.

"Aurora's illusion ability is really strong." my mum said sighing. "She can actually manipulate the surrounding area! I thought only Zoroarks could do that! She could see right through my illusion as well!"

"It's a sign she's growing up. They both are." My father said solemnly. "One day the two of them will leave this den and we might never see them again..."

"I know..." My mother said solemnly before sighing loudly.

"What is it Maya?" my father asked looking at her. "I know you didn't want to talk to me just because Aurora's illusion ability is better than most others..."

"I found some again... some traps and nets..." She said showing my father the remains of a net in her paw. "They're getting closer to the den every day I don't know how much longer we can stay here for..."

"But where can we go Maya?" My dad asked nuzzling into her.

"We can sneak onto one of the delivery trucks that go from Driftveil to one of those other cities... maybe even another region! Please consider it Dorte..."

"I don't know..." dad said hesitantly. "We'll sleep on it..."

"Okay then..." my mum said nuzzling against him. "Good night Dorte..." she said and the two of them fell asleep.

Morning...

"Aurora! Adolfo! Come and play!" a familiar voice cried causing me to wake up slowly. My mum and dad had left the den probably to go hunting.

"What's going on?" Adolfo questioned sleepily. I looked at the entrance of the den and grinned in happiness.

"Suzie!" I cried happily running up to my Oshawott friend.

"What Suzie's here?" Adolfo cried rolling onto his stomach before running out of the cave.

"Hi Aurora!" She said grinning. "Hi Adolfo..." she said bit more shyly blushing slightly.

"Good to see you Suzie!" I said happily. "Look what I've been practising on!" I said leaping into the air and spinning around a few times before in my place was an Oshawott.

"Show off..." Adolfo muttered bitterly but Suzie was smiling happily.

"Wow it looks just like me!" She said examining me from every angle. "I feel like there's actually another Oshawott in this forest now!"

"If you think that's impressive watch this!" Adolfo said shoving me to the side. "Are you watching?" He questioned making Suzie nod quickly. Adolfo grinned and leapt into the air spinning a few times. Adolfo landed on the ground making my and Suzie's mouths drop open. "I know." Adolfo said smugly. "I look awesome."

"Awesome isn't quite the word I'd use to describe you right now..." I said gaping. Adolfo was meant to be a Samurott (I think...) but instead of the normal blue colouring he was multicoloured all over his body. The Samurott horn was on his back instead of his head and the fin that was meant to be at the back was on his head. The whiskers (which were meant to be on his head) started from his stomach and surrounded his front legs hiding the swords on his legs from view.

"What happened?" Adolfo yelped in surprised realising what he had transformed into before leaping into the air and turning back into a Zorua.

"You're funny Adolfo!" Suzie said while giggling causing Adolfo to blush slightly.

"I do what I can..." he said in embarrassment.

"KIDS GET OUT HERE!" my dad screamed bursting through the forest.

"Dad? What's going on?" Adolfo and I questioned in unison.

"They're coming... human poachers!" My dad gasped "We have to get out of here now!"

"But where are we going?" Adolfo questioned

"What about ma?" I asked concerned.

"We're going to Driftveil city and your mother's holding them off but she probably won't be able to last much longer... Suzie you better get out of here as well who knows what they'll do if they find an Oshawott as well..."

"Good luck you guys." Suzie said running off into the forest.

"Come on kids we need to go." My father said quickly picking us both up by the scruff of the neck.

"The male Zoroark went this way!" We heard one of the poachers cry in the distance. Dad dashed off much faster than I had seen him run in the past. We ran through the many trees until we reached a busy city. Dad activated his illusion ability so that he looked like a middle aged man with dark red eyes and long white/ grey hair tied up in a pony tail wearing a T-shirt and jeans. I knew any humans we passed wouldn't be able to see Adolfo and me. My dad ran through the city and snuck behind a warehouse where a delivery truck was waiting with the back open. My dad threw us into the truck and looked around the city before howling. He heard my mother's answering howl making him smile softly and dive into the truck with us regaining his original form. A woman who looked exactly like the 'trainer' Adolfo and I fought yesterday appeared making us all perk up. We knew that it was our mother but she was still far away.

"Come on Maya you're almost there!" My father called holding out his paw. I heard the sound of an engine being started and the three of us looked at each other with worry. To make matters worse our mom was being chased by people dressed in black with strange visors on their heads.*

"Mum hurry up!" I cried as the van began slowly pulling away. My mum changed back into her Zoroark form and began bounding after the truck on all fours.

"We can't let them get away!" One poacher cried running after mum.

"Go into extermination mode! We can still get a good price for their fur!" Another cried.

"Mum you've almost made it!" Adolfo called in excitement.

"Just take my paw and we'll be far away in an instant!" My father called happily almost hanging out of the van trying to reach her. The poachers fired at us and just missed my father's head. My mother leapt up but just missed my father's paw.

"The van's speeding up!" I warned as we began to speed up. My mother roared in frustration and had a last sprint of speed catching up to the truck.

