I have started cross-posting this fic onto DeviantArt under the username "AshfallNuzlocke", and I may upload some art related to this fic there in the future.
Chapter Thirteen
Ash had gotten pretty used to the fact that people were going to give him strange looks.
"Pretty good, isn't it?" Ash said, smiling at his Pokemon. He got a few happy cries in return, he and his Pokemon all sitting under the shade of a large oak tree. Each had an ice cream cone in hand, which got plenty of strange stares from passersby. And when Ash had ordered the treats back in the small marketplace there had been only a look of confusion when asking if any of the flavors weren't safe for Pokemon.
Camphrier Town was a small place– one that reminded Ash of Pallet Town in a way– which was partly the reason why he had stopped here. That and along with what happened yesterday... he figured that his Pokemon needed a break.
So here they sat eating ice cream, letting the spring day waste away.
Amber was perched on Kindle's head, the Vivillon's eyes glowing as she tried to levitate her Pecha-flavored ice cream in front of her. The cone trembled, surrounded with a violet glow, but despite looking as if it were going to fall over the ice cream stayed in the air. Trails of melted ice cream dripped down the side, but this seemed to be what Amber wanted– flicking out her long tongue to drink it as if it were nectar.
Kindle sat cross legged, leaning up against the trunk of the tree, her golden gaze unfocused as she stared at her ice cream. Every now and then she'd carefully lick some of it, but the rest of the time she just seemed lost in thought. She seemed unconcerned to the Mago berry ice cream that dripped onto her paws, which surprised Ash considering how prideful she had seemed on her appearance before. Perhaps that was something that had faded with her evolution?
Nami was the only one whose ice cream hadn't melted, having happily eaten hers in several bites. Ash wasn't sure how she hadn't gotten a brain freeze from eating it so quickly, the Riolu just having settled next to him once she finished.
Reed hadn't even touched his cone yet, a vine holding the vanilla ice cream out in front of him. He sat a ways from the group, out in the sun instead of the shade, staring at his ice cream as it melted away in the sun. He had glanced at the others eating theirs, so clearly he knew what to do with it, but instead he just sat there– a neutral expression on his face.
"Everything okay, Kindle?" Ash asked, eyes uncertainly flickering towards the Braixen. The newly evolved Pokemon looked at him, looked down at her ice cream, then shrugged. He frowned. "You did want to evolve, right?"
"Xen," She said, slowly nodding her head, before licking her ice cream again. Ash wasn't quite sure what she was feeling– she didn't seemed to be sad, even with the far-off look on her face. The Braixen also seemed pretty adjusted to her new form, walking on her hind legs and using her front paws with no issues, and if she did want to evolve he didn't think evolution was the issue either.
Ash opened his mouth to ask another question, but before he could say anything a burst of yelling filled the air. Ash and his team all looked towards the marketplace as they heard the sudden shouting, the frustrated cries carrying all the way over to them.
A small little stall selling berries was where the commotion was taking place, the shopkeeper yelling at the top of her lungs at a brown shape that had leapt into her stall. The Pokemon was hastily gobbling down the berries as fast as it could, looking unfazed at the woman shouting. It wasn't until someone with a Pokemon approached that the Pokemon let out a startled caw, leaping off of the fruit stand and bolting through the marketplace as a Poochyena raced after it.
The Doduo had several berries in its twin beaks as it ran, both heads quickly trying to swallow the stolen goods, weaving between humans as they tried to escape the dark type on their trail. It seemed like the townspeople weren't surprised by the Doduo either, cries of frustrated "You again!" filling the air as the Doduo ran.
The flying type bolted out of the marketplace and towards the large stone walls that surrounded the small town. The Poochyena changed course, looping around so he could cut off the Doduo before he reached the western entrance of the town. The canine let out a deep snarl, standing in the center of the road as the Doduo scrambled for the exit.
"Doe!" The Doduo's twin heads cried out at the same time, stumbling to a stop. The Poochyena slowly advanced forward, a dark aura surrounding his teeth as he formed a Bite.
The Doduo turned on a heel and ran away from the path and right at the wall of the town. Its heads were lowered, and with a giant leap it jumped up at the wall. Large talons dug into the cracks of the stonework, useless wings flapping as the Pokemon attempted to scale the wall. The large jump had brought him a ways up– easily out of the reach of the snapping Poochyena below, and he managed to make it up several more feet of the vertical wall as he attempted to escape.
Ash flinched as the Doduo lost his footing, falling towards the ground– landing right on the awaiting Poochyena.
