Chapter Fifteen

Colby exhaled a sigh of relief when she saw Josh standing there with fire in his eyes. She was glad (for once) that he was back to help them…perfect timing to. However, she was not too happy to see that he had brought a guest. Well…more so, dragged a guest with him.

Josh's hand was clamped firmly around none other than a bought of flaming red hair's collar, Riley Giaden.

"I found this in the woods."

Succinctly and with force Josh released Riley's collar and he smacked the ground. Looking startled, Riley jumped up immediately like nothing had ever happened and brushed himself off.

Looking at the whole back side of his pants (all the way down to the cuff) was a huge green streak from where Josh had dragged him, obviously pretty far. Horrified, his mouth dropped open and he shot Josh a glare of venom.

"Do you know how terribly hard grass stains are to get out?" Riley sputtered, his face seeming to turn as red as his hair.

Josh snorted, "If you don't shut the hell up, you're going to have to worry about blood stains to."

Riley didn't seem affected at all by the comment and continued to fume. This whole time, the grunt seemed to be somewhere in the middle between irritated and confused.

Amanda and Ellis exchanged looks of misery because Josh was back. Ellis especially looked ticked.

"We are kind of in the middle of a battle here… This guy is a grunt from Team Lunar…and is going to take our Pokémon-" Amanda started, but was interrupted.

"Oh, Twix, I won't let any harm come to you or your Pokémon," Riley cooed winking at Amanda.

Looking like she was going to be sick, her gaze shot to the ground.

"Yeah, that's all touching and all, but I'm here on business only ladies. Either we get this battle started, which I hope you know you're going to lose, or we go to option two," the grunt snapped, fed up.

Josh narrowed his eyes, and seemed to get that this guy was adopting his hateful attitude strategy. Colby almost covered her eyes because of the pulsating hate that seemed to be radiating off of him like nuclear radiation. "Who the hell do you think you are? You're just a grunt. We could pound you and your damn Lunatones into the ground," Josh said, temper flaring.

The grunt seemed to be getting enjoyment in fueling his anger, and snorted.

"You think I'm just a grunt? How wrong you are. I am much more than that and you don't even know. But Team Lunar and I do know a lot about you gym leader Josh."

Josh seemed ready to rip out all of the brown headed grunt's hair, and narrowed his eyes.

"Does anyone else find that creepy that that guy with the sash knows so much about Josh?" Riley whispered from beside Colby.

Riley was bad at whispering, because they both turned around. Josh shot Riley a look of death and the grunt was frowning.

"Hold still while I choke you with my sash," the grunt said calmly.

Riley got a look of offense on his face and seemed a bit irritated by the grunt but for once shut up. What was odd…was that it actually wasn't a sash…

"Lunatones, let's get this started! Use confusion," he yelled.

Noticing he was in the line of fire, Josh stalked over to stand by everyone else.

"Don't worry about it Josh! We have this," Colby assured him.

Josh looked up at her, with anger still clouding his gaze, and nodded. Riley glanced at Colby and plastered his flirtatious smile on his face.

"How about that date Tootsie Pop? Reconsidering?"

"Riley! This isn't the time!" Colby hissed, paying attention to the battle which was already starting.

Amanda and Ellis were ready on a moment's notice and had immediately responded to the call for battle. The Lunatones were jabbing moves at Emmera and Zero, but the two weren't backing down with their battle strategy. "Emmera, use tackle!" Ellis yelled.

"Zero, feint attack!" Amanda said.

Emmera smacked the Lunatone on the left with a fierce tackle, causing it to stumble back.

"Lunatone, confusion, now!" The grunt called.

The Lunatone stopped and got a faraway look in its eyes. Its eyes turned a shade of blue and out pulsed a ray of confusion.

Emmera was able to dodge most of it, but was clipped by the edge of it. Looking stunned and dazed, Emmera shook its head back and forth to clear its head from the daze.

On the other side of the battle, Amanda and Zero were working as an in sync team. Fire burned in Zero's eyes as he let loose a fierce ember. It was so powerful that Colby could feel the heat from 10 feet away.

