Day Off

Brom was preparing Red for the next phase of his training. He had Red blindfolded with a green piece of cloth standing in the middle of the castle's grounds. Circling Red, Brom informed him of the lesson from today.

"You need to get better at tracking aura so I will block your sight as well as your hearing which I will close once I'm done explaining," Brom explained summoning an Aura Sphere in his hand. "Now, plug those ears and get ready to dodge!"

Red took the two tufts of fur in his hands and stuffed them into the canal of his ear. Once they were snugly fit, he took a defensive stance and tensed up. He was ready to react at a moment's notice. It required every cell in his brain to concentrate and any outside actions would distract him. This is why Brom sent away Red's Pokemon from the castle to take a break from training.

-"Damn, it has barely been a week and we get a day of vacation,"- Pikachu muttered as he walked along with his pals. The entire group was strolling through the forest that was near to the castle.

Two brown birds swooped down from the sky to smoothly land on the branches that lay above the passing the group. The two Pidgeottos observed the strange bunch that stood out like a circus troop in a crowd. They both skimmed over the team but their keen eyes stopped onto Pidgeot.

-"Could it be?"- one Pidgeotto spoke up sounding feminine. Her companion shrugged.

-"Let's find out,"- he said jumping from his perch. The other followed close as they glided to the group.

Pidgeot turned back to see them coming. His eyes flew wide open when he realized who they were. He stopped dead in his tracks too surprise to even move. The rest of the group stopped as well noticing Pidgeot's odd behavior.

Nidoking watched the common bird land in front of Pidgeot. –"They're friends of yours?"- he directed his question to Pidgeot.

Pidgeot disregarded Nidoking's question and carefully approached the two. In what sounded as a childish voice, he uttered,-" Is that you brother and sis?"-

The female Pidgeotto lifted her head and a happy glint shone in her black eyes. –"It is you little brother! Oh where have you been all this time?"- She jumped forward eagerly.

-"Woah! How did you manage to evolve into a Pidgeot so quickly, bro?"- Pidgeot's brother asked admiring the set of head feathers.

-"Heh, I stopped being a wimp once I met my trainer Red,"-Pidgeot was glad to tell his story since they separated.

Charizard scowled as Pidgeot conversed with his siblings and continued to walk. Gabite scrambled after him hoping he will learn from his fire instructor if he followed him. Charizard being in a foul mood lashed back at Gabite with his vicious tongue. –"Stop following me around like I'm your mother Psyduck! Go and annoy those other guys!"-

Gabite stopped with wide shocked eyes. His lips quivered as his eyes turned teary as he was about to burst out wailing. He opened his mouth just to say…-" Okay!"- He turned tail to run after his friends.

-"Well, he is definitely not getting any better,"- Pikachu remarked annoyed by Charizard's uncouthness. He pushed him out of his mind once Charizard left his sight and joined the family reunion.

-"To think that you would become a Pidgeot in the time we didn't see,"- she said still acting surprised.

-"You didn't have faith in me?"- Pidgeot said in a quiet tone.

-"No…well, let's just say that was the least of my expectations,"- Pidgeotto admitted. –"I mean, ever since we hatched out of our eggs, you haven't always been the…brightest of the bunch."- she awkwardly phrased it.

Nidoking chuckled and roughly slapped his avian pal on the back. –"Don't worry dude. I was the same in my pack. My brothers and sisters were all better than me in every way but I was too foolish back then to even realize. Or maybe just forgot I was a fool when I used my Amnesia ability…"- he trailed off to contemplate on his past.

Pidgeot didn't at all feel better when Nidoking tried to empathize with him. It did lower his spirits even lower knowing that he was now on Nidoking's level of incompetence when he was a Nidoran. He never realized that his siblings held such low standards for him. –Well, I was the type of guy who couldn't even defeat a simple Rattata in the field,- he sadly reminded himself.

