Drilbur - the Mole pokemon
"One, two, three," I twirl to my rhythmic counting, with my claws spread out. "One, two three," I just love dancing. "One, two, three," I'm want to shine with all the other dancing pokemon!
"Dillera, what do you think you are doing?" my father scolds me and his voice makes my ears ring... If we weren't in this cold, dark cave, there wouldn't be such a strong echo.
"N-nothing, father" I stop twirling and lower my head. I got caught in my dancing again.
"We are not here to play around! You have training to do!" he continues shouting. I really irritate him...but...but I can't control myself. I have to dance.
"Yes, father" I don't raise my head. I don't want him to see my sparkling, sad eyes... And I don't want to see him.
"Now spin, but dig into the ground, not just twirl on the surface," he let out some steam and seems calmer now.
I don't dare to not obey him and spin even faster than before. This way it doesn't really remind of a dance and I can concentrate more. I close my grey, almost silver claws above my head and jump up, then dive down, to the hard and cold ground. My claws quickly and easily get any earth out of my way, as I swim around underground.
I know he feels where I am and I really don't want to surface. I'll let him cool down for a few minutes. Then I'll dig myself out and say that it's almost supper and we will have to go home. If there is one thing my father fears - it's my mother, especially when we are late for something.
I quickly start finding my own tunnels and slide through them, to launch at untouched ground once more.
It's not hard to do this. I don't understand why father wants me to train so much.
Well, I'm his only child. I bet he dislikes me just because I'm a female and not a son he could be proud of. I'm not strong and don't show much wish to train. That irritates him. A son wouldn't act this way.
Alright. I think that's enough.
I dig to the exit and finally surface.
"It's almost supper. We should get back," I suggest.
Father looks at me with a sneer. He won't even try to spare my feelings. He knows I hate this and will do anything to get back home as fast as I can.
He slams his giant silver claws to the ground and all my tunnels get destroyed. The earth is once more somewhat the same as before. And that means I will train tomorrow, the same as I do almost every day... What a bother.
I don't wait for him and walk out first, keeping a fast pace, while he slowly goes after me. Of course the fastest way to get home would be to dig to the ground and find one of the many tunnels, leading to our underground cave, but I never do that. I go home on foot and to the only entrance that is above ground.
I think father feels a little responsible about me and doesn't want me to wander off alone, so he follows me, instead of quickly getting home with Dig.
...it doesn't matter. I don't care.
I prefer the green wilderness to the pitch-black tunnels.
"Welcome back you two. So how did the training go?" my mother - a gorgeous Sandslash, greets us both at the entrance to our cave home, but I just walk past her and don't even raise my head.
I can feel my father's angry look, but I will not stop acting this way, until he stops making me train.
"Honey, what happened?" mother goes after me and probably throws the same angry look at my father. She was always happy to have a daughter and always showed her warm feelings to me. That's why I love her. "Was he making you train too hard again?" she asks worriedly.
"I did not! She never fully trains! She always slacks off or starts dancing!" my father bursts and I flinch from his voice. Now I always do that.
"Sweetie..." my mother also thinks it is good to train, but at least she understands my dreams of dancing more than my father.
"It's always the same with her! She can't properly train!" he continues yelling and I run off. I can't stand him!
I feel tears conjuring up in my eyes. Why does he make me train, when he knows I won't?
"Now see what you did?!" I hear my mother, when I hide in my room in the cave and roll a boulder as a door. "Why make her train, if she hates it?!"
"You know well enough how much she will need that! She will only thank me when that's all over!"
"But maybe there's an easier way. Maybe make her train less than the whole day?!"
"Are you crazy?! She's already behind!"
They keep yelling at each other about the same things and my head starts hurting again. I hate to be the object of their arguments, but I'm sick of torturing myself, by trying to do something I hate.
I dig myself out of my room, to the surface. The sun is low and so crimson that the whole sky dyes with similar colors.
I didn't eat since morning, but their arguments got rid of my appetite.
But I do feel weak. I don't want to roam around the forest and meadows today, so I just lie down on the luscious green grass and relax. I can hear the breeze playing in the beautiful meadow. a few bug type pokemon are still buzzing too, but soon they will go to sleep. Probably so will I. I guess it wouldn't be such a bad idea to sleep here.
But I hear footsteps coming from the cave.
"Sweetie, you need to eat. Come back home," mother pleads with a soft and warm voice.
