Review response: Dear Shadow-Snivy, thank you for the lovely review and here is chapter five! Thank you also for alerting me to the Tail Whip mistake. I am aware that Tail Whip is a non-damaging attack, however, I am new to Pokemon and until recently thought Tail Whip was an attack that did damage. I meant to correct the error but by the time I went to post the chapter here, I had forgotten about it. I will try to be more accurate about the attacks from now on.
Dear Alice-Chan123, I promised to do regular updates did I not? Though, my diligence may not last ... I hit a writer's block further ahead in the story that currently has me bogged down. I'll work through it as quickly as I can however, and until then, I hope you enjoy this new chapter!
Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Pokemon in any way. The only thing I own is the plot and characters.
Chapter Five:
The Ghosts that Haunt
The hot morning sun beat down on Kasai desert, its rays so intense that it caused the horizon to waver like ripples on a recently disturbed pond. Unfortunately, there was no refreshing pond for Mira Pikachu to drink from. There was only a scorching dirt path, a few shriveled bushes, and an irritatingly large ryhorn standing stubbornly in her way.
"Who goes there? What do you want on my land?" Mira looked up coolly at the Ryhorn, studying the many chips in his armored body.
"I am Mira Pikachu of clan Raichu. I merely seek passage to Airmd Town." The rhinoceros-like Pokemon leaned down until he was eye level with her, his eyes were suspicious and hard. She kept her face utterly expressionless as she stared right back, ignoring Ahanu's whimpers of fear behind her.
The Ryhorn reared back up and growled, "I have never heard of clan Raichu! You are lying! Turn back and do not disturb me again, little yellow mouse!"
Mira reared up and glared at the Ryhorn. She knew that ryhorns were very stupid, so sometimes they would simply declare wherever it was that they were standing their territory no matter who's territory it really was. But if I turn back that will prolong my journey by almost a week! I'm not going to let a ryhorn and his big ego get in my way. She sparked her cheeks authoritatively, "My companion said that this was a trade road open to all. You have no right to order me away, Ryhorn."
The Ryhorn roared in outrage, "How dare you call me a liar! You are a mere Electric-type! Brothers, come defend our honor!" Two more ryhorns emerged from behind some desert rocks with identical growls of outrage. Mira tensed, This is bad. I really hate Rock-types.
She poised on all fours, her eyes flickered from one ryhorn to another. Ahanu suddenly ran in front of her, "Wait!" Everyone paused. Ahanu saluted the ryhorns and began rapidly speaking, "Please, she meant no offense! It is simply that she is on a Discovering and we lost our supplies a while back and really need to get to Airmd Town to get some new ones. I humbly request that you let us pass, please?"
The three ryhorns frowned and put their heads together to confer on what to do. Finally they parted and the first one lumbered forward, "We will agree to let you pass, if your outspoken friend can prove that she is willing to back up her words." He turned his hard gaze to Mira, "I challenge you to a battle, if you win then I will pass the word to all among the other Rock-types of Kasai not to disturb you." He smirked a little bit, "If you lose, you will simply be one more Electric-type with too much pride and not enough muscle."
Mira raised an eyebrow, He's smart ... for a ryhorn. She nodded curtly, "I accept." She heard Ahanu gasp in horror and the snickers from the other ryhorns. She knew why, Ground and Rock-types were immune to electric attacks. Ryhorns were classified under both. Everyone was expecting her to get 'creamed' by her opponent. Well, let's show them just how wrong they are.
The Ryhorn did not waste any time, he charged her, his horn lowered and bearing down with surprising speed for something so heavy. Mira coiled her legs underneath her and dodged, leaping into the air to her left just before the Ryhorn could skewer her. He kept charging in his chosen direction for several minutes, Lesson one: When fighting a ryhorn, remember that while they might be fast for their size, they can't turn on a dime ... or a square mile, once they get going.
She waited patiently for the Ryhorn to grind to a stop, turn around, spot her, and charge again. At the last second, she leaped to one side, feeling the slight turbulence caused by his bulk passing so close underneath her. This process was repeated ten times before the Ryhorn stopped, turned, and yelled at her, "Fight me, you stupid mouse! Hold still so I can hit you!" and that would be considered intelligent?
