chapter 1 the actual Beginning

Midnight Hound

Chapter 1: The Actual Beginning

Sometime ago...

A certain peculiar looking Houndour pup was just waking up from a peaceful midnight slumber in his cave. His parents were nowhere to be seen in the area. As he looked around he only saw one relative who happened to still be asleep, a male evolved version of the Dark Pokemon, or simply just called, Houndoom. The Houndoom didn't seem too old, possibly an older teen. The Houndour gave a barely audible yip before he ran over to the dozing hound and pounced on him, making the older dog jump up in a flash.

"Bro! Wake up! Wake up!" howled Houndour, though the sound of his voice wasn't loud enough to actually be considered a howl. The larger canine yawned being forced to wake up,showing his huge fangs compared to the Houndour's tiny ones.

"Hey Dusk...What's the rush to..." He attempted to finish before giving another groggy yawn. "...get up so quickly...?" The Houndoom finished examining outside the cave realizing that it was only just beginning to get to dawn.

"I couldn't sleep knowing that today's the day you said you are going to teach me how to use my moves!" Yipped the excited Houndour practically bouncing around the large cave by this point.

The Houndoom realized that he did promise to take his little brother out to finally train, but he was so tired, and it was so early...He tried to find an excuse to get a few more hours of sleep in. "How's about we wait 'til like midday, okay buddy?" He said in the nicest tone possible to his beloved little bro.

Dusk's mouth began to wobble, and his pupils dilated to an undefinable size as his eyes watered. His older brother already knew what this could mean if he didn't do something quickly. "M-m-m-" Tiny Dusk began to say making the Houndoom panic.

"W-wait Dusk-" The older brother tried to say, but it was already too late.

"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!" The Houndour wailed to the top of his lungs making himself quite heard.

His older bro thought fast and hoisted his brother up on his back and running out of the cave. "Alright, alright you win. I'll go train you." Shushed the Houndoom trying to stifle another yawn as Dusk cheered and hugged his older brother on the back, little did he know how long he would have his brother after that...

Present Day...

Dusk woke up, now taking a look around his surroundings...

Dusk, was that Houndoom's name. That abnormal Houndoom living an abnormal life style. Only Houndoom to be able to breath ice instead of fire. He lives within the woods of Mystic Forest, current home to over seventy species of Pokemon. Located on the world map on Forla Island, which isn't really too close to any region in particular.

Dusk was currently thinking over a dream that he just had, he couldn't really tell what it was about because it was really blurred out to him. It was obvious by now that he was nowhere near the same as his puppy self though. He was more quiet, and preferred to be alone more than anything. Who could blame him?

He didn't have too many memories of his puppyhood, he didn't really remember how the members of his pack even looked. Did he even have friends...? Sometimes a faint memory would come back, maybe in a dream or something, but for some reason he could not remember unless it could hit him in a much stronger way. It didn't really matter, today was a different day but with the same bull shit to come with it.

Everyday was a never breaking cycle that would never cease. He would have a weird dream, wake up to nothing new. He would then proceed to get some food, most preferably large fruit, he would only eat other Pokemon if they were already dead. Of course, being seen dragging an already dead corpse back to home would always strike the wrong thought into one's head. Then he would train, for hours, nothing better to do... His training really has made him a formidable Houndoom compared to most. Course being strong doesn't really get you anything but even more fear. Then he would just stay hidden away until midnight came, when many Houndoom love to be out, and a warning signal for anyone hearing their grim howls.

The cycle that came everyday to what this Houndoom thinks is considered normal, no one would care how special he was or what his intentions were for anyone he came across. Nothing would change... Until today that is...

He could feel it, even the feeling bothered him in his sleep earlier. That feeling... You know, that one that makes your back hair stand (Don't know if you have that. (It's okay if you do I understand.) Anyway, the feeling of being watched... Dusk was in no way a fan of this sudden new feeling.

He glared through the area that he currently called home. This area was mostly surrounded by dense trees, thick thorn bushes were in between so nothing traveling on ground would ever come here, so it must be up in the trees. Dusk listened carefully, tuning out any sounds of water or even nearby Pokemon to hear whatever was up there. "Whoever this is, they are not good at being quiet...", thought the Dark Pokemon catching a glimpse of an orange light emitting from within the trees...

"Or hiding their shiny state." He thought as well, Dusk didn't know much about them, but shiny Pokemon almost always give off a strange glow or twinkle, it is possible to conceal it, but this guy obviously didn't know how to keep it under control.

Dusk walked forward towards right where the thick thorn bushes were before he reeled his head back preparing himself.

"What is he doing?" Thought the figure who thought it was well concealed until the moment when it realized that the Houndoom was facing itself...That's when it noticed itself, and he forgot to tone down its appearance. (Even then Dusk would've still caught it.) "Oh no!" It thought before automatically making a break for it through the trees escaping Dusk.

Noticing this, Dusk reeled his head back down deciding that it was unnecessary to use his Roar to scare it out now, but he held a questioned expression on his face...

"Who the hell was that?" Dusk said to himself. His voice sounded a little rough but it wasn't too deep. Like a young teen's. He shook it off, although it was odd, it was over and that's how it was. He didn't think he would have to deal with it anymore today...

