Shattered

A disgruntled pikachu trudged through the forest, dragging his feet across the ground, long grass tickling his ears and legs drenched in mud. Taking in the bright afternoon sky for a second, he pondered his day. It really had not gone well. Not at all. He'd tried for the third time this month to get a place in the Garchomp guild. Too small the first time. Too weak the second time. He didn't even get into the building before being laughed at by the bellsprout at the gate this time. He really was dejected. Even a spindly stick of a pokemon laughed at him! Why was he so weak? He trained for ages and tried his hardest but he could barely fry a magikarp with his thunder - his strongest move!

What was wrong with him? Garchomp's piercing words rang in his head: "We don't need liabilities" They rounded in his head like a chorus of echoed whispers, refusing to die down. How did he fail so many times? Why was he such a big liability?

"Perhaps you would be more suited to working at the Lucario cafe?" Garchomp had chuckled, not even taking him seriously anymore "I hear lady Lucario's looking for some cute little servers!" He added with a wink

Why did everyone have to put him down? Why can't small pokemon be powerful? Why can't they be famous adventurers too? Pikachu just couldn't help what his body yearned for. If only it wasn't so powerless. So tiny. So cute!

Being sprayed with mud by some stupid prankster whooper after running out of the gates of Garchomp's dream destroying session had only capped his morning off. they laughed at him - and they didn't even have arms! His thunder wouldn't have even done anything, they could easily ground his electricity and would have just hobbles away, even more satisfied and giggly. Perhaps his special clearing spot would help ease his mind. It was his special spot. The afternoon could be better.

He padded off towards the open space. He had much more of a skip in his step, hoping for a better end to his poor start. He hopped over a few brambles and skittered past some sleeping starvavias. he didn't wish to disturb them - they might get mad if he did! Pushing some brush apart, he sighed. His spot. No one else comes here (at least he hasn't seen anyone else here).

The tranquility was divine. It was filled with purple and pink flowers, soft on the belly and even softer on the eyes. He could smell the scent of a hundred colours and become lost in the tangs of all the pollen. One could become overwhelmed in the elegance of such a place. There was a single darkened tree that almost learned against the ground, so crooked it was as though it too had fallen for the beauty of the place. Leaves covered it and sheltered those underneath its hold. Pikachu liked to crawl up beside it, his head resting on the flowers with his back leaned upon the base of the tree. This would be bliss. He would do so straight away, and become entranced by the almost sickening yet calming presence of the flora. He started making his way towards the tree. He made sure to smell as many of the flowers - take in the scent of serenity...

Until he saw a disheveled riolu. It was slumped against the tree - awkwardly limp - with a sickly purply blue gold liquid dripping from its mouth. It looked like it hadn't been groomed - ever - and had a closing look of pain twisted onto its face. Pikachu's ears twitched. He froze, and stared for a few seconds. 'Is it dead?' he thought, rubbing his paws together, 'Did he just stumble upon a dead pokemon? Will anyone think it was me? Can I help it? Is it DEAD?'

"Calm down," he breathed to himself, "The flowers are watching. Smell the scent. Breathe."

He rushed to the 'dead' riolu, bounding on all fours. He got up and pawed over its arms, and ran his paws over its chest checking him for injuries. It didn't stir. Its fur was spiked and rough on touch - perhaps from a lack of self care? Luckily, he noticed its chest still rising and sharply falling and a lack of anything broken or bleeding. He breathed a small sigh. It wasn't dead. Great.

He looked up the body. The pokemon's eyes were still open. Pikachu recoiled after he had noticed. 'Had he just touched up a pokemon that he found ditched in a forest?' He thought to himself. They didn't follow his movements, nor did they seem to be particularly alert. He cautiously waved a paw over them. Nothing. They were very strange. One was a deep red, very standard. The other a piercing green. Very different. Was he shiny? He didn't appear much different. Still blue with black patches here and there.

Pikachu took a step back from the fallen riolu. Should he run back and get help? Would that be a good idea? What if he had internal injuries, something he couldn't see or feel? Maybe he could wake him and ask him if he's hurting anywhere? He gave an arm a tug, both of his short forelimbs wrapped around the appendage. He gave a yank. And another. The pokemon didn't even move. He really was weak. And out of breath. He really ought to get someone, but what if a malicious pokemon found it? What would they do? He really didn't want to think about this. Perhaps his electricity could wake him? Would that help? His red cheek pouches crinkled and crackled with sparks. He rubbed his paws together, sparks enveloping them. He stuck a tiny digit out and poked the riolu on the side of his ribs.

"Gahhhhhhhh!" It yelled, arms flailing, before settling on its head, "m-m-my he-ead, " It groaned helplessly as it started to shake.

Ears folded and floppy, Pikachu stepped over the riolu and raised a paw to its shoulder. He took a breath.

"I found you… d-dead looking next to this tree. Do you know how you got here? Oh! And I'm Pikachu!" he squeaked tentatively.

Pupils shrinking, the riolu jerked its head at pikachu. Its eyes widened, its Aura sensors crackled and jumped and aura spurted from its red eye. Its mouth twisted into a confused O shape. Brows furrowed and its forehead wrinkled.

"W-w-what the he-e-ell are you?" he croaked, "And w-w-whe-e-e... What a-am I?"

Pikachu rubbed the back of his head with vigor.

Today would be a long day.

Authors notes

Thanks for reading this second chapter. All reviews are most certainly appreciated, they will help me write this story the best I can. I'll try and update when I can, Ive got a lot of time with this lock down going on.