The flying type didn't hesitate, beaks gleaming with a Peck as he drove them into the Poochyena below him. The canine let out a cry of pain, before sinking his fangs into the Pokemon's downy side.
"Do! Oh!" The Doduo shrieked in pain, slashing out with its talons at the Poochyena's belly. The powerful kick was enough to knock the Poochyena off of it, cuts visible in the Pokemon's stomach. The Doduo rolled to his feet, and bolted away from the Pokemon as fast as he could.
Right towards Ash and his Pokemon.
Ash could see the desperation in the Pokemon's eyes, not even caring that he was running right towards a large group of trained Pokemon. It's only focus seemed to be getting away from the pursuing Poochyena– one head looking back at the dark type as it charged after them, the other one locked straight ahead on the oak tree they were sitting under.
Nami and Amber quickly scattered– Amber dropped her ice cream right onto Kindle as she bolted into the air. Nami faintly glowed white for a moment, before speeding away with a Quick Attack. Kindle seemed too startled by the sudden ice cream dripping all over her to do anything as the Doduo charged towards them– but Reed jumped straight into action.
"Bulba!" He snarled, tossing his ice cream cone to the side, firing a Razor Leaf at the flying type as he charged towards Ash. A few of the sharp leaves hit him, leaving several nicks in its side, but the Pokemon didn't slow its charge.
The Doduo bolted right past Ash, jumping up at the oak tree. Just like with the wall his talons dug into its side, the bark giving him much better leverage than the bricks had. The bird climbed right up the trunk and onto a high up branch, settling into the tree like he was a Pidgey. The Poochyena bolted to the bottom of the tree, barking furiously at the Pokemon above.
The Doduo glanced down, and swiftly climbed higher onto another branch. His feathers were puffed up, chest heaving as he curled up in the tree, staring down at everyone below.
"Good work Poochyena!" A voice called. "Finally got that annoying thing cornered!"
A man who seemed to be a sheriff of some kind was making his way over to the tree, along with the berrystand owner and several other people. Reed bolted across the grass and in front of Ash, looking out at the strange humans warily. The other Pokemon took a moment to regroup– Amber landing on Ash's head, Nami racing to his side and clinging to his leg, while Kindle remained covered in ice cream on the grass, looking about at the sudden chaos in confusion.
"You okay boy?" The sheriff asked, glancing at Ash while his Poochyena barked up a storm. "The pest didn't attack you, did it?"
"I'm fine," Ash said slowly, pushing himself to his feet. "Um... what exactly is going on?"
"Just dealing with a pest who should have been taken care of several weeks ago," The sheriff replied, glaring up at the Doduo above. "That thing keeps coming into town and stealing food. We've chased it off to route 5 a few times, but it keeps coming right back."
"That thing keeps ruining my harvests each week!" The lady from the berry stand cried angrily. "I'm going to wring those two little necks and–"
"Ma'am, I'll take care of this," The sheriff said.
"That thing has cost me so much money I'm going to–!"
"Ma'am– go clean up your stall!" The sheriff shouted, looking as if he had dealt with this before. "Poochyena's cornered the thing, I'll take care of this!"
The woman let out a huff– and the same moment Kindle lit herself on fire with a Flame Charge. Everyone jumped, turning to stare at the fire type as she burned the remains of the ice cream off of her. She let out a slight huff as the flames died down, brushing cinders and soot off of her, and made her way over to Ash's side. The berry stall keeper stared at the Braixen and then at Ash, before making her way back to the marketplace with several other of the townsfolk.
The Poochyena was still barking up at the Doduo, who was climbing up higher in the tree.
"Lay it off," He grunted at the canine, who finally fell silent. He glanced up at the Pokemon for a moment, then at Ash and the Pokemon with him. "Hey, you're a trainer, right?"
"Um... yes?" Ash said uncertainly.
"Do me a favor, would you?" The sheriff asked. "I don't have a flying 'mon, so do you think you could have your Vivillon chase that Doduo down from the tree?"
Brown eyes narrowed. "What are you going to do with the Doduo?"
"It's a pest, kid," The sheriff sighed. "Poochyena will put it down so it won't bother the folks here anymore."
Ash's stomach twisted, and he could feel Nami's aura reacting in the same way. Her paws dug into his leg, letting out a whimper, while the rest of his Pokemon remained calmly at his side. He took in a deep breath, fighting against the disgusted feeling.
