Chapter Four: Six is a Crowd

Talo had never been one for long introductions. He often found them to be over-exaggerated and boring. Therefore, when he found the Machamp hybrid, Quadarm, destroying cars in northern Petalburg, he introduced himself with a solid kick to the back of the head.

Quadarm, of course, didn't take too kindly to this reception, choosing to then slam his giant fist into Talo's ribcage. Luckilly, the teenager was in his fusion form and able to take the hit. If it hadn't been for Noctowl's resistance to Fighting-types, he would have been crushed by the force of the blow.

"Boy, you're almost as strong as you are ugly, aren't you?" Talo quipped. "Sorry, buddy, but I can't let you go tearing through Petalburg all you want. Not only would it look bad on my record, but Norman would probably have a fit."

Quadarm was one hybrid who still largely resembled a human, besides the fact that he had gray skin and an extra set of arms. He roared as he tried to swat Talo from the air. "Get out of my way! My master said I could smash up this whole town!"

"That's not gonna happen" a voice called. Quadarm looked over to see a boy with coppery skin and slate-gray hair walking toward him. The hybrid nearly burst out laughing at the sight.

"You gotta be kidding me! A human thinks he's gonna beat me?" the hybrid continued to laugh.

The boy set his jaw in anger. "My name is Rager" he replied, lifting his left arm where a silver bracelet sat on his wrist. "And I'm definitely not just a human kid." With that, he flicked a silver button and was engulfed in light. Talo had to shield his eyes as his partner transformed.

Rager was now tall with indigo skin and an orange-red chest. His teeth had become razor-sharp and a yellow star emblazoned his forehead. Sharp bladelike fins protruded from his back and arms, and wicked claws grew where his nails had been.

"Draco Meteor!" the transformed Rager growled, glowing with orange power. Leaning back, he launched a blinding white comet into the air, which exploded into a dozen smaller projectiles. Each of these struck Quadarm with explosive force, finally sending him sprawling.

"Dramatic much?" Talo joked as he and his partner returned to their human forms.

Rager shrugged. "You're losing your touch, Talo. That's the third hybrid I've beaten you to defeating."

"Of course, I'm not the guy who can shoot meteors from his mouth" Talo noted. "That's a bit of an unfair advantage, wouldn't you say?"

"That's enough arguing, both of you" the voice of Haedan Pondera crackled to life from their earpieces. "Return here with the hybrid as soon as you can. And Talo, I'd like to speak with you." The connection was cut.

"Looks like the Boss found out you've got the hots for that hybrid chick you rescued" Rager snickered.

Talo's face went bright red. "I'm her tutor, not her boyfriend! Besides, it probably has nothing to do with her. That was months ago."

Rager shrugged. "Fine, if you wanna try to convince me you're forever alone, it's no skin off my nose" he lifted Quadarm onto his back as he resumed his Garchomp form. "I'll take our freaky friend here back to base. Have fun being Mister Lonely."

Talo experienced yet another moment when he couldn't decide whether to strangle his partner or punch him in the face. "I'm not lonely you walking land-shark. Don't ever call me lonely again!"

Rager smirked. "That's flying land-shark to you, buddy. With that, he dashed forward, folded his arms in and jumped. Seeming to defy gravity, he rose like a rocket, soaring into the air.

"Show-off" Talo muttered, before assuming his fusion form and following his partner.

-X-

"Talo, you've been one of our best members since you joined the Fusion Knights" Haedan Pondera smiled warmly "You've fulfilled every task you've been assigned, and more than thirty hybrids have been freed due to your efforts."

"Thank you, sir" Talo nodded. "That means a lot to me."

Lord Pondera continued. "What's more, you did it using only your three Pokemon partners, where most Fusion Warriors I've met-myself exempt-use six. This almost makes your accomplishments more marvelous.

"But I have a favor to ask you. There are many Pokemon who have been taken in by our order, whether they are strays or abandoned. I thought you might like to try working with a full team, if only for a while, and select three of those Pokemon to join you. What would you think of that?"

