Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Pokemon whatsoever. Short, simple and to the point.
Also, if you can't stand some slight gore, you might not want to read this. That's all.



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''Ugh, what time is it?'' a boy sat up in his sleeping bag, his hair in tangled mess. He lifted his arm, switching his poketch to the digital clock function before yelling out, waking the two pokemon beside him, ''2PM?! Sin, you were supposed to wake me up!'' The luxio on his left just looked at him and yawned, mumbling in her own language, 'I'm not your mother...' The boy sighed, ''Will's gonna be pissed... Ah well, wouldn't be the first time..'' He slid out of the sleeping bag and stood, taking a minute to comb through his long platinum hair. He quickly grabbed his black tank top and put it on; he slept in his jeans.


He was a good size for his age, about 6', lithe, but with a good amount of muscle, and he was naturally tan. ''Wait...'' He looked down to see the buneary that was on the other side of him; his jacket wrapped around him. ''Jun, can I have that back...?'' The buneary looked up at him, and pulled the jacket off, looking emberassed as he held it up to the trainer. The boy took it, patting the rabbit pokemon's head before pulling it on.

It was mostly orange with red flames, and black where the flames didn't touch. He rolled up the sleeping bag, stuffing it in his backpack before slinging it over his shoulder. ''All right, it's not too far to Hearthome, so if we hurry, we can probably-HEY!'' He looked up to see the two pokemon far ahead of him, and he rushed after them, shouting, ''You two are BRATS!''


...............


A boy pulled his sleeve back to check his poketch's clock function sighed, brushing some stray black hair from his face before leaning back against the wall. He checked his poketch again and grumbled. Despite the crowd at the pokemon center, his friend was nowhere to be found.

He stretched and looked up just as the doors slid open, a familiar looking luxio dashed in, followed by a buneary and an exhausted, silver haired trainer. ''Hey, Ian, you're late again!'' he called out, waving. The trainer walked up, the two pokemon beside him.
''Sorry, Will...'' Ian said between pants, ''I would've been here earlier if all of us hadn't slept in... Sin usually gives me a quick shock to wake me up, so...''

Will kneeled down and picked the luxio up, chuckling as he patted her head, ''It would take a few volts to wake you up in the morning, huh? I did call you here for a reason, though. You remember a couple of years ago when we found that old building?'' Ian nodded. ''Yeah, well, the local newspaper's giving a fair reward to whoever investigates some of the suspicious things that have been happening there.''

Ian gave him a curious look, ''So what'd you call me for? This seems simple enough for you to handle on your own...''

Will nodded, ''Yeah, but I bet you could use a bit of change about now,right?''


''Heh... Good point. I guess I could help you out, but I want a rematch later. I wanna see how well the newest member of my team against you.'' Ian smirked as he stroked one of Jun's ears, causing the rabbit pokemon to trill softly. Will laughed, ''I doubt a cute little thing like that will let you break our even 23... Then again, knowing you...'' Will cocked an eyebrow, ''Where'd he come from, anyway?''
Ian looked down at the buneary, ''I met Jun a while ago. I was eating lunch when he wandered up, looking as if he hadn't had real food in weeks. I let him have a sandwich, and he's been with me since.''

Will glanced over his friend again, ''...He doesn't have a ball, does he?''
Ian grinned sheepishly, ''Well, I kinda only have a dusk ball left, and I've only been making enough cash to get potions and stuff...''
''Ian,'' Will spoke with a hint of confusion, ''I know you do things different than most, but is battling with him even allowed?''
''Yup,'' Ian smirked, ''Looked it up... Besides. You know I wouldn't let anything bad happen to my family...'' Jun's ears perked up a bit at that last word...
'Family...?'


Ian unclipped Sin's custom ball and, to her dismay, he recalled her. ''Well, let's get going, I wanna be back before dinner...''
Will sighed and shook his head as Ian walked to the door, Jun quickly following after him. ''Always a weird one... But it's no surprise they respect you
so much, though


..............


Will couldn't help but smile as he stepped onto the dusty tiles leading up to the remains of a temple. He stopped to look around, ''Brings back some memories...'' Ian nodded, glancing up at the ruins; dead vines ran up collapsed pillars, and though the stone walls still stood, cracks and holes covered the structure. The past came flooding back to his mind...


~~Ian and will had come along with Ian's father to study some rare pokemon found only in that area...~~


''It was just over here!'' Will called as he pushed his way through the trees, ''I saw it from the observatory!''
''This had better be worth it...'' Ian grumbled, ducking under a low branch. It wasn't a far walk, but all the obstructions weren't making it easy.

