Chapter 2: A Hedgehog On An Island
Rain. Endless rain, a strong wind, thunder, and lightning. The storm hit the Sevii Archipelago like a punch and the damage was tremendous. Several palm trees got ripped out of the ground, the roofs of the houses and buildings suffered and several windows broke under the pressure of the wind and rain. All people stayed in their houses in that night, comforted by the warmth.
Wild Pokémon also stayed in their nests in the jungle of Chrono Island. Frightened, scared and nervously they watched the storm swept across the island and hoped that it would become weaker soon.
Only one Pokémon couldn't find a place to hide. The reindeer-like Pokémon, Shaymin, fought its way through the storm. It hadn't eaten anything since days now, but still found the strength to keep going. The tiny flower in its mouth had lost nearly all petals, but the Pokémon carried the flower like a treasure. It was Shaymin's holiest treasure, only with the flower's help it was able to escape. An itching and everlasting feeling beneath its fur that had bugged it since its escape. Out of the sudden, if felt a stinging pain on exactly that spot, making it cry out and yelp. The next surprise was a thunder bolt stroking the island. In its shock the Pokémon dropped the flower, accidentally.
"Mii!"
At the same time, someone woke up in her apartment, due to the loud bang of the thunder bolt. Hotaru's eyes snapped open in shock, she sat up immediately. Cold sweat covered her face, and she felt the low level of oxygen in her apartment. It was the worst moment. The storm had settled around the island and kept the current position. Slowly and still half-asleep Hotaru hopped off her bed and left her bedroom, heading to the balcony in her living room. Hesitating, she thought about opening the sliding door, but she eventually did. A strong wind met her face, making her gasp for air for a moment. Her curtains fluttered uncontrollably, and rain invaded the room. "Stupid rain," she mumbled, annoyed, and tried to close the balcony door again, but there was something that caught her attention.
In the darkness of the night fell something to the earth. It wasn't a shooting star, but shined just as brightly.
Hotaru forgot about the storm for a moment, she rushed out on her balcony and tried to watch the event. Something fell from the sky, like stone, but it somehow moved. Curiously, Hotaru narrowed her eyes, though the wind whipped her face, she could barely see through her fluttering hair. "That is...a..." the girl mumbled as she recognized a weak silhouette of a Pokémon. The light coming from the Pokémon became brighter and nearly blinded Hotaru. She couldn't even tell, if it was a flash or simply her imagination.
What she watched was Shaymin. Its body changed and the light created by it seemed so strong. The Pokémon fell and approached the jungle of Chrono Island from above. The moment it hit the earth, a loud explosion echoed across the island, followed by a giant shock wave.
"Help!"
Hotaru felt the wave reaching the town, making the island tremble, literally, just as if an earthquake had surprised the town. The girl had to close her eyes and duck. Was that real what she had just experienced? And she was sure that she had heard a voice for a second. Was that real? Her hands and knees were still shaking, it felt like a dream.
Stronger rain whipped in Hotaru's face now and she quickly hopped into the living room again before she shut the sliding door. Her breathing became slightly faster and she felt her knees giving in. Then, Hotaru collapsed and dropped to her knees.
A strange tension filled the air the next day. The storm had vanished in the middle of the night and it appeared if that storm had never happened, though there was a lot of damage in Chrono Town. But nothing that couldn't be fixed in a few days of work.
Speaking of work.
Hotaru glared at the sheet of paper before her. Nervously, she played with her pen and chewed on it, then with her hair that she had bound into a high ponytail. The given questions and the tasks of the test weren't so difficult, but the girl could barely concentrate. She wrote something, but crossed it out again. Her concentration had gone on holidays, literally. The event of the night wouldn't go out of her mind. Was it really a Pokémon that she had seen? Or did her imaginations just play a prank on her? It was the point that nearly made her go insane.
"Time is over. Please, hand in the tests now," Morishita-sensei said, staring at her watch.
Hotaru nearly rammed her head on her desk after she finished the last sentence. It was close, but she finished and answered all questions of the test, and immediately it got collected by a student who took the papers to the teacher. A loud sigh escaped Hotaru's lips as she leaned back in her chair, not worrying about it anymore. Her marks depended on the teacher's mood, anyway, and everyone knew Miss Morishita hated Hotaru. The girl leaned her chin in the palm of her hand and rolled her eyes in annoyance. Just the appearance of her teacher made her want to jump out of the window.
