Excadrill - the Subterrene pokemon
Continuing from Drilbur
It's cold, but I feel something warm and soft bellow me. I hear water dripping and flowing somewhere nearby but it doesn't seem it threatens to get onto me.
I open my eyes and move, but a wave of pain makes me cringe and it feels like my body gets paralyzed.
I feel so helpless.
I look up... It's dark. Everything around me is dark, but my eyes are kind of used to that.
It seems like I'm in an underground cave with a tiny river in the middle making it deeper and deeper as time goes by.
...How did I get here?
...And what can be soft under me if everything here are just sharp stones and rocks?
I make myself move and get up. It hurts, but now I know how bad the pain will be and can make myself endure it.
When I stand up, I turn around and gasp. My claws quickly cover my mouth.
A big, long bodied grey pokemon, with purple and yellow accents is laying on the sharp rocks. Its long arms, covered by even longer fur, are covered in wet dirt and... even blood. Legs suffered the same fate.
And the face... twisted from the pain.
...Did I crush that pokemon? B-but I'm not that heavy... am I?
I look at my claws... they are much bigger than I remember. And I have two sharp blades on both of my middle blade-like fingers...
I remember that my father has those...
Did I...really?
Wait... Is that a Mienshao? Because of the dirt, I couldn't understand the species... And Mienshao evolve from...
"Melio!" I scream and get back to him. "Wh-what do I do?" I ask him with a trembling voice, but of course he doesn't answer.
I lay the side of my head on his chest. I can hear his heart still beating. He is breathing weakly as well... Thank Arceus I didn't crush him to death.
I need to get him out of here and find help!
I carefully get my claws under his back and lift him. Painful sighs come from his mouth, but he doesn't open his eyes.
"Just...hang in there, Melio," I whisper and go down, closer to the small stream, always flowing and going deeper into the ground bellow it. Though it seems that not so long ago the stream was much larger.
I look at the side where the little river came from. Large boulders are not so far, completely sealing off the exit for such big creatures as me and Melio. The boulders seem to only have gotten there a few hours ago.
The river's water is probably raising on the other side and trying to get through the boulders. I think it will make it after a few hours, if the stream is powerful enough... It would be good to get out of here before the river drowns everything in its path in this small underground tunnel.
So I head down the stream, with Melio on my claws. My feet and legs hurt, as if they were cut multiple times. I feel something warm on my forehead as well. Probably blood, that started flowing more intensely, after I started moving. The blood quickly flows down my nose and before I can jolt my head back, the blood starts dripping on Melio's chest.
I sigh. Melio is covered in a lot of blood already. I don't want him to get even more, but I can't do anything. If I try to make the blood from my forehead evade him, I might accidentally make things even worse.
I don't have energy to dig us out, and I feel a breeze coming from the direction we're going, so I just hope we both can escape out of here without using a lot of force.
Suddenly, I hear rumbling...
Water...
The boulders didn't hold on. The flow of the river is too strong.
I let Melio down and close my claws above my head. As the water inevitably closes in, I try to dig us out, but the rocks here are too strong. I only dig a meter or so and the current catches both of us and doesn't let us go.
I scream underwater from the intense pain because of my weakness. Because of the dirt and rocks in the river, I can't see anything - no Melio, no shore.
But it doesn't matter. I know I'll pass out soon. Only my thoughts are rather clear.
I can't breathe... I can't stand the pain... It's like acid to me...
I sit up and breathe in deeply when I regain consciousness. While I pant, I look around.
Outside... I'm outside...
The sun is high in the sky and I'm on a some sort of lake's shore.
"You're awake. Thank Arceus," a familiar pleasant voice greets me from behind. "But you mustn't be up yet," Melio walks to my side and makes me lie down, then checks something on my forehead. "That's a very deep cut you got there," he explains with worry. "The blood flow has stopped, but it might renew if you start walking," he strokes my cheek, while still looking at the wound.
And I look at him. At his crimson, gorgeous eyes.
He's alive. We both are. I'm so happy.
I close my eyes, as some tears of joy make it hard to see and some flow down my cheeks.
"Everything's alright, Dillera," Melio brushes off some tears. "I'll take care of you."
I weakly smirk and open my eyes trying to look at the lake.
"I know you are hurt too, maybe even more than me."
"A few cuts on my arms and legs, but nothing serious," he smiles... but I know it has to be worse.
"How long was I out?" I look at his face again.
"Hmmm...I woke up in the water and when I found you, dragged you to the shore. You've been unconscious for about two hours after that," Melio states. "I don't have any healing moves, but I tried my best to help you... Of course there are no bandages or medicine here, so I had to make do with leaves. I'm so glad I know which are not poisonous," he chuckles and falls on the ground, next to me.
