The Pikachu Village

It was a long flight to the other side of the forest to the Pikachu Village. Phoenix and Fauxe even had to take a few breaks to rest their wings and have snacks to refuel their energy which took the process longer but eventually they reached their long awaited destination at the entrance safely the next morning at long last. Luckily, they never encountered a single Shadow Pokémon. Perhaps it was merely because they were flying far above the forest in the sky during the day when no Shadow Pokémon could see them at the time as they weren't as active and they would hide in a small area where no dangerous Pokèmon could locate  them at night. The Fletchinder and Talonflame were weary but determined to get the job they were given done as soon as possible. All they needed to do was tell the village leader that his daughter, Lightning was safe and there was nothing to worry about.

The two avian Pokémon folded their wings against their sides before hopping on their talons into the village. They were greeted by many Pichu and Pikachu and even a few Raichu. Some of them just stared at them in surprise, others seemed to know the two birds very well as friends. A older Raichu approached them, beaming at them with pleasure, albeit he seemed to have been deprived of sleep. "Welcome Phoenix and Fauxe! What brings you here?" The Raichu asked.

"Greetings Thunder! It has been a long time since we've seen each other. We were sent here to give you a message of your daughter's whereabouts so you don't worry about her." Phoenix chirped.

With that, the Raichu's eyes widened in realization. "Lightning?! Where is she? I haven't seen her in quite sometime! I tried to ask the Starter Squad if they've seen her but they haven't-"

Fauxe interrupted the panicking parent. "Lightning is safe. She is in Eeveeville with her Eevee friends, Mario and Luigi."

Thunder sighed in relief. "Thank Arceus, she's not in any danger then. Can you tell her to come home, please..."

With that sudden request, Phoenix and Fauxe only looked at each other for a moment, unsure what to say. "We're sorry to inform you, but she can't leave Eeveeville at this time..."

"B-but why not? What is keeping her from returning home?!" The elder Raichu asked.

"Errr... Well... You see... It's just that..." Fauxe was lost with words but Phoenix blurted out the answer in quick spurts.

"She can't leave because if she does then she may very well be put in danger!"

"What do you mean by that?" The Raichu put his brown paws on his sides feeling rather frustrated.

"There are dangerous Pokèmon that hide in the shadows. They are targeting Lightning and her Eevee friends. They could very well attack them or anyone that leaves or enters the village. We also can't let you or anyone in the village or Starter Squad to even consider going there because it could be dangerous." Phoenix explained.

Thunder closed his eyes and exhaled deeply before turning his gaze at the two birds, confidently. "I understand. I know Lightning can take care of herself but please be sure that she stays out of harms way."

"We will... Don't worry, sir! Lightning is very clever and she knows how to get out of tough situations."

"I know! How else would I trust her with becoming a Starter Squad member. Having to fight outlaws isn't a safe and easy job after all. You have to have wits and brawn to handle those dangerous situations involving that type of work. Lightning is old enough to make her own decisions so I'm sure she will be fine."

Phoenix cocked his head to the side in bewilderment. "Wow... You seem to be taking this rather well."

"Of course." Thunder scoffed. "She will become leader of the Pikachu village one day too so I will need to trust her. She seems to be in very good paws in Eeveeville so I'm sure she'll be fine. Especially with a group of powerful Pokèmon around her."

"That is true. So you should be able to sleep better now knowing that she isn't in any immediate danger right now, right?" Phoenix told him in a cocky tone.

"R-right... Wait! How did you know I wasn't sleeping that well?" Thunder replied bafflingly.

"Lucky guess, sir. I suppose we will be off now to check on her."

"Just keep watch on her and make sure nothing happens to her and tell her that I support her with everything she does and to be sure to take care of herself. Oh! I'd also advise you to go stop by the Starter Squad headquarters to let Paarturnax know where Lightning is in case there are any emergencies and if she would need some back up." Thunder requested.

Fauxe and Phoenix were not too sure if they should really go through with his request but they couldn't just refuse to do it so Phoenix responded, "We'll let Paarturnax know before we go back to Eeveeville."

"Please do! You're free to go now..." Thunder said as the birds flew off to the Starter Squad Headquarters.

"Thank you for letting me know!" They heard Thunder's shouts of gratitude as they flew back up into the sky.