"I know that the half of the class won't pass anyway," the teacher said, adjusting her glasses and looking at the test sheets. "Typical for you!" she shouted, suddenly.
Here we go again. Hotaru rolled her eyes again and shook her head in annoyance. "But that was obvious, since you're the lousiest and laziest class I have ever seen in my life," the girl mumbled, trying to imitate her teacher.
Miss Morishita walked around in circles, raising her index-finger as she spoke. Her tone was harsh and heartless. "But that was obvious, since you're the lousiest and laziest I have ever seen in my life," she stated angrily, but didn't notice Hotaru's comments. Every student in the class had to chuckle, and it soon turned into a silent laughing. "Quiet! There is nothing to laugh about!" the teacher yelled once more, but no one took her seriously.
"My true skills and talents aren't esteemed in this lousy school," Hotaru mumbled, smiling. "I never wanted to become a teacher. I hate children," she imitated her teacher again, acting exactly like Miss Morishita. Arrogant, ignorant, and cold-hearted.
In her rage, Miss Morishita's cheeks became red again, it was the signal that she was about to burst again, like she had done so many times before. Even the other teachers of the school knew about her outbursts and rage attacks. "But what can I expect? My true skills aren't esteemed in this lousy school. I never wanted to become a teacher, anyway. I hate children!" she stated loudly, making the class laugh even louder and harder. Obviously, she had no idea that she repeated Hotaru's words, though those statements were normal for the teacher. Almost everyone broke out in laughter and tears. Even Hotaru couldn't help but snicker at Morishita's daily effort to get the class under control. "Be quiet now!" she screamed, her face swelling up again. "But soon, very soon, I won't have to keep struggling with you anymore! I will transfer to another school in Johto!"
"Seriously, how did she get the idea that someone else would want an old hag as teacher?" Hotaru whispered to Naomi, who sat next to her. "Okay, I will leave you now. Tell me if she will throw chairs around again," she said quietly as a mousy, but had to chuckle at the remembrance.
"Sure," Naomi whispered back, winking.
"Miss Morishita, I have an appointment and have to leave now!" Hotaru exclaimed, still raising her hand like a good student would do.
The woman turned her head to face her student, though her face had changed to a deep shade of red. Single hairs stuck out of her recently perfect hairstyle, and she was breathing heavily. She sounded like a steam engine that was running since days without break. "Natsukawa! How dare you int-"
"I have an official appointment and an official letter that confirms it," Hotaru grinned, pulling the letter out of her bag and waving with it.
Enraged and furious, the woman ripped the document out of Hotaru's hand while the girl kept grinning. She had to read it twice before she understood the text completely. With a snort, Morishita-sensei turned her head out of the view from the students. The reason was the twitching corner of her lip. "Then... come with me..." she mumbled, still with rage boiling in her veins. The teacher left the room, but nearly crushed the knob of the door in her anger.
A strange feeling in Hotaru's stomach told her not to, but she had no other choice. Hotaru jumped to her feet, packed away her pencil case, and grabbed her shoulder bag to leave the room. She winked as good-bye, and the moment the door closed behind her, the class started laughing so hard. They almost cried tears.
Meanwhile, Hotaru walked behind her teacher, still rolling her eyes. She heard her teacher perfectly, mumbling something mean about the girl, but Hotaru didn't care. The insults were already familiar to her, though Hotaru kept her resistance clear, what Morishita-sensei hated. Their way led to the teachers' lounge, where Miss Morishita filled in a document, something similar to a sick note, for the girl that confirmed her legal absence. In silence watched Hotaru her teacher and the other teachers in the room. She hated this feigned and strange atmosphere in the room, it reminded her of ignorance somehow. "Here," Morishita-sensei hissed and handed the paper to Hotaru roughly.
"I wish you a nice weekend, as well," Hotaru smirked, waved good-bye with the paper and left the room.
