Part 3
(Disclaimer: Those who are under the age of 18 and/or live in a place that has laws and/or stipulations against reading this kind of material are as such prohibited from reading the following. It may contain adult themed sexuality among other things. Pokemon is licensed to its owners and other affiliate companies, etc. This is meant purely for entertainment purposes and not to be taken seriously and/or used for commercial use. The author cannot be held responsible for anything that may occur as a result of you viewing this document.)
Journey of an Outcast - Part 3
By: ShadowWaterDragon
(Notes: "***" = scene change, "' '" = sound and/or thought, "( )" = author addressing the reader)
***
Sneasel woke up without opening his eyes. He turned his head from side to side, his eyelids still heavy. Sneasel stretched his legs out and tensed his torso and chest. He winced as he was rather painfully reminded of the previous day's events. Sneasel finally opened his eyes and took a look around. He was in the hospital, the exact same room as before actually.
"I really hope they don't have to permanently write my name on the door."
Sneasel looked down. He was uncovered; he still had his scarf though. His body was in a cast like shell, making it difficult for him to move. 'I look like that Squirtle. Well, if I ever see him again I definitely won't make fun of his shell.' He looked over to the side. Cubone was sleeping in a chair that was pulled up beside his bed. She had her hands wrapped around his. Sneasel kept his head down and began to think about what he'd seen and done and heard since he got into this town. Sneasel felt a squeeze on his hand.
"Cubone? Are you awake?"
Cubone blinked and looked up at Sneasel.
"Sneasel!" Cubone wrapped her arms around him as best she could, tears flowing down her face.
"Hey, ow, hey." Sneasel looked down at her. He knew she was worried but still. "Hey Cubone?"
"Mmm?"
"I'm sorry; I should have backed down with Absol."
"No, that's not you. You don't back down."
"Still, I'm sorry for making you worry."
"It's ok, Absols always been like that. He doesn't trust anyone but me, and even then he treats me like a little sister."
"It's just because he worries about you."
"You think?" Cubone asked.
"Most likely," the two pokemon sat together for a while, "Any word as to what's wrong with me this time?"
"Not yet, they said that the wound was deep and they took some x-rays, but there's been no word."
"I see." Sneasel lied back down and rested his encased body.
"How are you feeling?"
"The cut hurts and this cast itches to no end, but all in all I guess I'm ok."
"Excuse me." A voice came from the door way, "Cubone? Could you come with me for a moment?"
"Sure, Chansey." Cubone got down off of the stool and left the room with Chansey.
Sneasel closed his eyes to rest. A breeze blew through the room bringing in leaves and random bouts of sunlight as the blinds were blown around.
"Hello, Absol." Sneasel said without opening his eyes. "What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to drop something off." Sneasel opened his eyes. Around Absol was his berry bag.
"Moving me out?"
"You're going to be here awhile. Most pokemon are with that kind of wound."
"A little too proud of that aren't you?"
Absol smiled and padded his way towards Sneasel.
"I doubt that you came all this way to just drop that off. Is there something else you want?"
"Yes, I wanted to talk with you."
"Okay."
"You told me that if I ever attacked Cubone again that you would kill me. Well, I have something like that for you."
"Oh?"
"If you ever hurt her, I'll see to it that you never see her again."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Well, the same goes for me."
The two pokemon glared at each other and smiled.
"Alright then," Absol said, "It's a promise, barring any extenuating circumstances of course."
Sneasel blinked, "Of course."
"Absol! When did you get here?" Cubone asked.
"Actually I was just leaving." Absol made his way towards the door.
Cubone walked over to the side of the bed and took Sneasels claw in her hands. Absol stopped just short of the doorway and turned his head around.
"Take care of her."
"I will."
Absol ran out of the room and hospital back towards the mountains.
"What was that about?" Cubone asked.
"It was nothing, just some male bonding," Sneasel said smiling, "What did Chansey want?"
"It seems that Absols attack cut through a few of your ribs."
Sneasels eyes shot wide, "It did?"
"Yes, they're not sure how long it will take to heal. There's a special berry that could drastically speed up the healing process even more than the stuff I made, but it's incredibly difficult to find and it's said that the plant only produces one a month."
"Damn, that would be my luck. What's the berry look like? Absol dropped off my berry bag. I might have picked it up."
"It's a very dark yellow, with bright blue and pink spots."
"You're kidding?"
"You have one."
"No I don't, I was talking about your description of the berry."
"Oh,"
"Hey Cubone bring my bag up here, even if it won't heal me much I'm still hungry."
"Sure," Cubone walked to the end of the bed where Absol had placed the bag.
There was a note on top with her name on top. She slid it off and placed the bag up where Sneasel could reach it. She picked up the note and went back to the chair.
"Here," Sneasel was holding out a claw with a berry it. "I doubt you've eaten either."
Cubone smiled and took the berry. The two of them sat and ate together. Cubone had grabbed a berry from the bag.
"This will be it for me."
"Yeah, I should probably stop too."
Cubone opened her mouth to eat the berry when she quickly closed her mouth and stared at the berry in her hand.
"Huh? What is it Cubone? Is something wrong with the berry?"
"This...This is!...This is the berry!"
"Huh?" Sneasel stared at the berry in her hand and sure enough it was a dark yellow with bright blue and pink spots. "But, I didn't."
"Chansey! Chansey!" Cubone ran out of the room to find Chansey.
"But, I never picked a berry like that."
"Consider that the closer for our deal." A shadow outside the window caught Sneasels eye, then vanished.
"I can't decide whether I like that guy, or if he just pisses me off."
Chansey ran into the room with a syringe full of what Sneasel presumed was the medicine from the berry.
"Open up!" Chansey snapped at him.
Sneasel damn near fell out of the bed in shock. This wasn't the same Chansey that he had met before. Chansey wrestled Sneasels mouth open and after nearly choking him with the syringe, Chansey left to go clean up.
'Cough' 'Cough' 'Gasp' "What the hell was that?"
Chanseys head snapped back into the room. Sneasel shrank back slightly.
"That was your medicine. You'll have no visitors for 36 hours. Now rest."
Sneasel waited a few moments to make sure that she wouldn't be coming back, and then he lied down and with the berry bag still at the foot of his bed he fell into a deep sleep, courtesy of the Chansey outside his door.
***
Cubone was sitting in the waiting room, Chansey had brought her a cup of coffee but it did nothing more than warm her hand. She set the cup down and pulled out the note. She opened it up and began to read.
Cubone, I have done wrong not only by you but Sneasel as well. While the rumors I told
you were true there is no proof of any of them being based in truth. They were more
likely conjured up by fear and misunderstanding. Sneasel really does seem to care for
you, and in him I have placed my trust to look after you when I cannot. It is also
apparent to me that you have feelings for him as well. I am glad for the both of you.
I am sorry for lying to you, it was a selfish thing for me to do and I shouldn't have.
Please take care of yourself.
