Episode 90: Little Big Horn
A couple of days had passed since their unscheduled stop at Palm Hills as Sora, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi, all made their way to another city. They make a stop in the local park.
"Look at this place.Gotta admit this city has such a nice park," Kairi said.
"Sure does," Sora agreed. "We can cut through here and get to the center of the city." They heard rustling in some nearby bushes and turn to see it. "Kairi. There's something in there." They see what looks like eyes staring at them. The figure reveals itself as a caribou-like Pokémon. It has a tan pelt with a cream-colored belly and a few spots on its back. Its tail is large, short, and round, and each of its legs ends in a black hoof. It has a large, brown nose and a pair of pale cream-colored antlers, each with a black orb in the center. The shape of the antlers and the black orbs causes them to resemble eyes. Judging by how it appears, it looked incredibly young.
"A baby Stantler," Kairi said.
"A Stantler, huh? Better look it up," Sora said as he took out his Pokédex to get some information on the Pokémon.
Stantler, the Big Horn Pokémon
Type: Normal
Those who stare at its antlers will gradually lose control of their senses and be unable to stand. Stantler's magnificent antlers were traded at high prices as works of art. As a result, this Pokémon was hunted close to extinction by those who were after the priceless antlers.
"Isn't it weird to see a Pokémon like this in the city like this?" Sora asked, putting his Pokédex away.
"Yes, it is. Stantler normally live in the forest. This little baby must have gotten lost," Kairi said. She spots an injury on his leg. The injury is a slash mark "Oh no! Look, Sora! He's hurt!"
"What happened to this little guy?" Sora asked.
"Chu," Pikachu said.
"Eevee," Angel said.
Stantler whimpers, so Sora slowly stepped forward.
"Don't be scared, Stantler. We won't hurt you," Sora said. He turned to Kairi. "Do you have some Oran Berries left?"
"I think I have 9 or 10 left," Kairi said.
"Better than nothing," Sora said. She hands some of the berries to her boyfriend and he slowly approached him. "It's okay. I'm not going to hurt you. I have some yummy, juicy berries." Stantler was scared, so Sora shows him by biting one of the Oran Berries. "Mmm, see? Yummy?" Stantler was still scared. "Come on, don't make me eat all these by myself." He held one out. Stantler have unleashed a scent from his antlers. Kairi caught a whiff. Stantler ate the berry offered to the deer-like Pokémon. "See? Yummy."
"And you said I had a gift," Kairi said. She winced as did Pikachu and Angel. "Sora."
"Shh, not so loud. You'll scare him," Sora whispered.
"Sora. Look behind you," Kairi said.
"Behind me?" Sora asked as he turned around. He froze out when he saw a whole herd of Stantler standing in the shrubs. "EEEE."
"Don't make any sudden movements, Sora. One false move will set them off," Kairi said.
"R-R-Right," Sora said nervously. One of them skids the soil. "A whole lot of Stantler antlers." He slowly got up and backed up. "RUN!" Sora started to run as did Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi. "THEY SURE LOOK MAD!"
"THEY'RE MAD BECAUSE THEY MIGHT THINK WE HURT THEIR BABY!" Kairi said.
The couple and Pokémon kept on running for their lives. They stopped just so they can catch their breath.
"Man, that was close," Sora panted. He saw that they were nowhere to he seen. "Huh? Where did they go?"
"They were just right behind us. They couldn't have given up and walked away," Kairi said.
"But there were a whole lot of Stantler, so at least one or two of them could have kept chasing us," Sora said.
"Pika," Pikachu said.
Rustling is heard and they turned to a bush.
"Oh no, not again," Sora said.
Their terror turned to relief when they saw it was Officer Jenny.
"Are you two okay over there?" Officer Jenny asked.
"Oh, it's just you. Thought you were one of those Stantler, because a whole herd of Stantler were just chasing after us," Sora said.
"You're just lucky that I got to you in time. I would like to ask you both to come down to the station with me just so I can fill out a report," Officer Jenny said.
"Um, okay," Sora said.
