Pete ran as fast as he could along the narrow path towards his home. The purple box of Abby's present clutched under his arm. His bare feet pounded against the dirt and even as stones dug into the soles of his feet he did not stop. Each sharp, exhausted breath he took caused an intense stabbing pain to shoot through his lungs. Still, he did not stop. He felt like a complete moron, the image of Abby's hurt and betrayed face seared into the forefront of his mind. Even if he didn't understand Abby's desire Pete knew, for her sake, that he had to support her. No one else in their family would. As he topped the last hill before their home Pete saw a chaotic scene playing out. Servants ran about frantic, calling out Abby's name into the wind. The rangers who served both Griffith and Tiberius were assembled into small groups. They headed out into the Cerulean woods with their Growlithes, the small fire dog pokémon, out and by their sides. Tight leashes, made of both thick leather and chain were fastened tightly around the pokémon's necks. They pulled at their leashes, snarling furiously and gnashing their teeth. Flames and embers shooting from their mouths. To say Pete was surprised Abby had managed to cause this would be a lie but still concern flooded him. Over the top of all the commotion, Pete could hear the booming voice of his father and uncle barking commands. With his heart leaping up his throat and his chest coursing with pain, Pete rushed across the yard and around the house. He found his father on the back porch of the house, a trio of terrified looking maids attending to him while his mother bandaged his burnt hand. The maids eyed the hand uncomfortably, the flesh was seared and charred like a burnt steak. Lines of black branched up his arm, creeping past his elbow and onto his shoulder. The horrid smell of charred meat lingering around him.
"What are you staring at boy?! Where have you been?" Griffith barked at him, a fury raging in his eyes.
Pete's mother scowled at Griffith, her blue eyes narrowing at him before abruptly snapping over to Pete.
"Go help your uncle, you're only upsetting your father by being here." She commanded, not giving him a chance to answer Griffith's question.
Griffith glared at her but winced and recoiled as she pressed a cloth doused in antiseptic against his charred hand. He slammed his good hand down against the arm rest of his chair as he fought back a scream of pain. Not a single ounce of anything resembling empathy crossed Pete's mother's face as she kept it pressed down. Pete looked past them and saw Tiberius, stained white bandages wrapped around his bare chest as he shouted at the rangers.
"What are they doing?" Pete asked, ignoring his mother's order.
She whipped around, venom in her eyes.
"They're going to find your idiot sister and take that beast away. This," she gestured to Griffith's arm, "this is what she did, your father will be lucky if he keeps his hand after this." She explained starkly.
Just as she was about to yell at him again Pete took off. He sprinted past Tiberius who hardly seemed to notice him as he took pleasure in making a young ranger cower in fear. Leia and John, who stood by Tiberius's side watched Pete run off before smirking at each other. Silently, they slinked away from Tiberius and trailed behind a group of rangers who chased after him, thinking he was leading them to Abby. Pete ran deep into the woods, zigzagging through the trees and making erratic turns suddenly. Slowly, one by one he lost them. Pete knew for a fact where Abby was and where he stood now was nowhere near it. He checked around him to make sure he wasn't being followed before turning to his left and running off to find her.
Meanwhile, Abby sat atop her tree with Dratini perched curiously on her shoulder. Together, they read the book of dragons. Abby, her face still stained by her tears smiled lightly as she gazed upon the detailed and colourful drawings of each dragon. Her eyes scanning the words she knew off by heart describing each one. Dratini, encapsulated by the book occasionally glanced over at her and smiled approvingly at her smile. They paid no attention to the echoing calls for her rumbling through the forest, safe above the canopy of the forest as their particularly tall tree towered above the others. Abruptly, Abby flicked back to the first page of the book where a picture of a Dratini was. Dratini slithered down Abby's arm, his eyes peaking with curiosity. He loomed over the picture, studying it closely. Abby turned the page, showing Dratini the picture of a Dragonair. His eyes sparkled with wonder as he excitedly gazed upon his evolution. He ran the tip of his tail along the long body of Dragonair, closely studying the dark purple gem under it's chin and the small wings it had for ears. Abby giggled as she watched Dratini.
"One day, together we'll get you to become that." She promised Dratini softly as she turned the page again.
Now a picture of a Dragonite lay before Dratini. The large, orange dragon looked nothing like the Dragonair before. It stood upright with a large belly and a pair of spectacular wings on it's back. The sharp eyes of Dratini and Dragonair replaced by warm, dopey eyes. Dratini turned and looked back at Abby with a stern, serious look. He raised up, extending his body upwards so that their faces met. Dratini nodded once, then pressed his head against her forehead as he stared intensely into her eyes. Abby's chest tightened as he did but she didn't dare break his eye contact, she placed her hand nervously on the back of his head.
