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We'll follow the sun; Journey from near the Ridley all the way back to Trinxit Beach
Topic Started: Jul 6 2011, 01:17 PM (429 Views)
shadowcat
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The Almighty
Grizzly Grove

This is all your fault.

Rocky shot a glare at Sandie, narrowly avoiding stepping on a thorn. He climbed over a log that was in their path and jumped down again.

How exactly is this, in any sense of the word, my fault? he snapped back. She bristled.

Because, she yelled, her pointy little fangs glinting. She ran forwards, bushy tail bouncing, and was lost in the undergrowth in seconds. Rocky resisted the urge to yell something after her, mostly because he couldn't think of anything to say.

They had been thrown into an Umbra van just outside the breeder's house. Rocky had heard one of them talking about how this had been revenge for some incident that had happened a couple of days earlier, when a Quilava thwarted their original plan to steal her pokemon.

They had been driving for hours before Rocky's plan had finally come to fruition, and he'd managed to gnaw his way out of the sack they'd been thrown in. He had dragged Sandie out by the scruff of her neck and Iron Tailed off the hinges to the back door, and then they had fallen and rolled down a hill together. There had been other pokemon in the van: a dark-coloured Ponyta with blue flames, a translucent Kecleon that looked like water, and a pair of Siamese twin Caterpie. They had presumably all been on their way to the lab too, and he hoped they'd escaped as well.

And now they were here. In the middle of freaking nowhere surrounded by trees and shadows and eyes that followed them wherever they went. A shiver ran through Rocky's spine as he noticed the sun slowly disappearing behind a cliff, and a howl ricocheted through the cold evening air.

I'd better find her, he mumbled to himself, taking off to follow where she'd disappeared to. He wormed his way through a gap in the same bush and looked around. Hey, he called, moving forwards and peering under and over things. Hey! He sprinted up and down, feeling his heart race. As much as he didn't want to admit it, he really didn't want anything to happen to her.

Stop shouting, came a frantic hiss. Rocky's head whipped to the right and he saw the other Eevee under a rotting log.

What the hell you doing under there? He took a couple of steps forward.

Just, for God's sake, look behind you and then run, she hissed.

At that moment there was a loud crack just behind him. He froze, ear twitching. He could hear a wet rhythmic clicking noise, smell some sort of damp ooze. What good ever came of not paying attention to his senses. He swallowed, and turned around.

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He yelled out in fright and managed to dodge the speeding Ariados, who smacked back-first into the log Sandie was hiding under, causing her to squeal and leap out to find a new hiding place.

Run! he yelled over his shoulder, but she didn't go. Instead she scrambled with some difficulty up to the low branch of a tree. Damn housetrained-

He couldn't finish his random insults because the spider pokemon had shot a glob of sticky goo towards him that he managed to leap out of the way of. He shot a small Shadow Ball that hit it on the nose making it blink, but it continued to charge towards him, legs working like puppet limbs jerking up and down.

Why are you attacking me? Rocky cried, dodging a volley of poison needles and smashing another small Shadow Ball on its underbelly as it jumped.

Hunt, kill, hunt, kill, it chanted in response.

We haven't done anything to you, we're just passing through, he assured it.

Kill, hunt, kill, hunt, kill, it replied.

With a tortured sigh, Rocky smashed it in the face with an Iron Tail, then leapt to get Sandie, and dragged her as fast as he could through the undergrowth.

Why didn't you kill it? she asked sorely, pulling out of his grip and running/prancing alongside him.

Why should I have killed it?

Because you're meant to be protecting me.

Rocky snorted. Says who? You're not my mate. You were almost a one night stand but you're not even that.

She looked at him, wounded, and then rammed her shoulder into his and scampered off as he stumbled and fell.

Oh for Arceus' sake! he yelled. I'm not going to rescue you again. I'm going home. Stay out here by yourself for the rest of your life. Like you could even last a day.

She appeared from behind a tree in front, cheeks puffed out. I could too!

Could not! he barked back, and continued on his way. If the sun had set behind him and Trinxit beach was on the.. (nevereatshreddedwheat) West side of the island, that meant he had to go-

Could so last a day. I could last the rest of my life in the wild. I'm strong enough. She stuck her nose in the air.

How strong are you? I bet you've never even seen a real battle let alone had one. And, I bet this is the first time you've been more than five feet away from your front door.

Not true! she argued.

No? he countered. Prove it then. The next wild pokemon we find, challenge it to a battle and then we'll see how long you'd last out here on your own.

Fine!

Fine.

Rocky jumped up onto a leafy bank and curled up comfortably to watch. It wouldn't be long before the first wild pokemon came over and Sandie got the life beaten out of her. It'd be funny if it were a Weedle or something. He snickered lightly to himself.

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Yup, any moment now something would pop up and scare her half to death and she'd come running back to him.

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He yawned and let his eyes close.

Any moment now.

He must have been tired, because he almost immediately fell asleep, all comfy on the soft bank and smug in the knowledge that she would realise she needed him to survive, and would be asking him for help just as soon as trouble reared its ugly head.

The trouble was, the opponent wasn't something that was just going to make her scream, like a Weedle or a Dustox. It crashed through to their clearing, a flurry of snaps and cracks and groaning branches and bloodthirsty roars.

