Chapter 11

Humans. The one known as Eight sneered mentally. Such greedy, cruel, pathetic things. So self absorbed. So…. frail. These were given dominion over the earth? Inconceivable. They weren't worthy of it. Well, all except one.

The one known as Scott still troubled her. Eight had seen inside his mind, stripped past the barely passable shields the Ralts had installed, past the trauma of death, into the deepest inner sanctum of his mind. She knew him deeper, more intimately even than a lover.

The knowledge of his origin had been shocking, but not unheard of. Eight had been inside the minds of the greatest scholars on Earth, and history was littered with historical records of inter dimensional heroes. But no, the thing that captured Eight's attention was simple, and yet the most complex of all; this person had endured a lifetime of suffering, a painful death, and disorienting escape, and yet still maintained an innocence and gentleness of spirit that drew others to himself like a Venomoth to the flame.

The parallels were uncanny. What was his secret? Why was he at seeming peace, while her own heart burned with rage and pain? What was it?

Eight was determined to find out.

Bounces-More-Than-Some burst through the grass, his friend Beta Ceti at his side. Their home was under attack, and they were too weak to do anything about it. Men in black uniforms were invading the mountain, boring into the rock and capturing anything that wasn't quick enough to escape.

The two of them had gotten away because they were small enough to slip through the nets, but now they needed help. Bounces looked around, his pink spherical body hanging in the air for a moment, as Ceti panted, catching his breath.

"Where should we go? We got away but now we need to do something about this! Our families are being attacked!"

"I don't know what we can do. The Captain went down hard, if they took him down, how can we stand against them? I've never been out of the mountain either, how are we supposed to find anything?"

It was then that both Pokémon suffered a blinding headache, the image of a single arrow pointing off towards the path to the human city overwhelming everything else.

Spyke stood watch, ever vigilant, ever on guard. His family was resting in a clearing nearby, and while his human had declared that this was to be a time of rest, Spyke found his instincts would not let him be completely at ease without a guard. And so, the large pink Pokémon was here, watching for threats.

Admittedly, there wasn't much to guard against though.

It was, of course, right at that moment that all hell broke loose.

Two small pink shapes burst from the undergrowth and shot straight towards him, screaming for help the whole way. Spyke immediately went on the defensive, his testosterone laden blood beginning to thrum through his veins, delivering toxic poison to his spines. He was just about to begin the attack when the words the two Pokémon were saying finally registered.

"Please! You're a Moon Guardian right? You have to help us! They're after the Stone!"

Moon Guardians? Stone? Spyke thought hard for a minute, remembering old legends his dad had thought him. "You mean the Great Moon Stone?"

"Yes! The humans in black are trying to steal it!" Cried the two pink puffballs.

"SCOTT!"

I sat cross legged in front of Ralts, our minds focused towards a singular goal. Both of us were working to form a connection, a psionic rapport that misty had told me all trainers of psychic type Pokémon were able to create.

I also needed answers.

I had noticed that I was picking up on the surface thoughts of my Pokémon. I had originally thought that it was nothing more than subconscious observation, the lower mind picking up on little cues and hints that my conscious mind wasn't aware of, but I had recently caught myself picking a berry for vulpix that I would have had no way of knowing she even wanted.

I had plucked the passing desire for one straight out of her mind.

I had a sneaking suspicion that Ralts had done some meddling, but our communication was still… lacking. Thus, our current task.

As I sat with my eyes closed, I could almost… feel…. something nearby. A warm feeling. Though 'feel' isn't really the right word. It was a sensation that has no words, impossible to properly describe.

I reached out to the warmth, extending my consciousness towards it, before I was suddenly seized and pulled in, like a meteor heading to the sun.

As I impacted, my mind became flooded with sensation, and I floundered, lost like a row boat in a storm at sea.

Four contented consciousnesses, relaxing after a hard morning training. One consciousness, alert, on edge, ever watchful, a storm of irritation and rage kept at bay with singular purpose and an iron will. One consciousness, focused to a sharp point, suddenly alarmed. One consciousness, lost, overwhelmed. Two consciousnesses merge briefly, calm ensues.

The maelstrom calms somewhat, and the relative calm allows me to gain nominal control. Ralts' presence makes itself known, an observer over my shoulder, watching, guiding, gently nudging. I cast my awareness wider, and the images flood my minds eye.

Drawn to the handsome stranger like a fish towards a Lanturn, desire, raw and naked. Strong hands glide over pliant flesh, supple softness yielding to the confident surety of his touch.

I pull away before I am noticed, embarrassment coloring my thoughts. Suddenly a lot of Misty's behavior makes a lot more sense. As I collect myself for a moment, a familiar consciousness changes from wary watchfulness to resolute action. Two more smaller beings appear at the edges, indistinct, hazy. They are colored with panic.

I break the trance with a loud gasp, as Nidorino charges into the camp, followed by two small pink Pokémon. One, a small spherical Pokémon, launches itself towards me like a shot. As I catch the igglybuff in my arms, it starts frantically chattering away, waving it's stubby arms.

The cleffa is more reserved, shy, it watches me silently as it's friend attempts to tell me what the issue is. Nidorino paws the ground uncertainly, faint mental impressions tell me that something is happening, something important, and that he needs to help. The only thing keeping him back, funnily enough, is me.

"What's the matter Scott? They seem really worked up." Misty asks, drawn by the commotion. I blush as she draws near, her earlier thoughts still fresh in my own mind.

"I'm not sure. I think these two are from mount moon, but I can't make out what's bothering them. Ralts, vulpix, can you help me out?"

"Ra!"

"Vul!"

I focused again, and the images I saw banished all the blood from my face.

"Team Rocket!"

Scott's Pokédex:

Caught: Caterpie, Metapod, Butterfree, Weedle, Kakuna, Beedrill, Pidgey, Pidgeotto, Rattata, Raticate, Spearow, Fearow, Nidoran(F), Nidorina, Nidoran(M), Nidorino, Vulpix, Pichu, Ralts