"I promise, if you'll let me, I'll raise you to be the best pokémon you can be." She whispered, clutching Dratini and grinning at him wildly.
The same grin appeared on Dratini's face as he nodded, accepting her.
"Dratini..." He whispered back.
Abby did not need to understand Dratini's speech to understand what that meant. A great calm filled her in that moment as they both intently gazed at each other. The world seeming to melt away around them, the shouting of servants and howling of Growlithe faded. Even the booming shouts of Tiberius faded away as Abby and Dratini locked eyes. Abby froze in that moment, torn. She felt like she was stuck, caught between what she desperately wanted to do and what she thought was the appropriate thing to do. Dratini's gaze seemed almost daring, simmilar to the look he had given her when she'd gotten angry at her but with a softness that wasn't present before. Nurse Joy's advice echoed in the back of her mind and she closed her eyes, taking a deep breath to build up a well of courage. Slowly, she leaned forward and kissed Dratini. Opening her eyes, as their lips locked around one another to see his gaze remain unbroken on her. He did not recoil or struggle, instead he continued to gaze at her looking past and through her. It penetrated what felt like the very essence of her soul. Eventually, their kiss broke and Dratini beamed at her with a look resembling pride. Gently, he curled in her lap and nuzzled against her as he closed his eyes. A relaxed smile on his face. Abby leaned back against the tree with the same relaxed smile. She knew now, what she needed to do.
"We're going to run away Dratini, run far away from here. Away from the rangers, their academy and my family." She stated calmly, her smile widening.
The idea had always crossed her mind, running away, leaving her family behind and never seeing them again. Often she had fantasised about it, made plans in her head, even prepared to do it once but each time she'd given up. Whether it was fear or her rationality kicking in she couldn't say but something inside her never let her do it. But now as she sat with her back against the thick trunk of the tree, with Dratini in her lap and the world before her below the great height of the tree she knew that whatever it was. It was gone now.
"Abby! It's Pete! I know you're up there!" Pete's voice called out from the bottom of the tree.
Dratini raised his head, with an angry sneer at first but as his sharp eyes gazed down through the canopy of leaves at Pete he relaxed, laying back down in Abby's lap while keeping his eyes on him. Abby scowled hearing his voice and leaned forward to look down at him. He was a mess, his feet brown and caked in mud. His clothes were torn with small tears and cuts. His hair was tangled, small twigs and leaves littering the mess of matted Auburn. Pleadingly, he looked up at her and held out the box of jewellery.
"I'm sorry." He said mournfully with a desperate stare.
Abby's anger wavered and she found herself frowning as twang of sympathy rang through her. She looked down at Dratini running her hand over the top of his head. He looked up at her and nodded before turning back to face Pete. She sighed and lifted Dratini up onto her shoulder before hopping down from branch to branch. With a thud she landed in front of him, eyeing him suspiciously.
"What do you want?" She asked, gazing up at him.
Pete pushed the box into her hands, stepping forward so that they stood only inches apart.
"I just want what's best for you and well..." he paused, grimacing slightly, "I've come to realise that what you want and what you need are two different things. I wanted you to live the best life you could and I honestly thought the academy would give that to you but I was wrong. Only you know what's best for you, not me or father or mother but you. So if you make the choice to leave and never come back, I'll support you. I'm scared to lose you but I'd rather that than to see you depressed, living a life you hate." He gushed, the words seeming to flow from deep within.
Abby smiled and clutched the box before throwing her arms around him and hugging him closely.
"Thank you," she whispered, tears of joy welling in her eyes, "One day, we'll meet again okay?" Abby promised, making Pete smile happily.
As they embraced, Dratini's head shot up. He stared angrily past Pete and into the treeline that surrounded the small clearing underneath their tree. A twig snapped, catching the attention of Abby and Pete. John and Leia came from the trees with amused looks on their faces.
"I always knew you were soft Pete, there's a reason why we're father's favourites!" Leia sneered, the two of them circling around Abby and Pete in different directions.
"Yeah soft!" John added with a stupid grin.
Pete turned from Abby to face Leia, his eyes glancing back at John as he stood behind him facing Abby.
"Abby, get away from here. Find Joy." He whispered, watching Leia's hand closely as well as the pokéballs on her jacket arm.
