Forum Thread

This is a fanfiction I started months ago, on a different forum. It's still being written. I will post five chapters every day until I'm all caught up with the original thread.

The Path to Where I Stand
Prologue
X's POV


I shuddered, squeezing my eyes shut tighter and curling around the tiny egg. I wondered if this was what my mother did with my egg, then instantly regretted it. She probably hadn't been around to even care for me when I was in my egg. I never even knew her, from the moment I hatched.
But I would be around for this egg. It had been there with me since I hatched, and I'd make sure that my little brother or sister would never feel lonely, or angry, or sad like I did so often.
I'd protect them.
The tiny Shinx egg suddenly cracked.
I snapped to attention, my eyes jolting open. Another crack split the air, or so it seemed to me. I stared at the egg, my heart pounding away inside my throat.
A hole appeared on the egg, and a tiny golden paw poked out of it.
Wait... gold?
I stared down wide-eyed at my blue paw. Shinxes had blue and black fur... right? Was this really a Shinx?
It didn't matter. Whatever he or she was, they were my family, and I would protect them.
The paw flailed about a little, cracking the shell more. Another hole opened, and a tiny star-shaped tail poked out.
I carefully stuck my paw in the larger hole, and gently peeled away the shell, revealing a tiny female Shinx. The Shinx looked gold and black, with orange stripes on her legs, and was roughly half my size.
She looked up at me, and blinked.
I blinked back, surprised. Her eyes were blue.
I put my paw on my chest.
"X," I said. "I'm X. I'm your big brother."
"...Eggs?" she asked, her voice melodious. It sounded like it should belong to a Meloetta, or a Sunrano or something.
"No, not eggs," I said, chuckling. "Eggs." I gestured at the remains of her egg. I gestured at myself with my star-shaped tail. "X."
"X!" the Shiny Shinx exclaimed. She snuggled up against me, all warm and fluffy compared to my mud-spattered fur. "X..." she repeated, sounding sleepy.
I smiled, happily. "I'll name you... Uh... Goldsong! Because you have shiny gold fur, and your voice sounds all pretty, like you're singing!"
"Goldsong," Goldsong said, testing out her new name. A sleepy smile spread across her face. "Goldsong. X. Eggs."
I curled up around her. "Sleep," I said, nudging her with my muzzle.
"Sleep," she agreed yawning, before closing her eyes and starting to snore softly.
I smiled, looking at her sleeping form.
I never knew my mother or father. When I hatched, they were gone. All they had left was a tuft of red fur, a solitary Luxray footprint, and Goldsong's egg.
But I'd be here for Goldsong. I wouldn't abandon her.
I slowly drifted back to sleep…

The Path to Where I Stand
Prologue
Kage’s POV

It was dark.
And warm.
And cramped.
And kinda uncomfortable.
My legs and my head and ears were pressed against something thin and fragile, like if I really tried to break it I probably could.
I could feel something else warm pressed up against me. My legs were pinned by it. And my muzzle was buried in it.
I wanted to stretch my legs. They were starting to get achey.
I twitched my front legs, then hesitantly kicked them against the warm thing. The warm thing squeaked out, and kicked back. I squeaked in surprise, my eyes widening in the dark.
I could hear hushed murmurs of excitement outside.
“It’s starting!”
“I’m so nervous!”
I craned my neck up to the voices, and light seemed to filter through the big, fragile wall. Soft light.
I pushed my muzzle upwards, and felt my nose touch the wall, pushing it slightly, and then going straight through it with a soft cracking sound. Fresh air filled my nostrils.
Suddenly, the warm thing let out a loud squeak, and kicked against me violently.
I went sailing through the wall, landing in a soft patch of grass.
I gazed up at the pale crescent moon. Then, a black furred face blocked out the starry, starry sky.
“It’s a girl,” the Zoroark said, smiling.
Another voice exclaimed “Two girls! Twins!”
I felt clawed fingers delicately brush the top of my head.
“The markings on her fur are light blue, and sparkly… But the rest of her isn’t Shiny.” The Zoroark frowned in confusion, then blinked at me and smiled again. She picked me and my sister up. The red on the other Zorua’s tuft was normally colored… But her eyes were an abnormal green.
The second Zoroark walked over to us. He petted our ears with a huge smile on his face. “Hello there, little ones. I’m your father.” My dad looked at me, smiling. “You’re a special little Zorua. You’re going to be called Kage. I just know you’re going to be so good at illusions.” Then, he turned to my sister, “And you shall be named Yozora. You’re very outgoing, and you’ll be a powerful little girl.”
Yozora squeaked happily,launching herself at our dad. “Papa!”
Our father’s eyes widened in surprise, and he caught her. He laughed a little. “Energetic little furball.”
I looked up at the Zoroark holding me.
“Hi there, Kage, Yozora. I’m your mother,” she said in a soothing voice.
“...Mommy,” I said, in a quiet voice. “Daddy. Yo-sor-ra.”
My mother smiled. She put me down in a small nest, and my dad put Yozora next to me. We quickly dozed off, curled up together…

