A/N: 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)
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
Note: The Poll has been taken down for numerous reasons, coupled with having decided the pairing
The Phoenix Chapter
Episode 5: Defending the Stars and Keeping the Family
Nick was trekking down the mountain, her combat boots crunching loudly on the gravel. Two bundles of energy were tumbling around on the slopes, tackling each other as they explored the nearby crags and rocks. Saffron and Athena were extremely adventurous and energetic, traits almost completely lost on their little brother. Dusk was curled up in Phoenix's arms, far too timid to like exploring close up, enjoying the distant and safe view from Nick's embrace.
Phoenix was immersed in the memories of yesterday's adventure.
They were travelling through Mt Moon when a loud roar sounded from the depths. Not thinking and acting on instinct alone, Phoenix, Saffron and Athena had (with Little Dusky safely in Phoenix's arms) rushed towards the sound. They had arrived in a large cavern with a hole in the ceiling allowing the sun's rays to illuminate most of the cavern. The cause of the disturbance was most peculiar. A large onix was in the middle of a heated argument with foreign and obliviously elusive pokémon. It was a tall, pink Pokémon with a vaguely star-shaped body. It had long, pointed ears with dark brown tips and black, oval eyes. It had dark pink, three-pointed wings on its back and a tightly curled tail. Phoenix had scanned it on her pokédex, remembering to turn off the volume.
Clefable the Fairy Pokémon and the evolved form of Clefairy. A timid fairy Pokémon that is rarely seen. It will run and hide the moment it senses people.
Behind the onix were multiple geodude, graveler, zubat and golbat all of which Nick had happily scanned, whilst keeping an eye on the commotion in the centre.
Graveler the Rock Pokémon and the evolved form of Geodude. Often seen rolling down mountain trails. Obstacles are just things to roll straight over, not avoid.
Zubat the Bat Pokémon. It has neither eyes nor a nose. It emits ultrasonic cries that bounce back to its large ears, enabling it to fly safely.
Golbat the Bat Pokémon and the evolved form of Zubat. It bites its prey and feeds on the victim's energy. Its own blood type changes to that of its victim.
On the clefable's side there were a dozen of other clefable along with numerous similar looking pokémon and a few tiny pink star pokémon that had Phoenix's inner girl squealing at their cuteness.
Clefairy the Fairy Pokémon and the evolved form of Cleffa. Its magical and cute appeal has many admirers. It is rare and found only in certain areas.
Cleffa the Star Shape Pokémon. When numerous meteors illuminate the night sky, sightings of Cleffa strangely increase.
The onix's group had wanted the cavern to themselves, despite the fact the clefable colony had lived there for generations. At first Phoenix had been conflicted on whether to leave and forget about it or stay and help. A saying that she'd heard many years ago sealed her decision: You may turn the other way but you can never say again that you did not know. With that in mind, Nick had summoned Nike to the battle front and, along with helpful input from Saffron, Athena and Dusk, they had sent them running with the onix giving one parting threat that they'd return in three days to claim the cavern. The colony had been grateful for their help and Phoenix had offered to help them defeat the others which had been eagerly accepted. Using her pokédex, Phoenix taught the clefable Disarming Voice and Sing and improved their control and power of Metronome and Moonblast, the clefairy learnt Wake Up Slap and Moonblast as well as control over Metronome and even the cleffa were taught Copy Cat and Sing for defence. During this three day period, Phoenix bonded with a Clefairy who wanted to travel the world and fight and a little cleffa who merely wanted adventure, not violence. The cleffa had become good friends with Saffron and Athena and had joined the 'baby the adorable, shy little Dusky like there is no tomorrow' club.
The morning of the battle, Phoenix had approached the leader and explained that she couldn't fight in this battle unless she was attacked herself. He had understood but had asked if she could watch the fight to which she happily agreed.
The clefable and clefairy had managed to hold their own against the other pokemon but they were gradually being over whelmed by the significantly larger army. However the tables were turned when Onix attempted to harm the children. The cleffa's had been herded into a nook out of sight with Saffron, Athena and Dusk to keep them distracted so they were completely vulnerable to the onix's wrath. Well almost. As he had lunged Phoenix dived in the way, taking a bone breaking boulder-smash to the side. Despite being in pain, Phoenix forced herself to her feet and blocked the path sending a clear message. You've got to get through me first. She'd argued with the rock snake as he'd attempted to bypass her. She would not allow anyone to slaughter an innocent, a child. Phoenix knew that she couldn't protect them alone so she'd unleashed her pokémon…who had immediately gone on the warpath.
