A/N: Welcome to chapter two of my fanfiction bud! I hope you'll read it despite it being longer than some of the other stories here (I can't fit a chapter in 700 words!) I hope you get a feel of what type of story this is now :D!

Chapter two: The day we all became alone.

The Saffron City magnet train station was at the height of activity as clusters of businessmen, workers and travelers made their way to and from the building's various sections. Throughout the crowds friends called to one another and parents held the hands of their children tightly, intent on preventing them from becoming lost. As a group of ten year olds held the station map close to their noses, an olive skinned girl with light brown hair pulled into a ponytail clutched her train ticket tightly. The girl, who looked no more than sixteen, eyed the station dwellers nervously before taking a stiff seat on a nearby bench.

"Oh my Ho-Oh, can you be more nervous!?" A voice rung in the girl's ear, causing her to jump from the bench and onto the ground horrified. Several travelers furrowed their brows when she unleashed a stream of curses to the person that shocked her; a slightly older looking, brown skinned girl with long black hair braided at the tips. "Relax. It'll be fine." The older girl bent over and placed a comforting hand on her friend, receiving a welcoming smile in return.

"I know." The younger girl muttered as she traced an "R" on the ground with her fingertips.

----

When Vence entered the station with his father he couldn't help but gawk at the magnificence of everything. Even the floor tiles amazed him and he soon found himself staring intently at the clean reflection they gave off. Every detail of his image, his short, tousled sandy blonde hair, thin eyeglasses; peach colored skin littered with small red blotches and, to his dismay, pimples, was eerily clear in the floor tiles and given a slightly odd charm.

"Pay attention." His dad told him, snapping Vence back to attention. The older male reached into his pocket and dug out two silver tickets with the picture of a running Rapidash on the top of them and red inked details below the Pokémon. "We're catching the Rapidash Express to Goldenrod City so we won't be stuck in that damn Slowpoke local line. Do you have everything you need? The bag your mother gave you?"

"Yeah" Vence said, slinging said bag over his right shoulder and tightening his grip on the suitcase in his left hand. "What time do we leave dad?"

Vence's father checked the print on their tickets and then the time on his PokéGear "Ten minutes. We have to hurry." As the father and son made their way through the busy crowd, Vence couldn't help but notice the crowd that a small squabble between two girls his age drew. The girls eventually took notice of the crowd too and rushed away in a hurry with their heads lowered in what Vence believed was embarrassment.

"Tch, those are the trainers that never last long." Vence's dad spoke over his shoulder to his son "The ones that goof off. They need to be more like that youngster." His dad pointed to a young trainer Vence's age in the distance with blonde hair that was an obvious failed attempt at the Sinnoh gym leader Volkner's hairstyle. He had almond shaped, brown eyes that darted from the map in his hand to the two girls that made were making a fuss earlier. He was eavesdropping and being blunt about it.

"Sure dad." Vence muttered half heartedly. He was still staring at the guy and finding the expressions he made to the girl's conversation amusing.

---

When Vence was shown to his train seat he couldn't help but be amazed at the layout of the passengers. For behind the two seats that were assigned for him and his father sat the two dramatic girls from earlier, both laughing at something Vence was too nervous to understand. The darker of the two threw Vence a peace sign as he took his seat and gave a friendly chuckle at the blush that crept across his face.

"I guess I have been home too long." Vence thought to himself "I haven't seen girls my age in…er, ages…"

As the boy tried to regulate the abnormal breathing the girls behind him caused, his father tapped his shoulder and pointed to a seat in a nearby aisle. It was occupied by the trainer that his father had complimented earlier. The boy kept tossing looks at the girls behind Vence and fiddling with a Poké Ball in his hands.

Vence's father grinned "Trainers catch Lasses as well." He nudged his son as if to say 'see, you should become one' before turning his attention to a news paper with the Kanto elite four on the cover. Vence just gave a sigh and turned his attention to the world outside the train window as it slowly disappeared into the distance.