Talo thought about it. "Use three more Pokemon when I fight? I've never really thought about it" He grinned, "But there's a first time for everything, right? I'll see what I can do."

Lord Pondera nodded. "I think you'll find it to be an interesting experience, working with a full team. A bit of unity can do wonders."

"I'll give it a try" Talo agreed "It might be fun, eh?"

Lord Pondera excused him, and he headed down to the basement of the Fusion Knights headquarters. From the outside, the building appeared old and abandoned, but Haedan Pondera-in addition to being a Fusion Warrior himself-was a wealthy man. He had converted the large warehouse into a decent living space where hybrids who could no longer stand the oppression of the world could live peacefully.

Talo took an industrial lift which served as an elevator to the basement floor, stepping out to see a large group of people there. As he passed, he could hear them whispering. He caught a few distinct phrases such as "Midnight Angel" and "Defeated thirty hybrids by himself." This last one made him frown. Despite his general policy to work alone, he'd had help defeating many of the hybrids he'd faced.

Shrugging, he continued into a large room affectionately referred to as the Daycare. Inside, many Pokemon frolicked around happily, running over real grass and swinging from full-sized trees, all of which Lord Pondera had installed for their convenience. Talo noticed as he went that there seemed to be a bit of a commotion at the large pool that served as a home for the aquatic Pokemon, but quickly shifted his focus to a girl who was approaching him.

"Captain Zeph" nodded Helia, the kind former Chansey hybrid. "Lord Pondera sent word that you'd be visiting. You're here to add new Pokemon to your team?"

"That's right" Talo nodded. "Did you have any in mind for me?"

Helia nodded. "I have some ideas, but it's your choice" she gestured to the room, "Go ahead and say hello to everyone."

Talo walked further into the room and looked around at all the Pokemon. "There are so many here. Are they all wild?"

"Some have trainers who work here" Helia replied. "But most of them are either abandoned or wild."

They were interrupted when Talo felt a curious prod against his shoulder. He turned to find a Froslass floating behind him.

"Lass?" The Pokemon asked inquisitively, before its eyes widened. "Fros! Froslass!" Before Talo could do anything, the Ice-type grabbed him in a hug.

"It looks like Froslass has taken a shine to you" Helia noted. "That Froslass originally came here as a Snorunt, but it's never really shown interest in people. It almost seems like it knows you."

Talo's eyes went wide. "Maybe it does. A few years ago, I was hiking in the mountains when I came across a Snorunt dangling from a tree branch over a cliff. I climbed down and rescued it, and it was really grateful, so it gave me a Sitrus Berry which it had frozen in ice."

As he was speaking, Froslass nodded enthusiastically. "Could you be the same Snorunt that I saved back then?"

"Froslass!" came the enthusiastic reply. The Snow Dome Pokemon began flying joyfully in circles around Talo's head.

"What a coincidence that that same Snorunt would end up here" Helia noted. "I think you'd better take her with you, or else I'm not so sure she's going to let you leave."

Talo held out a pokeball. "Froslass, do you want to come with me and join my team?" The Ice-type nodded anxiously. "Okay then." Talo tapped the ball against Froslass's head, and a beam of energy pulled it in. "There. Two more to go."

They next found an Ampharos who Helia recommended. Ampharos had been living at the base for a while now, but nobody had taken it as a partner. It walked over to the duo to inspect them.

"Ros?" It cocked its head inquisitively, looking toward Helia. "Amp amp?"

"Yes, this is the boy I told you about" Helia nodded. "He's looking for brave, strong partners to help him fight hybrids. Do you wanna go with him?"

"Ros!" Ampharos gave a quick thumbs-up. It stepped forward and shook Talo's hand, as though sealing a deal. Talo gladly sent it into his fifth pokeball.

"Now, there are a few more you could meet" Helia noted. "We've got a really nice Metang, and a couple of Darmanitan which are all pretty strong." She trailed off as she noticed Talo gazing at the pool. "Umm, I don't think you want to go over there, Captain."