When the flames subsided, the Lunatone's eyes were wide…and it looked extremely crispy. On Amanda's side of the field, the moon shaped Pokémon fell. Colby glanced at the grunt that didn't seem very happy. Well, he was the one who was so overly self confident… Two Lunatones weren't going to beat five trainers and all of their Pokémon. Unless those Lunatones were super overpowered…

On the other side, Emmera conjured and energy ball that looked sort of like floating goo. It smacked the slow to move Lunatone directly in the face. It flinched under the blow and seemed pretty worn out.

The grunt still pushed, "Lunatone! Get up you worthless excuse for a Pokémon!"

"Emmera, finish him with razor leaf!" Ellis called.

Emmera, not seeming tired at all, inhaled a deep breath. Around the Pokémon, leaves started to hover and spin. A glaze overtook Emmera's eyes and all at once the leaves exploded towards the Lunatone. The Lunatone's eyes widened and he stumbled back as the blows struck him.

"Luna…" He murmured, and then feinted.

The grunt recalled the two Pokémon and looked shocked. Colby was just about to say something when Riley interrupted.

"Doesn't that embered Lunatone make you think of fried chicken?" Riley drooled, being so close he could practically attach his shoulder to hers.

Colby rolled her eyes, "You're thinking of fried chicken when we are battling against Team Lunar?"

Riley looked surprised, "What? You're not-"

"Of course I'm not! We were too busy watching the battle and trying to win for the sake of the Pokémon who are being experimented with! Not thinking about fried chicken!" Colby yelled, pointing at the grunt who now had his head down. "You know…it's very rude to point…" Amanda said.

At that moment, Riley and Ellis spun around to face each other. They raised their pointer fingers at each other and stood there with interesting looks on their faces, pointing.

Colby smacked both of their hands down, "This isn't the time for your stupid bickering."

Everyone turned their attention back to the grunt who was still looking at the floor.

"We have won, now scram," Amanda said confidently.

The grunt slowly looked up at them with hate in his eyes.

"You may have one this battle, but the war is far from over. This isn't the last you will see of me, mark my words. You will be sorry you ever tried to resist me. Next time, it could be a fight for not only your Pokémon, but your lives," the grunt hissed, running off into the forest as suddenly as he came.

Colby's stomach dipped at the threat and she got goose bumps. He seemed to know something about Nicksy…which wasn't good. In the Pokémon Center, the guy with the suit had warned her not to speak too much of it. But sometimes her temper took over… He was probably just trying to be scary…Yeah, that had to be it.

Trying to forget her busy thoughts, Colby exhaled a huge sigh and turned back to the four of them. Josh was still glaring off in the distance that grunt had run. Maybe he had found someone he hated more than Ellis and Riley! Riley was making kissy faces at Amanda (that he thought Colby didn't notice). Colby, disgusted and not as polite as Amanda, smacked Riley upside the head. He winced and gave her a pouty look.

"Ow! Tootsie Pop that hurt. What did you do that for?"

"Why do you think? Do you not realize that Amanda and I do not like you-"

"Aw, you know that's a lie Tootsie. You just don't want to say so. Tough love baby, tough love," Riley smiled, grabbing her hand.

Colby rolled her eyes and jerked her hand out of his grip. This case was helpless, and always will be. Ellis looked like he had been sucking a sour lemon from beside Amanda, and glared at Riley.

"What are you glaring at Pothead?" Riley challenged.

Ellis twitched with annoyance, and really wanted to punch his chili pepper face. Grinding his teeth practically, Ellis tried to relax under Amanda's warning stare.

"Josh…why?" Colby asked him from beside her.

Josh stiffened and gave Riley a look. Something quickly flashed in his eyes, but was gone in a second and was replaced by his sneer.

"He was calling me 'Pothead's girlfriend' and I'm not going to take that. So I dragged him back here," Josh said, not looking at anyone.

Colby nodded but couldn't help but feel there was something more to it. Something that he didn't want to tell everyone…

"Instead of just smacking him into the ground, you brought him back to us?" Ellis asked, glaring at them both.

