A Mightyena Named Wolf

Disclaimer: I do not own Pokémon.

This chapter has been edited in 2009.

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Chapter 6 ~ Healing

Wolf found himself standing in front of a house next to the forest. It was not a very big house, but it looked neat and tidy. The garden was very well-kept; there was not a weed about.

A voice suddenly rang from within the house. "Get out and stay out!"

The door swung open and a fat leg kicked out a Mightyena. The Mightyena landed on the soft grass with a thud. It immediately got back up to its feet and ran to the door, whining. It pawed at the door but nobody answered.

The Mightyena… was his mother.

"(Mom…)" Wolf said softly. He could not believe his eyes. It had been so long since he last saw her… too long…

The Mightyena did not hear Wolf. Instead, it limped a little way from the house before falling to the ground, no longer moving.

"(Mom!!)"

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"(Mom!!)" Wolf woke with a start.

"Wolf, what's up?" Will said groggily, getting up from his bed.

Wolf looked around frantically. The morning rays shone through the window in Will's room. It looks like he has been in the room all along…

"Sorry," Wolf told Will.

"No, it's OK. Why did you howl like that?"

"Espeon…" Wolf muttered. He remembered now what had happened the night before: about how he asked Espeon to let him see his mother in his dreams. "I need to see your mother's Espeon. Will, please get her for me, please?"

Wolf looked so anxious and worried that Will had to agree. Will found the Espeon easily; she was lazing about in the couch downstairs, as usual. When he reappeared in the room, the Espeon was following by his heels.

"(Had sweet dreams?)" the Espeon asked, staring at Wolf.

"(Espeon, my mother was kicked out of her home and fell to the ground, unconscious!)"

"(Ah, poor thing,)" Espeon said, trying – and failing – to look sympathetic.

"(What I dreamt… it really happened?)"

"(Ah, well…)" the Espeon began. She seemed a little embarrassed.

"(Well what?)" Wolf said, getting impatient.

Espeon swished her tail to one side and looked away from Wolf. "(You see, I can control your dreams all right, but the visions that you see… they are not always accurate. I would say that there's an approximately one in fifty chance of it being true.)"

"(What!?! Es… pe… on!!)"

Wolf chased an embarrassed Espeon out of the room, leaving behind a stunned Will who did not understand a single word in their conversation.

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Wolf and Will went for a walk around Rustboro City. Wolf seemed to be incredibly tense. This place must have brought back some bad memories, thought Will.

Poor Wolf… he looked really depressed. Will thought it might have something to do with what happened in the morning, but Wolf refused to tell what the conversation with Espeon was all about.

One in fifty… one in fifty, Wolf repeated in his head. That means it might not happen after all, but there is still the chance of it being accurate…

Will and Wolf walked right by a small little brick house.

"You know, this house belongs to my uncle," Will said.

Wolf merely grunted in reply, not really looking at the house.

"Maybe we can pay him a visit…" Will suggested.

Will remembered how he used to play with his uncle's Mightyena some time back. His uncle told Will to be sure to show him his first Pokémon. It has been quite a while since he last visited his uncle.

Wolf shook is head. "There's no need, really."

"He has a Mightyena, you know. You two could be friends."

"Quite frankly, a lot of the Mightyenas I met are jerks. Sorry, Will, but I am not in the mood to meet another one."

"Ah, alright."

They walked past the house. A few steps ahead, a huge old man came walking by, holding a plastic bag. A Mightyena was at his heels, carrying a grocery basket in its teeth.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't my nephew, Will," he said, grinning broadly.

Will smiled at the sight of his uncle. He rushed forward to greet him. "Oh, hello, Uncle Alf! Long time no see!"

"Long time no see indeed… who's this young fella here?" Will's uncle gestured at Wolf.

"He's my Mightyena. His name is Wolf."

"Hello there, Wolf!" Alf said. He then turned to Will. "Congrats, my boy! Finally a trainer, eh? Come, come in! You must tell me all about it," Will's uncle pushed them all inside his house.

Wolf, however, was suddenly feeling weak. That big fat man… certainly, yes, time has altered his physical appearance, but no way, no way could he forget that permanent image in his mind. If this man was the same as the one he remembered, that means... that means...

