A/N - early update, like I promised. Next one will be Monday evening.
Thanks to all new reviews, faves and follows! =D
Since it's been asked, I'm going to mention this here. For those who aren't completely familiar with the later Pokemon games, all Zorua and Zoroark can use Illusion. It's a pretty awesome and unique ability that no other Pokemon (as of yet) has. All it does is change their appearance. Their type and attacks stay the same. Harlequin's works like it does in the anime, where they can take on any form they want whenever they want, whereas in the games it's whichever Pokemon is in the back of the party. Harle just does't use it very often.
By the way, there are many many Pokemon that I love. But despite my username, Mothim is my favourite. It saddens me that he's so unloved =(
Disclaimer - I do NOT own Pokemon or any of its critters!
54 – A Daunting Realisation
"You know this Pokemon?" The Mothim fixed Harlequin with wide, orange eyes and raised an eyebrow.
Harlequin gave a curt nod. "Yes. He's friends with the Outcasts I recently parted from."
"Is he poisoned?"
She watched the Whimsicott as he lay unconscious, breathing steadily. He didn't seem to be struggling, so she could rule out poisoning.
Although it was pretty clear why he was currently out cold.
She shook her head. "Where did you find him?"
The Mothim placed his small bucket on the floor. Harlequin glanced a pool of sticky, crystallized golden honey almost filling it to the brim.
"I found him after some Murkrow attacked me," he explained. "I didn't get a good look at the Pokemon that saved me. I was told to run, so I ran. When I came back after all the chaos had subsided, all that was left of the Murkrow were some bodies and scattered feathers. And amongst them was him." He nodded at the Whimsicott.
Harlequin moved closer to Mischief and nudged him with her paw. He didn't so much as grumble.
"When?" she asked.
"Just earlier this morning." The Mothim fidgeted his paws together and looked out at the burnt tree. "I've cleared it up since then. I can verify what was left of the Murkrow were dead. As for him... I checked him over, but other than a small scratch he's not taken any injuries."
Harlequin cast her eyes over the Whimsicott. The only scratch she could see was one over his right eye, but it didn't look new. She turned her back on him and made her way back outside.
"Where are you going?" the Mothim asked. "Isn't he your friend?"
"He's not the Pokemon I'm looking for." She glanced back at the Mothim. "Don't worry about him. He'll wake up soon."
"But it's the cold season," the Mothim explained. "Won't he...?"
Harlequin stared at the Mothim as he glanced from Mischief to her and rubbed his paws together.
"Yes. How do you stay warm?"
He shrugged. "I don't know. I used to hibernate but that's not a safe option any more."
"Plus you're alone."
The Mothim closed his eyes and let out a small sigh. "I never used to be. But a little while back, a group of Weavile and Murkrow ran through this area and wiped out what was left of the Combee hive." He pointed to the burned tree.
Harlequin sat down and stared out at the hollowed tree. A Combee hive... so the young Mothim was harvesting what was left of their honey.
"This will be your first cold season alone?"
The Mothim nodded. "Yes."
Harlequin stared down at the ground and traced her paw through the snow. Alone... a young Mothim who'd just been attacked by a flock of Murkrow. If Mischief hadn't spotted them, then the poor Pokemon wouldn't have survived.
And now he was preparing himself to face the cold alone...
"Okay." Harlequin stood and moved back into the cave. "Let's help Mischief on his feet. Once he's recovered, we'll move you on to the little Outcast village nearby."
"Village?" The Mothim's large eyes widened. "Oh... I've never been to a village. I don't know..."
Harlequin frowned at him. "Do you honestly want to stay in this freezing mountain alone?"
He shook his head sharply. "No. But I don't have a choice-"
"You have a choice. You move on. Over the years, Pokemon have been grouping to live together behind walls. Out here alone, you're a target. And I think today proved that to you."
The Mothim sat down heavily and stuffed his paw into his little bucket. When he removed it, it was covered in a sticky, lumpy honey which he licked off, his eyes unfocusing as he entered a deep thought.
"You're right," he said finally.
Harlequin smiled. "What's your name?"
The Mothim turned to look at her. "Flutterwick."
"Well, Flutterwick." Harlequin moved over to Mischief and stared down at him. "You were right about one thing. This Pokemon is indeed sick, and he's currently looking for a cure. I'm wondering if you might be able to help him."
Flutterwick stared at her wordlessly, his paw resting inside the little bucket.
"He has Pokerus," Harlequin explained. "That's why he's fallen unconscious."
"Pokerus?" Flutterwick closed his eyes as he laughed. "That's not a dangerous condition!"
"This version of it is. It causes the Pokemon that has it to go into bouts of madness. That's why he told you to run."
Flutterwick's eyes widened slowly as he stared up into Harlequin's blue ones.
"Yes." She looked away from him to cast another glance back down at Mischief. "He wasn't telling you to run from the Murkrow. He was getting you far away from himself."
