Hi! Thought I'd put this up as a precautionary seeing this is supposed to be a more friendly story. My other one set the tone of it being a darker story so I really didn't bother with warnings too much. Pokémon in the Adventure series is purposely more gory and serious outside the anime's movie moments. Targeted to a much more mature audience while tickling the kid senses.

Warning and partial Spoiler!
I've utilized the move Curse so there will be a torture scene. There's no blood but pain is inflicted heavily. It's not really graphic but the pain is described.

I'm also rereading this story as I'm updating so I'm doing this along side with you readers.

Thanks for the support!

October 4, 2015- Finished.
December 9, 2017- Edited.

-Line Break-

Apparently Red was with Misty the entire time after she saved him from being crushed by the rocks that were broken off by Dragonite's Hyperbeam. The dragon itself decided to take its losses when her Gyarados appeared and dove away into the ocean.

"Your Pidgeotto is even more impressive than I thought! To be able to go on par with that Dragonite is amazing!" Misty said riding her Starmie.

We were standing on the beach taking a break from the ordeal. We picked up our stuff and had lunch before getting ready to take off again.

"I think Snor would've been able to take it on if we were on solid ground." I handed Snor's pokéball back to Red. "Pidgeotto can outlast and outsmart the Dragonite but Snor definitely has the power to take it on confidently if he can get his hands on it." I was thinking back on Nidoking's and Snor's last battle and winced on how much damage they both did. They knocked themselves out punching each other in the face. "Pidgeotto's best chance at winning was if that Dragonite tired out and even then he doesn't really have the power to do any real damage."

"Even still, your Pidgeotto is amazing! I've never seen him fly like that before!" Red exclaimed.

"He never had the chance." I just shrugged.

"Anyways." Misty interrupted "The HM Surf is broken, but you can borrow my Gyarados!" I blinked in surprise. "You guys should've called me if you needed help! I'm a water pokémon trainer after all!"

"We didn't really think about it." Red scratched his cheek. "And there were other HMs to get too."

She just waved it off. "Nevermind the details!" She then swiped a pokéball from Red's belt. "Let's make this an official trade! In trade for Gyarados, I'll have Krabby okay?" At Red's dumbfounded nod she continued. "Now on to the Surfing lessons!"

-Line Break-

I was holding on to dear life. Vulpix and Dratini was lucky and smart to retreat into there pokéballs and not experience Red's horrid Surfing skills.

"You're doing great! Better than I thought you would!" Misty called out surfing on Starmie.

I concentrated on holding onto Gyarados' fin and ignoring Misty's praise on Red's Surfing skills. This is not the way you teach beginners how to Surf and I can see Mama Khan yelling at Misty if she was here.

"This is awesome! Rayne? Rayne, it's not that bad!"

"I've been on rough rides Red and I can say it's that bad!" I held on closer feeling Gyarados jerk violently to turn.

"Don't be like that Rayne! This is fun! See!" He jerked violently to the side and the lower half of my body flew at the feeling of inertia

"Red, I will hurt you for that!"

He just laughed uncaringly to my chagrin and I could feel us speeding up now and when I looked up, I saw to my horror the coastline and screamed.

"Stop!"

Red was thrown off the Gyarados as the water-flying type come to a dead stop instantly. He landed face first into the sand and I was still clinging to dear life waiting for my heart to settle down.

"Er, sorry." Gyarados murmured. "It's been a long time since I've been at sea."

I patted to giant serpent with a shaky hand. "Don't worry, I blame Red anyways." He's a terrible driver, I can only imagine what he'll be like if he starts driving those car things. Hello property damage, which I imagine saying.

"It seems Rayne knows how to Surf." She sounded a little disappointed. "Oh well, at least I got to see Red face plant into the sand." Misty snickered. Girls are so weird! And evil when they want to be! "Well I got to go now!"

"Wait! You're not going to come?" Red said getting up.

"Of course not! I came by to check on you two, plus I'm a gym leader, duty calls! Bye!" And left promptly.

