This chapter is dedicated to CrystalLupin!

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   Chapter 5: The Pokémon

   Going to be edited.

   The rocky shore was pure gold to his eyes. Travis blasted through the water, his feet and arms hard at work paddling to increase his acceleration and water was thrashed into air while doing so. He would sent a wonderful example for all Sharpedos out in the ocean.

   He hastily climbed ashore and collapsed onto the ground. He sighed and relaxed his tired body. He smiled to finally rest his body even though he was laying on rock hard surface. The water softly crashing against the shore was calming to the ears.

   As he looked up, he saw the cave's ceiling was covered in dazzling blue crystals that would put any disco ball to shame. His goggles intensified the light and all he could see was bright blue. He grunted and threw off the goggles. The teen then decided to take off his whole equipment until he was back to his bare attire and felt so relieved and fresh to do so. Besides, he didn't need them anymore, except that he does have to carry around the package and the poké ball.

   Since he didn't had his oxygen tank anymore, he was able to breath the air freely, but he wished he didn't. An ungodly smell of rotten wood buried deep down in his nose. It was so unbearable, he had to breath through his mouth like a dog, but his hair just prickled everytime he could taste the rotten wood. The thick and most air was hazardous to his skin and hair because how uncomfortable it sticked to his skin and started to make his hair all frizzy.

   "This is pure hell. Whatever pokémon lives in this cave must be in pure agony," Travis said to himself. He targeted his next step was a hill.

   Beyond the shore was a steep, rocky hill that seems to hide the rest of the cave from his view. Travis knew this because he could see something twinkling bright rays coming from behind the tip of it.

   And so Travis began climbing the rocky behemoth. It was so steep that he had to get on his hands in knees to cling onto the surface. He put his poké ball into his pocket and placed the handle of the package around his neck to free his hands. The ground was like slippery butter, gripping was nearly impossible on it and Travis kept on sliding down now and then. Especially when his hands were soaked in water. But his determination was what strived him forward. Daniel needed him, and he's not going to let this dastardly hill get in his way!

   His outer strength was used to its full ability as he hussled to climb. He looked for good places for footing, and the strategy improved his progress.

   Soon he tasted sweet victory when he managed to reach the peak of hill, but the light was fiercely bright. It made him loose his footing and fell. He stumbled down the hill like a rock, constantly rolling. He landed on the ground.

   The teen grunted as he sat up. His body aching from bumping against hard rock. Luckily, he landed on a soft material. He looked down and saw there was grass and mushrooms underneath him. Travis gasped cocked his head to the side. Grass isn't supposed to be in a cave. Right?

   But when he lifted his head, his mind exploded. An abundance of lush evergreen trees of a variety of shapes and sizes. Sone were even hanging upside down on the roof of the cave. But then there were giant tree stump rotting away and have colonies of mushrooms all over them. So that's where that smell was coming from...

   Enable for vegetation to grow like this, they need sunlight and water. The only thing providing that was a marble sized ball that resembled a miniature hovering high in the air and a tiny lake in the middle. Water was constantly dripping from a hole in the cave's ceiling, which is probably how that lake had formed.

  This is one wacked up place I have very seen in my life!

   But one thing that was worse then the smell of rotten was the deafening silence. It just made the place feel empty, even though there was plenty of greenery. This made him feel alone and vulnerable. An eerie sensation tingled deep down in Travis, which cause his anxiety to rise.

   What if this pokémon he's trying to catch is actually watching him and ready to pounce at any moment? Is it a fierce creature that'll rip him to shreds?

  All of this just made Travis's chest heavily rise and fall from all of his intense breathing. An uncomfortable feeling rose in his heart as he could hear it thumping. His anxiety was worse than before. It was now physically hurting him: his vision was getting hazy and his lungs were squeezing themselves. He was ready to panic, but he had to keep quiet or he'll draw attention to himself. The teen took a deep breaths to calm himself down.

   He opened the package. It was filled to the brim with pokémon food. He grabbed hands full of it and scattered it along the ground.

   My, my, I haven't seen a human in years, but who knew it could be a young one. A feminine voice said in his mind.

   Travis gasped. His whole body froze. His legs felt like noodles, and he was ready to faint at any moment. How did this voice get in his head? "Who's there?"

   Where's Waldo, that's what, the voice chuckled. Just look down, you'll see...

   It must be the pokémon, it just has to be! Never has he ever seen or heard a pokémon use telepathy before. Travis hesitantly inched his head downwards as if the pokémon might bite his face at any moment. He sighed and placed his hand on his heart in relief.

