Hello and welcome to chapter two! Starting from this chapter on, I will be adding a death count to either the top or bottom of my pages to keep track.
I am having a blast writing this story so far but I've already become emotionally attached to some of my Pokemon just based on how I'm writing them and imaging how they would interact with one another.
Thank you to Riverlightillusion and her editing skills. So many errors...so little time...
Well, on with the show!
Route 29 was relatively quiet aside from her friend causing a small ruckus within the tall grass. He stepped carefully, his eyes darting around the brush.
Ethan…what are you doing?"
He put a finger to his lips and continued searching the field.
"Found one! El, come look!" Hiding between two aerating tree roots was a tiny Rattata chewing on a berry while blissfully unaware of what was about to come. "I heard from my father that you're going to take on the Gyms so I decided to wait for you here. I was trying to think of the best way to see you off and well…I decided on showing you how to capture a Pokémon! Watch carefully! Marill,use tackle!"
Truthfully, she didn't need a demonstration. Her father and elder sisters had already taught her the basics but interrupting him now would only disappoint him. Instead of performing an actual tackle, his Marill merely rolled over the rat, squishing it and its berry at the same time
The Rattata was enthralled by the berry juice spilling on to the ground. "What do you think you're doing?! I was just sitting here minding my own business and enjoying the world and then you jerks had to come and ruin it! What do you have to say for yourself?!" He squeaked like a child in a tantrum, pointing his paw at Ethan and then his Marill.
"Look I'm sorry that we interrupted you and-" Ellie began uneasily.
Ethan threw a Pokéball and began cheering as it slammed directly into the Rattata. It was sucked in and a small beep escaped the contraption.
"You need to weaken a Pokémon before capturing it otherwise it could escape." He picked up the ball, stashing it in his backpack. The dumbfounded look on her face was ignored by him as he handed her five empty balls. "I'll be staying with my grandparents' house near Goldenrod, feel free to stop by for a while!" The image of the Rattata going about its life was fresh in her mind as he bid her farewell.
Fenrir's warmth pressed against the sickening chill coursing through her body. "Fenrir…can I really do this? I…if that's how all Pokémon are going to be when we encounter them…I don't…I don't want to force anyone to join us…"
She waded through the grass as sweet scents of lavender and freesia wafted from the nearby meadow. A rustle nearby in the thick sea of grass sent her body into overdrive. Fenrir took the lead, dropping down and sniffing the air cautiously.
"I thought I told you blokes to stay out of my forest!" The Pidgey from earlier slammed its body into him, screeching unrecognizable words at the two.
"Shove off, birdbrain!" Fenrir knocked the Pidgey down once more.
"Birdbrain?! Did you say Birdbrain?! You uncultured swine! Can't you recognize a noble man when you see one?" His feathers puffed up as he sang his exploits loudly.
"C'mon Ellie, leave this idiot alone…" The Pidgey pecked at Fenrir, furthering the flames.
"Oi, you get back here! I'm not done ridiculing you yet!" He fell to rest on her shoulder, still chastising Fenrir who was ground level. "Come back here you hamster! Hey lady, tell that hamster to listen!" He nudged Ellie's cheek, his puffed feathers tickling her skin. The entire ordeal was more laughable than serious. "Would you like to come with us?" The Pidgey relayed the question, a baffled look on its face.
"You...you want me? To come with you? You should be honored,hamster, to have the likes of me as a companion!" His wings flapped as a lively song escaped his lips. "If you so insist that I join you, I will gladly oblige. I could never turn away a beautiful woman."
She tapped the ball against his feathers, a radiant smile taking control of the contours of her mouth. "Welcome…Andor, I am Elise but please call me Ellie. This is Fenrir."
He didn't wait long before showing his face again, this time landing on the back of Fenrir. He stayed there even as they passed through Cherrygrove and on to Route 30.
"Walk, peasant. You should be grateful that I allow you in my presence." Andor twitched, his eyes scanning the new area. His wings spread and he hunkered down. "Bracing for takeoff in three…two…one…Here I go!" A gust of wind took rein of his wings, allowing the bird to rise. "Little bug, you should feel honored to be my prey!" His wings tilted, slicing the gale like a knife through bread. There was a high shrieking as Andor disappeared into the grass.
