From the shadows, a team claws its way back up to terrorize helpless victims.
Hidden in broad daylight, an organization seeks to burn all away.
Yet there is still a glimmer of light, a glitter of hope left...
------------------------------------------
Well, here it is again. It's been nearly 3 years since I've started this journey. On the way I had to tear the entire thing to pieces because of my sheer frustration with writing and the lack of ability I had for it. I had to rewrite it because several characters and plot ideas just didn't work out for me. Yet, having it stand at a good 400 pages, I couldn't just abandon the story.
So, now, I'm semi-proud to present to you the (nearly) completely re-worked epic story of my life's work (thus far), Rose Quartz and Onyx.
For those few that remember old RQO, keep in mind that this has been completely re-written. I've removed numerous characters and replaced them with new ones, or gotten rid of them all together. You'll see some big changes, starting in Chapter 2. The bare-bone basics haven't changed, but I've thought out some things more heavily and I think it's safe to say that this roller-coaster ride will be less bumpy and more thrilly. :3
Oh! And this is the Pokebeach-appropriate version. The true, unedited, PG-15 version will be uploaded to my DA account. I highly suggest that you take a peek if you think yourself mature enough. YES I HAVE A POTTY MOUTH YOU HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST THAT?!
So, with only a bit further ado, here's Chapter 1: Kidnapping.
...oh god I have so much catching up to do on this story it's not even funny. Why why why did I have to fail at writing so much before arghasdf. I do have 6 chapters of buffer but still :/ I WANNA GET BACK UP TO CH25! D:
------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: There are no canon characters in this story (at least not maybe for a long time and maybe even then there are none whatsoever). All characters, with very little exception, belong to me and Kiyo. The Beghta Region is a fictional region created by me. There's lots of originality.
MORE IMPORTANT IS THE RATING. This version is deemably PG, borderline PG-13. There are somewhat gruesomely written scenes (that don't actually say much but close enough), swearing, sly sexual jokes, etc. All parts of this story are fictional, and may or may not represent the way I think. However, this story is not intended to offend any sort of race, sex, religion or otherwise insult a particular group of people or an individual. So please don't hate on me for a fictional character's way of thinking. Pokemon isn't serious business.
------------------------------------------
Chapter Index
Part 1: Beginnings
Chapter 1- Kidnapping (please scroll down a little further!)
Chapter 2- Breakout
Chapter 3- Recovery
Chapter 4- Gift, Curse
Chapter 5- Makeshift Madness
Chapter 6- A Short Rest
Chapter 7- Suppuration
Chapter 8- Threshold
Chapter 9- Infiltration
Chapter 10- The Battle
Chapter 11- Regroup
Chapter 12- Arrival
Part 2: Coming Soon!
Chapter updates are generally on Tuesdays, but the story is on temporary hiatus right now.
------------------------------------------
Art for RQO:
-Aeron Gunnar Reference
------------------------------------------
Chapter 1: Kidnapping
The van clattered along the uneven, dirt road riddled with potholes created from the local Diglett. The moving vehicle sped ominously along, causing Pokemon within the far reaches of the Eclipse Woods to scatter and take for cover as they watched it noisily pass.
“Sir, we’ll arrive base-side within approximately ten minutes,” the driver, masked in shadow from his cap, coolly noted. His leather grip on the wheel was tight and concentrated.
“…excellent,” the man in the shotgun seat, readjusting his own black hat on his head, nodded with a victorious smile. Briefly he gazed back into the barred window on the door that led to the cargo compartment of the motor vehicle.
Another male human, clothed in black like his superiors, sneered as growls and barks of sadistic laughter tortured their catch of the year. Frightened, it was all the small female could do to even breathe let alone try to keep her distance from the viciously fanged Pokemon before her in a cramped cage. The dark-colored dog muttered cruel things her way, and when things fell silent for a few moments, he suddenly lashed out at the bars; flames crawled out from his mouth and encircled the iron that imprisoned her. She’d attempt to cry in shock, in absolute fear for her life, but her captors had seen well to her silence already in Stun Spore. Her eyes that were the color of a pure, dry midday sky teared up. She felt some of the hairs on her legs and arms receding under high heat. A bizarre, humanesque smile found its way onto the canine’s muzzle, wrinkling his nose and stretching out an obvious scar over his left eye.
The Houndoom snapped, opening his jaws once again. The fire scorched her right arm. Pain shot through her body as her flesh burned. She yelped a plea to stop, then gasped for air. She had broken the paralysis for only a mere second before she crumbled beneath it again. At last, the dark-fire type seemed to grow bored, retreating to a small corner of the van. He kept his scarred eye upon her cage threateningly.
Crystal Hikara, finally allowed pure air devoid of flame and dog-breath, found herself unable to do much of anything beyond trying to catch her breath. Thoughts of how she would get herself out of this mess nervously crossed her mind. What’s…going to happen to me? Are they going to…kill me? What of Breeze, Flora…? Maybe Mom was right, maybe I was too naïve, to go out into this world so soon…she thought painfully to herself, taking in all that she could from the small window to the driver’s cabin. It was dark, and the image of being shipped off to a lightless facility didn’t help. Memories of home and the start of her journey flooded her mind. Why do they even want me…? I bet it’s because of my gift…or maybe I’m just perfectly good training material…if only I just hadn’t been so stupid a little while back…
Very little sunlight filtered down from the clouds hanging above Route 49. Even with the faint outlines of the woods’ leaves on the summer path, it was still a warm day and an optimum time to start out upon her journey. The young girl, barely a mile from her hometown of Dawndew, stretched as she walked with a satisfied yawn. “Ah! Man, what a great day! I can’t even believe it! After all these years, and after those six months of house arrest, I’m free! I’m free!” she gleefully shouted as she leapt into the air. The light wind coming from the small lake to the west made not only her long, golden blonde hair shimmer, but it also caught and lifted her quaint pink bangs for a brief moment. The little light reflected in her eye, making her come to life.
