Now the stage is set! Let's get into the thicket! Ember finds that the scuffles and usual bickering in the forest is nothing but a speck of trouble compared to the growing threat of a new organization: Team Origin.
Sunlight filtered in through the cave, splaying playfully across my eyelids. I awoke slowly, groggily, and rolled onto my side, trying to ignore the twitter of the Flying type Pokemon in the canopy outside our cave. Sergio slept deeply, his side pressed comfortably against mine, his breath pulling in and out calmly.
Grumpily, I knew it was time to start the day, and I rose clumsily to my feet. I licked Sergio's mane lightly, whispering for him to wake up. It was early, but the job of the Alpha doesn't wait for rest. We padded to the mouth of the cave, and found a trio of Spearow's hopping around, pecking at one another playfully. At our arrival, they bowed quickly, and then flittered off to play elsewhere.
Giving my new mate one final nudge of affection, I trotted off, heading for the deeper section of the forest, further from where most Trainers ever hiked, while he started at the river, taking on his new responsibilities with gusto. I patrolled the shadows, the early morning dew soaking my paws as I dashed through the sections. I ensured that peace was being kept… well, to the best extent you can in such a wild land. Part of the appeal in staying wild was the ability to decide our own fates; my responsibilities were to help maintain the hierarchy of the forest, and prevent any crimes too heinous from occurring. More often than not, should two Pokemon not see eye to eye, a battle to establish dominance between the two solves a problem without the Alpha's interference.
As everything seemed calm and peaceful in the early morning heart of the forest, I turned and headed for the mountains from whence the river flowed. As the soft padding of dead, moist leaves under my paws changed to stony, sharp pebbles, I traveled from the thick shade of the forest to the sparsely trimmed foothills of the mountains. Several Geodudes were about already, shoveling rocks to and fro to suite their nesting needs. I nodded respectfully to their bows.
I chatted quietly with one of the mothers, inquiring about the Rock types' lives.
"I promise, we have plenty of food," she smiled, gesturing to her twins, who were already rolling down the cliff side to find berries and stones to munch on.
"And you wouldn't hesitate to tell me should this change, would you, Diamond?" She shook her rock-like body with a grin.
"Geodudes are a stubborn lot, myself included, but we know better than to try and do it all on our own, Ember. While the last Alpha didn't share the idea of co existence and co prosperity, we can see the improved conditions of communication easily enough." She levitated a little higher, stroking my mane maternally. "I heard Sergio is the new male Alpha though." She smirked.
"Yes, I decided it was time to find someone who could help share the responsibilities." When I first became Alpha, many whispered about how friendly I was; many of my predecessors ruled with an iron fist and cold shoulder. I, however, felt that connecting with my people, knowing their problems personally, would improve all of our lives. Although I maintain an aura of regality and luster, I know that to keep the forest's support and respect, I must be its greatest servant; I rule from the ground among them, and maintain the status of the throne above.
"That's so wonderful, dear!" Diamond crossed her muscular arms and nodded approvingly. " I always say, us women are strong enough to hold the mountains up alone, but sometimes it's nice to have someone as your rock to keep you grounded. That Sergio's a fine Manectric, and I'm sure the children will loo-" The ground rumbling roar shook the earth beneath my paws.
My ears pricked to the southwest, down by the river. My tails immediately began to swirl threateningly around me. Diamond's children were beginning to wail at the base of the mountain.
" Dear Arceus, what was-"
"Get the children inside the mountain," I commanded. All the warmth and companionship left my voice and was replaced by the weight of the Alpha's command; to disobey was the challenge my position. I was no longer the gentle spoken provider of the people; I was a blazon warrior, and whoever dared to hurt the inhabitants of my land was going to feel my wrath.
Diamond called, and a Onix from the mountain's side Dug below, tunneled beneath us, shaking the entire mountain, and emerged surrounding her twins, serving as a living rock wall between them and the forest's edge. As the Onix began herding the children back up the mountain and closer to the safety of the caves, Diamond bowed at my speedy departure, panic in her eyes.
"Be careful!" She called as I raced recklessly down the cliff face. I tore through the trees and found the river, then raced downstream alongside it. A Goldeen, hurdling upstream, broke the water's surface.
"Alpha!" He cried. I didn't stop running, I only glanced back as he shouted after me, "Brenton is caught in some human trap! He's a few more minutes downstream from here!" As I nodded understanding and turned back to a full tilt hurdle, he cried, "Hurry! Some humans are hurting him!"
I sped down the river, my heart racing and the breath gasping as I listened intently for something, anything, to tell me where the Goldeen had directly me. The sharp sound of claws scraping together and rapid splashing caught my attention further downstream. Brenton, a young Ursaring, was ankle deep in the river; a metal trap, which must have been hidden under the riverbank's mud, clamped ferociously onto his hind paw. His blood flowed freely downstream. The trap, most likely meant to catch a small Remoraid or other primary evolution Water type, caught something much larger, and was now sawing into Brenton's flesh.