...I think for a moment and stand up. Mother seems tired. Probably because of all the yelling... What will happen if they split up because of me? Or...maybe they'll just get rid of me.
"Let's go," she extends her arm with sharp claw-like fingers and I grab on to it with my right claw. She smiles warmly and we go back to the cave...
I don't want to see him... I hope he isn't there...
But the kitchen is empty and me and mother calmly eat our fried berries. Mother is a wonderful cook. I always love her food.
"Can I go back outside?" I ask when I'm done. I feel much calmer there.
"...well alright," mother agrees after she thinks for a bit. "But don't stay there for too long. You need your rest," she smiles and goes to her cave room.
...I'll only rest there. I can't rest inside these dark caverns and tunnels.
I get back to the meadow and fall once more. The sun isn't in the sky anymore and the white moon took its place. Some would think that it's just as dark at night outside, than in a cave, but they're wrong. The outside is never dark. The stars and the moon always give light and if it's cloudy, I just know that they are simply hidden, but still as close as always.
Of course when it rains I can't stay outside, but this night is clear as a crystal and there's no threat.
Suddenly I hear something. It sounds like a chant, then a harp joins in. I get up and look in that direction. It's probably deep in the forest. I see some light I didn't notice before.
That sounds like fun. I smile and run off towards the light.
The sounds grow stronger and the light shines like a little warm sun, being covered momentarily by the trees and bushes. Probably some fire types or torches.
Then I hear drums. A slow, steady beat.
And I finally emerge out of the forest, to the bright clearing.
Pokemon - numerous species, like Lilligants, Roselias, Kirlias, Gallades, Abras, Kadabras, Sableyes, Medichams, Pawniards, Volbeats, Illumises, Bunearies, Lopunnies, Riolus, Mienshaos and so many more and they are all playing instruments or...dancing.
My heart flutters, seeing those gorgeous and graceful moves. They twirl, spin, move with their partners as if they were swimming in that wonderful music and letting themselves go.
It looks like a dream. The sparkling from the dancing makes me think it really is, but I know there are moves that conjure up those sparkles... and they usually have an effect.
But they probably don't emit any paralyzing, poisoning and other spores, because they would suffer as well.
"It's always nice to see a new face," someone comes to me, as I drown deeper into the unreal view.
But then I snap out and turn to the pokemon that spoke to me. A male Mienfoo... He is at least two times taller than me.
"U-um..." I'm not sure what to say. Thank him? Apologize? Just leave?
"Calm down. It's alright. We welcome anyone who has a wish to dance in the night's music," he smiles. "And you do it without even thinking," he observes me and only then I realize I was moving to the beat of the drums. Only my hips were moving and claws rising from the ground a bit, but I really couldn't refuse the music and the dancing.
I fluster from the Mienfoo's remark. I have so little power over my body... But he says it's alright...so...maybe it's not that bad.
"Come on. Let's dance," he takes my right claw and pulls me towards the dance floor. He releases me a little and I can't help but spin a few times. Then I get caught by him again, this time, both my claws are in his little, yellow paws.
It all happened so suddenly, but I didn't fall and even stayed with the rhythm... But I guess this was that Mienfoo's effort the most... Or does this come to him naturally?
"Hey, enough with the thinking," he laughs and turns me under his arm, once more catching me in his paws. "Just give in to the music. Let yourself go."
We start waltzing, similarly to the other couples around. But they all seemed like professionals. Especially one pair - A Gothitelle and a Gallade. They just looked... magical and I caught myself staring at them. I quickly lower my head, until someone else notices my staring.
"You are a natural dancer. A few more nights like these and you will be on their level," the Mienfoo speaks again... He noticed! It seems he notices everything! I feel so embarrassed. I must be completely red. "Oh my, how rude of me," we stop dancing and he lets go of my claws and then bows. "I didn't even introduce myself. My name is Melio. And what is your name?" he takes my right claw once more.
"I-I'm Dillera," I really tried not to stutter... but that Mienfoo truly must have a gift of wooing the female pokemon and making them feel the way... I do.
"What a gorgeous name," he spins me again.
And then we continue dancing. It felt like I just drifted into the music, like nothing even mattered. I just closed my eyes and danced with Melio all night. Every time I shortly opened my eyes, I saw his smiling face and those sparkling, gorgeous, red eyes looking right at me. It prolonged my joy. I had never been happier than that night.
But every good thing comes to an end. The sun starts rising and all the pokemon have to return from where they came from. A few even Teleport themselves and others.
