The Grimdark World of Pokemon

Chapter 2: Belba's Decision

A young couple walked through the streets. It was the middle of the night, and the stars were glittering in the sky. It was quite romantic.

"Oh look!" the young woman cried out excitedly, poiting directly at something in front of them. "look at that darling pokemon! It's so cute!"

The young man smirked. "must've wondered in from the wild. Want me to catch it darling?" He walked forwards, bringing out a pokeball.

"Go for it darling! It will be an excellent engagement gift!"

The young man nodded and tossed the pokeball, confidant in catching the pokemon before him. Suddenly, something shone in the moonlight as the pokemon swung its arms and sliced the pokeball in two, which sparked from the damage.

The young man stared and flinched back as the pokemon rushed over and sliced his hand clean off. He stared in horror and fear as the pokemon leapt on his head and lopped his scalp off and stabbed its weapon through his mouth, killing him.

The woman shivered in fear, and quickly tried to run, screaming. The pokemon threw its weapon at her back, causing her to fall and falter from the pain, and jumped on her back, pulling out its weapon and casually cut her head off.

The pokemon then walked off, leaving the remains of its handiwork where he left it.

The Rattata stopped and placed the Bulbasaur near a small lake. The Rattata had been running non-stop for days, and had only allowed itself to become tired after it was sure it had escaped from the humans. It grabbed some leaves and dipped them in water, placing them over the Bulbasaur's body like makeshift bandages.

"I...I think we're...I think we're safe here..." The Rattata said shakily. "S-so...wh-what's your name?"

"Belba." The Bulbasaur stated simply. "Yours?"

"K-Kino." He looked around nervously. "I...I don't think there are any...humans...nearby...but, I don't think we should take any chances. We'll just wait until you heal enough and then we can get out of here."

"You're indecisive." Belba noted and shakily got up, wincing. "I'll...be fine. Let's just...get out of here; I have...something to see to."

"What could be so important that you can't even allow yourself to heal?"

Belba snorted. "It's none of your business."

"Ah, so there still some youngsters around these parts eh?"

The two turned to find an elderly Mudkip, smiling wistfully at them.

"Wh-who are you?" the Rattata exclaimed. Belba glared at the elderly pokemon.

The Mudkip chuckled. "Well, been looking for folks like you for one thing. From the looks of you I'd say you'd just got back from some humans, am I right?"

The Rattata nodded as Belba huffily turned away, snorting. "What's it to ya, old man?"

"Why, if you'd care to follow me, I'd be happy to bring you both to a safe haven for Pokemon like you. What do you say?"

The Rattata looked up at Belba hopefully, and sighed and turned away. "Fine, but it better not be too far. I got places to be."

The mudkip nodded in understanding. "Follow me, if you please." He walked away as the two (Belba begrudgingly so) followed.

Detetcive Evelyn Jenny frowned, looking down at the crime scene. She snorted in derision at the large crowd of gawkers gathered, trying to sneak a peek.

"You'd think people would be more adverse to hanging around a homicide scene."

Her subordinate, who strangely enough was her identical cousin, Officer Katherine Jenny, who was extremely inexperienced. "W-well, it's exciting, isn't it, chief? I mean, it's very out of the ordinary."

"It's also the place where two people lost their lives." She stared intently as the forensic investigator walked up to them. "So, what's your opinion?"

Forensic Investigator Lauren Jenny nodded towards the taped up bodies. "The M.O. is the same, as well as what we can ascertain of the murder weapon. It's the Lopper, alright." She sighed, taking a cigarette and lighting it. "I've seen some nasty things in my career, but this...this is really sick. They were just a couple of rich kids, on a night on the town...they didn't deserve this." As she said this, let out a large puff of smoke. "It almost seems as if people die younger and younger."

"The Lopper?" Officer Jenny asked. "Who's that?"

"A serial killer." Detective Jenny answered simply. "He's been going around from town to town, butchering whoever he comes across. Human, Pokemon, it doesn't matter. All are fair game for him. He's been active for around 20 or so years, and has yet to be caught." She scowled in frustration. We almost caught him about a year ago, but he slipped away."

"Noone knows what he looks like, his name, age, race or even a possible occupation. Even his gender is unknown." Forensic Investigator Jenny continued. "He earned the name lopper from the fact that he tends to behead or scalp several of his victims. He doesn't seem to use a pokemon like most criminals, instead favours a very sharp bladed weapon, possibly a dagger or a knife. Presumably a cleaver, from what we can gather from some wounds."

Officer Jenny shivered. "W-why does he do this? K-killing people, mean."

"We don't know." Her superior answered dryly. "All we can surmise is that he probably gets some sick pleasure from it. And the things is, since we don't know his face, than anyone's a suspect."

