[Warning: Senstive material (I'm not sure if it's sensitive material, heck you all watch more anime than me, you probably handle it better than me XD) firearms, and blood shed are in this chapter]

"So how have you been, Sky?" Leia asked the older trainer as he, Leia, and Mira walked down the Route 12 road. "We haven't seen you since you got hurt. How are you feeling?"

"Better," grunted Sky, unable to think of anything else to say. His true feelings were much more complex.

"Are you sure? I mean, like I said, we haven't seen you a lot lately. You're usually in your room..."

"I just wanted to think over some things, that's all..."

The tension between Sky and the two girls had never been so awkward. He usually got along very well with them. He could relax around them, be himself.

But that was when he had been inferior.

Insignificant.

An idiot.

Mira had also liked him back then, maybe even admired him. Now she couldn't even look at him. She made sure to never make direct eye contact with him. The only one who looked at him with some form of kindness anymore was Leia. She was honest, she didn't hide anything from him.

"Well you could have come down sometime," Leia said a little defensively. "We've missed you!"

"Right," Sky merely replied, unable to take her entirely seriously.

"We have!"

"You I can believe. Everyone else, probably not. I'm the runt of the group. I'm easily forgettable. I cause too much trouble, and I know some of the group members would be happier without me."

He heard Mira wince at the sudden harshness in his voice. She knew he included her in this. Leia also looked taken aback and hurt by this. Sky felt something like cruel satisfaction in his heart. He wasn't about to be the same weak fool he had been.

But Leia suddenly turned around and in front of Mira and Sky, her hands on her hips and a serious frown on her face.

"Look, you both should be ashamed of yourselves!" Leia snapped at them angrily. "You're both acting like children! I don't know what happened between the two of you and White, but you need to make up!"

Sky Blue was about to say something unkind when he began to sense something moving toward them. The Aura Guardian part of him sensed a powerful something coming straight toward them from ahead.

"Leia-" he began nervously, but the younger trainer growled, "No, don't 'Leia' me! You need to hear this!"

But he could almost hear the thing now. A dark silhouette could be seen ahead, but Leia didn't see it since she was too busy scolding them. Mira, on the other hand, could. She squeaked and exchanged a terrified look with her older brother.

Now she'll expect you to come back into her life, he thought bitterly to himself, but he went against all of his instincts.

"Both of you duck down!" Sky shouted as the Pokemon's blazing red aura became brighter and brighter as it pelted toward them.

Without thinking, the young man formed a black, red, and blue aura sphere between his hands. Leia had ducked down with no questions asked, giving Sky a clear view of the Houndoom pelting toward them. He released the aura from his grasp and hurled it at the Pokemon.

The Houndoom howled with pain and went flying backwards. As it crashed to the ground, Sky rounded on the two girls and ordered them, "Go back to the Pokemon Center! Head in separate directions of each other, that will make you harder to track!"

"But what about you?!" Mira asked with fright as she and Leia got up shakily. "A-And what did you just do?!"

"That's none of your concern!"

"Yes it is!" Leia argued furiously. "I've been with a Lucario long enough to know that was Aura Sphere! Humans can't do that!"

"Oh really?!" Sky snapped, his temper rising. "Why do you think Team Flare is so intent on chasing us?! It's not just Fiona they're after! Don't you understand?! I'M NOT A NORMAL HUMAN!"

He had succeeded in frightening the two girls. However the tension was quickly broken by the growl of the Houndoom, which had gotten back on its feet and limped toward them.

"I don't have time for this!" The one eyed trainer hissed. He pushed passed Leia and Mira as the Houndoom broke into a run. He then lazily formed another Aura Sphere and flung it at the Pokemon, hitting it right in the chest and causing it to collapse in pain.

Taking advantage of its time of weakness, Sky Blue ran off the road and into the forest. Part of him was beginning to panic. Team Flare was here, they were coming for him. He had to get to the next city. Leia and Mira would be ok for the most part, they were useless to Team Flare. They knew or had nothing that would be of interest to them.

The deeper into the forest he ran, the less Sky could see in front of him. It was getting darker and darker from the shadows and shade of the trees. He could still what was around him from the aura, but he would still be in trouble if he was attacked.

He skidded to a stop, wishing to hear if someone was close by. If he listened carefully enough, he could hear the familiar howls of Pokemon coming in his direction.

Going against his better judgement, he took a pokeball off his belt. He watched it shake in his hand before pressing the button. It opened and red and white light flashed out of it and formed into his Gallade. Sky then gasped with surprise as Shane lunged at him and pinned him against a tree.

"You're running away, aren't you?!" He roared, shaking the trainer furiously. "You attacked Alan!"

"He had it coming!" Sky spat. "He should've stayed out of it! He should've let me go!"

Shane paused, his eyes moving across Sky's face. He then said quietly, "You really did break the barrier."

"And how'd you guess?" The trainer said sneeringly.

"Your eye... It's purple. You're also acting harshly and much more hurtful toward others. You're acting out of spite."

"Oh that's surprising! You would be too if you were in my place!"

The Gallade released him, causing the trainer to slump to the ground as he grasped his sore shoulder. Sky glared at his Pokemon suspiciously. He didn't trust him, and he was beginning to think he should have chose another one.

"Let's go back to the Pokemon Center," Shane told him, holding out his hand. "This isn't the way to solve the problem-"

"You don't understand! Team Flare is here, they came after me! I can't just walk back, and I know you don't know the route well enough to teleport back the whole ways! Just let me go so I can save everyone else!"

