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A Poochyena smiled before the bulletin board, her black lips pulled back to reveal an array of sharp teeth.
"Treasure, treasure, treasure~!"
At her side her masked companion heaved a sigh.
"I sense this wont end well..." The Vulpix complained, but his partner was already prancing out the door with the mission's parchment rolled up between her teeth.

[Reserved for Team Hunter]

‘It's party night tonight, just like every night; and once again,you've death defied.’

Music blared from the headphones looped over short pointed ears.

Harley waited, as she usually did, for that last sliver of daylight to pass from the sky and a black sheet to fall over the world. It was in darkness she felt most comfortable, where her dark pelt was nearly invisible and glassy orange eyes could see past the smothering shadows that wrapped around everything.

‘And how are those things that crawled up inside your head? Polish off this bottle and pour yourself into bed.’

Through the window of her team room, the Poochyena narrowed her eyes against the sharp blaze of sunlight that pushed through the glass. It was a challenge to see who would blink first and with a smirk of those sharp teeth she watched the sun dip behind the horizon.
“Loser.” She remarked before turning to swiftly take her leave of the room to seek out her companion.

‘And you're sick all the time -It's a constant battle with sunshine -But I love the way you electrify.’

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“Turn that trash down, Harley.” His voice was generally muffled from behind his mask, but the Poochyena had spent enough time with Kit to know what he was saying regardless.

She raised a paw to tug loose an earpiece before snapping her teeth impatiently at him. The young, but old at heart, Fire type had no taste in music.
She did not turn her music down, rather she turned it off.
Possibly to satisfy herself that 'technically' she still did not listen to him.

The two canine-like Pokemon sat side by side near the paths that lead up the large plateau. The sheer climb itself was daunting, but what had the Vulpix more irritable was Harley’s insistence that they go on this mission despite her having a weakness to the multiple Fighting types that called this area home.

With the music off, Kitsune resumed his meticulous counting of their supplies before placing each Apple in the middle compartment of the bag and then checking to ensure his Blast Seed had not gotten wet. Surely water would ruin the items effect.

“What’s that there?” Harley asked suddenly, peering past him to the orb in the side pocket of the bag.

“Sunny Orb. It’ll make my Fire attacks stronger.” Therefore giving him a better chance of keeping his foolish friend alive against the horde of warriors they would soon face.

This, of course, went unsaid. Harley would take offense to any and everything he uttered if he wasnt careful. Her entire existence seemed to be balanced between hunting treasure and being angry.
If she wasnt angry, she was hunting. If she wasnt hunting, she was usually angry.

Growing bored once again, Harley turned her attention to the steep climb that lay ahead of them and an almost mischievous expression flicked across her face.
It faded so quickly that Kitsune found himself wondering if he had just imagined it.

"Ready now, Kit?"

"Let's get this over with."

"ONWARD!" With lightning fast speed the Poochyena was rushing toward the start of the path, a laugh echoing behind her to her partner's ears.

Kit's expression behind his mask was of dismay.

Hurrying to catch up with Harley he nearly collided with her when she hit the brakes.
"What the h-" Laying on the ground before the Poochyena's paws was a Drifloon. It seemed to be partially deflated and it's 'X'-shaped mouth was wide open.
"Is it...is it dead?"
In response Harley raised a paw to poke at it lightly and it expelled air in a hiss at her. The dog sprang upward in alarm and took a few steps back.

"Oh-oh you arent them! Oh good! I was playing dead, you know. It keeps-it keeps them from bothering you. They have no use for a dead Drifloon..."

"You are the one who sent that message then? The call for help?"

"YES!" The Drifloon inhaled, reflating itself and floating upward in apparent joy. "I've been down here waiting for you explorers! Please! You must assist us! They have captured my friends and taken them up the Platuea. I do not know what they mean to do with them, but I am so frightened that I cant do a thing..."

Harley and Kit exchanged glances.
"Well, I suppose we'd best hurry then?"

"Last one up is a rotten egg!" The Poocheyena declared before soaring past the Drifloon that, in it's alarm, had grabbed onto her tail as she swished by and was dragged along for the ride.

Kit groaned and was quick to follow once more...

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Climbing the plateua was a pain. The rocks were uncomfortable on her pads and the Drifloon still latched onto her tail would not stop fretting.
Harley was beginning to lose patience. They had climbed so high and yet there was no sign of any Pokemon at all!
The Poochyena glanced down off the side of the path to the sheer drop back down to the bottom and barred her teeth at it.

