Author's note: Hey. ravengal reporting for duty.
Just to be clear, that business with the Ominous Wind two chapters ago was a tribute to one of the most annoying things about the Mystery Dungeon game. I can't possibly count the number of times that my Staraptor died from two consecutive Ominous Winds. Grr. Curse those flying bugs.
Also, the chapter title is a song by Jordin Sparks. Honestly, I'm starting to give up on them being perfect. This one is good enough. :)
Chapter Ten: Freeze
Pikachu stared at the bush in front of him, which was covered in a type of berry that he'd never considered tasting before. The Buneary, who was standing next to him, had been the one to point out this bush on their way back from chasing the Pachirisu around all afternoon. After resting for a while, she'd convinced him to come back here and try some.
He plucked what he knew to be called a Figy berry off the bush and sniffed at it. He recoiled as he picked up the familiar – and very much disliked – spicy smell.
"What's wrong, Pikachu?" the Buneary asked worriedly.
Crud... he thought, I don't wanna upset her. After all, she went to great lengths to convince me to eat these things. He bit into it and chewed, flinching at the disgusting taste that was now burning his mouth.
"Don't you like it?" The Buneary's tone was meek and unsure, which really stabbed at his heart. "What's wrong with it?"
He forced a smile and shook his head at her before swallowing the vile berry. He was just about to say that everything was fine when the forest started spinning in front of him. Dropping his berry, he wobbled unsteadily on his feet, wondering what on Earth was going on and willing the world to stop spinning.
Whoa... feels like... I'm caught in a Twister attack... Whee...
Three Buneary in front of him covered their mouths with their paws. "Pikachu!" they all shrieked. "Are you alright? What's going on?"
Huh... three Buneary... Who knew Bun was a triplet? Hehhh... Hmm, I wonder what was in that Figy berry... He collapsed to the ground, watching as the trees above him swayed and danced around each other. Pretty...
"Oh no, you're confused! Um... um... cure for confusion, cure for confusion... Oh, I don't know! Here, try this!" She shoved something into his mouth.
Dazedly, he began to chew it. Upon swallowing, he felt his vision return. He blinked and slowly sat up, then shook his head. "Whoa..."
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine."
The Buneary sighed in relief. "Good. I'm glad that piece of Persim berry worked." She paused. He took that time to stand up. "Pikachu?"
"Hmm?"
"I thought... I thought Figy berries only confused you if... you didn't like spicy food."
He couldn't help blushing as he sheepishly threw his paw behind his head. "Aheh... oh, really? Well... what do you know?" Oh, crud... busted...
The Buneary bashfully hid behind her fluffy fur. "You don't like spicy food, do you?"
He lowered his paw and stared at the ground. "No... I don't..."
There was a long pause, then she pulled her fur over her face. "I'm so sorry! I had no idea! First the Cheri berries and now... Oh, I'm so sorry!"
He sighed, reaching out and patting her shoulder. "It's okay. I should've told you sooner anyway."
She lowered her fur to peer over the top of it. "I'm awful."
He shook his head, giving a tired smile. "No, I'm awful."
The Buneary paused, then shuffled her feet. "I promise I won't make you eat anything you don't like ever again."
Pikachu widened his smile. "Oh, don't worry about it." He paused. "What about you? Is there anything you don't like?"
She shook her head. "Nope. I like all berries."
He smiled again. "Oh, that's good. Now, come on... let's gather some Persim berries for dinner, okay?"
The Buneary dropped her fur and beamed. "Okay!"
Buneary smiled happily as she and the Pikachu walked side-by-side back to the burrow, each set of arms full of delicious Persim berries. Honestly, she was still feeling guilty over the whole spicy berry thing, but simply seeing the Pikachu smile was enough to make her smile.
Her trail of thought suddenly landed on the Pachirisu that they'd played tag with that afternoon and a question entered her mind. "Say, Pikachu?" she asked.
"Yeah?" the Pikachu replied.
"Why did Pachirisu call you 'big bro', anyway? He wasn't really your little brother, was he?" 'Cause that would mean that 'big sis' would also be his sister... she thought, and not a potential mate...
