Chapter 7:
Fang
The young man wasn't sure where he was. He knew one of these mountains had to be Mt. Silver, right? Right? Surely, the location his mother had told him about was somewhere nearby.
"Nid!" His Nidoking pointed to something in the distance.
"What is it?" His Lucario muttered.
"King!" Nidoking growled.
"It's…some sort of castle," The teen muttered. "Maybe they'll help."
"It's worth a try, Sire."
"Don't call me that."
"Sorry, sir."
"Or that."
"Master…?"
"No."
"What then?"
"How about my name?"
"I thought you hated your name," the Lucario was confused.
"I hate the name that my mother insisted I use," the teenage trainer clarified. "The name my father gave me, my real name, is just fine with me. Even my middle name is okay, I guess."
"First name, then?"
"Sure, buddy, why not?"
Nidoking watched as the two had their little…spat. They hadn't always been friends. In fact, the Lucario had been assigned to him. A bodyguard. The teen's mother wanted him protected. She also wanted someone to watch him, but the Lucario took an instant shine to the young trainer, and refused to rat him out, even lying to his mother about what they did…sometimes. He normally didn't have to, anymore. She rarely tried to get dirt about her son, at least not from the Lucario.
The teen had been scrawny for so long, but was finally gaining some muscle, and was now able to hold his own in any fight. Punks would often try to attack him, and eventually he became tough enough to fight back. His hair was jet-black, short, and yet scruffy. He had often thought of changing the color to a brown or something, though. His dark blue eyes were often mistaken for black, and he had practice with giving the appearance that he would kill at any moment. Yet, part of him wanted a…better life…a peaceful one. Maybe even a….
"Gyles?"
"Yes?"
"Do you hear that?" The Lucario muttered.
"Hmm," Gyles listened. Someone was coming. "Seviper! Take care of it!" Gyles tossed a Pokéball out before him
"Vi!" Seviper hissed as it came out of the ball.
"Zan!" A Zangoose came out of nowhere, attacking the Seviper.
"Char!" A Charmeleon followed suit, but targeted the Lucario, instead.
"The hell?" Gyles barked.
"Scar! Cindy!" A female voice yelled out. "Stop!"
The Zangoose and Charmeleon froze. The Zangoose twitched at the sight-or smell-of Seviper, but he and the female Charmeleon did as they were told.
"Who the hell are you?" Gyles yelled, looking in the forest around him. "Show yourself!"
He heard a strange sound…an engine revving? What in the world…?
He then noticed that the Zangoose wore spiked bracelets, and his face stripe had been dyed a bright green, and that the Charmeleon wore a black leather jacket with metal spikes on the shoulders, and gold bracelets on her wrists and three on her tail.
These Pokémon must belong to a Biker of some sort, Gyles decided. But…a female Biker…? Wait…I do know of one….
"Well, well, well," the Charmeleon chuckled. "Look who it is, Scar! It's ikkle Jill!"
"Cindy?" The Lucario breathed.
"My name is GYLES!" The maturing teenager bellowed. "Wait…Cindy…Scar…that must mean…."
"The Deserters…" Nidoking finished.
"That really is an unfair name, isn't it, Cin?" Scar crossed his arms. "I mean, we didn't desert. We were chased out, exiled, and for no reason…."
"Yes," Cindy muttered, closing her eyes. "I remember a certain Elite deciding that our 'devil-may-care' attitude was…less than beneficial towards Madam Boss's son."
"Hey, Deadly D!" Scar yelled.
The engine sound's volume increased, as a motorcycle came into view, coming to a halt between Gyles and the Pokémon that had attacked him minutes before.
The Biker removed her helmet, revealing long, flowing brunette hair. Her eyes were hidden behind a pair of second-hand shades. Her black leather jacket looked barely attached to her body, compared to the faded, hot pink, form-fitting T-shirt that it was worn over. Her black denim jeans were well worn, with small holes on the knees, and worn-down hemming, and had actually faded to a dark-gray in some spots. Her steel-tipped boots added to the dangerous look as a useful weapon, as did the handgun that was barely visible from its somewhat-hidden holster in the interior of her jacket, on her left side, near her chest. She also wore leather gloves with shining metal spikes, one on each knuckle, and the fingers cut off. Both ears glistened with about a half a dozen gold hoop earrings each.
