Chapter 51

(P.S. This is the last flashback/chapter from Archy's POV. This probably is or is one of the most violent [and longest] flashbacks in this book. This flashback has murder, deaths, and a bit of gore.)

"ARCHWAY, ARCHWAY!" A familiar voice screeched through the night. Archy bolted up right and looked around.

He had been sleeping next to a small stream. He hated sleeping in the camp with the other Arcanine warriors, so he slept by the stream.

Archy then saw Paige the Pidgeot flying toward him. The Pidgey he had saved from Flash had become his new best friend. She talked with him and hung out with him when he was alone.

"What's wrong?" He yawned, rubbing his eyes with his massive paw. Paige landed on a nearby rock, breathing heavily.

"You... you know that girl that the Ponyta has been raising?" She puffed. Archy rolled his eyes and nodded.

Rapi and Darmanitan had continued to raise the two human children except till recently. Darmanitan, Woobat, Zorua, and the male human ditched the girl and the other pokemon to live with another human. Rapi had been heartbroken, and had begun to give the girl more attention. The few pokemon who knew of the girl's existence said that the girl had gone insane since her brother left.

"Well your father has lost his mind!" Paige continued.

"What?"

"He and the tribe are going to burn down the forest tonight, more like right now, and are gonna try and find the girl! They're gonna kill every human and pokemon they find! They're gonna burn the kid alive!"

This got Archy awake. He choked and jumped to his feet.

"He's WHAT?!" He bellowed. Paige flinched at his outburst. Her feathers seemed to stand on end.

"Flash told your father about her, and he and the rest of the tribe are now searching the forest for the human!" She repeated in a whimper.

Rage and fear gripped Archy. He promised Rapi he would keep the two humans a secret. If what Paige was telling the truth, the lives of Rapi, the human, and the other three pokemon were endanger.

"Come on!" He shouted at her, and he started to run through the forest. Archy heard Paige sigh as she flew after him.

The Arcanine looked like a flaming fire bolt as he ran through the forest. Paige was flying above him, dodging the low tree branches.

Archy soon saw a bright orange light as they got closer to his tribe's camp. It seemed that his pack had already started burning the forest.

The Fire Type pokemon were burning down all the trees and plants. The air was thick with smoke and the smell of blood. The first casualties of the fire were scattered across the forest floor.

"PAIGE, WATCH OUT!" Archy roared as a tree started to bend toward the Pidgeot. She shrieked and flew out of its way.

"WHAT DO WE DO?" Paige yelled. Archy winced as the Arcanine below them howled with fury.

"RUN!" He shouted, now fighting the Arcanine, "Search for Rapi, and make sure she and the others get out of this place!" He saw Paige nod and fly off into the smoke.

Archy now recognized the Arcanine as Scar, one of the elite fighters of the pack.

Scar yowled and slashed at Archy's face, but Archy ducked quickly. The elite Arcanine then tried pouncing on him, but Archy rolled under a large, fallen tree branch.

He felt Scar's weight on top of the tree branch. Scar was howling and jerking. His claws seemed to be stuck in the bark.

Archy crawled back out and pelted away from the camp. He heard more howls from behind him. They must have known he had been helping humans hide in the forest. Flash had probably told them everything.

He zig zagged through the burning trees and bodies. He saw glimpses of pokemon he once knew, who had now died from the fire and the tribe.

Fern the Sawsbuck was laying on her side, her body covered with cuts and burns. She had been an acquaintance, but was a great comfort to Archy. Alex the Axew's body looked like he was thrown against a large rock.

Then he saw a sight that made him yowl with horror. A Liepard and Zangoose were curled at the foot of a burning shrub.

It was Shifty and Scratch, the Zangoose and Liepard he had hidden from his brother after he had banished them. Shifty's eyes were wide open, and had died with her lip curled in a leer. Scratch looked a little more peaceful than his mate, but not by much.

"NO!" Archy roared, pelting toward the couple. He dragged the two pokemon away from the burning shrub and turned them on their backs.

"Shifty! Scratch! Come back! COME BACK!" He howled, shaking them violently.

But Shifty didn't stir. She was too far gone. The Liepard was where he couldn't call her back.

Then there was a small moan and a squeak. Archy turned to see that one of Scratch's eyes was open. His chest was rising rapidly and the wounds on his body seemed to grow longer.

"Scratch!" Archy yelped, running next to him. The Zangoose said nothing, but looked at the Arcanine as if he was a stranger.

"My daughter!" He croaked finally, "Where is my daughter?"

"Your daughter?" repeated Archy, confused.

Then he saw a small baby Purrloin curled up next to Shifty's body. It was mewling and pressing its paws against its mother's chest.

"Here!" He gasped, picking the Purrloin up by the scruff of its neck and setting it next to Scratch.

The Purrloin mewed and began to push against Scratch's chest instead. The Zangoose's face was expressionless. Archy saw his claw twitch.

"Take... her." Scratch hissed, "Take her... and give her a hope and a future! I won't be around to give her one!"

"Scratch, don't say that!" Archy begged, shaking Scratch's shoulder, "You'll get through this! Please! You can't die!"

"I'm sorry, but I have no hope!" Scratch murmured, his voice growing quieter, "I will not let my daughter die like this! Like her mother and I! Please... please make sure she lives through this..."

"Scratch..." Archy gasped, tears sliding down his muzzle, "Please don't go!"

"Promise me you'll watch over her! Just until she gets back onto her paws! Please!"

The Arcanine looked into Scratch's face. He had a pleading look on his face.

"But what about Airlock?" He blurted out. Archy saw Scratch claw at the ground.

"Left." The Zangoose finally wheezed, "He left two days ago."

Archy tried to hide his fury. So Airlock left Shifty and Scratch, did he? Right before they suffered at the paws of the deadliest pack in the region?

"What's the name of the kit?" Archy sighed, finally giving in. He saw the relief flood into Scratch's face.

"Purr..." Scratch hissed, running his long claws through his kit's fur.

Then his paw froze. His chest stopped rising, and the little life in Scratch's eyes left.

The Purrloin, Purr, seemed to understand what had just happened. Purr gave a high pitched wail and nuzzled against her dead father's body.

Archy bit back a howl of misery and picked up Purr by the scruff of her neck. She gave a mewl of surprise as he started to run back through the burning forest.

He would have to leave Shifty and Scratch's bodies. He already wasted enough time, and he didn't even know if the human girl was still alive.

