Wolf-Bound

       Mr. D paced around in the grand hall of his mansion, hand on his face and the other fist clenched tightly behind his back. Oh, how he worried so much. I hope they find him soon! He grimaced drastically. If anyone ever found out... No, they wouldn't. He wouldn't just give his cover away to just anyone! Whilst contemplating the outcomes of his missing togepi, Mr. D literally sprinted like he had never sprinted before to the door when the doorbell rang. He opened it up, expecting an officer Jenny to appear, but instead he looked down at a young girl who held his togepi. Dash, the growlithe in training, was right beside her. Knowing it was the officer's pokemon most likely, he rejoyced and thrus his arms around the girl.

 "OH THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THAAAAAAAAAAAAAANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING MY PRECIOUS TOGEPI BAAAAAAAAAAAACK~~~~~!" He nearly yelled, tears of joy rushing down his face as he pushed back and kissed her on both cheeks before taking his togepi out of her hands. "I can't begin to thank you for saving my darling! I really appreciate it, really, I do. Please take this as a token of my gratitude~"

 He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small bag. Inside, there were some pokecoins and a strange-looking (Legendary here) pokebadge. "Find the one with the matching badge," He said, grinning. "and you'll have something worthwhile. Ke ke keh..." And before she knew it, he had closed the door and locked himself inside his home. He was only greatful that he had gotten his pokemon back home, safe and sound.

   Dash winced as the door slammed in his face.

   Rakurai growled from inside her pokeball. Well that wasn't very nice...

   Kokuei looked in puzzled curiousity at the pokebadge. It was an ordinary looking badge with an Uxie on the front. Shrugging, Kokuei shoved it in her pocket and started to walk off.

   "Wait!!"

   Kokuei stopped as Dash's officer Jenny caught up with her. "I- um.. My cousin Jenny told me that you had some people looking for you. If you need help the police is here. You really should tell us stuff like that. We can help-"

   Kokuei's hand had been digging in her satchel when she brought out a black shell of a device. She held it to Jenny's face. "I'm fine. I don't need help. All I want is for you to never have seen me, got it?"

   Jenny's eyes widened, then narrowed in understanding. "You have my word. I won't let anyone know who you are."

   Kokuei nodded in appreciation, tucking the device carefully back into her bag. Before she could leave Dash was at her side. Kokuei looked down, eyeing him strangely. "Yes?"

   Jenny smiled widely. "Dash has taken a liking to you. I can tell. I haven't ever heard tell of him driving off a criminal at all before. It seems you inspire him. Say, do you think he could accompany you? I see you only have one pokemon. I know you probably aren't used to this type of thing, but I'm sure he'd be a big help in the long run."

   "Grow!!"

   Kokuei stared at Dash, and he stared back with huge brown eyes. Kokuei smiled. "Would you like that?" Dash nodded vigorously, barking his agreement.

   Jenny knelt down. "Well Dash, this is goodbye. I've known you since a pup and I guess I've done all I can for you now. Goodbye." She gave him a huge hug, and handed Kokuei his pokeball. "He's yours now. Take good care of him."

   Kokuei nodded, smiling. "I will." And so the new pair walked out of town, waving to officer Jenny. But just as the policewoman turned away, Kokuei saw a glimpse of a yellow jeweled tail in the window of the mansion. She smiled. That's one pokemon they won't get there hands on, isn't that right Uxie........ With that they headed on the road, again.

    A few days had gone by since the incident. It was a cloudy day-most likely it was going to rain. The psyducks in the area must be loving this weather.

 "This is Dark Ranger, calling Alpha Code 99870." A man in a dark suit behind a wheel called through his radio. "We have the subject and are returning to base, over."

 There was static on the other end of the line for a few seconds before a husky voice answered the call. "Roger that, take the subject to a secure place before unloading Dark Ranger."

 "10-4."

 The man who was sitting in the seat beside him snickered and hung up the radio.

 "That's a mighty fine sub-ect, ain't it?" He asked, a thick country accent sticking out on the tip of his tongue.