The Pikachu chuckled. "Nah. For some reason, he's always seen me as his big brother... and he's kinda like a little brother to me, you know?"
"Oh..." So, not only was 'Pachi Big' interested in him, but 'Pachi Small' saw him as a big brother? That was depressing.
The Pikachu suddenly stopped in his tracks. "Wait."
She stopped beside him. "What's-?"
She didn't even have to finish, for she heard and smelled exactly the reason why he'd told her to wait. She glanced off to the side, only to see a female Persian emerging from behind a nearby tree. Buneary froze in terror.
"Hmm..." the Persian said, "you must be pretty good to have noticed me, little mouse. I'm impressed."
"What do you want?" the Pikachu asked.
The Persian continued to prowl around them in a circle. Buneary felt like she was being caged in and it was terrifying her. "What else? A mouse and a rabbit have come wandering into my territory. I can't possibly pass up such a good meal."
Buneary's heart skipped a beat. She... she doesn't just want me? she thought. She wants him too? The very thought made her mouth run dry.
"Mom!" a voice called out before a male Meowth skidded onto the scene. "I told you I wanted to get back at the Rattata! These two don't matter to me!"
"Be quiet!" she yelled back, batting him away with her front paw. He rolled a few feet away. "I have no interest in your little revenge plan. Why would I go seeking out one Rattata when I have two tasty morsels right here?"
It's him... Buneary thought, still too shocked to either speak or move, the Meowth from a few days ago...
"But, Mom!" the Meowth whined as he climbed to his feet. "I nearly had him! Just give me one more chance and I'll-"
"I said be quiet!" the Persian snarled. The Meowth winced in response. "You had your chance and blew it. You're still as pitifully weak as you've ever been. Leave this to the professionals."
The Meowth whimpered as he slunk behind a tree. "Mom..."
The Pikachu moved until he was standing in front of Buneary. "Get behind me, Buneary," he said.
She nodded, knowing not to argue. "Okay," she replied.
"So..." the Persian said as she stopped to face the Pikachu, "you wanna go first, mouse?"
The Pikachu threw his pile of Persim berries to one side and took on a battle stance. "Here's the deal, cat..." he said, "you fight me. Leave Buneary alone."
She purred in response. "Well, I'll certainly fight you first, if that's what you want. Once I kill you, though, I'm going after her next."
"You won't be getting that far. Buneary, hop behind a tree and wait for me there."
Buneary wanted to help, but, since she knew that she couldn't, she had to agree. "Alright," she replied. "Be careful, Pikachu!" She quickly threw her own pile of Persim berries to one side and hopped behind the nearest tree. She peered around the side of it, keen to watch the inevitable battle.
"Alright. You ready to roll?" the Persian asked, crouching into a battle stance.
"As ready as I'll ever be," the Pikachu replied.
The Persian smirked, then opened her mouth. "Water Pulse!" A ball of water formed in front of her mouth before shooting towards the Pikachu.
The Pikachu dodged out of the way just in time, then powered up electricity in his cheeks. "Thundeeeerboooolt!" The electricity shot towards the Persian.
She quickly jumped out of the way and the attack electrocuted her son instead. After screaming in agony, he collapsed on the floor. His mother simply jumped around the Pikachu and opened her mouth again. "Again, Water Pulse!"
Another ball of water formed before hitting the Pikachu in the back and soaking him. He tumbled forwards in a roll, then quickly pushed himself to his feet and faced the Persian. Water was dripping from his yellow fur, but he was otherwise okay.
He landed on all four paws and charged at the Persian. "Quick-Quick-Quick Attack!"
He slammed straight into her stomach, causing her to double over in pain. A moment later, though, a ghostly paw formed over the top of her real one. "Shadow Claw!" She slammed it down onto the Pikachu's head.
Buneary flinched as she watched her beloved Pikachu crash to the ground, the impact kicking up a small amount of dust. He coughed once, then charged up his electricity again. "Thundeeeerboooolt!"
The Persian screamed in pain. Buneary was about to cheer for his victory when another ghostly claw appeared over the Persian's real claw. "Shadow Claw again!" She swung at the Pikachu, batting him across the forest and far away from her.
