The Siblings and the Twin Pokemon

[maestro]

It had only been a couple of days since Umi and TJ left Bitterspring City on their own personal quests. TJ was out to fight the Syndicate and find their father, whereas Umi was out to protect her brother and also do some personal discovery of her own. They had already done a lot to hurt the Syndicate and the TGT would take care of JNPRsprings, so Umi could rest easy knowing that their mother would be taken care of.

The sun was beating down harshly on them as they traveled to...wherever TJ was wanting to go. He mentioned the gym challenge, so Umi was just letting him take the reigns. She was itching to try the gym challenge as well, thinking that developing herself as a Pokemon trainer might also give her the peace she desired, and the answers she was looking for. It wasn't long before they decided to take a break on the side of the road, to which Umi had pitched a blanket spread and unpacked some lunch for her a TJ. Her traveling gi was loose so she wouldn't pass out of heat exhaustion, showing off a little bit of her wrap she used around her chest. This never seemed to bother Umi, although her mother had always told her to wear more flattering clothing. 

Her Smoochum was laying in her lap as Saito was snoozing on the blanket next to her as she pulled out a couple of bento boxes she had packed for her and TJ. She looked up to her brother, sparking conversation "Hey TJ...so...where are we heading, exactly? I mean, we have our pick of gyms to choose from....but honestly, I don't know much about them since I never really followed the Pokemon trainer lifestyle very closely. Do they operate just like dojo challenges?" she inquired.

[Ink]

TJ grabbed a bento and after saying thanks to his sister and his ancestors he began to eat. When his sister addressed him it pulled him out of his thoughts. Looking over his shoulder to make sure the triplets and Arthur were doing ok he smiled when he saw the four of them goofing off in the grass. "Well we have a few choices as there is a split here soon in the road. If we follow it east we'll hit Marble city Home of an electric gym. If we go south we'll hit redstone city and the Flying gym. I'm not ready for that at all. But the road to the southeast goes to Shale city. Shale city seems lively enough to have some info I might dig up on our father, and the rock gym is located there. I was thinking of putting the triplets to test there. I'm not sure when if ever they will evolve, but I know they are strong now. We've seen what they are capable of... and you could challenge them too.

As for it being like a dojo challenge... not really... most people that challenge the gym are just wanting to be tested as a trainer. The leader does not go all out against them but judges them based on their merit and matches them with appropriate challenges. However it is said that you can challenge for Leadership rights. It's all out no holds barred. Leader battles are on par with elite four battles from what i've heard."

He munched a little more before continuing on. "But I can't let anything stop me, rumors or no. I decided I want to do this... and one day I'll go back to JNPR and challenge the leagues there too. Grandpa beat the JNPR circuit back in the day with only fighting types. I can do the same." His eyes were all fired up, chopsticks in his mouth.

[maestro]

Umi looked down at her Smoochum, as well as Saito, beginning to think of them fighting against other Pokemon. Smoochum was just born, and Saito was just lazy and didn't really possess much fighting prowess that Umi knew of. She just pet her Smoochum on the head as it looked up to her inquisitively as she responded to her brother "I would need to get more in my team, I suppose" she said, smiling down at her Pokemon. Saito just fidgeted and then turned off of his back and over onto his stomach. "...would be much different if I could just fight in their place" she said, with a half hearted chuckle.

She then looked to TJ "You really hold grandfather to high honors, don't you? You and he were always really close back home" she stated, generating small talk. "I wish he and grandmother could have been able to come with us...or if father wasn't..." she began, but suddenly stopped herself from continuing the statement, fearing the reaction bringing him up would have from TJ. Instead, she quickly, and nervously, changed the topic "So...uh...do you have...any idea of a team you are going to create?"

[Ink]

Though Umi skipped forward in the conversation, TJ wasn't going to let it go. "If father wasn't what Umi... such a sleazy bag of tauros shit? If he cared at all about his family instead of his reputation. Honestly, You and mom would have been better off if he had never shown up in your lives. All he's ever given you two is trouble and heartache."

He finished his bento and sighed. "I want a team like grandpa had. fighting types all the way. I'll need to get a mankey and see if I can get these guys to all evolve. As for the final addition to my team. I'm not sure. Grandpa had a dual type fighting pokemon, a Blaiziken, and so did his brother he said, who had been a fire type trainer. He said it was to show their bond. I had at once thought that I could do that, but a Psycic fighting type. they are not easy to come by. very rare and few of them."

