So here is the third part to Gray's background story. First I'd like to say that this chapter was really hard to write. Why you ask, well my good computer broke down and I have to restore it so I had to get a junk computer to write this chapter. When I say junk I mean stuff like waiting for each letter to load and extreme lag, oh and the space bar hardly works so that made it more fun lol. Either way I wanted to continue writing this and I'm stuck waiting on a new windows 7 disk lol (Which I may get tomorrow or next wed). Anyways besides that I enjoyed writing this chapter. Anyways enjoy the chapter.

Guest review responses

Luckywhisker: Thank you for reviewing and I also read your description idea and I actually like it so I'll be changing it to that. I was actually surprised it fit. So thanks for a better description I think its good. I also saw that you answered those ten questions many chapters back, I appreciate that and I never knew Kana came off as a crybaby... Which is good to know since I have plans lol. Also for your recommendation on how things should end at the end of the story, I appreciate the idea but I got a planned ending. (Or three, still deciding lol, but I'm leaning towards a specific one) Anyways thanks for taking your time and reviewing.

Chapter 49: sign of freedom

Point of View Gray, Eight years ago

My entire back was now stinging in agonizing pain. I had multiple lash marks on my back that stung. I was still chained to the ground as everyone watched in silence as I was whipped and beaten by a steel rod. Bruises were swollen on my body as well. This pain was unbearable and I wanted to run so bad but I couldn't since I was chained to the ground and it only made it more horrifying.

"So was it worth it" the infernape asked as he kneeled down to my level and looked into my eyes, I could see the joy he was getting from this just by looking into his eyes. I gave a weak glance into his eyes but as much as I wanted to say what I thought I knew that would be a horrible idea and would probably end in my death. All that mattered now was taking this pain until this freak felt satisfied.

The infernape raised his hand again with the whip. I clenched my eyes shut as I braced myself for another lash. The whip cut through the air and I felt a strong sting on body as I felt my skin split open into another gash. I wanted to cry from the intense pain, but I refused to show him any satisfaction. I refused to give him a good laugh over my weakness.

"Hmmf it appears you've had enough" the infernape said to me and I couldn't appreciate those words anymore.

"You'll remain here the rest of the nigh until work. No food or water until your done working" the monkey said as he began walking away.

"Back to your pit" another pokemon yelled at the top of his lungs. With that everyone complied and quickly made their way back to their sleeping quarters. Aaron was assisted by Sarah and Dom as he hobbled on his three remaining legs as he tried to remain alive from being so sick.

Everyone was eventually gone and I was left chained to the ground alone. Every inch of my body was in pain and if not in pain it felt numb. I was only publicly punished for a few minutes but it felt like hours if not days. I wanted to sleep but my body was in to much pain. Me being hungry and thirsty didn't help that either.

After a few hours passed the pain in my body only became numb. There was probably only an hour or so until I was going to be forced to work again. Before I could get to deep into thought I heard light foot steps behind me. I quickly jolted back to see who was behind me.

"Shhh keep it down" Sarah said as she held her finger to her lip. I couldn't believe she was sneaking out of her safe zone to see me.

"What the hell are you doing here" I whispered in anger.

"I'm checking on you to see if your even breathing at this point. That was really rough earlier" Sarah said in a caring voice. I appreciated her caring about me and all but I don't think it was worth her risking her life for curiosities sake.

"I'm fine but you need to go" I whispered to her.

"Are you going to be okay alone" she whispered back as she observed the wounds on my back. She held one of her hands over her mouth to cover up her reaction. Before I could think of anything else to say I remembered the very reason I risked my life.

"Sarah listen I need you to do something" I said in a serious voice. Sarah looked back at me and waited for me to say what I needed to say.

"Right next to the door of the medicine shack I put some antibiotics and wound disinfectant stuff under some rocks. It should be what Aaron needs to get better" I said to the buizel in a weak voice.

"But what about you" she replied in a concerned voice.

"I'll be fine" I replied.

Sarah let out a sigh "Okay I'll get Aaron that medicine but Gray please don't do anything like that ever again" Sarah said as she cautiously hugged me trying now to upset my wounds anymore than they already were. After that she instantly sprinted towards the shack were the medicine was located.

