neogirl7900: Yes, thanks, I was a bit unsure about making them a Rocket pair, but they are much more crucial to the story than Jessie and James ever were. As for Marilu and the Articuno thing; she was supposed to seem suspicious, and most of that is because she is inexperienced (and quite frankly so are Gary and Mike). Though it wasn't supposed to be quite that confusing. Maybe I'll change that part if I ever revise this story (when I get done!).

Digi Fan: Thanks! As to your question, Kayla won't see a whole lot of Ash but I think I will have them meet once. The story's sorta about her; I'd like to keep her as separate as possible.

PyroArts: Thanks for your review! (Hm… I think I've started almost all of my review responses with 'Thanks') Yeah, we'll see what happens when Cubone gets out. And thank you, I work hard on making battles/captures as different and entertaining as I can think of.

Maia's Pen: Thanks for keeping with my fic! Like I've said before, I worked on this story in my head for about two years, and part of that was pokemon personalities. They're like main characters in my story and I truly believe that pokemon are the heart of the entire Pokemon game/anime/anything. I just wish the anime would have more depth for the pokemon; most of them are just so underdeveloped.

Twisted Alyx: Ooh, a new reader! Actually, I think PyroArts was too, but I can't remember and I'm too lazy to make sure. Anyway! Thanks for your many reviews! I'm glad you like it so much. That makes me happy. You know, that's a good question, how did Charmander know what gender Pidgey was? In my fic, pokemon just seem to know those things; I just assume that pokemon are like us and can just tell when one of them is a girl or boy. Maybe they can smell a difference. I have to think about that one. Anyway, I could comment more about what you said, but then you would never get to read the next chapter! So, know that I do appreciate everything you say. :smile:

Disclaimer (Wow! I'm really on a roll with remembering things!): Read my text: I do not own Pokemon, or anything to do with it. Really.

The Glass Half Full

Ch.9 Cubone's Dark Side

"Grama…?"

"Yes dear? Speak up what is it child?"

"Why-why do the other kids laugh at me?"

The old woman's face wrinkled in a frown. "What have they been saying?"

"I don't know; that my Mommy and Daddy abandoned me because I they didn't want me," the little red-haired girl said, holding back small tears.

"Well that's just a load of nonsense and poppycock! Your parents didn't abandon you at all! They loved you very much Kayla! They sacrificed themselves so that you could live. They wanted so much to see you grow up into a beautiful and smart young woman. If only they hadn't taken that--," she became aware that Kayla was still listening to her, "Oh! Well, you don't need to be troubled with that…. Kayla, don't listen to those dumb kids. They just don't understand what it's like to not have parents, so they don't know how to act around you."

Kayla slowly realized that she was not still a little girl, and that she was indeed in the middle of the Viridian Forest, on her pokemon journey. Her pokemon journey that was not going so well right now.

She didn't want to open her eyes; she didn't want to face her problems. Maybe if she just sat there staring at the blackness of the back of her eyelids, everything would just go away?

Something kicked her leg hard.

"Ow!" she squeaked, opening her eyes abruptly. It was nighttime, and judging by the pitch dark sky and the high, bright white moon; it was late in the night. Her body ached all over, and it felt as if she had run a marathon, though she had just been sitting in the same spot for who knew how long. She turned her aching neck slowly to where the kick had come from and saw a slightly charred Gary.

"Hey, you awake?" he said, looking just as tired and aching as Kayla felt.

"Yeah, uh, I was just… thinking," she answered, not wanting to admit the intense feeling of hopelessness that resided within her. It was then she realized that Mike had not woken up yet, and that the three of them were still bound together. Not by the Chikorita though, but by some thick rope. Kayla looked over to a small smoldering campfire.

"Are they st-still here?" she asked, knowing that they probably had gone with all of their pokemon by now.