Dead wrong.

Again and again, that same feeling of a stalker still bothered his very being but by now he already knew it wasn't just a feeling. He didn't like this, although at the same time that presence didn't seem harmful in anyway, it still was quite creepy and sooner or later he would decide to go after it. He didn't have too much patience for this though. Later that night he was collecting some berries which he stored in his own made saddle bag made of frozen parts of tree bark which poked his side a lot but he wasn't bothered.

Then he felt it, for the last time-

The Houndoom suddenly bursted out with mach speed heading for the trees. That same creature that watched him yipped out in fright before it started pouncing its way from tree to tree like a sly fox, looking at the figure as it made its way through the trees it did sort of made out to actually be one, one with what seemed to be six tails that its...

Unfortunately for this mystery fox, Dusk was an expert at this as well. He pounced his way upwards tree after tree as he pursued the fox, without breaking a sweat. "Not a chance i'll let you get away." He thought easily gaining onto the fox and he made one final leap to it, thinking quickly before bringing his jaw onto one of the fox's tails. He had an easy win, the fox now seemed to have calmed his glowing from before. He heard whimpers coming from it so he decided to get this over with quickly.

He repositioned his grip on the creature before hopping down to where the moonlight shined. You could see now that this was a Pokemon, and it was a shiny male Vulpix with blue pupils. Although Dusk already could tell this from the beginning.

Dusk released it onto the comforting ground and he looked at Dusk. The look he gave was unknown to him. "You didn't hurt me...I KNEW YOU WERE SO COOL!"

Dusk tilted his head before the Vulpix was now running around him, examining him I guess. The Vulpix was in absolute awe, Dusk however was in a state of confusion. This Vulpix seemed to be somewhat of a young kid, something felt familiar about it too but Dusk shook it off for now as he grabbed the Vulpix's body by his tail (Which was actually quite strong.) and lifted him towards his head.

"Okay. Just what are you talking about kid? What is your name anyway?"

"It's Ray!" It barked excitedly like the child it was, this was bothering the crap out of Dusk and he possibly would've preferred that he just left Ray alone at the start. It wasn't all his fault, after going through day after day of people spitting in your path and dissing you to hell it would be weird to have someone suddenly interested in you for once. (Unless you don't have emotions or something like that. I totally understand.)

Dusk listened as the child went on. "I heard that you were evil and killed other Pokemon! I knew you weren't like that! I just knew it!" The kid slipped out of Dusk's tail and raised paw at him. "High Paw!"

Dusk had no clue of what that was, but he decided to try and go along with it and raised his paws towards Ray's, there was an obvious size difference between the two paws. The first time someone actually trusted him...why did this feel so familiar...? Dusk raised his horn when he suddenly heard something coming their way, and it wasn't something that was easily intimidated judging by the lack of uneased movements. "Hide somewhere kid." Said Dusk looking into the direction hearing heavy footsteps as they got closer.

"Why?" Ray asked apparently finding nothing wrong anywhere, but Dusk, something in him almost snapped. For some reason, he felt the need to protect this kid. He wasn't sure if he liked him but...

"Go hide now." Said Dusk in a much more stern and serious tone and Ray suddenly got the picture feeling somewhat intimidated. He ran and hid behind a tree for reasons he didn't know. Suddenly a large, dark figure came stomping into the light with a cocky grin on its face.

A large turtle, with a shell armed to two powerful cannons. It body was mostly blue, it was made clear that this was a Blastoise, not a friendly one by the looks of it. Dusk looked at it with an emotionless expression, this wasn't anything new to him as he already knew these types.

Having the reputation that he did, Dusk unwillingly and unknowingly has made quite a bit of enemies. Those of which on too many occasions would come to fight him, not for anyone's safety but for their own selfish purposes. The look on this Blastoise's face spoke no different to him.

"There you are you little shit." Grinned the huge turtle. (Am I the only one who thinks he's pretty much Bowser?)

Dusk wasn't worried, he was as overly cocky as they came. He believed if he fought this dude and mauled him, he would surely be hated more, as if his reputation wasn't bad enough. Let alone fight in front of this child who he was sure was watching him. He decided to turn away from the Blastoise and walk away, going over to where Ray was hiding telling him to come along...

The Blastoise growled as his foe merely shrugged him off like he was nothing, if only he knew. "Who does this mutt think he is? I will murder him." He thought before he gave a mighty roar. "Once I kill you I'll be in control of this forest!" The Blastoise automatically came stomping towards Dusk.

"Look out!" Screamed Ray running away as the Blastoise still came stomping their way. Dusk didn't bother to pick up his pace.

"Your greed will be your demise." Dusk said before pouncing out of the way as Blastoise rampaged tearing through many trees before stopping himself. His rage was peaked now as he glared daggers at the mutt.

"Stop messing with him!" Shouted Ray from a distance. Everyone present looked towards him as he stood somewhat bravely in front of Dusk, though his legs were shaking. Dusk glared at him, but he didn't know what to say. The only Pokemon to not only actually like him, but actually stand up for him too. There were many feeling washing through Dusk's mind before being suddenly being brought back into reality when he heard Ray's cry. Blastoise was squeezing the life out of the poor child. "I'll kill you too boy if you stand in my way!"