She silently folded her front paws over her chest and raised an eyebrow at him. With a bellow of rage, her dim-witted foe charged once more, his head rocking up and down in different directions, he was apparently hoping to hit her with a Fury Attack as she dodged. Without so much as blinking, she turned and ran away.
The Ryhorn, predictably, gave chase, his cries of triumph ringing in Mira's keen ears. She flattened them and narrowed her eyes in concentration. Ahead of her, a large rock loomed in her vision. Almost there! She could feel the Ryhorn's breath hot against her tail, could feel the air parting for his horn, could feel the trembling in the ground caused by his footfalls.
She lunged, planted all four feet against the boulder, and rebounded into the air back towards her opponent's head. The Ryhorn kept charging, unable to stop. His eyes went wide when he saw her abrupt reversal. Mira spun horizontally, building up speed, as her tail glowed and became the color of steel, "Try this on for size, hard head!"
Her tail, now harder than iron, slammed into the side of the Ryhorn's face. He roared in pain and crashed to ground on his side. Mira landed a short distance away, the force of her own blow making her skid several feet. She looked up calmly, already knowing what she would see. Her opponent lay unmoving on the ground, moaning and panting. Lesson two: Ryhorns may be fast, but their armor causes them to tire out if they use Tackle Attack, Horn Attack, or Fury Attack too many times in quick succession. Once they are tired, their weakness against Steel-type attacks are doubled and all it takes is one well placed hit to end the match.
Another memory, very similar to the scene in front of her pushed itself into her mind's eye. For a second, her heart stilled and she couldn't breathe. Her eyes hardened and the pleasure at winning vanished from her soul like a naughty child.
Awed silence reigned over the other two Ryhorns and Ahanu, no one knew how to react to her victory. Ahanu finally whispered, "That ... was ... amazing!" Mira simply dusted herself off and trotted past. She was in no mood to hear his gabbing about how amazing he thought she was.
Ahanu yelped and hurried to catch up with her, "Wait up! Wait up!" He finally came abreast to her and grabbed her shoulder, "Hold it!"
Mira stopped and yanked away from his touch, "What?" her voice was a low growl.
Ahanu looked back over his shoulder and then back at her, "You just defeated a ryhorn five times your size! What to you mean 'what'? That was amazing! How can you just walk away like nothing happened?"
Mira stared at him long enough to make him squirm. Finally she resumed walking, "It was an obstacle between me and Airmd Town. I removed it, there is nothing to brag about or celebrate."
Ahanu blinked in shock, "What? Nothing to brag about? You're an Electric-type and you just defeated a Ground/Rock-type like he was a Goldeen or something!"
Mira tried to ignore him and keep walking. She didn't want to talk or think about her fight anymore then she had to. Ahanu continued to pester her about the fight until Mira couldn't stand it anymore. She snarled and burst into a dead run, leaving a startled Ahanu in the flying dust.
Ahanu hurried to catch up with Mira, wondering what he had said that angered her so much. It's like she doesn't even want to think about her fighting skills, but why? "Wait up Mira! I'm sorry! I won't talk about it anymore, just slow down!" It took ten more minutes of running, gasping and calling before Mira stopped and waited for him.
Mira was sniffing quietly at the ground, her attention focused solely on a patch of soil just off of the road. Ahanu approached her cautiously, wondering, not for the first time over the last few days, if he hadn't made a bad choice by insisting on following the mysterious and volatile Pikachu. She continued to ignore him and was now digging at the patch of soil.
Ahanu sidestepped the flying dirt and asked timidly, "Uh, what are you doing?" Mira didn't pause in her digging to answer. Finally she stopped, reached into the hole, and pulled up a small collection of white roots.
She tossed him a few and began munching calmly on her share. Ahanu eyed the roots suspiciously, what are these? Mira glanced at him and answered his unsaid question, "They're Catalia Roots, they grow in deserts like this one often. Eat them, they taste fine and you'll need strength to keep going."
