A/N: Warning!: Summary Change

Summary: Sticks and stones could break your bones but they can always be fixed. The power of words can build you up, fill you with joy or tear you down and dispose of all happiness. But once they've been said the damage, good or bad, has been done and nothing can reverse it or heal it completely. Sure it can repair itself mostly but those words will follow the target till the end of their days and will affect a choice they make in the future. So what happens when someone has complete and utter control over that power? Will they use it to maintain the balance or will they favour? This is the tale of a girl who did not follow the path that destiny had wanted when she was gifted with her talent. Not a true hero nor a true villain; meet Phoenix Rivera, the Antihero. (All credit for this idea goes to Michael Mind's Antiheroes)

Note: This chapter is set 3 days after the previous one

Disclaimer: I do not own pokémon. I swear on my life but I wish I did. If I did Ash would be a girl and not an idiot but I suppose his stupidity is entertaining for kids. Also he would not restart his journey and abandon all his pokémon after he's used them.

Disclaimer: I do not own Antiheroes

The Phoenix Chapter

Episode 2: Ohana

Deep in the heart of the Viridian Forest, far away from the path where humans mainly walked, six pokémon and one human were training, pushing each other to their limits in a tremendous effort to become stronger. The brambles and foliage that surrounded the spacious clearing provided a decent sound cover as well as concealment from prying eyes.

A snow white dragon growled softly as she whipped her head around, releasing a torrent of pure power at her opponent. Despite it being far more inexperienced, barely more than a baby, the beautiful dragoness wasn't taking it too easy on her foe. Only going at about 50%. The tiny blue turtle who was battling this breath-taking adversary wasn't planning on submitting to the obviously battle hardened creature, instead was dodging the powerful beam as best she could. Taking a deep breath, the water type summoned water from her inner reserves and unleashed a rather weak (in comparison to the dragon's attack) water gun. The spray splashed harmlessly against the beast's scales, not even succeeding to affect her focus.

The turtle tried again, shaking slightly as she built up pressure in her stomach and fired, the blast more powerful than the first. Still nothing. Frustration welled up inside her as she glared at the impassive dragoness who had lazily begun to charge another attack. The dragon may have been well out of her league but this failure was depressing. Why couldn't she-wait! That's it! A smirk spread itself over her face as she charged her most powerful water gun yet. The dragon opened her jaws to unleash a scorching flamethrower only to be stopped as a high pressured blast of water was fired into her eyes. She growled irritated as shook her head furiously to get rid of water. Internally she was pleased with the others' progress, her power and thinking had improved drastically over the three days of intensive training they'd done.

"That was brilliant Storm! You've done amazingly well today."

The duo turned and grinned at their friend who had been assessing the Squirtle during the match. The exhausted turtle was scooped up into the girl's arms as she cooed over the young pokémon who happily soaked up the attention. Enyo smiled as she strode contently over to them, shoving her head beside Phoenix's, eliciting a delighted giggle from her friend. "You did a great job as well Enyo even if you were just standing there," Nick teased scratching her friend's jaw. Enyo pouted but closed her eyes and crooned in content at the petting.

"I wonder how the others are faring," the dragoness murmured opening her eyes slightly as the trio focused on the others.

"Probably not as well as I am," Storm joked snuggling into her trainers embrace.

"I beg to differ. Nya was boasting last night that Hearth had managed to injure her," Enyo retorted good naturedly. Storm pouted at his 'big sister' and whacked her upside the head, much to the amusement of Phoenix. The young girl made her way over with Storm in her arms while Enyo remained, far too big to make the journey without disrupting the training session. She was a lot bigger than most salamence something she prided herself in but it meant that moving in an enclosed space was difficult.

Hearth and Nya were on the other side of the clearing, focusing on the charmander's physical condition.

"Faster!" Nya growled unleashing a flamethrower that Hearth narrowly avoided as she bounded up the branches of a natural skyscraper. Hearth was doing everything in her power to not look down and to sense where the attack was coming from instead of seeing it. Extending her senses, she smelt the burning smell of a fire beginning. That meant that the arcanine was waiting patiently for an opening. She leapt to another branch, regaining her balance as quickly as possible before she launched herself higher. Her claws hooked into the strong branch not even bending under her weight. Hearth's senses tingled and she scrambled desperately up to dodge the flamethrower that Nya had released. Unfortunately she was a tad slow and the flames burnt her right leg. Hearth gritted her teeth to prevent herself from screeching. She should have been faster. Gasping for breath she searched her mind praying that a grain of an idea was laying there so she could formulate it into a plan. This jumping business was exhausting. A thought hit her as she sunk her claws into a limb that was prodding out of the trunk to avoid another flamethrower. Hearth smirked as she leapt higher. It was dangerous deadly even but that was just so much better. Much more appealing than climbing this tree. Now just to distract her for a moment…

