The harsh sun tipped over our tense bodies bathing us in warm pleasant light. Even though it was a pleasurable day the atmosphere had turned horribly cold and icy. I stared into the eyes of my brother that I once knew but now they looked vaguely familiar, warped by jealousy and hatred.

Why is he doing this?

As if Dust read my mind he snarled in a bitter voice:

"I bet your all wondering why me, the quiet reserved Growlithe has turned out not to be what you expected at all."

He started circling me, not blinking or shifting his eyes away from mine.

"Why are you doing this?" Sobbed Ember trying to find comfort in Flicker who was looking confused and shocked about the whole situation.

"I'll tell you why!" Chuckled Dust finding joy in Ember's unhappiness.

"I have always been underestimated by everyone I've ever known. Even our sad pathetic excuse for a mother and father..."

"DON'T YOU DARE SAY THAT!" I roared shaking furiously with anger.

"Truth hurts... doesn't Flame." Smiled Dust with a mocking grin.

Calm down Flame, just listen to what this piece of dirt has to say then finish him.

"As I was saying, everyone never expected me to be good at anything. I was the one who was known for being scared and ran away from every battle I faced. Our own father was disgusted by me but, that doesn't matter now. I wanted to change desperately but with all of your powerful influencing personalities I simply couldn't."

"Why didn't you tell us how you felt? We could have helped you-" Started Flicker looking sympathetically at Dust but got cut off.

"I couldn't tell you how I felt because you all would have mocked me or thought that I was being ridiculous... No I had to do it by myself." The last part Dust hissed more to himself then to us.

"What was so special about us?" I growled edging clockwise while Dust followed slowly.

"Don't be a fool Flame you were the one who was the born leader or the fearless one who was loved by everyone. Does it hurt to be liked by so many?" Spat Dust mockingly then, he looked in Ember's direction.

"And you! You were the one who had the brains and looks. Mother was always proud of her little Em. Unlike me."

Then finally he tilted his head towards Flicker's stiffened figure and laughed.

"Flicker, Flicker, Flicker. You were the adorably stupid one. If you got something wrong pokémon would just laugh and shrug it off but, if that was me I'd be disliked even more."

So it's about him not liking us for who we are. What happened to make him change like this?

Silence fell upon us suddenly as if everyone had been threatened not to speak another word. Clouds started to gather around the sun making certain areas shadowy and cold. Then Dust spoke again but had a hint of happiness on the tip of his voice.

"I knew I had to change but how? And then I thought about humans. They normally catch pokémon and train them to become deadly so, I had to find one."

Wait, he disappeared when our parents did so did he get captured before or...?

Then instantly something snapped into place in my mind and I knew what Dust had done. Only a low disgusting pokémon would ever dream of doing it.

He was the one who lead the humans into the forest. He did something to annoy them so they wanted pay back. And when mum and dad told us to stay in the den he got worried that the humans wouldn't catch him so, he ran out pretending to be worried. Then got himself caught on purpose. HE. NEVER. EVEN. CARED.

My mind was back in the burning forest. I could hear squeals and cries from innocent pokémon that were trying to protect there homes and families. I saw smoke slithering up into the air blocking most of my senses.

Then I felt a sharp sensation digging into my ribs crushing me then knocking me off balance. My head was spinning rapidly with howls and screeches of pokémon that will never be the same again.

"Flame!" I heard a voice in the distance. I had shut my eyes because of the nagging pain and, the weight of guilt from all those injured pokémon.

"FLAME PLEASE GET UP!" The voice was getting louder, it also seemed to become more desperate. After I heard the voice for the second time I was hit again but, more powerfully this time. I felt hot liquid slide down the right side of my body. I felt weak all of a sudden.

"FLAME!!!"

My senses came back in an instant so when my eyes opened I was confused but in serious, nauseating pain. As I looked around I could see Ember screaming at Dust with raging tears erupting from her normally soft and forgiving eyes. Bell was with Indigo trying to hold Ember back from attacking Dust.

Flicker was trying to fight off Dust but he wasn't succeeding. It seemed Dust's thirst for power had exceeded as he was now reasonable strong.

Owww I don't feel too good...

I looked down the right side of my body to see what the warm sensation was and found that it was dark, smooth blood that was matted into my fur.

I'M BLEEDING?!?! WHAT HAPPENED? W-WHAT?

"Flame! Get outta here or you'll be killed! You need help!" Shrieked Indigo looking desperately at me.

No. This is my battle. Not Flicker's. Not Ember's. Mine

I managed to stand up and stagger into a standing position. Every move I made sent electrifying stabs into my chest but I had to.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING? FLAME GO!!!" Screamed Ember trying to jump frantically over Bell and Indigo.

As soon as she screamed Flicker looked away from Dust for a second so with that he was sent to the floor with a forceful Flame Wheel.

He can hurt me but not anyone else. How. Dare. He.

"Oh I see the weak Growlithe has finally gotten up. I bet I could finish you with one measly hit." Laughed Dust bitterly.

I wouldn't count on it

Rage was building up inside me but, somehow it was different from when I battled Bubble. This seemed more aggressive and was like something inside me wanted to come out. I was now shaking, the adrenaline was pumping swiftly round my body making me feel unpredictable.

"This will be fun." I heard Dust whisper as he bound towards me gathering speed with every step. I couldn't move in time so I paid the price and was hit with a bone breaking Body Slam.

"NO!" Gasped Ember who was watching every movement.

"YES!!!" Cackled Dust wickedly.

As I fell to the floor I heard my dad's voice "If anyone attacks you for no reason fight back with all you've got!"

Get up Flame, come on, come on!!!

The rage that was bubbling inside me was unleashed and I felt immense power. I lifted myself up then charged at the gloating pokémon who was already trying to attack Ember. As I ran at him my pain felt like it had been lifted off of me and was replaced by power.

Dust looked over his shoulder casually expecting to see me on the ground weak and near to death but, then had to look again as I was charging towards him. He didn't have time to react so I hit him with Take Down that sent him straight down to the ground leaving him covered in speckles of rocky dirt. Before he could even move I attacked him with my best move so far which was Flare Blitz.

Fire engulfed his whole body making him howl loudly in pain. After the flames had died down so the move was finished he lay still, looking badly beaten up.

Did I? Did I kill him?

My heart was racing so quickly that it felt like it was the only thing making a noise. My vision started to sway making things seem like they were in blurry slow motion. The pain in my chest was starting to return with a vengeance creating the whole right side of my body to go numb.

Then my whole body start to sway knocking me off balance once again.