"Why not just take it back to the wild?" Ash asked slowly, trying to keep himself from snapping at the officer.
"Like I said, we've ran it out to route 5 many times," He said, his Poochyena now circling the tree. "It comes back without fail, tearing up gardens and stealing from the market, it has no interest in leaving this place, and we need it gone."
Ash's eyes narrowed, because he had clearly seen the Doduo trying to run out the gates of the town– it had even tried to scale the town wall! ...Towards route 7 though– not route 5. He looked up at the Doduo in the tree, which was a strange sight for a field dwelling Pokemon, but it was only trying to climb higher. Ash knew there was no way he'd help someone kill a Pokemon, and he most certainly wasn't going to step to the side either and just let it happen.
"If you can have your little bug knock it down with a Gust it would be a big help and save me some time," The sheriff said, letting out another sigh. "Look, I'll even give you a reward. How about a TM– you trainers are always looking for those, right?"
Ash had no idea what a TM was, but he honestly didn't care. "You said you wanted the Doduo gone, so that necessarily doesn't mean dead, right?"
"It will just come right back–"
"It won't come back if it's in a Pokeball," Ash said, swinging his backpack off of his shoulder. "I, er, as a trainer am always looking for new Pokemon. So about you let me catch it? That would solve your problem, and I'd have a new Pokemon."
The sheriff regarded him for a moment, then shrugged. "I don't think that thing will be easy to train judging by all the trouble it's given us, but if you want it by all means go ahead. Saves me some paperwork," He waved a hand at his Poochyena, who slowly backed away from the tree. "This will probably just be something you'll box though."
Ash looked up at the Pokemon one more time, pulling a Pokeball out of his backpack. "Amber, Psybeam."
The Vivillon spread her wings open, rising up into the air. She fluttered slightly as a small wind rushed by, but looped up towards the top of the tree, weaving between the branches. The Doduo tensed as she drew near, beaks parting open and letting out a violent hiss. Amber didn't seem to care, eyes glowing purple as she fired a pulse of psychic energy out at the Doduo.
The flying type leapt down onto a lower branch, avoiding the Psybeam with ease. His beaks began to each glow with a Peck, all four eyes locked onto the butterfly as she swooped in for another Psybeam. It was fascinating to see how easily the Pokemon navigated the tree, leaping from branch to branch, long talons digging into the bark to keep him in place. For a creature that was built for running, he seemed quite at home up in the boughs.
But with the ability of flight on her side Amber had the upper hand– a Psybeam striking the Doduo in the chest as he tried to leap onto another branch. The force of the attack knocked him back, beaks snapping at twigs and branches as he crashed towards the ground. Ash flinched, while the Poochyena at the sheriff's side tensed. With a groan the Doduo rose to his feet, bruised but nothing broken, ready to bolt. Ash noted there was a bit of blood on his side from where the Poochyena had bitten him, but it didn't seem to be limiting the Pokemon.
"Stun Spore," Ash ordered, and Amber swooped down, releasing a yellow powder from the scales on her wings. The cloud engulfed the Doduo, the Pokemon choking on the spores as they clung to him, his muscles beginning to spasm. His movements became slow, heads jerking as he tried to move, but the paralysis had a strong hold on him.
"D-duo!" One head coughed out, a Peck glowing around its beak. He lashed out at Amber, the move only missing thanks to the Pokemon's slow movement's. She swooped up into the air, looking back at Ash for further instructions.
Ash saw no reason to further engage in the 'battle', as the only attacks the Pokemon was launching were in self defense. He tossed the Pokeball in his hand at the Doduo, watching as the bird was sucked inside. The sphere began shaking, rocking side to side as it attempted to bind the Pokemon to it. After several moments it went still– before bursting open with a wave of red light.
The Pokeball broke in half, the two shells flying in different directions as the Doduo broke free. Both heads let out a frustrated shriek, and he became highlighted in the white energy of a Quick Attack. With the surge of energy that came from the attack he rushed forward, jumping up and entangling Amber in his talons. The Doduo pinned her to the ground, muscles twitching from the parasysis, but still his twin beaks began glowing with a Peck.
"Reed– Tackle!" Ash ordered, and immediately the Bulbasaur bolted forward, lowering his head as he slammed into the Doduo's side, knocking him from off of Amber. Two sets of black eyes narrowed in on the new threat. The Doduo began to glow with Quick Attack once more– his only attempt to get around the paralysis, and charged at Reed.