She only had to wait a few moments longer before she felt the sun's rays begin to strengthen and she knew that Nya's attention was no longer focused on her. Hearth spun round and spotted the arcanine's gaze was fixed on the sun. Perfect. Readying herself, Hearth judged the distance and leapt. The wind whipped past as she hurtled towards the earth, the Nya's head just beneath her body. The legendary pokémon had no time to react as the flame pokémon landed heavily on her head causing Nya to collapse to the ground. Cheers erupted from behind them causing an elated Hearth and a rather disgruntled Nya to realise that Nick and Storm had seen the whole thing.

"Well done Hearth that was extremely clever of you," Phoenix praised, rubbing the fire types head as the salamander scrambled on to her shoulder. "We'll work on you speed, endurance and strength though. It needs a bit of focus but your cunningness should make up for it. Nya we'll work on Sunny Day so you don't have to focus on the sun to strengthen it so you aren't distracted but other than that you did well to control the fire an refrain from burning the branches even if at half power," Nick added stroking the canine's head affectionately. Nya growled in pleasure and nuzzled her affectionately.

"You can count on it."

A cry of pain startled the four and caused Enyo to go into protective mode. Ilex had been flung into a tree mercilessly by Nick's oldest and most powerful pokémon. Even Enyo feared her wrath.

"Did you really think that flimsy attack would work on me? I am far more seasoned in battle then you so it would be foolish not to give your best," Nike snarled padding forward threateningly. Ilex struggled to her feet, slightly winded by her painful landing. Her mentor and elder sister figure wasn't happy that she was 'holding back' in training and had dealt with it accordingly. She knew Nike's temper wasn't something to be trifled with nor ignited. The absol had taken down many powerful forces in a good mood but when she was enraged…well, let's just say the champion of Kanto's signature pokémon should be dead. Ilex also knew that the main reason Nike was so vicious about her 'not giving her all' was that the dark type couldn't live with herself if another in her care died. The starter shook her head to clear it. Dwelling on that particular story wouldn't help her situation.

"But I am trying my hardest," Ilex shot back, facing the eldest defiantly. Nike snorted.

"Tauros crap. You can do better than that," she sneered, not even needing to halt her advance to build up the needed pressure to leap 10 meters with ease pinning the younger to the ground. Ilex struggled against the warrior, trying in vain to throw her off. "My point has been made. You aren't even trying. If you were I'd be long gone, I'm not even holding on."

Ilex rumbled angrily at the blunt insult. She hated the disappointment that was swirling in the disaster pokémon's eyes at her failure. Why couldn't she accomplish anything? She fought back a wince as the weight of the elder opponent pressed her bulb in to the ground.

Her bulb…had vines.

Arceus she was an idiot.

Gritting her teeth Ilex shoved her limbs into Nike's stomach, giving her bulb a moment to breathe. Taking advantage of the moment, her vines whipped out coiling around Nike's torso. Ilex flung the surprised dark type into the air, sending her flying. Unsurprisingly, the absol merely flipped mid-flight and landed gracefully in a crouch.

"About time too kid. I was starting to wonder if you had it in you," Nike stated indifferently but Ilex knew better. The look in Nike's eyes betrayed her. They were practically glowing with approval and pride making the words bearable.

"Thank you Nike," she murmured honestly. The absol rolled her eyes.

"Speak up would you? If it wasn't for the fact my hearing is better than most I wouldn't have caught that. Also I would recommend you run over everything you know you can do with that magic plant of yours so we don't have those types of situations again," Nike reprimanded, her voice taking a slightly sarcastic tone. She softened after a while.

"Oh and Ilex? It's sister to you."

A grin threatened to split her face in two at the disaster pokémon's words. Nick was right, Nike's approval and love was worth anything.

Phoenix smiled fondly at her family as they relaxed under the sun streaked sky. Enyo's unusual snow white body was curled under a large sycamore tree, her night black wings resting comfortably. Nya was dozing nearby, her ruffled mane fluffed up against the evening chills. Nick's oldest friend, sister, and companion Nike was curled up next to her, watching as Phoenix stirred the curry like meal with smooth rhythmic strokes. The younger trio was huddled together underneath the safety of Enyo's wings.

"You were tough on her today," Phoenix murmured softly. Nike sighed and buried her face into her best friend's leg.

"I know. It's just when I saw her not using everything she possibly could to complete my task," Nike chocked up, silent tears streaking down her face. "It reminded me of how h-h-he died."