"She's going to make it!" Adolfo cried happily. My mother leapt again reaching for my father's paw. BANG! Our mouths open in shock as my mother's eyes widened and she hit the ground several times.

"MAYA!" My father roared in distress.

"We've got the female!" The poachers cried happily running up to my bleeding mother as the van sped away. My mother whimpered sadly at us before collapsing to the ground with blood pouring from her body and her eyes glazing over.

"MAYAAAA!" My father roared again in distress and anger. "I'll kill them!" he declared angrily, crouching his legs preparing to jump off the van.

"Dad no!" Adolfo and I cried in unison holding him back.

"The last thing we need right now is to lose another parent!" Adolfo cried angrily. The van was now so far away we could no longer see her.

"Maya..." My father whimpered sadly collapsing the ground with tears pouring from his eyes.

"Mum..." Adolfo and I said in unison our eyes also filling with tears. Together the three of us cried for hours in the dark and lonely truck.

Present day...

"Aurora..." Bubbles began "I'm so sorry for making you remember those things..." I quickly realised that tears were streaming down my face and I wiped them away.

"I warn you now... it doesn't get much better..." I said sadly. "The three of us stayed on that truck for a few days... luckily it had lots of food and water so we managed to get by... eventually the truck boarded a ferry to the Kanto where we thought we might be able to make a fresh start..."

Flashback...

"There it is..." I said noticing a large patch of land that was rapidly approaching. I was in human form so that I could walk around the ship freely while Adolfo sat on my shoulder. "The kanto region."

"We'll make a fresh start there." Adolfo said with a determined gaze. "Our lives will get better. I promise."

"Only a fool makes promises while knowing nothing about what lies ahead." My father said bitterly. He was in his human form as well but he now had dark circles under his eyes and looked underweight. The two of us were silent thinking about what to say to him. Ever since our mum's death it was as if there was a rift between us driving us apart. We were upset as well but we knew survival had priority over grieving. Besides our mom had been preparing encase she or dad were ever killed or captured so for now we were running on autopilot.

"We have now arrived at Vermillion city please ensure you have all belongings before disembarking." A voice over the speakers said casually. The three of us left in silence stepping into the busy city.

"So now where do we go?" Adolfo questioned loudly.

"Viridian forest." My father answered quietly surprising us both. "There are plenty of berries to eat... not much in the way of meat but I suppose we'll get by on Caterpies and Metapods... plus it's similar to where we used to live so it shouldn't be hard settling in."

Present day

"So we left on our journey to find a new home..." I said before sighing as lighting flashed outside again. My friends looked at me with sad faces silently encouraging me. "We didn't get very far though before they found us."

Flashback

We walked through the forest in silence with my father leading the way. For all of our sakes I was pretending to be Adolfo's trainer while our dad was posing as a teenager that was travelling with us. It was a lot easier travelling as a human than it was travelling as three Pokémon.

"Are you Dorte De Zorro-Ark?" A man with combed red hair wearing a white suit called out to us.

"I am." Dad called confidently "Do you have any business with me?" The man grinned.

"Allow me to introduce myself. I am Snake." The man said casually causing my father to raise his eyebrows.

"Snake? An unusual name..." he stated with a slight frown.

"About as unusual as yours... Mr. Zorro-Ark..." the man said grinning. "But Snake is merely an identity I've adopted for my purposes."

"I suppose you could say the same for my name..." My father said slowly. "But you didn't answer my question...how do you know my name and what do you want with me?"

"I wanted to know... if you would consider joining my company." Snake said grinning approaching my father slowly. "I know what you are..." he whispered into my father's ear."And what they did to your mate..." He hissed making my father's eyes widen. "Come with me I'll make sure all your enemies are destroyed in an inferno of fire and blood." Snake whispered before backing off slightly. "Of course this is a limit time offer and the children can join as well..." Snake hissed "You have ten minutes. Think carefully."

"Dad?" I questioned nervously. I really didn't like the look of that man.

"Aurora..." Dad said with an unreadable look in his eyes.

"Dad you can't listen to him!" Adolfo hissed making dad flinch and the warmth returned to his eyes.

"I know... that man he smells like a predator..." My dad said glancing at Snake. "I want you two to run. Run as far away as you can and then keep running. Don't look back."

"W-why?" Adolfo questioned nervously.

"We're surrounded." My father whispered. "I've tried activating an illusion but it seems no one can see it... they must have found some way of blocking it. When I refuse Snake will probably send his minions to attack us. I'll become captured on purpose to give you more time but I want you two to get away..."

"But you can't!" I hissed. "We can't lose you as well!"

"Stay strong, stick together and take care of yourselves." Dad said looking at the two of us before turning around and facing Snake. "Snake. I'm grateful for the offer but I have to decline."

"I see..." Snake said frowning slightly. "KILL HIM!"

"NO!" I screamed in surprise as bullets plunged into my dad from all directions.

