Chapter 18 - Shack of the River Posse
The Next Day
"Yo Jack!" I heard Steven call out for my name
I raise my head from the map which I've looked at, deciding where I head to first on it. I was planning to actually get a move on today, though I wanted to make sure everything would go to as planed first.
"What's up?" I asked
"The Battle is happening!"
'Well, I suppose this will be interesting at least' I thought
I walk out the back door, with a few other Pokémon who seemed to also be interested. I trailed behind Steven
"I haven't seen a Pokémon battle before! This is going to be awesome!" He said
"Eh, don't get your hopes up. It's a water gun vs an Electric battery. It's going to be quick."
'This is totally stupid.'
"Quick? You think just because there's a type disadvantage, Rin is going to lose Lickity split? I mean, she will fight to the very end"
I look at the small field opening and its clear of debris, it's pretty Cloudy. But I love cloudy days, they are my favorite, even before I was an Umbreon. There's no sun in my eyes.
"Well, this is going to be great to document as well!" I said
"Document?" He responded
I find a grassy part that is near the tree line and I sit down, which give me a good view of everything
"Yeah. document, as you said, this is also my first time seeing a battle. This will be good because I can see how they fight and use powers, though I expect them to be simple"
Steven then sits by me, going into a loaf like position. Then falling out of it, then goes into a normal sitting position
"I'm happy to be here because I get to actually get to watch something for once. It gets pretty boring."
He then sighs
"Ya know? I probably won't be able to battle. Well…I don't want to. I'll hurt someone, I'm a fire type. And I don't want to light someone on fire or really burn them"
"Well, I wouldn't suggest it either. You're on your own out here. You have to make sure you don't get hurt."
"Sure the freedom is awesome, the wind on your body. But you have to have limits. I bet so many people will die in pointless ways to their misuse of their powers."
I then spy Rin and Toby. Who both go by Blackwater and Booster respectively. Walk out of the back of the factory with Jorden with them, and I see them shake paws
"Which is why I think this will be very interesting"
"Are you implying that one of them will get hurt?" He asked
"Well, uhh. I'm just not really the guy who likes to hurt people, and seeing people fight each other with absurd abilities makes me worry for their well being"
"Well, of course, they will get hurt. It's a battle, a play fight, they will bounce right back. Let's just enjoy it alright?"
I then see the Furret walk into the middle of the field
"Thank you to everyone who made it here! Thank you very much!"
I spy around and I notice about 8-10 people also here as well. I guess this is pretty popular of a 'Sport
The Furret then points to my Right. The side closest to the factory. Where Blackwater was waiting eagerly.
"On the right side, we have Blackwater! a water type Vaporeon!"
He then points to the left. Where Booster looked pretty strong and Emotionless sorta.
"On the left side, we have Booster! an Electric-type Jolteon!"
I then took note of both of their strengths I could see at the moment. I look at Booster and he looks pretty strong, maybe a heavy hitter? I'm just currently getting the impression of strength or bulk. I spy on over to Blackwater and she is a Little smaller than Booster, she is currently can't stop bouncing in her current position means she must have quite a kick or energy in her. Maybe she can outmaneuver him?
"So I wonder who will win? The entire atmosphere is energetic! Hehe, pun included!" I heard Steven near me
'Maybe I could plan battle techniques and maneuvers in the future? I seem to be good at it, or maybe the excitement is getting to me, which I can confirm.'
Jorden then gets off of the field and goes by the side of it, still nearby, and yells out
"Alright! Remember! The Battle ends when one forfeits or is too weak to continue! Or has fainted!
"Of Course." I heard Toby say, then followed with Rin saying "Get on with it!"
"Well then."
Rin and toby stood seven feet from one another. The feild of battle is set. The combatants were set.
"ready!?" Fin got in a position to strike. The jolteon's right paw glowed ever so slightly.
"Fight!"
As soon as it was called toby swiped the ground in front of him the soil turned to sand as it sailed through the air towards rin. It scores a direct hit and rin was left with sand on her face. Blinded. Toby bolts right. Rin uses tackle where tobey was and missed her target. Toby countered with tackle, hitting her exposed right flank.
Rin arcs water gun to her right, hitting toby. In turn Toby growls and backs off.
Rin had swiped the sand off her face her vision unobscured. With a clear view of her target Rin uses water gun.
toby braces and uses thunder shock.
Rin is shocked by the electric attack via the stream from the water gun causing her to collapse. An attempt is made to stand again but Toby uses thunder shock again. Again she tries to get up and just like before she is downed by thundershock.
Rin is unable to continue.
'That was Brutal.'
"Well, she tried her best" Steven said next to me
I bump flare a bit
"Uh. Shouldn't we help her? I mean, and the Booster guy too?"
