They of the Sun
Chapter Eleven:  Bad Encounters

         "You think this is some joke?"

       I narrowed my eyes between the two. Something about him seemed... just out of reach. I didn't say a word, which was fine since Hau opened his big ass mouth. "Of course we don't! It's just fun!"

     "This is not my idea of fun." I shot a glare at the green-haired boy, who only gave me a childish grin. I'm really not sure where Lillie and Sen had gone off to, but that was none of my business. Ew. I returned Wicked to her ball just as the boy kneeled down to his... Pokemon? It was an odd mismatch of legs, skin, fur, and feathers... Even its tail didn't fit one thing or the other. I couldn't tell what its head look like, masked by an intricate wooden structure. The symbols carved around it and overall shape were ringing a bell but I wasn't sure where that bell was being rung. Nothing about it was natural, like a Porygon or even my dumb Rotom Dex.

The boy stood up, looking about as angsty as I did the day I got my lovely little hand scar (The nerve movements are a little iffy, thanks for asking). His clothes were torn and tattered in deep blacks and blood reds. I wasn unsure if his hair was shaven or ripped out. Either way was just as bad. His aura was foreboding, dark, although not scary. 

He was staring at me way too fucking long.

"Are you Cyra?"

I'm sure if I narrowed my eyes anymore I'd resemble that gym leader from Kanto. I took a step towards him, straightening. I cocked my head to look at him from the ridge of my nose.

"Who wants to know?"

      Another moment of brief silence before he gave me a gut-wrenching smirk. "You know to be cautious..."

        His voice was oddly musical and melodic, both melancholic, nothing like his outer appearance. For the umpteenth time, I rolled my eyes, preparing to walk away.

        "Gladion, you mofucka!"

The accented voice wasn't Alolan, more-so a faded Fiorean one; rough and tumble like... Krookodile Dundee's voice. "What did we tell ya about dealin' with our business, mate? Stealin' our fame, this ain't no playdate."

Ouch, the sick burns totally didn't give way to the Numb Skulls just out of punching distance. They stood on either side of Gladion, a mean look in their eyes. They were much older than the last dopey duo of grunts I had to deal with. At least I knew this gang of wannabe thugs was inclusive... but all in all, the same bunch of lowlifes to me.

"Oi!" One of the grunts exclaimed, "Aren't ya the girl everyone's throwing a fuss about?"

"Yea! Yea! Yea!" The other grunt smacked his pal on the arm in ecstatic realization, "the girl chosen by the Tapus!"

"Something like that."

I spoke through grit teeth, annoyed as all hell. I was getting unbearably tired of hearing the words "girl", "chosen", and "Tapus" in the same sentence. Next person to say them will most definitely get beaten silly. How people could gossip so fast was beyond me.

       "Since our groupie boy couldn't take ya out, let us show ya what real swank looks like."

        He drew out a black spotted ball, spinning it on his finger like a basketball (was that some sort of trick they all learned?). Hau was looking at me, his hand already on a Ball, the question in his eyes was clear. I shook my head, very well knowing these thugs weren't much of my time. Maybe if they offered to spray paint a dick onto the side of a building I'd join.

      I'm not sure where the laugh that escaped my mouth came from, but it came out. The thought of joining such a group would be an all time low for me, even if it was for vandalism purposes. I signaled for Hau to follow me as I went to make my way past them towards Brooklet Hill.

     "Awe! C'mon, mate!" One of them groaned. "I'm trynna see whatcha can do! Ya let Gladdie here fight ya but can't handle the real deal? That's a rough feel."

       They continued with chiding remarks until one stopped me right in my tracks.

      "Seems like Tapu Koko chose a coward. Like it could really tell someone's worth. That's why half the kiddos in Team Skull quit, buncha worthless bologna. Why would they choose such a little bit-"

       I was close enough now to where I stopped his words by literally shoving them back in his mouth. I hated this fucking prophetic shit I was in, I hated the people who thought it meant anything to anyone or me. It could've been any little ditz and unlucky me I just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. The grunt had stumbled back, holding the cloth that was over his mouth.

      "What the fuck!"

His fellow team member was crouched by him, checking if he was all right. I felt my body move to throw another punch, but it was stopped by Hau tugging at my other hand.

"Cyra, stop!"

I glowered at the not-so-smiley boy, ripping my hand away. That gave that stupid grunt time to recover from my hit. He was up and ready to go, Gladion was watching us with an unreadable expression before rolling his eyes and disappearing to wherever he pleased. Thank the Creation Trio, one less issue to deal with.

     "You're a bitch," the grunt spat at me and I smiled, sickeningly sweet as I flicked my hair out of the way. I love when people stated the obvious.

     "No shit," I said followed by a laugh of amusement. The grunt lunged at me and holy shit I was so ready. But they never met me because a wall of purple flames  was between me and them.

      "Don't you numbskulls know better than to physically fight little girls?"

      The woman stood there with a slithering Pokémon, black and purple, the color of bruises. Its skin looked like if you tried to grab it, it could slip from your grasp with no effort. It's mouth still had flames licking up the side of its face. The girl herself had the same narrowed, watchful eyes. Her hair  was adorned with skulls that gave way to her her gold and pink plumes of hair. Tight and neat.

     The irritation behind her voice was apparent, even with her hardened expression.

       "Oi, she ain't no little girl!" The grunt that I'd gone for cried out, still rubbing his jaw.

     "Yea, Plumeria! That little beast clocked him good," the other one called out. "She also knocked out little Gladdie's monstrosity."

       She stayed unresponsive as she turned to face the two of them then me. This woman, Plumeria, was sure of herself in every step she took. She reminds me of Ju-

The thought was cut off by her voice. Tranquil and kind of deadly, I almost felt threatened! "Look, I don't like when people pick on my nincompoop brothers and sisters. This is a warning; do not stand in our way again, chosen by the Tapu or not, I will burn you alive. Or poison you."

      Harsh. There was something admirable about her and I almost wanted to fangirl. Almost. I couldn't find any sarcasm to come out of me as she sauntered away with her dazzling Pokémon and her two groupies giving me the stink eye, so I flipped them the bird.

"That was... Why are you like this?" Hau's voice snapped me out of my trance and I glanced over at him. In all honesty, I'd forgotten about him being there... I've rarely seen the boy without a smile, but each and every time you know who's fault it was? Yours truly. "Why can't you just... get along?"

"Because this isn't some fucking fairytale, Hau," I snapped. "Grow up."

There was a moment of tension where we held each other's eyes, searching for something. I'm sure he was looking for some sort of shiny, holy glow of hope and kindness. That there was the possibility of me not being so damned awful in there. All he found was one big, bad encounter, just like the entirety of this day. His search was to no avail as he marched away towards our destination.

I stood there until I could relax, feeling the pain in my hand return full force. Fuck. I shook it off as best as I could, following close behind him to complete our trial.

•••
A/N

yes YES FOR THIS SET OF TEAM SKULL GRUNTS I IMAGINED THEM WITH AUSTRALIAN OR COCKNEY ACCENTS. Why? lol I just imagine people from the Ranger regions (Fiore, Almia, and Oblivia) to all be a bunch of Steve Irwins. I DO have a fanfic for Pokémon Ranger in the works but it won't be out for a while.

-sj