Abby hesitated but as she saw John reach for the pokéball on his arm, she knew she didn't have a choice. Dratini might have been strong against her unarmed father but he was still a fresh pokémon, he didn't stand a chance against John and Leia's seasoned pokémon. She bolted, ducking under John's arm as he grabbed for her. John screamed with anger before ripping the pokéball from his arm and tossing it into the air.
"Fearow! Bring me that damn snake!" He yelled out as his pokémon materialised above him.
Fearow let out a shrill screech as he stretched his long brown wings. With one powerful flap, Fearow shot up into the air baring his large talons as he began to chase Abby. John chased after him, his eyes wild and gleeful as he watched Fearow soar through the air. Pete pulled the first of three pokéballs from his arm and tossed it into the air. A huge Pidgeot appeared, without any instruction he took in the scene before him. Watching Abby flee as Fearow bared down on them. He opened his wide, light brown wings and took off after them. The golden strands flowing behind his head fluttering as air rushed over them. Leia smirked and cockily folded her arms.
"So noble, putting yourself int situation to protect that creature Abby holds so dear." She mocked as she reached for the first of her three pokéballs.
Pete sighed and reached for his next pokémon, watching Leia with a disappointed look.
"Shut up Leia." He groaned before they both released their pokémon.
Before Leia a Growlithe appeared, he lowered his head as he stared hungrily at Pete growling and gnashing his fire covered teeth. Before Pete a Sandslash appeared, the long spines on his back stiffening as he saw Growlithe. His long claws scraped against each other as he stared at Growlithe with sharp black eyes, sparks flying from the claws.
"Get him Growlithe!" Leia ordered, pointing at Pete over Sandslash.
Growlithe leapt forward, flames flowing from his mouth as he charged. Quickly and swiftly, he dodged around Sandslash and launched himself at Pete as the flames in his mouth flared. Sandslash however, quickly countered by headbutting Growlithe's side sending him sailing past Pete and into the tree behind him. Pete calmly turned and glanced back at Sandslash.
"Sandslash, down." His voice vacant and cold.
Sandslash leapt into the air, pointed his claws towards the ground and dived beneath the soil as easily as diving into water. He disappeared beneath the ground, a faint rumbling coming from the hole he left behind. Growlithe got up from the ground, stunned from the heavy impact his legs shook beneath him.
"You stupid pokémon! Snap out of it!" Leia yelled, clenching her fists angrily beside her.
Growlithe looked up confused at her before the ground beneath him exploded and Sandslash erupted out of the ground. His claws slashed at Growlithe, knocking him high into the air with a yelp. Leia watched helplessly as Growlithe arced up and fell back down, slamming into the ground with a thud. He lay unconscious between Pete and Leia. Pete grimaced and averted his eyes, instead focusing on Sandslash as he curled up and rolled over to his side. Leia however stared furiously at Growlithe, she ran up to unconscious body and kicked it hard.
"Useless!" She screamed before returning him.
With a deathly stare she reached for her next pokéball and released her Golbat, the purple bat pokémon. He hovered in the air above her, his large leathery wings fluttering rapidly. His jaw hung open as wide as his body with two beady eyes above it. Leia covered her ears and smirked at Pete.
"Golbat Screech!" She yelled with her hands firmly over her ears.
Golbat zipped up high above them and let out a piercing screech that brought Sandslash to his knees, writhing with pain as the air split around him. Pete calmly covered his ears and watched Golbat non-chalantly. He had spent months and months in Mt Moon on his first ranging assignment tracking and recording Golbats, their screeches hardly bothered him anymore. He waited patiently for it to stop. Eventually Golbat stopped, panting with an exhausted look. Sandslash shakily got to his feet and stared at the Golbat intently but hesitated, not sure how to reach him up there in the air.
"Sandslash use rock throw." Pete said calmly, answering Sandslash's question and putting a smirk on the pokémon's face.
He dug his claws into the ground, scooping up a mound of earth. With a fling of his arm Sandslash threw it up at Golbat. As it flew through the air Leia smirked and called out.
"Now!" She cried out.
Golbat immediately stopped acting tired and swiftly spiraled around the mound of earth as he sped towards Sandslash. With his arm still out stretched, Sandslash left the vulnerable unarmoured flesh below unprotected by his large tough spines. Golbat's talons glowed white and slashed at Sandslash's side. Sandslash cried out and grabbed at the wound, falling onto his back. Pete's face shifted from calm to alarmed quickly and he snapped his attention to Leia. He hadn't expected that level of cunning from her.
