The Tale of Seven

[Reno]

Aqua shut her eyes as they blasted through the forest grunting some. She looked around their surroundings trying to figure out exactly where they would. It wasn't long before they heard the whirring blades as well and relief covered her heart. "We're in the clear!" She whooped behind him.

"Skaaar!" Cried the bird above them, unheard over both the noises. He started to pull up on his speed more not wanting to run into this much larger bird contraption.
"A helicopter?!" Terra cried. "They're trying to make a getaway!!! Flygon!"
"Arcanine!" Sora cried getting much the same idea. "I know you can do this! Max speed hurry!!"

They sped off the path and into the undergrowth. "There!" She called spotting the field close by. Ven sped right for it, sliding to a halt so quickly Aqua grunted as her body slamming into Ven's. She sighed moving away from him a bit so he could breathe looking up at the helicopter now relaxed. But she blinked as their ride... didn;t land. "Maybe a ladder?!" She said over the sound of the coppers. that would make more sense, they'd get away even quicker.

To her... bafflement though... something slipped out of the helicopter. "Wha-" She started to say when the sucking began. "AAAAH!" She yelled. The pressure was so great she was nearly lifted with it. She wrapped her arms around Ven tightly her legs clenching against the bike as the wind grew stronger. She struggled to open her eyes seeing their things flying... and the bag that was connected to their bike was dislodged too.
She thought... she might of heard a tiny little cry. The Skitty... "STOP IT!" She screamed up at the helicopter. Why... why were they doing his to them? She heard her clothes rip, revealing herself for who she truly was. The sucking stopped and Ven started to scream.

"Come on Arc go go!!" Sora cried as they burst through the forest where the whirring of a helicopter was. The tiger dog slid to a halt on the edges though and they saw something very interesting...
the things of the two on the bike were being sucked up.
Above them Flygon cried pulling up short nearby Skarmory as well, the powerful blades making it hard on both of them to remain level in the air because it's powerful winds was destroying the air currents. Terra and Axel still were able to see... the blatant betrayal though.

And then... something shocking happened as the helicopter started to leave. Another Pokemon appeared. A Froslass that tried to attack the copter.
Aqua's eyes widened as she saw the door open. "N-" She started to yell but it was too late as she watched a Rocket ball fly and catch the unsuspected ghost. The ball was caught, and Aqua saw the blonde hair and cruel smile. "Elena..." How could she do this to them?
Sora gasped as he watched the Pokemon get caught his eyes turning sad and the helicopter hurried off. They'd never catch up now... no Pokemon they had could match the speed of a helicopter - which was a maximum 350 miles per hour. That's when he heard it... the voice. It sent shivers down his spine as he looked towards a black-coated man. "...Gethin?" What was he doing here?

"No.... NO DAMN IT!" Came a cry form the sky. It was Terra. "FLYGON HYPER BEAM!"
"Flllly!" Cried the insect dragon as he charged the beam as rapidly as he could and shot it out across the trees... The powerful orange beam flew and flew... but it could not reach the helicopter's distance. The beam dissipated in the air.
"Gooon..." The insect whined sadly at his failure... and the loss of a friend. And there'd be no way he could follow.
"Skaaaar..." Whined the bird beside him, knowing how important this chase had been. He should of tried harder!

That's when there attention was drawn back down the the ground. There was a loud angry scream as the blue-haired girl jumped from the bike. "YOU FUCKING COWARDS!!! TRAITORS!!!" She screamed to the sky stomping around the clearing making the R on her shirt easy to see in passing. Team Rocket. "GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE!! DIDN'T WE DO EVERYTHING YOU WANTED!!!"
Terra growled a little. "Land Flygon." The other Pokemon nodded his wings fluttering softly and he landed letting Axel and Terra get off. The raging brunette looked towards the two Rocket members about to go over and kill them - but something stopped him.

"V-Ven...?" Came this soft pained voice from the outskirts of the clearing. Silence rained thick suddenly, even Aqua falling silent to turn and look, and Terra couldn't help but gaze over at the Arcanine, at Sora, seeing how pained his face was... as he said his own brother's name looking straight at the blond on the bike whose face had turned just enough for him to see it.
"Ven?!" Roxas called as well looking over Sora's shoulder and his eyes widened as he caught sight of his brother... and then all he saw that red R plastered over his brother's chest as if it were something to be proud of. "You... you fucking..." Roxas started to hiss, feeling his elder brother started to shake against him. He knew Sora was crying. This was like a nightmare to him. To them. Their own brother...
The blonde suddenly slipped off of Arcanine grunting as his feet hit the ground and he walked towards the bike where his brother was sitting. "How the fuck could you?!" He raged as he walked towards the other.

[Rikugurl]

The black material of the coat flapped in the wind that was left before the figure bowed his head, a sad sigh escaping his lips.
His partner by his side whimpered as he nuzzled one of the black gloves. "Umbreon..."

The fingers moved and the leather gloves slowly ran through black fur, making the dark pokemon sigh. However, with the cries behind them, the figure looked back.