“And, what a better way to start an adventure than with your longtime friend, whom successfully helped you catch your first Pokemon! What an awesome Pidgey!” Crystal beamed up to the local airspace. Rolling hazel eyes as she flapped mahogany-peach wings, the tiny bird swiveled down beside her. Out of habit the new trainer offered her bare forearm, and quickly the Pidgey roosted. The bird climbed awkwardly up her arm, careful not to poke holes into her trainer’s violet-lined white tee. Successfully the flying type rested on her shoulder, setting to preening her wings, with only a short coo of pride in her victory. “Haha, you’re so weird and modest, aren’tcha Breeze?” the newbie poked her stomach, and Breeze fluffed up with an irritated, faint hiss. “Whatever you say…” she muttered, giving a faint chuckle. Her hand gingerly wrapped around both of the new orbs on her belt. Confidently, she felt the many pockets of her customized shoulder bag buckled onto the matching trainer’s belt. They were fairly empty, but she felt that they would be filled during her long and knowingly arduous adventure before her.
Her hands fell down to her side hesitantly as she noticed the moving van stranded on the side of the road. It was jacked up, and several men in professional black shirts and matching pants attempted to replace a flat with a spare. “Huh…? What’s going on…?” the young trainer whispered to her bird friend. As a response, Breeze clicked her beak slowly, a dubious expression crawling over her face. “Hmm? Yeah, something does feel a little weird about it, I guess…maybe we should just avoid them…”
Quietly, she began to proceed past the van. She noticed some of the workers gaze up curiously. Nervously she glanced back at them, and unexpectedly collided with a man a good foot and then some taller than her petite four-foot-five. Breeze squawked loudly in protest, fluttering off her shoulder for a moment as Crystal stumbled back. “Ah, I’m, I’m sorry!” she tripped over her words, bowing her head shortly before she rose her gaze to the man. He, unlike the others, wore a gray jacket professionally buttoned over a black turtleneck. ‘TJ’s Moving Service’ was emblazoned extremely thickly on his chest pocket, ‘Johnson’ signed below it in curly white lettering. The man himself appeared well on his ways to the thirties, if not already in them; his chocolate hair was not particularly long for an adult within that age group and it was kept rather neat. Something about his cool, near indigo eyes unnerved her, along with his smile.
“Oh, my apologies, miss! I was just pacing about. I didn’t see you there.”
“No, no, it’s alright. I wasn’t watching where I was looking. Pardon…”
“Oh, you have a Pidgey?” Before she was allowed to make a speedy escape, he held his hand out for the bird. Breeze angrily moved in to bite his finger off, but he withdrew in time. “Aggressive little one! She giving you problems?”
“Why would Breeze give me problems?”
“Well, just not too many experienced trainers come down this road too often anymore, you know? Especially not with Pidgey. I heard they’re a rowdy bunch of birds in these parts of the woods. Say, actually…”
His words formed a slow pit within her stomach. The workers of the flat were all staring now. She glanced around subtly, trying to devise a way to escape. “Well, as you can see, me and my moving crew got a flat, so we’re going to be a little late in reaching Sunrise. Is there any way we could borrow your Pidgey and send word there? By the way, my name is Christopher Johnson. You can call me Chris, though. Everyone does.” He extended his hand.
Warning bells clanged in her head. Dawndew and Sunrise were the only two areas connected by Route 49, and she heard of none of the families moving from Dawndew to Sunrise recently. “Ah,” Crystal reluctantly took his hand in the shake. He firmly grasped her hand, as though threatening to never let go. “Nice to meet you, Chris, but I don’t think she knows the way that well. I’m sorry, but I have to reach Sunrise by nightfall, and…”
Her words halted as she attempted to draw her hand away. He still clung onto it. “You never told me your name, Crystal Hikara…” he whispered.
Everything happened within seconds. The workers had thrown on gas masks and caps, sealing their already faint identities away. Breeze screeched and attempted to attack her friend’s aggressor, but was unceremoniously thrown into a satchel from behind. Swiftly one of the grunts secured a mask onto Chris’s face, before rushing into the back of the van. “Don’t you know it’s rude not to give your name when someone tells you their name?”
She screamed, crying for help, and managed to writhe herself out of his vile grip. Her footsteps were no match for the trained professional peons, and soon she was brought to her knees by two ‘movers’. She yelped as they yanked on her blonde hair mercilessly, pulling her head back uncomfortably. Her eyes caught sight of faint yellow pollen drifting closer. Following one of the members of the sinister group was a Vileplume, scattering Stun Spore left and right. She inhaled clean air before it surrounded her, and though her heart was pumping hard and fast, she hoped she could hold it for long enough to think of something to do.
“Do you really think that holding your breath will prevent you from Bad Nastay’s pollen for long? His Stun Spore is potent beyond belief. I’d make it easy on yourself, Crystal, and just allow yourself a small lungful. It’ll make things easier on us and for you,” Chris hummed as men swept her bag off her shoulders instantly, shortly followed by her belt.
Still she held her breath.
“No? Alright. I didn’t want to do this, but…bring me the Pidgey.”
She shot worried eyes over.
Flapping her wings like mad and squawking more than likely about pecking their brains out, Breeze hung upside-down by her legs. Soon the effects of the spore came over her, and she swung limply. He shook her, and several of the nearby men watched without a flinch. “Stubborn little chicken, aren’t we? Well, I like my chicken best served fresh and hot…Doomsday!”
From the contents of the van once again shot out a Pokemon, this time upon its own accord. The beast was black with bone-like growths over its body. Eagerly it leapt over, acidic saliva dripping from his open jaw. One of its demonic eyes was damaged, the scar over the eyelid obvious and deep. It barked, and leapt for the bird. The flying type screeched repetitively as she was just held to the side of his jaws at the last possible moment.
Crystal felt herself becoming faint. Her lungs were burning.
Laughter flew about the men as Johnson pointed at the Houndoom. “Now, now, Doomsday. Let’s not be so eager to eat dinner when we haven’t even finished a job…” he reprimanded, and eyed the young trainer. “She breathe yet?”