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Rocky woke up. He had no idea how long it had been, but it was dark now. Sandie was snoozing below him. The darkness put the length of his nap at somewhere between twenty minutes to four hours. By the light of the moon, the Ursaring struck.

The female Eevee screamed, just like he'd planned, but instead of laughing at her and scaring her attacker away with a simple Shadow Ball, as has been his idea, he had to run down, smack it in the shins with an Iron Tail, and whisk her away for the second time.

What are you, allergic to fighting? she demanded as soon as they were once again out of harm's way, or so they thought.

I don't waste my strength when I don't need to. We don't know what we'll have to go up against later, and you sure as hell can't-

You didn't even give me a chance! she screamed, fire in her eyes. Rocky shrank back. There was roaring in the distance, getting closer.

Well, here comes your chance to prove yourself, he said dully, and pointedly strolled away to hide behind a bush.

The Ursaring pulled back a branch and sniffed the air. It looked down at the quivering Sandie, and then growled deep in its throat.

I guess now is when we fight then, Sandie said. Well, come on then. What have you got?

The Ursaring lumbered over, promptly picked her up with two claws, and pressed her against a tree with his palm, grunting. She squirmed, mumbling various curses that were not helping, and Rocky resisted the urge to save her. He'd let her suffer until she asked for help. That would show her.

The big bear pokemon let out a series of gruff laughs under his breath, holding her steadily against the tree and ignoring her indignant yelps. Let me go let me go let me GO! she cried, and in a rather curious turn of events, the bow on her ear began to glow in the moonlight. It grew brighter and brighter until the Ursaring blinked rapidly at the blinding light, and then she took a deep breath, and orbs of pure power radiated off of her in a huge explosion.

The Ursaring was enraged and confused, but mostly enraged. It snatched back its now mangled paw and snarled viciously at the Eevee who had fallen back down onto the floor and was shaking herself off and panting.

What was that? Rocky wondered to himself. It had come from the present he had given her... so it still counted as his victory, right? He'd still proved his point?

The battle wasn't over yet, though; the bear pokemon lunged forwards with a slash that buried itself in her poofy fur, making her jump back with a squeak but probably not causing any lasting damage. The bear threw punches that she dodged, slashed at her and she leapt over them, even tried to stomp on her a couple of times, but to no avail. She was too quick. But Rocky could see that she was running out of strength rapidly, and presumably so could the bear. He had her trapped in a corner. He rounded on her, chest heaving and mouth twisted into a psychotic grin: he finally had the kill. She was shaking, ears drooping, tail curled between her legs, as she pressed up against a tree.

He raised his two fists, chest inflating, and brought them down like logs to snap her in two. Terrified, Rocky leapt out from his hiding place, but he was too late. There was an almighty smash, and for a moment he thought he was going to throw up.

Sandie was dead. The potential mother of his cubs. She wasn't that bad. He didn't want her dead. They could have fallen in love. They could have been mates. They could have stayed together forever and raised their-

But no, it wasn't what he had thought. He blinked and approached slowly.

He narrowly avoided the Ursaring as it was flung over his head, singed to a crisp and unconscious.

Well, hey there, the Ponyta from the Umbra van said with a smile, standing over the gasping, frightened body of Sandie.

*

Their only experience together was those few hours in the van. He had wriggled out from the sack, finally, to see her shackled to the sides. She tugged at her chains half-heartedly, but Rocky had smashed through them in four attempts with his Iron Tail, and then turned to the door and broken out. He knew that he and Sandie had leapt out, but they'd fallen down a hill too quickly to notice if the others had too.

I'm glad you're ok, Rocky said, curled up by the fire she'd made by sneezing embers onto a pile of wood. Thank you for saving her.

Sandie hadn't said a word since the Ursaring attack, but he'd allowed him to lick her clean again and then she had fallen asleep in a tight ball beside him.

You guys didn't give me a chance to say thanks, you just bolted. She kicked at the hard soily ground. So I followed you around for a bit, waiting for a way to save your life. Figured it wouldn't take too long, seeing as we're in Pestilice's territory.

Are we? Rocky said, his ears flattening with fear. He hadn't known. If he had he sure as hell wouldn't have put Sandie in danger like that. The pokemon here were crazy.

I took care of that Ariados for you, but you were already so long gone from it that I thought I should probably keep following just in case. She craned her neck to look through the thick canopies at the sky. I'd say we have about four more hours of darkness. I wish I could say either day or night are safest here, but it doesn't matter. It's just different enemies.

Rocky rearranged himself so that he wouldn't disturb the sleeping Eevee next to him, and so he wasn't in danger of being spat on by the fire, and then took a deep breath. I guess we'd better get some sleep then, he said. It'll be a lot easier to get through the rest of the journey with you by our side.

She looked momentarily shocked, and he blushed. I'm sorry, I just presumed that would stay with us-

No, no, it's ok. Of course I will. I owe you my life and my freedom. Those people would have locked me up and taken blood and spinal fluid samples from me until I was just a Ponyta raisin.

Ew, Rocky said sympathetically. He found himself looking at her curiously, then at himself. I can tell why they wanted you. But why us?

The Ponyta shrugged. Who knows? I know Eevee are worth a nice amount of money, but Umbra aren't usually into petty theft. Unless it's for revenge.

Maybe that was it, Rocky said, rolling onto his back to look at the stars.