[maestro]

Umi felt that she had made a mistake by bringing up their father, mostly because it always got his blood boiling. She couldn't say she was the biggest fan of their father due to the fact that she moved here for him and he still never recognized her as his daughter, let alone what he has put TJ and Megumi through. When TJ said that their father had not left nothing good in her or her mother's lives, Umi looked down at the ground and said softly "...he gave me my little brother..." she said, hoping TJ would take note, but not saying loud enough to interrupt him.

As he began to talk about a Psychic Fighting type, Umi just looked at him with a puzzled look. Her knowledge of Pokemon was very limited, so she had no idea what might fit that bill. She wouldn't even have a Pokemon if it wasn't for Saito being a lazy slob and TJ giving her the Smoochum, which she still hadn't figured out a name for yet. She just scratched her head in contemplation "Do those even exist? I mean, if they do then we most certainly can look for one. Although, I wonder about a team for me?" she inquired, looked down at Smoochum and Saito "Mine aren't really what you would call, battle ready" she said as Saito snored.

[Ink]

TJ smiled at his sisters soft comment but let it pass by. Some days he still worried that with as much trouble he cause, if they would not be better off without him. But he would not say that for fear of the fight it would start.

As Umi wondered about her team and making it battle ready, TJ laughed and pulled a box out of his backpack. when he opened it it contained what looked like a book, but thinner, and it opened to show two screens. He turned it on to see a syndicate splash screen and then a options menu of Search, scan, and area scan. He ponted the book object at Umi's smoochum and it brought up information on the pokemon in general, known combat abilities, locations found, and known evolutions.

"Here, take this. I swiped it from that transport a while back but never used it until now. It's apparently the Syndicate's version of a Pokedex. Mostly combat info rather than breeder information but it could be useful right? I mean, look at what the smoochum can do." He handed the device to Umi for her to look at.

[maestro]

Umi caught the small book and looked at it inquisitively, the stats and information were displayed and took Umi by surprise. "Ice moves? As well as Psychic attacks? ...has a preferred attack method of kissing and slapping?" Her tone went lower in almost disbelief as she looked down at her Smoochum and it just hummed a little tune and smiled at her. "Well, I guess you need a name, don't you?" she inquired, her Smoochum immediately responding with an excited yelp. "Let's see, how about Aisu? That's the JNPR word for ice. What do you think?" With that, the Smoochum began to become even more excited and jumped up to Umi's chest and nuzzled its face in it. Umi just laughed with a warm smile on her face "Aisu it is then. Welcome to the family!" she said sweetly.

She then looked over at Saito, still snoozing, and became curious. "I wonder..." she said as she pointed the book at her Abra. Her face immediately grew sour as she saw how much potential and psychic ability lay dormant in Saito, but because of it he had to sleep so much. "So...that is why you are always lazing around? Are all Abras this lazy?!" she exclaimed. She just sighed as Aisu jumped down and walked over to Saito, giving him a kiss on the forehead, to be met with the Abra shivering but not waking up. This got a chuckle out of Umi.

She was about to turn back to TJ to continue their conversation, but suddenly the Syndicate device began beeping and a bright blue light continued to flash. "Huh? What's this?" Umi asked. On the device, a map was showing and pinpointed the location where she and TJ were sitting, but also had two other icons on the map close by that were labeled with 'P'. Umi pointed the device over to TJ "Hey TJ...uh...what does this mean?" his technological inferior sister inquired.

[Ink]

TJ looked over at the device. "Looks like the local area scanner kicked in. There must be some rare pokemon close by." He tapped the full scan option and the area around the two that originally had shown up was lit up with markers. The new markers seemed to be closing in on the to other markers. "That doesn't look good..." TJ whistled to his team and they bolted off in the direction of the markers.

When TJ and the triplets crested the rise,with Arthur on their tail what they saw was a small dune buggy that had flipped over, a young man pressed against it holding on to his bag filled with capture balls. in front of him were two identical pokemon that TJ had never seen. They seemed to be holding hands and projecting a barrier of some kind around the man and buggy. Attacking them with fire and strong bodies flung up against the barrier, was a pack of houndours... a dark fire type pokemon. Dog-like and vicious they hunted in packs. Like most packs this one was led by an evolved Houndoom.