Nick set down the spoon and gathered the absol in a hug. She still hadn't fully healed from the heart break as she'd watched helplessly, screaming his name, as he had been mercilessly killed by his dragonite. He had been Nike's first apprentice, Enyo having trained Nya, and the little brother of the family of mostly females. It had torn them all to pieces when he was murdered and Nike had fallen into an abyss of self-blame and loathe. Nike vowed to never allow it to happen again.

"Nike it wasn't your fault," Phoenix stated firmly, carding her figures through her fur in a comforting manner. "He said it himself that you were not to blame for what happened. You taught him everything he knew and he loves you a lot. Do you want to disgrace his death?"

Nike shook her head vehemently, horror glistening in her eyes as they always did when this question was asked.

"Then quit wallowing in self-blame! He would be devastated if he knew how much you hate yourself for what happened," she reprimanded hugging her tighter with one arm as she served the poke/human friendly berry and meat dish for her family. Phoenix didn't like using the black card on Nike but it was the only way the dark type saw sense. Reaching over, Nick picked up a hand towel and gently dried the absol's tears. Nike felt like a cub again in her mother's arms and she snuggled further into her best friend's embrace.

"Thank you Phoe," she whispered gratefully, nuzzling into her hand. Phoenix laughed at the nickname.

"It's alright Nike. How about tonight we go have some fun while Enyo minds the others?"

Excitement lit up Nike's face. Nick liked to have one on one bonding time with her family which often resulted in midnight escapades and raids that the orginal trio enjoyed immensely. They'd see what the new additions liked soon but for now it was dinner time.

"Come on you lot! Dinner is ready!"

"Is this one going to end in a food fight?" Nya asked warily, glancing at Nike as if she would throw a berry at her face. Storm's eyes lit up like Christmas lights and presents burst open in the background.

"You have food fights?!"

"You just had to mention the food fights didn't ya?" Hearth asked, sarcasm practically leaking out of her mouth. Nya raised an eyebrow.

"Of course! If you were with us the last time we had this to eat you would definitely be asking!"

Ilex groaned.

"It was a rhetorical question you nincompoop!"

Enyo blinked then grinned.

"That's a new one but it is a perfect description."

"Oh shut up you over sized heffalump!"

"What the hell is a heffalump?" Storm asked confused. Nike looked amused as she bit into her food.

"It's quite difficult to explain but in short Nya just called Enyo a really big, fat, clumsy and temperamental creature."

"Why you little piece of-" (Nike and Phoenix quickly covered the ears of the younger generation) screeched Enyo as she threw her food into Nya's face. The arcanine retaliated in kind, leading to the best food fight the family had ever par taken in.

Yes life has its ups and downs, successes and failures, highs and lows but as long as you have family, friends and people who love you enough to drag you on a fun journey, then you have everything and are in for a great time.

Phoenix's Team:

Absol (Nike): Female. Pressure. Justified.

M: Pursuit, Night Slash, Sucker Punch, Bite, Quick Attack, Slash, Razor Wind, Detect, Double Team, Attract, Future Sight, Iron Tail, Ice Beam, Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Hyper Beam

EM: Play Rough, Megahorn

Salamence (Enyo): Female. Intimidate. Moxie.

M: Dragon Claw, Dragon Pulse, Dragon Tail, Aerial Ace, Roost, Double Team, Attract, Protect, Hyper Beam, Earthquake, Fire Fang, Flamethrower, Steel Wing, Stone Edge, Brick Break

EM: Hydro Pump, Dragon Rush

Arcanine (Nya): Female. Flash Fire. Justified.

M: Thunder Fang, Extreme Speed, Fire Fang, Flamethrower, Crunch, Heat Wave, Flare Blitz, Agility, Overheat, Wild Charge, Double Team, Attract, Sunny Day, Solar Beam, Giga Impact

EM: Iron Tail, Close Combat

Charmander (Hearth): Female. Blaze.

M: Scratch, Growl, Ember, Smokescreen

EM: Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse

Bulbasaur (Ilex): Female. Overgrow. Chlorophyll.

M: Tackle, Leech Seed, Growl, Vine Whip

EM: Leaf Storm, Power Whip

Squirtle (Storm): Female. Torrent. Rain Dish.

M: Tackle, Tail Whip, Water Gun, Withdraw

EM: Aura Sphere, Water Spout

Phoe is pronounced Fee and Phoen is pronounced Feen. Just clarifying. Please read and review. I don't mind if it's a simple word or a long detailed story just please tell me what you think. Even just 'Good' makes my day. But if you say 'this sucked' please tell me why and I can try and work on it. May the devil be with you;

Hell's Gates