Hidden Projects Serial

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 1
Torrie

It was 11:57. Torrie Lycathroe was three minutes from ten years old. Every cell In his body was tense. Sweat ran down his face. In three minutes, he would be free from this dreary existence in Pallet Town. In three minutes, he would be free to adventure as far as he wanted. In three minutes, he would be eligible to become a Pokemon Trainer.
Now, it was 11:58. Two minutes. He turned to the sleeping form of his best friend, Seth Infernus. Seth was about Torrie's age, only two weeks older. Seth would have been already out in the world, training and befriending Pokemon, if it weren't for his Pokemon choice. Seth had wanted Cyndaquil, and Professor Conifer had to order one from Johto. It was, coincidentally, on Torrie's birthday, that it would arrive.
Torrie was living with Seth for a reason. Torrie's parents had split up when he was eight, and left him alone, so he went to live with Seth, who was to this day his best friend.
11:59, and about 30 seconds until his birthday. Torrie held his breath.
25... 24... 23...
He could hardly wait. He would finally be free!
18... 17... 16...
Was his watch broken, or had time slown down? He couldn't tell.
11... 10... 9...
Stupid watch. It had to be slow.
5... 4... 3...
Torrie braced himself.
2... 1...
“YES!!!!!” Shouted Torrie. He began to bounce on his bed, to toss streamers into the air, to...
“Ouch!”
The alarm clock next to Seth's bed had been casually tossed at Torrie's head. Seth was up in bed, looking royally ticked off.
“Alright, so you're finally ten. Whoopdee-doo. Now, can't you celebrate in the morning?” Seth asked, testily.
Torrie went back to bed, grumbling. “By the end of tomorrow, I'll have chucked something a you!”
Inside, though, Torrie was smiling. He was legally allowed to be a Pokemon trainer!

* * *
8:00, August 9th, 200*
Torrie woke up with a pillow in his face. He spat out some bits of fluff, and stared Seth in the eye.
“What was that for? I-”
“Shut up and get a move on! We're almost late, and someone else might get my Cyndaquil!”
Torrie looked at the clock, and gave a start.
“Well, then, we'd better get a move on! Let's go!”
Torrie shot out of the room, just as Seth shouted, “Wait, Torrie! You're still wearing yesterday's clothes!”
Torrie ran down the street, far ahead of Seth. Professor Conifer's lab was just down the street! He just had to make it there! He put on an extra burst of speed and-! tripped and fell flat on his face.
Seth finally caught up with him. “Now, Torrie, are we ready to get our Pokemon like sensible people?”
Torrie looked up and nodded. “Yeah, Seth. Whatever.”

 

[Pokenutter]

I'll update this weeky, as opposed to my deviantART, which updates bimonthly. This is a different thread than the original, but it'll be the same content.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 2
Adventure's Dawn

Professor Conifer was a tall man, in his mid- forties. He had taken over for old Professor Oak, who had retired some ten years ago.
He had seen Torrie running down the road, and headed into his back room, to get the two Pokeballs that Seth had ordered two weeks ago.
Torrie, meantime was picking himself up. Seth was glaring at him.
“Way to make an entrance, Torrie. If the professor has given away my Cyndaquil, you will face death by fist.”
Torrie opened the door, and saw Conifer waiting for them.
Seth ran over to the professor. Torrie heard him whisper, “Do you have it?”
Conifer nodded. Seth asked another question, “Did you gift-wrap the other one?”
Conifer nodded again. Torrie's heart began to beat fast. Had they gotten him...?
Conifer disappeared into his back room. He came back carrying two packages; one gift-wrapped, the other not.
He tossed the gift-wrapped one to Torrie, and the other to Seth.
Seth opened his box, and pulled out a Pokeball. He opened it, and Cyndaquil popped out. Conifer spoke up. “Cyndaquil, the Fire Mouse Pokemon.”
Torrie muttered, “He didn't”, and tore open the package. Inside was a Pokeball. He promptly opened the ball up, and a Mudkip popped out.
Conifer smiled, and said, “Mudkip, the Mud Fish Pokemon.”
Seth grinned. “Happy Birthday, Torrie.”
Torrie looked up, shocked. “Thanks, Seth, but how did you get your hands on it?”
Seth grinned. “I ordered both on the same day. Thank God that Kanto and Hoenn are an equal distance apart.”
Torrie nodded, and spoke to the Mudkip. “I think that I will name you...”
He paused for a moment, then finished with, “... you know, I don't think that I need to name you.”
He turned to Seth, and said, “Are you ready to go? Or do you have something else to do first?”
Seth nodded. “We need to go get our Trainer's Licenses, and get some items.”
Torrie returned his Mudkip, and followed Seth out of the door.
Professor Conifer turned back to his work, and muttered, “Not so much as a 'thank you'. Kids these days...”
* * *
About three hours later, Torrie and Seth were heading down Route 1, towards Vidran City, and Torrie felt great. Seth looked ahead, and shouted, “I see civilization, Torrie! We're almost there!”