-"But he's not the same as before,"- Pikachu spoke up. The two birds took notice of him for the first time. –"I witnessed his growth since we both joined the team almost at the same time. He went from fighting weakling Zubats to a ferocious Nidoqueen."- Pikachu recounted Pidgeot's feats to the two siblings hoping that it will change their mind.

-"Heh, looks like you turned out better than we did,"- Pidgeot's older brother said without hesitation. –"If only father and mother were here to see you."- He finally said sounding a mix between depressed and pride.

-"Yeah, but at least you guys are here to see me mature,"- Pidgeot chirped becoming cheery.

-"Hey, how long are you going to stay here?"- the older sister asked eagerly.

Pidgeot paused to think. –"We might be here for awhile. Why?"-

-"Do you have time to join us with your our old friends to catch up?"- she asked.

-"You mean our old flock?"- he keenly asked and smiled when he received a firm nod. He turned to his teammates who nodded their heads to urge to him to go. –"Alright, I'll go. I'll be seeing you guys later."- His siblings took the air but not before they said their farewells to Red's Pokémon. Pidgeot followed in close pursuit as they vanished behind the thick forestry.

Pikachu watched them until they disappeared like a fading memory. He smiled but it was quickly replaced with a frown. He didn't frown for he felt sadness nor in detest but because he smelled a particular aroma in the air. It was a familiar smell that he racked his brain to remember but couldn't. He sniffed the air once more to get better sample of the scent. His eyes widened to the point they looked like they were about to pop from their sockets.

-"What do you smell?"- Eevee asked testing the area with her own nose but couldn't determine what was sending signals to her friend.

Pikachu dropped to his four paws and abruptly ran off. –"Come with me guys!"- he yelled with a sudden urgency in his voice. Eevee immediately obliged chasing after him as Gabite did so since he wasn't one to ponder about his actions.

Nidoking was left behind like a forgotten toy left to clutter dust in the box. –"I won't be able to keep up so it will take me a while to arrive,"- Nidoking grumbled even though there was no one to hear him. At his agonizing slow pace, Nidoking followed after the trio.

At the head of the charge, Pikachu cleared a bush to arrive to a wide clearing in the forest. The clearing wasn't at all empty for a large group of Pokemon occupied the territory. Pikachu stood to his height and with a bright grin that overtook his face, he trotted to the pack.

Eevee tumbled out of the bush with sticks and leaves sticking out of her mane. Gabite ripped the bush apart with razor sharp claws and calmly entered the vicinity. His naturally stern stare transformed to a giddy, soft look as he admired the large group of Pikachus.

Red's Pikachu greeted each one of his kind as they returned the greet with an even more enthusiastic tone than he did. He worked his way to the middle of the pack as he arrived to the leader of this Pikachu pack, a Raichu. The only Raichu in the group, it was clear he was the strongest of them all.

Raichu welcomed back his ex-member with warm smile though didn't act ecstatic like the others to his arrival. He crossed his long, thin tail with Pikachu's own broader, shorter tail as it was custom for his clan when they address the leader to show respect.

Pikachu wanted to so bad to talk with old peers but he had more important matters to discuss with the chief. –"I know my appearance was unexpected and you guys have so much to ask me, but I must ask you guys something first,"- Pikachu said straight to the pointed. He paused when his elder raised his paw.

He motioned to the two Pokemon before him as a third joined the party. –"Don't be haste and introduced our other guests."-

Nidoking panted as he never had to run such a long distance in his fully evolved form. He didn't take much time to recuperate and joined the curious Pikachu. –"Hello, I'm Nidoking,"- he introduced himself once he reached Raichu.

Eevee studied the other Pikachu, curious to learn what made them different from the only Pikachu she knew before this. She smiled brightly when a youngling of the group dared to approach her sharing her inquisitiveness.

-"Hello,"- she cheerfully said lowering her head to directly lock eye contact. The young Pikachu deemed her as not a threat and replied with a joyful bark.

Gabite was also studying the wild pack with the spirit of a child exploring a new place. –"Why don't you have those pointy spikes on your ear?"- Gabite noted the one difference as he rudely pointed at a Pikachu's left ear.

