Disclaimer: I do not own Pokemon, or anything else mainly except for any Original Characters. So please do not sue.
And here is the next chapter. Chapter Three will be done by next week at the latest, give or take a few days.
"Try it with a giggle it will make you look so nice,
And if you start to warm you can further break the ice.
"I've got a feeling you could use a little smile,
Hoping it could stay there for just a little whi-"
"Enough!" Seth yelled out as his head throbbed from the singing the girl had done for nearly fourty minutes straight. Espa and Umbra had already disappeared into the wilds somewhere out of hearing range of the girl as her singing voice was a pain to one and all, and Ryan knew it. She grinned at her victory untill Seth dropped her and let the younger girl fall to the ground ungracefuly and land with a thud. Wincing, Ryan rubbed her backside as Seth stalked away, calling for Espa and Umbra to appeare. It would take a few minutes for the Eeveelutions to return as they had gone pretty far to get away from Ryan when she had started to sing.
Seth growled as he shifted from foot to foot, he was in over his head, and for the first time he would admit to himself, he was afraid. His own had betrayed him, now he was the last thing between them and the girl that could see the Shadow Pokemon. And speaking of Pokemon; Umbra and Espa should have been back by now. Frowning he turned and looked in the direction they should be returning from and whistled yet nothing answered his call. "If they've run off due to your singing, I will be mad."
"You say that like it's a bad thing." Ryan said, sounding innocent. Seth just glared at her before whistling again, waiting for a responce. Anything. And then it came.
Or rather, several it's as both Espeon and Umbreon were fleeing from something Seth hadn't ever seen before. "What the hell?" He thought aloud. Ignoring the whack he recived up the head from Ryan as Espeon pulled off a stunning leap: Landing behind Ryan as his brother turned, ready to face the opponent now that they had made it back to their master.
Ryan gasped as she saw the pokemon. "I don't believe it!"
Seth looked over at her, frowning. "What, you know this species of pokemon?" Ryan only nodded absently at his question as she slowly edged forward. Ignoring the warning growl that was emited from the pokemon. Scratches adorned it's green, scaled hide while it's golden eyes were filled with mistrust. A small stub of a tail wagged back and forth from annoyance or fear as the creature continued to pant heavily. A large leaf jutted out from it's head (and it looked like something took a bite out of it, or cut it) while seven or eight large buds lined it, no, her neck. A split hoofed paw dug at the ground as the creature growled again.
"Bayleef." She spat out, ready to fight once more for her freedom.
"Easy, easy girl. We aren't going to harm you."
Seth only grunted and turned his attention from watching the girl try to tame the most likely wild or rouge pokemon which he assumed was a grass type. Or maybe a dual grass type. But that didn't matter to him, not now. His mind travled back to the town, and what he had seen. That had been members from both Team Snatch and Shadow.
Something was up, he didn't know what exactly. But he guessed it was for the best if he didn't take the girl back to headquarters. But he'd need to do a little... shopping from there first. Seth brought himself out of his musings to find a shocking sight before him, it seemed the girl had been able to tame the Bayleef. To an extent, and she was currently busy tending (to her best abilities) the thing's wounds. Small, purr like growls were being emited by it, but both Umbra and Espa didn't percive it as a threat anymore. Shaking his head and holding back the urge to roll his eyes, Seth stalked over to the girl and coughed. Loudly.
"What's your name." Seth asked blutly. Ryan was taken aback slightly, but answered. "Ryan Sena." Seth's face remained blank as he took the information in, mentaly cursing that he had acctualy grabbed one of the right targets. Now his new agenda just got a little tougher to do. "The name's Seth." He stated, turning around. "Now come on, I have some buisness to attend to, and if you don't follow, I will leave you behind. And I doubt your new friend would be up to the task of protecting you."
Seth ignored the snarl from the Bayleef at the direct insult to it's battling abilities as she followed after Ryan who trailed behind Seth as Umbra and Espa darted ahead, scouting out any possible ambushes or traps. And any wild pokemon that were in the area. Ryan twisted around long enough to pat the pokemon on the head, calming her down with a few kind words before turning her full attention once more to following Seth and keeping the strange teenager in sight as she also mused over how a Bayleef wound up here. In Kanto, when they lived in Johto exclusively.