Dusk suddenly had memories flush into his head, they weren't much but they were something, whatever it was, it made him snap-

"Get your damn hands off of him!" The Houndoom roared before he lunged onto the Blastoise, clamping his jaw into his arm and giving a good grip. The Blastoise screamed out in agony as he felt his very muscles get punctured by the dog's large fangs. The turtle dropped a weak Ray onto the ground. He watched in all as the Houndoom fought to protect him.

Dusk's eyes were burning with feral rage, the Blastoise tried to swat him off but he wasn't going to budge. Suddenly Dusk pounced off of him leaving a large gash on his shoulder which was pooling blood, doesn't mean he was done with him. Ray covered his eyes from the bloody scene. The Blastoise shed tears in his eyes from the unbearable pain that was only a plain Bite attack. He tried to move before Dusk shot ice beams towards his limbs, they were too strong to brake and Dusk neared him, his eyes were speaking no mercy. The Blastoise winced his eyes expecting the inevitable until...

"D-don't kill him..." Spoke a frightened Ray.

Dusk turned his head towards him realizing he was still hurt, he would need to take him to wherever his home was.

"P-please...He's had enough, even if he's bad."

Dusk looked towards the Blastoise, what exactly made him go that far? This kid somehow was a larger attachment to him than he thought, he decided to go with his former move and spared him. He walked over to the evil turtle(Now i'm thinking he's based off of a tortoise-)

"Listen here and listen good. I will tear your ass apart if I ever catch you in my eyesight, waste of flesh..." Dusk concluded before walking away with Dusk. The turtle laid there, pride shattered...

Later as Dusk walked with Ray he noticed his walking was very awkward. "Here Ray, on my back." Dusk said suddenly picking up the small vulpix in his tail and placing him on his back before continuing to walk.

"Was there something you were thinking about before...?" The Fox Pokemon asked seeing the lost expression on his face.

"Yeah...You know, Ray. You remind me a lot of myself when I was your age... Especially how I would act around...him. My older brother..."

"You have a brother!?" Ray asked him with the highest peak of curiosity.

"Had one." Dusk emphasized. "Just, something happened before, and he's just. Not around anymore..." Dusk finished, trying to remember more but he couldn't. He only could remember how much he loved his brother, but that's only a memory...

"Oh...sorry for asking..." Apologize the fox who gave a hug to Dusk's back, making him pause for a moment. He started to remember the hugs he used to want all the time, he always wanted mom and dad to be there, his only brother. He tried, but just couldn't remember, making the dog sigh before he continued walking.

"I-It's fine...By the way. Name's Dusk. Don't think I've said that, also that you're a pretty cool kid." He said hiding his smile, the first ever smile he had in awhile, finally feeling like he found something from his cloudy past.

There was still the question, however, of what actually made Dusk lose his memory. He didn't have time to think this over for now as Ray spoke again.

"Thanks Dusk! You're like a big brother!" Ray yipped as Dusk smiled again, who doesn't want a little brother? Dusk then snapped out of it, knowing that he needed to get this kid home.

"Where do you live anyway?" Dusk asked before the kit pondered.

"I live up the mountain." Ray answered before Dusk gave the fox a quizzical look.

"The kid is tougher than he looks to come all the way over here...But how did he even hear about me? My reputation isn't that bad, or it just might be." Dusk thought. "Well, kid it shouldn't take a long time but for now you need to rest and I doubt you could do that when I start running so let's just find a cave and rest for a bit." Dusk said before Ray's stomach began to rumble.

Realizing the kid was hungry he looked into his self made saddle realizing most of the berries he snagged her spilled thanks to earlier situation. There was only enough for the pup. He sat Ray down on the ground before he placed the berries in front of him. "Here, go ahead and have it." Said Dusk with a smile.

Ray didn't hold back as he ate each berry whole, although there were small so they wouldn't be too much of a challenge anyway. Dusk didn't really have a problem sharing, for a dog with hell coming his way everyday he was really nice, although he liked this a bit, he thought no one else should know, since he was no show off...

Later on when they found shelter in a unoccupied cave it was raining. Ray seemed to be fast asleep but Dusk wasn't inside. He was outside, staring into the full moon which has happened to rise that night, it was definitely a night to remember no matter which way he thought of it. His fur was drenched with water running through the black and red fur he had, but it didn't really matter. It was an odd but somewhat fine day. He heard footsteps and soon realized it was Ray. He sat next to his friend, looking up at whatever Dusk was looking at, even if he didn't know the purpose.

Dusk didn't say anything and just left him free to sit, after all nights with feelings like that never seemed to come by anymore, who said rain was always a bad symbol? The two friends sat there with soaking wet coats, but nothing but to see what the next day would bring...

Well, that's it for this and if you were able to withstand my poor writing up to the end of the chapter I would like to say thank you so much! Seriously I appreciated it even if you only looked at the title. Anyway, I would love to get better so any constructive criticism is always welcome and I would love to hear your review! Stay cool and peace! -