TropicalAce here to say that chap 10 has been rewritten and sorry for not uploading any new chaps. But no worries more will be on their way as soon as my work simmers down. Thanks goes out to all of you.

Chapter 10: Help From the Shadows

Cold. Chills ran down his spine as he floated in the inky black abyss, dread and disillusionment seeping into his mind. Time had lost its meaning, and Dave felt as if he had been there forever.

"W-where am I?" he thought, curling up into a ball. "Am I… dead?"

His confusion quickly turned into fear. "No...no, no! I can't be dead! This is a dream! Just a bad dream..."

Memories started to float past him, starting from his first days to his last days. He saw a case held by detached hand, which then formed into a familiar blue eyed girl.

"See, this is what happens when you fuck up!" She scolded in a firm tone, her expression forlorn. "I thought you said you weren't going to mess up!"

Tears began to form in his eyes as he extended an arm to the now fading Samantha. "N-no, wait! I didn't-" he stammered as she disappeared from sight, leaving the case behind. He fell on his knees, sobbing into his hands.

Suddenly, he felt a pair of strong hands gripping his collar and yanking him to his feet. "Get up, boy!" A husky voice roared. "Crying in a time this! I can't believe this is my son I'm lookin' at!"

Dave's hazel eyes shot open. Standing before him was the man he despised with his whole being.

His father.

There was no mistaking it. The tall masculine figure, the mango-rough skin, those deep, grey eyes, that face and silver streaked hair…

Anger filled every nerve and fiber of Dave's body, his mind invaded by one single though: killing him.

He stood up straight and pulled a fist back. "Damn you!" Dave fumed. "I fucking hate you!" He tried to hit him, but he seemed to only hit air.

His father smirked. "Simmer down, boy, you might blow a gasket."

"Up yours, asshole!" Dave hollered. He threw another punch, but his father seemed to slip farther and farther away.

The greying man cackled. "Don't worry, we'll be seein' each other soon enough. Right now, I suggest you keep your anger for fighting for that bitch. Sunny, was it?"

Dave stopped dead in his tracks. "How…how did you know her name? How are you doing this!?" he demanded.

A wicked smile that rivaled Ciara's spread across the man's face. "Questions, questions. Didn't I teach you to keep your nose where it doesn't belong? You need another reminder of how nasty I can be, boy?"

"Fuck you!" Dave cried, enraged. He faded away, just like Samantha, as walls of black fell on him. The world turned into nothingness once again. After what seemed like an eternity, voices of dispute began to emerge in the distance. He immediately recognized one belonging to Ciara, relieved to hear she was still alive. He tried to telepathically contact her, but he got no reply. All he could do was listen as he slowly came back to the land of the living.

"I swear, If you even touch one hair on his head!" she screeched.

"Or you'll what?" a shrilling voice retorted. "Bite me? Oh, my cold hearted Ciara, you're telling showing feelings for him!?"

He felt a sudden weight on his back, like someone stomping on his spine. He grunted both physically and mentally. The voice continued his venting. "I CAN and WILL do whatever I please! That includes kicking the shit out of your boyfriend here!"

Dave's sides burned as he was kicked in the side, the sharp pain sending him wide awake. His eyes greeted the same man from before, Harvey. His jeans were tattered, and Ciara was pinned down by a human. Ciara subdued by a human? This stunned him immensely. The one Pokémon that took ten men to at least slow down was under someone's foot? A female no less?

Closer observation revealed that this was not a normal human, or not human at all. She was dressed in blue tights with one leg at thigh length, and a black sports bra wrapping her chest in a tight embrace. Her skin was tanned dark-brown, while her were eyes were sky blue. Her hair was dark-grey, almost black, with red spiked ends. A puffy tail stuck out from her back end.

A slap quickly brought Dave back to his senses. He reflexively threw a punch, but was struck down by another kick to the side. "Sorry to cut your sleep short, dog." Harvey grinned, sarcasm dripping from every word.

Dave could only glare in response. Harvey laughed in return, heading back to the love seats and flipping the cushions, showing an assortment of guns. He quickly dug out a chrome revolver and flashed it in the light. "I wanted to try out this new toy." he chimed, loading the chambers. "Well lucky me, I got me some rats to shoot." His eyes darted unnervingly to the woman on the floor, the carpet around her colored crimson.

Without a second thought, he unloaded two slugs into the body, making it jolt with each shot. Dave could only look away, tears forming in his eyes. Even Ciara couldn't take it.