"Yes," said Gary, looking at the tiny fire, "They're either the most confident crooks I've ever seen, or they're the dumbest… probably the dumbest. I think they look too young to be doing what they're doing, considering the girl was talking to the boy as if this was their first heist; and I also heard her say that they were gonna leave at midnight. I can't reach my watch to see it, but judging from how dark it is, I'd say it's somewhere close to midnight. But at least this means that we can try and formulate a plan to get out of here!"

"Hmm…," said Kayla, not sure about how they could get out of this.

"If Mike there would wake up already! We might be able to get going!" said Gary, whipping his head in the direction of Mike.

Kayla suddenly thought of her pokemon that were soon to belong to Team Rocket-- what would happen to them?

"Hey, um, Gary?" she asked, knowing that there was nothing else to talk about.

"Yeah?" he replied, looking curious.

"What happens to pokemon that are captured by Team Rocket?" she wondered, hoping that he would know something about it.

"Well let me see," said Gary, enjoying that someone thought him smart enough to ask him a pokemon question, "All I've ever heard about it is what my Grandfather has told me. And he just goes on about how Team Rocket abuses their pokemon."

Kayla became quiet, remembering the way that the Jolteon they had seen had looked at them. It seemed so happy to get a chance to shock them with an attack.

"Oh come on Mike! What'dya need? An engraved invitation! Geez, this guy sleeps more than his Bulbasaur!" said Gary angrily, while kicking Mike in the leg as he had done to Kayla.

Kayla was trying to hold back tears again, when suddenly she heard a soft flapping noise, a familiar soft flapping noise….

She looked up in the direction she had heard it. "Um, Gary?" she said quietly.

Gary stopped his onslaught of kicks for a moment. "What?" he said, hoping that maybe it was some idea of how to get the idiot next to him to wake up.

"I think I hear the Butterfree!" she said, moving her head in the direction she had heard them.

Gary sighed, "Oh that's just great; now they can come and blow us up! This is a fine way to begin a journey!"

A loud grunt of pain was heard from Mike's side of the tied-up trainers.

"Finally!" yelled Gary, turning his angry face to look at Mike.

"Oh… sorry I took so long waking up. Ow! I am so sore! Especially my leg; weird," whined Mike, his head hanging in pain.

Gary started to scold Mike on his oversleeping, while Kayla continued to watch for the Butterfree. If maybe somehow they could talk to them, convince them to help them escape; then maybe they could really pull it off. But that in itself seemed pretty impossible.

A few more seconds of darkness in the direction Kayla was looking, and then a small group of Butterfree could be seen in the moonlight flapping towards them slowly. The three appeared to be tired, and were probably looking for somewhere to rest. Kayla tried to think of a way to get the trio of pokemon's attention, but there was no way she could just get up and wave her arms; and she wasn't about to go yelling for them. She looked down at the smoldering fire that Zephyr and Marilu had left.

"Hey!" she said to Gary and Mike, "Maybe we can re-start the fire!"

Gary and Mike both looked stunned. "What for?" said Mike.

Kayla explained her idea about the Butterfree.

"Why would they help us after all that mess we were in?" said Mike, still unconvinced.

Gary looked skeptical too, "Yeah, unfortunately, I'm gonna have to go with Mikey on this one."

They went back to arguing and brainstorming other ideas about how to get out, and Kayla felt shot down again.

She could think of nothing they could do to get out on their own. Worse of all, Kayla had let her pokemon down-- what kind of trainer was she? The fear of failure and the fear of what would happen to her sweet pokemon welled up inside her. Tears were now beginning to give Kayla problems again; but when she slowly looked up toward the sky her eyes met with three large Butterfree!

"Ah!" she squeaked, surprised and a bit confused as to why they had suddenly appeared next to them.

(Why are you all tied up? We heard a ruckus from this part of the forest a while ago, and thought that we should check up on it. Never thought that you three imbeciles would be at the center of it, again,) said the leader Butterfree, his eyes narrowing a bit.

Kayla blinked. "Uh, um, well, you see, Team Rocket tricked us, and they stole our pokemon and--."

(What! Team Rocket! In our part of the forest! Never!) yelled the leader, the other two Butterfree with him nodding.