The Bulbasaur held his ground, even as a set of talons was raked down his face. Claws broke through the skin, green blood running down his snout. Two vines snaked out from his bulb, awaiting orders.
"Do!" The Doduo growled, trembling as his muscles seized up.
"...Tackle again," Ash said, not wanting to hurt the Pokemon, but it was quite clear it wasn't going to go into a Pokeball willingly. Reed threw himself forward, the Tackle knocking the Doduo to the ground. The Bulbasaur lashed out with his thorny vines, wrapping them around the Pokemon's legs as it attempted to rise once more.
Ash withdrew a second Pokeball from his backpack, and once again he tossed it at the Doduo. It thrashed and quivered in Reed's vines, but the sphere collided with his side– a burst of red light drawing him into the Pokeball. Everyone watched in silence as the Pokeball shook on the ground, the Pokemon attempting to break free.
After a moment it went still, the Pokeball clicking as the Doduo was captured.
Reed reached out with a vine, picking up the Pokeball, before turning to face Ash. He headed towards his trainer, blood still running down his face– when suddenly he paused. A look of confusion passed over him– and then he was engulfed in a bright glow.
Startled, Ash raised an arm to block the flash as the Bulbasaur was engulfed in the light, his entire form beginning to grow. The bulb on his back swelled, thick fronds unfurling around the bud. The Pokemon was growing in height, legs thickening to support the new body. The vines from his bulb lengthened, briers and longer thorns forming along them. The evolutionary light then faded away, leaving an Ivysaur in its place. Ash stared at the Pokemon, who blinked back.
"...Saur," Reed simply said, voice now deeper.
"–And then after I rescued his Furfrou they put on a whole fireworks show!" Shauna said happily, throwing her hands up into the air.
A faint smile appeared on Ash's face. "Sounds like you enjoyed Parfum Palace then, I guess I missed out."
Ash had ran into Shauna shortly after leaving Camphrier Town, having gone as soon as he had captured Doduo. He had considered staying the rest of the day and settling off in the morning, but many of his Pokemon seemed to be eager to be moving on. There wasn't much in the towns that seemed to be made for Pokemon, and despite his attempts to make today a relaxing one it had ended up mostly one of strange stares as he interacted with his Pokemon.
"Well, what did you do? You were back in town right? Did you go to Shabboneau Castle?" Shauna asked, tilting her head with a smile.
...It was nice to be around someone that wasn't so cold, Shauna's cheerful demeanor had a way of making him relax. But at the same time Ash felt uneasy as well– not liking how easily she was able to push away the cruel world around her. She didn't blink at the death and suffering Pokemon went through, just happily moving along as if there was nothing wrong.
"...I caught a Pokemon," Ash said, glancing down at the Pokeball in his hand. He could see the Doduo through the clear lid, the shrunken Pokemon curled up and asleep, twin heads laying next to each other. He had yet to see any Pokemon awake while in their Pokeballs, all of them seemingly falling asleep within minutes of being recalled. "A Doduo that seemed to like to raid the townsfolk."
"Oh, I think heard about that Pokemon while I was there!" Shauna said. "You actually caught it? I heard pest Pokemon don't usually respond that well to training though..."
"I don't think I'm going to train it," Ash replied. "I just didn't want them to kill it for no reason... they seemed happy to have it gone though. The shreif even gave me this as thanks for catching it."
Ash reached into his pocket, pulling out a clear case with a purple disc inside. The word 'TM09' was printed on the case, and while it all seemed to be a nice quality of material Ash honestly had no idea what the thing even was. He hoped that she would be able to tell him exactly what it was– and much to his relief Shauna's eyes lit up in recognition.
"Ooo, a TM– awesome! Is it a psychic type move? Or maybe poison?" Shauna asked, snatching it from his hands and flipping it over. "Venoshock? So poison type move then!"
"...It's an attack?" Ash asked uncertainly, blinking.
"You have technical machines in Kanto, don't you?" Shauna asked, looking at him in confusion. "I mean, I know they're rare but still... They're kind of like Pokeballs, you know? But instead of storing an entire Pokemon it stores a Pokemon move."
For a moment Ash wasn't quite sure how to react, the idea completely foreign to him, but judging by the look on Shauna's face this was clearly something he probably should know. "Oh..." Ash said slowly, still not really knowing what it was, but he shouldn't act like he was in the dark. "Technical machines, I've just never actually seen one, you know..."
He hoped 'rare' was enough of an excuse to have never seen one before.