A shadow fell across Archy as he ran through the trees. Paige flew next to him, covered in scratches and burns.

"I found them!" She screeched, "The girl and the Ponyta are stuck! A tree fell on them! I can't remove it and the other pokemon are all injured! And where did you get that?" Paige added as she saw the Purrloin.

"Scratch and Shifty are dead!" He yowled, "I have to raise their daughter now! Listen, take this Purrloin and put her somewhere safe! I'll find her when I've gotten the girl to safety! Got it?"

He saw the Pidgeot nod and he set Purr down. The kit mewed louder as Paige picked it up gently by her talons. Archy watched as Paige flew back up into the auburn night.

The Arcanine then turned around and pelted back through the trees. More bodies had scattered the forest floor. Archy saw glimpses of other pokemon fleeing in the opposite direction.

He yelped as he tripped over a tree root, and slid down a small but steep hill. Archy howled with pain as he slammed into a large fallen tree. His head throbbed painfully as he leapt to his feet.

Then he saw her. Rapi was trapped under the fallen tree. Her fiery mane had went out. Her front legs were stretched in awkward angles. Archy felt relieved as he saw her chest rising and falling.

"Rapi!" Archy cried, running over to the Ponyta and started shaking her. Rapi whimpered and turned her head to face him. Her face was covered in scratches.

"Under... there..." She breathed, gesturing to under the tree, "Archy... she's under... there..."

Archy stared at her for a moment. He had no idea what she was talking about. Then he remembered the whole reason why the forest was being burned down.

"The girl, Whitney-"

"Whit!" Rapi snarled in a surprisingly harsh voice, "Its Whit!"

"But-"

"Never mind... yes, she's under here! Please help her! She's dying!"

The Arcanine shook his head and looked at the tree that was trapping Rapi. It was very thick and he wouldn't be able to burn it down. He could only think of two ways to free them.

Archy began to dig at the ground. He couldn't help but keep glancing at Rapi. He was worried that the Ponyta wouldn't make it through all this.

"Where are the others?" Archy asked her. It would help his nerves a bit if he knew she was alive.

Rapi blinked at him. But before she could say anything, he felt something sharp press against his throat.

Archy let out a small sigh, and slowly looked up. Fury and hatred boiled inside of him.

Flash, his older brother and his father's favorite son, was leering at him, his claws pressed against Archy's throat. Archy could see more Arcanine behind him.

"What are you doing, Dungway?" Flash sneered, using Archy's stupid nickname. Everyone loved calling him Dungway after he fell into a pile of Pidgey dung.

Archy said nothing. He saw Rapi shiver as Flash's gaze fell on her. The shiny Arcanine's lip curled.

"Rapi, Rapi, Rapi." He cooed, making the other Arcanine warriors laugh, "What kind of mess have you gotten yourself into now?"

"A sticky one!" growled Rapi, looking coolly into Flash's eyes. Archy could tell that Flash was impressed by the Ponyta's fearless attitude.

"You disobeyed orders, Dungway. You were supposed to kill her years ago." Flash hissed, looking back down at him.

Archy snarled and clawed at the ground. Flash smirked as another Arcanine stood next to him.

Archy's father, Cowardice, was looking down at him. Cowardice was the opposite of his name. They called him Cowardice because he mostly killed the cowardly and weak, but that didn't mean he never killed the strong and fearless.

"What are you doing here, Archway?" Cowardice growled in a low voice. The scars on his father's face looked eerie in the fire light.

"Trying to help this piece of scum!" said Flash eagerly, kicking Rapi in the face. Rapi gave a small wince but didn't show signs of fear or pain.

"She's that pokemon who's been raising those two humans!" His brother continued, "She'll know where that little rat is!"

Cowardice ignored him and turned to Rapi. "Have you been raising humans?" He asked in a deadly voice.

Rapi blinked up at the lead Arcanine. Archy could see that she was frightened by the question.

"Yes." She breathed, looking back down at the ground. Cowardice smirked and turned to Flash. Rage filled Archy's body as he saw the satisfaction on his father's face.

"Dig her out. She can fight for her life." Cowardice growled to Flash. The shiny Arcanine's lip curled maliciously. Flash released Archy, and he and two other Arcanine began to dig Rapi out from under the tree.

He watched helplessly as the Arcanine got further under the tree. Any second they would find the girl. But she could already be dead.

Archy cringed as Flash gave a howl of shock. "It's her!" Flash roared triumphantly, "It's the kid! We got her!"

Rapi shrieked as one of the Arcanine's threw the human girl out from under the tree. The girl, Whitney, screamed and collapsed onto the ground.

Her body was covered in ashes and burns. She was shaking violently and was coughing up blood. She was clutching a small stuffed animal Clefairy to her chest.

Cowardice gave a cruel laugh and slashed at Whitney's chest. She gave a cry of pain and fell on her knees. Rapi shrieked and thrashed, still trapped under the tree. The Arcanine warriors roared with laughter at the sight of the sobbing girl.

When the laughter died down, Cowardice turned to face his tribe. Archy avoided looking at Rapi or the girl. If the three of them lived through this, Rapi would kill him.

"Archway is about to show everyone what happens when a human comes into our forest." Cowardice hissed, smirking at Archy, "If he doesn't, Flash can kill them both."

Archy looked up at his father. He had to kill Whitney? And if he didn't, his brother would have to kill him?

He stepped forward and looked down at the human girl. She was choking and crying, hugging the Clefairy doll tightly. Rapi was wailing and trying to free her body from under the tree, clearly wanting to save the girl.

Archy then realized why Rapi and the others were willing to take her in and make her one of their own. No one had cared about her when she was living with humans, and she was treated like nothing special. She never reached the limits she was supposed to.

But he also realized that this girl wasn't given enough time to grow, to turn into something worth living. Whitney was young and has no control over what she would become. Archy knew how it felt to be in her place, to feel unwanted, hopeless, and hated.

He then turned to face his father. Archy gave him the coldest look he could muster and unsheathed his claws.

"Not unless I kill you first!" He hissed, so only Cowardice could hear him.

And he slashed Cowardice's jaw and chest in a straight line. The shriek of pain shot through Archy like a knife.

While Cowardice and the other Arcanine were occupied, Archy knelt down in front of the girl and she stumbled onto his back. He looked up at Rapi to see tears sliding down her face.