Gary and Mike were silently watching Kayla; unsure of what to make of it.

Kayla pleaded with the Butterfree, "Please, please help us! If you could just get these ropes off we would be so grateful!"

The leader cocked an eye, (Hmm… well, we shall help you three. On one condition; you must promise never to start or own a campfire again,) he paused, shooting a glance at the two boys, (And only when all three of you promise, will we help you obtain your pokemon.)

Kayla nodded, and turned to Gary and Mike; who were staring at Kayla strangely.

"You guys… we need to promise not to start fires again… that way the Butterfree can help us out like they said they would!" she pleaded, hoping they would agree.

Gary shook his head in disbelief, "What are you talking about? 'They said'? Kayla, pokemon just mumble their names in their own language. You can't possibly know what that Butterfree is promising; if he's promising anything at all!"

Kayla was about to explain how the Butterfree had just told her that he would help them, when she stopped, and her eyes widened. How did she know what it was they had said? When the leader Butterfree had spoken, what she had heard was not the pleasant sound of Butterfree garble, but instead a strong and deep male voice speaking in what she assumed was her own language.

She tried to talk, to explain to the two boys why she had understood the Butterfree, but she just couldn't. Gary and Mike sat there for a few moments staring at her, but then Mike shook his head.

"I don't care what's going on! I want to get my pokemon back, and I want to teach those two idiots a lesson! I'll promise not to start a campfire ever again!" he said, looking to the Butterfree.

The Butterfree all nodded, and looked to Gary.

Gary stared up in disbelief, but nodded just the same; "Alright! This is crazy, but I'll promise not to start fires too."

Kayla was still trying to think on what had just happened, when the Butterfree leader tapped her with his foot.

"Oh! Um, I promise," she said timidly, looking at the Butterfree with a confused expression. How was any of this happening? Was it all really a dream of hers perhaps?

The Butterfree nodded to one another, and began to talk to each other. Kayla tried to listen to them, but all she could hear was regular pokemon speech. Gone was the deep male voice she had heard when previously talking with the Butterfree.

The three pokemon then made a small huddle, where they portioned off who would do what work, and after a few seconds, the threesome split up. Two of the Butterfree, including the leader, flew silently over to the side of the tent that the two Rocket members presumably had been staying; while the third flew up to the three trainers, and took a few moments to regard the ropes binding them together.

"Do you know what they're doing?" asked Mike, looking at Kayla.

"N-no. I, um, can't seem to understand them anymore," she said, still very much confused by this.

Gary rolled his eyes, but still even wondered to himself how it was she seemed to know what the Butterfree wanted. For they were seemingly helping them out right now; so Kayla's suggestion was right.

(I know! I'll just chew the ropes away. That'll get you guys out!) said the Butterfree before them cheerfully. He was obviously proud of his genius idea.

He flew down between Gary and Kayla, and began to gnaw away at the ropes with his small mandibles. The mandibles weren't very sharp, but with a lot of practice from gnawing at tree branches and such throughout the forest, the Butterfree was well prepared to take on a bit of rope.

As soon as the three trainers were free of the rope, they stood up, each of them rubbing some part on their aching bodies. Then, voices were heard coming from the tent of the two Rockets. The other two Butterfree came bounding out, one with a small group of pokeballs in it's arms, and the leader looking frantic. They flew over to the three trainers, and dropped the pokeballs in Kayla's arms. Gary and Mike struggled to find their own pokemon.

(We didn't have enough time to grab them all. They reacted to our presence too quickly! I'm hoping though, that the ones we grabbed are all of your pokemon,) said the leader, looking sorry.

The two Rockets sprinted outside of the tent in time to see the three Butterfree give the pokeballs back, and they both didn't look too happy.

"Ahh! Marilu, I told you we should have gone after stealing them! In fact, I said not to steal them at all! Now look!" yelled Zephyr, glaring at his partner. He knew that they would slip up somehow. He blushed a bit from embarrassment, for now they both looked even more inexperienced than the three trainers before them.

