Chapter One: Scars

"C'mon, guys! We have to hurry or we'll never get back to Pallet!" Ash called from the top of a huge hill. Misty, Brock and Pikachu were panting at the bottom. They all shot Ash glares from where they sat.

"Not everyone has endless energy like you do, Ash!" Brock hollared.

Ash was just about to yell an insult back, when something caught his eye: a little shop that had never been there before... He was already running inside by the time Misty and Brock reached the top of the hill.

When they caught up with their hyperactive friend, he was staring at a small Espeon lying in the far corner of the shop. It didn't look like most Espeon did; it had black spots over one of its ears, on the tip of its tail, on its back, and over one eye.

"Ooh! She's adorable!" Misty cooed. She knelt down and was about to pet it when there was a low growl, and she froze.

"Oh, don't mind Umbreon. He's very protective of Espeon," the shopkeeper said, coming out of the back room. It was right then that the three friends noticed the Umbreon standing only a few feet away from the Espeon.

Misty held her hand out for the Umbreon. "Don't worry. I won't hurt your friend," she said, smiling. The Umbreon licked her hand and sat down. Misty reached over and scratched the Espeon's ears; the Espeon purred.

"Wow... she's actually letting someone pet her..." Misty looked curiously at the shopkeeper.

"What do you mean?"

"Usually she snaps at anyone who tries to pet her. Of course, all of them have been men or boys. You're the first girl to notice her." As proof, when the Espeon's eyes fell on Ash and Brock she hissed and curled up into a tight ball, and the Umbreon growled again.

The bell over the door rang, signaling that someone else had entered the shop. The Espeon's head shot up, she looked at the shop door, and her eyes lit up.

"I'm here to get some Pokemon chow," Gary said to the shopkeeper, completely ignoring Ash and friends. The Umbreon put himself between the Espeon and Gary's back as Gary left. When she whimpered he growled and shook his head. She tried again, but he met it with another shake of his head and stamped his foot to show that the talk was over.

"But..." Her eyes widened and her paw flew up and covered her mouth, but it was too late. Misty looked at her.

"Did you just talk?" The Umbreon stepped between Misty's gaze and the Espeon and growled again, and there was a sigh.

"Don't." The Espeon stepped out from behind her friend and sat down. "Yes, I can talk."

Misty's jaw dropped, Ash fell down, and Brock's face went blank.

X...X

"I still can't believe you did that, Misty!" Ash ranted. She just rolled her eyes and ignored him. Misty had spoken to the shopkeeper and had bought the Espeon, and the Umbreon - who had bitten the shopkeeper for selling the Espeon - had decided to come with.

It wasn't until after they were out of the shop and in the sunlight that the three humans noticed all the scars on the Espeon's back.

Ash - being Ash - was obviously just about to ask where she got them, but Brock slapped a hand over Ash's mouth. The Umbreon watched this with a 'these-people-are-so-strange' look on his face. Misty was cusrious too, but she tried a more subtle approach.

"So Espeon..."

"Yes?"

"Who... who was your trainer before you came to live at that shop?"

"Gary Oak."

X...X

JK: Well, what do you think? It sucks, doesn't it? Ma-a-a-a-an, I'm a bad writer! I knew it! (bangs head on wall) Ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow ow-w-w-w-w-w! (knocks self out)

Disclaimer: Eh, uh... (shakes JK) Hmm... Well, er, review please!