Pokemon Adventures: SMEAR

by KoopalingKrew98

This story takes place in Pokemon Adventures continuity. It follows the story of Will, who's lifelong goal is to stop the villainous Team Celeste. But how can he stop a worldwide group that nobody believes exist? It'll be an uphill battle to expose them as more than conspiracy, but he will be joined by his team of Pokemon and characters new and old in his quest to catch them all!

6. Premier Partner

{Approx. 11 years ago}

My first day was horrible. I was in no mood to eat. I was in no mood to drink. I could barely even think anymore. All I did was cry. A lot. I hunched over on my knees, my head nearly touching the ground. Tears drenched my whole face. Sometimes I wiped the tears away with my hands. But it felt more comfortable for me to grip my arms in a firm embrace. My crying blocked out any noise from the light winds or the Pokémon cries. I cried so much that my eyes reddened and I threw up. Late that night, I finally cried myself to sleep on the dirt.

The second day was hardly better. I didn't start crying. But now I couldn't stop thinking. "Are my parents looking for me? Do they know where I am? Do I want them to find me? My mom has crazy psychic powers…and she just…"As soon as I remembered what happened to Heather, I threw up.

At this point my body reminded me I was thirsty. "I need to find water. And where I am." I weakly got to my feet and walked in one direction. The air felt humid, but a nice breeze blew constantly. Sort of like my time on the island of the AGB Labs. "The lab is gone. Did my dad really set that up? And did Hoth and his father…" I stopped to throw up, thinking about the lab getting completely decimated by the explosion.

As luck would have it, I found a small pool of water. Without hesitation I dunked my face in the water. I sloppily slurped up as much water as I could take in one breath. Some water did get down the wrong pipe, forcing me into coughing fits. As I got a grip on my breathing, I glanced at my reflection in the water a foot away from my face. The front of my short light brown hair clung to my forehead. My eyes were still a little red. Otherwise it looked like me. "Why? Why has this happened to me?" Tears began to collect in my eyes again. Then a noise stopped me from starting to cry. I jumped when I saw a few Bellsprout, Marill, and Patrat on the other side of the pool. When they looked to me in a nerving way, I freaked out and ran.

I ran out of breath in less than a minute, and my legs gave way. "Should I just give up? My parents and…Team Celeste, or Alchimian Society, or whatever they led…how could I be a part of? How could they be so nice to me, but to those people at AGB Labs…" I threw up again. Once I could catch my breath, I looked up to see a low-hanging tree with huge leaves. It overshadowed a plateau-like rock three times my size. I crawled up onto the top. I heard bird Pokémon in the canopy layer of the forest, screeching like they were on the attack. I scrunched up as I lied sideways on the hard rock. "These Pokémon…are not like I hoped they be like…"

My mind buzzed over the events at the lab and the airship, exhausting me to sleep. I woke up to the sound of my stomach growling. I forgot I hadn't eaten since lunch three days ago. "I should look to see where I am. Maybe I'm still in Hoenn?" I walked in one direction, toward where I felt the pool of water was. "I figure I'll run into food or something eventually." I walked by the pool first, taking a quick sip using my hands. About two hours later, I ended up at a shoreline. I squinted at the horizon. The sky was clear blue, with the sun hanging at about mid-morning position. I also noticed another small circle in the sky, giving off multiple colors like a kaleidoscope. "Weird. Never seen anything like that. And I don't see any land mass in the distance. Maybe another part of the beach will?" Just as I turned toward the coast, I spotted a flock of flying Pokémon of all kinds coming straight toward me from high in the sky. I bolted back into the thick forest, where the flying Pokémon simply whizzed over the treetops. "What in Arceus did I do to them?" My stomach growled even louder, so I turned my attention to food.

I wandered the forest aimlessly, looking for any sort of food. Bushes appeared scarce, and the ones that I did find appeared barren. Then I heard shaking in the trees. From a safe distance, I noticed some Mankey and a Sneasel jumping rapidly from branch to branch. Dozens of flying Pokemon swarmed them from the canopy layer. The Sneasel threw shards of ice to fend off the Pokémon, while the Mankey tried their best to snatch some berries in the layer just below the commotion. "Eesh! Is it going to be that hard getting food?" I rubbed my stomach. When one of the Mankey got badly hit, the others stopped to scamper down the trees. They all made it to ground level and piled together the berries they got. The berries looked faded in color, and a little roughened up. One of the Mankey looked very crestfallen, but another Mankey patted it on the back. I felt kind of bad for them. Then when they were about to look in my direction, I rushed out of view.