"Skarmory, Steel Wing," commanded the Trainer in a black jumpsuit. As the Steel type bird dove in attack, Brenton cried out and countered with a Slash. The Skarmory bounced back in recoil, but Brenton roared as the movement twisted his ankle, carving deeper into his muscle.
A pink shadow darted towards Brenton's turned back. "Gorebyss, Aqua Tail!" The South Sea Pokemon slammed its attack directly into Brenton's bleeding wound, causing him to scream in pain. He toppled over, unable to battle the odds. TheTrainer of the Gorebyss laughed belittlingly. "Gorebyss, finish it, Body Slam!"
Circling back from its previous attack, the Gorebyss began to charge the Ursaring again, lauching above him, but by this time, I was on top of them.
"What in the hell is that!?" Cried the Skarmory's Trainer as my Payback attack slammed into the Gorebyss, sending it flying onto the muddy riverbank and out of the water. I rounded quickly, before the Skarmory could react, and engulfed it with a Flamethrower. Its metallic screech filled the air as it soared high above my range.
I stood between the attackers and Brenton, my paws spread wide in a defensive stance, my tails swirling like a threatening vortex around me, my muzzle baring my knife-like fangs. The sheer brutality and injustice of this assault enraged me. Quickly I glanced at Brenton's paw; the blood wasn't coagulating, the river was sucking it out of his ankle. He whimpered weakly, tugging his leg, and only digging the trap deeper in the process.
"This isn't the way to capture Pokemon! The battle is suppose to be fair, tell your Trainer's to stop this madness," I growled. The Skarmory, now landed next to his male Trainer, lowered his head and raised his iron wings in a threatening pose.
"Who the hell are you, fox?" He screeched, his burnt metal body fueling his rage. "Who said anything about capture?" The Gorebyss, slow to recover, coiled like a snake in the mud. His eyes narrowed.
"This Ursaring brute would be lucky to be capture by Team Origin. Try enslavement." I glowered at the Gorebyss as its female owner appraised me, confused by his statement, but unwillingly to show my confusion.
"Huh. That's a beautiful Ninetales . Maybe Castor would like a new pet." She glanced at her male counterpart, who smirked, and nodded in agreement. He dropped the tiny, intricately woven marbles in his hand and unhooked a Pokemon ball from his waist. I scoffed, a small flame breathing out of my maw.
"You're joking, right?" I snickered at the capsule, my tails swirling faster and more agitated around me. I roared as loud as I could, the trees shaking with my power and the Butterfree in roost taking flight with panicked twitters. The man took an unsure step backwards. The woman rolled her eyes, and threw out her hand.
"Gorebyss, Water Gun!" As the jet shot towards me, I gritted my teeth and prepared for impact with a Light Screen; if I moved, Brenton would suffer even more. The Water Gun smashed into me, barely blunted by my defense. I gasped with pain, my type disadvantage becoming apparent.
"You want a fight? You got it!" I Doubled Teamed around Brenton, forming a circle with my duplicates around him. The Gorebyss hissed with anger and confusion, Water Gunning my copies, trying to destroy them all and find me. I rushed with a Quick Attack, slamming it further up the bank and away from its medium of transport before quickly rushing with a Flame Charge to beat off the Skarmory, who had seen the opening to try and beat Brenton further. His screech pierced my ears, smoke wafting off of his body.
"Skarmory, get Gorebyss back to the river," commanded the male Trainer. Swooping down, it snatched the Gorebyss out of its sticky trap and began flapping towards the river. I shot an Incinerate attack at the duo, hoping to knock them both from the sky, but the returned Water Pulse canceled out the attempt. Skarmory released, sending the Gorebyss splashing back into the river. Both rounded on me, their eyes flashing menacingly.
"Hydro Pump!"
"Air Slash!" I lock my knees, acting as a barrier between the projectiles and my charge, and threw up another Light Screen. The Hydro Pump shattered through, boring into my chest. I gasp in pain, and then focus on the Skarmory. I attack with Overheat , a wailing wall of fire racing towards the Steel type. A deafening roar fills my ears as an aqua wall rises defensively in front of Skarmory, extinguishing my Overheat. Gorebyss appears at the topmost crest of the wave, and simultaneously, wave and Pokemon rush towards me in a Surf attack.
My knees give way beneath me as the wave passes over me, draining the fiery need to fight out of my limbs. As I shakily try to rise again, I'm slammed in the side by a Steel Wing, knocking me completely off my feet and to the side, away from Brenton, leaving me wasted on my side. Something lightly taps against my back haunch, followed by a bright, red light and high pitched sound; suddenly, I'm surrounded by a cold, oppressive darkness.