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 3
Attack!

The night after their stay in Vidran, they set up camp just outside of Vidran Forest. Seth was weary, after a long day of Torrie messing up directions. All that he wanted to do was rest.
Unfortunately, that couldn't happen.
* * *
Seth woke up. He heard something coming from the forest, and woke Torrie up.
“Torrie, there's something outside!”
Torrie rolled over. “Are you sure that it isn't just a Spinarak or a clumsy Parasect?”
“It's too big to be a bug. Just come out with me and have a look.”
“Oh, fine. You aren't going to let me sleep, anyway, if I don't.”
Seth poked his head out of the tent. “There's a Houndoom out there.”
“Okay, a bit intimidating, but aren't most Houndooms friendly?”
“I don't know! Ask your Pokedex!”
“I don't have one! I rushed out the door this morning, remember?”
“Whatever! All I have to say is that the Houndoom gives me a very bad feeling.”
“You're a wimp, Seth. I'll go out, and prove that there's no threat in that Houndoom.”
Torrie stepped out of the tent, and there was silence for a moment. Then, Torrie's voice rang out.
“Hey, Seth, what's with the weird black aura around-Auggh!”
Seth dashed out of the tent, and saw that the Houndoom was mauling Torrie. Its claws flew; its teeth flashed; and all the while Torrie screamed at the top of his lungs.
Seth ran forward, and began swinging his bag. Admittedly, his bag only had a few Pokeballs, a Potion, and clothes, but it was bulky enough to send the Houndoom running back into the forest.
Seth ran over to Torrie. Torrie's face was relatively okay, but his arms were badly scratched up. It looked as if Torrie had managed to block most of the scratches to his arms. However, Torrie could still die from blood loss.
Seth began to think. Where was the nearest hospital? The only thing that came to mind was the Pokemon Center. Now he really wished that he had payed more attention at school. Did Pokemon Centers have wards for Pokemon-inflicted injuries?
Seth began to run South towards Vidran City. He hoped that he was right about the Pokemon Center.

 

[Blackjack Gabbiani]

Where's Vidran? Is it like Viridian?

 

[Zephy]

You need more description, you need to separate your paragraphs with a blank line, you need to leave out the silly asterisks, you need to fix your grammar and spelling errors, you need to make the story more interesting, you need to cut out all the repetition, you need...

a heck of a lot. Work on it, okay? My praise is that Torrie Lycathroe is a bad-ass name. Love it.

 

[Pokenutter]

Where's Vidran? Is it like Viridian?

I started writing this two years ago, before I discovered Bulbapedia. I had initially thought that that was how it was spelled. I left the typos in to see if people would notice them, but I soon forgot about them. You will, however, notice that after chapter 5, the typos vanish for the most part.

 

[Pokenutter]

You need more description, you need to separate your paragraphs with a blank line, you need to leave out the silly asterisks, you need to fix your grammar and spelling errors, you need to make the story more interesting, you need to cut out all the repetition, you need...

a heck of a lot. Work on it, okay? My praise is that Torrie Lycathroe is a bad-ass name. Love it.

I started writing this a few years ago. You'll notice some rapid style change over the next twenty chapters. Thanks for your critique.

 

[Flaze]

So you're saying you wrote this chapters a few months ago but didn't edit them, wow deja vu

 

[Pokenutter]

So you're saying you wrote this chapters a few months ago but didn't edit them, wow deja vu

Yeah... I'll make a bit more of an effort next time around.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 4
Discussions of the Past
Torrie woke up with his arms on fire.

He dimly remembered being attacked by a Houndoom. He technically should have bled to death. So why did his arms hurt? He should be at total peace.