 "Yup." The first replied, taking a sharp turn around a tree corner on the road. "She's pretty, that's for sure. For such a small girl, she has such a big personality and an amazing knack for fighting. Not as good as her brother though, but still."

 The two men were so busy talking, they didn't notice the HUGE herd of mamoswine they were about to RUN INTO!!! Without another chance to swerve to the side, the car crashed into the huge pokemon and sent everything flying out of the back of the truck.

 CRASHHHHHHHHHHHH.

    Bzzzzzt...bzzzt...bzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzt.... Static only came through the radio transmission.

 "Dark Ranger?" The scientists questioned. They only recieved static. "Dark Ranger, can you read?! DARK RANGER! ANSWER US, DARK RANGER!!!"

 Kamina was lying next to an umbreon, contemplating his misfortunes when the sirens went off.

 "Code red, I repeat; this is a CODE RED!" A scientist howled over the PDA. "Pick-up 0-789, transporting special case 00755, has been apprehended by wild pokemon! All who can walk, please report to the front desk IMMEDIATELY!"

 00755? Pick-up? Wild pokemon?! Kamina thought slowly, his mind slowly loosing stability. That sounds like.... LIKE THAT GIRL'S VAN!!! As he slowly came to realize, he came to the conclusion that she had died in the accident. His heart filled with rage, and his body trembled with anger. He growled and charged through the room, wings spread as the cages became distorted and sprang open, all the pokemon able to leave now as he smashed the door to pieces. The scientists were shocked to see the strength he had as he barreled past them and looked for the sole power source of the  factory.

   Umbreon was sitting in the training arena once again, tail lashing. The experimentations had given him a new power, and he was itching to test it. The doctor stood off to the side, trembling with excitement. "This is it.... Months of tireless testing and experimentation put to the test!! Try it out!!"

   Umbreon stood facing his opponent, another umbreon stood at the opposite end of the field, growling and trembling. This pokemon had just been caught, and thrown in to test the prized umbreon's strength against the origional thing. Umbreon took his stance and started to draw power. I'm sorry. I'll get you out real soon.....

   Just as the shadows started to amass behind Umbreon's body his legs began to tremble. Losing his concentration, his attack wavered. "What the........" Apparently it wasn't him, but the whole earth was shaking. Then the red alert reached the battle arena.

   WEEEEEERWEEEEEEEEEEEERWEEEEEEEEEEEEER

   RED ALERT!! THE LUGIA SPECIMEN IS ON THE LOOSE!! I REPEAT- 00756 IS ON THE RAMPAGE!! ALL PERSONEL REPORT TO THE MAiN-- Pow......R.........G........nr................................

   A pikachu burst into the room. The only thing was, this pikachu's markings were all messed up. Its brown markings were jagged and black, and it had a red bandana around its neck. Its left eye was almost blind from experimentation.

   Pikachu stood in the doorway. "SHADOW!! The pokemon have been set free, and Chikorita is leading them out the back, but they won't make it!!! WE MUST USE THE TUNNELS!!!!!!!!!!!! ALOT OF THE POKEMON ARE STILL IN THEIR CAGES!!!!! THE WHOLE PLACE IS IN A PANIC, THE LUGIA KID IS GOING TO DESTROY THE LAB!!!!!!!"

   Shadow's ears lay back. "Damn....." Running to the other end of the practice field, he shoved the newer confused umbreon towards the door. "HURRY!! I'LL GET YOU OUT!!" He looked back at the scientist. "Doc........."

   The doctor nodded. "I understand. Get out while you can!! And take the pokemon."

   Shadow nodded and ran out the door after the pikachu. The yellow pokemon looked back at him over his shoulder, running down the hallway. "Im glad you came Shadow everyone's in a panic!! The pokemon in the west wing are all free, because that's where the lugia kid went crazy. He smashed all of the cages he could find and flew off towards the power cell. But the pokemon in the eastern wing are still trapped, and the freed pokemon are running out the back with no cover!!!"

