I'm back!

...

...

*grumbles* Be that way.


Flashback

Pickle looked at his trainer. In the boy's hand was a gleaming stone. It was pale green with a yellow line in it, looking like a bolt of lightning. A strange power was radiating from it, like an energy.

"Listen Pikachu, I just caught an Electabuzz, and it's more powerful than you. But I've been saving this Thunderstone, and I want you to evolve into Raichu. If not, then our paths will have to seperate from here on."

Pickle looked at the stone. It seemed so tiny and harmless, but the stone frightened him.

Shaking his head, Pickle backed away from the Thunderstone. Angered, his trainer dropped his Pokéball. "Fine. This is goodbye."

As he walked away, Pickle thought that this was the worst day of his life.

End Flashback

The flames roared as heat radiated off the fire. Pickle was frozen in place by the hues of orange and red with licks of yellow. Yellow. Pickle shook the thought out of his head. Come on Pickle, stay in the present. The trainer and his Houndoom had fled as soon as Tree had gone up in flames. Even now Pickle could hear Pokémon fleeing the danger.

Most Water Pokémon in the forest were Magikarp or a rare Goldeen, but the small rivers of water were not big enough for bigger game. Viridian was a lush, green forest, perfect for Bug and Grass type Pokémon, as well as Pikachus and Bird Pokémon. It was a home for so many, and without it, where would everyone go?


Leo was settling down to rest. His mate, Buttercup, had her wings tucked around the last of their children: a Metapod named Lily. She was the youngest, and her brother and sister had already evolved and flown away, leaving her alone with her mom and dad in the nest.

Leo's eyes had began to droop, and he was about to tuck in his wings when he heard a shrill call. "Fire! Fire! Fire in the forest!" yelled a Spearow as she flew around the many trees. It's a false alarm. Leo thought, and settled down to sleep.


Barbecute jumped into action. She grabbed Pickle and tucked him under her arm like a football. Running over to Twist, she got the tiny Pikachu onto her back and ran. Ducking under the branches and jumping over tree roots, only one thing raced through her head: Quin.


Daniel hugged his daughter as she snoozed in his arms. "Barbe, where are you?" he whispered, staring up at the full moon illuminating the sky. It's beauty was indescribable, but Daniel couldn't enjoy it without Barbecute. She would point it out, laugh, and make a comment about how cute Quin was in comparison. And he loved every minute that she was with him, her smile that could halt a Hyper Beam, those tiny ears and her soft, creamy fur.

Suddenly, a rush of Pokémon ran past his cave, waking Quin. "Morning already?" she asked groggily, but Daniel wasn't listening. He grabbed a Rattata as it was running and picked it up by the tail. "Please, let me go! I wanna live!"

"Where is everyone going?" Daniel barked. The little Rattata quivered under his fury. "There's a huge forest fire! It's going to swallow us all!" Daniel dropped him, and the mouse ran. Daniel turned around. "Come on Quin, we have to go." he said softly. "Why Daddy?" she asked.

He didn't answer.


Leo woke up because he couldn't breathe.

The smoke was suffocating him. Gasping, he looked at his mate and child. Lily had her eyes closed, and wasn't moving. Buttercup's eyes were shut too, and Leo knew she was gone. He felt it. He couldn't help but weep as what was left of his family was gone.

Would it be better to just fall back to sleep?

But that wasn't the answer; Leo flapped his wings slowly and lifted into the air, his heart heavy. Coughing, Leo flew down lower, hoping to escape the smoke. The air was clearer the closer he got to the ground. His wings felt light and easy to lift, almost as if Arceus himself was trying to help him escape the deadly dangers around him.

Flames engulfed his home as he left, and Pod used all his willpower not to look back.


"Barbecute collapsed at the entrance to her cave. "Daniel? Quin? Anyone?"

But the cave was empty. Twist ran her paw softly through Barbecute's fur. "They probably ran to safety." she said. Barbecute nodded. "Yeah." she whispered. Everything was crashing down around her. And she felt so alone.

Pickle stirred. He had fallen unconscious by breathing in the smoke, but Barbecute felt his heart thump in a comforting beat. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The dangers around her seemed to pull her back into a distant memory, she closed her eyes and it all replayed in her head. That terrible day.

Flashback

Cyndaquil's heart raced as her father slashed a claw at the Fearow. Her mom had been killed by the fierce bird's Drill Peck, and she hoped that she was not next.

As powerful as a Typhlosion is, Fearow are very agile, and within seconds the Flying type had created a gash in her father's fur, staining the beige fur a crimson colour.

The Fearow screeched as his opponent fell. The tiny Fire type shook with anxiety.

The man behind his Pokémon congratulated the bird on defeating his foes. Cyndaquil felt morally wrong; why celebrate when Pokémon are gravely injured or-

She halted her thoughts. They were both alive. And she growled at the evil man.

Poacher. The first word her mother taught her. In the wild, one must survive, and a poacher is a danger to any Pokémon's survival. And this man was dangerous.

He walked closer to her. "Come here girl, don't struggle."

The word echoed in her head, not registering. Poacher. Poacher. Poacher.

His Fearow was behind her with his terrible talons grabbing her back; crying out in surprise, she released a tremendous power from her back. Flames scorched the Pokémon and he dropped her in pain; where had these flames come from?

She felt a small fire in her throat and exhaled, releasing a ton of fire at the poacher.

The Ember attack knocked him down, and she yelled at the frightened man as he ran.

"No one will catch me! Ever!"

End Flashback

The smoke brought her back; Barbecute coughed as it filled her lungs. She ran towards a gap in the trees, Twist and Pickle on her safely. Twist gasped for air as Barbecute tripped on a root, crashing to the ground. Pickle wasn't stirring anymore; the Pikachu was still. Crawling, Barbecute pulled herself towards Route 1, praying to Arceus that someone would help her.


The small Pokémon opened his eyes slowly, breathing in the crisp air. He sat up quickly, reflexes keeping him concentrated. Around him was long grass, a full moon in the sky. Stars glimmered in the darkness, and that's when he realised that his favourite constellation was not in the sky.

He remembered tracing them with a paw; his favourite was Luxray. It gave him courage and hope. But it was gone.

He recognised Arceus, the follower star. No matter where you were, Arceus would follow.

Glancing around, he saw a wooden sign, obviously old and well-worn by weather.

.:Welcome to Pallet Town:.

He wasn't in Sinnoh anymore.


So...

Tell me what you think. I love reviews, and they really brighten my day. Also, any guesses on that ending? Bye Bye!

Typhlosion8