"Yeah, they're crazy expensive, I've only held like two others," Shauna said, flipping it over in her hands. "I'm guessing you don't know how to use them then? I can show you, if you have a Pokemon that can learn Venoshock."
Ash clipped Doduo's Pokeball onto his Pokebelt, pulling out Reed's instead. "How about Ivysaur?" He then paused, a thought crossing his mind. "Wait– TM's don't hurt the Pokemon, right?"
"Of course not," Shauna said, grabbing Reed's Pokeball out of his hand. "They just teach the Pokemon the basics of the attack. Of course you need to train them to master the move... but it's much quicker than teaching them the move without it."
She handed him the TM case, signaling for him to open it. Ash popped open the case, handing her the disc. Shauna carefully placed it onto the Pokeball, the hole in the center perfectly fitting around the release button. He watched as the technical machine began to glow, the purple light being drawn into the Pokeball. Through the top of the sphere he could see the light surrounding the resting Ivysaur, who twitched in his sleep.
"There you go!" Shauna chirped happily, placing the TM back into the case, which Ash closed. "I'd say there's enough energy left in it for a few more Pokemon, which is always nice, I heard some TM's break after one use," She handed him Reed's Pokeball. "And um... I think you can also teach a Pokemon a move by placing the TM against their skin, and they can absorb the energy and stuff, but doing it through the Pokeball is easier if they're too wild to approach, and..." She frowned as she trailed off. "I think that's all, I'm not too big into battling, so someone else could know more than me."
"Thank you," Ash said, pocketing the TM, but keeping Reed's Pokeball in hand. "I'll take all the help I can get, everything is just so different here in Kalos."
Shauna's eyes lit up. "I'm about to go check out the Pokemon Daycare further down the route, see if they have any rare Pokemon there I could look at. Want to come?"
"I was actually going to take a look at Doduo, see what I'm going to do with it," Ash said, shifting slightly. He had a feeling that a daycare wouldn't be like in his world, where the Pokemon were pampered and carefully looked after, and he honestly didn't want to see it. If something as wonderful as gyms could be turned into something so horrible...
She nodded. "Yeah, you probably want to see if it's worth training," She turned to leave, before pausing. "If you get the chance though you should at least go check out Parfum Palace– it was so pretty!"
"Maybe I'll check it out later," He said with a small smile, and Shauna gave him a cheerful wave– before running down the path. As soon as her back was turned his smile faded though, and with a sigh he looked down at the Pokeball in hand, pressing the release button.
Reed appeared in a burst of red light, the Pokemon stretching as he was called out. He glanced about, before turning his gaze towards Ash. He then paused, frowning slightly, the pink petals on his back shifting.
"...Saur?"
"Apparently you were just taught the move Venoshock, do you want to give it a try?" Ash asked.
The Ivysaur shifted his petals again, before taking on a battle stance. He closed his eyes, a purple glow visible from within his closed flower. A stream of toxic energy was fire straight up into the air, globs of poison raining down on them. Ash quickly stumbled back, watching as the toxin fizzled as it hit the ground. Reed seemed unaffected at the poison that hit him, just simply lowering his head in a submissive manner as his trainer scrambled to avoid the attack.
"Not too bad for your first time," Ash said. "And if you can learn Poison Powder or Toxic it'll be a really strong move... but for now I think you should worry about your aim, you wouldn't want to accidently hit anyone else."
Reed nodded in agreement, but didn't say anything.
Ash made his way around the lingering puddles of poison as they sizzled away, reaching for his Pokebelt, pulling off several other Pokeballs. Bursts of light filled the air as he released the rest of his team– Kindle, Amber, and Nami appearing out from of the spheres. Finally he only held the Doduo's Pokeball in hand, and he turned to face his Pokemon. Amber had landed on Reed's blossom for a moment, before she swooped around and settled on the Braixen's head instead.
"Okay, I'm going to let out Doduo now that we're out of the town, see if we can calm it down enough to talk," Ash said, holding up the Pokeball. "We need to figure out what we're going to do with him, because I'm not leaving him locked up in a Pokeball."
"Xen?" Kindle asked, crossing her arms.
"I'm not adding anyone to the team unless they want to," Ash said– knowing the only Pokemon Kindle had approved of so far was Reed. She seemed to have warmed up to Amber as well, not even blinking at the bug as she sat on her head. "I just want to calm him down and find a good place to release him. I don't want you guys to battle him, but just make sure he doesn't attack anyone either. That was a bit too close for comfort earlier with Amber."