Sandie began to stir, and her eyes fluttered open, landing on Rocky who hadn't noticed.

I'll go patrol the perimeter, the pony pokemon said quietly, and got up to walk a little way away.

Rocky looked over to Sandie to check how she was, and was startled to see her looking back at him. He felt warmth rush to his cheeks and looked back purposefully at the sky.

You alright then? he said gruffly.

I'm fine, she said. There was a pause. No thanks to you.

He swallowed the lump that appeared in his throat and opened his mouth to spill out defenses and apologies and promises, but he was distracted by her warm head resting against his shoulder. He glanced over, and she was smiling, her amber eyes twinkling a more soulful colour than the fiery red they were in the sun. He smiled back, and then playfully nudged her.

Fighting's not so easy, is it? he said. He felt her shaking his head. I'm glad you're alright.

I'm sorry, she said suddenly, burying her pale head in his soft dark brown fur.

For what?

She lifted her head again and her soulful moonlit eyes swam. I was horrible to you. I don't know why I'm like that. You went through so much just to get me this bow and I made it seem like I didn't even appreciate it.

Did you appreciate it? he asked, moving around uncomfortably for a second.

No one's ever done that before. It's just in, pregnant, out. Not even two words to me. I guess I just felt like rebelling for once. I hate my job. It's degrading. I hate it when that woman calls me 'the best', it's like my only worth is my DNA.

I hear that one, sister, the Ponyta called from behind some trees. Then, embarrassed that she had been listening, trotted further away.

Well, I guess you're welcome, he said. It suits you, and it seems like it'll protect you too. He paused, heart beating. When I'm not around, anyway.

Sandie sat up and cocked her head at him. What do you mean? she asked. He could see hope in her eyes, and that made him sad.

I mean, I bet I could convince Kitty to take you. Like, keep you.

I'm too expensive, Sandie blurted, tears forming in her eyes. People have tried to buy me, and then when Emily says the number they just laugh and leave again. I want to go, though. I have children I will never meet, and that makes me sick. I just want to retire and have kits that I'll be able to watch grow up. She was sobbing now. Rocky almost teared up with her, but he blinked it back, and stood up.

We'll run away, he said quickly. You and me, and maybe her if she wants to come too. He jerked his head somewhere towards the Ponyta. How does that sound?

Impossible, she said bitterly.

How? We just have to leave these woods and find somewhere better, safer.

No, I mean... you'd never leave your trainer. Battlers get too attached. You look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't miss her.

Well, of course I'd miss her, he said, tilting his head. We grew up together, she's like my best friend. But I want to save you.

You can't save everyone, she said softly. You can't save me.

Kitty would do anything for me, Rocky said, puffing out his chest. Just you see. If she knows that I want you to stay with us, she'll find a way to make it happen.

It won't work.

Kitty doesn't always follow the rules. She'll find a way to make it work, no matter what. He looked her in the eyes. I promise.
Edited by shadowcat, Jul 10 2011, 05:17 PM.
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Ashen Clearing - him

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When the Eevee awoke, he was alone. The clearing he was in was beautiful, though, with the light pouring in through the treetops. He got up, stretched, and looked around. The charred remains of their fire lay scattered around him, and the indentation where Sandie and he had slept was still imprinted in the dewy grass.

Sandie? he called, stepping over to a small glittering pool and dipping his paw in to clean some of the muck from the previous day. He could faintly hear voices a little way away. He sighed deeply, but it was a sigh of something vaguely resembling comfort and satisfaction. A long way away from what they usually signified.

With careful treads, he wound his way through the longer stalks and over the twisting roots to get to where the voices were.

I don't know what it is, I just...

He was within earshot now and was about to approach but noticed through the mesh of bobbing leaves that it was Sandie and the nameless (well, he hadn't asked yet) odd-coloured Ponyta. He was about to move forwards to them but the tone of her voice and the solemn expression of her listener made him falter.

I don't really want this. I think he wants a family.

He sat down hard on the floor and blinked. She was talking about him. Was she?

Do you? the Ponyta asked her.

Not with him. There's someone else. Rocky caught Sandie giving the horse pokemon an inclusive glance with a raised eyebrow. He swallowed the lump in his throat.

I knew it. He growled to himself and turned away back to the clearing. He was going to dramatically pack up his things and continue, but he remembered he didn't have any things other than the tatty Everstone necklace around his neck.

With a furious huff, he turned and sprang away from the clearing, running as fast as he could. His eyes stung, and he had no idea why he was so upset. One thing was for sure, though: she could find her way back without him.

*

Ashen Clearing - her

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Sandie was rudely awoken by a bite on the ear.

She scrambled to her feet and glared at Rocky for his ill-timed and a little too violent gesture of affection, but he was fast asleep beside her, snoozing away merrily on his back, back leg working away as he chased something in his dreams.

It wasn't him, so who was it? Her head whipped around, and she came face to face with a group of angry-looking Snubbull, and jumped.

You're her, right? one of them grunted.

Uhh.. She paused, and looked at them. Something clicked. Butch sent you to rescue me?

They all nodded hastily, and then walked up to manhandle her so that she had to kick out and back away. She glanced to Rocky but he just snored and turned over. She kicked over some of the charcoal from the fire in an effort to get away.