"M-Melio, do you remember what happened after we fell into the Fissure?" after some time, I remember that I'm still forgetting some major elements in this situation.
"...Yeah. You jumped after me. That was really brave of you," his tone is rather proud, but worried too. "But what if you would have gotten even more hurt? I wouldn't be able to forgive myself for that," his smile vanishes.
"But I'm fine," I smile at him. "But you know... I just can't fully remember our fall. Did I hit my head or something?" I don't understand why I can't remember.
"No, you didn't hit anything. You just closed your claws above your head and flew to me like an arrow. Then, a second before impact, you let your claws go and grabbed my arm. Because of your force, we both flew to the nearest wall and tried to grasp it. Of course your free claw stuck inside the rocky crater's wall like it was nothing, but I couldn't grab properly with my clawless paws.
The fissure just kept getting bigger and all the shaking made me slip from your claw. Then you fell after me once more, but the bottom was so close... I saw before falling.
And then you started evolving, so you would reach me in time. I saw that you still won't make it and somehow started evolving as well.
And finally, we both caught each other and fell to the bottom of the fissure, which opened up to an underground river. As we went underwater, I knew how painful it had to be for you, because you are a part ground type pokemon. I tried to figure out how to get out of here, but the current was too strong for us to do anything. We just held on to each other, and hopped that we would somehow get out of this.
...I guess we finally got to this lake, because the river ends here," Melio tells me what he knows and covers his eyes from the sun. "It's a nice day to be alive," he smiles at the clear sky.
I guess I understand what happened to us now, but he doesn't know that the river was stopped because of some huge boulders. But I guess that kind of thing really doesn't matter.
"...What will happen when I get back home?" I ask, remembering my father's cruel actions.
"...Maybe you shouldn't... It seems you have a fiance of which you didn't even know. You will probably have to be with him," Melio sits up and smiles at me. "And... I really want to be with you."
I blush and smile sheepishly. Ugh, I'm just like a little girl! ...Well I was one not so long ago.
I sit up as well and look at the lake.
"But I have to go back. I want to understand everything... Maybe there's something very important that I have to do."
Melio lowers his head. He must be thinking what to do.
A weak breeze plays with the calm lake, making little, almost unnoticeable waves. There is a huge green meadow, filled with many beautiful flowers around us. It seems like we're in an empty lowland. Just the two of us, with no other pokemon or people around.
"Let's go... But, if it turns out this whole thing is as wrong as we think it to be, then we'll run away... We have the whole world to ourselves," he turns to me and strokes my cheek. I can feel my heart beating faster. "I wouldn't be able to live without you," he leans in and kisses my lips.
My heart beats like crazy, but with every passing second, I feel calmer, like all my worries go away, when he's next to me. I never thought I would fall in love so easily, but, ah, I did. And he's my world now.
We walk above the underground river and quickly start seeing the fissure my father made. I get closer to Melio at the memory of the falling. I don't want it to happen again. But maybe if we come back, everything will repeat.
I can see the entrance to my cave. Everything's calm. I usually train with father this time of the day. I wonder what he's doing... I hope he's not home.
"Mom?" I whisper at the entrance and hear someone in the kitchen, going to my direction.
"Dillera," mother appears and also whispers. Is she afraid? Her eyes turn to Melio. "And you must be that pokemon my husband used Fissure for... and... and Dillera fell after you," mother's eyes get filled with tears, as if she already thought that I was gone and we'll never see each other again.
The Sandslash runs to me and hugs me. She's still bigger than me, but father is bigger than both of us.
"Mother, please, tell me what's happening," I plead with a sad voice, while mother quietly sobs. I know I might tear up soon too.
She let's me go and wipes some of her tears off. After she observes me and Melio for a little while, she starts.
"You are royalty from your father's side, dear. But he, the prince of the Ground kingdom, chose me, a humble maid as his love and we ran away, to live our lives in peace.
But we were found, when you were just a few days old. They said that your father's brother is ruling the kingdom, but, he has a problem and can't have children. So, after his death, your father will have to return to the kingdom and be the king, and, eventually, you will take his place as queen.
Your father understood that there will be no way that this all will be forgotten and knew that we will have to return... And that you will need a husband.
It just so happened that the Water kingdom was attacking the Ground kingdom and wanted to completely destroy it, or at least claim it as their own, but your father went to the king of the Water kingdom - a Samurott and offered your hand in marriage to the Water king's son in exchange for peace. I, for one, completely didn't think that the king would take this offer, but he did and a peace treaty was signed. In short - when both of the heirs reach their final evolutions, they will be married and the kingdoms will be almost as one... The Water kingdom prince is already a Samurott... and you became an Excadrill... They probably already know your state and are coming for you..." mother finishes and seems like she will fall from the news herself.
...I...I was promised a few days after I was born...
