Chapter 9 – Shattered

Just for those curious, I used the original Monster Hunter's Old Jungle theme as background music while writing this chapter's battle. It gives the appropriate tone of mystery and terror for an encounter with an aggressive forest menace.

"Nyallow! Nyallow!"

The green-haired girl turned her perspiring face away from the great oven and toward the owner of the heavily accented voice. Smiling down at the Felyne that stood at navel height before her, she replied, "What is it, Tako? Another order?"

"Affir-meow-tive!" Tako answered. "One Popo tongue with a side of Cudgel Onion soup and Kokoto rice at Table Fur… I mean Four, nya!"

Mallow gave him a resolute nod and turned to two Felynes that were stirring stew just above her. "You two hear him? Please head down and grab what Tako needs!" she ordered. "Tako, you take over this for me!"

The three talking cats gave her identical, jaunty salutes and sprang to do as she requested, the latter waddling to her position at the oven while the former slid down a bamboo ladder and toward a trapdoor on the other side of the room, into which they disappeared to access the ingredient stores one floor below. Mallow herself wasted no time in crawling up the ladder and planting her feet firmly on the third rung from the top, stretching her arm to continue stirring the pot that hung suspended above an opening in the oven's top, from which dense steam wafted to embrace and heat the metal's contents. Behind her, an ever-present chatter filled the room underneath the sounds of bubbling broth and sizzling flames.

Three days in Crown Village, home of the Riders, and Mallow had really come into her own. Her tour of the place had ended at the top of the towering tree that was the village's central landmark, behind a set of double doors that concealed what she considered easily to be the crown (ha ha) jewel. The grand doors led to an even grander canteen, a massive chamber twice the size of her father's restaurant designed to feed the whole population. Two-thirds of this palace hewn from wood was the dining area, with space enough for a small army to gather and enjoy their meals. The meals themselves were prepared in the other third: a kitchen blocked off only by a succession of huge rock slabs that acted as a part-table, part-counter, part-stove. The dark grey slab in the center was heated from below by wood fires maintained by the Felyne staff, while the two lighter ones on either side were always piled high with food in various stages of preparation. The back of the kitchen was dominated by a giant oven hewn from stone in the design of a Felyne's head, fire spitting from its "mouth" and steam spouting from its top to heat a great cauldron always kept full and boiling. Shelves and cupboards made up the rest of the kitchen, all crammed haphazardly with oils, spices, empty mugs, and cooking utensils.

The canteen was a place of great cheer, of many sights, and of exotic smells that beckoned to Mallow like a Volcarona to a flame. And so, with Chief Silva's blessing, she spent most of her time working here, both to repay the village's hospitality and to indulge in her own passions. The sample of food that had so enamored and fascinated her upon awakening in Crown Village had been just the tip of the iceberg – each new order was a new taste sensation waiting to be discovered. This world was rife with recipes and cooking methods to learn, and Mallow soaked every single one up like a sponge.

"Tako, is the food done cooking?" she called down, only to turn her attention toward the sight of food crates being hauled up from storage. "Never mind, serve it if it looks done. Yaki! Bring the veggies over to the counter and then help Tako with the finished order! Soba, get the meat on the grill and start preparing the rice!"

Without waiting for an answer, Mallow slapped on thick oven mitts and hauled the frothing cauldron out of its steam bath. Handing it to two more Felynes that had appeared at her call, she jumped off the ladder and bustled over to where the counter was being laden with fresh vegetables. She plucked a knife expertly from an open drawer on the way, then put it to use dicing the greens without missing a beat. The sound of steel chopping against stone joined the nostalgic symphony around her, inspiring a fond smile to soften her otherwise focused, business-like countenance.

SLAP. Meat hit the hot stone next to her, and a sharp sizzle broke instantly through the din, joined by a savory scent that filled Mallow's nostrils. It smelled mouth-wateringly good, and yet she had to fight back a gag, grimacing to herself. She'd learned very quickly that the Riders killed living things for meat, a horrifying notion that she'd had to brush off to the concerned locals as her being vegetarian. In her world, all meat was synthesized in laboratories nowadays, so that no Pokemon had to suffer such a cruel fate. The sacrifice of Pokemon for food was an archaic practice that was increasingly less common as society grew more Pokemon-inclusive, Professor Kukui had explained in class, something Mallow was thankful for. Of course, Crown Village didn't have the technology to create their own meat, but it had still been a terrific scare to learn that these kind people used such barbaric methods.

But Mallow was an expert at shoving unpleasant thoughts from her head, and she quickly forgot her private disgust as she threw herself back into the fun rhythm of chopping, piling, and mentally measuring the necessary combination of veggies. Soon her instincts told her that there was enough, and she used the flat of her blade to slide the lot onto a shallow plate with professional ease. With a bark at one of the Felynes, the prepared ingredients were whisked off to be thrown into the newly-emptied stew pot and promptly drowned in broth.