A shiny Pachirisu sat on her left shoulder, her purple stripe of fur stuck up into a crude Mohawk, and a gold hoop earring in her left ear. The Pachirisu looked at Gyles with her usual, constant half-glare, a glint of rebellious confidence in her eyes.
"Yes, Scar?" The Biker appeared to be uninterested, both in the tone of her voice and in her body language as she turned off the bike, and tilted her head casually towards the Zangoose.
"Lookie who we found, D!" Scar grinned maliciously. "It's li'l Jillie!"
"Gyles!" The frustrated trained muttered under his breath.
"G!" The Biker smiled. Gyles had a sickening feeling that she was only excited to see him because him being basically alone meant that he was easy prey to her.
Gyles supposed he would have been her partner-when she had been in the Team-if two things had not happened. One was her extreme dislike of the Top Elite, Miyamoto, who had been her superior and often reported to Madam Boss about the Grunts… progress. Or…lack thereof. The second was that the boss would not have her second-best Elite working with a lowly Grunt, no matter how skilled, qualified, or worthy he-or she-was. Lately, especially since she has been…forced to desert, Gyles had occasionally wondered what it would have been like to be partners with her on missions.
The Biker kicked down her bike's kickstand and jumped off. She sat her helmet on the seat, and walked towards Gyles. The Lucario started to block her, standing between the Deserter and his charge.
"Relax, buddy," the Biker said calmly. "Remember? Last time you two were sneaking around Pallet Town? Secretly taking Oak's class? The same one I was in?"
"I think we can trust her, pal," Gyles muttered. "Deadly D here isn't half as heartless as Mom tells us. Remember when she, and her Lucario, saved us from…well, that one time?"
Gyles's bodyguard hesitated.
"I helped, too," Cindy mumbled under her breath.
"Ditto," Scar added.
"Remember my Lucario?" Deadly D took a Pokéball off of her belt, and started rolling it around on her right hand. "My…beautiful…confident…feminine…single…Lucario?"
"Uh…" The male Lucario stammered. Gyles remembered his friend being quite flustered by the Biker's…little friend.
"Bud?" Gyles asked his bodyguard. "I said we could trust her."
"I'm watching you."
"I expected no less," the young woman chuckled. "I admire your loyalty."
"That's ironic," the Lucario scoffed.
"I didn't desert! Miyamoto chased me off," she seemed deeply offended. "I'm twice as loyal as that bitch ever was. Let me prove it to you."
"I'm looking for…some castle ruins in this area. They're rumored to be in a spot with a perfect view of the northern side of Mt. Silver."
"I was born on Mt. Silver," the Biker grinned. "I know exactly where you mean. I have a friend who's been letting me stay there off and on for the past few years. I can take you there. If you promise to keep it secret."
"Sure," Gyles nodded. "I had planned on it anyway. I don't believe that the Boss's visions for the Team are the most…profitable. If I do become her successor, I'll be sure to change our aim to something more…successful and long-lasting."
"If?"
"There are some things I might leave the Team for."
"Like?"
"If they ever involve you in any way, I'll let you know," he narrowed his eyes. Gyles liked to keep at least some things under the floorboards.
"Whadaya say?" Deadly D offered her hand. "Partners?"
"Friends," Gyles corrected, shaking it.
"Hold it," the Lucario interrupted. "I'm not letting him go with you anywhere until you two are properly introduced. Real names. Not gang names, or Team ones."
"I haven't been called it in so long," the Biker smiled. "Might be nice. All right, then. I'm…Delia. Delia Hertz."
The teen smiled. She was deadly…but also a bit pretty…and so was her name.
"My name is Gyles. Gyles Ashura Ketchum."
…
Professor Elm was frantic. Where was it? Where could it have gone?
The Chikorita and Cyndaquil looked at each other, confused. Why was their master so worried? Their friend got separated a lot, but always turned up eventually. All they had to do was wait, just a few hours.
Right?
"What's wrong, sir?" Elm's aid asked, concerned.
"Where is he?" Elm didn't seem to hear him. "I just saw him two minutes ago! How could he have run off…again?"
"Sir?"
"I wanted to show them off to Oak," Elm seemed depressed. "The results of my best breeder's hard work. I was finally gonna outdo him."