A little later, I came across a bush with some pale berries. Unfortunately, a bunch of Zigzagoon and Tangela were already picking them. "Hey, wait!" I ran over to the bush, but my legs wobbled a bit. The Pokemon scooped up as many berries as they could and scurried away. "I need those berries, too!" But my breath grew raspy and I tired quickly. As I hanged my head low and caught my breath, I noticed a greenish berry they dropped on the ground. With hardly a thought, I scooped the berry up and stuffed it in my mouth. I nearly choked from how fast I chewed and swallowed it. It also left a very bitter taste in my mouth. "Uck! I hope I get better berries than this the next time."

Still pretty hungry, I surrendered the day at the flat rock. I ripped off some branches and made a messy layer of leaves for a bed. With my mind torn between missing my parents and wanting food, I fell asleep.

The fourth day started out better. My stomach woke me up again, but this time I was more focused. I surveyed the area between the rock and the pool, seeing what bushes or trees beared berries. I only found two bushes and four branches that had some berries. Although I could wedge my way through vents, I never had to climb anything much before. So Pokémon got to the berry branches first before I could even reach them adequately. Luckily, I got a bunch of berries to hold in my shirt and hide back at the rock.

After eating a few of the blandish berries and drinking from the pool, I decided to go to the beach again. I tried to spell out the word 'HELP' using scattered sea stones, but the flying Pokémon came after me twice. So I gave up and spent the majority of the day just wandering around. By hugging the edge between the forest and the beach, I found out I really was on an island. An isolated island at that, since I never spotted anything at all out at sea. As for the island itself, only half of it was dense forest. The other half was rocky, with a large hill inclining all the way to the shore before a steep cliff to the beach. I didn't get as much time to explore the rocky half as I would've liked to, due to some Geodude, Boldore, and Binacle guarding that half, and the open areas leaving me prone to patrolling flying Pokémon. "At least the rock-type Pokémon seem to be more at odds with the flyers than me."

I got back to my rock and ate a little more of my small berry stash. As I lay on my rock, my mind thought back to my parents. "They can't be as bad as I saw them, right? They're so nice to me…even when I'm in trouble. They must have had a reason. Yeah, that's it. A very good reason for wiping out the whole lab…and the workers inside it…and Hoth…" I threw up the berry I ate.

It rained on my fifth day alone. I hunkered under the leaves above the rock. With nowhere to really go, I stayed put for the day, ate a couple more berries, and drank the raindrops that dripped off the leaves. I heard lots of Pokémon cries in the treetops throughout the day. "They must be fighting over food again."I kept a close eye on my stash I hid in the indent of my rock. "Please, mom and dad. Please find me."

The sixth day on the island was hot, so I decided to take a dip in the pool. I remembered that the Pokémon usually didn't come around the pool in the late-morning. So I waited around until then to take my turn. I took off my sneakers, socks, long pants, short-sleeve shirt, and t-shirt. With only my underwear, I slipped into the lukewarm water and rested a while. For a split second, I felt at ease. But the occasional Pokémon cries broke any hope of silence. I also heard leaves rustling near me from all angles. Although I didn't see any Pokémon, or unfortunately any person, I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched.

So I got out of the pool when it appeared quieter and got my clothes back. I noticed my shirt and pants already looked a bit worn, which wouldn't please my parents. "My dad would make a fuss if he caught me wearing clothes like this." I got dressed and looked at myself in the reflection of the pool. I smirked when I notice how disheveled my short hair was. "My mom would ruffle it even further before chastising me with this look. Then she would comb it up before dad catches me with it…and kiss my forehead…"

I almost started to cry again. But then some Pokémon came back to the pool and looked toward me. I snapped out of it and ran back to the rock. "Mom…dad…where are you?" I laid down in the shade over my rock and ate a couple of berries before the day was complete.

On my seventh day on the island, I woke with a start. I noticed an Oddish tiptoeing toward my stash of berries. I gasped loudly, which startled the Oddish and made it run away. Not long after I spotted a vine from a Tangela reaching for my berries from a safe distance. I stopped messing with some small leaves and yelled, "Hey!" But the Tangela grabbed a berry before it slinked its vine back to its hidden spot.