---

Hours later Vence realized that the ride to Goldenrod city would prove to be an uneventful one. He silently cursed himself for believing that it would be otherwise and a glance at the girls behind him, both focusing on Poké Balls of their own, added to his disappointment.

"I wonder if they're good trainers." He mused to himself "I bet they're on his level." He added, turning to the almond eyed boy that had drifted off to sleep some time ago. Taking his lead, Vence decided to close his eyes, but was disrupted by a hard knee to the back of his chair.

"Oh, I'm sorry!" The olive skinned girl apologized to Vence before he even had the opportunity to speak. She stood and her dark haired friend interlocked their arms.

"Bathroom break, you know?" The older girl smiled at Vence. She waited for a response from Vence before awkwardly leading her friend out of their aisle and to the front of the train. Vence automatically gave himself a mental slap.

"Dumb ass!" he yelled in his head "Say something cool and witty at a time like that! Crap I wonder if they'll-"

"Excuse me." A whisper cut Vence's thoughts off. He turned to see the almond eyed boy that was sleeping a minute ago wide awake with an expression that looked to old to be worn on a young face. "Are you a Pokémon trainer?"

Vence was flustered by the question and turned to his sleeping dad for support. "Err, I'm not really- you see he- my dad-"

"Are you or aren't you?" The guy asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice that just made Vence garble his wording more.

"Is there a reason you're asking this question Youngster." Vence's dad's stern voice made both boys jump. The man barely indicated that he was awoken.

"Sorry, sir. Yes, there is. We're all in trouble here, this whole train." The boy talked in a quicker whisper, making it hard for the father and son to follow.

"Speak clearer, son" Vence's dad commanded, causing the boy to freeze up a little.

The boy cleared his throat harshly. "I'm trying to say that we're in trouble. Only Business people catch the express to Goldenrod so there aren't many trainers here and those-"

The sound of a scream, gunshot and small explosion interrupted the boy mid sentence and caused a stream of screams to erupt from the train passengers in the same cart as Vence. Several people jumped from their seats as more shots were heard and a violent thump echoed over the screaming crowd. The front train door slammed open and several stewardesses ran into the cart shouting commands to the passengers.

"Run to the farthest part of the train!"

"Does anyone have a Pokétch!!??"

"Get down."

"Team Roc-!"

BANG

The last stewardess to shout a command fell face first onto the ground, revealing a fresh gunshot wound to the back. This caused the passengers to become even more chaotic; they frantically pushed and shoved each other, each trying to get away from the unknown threat. Vence looked in horror as various men and woman forced their way to the cart's back door, biting, clawing and punching their way throughout the crazed crowd. He dove behind the chair in front of him to hide from the madness and was soon followed by his father and the young trainer.

"What is this?" Vence's dad whispered to the almond eyed boy as they hid behind their seats "Who's doing this?"

Vence let out a gasp of disbelief when the two girls from earlier stepped into the train cart clad fully in Team Rocket uniforms that were stained with blood.

"Let's rip the seats up." The brown haired girl said "They'd try to hide it, right?"

The duo began to rip apart the first row of chairs with surprising strength as passengers continued to flee to the next cart. Soon the cart was empty save Vence, his father, the almond eyed boy and the two girls, the latter of which too occupied in their search to notice the males creep across the room to a further row.

"Listen." Vence's father turned to the boys "I've dealt with this lot in my day and those two girls are nothing but grunts. That means there's a boss in the front of the train, probably the one who fired the guns earlier." The man reached into his suit and pulled out a Poké Ball. He gave it to his son and stared at the two boys intently. "I'll go by those two and get after him while you-"

The man stopped his sentence as several vines wrapped around the chairs hiding the males and ripped them from the train's floor. The men jumped up quickly and turned to see both girls in battle positions. The vines came from an Ivysaur that stood fiercely besides the older girl who, upon recognizing them, eased her stance a little. Her Pokémon threw the chairs it held against the train wall, startling the Poliwhirl that stood besides the younger girl.

