5

Goodbye​

Not every trainer is a force for good. Evil exists… and it trains pokemon too. — Grand Champion Cynthia Shirona​

I emerged from the challenger's tunnel with a wide grin plastered on my face. Misty had congratulated me as she had pressed the cascade badge into my hand, practically demanding that I come back for a proper elite level battle once I completed the Indigo League circuit. I'd agreed, determining that I'd win that battle without having to TM my way through.

Gemma was waiting outside the tunnel. She punched me in the shoulder, practically hopping in place with her usual excitement. "You lucky little bastard," she said cheerfully. "really took that one down to the wire."

"Hey, it still counts," I protested. "A victory is a victory."

"Hard won victories often impart the most powerful lessons," said a voice that I didn't recognize.

I glanced past Gemma and looked the man up and down. He was dressed in an immaculately cut suit, his hair perfectly quaffed. He smiled with genuine aplomb and held out a hand to put me at ease.

"Every battle is a learning experience," I replied, consciously aware that I was making my first impression with a likely sponsor. "Even the victories."

The man cracked an easy smile as I shook his hand. "Gemma did say that you had potential. " he glanced over at her as his hand fell to his side, drawing a blush from my mentor. "Needless to say, I was surprised when she recommended that I come watch a Novice challenge."

The blush was gone as quickly as it had appeared on Gemma's cheeks. "Told you he wouldn't disappoint."

"He's raw, and more than a little sloppy," the man replied. "But there's potential in there." He glanced down at the three balls on my belt and then at the bandage covering the side of my head. "Have any sponsors made their interest in you known?"

"Nicolas!" Gemma exclaimed. "I said no business until after I talked to him!"

He shrugged and wrinkled his nose. "Of course," he said with a wink. "I won't get into specifics then. Just know that Silph is watching. Gemma recommended that I come see a Novice battle in Cerulean on short notice, and well…" he trailed off and shot a smirk in Gemma's direction. "Gemma is rather difficult to impress."

"This is Nicolas Montaigne, Silph talent scout." Gemma blushed as he nodded at his name. "He travelled with me before he decided on retirement from the League."

Nicolas shrugged nonchalantly. "Not everyone can thrive in the spotlight like you, my dear." He smiled and looked back at me, seemingly oblivious to Gemma's lingering gaze. "Either way, Mr Wright, we'll be in touch. Try not to sign any sponsor contracts until then?"

I nodded quickly, trying and likely failing to hide my excitement. "I'll be sure to wait for Silph," I said.

He nodded respectfully. "We'll be in touch." He looked over to Gemma and seemed to smirk knowingly. "Sinclair," he said with a wink.

Gemma blushed profusely and I watched her stare longingly at Nicolas as he strode down the hallway and out into the concourse of the gym.

"I'm sensing a history there," I said bluntly. "Or at least, some one-sided longing from you."

Gemma grinned wildly. "That obvious, am I?"

I chuckled at that. "Practically had a blinking sign on your forehead."

She shrugged. "It is what it is," she said. "We had a history. I'm not over it, he seems to be." She turned to me and raised an eyebrow. "Why, you getting jealous?"

I shook my head as we approached the end of the hallway, perhaps a little too quickly to avoid arousing suspicion. "You're gorgeous and all, but I'm not looking for that right now."

Gemma's trademark grin was plastered across her face. "You think I'm gorgeous, darling?"

I couldn't help the little chuckle as I nodded. Gemma didn't need the ego boost, but I'd given it to her regardless. "Of course," I replied with a wry grin. "You're a badass trainer chick who literally saved my life."

"Don't you forget that," she said. "You owe me." We reached the end of the hallway and Gemma's grin seemed to double in size. "Especially after this."

She pulled the door in front of us open, shoving me through with the same movement. I stumbled out to a dozen flashes of photography, my cry of protest lost in the cacophony of noise.

People were shouting my name, half of them trying to shout questions while the other half furiously jotted notes down on their pads.

"One at a time!" I half-shouted, my voice lost amongst the din.

I shook my head and couldn't help the sigh. I turned back for Gemma but the door had closed behind me and there was no handle to open it with.

One of the reporters, a shorter woman with shoulder length brown hair, pushed her way past one of the men shouting a question about Pride. She grabbed me by the elbow, shooting me an apologetic smile before she led me through the crowd.

The sea of people parted before her as she led me by the arm. She guided me up to a podium with half a dozen mics attached to it and took a place at the front of the crowd.

I leaned in towards the mic and put on my bravest smile. "Sorry, everyone. It's my first time doing this,"

"Everyone's nervous for their first time!"

A smattering of laughter rose from the crowd as the gathered reporters laughed at the bad joke.

I nodded at the woman who had led me through the crowd. "Let's start with you in the front," I said. "Since you were nice enough to help."

"Katherine Nevers, Indigo News 4," she started. She smiled at me warmly and I felt some of my nerves dissipate. "You gave us a good show, well above what we would be expecting from a sponsorless Novice. What would you attribute such an emphatic victory to?"

I nodded slowly. "I had a ton of training and help from an experienced trainer. She kinda took me under her wing after she saved my life under Mount Moon." I smiled mareepishly, knowing Gemma was probably snickering into her pokegear as she watched me. "The real credit has to go to Pride and Luna. They're the ones who had to fight the battle."

I pointed at the man that Ms Nevers had stepped in front of. The crowd quieted almost as soon as the noise began.

"Your LeagueNET page has almost quintupled in views in the last few hours. You've experienced such a massive increase in popularity with only two recorded matches." He looked up at me and I got the sense that Gemma had somehow curated the reporters present to make this easier for me. "That's impressive as hell for an unknown trainer."

I couldn't help the embarrassed grin that crossed my face. "I'm sorry, that's probably just from me refreshing the page back there because I couldn't believe that my record was actually 2-0." I rubbed the back of my neck. "It's still a little surreal to be honest. I grew up on a farm and knew twenty people at most. More people than I've ever known have looked me up and watched things that I've done. It's a huge honour and I hope that I can prove to be worthy of that attention."

I shifted my gaze to another reporter, a taller man wearing a ball cap branded with the logo for the Kanto Trainer's Digest. I pointed at him and the room went silent again.

"Some might call your victories lucky, or unearned. What would you say to those who doubt the validity of your training career up to this point?"

I frowned, knowing that the reporter was trying to get a rise out of me. The Kanto Trainer's Digest was by far the most sensationalist of the publications that covered the league. I was willing to bet that Gemma had made sure they were in the crowd to see how I handled a tough question.

"I would say that I know how to place myself and my team in situations that allow us to be lucky, or exploit circumstances in our favour." I shrugged, trying to give off an unconcerned air. "Pokemon battling has always been about more than who can hit the hardest. Manipulating the course of battle to create advantages for yourself is a skill in itself."

He raised an eyebrow. "And tricking your way through a battle to win on a technicality?"

I frowned. "Stalling is a valid tactic, accepted by the Pokemon League." I raised my eyebrow. "If there is some sort of issue with my victory over Brock, then the League has yet to inform me."

His eyes bored into me, looking for a flaw in my visage.

"Is there some sort of issue with my victory in Pewter?" I asked, leaning forward and returning his hard stare.

"Some online have called it cowardly and underhanded, or suggested that your use of a baby pokemon could even be considered cruelty." He shrugged and I saw the amused grin hidden behind a stoic face. "I'm just asking the question."

"Then I'd suggest you ask the League about it." I scowled in his direction, knowing this interaction was likely to be plastered over the news. "Not a single League rule was violated during either of my battles and you'll find plenty of other stall victories throughout League history."