"Go!" The Ponyta gasped, "Take her and go! Please!"

"No, I-"

But Archy barely got the words out as Flash lunged himself at him. Rapi shrieked for him to run, and Archy didn't object.

He pelted away from the tribe and Rapi. Archy felt the girl hugging his neck as he ran through the burning forest. He could hear his tribe howling with fury behind him.

Archy ran as fast as his legs could go. He would not fail, he would not let the girl die at the paws of his father or brother. Rapi and the girl were depending on him.

A flash of yellow and black raced past him as Archy began to run up a hill. Flash had caught up to him. He looked outraged and hatred showed through every part of him.

"TRAITOR!" Flash roared at him, "I KNEW YOU WERE A BAD PIECE OF SCUM!"

"I'D RATHER BE SCUM THAN A KILLER!" howled back Archy, putting as much space between him and Flash as possible.

He ducked as his brother tried slashing at him face. He lost his footing and fell back down the hill.

The girl's screams became muffled as they fell on the ground. Archy snarled and shook the ashes out of his fur. The girl had fallen off and had landed a few feet away from him.

For one second, Archy thought the girl had stopped breathing. She was curled up on the ground, her arms over her face. Her Clefairy doll was laying next to her like another lifeless body. He saw her body cringe as something fell close to them.

He barely had time to sigh with a relief as Flash lunged back at him. Archy rolled to his right as the yellow Arcanine landed where he had been seconds before.

Flash yowled and pounced on him, clawing at his belly. Archy roared and tried scratching his face, but he was blocked by his brother's claws.

A piercing, agonizing pain shot through him as Flash succeeded in slashing his face. He shrieked and pushed Flash off, clutching his eye.

He knew his eye was still there, but he couldn't open it. Archy could feel wet blood sliding down his face. The Arcanine forced himself to move his paw away from his eye. The ash filled air made the wound sting.

Flash prowled around him, his lip curled maliciously. Archy tried not to show signs of weakness. Flash could kill him if he wasn't careful.

"So this is it, Dungway!" snarled Flash, circling him like a Sharpedo, "It's just you and me! No one can interfere! But you've already lost! We have won!"

"I haven't lost yet!" Archy shot back, "You just think you've won! This battle has only just begun!"

"If you get out of this mess, you're a magician!" snapped the shiny Arcanine. To Archy's horror, Flash turned his back on him and started toward the girl.

"NO, STOP!" He yowled at Flash. But he had already started slashing at her. Archy's voice was drowned by the girl's screams.

She screamed with pain as the Arcanine bit into her leg. Archy heard a loud crack as his older brother threw her against a rock. The girl wailed and started to cry.

Over twenty years of hatred and rage toward Flash had finally burst. Archy slowly got to his feet, his one good eye fixed on the yellow Arcanine. Flash was laughing cruelly as he slashed at the girl's body.

He didn't realize Archy had gotten up until it was too late. Archy roared like a lion and put his paws around Flash's throat. Flash choked and fell to the ground.

Archy struggled to keep hold of his throat as Flash kicked and squirmed beneath him. He gritted his teeth and squeezed the other Arcanine's throat.

"You'll pay for this... A-Archway!" Flash choked out feebly, but his voice full of venom, "I curse you and your children after you! I curse you and that human!"

"I don't care!" spat Archy, "You've abused me for the last time! I've put up with you for twenty six years, Flash! That's my entire life! You've stolen my mate, made me attack innocent creatures, and have forced your lies and sins on me! You can break my bones, but you'll NEVER attack this girl while I'm still standing!"

The look of shock on Flash's face seemed to have tattooed itself on Archy's brain. His older brother gave one final gasp before going limp in his paws.

Flash, son of Cowardice, was dead.

Numb disbelief took over Archy now. He had killed his brother. He had strangled Flash. His tribe would kill him.

Archy stepped away from the body and looked up at the human. For one terrible second he thought the girl was dead. Her leg was in an awkward angle and her arms were still covering her face.

"Get up! Please get up!" He whispered, walking over to her and nudging her shoulder.

She didn't move, but gave a small cough. Archy put her arms to her side so he could see her more properly.

The girl's mouth was wet with blood. She was wheezing and choking still. She gasped and spat blood out of her mouth.

Archy didn't know what to do. The girl was choking on her own blood, and he didn't know how to help.

Before he could do anything, something hard landed on his back. He howled and collapsed to the ground. Archy's face throbbed painfully as he looked up at his attacker.

"What are you doing with her?!" a familiar voice growled.

Regulus Ray the Riolu was standing on his back. He looked outraged and had his claws unsheathed. But he didn't look like Ray.

The Riolu was taller and more fierce. His fur was darker than before, and spikes poked out from the back of his paws and one on his chest. He also had yellowish tan fur on his chest.

"Its me!" Archy pleaded as Ray raised his paw to strike, "Its me, Archy! Believe me, Ray! I wasn't going to hurt her, honest!"

The Lucario blinked at him suspiciously. He knew the wound on his face would make it difficult for Ray to recognize him.

"What happened?" Ray finally said, leaping off Archy and landing next to the girl, "Where's Rapi? She told me to get the other two to safety and then to come back!"

"Back there, but you shouldn't go!" Archy advised sharply, "I attacked my father and killed my brother! They've probably killed Rapi by now, and will be after my blood! They know you and the other two were helping her, so they'll be after you! You got to take the girl and go!"

Ray stared at him. Archy knew he sounded like a nut. He was telling the Lucario to do the "impossible".

He saw Ray's gaze fall on Flash's body, lying on its back a few feet away. Ray slowly stretched out his hand and prodded Flash's leg. Ray looked shocked as he turned back to Archy.

"What happened to him?" He finally asked. "I strangled him!" Archy snarled, half irritated, half disgusted, "He got what he deserved! He was torturing the kid!"

"But everyone has tried killing him off!" Ray said weakly, "Many pokemon have failed and have died trying! He banished and killed pokemon! Pokemon say that he's stronger than Arceus and Mew put together! Just answer me this; how were you able to stand up to him and kill him when many stronger pokemon have tried and failed?"

Archy tilted his head, frowning slightly. He didn't believe, no, he'd never believe that Flash was ever stronger than Arceus or Mew, or even stronger than Cowardice or Scar. He was only a elite fighter because Cowardice thought very highly of him.