   Shadow ran up behind the pikachu. "I don't think that will be much of a problem Slash, the personel are in a huge panic so no one will bother the pokemon. The real problem is getting the others free, and the east is where the pokemon of extreme experimentation are kept. If they have trouble walking they'll need help. Call everyone over here."

    Slash nodded. "You go on ahead." Stopping while the umbreon pair dashed by, Slash stood underneath an electrical box. Sparks flew out his cheeks. "PIKAA!!!" The lights flickered once.... twice...... three times. The signal had been sent. Slash now pushed on the wall and a hole appeared, which he scurried into. Heading through the tunnels, he headed for the east end of the building. I hope you're right Shad...... I hope you're right.

     The boy burst into the conference room, his blue eyes glaring at the unsuspecting scientists. They gasped in fear and trembled in his wake as he approached them. He was furious. He lifted his wing and sent a gust of wind their way, knocking them all off their feet except one. The main scientist. The boy stepped forward to him and growled.

 "You're truly extrordinary." The man replied, pushing up his broken glasses. "I only wish we could live to see the day you come in use."

 At that, the boy's mental stability fluxuated and released all control. He rose his wings, sucked in a deep breath, and let the wards prey for mercy. One. Last. Pitiful time.

 KA-BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!!

   Shadow shoved the floor tile up into the cell of pokemon. "Hurry, this way!!" Once the last one was out, only then did he leave. Returning to the main escape tunnel, which he and Slash had built themselves, he met up with the pikachu. He looked at Slash. "That's the last of them. Get them out safely."

   Slash looked at him wierdly. "Wait- Aren't you coming with us?? Y-You have to!! The place is gonna go!!"

   Shadow shook his head, turning. "I have one more thing I gotta take care of. You lead them to safety Slash. They're counting on you."

   Slash nodded. "You got it Shadow, I'd never leave them behind. Hey-" He called to Shadow who was now racing away. "You be careful alright. If you don't......." He cut off as Shadow disappeared, and shouted. "YOU COME BACK ALIVE!!!"

   Shadow raced out of the tunnel in the hall of the east wing. Rounding the corner, his rapid pace suddenly halted at an open door. The room was dark and dismal inside, but that wasn't what caught Shadow's attention. Inside on an examination table were wires, sparking electricity as if no one had thought to shut them off.

   When Shadow walked into the room, a figure detached itself from the surrounding room. Moving silently on soft white paws, it crept up behind the umbreon, and suddenly it struck.

   Shadow whipped around as soon as he felt a force on his throat but it was too late. The force of the impact had him on his back, and the teeth of an absol lodged in his throat. Ears pinned back, he tried to breathe. "Why are.y........... doing th...s......." He gasped. "The building is about to.... collapse........... you need to run!!!" He choughed wildly as the force tightened on his throat.

    "Why would you tell me to leave? WHY WOULD YOU CARE WHAT HAPPENS TO ME?!!!!!!!!"

   Black dots swam before Shadow's eyes and his eyelids dropped heavily. Deprived of air his struggles lessened. "You're a pokemon........... Why wouldn't I help another........................."

   Then as suddenly as the pain had come it was gone, along with the footsteps receading down the corridor. Shadow shook. Breathing heavily, he tried to rise but stumbled and fell. I've got to... Get there....... Finally standing, he ran through the halls to the practice arena. "DOC!!!"

   The doctor was in the arena next to a hole in the wall. Shoving a poliwag in, he was about to shut it. "DOC!!!!" Whipping around, the scientist caught sight of Shadow and his eyes widened. "Come Umbreon! Quickly!!"

   Shadow took a step back towards the door. "Come with me Doc it's not safe!! Im gonna get you out I swear!!"

   The doctor's face softened. "Come umbreon.... Come here." He knelt and opened his arms. Shadow gasped and ran to him, leaping into his arms. The doctor held Shadow so the pokemon could not see his tears. He squeezed. "I'm sorry." Then he threw Shadow into the hole in the wall.