***
The Fletchinder and Talonflame siblings quickly and cautiously flew through the sky to the Starter Squad's location where they were stopped by a Braixen waving her stick at them. "What is your purpose here?" She asked, crudely.

"We must speak to Paarturnax about something important." Phoenix answered, calmly.

The Braixen sighed, putting her stick away. "Wait here!" She told them before she entered the headquarters shutting the door behind them.

The Braixen walked through the long hallways of the headquarters, only stopping once she was in front of a door with a custom made black Charizard door decor with large red bolded letters that spelled out the name: PAARTHURNAX.

She nervously knocked on the door twice and waited for a reply from the other side of the door.  "You can come in!" A deep male voice echoed from inside the room. It didn't sound necessarily harsh, instead it sounded calm but loud enough to hear through the walls of the room.

The Braixen stepped in as instructed. "What is it, Sabrina?" A black Charizard asked her.

"There is a Fletchinder and Talonflame waiting by the entrance to speak to you, Paarthurnax." Sabrina informed him.

"Bring them in." Paarthurnax roared.

"Yes, sir. I'll get right on that." The Braixen said before leaving the shiny Charizard alone in his office again. She returned not too long after with Phoenix and Fauxe. To their surprise, Paarthurnax  immediately recognized them without any hesitation.

"Phoenix and Fauxe, it has been a while since we last seen each other. How has your flock been doing all these years?" The Black Charizard roared.

"We've been doing well. Unfortunately we don't really have the time to chat for long since we are in a bit of a hurry. We should get back home before it gets too dark." Fauxe replied.

"Ah, I see. I understand." The large draconic Pokèmon acknowledged before clearing his throat. "I assume you would like to get to the point so what brings you here?"

"We already informed Thunder and the Pikachu Village and he suggested that we let you know that Lightning is safe and alive but she is unable to work since she has another urgent business to attend to." Phoenix explained.

"What other urgent business does she have that's more important than working with the Starter Squad?" Paarthurnax asked.

"Lightning has been given the task to protect two of her Eevee friends from certain danger. She is located in Eeveeville with the hospitality of their leader Faith the Eevee." Phoenix answered.

"So the legend of Faith the Eevee is truly real." The Charizard said, not seeming like he was really replying to anyone in particular. He gazed back at the two fire type birds. "You mentioned her Eevee friends were in certain danger. Are they by any chance named Mario and Luigi?"

"Yes, that is their names. Have you heard of them before?" Phoenix questioned.

"As a matter of fact I have. They are both from another universe, quite different from our own. Then they must have been sent to this world again because King Boo has returned to this world to bring havoc in this universe again." Smoke steamed out of the Charizard's nostrils in slight anger. He sighed deeply, his large chest heaving as he stood there silently for a moment. Paarthurnax's reaction seemed to have recollected a distant memory that wasn't very pleasant. At last, after what seemed like an entire two minutes, he spoke again. "Would it be possible if the Squad could assist her in protecting them?"

Phoenix wasn't sure how to respond to that request at first but he couldn't leave the Squad leader unanswered forever. "We don't think that is a good idea since it could cause the problem to get worse but if she needs any assistance, we're be sure to let you know."

"I have an even better idea." With a flick of a claw, a yellow Rotom phone hovered over to the Shiny Charizard. "Take this with you and let Lightning know if she needs any kind of assistance with anything, she should give me a call and I will send her backup right away. As the Starter Squad, we see it as our top priority to give succor to those that need it, including our own allies." The Charizard nodded to the Rotom phone as if to signal to it to go with the two bird Pokèmon.

Phoenix and Fauxe were unsure how Lightning would react or if she would even allow the Starter Squad to risk their lives for her but they couldn't just deny the leader from his eagerness to help out so Fauxe replied, "Ugh.... Understood! We'll be sure to bestow this Rotom phone for her to use in case of emergencies."

"Thank you. It's great to see you again but I suppose it is time for you to go back now before it gets too late so I won't keep you waiting. Fly back home safely!"

"Thanks, Paarthurnax. We'll be sure to stay safe." Phoenix said before they both headed back to whence they came from.

                                           ***
They made it to the other side of the forest right before the sun disappeared and was replaced with the night sky. A bright full moon casted its light on the forest below. They still had a little bit more flying to go to make it to Eeveeville however so they were even more cautious as they continued on their way to their final destination, being mindful of their surroundings.