The deranged man turned his gaze towards the duo on the floor, licking the steaming barrel. "Such a wonderful toy." He cooed, nudging the woman with his foot. "It's a real shame this one's broken, but no worries! I got 2 more right here." He walked over to Dave, grabbing a Pokéball and stooping to his level.

"You see this?" he questioned, and gestured to the struggling Gardevoir. "This is hers. That means you must be the poor soul that picked her up, huh?"

"So?" Dave barked. "And my guess is you're the one who did this to her?"

Dusty gave him a strange look. "Me? Again, me? Bitch, I bought her that way." Dave eyes widened. "Surprised? Well I'm not, since you're new to this. See, she was sold off to me from a buddy of mine, ya know? Business as usual, but being a Gardevoir and all, I couldn't just let her slip through my fingers, so I bought her cheap, 1200 Pokédollars."

Harvey stood up. "Everything was smooth sailing at the beginning. She did everything I told her, even the occasional death match from underground times. But-"

"Will you shut the fuck up just for second!?" Interrupted Dave, looking at Ciara with a hurt expression.

"Is this true, Ciara?" His hazel orbs seemed stare right through hers, right to her soul. She gave a slow nod, unable to fight his demanding gaze.

At that moment, it felt as if everything he knew had been a lie. He was heartbroken. But he tried to remain calm.

"Dave…." she whispered in a low, apologetic tone, but was quickly hushed by him.

"Don't talk. Just follow my lead."

Ciara felt every inch of coldness that came from his words, tears flowed freely from her eyes to the carpet below. " 'Kay, I understand…"

The sight of duo relationship only added to Harvey's entertainment, and he took aim at Dave. "Aww, how touching!" He crooned. "Hope you two make up in the afterlife!"

"Wait!" Dave yelled at the top of his lungs.

Harvey raised an eyebrow. "What?" he demanded, "Gonna beg for your life?"

Dave smirked. "Quite the opposite. How about we make a deal?"

The white haired man laughed as if this was the biggest joke he heard. He cocked his head, a large grin on his face. "I'm listening.."

"Hook, line, and sinker." Dave thought, continuing with this 'deal' of his.

…

In a nearby alleyway, a pair of voices could be heard hooting and hollering. A trainer and his Pokémon emerged, each holding a stolen purse. They were both joking with each other, the trainer's Poké-translator helping him understand his partner.

"Dude, I'm telling you, I almost had her!" the trainer complained, lacing his hands behind his head as walked.

"Like hell you did, mate. I can do better." the Combusken smirked. "Cause when I pull up, panties drop."

The trainer laughed. "You? You're a Combusken! I doubt she would even understand you."

"Your point?"

"My point is- ah, never mind. I get bitches by the pack anyways. One muck up once in a while doesn't hurt anybody."

After a few minutes of small talk, they approached The Game Corner, noticing a lot more people the usual. His smoke-grey eyes scanned the area, looking for targets to con out of their money, already spying a victim. The target was a solid build, mango skinned male. With his gelled-up green mohawk and numerous tattoos and piercings, it was clear that he was your average street punk. Closer observation pointed out a tattoo that read, 'Walkerz'. The text was on a banner wrapped around a cracked human skull with its jaw ripped off.

'What the hell...?" the trainer mused as he beckoned his feathered partner to back off while he searched for a new target. "The Walkers are mostly active at night. So why are they here? Better not mess with them..."

His eyes slid over the area once more, this time spotting a pricey looking red muscle car, grabbing his attention instantly.

He glanced over to his Pokémon, "Looks like we found a rich one, aye, Lance?"

"Sure did, mate. So what's the plan?" Lance asked, watching their prey.

He pondered for a second, narrowing his eyes to spot a purse in the front passenger side near the lowered window. He then saw a young woman... or was she a girl? Her young appearance made near impossible to tell if she was even old enough to be behind the wheel. But that didn't matter. All that mattered was that purse.

He put on the best poker face he could manage and began approaching the car. "Dude, go 'round the other side and get the bag. I'll distract little miss blonde here."

Lance gave a perplexed look. "I'm your bro and all, but are we going to rob a lil' girl?"

"Naw man," the trainer explained. "If that was true, she wouldn't be behind the wheel like a grown ass adult. She's at least 18, bro, trust me."

The crooked duo finally made their way to the car, with the trainer tapping on the roof.