“No, sir,” both curtly responded.
“Well, maybe a little more persuasion is in order…dinner time, Doomsday, but make it slow. Don’t kill it yet.”
With that, he lowered the bird into the dog’s face. Breeze cried in agony as he took her left wing into his mouth. Sickening crunches were heard.
“No!” Crystal finally shouted. Her breath was automatic, and she coughed on the thick air. Tears formed as she watched the Pidgey taken by her once well-kept wing and treated as though she was a chew toy. “N-no!” she attempted again, but the cloud of paralyzing spores was seeping into her lungs and bloodstream with great speed. Weakly she found herself unable to remain on her knees. The grip on her arms tightened, keeping her up.
“She’s inhaled!” one reported.
“Good. Doomsday, that’s enough. You’ll get your true treat later. Leave it for a grunt to pick up. As for our dear, rude friend Crystal…” He walked over casually. Her scalp was released, and her head flopped forward. He soon brought her chin up, to his face. He almost appeared like a father punishing a demanding child, more than a sadistic kidnapper. “Let’s show her to her new home. Throw her in the cage, get the van on the ground, let’s move.” Carelessly he released his grip on her chin.
“Sir!”
Tears of worry for her own well being and for Breeze’s poured down her cheeks. Two men of the heist, no longer having the moving company shirts on but uniforms emblazoned with a bloodred RM, idly gossiped and laughed. Crystal knew it was at her expense. Suddenly they silenced as their authoritative figure spoke. The vehicle was slowing.
“Knock her out. No need for her to see anything besides her real home.”
“Sir,” they soullessly responded, their gas masks replaced. Doomsday lazily opened his eye, before scratching at the door to where his master remained. He was swiftly allowed in. The kidnapped trainer made out Chris and the driver each having put on their own masks. Dark pollen seeped into the air as the Vileplume was ordered to use Sleep Powder. The pain of her burns and paralysis faded into the unconscious realm as all spun away into darkness.
A foul smell of the noxious Sleep Powder and something else lingered in Crystal’s nose as the world spun back to her. Her stomach upset and her mind still trying to re-boot after the forced fainting spell, the actual picture of the room finally began to make sense to her minutes later.
Behind her miniature cage bars was a surprisingly small room lined with rows of other empty cages. The light of the room was poor; one of the fluorescent light tubes on the ceiling flickered sporadically and the other was dim. She hesitated for a moment, registering the smell of the room as a faint urine mixed with mildew. Various of the holding cells so carelessly stacked on top of each other were clawed at, bit at, and had been exposed to the elements. Clearly Pokemon had been kept here more than against their will, the young girl pondered weakly to herself. Not only did the smell make her want to wretch, but the thought of all those stolen or otherwise illegally obtained Pokemon…
Cramped and her arm still suffering from the burns of Doomsday, she moved to resituate herself. However, she was only able to lift a finger dully and shift her head about. She attempted to take control of her mouth. It, too, felt lame as though her dentist had shot her tongue and lips full up with novocaine. Her movement didn’t escape the notice of the only other living thing within the room.
“Grunt number one-one-zero-two-five reporting in. The girl has awoken,” he hushed into a walkie-talkie. He paused, and a muffled response followed that the new trainer couldn’t make out in the haze of the Stun Spore and the Sleep Powder.
Within a minute, the end message became clear. Two men with the same outfit Chris Johnson wore soon entered the room. Crystal’s stomach churned further as she heard Johnson instruct, “Unlock her door. Administrator Nersu is waiting to meet her, and we shan’t keep her.”
“Sir,” the grunt responded like a lifeless robot, before striding over to the blonde girl’s cage. Crystal’s legs immediately pushed out a few inches as the door of the cage shot out.
“Is she still paralyzed?” the third voice questioned, the other one of Chris’s position.
“Yes, sir.”
“I made sure to it that she inhaled a clear lungful,” Johnson nearly sneered, before he bent down. The frightened, new trainer tried to shrink back as she was forced to gaze into his sick, fake smile and those cunning violet eyes. “Hi Crystal. You learn your lesson? I do hope so, because someone very important wants to meet you today, so you’d better answer her when told to. Ms. Nersu is kind and understanding if you do what she wants. I can’t say what she would do to you otherwise, though…” he casually rambled on, before his gloved hand lunged out and wrapped itself tightly around her left arm. She gave a faint yelp of fright. Whomever this Nersu was, she did not want to meet her. She had pins and needles brushing all over her already from her inferior.
She was tugged out and hauled like a rug from her cage. She fought to get free, so she could at least stand on her own, but the option was not available as he dug his fingertips into her flesh harshly. She winced, and felt her other arm, her wounded arm, taken up just as quickly. The other promoted grunt was definitely more gentle than Christopher, being careful to not allow his hands near her wounds. Still, his grip was forte, and she was supported just barely enough so her knees wouldn’t remain on the ground and drag.
Without having to be instructed to, the grunt forcibly opened and shut the only door out of the holding cell room. Crystal found her hair hanging down limply from the sides of her face and flowing along the midnight-colored marble as she was transported out. She caught sight of their highly polished boots, well kept and taken care for, and she matched the echoing of their footsteps to their physical movements. She rolled her eyes upwards for a few seconds to try and see the rest of the hall. It stretched onwards for several yards, illuminated by brighter fluorescent tubes and concrete walls. Everything pushed down on her, and even with the silver security doors dotting the hall and the branch off into a new hallway, she felt as though she would never escape in this huge warehouse area. Posters littered the walls where billboards hung. Crystal was forced to look down from her eye muscles burning and stars filling her eyes, but one poster definitely held her bright pink bangs, blonde hair and sky blue eyes.
Her arms throbbed, being so carelessly totted along. Still no sign of relief was in sight as they took what appeared the main hallway to the base. They were far from the only ones now- all men and women, dressed in black with the RM symbol on their chest paused in their activities, facing the center of the hall and clearing the path quickly. The blonde gazed up. Like trained officers from the army, all of them saluted the men as they passed, but as soon as they were out of their visible eyesight she knew they would stare all at her emptily.
