I have another new reviewer! Yay! Thank you Dragon Master Shane for reading and reviewing my story. Also thatnk you for the offer of help. If I get stuck, I'll drop ya a line. *smiles*

Disclaimer: see previous chapters

Chapter 19

Raven took out his map and started to go over it.  Placing his finger on a trail, he traced it up the map. "I think if we go down route 45-"

I stopped listening as I made my way toward the lake, Beowulf following behind me. I heard Raven stop talking to call out my name. He jogged up and fell in step with me, Murkrow flying lazily behind.

"Where are we going?" He asked, slightly annoyed, his brow furrowed.  We stopped at the edge of the lake and I turned grinning at him. I took out a pokeball and twirled it on my finger.

"I'm going to train!" I told him happily and Beowulf barked agreement. Raven sighed and shook his head. He let his backpack drop to the ground then pulled out his pokeballs. I looked at him curiously.

He winked at me and said, "If your going to train, I might as well let my pokemon get some exercise too" and with that he threw his pokeballs, causing all his pokemon to come out. Dragonair slithered into the lake, Ponyta started to graze, and Bayleef, Phanphy, Misdrevious, and Murkrow started a game of tag. Raven flopped down next to his backpack, his back against a tree, and pulled out his notebook and a pencil. Ponyta moved so that she grazed closer to him. For a moment I longed for a camera. It would have made the perfect picture. Then Raven spoiled it all by looking up and making a "go away" gesture.

"Go on. Nothing to see here. Feel free to train" he teased. I mockingly stuck my tongue out at him, then giggled. I turned and went to a grassy spot not that far away, whistling for Beowulf. One of these days, I was going to have to take a sneak peek at that journal.

I took out my pokeballs and released Fang, Falcon, and Bo. I squatted down so I'd be level with them, and Beowulf sat next to me.  I took out the Onix's pokeball and showed it to them.

"This is our newest recruit, thanks to Fang's superb battling skills" I told them.  Fang grinned and did a little jig. I smiled then looked down at my pokeball wearily. Then I looked back up at my pokemon, looking each in the eye.

"Now I'm going to let him out. I don't exactly know what he'll do. He could be fine with it, or he might attack. So I need you all to be ready." I sighed when I finished, setting back on my heels. They all looked at me expectantly.

"Well that's it" I told them "You either understand or you don't" Beowulf barked and stepped in front of me. Meeting each one's eyes and speaking to them rapidly in pokemon. Fang did a little flip, Flacon crowed, and Bo baaaed. Beowulf nodded then turned to me. The look he gave me was plain. "We're ready" I nodded and threw the pokeball.

"Pokeball go!" 

My Onix appeared in a red beam of light. He rose up to his full length with a roar, causing Raven to jump three feet in the air in surprise, as all his pokemon looked up to see what was going on. My pokemon tensed, ready for anything that he was about to do. The Onix looked around in confusion, then his gaze focused on me. I could see recognition in his eyes as he slowly remembered who I was. I could also tell that he was still in a little pain from the battle. I don't know for how long we stared at each other, but I did know I was being measured, weighed for my worth.  Then it happened so fast that no one was ready for it. Without a twitch to betray his intentions the Onix dived at me with a full strength tackle. I heard Raven shout and I knew that both he and my pokemon were yelling at me to move, for neither had enough time to get to me and push me out of the way. But I just stood there. My gaze never leaving the Onix's as he got nearer and nearer. Until….until…..

Until he stopped no more then an inch in front of me. He was so close I could feel his breath upon my face. I reached out and pressed my hand to his forehead and smiled. I could've sworn he did to. But what do I know? I could only see his eyes.   He moved his head a little so that my hand rubbed against him, then he rose again as Raven and my pokemon came up to me. Raven put his hand on my shoulder and spun me around. He gripped both my shoulders and shook me.

"Never!" he exclaimed, "EVER do that again! You scared the crap out of me!" he shook me again for punctuation then abruptly pulled me into a hug. My arms slipped around his neck and I hugged him back, pressing my face into his chest. The reality of what could've happened finally setting in and making my knees shake a little.

"I'm sorry" I whispered, "but I couldn't back down…." I felt Raven take a ragged breath then as abruptly as he pulled me into the embrace, pushed me out of it. I was confused to see his face flush a little then surprised to find my face do the same. He ran his hand through his hair and cleared his throat.

"I understand, but still" he said sighing " do you have to so things so recklessly?" I shrugged and he shook his head, and muttering to himself went back to his tree. The rest of his pokemon, with the excitement over went back to doing whatever it was they were doing, with the exception of Murkrow who flew to my shoulder and scolded me with clucks and whistles. I laughed and scratched her beak.

" I consider myself scolded" I told her and she flew back to her game. The rest of my pokemon were looking at me strangely, even Onix who had caused the whole thing.

"What?!" I asked irritated. Beowulf glanced at me slyly then back at Raven who was writing in his book. I felt my cheeks burn and I decided I should change the subject.

