Takachan
~Evolution
To everyone who knew the bird, or as they were more often referred to as the birds, that was collectively known as Taka, the thought of yet another head to add to the constant arguing and insults that were traded between the two sister heads was inconceivable.
"It's a wonder your species stays alive." Kitsune had remarked idly one day while they had all been lounging about in the warm sun. "You'd think that one head would eventually kill the other or something."
Taka felt slightly left out because of the fact those around them had evolved and they had not, yet they did not want too. Knowing full well that becoming one with the rest of their party involved growing yet another head, another mind, another contributor to their arguments, far outweighed the benefits of belonging. So Taka avoided it as long as they possibly could, but there is only so long one can run from the inevitable.
Radic and his Pokémon liked the sunlight, often laying about on particularly sunny days to absorb the life-giving, warm, loving rays of sunlight. Ruby was especially infatuated with the sun and often took the choicest spots for herself. Now that she was a Persian, a much larger form then her previous one, it took a great deal more of effort to move the large cat when she didn't want to be moved. So no one could really move her and no one tried.
Radic was vaguely aware that he may have been giving his Pokémon too free of a reign. He knew that he was making mistakes...such as with Taka, who was always a concern for him. Within all the battles he had fought and trainers he had seen, he had never seen a Doduo with such a conflicting and belligerent relationship between the two heads. Most often, the two heads worked together to form strategies, but not Radic's Doduo. No, valuable time in battle was wasted while Ta would yell at Ka, or the other way around, while the Pokémon they were battling with would often stare at them in confusion. Sometimes it appeared to only be luck that always managed to keep Ta and Ka from fainting within the field.
Radic stared at the bird. Well, at least there were some positive aspects to Taka...when the two heads finally did get along, it was almost like a miracle. It made him appreciate how hard it must have been to have to deal with not only one aspect of oneself, but two, and the fact that Taka was trying to overcome this anger to please Radic. Taka deeply cared for Radic, because of his kindness and his persistance in keeping Taka, despite their bad habits, and they felt deeply connected to Radic.
For appearance's sake, they would rarely openly obey Radic, but when alone, they would do anything to make the only one who had not abandoned them when finding their arguments tiresome happy.
This was one, and perhaps the only, thing the two heads agreed on.
So, it was while they were all lounging about in the sun when the typical arguments began. Radic, having learned that there was almost no way he could stop them once they started, simply sighed and stared at the sky, trying to ignore them.
"You're so lucky, Taka."
"What?"
"What?"
The two heads stared at the Pokémon who had spoken, which was Accident. He smiled innocently at them. "You didn't evolve or nothing. You don't have this hurt in your back."
Taka had heard from the others about the pain that never went away, the pain that was always between one's shoulders. Another reason to avoid evolution.
"Why HAVEN'T you evolved, anyway?" Ruby was laying on her back, letting the sun warm her stomach fur. "I mean, Radic battles with you as much as us. You should have evolved by now. Why haven't you?"
Taka couldn't really think of a good reason.
"We don't want to." Ta finally spoke.
"You can't not evolve just because you don't want to." Nova adjusted his sunglasses. "You have to evolve someday."
"All of you evolved because you did something important." Ka pointed out. "Ruby faced her past, Kitsune saved Accident's life, Nova got us through that pass, Callima fought tradition, and Accident..."
Although Ka had never payed attention when the others explained how Accident evolved, Ta had, so she spoke. "Accident risked himself for everyone else. If this pattern continues-"
Ka resented having the attention taken away from her. She cut Ta off. "Then as long as we don't risk ourselves or do anything important, we'll stay the way we are."
"Heh..." Kitsune laughed humorlessly. "So you'd rather remain unimportant then evolve?"
"You all get off easy compared to us!" Ta was indignant. "We have to get another HEAD! Do you know how HARD that would make things?"
"Considering you don't get along anyway..." Callima was eating some flowers while listening in to the conversation. She muttered this statement under her breath.
"You're just afraid." Ruby rubbed a paw across the jewel on her forehead. "I bet you think it hurts too much, you wuss."