Axel's hope died as he saw the hyper beam disappear, the copter going out of view now.
That was it... they were gone and... Moltres... would surely suffer something horrible... Green eyes looked down, swelling with tears at the realization that his friend was gone. The dragon they were on slowly landed though and even as Terra got off, the redhead stayed on, too stunned to move.


Tears ran down the blonde's face, anger and betrayal and... a phantom pain that wasn't even his in his heart.
That was when he heard his name choked out. He turned his head slowly, looking back at the Arcanine and swallowing as his blue eyes looked into blue.
Sora...
And.... an angry Roxas.

As the identical blonde walked over to the bike, Ven got up, his face full of rage. "Get the fuck away from me!" He choked, his black clothes flapping in the wind as the red 'R' stood out like a pain in someone's heart.

"Haun haun HAUN!"
A ghost appeared in front of Ven, his eyes narrow as an evil smile ran over his face as he glared down at Roxas.

[Reno]

Sora shuddered some as he watched Roxas stomp over to their other brother, his stomach sick and weak at the sight of that R. He could still remember it so clearly... the shot of that gun, the scream of his ferret, his screams, their uncaring voices...

"Furret... Furret!" The brunette sobbed, his shaking hands laying over the small ferret. Blood was everywhere. "Oh god... hang on please."
The Pokemon whined softly in pain before his eyes closed.

The brunette leaned his head down taking a few deep breathes to gain control of himself. And his brother was one of them. How many had he killed?
"Arrr..." Whined the tiger dog. She turned her head licking him softly in a motherly way.

Roxas snarled at his twin's yell. "The fuck-" He started to snap but backed up a step when Haunter appeared his heart catching at first. god damn thing!
"SKAR!" Cried his metal bird before he flew down and fluttered above his master's head, glaring right back at Haunter. No one threatened his trainer!
Roxas shook a little but growled hands balling into fists. "You think that'll stop me?" He raised a hand and punched it right threw Haunter. He heard Ven cry as blindly hit and from the texture he guessed he got his jaw. "You fucking traitor!" He yelled right through the ghost Pokemon. "How could you do this to us?! What kind of brother are you?!"

Aqua frowned as she watched Roxas and Ven yell at each other before Haunter jumped in between them, giving Roxas a scary look. the blonde was hardly fazed. But Ven sure was when he got hit. "HEY!" She yelled running back towards them.

Terra swallowed some as he watched the two yell at each other but at the appearance of the haunter his eyes narrowed suddenly remembering...
And then he looked towards Aqua and he knew he knew her. She was Venita's 'stylist' who was trying to win that...
No... His heart stopped and he looked back towards the back of the blonde rocket member's head. His name... was Ven...
Venita...
No... it couldn't be.

That's when he saw it. A little gleam of a gem in the sun. It had twisted around in the wind so it was lying against the teen;s back. a Sandgem. The exact shape and shade of the one he had given to her on their first date.

He felt his heart break... and rage consumed him. His breath quickened and he wasn't even aware of it when he was stomping over to them as well. "VEN-ita... is it?" Roxas' eyes widened and even Sora gasped. No...
The blonde was holding his jaw but he turned at his voice and seemed a little... terrified suddenly. Terra only had to look for a second - take in that face shape and the eye color - to know it was true. This was what was hiding behind that sweet facade.
Aqua stopped beside the other, only adding to his anger. It made sense now. All of it. Houndoom was all they ever wanted from him...

His fist flew right over the bike and cracked Ven right under the eye. The other went tumbling over.
"ST-" Aqua started but Terra's hand swung and back-handed her hard on the cheek. She cried out and fell on her ass next to her partner. The two grimaced but looked up at the furious brunette.

"I've... met a lot of disgusting creatures in my life... but nothing tops you two have done." Terra hissed, his voice shaking with pain and rage. "You two fucking rats..." He shut his eyes tightly, feeling tears in them. He lost the love of his life and his best friend all in one day... and it was hard to take. "You should burn in hell." He snapped before turning away walking back over towards Flygon and Axel.

[Rikugurl]

The Haunter blinked but glared back at the metal bird as he flew down. "Haunter..." He hissed, trying to look scarier than before. However, he felt something ticklish go through him. "Hau---"
"AAH!" The blonde twin on the other side leaned on his bike as he got a fist in his jaw.
"THE FUCK!?"
"HAUNTER!!" The ghost called as he narrowed his eyes more and floated closer to Roxas, the bird crying again in defense.

"I'm not a god damn traitor!" Ven cried back. "We never made a fucking promise that we wouldn't become a Team member!"
He growled as he was going to shook his fist back through his ghost but something caught his ear behind him.
His blue eyes widened as a pain shot through his heart.
He... didn't want it to end this way...

He slowly looked back, that face with some left over baby fat and those beautiful, swirly blue eyes looked up into raging others.
"Terr---AAAAAAH!!" He cried again as he was hit harder than the first, knocking him over his bike. He fell hard on the ground, only to hear another thud next to him.

"HAUNTER!" The ghost cried as he spun around, seeing Ven on the ground with a growing bruised face.
"HAAAAAAUNTER!" His eyes narrowed as he quickly floated after the brunette. "Haunter! Haunter, haunt!"

