December 24,

Phil sat still, remembering the past three months of training.  He had not only learned how to use Aura Sphere, but also a defensive wall that reminded him of Protect.  Denny had taught him the basics of mixed martial arts, with a promise of more training as they traveled.  He had finally managed to land on the ledge, but climbing the rest of the way was even harder.  Even with his aura heightened strength and agility it was still a very difficult climb.  Denny marked his highest point at around halfway up.  Phil's Pokemon had also gained in power.  Evie's Iron Tail had grown more reliable, and Jes had learned it.  Blazer was somewhere between Ember and Flamethrower, and Craig had learned Zen Headbutt. 

Denny and Phil had agreed to spend the day preparing for a Christmas dinner.  Denny worked on getting some berries gathered, making salad, a soup, and boiling Chansey eggs.  He was also making some eggnog, minus the rum.  So it was Phil's job to make a run to town, he was to grab a few steaks.  He did not think it would take long, but Denny warned him that aura abilities were to be kept a secret.  Blazer and Craig stayed with Denny.  Craig was helping carry things from one place to the next, and Blazer was to keep any fires burning while Denny was gathering food.

'Come on Jes, Evie, we need to hurry getting to town.'

'Ok, does that mean no battles?' Jes inquired.

'Unless absolutely necessary.'

'Ughhh....'

They walked down the road, and they ran into a trainer.

"Stop, you can not pass."

"Why not?"

"I don't  know.  I was just told by my boss not to let anyone pass."

'Do you believe him?'

'No, Phil, you might want to play a card,'  Evie replied.

'You and your card game references.  How do you play poker without any thumbs?'

'That is my little secret.'

'Ok, never mind.  I think there might be trouble.  There are many rare Pokemon in this area, Evie be ready to Swift on my command.'

"Well it is your lucky day.  I am permitted to pass by all organizations allowed to legally block public roads.  I am quite good at handling these things."

"Let me see it, ah you can pass."

"Wrong, this is a fake, a very obvious one at that.  You just admitted that you are illegally blocking this road."  The man reached for a radio.  'Now!'  Evie used her Swift attack to knock the radio out of his hand.  Phil then stepped forward and knocked him out.

'Ok, moving on.'

They continued, this time on a mission.  They walked down the edge of the road, Phil had recalled Evie and turned invisible.  Jes stalked ahead, ready to take on any threat.  They walked this way for nearly an hour, when they came upon some tire tracks. 

'I think we found the location of their operation.'  Phil started.

'I think I know why as well.  The river near here leads to a beautiful beach inhabited by Swampert.  Sometimes, if the seas are going to be extremely rough, or if they are in breeding season, they come up the river.  Swampert and their children, Mudkip, are very rare Pokemon.  They are also very powerful, and one could not hope to defeat them on the beach.  However; they would be much more vulnerable here.'

'I see, maybe they tracked them here?  Why would they block the road though?  It just doesn't add up.'

'I guess we are going to find out.'

As they were walking they came across three dozen or so Team Domination members standing around.

"I don't know why Alfred insisted on going alone."

"You know why.  He has a bigger badder Pokemon, and he wants permission to catch a fourth Pokemon.  So, he catches the Pokemon himself, claims all the glory, and gets a new Pokemon for himself.  However, if he fails, we can put all the blame on him.  Thus, he must succeed."

"Joe, you are way do philosophical."

"Well you keep watching that video of a guy sneaking up on a Mareep that tells him hi."

"What? It is hilarious."

"Is not."

"Is too."

The others just stared in silence, rolling their eyes.  Then Phil stepped out, and coughed.  Everyone looked at him, and his Pokemon.

"Joe, how about we take his Pokemon?"

"I call dibs on the Eevee!"

The others rolled there eyes again.  They each called on a single Pokemon, they used a mix of Drowzee, Raticate, Koffing, and Grimer.

'Jes, use Bite to take down those Drowzee.  Do not let them put you to sleep.  Evie, use Swift to take the Koffing and Grimer from a distance.  I will have to battle alongside you, or the odds are two overwhelming.'

'Got it,' his Pokemon replied.

They charged, Phil quickly going for the Raticate.  He took them because his known attacks had a type advantage.  Him running into the fray apparently took the Team Domination members off guard, because they were slow to react.  He had already knocked out three Pokemon before they even ordered an attack.  

They soon began ordering Hyper Fang and Bite attacks.  He simply deflected the Pokemon and knocked them out.  He noticed Evie in a corner from an expanding Koffing.  Phil threw up a Protect shield around the Koffing, which absorbed the devastating Explosion attack.  That drained him though, and his movements became less sure.  He was soon hit by a Hyper Fang.  He felt a shooting pain up his arm as it broke.  He swatted the Pokemon away, glad that it was the last one.

"You guys need to chill," Phil said before knocking them out with his good arm.  He looked at Jes.  'We need to find that Alfred guy.'

'I agree.'