The end of the Death Row walk abruptly arrived. She forced her eyes up once again. A grand door of gleaming silver and the same team symbol emblazoned on the metal shone down on them menacingly. Two grunts saluted them both, before stepping aside when they gazed at the two superiors briefly and asked for identification cards.
“Open the doors for the two Junior Administrator’s meeting with Administrator Nersu!” one of the grunts called into his walkie-talkie, and there was the sound of powerful motors unlocking the tough security of the door. Smoothly, yet eerily silently, the double doors pulled back to reveal a massive room.
The room almost appeared to be a spherical, underground coliseum illuminated by powerful lighting orbs stuck in the ground and in the walls. On second glance the room itself was a narrow rectangle. Gentle spotlights carried all the way to the back of the room. A figure, obscured by the light, seem preoccupied at her desk. Patiently the two men waited, daring not to step any further into the room. Typing noises carried through the vast room, before the figure leaned upwards.
“Sorry to keep you two waiting,” the woman casually noted, her figure slowly coming into view beneath the dim spotlight.
“You didn’t keep us waiting, Administrator Nersu.” After Chris’s words, Crystal felt him give a short bow. The other Junior Administrator followed suit.
“Good, then. …I see you’ve brought the girl?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I do hope she’s awake and able to talk.” The Administrator’s voice…something about her apathetic words were laced with ill intent.
“She is awake, ma’am,” answered the right-hand Junior Administrator.
“She cried when I pulled her out of the cage, ma’am.”
“Good…alright, bring her here so I can see her.”
Loathing every step onto the battle square they took, Crystal forced her eyes down to the ground stubbornly. The area was well-kept for, but brown spots that appeared suspiciously like blood stains made her close her eyes all together in nausea. She felt her captors take a set of small steps until they had reached the desk. Finally they pulled back slightly, propping the frightened girl up onto her knees. Her breath was once again lost. Tears were threatening to roll, even as she faced asphyxiation. Even though she was terrified, there was the strange need to gaze at this administrator, or what she could make out from her still-limp head.
The woman was obviously a good foot and a little taller than the blonde. Work pants, neatly pressed without a wrinkle, covered her glossy leather boots on small heels. A strand of deep blue hair passed into her sight, illuminated by the poor light briefly. ‘Nersu’ walked around Crystal slowly, taking in her every sight, before pausing in front of her.
“…so, you’re Crystal Hikara,” she offered, that same apathetic tone in her wispy voice. “The youngest of the Hikara siblings, sister to not only Ryouo Hikara, an extremely talented trainer, but Kira Hikara, one of the Elite Four members. Age ten and a half, hometown of Dawndew, embodied with a special…gift.” At her words, the blue-eyed girl shuddered. She felt violated. It felt like they knew every bit of her life. “…well, as our leader can’t be here at this moment, I, Kinshayti Nersu, first administrator of Team Missile, say…welcome.”
Crystal kept her gaze firmly on the ground. After a moment of silence, Kinshayti continued to pace around her.
“I know…we must look like a band of criminals here. I know you’ve heard about us, maybe even scoffed at our name. It’s to be expected. But, trust me, we aren’t. You know what we want most? In this world? I myself wanted it, and when they let me into this team, I got it. Respect. Everyone wants respect. We’re all not so different. People, every day throughout the Beghta Region, Johto, Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Orre, hell all of these regions we know about, sign up to become Pokemon trainers. To try and be the best. Some grow, become powerful, some fail. I was one of the failures until I made the decision to come to this team, among many others.
“I can tell, even without looking at your face. You’re near tears. I know so many people who have been like you, and the ones that joined this team, they got somewhere. They’re someone. …You want to be someone. We’ll help you be someone. We’ll benefit off each other, like this true team does. Won’t you help us?”
Another long pause followed. The Administrator’s footsteps ended behind her. Crystal felt the hot pressure of her eyes glued onto her. She fought to say anything, anything to counter what she had said. They're an awful team, Team Missile, she thought furiously and frightened. No crime is too heinous and no morals hold any value for them. They’re public Pokemon abusers and killers, cheaters, extorters, robbers, and human murderers…
Finally, she managed a response weakly. “No.” It was the only word able to give all her reasons against them in one fell blow.
Even if whispered, the negative response was deafening and echoed about the room. The silence was even more overpowering. The sharp clatter of rushed footsteps to Crystal’s side made her shrink back once again, but soon enough she found two long fingers almost glued together shove her chin up. She winced, but she was forced to gawk deep into Kinshayti’s face as she glared into hers. The Admin’s eyes were of a cold steel color, laced with flecks of lighter gold near the pupil. Her hair was ragged and hung down, contrasting on her blank face.
“Crystal…I think you fail to realize the delicate situation you are in right now,” she whispered coldly. “You shall help us with our goal, be it on your own will, or after we’ve dealt further with your longtime Pidgey friend, whom is in critical care at this moment…”
The girl froze dead in her place, tears welding up quickly.
“The bird, or your stubborn beliefs. Your choice.”
Crystal finally allowed her gaze down, submitting sorrowfully to the Administrator. She gave a brief, nonchalant smile, before she withdrew her fingers from her chin. Immediately blonde hair fell into the child’s face once again.
“Good. Alright. Please show Ms. Hikara to the packaging room, will you? I’ve heard the Alakazam has a long list of complaints to register with the lead supervisor.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the two Junior Admins affirmed soullessly, and once again she was dragged off. Her head was bowed shamefully and tears streamed down her cheek as the majestic doors closed behind them once again. Breeze…please get better so we can somehow escape from this horrible place…
------------------------------------------
For the record, formatting stuff is a general pain in the butt. :B
C'n'C if you desire. I tried to tone this down as much as humanly possible cause I was looking at it and I was like WORDS WHAT THE- but yeah, hopefully it's a 200% improvement over before. PMJ YOU FAN GET OVER HERE AND READ THIS PLEASE KAY THANKS.
