Luna and Thief
The Orange Isle's Chapter Eleven: Nameless

Pulses.

It's what the Pokeball felt like – the ripple ran through it like a hot-flashed sense. It lightly burned in the back of her head as she let out a scold and changed her type to dark.

It would be all she could do. If Psychic continued, it would drag her down in the end. Mai gently snarled under her breath. There had been more curses that rang out; laughs. It made her entire back tremble with disgust before another sharp breath shot down her lung.
The waiting, it's always waiting. Odd, the pulses stopped.
“Air, let's get some." A voice commented and wandered past her hip. The Pokeball hadn't swerved or moved – one was obvious…
The shield, then there's the actual member behind it. A two-person group. The door opened as some voices brought up shock; it's how Absol knew.
“Welcome to Underworld, folks. For those that have succeeded – you and your Pokemon are given extraordinary things."
The voice…? It's that damned poser, the one that got us to Naval in the first place.
“These special markers, that way, people know you. If they don't make its ugly quick." Absol twitched her ear. “Quite the sight, isn't it?" They mentioned in a tone that addressed the crowd. “Guess a region you can't. It's plenty comfortable to figure out why; Welcome to our hidden base. They mentioned with an oddly giddy tone after that.
“I hope you enjoyed the preliminary in our special bunker, from here on – the fights get bloody."
Absol felt her ear twitch again. It left her ill to the idea that the voice had been… no older than seventeen; It made her sick to her stomach.

They've manipulated, cheated… hurt.

O…

She trembled at the thought of a name and twitched her tail; the deep breath touched her lung.
“Our last rule, one we may not have told any of you… Your Pokemon must rotate after each opponent; both sides." He'd clear his throat. “Spectators, gamblers, and social outlook members may step off the platform. Those that lost the Preliminary will be returned immediately."
More than one member in there, express elevator to wherever the hell we are. It's not underground – but if it's hidden bases, ones they forcefully make larger… There's endless possibility. They could go anywhere anytime; until the Abra's or whatever other psychic types, they use snap.
Mai took a breath in a deep breath and found it harder on her lungs and muscles.
The air is thin, more then the Pokeball is. We're inside a mountain judging by the temperature – there's air circulating too; I can smell...?
Other then Naval, there's one other large mountain… but why to risk it here; there's another mountain ridge somewhere, and that makes me wonder if Bandit is on this island here and now. I must find that out first. The Absol blinked and stared at the wobbled horizon before her; it left her lungs to fill again as she broiled silently to herself.
She charged herself slowly, stored energy pre-emptively, pushed it into her very core. The heat had built itself from the chest outward as her eyes began to narrow as though to view it in a colder gaze.
Chain two opponents, but the amount of rest in-between I'd need if I face too; it is too short for the fight upcoming. I'll need to outplay them and hold bind.

I will not bow; I'm still on my homefront – you've made it that much easier for me.

That thought replayed through her head until she ended up in a strange room, one that had been decorated like something out of a Halloween fairy-tale. It made her spine crawl as she looked around it all.
Odd, it reminds me of a place in Kalos; it's like a collection of hidden bases joined. Did they force Abra's to create the station too?

How is it even possible to force Abra in any way? That question troubles me the most. She glanced around the oddly decorated room. A strange stone patio, windowless rested ahead of her, one that told her to stay out of sight. Then a clack rang out.
Umbreon and Vaporeon had clacked out of their capsules by then, which left the Absol in a soft, drawn breath. The Umbreon's gaze had been fully dilated, sharply focused, and utterly relentless for another fight. It still had blood on it, which told her that his last opponent was one he maimed in the least; that one glare left Mai's back to shock downward. Just the presence in the room itself had been enough to lessen the last patches of fur over her pelt to stand on edge.
Fear…? The Absol felt it go through her skull, that one word which left a gentle grin touch her face.
A strange and utterly uncomfortable one until her eye had dilated with realization.
The Umbreon called me expendable. Mai is expendable… Does that scare me? Seo is hesitant to kill.

Then why would a name be worth anything here?

Absol sharply exhaled and glanced around the glamorous room once more. It made the perspective of a few all too familiar movies that Absol knew of. The type that left her mind blank for a moment before she shook her head and snarled under her breath. Nothing has changed. There is no name. Bandit has never called me by any name, but Absol, she doesn't need one.
A smaller voice had softly pressed against her ear, one that didn't have any bearing to be there - one that simply left her shoulders to sag; the splash of color tinged her peripherals as it came to her mind. The tremble ran down her back. It left her eyes to lightly dilate while words played through her blurred and quick-paced flood of a world.

Bandit, she's always seen me as who I am; A title will never matter because a name can be given just as honestly. I'd like to know the name you'd give me, Bandit; I want to see if it's the name Griffin would.

Blue-silver had flicked powerfully amongst a veil of dark blue; her paws had forced her into another stance as she flicked the first, second, and third stab away with the blade at the end of her tail. The hum appeared to vibrate all along this strange arc of a battleground – the wall to one side had been jagged; compressed water cut the inner wall of the mountain into sharpened ribbons of stone.

Viciously edged razors; A wall that had been lined with them, each rivet had been tapered to become a row of vertical – sky-high cleavers which sat only a foot apart from one another.

That rested in her peripheral; her opponent flown - rapidly changed direction. There had been the set up to push her opponent into them. With every quickened and spasmodic dart around her, she'd solely hold her ground and focus on the wall around it.
Her gaze had been on acute angles every time she could follow and predict the pattern of movement for her; she even covered her corner so that she could judge her distance from the would-be meat mincer. A snapshot upward, her tail had angled and shot the opponent to the right side.

The only unfortunate thing was that it was smarter than an average opponent – it could read the wall, out-maneuver her and even use proper moves.

She couldn't risk much movement to hold Bind. The longer she did, the more she could move.

Another vibration rocked against that deadly-lined wall. The sound would reverberate through that side of the mountain; it even left her eye to dilate.
“Sting!" The voice rang out as Absol crossed a hip back and whipped her neck down – it let the near javelin slash at her side as her tail snapped down to nearly pinning the followed spike to the ground.
Again, she couldn't risk a followed attack – it moved too swiftly to fall into a trick like that. The near sight left an unexpected call of cheers and roars – curses of all kinds.

Absol had barely moved two full paces since the battle had started. Her opponent outranked her in nearly everything physical.

