Title: Struggle
Rating: T, mostly for blood
Genre: Horror/Hurt/Comfort
Summary: Follow the life of a little Joltik named Popcorn as he and his fellow Joltiks struggle to survive on an island where everyone wants them dead, even their own parents. But surely there has to be some friend out there, right...?
Author's Comment: Hadn't done anything on here for a while. Figured I'd try get back in the groove with this simple entry. Popcorn's my main Joltik character on deviantART, so of course I'mma share his backstory here too! I hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter 1

Cold.

Everything feels cold to the little Joltik as he emerges from his egg. Shivering, he doesn't like how the air of the outside world creeps through his wet fur. He squeaks out his distress, hearing something shifting nearby. He can't see yet, the simple eyes on his forehead only able to detect light. It's a pretty dim place, but that's all he can be sure of.

Turning towards the shifting noise, he feels something warm stroking him down his back. The sensation repeats numerous times, each caress removing more and more of the wet fluid from his fur, taking the cold away. The little Joltik purrs, a strong feeling of content growing with each warm touch.

Forcing his main pair of eyes open, he wants to see the one who is cleaning him ever so gently. At first, all he sees are blurs of color, but eventually, his vision sharpens into the first image his brain's ever recorded.

It is a massive creature, much larger than him. He at first feels quite intimidated, but the creature needs only to continue grooming him for that feeling to disappear. Resuming his purrs as the Galvantula cleans his tiny face, little Popcorn's sure that this feeling of safe warmth, of content love will last forever…

A short time has passed since hatching and Popcorn's no longer the only Joltik in the nest. Around him are several of his siblings, three in total, although there's plenty more in other nests. Whilst most Pokemon would view siblings as competition at this age, Popcorn feels an incredibly strong bond with each one of them and can recognize every single one at a glance. Instinct, his main driving force at this age, insists on sticking close to his brothers and sisters to really drive in a bond like no other.

Almost like his very existence depends on it...

Every so often, a Galvantula would come into the nest to check on them. Popcorn recognizes that two spiders in particular visit the most often, a male and female. The little Joltik knows instinctively that these two must be his Mom and Dad.

Others visit as well, feeding and grooming them just as his parents do. So although his immature mind can't quite place their relation to him, his trust in the Galvantulas is only strengthened with each visit.

Huddled with his siblings, Popcorn is just starting to wake from a nap, seeing yet another immense spider entering the silk nest. The baby Joltik chirps a greeting, looking up at the grown-up with big eyes. This isn't one of his parents, but Popcorn doesn't mind. They're all wonderful as far as he's concerned.

The Galvantula doesn't speak to him, the spiders always being awfully quiet around the babies. But the adult arachnid does acknowledge little Popcorn and sparks emerge from his pedipalp. Popcorn is already cooing and crawling closer in anticipation of a meal and giggles as he receives a very mild shock. Filling up quickly, Popcorn makes clumsy attempts to groom himself as the Galvantula turns away and walks back out of the nest.

The Outside.

Popcorn's curiosity about the world beyond the nest has been growing ever since he witnessed the leaving of that very first Galvantula, the one who cleaned him upon hatching, his mother. He wonders where the grown-ups go when they're not here and today's the day he's gonna find out.

Standing eagerly, the adventurous little tyke moves clumsily towards the opening of their silk nest, towards the Outside.

Reaching the opening, he looks out. They're up in the canopy of the forest, spider silk taking up most of his vision. There's bridges between trees and branches, lots of nests just like his scattered about. There's several Galvantulas wandering around, going about their day and Popcorn beams at the sight of the grown-ups. He tries to crawl out of the nest, his little feet struggling to get up and out.

He succeeds in getting onto the lip of the opening's silk threshold, and he attempts to step over onto one of the bridges, only to lose his balance. He squeaks as he tumbles out of the nest completely and falls. Down and down he goes, all the way onto a super-soft, silk net that saves him from hitting the forest floor. It bobs on the impact, taking away most of the energy that might've otherwise seriously injured him.

Bouncing and rolling as the net ripples, the little Joltik settles when the net finally falls still and, dizzy, he tries to right himself onto his feet.

After a moment, the dizziness wears off, but he still feels sore from the landing and he didn't at all like that feeling in his stomach while he was falling. Beginning to cry, his little misadventure had thankfully caught the attention of some adults. One of the Galvantulas climbs down to the net and walks over to him, eyes sharp with irritation.

