AN: There are translations for some words used in this chapter at the end, in case anyone needs them.

Episode IV:

Fighting Monsters

"Okay, let's try this again," Moxy whispered. "Dohh…"

"Naoo…" Sylveon's voice was wobbly as she sang along with Moxy.

"Re… mi… fa- you're not doing it right." Moxy crossed her arms.

The two were sitting at the edge of a giant cave-like room. It was a lot like the Rustboro hideout layout, except it was big enough to house three large pokemon battlefields. Perches for flying-types stuck out from the top of the walls, and there were climbing ropes scattered around the corners. It was the type of place Moxy thought the League would train their soldiers.

Sylveon made a tiny whimper, and her head sagged below her shoulders.

"C'mon, Sylvie. I know it's hard, just try, okay? If we can get your singing voice working, you might be able to learn Sing. It'd be great if we could put some… pokemon to sleep. Try again."

After a huff, Sylveon raised her head and closed her eyes. "Daohh…Riii…iiii…Feh…"

"Ugh, this is useless." Moxy hid her head in her knees with a sigh.

"Vee…" Sylveon's ears drooped. She curled herself into a ball, her body turned away from Moxy.

However, Moxy wasn't paying attention to her. She grappled the sides of her head. It was throbbing, begging her to close her eyes for a little while.

Unless my sleep is dreamless, there's no way in hell I'm sleeping. Moxy thought, but she quickly set that wishful thinking aside. It would be impossible to keep herself from dreaming. Hopefully, Sylveon could use Sing, which according to her research, puts pokemon in periods of dreamless sleep.

King Caltis Grieviron, Moxy recalled her last nightmare. Whoever this person was, it could be the key to ending her nightmares. If they would ever stop. Just thinking about it cast a sense of dread on her.

Moxy took a deep breath. "Okay. One more time."

"Ne." Sylveon was blunt, not moving a single muscle.

"Wha- Sylveon! Stop messing around!" Moxy shoved her gently, but Sylveon just grunted.

Whatever. I don't have time for this. Moxy stood up. She unclipped a second pokeball from her pocket. She looked around the giant room. Besides her and another grunt at the other end, the gymnasium-sized room was empty.

Moxy looked at the pokeball in her hand. This would be the first time she met her second partner pokemon, a Zubat. There was a flicker of excitement within her like a fire being set. She wanted to know everything about him. His likes and dislikes. His strengths and weaknesses. But more importantly, how she could turn him into the best Zubat in the world.

However, her mind kept reverting to what that Operator said. That this Zubat was constantly screaming. While it was normal for Zubat to screech to see, it also meant he was still undisciplined and wild. A trained Zubat only screeches when its trainer tells it to do so. Otherwise, it perches silently and trusts its trainer.

Chloe sells these pokemon. Are they bred, or stolen? Moxy thought. She'd find out anyway when she went out to Chloe's lab later. For now, she had a pokemon to tame.

"Here goes nothing…" Moxy tensed herself up when she clicked the button on the front of the ball. A brilliant flash of light released a blue and winged creature.

"SCREEEEEEEEEEE!"

Shit! Moxy covered her ears immediately, the Zubat not giving her a chance to marvel at him. She saw the grunt at the end do the same, and the look he gave her was none too pleased.

The Zubat circled the ceiling of the training area, its screeches incessant. Sylveon had jumped to her feet and covered her ears, too.

"H-hey! Come down here!" Moxy called to the Zubat frantically. She thought he heard her, but the Zubat just flew over her head. Moxy was quicker, however, and she clicked Zubat's pokeball before he could get too far. A red light latched around the Zubat and sucked him and his cries into the pokeball.

"Dammit…urgh…" she shook her throbbing head before clipping Zubat's ball back to her belt. Moxy slugged over to a black box on the wall near where she and Sylveon sat.

When she clicked it open, she perused its contents. Among the roll of rope, some tiny bottles of orange potions, repels and a glossy pistol that made her uneasy were three Oran berries. Moxy took one of the berries before closing the box.

Moxy was surprised to see Sylveon right beside her. There was a glimmer in her blue eyes, and Sylveon made a tiny purr. She placed a paw on Moxy's leg.

"Hmph! After the way you sassed at me, you're lucky if you'll be getting any lunch today!" Moxy pouted and held the berry away from Sylveon. Instead of Sylveon's usual persistence, she just growled at her. She raised a feeler at Moxy, curved and ready to strike.

"Touch me and it's back in the ball," Moxy threatened. "You wanna see who's faster? Try me."