"And the TM moves?"

A small murmur rippled across the room. Eyes flitted back and forth between us, seemingly wondering which one of us would back down.

I frowned and stared back at the man who seemed determined to give me trouble. "What about them?" I asked. "TMs are an essential part of any trainer's tool belt, and—"

"How did you manage to afford them?" he asked, interrupting me. "Records show that you took out a League Trainer's starter loan about three months ago. That amount is hardly enough to cover the three TM moves that your pokemon used, to say nothing of expenses incurred during your career to this date."

My frown morphed into a scowl. My ears were burning and I was fighting the urge to burst. "I did mention that I had an older trainer take me under her wing."

"So, she bankrolled your victory, is what you meant?" His eyes were boring into me and I felt the distaste that the man held for me clearly in his gaze. "Implying that you are not the one responsible for your victory here tonight."

I exhaled slowly, fighting back the urge to pitch the microphone at him. I searched the crowd, looking for a friendly face. I found one, Katherine Nevers offering me a small smile.

"Trainers help each other," I said, repeating the mantra that I'd heard from Gemma. "Yes, I had the help of an older, more experienced, and not to mention wealthy trainer." I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and committed myself. I'd play the sympathetic card and try to portray myself as an underdog. "I don't come from money, just from a small farm in rural Kanto. My family wasn't able to afford much to help me, so after I caught Luna I took out a League starter loan."

I grinned and fidgeted nervously, trying to play it off. "That ran out as I was leaving Pewter. I've mostly been foraging for food since then. When I ran into the aforementioned trainer, she saved my life and sort of took me under her wing. She taught me a lot about training and the lifestyle that's required." I paused for a moment, trying to find the right words to continue. "She taught me that trainers help each other. I hope that once I'm well off enough to do the same, I can help others in need, just like she did for me."

I found the Kanto Trainer's Digest reporter in the crowd and locked eyes with him. "Is there anything else?" I asked, somewhat forcefully.

He shook his head without a hint of malice. I saw the small grin on his face and realized that he hadn't been asking the question out of spite. "That will be all," he said curtly. "I hope to speak to you again in the future."

I saw the out in that. "Same to you all," I said into the mic. I turned and found the exit door off to the side. I strode from the room, not pausing to spare any of the reporters a second glance.

It took me almost an hour to escape the crowd of spectators that had waited for me. There was hundreds of them and I'd signed more autographs and taken more pictures than I'd ever been in before. It was stunning and blinding, although I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy it. I'd never been special before, and now I was.

Gemma was waiting in a cab, around the corner. She had guided me there over the phone after I'd finally escaped the crowd. She nodded to the driver and ten minutes later, we'd arrived at a glitzy bar with throngs of people outside and aggressively loud music pounding.

It wasn't my first choice of environment, but Gemma led me into a VIP area where she had me a dazzling array of drinks and shots waiting for me.

I grinned down at them and looked up at her. "You like to party?" I asked. "I've never really done this before."

I'd never drank much on the farm, only a few stolen sips of wine or beer over the years. Hell, I'd never even been into a bar except for the one time I'd tried to sneak into one in Saffron with Sarah Walker when we were sixteen.

She smirked and lifted the first pair of shots. She pressed one into my hand. "To victory!" she said. "And to celebrating said victory properly!"

We tipped back the shots and so began my night of endless revelry. I'll be completely honest, I don't remember much. I vaguely remember a few people congratulating me on my win, but the other patrons left us alone for the most part. I know that we left the bar at some point, possibly because Gemma drank through their entire stock. Gemma wasn't entirely clear on the reason we had to leave and I was in no state to ask. Where we went from there was even more hazy. I think we frequented another bar, but I'm not entirely certain.

I know that I got back to my hotel room fine because I woke up on the edge of my motel bed with my pants pulled halfway down one leg and my pokegear stuck to my side. Luna was curled up against Curie on the pillows and Pride was lounging at the foot of the bed. I stood up groggily and instantly regretted the sudden movement.

I dashed to the bathroom as the contents of my stomach evacuated in a hurry. I made it into the bathroom just in time as I cursed Gemma for all she was worth.

The pokegear screamed at me, rousing me from my slumber. I rolled over, reaching for the device. An angry knock at the door startled me. I glanced down at the pokegear screen. Gemma's call ended and I saw that I had missed half a dozen others. I rolled out of the bed and crossed to the door, peeking through the peephole. Gemma was staring back at me.

I stepped back and desperately scanned the room for my pants. I pulled them on and opened the door with the best grin that I could muster. "Mornin," I grumbled.

She was in the door before I could even blink. She pushed through me and had the door closed and locked as I stumbled over my own feet. I landed on my ass and looked up at her in confusion.

She closed the blinds quickly, peering out at the parking lot. The pokeball logo on her travel jacket was shredded. Her back was stained a dark red and I had a horrified realization that it was bloody flesh I could see through the torn leather.

"Gemma," I started, sobriety coming back to me as I fought back a gag. My stomach heaved, but I steadied myself and shook it off. "you're bleeding. I looks really bad."

She glanced back at me and I saw the fear in her eyes. She had a shallow cut on her cheek and her left eye was swollen shut. "They got Lilith when we tried to run. She's gone."

My heart dropped in my chest. "Shit." I said plainly. "What do we do? Who is it? Who's after you?"

She stepped away from the window and sank into the ratty chair, staining the faded green fabric with her bloody back. "I don't know. They came out of nowhere." She glanced over at the bed and spotted my pokegear. "Can I make a call? I have to reach my father."

I nodded and retrieved it for her. She dialed the number silently and I sat back down on the bed. My mind was racing. Gemma was nearly invincible to me. To think that Lilith, the impossibly feisty fearow was dead just made my mind spin faster. Whoever had gone after Gemma was ruthless, cutting down her means of escape and nearly killing her.

I got up, crossed over to the window and looked out. No movement in the parking lot drew my eye. I quickly returned my pokemon, returning Curie and Pride in their sleep. Only Luna had stirred when I'd gotten up from the pokegear ringing.

"Dad," she said. I looked back at her. "Someone just tried to kill me." There was a long pause while he talked. I retrieved one of the water bottles from the room's mini fridge and handed it to her. "I don't know who it was, dad. They killed Lilith, cut her goddamn head off when I let her out. I barely got away myself!" She took the water, nodding at me thankfully. "No, I think I'm safe for now. I found a friend to lay low with, the one Nicholas came to see."

There was another long pause while she listened. Then she looked up at me. "He wants to speak with you too." She pressed the speakerphone button and I heard a frustrated voice barking orders. "We're both here, dad."

"Thank you, darling." The background noise faded and I got the sense that he had moved to a quieter room. "I am sending Leader Sabrina to collect you. She should be there in less than an hour. You are both to remain where you are until she arrives." There was a small pause and I glanced nervously at Gemma. "I apologize to both of you for the situation I have put you in. Silph is on the edge of a breakthrough that will revolutionize the world as we know it. I had hoped that knowledge of this breakthrough would not leak, but perhaps that may have been naïve."

Gemma's face screwed up in frustration and pain. "This is about your work?" She asked. "They killed my goddamn fearow to get at you?"

The man's voice seemed to waver. "Yes," he started. "It seems that there have been recent threats to Silph, threats that we should have taken more seriously before now. Regardless, we-"

"YOU MEAN YOU KNEW!"

I stepped away from the phone. This was something that was very much not for me. I felt my chest tighten and I nervously glanced out the window.

"YOU KNEW THERE WAS A TANGIBLE THREAT TO ME AND YOU DIDN'T SAY A DAMN THING!"