Shane opened his mouth to speak but both he and Sky stiffened. Sky Blue could sense something moving toward them. There was two beings, he knew that. One had a familiar aura, but the other was much more powerful.

"Stay down," Shane told the trainer in a growl.

"I don't take orders from you, you-"

But he never finished his sentence. Sky yelled with pain as an Aura Sphere hit him in the side and sent him flying to the right. He gasped as he hit the hard ground. He caught a glimpse of his Gallade being slammed against the ground by a Lucario.

"Why did you hide his condition from me?!" Ringdog's voice roared at Shane through the night. "He could have KILLED someone, you idiot!"

"Ringdog, stop it!"

It was Leia. Sky heard her rush toward her Lucario as the one eyed trainer pushed himself up onto his side. The Lucario had reluctantly released the Gallade but continued to growl at him. Leia ignored this or didn't notice since she instead turned to aid Sky.

"Sky Blue, you shouldn't have ran off like that!" Leia began sternly as she began to reach out her hand for is. "Now you're-"

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" Sky bellowed, making Leia jump and bring her hand back immediately. The young man ignored her shock and edged quickly away from her.

"Skyler, what's wrong?" She asked, looking scared at his behavior now.

"Wrong?!" He spat viscously. "Oh nothing's wrong! I'm merely being hunted down by a group of black market fanatics and being eaten alive from the inside out! So no, everything is just fine and dandy!"

"Why are you being rude?! You've never been like this before!"

"I've never been more superior before!"

Sky could sense the cooling of anger radiating from Ringdog, yet the tension rose. Sky Blue turned his head so he could actually see the Lucario with his remaining eye. He felt more threatened by Ringdog than Shane or Alan. Because of this, he formed a small Aura Sphere in his hand.

"Stand down, Azul," Ringdog growled, taking a step over to the young man. "I understand that you're under stress, but you must restrain yourself from acting on these violent impulses!"

Sky Blue shifted his head a little more, his eye darting from Leia to Ringdog to Shane. A moment later, a startling toothy smile spread across his face and he burst out laughing. It was a wild, insane laugh. He could feel the fright emanating from Leia and uncertainness from the two Fighting Types.

"Why are you laughing?!" Leia demanded, her voice rising with terror. "This is hardly a laughing matter!"

"Oh, you sweet, stupid little girl," Sky hissed as his laughter subsided. "You don't understand what's happening do you? I can't believe I never saw how naïve you really were."

He once again saw Leia flinch, but his attention turned to Shane and Ringdog. Shane had made a sudden movement, causing Sky to leap back onto a flat boulder pressed into the ground and howled, "GET BACK!"

Sky slammed his fists onto the rock as if in a furious fit. Leia screamed and the two Fighting Types both yelled with shock as the boulder suddenly split into two despite being almost entirely underground. Surprised by his own strength, Sky Blue also jumped off it with a gasp.

He remembered now. In the cave, he had been so angry that he punched a boulder. It had exploded and shattered to pieces. He had ran through its remains to hide in the depths of the cave.

That could've been someone's head, a voice whispered inside his own head. You could kill someone...

Sky reached up and yanked something off from around his ear. He tossed the hearing aid away from him and hissed hoarsely, "Leave me alone!"

He heard Leia shout his name as he whipped around and pelted down the hill. He felt the ground quake as he sensed Ringdog and Shane try to stop him with attacks. He was still faster.

The young man didn't stop. He had to get away, far away. It felt like the whole world was breathing down his neck. His friends and Team Flare were all going to chase him down. Either way, he couldn't let himself get caught by either.

Sky Blue suddenly yelped as his foot got caught a tree root and made him tumble down the hill. He didn't stop until he hit flat ground. He tried to get up, but his body was sore and he collapsed again.

I'm not going to make it, am I? Sky thought as he focused his senses on the aura and howls echoing distantly around him. Leia or Team Flare will find me and make me go in the opposite direction... It's all over...

You don't need to go back if you don't want to, a voice told him from the darker aspects of his thoughts. You've only scratched the surface of your true potential. If someone tries to stop you, you can defend yourself. Just embrace who you are!

It's not safe! another whisper snapped, this one more pleadingly. What about Leia and Mira? They're on the route, what if you hurt them? What if you kill someone?

But you could also protect them! Listen to me and take what I'm offering you.

Sky Blue felt overwhelmed by the voices. He whimpered and pulled at his long black hair. He was so conflicted, yet he wanted the rest of his power. He wanted to defend himself. He wanted to save his family.

"We'll make them pay..." The young man hissed as his mind was enveloped by the darkness.

In a second, his eye flashed from violet to blood red. His pupil became a slit. He was no longer Sky Blue.

He was an untamable animal.

*~*~*

Mira panted loudly as she ran through the trees. She could hear Team Flare's Pokemon howling behind her. She and Leia had done what Sky advised and went separate directions. They both went off road, but now Mira had no idea if she was going the right way.

One thing was for sure, and that was she couldn't fight alone.

I have to hide somewhere! Mira thought desperately. I won't make it back on my own!

She then remembered the promise between her and her legendary.

Legendaries and humans that are bound in friendship aid each other in need, whether it's life or death.

"Suicune, go!" Mira shouted as she pulled a pokeball off her belt and pressed the center button.

Among the red light, a blue, white and purple canine-like Pokemon leapt out and landed in front of her. Suicune's white ribbons blew in the slight breeze as he watched Mira seriously.

"You are troubled," Suicune started. "Has something else happened, my dear?"