"Now slam him!" She continued, taking advantage of the pause Pete took in his shock.
Pete could only watch helplessly as Golbat wrapped his talons around Sandslash's leg and lifted him into the air. Sandslash, with one claw covering the cut on his side flailed. He kicked and clawed but he couldn't reach him. He flailed his arms and legs wildly in the air as Golbat took him higher and higher before he flipped over backwards, flinging Sandslash down hard. Sandslash tried to twist in the air to burrow through the ground instead of hitting it but couldn't twist fast enough and slammed head first into the ground. Although his spines stopped his neck from snapping, Sandslash lay unconscious and defeated. Leia pumped her fist into the air and smugly smirked at her brother.
"Sorry buddy, good effort." Pete said as he returned Sandslash.
Angrily, he reached for his last ball. With only one pokémon left Pete felt himself getting cornered by Leia but rather than give into fear he rose to the occasion. Leia saw his face harden and reflexively stiffened, turning on her side in a defensive stance. Golbat swooped down and hovered in front of her, his huge jaw gnashing hungrily at Pete, drops of poison dripping from his fangs.
Meanwhile Abby ran, wincing each time Fearow let out a fearsome scream above her. Dratini watched the huge bird intently, his eyes glowing a deep purple. He opened his mouth and shot a bolt of purple lightning at him but Fearow expertly dodged, tucking in his wings and rolling to the side. Dratini shot bolt after bolt and eventually even charged up a large ball of purple energy but nothing could land or even come close to Fearow. Fearow began preparing to dive at them. He flew high, arcing into the air. His piercing eyes, staring down at them over his long sharp beak.
"HAHAHA That snake is mine!" John shouted as he clumsily ran after them, stumbling over root and running into low hanging branches.
As Fearow began to dive, tucking in his wings and speeding down towards the ground. A fearsome cry thundered through the air. Pidgeot soared at Fearow, rocketing through the air, a streak of brown and gold. He reared back, readied his talons and opened his wings wide as he attacked Fearow. He grasped Fearow's torso with his huge talons, digging them into his flesh as he began pummelling Fearow with his powerful beak. The two large and fearsome pokémon struggled in the air, screaming and thrashing as they plummeted towards the ground. A rain of feathers showered down on Abby and Dratini as they ran, the pokémon falling towards them neither daring to let go first. However, they're resolve could only hold for so long. As they crashed through the canopy of the forest, moments away from hitting the ground, Pidgeot let go and spread his wings. He braked, slowing his fall before shooting back up into the air. Fearow quickly flipped back over the right way up and opened his wings, desperately trying to catch the air before hitting the ground. He shot towards Abby and Dratini, a panicked look as he struggled for control. At the last moment he caught the air, narrowly avoiding the ground and flying over Abby's head. His large, razor talons would have clipped Abby's head if she hadn't ducked.
"What are you doing Fearow?! Ignore him and get the snake!" John cried out before tripping over a root and slamming down face first into the ground.
Fearow, glanced down at Dratini and considered him for a moment but as he turned back to see Pidgeot circling around for another attack his pride would not allow him to admit defeat. He screeched before shooting up with a powerful flap towards Pidgeot. They charged at each other through the air, Pidgeot flying down towards Fearow and Fearow flying up at Pidgeot. Like knights with lances they rushed at each other. Fearow aimed his long, reaching beak at Pidgeot's head. He had the range, his beak at least four times as long as Pidgeot's. However, at the last moment Pidgeot tucked and rolled onto his back. Fearow's beak missed his head, instead sliding along Pidgeot's belly and through the gap between his legs missing everything. As Fearow passed above him, Pidgeot slammed his beak into his stomach, his beak glowing white brightly. Fearow reared with pain, stalling in the air as Pidgeot quickly twisted over again and shot away like a bullet. Pidgeot flew a short distance before looping up and over, soaring back at a still stunned Fearow and striking him hard again. The strike was so quick that Fearow didn't even register the attack until he was watching Pidgeot soar past him. Fearow, weak and fluttering in the air desperatly tried to give chase but it was no good. The pain was too intense and eventually he gave in, going limp and crashing down through the trees below.
John rose from the ground with a groan and a bloody nose. Above him he heard a shrill cry and then the crashing of branches. Before he even had time to scream, Fearow's limp unconscious body slammed down on him. Abby kept running, not looking back for a second. She made a break for the treeline and raced across the open, rolling hills towards Cerulean. She ran and ran and ran until she was on her knees in the pokémon lobby, covered in small scratches and cuts from the forest. With an exhausted, desperate look she gazed up at Joy who was frozen with a terrified look.
