[IC] Journey of a Thousand Miles

[tobiax]

The sun filtered lightly through the horizontal wooden blinds of a dusty loft space. The sounds of sliding boxes hung in the stale air as Tobias searched about. The sandy brown haired boy turned to look down the small set of pull down stairs leading to the main area of the central Lumiose apartment.
"Hey mom! Where's the tent?" he called out.
"It's already packed honey," a woman's voice replied.
Hurriedly, he stood, clambering down the rickety stairs and into the living room where the warm, kind face of his mother waited. He smiled in return, lifting the rather compact backpack from the table, feeling an unbalanced weight near its inner side- the tent must have been stored in the secret inner pocket.
"I packed you some snacks and a flash light, plus the tent and a sleeping bag are in there. I know you have your jacket and hat," she paused, noting his blue/green jacket and his simple cap, "But I have a raincoat with a hood in there just in case. Oh! And I put a tinderbox under the bottom of the bag..."
"Mom, it's fine," he replied, cutting off her apparent rambling as he shouldered the bag.
The air then became silent as she held out a bundled wallet.
"Here..." his mother offered softly, "Take this, but don't let anyone know you have it," then, her tone became more bright, "It's just enough to get you started."
Tobias offered his thanks, taking the wallet with a nod and putting it away in his pocket. With a final goodbye, he left the quiet house, heading south.

After a few minutes, he could see the yellow domed roof of the Pokemon lab in the distance. As he approached his destination, he began seeing a distinct change in the buildings. Gone were the pleasant facades of shops and houses. These buildings seemed to have no front, only backs which faced the streets and broke to reveal dark, foreboding alleyways. He tried to ignore them, and hurried along towards South Boulevard.

[Mistress Dizzy]

As the young boy moved past the alleyway, there was a faint shifting of sound. It could have been nothing. Just some trash blowing in the wind. Or maybe not. Without any warning, a hulking, menacing man stepped into the boy's view. He wore a cap over his lean features, one that covered his hair and cast a shadow over his eyes. His clothing was old, and worn, a mishmash of shades and fabrics, all looking like they'd been rescued from the trash heap. A menacing growl at the man's hip revealed the red eyes of a Mightyena- the dark Pokemon looked skinny and mean, and there were no mistaking the sharpness of its teeth, even in this darkness.

"Hey kid." The man was still covered by the shadows thrown on him from the alley's walls. He would be impossible to recognize twice. Even his voice was nondistinct- deep, sure, but no accent besides the usual city drawl. "Gimme your money. Or Shadow's gonna rip you open." He flexed his gloved hand very slightly, and the Pokemon at his side made a slight lunge and snapped it's drool-covered jaws.

[tobiax]

Tobias's eyes shifted for a moment as he heard a rustling in the alley beside him. Suddenly, he froze, as a rumbling snarl heralded the appearance of a large man in tattered garb. The boy froze in panic, immediately sweating. The man threatened to take his things, or the Pokemon would attack. Panic instantly set in, and Tobias turned from the man, flailing and running away, back the way he came.
"No!" he shouted as he ran.
However, he didn't get far. His ankle turned, and he soon found himself falling. The pain burned in his ankle, and he was barely able to get his hands out to avoid smashing his face. The pebbles of the road scored his hands, and the impact knocked the air from his lungs. He laid there, helpless, gasping, and unable to move.

[Mistress Dizzy]

At the moment the boy started to run, the man in the tattered clothing snapped his fingers once. The Pokemon at his side burst into a run with a snarl of challenge, going after the boy. It had to skid to a stop on the asphalt after the boy fell, and as its trainer had taught, he put his front paws heavily on the boy's back. Keeping him pinned while it growled menacingly in his ear.

"Damn. This is the easiest pull I've ever made." The man let out a low, mirthless laugh as he lazily strolled over to the trapped boy. He crouched, and without any sign of remorse started to ruffle through his pockets. "Ahaaaa. Pay day." He yanked out the young boy's fat wallet, and stuck it in the recesses of his dirty clothes. He snatched up the boy's backpack, too- while there would be less he could use in it, there would be plenty that was at least worth selling. He slung that easily over his shoulder and started to walk away. He made it most of the way down the alley, before he snapped his fingers twice. The Mightyena that was still keeping the boy pinned growled before getting off his chest, then running after its' trainer. They were almost out of sight, when a blur of shadows from the opposite alley darted toward them.

"What the-" The first shadow, obviously Pokemon shaped, started to kick up the dirt and dust that was in the alley, creating a fog of trash and particles that made the robber cough as he was forced to inhale it. The Mightyena growled, and as the shadow moved off, he ran after it. "Hey, where you goin' Killer?!" The Pokemon didn't respond, and gave chase to the shadow. Then the second shadow moved in, this one human shaped.

