Taya's Journey, chapter 1, part 1[open]

Taya walked into the city from the route leading to it. "So this is the city..." She looked at Oshawott. "I hope you're all ready." She looked at Snivy, to Tepig and then looked forward. "Let's go then."

The site was Striaton City, in the Unova Region. Terrie had been drawn here by the challenge of a new region. Her pokemon, were ready for the challenge Unova would present. However, she was unfamilar with the region and seated herself on a bench, exhausted from running herself ragged. "Man, I never thought Unova would be so confusing.", she said to her Pikachu, who sat beside her and agreed.

Taya walked in the direction of the Pokemart.

Terrie returned Pikachu to it's pokeball before rising to her feet. She stretched out, before noticing a person walking in the direction of the Pokemart. She walked over with a friendly smile and spoke. "Hey, would you know where the gym is? I've been trying to find it since I got here, but this town is confusing to me.", she said.

"Uh...uh...N-No, I d-don't..."

Lyre walked into town absentmindedly. Swift stayed close by her side, scrutinizing all the trainers and Pokemon that passed by. None looked as if they were any sort of threat, but you'd never know.

With no sort of destination, or specific goal at the moment, Lyre just kept walking. The Pokemon Center was both a sign of everything she hated, and yet it was a perfect idea plagued by the trainers that use it for their own torture of Pokemon.

Even with this belief, it was the landmark of the town, and Lyre headed in that direction.

Taya quickly ran over to the Pokemon Center's direction, but accidentally bumped into Lyre. "Ohhh...my head..."

Swift snarled angrily, glaring at Taya, but Lyre held her arm out to stop the Zoroark.

"Please be careful trainer," she said in a monotone voice. "Being careless can hurt things that don't deserve it. Are you okay?"

"Yeah..." She looked up before realizing there was a person there, and quickly backed into the wall.

Oshawott, Snivy and Tepig quickly ran over to protect her from Zoroark.
"Osha!"
"Sni! Snivy!"
"Pig!"

Swift looked at the three Pokemon with an amused look, but didn't make a move to attack. They weren't worth fighting, and Lyre would get made at her if she did.

"Just be careful," Lyre said. She moved out of the way of Taya, and looked at her three Pokemon. "Those Pokemon moved to protect you. Is it because they trust you, or are they forced to?" She didn't expect an answer, but still stated it like a question.

"Wh-why should I a-answer y-you?" She had a scared look on her face.

"You don't have to, just think about that. Are your Pokemon truly happy being forced to act because you have 'caught' them?" Lyre turned around. "Your fear is unnecessary. It is not myself that you should be afraid of, I'd be more worried about yourself."

She started to walk away, and Swift followed close behind.

A voice emerged from a young women. She wasn't the same as the younger one from before, her eyes burned with experience. "You.", she said to Lyre, aware of what the stranger said to the younger trainer. "Do you believe her pokemon to be upset? Would you say the same to mine? For if so, I Tara Himori challenge you to a pokemon battle.", Tara said as she held up a plain pokeball.

Lyre smirked, and Swift looked at the girl with an eager look in her eyes. "Battles are delusions. Unnecessary shows of strength meant purely for the amusements of humans. And those pathetic machines," she glanced at Tara's Pokeball, "are used only for the purpose of forcing Pokemon to do so. Without them, you trainers would be nothing, and I doubt Pokemon would be at your side."

Brushing past Lyre's shoulder, Swift took a step toward Tara, a fire in the Zoroark's eyes. "That being said, it is evident my partner wants to battle. Let me show you what a true bond can do." Battles were necessary unpleasantries, but something about the way the girl carried herself made Lyre curious. Her words were full of confidence, and Lyre would do everything she could to break that confidence.

"We accept you challenge, trainer."

"I'm no ordinary trainer. You're pokemon can't match the trust I have within mine.", Tara said as she sent the pokeball foward. "Hariyama, come foward and show her the trust between friends.", she announced as Hariyama stood, acheknowledging the opponent's pokemon. He didn't seem relatively absorbed within the battle. "You may have the first move.", Tara stated.

"It isn't me having the first move, my partner isn't controlled by my commands, unlike yours." Lyre nodded to Swift, who bared her teeth in a snarl. It was about to get fun.

Running at Hariyama, Swift decided to use his acute attack against him, and used Foul Play on her new opponent, already fully enjoying the battle.

"No, no, no! I won't let you do this because of me! Battle me if you need a battle!!!" Taya's face looked very determined.

"Young trainer, some people need to learn lessons.", Tara stated firmly as Hariyama took the hit, shrugging it off. "I bet you didn't know how strong my Hariyama was, he helped me with my trial against an Elite Four in Kanto.", Tara stated as he prepared his attack. "Hariyama, use Close Combat.", Tara announced as Hariyama jumped at his opponent. If Hariyama was successful, his opponent would be defenseless against a fast barrage of kicks and punches.

"I believe you need to learn that certain...advantages can be overcome," Lyre said with a smug and satisfied look.

As Hariyama jumped at Swift, the Zoroark looked up, and vanished, blending perfectly into the background with the use of an illusion, and moved out of range with the help of the cloak. Close Combat was a risky attack. The user bolsted their strength, while leaving their defense quite open. Taking an opportunity, Swift then re-appeared, not wanting to risk burning out her ability too quickly, and attempted to use another Foul Play.

(An illusion creating Pokemon seems almost too OP for RPing. To make up for that, my Zoroark can only hold illusions for so long before they shatter on their own and become unusable.)

"Their poor Pokémon..." Taya watched, concerned for the Pokémon's safety.

Tara didn't seem surprised. "An illusion? Interesting.", she stated as Hariyama seemed upset her wasn't really in a battle. "If you want Hariyama, use Whirlwind.", she stated. Hariyama pulled both his hands back and swung them foward, aware that his opponent was coming for him. His intention was to launch his opponent into the air as his arms moved foward to create a gust of wind.

"Interesting," Lyre said in a flat voice, hiding her concern well.

Swift was expecting a close up, combat battle. She had no way of anticipating this tactic. She was helpless against the giant gust of wind, and was sent hurtling into the air.

'Wh-why do they do this to th-their Pokémon?'

"People and pokemon work together naturally. Despite many differences at that. We're friends, in the same world and we work together. We wouldn't be the same species without the help of pokemon. Did you know that in a far off region there's a legend about a pokemon who created the world?", Tara asked as Hariyama launched himself into the air. "Hariyama, you know you should use Reversal.", she said as Hariyama replied with a grunt. His launch was great enough to reach his opponent. "A good tactic here would be to use Hariyama's actions against him. Reversal is a move that deals more damage when your pokemon is more exhausted. After that first attack Hariyama took quite a bit, but it pays off when he uses Reversal.", Tara stated.

"It is true that Pokemon could easily live by the sides of trainers, but that bond has been plauged as the years go by. What use is an aritificial bond created by Pokeballs. They force your Pokemon to act, disallows them their own free will. A Pokemon probably did create the world, its only mistake was bringing people into it," Lyre said as she observed the inevatable.

Swift was hopless. She was out strengthened, and couldn't hope to survive the attack. Once hit, she fell to the ground, fainted. Lyre quickly ran to her parnter, and held the Zoroark's body over her shoulder."Tell me, what was the purpose of your little show of strength? It shows nothing new to me. If you were truely trusted in your Pokemon, you'd release it and see if it's as loyal as you believe."

She turned to leave.