Author's Note: Hmm, too much renovation at once. Anyway, this chapter became so long that I split it into two parts now. Also, I added a new character that will definitely be important in the future. In fact, it stops Silver from pretty much attacking a friend later on, but that's beside the point. Once Part 2 is done, I'll be writing from nothing but memory. My notes aren't helping since I went off them at about halfway through chapter 2. Maybe I should take better notes and outlines and backup more so this doesn't happen . . . So, for all you patient old readers and anxious new readers, here's the new chapter 5. -EeveeInHeat

Silver

- Chapter 5: Suburban Wars, Part 1 -

Silver followed Ace and Flame right up to the city. Right before entering, Silver stopped him. "Wait, wouldn't it be easier to go around the city?" Silver asked. He was mostly thinking of Eve, who could still follow them if they went around, though he was a little hesitant of entering the city himself.

Ace shook his head, "No, cities don't have a lot of problems unless you attack something. Trainers are here and will fight back, but they mostly will ignore you, thinking you're someone else's Pokemon outside its Pokeball. It should be easy to get through quickly, saving a lot of time."

Silver couldn't argue his points. He nodded his head, not showing any outward emotion, but he wanted nothing more than argue until Ace gave up. But knowing Ace even for a little, Silver knew he probably had enough reasons to defeat anyone and then some. And once Ace had made up his head, little of it could change, if any.

Where they were, there wasn't a formal entrance into the city, but there was a damp alleyway. They headed down it, making sure not to step on the few items scattered here and there. Silver didn't like the straight, stone walls blocking him in on two sides. The straight angles and grayness just didn't seem natural and Silver found himself almost shaking. Besides, it felt way too easy to trap someone in the alleyway with only the two exits.

He was instantly proved right. Suddenly, three dark shapes appeared in front of them, blocking off their progress. They were slightly larger than himself, but as Silver looked at them, they seemed to be more menacing than normal. Their pelts had only different shades of black, their long black tails spiking out behind them in a sign of aggression. Each of them had menacing teeth showing in their snarl with yellow and red piercing eyes. Silver recognized them as Poochyena.

Silver took a glance behind and realized that four Pokemon blocked their way back out of the city. Two were bird like Pokemon smaller than him, but both looked powerful. Another was blue with no eyes, but had somehow landed on the ground without enough noise to warn them earlier. It had a large mouth with large gleaming teeth to match, sending small shivers down his back. However, this one also seemed to be slightly tired as it was normally nocturnal. The last one was like the first two, but much larger. It had decorative feathers growing from its head, though a few were missing. Silver recognized the common forest Pokemon as two Pidgey, a Zubat, and a Pidgeotto.

Silver knew that there were only two options left for them: fight and run when given the chance, or give in and hope they don't want to simply kill them. Studying the Pokemon, Silver realized all of them were fighters. Each of them had several scars, and each of them looked like they do with some extra sleep. Every one of their gazes was hard and cold as they stared them down. These were not merciful Pokemon. If it did turn into a fight, they wouldn't be getting away without injuries. Silver was glad for his leaf of Oran berries now, even if it would hinder him in a fight a little.

Silver saw Ace seemed calm on the outside as he stared the other Pokemon down, just like what Silver would expect. Flame, however, surprised him. He had expected Flame to be intimidated by the opponents, but it was a completely different reaction Silver saw. Flame's back was glowing, giving off a strong heat. His small hands were drawn into fists and his whole demeanor said to get back. Flame was actually enjoying the chance of a battle. This new ferocious Flame was actually starting to scare Silver.

While Silver wanted to help the Cyndaquil, who was facing the flying type Pokemon, Ace wouldn't be able to keep up with the Poochyena. Besides, Flame looked like anything that got in his way was going down, and Silver didn't want to accidently get burned by his attacks. Silver turned and faced the Poochyena with Ace, trusting Flame to watch their backs.

They waited in tense silence. The Pokemon on either side were not moving toward them, but they still kept up the aggressive stances. Silver was about to suggest they charge out through the flying Pokemon, escaping before they took flight, but something finally happened. The Poochyena silently moved to either side of the alleyway, leaving a gap. Silver soon saw why. A large dark colored Pokemon stepped into view, its size making up for the gap the Poochyena had left. It looked slightly like the Poochyena, but it made their attempts at aggression look pathetic. He was the most frightening thing Silver had seen in his life. And yet, it wasn't even in an aggressive stance. In fact, the Pokemon, a Mightyena, seemed completely calm. Silver definitely didn't want to see this Pokemon become mad. Silver glanced at Ace and was surprised to see Ace was still his normal calm self and still holding his aggressive stance.

The Pokemon slowly walked up to them. It stopped in front of them and started to stare at them. Silver almost shook as he watched the powerful Pokemon study them. After a moment, it finally spoke in a gruff voice, "They'll do."

Silver didn't know why the courage came, but he managed to ask, "We'll do what?"

"See, courage to match their stubbornness, they'll fit in with us well. Come, I'll explain as we go," the Mightyena said, turning around.

Silver didn't want to go anywhere with it, but the Pokemon was one you didn't want to disobey without a powerful advantage, especially when it had all these comrades around it. He walked along beside Ace, Flame bringing up the rear. Each Poochyena took a spot to the left, right, and behind them, effectively surrounding them. The flying Pokemon took flight and perched on top of one of the buildings. Silver inwardly sighed. They had just gotten free just a little bit ago.

The Mightyena didn't look back as he started talking. "I'll begin. Recently, a war between Pokemon has started in the city. All the wild Pokemon that live in the city are now fighting for one of two fractions, one led by me, Mark, and one led by an Arcanine called Dereck. Each side was pretty much equal, so we're enlisting more Pokemon, namely every Pokemon not captured in the city. The humans do not care about what happens, as long as they don't see it, and it doesn't involve them. We saw you come from the forest, so you're not with a human. Now, I'm letting you join."