"You mean we?" A young teen asked, his hands stuck in the large front pocket of his favorite hoodie, his black hair slightly stuck out from the hole in the baseball cap that he wore backwards on his head. His jeans were a little worn, but sill in excellent shape.
"Aw, let him have his moment, Jimmy," his girlfriend muttered. Her blue hair stuck out from under her simple white cap in two ponytails. Her clothes were as perfect as the day she bought them: her electric blue T-shirt was accented by a lightweight, white, cotton jacket, and shorts made of the same white material. Around her shoulders hung the strap of her bright yellow pack, and her PokéGear hung from a ribbon she wore around her neck.
"I suppose, just as long as he lets us continue working for him. I like staying near home."
"Me, too. I'm just glad he helped us open that new Breeding Center in New Bark Town. Breeding is fun!" The girl smiled enthusiastically.
Jimmy started chuckling uncontrollably.
"Jimmy!"
"Sorry, Marina," Jimmy struggled to get his voice back under control. "It was just too…hehehe!"
"You are such a…"
"Can you two finish your little love spat later?" Elm burst out.
"What spat?" Jimmy asked innocently.
"What's up?" Marina ignored her boyfriend's question.
"Totodile is gone again!"
"He'll show up," Jimmy said nonchalantly. "He always does. How much trouble can something so small get into in Viridian City, anyway?"
"That little guy's gonna get me in so much trouble!" Elm ran off looking for him.
After glancing at the Chikorita and Cyndaquil, Jimmy and Marina exchanged smiling glances, shrugging.
…
Silver was just about annoyed now. First, the little half-pint had followed him for five-and-a-half blocks like some little lost Poocheyna. Then, it danced around him, gurgling happily, as if he were its mother. Then, when reached out-fully intending to just pick the little Pokémon up so he could return it to its trainer-well…he now had the Water Pokémon attached to his right arm.
"Goddamn it," Silver muttered. "This is just great…" He looked around. Whoever owned this…thing would surely be worried, maybe even frantic, and searching for it.
"Outta my way!" Silver heard a voice yell out in fear. A youthful adult man - a Researcher by the look of him - was dashing through the crowd behind where he stood. He was looking left and right, high and low, a look of crazed fear on his face. He had definitely lost something.
Bingo!
Silver walked calmly up to the man. The man saw him approaching and stopped to talk.
"Sir," Silver started.
"Hey, kid! Have you seen…?"
"Does this belong to you?" Silver raised his hand to show the Totodile that was trying to swallow it whole.
Relief washed over Professor Elm's face.
"Thank you so much!" He said gratefully, taking the Pokémon off of Silver-literally.
"Whatever," Silver shrugged.
"Professor!" Jimmy called after him. "Don't scare the locals!"
"Be polite!" Marina was right next to her boyfriend as they ran up to the Professor.
"You found him!" Jimmy grinned. "I knew he'd show up!"
"Actually," Elm corrected. "This young man found him."
"He found me," Silver said simply. "Little Pokémon shouldn't wander around here," Silver's words weren't half as ominous as they should have been.
"I suppose," Jimmy said, half to himself. "That is, if you do believe the rumors that Team Rocket's base was (and maybe still is) here in Viridian City."
"I believe them," Silver muttered. Of course I do. I have proof. My very residence here is proof.
"Thanks, then," Jimmy said cheerfully. "The little guy is very important to us, and we're very glad that he's unharmed."
"I'm Professor Elm," the Professor shocked Silver by grabbing his hand with both of his, shaking it repeatedly with much gusto. "I'm sure you heard of me."
"Oh, yeah!" Silver said, only acting excited. "You're the leading expert of Pokémon evolution, right? Eggs are your specialty!" Let go of my hand now, damn it!
"Why, yes, I am!" Elm let go, only to beam…a little too much.
Seeing the other two's expressions and reactions, Silver could tell that this guy's ego was a little inflated, and instantly regretted adding a boost to it.
"I'm Jimmy," the teen made no attempt to shake Silver's hand, perhaps realizing that he wasn't fond of physical contact.
"My name's Marina!" The adolescent greeted with a smile.
After a pause, Silver realized he should introduce himself.
"Name's Silver," he said quietly.
"Silver, eh?" Jimmy grinned. "I'll be sure to remember that. Well, thanks for your help!"