''There!'' Will walked out into the clearing, his friend stepping out of the trees behind him.

''Whoa...'' was all Ian could manage to say. Before him was an enormous building of stone that looked to have been abandoned long ago.

Will walked up the the entrance, a tattered frame of wood doors leaving it open to anyone and anything. He stepped inside; the hall was littered with broken furniture and other debris. ''Dude, come on, it's safe, even though it looks like a tornado came in here.''

Ian walked in, looking down to avoid stepping on anything sharp. Ian strode through the building, until a soft thumping noise came from under the rug where he had stepped. ''What the...? Hey, Will, come here.'' He lifted the rug up as his friend walked over to expose a large wooden door in the floor. ''Whoa. Nice, Ian!'' Will stared at the door, ''What do you think's in there?'' Ian grabbed a latch, grunting as he tried to pull it up, ''Only one way to find ou-aah!'' He fell back as the door flew open, revealing a descending stairway. Will laughed at his friend as he stood and brushed the dust off his pants. They both looked down the path; the bottom wasn't visible due to the lighting in the building. Will pulled a small flashlight out of his pocket, ''Shall we?'' Ian nodded, ''Lead the way!''


~~


The three walked inside, peering around... There were slash marks everywhere. ''Jeez...'' Ian mumbled, ''looks like a pissed ursaring came through here...''

''Hm...'' Will walked to the place where the trap door was, all that was left was a couple of sliced chunks of wood. A low hissing noise echoed up from the starway, startling Jun. Ian walked up, with a cocked eyebrow, ''Well, at least we know WHERE it is... Looks like we'll have to go down there...'' Will unclipped a ball from his belt, ''Shiva, come out!'' A blue flash erupted from the ball, and a slim empoleon appeared in a short storm of blue flames. ''We might need your help on this one, girl, so be ready...''

The empoleon looked to Ian and gave a slight wave before nodding to her trainer. Will descended the stairs first, followed by Shiva and then Ian and Jun. Will ran his hand along the cool stone wall as he walked ''Seemed so much bigger back then...''

The group followed the stairs into a large cavern-like space. Both trainers activated the flashlights on their poketches, making the otherwise pitch black area visibile enough to see the multiple pathways that were connected to it. The hissing noise came again, much louder this time.

Ian grew alert immediately and looked around, mumbling loud enough for the others to hear, ''Whatever it is, it's nearby... Get ready!'' Everything went silent. Will stepped forward, ''Let's split up. Searching around might force this thing out... Shiva, come on.''

''Be careful...'' Ian called out, keeping his voice low. Will waved back, continuing into the darkness. Ian looked down to Jun, ''I'm gonna need you to listen for anything strange... Okay?'' Jun nodded.

They moved forward, taking the path closest left to Will's. It wasn't far until the unsettling noise echoed around them again, a loud, quick rapping following it. Ian growled... ''Where is that-'' he was interrupted by a short scream from behind, and he spun around to see Jun hitting the floor, a large gash in his back. Ian's eyes widened, trailing up to to the bloody scythe, connecting to a large, brown serpent-like pokemon. Something in snapped him at that second. Ian roared out as he lunged at it, swinging his fist up and nailing the monster in what he thought was it's head. As it stumbled back, he didn't let up on his attack, punching it again before spinning around, kicking it in its side. It reeled back before suddenly lunging at Jun, who was now unconsious, it's blades swinging forward. ''JUN!'' Ian leaped to intercept it and swung his hands up, knocking one of the blades away...''Hrck...!'' The second blade ran through his side just below his ribs.
''Looks like I'll be keeping to my word... Sorry... Jun...''

Ian coughed, blood spilling from his mouth. He nearly screamed as the blade was yanked from his body. He quickly took a defensive stance, but was easily knocked backward by a body slam Ian turned his head toward Jun, his breath growing ragged as more blood spilled from his wound. He leaned close, his ear touching the buneary's stomach. A soft steady heartbeat let him relax, ''Must've... just fainted...'' Ian's consciousness began fading, and he felt cold...


Footsteps echoed, getting closer. Just as the monster reached him again, a large blue figure knocked it away with a loud crash. Will ran to his friend, ''Ian, what the hell happened in here?! Ian? Ian..!''


The voice melted into silence...Chapter End Notes:This is my first story (posted, anyway), so I'd be happy to hear any opinions, tips or whatever on it... I plan to do a LOT more if anyone likes it so far