-"Well-uhmm…I don't really know. Never did stop to ponder on why that happens,"- the Pikachu who was used as Gabite's example responded equally confounded.

-"Well, I will now call you no-pointy-ear-Pikachu-1!"- he exclaimed as he began to number off the rest of the Pikachu.

Pikachu gestured to the two Pokemon who paid no attention to them. –"Yeah, they won't be ready for a while so can I get right back to the point?"- he asked in a lackluster tone.

Raichu nodded. –"Ask me what is pressing your mind."-

-"My big question is why you left Viridian forest?"- Pikachu said crossing his arms. He knew that a few of his kind stopped to stare at him for he felt their eyes bore into the back of his skull.

Raichu appeared discomforted by the question itself. –"I thought you will ask that,"- he admitted with a somber tone as his tail twitched nervously behind him. –"It was because we came here to create a new territory."-

-"What!"- Pikachu yelled outraged. –"How could you abandoned the forest that our kind has lived in for generations? What made you think it was right to just leave territory that our ancestors took years to make it the right place for all Pikachus?"- He tone grew harsher with each word. The group grew alert as Pikachu got closer to their leader.

Raichu stood their looking quite ashamed as if he regretted the actions. His voiced croaked when he answered,"I had no choice. We were forced out of habitat by Pokemon who held power greater than ours combined."-

Pikachu's mouth gaped left speechless for a minute. –"Who are these guys that threw you out of our native lands?"- he demanded to know.

-"I don't know who they were but it was group of 5 foreign Pokemon that came out of the blue one day. We weren't prepared and they attacked us without mercy,"- Raichu replied sounding more like a confession. –"I tried to fight back but their power was much greater. They possessed incredible abilities that we couldn't comprehend. I was no match for them thus they took our land to make it to theirs. We lost all of our resources we stored and were forced to migrate to find new land that was far away from the sacred forest."- Raichu couldn't handle the pressure and succumbed to his failure. He lowered his face in shame quivering as if he was sobbing. –"I'm sorry I failed everybody as leader."- he directed the last statement to his followers.

Pikachu's mouth was open but no audible words came out. He closed his mouth and closed his eyes. Softly sighing, he calmly said,-"I see. I'm sorry that I gave you such a hard time."-

-"No, it's reasonable that you are angry at the situation but there was nothing that I could do at the time,"- Raichu replied with a weary smile.

-"No there wasn't,"- Pikachu agreed. –"But now I'm here! I will get our land back!"-

Everyone in the area completely stopped to stare at Pikachu. He expected everyone to rejoice when he pumped a fist into the air. Raichu even gave him a dumbfounded look.

-"Not to put you off or anything,"- Raichu responded sounding worry. –"But I don't believe that you have the power to go against such a group of Pokemon."-

-"What are you talking about? I may have not evolved yet but I have gotten considerable stronger since the last time,"- he proclaimed. –"Also, I got these guys who will be glad to help!"-

Nidoking nodded. –"We have grown over the time we've been gone, so let us handle this,"- he said.

Raichu bit his lip. He thought long and hard before coming to a conclusion. –"Fine, I see the growth of power in your eyes,"- Raichu said.-"I feel like I can trust you with this."-

Pikachu cocked his head towards Nidoking who nodded his head. He glanced at his other companions who were off being their foolish selves. In the crowd of similar faces, he did notice someone was missing.

-"Where is Mika?"- Pikachu asked.

Raichu frowned once more. –"She was just like you. Not able to accept the fact of leaving our land behind to those thugs. She went alone a few days ago to fight those fellows but she hasn't returned since then."-

-"She faced them alone!"- Pikachu exclaimed. –"How could you let your daughter go by herself with no backup?"-

-'She left without warning,"- Raichu explained. –"She took our precious treasure, the Light Ball, and went back to fight. She was too confident in her power and now-and now she's gone!"- Raichu fell to his knees unable to bear the burden any longer.