Ahanu glanced from the roots to Mira and back to the roots. He shrugged and munched on one. To his surprise, it did taste good. It had a sweet yet tart flavor to it that threatened to make his taste buds pop with their deliciousness. They were also very moist and helped to ease his thirst. He grinned around the mouthful of root, "Its good!"
Mira gave him a dry look, swallowed her own root, and chastised, "Don't talk with your mouth full." Ahanu blushed slightly and muttered an apology around his mouthful of root. He saw Mira roll her eyes and shake her head softly, Oops! I did it again!
They were soon walking down the road once more. Ahanu glanced down at his companion shyly, her gaze was alert but her muscles relaxed, the scar along her face adding to the mystery that hung around her like a veil. I wonder where she comes from? She seems to know a lot about surviving in the desert but she didn't know its name or where the nearest village is. She's always uptight too, when it comes to speaking with other Pokemon. It's like she's afraid that they'll ask her something she can't answer.
Mira must have sensed his prolonged glance because her cold green eyes flicked up at him. Ahanu quickly averted his gaze and pretended to find the road at his feet very interesting. He heard Mira sigh softly and braced himself for another running session. It seemed that whenever she grew uncomfortable around him, which was often, she would break into a dead run that left him helplessly trying to catch up.
However, she didn't run off, instead she spoke to him levelly, "How much farther to that village you mentioned?"
Ahanu blinked, up until now she had only entered conversation if he started it, "Uh, about another mile or two, maybe? I'm not exactly sure."
He saw her roll her eyes, "I thought you said you would make a good guide."
Ahanu straightened, determined to defend his guiding skills, "I am! It's simply been a long time since I came this way!"
Mira shot him a withering look, "Don't lie to me, Wobbuffet. You have never left your home den before now. If you had you would have known about the Catalia Roots."
Ahanu lowered his head in shame, "Okay, okay. I heard about the village from another member of my clan who had just come back from his Discovering."
Mira did not reply, she simply shook her head and kept walking. Ahanu felt miserable, Wonderful, now she really thinks I'm an idiot. Great going Ahanu, give her more reasons not to want you on this trip why don't you?
The two walked in an uncomfortable silence for another half hour before Ahanu spotted something in the hazy distance. He squinted and tried to focus on it. It looked like a collection of lumps just to one side of the road. His heart leapt for joy, It's Onidrill Village! Yay! Water and food here I come! "There it is! Onidrill Village!"
Mira's ears pricked and for the first time in the four days he had known her, she looked pleased. Turning to him, she smiled thinly, "Ready for another workout, Wobbuffet?"
Ahanu groaned, "Can't we please-" She took off running, sending clouds of hot dust up in her wake, "walk the rest of the way?" He finished pleadingly. How does anyone have so much energy in this heat? How? Ahanu threw a hopeless wail to the sky and took off after her as fast as his tired, hot, and sweaty stubby four legs could go.
By the time he reached the outskirts of the village, he had lost sight of the Pikachu. Heaving for air and about to pass out from the heat, Ahanu looked around for her. She's probably gloating somewhere ... laughing at the foolish wobbuffet who insisted on following her. I frankly wouldn't blame her...
An almost gentle voice piped up next to him, "Here, drink this." Ahanu looked to his right and to his surprise saw Mira, she was holding a small clay pitcher filled with water under his nonexistent nose.
With a breathless cry of joy, he snatched the container and began greedily swigging at it. The sudden intake of water in his dry throat caused him to cough and hack. Mira cooly caught the pitcher before it spilled or hit the ground and waited for him to recover, "Sip next time," she advised flatly.
Once Ahanu got his coughing under control, she handed him the water pitcher again and let him drink his fill from it. She took the pitcher away from him and walked slowly off on her hind legs, "This way, I need to return the pitcher."
Ahanu sighed happily and followed her the rest of the way into the shaded oasis. A sudden realization made him stop dead in amazement, Wait, was she just ... nice to me? He stared at Mira's back, unable to wrap his mind around what had just happened. "Hey, are you okay, Mister Wobbuffet?"
