Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Do you think they'd sue me if I didn't put a disclaimer? What, do the Pokemon lawyers just surf the internet all day looking for fanfics that don't have disclaimers? What's up with that!

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Chapter 2: The First Step of a Long Journey

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Sakaki gazed out on the dark, muggy city in it's early morning hours. She had lived here, in an underground city known as THE UNDER for three long years. Ever since the tragedy in Pyrite, she could not bear to return to the city she'd lived in mostly all of her life. She had wandered into the mountains and found an old elevator that had taken her here. She soon learned that she was directly underneath Pyrite. THE UNDER's pokemart had taken her in, and she worked there in return for the small one-room apartment above the shop. Her amber-green eyes turned from the window, to settle their gaze on the sleeping body of her Umbreon. There was a small forest in the mountains, and they occasionally went out at night to train there. Eevee had evolved while battling a trainer's rogue Golem, and Sakaki was extremely proud of her new Pokemon. "Hey. Umbreon... umbry... wake up!" The sleepy Pokemon slowly opened his eyes. "Today's the big day, remember?" Umbreon gazed at his trainer. She wore a form fitting black t-shirt and jean shorts. She had a short, tattered teal piece of fabric tied around her waist, and a bandana of the same see-through fabric tied around her neck. Her shoulder length dark brown hair had faint reddish highlights. Sakaki was fourteen now, and had decided that it was time to get out of here. Umbreon agreed with her that they needed to get out there and do something important, rather than sitting around tending to a shop all day. He got up, stretched, and glanced around. Since they didn't really have anything, Sakaki had tidied up the room and they were ready to be on their way. They walked downstairs and said good morning to the shopkeeper, who was busy fixing the displays in time to open the shop. "Sakaki! Umbreon! So, today's the day you leave, huh?" said the shopkeeper. "Yeah, it's been great here, but we wanna see more of the world." Sakaki replied. "Ah, adventurous young souls..." the shopkeeper mused. "Well, we fixed up our room. We should get going..." Sakaki said. "Thank you for letting us stay here." "Oh, Sakaki, wait a second!" said the shopkeeper, as he went into the back room. He emerged carrying a package, and handed it to her. It was a small denim backpack that contained a few potions and antidotes, some food, money, and a bag of Pokemon treats. "I know you like to travel light, but this stuff should get you started. Oh, and one more thing..." He handed her a Poke ball. "I found this in the back room. Wild Pokemon are almost impossible to come by around here, but you can do more with this than I can." Sakaki clipped it on her belt loop. "Thank you so much for everything!! How can I ever repay you?" The shopkeeper replied, "Don't worry about it. It's the least I could do for a loyal employee! Run along now. Good luck, and if you ever need anything don't be afraid to call or stop by. You know the shop's number." "Thank you again so much. I guess this is goodbye then..." Sakaki slung the backpack over her shoulder. "I better see you back here someday! Goodbye, you two." Sakaki turned around one last time to wave to the shopkeeper, and she could have sworn there was a tear in his eye. She looked down at Umbreon and smiled. With that, they were on their way.

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"Aah! It's so bright!" Sakaki shielded her eyes from the sun. They hadn't seen real sunlight in a long time. "Bre..." Umbreon tried to shake it off. "Heh! Guess we'll just have to get used to it again, huh?" Sakaki smiled at her Pokemon. They had gotten down the mountain, and were walking off into the desert when they noticed something up ahead. "Wonder what that is." Said Sakaki. It was coming towards them, and they could just make out the figure of a person. "I didn't expect to see another person so soon!" They went up to greet it, but the man wasn't friendly at all and immediately called out a Golbat to battle. "What do you want, kid? I'll slaughter that puny Pokemon of yours!" "Grrr... If it's a battle you want, it's you who's gonna get slaughtered! Umbreon, Quick Attack!" The trainer commanded his Golbat to fly. Umbreon's attack missed, but Sakaki's Pokemon was smart. As Golbat swooped in for the attack, Umbreon tackled it from underneath, knocking it out of the sky, and KO'd it using a bite attack. The Golbat's trainer was pissed now, he recalled the Golbat and sent out another Pokemon. It was a Sandslash, also easily KO'd by Umbreon. Sakaki and Umbreon were celebrating their victory when the trainer sent out his last Pokemon. Sakaki and Umbreon were ready to battle, but when they saw the Pokemon he had sent out they instantly froze. It was a Bayleef, simple enough. But it's dark aura was the same as that of the Pokemon that had killed Sakaki's parents.

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--So, how do you like chapter two so far? Kind of a cliffhanger there, huh? Well, you'll just have to live in torment until I update. LOL. Anyway, a few reviews... you said it needed spaces when people talk or whatever, did I do it right this time? Oh, Dragon, a Sakaki is a kind of Japanese tree. Glad you like the name! ^^ So, updates soon then.— -- ~absolkagome~ --