A lightning-fast glance at the other side of the canteen revealed a group standing just inside the door, likely having just arrived. "Look lively, we have more customers!" she alerted the whole crew. "I'll need someone to watch the stew and the rice! Steenee!" She raised her voice and leaned as far as she could over the counter to call to her Pokemon. "Double time with those drinks, okay?"

"Nee nee nee~!" The Grass-type stopped in the middle of the room to fix her with a wide smile, twirling giddily whilst keeping the trays on her head and hands in perfect balance. She paused only long enough to give her Trainer an answer before continuing to scurry around the tables, depositing mugs of such strange delicacies as Salty Milk and Tanzia Ale with practiced efficiency.

"Hard at work as usual, I see," a voice, coming from unexpectedly close, remarked.

Mallow jumped and whirled around to see a familiar figure standing beside her, a serenely pleased smile on her face. "Ah, Chief Silva!" she greeted, her shock instantly giving way to relief. "Yep! I'm as excited as ever to keep Crown Village happy and full!"

"You certainly weren't kidding when you assured me you had ample experience as a chef," the pointy-eared woman commented graciously. "Already you've taken charge and made a strong impression on the Felynes. It's as though you've been working here all your life."

Mallow blushed at the praise. "I'm just doing what I can to pull my weight, is all. And I love cooking, so…"

She received a simple nod from the chief, whose satisfied expression didn't change. "I'm glad you could find a place to fit in among us, Mallow. Speaking of, I was hoping I could have a moment of your time, dear girl. There's something I'd like to ask of you."

A frown of concern tugged at the corners of Mallow's mouth, and without thinking she looked back at the busy kitchen behind her. Silva's gentle hand on her shoulder prompted her to turn back to the woman.

"I assure you, Tako and the others can survive without you for a few minutes," Silva lifted a hand to her mouth in a graceful chuckle.

However guilty Mallow felt at leaving the Felynes at such a busy time of day, she couldn't deny the chief her desired conversation, and so followed her toward an empty table pushed up against one of the canteen's far corners. As she wound her way around occupied tables in which scores of Riders clustered around their meals, the overwhelming barrage of cheers and laughter faded into the background as she withdrew into the privacy of her own thoughts.

I'm glad you could find a place to fit in among us… Chief Silva's words were a reminder of the time Mallow had spent in Crown Village: three days spent in the comfort of the canteen's kitchen, the whereabouts of her friends nothing but a shameful afterthought in the back of her mind. The other three were still tapu knows where, probably already trying to find a way home. Mallow wanted to go back to Alola, she really did, but… what could she even do? She wasn't a competent battler, or a technical genius, or particularly good at anything besides cooking. Her friends had the skills to explore this world and search for the Ultra Wormhole on their own, but her? The most exploring she'd ever done alone was in the woods not far from home, looking for ingredients. The thought of wandering a totally unknown alternate world with no-one but Steenee made her shiver.

I could ask one of the Riders for help, the idea came to her as she joined Chief Silva in sitting down. That boy who showed me around Crown Village – I think it was Teris – seemed like someone I can trust. Maybe I'll break the news to him and convince him to help me out?

"Something on your mind?" Silva asked, tilting her head curiously.

"O-Oh, no, n-nothing important!" Mallow hastened to say. "J-Just, uh… wondering what it is you wanted to talk about!"

The chief became apologetic. "The truth of the matter is, I have a favor to ask. Routinely, our Riders venture into the forest to survey the area and gather medicinal plants for our infirmary. These trips are scheduled to occur on a routine basis, but today, it was brought to my attention that the village's supply of Unique Mushrooms has run completely out."

"Unique Mushrooms?" Mallow perked up, the mention of unfamiliar flora piquing her interest.

"A rare mushroom with powerful herbal properties, to the intrigue of the botanists that study them. More importantly, we use them as potent painkillers," Silva explained. "Hence the urgency to put together an emergency gathering quest. Fortunately, there is one Rider free to make the trip on short notice. However, we typically assign a pair of Felynes to accompany Riders on these expeditions, and most of the Felynes are busy with other matters. As Chief of Crown Village, I am ashamed to confess that this is an oversight on my part. I find myself having to ask you, Mallow, to be our Rider's partner for the day and assist him in gathering the supply we need."

She raised her eyebrows in surprise. "But if it's just a gathering trip, surely one of the other villagers can do it? I mean, I'm more than happy to help and all, but… I'm a little confused."

"Most of our villagers don't leave the village except for trade, and they only take certain routes when they do. The outside world is not kind to those unprepared," Silva told her, taking on a graver tone. "Riders are protected by the kinship they share with their Monsties, and Felynes are naturals at getting out of trouble, should they find it. Normally, I would not dare ask an honored guest to oblige such a request, but I figured…"

There was a pause as the woman's gaze drifted to Steenee, still waiting tables. She continued, "I figured that since you possess kinship with that creature, you are more capable of handling yourself in the wild than most civilians. Am I not mistaken?"

