X - new day or 24 hour or more time jump
— - 2 to 12 hour time jump
'Internal speaking'
"External speaking"
**** Start/End Pokespeek
Galvantula (Female)
Flare/Litwick (Female)
Shay/Dratini (Female)
Pierce/Starly (Male)
Void/Shuppet (Male)
There wasn't really a point in quitting her steps when stepping into a building with hundreds of electrics that could sense the very electricity flowing through one's body but she did so anyway.
She looked around and saw some of the same groups as last time. Electabuzz and their Elekids were up on the walkway connected to the far wall. Voltorb and Electrode were still iterated at their arrival and the mischief of Pikachu were still around though a much smaller bunch probably because it was still quite cold out. It would also explain the lack of Plusle and Minun.
A grin broke across her face at the spotting of three Electrike, one less than when they left. They were easier to spot with her newfound height yet her glee disappeared when she failed to spot the blue and yellow fur of Manectric.
"Well their kids would probably know and I know some who'd like a rematch," Aella looked to the wall where a Galvantula preened the fur on front legs. Her mandibles, normally hidden by layers of fluff, snapped air.
Shay was no better her fins had been pulled flush against her scales and almost together into a sharp V. Fully flattened to the floor, Aella was slightly glad for the lack of mice because she wasn't sure how unpleasantly the rest of the inhabitants would react to her feasting on them.
The Electrike didn't react to her, presenting her time to observe them. Bigger. Not by a lot but they were definitely bigger. Stronger too although she couldn't pin exactly what made her think that but she was positive they've improved.
"Wow you three have gotten stronger."
One twitched the other two jumped to their feet, "It's been a year hasn't it," they stared and Aella would never be able to tell if it was from disbelief on who it was or straight up confusion at who they were.
She voiced her thoughts and shrugged, "Well either way any of you up for a spar? Two of mine would sorely like a rematch."
The Electrike that only twitched and got up last, yepes taking center stage of their mock battle. Shay without missing a beat slithered followed like an unhinged Ekans. As they eyed up each other Aella found herself taking note of its slightly more bluish fur. 'Maybe it's closer to evolution?'
Galvantula clicked in annoyance, "You'll get a chance," Aella mumbled under her breath.
The Electrike that Aella was starting to suspect was the oldest shifted… his paws (thank you Flare) uneasy at the Dragon's demeanor. It wasn't surprising, any creature be it fully living or not –with the exception of the insanely powerful– had become the same around Shay's new attitude.
They Leered at each other and Aella couldn't determine who was faster with her serpent facing away. Fire bloomed in the mouth of the Electrike and turned to sharp pointed fangs. Fire Fang, a bit unexpected though he was in the canine species category. A burst of Agility that was wonky and unmaintained sent him cruising towards Shay. She hissed and used her own psychic coated version meeting him near the middle. His petered out and hers stayed active as hot embers burned in her maw.
A set of fiery knives grazed scales that left burning trails yet the heat only just warmed her deeper skin. The smell of cooked fur permeated the area as his turned black. He skittered back under intense flames of gold with a Light Screen coming into play. It warped under the flames, but held them back.
Aella narrowed her eyes, "Keep it steady!" Shay followed through fully aware this amount of power would not break that barrier. Aella watched as the air curled, the fire may not make it through but the heat certainly did. Electrike panted and hacked with his fur coiling, and taking on a sickly sheen.
Barking came from across the platform and the Light Screen was dropped in favor of Double Team. Her Dragon hissed, having cut off her flame in the inability to fire at three at once. Panting that was indistinguishable from one clone to the others, ran circling the serpent in different directions. It may be dry and damaged but electricity still coursed through his fine coat.
Flare and Pierce had figured out which one was real but Aella withheld the ability to answer, "No don't tell. This is a mock battle, and Shay needs to figure out which one is real," They all flinched, snapping their eyes closed at the brightness of three Thunderbolts.
The wail of pain brought a grimace to Aella's face. She really didn't like this but working as a team to catch meals was very different than facing an even skilled opponent on your own. It was something they were sorely lacking in practice. Honing your own abilities, and moves wasn't everything.
"You can't use electricity and there's too many for fire. Take advantage of your other area of effect moves!"
Shay released a spitting hiss and slammed her tail into the concrete. Swirls of wind took to the air around her, pulsing with draconic energy. Two Electrike ran strong against the buffeting winds, one ended up stumbling into the ground.
Her head swiveled as her long body twitched with Paralysis. A vortex gathered on the edge of her Twister. Swirling, tightening, then bursting out grazing the side of the Electrike as her aim was not great while shocks trembled through her body.
Fins flexed against the side of her head, while her body slithered in place. Bits of skin shed from her along bolts of electricity. Her head didn't rise, but her Twister did with her regained control. It curled and the wind whined as it's tornado-like shape was torn apart and forced into a tight spinning line.
A Snarl and Quick Attack almost gave the tired Electrike enough time to fully dodge but a glancing blow sent him sprawling across the concrete. Shay pursued his rag doll form and didn't stop her Wrap even as bolt after bolt poured down her scales like water.
When the release slowed and his body started to become limp, "Off! Now! He's done."
Flare doubled her call with a Ghostly one, snapping the angered Dragon out of her fogged mind. Shaay unwound herself from the exhausted Electrike. He stood up on shaken feet and plodded over to his siblings. Arrfs, barks and wines were loosely translated to an if and who of a second spar.
One of the two yeped loudly, deafening the other two calls before trotting forward with her tongue lolling. What surprised Aella was Galvantula's decision to sit this one out and let Flare take the field.
'Lead, says, unfair, no electric, pull.'
"Electric pull? Oh! Lightning rod pulls in electricity. It's got Static," Aella hummed, the Electrike's fur was still a light green and if she added in the fact that Galvantula evolved since their last match… 'yea it really wouldn't be fair.'
It started with a trade of Ember and Shock Wave, a test of each other's reflexes. Electrike easily jumped around the balls of flame. Only a few small flex singed her fur. Flare didn't bother to dodge as her lack of speed, and the moves properties made it impossible.
Aella made note that they sorely needed to work out a shielding solution for Flare. Double Team really wasn't worth it with her limited movement and Acid Armor would've been amazing if it wasn't an egg move.
"Use your flames and wisps as a buffer. Keep her on her toes."
Will-O-Wisps appeared and multiplied in staggering numbers. Mixing Smog in with them to create a field of hazards. The young lightning user scrambled around the platform as her tail was in constant danger of getting burned. The others barked orders but she had nigh the time to enact them.