"Well um, I don't think there is anything we can Do in this case, I just know we recover pretty well from these and are durable. This was just a case of stamina" Steven said
'Well, This was a pleasurable experience I suppose'
I see that Blackwater is back up and is now with Booster and Jorden, and they are currently talking about the match results most likely. Seems like they are fine
"Yeah, I guess so" I responded
"You know, I don't actually know a lot on Pokémon." I said peeking my out more "I only really know the Pokémon as characters themselves"
"I never watched the anime or played the Games, I mean I watched XY when I like 9 or 10 but that's pretty much it," I said
"I don't know much about the Pokémon stuff as well, I mainly only knew like, Pikachu and the Charizards and shit" he responded
"Either way, this battle was awesome. And it will help me out in the future for knowing these kinds of things, the art of battling? Eh? Because I learned I don't actually know a lot of this kind of stuff"
"But I also want to ask you something as well," I asked
"Hrm?"
"You want me to go out in the middle of nowhere with you?" He asked with a pretty blunt nature
"I thought you were the one who wanted me not to take risks?"
I take out the already pretty crumbly piece of paper and try to straighten it out
"Well it's something important I suppose, I realized if I go out. I should probably take a buddy with me. And it's not the middle of nowhere, it's just one of these many locations"
Steven peers over my shoulder looking at the map
"Wow, who made this?" He asked
"Oh it's Oliver, you know the Leafeon?"
"Oh, that guy. I heard he plans out stuff, like missions and such. I don't really know what to think of it really"
"Oh, what kind of missions?" I asked
"Looting trash bins and dumpsters. Along with the occasional being a guide for Shady stuff or just being a simple Guide that helps out in a time of need. He just does his own thing"
"Seriously, when you sorta live here. You Overhear a lot. So where are we going exactly?"
I Point to the Lower left of the Map. The Factory is in the Center It Showed a Makeshift House looking like drawing near the river, sorta hugging it and the Description was
'Made near a Makeshift Bike park for a small group of friends. From what I know they are unaffiliated, and I do not know if the Bike park is still operational, Last Time I checked, the people there were trying to make a Pokémon Gym. Humans may be there."
"A Pokémon gym?" Steven asked "like they have a gym leader and fight it? I only know that because of Pokémon Go"
"Yep! And I know exactly the way to get there! I just needed the information that something is dear there"
"It seems like it's close to the river, a water gym? Are we even sure it's operational? Do you want to battle because of that fight?"
"Oh no no, I wanted to go there first since it's easiest to get to, and plus it seems interesting. And also Humans! Another great experience? I mean they could be jerks. But I'm feeling pretty optimal" I said
Steven thought for a moment, scratching his ear a bit and Stretching as a cat would
"Well, I guess I can come with. It wouldn't hurt to go, maybe humans won't even be there" he said
'Yes!'
"What are you two guys doing looking at a map?" I heard someone walk up to us, Steven and I were by the 'Entrance' to the factory
"Oh Hey Cyan," I said Followed by Steven saying "Oh Jack was showing the map he got from Oliver"
"Oh, Oliver? He's a reliable guy. I know him well. I'm happy you got to meet him, Jack. But that is beside the point" Cyan said
"I wanted to ask you two if you know anything about a Thief that going around these parts"
"a Thief?" I asked
"Yes, the only information that we know of that it's an Umbreon and we wanted to ask if you two saw any suspicious activity."
'An Umbreon? Oh…come on. I don't want to get fricked over because of this'
"What? So I'm a Subject then?"
"Jack, before you make a poison mess on the floor. You have been already cleared as a Subject, I Defended ya and it worked out. I made the argument that you were pretty new to all this and that you are more on the grayscale"
'Thank the lord…whew
"A little Thanks for letting me crash in the treehouse for the night. From all the eyewitness accounts, it was an Umbreon with really dark fur and normal rings, but a couple of people said it an Umbreon with rings that were both yellow and also light blue? Yeah. A very confusing case I know we don't even know it's a Shiny or a normal, or if we have an anomaly going on here."
"Well, if it gets near my crap it's gettin smelted!" Steven said
"Steven, have you seen anything suspicious? You are here a lot and live here"
"I'm on the second floor, I haven't seen anything suspicious. Well. I saw a Shiny Umbreon last night? Was it moon night on whatever you do Jack?"