"Stupid child," the spider hisses scornfully, glaring as the little bundle of fluff crawls over to his pedipalp. "Can't wait for you to be weaned and out of our fur…" Scooping the crying Joltik up, he growls softly as the baby snuggles into his fur for comfort and the Galvantula scales the tree back up towards the nest Popcorn fell from.

Placing the sniffling Popcorn back amongst his still-snoozing siblings, the Galvantula forces himself to groom the little guy and soothe his pain. At this tending, and being reunited with his siblings, Popcorn quiets down and his tears stop flowing. As he tries to bury himself under the bundle of fluffy Joltiks, Popcorn sees the Galvantula leave and this time, has no desire to follow.

He's had enough excitement for one day.

Giggles erupt from the silk nest as the brood of tiny Joltiks play.

Pouncing and nibbling on each other's fur, the little fluffy bugs have not a single care in the world. No, they just wanna have fun and use up all the pent up energy in their growing bodies. It's been quite some time since hatching, and they're now quite a bit more balanced in their movements and can talk very fluently.

Popcorn seems to be growing a bit more than the others, having hatched first, and that gives him the advantage as he tries to pin down his other siblings and nibble their fur. The name of the game was to try and nibble for five full seconds, but so far, there's no winner.

Feeling his sister pounce on him, Popcorn lives up to his name and bounces all about in a hyper bundle of fur, literally jumping off the walls. He then tries to turn the tables back on his sister and pounces on her. She bursts with laughter as she pulls away and hops out the nest opening. Her siblings give chase, all laughing as they dash across a silk bridge towards another nest.

Eyes trailing the bundle of furballs as they hurry along and disappear into the nest, the Galvantula adults don't seem quite as amused by their play. No, a good majority of them seem frustrated and annoyed, but they keep themselves in check, knowing they don't have to tolerate the young ones for much longer…

Popcorn and his fellow Joltiks are very much unaware of what the future holds. Every single day has been full of happiness and fun, with plenty of food, sleep whenever they want, in complete and utter safety. He has no reason to believe things will change as he tries to win the Nibble Game.

More Joltiks rush into the nest to join their play and the silk cocoon shakes a bit as the Joltiks run all over. Popcorn manages to pin down one of his cousins and nibbles the fur eagerly.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

He was certain of victory when the nest dips under the added weight of a new occupant. Popcorn and the other Joltiks immediately recognize the dip and they happily turn towards the Galvantula standing by the exit. They hurry over, Popcorn forgetting all about the game to follow suit, his cousin tailing him.

The Joltiks gather around the Galvantula, eager for lunch, but to their surprise, the massive spider doesn't spark. Instead, he goes about scooping each and every Joltik up in his pedipalps. The fluffballs are confused, but they question nothing as the scooped Joltiks climb up the adult to cling to his back.

Popcorn feels himself get scooped up and he hurries up to the rest of his siblings, pressing close to them. He doesn't know what's happening, but he has utter trust in the grown-ups and wonders if they're going on an adventure. Perhaps they would finally be allowed to explore the forest!

Once all the Joltiks in the nest are gathered, the Galvantula moves out onto a branch and climbs down the tree. Popcorn feels the excitement from the other Joltiks and he shares their feeling. Something big's about to happen and he can't wait to see what it is.

They travel across the forest floor for a while, the Joltiks eagerly taking in the new view. They've never been this low to the ground before and it's quite a sight looking up at the trees rather than down. But no matter where they go, familiar web is always visible and they can even make out some sparks emerging from said web.

They follow the web until they reach a clearing with several other Galvantula, yet more Joltiks gathered around their feet. Popcorn scans them, but he doesn't recognize them. They must've been raised in a separate nursery. He personally can't wait to make friends with them!

Their Galvantula escort lowers himself to the ground and hisses out his words. "Get off."

Popcorn tilts his head at the snappy tone, but he follows his nest-mates and climbs down to the ground. It's weird, having something that isn't silk, bark, or fur under his feet. He shifts his weight and shakes a foreleg, trying to get used to it.

But he doesn't have much time to do so, as another Galvantula arrives, carrying not Joltiks but…

"What is that?" he hears one of his brothers ask in confusion. He hears more of his fellow Joltiks ask that question too as the Galvantula sets down a blue bird, whose wings are all tied up in web.