"We will come back here everyday this week," Melio says as he looks around. He has to go too. "Won't you come as well?" he spins me one last time and, after I nod, gives me a big grin. "I'll be waiting."
He runs off with a Mienshao that danced wonderfully, when I saw her.
And I start running back home too. It's early morning... What will my parents do now... Will they freak out that I wasn't home all night? ...I hope they didn't even notice.
As I run to one of the tunnels, leading to my cave room, I feel how out of breath I am. The dancing didn't tire me at all, but this running...
I slip through the tunnel and curl up in my bed made out of dirt. My parents aren't up yet, or at least I can't hear them. I hope I can sleep for at least a few hours.
"Sweetie, come for breakfast," I hear my mother's voice... Did I sleep? It seems so. I feel more energetic.
But it couldn't be much more than an hour. It seems I only needed to sleep from the running through the forest and meadow... The dancing gave me energy, rather than took it.
"I'll be right there," I yawn and sit up in my bed.
That dancing really happened, right? And Melio isn't just a hallucination?
...I know it was real.
As I walk around the underground tunnels that are my home, I get to the kitchen, where both of my parents are present. Mother smiles at me and continues eating her berries, but father doesn't even raise his head... It doesn't matter.
I eat the fresh, juicy berries and feel those different tastes mixing in my mouth and making my tongue tingle from sourness or sweetness. Mother always picks the best combinations.
My father stands up, as he has finished his berries.
"Eat quickly and let's go. You need to catch up with your training," he says with a cold and rough tone.
I stop chewing the berries. I don't even want to swallow them anymore. Bitterness appears out of nowhere and overwhelms my body.
...But fine. I'll make him proud of me at least today.
I finish the berries and go after father, as we climb out of our cave. The sun is just a little bit higher than when I got back. I look back at the forest, while still walking. No signs of any peculiar pokemon. There are only the ones that are always seen in the meadow and forest. No Gothitelles, Abras, Lucarios or any others that I saw dancing. Just plain bug or grass type pokemon.
A little bit sad...
We enter the dark cave and father immediately orders me.
"Rapid Spin."
I don't show any agreement or disagreement and just spread my claws that start glowing silver. Then I breathe in deeply and spin as fast as I can. I can't drive myself too well when I spin like this, but this time I quickly spin towards a boulder and cut it many times before stopping to catch my breath.
My claws went almost all the way through the boulder that was about a few meters in width.
"Hmmm..." father lets out a strange sound... I can't understand if it's positive or not. "Now use Metal Claw."
I draw back my right arm and concentrate. The power starts conjuring up in that claw and it glows silver, just like when I used Rapid Spin. But suddenly the claw turned heavy and I almost fell back from the weight.
...But today I will work my hardest. I won't let a thing like this make me give up.
I start running towards the boulder and jump up. I was afraid I won't raise my claw enough, but I make it and the metal claw slashes the boulder in half.
...Well, almost. It didn't fall. So many cuts and slashes, but the boulder still stands... What did I do wrong?
"Hmmm..." father repeats the sound from before, but it doesn't sound neutral anymore... Negative. "Use Rock Slide."
I raise my claws to the ceiling and make several white orbs appear above the damaged boulder. Then rocks start pouring out of the orbs and each hit the boulder, making it crack even more and finally...
It completely splits in two and the two sides fall to opposite directions.
I turn back to father, thinking to see the same cold face, but I saw something else... A-a tiny smile. But the moment he saw that I turned back, the smile vanished and he just coughed, covering his mouth with his giant left claw.
"Time to learn Earthquake," he got back to his serious, cold self. "Raise your claws and give them as much energy as possible. Then, slam them to the ground."
I turn away and face the crumbled boulder. A new move... Sounds simple enough.
I do as father said and raise my claws. I try to give my claws all my energy and they glow so much they start blinding me, so I close my eyes.
*SLAM!*
Giant shock waves spread from my claws all around the cave. Everything trembles, even me. Luckily, there aren't any stalactites that would rip off the ceiling and fall on me and father.
But the cave's walls start getting fissures that spread from the ground to the ceiling. Small rocks start crumbling down on us, but as my energy depletes and the shock waves disappear, it seems everything's fine and will not get destroyed anymore... I hope so.
I turn back to father once more. I-I think his eyes are sparkling... Is he...crying?
"Now there's nothing left for me to teach you. All other moves you can learn are very similar to the ones you know, like Drill Run - it's the same as Dig, but instead of spinning underground, you can launch into the opponent. Fissure is very similar to Earthquake, but you only need to use one claw," he turned away and looked outside, at the forest that is away from us only by a meadow. "When the time comes, you will be ready."