A burst of Quick Attack gave her the leeway to turn and stare down Flare. With a cry Aella struggled to even describe and even stranger light rings that jolted about from their electrical charge. They encircled Flare like hula-hoops but didn't shock her. Air sucked between her teeth as she watched her precious ghost's flame diminish. A quarter of the Will-O-Wisps disappeared.
All Aella could ask was, "What was that," before Electrike pulled her second trick card. Raising her snout to the sky a green glow engulfed it as she took in whiffs of the air. A wave of energy pulsed out over the entire field and as it went through Flare, her body seemed to completely alter.
Her wax became stiffer but not in the way it would to cold and her flame no longer flowed in a way that didn't fit reality, but instead felt restrained by it. Flare was… completely connected to reality.
Aella took a step back as the ghost's behavior went completely volatile.
She stared. Not at the ghost's tantrum but Flare was no longer a ghost in a sense. The bond was still there but… different…
"Haa Odor Sleuth she may be weaker than her brother but she's damn smart," pondering over the situation they had landed in while Aella steadily tightened the bond in an attempt to pull reason back into the candles thinking.
Flare's flame still burned white with anger. She created another Ember to throw at Electrik. She completely ignored the stars of Swift that slammed into her wax instead of passing through.
Aella tipped her head. That wasn't a normal Ember. It didn't have flames enshrouding its core. Instead it bubbled with Fire energy.
The air fluctuated and sizzled under the temperature when it flew. Hitting cement inches from the lightning canine with a sound that imitated a solid and a liquid. A hot wave of air erupted outward from the condensed splash of fire energy acting like magma.
There were yelps from all three. Flares sparring partner had large blackened patches covering her flank and the other two had to scramble back, away from the waves of heat that curled their fur dry.
Aella forced a pause on her candle and she needed a moment to think. 'That was not an Ember. That was definitely not an Ember.'
"Incinerate. That was Incinerate. Had to be since it's pretty much an upgraded version of Ember."
Her thought process came to a screeching halt while her hands were slammed over her ears. Very. LOUD. Barking. Filled the area. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the burnt Electrike. Rings of blue energy shot out of her mouth, dissipating into the air. Electrike's legs trembled struggling to hold up her body after a Flares powerful Incinerate. A last stand.
"Hex!" She hollered at the top of her lungs. Her no-longer-normal-resistant candle was not going to go to stand against this for very long. There was a wail and then sweet silence.
A heavy breath filled the air, "Your sister's crazy, ingenious though," she had leaned forward resting her hands just above her knees. Said sister had passed out. Her brother standing protectively over her, running a paw over an ear.
Sudden sharp tapping and Galvantula's worried clicking had Aella turning to say what?
"ELECTRODE!"
Her blood went still and her face turned white when the girl glanced back at a large group of explosive orbs with more hopping up onto the ledge by the second.
"I take that back. Your sister is insane and has a terrible perception of her surroundings."
One second was taken to recall Flare and another five were used to pick up the female fainted Electrike that their siblings were attempting to drag away. A firm GO had everyone sprinting away from the rolling mass of anger.
Pierce flew ahead and Shay had moved to her left, falling in line behind Galvantula's commanding snaps. The birds whistles and chirps beckoned them towards a hole the raging balls rolled in front of. Clanking, crashing and the sounds of metal grating were thunderous over angry calls as they were blown away.
They sprinted through the doorway, Aella slowed as Shay wailed and the sound of metal on metal was heard with the yell of TORBE!, before a hard shove of her spider's legs made her move. A distant explosion with its horrible heat, and smoke made her cough.
Barks and screeches were exchanged and the Electrikes took the lead. Without Flare branches smacked against her arms and face. Aella bore the pain without care, only concerning herself with shielding the pup and Shay's missing location.
"Shay!" she hollered, unsure where her dragons went. Fear seeped through her veins and her breath grew short.
'No no no no no she can't be she can't be she can't be no no no no'–
The distinct trill of her Dragon had Aella stumbling as her breath came flooding back. She was alive. She was alright. Those words played over and over again like her clicking the back button at the end of the song over and over again.
Her steps lost their child-like innocent essence and cold washed over her, icing her emotions leaving a controlled, calculated, combat trained soul. There was also this faint ringing or beating, not natural, and she had no clue where it was coming from except all around.
They ran through thickets of stone bound trees where running turned to trotting as they entered into an area that was a cross between an undergrove and a moss bed when green. Young vines creeped off the rocky outcrop above offering a natural umbrella.
Even with everything so baron, it took her a moment to find their point of interest. Up a slight slope there was a hole. It wasn't that large, maybe three feet by one foot but it was a hole, one that was maybe just a little too small for her to crawl through now that she'd gotten a bit bigger.
One Electrike, that she had yet to catch the gender of, dove into the hole without any hesitation, 'Ahh duh. It's a nest. It's their nest.'
She couldn't hear any noise coming from the den though that was probably because the forest had gotten very loud since they ran from the building. Aella blinked. It wasn't any louder than normal but there were so many things to hear, to perceive, that small stuff wasn't there anymore.
Her head snapped to green leaving the hole followed by blue. Manectric.
"Hi we were sparring in the poke-generator," Manectric watches her with careful eyes, so Aella just continues. Adjusting her grip to draw attention to the Electrike in her arms.
"Your daughter is a great fighter, but she has a terrible perception of her surroundings and decided to use Uproar near a bunch of easily angered explosive orbs," Aella said with a straight face.
Manectric gave a growling huff and motioned to their daughter and Aella obliged, crouching down into the dirt. Offering their unconscious pup who was swiftly grabbed by the neck and dragged back into the nest.
She sat on the ground next to Shay's earlier sparring partner. Her fingers ran over said Dragon's scales and faintly shook as untapped energy poured through her veins. Her eyes did not stay connected to one thing for too long, continuously darting around, expecting danger at any second.
Aella jumped at Manectric's sudden appearance from their nest. They sent they're other young in, watching to make sure he had fully complied before they turned to face the adrenaline high girl.
They placed a paw onto her arm and huffed before breathing in deep when they'd had her attention. Aella breathed with Manectric and with each breath the forest became quieter as the blood pounding in her ears lessened.
It took a couple minutes, but when she was fully calmed down and able to reassess her previous state she came to the startling conclusion she may have had a form of a panic attack, or at least very close to one. The ringing wasn't from the forest, but from her ears, the explosion earlier was the culprit.
"Thanks I got really scared when Shay disappeared during one of the Voltorb anger explosions. I thought she… was gone," there paw that was nearly as large as her head stayed pressed to her elbow as Manectric bumped their head against hers.
"Yeah we're still a bit messed up from last month. Last month was hard. I… sorry I don't want to talk about it," Aella trailed off at their encouragement.
Manectric nodded, accepting the answer with ease. Shay hummed and let her tongue graze Aella's wrist. Speaking without words that she was still there.