Once she reached the medicine shack she looked around carefully for the medicine but she also didn't make a sound. Every time a random noise would occur she would freeze in place and have a panicked look on her face, after the noises finished though she would continue looking. After around two minutes of her searching near the area I told her to look she moved some rocks around and found the medicine I hid. She gave me a small wave and she started running back to the slave quarter with the medicine I almost died for.

Despite being in a lot of pain that sight made me slightly happy. I just hoped that medicine would be enough to ease Aaron's suffering. Although in my attempt to save him I did get myself pretty roughed up but that was more than worth it for him of all pokemon.

It didn't take long for me to grow tired after that. Getting the living hell beat out of you tends to exhaust you. My eyes slowly shut and I fell asleep.

I was awakened a few hours later and I was unchained from the ground so I could continue my work day. The work day went on as usual. But as I worked I noticed everyone shooting me odd glances. There was no doubt that they thought of me different. Although once I reached Dom he just chained me up as usual before he said anything.

"Are you going to be alright" he whispered to me as he avoided eye contact as if he was afraid of being seen with me.

"I'll manage" I murmured in a weak voice. I was low on sleep and there was no doubt that this day was going to be quite a challenge.

"Just try and make it to the end of the day" he whispered back to me as he picked up his pickaxe and began mining for the precious stones of this world. It disgusted me on how others could treat each other like this just to make profit. We worked tirelessly just to get valuable rocks and yet we have nothing to keep us going. Honestly each day that passes I can feel myself becoming a hopeless zombie with no hope of survival. We need an escape plan.

I tried to continue my workday as normal but my wounds drastically slowed me down. The useless unwanted rocks I was forced to carry kept piling up higher and higher until it was almost impossible for me to carry. Sadly I was shown no mercy and I was forced to do this the rest of the day until we were finished.

The instant I made it back to the slave rest area I collapsed onto the floor barely conscious. That was by far the hardest day of work I've endured. Thoughts of Aaron then popped back into my head, I haven't seen him once since Sarah got him the medicine. Did he make it or is he dead?

"You look just as bad as me" The voice I recognized as Aaron said from behind me. With newfound strength I rolled over to my other side to see the flareon standing behind me. He looked awful… He held his head low as he stood on wobbly legs.

"Your alive…H-How are you doing" I asked even though the answer was pretty obvious.

"Like a million dollars" he replied in an exhausted voice as he fell onto the ground next to me.

"Did Sarah ever get you that medicine" I asked Aaron who was already half asleep.

"Yeah she did and the medicine is helping a lot already."

"That's good" I replied quietly.

"Thanks Gray. If you didn't do that I would be a lot worse right now, if I'd be alive at this point" Aaron said honestly.

"No prob, I wasn't going to watch family die like that" I responded with a small smile. Aaron smiled back but we were both to tired to even talk at this point. We both had things making work hard for us and the only thing I could think about.

Six Months later

It has been a really long time since we have been trapped in this Hell. After awhile here I lost track of time and a year could have passed for all I knew. It has been so long since I've seen any natural lights from the sun and it was beginning to take its toll on me. Most of the time I've been stuck here I have been mostly depressed. I spent most nights just thinking about my dead friends and how Eclipse was at fault for all of this. If I ever made it out here I was going to hunt down that monster and kill him for what he's done. If I wasn't thinking about killing Eclipse I was thinking about two other things, food and survival.

I wasn't quite ready to give up on life yet I still had pokemon around me to live for so I was going to make it my mission to keep them alive no matter what. When your alone all you think about is dying but when you have others around you all you think about is survival and I wasn't giving up.

I was carrying out my day like normal lugging around that giant cart full of rocks. I always wondered what they did with this stuff once they took it. I wouldn't be surprised if they sold it and had it turned into cobble stone or something along those lines. Around halfway through my cycle of pulling the cart back to Dom I heard something odd, a rumbling sound. Before I could think of what it was I heard the sound of crashing, screaming and rocks falling on top of each other.

"Arceus" a raichu yelled from next to me.

"What was that" I asked in surprise.

"I think part of the cave just collapsed" he replied back to me as he ran towards the sound. I heard another cave collapse that was followed by more screams of terror. Before anything else could happen I saw Dom running towards me from the tunnels.

"Dom what's going on" I yelled at the sneasel. He didn't even reply and ran up to me and unchained me from the cart.