Moxy's hand hovered near her belt. Sylveon's tail was raised and shaking, but after a second, the pokemon surrendered. Her ears were drooping down.

"Ugh… Sylvie, I'll give you one later, okay? I need to calm Zubat down first." Moxy told her. It didn't look like Sylveon was listening to her when she shifted her gaze away from Moxy.

Moxy placed a finger under her chin and said, "You know, this would be a lot easier with your help. There's a particularly scrumptious-looking berry in it for you if you do."

For a second, Sylveon didn't flinch. However, her pokemon eyed the berry in her hand.

"…Vee." She acquiesced. Sylveon positioned herself next to her trainer.

"Good girl." Moxy smiled and unclipped Zubat's pokeball again. "Now, I want you to catch Zubat when he comes out, alright?"

Sylveon gave Moxy her affirmation with a sharp yip. Raising her arm again, Moxy clicked the button on Zubat's pokeball.

"SCREEEEEEE-ack!" the appearing Zubat's sounds were muffled when a violent flurry of pink ribbons entangled his small body. Sylveon was growling as she anchored Zubat downwards.

"Eeep…" Zubat mumbled as he squirmed about on the floor, and Moxy was quick to run up to Zubat.

"Hey, calm down! We're not trying to hurt you, okay!" Moxy started. She tried to pet him on his head, but he snapped at her with his fangs. Another of Sylveon's ribbons gagged his mouth.

"Just calm down, please…" Moxy rubbed the top of Zubat's head. "I know it's scary. You're in the dark. Just listen to my voice, and you'll be okay."

Zubat continued to try and wriggle out of Sylveon's grasp, ineffectively. After a good minute, he stopped and just started panting. His body was heaving rapidly in fear, and his voice came out in rasps.

"Here." Moxy put the Oran berry in front of Zubat.

"Screep?" The pokemon took an interested whiff, and Moxy nodded to Sylveon. Sylveon removed the gag around Zubat's mouth.

"Don't be shy." Moxy inched the berry closer to him. Zubat sniffed a few more times before taking a cautious nibble. It wasn't a mere second longer when the Zubat bit into the berry.

"Woah!" Moxy was surprised by how fast the berry shriveled into nothing. "You really like those, huh?"

Zubat licked the sides of his mouth, and he made a little sound as an acknowledgment.

"There's another one in it for you if you calm down."

Zubat turned his head up to her quickly, the seriousness on his face a telling that he wanted another.

"I guess I now know why everyone was annoyed with you. You're just hungry! Alright, stay there." Moxy beamed. She gestured for Sylveon to let go of him while she went to grab another berry. She only took one out, but a growl from Sylveon prompted Moxy to take out two. Once she did, she ran back to Zubat and sat cross-legged beside him.

Zubat was silent, and he used his wings to keep his head off the floor when Moxy offered him another berry.

"Good boy…" Moxy whispered as Zubat dug his fangs into the berry. The berry was slowly becoming smaller as Zubat sucked on it like a toddler.

"See? You can trust me. From now on, I'm going to be your trainer." Moxy revealed.

"Eeep?" Zubat chirped with uncertainty.

"You're probably too young to understand what that means. Well…" Moxy tilted her head in thought. She had to make sure she chose the right words to say.

"Do you have anyone you don't like? People or pokemon who are scary?"

Zubat shivered and began to slowly back away from Moxy.

"W-wait!" she stuttered. "I'm not like them! What I want to do is help you! I want to protect you from those people!"

Sylveon raised her feelers, ready to grab him if he flew off. Moxy shot a hand to the side, and Sylveon eyed Moxy curiously.

Zubat stopped and tilted his head.

"Yes." a droplet of sweat raced down the side of her head. "I'll protect you with my life, no matter what. That's what a trainer does for their pokemon."

Moxy glanced at Sylveon, hoping she was listening. However, her pokemon's ears had drooped.

"…but these relationships go both ways." Moxy looked back at Zubat. "If I protect you, I need you to promise me something."

Zubat listened intently with his pointy ears.

"You'll promise to become stronger so that those people who scare you can't hurt you anymore."

"Nyao. Vee, vee…" Sylveon vouched in a gentle voice.

"Right, what she said." Moxy smiled crookedly at Sylveon and passed her the last berry. It was gobbled up in a second.

"And, as long as you keep your promise, there will be more food for you." She added.

Zubat turned his head up again to Moxy and chirped once more, this time it was optimistic and full of energy.