At first, Mallow had tensed at how grim Chief Silva had become when speaking of "the outside world". One of the first things Teris had taught her was the secrecy of the Riders' lifestyle, that they secluded themselves from the masses of people whose ideals were radically different. Now, though, she relaxed. If there was truly no danger in the forest that her and Steenee couldn't handle, there was no reason to fear. It would be just like picking wild ingredients for the restaurant, or one of Professor Kukui's field classes.

"I'd be happy to go, Chief! Back home, Steenee and I go searching for berries and stuff all the time!" she said as much, beaming ear-to-ear. "You don't have to feel sorry for asking us. We definitely don't mind helping out. Right, Steenee?"

The little Grass-type popped up beside her chair, now with a tray empty of drinks tucked under her arm, inquisitive eyes wide and questioning. But when Mallow enthused to her that they were going mushroom hunting, she opened up like a blooming flower and nodded wildly to Silva, who let out a laugh at the earnest enthusiasm.

"Which Rider are we gonna go with?" Mallow asked, hauling Steenee up on her lap and patting her sepals absentmindedly.

"I requested he join us before I came to fetch you," Silva replied with a frown, as though she'd realized only now that the person had yet to arrive. "I wonder what could – ah, never mind. Here he is."

The canteen doors opened to accept a recognizable and noticeably winded Rider boy. It only took Mallow a glance at his leather armor and short, jet-black hair to discern that it was Teris, her tour guide and fast friend from the other day. He ran up to their table and slumped in exhaustion, head down and hands clutching his knees while his shoulders heaved with deep breaths. A glint from his left hand drew Mallow's eye, where they came to rest, briefly captivated, on the mysterious Kinship Stone that had held her fascination since they'd met.

"Pardon… my lateness… Chief," Teris panted. "Just feeding… Ozzy before the trip… and – oh, Mallow. Hi." His exhaustion seemed to vanish, a warm smile appearing at the sight of her as though he'd opened a birthday present. "Are you going to be my partner on the gathering quest?"

"Yep!" she confirmed. "With the three of us working together, we'll get those Unique Mushrooms super-quick!"

"Steenee nee!" Steenee chirped with a hand raised in encouragement.

Silva spoke after they'd greeted each other, and they turned to listen – Mallow embarrassed slightly about how she'd almost forgotten the chief was there. "I would like you to go as soon as possible so that your search does not extend after dark," Silva advised them, her tone that of a cautioning parent. "Teris, you know your duty, but I still remind you: look after Mallow and her friend as you would any other villager. Even though the forest is peaceful, there are always small monsters that may take offense to you, so be ever vigilant."

Though her words were meant in warning, Mallow found herself feeling nostalgic. Professor Kukui had always said the same thing before taking them into the field to observe wild Pokemon. The Pokemon they encountered tended to be passive, and at worst, only standoffish enough to fire off an attack before fleeing. Indeed, the "small monsters" Silva warned them of sounded about as threatening, which emboldened Mallow. And they were tame enough to be trained into Monsties, weren't they? She had nothing to worry about.

"Don't sweat it! I'll be extra careful so Teris doesn't have to worry," she claimed, giving them her most confident grin.

Teris regarded her incredulously. "Wow, you really aren't nervous at all? I've been on more trips to the forest than I can count, and I've never had a tenth of your positivity."

"What can I say?" she replied peppily. "I just can't wait to go out and see what ingredients we can find out there!"

Chief Silva smiled at her again, but this time it didn't quite reach her eyes. Mallow noticed that it even looked a tiny bit strained – but other than that, nothing about the woman's countenance alluded to some secret worry. Instead, she stood from her seat and bent at the waist in an elegant, grateful bow, before taking her leave with a word of thanks.

"You'd best get on it as soon as you can, then," she said in parting. "I wish you the best of luck, Teris and Mallow."

For a moment, the two of them plus Steenee stared after her. Then they turned to each other, humor and warmth radiating from their faces in equal measure, as might two lifelong friends.

"Looks like I'm in your care again, teach!" Mallow joked. She stood up as well, matching Teris' height, and planted her hands on her hips. "Just show me where to go and we'll have those Unique Mushrooms before you can say 'malasada'!"

The forest surrounding Crown Village was a magnificent and heartwarming sight for a girl like Mallow, who had pretty much grown up in Alola's lush jungles. Even though this forest was temperate, far from the green paradise decorated with multicolored flowers she was used to, it was still familiar enough to put her on cloud nine. The fresh air scented with subtle hints of earth and damp wood was like a rush of Z-Power flooding her body, energizing her to the point where she couldn't sit still. Her and Steenee jumped from plant to unfamiliar plant, examining everything that caught their eye out of pure elation.

"Hey Teris! This has to be it! Right?" she called over her shoulder. The feeling of lifting a half-rotten log to find a cluster of blue mushrooms was one she hadn't experienced in a long time. It was the same indescribable ecstasy of discovering a potential new dish.