Complete and utter destruction had consumed the cavern as her family descended upon the opposing side in a blood crazed fury. The colony had watched in disgusted fascination as they had torn the others apart. It didn't take long for the retreat to be called and the celebration to begin. As a thank you gift, Phoenix had received 2 moonstones, evolution stones that were sacred to Clefairy which allowed Clefairy to evolve into Clefable, Nidorina into Nidoqueen, Nidorino into Nidoking, Jigglypuff into Wigglytuff, Skitty into Delcatty and Munna into Musharna. On a completely unrelated note, Phoenix was heavily scolded and mothered by her family for an entire day while the pokémon went about getting her ribs healed. Saffron, Athena and Dusk kept her busy while she reassured them she wasn't dying anytime soon. Their adventure had ended the next morning as Phoenix began her journey out of the cave. However the clefairy and cleffa she had become friends with had joined her. Clefairy was on the lookout for a suitable trainer that wasn't his friend, so he would be travelling with them until he found one and Cleffa wanted to see the world.
As it was, Phoenix was travelling to Cerulean City so she could challenge the gym. Nick wasn't really interested in competing in the league but the gyms provided a challenge for her family plus it was great way to earn money that she desperately needed. The league would also be a bit of fun.
It was then that her luck ran out.
She had glimpsed the figure ahead but hadn't paid them much attention. It wasn't until they stopped 10 meters in front of her did she realise something was wrong.
"Nick Heart," he drawled, his blue eyes hard and humourless. Phoenix froze at the name. Aww shit. "You broke into Professor Oak's Lab in Pallet Town and stole two of the three starters and tricked him into giving you the third."
It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Presented in a manner that practically screamed; you can't prove this false. I have all the facts. Phoenix was doing everything in her power to remain calm, focusing on something other than the male before her.
"What makes you think I am this 'Nick Heart' that you speak of?" Nick asked smoothly as Saffron and Athena pressed themselves against her legs. She was fighting against a wave of nausea that had washed over her, struggling not to collapse or start crying. He could- Nick clamped her brain shut on those thoughts. She had a slight control over her fear but it was still incredibly taxing. Blue eyes glazed over. "After all, you have just approached an unknown stranger in the middle of a path who for all you know could pose a serious threat to your health."
"But I-I do have proof," he murmured softly, a look of confusion and indecision clouding his features.
"May I see this proof?" she questioned gently, edging slowly backward. The cloud thickened as he reached into his back pocket. He was fighting her voice, an impressive feat she had to admit.
"I guess so," he replied drawing out a square piece of paper. It was then her plan fell apart. A flash of light hit the ground as a green praying mantis appeared, tackling her to the ground. Her cry of pain as his blades cut her arms effectively broke the compulsion that she had cast on the boy. Saffron leapt at the scythe, Athena following in pursuit only for them to be tackled to the ground by a familiar but unfamiliar pokémon. It was a charmeleon, the evolved form of charmander. Phoenix leapt to her feet and dodged a punch from Blue. Dusk, in a rare moment of bravery, jumped out of her arms and sunk his teeth into, the boys hand before he was picked off by a pidgeotto. Before the fight could escalate, the boy stepped back.
"Surrender or the eevees get hurt," he stated calmly, a glint of another emotion in his eyes. Blood was trickling down from the torn skin and it clearly hurt a lot from the slight rotations of his wrist he was making. The whimpers of Saffron and Athena were killing her as was the look of absolute terror on Dusk's face from where he was pinned in the grasp of the pidgeotto's talons.
Slowly Phoenix nodded, fear of the boy in front of her ruling her judgement. "Put your pokéballs and bag on the ground," he ordered before adding as an afterthought. "Please."
Nick was doing everything she possibly could to keep herself composed but the close proximity was making her panic. She removed her jacket, feeling the familiar bumps of Nike, Nya and Enyo's pokéballs…she was an idiot. She still had those three titans up her sleeve but she had to time it perfectly. She couldn't allow any harm to come to the little ones. How glad she was that Cleffa and Clefairy were hidden in her bag. Her bag dropped to the ground as she stared just passed the boys ear. He examined her causing her fear of being alone with a male to go hay wire. Phoenix fought desperately to control her breathing.
"Release the stolen pokémon."
Nick crouched down and withdrew three pokéballs, relatively new looking, from her bag. She release the three starters before back tracking a few paces. Ilex, Hearth and Storm materialized in front of the boy. It took a total of three seconds for them realize what was going on.
