A/N: Hello everybody last time I checked it has been over six months since I had posted a chapter and I apologize for that. For some reason Fanfiction is not wanting to run on safari for some weird ass reason, but I digress. Anyway, very shortly will a chapter of distance shall be out in the future (probs within the next few weeks). So hold your breaths for that. And The Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond the Mountains) shall be along sometime afterwords. Enjoy this chapter, remember. Favorite follow and review.

Ch9: Sprawl I (The Flatlands)

I heard the low growl of the Manectric. "You dare invade our home?!" He asked in a loathsome voice, "You think you can prance about and take what you damn well please. Well that's not going to happen!" I stood up, battered and bruised, and cockily spat on the ground in front the him and muttered, "Fuck you...I'm just here for the water float. It belongs to some close friends of mine, and I will be taking it back to them." The dog laughed in a hearty way, full of confidence. "You and what army?" He asked condescendingly.

I curled my paw into a fist. "I came here alone because I can handle myself. Vincent, Lina, and Alana don't need to bother themselves with this. My friends burdens are my burdens, and my burdens are my own."

"Bite your tongue whelp. I couldn't give shit about what spouting off about. Prepare to die!" Manectric charged, his body cascade with an electric veil. "Let's go!" I whipped my arm back forming an Aura Blade. The rest of his pack was down for the count. It was just me and him. Manectric growled charging at me. I thrust the blade forward. After making contact with his skin, my move shattered to oblivion. Fuck me! My eyes turned to saucers as I watched his mouth wrap around my neck. The daggers shredding at my skin and fur.

He growled more, I could feel his jaw tightening. More and more, then his eyes darkened and jaw went limp. Leaving me gasping for air on the ground. Thank Arceus for that pressure point I hit. I backed away leaning against the rock formation behind for a bit. Oh damn... Oh damn... that was a close one! I stumbled to my feet. The fatigue finally getting to me. It was a long fight. One max evolution, and several pre-evolutions. Nothing I couldn't handle though, I staggered over to the water float. Retrieving the item sought out over the last period of months. And I headed back for some much needed rest.

xxxxxx

Sick... I still feel sick from the our little excursion. Mostly the dizziness and the over all fatigue. Everything else is fine though. I still can't get Lina or Hana off my back, Vincent was having no such luck himself with Alana. Something hasn't been quite right, I can't place my paw on it however but I feel it. Dusknoir has been giving me weird looks ever since Alana told him about the dizzy spells I've been having. But... I'm just going to chalk it up to paranoia. I mean come on! Dusknoir concocting some malevolent scheme that involves me? Don't make me laugh.

I leaned back in my bed and stared at the ceiling. Arceus Dammit it didn't feel right just fucking sitting here and waiting for that ghost prick to capture Grovyle! Damn him! I would have won... I curled my paw into a fist, I should have won...

[Flashback]

He was here. Standing and staring at he glowing light floating in the middle of lake. Clear waters and crystals surrounded the gear. Forming a barrier of sorts, though an ineffective one at that. I skidded around the corner and looked fiercely at the Pokemon. Whom of which had his back turned to me. Alana came up from behind quicker than the others. Glaring daggers into out opponent. "Let's go," I whispered. Preparing myself for a fight. My chest tightened and my limbs when berserk. Trembling nonstop as we approached, quiet and careful.

A preemptive strike was all we could think of with just the two us. Vincent and Lina were awfully injured as it was. They didn't need to fight anymore. "Fire Blast?" I looked at her with the most devious smile and nodded. She lept in the air. Flames curling between her lips and teeth, practically begging to be set free. Alana released the brutal sway, billowing greatly overhead and contorting into the shape of an asterisk. It crackled with loud volume as it crashed into him. Something flickered underneath.

It had tinge of green transparent...ness, portruding a bit of the way out from the Pokemon's form. I believe Grovyle is what he called himself. The blaze wreathed around him. I looked in complete wonder, trying to figure out how he was doing this. Grovyle turned around slowly. "That's not nice," he said in a raspy voice, "trying to attack someone while their back is turned." We both backed up a bit. I steeled my nerves and urged Alana to do the same.

"We are here to apprehend y-you... and bring you t-to j-justice!" Alana choked out. I could tell she wished in retrospect that she had just bit her tongue and let me do the talking. But I think this is good for her, making her get out of her comfort zone anyway. "Tch, don't make me laugh." At that instant he bolted towards us with incredible speed. I barely had time to react. I quickly reached over and pushed Alana with as much force as I could muster.