Get off, she snapped. I am perfectly bloody fine by myself. I don't need bodyguards 24/7. I am not his property! She whipped her tail threateningly, secretly wishing - and she would never tell him this - that Rocky were awake so that he could defend her.

He sent us to make sure you got out of the Umbran clutches alright, one of the Snubbull said. He looked her up and down and she scowled. Looks like you didn't need our help after all. Some Kecleon freak back by the building told us you went this way, and we've been looking for you.

Well you can bugger off. And tell that stinking Granbull leader of yours that we are finished and I want nothing to do with him.

The pink dog pokemon glanced at the sleeping male Eevee, and then back at her. Are you cheating on him?

I can't be cheating on him if we're not together, now go away!

The Snubbull looked angrily (do they have any other facial expressions?) at the others and nodded. Get back to him. Tell him his Eevee girlfriend is screwing around with a lowlife behind his back.

The others all turned and ran off without even a word. No! Sandie yelled, running after them, but then stopping when she realised they were already gone. It's none of his damn business!

The first Snubbull came up behind her and jabbed at her and sneered. I think you'll realise just how much your life is his damn business, you little slu-

He was blasted backwards by a ball of fire, and lay motionless on the ground as the Ponyta approached. Sandie sighed in relief. Thanks, she said.

No problem. In return you gotta tell me the gossip. She sauntered up and winked, and it made the Eevee smile.

An ex client, a Granbull called Butch, she explained. Then with a blush found that she had to explain her mortifying job to the stranger. The Ponyta didn't even bat an eyelid, waiting for her to finish. He didn't realise that it was my job; treated me well, took me out at night to meet his friends. I had fun, you know? But that's all it was. Just a bonus to the job.

He was dangerous. I knew that, everyone knew that, but I didn't really think it mattered. He seemed to like me too much to get me involved in the stuff he did. But then his trainer took him back after I'd given them a healthy litter, and I thought that was the last of him.

But no. He still thinks we're together. He sends his 'associates' to check I'm ok almost daily. At first I thought it was cute, and I felt protected. I kind of liked it. But now...


What? the Ponyta asked, tilting her head.

I don't know what it is, I just... I don't really want this. I think he wants a family.

Do you? The kindness in her new friend's eyes relaxed her, and she sighed.

Not with him, she said pointedly, and glanced up at the horse pokemon shyly. There's... someone else.

The Ponyta gave her a knowing nod, and there was a crashing nearby. Sandie tensed, hoping it wasn't more damn Snubbull.

Dammit, she cursed, we gotta check Rocky. I hope they left him alone.

She sprinted back to their makeshift campsite, looked at the imprint on the grass their bodies had made as they slept, and then blinked. She felt sick. He was gone. Gone without so much as a word, and that wasn't like him.

Oh no, she said, shrinking back as the pony trotted over to her side. I think they've got him.
Credits: 208
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The Almighty
Outskirts of Brevis Village

Rocky had a stitch, and this was no ordinary stitch. This stitch was a stitch that made it feel to him like his guts were spilling out of a gaping hole on his side, and he actually had to curl his head under his foreleg and check that they weren't.

He stopped running, and flopped headfirst into a gasping heap of ache. That bitch, that bitch, that bitch.

He got up and looked around, quivering with violent, desperate exhaustion. His vision was blurry and he blinked it away. Where was he?

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A cliffside. He peered down to the crashing sea below. Wingull cried nearby. It didn't look like it would be all that far away from Trinxit beach, he thought, and took a couple of deep breaths so that he could continue walking. He could go back to Kitty, and the breeder would mourn, and he and his trainer would continue on with their journey.

Looking below at the sea, he thought about a plan for his journey briefly. If Trinxit beach was westwards, and the sun was.. he sighed, heart still thumping from all the running.

THERE HE IS!

The shouts from behind him made his ears prick up and he wheeled around, just in time to catch one final glimpse of the world -

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- and then, after a smack in the chest, he was falling. Right off the cliff.
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Outskirts of Brevis Village

If you're so funny
Then why are you on your own tonight?

And if you're so clever
Why are you on your own tonight?

If you're so very good-looking
Why do you sleep alone tonight?

Because tonight is just like any other night.

That's why you're on your own tonight
With your triumphs and your charms
While they're in each other's arms.


Sandie burst out from the trees, heart thumping behind her ribs. Somewhere deep inside she knew that they had got to him. They were hurting him. Beating him, cursing him, maybe even…

The thought was too horrible to bear.

But, she thought about that for a moment. Why was it too horrible to bear? Why did she have so much invested in this male she'd only just met? Tears fled her eyes as she ran. Her muscles screamed for mercy but still she ran.

Love is natural and real.
But, not for you, my love.


Why was she doomed to be alone? Why must everything turn out like this in her life?

She remembered her childhood. It lasted all of six months. At that age, she was roughly inspected with an old man with sour breath. He wrenched up her legs, puled aside her fur to check her skin, shoved a salty finger in her mouth to look at her teeth, and then locked her in a dark room with an enormous Persian with flashing teeth.

When her cubs came, she was happy despite the awful memories their gasping, writhing bodies brought to mind, of that small dark room and the mute, panting Persian.