Yet to shatter experience, acuity, and strength of her caliber would become a different beast entirely.

A stall happened, where her opponent hung back to their trainer as her 'trainer' had scolded her relentlessly. After all, …
She hadn't followed a single order from him.
“I think that bitch is so old she's deaf!" A Human voice had yelled through the mania of the crescent filled crowd surrounding them. That was the strangest thing to see whenever she saw the humans.

A bizarre and sickly pink fog had hung around them as though it were tempered safety glass; the battlefield also had a strange disc above them too – yet that wall was very much real. It's what left Absol to stay at the ready, expected the next onslaught of his attacks like she had done with Sandslash. A sharp breath shot through her lungs once more, one that pushed into her very 'core.'
My vision has already cleared up; I guess he's realized that he can't just make me fold with a sting. He can't land one blow. He hasn't yet.

You haven't even begun…

Beedrill.

The Trainer had simply spoken to it, an older man – much like the trainer she had, yet this stranger had worn a suit and tie…
In fact, it made her eyes dilate after a moment, it was blurry, but she recognized the entire outfit from Cinnabar.

Mr. Clarke of that shipping enterprise is here – we're fighting him?

She felt her head lower down as a snarl ran up her ruined throat and glared the Beedrill in front of her. Her trainer finally quieted when it came to any order; that left her with the noise of the crowd and that oddly pink wall. The vibration hummed again as her paws dug into the ground below her; that had been a strange thing.
That felt hollow, as though the platform hadn't been natural in the slightest.
It's a safety glass of some kind. It's thick and filled with… …? It's that poison perfume. Break the safety glass; it's a death too.
These humans really do disgust me.
Her tail flicked as vicious white, red sparks shot outward; the ruler of a line followed down the blade of her tail. I know what he's going to do. I know exactly what it is. The Absol gave her witchy grin as the Beedrill came back into place.

Moonlight can find Normalium… and I just found a power ring. The smile ran pushed her cheek up Broken paw; the clamp Joseph found.

Naturally, you've been all over, so you clearly have next to everything a trainer needs. No wonder why Thief recognized you, but how?

“Mist!" The Trainer had called out with Absol confused, aware. Beedrill, without any second guess or warning, used TwiNeedle. The expulsion of white needles shot towards her in buckshot frenzy. It seemed Frenzied. It told her all she needed to understand that her opponent had been angry.
She took in a deep, precious breath…
Bolted to them and combined Aerial Ace with Night Slash to break through her target.
She hadn't used the entirety of her bind for the move if anything…

She used it how she'd fight in a gym – how Bandit would, like any default attack. As though to say to the one in the wrong, to stand down.

It wasted ultimately less energy to fight that way, but she'd have a lack of power, lethality, behind her attacks; it wasn't worth wasted effort. Especially when she had moved only two paces ahead to evade. The entire crowd cultivated about the fluid movement, and she knew that other spectators had watched or stared on screens of sorts about it. She took in air and held her breath, frozen like a statue; watched the alien crowd - noticed multiple different coats with those beads. About ten.

TwiNeedle combined with Poison spikes – You even layered Toxic with your move. You made it too dense to follow. It's smog with extra steps.
Her entire world surrounded in a deep cloud of murky purple, she hadn't moved – couldn't… and only held that breath with her eyes firmly shut. Her tail flickered as she waited in a veil of thick smog-like toxin, one that seeped around from the pins behind her – smoke pins that acted like Toxic Spikes.

Wall right, pins behind – smoke around. Enemy ahead.

The buzz caught her ear as though it spiked and sparked around her maleficent tail tediously as it whipped to match the direction. It's echoing around the walls, but the pressure is most forceful there. Now there. Her tail continued to deviously point with that chalk-like line of white red. It's easier to fight this way for me – it isn't aware of that. Her heart slowly and tediously began to pick up pace as she exhaled and still held her breath, unmoved – eyes shut. Another tweak and flicker from her tail left her to grin as the pressure built around her.

The smoke flooded the nooks and crannies in a mere second as she forced air into her lungs, energy into her legs… and jumped up at the Beedrill – another spin with Aerial Ace left her to 'glide' her tail against the obscenely considerable middle spike; her hind paw had slammed it down as the lower teardrop on her right cheek flicked. The dry crescent fur had gauged distance and posture for her as two spikes – one larger and smaller had just scrapped the coat along her cheek. The Beedrill evolved into a Mega one; she pushed herself to her left, angled to finally block a blow and push into the side she guarded. Her tail followed with the spin of her body right flank; she dodged then too – perceptively struck where the wasp could push her out of the narrow evading move.
Her paws graced its stomach and chest – the soft underbelly of that Beedrill. Absol jolted upward as her opponent dipped down from her weight mid-air. The sudden snap-down left the Beedrill to block and narrowly divert the blade-tail from his eye to his cheek. The Beedrill followed a counterattack by thrusting his upper and lower right javelin upward. She had to force a straining move on her once tight muscles.

Absol rotated the Beedrill mid-air by jumping into the center of the wasp and wildly spun to break open the direction of its smaller javelin; controlled the course of the wasp with a calculated consideration to past experiences.

She stiffened her tail out from there and slashed downward at the opponent – the Beedrill responded as the Trainer yelled out.
“Mist!"
The newfound word of a move; it blocked Abso's slash with its other spearhead. The impact had still launched it into the ground as Absol's land left her tail to whip back Night Slash to buffer the height's effect herself. Absol willingly held her posture and slid before her stall; a minor recovery left her body locked. The breath came in slowly, calmly… this twitch ran up her spine and fell just as quickly.

Absol never heard the uproar before in her life; it appeared as a rapid and frightful cry of an unknown creature in the woods. These humans sounded like that.

Much like a disturbed, twisted, and horrid animal. A demon. That left Absol to grin and whip her tail upward as she dispelled her Aerial Ace.

It stopped the second buckshot of TwiNeedles from hitting her; wind and darkly hostile fire shot a vertical sweep that did plenty enough to disrupt their momentum.

The crowd roared and roared, cheered, and hollered. The humans she could see…

And the ultimately tremendous 'common crowd' further beneath them and even below their feet.

Overcrowded, she realized. The sheer thought had left her spine to quake as she stared down the Mega-Evolved Beedrill. The whole thing felt to click in her mind and left Absol in laughter. Plenty of laughter – it made the Beedrill buzz as she held her stance confused by the jolly tune.

