Chapter Three - Broken Chains
"I think it's time we head for Floccesy Town."
The sun hadn't yet risen in the morning sky by the time Rosa had cleaned up her campsite and collected all of her things back into her bag. A cool breeze washed through the forest, stirring the leaves to sing a soft song. It whipped at Rosa's hair as well, making it more difficult for her to pull her brunette waves into two buns atop her head. She ground her teeth together in frustration, but her determination to look presentable paid off as she slid the last pin into place.
Zavied looked a bit grouchy at being awake so early. He rubbed at his eyes and threw angry glares at Rosa as they marched through the misty woods, but she ignored him and ingenuously hummed a cheery tune.
They avoided treading through the tall grass. Zaveid hadn't taken any serious damage the day before, but Rosa wanted to have him checked over before putting him through another vigorous training session.
"Hey trainer."
Rosa paused. Wisps of sunlight were starting to filter through the foliage as the sun climbed higher, but she still had to squint to see whose voice was speaking to her.
There was no one.
Zaveid had stopped too, but as Rosa eyed their surroundings, she felt him tug on her skirt. She glanced down at him. His paw was extended towards a gathering of aspen trees.
Rosa stared hard, trying to see what he saw, but then realized one of the trees looked a bit . . . off. She narrowed her shoulders, strode forward, and struck the 'tree' in the center of its branches with the back of her arm.
"Ouch! Hey, don't you know it's rude to hit people?!"
Some of the branches reached upwards to the top of the tree, and then the suit unzipped to reveal the head of a young schoolboy. He peeled more the costume away, showing a red scarf tied around his neck, and finally his entire outfit was visible. Rosa raised an eyebrow. His suit could have been overalls fused with parachute pants. The boy looked irritated as he peered up at Rosa, but it was probably because she'd jabbed him in the stomach.
Rosa crossed her arms. "Why are you pretending to be a tree?"
The child scoffed. "I'm a ninja. I'm not pretending to be a tree. When I camouflage myself to watch travelers coming through here, I am a tree. I am descended from a long line of ninjas, dating back to the great ones in Hoenn who surprised the famous champion Sapphire herself! If I hadn't have called out to you, there's no way you would have found me." The boy was beaming with pride even as he dusted fake pine needles from his hair. "And I was trying to help you, by the way, so maybe you should take that into consideration the next time you decide to punch someone!"
Zaveid had followed Rosa to see what all the fuss was about, but the kid's tangent was evidentially too much for him because the Oshawott opened his mouth and squirted the ninja in the face. The boy gasped as he was soaked through with icy water, and he covered his face with his hands. "Hey, cut that out, you stupid Oshawott! Lady, call your pokemon off! I haven't even done anything!"
"Zaveid, enough." Rosa said, brushing the top of head. He snorted in protest, but the gush of water stopped.
Rosa cocked her head. "You said you wanted to help us. Help us with what?"
The kid was examining his drenched clothing with a mixture of disgust in horror, but he replied, "It's not safe for some newbie trainer to be walking around in the dark by herself right now. Haven't you noticed this place is pretty much empty at the moment? Everyone's staying away for a reason. You should be doing the same until it's safe."
Zaveid tensed, but Rosa stilled him with another touch. "Why are travelers avoiding these woods? You have to pass through here to get to Aspertia. What's out there?"
His face turned grim. "There are some creepy people lurking around Asperia Woods right now, Lady. Stealing Pokemon, attacking trainers, hurting the wild Pokemon. I don't know what they want, but they've been practically guarding Floccesy town and the areas around it for the last week. I've been coming out here every night to warn stupid trainers heading for Asperia. You're the second I've seen going the other way. That guy looked stronger than you though, so I didn't stop him."
There was only one person she knew traveling towards Floccesy. "That must have been Hugh. I wonder if he's run into these so called 'creeps'." It had seemed strange that they hadn't encounter a single trainer the entire time they'd been training, but she hadn't really given it much thought before that moment. Why would anyone terrorize Floccesy Town? From what she'd heard, there wasn't anything there but farmers and country folk.
She eyed the ninja boy. "Where are they now, do you think?"
He shrugged. "Still skulking around here, I think. I see them pass through sometimes. But you know what? I overheard one of them grumbling to himself about Floccesy Ranch. It's a Pokemon reserve, you know. I wouldn't be surprised if they were thinking of stealing the rarer breeds of Pokemon the ranch is protecting there."
