Chapter 3: A Deadly Encounter

Fepusa Nation, Olisberg Forest, 24th March, Year 1468

The trio heads east towards the cave. Staying alert all the time for any enemies or traps.

"What if there are more dangerous pokemon in the cave we are heading to." Reina asked.

"It is possible. If there are too many we go back and let sensei handle this." Ray said.

"What, are you scared?" Reid asked. "These guys are just low life. They ain't that strong or smart. Well, they may be strong but not that strong."

Ray sighed "Look, I'm not scared. I'm just being cautious. We never have been in a real fight unless you count that encounter with Rattata squad. Also, we are low on Pecha berry and there are two poison pokemon on their side"

"Hey look there is a gold mine there." Reina pointed towards it. "Unfortunately, It's abandoned."

"Reina, are you being greedy do you want gold from there?" Reid asked with a silly grin on his face.

Reina rolled her eyes. "I was hoping that there would be someone that could have helped us find that cave."

After a while, they saw a cave. There was no one at the entrance.

"Look there is the cave that Rattata was talking about." Reid pointed.

"How do we know that it's the same one?" Reina asked

"This is the one we are looking for. I can smell those two poison-pokemons they are inside." Ray said while sniffing.

"That nose of yours is very helpful." Reina smiled at him.

"That is the only thing useful of him." Reid said smugly. Reid was expecting a comeback from his comment but Ray pretend to ignore it.

Reina glared at him.

"Aaaarrrggg!" He groaned. "It's not fun if you don't retaliate"

"We don't have time for this. Those two are inside there. I don't think if there is anyone else. No wait, I smell three and this stench is horrible it's burning my nostrils." Ray covered his nose and got down on his knees.

"Now that I think about it something does smell disgusting. I can't imagine how bad it must be for Ray." Reina said in concern.

"What are you two complaining about? Let's go inside." Reid said while he walked towards the entrance.

"Wait!" Reina stopped him. "Ray is not feeling fine. Now, I think there are more than two pokemons in there. We don't want to risk it."

"Then you two stay out here I'll get the package." Reid replied.

"No, wait!" Ray got up covering his nose. "I'll be fine but promise me that if there is more than two pokemon inside we leave."

Reid wasn't sure if he should promise or not. "Fine but only if there is three or more pokemon in there."

The trio headed into the cave being careful as always.

Inside the cave

They weren't that deep and saw light from lit torches. The torches were dim but it was enough to see things around. The stolen items were placed unevenly around. It seems that they placed valuable goods on one side and the worthless items were on another side. Pokes were stacked neatly. At the center, there were two pokemon chilling. It was none other than the Ekans and Koffing the trio encountered. Both of them were lazily talking to each other.

"The Rattata squad hasn't come back yet." Owen said while yawning.

"I wonder whose fault is that."

"What do you mean by that?" Owen asked oblivious to what he did before.

"You used smog while the Rattata squad was nearby did you forget that already." The snake pokemon said as he was getting more and more frustrated with his partner.

"Now I remembered." Owen said slowly before realizing something. "Wait! I had to use that because you didn't do your part well." He yelled.

"It was an accident on my part. The wrong guy got hit." Evan replied.

Owen sighed. "Well, things don't always go as planned. We should get them back before the boss comes back."

"He wouldn't mind if one or two of them died but if every one of them is dead. It will be our turn next." Evan added.

The trio was hiding in a dark corner listening to their conversation.

"As soon as they leave we find the package and leave." Ray whispered. Reid was a little disappointed with that option.

The two poison pokemon left the cave. Once the cave was clear the trio went over the pile of stolen items.

"Let's hurry I think it must be in this pile." Ray said as he started searching through the pile of goods.

Three of them started searching quickly but thoroughly.

"What are you guys doing here?" A voice asked.

They slowly turned around to see two poison pokemon looking at them.

"These three are the ones who defeated the Rattata squad." Owen said as both of them charged towards them.

The snake pokemon used Poison Sting. The three of them dodged it. The trio is now separated. Ray is facing the Ekans while Reid and Reina are facing the Koffin.

Evan continued to unleash a barrage of poison sting. Ray was able to dodge all of them while keeping his nose covered.