"Oh..." The Mothim's eyes went to the exit and he shifted his weight around, knocking over the bucket. "So I... I'm sat here with two dangerous Pokemon..."
"I suppose giving you my word I won't hurt you is pointless given my reputation," Harlequin said quickly. "But it's there nontheless. As for him... well, he wouldn't have told you to run would he?"
There was a small clatter as Flutterwick corrected his bucket. "I'm sorry. I don't know of a cure."
"I feared as much." Harlequin turned and made for the door.
"Where are you going?"
"I need some air. Keep an eye on him, will you?"
A long groan froze Harlequin in her tracks and she looked back. Flutterwick had rose to his feet, his eyes locked on the Whimsicott. Mischief rubbed a paw over his head and pushed himself up, blinking as he took in his surroundings.
"Where am I?" His eyes went to the Mothim then found her. "Harlequin?" His orange eyes shot wide open and he leapt to his feet. "Cleo?!"
Harlequin blocked Mischief's exit, keeping her eyes on his. "Forget it. She's not here."
"What?" He stood staring at her then his jaw dropped and he took a step back, his eyes turning fierce. "You're free? What did you do with her?!"
"Nothing!" Harlequin flashed her canines and her voice caused Mischief's expression to be replaced by one of surprise. "She let me go. She had to, so I could save Spark."
Mischief's paws fell to his side but he didn't take his eyes off the Zorua.
"Then... where is she?"
Flutterwick appeared at his side, looking from Mischief to Harlequin and back.
"I don't know," Harlequin said flatly. "I left after you did."
Mischief frowned. "So she removes your collar and you instantly leave them?"
"I didn't instantly leave them! Besides, I had to. I need to find Harbinger to return his mega stone."
"Mega stone?" Flutterwick's eyes went to the stone around Harlequin's neck.
"Harbinger... you mean that Absol," said Mischief.
Harlequin's mouth fell open and she stared at Mischief, not sure if she'd heard him correctly.
"How did you know he's an Absol?" she asked.
Mischief went quiet and looked away from her, his paws restless at his sides.
"An Absol?" Flutterwick scratched his chin. "I saw one in the mountains recently. I'm not sure if it's the same one, but..."
A huge smile split Harlequin's face and she bounced on her toes. "It might be! Thank you, Flutterwick! I... I have to go and look for him."
She turned and bolted through the door, but Mischief's voice froze her.
"Wait! Harlequin! I... don't think you should go and look for him."
She looked back at him. "Why not? He's my friend."
"I didn't get that impression when I met him..."
"Wait..." Harlequin took a step towards the Whimsicott. "You met him? When?!"
"After Enigma attacked us."
Flutterwick let out a small squeak of surprise.
"I woke up and there he was," Mischief went on.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Harlequin hissed.
"Because he's not happy with you," Mischief explained. "Like I said. I don't think you should go looking for him."
"Not happy with me?" Harlequin laughed. "We're friends!"
Harlequin's smile fell at the stern expression in Mischief's eyes. She looked away from him and let out a small, "oh..."
"He's not happy at all," Mischief told her. He hesitated over his words and averted his gaze. "He wants to kill you."
Harlequin's mouth opened and closed feebly and she fell back down to her haunches. Wanted to kill her? But... they were friends... weren't they?
She closed her eyes and grit her teeth, a low groan escaping between them. Of course... she'd become an assassin working for Hydreigon. He hated that dragon. Friends or not, anyone who worked for him would be considered an enemy by Harbinger.
He wanted to kill her...
And he was in the mountains...
Her eyes flew open and she locked them onto the Mothim. He let out a yelp and took a step back.
"You said you saw an Absol in the mountains. When?"
"Ah! Erm... about two nights ago..."
Harlequin leapt to her feet and looked out at the frozen landscape. She couldn't see the river from here, but that was where she'd been camping out with Enigma. That's where the river was poisoned. A Nidoking... her mind drifted to the purple horn tucked safely away in her bag. Was this too much of a coincidence?
"He did it..."
The words had escaped her mouth no sooner had she thought them.
"He did what?" Mischief asked.
"He poisoned the river."
Mischief stuttered. "The Seviper remains?"
"No." Harlequin swallowed drily. That was right. There were two poisoned rivers. "Actually, I'm not going to dismiss that."
"Then what are you talking about?"
"The river in these mountains has been poisoned with a Nidoking's carcass," she explained. "Nidoking poison is one I'm well known for using, as it's hard to find an anti-venom for. The body was thrown in the river, hidden behind a fallen tree, right near where Enigma and I were sleeping."
"Enigma?" Mischief gasped.
Harlequin rounded on him. "Can we focus?" She sighed and turned away. "You're missing the point. You said he wants to kill me." Her voice cracked and she took in a ragged breath. "Well he probably thinks he already has."
...
A soft whistling sound came from the feather in Cleo's paws as she blew through it. She stood with Faith and Spark on the top step leading up to a hole in the ceiling. It was wide enough for a Pokemon of Cleo's size to climb through, and Tyrix would have had to wriggle if he'd used this point as an exit.