Finally, they arrived in Eeveeville where they perched on a tree near the entrance of the village.

"Thank Arceus we made it here safely with no Shadow Pokémon to deal with..." Phoenix spoke.

"No kidding! Atleast we can all rest easy now, that all of that is settled." Fauxe replied.

"Exactly! Well I'm going to get some shut-eye. Night Fauxe!" Phoenix chirped.

"I'm going to stay up for a bit and keep watch on the village for now but goodnight Phoenix!" The Talonflame didn't get an answer from his little brother so he turned his attention to the Fletchinder that was already asleep. The larger bird shook his head in amusement.

Not too long ago, a dark colored bird landed on a tree next to them. It was a small sized bird with a pointy head and a bushy tail. Fauxe was on high alert. He didn't know who this bird was but he felt like it could not be trusted. He could have just been paranoid but he really had a bad feeling about this one particular bird.

"Who are you?!" He asked the unknown bird. The small bird turned his gaze to Fauxe almost seeming slightly surprised to see someone else there. A pair of wide semi-circular, red eyes with white sclerae and pupils stared at him.

"That doesn't matter!" The other bird replied, rather harshly.

"Yes, it does!" Fauxe growled. His feathers began to get ruffled and his eyes dilated. "I'll ask you again and I'd expect a direct answer this time or there will be problems!"

"Keep your distance! You might be bigger in size than me but my strength will even out our disadvantages."

"Are you calling me weak?!" Fauxe argued.

"Can you keep your mouth shut! I am trying to please my master by trying to get him what he wants!"

"What does he want?" Fauxe asked. That was when it suddenly came to him. "Wait a second! You're one of the Dark One's followers!"

"And what if I am?" The strange bird asked, threateningly.

"Then you must be evicted from this location!" Fauxe answered.

The other bird only laughed. "Hahaha!!! Good luck with that!" Suddenly, the small bird's eyes began to glow red and Fauxe's body began to feel stiff. The mysterious bird was using Psychic. The tiny bird rose from the branch he was perched on to and approached the larger bird. Fauxe could now see that the Pokémon was a Murkrow.

His eyes widened in fear as the Murkrow tightened his Psychic grip on Fauxe. "My name is Karasu! The Dark One's most faithful servant and I would suggest that you tell your little friends that there is no use hiding from us! We will find a way to get them!" Karasu then rose Fauxe up from his own tree branch and slammed him down on the ground. The commotion even woke up Phoenix from his nap.

"Wha-?! Huh?! What's going on?!"

"I see there's another one that I missed!" Karasu smirked.

"Who are you?!"

"Of course! Introductions again! I don't have time for this!" Karasu growled using Psychic on Phoenix next.

"ACK!!! W-What are you doing?!" Phoenix shouted.

"Taking care of the little pests that are standing in my way!" The Murkrow chided, throwing the slightly larger bird than himself down to the ground beside Fauxe.

Fauxe noticed his younger brother thrown beside him and gasped in alarm. He slowly stood up on his talons glaring at the Murkrow. He roared a loud battle cry before he quickly flew back up into the air, while fiery embers scattered from the gaps in his red-orange colored plumage. An intense blast of fire from Fauxe's mouth was directed at Karasu, grazing the small crow.

The Darkness Pokèmon collapsed to the ground, black ash covering his already black body. He coughed out smoke and raised a black wing in protest at the Talonflame. "H-How dare you attack me!! Once the Dark One hears about this, he'll kill you too!"

Fauxe slammed one of his talons down against the crow's neck, ruffling the spiky feathers around Karasu's neck. "He will do no such thing!"

The Murkrow growled, flapping his wings and kicking his talons at Fauxe to try to break free from his grasp. "Just because you're a larger bird doesn't mean you can just keep me down!!" Karasu cawed, hurling a shadow ball into Fauxe's face. The attack was enough to make him flinch and back up from the frustrated crow. Karasu quickly pulled himself back up from the ground and shook the ashes off of his small body as best as he good before taking the chance while Fauxe was immobile to use a Dark Pulse attack next. It caused even more damage to the opposing Talonflame.