"T-Team Flare is coming!" Mira gasped hurriedly to the legendary. "Suicune, I can't run back in time! P-Please, you promised..."

Suicune turned his head to look around the trainer. When the howls erupted once again, the legendary looked back at Mira and whispered, "Release Spika, he can protect you until Team Flare passes. I can scare them off. Do you have a communications device?"

"It's low on battery, b-but-"

"That will have to do. Call one of your teammates in town to come for help."

While Mira thought the instructions were a little odd, she did not question them. She quickly took another pokeball off her belt and called, "Spika, come out!"

The ground rumbled as the large Steelix burst out of the ground and coiled his long body around the small area. He lifted his large head toward the legendary and his trainer, waiting for an order. Suicune barked something to him that Mira couldn't understand, but Spika did.

The Steel Type began to move his long body around the girl while carefully making sure none of his spikes hit her. He was using himself as a wall to protect her until Team Flare left. It was like being in a small dark tower.

The young trainer collapsed to the ground with relief. She knew they weren't quite out of the clear, but at least she was safe for now.

Mira quickly unattached her own Xtransceiver from her bag handle and began looking through the contact list. She didn't know who to call. The best choice was White, but when Mira tried calling her, there was no response.

She's probably asleep, Mira thought as she cancelled the call and moved down, This just leaves Amos, Margaret, and Danny...

She couldn't drag Danny into it, he would be in much more trouble, and so would Margaret. Amos was the only one who could leave.

Mira found his name among her contacts and began the call. She prayed that he would pick up.

To her relief, a voice spoke from her Xtransceiver and asked, "Hello, Mira?"

"A-Amos!" Mira gasped, almost crying with relief. "Amos, p-please, you gotta help us! T-Team Flare is on Route 12, a-and they're coming after us!"

"Slow down, slow down! Who's 'us'? You and Leia?"

"Me, Leia, and S-Sky Blue, we were walking together!"

"Sky Blue?!"

"Yeah, but we got separated, I'm alone, a-and I'm not sure if I can get back by myself...p-please Amos, you're the only one who can help us..."

There was silence on the other end. A second later, Amos responded, "Alright, stay where you are. I'll try and find you, is there any landmarks near you?"

"My Steelix is out, he shouldn't be too hard to find..."

"Ok, I'm on my way! Keep calm, Mira, I'll find you!"

Right when he hung up, Mira's screen went black. Her Xtransceiver had died, and so was her chance of reconnecting with her friends.

All she could do was wait while the howls erupted in the night.

*~*~*

"Do you hear that?" Zoroark suddenly asked N as they reached a seaside cliff overlooking a beach.

"I didn't hear anything," N responded, looking over his shoulder at his partner. "Why?"

But the wolf-like Pokemon shook his head and growled, "Never mind, probably nothing."

N couldn't help but feel nervous and pulled Fiona closer to him. There were too many possible dangers. They weren't sure if the madman was even in his right mind anymore. He was at least glad Fiona had found him or had not gone back alone.

Rapi suddenly stopped in her tracks, causing Zoroark and Green Ivy to bump into her back legs.

"Rapi?" The man began, uncertain about the sudden stop.

"Something is not right," was all she said, beginning to move again yet speeding up.

Confused, N looked over the edge of the cliff. At first he didn't see anything, but then he noticed a dark form on the beach. As they got closer, he realized it was a fallen Arcanine.

And a human sprawled a few feet from it.

"WHITNEY!" N shouted, fear coursing through him while he jumped off Rapi's back and leapt over the side of cliff to land on the beach below.

It wasn't the smartest idea, but he had to get to White. He gasped with pain as he landed on his feet yet collapsed somewhat. He heard the Pokemon call his name but he didn't listen. He also ignored the heavy pain in his legs, stood up shakily, and edged over to his fallen sister.

"Whitney, Whitney wake up!" N pleaded as he knelt beside his little sister and shook her shoulders slightly. "Talk to me, please!"

But she didn't wake up. Fearing the worse, N nervously put his ear to where her heart was and listened for any sound of life.

Thump

Thump

Thump

She's still alive, the man reassured himself as relief flooded through him again. She'll be ok, get a grip on yourself...

"N?"

The fugitive looked around to see Zoroark approaching him. Fiona, Kirk, and Green Ivy were staying close to Rapi, who was bent over the Arcanine.

"How is she?" The Zoroark asked as he looked down at his previous trainer.

"I don't know, but she's alive," N replied somewhat hopefully. "We just need to get someone to-"

"We can worry about that later. N, this wasn't an accident. Archy was pushed over the cliff."

N stared at Zororark with disbelief and whispered, "On purpose?"

"He has claw marks on his side. A Pokemon pushed him over, and...it's possible its still nearby."

"If you mean go look for it, then no," snapped the trainer as he scooped his sister into his arms and began to stand up. "We're leaving, now. Forget the madman, Fiona shouldn't be out here and White's hurt! We'll use her Xtransceiver to call Margaret or Amos, one of them can come get them. Azul isn't our problem anymore, if he wants to run, let him, and good riddance."

"That's extremely harsh, even for you," Rapi said sternly as she straightened up and watched the man carefully. "I know you don't like him, but you're not being fair."

N didn't want to respond so he pretended to not hear her. He knew she was right, but he didn't care. Skyler Azul had stolen his sister from him, and now that N finally came back, White still continued to cling to the madman. Well she may not like it, but he wasn't about to risk hers and Fiona's lives for his.