Then I leapt to the side myself, dodging what I assumed was an attack. "Let's see what you've got." The leaves on his arms began to glow green. Grovyle turned away from me. His yellow eyes with the black slits as irises left an impression. I blink and I just couldn't help but see them. I watched dash towards Alana, arms raised and ready. She didn't lock up which was good. She stood her ground, breathing out a heavy wave of swooning flames. Grovyle jumped high overhead not phased by her attempt to block him. She looked up in surprise, on the edge of blatant terror.

"I'm not scared of you... I'm not scare of you... I'm not scared of you!" Alana screamed at the top of her lungs. More flames rumbled with fury beneath her breath. The next fated conflagration was stifled by her lips. "I want to be strong... like Sinclare. I want to be strong!" Her thoughts raged within her head. Adding fuel to her motivation. Finally she let it burn, seething flames rippled in the shape of an asterisk. I watched as the pokemon shielded himself again from the sway. "Fuck he's using protect!" I thought outloud.

I can't just stand here, I have to act! I raced over, feeling the blistering cold warp itself around me. I leapt, watching everything finish out and Alana dodge his strike by rolling to my left. Perfect. I reeled by my arm and thrust forward with every ounce of my strength. Unfortunately Grovyle successfully dodged as well, jumping to my right. Shit! I exlcaimed. My fist dug into the crystal. I quickly transitioned to an aura blade, swiping blindly at the pokemon behind me. Much to my surprise he had parried with a move of his own.

"Are you done?" He asked in a monotonous tone. "Because of I would like to be rid of you peasants. NOW!" His form faded into oblivion.

"You were holding back this entire time?" I asked, my voice became shaken and weak.

"Of course. You can't defeat me. Your weak. Insignifficant." I felt a rush of wind. I quickly flipped around to find out what it was. And it was Grovyle, his leg was cocked and ready for release. A permanent scowl was etched onto his face. "Know your place." He sent me tumbling back into a back smashing into the wall, sending glimmering shards everywhere. I coughed and sputtered, my lung capacity was greatly diminished. I couldn't breath.

"F-uck..." I wheezed. I could barely keep my damn eyes open.

"And now for you." I could hear Alana whimper.

"G-get a-way from h-her!" With great difficulty, I lifted my paw into the air. Focus, focus! My mind was clouded with agony but... I had to push past it! Slowly, slowly it came to be. An aura sphere emerged, it had been a long while since I felt the need to fire one off. It was ready. "GO!" I exclaimed with excitement. What happened next stilled my heart it breath. It shattered into limbo, nothing but air was at the tip of my paw. No... Alana!

"That's far enough!" Suddenly Duskenoir appeared from nowhere, stopping Grovyle attack. I watched his blades shatter, and I felt so happy. I remember then sleeping...

[End]

"Sinclare! Sinclare!"

"Huh? What, what?!" I jumped up from my bed, a cold sweat. "Ugh... I'm gonna' have to bath in the river later."

I looked up and saw Vincent with a big grin on his face. "They captured him!" My heart skipped a beat.

"You mean, Grovyle?" I had to see this for myself. I bolted from our room, through the corridor, up the stair, and out the door. I stopped at the crossroads. "Where?"

"Town square," Vincent ran past me. I couldn't help get a sickly feeling as I approached. The anticipation was horrid as it ran through my chest. And there everyone stood, around him, around Duskenoir and Grovyle. The entire guild was out and about. They all shared cheers and jeers. For the stealer of gears was finally caught. I pushed my way to the front and looked upon the sight with my own eyes. I couldn't help but feel envy. My blood boiled looking at him.

"Team Syndicate." Duskenoir was calling for us. And I didn't want anything to do with him. "Please come up here." I did so. With great reluctance but Vincent's coaxing was compelling. I stood side by side with my companions. He sucked in a mouthful of air, and exhaled loudly. A gaping hole was directly behind him alternating between black and white. I looked back at him and there was a sinister smirk on his face. "You are coming with me."

He snatched my arm, which dissappeared within his giant mitts. I tried to pull away but he was too strong. "Get off him. Let him go!" Gena came from nowhere a Shadow Ball flaring in her left paw. I looked at the Gengar in surprise. This was the first time she has ever attempted to defend me from anything. Other than myself.

"How Sweet," He chuckled. Duskenoir yanked my arm so hard I shouted in pain. He flung me around and slammed me into Gena. "I guess you both coming."

"Fuck..." I muttered through my gritted teeth.

"No, get your hands off them!" I heard Duskenoir cry out in pain.

"You little runt!" He threw Gena from his hands and grabbed Vincent by the neck. "I don't have time for this... We are going NOW!" He pushed Grovyle through the portal and dragging us with them. While everyone else watched in amazement and wonder.