The trio started to walk away, but the Totodile started struggling and fussing.
"What is it, Totodile?" Elm asked.
"Totototototototo!" Totodile gurgled, waving its little arms, which were reaching out away from Elm…
…And right towards Silver.
All four humans could only blink at this strange and sudden show of affection.
"The little guy's actually taken a shine to you!" Jimmy exclaimed.
"Would you look at that?" Marina agreed with her boyfriend. "No one's gotten him to like them! That's why he's always running off. He isn't exactly fond of anyone back in New Bark Town."
"He always came back, though," Jimmy shrugged. "Free food's hard to give up."
"I think he belongs with a trainer he'll actually listen to," Marina took out a Pokéball. "Return!" She recalled the Totodile. "Here," she handed Silver the Pokéball.
Shocked, Silver simply stared for a moment.
"Wait!" He suddenly said. "I can't…" He trailed off.
"Yeah!" Elm piped in. "I need him for my presentation to Oak!"
"Chill," Jimmy said calmly. "We still have two very-well bred Pokémon to show Professor Oak. If we need another Totodile we can always call Vincent back home. Well, you can. He won't talk to me."
"Gee, I wonder why," Marina's voice dripped in sarcasm. "Maybe he's jealous of something?"
"Maybe…" Jimmy smiled slightly. "Or maybe he's just a sore loser."
Jimmy turned to Silver.
"But, in any case, that Totodile deserves a trainer he can enjoy living with, someone he can grow to love…and someone to love him. I can already see that he belongs with you. I know you'll take good care of him."
"Love?" Silver echoed. But, the last Pokémon he'd loved….
Silver nodded, suddenly determined.
"I will," He grinned.
The others stood there, wondering what else he'd say. Something about this kid stood out to Elm. He'd have to tell Oak about him.
Hey, now! A familiar voice echoed in Silver's mind. Don't stand there like a Stantler in headlights! Be grateful!
"Thanks," Silver said, just barely audible to the others.
"Well, we better get back to Frank," Jimmy looked over his shoulder. "Nice meeting you, Silver. Have fun training that Totodile! See ya 'round!"
With that, Jimmy and Marina walked away, the Professor in front of them. Holding the Pokéball, Silver simply watched as they vanished into the crowd. Not the Professor. Jimmy and Marina. They way they walked arm-in-arm, clearly in a relationship with each other, burned into his memory. He wasn't sure why, yet, but Silver knew it wasn't something he'd forget for a while.
Silver walked to the Viridian Park, where some kids were training. He tossed the Pokéball into the air.
"Totototototo!" The Totodile happily came out of the ball. Upon seeing Silver again, he ran up to him, and rubbed his head against the teen's leg in obvious affection.
"So," Silver looked down at him. "You want me to be your trainer, huh?"
Totodile's smile was easy to interpret. He wasn't sure about a trainer, but a friend would certainly be nice.
"Alrighty, then, Fang," Silver decided that the little guy deserved a good, fitting name. "But, we have to keep this a secret. My father might not like you."
Totodile-Fang tilted his head not entirely sure he understood. His new friend wanted him…secret? Okay, anything for his new friend, but…why? Father? Wouldn't like? His mother's Trainer hated the human female's current…mate…but that didn't mean he had to be secret. After a moment, Fang decided that if his human loved him, that he wouldn't need anyone else, and he nodded vigorously, jumping up and down.
Energetic, Silver thought. This is not going to be easy.
"Back in the ball," He recalled Fang. "I'll let you out later."
Silver put the Pokéball on the back of his belt, hidden under his jacket. He ran home, an emotion like excitement coursing through him. It wasn't true excitement; he still felt trapped in his life. But, Fang gave him hope. It had been so long since he had felt hope.
When he decided to go to bed, he saw his Houndoom bodyguard standing by his bedroom door already. But, he wasn't gonna let the annoyance get to him tonight.
"Good night," he said suddenly, catching the cold-hearted Pokémon off guard.
"N-night, Sire," 44-6-2 stammered.
Silver opened the door to his room.
"Good night, Silver," another voice whispered behind him, almost sweetly.
Domino.
Silver decided he was in a good enough mood to acknowledge her existence. He turned slightly, just enough to make eye contact - he had to refrain from vomiting - and he gave her a single, short, curt nod. He entered his room, locking the door shut behind him. His tossed his jacket onto his desk chair and threw himself onto his bed.