Not one to mind his own business but knowing it would be wise not to step into the middle of the pack himself he motioned for the triplets to step in. Dodging in and out of the attacking dogs they made their way towards the Alpha, attacking where they could that would not leave them exposed, using the training that TJ had passed on to them in full sight of everyone for the first time, or at least first time they were not trying to hide it partially. Arthur on the other hand waded into the fray and started to gain attention by taking on dog and beating another one with it. Even TJ winced at that.

Knowing his sister should be hot on his heels he directed her as well. "Go check on the guy down there. Looks like he might be a breeder. He's got pokemon but won't use them, and he's got a fair amount of supplies strapped to the flipped buggy. He's basically defenseless."

[maestro]

Umi looked at TJ with a puzzled look, not fully understanding how the contraption worked...but at least TJ knew how to work it. As TJ ran off with Arthur and the triplets, Umi just looked more confused "How could he tell all that?" she wondered as she picked herself up and grabbed her sword. "Saito, I'm running ahead after them. Can you bring Aisu with you since she can't run very fast?" Umi inquired as Saito just squirmed a bit in his sleep and began to sit up. "...I'll take that as a yes. Okay, see you guys over there" she said as she hurried after her brother.

As she made her way over the hill, she looked down and saw the scene. Sure enough, right as soon as she arrived, TJ had already known she was there and had given her a direction. She looked over to see the breeder cowering as the two small Pokemon were keeping a barrier up. She then turned her gaze to the triplets as they began to fight the Houndoom. To Umi's surprise, they were administering techniques that she thought Pokemon would, or even should, ever use. "Granpa's martial arts?" she mumbled to herself as she seemed to be lost in awe as she watched the triplets fight as if they were students of her family. 

She was snapped back to attention as a small cry came out from one of the two identical Pokemon from the breeder. She turned back and saw that one of the Pokemon had collapsed from exhaustion, weakening the barrier that was created. "Hang on! I'm coming!" she yelled as she began to dash down the hill to the breeder. As she approached, a stray Houndour had lunged itself up at Umi, in an attempt to bit her leg. Umi was about to draw her blade on the dog, when Saito and Aisu appeared out of no where, on top of the Houndour. Aisu sat on top of the pooch and began slapping it senseless, to the point that Umi almost felt sorry for the poor creature. "Saito! Can you help with that barrier?" Umi inquired as Saito teleported again and appeared next to the standing Pokemon. He began to let out a low hum and suddenly, the barrier intensified as Saito began to add his psychic power to it.

Umi passed through the barrier and approached the breeder who was curled up on the ground. She knelt down and looked at eye level with the breeder "Hey, are you alright? Is anything broken?" she inquired. She quickly turned her gaze back to TJ and the triplets to see how they were doing in their fight.

[Ink]

TJ jumped to the side as a houndour tried to inflame his leg, only to be picked up and suplexed by Arthur. The Machoke high fived TJ and lumbered away after another opponent with a large and scary grin on his face.

The Breeder looked up to Umi, tears in his eye. His arms were wrapped around a frail looking pokemon, a Kirlia who had man terrible burns and bites, as if she had been protecting the breeder at first. she had a mark on her cheek, just a small orange birthmark, that if Umi looked closely, she would see it on the two male ralts' faces in front of her as well. The breeder said nothing to Umi, too in shock. He could only hold the injured pokemon and gather his other capture balls around him.

The triplets at this time had made it to their mark. The tree of them split up and came at the beast each using a move they loved best that TJ had taught them. Barry connected with a spinning bird kick, Bruce hit it with a rolling thrust punchto throw it off balance and Clarck came in from the front, spun, dropped to his hands and delivered a revers rising sun (TJ's signature move), slamming his heel into the Houndoom's neck, and knocking it up into the air. It hit the ground with a loud thud, and moved no more.

When the big dog went down all the other stopped and turned to the triplets. Silence ensued for a moment before the pack scattered to the four winds as if death was n their tails. A few limped away, too injured to run, and one got tossed away by Arthur, but soon the siblings were left alone with the breeder. TJ then turned back to his sister. "Everyone ok over there?"