1 second for them to register that they'd been released.
1 second for them to take in the scene before them.
1 second to react.
Flames bubbled at Hearth's maw, Ilex's vines were out and Storm had settled into a fighting stance.
"Enough. He is merely holding them at ransom so that I will return you to the lab where I stole you from," Phoenix interrupted them, only succeeding to enrage the already pissed off starters.
"No!" Hearth snarled viciously at the opposing pokémon. "We are family and family sticks together!"
Charmeleon snorted.
"You can't honestly believe that she is your family. She stole you from the lab, preventing you from meeting your rightful trainers!"
"That is bullshit! She is our rightful trainer! In fact she is so much more! She is our sister and mother!" Ilex growled, her vines lashing threateningly. Scyther rolled his eyes.
"She's brain washed you! Look at yourselves, defending a thief and a criminal!" he shot back. Storm leered.
"So what? We wanted to join her! She gave us an option, stay or go. We chose to stay, whether she is a thief or not, criminal or not we are staying with her and that's that!"
Pidgeotto groaned.
"You stupid pokémon! She will only get you killed!"
"And I'll kill you if you dare to try and take my sisters from me!" snarled Athena from her place underneath Charmeleon's paw.
"Yeah! The only reason you are all still alive is because we're in the firing range! Although, if it comes to it, I'd happily take a few attacks if it means we'll stay together!" Saffron added, defiantly.
"And taking hostages is not brave at all; that's cowardice," a timid voice finished. Everyone stared at Dusk. He shrugged. "Take my word for it, I'm an expert."
Those who knew Dusk grinned and applauded whilst the others just stared.
Phoenix smiled despite everything when she heard their defence of her. It was comforting to know just how strongly they felt about being a part of her family. The boy's eyes were now focused on the trio. Before he could say anything though a roar shook the earth almost knocking Phoenix over. A hand shot out to steady her, freezing her in place for multiple reasons. It was too much. Terrified orange met concerned and surprised blue.
"You alright?" he asked as he turned to face the direction the noise had come from. She nodded stiffly, following his lead. A man with dark teal hair and black eyes stood atop a rocky outcrop, a rhydon by his side. The maniacal gleam in his eyes was not lost on either of them. Phoenix recognized him from one of her spying missions on Team Rocket, talking with two of her most favourite people in the world. Koga.
"Well well well. What do we have here," he sneered, leaping down from his album cover pose and stalking towards them. "The professor's grandson and…" he trailed off upon seeing her. "And his girlfriend."
Phoenix snarled and stepped forward, her orange eyes glowing with anger. Hearth, Storm and Ilex had raced to her side, showing their displeasure with the statement. The boy clearly wasn't happy with it either.
"I am not his girlfriend," she growled, the boy glaring at the man and adding in his own, rather colourful, opinion. The man laughed.
"Whatever you say kids but I have a mission and that's to eliminate or capture the professor's grandson so back off girly," he told them arrogantly as his rhydon let loose another roar. The boy sneered.
"You can try," he snapped turning to Phoenix. "I know we aren't on good terms but do you mind giving me a hand?"
"Oh I plan too," she agreed darkly scooping up her jacket and pulling it on. "Ilex, Hearth, Storm, Dusk, Athena and Saffron, return!" she ordered, recalling her team. The boy stared at her confused, causing her to struggle once again against the onslaught. She did her best to ignore him and withdrew a different pokéball from her soft hoodie.
"Ready?" he asked her. She nodded.
"On your word?"
"Suits me."
Koga rolled his eyes and unleashed his arbok.
"Scyther! Let's battle!" the boy ordered, as his other pokémon were returned. Phoenix nodded slightly in approval.
"Enyo! Unleash mayhem!" she yelled, tossing the sphere into the air. An earth splitting roar tore through the air, causing Arbok, Koga, Rhydon, Scyther and Blue to cower/step back in fear. The majestic salamence formed, black wings slicing through the air as the males (both human and pokémon) stared at the dragoness in awe and terror.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Enyo roared as she fired the attack straight at an un-responding rhydon. The boy recovered quickly.
"Wing Attack combined with Double Team and Agility on Arbok!" he commanded. Scyther duplicated himself before he shot off at a blinding pace, his wings glowing with a white light. The bug slammed into arbok before retreating as quickly as he had come. Koga soon regained his composure.
"Arbok use Glare on Scyther then Acid!" he ordered before turning to a recovering Rhydon. "Rock Throw on Salamence!"
