Chapter Five: The Delphox Trainer

Hades0918 · October 8

Cass' Perspective

I peak out from the alley, checking to make sure nothing was around. The street is empty, so I quickly cross, entering my destination; a grocery store. As I open the door, the bell above it rings.

I freeze, my eyes looking around rapidly, checking for people and Malamars. I exhale with relief when nothing comes at me. I shut the door and sneak to the back where the cold produce is.

As I turn into an isle, I see a group of Malamar standing at the other end. I gasp and quickly walk away, choosing a different path to the back. As I find my way around, I see many groups of people, all smiling and laughing as they grab food. I pull my orange cap down a bit, blocking most of my eyes with the brim. I don't want any chance of someone (or something) noticing I lack the dazed expression and realizing I'm sane.

I finally reach the cold food. I shiver, zipping up my orange jacket and hugging my arms tightly around me.

"I hate the cold," I mutter to myself as I pull out my grocery list and grab the needed items. A grab a bag of apples, a bunch of bananas, some bags of salad, Pokémon food. I look at the watermelons, more specifically one of the bottom ones. It was the most delicious looking in the entire stack.

I put a hand on some of the ones around it as I pull it out, trying to keep them steady so they won't. As it comes out, though, my hand does nothing all the other watermelons come tumbling out with it.

"No," I exclaim, jumping back as all the melons splatter across the floor.

"Are you okay," one of the Malamarians ask, walking over to me. Some of the other people approach too, along with the Mega Malamars.

"Stay back," I shout, a hand out in front of me as back up, looking around the room frantically. I'm completely surrounded!

All the people look at me confused, but the Malamars' eyes narrow.

I'm gonna have to fight my way out of this.

I pull my Pokeball out. "Come on, Embers," I shout as my beautiful Delphox pops out its Pokeball. I pulls its wand out, twirling and spinning it as it does.

The Malamars pushes everyone out of the way, approaching us aggressively. "Don't let them get us. Fire Blast," I yell. Embers swirls its wand and a giant purple ball of flames comes flying out, blasting the Mega Malamars back and knocking them out.

I smirk as I watch their Mega Evolution flash and deactivate. "Great job. Now let's go," I say and me Embers start running for the exit.

As we turn an isle, a group people block the other side. I look behind us, where more Mega Malamars have already replaced the ones we beat and are chasing us quickly.

"Move them out the way with Psychic," I command, and Embers raises its wand and its eyes glow white. It swishes the stick, moving everyone out the way. We turn and keep running.

We're just about to exit when a tentacle grabs my ankle. I yelp as my body slams into the ground. My hat falls onto the floor as they drag me to them.

"Embers," I shout, and it turns around quickly, wand ready, "Flamethrower!"

Embers swirls its wand in a small circle. When it stops it a large beam of purple fire blasts out, engulfing the Mega Malamars in flames.

The one that has me let's go and I scramble to my feet and immediately starts dashing towards the exit, stooping down and picking my hat up as I go.

"This was an awful day to wear jeans," I shout as we run down the street, my pants rubbing my thighs uncomfortably as we go. Embers chuckles and shakes its head.

We turn into an alley way and greeted my more Mega Malamars. I groan with annoyance and pull the brim of my cap over my eyes. "Fire Blast," I command. I can't see, but I hear the flames make contact then the smell of smoke.

I lift my hat up and see ordinary Malamars passed out on the ground. I look at Embers, who's panting lightly. "You're doing good," I say. Embers trills proudly as we start running again.

An hour passes

I look up at the sky. It was pitch black. I look behind me, seeing an army of Mega Malamars, their lights shining bright brightly in the night. I look over at Embers, exhausted and panting. I don't know how much longer we can go.

I turn and face Mega Malamars, Embers following suit. "Fire Blast," I yell, throwing my hand out. Embers swirls its wand and a blazing red ball comes soaring out.

Red. Embers is getting weak. I grit my teeth. I look down at my gold belt where my Key Stone is then at Embers. I know it's exhausted. I'd be pushing it past its limits. But if I don't we're not getting out of this…

I look around as more Mega Malamars begin to surround, the Malamarians ganging up on us, too. I sigh as I begin to unbuckle my belt.

Then a guy shouts, "Grab on!"

I look at the source of voice. A man dressed in all black on a Charizard is flying at me, hand extended and open. It takes me a moment to realize what's happening, but it almost immediately dawns on me.