   It was just a small vulpix: a small fox like pokémon. Her nine tales were curled pleasingly greatful. Her ember fur's silkiness put all spinarak's webs to shame. Her black beast eyes and small snout made her all the adorable and such an innocent creature. But what made her different from any the vulpixes was a small birth mark in the shape of a "V" on her forehead.

   "Oh, you're just a vulpix," Travis said. "And I thought you were going to be a big and dangerous pokémon."

  That's when something snapped.

   The vulpix smirked as a purple mist arose from her tiny frame.

   In a matter of seconds, the teen started hovering upside down.

   The teen yelled as he flew into the air. He tried his best to fight her physic powers, but no matter what he did, his feet would never reach solid ground. "Hey! Put me down, you little mutt!" He growled.

   Oh Physic, you're my best friend, the vulpix chuckled to herslef. Then she turned her attention back to Travis. So, human, am I powerless as I expected to be? Because right now it looks like one-hundred percent kicking yo-

   "I have a name y'know, and it's Travis! Now put me down!" He continued to thrash around.

   The display he was putting off was amusing. Well, he does have quite a temper, she thought to herslef.

   Sure then! I'll let you go. The mist around her scattered into the air and Travis plopped to the ground.

   Travis grunted as he rubbed the back of his head. "You could of done it gently, y'know!" This little booger was pushing his buttons already.

   You were mocking my power and you asked for it, but I'll let that slide. The thing I'm concerned about is that how did you get here? Did you entered through the crystals at the cave entrance?

  Travis got up on his feet. "Well, how else was I supposed to get here?"

   My Arceus! It can't be! Her face distorted from bewilderment. You must be, no, you can't be!

  "What am I?" Travis said.

   "You're my key to getting me out of here!" The vulpix exclaimed. "We must leave this cave immediately!" she ran into the thickness of the trees.

   "W-wait! Hold up now!" Travis chased after her. He pushed away the irritating branches in his way. His eyes focused on the little figure scurrying through and through.

   Soon, she stopped infront of a particular hole at the end of the cave. Travis finally caught and saw that it was filled to the brim with the red crystals.

   "This must be the secret exit..." Travis mumbled.

   Precisely, the vulpix nodded.

   Then she turned to Travis with pleading eyes and a soft, yet vulnerable voice echoed in the teen's mind. Can you please carrier me and take me out of this cave! I-I need to find my father...Please, Travis, I'm begging you.

   Travis's heart sank like an anchor. This pokémon wants to desperately reunite with its father. Travis's father was a great man, so he greatly sympathize with others who are dealing with issues about their father or other family members. He tightened his fist at the thought of this pokémon in the hands of that demon like man, Gift! Judging by Gift's personality, her life would be going down the drain by the time he has her in his grasp.

   "I will, but you have to trust me, alright?" Travis bent down to get to the pokémon's level.

   The vulpix vigorously shook her head.

   "Now, there's a gang waiting outside that entrance. They want you in this poké ball," Travis took out the ultra ball from his pocket and showed it to him, "and want me handing it to them. I don't want to do that, but if I don't, they're going to kill my brother." Saying those awful words made his voice choke a bit.

   Hmm, I see we're in hot water, the pokémon said with interest. Then what's your plan, Travis?

   "Simple. I'll bust up the poké ball a bit so you'll be able to break out of it with ease, but we need a signal for you to do it at the right time..."

   Oh! I can still speak to you in your mind. Just say a word in your head, and I'll be out in a jiffy!

   "Well, that's good news," Travis said surprisingly. Maybe this pokémon can do unspeakable things. No wonder why Gift wants it so badly...

   "When I say 'out', you can exit the poké ball. I want you to whatever you can to stall them. And we will all run like hell," Travis instructed.

   Great! I know exactly what harm I can do to these fiends! A devious smirk plastered onto the vulpix's face.

   "I was thinking the same thing." Travis chuckled.

   Smart and mischievous minds do think alike, Travis. They sure damn do.

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Words: Over 1,700

Author's Note: Dear glob, sorry for such a late update. I was trying to post it yesterday on Friday, but I couldn't get it down since my family wanted me to watch the Democratic National Convention on CNN. Atleast it was interesting and better to watch then the Republican one, which is my personal opinion.

Anyways...I like dialogue, so I made it interesting between Travis and this newfound pokémon as they first met. And me you know me, a huge dialogue lover! 😄