He opened his eyes, and had a look around himself. He was in what appeared to be a hospital wing. He saw Seth sitting in a chair across the room.

“Hi, Seth.”

Seth nodded.

“Where exactly am I?”

“You're in the Viridian City Pokemon Center. Usually, they don't have a wing for Pokemon-inflicted wounds, but after they saw you, they made an exception.”

Torrie looked down at himself. He looked mostly okay, except for the twenty-odd scars on his arms.

Seth pulled out a mirror. “It's only fair for you to know. It got your face a bit, too.”

Torrie grabbed the mirror, and breathed a sigh of relief. Seth had made it seem as though his face was incredibly scratched up, although he counted a grand total of three scratch marks under his left eye.

Seth leaned forward. “Torrie, you said that the Houndoom had an eerie black aura around it.”

Torrie nodded. “It was weird. The aura almost looked like a wreath of flames around its body.”

Seth looked shocked. “Torrie, don't you know what attacked you? That was a shadow Pokemon!”

“A what?

“Torrie, you really didn't pay attention in history class, did you?”

“Shut up and enlighten me, Seth.”

“About 14 years ago, the region of Orre was slowly being taken over by the criminal organization Cipher. Their main tools were Pokemon whose hearts had been artificially closed.”

“Tools? You talk as is they were machines or something.”

“They were as good as. They were vicious, sometimes even attacking their own trainers.”

“So that's why it attacked me!”

“Yes. There is no other possible answer, although it is odd that one should come as far as Kanto without being caught, or purified.”

Torrie nodded. “Right then, let's go.”

He started to get up, but Seth pushed him back down. “You need your rest. Who knows how much blood you've lost?”

Torrie sighed. “Really, Seth. I feel like I could wrestle a Tauros about now.”

Seth jabbed Torrie's arm. Torrie cried out in pain, and Seth nodded.
“Right now, you're in no fit state to wrestle a piece of lint, let alone a Tauros. When you are fit again, we'll go to Pewter City.”

“No, really! I feel fine!”

“Just get some rest, and I won't get Nurse Joy to lecture you on the importance of berries.”

Torrie laid his head back, and fell asleep again, hoping that this time, he wouldn't wake up in pain.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 5
Pewter City (Finally!)

One week had passed since Torrie was hospitalized. Through that time, Seth had stayed by Torrie's bedside. Now, Nurse Joy had finally delivered the verdict that Torrie was well enough to start traveling again.
Torrie pulled his backpack on, and looked at Nurse Joy.

“Now,” she began, Don't engage in any strenuous activity, don't throw your Pokeballs too hard, and come back if your arms start bleeding again.”

Torrie nodded, but didn't really listen. Five minutes later, he was out the door, with Seth close behind him.
* * *
Torrie had heard that Pewter City was big, but in reality, it was huge. He could barely see the other end of the city from where he was standing.

Seth nodded to Torrie.

“Are we going to get the badge, or what?”

Torrie nodded.

“Just check your party first. Last I checked, your Cyndaquil wasn't so hot against Rock-types.”

“Torrie, you just don't pay attention, do you? I caught a Caterpie and evolved it into a Butterfree for this purpose!”

“Okay, don't yell at me! Let's get that badge already!”
* * *
About twenty minutes later, Seth and Torrie were reminiscing about the battle.

“Did you see Brock's face when Butterfree used confusion on his Onix? Classic!”
Torrie chuckled. Seth continued.

“And when your Mudkip evolved into Marshtomp? I thought that his eyes might open! Of course, that means that they'd probably fall out...”

Seth paused. “So, what do you want to do next?”

Torrie checked his watch, and looked at Seth. “I dunno. What do you want to do? We have all day.”

Seth smiled. “I knew that you'd say that. How about we go to the museum? I heard that they've got an exhibit on Pokemon Evolution.”

Torrie looked in his wallet. “I don't know... I don't have enough money.”

“How much do you have?”

Torrie checked again. “45 Pokedollars. I blew most of my savings stocking up on Pokeballs.”

“Are you out of your mind?!?!? You should have thought ahead!”

Torrie sighed. “Well, how much do you have?”

Seth looked awkward for a moment, then answered through gritted teeth, “25.”

“Right, we're both crazy. So how do you propose we get in?”