Heavy footsteps and a shadow falling over her crouched form indicated the presence of Teris and his mount, a few seconds before his voice rang out in answer. "Sorry, but no. Those are blue mushrooms. They're common and can be used in a lot of different potions, but not what we're looking for. Unique Mushrooms are tall and pink, with thin stems."

Mallow hummed and dropped the log with a muffled thump of softened wood against dirt, but her disappointment was a split-second flash that did nothing to bring down her pep. She twirled around and beamed at her companion, who gazed down at her with fond amusement from atop his riding beast. Ozzy was a funny-looking bird-beast that boosted her spirits a little bit higher just by looking at it, with its Toucannon-like beak and bright orange head plumes adding an endearing goofiness to its otherwise reptilian body. According to Teris, its kind had the adorable name of Kulu Ya-Ku. Despite its size surpassing that of most Ride Pokemon, she wasn't intimidated in the least. It was a beast – Monstie, they're called – as sweet and kind as its Rider.

"Alright, might as well keep looking!" she informed them. "I'm going to check on Steenee, then I'll be right back, 'kay?"

"Don't go too far," Teris warned, though the smile never left his face. "And remember to wear your gloves when rummaging around for mushrooms. Some plants are poisonous, or unpleasantly thorny."

Nodding, Mallow skipped away to follow her Pokemon, who had disappeared behind a curtain of ferns while she'd been preoccupied with her own search. Brushing past the broad leaves, she found herself standing in a clearing where the surrounding earth sloped sharply upward, resulting in a set of dirt cliffs that encircled the clearing. Long tangles of vines grew from the top of the precipice and dangled down to brush against the soil below, and the pink-and-white form of Steenee stood out amongst them. The Fruit Pokemon was climbing toward an old, dead stump that rose from the grass at the top of the cliff.

"Wait up, Steenee!" Mallow cried, then scrambled up the firmly anchored vines after her. She climbed high enough to peer over the cliff and into the hollow of the stump. Steenee greeted her with a happy chirp, her slender legs bent in a kneeling position as she, too, peered inside.

Again, Mallow let out a hum, hopes dashed by the lack of anything slim or pink growing inside the shadowy hollow. "Empty-handed again, huh?" she remarked, to which Steenee made a resigned noise. "Chief Silva wasn't kidding when she said they were rare. Good try, though, Steenee."

"Nee nee stee…" her partner sighed.

"Come on, let's rejoin Teris and Ozzy and keep up the search," she encouraged, which perked Steenee up. They both jumped from their lofty height, landing lightly in the grass that grew knee-high at the bottom of the clearing, thanks to the sun that shone down in the absence of trees to inhibit it.

A glimpse of dark brown amidst the otherwise solid green carpet stopped Mallow from taking off at a run. From the flattened grass at her feet rose a strange, oblong object, round and dark with a wrinkled surface. She picked it up with both hands, discovering it to be melon-like in size and weight. It was like no berry she'd ever seen, instantly stimulating her curiosity.

A potential new ingredient? she wondered, and as she shook her discovery experimentally, Teris' voice floated to her from the forest. "Mallow! Have you found anything?"

Whoops! Don't want to worry him, she realized, and hurried to rejoin him. In her haste, however, she stumbled, and though she caught herself, the odd coconut-like thing slipped from her grasp and bounced back into the clearing. She took a single backward step to retrieve it, only to pause when she saw steam rising from where it landed. A red glow emanated from the grass, her only warning before a sudden blast of flames towered into the air with a startling roar that shattered the forest's peaceful silence. She shrieked and fell on her rear at the suddenness of the explosion, staring with fearful eyes as the fire lashed and licked at the neighboring foliage like a raging beast.

"S-S-Steenee! Contain it with Magical Leaf!" Mallow managed to stammer out. Her Pokemon went from cringing on the sidelines to charging with sudden bravado, flinging her arms out to summon a swirling barrage of glowing leaves. They rose to circle the fire, kicking up a gust of wind that diminished the fire to a mere flicker. Now that Steenee had mostly snuffed it out, Mallow got up to finish the job, extinguishing it with a few solid stamps of her foot. Once all that remained of the near disaster was a black scar in the grass, the girl exhaled loudly, relief washing the panic away.

She emerged from the ferns with Steenee at her side, head ducked and cheeks hot at the thought of her clumsiness. Teris watched her with eyes blown wide. "What was all that? Oh, Mallow, you're burned!"

Twisting herself to look at the spot he indicated, Mallow saw that he was right. Minor burns marred her boot and a single spot on her upper leg, where her Ultra Guardian uniform protected her skin. She hadn't even felt it – whatever the suit was made of must have insulated her.

"I'm fine. Didn't even feel it!" She tried to brush away his concern but couldn't keep the sheepishness out of her voice. "I spotted something I thought I could use in cooking, but… guess not. Oopsie."