Reed summoned two vines from the base of his bulb, while Nami went and ducked behind the nearest tree. Amber drifted up into the air, while Kindle summoned a small burst of flames into the palm of her paw. Ash tapped the release button on the Pokeball, and with a burst of red light the Doduo took form in front of them.
The flying type raised its two heads, glancing around. He was healed from his battles earlier, and this fact seemed to surprise him. Still he didn't hesitate– the Doduo sprinting forward in a blink of an eye. He raced past the Pokemon surrounding him, darting for the tree Nami had taken shelter behind. The Riolu let out a startled yelp, but without missing a beat the Doduo charged straight up the trunk, large talons digging into the bark. He scurried up and across a branch, pausing for a moment– before swinging his entire form down.
Ash stared as the Doduo hung upside-down from the branch, his talons keeping him secured to the branch. His long black necks craned down, beaks parting open into a hiss at Ash, small stubby wings twitching at his side.
He raised an eyebrow. "What are you, a Zubat?"
The Doduo let out screech, heads swaying side to side in what was clearly an attempt to drive him away. Kindle and Reed were at Ash's side, attacks ready to be fired at the Pokemon if he were to lash out. Amber fluttered forward, the Vivillon not looking threatened at all as she landed on the same branch as the Doduo. He let out another warning screech, snapping at her with a Peck, causing Kindle to tense.
"Listen, I can't release you right here, because you're still so close to town that I'm sure that they'd just come after you again," Ash said, gesturing towards the walls of the town a ways down the road. The Doduo twisted one head, looking at it with narrowed eyes, but kept the other head trained right on them. "I can take you to the route on the other side of town, since I'm pretty sure I saw more of your kind on the way here, but the sheriff mentioned that you never stayed there."
The Doduo let out a screech again.
Not from there. Nami's voice entered Ash's mind, her words accompanied by a feeling of longing. He instantly knew that the feeling wasn't hers, but rather she was showing him what the Doduo was feeling. He hesitated for a moment, knowing that he could do this for himself with his own aura abilities... but he didn't want to use them.
Ash furrowed his brow, pulling his thoughts away from aura, trying to translate the telepathy and the emotions. "So you're not from route 5? Can you tell me where your home is then?"
The Doduo watched him warily, both sets of eyes locked on him. He swung back and forth for a bit, before swinging himself so he was sitting right side up on the branch. It was just as strange of a sight as seeing him upside-down, the Pokemon not being a natural tree dweller. He regarded Amber next to him, before letting out a low caw at Ash.
Ash waved a hand at the Pokemon next to him, telling them to stand down. Reed's vines retracted right away, while it took Kindle a moment longer to smother out her attack. Doduo bobbed up in the tree for a moment longer, clicking his beaks together and letting out several more caws. Ash had no idea what he was trying to say, and when he looked at Nami at the base of the tree he only felt the sensation of longing once more. The Riolu wasn't a true telepath, Ash only being able to pick up on her signals thanks to his own aura, and it most definitely wasn't a stable translation.
"...We're heading west at the moment," Ash said, pointing down the path for emphasis. "You can travel with us if you'd like until you can get home, I'm guessing that it will be safer to travel with a trainer than alone in the wilds."
His twin heads swung side to side for a moment, and then the Doduo gave a single nod. He leapt down from the tree, landing in front of Ash, stance tense– but for once he wasn't attempting to lash out or run.
"...Do you want a name?" He hesitated before asking this question, since this was something that he never did, but names seemed to be important to the Pokemon here.
The Doduo snapped its beaks, then gave another nod, both heads calling out together. "Doe!"
"Um, okay then, let's see..." He scanned the bird, racking his brain for a suitable name. His mind instantly went back to the books he had read back at Lysandre's estate, having spent plenty of time reading them. "You're a bird, so, er... an avian. Avi...Ava? Aviary? Or how about Avery?"
Ash took the loud screech as a yes.
Caught Avery, Doduo, route 5. Lv 10, male. Quirky, Likes to relax.
Yveltal silently stood on the beach, cold blue eyes emptily staring out at the waves. The sun had yet to rise over the cliffs that towered behind him, leaving the sky an empty gray. It was a peaceful morning, but despite this there was not a single sign of any Pokemon on the shore. No Clauncher scurrying in the shallows, no Wingull roosting up on the rocky cliffside. There was nothing but silence save for the water, gently lapping up against the beach.