She sounded suspicious but it's not like it's going to change anything. Plus we did get a pokémon that knows Surf.

"Ah! That reminds me, I should re-introduce the team!" Red threw out his pokéballs except Snor's.

I threw out my own. It's safe enough for all of them to come out and it's not like anyone else will be in this wilderness unprotected.

Apparently Red's team were afraid of Gyarados, Vee because he looks scary, from the last encounter we had with him. Vulpix was also intimidated but decide to ignore that feeling when Dratini just slithered up to it with awestrucked eyes.

I snorted in amusement at the situation. "Don't be afraid everyone or else you might disappoint Dratini here."

Pidgeotto snorted. "And you folks did beat him so why are you so afraid?"

Everyone relaxed sheepishly. "I guess we're just not used to him, he is intimidating." Saur said. "And I had help."

Red seemed a little confused but a cold blast of air washed over us and snow and frost started to form distracting us.

"This sudden snow... Could Articuno be around?!" Red's excitement took over and he ran to follow the snow trail with his pokémon following. He was thrown off a Gyarados! How is he not slightly dizzy from hitting his head on the sand? It's sand, but it'll still hurt!

"Pidgeotto, go ahead of us, everybody else, we're following Red."

This forest was thick but lucky for us the ground below us was dirt and dead leaves covering the ground, no shrubbery to cut through and only the annoying vines to push aside. We could hear yelling and fighting already. I can see Red and his team struggling with a Muk that was blocking the way.

"Nidoking!"

"A fellow poison type? And yet I'm superior!" He shot out an Ice Beam freezing the Muk in a casing of ice.

I looked around and noticed the Articuno frozen encased in ice.

"Rayne! We need to keep Articuno safe! It's Team Rocket again!" Red yelled. "You keep it safe! I'll fight them off!" I nodded in response.

"Vulpix!" The fox was already firing out Will-O-Wisps and I turned to Dratini who was wrapped around my satchel and I whispered to him. "When we get there, start using Thunder Wave on anyone we don't know." The little dragon nodded and slithered off readying his first charge of electricity despite the cold ground beneath him. "Stay close to me or Vulpix alright?"

I looked up towards the legendary bird and sighed. My priories seemed to be on a rain check right now as I held up my Pokédex and took a picture of it. I smiled apologetically at it, I can tell after scanning it that it was still okay, if a bit pushed around.

"Everybody at home will not believe this, but now's not the time." I shook my head. "Why is Team Rocket after Articuno? I thought they needed Mew though Erika did say that experiment ran away." I muttered.

But still, all that research invested only to abandon it because it ran away? Why aren't they searching for it? Or is this another project they're working seeing tracking down legendaries is a task in itself but recently, tracking the legendary bird trio was kind of predictable since they inhabit the same areas consistently Human communications is something you don't scoff at.

"Our third encounter and it's over the great legendary Articuno!" I turned around to see Koga standing in a frozen tree. "I lent my Muk to my men and sent them on a retrieval mission for Articuno only to see them failing and my Muk frozen." He looked over to me. "I wonder who did that?" He smirked.

"This disgusting man needs to go away! I'm tired of his smug tone."

"Hmph! That little fox is certainly trained enough to bite on command but let's see how far it's come!" He threw two pokéballs and a Grimer and a Rhyhorn came out. "I hope you recognize one of them. Attack them!" The two pokémon charged.

"Vulpix!"

"Just because I'm smaller doesn't mean you can toss me around!" She charged as well and smacked the Rhyhorn in the face with a flaming Iron Tail and spat out a Flamethrower at the Grimer. "You're just about light enough for me to toss!" She summoned her Will-O-Wisp and sent them towards the Grimer and proceed to throw the Sludge Pokémon with her developing fire-psychic abilities at the recovering Rhyhorn leaving Koga in shocked speechlessness.

"This is- how?I- I- I never felt so excited!" Koga finally let out and started to laugh. "I never understood why Giovanni taken such an interest to you recently, after all, out of all the kids that is a threat to us, why should we put more effort on the kid who cried in the face of the threat." He sneered at me. "To me, it was surprising to hear him come back telling us to watch out for you instead of the other two kids that know how to keep their emotions in check, you were so easy to read and rile up in our last meeting."