"I'm right here you know!" Riley snapped.

Josh seemed a bit uncomfortable and started to fidget under Ellis's glare, though it did seem as if his anger had subsided for the moment.

"Guys, just drop it," Colby said succinctly and with force.

Everyone just kind of looked at each other, with silence in the air.

"Well, we better get going…" Amanda said, glancing at the sun that was about to go down.

"Is he going with us?" Ellis asked.

Colby sighed; she really didn't think that was the best idea…

"Of course I am," Riley smiled, "I've got to keep Tootsie and Twix company."

He then put his arm around Amanda, who shrank behind Ellis. Poor Amanda…she seemed to be getting the brute of his flintiness.

Colby rolled her eyes; this was going to be a long evening.


"Wake up!" Colby heard someone yell.

Groggily she sat up and starred Josh straight in the face.

"What?" She mumbled, still half asleep.

"It's time to get going," he snarled.

Just wonderful, he was in a worse mood this morning than last night. Colby rolled her eyes and pulled herself out of her sleeping bag to begin gathering her things up.

Last night, as the evening went on, Josh seemed to be going from a quiet mood to super rage for no reason. He was now extremely irritable and snapped frequent comments at Ellis. Though what puzzled Colby was that he had sharply lain off shooting Riley comments…which made her wonder. They were arch enemies, but it didn't seem as if the hatred was so strong anymore. That left poor Ellis to take all of Josh's hateful comments and rage.

Colby glanced at the time on Ellis's MID after finishing rolling up her sleeping bag. She found that it was only seven in the morning.

"Josh! You got us all up at seven?" Colby growled.

Josh shot his bitter gaze at her and practically exploded out of rage.

"Do you want to get to the damn city before next year or not? That means we move! Not sleep till noon and take our time eating Poffins!" Josh hissed.

Colby's stomach dipped at the mention of Poffins, and Amanda shot her a sympathetic look from where she was wrapping up her sleeping bag. "Josh…her parents died in a Poffin factory explosion..." Amanda said, trying to help him understand.

Colby narrowed her eyes at him, and finished packing her stuff up. Josh didn't look sympathetic at all and snorted.

"Not everyone can have this little perfect life. So forget about the past and grow up," Josh growled.

Hurt plastered itself on Colby's face as she thought about her parents. She had been trying to get over it, and new friends had helped, but she wasn't completely healed yet. She could never be.

Riley for once, didn't say anything and was just standing beside Josh with his hands in his pockets.

"Get up!" Josh yelled, kicking Ellis's sleeping bag, where he was still snoring. "Ow!" Ellis yelped as a boot connected with his ribcage.

Jumping up, he turned to look at Josh who was staring at him with blazing eyes.

"What the hell was that for?" Ellis snarled.

Riley was now looking at Ellis's pain with mild amusement, but didn't say anything. Colby was about ready to punch Josh, because he had no right to be such a jerk to everyone. Everyone gets angry sometimes, but he didn't need to take his anger out on everyone else.

"You wouldn't get your ass up," Josh snapped.

"Stop it! You have no right to do this! Just because you get angry doesn't mean you have any right to take it out on the rest of us!" Amanda yelled, eyes blazing. Josh glared at her, "You don't know anything. I'll bet your parents sheltered you and cuddled you all your life. You wouldn't know what being alone is."

Pain flashed in Amanda's eyes and tears began to well up in her eyes. She pulled her Unknown cap over her head and grabbed her pack, then broke off into a run down the path.

"Amanda! Wait!" Ellis yelled, grabbing his stuff, shooting Josh the birdie, and running to catch up with her.

Colby looked down at the ground and let the breeze blow her hair. Riley seemed to be standing there in shock, and Josh just looked angry. Colby grabbed her stuff and started off to catch up with the other two. Not looking back, she ran to catch up with Amanda and Ellis.

When she finally caught up, she realized that warm tears were running down her face. Wiping them off with the back of her sleeve furiously, she put up her walls again. Amanda seemed to be keeping quiet as she walked on beside Ellis and Colby.

