1 Hello, once again, to Mêlée! Yes, this is by far one of my favorite
chapters (not to mention the favorite of quite a few of my friends…). I
hope you enjoy it as much as they do, and if you don't, well, LIVE WITH
IT!!! *ahem* Anyway, please give me your reviews. I promise that I'll
read them and make this better (hopefully *sweatdrops*). Anyway, let's get
this show on the road! Oohh, hot tea with sugar, how I love it…
2
3 Drastic Measures
"Now, we will have smooth sailing as long as her brothers are not following us or waiting for us up ahead," Whisper said as they glided along the tops of the deep violet clouds.
"Her BROTHERS!?!" Zeke shouted. Whisper turned and hissed at him, silencing any other shouts.
"Yes, her brothers. Both specialize with flying types, and each has a patron Pokémon. Josh, short for Joshua, trains the two common diurnal birds, Pidgey and Spearow. He loves to ride Fearless, the evolution of his first Spearow. Tony is an expert with the nocturnal fliers, Hoot-hoot and Zubat. His ride is Owl, the evolved form of his first Hoot-hoot. They train their Pokémon to attack mercilessly, and their aerial tactics are deadly for other fliers," Whisper explained, her voice gaining a touch of desperation.
"Now we're in for it," he said as the clouds before them exploded upward, parting to reveal a formidable Noctowl.
"You can say that again," the Espeon murmured, looking behind them. A Fearow and its rider were quickly gaining on them.
"So, what have we got here?" Tony asked, lounging against his Noctowl's back. "A little birdie with some weight on it."
"Don't worry," Josh said from behind them. "We'd be glad to lighten your load for you."
"Buzz off!" Zeke yelled as he held Mare a bit tighter. He glared at the two boys in turn. They were obviously twins, each having pale blonde hair and malevolent black eyes. The only difference was in their voices. Where Tony's was smooth and dangerous, Joshua's was rough and threatening.
Mare's eyes fluttered open. She felt two arms holding her tight, as though protecting her. It felt familiar, like what her brother had always done when their parents got into a shouting contest. She looked up and saw Zeke. He hadn't noticed she was awake yet; he was too busy glaring over his shoulder. She looked forward and saw a Noctowl carrying a single passenger: a boy with pale blonde hair and deep ebony eyes.
TONY!?! she exclaimed in her mind. Carefully moving her hands, she sent a quick signal to the boy in front of her: Tony?
The boy raised his own hands and signaled swiftly back: Mare? She and Tony had a special gesture system for unnoticed conversations. It had to be him.
Mare moved suddenly away from Zeke, which only caused her chest to burn with pain. She cried out, one hand over her heart, her breath coming short gasps.
"Mare!" Zeke shouted, looking back at her. Then he looked up at Tony. The boy's jaw was set, but his eyes were concerned, more concerned than Zeke felt.
"I'm okay," Mare murmured, straightening slightly. Both hands moved forward, quickly signaling, what's going on?
You're hurt Tony signaled back. This boy is trying to help you. Mom and Dad sent us to…she saw him swallow, then hastily form the words, kill you. She noticed him shudder as he signed it. Then she heard another sound, a rustling of wings behind them. She looked quickly over Zeke's shoulder and saw Joshua and his Fearow lunging for them. Zeke had noticed, too.
"Arrow, left!" he shouted, and the Pidgeot lowered its left wing. They wheeled left just before the Fearow made contact.
Mare was watching Tony with rapt attention. He didn't want to hurt her, she could see it in his eyes and hear it in his signals. And he always did say I was his favorite sister, and best friend. He may be four years older than me, but he was my best friend, too. I think it's time to put that friendship to the test. She stood up on Arrow's back, using what Tony had taught her about aerial trick riding to stay on board.
"Well, whoever wants me, come and get me!" she exclaimed, and with that she bent her knees, and then she back flipped off the Pidgeot.
"MARE!!" Zeke and Tony both shouted. Before Zeke could even tell his Pokémon to dive, Tony's Noctowl was plummeting toward the falling black form. Mare was looking up at him with a look of such trust that he just had to save her from death.
A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Joshua and Zeke were both free-falling toward Mare.
Zeke was about to shout at Joshua when he heard another boy shout, "Leave Mare alone, you twerp!! Zoë, keep both of them from my sister!" A Golbat emerged directly in front of the daylight fliers, while the Noctowl kept plummeting.
