Lief Green leaned against his motorcycle, watching the gas pump tick up as he filled the tank. His bike was painted black, blue, yellow, red, silver and green with a vine like pattern. Just like most of the members of the Angels of the End biker gang. The faint glow of the gas station's lights cast shadows over the empty lot, and he took a breath of the cool night air. The gas station wasn't too special, a few pumps, a kiosk with a half asleep attendant, a few decorative plants and a vending machine that sold snacks and foods that is guaranteed to give you or your Pokémon diabetes.
He glanced down at the cardboard box in his bike's saddlebag, the artifact he'd managed to snag from the Pewter City Gym. The box was worn and unassuming, but he knew it held more value than its appearance suggested, and he knew that this would be enough to bring a smile to his father's face.
The low rumble of engines shattered the quiet as three motorcycles pulled into the lot, their riders wearing the Ember Eye Gang insignia. Lief rolled his eyes, recognizing one of the gang members immediately, thugs who took pride in causing trouble, especially if it involved Fire-types.
One of the gang members, who looked to be an executive was a 21? 22? 20 something year woman who seemed to have jumped out of some adult magazine, wearing a dress that revealed too much, long black hair that was too shiny, and her face was suffocating under make up, she had a permanent smile and look in her eye that seemed to lure any fly into her fiery trap.
Lief knew her name as Zoe, and she seemed to have dated at least a quarter of all the males in Kanto, either for money, status, things, or even because she can, he was even willing to bet his right arm if she had gone out with her own brothers. He admitted that he had a 'fling' with Zoe, they had gone out like three times, and she ended it just like that.
Lief hadn't seen her for a while and now here she was looking at him as if nothing whatsoever happened.
She was escorted by two men who were also member of the Ember Eye Gang, he had no idea who they were, but the fact they were escorting her told him enough,
"Hey, Green!" one of the gang members sneered as he stepped off his bike, his eyes fixed on the box in Lief's saddlebag. "Hand over that box, and we'll let you leave without a scratch."
Lief smirked, standing tall. "Oh, I don't think so. Why don't you guys find someone else to hassle?"
"Oh Lief." Zoe said calmly in a motherly tone, "You really are a complicated one, aren't you? You a Angels of the End, me a Ember Eye, why not we have a little 'negotiation' if you know what I mean." She said with a smile.
"Try me." Lief said bluntly as he shot her a look that seemed to rip her voice box out of her body and slapped the smile from her face.
The gang members exchanged glances, then scowled, releasing their Pokémon. A Houndour and two Growlithes appeared, their dark and fiery auras casting a fierce glow under the gas station lights.
Lief didn't flinch. Instead, he reached for his Pokéball, releasing his own Pokémon with a quick flick of his wrist. "Alright, Grookey, let's show them what we've got!"
His Kantonian Grookey leapt forward, its dark feathers and sharp eyes a stark contrast to its usual playful nature. It gripped a small, sharpened stick in its claws, spinning it with a fierce determination.
Zoe pointed at Lief. "Get that box! Houndour! Ember attack!"
The Houndour snarled, flames building in its mouth as it prepared to unleash its attack. Lief acted fast. "Grookey, dodge and use Aerial Ace!"
Grookey darted to the side, dodging Houndour's flames with ease. It leapt into the air, its stick glowing as it swooped down and struck Houndour directly. The impact sent the Houndour staggering back, dazed from the precision of the hit.
"Now, hit that Growlithe with Rock Smash!" Lief commanded.
Grookey charged at one of the Growlithe, its stick raised high as it brought it down with a powerful Rock Smash. The Growlithe yelped in surprise, knocked off its feet as Grookey's strike hit hard, leaving it unable to continue.
One of the gang members cursed under his breath, recalling his fainted Growlithe as the other one sent his forward. "Don't let up! Use Flame Wheel!"
The second Growlithe launched itself at Grookey, spinning forward in a wheel of flames. Grookey dodged to the left, barely avoiding the scorching attack. It looked back at Lief, awaiting his next command.
"Grookey, use Aerial Ace again!"
Grookey leapt forward, landing a second well-aimed Aerial Ace on the Growlithe, sending it sprawling back to its trainer. The second gang member's Pokémon was down, leaving only Zoe's Houndour still in the fight.
She clenched her fists her face had gone very ugly. "Houndour, Dark Pulse!"