Seth thought for a moment, then answered, “The back door. It's not like someone'll notice, right? We get in free of charge, and no one will ever know the difference.”

Torrie sighed. “How to tell you're going insane,” he breathed to himself. “Listen to Seth and like what you're hearing.”

He turned back to Seth. “Okay, we'll try your idea. But if we get caught, I won't stand up for you in court.”

“How cheerful. Now, follow my lead.”

Seth snuck quietly over to the hedges, and rolled underneath of them. Torrie silently followed suit, and caught up with him. He whispered, “Next phase?”

Seth nodded. “Straight ahead, Torrie! There should be a door.”

Torrie ran ahead, and nearly fell all over himself when he saw that there were two doors. He turned to Seth.

“Right! Which door?”

Seth skidded to a halt, and clapped his hands over his face. “Oh, great! Two doors? Now we have to hassle ourselves figuring out which door to take!”

Torrie nudged Seth, and muttered, “Idiot! All we need to do is decide on a door with a coin toss. Left or Right? Heads or Tails?”

Seth thought for a moment. “Left and Tails.”

Torrie tossed a coin, and checked which side was up. “Left.” He stated.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 6
Enter… Team Bio!

Torrie opened the door and utter blackness met his eyes. He turned to Seth. “You first.”

Seth grumbled for a moment about how unfair Torrie was being, but went ahead all the same. Torrie closely followed suit, and soon, the two were completely in the dark, bumping into walls because they couldn’t see a foot in front of their faces.

They wandered like this for a few minutes, and then Seth spoke up. “I think that I see a light up ahead.”

Torrie chuckled. “Oooh, head toward the liiight, Seeeeth…”

“Oh, shut up.”

They began to walk towards the light, until finally, they reached the source. It was a huge complex, about three of four hundred feet across. It was circular in shape, with several different balconies jutting out of the sides. Steel girders hung above large, simmering vats of some strange green liquid. The occasional armed man paced around the room.

A moment later, a red laser light flashed across their shirts.

“Don’t move a muscle, boys. If you do, I’ll shoot you.”

One of the guards had noticed them, and was walking towards them.

“Keep your hands where I can see them. Keep them out of your pockets!”

Torrie pulled his hand away from his pocket, where he had been hoping to reach his Pokeballs.

“Now, march forward, and I won’t have to kill the both of you.”

He marched them past all of the stuff in the room, and down a flight of stairs, into what looked like a holding cell.

“Now, stay here, and wait. A guard will be here in a few minutes time. You two… I don’t know who you are, but you definitely won’t have to worry about discovering us for a while.”

Torrie finally spoke up. “But who the heck are you people?”

The man paused for a moment. “We are Team Bio.” Then he left.

Seth turned to Torrie. “Who the ding- dong are Team Bio?”

“I don’t know, Seth. I don’t know.”

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 7
An Ill- fated escape

Torrie and Seth sat in that cell for what seemed like days. After a tough- looking German guard named Dieter started watching them, they began to wonder if they would ever escape.

About five hours after they were captured, they heard Dieter let out a grunt, and then his fall was announced by the floor shaking.

Torrie and Seth looked up and a girl was standing in front of the cell.

Torrie could tell that she wasn’t much older that them, but she had a certain air about her. An air of confidence, of knowing, of wisdom…

She whipped out a key, and unlocked their cell. She spoke to them.

“Hurry up and get out of here. It won’t be long before they see that someone knocked Dieter out.”

“Excuse me,” began Seth, “but who the heck are you?”

“A friend,” she answered, “but I can’t tell you my name.”

Torrie and Seth dashed out of the cell. Torrie turned, and was about to thank her, but she had oddly disappeared.

* * *
Torrie glanced down, and immediately wished he hadn’t. He was suspended 50 feet over a boiling cauldron of what looked like toxic waste.

He and Seth had decided to make their way towards the exit via the large, steel girders that hung from the ceiling. Seth had the problem of being slow, but careful, Torrie being quick and loud, so they were actually making little progress. It was as Torrie considered these things that he slipped.

He had fallen from the girder, and was falling towards one of the vats of liquid. He hit with the most tremendous splat.

His first thought was, “Oh, my God, I broke my neck!” Then, he realized that his neck was intact due to the fact that he was still thinking. His final realization was that he was floating in the strange liquid.