As Tony came up beside his younger sister, he saw that she was sitting cross-legged as she fell. He smiled slightly at the familiar sight. He and Owl passed her in their descent, and as he looked back up at her he saw that she was smiling at him.
"Owl, pull up!" he exclaimed. The Pokémon pulled out of its dive, and Mare fell into her brother's arms. She smiled at him for a second longer, then held him close. The two hadn't seen each other for over a year, and it was so good to be back together.
Again Mare felt exhaustion sweeping over her. She nestled closer to her brother and fell fast asleep in his loving embrace.
"Just like old times, eh, sis?" he asked quietly. Zoë shot down into the clouds.
Tony smirked as he looked up at the Pidgeot and Fearow above them. Joshua hadn't figured anything out yet, and he probably never would.
"Come on, Owl, let's go grab that friend of hers and get out of here." His Pokémon had begun to climb higher into the sky when a Pidgeot dove toward them. As it neared them it pumped its wings hard to slow the descent. Tony carefully shielded Mare's head from the dust-laden wind the Pidgeot stirred up. As he looked back he saw Zeke glaring at him.
Then he noticed Whisper. "Hey, Wispy!" he exclaimed, careful to keep his voice low, so as not to wake his sister. The Espeon shook her head in mock annoyance, then leapt from the Pidgeot to the Noctowl. As Tony scratched the Pokémon behind the ears he noticed Zeke staring at him in astonishment. Then he looked up and saw Joshua preparing to dive-bomb them.
"Okay, kid, I think this is a good time to leave," Tony said, turning his Noctowl and rocketing off to the left, the way out of the mountains.
"Where do you think you're going with Mare!?" Zeke shouted, bringing Arrow alongside.
"Out of this death trap, that's for sure," Tony said as the two birds sped along the clouds.
"Oh, so you're going to take her to ANOTHER torture chamber!?" Zeke shouted.
"Would you shut your mouth for just FIVE STINKING MINUTES!?" Tony yelled at him.
Zeke was instantly silent. Tony concentrated on two things; One: the direction they were flying. Two: the sound of powerful wing beats above them. The sounds above them stopped, and Tony smirked.
"Joshua, Joshua, Joshua, you always fall into this trap," he muttered. Whisper looked up and saw the Fearow and rider bearing down on them. "Owl, back-beat in five…four…three…two…"
"What are you planning?" Zeke asked worriedly.
"One…NOW!!" Tony shouted, and his Noctowl began to pump its wings, propelling them backwards. Mere inches of air separated them from the steel trap of the Fearow's beak. "Great job! Now Zoë, Supersonic them!" he shouted to his Golbat, which had been flying just beneath the clouds. It burst forth and began to emit the powerful sound waves at the still free- falling Fearow. The Supersonic hit, then kept moving…straight for Zeke.
"Oh, shoot!" Tony said to himself. Not even his Noctowl had the strength to move the Pidgeot out of the way, so that only left him one option. "Owl, grab that kid!" he shouted to his Pokémon. The Noctowl flapped hard, sending them speeding toward the Pidgeot and its rider. Owl flew just above Zeke, grabbing the boy's shoulders in its talons.
"What the…!?" Zeke exclaimed as he was lifted off his Pokémon. As he groped for Arrow's ball the Supersonic attack hit. The Pidgeot stopped flapping and began to fall toward the ground. At that moment Zeke found the Pokéball. "Arrow, return!" he shouted, and a beam of red light shot out of the ball and hit his Pokémon. The creature was instantly converted into red energy, which was promptly absorbed by the ball.
"That was close," Tony said as his Noctowl hovered above the clouds. He carefully leaned over the side of his Pokémon, extending his hand. Zeke was staring at him in shock and anger.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU TRYING TO DO!? KILL ME!?!" Zeke shouted, ignoring the outstretched hand.
"No, I was trying to keep you from getting killed," Tony replied calmly, grabbing the other boy by the back of his shirt and dragging him aboard the Noctowl, seating him just behind the base of the Pokémon's wings. "There is now one rule for riding this Noctowl. No shouting. Do I make myself clear?" He smiled at the boy behind him.
"Crystal," Zeke muttered.
"Great, we've reached an understanding!" Tony exclaimed. "Okay, Owl, let's get moving out of these blasted mountains." They started moving again, skimming through the wisps of mist. "So, got any destination in mind?"
"I think so," Zeke replied. "I'll tell you what to do, okay?" he asked. Tony nodded as they soared above the last of the mountain peaks thrusting through the purple haze.
