Chapter 21

Elimination

-Griffin-

I don't know why I woke up, all I remember is that I woke up in the middle of the night. Kit was still cuddled in side my sleeping bag. Umbreon was snuggled up close to Jolteon. Hex was using my leg as a pillow and both Frogadier and Nuz were resting their heads on my stomach.

I scooted my body from under their heads. They were sleeping like rocks because they didn't notice a thing. I looked around and all my friends were in their sleeping bags. The fire we had was nothing but glowing ashes now.

I looked across the dead fire and saw my brother, Asher, staring into the dark forest.

"Hey, Ash. What's up?" I whispered to him.

"That branch wasn't there when we went to sleep." He said aloud, not caring that three people were trying to sleep.

"What are you talking about?" I pulled a flashlight from my nearby bag.

I clicked it on and pointed to the direction of where Asher was looking. There was indeed a branch severed in two on the ground. I didn't remember it being there before.

"It could have been from anything." I suggested.

"Stay here. And stay alert." Asher ordered.

I nodded as he stood up. His red ringed Umbreon followed him to investigate the branch. He grabbed the branch and looked it over. He then scanned the trees.

"Can I have some light?" He asked.

I threw him the flashlight and he caught without even looking.

"Griffin, what's going on?" Zoey tapped my shoulder.

"Asher is seeing if anybody's around. He feels like we're watched or something."

"He should feel suspicious. I mean after what he's been through."

"I guess."

I took notice of Zoey's hair. It was sticking up in every which way. I started snickering.

"What?" She questioned with a scowl.

"Nothing." I tried to hold back my laughter.

"What is it?" She asked again. "Tell me or I'll break your legs!"

"You have a major case of bed head." I smirked.

She felt her head then shrieked at the realization that I was right. I started laughing.

"Well, at least I don't drool!" She pointed at me.

"What are talking a- oh Arceus!" I wiped away the dried drool on my face.

Zoey laughed triumphantly. "I'll take bed head over drool any day."

"Yeah, yeah."

"Ladies, quit your bickering." Asher hissed.

We both shut up. Asher stared into the darkness. Craning his head right to left. Crimson sniffed the air. The red ringed Umbreon lifted his paw and pointed into the forest. I decided to return all my Pokemon. Incase of an extremely perilous situation.

The four us of waited with anticipation. What would happen? Was it a wild Pokemon? The thieves? Mewtwo? Something worse?

My heart was racing. Zoey latched onto my arm. My heart was going even faster now. We waited for what seemed like an eternity but was really only a minute or two.

"Get down!" Asher yelled as he jumped for the cover of a nearby tree.

I threw my arms around Zoey and pulled her to the ground. I held her tight to my chest. I looked up and saw a giant wave of flames fly over our heads. The flames land near some trees and instantly started a fire.

Both Mia and Liam were now awake and were bewildered by the situation they landed in.

"Who started that fire?" Mia angrily asked. Her Ranger side took over.

"What's going on?" Liam screamed as he dropped to the ground.

I looked up to the source of the flames. Two darkly dressed men ran by the tree Asher was hiding behind. The Gym Leader swung his foot around and kicked one of them right in the face. He dropped to the ground with what looked to be a bloody, broken nose. Crimson pounced on the other one and clawed at his face.

Suddenly, a Pokemon I recognized to be an Infernape, punched Crimson with a fiery fist. Crimson skidded across the ground but quickly stood up.

A woman with short red hair stepped out of the darkness. It was the arsonist from the school!

"I don't believe we have formally met." She looked at me.

Even though she was a Fire-Type trainer, her stare was as cold as ice. I helped Zoey to her feet.

"My name is Krista," she continued, "and I am here to kill all of you."

The two men managed to get up.

"You can have the rest." She said to them. "I want the brown haired boy."

I reached for Frogadier's Pokeball and threw it in the air. It snapped open and my Water-Type appeared in a flash of light.

"I'm beating you this time!" I announced.

She laughed manically. "What makes you think you can win this time?"

I looked behind me saw that the fire had consumed most of the trees that were behind us. Liam and Mia were gone as well. Where are they?

"Because this time, I'm not running. Frogadier, Water Pulse!"

Frogadier formed a sphere of water and hurled it at Infernape. The Pokemon fell the ground, soaked.

"Granbull!"

"Boldore!"

The two other men sent out their Pokemon to battle against Asher and Zoey.

"Go, Shinx!"

"We got this, Crimson."

Those started started to battle against the thugs. I turned back to Krista who looked livid as usual.

"Infernape, Low Kick!"

Infernape swept foot and caught Frogadier's leg. My Water-Type fell to the ground.

"Mega Punch!" Krista ordered.

Infernape brought its fist down on Frogadier's stomach.

"Froooog!" My Pokemon cried in pain.

"Hydro Pump!" I called to my Pokemon.

Frogadier opened his mouth and stream of water gushed out onto Infernape. The attack sent the Pokemon flying into a tree.

The flames were closing on the non burning trees. Any second now and we would be trapped.