There was a stunned silence for a moment. Gemma's face was one of utter disappointment and shock. She slowly lowered the pokegear, looking blankly at the floor.

"Sabrina will collect you within the hour, Gemma. You will remain in Saffron until the danger is gone." He paused and Gemma remained silent. She was unresponsive, staring at the ground in defeated silence. "Is the young man still here?"

"I am," I said, finding my voice. "How can I help, sir?"

"What is your name?"

"Marcus," I replied.

"Unfortunately, Sabrina will only be able to take Gemma with her. You will have to leave Cerulean immediately. You have my thanks, young man. Keep her safe until Sabrina arrives and you can consider yourself a Silph sponsored trainer." He paused for a moment. "Hell, I'll draw you up the contract myself."

I glanced down at Gemma, looking over the bloody mess of her back. "I'll keep her safe, sir."

"Thank you," he replied. "Is Gemma still there?"

She looked up at me and shook her head.

"No sir, I think she's gone to the washroom."

He sighed softly through the phone. "I understand. I am sorry, darling. I love you. We will speak more when you arrive."

"Thanks, Dad." She ended the call and looked up at me with bleary eyes. She was on the verge of tears. I picked up the half eaten pack of yucca berry muffins and held them out to her. She reached out and took one. "Thanks," she said numbly.

I pointed down at her back. "We need to do something for your back."

She shook her head numbly. "Sabrina will be here soon," she replied. She gingerly poked at her swollen eye and winced.

"Here," I opened the fridge again and pulled out the other cold water. "Wash it off. We gotta get you cleaned up."

"No," she started, already protesting. "I'm fine-"

I put the water bottle down beside her. Hard. Hard enough to shut her up for a second. "Enough, Gemma. You're bleeding. Now, I don't know what's going on, but you have an open wound on your back and a nasty looking cut on your cheek. We gotta at least clean you up and make sure you aren't still bleeding."

"Bastard had a scyther," she said weakly. I saw the pain and emotion on her face, saw the hurt in her eyes. I could hardly imagine the pain of watching one of my pokemon die.

I smirked, trying to lighten the mood slightly. I shoved away the morbid thoughts and knew just what to say. "Better story than a paras chewing my face off."

She laughed and I saw her wince in pain as she realized that it hurt to laugh. "Thanks, novice." She turned and I silently set to work bandaging the shredded mess of meat that had been her back.

She grimaced and grunted as I peeled the ruined jacket away. I fought back a gag as I pulled off a large strip of fabric that had been cut out of her shirt and was stuck to the wound.

"Please," I said weakly. "Don't mention it."

She turned her head to look at me and let the muffin fall to the floor. "Is it that bad?" She asked.

I nodded grimly. "Gemma, there's so much blood." I turned towards the bed and tore the white over sheet off. "We can't wait. You need to get to the hospital."

She sagged in the chair and I thought for a moment that she might pass out. "I guess so," she said quietly.

I hooked my arm into hers and heaved her into a standing position. I held most of her weight on my shoulder and hastily wrapped the sheet around Gemma's torso. It wasn't a proper bandage, but I tied it tight enough that I hoped it would at least slow the bleeding.

We turned towards the door. I propped Gemma up against the door and grabbed my coat from the rack. I slipped it on and reached for Gemma who was peering through the window.

I lifted the hotel's phone to dial the emergency number, but the dial tone was silent. I put the phone down and tested it again. The line remained dead.

She turned as I put the phone down and took a step back towards her, throwing herself into me. The window behind her exploded inwards. Glass shards peppered the room and shredded the remaining bed linens. We hit the ground together, Gemma thrashing and shrieking in abject pain.

I rolled her off me and grabbed at her ball belt, as adrenaline flooded my system and I jumped into action. Gemma's belt was missing a ball, I assumed that to be Lilith's. I didn't have any potions in my pack, I'd burned them all up training for Misty and had planned to restock before I left Cerulean. Gemma hadn't even had a bag with her when she'd shown up at my door.

"Do you have a healer?" I shouted over to Gemma the carnage. "Anything that could help get you mobi—"

A horrific screech that sounded like tearing metal ripped through the air. I fell back, clamping my hands over my ears and failing to block out the sound. It was all I could hear, all I could think about.

It ended as suddenly as it had started, a shrill ringing remaining in my ears. I rolled over, crawling back to Gemma.

She didn't say anything, but reached at one of the balls on her belt. I grabbed it, tapping the release button. A black ursine creature grew from the red silhouette, nearly seven feet tall. The black fur on its body gave way to soft pink fluff around its head.

"A bewear," I said, stepping out of the alolan bear's reach. The pokemon were known to be capable of crushing humans to death in moments and I wasn't willing to be standing over its trainer when it realized how injured she was.

Gemma forced herself up on one arm and looked at her pokemon. She grimaced and forced the words out through gritted teeth. "Cuddles, use pain split."

Her bewear placed one oversized paw on her side as he screwed up his face with effort. I watched in awe as her back healed ever so slightly. Similar gouges split open on Cuddles' back, fresh red blood running down his black fur in streams.

"Gemma, we gotta get moving."

I poked my head up into the window for a moment, and I wished that I hadn't. The spiked shadow of an enormous rock monster stared back at me over the second floor railing.

The tyranitar opened its mouth and let out a second deafening screech. I was ready this time though and I'd ducked back down behind the window sill and clamped my hands over my ears.

The world shook with noise. I could hear nothing at all, just the endless ring of a noise that completely deafened me. I felt the wall shaking and watched as the tv screen shattered and it fell from where it hung on the wall. I saw the mirror in the bathroom crack and then shatter from where I sat.

Domitian burst through the door and the tyranitar stopped its screech suddenly. It turned its head as Gemma's machamp launched out and wrapped a pair of arms around the tyranitar's throat. They went down to the ground and I heard a loud metal crunch that told me they'd landed on a car.

Cuddles leapt off the second floor walkway, leading with his fists. He dropped out of sight and I heard a resounding crash from below. The tyranitar roared in frustration and the ground beneath the hotel shook in response.

Gemma grabbed me by the arm, pulling me off of the wall and shaking me out of my stunned stupor. "No time to fall asleep, Novice!" She half dragged me, half shoved me out the door. "Time to fight like you mean it!"

She dashed out the destroyed doorframe and along the walkway, shouting orders down to her two fighting types. I stumbled after her, in awe at her apparent ability to shrug off what had looked to be a life threatening injury. Perhaps she was running on adrenaline, but it was impressive nonetheless.

A booming shout from the motel's parking lot drew my attention. I glanced down as I ran, eyes landing on the imposing figure that stood there.

He was enormous, at least seven feet tall. His face was covered with a heavy and imposing mask. A bushy brown beard stuck out from the bottom of the mask. A scyther and a houndoom stood at his flanks. There was no doubt in my mind. This was the man who had attacked Gemma.

He cupped his hands around his mouth and looked up at us. "Getting your friend involved now, Miss Sinclair?"

Domitian sailed across the parking lot. The machamp smashed into the motel office and crashed through the flimsy wall. The run down wall crumbled, the floor above caving in and collapsing on top of Domitian. Screams of terror filled the air and I had the horrified realization that people had been in the rooms that had collapsed.

"Now I'm gonna have to kill him too," said the man in a calmly matter of fact tone. "Just like we told your daddy we'd kill you if you didn't do what we wanted."

Cuddles roared and I lost the man's voice in the chaos. I glanced over the railing and saw the tyranitar toss Gemma's bewear into a truck that crumpled under his weight.