I pull out Embers' Pokeball and return it. I then reach out and grab the mans wrist. He pulls me up and I seat myself behind him.

I sigh and take my hat off, pushing my black bangs back then putting my cap back. The man turns at me, smiling.

"I'm Hades, he says. "You?"

"Cass," I reply, hugging my arms around me, shivering. "It's cold," I state, teeth chattering slightly.

Hades laughs. "After some time you get used to it."

We sit in silence for a minute, the only sound my clattering teeth and Charizard's occasional wing flaps. Then Hades speaks again. "So what happened? What had all them Malamars come after you like that?"

"A watermelon," I reply.

Hades laughs. "What?"

"Well I was grocery shopping," I begin, telling him what happened.

Back to our MC Hades!

"And then that's when you came in," Cass finishes with a sigh.

"Huh," I respond. "Well I have one important question for you," I say with a serious expression, looking him directly in his yellow eyes.

"W-What," Cass asks, shifting uncomfortably.

"Did you make it out with the watermelon," I ask, a smirk betraying my act.

Cass' eyebrows move down and closer, his confusion apparent. "What?," he asks again.

I chuckle. "Do you have the watermelon? The whole reason all this started!"

"Oh, n-no," he replies.

I laugh and Cass pulls his hat down a bit, I'm assuming to hide embarrassment. "Sounds to me all this wasn't worth it!"

Cass sighs. "No. I guess not."

"Hey I'm just messing with ya," I say, patting his shoulder. "Not trying to make you feel bad."

Cass doesn't say anything, avoiding eye contact. "Sorry," I say and chuckle humorlessly. "Kinda messed that up, huh," I ask Char, rubbing its neck gently. It growls in agreement.

"Here's some tips for next time you're out and about," I say, looking back at Cass again. He looks up at me. "Tip number one: sunglasses. Not only do they make you look cool, they delay the lights, kind of protecting you from the spell," I say, handing Cass a pair (I have way more from where that came from).

"And two," Cass asks, putting the glasses in his orange bag.

"Act hypnotized," I state simply. "They don't get suspicious if they think they already own you."

"Oh," Cass exclaims. "Thanks!"

I smile back at him. "No problem!"

We sit in a kind of awkward silence until Cass speaks up. "Hey. I, um, I have a place we'll be safe. There's another person, but their good. I'm sure they'll welcome you!"

I smile and nod. "Alright! Tell Char where and it'll fly us there quick!"

"Char," Cass asks. I pat Char's neck and it growls back. "Oh your Charizard! That's a good nickname. That way. I'll say when to land.

Char nods its head and changes directions, going where Cass pointed.

15 minute flight later

We land in an empty alley way. I return Char and put its ball into my jacket pocket. I then follow Cass through series of lefts and rights. Eventually, we reach a wall. The only thing here is us and some trash.

"I never thought this would be where I meet my end," I say, only have joking.

"It's not. It's the entrance to the secret organization I live with," says Cass, who starts moving the trash around.

"Right," I mutter. From my perspective, which is obviously correct, they're digging through the trash to get the item that will finish me.

"Come on," he says, moving the last trash bag, which reveals a door in the ground. Cass opens it, and gestures for me to enter the tunnel.

"Oh," I say as I enter, Cass following behind me. He sends out his Delphox (I think he called it Embers).

"Sorry. I know you're tired. Could you please use Psychic to put the bags back," Cass asks, and Embers nods and pulls its wand. Its eyes glow and I can hear rustling outside the door. Its eye glow stops. "Thanks," Vass says as he returns it.

After a little bit of walking we reach a door. He pulls a key out from his jacket pocket and opens it. "I'm back," he shouts.

"Took you long enough," a person shouts back. They walk into the entrance and their eyes narrow on me immediately. "Who are you," they ask aggressively, clenching their hand into a fist, a Pokeball ready.

Uh-oh

So I was going to wait for @Voltareon2012 to respond, but when @UnovanZorua gave me their character design inspiration struck. I still need Volareon's response, but for Six now. No rush, truly, I'm just saying.

I want say that Cass is not a wimp. I know I was making him easily embarrassed and upsetted by Hades' words, but I'm going for more of uncomfortable around strangers. He just met the guy and he's teasing him. I'm aiming to make him lighten up as time goes on because he's getting more comfortable with Hades.

Hope y'all liked it!