She remembered thinking, it'll be ok. It'll all be ok. I'll be fine as long as I have you. The four kits squirmed over and pressed against her body in response, and she cried. She cried from the moment they were taken and on again for another few weeks after that. It drove the man mad, to hear her desperate whines day in and day out. He finally sold her to a kindly old lady with a house by the beach.

Finally, hardened by experience and quieted by the ocean, she became a pro. She was a shell. A cocoon. She harboured merchandise inside her body, and walked away when they were born. Some may call that cold, but it wasn't. It was a defence mechanism. She left before they could, and that way she avoided heartbreak. Again, and again, and again.

Sometimes she cried herself to sleep, sometimes she dropped off straight away. It depended on her mood.

But this strange Eevee had dropped into her life, given her a beautiful gift, refused to use her like everyone else had, promised her the life she had never been allowed to have, and then he had been stolen away by her past.

She gritted her teeth, and sped up again, ignoring the pleading fire in her lungs. The Ponyta's calming, rhythmic hoof pounds beside her allowed her mind to clear, and she continued on.

A Snubbull blocked her path, smugly grinned, and then turned and ran.

I can't- she finally gasped, and crashed down to the floor, the world spinning. The Ponyta shot a ball of flame at the fleeing Snubbull, tutted, and nudged her Eevee friend.

I'll get you some water, she said, and was gone.

She missed the warmth of his dark brown fur. The sharp edge of his ribcage where her cheek had rested all night. The ironic tilt of his head and the impatient twitching of his thick tail. She sniffed, and looked at the spinning blue sky.

Drink, the Ponyta said through clenched teeth, and dropped a basin-shaped leaf full of dew in front of her. Sandie rolled onto her tummy and lapped it up thankfully, then looked up at her. I looked. There's no sign of another Eevee anywhere on this plain.

Sandie shook her head. He wouldn't have gone backwards, she said. He has to be here. Can you check again?

I'd have seen him somewhere on the horizon, she said with an apologetic head bow. There's nothing else around. He's just not here.

Sandie swallowed, and her gaze trailed over to the cliff edge, then to the still visible bobbing pink silhouette of the retreating Snubbull. Why had he stuck around to look at her like that? Shaking, she got to her feet and walked over to the cliff.

The water below pounded against the rocks with a crashing roar, and her ears dropped.

They pushed him off a cliff, she whispered, tears once again forming to drop hard and fast from her eyes. She hadn't cried for so long, what was happening to her?

You don't know th- the horse's soothing voice began.

Yes I do! Sandie screamed, and then glanced around her, before beginning to run again, even though she knew her unfit 'housecat' body couldn't take much more of this. She followed the ocean down along the cliff edge, looking desperately for a slumped brown form on the rocks somewhere. She could imagine it. A small crimson stain settled around him, his fur being tugged by the tide.

This was too horrible to bear.

Her life had been an endless succession of things like this. She resisted the urge to leap into the surf herself, and flopped back down onto her side. She had no idea what to do. So she could just do nothing. That would be nice.

He may be in the village, the Ponyta said, coming up from behind her again, speaking softly so as not to get screamed at again. We could go look.

It was useless, Sandie reasoned. He couldn't have got all the way to the village. But seeing the look on her new friend's face, she sighed, and got up again. To the village, then, she said dully.

What harm could yet another disappointment do?
Edited by shadowcat, Jul 13 2011, 12:42 PM.
Credits: 208
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The Sea

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One of the benefits of being a 'battler', as Sandie so derogatorily called him, was that he was prepared for a lot more strange situations than a pet like her would be. One of them, fortunately, was that Kitty had taken the time to teach him how to swim.

Yes, it didn't seem like it would be a particularly useful trait for a wild Eevee to have, as they didn't tend to live anywhere near water, but as a battling pokemon, Rocky would need to know how to cope if, for example, during an important battle he was forced to use a stage that was mostly water, or if his opponent knocked him into a pool.

He was thankful for this now, though, as he crashed through the surface of the thankfully calm ocean, and pumped his little limbs to the top, pushing through to fill his lungs full of glorious oxygen. He then managed to tread water as he looked around. The shore was nearby, and the tide was already trying to push him that way, but he didn't like the way that water was pounding against those rocks.

He was briefly submerged again, and then broke through once more, shaking water from his face and gasping in air. The water shoved him upwards and sucked him under again and again, and finally he picked a direction - parallel to the shore and towards the village - and doggy paddled furiously, occasionally fighting the tide's will to smack him against the cliff.

He could see a Wailord tail flick into the air in the far distance and then disappear again, and he paused for a moment to admire it, spitting out water, and then continued. A little closer, Sharpedo fins circled around some underwater prey, but he wasn't afraid for his safety. They tended to only go for victims already bleeding or if they were desperately hungry and the prey was meaty enough to warrant it. He was safe unless he somehow drew blood.

As soon as the thought left his mind, he disturbed a floating, possibly sleeping Carvanha with his hind leg, and it grumpily butted into him in retaliation. He spluttered an unheard apology and continued. It took him a couple more kicks to realise something that made him very, very afraid.

His leg stung now, quite badly. Rough Skin. Kitty had told him about that once. The skin of some pokemon was so rough that it hurt to be touched by them, like ultra strength sandpaper.