"We're not a wuss!" Ta and Ka said at the same time. Ruby waved a paw at them idly.
"Oh, yes you are. Pansy."
"Shut up!"
The argument was cut off just before conflict was imminent by the sounds of something running by. Instantly all those on the grass sat up, looking for the source of the sound.
It was a Dodrio, running by at incredible speeds.
"See? You could run that fast if you evolved." Nova pointed to the Dodrio. Taka regarded the other Dodrio with distrust.
"Why aren't the heads talking to one another? Hey!" Ta shouted at the Dodrio, which skidded to a halt and turned towards them. "You guys, come here a minute."
"What are you doing?" Ruby hissed at the two-headed bird, but Taka didn't reply. All of Radic's Pokémon readied themselves for battle as the three-headed bird easily loped towards them. Radic himself sat up and stared, wondering what was going on.
"Greetings." All three heads spoke at the same time. Ta and Ka exchanged glances, then stared at the three in question.
"Hi..."
"Hello."
This time it was the other Dodrio that looked confused. Not sure why, Taka tried to keep the conversation going. "We were just wondering..."
"You don't seem to be talking to one another..."
"Or even looking at eachother!"
"What are your names?"
The three heads exchanged glances, then again spoke with one voice. "I am Nokami."
Ta pointed at the three heads at each syllable. "No, Ka, and Mi, huh?"
"My name is Ka!" Ka smiled at the other bird.
"I'm Ta." Ta felt obligated to respond as well.
This time the bird seemed utterly confused. "You speak as if you're different from one another. I am not No, Ka, and Mi, I'm Nokami. One being."
"No you're not." Ta spoke without care. "You got three heads, after all, you're three different beings. Just like us!"
"Ta and Ka. Collectively, Taka." Ka clarified.
"Oh..." Nokami seemed to have finally realized something. "Oh my, you haven't Joined yet, have you?"
"What?"
"Joined. You know, combined your two minds into one."
"No!" Both Ta and Ka were horrified by this prospect. The Dodrio only looked amused.
"I remember back then. Before I was Joined, I mean. I was always fighting amongst myselves, but now I am one and am better then ever." The fact that all three heads spoke at the same time was beginning to disconcert those listening to the odd conversation. "You should do it too, preferably before you evolve. It makes things much easier."
"I've never heard of Joining and I'd never want to do it!" Ta was outraged. For once, Ka agreed.
"I don't want to lose who I am!"
Nokami stared at the two heads. "But think of everything you're losing! In battle, you lose precious time arguing amongst yourselves instead of fighting! Everything is only more complicated when there is more then one conscious mind within our species. You need to Join, even if it's just for the sake of your trainer."
"Our trainer..." Ta and Ka spoke at the same time.
"Think of how much pain you cause him by never being able to get along!" Nokami was about to continue, but then seemed to hear something. It quickly lowered it's heads and scratched something into the earth. "Here, this is where you can Join. I have to go, but please, Join as soon as you can!"
With that, the Dodrio was off before either Ta or Ka could blink.
"That was certainly odd." Callima stared at the receding pink flashes in the distance that marked the large feathered tail of the Dodrio. She had a hidden resentment for others who interceded in the Pokémon's choice to evolve. "What business is it of theirs to tell our Doduo what to do!"
While Ta and Ka considered the quick map in front of them, their teammates argued behind them.
"I think Taka should do it."
"What are you, nuts?"
"Think about it. No more pointless arguing!"
"Think about it! One of them will be destroyed completely!"
"Wait, what happened? What's going to happen to Taka?"
"Nothing, Accident, don't worry."
"I still think we should do it. It would be helpful in battle."
"What about outside of battle?"
"Why should we trust that Dodrio, anyway? What if it was lying to us?"
"Why would it lie to us?"
"Well, we all know that anything with three heads can't tell the truth, eh Ruby? Your head is big enough to be considered three."
"Shut up, Kitsune!"
Taka turned as Radic touched her body softly. "Taka..."
