Running. Running through the darkness. I could hear them behind me. They were gaining on me.
"Take off, damn it!" I thought "Take off, or you'll never get the chance to!" flapping my wings as hard as I could, I tossed myself into the air.
I believe that that was the first time I actually flew. Saved by the last minute. I looked down on them - three horrible heads extending from one feathered body. Powerful, muscled legs. I would have fallen to them if I hadn't managed to take off in time. Upon their faces was a grim parody of emotions - anger, disappointment and sadness. Then, all three faces suddenly changed. Upon their face was now determination.
Instantly, I knew that I wasn't out of the woods yet. I've neglected to remember the height these creatures could jump to. Flapping my wings with all I could muster, I pulled myself out of the range of danger just in time, and watched them walk away in disappointment.

Dodrios. How I loathed them.

Too many days have ended like this - with me running for my life for fear of large birds. That is how life is like for my kindred, hatched without a pack to protect them. Many were caught and eaten by birds. Others fell prey to wildfires. Only the strong survive in this world - those who have a pack to protect them in these vulnerable times, and those who live long enough to escape.

Chases like these have always left me hungry. I landed silently, hidden in wild grass, seeking out a Caterpie. I still haven't grown to my full size, and so it was the only foe that I could overtake at my current age. Soon enough, I spotted one there. The eye-like markings on its head, designed to deter attackers, and the stink glands on its antennae made good defense against certain creatures. To one such as I, these defenses were meaningless - they did not concern me in the least bit.

Hiding, I waited for the Caterpie to catch a good position... perfect.
Careful not to reveal my location, I sought the Caterpie's real eyes - they were much smaller than the gigantic markings on its head, and so were hard to find. I've hunted Caterpies before, though, so I knew where to look, just about. I locked my gaze on the unsuspecting Caterpie...

It didn't notice me until it was too late.

I leapt at the Caterpie quickly, grabbing it using my blades. Staring into its eyes, I could see, for an instant, its expression - surprise, terror, pain... and that one look that meant that it knew that its death has come.

With a single squeeze, the head was severed. Insect blood stained my blades and my thorax.

My eyes were the last thing that the Caterpie ever saw.

Since that night when I flew out of its reach, I have never seen the Dodrio that chased me again in the area. Doduos were still around, though, but I was already fast enough to outrun them. With the advantage of flight, I did not have to worry about them anymore. Danger was now mainly from the larger flying birds, such as Fearows, Pidgeottos and Pidgeots. I did not have my aerial advantage against them - Although, ever since I have learned to focus my energy better, I've managed to deter attacks from wild Pidgeys and Spearows (though a scar on my right arm is still fresh from a battle with a Spearow. My blades were not yet sharp enough to leave more than deep scratches on the small bird, but that was progress. I felt that it was coming soon. The final shedding - the one which will finally bring me to my full size. Which would make me more maneuverable and boost my agility - giving me a more significant edge against other bugs - I would be able to hunt larger creatures than Caterpies and Weedles (though I still preferred Caterpies - Weedles have been both harder to capture and posessed poisonous stingers which could hurt me quite badly if they managed to find their mark).

Then, I would be free. I will not have to hide anymore.

It was beginning. I felt my skin begin to separate from my body. Opening and closing my jaws a few times, I've managed to create a crack, exposing my softer, new skin to the cool night air. Feeling my skin begin to harden again. I've struggled against the old shell that I used to call my skin for a while... pushing myself forward with my blades and my three-clawed feet. It was close...
Then I finally released myself, and immediately collapsed, leaning on my blades for support, breathing heavily. Air began to flow across my skin, cooling it and hardening the chitin-like shell which covered my body. I spreaded my wings. At last, they have fully grown. Wind blew across them, drying them. Preparing them for use.

I lifted myself from the ground, spreading my wings, extending my blades, and with newfound resolve... I roared into the night.

It was done. From the hatchling that I was, I have now become full-grown. The hunted... now becomes the hunter.