The fight looked imbalanced from the start. THe robber was bigger, stronger. He took a wild swing at the shadow, which darted nimbly out of his reach. He took another swing, and the shadow ducked it and went in low. The low thud of rapid punches started to sound, along with a whoosh of a man's breath leaving him in pain.

A voice called out, sounding high and girlish. "Luna! You okay?" There was a feline yowl from the direction where the two Pokemon had chased each other off.

The robber, dazed with pain and rage, growled and rushed the girl. For a brief moment, it was almost as if he was going to hit her head on. THen she dropped low to the ground, coming up in a low roll that sent the robber tumbling stupidly over her body. He was down- and the girl sat on his back, rapidly yanking the wallet free from where she'd seen him stash it. Then she picked up his head and slammed it face first into the dirty concrete. A cry of pain and the snapping of a nose echoed around the alley.

The girl moved up, kicking the backpack that the man had dropped out of his reach. "You gonna get, or do I have to bloody you some more?"

The failed robber got up, blood coating the lower half of his face. His nose was at an odd angle. "Killer!" His voice sounded pained, and nasal like a person with a cold. "Let's get the heck out of here." He stumbled away from the scene of the fight, holding one hand to his bloodied, broken nose and making a quick exit.

The girl brushed herself off, and then crouched to pick up the backpack. She dusted that off the best she could, and slung it over her shoulder. Slowly, she started to step toward the fallen boy. Close up, even in the darkness, it was clear that she too, was dirty. Her black hair was mussed, but her dark eyes were sharp and clear. Her clothing was just as worn as the robber's had been. She was much smaller, and skinny besides, but it was clear that she had quite a mind to beat someone twice her size.

"...so." A smirk twisted her lips. "First time in the South, then?"

[tobiax]

He did his best to get up, but he was met with a sharp, ruthless pressure on his back. He barely turned his head, and froze when he saw the nasty Pokemon staring down at him, the pressure causing him to drop his head to the pavement. The man then approached, roughly stealing his wallet and removing his backpack. He still felt dazed, especially with the beast compressing his lungs, he couldn't react to the sounds of a conflict behind him. However, as the Pokemon's paw left its back, he took in a deep breath, gasping as his vision began to clear.
Slowly, he began to stand, wincing as he pressed his palms on the ground, forgetting his minor injuries for a moment.
"Dangit," he grumbled, cleaning himself off.
Reflexively, he reached back for his bag, only to remember it was stolen. With a dejected look, he turned about, seeing that the man had already gone, and began seeking some sort of official or police station, but he couldn't find one. It was then that he noticed the girl standing there where the man had once been.
Then, the girl approached, his bag shouldered and she made a coy remark, "Wha- what?" he replied, still rather dazed, "Can I just have my stuff back?"

[Mistress Dizzy]

The girl narrowed her dark eyes, the smirk not leaving her lips. "I suppose." She shrugged her slim shoulders, dropping the bag from her shoulder, into her hand, then tossing it underhand to the dirty ground at his feet. "There ya go." She still had his wallet, though, and was passing it from hand to hand in an idle motion. "So... from the look of you, you're from Central. All nice and tidy over there, ain't it? What're you doing on this side of the city?" She held her ground, but was rocking ever so slightly on the heels of her worn sneakers, seeming casual and almost bored. "Why don't you run on home to mommy and daddy, huh?" Despite her calm stance, there was an edge to her voice. An anger that seemed unwarranted, and was seething under the surface. She rifled through his wallet, pushing past old receipts and a few family photos, before she reached the Poke' and took a little more than half from the stack. That vanished into her own grubby pocket. Then she tossed the wallet, too, at his feet.

Above them, on the roof overlooking the alley, a pair of feline eyes watched from above.

[tobiax]

Tobias begrudgingly reached down and lifted his backpack by the strap, not watching the girl closely, but not letting her get out of sight either.
"This is why mom always has Slowbro with her," he grumbled as he shouldered his backpack once again, brushing off the dust which had drifted onto it from being so carelessly tossed.
Once again standing, he gave an accusing glare at the girl, pointing at the object in her hand.
"Give it back," he demanded.
He was in a bad mood right now, and wouldn't put up with anything else. It didn't matter that she helped him before, not when she still had his wallet when he needed it. He ignored her remark, not in the mood to chat, and kept standing there, not separating his gaze from the grungy girl. So, when she removed a portion of money from his wallet, he wasted no time. In mere moments he was where she was, reaching for her own pocket.
"No! Give it back. I need that!"