The Path to Where I Stand
Chapter 1: Forest Capture
X’s POV

I trotted up to the bush, carefully placing my jaws around the berry. I plucked it off the branch, and crunched down until it popped in my mouth, sour exploding across my tongue. I swallowed, and licked my lips before nosing deeper into the bush.
“X!” I heard Goldsong squeak excitedly. “Bewwies!”
I pulled myself out of the bush, and turned around. I walked over to my sister.
She was standing in front of a small pile of berries, the fur around her mouth stained with berry juice.
“Bewwies!” she repeated, before snatching one up. She savored the flavor a second, before greedily gulping it down. “Yummy!” she said, grinning.
I smiled back at her. “Yep. Yummy.”
I separated the pile of berries into smaller groups.
“These berries are Oran berries. If you get hurt, then you can eat them and you’ll feel better! And here’s some Pecha berries, they heal you if you get hit by Poison Powder, or Toxic, or something. They taste really sweet!”
Goldsong looked at me a second, then bit down on a Pecha berry, quickly devouring it. “Yummy!” she said, smiling.
I smiled back. “Yes, yummy!” I nosed an Aspear berry forwards. “I think these are even more yummy.”
Goldsong stared at the Aspear berries, then saw a Meadow Vivillon flutter past.
“Vivy!” she gasped, and took off after it.
The Vivillon glanced back at the curious Shinx, and spiraled up into the sky.
“Vivy…” Goldsong sighed, disappointed.
A bush rustled nearby. Goldsong trotted over to it, curious. “Vivy?’ She disappeared into the greenery.
“Goldsong, wait for me,” I called, pushing into the bush after her.
I popped out into a meadow, where the tiny gold Shinx was chasing something in the tall grass. I walked over to Goldsong.
“What’re you chasing?” I asked her, easily keeping pace with her.
“Rata!” she said, pouncing.
“A Ratata?” I asked.
Goldsong ignored me, continuing to stalk her quarry.
I decided that if something went wrong, I was close enough to come running at a moment’s notice. So I decided to practice my own stalking skills.
I was slowly cornering a Pachirisu, and was preparing to pounce, when I heard Goldsong go off a squeak of surprise.
The Pachirisu chirrupted, and scrambled up the nearest tree. Several Fletchling and Spearow lifted off, flying away into the sky. I whirled around. Goldsong was backing away from a human in a dappled green jacket. He had some sort a tube along his back, and a bag dangling from a belt.
There was a Pokemon Poacher in the meadow.
I bounded up to my sister, letting small spark of electricity course through my claws, making my rings glow. I saw at the edges of my vision Espurr, Buneary, Ledyba, and other weak Pokemon fleeing from the poacher.
I leapt up and slashed at the poacher as he stepped towards Goldsong. I tore off a bit of his jacket.
“Run away, Goldsong!” I yelled at her. “X? Wazzat? Why? Wuz going on?” Goldsong asked, confused.
“Go!” I said, shoving her away.
“X!?” she yelped in surprise.
I used Growl on the poacher, then felt my mouth heat up as flames enveloped and elongated my fangs. I bit down hard on the poacher’s boot, satisfied when it caught fire.
The poacher frowned, and pulled out two things: a Pokeball and a dart gun. He fired the dart gun at me.
I yelped in surprise as it whizzed past my ear and landed a few inches to my left. I started running after Goldsong. Another dart shot past me, narrowly missing my head and landing inches ahead of me.
Me and Goldsong reached the relative safety of the trees. I puched her behind a bush as another dart lodged in the tree next to me. I dived behind the bush, next to Goldsong.
“X, why?” Goldsong asked, pointing her tail at the poacher. Her blue eyes were wide with fear.
“They’re bad humans. Dangerous. Very dangerous,” I told Goldsong.
“Danger…” Goldsong muttered.
I peered between the bushes’s branches. I saw just multicolored flowers at first, but I adjusted my view.
The scientist threw the Pokeball at the ground. Smoke began leaking out, and an Arcanine stepped regally out of the smoke.
It glanced around, and growled. Then, it spat an Ember into a patch of flowers. A Pikachu with a Pichu on its back dashed out of the grass as it caught fire.
The fire started creeping towards our bush .
“Go, Goldsong, go!” I yelped, shoving her out.
The poacher shot a dart into the Pikachu’s tail. As it started to slow down, he grabbed it. The Pichu tumbled off, and made a mad dash for the trees. Then, the poacher managed to snag a Bunelba.
I thought he was too distracted by the Pokemon fleeing the fire to notice me and Goldsong. Then, he turned towards us, and he shot a dart at Goldsong.
I leapt into action, shoving Goldsong forwards. Numbness pierced my shoulder, and spread like water through the rest of my body.
Goldsong looked back at me as I fell over, and screamed.
“Run away,” I said in a hoarse whisper, and she started running as fast as she possibly could. It kind of looked odd… Like she was right in front of me, then a second later she was several steps ahead, like I was blinking my eyes really fast, or like she was leaving behind after images… like a Suicune…
Darkness was circling my vision. I barely felt the poacher pick me up and shove me somewhere with a bunch of other Pokemon. Right before I was enveloped in darkness, I saw the Arcanine chasing Goldsong through the trees…
Darkness…