"Just report to the main cave for a casualty check" he yelled at me. I followed his demands and I reported to the main cave where the front entrance was and I saw a big line of pokemon lined up. I got in the back of the line and I waited for whatever they had planned.

The infernape from before was just calling off a list of names. Every time he called off a name a pokemon would step forward to indicate that they were still alive. On rare occasions he would call a name and no one would reply and that was an indication that they didn't make it.

Aaron was eventually called out and he stepped forward. I was so relieved to see he was okay. I couldn't quite see many pokemon I knew though, maybe they hadn't shown up yet or maybe they were caught in the collapsed cave.

After a few minutes my thought was interrupted by the infernape calling my name. I stepped forward to show I was still breathing and after a second I stepped back into the line full of pokemon. After awhile the infernape called out Sarah's name.

"Sarah step forward" the infernape yelled in annoyance since she didn't the first time he called her out. My heart instantly stopped beating and I stuck my head out as far as I could to find her but I couldn't. I impatiently waited in the line fearing the worse. Was she dead or was she possible trapped in the cave slowly being crushed to death.

After thirty minutes the infernape instructed us all to report back to our rest area for the day. Aaron and I both looked around non stop to find Sarah but there was no sign of her anywhere. I stayed up all night looking for her getting zero hours of sleep but no matter how hard I looked I couldn't find anything.

"Gray I can't find her either" Aaron said to me from behind.

I turned back and looked at the flareon to see him holding his head low in despair "She can't be" I yelled back at him.

"I can't find her and she's not turning up. I'm sorry… truly" Aaron said faintly as a tear escaped his eye. My eyes were now beginning to feel a stinging as I tried my hardest to hold back my tears.

'Why is everyone around me dying' I mentally asked myself as I continued to hold in my emotions.

Four months later

After what felt like an eternity I eventually accepted that Sarah was gone, I just hoped when the cave collapsed it was quick and painless because her gentle soul deserved better than this. After I gave up on the idea of her being alive I began to give up on my life. Why was I even trying at this point, we had no sign of freedom in sight and no matter what we were destined to die at some sooner or later. The big question was when, but at the same time what does it matter if it's today, tomorrow or five years from now?

I was now walking out of the tunnel after a long day of work. Walking next to me was Dom who wore a tired look on his face. After walking for a few seconds he tapped me on the shoulder gently.

"Gray there is something I think you need to know but you have to keep quiet" Dom whispered very quietly as he looked forward and didn't make eye contact. I did the same and guessed he didn't want anyone to notice we were talking.

"What's up" I whispered back as I looked forward just like he did.

"I have been talking to some pokemon lately and we are arranging a resistance tonight. We all agreed there is no sign of freedom. So we fight tonight or die in this hole" Dom whispered back to me.

"But what about the collars" I whispered back.

"We thought that through as well. Last night one of my friends stole some bolt cutters and hid them, tonight we are going to cut everyone's collars off and were going to show them hell" Dom said with a confident smile showing on his face.

"I'm in" I replied quietly.

"Good not like we have a choice though, it's this or die a miserable death down here" Dom whispered back as we walked into the rest area. "Tell Aaron about this and I'll come to you when the time comes." I nodded back to him and I went off to find Aaron. It took me a few minutes but after awhile I found the flareon taking a nap on the cold ground.

"Hey we need to talk" I said to Aaron. I told Aaron the entire plan about tonight. He seemed to agree with it just as much as I did. I'd even say we were both a little excited. I always wanted to rebel against them but I didn't want to be the one to take all the heat if we failed.

We waited silently all night. I tried to get a little sleep but no matter how hard I tried I could hardly keep my eyes closed. Was this really going to be the night we escaped or was this going to end in disaster and would I have to watch what is left get taken from me? Over my long stay here I have seen many attempts to escape and every time it ended in them being beaten to death without any mercy.

Late that night I felt something tap my shoulder as I lied on the ground as I pretended to be asleep. I instantly cocked my head back and I saw Dom standing behind me with a pair of bolt cutters in his hands along with a small smirk on his face.

"Are you ready" he asked me. I replied with a nod. Aaron was awake as well and he was waiting beside me for further instructions but we tried not to make any more noise than necessary.