"I think I was able to get rid of him because I wasn't scared of him like other pokemon." He finally said, "The pokemon who stood up to him were always intimidated by him or had underestimated him. I was never scared of him nor did I ever underestimate. Flash was always stronger than me and had better skills. But he always underestimated me, and I think he believed that I wouldn't stop him from killing a human. I've always pretended to hate humans, and my tribe believed it. He let his guard down while hurting the kid, and my anger got the better of me and... and..."

He couldn't finish his sentence. Archy wasn't proud of killing Flash. Flash was family, no matter how he treated him. He had no idea what came over him when he killed his brother.

I'm a monster, he thought, who would kill their own brother?

Ray put his paw on his shoulder. "Look we should get out!" said the Lucario, the desperation in his voice, "Whit won't last very long! The fire will get worst, and I doubt she'll get through that alive! Plus the Arcanine pack will start coming this way, and believe me, your dad will be after your neck after he sees Old Yeller here!"

"Why do you guys keep calling her Whit?" Archy asked as Ray picked the girl up in his arms. "Long story! I'll tell you on the way!" Ray said quickly, running off into the smoldering trees.

Archy wiped the blood off his face before following. The fire wasn't as bad as it was back with the other Arcanine warriors, but the forest was still burning away. There were less bodies here, but they were mostly bodies of smaller pokemon, like Sewaddle and Pidove.

"So please pick me up to speed, what happened after Darmanitan left?" Archy yowled at Ray after a minute.

"Well, it hasn't been a picnic!" Ray yelled back hostility, "The impact was harder on Rapi and Whit! I mean Rapi and Darmanitan were close friends, and Whit depended on N!  Whit hasn't been the same since, and believe me, it's been a bit scary! She's dyed her green hair, started hiding out in a unknown place, and even wants to change her name! She thinks no one loves Whitney Gropius, so she wants a clean slate! But since she can't think of a new name and doesn't want to be called Whitney, we just call her Whit."

"Explains a lot!" He yelled back, "Rapi snapped at me for-"

But he stopped in mid sentence. Arcanine howls were becoming louder and he could hear paw steps thud across the ground.

"RUN!" Archy bellowed at Ray as an Arcanine leapt at them through the mist. Ray took one glance before pelting off into the forest.

The Arcanine landed a few feet away from him. It snarled and looked up at him  Archy then realized that it was Flash's mate and his old girlfriend, Rose.

Rose was acting strange. She was staring at him as if he was a ghost. She didn't call for help or back up nor did she attack him.

Archy then noticed the body on her back. Rapi was clinging onto her back. Her body was scarred and bloody. Her eyes were staring dully at the sky, and her ears were laid back. He saw her chest rising slowly up and down.

"What are you doing?!" Rose hissed at him, "You know the entire tribe is hunting you down, right?!"

"I-"

"I mean killing Cowardice is one thing, but Flash-"

"WHAT?!" He yelped, jumping backwards, "I killed Cowardice?!" 

"Ah, YEAH!" She snapped mockingly, "That was a deadly blow! You ripped him almost literally in half! His stomach was torn open and everything! Now everyone is hunting you down because of Flash too!"

"But what about you?!" Archy blustered, "You're saving Rapi! Why are you telling me off?"

Rose shifted uncomfortably. "Well, Archway, you're not the only one who wanted to rebel against Cowardice."

"What?"

"You're not the only one who's hated the tribal views. I never had anything against humans, and neither did Hazel, Rocky, Thunder, and a few others. When you attacked Cowardice, you showed us that we still had hope. I met that Pidgeot friend of yours, and she explained everything. She wanted me to tell you that she'll catch up to you later. Something about unfinished-"

But her sentence was broken by a shriek of rage. Archy jumped and whirled around to face a large rock.

Archy's own mate and Rose's older sister, Aeron, was crouched on the rock, her lip curled. Archy had been forced to mate with her, but he might as well have refused.

Aeron would commit adultery and mate with other Arcanine warriors. She'd complain that Archy wouldn't take care of her when he brought her all the food he could find. She even had pups, but gave them to another Arcanine.

Aeron snarled and pounced onto Archy. He roared and tried throwing her off, but he was too weak from his wound. Rose shrieked and fell backwards as Aeron began to rip at his flesh.

"How dare you!" She screeched, piercing his skin with her claws, "You're a disgrace to our tribe! I'M ASHAMED OF YOU! I'LL KILL YOU!"

The other Arcanine warriors must have heard the noise and had come to investigate. Rose was now overpowered by three elite fighters, and eight more Arcanine were watching Aeron beat up on Archy. They were jeering and laughing at the sight of them.

Archy didn't try fighting back. He could not, would not, hurt his mate, even if she was a beast. It would be worse than killing Flash. He promised to love her, no matter what, even if she didn't love him back.

Then a different sound echoed through the forest. There was a loud crack, and Archy caught a glimpse of lightning striking a tree that was directly behind Aeron. The tree tilted forward and started to fall toward his mate.

"AERON, GET OUT OF THE WAY!" He roared at her as she raised her paw. "I'M NOT GONNA FALL FOR ANY OF YOUR-"

But her voice was drowned by a shriek of fury and a crash. Everything was blur as Aeron released him. He leapt to his feet to only see smoke and dust.

The sound of chaos was everywhere. Aeron had avoided the tree, but a few Arcanine had not. The familiar high pitched screeches of Paige told him that the Pidgeot had joined the throng.

Archy could see Paige and Rose fighting against five Arcanine, including Aeron. The two pokemon seemed to fight well together, and each one was protecting the other. He had a shrewd suspicion that they knew each other longer than they were letting on.

He then noticed Rapi trying to crawl away from the fight. She seemed to have fallen off of Rose's back when the pokemon attacked. All four of her legs must have been broken because she kept wincing in pain.

Then an Arcanine broke away from the fight and bounded toward the wounded Ponyta. He could see the hunger on the Arcanine's face as he dug his claws into her back.

"HEY!" roared Archy, running over and slashing the Arcanine's face, "PICK ON SOMEONE YOUR OWN SIZE!"

The Arcanine yelped like a puppy and ran away from him, his tail between his legs. Rapi gave a small squeak as Archy prodded her gently.

"RUN, ARCHY, RUN!" Paige shrieked as she smacked an Arcanine, "TAKE HER AND RUN! DON'T TURN BACK, JUST RUN!"