“I finally realize what a friend of mine told me; what they meant by it."

Shadow knows the real you, and Luna has barely scratched the surface.

You charge your moves lethally and parry your opponent. You expel that force on the offense. You lethally destroy the opponent's attack, not the opponent

Bandit.

“' Cheat your moves,' I can guard faster like this; parry more quickly – barely use energy for it. Even move easily with muscle memory. Then I'll attack non-lethally

I'll just be bloody accurate – that's the issue with cubs these days; they hesitate to slam a few heads together in tournaments.

The Elder grinned to herself and curiously tilted her head – a smog cloud had been above them; pins struck all around her and even bent when they hit the safety glass behind her.

Beyond that looks bulletproof to me. It ran in her skull as she stood beside the dark-haired man. Absol was the one to keep the fight in the boundary of a tournament fight.

If not, a chalk line from Vermillion City.

The smaller giggle played over her cheek – one that proudly showed off her back and let the little spot crack tenderly, like a cub in its first battle. The slow breath came through as the trainer had yet again stopped.

“I must say I haven't had a ridiculous spectacle like this before! Your Pokemon don't even listen to you, and yet it foiled my idea's single pawed. Shameful… Just shameful." Clarke had spoken and rubbed the back of his scalp. “She has Pressure; I can tell as my Beedrill is already drained. Would she happen to be for sale? I've never seen a specimen with such reaction time in my life."
“Perhaps. But this isn't the place to speak about private dealings – If my Pokemon is of interest after the battle, I invite you, come chat about prices."
Mr. Clarke had sighed, a near bitter one at that.
“That won't do. I am rather stressed for time." Clarke replied. “This fight could take much too long for myself."
“Then pull the safety; they said it stops the match."
“Of course." They replied, there had been a tone while left her numb.
It's a god damn hourglass; there… there are trainers Pokemon below…
A scent left her world a near ice-blue of color, a sniff of her nose, and Absol yelled out a name in bitter rage.

She roared out that name and fully charged her Night Slash.

Bandit's Scent had been below her – it's why she was on her mind like a cursed reminder; it made her eyes fully dilate from the realization.

They euthanized Pokemon at random during every match and with all that time… the smoke had been the sand in that hourglass.

Scarf:

The kick woke him from a tireless slumber – a near nightmare as an all too curious Sceptile sat in the corner of the room; from time to time, Scarf heard a powerful gust of wind and the odd few human voices.
It's like they left a small patrol here, and everyone else left to deal with the storm. It hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't gotten better either. I can hear the ferocity in it. The Pikachu barely stretched out his leg and his arm. By then, the pain left him near numb.
It even made him shudder from the pain.
“It is easier if you slept in a healing deck, rather then the Growlithe. I know how to turn the decks on." The Sceptile commented, her near flower-snake pattern of orange flicked past his eye.
If it weren't for the background disappearing to barely let him see and judge the outline – the Seviper would look no different then an odd floating noodle of patterns to Scarf. “You all are close, yes?" Scarf nodded softly and winced in turn.
“We have our rough times; this has strained all of us – the Growlithe outside…"
“The moment you said a word of it, I got my trainer to check. Unbelievably…"
“Alive?"
“May not be for long, it looks as though she suddenly passed away and woke up after. I haven't a clue how it got past my nose."
“You move too quick." Scarf mentioned softly humbly. “The wind plays tricks. I've learned at least – you move like the wind, but I doubt your nose can keep up all the time."
“That is true. I have been scouting the department all night. The Arcanine was horrified like she relived the worst of everything – screamed a name. She's unconscious and alive – it's why I'm here for the idle moment; I must report if any of you have an issue. The medical staff is hard at work with her."
“Could I have… Rosemary? An herb; I -" The Sceptile lightly blinked and shrugged.
“Certainly, that's a kind gesture, little mouse." It replied as Scarf tilted his ear up – the pain had put him down entirely. “To use something humble to ward off suspicion."
“I know it to be… well, annoying, but a little hope. I just happen to do so this way."
“What? Show you have it?" The Pikachu nodded to her.
“And share it." It left the Sceptile to straighten her back a touch. “We're all terrified, from the start. A lot of people are going to be furious."
“It's a massive operation, but with the officers here; they barely have a real foothold – they're exploiting what they must to gain support. It's an odd tactic, but the method changes to a guerilla tactic – it spreads from similarity."

“It seems…" Scarf had started to say, but he noticed something like a paw move and silenced himself.

“Emotional vulnerabilities – they exploit that from those who lost loved ones. The more tragic, the faster they move. The longer they stalk until they drag them away. It's difficult to track."
“What, they forcefully insert themselves into people's…" The Pikachu felt a shiver run down him. “That's…"
“It's the truth. You're quite lucky; however – they haven't got much further to go."
“Whom?"
“Us, naturally. All of us." The Pikachu oddly sighed. “You honestly don't believe we do nothing, do you? We take down what they have, and they push as hard as they can back. It's near Anarchy in a way, but they don't care for politics. I believe it to be greed, honestly."
“It doesn't matter the point. Anyone and everyone would say it's wrong – but I know that the worst of them can't see any other way. They haven't been shown." Scarf commented. “There are cracks in every system – it's what a community can do to fix them that's important." It made the Sceptile chuckle warmly.
“You do have a way with words, especially with that tone."
“I am honest." The Pikachu replied with a nod, “It makes me curious to where everyone can go and what they can become." His whisker brushed against Thief's fur; it had still been early in the morning – the moonlight had filled the hallway whenever it could between the harsh rain. “Invested." He took in a breath and tilted his head out the window.
“Anything misplaced?"
“N – nothing… for a moment, I… I thought I saw someone – someone I knew. I think." The Pikachu blinked and rested his head back against the healing dock, “I'm just glad he's held on." The Sceptile nodded.
“Yes, I'm glad you've all seemed to. Why hadn't Griffin been honest in the beginning."
“He's terrified of losing us naturally. He hadn't lied – he solely felt too scared to talk about it." The Pikachu replied, and that made the Sceptile lower her head. “I don't know, but he had another trainer… speak to him too after. They spoke for a long time together."
“Yes, but an officer on the ground told us that the young trainer disappeared when he turned around. He thought it to be a prank after a minute – called it in just in case." The Pikachu nodded. “We had a Weavile go into medical recently – numbers on it and a chip. They're overstuffed out of nowhere. I believe it to be the groups doing, even drugging wild Pokemon." Sceptile commented back. “We even have officers from Kanto working a way to navigate the storm here. It'll be safe." The Sceptile expressed again. “We've been doing plenty. Yet this group is a good half step ahead – and another is a full step all the time."