"Yeah it was I suppose so, But Umbreons don't all do their Moon Energy gathering all on the same night, it's not like we have a Universal schedule on when we do it" I responded
"Well, since it looks like you two are going out somewhere. I suggest keeping on the lookout for it. Whatever it maybe." Cyan said
"Thank you for the information Steven, I hope both of you will safe on whatever you guys are doing"
"Thank Cyan so very much, being a subject in a case as confusing as this would not be good for my already increasing anxieties. I cannot explain how much this is appreciated to me" I said
"Well, I'm just trying to do what I think is right. Stay safe you two~Specially you Stephen, it's getting really bad out there. I suggest even look at what's going on in this whatever we call a country." He said then walking off grumbling at the end of his last sentence
"Well, I do suppose we are good to go right?" Steven then looked back at me "Nothing bad will happen right?"
"Well as long we pay attention to our surroundings we will be good to go, we have everything we need."
"We won't even be out for long."
Steven and I then left to go out on our adventure of sorts, after that little thing with Cyan he seemed pretty nervous about the whole thing. But I reassured him he can stay behind if he wanted to, but he wanted to come along anyways because he said he had nothing better to do, so I guess it turned out alright
We crossed few streets, Steven revealed to me that if cut through a peculiar part in these woods we could entirely skip most of the roads, and also skip the Side parking lot Path. Which had also become redundant due to I guess 'Exploration' Steven then expressed to me that he has actually been through this before
"So wait, you actually been here before Steven?" I asked I pushing a Branch off to the side
"Yes, I have. I thought I would've never had the chance to go through this part again" He said leading me through the woods
"…This was the path I used to leave my home"
"I traveled through all this and I actually stayed for abit somewhere around here, then I thought I could take cover in an abandoned building somewhere"
"It was only supposed to be temporary. Or at I thought. Yaknow, -sigh- he was fine, I guess. But I don't think he actually really knew it was me?"
"You mean your father right?" I asked
"Yes, my dad. I stayed with him for about less than a day in my new form. I then got kicked out of the house for being a dumb mutt. What a dumbass bastard he was."
"It doesn't matter how long I would've stayed there. The second that building burned down I knew I would never be welcome."
"I thought, if I just left him be for awhile he will come to his senses. But…I realized something" he said then stopping
"You see me? Do you see this new form? Do you think any human can love this? You look at me and what do you see, You may think a normal person? But to them? They don't see that. They see a Weapon, a monster."
"I've heard what people have said" his ears dropping low
"How it doesn't matter how you feel, you will always be and do something wrong. A mistake. Hell. Even with some with Elemental parents, a divide is still there."
"How you have to manage what little trust you may have."
"Do you think if I returned, I would even be allowed in? Definitely not. Never." He said then began to sit
"In all honest man. It's basically every single one of us Vs them. We are not Human. We are not 'them' we are not accepted by their way of life."
"If you look at me, do you see a person or an Animal? Only society decides, and I'm an Animal. I walk on 4 legs! I can't even speak! You idiots how to do you think I can live!"
I can see that Steven is very angry currently
"…you understand because you are not a human."
"I do understand, and sure. Humans are becoming to be Shit. And yeah they don't understand us and-"
"And what? They are literally going to hunt me down and kill me."
I can't really think of anything to say at moment…
"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry this is happening to you."
"Hey. It's not your fault. You have been helping and what you have done is enough."
"Things will get better because Society will have to adapt or else it will be destroyed."
"But I doubt things will change. If You think the left and right political spectrums are divided?"
"Add an entirely new species to the mix." Said Steven quickly getting up and leading the way again "We will both also have to adapt to this."
"That is why I will never to return to my father, he basically thinks of me being dead, and I'll do the same"
'Best to avoid talking about humans and his father. He already seems really on edge about all this, ugh. I wish I could help him more, but I doubt my parents would allow him to stay'
'…Why do people have to act this way? Because we are different? We aren't them? I know there are crazy people out there, but im learning now that there is a lot of them'
I quickly think of something to say
"What is your plan for the future?"
"Live. I'm thinking of staying where I'm currently at right now for a while. The thief? I'll Burn him to death if he takes what I have left."
"It's my new home. My first home. My human form is dead. And it's never coming back."
He then scoffs
"Isn't it a little silly to have the name of 'Steven' when everything i have in the past is now dead?" He glances back seeing my current Neutral face
"I get a new start in life. A new beginning…a fresh slate—I have to talk to people more." He adds quickly
"Yeah I guess your right there, we get a brand new start in life, try to do better with your new form than you were as a humana…Maybe you can do what Rin did? Have a nickname or something?"
"Oh yeah!" Steven said with excitement rivaling the excitement I saw today
"I can change my name! I don't need to have 'Steven' as a name anymore!"
This Forest is getting to me, how the hell long has we been walking. Maybe because we stopped?
"There are so many choices! Im a Flareon…and i don't have any ideas…" he then looked back for my input "any ideas?"