The silence was sticky with strained energy and led to Galvantula taking to her appointed role to defuse the unease. Without Flare Aella realized just how much her understanding of pokespeek withered away. She hadn't even been aware just how much of a bridge her Ghost had been. Her hand itched to release her vessel but was unsure if it was the right call, Flare was exhausted and probably still very peeved at the use of Odor Sleuth.
What she could understand was Manectric's shocked look of 'huh?' had her suspecting her spider made a very odd request. Although her thoughts betrayed her for a moment thinking Galvantula was telling their past year but she had said she was unwilling to talk about it, and her first would respect that.
As their exchange continued Manectric mellowed, and tipped their head from time to time. Shay chimed in and Pierce violently shook his head, waving a wing as in a, 'no way in hell' human-like gesture that she could only make wild guesses on where he picked it up from.
Galvantula gives a nod as they come to the final agreement and turns, swinging her front claws, "Sorry you've lost me. My understanding of pokespeak has atrophied with the constant access to Flare's translations."
Pierce squawked then danced on the branch and held his wings out like a boxer, "Spar?" She looked to Galvantula who pointed to Manectric, "with Manectric… okay. Pretty sure they're out of your league but if you really want to and they're fine with it, go for it."
Her arachnid nodded, slamming her front claws together, tapping her body and stretching up and down.
"Ahh," Aella said, realizing. She can go all out against Manectric without worry. Something her spider has not been able to do since pre-evolution. It just wasn't fair against any of her other own kin. Shay's scales may be tough, but Aella didn't want to risk what a full powered Thunder from a higher evolution could do against them.
Additionally Flare was refusing to battle her because of leadership rank in correlation to her being Aella's first. Pierce had a blatant disadvantage and Void was well, that reason was obvious why.
"So any open fields nearby cause the poke-generator isn't going to work… or you know we could do a less traditional forested arena." Galvantula had a given advantage in terrain with layers then flat one level land.
Manectric chuffed and rolled their eyes, "Hey, nothing wrong with playing to our advantage," Aella's joke lost its joy at the end, "but either is fine… and a change would be nice right now."
They didn't respond yet she felt a sense of silent understanding, growling something to her arachnid, who clicked in response. She gave a leg wave to beckon her sister to follow and Aella stood to do so.
The arena chosen was a small clearing, surrounded by thick forest and brush. Manectric shifted their feet into a charge next to a shattered giant boulder, its segments scattered throughout the clearing. Galvantula took one moment to tap Flare's ball button. She clicked and tacked out the ongoings to the irate candle.
Aella picked up the telekinetic-stone-lost pokemon who only relayed she would not assist her leader. The Ghost let her anger stew when her eyes slid to stare at the species who dared to best her Normal resistance.
The smell of electricity, something everyone called ozone or petrichor but Aella just thought of it as the moment before Galvantula struck filled the air. This would be a battle of speed.
Galvantula was given the first move. Close combat was not what her species was designed for but past training and limitations played sway on her decisions.
Agility wrapped round her frame, keeping it light in an attempt to maintain long term. All her combos both ready or not, weren't useful against an Electric type and Lightning Rod was a problem.
She rushed in with Slash, her Agility fluctuated but successfully held. Unfortunately a Quick Attack gave Manectric a sidestep and slam. Galvantula undeterred retaliated with Fury Cutter but had to backpedal when fire bloomed in their jaws.
A Thunderbolt cracked out of Manectric's vertical mane. Galvantula responded by taking it without care, Aella hummed, "Use your own to lessen the blow, damage adds up," her first didn't respond but she didn't need to.
Both her and Flare had a tendency to take instead of deflect or lessen incoming chips of damage just because they can but it certainly doesn't mean they should.
They traded blows with Snarl and String Shot and slammed heads with Spark and Lunge. Sticky Web would have been useful here.
Like an egg move Galvantula had intuitively learned it on evolution but with no practice she had no clue how to use it. Manectric was busy blitzing around their mini area pursuing her arachnid with Thunderbolts who was swinging through the trees.
She had to admit it was a good test of Galvantula's speed, acrobatics, and reflexes. A second Snarl had her plummeting, and she shook at another round of strength sapping.
Aella gritted her teeth if they were going to get any solid hits off she was going to have to play with trickery. Aella clicked twice and crouched down, her spider was drawn back.
"Slash but retract, no contact, Flash then Slash."
Again not bothering with a response she took Aella's words and turned them into actions. She nearly chuckled at Manectric's expression when all six legs came charging back at them with another Slash.
There was a moment of pure confusion when nothing hit the Protect they manifested, a yelp that broke free when Aella saw the back of her eyelids. A cut maybe four inches long ran down their side. Their skin was completely visible like their fur had been shaved off.
A mean trick seemed to always come with a mean return. A call that imitated the indescribable with those same stupid rings shot out of Manectric's mouth. "Dammit, move it's this thing again!"
Her first just barely managed to get out of the way, throwing up a Light Screen for good measure. Manectric made teeth of pink with refractions of blue Psychic energy. The Light Screen didn't last, shattering in an instant.
"Psychic Fangs, at least I think. It's not very common." She pondered watching her sister. Galvantula was slowing down, growing tired, the spar had been going on for a while now.
"I know electricity is practically pointless, but this would be a good opportunity to get a tell on where you stand power wise. Go for an average Thunder. Don't overcharge it, we need to know where you stand!"
She tissed and clicked, raising her front pair of larger legs sitting behind her eyes skyward. Veet, veet zet. The buzz of static crackled up her fur to her skyward claws. Aella stepped back and closed her eyes yet she still saw spots when they were reopened. Even double weakened it still packed a punch.
Manectric nodded impressed then barked something and Flare said it was along the lines of 'showing off'. Their paws slammed the ground and electricity danced outward. The terrain turned electrified and Aella and her kin found themselves stepping back as bolts zapped their legs and bodies.
It was what they did next that made her completely forget earlier's unease. Electricity that was scattered across the ground gathered into pillars. Encircling and entrapping Galvantula, they slammed together into one great pillar right on top of her.
Aella bounced, giddy at the opportunity, "YOU KNOW RISING VOLTAGE!" Her shout deafened everything in the clearing. Her brother squawked indignantly as he had been sitting on her shoulder.
"THAT'S AMAZING! I never thought we'd run into someone who knows that! Please tell me you'd be willing to teach that!"
Galvantula turned in surprise and gave rapid clicks. Even before Flare translated she knew what she asked, "Yes you can, not on your own, though. It's one of those tutor special moves!"
Manectric huffed seemingly chuckling at the girl's swing in attitude before sitting, marking the end of the spar.