Gemma grabbed me and hauled me to the floor as the man shouldered and sighted us with his rifle. It erupted with automatic fire, peppering the motel face with a hail of bullets. Windows shattered and wood splintered over our heads and I curled up defensively on the floor.

She swore and raised another ball, again shaking me out of my funk and shocking me into motion. She peered around the concrete pillar she had sheltered behind as the gunfire sputtered to a stop.

I scrambled into a crouch and hunkered down at the next pillar.

Gemma looked over at me, her voice a determined growl. "Find us some kind of wheels! We gotta get out of here!" She spun and tossed her ball as she shouted to me. "I'll keep him busy!"

I sprung into motion, dashing down the stairwell as her azumarill slammed bodily into the tyranitar and knocked it off balance. Cuddles tore into the suddenly distracted titan with a ferocity that defied his name. Both pokemon spun away in a violent tangle, trampling another car underfoot.

I took the remaining stairs three at a time and hit the ground running, ducking behind the row of cars parked in front of the ground floor rooms. The man stopped firing again and pointed over at me with a shout. The scyther buzzed it's wings and took off into the air and I lost it in the dust.

People were staggering out of the rooms now, kids were screaming. The man opened up again, forcing Gemma back into cover. It was utter chaos that I couldn't even hope to track.

The scyther appeared suddenly, moving so quickly it was little more than a blur. I dropped to the ground as it swung, barely avoiding the bug's blade.

My hand went to Luna's ball, releasing her in a flash. She growled and flared her tails as the scyther clicked its mandibles at us threateningly.

"Agility," I ordered as I scrambled to my feet. "Keep it off me as long as you can."

Luna leapt forward, flames roaring from her jaws. A faint outline of violet light enveloped her and she tripled in speed. The scyther buzzed its wings and darted away from Luna's fiery breath. The two danced across the parking lot and past the tyranitar locked in struggle against Gemma's pokemon.

I turned and ran again, trying to make it out to the road. Gunfire crackled from the man's rifle again, this time answered by a couple that came out of their second floor room with pistols drawn. He adjusted his aim and gunned the pair down before they could even get into cover.

A man burst out of the collapsed office, raising a set of keys in hand. He clicked at a button on the fob and the lights on the truck at the end of the lot flashed.

The houndoom leapt over the row of parked cars and landed heavily on the man's back. It clamped its jaws over the man's neck even as my hand dropped to Pride's ball.

My nidorino was materializing a moment later but it was already too late. The man was dead before Pride had even formed from the beam.

"Horn atta—"

Domitian picked his moment to return perfectly. He burst from the collapsed office, spraying the houndoom with wooden shrapnel. The hellhound barely even had a moment to look up before Gemma's machamp hammered a pair of fists into its bony crest. It hit the car behind it hard as Domitian reached out with three of his arms and lifted it off the ground.

The houndoom bit and snapped, spraying the motel face with flames. The building façade ignited immediately and I saw flames racing into the interior of the collapsed rooms. Domitian pitched the houndoom over the row of cars like the beast weighed nothing and then leapt after it to continue the battle.

I grabbed up the keys to the truck, utterly refusing to look at the way the man's neck was bent. I returned Pride to his ball as I raced to the truck door and leapt into the driver's seat.

My Pa had never really taken the time to teach me to drive. But I'd gathered the basics of it through watching him with the family truck or the few times I'd hopped on the tractor and driven around the farm. So while I didn't know much, I knew enough for this.

I turned the key. The engine roared to life. I stomped on the brake and shifted into drive as the man's head swivelled, his attention drawn to the headlights and roaring engine.

He tried to turn and bring his weapon to bear. But the truck had already lurched forward and there was no stopping me. One bullet smashed through the windshield, showering me with glass as a second punched through the driver side mirror. The third whizzed past my face and I heard the thunk of impact behind me.

I hit him at speed. The truck shook with the impact as we went up and over him. I heard swearing and didn't stop to take stock as I swung the wheel and turned towards where Gemma was waving from the second floor.

"Quick!" I shouted out the window. "Before the—"

The truck jumped to the side and spun slightly as a spear of earth rocketed skyward and missed me by inches. The tyranitar had apparently taken exception to being left out.

Gemma hit the truck bed a half moment later, slipping into the cab through the open rear window. "We gotta—"

My foot jammed the accelerator and the truck leapt off. A second spear of stone erupted from where we had been a half moment later. I spun the wheel and we turned towards the road.

Then I saw him. The man was hauling himself back to his feet, using his tyranitar's tail to balance. I swore as Gemma's pokemon retreated towards us, nursing their own wounds from the battle with the psychotic tyranitar.

"This guy is indestructible," she cursed quietly. "Didn't you just hit him with the truck?"

I nodded furiously. "And I'm gonna do it again," I said coldly. I'd never purposely harmed someone else, but this masked marauder had murdered at least two innocent bystanders and likely more judging by the collapsed rooms. "Get ready to return your pokemon."

"Marcus, are you—"

I slammed my foot down onto the accelerator. Gemma returned her pokemon as the tires squealed. We lurched into motion as the engine protested in he aggressive action. I caught a glimpse of the man diving for safety and spun the wheel madly as we rumbled just out of the tyranitar's reach.

I swung back, swiping against a pair of the parked cars and roaring out onto the road properly. The road was empty and I pushed the accelerator down to the floor.

"Where's Luna?" I shouted over the engine.

Gemma pointed up as my vulpix landed deftly on the hood of the truck. I grinned wildly as the realization that we'd escaped the madman came over me.

A thunderous roar echoed out in spite. I felt the truck lift off the ground. The world flipped end over end and I saw the ground above me through the open windshield. Then the truck slammed down on its roof and we shrieked down the road, finally screeching to a halt against some parked cars.

I cracked open my side door and crawled out. I heard Gemma doing the same on the opposite side of the truck and looked around for Luna. She was at my side a moment later, nosing into me and helping me steady myself.

"I'm alright, girl." I forced myself up, pulling myself into a standing position using the flipped truck. I glanced back towards the motel and couldn't help the curse that fell from my mouth.

The tyranitar was stalking towards us, the grizzled madman supported by the massive pokemon with every step. A stone spear had erupted from the middle of the road. It had to have been what had flipped the truck.

"Gemma!" I shouted.

She didn't answer.

I shuffled around to the other side of the truck and stopped dead. Gemma was simply gone, like she'd never even been there. I ducked my head into the truck and there wasn't even a sign that she'd crawled somewhere else.

The tyranitar roared again. Another spear of stone erupted from the road, this time spearing directly through the truck cab. I swore and scrambled away as it rose into the air.

A faint pop behind me drew my attention for half a moment. I glanced back and saw her reaching for me. My hand dropped to my belt, tapping the return function on Luna's ball. Then her hand touched me and the scene shifted beneath me.

I felt my stomach squirm and my head spin, then the peaceful sky was staring back at me. Calm treetops shielded the early morning sun from view and the dew was still wet underneath me.

"You are lucky to be alive," said a girl's voice. "She made me go back for you. Wouldn't let you be left behind."

I raised an eyebrow as I turned. I had expected a teenager at the least, but the diminutive girl before me couldn't have been more than ten. A powerful alakazam stood at her side, watching me hawkishly.

"Thank you," I professed.

"I would have left you," she said with unprompted quickness. "But she wouldn't let me."

"You were going to leave me behind?" I asked, assuming that the girl was Sabrina. I'd hadn't been able to find much about her during my research of the league circuit, and now I wondered if that had been because of her age.

She shrugged nonchalantly. "I wasn't told there were two, just the girl." She cocked her head to the side. "She wouldn't let me leave you."