They continued on, but they soon heard a gunshot, cracking ominously through the trees.  Phil looked at his Pokemon, and then at his arm.  His face became a mask of determination as he set his arm, and created a cast out of energy.  He felt weak, from both the toll from using so many attacks and defenses, and from his broken arm.  He knew that he was all but helpless, since all of his aura strength was going into keeping his arm set.

They came upon a man, he was standing over a pair of dead Swampert.  He was facing a pink Mudkip, with a maniac like grin on his face.  Phil looked on in horror.  It was a horrible thing to kill a Pokemon just to get its child, not to mention illegal. (Laws in Campagna stated that any damage done to a Pokemon to catch it, or its relatives must come from a Pokemon attack.  Not to mention Swampert are protected.  Catching wild Mudkip is okay, but you have to notify the authorities in the area if you do.  Each person is only allowed to catch one specimen of each protected species, unless special permission is granted, such as in the case of research and breeding.  It is illegal to trade or sell protected Pokemon without a license.)  Phil guessed that the man wanted to sell this rare specimen on the black market for a hefty sum.

"Hey you!  Your sorry butt is going to jail.  You'll spend at least five years in prison.  Plus, one doesn't just start doing these kinds of things.  I bet the police will be happy to see you butt in a cell."

"Foolish kid, go Golem."

Phil noticed immediately that this Golem was very different from the ones he was used to.  It had a two large black pillars on its back, and a very rugged beard.

'Jes, watch out for his ground type attacks, and don't use Spark, it won't have any effect.' 

Jes ran forward.  He ran left and right to avoid a hit, but...

"Golem, Fire Punch!"

Jes was hit by the attack.  Phil saw the little Mudkip trip as it tried to get away.  The man raised his gun, probably trying to shoot its leg.

'Evie, Iron Tail on the gun.'

Evie darted forward, smashing the gun into the ground with he attack.  It went off, and the man grabbed Evie.  He shook her like a rag doll.

"Why you little...."  He did not get to finish, because Evie shot a Swift attack at his face.  Meanwhile Jes was having trouble with the Golem.  It kept using a surprisingly accurate Earthquake at Jes.

'Evie, get in there and help Jes out.'

'Right.'

Evie joined the fray, and a couple Iron Tail attacks later.  Golem laid on the ground defeated.

"So you beat my Alolan Golem.  I am actually impressed, but you will fall to my next Pokemon.  Greninja, I chose you!"  He sent out dark black Greninja.

"Where did you get that?"

"A gift from my father, for being so faithful."

"Is that why you are trying to catch this Mudkip?"

"Yes, another son has been faithful, and he wants to reward him.  The little cretin has been quite the pain to find."

"Well, you are not going to get away with killing those Swampert."

"Oh contraire, I think you are about to become a (He makes quotation marks with his hands.) servant of father."

"Slavery!  I didn't think I could think less of Team Domination.  Jes, end this with Spark."

"Greninja, use Grass Knot."

Greninja used a Grass Knot attack, Jes just slashed through it.  However, when he hit the Greninja it seemed to do very little damage.

"How!  Greninja is a water type Pokemon.  That attack should have done massive damage to his frail body."

"Correction, he was a water/dark type Pokemon.  Now he is a grass type Pokemon.  He has a very rare ability, Protean, he changes to the type of his attacks."

'Watch out, that makes this Greninja extremely dangerous.' 

'Right!'

Jes and Evie continued attacking.

"Evie, Iron Tail!"  Evie ran forward, her tail glowing silver.

"Water Pulse!"  Evie was blasted at by the attack, but she dodged.  She hit the Greninja, who was now a water type.  Since water slows metal, the steel type attack was ineffective.

"Jes Spark!"  Jes ran forward while the Pokemon was vulnerable.

"Grass Knot."  The Greninja tripped Jes, and all the electricity that sparked off of him onto Greninja had little effect.

'Guys, we need a strategy.  Evie, use Iron Tail again, hopefully he will use Water Pulse.  Then Jes can hit him with Spark.'

'Why didn't you order us mentally last time?' Jes asked.

'I got carried away.  As soon as I call out for Iron Tail use Spark.'

'Right.'

"Evie, Iron Tail!"

"Grass Knot!"  Evie ran forward, but was tripped by Grass Knot.  The attack tangled her in the grass badly, she couldn't do anything

"Jes, use Lick."

"Ha, Double Team."  Jes ran forward.  He opened his mouth, and used Bite!  Phil then shot an Aura Sphere at Greninja, who fainted from the attack.

"Jes doesn't know Lick.  It was ploy to fool you.  Jes, go free Evie."

"Kid, you are good, unfortunately I could not quite see what happened due to a copy of Greninja in front of me.  I think it is time we beat you, go Salamence!"  He sent out a massive Salamence.  It looked at Jes intimidatingly.  Jes did not back down, he gave Salamence the same look.  "Salamence, Mega Evolve!"  The  Salamence was surrounded by a purple, glowing, shell.  It exploded, revealing Salamence, but  with larger, crescent like wings.