He turned around, hardly daring to look, and sure enough there was a very small ribbon of red blossoming from his leg. He glanced over at the circling Sharpedo. They didn't seem to have noticed yet. He blinked salty water out of his eyes and continued to paddle, this time a little more towards the rocks. If it was a choice between being eaten by a school of hungry sharks or maybe being pounded to death against a sharp rock, he was going to have to go with the maybe.

He felt a change in the atmosphere of the water behind him, and didn't want to turn around. He knew what would be there. Jaws, to be precise. He continued swimming. Maybe if he ignored it, it would go away.

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The world became quite dark. He looked up. Gums. With a laugh, he realised he was literally about to be swallowed! Ignore it and it goes away? That was stupid. He quickly summoned up an Iron Tail and shoved it between the teeth as they closed.

This had a couple of uses. Firstly, it didn't hurt, and it was a way to keep its jaws open. Secondly, he wouldn't be swallowed if part of him was stuck between the shark's teeth.

So as he lay there on that Sharpedo's tongue, quietly suffocating on its fishy breath, he thought about Sandie, and what she had said, ignoring his captor's attempts to bite through his metal tail and writhe around until something useful fell into its stomach.

It must have been over half an hour before help came. He was beginning to get bored, when all of a sudden he and his Sharpedo were smacked backwards.

A saviour! he cried, and his voice echoed in the cavernous mouth that may very well have become his home.

As the huge jaws finally opened, Rocky thought it might be a chance for escape, but as he manoeuvred himself to swim away, he noticed that his saviour was not a saviour at all. It was a slightly larger Sharpedo, clearly competing with his one for the meal, i.e him.

Oh, well great, he said, making himself comfortable on the tongue again as his Sharpedo rammed into the other and was bitten hard. With a sigh, he waited until the jaws gaped open again and fired off a Shadow Ball, that smacked the other one right between the eyes. Stunned, and realising that two against one wasn't fair, it turned and disappeared into the sea again.

Hey, thanks!

It took Rocky a while to realise that the hot noise coming from the pit of the Sharpedo's stomach was a sentence.

That's ok.. he said, still looking for an opportunity to escape. The shark pokemon opened its mouth wide, and he quickly darted out back into the sea, waiting to see if it had been some sort of trick.

Sorry I tried to eat you, dude. You're alright.

Thanks, Rocky said, still hesitant.

Listen, I actually feel kinda embarrassed now. Anything I can do for ya? the Sharpedo said, splashing about in the water in front of him. Rocky swallowed.

Give me a ride, he said quickly. Take me up to the village.

Sure thing, bro! the Sharpedo said, and then disappeared under the water. There was a heavy pause, and then Rocky was tossed into the air. He cried out in shock, and then clung to his new mode of transport as he was sped all the way up to the village in about one fiftieth of the time it would have taken him on his own. He leapt onto the shore.

Thank you, Rocky said, a little awkwardly, making sure to stay safely on land just in case his new friend changed his mind.

S'cool, dude. Thanks for not making a big deal about the whole swallowing whole thing.

Uh yeah, no problem, the Eevee said with a little nod, then ran up to the village. The shark pokemon rolled over and then disappeared into the innocent-looking blue water.

Rocky ran as fast as he could away from the sea, dripping wet, tail dragging behind him.

"Cutie!" a little voice screeched in his ear, and he was being picked up by his ears. He was stunned into silence. "Why wet? Mummy! Mummyyy!! LOOK!" Rocky swung up and down a little under the strain of the toddler's cry.

"Oh, hello!" the mother said, crouching down. She didn't make a move to remove her child's fat hands from Rocky's ears, and so he continued to hang there and drip, glowering at her. "What's your name?"

Screw off, he muttered.

"Vee eve eve!" the mother giggled, and her child laughed as well. "He is a sweet thing, isn't he? Shall we take him to the pokemon centre, darling?"

"Mmmmmmm yeah!"

"Ok, come on."

Realising that it would be impractical to carry him by the ears all the way to the big red building, the child instead grabbed his bushy tail and began to drag. Rocky sighed.

He just wanted to go home already.
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When she caught sight of another Eevee in the bustle of the village square, she was shocked almost into a stupor of relief, but then she realised that he was owned by a toddler and its mother. She took a moment to feel sorry for him, but then turned away to continue hanging onto the shred of hope that Rocky was here.

Something about the look in that Eevee's eyes had really reminded her of him, though. Other than the fact that he was virtually identical, of course. She turned back to him, but he had disappeared into the pokemon centre.

With a small frown, she walked towards the centre herself. The Ponyta trotted wordlessly after her, and Sandie span around, guiltily screwing up her mouth.

Your debt to us has been paid, you know, she said quietly. I... I don't want you to think you have to stay with me.

The dark horse pokemon laughed, a sharp whinny that made the passers-by stare. I wasn't staying because of the debt any more. I just... I'm having fun. She caught the look on the Eevee's face, and backpedalled. Well, ok, no, not fun, as such. I mean, more that, I'm enjoying... no, not that either because this is a serious situation and ROCKY!

Sandie's head whipped round, just in time to see the now perfectly recognisable face of her friend leap through the pokemon centre window to an appalled cry of "MUMMY!" and weave his way through people's feet to get to somewhere far, far away.

He was headed for Trinxit beach, she could tell. Not a difficult task, as it was now only a couple of minutes away if he ran, but she wanted, no, needed to talk to him first. Before he went back to Kitty and she went back to being a... whore. A whore. Is that what she was? She had always preferred to think of it as a surrogate. Males couldn't have babies by themselves; all she provided was prime DNA and an oven to cook them in.

