Chapter 4

"Pay up," Abe's opponent, some little punk named Vic, snapped, "or do you not have the Pokédollars? I swear, I'm tired of fighting little bitches who don't pay the piper. Now, come on, I beat you. Fork it over, already!"

So annoying, Abe thought, but instead he said, "Yeah, yeah, you won. Here's your money; a thousand Pokédollars." He counted the bills in plain sight, showing the brat that he did, indeed, have the Pokédollars.

"Or…" Abe stopped, "would you rather go double or nothing?"

Vic snorted, repressing the urge to laugh in his face, "You're kidding right? Why the hell should I give you another shot? You challenged me. One-on-one, one human Pokémon versus another. I don't even think you have more than one!"

"Well," Abe spoke slowly so the words would sink in better, "I do have one more. But I've heard that Victor Gregory carries three human Pokémon. So, I was wondering if we'd double the stakes and use all of them. Two of yours against one of mine. How's that sound?"

"Heh," Victor snorted, "after how easy one was, I'd be stupid not to take your money. Alright old man, you're on."

I hate kids, Abe cursed, but I don't mind taking their money. Though only middle-aged, Abe possessed double the amount of experience that Vic did. The only thing that worried him was that most Pokémon Trainers retired early, and as an almost forty year old Pokémon Trainer, it was getting harder and harder to keep a low profile.

At Abe's age, he just wanted to find some place to settle down and spend the rest of his life in peace. But there was very little in Pokémon that offered such a life. Pokémon training was for kids who could live day-to-day, not knowing or caring where their lives were going. They just lived a dream.

Aside from breeding, which Abe hated, the closest thing to a steady job in Pokémon was as a Gym Leader. But, of course, there were only so many gyms in the world. Even as a Gym Leader, every Pokémon battle was a gamble and a bad enough slump could ruin a person.

Still, in the whole world, there was nothing quite like a Pokémon battle.

The two squared off at a hundred meters from each other, again. The first phase had gone well, though Abe could've done without the little bastard rubbing it in so much. Still, his arrogance had made the second phase easier, and Stampede would take care of the rest.

The kid sent out a Typhlosion that looked like a greasy-haired pop-star. He had the ears alright, as well as a tan shirt, jacket and pants that matched the Pokémon's coloring. The only thing that caught Abe's attention was the blazing red-orange fur around the hood of his black jacket. But he was disappointed when he noticed that it was artificial.

Standing in the middle of the dirt road, the Typhlosion didn't look like much of a threat. He was just a skinny kid, about the same age as his trainer, give or take a few years. Vic had called him Inferno or something like that. Abe was unimpressed.

"Stampede," Abe dropped his façade and let his impatience show, casually tossing his Pokéball. After the usual flash of white light, his human Tauros appeared on the road, crouching at first.

He stood up slowly, to a height of 6'5" stretching and cracking his neck. He wore dark brown pants and a sleeveless tan shirt that exposed his well-built muscles. Thick, leather gauntlets stretched up his elbow and a scarf made of buffalo hair adorned his neck. Two horns and three tails extended from his head and tailbone. His hair was wild and unkempt, as if he went through life without knowing it was there until it was long enough to obscure his vision. He bellowed a roar that seemed to shake the ground they stood on and Abe was pleased to watch the Typhlosion and his trainer each take a step back.

"Kids, again?" Stampede growled back at Abe.

"They're easy targets," Abe shrugged.

"Fine," Stampede lowered his head, preparing to charge, "Just make this last awhile. I've been getting bored knocking everything out in the first round."

"You can play once this one's down," Abe reminded him, "I convinced him to give up two thousand. And in exchange, you'll be taking on two of his."

"Not bad," Stampede admitted, "more fun for me."

The kid yelled something about using Flamethrower, but Stampede was off before the order was finished. He charged at the Typhlosion at full speed, closing the distance fast.

"Giga Impact," Abe ordered. Stampede closed the last twenty meters in one burst, unleashing an all-out physical assault while Inferno was still charging his attack. Stampede rammed into his ribcage, headfirst, the horns digging into Inferno's chest, a blow that would've shattered a human's ribcage to bits was reduced to a blow that merely disabled the enemy human Pokémon. The Typhlosion was launched back, spraying fire and blood into the air, crying out in agony.

Inferno landed in a crumpled heap ten meters from Stampede. He shuddered in pain as blood flowed from the stab wounds in his chest and he coughed up a mouthful of blood. Yet he still managed to sit up, desperate to obey the order and take his revenge.

His trainer, on the other hand, cried out in horrified alarm, rushing forward and calling out Inferno's name. Abe turned away; one of the few things he hated more than kids was watching them cry.

"You son of a bitch!" Vic screamed, to Abe's surprise, he wasn't crying, "Look what you freaking did!" Inferno fell unconscious, at the kid's feet.

"He got off easy," Abe shrugged, "a trip to the Pokémon Center and he'll be fine."