Scarf delicately took in a breath.

“There's an Absol too." He explained in the sense of defeat. “I haven't a clue where she is, but… I feel she's in danger… Luna…" A shudder ran out his breath. “I haven't a clue on Bandit, and that terrifies me – what they could do in just about a week… if they…" Scarf softened his tone and took in a breath.
“The stress gets to you when you're tired – I see that in your eyes. Sleep; you've had less than an hour's worth."
“I realize that. But I fear time is running short. There must be any way to find them… Some way at all." There was a stir after a while.
“My head… That hurt…" Moonlight had muttered and coughed; then, he gave a smaller smile. “I guess Leafeon is gone…?"
“For the time it seems, I haven't a clue." Scarf commented, “I don't believe him to run, Moonlight." The Espeon gently nodded.
“He won't. I know he won't." The Pikachu twitched an ear.
“Change of heart?" Scarf commented softly as the Espeon laughed lightly.
“Just a little trust…" Espeon said… and pushed to his paws.
“Hey, you can't just…"
“Seo, I can feel her." The Espeon mentioned in return. “It's faint. Where are we?"
“On Valencia, I believe."
“Sunburst Island currently." The Sceptile mentioned back to them, “We had to prioritize medical to Mandarin Island North. Your friends Brad and Melody are there. Brad stabilized here, but moving boats now… That's difficult."
“The Snivy?"
“With Melody, refuses to part with her; we can't even pry it from her – and she says it's okay."
“Smokey?"
“The Houndoom? Melody explained everything. It was in self-defense. All your trainers…" The Sceptile mentioned in reply
“A lot has happened."
“Fairchild. They're back on Fairchild." The Espeon sharply interrupted them both – it made Pikachu and Sceptile glance at him.
“You can sense Seo for sure?" The Pikachu squeaked back as the Espeon nodded.
“Her horn… she said that they ring even in death when a disaster comes around. I can sense hers. It's a pressure she gives off. You can't?"
“No…"
“I did expel a lot of psychic." The Espeon muttered back, “I don't sense any bugs. There's no headache – I recharged. I'm glad to see you, okay…" Scarf went soft and shook his head.
“Luna was taken." He got to the point.
“What? Then we need to get to Fairchild now." Moonlight expressed with a mewl, but the Pikachu coughed in reply.
“You're worse off then I am, Moonlight."
“I don't care, I need to go to Fairchild – I don't think we were supposed to escape that cavern at all; I'm certain they weren't expecting the Litwicks not to kill the trainers and escape."
“Bandit?"
“I can't, she's a dark type – but Absol has Justified as an ability. She's using Dark currently, I can sense that – but solely because of that natural warning of hers." Moonlight struggled to say that. “We need to go now, humans or not."
“What are you on about? How can we get across the water!?"
“My injuries are physical, Scarf – I've been passed out to store energy and recover. Not only that – it's easy enough to glide us over."
“What are you on about?" The Sceptile began to say, as Moonlight replied.
“I can form Psychic into a disc we can stand on – I'll cheat to make a boat." The Espeon replied, “You could be of help…" The Espeon nearly stumbled as the Sceptile tilted her head once more.
“In your condition – you ca-"
“A friend is going to die if we don't. If I don't. I don't care anymore because I'm done. I'm done with losing those." Moonlight replied with his stark obsessive pride “So either you help us, or I'm fine with demonstrating what Psychic can do; with enough…" The Espeon pushed his feet to the edge of the recovery deck before his paws slammed and slid against the Linoleum below his feet – the Pikachu brought his chest forward, yet the pain in his entire side put him back down again. “change to its chemical base… I could literally peel off the skin, Sceptile. Someone is going to die, and soon, so, either you can add to that count or help us stop that number."
“Threats will get you nowhere, Espeon. Lay back down." The Sceptile expressed sharply in return– calmly as Moonlight hissed in reply, yowled with a fit of deviance.
“Your authority means nothing to me, Sceptile." He replied as his spine riled up no different than any other house cat. “Someone needs to help, and now, screw procedure – You honestly can't feel that? I bet Aura can… Pokemon are dying, a lot of them."

The Sceptile straightened her back in response to the Espeon.
“Fairchild is an understandable location. There are no cities or towns. You're absolutely sure?"
“I've been around Seo long enough to know; I can sense everyone – all creatures emit all kinds of things; it's just getting to know it. I know she is on Fairchild. That's sole because she isn't far away." Moonlight explained again. “Somehow, we need to go, and now. I can't sense Bandit, So I'm hardly a moment away from using your gecko print as a pretty jacket to go with the scarf around my throat." The Sceptile laughed. It was a powerful one that left Moonlight's gemstone to glow in bitter rage.
“Aside from threatening police, I'd have to call in a specialist to deal with your sense of fashion – Moonlight." A sharper huff crossed her in a cursive way. “Fine, I'll inform my Trainer; I'd hate for a situation to occur." The Pikachu defused further tension with a frantic nod of his head.
“Please do. I wish I could." The Sceptile rustled her leaves and tilted her head.
“It's hard not to tell which trainers are genuinely good ones. Their Pokemon always act in certain ways."

A small grin and a nod came over her face.