Tears clouded her vision as she chased after the only male she could remember that had treated her with respect. She had to find him. She had to talk to him.

Feet narrowly avoided crushing her small body at every turn, until finally she caught up to him, barrelling into him. They rolled for a while; she hadn't realised they had been on a slope, until they finally crashed into the sea together, and, spluttering, climbed out again.

Argh, Sandie! he yelled furiously. I only just dried off. He rounded on her and she blinked with fright. Why are you so selfish? he spat.

Look, you have every right to be angry at me-

-yeah, you don't say, you-

-I endangered your life and-

-brushed me off like a piece of dirt-

-should have got back in time to-

-don't care about anyone's feelings, or... Rocky paused, and tilted his head. Wait, I know why I'm gabbling. Why are you?

In a rush, Sandie choked out, As soon as Butch's boys came close, I should have known they'd go after you. I should have run to check you were ok, and I didn't, and I'm sorry and I'm SO glad you're ok. He was shocked to see tears in her eyes. She hiccuped and moved towards him, hoping to be comforted.

I heard you, he said quietly. I heard you say you wanted nothing to do with me.

Sandie snorted. As if I would say that! Didn't I tell you that you were the only one who's ever treated me with dignity, as if I were a real thing with real feelings? Plus, you're cute. She giggled. He paused, and then licked her on the cheek, making her laugh harder. She licked him back, and he laughed too. He laughed harder, thinking about all he'd gone through to run away from her, and all he'd gone through to get her to like him... and he laughed harder still when he realised that he hadn't stopped missing her for a second.

Come on, you crazy lovebirds. Where are you heading? The Ponyta trotted up to them and looked warily at the sea and the two dripping wet giggling Eevee.

Right there, Rocky said. Sure enough, the breeder's house was literally visible from where they were. They were back!

Home! squealed Sandie, but then looked confused. I don't want to go home, though, do I? Though I will miss my bed.

You have a bed? Rocky asked, mouth open, and then giggled again. The world is my bed. And my food. And my bathroom.

Gross, Sandie laughed. The Ponyta rolled her eyes.

So I guess this is it, she said, and looked around some more. There are some woods up there, I suppose I'll go through them and find a nice clearing nearby. I'll get caught again by Umbra soon enough, but.. I'll try to escape again or..

Come with us, silly! Sandie said, nudging the horse gently on her grey shin. The Ponyta lowered her head and snorted softly.

I couldn't, she said. You two have a thing going on, and I'd tooootally just be a third wheel.

Rocky nudged her as well, then motioned towards the house in the distance. Follow me, he said. I'm gonna introduce you to your new biggest fan. He began to ran, Sandie following behind with a tinkly laugh. The Ponyta followed as well with a sigh.

*

Kitty smiled and stroked Astrid, her favourite Vulpix cub. "They're getting so big!" she said to Emily who was hanging up the laundry out in the back. The elderly woman smiled.

"They're just about ready to go to a loving family."

Kitty pouted, looking at the chubby little baby who was watching a dandelion stalk drift about in the wind. It settled on her nose and she went cross-eyed, and then sneezed, making Kitty laugh and scratch her under the chin. In the distance she could see her Tauros buck and kick to impress Emily's Miltank, Bessie.

"Oh my!" Emily gasped, glancing through to the door. Kitty didn't look, unable to take her eyes away from the tiny playing litter.

"Hmm?" she asked.

"Look!" the woman cried. Kitty's head whipped round to the doorway. In it stood two Eevee. One was smaller, fairer and fluffier, while the other was larger, a little more muscular and with dark brown fur.

"ROCKY!" Kitty screamed.

"Vee!" the Eevee replied, and scampered forwards to leap into her arms.

"Aaahhhhh I am so glad you're ok! Oh my GOD, I haven't slept in almost a week! How did you do it? How did you get back?"

In answer, the Eevee motioned towards the doorway. Sandie no longer occupied it, as she was dully receiving a hug from Emily, and Kitty looked confused for a moment, before a small granite-coloured horse pokemon clopped into view, head low and unassuming. The girl's eyes were suddenly as wide as dinnerplates.

"Rocky..." she said slowly and uncertainly. The Ponyta's head lowered even further at the tone of her voice. But Kitty continued. "That... may be the most beautiful thing I've ever seen."

With utter honest surprise, the grey and blue creature's head lifted up.

"Hi there," Kitty said, reaching out her hand from a crouching position. The horse clopped over and sniffed it gingerly. Kitty touched her velvety muzzle, making the Ponyta snort. "Did you help my Rocky get home? How can I thank you?"

"Eevee eeveee," Rocky whined, batting her on the knee with his tail impatiently.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Kitty said. The Ponyta's head raised proudly all of a sudden, and smoke curled from her nostrils. "What, you want to fight? Why?"

"Veeeeeee!" Rocky said, prodding her stomach with a forepaw from her lap.

"Argh, I am so confused! What does she want?"

Emily stood up and looked sadly at the ground. "It looks like everyone wants to stay with you," she said. With that, Sandie walked slowly over to Kitty, ears low, and then looked up, amber eyes shining with sorrow. Kitty touched her soft head, and sighed.

