"Didn't you mention you have a little brother?" Alex asked as we left Robert's house to go and explore Aspertia City a little more.
"Ah, right," Robert nodded. "Apparently he came home last night from staying at school too long. He even left before you two woke up."
"The school is for teaching Pokemon trainers, right?" I remembered. "Your brother must be really looking forward to going on his own adventure one day."
"He took after me," Robert rubbed his cheek in embarrassment. "Well, the old me at any rate."
"About that," Alex set her hands on her hips as she stuck her face close to Robert's. "What exactly did you get up to in this region when you got back from Alola?"
"Well that is a story that is less interesting than you may think," Robert forewarned.
"We got the whole day to talk and explore," I reminded him. "Or we could go and talk somewhere, like a park."
Robert thought about it. "Well, not a park. It's... Well, you'll just have to see it for yourselves. Come on, it's this way!" He lead us down a couple streets, past shop windows and a bakery that had a sweet flavorful aroma wafting from it. The atmosphere was akin to some of the avenues in Lumiose City, but different in its own way. Most people were beginning to dress up in sweaters and longer pants as the Fall season continued on.
"Up this way," Robert said, heading up some stairs where the road ended. "The view is so worth coming here, trust me." After less than a minute, we had climbed onto the platform. Being so high, we could feel the cool wind more directly without the buildings blocking it. And the view took my breath away.
"Welcome to Unova," Robert grinned, holding out his hand to the beautiful scenery. With a cry, a flock of Swanna flew overhead, flying over the vast forest. Many of the trees had already turned an array of beautiful fall colors, the lake just beyond glittering in the sunlight. Even further, large mountains loomed over the surrounding landscape.
"Beautiful," Alex breathed as she leaned over the railing, her hair flowing in the wind as golden orange leaves fluttered past her.
Robert elbowed me softly in the ribs. "You got yourself someone splendid, you hear?"
"Yeah yeah," I pushed him away, unable to help the warm feeling that spread into my cheeks. "Hey now, don't distract us with the scenery. You have a story to tell."
Alex leaned against the railing with her back now. "He's right. Come on, spill."
"Alright, geez," Robert tucked his hands into his jean pockets, staring at the view for a couple moments before starting. "When I got back from Alola, I almost immediately went on another journey together with Snorlax." He took a second to let the Normal type out, who sat up, seeming to enjoy the scenery as well. "I wanted to show my family and all those who supported me that I could get stronger from my defeat in the Alolan League. Plus, another adventure sounded fun."
He sighed, smiling softly. "At first, I'll admit, it wasn't so fun. Just travelling with your Pokemon is great and all, but I lacked the human companionship. Continuously training to get stronger was all I really did when I travelled. Then," a wider smile formed. "I met those two. Then the journey truly became an adventure." He slammed his fist into an open palm. "Gym after gym, me and my rivals went, aiming for the famous Unova League. Along the way, I made even more friends, both people and Pokemon."
"And when the day finally arrived, I took part in the tournament," Robert turned more serious. "All my training and diligence had lead me up to that point. I claimed victory and arrived at Elite 4. Those were the toughest battles of my entire life, I tell you. Except for..." Robert closed his eyes, looking lost within a memory. "Alder, this region's Champion. When I faced him, I truly realized how far I had really come and how much further I would need to go."
"So I quit," Robert turned back to us cheerfully, clasping his hands together. "I decided being a trainer wasn't for me and tried something that had intrigued me throughout my journey. I got accepted as Professor Juniper's assistant and well, you know the rest."
"So you really are that strong, huh?" I folded my arms, nodding. "Robert, I hope you realize I want to battle you now."
"And where are these new Pokemon you apparently caught?" Alex shook her head. "I mean, come on Rob. You held back a lot from us."
"Sorry," Robert apologized, rubbing the back of his head. "When we get to Nuvema Town, I'll introduce you guys to my Pokemon then. And I guess I could battle you as well Zeno..."
"Perfect," Alex grinned, slapping Robert hard on the back. "Now, show us around this city more. This view is amazing, but it can't be the only good thing here."
"Not at all," Robert snapped his fingers, smiling. "The grand ol' tour has only just begun!"
"Oh that hits the spot," Robert gasped, dumping his empty bottle of soda into a recycling can against the wall of a building. Night had only just fallen and we were on our way back to Robert's house after a whole day of looking through shops, eating out, and even visiting the nearby pond that was full of Basculin.
"Biiiisharp," Bisharp grinned, finishing off the hot dog I had bought him.
"I take it that was good?" I asked absentmindedly.
He responded with a grating thumbs up. I turned at the sound of Alex laughing to see her shooing off Frosmoth who was trying to get at the ice cream she was finishing off.
"Alright, fine," Alex held out the rest for the Bug type. "Here you go girl." Frosmoth let out a happy cry, gulping down the rest of the frozen treat.