Archy didn't retort. Rapi could die any second. He needed to get help, he didn't have the herb or medical experience she needed.

He hurriedly got her on his back and ran back through the forest again. The weight of the Ponyta kept him from going full speed. The pokemon didn't follow him, which made getting her out a little easier.

Archy stared at the ground as he continued to run through the burning forest. What would he do now? He killed his brother and father, and his tribe wanted to kill him. He now had Purr to take care of, and he didn't even know where Paige put her. The baby Purrloin could be dead for all he knew.

Then he heard human voices ahead of him. He quickened his pace and bolted into a field full of light. He was temporarily blinded by white, blue, and red lights.

Humans were trying to put out the fire with Water Type pokemon and hoses. Others were helping injured pokemon, and in some cases, humans. Trucks and other equipment were everywhere.

A nearby human yelled as Archy lost his footing and collapsed on the ground. The pain in his head was overwhelming. He felt Rapi slip off his back onto the ground next to him.

His head was suddenly forced upward as someone examined his face. "This one really got it!" Someone yelled above him, and his head was jerked to the other side.

He howled in pain as someone tried dabbing his wound with a wet cloth. He snapped and snarled, trying to scare the humans away from him. But one human laid his hand on his head to keep him from leaving.

"Is his eye gone?" A human asked another. Archy stopped his snarling to hear the response. He didn't want to lose his eye.

"No, it's still there." said a third voice, "This big guy will live and see again, but he'll be scarred. This cut is pretty deep. I'm actually surprised he was able to make it here."

"And the Ponyta?" said another, and he knew they were talking about Rapi.

He forced himself to open one of his eyes. His vision was very blurry, so he was only able to make out four humans. One was bent over a form that he recognized as Rapi.

"This one I'm not sure about." The voice sighed, "All four legs are broken, the jaw looks broken, deep cuts, I'm astonished it's still alive. We'll need to get it to a Pokemon Center ASAP."

There was a small scream as something bumped into Archy's side. "Move away please! Go back to the doctor!" A voice snarled to the human that bumped into him.

"You don't understand!" A high pitched, raspy voice gasped, and Archy then realized it was the little girl, "This is my Ponyta! She's lived with me!"

He heard Rapi give a small, painful whine as one human pushed the girl away from her.

"If you can give us a reason why you were in the forest, then we'll let you see her!" The man snarled harshly. "I can't! You wouldn't understand! Please, just let me see Rapi!" The girl pleaded.

The girl suddenly fell silent. "How did she get her?" She suddenly asked.

"This Arcanine brought her. We don't know what happened to them, but their both seriously injured."

Then a familiar mewling sound came into Archy's ear shot. He couldn't help but roar and leap away from the humans.

Archy ran toward the mewling sound as fast as he could. He forced himself to open his good eye to see where he was going.

Pokemon and humans made loud noises as he rushed past them. An adult woman was holding Purr in her arms. The Purrloin was hissing and yowling at the human doctor.

He roared and snarled at the woman, wanting her to put Purr down. The woman screamed and dropped the kit on the ground. Archy heard someone yelling at him as he grabbed Purr by the scruff of her neck and ran.

His face stung as ran out towards the edge of the burning forest. He wasn't going back in, but he had to stay close by. Paige and Rose were still in there. He couldn't leave them.

Archy glanced behind him. The few people who had bothered chasing after him were now turning back. He ignored the other few humans who were calling for him to come back.

Purr had stopped yowling, but only to continue mewling. She was shaking violently and was curled in a small ball. She seemed to be just as defeated as himself.

The trees in this part of the forest were untouched by the fire. The humans must have stopped the fire from coming closer.

Archy stopped after five minutes and stared at the silent forest. He heard distant yells, screeches, and howls. He could still see the smoke in the distance.

He had to find Rose and Paige. He couldn't go anywhere unless he knew they're condition. They were all he had left. They wouldn't be too hard to find.

The Arcanine took a deep breath before running into the forest. He still had Purr with him, and she made a small squeak at the sudden burst of speed. She mewed before falling silent.

Archy weaved through the dark trees. It started to rain as he crossed the border to the burned part of the forest. He watched the ground again as he walked through the blackened remains.

The rain had extinguished the little fire that was left. His pelt was drenched with water after five minutes of running. He could hear Purr start sneezing and coughing.

After twenty minutes of running, he found a horrible scene. The group of Arcanine that attacked him and Rose were laying dead on the ground. One or two of them looked like they were struck by lightning.

Then he saw them. A wing was sticking out from behind the body of a female Arcanine.

Archy howled with misery as he pushed Rose's dead body off of Paige's. Rose's neck was sliced open and her fur was covered in blood. Paige's beak was cracked and her wing was bent in a strange angle.

He dropped Purr on the ground and shook the two pokemon. "Paige?" sobbed Archy, "Rose? Please don't go! Don't leave me! Please! I can't do this on my own!"

"Archway...?"

Archy jumped as Paige's voice whispered to him. The Pidgeot was squinting at him carefully. Her chest was rising rapidly.

"Paige!" He yelped, running to her side. It took Paige a moment to notice that he had moved. She gave him a small smile as she saw them.

"Archway, I'm sorry. We won't be able to come back." Paige winced, "We did what we were supposed to do."

"Don't say that! I'll take you to the humans, and-"

"Archy listen to me!" The Pidgeot said soothingly, "Rose is already dead. Aeron killed her. I am also about to die at the paws of Aeron. We have to go."

"But no one wants me, Paige!" He sobbed, unable to control himself, "You were my only friend! You didn't care who I was or what I became! You cared about me! Who else do I have to go to?"

Paige blinked at him. "The girl you saved owes you her life. She has a heart like no other human. She'll except you for who you are. Remember, you both have suffered the same. You two will understand each other better than anyone else."

Archy sobbed and looked at the ground. They were leaving him for good. Paige and Rose would move on without him, and he would be left behind in the world of pain.

"Archway, we'll never leave you. Me and Rose will always be with you. Yes, we'll be dead, but we'll always be right here."

She moved her wing and pointed at Archy's heart. Archy felt the tears burn his eyes as he took Paige's wing into his paw.

"Will you promise me something?" Paige finally questioned, "Will you promise me that you'll try and be friends with the girl?"

Archy nodded. Paige smiled and gave his paw a small squeeze. She beckoned him to come closer. He tilted his head and watched the Pidgeot.