"Now!" Snake shouted into a radio and a cage appeared out of the ground trapping both me and Adolfo. "Now I was hoping to get a Zoroark on my side but I guess two Zoruas will have to do... I hope you'll be more compliant then your dad." Snake said laughing as he stood in my father's blood. "Take these two to the fog room and get them under our control! We might need them for future missions... and somebody get rid of the body!" Adolfo and I looked at the body of our father for the last time noticing that he had turned back into a Zoroark meaning all of his energy was gone.

Present day...

"But no matter what Snake did Adolfo and I wouldn't submit to his control to his rage. So he fitted us with those shock collars to make sure we obeyed... then I met you guys and we broke free." I said blinking my tears back.

"It's okay if you want to cry…" Bubbles said slowly putting her arm around my shoulders as I sobbed into her.

"Wow... you've really been though a lot..." Billy said gasping.

"Obviously!" Paula hissed hitting Billy's arm making Billy glare at her.

"Guys don't start arguing now!" Liz whispered furiously making them both look ashamed.

"Let's hold a funeral!" Luke said suddenly causing everyone to look at him. "I mean you haven't had the chance to mourn yet so why not say goodbye to your parents..." Luke said trailing off.

"I'd like that..." I said softly. I sat in the cave with my friends while rain poured down outside. None us said anything as we were all lost in our thoughts. I smiled softly and stopped my illusion ability slightly making the rain stop and the sun to peek through the clouds slightly. Maybe this time it would be a real fresh start...

Meanwhile elsewhere...

No one's POV

"What do you mean you failed?" Snake roared angrily making Question Mark flinch slightly.

"I can't remember who or how... but somehow... someone managed to release the ship's control of the Black fog's control. That made almost everyone break out of my control... I had to abandon the ship otherwise I would have been captured." Question Mark explained calmly.

"So it was a complete and utter failure? You didn't manage to possess any of the ocean's Pokémon?" Snake asked his eye twitching slightly. "I hope you realise it will be my neck on the line when the Master finds out!"

"It wasn't a complete failure... about 20% of the people I originally possessed on the ship stayed that way." Question Mark said nervously

"Not bad... but the original goal was to take over the whole ship!" Snake snapped. "Do you not remember anything about the people who defeated you? Was it that Zoura girl?"

"I think it may have been her but I can't completely remember... I remember seeing her just before I retreated though..." Question Mark said frowning.

"Useless!" Snake snapped angrily. "You know your orders Question Mark head to operation 'Black mansion' and ensure you don't fail me again!" Snake hissed angrily causing Question Mark to swallow in fear before leaving the room. Snake paced around the room a few times breathing deeply. "Argonaut! Slystealth! Stop sulking in the shadows! I know you're there!" He cried causing a burleys man and an attractive woman to walk out of the shadows.

"Boss! You should have left operation 'sink or swim' to me!" Argonaut shouted "I would have knocked out the Zoura so bad so wouldn't have been able to wake up and interfere for a year!"

"With you on board that ship most defiantly would have sunk..." Slystealth muttered causing Argonaut to go red with anger.

"Enough!" Snake shouted causing both of them to flinch. "Until the Master decides to show himself to the world you're to take orders from me!" Snake shouted. "Argonaut you will continue on operation 'Speed' and Slystealth continue mission 'Jungle' as well. If either of you see that Zoura girl make sure that she's captured along with anybody she's travelling with. She might be travelling with the people who defeated Question Mark for all we know... and even if she isn't any companions she has will make good slaves..." Snake said laughing evilly. "Make sure you two don't make the same mistake Question Mark did..."

* think of the outfit hunter J wears for the poachers.

As you may have gathered this story is now a year old… I feel so proud! Maybe I should do a Christmas special to celebrate… we're still not even halfway through the story yet but with the fourth gym battle coming up in a few chapters we can't be far away…. Though even I don't know how many chapters this story will have when it's finally over. I still haven't decided on whether to do a sequel or not either! I seem to leaning towards the sequel idea more though as I get more ideas that can only be done in a sequel (mainly because of the location)

Maya and Dorte (Aurora's mum and dad) apparently means illusion in different languages but I'm not sure if this is correct. I imagine that Dorte is pronounced dor-a-tor-ray… again I have no idea how it's actually pronounced but I think it sounds cool like that. Especially if you make it sound slightly Italian.

It's a very depressing chapter for the one year anniversary but I really wanted to give Aurora and Adolfo some limelight as they didn't get much during the SS Anne arc...

As a special birthday treat (and because I'm having trouble deciding) I'll let you guys decide the next chapter in the storyline. All of the chapters will made made eventually this is just a vote on which one comes first. you have three choices. If no one votes or the result is a tie I'll decide.

Chapter A) Gone with the wind- the group enounter a group of Hoppip moving on a wind current but one Hoppip has trouble getting his feet off the ground...

Chapter B) PIchu's Arrow- Liz is sick and tired of Billy's and Paula's constant arguing so she decides to try and get the two to fall in love...

Chapter C) Back to Preschool- The group somehow winds up as temporary helpers in a Preschool full of pushy demanding kIds. The eight gym leader will make his grand apperance in this chapter...

Reviewers will get some virtual birthday cake