Though not as impressive as Will's mansion, Alf's house seemed very cozy. The living room was furnished with several sofas and tables. Shelves stood against the walls, all of them with strange trinkets displayed prominently within them. A large television set stood by a corner. Will and his uncle sat on the sofas while the other Mightyena went into the kitchen with the basket dangling by her mouth.

Wolf followed slowly behind.

"(He-hello…)" Wolf stuttered.

The female Mightyena turned around and looked at Will. She did not seem particularly interested in him. "(…Hi.)"

"(C-can you tell me more about yourself?)"

"(Look, if you are trying to be my mate, sorry, but no. I had a mate once, but he died.)"

Wolf could feel his face growing hot.

"(H-he died?)"

"(Killed by humans. And I got captured by Alf over there. My master treats me well, yes, but I wish my son was by my side.)"

Wolf blinked. His legs were shaking; it felt like he could fall over at any moment. "(Your son?)"

The Mightyena looked a little annoyed at being asked so many questions. "(Yes, he was a Poochyena back then. I wonder how he is now… so no being my mate, OK?)"

"(Your mate died in a toilet?)" Wolf was starting to feel tears in his eyes.

The female Mightyena was stunned. "(Wha… how did you…)"

It all fits. It all really fits.

Wolf tackled the Mightyena happily.

"(Mother!)" Wolf exclaimed, rubbing his head against his mother's.

The other Mightyena was caught off-guard. She seemed taken aback from the sudden display of affection. "(W-what…?)"

"(It's been too long… too long…)" Wolf was crying now.

Realization seemed to dawn on the female Mightyena. "(No… you surely can't be…)" but as the other Mightyena looked Wolf in the face, she knew.

"(You really are… aren't you?)" she said.

The two embraced each other.

"(Where have you been,)" Wolf whined. "(I was alone, I was so frightened…)"

"(I'm sorry… I was caught… caught…)" Wolf's mother said.

"(It doesn't matter anymore… we are together… mother…)" Wolf felt like he was a little Poochyena again. "(I was so frightened, I had a dream… you got kicked out… you were on the floor; you weren't moving…)"

"(It's only a dream…)" his mother said soothingly, "(… only a dream. Alf treats me well, he won't kick me out… you need not worry anymore. We are together again. Together.)" Wolf's mom stroked Wolf with a paw.

A voice interrupted them.

"… those two, been in the kitchen so long…" It was Alf. He and Will entered the kitchen.

"Well I'll be darned. Lovers in a few seconds meeting, eh?" Alf exclaimed when he saw the pair of Mightyenas in a deep embrace.

"Ena!" Wolf objected. He shook his head violently.

"Well, come on out. This stuffy kitchen ain't a good place to hold a conversation."

All four of them went back outside.

"(So, mom, you're still going to stay with this man?)"

Wolf's mother nodded. "(I can't just say goodbye, and I am sure you can't just leave that boy, can you?)"

"(But…)" Wolf objected. He did not want to leave his mother's side ever again.

"(I heard Alf call that boy his nephew, so that means you can visit me anytime. So... what did you do after I got captured?)"

Meanwhile, Alf and Will were having a conversation of their own about Roland, the man that quarreled with Will's father the day before.

"Well, my boy, Roland and Ed were partners once. Roland's company made equipments for the filming industry, see? The thing is, Roland has been known to play dirty. Bribery, blackmail, you name it. That's why Ed doesn't want to be partners anymore. Rumours also state that Roland has a secret hideout somewhere which he uses for his crimes. You wouldn't believe the things they say about that man… some even say he's been smuggling Pokémon in that hideout of his…"

"Oh. Are the rumours true then?"

"I don't know. It does sound a bit far-fetched, but with that man, you never can tell."

Will readjusted his cap and looked at Wolf. Wolf's eyes were closed and he had put his head on the other Mightyena's body. He looked really peaceful. Will then turned to look at the clock. It was already four in the afternoon.

"Oh no, I forgot that I have to meet my mom back at the house to help her sort some stuff at the attic. Uncle Alf, I got to go," Will said.

"OK, no problem, come see me again soon."

"I will. Wolf!" Will called.

Wolf did not stir. It looked like he was sleeping.

"Wake up, sleepyhead!" Will called again.

Wolf remained asleep.

