CHAPTER 3

We all woke up at the same time the next morning. Slice was the most excited one and he kept on bugging us until Chi threatened him wordlessly with a High Jump Kick. This shut him up until after breakfast.

After eating, we went over to a different gate than the one that led to the rest of the city. The layout of the area's like this: first our nation the Crimson Fang, then a forest, then a grassland, then a river, then more grasslands, then another forest, and finally Amber Fang.

At the gate, we saw that there was only one other team on a mission today besides us. We also saw the harvesters, three Ambipom carrying baskets.

"Hey, are you the team that's going to guard us?" one of the Ambipom said to me.

"Yeah. I'm Shade and these are Slice, Berg, Scuttle and Chi." I said in reply.

"Pleased to meet you." the Ambipom said. "I'm Dex and these are Amy and Palmer."

The gates opened and we entered the forest. There were berry trees here in the city but it was also good to get some berries here in the forest.

We walked with the harvesters through the forest. All of us kept looking around just in case we were attacked. Eventually, we reached a clearing and the harvesters stopped.

"Here's a good spot." Dex said and he, Amy and Palmer began picking berries from trees and bushes. While they picked, I spoke to my team.

"OK everyone, here's the plan:" I began. "Berg, you fly up and look from there. Scuttle, you stay with the harvesters and keep an eye on them. Slice, Chi and I'll split up and patrol the area. Understand?"

"Yes sir." everyone said at the same time."

"C'mon guys; don't call me sir. It makes me feel old." I said annoyed a bit. "Berg, send out your signal if anything comes up."

With that, Berg took to the skies while Scuttle went to the harvesters and Slice, Chi and I patroled the forest. I patroled for about an hour until I saw Berg's signal, a small tornado made with his Ominous Wind, and I met up with the rest of my team.

"What's going on?" I asked.

"It's nothing serious." Dex answered. "We just have to move to another patch of berries."

Together, we went over to another patch after an hour of walking. This time, I sent Slice to keep an eye on Dex and the rest. Berg, Scuttle, Chi and I patrolled again. After another hour, Berg sent his signal again into the sky. I met up with everyone else again and asked what was happening now.

"There's one more berry patch we have to go to but it's on top of a rocky hill. Is that OK with you guys." said Dex.

"Nah, it's alright." I said.

After another hour of walking, we saw the hill Dex was talking about. He was right-it was pretty rocky but we were able to reach the top where a patch of berry bushes was. As Dex, Amy and Palmer began picking, I talked to my teammates again.

"Guys, I'll keep an eye on the harvesters this time." I told them. They left and I sat down on a stone near the harvesters.

"Hey Shade, catch." Dex said throwing an Oran at me.

"Is this for me?" I asked catching it.

"Yup. Consider it as thanks for keeping an eye on us. Oh, and here's some for your friends." Dex said pulling out a small bag filled with berries.

"Thanks." I said with a smile but then, I saw Berg's signal and he went to me. Chi, Slice and Scuttle hadn't arrived yet.

"What's going on?" I asked him.

"It's those clouds. They look weird to me." Berg said pointing at the sky where there were several small clouds getting closer to us. It was strange-all of those clouds seemed to look alike.

"Berg, I don't think those're clouds." I said slowly. As the clouds got closer I saw something-aglint of blue.

Suddenly, the clouds around the blue portion parted revealing an Altaria. It looked like it was carrying something round. Then, one of them dropped it and it glew and exploded.

"Altaria and they're carrying Electrodes!" I yelled out. "Berg, get the harvesters to safety." Berg nodded and left with the harvesters.

I jumped off the hill and ran through the forest looking for my teammates. More explosions occurred meaning that the main bombing was happening. I looked at the sky and saw an Ice Beam fired at the Altaria. As they swerved to dodge it, I went in that direction and saw Scuttle on the ground and Slice and Chi on top of some trees.

"Glad you could join the party!" Slice yelled at me from on top of the tree. As Chi fired Hidden Power at the Altaria, I climbed up a tree and shot a Hyper Beam which missed.

A Shadow Ball came in and almost hit one of the Altaria. We looked and saw Berg fly into view.

"Where're Dex and the others?" I yelled to him.

"Don't worry; they're OK!" Berg replied.

"Hey Berg, gimme a boost!" Scuttle cried out. Berg went over to him and picked him up. Berg flew up to the sky and Scuttle could fired Pin Missile.

"Everyone on the count of three!" I told my teammates and they stopped.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

I fired Hyper Beam, Slice shot Ice Beam, Chi launched Hidden Power, Scuttle attacked with Pin Missle and Berg unleashed Shadow Ball. Our combined attacks were able to hit several Altaria, injuring them and causing all of them to leave. We cheered loudly when they left.

"And don't come back!" Slice yelled happily jumping off the tree. All of us regrouped on the ground and Berg told me where the harvesters were staying. They were shaken up but unharmed.

Seeing that it was safe, we decided to head back to the academy. When we reached the gates, they opened and we entered.

"Thanks for today." Dex said before he, Amy and Palmer left.

"Mission accomplished!" Slice said stretching his arms. "And the best part is that we're just in time for lun-"

"Hey guys, what's that?" Scuttle said pointing at something in the forest. We looked and gasped at what we saw.

I recognized him as a Golem from the other team that went on a mission today. His face was in pain as he limped towards the gate. He was clutching a bleeding shoulder and his entire body was covered in blood. Then, all of a sudden, he collapsed.

"Slice, get a doctor quick!" I said and Slice ran off. The rest of us approached Golem and helped him up.

"Are you alright?" I said to the Golem.

"We...were attacked..." he said weakly. "My whole team...all dead...the enemy team...also dead...I think...we were...a distraction..."

But then, he coughed up blood. I said to him: "Stop talking and save your strength!"

Just then, slice arrived with a Clefable doctor carrying a stretcher. The doctor took one look at the Golem before putting him on the stretcher and left with him. All of us were left alone.

"They were just a distraction." I said to my team. "While his team was fighting, the Altaria got past them and bombed us."

We stood there in silence until the horn signaling lunch sounded. We went in and ate lunch. When we finished eating we went to the infirmary since we didn't have any training to do.

We arrived at the infirmary which was a large room filled with beds with sick or injured Pokemon on them. I approached a Murkrow working at a desk.

"Excuse me. Did a Golem come in here a while ago?" I asked.

"Yes. one came in just before lunch started." the Murkrow replied.

Just then, the same Clefable doctor came in and greeted us." Oh, it's you guys."

"Yeah. Hey, how's that Golem?" Slice asked.

The doctor's face suddenly turned grim. "I'm sorry...I did all i could but...he just lost too much blood..."

We just stood there in shocked silence. Slowly, we left the infirmary in silence.

Death's aren't announced publicly in the academy. The Crimson Council ,who also runs the academy, just give the body to the dead Pokemon's family. It was up to them if they wanted to have a funeral. The council just didn't care.

Why would they care if we're just their tools?