They of the Sun
Chapter Eight: Wicked

The air was leaving my lungs faster than I could take it in. Where are those asshats? My eyes scanned the darkening cemetery, trying to catch my breath. There was a flicker of movement further up.

        Caught.

"Get back here!" I bellowed, running towards the figure. But when I got to where I thought they were, I was only pulled further into the cemetery. I grit my teeth feeling big fat tears well up on my cheeks. I was so frustrated. There was a snicker from nearby and I whipped around to look for the source. It was suddenly a lot chillier than it had been...

"Dreee!" A delighted cry rang out as a small Pokémon formed in front of me. It's wide-eyes were amused and the red gems around its neck were the only source of light. The rest of its body was like a small floating piece of cloth, wiggling up and down with the air. What a wicked little shit.

"I don't have time to play with you! I have to find someone so if you'd fuck off that'd be great."

I brushed the disappointed Ghost-type away as I tried to find my way back to the entrance of the cemetery. Pan was the only thing on my mind. I hadn't even had him a week and he was snatched from right under me. Arceus, why had the Tapus even noticed me? I wasn't going to do them any good... I would only be a failure like this...

My heart picked up pace as I saw someone in the distance. For sure this time. Those bastards. Well only one of them, but who cared? I didn't hesitate in running at him, my hand itching to connect with his skull. Too caught up in my momentum, I didn't have to chance to stop as he turned around.

It wasn't him.

He caught my hand with ease, his face remaining blank. It was too dark to make out his features but even in the pale moonlight I could see glowing green eyes. Something about him was... familiar. Was he someone I went to school with? We stayed there like that, analyzing the other with neutral masks. Finally, he spoke in a darkly melodic voice.

"Isn't it too dangerous for little girls to be playing in the cemetery?"

I yanked my injured hand away from him. Good thing I didn't hit him because anymore damage to this stupid part of my body and I'd have to amputate it. I rolled my eyes as I turned on my tiptoes away from him. I obviously wasn't a little girl and it's not like the dead can move. But I could still feel his eyes following me. I whipped my head around to glare at him when he spoke again, pointing his pale skin catching in the moonlight.

"The exit is that way."

I nodded my head in thanks before turning back around. Arceus, my poor Pan. What did they want with him? I trekked my way back to Route Two, heading back towards the Verdant Cavern.

•••

        The night was letting up into day before I knew it. I still hadn't found those Team Skull Grunts. I wanted to give up, I could go back to school and drop this whole ordeal. Tapu Koko could go find someone else to choose. I wanted to scream out to the sky in hopes the Tapu would hear my plea. I just wanted to be some normal kid back home... Home. What a far away place...

        The thought was lost as I stared down at little red and white Pokémon clinging to my leg. It's body shivering, worry filling its face. "Deliii!"

       "Please, get off," I mumbled, too tired to really be angry. I was barely into this stupid Island Challenge and I felt defeated. It tugged on my leg before fluttering towards a house with a fence surrounding a small field. Someone there maybe knew something... I chased after the bird as it guided my way to the house.

       "C'mon old man! We just want some berries."

         Those voices. I sped up into a run, bursting through the final row of berry trees to a guy well into his fifties shaking his head. Cornering him were two others... dressed like wannabe thugs. "Hey, you numbskulls!"

         They whipped around in alert. Their eyes widening. "Wh-why are you-"

        "Didn't we lose you back at the trial site?"

        I didn't say anything to them as I moved closer, my fists curled tight. I was going to beat the shit out of these two. They drew out their Pokémon and I paused... The older grunt raised his brow.

      "You don't... have any Pokémon? Did we take your only one!?"

        They burst into howls of laughter then. The younger one holding up the Ball that contained Pan. I wanted to lunge at him, rip his covered face to shreds. I scowled positioning my body into a fighting stance. "We thought that the one the Tapu chose would be more than just some lame kid. We'll have to teach ya a lesson, I'm guessin'."

       He yelled out a command to his Zubat and its mouth began to flow with a purple hue. I was too focused on what I could do. I just needed to snatch that little blue monstrosity out of the air and I'd be golden. My eyes were heavy. My body was heavy. My existence was heavy. But I wasn't backing down, not now. Air filled my lungs slowly and released, trying to calm my fluttering nerves. I braced my body to move as pins off poison flew out to me. Why was I willing to die for this ridiculous quest?

      Why me?

     I flung my body down then, prepared to either feel the sting as the needles stuck into my skin or the air rushing by. But neither happened.

        "What the hell?!" I opened my eyes, almost expecting to see some alien again... but I opened them to see the purple pins stopped right at my air, an aura of blue surrounding them and Zubat. My caramel hues grew wide as they were slammed into the ground, a cloud of dust forming... Before me a small Pokémon formed, its dark blue-green body glowing faintly with the same blue light.

      "Gh-ghost! We're definitely toast!"

      Arceus, they really needed to learn how to rhyme. Cleverly.

      "Forget the berries! I'm outtie!"

      The two began to run but were stopped in the blue glow, one of their hands being pried open to release the Poke Ball it was holding. I watched as it floated slowly towards me and dropped in my hand and the two were released on the ground whimpering. The ghost Pokémon was hovering over them, the red spheres around her neck glowing as brightly in the day as they did at night.

       They were gone in a flash and the Delibird that had lead me here cheered. Several of them gathered around me, pulling berries out of their pouches to give to me. I dusted myself off sticking the Ball into my bag, relief washing over me.

"Seems like Pokémon take a liking to you."

The old man startled me into a jump, causing the Delibird to scatter a bit. He gestured for me to follow him. "My wife's inside making some lunch if you'd like to join, it's the least we can do as thanks, Trainer."

I opened my mouth to refuse, because stranger danger and all that. But the realization hit me that I hadn't eaten in almost a day. My stomach growled painfully and all I could do was nod, getting a nasty taste in my mouth. I felt a cold chill around me as I began to move forward.

"Misdree!"

"Oh... you," I said quietly, spotting Misdreavus hovering closer and closer to me. I watched its mischievous face light up when I turned my attention to it. I felt the similar tug towards the Pokémon like I had Pan... I didn't feel the need to question it any further as I grabbed an empty Poke Ball to toss in its direction.

It's body dissipated into a blur of red light as the Ball shut and shuddered before snapping shut, trapping the wicked little creature into it.

Boy, it seemed like I was just going to get sucked further and further into this mess.