-"Please, help us,"- Raichu begged to the group. –"I can't lose another of my daughters. Help her. Do what I couldn't do and protect her!"-

Pikachu looked down at his elder with a serious look. –"You don't need to beg old man. I'll go rescue her and take back our sacred land."-

-"Thank you young lad,"- Raichu croaked on the verge of tears. He felt hands grab his shoulders and pulled him back on to his feet. He stared into Pikachu's confident smile

-"Now don't be acting all so gloomy now, gramps. You are the leader of this pack and the leader must remain calm in order to keep the group together,"- Pikachu preached feeling high and mighty. –"We'll be back. Let's go guys!"- Pikachu turned around to see his dragon companion gnawing on a piece of rock a young Pikachu gave him. Eevee was chasing her tail after a leaf got stuck between the hairs and she tried to bite it off.

-"Let's go before we make ourselves look like fools,"- Pikachu remarked.


Charizard sat at the edge of a cliff that overlooked the vast forest that lay before him. He watched the bird Pokemon circle around forest foraging for food. His eyes darted back and forth as he searched the vast greenery for something.

Behind the large lizard was a disastrous scene. Trees were torn from their roots and tossed aside with various deep claw markings engraved in its tough bark. The ground was marked by black spots as if a campfire was recently put out in the area. A few rocks lay in a shattered state around the area.

Charizard snorted releasing a puff of smoke. His eyes moved to the cloud of ash. His focused eyesight saw a pair of red eyes in the black cloud that glare back into his soul. A nasty snarl took over Charizard's face. He was reminded of that fateful night. His mind would not let him cope with the fact he was nearly killed by Ember's Charizard.

-"I will not let that happen again!"- he grimaced slashing the smoke with a swipe from his claw. The formless dragon disappeared after the smoke scattered. He stopped to stare at his claw sensing it was infected by a terrible disease.

-This is what I have become,- he thought to himself. –An old fart who can't let go of a grudge. No, this is far greater than a petty grudge…what must I do to rid myself of my failures!-

-"HOW DO I RID MYSELF OF THIS!"- Charizard raised his head towards the forest with a mighty roar. The birds fled from his voice as well as small Pokemon skittered away from the troubled fire type. The frightened cries didn't make him feel any better. He couldn't earn respect through fear he realized.

-"Then, I'll regain my pride back through battle,"- he came to conclusion. He formed a ball of fire around his hand. With his thoughts alone, he tried to control his flames. The fire grew brighter and hotter yet didn't float above his head as he ordered it to. The training to control these special flames has been going at a sluggish pace.

Giving up, he made the fire disappear. He went back to watching the forest with a renewed hatred for everything.


Pikachu jumped over the bush. A whizzing sound filled his sensitive ears before he was struck in the middle of chest by a hard object like a rock knocking him back. He fell into the bush as a sharp, numbing pain filled his chest. He looked down to see a small patch of ice on the spot he was hit in.

-"Pikachu! Are you okay?"- Nidoking bellowed picking up the pace after seeing his friend get shot mid-jump. The moment he stormed the open to search for the culprit, he was also shot in the chest. He didn't succumb to the pain and fired an Ice Beam in the direction the Ice Shard came from. His energy beam disappeared into the trees followed by the sounds of leaves and branches rustling.

-"Oh, you have quite an eye there,"- a devious female voice remarked from the treetops hidden from view.

-"Show yourself!"- Nidoking demanded eyeing the trees for any sudden movements.

Eevee appeared to fire off a Shadow Ball that collided with another Ice Shard aimed at Nidoking's blind spot. Gabite backed her up by firing a Dragon Rage into the treetops. The flames made contact with a foe.

A small Pokemon fell into the open area. She grunted as she used her two white, fingered claws to get back onto her two-toed feet. The cat-like Pokemon stood no taller than a meter high with abnormal red left ear to increase her height. In the middle of her dark furred chest was a walnut-sized gold oval marking as well as on its forehead.

-"Gah that was just a lucky hit you ugly lizard,"- she squawked. –"Come out here and help me you idiots!"- she snapped a finger as more Pokemon revealed themselves.