Seth on the other hand had a pretty good idea why the pokemon was here, and it only made him want to get out of here as soon as possible. But his train of thought was rudely cut off when a roaring scream came from ahead of them. "Umbra! Espa!" Seth cried out, dropping all emotional barriers at the thought of what could have been called his best friends being hurt. Running forward with little thought for his own safety, Seth quickly left Ryan and Bayleef in the dust.
"Bay?"
"I dunno Melody." Ryan started, already having named the grass type. "But let's go see if we can help."
"Bay!" Melody cried out and ran after Ryan as the human didn't have to chase after Seth in fear of loosing his trail (for he had created a mess large enough that a blind man could see), but because even though she didn't like it that he had kidnapped her, she admited he had saved her so he couldn't be all bad. Right? She wasn't niave though, and knew just because he saved her didn't mean he was a good guy.
Melody and Ryan didn't have to run through the trail that Seth had made for long as they came onto the scene, Ryan let out a muffled scream as she covered her mouth with both hands while the Bayleef growled as she shoved her head between the human's knee's so she could see the scene.
A Gyarados towered above Seth, as both Espeon and Umbreon worked together to create a shield of Reflect and Light Screen. But that wasn't why Ryan was scared. This pokemon, like the three that had been sent against her; held a stormy black cloud of an aura around it. It's eyes glew red as the pokemon's mind was flooded with evil thoughts of destruction, death and chaos. And all the while the person that had it for a pokemon laughed somewhat like a mad man that slowly toned down to insane giggling.
"Seth! Naughty boy, thinking you can betray Team Snatch like this? Blue'll have your head for this, man! Not like I care though, with you out of the way, I'll get the reward for getting the girl, and the pokemon one of those idiots lost!"
Ryan winced as he seemed to have to make every scentence end with exagerated exclamation.
"Gyarados, finish him off with Hyper Beam, now!"
"Gyaaashadaaaa!" The giant sea snake roared, rearing back as a giant orb of light formed in it's mouth. Seth struggled to stand, having been the victim of some of the pokemon's attacks just like his pokemon. His eyes dulled as he saw what most likely was going to be his death when a medium green blur followed by a human shaped blur ran infront of them. Blinking his eyes to clear the blood from them, Seth was able to make out Ryan and that grass pokemon, whatever it was.
"What!? No!" Semour was able to shout out before the Gyarados unleashed it's devestating attack. For a moment, fear for someone other than himself or his pokemon filled him as he knew not only he was going to die. But everything and one in the way of that Hyper Beam attack. But his utterance of his disaproval at her actions died on his lips as the crazy girl took a stance and glared pointedly at the Gyarados and it's master.
"Melody, infront!"
"Bay, bay!" Melody called out as she followed the orders of the human, leaping out from beside Ryan, she reared up and called out her full name in defiance to the Gyarados as he brought his massive blue and yellow finned and fanged head down, unleashed the attack.
"Protect!" Ryan ordered the attack. The Bayleef yelled her name again and a bright light flared from around the pokemon. Growing into a large bubble that washed over not only her form, but that of Ryan's, Seth's and his two pokemon just as the Hyper Beam struck home. Slamming into the dome of protection and forced to veer off at an angle, where upon it destroyed many tree's but since the area had been mainly pokemon free for almost ten years, there was little worry over injured wild pokemon. "Now, while it's incapacitated, Razor Leaf!"
The Bayleef gave something akin to a roar as she charged forward. Her leaf buds around her neck unfurled and she started swinging her neck side to side; unleashing wave upon wave of razor sharp edged leaves onto the weakend Gyarados and Semour. Crying in pain like a baby, Semour recalled his pokemon with a yelp and ran off, giving up the attempt at catching the grass pokemon and re-kidnapping the girl.
Both girl and pokemon panted heavily as the man retreated. Ryan was the first to turn around, her blue eyes filled with worry as she took in Seth's now prone form as he lay face first now on the ground; unconsious. "Seth!" All thoughts of how the teenager could not be good left her mind as she knelt by him feeling for a pulse. Umbra was the first of the pokemon trio to regain enough energy to move around and slowly stumbled over to Ryan and Seth, calling his trainer's name in his language, Umbra tried to reach Seth but collapsed onto the ground in a dark, fuzzy heap.