"Bat them right back Enyo!" Phoenix called out as she returned her attention to Koga and frowned. His cape was gone. Something told her this was more worrying then it should be. Her fears came true when she felt a cold, sticky, foul substance wrap around her mouth. She struggled and tried to scream but nothing worked. Her pokéballs were removed from her belt by the purple goo much to her horror. She flailed violently as something far larger enveloped her body. She was running out of air!
Blue was concerned. He was focused on his battle with Arbok but he hadn't heard anything from Nick for a little while. Although her salamence, Enyo, didn't need her trainer's commands to fight, it was unsettling. Blue spared a glance to where she should be and his eyes widened. Her pokéballs lay on the ground, their owner nowhere in sight. Calling another order to Scyther, he released Pidgeotto and Charmeleon.
"I need you to fly up and let the dragon know that her trainers missing. She won't listen to me but maybe she'll at least see if you're telling the truth."
Pidgeotto nodded before taking off. Blue turned to Charmeleon.
"Go to the pokéballs over there and see if you can convince the three starters to fight. Then you and I are going looking for their trainer," Blue ordered as he turned back to the battle, noticing the smug smirk on Koga's face and realised her disappearance had something to do with him. The anger that had started to build before had disappeared and the worry had increased. Koga didn't appear to be a man of mercy. An enrage roar told him that Enyo had noted her trainer's absence and was about to unleash hell for it.
A large purple blob that was constantly moving caught his attention almost instantly. Nick's head was visible above the sludge, her mouth covered and her face pale. Blue quickly scanned it on his pokédex.
Grimer the Sludge Pokémon. Grimer emerged from the sludge that settled on a polluted seabed. This Pokémon loves anything filthy. It constantly leaks a horribly germ- infested fluid from all over its body.
Muk the Sludge Pokemon and the evolved form of Grimer. From Muk's body seeps a foul fluid that gives off a nose-bendingly horrible stench. Just one drop of this Pokémon's body fluid can turn a pool stagnant and rancid.
"Note to self: Do not let that stuff near my mouth-oh shit!" Blue cursed as he realised what he'd just said. "Charmeleon use Flame Burst and Dragon Rage to draw their attention towards you so we can get her out."
Charmeleon nodded as Blue ran towards the poison blobs, eyes widening in horror when he saw her struggles stop completely and all colour drained away from her face. She'd suffocated!
Whether it was Charmeleon's attacks, the limpness of their victim's body or Blue's physical onslaught or a combination of all three, the sludge pokémon released Nick and turned on Charmeleon. Pulling her away, and into his arms, Blue checked her pulse. It was steadily returning to normal. The colour was returning to her cheeks. Tapping her cheeks a few times, Blue managed to get her to come round.
"Huh, what happened?" she murmured as she stepped away. Blue kept one arm out to steady her.
"You were kidnapped by Koga's Muk and Grimer. Charmeleon and I got you out," he informed her. She eyed him warily, fear burning bright in her eyes. "You owe me one," he added. She raised an eyebrow in the 'really' expression before her eyes locked onto something behind him. Nick tackled him out of the way just in time as a sludge bomb landed where he'd been standing.
"No I don't."
Blue huffed and she relaxed slightly, drawing a pokéball out of her hoodie. She unleashed the beast inside, a regal arcanine who bounded over to Charmeleon, aiding him against the sludge pokémon.
Exchanging a glance, the pair raced back to the original battlefield. Enyo had laid waste to the area, smoking craters and churned up earth permanent signs of her anger. Trees were burnt to ash, torrential rains soaked their clothes and rocks, trees and the earth bore marks of an enraged bulbasaur's vine whip. Blue let loose a low impressed whistle.
"Remind me not to get on their bad side," he commented offhandedly. Nick smiled shyly.
"Will do. I suggest not taking them away unless you want to be on their bad side," she replied cheekily. Blue gazed at her.
"I think I'll listen to that suggestion," he said after a while. "After what I saw today I don't believe you're going to harm them. Just don't make me regret it."
"I promise," she answered as the giant dragon landed before them. Blue turned his eyes to the salamence as Nick embraced the worried dragon. Small growls and rumbles echoed out of the dragon's throat as she preened Nick's hair. The distress was enough for him to wonder just how close she was with the dragon. Probably had raised it from a young age with how it treated her. Another thought hit his mind while he absently noticed Charmeleon running back with the arcanine bounding beside him. Why was she so scared of him?
"Nick," he asked interrupting whatever she was currently doing.
"Yes?" she questioned as she returned her pokémon.
"Why are you so scared of me?"