[Mistress Dizzy]

The girl was taken a bit off guard. Most of the time people stayed still, or ran the other way. .But this guy had come right at her! He was quick, too, but she hadn't gotten so far in the world without knowing how to recover. She twisted her body to the side, moving the pocket with the money out of his reach. Then she gripped his reaching arm with both hands, burying her thin fingers, fingernails first, into the tendons of his arm. She would be very surprised if he kept grabbing after that- it was pretty damn painful. Then she lifted a leg and tried to knee him in the stomach. "What the hell, man?! Why not go get some more from your precious parents?!"

Behind them, a deep burgundy Liepard landed gracefully on the ground, growling low in her throat as she watched the struggle.

[tobiax]

Tobias winced hard as he felt a sharp pain dig into his arm. His breath drew in with a hiss, and he glared with a mix of frustration and confusion. Why couldn't she just give him his stuff and let him go?
"Come on, just..." he began, his arm dropping to his side.
He gave a frustrated sigh, what would she even need it for? He was about to sling his other hand around to grab the money, then her knee crashed into his stomach. He couldn't hear what she said as it felt like everything was coming up at once, and his vision began to dim, almost to black. He regained consciousness, his breath sputtering back into his lungs. Still, his knees against the ground, he looked up with moist eyes, and began grasping again at her pockets.
"C'mon... just..." he gasped.

[Mistress Dizzy]

The Liepard behind them started to step forward, but the girl silenced her with a sharp whistle. "No, Luna. Hold." The Liepard stopped, and the girl pushed away Tobais' groping hands. She was confused, now, rather than angry. He was still fighting. After all this, she'd nearly knocked him out, and he was still...

She took a step backward, loosening his hand from her pocket again. "W- why are you still coming at me? Just... let it go. It's not like you earned it." Her eyes narrowed, but she was fighting anger and confusion all at once. "I need this." She seemed rooted to the spot, though by now she probably could have had her Liepard knock him down and escape in the meantime. "...why're you so..." Her lips moved as she struggled for a word. "Persistent?"

[tobiax]

Determined now more than ever to get all his stuff back, Tobias stood, his eyes wet, blurring his vision, obscuring the maroon Pokemon which seemed to be emitting phosphorescent flecks as it moved idly. He looked into the eyes of the girl, his own, green ones set like iron and glinting with resolution. And, for the first time, he answered what she said directly.
"It's not like you did either!" he practically shouted, his voice rife with accusation and frustration.
In a last burst of effort, he bumped into her. She was a bit shorter than him, a lot actually, and so he thought to use it to his advantage. In one last attempt, he reached for his money once again, digging towards her pocket to snatch it back. With a deep breath, he ran, heading down the road again, hoping to make it to the lab with all his things.
If he didn't have his money before he got his first Pokemon, he wouldn't get far enough to where he could actually sustain both himself and his Pokemon on the money he made from defeating other trainers. He wouldn't let that happen. His mind then began to drift back to that girl. She had her own Pokemon, why not get money from battling other trainers in the city, instead of stealing from people. Why would she help him then steal his money anyway?

[Mistress Dizzy]

The girl managed to clamp down on some of the money, but she was still taken by surprise. Again. She chose her targets well- usually she picked off of other thieves, or stole from people who looked weak-willed. Obviously she'd made a mistake on this one. Even with no Pokemon, he was stupid, impulsive, possibly suicidal... and utterly brave. "Moron." She muttered low under her breath, as she turned and started to follow him. He was making plenty of noise and presented an easy target. She was able to keep up with him and keep hidden. Her Liepard Luna trailed on behind her, silent as a falling star.

Halfway to the South main street, her vision started to go gray around the edges. Blinking several times, she tried to clear up the haze. "Mm... not good." She pushed her body onward, clutching the stolen money tight. Suddenly she wished she'd just snatched and run, she'd hopefully have eaten by now. Almost all of the cafes would kick her out on sight, and the few that did allow her in the door long enough to buy something shoved her out hastily afterward. It had been an unlucky week- she hadn't eaten in 5 days, and desperation was getting harder to fight. "Come on, not now... We're almost there." She murmured aloud, past the ringing in her ears. South main was coming into view, now, and with it the bright rooftops of cafes and the Pokemon Lab.

She clung to the brick wall at her side, and stopped to catch her breath. "Mm..." Everything was getting blurry. "...gotta find the... cafe..." Luna made a worried noise and nudged the girl's hand with its' nose. The girl spurred herself to take a few more steps. Her vision went black and the wind roared in her ears as she hit the asphalt, unconscious.

Luna pushed at its' trainer's hand, then licked her face with its' rough tongue. Nothing happened. The Pokemon cast down a worried gaze, before looking around and fixing on the only target that was familiar. The boy with the blue and green jacket. It's body blurred as it dropped into a speedy pursuit.

