A/N

This is one of my shorter chapters. Also, as my sister was so kind to point out to me, one of the parts kind of resembles something from Mystery Dungeon (Yay, vagueness!). That's because I've had it on the mind recently and I did it subconsciously, but this story is by no means a let's-go-to-the-dungeon-and-save-Pokemon story. -.-

Japaneserockergirl - Thanks! Yeah, I know what you mean about good fics... And I'll tell you straight up: Tanner isn't Jessie and James' Meowth. I just like the species and cats in general, so that's what he became!

-Broken Wings-

Fwump!

Kim jumped off the tree root in front of her den, staring up at the sky. The sun was already at its highest point, and still Tanner had not made an appearance.

"Where is that Slowpoke?" She grumbled, glancing around for any flash of cream or glittering gold that might indicate a Meowth. When Kim saw none, she gave an irritated sigh. 'He must have gone foraging on his own…'

Although Kim and Tanner rarely went berry hunting without one another, sometimes the latter would smell something good that was too far from the Pichu's den to bother to come get her, or else it would be gone, so he said. Tanner had a nose for rare, valuable items, the lot of which he almost never shared with Kim.

"Hmph!" Sticking her nose high the air, the rodent declared, "Well, if he's gonna be greedy, I'll show him. I'll get the best darned berries around!" She sniffed heavily, point her head this way and that to try and catch a tasty scent. At first there was nothing, but Kim didn't give up. With the hot sun pounding on her back, she took a few slow steps in every direction.

Still, there seemed to be nothing. That is, until Kim caught a faint whiff of something sweet and probably overripe. It came from the direction of the Rocks, a clearing filled with flat stones that quite a few Pokemon liked to sun on. A worried frown crossed Kim's face. If that berry bush was actually in the Rocks, it'd be absolutely fruitless. Everyone went the Rocks on a sweltering, sunny day like this.

Her fear was short-lived, however, as the sweet scented trail soon veered away from the regular path to the stony clearing and deeper into the woods.

It was growing a little dusky by the time Kim reached the bush she'd scented, but oh, it was worth the walk! Dangling from the half-picked plant were Bluk berries, the Pichu's absolute favorite thing to eat. Grinning brightly, she didn't hesitate to dash to the bush and grab some of the soft, luscious treats. Their juice blackened and made sticky her paws, but she gobbled them down as if she were starved.

Kim hadn't eaten all day, so it was excusable.

By the time she'd swallowed ten of them, she realized she was being watched by someone who was giggling softly. A spark flew from her cheeks as Kim stood up. "Wha? Who dere?" She demanded, but with her mouth stuffed and purplish-black juice dirtying her face, coupled with the fact that she was just a Pichu, didn't make her very threatening.

"O-Oh! Sorry…" A Butterfree fluttered out from behind a nearby tree, still smiling, if only slightly. It fell into a frown soon after, and worry clouded her eyes. "M-May I join you?"

Butterfree were generally peaceful Pokemon, so Kim nodded and sat back down, though her ears remained perked. The butterfly Pokemon flew over to the Bluk bush and helped herself to a berry. She sat next to Kim and nibbled on it slowly. An awkward silence filled with munching ensued. The Butterfree grew more and more antsy, her antennae twitching.

"H-Have you seen any Caterpie lately?"

Kim blinked, pausing as she lifted another berry to consume. She hadn't expected the Butterfree to say anything, and she didn't get a chance to say reply, either. Words tumbled out of the other Pokemon's mouth in a rush.

"I-It's just that, my baby w-went missing and I haven't seen him f-for two days a-and the others are saying a lot of P-Pokemon are g-getting k-kidnapped a-and… my b-baby!"

The Butterfree sobbed loudly and hoarsely, the half-eaten Bluk berry falling from her paw. Kim swallowed, running her tongue over the sticky spots on her fur. "Pokemon are going missing? Getting kidnapped?" Dread worked its way into the pit of her belly.

"W-Well," The Butterfree said in between cries and sniffles, "l-lots of b-babies have gone m-missing recently…" She sobbed loudly here, losing whatever was to be said. Her wings beat harshly in an attempt to calm herself, but it didn't work all that well. "S-someone s-said they're k-kidnapped, not missing!" The butterfly Pokemon finally burst out, and then wailed.

Kim shook her head sympathetically at the Butterfree's sad plight, and stood almost lethargically. "Sorry. I haven't seen your kid." The Butterfree gave no indication that she'd heard, just sobbing louder.

The Pichu padded away slowly, forgetting even to take some of the delicious Bluk berries she loved so much in the wake of this awful news. She walked home in the dark with a dim crescent moon overhead, worry buzzing through her heart like an angry Beedrill. 'Tanner didn't show up today…' She thought, but couldn't finish the mental sentence. She shook her head again, this time in utter denial.

'No. He wouldn't get himself caught like that. He's just off being greedy again, taking all the riches for himself. Besides, he's hardly a baby.'

Despite her reassurances, Kim still didn't sleep well that night.