Welcome back to Holly Rising! New area this time, so new prompt! However, this prompt will be after the chapter, since it contains spoilers for it. Also as a warning, this chapter deals with a character's death, although the death itself is not shown.
As usual, I do not own Pokémon, and see the author's notes for details. All prompts are the property of Wizardmonfan, and are being summarized here with permission.
35. Realization
After a quick stop at the Center, the group trudged on to the tiny Route 5.
Holly tried to look at Kris and Anabel, but neither spoke.
Instead, there was only an eerie silence, broken by the flames of Kris's Delphox and the sound of everyone's steps.
Holly remembered the grudge that Kris had, and realized it was far heavier than anything else she'd carried.
Holly shivered.
How long would this go on? How long could this go on?
Holly was suddenly snapped from her thoughts by distant howls and dark shapes on the horizon.
Rapidly, Anabel ordered. "It might be a crisis! Let's go!"
She broke off into a run. Holly and Kris quickly followed.
The howling grew into a crescendo, and Holly could slowly make out what the dark shapes were.
This sounds grew deafening, and Holly resisted the urge to cover her ears.
However, she stopped upon finally seeing the shapes' true form.
Holly let out a gasp, and Kris tensed.
The dark shapes were a pack of Mightyena, snarling and snapping. Their red eyes glared, and they were in a tight formation.
But it wasn't the Mightyena themselves that were the issue.
Instead, it was what they had trapped.
Holly focused, and her face grew pale as she realized she could see a girl. The girl was around her age, but Holly couldn't make out much else.
Because all Holly could see was blood.
The girl's entire body was covered in the sticky red substance, and she looked as though she'd been crying for a while. Holly could see that there was some blood on the Mightyena too, but she doubted it was theirs.
When she did know was that there was an immense amount of pain radiating from the girl. There was so much, it almost bowled Holly over. She grimaced as she fought to stay upright. For once, she was glad she was attached to Anabel, as the tether kept her standing.
But then…
There was another source of pain…
It was as strong as the girl's, and it almost outdid her…
Once again, Holly struggled to stay on her feet. The only thing that kept her going was the surprise that where the pain was coming from.
Holly blinked.
It was coming from… the Mighyena?
But why were the Pokémon in pain when they were the ones that caused the injuries? They didn't deserve to be in pain!
Holly's eyes narrowed.
Orders or not, she had to help the girl!
Holly stepped forward, Poké Ball shining in her hand. However, Anabel quickly grabbed her arm, shaking her head.
Holy glared.
Was this about the stupid punishment again?
Yet Anabel seemed to have a look of concern in her eyes as she stated.
"Any attacks we do could further injure the girl, or even kill her. And there's no guarantee those Pokémon won't turn on us, either."
Holy clenched her fist.
No matter how athletic she was, she was no match for a pack of Mightyena! But what could she do? It wasn't like she could just do nothing…
All of a sudden, Holly was alerted to the sound of more footsteps. Her eyes widened as Kris walked up between her and Anabel. For once, her Delphox stayed behind. Holly suspected the disabled Trainer didn't want her Pokémon to agitate the wild ones. And Holly knew, service Pokémon or no, the Delphox could fight.
But then, what was Kris doing?
She should know, out of all of them, that she was at the biggest disadvantage! And the older Trainer should understand after her fights with Holly and Anabel that trying to attack anything physically was almost like asking for death.
Yet there was no combativeness in Kris's eyes. She didn't even raise a hand.
Instead, her blue eyes focused on the Mightyena.
Her voice boomed through the area, and the Pokémons' eyes widened in surprise. "Why did you attack the girl?"
Holly shook her head.
Kris was an idiot! Special power or no, the Mightyena were never going to answer! And they weren't the same as the calm wild Pokémon Kris had summoned before!
She was going to get attacked, or worse, killed! Maybe she'd get them all attacked or killed!
Yet suddenly, Holly saw the Mightyena tense, and all eyes were on Kris. Not a single one lunged.
Instead, Holly could hear barks and growls, but they may as well been screams. This time, Holly couldn't help covering her ears, and the worst part was that she realized she could understand none of it.
Yet Kris was nodding, seemingly having a conversation only she could understand.
She gestured to her Delphox, and psychic power radiated from it. The psychic powers surrounded Holly and Anabel.
Holly shuddered, remembering the awkwardness of telepathy on the bridge. She knew what was coming next as voices appeared in her head.
There was a chorus, and yet they all spoke as one. "This girl attacked our nest for no real reason, and injured our pups almost as badly as we injured her!"
Hollie felt her own thoughts occupy her mind as she glanced around wildly.
Nest… I don't see any nest…
Yet Kris suddenly gestured to the right, where Holly could see a den. "In there."