Aella sat on one of the broken bolder shards near the yet-to-be-gender-identified Electrike. Her second was still mad at the stunt their sibling pulled and Aella was regretting not nipping it when she chose to keep her grudge longer than necessary. Galvantula conversed with Manectric, likely over performance and skill or something so she took the moment to address Flare's anger.
"Hey will find a way to work around it," she grabbed the Ghosts attention from her stare down with the Electrike. "Odor Sleuth and Foresight are going to be a rare nuisance, plus the Scrappy ability."
'Rare, ?'
"Quite there's only about a dozen lines for the moves and half a dozen for the ability who can learn it naturally. There's another dozen for both, but that's through their parents by chance, egg moves."
Flare just let her flame sway and she could feel her held anger start to subside, "I don't know yet how to deal with pure Normals, but Psychic is good against Fighting. We've got a lot more to learn, and I've got plenty of chains and combos that might work."
'Go, forward, Winnie, strong.'
"Yea…" their talk wrapped up as Galvantula and Manectric finished, 'She did say that.'
X
Mud, grass and a June bug was spat out of a girl's mouth. Almost four months have passed since they re-met. Skin was scraped off her face when she fell dodging a recently evolved Manectric. He was antsy to test his new form and Aella had been slacking in her own training so… here they were.
The thick foliage broke, and a yellow body walked through. She grinned when she saw her first followed closely by Manectric, "How did this Rising Voltage session go with Wild Light?"
A lot of things have happened since arriving. Turns out Manectric was known as Wild Light and was essentially the… Matriarch of the poke-generator. Galvantula had been working heavily with Wild Light on improving her current set of moves along with Rising Voltage. Magnet Rise was put on hold till fall. Wild Light had kindly informed them of some newly evolved Magneton before they arrived that would be very keen on being tutored in the use of Thunder.
Shay had tagged along with Galvantula at Aella's recommendation, it would be a good opportunity to start work on her own electric based moveset. As a result, Shock Wave was now feasible and the tiny Dragon had managed to perform at least two Thunders, unfortunately she blacked out after both of them.
Flare was mostly working on Ghost type moves since the rainy season ended and by the command of Wild Light. It wasn't the worst time to practice Fire type moves, but it soon would be. It was a bit of a bummer since she was just starting to get a handle on Incinerate. Her candle had learned how to hold enough heat to keep her warm in the winter for long periods of time, not so much in bringing extreme levels of heat quickly, like for Incinerate.
Her only combo or now chain Burning Hex, as they found out worked better as such, was developing so smoothly Aella decided to give her the time to see if manipulating Smog with ghostly powers was possible. It could be moved psychically but at the same time, it was exhausting.
Pierce had spent a lot of time with Wild Light's first daughter, as her Swift used against the Ghost, its sparkle had drawn his keen eyes. When Aella did manage to pull him away from the wolf he was made to work on Double Speed since it was very obvious which copy was himself, when he was the only one using Agility.
The young Void had made great progress in no longer screaming randomly. He mostly stayed in his pokeball because of his age he couldn't be out on days when the sun shined down unhindered. At dusk he'd join them and had grown very adept at Astonish with the consistent language training practice.
With a move pool of only three Flare tried to teach him Calm Mind and Hex but being a baby he was still too… well… dumb to understand Psychic and couldn't amass the power for Hex. Knock Off might be possible but Aella couldn't quite teach Void yet and Flare only understood how Dark type energy worked. Payback was still on the to do list. So the end result was Night Shade. Flare barely knew it.
She stretched her arms above her head, the fresh Manectric and his younger sisters bounded ahead towards home while the rest of the group meandered through the unseen path. The quiet and tranquil mood of their forested fortress was broken when souls started walking their way. Familiar souls.
Aella snapped her fingers, pointing skyward. Her spider didn't hesitate. Shay was only given three seconds before red enveloped her. Her heart rate increased as her mind flashback to Saffron
'No, Team Rocket, seen, past, ?, friendly, past spar.'
Deep breaths were made as her candle melded onto her bag. It wasn't Team Rocket, but it was a question whether or not they were friendly. The strike first, and ask questions later approach seemed appealing right now but Winnie's teaching of reasoning won out.
Voices start becoming clearer and there is familiarity in them, 'Aah it's these guys again,' four guys and a Dodrio walked a vaguely visible path farther down the tree line. She wanted to avoid a confrontation, but with how perceptive Dodrio was, that was not going to happen. So she just held back a groan when they spotted her.
All but one took turns patting each other in turn to alert the other of their discovery, "Hey you're okay?" Her eyebrows raised, recognizing him as the one who stopped her last time, "You didn't return at sunset. We alerted the authorities but they couldn't get a trace of ya."
"No duh, I went home."
"How you didn't pass by."
"You realize there's more than one way into the city, right?"
He scratched the back of his head, "I get that you want to feel strong and independent but there are a lot of powerful and aggressive pokemon out there."
"Speaking of powerful…" another spoke up, his eyes fixated to her left, "Where did you get a Manectric?"
She had nothing to say to that so she just shrugged, prideful over one of them recognizing Wild Light's power. The Discharge pokemon huffed at their misunderstanding but before they could do anything Galvantula gave a few loud clicks drawing the groups three headed bird attention. Pierce, still on the ground, gave a few pleading chirps for them to play along.
A rumble that moves below an audible frequency travels through the electric hounds frame. Over the years they have become very perceptive. An ask to play along. A fear of authority. Aella wasn't part of a normal society. Her previous nonexistent social skills had become subpar and yet she didn't fit. She didn't learn naturally she was taught how to fit in. To adult-like. Scared. Someone really screwed up this kid.
Stepping forward and standing tall. They would protect this one. Barking loud and clear for them all to hear.
'This one is under my watch,' or something is what Flare transcribed. It's energy carried enough power to even bring the Luxray that stood beside another of the group's all male members, to bow in respect.
"Where did you get it?"
"There is no way you're old enough to tame a Manectric."
The Luxray and Dodrio owners spoke, overlapping each other. Indignation crossed the face of the Dodrio one with his bird's head closest to him joined in.
"You're focusing on that and not what's clearly more important here."
Aella didn't agree, where Wild Light came from, was the superior question. She glanced up at the two bickering men. It was entertaining at first but got boring after a few minutes. Time to move on.
"Hey wait wait come back here. Let's talk. Why not talk a little more. You're pretty far out here."
He fell over himself with words, in desperation to keep her there, "Your bickering I'm bored, bye." Flare had said his emotions were more worried than that of maliciousness but people were exhausting.
He continued to fruitlessly call out, "Come on I know you think you're brave and all but the recent increase in crime, especially towards younger and new trainers, makes it especially dangerous for one your age to be out here by yourself.