And then he just walks out. He's obviously heading towards our cave...
Usually, I walk in front of him, but now he just... left me.
...But I don't have anything to do until... the night. So I want to go back home too.
Father quickly dives into the meadow and the earth bellow it, but I stay above ground. I feel kind of... lonely.
"Back already?" mother asks with a smile. "Did something happen?" then her smile changes into a worried one.
"No. Everything's fine. Father said there's nothing more he can teach me," I explain, though my face is a little confused too.
"Oh, I'm so glad, sweetie," mother hugs me tight and after a minute, let's me go and grins. "Let's celebrate with a special dinner. I'll go get the rare berries," she strokes my head and ventures into the many tunnels of our cave home. The rare things are in the lowest parts of the cave, filled with dead ends that make anyone, but the three of us, get lost.
After about ten minutes, mother comes back with 9 Lansat Berries. I only tasted the orange, star shaped berry when mother first found a tree growing these and let me at least know how the berry tastes like. It was spicy, sour, sweet - so many tastes in one simple berry. It was delicious.
And now, mother will even prepare it and give it more taste. My mouth starts watering. I can't wait.
"I guess it's too early to prepare these, but when I do, the berries will be ready in about half an hour. You can get some rest till then," mother suggests and takes some simple berries from the shelves where all the simple food is. "Eat these," she hands me a few Pecha berries. "I hope they will suffice until dinner.
I start eating the berries and go to my room. I bet the smell of the Lansat berries being prepared will start driving me crazy, when mother decides to make dinner.
I roll the boulder on my cave room's round door frame, to not let the wonderful smell in... But it's obvious my plan will fail, as there are many holes between the boulder and the door frame.
Oh well. If it gets too bad, I'll go outside.
I curl up in my bed and only then try to figure out what father meant. For what should I be ready? For what did I have to be trained for? It's not like I'm the fighting type. I want to dance, not fight... But maybe father trained me, because one day I will have to?
It doesn't seem I can figure this out on my own.
I manage to take a nap, until the amazing smell of cut, crushed and boiled soup from Lansat berries reaches me and makes me immediately wake up. Mother didn't call yet, but I know the soup will be ready soon so I go to the kitchen.
The beautiful Sandslash is already pouring the soup into three bowls and father is already sitting at the table. He seems to be controlling himself more than me, even though he has been exposed to the full scent more than me... Well, I guess that's no surprise.
"Sit, sweetie," mother smiles, as she puts my bowl on the a little rough-edged stone table above my stone seat. She doesn't have to tell me twice.
I quickly dig in. The strong sweet, sour and spicy flavors fills my mouth. The taste is even more intense than the first time I tasted it, though it must have been diluted with water.
"It's wonderful, mother," I smile so much even my eyes close and I hear my mother's sweet giggle.
"Well thank you, sweetie. I feel wonderful that you enjoy my cooking so much."
"Yeah. It might be the last meal you eat with us," father whispers, but I hear him and my eyes open, while my smile disappears.
"W-what do you mean, father?"
"Honey, why would you say that to her?" the Sandslash throws a worried glare at the Excadrill. "That might not happen in a long time."
...They are talking about something I don't know... I hate it when they do this.
"Could you just explain to me?" I ask, but with a rather harsh tone. I'm just sick of these weird secrets.
"When you evolv-" father speaks, but mother interrupts him.
"Don't worry, sweetie. When the time comes, we will explain everything. Now, there is no reason to know those things," mother smiles, but I see the worry in her face and eyes, that look down at the bowl, when she starts eating again.
And none of us talk until dinner ends. And even then, we just mumble goodnight to each other and go to our rooms.
Obviously, I won't go to sleep. I have something much more amazing in mind.
I climb out of the tunnel from my cave room to the meadow and venture towards the forest, towards the clearing that was blessed with gorgeous dancing last night.
I try not to think about what my parents wanted to tell me, or wanted to hide. I just understood that something will happen after I evolve.
Well, who know how long that will take. I never fight and this was the first time I seriously trained with father. I just know that my evolution is still far away from me.
I sit down in the bushes just before the clearing and wait. I want to dance again. I want to see him again.
Soon after the sun disappears, a few psychic types Teleport to the clearing and start preparing it. Some light the candles and other strange things that they brought with themselves and the clearing starts shining from light in the night once more. Then pokemon emerge out of the bushes.
