Chapter 5) Warning

First badge get~ I am on a roll! Though, I also… ugh, just thinking of Team Plasma is enough to make my skin crawl. I am definitely going to get to the truth about them, and blow their whole stupid order to smithereens!

For now, though, it's back to traveling. There's much more of Unova to see, after all~

There was a daycare not far from Striaton, filled with adorable children who wanted to battle and have some fun with random trainers who passed by. I spent an entire morning playing and battling with them, to the point that Kenshin actually evolved, to my surprise. The preschoolers were enthralled by the process of evolution, and Kenshin preened under their cooing.

They cheered even more when Cheren showed up, and the two of us entertained them with a battle before getting our Pokemon treated and heading down the road. I was in the best of moods, since I'd won, and Cheren was quieter than normal, since he'd lost.

"Why do you keep beating me?" he sighed as walked down the path, still hearing the laughter of the kids behind us. "We have the same number of badges, so we should be equal in strength."

"Could be you're thinking too much!" I teased with a little grin. I nudged his side "Come on! Have a little fun!"

"But-"

"Fun. Let's have fun. We're traveling at last." I prodded his cheek. "I'll keep poking you until you agree."

"That isn't fair."

"Isn't supposed to be, sil-"

"OUTTA THE WAY!" Both Cheren and I yelped as two people burst right past off, actually knocking me on my ass. They continued on without stopping, not even throwing a token apology over their shoulder.

"The hell was that about?" Cheren asked. He brushed the dirt off himself and helped me up. "How is your hand?"

"It's fine," I replied. I checked the bandage for good measure, and noted it was holding tight. I'd visited a doctor prior to leaving this morning, just in case. "If I ever do that, yell at me."

"Certainly you could never have such a lack of manners." He made a face. "And those strange outfits… did you see them?"

"No, I was a little busy being knocked down. Why?"

"It reminded me of those people from the rally in Accumula town." He became alarmed as I tensed up. "What? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just…" I trailed off, not quite sure how to explain. Both Bianca and I had been so upset about the Munna thing that we hadn't really had a chance to tell Cheren about it. More to the point, he noticed we were upset and told us to wait until we 'felt better'. "Well…" I trailed off as I noticed someone else was running up, Bianca with a little girl. "Oh, dear, what's Bi dragging us into this time?"

"No idea, but she… actually, she looks really distressed." Cheren frowned as Bianca stumbled to a stop in front of us, panting heavily. "Bianca, what's wrong?"

"Did… did you see…?" Bianca tried to say. It took her a few moments, and I noticed she'd actually been running so much that she was teetering. The little girl clung to her skirts, looking ready to cry. "Grey people… running…"

"Very rude?" Cheren asked. Bianca nodded. "Yeah, they just blew past us."

"Oh, why do they have to be so fast?" She made a frustrated noise, but then instantly turned to the little girl as the threatened tears began to fall. "Oh, sweetie, it's okay. We'll make it okay."

"Bianca, what the…?" Cheren glanced at the little girl. "Heck is going on?"

"It's the worst!" Even when exhausted, Bianca looked righteously indignant. "Those Team Plasma meanies stole her Pokemon!"

"...They literally stole from a little girl?" I asked slowly, not quite comprehending. Both Cheren and I glanced at each other as Bianca nodded. "Right, we run faster than you, Bi, even when you're at full stamina. We'll go."

"You tend to the girl," Cheren added. He and I exchanged a grin. "Don't start without me. You're much faster."

"Oh, I won't tackle them off anything unless I really need to." I laughed and too off, leaving them all behind. I knew Cheren would follow, after all.

So, I ran. I ran and ran, hunting for any sign of the Team Plasma idiots. It soon became clear that there was an 'emphasis' on idiots, though. A quick look at my town map proved that this path actually led to a cave. A very small cave, at that. It was easy to find them, and they didn't even have the sense to go jump in the nearby lake.

They instantly saw me, since I wasn't exactly being subtle with the running, and babbled out something I didn't even care to listen to. I just tried to figure out which of the Pokemon out were theirs and which one was the stolen one. I figured it was the cute Lillipup that looked scared.

"Oh, good, you didn't start without me." Cheren walked up, calmly cleaning his glasses. "So, explain something to me," he continued lightly, glancing at me and ignoring the grunts. "Why are Pokemon thieves acting so self-righteous?"

"Don't know," I answered, equally lightly. "But we can get the answers out of them after we beat their asses into the ground."

"We need to save the Pokemon first."

"Can't we do that after we beat them into submission?"

"Shut up, you insolent children!" one of the grunts finally snapped, the one not holding the Lillipup. Cheren and I simply glanced at each other at the stereotypical villain line. "That child cannot use-"

"Just shut up and fight," I snapped. "I'm already tired of you grating my ears." I blinked, though, when they both released Patrats. "Oh, Pokemon battle. I was thinking punching." I sighed a bit. "Well, all right, let's go… everyone!"

"W-wait, there's only two and-!"

"You're Pokemon thieves! Why should I care?" I grinned as Cheren also released his Snivy and Purrloin. "Besides, this isn't an agreed battle or anything."

"D-damn you!" They glared. "Patrat, Bide!"

"Bide is…?" I glanced at Cheren, who actually facepalmed. "Bad move?"

"It's a 'store up energy and release', a counter," he explained. He looked annoyed. "It takes time, though. With four Pokemon staring them down." He pointed to where Nyx was sitting on my foot, nuzzling my leg. "Well, five. If she can-"

"Oh, Nyx, hit with a Dragon Rage, will you?" I asked sweetly. Nyx looked up and nodded, toddling off. "Kathryn, help her aim. Kenshin, prep to take out the Patrat with a Razor Shell."