"Really I think it would be better if we had back to the center and get you a guide," the leaves and twigs were loud under his boots, " I know you don't know us, and you seem to lack trust in strangers which is good, but we should geak!—
Oh, how much she wanted to look back, but her candle urged her forward. Wild Light barked and growled making it clear this persistent following was ill-advised. Galvantula spat her recently perfected (at least for now) Sticky Web on the floor and stealthily strung Electrowebs, thinner than thread between the trees.
"Wait! Varis this isn't helping," the Dodrio squawked, clapping their beaks.
Now Aella really wanted to turn around but blocked such an action with a peak. Varis' center head had grabbed the back of the guy's shirt. It was the words from his friends that got him to stop struggling.
"Tony I get it, you're trying to do the right thing, we know, but if Luxray don't want no part in battling her Manectric, I'd say she's strong enough to be out here."
"Criminals aren't a problem on this side of the wilderness right now. She ain't your little sister bro," the tan skinned man turned his talk to her, "You sure you don't wanna join us? We're heading up Kellys confectionery after this. Sweets on me."
"Nope," she could hear another one of them mumble something about stranger danger, and that she would never listen to that.
"Worth a try Cabe," the tan skinned man shot back.
Aella could feel a headache form from the exhaustion of having to deal with these men, 'Be glad bed is in a few sun stretches.'
X
Months seem to bleed by and by the time all the berries disappeared each of them had grown substantially. Galvantula was preoccupied with having another bout against Wild Light as she munched on the last of her Halloween candy. Christmas had come fast but her heart was never in it. Too many memories.
Aella found herself running into the group of talkative Tony, laid back Cabe, that one who only waves his hands and the not always there one, once a month till the snow arrived. They referred to her as many things such as aloof and stubborn but it hardly bothered her. At least they stopped sending people under the police force looking for her, though she got an odd feeling, like there was more to it.
Her spider hissed as her claws scratched the ground in a partially successful attempt of Magnet Rise. A Shock Wave radiated out from the fur of the wolf, zeroing in on the spider although it did little with the Light Screen she pulled up. It withstood the hard blow without being shifted or cracks forming.
A thunk rang off to her left as the older sister Electrike slammed headfirst into a Reflect procured by Shay. Cracks ran like webbing out to the edges and flakes fell off ruining its perfect rectangular shape.
Aella was impressed with their progress they had made into a move their teacher once warned about the difficulty of learning. Any barrier-based moves were simple in thought yet deceivingly complex for those neither as a Psychic nor using a TM cheat.
The 5 foot Dragon let the wind blow, encircling her and her foe in a storm of twisting winds. A Snarl and the snap of teeth was followed by a yelp and a green body being thrown skyward. Electrike wasn't given a chance to land steady on her feet before the full force of the Twister slammed into her, sending her flying again.
Mist spewed from the Dragon's mouth having finally learned her egg move last month. The coverage was spotty but the benefits of an egg move made her progress sharp. A growl was heard from the wolf-like creature and a Shock Wave chased by a Thunder Wave pursued the blue line in the cover of white. The air shimmers around her scales as silken sheets of silver coats her body. Shay may have Shed Skin but that didn't mean she didn't mind the minutes stuck under paralysis.
The speed from Agility would be so useful right now but breaking the two-types-at-once barrier, was quite difficult. Her sentiment was shared with a variety of trainers who were in the first few years of their journey. Just controlling two types at once was difficult, but to be able to use both of them fully without any hindrance… took years of dedication.
Moves that sat in what was considered the status category were shown to be easier to be utilized at the same time, even as completely different types. Or a status style move with either physical or special ranged type, were also considered simpler.
'And yet we decided to start with Dragon Tail and Iron Tail as our first combo, well, their move similarities did make it easier,' Galvantula flung out her back most left leg to punch Wild Light but the nimble canine dodged out of the way, 'Safeguard is just to newly learned to be used in tandem with anything yet.'
Her fingers danced through Pierce's feathers, he was dirty after landing (not intentionally) in a puddle of Flamethrower melted snow and soil. Early January was heavy with snow and yet their consistently chosen training area had very little snow on the ground, Flare had not been lenient. The Ghost had no reason not to practice with her fire, especially her newest, sort of, move Incinerate. As the March and April rainfall ended and dryer seasons began so did any progress with fire. Instead Ghost and Psychic were focused on.
Her Night Shade rings had grown a shade darker signifying her growth in power. It was a unique move that grew in power in terms of their users' own internal strength. Her push and pull of shadow was like water in the sea.
After much use in Telekinesis Flare, was starting to show the beginning blocks for Psychic, a true feat considering she read it took an evolution for ghosts to learn high-level Psychic moves. Thinking it over Flare was probably more than strong enough, maybe even double or triple the strength needed to evolve. That meant her bottleneck was maturity.
She wasn't surprised Flare was probably only a few months old back when she picked her. Ghosts can and will grow in power the longer they are kept in the real world, no matter how carefully you feed them eventually they will over power their container.
She couldn't hide a grimace at the words an upper grunt stressed on how Litwicks were easy to crush when their wick and wax manipulation was still low. Her focus was forced onto Pierce's down to push such thoughts out from her head.
Said bird was preening his other wing having damaged quite a few feathers on his quest to best an Electric dog before they travel on in a few months. Saffron had Aella distrustful towards cities, especially towards ones where Team Rocket thrived. They only entered Celadon during big holidays when blending was easy for winter vaccines or food desperation.
There was only one place in Celadon where she felt repose, surrounded by crystal and silver of the Commerce Zone Library.
The last time she left the library she was both pleased and petrified. Pleased with her recent discovery of a Bug pokemon trait. Petrified because Team Rocket was quiet. The League called that good. That was Bad. Very. Bad. When Team Rocket gets quiet, it means things are going well.
He chirped and roused catching Aella's attention again, satisfied with the groom and settled onto her lap starving off the cold. He'd made quite some leeway into becoming the sky's most dangerous predator. All of his newer moves were caught up to his oldest and his combo list went from a half to three.
A rattling crack made them jump as Galvantula sent pillars of lightning horizontally surging, like jagged waves across the ground to pin a certain wolf. In return Wild Light used the Thunderbolts as only a master could. They left their training grounds and dove headlong into a whitened forest. Simple bolts were used to make specific points of slushy snow. Electricity had a tendency to take the path of least resistance.
The pillars shuddered as chunks were sapped off. It was interesting, seeing as it wasn't being drawn to Wild Light's Lightning Rod, 'That would ruin the point though,' she sighed as one of the pillars completely collapsed after obliterating their snowman. Pointless to continue the chase, Galvantula slammed the remaining two pillars together, creating a wave reminiscent of a Discharge. Arcs traveled across the snow and stung the trees and the scent of charcoal managed to overcome the potent scent of ozone.
