A Mightyena Named Wolf

Disclaimer : I do not own Pokémon.

This chapter has been edited in 2009.

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Chapter 7 ~ Into the Fire

The trail led Wolf straight into the forest. Walking deeper and deeper into the forest brought back many memories to him. The trail was leading him to many places where, as a Poochyena, he would roam about. There were many happy memories… and there were plenty of bitter ones as well.

Wolf rushed ahead, pushing the memories away from his thoughts. The scent was getting stronger. Finally, Wolf went into a section he'd never seen before, and was surprised to find a large factory standing in front of him. Strangely enough, trees were growing out of the factory's roof. Wolf did not know why, but he guessed it was to hide the factory from any people or Pokémon flying above.

Wolf continued to follow the scent into the factory. The factory was like a giant metallic maze, but the scent told him where the 'exit' was. In and in, left turn... straight... another left turn... finally a right... Wolf nosed his way into the enemy's territory.

Seeing this factory just confirms Wolf's theory that Will has been abducted. He must hurry, or another part of Wolf's life would disappear forever.

At long last, Wolf found Will tied up in a room. Without thinking, Wolf barged in and bit the ropes and set Will free. Will barely registered what was going on when the ropes binding him fell to the floor.

"Wolf! What are you doing here?!" Will said, completely surprised.

"The question is what YOU are doing in here... come quickly, let's get out..."

"No... he would be here any mome—"

"Well, well, well," a voice interrupted them. "Sad to break up a little reunion, but the boy's mine now. A little ransom note has been sent, don't worry, m' boy, daddy will save you soon... you know what they say! Everybody has a price! And m'boy, you are one very expensive guy."

It was, of course, Roland. He had emerged from a door next to some complex machines. In his hands were four Pokéballs, and Wolf knew what was in them. However, Wolf did not want them to come out...

Wolf launched a Shadow Ball straight at Roland. Roland stumbled and fell, dropping the Pokéballs which then rolled slightly on the floor.

Wolf quickly yelled at Will. "Will! Follow me before he and his Blazikens come after us!"

"Right!" Will followed the running Mightyena around the factory. Wolf was nearly there... he could see the exit... Roland was not nearby... a few more seconds...

A man jumped in front of the exit and blocked the pair.

It was Roland.

"H-how..." Will began.

"You fool. This is my hideout. I made lots of secret pathways in case the police come here... secret pathways for me to make a quick escape. There's no way you can outsmart me... not in my turf," Roland snarled. He then turned his attention to Wolf. "As for you, the Mightyena, you've been getting on my nerves. It's time for me to make sure you keep quiet. Forever. GO, MIGHTYENA!" Roland tossed out a Pokéball.

Out of the Pokéball came a Mightyena. Another familiar Mightyena that Wolf had thought he had lost...

"(Alpha!)" Wolf excalimed happily. His tail couldn't help but wag, even in this tense situation.

"(No way, it's you!)" the Alpha exclaimed.

"(I missed you so...)"

"(And I you, young one. But... this guy here…)" the Alpha looked behind him at Roland. "(He expects me to... battle you?)"

"(Hey Alpha,)" Wolf said, an idea forming in is head, "(let's pretend to battle, shall we? Then we attack that man together.)"

"(That's a one-way ride to freedom that I will not miss. You're on!)" The Alpha began to growl. It was the same ferocious growl that he always used when reprimanding members of the pack… It has been a long time since Wolf last heard it. If he did not knew that the Alpha was just acting, he would have been very afraid.

Wolf began growling too.

Both of them leapt at each other, swiping their claws in mid-air. The two humans looked on at the battle. Both Mightyenas slowly took their 'battle' to another room, still pretending to bump each other. They battled their way deeper into the factory without realizing it. At the same time, Wolf was keeping an eye on Will. He and the Alpha made sure that they fought between Will and Roland so that the latter could not grab the former and run.

"(A little more... let's dash to the other room, wait behind the wall so Roland can't see us, then when he comes into the room, we Shadow Ball 'em!)" Wolf suggested.

"(I have raised you well! Let's do it! Then I will grab my Pokéball and we hightail it outta here!)" the Alpha yelled back.

Both Mightyenas battled their way into the other room, and then they got out of the humans' sight. For a moment, Wolf was afraid that Roland might take the opportunity to nab Will again, but soon enough, they could hear the sound of rushing footsteps approaching them. Wolf poked his head round the door to make sure it's Roland.

"(He's coming, Alpha!)"

"(Three... two... one...)"

Both Mightyenas lodged a charged-up Shadow Ball which sandwiched Roland in the middle. The stunned Roland fell and dropped the Pokéball that used to contain Alpha. The Alpha quickly retrieved it.

Will then came running into the room.

"What happened?" he asked.

"Will! Let's get out now!" Wolf yelled.

"Wha—" Will was surprised at the sight of two Mightyenas looking at him and a fallen Roland.

"Quick! Before he wakes up!"

Just as Wolf said that though, Roland crawled to a device attached to the wall.

"This is... how it ends..." he panted. He seemed incredibly weak. The damage of the Shadow Ball must have been more severe than Wolf anticipated. "Self-destruct mechanism. In case... I needed to destroy this whole factory full of evidence... so that police can't find it. But now... I destroy you... if I die, we die together!"

With the last of his strength, he quickly typed in some numbers, and then a counter appeared showing 5 minutes. He then fainted away.

"NO!" Wolf yelled.

"Will, we got to get out now! (Alpha, let's go!)" Wolf yelled.

Wolf and Alpha got out of the room and started to make their escape. Will followed, but tripped on some wires. He tried to free himself but to no avail. His leg was completely tangled in the wires.

"Will!" Wolf ran back and tried to bite the wires away. The wires were firm though, and wouldn't tear apart.

"Wolf, you got to leave me."

Wolf stopped trying to break the wires for a moment, stunned at what Will said. "What?"

"Leave. Hurry!" Will yelled.

"No... no way..."

"Look here, Wolf. It's either I die alone, or we die together. You got to leave me alone..."

"No way, Will!" Wolf objected. He began swiping the wires with his claws. "You helped find my mom!"

"Your mom?"

"Your uncle's Mightyena was my mom! I want to get you free! I have to!"

Will smiled. "I'm happy for you. Go, Wolf. Go to your mother. She needs you and you need her."

"No!!" Wolf said obstinately.

"GO!" Will yelled. Wolf looked up at him. "Wolf... I saved you. You owe me a favour, and now you repay me by leaving!"

Wolf stared at Will blankly. "Will... you're just like Alpha..."

The Alpha reemerged from the next room, coming to check what is taking the both of them so long. When he saw what had happened, he walked over to Wolf. "(Young one, it's better to leave this fellow here. You've got a whole life ahead of you…)"

Will reached a hand out and stroked Wolf's back. "Wolf... go. Just... don't forget me..."

Wolf continued to stare at Will. The he turned and ran.

"I won't forget you. I won't forget you. I won't forget you!!!" Wolf cried out as he and the alpha ran towards the exit. Wolf stole one last glance back and the two looked at each other for the last time.

"Will... thank you."