"Thank her for me," I said quickly. "I'd have been killed if she hadn't saved me." I looked at her alakazam and decided that I should include her in the praise. "You too. I'd be dead if it weren't for you."

She just looked at me sideways. We were silent for a long moment, then I watched her disappear with a faint pop.

I sat there for a long moment, contemplating what to do. Then the adrenaline rush began to wear off and I felt the exhaustion hitting me. I laid back in the morning dew and just watched the clouds drift along.

I didn't move for hours. I just watched the clouds go by, intent to enjoy the quiet peace of the moment. I had an absurd worry about racking up late check out charges, which finally roused me from my place under the trees.

It took me maybe fifteen minutes until I recognized where I'd been teleported. Sabrina must have found somewhere safe and familiar from my memories, or just picked this particular place out of some absurd coincidence.

The small pond where I'd met Luna was exactly the same as I'd left it. The quaint stream that came out of the woods still bubbled happily. A few poliwag splashed into deeper water as I approached the peaceful little puddle. I was home.

My hand dropped to my belt, releasing Luna beside me. She tensed up for a quick moment and then relaxed as I knelt and my hand brushed against her back. She knew, without a single word being spoken, that I needed her in that moment. I was home, and yet I'd never felt more isolated than I did at that moment.

Luna seemed to sense my discomfort. She pressed into my touch and laid against my leg.

We sat in silent peace for most of the day. Luna and I watched the sky drift past, while Curie splashed in the shallows and Pride stalked the adventurous poliwag that ventured too close to my team's baby. I smiled happily at the sight of my newest team member being a protective big sibling. After the hell that had been escaping Cerulean, we'd deserved a little break.

I left my team at about mid-day. Luna looked up at me in concern, but I just smiled and nodded reassuringly. She laid back down, lazily watching Curie splash water into Pride's face. The nidorino reared up and came down in a massive stomp, sending a wave of water crashing over my squealing happiny.

Sounds of happy laughter and splashing filled the air as I walked away. It helped the plummeting feeling in my gut as my feet walked the familiar path. Soon enough, the sounds of my team faded away and were lost in the revelry of the forest.

The little stone tower was untouched, albeit obscured from view. It stood solemnly in the little depression that lay just off the game trail that led to the pond. The foliage around it had grown over, hiding the depression from passers by.

I scowled. This was where we had found her body. Margaret had followed me out. She had asked me to see Luna, after spotting the vulpix waiting outside the fence for me. She had caught me sneaking out that night to go train with Luna. I'd told her no when she had asked me, and she wasn't in her bed the next morning.

My fists clenched tightly and my chest constricted. "I'm sorry, Margaret."

I had a sudden impulse and pushed through the brush that blocked the tower from the path. Something shifted in the uneven mess of brambles and wild foliage. The small memorial tower that I'd built tipped and tumbled away.

My legs shook and I fought hard to breathe. This was where she had died and not one person had cared to mark the spot except for me. I knelt down, both reaching numbly for one of the stones and trying to steady myself.

A noise behind me interrupted my troubled breathing and brought me back to reality. Foliage shifted, back on the path. I turned my head to look as Curie pushed through the undergrowth and whined loudly at me. Pride and Luna padded along the game trail behind her, both of them looking at me with concern.

"Hey, everyone," I said weakly. I sat back on the ground and let Curie climb into my lap. "Sorry to worry you guys. Guess I shouldn't have wandered off alone."

Luna walked over and nudged her way under my arm, laying against my leg. Pride plopped himself down a few feet away, looking proud with himself. He'd probably enjoyed the trip over.

"This is where I lost someone," I said to them. "She would have loved you guys. And it's my fault that she didn't get to meet any of you."

Tears came streaming down my face now. I couldn't hold it back anymore, but I didn't want to anymore. Margaret deserved that from me, she deserved so much more than I could ever give her.

"I… I…" my voice failed and I floundered for words. "I miss her. And it's my fault that I miss her. She wanted to come with me… she wanted to meet Luna that night." I looked over at my starter, who returned the mournful gaze. "I said no and sent her back to bed."

I shook my head. "I could have protected her. I should have taught her about pokemon. Hell, I was flaunting Pa's rules myself. It makes me a hypocrite to have refused her a chance to be set on the same path I wanted to be on." I barely was breathing between words, my temper flaring. "Instead, I failed her and she paid the price. I was rewarded with this lifestyle, this journey with you guys, and she wound up in a grave."

My pokemon didn't answer. But they didn't have to. They were there. Luna just laid up against me and Pride sat there chilling. Curie buried herself into me and gave me the most adorable little hug ever. I felt my breathing slow and felt some of the tension leave my shoulders.

"I love you guys," I said quietly after I'd regained my composure enough to talk. I glanced around at the rocks littering the small depression. "Do you mind if we make the tower again? I built it for her, before I left with Luna." I looked around and felt a small weight lift from my shoulders. "I'd like for her to have something here to remember her."

Curie hopped off of me and grabbed a rock. She lifted it and placed it in the middle of the clearing.

Pride nosed one of the rocks over to Curie, who lifted it and placed it gently on top of the first one.

Luna was there, ever the show off as she levitated a third rock onto the second.

I found a fourth and placed it on the top rock. I sat back and Curie joined me again. Luna and pride lay at my sides, both of them ensuring that they stayed close to me.

Most of the day passed as I sat there with my team. They deserved better than a grieving mess for a trainer, but I needed them there to support me. Being back in this forest, at the spot… it brought back bad memories and thoughts that I'd have preferred to remain buried.

The sky was starting to darken when I heard the noise. I still hadn't moved from my place at the impromptu memorial for Margaret.

The wall of foliage that blocked us from the path shook with movement. I scrambled up to my feet, my team growling at the approaching noise.

Her smiling, oval face peeked through the leaves and brush. She had a wide brimmed sun hat over her head and was in the same denim overalls that she always was. "Well damn, if you aren't a sight to see."

"Sarah?" I asked incredulously. "Sarah Walker? What are you—"

A pidgeotto swooped down and landed on her shoulder. I noted that a heavy leather pad sat there, well worn with scratches. A small growlithe padded out in front of her, growling protectively over my old friend.

"You're a trainer now?"

She smirked. "I don't have any pokeballs or nothing, but we make do." She knelt down and scratched the growlithe behind its ears. "Someone had to, after what happened to Margaret."

I froze. I'd left that day. I'd taken Luna, Sarah had given me Curie's egg and I'd hiked my way towards Cerulean with hardly a clue what I was going to do.

"What happened?" I asked hesitantly. "After I left, what did my Ma and Pa do?"

She sighed heavily. "Lots of yelling," she started. "things haven't been good. But the rest of the families decided that someone should take up pokemon training… at least for some small amount of protection. With you gone… Jenny didn't want it and John was too scared to even look at a pokemon…" she shrugged. "It just kinda fell to me."

"I'm sorry," I said quickly. "I shouldn't ha—"

"Stop," she ordered.

I fell silent, my hand brushing Luna's back as I tried to stave off the anxiety crushing my chest.

"You didn't do anything wrong." She sighed and looked me up and down. "Marcus, you're a good person. You didn't kill Margaret, that persian did. I get why you left, and I helped you get out in the first place." She grinned and looked down at Curie. "Heck, I got you that Happiny's egg from the fair! I'm not blaming you for leaving. I might have even made the same choice."

She paused and then spoke again. "They… they don't blame you either. It wasn't your fault. It was a wild pokemon, it had probably been stalking the farm for a week."

I stayed silent. I couldn't have said anything with my breath choked in my lungs anyways, and I think Sarah knew that. Her expression softened and I heard her sigh loudly.