Anabel nodded, and a sharp tone entered her voice.
Holly felt her tether disappear, but knew this was no freedom.
Anabel quickly issued a command. "Holly, find the nest!"
Holly nodded and dashed off, not daring to think of what would happen if she tried to run away.
She didn't have to go far into the den before she found the nest.
And Holly's eyes quickly widened upon what she found.
There were two Poochyena pups weakly whimpering, and Holly could barely see their faint breathing. Blood streaked their grey fur, and their fearful eyes were dull.
Holly's breath caught in her throat as she noticed two other shapes.
There were more pups.
And they weren't moving.
There was so much blood Holly could hardly see their fur. Glassy eyes stared sightlessly forward, bodies not even twitching. Holly somehow found herself looking closer, and could see particularly large gashes on the Pokémons' throats. Occasionally, one of the living Poochyena would look back at the grisly sight as they howled for their lost comrades.
But there was no answer. Only eerie silence.
And a scream that Holly recognized as her own.
The silence was broken again as Anabel yelled. "Holly, are you all right?"
Holly didn't answer, as she felt hot tears coming down her cheeks. Her vision swam, and her body was racked with sobs. She could hear them echoing throughout the cave, and was surprised no one ran to her location.
Yet Anabel still yelled. "Holly, can you hear me? Come out and tell me what's wrong!"
Holly shakily obeyed, wondering how she found the strength to continue.
A wave of nausea gripped her and she felt Anabel's hand around her shoulder. The woman directed her to some shrubbery, and Holly wailed again she pitched forward.
She wasn't sure when she stopped vomiting, only that Anabel helped her up.
Holly's tear stained face made Annabel's eyes as the woman stated. "Holly, what happened in there?"
Holly somehow managed to choke out.
"There were four pups... Two of them were badly hurt… And the other two… They were dead…"
Anabel nodded. "I see. You've done all you can. Let Kris and I take over now."
Holly nodded, barely registering the tether reappearing, or the soothing tone of voice that Anabel had used.
Instead, she numbly walked over to where Kris was waiting.
Holy noticed the older Trainer had no emotion, holding her intense gaze as she stared stoically ahead.
Holly blinked.
She wasn't sure which was more terrifying, the dead Pokémon, or the fact that Kris had no reaction…
Was she putting on a brave face, or had she seen so many that it just didn't matter to her anymore?
Holly wasn't sure she wanted to know that answer.
Instead, she focused on Anabel. The woman's eyes now held a glare as she looked straight at the girl. The girl, weak as she was, shrank back.
Anabel's voice took on an icy coldness, as she stated. "Why did you attack those Poochyena? Because of you, two of the pups are dead, and the others are close to joining them!"
Fear filled the girl's voice as she stated. "I never did any of that!"
Before anyone else could do anything, Kris's voice was its own ominous growl. "Did you now?"
A shudder passed through Holly as Kris's Delphox glowed again.
Whatever this was, it couldn't have been good.
The girl let out a screech as she was surrounded by psychic power.
Another screech came from the girl's lips, and Holly's eyes went wide.
What was Kris doing?
All of a sudden, a scene flashed in her head.
Holly could see the girl standing over four Poochyena. Blood trickled from their wounds, and the girl looked almost triumphant. Two whimpered in fear as they slowly weakened. The other two remained unmoving. Even though the girl held no Pokémon, there was enough blood on the ground for Holly to know what she had done.
Holly was aware of the horrified look on her own face, and another wave of nausea seized her.
She wondered if she would vomit again.
Yet Kris once again remained unaffected. Holly couldn't fathom why.
Now the girl's face was white, and Holly was sure it wasn't just because of her injuries. Anabel glared back at the trainer, a stern gaze on her face.
Her voice was still icy cold as she stated. "To attack the Pokémon without provocation, let alone killing them, is a crime serious enough for jail time. And as a member of the International Police Force, is my duty to prosecute criminals like you."
The girl went even whiter, and Holly remembered the incident at the lake.
She shuddered.
Was Anabel about to make an arrest?
She kept her eyes focused as she responded. "I'm traveling right now, but the other members of the International Police Force should be more than enough to deal with you. Now then, why did you attack those Poochyena?"
A spark of defiance entered the girl's eyes, and she refused to answer.
Anabel shook her head. "All right, I suppose you have the right to remain silent."
Holy gulped as she recognized the words.
Anabel was making an arrest!
It could have been her being arrested!
It could still be her!
Holly's face went pale, and she started to back away.
But if Anabel noticed, she gave no indication.
Instead, she nodded for Kris to continue.
The older Trainer faced the Mightyena and coolly commanded.