"I don't like him." Dratini slithered behind me and I continue to glare at the man before me.

"I still didn't believe Surge until now. One command to your Pidgeotto and the Nidoking reacts without your saying after taking a Voltorb's Self-Destruct but I'm glad you've gotten stronger, it only means that it'll be a challenge when I defeat you! Muk!"

From the side I see Muk jump up from it's hiding place throwing itself towards us. "Don't underestimate me! I didn't rush in here without any preparation!"

A Steel Wing later Muk was on the ground and a rumble came after with Nidoking digging out from underneath throwing it again.

"Yeah! This is awesome! I love Dig!" Nidoking shouted. "That slimy scumbag disappeared when I took my eyes off him."

Koga just laughed again. "Amazing, amazing! I love it! But play times over! Rhyhorn, Horn Drill the ground! Muk, get Articuno! Grimer, Sludge!"

"Nidoking, on Muk! Pidgeotto, Vulpix, Quick attack!" Rocks were already flying our way. Vulpix and Pidgeotto were able to dodge but I had to grab Dratini and runaway near the trees where the flying debris can't reach.

"You're a fool sending Pidgeotto Rhyhorn's way!"

I growled irritably This guy needs to learn to shut up, it's unusual but couldn't people give me some credit? I'm not stupid.

"You're that rock head that nearly killed Nidoking aren't ya? Let's see how those flying rocks do for ya!" The Bird Pokémon flew past the Rhyhorn and sent a Steel Wing to its back before hitting it again in the side throwing it to its side.

"Aim for the ground! Don't let them recover guys!" I defended against some stray rocks with my cloak. "While you're at it, aim for that Rocket guy too!"

But Koga just laughed more. "Whatever you're planning it's too late! Haunter, Curse that trainer!" My eyes widened and I turned to the trees and saw eyes glow an ominous purple before yellow light hit it.

"T-too late."

"Go away!"

Dratini managed to paralyze the Gas Pokémon and wash it away, but I already could feel the pain spreading through my body making me kneel. I covered my mouth with both my hands to prevent a scream coming out.

"Stay away!" I can hear the panic in Dratini's voice. I'm sorry I can't comfort you now.

I saw the poison type trainer by me when I looked up and Dratini tried to blast Koga away with a Water Pulse but it went through the man. It was an illusion. Of course it was.

"I'll be honest with you. When I first spied you and the other kid you're traveling with coming to this island, I just had to sate my curiosity, so I planned for you two to separate but I didn't think you'd actually do it for me." I can tell he grinned at me as my vision blurred a little. "With your friend occupied like he is now, I wonder who'll help you now?"

"Y-you!" I growled out hatefully.

Koga smiled darkly amused. "Still kicking? I wonder how long it'll take before you succumb to the Curse? I heard from Surge that your friend manage to take a good shocking, are you just as resilient?"

I growled glaring hatefully. I couldn't say anything because breathing came harder and harder, it was like the air around me was diminishing fast.

"Hmm, it looks like you won't last after all, not that I can blame you. Curse is a nasty move to use on humans, isn't as quick to inflict either."

"I've heard enough!"

A cold blast knocked me over to my side. The numbing cold washed over me but it didn't stop the pain building up. It was like nails were being hammered into my body and I felt needles at my hands, feet, neck and ears along with the feeling of slowly being electrocuted.

Oh God, it hurts.

It hurts. It hurts, it hurts, it hurts! It's getting worse! It hurts!

There was a ringing sound and my head feels like it'll explode. The pressure, the sound, the blinking lights. Where was it coming from?! It hurts!

It won't stop. Why won't it stop? It hurts so much! Please, someone. Make it stop! It's getting worse!

It feels like my eyes are being squeezed into themselves. My throat feels like its been stuffed like I'm choking on something.

I can't breathe. My whole body feels like it's been ripped apart. My head won't stop pulsing. My lungs are burning for air.