[maestro]

Umi looked shocked when she noticed the Kirlia so injured, obviously receiving the wounds from protecting her breeder. As the breeder continued to be frantic, Umi satchel off and began to rummage through it. She pulled out her first aid kit, complete with Poke-medicine as well. "Here, let me take a look at her" she said as she gently took the Kirlia from the frantic breeder and began to nurse it. "You poor thing, you are really battered up. But you were brave enough to face off against that pack for the safety of your breeder...you are indeed a very brave Pokemon" she complimented to the quivering Kirlia. As she began to rub some ointment on the Pokemon's burn wounds, she looked up and witnessed the fighting techniques of the triplets. Her jaw nearly dropped as she saw the raw power they possessed, as well as the perfect execution of some of TJ's signature, and favorite, moves. She even winced once the Houndoom was hit in the throat, almost feeling sorry for the pack leader.

When TJ came over, Umi was just finishing her treatment of the Kirlia and cradled it in her arms as the breeder continued to pick up his capture balls. She looked up at her brother "Everyone seems to be fine here. I just finished tending to this wounded Pokemon, and the other two who put up the barrier just seem to be exhausted. Luckily Saito was able to help with the barrier to ease their strain. They all should be fine" she mentioned. She then looked down to the Kirlia and noticed the birth mark on it, taking note that the Ralts over with Saito also seemed to bare the same mark. She then looked down and spoke to the Kirlia "Are you related to those other two? Bravery must run in your family if you three jumped at the opportunity to protect your owner" she said softly, complimenting the injured Pokemon.

She then turned to the breeder, who at this point had finished gathering his belongings. "Excuse me, sir, but are you or any other Pokemon injured? I have medical supplies that I am willing to use to assist in their treatments", she offered. "Also...would you mind explaining what happened to cause that pack of Pokemon to attack you?" she questioned. 

[Ink]

TJ and his team stayed out among the houndours, making sure none woke up and caused trouble. Mostly Arthur was picking them up and tossing them as far as he could, which was plenty far enough. He had caught a strange look in his sister's eye concerning the triplets and he wasn't sure he anted to deal with that just yet.

The breeder, who was relaxing a little now, still held onto the Kirlia tightly. "I was being chased by a syndicate thug. He blew a whistle of some kind and thy came running from the forest. He injected the leader with a dart, it evolved and they came after me. The thug just left me to die. These three aren't even my pokemon... all my little ones are too young to fight and are in their capture balls. I'm supposed to be transporting them to Professor Dogwood over in Marble city...."

The two Ralts, now that the dander had passed had closed in around their older sibling. They tugged lightly at her trying to get her to stand up, though she did not move at their urgings, only issuing soft pained noises.

[maestro]

Umi looked more concerned when the breeder brought up the Syndicate. So the Syndicate was involved in this...that's troublesome she thought as she quickly gazed over at TJ. She was about to speak again when the Ralts siblings began to tug at their older sister. Umi looked at the poor Kirlia and took note of its labored breathing. She gently took her hand and stroked the top of its head "You poor thing...I wish there was more I could do" she said.

Suddenly, Aisu waddled up to the scene and looked inquisitively at the injured Kirlia. It smiled and let out a cheerful chirp as it approached the injured Pokemon. "Hey, Aisu, what are you doing? Don't disturb..." Umi protested, almost too late as Aisu puckered its beak (somehow) and gave the Kirlia a small kiss on the cheek. Suddenly, a small pink glow began to envelop the Kirlia and some of its burns and injuries began to shrink. Its breathing began to normalize and its eyes opened momentarily. Umi looked down with a smile on her face "Hey, you're awake!" she exclaimed. The Kirlia looked confused as it gazed up to Umi, then looked down and saw its siblings who were unharmed. It then nodded over to the breeder as its eyes closed again and it drifted off into a deep sleep. Aisu began chirping proudly at Umi, who in turn pat the Smoochum on the head and smiled "Great work Aisu! I had no idea you had that ability. You earned an extra treat today" she complimented. Aisu now sticking its chest out, obviously proud.