"Get away from the girl. I promise we will properly punish her, and treat your remaining pups. The rest will get a proper burial, and I'll do it myself."
Instead of barks and growls, the Mightyena collectively let out a loud snarl.
Holly shivered at the voices that appeared in her head. "How can we believe you? You're just another human!"
Holly let out a gasp, and even Anabel looked shocked.
Holly shuddered as she remembered Kris's words.
"I can talk to Pokémon, but that doesn't mean they'll listen…"
She backed away.
Was this what the older Trainer meant?
Judging from Anabel's look of shock, she guessed the woman was thinking the same thing.
However, Kris simply cringed.
What would the older Trainer do? It wasn't like she could fight…
Suddenly, an aura appeared from Kris's body. Holly could see that it was orange, but also seemed to have flashes of red and white. It also seemed to be transparent, yet at the same time radiating around Kris.
Suddenly, Holly let out a yelp. The world went dark. Holly couldn't see anything, and nearly bumped into Anabel.
But she could still hear.
And what she did hear was unlike anything she'd ever heard before.
A high-pitched sound pierced Holly's ears. It sounded like a little girl laughing, but was somehow mixed in with the chirping of birds.
She was aware of Anabel stiffening.
Did the woman know this sound?
But Holly couldn't focus on that as the sound came again. Now, Holly saw the faint outline of something, but she had no idea what.
Holly clutched her stomach.
All that she knew was that she had never been more afraid in her life.
But as soon as it had come, the aura and the darkness disappeared.
Holly let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
She glanced towards Anabel, but the woman's eyes still held a mixture of sternness and fright.
The Mightyena seemed to calm down, though, and there was no hostility in their eyes.
Yet they still made Holly's blood run cold with what they said next. "You… You're one of us... You have that look… Why are you traveling with humans? Why do you take human form?"
At that point, Holly's eyes went wide.
Traveling with humans… Human form… Did that mean…
Kris was a Pokémon?
Kris's ability's command other Pokémon…
The fact that she was so skilled with them despite being a wandering Trainer…
Drinking a potion when she needed to heal…
And how casual she was about hurting other Pokémon…
If she actually was a Pokémon in human form, then that would make sense…
But…
Holly couldn't remember a Pokémon like that, and she didn't recognize the cry…
So if Kris was a Pokémon…
Then what was she…
Holly was ripped from her thoughts, as the Mightyena began to speak again.
"Since you are one of us, we can let you pass."
The Mighyena broke their formation, and Anabel walked towards the girl.
Coldly, she stated. "Regardless of the reason, hurting Pokémon without cause is wrong. Therefore, you are to be treated for their wounds, and then handed over to the police for arrest. I am arresting you for Pokémon abuse and the killing of two wild Pokémon. Do you understand?"
The girl shakily nodded, and Holly shuddered.
She had come so close to that…
Anabel tossed a Poké Ball into the air, and a creature appeared in a flash of light.
This Pokémon had a yellow body with spoons in its hands. Black eyes surveyed the landscape, and it had a brown shirt.
Holly shuddered.
Alakazam.
One of the most powerful Psychic Pokémon in existence.
What would Anabel do with it?
Icily, the woman stated. "Alakazam, this girl injured two Poochyena and killed two others. She is a criminal. You know what to do."
The Pokémon nodded, and psychic power radiated from its body.
The girl screamed as she was bound in restraints, and Holly shuddered as she remembered how horrible they were.
Anabel ignored the girl's cries, instead telling her Pokémon.
"There are some surviving pups in the den to the right. Get both them and the girl to the hospital. Also, tell the nurses what happened here, and hand the girl over to the authorities when everything is done."
Alakazam nodded and Holly could briefly see the surviving Pokémon being lifted up before it disappeared in a flash of light.
Holly shuddered again.
So much has happened…
Would she vomit, or cry?
Would Anabel talk to Kris? With the older Trainer even reveal anything?
Yet, there was only an eerie silence.
After what seemed like forever, it was broken as Kris walked over to the dead bodies of the Pokémon.
Holly could hear a Pokémon being released and Kris quietly giving a command.
Then, all Holly could do was listen, as a distant sound of digging filled the air.
Author's notes:
First, on the prompt! Route 5 is a small route the south of Cerulean. The main Trainers here are a biker gang that will force people to pay up told them if they lose in battle. As a mandatory event, a bunch of Mightyena are holding a girl hostage. Players have to find a way to help the girl without being injured themselves. Pokémon that can be caught here are Mightyena, Cacnea, Sandslash, Fearow, Luxio, and Pidgeotto.
As for the chapter itself…
-Alakazam is one of Anabel's Pokémon in both the games and the anime. It is used here because it's one of the few Pokémon that can naturally learn Teleport.