"Well, I don't know as well but Hey Steven when will we ge—"
"Oh, there it is! There's the way out! I see it I see it!" Steven said exiting the treeline, with me trailing behind him. It takes a while for my eyes to adjust to the new sudden light, it seems we have come out diagonally a bit
"Alright! Take a turn to your left!"
"Huh wow" there is was the supermarket, that was sure of shortcuts, we just cut by."
"So, i guess you know the rest sorta?" He looks back at me, seeing as I know the area around here
"No guarantees. But I think I have the idea. Yeah, I know the way
Steven and I continued onwards near my house, but I lead him onto a Dyke with large plains near the river, he started talking about how big the hill was, and the river that was to the left of us on the paved path, that halfway through Diverted downwards and lead to a boat launch
We followed the Path of sorta dead grass that stayed on the same level. Steven exclaimed at the size of the Hill, and that he wished he was able to sled on it. we then followed under the big highway itself, the entire atmosphere changed then.
It had gotten really cool and actually chilly and it seems like im actually creating a natural glow. I saw the massive amounts of graffiti on the concrete walls that were even there before all this. the soft and loud humming of the cars above added to it as the broken glass bottles as well.
I've been through this area many times, and I know if we continue we will make it hopefully to place on the map, this way is the easiest way to access it.
Once we got out from under the turnpike, we easily stayed on some Trails and were back under the cover of the forest.
Roughy 8-12 minutes later
"–So that's how I got out of that situation, just kept on running and never looked back" Steven said, who has been babbling for the past 10 minutes.
"So…where are we currently? We saw some giant dirt ramps and all that other stuff way back, it seems like we are going downhill"
"Well, we are not lost. Since we have been going the same way on the same little opening, but now it seems to be getting thicker. It said a gym like the pokemon shit, i don't think they would be bikers"
'God please no I hope im not doing something wrong, that would he really trashy
"Hey, I spy something over there!" Steven exclaimed, "look!"
I see through the forest of trees, some rocks near to be by what seems to be the river, which has an opening until the treeline (which we are in right now) and I see a building or building of sorts
"It's still hard to see everything from back here," I said "You know I hope that isn't like a homeless shack or something"
"You the one who lead me out here, and plus this seems like the spot you were talking about," Steven said, "maybe it will look better when we get close, come on!"
Steven then starts galloping around the trees and I quickly try to keep up with him, he then quickly stops and I almost bump into him, I realize we have to go down a quick hill
I finally get to see what it was! I get to see the River and it seems like we have gotten to this side of it, and I see that there are medium-sized rocks near the shore of it where we are.
Right below this hill the forest stops, but there is still a few scattered trees as well. It's a grassy, dirt small plain by the river that has a few trees. I look up and to the left and I see the bridge that stretches over the river that we passed under awhile back.
And there it was, sorta near the shore yet still close to trees was a Makeshift building which seemed short in height but wide in width, on closer inspection seemed like to be made of scraps, hell even some metal plates as well. With some other little built things around it. Like a cute little campfire
It was still covered and protected by some trees, maybe one tree is holding it up? Im not an engineer, and I doubt any of these children are as well
'I wonder how actually stable actually is'
"Maybe we should've gone down the boat launcher paved path?" Steven asked looking at me "uhh, I think we can get down from this, here let me go first"
Steven then started to climb down, and i followed suit and starting to wander towards it
"Man, what a build! I see they used some scraps you may find by the river?" Steven exclaimed
"Heh yeah!"
Steven and I reach the makeshift building, which is accustomed to our size which is a nice touch. Steven starts to wrap around the entire perimeter supposedly looking a door. And I observed the walls and how they built, whoever worked on it must've had help from a human, it has a little charm to it as well. It even has like one window
"Hey, Jack come look at this!" Steven said and I come wrapping around the corner
There was a sign that read 'Riverside water type Gym' there was also the entrance which had an Open section to enter
'Hehe, if they actually fight in here, i swear ill break down and start laughing, it's way too small"
' i bet a couple smashes to that one wall right here this entre place will go bye-bye'
"Want to go in?" Steven asked
"…sure but let's be quick" I responded
'There doesn't seem to be anyone here, huh'
Steven and I enter the 'building' it's sorta short but it's actually bigger than I thought. The ground is dirt and grass, but I see some soft fabric on the floor as well. There is a variety of Stuff, like interesting pieces of trash, pieces of paper with writing, some Boxes, and 2 lawn chairs
there is also a large chair, which is an old brown recliner of the in the back of it with pieces it missing, seems like whoever is here dragged it in here
"Nice place," Steven said
"Yeah I guess so, wonder how they all this crap to build this? I mean it's pretty hidden, but seriously, Police guy could come in here and order to take this all down"
"They already have enough on their hands."