"Disgusting thieves." Rosa's muttered. "Is the town safe?"
"I haven't seen anyone weird there, if that's what you mean."
Rosa chewed on her bottom lip, thinking. "Sounds like someone needs to pay the ranch a visit. Zaveid, I think we should go check it out."
The boy's eyes widened. "Are you serious lady? You can't challenge them, what if they're stronger than you? What is wrong with you?"
"I'm sorry for punching you. You've been very helpful!" Rosa called over her shoulder as she turned and strode away. If they were stealing pokemon from both trainers and the reserve, then there was a chance they'd be after Zaveid too. Her jaw clenched. No one was going to get away with that.
"So this is Flocessy Town, huh?" Ghost town was more like it. A collection of houses rested against the mountain base, and down the cobble rock path rested an old, rickety clock tower. It was well worn, but the face was polished so the silver hands were still clearly visible. Rosa could see a few people gathered by the pokemon center, and an older couple held hands and chatted to each other as they strolled down the path.
Rosa placed her hands on her hips. "It's certainly quiet, but everything seems peaceful enough. Let's go to the Pokemon Center. Maybe the trainers there will know something."
The clinic was as empty as the rest of the town. Rosa could hear the soft humming of the air conditioner from a nearby ceiling vent, and there was a faint tapping from the front desk as the nurse there typed on a plastic keyboard.
Rosa scooped up Zaveid and approached the front counter.
"Excuse me Nurse Joy, would you mind looking my Oshawott over? We trained a lot yesterday, and I want to make sure he's still well."
The nurse with hair like pink lemonade smiled sweetly. "Of course. Please feel free to relax in the waiting room until I'm finished, it should only take a moment."
Rosa hesitated. "You haven't heard of anything strange going on in Aspertian Woods lately, have you? I didn't see anyone else traveling through them on my way up here."
Nurse Joy's perfect pink brows wrinkled together in confusion, and then she brightened. "That's pretty normal this time of year. All of the farmers took their crops up to Aspertia last week to sell at the market, and trainers often accompany them to make sure they arrive safely. This town gets very quiet when the farmers leave. Even Floccesy Ranch has closed. If you stay here a week or two, it'll be a bit livelier."
Rosa frowned. "But doesn't someone need to stay behind at the ranch and care for the Pokemon?"
Nurse Joy nodded. "Their grandson should still be there. Please excuse me now, I'll tend to your Oshawott."
Rosa thanked the nurse and wandered towards the carpeted area. It contained several fluffy brown couches surrounding a cherry-red coffee table, and mounted on the wall was a muted flat screen TV. There was a pile of magazines resting on the table, and Rosa snatched one off the top and settled onto the couch.
The front page was a shot of two teenage Poke idols, a man and a woman, gripping hand-held microphones and smiling mischievously at the camera. The male's spiked blond hair was accented with pear green dye that matched his eyes, and Rosa raised a brow at the outlandish black and purple leather jacket that fit him snugly. The woman's fashion choices weren't any less strange. Her bubblegum shaded hair was done up in a high ponytail, curled into a single lock that cascaded gently down her left cheek. The bold caption beneath the picture read "Christoph and Yancy to Perform at Nimbasa Sports Stadium".
Uninterested, Rosa flipped through the magazine, pausing briefly every few pages to skim. The publication was mostly marketed towards audiences interested in celebrity gossip, but she paused to scan an article mentioning Champion Alder's retirement after an extra two years of service.
"Excuse me Miss, your pokemon is healed now."
Rosa tossed the magazine back on the table and walked back to the counter. Zaveid appeared considerably better rested as she picked him up off the counter and held him, grumbling only when she didn't immediately set him down.
"Thank you Nurse Joy. He behaved himself for you, didn't he?"
The woman laughed. "Oshawott was a perfect gentleman, I assure you. He was well aside from being a bit tired, so I gave him a little pick me up to get him going again. Please come back anytime."
Despite not having learned anything more about the town, Rosa was in high spirits as they left the clinic. The map she'd taken from the front desk showed that Floccesy Ranch was just a few miles walk up the road, so Rosa made the most of it by sending Zaveid after every pokemon they encountered. She was pleased the Pokemon in the area were both more diverse and at a higher level than those found in Asperia Woods, but that didn't compare to her excitement at finally encountering another trainer.