Absol
A tear fell from Cubones eye and landed on the paper in her hands. Cubone leaned her head back and without speaking mouthed Thank You. Cubone fell asleep out in the waiting room, the cup of coffee still steaming on the floor.
***
Cubone woke up in the waiting room. The sun was shining though the clouds. She sat up a blanket fell down around her. Cubone smiled and picked up her coffee and took a sip. Cubones head snapped back, the coffee was room temperature, which in the waiting room was pretty cool.
"How long was I asleep?" Cubone asked.
There was no one else in the waiting room. She looked up at the clock, 9:00.
"It's only been 5 hours." 'I hope Sneasels doing alright.'
"Excuse me."
"Yes?" Cubone looked up at Chansey.
This was the Chansey who had helped the Smoochum she had brought in. There were 5 Chanseys who worked in the hospital; only the Chanseys could tell each other apart, everyone else had to wait until the Chansey spoke to figure out which one it was.
"How do you feel?"
"Fine, Why?"
"You've been asleep for nearly 36 hours."
"What?!"
"Please calm down you probably just heard one of us singing or something. That actually happens a lot around here."
"Yeah, I bet. How did Smoochum fair?"
"Oh, she's fine. She went home a couple of days ago after the rain stopped."
"That's good to here."
"You came in with Sneasel, correct?"
"Yes! How is he?"
"Well, from what we can tell he's making a full recovery and should be able to leave after he wakes up and a final examination is completed. He's still sleeping so we have to wait."
"That's good."
"I probably shouldn't but I don't think it would hurt if you want to go in and sit with him. Just don't touch him or anything else, okay?"
"Thank you!"
Cubone ran off to Sneasels room. Chansey picked up the coffee and took a sip.
"Blech, it's cold."
***
Sneasel opened his eyes slowly and looked around the room as best he could. Cubone was in a chair as close as she could be without touching him. He looked down, the cast was gone but there were bandages wrapped around his chest.
"I thought I wasn't allowed to have any visitors for 36 hours?"
"It's been 37 hours since you took your medicine."
"Really? Damn."
"How do you feel?"
"Better than before, but still in pain. How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing alright, better now. Chansey said you'd be able to make a full recovery and even leave the hospital if the final examination goes okay."
"That's good to hear. I only hope that this sort of thing doesn't becomes a habit."
"Don't worry, I won't...not anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
"You said that,"
"I'll do whatever I have to; to protect the bond we share. Besides I'm more worried about Chansey."
"Why?"
"Is she bipolar or something?"
"What? No. Oh, hahaha, There's more than one Chansey who works in the hospital."
Sneasels head fell to the side. "That would make more sense."
"Good you're awake." Chansey said from the door, "Then we'll begin the final examination."
"Oh boy, I can hardly wait."
'Snap' Chansey was fitting herself with rubber gloves.
"Um, 'Gulp' Cubone." Sneasel said, "If you don't mind could you wait in the hall."
"Huh? Sure, I'll go to the cafeteria and get us something to eat meet me down there when you finish."
"Okay, thanks."
Cubone got up and walked out of the room. 'Snap' the other glove was on. Chansey walked into the room smiling and closed the door tight behind her.
"Yeow!!!!"
Cubone winced, but continued towards the cafeteria.
***
Cubone had made it about halfway through her meal when Sneasel walked into the cafeteria with a third leg. Cubone got up and helped Sneasel, and crutch, over to the table.
"Is the crutch really necessary?"
"They say it is. In order to discourage any high speed or sudden moves. They really know how to kick a guy when he's down."
"Not to mention I think the whole hospital heard you scream."
"Hey, hey, hey, He ripped those bandages off of me, okay? I was lucky he didn't re-open the wound."
"Yeah well eat up; I'm guessing you're hungry." Cubone said smiling, Sneasel was behaving normally.
"Starved."
Sneasel picked up some of the food. It didn't look like anything he'd ever seen before. He took a bite of it. The flavor was faint to the point he wasn't really sure if there was one, but he was too hungry to complain. He ate all of the food that was on his plate, finishing about the same time as Cubone.
"Well, shall we leave?" Cubone asked with a somewhat dignified tone.
"Let's." Sneasel said in an equally snooty tone.
Cubone figured out something she liked about the crutch as the two of them made there way out of the hospital. With it Sneasel was actually slower than she was. Sneasel never once complained though. A speed type like him would never admit something like that. Cubone didn't push the topic at all but walked with Sneasel out of the hospital with a smile on her lips. On the way out the door Chansey walked up to them.
"You left this in the room." Chansey said holding up Sneasels berry bag.
"Thank you." Cubone said as she took the bag from Chansey and put it over her head.
"And you, you are to use that crutch for the next 4 days, got it?"
"Yeah, I got it,"
"And, no"
"No battles, exerting myself, and/or forgetting to eat one berry every 2 hours for the next two days."
"That's right. Well, see you later."
Sneasel mumbled to himself and left the hospital with Cubone.
"She doesn't seem that bad." Cubone commented.
Sneasel gave her a 'If you only knew.' look.
Both of them made there way up the hill back towards the mountains. They approached the shop where Delibird and Smoochum were talking about something.
"Hold on, I want to sell the berries I've collected so far." Sneasel said.
"You mean the ones we haven't eaten already and/or you need to take as medicine?"
"Yeah, those."
"Good idea I need to buy supplies as well."
The two of them approached the counter.
"Ah, hello there and what can I do for you?" Delibird asked his two customers.
Cubone put the berry bag up on the counter. Delibird stared at it somewhat puzzled.
"Do you not want the berries?" Sneasel asked.
"Oh these are yours. I thought Cubone had picked up berry picking."
"No with Sneasels injury he can't carry the bag."
"You're always so helpful Cubone, especially after the matter with Smoochum."
"I need to keep, 24 of the regular berries, the rest you can take you're pick of."
"Okay then, Smoochum you count how many of each berry Sneasel has collected and use the chart to find out how much to pay him."
"Okay!"
"What can I do for you then Cubone?"
"I need my usual supplies."
"Right, I have them right here for you."
Cubone pulled out her money to pay for the supplies when much to her surprise Delibird refused to take it.
"No, no charge after saving Smoochum these are on the house."
"Thank you,"
"Here you go, Sneasel. I put you're money in the bag okay?"
"Yeah, sure."
Smoochum stared at Sneasel for a bit. Cubone reached up and grabbed the bag from her, which snapped her back into reality.
"I'll take this."
A mass of small pokemon accompanied by a Noctowl walked up the hill.
"...and this, children, is the shop where you can buy just about anything."
"anything?" A small voice cried out from amidst the crowd.
"Almost,"
"Ah, hello there everyone." Delibird said.
"Hello, Delibird." The small pokemon said in chorus.
"What are they?" Sneasel leaned over to Cubone.
"That's the class. Young pokemon learning the basics of our village and how the world works. For the most part anyway."
"Joy,"
"Hey, hey teacher." A small voice called out of the mass.
"Yes Caterpie, what is it?"
