Pokemon: The World Tree

Chapter 1: Savior in the Shadows

Black Pikachu lived by three laws: don't be stupid, pay back all debts, and never leave enemies alive. Such were his thoughts as he crept amongst the tall grass. It was a dark night. The reassuring light of the moon was being suffocated by a wall of clouds. Yet it was not missed. He clung to the darkness as a worrier would his sword, and allowed his body to fade into the night's solitary caress. There was only silence. The forest that surround him waited on bated breath, as a hopeful mother would for the return of her lost children.  But, even the furthest Tallow could hear the obnoxious cackle of the men hiding away in a cave.

The forest cowered as the wind picked up and thunder boomed amidst the clouds. He listened. He listened to the subtle movement of any guards, and the cold clank of metal under the foot of Pokémon. The Pikachu peaked over the grass to confirm his surroundings. One Vigoroth stood guard – well, stood in front of the cave drawing in the dirt. Next to him where a menagerie of Pokémon trapped in cages.  A second's delay, then the Pikachu made his move.

The inside of the cave was flooded with laughter, and hopeful musing about a surely successful future. One poacher would talk about what he would do with his cut, and then be called an idiot. His partner would tell him the right thing to do with the money, then finish with a snarky comment about the poacher's puke green vest. An argument would ensue, and maybe a small fight resulting in one of them in a headlock. After they would just laugh away and continue where they left off. Neither noticed when the Vigoroth disappeared. They however could not ignore the sound of the electronic cages unlocking.

Once they took a step outside they found the Vigoroth lying at their feet unconscious. Almost simultaneously they shined their lights to the cages only to find a slew of formally locked cage doors. "What the heck Eddie, how'd you let this happen?" the Man yelled at the defeated Pokémon.

"Dang it, do you know how much money they were worth?" the Accomplice chimed in after he forced the Vigoroth on his back with a firm kick to the ribs.

The Pikachu had a few options. He could take them out now, call the police, and be done with it, or battle them. He begun to leave the tall grass.

The Man heard the shuffling of the grass and asked, "Hey, do you think whoever did this is still here?"

"It better be!" The Accomplice said. "Hey!" he was walking around and shouting wildly as if the culprit was all around him, "I dare you to come out!"

The accomplice's challenge was met, and soon after, a wave of anger washed over him. The Pokémon in question sauntered up to the two men, revealing itself against the back-light of the cave.

The two men were dumbfounded as they stared in silence.  Finially, the Accomplice yelled, "you got to be kidding me. That's what did it? That little pathetic Umbreon?! I'll kill it! Where's that little crap's trainer?"

"Are you stupid?" the man said as he slapped the Accomplice in the back of the head, "Look at it, it's a Pikachu."

"Are you stupid? Pikachu are yellow, that thing's black! It's an Umbreon! Besides, a Pikachu ain't been seen here in years." He argued, massaging where he was hit.

"Look at the shape retard! Didn't you play Who's that Pokémon when you were a kid? Look at the shape. It's a black Pikachu, and we're not gonna kill it. That freak'll sell for double we lost."

"Wha'd about we just take its skin," the Accomplice bargained with a devilish grin, "he looks like he'll be a good hat." 

The Man scowled and cursed his luck - why did he have to be stuck with that idiot?  He reached for his belt and threw his only Poke ball. A Seviper materialized behind a flash of light. "Ay Jake, you can't kill this one, just knock em' down a notch." The Seviper looked at the Pikachu and produced a smile akin to that of the gnarliest daemon. His smile only grew as he slowly slithered up to the cave where the Black Pikachu stood.