The pokemon keep coming and coming. Some sit on a little rock pile and get their instruments ready, some find partners and stand in the middle of the clearing, ready to dance to the music, once it starts playing.
I can't help but try to search for Melio, but I cannot see any Mienfoos or even Mienshaos.
*dun* *dun* *dun*
The drums start beating a faster rhythm than last night. A harp and guitar join in. Even a trumpet.
Because I'm so small, I can't see the ones playing the music, when there are so many large pokemon in my way.
"Found you," someone whispers from behind me and I jolt and turn around immediately. The grin of Melio welcomes me and I sheepishly smile back.
...I don't really like how weak I feel in front of him...
"Shall we?" he extends his paw and bows.
Such elegant gestures. I give him my claw and we both emerge out of the bushes and start dancing once more.
The faster rhythm doesn't bring the waltz from yesterday, but gives a jumpy, energetic dance. Laughter and giggling burst out and it gets really contagious. My smile just can't leave my face.
"You look very beautiful when you're smiling," Melio compliments me and I feel how quickly my face turns red. I stop dancing and turn away, as if I will be able to hide this way... What's wrong with me?! "Dillera, calm down," he turns me around and makes me tune into the music once more. "Even when you're flustered - you're gorgeous."
"Wh-what?" I fall out of rhythm once more... I feel like I'll faint from all the redness.
Melio giggles and takes my claw.
"You need some more air," he pulls me out of the dance floor and through the forest, out to the meadow. The night's darkness hides me at least a bit more... But when my face is white as it is, the redness shows even in the night.
"...I'm sorry... I don't know what's happening to me," I feel like I have done something bad. Like I tore Melio from the music and dancing... though it was the other way around.
"You have nothing to apologize for," the Mienfoo smiles and falls on the grass. "The moon and the stars shine so wonderfully tonight," he exhales deeply.
I look up and smile.
"They do. So beautiful."
The next thing I know is that Melio's soft paw pulls me towards him and I fall on the grass right beside him.
But, suddenly, looking at the pale moon and the glittering stars, I feel calm. The flustering goes away, even though... he's right beside me.
"See? That's better. You just needed the night's sky to calm you down," Melio seems relieved that I'm better.
And then we just lie in the cool grass, looking up at the darkness, with tiny stars shining here and there and the moon, being gradually covered by thin clouds.
"Dillera! What do you think you are doing?!" I hear a familiar, furious voice. I jolt and stand up immediately. Melio joins me.
"F-father?" I don't understand. What is he doing here?
"If I had told you what the future holds for you, this wouldn't have happened," he runs to me and glares furiously at Melio. "And you! You dare talk with my daughter?! She has a more appropriate groom, than a mangy, fighting type."
And suddenly he slams away Melio with his giant claw. I scream from the surprise and realization how bad it must hurt to the Mienfoo.
I run to him and help him get up. He keeps sighing out of pain and his right arm seems broken.
"Father! Are you insane?!" I scream at the Excadrill.
"You mustn't be with such creatures, when you already have a fiance!" he growls.
"What fiance?! What are you talking about?!" is he demented?
"I'll explain when we get back home," he quickly approaches us and grabs my right claw. "Now let's go!" he starts dragging me after him.
"N-no! I don't want to!" I shout as I scratch his claw with my left one... Of course there's no effect, but what else can I do?
"Sir, let her go. She doesn't want to go with you," Melio runs in front of my father and confidently speaks.
"You little pest," father furiously mumbles and raises his left claw that starts glowing bright silver.
"Run, Melio!" I am fast enough to shout that, but Melio doesn't show even a little sign of trying to get out of the way.
And in a second, the claw drops, making a huge fissure appear right under Melio's feet.
And...and...he falls.
"MELIO!" I screech and jump up to slash father anywhere he has skin. He jolts from my slash to his shoulder and lets me go. Then growls and turns to me, so he could catch me again.
But I jump into the fissure, not even thinking of what I will do, when I reach Melio... If I even reach him.
My father brought this to that innocent Mienfoo and I have to save him. Even if I get hurt in the process.
End of the Mole pokemon.
Continuing in Excadrill.
...hmmm...somehow this turned into a romantic tragedy. How sweet ^.^
Mew! I so adore all my reviewers and readers! You really help me to keep on writing :) Considering how large this project is and I'm not even half way through.
...But my stories don't repeat themselves, right? I try to use as different ideas as possible... just that the genres can be the same.