"Pikachu!" Buneary yelled in distress. No... she thought, stay calm... He can handle himself...
"Power Gem!"
A yellow ball of light formed in front of the Persian's mouth, growing steadily every moment, before propelling itself towards the Pikachu. It pelted him with such force that he screamed.
Buneary felt herself tearing up. No... no... he's supposed to have beaten her by now... Come on, Pikachu! Get up! You can do it!
The Pikachu gritted his teeth and slowly forced himself onto his four paws. Once again, he powered up electricity. "Thundeeeerb-"
"Dig!" the Persian yelled, quickly digging herself under the earth and disappearing from sight.
"Oh no..." Buneary whimpered. This was very bad news. Not only was this attack very hard to dodge, but, being a ground-type move, it was super effective against electric types.
"Go, Mom!" the Meowth cheered from behind his tree.
"Watch out, Pikachu!"
"A... Agility!" the Pikachu yelled, climbing to his feet and running around the area as fast as he could. Up and down he ran, making hairpin turns whenever there was a tree in the way, in a desperate attempt to avoid the Persian.
Soon, she burst out from the ground, ploughing straight into him and sending him flying. He hit the ground and skidded several feet, rolling and rolling before coming to a stop. He lay still far too long for Buneary's liking.
"Pikachu!"
She was about to hurry over to help him, but the Persian beat her to it, rushing over to the fallen electric mouse. Once she stopped, she smirked, rolling him back and forth with one paw.
"Pitiful little mouse," she sneered.
"Qu..." the Pikachu said, rolling to his feet and wincing, "Quick Attack!" He leapt into the air, striking the Persian square in the chest.
She skidded backwards, snarling at him. He, however, looked completely spent as he collapsed to the floor again.
Buneary jumped out from behind her tree, her heart thudding painfully in her chest. No, this couldn't be happening! Not to her beloved Pikachu! She tried to move towards him, to help him, to stop that evil Persian from finishing him off... but she couldn't move. The thought horrified her, but she was completely frozen with fear.
No, no, no! Come on, legs, move! Pikachu!
The Persian sneered. "Had enough now, mouse?" she asked. "Well, I guess it's time to finish you off."
Noooooo! Tears streaked down Buneary's face, but, no matter how much she tried, her legs simply refused to move. Pikachuuuuuu!
"Prepare to die!" The Persian bared her fangs, which hungrily dripped with saliva.
He's gonna die! He's gonna die! No! Please don't let this be real! Please don't let this be real!
The Persian, mouth open wide, didn't move from where she was standing. Buneary stood and watched, expecting the worst to happen, but the predator never budged an inch. Suddenly, she spotted a flicker of electricity crackling around the Persian's body and idly wondered what it was.
"Wha... What's going on? Why can't I move?"
A low chuckle came from the Pikachu as he very slowly dragged himself to his feet. Buneary felt beyond relieved at the sight. "Looks like my ability kicked in at just the right time," he said.
"Mom?" the Meowth asked.
"Ability?" the Persian screeched.
"Yeah..." the Pikachu replied, wincing whilst smirking, "a lovely little thing called Static."
The Persian snarled, wriggling her body around in a desperate attempt to regain mobility. "Curse you!"
"Darn..." the Meowth said, sounding amazed, "I guess that means Mom's ability is Technician... not Limber..."
Pikachu ignored him, still focused on the Persian. "Sorry, lady," he said, "but you're not going anywhere." He took a deep breath, composing himself, before his cheeks started sparking again. "Thundeeeer..." The Persian continued to struggle, trying so hard to break free of her paralysis, but nothing happened. The electricity around Pikachu grew as he stood on his hind legs. He clenched his fists and let the power fly. "Boooolt!"
The shriek that the Persian emitted upon electrocution likely could have been heard all across Eterna Forest. The more the attack continued, the louder her scream became. Eventually came the inevitable explosion, sending her flying across the horizon and far out of sight.
"Mom!" the Meowth cried out, running off in the direction that his mother had gone.