Hidden in broad daylight, an organization seeks to burn all away.
Yet there is still a glimmer of light, a glitter of hope left...
------------------------------------------
Well, here it is again. It's been nearly 3 years since I've started this journey. On the way I had to tear the entire thing to pieces because of my sheer frustration with writing and the lack of ability I had for it. I had to rewrite it because several characters and plot ideas just didn't work out for me. Yet, having it stand at a good 400 pages, I couldn't just abandon the story.
So, now, I'm semi-proud to present to you the (nearly) completely re-worked epic story of my life's work (thus far), Rose Quartz and Onyx.
For those few that remember old RQO, keep in mind that this has been completely re-written. I've removed numerous characters and replaced them with new ones, or gotten rid of them all together. You'll see some big changes, starting in Chapter 2. The bare-bone basics haven't changed, but I've thought out some things more heavily and I think it's safe to say that this roller-coaster ride will be less bumpy and more thrilly. :3
Oh! And this is the Pokebeach-appropriate version. The true, unedited, PG-15 version will be uploaded to my DA account. I highly suggest that you take a peek if you think yourself mature enough. YES I HAVE A POTTY MOUTH YOU HAVE SOMETHING AGAINST THAT?!
So, with only a bit further ado, here's Chapter 1: Kidnapping.
...oh god I have so much catching up to do on this story it's not even funny. Why why why did I have to fail at writing so much before arghasdf. I do have 6 chapters of buffer but still :/ I WANNA GET BACK UP TO CH25! D:
------------------------------------------
Disclaimer: There are no canon characters in this story (at least not maybe for a long time and maybe even then there are none whatsoever). All characters, with very little exception, belong to me and Kiyo. The Beghta Region is a fictional region created by me. There's lots of originality.
MORE IMPORTANT IS THE RATING. This version is deemably PG, borderline PG-13. There are somewhat gruesomely written scenes (that don't actually say much but close enough), swearing, sly sexual jokes, etc. All parts of this story are fictional, and may or may not represent the way I think. However, this story is not intended to offend any sort of race, sex, religion or otherwise insult a particular group of people or an individual. So please don't hate on me for a fictional character's way of thinking. Pokemon isn't serious business.
------------------------------------------
Chapter Index
Part 1: Beginnings
Chapter 1- Kidnapping (please scroll down a little further!)
Chapter 2- Breakout
Chapter 3- Recovery
Chapter 4- Gift, Curse
Chapter 5- Makeshift Madness
Chapter 6- A Short Rest
Chapter 7- Suppuration
Chapter 8- Threshold
Chapter 9- Infiltration
Chapter 10- The Battle
Chapter 11- Regroup
Chapter 12- Arrival
Part 2: Coming Soon!
Chapter updates are generally on Tuesdays, but the story is on temporary hiatus right now.
------------------------------------------
Art for RQO:
-Aeron Gunnar Reference
------------------------------------------
Chapter 1: Kidnapping
The van clattered along the uneven, dirt road riddled with potholes created from the local Diglett. The moving vehicle sped ominously along, causing Pokemon within the far reaches of the Eclipse Woods to scatter and take for cover as they watched it noisily pass.
“Sir, we’ll arrive base-side within approximately ten minutes,” the driver, masked in shadow from his cap, coolly noted. His leather grip on the wheel was tight and concentrated.
“…excellent,” the man in the shotgun seat, readjusting his own black hat on his head, nodded with a victorious smile. Briefly he gazed back into the barred window on the door that led to the cargo compartment of the motor vehicle.
Another male human, clothed in black like his superiors, sneered as growls and barks of sadistic laughter tortured their catch of the year. Frightened, it was all the small female could do to even breathe let alone try to keep her distance from the viciously fanged Pokemon before her in a cramped cage. The dark-colored dog muttered cruel things her way, and when things fell silent for a few moments, he suddenly lashed out at the bars; flames crawled out from his mouth and encircled the iron that imprisoned her. She’d attempt to cry in shock, in absolute fear for her life, but her captors had seen well to her silence already in Stun Spore. Her eyes that were the color of a pure, dry midday sky teared up. She felt some of the hairs on her legs and arms receding under high heat. A bizarre, humanesque smile found its way onto the canine’s muzzle, wrinkling his nose and stretching out an obvious scar over his left eye.
The Houndoom snapped, opening his jaws once again. The fire scorched her right arm. Pain shot through her body as her flesh burned. She yelped a plea to stop, then gasped for air. She had broken the paralysis for only a mere second before she crumbled beneath it again. At last, the dark-fire type seemed to grow bored, retreating to a small corner of the van. He kept his scarred eye upon her cage threateningly.
Crystal Hikara, finally allowed pure air devoid of flame and dog-breath, found herself unable to do much of anything beyond trying to catch her breath. Thoughts of how she would get herself out of this mess nervously crossed her mind. What’s…going to happen to me? Are they going to…kill me? What of Breeze, Flora…? Maybe Mom was right, maybe I was too naïve, to go out into this world so soon…she thought painfully to herself, taking in all that she could from the small window to the driver’s cabin. It was dark, and the image of being shipped off to a lightless facility didn’t help. Memories of home and the start of her journey flooded her mind. Why do they even want me…? I bet it’s because of my gift…or maybe I’m just perfectly good training material…if only I just hadn’t been so stupid a little while back…
Very little sunlight filtered down from the clouds hanging above Route 49. Even with the faint outlines of the woods’ leaves on the summer path, it was still a warm day and an optimum time to start out upon her journey. The young girl, barely a mile from her hometown of Dawndew, stretched as she walked with a satisfied yawn. “Ah! Man, what a great day! I can’t even believe it! After all these years, and after those six months of house arrest, I’m free! I’m free!” she gleefully shouted as she leapt into the air. The light wind coming from the small lake to the west made not only her long, golden blonde hair shimmer, but it also caught and lifted her quaint pink bangs for a brief moment. The little light reflected in her eye, making her come to life.