Houndour unleashed a wave of dark energy, aiming it straight at Grookey. Grookey staggered back, momentarily dazed by the attack, but it shook itself off, standing its ground.
Lief's expression hardened. "End this, Grookey. Use Rock Smash!"
Grookey dashed forward, its stick glowing with energy as it struck Houndour square in the chest. Houndour yelped and collapsed, defeated. Zoe, recalling her fainted Pokémon and glaring daggers at Lief.
"Still think you can take this from me?" Lief taunted, giving them a defiant smirk as he watched Zoe's blood turn to steam.
One of the grunts, apparently too stubborn to back down, stepped forward, cracking his knuckles as he looked at Zoe then back at Lief. "We don't need our Pokémon to take you down, Green."
The thug swung at Lief, but Lief was ready. He sidestepped the punch, grabbing the thug's arm and twisting it behind his back, forcing him to the ground as he created a giant cloud of dust.
"You seriously thought that would work?" Lief scoffed, his voice laced with contempt. He released the grunt, who stumbled back, clutching his arm and glaring at Lief.
"Get out of here," Lief spat, his eyes cold as he watched the gang members retreat, muttering curses under their breath, as Zoe shot him a look of utter contempt.
Once they were out of sight, Lief relaxed, running a hand through his hair. "Good work, Grookey. You did great." Grookey chirped, looking pleased with itself.
He returned Grookey to its Pokéball, then finished filling up his bike's tank. With the gas station quiet once again, Lief mounted his bike, casting a quick glance at the box to make sure it was still secure.
He looked up to see the gas station attendant still sleeping peacefully as if nothing had happened at all.
"Let's get moving," he muttered to himself, revving the engine. With a final look around the empty lot, he sped off into the night, leaving the gas station and the Ember Eye gang in his dust.
The lights from the gas station was still visible from the mirror as he spotted the other bike closing in. Within moments, a girl on a large bike was driving right next to him that he can see that there was something stuck in the bikers teeth. It was a young woman, one he knew. Rose. She had a smirk on her face with teeth that had seen too much sugar, as she matched his speed. Her dark red hair, tied back in a messy ponytail, trailed in the wind behind her, and the distinctive insignia of the Angels of the End was emblazoned on the back of her leather jacket as she gripped her bike that was painted white, pink, orange, peach, red, green, light blue and purple
"Hey there, stranger," Rose called over the roar of the engines, giving him a playful nudge as they rode side by side. "You didn't think I'd let you have all the fun tonight, did you?"
Lief chuckled, his eyes glinting with affection. "Guess I should've known you'd show up. Did my dad send you?"
She rolled her eyes. "No, but I figured you'd find trouble soon enough. And it looks like I was right." She nodded toward the cardboard box strapped to the back of his bike. "That the big prize from Pewter Gym?"
"Yeah," Lief replied, smirking. "Didn't expect the Ember Eye Gang would be so desperate to take it off me, though."
"Those thugs," Rose scoffed. "They're all bark and no bite. Nothing I can't handle."
"I could fight them with a level 1 rattata" Lief laughed.
Just as they were laughing, headlights appeared around the bend up ahead. A group of motorcycles roared toward them, and as they drew closer, Lief recognized the gang colors, Team Dark.
"Oh, great," Rose muttered, her expression turning serious. "Looks like Team Dark wants in on the action too."
"Can't let them spoil our ride, can we?" Lief said, his tone turning playful yet determined.
"Not a chance," Rose replied, reaching for a Pokéball strapped to her belt. She tossed it into the air, calling, "Alright, Leaf! Let's show them what we're made of!"
In a flash of light, her Kantonian Nuzleaf appeared, its steely arms and leaf-shaped blade glowing faintly in the dark. The Grass/Steel-type, whom Rose affectionately called Leaf, looked ready to fight, its eyes fixed on the approaching bikes.
Kantonian Nuzleaf
Type: Grass/Steel
Description: Kantonian Nuzleaf is a unique regional variant with sharp, steel-like leaves protruding from its limbs and head, giving it a fearsome appearance. Its body is covered in a layer of natural, metallic bark that glistens under the sun, providing it with enhanced defense. Preferring to roam rocky, wooded areas, it is known for its fierce loyalty and intense training routines. It sharpens its metal leaves daily, preparing for battles and honing its natural instincts.
