"What is going on?" Gray asked slightly worried. In his hand's was the stone from earlier. There was strange energy coming from its center that kept Graying adding more of his Aura and Physic energy to it.

"That c.r.a.ppy Growlithe is in danger. Are we going to go help it?" Empress said softly. She was still getting used to actually speak. Her voice was a little lower than cla.s.sroom volume.

"I agree to take care of it. So yes we are. You have a lock on his location?"

"Yes, I do. Beaming out. Wehehe!" Empress laughed loudly as she raised her hands in the air. Both her and gray were covered in black light and Teleported.

Around the outskirts of Viridian forest. In a pocket off the main path, a group of Pokemon had gathered here for safety. It was safe till a few hours ago until a group of Trainers had found the area after the battle that raged previously.

A group of Eevee and a single Growlithe were battling against a trio of Trainers. A kid with a red R symbol on his collar was trying to catch one of the Eevees in a net. This kid looked to be the oldest of the group. He looked to be about 20 or so.

The next was an older girl. With shock prod in hand, she kept tapping the group of Pokémon she had contained. Any of the Pokémon that gave her a wrong look was immediately shocked again. She looked to be about 19 or so. After getting them to all settle down she went to join the youngest member.

The third person in the group looked to be about 12 or 14. With his short height and cap up top it was hard to tell. Next to him was a Houndoom that kept the Eevee's from getting to far. Every time an Eevee almost broke away, The Houndoom would gaze at them casting several Dark eyes to appear. The moment the Eevees would see it they would run back to the group.

"Get them now! This is taking too long." The kid looked back to the others. "If we don't hurry up, an Officer might catch us." His eyes went wide when he saw what happened next. The old Eevee had used Protect on the little ones it was guarding. Watching his siblings fly from the barrier the boy was getting fed up. Staring at the girl he decided to start cutting his losses. "Go get the ones in the container. I will help the runt with those Pokemon."

Looking around to make sure the coast was clear, he pressed a b.u.t.ton on his wrist. A few of the

Pokémon he had already captured in the container were electrocuted. The Pokémon yelped in pain with there last bit of energy before paralyzation took effect.

"Bzzt, bzzt." The electric shocks traveled through the captured Pokémon. From the abuse they already received, it was impossible for them to even howl or grunt.

Giving a nod to the older boy she dashed over to the contained Pokemon. "Go, R- Poke ball's." The girl said as she reached over to her left leg unfastening the container gate. As the b.a.l.l.s flew out of her side bag they flew into the container hitting an individual Pokémon. A few of them shook before the light signaled capture. "Dooom."

Seeing the other Pokémon disappear into the ball's Growlithe became angry. Dark flame's gathered around it as it pounced at the nearest Trainer. With a leap, it opened its jaw's wide biting down.

Growlithe had used Fire Fang. As his fangs came down onto the Trainer's arm he was surprised to find he didn't bite down to the bone. Digging his paws into the dirt he yanked free tearing the sleeve of the Trainer.

s.h.i.+ning metal blinded Growlithe for a second. Reigniting his fangs he chomped down hard breaking through some of the metal and getting into flesh.

"Ouch! That stupid Growlithe bit me! I will make sure it pays for that." The smallest of the Trio said.

"Don't just sit there! Houndoom use Headb.u.t.t!"

"Houu!" Houndoom growled out. Charging in fast, his horns caught the underside of Growlithe. "Bam," Growlithe went skidding across the ground hitting a tree stump that broke its momentum. In its maw was the armor that protected the Trainer.

"Groo," Growlithe managed to say as he tried to stand up! "Ha..ha.. ah..," panting heavily his body gave way and he stumbled. The flame's around its body went out. 'Dammit why! I need to get up!' Black aura energy seeped into Growlithe from his surroundings. Most of it coming from an Eevee. Standing up, he started to hobble over back to the others.

"Swoosh," Gray and Empress had Teleported in. Looking around at everything Gray brow furrowed.

The Growlithe was limping on one leg and next to a tree. Looking around Gray kind of figured what happened. But then again it could be any number of things when he thought about it some more.

"Hey who the h.e.l.l are you?! This Pokémon and the others are ours! Get lost!" The kid with the red R said swinging his fist at Gray in agitation. He didn't like the look of Gray or the Abra that had appeared. He stood there and tried to threaten Gray hoping this would get him to back off at least.

"Then why haven't you caught them yet then?" Looking to Growlithe he yelled, "return!" The power of his voice helped to amplify the Expokeball command. Instead of the standard red light, a white light engulfed Growlithe. The white light was the force return move. Communicating with Empress he made his next plan.

"So that was your Pokemon. Tch whatever. But these Pokemon are ours." The kid with red R said.

Looking back he noticed the girl had already collapsed the container. She was heading to the location of there vehicle. The only ones left were him and the one he called runt.

'Take him to the Pokémon center and get him patched up." Handing Growlithe ExPokeball over, Gray spread his aura further around tapping into his Physic energy he tried to communicate with the Eevee.