"What's the matter Riolu? You don't look well." Evan commented on Ray covering his nose.

Ray ignored his taunts and went for Quick Attack knocking him back.

"It hurts dammit." Evan quickly retaliated with Poison Sting.

Ray dodged again with ease and prepared to use Force Palm. As Ray was close enough to use Force Palm Evan smiled smugly. The snake pokemon used Wrap. He quickly wrapped himself around Ray making him unable to move.

Meanwhile, Reid and Reina were fighting their enemy. Reina saw Ray struggling to escape. She quickly rushed to help him but was stopped by Owen. Owen quickly used Sludge attack which she barely evaded.

"Ray, how did you let yourself get caught like that?" Reid clicked his tongue.

Reina used Psychic but the Koffin moved away. Reid saw his chance and went for a Karate Chop hitting Owen on his head knocking him down. Reina made her way towards Ray.

Evan continued to squeeze Ray. Ray screamed in pain. Ray struggled to escape but to no success. Suddenly Evan started glowing in blue light and he is lifted midair. Ray escapes from Evan and falls. Reina slams the snake down with a Confusion attack.

"Stupid Meditite, you will pay" Evan lunges with a Bite attack.

Reina uses Bide. Her body becomes outlined in white as she endures the opponent's attacks. Then, its whole body glows white and she fires a white beam at Evan from her body. The snake pokemon goes flying across finally hitting the cave wall and goes unconscious.

Reina rushed towards Ray helping him on his feet. "Are you alright?" She asked in concern. "Here, take this Oran berry."

Ray ate the berry. "Thanks, I feel better now. What about Reid?" He asked as he turned towards his friend.

"Stay out of this mutt this one is mine." Reid warned him.

The Koffin unleashed a barrage of Sludge attacks. Reid evaded all the attacks. He rushed towards Owen wanting to close the distance for some close combat. Owen lets out a Smog attack covering his surrounding with poison gas. Reid holds his breath and rushes in for a Karate Chop. His attack lands before Owen could hide in his Smog. Reid knocks him down.

"Aaargh!" Owen screamed in pain. He saw the Machop coming after him to finish him. He panicked and let out another Smog but before he could do it Reid knocked him out of commission.

Reid huffed and puffed. "I wanted to beat up that Ekans myself but this one will do. Nice job Reina." He looked at Ray "You, what is wrong with you?" He asked him in disappointment.

Ray avoided looking at him. He didn't like being unable to help his friend. "I'm sorry I wasn't much of a help." He said while looking away from both of them.

"It doesn't matter, are you fine?" He asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine" Ray replied.

"Guys, this is our chance to find the package and escape." Reina said as she started looking through the stolen goods.

After searching for a while they found it.

"Look this is the one" She held out the iron ingot.

"How do we know this is the one we are looking for?" Reid asked.

Ray grabbed the iron ingot and sniffed it. "Yeah, this is the one we are looking for. It has the messenger Pidgeot's sent all over it. Ray hands it to Reina. She puts it in her bag.

The trio quickly rushed towards the entrance hoping not to encounter more enemies. As they were about to exit Ray smelled something horrible.

"This horrible stench is back and it's stronger than before." Ray covered his nose. "I think someone is here.

Soon their exit was blocked by a huge figure. The three of them looked up to see a Garbodor towering over them.

The Garbodor looked at them thoroughly. "Who are you and why are you here? You don't seem to be mercenaries. Then you must be bounty hunters. Naaah, they don't work in groups." He dismissed that thought. "Anyway, it doesn't matter who you are you know our secret lair and now you must disappear." He then fires multiple globs of dark purple liquid from his pipes for fingers it was a Toxic attack.

The trio quickly evaded backing away.

"So he is the one with the horrible stench" Ray covered his nose with disgust.

"He is blocking our exit. How do we get out?" Reina asked looking for a way out.

"We beat him till he is out of our way." Reid rushed at him to use Low Kick. "The bigger they are the harder they fall.

The Garbodor waited till he was close then used Double Slap sending him flying. He turned his attention toward the remaining two and fires Sludge Bomb on them. Ray was able to evade in time. Unfortunately, Reina wasn't so lucky she was knocked down by a brown ball of sludge. Her bag fell open spilling all the items. The Garbodor saw some berries and the iron ingot.

