The PALLET Team

The insect with the large red eyes looked at Haze and Haze looked into it's eyes. He was frozen with fear by it's bewildering stare. He couldn't tell if this Pokemon was an enemy or not for it just stood there, staring.

This thing is still staring, is it waiting for me to make a move? he thought. Haze went into a defensive position but soon realized that the bug didn't seem hostile, nor did it seem that it wanted to fight. Haze, who was tired of running and fighting, dropped his guard. "You're not one of those "infected", are you?" he asked "Actually I've never seen your kind before anyway so who are..no wait, what are you?"

((OOC: Sorry, I know this isn't my best...I'll do better next time...))

((Skip me guys, i'm way to tired to post anything right now. Just say that Ken tried to go after the Kangaskhan to get Max back but was stopped before he could take flight, feel free to chose who stopped him from giving chase.))

"You're not one of those "infected", are you?"

The strange pokemon talked. Venonat blinked and shaked his head, the pendant in his antenna tingling.
"Actually I've never seen your kind before anyway so who are..no wait, what are you?"
The Grass type said...

Venonat grabbed on a stick and he start to write the word "Venonat" on the ground than pointed at himself. He wanted to mean that it was both his species AND his name.

It was no good ... no matter how hard they tried it looked like the mother Kangaskhan wasn't going to listen to a word they said. If they stayed for any longer it would just end up in a violent fight. He actually breathed a sigh of relief that Maxwell had decided to leave them, but at the same time he was worried that he'd eventually be a danger to Kangaskhan once his new instincts started to surface. He watched with a combination of woe and relief as the mother and her young ones fled into the bushes.

Ken went to give chase, but Khan held out his spear and stopped him. "It is no use," he said flatly, staring at the spot where the Kangaskhan had vanished. "You'll just get yourself unnecessarily hurt. We have enough problems to deal with already. Let's leave them be and ... and see if we can get ourselves out of this mess."

That said, he heard a timid voice coming from the bushes to their left, and wandered over to investigate. Venonat was conversing with a Pokemon that Khan had only seen once before: a Nuzleaf. He appeared to be safe so Khan got a little closer. He tried to smile, but somehow his face didn't want to obey what he was telling it to do.

"I am Khan," he said. "Don't worry, none of us are going to hurt you. Who might you be?"

Maxwell had closed his eyes as the Kangaskhan picked him up, placing him in someplace warm and comfortable. He heard stomping and words, he heard shuffling from behind him. It was only now that the Pichu decided to open his eyes, seeing that he was moving without touching the ground. What...? Glancing up without a reason, he saw the Kangaskhan, whispering comforting words to her baby and him.

Maxwell never knew his mother- as soon as he was born, he was given to a trainer he doesn't recall the name or face of. All that the Pichu knew was that he never had a mother his entire life, until now. “Don’t you worry now, Momma’s not gonna let anything hurt you.” Feeling the warmth of her pat, Maxwell wanted to feel loved, connected to another being. Looking to the side to look at the child, whom was a tad shy with him.

Resting his head on the Kangaskhan's stomach, the Pichu reached his hand towards the child. "Maxwell... you?" The electric type remembered how the others had tried to defeat and attack his new family- I'll protect them. Maxwell swore in his mind, determination hardening. He had to power to do so, if he put his mind to it. I'll protect my family... because I... love them...

Little Norman was starting to get restless again, the hunger was starting to grow in his eyes. Most likely the pichu would be hungry right now also, the only problem was that she was not sure what he would want to eat, berries, like most pokemon would, or fresh meat, like her baby wanted. She would just have to collect some of both and let him decide for himself. But judging by the growing cloudiness of its eyes, like her Norman’s was, he would be going through a strange food craving phase also.

Nora set off deeper into the foliage, these days, many pokemon were cowardly and liked to hide in trees or where ever there was enough plantation to hide their bulky bodies. She gently pushed both her baby’s and pichu’s head down deeper into her pocket, silently motioning them to keep out of sight and in the safety of her pocket, who knows what may happen if they poked their head out at the wrong moment.