"Help." She whimpered and watched as Joy hopped over the counter to help her, feeling the bewildered trainers who were waiting to heal their pokémon move aside behind her.
Pete pressed the button on the front of his final pokéball, it opened and a red flash of light erupted forcing Leia to shield her eyes. Before him, his own Arcanine stood. He did not growl or bare his teeth, instead he stood still as a statue. His red eyes stared blankly at Leia. They unnerved her, she couldn't detect anything behind their gaze. As if he saw only what he needed to see and nothing more. She grimaced and took a hesitant step back.
"There's no running Leia, you wanted this." Pete reminded her coldly.
Arcanine flicked his eyes up at Golbat, his unwavering gaze staring at him. Golbat rather than recoil with fright only got more excited. He began zipping back and forth in short bursts above Leia's head, the poison dripping from his fangs now gushing and pooling in his enormous jaws. Leia composed herself and tried to emulate her brother's serious look. However her's came across more like a scared animal backed into a corner.
"Bite him Golbat!" Leia cried out desperately, her attempt at looking tough wavering as soon as she cried out and the fear became apparent.
Golbat lurched forward, opening his wide jaws as wide as they could, oozing purple poison in a trail behind him. Pete raised a hand and looked Leia in the eyes as he spoke.
"Flamethrower." He stated with a neutral expression.
Arcanine braced and opened his jaws before releasing a huge torrent of flames from his mouth, completely engulfing Golbat in fire. The screams of fury Golbat had been screeching quickly turned to screams of agony. He fell from the torrent of flames to the ground, writhing and flailing as flames danced on his body. He was charred and burnt horribly all over, bone and muscle exposed for where flesh had been incinerated. Even Leia couldn't bear to allow him to suffer like that and recalled him quickly. She was shaking now, fear in her wide eyes. Pete gazed at her apathetically, waiting for her last pokémon. With a trembling hand she reached for her last pokéball.
"Go Rhyhorn..." She said with a whimper as her Rhyhorn appeared before her.
Even though Rhyhorn's thick plated armour would protect him from Arcanine's fire that did nothing to quell Leia's fear. The red flecks in her eyes seemed to dim as her grey eyes, wide with fear couldn't tear themselves away from Arcanine. Rhyhorn glanced back at her, waiting for a command. His large, bulky body stood as tall as her and towered over Arcanine but still Leia couldn't bring herself to move. Rhyhorn turned from her dismissively, he lowered his head and aimed his horn at Arcanine. Arcanine didn't move but simply watched, still and silent.
"You're faster, don't let him hit you." Pete told Arcanine with the same neutral tone and expression.
Arcanine simply narrowed his eyes at Rhyhorn and the two pokémon faced each other down, their eyes locked and unbroken. After a few minutes of this, Rhyhorn reared onto his hind legs and cried out with a fury before slamming back down onto all fours. The ground shook and leaves fell from the trees as Rhyhorn began to charge at Arcanine. Pete moved swiftly out of the way and Arcanine began to charge too. While Rhyhorn trundled forward, his heavy body clobbering the ground beneath him as he galloped. Arcanine moved swiftly and smoothly, his paws not making a sound against the ground. With ease he dodged Rhyhorn's charge, hopping to the side. His tail glowed an intense silver before striking Rhyhorn from behind. The strike while smooth and almost calm, erupted with a powerful blast on impact. The shock wave created knocked Leia onto her back and forced Pete to brace so the same didn't happen to him. A ring of silver energy pulsed off the point of impact, shooting out and slicing thick branches off trees like they were made of cardboard. Rhyhorn shot past where Pete had been standing and crashed through the tree behind him. The thick trunk of the tree cracked up the middle and groaned as Rhyhorn was embedded into it. The plates on Rhyhorn's back were cracked and started to crumble away off of his body slick with blood. Leia scrambled to her feet and returned Rhyhorn, fearfully recoiling as Arcanine glared at her blankly. Pete returned him, clipped the ball to his arm and began walking over to Leia. A cry shot through the air and Pidgeot flew over Pete's head, tackling Leia to the ground, slamming her onto her back. Leia shrieked and held her hands up in front of her face as the giant bird loomed over her, pinning her down with the palm of his talon.
"Don't make me do that again Leia." Pete spoke coldly, his eyes empty of love, "I really do hate battling." He muttered before recalling Pidgeot and walking past Leia back through the forest and towards their home.