"If he lives that long!" Vic spat, "Just who the hell do you think you are?"

"Look, I've seen a lot worse than that," Abe started to lose patience, "he'll be fine. God kid, you'd think this is the first time you've ever fought with a human Pokémon."

"Fine," the kid grimaced and with a red flash, Inferno disappeared inside his Pokéball, "But you are going to pay for this! Ironclad!" Another flash of white light and the kid's human Skarmory appeared on the field.

The second of Vic's human Pokémon was a bit more impressive to look at. Clad head-to-toe in steel armor, Ironclad clanked and banged as he stood on the battlefield. Mechanical, rather than flesh, blood and bone wings extended from his shoulder blades. Gauntlets decorated with curved blades and spiked metal boots adorned his hands and feet. Only his red eyes were visible through the visor of his curved helmet.

Abe considered his next obstacle. The steel-bird Pokémon was a force to be reckoned with. It was a physical wall that could take a heavy amount of punishment before giving in. This could actually be an interesting match…

"That's more like it," Stampede grinned, seeing the Skarmory.

"I am going to destroy you!" Vic was fuming, "Ironclad, start with Agility!"

"Geez, kid," Abe sighed, "you have some anger issues, or something."

Creaking, Ironclad spread his wings and then suddenly shot into the air, much faster than he appeared capable of moving. About ten meters off the ground, it moved lazily at first, Skarmory was never built for speed, but after a second, Ironclad started moving almost double-fast as Agility kicked in.

Stampede was still too tired from Giga Impact to move, so Abe didn't bother issuing an order.

"Ironclad," Vic called, "dive in and use Drill Peck!"

"Rock Tomb," Abe said, disinterested again. Despite the speed boost, Stampede was still quicker than Ironclad. Stampede bent down and ripped up a chunk of earth twice the size of a bowling ball. He hurled it at Ironclad with all his strength when Ironclad was just two meters away. The chunk of rock shattered against Ironclad's armored body, slowing it a bit but he didn't even react to the pain.

Ironclad dove in, clamping the metal visor down over his face. A sharpened edge extended outward from the human Skarmory's face and locked in place. Ironclad buried the sharp point of the helmet into Stampede's chest. Stampede winced a little, but there was no wound as there had been with Inferno. Ironclad bounced back, hovering in the air just half a meter in front of Stampede.

"Double-Edge," Abe ordered, while across the field he heard Vic shout, "Air Cutter!"

Stampede burst forward and rammed into Ironclad's chest, knocking him back a short distance, but inflicting little damage. Stampede shook his head; the collision with his steel-hard opponent had left him a little dazed. Ironclad countered by flapping his wings and sending multiple boomerang-like blades, whipping through the air at Stampede. Most of the blades bounced off, but a few bit into his arms and legs, leaving small cuts behind.

"Think you've had enough?" Abe asked Stampede. As a courtesy to his human Pokémon, Abe had held back their secret weapon for dealing with this sort of enemy.

"I guess," Stampede admitted, "he's a little stronger than I thought."

"Fair enough," Abe nodded, "Wild Charge." Stampede crouched back, ready to spring forward. The air around him crackled and small sparks of electricity arced across his back as he prepared the attack.

"Damn!" Vic's eyes widened in terrified alarm, "Uh…umm…try another Air Cutter, Ironclad!"

Too late, Stampede sprang at Ironclad, ramming the built up electrical attack surging through Ironclad's body. Ironclad cried out in pain as electricity coursed through him, tearing into him and causing massive damage before arcing from his feet to the ground. Stampede pulled back to watch his defeated opponent spark and twitch in mid-air before collapsing entirely. Stampede panted, grinning at his two victories, which had provided more entertainment than he had expected.

Abe recalled Stampede as Vic rushed forward to check on his defeated human Skarmory. It had been a good test. Abe had enjoyed himself, after all. A tournament would be just what he needed. Maybe he wasn't getting as old as he thought.

Ah, the tournament, the battle had pushed it from his mind. Abe was looking forward to it, though. He had competed in all of the previous human Pokémon tournaments. Those tournaments had been a new lease on life after his two best Pokémon had evolved into humans, seemingly stripping him of his best abilities. A new world opened up before him, a new reason to keep going after so many years.

But Abe wasn't going this year just to make contacts and scope out the competition. No, he wanted more this year. He had to pay an old friend a visit.

"Pay up," Abe demanded as he stood over the kid and his unconscious Skarmory, in the road, "or do you not have the Pokédollars?"

Silver was lying on his back, gazing up at a moonless sky when his sharp ears caught the sound of Shinobi approaching. No matter how quiet the human Ninjask was, Silver always knew when he was coming, and he didn't like it.

Silver was a human Absol. Protruding through his snow-white hair was the scythe-shaped horn of an Absol. His tail was a jagged half-moon that looked like it would be as rigid as his horn, if it weren't made of hair. His skin was so pale it looked almost translucent, as if he were a ghost fading back and forth between worlds. He wore white from head-to-toe with the exception of his belt, gloves and boots. His handsome features were so smooth that one might guess his age at nineteen or twenty, but, in human years, he was twenty-eight. Only two of which he had been human for.