"Ouch," he muttered, forgetting the Pokéball that now protruded into his back.
He removed his belt, and took Fang's ball off it. With a jolt of red electricity, the Totodile came out of the ball.
Silently, Fang snuggled up against the human that he already loved.
Something in Fang's eyes awoke some warm, distant memory in Silver's heart, and he decided to allow the physical contact. Just this once. Before he fell asleep though, Silver realized just what had happened to him that day.
God has given me a second chance, Silver thought to himself. And this time, I'll be damned if I let myself screw it up!
…
Aura was either unaware that the Chosen One's arrival was giving her a second chance, or she simply didn't care that she was already doing a very good job of screwing it up.
She slept outside, but forced everyone else-except Misty-to do the same. Ash wasn't sure what it was, but something had caused Aura to begrudgingly accept Misty. Maybe Azar was right. Maybe Aura had taken a shine to her. Or maybe she felt pity towards her for having fallen so ill.
Aura didn't care. Misty was better. They would be leaving. The humans would go back to where they came from, and Aura would be allowed to go back to her life in peace. All the Lucario wanted anymore was to be left alone. Aura went out hunting, to take her mind off of the...intruders.
Aura's mountain was her territory, and she was very protective of it. It was her home and her kingdom, and few travelers, human or otherwise, ever came anywhere near it. The thick woods provided shelter from above, and shielded her eyes from the blinding pain of the sun. Aura hated the sun. Aura hated its warmth, and glow. It reminded her of...
Aura sensed movement, and leapt at it.
Nyx looked shocked as the Lucario pinned him to the ground, dropping the berries he had in his mouth.
"What in the world?" The Shiny Umbreon gasped.
"This is why I live alone," Aura said in a low growl. "Go back to camp. Next time, I won't hold back."
"No wonder humans say this place is cursed," Nyx muttered to himself as he walked away.
"I am cursed," Aura told herself, as she continued hunting. She leapt on top of a boulder, and closed her eyes, calming her breath and heart. She listened.
There was a soft rustling a few yards to the northeast, followed by the rapid patter of small paws on grass. Rattata. Not much of a meal, but Aura wasn't so hungry this morning. She remained relaxed, calm, and quiet. The Rattata, for all its survival abilities, didn't seem to notice her, as the soft chewing noise told her that it was eating some sort of grass. Aura took a single step towards it, and tilted her head, listening. It was completely unaware. Aura smiled, and crouched on all fours, readying herself. She pounced, landing on the rat Pokémon and killing it with a single bite. However, she hit the wrong spot as she did, and blood splattered out at her, getting her right in the face. Spitting out a mouthful of blood, Aura simply picked up her prey and returned to camp; this kind of thing happened often.
"Ugh," a voice moaning in disgust caught her off guard. Aura turned sharply to see the Chosen One-whatever his name was-with a revolted look on his face, staring at the dead Rattata dangling from her mouth. Fine, then, Aura thought. I'll really gross you out. She took the dead Pokémon out of her mouth, and then started to eat it raw.
"Why do you do that?" He asked.
"Survival, whelp," Aura muttered. "I do it to survive. No one's gonna take care of me. I must do it myself!" She barked, spraying him with blood.
"Oh, jeez," Ash muttered to himself. He wiped his face, as Misty came out of the shelter.
"Ash," Misty chuckled, coming out of the shelter, "we all know that you constantly cut yourself shaving, but this is ridiculous!"
"Shaddup," Ash grumbled. "This is all her fault!" He pointed at Aura.
"Yeah, it always is..." Aura growled, sulking away after a brief glare.
"Ash, why did you do that?" Misty scolded. "You heard from Azar how...hard it is for Aura to be...warm to others."
"...Yeah..." Ash muttered. "I suppose she's not the first Lucario I've met with a cold heart."
"You mean that whole thing with Sir Aaron's staff that you told me about?" Misty remembered one of Ash's tales of his journey in Hoenn.
"Yeah."
"I'm gonna go see if she's all right," Misty started in the direction that Aura had run off.
"Mist," Ash grabbed her arm. "She...has a temper. Be careful."
"I should be telling you that," Misty shrugged him off before going anyway.