The small battle was enough to cause a disturbance to the residents of the village. An Umbreon and Glaceon approached them. They were two of the night guards that were chosen to keep watch on the village for anything suspicious that happens during the night. The Umbreon's yellow rings were glowing bright in the darkness. He immediately caught sight of the Murkrow in his small beam of light and recognized him. "KARASU!!! YOU ARE NOT WELCOME IN THIS VILLAGE!! LEAVE NOW!!!" The Umbreon howled.

Karasu only chuckled to himself darkly. "Oh please, Tsuki! Atleast let me have a little fun before I go!"

"I think you've had enough fun provoking a few of our allies already." The Umbreon named Tsuki replied.

"Not until I'm given the privilege to meet the new inhabitants I heard so much about. I presume they were two Eevees and a Pikachu that arrived with them." The crow grinned with mischievous pleasure. Tsuki's crimson eyes widened for a second before narrowing into a scowl. "You do not have the right to ask me or anyone here of any such request. You are an enemy of Eeveeville, therefore you'll never be given the opportunity to be given any prestigious benefits around here especially to see the ones our leader has vowed to protect from your allies. What makes you think you can just solicit us into doing your bidding?! Get out of here, intruder, before we make you!"

"I'm not leaving until I get what I want!" Karasu argued.

"Fine! Then you ask for it! Lumi, you're with me? You got the type advantage against him. I'm sure you can take him down easily." Tsuki told the Glaceon beside him.

"Of course I am, sweetheart!" The Glaceon, identified as Lumi answered with a smile. A cold beam of ice struck Karasu sending him back into the darkness of the forest. He was struck with a strong Ice Beam attack from Lumi and sent flying out of the village with such force. The ice type attack was super effective against him. He had no match against it as it overtook him. Now too weak to fight back, he was forced to retreat back to his master and report the bad news that he failed him.

Lumi took a breath of relief. "Thank Arceus we got that taken care of before it got even more serious." She turned her gaze to the two bird allies, her blue eyes gave them a concerned look full of worry. "Are you boys alright?"

"Y-yes, we're fine. We will be at least... Thanks for the help." Fauxe replied.

"No problem. We will have to report to Faith of what happened in the morning but for now I'd suggest you take some healing berries to recover from your wounds and get some rest here in the village." Lumi told them.

"Thanks again, Lumi and Tsuki. I hope Lightning and the brothers have been doing well since we were gone." Phoenix said.

"They have been doing better now but there were a few things that happened while you were away. It was eventually resolved and they are safe and doing well." Tsuki responded with a smile. "Have a good rest of your night and sleep well."

"You both have a great night too. Hopefully you both will get some sleep too." Phoenix retorted.

"We will. The next group's turn to keep watch will be soon so we'll be getting some rest for ourselves as well in just a moment." Lumi stated.

"Hopefully the rest of the night goes smoothly and no other attacks happen..." Fauxe added.

"We hope so too. The attacks have been happening very frequently as of late. It's kind of concerning... I'm sure we can keep it together though so don't worry too much about it." Lumi persisted. "I would assume you both are really tired so go on and get some much needed rest."

With that, Phoenix and Fauxe finally flew off to grab some healing berries from the berry pile and perched themselves on Lightning's den to eat and then go to sleep for the night.

_________________________________
Finally finished this chapter at last. Sorry for the delay. I was going to finish this chapter last weekend to celebrate my 6th year anniversary for this account on Friday the 13th but I also had a family wedding to go to for my cousin during the weekend.

I had to completely rewrite this chapter a few times because Wattpad kept logging me out while I had the draft still up. I had to completely rework it anyway because I was originally going to do the training sequence but then forgot about the scene with Phoenix and Fauxe going to inform Thunder that his daughter couldn't come home for a while so I decided that now would be the good time to put in their perspective before it was too late. That part wouldn't have made any sense if I never explained it anywhere so this is what this chapter was for.

The training was decided to be a time skip instead, hence why this chapter didn't include Lightning or the brothers. There will be some chapters that will be like that in this story but there's also a lot planned for this one. I'm unsure about how long this story will actually be but it's planned to be very long. Some chapters will contain just the Eeveeville villagers, the brothers, Lightning, Faith, the villains of the story, ect.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed. More will be coming soon. Next updates will be for Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon and Haunt first though so I hope you are looking forward to those updates as well. This may be updated again as soon as next month at least.