The Path to Where I Stand
Chapter 2: Chased
Goldsong’s POV

I ducked under the branches, and hopped over the roots. I could feel them snagging at my fur, and tearing out tiny clumps. Also, I could feel the forest getting hotter and hotter as the fire spread.
The forest, the meadow, the whole of Pokemon Village, had only a little while ago seemed so friendly and fun. Now, it was quickly turning into a nightmare land.
I tumbled behind a gnarled tree stump, panting heavily. My chest hurt so badly. My paws and legs were sore.
X had always said I was tiny for a Shinx, and I couldn’t play as long as the other Pokemon my age who lived here. Maybe I wasn’t built for running for longer amounts of time.
Maybe there’s something wrong with me. Maybe that’s why my color is different, I thought. Maybe that’s why the poachers want me.
A loud howl rose in the distance.
A chilling scream answered it.
And another screech.
The Arcanine. And another Pokemon I didn’t recognize.
Soon, I heard three bodies crashing through the undergrowth, and hot, panting breath.
I had to go soon, or they would sniff me out.
I started running again.
I kept running, through the pain in my chest, until I saw a tall weeping willow.
I scrambled up the bark, sinking my claws in, until I was a good ways off the ground. I wound the flexible branches and trailing leaves around my paws so I wouldn’t fall, and waited. I closed my eyes, panting slightly. I would not look down. I would not look down.
I heard a growling sound.
I opened my eyes, and looked down, just in time to see a Weavile leap at me, letting out another chilling scream.
I shrieked in reply as its dagger sharp claws just barely grazed my tail star. I pulled my tail and lower legs up higher, so it couldn’t reach it. Who knew Weaviles could jump so high up?
The Weavile glared at me, angrily, and impatiently circled the tree, waiting for the other Pokemon the poacher owned to arrive.
Soon, a Noctowl flew out of the trees, followed by the Arcanine, plodding along, taking its time, ad looking very, very intimidating.
The Arcanine looked up at me, and growled. I shuddered.
“Sova, grab her from the tree. Nyx, if Sova fails, climb up there,” the Arcanine instructed.
The Noctowl grinned. “You got it, Linhuo,” the Noctowl said. I guessed that he was Sova, and the Weavile was Nyx. The Noctowl flew up into the air, and hovered there a minute, before diving at me, screeching.
I shrieked, scared, and used Spark as Sova came hurtling towards me, He wasn’t expecting that, and it managed to paralyze his wings. He fell to the ground.
Linhuo sat there, staring at me. “Putting up a fight, are we? Good, i thought this might be boring. Nyx, get her.”
Nyx didn’t seem to like taking orders, but she started scrambling up the tree anyways. When he got closer, I felt my mouth heat up as fire covered my fangs, making them seem longer. As a claw reached for me, I bit it with Fire Fang. The Weavile yelped in pain, and slid back down again.
“So, your parents knew Fire Fang, and they passed it down to you?” Nyx growled.
“Change of plans, Nyx. Get back to our trainer. Lead him here. Meanwhile…” Linhuo commanded.
Nyx nodded, and dashed back through the trees.
Linhuo stepped royally towards the tree, and bent down his head. he spat out some embers, then jumped back as fire flared up at the willow’s base. It slowly began to travel up. I yelped in fear, unwound my paws from the branches, and scrambled up, higher and higher.
But minutes later, that didn’t help a bit, when perched on the top of the tree I felt numbness shoot through my paw, and I fell off the tree.
I hurtled into darkness…