Now I sat right in front of the rock's inlet. "Certainly, no Pokémon would try any funny business now." For a while, nobody bothered me. I continued to toy with leaves and twigs, poorly shaping them into anything substantial. Then under a dozen Pokémon crawled out from the bushes. They inched closer and closer, giving angry expressions. "I was right. This isn't funny." They uttered mean cries as they advanced. My muscles tensed up. I scrunched up into a ball. I started to get chilling flashbacks to my one time in the forest near AGB Labs. The cries of the Pokémon from that day blended in my mind with the Pokémon in front of me that I heard now. "Hoth…" His name came out before I stopped myself. "He's not here with me. I miss him…so much." A tear streaked down my face. The Pokémon got closer and closer. "I miss him. I miss my mom. I miss my dad. Why haven't they found me?" The Pokémon were now a meter away from me and the berries behind me. "I can't take this. I can't bear to remember. I don't want to remember. I hate this feeling. I hate it! I want to be left alone!"

"Leave me alone!" I shouted as I shut my eyes. For an instant, everything around me grew truly silent. Then I heard some scurrying. I opened my eyes just to see the Pokémon retreated back into the bushes.

I sat completely still for at least a minute. Then I sighed and laid down on the ground. "My parents aren't coming. I am really alone. Maybe forever?"Another tear slid down my face. But I wiped my eyes and sat back up. "Then I have to figure things out on my own."

With so much time on my hands, I tried to busy myself with things to do. Although it took me weeks before I dared call the island my new home. I memorized over half of the island layout, much like I did with the Alchimian Airship. I fiddled around with leaves and twigs, eventually weaving a small cup. I used the cup to properly scoop water out of the pool, and left it under the leaves over my rock when it rained to collect the droplets. My frustration over gathering berries against the neighboring Pokémon drove me to risk planting some berry seeds. Unfortunately, not enough sunlight passed through the canopy to any ideal farming spot. And I still couldn't figure out how to repel the flying Pokémon whenever I stepped out in the open. "It's like they're containing me. And some of the other Pokemon. Why?"

Little by little I grew used to hearing the cries of Pokémon throughout the island. I also eventually gained enough confidence to stand up to any grounded Pokémon that tried to sneak up to my rock. I practiced picking up their footsteps on the ground, or the rustling of the leaves. I even got a bit of a handle of my 'persuasive powers' and called them off. Although whenever I used it it felt like the wind was kind of knocked out of me. And I remembered my dad…which brought up all the memories again. But I suppressed them and moved on.

In a few months, I truly embraced the fact that I was alone. "Better off that way it seems."I sat on my rock and tinkered with more leaves and loose branches, trying to make a basket of sorts. Suddenly, I heard leaves rustling. But it wasn't from the bushes like it usually was. It came from somewhere in the canopy layer of trees. I looked up, but I didn't see any Pokémon. "I don't think the flying Pokémon have found a way to smoothly navigate through all those branches. Maybe a good climber passing by?"

Then I heard something roll on the ground. I looked toward the indent I kept the berries in. One of those berries rolled out from the indent into the open. "No…can't be…" Just as I jumped off the rock, a bird-like Pokémon flew out of the rock to a nearby tree branch. A berry was held in its small beak.

"Hey! Give that back!" I shouted.

The flying Pokémon perched on the branch. It did nothing else while its back was turned to me. This gave me a moment to get a good look at the thief. Its brown body was almost perfectly spherical in shape. Then I remembered from the books I'd read which Pokémon this was.

"Hey, Rowlet!" I shouted again. "Give my berry back!"

The Rowlet still didn't budge from its spot. But, very slowly, it turned its head to look over its back. My skin slightly crawled as it did so. The berry still remained intact in its stubby beak. Its black eyes stared back, almost like it could see through me. But then it opened its beak and let the berry fall to the ground. It gave me one dismayed look before flying off.

I picked up the berry. "How did he fly by me so quietly? I'm going to have to keep an eye on him." Then I ate the berry. The next day, I sat right above the indent. As I was fiddling with the leaves and twigs again, I caught the Rowlet flying low toward my berries. "Oh no you don't!" I reached for a stick behind me, waiting for this moment. The stick was as long as I was tall. I stabbed the stick into the ground, just before Rowlet reached the indent. It hooted in surprise and looked up at me.

While it flinched, I took the moment to sternly say, "You don't touch these! Got it?"

The Rowlet stood on the ground right where it was, looking slightly confused. For almost an hour, we just stared at each other. I lifted the stick out of the way of the indent, waiting to see if it made a move. The Rowlet looked between me and the berries. Sometimes it tilted its head sideways while looking at me. But it remained relatively silent.

Finally, I sighed. "Okay…I'm sitting over there…" I scooched over to the other side of the rock. I fiddled a bit with the leaves and twigs again. After a couple of minutes, I quickly peaked over the rock. The Rowlet was still there, just staring at my pile of berries. "At least my words worked. But why didn't it come after me, like the other flying Pokemon usually do?" Then the Rowlet flew off a few minutes later. "Well, if it can't get my berries, it will leave me alone, too."

