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Reaper led Rok to a dark, filthy part of the village. There were no familiar pokémon wandering about here, only strange, fierce-looking creatures that Rok was sure would haunt his nightmares from this point on.
The air stank, a rancid mixture of blood, sweat and poison, and other scents that Rok couldn't name, but he knew they made him want to retch. Every pokémon they passed eyed them with suspicion, shuffling away into the shadows.
Rok inched as close to Reaper as he dared, glancing around fearfully. Reaper, for her part, didn't look fazed in the slightest by the rough atmosphere, though she did cast an annoyed look at Rok as he stepped closer to her.
"What is wrong with you?" She hissed, "Don't look afraid, that just makes you a target!"
"Target for what?" Rok asked.
Reaper sighed. "Just, keep your head up and try not to look scared, alright? Most of the pokémon here are on pretty dire straits, they'll do anything to survive."
"Why doesn't the rest of the village provide for them?"
Reaper snorted. "Okay, first of all, "village"? What in the world gave you the idea that this was a village? Do you come from a really big city or something? This is a town."
Town? City? What?
"Second of all, no, no-one provides for us but ourselves. We try to get a job, or buy something, pokémon automatically accuse us of stealing or conning or something just as unscrupulous. That's just our niche in the world."
"But that's so unfair!" Rok said, "You didn't do anything wrong, why would they think you're a criminal?"
Reaper side-eyed him. "Uh, because we're Dark Types? And it's in our nature?"
"It is?"
"Yeah? Seriously Kid, what sweet little bubble of safety where you raised in? You should know this stuff!"
Rok shrugged. "Well, we don't really have, um, "Dark Types" where I come from."
Reaper raised an eyebrow. "Well, you clearly have eevee. You mean to tell me that none of them choose to evolve into umbreon?"
Rok stared at Reaper, completely and utterly confused. This whole day had been just one big vortex of fear, questions and pain. Since he'd come to this village-town-whatever it was, he'd been bombarded with new words and rules that he'd never encountered before. Things that, according to Reaper, he should know. Stuff about Dark Types, and pretending to not be afraid, and how other pokémon didn't like him, or any other Dark Types. And now she was throwing something else at him, a new word, a new evolution that, as far as he knew, didn't exist.
Then again, if there's anything he'd learned from today, it was that he knew hardly anything.
When he didn't answer her question, Reaper scoffed and glared at the path ahead of them.
Rok flinched and stared at his feet. Well, he did know when people wanted him to stop talking.
He wasn't sure how much longer they walked before they finally arrived at their destination. It was a small shack, haphazardly put together by rocks, old wood, and rusted metal. Pokémon curled up in ratty old blankets sat outside, ravenously eating bowls of food.
A new scent drifted through the rancid air, like roasting onions and razz berries. Rok felt his mouth water as his feet itched to dash towards the delicious smell. But he looked at Reaper first, checking to make sure that this was where they were stopping.
Reaper was staring at the shack, jaw clenched and eyes narrowed. Her long claws tapped agitatedly on the ground. Just when Rok thought they were going to move on, she squared her shoulders and strode purposefully towards the small shack. A part of Rok's mind itched with curiosity at her strange reaction, but the rest of him was too hungry to care. Finally, he'll get something to eat!
The inside of the shack was packed full of pokémon holding plates and bowls covered in old food stains. They were standing in a sort of haphazard cue, with some of them jumping forward and shoving pokémon out of the line so that they can get ahead.
"This is place is kinda like a safe zone for all of the hated Types." Reaper murmured to him, "The owner doesn't tolerate any fighting on his territory."
"So why don't more pokémon stay here?" Rok asked.
Reaper snorted. "That's a temporary solution. Around here, you need more than just food and no-one challenging you to a battle. You need territory, a reputation, skills. Only the really pathetic pokémon who can't get any of that stuff if you gave them an entire lifetime can stay here for longer than it takes to eat their food before someone else forces them away. Speaking of which…"
Reaper suddenly shouted over the hushed murmur of the crowd. "Hey, Smoke! Got a hopeless case for you!"
"Well? Send him up here Reaper!" a new voice yelled back.
Rok shivered involuntarily. The new voice was deep, with a strange underlying note that made his fur stand on end with fear and made his legs shake. Reaper nudged him, striding past the cue of pokémon. Gulping back his newfound fear, Rok followed.
Reaper led them to a sort-of back room, separated from where all the other pokémon were waiting by a thick curtain. Rok followed her through, his stomach growling as that delicious scent grew ever closer…
And then he swore his heart stopped.
Standing in the room were two of the most terrifying creatures he'd ever seen. One was a big, black, dog-like being standing next to a giant cauldron, with a pair of wickedly sharp horns curving from the top of its skull. A collar of what looked like bone ran around the base of its neck, stopping just short of forming a full circle at its chest. In the space left was another protruding bone that looked suspiciously like a small skull. Ridges of bone ran along its back and formed braces around its ankles. Its long black tail was thin with a triangle point at the end, and its claws were needle sharp. It had black fur like Rok's, except its muzzle was orange, as was its underbelly, and its eyes were gleaming red.
And the other creature…
The other creature would haunt Rok's nightmares for as long as he lived.
It was the biggest pokémon he'd ever seen, its appearance vaguely cat-like. Its torso was grey, and the rest of its fur was a vibrant red with thick black stripes. It stood on two, thick-set legs, and its hands were huge, each finger with a white, dagger-sharp claw. But what was probably the most eye-catching thing of all about the beast, was the ring of flickering, glowing flames wrapped around its waist.
The beast grinned at Rok, showcasing a mouth full of giant fangs, and Rok inadvertently shrunk in on himself with fear. Was it going to hurt him? Was it going to kill him? Reaper said that the owner of this place didn't allow for fighting to happen, maybe they would save him? But maybe his death would be so quick they wouldn't even notice the struggle. Maybe-
The beast bounded forward, and Rok yelped, scrambling backwards as it came to a crouching halt right in front of his face, wide green eyes studying him, taking in every detail.
"Smoke!" it finally yelled, causing Rok to jump yet-again. "Smoke look! Reaper brought someone! Do you think he's nice? Do you think he likes watmel berries? Do you think he likes playing hide-and-seek? Do you think-"
The canine pokémon who must've been Smoke chuckled. "Maybe you should give him a little space, alright Rage? You're scaring the poor boy."
The beast's eyes widened even further and he scrambled back so he was crouched at the far end of the room. "Sorry." They said, voice suddenly hushed, "Smoke says other pokémon find me scary. I was just excited. I never get to see anyone else!"
"That's… fine." Rok said, his confusion creeping into his voice. "I don't really see many other pokémon either."
The beast, Rage, perked up, his face lit up in a beaming grin. "You too?" His head whipped around to stare at Smoke before Rok could answer. "Did you hear that Smoke? Him too!"
Smoke smiled fondly at Rage, sprinkling some herbs into the concoction brewing in the cauldron. "I heard him Rage. So!" he said briskly, turning to look at Rok, "What can I do for you?"
A/N: And now we meet Smoke and Rage! Rage is a sweet wittle baby too precious for this world and I love him and I really hope you guys will too! Smoke is also a big sweetheart, because Rok hasn't met nearly enough nice people since he came to this town and he needs a reminder that there's good in the world.
Please review!