She stepped in close, her pokemon remaining wary behind her. "Look, it's getting late. Do you have somewhere to stay?"

I shook my head. "Was gonna sleep out at the pond," I said. I shrugged. "Not the first time I've been under the open sky."

"You're home," she said. "You don't have to stay out—"

"Yes I do," I said with a small measure of force. My chest was easing slightly as I pulled myself back from the brink. I slowed my breathing and looked mournfully at Sarah. "I can't go back. Not there. Not while he's still there."

She sighed. She knew what my Pa had said. Sarah looked down at her growlithe, then back up at me. "Come on, Marcus. Let's at least get you under a roof for the night."

"I can't—"

"Shut up," she said, annoyance creeping into her voice. "You aren't sleeping out here alone. Not with the possibility that the Persian is still around."

I went quiet.

She gestured behind her, at the small kart she had left there. "I already got your stuff." She smirked. "I figured that it was yours. Not many other people know where the pond is."

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

She chuckled and shook her head. "No, not really." She gestured to the growlithe. "I'll battle you if you say no."

I sighed and looked down at my pokemon. I could probably win, but I didn't want to do that to Sarah. "Alright then," I said. "Better get walking if we want to make it back by sunset."

Sarah smiled, wide and happy. It was an honest smile, born from having an old friend back for a night. Maybe my heart was heavy and I wasn't ready to smile like that regularly, but Sarah brought one out of me all the same.

The Walkers' barn sat uncomfortably close to my own family's property. I could see the lights on in the old farmhouse, and shadows moving as Ma and Pa moved about the house. I sat back in the dark, Luna curling into me as I scratched under her neck.

"You gonna go over there?" Sarah asked.

She'd changed out of the overalls, into a comfier track pants and a baggy sweater. It was colder now, and I was glad that Sarah had invited me in.

"No," I said. "I'll stay gone. The deserve to live in peace. I don't need to be around to remind them every day what they lost."

She looked down at the floor. "Kinda hoped you'd stay."

I stared hard at her and felt myself fumble for words. "I… I can't do that."

Sarah nodded morosely. "I wish you could," she said plainly. "It ain't been the same without you."

"I…" I looked down and felt the weight of what I'd done weighing on me. "I never thought…"

She frowned at those words. "You never did do much thinking. You were always too busy dreaming about what could be that you never wanted to stop and think about how things were."

It was my turn to frown. "What's that supposed to mean?" I asked shrewdly. "I knew what I wanted. What's wrong with that? My family didn't want to support me, so I went on my own."

Sarah sighed hard and got to her feet. Her pokemon moved to follow her, the growlithe sparing Luna and I a suspicious gaze. "You had more family than just your Ma and Pa. Remember that sometimes."

I nodded. "I know that, Sarah."

She stopped at the door. "He watches your battles," she said suddenly. "We all do. He's proud of you, even if he can't show it."

I couldn't help that my mood went sour. "That's the problem."

She nodded. "I know, Marcus." She turned to leave and spared me a final glance. "Come back soon. Come back for a real visit."

I opened my mouth and my voice died in my throat. I coughed and cleared it. "I'll… think about it."

She walked away and I was left with the impression that I had very much said the wrong thing. The thing is, I didn't know if I was capable of saying the right thing.

I woke with the sun and folded up the blanket Sarah had left me. Luna and I went out the back of the barn and I snuck through the berry field behind Sarah's barn.

I reached the fence and turned back to catch one last look at the farm before I'd leave it behind for good. Movement on the porch drew my eye.

I could see him there, walking around the porch with a mug of coffee in hand. He stopped moving, his head fixated in my direction. He could see me.

I stared back at my father in the distance. Neither of us dared to move. I knew that he rose early, but the crack of dawn was a surprise. I felt my chest constrict and fought the urge to turn away and show any weakness.

Luna trilled and leapt up onto the fence. She nosed my hand to get my attention and I finally turned away from my father.

"Thanks, girl," I said with a weak smile. "Let's get on the road."

I didn't turn back to see if he was still watching. It tore my heart to pieces to leave that place behind, but I just walked down the roughshod dirt road towards my future.

I wandered aimlessly south for the next few days, heading towards the tunnel to the traditional third gym in Vermillion. I devoted most of my time and energy into training Pride and Luna twice a day.

We mostly worked on sparring matches, devising counters and working on Pride's lack of mobility. We made slow progress, but Pride was stubborn enough that we made some progress through sheer will.

I kept us to the fringe of the route, avoiding most of the trainers looking for challenges there. I was more confident in Luna and Pride now than I had been on the way to Cerulean, but still would rather they save their strength for training and wild pokemon.

There were comparably less wild pokemon along route five, partly due to the proximity to two of Kanto's largest cities and the increasing urbanization of the area. It was still relatively heavily forested, but I came across more and more small communities much like the one I'd grown up in. We passed most of them without issue.

Most of the wild pokemon that we came across were weaker pidgey or rattata, with a few meowth every now and then. The few trainers that we did face off with were mostly two-badge novices like myself. I fared pretty well against them, only losing once to a girl who only had a politoed. I steered well clear of the three-badge trainers. We weren't ready for an intermediate challenge yet, something that I was acutely aware of.

On the fifth night, just after I got the fire started, my pokegear started ringing. Luna and Pride were lounging in the heat and Curie was snoring on top of my pack. I sat back, flipped it open and smiled when I saw Gemma's contact picture smiling at me.

"Was beginning to wonder when you'd call," I said with a grin. "Had me worried there."

"Sorry," she replied. Her voice was ragged and tired. "Just got out of surgery last night, I've been sleeping since then. Apparently the asshole that jumped us poisoned his scyther's blades. Almost didn't make it off the table."

"Definitely a better story than the paras," I remarked. "Glad you're gonna pull through, Luna got worried." I looked down at Luna, who rolled her eyes at me. "Any idea when you'll be back out here with me?"

She sighed heavily and I felt her frustration through the phone. "I can't. My back won't heal for a while and Father has me on lockdown until these threats blow over. He's been getting them for months, but this is the first time they've actually carried through on one."

I frowned. I'd enjoyed Gemma's company and I knew she was enjoying the mentor role. "Any idea when that'll happen? I'll be honest, I kind of miss the relentless teasing."

"Apparently the product in question doesn't launch until next winter. Maybe then, maybe after that. Father hasn't made up his mind yet."

"I'm gonna miss you out here," I said. "Not the same without you. I might just take it slow so when you get out, we have the same amount of badges."

"Don't you dare," she retorted. "I have less than nothing to do all day. You better be in the opening ceremony of this year's Indigo Conference, or else I'll be literally die with boredom."

My smile returned. "Any tips for Surge then?"

I could practically feel the life come back to her voice. I heard her chuckle and felt a chill run down my spine. I knew what that chuckle meant. "Prepare for war."

I emerged from the tunnel after almost an entire day, shielding my eyes from the mid-day sun. The tunnel ran underneath Saffron, crossed by another tunnel running east-west that led to the Celadon-Lavender corridor. The stairs up to the surface were blocked however, heavy doors that looked out of place shutting every stairwell. Heavy doors that looked as though they were designed to stop an angry ryhorn. Gemma had mentioned that Silph was stepping up security, but these seemed excessive.

Curie squealed with joy at the sight of the sun and I felt her pound happily on my shoulder as we emerged onto a tall hill. It was all downhill to Vermilion City and I could see the sun sparkling out on the bay. A massive cruise liner was slowly pulling out to sea, wake spreading out behind it.