Talo looked at her questioningly. "Why not? What's going on over there?"

Helia sighed. "Kingdra is probably picking a fight with one of the other Pokemon again."

"Kingdra?" Talo asked as he started over to the pool. "I've never actually seen a Kingdra before. Is it dangerous?"

Helia hesitated as they reached the edge. Talo looked out to see a large blue seahorse-like Pokemon who was angrily blowing jets of water at the Pokemon around it.

"Kingdra was abandoned by its former trainer, and it was very angry when it first came here. Nobody wanted to bring it with them because it intimidated all the Pokemon around it, so it doesn't really like humans too much." Helia explained. "I don't think you want to consider it."

Talo shook his head. "It's perfect."

Helia looked at him in shock, but Talo simply moved right up to the edge. "Kingdra! I want to talk to you!"

The seahorse looked up in shock, then replied with a watery roar. It surged over to the edge and prepared to launch a Hydro Pump at Talo. The blue-haired boy quickly sidestepped the water blast and sent Sceptile out of its pokeball. "Sceptile, use Leaf Blade on Kingdra!"

As the Dragon Pokemon continued to try and blast Talo, Sceptile jumped forward and nailed it in the head with a glowing leaf. As it reeled back, Talo tossed out a pokeball. Kingdra was pulled in, and the ball wiggled before falling still.

"Why on earth do you want an angry human-hating Water and Dragon-type on your team?" Helia asked in shock.

"Sometimes, the hardest people to work with end up being the most reliable" Talo explained. "Kingdra is angry because it was rejected. I want to show it that it batters, whether it wants to see or not." Talo shook Helia's hand. "Thank you for helping me. I've got my team, so I'll be heading out."

Helia nodded. "Well, if you're sure. Good luck, Captain Zeph."

Talo grinned. "Something tells me I'm going to need it."

-X-

"Tin Tower" Hazel said confidently. "That's the one where Ho-oh roosts. The other one is Burnt Tower, which was destroyed in a fire."

"Good" Talo praised his student. "Although the Tin Tower is sometimes called the Bell Tower, since all the bells supposedly ring when Ho-oh perches at the top."

It was the day after Talo had chosen his new teammates, and he was once again tutoring Hazel for her Pokemon World History class. Hazel was a few months younger than him, with waist-length lavender hair and sea green eyes. She stood a few inches shorter than Talo, and had chosen to wear a purple top and dark violet skirt for her tutoring lesson. Around her neck hung a silver necklace with a skull-and-crossbones charm shaped like the mark on a Koffing or Weezing's body. She kept it to remind her of what she'd once been.

"That's really neat" Hazel nodded. "By the way, are you going on patrol tonight?"

Talo looked out to see that it was already dark outside. "I was hoping to get some training in with my new teammates, and Rager wanted me to look into a case near Devon Corp, so I guess so."

"You're always so busy" Hazel frowned. "I was thinking that maybe we could do something together, but if you really have to go, I understand."

Talo hesitated. "Hazel, I-"

"Talo" a voice called from the kitchen. "Tara's calling. She wants to know how you're doing." The voice's owner-a red-haired young man of eighteen, poked his head into the living room. "Oh, were you two having a romantic moment? I'm sorry. I'll just be...in the kitchen." Gem sheepishly pulled his head back, just as Talo's PokeFuser beeped.

"Let me come with you" Hazel pleaded as he stood to leave. "I want to see your new partners too. And we can talk some more after you stop the hybrid."

Talo grudgingly nodded. "Alright, but try not to get in trouble." He stepped outside with Hazel following happily behind. He prepared to activate his PokeFuser, but hesitated. "Umm, Hazel? I'm probably going to need to fly to get to where the hybrid is. Do you want me to try carrying you?"