I lower my head. Melio's words didn't come true. This isn't wrong - this is for the sake of the Ground kingdom... A kingdom I have never seen with my own eyes.
I look back at him, with eyes full of sorrow. His are the same, maybe even more. He understands that this is important...
But...but I don't want to leave him.
"Melio," I hug him and start crying. I can't hold it back... I just can't.
I feel his warm tears falling on my head as well. My mother sobs together with us.
Her and my father's story might have been similar to ours, but father had a brother and me? ...No sister, no brother. I'm the only child and I will become the queen of two kingdoms.
But I don't want that. The only thing I want is Melio.
"D-Dillera," I hear my father's voice and turn my head to his direction. He's walking from the cave... Walking... "I'm sorry for what I've done... I thought it would be easier for you to give him up if he... died," father lowers his head. His voice is so weird - serious, a little mad, but... sad as well. "You are a princess and you have to take responsibility."
I could shout out everything what I think about him - he never told me I was a princess and no one treated me as such; he tried to kill Melio, almost taking me down with him; he never praised me or showed any bigger signs of kindness or similar, except that smile I saw yesterday. I could just yell and run away from this madness and responsibility...
But mother raised me better. Even if I don't know much, I understand most of what I've been told.
"Melio," I look back at the newly evolved Mienshao. "It seems that we weren't meant to be together," I smile sadly and a tear rolls down my cheek.
Melio sighs and brushes off my tear.
"I won't let you go. I will always be by your side. Maybe you won't notice me, but I'll be there," he kisses my cheek and heads towards the forest.
My heart leaves me because of... all this.
"...We head out immediately. We will not return here," father heads down to our cave to take his things. "...It's a good thing that he left on his own," he stops and says quietly. "I would have killed him, if he were to interfere."
A shiver goes down my spine. How can father be that cruel? Serious, mean - definitely, but not bloodthirsty.
Mother puts her right silver claw on my shoulder.
"Don't worry about him now. If it's fate, you will be together once more. Don't give up hope," mother encourages me and goes to the cave for her things as well.
I sigh. Melio is a fast Mienshao and quickly entered the forest and hid behind the emerald trees... I wonder if the Mienshao he was with in the night left without him...
...A new life will begin after I step inside the Ground kingdom. I can't even imagine it.
But as good as it might become, it won't be sweet without Melio.
Giant sand walls surround the kingdom, where most of the world's ground types are. The steel gates get immediately opened up for us and the pokemon who see us quickly bow down.
Even after so many years, they still know the prince - my father.
As we walk towards the huge sand castle, seen from afar, we have to walk through many little streets, filled with merchants and their stands, workers and simple pokemon that need to get to somewhere and a lot of little or medium sand and dirt houses.
In every stand I see something I have never seen before and I constantly get curious and want to know what it is, but as I'm in between my father and mother, who is holding my claw with hers, I can't really move.
I keep hearing whispering about my father. The great, the cruel, the magnificent. Seems he really is cruel, but great? Magnificent? How?
"Is that the new princess? Oh she is so pretty and seems very powerful."
"Indeed. That Water kingdom prince sure is lucky."
W-what? People are whispering about... me? I start blushing, but my mother nudges me and calms me down.
"Praise is good. Don't feel embarrassed."
I smile and continue walking with my parents.
I wonder why nobody is talking about my mother.
Finally we reach the castle... It seems a little... shaken up.
When we get to the throne room... that is even more messed up than the castle, I see an unknown pokemon (of course there are plenty of those in the streets, because I never learned much about other species) lying on the throne... the only thing that seems in tact, or maybe rebuilt.
"Brother, what happened?!" father approaches the hippo like pokemon with sand colored skin and something like dark gray armor all around his body. His eyes are very red, even scary red.
"...I'd rather not talk about it," the king lowers his head. "It's easy to rebuild this castle, so it will be just like new in about a month."
"That's good," father sighs with relief. "I hope this has nothing to do with your..." father coughs. "Fetishes."
"I said I'd rather not talk about it! Especially in the company of these two marvelous ladies," the king looks at me and mother and smiles. Strange, white peg-like teeth can be seen in his mouth.
"Yes, how rude of me," father turns to us and extends his big claw. "As you know, the beautiful Sandslash is my wife - Smeya and the impressive Excadrill is our daughter - Dillera.
...Impressive?
"Yes, the Water kingdom prince will be very pleased with his bride. But there is no rush to wed them now. I am still alive and so are you. But they should at least meet each other," the king suggests.
"Yes. They should be allowed to get used to each other. But now we are all tired. Are there any rooms that weren't destroyed?"
"Yes, yes," the king gets irritated again. "Yours is fine. I'll order a servant to arrange your daughter's room," the pokemon slams one of his big stubby front paws to the ground and two ground type pokemon immediately report. "This young lady needs one of the best rooms. She is the princess after all."
