Ugh! I apologize for not updating in a super long time. My surgery went great, and I spent a week in bed trying to catch up on homework. Now I'm happy to be back and writing :) I'm also happy I've made it to chapter 10 haha. As always I hope you guys enjoy the next portion of the story!

Note: Thoughts are in itallics.

Chapter 10: Arrival of the General

"This is strange. We should have reached the village by sundown, and it's near twilight now. I wonder if my memory isn't working as it should and we aren't heading in the right direction" wondered a confused Riley out loud. He was walking about 10 feet in front of Bolt and Lune with one paw on his chin and his eyes were closed. The river flowed quietly next to the traveling group and it was beginning to reflect the small stars that were slowly appearing in the darkening sky.

"Yeah. That may be, and you could be leading us into some kind of ambush or trap" mumbled Bolt under his breath. Even after traveling for three days with the Lucario, he couldn't bring himself to trust the Pokemon just yet. Lune growled softly and the Pikachu flinched a bit. The Umbreon hissed, "Be grateful Riley didn't hear that. Don't say stuff like that. He isn't going to lead us into any trap. They guy is trying to help us find the girls for crying out loud. Give it a rest, and stop cutting him down"

The electric type snorted and looked away from his best friend with his tiny arms crossed in front of his puffed out chest. "It's not my fault for being suspicious towards a shady Pokemon. We don't know a darn thing about this guy, and all of a sudden he shows up in our dilemma and seems to know the answers to all of our problems. Seems a bit too convenient, dont'cha think?" grumbled Bolt.

"I've about had it with you and your cocky attitude. Think for a second that maybe a Pokemon want's to help someone out because there is goodness in his heart, and that maybe you jump to conclusions way too fast!" His voice had raised a couple of levels and Riley was beginning to hear their conversation better. "I'm sick and tired of you acting like you know everything about the world. Well truth is you don't! That's why we need help, and that help is coming from Riley! Like it or not you aren't the most important Pokemon in the world! Who cares if we know next to nothing about Riley! He is deciding to help us with a next to impossible mission. If he knows things and knows of ways that will get Alex and Jade home safely then I'll put my life on the line to believe in the trust that I have in Riley!" shouted Lune.

Bolt stopped walking and turned to face the Umbreon, and his cheeks were beginning to crackle with tiny sparks of electricity. "You are too naive about these things! Consider that I'm not as dumb as you think I am and that I might know something!" screamed Bolt. His tiny paws were curling into fists, and Lune was crouching down in an attack position. The Umbreon had tried to keep his cool, but with the pressure of saving the girls, of not knowing anything, being hunted by who knows what along with the fact that Bolt was annoying, he was beginning to lose all patience.

Lune bared his small fangs and was about to attack when Riley shouted, "Both of you! Be quiet! I'm sensing something!"

Bolt ignored him and laughed, "Oh very funny Riley. How convenient that you act like something is going wrong as soon as we are about to battle!" He then glared at Lune and shouted loudly, "You see what I'm talking about? This is just too easy and predictable for me! I can't believe whatever Riley says, and I sure as hell can't believe you trust him!"

Lune snapped and sprang at the Pikachu with his paws out in front of him. Before he could land on top of Bolt's chest, something snared around all four of his limbs and his torso. Thick vines were wrapping themselves around Lune in midair and his attack was halted. He struggled to break free as more vines appeared from nearby bushes to tangle themselves around Bolt. He shouted in alarm and soon fell over on the ground as the green vines wrapped around his whole body.

The vines that had trapped Lune were coming from the branches of a tree above him, and from the air the Umbreon could see Riley being held down with multiple vines that were extended from a nearby tangle of bushes as well. For odd reasons he wasn't resisting against his attacker, and was allowing himself to be bound tightly.

Lune barked, "Come out and show yourselves! Who are-" Lune was muzzled with yet another vine and his question was soon answered when numerous Bellsprout, Weepinbell and Victreebel appeared from the bushes, their Vine Whips gripped securely on Lune, Bolt and Riley.

Lune thought Damn it! How could we allowed ourselves to be caught like this! What do they want? Are these Pokemon with the people who kidnapped Jade and Alex? How are we going to get out of this?

The Umbreon hung in the tree at the mercy of a few Weepinbell and one Victreebel's vines when a trio of Parasect appeared from beneath a cluster of Oran berry bushes, and they proceeded to make their way towards one of the captured travelers. Lune growled loudly through his muzzled snout as the Mushroom Pokemon scuttled down the vines. The Parasect gave a small hiss and while clicking its huge orange pincers it shook its abdomen and cloud of small white poofs were soon sprinkled all over Lune. The Moonlight Pokemon immediately felt the Spore attack take its toll, and he soon felt dizzy and drowsy. He inched his head to see that Bolt and Riley had already succumbed to the Spore attack from the other two bug type Pokemon. With one last glance at the pale moon Lune felt his eyes close and allowed the folds of darkness to swallow him whole.

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"Intruders! Here? I do hate being disturbed at night!"

"It's not often that someone outside our forest discovers us."

"They are strange looking Pokemon no doubt. What do we do with them?"

"Maybe we should just relocate them somewhere else in the forest."

"They could be out to destroy us. You never know."

"I say we eat them."

Lune became aware of the voices whispering around him as his mind resurfaced from the black void. He was laying on his side with his body still constricted in vines. The Umbreon could feel them twitch every so often, and realized that these vines belonged to the Weepinbell and Victreebel that had ensnared him. He tried to open his eyes, but found that another vine was wrapped across his face so that he was blind to the world around him. He pricked his ears to listen to one particular voice squeak,

"We have to take them to Lady Petal! The blue one has requested that he and his allies meet with her!" A giant crash was heard and Lune assumed someone smashed something into a nearby tree. A shrill yelp came from the first voice as

"Absolutely not! I don't care who he is! No one is allowed to enter our village without suffering the consequences at my claws!" boomed a deep voice. With a second crash another tree was splintered apart.