Finding a prey did not take long, she had been doing this so long that it had become easier with practice. All she had to do was follow her nose to a source of food, in this case berries, and hide out. Living pokemon would come across the berries and tend to leave their guard down while picking them or eating them. This time, a haggard mankey was ignorant enough to let its guard down. Moving quickly, Nora dashed right behind it as it started picking berries, and delivered a dizzy punch to the head, leaving the mankey confused. The thing was causing more damage to itself than to her, so finishing it off with a few hammer arms was easy work. Nora got to work, she used her strength and her claws to dismember the pokemon, the large pieces would be too big for the little ones, and the smaller the parts the easier it was to make a quick escape should they need it.

When she finished her work, she rubbed the blood off her claws on the grass below, she hated it when it dried up. She picked a few berries from the bush and set them to the side. It was not till everything was prepared, and she made sure there were no pokemon around that she let her babies out of the pouch to feast. Little Norman quickly ran to the bloody flesh, but the pichu had a choice, the meat, or the berries.

Haze watched as the insect took a twig and started to carve something in the soft ground. It etched out the word "VENONAT" and then the Pokemon pointed to himself as if suggesting that it was his name. "Venonat, huh?" said Haze. "Nice to meet you Venonat. I'm glad I can finally talk to someone for a change." Haze took Venonat's hand and shook it eagerly.

Just then the blue canine Pokemon from before stepped out of the clearing. Haze could tell that it was try to appear friendly but his body, stressed from fighting and fatigue prevented him from smiling. "I am Khan." the Pokemon began. "Don't worry, none of us are going to hurt you. Who might you be?" he asked.

Haze could tell just from his scars, his muscles, and the sharp look in his eye that this Pokemon was strong and Haze was thankful that he wasn't the enemy. After a long pause, he looked up at Khan. "...My name is Haze. Nice to meet you, Khan."

Ken looked off in the direction that the Kangaskhan had fled, wishing he could have stopped it so that Max wouldn't be taken away. He didn't know why he even cared for the little Pichu, it was infected after all, and it was only a matter of time before it turned completely undead. He just had to stop thinking about it.
Ken turned around to see what the others where doing to see that they where talking to a strange pokemon that somewhat reminded him of a Chikorita with that leaf on its head. He was a little bewildered by the sight. They just lost someone, to find someone, its like this pokemon was sent here knowing that Max may be taken from them.
It said its name was Haze, interesting name for a pokemon that wasn't the slightest bit smoky, but it was nice none the lest. "Hello, Haze. I'm Ken." He said as he walked up beside Khan. He was so much taller now, only about a foot shorter then the Lucario. And he didn't like how this white feathery thing around his neck made him look fat, but he was bound to get used to it sooner or later.

Venonat saw them all gathering...after the fight and all that they eventually were tired and in need of energy.

The Insect Pokemon got himself up and looked around for something, he went through several bushes and came back with a hand full of berries, but once he put them down he went away again and returned with more. He wished for his friends to have a true meal after all that hard fight.

Khan nodded down at Haze in gratitude; it wasn't very often he received such a friendly greeting these days. Seeing as he had meet Ken and Venonat at a time where introductions were the least of their worries, he immediately took a liking to the Nuzleaf, whereas his trust towards his other friends took time to develop. Mostly thanks to the Jynx that pursued them endlessly until she finally fell.

As he watched Venonat return with a handful of berries, Khan decided that a good rest was what they all needed before they set off to explore Pallet Town. He finally laid down his spear (which he would soon replace since it was a little worn-down after the battle with Siren) and sat down on the grass. Crossing his legs, he thanked Venonat as he chewed a large berry, sighing as he slowly felt his strength replenish.

He helped himself to a few more berries, being careful not to be too greedy in his hunger and making sure to leave enough for the others.