'Shay done, dragon won spar, scales mess t̴͙̄h̴͉̔ò̷̩u̷̝̽g̸̜͌h̵͕͌.'
"Humm less surprising I'll have her focus on strengthening her stamina or speed on Reflect and Light Screen. Either have it become a constant like Galvantula's Agility or or an instant like Magnet Rise," Pierce fluttered over to her candle when Aella chose to walk into the frigid Mist to retrieve the snake.
'Training done, f̶̣̍ơ̵̟r̴̝͘ day?, w̴̹͌h̸̡̓ẹ̴́ñ̵ͅ Lead done?, spar,' Flare's emotions came down her flow with added broken echoes of basic Psychic words that crackled like one speaking through a whiny intercom.
She winced, and could feel Flare's frustration, "Don't be, you're a Ghost not a Psychic it won't come easy," her comforting was cut short when a crack, thump and a screech from her spider marked the end of the spar.
'Yes, yes, go.'
She walked over to a squished snow buried spider, "I think that went pretty well. Did you learn some things?"
"Click click tisk kik," Aella watched, paying close attention to her spider's sounds, and body language. Electrical control was her biggest point and the human immediately agreed. Large amounts of electricity was useful, but it was pointless if you couldn't hit a target with it.
"Agreed Wild Light has done really well in pushing your voltage level in training, but controlling comes through experience and time. I'd like you to focus heavily on that but at the same time I don't want you to shunt your three potentials to the side."
Happy chitters and a wiggly body spoke volumes of her glee. Her back leg kicked out again and being so close Aella could not only see but feel a sense of loss of point as the energy of the void tugged at reality. Sucker Punch. It snapped away in an instant as the order of reality forced the chaos of nothingness to comply.
Spider Web was in a similar boat of just needing time but Screech was simple enough to learn that could already be useful, if they were willing to be as hindered as the intended target. She had a working theory though, two actually. One an extreme form of wind control through Pierce or some form of mind art-ear-energy shield through Flare.
"Well will figure it out back at the nest," rubbing her spider's head before leaving her crouch over the mound of snow her snow boots had sunk into. They all left (be it ground, trees, carried or flight) towards Wild Light's home.
Her sigh sends the air an inch in front of her foggy with moisture. Her fingers ran over the two balls kept on her belt. A frown crosses her face when they linger over Void's ball.
Void had grown monumentally in strength, though could still only come out on cloudy days or when dusk arrived. Picking up new moves along the way he learned Night Shade from copying Flare. Unbothered by the suddenness, the candle went ahead and experimented, on what else he could learn, apparently Will-O-Wisp.
When not being trained and fed he stayed in his pokeball. His Walord problem in the room was currently being ignored in lieu of other things.
Plans rapidly changed (something Aella had slowly grown used to over the constant happenings) when hanging just outside the dens front yard was a sort of unpleasant face. Wormadam.
Aella flicked her hand in front of Flare's growing flame to prevent the aggravated Ghost from incinerating the Bagworm. Shay was recalled.
Wild Light offered a kind greeting giving the human time to look around notice, the Bagworm was not alone. With her was her sandy cloaked child and either her husband or grown-up son Mothim.
'Bad, bad, danger, Team Rocket ȁ̴ͅt̶̝̍ warehouse, snowstorm shelter, t̸̹̀a̴̤͒ķ̵̈́ë̶̜ò̵̡ṿ̵̎e̵̛̠r̵̪͂, danger, Team Rocket quiet t̶͎̅ö̵͇́ League, t̷̠̃h̴͎͋ẽ̵͇ỹ̵̗'̷͎͐ṟ̴̈́ẹ̶̑ moving!,' the three oddities at Wild Light's home suddenly became very obsolete.
She knew. She knew they'd been too quiet lately. Her instinct screamed at her. She needed to do something but she had no idea what. To fight to run, her head spun, panicking over what was the better option.
A strong bark had her skin jumping, 'Wild Light ś̶̮a̵͚̍y̷̜̑s̵͇̀ stay here, g̵̛̥o̷͎͒i̷̺̐n̴̪͋g̷̤̃ check.'
Deep breaths brought cold oxygen into her system, chilling her head and heart. Galvantula gave a slight tug on her sweatshirt, getting her to sit on a snow-free stone. Wild Light bounded off after Wormadam and her companions were sent in the generator's direction.
A dragon appeared in the clearing minutes later with red both from the ball and Rage burned off her body. Galvantula immobilized the enraged dragon and Flare transcribed the previous ongoings. Aella just needed to decompress and Pierce was all for helping her.
—
Calls of the diurnal turned to nocturnal. The den was cramped with seven of them with only her bird unwilling to stay under sturdy soil. Wild Light had been kind enough to enlarge the opening of her den so Aella could fit in after a nasty thunder storm hit.
Manectric (the older brother) sat facing the doorway, his ears flicking to the tune of the wind. His sisters stayed near Shay. Their eyes watched the candle's flame with interest and desired for the warmth it released. But Flare would never allow such creatures that could usurp her ghostly ties so close.
The rich aroma of the ground and stone coated her nose and palate in its sweet scent. She found herself reminiscing back to summer days when the scent was clear, not hidden by ice and snow. Time was weird. It felt so long ago yet so recent.
Pulled from any of her musings by Manectric's huff. They were back. Aella squirmed onto her belly making motions to crawl back out into the icy land, but a growl and snap of teeth dissuaded her.
'Sleep here, Wild go, h̵͎̽ä̵͈́s̴̰̋ work t̸̬̊õ̴̡ d̸͇͝ö̶̠, go generator morning,' an image of the Poke-generator flashed through Aella's mind as the ghost had no emotions nor experience in Psychic words to describe such a complex item.
Although their paws were too light to be heard on such fine snow, a pull on the bond allowed her a sense of their receding soul. Aella found herself staring at the fine particles in the wall after re-arriving back on her side. A tug on her mind brought its endless looping to an end and sleep prevailed.
X
A yawn cracked her jaw as they trudged through the snow although quite late compared to the usual start time being the dead of winter, the sun's rays glowed a ruddy amber in the predawn. Flare gave light to their path, even if the sky had lightened, the land was still dark. The bite of cold air bit deep into her bones, "Haa What does it matter wind chill, humidity, temperature, cold is cold."
Flare let out one of her rare vocal wails. The bitter cold snap was enough that both her Bug and Dragon had to be balled. On the off chance that everything had gone to hell, she needed them to be able to fight without hypothermia.