He was about to carry White to Rapi but he suddenly yelled with pain and dropped his sister, who was caught by Zoroark. His cloak had sprouted into flames. He tore the cloak off from around his neck, threw it on the ground, and stomped on the flames.

"What was that?!" N spat once the flames were put out.

But none of the Pokemon spoke. He noticed Rapi move herself firmly in front of Fiona and stared at a spot over N's shoulder.

She was afraid.

When looking around, he saw the Pokemon. A huge feline Pokemon with a red and yellow mane was prowling toward them. It was growling and clawing at the ground.

"Pyroar, Scratch!" A voice called from behind the Pokemon.

The Fire Type Pokemon roared and leapt toward them. It was aiming for N, who was too taken aback to run. But with a fierce neigh, Rapi ran forward and formed a spiral of flames from her horn, shooting it toward the attacker. The Pyroar dodged the attacked and landed on the Rapidash. She neighed feebly as she was pressed into the ground by the massive paws pressing in on her back.

"Stop it, leave her alone!" N shouted pleadingly while Zoroark howled with fury. "Zoroark, Night Slash!"

The Dark Type set White back on the ground before pelting off toward the Pyroar while dark aura blazed around him. The attacker turned from Rapi, and in an instance, clawed Zoroark in the chest. The Illusion Fox Pokemon howled and was also pressed against the ground with a loud thud.

"Get the boy!"

N knew he was in trouble as the Pyroar rounded on him next. He couldn't defend himself against a Pyroar, but he had to protect White and Fiona.

But right when the Fire Type was going to pounce, a shrill, horse voice screamed, "S-STOP, PÈRE!"

The Pyroar froze in its tracks as Fiona suddenly ran out from behind the fallen Arcanine and blocked the Pokemon from N by spreading out her small arms.

"P-Père..." She squeaked again, her voice filled with a thick Kalosin accent and her voice strained and slow because of never using it before. "D-Don't hurt them...please..."

"Fiona, stay away!" N ordered the girl hurriedly, shifting his amazement of her sudden outburst and finally being able to speak for herself to the side. "Get back behind me!"

"H-He won't hurt me..." Fiona whispered, struggling to string the words together. "You won't hurt me, will you...K-Kitty?"

The Pyroar stared at Fiona. A second later, he moved slowly up to the little girl and nuzzled against her face. He seemed to know her.

"My dear Fiona, I've looked everywhere for you, my fille!"

A man moved out from the Pyroar's shadows. He had a bushy auburn mane and beard, the same color as Fiona's hair. He wore a dark leather suit and gloves that blended in with the night. He looked frightening, yet he looked overjoyed at the sight of Fiona.

As the man approached Fiona, N tried pulling Fiona back, but the Pyroar suddenly roared and lashed out at him. Its claws tore through his sleeve and scratched his right arm, causing him to yell and stumble back. Blood leaked out from the claw marks in his skin as the young man grasped it with his non injured hand.

"Père, no!" Fiona squeaked, turning swiftly to look at the man while tears ran down her face. "Père, p-p-please don't hurt them! W-White and N are m-my friends!"

"Fiona, my dear fille," Lysandre started as he reached out and pulled Fiona to him. "Whatever they have told you is a lie, enfant. That man, he's a criminal, he has hurt people, and so has the girl. They are both dangerous, and I will see to it that justice is served."

"Justice my foot!" N spat while he shook with fury. "Pushing an unarmed girl and her Arcanine off a cliff, mugging a man in the streets, stealing Pokemon for profit, and kidnapping humans with unusual abilities is justified?! I'd like to see where that's written!"

Lysandre observed the young man for a minute as if checking him for dirt. He then countered back, "Stealing Pokemon, forcing trainers to release their Pokemon, kidnapping a child, how is that justified?"

When N didn't reply, the man looked to his Pyroar, "Pyroar, you know what to do. I apologize, Mister Gropius, but you and Miss Copperstone will be our guests for a while. You may be gone indefinitely, depending on how cooperative your sister is. I assure you, the authorities will not hear a word of you...yet."

The moment the older man stopped talking, the Pyroar roared and pounced on N. The last thing he heard was Fiona hoarsely shouting at her father to stop hurting him and let him and White go.

*~*~*

"Hurry now, we don't have much time," Ringdog advised as he clutched Leia's hand so they wouldn't get separated. "We can dilly dally later, Team Flare isn't far behind us!"

Leia was too exhausted to speak. They had been forced to leave Sky Blue behind due to Team Flare closing in. She was scared for Sky and Mira's fates, but she had to keep moving.

She had taken the hearing aid Sky had thrown away and attached it to her own. She had known of its existence and purpose, but never used it herself. Both Shane and Ringdog promised that they would looked for Sky and Mira once they shook the patrol off their tail. Until then, they had to hide.

But Leia kept remembering how Sky Blue acted. It scared her to see him act like that. She had thought that Sky was just being moody because of an argument with White and Mira. Now it appeared to be much, much deeper than that. She couldn't help but feel very anxious and worried for him, but she remembered how vicious he was.

Whatever he was, he wasn't the Sky Blue she knew.

She suddenly yelped with pain as her foot caved in on herself. She collapsed and slid down hill while dragging her Lucario with her. He hadn't let go of her and still refused to release her until they reached the end of the hill.

"Leia, Ringdog, are you alright?!" Shane demanded as he teleported down hill to reach the other two.

"I'm fine," growled Ringdog as he pushed himself up onto his feet. "Leia, what about you?"