Before any more chaos could arouse, a voice stopped everyone in their tracks.

"What's going on here?"

The figure in the hooded coat stood not to far from the bike, his Umbreon's red eyes looking rather angry....and worried.

[Reno]

Aqua flinched a bit at Terra's words rubbing her cheek irritably. She'd heard much the same over the years by so many people... why was it hurting now?

She shut her eyes, thinking of Fuujin. What would... she say? What did she... think of her now, if she even knew?

Terra growled as he heard the ghost floating after him. He shot a look over his shoulder, glaring hatefully at the other. He hadn;t forgotten that fucking little trick the other had pulled - pretending to be some evil monster to Venita... when it was all just a fucking ruse.

Roxas was looking down at Ven, no longer hidden behind the ghost, his eyes full of anger. How could he say he didn't betray them?! Did he just HAPPEN to forget about Furret? Or just wasn't LISTENING when he told him about Absol? Didn't Ven fucking realize if he betrayed their Pokemon he did in fact betray them too? And what about Terra and Axel - they were their friends!!

At the sudden interruption though everything sort of paused before starting again. Sora looked up towards the other before rubbing at his eyes.
Terra just scoffed some and continued back towards Flygon. "What's it to you?" He grumbled bitterly.

Roxas glared at Gethin, and waved a hand at Ventus and Aqua. There was an obvious family relationship - it didn't take a fucking genius to figure it out. "What do you think?!"
Aqua looked towards Roxas and scowled. "Why don't you fucking back off?!"
"Why don't you make me you blue bitch!"
"You-" Aqua started getting to her feet, reaching for a Pokeball and Skamory growled threateningly but before the two could started anything there was a stamp of paws and suddenly Arcanine was inbetween them.

"Stop it!" Sora ordered, looking down at the rocket members then towards Roxas. "Cool it Rox."
"YOU'RE TELLING ME TO-"
"YES!" Sora snapped. "I am."
Roxas spluttered a little, trying to find a response that would accurately describe what the hell he was feeling right now.
"Roxas." Came the stern voice and Arcnaine growled too. Almost like a mother and father. The blonde stared at them then with a loud angry noise that strangled from between his lips he spun and stamped over to Terra, Flygon and... Axel. Flygon has lowered his head and Terra was hugging him, stroking the long appendages on his head for comfort. The red-head however seemed to be in a trance of pain. Again his anger left, worry and concern replacing his heart quickly as he reached out, placing a hand on Axel's. "Ax...?" He murmured softly.

Sora sighed and slipped off of Arcanine's back and rubbing her head. He nodded to Aqua and Ven and said to his dog, "Make sure they don't go running off."
The dog blinked at the curious order unsure of why he wanted them still around when he was obviously angry and they obviously needed some sort of time out, but nodded. She sat down, looking down at the two threateningly. She was angry, but no more angry then a mother would be at a misbehaving child. And because, like sora, she saw Ven and Roxas as her own children in a way, it was not uncommon. She loved the triplets unconditionally even if she knew what Ventus did was a very big boo-boo.

Then Sora stepped around the bike and slowly approached Gethin. He stopped a few feet away, clasping his hands together to hide the fact they were shaking. How, between all the OTHER things he was feeling right now, could he STILL be nervous?

"I'm sorry... about Froslass. She was yours huh?" He murmured softly, sad for the other trainer as much as he was for Axel and Terra.

[Rikugurl]

The identical blonde didn't say another thing as he stayed on the ground where he had fallen. His eyes were filled with anger, betrayal and...sadness. He knew his brothers would find out sooner or later... but... not like this. He knew this mission was too close to get away with. He should of back out before he threw that fucking ball... but now it was over and there was no way he could change what he did.

Even if he STILL had the balls that contained Houndoom and Moltres and even GAVE them back... He would still make Sora cry, still make Roxas irate and still... break Terra's heart.

The blue eyes shifted as he looked pass the watch dog, looking over at Terra who was comforting the dragon in which he had flown before. Flygon's heart must of been broken as well...
"Terra..." He whispered out, blinking slowly as he tried to ignore the pain.

The redhead had finally gotten off of Flygon in the mess, sitting down next to him and brought his legs close to his face so he could bury it in them. However, when he felt the hand on his shoulder, he slowly looked up, green, puffy eyes looking through red hair.
"We... need to get them back....Roxas...." He choked as another tear ran down his cheek and he looked away, staring out at nothing as if he was pondering something...

"Be careful out there!"
"Alright Aunt Sera!" The young redhead called as he waved and grinned down at the Eevee by his side. He had told his aunt, the woman who was now raising him, that he and Eevee were headed down to Route 112 to train but the boy had a different idea. He went to the Pokemon Rescue center and checked up on all the Pokemon in care before sneaking out the back and towards the cable car. The man who ran it frowned as he saw the young boy but he chirped that he was just picking up some lava cookies. Eevee backed him on that one.

Up they went and the lanky redhead jumped out and zoomed pass the house of the old woman who made the famous cookies, up the stairs towards the mouth of the volcano.
"Isn't it pretty, Eevee?"
"Eeeevee!" He barked, a bit scared of the crackling lava so close.
"It's so nice and wa---"
"NUUUUM! NUM NUM NUM!"