"I don't know if I want to do this..." Ta sighed.
"Which one of us would die?"
There was one of the rare silences between the two heads.
"But...if it's to help Radic..."
"Maybe it doesn't matter..."
So Taka turned to Radic and nodded, not realizing that they were, just as they thought they would, attempting to sacrifice something for the others.
~~~
The problem wasn't locating the place where the Joining occured...
It was rather where it was.
"Not another cave!" Radic moaned, staring at the entrance in front of him. His Pokémon were equally distressed, milling about him angrily at the thought of having to enter yet another cave. Almost all of them had memories associated with the areas.
Taka stared at the cave, feeling both fear and apprehension within them. Although Ta and Ka may have had two minds, they still had only one body. Adrenaline made their heart beat faster and the bird began to shake almost uncontrollably. Radic credited this to the fact that Taka had carried him and his Pokémon all the way here, which was something that the bird normally didn't do.
"Do..."
"Duo..."
Slowly, Taka entered the inky blackness of the cave. The others followed them, Nova sparking gently to light the area.
They had only walked a few steps into the cave when a large booming voice seemed to sound within each one's mind. "Cease the light!"
Radic gestured to Nova, but Nova had already stopped the sparks that flew from him. The group was plunged into total darkness, the entrance seeming obscured by something. Despite all their best efforts, the group was frightened and clung to one another. Instinctively, they surrounded Taka, sensing that they were what whoever this voice was after. Taka was shocked and slightly touched by this gesture of compassion from their team-mates, which was so rare.
Ruby, having better vision then most, was the first to make a sound. "Perrrrsian!"
"Something's coming..." Radic was frightened and it showed in his voice.
"Why have you come here?" The voice was angry, again booming within the minds of those present. Radic took it upon himself to speak.
"We...heard from..." Radic decided that perhaps using the Dodrio's name might get them out of danger. "Nokami that this is a place where Doduo's may be Joined to one another."
There was a pause.
"I take it you wish..." The voice seemed to consider something. "Ta and Ka to join and become one, correct?" The tone the voice used when saying the two bird's names was not flattering.
"It's Taka's decision and they have decided that's what they want."
"Fine. But Taka must seperate from you and walk forward. Unless they do, I will not do this."
Taka began to walk forward, but Nova spoke up.
"Rai raichu, rai rai rai!"
"Nova, they'll be fine..."
"Perrrrrsian..."
"Hmm..." Radic hadn't considered some of the points that his Pokémon were bringing up. What if the voice really WAS some kind of predator that wished to devour his Doduo? What would he do?
"Decide now!"
Taka moved forward, trying their hardest not to be afraid. Before the bird could move away from the groups enclosement, there was a stunningly bright flash of light. Taka turned to Nova in surprise.
"RAAAI!"
"Stop the light!" The Voice was furious now. The flash ended abruptly with a scream of pain from Nova, followed by a cry of concern from Radic.
"Nova? Nova! Are you okay!?"
"I saw it..." Ta heard Kitsune's voice near it, just noticing the Ninetail's weight on their back. "I know what it is. Listen, move forward if you can and pretend I'm not here. Let's see just what this 'voice' is up to."
"But..." Ka tried to protest, but the voice's next bellowing command cut her off.
"Come forward now! If any other pranks or tricks are tried, then your Doduo shall forever remain seperated!"
"Taka..." Radic sounded distracted, no doubt by Nova, who was whimpering audibly. "Taka, please be careful. If it's anything dangerous, I want you to come right back, okay?"
Frightened both by the prospect of meeting the phantom voice and the thought of what, if Nova was in that much pain for such a minor transgression, it could do to them if it found they weren't alone, Taka moved forward in small, shuffling, frightened steps. The frigid air of the cave ruffled Taka's feathers, but the heat from Kitsune's body was both comforting and soothing.
"Listen, just keep moving. Remember, act like I'm not here. This could get very bad..."
"Kitsune..." Ta whispered. Ka pecked her harshly.