When the Kirlia was taken care of, Umi then turned back to the breeder, wondering if TJ was overhearing the conversation. "I'm sorry if I sound nosy, but why exactly was the Syndicate after you?" she inquired. "If you want, my brother and I are heading to Marble City as well. We can travel there together and we can do our best to protect you and your Pokemon from any other Syndicate attacks" she offered, doing her best to give a calm and reassuring smile.

[Ink]

The man seemed to shrink a little more, "Well.. its because... I" But it was at that point that TJ cut in. "He's an unregistered Breeder. And he's taking pokemon to a professor without the syndicate being involved. That's all they need for a reason. Hate to break it to ya Umi but we are not headed to Marble city... at least I'm not. I'm going to Shale city. Besides, traveling with him would only endanger us and him. He's wanted, and so are we. Together we make to big of a target."

He walked away for a moment to kneel down by a houndoom that was waking up. It growled lightly at him but TJ just laid a hand softly on its side while he got out a vial of medicine. "Drink this slugger. You took a beating, for nothing... I have a favor to ask of you, now that you no longer are under the dominance of the other pokemon. I want you to travel with this breeder. He's a good man working against the people that would use you for their own means. He helps bring up young pokemon and spread them throughout the world. What do you say Slugger?"

The dog like pokemon sat up on its haunches and appeared thoughtful for a moment. It had been forced to evolve and attack someone that smelled like a nice person, not food, though they had food with them. and the man was taking care of pokemon, and the three wilds had protected him. The Houndoom stood up, walked over to where the man sat, and then just laid down beside him. TJ smiled broadly. "Thats a good Slugger. He'll be good for you. Having a friend to watch over you is helpful and I think he needs one just like you do. Just be sure to treat him right."

Had Arthur upend the man's dune buggy and then with a whistle he gathered the gang up and started to turn to walk away. He stopped suddenly when he felt the sudden appearance of arms wrapped around his neck, as if Someone was trying to take a piggy back ride from him. He couldn't see it but one of the Ralts brothers had teleported to him and was holding on tight. In his head he heard a timid voice speak, "Mine...?" "What the holy hell... somethings talking in my head. UMI!"

[maestro]

Umi's cheeks puffed up at her brother's words. He was being real, but she didn't really care at this point, this person and his Pokemon were in need. "How can you say that? Obviously he needs help or else he wouldn't have gotten into this situation. And plus, he now has an injured Pokemon to think about!" she argued. Her face was now determined, and a bit upset, looking at her brother. They never fully saw eye to eye on topics, but it was that difference in world views that seemed to keep them both in check with one another. One was the Yin to the other's Yang.

As he began to treat the Houndoom, Umi just sighed and turned back to the breeder "It seems that we won't be accompanying you, after all. But TJ is making sure that you have protection, it seems. He always seems to have a way with Pokemon like that" she said. She knelt down and pet the Kirlia on the head again "You be brave for your siblings and the breeder, okay?" she said, winking and smiling at the injured Pokemon. 

When TJ cried out for her, she quickly jolted around to face him and then looked at Saito "Hey! Saito, are you messing with TJ's head again?" she scolded. Then it dawned upon her Wait...TJ knows Saito's games, and it wouldn't freak him out like this. What is? "Mine...?" Umi's eyes widened as she heard a new voice in her head. Suddenly, she felt her own neck embraced by the tiny arms of the oppostie of the Ralts brothers. Umi noticed it out the corner of her eye, then noticed TJ with the other on his back. Umi just chuckled and pat her's on the head "Don't worry TJ, it looks like these little guys have taken a liking to us" she stated.

"Mine...trainer...strong...journey..." said the Ralts to Umi, who then looked surprised. "I...think they want to come with us" she guessed, to be greeted with a nodding Ralts. It then pointed its hand down to the Kirlia "Sister....travel..treatment...owner...." it said to Umi. Umi then turned back to the Kirlia, who had opened its eyes again and was looking up to Umi with a longing expression. "You...want to come with us?" she inquired of the Kirlia. It answered Umi by softly nodding its head and struggled to stand up. Umi quickly knelt down and picked up the injured Pokemon in her arms, the Kirlia now looking embarrassed and surprised at her kindness. Umi then turned to the breeder "Uhm...if it is alright with you....I think these little ones want to tag along with my brother and me for a while. Would you object?" she inquired.