But the next day, the Rowlet did come back. I continued to try to make a basket with the leaves and twigs on my rock. After little success, I wiped some sweat off my forehead. When I randomly glanced around me, that's when I spotted him. The Rowlet sat on his branch, just watching me, almost concealed among the leaves. "You again?" I continued my leaf toying, but keep glancing toward the Rowlet until he disappeared over an hour later.

The day after, I came back from a berry hunt. I only managed to collect three decent berries. I returned to my rock and reached one of the berries over to the indent. By chance, I glimpsed the Rowlet perched on a different branch. I stood back up, the berry in hand. "Now what? I told you not to touch my berries." Then I noticed he wasn't looking directly at me. Rather he seemed to be staring at the berry I was about to put away. I raised my hand holding the one berry. The Rowlet's eyes followed. I kept moving my arms around me, and the Rowlet intently followed the berry. I paused with my arm stretched out in front of me. "Hm, a male Rowlet, right? I never said he couldn't look. But he shouldn't touch…"

The Rowlet dove down at the berry. I lowered my arm shortly before he swooped in front of me and back up to a branch behind me. I whirled around, while he turned his head backwards toward me, looking at me disheartened. "Then it didn't work? No, if it didn't work, he could easily sneak in while I'm not by the rock to get my stash. Is he toying with me?" I looked at the berry I was distracting the Rowlet with. I looked back at the Rowlet, who was still looking at me. Then I ate it. "Mine. Can't have it, right?" I taunted through my mouthfuls. The Rowlet blankly stared back before flying off. I put the remaining two berries in my stash and continued my day.

Two days later I came back from my dip in the pool. When I returned to my rock, I saw the Rowlet just flying away from my stash. "Hey!" I ran over to the stash. I counted the berries, and noticed one was missing. In particular, it was one of the two new berries I left in the stash. I looked over to where Rowlet was perched. He had his back turned, but I could just see him holding the berry in his foot while taking bites out of it. He gave a happy hoot.

"Hey, you!" I shouted louder. The Rowlet turned his head behind his back. Little crumbs littered his beak. He gave me two quick hoots and flashed a smile. "Did he just…smirk at me?!" I raised a fist to it. "Why I oughtta…!" But before I could utter anything persuasive, he vanished into the trees. I plucked the remaining new berry out of my stash and sat on the rock. "That little thief! Nobody steals from me. That's my job!" I took a bite out of the berry, shivering a bit from its sour taste. "I guess my persuasive powers are very specific. It only took from the berries I left thereafterI commanded it to leave the stash alone. I'll have to be more specific with my words in the future." I take another bite. "Well, this Rowlet is at least respectful enough to take one, and not be greedy like the others try to be."

More weeks passed, and I forgot how long it had been since I first got stranded on this island by this point. I kept my usual routine of searching for berries, drinking from the pool, and exploring the forest. Half of my time was spent just trying to make a basket out of leaves and twigs like I did with my cup. By this point, I managed to dissuade any Pokémon from trying to steal from my stash with my 'persuasive powers'. Except for the Rowlet. That Pokemon kept flying by my rock day after day. Most of the time he just stayed perched on a branch and watched me. But sometimes he swooped toward my stash and I had to wave it away with my stick. Any time I was about to speak, it flew out of view. "It's like it knows my power. Has it been watching me use it?"

But when he watched me, he sort of freaked me out. I never caught when he arrived. I never caught when he left. He never perched in the same spot. But he always watched me. I kept expecting he was going to do something. Like he was crouching down and waiting to strike at his prey. But he never did. He just kept staring at me. And staring. And staring.

One day he appeared out of nowhere, already perched on a low hanging branch. It was when I was about to make a key connection for the basket to keep its shape. His sudden appearance on the edge of my sight startled me so much, I let go. The twigs snapped back straight and the leaves flew in all directions like I just burst a piñata.

"That's it!" I reached over to my stash, grabbing a random berry. I whirled around and lobbed the berry beneath his perching spot. "This what you want? Take it! I can't stand you staring at me like that."

The Rowlet flew down next to the berry. He turned his head toward me, like he was waiting for something of me. I gave an apathetic shrug. "What now? Just take it." After I gave him an impatient look, the Rowlet finally looked back to the berry and ate it. "Finally, some peace for me."I started my basket all over again. A few minutes later, the Rowlet finished the berry and flew off. "Thank Arceus," I grumbled.