"One more thing..." She took one last breath and whispered something in Archy's ear,

"And I hope that you'll remember me..."

Paige's smile was still etched on her face as she left the world. She stared blankly at the sky, her body motionless.

The roar of misery shot through the night like a knife. Archy howled and sobbed uncontrollably into Paige's chest. His sobs were mixed with Purr's continued mewling.

He didn't know how long he sat there crying over Rose and Paige. It became to storm, and thunder cracked through the sky.

Archy's finally looked up as a shadow fell over him. Aeron was standing on a large rock in front of him, smirking at him. He could tell that she was overjoyed at the sight of him in pain.

Before Archy could think of anything to say, a loud crack echoed behind him. Aeron's head jerked upward and she gave a shriek of terror. The female Arcanine didn't look back as she bolted away from him.

Archy then heard something like a grunting noise. He slowly turned around to see the mysterious creature that was able to scare his mate.

A blue pokemon with purple spots was floating behind him. It was like one half of its body was a cloud, and the other half was human like. Archy then remembered meeting this pokemon with Rapi, Ray, Di-Di, and Pichu.

"You're Thundrus, right?" He croaked. The pokemon nodded and its gaze fell on Paige and Rose.

"We're too late." Archy heard him murmur. Thundrus floated next to him and looked down at Purr, who was laying on Archy's tail.

"Where were you?" hissed Archy, his voice suddenly filled with rage. At that moment, he hated Thundrus. He hated all the legendary pokemon that could've saved these lives, human and pokemon lives alike. 

"We didn't hear about the fire until a little while ago." said Thundrus. "You could've saved them!" Archy snarled, his voice rising, "YOU COULD'VE SAVED THESE LIVES! THEY WOULDN'T BE DEAD IF YOU HADN'T BEEN LATE!"

Without thinking, he lunged himself at the legendary pokemon. Next thing he knew, he was lying on his back in agony. Lightning pulsed through his body like poison.

Archy struggled to his feet to see Thundrus withdrawing his hand, sparks still flying from his fingers. A look of calm seriousness was on Thunderous's face.

"It is not my fault." He said calmly, "Forest fires spread too quickly. No pokemon could stop something that fast."

"YOU COULD IF YOU WANTED TO!"

"ARCHWAY, SON OF COWARDICE!" Thundrus suddenly boomed, making Archy fall back and tremble, "I AM NOT A GOD! I DO NOT CHOOSE THE DESTINY OF PEOPLE AND POKEMON'S LIVES!"

"THEN WHAT ARE YOU?!" He roared back, "YOU'RE A LEGENDARY POKEMON! YOU HAVE POWERS THAT NO ONE ELSE HAS! WHO ARE YOU?!"

He regretted saying all of that instantly. Thunderous looked hurt and shocked. Archy turned away from the pokemon and began to sob over Rose and Paige. Purr mewed and cuddled closer to him.

"Legendary pokemon are pokemon just like you."

Archy turned around. Thundrus was still behind him, staring at him intently.

"Sorry?" Archy said, confused.

"Legendary pokemon are just like you." Thundrus repeated simply, "We're just very rare pokemon who have more skills and powers than others. We're no different than you."

"But-"

"That is my own opinion of legendary pokemon." He said hurriedly, "Other legendaries don't share that view. It's like you and your tribe. You and your tribe share different views on humans. Me and the other legendary pokemon share different views on our differences. I, unlike most legendaries, believe that we are the same, despite a few differences. I try my best to help people and pokemon alike, showing them that I care about them."

"Wait a second!" Archy said suddenly, "You were the one who made that tree fall! The one that aimed for Aeron!"

"Correct." agreed Thunderous.

Anger rushed back into him. "Why did you save me but didn't help the girl?"

"What?"

"The girl, the girl you helped!" Archy snapped, "The one human that my tribe wanted to kill! Why didn't you help her?!"

"I told you, we were late! Ray had everything under control!"

"You keep saying we! Who's we?!"

"Tornadus, Landorus, Terrakion, Cobalion, Virizion, and myself!" Thundrus snapped, "Tornadus and I caused this storm! Landorus is helping free pokemon from under boulders and trees! The other three are helping pokemon escape the forest! The forest is now the property of the Arcanine pack! Anyone who stays here is dead meat!"

Archy's tail drooped, defeated. Thundrus had just told him something that he had forgotten about. He was homeless. He had no where to go, no where to live his life. He didn't have a place where he could take Purr and raise her.

"I know where you could go." Thunderous finally said. "Where?!" He yelped, jerking his head upward.

Thundrus watched him for a moment before bowing his head. "You and Whitney Gropius are very alike." Thunderous said thoughtfully, "Very alike."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"The Pidgeot, Paige, had a point. You and Whitney will understand each other better than any other pokemon or human. If there's one person who'll accept you, it would be her."

"What are you getting at?" snapped Archy, "That I should go and live with her?!"

"Exactly." said the pokemon, "Archy, pokemon and humans have battled for centuries. But even pokemon have become close friends with humans. If you at least have the courage to face Whitney, some pokemon might take a stand too. You even promised Paige that you would try."

Archy didn't reply. He had no other option. Purr and himself needed shelter and food, and there was no other place to go. He also promised Paige he would try to make friends with the girl. If there was one pokemon he would keep a promise for, it would be Paige.

The Arcanine sighed and looked up at Thundrus. "Will you come with me?" He asked in a small voice.

Thunderous smiled at him. "To the very end."

***

"SHE WHAT?!"

Hugh's yell made Archy bolt up right. He moaned and clutched his head as it throbbed painfully. He must have passed out when they teleported from the Plasma Frigate.

Everything came back to Archy like the force of a train. White had forced them to leave without her and to head toward the Giant Chasm. Team Plasma had undoubtedly recaptured her. If he didn't do anything, White would surely die.

He opened his eyes and tried to clear his vision. They were in a forest clearing near a river. Shane was unconscious next to him. He had apparently lost all his strength while teleporting. Sora and Pepper were watching Hugh and Amos in front of him. The two boys were standing a feet away from then, yelling at each other in loud voices.

"YOU AND WHITE HAVE BEEN LYING TO US?!" Hugh was bellowing at Amos. "We haven't been lying!" protested Amos, "It was just one of those things that someone wants to keep secret!"

So now Hugh knew White's secret. Now all three of the kids know the truth. Archy growled and tried standing up. His back leg stung, so he sat back down. He couldn't think of anything to do so he just watched the argument.