'Jes, Spark attack, quick!'  Jes leaped into the air, but was swatted like a fly from Salamence.

"Salamence and I have been together since I was but a boy.  Our friendship knows no bounds."

"It takes one wacko, possibly evil, savage to know one."

"Are you calling me an evil savage?!  Salamence, destroy the twerp."  Salamence dived in, once again batting Jes aside.  He was about to hit Phil when an beam of ice came out of no where.  The Salamence roared, and swooped to the side.  Alfred looked like he was about to try and throttle Phil.  Phil ignored him, and looked for the creator of the Ice Beam attack.  The pink Mudkip came out from behind a rock, with a determined look on its face.  It inhaled and struck Salamence again.  The attack was weak compared to others of it kind, but it still gave them a fighting chance.

"Hey Mudkip.  You ready to avenge your parents?"  The little Mudkip gave Phil a grin.  "Ok, Mudkip, Ice Beam."  Mudkip shot a its Ice Beam attack at Salamence,  Jes saw an opportunity and leaped into the air.  His Spark attack singed Salamence wing, but Salamence knocked him again.  He was down, for the rest of the battle.  Phil returned him to his Luxury Ball.

'Mudkip, can you hear me?'

'Huh, where is that voice coming from?'

'I can speak into your mind.  Try and aim your Ice Beam to cover Salamence's mouth.'

'You got it!'

Mudkip inhaled and shot at Salamence.  It dodged and shot a Thunderbolt attack at Mudkip. Mudkip flew backwards,  singed.  Phil looked around, Evie was still stuck in the persistent Grass Knot and Jes and Mudkip were unconscious.  He was about to attack Salamence himself when.

"Ice Punch, Fire Fang!"  A new voice called out.  A Toxicroak and a Arcanine leaped out of the woods.  The Toxicroak's fist was covered in ice and the Arcanine's mouth was full of fire.  The attacks struck Salamence, doing much more damage than earlier attacks.  Alfred staggered, he could not be captured.

"Salamence, Tailwind!"  Salamence whipped up a powerful wind that knocked everyone to the ground.  By the time they got up, Alfred and his Salamence were just a dot on the horizon.  A tall man with messy black hair and a brown trench coat came out of the woods.

"Dialga darn it! He got away again."  He noticed Phil and came over.  "I assume you are the cause of the few dozen unconscious grunts back there?"

"Yes, that was me and my Pokemon."

"Can you debrief me?  I am a detective for the International Police, I go by Looker.  I have been tracking him for weeks, but to no avail."  Looker showed Phil his badge.

"Sure, if you happen to have any medicine."

"I do, but which of your Pokemon knows Force Palm?  I did not think Mudkip, Eevee, or Luxio could  learn those attacks."

"Umm, well I."

"You are an aura user aren't you?"

"How did you know?"

"I am friends with one in Sinnoh."

"Okay then.  Looker, I'll debrief you while we bury this Mudkip's parents.  Then we need to figure out a plan for this cute little Mudkip."  Looker pulled out some medicine that could be sprayed on wounds.  This fully restored Jes and the Mudkip.  Looker's Toxicroak freed Evie, and Phil returned her.  They quickly dug a grave, and moved the Swampert into the whole.  They recovered it, and left a wooden cross to mark the grave.  Phil told Looker the whole story, minus the fact that he was running to town to get steak.

"Well, I think this Mudkip might like to go with you."

"That is a great idea!  Mudkip, what do you say?"

'I love that idea.'

"Okay then."  Phil pulled out a Luxury Ball and put Mudkip in it.  It didn't wiggle even once.  He released it immediately, and pulled out his Pokedex.

'Mudkip, the Mud Fish Pokemon.  The fin on Mudkip's head acts as highly sensitive . Using this fin to sense movements of water and air, this Pokemon can determine what is taking place around it without using its eyes.  This Mudkip is female and knows the following moves Ice Beam, Mud Slap, Water Gun, and Bide.'

"So you are a girl.  How about the name Mary?"

'Yes, I love that name!'

"Okay then, I scanned you with my Pokedex, and now I can train you.  We had better get going.  See you another day Looker."

"I'll see you later."  Phil then jogged to town, grabbed the steaks, and left for the valley.  He told Denny of his adventures, and they ate a huge supper.  Denny asked about his arm, and Phil realized that it no longer hurt.  He felt it and discovered it was almost completely healed thanks to his aura.  Blazer took Mary aside to encourage her about losing her parents.  They soon went to bed, ready for the next day of adventure.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Team Domination HQ,

"You have failed me, son!"

"Forgive me Father, I was intercepted by a kid.  He slowed me down until that pesky INTERPOL officer arrived.  I had to flee."

"One more mistake, and you will discover what it is like to fly without a Pokemon."

"Yes, Father."  Then all the grunts in the room shouted.

"All hail the Father, who is so kind and good to us."