"Oo Oo! Look in here!" Steven said looking in one of the boxes that were currently open, and I came over
Steven pulls out a Nerf gun with his mouth
"I've always loved these!…" Steven said sorta muffled "How the hell do I even use this now, I don't have thumbs"
"Yeah but you literally looking through all their shit, I mean. Someone could walk in here…" I said then spying a Book and other things
"Wow! This is 1984 by George Orwell! Look at all these comics as well! There's even Dilbert"
"Damn, one of the papers over here is saying stuff on something Called Eeveelution Squad, you know what that is?" Steven asked
"Oh yeah, Eeveelution Squad is a Webcomic, they even have a fandub of it. It's really popular"
Putting away the nerf gun, Steven asks "Anything else to note? I thought this was a gym? This doesn't even look like a Pokémon Gym. More like a little clubhouse or somethin'"
I look around the room
"Yeah your right, maybe I got it wrong? It definitely said Gym on the front sign right?" I asked Steven
"Who are you people!?" I heard a feminine voice say
'Oh shit'
I glance back to the entrance of the room and I see a Vaporeon, who then walks directly towards me
"What the hell do you think you two are doing in here?"
"Wait is someone in there?" Another voice said
I quickly look back at Steven and he doesn't look like he wants to say anything
"Are you friendly? Or an enemy?"
"um uh Uhh! we are friendly!" I quickly say "we heavily apologize for coming in here"
A Leafeon comes into the room, looking as shocked as I am currently. The Vaporeon looks disgusted
"What? How did you two even find this place?" The Leafeon said
"You better tell before I kick both of your sorry asses. They are probably here to steal, that Flareon smells like he hasn't taken a bath in days."
"Hey! I don't have really have access to a shower! So don't blame me!"
"Oh so do you want one right now? I can give one to you for an Easy price!" The Vaporeon asked aggressively
"Aria cut it out! You don't want him to burn everything don't you?"
"Yeah we have to explain ourselves here"
"look we didn't mean any harm, we heard there was a supposed water type Gym here"
"Water-type Gym? Yeah, we were making something of the sorts, but it isn't 100% completed, we were planning to announce it. How did you even find out? Were you spying on us?" The Leafeon asked
"Spill it. All of it." Added by the Vaporeon
"Some guy named Oliver, in the Factory sorta near Labor street, is an experienced map person i suppose. I asked him if I could have some locations and this was one of them"
"Don't ask me where he got it from. My best guess is as good as yours."
"Oh my God…" the Vaporeon exclaimed and groaned "Now somebody knows about this place, great"
The Leafeon Glanced back at the Vaporeon, still in dismay and groaning, and the Leafeon started to confront us
"Look, both of you. I guess you guys got the news early or something. I don't know what else to say"
Steven looked like he was about to say something, but hesitated. he sighed then said "I guess this was an entire waste of our time Jack, we could've done something completely else"
"Look, were you guys going to steal anything or something?"
"No, we weren't. As I said, we didn't mean any harm. Now I want to get the hell out as much you guys want to"
"Jack we literally spent like 30 minutes trying to get here," Steven said "If these Guys, Seriously want me to leave just because I'm a fire type, then let them be the asses"
"You have a smart tongue talking to your very own type advantage"
"So this Oliver guy…how does he even get his material?"
"I don't even know man, he just knows. I just gave him some damn peanuts!"
"Oh boy." I Heard Steven said
"What?" I turned back at him "What do you mean-
"Oh looks like we have visitors here!" I quickly looked back at the entrance and I see a Human
Crouching down and entering going over near the Vaporeon, the younger female Human wearing a Blue sweatshirt, Gives it a pat on the head and it seemed then pleased for a moment. Then it said moving away pointing to us
"These two were caught trespassing on our land! The Hot One has a lip and The Glowy one is not answering questions!"
"How many fricking times do we have to tell you! We weren't going to do anything!" Steven said
"I thought you weren't going to say anything until we were ready for the Gym to be operational?" The human asked
"We are only halfway done with how the battle system works…and if these are some challengers, we have to ask to come another time"
"No No No!" The Vaporeon Said Tugging on the sleeve, "we have to kick them out!" Then it turns to the Leafeon "Why aren't you doing anything?!"
"The situation will get only worse if we get the Human involved." The Leafeon responded "Maybe it did leak? God, your acting like a baby"
"What? The world are assholes! You think bringing stuff out here and it won't be stolen?"
"My point is, these guys don't seem like the problem of it. If they even are thieves, only grunts.
"Grunts? Thieves? If you want to know of one possible one There's a…uh," Steven said trailing off "there's a jerk who steals stuff, found out today."