-"I apologize for my tardiness,"- a red insectoid Pokemon that walked on two legs apologized in an honest tone. –"Let me deal with these weaklings for you, Madame Sneasel."- He raised one of his large claws that looked sharp enough to cut metal in front of him and spread out his legs ready to pounce.

-"Aipom wants to have fun too!"- a jollier voice rejoiced. A purple monkey that balanced on it tail that had a hand as large as its head at the end to stay up right jumped forward. It's wide smile and goofy eyes didn't intimate the group at all.

An even less intimating Pokemon appeared behind the monkey. With beady eyes on a broad head, the blue amphibious creature looked more like a stuff animal and the way its three long fingers swayed gave it unintelligent look. It opened it large mouth that could be used to swallow Pikachu entirely if it wanted to and let out a yawn.

A blue round bunny-like Pokemon hopped over the dopey Pokemon. He stopped to stare at the new group that opposed them.-"Another Pikachu? Did that weak pack of Pikachus sent you to fight us again?"- he asked puffing up his chest.

-"Again? Are you the guys who drove my people of our lands?"- Pikachu recovered shaking the ice of his chest. He angrily scowled at the group as he searched for signs of Mika.

-"Yes, one lone girl thought she could take us on,"- Sneasel replied. –"But I have to give her props for putting up a much better fight than that old Raichu. Well, she did have this."- Around her right claw was a metal ring with a thin chain link attached to it and on the other end was a yellow, glass orb. –"Now we are going to the rat camp to give then some punishment for trying to oppose us."-

Gritting his teeth, Pikachu barked back at the vile group. –"Where is Mika?"-

-"The worthless Pikachu?"- she said spinning the Light Ball around her claw. –"Bring him down Noctowl!"- A figure dropped from the sky at Sneasel's command.

A tan owl Pokemon fluttered down and in his large talons he held a beaten up and unconscious Pikachu. He gently laid her on the ground for everyone to see. He cocked his head to side at an impossible angle as he observed the strange band of Pokemon.

-"You bastards!"- Pikachu shouted outraged. He looked upon his childhood friend with a deep anger swelling inside of him.

-"Are you trying to challenge us?"- Sneasel asked in a provoking tone. –"I will like to see you guys try. We will defeat you guys and double the pain to those Pikachus!"-

-"Like I'll let you pass,"- Nidoking declared.

Scizor focused his gaze on the lumbering Horn Drill Pokemon. He dashed towards him at blinding speeds keeping his glowing claw low. Faster than the eye could follow, Scizor brought his claw to his foe's wide open chest. His claw made contact and before he could retract a burly arm caught his skimpy forearm.

-"Eager to get started,"- Nidoking remarked with smirk. –"Take this you insect!"- He lifted his other arm ready to fire of a Poison Jab. A strong punch sent Scizor flying backwards but he landed on his feet not at all affected by the hit. –"I see, so you're a steel type after all."-

-"Which why I attacked you in the first place,"- Scizor proclaimed taking another battle stance.

Pikachu saw the first move be made and charged into the field. He sprinted towards the Sneasel with mind set on taking her out first since he saw her as the leader.

-"Mistress!"- Scizor turned to attack Pikachu but an Ice Beam forced him to block.

-"I'm your opponent in this battle,"- Nidoking shouted and unleashed another beam.

Gabite mindlessly ran into the fray and turned towards the remaining group. He targeted the blue bunny since he reminded him of a round pebble he was able to find at the edge of lakes. He charged up a Dragon Claw yet his victim stood completely still.

-"Hi-yah!"- Gabite brought the claw down onto his foes head. The moment his claw made contact, the purple hue disappeared from his attack. –"What!"- He jumped back surprised.

-"Didn't you know?"- the goofy monkey giggled close by. –"Azumarill cannot be affected by dragon type moves because he is a fairy type."-

-"A fairy?"- Gabite eyes grew wide as he imagined Azumarill as a mythical being. –"But where are you wings? And you don't sparkle!"-

Azumarill crossed his arms. –"I'm not that kind of fairy. Quagsire, now"- Azumarill jumped to the side and the blue blob had its cheeks puffed up like a Qwilfish.