Attention directed on the land below she walked headlong into a large boulder that blocked the path ahead.
"OOF!"

"Smooth one."

"Shut your mouth, Kitsune!"

The Vulpix gave a light chuckle and stepped past her to examine the rock while she rubbed her nose in pain.
It was strange how this obstruction was here. It certainly did not fall from anywhere because it was placed in such a way that it was obvious it was meant as a blockade.

"Now what?"

"What do you mean 'now what'? We get Driffy-boy here to float us over it."

"Wha-wha-"

"YOU HEARD ME BLIMP! CARRY US OVER THE ROCK!"
The Drifloon began to hyperventilate, it's head inflating and deflating rapidly at the Poochyena's angry shout.
He was wondering whether it had been worth it to escape those Fighting Type only to become this dog's slave.

Kitsune rolled his eyes from beneath his mask and gave Harley a shove with his paw.
"Ignore her, she likes to hear herself yell. If you would kindly help us over this rock we would be much appreciated."

Ah, that was better. The Drifloon puffed out and wound its stringy arms around the Poochyena, who was closest, to lift her up into the air. Harley gave a small whine as the strings swayed and swung her a few inches over the edge of the path, but the Drifloon had a firm grip and he easily glided upward to the other side of the rock to-

Pain exploded in the Poochyena's head, she was suddenly dropped as the Drifloon was ripped away from her.
Orange eyes flickered upward to find a large Machoke holding the Drifloon by its strings. The poor Ghost bounced around desperate to get free.
Harley finally realized where the pain had come from. Of course it was a Mega Punch, the large fighting type's hand was still pulsating with the energy of the attack.

Behind the rock she heard Kitsune's panicked yelps as he tried to get to her, but there was no way he could with that boulder in the way.

"I see we have some intruders snooping around." The larger Pokemon said, a glint in his eyes. It paused to tie the Drifloon to a metal pole that was sticking out of the ground before what appeared to be a cave. They had been RIGHT THERE.
"I'm afraid you wont be allowed to leave. No one can learn of our plans here..."

Harley's eyes were wide and starring at the Machoke as it lumbered forward, it's powerful arms swinging back and forth.
Terror shook her core, she could not hear Kitsune's desperate cries for her to run.

Her mind drifted, recalling the first time she'd ever seen this particular species of Pokemon and her heart plunged into her stomach...

[Whoo, whoo, POV switch alert! Backstory time! ;D]

Mud cakes my gray fur. It sloshes beneath my paws, it grinds between my toes, and it fills up my lupine nostrils with its rotting odor. I can even taste its bitterness in my mouth. But still, I keep running. Through the water-swollen trees and around their roots I run. Their lowest branches slap my eyes; the plants pull at my hide. But still, I run. The rain from the dark sky above fills my eyes and soaks my fur. But I do not stop for shelter. He is hunting me, that human. I can hear him now, shouting at me, yelling at me to stop. But he cannot fool me. I know what he wants. Once he finds me, his prize, he will bring out a terrible ball. One that explodes with a blinding light and grabs hold of whatever it touches, trapping its victim in some place unknown.

His yelling is far behind me now. My water-clogged ears can at least tell me that. Despite being young and masculine, my legs and paws ache, on fire and yet still cold from the wind and from the rain. I want to keep running, away from that dreadful creature, but my body collapses, giving in to sweet rest. All I want to do is rest.

My heavy eyelids close, giving me no time to protest.

I remember, I dream. My Mother cradled me against her soft, warm belly. The sun shone above us, bathing us in its delight. In a clearing somewhere deep in the forest we lounge, surrounded by the fragrant flowers and grass of summer. Her large canine body, so much stronger than mine, was covered with beautiful, soft silver fur. Long, black as night hair rolled off her back and flowed down into her tail. I thought she was a beautiful creature, so different from me. My clumsy paws of puppy-hood could scarcely keep up with her sleek, long, black legs. A black star rested on my nose, and dingy gray fur wrapped around my body. Mother said my fur reminded her of the glorious stars, but I thought her moon-toned fur was infinitely more beautiful.

We spent many days together, frolicking and napping under the sun. One day, however, a tall human came. His wiry grey hair extended out from his head in frightening sharp angles. His dark, narrow eyes glanced at my mother, but rested on me. My eyes had never seen a human before, but this one frightened me.