"No, I'm not," Leia said through gritted teeth as she clutched at her ankle. "I-I got hurt in the fall..."

A howl erupted very close to them, causing all three of them to jump. The Pokemon was right uphill. They had little to no time to get away.

"We'll have to wing it," Ringdog replied hurriedly, both he and Shane helping her up. "If we can't run, we'll have to fight!"

Just as he finished saying this, the Houndoom from earlier had rushed into sight on top of the hill. It's lips curled and it snarled as it leapt down and barreled down toward them.

"Aura Sphere and Close Combat!" Leia shouted at the Fighting Types, who both roared and ran to meet their opponent.

As they hurled their attacks at the Houndoom, the Fire Type roared and released a huge Fire Blast at them. Shane stopped his Close Combat in order to throw up a barrier to protect him, Ringdog, and Leia from the heat. Leia winced at the intense warmth that she felt from the flames like a heat wave.

Once the flames died off, Shane's barrier vanished and all three of them gasped. A woman had suddenly appeared next to the Houndoom, which was licking its lips threateningly. The woman had blue hair styled into loops, a visor over her eyes, and she donned a familiar Team Flare uniform.

"Well lookie here," the woman purred as she put her finger to her chin. "A little girl all alone. What a pity that big brother isn't here to save you."

Leia had a feeling that when the woman said "big brother," she meant Sky Blue. So she knew he was in the woods after all.

"What do you want?" Leia growled at the woman while Ringdog and Shane snarled at the enemies.

"I want you to put away your Pokemon and set your pokeballs on the ground. It would make things much easier."

"What if I refuse?"

Leia suddenly gasped as the woman suddenly pulled out something suspiciously like a red hand gun from behind her and pointed it at Leia. Her Fighting Types also yelped and backed off immediately.

The woman smiled evilly and sneered, "I could give you a few numbered reasons why you shouldn't."

The young trainer saw Shane and Ringdog exchange looks of meaning with one another. A second later, both retreated into their pokeballs, which were clipped to Leia's belt. With shaky hands, Leia unbuckled her belt and threw it on the ground.

The Team Flame member smiled and said in a sugary sweet yet pure evil voice, "Good girl! And now we will play the waiting game."

"Waiting game?" echoed Leia as the admin crouched in the ground next to her Houndoom while the woman still kept the gun pointed to Leia. "Who are you waiting for?"

"The one eyed freak isn't just going to sit by and hide in a hole. He will eventually come looking for his dear sisters."

Leia was under the impression that this woman thought she was Mira. Otherwise it would also be safe to assume that Team Flare had been watching them long enough to know that Sky Blue was the big brother to everyone in their group. Either way, it was keeping her alive.

"Why do you want Sky?" Leia pressed on, trying to see how much she could learn. "And what do you mean by 'sisters'?"

"Our brave leader apprehended the ex-fugitive White Copperstone a short time ago," the woman said rather quickly. "From what we can tell, she was searching for the freak, who had ran away from Shalour City."

Her heart began to race. White was down. She didn't even know she had been out. And Sky, he hadn't been out for a walk. She and Mira had caught him while he tried to run away. But why?

"You didn't answer my question," Leia moved on, trying to stay calm. "Why are you interested in Sky, and White for that matter?"

The woman grinned and cooed, "Oh, did big brother and sister not tell you about how poor big brother is an insane monster? Well seeing as we need you to learn how to do your job, I'll tell you.

"Skyler Azul is part Aura Guardian, but he also has a rare mental illness that causes irrational and even violent behavior. In short, it makes him act feral. The two parts together makes a very deadly monster. We came to tame the beast, and with you and Copperstone, we'll be able to progress through our study very quickly."

"You talk as if he isn't human!" Leia snapped furiously, outraged at hearing all of this. "Sky Blue is a person, not an animal to be tested on!"

"Have you seen what he becomes when engulfed by fear and rage?" The woman asked quietly. "Well I have. When he lets his darker psyche take the reins, he isn't human. He has no feelings, no sympathy. He only understands this."

And she held up her gun and her clenched fist. Leia didn't understand. How could she understand this if she never met him? Unless...

"You're the one that attacked him, aren't you?" Leia whispered, edging away from the woman. "When he came to Kalos, you wanted the information he had, and you had attacked him!"

"Indeed I did," the woman admitted unconcernedly, smiling broadly. "I was expecting him to drop like a fly like all the other assistants. He put up a fight. I chased him all the way to Route 5. We fought until I finally defeated all of his Pokemon, or else quite a few passed out from the run. We played a little game of hide and seek, and that was when he transformed. He was so afraid that his fear consumed him and forced itself to take control.

"He used his powers to the best of his abilities, but we had been left no choice but to use a great amount of force on him. You see, he can't comprehend pain the same as we can. It took a great deal of injuries for him to finally feel the weight. I would've finished the job too, but unfortunately I had not noticed his Chatot escape the battle for help. A Squritle came and defended the freak, and help wasn't far behind it. I was forced to flee before I could get caught.

"But our leader was pleased that I didn't kill him. He instead wanted all information brought on anything connected to Skyler Azul. We dug up quite a bit too, and with that information, it was decided that his DNA would be very helpful and would be even more valuable if we got him as a whole."

"That's sick!" Leia spat. "He is human, whether you like it or not! He has rights, and he deserves the same freedom as you do!"

The woman opened her mouth, but she never got the words out. The Houndoom straightened up and growled as a noise rose through the air. A high pitched howl echoed through the trees. Goosebumps rose on Leia's arms at the noise. Something was off about it. It didn't sound like a Pokemon.