"Hey!" The redhead cried as he heard the sound of a Pokemon in danger. "That sounds like a Numel! We gotta go find him!"
"EEVEE!" The dog agreed as they raced to the edge of the volcano and looked down into it.
To their horror, they saw a Numel sliding down the side, unable to stop as it headed right for the lava. The boy knew that some pokemon could stand the heat of the lava, especially Numels but this one was just a new born... and wouldn't be able to survive if it was stuck in the lava for too long.

"DON'T WORRY! I'LL SAVE YOU!" The boy cried out before grabbing an empty pokeball from his belt and tossed it out.
It hit the panicked pokemon but due to wanting to be saved, it didn't fight the capture. The poke ball flew back up towards Axel and the boy reached out to grab it... but as he did, his foot slipped and he fell over the edge.
"AAAAAAAAHH!"
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" The pup cried as he looked over the side, horror in his eyes as his master fell towards the lava.

From the panic and heat, the boy fainted... but not before he saw a flash of flames... and a call of... a bird.

Hours passed before green eyes opened slowly, a warm tongue licking his cheek. His vision cleared slowly, seeing a worried Eevee looking down at him.
"E-eevee?"
"Ee!" The pup yipped happily as the boy slowly sat up. It was still... so very hot...
"Wha...what happened....?" He asked softly before Eevee yipped again and nodded his head towards the boy's right.

The green eyes moved slowly, looking to his right to see... large, red bird feet. "What the---" His eyes widened as he continued to look up to see.
"M-M-M-M-MOLTRES!?" He cried as he quickly grabbed Eevee and backed away.
The bird tilted her head before she took a step, leaning down and sticking her neck out to get face to face with the terrified boy.
His eyes only widened as... he felt her nuzzle the side of his face, her flames unharming...

"Moltres..." Axel whispered shakily as he closed his eyes again, another tear running down his cheek.


There was a pause... and then a nod from the figure known as Gethin.
"Umbreon..." The pokemon by his side looked up, his ears falling to the side of his head. Gethin shifted before walking around Sora and then stopped in front of the grunts.
"Where is your headquarters?" He asked sternly but the blonde was silent as he continued to look towards Terra.

[Reno]

"Flllly..." Said the dragon sadly, his tail curling inward and close to his body. He had known Houndoom since they were both just little lavas - making him, Leafeon and himself all very good friends. He knew the poor fox was hurting too.

But hurt too was... was the betrayal he felt. He had liked Venita so very much... had loved flying with her and having her be right on his back in a fight. She was so brave and so carefree up there... and he wanted to see her happy.

But now... now he felt... abandoned, forgotten... unloved. How could anyone who seemed to adore him so... and someone who loved his master so... do such a thing to them?

Terra sighed slowly, hot tears on his face. He pulled away from the insect to rub at them irritably. He knew what they were going to do to Houndoom. Team Rocket wouldn't be the first to try and take his precious companion from him... They would shoot him and then saw off his horns, disgracing the dog's pride.

He clenched his fist, almost wishing to go right back over to Ven and punch him until he wasn't breathing.

Roxas looked at Axel's face, frowning more at the other's obvious pain. He recognized this pain... the pain of loss. He remembered seeing it in Sora too...

"Oh Axel..." Roxas whispered when the other murmured the bird's name. He got on his knees beside the other and suddenly brought him close, hugging him tightly. "It'll be okay... we will..."


Sora's eyes saddened more as the other confirmed it and sighed his eyes falling to the black fox who also seemed depressed. The seriousness of the situation returned to him and his shoulders slumped at the weight of it all. From here he could hear Flygon's sad noises, Axel's crying... and Ven too...

He looked up though when the black-hooded man sighed and walked away back towards the bike. He dropped his eyes back to the fox and smiled petting the other on the head. "We're going to get her back, I promise." He wasn't giving up yet. Just at that second he heard Gethin's question and couldn't help but laugh. Ironically... it was as if the man knew exactly what he had been thinking and why he wanted Arcanine to make sure they didn't run. If they were going to take chase they needed to know where.

Sora straightened and walked over towards them.
Aqua scoffed and looked away. "Like we'd tell you! We'd never betray our own."
"Yeah because they seemed so loyal to you guys five minutes ago." Sora said sarcastically walking to stand beside the black-coated man. Aqua's face twisted and she looked away angrily. Sora looked towards Ven though, seeing the expression on his face as he looked towards... to his shock Terra.

Well... if Ven had been Venita the whole time he probably had gotten to know the tough trainer quite a bit... and Sora knew in his heart and from what he was feeling from the other... that Ven was regretting what he did terribly.
Heh how ironic he had been sitting next to his twin the WHOLE damn time in that battle and hadn't even known it. THAT was why Jolteon was acting so peculair and happy. That was why Absol seemed so aggravated. THEY had known but Ven's own brothers, his TWINS no less, hadn't had a clue.