"First thing's first" I told them as I reached into my backpack. I pulled out two super potions and beckoned to Onix and Fang. Fang bounded over and I gave him one bottle, which he slurped happily. Then I motioned for Onix. He brought his head down and peered at the bottle suspiciously.

"It's not poison!" I told him indignity. "It's a potion to take away your hurts. Now drink it all up!" He cautiously opened his mouth and I poured the liquid on his tongued. He swallowed and licked his lips. I grinned as I saw his scratches disappear. I noticed his rocky skin sparkled, like bits of diamonds or something were in it.

"The next thing" I told my awaiting pokemon "is to give this big guy" I pointed to Onix "a name" Onix cocked his great head at me and waited. Looking him up and down, I asked "what do you think about 'Diamond'?" Onix considered then nodded.  I grinned and motioned Falcon to come over. I held out my arm and she perched on it.

"Diamond, this is Falcon" Falcon jumped off my arm and flew up to perch on his horn. Diamond looked up cross-eyed at her, and Falcon ignored him, as she preened her wings. I giggled as he swished his tail and made a grunting sound. I think it was his way of shrugging. I bent down and picked up Bo, who was peering at Diamond from behind my leg.

"This is Bo. Be gentle with her, she's very shy" I told Diamond. Diamond slowly lowered his head, with Falcon still perched on it, and gently touched his nose to Bo's, who gave a little baa of greeting. Fang bounced around me, begging to be introduced. I sat Bo down and picked up Fang.

"This is Fang, I believe you two are already acquainted" I told Diamond with a wiry smile.

"Totototo dil!" Fang exclaimed pumping his arm. Diamond rolled his eyes, but brought his tail around to shake Fang's claw.

"And last but certainly not least, the first of this little family, Beowulf!" I said, setting Fang down. Beowulf trotted up and around Diamond, giving Diamond his own inspection. I raised my eyebrows in surprise as Diamond let him do it. Actually shifting nervously as Beowulf came back around in front of him. Beowulf nodded, then grinned, showing his pointed teeth.

"Houndour!" he barked and Diamond roared in answer. I clapped my hands then rubbed them together. "Now that we all know each other," I said with a wink, "let's train!"  

"First what I'm going to do" I explained to my pokemon "is put you into three groups. Ummmm" I frowned and bit my lip in thought.

"Diamond and Fang pair up, and Falcon and Bo pair up." I told them. I could tell they were still confused so I went on "I don't want you guys to become mindless robots in battle, waiting for me to tell you every move before you do it. I want you to use your own judgment to! So I want you to battle each other without me telling you your every move." I smiled and looked down at Beowulf

"Beowulf will pair with me. After a while, I'll switch him out with one of you, and so on." I winked at them. "If the system works, you all will fight one another, and get some private training with me." The pokemon nodded and went a little ways away. Fang and Diamond got into it right away, but Falcon had to coax Bo into attacking her though. After much encouragement from Falcon, Beowulf, and me, she finally started to battle. Once everyone was settled Beowulf and I started our one on one. I cracked my knuckles and did a little stretching.

"Alright Beowulf, you and me are going to work on a bit of wrestling." 

"Dour?" Beowulf asked cocking his head in confusion.

"Close combat. I've noticed that you're really good at jumping in, attacking, then leaping out. But if an opponent ever got you in close combat, and KEPT you there, we might be in trouble" I explained. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Raven get up and move closer to watch. I smiled at him, then crouched down in a fighting pose in front of Beowulf.

"Come at me!" I told the dog. Beowulf looked at me warily, then made a half hearted run for me. I grabbed his front paws as he leaped, spun him around and threw him. He landed in the soft grass. Nothing hurt but his pride.

"Come on Beowulf! If I can toss you, anyone can!" I taunted him. Beowulf barked at ran full speed at me. I braced my self and took the hit, grabbing him and rolling, then pinning him down, with me on top. I got off of him, and breathing heavily, asked if he felt how I did that. Beowulf frowned, then nodded.

"Alright then, try it on me!" I told him. He ran at me again, and I grabbed him, we flipped, then Beowulf threw his weight against me, causing us to roll again.

"Good job!" I told him, on the ground. Beowulf wagged his tail. "But…" with my back legs, I pushed and kicked him off me. A quick twist in the air and Beowulf was back on his feet. I grinned at him as he looked at me in surprise.

"Now that only worked because you're lighter then me. If you were, let's say a Typhlosion, I wouldn't have been able to do that. Understand?" I asked him.

"dor!" Beowulf barked. I heard clapping and turned to see Raven.

"That was great!" he said coming over. "Not many trainers fight with their own pokemon to teach then things" I shrugged and looked away in embarrassment.

"Well, it keeps me fit to" I told them. Then I turned back to Beowulf. "Now let's try those two moves some more, then you can go get Bo and-" I broke off as a jolt of pain shot through me. I felt like some one was pounding inside my head with a hammer! Complete pain like I've never felt was shooting through me entire body! I think I screamed. I clutched my head in an effort to take the pain away. Then everything went black.