"Oh dear, I don't think waking him up when he's in this deep slumber would be a polite thing to do. Uncle, I have to go first. I hope you don't mind if I leave Wolf here…"

Alf laughed heartily. "The more the merrier as I always say! Plus, it'd mean that I would see you again soon. When you're done with the attic, you can come and collect him."

"Thanks, Uncle. I should be back tonight."

Will bent down and gave Wolf a stroke before leaving.

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On his walk back, Will kept thinking about how happy Wolf was after meeting his uncle's Mightyena. It looked like the two of them became fast friends, even though Wolf was reluctant to meet the Mightyena initially. If only Wolf could be happy like that always.

Will readjusted his cap again. Darn thing can't stay put, he thought.

Will walked past the boundaries of Rustboro City and walked past some trees. It was a quiet evening. Not a single person was around. People usually like to stay in the city, but as Will's house was outside of the city, he finds himself walking in and out of Rustboro all the time. Today, however, this route seems to have a strange… smell. It was awful. Will walked faster so as to avoid inhaling the scent for long.

"Muuukk!" a voice yelled.

Will felt himself getting lifted up by two powerful arms. He looked up and saw a Muk looking back at him. Muks are large purple Pokémon that have an awful stench. It was so foul that Will thought prolonged exposure to it could drive him insane. Will tried to scream and struggle, but resistance was futile.

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Wolf had a bad dream. Blazikens were attacking his Alpha, his mother, his father and Will. One by one the Blazikens knocked them out. Wolf could only watch from behind...

Then he woke up in a panic.

"(What's wrong?)" his mother asked.

"(Oh… nothing. Nightmare.)"

Darn Espeon. Been having nightmares ever since I asked her for help.

Wolf nuzzled his mother. "(Mom... I don't want you to leave me again.)"

"(I won't. I will be here. You can visit me anytime.)"

Wolf looked around. Will and Alf were no longer there.

"(Where's Will?)"

"(He went back already, but he will return later for you,)" his mother explained.

"(Ah... I suppose I will head back by myself. That guy will get lost without me,)" Wolf said, laughing slightly.

"(Goodbye, then. Come visit me again soon...)"

The mother licked her son a few times.

"(I will. Goodbye, mother.)"

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Wolf walked out of Alf's house, feeling completely happy. His mother was taken away from him, but now he got her back. It still felt unreal somehow.

On the way to Will's house, Wolf saw Will's cap lying on the ground. The cap was emitting a strange, horrible odour, but it was Will's all right. I need to remind him to take a bath, Wolf thought. He picked the cap up with his teeth, trying to block out the stench. He thought it was careless of Will to have dropped it.

Right now though, Wolf felt like he would do anything for Will. To be able to reunite with his mother seemed like an impossible dream, but it came true anyway thanks to Will. Sure, it was only a coincidence that Will was Alf's nephew, but Will has helped Wolf find his mother, so he needed to repay the favour. Will said he wanted to win all the gym badges, right? Then Wolf would help him!

Wolf entered the mansion and found Will's mother vacuuming the living room. He thought it odd that a family as rich as the Bronxs did not hire a maid to keep the house in order, but pushed the thought out of his mind.

"Oh, Mightyena! Where's Will? I asked him to come back and help me sort out the attic... that boy always tries to escape housework..." Will's mother complained, her voice slightly inaudible due to the roaring of the vacuum.

"Ena?" Wolf was surprised. Will wasn't back yet? Why?

Will's mother turned off the vacuum cleaner and looked at Wolf. "...Will was with you, wasn't he?"

Wolf shook his head.

"He wasn't? But he went out with you!"

"..." Wolf remained silent. He thought it was strange that Will has yet to reach home, especially since he set off much earlier than Wolf.

"What's that cap you got there?" Will's mother asked Wolf. She took the cap off his mouth and examined it closely. "It's... Will's! Why do you have it, and why does it stink so much?"

Stinky cap, missing boy, fallen cap, suspicious man... Wolf began to add two and two.

Wolf ran out the door again, leaving behind a stunned mother. Wolf returned to the spot where he found the cap. He sniffed on the ground. There was an unmistakable stink leading to the forest. Wherever it leads to, Wolf was sure that it would lead to Will.

Wolf followed the scent trail. He did not want to lose another part of his life again…