Marilu smiled evilly, "Don't worry. They're just novice trainers. There's nothing they can dish out that we can't take."

She tossed her pokeball onto the ground hard, and the unusual black colored light spouted from the ball, releasing the yellow-haired dog once again; it's eyes still containing the lifeless feel to them.

Kayla stared at the yellow dog, an odd feeling coming from it. It was the same intense fear she had felt while being next to Cubone's tree. She blinked. Obviously, there was a reason that both Cubone and Jolteon came out of their pokeballs with black light, but why?

The three Butterfree all gasped upon seeing the Jolteon, and the leader turned to Kayla, his voice shaking as he spoke, (I-I'm afraid that this kind of pokemon is too tough for us three to handle!) He motioned to his two friends, and the three began to fly off.

"W-wait! Why are you leaving?" asked Kayla, now feeling even more scared.

Gary stepped forward. "This time we fight back! Go!" he shouted, tossing his pokeball to the ground. A flash of white light, and soon a squatty Bulbasaur sat on the dark forest floor. Gary paused.

"Mike! Get your stupid Bulbasaur away from me!" he yelled, pointing to the grass pokemon.

"Whatever! Gary, just look at the side! Remember, our starters all had symbols on the balls!" said Mike as he ran up and grabbed his Bulbasaur's pokeball. Gary tossed out one of his other pokeballs, and after the flash of light, his Squirtle stood ready for action.

Kayla looked down at her three pokeballs. She tossed out Charmander's ball, and soon enough her starter was now standing in the fray too.

He looked around to see people and pokemon he didn't know. (What the? Oh I told you not to trust that kid! I can sense these things you know!)

Marilu elbowed Zephyr and told him to help her out. He tossed his ball and in the flash of white light's wake, his small Chikorita stood.

"Kayla!" called Gary, "You take on the freak with the Chikorita! We'll handle that chick's Jolteon!"

Kayla nodded, but wasn't sure if she could take on such a higher-level pokemon all by herself. She looked down to Charmander.

"Charmander, um… I guess maybe could you try a Scratch attack?" asked Kayla, feeling very intimidated by the teenage boy in front of her.

"Nice try," said Zephyr, trying to regain some sense of self-confidence, "But I'm afraid that my Chikorita won't be beaten by simple attacks like that."

Kayla blushed and looked down a bit. He had a point.

"Chikorita! Use your Vine Whip again to tie up that girl!" cried Zephyr, pointing to Kayla.

"No!" whispered Kayla, once again feeling hopeless.

Chikorita looked up at her trainer. She had been with him for so long, and been with him through so much; but this was just too much for her. She had never refused him before, but those were all things that she had approved of. She wondered to herself; what would he do right now if she refused?

(No,) she said, giving Zephyr a look of sheer defiance; although you could see the hurt in her eyes for having to do this to him.

"What?" said Zephyr quietly, not believing his eyes.

Marilu was, again, paying attention to the two of them; she need not pay attention to her battle. Jolteon seemed to be making short work of Bulbasaur and Squirtle. "Now you see Zephyr why pokemon must be shown who the master is! I told you, everyone told you, a long time ago that if you didn't discipline them correctly from the start, that they would always disobey in the end!"

"You're sick!" yelled Gary, throwing a disgusted look at Marilu.

Zephyr just stood there. Then he brandished what looked like a whip that had been hooked to the side of his belt, and raised it up slightly. Chikorita just stood staring up at him with the same hurtfully defiant look, and Kayla turned away. But no sound came. Zephyr put back his whip.

"Fine. If you won't go restrain her, then I will," he said flatly, looking over to Kayla.

(Hey! Don't touch her!) yelled Charmander. He leapt over to stand in front of Kayla, and suddenly felt kinda-- weird. His stomach felt all rumbly, and he peered down at it as Zephyr approached them. (What's wrong with me…?) he mumbled, feeling something coming up his throat. Those Raviolis from yesterday? He looked over to the approaching Zephyr, and felt whatever had been coming up spout out of his mouth! He blinked. It was fire! He had let out occasional fire spouts before, but not this much at one time!