Teris didn't look convinced, but he calmed down anyway. "Was it a fire herb? They're not fit to eat," he lectured, stern-faced. "You didn't touch it with your bare hands, right? I told you to bring –"

"Don't worry, don't worry!" Mallow hastened to placate him, palms raised in surrender. "It wasn't an herb anyhow. It was more of an exploding coconut, or something."

"I've never heard of anything like that," the Rider said, mouth downturned in a thoughtful frown as though he was cycling through a mental list of flora.

They dropped the subject in favor of moving on. Ozzy led the way, clucking as it brushed leaves out of its way with idle flicks of its front talons. Teris remained perched on top, of course, eyes scanning the forest floor ahead of them. Mallow quickened her pace to keep up with the Monstie's stride, head swiveling left and right to admire nature's beauty in respectful silence. She didn't protest when Steenee hurried on ahead with boundless enthusiasm, bouncing and spinning between the plants that caught her interest.

"You're incredible, you know that?" Teris spoke up, surprising her enough to double-take at the sudden compliment. He smiled faintly at her reaction and went on, "I mean, it's incredible that you show up on our doorstep one day and almost immediately find a place for yourself. You're a guest in Crown Village and yet you insist on helping us. Everyone I talk to likes your cooking and the Felynes all love you, to say nothing of how much you've impressed the Chief. And the way you agreed to join me on this quest, and weren't scared in the least? You're amazing, Mallow."

"Oh, come on," she giggled. "It's only polite to help out, since you guys gave me a place to stay and all. And I like cooking. Honest. It's nothing special."

She got a chuckle in return. "If you say so."

A comfortable silence fell over the two, and a few minutes of walking passed before Mallow happened to look over at Teris to find him still looking at her.

"Something else on your mind?" she needled, half-jokingly.

He stiffened, cheeks blooming with fiery red. "I was just… um, I think your clothes are pretty unusual. Whenever I see you, I can't help but wonder where you're from, since you've never mentioned it…"

At first Mallow was struck by a flash of embarrassment, suddenly self-conscious over how tight her uniform was. But that quickly wore off as a deeper worry crept into her mind, the Donphan in the room she'd been tiptoeing around for days. She'd been avoiding the topic of Alola whenever it seemed like it would come up, nail-biting anxiety rising within her at the thought of trying to explain her… bizarre circumstances. Surely, no-one would possibly believe her if she told them she dropped out of the sky from another world. Even the Chief, for all her generosity, and Teris, who was a great friend, would struggle to accept her word for it.

And the thought of those two in particular made her stomach ache. I like Teris a lot, and the Felyne chefs, and Silva has done so much for me, she recalled, miserable. And I'm keeping secrets from them. That's basically lying, right? They don't deserve that.

Mallow stopped walking, eyes kept on the ground, hands curling into tight fists. If I stay any longer, I'll have to tell them at some point, she knew. What if Steenee and I left and told them we were ready to go home? But where would we go from there? Where could we go? There's no way of knowing where Ash and Soph and Kiawe are, not to mention the Ultra Worm–

"Mallow?"

She was snapped from her internal debate, startled into looking up. Teris was ahead of her now, his Monstie stopped and his face a churning whirlpool of emotions as he waited for a response. Even Ozzy – though it might've been her imagination – was watching her oddly, its head tilted and blank eyes swimming with visible apprehension.

"I-It's nothing!" she called, ignoring how the white lie tasted in her mouth, and hurried to catch up with them. "Just… thinking of where we might find those mushrooms! And, um –"

"Steenee neeeee!"

Her Pokemon's voice sang to them from further within the forest's shade, Grateful for the excuse to drop the subject, Mallow ran past Teris and Ozzy with a rushed "be right back" thrown over her shoulder. The foliage ahead was thick, but she dove right in without hesitation, branches scratching and ferns tickling as she shoved her way through.

"Ah!" Mallow exclaimed as she bumped into a tree, rough brown bark jumping out at her from behind the obscuring veil of leaves she pushed aside. The tree was a large one, its branches mingling seamlessly with those of its neighbors, but what drew Mallow's eye wasn't anywhere above. Rather, muffled squeaks coming from beside her feet prompted her to peer at the earth, where from between two of the tree's roots, Steenee's legs stuck up into the air from where she'd wedged herself.

Mallow started at the sight of the Grass-type in this strange position. "Steenee, are you alright? Did you find anything?"

In answer, Steenee abruptly popped back above ground in a shower of dirt, revealing a small, burrow-like depression at the base of the tree. She landed on her feet and beamed up at her Trainer, raising her arms to reveal what she'd uncovered. Arranged in a bouquet were a half dozen mushrooms, all with skinny stalks and delicate pink caps, which she presented with undisguised pride.

"No way, you found them?" Mallow gasped in delight. "Way to go, Steenee! Teris, come here!"