Aura hated humans. Every last freakin' one! They all belonged in Hell! They could never be forgiven...for their sins... Never...
"Aura?" A soft voice broke her ranting thoughts.
Misty cautiously approached her. Aura took a single step back, but made no move to attack, threaten, or flee.
"Thank you."
"Uh..." Aura was taken aback. A human...thanking her for her life? "You're...you're welcome?" It came out like a question.
"If you wanted to join us...we'd be happy to have you along."
Absolutely not!
"My place is here."
"Alright, then," Misty walked away, not noticing Azar approaching the Lucario.
…
Ash and Misty were about to set off. Fire Sage Azar was having a last few words with the Chosen One, as Nyx and Misty checked their supplies. The Shiny Umbreon would be joining them on their journey...as a favor to Azar...and Hikari. Azar was now accompanied by one of his aides, a Charmeleon named Vulcan. After a long argument with Azar, Aura had taken to locking herself in her shed.
"What's her deal this time?" Ash asked.
"I had to do some convincing...and she's not too pleased to be trapped by her own word...or to lose to me," Azar chuckled.
"Let me guess," Ash grinned, "it had something to do with not killing us."
"Something like that," Azar muttered. "Aura!" He barked at the shed. "The Chosen One is about to leave. Don't you want...to say...goodbye?" Azar grinned at some personal joke in what he said. Vulcan smiled slightly, arms crossed, but then scowled again just as quickly.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah..." Aura came out slowly. She was wearing her tattered, bloodstained blanket-turned-cloak, a knapsack slightly hidden under it. In her right paw, she held her best spear; one that Azar helped her make, with an actual metal tip, pointed and deadly. It actually more or less resembled a lance rather than a spear, but Aura couldn't care less. She also wore her pearl necklace around her throat.
"Where are you going?" Ash grinned.
"Shaddup," Aura snarled.
"Good luck, Chosen One. Take care of him, young Waterflower," Azar smiled in goodbye. "Aura...may our paths cross again someday."
"Won't Hikari be proud?" Vulcan said, almost sarcastically. "Don't worry, I'll protect your territory while you're gone."
"What?" Ash wasn't sure he understood.
Aura ignored him, turning to Misty.
"Looks like I'll be taking you up on that offer, after all."
…
It didn't take long for things to go bad. Ash, Misty, Pikachu, Aura, and Nyx were traveling down a path, heading towards Pewter City to see Brock and let him know that they were all right. Aura took a step ahead, and turned to face them, now walking backwards.
"Humans," she addressed her new companions-however unwanted. "I suppose that just saying 'human' could cause confusion. So, since you know my name, I should know yours...I guess."
"Misty Waterflower," Misty smiled, ignoring Aura's cold rudeness.
"Ash Ketchum," Ash sounded as indifferent as Aura had been to Misty's name. However, Aura suddenly took a slight interest in this Chosen One.
"I suppose that Ash is short for Ashura, right?" Aura half-shrugged.
"Yeah...what's it to ya?" Ash narrowed his eyes at her.
"Nothing, human, nothing at all."
But, Nyx noticed that it wasn't "nothing at all," as Aura turned and slowed, so she was walking behind them again, never turning her back on them...particularly the Chosen One.
A few hours later, after lunch, Aura suddenly left camp. She left her stuff near the others' packs. Ash started after her.
"Where are you going?"
"Hunting," Aura muttered. "I'm hungry."
"We had lunch two minutes ago."
"I need real food in me. Not those pellets you feed the Pokémon that follow and obey like slaves. I deserve meat, and I'm willing to get it myself!" Aura kept going, despite the fact that it was unknown territory.
"We should stick together."
"I hate humans," Aura muttered.
"Then, why are you coming with us?"
"I promised Hikari that I'd serve the Chosen One." Aura definitely regretted that now.
"Who's Hikari?"
"The only person I trust."
"Oh, so she's human?"
"No."
"Then...?"
Ash stopped, looking around.
"I think we're lost," he muttered.
Aura looked around, sighing, then suddenly stiffened. Ash didn't notice.
"I'm always doing this," Ash sighed to himself. "And now I don't even have Pikachu to help me back to camp."
"Shh," Aura hushed.
"This is so typical."
"Shut up!" Aura barked. "Listen!"