"Frogadier, Power-Up Punch!"

Frogadier drilled his fist into Infernape's side. The Fire/Fighting-Type roared with pain.

"Infernape, Flamethrower! Then follow up with Mega Punch!"

Infernape opened its jaws and a long stream of fire shot out at Frogadier. The attack wasn't very effective but it was strong enough to knock Frogadier down. Infernape then brought his fist down on Frogadier repeatedly.

"C'mon Frogadier! Hydro Pump!"

Frogadier just laid there as he was being hit. He couldn't attack.

"Frogadier! You have to keep on fighting! Please don't give up on me!" I shouted to my partner.

I hated to see my Pokemon take a beating like that. Tears welled up in my eyes.

"Stop it! Get off of him!" I charged towards the Infernape.

Infernape swung a punch into my gut. I dropped to the ground. I could barely breathe.

"Stop hurting him!" I managed to yell.

Infernape scowled at me and picked me up by me collar. He looked to his trainer.

"Throw him to the flames!" She smiled wickedly.

The Fire/Fighting-Type swung me back then threw me to a burning tree. My back struck the tree. I yelped in pain. I was lucky I didn't catch fire. I closed my eyes as I tried to crawl away from the fire. I opened my eyes and saw that Infernape was walking away from a beaten Frogadier. I closed them again. I opened them again and saw that both Asher and Zoey were running towards me. Two flaming trees fell and blocked their path to me.

I heard them crying out to me. But I couldn't hear what they were saying. All I could here were the flames burning any living thing in the forest. I could them getting closer to me. The smoke seized me lungs and made it harder to breath. I was coughing like crazy.

I closed my eyes. I thought I would never open them again. But I did. I opened them and saw a might looking Greninja carrying me. The Greninja had carried me back to the diminishing battlefield.

"Frogadier, is that you?" I coughed.

"Greninja!" He nodded.

"You evolved, buddy. That's great. Now let's finish this."

He put me down then ran at Infernape. Halfway towards his enemy, he jumped in the air. He swung his arm and four large shurikens made of water spun towards Infernape. Each one hit him after another. The fourth and final one struck him in the chest and he collapsed to ground in defeat.

"Curse you, you little rat!" Krista screeched.

She quickly returned her Pokemon and sent out another one. Her Talonflame flew out the Pokeball. Krista looked around and realized the flames were getting dangerous close to us. Her in particular. She turned around and tried to make a break for an opening in the flames. Suddenly, a sandy yellow Pokemon with long claws and a brown spiked back, sprung out of the ground.

Could that be Sandy? Did she evolve? The Sandslash blocked Krista's path. Liam and Mia ran up to the Sandslash. They were covered in ash and dirt. Mia was carrying a Skiddo with a major burn on its front left leg. Dozens of Pokemon were behind them with frightened expressions.

"You're not going anywhere!" Mia barked.

"Consider yourselves lucky! You get to live for a little while longer. But when our plan is complete..." Krista bursted out in laughter. "Kanto will be in nothing but ruin. Then, we can build it into our own image. We will rule it!"

Krista's Talonflame swooped over her head. Krista grabbed one of its legs and they flew off. The other two men returned their Pokemon and ran off into the burning woods. I quickly ran towards my friends with Greninja by my side.

"We have to get these Pokemon out of here!" Mia yelled over the flames.

"Greninja and I can put out some of the fire and make a clear path for you guys!" I said.

"But what about you?" Zoey asked.

I hesitated. "I'll be fine."

"You better be." Asher said.

"Greninja, Hydro Pump on the flames to left!"

That's where the main road was. Greninja extinguished the flames quickly with Hydro Pump. Mia lead all the rescued Pokemon down the path to the road. Liam, Zoey, and Asher followed them closely.

Asher turned around. "Griffin, lets go!"

I took a step forward.

"Boooooonslyyyyyyy!" A Pokemon cried out.

I whirled around and saw a small brown Pokemon the resembled a baby tree with two legs. The Bonsly was frantically trying to dodge the falling trees.

"Go on with out me! You too, Greninja!" I ran to the Bonsly.

I scooped up the baby Pokemon in my arms. As I picked up the Bonsly, a burning tree crashed down right where the little guy was standing.

I started sprinting. Fires were everywhere. I found the path back to the road. I saw my friends. I ran faster. Suddenly, the top half of a tree fell in my path. The flames were high but I kept running. I noticed giant rock buried into the ground half-way. I ran up on the rock and jumped over the flaming log.

I landed on my back on the main road. I sighed with relief. I made it.

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Author's note: Hey guys how's it going! The last chapter was kinda rushed so I tried to make this one better. I was original gonna have this just be a boring stupid chapter but it turned out pretty well in my opinion. Also, two Pokemon evolved! Yay! Greninja swag! This chapter was also slightly longer than my last few. If you liked this chapter than please Vote and Comment. Please tell me what you guys think of this book, leave comments or message me! I want to enter this in the Pokemon Wattys so I would like your opinion!

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