"I hate her!" shouted the woman shortly after the door closed. Her colleagues chuckled and snickered. Morishita's anger always promised entertainment. While adjusting her glasses, she leaned on her desk to rest a little.
One of the physical education teachers laughed and turned in his armchair. "You should take a week off of work," he said to her.
"No, the girl needs to get thrown out of this school! I can't stand her!" Morishita yelled, just like she always did. She walked around her desk, without any direction in her mind. Over and over, she wiped with her hand across her face, wiping away the sweat. "But I guess I am not the only one. The class seems to avoid her. It is only logical. Her rebellious behaviur and personality frightens the other students. But what can you expect from a child who lives without parents?"
Another teacher shook his head slightly in disappointment, before he got up from his chair. He mentioned Miss Morishita to look behind the door of the room.
Gasping, the woman dashed to the door and ripped it open. She found Hotaru walking around the corner and disappearing behind it. "She..." A quiet growl escaped her lips, when she adjusted her glasses and blouse. Ashamed of herself, she went back into the room. The girl had opened her screaming and yelling, as well as her opinion about Hotaru. "Well, everyone else is thinking it," the woman stuttered. It was her only excuse. Her cheeks turned slightly red in embarrassment.
Shortly after leaving the school building, Hotaru glanced over her shoulder, back at the building for a moment. Then, she lowered her head.
"Oh, come on, Hotaru. Don't get oversensitive now," she told herself as she slapped both of her cheeks. A fake smile crossed her face, but it vanished shortly after. The only way to cheer herself up a little, was the presence of a good friend now. Hotaru smiled, she opened her bag and got her Poké Ball and released Espeon. Happy to see the sunlight now, the Pokémon shook its head. "Hey, there," Hotaru stroked it behind its long, pink ears.
"Skipping class again?" Espeon asked, mentally.
The girl shook her head as answer. "Nope. Remember the letter? The appointment in the hospital," Hotaru explained while she loosened her tie and pulled it over her head. It always felt like a collar that oppressed her. She also hated her school uniform, but she had no other choice than to wear it. The next she did was taking off her jacket and binding the sleeves of it around her hip. "Better," the girl mumbled, though her thoughts weren't about the hospital and the upcoming physical and psychological tests. She had to think about the last night again. The light she saw wasn't the one of a shooting star, Hotaru knew it.
"What's wrong?" asked Espeon and rubbed its head on the girl's right leg.
Shifting from one leg to another, Hotaru bit her tongue nervously. "Nothing. Let's go," Hotaru muttered under her breath. Her goal was the Chrono Hospital that was located at the other end of the town. The shortest way to reach this location was taking the bus. Carefully, Hotaru set one foot before the other, she couldn't even concentrate on the traffic anymore and was simply led by Espeon guiding her. She found the next bus stop around the corner of the street, but without any people standing there. The plants and trees around her were still wet and covered by water drops, but the sun had already dried the asphalt of the streets. Silently, she waited at the bus stop, but tapped her right foot on the ground, impatiently. Seriously...what was that? If it was a Pokémon, it was one I have never seen before... she thought. Without making a sound she waited, captured in her thoughts.
As the bus came, Espeon shoved Hotaru closer to the curb side, she had nearly not noticed the vehicle. Even Espeon wondered at the Trainer girl. It was very rare to see her in such a mood, or rather behavior. Her gaze was constantly fixed on the ground, then at the single, vacant seats in the bus. And unconsciously, she decided to take the seat at the far end of the bus. The vehicle was nearly empty, and it kept driving to the outskirts of the town, without stopping at the bus stops. Nobody wanted to leave. However, Hotaru felt more than uncomfortable. She felt cornered and captured in the tiny bus. The sides seemed to come closer.
If I skip the appointment now... Hotaru thought, looking out of the window. The bus drove close to the edge of the forest of the island. And the fact kept pushing Hotaru. Nervously, she tapped her foot on the vehicle floor in a rapid and constant speed.
Before she could even think about it, she already pressed the button on one of the bars, which made the bus halt at the next station. I'm so stupid! the girl told herself and jumped to her feet. She hopped out of the bus, followed by Espeon.
The feeling of being caught vanished, and she could relax again, but only a little.