He sat up, sighing like a moody child having lost at hide-and-seek. Shinobi…if it weren't for him, Silver would've been gone already. At least, that's what he always told himself.

A whisper of wind at his back was the only notice that Silver was given of Shinobi's arrival. The human Ninjask could scarcely be seen at all in the darkness. His wings, although their tips appeared as though dipped in blood, were almost transparent. A ninja's black robes made him appear to melt into the darkness around him. A golden helmet and a black mask obscured the majority of his face, but his blood-red eyes shone forth with a terrible menace. It was a menace that belonged solely to his trainer.

"Yeah, yeah," Silver tossed his head back and forth as he spoke, "you found me. What does Lily want, anyway?"

"Only to know where you were," Shinobi's deep voice never revealed much of what he was thinking, which irritated Silver to no end. He often wondered if the loyal ninja had any independent thoughts of his own.

"I see," Silver stood up, knocking the dust off of his clothes, "worried about me, I take it?"

"Mistress Lily was concerned that you were upset with her," Shinobi reported.

"Why do you call her that?" Silver grimaced, "She doesn't really have any hold over us, you know. So, it's not like you have to show her some imagined level of respect."

"Mistress Lily is deserving of respect because she was and is, our Trainer," Shinobi's voice remained the same, "that is enough."

Yeah, but she doesn't treat you like a child, Silver thought, frustrated with the unwavering loyalty of the ninja. He turned and wasn't surprised to find Shinobi kneeling on the ground, awaiting further orders. Silver could probably tell him to murder ten humans, besides Lily, and he would probably do it without any hesitation. He liked that about Shinobi. It was one of the few things he did like about him.

"Whatever," Silver said, "let's get back." He walked through the woods, setting a leisurely pace, back towards their camp and their Trainer. Shinobi, on the other hand, took to the trees, his quick eyes darting around, searching for danger.

"Will you stop that?" Silver scolded him, "There's nobody out here but us, you moron!" Shinobi didn't reply.

I have to be the only sane one around here.

Lily had lit a fire when Silver and Shinobi returned, its glow lit up the forest. Silver was disappointed to find that Aroma, Lily's human Meganium, was already asleep and in her Pokéball. Sweet, gentle Aroma was the main reason Silver was still with this group. The seventeen year old Lily, who was running at him at full speed, was not.

"Aww…there you are!" Lily squealed, latching onto Silver and burying her face against his chest, "I was soooo worried about you!" She reached up and kissed his cheek hard enough to hurt.

"What for?" Silver raised an eyebrow and rubbed his cheek with the back of his hand as if scratching an insect bite.

"Aww…" Lily withdrew, patting Silver's muscled chest with her slender hands, "I know I don't have to worry, 'cause you're so strong! But, seriously, I still worry! I don't want anything to happen to my little Silvy!"

"Why do you call me that?" Silver snapped, "You gave me this nickname! Why are you nicknaming my nickname?" He clenched his hands as he yelled at Lily, but she just continued smiling serenely, at him.

"You're so cute when you're angry," Lily giggled, "Now, come on, you haven't eaten yet. You must be starving!" She turned and trotted away towards the fire.

"I can't believe you like her," Silver grumbled to Shinobi, who was kneeling off to his left side. Shinobi didn't respond.

Two more weeks… Silver thought, two more weeks and we'll be on Himitsu Island. Then I can find a better Trainer. Someone who'll get me the hell out of this nightmare.

Silver had never been to the tournament on Himitsu Island. None of them had, because the tournament had only happened twice before going on a two-year hiatus. They had heard about it from several different human Pokémon trainers, but everyone believed the tournament to be dead. No funding and not enough participants meant no tournament.

But now that it had been restored, Silver was beginning to think of it as the light at the end of the tunnel. He could leave Lily's abuse behind and follow a new trainer. Sure he'd leave behind Aroma, but that was a small price to pay for his freedom.

You could leave whenever you want, Silver could practically hear Aroma's hurt voice, a Pokéball can't contain us unless we want it to. So, if you hate us so much, why aren't you leaving?

The sad thing was, Silver didn't know. And that just made things worse.

He had thought about leaving over and over again. Shinobi could follow him, but he wouldn't make him stay. Silver could just walk straight into those woods and never come back. And yet, he didn't. Why?

Not knowing was the part that hurt the worst. It turned his annoyance into anger and bitterness. He was trapped within himself with this band of misfits led by a little girl with a crush on him.

"Silvyyyy! What's taking you so long?" Lily called, "It's gonna get coooold!"

Two more weeks, Silver sighed, a week and a half really. Just eleven days.

AN: taking a break from the main characters for a little bit. we finally have a battle and get in some of that promised blood and violence! huzzah!