The legendary of death shifted, closing his eyes as a long sigh escaped him. His human form was the same as always– pale skin, long black hair– but for once there was no gleam in his eyes, no cruel smile tugging at his lips. He simply turned away from the water, walking a ways down the beach, feet sinking softly into the sand.
"Well?" He said, a slight edge in his voice despite the calm look on his face. "Are you just going to hide away all day– or actually make yourself useful?"
The air in front of him shimmered, blue eyes shifting to watch as the creature pulled itself into view. The ghostly being hovered several feet in front of him, bright emerald eyes watching him fearfully. A pair of horns curled up from her head, golden hoops hanging from them. She took one of the rings in her hand, grasping it nervously as she stared at Yveltal.
'Hi, Father,' Hoopa said quietly, gaze shifting away as they made eye contact.
"What do you want?" He snapped, crossing his arms impatiently.
'Hoopa is here to report about the Hall of Origins,' She said quietly.
"You were supposed to do that days ago– but instead you've just been cowering every morning," The ghost type stiffened up as he said this, and he rolled his eyes. "Yes, I could sense you."
Hoopa let out a whimper, slowly sinking to the ground. Yveltal could feel her aura wavering, fear rushing through her. He watched her incredulously as she sank to the ground, tears of distress forming in her bright green eyes. He let out a long sigh, pressing his fingers against his temple. Did she think he was blind? That he wouldn't notice her hovering invisible every morning– clearly too frightened to tell him what had taken place within the Hall of Origins.
"You are absolutely pathetic," He muttered.
'Hoopa sorry,' She whimpered, the response automatic. 'Hoopa is sorry, Hoopa is–!'
"I don't care what you are!" He snarled back, his frustration spiking alongside his aura. The dark light flared up around his form, causing her to shrink back. "Just tell me what you found– and then get out of my sight! I created you– and if you insist on being worthless then I will replace you!"
His words had the same effect they always did, the fear in her eyes melting away into a raw terror. Tears were running down her face, and she struggled to bring herself back into the air. Every limb was shaking as she slowly rose up, trying to gather the energy to speak. There was a tremble in her voice, and she was unable to meet his gaze.
'Hoopa was only in the Hall for a few minutes!' She cried out, making Yveltal pause. His eyes narrowed, her hesitance to actually report what she had found during her mission at last making sense. He glowered down at her, and she sputtered out a few more words before he could reply. 'Hoopa could not stay longer– Hoopa would have been found! You said not to get caught so Hoopa had to leave! Hoopa had to!'
"Is that so?" He said slowly, voice low, but the young Pokemon reacted as if he had screamed. She flinched back, hands grasping the golden ring in her hands even tighter than before.
'H-hoopa did gather information!' She cried, stumbling over her words. 'The Others, they are worried about Mew's world, s-since you took your Pariah... that world grows more fragile and...' Hoopa looked up at him, as if hoping this would be enough to placate him. But this was something he already knew– and it was Mew's own fault for placing the balance of her world on a mortal– a human of all things.
"Hmm," He replied, looking down at his nails, uninterested.
'And, um,' She swallowed. 'Mew said that Xerneas is not coming to the Hall... Hoopa think she's sad-scared...?'
Yveltal went still.
Hoopa flinched as she trailed off, clearly expecting some retaliation for bringing back nothing, but Yveltal had not moved at inch. Confused, she peered up at him, but only an unreadable expression covered his face. His hands slowly curled at his sides, his breathing becoming slightly ragged as a sneer crossed his face.
"Don't," He spat, "Say her name."
She looked at him in confusion. '...Mew? Wait, Hoopa mean– Hoopa sorry– Hoopa won't–!'
"Mew?" He replied, a deep growl rattling his throat– one that sounded quite unnatural coming from a human form. "Oh, she's a whole other topic, Hoopa dear. She's Fa– Arceus' favorite, leaving him blind to the horrors she's caused to the realms."
'H-huh...?'
"She's the one that created humans after all," Yveltal snarled quietly. "As if creatures based off of our powers forms were not enough, she then formed a species to mimic our creation form. She saw it fitting to give them the power of creation."
'Humans can... create?' She blinked in confusion.
Yveltal's eyes flickered towards Hoopa, having forgotten that she was even there. He stared at her for a moment, the bitterness still running through him with a fierce intensity. Humans, the most fragile of all mortals, but as he had come to learn they were the most dangerous.