His new mother let him out of the pouch and down onto the ground, as she carefully took care of a broken up Mankey, cutting it up into nice, clean parts. Afterwards, she backed off, signaling that they could eat. Just past the dead Pokemon, there were bushes of berries to be eaten. This is... a feast... Despite the berries just beyond the Mankey, his attention was brought to the decapitated Pokemon, his eyes almost zoning in on the blood and everything else was taken out of the picture.

It was just him, the child (his brother), and his mother. And the blood.

The little Pichu couldn't take it anymore- seeing the little dinosaur dig into the thing made it twice as enticing. Diving forward, he brought himself down upon the monkey, biting off the already loose skin of the dead thing and peeling it off the rest of the arm he had taken for himself. Ah... The burning hunger he had felt throughout his time with the others, it was satiated at the moment, and his mind felt clearer than it had for days.

"Mommy... thanks... I... love you..." He forced the words out of his mouth, and for once, he felt something- something that he identified as love. She had stood up for him when he was certain that the Lucario would find a way to throw him off from their group, or when Maxwell did not know who to turn to. She was there for him, as she was for her child.

But he was confused and... sad. Where was his life in his memory? What happened to his mother? He was so lost... yet, he turned to his new mom, pausing in his eating, to nod in thankfulness and in love. She was his new future.


A flash happened. Maxwell looked around in confusion, but saw nothing had changed. What was up? The Pichu glanced at the Pokemon in his surroundings, remember the Murkrow evolving into a Honchkrow- surely someone had evolved then? "Mommy... what happened?" He grabbed for the Mankey once again, his hunger somehow growing after the bright flash.

Unsurprisingly, the little pichu had gone to the pile of stripped flesh, though he did take a bit of time making his decision, though apparently little Norman’s speedy devouring of the carcass enticed the idea of meat in the electric mouse. She wasn’t sure if she was sad or not that he had the same strange craving as her baby, but it did make it easier knowing she could feed them both the same thing. Just like when Norman ate after a long period without food, the pichu’s eyes seemed to clear up after the feast, all the blood lust seemed to seep away for the time being. But then he did an unexpected thing.

He managed to say he loved her, something she had only ever heard her own baby say a handful of times before, though it sounded slightly forced, and she would not have believed it so readily if not for the glowing light. Within seconds the section of the woods they were in was bathed in light, enough so to rouse an uncomfortable squeal from Norman, and as fast as it came, It left. No longer was the small pichu standing before her, but now a pickachu, who only evolved with the power of love. It was then that Nora seriously though about keeping this pokemon as a permanent member of the family.

The pokemon returned to eating the rest of the mankey, but not before questioning the light, apparently he had yet to realize what had happened, though the meaning had not diminished. He had evolved, with the love he felt to her, and most likely Norman, and it actually touched her. “You have evolved, you are no longer a pichu.” The realization of the evolution made her realize she knew nothing of the pokemon, and she could not keep calling him her baby, or her son. “You are now officially a Bates, my child, as is Little Norman over here.” she said pointing to the kangaskhan baby, before pulling them both into a hug, Little Norman struggling to get out of it to get back to the food. Her family had grown, and Norman had a brother that had not died either at birth or as an infant. There was no need to say her own name, he had already called him ‘mommy.’ If he wanted to know he could ask, but mother would be good enough for now.

She wanted to just take a nap, curled up around her two babies, but it was dark, and hunting for prey was going to be easier the later it got. Knowing there were pokemon nearby made the idea of ambushing them in their sleep so much more tempting. They might not be hungry right now after eating, but soon they will be again, baby’s need to eat frequently to grow up to be big and strong.

"Hello, Haze. I'm Ken." the ebony-feathered bird said as he joined his companions. Haze assumed that Ken must have been the group leader. He looked strong and there was an imposing atmosphere around him. "It's nice to meet you too, Ken." he responded nervously. He started wondering about the little mouse and the brown beasts from before. What did they want? Where did they go?