Officer Jenny shivered. From a distance away, a lone pokemon watched, hidden in the shadows.

Belba and the Rattata followed after the elderly Mudkip, Belba frowning. "Just where are you taking us?" she growled irritably.

"Oh nowhere special." The elder pokemon said nonchalantly. "Just a safe haven for pokemon like yourselves."

"You keep saying that, but what does it mean exactly!" Belba snapped suddenly. "I have places I rather be, things I rather be doing! I don't have time to follow some senile old man to Arceus knows where!"

"Calm yourself." The old mudkip replied. "All will be made clear in due time." He smiled warmly.

They stepped out from the field and into a large town square. The Mudkip frowned cautiously.

"W-where are we?" The Rattata asked nervously.

"This is a human settlement called a Town. Unfortunately, to reach our destination, we must cross directly through here. It'll eb very dangerous, so be careful."

Belba snorted. "I can take care of myself, old man."

"That's the spirit!" The old man grinned. "Oh, and it's not 'Old Man', it's Wakaku."

"I'm Kino." The rattata said. "And she's Belba."

Belba snorted and walked forwards. "Let's just get moving."

Suddenly, she leapt back as a pokeball struck the area she had previously stood, and soon a large crowd gathered around them, with a young boy around 6 or 7 smirking confidently.

"Ok!" The boy yelled out loudly. "Three new pokemon! Once I catch them, I can prove myself to be the best! Noone shall ever look down on Joey Specks again!"

Belba glared. "Humans." She growled and charged forward.

The boy smirked and threw a pokeball, releasing a much larger Scyther.

The Scyther charged over, slashing with its blades, but Belba hopped and leapt around, dodging expertly, and struck it with her Vine Whips, and managed to blind it temporarily after striking its eyes.

"BELBA WATCH OUT!"

Belba turned to see the boy's leg outstretched, heading straight towards her, when Kino leapt in the way and got struck instead. He skidded across the ground, his side getting badly scratched up.

The boy grinned. "Alright, now I can add one to my collection!" He threw an empty pokeball at the little purple-and-white rat.

"Kino!" Belba called out, staring in shock as the pokeball connected and Kino was turned into energy and absorbed into the device. She stared in despair and terror, not believing what she witnessed.

The boy grinned and held up the pokeball triumphantly. "ALRIGHT! I CAUGHT ONE! Now all I need is to catch the other two!" The crowd applauded proudly.

Tears formed in Belba's eyes, staring at the pokeball in the boy's hand. "no...no...NO!" A red aura of rage and despair surrounded her as she charged over, biting boys hand and making him release the object in his hand.

"STUPID POKEMON!" The boy growled irritably, scowling. "YOU ARE NOT PLAYING BY THE RULES! POKEMON SHOULD ONLY FIGHT POKEMON, NOT PEOPLE!"

"And yet it's ok for you to attack me yourself." Belba growled. "Funny how humans have a way of coming up with solutions that are convenient for them. NOW LET HIM GO!" She sent her vine whips at the pokeball and ensnared it, pulling it over to herself.

The boy growled. "SCYTHER! GET THAT POKEBALL!"

The Scyther didn't even nod and just charged, slicing the vines to pieces. Belba grunted in pain and ran over, taking the pokeball into her mouth and tossing it into the creature's stomach. "YOU WILL NOT HAVE HIM!" A light shone and Kino was released from his pokeball, a blank look in his eyes.

Belba looked over at the Rattata in sympathy. "Kino..."

The Scyther charged and was ready to slash its blade at Kino. Belba stared, paling.

"Kino! DEFEND YOURSELF!"

Suddenly, Kino leapt over as the blade struck the ground and landed on the Scyther's arm. Belba stared, not comprehending what was going on.

"He was captured, Belba!" Wakaku called out. "He will not do anything unless you tell him to! You released him, and so you are recognised as his master! Now, give him an order."

"But..." Belba was shaking, her face pale, sweat dripping from her brow. "But...then I'll..."

"It's either that, or you both get captured by that boy!"

Belba froze, and gritted her teeth. She shook slightly and finally made her decision. "Kino! BITE ITS THROAT!"

Kino leapt from its position and sunk its teeth into the Scyther's jugular, and blood spurted from the insect's throat. It wobbled slightly and tried to remain standing.

"Keep fighting you stupid bug!" The boy shouted belligerently. "I haven't caught them all yet! Keep fighting!"

Belba leapt forward and tackled the insect pokemon with great force, sending it tumbling into its trainer, the two collapsing to the ground. Belba looked at the pokeball the boy and held the Scyther in, and took it, recalling the bug into the sphere. "I think I'll take this as my prize." She turned away, huffing in derision.