I still can't breathe.

The pain. Won't. Stop. Building.

It hurts.

-Line Break-

My body feels so heavy and numb. I tried swallowing, but my mouth was dry and my throat felt sore and it was just then I felt a dull ache pulse through my head. I tried to take in air next ignoring the soreness but even my lungs collapsed quickly shuddering my breath.

"Rayne?"

I felt the warmth from the side of my arm move and I swallowed again with a little more ease.

"Vul...?" I winced mentally as my voice cracked.

"Shh! I'll get Red. Don't get up."

I hear her padded away. I took in my surroundings as I tried to open my eyes. It was strange how light and heavy it felt to move my arms in order to wipe the crust around my eyes. It was night time and there was a fire crackling a couple of feet from me to the right.

With circulation finally flowing, my body felt lighter but my hands were trembling as I finally recalled the previous events. I forced myself to breathe in as much as I can before exhaling it all out. Even though the dull pain of expanding my lungs unnecessarily was there, it felt good.

"Rayne?"

I lowered my hands and looked passed my feet and saw Red looking tired and relieved. He ran up to me but only stopped a few inches short. I can see he was missing his hat and jacket along with his excited air. No matter the situation, he always had that energizing air that I always admired. His excitement would encourage me to follow along and I would always feel fulfilled by the end of his antics. Like filling in the cracks I never noticed.

"Red..." He looked down when I responded. He stood there shaking a bit before calming himself down, but he didn't move toward me and just stayed there as if there was a barrier between us.

"I'm so glad Rayne." Red started. "The first time, after you saved me from that exploding Voltorb, my stomach just dropped seeing you just lie there not moving before I had to battle with Surge. But you were fine, a little delirious from hitting your head, but fine." I saw his hands tightened in his grip and clenched his eyes shut. "But after Articuno saved us- you, by freezing Team Rocket, you just started to scream." His tears started streaming. "You screamed so much Rayne. I couldn't wake you up or find what was wrong. You'd thrash around screaming louder and louder until you started to cry half way through it." He choked back a sob. "I couldn't do anything, I felt so useless. Then you suddenly stopped screaming and just stopped breathing too. You tried to breathe when you reached out for your neck but you end up seizing before letting out one final breath and become lifeless.

"I was so scared. I thought you were dead. We all thought you were dead. Pidgeotto became so enraged and started to cut through the trees and Nidoking followed and started tearing at the earth, both chasing after the remaining Team Rockets. I just cried on your chest until I realized that you were still breathing." He let everything out after that. Tears flowed endlessly dripping onto the ground. "I was so happy Rayne."

Horror grabbed the fringes of my body, but I needed to move. I staggered and dropped forward when at this point my body felt too light and the world in front of my blurred for a second. Cries of protest blared around as my legs trembled towards the crying Red.

He was sniffling and wiping his tears, and the cries of protest drew his attention. His eyes widened and quickly came over.

"You idiot! What do you think you're- ack!"

I dragged him down on our knees when I wrapped my arms around his neck. I didn't mean too but my legs just gave out as I pulled Red into my arms. He was cool to the touch, maybe because I was warmed by Vulpix and the fire, and I felt his arms wrap around my waist softly tightening.

My breath shuddered out. "Sorry Red, but I'll be fine." His hair was soft to the touch as I rake through it with my fingers. It was the only way I knew to comfort others. "His Ghastly must've evolved into a Haunter, and it managed to hit me with a Curse." I nuzzled into his shoulder. I was awake and drifting at the same time now as fatigue washed over from the stress that my body went through. It did not appreciate the sudden movements I forced it to do. "It's not something I'd like to go through again."

"I should be the one saying sorry you idiot. You shouldn't have gone through that in the first place." He sniffled again and let out a breath. "Why're you comforting me anyways? It should be the other way 'round."

I smiled. "Because I needed a hug too, you weren't going to give me one anytime soon." Ah, it was getting nice and warm.

