So Chapter 8 has been long and coming. I've been kinda busy lately with...well I've been...okay so I've been lazy. So sue me. :P Why don't you just read and tell me what you think? That's always good.
I breathed the fresh air around me with a smile on my face, my feet making a steady padding sound as I walked down the path towards Jubilife City, since I would have to go through there first before I could get to Oreburgh. At least that's what the map said.
I heard a purr in front of me and stopped. I couldn't see what had made the noise because bushes were in the way. But I had a good idea what it was.
The smile on my face growing bigger, I crouched slightly and began to creep towards the bushes, my hand already reaching for my Vine's pokeball. I slowly and quietly rounded the corner of the bush and breathed in sharply.
In front of me was a standing Shinx. It's back was turned to me and it seemed to be eating a berry. My eyes instantly flicked to its hind legs, which would tell me the gender of the pokemon without opening my pokedex which might alert it to my presence.
They were blue. It was female. Elation filled my chest.
Okay let me pause here for a second. Now I love most pokemon equally, but like every other good player of the games, and trainer too I guess, I have a list of favorites that has steadily grown as I've gained more experienced in the game. One of these favorites of mine was the Shinx family. But not just any Shinx would do. Oh no, I needed a female. Reason?
Well when I first inserted the Platinum cartridge in my DS, the first pokemon I caught were Starly and Bidoof (starters, of course, don't count). Then, on my way to Jubilife City, beating trainers along the way, I found a Shinx.
Now this being my first time playing the game, I had to have it, so I tried to catch it. Unfortunately, I knocked it out before I could throw a pokeball thanks to a critical Tackle. So I healed up at Jubilife and went straight back. I ran around and around until I found another Shinx.
This one was female. I know because I caught this one and it slowly became my backup pokemon for tight spots, which led me to always include it in my team, meaning I needed to know everything about it. It would always pull through no matter what. It even slightly helped me out when I fought Bertha of the Elite Four. So from then on, a male Shinx couldn't cut it.
And now I had a real, live, breathing, female Shinx right in front of me. Today was definitely my lucky day.
I threw Vine's pokeball up in the air and called out his name. The Shinx turned just in time for Vine to appear in front of me.
The Shinx looked at me and in its eyes I saw determination and pride. It wasn't going down without a fight. Good.
"Vine, Tackle!" I commanded. Vine wasted no time in launching its attack, which the Shinx promptly dodged.
It was pretty damn fast. "Again! Tackle!" I yelled, readying a pokeball.
This time, Vine's attack hit. And the attack seemed to be critical because the Shinx hit the ground hard and took a few seconds to get up.
I pressed the middle button on my pokeball, enlarging it. Just as the Shinx stood up, I threw the pokeball at it, striking it directly in the forehead. I thought I saw fear flash in her eyes as the pokeball light engulfed her.
The pokeball landed on the ground, blinked and rocked once, twice, three times, then rested.
"Haha! YES!" I yelled, triumph overpowering any reason or inhibition I had at the time.
Unfortunately, this momentary victory seemed to draw the attention of a nearby pair of Luxray who did not seem very impressed with my capture. In fact, they seemed enraged.
This could not end well.
The two Luxray roared and charged at me, electricity crackling around their black coats of fur. I returned Vine back to his pokeball quickly and began to run like a maxed out Deoxys Speed Form.
Well, not really that fast, but you know what I mean.
The Luxray were quickly gaining on me, thanks to their four legs each versus my two.
"LUXRAYYY!" one of them shouted out, letting loose a large bolt of electricity aimed towards my head. I ducked quickly, putting on an extra burst of speed.
Arceus? I prayed, hoping for an answer, A little help might be appreciated here.
Take a right, coming up near the right after the tree with the twisted trunk. His voice directed in my head.
I sighed with relief, then gasped because I sighed on an exhale. Another lightning bolt flew by my head.
Cover your face, Arceus advised just before I made the turn around the tree that he described and my arms flew to my face.
Just in time for a bunch of thorn-covered vines to gouge my skin out of my palms and forearms.
I screamed in pain, but the adrenaline pulsing through me would not let me forget that there were two enraged Luxray that would love to see me dead. So I pushed against the vines as hard as I could until they snapped and I was able to keep running.
Every pump of my arms sent waves of pain through my body, but I wouldn't stop or slow down. My breathing was hard and ragged, every step jarring. I didn't know how much longer I could continue but I couldn't stop. Not unless I wanted a few hundred thousand volts of electricity sent through my body.
And that didn't sound pleasant.
The Luxray were still running after me and still closing in fast. Then something wierd happened. Vine let himself out of his pokeball.
"Vine!" I yelled, skidding to a halt.
He ignored me and charged at one of the Luxray. Vine was knocked aside like a rag doll.
Vine got up and gave chase to the Luxray, who were now upon me, jumping, biting, and clawing away at me. I backpedaled away, guarding myself with my arms, feeling the pain of the skin getting ripped off.
I tripped over a knot in the grass and fell on my back. The Luxray saw there moment and aimed their jaws for my neck. My eyes squeezed shut and I prayed to Ho-Oh for my life.
Ready for death, I was surprised when the front paws of the Luxray were lifted from my chest.
I opened my eyes to see the Luxray on the ground, Vine on top of one with a ball of green plasma glowing in his mouth. He knew Energy Ball!
But just before he unleashed the attack the other Luxray jumped up and Tackled Vine off. Vine's attack missed and hit the ground harmlessly.
"Vine, stop!" I pleaded. I aimed his pokeball toward him, "Return!"
Vine jumped out of the way, aiming another Energy Ball at the Luxray. I watched the Luxray dodge away but at the last second Vine aimed toward the Luxray on the ground. I looked as it struck and the fallen Luxray was knocked out.
I realized that this would have been a perfect time to catch a powerful pokemon but before I could think of anything else the second Luxray used Spark. Vine fell to the ground with a loud thud. The Luxray walked up to Vine confidently and I saw sparks flying from its mouth as it got ready for another Thunder Fang.
"NO!" I yelled. I saw my arm flash purple at the corner of my eyes. Suddenly I felt power rise within me.
I looked at the Luxray with a burning hate. Why did he attack me? Why was he so angry? Why was he so intent on causing Vine pain?
That hate materialized around me and I roared. As I roared, a stream of purple energy flew from my mouth and struck the Luxray. It fell to the ground and glared at me. I began to see black dots float in the air and I fought to stay conscious.
I aimed the Vine's pokeball again, "Return!" I commanded and watched as the red light engulfed Vine and pulled him back in. I turned to the Luxray to see it powering up a Thunder attack.
I blacked out when I saw the blue light rushing towards me. I thought I saw a large silhouette jump in front of me, but my eyes closed.
The last thing I thought was, Arceus what was that all about?
So this took me even LONGER than I hoped because I got blocked (writer's block) and needed help from the ever thoughtful, savior of my life, AmyDonovan525. :) Everyone who reads this stuff needs to check her stories out. They're great! Reviews are nice :)
'Til next time