Every pore in his body suddenly burst into pain. It was a pain beyond pains, consuming his entire being. He took one moment to check out his arm, and was surprised to see that the scars on his arm were healing. A moment later, the pain was gone, and Torrie realized that he was running out of breath. He swam to the surface, and took several long, deep breaths. Suddenly, an unexplainable rage filled his soul, and he blacked out.

Seth had his hands up in the air and a rifle pointed at his back. The moment that Torrie had hit the liquid, there had been a dozen laser points aimed at his chest. He had been herded down into an underground cell, and tied to a table.

Gunshots suddenly sounded from the front room, and two men rushed into the room, and slammed his cell door. One of them paused to catch his breath, and then produced a 17-inch knife.

“Hello. You only need to know one of our names.” He brandished the knife at Seth.

“This is Mr. Splice.”

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 8
Man Vs. Machine

Torrie slowly came back to consciousness. His entire body was wet, and he didn't know why. Oh, that was right. He had fallen into that thing of chemicals. He opened his eyes.

What he saw made bile rise in his throat.

Every Team Bio peon in sight had their throat ripped out, or a similar fatal injury. He was literally sitting in a pool of blood.

He was just beginning to grasp what had just happened, when a light popping sound interrupted his thoughts. The same girl had just teleported in. And- was that a Mew that she was holding?

“I see that you are finally awake.”

Torrie stammered, “D-Did I do this?”

The girl shrugged. “Maybe.”

Torrie couldn't believe his ears. “Be straight with me! Did I do this? Who are you? Who are Team Bio? Where did Seth go?”

The girl smirked. “You really want to know? Catch me first. Find the place where I call home. Come there alone. Then, I will tell you. Also,” she continued, “remember always the phrase, 'Project Jade'”

Then she teleported away, leaving Torrie to his confused thoughts.
***
Torrie rushed through the streets of Pewter city. It was 10:00 PM, meaning that a couple of the hotels were open. He rushed towards the nearest one, hoping that it was open. He stepped in through the door, and saw that the only part open was the bar. He trudged on in, and sat down.

“One large cola, no ice, and with a lemon wedge, please.”

As the barman turned to pour the drink, Torrie noticed an electronic voice to his left. It was a really old arcade game- Berzerk, by the look of it.

“Coin detected in pocket.”

“Oh, shut up,” Torrie muttered, kicking it on the side.

“Chicken, fight like a robot.”

“I said shut up!” Torrie muttered, kicking it a few more times.

This, unfortunately, seemed to have the effect of breaking it. The game kept repeatedly squawking, “Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert! Intru-“

Before Torrie knew what he was doing, his fist had gone straight through the screen. He was baffled as to why he had just done that. He didn’t usually freak out so easily.

The bartender had just turned around in time to see Torrie pull his strangely unscathed fist from the console.

“What- How- What the heck do you think you’re doing? That thing cost thousands of dollars! How’d you punch that thing without hurting your hand? Go on, Answer me!”

Torrie stood there, at a loss for words. Just when it looked like he was about to be arrested, the girl from earlier strode into the room.

“Did my brother break something?”

Torrie couldn’t believe his ears. Was she defending him? He didn’t even know her!

“Yes, he just broke our only game.”

“Well, I can compensate. Here’s 15,000 Pokedollars. Buy yourself a Street Fighter, or Soul Calibur, or something.”

She led a very flabbergasted Torrie out of the bar, pretending to lecture him. The moment, they were out of earshot, she turned to him. “I'm not going to bail you out again, Torrie.”

“I figured. So, is this where you live?”

She grinned. “Do you really think I’d divulge that information on purpose? Although this is close to my home, you still need to find me there. I might see you there. Adios.”

With that, she vanished.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 9
Kudaichi

Mount Moon seemed endless. Its caverns ran so deep, it seemed as though he would never get out.

Torrie had spent a week, trying to get out, and thought it had briefly affected his mind. He had been having strange dreams in the cave, most of which involved Team Bio, Seth, and (strangely) raw meat.

However, most of that was behind him now. For the past two hours, he had been backpacking over rough terrain to reach a light in the distance.

Odd… What was that in the distance? It looked vaguely canine, with horns. Was it a Houndoom?

He took a closer look. It definitely was. Also, it emitted a dark aura. It was the same one that had mauled him.