"Seth?" Ryan asked, shaking him. Worry nagged at the edge of her mind while fear ran rampant and uncontrolled. She had no idea where she was in this crazy forest, and without Seth she feared her own death would be iminent. So she really wasn't mourning his death. That is, untill Seth coughed harshly as he cracked his eyes open to slits.
"Ryan..." Seth started, only to recive a thwack to the head that sent stars swimming in his vision. "The hell?" He cried out weakly, moving an arm to protect the abused spot as he turned confused eyes onto the younger girl that hovered above him.
"That, was for scaring the daylights out of me! And this," Ryan told him while thwacking him on the other side of the head and causing him to grunt at the impact. "Is for being an idiot. Are you alright?"
"Aside... from you. Fine. Just... bruised... a bit." Seth muttered as he let his arm drop from protecting his head, still glaring at Ryan though. But she seemed immune to the look Seth was giving her as she stood up and took in their situation. Sighing, she shook her head. "Seth, be glad I am not like my other female classmates. Stay here," Ryan told the two Eeveelutions and then inclined her head to the Bayleef. "Melody; come with me. Gonna need your help."
"Bay, baylee lef." The Bayleef chirupped, still happy about her win. But before following after Ryan, she halted and gave Seth a look that meant the human owed her one. Grinning wickedly as Seth let out a groan which Ryan mistook for pain, Melody ran to catch up with the human as Ryan called out: Don't move, darnit! Not if you want the stuff I'm trying to find to help!
Seth let out a mental groan and shut his eyes. "What did I do to deserve this?"
Espa and Umbra held no answers to this as they settled in for a waiting session. Trusting that the girl and female pokemon would be back in due time.
"So... let me get this straight." Gary Blue started as he went over the information the three supposed elites of Team Shadow and Snatch had given to him. "You lost one of the targets, had three of your Shadow Pokemon knocked out. Lost the Bayleef that was almost at the turning point to be turned into a Shadow Pokemon. And all this because of Seth!?"
The last was yelled out in a biting roar and the three trembled before their leader and very, very tempermental boss. "You dare think such a lie would-" he was interupted in his rant as a ringing came from his pant's pocket. Scowling he slipped the device out of his pocket, flipped it open and said 'Hello?' in under five seconds. The answer Gary got made him even more dour looking. "You fool!"
Insults, explicite cursing and very, very vulgar threats filled the air and that was even after Gary had hung up on the idiot. Clenching hands into fists, Gary shook from rage just held in check before he turned slowly to the three elites.
"It seems, your story does hold water. And that he and the girl are working together. Go, get out of my sight before I have to hurt you."
They needed no second telling. Leaving in three blurs as their boss continued to mutter under his breath about pain and making Seth feel it.
Laughter mocked him from the shadowed corner of his office and he growled, throwing an inkpot at the spot. "Ow! Damnit, why did I have to fall for your trap." An annoyed voice flitted across the room, filled with hurt and anger. Gary only scowled as he twisted the desk lamp around, flashing the person's face full of light. And gaining a few threats and exaggerated calls of pain as Gary seated himself in his chair, swilving it around to face his captive.
"So, you thought I'd have forgotten you in the comotion?"
"Was hoping." She muttered, tugging half heartedly on the chains that bound her arms and legs to the wall. She never did like shakels, and now she knew why.
"Ah, poor, poor Ral." Said Gary, mock concern in his tone as he leaned forward, hands clasped together. A frown on his face while he made a Tsking noise at the young woman. "You should have known no pokemon would be a match against my Shadow slaves."
"How many times," she bit out through clenched teeth. "Must I say my name is Rally! Not Ral, buttercup, babe, baby, dame or chick!" Struggling against her bonds the teenaged girl all but snarled and frothed at the mouth as she tried to escape. But all she got for her efforts was Gary's snide laughter as he stood up.
"It's useless by now, girl. Your pokemon are already shadow's. Want proof? I'll have your precious Embyr brought up here."