Sora sighed this time in exasperation because he knew Ven didn't deserve this but even still he walked up to his brother and knelt before him, cutting his sight of the brunette off. He shouldn't keep staring it would only hurt worse if he saw the look he knew Terra was going to give them.
"Ven..." He murmured softly meeting his brother's blue eyes that were full of conflicting emotions of confusion, sadness, anger and betrayal, but his voice carried throughout the whole clearing. Everyone heard what he asked so very disgustingly sincerely and annoyingly concernedly. "Are you okay?"

Terra's head jerked towards them his eyes full of fury and hate. How fucking dare he... He thought Sora was a friend! Were all the Holani's fucking two-timing traitors?!
Flygon looked towards them too, tail stamping on the ground loudly. "Gon!!"
Roxas looked over, jaw clenching as he ground his teeth. "Sora..." He hissed.
Aqua blinked and turned her head her eyebrows raised in total admonishment. What the hell...? Had he really just...?

Only Arcanine seemed unperturbed by it all smiling happily as her fluffy tail wagged. Her little brown pup had such a great heart, even for those who hurt him. That was one of his most amazing qualities she believed.

[Rikugurl]

Axel was about to let out a sigh, those meditating breaths couldn't save him now but...
His breath caught as he felt arms wrap around him and he was pulled into a warm and loving hug. He didn't have the strength of emotions to blush, thankful that he had a shoulder... to cry on.

Not many people got their Pokemon back from Teams...


The blonde, still unable to take his eyes from the muscular trainer, was deep in thought. The Mareep that 'protected' the Rampardos and the Spinda that helped win him the cute contest... were all....stolen Pokemon. Even the ghost that Terra had stood up against. Stolen.

Ven's blue eyes glossed as his view was interrupted with... his older brother in front of him. Their blue eyes met, the blonde biting his lip as he slowly looked down.
Ventus had always been the trouble kid out of the triplet. He always broke the rules, broke things, swore, never used manners and never dressed nicely.
However... nothing stood in his way when it came to his brothers. Not even as a role of a Grunt could he ever think about hurting his brothers...

But it seemed... like he had.

At his name being spoken, he looked up slowly but blinked as Sora asked the question that got everyone hissing except for a few.
"Haunter?" The alrge ghost blinked before slowly floating back to his master and Sora.

No matter what... Sora and Roxas would always be his brothers.
The blonde sniffed up the liquid coming from his nose before he wiped his tears away with his arm. He slowly stood, making all eyes go on him when he suddenly pulled off the shirt that had the large 'R' on it, throwing it into the dirt.
His eyes were dark with anger before he closed them and shook his head.

"The headquarters is positioned inside the Sky Pillar..." He said softly.

[Reno]

Sora continued to smile softly despite what he was hearing behind him. He, unlike them, followed what his heart told him to do. No matter what he was feeling right now... no matter if he was still angry... Ventus was his sibling and he loved him. It didn't have to make sense nor did Ven even have to desereve it... but he'd always have it.

And he knew Roxas would see that too... eventually.

He didn't know if it was his words or just his silent support but Ven seemed to compose himself and stand... and then he took off the shirt that marked him and let it fall to the ground. And then he answered Gethin's question.

Terra and Flygon looked over twin glares on their faces as the blonde stood. But Terra's lessened some as the other took off his shirt and he scoffed looking away getting angrier by the second. So what if he was attractive?!

Sora tilted his head murmured. "The sky pillar... Poor Rayqueza..." So many trainers tried to make it to that pillar to see the legendary dragon because it was said to rest there when it wasn't floating in the stars... but no one had ever reported of making it there. The place was said to be guarded by whirlpools and that few flying Pokemon had the stamina to carry their trainers so far. Many... had even never come back. Now it was clear to as why.

They couldn't of been there too long. The last sighting of the legendary was only about seven years ago... so if theyw ent there to catch it and succeeded...

Sora breathed out and nodded slapping his hands against his legs and standing. "Alright then!" He said brightly spinning around and walking a few steps getting a look at the four who had become his friends. "This is what we're gonna do! Axel, Terra you guys need to get back into town and get your Pokemon to a center. We're going to need their abilities and strength if we're going to do a bit of infiltration! Rapidash, Flygon and Arcanine can be our main travelers, we have a lot of ground to cover and we can use Skarmory as a lookout." He saw the hesitation on both of them, the uncertainity. But Roxas was the one to voice it.
"Sora do you know how unlikely it is to get a stolen Pokemon back? Especially from a base?" He growled, obviously angry at him too now.
"So what, just because the odds are against us means we shouldn't even try?" Sora's eyes narrowed and looked at Terra. "You love Houndoom." Then to Axel. "You love Moltres." Then to Gethin, he smiled a tad. "And I bet anything you love Froslass." He blushed some but looked around at three, seeing and hearing no objections. He was right. "Then that's all the motivation we need! We don't have anymore time to waste, we need to get those Pokemon to the center now and then get moving! We can plan on the way!"
He looked towards Gethin, his blush coming back some. "I know you like working alone Gethin... but please consider coming with us... safety in numbers and all that."
He looked back at Ven and Aqua. He smiled at them, hesitantly but not mistrustfully. "And... we could use all the help we can get..." They'd know a lot too about the base and their opposition... but he couldn't force them to do it.

