We Are The Pokemon, & We Don't Need You Anymore

Chapter 14

The city was gorgeous.

Lights surrounded it like stars, and music poured off the streets. The sun was just setting over Nimbassa and me and my friends were approaching the outskirts of the city, with the forest behind us and a trail of pavement ahead. We were finally here after another day of walking with Charlie.

"Whoa." Zoura breathed. My heart pounded in anticipation.

"Thanks for everything Charlie." I said, turning to the trainer. He wore an expression of guilt, and rubbed the back of his neck. Something was wrong.

"Look, Eevee. I like you guys, really, but I can't let you go." Kip looked confused.

"What?" He asked. The trainer I had trusted turned to me.

"I promise, I'll take good care of you. I just can't let you go."

Night, Gust, and Champ leaped from their pokeballs. I felt like the air was being pulled out of my lungs. I trusted them, and they had betrayed me. How could I have been so stupid!? The pokemon I had formally thought of as allies, tensed up. Kip whimpered and pressed close to Charmander, whose eyes narrowed. Snivy hissed at her former companions and Pidgey let out a scared yelp. Zoura took a step closer to me shot me a look that said, I told you so. I made a face back.

The Pokemon charged.

Gust took to the air in the blink of an eye. Pidgey blanched. He was a scholar, not a fighter. The bigger bird Pokemon dived, his wings becoming steely as he charged. Pidgey ducked and they began a deadly dance in the air.

Champ jumped and struck Charmander with a Karate Chop. My friend fell back as Kip and Snivy rushed to his aid. Before I knew it, Night had me pinned to the ground, his blood red eyes begging for forgiveness. I snarled and used Bite on his nearby paw, which caused him to yelp and scramble back.

"You lied to me!" I cried angrily, my fur puffing up. "You said I was your friend!" I charged him, and he dodged.

"I am your friend! We can still be friends!" The Umbreon cried. My body crackled with energy and I ran at him again. My Quick Attack knocked him over and I pinned him to the ground.

"Friends don't betray each other!" I snapped. He growled.

"I did this for you. I got my trainer to pick you to take. He only has one Pokeball left. We can be a family. You don't need them!" He beseeched, gesturing to Pidgey, who let out a shriek and fell from the sky. Snivy was lashing her vines across Champ's face as Charmander used Ember on Gust who was screeching and trying to claw his face. I turned back to my former friend.

"Maybe I don't, but they need me." I threw my opponent away and made a flying leap. I caught Pidgey in my jaws just before he hit the ground. He coughed weakly. I set him down gently, and turned around to see Night, in mid sprint, his jaws open, his eyes glowing with love and hate. A different blur of darkness barreled into him and the two bundles of dark fur and teeth were locked together in deadly combat.

Zoura -my rescuer- broke away from Night, seething and covered in scratches. He raised his head to the purple and orange sky and Howled. Everyone's hackles raised at the chilling noise. It was meant to raise attack power, but it also distracted Gust long enough for Charmander to land a solid Ember to his wing. The Tranquill let out a cry and plummeted from the sky, his wing smoking.

Charlie raised a Pokeball and called back his Pokemon. Something slammed into my side and the air was dragged out of my lungs. Champ struck another Karate Chop into my midsection and the world went blurry.

Snivy and Kip rushed forward, while Pidgey let out a weak caw and Charmader dragged his claws down Champ's side. The Riolu screamed in agony and we both fell back. Everything was fuzzy. I saw Charlie raise something in his hand. 

He has one Pokeball left.

Night's words echoed in my mind. One Pokeball: one prison. One stupid little sphere that will never let me see my friends again. The Pokeball flew into the air. Then I was flying; out of the way of the capsule and onto the dirt. I raised my head to see Zoura, my friend, take the projectile meant for me. I cried out, and he was gone in a flash of light.

Everyone was shocked still. The Pokeball clattered to the ground, rocking back and forth as Zoura fought for his freedom. Without thinking, I jumped forward and smashed the Pokeball between my paws. Zoura reappeared, leaning heavily on my side, panting.

"NO!" Charlie cried, but he wasn't looking at me. He was kneeling beside the still body of a Umbreon. No... Zoura couldn't have. Night whimpered weakly. I breathed a private sigh of relief. I didn't want blood on my paws. I looked at my team; Kip had taken refuge behind a rock and was unharmed, while Snivy had a bruise on her side. Charmander's poor face was scratched up from Gust's talons and Pidgey's wing was missing a few primary feathers and didn't seem to be able to fly. Zoura's turquoise eyes danced and he smiled weakly at me.

Without a word, Snivy gently wrapped her vines around Pidgey's unconscious form, and we all disappeared into the city we had worked so hard to reach.