"Archie!" Sora squeaked as she noticed that he was awake, "Look at them fight, Archie!"

"They've been at it for at least ten minutes!" piped up Pepper. "So I see." Archy said, smirking slightly.

"ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT SOMEONE WANTS TO KEEP SECRET?!" shouted Hugh, "SO SHE'S ONLY TOLD YOU ABOUT ALL THIS?!"

"No..." Amos said quietly, "Sky Blue and Mira know. I've learned most of this stuff from them."

"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL US?!"

"White wanted me to keep it secret! What could I do, betray her trust?! She would've killed me! LITERALLY!"

Hugh snarled and turned away from his cousin. Next thing Archy knew, both boys had a pokemon out and were battling. Hugh's Unfezant versus Amos's Hydreigon.

Archy yelped and dragged the two Eevee pups away from the battle as Hydreigon's Surf attack missed Unfezant. Hugh yelled a command and the Unfezant cut the three headed dragon with its wings.

This argument will get them no where, Archy thought as Pepper and Sora squealed with excitement, I need to take matters into my own paws.

No one noticed him start retreating into the forest. No one would notice a missing forty year old Arcanine. With Amos and Hugh fighting, Shane unconscious, and Pepper and Sora occupied with the battle, he couldn't see what could go wrong.

He looked back at the clearing before pelting into the forest. He knew White had told him not to go looking for him, and he wasn't going to. But there was still one person who could put an end to this.

White had said that N shouldn't go looking for her unless he hid Zekrom. Archy would make sure that N would go after White and that he would hide Zekrom. He would make sure there was no backing out.

Archy soon felt like he was being watched. He stopped and looked around at his surroundings. The forest around him was deserted.

His ear twitched as he felt something move on his back. He gave a loud howl and slashed at what seemed to be thin air. His claws made contact with something and he threw it against a tree.

Zoroark gave a yowl and was slammed against a tree. The illusion fox cowered under the look Archy gave him.

"So NOW you show up!" Archy snapped, "Where were you?!"

"I-I..." Zoroark stammered. His face was turning red with guilt and embarrassment.  Archy smirked as he noticed that Zoroark was trembling.

"WHERE DID YOU GO AFTER WHITE SENT YOU TO FIND US?!" Archy repeated loudly, moving so close to Zoroark that their noses were almost touching.

"I couldn't find you and the others, so I had to do the last thing White requested of me to do!"

"And what was that?!"

Zoroark hesitated for a moment. Archy saw the pokemon's claw twitch toward its owner's neck. What did Zoroark do that was secret.

"Here!" gasped Zoroark finally, ripping something off his neck and laying it in Archy's paw. The Arcanine looked at him suspiciously before looking down at the object.

It was the rainbow colored brooch. The one that was willed to N by White's grandfather, but White had kept it for herself. The object that could make Rapi and Aero evolve even further. The one thing that White prized more than any other of her possessions.

"Where did you get this?" Archy asked quietly, looking up at Zoroark.

"Amos." the dark fox said simply, "It was in his pocket. White wanted it for some reason."

Archy turned the stone over in his paw. "Where did you go after you got this?" He then asked. Zoroark blushed and didn't answer right away.

"Well," he hissed, avoiding Archy's gaze, "I disguised myself as a grunt so I could get through so crowds. I heard a rumor that Zinzolin severely wounded an intruder, so I went looking for White. I then disguised myself as a Joltik and found you guys. I found you guys arguing so I climbed on your back. I got stuck on your back when you guys teleported, so I was unable to return that thing to her. I didn't know where we were, so I just stayed on you..."

Zoroark didn't look up at Archy. He must have startled him with all of his shouting. Archy stepped back from him and began to walk away. He still had the brooch in his paw.

"Where are you going?" Zoroark asked, running after him. "To find N." Archy replied, not looking at the other pokemon, "He's the only one who can save White."

"Can I come along?"

Archy hesitated at first. He didn't want to leave Zoroark here, but he didn't want him to come with him.

"Fine, you can come." He sighed, walking away from him. Zoroark's expression brightened as he trotted after the Arcanine.

Zoroark and Archy had about ten years difference between them. Archy was at least thirteen when Zoroark was born. The two of them got along, but they had their disagreements.

After fifteen minutes, a new scent reached Archy. He stopped and Zoroark almost ran into him.

"What is it?" Zoroark hissed to him. Archy didn't answer right away.

"He has to be nearby!" Archy murmured, following the new scent. "What is it?" repeated Zoroark anxiously, catching up to the Arcanine.

"Hard to tell, but I think it's a human scent. There is also the scent of an Eevee."

"Or two." Archy turned around to face his companion. Zoroark's voice had turned to a whisper. The Zoroark was smirking and tilting his head to the left.

Two pairs of large brown ears were sticking out from behind a large rock. He saw Zoroark roll his eyes. They both exchanged amused looks as Zoroark crept toward the rock.

"SILKY AND MINTY!" Zoroark bellowed once he was a few inches away from the rock.

There were two very loud squeals as two small Eevee pups tore out from behind the rock. The two pups ran in a circle before bumping into each other. Zoroark then grabbed the two pokemon and held them up to eye level.

"Didn't your mother tell you ANYTHING about stalking?!" He asked them loudly. "Didn't your mother tell you ANYTHING about shouting at little kids?!" snapped the bigger Eevee. Its voice was high pitched, so it must have been a girl.

"You're a mouthy one, aren't you?" Archy sneered, stepping next to Zoroark. The large Eevee snarled and slashed at his muzzle. The smaller one yelped and cowered.

"Where's your trainer, Silky?" Zoroark asked the bigger Eevee. The big Eevee, Silky, only glared at Zoroark.

"Why d-do you w-want to s-see Ne-Ne?" The smaller Eevee asked. She was quieter than her sister and stuttered a lot.

"Ne-Ne?" Archy repeated with a smirk, "Who's Ne-Ne?"

"Did N change his name again?" snickered Zoroark.

"No, they changed it for me!"

They both whirled around at the sound of the new voice.

N was standing behind them, a black cloak wrapped around him. A hood covered his face, but it was clear that he was irritated.

"Ne-Ne!" cried the two pups together, both wriggling out of Zoroark's grasp and running toward N.

"We're so busted!" Zoroark hissed in Archy's ear. N snarled as Minty clung onto his leg. Silky was happily bouncing around her trainer.