"Well I, uh, I can't afford to buy your best Eevee," Kitty said with a shrug, and turned back to the horse. "And why on earth would you want to come with me?"

The Ponyta reared unhappily and when her front hooves crashed back down onto the dusty floor, Rocky leapt out of Kitty's lap and yapped at her with a grin.

"Fine, have your battle!" Kitty said, flinging her arms into the air. "I guess I'll just settle with never knowing what happened."

With a nod, Rocky turned back to the horse, assessing her movements carefully.

"I think she might want to battle you to see if you're strong enough to take care of her," the breeder said, still looking at Sandie with sad eyes.

"Fair enough," Kitty said with a shrug. "We'll show her. Rocky, Quick Attack."

The Eevee dashed forwards without hesitation, ready to slam his body into the Ponyta, but she leapt over him just in time, then landed, twisted her head around and shot Embers onto his back before he could dodge.

"Fast," Kitty commented, not noticing her fists clenching hard in excitement. "Ok, we can be faster. Shadow Ball, then come up behind it with a Tackle."

Rocky spat out a ball of throbbing black energy that hit the Ponyta hard on her flank, making her wince. She was then hit by the Tackle straight away. Taking her chance, she took a deep breath and breathed a second torrent of Embers at the Eevee at close range. He yelped as they burnt through his fur, and backed off.

"She's weak already, finish her with an Iron Tail, aim it right, we might only get one chance."

He ran up, tail flashing, but she met him halfway cloaked in flames. Her flaming body collided headfirst with his metallic tail, and there was a pause as she tried to recover. She shook her head, blinked, and then crashed down onto her knees with a confused whinny.

"I know," Kitty said proudly. "He's strong."

The Ponyta looked up at her, eyes burning with fire, but there was no anger there.

"Yeah. You could be that strong too." She held out a pokeball. "Ready?" She threw it. It bounced off the horse's grey side, and sucked her in. It shook for a long time. It seemed like the pokemon just couldn't choose whether to be captured or not. But, finally, she gave in and the ball pinged.

"Woo!" Kitty cried, and danced around for a little while, until she remembered that the breeder was watching her.

"Well done," she said with a sigh.

"Is something wrong?" Kitty asked, stepping forward.

"I just... watching Sandie watching you with that desperation in her eyes. She wants to go with you, and I just wouldn't be able to say no if you agreed to it. And that would mean I'd... I'd go out of business, I'm afraid."

Kitty looked at the female Eevee looking desperately up at her, and she chewed her lip. "I can't do that to you," she said to Emily, "after all you've done for me." Sandie's eyes began to well up, and Rocky rushed to her side to nuzzle her.

"You have to," Emily said, beginning to tear up as well. "Look how desperately she doesn't want to stay here. It looks like she'd do anything." She reached down to touch her Eevee, who flinched. "My darling, I've never treated you badly.."

"I don't think that's the issue," Kitty replied. "Look at them. I think she wants to stay with him. After what they've been through to get back here, I guess they really bonded."

The breeder sniffed lightly, and then nodded. "Fine," she said, her voice thick. "Take her. I don't mind. Take her."

"No," Kitty said, quivering a little with the guilt. The poor Eevee looked like she was going to lose it. "I owe you more than I owe her. You let me stay with you all this time."

The old woman gestured to Rocky, who was gritting his teeth and staring up at his trainer. "You owe him more than you owe me. He just earned you a new Ponyta, and gave you a career as a trainer. What have I given you? A room for a couple of nights? Take my Eevee. Don't break their fragile hearts." She put on her spectacles that normally hung by a chain around her neck. "It looks to me like.. she may be pregnant."

"What?" Kitty demanded, staring at Rocky. "How did that happen so fast?" He looked as confused as she did.

"Eevee show symptoms of pregnancy to an experienced eye sometimes as quickly as twelve hours after conception," the breeder shrugged. The two Eevee looked sheepish and frightened at the same time. Kitty giggled at their matching tiny faces.

"How about I keep her til she gives birth? Then I'll return her?"

"EEVEE!" Sandie roared, fur bristling. Kitty's pulled back her hand in fright.

"Wow," she said. "Guess you don't want to give up another litter."

"I imagine that was hard for you," Emily said with another sniff. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."

"Alright, we'll see what happens. Guess you're coming with us for now." Kitty got up, stretched out her legs, and sighed. "I will find a way to repay you," she said to the kindly old woman. "I promise you. Minos! We're going!"

The bull snorted from the distance, and then trotted up to her, shoving her in the shoulder with his nose with what she could only assume was affection. She patted him. "Caught you a new friend, maybe," she told him. "You can talk about hooves and stuff." She looked at her pokemon, old and new, and then at the breeder. "Can't thank you enough. I promise I will find a way. Bye!"

And with that, she ran out, through the house, and back to the beach. Free once again to go wherever she wanted.
Edited by shadowcat, Jul 15 2011, 04:06 AM.
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Matthew
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Teh Lady K
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"You can talk about hooves and stuff" x3

Approved Ponyta capture
Approved Tauros flirting
Approved sexy tiems with Eevees
Approved theft receipt of pregnant Sandie
1 BP to Rocky

Still gonna be a bit more awesomeness needed to qualify for 6 babies though ;3
At the moment you're at about.. 3. =P
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