While my sister and our pokemon carry Santerous back to the Pokemon Center, I pick up the poke ball that my brother had dropped. Its red and white surface looks harmless so why would this happen?

Why did something like this have to happen? I wonder as I stare at the poke ball.

I suddenly grasp my head as a streak of searing pain storms across it with a fury. I drop to one knee before the pain recedes. A sudden image comes to my mind of when my former dragon and I almost died.

* * *

Finca! I scream as my Guardian dives closer and closer to the grass covered ground. Get it together!

She continues to fall and I can only clutch to her white scales, terrified of the fact that she might not pull up before we are slammed into the ground.

Finca! Snap out of it! I roar as I force my whole being against the shields of her mind.

My Guardian releases the danger that we are in and so she twists around so that she takes the impact of our landing, moving me to between her front clawed paws. She crashes to the ground and allows me to get up. I look at her for a moment to make sure she isn't hurt and then I place one hand on her quivering body.

You okay? I question.

Darkness is coming, evil shall spread, and you shall vanish, she roars in panic.

* * *

If only Finca knew how true she was in saying that, I mutter to myself as the image fades away slowly, seeming to prolong the pain of the fact that I am far away from her right now.

I sigh and gaze down at Skarmory's poke ball, thinking about letting the metal bird out.

Not unless Santerous and Tronay are here, I decide.

A sudden rustling from the nearby bushes causes me to grab the ball tighter.

"Show yourself!" I growl as my eyes flash blue for a moment before returning to their normal purple.

The rustling increases and finally I clench my only open hand into a fist.

"Go Skarmory!" I shout as the rustling fades away as a tiny orange lizard with a flame on its tail comes out of the bushes and collapses at my feet.

The silver bird shrieks as it is released from its poke ball and I gaze down at the young pokemon. A sudden flapping of wings has me turn my head back up to stare into a flock of tiny birds with black and brown wings, Spearows if I remember right from Veer. The birds shriek at the lizard and then I realize that the lizard must had bumped into them and they chased it here. I reach down and pick up the tiny lizard.

Relax young one, I mutter to the tiny pokemon as I feel its forehead.

To my surprise the little fire pokemon is burning up. Skarmory shrieks and I look beside me to find that it is gazing at the fire pokemon with calming eyes.

"Skarmory, skarmory. Skarmory!" (Take this Charmander and get out of here. I shall fight these birds to ensure that it stays safe!) Skarmory shrieks as I translate its words.

I nod and clutch the lizard tight to my body.

"Skarmory . . . " (One) . . .

I brace myself and tighten my grip on the pokemon.

"Skarmory . . ." (Two) . . .

I narrow my eyes on a small carved-out path that would make for a quick escape.

"Skarmory!" (Three!)

Skarmory shrieks at the birds as I take off toward the path. I dare not turn to look when I hear Skarmory scream as the birds crash against its metal-feathered body. I remain focused on the path ahead, determined to save this little lizard with all my might . . .