"They were being big meanies!" Minty whined to N, "They were scaring and yelling at us!"

"That's normal behavior for them." N growled, glancing at Archy and Zoroark, "Why don't you two go help Leia?"

"But Ne-Ne-"

"GO!"

Silky and Minty looked sad and scared as they ran back into the forest. Archy looked calmly up at his trainer's brother.

"So you're Ne-Ne now?" Archy asked coolly. "Great name! Fits you perfectly!" sneered Zoroark enthusiastically.

"Shut up and what do you want?!" N snapped, turning his back on them.

Archy glanced at Zoroark before speaking. "First off, did you say Leia was with you?"

"She is."

"With Sky Blue and Mira?"

"Yes."

"So how is Mira then?"

There was a small pause after Archy's question. Archy gave N a suspicious look.

"Mira will be alright." N finally said, "She got shot in the shoulder. I was able the remove the bullet, but the wound will leave some scarring."

"So she's alive?" Zoroark asked. N nodded and looked up at Archy.

"What else did you want?" He snarled at him, "Where's White?"

"That's why I'm here." Archy said quickly, "White didn't escape from the Plasma Frigate. The rest of us did, but she and a few other pokemon are still on it. She's dying, and she needs help! She made the rest of us promise not to come back for her, but she can't stop you..."

Archy trailed off and blushed. He sounded stupid saying all of this. It was like asking someone to take on a difficult task instead of doing it himself.

"So you're asking me to go get White?" N finally asked. Archy nodded and gave N a stern look.

"I promised White I wouldn't try and stop her." He hissed, "She'll just get mad at me if I go. I can't go. "

"You idiot!" Archy barked furiously, making Zoroark flinch. He saw N stiffen at this.

"What did you say?" N snarled in a deadly voice. He could hear the fury in the young man's voice.

"You're a idiot! A coward!" He repeated boldly yet ferociously, "Do you think we take White seriously when she says that?!"

"I-"

"Do you think ANYONE takes her seriously?!" howled Archy, drowning out N's voice, "SHE SAYS THAT SO NO ONE WILL HOVER OVER HER LIKE A MOTHER DUCK! SHE MIGHT HAVE MEANT IT THEN, BUT SHE PROBABLY DOESN'T MEAN IT NOW! SHE NEEDS YOU, NATURAL HARMONIA GROPIUS! IF A BROTHER CAN'T HELP HIS OWN SIBLING, WHO CAN HE HELP?!"

"It was her choice to turn herself over!" N shot back, "I didn't want her to, but she wouldn't listen! She told me not to stop her and to not go looking for her! I love her just as much as you do, Archy!"

"YOU HAVE A FUNNY WAY OF SHOWING IT!" He bellowed, "I LOST EVERYTHING TRYING TO SAVE YOUR SISTER, NATURAL! I KILLED MY FAMILY FOR HER! MY ONLY FRIENDS DIED PROTECTING HER! BUT, YOU, HER OWN BROTHER, WILL NOT EVEN SAVE HER FROM GHETSIS! HE'LL KILL HER, AND YOU KNOW IT!"

"OK, I'M SCARED OF GHETSIS, HAPPY?!" N finally shouted, "I WOULD GO AND SAVE WHITNEY IF IT JUST WASN'T FOR HIM! I CAN'T GO BACK AND FACE HIM! I'M ASHAMED OF MYSELF FOR BEING A COWARD, I REALLY AM! BUT I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO FACE HIM!"

"YOUR SISTER HAS MORE GUTS THAN YOU!" howled the Arcanine, kicking a tree with his back legs, "SHE DIDN'T WANT TO MEET YOU AFTER YOU LEFT! BUT SHE DID, AND SHE PUT UP WITH IT! YOU CAN'T AVOID GHETSIS FOREVER! YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO FACE HIM SOONER OR LATER!"

Silence fell after Archy stopped yelling. N didn't speak. He was avoiding making eye contact with Zoroark or Archy. Zoroark was staring at the ground and biting his tongue, apparently trying to keep himself from taking sides.

"When you fall down and hurt yourself, good friends will help you back up," Archy snarled quietly, turning away from N, "but a good sibling helps you back up on your feet and helps you pick up the pieces."

Archy beckoned for Zoroark to follow him as he walked away from White's brother. Zoroark glanced at his trainer before following him.

He didn't know what to do now. The Plasma Frigate probably moved to a different location. The only choice he had was to go back and find Amos and Hugh.

"UGH, FINE! YOU WIN!"

The two pokemon jumped and turned around. N was storming away in the other direction.

"Where are you going?!" Zoroark called after him.

"TO GET MY IDIOT SISTER, WHAT DO YOU THINK I'M DOING?!"

~~~

I AM SO SORRY!!!!!

I'M SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I'VE BEEN VERY BUSY! MY BIRTHDAY WAS LAST WEDNESDAY, WE'RE GOING OUT OF TOWN NEXT WEEKEND, I'M IN A POWER OUTAGE AS I'M WRITING THIS, I'VE BEEN WORKING ON BOTH CHAPTER 51 AND 52, I'VE BEEN EDITING RANDOM CHAPTERS, AND ALL OF THAT STUFF! PLEASE FORGIVE ME!

I ended up leaving out some parts from this chapter! Archy actually BURIED Paige and Rose, but I was short on time... (Shame, Archy, shame. Always bury your friends when they pass on -_-) Leia was supposed to be in this chapter, but again, I wanted to update this.

Enough about all of that. I wanted to thank you guys for your votes, comments, and all your support! Since the last update, almost five people have started reading this (That's how many people I know of, that is), and they have been voting and leaving comments. So thank you all so much! It means the world to me!

What else was I gonna say.... OH YEAH:

I was reading the comments throughout the story, and someone pointed put that White was supposed to be 13 or 14 since she was born in 2000. PEOPLE, I NEED TO CLEAR THIS UP, THIS BOOK ACTUALLY TAKES PLACE IN 2016 (Don't ask why, just go with it, ok? Ok.) BUT IN REALITY, YES, WHITE IS 13. (For ten glorious days, I get to be older than her :3)

MY INTERNET CAME ON JUST NOW :D (Advice for future self: rant while waiting for power) SO GOOD NIGHT, SORRY IF THERE'S A LOT OF GRAMMAR/SPELLING ERRORS (There usually are...), SEE YOU LATER.