Meanwhile in a nearby mountain, a vehicle drives up. An old gray jeep with Stantler antlers on the hood of the jeep owned by a man wearing a black trenchcoat and a black hat with a brown feather in it He was sitting in the drivers seat accompanied by two black Pokémon that greatly resemble cats or weasels with sharp claws. One had a tail made of red feathers, with its left ear in a similar fashion. It also has a yellow-orange oval shaped gem on its chest and forehead. It has slanted red eyes that are defined by markings that look like long eyelashes. The other had red ear-feathers and two red tail-feathers on their backsides. Additionally, they have a crown-like appendage on their heads, and a red collar around their necks. The man took out his binoculars and set them to night vision mode.
"That baby Stantler has to be in the area somewhere," the man said as he turned to his two Pokémon. "Sneasel and Weavile! You know what to do!"
"Sneasel!" The Sneasel said.
"Weavile!" The Weavile said.
Sneasel and Weavile jumped out the vehicle and sniffed around. As they followed the scent of the soil, they stopped sniffing around and pointed to the city nearby.
"So, that's where you're hiding, you little gold mine," the man said. "Don't think you can get away from Malcolm McCleet so easily." He laughs.
The young policewoman led the couple at the station and explained to her that they were only passing through, not causing any trouble and they came across a baby Stantler and then ended up being chased by a herd of Stantler.
"So that's it. That park you were in is usually a spot for families that are on vacation, but recently out of nowhere, a huge herd of Stantler moved in and scared everyone off. Now nobody wants to get anywhere near the place," Officer Jenny explained.
"That must the same herd that chased us out," Kairi pointed out.
"It just sounds fishy to me," Sora said. "They live up in the mountains, right?"
"They do. But, I don't understand why so many Stantler would just appear the way they did just recently," Officer Jenny said.
"You think maybe something is happening in the forest?" Sora asked.
"I hope not, but that might be the case here," Kairi said. They then heard a scream from outside.
"HELP!" A voice yelled from outside.
"MARILL!" Another voice yelled.
Sora and Kairi knew that voice and Pokémon that came with it.
"Lyra!" Sora and Kairi gasped. They stepped outside and saw Lyra and Marill running down the streets. They stepped out and saw Lyra and her Marill running and they stopped.
"Lyra!" Kairi said.
"Sora, Kairi! Thank goodness! Good to see a couple of familiar faces," Lyra said.
"What happened?" Sora asked.
"Marill and I were in the park, looking into a rumor of a herd of Stantler in it. I found one, so I was trying to get a picture of it, and then a whole herd of Stantler showed up and chased after us," Lyra said.
"Marill, Marill," Marill said.
"Funny, because the same thing happened to us, and they suddenly disappeared," Sora said.
"Disappeared?" Lyra asked. She turned around and saw the Stantler gone. "Huh? They were right behind me. Where did they go?"
"It's strange," Officer Jenny said. "The Stantler always disappeared just as they appeared."
"How is that possible? They were just right behind us," Lyra pointed out.
"Marill," Marill said.
"I don't know what's going on, but what I do know that something doesn't feel right," Sora said.
"Just what was their problem? We only noticed one baby Stantler that seems to be hurt and then without warning and a whole bunch of Stantler just show up," Lyra said.
"Any idea on why and when all those Stantler came here, Officer Jenny?" Kairi asked.
"It only happened just a few days ago, but why it's happening is something I do not know I'm afraid," Officer Jenny said.
Just when everyone were starting to wonder why was that when a Stantler antler comes out of an alley and sends out a familiar scent and everyone winced when the Stantler herd came stampeding.
"They're back!" Tai exclaimed.
"Everyone, quick! Get inside or we'll all get trampled!" Officer Jenny said. Not needing to be told twice, the girls rushed inside the police station, but Sora stayed behind. He looked directly at the stampeding Stantler and notices how some of them had phased through a mailbox, a street light pole and a building.
"How are they just going pass that stuff? Wait a minute. Those Stantler aren't real," Sora said in his thoughts. The girls and Pokémon saw Sora still standing there.
"Sora, what are you doing? Get out of there!" Kairi said. She was about to rush out to save her boyfriend, but Officer Jenny stopped her.