"I would know," she said quietly, still looking at the ground.

"Hm?" Ellis asked, coming out of his thoughts.

"I would know what being alone is. I don't even know my parents. My life has been spent in an orphanage in Portsburg…" Amanda trailed off.

Colby felt a pang of sadness for her, because she knew what it was like to be an orphan to.

"I'm so sorry…" Ellis said with sadness.

"I know what that's like to. After my parents died, it was the loneliest feeling in the world. I am trying to get over it, and you guys are being a major help. Thanks for being my friends. Thank you Ellis for your persistence on the boat," Colby said, giving Ellis a half smile.

Ellis returned the smile, and Amanda looked up at Colby.

"I think he is just angry…for some reason. Eventually it will get better, and I'm sure he meant none of what he said," Colby assured Amanda and herself.

Colby looked back and saw that those two were following a few yards meters back, not saying a word. Josh looked sad and angry in the same setting, and Riley seemed expressionless, staring off into the forest.

Colby sighed and looked ahead to the dirt path that they were following. Ellis had said earlier that they were getting close to the bridge, at least she hoped! That way they would be closer to Sanville and the next gym, which she eagerly awaited.

Her mind absently drifted back to the vision that Faye had sent her way. She had seen The Great Battle…and the battle between the Dragon Trio. So many questions had flooded her head, and she needed answers soon. Hopefully in the next vision, Faye would explain some things to her.

Colby didn't even realize how mentally exhausted from everything she felt. She sometimes wondered what the journey would be like if Josh hadn't decided to forcefully join them. It would definitely be less stressful on all of them.

Glancing back at them again, she could see that they were talking a bit. Another thing that puzzled her was why Josh and Riley had become buddies now... They had always hated each other but now it was like they both had an epiphany and were friends. It was odd, and extremely puzzling. She couldn't help but wonder if something had happened in the woods that they weren't speaking about.

"What's with them?" Amanda whispered to Colby.

Colby shrugged, "That's what I was just thinking about. It's like…they just changed their whole opinions of each other."

"I'm thinking something happened in the woods," Ellis said with a silly smile and a wink.

Colby rolled her eyes and Amanda tried to suppress a giggle.

"No Ellis, I don't think something happened like that. Don't be absurd, Riley likes Amanda and I remember?"

Ellis chuckled, "I know, I was just kidding. Yes, something definitely changed."

Amanda seemed a bit better after Josh's jabs, and seemed to return to her normal self with Ellis and Colby around her. Colby also felt a bit better, but repressed any sadness.

"Hang on just a second guys…I have to tie my shoe," Ellis laughed, crouching to tie his shoe.

Colby and Amanda stopped to wait for him, and started to get a bad feeling as Josh approached with Riley. Amanda shot Colby a look, and it seemed as if the tension was just crackling in the air. Ellis had better hurry up…

"Great Stellar Spirits, the rest of you are just as slow as his brain is," Josh growled, gesturing to Ellis who stood up from tying his shoe.

Something in Ellis's eyes seemed to just catch on fire as he starred Josh down. Colby almost covered her eyes, here we go again…

"You know what? If you hate us all so much then why don't you just leave? Why do you have to make us suffer through your bad attitude all the time? The whole point of our journey together was to go on an adventure, meeting new people, gain bonds with Pokémon, and make new friends. So far, you are not acting like a friend!" Ellis yelled, jabbing Josh with his finger.

Something in Josh's eyes seemed to snap, and Colby knew that it was all coming down to this moment…the moment where Josh snapped. Colby glanced at Riley who seemed a bit surprised to at what happened next. Josh opened his mouth to say something surely nasty, but nothing came out.

"I can't take this anymore! Want to know why I'm so angry all the time? Well, I'll tell you, so shut the hell up and go grab some popcorn!"


Author's Note: Hm…well, that chapter was interesting to write! It was almost depressing to write, about their big fight that is. Tune in next time to see why Josh is so angry all the time! *gasps* :P

Review and comment to tell me what you think! :)

-colbyjackchz