Every day after that I found the Rowlet coming back. He would stare at me until I threw one of my berries at him. After a month of repeating that process, either the Rowlet or I made this a reoccurring habit at the same time of day. Eventually, I got used to his company. The Rowlet did, too, perching closer and closer to me. He still respectfully kept his distance, especially if I gave him a warning look. Occasionally, the Rowlet even took an interest in watching me try to make the basket.

Then, one day, I walked back to my rock with only one new bland berry. "This Rowlet better be happy. Kind of a scarce week for me to be sharing some of my stash with anyone." I laid down on my rock, now matted with a good layer of leaves. But when the time came for the Rowlet to usually appear, he didn't. "Odd. Maybe he's just late." Over an hour passed, and the Rowlet still didn't come.

"Well, I guess more for me today."I brought the new berry to my lips. Then I paused. I lowered the berry. "Nah, I'll eat later." I put the berry in my stash and headed back out into the forest. "I think I'll get some more materials for my basket."

Just as I began collecting fallen branches, I heard multiple loud cries. One of them being hooting sounds. "Uh oh. What has he gotten up to now?" I dropped the branches and ran toward the source of the commotion. It took a few paces before I arrived at the scene. I stayed behind a bush to safely watch what was happening.

At least two dozen rodent Pokémon, three Bellsprout, and two Rockruff ran about in a small clearing. They chased and attacked the Rowlet, along with a Farfetch'd and a Noctowl. The three bird Pokemon dodged and weaved through the air. However, only the Farfetch'd and the Noctowl appeared to be attacking back. The Rowlet mainly dodged the attacks, trying to escape. But six Sewaddle made sure that didn't happen, using String Shot between the trees to bottleneck the three Pokémon. The branches above also proved too thick for the bird Pokémon to fly up and away. By the only escape route, the two Rockruff stood guard. One Rockruff looked regular in color, throwing rocks at the bird Pokémon. The other was not like the ones I'd seen in pictures, clad in black and red. He took a more physical approach, scratching at the bird Pokémon with his small claws.

I quickly saw that the Noctowl was the biggest Pokémon here, at nearly five feet tall. She quickly cleared the rodent Pokémon off of her that tried to scratch or tackle her. "The Noctowl looks like she's using some sort of Psychic-type move. I wish I could read those books properly to know what moves these are." The Farfetch'd kept his distance from the regular Rockruff and focused slashing his leek at the off-color Rockruff. But the off-color Rockruff grinned and flashed its eyes. With ease, that Rockruff dodged each attack the Farfetch'd tried to swing at it.

The Rowlet continued to mainly dodge attacks, only kicking the others away if they got too close. He appeared to be moving slower and slower as the battle progresses. But he was also able to take the brunt of more attack thrown at him. At one point, a Sentret tried to tackle him head on. But the Rowlet tackled the Sentret back. The Sentret flew back so hard that it nearly broke a tree trunk the Sentret hit. The Rowlet panicked in place, and looked apologetic. But this opened him to some vine attacks by one of the Bellsprout. Quickly, the Bellsprout used his vines to grab the Rowlet's wings and slammed him to the ground. Some of the rodent Pokémon ganged up on the Rowlet while he was down.

I grimaced. "How the heck did this all start? Is this all over food? Or territory?"

The Noctowl took the opportunity to thrust her wings at some of the String Shot. A blade of air sliced the strings with ease. The Noctowl also snatched one of the Bidoof attacking it. With a captive in her talons, the Noctowl hooted toward the Farfetch'd and beckoned him to follow her. The Farfetch'd left the Rockruff alone and followed the Noctowl to their escape. Just before getting away, the Farfetch'd looked toward the Rowlet, who was now bound by all three Bellsprout's vines by his wings. He gave the poor Rowlet a disgusted look before flying out of sight.

I continued to watch the Rowlet try to break free, but his wings were bound to the ground by the Bellsprout vines. All the other Pokémon present appeared really angry at it. "Rowlet, what did you do?"

The two Rockruff approached the Rowlet, while the others backed off a bit. The regular Rockruff stepped up to the panicking Rowlet first. He yipped angrily at him, really getting in Rowlet's face. The Rowlet just kept shaking his head to the questions. For a moment, the off-color Rockruff looked distracted by something, as he made glances off to the side. Then the off-color Rockruff pushed the other Rockruff to the side. He stared frustratingly at the Rowlet, which didn't really help the Rowlet calm down, but the Rowlet did stop squirming. In a much calmer manner, the off-color Rockruff questioned the Rowlet. The Rowlet responded with a mix of nods and shakes. The off-color Rockruff was also a bit more expressive, making motions like eating and pointing.