"Just wait until you have a Casteliacone," Robert said dreamily. "Those things are the best. If your Frosmoth was begging when you were eating that, trust me when I say you wouldn't give it up."
Alex slapped him lightly on the head. "Then I'd buy her one as well, idiot." She glanced at me. "You alright, Zeno?"
I shrugged, making sure to keep my eyes on the shadows outside of the light provided by streetlamps. "Yeah, sorry. I'm just on edge."
"I figured you might notice with you being you," Robert rubbed his chin. "Even before I left for Kalos, the crime rate in Unova has gone up, especially in the cities. But compared to Castelia, Aspertia is pretty safe."
"Forgive me if I don't take your word for it," I rested my hand briefly on where my knife was concealed on my hip. "The sooner we're back at your house, the better."
"On the bright side," Alex said with a smile. "None of our Pokemon have sensed anything off, so I say-"
Bisharp suddenly stopped, his gaze turning left towards an alley that lead straight into darkness. I saw how he tense he'd gotten and stopped as well, straining my senses.
"I spoke too soon, huh," Alex sighed as Frosmoth went to hover next to Bisharp.
"Stop it with the flag raising," Robert groaned. "At this rate, we're going to turn my city into a crater."
"Nothing is coming," Alex pointed out. "We can just walk away."
A sharp cry came from further in the alley, followed by another cry of pain.
"Or we can play the part of heroes again," Alex shrugged, following me as I quickly walked into the alley alongside Bisharp. "Not like that's anything new."
"So we're doing this?" Robert asked, then answered himself as he let out Chesnaught. "Yeah, we're doing this."
After about a couple meters into the alley it turned onto another alley where a single dim light was hanging from the brick wall a dozen meters away. Three people along with a Scraggy, Purloin, and Timburr had surrounded two injured Pokemon. The battered Cubchoo was standing in front of a small yellow body, arms out wide to protect it.
"Ain't that adorable," a woman cooed from the group. "He's trying to protect his friend, the ugly little thing."
"Knock him aside, Scraggy," a lanky blonde guy ordered from beside the woman. "Let him watch us beat his friend even more!" The Scraggy eagerly obeyed, rushing forwards and jabbing Cubchoo in the stomach. The Ice type doubled over, eyes brimming with tears as it tried to stand again.
"Hey hey," The blonde stepped forwards, aiming to kick Cubchoo. "We want you to move!" As he kicked out his foot, he yelped in pain as it collided with hard metal. He stumbled back to see Bisharp kneeling in front of both Pokemon, rising to stand tall as he glared at the thugs.
"Oh, protecting these little ones?" The woman sneered. "Get out of the way or we'll kill you!"
"Don't make promises you can't keep," I warned her, stepping forwards, tightening a fist at my side.
The three thugs looked startled for a second when they realized there were more here than just Bisharp. The black haired woman regained her composure first. "Hey, move it along kids. You shouldn't be hanging around places you shouldn't be."
"Funny," Alex's voice was dripping with sarcasm. "Then why pray tell are you here?"
The lanky blonde guy took a step forwards, eyes narrowing. He wore ragged clothes, his hair dirty as he twisted his lips into a mocking smile. "Oi, don't talk to her like that little missy!" He whipped out a knife. "Or things'll get ugly!"
The other guy, who was bald and looked more fit in his biker gear, wore a sneer as he took a menacing step forwards, fists the size of a Machoke's. His Timburr flipped the log it was carrying before catching it, the sharp point facing towards us.
"Now now boys," the woman held up both hands to stop them. She wore a long black dress, long black bangs covering her left eye. She smiled coldly as she pointed a polished red fingernail at us. "Call off your Pokemon and move along and we'll forget you ever bothered us tonight. That way you and your Pokemon won't have to get hurt."
Even though I already knew what I would do, I glanced at Cubchoo and his friend that he was protecting. I turned my glare on the woman. "You are the lowest of the low, ganging up on weak Pokemon to get some laughs." I narrowed my eyes. "You make me sick."
The woman's eyes widened in anger. She took a step back, still pointing at us as she commanded the two men, "Kill them!"
Both men rushed forwards, the brawn wielding his fists while his comrade a knife. Chesnaught rushed past Robert, meeting the big guy head on, their hands locking on one another's as they struggled to overpower the other. I waited for the lanky blonde to swing his knife, which I responded by smacking it away with the back of my hand before grabbing the front of his shirt and yanking him to the side and against the brick wall. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the Timburr leap for me, his pointy log aiming to pierce me. Bisharp appeared out of nowhere, slamming his arm into the Fighting type's middle and slamming him to the ground. Robert picked up the log and bashed the flat side against the other guy's head, where he had been struggling against Chesnaught.