(Look out Bryant!) called Chikorita, now losing her defiant stare.

(Ahhh!) screamed Charmander, freaking out from the fire still coming from his mouth, and he began to run towards Zephyr and Chikorita.

"What the? Ah! Get away you crazy Charmander!" yelled Zephyr, waving his arm as Charmander approached him. However, Charmander couldn't see the waving arm with all of the fire in front of his face, and ran into the boy's legs knocking him over.

"You're burning my arm! Get off!" yelled Zephyr. Chikorita ran up to his side, and Charmander suddenly stopped himself, regaining control of his flames.

Chikorita glared at Charmander. (Watch out! Can't you control your own Ember attack!) she said, tears in her eyes. Charmander shrugged, not knowing what to say.

(I'm, uh, sor--) he started, but was interrupted by a deep, scratchy voice.

(Trying to be the gentleman I see?) said the voice. Charmander looked up to see a large, yellow-haired dog staring down at him with evil eyes and a smirk on his face. Obviously, the yellow pokemon was too much for the combined efforts of Bulbasaur and Squirtle.

(Don't waste your precious time on her; she's nothing but trash,) said the Jolteon, knocking the still glaring Chikorita aside with his front paw.

(Hey!) said Charmander, wanting to tell off the rude pokemon, but when he looked up to face him, a shiver ran down his spine, and he suddenly felt very afraid of the spiny dog… (Um, uh, hey! How's it goin'? Nice night to go stargazing, eh?) said Charmander nervously attempting to back away. He sincerely hoped that the yellow pokemon was not about to kill him.

Kayla looked down at the Jolteon. How could Charmander ever beat something that strong? Then it hit her-- Mr. Cubone! He was a ground pokemon and at a high level! She looked down at the two remaining pokeballs with her, and hoped she would toss the right one.

The ball landed next to both Jolteon and Charmander, and soon all of the trainers and pokemon except for Kayla and Charmander gasped, as the dark black light came forth from the round projectile.

(What is this?) cried the Jolteon, clearly surprised by another black light pokemon coming from a novice trainer.

Cubone soon stood in the light's wake, and looked around silently. Then he saw Jolteon.

(Interesting…,) he said, his eyes widening.

The other trainers all stood watching. Marilu and Zephyr seemed to be just as surprised as Jolteon about Cubone's appearance.

(Step back Charmander. This could get very dangerous,) warned Cubone. Charmander stepped back. All of the trainers continued to stand silently and watch.

(What is a Dark Pokemon like you doing with a little girl?) asked the Jolteon, it's eyes narrowing.

(I refuse to call myself a 'Dark Pokemon'. I am and always shall be a Cubone,) said the brown pokemon, giving a warning look to Jolteon.

Jolteon raised an eyebrow. (Why so polite? Huh, Gramps? How is it you are even able to stand being with this girl? Don't you feel the urge to hurt and destroy like all Dark Pokemon do?) he asked, now starting to circle around Cubone.

(I have no such urge. However, I used to be like you. Alone, hurt, angry… Those days are long gone though. I now know what it means to be someone's pokemon,) Cubone spoke softly, watching the Jolteon carefully.

Kayla and the other trainers all watched, fascinated by the two dark pokemon.

(Heh. So you met this girl and she 'changed' you? Is that it?) the yellow dog said, chuckling to himself.

(No. I met her father, and he and his friends taught me what friendship was about. What love was about,) said Cubone, still eyeing Jolteon.

Jolteon was about to answer back to Cubone's comment; when suddenly his eyes widened in recognition. He smirked evilly. (I remember you! You were the one who escaped the Team Rocket lab quite a few years ago! I was much younger back then and in the service of my Master's father, but already so eager to help out with 'special' projects of Team Rocket. There were four pokemon that I was sent to kill. A Quilava, an Ivysaur, a Cubone, and… oh, what else? Oh yes; and a Pidgey.)

Cubone's eyes were now the one's to widen, but as soon as they had expanded, they contracted into an angry glare. He raised his bone weapon up a bit.