"Just a shadow of what our kind is capable of," He replied after a moment, holding up a hand and allowing flickers of his Dark Aura to dance across his palm. "But enough that they have became too... progressive," He sneered, smothering out the black aura as he brought his hand into a fist. "You've seen the way they infect this world, Hoopa, and they do the same to many others. I never wanted them here– but she insisted– and look where that landed her!"
'Hoopa... Hoopa does not understand.'
"Of course you don't," He snorted. "You've barely lived a millennium– nothing but a child, a glorified portal," He reached out grabbing her chin, forcing the quivering Pokemon to look him in the eyes. He gave Hoopa a smile– but it only terrified the Pokemon. "Just remember, Hoopa, it's your place to keep this world balanced. Do as I say, and worry about nothing else."
'Yes, Father,' She said slowly, passing a golden ring from hand to hand. She swallowed, before looking up at him. 'Remember Hoopa said Hoopa had to leave? So Hoopa would not be discovered?'
"I'm not deaf."
'Hoopa had to leave... because one of them sensed Hoopa,' She whispered. 'They saw the aura of Hoopa and... and Mew flew over to see so Hoopa ran but... but she... but she thought Hoopa was Xerneas.'
Hoopa was watching him, as if hoping he'd have some answer, but the legendary had once again gone completely still. Flickers of aura danced across his form, the dark light fading just as quickly as they had formed. Blue eyes locked on Hoopa, but his mind was lost in a different time. Hoopa brought her ring close to her heart, tensing at each spark of aura that came from him, but she held his gaze.
A clenched fist opened, a churning mass of darkness surging to life in his palm. Hoopa had no time to react as the Dark Pulse was fired from his hand. The searing energy scorched her skin, knocking her out of her levitation, and she crashed into the sand. She didn't even cry out, just a gasp of pain escaping her as she clutched her burnt skin.
"Don't say her name!" Yveltal roared, voice amplified far beyond what his human frame should allow. He stormed forward, Hoopa curling up as his shadow fell down across her. He glowered down at the trembling Pokemon, another Dark Pulse forming in his hand before he found himself coming to a stop.
He had seen this scene before, Hoopa laying curled up in the sand, though the memory carried a much more brutal imagine. Emerald eyes opening for the first time, awakening in a world of pain. A form barely recognizable, slashes and blood from talons being raked across her skin, deformities left from ruthless attacks. There was no shivering nor trembling compared to the way she trembled now, just the unblinking gaze of a young Pokemon. A pink aura danced about her form, the light healing each wound it touched.
'...Papa?' Her voice was a whisper, but it jolted Yveltal out of the memory. He blinked once, taking in the cowering form of Hoopa.
"Don't call me that," He hissed, turning on a heel. A burning feeling was taking hold in his chest, the raw anger churning under his skin, a sharp bitterness stabbing his heart. He didn't offer any other words to Hoopa, simply allowing the sparking Dark Aura to consume him.
His human form collapsed in on itself, turning to a raw energy as he rose up into the sky. The aura crackled in response to the emotions running through him, the hatred overcoming the painful sorrow that he had struggled so long to bury. He rushed across the land, a chill lingering in the air as his aura form pulsed, miles becoming only a moment.
It descended down onto a dark cave, sensing an aura that had become familiar over the millennia, bright compared to the dim light that shone from mortals. It only took seconds for him to retake a physical form, the aura twisting about as he once again found himself standing in a human form.
His blue eyes were now dark though, stormy and distant as they focused on the one he had been seeking. The figure in the cave shifted, long gray hair shifting as she turned to face the approaching presence. Ayzee's heavy gaze only watched him for a moment, before fear flooded her face. Aura still danced about Yveltal, his bitterness rolling off of him in litteral waves.
Ayzee couldn't move, the grip of his presence stronger than ever. The chill of the cave had become arctic-like, all warmth being sucked away as Death stood.
"You killed her," Yveltal hissed, while the ancient king remained motionless– unable to even flinch as the tendrils of darkness filled the cave. A red light surrounded Yveltal's hand, the Psychic surrounding Ayzee's throat as she was dragged towards him. Unable to struggle, and barely even able to breath, his talon-like nails dug into her skin. "You murdered her!"
Had any other being been in his presence, they would have withered away from the unreigned energy pouring from him– but for Ayzee it was a hell she had experienced before. His rage was a fury she hadn't witnessed from him in centuries, and seeing it again brought nothing but terror. She hung frozen in his hold, blood dripping from where he clutched her in his dagger-like grasp.
There was a vengeance in his eyes, a deranged gleam for justice that she had served many times over.