He immediately adopted a defensive pose, ready to strike, if necessary. However, it bounded off into the darkness.
***
Seth had had better days. They had tortured him almost to the point of death. They had been making incisions up his right arm, across his chest, and about halfway down his left arm. One of them looked down at him.

“Again, we ask: Will you join us?”

Seth grimaced. The next cut would sever his jugular vein. He muttered something.

“Sorry, Mr. Splice is hard of hearing; what was that?”

Seth took a deep breath. “I’ll join Team Bio.”
***
Torrie finally burst into the light, and smelled the air. It was nice, fresh, and thick with ocean air. He immediately ran towards the nearest outpost of civilization, which happened to be a boardwalk.

He leaned against a nearby fence, and smelled the fresh ocean air.

“Great, isn’t it?”

Torrie turned around. Behind him was a trainer, about six feet tall with black hair. On his shoulders was a Riolu.

“My name is Kudaichi Sokutei. What’s yours?”

“Torrie Lycathroe. Hey, Kudaichi, do you know a place where a traveler can get a meal? I’ve been stuck in that infernal cave for a week!”

Kudaichi grinned. “I know of a place.”
***
Torrie and Kudaichi were seated at the café. Torrie hungrily munched on what he called a “Heart Attack Sandwich” (White bread, with a suicidal amount of bacon and sausage sandwiched between) while he talked to Kudaichi.

“So that’s why I’m in Cerulean. I’m also hoping that a friend of mine might show up. Do you, by any chance, know Seth Infernus?”

Kudaichi shook his head. “No, sorry. So, about this girl. I’ve actually heard of her. She’s considered a bit of an urban legend. I’ve heard that she points trainers lost in a forest towards the way out. Also, there are many who blame her for disasters, like the sudden increases in missing person cases as of late. Personally, I’ve never seen her, but I believe that she exists, especially after what you’ve told me.”

Torrie sighed. “It’s good to have somebody believe me. I mentioned it to a couple of hikers in Mt. Moon, but they only scoffed at me.”

Kudaichi smiled. “I’ll tell you what. You seem like a good enough person. Also, it looks like you could use some help finding your friend.”

He held his hand out. “What do you say?”

Torrie clasped Kudaichi’s hand. Alright. You can travel with me.”

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 10
The Island

It was about three more days until Torrie saw her again.

He had been out shopping for supplies, as he and Kudaichi were planning on heading off to Vermillion City the following day, but lo and behold, there she was, flying on the back of a Fearow, in a slightly Northeast direction.

He quickly rushed back to the hotel in which he and Kudaichi were staying, and informed him of his findings. In about five minutes, he and Kudaichi were headed in the general direction that she was flying.

They encountered a bit of a problem when the trail almost led Torrie to literally take a long walk off of a short pier, if it hadn’t been for Kudaichi’s intervention.

They were stuck at the edge of Cerulean Cape, with no other leads as to her whereabouts. Kudaichi turned to Torrie, and gave him a stern look, as Torrie was already attempting to hotwire one of the boats.

“We should see if they allow boat rentals, Torrie. Bear in mind that that boat is someone’s property.”
***
Seth breathed in anticipation. He had been assigned a mission last week, and actually found that he enjoyed the work. Now, he was assigned to hunt an old friend of his.

Torrie.

That boy had actually thought that he could elude Team Bio’s long arm. But now, Seth would find him.

“Torrie Lycathroe, Jade Fugitive. Your days are numbered.”
***
They had actually managed to borrow a motorboat. The only rentals were paddleboats, so they asked around, and found a guy who didn’t need his boat currently. However, if they so much as scratched it, he would “sue their pants off”.

They had been in the boat for about a half hour, and they had sighted a smudge in the distance. Now, there was mo mistaking it.

There was a huge, uncharted island, right off the coast of Cerulean City.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 11
Nothing but the Truth