“And, what a better way to start an adventure than with your longtime friend, whom successfully helped you catch your first Pokemon! What an awesome Pidgey!” Crystal beamed up to the local airspace. Rolling hazel eyes as she flapped mahogany-peach wings, the tiny bird swiveled down beside her. Out of habit the new trainer offered her bare forearm, and quickly the Pidgey roosted. The bird climbed awkwardly up her arm, careful not to poke holes into her trainer’s violet-lined white tee. Successfully the flying type rested on her shoulder, setting to preening her wings, with only a short coo of pride in her victory. “Haha, you’re so weird and modest, aren’tcha Breeze?” the newbie poked her stomach, and Breeze fluffed up with an irritated, faint hiss. “Whatever you say…” she muttered, giving a faint chuckle. Her hand gingerly wrapped around both of the new orbs on her belt. Confidently, she felt the many pockets of her customized shoulder bag buckled onto the matching trainer’s belt. They were fairly empty, but she felt that they would be filled during her long and knowingly arduous adventure before her.
Her hands fell down to her side hesitantly as she noticed the moving van stranded on the side of the road. It was jacked up, and several men in professional black shirts and matching pants attempted to replace a flat with a spare. “Huh…? What’s going on…?” the young trainer whispered to her bird friend. As a response, Breeze clicked her beak slowly, a dubious expression crawling over her face. “Hmm? Yeah, something does feel a little weird about it, I guess…maybe we should just avoid them…”
Quietly, she began to proceed past the van. She noticed some of the workers gaze up curiously. Nervously she glanced back at them, and unexpectedly collided with a man a good foot and then some taller than her petite four-foot-five. Breeze squawked loudly in protest, fluttering off her shoulder for a moment as Crystal stumbled back. “Ah, I’m, I’m sorry!” she tripped over her words, bowing her head shortly before she rose her gaze to the man. He, unlike the others, wore a gray jacket professionally buttoned over a black turtleneck. ‘TJ’s Moving Service’ was emblazoned extremely thickly on his chest pocket, ‘Johnson’ signed below it in curly white lettering. The man himself appeared well on his ways to the thirties, if not already in them; his chocolate hair was not particularly long for an adult within that age group and it was kept rather neat. Something about his cool, near indigo eyes unnerved her, along with his smile.
“Oh, my apologies, miss! I was just pacing about. I didn’t see you there.”
“No, no, it’s alright. I wasn’t watching where I was looking. Pardon…”
“Oh, you have a Pidgey?” Before she was allowed to make a speedy escape, he held his hand out for the bird. Breeze angrily moved in to bite his finger off, but he withdrew in time. “Aggressive little one! She giving you problems?”
“Why would Breeze give me problems?”
“Well, just not too many experienced trainers come down this road too often anymore, you know? Especially not with Pidgey. I heard they’re a rowdy bunch of birds in these parts of the woods. Say, actually…”
His words formed a slow pit within her stomach. The workers of the flat were all staring now. She glanced around subtly, trying to devise a way to escape. “Well, as you can see, me and my moving crew got a flat, so we’re going to be a little late in reaching Sunrise. Is there any way we could borrow your Pidgey and send word there? By the way, my name is Christopher Johnson. You can call me Chris, though. Everyone does.” He extended his hand.
Warning bells clanged in her head. Dawndew and Sunrise were the only two areas connected by Route 49, and she heard of none of the families moving from Dawndew to Sunrise recently. “Ah,” Crystal reluctantly took his hand in the shake. He firmly grasped her hand, as though threatening to never let go. “Nice to meet you, Chris, but I don’t think she knows the way that well. I’m sorry, but I have to reach Sunrise by nightfall, and…”
Her words halted as she attempted to draw her hand away. He still clung onto it. “You never told me your name, Crystal Hikara…” he whispered.
Everything happened within seconds. The workers had thrown on gas masks and caps, sealing their already faint identities away. Breeze screeched and attempted to attack her friend’s aggressor, but was unceremoniously thrown into a satchel from behind. Swiftly one of the grunts secured a mask onto Chris’s face, before rushing into the back of the van. “Don’t you know it’s rude not to give your name when someone tells you their name?”
She screamed, crying for help, and managed to writhe herself out of his vile grip. Her footsteps were no match for the trained professional peons, and soon she was brought to her knees by two ‘movers’. She yelped as they yanked on her blonde hair mercilessly, pulling her head back uncomfortably. Her eyes caught sight of faint yellow pollen drifting closer. Following one of the members of the sinister group was a Vileplume, scattering Stun Spore left and right. She inhaled clean air before it surrounded her, and though her heart was pumping hard and fast, she hoped she could hold it for long enough to think of something to do.
“Do you really think that holding your breath will prevent you from Bad Nastay’s pollen for long? His Stun Spore is potent beyond belief. I’d make it easy on yourself, Crystal, and just allow yourself a small lungful. It’ll make things easier on us and for you,” Chris hummed as men swept her bag off her shoulders instantly, shortly followed by her belt.
Still she held her breath.
“No? Alright. I didn’t want to do this, but…bring me the Pidgey.”
She shot worried eyes over.
Flapping her wings like mad and squawking more than likely about pecking their brains out, Breeze hung upside-down by her legs. Soon the effects of the spore came over her, and she swung limply. He shook her, and several of the nearby men watched without a flinch. “Stubborn little chicken, aren’t we? Well, I like my chicken best served fresh and hot…Doomsday!”
From the contents of the van once again shot out a Pokemon, this time upon its own accord. The beast was black with bone-like growths over its body. Eagerly it leapt over, acidic saliva dripping from his open jaw. One of its demonic eyes was damaged, the scar over the eyelid obvious and deep. It barked, and leapt for the bird. The flying type screeched repetitively as she was just held to the side of his jaws at the last possible moment.
Crystal felt herself becoming faint. Her lungs were burning.
Laughter flew about the men as Johnson pointed at the Houndoom. “Now, now, Doomsday. Let’s not be so eager to eat dinner when we haven’t even finished a job…” he reprimanded, and eyed the young trainer. “She breathe yet?”
“No, sir,” both curtly responded.