"This may sting a bit but bear with me for a minute" Dom said as he slid the blade of the bolt cutter under my collar leaving very little breathing room. Dom squeezed the bolt cutter blades together against the electric collar. After a few seconds of intense tension I heard a loud snapping noise and my body jolted in electricity as the collar came apart and fell onto the ground along with me as my muscles screamed in pain.

"Yeah sorry about that but it's the only way to get these things off" Dom said as he walked over to Aaron to free him as well. He did the same and Aaron fell to the ground as well as he was jolted with electricity. Despite the intense pain I just felt I felt a lot of relief that I was almost free. My neck was especially pleased since this was the first time I took off this collar in Mew knows how long.

"Okay we're going to get the others freed. Stay quiet and wait for the signal. When you here the signal charge for the exit and take down anyone that stands in your way" Dom said as he ran to the next pokemon to free them.

"I can't believe this is it" Aaron said to me quietly. I looked back at him and saw the excitement growing on his face. It made me feel happy since most of the time we were here me and him have been depressed and he was especially having a hard time adapting to life with three legs instead of four.

"I know" I replied quietly. Aaron and I both waited patiently not making a single sound to set off anyone who would compromise our escape. We didn't speak or anything we just sat their and waited in high anticipation.

"Everyone lets go! We're doing this now" A voice boomed through the silence of the dark cave. With those words echoing in our ears everyone got up on their feet and began charging towards the exit without a moment of hesitation. My heart was now beginning to pump really hard and it was actually making my chest a little soar from the constant thumping. Everything moved in slow motion as everyone including myself charged towards the front gate like an army. I felt very light on my feet as my body was filled with adrenaline that made my body feel indestructible.

Everyone let out their own versions of battle cries as the front gate came into sight as we all ran at max speed. Before we could reach it though I heard a loud siren go off in the cave and before we could reach the front gate many of the pokemon that held us hostage here stood in front of the gate. In front of the wall of pokemon traffickers was the infernape that has caused many pokemon a lot of pain.

"Alright your little game ends here, go back to your sleeping quarters now and we'll pretend this never happened" the infernape yelled at us.

"Fuck you" a random pokemon yelled from our army. After hearing the random outburst everyone charged the pokemon guarding out way. A variety of elemental attacks were flying left and right and at this point I was lying on the ground trying not to get hit by anything. I saw grovyle standing over me but he was instantly blasted down by an ember from another pokemon. The grovyle didn't even move and I could see burnt flesh on his chest.

"Gray get up" Aaron yelled as he stood over me and launched a flamethrower towards the enemy. The pokemon he target all jumped out of the way without even thinking twice.

Before the fight could escalate anymore everyone froze as they saw a new pokemon enter the battlefield. "Sweet mother of Mew" Aaron muttered below his breath as a charizard stepped into the cave. I had no idea how they fitted that thing in here but it was very bad for our side and changed the odds instantly.

The charizard opened its mouth and released a flamethrower towards some victim that where burned instantly in a scorching flame. Everyone on our side was now running around frantically avoided third degree burns.

I eventually managed to stand back up and I relocated the exit. "Aaron lets go" I said as I made a break for it.

"You go I'm not leaving yet" Aaron yelled back at me.

"Are you crazy this is our-" I was saying before I was interrupted by Aaron "No I am a part of WPA and I'm trained for this. I'm not going to leave while others die for me" Aaron said with a lot of bravery and fire glowing in his eyes as he eyed the charizard. He was right though, we are WPA and were trained for this.

"Your right, being stuck in this cave to long must have messed with my head. Tell me though when did I start backing down to prissy little lizards" I said with a confident smirk as we both ran towards the charizard to help save our comrades.

Every second that went by more and more of our friends were incinerated to cinder. I charged up and ice beam in my mouth and I shot it towards the charizards face. The charizard lifted up his paw and it took the full impact and froze his paw. The charizard instantly stopped its killing spree and looked at me with an angry glare. If it wasn't for my big talk a few seconds ago I would have so been having second thoughts by now.

"What afraid of a little ice" I insulted the charizard. My over all plan was more to distract it than to accelerate my death and there was no doubt that I had my lizard friend's attention. The dragon like creature began charging up a flame thrower that was directed at yours truly.

