Pokemon: Book One: The Dark Hearted

Chapter One ~ Snow Camp

My white furry paws sank into the snow as I traveled over the icy hill, far from any human civilization. This whole area was like a tundra; tough, hard dirt, coated in layers of snow every season, whirlwinds of the small white flecks blurring my vision. Gray mountains patched in green and white were far up north, and, even though I couldn't see it, I knew that this world of snow was surrounded on all sides by a thick pine forest.

I sniffed the air as I caught a familiar scent on the wind, and quickly took a couple steps backwards.

"Don't even try to get away."

Out of nowhere, a group of at least ten Snovers appeared in front of me, materializing out of the snowstorm. I tried to sprint back and away, but was quickly swarmed by Glalies, all with their gazes fixed on me.

"You're coming with us. Ace has been looking for you."

I glared furiously as a light blue Glaceon walked out from a snowdrift. She smiled, showing all her teeth. "A pleasure to see you again, Hex. Is it a pleasure to see me?"

"You know it's not, Diamond," I hissed through gritted teeth, trying not to please her. I met her gaze with my blood boiling hot enough to melt the snow around me.

"Oh, I know that." She flicked her tail dismissively. "You all, grab him. He's coming back to the Snow Camp with us."

I let out an agitated bark as four Snovers seized my thick fur and dragged me into the snow.

"Cooperate, Absol," they grunted as they yanked me after Diamond, who had began to trot Northeast.

I didn't give in and refused to walk, forcing the Snovers to work endlessly to pull me all the way. After about halfway Diamond became inpatient and grabbed my horn in her mouth, painfully jerking me faster. I snarled and lashed myself free.

"Okay, okay! I'll walk! Don't you dare ever touch my horn again!" I roared.

Diamond smiled in satisfaction as I clambered to my paws and followed her through the blizzard. Eventually, after many more minutes of walking, we arrived at a large dip in the snow-covered ground. It was quite beautiful, in my opinion, though of course I didn't let Diamond know. The dip sank down into the earth, caves buried in the sides of the slanted walls. Pokemon of all kinds played and talked and ate- Spheals, Froslass, Eevees (who are destinies to become Glaceons, like Diamond was), and a single Cubchoo was tottering around near the largest cave, a ten foot tall gap in the wall opposite to the entrance. This was the Snow Camp, a town of Pokemon. Humans didn't exist here. All Pokemon in the snow area refused to become a trainer's pet.

A roar greeted me.

"Diamond, you found Hex, good," a large Beartic growled as she padded out of the large cave. The Cubchoo squealed happily as his mother appeared. Ace's beady black eyes met my crimson ones. "Now, Hex. Do you realize how your behavior lately has worried the Pokemon of our Camp?"

I didn't answer.

"I sent a messenger to the Forest Camp and the Canyon Camp. They replied, saying they were also troubled by this. Why have you been acting this way?"

"It's my horn," I murmured.

"Louder," Ace barked.

"It's my horn," I repeated, loud enough for any Pokemon nearby to hear. "It's been tingling for the past three days. It only stopped this morning, and that usually means the danger's gone, or it's going to happen very soon."

Ace frowned. "I want you to stay in the Snow Camp for a while, so we can communicate without having to find you and bring you here."

I glared at Diamond, who giggled.

"So?" Ace pressed. "Will you stay?"

I hesitated, then met her gaze. "Yes," I responded boldly. "I will. But only for a few days."

Ace relaxed slightly and gave me an approving nod. "Very well. You can stay with Diamond until you wish to leave." Diamond smiled and waved at me. My claws sank into the snow- I wanted to give her a nice bite on the tail.

"You are dismiss-"

Ace stopped, her black eyes widened, and she silently and quickly turned and darted back into her cave, scooping up the Cubchoo as she went. A couple of Pokemon yelped and leaped away, and even Diamond looked terrified, something I've never seen before.

"Oh, wow!"

The voice was too off to be a Pokemon's. It wasn't speaking with a growl of their own name behind it. The voice could only belong to a human.

A human in the heart of the Snow Camp.

I didn't even turn around. I just sprang forward and buried myself into a pile of snow, praying that I wasn't visible.

"This is sooo cooooool!" The voice exclaimed. I could hear the human's romping footsteps as she walked around. From my angle I could see her; she had to be about sixteen, with long dirty blonde hair, a red and whit shirt, and dark pants. "I think I saw some Pokemon! Like, a couple Snovers and I think a Glaceon! I'm so gonna catch something." I watched her pull out a basic pokeball. "Oh, what's that?"

Only then I realized my dark blue tail was sticking out like a beacon against the snowy white. I tried to force it down, but the girl was already yelling, "Omigosh! It's an absol! Go, Torch! Use flamethrower!"

Suddenly a found my fur alive with flickering, heated flames. I yelled and leaped up, revealing myself and stumbling back from a little Torchic. Desperately I tried to dodge the fire that just kept coming and coming, but there was no use- no matter where I ran, the flames followed.

"Go, Pokeball!" She shouted, and I felt something hard and smooth hit my shoulder.

No.

NO.

The Pokeball bounced off my fur, rolling into the snow. I watched in horror as it opened in front of my eyes. There was the feeling of getting smaller and smaller, and something trying to pull me in...

NO!

I yanked my body back, and the Pokeball closed. I smiled in triumph. Ha! I win!

"Darnit," the girl muttered. "Torch, use flamethrower again."

"Wha...What?" I stammered, just before an eruption of white-hot flames surrounded my body. I staggered, trying to hold my balance. Another Pokeball flew through the air, and hit my forehead this time. Once again there was the feeling of being sucked in, and a blue light swirled around me as my form was pulled inside the Pokeball. No no no! I screamed in my mind when I saw the sphere-shaped walls around me. There was a click, and I realized in utter horror that I was now trapped inside the Pokeball.

There was muffled voices I couldn't make out, most likely the trainer.

I cried out and pushed helplessly against the round walls, sliding back down to the bottom. It was terrifying, knowing that you were inside a small object which was the size of your foot, with no way to escape.

This is the most horrible disaster I've ever predicted.