The Path to Where I Stand
Chapter 3: Buzz Buzz…
Kage’s POV

“Dezepdin!” Yozora yelled, running happily around the egg. “Dezepdin, Dezepdin! Look, Kage, Dezepdin!” She nudged the egg towards me. I touched it with my paw, hesitantly.
My father chuckled, picking Yozora up. “Yep, Midnight. In there’s your new baby brother or sister. And if it’s a boy, we’re naming him Deception.”
“Dezepdin!” Yozora exclaimed again.
I kept my paw on the egg. “...H-hello, Deception,” I said in a quiet voice.
Mommy always said that I was much more quiet, but that was because I listen more, and learn words more quickly.
I curled my fluffy tail around my brother’s egg. “Dez,” I muttered. Deception was too long. Dez was just the right length.
Suddenly, my ear twitched. A faint humming sound could be heard, before vanishing again. I swiveled my ears a little. Yep, there it was again. It sort of sounded like…
“Bug!” Yozora yelled. She jumped down from our father’s arms, and ran in circles. “Bug! Bug fly! Buzz, buzz! Fly fast!”
“Buzz! Bug!” I agreed.
Daddy stared at the murky gray sky. “Oh no… Not them…” he said in a scared whisper.
Daddy was never scared. He was always happy and laughing.
“Them?” I asked, my voice equally filled with dread.
Suddenly, the buzzing intensified and the sky filled with dozens of bug types.
“The Mantis Gang!” Mommy shouted over the buzzing din.
A Vespiquen descended from the swarm, and a dark shape jumped off her back.
That shape was…
A Zoroark! A Zoroark with green eyes, the same color as Mommy and Yozora’s!
The Zoroark’s eyes locked with Mommy’s, and he smiled. “Why, hello, Ebony. It’s been so long since we’ve last seen each other,” he purred.
Mommy growled at him. I had never seen her angry before, and I never wanted to again.
Yozora nudged me. “Mommy knew that Zoroark?” I shrugged.
“Dusk,” Mommy hissed, “Go away. Far away. You are not my brother anymore. Not since you willingly joined that despicable gang.”
“Sorry, but blood ties aren’t erased that easily,” Dusk said haughtily, stepping lightly towards Mommy. “And Ebony, I’ve been so nice to you and your family. Lowering our taxes for you, giving you a longer time to scrounge up the money and food…”
“Step away from Ebony, Dusk,” Daddy warned.
I slowly crept behind my father. He picked Yozora up, and dropped her next to me.
“It’s still far too much. So many families have left here because of you! Nice families!” mother hissed.
“And we’ve sent scouts to hunt them down, and drag them back here,” Dusk said in an even tone.
“Pokemon have starved! Because of your exorbitant demands!”
“Well, they were weak anyways. Good thing we put them out of their misery, hmm?”
Mommy gasped in shock, before beginning to tremble in rage. “Who’d thought you’d turn so… so… Malicious, and cold-hearted, venomous, twisted little… I swear, here and now, I will put a permanent stop to your reign of terror!:
Dusk frowned. “Just as stubborn as I remember. Then I guess to keep from dying, I need to put an end to you?”
“Precisely,” mommy snarled, before glowing a soft blue light.
When the light faded away, mommy wasn’t standing there. Instead, there was a Charizard. From seemingly nowhere, the Charizard took out a Charizardite X, and surrounded herself with the familiar coccoon of light. The light fractured, and a Mega Charizard X burst out. It had green eyes, like Mommy.
