....now to catch up....]
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Zeke Salvador opened his backpack.
"...compass....map...Potions...Pokeballs...cash... food...flashlight...that should do it."
He closed the bag and walked towards the door.
"Where are you going, big brother?"
Zeke turned around to face Abby.
"...the one time I regret fixing that squeaky wheel."
Abby rolled her wheelchair toward her brother, glancing at the backpack.
"...If you're going on an adventure...can I go, too?"
"I'm sorry, sis," Zeke said. "I need someone to look after Dad for me while I'm gone. And if I can beat the League, I can get enough money to get the doctors to fix you up!"
Abby was quiet for a moment. "Won't Dad be mad?"
"...Probably," Zeke looked toward the forest. "...but more about the fact that I'm leaving with a Pokemon..." He saw a figure moving through the trees. "Promise me you'll be a good girl."
Abby looked at her brother's dark eyes. "I promise."
___________________________________________
"Ready, Rune?"
"Yes," Zeke's Absol, Rune, replied. "But we better hurry. It's almost dawn."
Zeke and Rune ran through the forest with the speed of Raikou, sidestepping branches and dodging trees.
"Which way to Flight City?" Rune asked.
"According to the map, Flight City is...What's up, Rune?"
Rune stood completely still. "..........Fire."
Zeke spun around. "I don't see any..."
Rune leaped and said, "This way!"
it screeched to a halt as burning cedar fell before it. It looked wonderingly at the cedar, but it's wonderous expression quickly turned to terror as it turned back... The Beam had started a Small Brushfire. Pokemon of all shapes scampered and fluttered from the forest, trying to escape the fire.
"Hurry!"
Zeke, gasping for air, said, "I'm trying! Slow down a little..."
Rune stopped. "We're here."
Zeke looked at the destruction and the charred remains of once healthy, green trees. "What could have done this?"
"Careless trainers. Not all trainers know the true power of Pokemon. Or the consequences of their actions."
A tree near it creaked and snapped as the fire burnt it and the winds and sand smashed against it, falling, threatening to crush the small, metallic, bird. Ion ran as fast as he could baseball sliding as he snatched the Skarmory from under the tree.
The fire finally out, He looked about the scene. "We'll a portion of the forest is burnt and some trees are knocked down, but at least a majority of the forest is safe." He watched his step escaping the forest, seeing the sense of loss from the pokemon who lived in that portion. A family of rattata came to him and presented him with berries to heal the injured skamory, now in his arms.
"However," Rune continued, "some trainers are kinder than they believe themselves to be."
Zeke looked at the boy and the Skarmory in his arms. "Perhaps you're right...but we can't do anything here. Let's get moving."
Rune took another look at the boy. "...I pray that you keep that Skarmory safe...He needs you more than you know..."
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"We've made it," said Zeke. Looking at the large building, he noticed a rather intimidating man entering the gym. "That must be the Gym Leader...Let's go Rune!"
"Humph, can't wait to finally test my abilities."
They entered the gym, but...
The man began to chuckle then he said in a scary voice:"Im the gym leader.Surprised?And don't you think we aren't gonna have a rematch.Its on spaz!"
Zeke stood immobile in the doorway. "Perhaps we have come at a bad time."
"Actually," said Rune, "I think have come at the perfect time..."