"You guys might want to run." The older girl said with a smile "I don't think you would want to start trouble with my boss in there. He's trying to make sure this thing doesn't crash since he…well settled a score with the train conductor."

Vence's dad tossed a dirty look at the girl. "You don't want to be doing something as dumb as picking a fight with me, Lass." The elder man stood at his full height and made the girls take a step back.

"Iv, Ivysaur!" The older girl's Pokémon shouted besides her, snapping the girls back to attention. "You're right." She smiled to the grass Pokémon. She reached inside a pack that hung to her side and pulled out a small intercom. "Sir…" she began to speak into it "We have an issue…"

"What's your name, youngster?" Vence's dad asked the almond eyes boy while staring at the girls.

"Re- Uh, Rai." He mumbled.

"Got it. Vence, Rai, you both have to take these girls out if you don't want someone else ending up like…" Vence followed hi dad's gaze to the shivering body of the Stewardess. "There's most likely a first aid kit in there with their boss. You two get those grunts."

Vence tossed his dad a puzzled look "How do-"

"The Poké Ball I gave you Vence! Get it together! This is your chance to shine like your sister!"

Vence ignored the blow to his ego and nodded to his dad. At that, the man charged pass the two girls, who flinched at his ferocious run, and into the next cart.

"Ivysaur! Use-"

"Shut up!" Rai shouted to the girl "I choose you, Nidoran!" Rai tossed his Poké Ball towards the girls and a flash of red erupted from it producing the spiky, purple poison pin Pokémon. "Use Poison sting, now!"

"Nidoran!" the creature shouted before opening its mouth and releasing several skinny, glowing, purple darts at the girls' Pokémon. Although Poliwhirl was knocked over by the attack, Ivysaur stood its ground, barely affected.

"Damn it." Rai murmured to Vence "That attack won't do it and there's not enough space in this cart to actually attempt any of my other attacks. You have a Pokémon right?"

"Oh, y-yea." Vence stuttered, unable to keep a firm grasp on his surroundings. "I put it…" He checked several of his pockets before he found the Poké Ball he received earlier. "Go, er, you!" he shouted as he tossed the ball into the air, accidently hitting a fluorescent light with it and blowing it out. The girls gave a disbelieving look at the move before focusing their attention on the red light that formed the Pokémon Vence would be battling with.

"Exeggutor." The Coconut Pokémon yawned after being released. Rai gave a sigh of relief at the sight of it.

"Great!" He said to Vence "Your Exeggutor can take out Poliwhirl! Hurry so we can-"A flurry of razor leaves snapped Rai's attention back to the battle "Quick Nidoran, stop those leaves with your Poison sting! Make sure you don't hit the stewardess! Vence! Do something!"

"I.." Vence gave Rai a sheepish look "I don't know any of this Pokémon's moves…" He simply frowned at Vence before plucking a Poké Ball off his belt.

"I choose you, Growlithe!" Rai shouted, releasing the orange furred Puppy Pokémon. "Use ember on Ivysaur!" Growlithe gave a happy yelp before sending several fire pellets the Rocket Grunts way.

The younger grunt held onto her partner's shoulder "Let's switch targets. Poliwhirl please use bubble beam on Growlithe! Surround it with them!"

"Whirl~!" The Pokémon chirped before hoping onto one of the tattered train chairs, easily dodging the ember attack, and releasing several large, glistening bubbles from the swirl on its abdomen. The Bubbles soared towards Growlithe, who ducked behind Nidoran at Rai's command, but to no avail. The bubble beam attack surrounded both Pokémon and nearly engulfed them before the bubbles exploded around them, severely weakening Nidoran and knocking out Growlithe. Rai returned the latter to its Poké Ball and gave Vence and the now lounging Exeggutor a desperate look.

The older grunt took this as an opportunity to finish Rai off "Ivysaur, execute Giga Drain!" Several glowing vines released from Ivysaur's flower and wrapped around Nidoran, who lacked the energy to dodge. Rai watched hopelessly as the energy from his Pokémon was quickly sucked into Ivysaur knocking out Nidoran.