"You're still as nice ever since I first met you. The most you've gotten angry with me has to be the day when we first met, right after I released all the pokémon in professor's lab and in Cerulean." He laughed a little. "That Safari mishap too but I have to say that you were more irritated than angry. You were like a scolding mother and even my mom doesn't even scold me like you do."

A warm fuzz spread addling my mind lifting sleep to the surface. "Sorry for being nice, but being angry doesn't work well for me." And you're my friend Red. My first ever human friend who stuck with me and showed me how fun this world can be, both human and pokémon whether it'd be dangerous or not.

And I thank you for that.

"And I'm going to sleep on you by the way." I continued my thought without knowing. "You're so warm."

"Rayne, no- whatever."

-Line Break-

We left in the next two days much to everybody's discontent. They all fussed over me even though I was fine. The first day I was still shaking and tired but I'm physically fit after a good meal and rest. Curse is extremely hard to explain but doesn't physically harm you but it does give phantom pains that hurt. It's like Mega Drain in a way only extremely more painful in sapping your life force, er, not that I'll tell anyone that.

Those draining moves from grass types are nothing to scoff at but it wasn't as painful seeing it was the method executing the move rather than the actual draining. You just feel faint before blacking out when your energy is being sapped. Like loosing blood only less messier, er, I should stop thinking that.

The ordeal didn't leave me in any emotional turmoil like Vulpix said. It's not easy to get traumatized when the most traumatizing thing happened to me already. Team Rocket already left me unfortunately bitter and I'm not a stranger to pain seeing 'careful' was a stranger at home. Everybody forgets themselves often so I had my fair share of being hit by various attacks, thankfully nothing from the more stronger pokémon or I'd be more fragile than before.

But to say that I won't be more wary of ghost pokémon would be a lie.

"Rayne! Get down from there!" Red shouted annoyed.

"You come up!" I shouted back. "Pidgeotto did!"

"That's because your stubborn tail feathers won't let go of the tree!" The bird squawked.

"It's a nice tree!"

"You're being ridiculous!"

"Rayne!"

I ended up having to run around the island and sit in a tree for hours to show that I'm okay. Me disappearing was a big 'no, no' and I'm sure it was more about keeping me in their sights than anything else since I'm very good at hiding and escaping when I'm given the chance. Just because I was the weakest at home doesn't mean I couldn't take advantage on I can do.

I beamed at Red when he looked back at me as he steered Gyarados to Cinnabar Island. Pidgeotto was flying overhead and Dratini was in his usual spot on my satchel since Vulpix was in her pokéball. Those four were now my appointed body guards until they're certain I wouldn't kneel over on them.

I held onto Gyarados' fin with one hand and waved at Red with the other with my cane in my hands. "You worry too much! I'll be fine!"

He just turned back around. "You're impossible to argue with." He grumbled and I laughed at him. "And you're awfully cheery too, I should've gotten Saur to keep you in bed. "

My smiled wryly. I have to be if I want to reassure everybody, I'm not a big fan of staying in bed and I don't want to be the one that makes Red sad or anyone for that matter. I like it much better when everyone is happy and I rather not have Red experience I had back before.

We've gotten close to the cliff side and we heard yelling and smoke started to billow into the sky. Pidgeotto flew ahead without me needing to tell him and Gyarados sped up on Red's command and Surfed near some stable rocks for us to stand on.

"It's Team Rocket again. They're looking for someone too."

I relayed the message and Red grimaced. I looked up on the cliff and it didn't look like a difficult climb. It was sloped inward and wasn't really steep, in fact, Gyarados could lift us up there no problem but that would draw attention to us.

"Rayne, what are you doing?!" I started up the rocky wall with my cane hanging off my arm so it won't fall or get in the way.

"Climbing!" Since the house was right by a mountain side, I'm always climbing for something with all the pokémon around. It was also a good way to build up strength and the view was fantastic and worthwhile.

I pulled myself up on a ledge where there was enough room for me to sit on and look down on Red who was following me up. I reached out my hand and I pulled him up to sit next to me.

"Are you sure you want to face them again?" Red looked at me breathing a little hard from the sudden climb.