Rally was silent as Gary went to do as he threatend. Dark gray eyes watched him leave. Ears heard him lock the door as he closed it softly behind him. A sigh escaped her and she let her arms and legs relax from trying to free her from the bonds. "Finaly, thought he'd never leave." Rally muttered, turning her gaze about the room. Looking for her partner in crime... or something like that. Gary only thought his underlings had all of her pokemon captive. And she had too. Untill three days ago, in the dead of night, the most glorious sight met her eyes.
And it's name was Styx. How he had escaped, she didn't know. But his lackies were silent as to his escape. Styx growled as he slunk out from behind the book case. Dark lavender fur covered in dust and old cobwebs from miniature Spinarak's. His large and bright eyes were now no longer the light purple tinted ebony but pure and heartless black pits, devoid of any emotion other than a raging turmoil. Large ears twitched as Styx made sure the annoyance was gone, his split tail waved about the air; catching wind currents and allowing Styx to know there was only the young woman in the room.
His eyes slid slowly onto her form and Rally made an encouraging sound, drawing the pokemon near her. He never came as close as he had before being turned. And he didn't even make contact with the human, but it was enough for both of them. The human rambled to Styx, and the pokemon caught a slight scent of fear off her. Not the old rank it had been (and what had drawn him to the room in the first place), but still there. Atleast some part of him knew it wasn't directed at him.
Rally didn't care if the Shadow Styx didn't rub up against her legs like he had before being turned into what he was now. All she cared about was having something to talk to that didn't abuse her with objects whenever she spoke or if he was pissed off because of someone else, or leave her chained to a wall for almost a week, with little of the human needs satisfied.
"This just sucks. You know that? I'm chained to a wall, you've been changed. And there's no hope of escape." Another countless sigh escaped her and Rally shifted her body, ignoring the clinking as the chains hit the wall or the tight tug of skin as the cuffs caught on her. She'd already lost some feeling to her hands and feet, so she could ignore the rest of the dulled pain. "What a mess I got us all into..." Murmured Rally as she let her head drop back down, glaring holes into the carpet. The Espeon, who only held a few memories of his past before waking up in that cage among a few others of his species and sub species, somehow felt he knew this person, so instead of leaving like most of him wanted too. The Shadow Espeon sat down, curled his ever twitching tail around his paws and waited. For something, anything to happen. For he was also itching to battle; to sink his claws into the flesh of another creature. Strike horror and terror into the hearts of others...
Ryan counted off the list of plants in her head, hoping she hadn't forgotten any besides the few fungi that Melody had pointed out for her to find. Currently the two were huring back to the clearning, using the track the Gyarados had cleared with it's Hyper Beam attack.
"Bay, bay bayleef bay." Melody said as she walked gingerly over the dead limbs and ash that littered the now dry, cracked, leaf riddled ground. "Hmm?"
"Bayleef." Melody said, halting infront of the girl as the pokemon looked about: scanning for any signs of wildlife before getting out of Ryan's way, allowing her to continued into the clearing and over to Seth as he lay half awake on the ground. But before passing Melody, the girl had pet the Bayleef on the head, thanking her.
The Bayleef had thought all humans were evil, and hurt you for no real reason. But it seemed that only her former master had been like that. Or so the pokemon hoped as she trailed after Ryan as the young woman scolded Seth soundly when he tried to move away from the noxious smelling concoction she was now trying to force into him.
"Oh, don't be such a baby." Ryan said, pushing his flailing limbs to the side with ease, much to Seth's dismay. Ignoring the whimper that floated past Seth's lips, she forced his mouth open and dumped the liquid into his mouth. Sputtering, he looked puffed up like a balloon about to burst, and as the idea of just letting it spray Ryan came to his mind, a warning growl came from Espa as the psychic feline like fox leveled a look with his trainer. Cursing his luck, Ryan and the three pokemon to the skies in his mind, Seth swallowed the foul tasting drink, gasping for breath as he felt like he'd survived some sort of death defying stunt.