"We don't know what Pokemon it may be." He finished his statement
The Vaporeon face looked even more confident than before and was about to say something but The Human made a nervous laugh "so I guess you guys are deciding on if you guys want to fight today or wait for the reveal?"
"Yes, we are." The Leafeon said nodding his head then turning to us "You two, don't say anything on all of this. Play along and don't do anything suspicious for right now for your own good, and don't come back."
"Alright sounds great! So do you guys know any moves?" The Human went up to us, and getting some paper and putting it in front of us
"…Jack this is really stupid" Steven whispered to me
"It's not stupid, and watch the words," I whispered back
"I don't even know any moves man, maybe if we had pepper or something. But I'm completely out of options here"
"Look maybe fake something, but I gonna write here"
I scribbled out the words flash, and I don't even know how to spell the word psychic, so it was just sorta a mess of letters with the word 'weak' behind it
Steven was just standing there awkwardly
'Wait does he know how to write with his paws? Or maybe make it doable?"
"Oh, can you not write with your paws?" The Human asked "here let me show you"
The human puts a pencil into his paw, and told him to try to grip it, and moves his paw around on the paper making lines on it
"That's the easy part, now with the actual writing. You guys paws are sorta able to write, but you don't have to muscle memory to write like you used to, it takes a while."
"So…I have a question, do you know any moves? Or powers?"
Steven quickly shakes his head no
"You know it's a great deal of responsibility, with lots of power in one being. It may be hard to control."
"But, even though I hope for people to use them to make the world a better place. I highly doubt that won't happen, for a long time."
"You did a great job on the writing" and gave him a pet on the head
"Oh, for our Umbreon here, Ah. The basics. Always good to know. Oh, I see Psychic. Umbreons aren't really known for that."
"ahh, yeah," I said scratching behind my head "it's pretty bad, I don't think I should've put it on there"
"So, do you want to give an example of your flash?" The Humans asked "I mean, just glow. I heard it looks beautiful."
I make myself glow ever so slowly, as to make sure I don't hurt anyone
"…Wow, you have some great control over that!"
"aw thanks"
'I don't want to a Pokémon battle. But this is fun I suppose. Steven looks…awestruck in a way.'
"Well, oh wait! I forgot to introduce ourselves, Harry and Aria might've already told you their names already."
"I'm Anna! Heheh, and these two little guys are friends of mine. I honestly wasn't expecting anyone to come into this 'Gym' of ours yet…but I'm happy you guys were interested in it"
"Yeah, we Built this." The Leafeon said, "we mostly hang out dear the Coast of the River by the Fence."
"…as a Vaporeon myself, the River Sucks to Breath in"
"But, like." The Leafeon heading over to one of the walls "you wouldn't believe how much crap there was on the side of it. This is only a little simple project, ya know, something to do"
"I Came up with the Idea, and we simply put this little thing together, of course. We couldn't have done it without Anna."
"Is this even safe to be in? Did you do any tests?" Steven asked speaking up
"Eh" the Vaperon said "it survived the 'throwing a rock at it' test"
"…To add on what the Moist Fish said, Yes. It's relatively safe, I mean. Sure, maybe a storm could completely rek the thing, But standing in it seems fine."
Anna then took a seat on the old recliner, relaxing
The Leafeon Walked over to the Boxes of things "Most of the stuff here is stuff we found lying about, it's all junk really."
"So who exactly stays here or hangs out here?" Steven started standing again, "It doesn't really suit for a lot of people, it's sorta at max right now"
"Should we tell em?" The Vaporeon asked the Leafeon
The Leafeon sighed, "Alright so there's: me, Aria, Anna, and Charles only know of this place. I guess that's outdated by the looks of it."
'I feel slightly bad for finding out this place's existence'
"Well, if it makes you feel better. We won't tell anyone," Steven then Agreed to do the same.
"Well, I suppose by whoever told you this is to Blame, most likely Charles was a dumbass and told someone."
"So wait, Charles told someone? Why?! Fricken hell!" Aria looked to Harry
"We don't know if that's the case." Harry
"So yeah, we have been here mostly. Hiding from parents~I mean you know like…you know like." The Vapereon sputtered "…Just wanting to get away from them? For once?"
'That's practically the mood of everyone here right now, These past couple of days I've haven't been talking to my parents that much…or at all. At home, I'm just sorta there.