"Please no! Let me go! I have so much to live for! Berries, I can offer you many berries! My family and I find many as we go along our days!" A small Weedle was being seized from the grass as it desperately was trying to hold on by its tail. "Please kind sir, just let me live!" A small rush of air siphoned through parted lips as her eyes locked on the bug.
"It's a bug! Andor, get that thing out of here! Bugs are so disgusting!" Without skipping a beat, Fenrir was hoisted in between their lines of sight.
"The lords of the sky have blessed me with this delicious dinner as I shall take this feast with a heavy heart!" The Weedle's grip shed away like snake's skin and soon it was flailing uncontrollably in the air. The creature was pitiful and made small jabs at her heart as the Pokémon cried out to her.
"Wait…wait…let him go…I can't condone this with a good conscience." The Weedle slimed up to her, a twinkle in its eyes. It continued to approach her and she stumbled backwards. "Go…go away!" She wouldn't have felt so guilty if it didn't start crying.
"I'm sorry, please don't squish me or make your terrifying friend here eat me. I just want to live!" It begged her, pushing small berry chunks towards her feet. "Peace, yes?"
"You're cute…but…you're a bug! I'm having such conflicting emotions right now!" The memory blocked all other functions of her body. The sun had just expanded its reach high above the tree tops as spider web like rays reflected off the new morning dew. Here she was, riding atop Big Ben, giggling as the brute wobbled, trying to knock her off slowly.
"Elise." She scampered off the Pokémon, brushing her clothes off. Her sister didn't even look up at her from her notepad, sketching down unknown details more intelligent than Ellie's entire self.
"Help…me…" It started off as a light murmur that grew to an insane shrieking. Ellie held on to Big Ben before covering her ears. It was a deafening shriek that stabbed with each rising decibel.
"Big Ben, follow me, I'll need your help! Elise, stay right here and don't move!" Eleanor adjusted her glasses before disappearing into the thicket growing uncontrollably between the trees.
"She's all alone." "We eats her now, yes?" "Not enough meat…" Elise spun, a sudden franticness ebbing away at her willpower. "Come now, come now my brethren and sisters…tonight we shall have a feast."
A light hissing above her was the final draw. She followed after her sister, tears cascading down her face.
"I'll be good, Eleanor! I will!" She wept as she hasted deeper into the forest.
"Yes, yes she goes further in, further into our trap yes. We find the older one first…use her…"
"Eleanor! Eleanor, where are you!" No amount of crying was helping alleviate the stress building up in her body. "Eleanor!" The forest embroidering New Bark town and Cherrygrove was beyond massive and on multiple occasions, her family had warned her not to enter. The small rustling behind her sent her mind spiraling frantically. She could see it, a dark shape standing in a small clearing free of trees. Eleanor.
Ellie pounced, grabbing hold of her sister. The abnormal stickiness pulled at her skin and clothes, halting any movements. "El…Eleanor?" A web-like sculpture of her sister kept her in place as the hissing grew all around.
"Yes, we eats…we eats!" Her shrikes rose high above the treetops, sending the Pidgeys scampering from their perch. "Boo." A spinarak slid down in front of her, reaching its legs towards her face. She pulled at the web, begging and praying for help to arrive.
"Big Ben, hydro pump!" The blast of water crashed into the landscape, knocking all the spiders from their web. They flailed before retreating back into their webs. "Ellie…Ellie I'm here…it's me…" Eleanor held her face, gazing deep within her eyes. It was the last thing she saw before the events caught back up to her, throwing away her eyesight and sucking in darkness.
"This is how I die! Can I at least say goodbye to my mother? She'll be so worried when I don't return to the hive…" Her lips twitched at the word. Bugs were really not her thing but that stupid Pokémon capturing law made this her only chance. Because of the decreasing Pokémon population from the Nuzlocke disease, Pokéballs registered to trainers only allowed for one per area. Having just entered Route 30, this was her only choice.