Ash did. His eyes widened, and he exchanged glances with the Lucario.
Hissing!
"Ekans?" Ash breathed.
"I hope," Aura lied.
No…far too big. I'd have to say…
"CHAAAAA!" A huge purple-ish cobra Pokémon leapt out at them.
"Arbok!" Ash yelped, turning to face it.
"Chaaaa…." Another one hissed into view behind them.
"Chaaaa…." A third and a fourth followed suit.
"Arceus-damn!" Aura barked.
"We're completely surrounded!"
"Thank you, Captain Obvious!" Aura snarled at Ash.
"Let's…" Ash started, ignoring her.
"Leave it to me!" Aura interrupted, leaping at the closest Arbok.
"Wait!" Ash yelled, but Aura attacked anyway.
Aura landed right in front of a shocked Arbok, and jumped straight up in an uppercut, cutting the underside of the cobra's jaw with her paw spike.
"Chaaaa…" it hissed in pain and frustration. It shook its head, splattering blood everywhere. "Chaaaa!"
"Chaaaa!" The others all hissed together.
"Oh, shit," Aura growled.
"What?" Ash didn't understand.
"They're not as stupid as I'd hoped," Aura muttered. "They know better than to underestimate a desperate opponent."
"What are they doing?" Ash started to take a Pokéball off of his belt.
Even more Arbok hissed and slithered into view.
"Calling for help, of course," Aura said almost calmly.
"Well, this is unfair!" Ash yelled at the Pokémon. "Let's even the odds! Go-!"
"No!" Aura stopped him. "I got this!" She yelled at the trainer. "I've been in worse," she added to herself.
The cobra Pokémon hissed and slithered in winding circles around her, almost ignoring the harmless human, waiting for the right moment to take down the threatening Lucario. But, the Lucario spun in place just as quickly, determined to not leave a single spot vulnerable for even a second. She made no more movements to attack, however.
First rule of survival, of defensive battle, is to never make a hasty move, Aura scolded herself mentally. If I had remembered that, I wouldn't be in this mess.
Do something already! Ash was starting to become impatient. If Aura didn't come up with something, and fast, he'd have to send out a Pokémon or two to help.
Snakes…never change. Ekans, Arbok, Seviper, and humans…all snakes, Aura thought to herself. They slither, thinking they'll win by sneaking.
"What are you…?" Ash yelled at her, tossing the Pokéball up and down.
"Shut up!" Aura barked. "This is nothing."
"Are you waiting for them to kill you?"
"Shut the hell up, human!" Aura was losing her patience. Her glare locked with his. A memory of red eyes jump-started an idea.
If a snake will only attack to win…let him win! A trick!
Aura stopped spinning, and stood still, almost relaxed, and closed her eyes. She listened.
"What are you doing?" Ash gasped. "Giving up?"
"Chaaaa!" One of the Arbok took a chance on it, coiling itself up and springing itself at Aura, mouth open and fangs dripping with its paralyzing poison.
Aura heard it.
She opened her eyes, grinning, and took a single step to the right-just in time. The Arbok was flying right past her-its fangs missed her face by less than an inch. She reached out, and grabbed the tip of the tail as it whizzed by her.
"Chaka?" The Arbok choked in surprise, as Aura spun it around-hitting a few of the others with it as she did-and threw it.
Whack! It collided with a nearby tree.
"Chaaaa…" it hissed as it lost consciousness.
"Who's next?" Aura smirked.
Several of the remaining Arbok leapt at her at once. Aura dropped to the ground a split second before contact. The Arbok looked flabbergasted as they crashed headfirst into one another.
"Aw, now that was too easy," Aura mocked. "Not so smart now, eh, snake breath?"
She's not fighting like a normal Pokémon…with actual attacks and stuff, Ash realized. She's attacking physically, without training or focus on her inner abilities. This isn't a battle…she's practically street-fighting!
"Can I help now?" Ash feigned boredom.
"Help what?" Aura shrugged. "I'm almost done!"
Don't get cocky! Ash prayed.
"Hey, now," Aura barked, as another one made a jab at her face, which she avoided by inches. "Don't you know when to quit?" She stepped on its tail, causing it to stop in mid-flight, and fall straight to the ground with a thump!
"Fool," Aura understood The Arbok's hissing. "You're outnumbered."