I had to blinked not in surprise but to break the piercing worried stare of his red eyes and refocus. He had a very intimidating gaze when he needs it.

"I'm not afraid of them Red." And I'm really not. Not even the pain they put me through. "Just afraid what they will do." I looked toward the sea. "I hate them so much but at the same time I feel so indifferent about them. They're not the same people that killed my friends but they do have the same power to do so with working with the same organization and I don't want that to happen." I smiled towards Red again. "I would be lying if I said it wasn't for revenge, but I really want put them behind me and it's hard to do that when we're always running into them."

He continued to look at me and then sighed. "I don't even know why I even bothered. You make it so hard to argue with you. Just- just stay safe, I don't want to see you hurt like before." And I hugged him.

But before I could say anything, fire spew over our heads and screams of panic and 'Get him!' sounded. The edge wasn't far so it took only a minute to see Team Rocket were struggling with Rapidash with a rider on its back.

But even though the Rocket members were struggling, they out numbered and surrounded the fire horse leaving no opening for it to escape.

"You're surrounded now Blaine! Just give in and we may give some leeway traitor!" A Rocket member yelled out.

Traitor? From the looks of it, it looks like he's pretty important too for Team Rocket to send this many people after him. He was wearing a lab coat like Professor Oak, maybe he was part of a science branch?

The ledge I was standing on seemed to give way from both my weight and Dratini's and I clenched on the grassy edge and tried to find my footing again.

"What the- two kids?" The breaking of the rocks and my sharp intake of breath drew his attention. "Well now." the Rocket Member started and his foot was close to my hand. "If you don't give in, this girly will fall to her death."

Irritation spiked up in me at the girl comment. You'd think that you'd get used to it, but my annoyance just built over the course of this adventure. I could feel a vein on my forehead bulge a bit. I did see Red looking worried, but I ignored him.

"Dratini, Water Pulse." The little dragon's head popped in between my arms and blasted water at the offending man. He went screaming in the air as I pulled myself up.

"Yay! Fly away!"

"That girl blasted the leader! Get her!"

"I'm a boy damn it!" I yelled out. "Wash them away!" Dratini happily spewed Water Pulses in rapid succession at the grunts, they didn't fly as high as their leader but were knocked back into the trees. I need to remember to train his electric moves, this was not satisfying

"You know." Red started behind me. "You told me that you didn't care about the gender thing."

I huffed. "And I also said as long it's not a problem, I wouldn't care!" I kicked a rock towards a grunt hitting him in the leg. "It's a problem now!" What is it that Erika said? That once I hit puberty this won't be such a fuss anymore. I really hope so, it's been embarrassing and irritating especially with the girls.

"Madame Ninetales did say..." I looked up a glared at Pidgeotto who smirked.

"You two youngsters are sure energetic!" We turned to the old man riding on the Rapidash. "But we need to get out of here before reinforcements come. Hop on!"

We blinked for one moment and the next thing I knew I was hanging onto Red as we rode with the old man, Blaine. The terrain was scorched with burnt and dried up grass along with the bare dead trees. The only other things that were left was the rocks and greenery from the foliage that did survive.

"That Team Rocket leader called you a traitor, did you really work for them?" Red asked.

Blaine grunted. "I did, as the former gym leader of the Volcano Badge, I grew tired of the same monotonous days and as a scientist who was chained to his duty, I looked towards other means to expand my research" He then sighed. "Team Rocket was just the frontier I needed to cross to freely explore and indulge myself in my research, but that recently change. My eyes were opened and I realized to my horror that I was creating a bio-weapon for an organization that wants to take over Kanto and maybe the world. The perfect killing machine made from Mew's DNA."

I blinked and realization hit me. "You mean that pokémon we saw at the Game Corner in Celadon?"

"Yes, after it's completion it immediately escaped and that's when everything dawned on me. That there's a biologically programmed killing machine on the loose."

"Biologically programmed? How do you program life?" I asked.