'There's nothing better for me to do other than just going outside and doing my own thing. If I said anything to them about how I felt, I'll just make everything worse'
'I don even feel like talking to them anymore, it's too much of a pain. It just feels like there is a wall between me and them…'
'if I even come out to my parents about how I felt, it would just cause so many fricking problems. I would have to worry about this, and then that, I'll just make everything, even more, worse, I'm already stressed out enough I don't need to add any more shit to my life'
'They probably don't even trust me now, ugh. Such is life'
"Heh! Tell me about it!" I responded back to Vaporeon
"Can't even do one damn thing without being thought of as being abnormal or suspicious!"
"I have to live every single day now wondering how I should act in front of them? But here! In the Freedom of the Outdoors with my own kind?"
"It's reliving!" I said
"Yeah! My Father was total shit to me. So I ran away on the first day, and if I was still there? He wouldn't even how to speak to me!" Steven said
"Hmm…I usually try communication first with my Parents," The Leafeon said "that's still important, I try to keep them updated. Communication is top priority"
"Communication?" I said back "what is there to communicate? How I just sat around all day? Doing nothing with my life?"
"You have it easier, I don't even feel like talking to them anymore. If I do something, I'll end up making everything worse, or I'll make them more suspicious of me and fearful"
"Yeah," the Vaporeon said "Parents and Humans, In general, don't know what they are dealing with most of the time. I mean, that's why I find Anna so special, not only did I know her before all of this. She's understanding and knows common sense"
"Most humans? See us as cutie animals, But society in general and nothing has been done towards fixing things" The Vapereon
"I mean, What's your name?" I responded with my name "shouldn't you try to reason with them?"
"What?! Do you know how stupid that would be? I'll leave myself wide open for them to say whatever the hell they want on me. Not only that. If I show that I'm sad, and how I'm unhappy almost all the time now. They will think it's a damn side effect of my transformation! I can't even really trust them anymore"
"What did you do something wrong? Why are you so afraid?"
"Afraid? PAH, I'm already a burden…I don't want to add more stress to them. I love them always and they love me, they just don't understand how I feel, that's just life now"
"Why the hell does everyone have negative opinions on humans here? Humans are good, my parents are humans. Do you know they are important to society?
"Who's society? Ours or theirs?"
"It's Everyone's socie~…look. Do we have to seriously have talked about this? This is all stupid."
"You don't need 2 brain cells to realize how Humanity just judges us," Steven said
"Yaknow? Face value? I mean, everyone here may see a Living being in this room." Steven Points his paw into the general direction of the City "But those lunatics on the streets? The Entire city square hasn't looked so destroyed and everyone is just paralyzed to do anything?"
"The Government? Nothing! The State Governments? Nothing! Nothing has improved but has gotten worse!" Steven said "has anyone even fricking even know what's happening to California?! Because I have no clue!"
"Hey, what are you guys talking about? It seems pretty heated" Anna said, "Is everything going alright?"
The Four of us Elementals in the room didn't even know what to say, and I look around, and seems like no one has a clue on what to say
"To make it clear." I said in the clearest voice I can make to the others "I don't believe Humanity in its self is the problem. It's Society."
"That doesn't mean I hate My family or Even Anna here, but society judges and destroys lives. No one fricking asked for this to happen"
"We just need to make the most of it, Elementals need to help Elementals"
"What about helping yourself? You seem like you have many family issues you should sort out." Aria asked
"I'm afraid they will judge me, or maybe I did something wrong. I don't know. I don't want to find out." I said
"But going to them and talking about it will make everything worse, I just want them happy"
"Pretty reasonable. I suppose." The Leafeon said
"That's pretty much all parents. They all wonder what we are doing, I mean we are animals now, and there are questions left unanswered."
"It's boring being inside, cooped up. Sure maybe just treat this a like a vacation, watch up on some Netflix or do an art project. My school even starts up soon not for sure, like…today's a Sunday?"
"But I've seen, How humans have been. But you shouldn't count out Elementals as well, we can just as bad as them."
"But, Harry. Humans don't understand our feelings, we are powerful beings and most of the time have no control over them sometimes." Steven started
"Every single Elemental in here can kill after some basic move learning."
"Not only that…You can't miss it."
"America is burning."
"What?"
"Jack learn how to type and look at Twitter for once, or even anything. What the hell do you do all day?"
"O-oh, my parents don't like watching it, it scares them."
"Chicago is BEING Destroyed and BURNED as we SPEAK. Riots and protests are everywhere! Cities are being sacked and looted! This is panic."
"Flareon guy, Chicago may be really bad right now but National Guards there."
"YES I KNOW THAT. But they have Killed people! They are making it worse, seeing everything under like a military occupation causes more panic!"
"Not only that, you think the Chrysler Burning was bad? New York City is in a Mess as well, and the Media is there and is being shh'd out!" The Vaporeon said
"All the Tensions of all the problems America has had, have been pushed over the edge over the transformation, maybe even a Race war at this point! and when even like…10 elementals can destroy a town it makes everything worse."