Ahanu snapped out of his daze and looked over at the concerned baby Phanpy. He smiled at the small blue elephant-like Pokemon, "Yeah, I'm just fine, perfect actually." The Phanpy smiled back at him and trotted off, probably to find its mother and tell her all about the newcomers.
He hurried to catch up to Mira, who was currently talking to a friendly looking flygon. He came within earshot just in time to hear the Flygon chuckle and say, "Of course you can stay the night! I have everything you might need in my inn. I'll talk to Colt, he owns the shop just down the street, into giving you new satchels and supplies."
Mira dipped her head politely, "Thank you. But I'm afraid we don't have anything to pay for supplies with."
The Flygon waved a paw airily, "Oh, don't worry about that! Pokemon on their Discovering are given whatever they need, free of charge."
Mira cocked her head to one side, "How do you know whether or not someone is simply lying to get supplies for free?"
The Flygon blinked his huge eyes, "The age limit of course! Anyone over the age of eighteen is supposed to pay their way no matter if they are on a Discovering or not. But you already knew that."
Mira nodded, but Ahanu got the impression that she was simply pretending to understand. Yet another commonplace thing that she doesn't seem to know about! I wonder if she has amnesia ... but if she did wouldn't she be unable to remember her own name or clan?
Ahanu decided then and there to keep a very close eye on his companion. He would find out what she was hiding, or he wasn't a member of clan Wobbuffet! He sidled over to Mira, "Hey, want to explore?"
She looked up at him expressionlessly, "Don't even think about it Wobbuffet. Trying prying into my life and I'll roast you so well that you'll be the same color as a desert sunset." Ahanu's jaw dropped, How the heck did she know?
The Flygon chuckled, "Here's a tip, Wobbuffet. If you want to remain inconspicuous, try not to say things your clan usually doesn't."
Ahanu looked helplessly between the two Pokemon, "How? How?"
Mira glared at him, "You? Want to explore after walking through the desert for four days without supplies, complaining the whole way while I had to forage? Don't make me hurt you." Without another word she trotted off towards the oasis pool, leaving Ahanu blushing and embarrassed.
The Flygon shook his head, "Wow, she's a tough nut to crack if I ever saw one. Take my advice Wobbuffet, try another girl, she isn't your type."
Ahanu sighed and decided that enough was enough for the day. After inquiring what room the Flygon innkeeper had given Mira, he retired there and was soon snoring peacefully.
Mira Pikachu stared at her reflection in the water. Examining the long scar that was permanently a part of her facial features. She sighed, why? Why did I wind up here? She shook her head vehemently, she couldn't allow her thoughts to go down the self pity path. She straightened up and made her way down the sandy beach to a small inlet that looked perfect for bathing. Once she reached it, Mira glanced cautiously around to make sure no one was peeping.
All of the villagers seemed to be too busy going about their business to notice the stranger near their oasis. With a sigh, Mira slowly placed first one paw, then the other into the water. She suppressed a shudder and the inlet water lapped softly at her paws, This isn't the ocean, it is nowhere near deep enough to drown in. You are fine, you are not afraid of water. Not now, not ever.
Gritting her teeth, she forced her self to walk all the way into the inlet and lie down, submerging her body in the cool blue liquid. From her position, she could now feel the faint eddies swirling in the water. Images surged through her mind. Thunder, lightning, water, can't breathe! With a spurt of bubbles she suddenly sat up, her eyes wide with terror as she scrambled madly out of the water.
Mira lay on the bank, panting from the terror that surged through her body and tried to calm her racing heart. She glared at the water, as if it was somehow its fault for her new, ridiculous phobia. She rolled over onto her back and stared up at the swaying leaves of the trees above her, shielding her from most of the sun's ferocious heat.
I'm an Electric-type, that means I'm strong against Water-types. So I shouldn't be afraid of a little stupid water! With a snarl of frustration, she pushed herself up and splashed back into the inlet, refusing to give in to the instinctive terror that threatened freeze her limbs or worse, make her run away.
Mira focused on taking deep breaths as she slowly sat down in the cool water. Her heart pounded like a loudred in heat, her head felt light as she forced herself to stay in the water that lapped playfully at her waist. I am not afraid, I refuse to be afraid, there is nothing to fear from a little water.