"What's that pokemon beside Cubone?"
Sneasel looked at Cubone, the other side of Cubone, and the other side of him.
"Who is he talking about?" Sneasel asked Cubone.
Cubone laughed, "He's talking about you. You're not native to this village remember."
"Right."
"That's a Sneasel, Caterpie."
"oh,..."
"What's a matter Sneasel did you fall from the tree?" A naisely voice came from the other side of the mass.
"Oh god, that voice, it couldn't be, and no one could be that stupid. Could they?" Sneasel looked over at Cubone.
"Those two, yes."
"You sayin we're stupid?"
"Well, you two are definitely annoying."
The pokemon class giggled. Noctowl quieted the class and moved the class over to the side of the shop.
"I want my scarf back!"
"What are you, oh, right, the scarf, well you see I need it more than you do so my answer is...no."
"Then how about this you and Cubone against Rattata and me. If I win I get my scarf back."
"And when we win?"
"IF you win we'll...we'll."
"Give me that map you took from me." Cubone spoke up.
"Fine, do we have a deal."
"Sure why not." Sneasel said.
Delibird spoke up from behind the counter.
"Should you really battle in your condition?"
"Don't worry, I've been through worse."
"Besides these two are mine." Cubone said.
"Are you sure you want to take Squirtle and Rattata by yourself?"
"It shouldn't be a problem it's not like I'm weak or anything. Right?"
Sneasel smiled, "Right, alright I'll keep an eye out for you though, just in case."
"Fair enough."
"Okay, let's go!"
"Pay attention class you might learn something."
"Yes, teacher!"
Rattata took off with a Quick Attack aimed right for Sneasel. Cubone lowered her head and charged as well. The two pokemon ran full speed at one another. At the last moment Rattata jumped up. Squirtle leaned his head back and took a deep breath.
"Cubone! Jump!"
Rattata landed in front of him and stole his crutch.
"Hey! Cubone now!"
Cubone jumped up but to late and took the full blast from a Water Gun at close range. Cubone flew back and crashed into Sneasel.
"Umph,"
"Sneasel! Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Sneasel stood up again leaning on the counter.
Rattata grabbed Squirtles arm and began to spin him around and around.
"What now?"
Squirtle began to rise off of the ground. He pulled everything but his arm into his shell. Faster and faster the two pokemon spun.
"He's gonna throw him!" Sneasel yelled.
"What?!"
"He's gonna throw him, damn." Thoughts raced through Sneasels mind. Trying to think of what to do; he couldn't do anything so it was all up to Cubone. Sneasel thought so hard the spot on his head from where Cubone had hit him began to hurt again.
"My head hurts."
"Sneasel what are we going to do?" Cubone asked.
Sneasel looked up; Rattata and Squirtle were spinning like a top. His eyes flashed.
"Cubone, are you any good at sports?"
"What?"
"Can you hit a beach ball with your bone?"
"Yes, why?"
"Stand in front of me and get ready."
"What?"
"Just do it!"
"Okay."
Rattata let go at just the right moment to send Squirtle flying towards them. Cubone held her bone in the ready position.
"It's going to fast. I'm not sure if I'll be able to hit it."
Sneasel leaned his head back sucking in a deep breath. With his cheeks puffed out Sneasel blew towards Squirtle. A Blizzard flew and enveloped the spinning Squirtle slowing him down slightly and freezing him to a beach ball sized ice sphere. Sneasel took a knee breathing heavily.
"How about now?"
"That should be fine."
"Squirtle!" Rattata screamed.
Cubone swung her bone and hit the sweet spot on the ice sphere. The sphere spun against the bone for a moment before flying off in the opposite direction towards Rattata.
"Ahhhhh!"
The ice ball slammed into Rattatas face. His teeth piercing the sphere a good 2 and a half inches. The ice ball and Rattata began to spin end over end until coming to a stop by shattering against a tree. Rattata was on the opposite side of the tree but the shrapnel like ice was no kinder to him. Both of them were sprawled out unconscious and confused.
"Remind me the next time you swing that bone to duck."
"I didn't hit you did I?" Cubone bent down by his side.
"No, but you swinging that bone scares me more than that Chansey in the hospital."
A loud roaring from the side of the shop meant that the class enjoyed the show. The mass had quickly surrounded the two victors.
"That was awesome. Incredible. You're so strong. Cool. Yeah! Sweet."
Cubone smiled and thanked all of the children who were complimenting her. Sneasel laughed to himself as he watched her take all of the credit. That was fine by him, the last thing he needed was every kid in the village shouting his name.
"Um,..." Sneasel looked over, it was the Caterpie. It had its String Shot attached to his crutch. "here."
"Thank you."
Sneasel grabbed his crutch and stood up.
"That was a real clever move."
"What move? All I did was blow ice."
"That's not true; there was more tactics in that battle than force."
"Don't waste your time with him. Caterpie can barely tackle let alone battle." Another pokemon said from the crowd.
Caterpie lowered its head, his antenna drooping.
"Caterpies String Shot would have faired just as well as I did in that battle, if not better." The entire class fell silent
Caterpies head looked back up.
"Really?" The same voice said.
"Yes, Caterpies String Shot attack would have had been very effective in that battle." The teacher said.
Sneasel stood up with his crutch. The children surrounded Cubone and their teacher with a barrage of questions. Sneasel made his way over to where Rattata and Squirtle lay unconscious on the ground. Sneasel poked Squirtle on its head. Squirtle clenched its eyes and then relaxed again. Sneasel poked him again, this time Squirtle woke up.
"Huh, Ahhhh!"
"Will you calm down? I don't want to have freeze you again."
"No! No, I'm calm! Wha-What do you want."
"We won, so you owe us one map." Sneasel held out his claw waiting.
"Oh, right." Squirtle sneered and pulled in one of its arms and put it back out holding a folded up piece of paper. "Here."
Sneasel grabbed the paper and made his way back towards Cubone. The children had asked their questions and were preparing to continue their lessons for the day. Noctowl ushered the class off to there next location. Sneasel handed Cubone the paper.
"So they took this from you? What is it?"
"Not sure really."
"You're...not...sure?"
"Nope, I didn't have a chance to look at it before they took it from me."
"I see."
Cubone opened up the paper, a look of pure shock came over her.
"It'sa...It'sa...It'sa...It'sa"
"It's a ...?"
"It's the map of the waterfall cave!"
"The cave? You're kidding?"
"No, it is! There's no doubt!" Cubone began to jump up and down with joy.
"What is she talking about?" Delibird asked.
"It's something she's been looking for; for a while. But I think we'll need some more supplies, perchance do you deliver?"
"Sure, depending on the size of the order and the place of course."
"Well, once she calms down she'll start rambling off items, just keep a running tally and when she's done read it back to make sure she didn't forget anything, or if she said something we don't need."
"We'll need..."
"Here we go."
Cubone listed off item after item after item. Delibird rapidly scribbled down every item Cubone listed off Smoochum and Sneasel just stood there as Cubone listed and Delibird wrote down every word. At the end Cubone finally took a breath.