"It's too dangerous," Officer Jenny said.
"Stantler! You don't have to be afraid!" Sora called out. The herd goes right through him. Everyone gasped as they just saw him get killed; or did they? Sora saw the baby Stantler limping. "Just as I thought." The herd started to disappear confusing everyone. He went over to the real Stantler. "I know you made these illusions because you were scared." Stantler chirped. "We only wanted to be your friends." Stantler looked at the spiky haired boy. He gently lifted the baby Stantler inside the police building. Sora took out some bandages and wrapped his leg. "There, that's better." Stantler nuzzles Sora and rests on his lap.
"You managed to win over this little Stantler," Kairi said.
"Toge, Toge," Togepi chirped.
"Eevee, vee," Angel said.
"What happened to the other Stantler, Sora?" Lyra asked.
"Those weren't real Stantler, they were only an illusion made by this little guy," Sora said.
"You're kidding," Lyra said.
"Yeah. I might be guessing, but I think it's because this little Stantler was just lonely and scared of us and everyone around, thinking everyone is out to get him," Sora said.
"That's a really good guess, Sora," Officer Jenny said.
"Hard to believe just one little guy could cause such big trouble," Lyra said.
"Marill," Marill said.
"Yeah. That little guy had us all fooled for a while," Sora said.
"But how did you know all those Stantler were just illusions?" Officer Jenny asked.
"I didn't at first until I saw some of them going through the light poles and buildings. I'm gonna guess he made those illusion Stantler herd out of instinct. And because he's just a baby, he only knew about his herd. And because he's a baby, he doesn't even know where he is," Sora said.
"Wow, that's actually really good. And when I saw the scratch on his leg, I'm going to guess a Pokémon with sharp claws attacked him," Kairi said. Officer Jenny stroked her chin.
"There are Meowth and Persian living in the forest, but they only come out at night. So, I'm at a loss," Officer Jenny said.
Sora wondered if Team Rocket were behind it, because he knew they were lower than dirt to attack a baby Pokémon. A loud crash is heard from outside.
"Did you hear that?" Sora asked.
"It came from outside," Kairi said.
He, Kairi, Pikachu, Angel, and Togepi stepped out and looked around.
"What is it-" Sora's sentence was cut when he ducked out of the way and Pikachu jumped off Sora's head before claws could strike. "Whoa! What was that about?" Sora got his answer when Sneasel did a backflip at a street light pole. Weavile came in the scene as well.
"A Sneasel and a Weavile!" Kairi recognized.
"That explains the sound," Sora said, taking out his Pokédex.
Kairi's Pokédex:
Sneasel, the Sharp Claw Pokémon
Type: Dark/Ice
Sneasel scales trees by punching its hooked claws into the bark. This Pokémon seeks out unguarded nests and steals eggs for food while the parents are away.
Sora's Pokédex:
Weavile, the Sharp Claw Pokémon
The evolved form of Sneasel
Type: Dark/Ice
They live in cold regions, forming groups of four or five that hunt prey with impressive coordination. It carves patterns in trees with its claws as a signal to others.
Sora puts his Pokédex away and saw the claws on them.
"Sharp claws. Sneasel and Weavile fits the description! It has to be one of them!" Sora said.
"They must be after Stantler!" Kairi said.
"Lyra, stay and keep Stantler safe!" Sora said.
"Okay!" Lyra said.
"Pikachu! Go!" Sora said.
"Lend a paw, Angel!" Kairi said.
Pikachu and Angel stood in front of Sneasel and Weavile. The two Sharp Claw Pokémon hissed at the Pokémon couple before they came at them with Metal Claw.
"Pikachu! Dodge with Quick Attack!" Sora ordered.
"You too, Angel!" Kairi ordered.
Pikachu and Angel dodged by jumping out of the way of the Sharp Claw Pokémon. They fired Ice Beam at the Pokémon couple.