"Don't talk to yourself!"
Ta glared at Ka only to find her gesturing to where the voice had come from. Both of them felt obligated to thank Kitsune, only they couldn't in their present position. So they continued moving forward.
"Ah, finally you are obeying! That is one aspect that all Pokémon most learn. Without it, you will never succeed. Remember this."
Radic managed to speak, wishing that he could see where the voice originated from. "I'd rather have their respect and love then their mindless obediance!"
"No wonder your Doduo is in such dire straits." The voice was filled with contempt. "You're ruining the lives of your Pokémon-"
Instantly all of Radic's Pokémon began to protest, even Ruby, in Radic's defense. Taka managed to keep moving forward although the voice's fury could be felt almost painfully.
"Silence! Your Doduo moves forward to become better. Say goodbye to 'Ta' and 'Ka'."
"And...?" Kitsune whispered almost inaudibly. Taka could feel the heat on their back increasing as Kitsune seemed to be readying herself for battle.
Taka walked into what felt like some large cavern. A stiff, cold breeze blew by the bird, but Kitsune's heat kept them calm. A indistinct light seemed to pulse at the center of the cavern, but what was inside it or causing it was unclear.
"Come forward."
Taka hesitantly moved forward, not sure of what else to do. They could feel Kitsune tensing on their back.
"Ta."
"Yes?" Ta responded automatically. As a result, a blinding pain filled her head, causing her to squawk in pain. This was soon echoed by Ka, who shared the pain her sister head experienced.
"You are not Ta nor Ka anymore! You are Taka. ONE being! Closer!"
Taka wished desperatly to speak out, but they knew only more pain would await them. They moved closer to the pulsing light.
"Lower your heads a bit..." Kitsune mumbled. The two subtly did as she bid as the light began to illuminate the brown feathers of the double-headed bird.
"I will rid you of your troublesome personalities." The voice continued. "I will combine you into one...in death."
Taka stopped moving. The voice continued speaking.
"I will send Kano out to speak with Radic after you are deceased and convince him of your recovery. I will tell him that you wish to stay here until you evolve. He will leave. When he comes back, I will be gone."
"Why are you telling us this?" Ka ventured to speak again, but found the pain entering her again. In response to the shudders that ran through their body, Kitsune increased her body heat, causing the tensed muscles to relax somewhat.
"Silence! Do not ask questions of me. Walk into the light and prepare yourself for death. If you make a sound, I will kill your friends as well."
Taka was going to back away when Kitsune's voice stopped them. "Go ahead...move forward, but slowly."
"What?!" Ta hissed. Ka pecked her sharply.
"Shh!"
"Move quickly." The voice sounded impatient. "I have no time for your petty arguments."
Taka slowly moved forward into the light.
As it turned out, the reason that Kitsune had asked Taka to lower her heads was because she was going to jump over them. Kitsune lept forward into the pulsing light, all the cream and red-brown fur on all of her tails risen in fear or anticipation, it was impossible to tell. Taka was stunned for a moment, then heard a cry of pain.
"FOOLS!"
The pulsing light stopped abruptly, revealing Kitsune being held above the ground by the throat. She choked pitifully under the claws of the large Dragonite that held her. Rid of it's light barrier, it looked at Taka, it's eyes flaming red.
"I said to come alone! Now you all shall die!" The Dragonite no longer used whatever psychic powers it had been using before, instead using it's booming, loud voice.
Taka was overcome with fear, then both heads experienced a flash of anger. A Dragonite...another Pokémon had killed how many of their many-headed brethren? Was planning to kill their friends?
Kitsune managed to gasp a few words from the strangle hold on her. "Nice eyes, Draggy...contacts?"
The Dragonite turned on Kitsune with a snarl of anger. Taka stared at Kitsune in utter disbelief.
"I can't BELIEVE you would-" Ta began, but Ka cut her off.
"We got more important things to do!"
"At a time like this!" Ta mutter to herself. But the two heads managed to focus and stare at the Dragonite before them.