Haze was about to ask his new friends about the other Pokemon when all of a sudden, Haze was startled by a noize that he thought sounded like a snoring Camerupt. It took him ten seconds to realize that it was his stomach grumbling. Haze let out an embarrased laugh. He noticed Venonat disappeared for a while to come back with a handful of berries. Khan took a berry and sat down, relishing its flavor. Haze's stomach complained again so he reached for a nice, plump, Sitrus Berry and hungrily started to eat. It felt like a month since he ate anything. Maybe it was a month, or two even. He didn't know how long he was floating in the ocean for but right now, all he wanted to do was eat...and forget.

Ken didn't have much to say, he was busy wondering what would happen to the Pichu, if it really would be safe with the Kangaskhan and not get killed and eaten by its undead child. He didn't' really trust it after its little stunt with the Jynx, but it just didn't feel right leaving him. He would go search for him in the morning, right now, he should rest and build up his strength for the flight tomorrow.

Venonat had come back with some berries, he nodded his thanks before taking a Petcha Berry from the pile. He swallowed it whole, like all birds did, but he could still taste its juice's as it went down and it was as good as he remembered. He was still a little hungry though. Evolving must have effected his appetite cause normally one berry was enough to fill him up, but now that he was bigger, he must need for to eat. So he took one more, a Oran Berry this time and ate it. He was satisfied with that much, not wanting to be greedy.

When his belly was full he flew up to one of the tree branches and made himself comfortable, resting his head on his new neck feathers like a soft pillow before he closed his eyes and waited for sleep.

(OOC: Please skip me...I do not know what to post.)

((OOC: Skip me too, please; there isn't much I can write. Khan is still resting and enjoying his share of the berries.))

“You have evolved, you are no longer a Pichu.” The words of the Kangaskhan reached into his brain, and Maxwell took a good look at himself. He was no long short and stout, pudgy and unable to defend himself; he was suddenly taller, stronger if he wished, and with the ability to do anything he put his mind towards. The Pikachu (... wow... I actually... evolved...) suddenly felt as is he had done something he could not do before, the before being his weak and vulnerable self before the epidemic.

“You are now officially a Bates, my child, as is Little Norman over here.” Maxwell glanced at the child, who looked back at him with blank eyes. For some reason, the electric type felt as if he were looking straight back with blank eyes too. 'Norman' was hungrily eating the meat, and quickly grabbing some also, Max savored the blood and guts. The Pikachu couldn't believe that just a month ago he would have preferred to eat berries (or was that just a dream...?). Their mother then pulled them into an embrace, nurturing them as Maxwell sought for in a mom, then curled up around them.

He had a family now, a family that loved and nurtured him. A family that had a bond that could not be broken, an unspoken connection. Maxwell sighed as his new energy of evolving allowed him to control the voltage that surged through him, curling into a tight ball besides his mom. He was content with his life, and though he couldn't remember his past, Maxwell figured that he'd rather have this life than that one.

"I swear... to protect... you... and Norman." Maxwell whispered quietly to Mother, closing his eyes sleepily. Today was busy, he told himself, but at least he had others to depend on. In return, he hoped that they could depend on him. The Pikachu let himself doze off in the radiating warmth of his new found motherly figure.

((OOC: I'm sorry. Skip me too since I don't know how to respond. TT_TT Just say that Haze felt tired so he decided to go to sleep...)

Ken yawned as he woke up the next morning. He stretched his wings and shook his feathers, blinking the sleep from his eyes he looked around. The sun rays shined through the trees as the new day came and hopefully it would be a better one. He looked down at the other who where asleep and somewhat grinned, though smiling with a beak was not easy. He figured he would go and find some food for them all, so he took off from his perch and flew off looking for something he could feed everyone.

He found himself once again in Pallet Town, flying through the skies. His wings where stronger now, so he could fly higher, and longer. He saw the Fearow from yesterday and used a Night Slash one it, as pay back for trying to turn him into its last night lunch. It let out a screech before falling to the ground, dead. He couldn't help but smile at his newfound power, but he wasn't out to show off, he was out to find food, though he didn't know how much he would find.
The buildings had been picked clean months ago from the looks of it, even the research lab was empty, the TV screens showing nothing but blackness, and half the books torched as whoever was in here tried to fight back against infected. He started to wonder if there where other Murkrow out there that where still alive, like him, he had his doubts about other living Honchkrows, since they where few to begin with.