I still waited by the bushes, trying to figure out what they were saying. "If I got this right, it looks like Rowlet tried to take food from them, and led the Noctowl and Farfetch'd with him. But the Rowlet seems to be denying its association with all of this."

The off-color Rockruff sighed and let the regular Rockruff bark at the Rowlet again. As he berated the bird Pokémon, the other Pokémon inched closer and closer. The Rowlet increased to freak out, shaking his head desperately.

I began to feel uncomfortable. "Guys, he doesn't what anything to do with you. He just wants to be left alone." The surrounding Pokémon looked ready to attack, except for the off-color Rockruff. The regular Rockruff beared his teeth. I began to get flashbacks of being surrounded on the Alchimian Airship with Hoopa. I gritted my teeth. "He just wants to be left alone!" I stood up and shouted at the top of my lungs, "Leave Rowlet alone!"

The others stopped and turned toward me in surprise. Some looked miffed, while others scrunched up in fear. The regular Rockruff barked at me.

I looked back at the Rockruff crossly. "I don't understand a word you're saying. But this Rowlet has done nothing to you. He just wants to let be."

The off-color Rockruff just looked at me sternly. But he stepped away from Rowlet.

I ran over to Rowlet. He looked battered and bruised from all the attacks he got hit with. He shivered in fright as I reached down to touch him, but he didn't squirm. I looked to the Bellsprout, who looked between me and Rowlet confused. "Let him go," I said sternly. The Bellsprout reluctantly retracted their vines. Rowlet went limp on the ground, but still conscious.

I scooped him into my arms. Now the other Pokémon growled at me, led by the regular Rockruff. The off-color Rockruff stayed at a distance while the others circled me. I held Rowlet tight. "I mean it! Leave us alone!" I could feel my haggard breath, spent from using my 'persuasive' voice. Rowlet turned his head to me, scared. "This won't be like last time.""I won't let you go," I whispered to him.

Suddenly, I got a crawl up my skin. "I feel like I'm being watched."The off-color Rockruff turned toward the forest, confused. After a minute, he nodded and ran up to the other Pokémon, who still surrounded me. He yipped to the other Rockruff. The regular Rockruff barked back, surprised and angry. But after a few more yips, the Rockruffs nodded to each other. Both Rockruffs called to the other Pokémon, who backed off and walked away from me. In a few seconds, they vanished into the bushes.

I sighed with relief, but perked up when I heard Rowlet groan in pain. "Don't worry, Rowlet. I got you!" I rushed back to my rock, placing him on my bed of leaves. I rummaged through my berry stash, examining each berry carefully. "I haveno idea which one does what." I decided to pick the newest berry I got. I held it up to Rowlet's face. "Hey. I got you a berry. It was supposed to be for when you stopped by today." The Rowlet weakly ate it up. His body relaxed, then he dozed off. "Wait, did it work? Did you like it? Why did you fall asleep in a time like this?" No response but his relaxed breathing. I noticed the sun setting and decided to tuck in for the night as well. I curled up next to Rowlet on the leaves. "Good night, Rowlet."

Rowlet slowly got better in a few days. He mainly hopped around my rock, never straying that far. He even guarded by berries from an intruder once. "Hey, you're looking much better," I smiled as he flexed his wings. On the day he fully recovered, he flew off. "Well, I guess it'll be back to the usual routine."

But later that day, he returned speedily with a shiny, ripe berry. "Hey, where did you get that?" Rowlet flew up to me and dropped it into my hand. "Is this for me?" I responded in shock.

Rowlet landed in a huff, but happily nodded.

I held a hand to my chest and nodded. "Thank you! You think you can get more of this from time to time?"

Rowlet lowered his head and shook it.

"Oh. One time deal? Too risky?"

He nodded.

I smiled and patted his head. "Well, I still thank you all the same, Rowlet."

Rowlet hooted happily.

From that day on, Rowlet perched by my rock. He followed me on my trips to the pool and the berry hunts. He even passed me a few leaves from his wings while I worked on my basket. After months of hard work, I finally got my basket completed and stable.

"Finally!" I smiled toward Rowlet. "Now I can use it to get us more berries in one run."

Rowlet examined the basket. Then, with a happy hoot, he jumped into the basket. It shaped perfectly around his lower body as he nestled in.

"Hey! Did you watch and help me with this just so you could get a bed out of this?"