It was human.

"Looks like big brother decided to join us after all," the woman sneered as she stood up. "Maybe now you will see what a beast he truly is."

Leia felt a great sense of foreboding. She hated the noise of the howl, but it was getting closer. The woman was somewhat right.

Sky Blue was dangerous, and he was coming to them.

"Get ready, Houndoom," the woman muttered as she pointed her gun toward the direction Sky was coming from.

The young trainer held her breath. The howls had stopped. Maybe he wasn't coming after all. Maybe he turned back.

But a roar burst out as a human figure pounced over one of the ledges a few feet above the ground to Leia's left. Leia screamed and ducked down while Houndoom charged at the human.

Leia looked up to see Sky Blue hiss and scratch the Houndoom's face with his nails. They were glowing with blue, black, and red aura, which flared ferociously. The Pokemon yowled and backed away, it's jaw bleeding from the scratch.

She noticed several things about Sky Blue that made her feel completely terrified. He didn't walk or stand like a human. He was now running on all fours and crouched in a sitting position like a Salandit. His body was emitting the same blue, red, and black aura. But the scariest feature was that his eye wasn't it's usual sky blue anymore.

It was dark, blood red.

"S-Skyler...?" Leia stammered is a hushed voice, her eyes fixed on her friend.

The man snarled and turned his head to look at her. To her horror, Sky began to move toward her like a Purrloin stalking its prey. His pupil dilated as Leia watched. It was so stressful, so tense. Leia whimpered and put her hands over her eyes as Sky grew closer.

A booming gunshot caused her to gasp and remove her hands. A howl of rage and pain burst through the air as something collapsed to the ground. Sky Blue was curled up on the ground, rocking back and fourth while he clawed at his leg. Dark blood had soaked through the jean leg and could be seen glistening on Sky's clasped hands.

The woman had shot him with her handgun. She was standing in front of her wounded Houndoom while still pointing the gun at him.

"Stay where you are, freak!" The woman roared furiously. "Don't make this anymore difficult!"

Forgetting about how dangerous he was, Leia crawled over to her friend despite her aching leg and her muffled hearing.

"Sky Blue, i-its ok!" Leia squeaked slowly putting her hand on his shoulder. "It's going to be alright! J-Just please, whatever you do, d-d-don't hurt anyone!"

Sky snarled threateningly but she pressed on, "Sky, I don't understand why you're like this, b-but I know you well enough to know you'd never forgive yourself if you hurt anyone! P-Please, whatever you do, try not to hurt anyone else!"

He didn't do anything, but continued to wince sharply. Leia wasn't sure if he understand anything she said.

But to her horror, he let out a howl of rage and lunged toward the woman. Leia screamed as she heard the gun go off again and the roar of flames. Without thinking, the young trainer reached out and grabbed Sky by the leg and tried pulling him back from the dangerous woman.

The Houndoom had circled itself and its trainer in flames to prevent Sky from getting closer. The woman had either missed or hadn't been even shooting at him. But Sky still looked like a real mess as he immediately crawled back. He was still clasping his bleeding leg, but Leia could see that he had burned his hands when trying to attack. His clothes and hair also smelled slightly singed.

"Skyler, please stop!" Leia whimpered, forcing one of Sky's hands to part with his leg and gripped it tightly. "I know you have so much strength and you want to fight, but one of you is going to die if I don't stop you! P-Please don't leave me alone with them!"

She still wasn't sure if he understood anything she was saying. He was looking from her to the woman, as if deciding if he should listen or continue. And for a second she thought it was working. He was still, yet Leia could've sworn she saw a glimpse of violet move in his eye.

"FIRE!"

Leia gasped as blurs of light zoomed out of nowhere and began hitting Sky's back like bullets. Sky Blue roared and his hand was squeezing Leia's so hard that it was going numb. A few seconds later, Sky collapsed on the ground, his body still as a rock.

Over a dozen Team Flare grunts surrounded them, all of them grasping red and grey blasters. Small canine Pokemon were also growling and barking at each of their sides. They seemed to have shot electric pulses at Sky by the way the blasters had sparks flying out of them.

Ignoring the fact that she was outnumbered and outgunned for that matter, Leia knelt down and began shaking her friend. Surely he wasn't...

"Sky Blue, get up!" Leia gasped sternly, her voice cracking from the strain. "This isn't funny, p-please get up! D-Don't die!"

"Oh he isn't dead," the woman sneered as the other grunts closed in on Leia and the beaten Aura Guardian. "He had to be incapacitated before we could take him to his new home. We had a feeling he wouldn't be too keen to come. He'll wake up in a few hours, which is why we should get going."

Leia bent over her friend and gripped the sides of Sky's leather jacket, trying to hide her full stream of tears.

She had never felt so hopeless.

*~*~*

"Mira, we're here," Amos informed Mira softly as Hydreigon soared over the Pokemon Center and began to descend.

Mira, who had her arms clasped around the boy's shoulders, didn't say anything. She hadn't said much when Amos finally found her on Route 12. When Amos had found her, she had burst into tears and sobbed as she hugged him tightly, stuttering something about Sky Blue, Leia, and Team Flare. Amos had wanted to go look for his cousin, but Mira's Suicune insisted that he take Mira back to safety while he looked around.

When Hyreigon landed outside of the Pokemon Center, Amos unclasped Mira's hands from his shoulders and got off. He then helped Mira down from the dragon's back, but winced as Mira threw her arms around his neck again once she got down.