"All this just for some iron ingot." He chuckled. "I assume it must have some sentimental value or is it possible that there is something inside of it." He said tapping his chin.

Ray's eyes went wide and quickly rushed for the ingot but the Garbodor quickly grabbed it with his long arm.

"You dare steal from me?" The Garbodor's voice rose. "I. Bryant lieutenant of Vile bandit." He announced as he jumped up for a Body Slam.

Ray jumped out of his way and used Force Palm. The Garbodor didn't even move from his attack.

"You call that an attack. I'll show you how to attack" Bryant double slaps him sending Ray flying. While he was distracted Reid comes in and used Karate chop on his head finally doing some damage.

Bryant quickly grabbed him by his long and pulled him towards his mouth. Reid almost puked from the stench.

"That stinks, now I really feel sorry for ray." He looked away in disgust.

"I bet you will like this even more" Bryant said as he shot Sludge Bomb point-blank. Reid was now poisoned from the attack. "Now for a final touch." He said as he raised his free arm towards the Machop ready to shoot Toxic. Suddenly, the Garbodor begins to glow in blue light. Reina used Confusion to interrupt him. Reid saw his chance and escaped. Reina continued to use Confusion to hold the thrash pokemon down. Reid performed a Low Kick tripping him down.

Reid was about to attack with Karate Chop but he took some poison damage. Bryant recovered and used Toxic on Reina she evades the attack in time.

Ray comes in and tosses Pecha berry towards Reid. He then uses Quick Attack knocking him back then Force Palm the Garbodor. Bryant loses his balance. Reid now cured from his poison uses Low Kick knocking him down again.

The Garbodor while on his back blindly fires Sludge Bomb in the direction of the trio. The three of them ran back evading.

"Why do you keep fighting back? Just give up it's easier than fighting. I'll even give you quick death." Bryant made them an offer.

"No, thanks." Reina shakes her head.

Bryant was now disappointed. "Tsk, tsk, I gave you an easy way out. So, death from poison it is then for you"

"We must close the distance if we want to have a chance at winning." Reid said frustrated.

"Agreed!" Ray nodded.

The four pokemon were now breathing heavily. The Garbodor now being the healthiest. Ray and Reina were equally hurt. As for Reid, if he takes another hit that will be the end of him.

"I'll lead from here you two stay back." Ray said determined.

"Hey, don't hog all the glory." Reid smiled smugly.

"Reina, you keep meditating" He said and started to close the distance between him and Bryant.

Bryant let out Toxic again. Ray evades with ease. Ray uses Quick Attack closing the distance. Then he follows it up with Force Palm hurting Bryant. Bryant recovers and grabs Ray. Then he noticed Reina meditating. He was about to throw Ray at her. Reid flanked him and gave another Karate Chop to the head. The Garbodor recoiled in pain but didn't let go of his grip on Ray.

Bryant threw Ray towards Reina and also shot Toxic at them.

"Reina, watch out!" Ray warned.

Reina had her eyes closed while meditating. She opened her eyes to his warning but it was too late. Ray crashed into her. Soon after a glob of dark purple liquid hit them. Both of them were badly poisoned now.

"Sorry, I was supposed to protect you while you were meditating." Ray said as he got to his feet.

"You are poisoned. Where is the Pecha berry?" She looked around frantically.

Ray quickly stuffed her mouth with the last Pecha berry he had.

Reina's eyes went wide with fear as she realized that was the last Pecha berry they had.

"Why didn't you eat it yourself?" She scolded him.

"Didn't you realize why I told you to keep using Meditate?" Ray asked and went to help Reid.

Reid was doing far better than what Ray expected. He was also dealing damage while taking minimum damage himself. The Garbodor was oblivious to the other two. Ray sneaked in and landed a force palm. Reid landed another Karate Chop.

Bryant was getting more and more frustrated with the two. He grabbed Ray with his right arm and Reid with his left arm.

He holds them in front of his face. "That's enough with you two. I have changed my mind. You two die now." He was getting more and more frustrated. He prepared to fire Sludge Bomb.

Ray was in critical condition from poison and the damage he took before. He wasn't moving and his eyes were closed.