Quagsire open his mouth to fire a jet of mud towards Gabite. The thick wet dirt pushed Gabite back a few feet but the weak attack didn't do any significant damage to get past his hard scales. He swiftly jumped forward to deal a blow from his claw onto Quagsire.

-"Wah!"- Quagsire clutched his head stumbling backwards.

-"Don't hurt my brother!"- Azumarill yelled retaliating with Water Gun that pushed him back further.

-"Hey this isn't fair! Two against one Mr. Fairy!"- Gabite argued.

-"I consider me and my brother as one being for we won't be able to function without each other!"- Azumarill fired back jumping to his brother's side.

Gabite blinked confused. –"But you both don't look like each other."- With his claw he pointed to their differences on their bodies.

-"It doesn't matter how we look like on the outside," Azumarill replied raising an arm along with Quagsire. –"We were stuck with each other since the day of our birth. We are brothers at heart and we will show you not to mess with us ever again."-

Gabite crossed his arms in an 'x' pattern charging up a Dragon Claw. –"The I'll have to make you into my new chew toy."- he said threateningly.

Sneasel wasn't going to let herself be in the middle of the battle just yet and decided to stay away from the combat. She held up her right claw and before Pikachu could reach her, her flying companion swooped down to pick her up by the claw to fly her high in the air just barely over the treetops.

-"Grr. Get back down here you coward!"- Pikachu shouted. He charged up electricity but he heard a moan from the unconscious Pikachu close to him. –"Mika!"- He halted his flow of electricity. He jolted to Mika's side but he jumped over her body once he reached her. A pink wave of psychic energy nearly got him if he had stayed by Mika's side.

-"Damn that was close, Noctowl,"- Sneasel cursed as she observe the scene unfold before her on the ground.

-"That was quite a dirty trick,"- Pikachu muttered looking up to the sky. –"She anticipated me to go to Mika's aid and had your bird companion strike me with that weird attack."- He raised his head high in the sky scowling at Sneasel.

-"I'll try to slow his movements down so you have a better chance of getting him with Hypnosis,"- Sneasel told Noctowl her plan. The owl Pokemon wordlessly obliged and dropped a down two meters to let his icy leader get a better aim.

From Sneasel's mouth, she fired a small snow flurry that reached temperatures capable of freezing water. The move dispersed the further it got away from its source to reach a wider range to reach Pikachu. The Icy Wind was nearly impossible to dodge but Pikachu didn't try to escape it. He jumped in front Mika's body who was also in danger of getting hit.

-"I'll protect you this time!"- Pikachu released his Shock Wave barrier that he has recently mastered. The cold wind blew through his defenses but the energy he gave off provided enough heat to resist the coldness as well as stop it from reaching Mika.

-"Now!"- Sneasel shouted.

Noctowl's eyes lit up with a bright blue light. An unforeseeable force struck Pikachu and threw him onto his back. He cursed under his breath realizing it was a Psychic attack. He felt his body was being pin to the floor as if a giant boulder was placed on his stomach. He squinted his eyes watching Sneasel raise her claw to form an Ice Shard.

Nidoking blocked another Metal Claw when he saw his furry companion knocked onto the floor by some invisible force. He pushed back his opponent and reared his head back. He charged up for an ice beam which Scizor held up his large claws to block. To his surprise, Nidoking shot the beam into the air.

-"Mistress!"- Scizor realized too late as he witness Noctowl get shot from the sky. He ran towards his falling leader to catch her but a barrage of boulders stopped him from reaching her. He wasn't prepared for such a move and was buried under the pile of rubble.

-"You are full of openings despite your incredible speed,"- Nidoking sneered. He raised his fist towards Pikachu now freed from the invisible force and Pikachu returned with a weak thumbs-up.

-"Now who is left,"- Nidoking turned to the three remaining villains.