[tobiax]

Tobias sat for a moment at the steps of the yellow stone building, catching his breath. He felt safe here- all he'd have to do was open the door and walk in, and there'd at least be someone else there to help. Letting out a sigh, he unshouldered his backpack and undid the buckle. Reaching in to the slightly open sides, he withdrew a bottle of water, wincing as the plastic pressed against his hands. Rolling his eyes, he unscrewed the cap as the blood began to pool. Carefully, he poured the water over his hands, clearing the rocks and blood from the torn skin.
"Shoot," he mumbled, "Well, so much for a good morning..."
After his hands were clean, he stood, taking a moment to stretch before turning to knock on the door. If Tobias were paying attention, he would likely hear the sounds of a Pokemon approaching from behind, but at the moment, that wasn't on his mind.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Luna the Liepard skidded to a stop on the asphalt, her claws throwing sparks on the asphalt. "Nyyaaaa!" She padded right up the stairs, yowling loud and pawing at the back of the boy's jacket. She had picked this human because he was the last one to see her trainer. Even though they had fought, maybe he could help. If not... she wasn't sure what she could do for her trainer... "Nya, Nya-" She tugged at the back of the boy's jacket with her teeth, gently trying to tug him back down the stairs, trying to communicate the location of her fallen trainer.

[tobiax]

Tobias heard a strange, echoing, almost yowling sound behind him. However, before he could turn around, the door began to creak open. Standing there was a relatively tall man, who, although he was in a lab coat and slacks, with a loose blue shirt. His eyes had a smokey quality to them, and his hair had an airy drift to it.
"Why, hello young man!" the man announced boisterously, however, his tone turned from one of welcome to curiosity and wonder, "That Pokemon!" he pointed out, prompting the young man to turn around.
Tobias instantly recognized it. It was the Pokemon he had seen behind the girl that had robbed him. As he wondered why it was acting in such a pleading way, the man wasted no time, kneeling down to look at the Pokemon face to face.
"What's wrong?" he asked the creature, his tone intent and curious.

[Mistress Dizzy]

Luna meowed harshly at the tall man with the airy hair. She grabbed the man's lab coat in her teeth, tugged strong enough to possibly tug him down a few steps. She let go, then ran forward toward the alley, then back toward the tall man. "Mroooow!" There was almost a note of panic in the Pokemon's cry, but it seemed quite unhurt. Still, though, there was fear in it's behavior.

[tobiax]

"Woah," the man blurted, about to say something as the mysterious Pokemon tugged on his coat.
The man followed suit, leaving Tobias to stare curiously for a moment. After a second, though, he began to follow. He wasn't sure what the problem could be. But still, despite what had happened, the Leipard had come to him for help. Tobias clambered after the two, heading back towards the alleys in which he had been attacked.
As the man followed the Pokemon, catchings its phosphorescent glints in the dim alley light, he wondered what the problem could be. However, his problem was soon answered as he saw the a body on the ground not far away. With a gasp, he rushed in, instantly pressing a finger against her neck.

[Mistress Dizzy]

The girl was still unconscious, her pulse there, but unsteady, and her breathing very shallow. The Liepard nosed at her face, then licked her trainer's ear. Then it sat, tail lashing with worry. It let out a yowling cry that echoed around the alley, and then, strangely, slow tears started to trickle from it's feline eyes. "Mrowwww..." It lay at the girl's side, not taking its' eyes off her. It was very clear that the Liepard would not go anywhere without her.

[tobiax]

The reaction was immediate. Before Tobias could even catch up, the man took the girl in his arms, looking to the weeping Pokemon.
"It's alright little one. I'll help her," he offered in a hushed tone.
While the thought crossed his mind to pat the Pokemon in a comforting gesture, he decided against it- the creature was distressed, and it might not take kindly to strangers, even strangers that were helping. Slowly he stood, but realized there was hardly any strain at all. This wasn't right. Even with her small size... this was worse than he thought.
Tobias didn't even reach the place where the man had gone when he saw him again, holding no one other than the girl who had saved him, only to rob him herself. The man had a panicked look on his face, and Tobias could only stand aside as he ran by.
"We have to help her!" the man called, prompting Tobias to follow.
The man noticed how dry her mouth was- when was the last time this girl had eaten?

[Mistress Dizzy]

As they headed fully into the brighter lights of South main, the dirt on the girl's skin was visible. She was grubby, and her face was thin. It was also rather young looking, almost innocent under all the grime and weariness. There were dark circles under the girl's closed eyes. Her clothes were worn and tattered, and she was wearing a pair of dirty sneakers, with a visible hole in one of the bottoms. Her t-shirt had once been pink, there was a faded picture of a Chansey that was barely visible. Her jeans were a very washed out blue, with rips and tears that the stylish would have paid money for. All in all she looked like a starving kid dressed in over people's too-large handouts.

The girl's Liepard padded beside the man with the lab coat, her eyes fixed on her unconscious trainer.