"Are you done with the list?" Sneasel said smiling.
"Yeah, that should be everything."
"Great, Delibird could you read that back? Please."
"Sure,..."
Delibird listed off all of the items on his list. Cubone interjected every now and then adding, correcting, or removing this or that.
"Are you sure that's enough stuff?" Delibird asked.
"There's a village in the mountains, if we need any more supplies we can get them there."
"Um, if you're serious, there's something else we'll need."
"What?"
Sneasel looked over at Delibird. "Do you have anything like a cloak, or traveling robe?"
"Yeah, there's something like that in the back." Smoochum said.
"Why would we need those?" Cubone asked.
"I have no friends in that village and neither do you. Walking in to that place under those circumstances is not recommended. The less people that know we're there and why the better. We'll need those, if we're going into that village or any where near it."
"Okay then, add those to the list."
"So you're going with her on this little trip?"
"I know the layout of the land and it will be payback for taking care of me."
"Okay, all of that will take about a week to prepare and deliver." Delibird said.
"Oh, okay."
"If you give that stuff to us on the house you'll go bankrupt."
"True, but we'll still give you a discount."
After a few calculations and Smoochum re-calculating it correctly they had a final price which, after taking some money from Sneasels newly established stash, was paid in full. Sneasel and Cubone waved good bye to Delibird and Smoochum and made there way back to Cubones house. Unbeknownst to either of them a shadow followed them through the forest and the mountain path.
***
The week passed rather quickly for the two pokemon, preparing and planning, and looking over maps. Sneasel went over in great detail how they would go about and behave in the village, should they have to go in for supplies. They passed the time talking and making sure that Sneasel ate his berries on time. After Sneasel had healed completely they celebrated a bit. After his recovery Sneasel and Cubone went on walks on which Sneasel would pick berries and talk with Cubone sometimes testing her on what to do while they were in the village or running hypothetical situations by her. Cubone enjoyed her time with him but anytime someone else would be close by or within hearing distance he would behave differently, she understood somewhat but she still didn't like it. One of them even approached her while Sneasel was picking berries and asked her a few questions about him and why she'd helped him. She just shrugged and talked about how they didn't really know him, and what he was like around her. The pokemon would just stare at her and shrug and then leave before Sneasel returned. The days passed and the bond that was between them grew and Sneasel would smile more often than before. The day of the delivery a huge box was dropped off on the cliff. It was like Christmas. They ripped open the box and rummaged through its contents and them out until the floor, counters, and chairs were all covered with one item or another. They spent the rest of that and the next day sorting through the items and preparing for there journey. When the preparations were complete the two stood on the edge of the entrance their cloaks flowing in the breeze. Sneasel with his berry bag on strung across his shoulder and Cubone had a Knapsack on her side as well. The two smiled at one another.
"We're not forgetting anything are we?" Sneasel asked.
"Nope."
"You have the map?"
"Of course I..."
Cubone turned around and walked back into house and grabbed the map on the table. Cubone returned to the cliff side.
"Okay, now are we sure we've got everything. I really don't want to go through that checklist again."
"Yes, we've got everything."
Cubone closed up the entrance to her home and the two of them made there way down the path of the cliff and towards the mountain village. The road was long and hard on both of them and they ran through there supplies quicker than expected.
"Looks, like we won't have a choice but to stock up in the village." Cubone said.
"Unfortunately, We're a couple of days away so from here on out we'll wear our cloaks all the time. The closer we get the more we'll implement those rules I told you."
"Are you sure all this is really necessary?"
"I spent most of my life in that place. Every move, every sound, every thought is used to judge you. Your rank is all that matters and outsiders start at the bottom of the barrel."
"Our thoughts?"
"Yours more than mine. Psychic pokemon can't read my mind unless I let them. That's part of what kept me at the top so long."
"What happens if they find out why we're really there?"
"We're only going there to buy supplies. I doubt they'll mind if we stimulate their economy. As for the cave, I doubt they'd care. The pokemon in the village don't really care about the goings on of those outside it."
"I guess,"
"Look, I'm worried too. They hated me while they thought I was alive, and according to Absol they think I'm dead. Sometimes, I think its better this way. I don't have to worry about any of them."
Cubone walked over to where Sneasel was sitting by the fire of their make shift campsite and sat down next to him wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm sorry, if I had known I wouldn't have asked you to come."
"Hey, you couldn't keep me away. We share your dream, remember? The chance to see that dream come true, I wouldn't miss it for the world. But starting tomorrow and until we make it to the waterfall we shouldn't talk above a whisper."
"Okay."
Sneasel and Cubone stared at the fire for a while before falling asleep in each others arms.
***
Meanwhile in the village...
"Two strangers will enter the village in two days. One is a Cubone the other..." said a feminine voice that was soft and wise.
"The other?" The voice was commanding and somewhat gruff.
"A dark type, I can't read it."
"Damn, what do they want?"
"It seems they're traveling to the water fall on the other side of the village and they need to buy some supplies."
"That's all?"
"So it seems, although..."
"What?"
"The dark type, it's either been to this village before or he's originally from this village."
"What do you mean?"
"I know the aura of every pokemon that has ever stepped foot in the village since I was born, though it is different now there is some similarity to a pokemon that was in this village before."
"Which one? Which pokemon?!"
"If I knew I would tell you, but as I said the pokemon is a dark type and I cannot read it unless it wants me to."
"Alright, I get it. , You! I want you to find out who this other pokemon is. Do not engage them, all you are to do is find out who the dark type pokemon is and then report back."
"Yes sir."
The pokemon vanished and made its way out of the village to find the visitors.
"Is it him? Did he really survive that landslide?"
"Landslide?"
"It's nothing."
"Very well."
***
Two cloaked pokemon made there way into the village. Neither of them made a sound. The pokemon in the village stared at the outsiders, watching every move. A large pile of rubble beside a statue of a rather large pokemon caught their attention. The two strangers made there way towards the center of town and stopped in front of the shop.
"What can I do ya for?" Gilgar said from behind the counter.
The shorter of the two strangers put a list on the counter.
"Huh, What's iss?"
Gilgar looked down. It was a list of items.
"Chu want these?"
This time the taller stranger nodded. Gilgar started to gather the items and set them on the counter.
"That'll be 120."
The smaller stranger placed the money on the counter and grabbed half of the items and pulled them into the cloak. Then the taller one grabbed the remaining items.
"Excuse me." A voice came from behind.
The two strangers turned around heads lowered.
"All new comers must see the leader of the village. That's the rule so come on."
The two strangers looked at each other and then began to walk towards the other end of town.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way."
The two didn't even hesitate, they just kept walking away. A pokemon appeared in front of them.
"Now, now, there's no reason to be in such a hurry."
The taller stranger stood in font of the smaller one.
"Hey, there's no reason to get testy. Of course you always were,...Sneasel."