“Well, maybe a little more persuasion is in order…dinner time, Doomsday, but make it slow. Don’t kill it yet.”
With that, he lowered the bird into the dog’s face. Breeze cried in agony as he took her left wing into his mouth. Sickening crunches were heard.
“No!” Crystal finally shouted. Her breath was automatic, and she coughed on the thick air. Tears formed as she watched the Pidgey taken by her once well-kept wing and treated as though she was a chew toy. “N-no!” she attempted again, but the cloud of paralyzing spores was seeping into her lungs and bloodstream with great speed. Weakly she found herself unable to remain on her knees. The grip on her arms tightened, keeping her up.
“She’s inhaled!” one reported.
“Good. Doomsday, that’s enough. You’ll get your true treat later. Leave it for a grunt to pick up. As for our dear, rude friend Crystal…” He walked over casually. Her scalp was released, and her head flopped forward. He soon brought her chin up, to his face. He almost appeared like a father punishing a demanding child, more than a sadistic kidnapper. “Let’s show her to her new home. Throw her in the cage, get the van on the ground, let’s move.” Carelessly he released his grip on her chin.
“Sir!”
Tears of worry for her own well being and for Breeze’s poured down her cheeks. Two men of the heist, no longer having the moving company shirts on but uniforms emblazoned with a bloodred RM, idly gossiped and laughed. Crystal knew it was at her expense. Suddenly they silenced as their authoritative figure spoke. The vehicle was slowing.
“Knock her out. No need for her to see anything besides her real home.”
“Sir,” they soullessly responded, their gas masks replaced. Doomsday lazily opened his eye, before scratching at the door to where his master remained. He was swiftly allowed in. The kidnapped trainer made out Chris and the driver each having put on their own masks. Dark pollen seeped into the air as the Vileplume was ordered to use Sleep Powder. The pain of her burns and paralysis faded into the unconscious realm as all spun away into darkness.
A foul smell of the noxious Sleep Powder and something else lingered in Crystal’s nose as the world spun back to her. Her stomach upset and her mind still trying to re-boot after the forced fainting spell, the actual picture of the room finally began to make sense to her minutes later.
Behind her miniature cage bars was a surprisingly small room lined with rows of other empty cages. The light of the room was poor; one of the fluorescent light tubes on the ceiling flickered sporadically and the other was dim. She hesitated for a moment, registering the smell of the room as a faint urine mixed with mildew. Various of the holding cells so carelessly stacked on top of each other were clawed at, bit at, and had been exposed to the elements. Clearly Pokemon had been kept here more than against their will, the young girl pondered weakly to herself. Not only did the smell make her want to wretch, but the thought of all those stolen or otherwise illegally obtained Pokemon…
Cramped and her arm still suffering from the burns of Doomsday, she moved to resituate herself. However, she was only able to lift a finger dully and shift her head about. She attempted to take control of her mouth. It, too, felt lame as though her dentist had shot her tongue and lips full up with novocaine. Her movement didn’t escape the notice of the only other living thing within the room.
“Grunt number one-one-zero-two-five reporting in. The girl has awoken,” he hushed into a walkie-talkie. He paused, and a muffled response followed that the new trainer couldn’t make out in the haze of the Stun Spore and the Sleep Powder.
Within a minute, the end message became clear. Two men with the same outfit Chris Johnson wore soon entered the room. Crystal’s stomach churned further as she heard Johnson instruct, “Unlock her door. Administrator Nersu is waiting to meet her, and we shan’t keep her.”
“Sir,” the grunt responded like a lifeless robot, before striding over to the blonde girl’s cage. Crystal’s legs immediately pushed out a few inches as the door of the cage shot out.
“Is she still paralyzed?” the third voice questioned, the other one of Chris’s position.
“Yes, sir.”
“I made sure to it that she inhaled a clear lungful,” Johnson nearly sneered, before he bent down. The frightened, new trainer tried to shrink back as she was forced to gaze into his sick, fake smile and those cunning violet eyes. “Hi Crystal. You learn your lesson? I do hope so, because someone very important wants to meet you today, so you’d better answer her when told to. Ms. Nersu is kind and understanding if you do what she wants. I can’t say what she would do to you otherwise, though…” he casually rambled on, before his gloved hand lunged out and wrapped itself tightly around her left arm. She gave a faint yelp of fright. Whomever this Nersu was, she did not want to meet her. She had pins and needles brushing all over her already from her inferior.
She was tugged out and hauled like a rug from her cage. She fought to get free, so she could at least stand on her own, but the option was not available as he dug his fingertips into her flesh harshly. She winced, and felt her other arm, her wounded arm, taken up just as quickly. The other promoted grunt was definitely more gentle than Christopher, being careful to not allow his hands near her wounds. Still, his grip was forte, and she was supported just barely enough so her knees wouldn’t remain on the ground and drag.
Without having to be instructed to, the grunt forcibly opened and shut the only door out of the holding cell room. Crystal found her hair hanging down limply from the sides of her face and flowing along the midnight-colored marble as she was transported out. She caught sight of their highly polished boots, well kept and taken care for, and she matched the echoing of their footsteps to their physical movements. She rolled her eyes upwards for a few seconds to try and see the rest of the hall. It stretched onwards for several yards, illuminated by brighter fluorescent tubes and concrete walls. Everything pushed down on her, and even with the silver security doors dotting the hall and the branch off into a new hallway, she felt as though she would never escape in this huge warehouse area. Posters littered the walls where billboards hung. Crystal was forced to look down from her eye muscles burning and stars filling her eyes, but one poster definitely held her bright pink bangs, blonde hair and sky blue eyes.
Her arms throbbed, being so carelessly totted along. Still no sign of relief was in sight as they took what appeared the main hallway to the base. They were far from the only ones now- all men and women, dressed in black with the RM symbol on their chest paused in their activities, facing the center of the hall and clearing the path quickly. The blonde gazed up. Like trained officers from the army, all of them saluted the men as they passed, but as soon as they were out of their visible eyesight she knew they would stare all at her emptily.