Rowlet cooed and nodded.

I laughed. "You sneakily little thief!" I rubbed his head. "You know, for my first Pokémon I make contact with, you're not so bad. Want to be partners?"

Rowlet gave a few loud hoots and nodded.

I gave the biggest smile I ever got in a year. "Yeah. Partners to the end."

---

{Present day, at night}

"Where's my partner?" I looked around the building. "I've got Celeste grunts on all sides, and Flare grunts on the walkways above. I can't use my Kineti-Pack with this many Flare grunts above me. I can't use my 'persuasion power' on the Flare grunts, or else the Celeste grunts will be tipped off of a former member. I'm out of Sleep Powder pellets. I sure as hell am not using my Unbound Rings in front of anybody!"I noticed a power panel between the female Celeste grunt and the Celeste grunt by the eastern path. "If I can cut the power to the lights, I might be able to do something in the dark."

I made a sprint for the panel. But a String Shot suddenly bound my arms to my sides. I started to get pulled to the Spinarak of the Celeste grunt by the entrance. "Okay, now my movement's as limited as my options. Then I'll have to stall until my partner comes back for me."

"Did you really think you could get away with stealing our Dark Balls?" the female Celeste grunt taunted.

I smirked. "No. I would dream of stealing from an organization as large as Team Celeste."

"Then why have all our Dark Balls go missing every time you are at the scene of the crime?"

I shrugged. "Is it a crime that I'm so efficient? Seems to me like you could take some pointers from my team."

The female grunt stepped closer with her Klefki. "Who are you?"

"Who are you?"

"I'm asking the questions!"

"I'll answer if you answer?"

"Oh, is that the game you want to play? Fine. Klefki, Play Rough!"

Klefki charged at me.

"Ack!" I dramatically flinched and bent lower to the ground. My cloak covered my body from over half of all directions. "Okay, okay, okay! I get the point! You're not nice!"

"Hold!" shouted the female grunt. Klefki hovered a foot away from me, armed with its keys. The female grunt stepped even closer. "If you're not going to tell me who you are, then at least tell me who you're boss is."

I faked a whimper. "Oh no! My boss wouldn't be pleased if I told you who he is."

"So it's a man," she said amused. "What else can you tell me?"

"I got kicked out of school," I dramatically whine. "Team Smear said I could make a name for myself."

"And what is your name?" She sneered.

I looked up a bit, my hood still covering my eyes. "My name…is Z."

She gave a wicked smile. "Well then, Z, you are under arrest for trespassing and attempted robbery."

I faked a sniffle. "I figured as much, given I'm tied up. I know you guys always have at least one Spinarak on your team. Ever thought of Sewaddle? They also know String Shot, but can also make nice clothes for you."

"You're a chatty Z, aren't you? Well, I hope you feel the same when the police come in a few minutes…"

Suddenly, a window above the main entrance shattered. A hail of leaves streaked above our heads, breaking most of the lights. Only a couple of lights remained, leaving the whole room very dim. I ever so faintly heard a whoosh from the broken window to the ceiling rafters. I laughed, "That's all we'll need!"

A dark aura arrow wizzed from the ceiling right at the Klefki. A small explosion occured on impact, sending the Klefki flying off to the side.

"Klefki!"Cried the female grunt.

While she was briefly distracted, I was already remembering the trajectory to the arrow. I sent my thoughts toward the area of origin. [There you are. Finally made it in here!]

[Got held up,] the voice of my partner said back in my head. [I see I can say the same for you.]

[Little help? Then we can really go nuts.] Before the female grunt could turn back to me, I leapt into the air. I used the Kineti-Pack to hang in the air for one second. That was all the time needed for my partner to shoot an arrow through the String Shot, freeing my arms.

"Get both of them! Now!" the female grunt screamed.

[Use a Spirit Shackle on the Houndour. Then focus on the Flare grunts' Pokémon.] I began running to the west side of the factory.

[Will do.] My partner shot another arrow.

The Celeste grunt with the Houndour commanded him to use Flamethrower. But the arrow struck his shadow with a small explosion. With both startled, I raced passed them. As I weaved through machinery and conveyor belts, my partner sent volleys of Razor Leafs upon the Woobat and Zubat. The Flare grunts avoided the shots while commanding their Pokémon to fly up to the intruder. [So what's it look like from the entrance?] I asked my partner.

[Not good,] he replied between shots. [Lots of Flare grunts waiting around the factor, especially by the entrance.]

The female grunt ran in my direction, followed by the two Celeste grunts near her. "After him! Come Klefki!"