***
(This one is shorter than the first two but I thought this would be a good place to stop. I have some more ideas for what will happen so keep an eye out for Part 4. Reviews are always welcome. Until next time.)
Journey of an Outcast - Part 3
By: ShadowWaterDragon
(Notes: "***" = scene change, "' '" = sound and/or thought, "( )" = author addressing the reader)
***
Sneasel woke up without opening his eyes. He turned his head from side to side, his eyelids still heavy. Sneasel stretched his legs out and tensed his torso and chest. He winced as he was rather painfully reminded of the previous day's events. Sneasel finally opened his eyes and took a look around. He was in the hospital, the exact same room as before actually.
"I really hope they don't have to permanently write my name on the door."
Sneasel looked down. He was uncovered; he still had his scarf though. His body was in a cast like shell, making it difficult for him to move. 'I look like that Squirtle. Well, if I ever see him again I definitely won't make fun of his shell.' He looked over to the side. Cubone was sleeping in a chair that was pulled up beside his bed. She had her hands wrapped around his. Sneasel kept his head down and began to think about what he'd seen and done and heard since he got into this town. Sneasel felt a squeeze on his hand.
"Cubone? Are you awake?"
Cubone blinked and looked up at Sneasel.
"Sneasel!" Cubone wrapped her arms around him as best she could, tears flowing down her face.
"Hey, ow, hey." Sneasel looked down at her. He knew she was worried but still. "Hey Cubone?"
"Mmm?"
"I'm sorry; I should have backed down with Absol."
"No, that's not you. You don't back down."
"Still, I'm sorry for making you worry."
"It's ok, Absols always been like that. He doesn't trust anyone but me, and even then he treats me like a little sister."
"It's just because he worries about you."
"You think?" Cubone asked.
"Most likely," the two pokemon sat together for a while, "Any word as to what's wrong with me this time?"
"Not yet, they said that the wound was deep and they took some x-rays, but there's been no word."
"I see." Sneasel lied back down and rested his encased body.
"How are you feeling?"
"The cut hurts and this cast itches to no end, but all in all I guess I'm ok."
"Excuse me." A voice came from the door way, "Cubone? Could you come with me for a moment?"
"Sure, Chansey." Cubone got down off of the stool and left the room with Chansey.
Sneasel closed his eyes to rest. A breeze blew through the room bringing in leaves and random bouts of sunlight as the blinds were blown around.
"Hello, Absol." Sneasel said without opening his eyes. "What brings you here?"
"I just wanted to drop something off." Sneasel opened his eyes. Around Absol was his berry bag.
"Moving me out?"
"You're going to be here awhile. Most pokemon are with that kind of wound."
"A little too proud of that aren't you?"
Absol smiled and padded his way towards Sneasel.
"I doubt that you came all this way to just drop that off. Is there something else you want?"
"Yes, I wanted to talk with you."
"Okay."
"You told me that if I ever attacked Cubone again that you would kill me. Well, I have something like that for you."
"Oh?"
"If you ever hurt her, I'll see to it that you never see her again."
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
"Well, the same goes for me."
The two pokemon glared at each other and smiled.
"Alright then," Absol said, "It's a promise, barring any extenuating circumstances of course."
Sneasel blinked, "Of course."
"Absol! When did you get here?" Cubone asked.
"Actually I was just leaving." Absol made his way towards the door.
Cubone walked over to the side of the bed and took Sneasels claw in her hands. Absol stopped just short of the doorway and turned his head around.
"Take care of her."
"I will."
Absol ran out of the room and hospital back towards the mountains.
"What was that about?" Cubone asked.
"It was nothing, just some male bonding," Sneasel said smiling, "What did Chansey want?"
"It seems that Absols attack cut through a few of your ribs."
Sneasels eyes shot wide, "It did?"
"Yes, they're not sure how long it will take to heal. There's a special berry that could drastically speed up the healing process even more than the stuff I made, but it's incredibly difficult to find and it's said that the plant only produces one a month."
"Damn, that would be my luck. What's the berry look like? Absol dropped off my berry bag. I might have picked it up."
"It's a very dark yellow, with bright blue and pink spots."
"You're kidding?"
"You have one."
"No I don't, I was talking about your description of the berry."
"Oh,"
"Hey Cubone bring my bag up here, even if it won't heal me much I'm still hungry."
"Sure," Cubone walked to the end of the bed where Absol had placed the bag.
There was a note on top with her name on top. She slid it off and placed the bag up where Sneasel could reach it. She picked up the note and went back to the chair.
"Here," Sneasel was holding out a claw with a berry it. "I doubt you've eaten either."
Cubone smiled and took the berry. The two of them sat and ate together. Cubone had grabbed a berry from the bag.
"This will be it for me."
"Yeah, I should probably stop too."
Cubone opened her mouth to eat the berry when she quickly closed her mouth and stared at the berry in her hand.
"Huh? What is it Cubone? Is something wrong with the berry?"
"This...This is!...This is the berry!"
"Huh?" Sneasel stared at the berry in her hand and sure enough it was a dark yellow with bright blue and pink spots. "But, I didn't."
"Chansey! Chansey!" Cubone ran out of the room to find Chansey.
"But, I never picked a berry like that."
"Consider that the closer for our deal." A shadow outside the window caught Sneasels eye, then vanished.
"I can't decide whether I like that guy, or if he just pisses me off."
Chansey ran into the room with a syringe full of what Sneasel presumed was the medicine from the berry.
"Open up!" Chansey snapped at him.
Sneasel damn near fell out of the bed in shock. This wasn't the same Chansey that he had met before. Chansey wrestled Sneasels mouth open and after nearly choking him with the syringe, Chansey left to go clean up.
'Cough' 'Cough' 'Gasp' "What the hell was that?"
Chanseys head snapped back into the room. Sneasel shrank back slightly.
"That was your medicine. You'll have no visitors for 36 hours. Now rest."
Sneasel waited a few moments to make sure that she wouldn't be coming back, and then he lied down and with the berry bag still at the foot of his bed he fell into a deep sleep, courtesy of the Chansey outside his door.
***
Cubone was sitting in the waiting room, Chansey had brought her a cup of coffee but it did nothing more than warm her hand. She set the cup down and pulled out the note. She opened it up and began to read.
Cubone, I have done wrong not only by you but Sneasel as well. While the rumors I told
you were true there is no proof of any of them being based in truth. They were more
likely conjured up by fear and misunderstanding. Sneasel really does seem to care for
you, and in him I have placed my trust to look after you when I cannot. It is also
apparent to me that you have feelings for him as well. I am glad for the both of you.
I am sorry for lying to you, it was a selfish thing for me to do and I shouldn't have.
Please take care of yourself.
Absol
A tear fell from Cubones eye and landed on the paper in her hands. Cubone leaned her head back and without speaking mouthed Thank You. Cubone fell asleep out in the waiting room, the cup of coffee still steaming on the floor.