Alex and her Frosmoth had took over Bisharp's role of protecting the injured Pokemon, Frosmoth blasting a frozen wind into the Purrloin. Alex took a step back after delivering a jab into the woman's side, who was grimacing in pain. She glared at Alex once she realized that her Purrloin wasn't going to win this fight.
She cursed at Alex. "You won this time girlie, but next time watch your back!" She turned and ran, her Purrloin rushing after her. Both guys got back to their feet, and once realizing that their boss had made off, hurried after her as well down the alley alongside their Pokemon.
"Bisharp," I narrowed my eyes. "Stop them!" Bisharp ran after them, but stopped when they suddenly came to a halt at the alley's exit. A large muscular figure stood before them, arms crossed.
"Hey, out of our way!" The woman yelled angrily and her big friend stepped forwards as if to take the newcomer on. In an instant, he was on the ground, groaning in pain. He jabbed out a massive hand to grip the blonde's hand, twisting so he dropped the knife he pulled.
Both Timburr and Scraggy launched themselves forwards, but a blue Pokemon in karate get-up leaped over the man, slamming both a foot and fist against the Pokemon, slamming to the ground. He held them there as his trainer turned to the woman.
"I suggest," the figure said in a deep, calm voice. "That you surrender quietly."
"Y-yes," the woman squeaked, she and her Purrloin backing up against the wall.
"Hey, I recognize that voice," Robert's eyes were wide as he hurried forwards. "It is you!"
Alex and I went to stand next to him as Robert shook the large man's hand which had sleeveless orange gloves fitted onto them. "It's been a while, Marshal."
Marshal nodded to him without a word. He was a dark -skinned man with buzz cut length saffron and black hair and was wearing a teal vest along with baggy orange track pants with teal teal outlines. He wore a black belt like his Sawk, who was holding down the enemy Pokemon, and appeared not to be wearing shoes.
"Introductions?" Alex prompted.
Marshal fixed an intense gaze on Alex and I. "I take it these two are with you?"
"Yeah, they're my friends," Robert confirmed. "Guys, this is Marshal of Unova's Elite 4. Somehow I managed to beat him."
"Hmph," Marshal barely reacted. "That battle taught me and my Pokemon that we still had a ways to go." He nodded to the thugs. "Leave them in my care and go on your way. The police should be arriving soon. It's probably best you don't get involved any further."
"Hold on," I said, turning back to the alley and heading down to where Frosmoth was gently hovering over the two wounded Pokemon. I knelt beside them and Cubchoo instantly moved in front of his friend. "It's alright," I assured him, voice low and soothing. "I won't hurt either of you. I just want to help."
Cubchoo still looked wary, but Bisharp walked over, kneeling next to them as well. "Bish." He said, nodding to me. Frosmoth gave a cry as well and Cubchoo finally gave in, slumping to the ground, breathing heavily as he started to feel his wounds.
"Alex," I called, but she was already next to me.
"I got him," she scooped up the Ice type in her arms, stepping back so I could get to the small yellow Pokemon who was still curled up. It quivered softly at my touch, but it was weak. I picked him up carefully, studying him for a brief second. It was a Joltik, legs curled up to its stomach, bruises covering his body.
"We need to hurry," I told Alex and Robert, hurrying towards the end of the alley. I saw Marshal give me a nod as I rushed past before I began running towards where Robert had shown us the Pokemon Center earlier in the day. Alex, Robert, and Bisharp were running just behind me with Frosmoth flying overhead.
I glanced down at the bundle I was carrying, barely feeling any quivering now. "Hang in there little guy. Hang in there."
"It seems three of our operatives have gotten themselves arrested in Aspertia City," a man in a business suit informed his boss, who was lounging in his chair, feet up on the rickety desk.
"It's those three I'm guessing?" the man grumbled, pulling out a cigar. "Well, it was going to happen sooner or later. Get them out and send 'em to me. I'd like to have a few words with them."
"Yes sir," the other man nodded, stepping out of the shipping container and back out into the cold night air filled with the stink of smog. He crinkled his nose before heading through the maze of shipping containers to make his way back to his car. His Natu, who was settled on his shoulder, seemed perfectly content to sleep while he walked.
He stopped next to a container where a couple bulky guards where standing watch. "How is our esteemed guest?"
One of the men grinned wickedly. "That green-haired brat? He still hasn't seemed to learned his place, but he will soon enough."
"Good," the man straightened his tie. "Be sure not to let him die. If he did, there will be hell to pay." He set out once more, looking forward to when he could get out of this polluted city.
The length of this story used to be projected as 100 chapters. That has been changed to 66 due to a multitude of reasons. Main one being that it was necessary in order to keep the quality of this story and the plot at a level where it wouldn't get strained with all the chapters I had begun to see as unnecessary filler.