She swallowed the image of that Spinarak dropping in front of her crushing her willpower. "Excuse me…"The words were forced and harsh sounding pulling both Fenrir's and Andor's attention to her and away from the bug. It perked up and slithered towards her again. She held out her shaking hands while tears filled the crevice between her eyes and cheeks. "Will you join me on my Pokémon adventure?" This time, her hands weren't enough to stop itIt latched on to her legs with its suckers, staring adoringly at her. "Really?! You mean it?! Oh boy, I have to tell my mother!" It hobbled off towards the brush.
"No need, you were late so I came to find you, have fun with your journey." It wasn't a Spinarak but a Beedrill was just as scary. Her lips pinched, turning a bright white as her eyebrows shot to her hairline. "Trainer. If I find that my son is hurt in anyway, my family and I will make sure you experience the same pain…are we clear?" The stinger rested at her throat and she nodded as her muscles ceased to exist.
She forced a smile at the newest member. "Welcome…Audun…glad to…have you aboard…" She sighed; relaxing as Beedrill retracted its stingers and started to fly away.
"Have fun, dear!" She waved to Audun before she disappeared. The shaking that had overtaken her from her childhood had no notion of stopping anytime soon but her knees broke first, dragging her to the grassy fields.
"Lady Elise, are you alright? I shall protect you with me elegant skill and prowess." Andor returned to her shoulder, rubbing his face against hers.
Fenrir nuzzled against her chest and she buried her face in his fur. "I'll be the one to protect you guys…I swear." She peeked at Audun who was waiting awkwardly back on the road. "You're one of us too now, you know? All right…let's get going, team. Violet City, here we come!"
The sun had made its descent, reaching outwards for the ground. "We're lost, aren't we?" Fenrir wiggled in her arms, eyes trained on the sky.
"No…? What would make you think that?" Yet again he began to move against her grasp.
"It definitely wasn't the hours of walking aimlessly with no sightings of the town. Oh no, it definitely didn't make me think that we were lost at all."
His sass was unnatural and she turned him to face her. "Well aren't you Mr. Sarcasm today? Andor, this is your doing isn't it?" The bird stuttered in midair, looking away casually. "I was so sure of it being this way…hmm…maybe we got off the path…" The gentle chirping of Pidgeys turned into the melodic hooting of Hoothoots.
"If you're looking for town, hoo, its that'away hoo hoo!" High in the tree, a lone Hoothoot spun its head. It looked left and sharply the other way. "If you're looking for town, young one, you're definitely not going the right way!" It cooed again and its head snapped backwards.
"Can you show us the way?" The Hoothoot twisted its body to face Elise rather than just turning its head once more. "Umm…why didn't you just turn your head again?"
"Mind your own business!" It snapped back and she held up her hands in surrender. "Returning to your question, I'd be happy to show you the way. A few travelers get lost in these woods each year, be more careful next time. Now…" She pushed Andor out of the way, taking his spot on her shoulder. "Head east and you should hit the main road, hoo. Come along now dear trainer, I shall have you at Violet City before dark."
The Hoothoot scammed them. Not only had it gotten them more lost in the areas surrounding Violet City and Cherrygrove but it had also stolen her camping gear. "When I get my hand on that cursed bird I'm going to pluck all its feathers even if it apologizes!" She punched a tree, regretting it almost immediately as her knuckles throbbed with the beating of her heart. By now, the moon had laid waste to the sky, immersing the world in its darkness. Ellie clicked her tongue unfavorably. "We can't stay out here without any gear though…what to do…"The sudden chills rapping against her body forced her hair to points.
"Lovely Elise…I see a cave over there. While it's not satisfactory, I will deign to the hamster's level and sleep there if you truly desire."
Andor ruffled his feathers as a dank looking cave appeared on their right. It wasn't perfect but it was better than being stuck in the wide open. Just as she thought, the cave oozed with slime and a dank smell wafted from the nearby stalactites littered with Zubats. She sank against a rock in the corner, drawing her knees to her chest. On her lap, Fenrir's resonated against her shivering body as Andor snuggled between her shirt and jacket. Audun found himself lodged underneath the small crevice of her legs and butt, careful not to sting any of them.