***
Cubone woke up in the waiting room. The sun was shining though the clouds. She sat up a blanket fell down around her. Cubone smiled and picked up her coffee and took a sip. Cubones head snapped back, the coffee was room temperature, which in the waiting room was pretty cool.
"How long was I asleep?" Cubone asked.
There was no one else in the waiting room. She looked up at the clock, 9:00.
"It's only been 5 hours." 'I hope Sneasels doing alright.'
"Excuse me."
"Yes?" Cubone looked up at Chansey.
This was the Chansey who had helped the Smoochum she had brought in. There were 5 Chanseys who worked in the hospital; only the Chanseys could tell each other apart, everyone else had to wait until the Chansey spoke to figure out which one it was.
"How do you feel?"
"Fine, Why?"
"You've been asleep for nearly 36 hours."
"What?!"
"Please calm down you probably just heard one of us singing or something. That actually happens a lot around here."
"Yeah, I bet. How did Smoochum fair?"
"Oh, she's fine. She went home a couple of days ago after the rain stopped."
"That's good to here."
"You came in with Sneasel, correct?"
"Yes! How is he?"
"Well, from what we can tell he's making a full recovery and should be able to leave after he wakes up and a final examination is completed. He's still sleeping so we have to wait."
"That's good."
"I probably shouldn't but I don't think it would hurt if you want to go in and sit with him. Just don't touch him or anything else, okay?"
"Thank you!"
Cubone ran off to Sneasels room. Chansey picked up the coffee and took a sip.
"Blech, it's cold."
***
Sneasel opened his eyes slowly and looked around the room as best he could. Cubone was in a chair as close as she could be without touching him. He looked down, the cast was gone but there were bandages wrapped around his chest.
"I thought I wasn't allowed to have any visitors for 36 hours?"
"It's been 37 hours since you took your medicine."
"Really? Damn."
"How do you feel?"
"Better than before, but still in pain. How are you holding up?"
"I'm doing alright, better now. Chansey said you'd be able to make a full recovery and even leave the hospital if the final examination goes okay."
"That's good to hear. I only hope that this sort of thing doesn't becomes a habit."
"Don't worry, I won't...not anymore."
"What are you talking about?"
"You said that,"
"I'll do whatever I have to; to protect the bond we share. Besides I'm more worried about Chansey."
"Why?"
"Is she bipolar or something?"
"What? No. Oh, hahaha, There's more than one Chansey who works in the hospital."
Sneasels head fell to the side. "That would make more sense."
"Good you're awake." Chansey said from the door, "Then we'll begin the final examination."
"Oh boy, I can hardly wait."
'Snap' Chansey was fitting herself with rubber gloves.
"Um, 'Gulp' Cubone." Sneasel said, "If you don't mind could you wait in the hall."
"Huh? Sure, I'll go to the cafeteria and get us something to eat meet me down there when you finish."
"Okay, thanks."
Cubone got up and walked out of the room. 'Snap' the other glove was on. Chansey walked into the room smiling and closed the door tight behind her.
"Yeow!!!!"
Cubone winced, but continued towards the cafeteria.
***
Cubone had made it about halfway through her meal when Sneasel walked into the cafeteria with a third leg. Cubone got up and helped Sneasel, and crutch, over to the table.
"Is the crutch really necessary?"
"They say it is. In order to discourage any high speed or sudden moves. They really know how to kick a guy when he's down."
"Not to mention I think the whole hospital heard you scream."
"Hey, hey, hey, He ripped those bandages off of me, okay? I was lucky he didn't re-open the wound."
"Yeah well eat up; I'm guessing you're hungry." Cubone said smiling, Sneasel was behaving normally.
"Starved."
Sneasel picked up some of the food. It didn't look like anything he'd ever seen before. He took a bite of it. The flavor was faint to the point he wasn't really sure if there was one, but he was too hungry to complain. He ate all of the food that was on his plate, finishing about the same time as Cubone.
"Well, shall we leave?" Cubone asked with a somewhat dignified tone.
"Let's." Sneasel said in an equally snooty tone.
Cubone figured out something she liked about the crutch as the two of them made there way out of the hospital. With it Sneasel was actually slower than she was. Sneasel never once complained though. A speed type like him would never admit something like that. Cubone didn't push the topic at all but walked with Sneasel out of the hospital with a smile on her lips. On the way out the door Chansey walked up to them.
"You left this in the room." Chansey said holding up Sneasels berry bag.
"Thank you." Cubone said as she took the bag from Chansey and put it over her head.
"And you, you are to use that crutch for the next 4 days, got it?"
"Yeah, I got it,"
"And, no"
"No battles, exerting myself, and/or forgetting to eat one berry every 2 hours for the next two days."
"That's right. Well, see you later."
Sneasel mumbled to himself and left the hospital with Cubone.
"She doesn't seem that bad." Cubone commented.
Sneasel gave her a 'If you only knew.' look.
Both of them made there way up the hill back towards the mountains. They approached the shop where Delibird and Smoochum were talking about something.
"Hold on, I want to sell the berries I've collected so far." Sneasel said.
"You mean the ones we haven't eaten already and/or you need to take as medicine?"
"Yeah, those."
"Good idea I need to buy supplies as well."
The two of them approached the counter.
"Ah, hello there and what can I do for you?" Delibird asked his two customers.
Cubone put the berry bag up on the counter. Delibird stared at it somewhat puzzled.
"Do you not want the berries?" Sneasel asked.
"Oh these are yours. I thought Cubone had picked up berry picking."
"No with Sneasels injury he can't carry the bag."
"You're always so helpful Cubone, especially after the matter with Smoochum."
"I need to keep, 24 of the regular berries, the rest you can take you're pick of."
"Okay then, Smoochum you count how many of each berry Sneasel has collected and use the chart to find out how much to pay him."
"Okay!"
"What can I do for you then Cubone?"
"I need my usual supplies."
"Right, I have them right here for you."
Cubone pulled out her money to pay for the supplies when much to her surprise Delibird refused to take it.
"No, no charge after saving Smoochum these are on the house."
"Thank you,"
"Here you go, Sneasel. I put you're money in the bag okay?"
"Yeah, sure."
Smoochum stared at Sneasel for a bit. Cubone reached up and grabbed the bag from her, which snapped her back into reality.
"I'll take this."
A mass of small pokemon accompanied by a Noctowl walked up the hill.
"...and this, children, is the shop where you can buy just about anything."
"anything?" A small voice cried out from amidst the crowd.
"Almost,"
"Ah, hello there everyone." Delibird said.
"Hello, Delibird." The small pokemon said in chorus.
"What are they?" Sneasel leaned over to Cubone.
"That's the class. Young pokemon learning the basics of our village and how the world works. For the most part anyway."
"Joy,"
"Hey, hey teacher." A small voice called out of the mass.
"Yes Caterpie, what is it?"
"What's that pokemon beside Cubone?"
Sneasel looked at Cubone, the other side of Cubone, and the other side of him.
"Who is he talking about?" Sneasel asked Cubone.