"Everything's going to be ok, Mira," Amos tried assuring her, patting her on the back gently. He then turned to his Pokemon and asked, "Hydreigon, can you watch out for Team Flare or anything suspicious?"

"Of course," replied Hydreigon. "Just take care of the girl. She's in shock right now, she shouldn't be out here."

Amos nodded stiffly since Mira was still hugging his neck. Once he removed her arms from his neck again, he took her by the hand and guided her to the Pokemon Center entrance. He could hear her sniffling every once in awhile. He hadn't had the heart to tell her that not only were Sky Blue and Leia missing, but White and possibly even N were as well.

"W-Where are we going?" Mira finally stammered as they entered the brightly lit and friendly Pokemon Center lobby.

"Danny and Margaret were in Sky Blue's old room to see if he left anything of importance behind," Amos explained quietly as they made their way to the sleeping quarters. "Margaret was taking care of Alan when I came to get you."

"Why are you all in S-Sky's room, and where's W-White?"

"We'll explain everything when we get there, it's a long story..."

When reaching Sky's room, Amos knocked on the door quietly. It didn't take long for it to open a crack.

"Who's there?" came Danny's voice sternly, but Amos heard a hint of fear.

"It's Amos, I found Mira," the young trainer responded calmly.

The door opened a little wider and Danny could be seen in the door way.

"Better come in quick, she looks like she's going to faint," Danny said warningly, pushing the door all the way and helping Mira into the room.

"I-I don't understand," Mira gasped, looking around the unnaturally clean room. "I-If this is Sky's room, where are Sky's things? It's like he was n-never here..."

"That's what we need to talk about," Amos sighed, sitting Mira down on the bed and looking her straight in the eyes. "Mira, a few hours ago, White had been left a note from Sky. He wasn't on a walk, he was in the middle of running away. He cleared out his room and left, the only one who knew he had gone was Nurse Joy. White went after him, and she hasn't come back, nor have we heard from her. It's possible that she ran into Team Flare."

Mira didn't say anything. She seemed to be taking in what was being said. In order to break the silence, Danny turned to Amos and said seriously, "White isn't the only one missing. Fiona is gone as well."

"What?!"

"Margaret went to check on her and the windows were open. She wasn't in bed and her Pokemon were gone. We think she went after White. Deborah went looking for her, but if White hasn't come back..."

Danny trailed off, as if unable to speak what he thought. Amos looked back at Mira before telling Danny, "Mira says Team Flare is on the route. One of her Pokemon stayed on the route to look for everyone else. Somehow I have a feeling that if any of them comes back, it will be Deborah."

"That doesn't make me feel any better, no offense."

"Why would Team Flare w-want Sky and White?" Mira suddenly asked, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "T-They didn't do anything wrong..."

"I think you already know, Mira."

Margaret had just entered the room. She looked strangely exhausted and weak. However, Amos remembered that they discussed about her linking with Alan in order to find out what happened."

"Mira, I want to know how Sky Blue was acting when you were with him." Margaret said sternly and seriously.

"W-Well, he was very hostile, almost rude... I don't think he...h-he..."

The young trainer gulped before finishing, "I don't think he liked us anymore..."

Margaret sighed and sat next to her friend and put both hands on Mira's shoulders. She then told her quietly, "Mira, whatever happened, you weren't responsible. It wasn't entirely Sky's fault either. Alan threatened Sky Blue in the heat of the moment, and Sky became hostile in order to protect himself from him."

Mira stared at Margaret before she stammered, "I-I don't understand..."

"Yeah, you might need to explain this more thoroughly," Amos agreed, confused on how Alan met Sky when he was here the whole time.

"Well...I'll start from the very beginning, Mira deserves to know what's going on. You see..."

Margaret explained everything to them. She told Mira, and even Danny, about Sky's awful history. How White tried to hide it to spare Sky Blue of the discrimination of being mentally ill and dangerous. How Team Flare hunted him down in order to take advantage of the powers he held. She told the two everything White and N had told them. She even explained how Alan had been connected to Sky and could still communicate over a great distance. How Alan threatened Sky and told him regrettable things, and in the end Sky was forced to break the connection and barrier.

"So Sky Blue is gone?" Danny asked over Mira's renewed sobs. "What's left of him has just...diminished?"

"We can't be sure of that," Margaret tried to reassure them. "Alan and Sky's connection was broken before Mira and Leia met him! The only major change emotionally was being quick to anger and more hostile! He may have some humanity left in him!"

"Sky Blue isn't weak," Amos added sternly. "He's one of the bravest people we know. He will hold on. We just need to wait for Deborah and Suicune to come back. Someone may still be out there, we just need to be patient."

And that's what they did. They stayed in the room for what felt like years. Danny had stationed himself at the windowsill, watching for suspicious activity. Margaret was trying to comfort poor Mira, who's was continually blaming herself for everything.

Amos wasn't sure what to do. He felt awful as well, and he had to admit that he too felt somewhat responsible. They all might've contributed to Sky's unhappiness. Sky Blue was easy to pick on or tease, and it mainly happened behind his back. Now he was somewhere, completely cut off from everyone and possibly insane.

Then there was White and Fiona. What was the possibility that they were seriously wounded or worse? What if they were...dead?

Don't think like that, Amos told himself inside his head sternly. They can't be dead...they're both strong, and Team Flare would never harm Fiona...