He looekd around at everyone bravely. "So who's with me!?!"
"Arr!" Cried his tiger dog happily, licking her trainer's cheek.
Sora laughed. "Well I know you are Arcy!"

[Rikugurl]

Axel looked up as he heard the name. Sky Pillar.
They were... trying to torture another legendary as well?
Even if they haven't caught it, the dragon could no longer rest in his home... and those trainers that went to see or capture him...

What had happened to them...?
And why were they there? Wasn't the Rocket's base in Viridian City all the way back in Kanto? Giovanni couldn't just get up and move to such a place as the Sky Pillar.

Then again... if more information was out to know, the police would be all over it.

She looked up and Roxas and placed his hand on his before slowly getting up.
"Sora's right. Our Pokemon wouldn't give up on us. As a pokemon rescuer first and a trainer second... it's my duty to go and do my very best to save the pokemon captured by Teams!" He smiled and nodded, looking down at Roxas. "Come on..." He wiped his own tears away before smiling more. "We can do it."


Ven took a deep sigh as he heard his brother lift the spirits of those who he had saddened and infuriated...
The only thing he could do was look down at Aqua who was still on the ground. He gave her a weak smile before lending a hand to help her up.

As he heard the others around, he spoke so only she could hear him... well, her and his eavesdropping Haunter that is.
"Look... they totally betrayed us Aqua... there's no point in protecting them. We obviously aren't going to get that promotion... so... from this moment on... I'm not a Grunt anymore...what about you...?"


The figure in the coat nodded, the Umbreon walking to his side as his red eyes lightened up.
"Umbreon!"
There was a pause before the voice behind the shadows arose once more.
"We'll come with you too."

[Reno]

Roxas looked up at Axel as he stood, his green eyes narrowed and sharp with sudden determination. He tilted his head, admiring the change and when the other turned to ask for him to join there was only one answer he could give. He took a deep breath and nodded, standing. "Yeah we can do it." He smiled. They had to get them all back... or they'd die trying.
"Skaaar!" His metal bird cried, landing beside his trainer. He was up for it!

Terra was silent as he looked at the two before he looked towards Flygon his eyes suddenly narrowed, flames in his eyes. They were right... he wouldn't give up yet. Besides, those losers wouldn't have a chance standing up to his power-packed team. "Let's go kick some Rocket ass."
Flygon's tail swung and he smirked. "Fly-GON!" He flapped his wing, a rapid song bursting out that sounding like a battle melody.


Aqua frowned some but looked towards Ven as the hand was offered to her, she took it and with his help got to her feet. She listened to the words that he had only for her her eyes narrowed some looking away from him, remembering something.

Aqua looked down at her empty cup, nothing but the stain left from the liquid. There conversation had been full of nothing but shy blushes, obvious flirting and over-exemplified body gestures. Surprisingly... on both their parts.
"Hey Fuu...?" She murmured softly.
"Yeah?" The other woman asked, sensing the more serious tone.
"When you met me what did you think of me?"
The other looked at her, the expression on her face one of befuddlement. It was an odd question. "Well..." She hesitated. "I thought... and still think you're nice and caring. And very understanding." She trailed off saying nothing more. She had that habit Aqua noted to say only what was really needed.
Aqua looked up raising an eyebrow, then smiled sadly. "What if... I wasn't all those things that you think I am?" A quirk of an eyebrow. "In your mind I'm a good person right?" A slow, uncertain nod. "What if I wasn't? What if I was really a bad person?"
The silverette was quiet, not asking her to elaborate thankfully, and seemed to mull that over in her head. She looked at the table, red eyes narrowing in concentration. Then slowly she spoke. "I believe the first step in fixing something is realizing it's broken."
Aqua blinked at the strange response, tilting her head. "I don't understand."
"If you believe you're a bad person than that's the first step." She looked up at her, her red eyes piercing into her blue ones. "You've already classified yourself as 'bad' therefore you know the things you do not do are good... and you feel guilty for that." It wasn't a question, but a statement. Aqua found it unnerving how easy she was understanding this... "But that's good... that's the second step. It means you're already trying to make up for what you've done. "
The blue-haired blue breathed out slowly, leaning back against her chair. She paused before asking, "So what's the third?"
"Shedding the bad habits and correcting your mistakes. Gaining forgiveness... would be fourth."
"... I see..." Aqua murmured.
".... Did I... help you like you helped me?"
Aqua tilted her head back some and slowly smiled. "I... think you did. Thank you Fuu."
"No problem."

The third step...
Aqua smiled slowly. "Who the fuck cares about the promotion? All they wanted was shit work and abuse." She looked at Ven. "They're going to fucking regret turning their backs on us!" And than after this... who knew? Maybe... they'd finally get to be normal again.

She paused them look down at herself. She, unlike Ven, had a little more tact them to throw off her garments. "But... we're going to need new clothes."


Sora grinned watching the changes occur all around him. Axel's courage and Roxas' reassurance. Terra's strength. Skarmory and Flygon's confidence. Arcanine's sincerity and his hope. Even Ven and Aqua were in, faces full of revenge and a pray for redemption. It didn't did not know what they were saying but could tell from the expressions on their face what their decision was. They were all going to make a hell of an offense.