Okay, I promise that things won't slow down. Much. The next chapter is a bit slow, I'll admit, but then we get back to the problems I keep dishing out to these poor people. Well, ciao!
2
3 Drastic Measures
"Now, we will have smooth sailing as long as her brothers are not following us or waiting for us up ahead," Whisper said as they glided along the tops of the deep violet clouds.
"Her BROTHERS!?!" Zeke shouted. Whisper turned and hissed at him, silencing any other shouts.
"Yes, her brothers. Both specialize with flying types, and each has a patron Pokémon. Josh, short for Joshua, trains the two common diurnal birds, Pidgey and Spearow. He loves to ride Fearless, the evolution of his first Spearow. Tony is an expert with the nocturnal fliers, Hoot-hoot and Zubat. His ride is Owl, the evolved form of his first Hoot-hoot. They train their Pokémon to attack mercilessly, and their aerial tactics are deadly for other fliers," Whisper explained, her voice gaining a touch of desperation.
"Now we're in for it," he said as the clouds before them exploded upward, parting to reveal a formidable Noctowl.
"You can say that again," the Espeon murmured, looking behind them. A Fearow and its rider were quickly gaining on them.
"So, what have we got here?" Tony asked, lounging against his Noctowl's back. "A little birdie with some weight on it."
"Don't worry," Josh said from behind them. "We'd be glad to lighten your load for you."
"Buzz off!" Zeke yelled as he held Mare a bit tighter. He glared at the two boys in turn. They were obviously twins, each having pale blonde hair and malevolent black eyes. The only difference was in their voices. Where Tony's was smooth and dangerous, Joshua's was rough and threatening.
Mare's eyes fluttered open. She felt two arms holding her tight, as though protecting her. It felt familiar, like what her brother had always done when their parents got into a shouting contest. She looked up and saw Zeke. He hadn't noticed she was awake yet; he was too busy glaring over his shoulder. She looked forward and saw a Noctowl carrying a single passenger: a boy with pale blonde hair and deep ebony eyes.
TONY!?! she exclaimed in her mind. Carefully moving her hands, she sent a quick signal to the boy in front of her: Tony?
The boy raised his own hands and signaled swiftly back: Mare? She and Tony had a special gesture system for unnoticed conversations. It had to be him.
Mare moved suddenly away from Zeke, which only caused her chest to burn with pain. She cried out, one hand over her heart, her breath coming short gasps.
"Mare!" Zeke shouted, looking back at her. Then he looked up at Tony. The boy's jaw was set, but his eyes were concerned, more concerned than Zeke felt.
"I'm okay," Mare murmured, straightening slightly. Both hands moved forward, quickly signaling, what's going on?
You're hurt Tony signaled back. This boy is trying to help you. Mom and Dad sent us to…she saw him swallow, then hastily form the words, kill you. She noticed him shudder as he signed it. Then she heard another sound, a rustling of wings behind them. She looked quickly over Zeke's shoulder and saw Joshua and his Fearow lunging for them. Zeke had noticed, too.
"Arrow, left!" he shouted, and the Pidgeot lowered its left wing. They wheeled left just before the Fearow made contact.
Mare was watching Tony with rapt attention. He didn't want to hurt her, she could see it in his eyes and hear it in his signals. And he always did say I was his favorite sister, and best friend. He may be four years older than me, but he was my best friend, too. I think it's time to put that friendship to the test. She stood up on Arrow's back, using what Tony had taught her about aerial trick riding to stay on board.
"Well, whoever wants me, come and get me!" she exclaimed, and with that she bent her knees, and then she back flipped off the Pidgeot.
"MARE!!" Zeke and Tony both shouted. Before Zeke could even tell his Pokémon to dive, Tony's Noctowl was plummeting toward the falling black form. Mare was looking up at him with a look of such trust that he just had to save her from death.
A movement in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Joshua and Zeke were both free-falling toward Mare.
Zeke was about to shout at Joshua when he heard another boy shout, "Leave Mare alone, you twerp!! Zoë, keep both of them from my sister!" A Golbat emerged directly in front of the daylight fliers, while the Noctowl kept plummeting.
As Tony came up beside his younger sister, he saw that she was sitting cross-legged as she fell. He smiled slightly at the familiar sight. He and Owl passed her in their descent, and as he looked back up at her he saw that she was smiling at him.