His lips curled back over perfect square teeth, and from his pocket he pulled out a strange red and white ball. My Mother, who had been laying next to me, jumped up in front of me. The black fur on her back stood up tall, and she bared her sharp white teeth.

My orange eyes widened, I had never seen her like that. The man threw the small ball at me, and I squawked in fear. That same emotion, however, paralyzed my legs, and I simply stood there unmoving.

The ball spun towards me, but with a powerful stroke of her dark tail, my Mother sent the ball back to its pitcher. The human growled at her, and she growled back. Every muscle in her body was quivering, ready to attack. In front of me she stood, unwilling to surrender me to this creature that had invited itself into our home.

The man sneered, and took another ball out of his pocket and flung it to the ground. A large purple-grey Pokemon that looked similar to a human appeared. Around its waist was a gold belt, and three short yellow fins stood on top of its head. Where it came from I was not sure, but my fear of those red and white balls was growing inside me, a seed spreading its insidious roots into my soul.

But my Mother was there; she would protect me. The other Pokemon hollered, "Machoke" was its battle cry. It charged towards us, my mother lunged at it. Her razor-sharp teeth sank into its throat, and it shrieked in pain. With its two powerful red-striped arms it ripped her away and threw her onto the ground. She landed with a yelp, and her cry shattered the glass of my heart.

The tall purple Pokemon gripped its bleeding neck, and looked at her with daggers in its eyes. The fear in me began to grow! But Mother stood up on trembling and weak paws, the strength of a mother protecting her daughter shining in her eyes. With a shout from its human master, the Pokemon drew its right fist back. Mother leapt at it, teeth again aimed at its throat. But that fist! It struck my Mother's chest in mid-leap, and the determination in her eyes was instantly shut out. She landed on the ground, her eyes closed, her muscles unmoving.

My howls of terror did not wake her, but I saw that she was still breathing. That man grinned, not with pleasure or gaiety, but with a sick satisfaction that made my stomach churn. He threw the ball at her, and it exploded with light, sucking my Mother up into itself, away from me. Hot tears streamed down my cheeks and I started to run for the ball that had stolen my Mother, but that wicked man's eyes again turned to me.

The seed of fear blossomed in me, and with all its anger and all its torment, I ran.

My eyes fly open, adrenaline pumps through my veins. I am awake, in the past memory, I am running as quickly as I can. Along with the rain, hot tears drip down my cheeks. I got away from that man, the one that stole my Mother. But he got away with my soul. It had been weeks, months since that day.
I have been hunted. Every day, every hour, I have been hunted. I want to be alone! I want to rest. I want to sleep once again under the sun, with her.

I hear my current hunter. She is close. I push my unwilling legs under me, and lift up my water-heavy body. Again I run. My paws throb with every touch of the forest floor. My lungs burn with the dry cold of exhaustion. But that human will not touch me. I will not allow it to touch me.

My head feels heavy, the trees and plants and rain twist and contort around me. A vine hiding under the mud grabs me, and pulls me down to the ground. My body sinks into the soft earth, unable to answer my desperate commands to get up. The forest begins to swirl around me; dizziness invades my aching mind. Is this it for me? Will that vile creature find me and stuff me into one of those balls?

I hear a soft footstep in front of me. It is not the clumsy step of a human. I open an eye and look up. A beautiful creature stands in front of me. Tall and slender is its slightly canine body. Despite the rain, its fur is pristine. That wondrous fur flows over its nine tails, each soft and clean among the darkness of this night. At first that fur looks pure white, but it is really a lavender so pale that it shines like snow.

It looks at me with eyes as red as the flowers of summer, not with hate, or pity, or jealousy, or even love, but with understanding.

The tears stop coming as I look into those eyes, and I don't even care that my hunter is getting closer. A new emotion sparks within me. It is hope. For the first time I feel this wonderful and yet fragile emotion. Holding my breath, I look questioningly into those understanding eyes.

It speaks to me in a masculine, yet gentle voice. "You have suffered enough, young Poochyena. I will protect you now."

Those words sink into me, a welcome invitation amid so much pain. Unable to move or speak, a smile weakly makes its way to my lips, and I relax my muscles. For the first time in so long, I rest.