Cubone laughed, "He's talking about you. You're not native to this village remember."
"Right."
"That's a Sneasel, Caterpie."
"oh,..."
"What's a matter Sneasel did you fall from the tree?" A naisely voice came from the other side of the mass.
"Oh god, that voice, it couldn't be, and no one could be that stupid. Could they?" Sneasel looked over at Cubone.
"Those two, yes."
"You sayin we're stupid?"
"Well, you two are definitely annoying."
The pokemon class giggled. Noctowl quieted the class and moved the class over to the side of the shop.
"I want my scarf back!"
"What are you, oh, right, the scarf, well you see I need it more than you do so my answer is...no."
"Then how about this you and Cubone against Rattata and me. If I win I get my scarf back."
"And when we win?"
"IF you win we'll...we'll."
"Give me that map you took from me." Cubone spoke up.
"Fine, do we have a deal."
"Sure why not." Sneasel said.
Delibird spoke up from behind the counter.
"Should you really battle in your condition?"
"Don't worry, I've been through worse."
"Besides these two are mine." Cubone said.
"Are you sure you want to take Squirtle and Rattata by yourself?"
"It shouldn't be a problem it's not like I'm weak or anything. Right?"
Sneasel smiled, "Right, alright I'll keep an eye out for you though, just in case."
"Fair enough."
"Okay, let's go!"
"Pay attention class you might learn something."
"Yes, teacher!"
Rattata took off with a Quick Attack aimed right for Sneasel. Cubone lowered her head and charged as well. The two pokemon ran full speed at one another. At the last moment Rattata jumped up. Squirtle leaned his head back and took a deep breath.
"Cubone! Jump!"
Rattata landed in front of him and stole his crutch.
"Hey! Cubone now!"
Cubone jumped up but to late and took the full blast from a Water Gun at close range. Cubone flew back and crashed into Sneasel.
"Umph,"
"Sneasel! Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Sneasel stood up again leaning on the counter.
Rattata grabbed Squirtles arm and began to spin him around and around.
"What now?"
Squirtle began to rise off of the ground. He pulled everything but his arm into his shell. Faster and faster the two pokemon spun.
"He's gonna throw him!" Sneasel yelled.
"What?!"
"He's gonna throw him, damn." Thoughts raced through Sneasels mind. Trying to think of what to do; he couldn't do anything so it was all up to Cubone. Sneasel thought so hard the spot on his head from where Cubone had hit him began to hurt again.
"My head hurts."
"Sneasel what are we going to do?" Cubone asked.
Sneasel looked up; Rattata and Squirtle were spinning like a top. His eyes flashed.
"Cubone, are you any good at sports?"
"What?"
"Can you hit a beach ball with your bone?"
"Yes, why?"
"Stand in front of me and get ready."
"What?"
"Just do it!"
"Okay."
Rattata let go at just the right moment to send Squirtle flying towards them. Cubone held her bone in the ready position.
"It's going to fast. I'm not sure if I'll be able to hit it."
Sneasel leaned his head back sucking in a deep breath. With his cheeks puffed out Sneasel blew towards Squirtle. A Blizzard flew and enveloped the spinning Squirtle slowing him down slightly and freezing him to a beach ball sized ice sphere. Sneasel took a knee breathing heavily.
"How about now?"
"That should be fine."
"Squirtle!" Rattata screamed.
Cubone swung her bone and hit the sweet spot on the ice sphere. The sphere spun against the bone for a moment before flying off in the opposite direction towards Rattata.
"Ahhhhh!"
The ice ball slammed into Rattatas face. His teeth piercing the sphere a good 2 and a half inches. The ice ball and Rattata began to spin end over end until coming to a stop by shattering against a tree. Rattata was on the opposite side of the tree but the shrapnel like ice was no kinder to him. Both of them were sprawled out unconscious and confused.
"Remind me the next time you swing that bone to duck."
"I didn't hit you did I?" Cubone bent down by his side.
"No, but you swinging that bone scares me more than that Chansey in the hospital."
A loud roaring from the side of the shop meant that the class enjoyed the show. The mass had quickly surrounded the two victors.
"That was awesome. Incredible. You're so strong. Cool. Yeah! Sweet."
Cubone smiled and thanked all of the children who were complimenting her. Sneasel laughed to himself as he watched her take all of the credit. That was fine by him, the last thing he needed was every kid in the village shouting his name.
"Um,..." Sneasel looked over, it was the Caterpie. It had its String Shot attached to his crutch. "here."
"Thank you."
Sneasel grabbed his crutch and stood up.
"That was a real clever move."
"What move? All I did was blow ice."
"That's not true; there was more tactics in that battle than force."
"Don't waste your time with him. Caterpie can barely tackle let alone battle." Another pokemon said from the crowd.
Caterpie lowered its head, his antenna drooping.
"Caterpies String Shot would have faired just as well as I did in that battle, if not better." The entire class fell silent
Caterpies head looked back up.
"Really?" The same voice said.
"Yes, Caterpies String Shot attack would have had been very effective in that battle." The teacher said.
Sneasel stood up with his crutch. The children surrounded Cubone and their teacher with a barrage of questions. Sneasel made his way over to where Rattata and Squirtle lay unconscious on the ground. Sneasel poked Squirtle on its head. Squirtle clenched its eyes and then relaxed again. Sneasel poked him again, this time Squirtle woke up.
"Huh, Ahhhh!"
"Will you calm down? I don't want to have freeze you again."
"No! No, I'm calm! Wha-What do you want."
"We won, so you owe us one map." Sneasel held out his claw waiting.
"Oh, right." Squirtle sneered and pulled in one of its arms and put it back out holding a folded up piece of paper. "Here."
Sneasel grabbed the paper and made his way back towards Cubone. The children had asked their questions and were preparing to continue their lessons for the day. Noctowl ushered the class off to there next location. Sneasel handed Cubone the paper.
"So they took this from you? What is it?"
"Not sure really."
"You're...not...sure?"
"Nope, I didn't have a chance to look at it before they took it from me."
"I see."
Cubone opened up the paper, a look of pure shock came over her.
"It'sa...It'sa...It'sa...It'sa"
"It's a ...?"
"It's the map of the waterfall cave!"
"The cave? You're kidding?"
"No, it is! There's no doubt!" Cubone began to jump up and down with joy.
"What is she talking about?" Delibird asked.
"It's something she's been looking for; for a while. But I think we'll need some more supplies, perchance do you deliver?"
"Sure, depending on the size of the order and the place of course."
"Well, once she calms down she'll start rambling off items, just keep a running tally and when she's done read it back to make sure she didn't forget anything, or if she said something we don't need."
"We'll need..."
"Here we go."
Cubone listed off item after item after item. Delibird rapidly scribbled down every item Cubone listed off Smoochum and Sneasel just stood there as Cubone listed and Delibird wrote down every word. At the end Cubone finally took a breath.
"Are you done with the list?" Sneasel said smiling.
"Yeah, that should be everything."