"Do you think you'll be ready to leave tomorrow?" Cleo had asked Tyrix.
The Typhlosion shrugged. "I might be. I can tell you after a little rest."
Faith looked at her. "Do we have enough provisions for all of us?"
Cleo checked through her bag. "For another day at least."
Spark made a small squeak.
"I'd feel cheeky asking this of him," said Cleo, "but if Reshiram could fit anywhere on this island we could reach him, we might be able to ask him to gather some for us."
"That's not a bad idea," said Faith.
"Reshiram?" Tyrix gasped. "There's a dragon on my island?"
Faith laughed. "He's a friend. He brought us here."
"You're gonna tell me he's from the Fairy Garden next as well!"
Faith beamed. "Actually, he is!"
The Typhlosion chuckled. "All right. Well, if you need a space for him to land, there is the old Charizard training grounds a short walk away."
It wasn't long before heavy wingbeats could be heard on the wind. This point, Tyrix had told them, would be suitable for a large flying Pokemon to land and take off again. His army had included Charizard, significantly smaller than Reshiram, but groups of them used to use this area of Fire Island for training due to the space it provided. It was obscured by large, rocky mounds that rose up in an erratic pattern which had hidden the training Pokemon from view of enemy dragon and dark Pokemon that may have been scouting the area. It wouldn't have been until they were right over the island that they'd see the training fire Pokemon, and by then they would be prepared to defend themselves.
A thud resounded through the ceiling and Reshiram's large white face appeared in the hole.
"Well hello! Have you found who you were looking for?"
"Actually yes," said Cleo. "But he's in bad shape. Would you be able to fly back to the mainland and pick up some provisions for us?"
"Of course! Anything to help you! Just berries, or do you want meat as well?"
"A good mix I think," said Cleo.
"And if you can find some cheri berries..." Spark grinned at him.
Reshiram chuckled. "I'll see what I can do! I'll be back here as soon as I can."
In one swift motion, he had vanished from sight and the rumbling sound of his tail flaring up thrummed against Cleo's eardrums.
She caught a smile off Faith and the Mawile led them back down the stairs.
A sick feeling spread through Cleo's stomach. It wouldn't be long now. Soon, they'd be facing off against the Wildfires.
...
"Not far now. It's just past this ridge."
Harlequin skipped down the mountain side, Mischief's light-footed gait springing behind her. Flutterwick kept himself behind them, his wings whipping up the air as he fluttered at their pace.
"You say this village helped you?" said Mischief. "So they won't be surprised to see you?"
"Oh they won't welcome me," Harlequin explained. "So I'll need to use an illusion. Something that won't arouse suspicion... so that rules out any Pokemon that live in the village, because if we're there too long, and they show up..."
She paused and glanced at the river. Where she expected the two Zangoose and Gliscor to be working, there was no one. Maybe they'd cleared the poison away already? With the help of the flow of the water, it wouldn't have taken anywhere near as long as it would to clear a lake, so it wasn't much of a surprise. That was encouraging. It meant the river was safe once more.
In two bounds, they were over the ridge and the cold snow met her paws. There had been a fresh snowfall overnight, but the ground was trodden down as though Pokemon had been moving back and forth from the village.
"They've been active recently," she said. "They told me they use the mountain springs, so why would they keep going to the river?"
"Maybe they've frozen?" Flutterwick suggested.
Harlequin nodded. "Maybe."
She looked up in the direction of the village and broke into a trot. The sooner she could drop Flutterwick off, the sooner she could return to her mission. However... something wasn't settling well with her.
All these paw prints. All this activity.
As she followed the bend in the river, the village came into view. Her heart began to race frantically, and her mouth hung open. The little wooden buildings lay in tatters, glistening with ice and dotted with sharp icicles. Bodies lay strewn across the ground, lying in pools of blood mingled with black feathers.
"No..."
"What happened here?" Mischief stood beside her, staring aghast at the gruesome scene.
"No!"
Harlequin raced into the town and stopped beside the body of the fallen Machoke. She nudged him and his head lolled uncomfortably to the side. Nothing. She shook her head violently and ran to Elsa's house, but her heart sank as she took in the state of the door, sliced to bits by sharp, frozen claws. She backed away, her blue eyes wide and stinging with tears. She didn't want to go inside... didn't want to confirm her fears.
"No... I can't believe this..."
"It wasn't just Murkrow was it?" asked Mischief. "It wasn't Enigma though... he didn't do this, did he?"
"No. It wasn't Enigma." She swatted a frozen shard of ice across the ground and it shattered against the wooden wall of a little house. "It was Weavile."
Flutterwick blinked back tears from his large eyes. "This... this is wrong. They didn't do anything..."
Harlequin grit her teeth. "Of course it's wrong. Everything about this war is wrong! They were good Pokemon!" She tore her eyes away from the scene and bolted for the gate. "This has to end!"
...
Please R&R! =D