Her Klefki started to follow. But it suddenly stopped. Its shadow stretched from the spot it was hit by the Spirit Shackle. It pulled its hardest, but found itself tethered helplessly in that area.

"Klefki, no!" she cried. Then she angrily shouted at the grunt with the Stunky. "I want that kid caught! Now!"

The grunt and the Stunky followed the two other grunts. The grunt with the Houdour also tried to join the chase, but his Houndour was also anchored to the area of the Spirit Shackle.

I spotted another set of stairs and took them to the walkways above. [Then we'll have to go up! We need a clearing…]

[Already on it!]My partner stopped shooting Razor Leafs and stood still. His body slightly glowed, using his Roost attack. This gave the Zubat and Woobat the opportunity to fly up to him and attack. But just when they got close, my partner stopped glowing and leapt off the rafters. He dove into the open, showing his full appearance.

"Z has a Decidueye," said the female grunt. "It's a Grass-Type, so use your Flying-Type moves!"

The Flare grunts commanded their flying Pokémon to attack with Wing Attack or Air Cutter. My partner side-dodged through the air, avoiding all their attacks. [You know, I wish we didn't forgo Leaf Blade. It would make close quarters combat easier for me.]

I stayed off to the north-west side, watching the three Celeste grunts get closer. [True. But that's why we make due with Spirit Shackle. Try our new technique.]

My partner smiled. He pulled out two Spirit Shackle arrows from his wings. He grabbed an arrow in each set of fingers, holding them like long knives. Then he slashed away at his enemies. One by one, the Zubat and Woobat fell to the ground like a rock. The effects of the Spirit Shackle kept them anchored near their trainers. [Arrows as a non-projectile. Feels clunky, but it'll do.]

[Then make the getaway skylight.] I ran across the walkway as the three grunts and the Stunky came close behind. The Flare grunts noticed me and directed their Pokémon to use Air Cutter at me. As the attacks came, I used the Kineti-Pack to jump off the walkway and dodge the attacks more easily in the air.

"You…you stole one of our Kineti-Packs!" stammered the female grunt. "Who areyou?!"

I laughed. "Someone making sure Team Smear is back in business!"

Finished fighting, my partner shot an arrow at the closest window. When it shattered, my partner and I flew toward it.

"Oh no, you are not having me lose my promotion!" the female grunt screamed. "Klefki, use Fairy Lock!"

The Klefki sent pink chains directly at my partner. But he scoffed and flew right through them.

She stood there aghast. "But, how? It's a Grass-Flying type, isn't it?"

[I'm Grass-Ghost. How does nobody see that?]Said my partner amused.

The other grunts' Pokémon tried to throw attacks at us from where they stood. But they were all too far to properly hit us. Just before we escaped through the window, I added toward the female grunt, "Thanks for the challenge! Can't speak for your boss, but my 'boss' will be very pleased you let us get rid of your Dark Balls."

"Z!" She screamed as I flew out and up to the roof. I could see the Flare grunts nervously standing around the walls of the factory. And I just faintly heard police sirens coming up. "Good timing, as usual. They can round up the Flare grunts that will scatter into the forest at least." Then I remembered the girl I knocked out in the forest. "Oh, right!"

I ran across the roof top toward the back of the Pokeball Factory. My partner flew above my head. [Wouldn't this be the part where you open a ring portal for us to escape?]

[We have one more moment. Just gotta wrap up one loose end.] "I hope she's alright. Can't have her get caught by Team Flare or Team Celeste as they escape."

My partner gave a bemused hoot. [Why do you have another girl on your mind?]

My face turned a little pink for a second. [It's not like that! I had to knock her out before I did my handiwork.]

He rolled his eyes. [Well, when you put itthatway, it soundssomuch better.]

Ignoring the comment, I jumped off the roof and glided down into the forest using my Kineti-Pack. I ran off to the spot I hid the girl. But she was gone. I sighed, "Good, she's already gone." My partner quickly caught up, standing before me at about my height. [It looked like she was going to break into the Pokeball Factory to do who knows what. I couldn't risk that, so I put her under one of my Sleep Powder pellets. But thank goodness it seems she woke up and decided to run away from here already. Downside was I had trouble escaping with one less pellet. Thanks for the save, back there, Nightraider!]

My partner nodded his head. [Anytime. We have each other's backs. That what partners are for.]

I gave a small smile. [Yeah…to the end.] The police sirens got louder. I raised my ring. [Shall we continue our adventures?]

[Lead the way, fearless leader.]

I opened a ring portal and the two of us walked through it.