Hazel shook her head. "Don't worry Talo, I've got this covered. She reached down and grabbed ahold of her necklace, causing it to flash with light. When the light faded, Hazel had transformed. Her clothing had changed, becoming a knee-length purple dress to compliment lavender skin. Her charm, which Talo now realized was one of the DNA Repressors the Fusion Knights used, had become a brooch pinned to the front of her dress. Her hair was still long, but was curled up at the top into twin buns, making her look even more like the Pokemon whose DNA ran through her veins.

Talo was speechless as Hazel grinned. "What? You didn't think I'd completely give up my hybrid powers, did you?" She stood waiting for a reply, but no words would come to Talo. "What's the matter? Didn't think there was such thing as a beautiful hybrid?"

Talo cleared his throat. "O-of course I knew. Don't be silly." He pressed a finger down on the button of his PokeFuser, causing it to spiral out into its active gauntlet form. "Fusion!" He pressed down on the red gem set into the center and became his fusion form, but with only Noctowl, Sceptile and Torkoal.

"Why didn't you fuse with the other three?" Hazel asked, floating over to stand beside him.

"I'm not sure" Talo admitted. "But we'll figure that out when we get there. Do you think you can keep up with me?"

Hazel shrugged. "I'm lighter than air. If you wanted, you could probably just pull me behind you." She grabbed ahold of his hand and they rose quickly into the darkening sky.

-X-

"Just hand over the necklace and nobody gets hurt" Stoneplume squawked. "And don't try any funny business, you hear me?"

A small woman was crouching in fear before the Archeops hybrid, quivering as he held out a birdlike hand expectantly. She slowly brought a hand to the clasp of the necklace to undo it.

"Hold it right there" a voice called from behind them. Stoneplume, turned in surprise to see a figure in a white robe with broad tawny wings standing before him. The figure held a large gray shield in one hand, and what appeared to be a metal duplicate of a Sceptile head in the other. As he watched, the "mouth" of the Sceptile opened, allowing a glowing green blade to be produced from within.

"You must be the one they call the Midnight Angel" Stoneplume declared. "It's an honor to meet you, but I am quite busy at the moment. Perhaps another time?"

Talo stepped forward, raising his sword menacingly. "You're in the middle of a petty robbery? I see no better time for us to get to know each-other. Unless you'd rather do so in the back of a police car?"

Stoneplume hissed. "I don't think so, hero. AncientPower!" His body became outlined in energy, which swirled into a ball in front of him before launching at Talo. With a single stroke, Talo sliced the projectile in half, then rushed toward Stoneplume.

"Smack Down!" the hybrid squawked, firing a golden orb straight into the teen's chest. "And let's see how you like this: Fissure!"

The ground opened beneath Talo, who fell with a yelp. After being hit by Smack Down, his wings would not respond, and he was instantly slammed by the walls of the closing crevice. With a groan, he was forced to defusion into his regular form.

"Talo!" Hazel screamed as he was buried. She quickly darted forward and swung a fist into Stoneplume's face, releasing a cloud of black smoke. The hybrid gave another squawk of anger as he jumped back, trying to rub the soot out of his eyes. As this was happening, Talo forced himself out of the crack and stumbled to his feet.

"Now would be a really good time for you three to help me out" Talo muttered, glancing toward the three new pokeballs on his belt. As though in answer, a sudden flash emitted from his PokeFuser as the red gem inset into the back became a sky-blue. Talo looked down incredulously at the device before shrugging. "That works." He brought up his right hand and quickly slammed it down on the gauntlet.

-X-

He was floating on a void, not sure where he was or what was happening. Around him, he could see six brightly colored lights-white, red, green, yellow, blue, and purple. The lights spun slowly around him before beginning to move closer, as though he was the sun, pulling in planets with his gravity.

It's the Pokemon Talo realized. Each light is one of my partners. This must be how a full fusion feels.

But what happened next was definitely unexpected. In a flash, the blue orb rocketed forward, crashing into the red orb and sending it flying away. Likewise, the yellow orb impacted the white, and the purple struck the green. In seconds, only three spheres remained.