It was THAT voice though that made him melt all over with happiness. So silky and smooth and perfect that he felt his knees shake and he had to subtly lean against Arcanine so he didn't shamefully fall on his face. He looked towards Gethin, unable to stop his giddy smile. "I'm glad~"

[Rikugurl]

Eventually, the rather large group turned and started to head back to the city that was in panic. All except Gethic who inquired to start on the journey and set up camp. Ven and Aqua hid the bike in the brush for that was the one that the police were bound to be looking for. As they did so, Ven RIPPED the 'R' from Aqua's shirt and made her turn it backwards, tying the ripped part together in the back. It looked weird and was uncomfortable but it would have to work until they found clothes.

When they reached the town, the REAL news reporters were all around, asking the people what the get away bike looked like and anything else they could remember. All they could remember though was that it almost hit them and something pink was on the back.

The group quickly found the center as Ven and Aqua strayed to go...steal some clothes. Well..... Aqua mostly. Sora insisted on letting Ven have one of his outfits.

Axel and Terra walked in, seeing the tv on the news. As they placed their pokeballs on the counter, the green eyes looked up, seeing a picture of himself next to Terra... a word under their Pokedex photo that brought sadness to his eyes.
Disqualified.
They also showed a clip of Moltres and Houndoom being pulled from the arena, zeroing in on the flying ball that they said was a 'R'. Reports that Team Rocket had to do with the kidnapping.

Great guess.

After their Pokemon were healed and inquires came to them from concerned people, Axel returned to the hotel and signed out. He would no longer need to stay there anymore.
That was also when they learned that Terra himself had been sleeping on the outskirts of town.

They went to the Pokemon center next and bought all the supplies they needed... though they were all hurting for cash, forgetting that they had spent a lot in fun with eating out and so on.

But as the sun dropped, the group headed back out into the forest, their new journey beginning.

[Reno]

They did head back eventually Ven and Aqua hanging back to hide their bike. There was a loud noise that drew odd looks upon many of their faces.

RIIIIIIIIIIIIIP!
"VEN WHAT THE HELL?!" SLAP!
"YOU BITCH! EVERYONE WILL KNOW WHO YOU ARE WALKING IN LIKE THAT!"
"YOU COULD OF JUST ASKED!!!"

When Aqua came back everyone was wise not to comment to the agitated woman, her eyes narrowed angrily. Sora lent over though and murmured softly to his brother, "You know she could of just borrowed my jacket."

After things had calmed down everyone split up. Or more Terra, Axel and Roxas went to the center, the blond stubbornly refusing to be by the Rocket members. Sora and Ven headed back to the hotel so he could pillage some of his and Roxas clothes for him to wear while Aqua went 'shopping'. Sora did his best not to comment on that. After that was done Ven went to join Aqua in her 'shopping' for whatever they needed left. Sora, meanwhile, fixed up the room and gathered his, Axel, and Roxas' stuff and headed to the center.

After the Pokemon were taken care of they headed back to the hotel and checked out... Terra following.
What about your room?" Sora asked.
"Mmm? Oh I don't have one." The brunette said, distracted.
"What do you mean you don't have one?" Roxas asked suspiciously.
"I slept outside." Terra said simply. The two twins looked back, surprised.
"Terra..." Sora said sadly, about to say that he could have just asked to stay with them.
The brunette just shrugged. "It saved money." And he was right. After Axel, Roxas and Sora all pooled together to pay for the room they had stayed in, Terra was the one who, when they turned around and went back to do some quick shopping, bought most of their supplies since the rest of them were in a bit of a finical hole. They didn't know how long the supplies would last, but Sora was confidant they could live off the land if they had too. They would need to for water as it was.

After some searching the four found Gethin thanks to the glow of his campfire and the yellow rings of Umbreon and they joined him.

It wasn't too long after that that their was a rustling and then two more people joined them. They stepped into the glow of the campfire and quickly everyone recognized who they were, even if their clothes had changed. Well most of them - they were still in their boots.
"Sora..." Roxas growled angrily, noticing Ven was in his spare jacket. It was black on the right side and white on the left. If he wasn't mistaken Ven was ALSO wearing his old Poke-belt which was checkered. The rest of the clothes were pretty plain, though there were two things that stood out - Ven's necklace... and a familiar checkered wristband.
"Shush I didn't want him to freeze." Sora hissed, kicking him.
Roxas winced but rolled his eyes, mumbling a 'whatever'.
Aqua meanwhile was wearing black shorts that practically touched her long boots and a dark blue shirt. Over that was a white jacket with a periwinkle interior and dark gloves. Around her waist wound a Poke-belt and connected to it was a short of half-skirt that fell to her knees and only wound around her backside, matching the colors of her jacket. Any supplies they had gotten they had left on the bike it seemed.