They hadn't even stepped foot in the field surrounding the massive structure and they could already hear a cacophony of noise. Not even the most experienced… anyone would be able to tell one signature pokemon cry from another.
Pandemonium. The one word needed to describe the room. Her hair stood on end when she brushed past the charged Electivire. Every single Kantonin electric pokemon ever. Every Johto electric but Chinchou and half of all Hoenn electrics were in the building. And that wasn't even including all of the other types as well. Heck if she let out Shay she was positive every type would be there.
"I know anything Team Rocket related is bad, but this feels like we're gearing up to go to war," the energy brought memories of her standing next to her mother in the command center before she and her dozens of units left for a major mission.
Wild Light stood in the center of it all chatting with some particularly fierce and power oozing patrons standing (floating in some cases) in a loose huddle. Over all the hubbub they'd never hear the proceedings. She realized she had a sound hole in her group. Sight yes. Sense definitely. Sound no… smell was also a no.
'Huh I've never thought about filling holes although considering I don't even have a license…ehh probably shouldn't.'
A sudden mean but efficient headache brought her out of her musings, "Okay okay I'm here."
Aella had been standing there zoning long enough for Wild Light and their… generals to have moved to the makings of a podium. Flare did her darndest to keep up.
'G̸̳͆r̴̜͑e̵̝̕e̵͈̎t̷̠́ḭ̴̋ń̷͕g̷̼̓s̵̄ͅ a̶̩͊ĺ̷̨ĺ̶̯, ì̴̮m̵̯̏p̴͕̎õ̷͎r̶͔͑t̵̬̄ą̶͂n̴̫̎t̸͎̏ call, danger alert f̴͈̔ṟ̴͗o̶͔̓m̴͚̊, warehouse w̵͍̉a̶̙͑t̶͚̋c̵̼͂h̶̨̆e̸̜̎ŗ̴͛, bad people, w̷̯̿ò̴͇r̵̀͜s̸̜͌ė̶̤ ť̷͍h̸̝͋e̵͚̓n̵̪̊ egg thieves, t̶̳̎h̷͎̏e̵̹͋y̴̜̓ n̷͕͋o̴͐ͅw̶̱͌, m̵͆͜a̵̮̿k̷͔̕e̸͖̅ ̷̦̚w̸̘̅a̸̮͝y̵͇̋ towards, many food s̶͎̄õ̶̦u̸̼̓r̴̺͐c̷̣͒e̶͉̅, towards generator. I̷̬̓ ̴̺͊a̴͖̒s̶̤̍k̷̭͊, strong, t̵̨̅ö̷͈́ fight w̷̻͊i̵̹̊ẗ̸̝́h̴̫̃ ̸̗͠m̵̲͗ȇ̵̩'—
"Stop Flare I can't— that's too much," her palms were pressed deeply into the sides of her temple. Her brain felt like it was splitting open. The deep apologies she tried to give just made it worse.
"Okay just listen and summarize it when they're done ok?"
Wild Light kept trying to talk over the chorus and roars, but it soon became too deafening to properly hear anything. They stopped trying, and their muzzle was pulled back with fangs glistening.
A Howl that brought cold dust from the ceiling down, shut everyone up.
The silence prevailed as they regarded the crowd, warm breath turned to cold smoke. A low graveled growl preceded a woo and huffing chuf. Notes, long and strong together, flowed over the crowd, drawing inspiration and amaze. Determination, motivation, nodding heads and whisperers of agreement shunted worry and doubt to the side.
Howling, a finalization in the decision led tandem roar through the building with chants fueling the fire.
Those around Wild Light barked and screeched and clanged and Aella became uneasy as the air took a turn likening itself to the swarming artillery room right before the teleportation pads were stepped upon.
Flare only confirmed it, 'War, fight, pr̸͇͊e̸̘̕paŗ̷̽a̸̮͆tiö̵̭n, m̶̹͌ȏ̵̤ṫ̴̥ḭ̵̇v̸̖̒ą̴̃t̴̮̾è̶̻ ṱ̷̈o̵͎͂ defend, Light ä̵̹́s̵̘̍k̵̮̋ṣ̵̆ ̴̝̀t̸̰̒h̷̦̑ỏ̵̺s̷͚͌e̵͖͆ wh̵̡̑o want ṱ̷̈o̵͎͂, fight, wh̴̯̓o don't, wh̶̤͛o can't, p̶̟̽a̴̼͂c̴̮̈k ̷̘͊u̷̞̒p̸̦̉, move ready, Celadon, se̸̞̽we̸̞̽r, tuṋ̴͗n̶͇̉els, Muk Pa̴̟̚tria̴̟̚rch, alliance, i̶͉̍f̶̦͛ g̶̣͌ȍ̵̩ bad.
She couldn't think right now moving mindlessly into an area away from the bustle. Her first and third had already been released. They needed to talk and they needed to sit and think.
'Huh either Flare is getting better or my mind is getting better at processing her words,' Aella blinked, "Right war… they're gonna fight Team Rocket… is that even possible"…
She wasn't sure how long she sat there, how long her family talked before the words tumbled out of her mouth.
"I don't want to fight"… silence, "I I don't… Winnie"…
Shay broiled with anger, she wanted to fight. Her leader on the other hand nodded in acceptance.
"No no we are fighting! I need payback for what they did! I"–
"I know what you want and I want something similar… but this group is bigger."
"So is our group! Look around! There's"–
"I know"–
"Stop interrupting me!"
The furious Dragon winced from the mental lash, "Your anger is well placed, well deserved but the mind of the Miss is not. A second loss… so close will break her… are Miss will be gone."
The mind users words, stunted her anger, and her leaders doused her rage.
"They know of you with Aella if they see her, she will become a target"… the words we would be the center of attention were left unsaid.
"The longer we live the greater the chances we get and the greater scars we can leave behind with our talons," a beak to her left clapped, "believe me I'd love to tear into flesh, especially those Rocky foes. Prove to them that typeness is not a limitation."
"What about Electrics?"
"I have learned through the months with the canines that electricity is the grandest adversity of us of the air trait," he's response was suave to the blunt questioning of the Ghost.
"Whether the battle is won or lost, the chances of them losing the war is great." The spider glanced around, watching all the individuals run about with such energy, "And I highly doubt a warning would be of any use. At this point they are too high strung and too determined to save what is Home."
Among all the chaos was the bubble of lull and a sense of gloom for leaving allies to deal with an oppressive force without lending a single claw. It was not a decision they liked, but it was a decision they needed to take.
That bubble burst when Wild Light padded over, shadowed by a childless Kangaskhan. They didn't even react to the group's odd behavior like they seemingly already knew.
