K.M:

I'm back my little kitties!

I'm sorry I took so long! But I was waiting for "silence" to finally settle in my house before I could relax, we've been having friends, and family come and stay over at our house since January, and all summer long, and then there was the Yugi-oh world championship of 2016. But now it's all over...

I'm exhausted.

Yay! MY BIRTHDAY IS HERE! August!

MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAH!

Did you get me a present?

Okay sorry that was creepy...

DISCLAIMER!

(I'm doing it myself this time...)

I don't own Pokemon, because if I did, Sun, and Moon wouldn't have such strange looking Pokemon... I'm looking at you Bruxish...

"Caught you!" I said as I finally grabbed Zorua, it had been an ordinary morning, when I had finally caught him in act, I had always known it was Zorua pranking me and everyone else, but I had never really caught him doing it, so he had always gotten away with it. Besides, what defense could I give? "The fox did it"? It was almost as bad as the "my Lillipup ate my homework" excuse. But today, history had been made, the catastrophic Zorua had finally been caught.

And by a ten year-old no less.

What had it been this time?

I had caught him stuffing a bunch of cotton balls into my sneakers.

"Honestly..." I said as I glared at him, he looked shocked that I had managed to catch him. "Come on, cotton balls in my shoes?" I pulled out said puffballs with the hand that wasn't holding Zorua.

"You have to admit, it would have been pretty funny," He said with a sneaky grin, I glared and bonked his head with my fist, satisfied with the small yelp of pain he gave.

"Hey Zorua, I hear mom wants to play dress-up..." I said with a grin, I watched as his eyes slowly widened.

"No...no, no, no, no, no, don't do this to me..." he said in a beg, clawing at the front of my short sleeved hoodie.

"And unfortunately I can't play with her because I'm going to go practice in the park." I continued as if I hadn't heard him.

"Aw come on Kunie, it was just a joke! It was funny!" when he saw I wasn't buying it he took a different approach, "please! I'm begging here, don't let her take me! I'm sorry! Is that what you wanted to hear? I'm really, really, really, really sorry! Come on! Take me with you!" He begged, his big blue eyes were wide, as if it was enough to prove he was innocent, his ears were pulled back as he whimpered.

I dropped him languidly, he shouted as he fell on hit butt, I started snickering under my breath.

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you." I said threateningly, he nodded his head vigorously.

"Kunie! Where's Zorua?" I smiled as I walked out the door with a panicked Zorua at my heels.

"Look in my room," I called out, closing the door with a grin as Zorua sighed in relief.

"Come on brat, keep up." I called out over my shoulder.

I kicked the ball around for a couple of hours, making sure to take breaks in between, Zorua was running around with me, kicking the ball with his head, I'll admit he wasn't as bad at it as I thought he would be, I guess all those times watching me play paid off for the runt. "Kunie!" I looked up at the familiar voice, I sighed uncomfortably as I saw the blonde haired girl again, the two boys not far behind, "Zorua!" she squealed as she ran up to him and hugged his neck tightly, I could see his grimace from where I was, he wiggled out of her grip and ran across the field to me, he hid behind my leg as he muttered something about "Satan's daughter with a death grip". I rolled my eyes at him, I absently played with the ball between my two feet as I slowly walked to them, Bianca was still running, "uh hey-"

My awkward greeting was cut off as she hugged me, I could feel my eyebrows raise, the only ones that ever hug me are my parents, I stood in shock before the reminder that I don't like to be touched came back, I slowly wiggled out of her grip, "how are you doing?" she asked, but then Black jumped in.

"Can you play?" he asked with a large grin, I nodded with a small grunt.

"C-can we see?" Cheren asked shyly, I gulped, these kids were so...

Man, I don't even have a word for them, I couldn't say "no" though.

"Zorua come on." he complied happily. We both ran out into the open field, weaving around each other, occasionally swiping the ball from the other, I let Zorua take the last shot, the three kids cheered from behind me, Zorua went into the net and got the ball, kicking it back to me, I ran back to the kids as I dribbled the ball. "So, how was that?" I asked with a small pant.

"You were so cool out there!" Black screamed, I winced.

"Tone it down a bit Black..." Cheren apparently agreed, though Bianca seemed immune to any loud noise that came out of his mouth.