Torrie and Kudaichi landed on the island just as dusk fell.
Torrie turned to Kudaichi. “I’ll scout ahead, and see if I can find her. Can you pitch the tent?”
Kudaichi nodded, and Torrie headed off into a thick forest that seemed to cover the entire island.
It was about five minutes before he realized that he was being watched. It was another two before he began to see that the island was inhabited by Pokemon of all sorts. Finally, he entered a clearing.
The girl was standing in the clearing, speaking to a Vaporeon.
“And you’re sure that he landed?”
The Vaporeon nodded, then, to Torrie’s amazement, began to speak.
“Yes, Miss. He headed off to explore. He also brought a friend. Shall we see to the friend?”
“Yes. Be sure that he is comfortable. Also, if you find Torrie, tell him where his friend is, and, inform him that I wish to see him. Don’t worry, he will understand you. Godspeed.”
Torrie dashed off into the undergrowth. Great. Now he could understand (and speak?) Pokemon.
He came to a screeching halt. In front of him was a Latias.
She beheld him with curiosity. “Well, that’s funny. We don’t get many visitors around here.”
Torrie was speechless.
“Well, don’t just stand there! What’s your name?”
Torrie found his voice, and then answered, “Torrie Lycathroe. I’m here with my friend Kudaichi.”
“Well, hi, Torrie! I suppose you’re wondering what Miss Amikichi wants with you.”
“Miss Amikichi?”
“Oh, crud, I’ve said too much. Well, anyway, I think it’s a good idea for you to meet her. Would you like guidance back to the clearing that she’s in?”
It was then that Torrie realized how lost he was.
“Sure, I guess that I could use some help.”
Seth cursed. Torrie had already made his way out of Pewter City. Well, he would probably linger in Cerulean, that city was huge.
“I’m coming for you, Torrie. Mark my words.”
The Latias, Torrie decided, was an excellent guide. They had gotten back to the clearing in about 30 seconds.
The girl was sitting next to a small fire, and Kudaichi was having a conversation with his Riolu. Torrie sat down next to her.
“So, have I found where you live?”
“Yes, and as promised, I will tell you everything. But first, how about dinner? I only managed to make sandwiches. Is that okay?”
“Sandwiches? Thanks!”
Torrie eagerly dug in, and was soon finished with it. Then, about five seconds later, he was laid down flat on the ground.
Kudaichi couldn’t believe his eyes. “You drugged him!”
“Yes, I did. Now, no matter what happens, I need you to trust me. Your life will depend on it.

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 12
Control

He was powerful and agile. He was at the top of the food chain. He was majestic.

His next prey was evident. It was sitting on the ground, with a shocked expression on its face. It knew it was being hunted

He prepared himself to pounce, and-

Thunk!

Torrie came back to his senses, just in time to see Kudaichi turn tail and run. He turned to the girl, and asked, “Why the heck did Kudaichi run like that? I just wanted to strike up a conversation… Gosh, dang it, my head hurts”

The girl sighed. "He ran because you turned into a Houndoom, Torrie.”

It took a couple seconds for this to sink in. The moment that he grasped that his body did feel different, He began hurriedly pacing, shouting, “What the crap did you do to me? Well, answer!”

Before she gave him a decent answer, he got a quite powerful slap to the side of his head.

“Now, listen up!” she shouted. “I did nothing to you. This is all that damned Team Bio’s fault. Now, listen up, you idiot!

“Team Bio was created about seven years ago, from the shattered remains of
Cipher and Team Galactic, two of the most powerful criminal organizations of all time. Cipher, as you should know, was famed for artificially closing the hearts of Pokemon. They used this method to attempt to take over the world twice, and were defeated both times, completely destroying them.

“Team Galactic, meantime, was destroyed while their leader, Cyrus, was chasing a dream of becoming God."

“Now, when these two met, they exchanged secrets, such as how to close the hearts of Pokemon. They began to devise a chemical that they call ‘Project Jade’. The original idea for Jade was to slip it into the water systems, and turn everyone from here to Sinnoh would turn into a Pokemon, and they would be able to take over the world. However, Jade eventually had disastrous results. When a person became a Pokemon, they would go berserk, and eventually change back into humans. So, they began making artificial super soldiers enhanced by Jade. Then, you entered the picture.”

“So, the reason that I turned into a Houndoom is because I had contact with that Jade stuff?”

“Precisely. Now, you probably want to know more about your new abilities, starting with how to change back. I’m afraid that you’ll have to wait until dawn for that to happen. Now, you have a bit of a problem with sleep. Whenever you go to sleep in a natural environment, you will turn into a Houndoom, and lose yourself for eight hours. However, there is a simple remedy for that.”

Before she could continue, Kudaichi entered the clearing again. “I heard everything. Now, more than ever, I think that you need help. Knowing these criminal organizations, you will be seen as a runaway experiment, and they will push you to their side, or they will kill you.”