“Mommy!?” I shrieked, surprised. “Where’d you go?”
Suddenly, half the Bug Types turned towards me, Daddy, and Yozora.
“Shall we take these children as new recruits?” a Scizor asked.
“Yes. It is necessary, actually. Make sure you catch them, but don’t kill them. Do whatever you want with their father, though,” Dusk replied, grinning wickedly. “Now, to deal with my dear twin. Please excuse us.” A pale blue light surrounded the Zoroark.
“You will not touch them! This is exactly why we quit!” Daddy growled, a now-familiar pale-blue light surrounding him.
Where Dusk was, a Genesect stood. Where Daddy had been, was a Houndoom. The Houndoom took out a Houndoominite, The cocoon of light surrounded him too, before breaking up to reveal a Mega Houndoom.
“Kage! Yozora! Run!” I heard the Charizard roar before sending a Flamethrower at the Genesect.
The Genesect grinned, and took out a Soak Drive from seemingly nowhere, before inserting it in himself. “Get them,” he commanded. He then fire a blast of water at the flames. The two attacks collided, and evaporated into vapor.
The Mega Houndoom nudged us. “Go! You heard your mother.”
Yozora nodded, and ran, trying to drag me along with her. “Come on, Kage!” she growled.
My legs finally started working after being rooted to the spot. We ran. We ran faster than we ever had before.
Several Ninjask, Shedinja, and Beedrill pursued us, moving their wings so fast we could feel the wind. They shot past us and fanned out, blocking our escape. I turned around, and saw Venemoth behind us, making a ring around us. The ring stepped closer. We were trapped.
Yozora and I squeezed ourselves closer together, my heart pounding so hard. I wanted to get out. To fly away from here with Yozora. I had to escape. Right now.
“Noooo!” I screamed, suddenly feeling… Odd… All… tingly. My vision was turning pale, glowy blue. And then. I noticed something.
My front legs. They were red. And they had hands. And…
I turned around. Wings…
“Lady Latias!” one of the Venemoth whispered, terrified. “It’s Lady Latias!”
“No, imbecile!” a Beedrill hissed back. “It’s just that tiny Zorua. She’s casting an illusion, just like Dusk can.”
An… illusion? Is that what Mommy and Daddy did, too?
I looked at my hands again. Mommy and Daddy told us fairy tales about Legendary Pokemon every night. My favorites had been about Latias and Latios. Yozora had always liked Darkrai.
I tried to remember Latias’s moves from the story…
I put my arms out in front of me, fog leaking from my fingers. I shaped the fog into a ball of mist, then through it at a cluster of Ninjask. “Mist Ball!” I screamed, as it hit home. I threw another ball at some Venemoth. “Mist Ball!”
The Ninjask and Venemoth were in panic, some of them fainted. I threw another Mist Ball at a Shedinja. “Mist Ball!”
Nothing happened. The attack went right through it.
I stared at the Shedinja in shock. Then a Ledian appeared in front of me, and used Bullet Punch, right between my eyes. I went back to Zorua, but now there was something different. I was stunned. i wasn’t sure if it was because I was shocked, terrified, or what.
The Ledian grabbed me, spread its wings, and lifted off, carrying me away with it. I saw another Ledian zip past with Yozora.
“Yozora!” I screamed. “Mommy! Daddy! Dez!”