'While you are there figure out what is going with him. Once you have figured that out, come back. His injuries look bad. I don't want to risk it.'

Hesitating a little Empress saluted and started to Teleport. 'Ok! I will be back really soon!'

"Swoos.h.!.+" Empress left.

Gray walked over to the Eevee's and tried to treat them. At first, they hesitated but calmed down. The older Eevee came up and sniffed him. Putting the stone away into his pocket he started to look at the Pokemon using his Pokegear.

"Vee v eve." Will you help? The older Eevee asked in a panic. His eyes turned and looked in confusion when looked Gray in the eyes. The old Pokemon's used a little bit of his Aura energy. 'You are that Trainer from before! Can you help?! Please, we will do anything. You have to help us. It's your responsibility!'

"Easy there calm down." Gray was speaking out loud as he communicated telepathically. He didn't want the other people to know what was going on. 'Yes, I am that Trainer. Sorry again about your home before. What do you all need help with?'

The Eevee behind the old one watched Gray with desperation. They were all so tired of running. Some of them thought it would be best to just roll over and go with the Trainers. As one of the Eevee's got up from the group, the others watched. One of the more injured Eevee's stood up as well. It walked slowly over to the one in front stopping it.

"Ve!" No! The injured Eevee said.

The other pleaded for it to move to the side. The two Pokemon started to growl at one another.

"Hey! Don't do anything to them! We saw them first." The kid said. He tried to have Houndoom Attack but it was too scared to. Something about Gray caused it to back away. Looking down at the Houndoom the kid was stumped. "Hey get him Houndoom! He is trying to take what's ours." The kid started to whine to the Pokemon!

The older kid was a little smarter. He walked up to the Houndoom and noticed the look in its eyes. 'it's afraid!' He thought shocked. Taking a step forward he felt the aura energy touch him. Gritting his teeth he grabbed the younger boy. Whispering he tried to get the boy to move away. "Tony that's enough. Get back now. That is not an ordinary Trainer over there. I think he is an Aura user."

"Vee vee v eve." They want to capture us! The older Eevee said. 'I don't want my family going with them. They seem like awful Trainer's. They beat the Pokemon before and hit them with these rods that had electricity.'

"Well looky here, you have some bruises and a possible fracture right here. Stay still and let me treat it." Reaching into his bag, Gray pulled a few potion's and a full heal out. 'Well, c.r.a.p. I understand you may not want to go with them, But what will you do," reaching down he patted the old Eevee on the head. Looking at the scars all over his body Gray felt bad for the Pokemon.

'Dammit, this is a little bit my fault.. c.r.a.p.' Reaching and feeding it a berry from his pocket he took a deep breath. "If you come across another Trainer like them what will happen? You can't keep running.'

After Gray transmitted that the old Eevee just hung its head low. If it was younger battling these Trainer's would be a cinch. Looking over to its current herd that was not the best option. All the fighters in this litter were gone. All the ones left didn't like fighting besides two of them. With the wear and tear, those twins wouldn't stand a chance.

"Vee. Ve vvv vee." We rather go with you than them. The old Eevee looked at the kid behind Gray. That smirk the boy had given him the creeps. The old Eevee had come across Trainers and Pokémon with that look before. One thing was for certain that look meant trouble. 'Fine then. Give them a chance to escape. I will deal with these so-called Trainer's.'

'How Heroic I guess. Old coot is daring.' Gray thought to himself. Looking at the other two trainers he smiled. 'They are just kids, but then again this is not home. Things here a lot more different. Well besides the fact Pokemon are real creatures.'

"So do you want to just go our separate ways? Or are we going to have a problem? I rather just get this group ofPokémon to a PokeCenter. They need medical attention."

"I don't care what he is Jace! Those Eevees are mine!" The kid whispered back as best he could. Putting away the smaller net, he reached for the big one on Jace's hip.

Looking back towards Gray, Jace smiled. "Sorry but I don't think we can do that. We don't know you and you might try to steal our Pokemon from us." Jace then reached into his pocket. 'Come on man just leave. I don't want to test out these new pills just yet.'

Looking down at Tony, Jace was hoping the kid would realize the situation they were in. Business before personal. Wanting the Pokemon for yourself came after the client's Pokemon were obtained.

Jace couldn't' remember how many times he had to explain this to the runt.

"No problem. Easily solvable. Come with me to the Pokemon Center. That way we can guarantee no funny business." Gray kept his Physic energy probing the surroundings. As for his aura, he kept it close to himself after it touched the Houndoom.

"Didi." The device activated and expanded as he ran over with the bigger net. Electricity started to spark off the net as he approached. "Those Pokémon are mine, Jace!"

"d.a.m.n it, Tony!" Jace said. Standing up he reached for his Pokeball on his sleeve.

Gray was planning on talking to the Trainer's and figuring something out between them but that point was moot now. For two reasons. The boy made the decision for him and the blue bubble that appeared.

(The group known as? ?????? are trying to capture Pokémon illegally. These Pokémon have been displaced from their homes, in the beginning, thanks to you. Protect them.)