With his heart pounding Lune suddenly thought,

Wait, if he said 'village' then he might be talking about the hidden Waterfall Village we've been trying to reach! This could be our only chance. Riley must know something about this place that I don't, and he knows someone name Lady Petal. I sure hope he sees that Riley is his friend. I don't want to be snapped in two with a the force that this guy has!

"Bu...but Sir! The blue one over there says that his name is Riley, an...and he also sa...says and he also says he knows you Sir!" stuttered the first voice. Lune heard a pair of feet move across the ground and after a few moments of silence the loud voice resonated in the quiet woods with a hearty laugh,

"I should have known better than to jump to such conclusions! My eyes are getting older each time I see you! Sorry about that Master Riley." boomed a deep voice. "My faithful troops! Please release Young Master Riley and his servants!"

With a quick twist of the vines Lune was soon sprawled out on the forest floor in a heap. He stood up and shook himself of loose dirt and grass. He could see numerous Bellsprout, Weepinbell and Victreebel surrounding them as well as a tiny line of Paras and two Parasect. The Moonlight Pokemon saw his friends being released from their binds and he heard Bolt complain, "It's about time! We deserve an explanation! Why did you attack us? And who in the heck are you calling young master to this guy? And I am not his servant! You got it you old coot!"

Lune saw a huge Parasect towering over the now seemingly miniature Pikachu. It had a snow white abdomen with pale yellow spots, and it's eyes were a dull blue instead of the usual black. The Umbreon assumed that this was the Pokemon that had been talking so loudly before, and his suspicions were soon confirmed.

"HOW DARE YOU ADDRESS THE YOUNG MASTER IN SUCH A MANNER! YOU HAVE NO RIGHT TO SAY ANYTHING FOUL ABOUT MASTER RILEY!" screamed the aging Parasect. Lune felt the ground tremble beneath his paws as the bug-type shouted, and saw a few frightened bird Pokemon fly into the sky from some distant trees. The Mushroom Pokemon inched his face closer to Bolt who was now cowering in fear and shouted, "AND DON'T YOU DARE CALL ME OLD COOT AGAIN! I'M STILL STRONG ENOUGH TO SNAP YOUR SPINE IN HALF YOU LITTLE BRAT! TRY SHOWING SOME RESPECT FROM YOUR ELDERS!"

"Okay! Okay! I Promise I'll be nicer! I swear on my life!" whimpered Bolt.

With a satisfied snort the Parasect lifted it's head away from the Pikachu as Riley and Lune walked over to the two.

"Relax General. Don't be so hard on the kid. These two are my companions, not my servants, and it's true that I request the permission to speak with Lady Petal. It's important that we see her immediately." explained Riley.

Parasect had moved away from Bolt and had shifted his gaze to Lune. He narrowed his eyes for a moment while staring at the Umbreon, and the dark-type couldn't help but feel a bit uncomfortable. Lune swallowed his uneasiness and stared right back into the eyes of General Parasect as he raised a claw to scratch underneath his mouth.

"Are you sure that these two are to be trusted with the location of our village. It has been attacked before, and I would rather kill two strangers now than see my people suffer once more" stated the older Pokemon.

Bolt cringed when he heard the near-blind Pokemon speak, but Lune spoke up in his place, "Sir, I know you do not know me or my friend very well, but it's imperative I see your Mistress. My sister and trainer are in serious danger because of me, and I need to figure some things out. The only way I can help to save the ones I care about is the knowledge your Lady is said to have. Please Sir." Lune closed his eyes and knelt to the ground so that his head was exposed to the giant claws of General Parasect. "If you don't believe in what I have to say then you might as well take my life now."

The Spore Pokemon stared intently at the kneeling form of Lune and after a few tense moments he raised his claw in the air. Bolt's cheek sacs began to crackle with electricity, but Riley held out a paw in front of him while shaking his head. Bolt ceased his attempt to attack and could only watch as his friend was in danger of being hurt.

General Parasect laid his massive pincer on Lune's shoulder and said, "I believe in what you say young one, and if it's that important to see Lady Petal that you would put your life on the line, then that's all I need to know that your intentions are true. Now stand up. You have a proud soul young Umbreon. It's in times like these we need more Pokemon like you." The old Pokemon gave Lune a small smile and the moonlight Pokemon couldn't help but give a small smile in return.

"Alright listen up you maggots!" ordered General Parasect. The multitude of Paras, Bellsprout, Weepinbell and Victreebel all scrambled and shuffled about as they tried to get into their ranks on such short notice.

"We are returning to the Village! These three here are our guests, not our enemies, so no disrespect shall come to them! Failure to do so and you will begin by answering to me! Is that clear?" commanded General Parasect.

"Sir! Yes Sir!" shouted the small platoon of grass type Pokemon in response.

The strangely colored Parasect then stood in front of his faithful troops as Lune, Bolt and Riley stood behind him. He turned around to face the trio of travelers and said, "If you would please follow me, we will now take you to the Waterfall Village." With a small nod from each of them, General Parasect turned towards the dark tangle of trees as everyone else followed behind him.

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That's the end of that chapter. I'm going to post another one right after this one since I haven't updated in so long, so expect one within a day or so. As always the reviews are appriciated and helpful to me! Give me any kind of feedback and I'll take it to heart :) Until next time see you all later. :)