    Shadow tumbled head over heel into the hole and landed with a thud, but got up. "NO!! DOC!!!" He tried to run to the hole but his ankle had twisted, and the hole had been covered by the tile. "DOC WHY? YOU'RE GOING TO DIE!!!!!! DOOOOOOOOOC!!!!!!!"

   And then, a rumble shook the earth, and a shockwave hit the tunnel with an earsplitting-

BANG.....................

          The whole lab exploded. Ashes and debris flew everywhere until all  that was left was a pile of what used to be a building for experimentation. Kamina's wing thrust out of the rubble and helped heave up the strong lugia boy. As soon as he  found a foothold at the very top of the pile, he stood strongly and looked down at the destruction he had caused. The whole lab-parted and destroyed.  He slowly made his way down the rubble as he contemplated the things he had done.

 "....What did I just do?" He asked himself when he got to the bottom. "I destroyed a lab... Killed innocent people, let pokemon there to die..."

 He didn't realize it, but he had started crying. He never wanted this. He never wanted ANY of this. Just a normal, peaceful life as a trainer would have been suffice enough for anybody! He silently walked into the forest ahead of him, hoping nothing would bother him now that word had probably gotten out from the last-minute distress call to the police. He looked back once, and turned away.

 "Goodbye..." He started, his hope whithering into dust. "May all of those living be safe." And then he was gone.

   Kokuei stood in the back of the pokemon center looking at a video screen. A phone was up to her ear.

    "rriiiing....riiiing............riiiiii- Hello?"

   Kokuei smiled. "Hi Terryl this is Kokuei!"

   "Hi S....... Kokuei. I'm glad you're okay."

   Kokuei's smile faded. "Well, why wouldn't I be okay? And why do you appear so downcast? What's the matter?"

   Terryl's face was grim as he started to talk. "The Ranger Base was attacked."

   Kokuei could only stand in shock as her friend recounted what had happened. "There are holes in the walls where they broke in. The few rangers who were there were knocked out, but I bet they were questioned first. The assailants left as quickly as they came. Nothing was stolen as far as I know. I bet I know what- who they were looking for. God knows what they thought you might be doing there. Maybe they were hoping for a lead. Good thing you never went back." He picked something up in his hand. "I'm afraid they may come here next, if they know we're friends. I think you should have this. It's yours after all." A chain hung from his fingers.

   Kokuei frowned. "Alright... If you don't think it's safe......."

   Terryl looked at her sternly. "Kokuei it's much safer wandering around with you. No one knows about it anyways, but if they find it everything will have been for nothing. Only you and I know about it, so no one will even miss it. And I can't take it out here. I'd have to travel deep into the forest where no one will see, while you're already there anyways. You can take care of it better now."

   Kokuei still looked unsure, but she bit her lip and nodded. "Okay, send it through." Suddenly there was a light on the other side of the room, and an object lay in the transporter. Kokuei ran over and snatched it out before anyone could see it. Though people looked at her oddly, she walked back to the telephone. "I got it." She held both ends of the chain and hooked it around her neck. The necklace held a giant fang on a golden holder. It shone a dull yellow in the light of the pokemon center. She tucked it in her shirt. "How's Keith? Does he suspect anything?"

   Terryl shook his head. "Suspect me you mean? No. As far as he's concerned I'm just as in the dark as he is. He's been frantic with worry about you but the raid last night gave him hope. It means they haven't caught you yet. The only thing keeping him here is because I warned him he might blow your cover, or even get caught himself. He's pulling his hair out though. He was really panicked when you didn't come back after the attack."

   Kokuei sighed. "Okay, keep it that way. And don't let them find out he knows me, I don't want him involved. Don't you dare tell him where I am."

   Terryl raised an eyebrow. "I don't even know where you're calling me from" He raised a hand as Kokuei opened her mouth. "-and I'd prefer to keep it that way."

   Kokuei crossed her arms. "Suit yourself. I'm gonna go now if that's all. I don't like to stay in one place for long."

   "Okay Kokuei, bye. Good luck, and keep sa-" The screen went black. Sighing in exasperation, Kokuei hit the road.