The hunter that they shall all learn to fear.

SCYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYTHERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

I have quickly made progress. Becoming faster and faster every day. Flying. Nothing felt quite as wonderful as flying. Soon enough, I could battle birds. Free as the wind! Nothing could stop me!

My next prey was intended to be one of my kind's mortal enemies - a Pinsir. They, too, were rather quick, their exoskeletons were extremely tough, and the strength of their large horn-like pincers was a legend. They, however, lacked the grace of our kind... and the flight capability. This could have served as an advantage, if it wasn't evolution's way to place Pinsir's pincers atop its head, to prevent just this sort of a situation. I've heard of Scythers falling into the deadly embrace of such pincers and crushed. I did not intend to share their fate.
There was one way to approach.
From below.

I landed amidst the branches of a tree, waiting to make my move. The Pinsir did not suspect a thing - or mayhap it was too confident in the protection its pincers provided. I waited for it to climb a tree in the vicinity - which the Pinsir soon began to, apparantly in search of food.

How deliciously ironic.

Concealed by the green of the leaves, I watched as the Pinsir began its ascenction. Claw by claw it climbed, its short arms and legs finding a grip almost anywhere on the treebark.

"Patience..."

It began shifting its weight to a branch. Perfect for cutting.

"A bit more..."

Its claws nailed on to the branch, its pincers menacingly flashing.

"A little bit more..."

Its entire weight was focused on that branch as it began finding its balance.

"Perfect."

With a meancing hiss I leapt off the tree and spreaded my wings, tackling the Pinsir hard. The sides of my wings made sharp cuts along its side - perfect for my blades to grab hold of it. This was my chance.

Sweeping by the ground, I tossed the Pinsir directly onto a cluster of sharp rocks. Even the tough hide of the large insect could not survive that unnotched. A few plates in its carapace were broken off, leaving a soft, defenseless spot on its belly.

Surprisingly, the Pinsir stood up, even though it was clearly injured.
And now it knew that I was there. I did not have the element of surprise anymore.

I would have to face it in open combat.

The Pinsir charged forward, its pincers snapping open and closed menacingly. I focused... allowing it to come near... And just as it was about to grab hold of me, My agility allowed me to escape its deadly grasp. The Pinsir, unable to stop running, slammed into a tree. It then quickly turned back, annoyed.
It was at his belly that I had to strike. The pincers were too much of a threat, though. Something had to be done.

And I had a plan.

I stood in front of it, with a sly grin, slashing twice in the air - perhaps the universal gesture for "You want a piece of me, punk?"
And began focusing my energy.
The Pinsir was wild with rage. Its eyes almost burned as it charged forward with all the speed its short legs could muster.
My energy was almost completely focused. I could feel the blood rushing to my scythes. This was it. In a few minutes - one of us will be dead.

I did not intend to be that one.

The Pinsir charged...

And I slid down beneath it, grabbing its pincers with my blades.

The crushing power of the pincers was incredible. I had to use most of my strength to keep the Pincers open for long enough... Keeping it busy until it'll expose its underbelly...

There it was. My window of opportunity.

With one quick move I thrust my head into the exposed tissue and bit into it. The Pinsir screamed in pain and surprise, but it was too late. It let down its guard, allowing me to separate the pincers completely and take another bite. I must have severed a vital organ, as the Pinsir's strength was sapped completely. It collapsed to the grass for the last time.

I have prevailed.

Little did I know how short-lived my days of freedom were to be.

It began with the strange, two legged creature that appeared, five ball-like objects attached to its belt. By it walked a creature I dreaded. A large Ninetales.
"Alright, Inari." it said, clearly speaking to the large vulpine Pokemon. The creature emitted a soft cry in response, her fur glowing lightly. Amazing how such a beautiful creature could be so dangerous to my kin. "We're here... Now... We're going to get ourselves a Scizor."
The two legged creature stood, apparantly sensing something.
"Inari... go!"
The Ninetales charged into the high grass.