"Great, Delibird could you read that back? Please."
"Sure,..."
Delibird listed off all of the items on his list. Cubone interjected every now and then adding, correcting, or removing this or that.
"Are you sure that's enough stuff?" Delibird asked.
"There's a village in the mountains, if we need any more supplies we can get them there."
"Um, if you're serious, there's something else we'll need."
"What?"
Sneasel looked over at Delibird. "Do you have anything like a cloak, or traveling robe?"
"Yeah, there's something like that in the back." Smoochum said.
"Why would we need those?" Cubone asked.
"I have no friends in that village and neither do you. Walking in to that place under those circumstances is not recommended. The less people that know we're there and why the better. We'll need those, if we're going into that village or any where near it."
"Okay then, add those to the list."
"So you're going with her on this little trip?"
"I know the layout of the land and it will be payback for taking care of me."
"Okay, all of that will take about a week to prepare and deliver." Delibird said.
"Oh, okay."
"If you give that stuff to us on the house you'll go bankrupt."
"True, but we'll still give you a discount."
After a few calculations and Smoochum re-calculating it correctly they had a final price which, after taking some money from Sneasels newly established stash, was paid in full. Sneasel and Cubone waved good bye to Delibird and Smoochum and made there way back to Cubones house. Unbeknownst to either of them a shadow followed them through the forest and the mountain path.
***
The week passed rather quickly for the two pokemon, preparing and planning, and looking over maps. Sneasel went over in great detail how they would go about and behave in the village, should they have to go in for supplies. They passed the time talking and making sure that Sneasel ate his berries on time. After Sneasel had healed completely they celebrated a bit. After his recovery Sneasel and Cubone went on walks on which Sneasel would pick berries and talk with Cubone sometimes testing her on what to do while they were in the village or running hypothetical situations by her. Cubone enjoyed her time with him but anytime someone else would be close by or within hearing distance he would behave differently, she understood somewhat but she still didn't like it. One of them even approached her while Sneasel was picking berries and asked her a few questions about him and why she'd helped him. She just shrugged and talked about how they didn't really know him, and what he was like around her. The pokemon would just stare at her and shrug and then leave before Sneasel returned. The days passed and the bond that was between them grew and Sneasel would smile more often than before. The day of the delivery a huge box was dropped off on the cliff. It was like Christmas. They ripped open the box and rummaged through its contents and them out until the floor, counters, and chairs were all covered with one item or another. They spent the rest of that and the next day sorting through the items and preparing for there journey. When the preparations were complete the two stood on the edge of the entrance their cloaks flowing in the breeze. Sneasel with his berry bag on strung across his shoulder and Cubone had a Knapsack on her side as well. The two smiled at one another.
"We're not forgetting anything are we?" Sneasel asked.
"Nope."
"You have the map?"
"Of course I..."
Cubone turned around and walked back into house and grabbed the map on the table. Cubone returned to the cliff side.
"Okay, now are we sure we've got everything. I really don't want to go through that checklist again."
"Yes, we've got everything."
Cubone closed up the entrance to her home and the two of them made there way down the path of the cliff and towards the mountain village. The road was long and hard on both of them and they ran through there supplies quicker than expected.
"Looks, like we won't have a choice but to stock up in the village." Cubone said.
"Unfortunately, We're a couple of days away so from here on out we'll wear our cloaks all the time. The closer we get the more we'll implement those rules I told you."
"Are you sure all this is really necessary?"
"I spent most of my life in that place. Every move, every sound, every thought is used to judge you. Your rank is all that matters and outsiders start at the bottom of the barrel."
"Our thoughts?"
"Yours more than mine. Psychic pokemon can't read my mind unless I let them. That's part of what kept me at the top so long."
"What happens if they find out why we're really there?"
"We're only going there to buy supplies. I doubt they'll mind if we stimulate their economy. As for the cave, I doubt they'd care. The pokemon in the village don't really care about the goings on of those outside it."
"I guess,"
"Look, I'm worried too. They hated me while they thought I was alive, and according to Absol they think I'm dead. Sometimes, I think its better this way. I don't have to worry about any of them."
Cubone walked over to where Sneasel was sitting by the fire of their make shift campsite and sat down next to him wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm sorry, if I had known I wouldn't have asked you to come."
"Hey, you couldn't keep me away. We share your dream, remember? The chance to see that dream come true, I wouldn't miss it for the world. But starting tomorrow and until we make it to the waterfall we shouldn't talk above a whisper."
"Okay."
Sneasel and Cubone stared at the fire for a while before falling asleep in each others arms.
***
Meanwhile in the village...
"Two strangers will enter the village in two days. One is a Cubone the other..." said a feminine voice that was soft and wise.
"The other?" The voice was commanding and somewhat gruff.
"A dark type, I can't read it."
"Damn, what do they want?"
"It seems they're traveling to the water fall on the other side of the village and they need to buy some supplies."
"That's all?"
"So it seems, although..."
"What?"
"The dark type, it's either been to this village before or he's originally from this village."
"What do you mean?"
"I know the aura of every pokemon that has ever stepped foot in the village since I was born, though it is different now there is some similarity to a pokemon that was in this village before."
"Which one? Which pokemon?!"
"If I knew I would tell you, but as I said the pokemon is a dark type and I cannot read it unless it wants me to."
"Alright, I get it. , You! I want you to find out who this other pokemon is. Do not engage them, all you are to do is find out who the dark type pokemon is and then report back."
"Yes sir."
The pokemon vanished and made its way out of the village to find the visitors.
"Is it him? Did he really survive that landslide?"
"Landslide?"
"It's nothing."
"Very well."
***
Two cloaked pokemon made there way into the village. Neither of them made a sound. The pokemon in the village stared at the outsiders, watching every move. A large pile of rubble beside a statue of a rather large pokemon caught their attention. The two strangers made there way towards the center of town and stopped in front of the shop.
"What can I do ya for?" Gilgar said from behind the counter.
The shorter of the two strangers put a list on the counter.
"Huh, What's iss?"
Gilgar looked down. It was a list of items.
"Chu want these?"
This time the taller stranger nodded. Gilgar started to gather the items and set them on the counter.
"That'll be 120."
The smaller stranger placed the money on the counter and grabbed half of the items and pulled them into the cloak. Then the taller one grabbed the remaining items.
"Excuse me." A voice came from behind.
The two strangers turned around heads lowered.
"All new comers must see the leader of the village. That's the rule so come on."
The two strangers looked at each other and then began to walk towards the other end of town.
"Hey! You're going the wrong way."
The two didn't even hesitate, they just kept walking away. A pokemon appeared in front of them.
"Now, now, there's no reason to be in such a hurry."
The taller stranger stood in font of the smaller one.
"Hey, there's no reason to get testy. Of course you always were,...Sneasel."
***
(This one is shorter than the first two but I thought this would be a good place to stop. I have some more ideas for what will happen so keep an eye out for Part 4. Reviews are always welcome. Until next time.)