"Vence…" Rai whispered as he returned Nidoran to its Poké Ball "You have to do something. I only had those two Pokémon." Vence, who had been helplessly trying to get Exeggutor to use every grass type move that came to mind, gave Rai a hopeless look.

"Maybe my dad will come back soon and-"

"Fuck your dad!" Vence shouted and pointed at the Rocket Grunts that were slowly advancing to their side of the train cart. "Do you know what they'll do to us? To our- my- Pokémon? I just fought for both of us and lost, so come up with a damn plan to-"

"Exeggutor, use… Solar Beam. Now!" As if finally hearing magic words, Exeggutor hopped to its feet and began to collect sunlight in its leaves.

"Crap!" the older girl spat "We're screwed if that thing launches! Ivysaur, you begin Solar Beam too!"

"No time" The younger girl said "Poliwhirl, use a body slam!" At its trainer's command, Poliwhirl lunged towards Exeggutor to execute its attack, but was too late. While Ivysaur's flower gathered more sunlight and Poliwhirl dropped closer to Exeggutor, the coconut Pokémon releaser the solar energy stored in one ferocious blast that not only collided with Poliwhirl, but shattered the entire left wall of the train cart.

Vence, Rai, The two Grunts, Ivysaur and Exeggutor watched as the train drove across a bridge seven hundred and forty feet high and as Poliwhirl flew majestically into the air from the solar beam's force and then plummet to the jagged mountains below. And as Exeggutor and Ivysaur shone red and put themselves back into their Poké Balls, the younger grunt let out a screech that Vence would never forget; one that he could only classify as the sound of a dying baby.

---

At the Goldenrod City metro Station Vence sat on a ragged bench as his father completed his questioning to the city's Officer Jenny and a group of men in scrubs slowly wheeled away the shot, but living, stewardess. Shortly after Exeggutor and Ivysaur returned to their Poké Balls with no intention of coming out, Vence's father returned with the Rocket Grunt's boss unconscious and the train safely on auto pilot. After a minor skirmish between Vence's dad and the older grunt girl, Rai filled the elder man in on the happening of the battle, excluding the younger grunt's Poliwhirl, and volunteered to keep an eye on the Team Rocket members that were now unconscious. Throughout the rest of the train ride Vence's father kept telling him how proud he was of his son and how ready he was for his own journey.

"I have to go to the bathroom dad." Vence muttered as the older man approached the bench, finally free from Officer Jenny's questioning.

"Hurry back Vence." His father smiled "Your mother and I have something to give you!"

With no will to inquire on what was just said, Vence left his bag with his father and made his way to the station's bathroom. Along the way he passed Officer Jenny escorting the two rocket grunts and grunt boss, a tall, wide man, to the back of her police van. The younger of the grunts sobbed profusely as she made her into the van. Before the van door shut, Vence made out the shape of the older man's foot slamming into the younger girl's face. When Vence went into the bathroom he threw himself over its sink and after moments of gruesome expectation, released a steady flow of vomit.

Vence's father was not waiting for him on the station bench when he returned from the bathroom. The boy's entire luggage was missing as well except for the backpack his mother packed for him before they set off. Unsurely, Vence opened the bag for the first time and was greeted with his name written in bold letters on a folded piece of paper. He opened note and read:

Dear Vence,

We both believe this is what you needed to get your very own Pokémon journey started. Although we apologize for the way we had to lure you to Johto (you should be aware that we have no relatives located there by now), we are happy you are starting your journey there. This backpack is filled with everything you will need on your journey. We expect you home when you have received all eight of your badges.

Love You,

Mom and Dad

Vence dropped everything onto the ground and fell to his knees. Six Poké Balls rolled out of his bag and crept to the furthest corners of the station. As the sunset flickered on each of them, they became as lonely as Vence was.

A/N: For the record, you can consider Vence Caucasian, Rai Asian (Japanese specifically.), and… well I'll give the other characters away as they make a more severe impact on the story. Please read and review! Ask questions if you like!