"This is for you!" Bianca squealed, I raised an eyebrow when I saw small weeds in her hand (when did she pick those?), I looked to her, she looked real proud of her little "flowers".

I wanted to reject them, what was I supposed to do with a bunch of weeds, but something told me that if I didn't take them I was going to hurt her feelings. I reluctantly took the flowers. "Do you like them?" I blinked, something...seemed familiar about that phrase, "I got it just for you!" my eyes widened as I figured out where, my hand on the weeds tightened, "umm...yeah..." I said, though I could tell from behind Black, and Bianca, stood Cheren, with a doubtful look on his face.

I took a deep breath and forced a fake smile, "umm thanks, but I really should be going..." I said softly. I looked to Zorua, he was looking at me with a pensive look. I ignored it and picked him up. I gave them another smile before walking away, I put on my jean jacket (Designer! Do you know how much it cost me?) I needed to talk to someone, mom...dad...

Dad...he was closer.

I went straight for the lab, my hands shaking with Zorua in my arms, I kept my head down, not letting anyone see my eyes, my vision seemed blurrier than it usually was, at one point I had to stop completely because I couldn't see a thing, I leaned on the wall to catch my breath, I heard a small whimper, I looked down at Zorua, he was looking at me worriedly.

"Kunie? Kunie you okay?" he asked softly, I smiled weakly,

"I'm fine..." I mumbled.

"You're sad again..." He whispered, I looked at him with a sigh.

"I guess..."

"I always notice...you get sad a lot of the time, especially when you have bad dreams..."

"That's usually when..." I admitted nervously. My throat felt dry.

Zorua bumped my chin with his head, making me look at him, "Why...?"

I sighed, "I'm just not, okay?"

Zorua chuckled, though I could tell there was no humor in his voice, "that's not an answer Kunie!" he sat on my lap and hesitantly wagged his tail.

I sighed again and threw my head back into the wall, it hurt...a lot...

But it was better than the emotional pain.

"It...was a long time ago..." I decided there was no point in hiding it, besides, who was he gonna tell?

Before I could open my mouth again I heard a honk of a car, I looked towards it to find dad waving, it seemed he was leaving work early today, I waved back, relief flooding me, "maybe some other time." I said hastily to Zorua, who looked a little more than disappointed.

"Are you gonna give me a name yet?" Zorua said as he scrambled to follow as I went to dad.

"Uh...no..." I replied with a frown, I never thought to give him one before, why now? Nothing has changed.

"Ugh come on! Give me a name or I'll name myself!" he threatened.

"Oh yeah? like what?" I raised an eyebrow expectantly.

"Shadow!" He said dramatically.

"Ugh, goodness gracious no." I said in disgust.

"Huh? Why not? it's a cool name!" He barked defensively.

"And real cliche too." I said bluntly.

"Cliche mi-shay! I don't care! it's a cool name."

I looked around hastily for something I could call him, something, anything, Car...Flower...uh...Light-post...Okay this was ridiculous...

"Yeah...I'll think about it." I muttered, desperate for an escape, I wasn't good with names, I wasn't before, and I wasn't now, but even I knew that Shadow would be the worst thing to call a dark type.

"Aw come on!" Zorua complained.

"Yeah well... what's wrong with calling you Zorua?"

"Then I'd be like every other Zorua, that's booorriiiiiiing!" He moaned.

Finally we reached the car! Hooray!

"We'll finish this later." Zorua muttered angrily as I opened the door for him to jump into the back seat.

I walked to dad, "Hey dad, how was work?" I forced myself to ask.

Dad smiled warmly, "Great, me and the professor found something about some rune stone caves, umm, can I borrow Zorua tomorrow?" I raised a small eyebrow at him.

"Why?"

Dad didn't usually ask for anything (unless it was Vanilla ice cream), and when he did it was usually out of necessity, but why the hay would he need Zorua?

He shifted uncomfortably. "Well...I think you should come to the lab tomorrow, it'll be easier to explain."

Well that's a comforting thing to say...

I nodded my consent but I still felt uncomfortable. I only ever brought Zorua to the lab for checkups, or shots (we fought tooth, and nail to even get there). Oh well... It can't be that bad.

"Uh...run that by me again?" I questioned slowly.

