Smoke and Flame chapter 1: THE HUNTER AND THE HUNTED

BSDuck · June 29

WARNING: The following material is not suitable for under 12s, as it contains violence, darker themes, and very mild cursing.

Smoke and Flame

A PMD fanfic

Chapter 1

The Hunter and the Hunted

Smoke the Yveltal has spent his life on the run from hunters who view him as a monster for his otherworldly powers. Him and Amethyst, a Hisuian Typhlosion he rescued from the hunters when they were just a Quillava, are preparing to make a move. However, the hunters have something far more sinister planned for them…

Glastremont. The warm heart of the cold, bitter mountain. Wooden dens decorated with ornate pine and carvings from a bygone time. Spruce roofs blanketed in layer upon layer of snow. Brick paths twisting and turning through the countless stores and markets, each one a show of flashy colours and shining trinkets, casting a vivid light. Thin wooden bridges clung desperately to the many cliffs, suspended over a massive gorge said to have been caused by a legendary titan of earth and fire. Young Pokemon played like kittens in the snow, spraying frosted drops of ice in every direction. The bustling streets were full of chatter and warmth, stalls were blooming with customers, and carts were filled with berries. It was a sunny oasis in a snowy wasteland.

Every paradise can become hell when seen from the shadows. The shadows in which he lurked. Scratching the wall of the alley in annoyance, he murmured to another Pokemon.

“That bloody thing got away again.”

“He’s smarter than I thought. Maybe we should try something different. Bring that thing to its knees.”

“You’re right. But that’s what Saber is for. That sucker Smoke may be smart, but nothing can save him from its cold, unforgiving fangs.”

“Maybe we should think this through. It’s too risky. We need Smoke dead, but this isn’t safe. How can we be sure that it won’t come after us?”

“We can’t. But it’s our only shot.”

-*-

Smoke nestled by the fireplace, talons clenching the soft moss, head resting on the facade of an old tree. Warm orange flames glowed softly, lulling him to sleep. His wing had been gouged by the Hunter, but that didn’t matter to him. What mattered was sleep. Outside, wind twirled through the trees, whipping up delicate snowflakes in its dance of death. Leaves scratched against the branches that made up Smoke’s home, scraping bits of snow so that they would fall down the small cracks, only to be melted instantly by the fire. It wasn’t much of a house, but what it was was a home.

“Wake up!” A loud voice called, breaking Smoke from his slumber. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and the wild Pokemon had come out of their caves. It was morning alright, and Smoke had just slept through the whole thing. Heck, he thought, as he yawned lazily, groaning as he stretched out of his makeshift bed. When he looked to his right, he saw a smoldering piece of carpet, Amethyst, a Hisuian Typhlosion who happened to be his roommate and best friend, and a dead Skwovet.

"Never mess with a fire type," she laughed, clearly trying to avoid the consequences of setting half the den on fire. Smoke just laughed. She was always like this. Accidentally committing arson when a wild Pokemon got on her nerves, and then acting like it was all easily fixable.

"It was after our berry stash, ok?"

"What berry stash?" he asked, pointing to the smoldering patch on the floor.

"You mean I… oh, I really screwed… wait a minute!"

The berries were sitting in a heap in the corner of the room in their usual spot.

"I really thought I had burned them down for a second…"

"But you did!"

Amethyst lit up a little ember in her paws. Then they both burst out laughing. Roasted Skwovet would be a good way to keep warm in the harsh winter cold.

The next day, Amethyst had set off on an expedition. They needed some rare Herbs. Why, she didn't really know. Smoke had just said that winter was dangerous, and they needed something to fight off dangerous wild Pokemon. Skwovets didn't particularly scare her, but she did it anyway. Herbs could only be found on the lower slopes of the mountains, as they could not withstand the intense cold at the higher parts. Neither could most Pokemon that didn't have the privilege of the fire or ice type. This trek would be dangerous, but it would be worth it. Carefully, she meandered her way down the mountain’s edge, each step placed carefully to avoid falling to her potential doom. Claws raked the rocks as she reached a part where her legs would fail to support her weight. Flecks of snow thumped down on the cliffs below, each one a warning. If she wasn’t careful, death was soon to come.

Eventually, Amethyst reached the bottom of the cliffs, her feet finally touching solid ground, claws hugging the snow like it was a bed of leaves. Amethyst ran through the thicket, snow slowly turning to dirt, heading to where White Herbs grew most commonly. This was an item that prevented stat drops, and it would be key to winning a prolonged battle. Just as she was planning her course, a white shadow caught the side of her eye. A slender shape, hidden by light, an aura of pure darkness. It chilled her to the very core. Without a second thought, she ran. Ran as fast as her tired legs could carry her. But as she was soon to realise, there was no such escape.