"Owl, pull up!" he exclaimed. The Pokémon pulled out of its dive, and Mare fell into her brother's arms. She smiled at him for a second longer, then held him close. The two hadn't seen each other for over a year, and it was so good to be back together.
Again Mare felt exhaustion sweeping over her. She nestled closer to her brother and fell fast asleep in his loving embrace.
"Just like old times, eh, sis?" he asked quietly. Zoë shot down into the clouds.
Tony smirked as he looked up at the Pidgeot and Fearow above them. Joshua hadn't figured anything out yet, and he probably never would.
"Come on, Owl, let's go grab that friend of hers and get out of here." His Pokémon had begun to climb higher into the sky when a Pidgeot dove toward them. As it neared them it pumped its wings hard to slow the descent. Tony carefully shielded Mare's head from the dust-laden wind the Pidgeot stirred up. As he looked back he saw Zeke glaring at him.
Then he noticed Whisper. "Hey, Wispy!" he exclaimed, careful to keep his voice low, so as not to wake his sister. The Espeon shook her head in mock annoyance, then leapt from the Pidgeot to the Noctowl. As Tony scratched the Pokémon behind the ears he noticed Zeke staring at him in astonishment. Then he looked up and saw Joshua preparing to dive-bomb them.
"Okay, kid, I think this is a good time to leave," Tony said, turning his Noctowl and rocketing off to the left, the way out of the mountains.
"Where do you think you're going with Mare!?" Zeke shouted, bringing Arrow alongside.
"Out of this death trap, that's for sure," Tony said as the two birds sped along the clouds.
"Oh, so you're going to take her to ANOTHER torture chamber!?" Zeke shouted.
"Would you shut your mouth for just FIVE STINKING MINUTES!?" Tony yelled at him.
Zeke was instantly silent. Tony concentrated on two things; One: the direction they were flying. Two: the sound of powerful wing beats above them. The sounds above them stopped, and Tony smirked.
"Joshua, Joshua, Joshua, you always fall into this trap," he muttered. Whisper looked up and saw the Fearow and rider bearing down on them. "Owl, back-beat in five…four…three…two…"
"What are you planning?" Zeke asked worriedly.
"One…NOW!!" Tony shouted, and his Noctowl began to pump its wings, propelling them backwards. Mere inches of air separated them from the steel trap of the Fearow's beak. "Great job! Now Zoë, Supersonic them!" he shouted to his Golbat, which had been flying just beneath the clouds. It burst forth and began to emit the powerful sound waves at the still free- falling Fearow. The Supersonic hit, then kept moving…straight for Zeke.
"Oh, shoot!" Tony said to himself. Not even his Noctowl had the strength to move the Pidgeot out of the way, so that only left him one option. "Owl, grab that kid!" he shouted to his Pokémon. The Noctowl flapped hard, sending them speeding toward the Pidgeot and its rider. Owl flew just above Zeke, grabbing the boy's shoulders in its talons.
"What the…!?" Zeke exclaimed as he was lifted off his Pokémon. As he groped for Arrow's ball the Supersonic attack hit. The Pidgeot stopped flapping and began to fall toward the ground. At that moment Zeke found the Pokéball. "Arrow, return!" he shouted, and a beam of red light shot out of the ball and hit his Pokémon. The creature was instantly converted into red energy, which was promptly absorbed by the ball.
"That was close," Tony said as his Noctowl hovered above the clouds. He carefully leaned over the side of his Pokémon, extending his hand. Zeke was staring at him in shock and anger.
"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU TRYING TO DO!? KILL ME!?!" Zeke shouted, ignoring the outstretched hand.
"No, I was trying to keep you from getting killed," Tony replied calmly, grabbing the other boy by the back of his shirt and dragging him aboard the Noctowl, seating him just behind the base of the Pokémon's wings. "There is now one rule for riding this Noctowl. No shouting. Do I make myself clear?" He smiled at the boy behind him.
"Crystal," Zeke muttered.
"Great, we've reached an understanding!" Tony exclaimed. "Okay, Owl, let's get moving out of these blasted mountains." They started moving again, skimming through the wisps of mist. "So, got any destination in mind?"
"I think so," Zeke replied. "I'll tell you what to do, okay?" he asked. Tony nodded as they soared above the last of the mountain peaks thrusting through the purple haze.
Okay, I promise that things won't slow down. Much. The next chapter is a bit slow, I'll admit, but then we get back to the problems I keep dishing out to these poor people. Well, ciao!