Nick froze completely, staring at him in shock.
"What? How?"
"You look terrified every time I get within a 2 meter radius of you. I'm not going to hurt you," he told her truthfully as she remained unblinking. Finally she sighed and looked down.
"It's not you. It's males in general. I gained this fear when I was really young and the place I have been in since then only amplified it. It's not sexist, not really because I don't hate your gender, I just fear it."
Blue could tell while she'd told him the truth, that wasn't the full story. He didn't blame her at all and made a mental note if he saw her again, which was highly likely, that he'd keep his distance to a more comfortable range. He nodded.
"I honestly don't know what to say to that but I'll warn you now that there's this arrogant kid who's also travelling that's been asked to arrest you and take the trio. His name's Red and I'm sure you'll cross paths with him," he warned her. Nick nodded.
"Thanks for the heads up but before you go, my name's Phoenix Rivera and I ask that I at least hear the name of my rescuer," Phoenix called to him as he began to walk away. Blue turned and smirked.
"The name's Blue Oak, Phoen," he shot back as he stalked away, unaware of the gaping Phoenix he'd left in his wake at the nickname he'd given her.
OMAKE
Blue was standing at the Viridian City Pokémon Centre's video phone, one eyebrow raised at his panicking grandfather. Finally he had enough.
"Gramps for the love of all things mighty, calm down and explain to me exactly what the problem is!" he snapped. His words had the intended effect and his grandfather stopped his annoying as hell pacing and sat down.
"Well Blue you see I no longer have the second set of starters," he began nervously. Blue face palmed.
"How the hell did you managed to lose not one, not two but three pokémon? That were in their pokéballs not running rampant!"
The professor sweat dropped.
"Uh well you see I didn't lose them, they were stolen."
Blue gave his grandfather a deadpan look.
"Are you for real? You said that last time!"
"Yes but last time the thief didn't steal them out from under my nose!"
"Pardon?" Blue asked gaping at him. "This person nicked all three starters in front of you?!" he yelled in disbelief, drawing many curious looks from the centre's other occupants. Oak nodded. Blue face palmed.
"Are you kidding me? What exactly happened?"
"Well you see I walked into the room where I keep my starters and there was this girl standing there. She claimed to have met me before, even said that we'd spoken about the bonds between pokémon and people which is the field I specialize in. I couldn't remember her and she got upset so I believed her. I offered her a pokémon and a pokédex and she accepted. Bulbasaur was missing when I turned around to grab Charmander to give to her and then she left the lab. I went back to the pokéball that contained Squirtle to find it missing so I called you and then I'll locate Red and call him," his grandfather informed him. Blue pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance.
"So in short she stole Bulbasaur, tricked you into giving her Charmander and a pokédex and then she stole Squirtle and left?" Blue asked to which he received a nod of affirmation. He sighed.
"Brilliant start so what do I do?"
"I'm sending you a photo of her that you'll receive in Pewter City. Her name is Nick Heart. If you come across her on you travels, take back the starters and bring her to justice."
"Alright. You can count on me," Blue responded as he reached to hang up. His grandfather stood up and turned to go, tripping over something on the floor and landed with a crash just as the screen went black.
Not for the first time that day, Blue face palmed.
OMAKE END
A/N: The poll has been taken down and the pairing semi decided. I could still change my mind. I have an entire book.
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, Flamethrower, Smokescreen, Brick Break
EM: Dragon Dance, Dragon Pulse
Bulbasaur (Ilex): Female. Overgrow. Chlorophyll.
M: Tackle, Leech Seed, Vine Whip, Sleep Powder, Razor Leaf
EM: Leaf Storm, Power Whip
Squirtle (Storm): Female. Torrent. Rain Dish.
M: Tackle, Water Gun, Withdraw, Rapid Spin, Protect
EM: Aura Sphere, Water Spout
Eevee (Saffron): Female. Run Away. Anticipation
M: Helping Hand, Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes
EM: Covet
Eevee (Dusk): Male. Adaptability. Anticipation
M: Helping Hand, Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes
EM: Covet
Eevee (Athena): Female. Run Away. Anticipation
M: Helping Hand, Tackle, Growl, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes
EM: Covert
Clefairy (Unnamed): Male. Cute Charm. Friend Guard
M: Metronome, Moonblast, Wake-Up Slap, Sing, Pound, Growl
EM: Mimic
Cleffa (Stella): Female. Magic Guard. Friend Guard.
M: Sing, Copy Cat, Pound
EM: Heal Pulse
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Hell's Gates