The shadow twitched. First a small flick of its ears, and then a jolt of its tail and a movement in its legs. It had spotted her. She darted like a Boltund, body streamlined, on all four legs, claws cutting through gravel like a Honedge through butter. I have to do this. He needs me. It was catching up. She was fast, but not as fast as it. She couldn’t keep it up for much longer, but it could go on for days. But she had determination, and that’s all she needed. With a final push, Amethyst leaped across the cliffs, into the upper mountains. Gravel slipped beneath her feet, and her brief moment of hope came to an end. She was stuck. The path up ahead was too steep, too unforgiving. She had to go at the pace of a Torkoal last time, just to avoid dying. Sweat started to clench at her joints, and her muscles tensed up. Luck had run out. The only way to break the wall was to burn it down in flames.

The figure emerged. A streamlined body; perfect for speeding through the forest. Sharp ice crystals lining its body; perfect for punishing any attacker. Long, pointed teeth; perfect for effortlessly cutting through her flesh. Teeth that were pointed toward her throat right now. The thing stared at her with cold, emotionless eyes, causing her to tremble in a cold, bitter fear. The fear of death. It lurched forward violently with its agile body, which seemed to be made out of some sort of hard snow. Amethyst barely had time to react before she felt a sharp, icy chill worm its way up her spine. She had just dodged an ice fang attack. She felt realisation hit her like a hydro pump. Next time, she wouldn’t get so lucky.

Flamethrowers collided with psychic fangs as the two Pokemon fought violently. Amethyst dodged desperately, trying to avoid the flurry of attacks. She countered with a shadow ball, breaking the Pokemon’s guard for a split second. Then, she followed up with a flamethrower, causing its body to melt a little. It briefly showed a hint of pain and panic, before snapping back into its ruthless, heartless self. A sucker punch struck Amethyst’s face, knocking her jaw sideways. Amethyst thought that she heard a tooth or two snap. She reeled back in pain, blood tinting the side of her jaw in bright crimson. “You bloody savage” she cursed, before realising that her cheek was strained in pain from where it had slammed into her. Clenching her paw, an eruption fired from her back, but was blocked by a sacred sword that led into a retaliating throat chop. Amethyst blocked it with her flames, fire enveloping both Pokemon. She let off one final overheat, magma erupting for her body as she screamed in determination. I can do this. For Smoke, and all that he did for her. For this beautiful, messed-up world. For justice.

-*-

Pain washed over him as he was enveloped in blistering heat. His body painfully began to melt, overwhelmed by the giant inferno. Eventually, the flames stopped. The overheat lasted only for a few seconds, but it felt like hours. Hours of fire, pain, and agony. Those were the only things he felt, anyways. But there was no blood at all. It was like all that pain, all that agony, had been for nothing. He could hear those voices again. “It’s a heartless machine. It can’t feel pain. Its only thought is to kill Smoke. And that pesky Typhlosion, too. Wish I could say the same for those suckers.” He didn’t know who they were, but all he knew was that those words hurt. Almost as much as this flame. His vision went hazy, and his ears drooped down, whether from the anguish or the fire he did not know. Tears welled in his eyes, legs scrambled for escape, pain echoed through his head, thoughts of burning alive in a roaring firestorm. He collapsed, unconscious.

She glanced at the Pokemon's body on the floor, unsure what to say. She had just won the brutal fight, by some miracle. Maybe it was her fire typing, or maybe it was luck. She knew deep inside that it was hope that had saved her. The overheat had drained her body of energy, and her jaw wasn’t feeling much better either. She wiped the blood off her face, and trod off, limping on the leg that wasn’t aching from the fight. The white herb would have to wait, as right now she needed to get back to Smoke and have some much-needed berries. Just as she was about to start climbing, she noticed something in the corner of her eye. She hadn’t really put much thought into it, but it seemed in a lot of pain. “Nah. That thing is a cold-hearted killer. It’ll find some way in Arceus to murder me if I help it.” ”What was it with these Pokemon, why do they all do this?! Why do they all think I’m some machine?!” he thought. Amethyst walked away, every step wrenching his heart. At least she had someone to help recover. All he had was himself. The savage, the heartless killer, the Sword of Ruin. When you’re that, yourself is all you get.