“You all seem to surpass some minor expectations." She replied with her look. It held a wondrous acute pride behind her before the Sceptile seemed to vanish before Scarf even noticed.
He could tell solely by the sound of the wind that flurried with her step as Moonlight gave a near territorial prowl and lightly panted. His eyes had been contrasted partway. Then the Espeon downed his left hind leg.
“Are you okay?" Scarf asked in a moment of sheer fright, “I – is something…?"
“She hit a pressure point on the way out. I swear to Arceus she did – It's like her only speed is an after image." Moonlight gently lagged out his leg and chuckled. “I even used Protect pre-emptively – she could see through the guard that quick? I wonder if Psychic can help me do that." The Pikachu flicked his ear
“Well, fix the leg and some bruises first, and I'd say you can give it a shot." It made Moonlight chuckle a little.
“I hate to say it, but you're like a tamer version of my Grandfather." It made Moonlight mutter a little. “I can get why Luna said she's tired of playing house." It made him laugh louder before he led into a fit of coughs. “Leafeon was right. I hate to admit that." The Pikachu nodded
“He is oddly wise, although he loves that cryptic speech." Scarf expressed back to him as Moonlight twitched an eye.
“He can, but as of late, he seems more… straight forward. To the point – I believe him to be stressed for time." The Pikachu sighed
“Where would he be?"
“Oh, I don't doubt that he's headed to Fairchild right now. Ever notice… notice how he always found Luna in Hide and Seek?" The Espeon muttered. “I remember that he found me plenty too, but I don't believe Luna won a single round against him. I know he needs her to go 'home' wherever that is.
“Lu-“
“Fairchild currently," Espeon commented back as the Pikachu drearily sighed.
“Seems a little early for a conclusion." The Pikachu laid back down and winced as he moved. “You missed my tendon, by the way."
“What?"
“My shoulder is swollen – when the Machoke nearly 'popped' me as you said." Moonlight gently laughed as Scarf tapped his little foot against Thief's hind leg impatiently.
“Sorry… Geezer, you had me worried as sin. Remember… Remember Lavaridge? I remembered it then…. I didn't… when I saw you on the ground like that." The Moonlight laughed a little nervously. “Bandit got Griffin in so much trouble, just fright."
“I remember. Bandit startled someone. Bitter, she was away from Shadow – it caused a domino effect!." The Pikachu squeaked out a laugh. “I want to go there again… with everyone." The Espeon smiled and nodded.
“I'd like that… there is plenty that I'd like." The Espeon replied, “If I wasn't… Nevermind." The Espeon cracked out a small, warm smile. One that left Scarf's ear to twitch.

You've changed a little too. I feel as though you've swallowed a little pride? I feel like… like you try to hold your posture too long, you force yourself attentive, but I look at you now, and you're oddly at rest or calm.

Calculative, as though you feel like you can finally show your face a little.

The Pikachu tilted his head as Moonlight continued to think for a moment.
“I can literally walk us across a bridge. Perhaps if I could get a restore – I'd bring it." Scarf held his jaw under his chin and softly made a laugh.
“Why not time a jump?
“What?"
“I saw you floating in the sky last night. Or the leaves and the purple glow. Make pockets of those, let Sceptile jump across – I bet she could carry us." The Espeon laughed lightly.
“You're too humbled, or maybe see a little too much good sometimes. That's a trait I wish my grandfather had." Moonlight cracked a smile. “No, she won't let us tag along, but the panel idea…" Moonlight gave a wry grin. “I like it. I see why she hit the pressure point."
“I may not be able to fight well in my condition, but I can do what I can."
“Cute conversation."
“Than-" The Pikachu and Espeon had both froze, the voice had come behind them and like clockwork; that furious wind had gently rung into the room. “…"
“It's alright, you both talk loudly – I could hear you from the other end of the station. I've been permitted to go."
“Alone? You can't find them without me." Moonlight explained back. “It would mean nothing to go alone… please… I just learned a little about trust; Let me go with you – I don't even need to fight." Espeon said. “I can bring you to it and wait for you." The Sceptile flicked an ear after a moment, or what the Pikachu figured was one – it could have been her tail. The Sceptile nodded after a ginger moment and then showed her arrowhead of a tail.
She signaled something or someone…
And out came the officer from before. He hadn't said a word to any of them. There was no real sense or point to. A near sigh came over him as he glanced at Sceptile, showed off some form of a harness or near wet suit – Scarf had never seen anything like it before. The trainer had helped the Pokemon put it on as Moonlight just stared, as did Scarf.

Suddenly they became the fuzzy felt outline of a Sceptile.

It's a dark blue, not a black – looks like the horizon on the nights' sky. It's impossible to see in this light. The Pikachu felt his back tinge as he stared at a glass box, or what looked like one – centered on the Sceptile; He saw that plainly.
It looks like a recording camera. I haven't a clue on how the law works – but I think that binder was more critical then Griffin realized.

I feel ill… because I'm starting to think that the one in the truck may have joined solely for that reason to protect others.
It made the Pikachu's pelt crawl as that familiar pain – it made him bite his lip.
“We must go. She'll need your help Moonlight, and I know my way around a lock or two. I can be useful for some things." The Pikachu explained softly, “I can help. Moonlight can help me navigate that storm, please."
“I can't risk either of you in danger." The Sceptile said back to them. “Luckily, Fairchild has research receptors on it – it'll make the signal more difficult to cut out, and we'd spot a breach easily; computers." The Sceptile explained. “They're worldwide."
It left the Pikachu to tweak an ear for a moment.

That sounds nearly invasive, but to keep trainers safe…? The Pikachu felt his spine go rigid. The Poke… Pokeball. Scarf twitched as his mouth softly opened. Pokeball is a life-saving device. It helps break and tame a Pokemon to a trainer. That's why they're working so hard… The Pikachu gently chuckled and rolled his neck lightly back – his shoulder stung from it. The police may already know. It's simply finding the evidence to use against them. The Pokemon Association and GPD are tightly knit. I've known that for years – Logan would lecture Griffin on that too. The Pikachu shook his head. “Clearly, she's gone - right?" It made him blank for a moment. “Moonlight…?" A chuckle slipped from his mouth.

“W…" Thief stirred a little as Scarf let out a dreary sigh and ran his claws through his fur as though to pet him.

Sleep. I feel off about tonight; it feels uneasy all over. I…

This sound erupted from down the hall, and after a moment, Scarf had nearly bundled around Thief's scalp and ears. The Arcanine appeared to have woken up from somewhere downstairs.

It had been a horrible thing to hear and left Scarf with a chilling note; to not get killed by a Chesshira.

He clapped his paws together after the yells had died down. Marill had aimlessly laid in a medical hub with them.
“You're awake, I know." The Marill hmmph'd after a moment, and that left Scarf with a warm smile. “I think I pieced it out, after a while. About Mightyena's…"
“Bandit again? I swear all she does is make a ruckus and devour that goop Griffin makes for her, the bread thing." Marill commented after a bit.
“Lycanroc, Absol… Shadow – Luna." Scarf continued to say. “Shadow's sudden rage. It's been a while since I've honestly seen that." The Pikachu expressed and huffed. “I figured it out…" Scarf only held his stomach gently.

“I think I know why Seviper left to help so suddenly too."