Having little to no luck in find food he made his way back to the group, only to spot a Petcha Berry bush, he let out a kaw of delight as he swooped down and started to pick them for his friends. He looked around for something to carry them in. He found a good sized leaf he could wrap around the berries and fly back to his friends before the woke up.
When he was finally back with them he let out a laud kaw to wake them up. "I managed to find some Petcha Berries, so come get some before there all gone." He said with a little bit of humour in his tone, bending down to pick up one of the berries and downing it in one easy gulp.

Venonat stayed awake as everyone went to sleep. He was a noctornal pokemon so he was more than acostumed to be awake at night. He looked up to the stars and wondered if anyone up there would be wishing to help...Or maybe...if his mom and dad were there, if they already met Mundy, his friend...

Venonat sighed as he stayed all night staring at the sky being under a tree...his eyes stayed open scanning the area often to make sure they were safe.

As the day rised, Venonat have been awake the whole night...Nothing happened as the mute pokemon just stared at the sky...Everyone was still asleep, however Ken had woke up. He flew away in search for something, should Venonat go with him? No...He was small and weak, Ken now was big and strong. Venonat stayed and layed back, he started to count the leaves of the tree to entertain himself. There wasn't much to do except wait for something.

Suddenly he heard a loud noise. Ken was back with some berries. Venonat rubbed his eye, it seems that he was starting to get sleepy now...He curled and slowly started to fall asleep...Day wasn't made for venonats.

Khan couldn't even remember falling asleep the previous night. One moment he was licking his lips after finishing his share of the sweet, delicious berries that his stomach had desired for so long, and the next he was opening his eyes, lying on his back and blinking at the startling sunlight beaming at him through the canopy. His guess was simply that he had been wearier that he thought and simply passed out after his meal, physically unable to stay awake a second longer.

A sudden, sharp screech almost sent him off the ground in fright. Desperately fumbling through the grass for his spear, he spied Ken sitting above him in a tree. He sighed in relief and annoyance.

"Ken, please, don't do that again. You almost gave me a heart attack," he said, trying to suppress an embarrassed chuckle as he got to his feet.

Looking down at his spear, he immediately discarded it in a nearby bush when he noticed how worn down it was; it looked and felt as if it was made of clay. It would be no use to them like that. He could easily make a new one if the situation demanded it.

His nose wrinkled at the smell of the Pecha berries that Ken had kindly brought for them. Thanking the Honchkrow, he picked one up and bit it in half, sighing contently as the juice ran down his chin. Looking round his shoulder at Venonat, his ruby eyes widened slightly at the sight of the Bug Pokemon sleeping as if Ken had never arrived. Had he really sat up all night? How would they be able to continue onwards with him sleeping?

Finishing his berry, Khan looked up at Ken and hastily wiped the juice off his chin.

"At least we had an undisturbed night," he said. "But we need to decide what we're going to do next. We don't know this place. We need to decide whether we're going to stay or try to get back to Johto."

Maxwell, in his dreamland, imagined himself in a bright forest, the path towards connecting cities barely seen. He was a Pichu in his sleep, back in Viridian Forest, popping up to surprise trainers passing by. About three of them had been fought (and defeated easily), when the 'Pichu glanced upward to see the face of his trainer with proud eyes. It was because of this human that he could be strong. He was his teammate, a comrade, an equal.

What lay on the boy's face was absolutely nothing- it was as if the facial features were rubbed off of his face, leaving the skin behind to look at. Maxwell stared at the boy in shock, tumbling backwards to get away from the thing. This wasn't his trainer, the boy he had vowed to be with forever. It was merely a mirror of him. The dream began to fall apart then; the trees began to wilt or explode in a fire, the grass began to turn brown, and the peaceful silence of the forest turned into a deathly roar of horrendous, hidden Pokemon.

