The Promise
Pokemon is own by Nintendo and Game Freak. Only the original ideas are mine.
A lone man walks through the blistering snow. He wears a trench coat drab grey looking one that has seen better days. This worn looking coat os the only protection from the cold weather around him. The wind blows hard making it hard to see but he knows where he has to go. It is unforgiven weather for any man or beast to be out here. Yet he is out in this brutal weather heading towards the light in the distance that most would miss if they knew it was not there. It is his lighthouse in the brutal weather.
He was out here for her. Someone who had made sure he had something to hold onto his humanity.She was the last thing you could say that he had left to hold onto that was good in him.
He was far from a good person he told himself. He made his choice so many year ago after so much was taken from him. Yet he promised himself he would not take her down that path. He made sure he visited every year to make sure she was well taken care of . He left her at the ranch where she would grow up happy away from his path in life. Many time she begged him to let her to go with him. He would say no it would end in tears or her cursing him. At least he knew she still cared otherwise she would have found a mate by now. He figure he was being cursed at as she would growl at him or snap at him when he tried to touch her.
He sighed two months it has been when he had received word about the ranch being attacked. At first he thought it was someone from his line of work a rival or enemy he had wronged. He had many of those. Yet the manner in which the ranch was attacked was more like an amture who wnated to be noiced.
He left what he was doing knowing many of those he worked for would not be pleased. He already had to talk with those who wanted an explanation about his abrupt. departure. He had words with those who wanted answers. He gave them yet it didn't make them happy as the boss wanted him back now. Once again he said no. That after he did what he had to do to make them 'understand' that he had other things that needed to be done first.
It ended badly as he had places to be. Aso they seem not to understand what the word no meant as they tried to force him back. He did his best to not hurt them too much. Hey he wasn't a ruthless bastard. He didn't kill unless he was getting paid. Why kill if no money is involved.He didn't hold anything against them they were only doing their job. Most would heal from the wounds in a month or two.
He tracked down this place through various leads and back channels he had a lead about some morons who raided places where pokemon were held. Morons had no idea how things worked in the world. They were flashy and had the rangers and the world police on their tails. Lucky he was a step ahead of them. After a long discussion with one of their higher ranked players. He was willing to tell all. The man was willing to tell him everything. After feeling your feet break into a few pieces you tend to give up a lot. Especially where she was. The informant was crying his eyes out wanting the pain to end. He smiled and gave the informant two choices. In the head or in the chest. The informant chose the head. He gave him peace the man sought. He had no problem killing fools or those who stood in his way.
The wind picks up as it begins to bite at his skin. He cares little for it, he sat in the snow when he was waiting to take a kill shot at a rival towards his boss. He knew he was always willing to do what was necessary to keep his boss alive. He never really question much as he was paid well and was usually left alone to his own devices. He loved it this way. to be left alone to get what needed to be done.
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Everything he has done to this point was done to make her happy. She was a little one when he first found her he parents were butchered by a pack of mightyenas. He happen upon them as he was on his way to a job. He hated to kill these dark dogs. It wasn't like they were doing anything wrong. It was the wild survival of the fittest as he was taught by those in his profession. Yet they saw him as meal. He had his pokemon but he keep them in reserve. Use them in when had multiple targets. Not to say this wasn't it but he had to test himself every once in a while to keep his skills up.
He walked away from this battle with a few bite marks and a ruined coat. Yet he was alive. He saw the last breaths of the pokemon that were attacked. He was surprised by who they were. A pair of Zoroarks. A rare sight in these lands.
Yet it did confused him why they didn't use their fable powers to cloak themselves from the pack. Then he saw movement from under one of the Zoroarks. A small dark fox like creature crawls out from the Zoroarks. It was whining at and nudging the Zoroarks trying to get them to get up it had no idea they were dead.
It did tug at his heart that this had happen. Yet he had his own troubles as he had a job to do in the town over.
As he was about to leave the tiny zorua whimper as he was leaving. He turns to see the little zorua whimper up at him it was strange to see it look at him. He knelt down as it edged forward towards him. He took of his glove off his hand so it could smell his scent. At first he thought it would run off after it smelled the scent of death on him. Most pokemon would run unless raised on the scent. Like the yenas who he just killed off. Yet it was nuzzling him as if he was someone close to it.