Her body shook with fear, her nostrils flared as memories assaulted her. The water splashed gently against her, nothing like the ocean she had nearly drowned in. Slowly, as the fact that she was healthy and breathing seeped into the more primal part of her brain, her muscles relaxed. Okay, note to self, no submerging, just a little dipping.
She looked up at the leaves again, they were surprising colors. Instead of green, they were a deep violet color that caused the sunlight to turn their tiny veins a deep red. Mixed in among them were Pinon Pine Trees, their dull green needles making a sharp contrast to their red and purple neighbors. She sighed quietly and allowed herself to climb out of the inlet. So much for a bath, maybe I'll just go get something to eat.
As she shook the water from her fur, she heard the faint crunch of pebbles being ground underneath a paw. She straightened abruptly, her body tense and ready for a fight. Ten feet away stood a riolu, his black masked face was concerned, his small blue ears twitching shyly. Mira glared at him suspiciously, her strong emotions causing him to back up a step and twitch the two black, bulb-like dreadlocks that hung from either side of his head.
She stared at him silently, her eyes taking in his delicately balanced bipedal stance on the balls of his two black paws. The Riolu was a small, blue, dog-like Pokémon. His legs and torso were colored a velvety black, his long tail was blue and around his neck was a yellow collar. On the back of his forepaws were matching rounded white bumps, which she guessed were the beginnings of the spikes that his evolved form, lucario, possessed. Riolu's red eyes studied her curiously, as if trying to decide whether he should fear the stranger or not.
Mira snapped at him shortly, "What do you want, Riolu?"
The Riolu blushed and bowed apologetically, "I am deeply sorry for having disturbed you, miss. But I ... I thought I sensed great distress and came to investigate. Is there anything I can do to be of assistance?"
Mira felt a tiny twinge of embarrassment at being so suspicious. Right, he's an Aura Pokemon, even at a young age they're able to sense emotions and dispositions of other Pokemon. My whole water battle probably sent alarm bells through his head loud enough to wake a Snorlax. She took a calming breath and tried to look less threatening, "It's fine, I was simply ... thinking about stuff. I am Mira Pikachu of clan raichu. You are?"
He bowed again, this time with a tiny flourish of his paws, "I am Leal Riolu of clan lucario. It is an honor to meet you Madam Pikachu." He straightened up again, "If I may ask ... have you been on a Discovering for a long time?"
Mira twitched one ear, You have no idea, Riolu. "You could say that, why?"
Leal looked suddenly eager, "I'm on a Discovering of my own, actually. I left my home in hopes of finding the Guardian!" Mira kept her expression neutral but inside she was beginning to grow curious, What is the Guardian?
She sat down, thoughtfully scratched one ear and asked, "Really? Why?"
Leal walked the rest of the distance separating them and sat down on the inlet bank, "Well, I wanted to ask the Guardian why the natural disasters were becoming ... well, disasters. I'm sure you've noticed how much the earthquakes are becoming more violent and much longer. In my home den there was even a flash flood! Many Rock and Ground-types were gravely injured during that flood and I can't help but wonder if there is a reason behind the increase in danger. So, I decided to find the Guardian and ask him. Or at least find some Water-types who might help drain out the caves."
Mira felt a flash of sympathy for Leal's home den, water was very dangerous to Rock-types and their close cousins the Ground-types had inherited their mortal fear of water. "So why did you want to talk to me?"
Leal looked at her hopefully, "Since you've been traveling the island on a Discovering, I was hoping you might be able to tell me how the other regions were doing. Are they getting hit with disasters as well, or is it just Kasai desert?"
Mira shrugged, "I can't help you there. I haven't been to the other regions yet." Who divides an island into regions anyway? It's like no one here is aware of the world outside...
Leal's tiny ears drooped dejectedly, "Oh," he suddenly looked over at her, "say, are you hungry?"
Mira's ears stood straight up and her tail followed suit in surprise at the sudden subject change, "Maybe," she stated cautiously.