Absol:

Another pulse struck at her as the Beedrill had spasmodically flown around with it's absorbed droned hum; it left her eyes to flicker after a moment … Her tail had swiftly shot forward, up, and down to deflect the two javelins which shot for her chest. The Beedrill had dialed back his lethality for a moment to conserve energy.
I'm running it so much that it's beginning to overheat. It's taking to long – Bandit is…
She took a step ahead as the scenery swiftly changed from this half arched hell into a proper colosseum underground. It made her eyes flicker as she snapped the thought out of her head and narrowly evaded the Spears which shot for her.
His speed is slowing drastically. Too quickly. The Absol held her charged Night Slash; it cackled with a strange sense of consumed pyre before she let her eyes dilate.

Absol used Detect, and in a splint of a moment, she had landed by Clarke's feet in a flash. The Beedrill hit the ground as he tapped his foot impatiently. A touch of shock rested on his face.

Until something had flicked and twitched in her tail.
That felt… better. Absol let out a sigh and turned to see a glow of light – she cut one of the Beedrill's Javalin's off, and when it devolved, it rested unharmed… unconscious. Absol charged a Lethal blow, intent on taking the head – and willingly whipped her tail down to slice off the 'elbow' that held one of its spears; she forced herself to change direction and, with dilated eyes, she had figured it out.

Our abilities as Pokemon… That's what they break, the capsules. It breaks our will… That's why we can't control our moves accurately; the power behind them. Gauge our instincts…

… Bandit. She breaks her 'instinct' to follow the real her…

Absol twitched a brow and left her tail at full charge.
Cheat… I'm beginning to like that more and more, Yeen. Then I'll take them on like any human could.
It left her to roll her shoulders and push her paws into the ground.
Either that or that damn gas might be seeping into the room. I feel giddy.
Absol glanced at the crowd again. They had went nuts – ballistic for a while; then, she had finally spotted something – in the smoke.
A camera? It looks like a little flying bug. It made her tilt her scalp as she glanced at the wall next to her.
I have an idea. It came to her mind as she continued to stare at the Beedrill. Mr. Clarke hadn't returned it and simply glanced at a screen. Casually aimlessly. It made her tilt her scalp.
It looks like a market smartphone? Or maybe more like a media player…? Natasha has something similar, but it's pink; I'm sure; it seems like a contest gift.

The Absol had stared at the familiar place grip which folded over the back of the phone, but what made her even more curious – unlike Natasha with her own color…
The crowd had only a black sleeve over the spine of their respected devices.
Even her own 'trainer' had stared at him all while the smoke slowly ticked away. It left her eyes red as she stared Mr. Clarke down with a vicious, dangerous smile.
If they don't drop those, I'll rip each one of them apart; limb by limb. Naturally, I'll start with the head of Mr. Clarke here. Her move hadn't dispelled yet, and right when she went to move her legs, this near obnoxious sound rang into the room like a whistle. The crack had gotten to Absol, and it left her to evade left in response. The floor had begun to crack open. A hydraulic of any sort rang in her ear.
The familiar clunk came too, one that sent shivers down her spine.
It sounds like a motorized chain now that the screech is gone. She went rigid in the next second as it revealed a smaller cage, one that left her eyes completely blunt.

“Seviper?" The Snake had boringly wiggled his dagger.

“Oh! I see we're in quite the predicament I have been for the last couple hours; eventually, I got tossed in here." The Snake rolled out his tongue. “Talk to a few wild Pokemon – carried off by some winged jerk out of nowhere; by the TAIL of all things!" The Seviper expressed, “Do you know HOW much weight is behind this thing and HOW much it hurts to be tugged about?" The Absol twitched her own tail as the Seviper shook his head wildly. “Right… Sorry."
“Bandit!" The Absol snapped back.
“What? No, she's not here!" The Seviper expressed, “I've never even seen her in here!" He mentioned again and lightly blinked. “Granted, it's only been about… half an hour – they stabbed a chip in me! Where my tooth USED to be!" The Absol wearily snarled. “It's."
“A battle until someone dies, I get that! So, if we don't fight?"
“Ah, this Muk comes out; She just waltzes in the fight – threatened to tear apart a Houndour cub and a… a…? I got no clue – it's a new one for me." The Seviper hissed lightly. “They sounded like good friends, but, I mean they were terrified until they saw each other." The Seviper continued to hiss and slithered out of his cage. The crowd felt exasperated by then. “What a cute little tail! So poufy! Etcetera" The Seviper rolled his knife about and showed off his tooth. “I left when Griffin was talking to the cop. I figured I could help convince the wild Pokemon. I'm just thankful that Scyther was there – can't believe Scarf did that." The Seviper expressed with a sharper grin. “So… hit me once and KO me?"
“As stupid as they are, I think they want a little more blood." The Absol responded and laid down on the field. “Let's direct more of our attention on them, aim to maim?" The Seviper gave a sharp, nervous laugh. “Believe me, I just hope those two are okay." Absol grinned
“Naturally, I like the idea of having a little poison of my own. Maim the letters. Kill the numbers." The Absol retorted as she held her stance aimlessly. I still smell Bandit, it's faint – could they have killed her? The smoke is still around that glass dome. Like they stopped it. “What does safety do?" The Seviper shook his head.
“Don't press it, that was in one of the cells. A psychic Pokemon could hear it. The voice was just a Pokemon begging into a pocket of it." The Seviper shuddered. “Weird pink stuff around."
“It was in Fuchsia too." Absol replied, “I remember that; you also helped out more than you know – swing toxic on the cleaver wall." The Seviper hesitantly nodded.
“More order's Madam?"
“Just get moving!" She replied and shook her head.
I remember hexagon panels. It looked like a fake night sky in there. The ground had been dirt, like this one – those same panels are underneath.

There could just as quickly be another… another laboratory. If it's built underground like this.

It left those celestial red orbs to glow; as she took in a sharp breath of air – this strange sizzle hit the stone wall.
“Hit it with everything you got!" Absol commented sharply, “Spray the walls beside you too."

“Are they… hey, how the hell can that happen?" A voice brought up, then Absol heard something that followed.

A voice from that device replied to him. It made Absol grin as a section began to roll under her feet

The resounding clunk touched her ears as the Seviper near jolted.
“That freaks me out!" He called back to her
“You better be slashing that wall! I can smell Bandit!"
“Kinda weird hearing that! All you types and smells!" The Seviper commented back to her, something which left the arch on her scalp to twitch before she casually rolled her shoulders.
I feel limber after taking that Beedrill's arm off. Mr. Clarke hasn't moved an inch. Neither has he; behind me. They know one another as non-challan as they are. He's mimicking that man, how get the luck to fight one another?