Pokédex Entry: "Kantonian Nuzleaf's razor-sharp leaves make it a formidable opponent. It grows especially attached to trainers who share its hardworking nature, often seen sparring in the forests of Kanto. Legends say its leaves can slice through even the toughest metal."
The first of the Team Dark goons revved his engine and shouted, "Hand over that box, Green! Don't make this harder than it has to be!"
Lief rolled his eyes. "Why don't you guys make this easier and just turn around?"
The goon sneered, tossing out his own Pokéball, releasing a Mightyena with dark, jagged fur and a menacing growl. Another Team Dark goon sent out a Kantonian Watchog, its eyes glowing faintly in the dark as it sized up Lief and Rose.
Rose scoffed. "Amateurs." She gave Leaf a nod. "Leaf, let's cut that Mightyena down to size. Use Iron Leaf!"
Leaf's steely blade glowed brightly as it rushed forward, slicing through the air with impressive speed. It struck the Mightyena, its metallic blade landing with a resonating clang. The Mightyena staggered back, snarling, but the impact was enough to show it who was in charge.
"Nice one, Rose!" Lief called, then turned to his own Pokéball. "Alright, Grookey, let's back her up!"
His Kantonian Grookey appeared, its eyes gleaming in the moonlight as it hopped into battle. Lief pointed toward the Team Dark goons and shouted, "Grookey, use Aerial Ace on that Kantonian Watchog!"
Grookey launched itself into the air, its stick glinting as it brought it down hard on the Kantonian Watchog, sending it tumbling back toward its trainer, who cursed under his breath.
Another Team Dark goon, clearly frustrated, growled at Rose. "You're just another spoiled biker brat! Leaf might be tough, but let's see how it handles a true Dark-type move. Mightyena, Crunch!"
The Mightyena lunged forward, its jaws snapping toward Leaf with dark energy radiating from its fangs. But Rose was prepared.
"Leaf, counter with Metal Claw!" she called.
Leaf deftly parried the Mightyena's attack, its metallic arms glinting as it swiped down, striking Mightyena's jaw with enough force to make it stumble back, whimpering from the impact.
Lief grinned, watching Rose fight with impressive control. "Nice work, babe."
Rose shot him a quick wink. "Takes one to know one."
Seeing their Pokémon falling one by one, the Team Dark goons grew desperate. One of them, his own Kantonian Watchog knocked out by Grookey's relentless Aerial Ace, lunged toward Lief himself, fists raised in frustration. "Think you're so tough, Green?"
Lief didn't hesitate. He stepped forward, blocking the goon's punch and twisting his arm back in a quick, fluid motion, pinning the thug against his bike.
"Yeah, actually, I do," Lief said coolly, tightening his grip. "Maybe next time, think twice before picking a fight. I know at least 20 ways to break someone's arm, at least a third of them would break it to the point where it would take years to heal, be thankful that I would leave your legs alone so that you can walk to a hospital."
With the goon subdued, Lief let him go, giving him a rough shove backward. The Team Dark members, now without any fight left in them, exchanged angry glances and slunk back to their bikes, muttering curses under their breath as they revved their engines and sped off into the night.
"Run along, boys!" Rose called after them with a smirk. "Wouldn't want to keep you from your beauty sleep."
Once the Team Dark goons had disappeared over the horizon, Lief turned back to Rose, a grin on his face. "Thanks for the backup."
"Anytime," Rose replied, returning Leaf to its Pokéball with a satisfied smile. "Can't let them mess with my guy, now can I?"
Lief felt a warm rush at her words, his smirk softening into a genuine smile. "Guess not."
Rose glanced at the box on Lief's bike, then back at him. "So, where to now? You've got half of Kanto's troublemakers chasing after you."
Lief shrugged, settling back onto his bike. "Figured I'd head back toward Lavender Town and lay low for a bit. Maybe take the scenic route."
Rose grinned, revving her engine as she moved her bike beside his. "Well, if you're headed that way, I wouldn't mind the company."
Lief's grin widened. "Then let's hit the road."
With a final nod, the two revved their bikes, the engines roaring in harmony as they sped off down the dark road, leaving the night and the remnants of Team Dark behind them. In the quiet space between the roar of the engines and the thrill of the ride, Lief felt a thrill of excitement, both for the road ahead and the company beside him.