"We are living war machines. We are dangerous. Humans are scared of us." I said
"If you looked at me, would you think that I'm even a human being?"
"Look at the News I saw already. The Media is painting us as Monsters, Violence sells. We are the Violence. There was already confusion and that confusion is creating a divide deeper than Black and White."
"It isn't some kind of 'we can talk it out situation' because we can't. A normal human would have great nervousness being near us"
"We are living Guns. Except these guns can blow up stuff, start fires, Break necks, strangle, and even bite and claw apart an enemy and even do mental damage at will."
"And some Elementals have probably gone even insane from this already We are all probably really unstable mentally right now!" I said
"I saw one even became almost completely Feral and attacked a Person. It couldn't even speak right, it was…like I said, Feral. It's been contained for research." Harry said
"I started looking deep into stuff on the internet. You don't know how misinformation there is about, can't trust anything. But That occurrence has the most evidence backing it up"
"Wait WHA?!-"
"I can show you guys some cool things?" Anna asked trying to gain a hold on the conversation "There's a Large custom Bike course by some extreme Bikers like around here. They used to be there like all the entire time, but they all disappeared. Like the entire place is abandoned"
"…We sorta accidentally left the Human of the chat," Steven said
"Shes Anna, don't just refer to her as 'just a Human'"
Harry went over to some paper, wrote on it. And pushed it to Anna
"Oh, you just need help moving things back to your house. Well, I'm good with that. Want to do that now?"
"most preferable." The Leafeon said, then turning to us "I was going to do this anyway, you two popping up here was only another reason to get some stuff home."
"Oh, you are just here for a little bit Harry?" Aria asked
"Unlike you guys. I want to actually want to prepare for everything to happen. I suggest you do the same." Harry said
"Also, I think you two should go now. I guess you guys are safe to come over here, I suppose. Just don't be a Bruh moment. No one likes people like that, or just come here if you really need to."
"Yeah. Come on, let's head out Steven."
"Yeah, I'm pretty hungry."
Steven and I left the Makeshift building, it was an interesting experience nonetheless. I meet some new people, though I think I won't be seeing them for some time.
I am also reminded of my incompetence (ugh) to actually see what's going on, by this time I have only seen little tidbits of the action in the United States. It's…like the L.A riots but worse, and uncontrollable. I should definitely make a Twitter account, even if I'm just going to see people and not comment much.
I'm still left wondering, what is the best society for Human and Elemental? With all the Blaming on the Elementals, and just Humans being fearful of us, and being stupid at the same time. Leads me to believe that a working society of Human and Elemental, is impossible. A fantasy.
Even though I think one would be good for the betterment of both species. It's impossible. If that was going to happen, you would've not seen the world burning and how even a week have caused a Civil war to basically happen already
I see the anime and how it's all mostly peaceful with Pokémon, what a fantasy that is to think that we could the same even a little bit on this Earth!
I don't even want to think about my family problems. I'll just get myself into a mess like last time and cause a problem.
Walking back
"Hey Jack?" Steven asked still walking back
"Yeah?"
"I've decided. My new name is Flare."
"That's a great name, I guess you sorta moved on in life from your human past?"
"Should I refer to you as Flare now?"
"Ya," he said
"Well, whatever's fine with me. Flare"
'When I get home, I'm going to see what's going on.'
"I remember you were wondering if you could think of one, Have you decided on one?"
"Me? It's sorta stupid. But it's NightShade. But please refer to me as Jack still."
"Damn. That's edgy."
Thank you Everyone for waiting longer for this, Since School Is starting back up again, these may be slower, but in all honesty. I've just been a slow idiot lol.
I'm always here, and I'll make sure next time it's faster.
And for all of The PercentVerse Stories. You all are doing great. There's a Community Tab in Fanfiction, if you type up 'PercentVerse' you will see TONS OF AWESOME STORIES,
If I'm being a slow butt, read these. And I mean, read. And every single one of these is great.
https/ /z3ahN35
PercentVerse Discord is up there! There you will keep updated with all the news on PercentVerse Stories and other stories alike!
NightShade_Umbreon0815#9231 - My discord Username.
If you have problems accessing the discord, or you want to ask a question, my DMs are always open and I'll respond
Anyway, thank you to everyone. I may be slow, but I'm always alive. I say that a lot but it's a common case for someone to just disappear
Have a Great Rest of the day!
When will the next one be out? I don't know oof. But faster than this one will influence what time Chapters come out, and I'm going for more advanced storytelling and arcs now.
Read the PercentVerse Stories or just simply search it up in the bar up there, most stories say PercentVerse in the Description so it comes up.