(((All characters belong to me. Nintendo's credit goes to the weird and wonderful creatures known as Pokemon….you get the deal.)))

Chapter 3
The Art of Seduction

Within the distant forest of Route 1, stood a tree. This tree, as anyone would assume, seemed to be indifferent with all its other fellow trees crowding around it, merrily enjoying themselves in their silent tree-like way. But no, this tree was vastly different. It was an outcast, banished to grow beneath the rocky cliff that towered before it, stealing the life-giving light required of all plant-type beings to grow strong and healthy. What the result was a small, thin, undernourished fellow in comparison to its healthier, bigger and sturdier brethren, boasting their pride by bringing their immense fruit-filled branches above them, gloating at the vast difference between themselves and it. This, my friends, was a sad tree.

But it was also a live one. As it watched its many larger, stronger relatives being blown down by the powerful, flame-filled might of an eldritch black Blaziken, one after another, then stopping upon reaching its base, shaking its hawk-like head in pity of the scrawny sap and walked off, it soon came to realize that being the underdog wasn't so bad after all.

Garuda Ra placed his literally burning fists into the cool creek, watching a sharp hiss of steam rise forth. A sigh of relief escaped his beak, feeling the burning sensation in his knuckles subside as he curled and uncurled his talons. A minute later, he took them out, picking away the splinters of bark within the narrow grooves. Blazikens can set their wrists on fire, not their fists. So any flammable object that's lucky enough to get lodged on that part of his talons was safe from a fiery demise, just until the time when he would notice, then simply breath forth a refreshing flame from his inner fire sack. He decided to manually remove them instead, his claws stinging a bit too much to flame. Looking closely, he noticed just how rough, worn and scaled his hands really were. Years of busting up various objects of the sorts, each with an increasing degree of hardness, would do that to unprotected fists. He recalled his old trainer insisting way back when that he should wear something over them when training.

"You have beautiful hands," she had said, clasping his in hers. "But all that rock smashing is wearing them out. Try and take care of them. Wear something, like some boxing gloves."

He looked down at his hands oddly. Boxing gloves? Did she think he was too soft that he couldn't handle full bare-fisted action? That he needed to wear something so ridiculous as boxing gloves? He looked up at her face, noticing the obvious concern in her soft emerald eyes. He didn't have the heart to simply say no to that. "…I can't control my fire," he said finally. "They'll just burn up."

"Only at the wrists and above them," she pointed out. "Bind your knuckles at least with a bandage. Those won't burn up. It'll help in the long run, really."

He never had any trouble with his fists at that time, still as young and as fit as can be. And just as proud and stubborn as ever. So he never really bothered to listen to her advice until now, when he realized she was right. His knuckles were stinging. It was more irritating that painful. He removed a chip lodged in the scaled fist, a small red dot appearing in its place, and he clicked his tongue with even more irritation. But what was probably the most irritating of all was the fact that after all this time, Jemilie had been right about something she said, and he couldn't deny it any more. What if she was right in a lot more things she told him? Just thinking about it put him in such a bad mood that his fists began to blaze again. Grumbling low in an incomprehensible language, he forced his fists back into the cool liquid, burying them beneath the mud and closed his eyes, thinking it'll help somewhat.

It did. The irritation faded after an undetermined amount of time, and he let himself relax in the soothing quiet of the forest. But that didn't last either. A beating of wings stirred the silence, low at first, then growing louder and closer. He didn't bother to look up; it was most likely to be something not worth the effort. Whatever it was, he just hoped it wouldn't bother him.

No such luck.

" Well, well. Aren't you the strange-looking one? " a voice crooned from somewhere to the Blaziken's right. Sighing, knowing this thing wasn't just going to leave him alone, he spared to open just one eye wide enough to tell what was there. A figure stood upon a rock jutting off the shore, stocky and with a large leathery pouch beneath its beak that had to take up about 45 percent of its body mass. The white and blue plumage, as well as an overpowering smell of the sea radiating off of it, told him it was somehow water elemental. And female. Her voice was hollow, coming out of that huge mouth, like someone talking out of a paper bag. Something was protruding on its bottom, leading the bird to think that it might bear some contents in it. The one thing that seemed out of place was a burnt smell, connected to some seared feathers around her face.

Interesting. But that was all. He didn't deem it worthy enough for a reply and just bothered to wash his hands of the filth, ready to take off before she can say another word. He just wasn't fast enough.

" You look mighty strong, too. Stronger that any of the Pokemon in this forest, I'll bet. "

That made him discharge a sharp laugh her way. He finally stood from his crouching position, revealing his entire 6'8" frame of powerful Blaze Pokemon to the squat fellow. A normal Blaziken's height was intimidating enough, but for him, born larger and stronger than others, looking up at him from the Pelipper's point of view must have been mind numbing. And yet, no sign of fear crossed the birds face watching him rise before her, only a strange smirk of satisfaction as he did. He was quick to take note of this, and only made his not-so-happy mood worse.

"I'm sure you won't be disappointed to find that there is no other Pokemon alive in this forest that can best me," he growled, or rather, a sort of low rolling screaming that could register as a growl.

She nodded. " That's what I was counting on. " Her eyes traveled all over him, taking in the full image that was the Raven Black Blaziken, and dare do so much as trail a wingtip down his left leg, slowly and rather seductively that made his hackles rise slightly. " I'm looking for a pretty strong 'mon that can offer me some protection, amongst…other things. "

"Tough," he muttered, drawing his leg away in mild disgust. Too bad she didn't smell as good as she looked, which wasn't saying much. He probably would've been a bit more considerate. Instead, he just wanted to get as far away as soon as possible. The strong saltwater smell was making his nose burn. "Not interested in being your 'mon', babe."

That finally got a different expression out of the pelican. Hurt; yet obviously faked. " Ohh…that's quite disappointing ," she said sadly. " I don't just need a protector…I need a good father for my child. I can't even leave it at home. I have to take her wherever I go, and honestly, it's a strain on the pouch. " The top portion of her beak lifter up, allowing the black Blaziken to peer within. Sure enough, swimming in an oozing puddle of reeking saliva, was a large speckled Pokemon egg. He didn't doubt that it was the Pokemon's, but he did think that she was in no need of such help as she said. His sapphire eyes stared at the coal black ones. It winked. " Please…? Even if you don't wish to be a father, I still can pay you for your services... "

He straightened up, huffing grumpily, silent a long while before responding, "…What is it exactly you need protecting against?" Part of him raged against his words, part of him shrugged in reply. It was probably something dumb, but it was bothering him to no end that this beast seemed to be toying with him. There was nothing in this forest that would hold any more interest. And he can get something out of it.

He can play her game. For now.

The Pelipper's smile seemed to stretch all the way to the back of her small head. She turned, giving him a sexy look before spreading her wings wide and leaping to the sky. " Just follow me. "

--To be continued--