Blaine chuckled grimly. "With the right research and the tools, it's frightening in how close we actually are in the reality and the nature of the DNA we used only made it easier."

Did he mean Mew's DNA? Of course otherwise Team Rocket wouldn't have made such a fuss about it. Was Mew's DNA that malleable that it made creation of life easier? Why?

I didn't get to think much more about it before fire ignite behind us. I looked back and saw a Moltres flying for us. I tightened my grip on Red and felt a creeping fear and excitement holding over me.

Articuno and now Moltres? This was awesome but I was terrified at the fact it was rearing its wings locking us in its sights.

It flapped its wings hard creating a Gust that knocked Rapidash off its feet and sending us to the ground.

"Damn." Blaine rubbed his head. "I thought we had more time, do either of you have a flying pokémon?"

I rubbed my back from where I landed a bit painfully. "Pidgeotto!"

"My time to shine!" The Bird Pokémon zipped through the air. "I'll take you on!"

I turned to the others. "Pidgeotto's strong and can stall as long as he can still fly, but that's it. If it were the other legendary birds, maybe he would be able to outsmart them but Moltres' fire is the big problem seeing he can't touch it without burning himself. If you have another plan, please do it."

Blaine's eyes wandered until he spotted Red picking up his Amber and his eyes lit up.

"Is that an Amber?" He marveled at the fossil over Red's shoulder. "It is!"

"H-hey! What are you doing?" Red steadied himself onto the fiery horse as he was suddenly put on to Rapidash.

"That there can help us win against that Moltres! Just trust Rapidash to guide you." Blaine shouted.

"But I don't want to leave you!" Red looked at me desperately

"Then come back quickly!" Fire washed near us and the flames licked the dead grass igniting them. "There won't be anything unless we do something!"

Blaine petted Rapidash's head. "You know what to do?"

She nodded. "Of course. It's about time you did something productive with that head of yours!" And took off towards the dormant volcano.

I looked over to see Pidgeotto still going strong against the Moltres. I summoned Vulpix and she huffed at me.

"It's about time you let me out!"

"Sorry, it got hectic once we docked." I rubbed her ears. "But are you ready to see how many times you can use Protect?"

"Of course!"

I turned to Blaine. "We're going now, can't stay here and be easy targets."

He nodded and sent out an Arcanine. "Then let's go."

With Pidgeotto battling Moltres and Arcanine's speed and Agility, it was easy to dodge the attacks Moltres sent our way but I could feel my stomach uplifting itself from the constant jerks and speed fluctuations of Arcanine's movements to stay out of harms way. Maybe I should've rested some more.

The legendary fire bird's priority right now was with Blaine but with the smaller bird distracting it, it had to shift attention.

"Is this really the time to do that?" Blaine asked as I had my Pokédex out taking a recording of the battle.

"My priorities are skewed right now and it's Moltres." I said forcefully trying to get used to the ride. "Legendary pokémon are stories that are told to me when I was younger and the one prominent thing that was warned about them is to never anger them."

I mean, don't get me wrong, I don't want to die stupidly but this was a legendary. I didn't know about Mew so I didn't know how to feel about that at the time and Team Rocket was running around too close with Articuno.

Anybody would feel giddy meeting a legendary.

"Er..."

"Yeah, it may not be particularly angry at us but it's still attacking us."

"Hmph, I get it." He watched the dogfight above as Pidgeotto Featherdanced away to fire another Air Cutter. "Your Pidgeotto is amazing to watch. It's comically to see a small bird take on a much larger and fiery one."

"He'll get bigger soon." I trained my sights on the battle.

Blaine just raised an eyebrow. "Oh? And how would you know that?"

"Because he's been holding off evolving for this moment." I watched as Pidgeotto grew more and more excited as he went faster and faster. It was the same when he was fight his sire. The battle grew on like this until Moltres got fed up.

"Enough! I tire of these games!" Moltres built up flames as he spun creating a fire tornado.

"Rayne, you need to call back your Pidgeotto!" Blaine shouted.

"He's fine."

"But Moltres will hit him for sure!"