The sound of Ozzy crashing its way amongst the bushes soon came in response to her call, followed by the sight of its beak and head nosing through the foliage. The Monstie dipped its head down to Steenee's level, clucking inquisitively, then gently seized Steenee's offering in the tip of its beak and reared up to its full height. Teris reached forward with hands cupped, and Ozzy obediently dropped the mushrooms into his possession.

"These are Unique Mushrooms, alright," he confirmed with a nod. He tied the mushrooms together using a thread, then bent over to place them inside one of the satchels dangling from his saddle. "You got a fair few, actually – it might be enough to tide the village over for a while. Good job, little one."

"Nee, nee, nee~!" Steenee squealed, pirouetting to express her elation. Sparkling waves of Sweet Scent emitted from her calyx with each twirl, cascading off into the forest like ripples on a pond made of air.

"So, we're heading back?" Mallow asked, casually placing a hand on her hip.

Shaking his head, Teris replied, "Not yet. We should look around here for a bit longer in case there are more growing in the area. Normally I'd be with you, but since there isn't anything in these woods Ozzy and I can't handle, I think it's safe enough to extend our search…"

A conspicuous rustle of leaves sounded out, loud enough to interrupt Teris and put Ozzy on alert, its head twitching every which way and beak opening with an agitated squawk. Steenee whimpered and grabbed hold of her Trainer's leg. Mallow, too, froze on the spot, every muscle in her body tensed. That sound hadn't just come suddenly, but from someplace very close by.

Her darting eyes almost missed it in their frantic search for the source of the noise, but when the bushes directly ahead of her moved, she found her gaze fixed on a bulging pair of golden orbs that gleamed from out of the ferns. She took a step back on reflex, her pulse exploding as she smothered a gasp. The Ultra Beast, monster, whatever it was… it was right there, its unblinking stare paralyzing her as effectively as a Glare attack. It was crouched among the shrubbery, its green scales and half-spread wings matching its leafy background seamlessly despite how enormous Mallow could now see it was. The longer she stood before it like a Deerling in headlights, the more details were revealed; leathery wings tipped with rounded protrusions to make itself more plant-like; a skinny, colorful tail waving sinuously behind it; a lizard-like face emerging from a ruff of blue feathers like a deadly flower. Most terrifying of all, though, were still the eyes – enormous, filled with animalistic hunger, ever-fixated on her.

Beside her, she heard Teris suck in a quiet, shuddering breath. "What the hell…?" he muttered. "No-one ever told me about a Pukei-Pukei in this forest…"

Mallow couldn't look at him, too stiff with fear to risk breaking her staring contest with the giant lizard. She licked her dry lips and whispered from the side of her mouth, as loud as she dared, "Teris… you know this thing…?"

There was a barely audible gulp from the Rider. "We haven't seen a Pukei-Pukei in months…" he informed her, his own fear translated through every word. "It must be a new arrival – flew here and decided to claim this area. It might've seen us pick the mushrooms and is defending its food supply…"

The Pukei-Pukei – a name Mallow might've laughed at if the beast wasn't glowering at her like a fresh malasada – took a single, halting step forward, its body language Persian-like as though preparing to spring forth. Ozzy rushed into Mallow's line of sight as it took offense to the threat, spreading its claws threateningly and emitting a raucous caw of defiance. She flinched when it finally took its eyes off her, meeting Ozzy's threat by fluffing out its ruff and standing tall to emit a grating croak.

"Mallow, here's what we're going to do," Teris announced, abandoning quiet now that him and his Monstie had the monster's full attention. "Ozzy and I will distract the monster while you and Steenee escape. Run back to Crown Village and tell them what's happened!"

"B-But… y-you're going to fight it? Alone?!" Mallow was trembling, her voice high and choked with rising terror as the tension in the air climbed until it was unbearable. She was struggling not to hyperventilate, every instinct she had screaming for her to flee, to run and hide and not look back at the possibility of real violence breaking out behind her.

"I'm never alone," Teris claimed, and Mallow's heart leapt into her throat at the steel in his voice. "Ozzy and I are bound by our kinship. Even though this is a monster we might be too weak to defeat, we'll face it as one."

To Mallow's absolute horror, the Rider drew a sword from a sheath on his back – the blade gleamed brightly in the dappled light, metallic black with a bronze tint. He really is planning to fight, she thought, numb with terror and disbelief.

BRAAAAAKKKKKKKKK! Mallow slammed her hands over her ears as the Pukei-Pukei, its patience at an end, blasted out a deafening croak and pounced at Teris and Ozzy. Its curled toes, ready to grab, slammed into the dirt when the Monstie dodged nimbly. Ozzy counterattacked, a harsh squawk tearing from its open beak while it slammed into the Pukei-Pukei's side, claws raking at its scales. It was driven into the tree with an impact that seemed to shake the forest, leaves and shattered bark pattering down like rain.