Leal promptly stood up and offered her his paw, "Then allow me to treat you to a meal, Madam Pikachu."
She didn't move, she simply stared at him warily, "Why?"
Leal looked slightly taken aback, "Because you are a lady and I accidentally interrupted what you were doing. It is only proper that I treat you to a meal." Mira blinked at his insistence on conforming to what many Pokemon would have considered outdated chivalry.
I heard that the lucario clan were big on chivalry ... I suppose I can't turn him down, there's probably some rule about life-long dishonor for him if I did. Mira sighed, reared up onto her hind legs, and slowly placed her paw in his, "If you insist."
The two Pokemon made their way back into the village and Leal escorted her into a small cafe. To Mira's mild surprise, the waiter who seated them was a tyrogue. The small purple Fighting-type was incredibly polite as he took their orders, however Mira almost lost her temper when he asked if Leal and Mira would like to share a drink or have two separate ones.
Once the tyrogue had disappeared to the kitchen, Leal shifted uncomfortably, "I apologize for his misunderstanding, Madam Pikachu. I hope you don't think that I invited you here to-"
Mira snorted, "Don't be a ridiculous idiot. You aren't even old enough to be in an egg group," from the expression on Leal's face, he was probably blushing hard enough to make an Ice-type burn. She continued, "And stop calling me 'Madam Pikachu' you make me sound old and fatigued." She turned the full power of her green eyes on the hapless Riolu, "My name is Mira, got it?"
Leal nodded frantically, his red eyes wider then Mira ever thought possible, "Good."
An uncomfortable silence fell on the two as they waited for their meal. Mira studied her surroundings to pass the time. They were seated in the inside part of the cafe, the part designed for various ground dwelling Pokemon. It was fairly well lit through many windows in the ceiling and the entire floor was divided into different sized tables and a wide path to reach them all. The ceiling was high enough to allow even a ryhorn easy passage to a table which, if given a perfectly blunt evaluation, was a perfectly square mound of dirt baked hard by a Fire-type and covered with a tablecloth made out of webbing from clan ariados. A few Pokemon sat on the dirt around these tables chatting and laughing with their companions.
All things considered, it had a nice simple feeling that you couldn't easily find in say, the Johto region. Mira scowled to herself and shoved the memories that threatened her to the back of her mind, she didn't have time for the past.
A timid cough drew Mira back to reality. Leal had both of his paws folded in his lap and he wore a very serious expression on his face, "I hope this question isn't intrusive, but are you traveling alone? Were ... did someone attack you?"
Mira's paw crept up to the scar along her face and tried to hide her sigh, A chivalric Pokemon equals a nosey one I guess. She answered him levelly, "I didn't get this scar from that kind of attack, Leal. Also, I am not traveling alone, a wobbuffet named Ahanu has insisted on following me."
Leal looked instantly concerned, "Insisted on following you? Without your consent? Do you need assistance dealing with him?"
Mira shook her head, "There is nothing you can do. I was dumb enough to drive off a pack of houndour that were chasing him and then he claimed that he owed me his life ... you can figure out the rest."
Leal cocked his head to one side, "You didn't want his loyalty?" Mira deadpanned at him and Leal laughed softly, "Right, a wobbuffet," Leal suddenly looked concerned, "has he ... 'bothered' you?"
Mira glared moodily, "Depends on your definition of 'bothered'. If it's the same as my version then yes, extremely bothered."
Leal fell silent, his gaze hooded. The Tyrogue chose that moment to reappear with two plates of warm poffins and roasted Pinon nuts harvested, as the Tyrogue proudly declared, from their own trees. Leal and Mira exchanged glances before starting on their lunch. Mira, despite being with someone who was an almost total stranger, secretly found herself enjoying the lunch and Leal's company. He was courteous to a fault but didn't make Mira feel like he was babying her.
Also, he did not pry further into her scar or her past in any way, he respected that if she wanted to tell him, she would. At least for now, she mused to herself as she chewed on a poffin, but for how long until 'chivalry' demands that he know who scarred 'the fair maiden', ugh.