"As you wish, my king," the two servants bow down and approach me.
One looks like a green dragon with wings that would better be suited for a bug than a dragon. The red orbs covering its eyes make me think he might be part bug type... but dragon type as well... But he should be ground type. I guess one of these just isn't right.
The other is a pinkish, purplish bat with its tongue stuck out. It has large pink pincers and blue membranes spread from its arms, probably for gliding.
"Welcome, princess. We trust you had a safe journey," the servants bow down to me. Both seem to be male.
I hesitantly nod and they smile at me.
"We'll escort you to your room. Please follow us," they go out of the throne room and I go after them.
As I walk, I look around and observe the big walls, high ceiling and the rather narrow floor. Though it's true that most of the castle seems damaged, but there are a lot of beautiful paintings, probably of past kings and queens on the less damaged walls. The walls themselves have beautiful detailed carvings, just like the ceiling that also has a few chandeliers.
I spot some working pokemon that are rebuilding the castle little by little. It seems like their pace is fast and the castle will truly be rebuilt quite quickly, especially when the pokemon fixing it don't even have to go get materials and just use what they can make themselves.
The ground types are really impressive.
"Here we are, princess Dillera," the servants lead me to one of the big doors. All the doors are carved out even more beautifully than the walls, but these carving were the most gorgeous I ever saw. It must be an important room.
The servants push the door for me and I enter. A huge and seemingly soft white bed is almost calling me. Gorgeous flowers are near the huge window. A sand, also beautifully carved table has some books on it and a comfortable chair next to the table just seems to be inviting for a pleasant relaxation.
"We're sorry, but we couldn't properly prepare the room. We will return shortly to make the room more acceptable," they bow down so low it almost seems their heads will touch the ground...And how can they talk in such sync?
After the servants leave, I walk up to the huge window and look outside. The entrance we used to enter the Ground kingdom is seen through this window and there's always so much moving. But as I am rather high, the ruckus isn't very loud.
I sit down on the windowsill and sigh. I'll probably spend some time here, then will be forced to marry a prince and maybe will have to live in the Water kingdom... one of my most despised weakness.
But as I look at this prosperous kingdom, I just wish that everything would continue to flow, like blood that always needs to move. If I refuse, run away or similar, this flow might be changed or even stopped. I know it wouldn't be for the better.
...I'll just have to bury my love for Melio and try to forget.
"I finally found you..." someone whispers above me and I raise my head.
"M-Melio?" the Mienshao must have been climbing the damaged castle's wall and finally saw me now.
He jumps down on my windowsill, smiles and strokes my cheek.
"I told you I won't let you go. Even if you marry, I will still try to keep you safe and will care for you in any way I can," his voice is so serious, but so full of warmth that I can't even think that what he says might not be the truth.
I gently put the tip of my claw on his paw and smile.
Suddenly, we hear someone strumming a guitar. Then a violin joins in and even some chimes from bells can be heard. Pokemon outside start playing and Melio jumps into my room and spins me around, to catch me in his arms and make us sway to the rhythm.
Again I feel so happy to be with him, to be in this situation when I can just dance and not think about anything else.
But then someone knocks and Melio quickly kisses my cheeks and jumps out through the window as the servant pokemon open the door.
I run to the window, but Melio is nowhere to be seen... I hope he didn't hurt himself.
"Is something wrong, princess?" the purple bat asks because of my strange dash to the window.
"E-everything's fine. I thought I saw someone," I smile at them.
They smile back and set down milk and cookies on the strong sand table. A few vases full of flowers also are put down here and there in the room. Then the purple bat puffs my pillow and the green dragon straightens out the white bed sheets and reports back to me.
"Is there anything else we could do for you, princess?"
"No, it's fine. I don't need anything else," I smile once more, but even I know how tired my smile looks.
"We hope you'll have a good rest, princess," they both bow down and go out of my room.
I look outside the window for the last time and, making sure Melio won't return, climb into my new snow-white bed and lie down, looking at the beautiful carved ceiling.
It's evening and the sun still shines with orange and red shades, but not directly through my window, so it doesn't bother me.
...Even though I'm now a princess, I can be sure that Melio will be by my side... Even though I will marry the Water kingdom prince.
Now the future doesn't seem so dark... maybe even quite bright.
End of the Subterrene pokemon.
A weird ending and I could write so much more, but I'll leave it like this ^.^
If anyone remembers the story the Zebstrika mother - Glitter told to her Blitzles, this is the result after the Hippowdon's Earthquake and other moves. I think of Letro as Glitter's brother, but as she didn't want to live in the Electric kingdom, she stayed in the small village.
Weird reference, but meh - it came to my head and didn't want to leave.
...Mienfoo and Mienshao are #125 and #126. Should I try to partially continue this story in their chapters, even though they are quite far?