He picked up the little dark fox and saw immediately it was female. She was panting happily as he held her up in front of him. She wag her tail back and forth barking happily. That is when he noticed her eyes. They were blue, sea blue. Something not seen in most pokemon. They almost look human. First thing was he though was he could train her. Use her for his missions she would be a great asset.
That idea was shot down fast as she seem not able to learn anything besides basic moves. She seem not to be able to even do any illusions as her kind was known for. She was fun to be around with. She would bring a ray of light to his day despite the dak work he did. She was the only good thing in his life.Yet it hurt him as if she could fight she would be an asset for him but she had little in fighting ability. She was a liability to him in his line of work. He didn't want her to be alone in the woods that was a certain death sentence.
The idea came to him at once a mark he had let live. A trainer who he had let live and set up as a rancher. So he could a side business. He wasn't going to be a killer all his life. He had to have a nice nest egg when he left this lifestyle behind. He showed up much to the trainers dismay as the trainer freaked out him showing up as he did without word. He loved to make the little man jump.
This trainer he had saved from some nasty loan sharks that the trainer owed. He figure he could use him as a legal side of him. The trainer asked wasn't there another way. He told him straight this or he drop the trainer off at the loan sharks place himself.
He explained that he wanted the trainer to look after the little one. The trainer said to sell her she would fetch a good price, or even better that she would be good to be breed when she evolved . After a few punches in the trainer's gut he explained that he wanted her to be taken care of. The trainer understood that she meant a lot to him. When he was about to leave and explaining why she was being left behind. She bawled badly as the ears matter her fur she didn't want him to go.
He didn't want her going down his path he chose that path for himself. if anything she would have a better life here on the ranch. He scratched her head and told her he would be back as many times as he could. That he would never let her be alone again. No matter what he would be there for her. He got up and left as he heard her crying as he headed off to his dark world.
True to his word he always found time to be with her. His other pokemon took this time to relax but they stayed away from the little zorua, It was hard at first but eventually the zorua grown to his coming and goings. He did everything he could to make her happy except when he when he had to leave. During his last visit she had evolved. She look stunning as she an inch shorter than he was yet her beauty was stunning. Her eyes what drew him to her as she hugged him which took him off guard. Yet to his own surprise he return the hug. Her scent drove him wild. It wasn't a wild scent you smelt off a normal or wild pokemon. She smelled like lavender. She actually bathe as a regular human would.
He stop himself as he was starting show something he thought he had buried deep within himself. She look confused as he broke the hug abruptly. He excused himself as he went to look for the trainer. He found him looking after some vulpixs. He asked him the trainer what happen to her.
At look confused at first at what the was talking about then it dawned on the trainer. The trainer explained that the Zoroark had look around to find out what love was and it seem to have found its mate. No this wasn't right he could not be in love. It wasn't like he didn't have sex before he had had sex with both females of human and pokemon origins. He just never thought of love. Now raising this little one who saw him more than a friend. She saw him as a mate. This would never work.
He found her once more. That is when he noticed her long mane was braided. She had a clip in it that he bought her it was a silver lily that broughtout her color of her fur. It suits her it made him think of all the times.... no this wasn't going to work. He could not do that to her break her heart by being with him. He wasn't worthy of love. Yet before he could say anything his phone rang seems that fools wanted revenge on some of the boss family. He of course had to make sure they never reached them. He told her he had to go. As he turned to head off.
Then she spoke. " Please don't go,"
With that he nearly did as she asked. Hearing her speak made the depths of his heart come to life. He knew if she asked him again he would stay. It was something he never expected to hear from her. Yet it seem she taught herself to speak. If he heard her ask him again he would do as sje asked as he could hear her emotions in those words.
" I have to for your sake most of all. As always I will come back to you."
With that he left. As he left he could hear her crying as it broke his heart.
______
His thoughts were interrupted as he heard the growls of pokemon. He saw a pair of granbulls watching him ready to pounce him on order. He stop several feet from a beaten down shed. It seem to be held together with duct tape. As it shaked from the winter wind. The light was the only advantage he had as he could see all those who were guarding this area.