I leapt out, glaring at the creature and the Pokemon that distrupted my rest. The Ninetales looked up, to glare back at me.
"Well, we're in luck! A Scyther!" the creature said, drawing an odd red contraption from what it was wearing "High levelled, too. Perfect."
I didn't know what was it talking about. The concept of levels was new to me. But whatever it was, it seemed to be in control of that Ninetales.

Suddenly, I grasped what that creature was.
It was one of those 'trainers' I've heard rare mentions of. And it was after me.

"Ninetales, Flamethrower!" the trainer called out, commanding the foxlike Pokemon. It obeyed, breathing out a stream of blazing hot flames in my direction. I evaded it - just barely - but every time I evaded, it shot out again.
"It's trying to tire me." I thought. "I cannot let it do that."

I took off higher into the sky, out of the flame tongues' reach, and circled around the Ninetales. The fox attempted to attack me in any way possible - but it was useless. I was too high above it.

Then, diving from the sky with a screech, I wing-attacked the Ninetales. It was knocked back into a large rock, but held on.

Then it did something strange.

It stood up, glowing in a strange shade of blue... and shot out a strange orb, yellow and spinning, at me. It hit too fast. Like a beam. I felt my mind wandering. "Not now..." I thought, trying to shake off the confusion, but it was too late. I could not determine just what it was I was seeing or hearing. The world became foggier. I attempted another wing attack... but the Ninetales I've directed it at was not a ninetales, but a rock. The impact hurt, but not as much as the searing blast of flames that impacted me seconds later. I felt myself losing concsiousness.
the last two words I've heard in that day were simple.
"Pokeball, GO!"

My name is Murasame.
And once, I was a Scyther.
Now, A Scizor I am.

It wasn't long before I grew accustomed to my new "trainer". He was quite easy-going with me in my first few days - He told me that his name was Collin, and he asked me If I wanted to have a name of my own. He suggested Murasame, the name of an ancient blade - so sharp that it seemed to draw its victims into its deadly cut - which I've accepted gladly. I've heard stories about trainers enslaving their Pokemon... but it was entirely different with him. He treated me like an equal. That revolutionized my world in ways I could not imagine.
A few days later, though - on a day which I will forever remember as the end of my old life and the beginning of my new one - he released me from my PokéBall, and presented me with what appeared to be a metallic shell, which would suit my armor perfectly. He asked me if I wanted to evolve.

I was torn in two for a short while. On one hand, I was drawn to the mysterious - and the thought of evolution made me curious. On the other hand, I didn't know how evolution will affect me. I knew a bit about Scizors, by now. They were much stronger and hardier than my kind, but their speed was reduced. Also, they were said to be too heavy to fly - but there have always been a few exceptions.

Was I willing to take the risk?

Suddenly, I felt something within me. Something that wished to erupt - to come outside - to triumph over all. Driven by survival up until now, I did not think of my battle spirit too much until this point.

I nodded.

The feel of the Metal Coat being attached to my armor was strange - the metal was cold, but something told me that it would be very hot if it was exposed to fire - that notion made me a bit uncomfortable. But I knew that I did not evolve yet. I was just that - A Scyther plated in metal.

Then, Collin extracted a small stone from his pocket. It had the symbol of two arrows, facing away from each other, carved on it, and it seemed to glow lightly. I felt power radiating from it.
"This is a Switch Stone." Collin said "Normally, PokéMon with items attached will only fuse-evolve with them if they are traded to another trainer. The PokéMon's mind clings to the closest memory it has of its former trainer - the item attached to it - and so, somehow, a fusion occurs. The Switch Stone was created to cause that process without actually having to trade the PokéMon away. You may feel a bit distant when it touches you... it passes very quickly."

I nodded.
It touched.

I felt as though I was ripped away from all I have ever known and tossed elsewhere, far away. For a single second, I clutched my Metal Coat close to me...

And the light began.