“You haven't given me permission. The rules are stated clearly. Unless you permit me beyond one Pokemon." Mr. Clarke replied into the phone, then her 'trainers' phone went off.
“It hasn't listened from the start. Buying it isn't worth a cent; I've tried everything." He explained promptly. “The rules were crystal. Neither of us can break your rules. The Pokemon are unruly – do something about it." Mr. Clarke tapped his foot on the ground
“And quickly, please. I have a business to attend to; a Pokemon must die before the round is over. Is that not a rule?" He replied casually. “Send whatever you must and put them both down." His voice had continued, “Clearly, you have those resources." The voice groaned as a chain motor of a sound had played. The vibration ran through the platform again.

Being this far into the mountain, and depending on height – it could be hard to figure noise like this; I believe Pokemon are doing the majority of the work too. A few minor things here and there, then silence. That alarm was the only thing I don't get.

But the smoke hasn't dropped, and the battle isn't over in the slightest. I think they desire to protect their own Pokemon; figures. Her eyes had fixed down on a shadow, one who left her head to tilt.
It's that damn Houndoom? The boys…? Her stomach went queasy for a time, back to a flash of unconscious – nightmarish hell. It only pushed and prodded at her resolve, the anger that flooded her cheeks.
“She's okay! Alive!"
“Keep working!" The Seviper stiffened and went back to dissolving the wall.
I haven't any clue if that can find an issue. But judging by the sound and temperature… The change is too noticeable. There could be feet of endless rock in there. “See if you can dig Seviper!"
“Nah! Pointless, hell, this would take hours – It's better to conserve what I got." He replied and slithered out of the way of the cleavers – he melted down a nice enough chunk out of the center. “I know some Pokemon shrieked, an earlier contestant hit them – took them clean fourths. There's a Kadabra that's a little too messed with them."
“It's one of them then." She remarked back to him. “So, let's kill him too – I'll get them to DRAG Bandit out here. I know what they did." The Absol replied. “I can smell blood – they're making her fight in here, probably without a trainer."
“There's blood EVERYWHERE, S-"
“Don't call me that. Both don't mean anything here." The Absol replied and stared down the Houndour.
It had been her alright, with another Pokemon – one that made left the Beedrill's trainer to give it a second glance that left her back tremble for a moment as she pieced it together; it had been a Pokemon from Galar.
He may have even been there for it, and that left her eyes to dilate once more; her night slash had simply been ready to spark.

I know the play, two cubs lost and confused; then you swoop in for the kill – surprise me.

The thought ran through Absol's mind.
“Little ones, it's not time to play; come out here and hide." She spoke softly, yet her forelegs tensed against the ground below her. A bitter growl came across her lips. “Now, this isn't the time, and it's not safe in there." The two of them had simply tilted their scalps. Eerie, they look terrified already, copying one another? I get it. They're after Clarke and the trainer I have here. Why not kill them out…?

Their Pokemon. Their Pokemon could warn and watch for their trainer. They need to get all of them bunched – this would be the best chance shot they'd have to do it remotely silently; I'm cut in the middle, but I'm worried about the crowd being the rest of them. The floor seems unstable, like a platform waiting to drop.

Bulletproof Glass? Even if I break the smoke, my tail will shatter regardless of how I hit it.

Absol had been seconds away from the subtle trap – that the whole rig had been set up to drop; when it had. There had only been a jolt as another eerie creak settled in.
“Seviper…"
“Yes?" The snake began to hiss.
“Were the slates connected into the floor – like grooves?"
“Uhm… Yes, yes, they were."
“How high up are we?" Absol began to say.
“Uhm… If I said jump, you'd push me off." Absol nodded her head.
Enough to turn everyone here into a pile of shrapnel. They couldn't have possibly fallen for something this simple, as elaborate as it is. I don't believe the walls and rocks are…

The air… is circulating one way in here, but it felt that way out there too. It's… like a Pokeball, the walls – everything is a panel just like Logan's Pokeball. The rocks are… simulated. That's why the rooms seemed so odd. This would cost too much to upkeep.

Don't tell me Pokemon are being used for a power source too. Why do this?

The Absol froze again and took in air.
The adrenaline is… is kind of a thrill. Think, confined like this… But no one is moving. Why? Her stomach had filled with air as she gently blinked at the two younger Pokemon. That Houndour is a few months younger than Luna.
They uneasily smiled with the jolt as Seviper had been utterly still and close to the ground – hugged it for dear life.
“No more flying. I don't get worried often, but; you have a plan?"
“The humans are too calm – they're mimicking their neighbors. It's a test. I did something similar in that cave. The Houndour cracked first."
“The same premise with a human? You think so?" The Seviper tilted his scalp. “How would they come up with that idea?"
“Because I'm starting to believe that these orders aren't coming from adults. It'll explain the extremity."
“That's absolute ridicule."
“Perhaps it depends on the subject. A trainer would know more about the current 'happenings.' It all fits so far. To test them on an unsafe thrill ride, that's quite stupid to make a 'point'," The Absol commented back to him. “It doesn't make sense to me; they'd just shoot whomever and take what they want. Why push them so hard?"
“All of them do, don't they? I think they're playing a game of copycat – mocking the teams."
“…" Absol twitched her ear. “Moonlight called the Chesshira a 'CopyCat.'" Absol brought up. “This better not be one of those 'but we were dead the whole time' things," She remarked, “I'd prefer having that out of my mind."
“…"
“What?"
“It's in mind now for me… That thing is freaky, as for… for what a name for it? How about A-hole. I like that one."
“I agree. Any id-"
“Wait till it drops again." Right, when the platform had given out – the Seviper had been in the midst of his words when it dropped for a moment, half a second even – enough that Absol felt her feet lift from the ground and Seviper had floated from the free-fall in total shock. His face was plastered with
'I wasn't ready yet.'