Mallow fell onto her rear in her rush to get away, crawling backwards on her hands and knees in a desperate escape from the brawling monsters. She slipped and skidded on crushed leaves in her haste, her mouth slackened in a horrified gape. She heard nothing but her own blood pumping in her ears, drowning out Teris' shouts and the furious cries of the combatants. Her legs shook as she worked her way unsteadily to her feet, at first too weak to move – then Ozzy was shoved into the tree next to her, the impact practically shaking the earth, and Steenee's shriek cut through the throbbing pulse that dulled her ears, pushing her to turn and run.

Run, she repeated to herself, clutching her Pokemon tight to her chest. Run to the village. Get help – the Chief, other Riders, anyone. Teris needs to be saved. Run, Mallow, run…!

The obscuring bushes disappeared to reveal the open forest path on which they'd been traveling. Adrenalin coursing through her limbs, Mallow took only a second to get her bearings before sprinting in the direction of the distant village. But she'd only taken a few steps when the ferns to her left were torn aside by the two monsters entangled in combat, showering her with dirt and shredded plant matter. She cried out in shock and backpedaled, almost tripping over Steenee as the Grass-type fell from her grasp.

The path is blocked… go around…! some part of Mallow's brain thought, but her body wouldn't move. Her legs almost seemed to lock up, eyes blown wide at the clashing beasts that obstructed her. Nowhere to go… can't escape them… trapped…

Tumbling head over tail, the Pukei-Pukei freed itself from Ozzy's grasp and spun itself around, its spindly tail whipping out to strike a stunning blow. The deceptively powerful lash struck against the Kulu Ya-Ku's flank and sent it hurtling into another tree. A distressed squawk and a yell of pain mixed in an agonized duet, Rider and Monstie slumping to the ground with the former trapped under the latter. Mallow looked on helplessly, scarcely able to breathe, panic welding her throat shut.

An ugly, croaking roar tore through the air, the Pukei-Pukei leaping upon the fallen Monstie and seizing it, wings flapping to keep itself steady while it pinned down its prey. Mallow saw its head rear up, feathery ruff now an angry red and slitted pupils narrow with hate. She saw wisps of purple mist curling from the corners of its open, salivating maw, and a fresh stab of fear shot through her heart as she recognized a devastating attack coming. She saw Teris attempting to rise with legs trapped under Ozzy's bulk, and for only a microsecond saw the whites of his eyes, filled with pain.

In the span of that microsecond, she forgot her fear, and remembered something else. An Ultra Guardian, pinned by talons that pressed into her back, desperate to escape… to fight.

"S-Steenee, use M-Magical Leaf!" her quavering voice rang out before she could stop it.

The Fruit Pokemon didn't hesitate, her Trainer's call spurring her to act, to leap into the air and send a cyclone of glowing leaves hurtling forward. "Steeeee-NEEEEEE!"

The Magical Leaf nailed the Pukei-Pukei right in the jaw, smacking its head to the side just in time to redirect its jet of poisonous gas away from Teris and Ozzy. Its golden gaze, equally venomous, shot towards Mallow, and whatever bravado she had left suffocated under its fury. She took a stumbling pace back, getting ready to run, but the Pukei-Pukei was faster, croaking at the top of its lungs as it broke into a rage-fueled charge.

Being at the center of the monster's anger was petrifying, and Mallow didn't move, so focused was she on the spreading wings and gaping throat that took up, in that moment, the whole world. She squeezed her eyes shut, too terrified to do anything but brace herself.

"Steeeeeee!" Steenee cried from somewhere beyond the mass of green scales and skin, and the air turned pink.

The wave of floral sweetness from Steenee's Sweet Scent struck Mallow's nose as though it was a Double Slap instead. Despite herself, she risked looking up. Incredibly, Steenee's distraction had succeeded – though the Pukei-Pukei still loomed over her, its neck was arching away, affording her a view of its flattening ruff as it shifted its attention to her partner. Mallow traced its gaze to Steenee, who pumped out further Sweet Scent waves with her face set in a fierce mask. It spoke volumes of Steenee's desire to save Mallow, to keep her from danger by pacifying the monster. And it was working, judging by its slowed pace as it crept away from her, how the spark of anger left its eyes.

But no… its eyes still gleamed. But it was a different desire that lit them, drawing it closer towards Steenee. A swollen purple tongue slithered out to lick at scaly lips.

Terror returned to clutch Mallow's bones with icy fingers. "Steenee, NO!" she wailed, and took off at a sprint, flying toward the vulnerable Grass-type with hands reaching forward to snatch her. She swept her up and held her tightly, just as the Pukei-Pukei's tongue shot forth with a hideous lurch. It snagged Steenee like a slimy glove and yanked, tearing Steenee from Mallow's grasp effortlessly. Mallow went down on her stomach, a pained yelp escaping her, powerless to stop Steenee from being dragged toward the monster's maw.