Eevee was around in circles while a jovial Aipom held on to her large ears. Eevee was shouting for her opponent to let go as she tried to throw him off like a Tauros in a rodeo. Nidoking sighed at the sight and turned to Gabite's fight who was dealing surprisingly well despite being outnumbered.

Azumarill was panting looking quite beat up. Near exhaustion, Azumarill felt his health slowly chip away from the Sand Tomb that encircled his body. He had one eye open to see his brother get attacked by a barrage of Dragon Claw. –Even if I can stop dragon type power, the force behind that guy's attack is just too much to handle,"- Azumarill thought.

-"Wahh!"- Quagsire cried every time was slashed at. He threw a wild punch in the middle of the frenzy but completely missed. Gabite finished it off with an uppercut to the water type's fat head.

-"Nooo…"- Even in fainting Quagsire was sluggish. He collapsed on the ground at an excruciatingly slow pace. He mouth lay wide open after his conscious left him.

-"Brother,"- Azumarill weakly called out. The Sand tomb ended once the last of Azumarill's energy left his body. He fell forward into the ground.

-"Dragon power!"- Gabite stood over the fallen Pokemon with a heroic pose.

Eevee ran right by Gabite still dealing with the monkey on her head. She shook her head side to side but Aipom didn't even loosen his grip. She shook it even harder but instead got a slap to the face by the inflated hand on Aipom's tail.

-"Why don't you get off my head!"- she yelled.

-"But it's too much fun being up here,"- Aipom responded with giggle. His face froze when a small mouth clasped around the end of his tail. –"Oww! What are you doi-ah"-

Eevee managed to catch Aipom's tail with her mouth. Biting firmly, she jumped towards an oak tree and whipped her head around. The once cheerful Pokemon lost his grip from the pain and was thrown into the tree in front of him. He collided head first into the tree for an instant knock out.

Eevee squealed feeling happy that she was no longer a Ponyta for Aipom. –"And how was that guys?"- she smiled to the group. –"We won!"-

-"No we haven't lost yet!"- Sneasel managed to stand up despite the injuries she sustained from the rough landing. –"I can't allow you to take our land! Not again."-

Pikachu jumped forward deciding to be her opponent. –"It's not your land but it's the home for my family. That territory belongs to the Pikachus!"-

-"Shut up!"- Sneasel fired off an Ice Shard. Pikachu dodged it with Quick Attack and tackled Sneasel into the ground. Pikachu then jumped back to fired off a Thunder Bolt.

Still nimble on her feet, Sneasel jolted to the side to avoid the electric move. From her the middle of her forehead, the gold pendant fired off an onyx colored beam that swirled with negative energy. The Dark Pulse only flanked the agile Pikachu and he used the time to close the gap.

Pouncing at Sneasel, Pikachu flipped in midair to direct his metallic tail to the ice type. His indestructible tail slashed Sneasel across her chest knocking her back. He safely landed to prepare his next move. Clenching his fists, Pikachu growled as sparks danced around his cheeks. Sneasel raised her claw to fired her own attack but a figure jumped in front of her to block her aim.

-"Noctowl!"- Sneasel cried in surprise. She flinched when her friend took the Thunder Bolt head on. His cries of pain ended no more than a few seconds before he collapsed burnt to crisps.

-"Why…why did you help me?"- Sneasel asked shocked by his actions.

Nidoking became alert when he heard sound from the pile of boulders. The rocks were thrown into the air to free Scizor. He tried to stand yet he didn't have the energy to do so and fell to one knee.

-"Because we are prepared to risk our lives for you mistress,"- Scizor revealed to her. He coughed feeling the air escape his lungs. –"Erh…we will follow you to the edge of the world. If we must fight, then we will fight to last breathe of air leaves us."- He activated his Metal Claw and charged towards Pikachu.