"What if we don't want to join?" Ace asked boldly. Silver wanted to slap him right then for asking such a dangerous question.

"You've got more courage than most asking that, which makes you valuable partners. The answer to your question is if you don't join, then you're not on our side, which means you're an enemy. That's a bad situation for an enemy to be in the heart of our territory," Mark answered, letting their imagination work the rest out.

Ace had enough sense to keep quiet this time, to the relief of Silver. Mark led them down twisting alleys and soon, Silver was completely lost. He had hoped to remember a way out, but there was no chance of that with all the twists and turns.

Finally, they stopped at what appeared to be a meeting place. About thirty Pokemon were sitting, or perching in the bird Pokemon's case, around a large box in the center. The area was just large enough for everyone to sit around without brushing pelts.

"We're about to have a meeting. Sit down anywhere you like, but first," Mark said, lowering his head to Silver. Silver closed his eyes, afraid of what Mark would do. He opened them when he felt a weight lift off of him. He saw Mark throwing his Oran berry sling to a Poochyena. "Those are our provisions now," he said, leaving them. He headed straight for the box that was in the middle. He leapt onto it and faced the crowd. Silver was amazed the old box could hold the large Pokemon's weight.

Seeing the only exits were blocked off, they sat at the edge of the crowd. The Pokemon shifted restlessly around them as they waited for Mark to start. Silver kept looking back over at his Oran berry sling, but it was being sorted away with a few other supplies.

Silver's attention went back to Mark as he began. "As you all know, Dereck has been pushing at the lines, trying to gain the advantage. As you make your rounds, make sure not to let them think we'll be pushed back. The final battle will be coming soon; I can feel it. Get ready, for soon we will win!" he finished. The Pokemon around him started cheering as he jumped off the box and pushed his way through to the exit opposite the one Silver had come in.

The Pokemon got up and started to trail off into certain exits. Silver, Ace, and Flame simply stayed where they were, unsure of what to do. Silver was just to suggest trying to get away, when a red Pokemon walked up. Silver knew it was a Vulpix by its six tails and signature head fur.

"I'm guessing you guys are new," it stated as it came up.

Silver nodded at its question.

The Vulpix glanced around and then said, "I'll show you where you'll be resting."

Silver was unsure of following anyone, but he could do with some rest, especially if they would be stuck here long. The Pokemon here didn't seem to get much sleep at all. The Vulpix started away and took them into another alleyway. This one branched off several times, but each one had a dead end with one or two Pokemon lying down.

Finally, they arrived at a wall, the last two branching sections to their left and right. Both of them were empty. The Vulpix turned right and they followed it to the end. Silver soon saw why these were empty. There was some king of large green and black box taking up half of the pathway, near the end. There were bits and pieces of broken glass everywhere that Silver was careful to not step on.

At the end of the alley was a high wall that, even with its many paw holds, would be almost impossible to climb. The ground was hard underpaw, making Silver think they would get no rest. The Vulpix nodded toward the wall and said, "This is where you'll be staying." And with that, it turned to leave.

"Wait," Ace said, making her stop. "Will you tell us what's going on here?"

The Vulpix glanced around before nodding and coming back. It sat down on the ground and the others followed suit. As Silver thought, the ground was way too uncomfortable to be able to rest on. "Why did you come here?" the Vulpix asked.

"We were forced here," Ace said angrily.

The Vulpix paused a little before quietly asking, "Can I trust you?"

Silver was a little surprised at the question. "We don't even know your name," he pointed out.

"Can I trust you?" she repeated quietly.

Silver exchanged glances with the others, but figured they had nothing to lose. They nodded together.

"I'm Sara," she introduced. "What's happening here is a battle between two Pokemon that are fighting for various reasons. Most Pokemon, at least under Mark, think it is to rule over the city Pokemon. Some think that the true reason is because they just like to fight. However, few, besides the Pokemon under Dereck, know that the real reason is that their fighting over a female. Mark took in a mate, but left her to try to survive on her own when she became pregnant. Dereck found her and took pity. He took her in and cared for her. Soon enough, they became mates.

"Mark then wanted her back, but she refused. He took the refusal badly and is now trying to get revenge by attacking Dereck. However, Dereck was highly respected and several Pokemon stood up for him. When Dereck started to draft Pokemon from the city, Pokemon went to Dereck both to help and get protection. Now, Mark and Dereck battle constantly.

"Soon, though, they'll be starting what they're calling the 'last battle.' Mark is going to take all his available Pokemon and charge at Dereck, trying to finish it. He actually thinks he defeat Dereck that way," she said, snorting at that point.

Silver and the others were silent all the way through, but Silver spoke up at the end of her explanation. "Why is that? Won't Mark surprise Dereck, giving him the advantage?" he asked.

"Ah, but he won't have the advantage of surprise," she said, grinning.

"Which confirms that you are a spy," Ace said simply.

Silver looked at him, surprised, before looking back at Sara. "Yes, I am," she said.

"Could you help us get out of here?" Silver asked hopefully.

Sara shook her head sadly. "I can't for they guard new members too closely. However, you won't have to wait too long before they do that last battle. I'll make sure to tell them about you. All you need to do is not attack Dereck's members and they won't attack you. That's the most I can do for you," she said.

She was about to turn to leave, when Ace asked, "Why are you battling?"

She paused a moment, surprised, before saying, "Personal reasons." She quickly left, obviously not wanting to answer any more questions like that.

There was silence for a little while they just sat there on the hard, rocky ground. Finally, Silver asked the one question they all had. "What do we do now?"