The end of the Death Row walk abruptly arrived. She forced her eyes up once again. A grand door of gleaming silver and the same team symbol emblazoned on the metal shone down on them menacingly. Two grunts saluted them both, before stepping aside when they gazed at the two superiors briefly and asked for identification cards.
“Open the doors for the two Junior Administrator’s meeting with Administrator Nersu!” one of the grunts called into his walkie-talkie, and there was the sound of powerful motors unlocking the tough security of the door. Smoothly, yet eerily silently, the double doors pulled back to reveal a massive room.
The room almost appeared to be a spherical, underground coliseum illuminated by powerful lighting orbs stuck in the ground and in the walls. On second glance the room itself was a narrow rectangle. Gentle spotlights carried all the way to the back of the room. A figure, obscured by the light, seem preoccupied at her desk. Patiently the two men waited, daring not to step any further into the room. Typing noises carried through the vast room, before the figure leaned upwards.
“Sorry to keep you two waiting,” the woman casually noted, her figure slowly coming into view beneath the dim spotlight.
“You didn’t keep us waiting, Administrator Nersu.” After Chris’s words, Crystal felt him give a short bow. The other Junior Administrator followed suit.
“Good, then. …I see you’ve brought the girl?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“And I do hope she’s awake and able to talk.” The Administrator’s voice…something about her apathetic words were laced with ill intent.
“She is awake, ma’am,” answered the right-hand Junior Administrator.
“She cried when I pulled her out of the cage, ma’am.”
“Good…alright, bring her here so I can see her.”
Loathing every step onto the battle square they took, Crystal forced her eyes down to the ground stubbornly. The area was well-kept for, but brown spots that appeared suspiciously like blood stains made her close her eyes all together in nausea. She felt her captors take a set of small steps until they had reached the desk. Finally they pulled back slightly, propping the frightened girl up onto her knees. Her breath was once again lost. Tears were threatening to roll, even as she faced asphyxiation. Even though she was terrified, there was the strange need to gaze at this administrator, or what she could make out from her still-limp head.
The woman was obviously a good foot and a little taller than the blonde. Work pants, neatly pressed without a wrinkle, covered her glossy leather boots on small heels. A strand of deep blue hair passed into her sight, illuminated by the poor light briefly. ‘Nersu’ walked around Crystal slowly, taking in her every sight, before pausing in front of her.
“…so, you’re Crystal Hikara,” she offered, that same apathetic tone in her wispy voice. “The youngest of the Hikara siblings, sister to not only Ryouo Hikara, an extremely talented trainer, but Kira Hikara, one of the Elite Four members. Age ten and a half, hometown of Dawndew, embodied with a special…gift.” At her words, the blue-eyed girl shuddered. She felt violated. It felt like they knew every bit of her life. “…well, as our leader can’t be here at this moment, I, Kinshayti Nersu, first administrator of Team Missile, say…welcome.”
Crystal kept her gaze firmly on the ground. After a moment of silence, Kinshayti continued to pace around her.
“I know…we must look like a band of criminals here. I know you’ve heard about us, maybe even scoffed at our name. It’s to be expected. But, trust me, we aren’t. You know what we want most? In this world? I myself wanted it, and when they let me into this team, I got it. Respect. Everyone wants respect. We’re all not so different. People, every day throughout the Beghta Region, Johto, Kanto, Hoenn, Sinnoh, Orre, hell all of these regions we know about, sign up to become Pokemon trainers. To try and be the best. Some grow, become powerful, some fail. I was one of the failures until I made the decision to come to this team, among many others.
“I can tell, even without looking at your face. You’re near tears. I know so many people who have been like you, and the ones that joined this team, they got somewhere. They’re someone. …You want to be someone. We’ll help you be someone. We’ll benefit off each other, like this true team does. Won’t you help us?”
Another long pause followed. The Administrator’s footsteps ended behind her. Crystal felt the hot pressure of her eyes glued onto her. She fought to say anything, anything to counter what she had said. They're an awful team, Team Missile, she thought furiously and frightened. No crime is too heinous and no morals hold any value for them. They’re public Pokemon abusers and killers, cheaters, extorters, robbers, and human murderers…
Finally, she managed a response weakly. “No.” It was the only word able to give all her reasons against them in one fell blow.
Even if whispered, the negative response was deafening and echoed about the room. The silence was even more overpowering. The sharp clatter of rushed footsteps to Crystal’s side made her shrink back once again, but soon enough she found two long fingers almost glued together shove her chin up. She winced, but she was forced to gawk deep into Kinshayti’s face as she glared into hers. The Admin’s eyes were of a cold steel color, laced with flecks of lighter gold near the pupil. Her hair was ragged and hung down, contrasting on her blank face.
“Crystal…I think you fail to realize the delicate situation you are in right now,” she whispered coldly. “You shall help us with our goal, be it on your own will, or after we’ve dealt further with your longtime Pidgey friend, whom is in critical care at this moment…”
The girl froze dead in her place, tears welding up quickly.
“The bird, or your stubborn beliefs. Your choice.”
Crystal finally allowed her gaze down, submitting sorrowfully to the Administrator. She gave a brief, nonchalant smile, before she withdrew her fingers from her chin. Immediately blonde hair fell into the child’s face once again.
“Good. Alright. Please show Ms. Hikara to the packaging room, will you? I’ve heard the Alakazam has a long list of complaints to register with the lead supervisor.”
“Yes, ma’am,” the two Junior Admins affirmed soullessly, and once again she was dragged off. Her head was bowed shamefully and tears streamed down her cheek as the majestic doors closed behind them once again. Breeze…please get better so we can somehow escape from this horrible place…
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For the record, formatting stuff is a general pain in the butt. :B
C'n'C if you desire. I tried to tone this down as much as humanly possible cause I was looking at it and I was like WORDS WHAT THE- but yeah, hopefully it's a 200% improvement over before. PMJ YOU FAN GET OVER HERE AND READ THIS PLEASE KAY THANKS.
