*Notes: I replaced the earlier chapters, so instead of having clothes attached to the body, Aya has artificial attire like a human. I also put some more description into Champ's appearance, so you may want to skim through the earlier chapters to see what's changed. The reason why I had the clothes attached to the body idea before was because I was shy of describing how a humanshape Pokemon in the nude appears, but I'm braver now. This chapter is also incomplete, I have another scene planned at the end but it is proving to be so difficult to write, I decided to just post what I have so far and update later. I know how it's going to end, it's just introducing the scene is all.

Also, this chapter contains a very disturbing scene which may upset some of the more sensitive viewers. I may even push the rating to "R", but that is undecided currently. Thanks for the encouraging reviews. I never read Farla's fic, but someone warned me that she portrayed fighting Pokemon badly and they were killed because they were loyal to their trainers or something like that. I assume she's a good writer, but I strongly dislike prejudice against my favorite Pokemon type. One of my goals of "Guilty by Design" is to show Fighting Pokemon in a different light, but it's a personal story too. I will tell more about this fic when I'm done (if ever) and I'll post a special chapter on author notes.

Oh yes, I found out that guy from the anime is actually named Anthony, but I've been calling him Rick for so long, the name stays for now. One of these days I need to update these chapters again, heh.

CHAPER FOUR...

"I feel kind of strange doing this," Rebecca thought, "But I have to do what Devin says."

The young girl held her hand out to the Rhyhorn calf. The rock Pokemon took one stepped towards her and sniffed the abrasive cloth she was holding. It snorted and began to lick at the cloth. Rebecca smiled. She started rubbing the touch fabric first on the Rhyhorn's face, then its side. With a loud thud, the calf flopped over on its side, and saliva began to trickle out of his mouth. The creature was in bliss.

"I see the baby Rhyhorn likes his 'massage'," Rebecca heard her boss, Devin, call. He was the same blue-haired breeder who sold Champ's egg to her father. The man looked like he was doing some sort of odd dance. Rebecca was confused until she saw a pair of Pichu shoot out of his shirt. One of the rodents climbed up Rebecca's arm and perched on her shoulder, stuck its snout in her ear, sneezed, then zoomed into her shirt. The other Pichu skidaddled up her back and settled in her hair, making a nest. Rebecca laughed as she tried to get a hold on the hyper critters.

"These baby pokemon are great!" she giggled. "This has to be the best job in the world! Is Fae alright?"

"Just fine. She's still recovering from the anestesia. I'm glad you finally brought her to be spayed, domestic Pokemon overpopulation is a major problem."

"Yeah. So, um, how much do I owe you?"

Devin laughed. "Rebecca, I know your family is having financial problems. The operation was free. Plus, having an extra pair of hands around here helping me out is more than enough thanks anyway. The kitten is doing fine too, though it's due to be bottlefed soon. Odd how Fae only had the one."

Rebecca suddenly became still as a statue at the mention of Fae's kitten. She nervously put her head down as she struggled with the Pichu in her shirt. "She's old", Rebecca said quickly, as if wanting to change the subject.

"Makes sense," Devin nodded. "Let's go and tend to the kitten now."

Rebecca just swiftly got up and followed her boss without a word. As they passed the window, she stopped and walked up to it. Autumn was approaching, the green leaves of the trees were tipped with bright red and the air was a bit cooler. Rebecca sighed. She was thinking about her real reason she wanted Fae to be spayed. And why there was only one kitten. And why she took the job at the breeder's other than earning extra money. She wanted to avoid her father. And Champ.

Days prior, shortly after the P-1...

Champ can fight, Rick thought. Champ can fight damn well. But he is lacking something.

As he was walking though the house on his way to Champ's quarters, Rick suddenly felt something slippery and wet through his socks. He nearly tripped, but caught himself on a table. "What the... HOLY SHIT, THOSE DAMN MEOWTH!"

Apparently, one of Fae's older offpsring had left a tiny gift in clear view on the floor. Although not technically family pets, the lanky adolescent Meowth could come into the house quite easily through the screen windows. Rick cursed under his breath until an idea popped in his head.

"Champ!" Rick called. The Hitmonchan, upon hearing his trainer's voice, nearly jumped out of skin. Since he lost the P-1, he had been fearful of Rick. Champ rubbed the side of his face and cringed... the bruise was tender now, a grotesque blackish purple against his otherwise cinnamon brown skin. A painful reminder of his failure to carry out his trainer's wishes. He shuddered as he forced himself up, dreading what sort of punishment Rick had in store for him.

Rick slapped his hand onto Champ's shoulder, a friendly gesture which had the opposite effect. Champ flinched, but Rick didn't seem to notice this. "Come on buddy, we've got training to do!" Champ relaxed a bit... he was so relieved Rick had a happy tone to his voice. Something good was to come, he could feel it.

When the two reached the shed they always trained in, Rick said, "You wait here and warm up, I'll be right back." The Hitmonchan nodded, and when his trainer left, started punching at the bag. Champ was happiest when allowed to train without supervision. It showed that he could be trusted, that he could do something right. Plus, he could be alone with his thoughts as he trained, and didn't need to make constant eye contact. Champ was working on automatic now, deep in his thoughts.

"I'm back!"

"Hit chan!" Champ greeted back. He noticed Rick carrying a cardboard box. There must be a new training device inside. Champ was excited and a bit nervous at the same time. His curiosity heightened when he heard an odd mewing sound coming from inside the box.