   Kokuei was walking on the mountain pass. Rounding the corner, she stopped. smoke was rising from the road. She ran down the forest to come to a black asphalt road winding around the trees. Across from her, a truck lay smoking in the middle of the road. It's driver's area was crumpled like an accordian and the tires were blown. The engine was on fire.

   Kokuei gasped and brought out her pokemon. "Go, Rakurai! Dash!" Suddenly the two were in front of her, ready for a fight. "Okay guys, shovel dirt onto that fire! The pokemon nodded and ran off to quell the flames. After ten minutes the fire was threatening the boughs of the trees above. Kokuei yelled her frustration. "GAHH IT'S NO USE!! YOU TWO STAY PUT I'LL BE RIGHT BACK!!" A few minutes later she appeared with a couple of buizel. "Okay buizel, put those flames out with your water gun!!" In a few minutes the flames were out and the buizel went away.

   Kokuei looked around at the wreckage in awe. Her hair was wet with persperation from the heat. Glass littered the road and the surrounding forest. Mamoswine tracks led across the road and into the trees. The ground was wet with a slick green substance. "W-What happened here?"

     Earlier...

 "Alright, let's pack it up!" One of the hooded men in the van called from up front where he was safely secured in his seat by a seatbelt. The other men around the truck were heaving heavy boxes of PROBABLY fragile things and just tossed them in the back of the van, and did the same thing with the bags they had. It was gonna be a long journey to Sinnoh, that's for sure. They had to pack up with only the finest scientific items-the experiment was such a picky little girl.

 The little mew girl watched from up above in her room, playing with her hair as she watched the struggle of the burly men with the lifting of a tall, cilindric container that carried a strange green liquid inside. She sighed and put on a blank face as a scientist's shadow loomed over her. Turning around, she saw that it was one of the nicer scientists-an old man about the age of 65 with wrinkles covering his face so that he could barely open his eyes, a trimmed white beard, and no hair on the top of his head. His long lab coat swayed as he patted the girl's head and spoke to her.

 "Are you sure you want to go through with this, 00755?" He asked. "Again, I apologize for not using your name. It's for the better that no one knows who you really are."
 "It's fine, Professor." She replied, her monotonous voice soothing as they started to head out. "Really. I'm used to it by now. And of course I'm sure; it's for that boy that took such good care of me while I was sick."

 That boy. The lugia experiment. He was right after her in the numberline, the one that always looked after her. He was such a kind soul, so she couldn't bear to let them just kill him that day. If she hadn't agreed to go with them, they would have killed him. She was sad to go, actually. Who knew what dangers could be lurking beyond the horizon? The little girl suddenly felt the cold sting of a syringe being poked through her arm, and she was out cold.

 .....CRASHHHHHHHHHHHH.

 She lie on the ground, breathing heavily as a growlithe came up to sniff her. She was unaware of anything, much less was she even awake to know where anything was! She was soaked in some sort of neuro-toxin that numbed her body and made her sleep. It was some sort of anesthetic that helped her heal, but she knew better. They just wanted to keep her asleep so she wouldn't find a way out. The growlithe was quite curious about her, sniffing her all around and the like.... Until he sniffed under her red kimono skirt.

   Kokuei looked about the wreckage until she spotted a girl laying in the grass. A survivor! Dash had apparently taken an intrest in the girl, because he was sniffing her vigorously. Kokuei crossed her arms, tapping her foot. "Dash!! That isn't polite!" The growlithe kept sniffing, inching down her body. Kokuei sighed her annoyance. "Hey, that's enough!" Dash of course then went to the girl's skirt, and scratched at it. Sniffing her theighs, he snorted. He then promptly stuck his nose up her skirt.

  "DASH!!!!!!!!!!!"

   A pink tail fell out of the girl's skirt.

   Kokuei halted her headlong run at her growlithe to stare at the tail lying limply in the dust. Dash slowly dug his nose out of the skirt, sniffing his way down the length of the tail. Now that she noticed it, Kokuei saw that the kid had pink ears too. She was stumped. "Who is this girl??"