It left the Absol to brace her legs against the ground as it cushioned once again. It left her to stare at the meat grinder of a wall.
I haven't a clue of how high we wandered up when we got here. The ground and the distance could be simulated. I think we're in a box that's layered with glass, why bring the humans on… She halted her thought
“Don't jump around!" Her voice snapped out, the Houndour had been nervously still – but the other one, whatever it was had bounced about. Its eyes… those are glossy; I think it's drugged with something. It left her to grind her teeth together.
“I'd like it to stop it!" The Seviper commented back, “Its heartbeat is freaking me out." The hiss crossed his lips as he bared out his single fang.
“I'll bite the th-"
“You won't catch it. Not her." The Absol stated as she glanced at it, “Its tail makes me think of a Pikachu. I think it's an electric type; if this terrain is anything like Navel."
“Then we're at one hell of a disadvantage, but why hop?" The Houndour tilted her head at the Seviper; the snake solely tilted it back at her with his fangs retracted.
“Little one, that's not a friend; come over here. It's safer here." Absol continued to say. “I know where your trainer is. He's with my trainer; remember him? He made all that food."
I haven't a clue what it is, but Mr. Clarke is from Galar – the way he looked made it… made it seem like he knew it. You seem intent on… Her back vibrated as the free fall left her mind awry. Could it see a way out? Absol felt her eyes softly contrast. This gentle sting ran down her leg; it left her to stare at it firmly.
Great, I see what's happened. I didn't get too cocky with my deflection – but that Beedrill grazed my hind leg with that shotgunned move. I understand why the two little shits are bouncing.

No one is leaving until one dies – the cubs distracted me. The stress of the drop convinced me they were in danger for a moment, but why feel cushioned?

I feel like we're in a fake silo… It's like a mine shaft with a big lift, a rip-off Pokeball gym battle.

Her eyes quickly dilated as she sparked up her tail with that infamous white-red hue. This dull eager pain rang through it as she stared at the smoke around her.
“Seviper, you're confident Bandit isn't under there?"
“What? Yes! But who are you going to ask? The corpses of the ones probably days ago? Not par-"
“Bandit." A voice left them both rigid as Absol fixed her gaze. This paw had pushed its way out into the open, dug into the terrain below, “I know her." The claws had dug into the steel side that the two strange cubs came out of.
We're nowhere near done yet. It's two on two, but throw cubs in the way? I think they're testing the Pokemon just as much as the trainers.
I never did well with those so-called 'loyalty' tests. I won't fall for them here; the human behind me is as good to me dead as alive.

It let her stare down every single hexagonal patch with a twitch of her eye as the Golem stepped out. To her surprise, it had been covered with claw marks.
He's middle-aged, his shell won't shed anymore; a 'prime.'
The Beedrill played its part like a competition match; two on two… with cubs in the middle.
“Seviper…"
“Yes?"
“How bad is your tail?"
“Why? And rather terrible now."
“Does it hurt?"
“Terribly." Seviper commented.
“I mean the poison, does it hurt Pokemon terribly." She muttered back in response.
“Get on with it." The Golem expressed to them. “I know Bandit for sure – she got pissed that I hid in my shell, burned the hell out of my skin, just stuck her muzzle in a hole, and incinerated my arm mid-roll." The Golem grinned after a moment, “I hope you're her mother, because…"
“I got a plan." She replied as she glanced around the battlefield once again. “One hell of a good one."
“Great! Then I'll just spray hi-"
“Just spray me."
“-you and" The Seviper went blank. “You're serious?" He'd state with absolute shock, “That could kill you!"
“It won't." Absol explained and stilled her breath – slowed it to an utter, silent… calm as a droplet of water touched her nose. It made the Golem snort and stare up. Absol had used Rain dance.

Water Pulse. I can use multiple of them, keep hitting till he's down; it's all about how the energy is focused.
She simply stared down the Golem in a lapse of near slow motion.
Still and calm your body entirely.
The water had begun to slam down against the ground harder, and that left the Golem stoic before he stamped his broad, massive paws against the field. As he did, the Beedrill had barely stirred and jolted to avoid the substantial step it took, concussed and dazed from the sudden mutilation Absol had given it. It left it to buzz and flicker its wings as it looked at every limb it had in fright. Mega Evolution had protected the Beedrill from losing a spear, as it wearily buzzed, exhausted from the forced change back and forth. Then the Golem stared her down with a robust bearing.
“So your friends with that Mightyena? Ya missed her a few days ago, actually." It explained as she narrowed her eyes on it.
There's something off about this… this Golem. It has a letter on its shoulder.

But why only a letter, why not a letter and a number? She felt a tinge down her back, which left her to wearily shake her head and jostle the grey-white fur in front of it. She even stared down the strange ball of fluff, which bounced around happily until the water touched his paw-pads.
“Seviper, I think I finally get it." She replied with a grown, narrow grin.
“Get what, Seo?" The name left a fright down her back before she shook her head wildly.
I know any other name can agree.
“The weird fluff ball. It has a letter painted on it." The Golem grinned
“We do, you're not the fi-"
“You belong to a trainer." It made Golem still his feet as though a paralytic force ran through it. “Tell me of the numbers." Before he sneered back at her with a cursive shiver down his grey-smoked reptilian skin.
“I don't belong to anyone anymore; this is the choice I made – to become part of the real territory."
Absol's eye flickered. Gave a sense of bewilderment – it hadn't been what she expected to hear. Her tail touched the glass behind her as the Golem fitted into its shell. The Twineedle cornered her to the pane.
Rollout, who would've thought it, just like in my youth. Typical, they roll and roll without care. She turned and clicked her neck after a moment.
“I know someone who does, and she's coming back with me; Whatever hole you came from – shove your territory there." The Golem softly cackled in reply.

“Then, I hope you can travel half the world away." The Golem spoke with a sharper grin. “Because you have no chance if you can't move past me. Call me another Cerberus" His voice held a more violent tone as this sharp expulsion of flame propelled him at Absol. She hadn't much a chance to move, as she'd rotate herself with the opponent's more substantial body and momentum; her tail half angled as though she used a metal bar to guide her away from the near tonne steel ball.
The little bit of toxin has made my leg numb. It feels asleep. It left Absol to grin and play with her hair as she watched the Golem roll up the curved glass dome from one side to the next. The Houndour had pulled away from that strange, Galarian Pokemon rearward by the nape; in hopes that sudden, Golem wouldn't crush them. It could only be a matter of seconds before that ball could slam to her again. The poison is going to spread. She stilled her breath again as those sharply smoky rainclouds covered the top of the dome. I don't need to move past you.


I simply need to move through you.