"I'd rather be outnumbered than outmatched."
"AURA!" Ash barked, seeing her potentially fatal mistake before she did.
She'd ignored her rear, focusing only on her frontal view.
"Die!" A large male threw his massive weight at her.
Aura started to turn around.
"What the-!" She barked, wide-eyed in fear. In what she thought was going to be her last moment, she spun, swinging her right paw in an attempt at one last uppercut.
Aura waited for the blackness to consume her.
She felt a splash of liquid, and heard yelps of shock and fear. The sounds of terrified hissing faded away.
That's it, she thought. I made a stupid mistake, and now I'm dead. Sorry, Hikari. I'm…
She tried opening her eyes.
…Not dead.
Aura's shock was nothing compared to Ash's. He could barely believe his eyes. The rest of the Arbok hadn't fled for nothing. Aura's last-ditch attack had worked, the paw blade ripping through the flesh of the large male Arbok. Its head had been severed, dousing Aura in a wave of blood. The body of the fallen beast had shocked the rest of the pack so much that they fled in fear.
The gruesome and gory scene before Ash horrified him. Defeat the Arbok, yes; he'd have been fine with that. But, watching her kill it…no…butcher the Pokémon in such a manner…it terrified him that a creature that he was hoping to befriend, somehow, could murder something so…cold-heartedly. Ash's stomach turned, and he struggled to keep his lunch down.
Aura looked at his pale face, down at the severed head, at her own bloodstained pelt, and then back at the teen.
"Welcome to the world, Ash," Aura said in a dark tone. "It was attacking to kill. Survival depends on one law. The strong stay alive, and the weak die. If I have learned one thing in this world, it's that killing something that was so willing to murder you for nothing…is no sin."
"You didn't have to…" Ash trailed off, mouth still agape.
"Ash…you don't understand," Aura said before he could find his voice. "There are some in this world that are all too eager to kill for their own needs, to meet their own ends. At least, with this one dead, we have the promise that it will never kill an innocent child, alone on his journey."
"Where did you learn to fight like that?" Ash asked, trying to accept what she was telling him. She had a point. The Arbok may have well killed her, had the Lucario not reacted in the nick of time. "All last second, and without actual attacks and…" Ash's voice vanished again, and he stared wide-eyed in fear at something behind Aura.
"Aura…" he breathed her name.
"What?" Aura was surprised by his sudden fear.
Then, she saw a shadow fall on the ground from behind her. Fear rooted her to the spot.
One Arbok hadn't fled, yet.
"Vengeance…" it hissed softly.
Quick, Aura thought, her heart racing. What did Hikari say was code for he-?
Then, she felt massive agony, and the prickling sensation of toxins entering her bloodstream.
"HARK!" She yelped, her voice cracking in her anguish. "HARK THE RED MOON!" Her voice reached an octave normally out of her abilities on the last word.
The Arbok had taken a chomp at her left side, getting her arm as well as that side of her torso. By the time it let go of its hold on her, she felt the pain start to subside, as the poison started the paralysis process. Aura stumbled.
Damn my ego. If I'd only accepted Ash's help…he shouldn't have listened to me. Damn…
"Ash…" she moaned, and fell forward onto the soft earth below her.
"That's it!" Ash tapped the Pokéball's button once, enlarging it to full size, running to Aura's aid. "Go-!"
"Oh, no you don't!" The Arbok-a female-bit Ash in a similar manner
"Mmmhhhph!" Ash moaned. Being human, the poison worked faster than it had on Aura. He fell straight down into a crumpled heap, dropping the Pokéball in the process. It rolled away for a few feet, attracting the gaze of all three, attacked and attacker alike.
Please, please, please, two hearts prayed with all their might.
It slowly came to a stop, and time seemed to freeze. The 'ball remained motionless.
Nothing.
Damn!
The Arbok hissed in dark laughter, as Aura glared at Ash.
"I hate you."
A/N: Hey, Neon here. Just so you know, the first part of the chapter was a flashback to the generation before. There will be a few of these, to fit in with important info for the Fic later on. And, yes, Hertz. Her maiden name is Hertz. There's an inside joke to it, but I'll spare you all on my long, unnecessary stories…. And, please forgive me for any OOC-ness with Jimmy and/or Marina. It's been a while since I saw Legend of Thunder.