"He'll be fine." I said a little more forcefully.

"But-"

I gave the man a hard stare. "He'll be fine. Vulpix, get ready for the hit."

"You and that bird better know what you're doing!"

Vulpix brought up the green shield of Protect as Moltres expanded out the fire tornado sending concentrated fire everywhere using a built up Overheat.

Smoke and fire was everywhere on this already scarred land. The scene reminisced of the aftermath of this island's volcano eruption where volcanic ash shrouded the skies and fire spread and ate until it there was no more to eat.

Moltres flew and sang in victory until it was slammed down to the ground.

"Impossible! You're supposed to be incinerated by my attack!" Moltres screeched out in disbelief.

Pidgeot smirk down absolutely smug as he landed proudly in front of the downed legendary. "But you so dearly missed me, but good show. I always wanted to see what fireworks look like." He enraged the other and a Flamethrower went his way and it took one flap of his wings to send him in the air. "How rude! Let's see how you like your own move against you! Mirror Move!"

We were perched on an overhang cliff. Blaine watched absolutely awestrucked and I was trembling with fear and excitement once again for Pidgeot. I knew he would be fine, but the chance that attack hitting him was there and he took way too long to reveal himself to my anxiety.

Fire isn't something you can easily defend against or avoid but a move like Overheat isn't a small precise move either.

"You're pokémon is impossible." Blaine managed out.

And that's when another explosion was heard from a distance and a speeding object started to fly towards the others in the air.

"And you're friend has impeccable timing."

I laughed at that as Aerodactyl flew in with Red riding in its talons made quick work of the worn Moltres with a Supersonic. It's flame based tired body just fell apart when the sound based attack hit its wing.

At the sight of Moltres being defeated, Team Rocket quickly retreated after returning Moltres to its pokéball. Pidgeot gave a cry of victory before landing with Aerodactyl.

"Hello! I'm Aero! This creature said so." It was comical on how a ferocious looking creature act so cute. It tilted its head sniffing us.

Pidgeot just looked amused. "I'm Pidgeot. Nice to meet you."

"You're big!"

"Pidgeot is huge!" Red admire the giant bird. "He's bigger than Green's!" Green's Pidgeot was a little over our height but the newly evolved Pidgeot towered over us by a good two feet.

"Of course! That's what happens when you rush to power! I for one am in no hurry."

I grinned and walked up to Aero. "And he's just so cute!"

"Yay! He likes me!" I scratched him on the neck and he purred contently.

"He's like a giant Growlithe." I cooed.

"I can see the hearts just appear around him." Vulpix watched.

Pidgeot shrugged. "Rayne's just really happy, don't worry, he can get weirder."

"Cute? He's a dinosaur..." Red smiled unsure at my comment. "Though being like a giant Growlithe isn't very too for off." He watched as Aero collapsed under my petting.

I looked toward Red. "So Aero came from that tiny Amber?"

Red nodded excitedly. "Yeah! I was so surprised when he came out of the machine! Er, and sorry for breaking your ceiling by the way." He looked at Blaine who just waved him off.

He laughed instead. "You both haven't lost the kind spark in you eyes. When I first saw you two down in that lab in the Game Corner, I knew I had to leave the syndicate. Here." He handed us some Volcano Badges. "These are my last ones and you've proved yourself quite enough with your scuffle with Team Rocket."

"Thanks!" Red pinned his badge to his vest.

I took the badge also but I can't help but feel them a little worthless without having to actually earn them. The only official gym match we had was with Brock, everyone else gave them to us at the end of some Team Rocket problem. I guess with Misty we sort of earned them but it wasn't really official

I understand that a gym badge is the gym leader's recognition of your skills but I guess not getting them the traditional way just bugs me.

"I'm sorry I won't be able to help you with them, but I still have some business to take care of."

I looked up from my thoughts and I can tell he's talking about that pokémon that he helped create. The way he walked away with regret and resigned determination left a bad feeling in my gut so I hope Blaine knows what he's doing.

-Line Break-

Hoped you enjoyed and please review!