"I'll kill your fox friend before you die." The Dragonite seemed enfuriated. "Slow."
Angrily, Taka tried to think of something they could do.
"Call the others, Ta! I'm going to try and remember how to fly!" Ka shouted in desperation.
"What?!" Ta stared at her sister in disbelief. "We can't fly! We don't have wings, you idiot!"
"Radic taught us how, didn't he?" Ka stared at Ta in panic. "We don't have a choice! Now shout for them unless you want to die here!"
Ta didn't think this plan was the most effective they had ever come up with, but it was true. They didn't have much of a choice and also Ta didn't have any better ideas.
Ta cleared her throat and began to sing the high, trilling notes that were common to her species. The cavern's shape seemed to echo them perfectly. Meanwhile, Ka had closed her eyes and was concentrating almost painfully.
The Dragonite was still staring at Kitsune, who managed to keep a superior smirk on her face despite the position she was in. "You stupid fox...what chance do you think you have against me?"
"By all the rules I've ever known...not much..." Kitsune mumbled. Automatically the Dragonite leaned in closer in order to hear her better. Kitsune then took this opportunity to breath a full blast of fire in it's face.
Surprised, although not badly injured, the Dragonite dropped Kitsune on the ground, pawing at the embers still burning on it's scales. Kitsune smirked on the ground, then circled with fantastic speed to the back of the Dragonite, where she lept on it's back.
"But I don't play by the rules."
She then grabbed one of the antenna on the Dragonite's head and bit it.
If Radic didn't hear Ta's cry, the bellow of rage and agony surely caught his attention.
While the Dragonite whirled wildly in circles trying to grab the irritating Ninetails, Ka opened her eyes. A soft white glow began to form around the Doduo.
"I think I remember! I think..."
"Well, how?!" Ta was now as panicked and as desperate as her sister. Ka tried to think.
"Close your eyes and think of flying!"
"But-"
"Just do it!"
Ta shut her eyes quickly and tried to focus all her thoughts on flight. This was hard considering the massive earthquakes that were shaking the room due to the Dragonite's furious thrashing. Slowly she felt something on her side she had never felt before and it began to move.
Wings?
"We DO have wings!" Ta shouted in surprise. They were just small feathery stubs, but they were wings.
"It's not our wings doing it..." Ka sounded very focused. "It's the HM..."
"C'mon, Ka..." She stared at the Dragonite, which had managed to grab one of Kitsune's tails and rip her off. The Dragonite had grabbed three of her tails in one paw, then another three in the other, and then proceeded to pull. Kitsune was shrieking in pain, biting uselessly at the Dragonite's thick scales. Ta's eyes narrowed in hatred. "Let's teach this thing not to try and lie to Ta and Ka!"
"Right!"
The Two began to spin in midair, revolving almost like some kind of airborne top. The white glow began to shimmer and pulse around them, creating almost a kind of aura. This caught the Dragonite's attention. It stopped pulling, much to Kitsune's relief, and stared.
"What do you think you're doing?"
Ta and Ka gave one angry, shrill note at the same time, then dove at the Dragonite, still spinning furiously. The Dragonite gave a shout of surprise, the sharp claws and talons of the drilling attack ripping past the scales. Kitsune was dropped.
She then landed in Radic's arms.
"Kitsune! Taka! Is everyone okay?" He stared at the massive reptile in front of him, which was ripping clumps of brown feathers from the Doduo attacking it at a steady rate. Despite the intense pain, Taka would not stop clawing, drilling, and pecking at the wound she had created.
"Callima, Spore! Nova, Thunderbolt! Accident, Ice Beam! Ruby, Thunder! Everyone, help Taka before it's too late!" Radic was surprised at the speed he rapped out the orders, as were his Pokémon.
They worked as a perfect unit, united by their concern for the bird in front who remained clawing and pecking even as it was painfully obvious how futile it was.
Callima's back exploded almost audibly with the bright powder, it spreading across the windy room at record speed. Releasing Taka, the Dragonite turned towards the Parasect. Using her last vestiges of strength, Taka used her weak wings to blow the powder towards the Dragonite.