It seems like he only really responds when food is involved. Typical. Moxy frowned a bit. Her wallet was going to be looking a lot shorter in the coming weeks.

Suddenly, Moxy squinted at a small, feminine figure hanging by the entrance to the training room. Her familiar face brought a face of disgust to Moxy.

"Hey, Mox!" Zee jogged towards her.

"Don't call me that," Moxy snapped back when Zee reached her.

"Sorry, sounded like a cool nickname…" Zee pressed her index fingers together.

Moxy sighed. "What do you want?"

"You got up way too early today! Didn't even give me a chance to say good morning! Man, you look like hell though. You get any sleep?"

Moxy continued to stare at Zee with her dead tired eyes.

"Well," Zee continued. "I thought we could get together, roomie! Do a little training, gossip, and stuff…"

Moxy patted Zubat silently, ignoring Zee. "Okay, I'm putting you back in the ball, alright?"

"E-Eeep…" Zubat mumbled.

"I'm sorry. I have to go right now. I'll feed you a little more later, sound good?"

Zubat nodded, and a flash of red light engulfed him back into his pokeball. Moxy stood up and began walking away from Zee.

"I'm done training for today." Moxy huffed, gathering her belongings from the side of the room.

"Oh. Well, what else are you doing today?!" Zee asked jubilantly. Her red eyes were glimmering, and she had a big smile on her face as she followed Moxy and Sylveon out of the training room.

"Don't you have, like, anything else to do today?" Moxy turned the corner, trying to quicken her pace.

Zee scratched the side of her head, easily keeping up with Moxy. "Not really. I don't take many missions. Mainly because people don't need me right now…"

Moxy sighed. Zee was as harmless as a week-old Rattata, but she sure was as pestering as one.

It didn't take long for them to reach the Hub. At this time of the day, only a few grunts were up and about, and most of the shops had just started to open.

"Woah!" Zee exclaimed right behind Moxy's shoulder, surprising her. "Are you hungry? The ramen shop is opening up right now!"

"I'm fine, thanks." Moxy deadpanned. Sylveon ran up to Moxy's side and brushed her head against her trainer's leg.

"Later, Sylveon," Moxy said with a sharp tone, grabbing Sylveon's feelers like she was a kid at an ice cream shop. Sylveon whined, but all that did was make Moxy tighten her grip. They continued to walk until they reached the hallway towards the elevator.

Moxy entered the elevator, and to her disappointment, Zee followed her in.

The elevator door closed, and they began to descend.

"Seriously, Zee. This is weird." Moxy leaned back against the rattling elevator, crossing her arms. Sylveon took a cautious step towards Zee, giving the girl a sniff.

"What's weird?" Zee asked, her face full of confusion.

"Um, what?" Moxy lowered her brows in disbelief. "You're literally just following me everywhere."

"Um, says you." Zee frowned. "I'm just going back to the bunks. The only person making it weird is you."

"I-" Moxy placed a finger against her temple.

Stupid people bring you down to their level, then beat you with experience, Moxy told herself before giving Zee a forced smile.

"You're fucking crazy, you know that?" Moxy flat-out told her.

"And you've got a stick up your ass." Zee sighed, shaking her head in disappointment.

Moxy turned her face away.

Moxy, don't say anything. Moxy, don't say anything. She continued repeating to herself incredulously.

I'm saying something, Moxy faced Zee, her head about to explode with rage. Sylveon noticed because she scrambled to attach a feeler to Moxy's hand.

The elevator door opened. Moxy was startled by the sound of multiple footsteps running toward her.

"Move! Move!" a grunt yelled. He wore his hoodie, as well as a red and black backpack, an exposed belt strapped with canisters, and a stocky black vest with the Operator insignia plastered on it. A glossy, black rifle hung around his shoulder as he pushed past Moxy and Zee to get inside the elevator. Another three grunts followed him inside, and as soon as Moxy and Zee were out, the elevator shot up.

"Man, they're sure impatient…" Zee coddled her shoulder.

I wonder what's got them hurrying like that, Moxy wondered curiously.

"Hey, Moxy." A voice said behind her. She turned to see Aiden. He was decked out in the same gear as those grunts. His hoodie was donned, hiding his black hair, and his vest had the symbol of a Crobat on it.

"Oh, h-hey Aiden. What's going on?" Moxy asked him, a smile involuntarily creeping on her face. However, it fled once she saw the blonde, thin woman tailing him. She was looking down at Moxy with mildly interested blue eyes. She wore the same vest as Aiden.