Rick reached inside and took out a tiny white kitten... one from Fae's recent litter. Its miniature ears were flopped down and the eyes were closed, its short, thin legs were reaching out for nothing. It was the first time Champ had ever gotten a good look at a Meowth kitten. He was mesmerized by its alien cuteness and innocent cries.

Rick set the kitten on a sawhorse which was against a wall. It was now about level to Champ's chest. "Ok Champ," Rick said. "This is what I want you to do. I need you to give this little sucker a good, hard punch."

Champ looked at his trainer with a puzzled expression. Did he just say what he thought he heard?

"Come on Champ, do it just like we trained. Like this." Rick made a fist with his left hand and made his other one flat, than punched into his right hand real hard, simulating what Champ was sopposed to do. Rick was smiling.

Champ faced the kitten. He gulped, a hrad lump beginning to form in his throat. The kitten's little head wobbled as it let out another mew. Champ started to shake.

"Come on," Rick said, lifting up Champ's wrists. "You can do this. There. Now, just strike forward, real fast like."

Champ took in a shuddering breath. He made a quivering fist. The kitten cried, louder this time. It must be calling for Fae. Champ's heart started thumping so hard, he could almost hear it. His swallowed, then started lowering his fist.

Rick nudged Champ, but the Hitmonchan remained petrified. His shaking body and unsteady breathing were the only visible signs of life. Rick sighed heavily, and walked off a bit somewhere. Champ's eyes were locked on the kitten. It was trying to crawl, its short tail was vibrating. It was all Champ could do to keep his moist eyes from shedding any tears.

WHACK!

Without warning, something hard and tough suddenly struck Champ between the shoulders, sending him hard on his knees. Champ clenched his sharp teeth as the pain throbbed and stung.

"What's wrong with you?!" Rick demanded, a thick, neon orange cord in hand. "How do you ever expect to win anything if you can't even sock this little hairball? Now get up!"

Champ quickly got to his feet. Despite what Rick wanted, Champ could not bring himself to put any harm on the kitten. He was fixated on the little pink mouth letting out the sad mews. He put his fist forward, then pulled back. Why couldn't he accomplish this one simple task?

WHACK!

The impact of the second beating made Champ almost lose his balance. He was whipped right where the first strike was hit. His thick, hot blood starting to trickle down his back. Champ closed his eyes as he cringed in agony.

"I knew you were a waste of money!"

WHACK!

"You can't do anything right! Just when I have a faith in you, you let me down!"

WHACK!

"HITMONCHAN!" Champ roared. His eyes still shut, his struck his fist forward. He slammed into something warm and soft, what felt like fragile twigs underneath snapped from the impact, and a weird, short choking sound was heard. Champ opened his eyes slowly. He did it. He had hit his target. The Meowth kitten was limp now. Crimson splatters now stained the top of the sawhorse. Champ could feel his knees weaken and his stomach became queasy.

"Alright, great job!" Rick said. "I knew you could do it!"

Champ lowered into a crouching position and hung his head, trying to get the sick feeling to go away. He couldn't believe it. He could feel the soft fur, the delicate bones, everything. But Rick was happy. Champ opened his eyes. Had he done good?

"Good thing there's a lot more where that came from." Champ looked up and saw Rick removed the dead kitten and place a live one on the sawhorse. Champ stood up and put his head back, glancing at the cobwebs on the ceiling, then put his head back down and faced the kitten. This was going to be a long afternoon...

Meanwhile...

Rebecca had just gotten home from school. She was just about to go inside the house when she heard Fae meowing. It was coming from the back yard. Curious, Rebecca quickly tossed her books on the front steps and walked around the side of the house to the yard. She was a bit surprised to see her Meowth sitting at the closed door to the shed that Rick and Champ always trained in. She was even more surprised to see Fae pawing at the door and meowing. The cat sat down quickly when she saw her caretaker and her tail whipped around. She let out a musical "Puree?"

"Hey there Fae, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be with your babies?" Rebecca questioned. She held out her hand and Fae rubbed her face against it. It was then that Rebecca heard the high-pitched kitten-like mews coming from the inside of the shed. Why would a kitten be in there?

Rebecca opened the door slowly and Fae burst through. The girl saw Rick and Champ with their backs to her, Rick giving the Hitmonchan some sort of command. Fae trotted to a small pile of what looked like white fur and started sniffing at it. It took Rebecca a moment to process the horrid sight into her brain... Fae's kittens.

"Ok Champ, this is the last one... Fae, what are you... oh jeez." The two turned around. Rebecca was staring at them. Her face was pale, her eyes were wide as dinner plates. Champ, who had gotten used to his current training, suddenly felt a terrible, sinking feeling.

"What the... you... OH MY GOD!" Rebecca cried. She shoved Champ out of the way and grabbed up the uninjured kitten. It was the last one. "Why are you doing this?!"

"Jeez, calm down," Rick said to his hysterical daughter. "Fae has kittens all the time, these won't be missed."

"Did you have to kill my Meowth?! Oh my god..." And with that, Rebecca quickly gathered Fae up in her free arm and rushed out of the shed, the impact of her running sending up clouds of dust. Champ hung his head low. He didn't even think about how Rebecca would feel about this, but what's worse, Fae looked him right in the eye before she was out of sight.

"Ignore her," Rick said. "She's just trying to disrupt our training. But you did great Champ today, I'm real proud of you. Now, let's go... we have to see if that training has paid off or not."

Champ straightened up. He kept trying to tell himself that he had done good. Rick was happy for him. But Champ realized there was more in store for him. And no matter what, he couldn't let Rick down again. He was very tired though, for in a few hours was the time Champ usually goes to sleep. But he could tell by Rick's excited energy that they were going to do something else tonight. What?