My hand dropped to my belt, releasing Pride and Luna. They bounded off into the brush, scoping out possible routes that would keep us away from most of the trainers along route six. They both returned to me within a minute, ears perked up and noses raised to the air. Something had spooked them.

I pulled out my pokegear and flipped over to the map tab. A flashing orange alert was overlaid on Saffron and the surrounding routes. I tapped on the alert.

CIVIL DISTURBANCES REPORTED. COMPLY WITH ANY/ALL INDIGO LEAGUE DIRECTIVES. SAFFRON CITY IS CURRENTLY UNDER LOCKDOWN. NO ENTRY/EXIT PERMITTED.

I frowned. Gemma hadn't mentioned anything about Saffron being locked down, and the North gatehouse had seemed open when I entered the tunnel. Something serious must have happened.

I flipped over to the phone tab and hovered over Gemma's number. I shook my head and turned off the pokegear. She had enough on her plate. I didn't really need to know what had happened and I doubted that Silph would want their dirty laundry aired out to everyone who asked.

We moved south, cautiously as my pokemon were still spooked by something. Pride and Luna stayed within eyesight, both of them keeping the path ahead clear. Wild pokemon were more common here, along the stretch of route six that ran along the coast. Mostly rattata, but a few meowth came across our path. I swear we came across persian tracks once, but we never saw another sign of the Vermillion corridor's premier predator. I kept my eyes peeled nonetheless and the tension seemed to ease the further we got from Saffron.

We stayed just off the marked path, following along game trails that traced Route Five south. Luna kept up her practice with her burgeoning psychic abilities while Pride honed his thunderbolts. He still had a delay while he charged the bolt, but he had noticeably improved the size and strength of the bolt itself.

We made camp that night under a clear sky. Pride and Luna sprawled out by the fire, with Curie curled up in my bedroll. I watched the stars for a long while that night. It was peaceful.

We woke with the sun. I packed my camp and we were on our way again. Surge was waiting, and we still had a long way to Vermillion.

Three days. I kept the pace for three days. Vermillion was less than a day's walk and I had to restock on supplies. I was running dangerously low on potions and only had enough food left for another meal or two.

We had made camp not even an hour before. Luna started me a fire while I hastily strung up my small tarp. It wouldn't do much, but I could tell it was going to rain. I didn't want to get caught sleeping in the open when it finally did.

My pokegear buzzed angrily and started barking a furious tone in my pocket. I flipped it open.

EMERGENCY ALERT. TENTA SWARM DETECTED IN RAINBOW BAY. ALL INDIGO RANGERS ROUTE TO VERMILLION FOR COASTAL DEFENCE. TRAINERS STAND BY TO ASSIST.

Luna barked once, then growled a warning at a noise in the trees. I looked up. Two kids were staring at us from the tree line. Neither of them wore a pack, but I could see the balls on their belts. Trainers. They couldn't have been more than eleven or twelve, they were just children.

"Hi there," I said calmly, folding away my pokegear. "Can I help you two?"

The girl shoved the boy forward. He mumbled at me nervously, glancing back at the girl as he fumbled over his words.

"Slow down," I said. I returned Luna and Pride to their balls and approached the two kids. They were shaking, terrified of something. "What happened?"

"W-w-we were just training and…" the boy stuttered. He a dark complexion and his hair was close cropped to his head.

"It came out of the water," the girl continued. "Scared us away from camp and t-t-took our friend when he tried to stop them."

I frowned. Water pokemon were not my specialty. Even if I had beaten Misty, that was mostly luck and bullshit. Real wild pokemon would not hesitate to go for the easy meal. "What came out of the water?" I asked, a sinking feeling growing in my stomach.

"Tentacruel," the boy replied. He slowed his breathing and seemed to calm himself somewhat. "Two of them came out of the bay, right onto land. I though tentacruel couldn't leave the ocean?"

I scowled. "They shouldn't be able to," I replied. "I don't know much about water types though. What pokemon do you two have?"

"Magby," said the boy.

"Bulbasaur," said the girl.

I frowned. "Then we don't have the firepower to take down two tentacruel. Hold on, let me call in for ranger support."

"Our friend has a hitmonchan," interrupted the boy. "And a togetic. He could help us."

"And where is he?" I asked. "If the tentacruel took him…" my voice trailed off. I didn't have the heart to tell two kids that their friend was likely dead already. "Look," I started. "Either way, I'm not going in without some backup. You two aren't strong enough to stand up to wild tentacruel yet. Hell, I'm not even that strong. Alone, we all die."

"Ronnie needs our help, mister. Call the rangers, but we have to go now." He looked me in the eyes and I felt him looking at my very soul. "Trainers help each other."

That cut me deep. Gemma had said it to me before, as a happy reasoning for saving my life. Who was I if I didn't pay that favour back? I flipped over to the phone of my pokegear and dialed the ranger hotline.

It rang only once before it picked up. I could hear loud shouting, a dozen different voices talking over each other. "Indigo Ranger assistance line," said a gruff voice.

"I have an active emergency situation on Route Five. I have two kids trapped by a pair of tentacruel just south of Saffron. Possible third trainer already down." I hoped desperately that they had someone, anyone in the area.

The voice on the other end paused for a moment. "Ranger coastguard is currently engaged with a large tenta swarm on Rainbow Bay. All other rangers have been routed to Vermillion for coastal defence." He paused for a long moment. "I've pinged Saffron Command, but they've got their hands full with the attacks on Silph. Looks like you're on your own, kid."

I swore. Loudly. I turned to the two kids as the line went dead, my heart pounding in my chest. I was on my own, no backup to help me, no experienced trainer to pull my ass out of the fire. Just me and two scared kids to save a trainer in trouble. I had to help. There was no choice.

I got to my feet, clipping Pride and Luna's balls onto my belt. I looked down at the kids with all the confidence I could muster. They didn't need a scared novice right now. "Take me to your camp," I said calmly. "Trainers help each other."

It took us entirely too long to reach the camp. More than fifteen minutes passed while the two kids led me towards what I was sure would be the site of a massacre. We stopped about fifty meters away from the clearing. I could smell some terrible putrid odor, mixed with the unmistakable bitter stench of smoke. I ordered the kids to stay well back while I checked out the scene. I didn't want them to see what was left of their friend.

I crept through the trees, looking down at the clearing. A half dozen trees had fallen, knocked aside by the tentacruel when they'd come ashore. I could see the smouldering remnants of their campfire still belching smoke into the air. The entire clearing was damp and the trees that still stood had water dripping down them.

The tentacruel themselves were nowhere to be seen. There were several large scrape marks leading to and from the ocean, as though the tentacruel had dragged themselves on shore. I saw bloody tracks leading back to the ocean and felt a shiver going down my spine. That could have been this Ronnie's blood. Could have been his pokemon's. I steeled my nerves. Then I saw it. The hitmonchan was propped up against a tree, a bloody puddle spreading out underneath him. There was a gaping hole in the pokemon's chest and it's limbs were splayed out at strange angles. I didn't see a togetic, or Ronnie.

The tentacruel were gone, but the kids didn't need to see what had happened to the hitmonchan. They had things they needed in that camp and I wanted us out of here before something hungry smelled the waiting meal. I turned around and began to pick my way through the underbrush. A flash of yellow eyes in the shadows caught my eye and I stopped dead. I stared into the dark and felt a pit in my stomach. I was not alone.

I let Luna out for my walk back to the kids, watching intently for movement at the edges of my vision. I didn't see the flash of yellow eyes again, but I knew that I was still being watched. Probably by a persian if the yellow eyes were any indication.