"Espe! Epseon!" the Pokémon exclaimed. "What is wrong? But the hospital is..."
"I know," muttered the girl with narrowed eyes. "But I have to do something... I don't care about the stupid examinations!" she said before. For a short moment, she stopped walking. "I was sure I had heard someone...or something last night. Someone needs our help," she stated, this time honestly. Saying the truth made her heart feel lighter. And the Pokémon always knew, when something was bothering Hotaru.
The bus stop was right before a huge, wooden bridge, one of the paths which led into the jungle. Signs warned about the threat and danger of landslides and impassable trails. Strong rainfalls have always made the paths slippery and slackened the soil. Plus, uprooted trees could always block the ways. However, Hotaru didn't care. She had a strong hunch about the location of the creature she had heard. The center of the jungle.
Confidently, and full of curiosity, Hotaru crossed the bridge. The water level was higher than usual, due to the rainwater that flew into the river now.
It was the girl's last chance to go back, but she ignored it, though a strange, nearly painful feeling in her stomach told her not to.
Hotaru walked straight along the path that led her through the forest, but turned in front of a creek. The flow of the water was quite strong, stronger than she remembered it. The girl took a run-up and jumped over the creek, after her jumped Espeon. Suddenly, she felt herself sinking slowly. She was stuck in a mud puddle. Hotaru fought to get out of the mud and the dirt. And the accident came, the girl tripped and almost fell into the puddle, but avoided the scenario by catching her balance again.
Espeon followed the girl silently, but sensed danger right in front of them. It couldn't tell, if it was a natural danger, but the feeling bugged the Pokémon.
Abruptly, Hotaru jumped back as the soul beneath her feet loosened and began to slide down the slope.
"Are you really sure? You can do this another time! When it is drier out here!" complained the Pokémon, trying to free its paws from the muddy puddles.
A strange glare met Espeon's eyes, which made the Pokémon shudder. "Nope. I have to find out what happened. Now!" Hotaru exclaimed, climbing up the slope by pulling herself up some roots and vines. Slowly but certainly, she felt the presence of the Pokémon hiding in the jungle. There were so many, but still scared and frightened after the storm.
Broken branches and even broken trees made the way even more complicated, plus the mud and the many creeks of rainwater.
Coming closer to the middle of the jungle, the girl found more and more damage, and as she climbed up another slope, her eyes widened in shock. A whole part of the forest was destroyed. Trees, broken like matches, like ninepins, surrounded her. It wasn't the result of a storm, not even of the strongest, the view reminded of a giant and powerful explosion. Roots were ripped out of the soil, plants torn apart, grass and moss covered in mud, and the leaves torn off the branches.
It was a giant mess.
The direction in which the trees had fallen portended at the place of the impact. It was similar to a crater left by an asteroid. Hotaru ran to the crater and studied her surroundings carefully. "I knew it wasn't a lightning strike," she mumbled, searching for the reason of the explosion. Another trace in the mud captured her attention, it led directly to another stream in the forest. But nothing else, only more broken branches and grass. "Nothing..." Hotaru muttered as she was observing the area, but her next surprised, rather shocked her. As she stepped closer to the patch of grass, it suddenly squealed in a high-pitched voice.
"Miii!"
Hotaru let out a loud scream and stepped back, losing her balance again and falling to the muddy ground, nearly landing on Espeon. "Ow! What..." she exclaimed with eyes wide open.
The green patch suddenly moved, it had legs! Shyly, the creature showed its appearance, it was a hedgehog with white and green fur, flowers on the sides of its face, and yellow spots on the green fur that looked like grass. "Mi! Mii!" the Pokémon squirmed and ran away from the girl. It seemed weak and exhausted, the hedgehog was at the edge to collapse.
"Wait!" exclaimed Hotaru and chased after the hedgehog Pokémon. She rushed to the strange Pokémon and caught up with it, but it kept running away. As she bent down, the Pokémon curled up into a ball in its fear, its tiny body was trembling heavily. Slowly, Hotaru approached the Pokémon not to frighten it again. "Hey, there, little one. I'm not going to hurt you," she said in a gentle and caring voice. Still, the Pokémon curled up, but the girl heard it whimpering. "Don't be afraid," Hotaru spoke and tried to pet it. She sensed its body cramping and tensing. It was more than just scared, the Pokémon was nearly frightened to death. "I won't do anything to you," Hotaru spoke in a soft voice, trying to comfort the Pokémon.