"Lugia what have I done" I said in shock from watching the charizard choosing me for its next victim. Before anything could happen though I saw Dom come from behind the charizard and jump on its back and he shoved both of his claws into its back. The instant he did that the charizard let out a loud scream and began flapping its wings and took flight into what room it did have in the cave. The charizard bashed its back into the ceiling as hard as it could right where Dom was. I then heard another rumbling noise from the cave that didn't sound too good.

Dom was now covered in blood but he was still on the charizard back and he ripped his claws out of its back and took a big chunk of its flesh and scales with it. Before the sneasel could fall off he jumped up even further and stabbed his left arm in its back and took his right arm and repeatedly stabbed the lizard in its back.

The charizard let out a loud roar as it flapped its wings again and flew into the nearest wall with all of its force. Dom was now holding on with all of his might trying not to fall off as the charizard crashed into everything possible in an attempt to shake him off.

Many of our comrades have fled and for a matter of fact Aaron and I were the only two left besides Dom. Even many of the guards left as the charizard went on its rampage, a little ironic that their own weapon backfired.

Aaron and I both watched as the fight between the sneasel and the charizard continued. Aaron and I would have helped if it was possible. We couldn't get close to that thing with it crashing into everything and a ranged attack could hit Dom and injure him worse.

As the charizard continued to crash into the ceilings and walls the cave continued to make rumbling sounds as if the ceiling above us was shifting, I had a fear that another cave collapse was about to occur. After a few seconds of the charizard freaking out it eventually grew tired and landed on the ground to catch its breath as it fell onto its hands and barely held itself up.

Dom was covered in blood and bruises and his whole entire left claw broke off and he was only hanging on with one claw. Dom grabbed his claw that broke off and pulled it out of the charizards back and stabbed it into its back again and pulled himself up even further. The charizard noticed he was active again and stoop up on its two legs.

Before the charizard could take again Dom took his broken off claw and rammed it into the back of the lizards neck. The charizard screamed in agonizing pain but Dom showed it no mercy and he took his remaining claw and rammed it right into his broken off claw and forced the claw deep into the charizards neck. Blood squirted out of the charizards mouth and the dragons scream was soon replaced with a gurgling noise as it fell down onto its face and a pool of blood formed around its neck. Dom got up off the charizard and jumped onto the floor. I could tell he was weak because he was walking very slowly towards us and he also appeared to be severely wounded.

"Dom that was amazing" Aaron yelled out in surprise. I myself was impressed, he single handedly killed a charizard, don't get me wrong I didn't condone killing but I also understand when you have no choise.

"Yeah I impress myself" Dom said in a weak voice as he fell to his knees. The ceiling of the cave let out another rumbling sound and that was our indication to get the hell out of here. Every single one of us looked at the exit and made our way towards the exit in a sprint, I was in the lead of my friends and behind me was Aaron then Dom. Despite Dom's injury he was just as fast as us. But before we made it to the exit I heard a loud scream from Dom. I looked back at the sneasel and saw that infernape standing over him.

In the infernapes hand was that steel rod he used to beat his victims. "Don't think your getting off this easy, I know it was you who started all of this" the infernape yelled as he delivered a strong blow to the sneasel's head. I heard a loud crack noise and I saw blood splatter onto the floor.

"You bastard" Aaron yelled as he tackled the infernape just one second to late from stopping the lethal blow. Dom didn't move and I feared that the blow was going to be serious. Aaron was quickly knocked off the infernape and both instantly got to their feet.

"So it comes down to this. I always wanted to beat you all to death but I never had a good excuse. Guess now I got one huh" the infernape said as he looked at us with a demented smile forming. This is it this battle would decide our freedom, failure wouldn't be an option.

Chapter End

Author Note: Okay I'm going to try and keep this short since I have this crap laptop on my lap and its giving me third degree burns from overheating... Anyways I hope this chapter came out fine because by the time I finished it I didn't edit it much since I couldn't tolerate this computer anymore. So if it did come out bad just give me a holler and I'll put up with this Mew forsaken laptop to fix it up. Anyways onto the story. So now we are seeing an escape plan and things are getting rather hectic for Gray and his friends. Next chapter will be the last chapter of the flash back and I would have made this chapter long enough to finish it but again this laptop... So next chapter will be great if you already like whats going on.

Thank you to all the viewers and anyone who shows any form of support towards this story, it does not go unnoticed.