The 'Pichu' suddenly because a Pikachu once more, he forgot about his past and that he lost his trainer, and came to a somewhat peaceful scene. What lay before him now was a trio of Pokemon, cuddled together in sleep as the sun slowly began to rise. One of them was a mighty Kangaskhan, surrounding her child and a Pikachu in a caring circle. That in itself was a heartwarming thought, and Maxwell should have felt his heart fill with compassion, but he felt nothing.

Nothing except the foggy memory of shock. He didn't feel the emotion- no, he only remembered how shock felt, and tried to personify it in his dream. There was so much blood everywhere. What happened? What the Arceus caused him to become a killer and eat other Pokemon? Maxwell closed his eyes in despair and willed himself to stop dreaming. He didn't want to see this. This wasn't a dream anymore. It was a dreadful nightmare.

The Pikachu blinked open his eyes quietly in his mother's embrace in the real world. What... His life. It... evolved. Maxwell did not feel anything, nor did he remember much, but he knew that with all his heart and soul, he yearned to evolve. This is for the better then. His stomach grumbled, and Maxwell glanced towards the decaying body of the dead Pokemon his mom had killed.

When Haze woke from his sleep, the sun's face was only starting to rise. His team's leader Ken, had flown from his perch earlier, probably to look for some food. Haze yawned as he sat up from his bed of broken branches and leaves. It has been a long time since he slept so peacefully. Haze saw Venonat looking up at the sky and then finally curl up so he can sleep. Papa did say that most insects sleep during the day... he thought. He missed his father and his home in Hoenn and wondered if he would ever get back. "Is there even a way back home?" he quietly asked himself. He shook his head and pushed the negative thought away from his mind.

Moments later, Khan had woken up from his sleep. He didn't appear to notice Haze who was already awake. Haze, who was too tired to fall asleep, climbed up a tree, sat on a branch, took a small leaf, and started playing a soothing song by blowing into it. ((OOC: A little tip, this is actually very strange for Nuzleafs because the music they play is always unerving but for some reason, Haze can play both kinds. Maybe one of the other members could notice this?))

After a while, a loud kaw had woken Haze from his musical trance. It was Ken holding a pouch of berries. Khan was first to react. "Ken, please, don't do that again. You almost gave me a heart attack," Haze couldn't help but chuckle. As Ken and Khan ate, Haze continued to play his grass flute, quietly and unnoticed. After the two finished eating they began to converse. Haze listened in. "...but we need to decide what we're going to do next. We don't know this place. We need to decide whether we're going to stay or try to get back to Johto." Haze's eyes widened and he jumped down from his tree. "Wait, we're leaving?" he asked them anxiously. "Are we going back home?"

"But we need to decide what we're going to do next. We don't know this place. We need to decide whether we're going to stay or try to get back to Johto." Khan said as Ken scarfed down another Petcha Berry. He didn't really know the answer to that question. There was really nothing here in Pallet town. He had been to almost every house in search of food, but they all seemed empty and deprived of everything, even the lab which should have been packed full of research data, was now nothing but a bunch of broken down computers and burned books.
"Well theres nothing in this town of any use to us, not anymore anyway." Ken said as he looked back in the direction of the town. "But that doesn't mean we have to go back to Johto just yet. We should check out his new region a little more, find other cities or towns and see what they have before we come to a decision on whether to stay or go back." He didn't really want to go back, but it seemed that no matter where they went, the infection was bound to follow.

Venonat was still asleep as the others would talk, unaware of what they would be discussing, he curled in a tight ball as a soft purple cloud would surround the insect type. In a mechanism of defense his body unleashed a small cloud of Poison Powder around the Venonat to protect it.

His dreams of being with his familly or with his best friend were what he wished the most...But was that possible? Would he ever be back to them? He didn't know...he could only dream and wish.