The hedgehog relaxed a little and showed its petite face. The first word that came into the Trainer's mind was 'cute'. Unforunately, the Pokémon nearly cried as it glanced at Hotaru with its innocent, big wide eyes. Fear shimmered in its eyes like thousands of tiny crystals.
Smiling, Hotaru picked the hedgehog and cradled it in her arms. "See? There is no reason to be afraid, little one," the girl whispered and laid her hand on the Pokémon's forehead. "Seems like you have a slight fever, but don't worry, I will take care of you." She stroked the Pokèmon's head before she got up on her feet.
"Mii..." the Pokémon muttered, but a weak smile crossed its mouth.
"You're so cute," Hotaru chuckled and held the Pokémon closer to herself, cuddling it with the tip of her nose. "But what kind of Pokémon are you?"
Confused, the Pokémon gazed at her and crocked its head. It was exhausted. "Mii?" it cheeped quietly. "Miii!" Suddenly, it squirmed in pain and struggled in Hotaru's arms. The Pokémon cried, sensing the fluent pain beneath its fur and skin, it had turned from an itching into a burning feeling. The hedgehog almost jumped out of Hotaru's arms, but the girl tried to comfort it.
"Shhh, calm down," Hotaru said and put the Pokémon on a fallen and dead tree trunk. "Let's see..." she said and carefully stroked through the Pokèmon's fur to search of the reason of its pain. Her eyes snapped open in shock, as she found a deep injury. A deep, sore wound had made it suffer. With caution, the Trainer felt the fur and the wound, she also found something hard beneath its fur. A gristle? An inflammation? No, something with the form of a bullet. Suspicion came up in the girl's mind. "Okay, this could hurt a little, but just trying to help you," she said. Hotaru slowly squeezed exactly the hard spot beneath the green, grass-like fur. Shaymin cried out in pain again, but endured it. The wound curved, there was obviously something stuck beneath the Pokémon's skin. Again, she squeezed the wound with her thumbs, then with more power, but still carefully not to hurt the hedgehog.
Almost, Hotaru thought, and with one last squeeze dropped a tiny capsule out of the wound, making it bleed again.
The Pokémon cried loudly, tears streamed down its soft cheeks.
Hotaru cuddled it in her arms like she did before to comfort it. "It's okay. You did it, my little friend," she whispered. In her suspicion, she took the tiny capsule-like thing between her thumb and index-finger and stared at it. Obviously, it was a metallic capsule, with the size of a rice grain, but it had tortured the Pokémon so much. When she took a closer look, she found a tiny, nearly not visible light blinking in the inside of the capsule.
A growl escaped Hotaru's lips, anger burned inside her, and she felt her blood boiling within her veins. All of this was the work of a human. Possibly Pokémon Hunters. The girl's eyes narrowed and her hands became tight fists. How could people hurt Pokémon without feeling guilty or bad? It was simply the worst. But then, it hit her. The blinking was some kind of signal, perhaps a transmitter signal. She put the capsule on the trunk, picked up a rock from the ground, and smashed the threatening thing with the stone to destroy it. For a second, she felt her heart missing a beat before he Pokémon's sobs brought Hotaru back to reality as well, she had to do something to mitigate the hedgehog's pain. Immediately. Hotaru turned her head around, seeking some herbs which would perhaps be helpful, and she found some at the creek's edge. In a rush, she dashed to the plant, tore off some single leaves and squashed them in her hand, squeezing the plant juice out of the leaves.
The Pokémon panted and breathed heavily, but the tension in its body decreased. Finally, the pain was gone after a while. "Thank...you," panted the hedgehog.
"You're welco-" Hotaru's jaw almost dropped to the ground the moment she realized the fact. Had she just heard the Pokémon talking? Verbally? No, its mouth didn't move a bit. She heard it with telepathy, but it wasn't a mental one. Even Espeon heard the Pokémon's words and jumped in surprise. "Di...did...did you...just talk?" Hotaru asked the Pokémon in disbelief.