My savior gently picks me up in his mouth and with the swiftness of a raging wildfire takes me away. Away from my hunter, away from the humans, away from some of my pain, and into the hidden parts of the forest he carries me.

How I miss those days under the sun. But now, for me, a new life must begin. One day, however, I will find her again. Then, my Mother and I can frolic once more.

Until then I will not run. I will not flee like prey.
They hunted me, but now it is they whole will be chased, they who will be hunted.

I am the hunter now.

"Harley! Harley!"

Reality snapped back with a bite, sinking it's teeth into her head. The Machoke had advanced on her without her knowing it, it's fist reared back and hot, white light was shimmering over its knuckles.

Her orange eyes widended, the muscles of her legs tensed to spring. She would go for the throat, go for the throat...

Kitsune must have sensed her intentions for he was rushing toward her.
Wait, hadnt he been trapped behind that rock? How did he-
the rock had been destroyed burned into ash that was easily being blown away by the wind.
She never knew he could do that. Kitsune had many secrets it seemed.

His black paws pounded a quick staccato on the ground before he leaped into the air, tumbling into a Fire Spin.
As Harley looked up, just as he soared over the Machoke's head and the sun behind him blinded her.

The pale light lit up his fur and for a moment she saw the beautifully pale Ninetales that had saved her long ago.

Kitsune crashed down into the Fighters back, sending them both slamming into the ground.
Without pause the Poochyena rushed to her friend's aid. Her teeth burned, ached to sink into something.
She opened her mouth as she got within range and clamped down onto the back of the Machoke's neck.

She did not let go. Not when she felt bones splinter beneath her jaw, or blood spay upward into the back of her throat.
It was only when Kitsune rested a paw on her back that she finally released her prey.

"He's dead. You got him."

She starred at him wordlessly for a moment, frowning. "How did you do that, Kit? That rock?"

She could feel the Vulpix smirking at her and he shook his head. "I'm not all powerful, Harley. It was that Sunny orb. It made my flames burn hot. Now, we should probably rescue tha-"

The Fire type had turned to where their Drifloon guide was to find him missing. Before the panic set in a voice called from nearby, "Greetings!"

Both Pokemon angled their heads to the side to see a Riolu approaching them with the Drifloon's strings secure in its hand.

"Well met, fellow travelers. I noticed your battle and decided to take matters into my own paws and assist. Your balloon-friend is right as rain, I assure you."

"What?" Harley didnt speak...weirdo Riolu.

"He says he saw the fight and saved the Drifloon."

"Ah. Well, thanks I suppose..."

"Think nothing of it my friend! I too have noticed the odd happenings as of late, and as a fellow adventurer I feel it is within my duties to assist you in your noble quest!"

"What?"

"He wants to come with and help." Kit translated once more.

"No thanks, pal. We got this on our own." The Poochyena's tone held the suggestion that she believed the Riolu was insulting her by claiming she needed help. Her eyes were narrowed at it, but the creature continued to smile along happily as though she had said yes.

"Nonsense!" Ah, perhaps he did believe she said yes in some way. "You will need need my prowess with a blade to help combat the darkness within that lair!"
He waved a paw, gesturing to the tunnel carved into the side of the plateau.

"Now come, my fellows! Let us make haste!" Before either canine could protest the fool Riolu had already rushed into the hole.
They normally wouldnt have cared if he hadnt taken their client with him.

"Dammit! Now we have to rescue that Drifloon as well!"

"Hurry! Before we lose him!"

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It wasnt long, winding through tunnel after tunnel, that they finally caught up to the Riolu who still held the Drifloon's strings tightly in his paws. They were ducked behind rock formation on the ground and peering over it into what she assumed was the next cavern.

"Hey! You dirt-"

The small Fighting Type turned suddenly, raising his free paw to place over Harley's mouth and cut her off.
She would have bitten him if Kit hadnt nudged her and pointed with a flick of his ears ahead.

Harley pulled away from them both to pad forward, place her paws on the rock and pull herself up to gaze into the next room.

A Procession of Drifloon, holding one anothers strings, were being moved along single file through a small opening in the side of a wall.
There were about ten Fighting Types in the room, they seemed to be doing nothing other than keeping watch.

"Look closer upon those captives, comrades. Do you not see what I see?"
The Riolu's voice grated on her nerves, but Harley complied and narrowed her eyes at the Drifloon.
Now that she looked more closely, it was plain to see that some of them were rather off color and less 'alive' looking than the others.