I felt my blades changing into sharp, pincer-like claws. My body became more slender, but heavier, as the metal coat and my natural chitin armor fused. My head and my body changed shape, becoming more streamlined. And my wings... They became heavier, but wider. The light subsided.

It was all an illusion. I was not thrown away anywhere - It was just an odd dream.
But now, I was a Scizor.

"Whoa. That's new." Collin said, looking at me. I didn't realize what it was until he showed me a Scizor in his Pokedex entry.
I was different. While Scizors naturally had deep red carapaces, connected by deep blue joint segments, mine was a brilliant silver, the joing segment as azure as a mid-day sky. Also, I felt another strange thing about myself...
I could still fly. Leaping up into the air, I beat my wings. It took a bit more strain out of me, but I could still fly - And I was almost as maneuverable, too!

Collin smiled at me. "This looks to me like the beginning of a new age for both of us."

The large Nidoking collapsed, breathing heavily, and was returned. His trainer, a girl with short, spiky purple hair groaned.
"I don't know how you got that Scizor of yours to learn those moves of its, but this is just about the last straw. It's the final turn... And I'm using my most high-leveled PokéMon... Prepare to meet your doom! Tritori, go!"

And out of the PokéBall the trainer cast emerged my old nightmare. The same three heads. The same menacing eyes. The same high-leaping legs. It was the same Dodrio which chased me for what seemed like an eternity.

I could see a flicker of recognition in all three pairs of eyes. It recognized me too - prey that got away, and will now be finally subdued, after all these years. The thirst for revenge seemed to burn in its eyes...

And the battle began.

"Tritori, leap and Tri-Attack!"

The avian leapt up into the sky - Its jumps have grown more impressive since I've last seen it - its three beaks opening, three spheres of energy forming in them - fire, ice and lightning. The bird's necks aligned to form a triangle - and within a flash, the spheres were released, weaving into a triple beam of elements that was fast approaching me. No time to think.

Flying, I braced myself, glowing red. I could feel the beam touch me for a second before the Counter attack fully kicked in, bouncing the beam back, sailing in the Dodrio's direction. Unfortunately, the Dodrio landed before the attack hit.

"Drill Peck!"
"Metal Claw!"

The Dodrio leapt up again, and attempted to unleash that dreaded attack upon me. Drill Peck was my greatest fear back then - and it still brings memories to me that I do not wish to recall. Upon hearing my trainer's command, though, I dove, extending my pincers. A white glow formed around them as I slashed at the Dodrio, quicker than a flash of lightning. The Dodrio stumbled, surprised. A good Ice Punch now, and...

"Ferric Beak!'
"Ice Punch!"

The Dodrio's trio of beaks sparkled - and soon enough, they began glowing... The Dodrio ran at me, beaks glowing. What was this attack? No matter, I must stay focused...
Drawing hot air from around them, my claws formed terrible cold around them. It was a dual impact.

My frozen claws impacted with the Dodrio.
The Dodrio's glowing steel beaks began pummeling my armor. I don't know which one of us was suffering more... If I could only get through one more punch...

Then, something happened that wasn't in the handbooks.

One of the Dodrio's heads began attacking another. The other head did not take kindly to this, and attempted to counterattack, accidentally hitting the third head. The three heads began fighting each other, for no reason at all.

"Tritori, this is NO time to argue! Finish it!" the girl cried out in frustration.
"Murasame, you know what to do!"

I nodded, as cold began forming around my claws...

The punch flung the Dodrio out of the field, where it landed, unconcsious.

"Tritori is unable to battle. The winner is Murasame!" Said the referee, raising a red flag, indicating my victory.

The girl muttered something about this not being the last time they will meet, returned her Dodrio and walked off.

From that moment, we never saw her again.

And yet, I feel as if I have come full circle. I've come a long way from that day where I first flew to the day I stood victorious against what sought to make me its prey. In a way, I feel like another part of my life has ended, and a new one begins.

What will the future hold for me, Collin, and the rest of his PokéMon?
Only time will tell.

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