(Hm,) said Jolteon, a fake lightness in his voice, (Yes, they were very fun to hurt. It was such a pity that you ran off. I was saving you for last. Oh well, I got my kicks with the other three. Especially,) he paused, giving Cubone another smirk, (that girl Pidgey. Oh yes, she was the easiest of the three; wasn't even a challenge. What a pathetic piece of trash!)

Cubone's grip tightened on his bone club, and his eyes now had the same look to them as Jolteon's; small and lifeless. He shook slightly with suppressed rage, and took a step towards the yellow pokemon.

(Wait! What're you doing Pops!) cried Charmander, running up to the brown pokemon's side.

Cubone glanced behind him and knocked Charmander away with a blow of his bony weapon. Charmander skidded to a stop by Kayla and looked up, a confused and hurt expression on his face.

(Get away from me!) yelled Cubone to Charmander, his voice a bit gruffer than usual. He then turned around, lowered his head, took a few steps back; and with incredible speed, darted up to Jolteon. The yellow pokemon was caught off guard by the old pokemon's speed, and had no time to avoid the attack. Soon enough Cubone's secondary skull smashed into Jolteon's front, making the pokemon fly back several feet before hitting a tree.

Marilu gasped. "No one's ever beaten my Jolteon! Jolteon you weakling! Get up and fight back! NOW!"

Zephyr and Chikorita were still on the ground, Chikorita looking over the bad burn on his arm. Zephyr watched the intense attack that Cubone had just performed. "Marilu!" he called, "We should just leave! There's no point in battling like this! Your Jolteon could get seriously hurt!"

"I DON'T CARE!" Marilu cried, brandishing a black whip, "Jolteon! Either you get up, or my whip will make you!"

Kayla put a hand to her mouth, and gasped a bit. How could anyone treat their own pokemon so cruelly, and with no remorse like that? She helped Charmander up on his feet.

"Are you okay?" she asked the lizard, who was rubbing his tail.

(Yeah, but Pops…,) he said, looking to Cubone.

Kayla watched as Cubone began to stomp up to the injured Jolteon, readying to use his bone club against it.

"M-Mr. Cubone! What-What're you doing?" called Kayla, feeling a bit scared of Cubone. She had never seen him this way before.

Cubone turned around at the sound of Kayla's voice, and paused for a moment. He called to her in the same overly gruff voice as Charmander had heard.

(Go! I will meet with you two in the city's Pokemon Center after I have dealt with some things…,) he said, and then turned to face the yellow pokemon that was now beginning to get up on its feet.

Charmander pulled at Kayla's overall pant leg. (Come on! Let's go! If that's what Pops wants then I won't be the one to say no to him right now!) he quickly peered to the Cubone, (Especially now.)

Kayla hesitated; she didn't want to leave him here all alone. Gary and Mike took their chances and began to run away. Mike ran fast, and Gary looked back at Kayla.

"Hurry up Kayla! Do you have a death wish!" he yelled, then continued on his way.

Cubone looked back, seeing Kayla still there, and frowned. Why wouldn't she leave? He closed his eyes, 'this is for your own good,' he thought to himself. He then raised up his thick bony weapon, and hurled it toward Kayla and Charmander. The two had to dart away quickly to avoid it hitting them.

Charmander pulled again at Kayla. (Now do you see how serious he is about us going!) said Charmander, looking tired, (Come on!)

Kayla nodded, reluctantly turned around and, with Charmander keeping up as best he could, began to run towards the exit of the Viridian Forest.

A/N: Okay, a little note on ages of pokemon. Charmander would be like a teenager, and Chikorita would be about a little older. Jolteon is much older, he was like a young teen when he was Marilu's father's pokemon, which was about 14 years ago. Cubone is, of course, very old and was already an adult when he met Kayla's father about 30 years ago. Hopefully that wasn't too confusing (heck, I almost confused ME). Anyway, next chapter will feature the aftermath of this, and the introduction of Pewter City. Stay tuned!