   She stirred slightly when her tail fell out of her skirt. The little girl groaned and slowly started to inch her upper body upwards. She looked back with foggy blue eyes and vaguely distinguished a girl and a growlithe, who was sniffing her butt. She yelped and flipped over so she was just a bit farther away from them, and on all fours in a defensive stance. Her arms and legs shook with extrenuous strain-the anesthetic hadn't worn off yet, so she was numb just about everywhere and pain didn't come. Her muscles didn't ache, but she was sure they were sore from misuse. Who was this girl, and why did she inspect her like she did? Her pink ears twitched up and her tail waved from side to side in a single movement. How long had she been in that strange green liquid? She seemed pretty wet and still really sleepy, from the looks of it.

   Kokuei held up her hands, taking a step backwards. "Hey I'm not going to hurt you! GROWLITHE GET OVER HERE!!" Dash grumbled and scuffled back over to his trainer. "You see? We found you after the crash. Your truck was hit by a mamoswine! You're very lucky!! Everyone else is...." She looked at the crumpled front of the truck again.

   The girl blinked, not understanding. She was so little-she only thought the people in the truck would unfold and be normal, like paper. Her tail floated up to her face and tickled her nose by flipping some of her curly pink hair in her face. Giggling, the little mew's ears perked up on her head and she was instantly in a better mood. She forgot all about how she was scared and smiled at Kokuei.

 "That's o-kay~" She giggled, putting her hands straight into her lap. "Hey, what's your name? I haven't met anyone besides the professor and his side-kick buddies."

   Kokuei smiled. She had no clue whatsoever what this girl was talking about, but she was going to go along with it. "My name is Kokuei. This is Rakurai, and mister rude is known as Dash." She pointed to each in turn, ignoring the grumbles of her growlithe. "What's your name? And where did your beautiful tail come from?"

   The little girl cocked her head and blinked adorably at Kokuei.

 "What do you mean 'where did it come from'?" She asked. "I've always had it. Professor said they gave it to me when I was 'born', which they say was about two years ago. The professor and most of the other scientists called me 00755, but I don't like that name. The ones that weren't part of that place always called me 'Kawaii', or 'Jun', or 'Haru'. But most of all, when others aren't looking, they speak what they call my 'true' or 'real' name. I think they all say... 'Hikaru' or something. But I forgot my real name, I guess."

   Kokuei put her hands on her hips. Okay this is getting wierd........ "Well, are you hurt? You sure you weren't injured in the fall?" She looks half pokemon. But that can't be right.... I wonder if she would like an ice cream...........

   She looked over herself and spun in a circle, but didn't find much. The lab uniform the professor and his buddies put on her had protected most of her vials from being injured in any way, so.

 "Well..." She replied, finishing up her search with looking at a badly scraped knee. "This is the only thing that hurts, but you don't have to do anything about it."

   Kokuei laughed. "Oh is that all? Well here......" She rummaged in her bag. "I've got something that can help. And don't worry, I don't mind. Really." She took a first aid kit out and got a bandaid. Walking over, she stuck it on the girl's knee. "There you go, all better right?"

   As soon as she had finished putting the band-aid on, the mew girl shivered. She opened her mouth to say thanks, but her mew powers activated on instinct and she magically *POOFED*. Little bubbles, some sparkles, and a badge were left in her wake. What had just happened?

   Kokuei knelt there with bubbles coating her face. The bubbles wiggled on her face, and Dash exploding with laughter in the backround. Rakurai came up to her trainer and licked her face. A bubble popped and she sneezed pink sparkles. She kept sneezing fairy dust until Dash kealed over from laughing.

   Kokuei shook her head and looked down, bubbles still sticking to her hair. There lying on the road was a pokebadge. Turning it over, she saw that it had a mesprit on it. Thinking about the other badge she had recieved, she remembered the guy saying something about a reward. She put it in her pocket. "How much weirder can this get?"