I looked down at the kids once I reached them. "What do you need from your site?" I asked solemnly. "The tentacruel have left, but I don't know how long they've been gone. I want to be quick, before any hungry pokemon decide to take a look at the camp. Last thing we need is more trouble right now."

"Ronnie?" asked the boy. I saw the hope in his eyes. He must have been close with him. I knew he wasn't gonna like my answer.

I shook my head slowly. "I didn't see him," I said. My voice died in my throat and I had to avert my eyes. "I found his hitmonchan. It didn't look good, kid."

The boy looked down at the ground. "Stinger didn't make it?"

I shook my head and watched the boy's world crash down around him. "Look," I started. "you two stay here. I'll grab anything you two need from the camp. It's getting dark now, but in the morning I'll take you to Vermillion."

They both nodded and began relaying the essentials they left behind. I left Luna with them and let Pride out. I was loathe to part with Luna for any reason, but I wasn't letting a persian ambush my new wards while I collected their things. Pride sniffed cautiously at the air and I knew that he could sense something was wrong. His ears twitched nervously as we made our way back to the camp, but again I didn't see the flash of yellow eyes.

I collected the kids' things and stuffed what I could into my pack. I transferred the essentials from the smaller bag into the larger one and kept an eye over my shoulder while Pride prowled the edges of the clearing. By the time I was done, the light of the sun was fading rapidly and the storm clouds over Rainbow Bay were starting to move towards the shore. I glanced over at the hitmonchan and felt a twinge of regret in my chest.

I crossed the clearing and looked down at the pokemon sadly. This could easily have been me, or either of the kids. Whoever this Ronnie was, he had saved the kids and given his own life in the process. I couldn't help but wonder what he must have been like, what must have been going through his head in those last moments. I knelt in front of the hitmonchan and whispered a silent apology. I hadn't been fast enough to save Ronnie. But I could make sure his sacrifice wasn't in vain.

I got to my feet, still regarding the hitmonchan mournfully. Pride whined and trotted over to my side. I deftly scratched between the spines on his shoulder, drawing a satisfied grunt. "Let's go, Pride. Nothing more we can do."

I returned to the kids, again with the feeling that something was hungrily watching me. I didn't see anything, which infuriated me to no end. Both the kids had their pokemon out, sitting against the base of a tree. Their eyes were wide, scanning the encroaching darkness for any dangers. The boy took the pack without question and I motioned for them to follow me.

We made our way back to my camp just as the rain began to fall. I let the two of them crash in my bedroll and sat back against a tree. Luna curled up against my leg and I stayed there, just watching the rain fall.

I nudged the kids with my foot. They stirred and slowly began to crawl from my bedroll. The sun was still hidden by the rain clouds and the sky was grey and dull. I'd stayed up the whole night, watching the darkness for any more signs of the persian. The foreboding sense that something was watching us never left, but nothing disturbed my watch.

"We should reach Vermillion by lunch," I started. "You can use my phone to call your family, if you'd like."

The boy nodded ecstatically. He clambered out of my bedroll and took my pokegear.

I turned and began to pack my camp. By the time I was done, the girl had woken and called her parents. They were planning on meeting us in Vermillion, along with the boy's father.

The journey to Vermillion went smoothly. We cut back to the main road through the route and joined the traffic heading to the city. Dozens of trainers were all heading the same direction we were. It was only a few at first, but more and more trainers kept ducking onto the route as we got closer to the city. Apparently the tenta swarm was pushing closer to Vermillion. They were defying all attempts at repelling them and pushing through the Ranger cordon.

I glanced at the kids. They seemed scared, but no more so than the day before. I kept them close to me and we just followed the crowd to Vermillion. We reached the gates before noon and called both the kids' parents.

Not twenty minutes later, two hysterical middle-aged folks appeared from the crowd. The balding man scooped up the girl in a crushing hug while the mother hysterically fussed over every single scratch on the girl. They thanked me half a hundred times, promising me a reward for saving their little girl. I turned them down on the spot. I hadn't done anything really, just kept them out of danger after their friend had died. Ronnie deserved that reward. Not me.

They left as quickly as they came, taking the girl with them into the crowd. The boy turned to me and I saw his question coming before he even asked it.

"Why did you turn down the reward?" he asked. "Lily's parents have money. They could have afforded it."

I looked him in the eyes. I wanted him to know just how much what he said affected me. "It was something you said," I started. "A friend told me it once before too. Trainers help each other." I shrugged and looked up at the grey sky. "You needed help. Ronnie needed help. I didn't make it in time to help Ronnie, I don't deserve that money."

He looked down at his feet, and I caught the tears in his eyes. "He was my cousin," the boy said. "My mom only let me go on my journey because I was with him. Now he's gone, and all this is over." He looked back up at me, practically shaking. "I lose my cousin and my dream in the same day."

"I know," I replied. "It sucks. Life isn't fair most of the time, kid." I shrugged. "You picked a dangerous dream. This life… this dream… it's not for everyone." I turned my head and lifted my scraggy mess of hair to show him my ear. "I got this right after I earned my first badge. I was embarrassed by it at first, but I was wrong. Things like this? They're the cost of living this life. I wouldn't trade it for anything, and if your cousin was anything like that then he wouldn't have either."

He looked at me as the tears began to clear from his eyes. "It looks so different on the TV."

"I know it does, kid." I dropped to one knee and levelled with him. "But if this is what you want, then you gotta accept that."

He nodded slowly to himself. "Thank you, mister…" he raised his eyebrow. "I just realized I don't know your name."

"I'm Marcus. Marcus Wright."

"Thank you, Marcus." He let his tears fade and shot me a weak smile. "I'm Robert."

"Thank you, Mr. Wright." A deep voice beside me startled me. "Our family is in your debt."

I leapt to my feet, my heart pounding. I turned and gave my best smile to the towering mountain of a man. "It's not a problem," I started. "My only regret is that I wasn't able to do more to help Ronnie. Robert here tells me he was part of the family."

The man frowned. "Yes, my nephew." He sighed heavily. "He convinced us that he could keep Robert safe." He crossed his arms and frowned. "I guess he did so."

Robert turned and hung his head. "I'm sorry, dad."

The mountain shook his head. "We'll deal with it when we get home. You'll have to call auntie Dot when we get home. She's been beside herself since you called." He looked at me and gave me a weak smile. "Thank you for your help. Our family is truly grateful."

I nodded and smiled. Robert mumbled his apologies and thanked me without meeting my eyes. They turned and left without another word, disappearing into the crowd.

My pokegear beeped angrily and I heard the alert of a hundred other pokegear in Vermillion chirp along with mine. I flipped open the device and opened the alert.

EMERGENCY ALERT. ALL TRAINERS ARE HEREBY PLACED UNDER LEAGUE AUTHORITY. ALL TRAINERS IN VERMILLION REPORT TO LIEUTENANT COLONEL SURGE FOR ORDERS. TENTA SWARM ATTACK IMMINENT. CIVIL DEFENCE PROTOCOLS ACTIVE.

Pokedex entry #53 - Persian

This apex predator has adapted marvellously to urban and semi-urban enviroments. Originally making its home in the large forests of central Kanto, this feline pokemon faced extreme habitat loss due to expansion of farmlands around Saffron City.

It has become noticeably more aggressive in recent years. Persian have been spotted wandering into smaller towns or villages and disembowelling family pets for sport. They have been known to feign affection in order to get close to humans. Any sightings of this extremely dangerous pokemon should be reported to rangers immediately.

Novice Trainer KT#07996101, Marcus Wright, current roster

Luna, Vulpix

Curie, Happiny

Pride, Nidorino