The middle school student capped off at maybe five foot, and there was a leaf sticking out of his wild black hair, but his Lilipup battled hard. Zaveid's breathing was slightly labored as his opponent fell unconscious.
The pokedex in her hand vibrated. "Level eleven, Zaveid. Nice job. Thanks for the battle kid, it was fun."
He handed over a wad of cash and grinned sheepishly. "You're pretty tough. I guess my Lilipup and I will have to train harder."
Rosa beamed. "You'll get stronger. We both will."
She waved goodbye, and after another few minutes of walking the dirt path, found herself standing at the entrance of Floccesy Ranch.
The forest feel of the area was gone, replaced by rolling golden grasslands. Miltank and Tauros grazed in an enclosed pen on one side, with hay fields, pasture, and a battered barn on the other. Rosa could hear the faint babble of rushing water somewhere in the distance.
Nurse Joy hadn't lied about it being closed. The property's driveway was blocked by a heavy lumber gate.
"What now, Zaveid? We can't just jump the gate because of something some tree ninja told us." She sighed in disappointment. Maybe the kid in the woods had been pulling her leg after all. No one in town seemed the least bit panicked, and the only lead they'd had was locked. Rosa leaned against one side of the gate, conflicted. She nearly fell when it swung open.
Rosa yelped and leaned back to correct her balance, and Zaveid's throaty chuckle sounded behind her. He quieted when she shot him a dirty scowl.
"That's strange." She murmured. Only the side she'd leaned against had moved, but how could that be the case if the two panels were connected?
She walked to the center of the gate, searching for the lock that should have held the sides together. Her hand ran alongside the inside of the gate, feeling for the latch, but then something polished caught her attention. Rosa dropped down to one knee, fingering the heavy chain that had been used to keep the gate locked. It was broken in two, but the damage on the broken link was smooth and even.
"Chain cutters. Someone's in there."
Without thinking, Rosa stepped through the open gate. Zaveid chattered in protest, possibly complaining about the repercussions of trespassing, but she ignored him and walked towards the pasture.
A herd of Mareep grazed together in the largest arena. Sparks of electricity occasionally danced off one pokemon's wool and sparked onto the body of another, but none of the sheep seemed to notice or mind. There was a pond with a stream too, and Rosa watched a Psyduck ruffle its tail feathers and settle into a patch of grass.
"Nurse Joy said the grandson is supposed to be around here somewhere. I sure hope he's all right."
She fell silent. From of the corner of her eye, Rosa watched a black and blue figure dart from one bunch of grass and vanish into another. She instinctively reached out to Zaveid, taking comfort from his warm fur under her fingertips. Her heart beat painfully before setting into its normal rhythm.
"What was that, do you think?" She whispered.
He chattered harshly.
"Well you don't have to been mean about it."
Grass and twigs crunched under Rosa's feet as she stalked forward. A lock of her hair tangled in some of the thicker vegetation, but she loosened it with a yank before tucking the brunette strands behind her ear. The vegetation to her left shuttered, swishing in zigzag patterns as a body dashed through it.
"Okay Zaveid, try slowing it down with water gun."
His chest puffed as water built within, but the undergrowth was too thick. It sliced through the jet of liquid, separating it until only a light spray remained.
Rosa huffed, but changed tactics. If it wanted to be chased down, then she'd play along. "Come on Zaveid." She scooped her partner into her arms and took off.
Her footsteps were clumsy in the tall grass, and she nearly tripped when her foot caught on a stump. The figure was moving faster now, motivated by the trainer chasing it, and Rosa's eyes narrowed. She pumped her legs harder, ignoring the longer blades of crabgrass that swatted her face and stung her eyes.
It reached the edge of the tall grass, but rather than turning back like Rosa thought it would, the creature opted for continuing into the trimmed pasture. It burst through the protective wall of grass.
The Pokemon was a Riolu.
Rosa's foot caught a rock just feet from the edge of the crabgrass, but Zaveid was ready. He kicked off her chest and leapt from her arms, using the momentum of his trainer's fall to clear the remainder of the tall vegetation. His feet scarcely kissed the ground, and then he was off like a shot after Riolu. Rosa scrambled to her feet, ignoring the scratches on her palms and face.