"How may I help you?" the woman asked with a hint of Spanish accent as he crouched down. His sharp orbs did a quick sweep of the interior, and there was indeed a purse, a black and bulgy looking one at that.

He also saw that the target was rather…..attractive, even beautiful. She wore grey shorts and black tank top that fit just right against her curvy frame. Her golden blonde hair was stained with the perfect amount of brown that hung freely at shoulder length, adding to her smooth complexion. Breathtaking blue orbs met his dark voids as a smile formed on her face. Although she was short, she was all woman in a bite sized package.

"Hey there, the name's Steven Colt." He introduced himself, lying through his teeth. "I've seemed to have lost my way, and you look like you know your way around. Could you show me directions to an Information Centre, please?"

The woman was skeptical, but answered regardless. "Well, I'm not sure where it is myself, but the Info Centre is always at the heart of any city, and we're near the outskirts, so I guess if you go down straight down this road, you'll found one eventually."

The petty thief plastered a fake smile as he saw his partner in crime swiftly removing the bag and placing it back a few bills lighter.

"Thanks, Miss…?"

"Samantha," she replied curtly.

He thanked her and walked away from the car, relieved it was over and done. Steven and Lance was now home free, basking in success.

"I can't believe she actually fell for that load of crap!" Laughed Lance, waving the money in his claws.

Steven gave his partner a high five, taking the money from him and counting it. "Yeah, never knew some people could be so gullible."

Steven turned to see his victim's demise, but to his surprise, she looked paranoid and nervous, her eyes becoming blood red as if she were to burst out into tears at any moment. His face went sour, and he began to regret his decision. A long forgotten icebox of a heart skipped a beat, and he held his head low.

"What's wrong, mate?" asked a concerned Lance.

"Man…" he replied slowly. "I…I don't know. I mean, look at her! Maybe we should return the money. It doesn't feel right stealing from a lit- woman of her stature."

Filled with regret, he sluggishly began to shuffle back to the car, his partner forcing him to a halt.

"Oi, oi, you realized what you're doing?" Lance seethed. "We'll get arrested! And we all know the slammer ain't no joke!"

"No shit, Steven retorted. "I'm the trainer, so you listen to me."

Lance flinched, with no further protest escaping his beak. "That was a low blow, mate, but alright, you win..." He stepped aside to watch his trainer put up this pathetic show of his.

And within seconds he was back, tapping on the roof once more, getting her attention. And there it was again, when his eyes locked with hers, his stone heart skipping a beat again as if begging to come alive again.

He saw she was sweating, and anxiety was clear on her face, which bothered him for some reason.

"No luck, I see?" Asked Samantha, trying her best to hide her worried expression. "No," he lied. "I just gave up, since it's too far away." Samantha looked at him with an 'oh' look on her face. It was silent for only a moment, but for both of them, it seemed like an eternity. He bit his tongue, quickly trying to think of something to say.

"So, what are you doing out here by yourself?" he blurted.

She looked at the dashboard. "N-nothing, just waiting for a...a friend."

"Not to be nosey or anything, but your face say otherwise."

Her face went red. "W-what?! Don't be ridiculous! Everything's just fine…" She tried to hold back the tears.

He rested an arm on the car door. "Please, ma'am. What's wrong?"

She crossed her arms and sighed. "Alright….the truth is, I'm worried for my friend. It's been 15 minutes and he hasn't come back from the Game Corner."

"Why can't you go in there and check on him yourself then?"

"'Cause if I go in there, it will cause…some problems…"

He thought about her dilemma for a moment. An idea sprouted; a crazy, maybe even suicidal one. But for her, he would take it. "How about this," he suggested. "I'll go in and get him for you. Tell me what he looks like."

She hesitated, clearly torn about what to do, but with what looked like no other alternative, she let it loose. "….Kay. He's a tall one, so it's hard to miss him. He's wearing dark-blue jeans and a white tee. I mean, you really can't miss him. He's probably the only one wearing normal clothes in there."

He smiled at her. "Alright, I'll be right back."

He strolled off to the club with his partner emerging at his side from the sidelines. He reached in his pocket for a Pokéball, summoning a Furret. "Fur, Furret!" it chirped, scrambling up his beloved trainer, coiling around his neck like a scarf.

He glance over to Lance and smirked. "Serious shit 'bout to go down, bro. Ya ready?"

"Ready as always, mate."

Who is this new character, friend of foe!?