"Those are just balloons! Painted to look like Drifloon!"
But they were darker near the bottom, possibly because there was something INSIDE the fake Drifloon?

"Do you smell that Harley?"

The Poochyena inhaled sharply and then shook her head in disgust.
"Poison Powder. Too much will kill you, but small amounts are very popular to help you catch a high. These Fighting Type are drug dealers."

These Pokemon here were smuggling drugs with the Drifloon! They would use real Drifloon to pull attention from the fake ones and then send them off to deliver the goods elsewhere!

"If this place is their base of operations...then if we take it out we can end this drug peddling ring."

"Yes, but the question is...how?"

Harley smiled at this, Kitsune was so old fashioned that he didnt know about current things such as the Poison Powder drug.
"You know that powder is flameable?"

The Vulpix understood immediately and nodded to confirm so.

"Hey, Riolu. Good news! You get to help afterall..."

"Oh lovely! Will I be fighting off those fighting type on my own?! Sword waving and victory sure at hand?!"

"Not really...Kit, do you think you can reach that box over there without being seen? Looks like that is where they keep the fake Drifloon in..."

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"This is highly degrading. Why cant we use the actual Drifloon?"
The Riolu said in annoyance as Harley shoved the inflated Drifloon balloon over his head so that only bottom paws were visible.
"He's our client. We cant endanger him. Now, quit your whining-erm..."
"I am Alec Excelsior Vanaustin the Third!"
"Yeah, whatever. I'm Harley, that's Kit. Now enough socializing. It's go time!"
She shoved the Riolu out into the open and gave a loud whistle.

"Hey, what's that over there?"
"Huh? Looks like one of the Dr-OH GEEZ! ANOTHER ONE GOT LOOSE!"
"After it!"

"Oh my..." Alec tore off running as fast as he could, but it was hard to see inside that blasted balloon.

As the fighting type rushed out after him, Harley bounded into the room to snap her teeth around the strings of the fake Drifloon that held the real ones immobile.
Kit had already headed the other way to the storage area so they didnt have much time.
"Run! Get out now! This whole place is gonna-"The sound of footsteps stopped her and she turned to see a gathering of Fighting Types standing at the exit.
A Combusken held Alec upside down by his leg.

"You are the worst decoy ever!" She growled at the Riolu as a Toxicroak began to make his way to her.
"And you're about to be a dead Poochy-GAH! SOMETHING ON MY HEAD! I CANT SEEEEE!"
Their Drifloon Client had latched onto the toad's face, strings wound around it tightly to cover its eyes.

Inspired, Harley turned and continued to bite the strings holding the captive Drifloon.
"FIGHT FOR YOUR FREEDOM!" Alec howled from where he still remained suspended from the air, he unsheathed his sword that the Combusken must have overlooked [or assumed was a toy] and began to swing it with exuberance.

The fire bird dropped him as the blade sliced its arm and hissed threateningly.
It began to build up a Flamethrower but before it could unleash it a Drifloon latched onto its face as well.
The little Ghost kicked in a Mirror Move as the fire blazed out against it and redirected it into the Combusken's still open beak.

"I smell chicken."

The other Drifloon were on the assault now, Ominous Winds and Shadow Balls filled the room as well as Harley's laughter as she dipped around the legs of the Fighting Type for a few well placed Bites and Headbutts.
Those drug dealers didnt stand a chance.
She tripped up a Tyrogue, sending it crashing into a Mankey and gave a barking laugh as the two [in their anger] lashed out at one another.

Suddenly Kit appeared at the door, the signal to get the hell out of Dodge.
"Let's go! Hurry! Hurry!"

Most the Drifloon obeyed instantly, but Harley and Alec had to grab a few of the slowers ones by their strings and run.

The three Pokemon rushed out the tunnel exit, a blur of purple and yellow soaring past them as the group of Drifloon made their own escape.
"Get as far away as you can!"
Rushing down the path once more a thunderous roar suddenly filled the air as the trail of powder Kit had left finally reached the Poison Powder stored in the boxes.

The three Pokemon gasped for breath, strewn across the ground in exhaustion.
"Mission...mission accomplished..."

"LET'S DO IT AGAIN!"

"Ugh..."
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[-6 Apples, -1 Sunny Orb, +25 Pages, single spaced on Word. @^@ Nyehhhh...]