Popcorn doesn't understand. The bird seems terrified for some reason, crying and shivering, but unable to speak with web tied around her beak. The little Joltik feels a huge wave of sympathy for the bird, and he knows the other Joltiks feel the same by the looks on their worried faces.

What is going on…?

"This is a Ducklett," hisses the Galvantula that carried in the bird. "This and every other Pokemon on this island will be the source of your meals from now on."

He pushes the bird forward, earning a muffled scream of terror. The Ducklett stumbles, falling flat on her chest as she can't open her wings for balance. Awkwardly pushing herself back up to her feet, her horror-filled eyes scan for an escape route. But the Galvantulas won't allow it, surrounding the clearing with no way out.

"Really…?" Popcorn hears one of his sisters ask out loud. "But she can't feed us… She doesn't even look like an Electric-type…"

"Yeah…" his cousin joins. "How are we supposed to eat her electricity if she doesn't have any…?"

The Galvantulas roll their eyes collectively and one of them impatiently grabs one of the Joltiks. Popcorn watches as the spider drags the Ducklett closer, the bird screaming and struggling uselessly. The Joltik is pressed tight to the Ducklett's feathers and is forcefully rubbed deep into the coat. Finally, after a few minutes of this rough treatment, the Galvantula lets the Joltik go.

The Joltik immediately hops off the Ducklett, her own fur ruffled. But she does notice that there's static clinging to her now…

"Get it?" The Galvantula hisses. He earns a hesitant nod from the children and throws the Ducklett carelessly in their direction. She hits the ground hard and the Joltiks gather around to help her up.

"So… We just rustle the feathers…?" another Joltik asks when they got the poor bird on her feet. Earning an irritated nod, the same Joltik glances at the Ducklett with obvious pity. "Well, does she have to be tied up like this…? It doesn't feel right…"

This earns an impatient growl. "Just eat!"

The Joltiks cringe, Popcorn not at all used to this change of attitude. Why're they being so snappy all of a sudden…?

Slowly, some of the Joltiks wander to the Ducklett, their steps very reluctant. They cling to her and rustle her feathers a bit. The Joltik that was used as demonstration turns to the others. "I can help…" she tells them and shares the electricity to her fellows. The Joltiks take turns feeding on the static of the bird, sharing it with the others instinctively.

After a while, all the Joltiks have eaten and they step away from the crying Ducklett to give her room. But no sooner have they done that than the Galvantulas rush forward, shoving the Joltiks and each other out of the way.

Popcorn and his peers don't even know what to say as they witnessed the most terrible thing they've ever seen in their entire lives: the Galvantulas, the grown-ups they depended on so much, are now ripping the still-living Ducklett apart violently, fighting greedily amongst themselves to get as much meat as possible. The bird's screams are terrible, ear-shattering before cutting off with a gruesome gurgle.

At once, tears flow in Popcorn's eyes, the other Joltiks also crying. Some of the young ones scream in terror, huddling together and burying their faces in each other's fur.

After a moment, one of the Galvantulas manages to snatch the largest chunk of the body and takes off running. Most of the adults pursue her, although a couple has decided that it's not worth the effort. Turning to the Joltiks, blood smeared about their mouths and pedipalps, the larger male speaks out in a harsh tone.

"Your sheltered life is over," he hisses. "and your time at the nest is through. Now that you know how to feed yourselves with other Pokemon, we have no obligation to care for you further. You're on your own."

The Joltiks are still crying, still horrified, as they stared at the massive spider, at the blood and gore splattered all over the scene. And things don't get any better as the other Galvantula continues.

"This island is a cruel place and most of you will not survive. Learn fast, and learn well; stay strong and you'll make it into adulthood. If you show weakness of any sort, you'll be shown no mercy." He steps back, preparing to depart before adding, "We don't care where you make your stupid little community, but until you evolve, you will no longer be welcomed in OUR society. Is this understood?"

The clearing is nearly silent, broken only by the sniffles from the little Joltiks. Finally one of them, Popcorn's brother, shakes his head, still in denial of this whole situation. Speaking up, his voice is incredibly shaky.

"N-no… I'm going b-back to Mom and D-dad…I… I'm going home now…" he says as he turns and begins walking back the way they came, back towards the nests. And he is stopped when the Galvantula tells him with particular cruelty:

"And I suggest you don't do that. As I said, you're not welcomed, not by us, not by your parents. If you go back now, you will be killed."