*waves to the people* Yo. Here's the next installmentthingy. Whatever. On a side note, Barriyado is (as some of you may know) the Japanese name for Mr. Mime. And yes, there are female Mr. Mimes. Check out the battle with Sabrina in Gold/Silver. As always, your reviews would be most welcome!
*****
Now was a time of danger. Even the young ones felt the tension in the air, and they whimpered quietly amongst themselves. The only kit who seemed calm was the one that Strange One had rescued. Every once in a while, he would casually reassure them all that Strange One would save them, that he would make everything better.
Tall One squinted, her vision blurred slightly with unshed tears. What was the lad's name again? Her fertile mind recalled the names of every family member that she had watched over. There were just so many...then she had it.
Tumble? she said quietly, and the young one approached, biting his lower lip in agitation. But it wasn't the danger of humans that was bothering him.
Why? he asked her angrily, his voice clogged with tears. Why did you send him away? He rescued me...
Tall One sighed as Tumble hugged her close. It isn't that simple...Strange One earned his name by being different. Although he's learned to embrace those differences and be a fine member of our family...the same qualities that make him so special are putting the rest of us in danger. He saw that, and now he's doing every thing in his power to stop that same danger. Do you understand?
Tumble sniffled quietly in response. What are we gonna do?
The older Pikachu was not sure how to answer Tumble's question. It certainly wasn't an easy one. If the family remained in the midst of raiding humans, it would mean death or capture to the entire group. But they had nowhere to go. Where could she relocate to, with nearly a score of Pikachu, some of them very young?
She needed help.
And there was the answer. Still holding the young one close, Tall One turned her head skyward, crying out mentally' as Jasauq had taught her.
*JASAUQ!*
The Abra appeared at her side, wincing slightly.
No need to shout, my child.
Tumble gasped at this sudden appearance, but then his voice returned, awed. It's Wise One!
Wise One was the name that the Pikachu had given Jasauq. The Abra ruffled Tumble's headfur with a talon. Yes, I've come to help. he soothed, answering the young one's unspoken question at the same time. Then he looked up, locking eyes with Tall One.
There is much disturbance in the forest.
Tall One breathed out slowly. Yes, Strange One-
The Abra looked up sharply, and he prepared to read her memory.
Tell me everything.
*****
"What do you have to tell me?" the voice over the phone said in kindly tone. "It had better be good news." The voice grew considerably less kind.
Watson swallowed nervously. Even though the boss was on the other end of the line, Watson cringed as if he were in the room with him "W-we've found it, sir. In Viridian forest."
"Excellent. Do you have it captured?"
"N-not exactly..."
"IDIOT!" Watson nearly dropped the phone, his hand shaking as he cringed. The voice continued to berate the unfortunate scientist. "Why do you call me when you haven't captured it yet?! Locating it is only the easy part. You need to neutralize it. Now!"
"But sir, we have 40 traps set and will have even more by-"
"Traps nothing, you fool! Chances are you'll end up with every other living thing in Viridian in those traps. Get your dimwitted hunters out there with nets and tranquilizers, until you have that test animal captured. Do you understand?"
"Y-yes sir."
"And quit stuttering, you sound like an idiot, stuttering like that. My orders stand. Get that test animal, or it will be your head, Watson. Understood?"
"Yes sir."
Click. The presence of a dial tone now assured Watson that he no longer had to cringe like a dog with its tail between its legs. Removing his glasses, he peered down at his worktable and at his project.
With trembling fingers, he turned the switch of the small, handheld piece of equipment. It was a scanner.
It worked!
Watson, in his haste to please his boss, had invented something that would track down the creator of his scars.
"Let us see you run and hide now, my dear test subject," Watson sneered in a most unkindly manner. "That Ice power we gave you will make you stand out like a sore thumb to this scanner!"
*****
Strange One was careful the moment he left the protective fringe of the forest. He must not be seen by anyone. Crouching low as he could, he snaked forwards with his stomach dragging in the grass. Ears perked, he carefully lifted his head out of the tall grass, peering down the well-worn dirt road. Towards the human settlement.