The girl nodded, and continued. “That’s why you’ll need to learn how to control your ‘predator’ side. The first thing that you ought to do is take a beating.”

Before Torrie could react, she had hit him with a right hook and an uppercut.
***
It took him a couple seconds to realize that he was no longer on the island, but in a dark room, with a pair of Pokeballs on a table in the center. There was a note on the table, reading, “Pick the right one, and we’ll talk.”

He stared at the table for a couple seconds, and picked one up. He opened it, and was surprised when he saw himself pop out.

“So, you finally decided to show up. We haven’t been properly introduced.”

Torrie met his double’s eyes. “Who are you?”

“I’m simply instinct. Yours, to be precise. I am the part of you that you never use. Thus, I've been locked away. Until now, that is. Care to explain your sudden interest in me?”

It took Torrie about five minutes to explain, after which his instinct nodded.

“So, we’re being chased… This could be problematic. I guess that we need to try to trust one another.”

With that, instinct touched logic, and the two fused. In that instant, logic and instinct were truly as one, feeling all that the other felt, thinking as the other felt, breathing as-

Thunk!

Another hit from the girl, and Torrie regained his senses.

“Well?” she asked.

Torrie explained what had happened. She smiled, and nodded. “It was a success, then. As long as you are considered affected by the Jade, you and your instinct will act together as one. It is now possible for you to control your predator side. However, don’t get too injured, mentally or physically, or your logic will again vanish for eight hours. Starting at dusk tomorrow, you will be able to control the change.”

 

[Pokenutter]

Chapter 13
Past, Present, and Future

Torrie spent the next two weeks training vigorously. He had read a manga about a short Alchemist a while ago, and realized that Izumi, their teacher was Glinda, the good which of the South compared to this girl.
On their final night, Torrie finally turned to the girl, and asked her for her name.

She smiled, and said, “A name has power, Torrie. You of all people should know that. However, you can’t just know me as ‘that girl’ for the rest of your life… I know! Just address me as Wild Girl, vague, though it is…”

Wild Girl began to light a fire. “In fact, I know very little about either of you two. Let’s talk about ourselves.”

Torrie looked at Kudaichi, and nodded.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
My name is Torrie Josiah Lycathroe. Age 10.

I was born in Hoenn, to Edward and Christina Lycathroe. I lived there, until I was eight, when my parents suddenly divorced. I was sent to live with my mother’s best friend, Susan Infernus.

Her son, Seth, is a bit of a maverick. He and I have been friends since we were four. He is two weeks older than me, so he was definitely the one in charge when I still knew him.

He and I started on our journey about a month ago, when I was mauled by that Houndoom, and suddenly got involved in this mess.

I am 4’ 6’’, 100lbs.

I like Cola, Pokemon, and the beach. I hate Team Bio, caves, and my own lack of knowledge.

I have no current ideas for my future
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My name is Kudaichi Sokutei. Age 18.

I was born into a family where caring for others was considered the greatest thing that anyone could do. I ran away at 8, and have been on a personal mission to become more kind and gentle.

Riolu, here, is one of my closest friends. I found him, abandoned by the side of the road, and nurtured him back to health.

I’m an excellent strategist (Here, Torrie interjected, saying that this was good, because he was horrible at Warcraft. Wild Girl immediately silenced him with the threat of extra training.).

I’m 6’ 5’’, and I weigh 150lbs.

I plan on continuing on my current path.
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Wild Girl took a moment to think, and then finally said, “My identity is none of your concern. My past is not necessary. I have many interests, none of which you need to know. I came to this island in a crashed helicopter.”

Then, Torrie and Kudaichi went of to bed without a scrap of knowledge about their host.

The next day, Kudaichi readied the speedboat, and Torrie was having a last minute chat with Wild Girl.

“I have one final question. Many of the Pokemon here were very helpful. May I bring one along with me, just for extra guidance?”

Wild Girl thought a moment, and then nodded. “Latias!” she called out, and Latias flew it from a nearby clearing. “Travel with Torrie, and ensure he doesn’t get himself killed.”

Latias nodded, then said, “Well, looks like we’re partners! I hope that you and Kudaichi enjoy my company. Now, hurry up and catch me!”

It was about noon when they finally arrived back in Cerulean. What was waiting for them, however, was a bit of a shock.

It was Seth.