Dad sighed as I scratched the back of his neck, the professor smiled tightly, "Your Zorua is very special Kunie...the other day we had a couple of stones excavated from the Charge-stone cave, but they weren't exactly charge stones, we couldn't figure out what they were, much less why they were growing so deeply in the cave, we delivered it to Nacrene city, but even they couldn't seem to figure out what they were so they sent it back to us." I could only stare at her blankly.

"Yeah...so what does this have to do with the fox?" I asked, losing my patience, I crossed my arms and looked at her impatiently, she sighed, she looked exhausted now that I looked at her, sweat on her forehead, bags under her eyes, hidden by makeup, and she looked pale. There were a lot of scientists I hadn't seen before, there were even some people in suits.

Was the government involved?

I hoped not.

"The day you brought Zorua for his checkup...the stones lighted up with energy, when you left...well...they seemed to power down whenever Zorua leaves."

I frowned, looking at the glass wall between me, and my...and Zorua.

He was standing on a metal table, hooked to multiple machines, there were two wires connected to all four of his paws, one connected to his chest, and two to his legs, and though he looked perfectly uncomfortable, he was hiding it very well.

When he caught me eye he smiled, well grinned since Zorua never smiled.

"Why are they doing that?" I asked softly.

At this Juniper smiled, "there's nothing to worry about Kunie, the stones don't seem harmful to him, but it does seem like they're connected to him in some way, the Zoruas and Zoroarks are very mysterious Pokemon, not much is known about them, but we've never seen a Zorua that has links to stones, with this we'll be able to find out what connection yours has to the stone, and if any other have this connection. I know you're a little worried, but there's nothing to be scared of, if the stones cause even the tiniest amount of pain, the receptors will read it and will immediately disconnect him. He's perfectly safe."

She didn't really answer my question...She doesn't know.

None of them do.

I nodded, clenching my fists.

I didn't like this at all.

"But if you don't want to do this-"

I looked into the glass wall, Zorua looked so determined, his ears were twitching, his feet shifting, and every once in a while he would look at us, as if to say "are you gonna start it yet?"

"Do it." I've never regretted words in my life, I said them and despite the consequences, good or bad, it got the job done.

"Start it up!" Juniper ordered a scientist, he pushed the lever next to him, I looked into the room, I saw small electric bolts zapping up his legs, he looked just as scared as I was, I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked at who it was, dad gave me a comforting smile, I nodded, I needed to trust he would be alright, it was science, it would be alright. The energy crackled, I could hear it even through the glass, it sounded like chirping birds, and cracking whips, Zorua's determined look spurred me to stay strong though. I saw the stones across from him glowing an eerie blue color, brighter, and brighter, they started crackling, reaching towards Zorua, I heard him bark in shock as the two cracks of lightning connecting, getting louder, brighter, stronger, my hand made it's way to dad's, "Dad..." I whispered, my eyes widening, that light...looked all too familiar.

I felt him grab me and pick me up, I held on to him, but I didn't take my eyes off the glass, where Zorua was, the stones were now floating, I could only see their shadow at how bright it was.

And then I saw Zorua.

"W-why aren't they stopping?" I trembled.

"There's no pain." I couldn't believe the cold voice of a scientist on the computer, watching the scene with riveted eyes.

But I couldn't believe those words.

They were lies.

I saw the truth.

I saw his face, clenched and tightened, he was yelping, screaming, they couldn't understand him though.

I could.

His words of agony.

His begs to stop.

Why were they doing this?

Didn't they know he was just a baby?

Tears gathered in my eyes, "STOP IT! Make it stop! You're hurting him!" I fought against dad's hands and jumped off him, scientists were running through computers, getting the data, dad watched Zorua in a frozen stupor, Jupiter was telling them to shut down the machine. I was running to the door. I knew I shouldn't have. That's why dad shouted for me to stop, that's why Juniper tried to grab me, that's why the scientists told each other to grab me before I ruined the experiment, that's why the men in suits scrambled over each other to stop me.

I opened the door.

It closed behind me.

I ran to Zorua, I yanked him off the table and held him close.

Pain exploded all around me, I couldn't see anything because everything was so bright, noise was everything, I had probably gone deaf with all of it, I couldn't scream, how could I when I couldn't breathe, I couldn't move, not from the pain. I don't know how long it was, it could have been seconds, minutes, hours, days...