His main problem was how he was going to get past the city. When he had first arrived in Viridian Forest, he had made the trip by night. But now the high noonday sun beat down on the town, unusually warm for the season, making any kind of travel impossible for him. He was just too obvious.
Strange One didn't relish that warm sun either. As he was, he couldn't stand much heat, even direct sunlight tended to bother him quite a lot. But he needed to get going now. The later he was delayed, the longer his family remained in danger.
Odd to see you so far from the forest, Strange One. said a voice over his left shoulder.
Only severe caution stopped Strange One from shouting aloud with fright.
Jasauq had appeared behind him.
Strange One stared at the Abra.
The Abra had brought a companion. A very odd-looking one.
Although the Abra's companion resembled a human, she certainly wasn't one. She stood on two legs, and resembled a pale marionette, if Strange One had known what one was. The visitor's most prominent aspect were her humanlike hands, which were broad and mittlike. Strange One gaped, somewhat confused at the recent turn of events. The Abra's companion grinned and waved with one of her large hands.
So you must be the famous Pikablu everyone's talking about.
Strange One just scratched his head confusedly. What do you mean?
The visitor winked. Never mind that right now. We've come to help you. You do have a problem, don't you? That is why Jasauq and I are here, you know. I'm Barriyado.
Strange One blinked as he recognized the name. Another Psychic, like Jasauq. He blinked again. I do have a problem, he said, even though he knew they would both just read his mind. I have to get past this city, and another one after that to get where I'm going. Certainly Jasauq knew about his journey as well.
Jasauq nodded. Yes, my child. Do you know much of Barriyado's power?
Blank look. Then Strange One noticed something strange about Barriyado. She was glowing with a strong blue aura, but this one wasn't a Psychic aura. It was-
Strange One recognized that aura. It was an Ice aura. His.
Barriyado's specialty is mimicry.
Strange One just gaped. She could do anything.
Actually, anything that somebody else can also do, my child. A very useful power, unless you are alone. Then you have to depend on what only you can do.
Barriyado nodded, the Ice aura fading as she did. Jasauq and I have come to teach you this power.
What?
Jasauq clarified. We are going to teach you mimicry, Strange One. You are going to need it.
Strange One trusted Jasauq. If he said something was needed, then Strange One was definately going to need it. Okay, he said, feeling slightly dull. But how?
Humans have a way of doing this, said Barriyado. They call them TM's, that's Technical Machines. A bit clunky, though. And they can only be used once. Then Barriyado grinned. But we Psychics have known how to teach for ages. And we don't need electronics to do it. Jasauq?
The Abra looked at Strange One. I will now give you the power of mimicry. Brace yourself.
Strange One barely had time to react.
THUD.
As his eyes opened, Barriyado stood over Strange One, grinning a little.
There you go, all done.
Strange One sat up slowly. The entire process had taken less than five seconds, but had also managed to lay him out flat on the ground. He blinked owlishly. That's it?
Jasauq nodded. It is finished. Would you like to test your new power?
Strange One stood up, eager to see if it would work. Sure, but what could I mimic?
Barriyado grinned slyly. Perhaps you would like to teleport yourself, like Jasauq can?
And get myself past the cities like that...it would keep me from being seen, and I could get to the laboratory faster than on foot! Strange One grinned. They had been right. Mimicry would be very useful.
Well, said Jasauq, Are you ready, my child? Strange One nodded, so Jasauq continued. I am going to teleport. Focus on my teleportation, and the mimic power should do the rest.
There was a slight disturbance in the air as the Abra teleported. Remembering what the Abra had told him, Strange One tried to focus on the waning Psychic energy that was a result of the Abra's teleportation. Mimic...Mimic...he thought.
With a jolt, Strange One felt something new in the back of his mind awaken. The mimic. Then with a gasp of shock, he too teleported, leaving the air around him to fill up his space.
*****
Ha! Sorry to leave on a bit of a cliffhanger, but I'll put more up tomorrowPlease please please please click that little button down there and review thisI want to know if I should finish this fic totally. Thank you!!!