Before it could take it's full effect, Nova was moving forward. Leaping off of Radic's head, he launched himself in the air, electricity flickering around him like a generator.
"RAAAAAAAAIIIICHU!"
Electricity lanced from the Raichu into the Dragonite, causing it to reel back in surprise more then pain. Nova landed nimbly...
Atop Accident's shell.
This was the sign for his attack. Accident carefully focused his energy into his water reserves, causing the water to freeze just as it escaped the twin cannons.
"Waaaarr!"
"PeeeeerrrrSIAAAAAN!" Ruby had moved below the Dragonite with all the agility that a large cat could muster. As the twin beams of ice hit the Dragonite, electricity exploded upwards from Ruby, combining with the ice for a devastating attack.
The Dragon fell back, badly wounded and half-conscious. Crawling to it's feet, it raised one mighty paw and smashed one of the walls nearby out of place, revealing a dark passage. With speed born of desperation, the Dragonite was out of sight within moments.
Although Nova and Ruby wished to pursue the Dragonite, Radic called them back.
"You have to help me...we have to do something for Taka..." Radic was kneeling near the bird. Kitsune had removed herself from his arms and was sitting gingerly nearby.
Taka was in fairly bad shape. Most of their feathers were missing, Ta's neck was badly bruised, and they were bleeding from several places. Radic looked at the two heads.
"Taka, please..." Radic looked at the wreckage around him. "You may have thought that making you one may have pleased me, but you don't have to do that. We care about you no matter whether your seperate or together. Come back to us..."
Ta and Ka opened their eyes feebly. Kitsune coughed.
"Well, you're important now, aren't you? Weren't you trying to avoid that?" Kitsune laughed hollowly. Everyone was far too used to her humor at such stressful times that they did not reprimand her.
Ta and Ka closed their eyes, then gave a surprised squawk. A multicolored awe was spreading from their claws upwards. It brought with it stinging, burning pain.
"Oh...oh no, you're evolving! Taka..." Radic felt guilt for causing the poor bird more pain then it was already experiencing, even though it wasn't his fault.
Ta and Ka gasped alternately as a tingling, scratching sensation spread across their entire back as the large tail feathers of a Dodrio appeared. The aura moved upwards, but a constant ache directly beneath Ka's head remained.
Both birds reeled in agony as the felt the increasing pressure being applied to their left side. Sensing what was going to happen, they closed their eyes. With a rip of flesh and spatter of blood, a smaller, darker head appeared, the neck stretching with painful cracks and snaps. From the dark head sprouted two small red feathers, distinguishing it even more clearly from it's sisters.
The aura faded and the others stared at Taka.
Ta and Ka stared at the newcomer. "Who are YOU?"
The new head seemed confused. "I'm...I...I don't know..."
"You don't KNOW?" The two heads were incredibly irritated by this for some reason.
"I..." The new head paused for a moment, as if realizing something. "I think...I'm...my name is...Chan..."
"What kind of stupid name is that?" Ka had no intention of getting along with the new head that had been thrust upon them.
"We're Ta and Ka." Ta took authority over the conversation. "Since we were first, you better do everything we say, got that?" Both the previous heads were worried that their new companion may try to usurp control of the body, so they decided to establish their authority as soon as possible.
New and confused to the world around it, Chan didn't see anything else to do but agree. "Okay..."
"We didn't want you anyway, but I guess we're stuck with you..."
Chan looked at Radic. "Are you my trainer?"
Radic had been listening to his new Dodrio's conversation with interest and a tinge of sadness. Not only were Ta and Ka not getting along, but now Chan was being alienated as well. "Yes...all of you."
"Hmm...Chan, eh?" Ruby stared at the new head. "Does that mean the name'll be changing now?"
Radic stood, taking a Pokéball from his backpack. "Yes it will, Ruby. But first, we need to take...Takachan to a Pokécenter."
The three heads echoed the strange name at the same time. "Ta...ka...chan..."