"Why? You can talk as well," mumbled the Shaymin irritated. The ability to talk was simply natural and normal for the Pokémon.
"Yeah, bu...but...I mean with words. I can hear your words!" gasping, Hotaru tried to explain while she waved with her hands, hastily. "Ah, forget about it. But it is still amazing. I have never seen a talking Pokémon before," she said and leaned her chin in her crossed arms, which she laid on the trunk as she knelt before it. "You're something special, little one."
Shaymin blinked a few times. "I'm not little. I'm Shaymin," the Pokémon said and gazed at her with a confused look. "And I've never met a nice human before."
"Why?"
The Pokémon hesitated. Its expression changed and told Hotaru how it felt. Frightened, desperate, and afraid. In other words, the Pokémon called Shaymin was a nervous and exhausted wreck. It was clear that something bothered and scared Shaymin, and it had to do with the transmitter capsule. "Well...I escaped from a horrible place. Evil humans have done so many painful things to me. The thing beneath my skin...they have done this...I don't know how. And they always made me change myself," the hedgehog explained, stuttering in fear.
Hotaru couldn't understand a single word, or rather the meaning of its words. "Change yourself?" she asked.
"Yes...I ...I don't know how to explain it...I'm sorry," the Shaymin mumbled and lowered its head.
Something stung inside Hotaru. She felt so bad for the Pokémon, seeing the crying hedgehog in front of her. "It's okay. You don't have to apologize," Hotaru said. Again, she caressed the Pokémon's forehead before she laid her hand on its head. Her breathing slowed down, her eyes closed, and Hotaru focused on Shaymin. Her mind was blank, she thought of nothing, and all of a sudden, she found herself seeing Shaymin's memories. It was like a film playing in her head. She saw what Shaymin had seen with its own eyes.
First, it was dark, but a weak light surrounded her. Then, the room around her was trembling before the darkness vanished. Hotaru saw Shaymin's recent birth. How it hatched from an egg. She found herself in a strange room with bars, a cage, which was in a truck. The next was another room, with many people in white coats. Literally, Hotaru felt Shaymin's pain, how the capsule got injected into Shaymin, how it collected energy and released it, creating a huge explosion. Over and over. She saw Shaymin's body changing, it looked like a reindeer now, and somehow she had a weird, but lovely scent in her nose. Then, another explosion, and a storm.
Hotaru's eyes snapped open and she backed away from the Pokémon. Cold sweat covered her face. What she had seen was frightening. She had experienced the Pokèmon's pain. Evil people was even understated. What kind of person would do such experiments with Shaymin? At the moment, Hotaru was almost as exhausted as Shaymin, after seeing its past.
"Are you okay?" asked Espeon.
Nervously, Hotaru nodded, but she could barely stand up. "Yes...I'm alright," she stammered. Her voice was trembling and her heart racing. For a good reason, she felt sick. The memories she had just seen were terrifying and so real. "But how come you escaped?" Hotaru asked.
"They made me change with a flower. And...in this body I was stronger, but it never held on forever. Only for a short time, and only when I smelled the scent of that flower. So, one day I had the chance, stole one and escaped. I got into that storm, and above that island I lost the flower. The last thing I remember is how I fell down," the Pokémon told her, it was at the point of crying again.
So, this was the light I saw... Hotaru thought secretly, remembering the shooting star-like appearance. "I'm sorry for you, Shaymin. But don't worry, you're safe here. I will take care of you. By the way, I almost forget, my name is Hotaru," Hotaru spoke in a soft and caring tone, when she took Shaymin in her arms again.
Suddenly, Espeon started growling and stepped before Hotaru, protectively.
"What's wrong, Espeon?" the girl asked. In the next moment, she noticed a silhouette coming out of the jungle, a Houndoom. It growled, bared its teeth and approached Hotaru and her Pokémon. Immediately, Hotaru got up on her feet and stepped back, Espeon as well. Hotaru sensed danger, threatening danger coming toward her. The Houndoom didn't think of stopping, instead it came closer to Hotaru, but barking and growling.