"I guess Snivy and Purrloin will take out the other one." Cheren shook his head. "Puurloin, Assist! Snivy, Vine Whip!"

"Go, go, go everyone!" I laughed as our Pokemon went to town. Kathryn had to nudge Nyx a few times to land the Dragon Rage, but Kenshin was ready and he even timed his Razor Shell so that Kathryn could get off a Tackle, making her jump for joy. Cheren's own Pokemon took out the other Patrat before their trainer could even call out an attack.

"There's no way…" one of the grunts breathed, the chatty one. "How could we lose to a bunch of kids!" They shook their head violently and glared viciously. "You dare…"

"Oh, go fix your stupid outfit," I snapped, riled and full of adrenaline. "Let the Lillipup go!"

"This Pokemon suffers when-!"

"When you steal them from their friend and prevent them from returning, as it clearly wants to do!" I shifted my feet and bent my knees to be a little more stable. "Let them go, or I will break your nose. I've done it before." Of course, my knuckles were still bruised and cut, but it would so be worth it.

"Don't infect your hands on filth like this," Cheren instantly deadpanned. It made me smile slightly. "...You might want to get Nyx, though."

"I… huh?" I replied, a little confused. That was when I realized Nyx had toddled away from me, right to the Plasma grunt. "Oh, Nyx, get back-" I stopped mid-sentence as Nyx proceeded to bite the Plasma grunt holding the Lillipup, making them drop the Pokemon right on Nyx. "Never mind. Keep doing what you're doing, Nyx."

"Don't teach her bad habits!"

"I don't think attacking a thief is a 'bad habit'." Still, I crouched down. "Nyx, come to me!" Nyx looked around curiously, and happily trotted over, the Lillipup still on her back. "Aw, what a good Deino you are~" I picked up both Nyx and the Lillipup and stood, grinning at Cheren. "Pokemon acquired!"

"Some days, Blake…" He sighed, shaking his head. "Whatever. Purrloin, Sand-Attack them!" His Purrloin promptly did so, and then leapt into his arms as the Plasma idiots yelped. "And now, run."

We ran as fast as we could, recalling our Pokemon as we went. The Lillipup was tucked against my chest as we ran, and we didn't stop until we were back within Striaton City. At which point the police tried to arrest us. Fun, fun.

It took a couple of hours to explain to the police what all had happened, and then a couple more hours trying to tell the little girl and her parents that we really didn't need a reward for saving the Lillipup, only to lose the argument and being treated to a very nice dinner. By that point, everything was so late that Bianca, Cheren, and I just decided to spend the night in Striaton again.

"Ugh… I'm still sore!" I whined as I sprawled out on the floor. Kathryn helpfully decided to be a pillow for me, while Nyx decided my stomach was a perfect place to nap. "And I'm pinned!"

"I'm more surprised your Kathryn is willing to be a pillow, since Lillipup tend to be small," Cheren replied. He was reclining on the couch reading, with his Purrloin curled up in his lap, while his Snivy snacked in the corner with my Kenshin. "Or is it more that she is using your hair as a blanket."

"At this point, i don't care." I groaned, whimpering. "I took a nice long bath. I drank a lot of water. I took pain medication. Why do I still hurt?"

"Clearly, you're out of shape."

"Oh, shut up." I managed a glare at him, but he ignored me. "Ugh… and those Plasma gits were gone by the time the police stopped fussing over us."

"Who says 'git' anymore?"

"Me, obviously." I groaned again, pissed off by all of this. What the hell were the police doing? "Ugh… those bastards… I should-"

"Blake, shouldn't you try to avoid them?" Cheren finally looked up. "I'm also a bit… concerned by how… pragmatic you were."

"Hey, I didn't attack them!" I pouted and he sighed. "And they just sent out their Pokemon. I'm totally justified."

"You let Nyx bite them."

"Yes, and?"

"Just…" He made a face. "It's not something to encourage. Deino have a… reputation."

"That's more Hydreigon." I sighed. "Fine, fine! I'll stop her next time, unless someone is in serious danger!"

"And now I'm worried that you'll purposely make sure of it." He shook his head. "Whatever these people are, they are criminals, and I'm just not sure you should go around being violent with them." He gave me a worried look. "What if they single you out?"

"Oh, I can take them." I waved his concern away and grinned. "Come on! Have I ever been in a situation I couldn't get out of?"

"We're not home anymore." He sighed. "Oh, whatever. Just be careful. Promise me."

"Yeah, sure." I shifted a bit to get a little more comfortable. "Hey, let's watch a movie when Bi gets out of the shower. We've got the money to buy one, right?"

"Think so, yes." He smiled slightly. "All right. You win. But please, no romantic comedies."

It took a lot of debating, but we settled on a horror movie. We… didn't get a lot of sleep that night. But it was fun!

Notes on Kenshin (updated):

Now a Dewott, knowing a really cool move called 'Razor Shell'. Still Mild Natured, still a Water Type, and still has Torrent as his ability. I should figure out what these 'nature' things mean.

He's calmer and more certain of himself, but still remains kind, laidback, and super cuddly. Evolving didn't change him that much!

Author's note: There's supposed to be a single battle and a double battle with the plasma grunts, but I cut the single battle out. I also chose to not show Cheren's rival battle this time, because early battles all tend to follow the same pattern, and he has no new Pokemon (or significant changes in the movepools of the two he has).

Next Chapter - Route 3 again!