Galvantula's tongue clicked as it separated from the roof, "Apologies though we have spent time just preceding from a year together, we can not join you in your clash. We've already watched and buried one of our own, taken by their barbaric greed."
"This place has become a safe haven yet we cannot defend it like a home, I wish you the good winds of valor will guide you to triumph and claw out their vile existence."
As the polite bird he was he graciously thanked them for their stay, hospitality and teachings. Shay opted for a more blunt approach, "Shred them," too burnt out from her bout of anger to offer anything more.
They gave a heavy nod, not once showing any resentment of their decision, "I hold, no offense you have a history with these monsters, and I will not ask you to share it. The pain it brings is clear," they paused and glanced up at Aella, murmuring so only they may hear, "they have done damage to her haven't they."
There was no answer given, no need to.
"Go Northwest," Wild Light raised their snout, nodding their head, "the winds say their control is most limited near The Peak of White. I believe humans call it Mount Silver, beyond that is where dragons roam.
"The Mounts of Moon will stand in your way, but I hear there's a path humans created. Go now, I must lead my legion and double my strength. I have aces I had yet to show."
Wild Light winked, stepping away and giving Flare plenty of time to talk. Aella had barely stood before Wild Light did something that made her question every basic thing she'd been told on such a scarce topic.
Opalescent light shimmers down their fur coat in a sort of translucent film. Their mane flared rising down their back in a spiky sail. Growing a foot in height, bringing their head level with Aella's own. Wild Lights claws became long and ruby toned, hell their entire color palette went from dull to vibrant and alive with energy. The only thing that didn't change was their eyes.
"…"
"I'd question how you obtained mega evolution without a stone but I guess time is limited and it's time for us to go," her mind was too raw to believe her eyes.
Proud red eyes gleamed with mirth before a nod and paw waved them off. Neither saying goodbye or a see you later as she was unsure of what was right or would be appropriate at this point. So she turned her back to the allies she made, her steps quiet under the roar though didn't falter.
Closing her eyes for short moments of time to hold back the prickles, it was a struggle to keep her breath even and breathe without sniffling. She hated it, the cowardly behavior she carried. How fear drove her biggest decisions. That was going to change. One day that was going to change.
X
"So yeah that's Celadon right now or last month technically but yea…" The Growlithe of Gardenia ruffed. He too was perturbed at the ongoings of evil cropping up.
She rubbed her hands together in the chilly storage warehouse. The rough scarring on her left gave the sensation of touch that wasn't skin. Not that she ever regretted her actions but her first ghost sure did. One who is currently trying to teach their second ghost Hex and compared to last year there was progress. They didn't have a lot in common move wise and she was really starting to regret putting off Confuse Ray.
Tongue ran across teeth in contemplation. She didn't like it but his Wailord had to be addressed. Void was… weird. Ghosts were naturally strange, but he took it to the extreme. Ghosts when young they did have very little emotional capacity, usually after a few months they act more alive like. He did not.
He didn't talk or communicate in ghost standards and Flare said he didn't really… think for himself. Ghosts (as she's mentioned a few times before) we're half dead and half alive, a 50/50 creature. Flare came to the realization that he may not be 50/50. In fact, he was very likely more connected to the world of distortion than the world of reality. Say 80 or 90.
Aella spent days in Gardenia's Library, finding herself whisked away into many of the books and pouring over any information on ghosts she could find. Her efforts weren't completely in vain, but not really useful at the same time.
When a ghost was… born how much or little it would be connected to reality was right then in that moment and couldn't be changed later. Moves like Odor Sleuth and Foresight only temporarily cut them off from distortion's benefits, forcing the rules of reality upon them.
Normally a Ghost so connected to distortion will be pulled back into distortion, but his connection to Flare and her connection to Aella prevented that. All this means that he. Should. Not. Exist.
Searching for information on his emotionless state led to articles about psychopath and sociopath, and considering he was born with it and not made, psychopath. It was a mental condition that fit a small number of Team Rocket numbers, sociopath probably fit the rest.
Void was essentially a practically emotionless psychopath Ghost that couldn't rationalize or reason and only did exactly what he was told or would stand there, and do nothing. She thanked Arceus then and there that Team Rocket did not find him.
'The Beak sḁ̴̉y̶̛̺s word̸̝̓ o̷̺̚n̷̛̯ wind, ḯ̵̙s̵̫̉ ev̸̨̓eryt̶͖̎h̴͘ͅin̶̨͒g's gon̶̨͒e ť̶̪ǒ̴̜ hell, g̶̩̕on̸̗͋e bad very, thé̶̪ŕ̴̠e̸͇̎'s wo̴̱͆r̵̡͐d̴͍̅s̶̔͜ õ̴͔f̸̟̊ retreat.'
Pierce had been gone for most of the day on the word of wind, he had become the center source of sending, and receiving information from Celadon out here. The battles had gone well, favoring the inhabitants of Celadon's forest and nearly forcing all of Team Rocket back into the city.
But things took a turn when they started bringing in Tyranitar, Scizor and Houndoom with mega shackles that forcefully induced mega evolution on them. Others spoke of Mawile and Heracross being turned into insane monsters.
The news just brought more frustration, more helplessness. She swore, "I really frickin hate that there's nothing we can do. We've gotten so strong in three years but we're still like Minun compared to them.
"I wanna make a dent, a scratch, something!" Aella recalled Void as Flare was done puppeteering him and opted to be briefed on Pierce's expedition. The puppy woffed, completely stopping all conversation.
Aella barely knew the canine talking before them. She could not understand his body language or tone, but she knew her own, and whatever he was speaking was something worth listening to.
'Talk ò̴̼f̶̠̌ past word wind, Pidgey f̷̗̿r̴̤̈́o̵̢̐m̸̝̄ north, border town, same, hide near, Team Rocket, small facility, pokemon ḯ̴̞n̴̋ͅ trouble.'
"It's a small facility… What is it? How many are running it? Or do they not know?"
"Uff barr grr."
'Numbers tiny 10, 15, small, bre̶̛̫e̴̙̐ding.'
"Forced breeding, heavily illegal," Her breath blew wispy directly in front of her face without Flare's heat bubble, "a Team Rocket specialty, and something the League absolutely despises. With those numbers… maximum 30 collared," antsy fingers twitched on her leg.
Aella's fingers stilled, "Why haven't you blown the whistle?" he huffed, his mane shaking as his head did.
'Can̵̙̆'t b̵̲̂l̸̥̈o̶̟̾ẃ̵̲ if̷̪̎ no one wil̴̡̚l̷̤̋ listen.'
"Right, so what are we going to do?" Aella turned to face her kin knowing that this decision wasn't just her own.
Thank you for Reading
Chapter 9 will be released on June 2023