The guards raised their weapons as ready to fire. He raised his hands and made a motion to indicate that he had something to show. them. The guards nodded for him to retrieve the item. He slowly pulled out a paper and handed it to the guard. The guard look over the paper then passed it back he open the door for him. As he enter he could see the pokemon back off a bit as they glared at him sensing something from him. This seem to confused the guards as they never seen their pokemon do this. Fools the pokemon knew what he was , this is why a bond is always good with pokemon you can trust their instincts. If it was him he would have killed him on the spot yet he was dealing with amateurs. Yet he reminded himself amateurs with weapons.
The shed was a fake. The inside was made of bricks. it was warmer as he could see the fireplace inside and more guards.
He could feel warmth of the fire slowly melt the snow on his body, slowly he felt the warmth return to him. A guide stood up and motion him to follow as they walked down a spiral staircase. It felt like they were in an old horror movie.
He stop those thoughts as they were a distraction he had an objection here, any stray thoughts would only case his death and her's. As he reached the bottom of the stairs. He look around in room where he stood. He saw many cages various pokemon filled them. Many of them looking weak. Some look abused as others looking scared. Yet he didn't see who he was looking for.
A short pudgy man walk forward. with golden rings on each of his fat fingers. As if to indicate he was someone of power. Even the large gold plated Desert Eagle seem to be trying to cover for his shortcomings. The smell of the room could not mask the pungent smell from the short man.
Once more he pulls out his letter to man. The pudgy man looks it over and smiles as he leads him to a cage on the back.
The pudgy man explains he got a rare beauty here. A Rare Zoroark not a shiny but a blue eye one. He looks in the cage and sees her. He nearly breaks down and cries as he sees her in the condition she is in. Her fur was disheveled and her eyes were bloodshot from crying. She was chained like an animal. He felt the rage within him raise. Yet all the years he has been through has taught him to keep the calm facade up. He came here unarmed best not to tip his hand ...yet.
The pudgy man looks at him and says how would he be pay for this.
The man smiles as he looks at the pudgy man. "With your blood." In a flash he picks the pudgy man up by his shirt and can smell the rank smell from the pudgy's man body. The guide screams something out as the pudgy rank mouth opens screaming. The man takes the pudgy man's weapon and unloads it into the guide who came with him. He can hear shouting and the pokemon waking up and growling and barking at the sounds of gunfire. The pudgy man is screaming for his men to save him.
Rookie mistakes thinking that if you have lots of guns you are powerful. Sometimes having a ruthless pokemon is better than a gun. As he heads towards the spiral stairs he hears them heading down them. He tosses a pokeball out and a scyther comes out and looks at him for orders.
" Jin kill them all."
Jin nods as he is gone in a flash. The screams and gunfire can be heard as the men meet their maker. These poor fools never stood a chance as he hears some begging for mercy as they are given none. The cries of death fill the room upstairs, as the sharp sound of a blade cut through human flesh.
He throws the pudgy man to the side as if he was nothing. The pudgy tells him he will hunt him down he will make sure all those he cares for will die horrible deaths. That this time the ranch will be burnt to the ground.
He ignores him as he breaks the lock off her cage she shrinks from him not realizing who it is. He whispers to her as she opens her eyes and sees who it is . He kneels in front of her as he has a weak smile. With that she leaps at him and hugs him tightly as she cries. He can feel her strength as she holds him tightly.
" I told you I would always be there for you." His voice is weak but his words carry their meaning to her.
The pudgy man sees the gun from the dead guard that was shot to death. He crawls over to the weapon. As he grabs it a sharp blade impales the pudgy man's hand. The pudgy man screams out in pain as his head looks up shaking in pain. The Jin the scyther stood there covered in blood and guts looking at the pudgy man. The pudgy man opens his mouth to say something. As Jin's other blade arm cuts the pudgy's man head in half the blood pours forth from the wound. No other sound is heard as all the pokemon go silent.
He smiles as he recalls Jin with a promise of a shower after this and some free time out of the pokeball .
He looks towards her seeing the look in them as she realizes what he is.
" I will ask you this I am not a good man. Yet will you follow me despite knowing that?"
"Yes" She holds him tightly. Her body shaking that she will be with the one she loves. Nothing else matter to her. She knew he would do anything to keep her safe.
They head upstairs as makes sure to collect all the valuables. He picks up a cell from one of the dead guards and calls the police telling where to find this place he tosses the phone on the ground so they can pinpoint this place though the phone's GPS . He heads out of the place not knowing what the future holds but with her by his side he knows it will better.
"She was bendable light: she shone around every corner of my day."
Jerry Spinelli
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