The new Pokemon! Talo thought, shocked. They're refusing to work with my partners! Before he could do anything, the three lights surged toward him, filling him with energy.

The real world came back into focus as the fusion was completed. Talo slowly got to his feet, feeling the strength of this unfamiliar form.

Hazel watched from the side, shocked at what had happened. On his torso, legs, and left arm, Talo now wore sapphire-blue armor made up of tiny interlocking Kingdra scales, and wore a helmet shaped like a Froslass's head. Behind the helmet, a billowing white cloak extended outward. Talo's right arm was now covered in a full-length golden gauntlet, and he held a long black whip with a yellow orb on the end.

"That's definitely new" Talo remarked, before turning to Stoneplume. "You've managed to make me rather angry, beak-face. I'm going to show you what happens when people do that." In a blur, Talo stepped backward and vanished from sight, leaving his foe to squawk in surprise.

"Peekaboo" Talo whispered, appearing behind the Archeops hybrid and slamming him with a lightning-infused punch. It didn't do much thanks to the bird's Rock-typing, but was quickly followed up with a Hydro Pump.

"Not so fun when you have the type disadvantage, eh?" Talo laughed, forming a Shadow Ball and lobbing it at Stoneplume. "I may not have all my partners, but these three won't let me down!"

Hazel simply watched in amazement as the fight progressed. Talo's movements were fluid, yet precise, every motion seeming graceful. But there was great power behind that grace, and he was showing it now.

After a few more shots, Talo finally froze Stoneplume with an Ice Beam. "There's no point in just beating you senseless, but maybe now you've learned a little lesson." He walked over to the woman and bowed. "He wont trouble you again. I'm sorry for the hassle." The woman just nodded before walking away quickly.

"That was amazing!" Hazel grinned as she walked over. "The way you just vanished into midair, you should have seen the look on Stoneplume's face!"

Talo snickered, but this was covered by a confused expression. "How did you know his name was Stoneplume?"

Hazel realized what she'd said and blushed a bit. "Sm-Simon and I kinda knew him back when we were, you know..." She pointed to her DNA Repressor "Attached."

Talo nodded slowly. "He works for the same people in the hybrid underground that you did. That makes sense." He held out a hand to her. "But now's not the time for sad memories. Might I fly you home?"

Hazel giggled. "Why yes, Sir Talo, I would appreciate that." She took the hand and they both rose into the air, leaving the hybrid behind.

When they reached the house where Hazel and her brother were living, she faltered. "Hey Talo? I was just wondering, on a night when you aren't on patrol, if maybe we could go do something together?"

Talo smiled. "I was just thinking the same thing. How about I pick you up this Saturday and we go to dinner?"

Hazel nodded, visibly grateful. "That sounds wonderful. And thank you, Talo, for giving me a chance." She reached her front step and opened the door. With one last happy glance back, she walked through, leaving Talo alone with his thoughts.

-X-

"He's doing WHAT?!" Tara asked in complete bewilderment.

"Like I said, he's sitting in the front room chatting with his girlfriend" Gem answered simply. "Is that a problem?"

"Talo doesn't have a girlfriend, Gem" Tara growled over the video phone. "At least, he'd better not have one."

Gem sweat-dropped silently. "Well, I could always ask if she's his girlfriend. Would you appreciate that, Tara?" He stood and walked back to the doorway. "Talo? Is that your-eh?"

"What's happening?" Tara called impatiently, pressing her face against the camera at her end. "Gem, what is it?"

Gem returned to sit at the screen casually. "Oh, Talo and his girlfriend just snuck out without saying anything."

Tara practically had smoke rising from her ears. "I'm going to kill him..."

AN: So, what did everyone think of this chapter which I was finally able to finish? I've been wanting to write this chapter and the one that's planned next for a very long time.

Just to clarify, these chapters are not in numerical order, meaning that one chapter might take place a month after the chapter that follows it, if that makes any sense.

Even Fire and Ice have a Dark side...