"We have a green light to infiltrate the Silph Co branch in Hoenn. You know the place?"

"Yeah," Moxy said, the woman's gaze setting her uneasy. "Aren't they some tech company from Kanto?"

Aiden nodded. "They might have the device we need to get our submarine to deep-sea levels. Are you busy? You could learn something on this mission."

"Little smutean¹ come with us?" The woman behind him asked. The woman's hard and foreign accent was different than the Arcanese that Tabitha and Chloe spoke. However, Moxy recognized her based on her voice. It was the lady from the secret meeting in the Rustboro Hideout. The one Moxy had interrupted.

"I don't think you guys have met," Aiden started. "Moxy, this is Natalia. You'll be working with her once you settle into the infiltration unit."

"Preevyet²." Natalia greeted with an extended arm.

She's so pretty. I wish I was that tall, Moxy marveled as she shook her hand. However, her amazement turned sour when she realized Aiden and she had been walking down here together. Were they friends? Or maybe… lovers?

"I remember you," Natalia said, breaking Moxy from her trance. "Apologies. Teeth of Mightyena very terrible. How you feel?"

"O-oh!" Moxy rubbed her shoulder. "I'm doing a lot better now, thanks…"

"So, do you want to join us?" Aiden asked again. Natalia gave Moxy a white smile, though it seemed forced.

She so wanted to join them. Breaking into places was something she specialized in. Unfortunately, Moxy was forced to shake her head.

"I'm sorry. Chloe asked me to do something today. I need to pick something up for her."

Aiden raised his eyebrows. "So that's what you guys were talking about yesterday. See, I told you the admins would give you work."

"Yeah. I'm totally excited." Moxy muttered, hiding her hands in her hoodie pockets. "So, do you know when I start with the infiltration unit?"

Aiden scratched his head. "No one came to give you any tags yet?"

"What tags?"

"These." Aiden dug into the collar of his hoodie and pulled out steel dog tags attached to a necklace. His name and a number were on it, as well as the insignia of the Crobat, the telltale sign of an infiltrator.

"That's pretty cool. I didn't know we got those."

Aiden smiled before hiding the dog tags under his hoodie again. "Yeah, but it's weird though. They usually give them to you the very next day."

"Oh…" Moxy trailed off, not thrilled with what she was hearing. However, Aiden patted her on the arm.

"Don't worry." He grinned. "They'll probably give it to you later today. Patience is a virtue. That's what the leader always says."

Moxy smiled back at him. He was good at making her feel better.

"Who is this one?" Natalia knelt in front of Sylveon.

"Vee?" Sylveon said when Natalia pulled at her cheeks.

"This is Sylvie," Moxy monotoned.

"Little koshka³. Natalia said in a baby voice before looking up at Moxy. "You train by self?"

"Yep. Just me." Moxy was neutral as she watched Sylveon meow happily, eliciting a laugh from Natalia.

Suddenly, a line of grunts came around the corner. Moxy's eyes widened at the short woman who lead them. She wore a getup that looked a little bit like Tabitha's. Her coat had flared lapels with large, yellow cuffs wrapping the ends of her sleeves. She stared straight ahead with violet-shaded eyes, and her purple bob was hidden under a yellow-horned admin hood that made her look as menacing as a Tauros. Moxy caught Aiden correcting his posture, and he looked a lot more alive than usual.

"Who is that?" Moxy whispered after the purple-haired admin and her army of grunts hurried past them.

"Chief Admin Courtney," Natalia answered before standing.

"Well, that's our queue. I'll see you later." Aiden said with haste. He waved to Moxy before he and Natalia followed after the grunts. Moxy noticed Natalia was holding that long, silver briefcase again.

I wonder what she's carrying, Moxy thought.

"That was so cool!" Zee jubilated behind her.

"Arceus," Moxy palmed her chest in surprise. "You're still here?"

"Oh, you said 'Arceus'? That's an interesting word to use," Zee nitpicked. "You believe in the All-Maker?"

Moxy grumbled and continued. She stopped at the intersection and looked both ways. Where is this damn exit?

"You don't even know where your going, do ya?" Zee yawned behind her.

"Zee. Unless you're going to help me, I do not want to hear another word out of your mouth." Moxy huffed, opting to take the right path.

"The docking bay is to the left." Zee chimed in. "That's where you're trying to go, right?"

Grrrr, Moxy tightened her palms together before turning around.

Zee spun in place happily. "See? You need me!"

Translations:

1: Troublemaker in Russian

2: Hey in Russian

3: Cat in Russian