There was a loud pop that suddenly cracked through the air at the center of the room. Both girls gasped and the two boys jumped up to face whoever intruded. However it was only Deborah and a Vaporeon. Before they could inquire about the Water Type, it's appearance rippled and suddenly transformed into the majestic Suicune.

"I apologize for the abrupt entrance, but this annoying Pokemon insisted on teleportation," the Gardevoir growled.

"It was quicker and safer than walking!" snapped Suicune with frustration. "Now, Mira, I need you to identify these. They were found in an area that was badly damaged, as if someone went and tried to demolish the place by hand."

The large canine like legendary used its streamers to take three pokeballs from off his purple plumage on his back and gave them to Mira. One of them was cracked open while the other two were still closed, but they were both shaking violently. They seemed to relax once Mira held them, as if the Pokemon inside knew her well and were comforted by her presence.

"Mira, sometime you should really explain why you have a legendary of all Pokemon," Danny said weakly, staying as far away from Suicune as possible.

"It's a long story... The two pokeballs that are intact are Dia and Chatter," Mira continued quietly as she observed the pokeballs. "The third one is...was Scotty's."

"Where's Scotty then?" squeaked Margaret frightfully. "Surely Pokemon don't die when something like this happens?!"

"Not exactly. In this case, the Pokemon would be released into the wild," Deborah answered unconcernedly. "Which brings me to my own report: no one is on that route, or at least not anymore. There were no bodies either, so I assume that all of the people missing are still alive. However, I do believe that they might've been taken prisoner."

"You're positive?" Amos asked, feeling uneasy enough and feeling worse by questioning the Gardevoir.

"I am quite sure. The only other explanation is that they went to Courmarine City, and that's just not possible. They would've informed you by calling. You must understand, Team Flare takes advantage of people by cornering them. They wait for their targets to be in a vulnerable situation before striking. That's why they only attack us specifically when we're on the routes. They're is no one to help us there.

"As for the madman, they have always wanted him. Aura Guardians are so rare, even a half one would be very useful for their black market dealings. His condition has made it hard for them to apprehend him. He loses his sense of right and wrong and embraces a feral state. However, he has showed that he listens to or dares not touch certain people, which has so far been White, and I believe he has once responded to even you, Margaret. This would explain why they have Leia."

Confused and now very concerned, Amos interrupted Deborah and asked, "Why would they need Leia? They have White, surely they don't need another!"

"This is just a theory, but the madman is now in an untamable state of mind. He won't just back down without a fight, yet he still maintains a part of his humanity no matter how small: love.

"It's uncommon, but some feral Pokemon that go into a similar state respond with their heart and use their powers to do what they think is best for the Pokemon or person they still care for. The madman has shown that he has lost some of the respect for Copperstone than he use to have. But he still has an overflowing amount of admiration and love for one person: Mira. Something is telling me that they were trying to catch you tonight, Mira, not Leia. Leia would've been unharmed if they found Mira, but since Mira is here and Leia is not, then it's safe to assume that they either decided to give up the search and take Leia instead or they don't realize they have the wrong girl."

A stunned silence filled the room. Deborah was watching Mira for a response, but she seemed to be in shock.

"I-It is all my fault..." Mira finally sniffed, covering her face with her hands. "I-If I hadn't persuaded Leia to come-"

"The madman still would've ran away and Copperstone would've went after him, regardless of your choice," the Gardevoir cut across Mira's ramble. "You cannot blame yourself for something you could not foresee."

"She's right," Danny agreed, moving around the Pokemon so he could kneel in front of the heart broken girl. "Mira, I swear to you, we will find them, all of them. We started this journey together, and we won't end it without them."

"We'll all help look for them, Mira!" Margaret added as she took the younger girl's hand and squeezed it gently. "Team Flare has been hounding us and other trainers for too long. It's about time we show them a real opponent."

"They were our friends too," Amos told Mira as he put his own hand over Margaret's and Mira's. "Leia is a blood relative, but you are all just as much as family as she is. I will do whatever I can to get everyone back."

Danny also placed his hand over the other three's, showing that a new group had been formed. One that would stand up to the organization and show them that they weren't above everyone else. Team Flare had taken those who were very important to all of them. Only together would they be able to help bring them back.

And they would all be reunited someday, no matter how long it took.

No matter the ending.

*~*~*

"Aye?"

Scotty poked his head out of a hollowed log, watching the trio of humans a short ways away. He had been released from his pokeball in a wooded clearing and had not seen hide nor hair of his beloved trainer. However, after wandering around in the forest, he did find some red clad humans with flaming hair. He had recognized the uniforms from the one the woman had worn when his trainer had first been attacked, so naturally he believed that if anyone was behind the disappearance of his trainer, they would be. Unfortunately, he couldn't hear what they were saying, but he thought it would be wise to keep out of sight and follow them.

As the humans looked around the forest area, Scotty ducked his head back into the log so he wouldn't get caught. Once seeing them turn away and begin walking, Scotty moved his head out again and quietly exited his hiding place to follow them.

Before completely leaving the area, the turtle-like Pokemon looked back at the way he came. He was sure the other trainers were worried about him and his trainer. They probably would've thought it wiser for him to come home.

But home is where the heart is, and his loyalty to his trainer outweighed any personal feelings he had for the other trainers. He knew it was safer to go back, but he remembered hearing that no one had ever found the red humans' hiding place before. He had a chance now, and he was going to take it.

Scotty gave a sad look toward the road he had come before turning and quietly following the Team Flare grunts, the Squirtle's red bandana blowing in the slight breeze.

The hunt started now.