"Maybe that bird wasn't so bad after all…" She hummed before her head rested against Fenrir, enjoying the portable heater. It didn't take long for her to fall into a cold, dreamless sleep.
Her lumbar was thrust forward and she shrieked, sending the Zubats above in a panic. Few slammed into the stalactites, their senses on overload from the sounds echoing off the scenery. Others, crashed into the pools of water leaking in from the nearby lake.
"Are we under attack? Bring it on, you gutless vermin! This hamster will take you on gladly!" Andor stumbled from his sleeping perch, crashing into Fenrir.
Her back moved again and she hoisted herself up, almost stepping on Audun and half launching Fenrir and Andor into the air. "Calm down you birdbrain, you're exaggerating…" Fenrir swatted at the bird still atop his back. "Would you get off?!" He wiggled, trying to throw off the bird. Elise shushed him immediately.
"Oh boy, I feel like I've slept on a rock! Oh…wait! I am a rock! I'm 'coal' funny I must be an igneous! Hah! You get it? Igneous…a genius? You people have no humor sometimes. Dacite…not latite care that much." The voice from below guffawed, slamming its fists to the ground. "Hah, I'm cracking up!" "Can we kill it now?" Fenrir spat a flame at the Pokémon who rumbled heavily on the ground.
"Woah I'm burning up now, don't make me erupt, you furball." Light filled the cave from the entrance lighting up the Geodude now smoking on the ground. "Wow that's a tonalite! Must be day time already!" It smashed its head against the wall this time, frightening the Zubats above. "You're a trainer right? I got a rocky question for you. Its tuff living here and I think it's about time I make my scratch on the world. It might be hard for you to chalk an answer up but will you let me join you?" It floated in front of her, the wearing and cracks expanding on its body.
She held up a finger. "On one condition only…you need to stop with those puns. I don't know how much longer we can take it.
"Sure I'm metamorphic; I'm definitely adaptable to shaping myself. I will marble myself to a new standard."
She pinched the bridge of her nose as Fenrir fell limp in her arms, just as exasperated as she. "Well, welcome aboard Halvar…" She sighed once more, ignoring the pit growing in her stomach. Just like Halvar had said earlier, the sun was in full force as it watched over its brood.
Her phone vibrated in her back pocket as an unfamiliar ringtone blasted full force, throwing her heart against her ribcage. "Hello?" Heavy breathing rasped against the receiver and she waited hesitantly.
"Hey Elise, you know my Rattata is in the top tier right? We just defeated a Weedle, we're such an awesome team."
"How did you get this number?!" The breathing resumed and short beeps pounded against her eardrums. It was obviously the boy from yesterday that she had beaten but she had refused his request for her number…so how?! She snapped the phone shut, eyes wavering. "Wait." She flipped it back open, ignoring the 'Lots of Love' background her sister had set. The map setting was still completely functional. "I'm an idiot…Come on guys, tonight, we sleep in style!"
Fenrir snorted, smoke escaping his nostrils. "I feel like that's not the last time we are going to hear you admit that you're an idiot."
She ignored that, eyes set on the new day. "With bad luck, we'll hit Violet City by noon."
Fenrir looked up at her warily. "And with good luck?"
"We find that Hoothoot on the way and get all of our stuff back. I'm freaking starving." Whether the scenario, she had one thing to look forward to. Her first gym battle against 'Daddy's Boy' Falkner would soon arrive and her foot would finally be in the door to her mark on the world.
Here we are, the end of chapter two!
So far so good...Death Count : 0
As a side note, the reason I didn't have Ellie catch the Hoothoot was because in my playthrough, I accidentally got a critical and knocked it out.
Second side note, if you were unable to understand Halvar's sentences sometimes...Coal, Igneous, Dacite, Latite, Tonalite, Tuff, and Metamorphic are all different types of rocks ;)
Thanks for reading and I hope you stick around for more!
-NIR