Mira cracked open the Pinon nut in her paw and savored the taste of the meat inside, roasted Pinon nuts ... who would have thought they'd taste so good? She hesitated and then allowed herself a sad smile, I bet you would have loved these Jack, you would have loved Leal as well. Her throat suddenly squeezed tight and she hurried to drink some water. But even as she sipped the clear liquid, she knew it wasn't the food that had closed her throat. I miss you so much, Jack...
Leal looked up, his dreadlocks twitching rapidly, "What's wrong? I ... I sense extreme pain from you, are you well? Do I need to call a healer?"
Mira shook her head and didn't bother pasting on a false smile, she knew it wouldn't fool a Riolu. She stubbornly sipped at her water, willing the stabbing pain in her chest to go away and for her throat to clear. When she decided she could safely speak without sounding weak she growled, "I'm fine. No offense, but while you have been most gentlemanly to me, my emotions or thoughts are none of your business."
Leal recoiled slightly, probably horrified at the insinuation that he had accidentally invaded her personal space. Mira didn't bother soothing him, she had suddenly found it hard to breathe inside the cafe. She stood and sprinted for the door, ignoring Leal's shouts of dismay and his loud apologies for his unknown slight. Mira refused to hear him, she kept running, out of the cafe, down the tree shaded road, past the shaded pool, out into the murderous heat of Kasai Desert.
She ran until she was a safe distance from the village and looked around, ears up, nose twitching. Once she was absolutely sure that there was no Pokemon around to observe her, she whirled on a nearby cactus, and screamed. Lightning coursed through her body, vibrating almost soothingly in her cheek pouches before unleashing itself upon the helpless inanimate cactus.
The cactus exploded into a million smoking pieces. Mira screamed again and again, lightning shooting from her cheek pouches rapid succession attacks that disintegrated even the smallest pieces of the cactus that were currently lying all around her. Finally, when there wasn't even the tiniest trace of the spiky plant, she stopped screaming and simply stood there, panting and sobbing angrily.
She stared through tear blurred eyes around at the smoke tendrils issuing from different spots on the dry ground, Mira swallowed hard and sniffled, trying to get her suddenly errant emotions in check. I need to get a grip ... this is irresponsible and stupid. I have to get control of myself ... Mira shook her head hard and focused on breathing deeply. She hiccuped once or twice and curled up on the hot sand for a long time before her breathing returned to normal and the urge to murder someone had vanished into the darkest parts of her mind.
When she finally opened her eyes, the sun was beginning its slow descent from the sky and purplish pink wisps of cloud arched and curled in preparation of the night's rest. Did I doze off? How late is it? How long have I been out here? Mira scrambled to her feet and stretched, working the small kinks out of her muscles that had crept in during her unintentional nap.
Mira's eyes felt grubby and despite her body having rested, her earlier tantrum had utterly drained her. Rubbing her eyes with her paws, she looked all around at the straggly bushes, big rocks, and occasional Pinon Pine trees. This place is kind of beautiful, in a hot, dry, abandoned sort of way.
The quiet, sensible part of her brain that never seemed to pipe up except when it most irked her, produced an image of Ahanu and flaunted it in front of her mind's eye. Mira groaned, I don't get a break do I? She tried to ignore the image, the last thing that she needed now was a nosey wobbuffet inquiring into the nature of her first total breakdown. Though I guess I did have one coming ... I just didn't think something so tiny as going to lunch would finally cause me to snap.
She looked over her shoulder and winced, right, lunch. Where I ran out on an emotion sensitive riolu ... I'll bet my little fit caused him one onix sized headache. Great, now I'll have two male Pokemon nosing around my private life. Feeling utterly miserable, Mira seriously considered simply walking away from Onidrill Village, covering her tracks so that Ahanu couldn't follow her and continuing on alone like she had originally planned.
Mira suddenly straightened, her green eyes flaring with determination. No, I don't run away from anything. Especially not my responsibilities to another Pokemon. Her shoulders slumped a tiny bit, no matter how much I want to. Slowly, Mira forced herself to walk back to the village, she had supplies to gather, a wobbuffet to find ... and an apology to make to a certain riolu.