Shaymin's body stiffened and cramped as the saw the Pokémon. It dug its head in Hotaru's chest to hide itself somehow. "Oh, no. Please, you have to run!" the Pokémon talked mentally to the Trainer.
In a fast move, Hotaru sprinted to her right, trying to run, but another Pokémon came out of the nowhere. A Muk unbent and blocked Hotaru's way with its slimy body. Immediately, the girl jumped back. "What is going on here?" she mumbled. A stinging and burning pain hurt in her stomach, it was the suspicion of great danger coming closer.
"Well, it is a surprise how far you've made it," a cold, male voice snickered.
Hotaru glanced over her shoulder slowly. An icy shudder met her spine as she saw a man with shoulder-length blue hair walking out of the woods. The agent of Team Rocket, Pierce.
He approached the girl step by step and grinned, then he directed his gaze at Shaymin. "It seems like you have found a new friend," he said before he bent down and picked up the tiny, now broken, transmitter. "Unfortunately, it won't help you at all," the man mumbled under his breath, then he stared at Hotaru. His icy glare made her shiver and tremble. His eyes. His eyes were so cold, so heartless. Hotaru saw the danger coming from him and felt nothing but an evil aura around him. It was like ice surrounded him. The blood froze in Hotaru's veins, making it impossible for her to move. The only thing she felt was pure fear.
"You made a big mistake, girl. If you don't want to get harmed, then hand over the Pokémon and leave," Pierce hissed at her.
Gritting her teeth, Hotaru stepped back and glared at the man. She didn't reply to his threats, but kept searching for a way to escape. Unconsciously, she held Shaymin closer to her body to protect it. The Trainer slowly moved to another direction, but the next bad surprise just waited.
Another person came out of the forest, and cut off Hotaru's way. It was the silver-haired agent Hun.
"There is no way for you to escape, so forget about it, girl," Pierce snickered as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're the people who are after Shaymin," Hotaru stated, her eyes narrowed and her gazed fixed on Pierce. "What do you want here?"
Another person chuckled in a sinister way, this time a man with a deeper voice. "Isn't that obvious?" It was Attila, Hun's partner, who approached Hotaru this time, constraining the girl.
Nervously and hastily, Hotaru glared at all of the agents and their Pokémon. They surrounded her and Espeon. With a calculating look, she searched for a way out of this situation desperately, her fear glimmered in her eyes. What now? Who are those guys!? Once more, Houndoom jumped at her, trying to bite her, but Espeon protected its Trainer. The sudden shock made Hotaru stumble over a root. She fell to the ground, but kept Shaymin her arms tightly. "Leave Shaymin alone!" she exclaimed, still with a calm voice. "Or else..."
Attila cut her off with his laughter. "Or else what? What will you do? A little girl?" he mocked her.
"This is getting on my nerves," stated Hun. "Let's get this over with."
"I agree," said Pierce and nodded. His grin grew on his lips, which made Hotaru shiver. Immediately, his Houndoom jumped at Hotaru and spat out a big flame. It attacked her with Flamethrower. The girl ducked and ran to dodge the fire while Espeon protected her with Psybeam, but another Flamethrower came and surprised the Pokémon. The fire surrounded Espeon and nearly burned its sensible skin, making the Pokémon yelp in pain. In the same time, Hotaru got attacked by Houndoom directly. It tackled her and sent her back a few meters. It was more painful than it looked.
The hit was strong and robbed Hotaru's breath. She coughed loudly and dropped to her knees. Tears came up in her eyes. Her body was still shaking from the attack, but Hotaru found the strength to raise her head and look at the agents.
"But don't say I haven't warned you," Pierce said, approaching the girl grinning. "Hand over the Pokémon!"
Hotaru crawled back, trying to get away from him, but he pushed her backwards with nothing but his cold presence. The distance between them minimized as Hotaru touched a massive tree with her back. "And if I won't?" she asked bravely. In her fear, she press herself closer to the tree. Her eyes grew wider at every single step Pierce came closer.
"Let me just say, you will regret it," Pierce said. He narrowed his eyes at the girl and snickered.
Growling, Hotaru glared at him, but gulped. This is bad...
Hotaru was trapped like a mouse now.