Pikachu smiled, wobbling on the spot for a few moments before collapsing to the ground, looking far too tired to get back up again.
Buneary gasped in the breath that she hadn't realised she'd been holding. "Pikachu!" she yelled, hopping to his side as fast as she could move.
Pikachu slowly cracked his eyes open, groaning at the instant sensation of aching all over his body. What on Earth had happened? He glanced around his surroundings, not able to move very much, thanks to the aching. Where was he? It was vaguely familiar, but he couldn't quite place it.
"Pikachu?" a meek voice asked.
His ears perked up as he recognised the voice. "Buneary?" he replied, trying to roll over. He flinched; okay, maybe that wasn't such a good idea.
"Are you okay?"
"Yeah... yeah... I just ache everywhere. What happened?"
There was a pause. "Well, you fought that Persian, remember? She managed to hurt you pretty badly, but you beat her."
He blinked, the memories suddenly flooding back. "Oh yeah..." He flopped back down onto what he now recognised as his nest. "Man, she sure gave me a run for my money."
"I got you a couple of Oran berries. Here."
An Oran berry suddenly landed in front of his face. "Oh, thanks." He reached out towards it, grabbed it and slowly pulled it towards him. Taking a bite out of it, he idly wondered how he could have been so stupid as to almost get both him and the Buneary eaten that day. He just hoped that he didn't encounter any more predators that were as strong as that Persian was.
Buneary felt immensely guilty as she stared at the dirt ceiling above her, the Pikachu breathing in a slow rhythmic pattern of sleep beside her. She'd failed him; she'd completely failed the one Pokemon that she currently cared most about in the world. It made her feel like scum.
Why hadn't she been able to help him? Why had she frozen at the most crucial time, as though she too had been paralysed? He'd almost died at the hands of that Persian... and she'd done nothing but stand there and cry.
She'd been so scared... so scared because she'd already known that she'd have stood no chance. Heck, the Persian had beaten the Pikachu to a pulp. If she'd intervened, she'd have been dead straight away.
The guilt continued to gnaw away at her gut nonetheless. She was weak... pathetic... and useless. What good was she to him if she didn't even have the guts to try to save him? Even if it would have been futile, at least she would have tried.
This was the last straw. She'd had enough; it wasn't just her that she needed to protect now, it was him too. Scowling in determination at the ceiling, she decided that now was the time to do something about it. She climbed out of the nest and carefully manoeuvred her way around the Pikachu, making sure not to wake him. Once outside, she stared into the dark distance and focused.
Okay... she thought, how do I go about this? Just how do I start training?
She had no idea, honestly, so she decided to simply start by thrusting punches at thin air. She did this for a while, being careful not to make any noise to wake the Pikachu. After she didn't know how long, her arms began to ache, but she stubbornly pressed on, even adding to the exercise by hopping up and down. She continued well into the night.
Pikachu stretched his muscles and yawned, feeling very refreshed after both the Oran berries and the great nap. Rubbing his eyes clean, he looked outside of his burrow. Ah, it looked like another beautifully sunny morning today; the perfect weather for his usual routine. Cheerfully, he turned to the Buneary, about to ask if she was ready to head down to the lake, but paused when he saw that she was still fast asleep.
He heaved a sigh; wow, this looked like the same predicament from the other day. Oh well... it looked like he'd have to wake her up again.
He gently poked her. "Hey, Buneary?" he asked.
"Nruh..." Buneary grunted, tucking her legs under her and snuggling into the nest.
Pikachu tilted his head at her, finding her behaviour rather odd. He poked her again. "Buneary."
"Nruh." She scrunched up her face.
He frowned, utterly perplexed, then poked her again. "Buneary!"
"Nruh!" She angrily swatted his paw away.
Pulling back his neglected paw, he felt really shocked by this action. Had the Buneary just tried to slap him? He watched silently as she pulled up a piece of the nest and covered her face with it, snuggling further into the makeshift bed.
Pikachu's ears drooped in confusion; just what the heck was up with her today? Did she not get much sleep? He had no idea that she was this grumpy in a morning.
Sighing, he lay back down. Oh well... he thought, may as well wait for her to wake up then...