Sora looked around noticing no one was attempting to say hello. He rolled his eyes - kid's honestly! - and smiled at the two. "So... where are your Pokemon?"
Aqua and Ven shared and a look and sighed, before tugging their hands from behind their backs. The two belts they had hung in their hands... with an R buckle and five pokeballs with R's on them each. Only one was a regular red and white one. That... was why they were hesitating to change the balls to their new belts.
"...Oh." Sora hesitated, realizing that... combined that was ten stolen Pokemon. "W-Well here!" He jumped up, dragging his backpack along and hurriedly looked through it. "Hold out your hands." He ordered. The two did so, though a little confused. He landed five small balls in Aqua's hands, all red and white, and then laid five more in Ven's hand.

Aqua looked at the Pokeballs, realizing what Sora was implying. "Err... I'm not sure... they'll want to stay with us if we switch them."
"Well just ask." Sora chirped.
"Ask?"
"Well of course!" Sora smiled. "I'm sure they didn't LIKE it that they got stolen from their original trainers... but it doesn't mean they didn't grow to like you guys either. Just ask if they'd like to be your real Pokemon! If they say yes break the old ball and put them in the new one... and if they say no then let them go."
Aqua looked at the brunette quietly for a moment, the only one who was honestly being nice to her and Ven. He made it sound so simple and so damn obvious too. This would be good though... to gain a real acceptance. Other than each other their Pokemon were good companions... but what if she was rejected?
"Gla!" Came a cry by her feet - the call quickly drawing Jolteon, who sora had also let out, and Umbreon's attention. She looked down at her Glaceon who she had let out not long after they had started traveling in the forest.
"You... think I should?"
The blue fox smiled and nodded. She was loving the changes her trainer had been going through lately. "Ceon!"
"Do YOU still want to be my Pokemon?"
The fox rolled her eyes as if it should be obvious and nodded again. "Glaceon!"
Aqua chuckled but snapped off the regular Pokeball from her belt setting it on her new one. "Well that's one."

[Rikugurl]

Boots picked up, crunching over the leaves around and making sure no sleeping Pokemon were going to be stepped on. "I don't know... I'm sure with all the news reports and videos... I think she might... know now what you meant." The two figures walking through the forest side.
Aqua was worried that the silverette girl might of put two and two together...

They finally came to the spot where the heard the crackle of fire and walked into the open area cautiously.

Sora and Roxas were sitting by each other near the campfire, Jolteon and Absol by their side.
Axel and Terra were together near the outskirts of the camp, Ninetails sleeping closer to the fire as Flygon sat between them. Gethin was next to the fire, poking the wood to keep the fire going strong as Umbreon was by his side.

He swallowed as he saw Roxas's reaction and looked away... but at Sora's question, he sighed even more, moving with Aqua to pull out his old belt, also having 5 'R' balls and one regular.

He looked down as he heard Glaceon and smiled softly. She had been more pleasant since they got here...

Umbreon poked his head up as he heard a call. He knew... it was his sister.
"Umbreon!" He called back, his ears perking as he smiled.

Ventus nodded slowly but looked down. "Let them go...?" He whispered to himself. He couldn't just let other people's pokemon.... go. They might not even be in their natural habitat and...
Fuck, now he was just sounding like some pussy Ranger.

He frowned before looking to his side. "Haunter?"
A ghost suddenly appeared where Ven was looking. "Haunter?" The ghost replied. "Do... you want to stay with me?"
"HAU HAU HAU!" The ghost smiled and clapped his claws together which made the blonde smile. "T-thanks. When he get those other Pokemon back, I'll return you to the trainer who originally caught you. They must miss you..."
"Hau----"

The ghost stopped when he glanced around... and spotted a certain yellow fox.
"HAUNTER!" His tongue lolled out as hearts appeared in his eyes. He floated to the Jolteon, little hearts flying around him.
"Haunter!?" Ven snapped as the Jolteon seemed to be quite annoyed.

[Reno]

Glaceon heard a cry and she looked over seeing Umbreon glowing in the flames. She smiled, tail wagging happily. Her brother! "Glaaa~"
Aqua looked at the two smiling secretively. She and Ven knew something the whole group didn't quite yet. She looked over at Ven when he asked Haunter the same question, and smiled even more when the ghost happily replied. Well that brought her hopes up. Haunter was actually stolen so... if he wanted to stay...

Sora smiled as well see the enthusiastic ghost. His response didn't surprise him... Ven was oddly very matching for the mischievous prankster. He blinked in confusion however... when the ghost floated over to Jolteon, hearts visibly flying in the air.
Jolteon started to growl electricity sparking on his spikes.
"H-Hey..." Sora hesitated. Why were all these ghosts falling for - wait a second...
He got a very dull look on his face and walked over, not looking very happy. "Don't shock." He ordered Jolteon before stepping in between the two. He leaned down and glared at the ghost snapping him out of his love daze. "It was YOU!" The ghost blinked up at him. "YOU scared us that night didn't you?!" He tapped his foot. "You TRAUMATIZED poor Honeytail!!"

"Honey... tail?" Terra asked confused.
"My Skuntank!" Sora grumbled crossing his arms. Terra burst into laughter. "Be quiet! She loves that nickname!" He pointed to the ghost. "What do you have to say for yourself?!"