Reid noticed Ray was motionless "Hey, hey wake up man. Ray now is not time to be sleeping" He said with a nervous tone.

Reina interrupted Bryant's attack with her Confusion attack. Making Bryant lose his grip on Ray and Reid. Reid escaped and freed Ray from Bryant's clutches then carried him towards a safe spot.

"Ray, wake up." Reid said in concern as he help Ray's motionless body.

"Uuugh!" Ray slowly opened his eyes. "How is Reina?" He asked slowly.

They both looked over to see. Reina was facing Bryant alone.

"Oh no, I need to help her." Reid said. He rushed towards her to help.

"Wait!" Ray yelled to which Reid stopped and turned around.

"She can handle herself." He smiled softly.

Reina covered herself in white light. This was her bide attack. The Garbodor stopped attacking knowing what her plan was.

"I ain't falling for that. If I wasn't beat up already I wouldn't have minded attacking you. For that reason, I'll leave you for last." Bryant chuckled menacingly as he turned his attention to the other two. He shot Sludge Bomb at them.

Reina was quick she dived in between blocking the attack. She took a lot of damage but luckily she wasn't poisoned.

Bryant's eyes went wide in fear as he knew what was about to happen. Reina's body glows white and she fires a white beam at him. The bide attack was strong from raising her attack by meditating and Bryant's own attack.

Bryant screamed loudly as the white light hit him knocking him unconscious. Reina started breathing heavily and left out a sigh.

"It's all over now." She wiped her forehead and sighed again. She rushed back to Ray.

"Ray, are you alright?" She asked in concern.

"Yeah, I will be fine." He said slowly.

Both Reid and Reina were nervous not knowing what to do. If they move him poison will spread even more.

"Step aside." A voice said. They looked around to see none other than Edgar their caretaker. Both of them gasped.

"Sensei, what are you doing here?" Reid asked.

"No time for that. Can you look after Ray he is poisoned and in critical health." Reina pleaded.

"That's why I'm here for." He said as he kneeled beside Ray and fed him Pecha berry. The poison is cured from his body. Edgar then proceeds to use Heal Pulse on him. Ray was now healed enough that he can stand on his own.

"Ray, how are you feeling now?" He asked in worry.

"I'm fine now thank you very much." He replied looking down. Ray was again feeling useless being a burden to the team.

"You three did a good job." Edgar compliments them. He walks over to the Garbodor and grabs the iron ingot. "Who would have known what would have happened if they found out what's inside of this."

"But sensei, what are you doing here?" Reid asked again.

"I followed you all the way from the village" Edgar replied.

"Then why didn't you help us?" Reina questioned.

"Because you didn't needed my help. You were able to defeat these bandits all by yourself."

"Ray, he… he almost died today" Reina cried.

Edgar closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "Eudorox is at peace now. However, it is not a safe place at all. The crime rate is now more than that was before the war. You have lived in a safe village all your life. There are nice people in the village the same cannot be said about other places. I can't protect you all the time. Sooner or later I will be gone and when that happens you will have to look out for yourself."

Reid was about to open his mouth to say something but couldn't think anything. Ray was sulking by himself.

"I understand what you are saying." Reina replied.

"Let's go back home. The Forest guards will take care of them." Edgar said as he walked towards the exit. The others followed behind him.

AN: I wasn't sure if I was going to update this story. I was very busy for a year. I know not many people will read this and if you are reading this then thank you. I'm not a good writer but I keep trying. I'm not sure if I can update this story regularly but I will try when I get free time. Also, one last thing I have made a few changes in the last two chapters nothing major.

AN: Characters

Ray, Male Riolu, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Force Palm, Quick Attack, ? ?, ? ?

Reid, Male Machop, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Low Sweep, Karate Chop, ? ?, ? ?

Reina, Female Meditite, Ability, ? ?

Move set: Confusion, Bide, ? ?, ? ?

Evan, Male Ekans, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Poison Sting, Wrap, Bite, ? ?

Owen, Male Koffin, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Smog, Sludge, ? ?, ? ?

Bryant, Male Garbodor, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Toxic, Double Slap, Sludge Bomb, Body Slam

Edgar, Male Lucario, Ability: ? ?

Move set: Bone Rush, Heal Pulse, ? ?, ? ?