The shriek that pealed from the Pokemon's mouth felt to Mallow like being stabbed in the heart. Her tears flowed freely as she lay there, unable to do anything but reach out a hand to her beloved partner, being dragged toward her death.

Not Steenee… Her eyes locked with her Pokemon – her friend – as time around them slowed, terror and desperation and regret and heartbreak exchanged between them in an eternal farewell. Please, no… don't go… Steenee…

It was like a bubble being popped. As though time was speeding up to rejoin the present, everything happened all at once.

The Kulu Ya-Ku came from nowhere, blindsiding the Pukei-Pukei. A large rock clutched in its talons, Ozzy screeched as it brought the bludgeon down on its enemy's head. The Pukei-Pukei reeled, its tongue writhing upwards and loosening its grip. It staggered to face its attacker, and Steenee hit the forest floor in front of Mallow. Numb and horrified, she regained the use of her limbs enough to manage a crawl in her need to reach her partner. Oblivious to the sounds of battle resuming, she pulled Steenee into her lap with trembling hands.

Oh tapu, oh tapu, oh tapu. The phrase repeated itself in her head, unable to think of anything else as she hurriedly fumbled with Steenee's unconscious form in a rushed attempt to read her condition. She was uninjured but unmoving, her face peaceful yet unhealthy. Mallow touched Steenee's cheek and felt her heart leap into her mouth when her fingers came away with tendrils of lavender slime clinging to them. Oh tapu, she's alive. Poisoned but alive…

Her head snapped up to cry for help, to plead to Teris to escape. They needed to flee, to leave this horror behind and return home, where it was safe, where Steenee could be healed. But the cry died in her throat as she looked upon chaos, two monsters locked once more in savage combat. She felt the helplessness return to drown her thoughts of action as she witnessed Ozzy fending off a lashing tongue and spurts of poison gas, using its rock to shove the Pukei-Pukei's head aside and drive the lizard back. The roars and squawks of the raging beasts were deafening, so much so that Mallow almost didn't notice the slight movement just beyond them.

Teris rushed into the fray to Mallow's shock, her breath catching as she noticed the boy's kind features corrupted by an infernal outrage. He ducked under Ozzy and charged straight for the enemy monster, his bronzed sword drawn and gleaming. He jumped with a roar of his own, and his blade sung in a rising arc, a flash of white light drawn over the Pukei-Pukei's throat. He landed, but made no further moves. Instead, he stood his ground, sword held at his side, and waited.

He didn't have long to wait. Speechless, Mallow saw the Pukei-Pukei freeze and then topple, slamming into the ground where it then stayed. Its gold eyes, once bright, glazed over and dulled before its eyelids shut out their glow forever. Its tongue curled and then slackened. Feathers fluttered down around its still form, their origin clear when its head made one last movement to expose its neck. There, red sliced across green and blue, a gash through which the monster's life had evaporated.

Slowly, with movements made stiff by numbness, Mallow got to her feet and walked with tentative steps toward the corpse. On every step, she half-expected the lizard to open its eyes and spring back into action. It never did, which paradoxically fed her building dread. At last, she could go no further, close enough to the dead monster to see the breeze shifting through its feathers.

Moving Steenee to the crook of her arm, Mallow knelt before it as though hypnotized. She barely registered her arm moving until her palm was suddenly pressing against its wound. A biting cold slithered into her skin, and she jerked her hand away with a gasp. The scales there had an unnatural chill to them, as though they'd been sliced through with ice instead of steel.

Her hand felt wet. Though dreading what she would see, Mallow tore her gaze from the corpse and turned her hand over. The tanned skin there was slick with blood.

The abruptness and brutality of the battle. Watching Steenee nearly get eaten. Nearly being eaten herself. The blood spattering off that blade's final slashing arc. Wings and legs twitching with the last remnants of life before flopping, lifeless, to the ground. All of it hit Mallow at once.

She curled into a ball and screamed.

AN:

Sorry to drop a significantly darker chapter on you all without warning. Even Kiawe's chapter wasn't quite this morbid.

The mention of Pokemon meat being lab-grown is my personal headcanon. While the Pokedex makes frequent mention of Pokemon as food, the anime consistently portrays Pokemon as kind and friendly creatures with human-like intelligence, which complicates the ethics of meat-eating a whole lot. The Pokemon world is definitely advanced enough to produce lab-grown meat on a commercial scale, so that's the solution I'm going with.

I mentioned in Chapter 1 that Mallow's placement in a friendly, domestic setting was deliberate, and now you see why. My takeaway from SM is that Mallow tends to push away bad thoughts by focusing on positive things and keeping herself busy with activities she enjoys. I wanted her to be comfortable and give her a false perception of the Monster Hunter world before ripping the rug out from under her all at once. She can't hide from her problems – she needs to go back to Alola.

Hope you liked reading! Next time, it's back to the regular, non-violent style of existential crisis. As always, feel free to send me your thoughts!

Next time: Mistake