"Zaveid, water gun!"
Oshawott's chest expanded with water, but Riolu was done running. It abruptly jerked on its heels and launched a feint attack at its attacker. "Watch out!"
He swallowed his water gun, but the attack came too fast to avoid. It slammed into his chest and sent Zaveid flying back. His face connected with the ground with a pained grunt, but her partner pulled himself back to his feet.
"Tackle this time, Zaveid."
He sprinted forward, but Riolu was faster. Its movements were unfairly fluent as it soared across the pasture and forcefully crashed into Zaveid using quick attack. He flew back another couple of feet, but didn't fall. Zaveid snorted and swatted grass from his eyes. At Rosa's command, his lungs again filled with water.
Riolu tilted its head down to protect its face from the torrent of water that engulfed it, but it couldn't stop itself from getting pushed back. Rosa dug through her barrel shaped bag anxiously, exhaling when her fingers brushed the smooth surface of a pokeball. She clenched it in her fist, then pulled it from the bag and threw it hard.
The ball clipped Riolu's foot, and the Pokemon was immersed in a flash of light before the pokeball absorbed it. Rosa's eyes tensed as the item dropped into the grass, quaking and blinking furiously. She and Zaveid both held their breath as it rocked once, twice, three times.
The pokeball gave one final shutter, then became still.
Her first capture. Rosa laughed and reached down to ruffle the fur on her partner's head. He cried out in protest and batted her hand away, but she was too elated to be bothered by it. She crossed the short distance to the pokeball and bent over to collect it. The surface was warm.
"That's the way to catch a Pokemon. Bianca would be proud."
The ball shrunk in her grip, and Rosa fiddled with her belt until they were connected. She wished she could start training Riolu right away, but she was injured, and they still hadn't caught whoever had broken onto the property.
Rosa sighed. "Well, what do you think, Zaveid? I think we've proven there isn't anyone on this side."
Oshawott shrugged in a "This is your problem" sort of way.
She placed her hands on her hips and surveyed the remaining area. The ranch was enormous, sporting several acres of fields they could search through. Honestly, they could look for hours and not find anything. She could see the farmhouse several fields over, however. Maybe it would be easiest to just knock on the door and hope the grandson was home.
Zaveid trailed behind Rosa as she wandered again. She remained attentive as she went along, keeping her chocolate eyes fixed suspiciously on the nearby hayfields. There was an old, dark shed she checked as she passed, but it only harbored gardening tools and shovels. Rosa was about to close the door, but then she heard a whimper.
Sunlight bathed the shed as she swung the creaky door open further. The chilly room appeared empty, but as she tiptoed inside, her eyes met those of a trembling Audino. Its sapphire eyes were wide with terror, and as Rosa's shoes scraped against the concrete, it shrunk further into the corner.
"Sssh, I'm not going to hurt you." Rosa murmured. She tried her best to sound soothing, but Rosa knew she wasn't the most comforting presence. The Pokemon spooked as she neared, so Rosa instead decided to reach her hand out for Audino to sniff.
It snarled and swatted at her viciously.
What was going on? Sure, she wasn't the greatest with Pokemon (Zaveid was always happy to remind her of that fact), but she'd never seen a fairy type behave in such a way. Rosa rubbed her fingers together thoughtfully and dropped her hand. "What happened, sweetheart? What scared you?"
It answered by baring its teeth.
The shed shuttered as Zaveid burst into the small space. The door crashed against one of the equipment shelves, raising a layer of dust. Her Oshawott's breathing was ragged, and as soon as he was close enough, he snatched the back of her arm and pulled at her with wild urgency.
"What is it?"
An enraged cry resounded across the field, loud enough to penetrate the shed's wooden walls. Zaveid's yanking turned frantic, especially when another cry sounded, this one pained with grief.
Rosa stumbled out of the shed, and then she was running for the barn.
A/N Some chapters are easy to write, and then there's this one. A fair warning for the next chapter: this story is going to rise in intensity. I have upped the initial rating on this fanfiction to T due to some of the darker themes that will be woven throughout (but it won't be anything overly extreme, I promise) but I wanted to get that out there so it doesn't catch anyone by unpleasant surprise. Shout out to all the tree ninjas who, despite being annoying, are less annoying than Joey and his high percentage Rattata. Have a lovely day, guys!