Time was irrelevant at the moment.

But everything was constant. The pain, the noise, the blindness.

And then it was over.

Zorua...what happened to him? Was he okay...? Alive? I hope so...if he wasn't... I'd be angry. I risked my life for him, and he dies? Pathetic.

When I opened my eyes, I realized I couldn't see.

But I did hear a voice.

It was crying. It was next to me. It wasn't just one voice. It was two.

Suddenly air filled me.

The blindness was lacking, so was the deafness.

But it sure hurt. A lot!

"Kunie...my baby girl...oh my little girl, please baby, open your eyes for daddy..."

But weren't they already?

Guess I was mistaken.

I slowly opened my eyes, I didn't see dad...I saw Zorua, he was barking and pulling at my jacket, my very expensive designer jacket...it made me angry, "Hey...that's a designer you brat, don't go ripping it or I'm making you pay for a new one..." I said groggily, but still with enough anger for him to stop. Instead of him looking at me fearfully like he should have, he instead grinned, and cried, running to me with a bark, ouch, okay so something hit me.

I was about to see what it was before I heard a sob, and I was suffocated, everything was dark.

And I died.

Okay just kidding.

I didn't really.

"I thought you died..." I heard a sob, wait...so I did die? I was just kidding!

I smelled the air of the musty jacket, it was dad, only he could smell like coffee and paper! At the same time!

"Dad...can't breathe..." I begged, finally he pulled back. I could see his eyes red, and tears falling down them, his hair was disheveled, and his face was either a smile or a grimace, it could have been either, and either way I would be confused, I hardly ever saw my dad this upset. "What's the matter dad...?" he opened his mouth to speak before I was bowled over, I yelped as I felt pain fill my body, making me shout.

"Ah! I'm so sorry Kunie, I was just excited." I opened my eyes to see Zorua...though...he looked different...

His neck fur...was bushier, and the back was long, and spiking up high...behind him floated five blue stones...

The same ones with the electricity.

I shouted as I pointed at them in panic, "The stones are behind you!" I shouted as I pointed.

He looked behind him and shouted as well, then he ran in a circle, to shake them off, only for the stones to float behind him like servants.

"Help me, I'm being attacked my zombie rocks! I thought that only happened in movies!" He shouted in a panicked fashion.

I attempted to grab him only to wince, dad grabbed me and pulled me back.

"Dad help him!" I shouted as I tried to pull away.

"Kunie the stones won't hurt him." I stopped struggling at that, I looked to professor Juniper, her eyes wide, worry, fascination, and guilt all in her eyes.

I looked at him and indeed the stones weren't hurting him, just following.

"Zorua stop..." He froze, my eyes widened in surprise, I had never ordered him to do anything.

But even at my unnatural order, he stayed put, so did the stones.

"They don't hurt you..." I whispered, I wanted to reach out to him, but my body hurt too much.

Zorua didn't move an inch.

I smiled tightly. "Come here...it's okay..." He looked at me shakily, slowly walked to me and jumped on my lap at his invitation. I looked at the stones, the glowing blue stones didn't seem to do anything to him, or me. Dad, and I watched the stones in fascination, Juniper crouched down next to us, "The rune stones don't seem to hurt him at all..." she said softly, relief deep in her voice.

"How do you like the name Rune?" I asked Zorua after a long bout of silence.

K.M:

Anyway I've just gotten back from the Yugi-oh World Championship 2016~ It was pretty awesome, but I'm kinda depressed now, both Dan Green, and Eric Stuart had been there, I had gotten in line ready to get their autograph and even get a picture with them, I stood there for more than an hour!

Finally I was so close, and it was almost my turn in line!

And then a guy came and told us that they didn't have enough time to do autographs or pictures with us anymore.

Yeah...that ticked me off...I can't go tomorrow because I have important things to do tomorrow, so I guess I'm never getting that close to meeting a Yugi-oh character ever again.

And then after that I had hoped to get a good number in the spinning wheel.

I got a 1...

SO yeah...real disappointed...

Enough ranting, again sorry for taking so long with the chapter, I was busy, please Review, PM me if you have a question!

Kitty Master Out!