Pikachu fired another Thunder Bolt that brought Scizor to his knees once more. –"I admired your loyalty but that doesn't change the fact that you guys chased out my people to take their lands. Don't you guys have your own home?"-

Scizor quavered on the brink of fainting. –"We used to…but our land was confiscated by humans. They stole our land and they tried to capture us. We lost many friends along the way as well as family."- He violently coughed. –"But Sneasel…she brought us together and lead us across the land to find a new place to call our home."-

Azumarill and Quagsire slowly got back to their feet. –"I wasn't strong enough to protect my brother but Sneasel found us and helped us survive. I for one will be glad to lay down my life for you Sneasel,"- he declared puffing up his scratched up chest.

-"Sneasel!"- Quagsire followed up.

-"Well I guess it's time for round two,"- Pikachu said charging up.

Sneasel was emotionally moved by her followers' commitment to her. –"You guys…stop."-

-"What?"- Pikachu raised his spiky ear. –"You're giving up?"-

-"Don't think I reached my limit. I can still fight!"- Scizor struggled to get back on his feet.

Sneasel raised her claw. –"I order you guys to retreat,"- she said while picking up Noctowl and placed him onto her shoulders. –"We are no match for them!"- She hissed towards her comrade. Scizor looked slightly disconcerted by his leader's remark but placed his worries aside to follow through her retreat order.

-"Hey, we are not done here until you guys return our territory back!"- Pikachu brought up the issue that brought this scuffle in the first place.

-"That silly little rat-hole you guys called 'home',"- Sneasel clinically said. –"You can have it back. We are going back to our terrain for better a location."- She didn't sound so distasteful with her last remark. She turned around not wanting any reply from them. She ambled into tree with Noctowl on her back.

Azumarill appeared discombobulated by the turn of event while Quagsire waddled behind her with no questions and a relaxed smile. Azumarill placed a hand on his throbbing side as he followed after his group.

Scizor stayed behind for a few moments having some words to spare to Red's Pokemon. –"I must thank you,"- he bowed before the group; he ignored the outlandish stares and continued. –"Sneasel only led us here to find new hope for us. We have been desperately been looking for a place to call it our home. That journey has led us to ripping the home from another and take it for ourselves, but you made her realized the erroneous ways of her acts."- he stood back.

-"I don't know…she didn't seem all that convincing," Pikachu suspiciously eyed the Bug Pokemon.

-"Admitting to defeat is the first for her,"- Scizor revealed. –"She never has, even if the odds were against her. I can promise you we will leave this place and find a place that we can comfortably call home."- He bowed once more and modestly left the group.

Pikachu scratched his head feeling disconcerted.

-"urgh,"- Mika moaned in Nidoking's arms who picked her up. –"Who are you?"- she murmured still too tired to even move her head.

-'Mika!"- Pikachu exclaimed. Nidoking lowered her to Pikachu's height. Mika's face faintly lit up when she saw her friend's face.

-"When did you get back?"- she asked.

-"Just awhile back but don't speak anymore. Just rest up while we take you back home,"- he insisted.

Mika smiled. -"Thanks,"- she said barely audible. Pikachu nodded smiling brightly. Nidoking brought her back up as they were set off back.

-"Hey, what flavor is this yellow candy!"- Gabite shouted picking up the Light Ball by the chain with his claw.

-"Don't you dare put that in your mouth!"- Pikachu bellowed alarmed. –"That is an ancient artifact from our clan. I can't allow that to be damaged at all costs."-

Gabite recoiled from Pikachu's outburst. He whimpered and handed the Light Ball to Pikachu. The strange orb began to glow bright the moment it touched Pikachu's hands.

-Yeah, this the genuine Light Ball,- Pikachu noted feeling a sudden flow of energy into his body. –Doubles my attacks. This power, however, can't always be relied on."- He held the ball by its chain to disrupt the flow.

-"Alright, let's go because it's getting dark, and Red must be finished with his practice today,"- Pikachu commanded the group. -We have one week remaining. I sorry Mika, but I won't be able to spend much time with you since I have to train. I need to get stronger for I feel a decisive battle is coming soon?- Pikachu said to himself his inner thoughts.