Suddenly, the three pokemon were surrounded by several Growlithe, and a woman wearing a dirty brown jacket, a white shirt and brown trousers stepped forward. She had light blue hair and red lipstick on her lips; her eyes were glaring down with contempt.

"Someone get these pokemon into custody! We can't have wild pokemon roaming our streets!"

"But ma'am," Her subordinate, a slightly younger woman who looked exactly like her, nervously interjected, "wh-what about Mr. Giovanni-?"

"I don't care what that rich bastard says! The law is the law!' She pointed toward the three pokemon. "Wild Pokemon have wandered into the town streets and causing trouble. We'll put them into the pound and deal with them later!"

"YES MA'AM!"

And so, Belba, Wakaku and Kino were apprehended by police forces and imprisoned in a pound.

Belba sat in the cage with her three companions, glaring angrily into space.

"I'm sorry." Wakaku said suddenly. "I shouldn't have forced you to..."

"it's fine." Belba interrupted. "It was a good call. I couldn't let that human have his way with Kino...damn fool...I told him to just leave me be...and now...now he's..."

She looked over at the Rattata in question, who simply stood there, unblinking, only his breathing showing that he was alive.

She lifted up the pokeball that stole the poor Pokemon's freedom and gritted her teeth. She scrunched her eyes shut as she pointed the hated device and a beam shone from the device and onto the rat, turning him into energy and absorbing him inside. Belba collapsed into angry, self-hateful sobs.

"I'm like them! I used it! Used the very things, the very methods I despise! I can NEVER go back home, not now, not ever! Oh Arceus...I...I'm a disgrace..."

Wakaku sighed sadly. "Indeed, by using Kino as you did and then by taking that boy's pokeball, you became the same as those humans...a Trainer. But it was unavoidable. Besides, maybe it won't be so bad, being a Pokemon Trainer."

"Not so bad? NOT SO BAD!" She glared with full hatred at the old Mudkip. "They steal the free will of OUR KIND and force us to perform their every whim because it AMUSES THEM!" Tears were falling down her face as she screamed at the old Pokemon. "And you're saying I should become them! ARE YOU SENILE!"

Wakaku shook his head. "No, Miss Belba, I am not. However, as a Trainer, you have the ability to do something no other Pokemon could: you can fight the Trainers and free our brethren, and maybe, you can change things, end the way of this world once and for all."

"But..."

"I know, it's difficult, for many reasons. However, change isn't simply brought about by following the ways of the world it requires someone to step outside out of the old limits and make a new choice available, a third option. And besides, I suspect you will be able to...accomplish whatever it is you hope to accomplish by doing this."

"But...to become a Trainer...to be like...THEM...it's...it's so...disgusting..."

"Then Kino will die. Without a Trainer to care for him, he will die. And most humans will work him to death. Will you allow that on your conscience?"

Belba was silent for a moment, staring at the floor. She bit her lip in anger and slammed her paw on the floor and stood up. "FINE! I'll do this, but for only one reason: to save Kino! I'll come up with a way to free him, and others like him, so you best be prepared, Old Man!"

Wakaku smiled sagely. "That's the spirit. Who knows, you ay even be able to accomplish something."

"Damn straight, and our first order of business: we need to escape."

She and Wakaku stared at the wall before them, their minds awhirl with resolutions, plans and goals.

Detetctive Jenny glared at her subordinate. "Where did you find that thing?"

"It was wandering the streets all alone, and it needed a home." Officer Jenny pouted, cuddling the Buneary close to her chest. "Please can I keep it?"

Detetcive Jenny sighed and walked away. "Fine, but it better not get in the way!"

"It won't!" Officer Jenny smiled happily.

She was sure her new friend would be a help to the force, she just knew it.

Hooray! I am now ready to continue the story, and boy what a doozy it is today!

Ok, I am a little worried about the violence in this chapter, and this is a very big indication on what direction this story shall take overall. Yes, there will be more violence, and a lot of it may be even more gruesome than what has been presented here.

I do so hope this doesn't put anyone off...

And now we're starting to see just how dark this world is, and how it works as a whole. Hope it's not too jarring.

Oh and a note about Narris' condition: like all Pokemon, he loses all his ability to control his actions, and can only do as his Trainer (Belba) orders him. This includes eating and drinking, but thankfully not having to use the bathroom. And no matter what a Trainer tells him, he will obey the order, as long as the Trainer is registered as his Trainer. I repeat, he must obey whatever he is ordered to do, no matter what. And to make it worse, he is fully conscious through all this.

Hope you enjoyed it, and please comment!