"That wasn't so bad, now was it?" Ryan asked, only to be answered by a growl from Seth. Rolling her blue eyes, Ryan turned her attention to something more productive. Which was brushing a strand of bright red hair out of her face, dusting off her clothes and then gave Seth's two pokemon what was left of the herbal mixture. All she really wanted was a thankyou, but either he was so used to being on his own that he didn't understand that a voice of aperation at how she had saved his life was in order. Or he was a prick that didn't care.
Either way, Ryan just tossed it onto the con list of staying with the guy. Because untill she reached a town, or someplace where she could get a pokeball to legally catch Melody in, she would be seen as aiding and abeting a criminal. Standing, she looked up at the sky as the sun started on it's way to set. Had it really been that long? Would she even get to see her family again? Were they worried about her or alright even?
Turning her head to take in Seth's form as he struggled and fought at the basic movements of sitting up; she mused it wasn't so bad. In many ways he reminded her of the little brother she'd left behind today in the new chapter of her life.
And as Seth let out several loud curses, Ryan thought it could be worse. He could have been like one of those perverts at school.
"Red! Brock! Oh, my gosh. How long has it been?" Misty Waterflower, leader of the Cerulean gym asked as she took in the slightly weary, but nontheless happy forms of her two best friends. Red grinned as he stopped infront of Misty. It had defenitly been too long since he had last seen her, but of course, he'd never let her know. Atleast, not yet. Shrugging, he replied. "Same old, same old. Pika has been a brat though, real moody."
"Oh? Why's that?" Misty asked as she motioned to her friends to follow her as she lead the way out of the battling arena and to the back. "Turns out, Pika wasn't a fellow guy like I thought."
At this, Misty laughed and turned: holding out a hand as the brazen grin never left her face. Scowling, Red forked over the ten yen he'd betted while Brock chuckled in the background, deciding this was the best time to take care of his newly aquired Aron.
'So, what does this have to do with Pika acting all wierd like?"
Red's eyes darted to the right, then left, and then a small blush spread across his cheeks. "Nurse Joy told me, she's pregnant-"
At his words, Misty squealed excitedly. "Ohohoh!!! Who's the father?"
Red sighed and scratched the back of his head. "That's what I'd like to know. Pika won't tell me, and the only three that could be in the same breeding group/possiblity, as Brock says, are his Aron, my Togetic or that Vaporeon you lent me a while back. Which is part of the reason I dropped by." Red told her, holding out the pokeball, Misty took it, still snickering lightly. "What was the other reason?"
"Be honest with your answer." Red began, and at Misty's nod, he continued. "Have you noticed.. disapearences, lately?"
Misty chewed on her lip with a thoughtful look on her face before she replied. "No... atleast, I don't think so... But, there was this one trainer... He was claiming his friend had been kidnapped right infront of his eyes by two rockets. Or, he said they could have been rockets. His description wasn't the best. And the outfit..."
"... might not have been Rockets." Red bit out, already hating where the possiblity was heading to. And he didn't like it one bit.
"Red, is something wrong?"
Red was silent, and for a moment that felt like eternity paused Misty thought he wouldn't answer. But he did. "Yeah, if what my source is or was claiming before they got to him or her, this Misty, is worse than Blue becoming Viridian's Gym Leader."
But before Misty could even respond, an explosion ripped through the area, sending the human trio and one Aron crashing to the ground with muttered exclaimations or cursing. Red was the first to pull himself up. Gripping a pokeball as he stood upright, he turned to Brock and Misty. "It seems they may already be here."
Misty was beyond reasoning as she stormed over to where here pokebelt lay and put it on lightning fast. "No one, and I mean no one comes here and messes my town up! If I see them, they are getting the Frying pan of death! Maybe the mallet too!" Misty declared as she was the first to storm out of her gym as Brock and Red shared a look before Brock recalled Aron.
"Red, you only have yourself to blame for falling for a girl like Misty."
Red only nodded. "I know." Then he and Brock were off, hoping Misty hadn't left them behind. Because while they may have feared her temper and weaponry, there was no place safer than next to Misty. Because everything else would face her wrath. And everyone else too.
I hope Chapter two was long enough/detailed enough/had enough action, etc, to state you long enough untill Chapter three is done. So untill then: Later.