"Use Thunderbolt to block it!" Sora ordered. Pikachu fired Thunderbolt and it blocked the combined Ice Beam. Pikachu, Sneasel, and Weavile held on. Stantler tried to see what was happened, and saw the Sneasel and Weavile battling Pikachu and Angel. Marill pushes Stantler back.
"Stay here! It's too dangerous!" - Marill subtitle.
Stantler was scared for certain, but he eyed Sora, seeing how Sora is battling to protect him from the Pokémon that attacked him.
"Angel! Use Swift!" Kairi ordered. Angel fired Swift at the Sharp Claw Pokémon, landing a hit onto the both of them. They ceased firing Ice Beam from the hits. "Use Headbutt on Weavile!" Angel ran towards Weavile and lands a Headbutt. Weavile then flinches.
"Ha! Nice job on Headbutt, Kairi, Angel!" Sora praised his girlfriend and her partner.
"Pika, Pika!" Pikachu said.
"Thanks, Sora, but it's not over yet," Kairi said.
"Right. Pikachu! Use Thunderbolt!" Sora ordered. Pikachu fired Thunderbolt, shocking both Sneasel and Weavile. Weavile took out a small smoke bomb and threw it. Everyone covered their moves, preventing themselves from breathing in the smoke. The smoke cleared and they saw the two Sharp Claw Pokémon were gone. "Where did they go?"
"I don't know, but since it was a Sneasel and a Weavile, I suspect this is the work of Malcom McCleet," Officer Jenny said.
"Who's he?" Sora asked.
"He's a Pokémon Hunter, using Dark and Steel-type Pokémon," Officer Jenny said.
"What's a Pokémon Hunter?" Lyra asked.
"They're poachers. They catch Pokémon from the wild and sells them for money," Sora explained.
"They're very bad people," Kairi said with a hint of disgust.
"Vee," Angel said, sharing her disgust.
"I don't know how could be people like that?" Lyra asked.
"Marill," Marill said.
"What do you think we should do?" Lyra asked.
"Officer Jenny, think we could stay here for the night?" Sora asked.
"Of course, kids. This little Stantler could feel safe with you around," Officer Jenny said.
Malcolm McCleet was waiting for his Pokémon to come back when his two Pokémon did come back. He saw his Pokémon injured when they came back to him.
"What happened out there? Where's the baby?" McCleet asked.
"Sneasel," Sneasel said.
"Weavile," Weavile said.
"Don't tell me you lost it!" McCleet hissed. He growled. "Someone's gonna pay for this! I'll bet my life on it."
Back at the police station, Stantler sleeps as Sora pets him.
"Sora, you going to add Stantler to the team?" Kairi asked.
"I don't think so. I'll have to let Stantler back in the forest. His leg is fully healed anyway. He belongs with his herd. He's just too young. I mean, his mom is probably looking for her baby right now," Sora said.
"I guess you're right. He was really attached to you, Sora," Kairi said.
"All I did was give him some affection. He really needed it," Sora said.
"You were really sweet to Stantler, Sora. You have a heart of gold," Kairi said.
"Thanks, Kairi," Sora said as he blushed. He and Kairi kisses on the lips. They didn't know that Lyra was eyeing the two of them kissing and she only smiled widely.
"How cute," Lyra said.
On the next morning, Sora, Kairi, Lyra, Pikachu, Angel, Togepi, and Marill left the city to drop off Stantler in the forest just so he can find his herd.
"Here you go, Stantler. Your herd is probably looking for you, so the best thing you can do is go back to them," Sora said. Stantler didn't want to go and he nuzzles Sora.
"What's up with Stantler?" Lyra asked.
"He wants to stay with Sora because of how nice and sweet he was to him," Kairi said.
"Is that right?" Lyra asked. She watched on.
"No, Stantler, you belong with your herd. Your mom is probably very worried about you, so you have to go home," Sora said. Stantler refused to move. "Stantler, I mean it. Go home." He points forward. Before he could stomp forward to show he means it, something flies their way. It is a silver-gray, avian Pokémon with a long, metallic blue neck, legs, and tail. It has yellow eyes, a pointed beak with several pointed teeth, and a triangular crest on its head. There are red feathers under the sheaths that cover its sharp wings, and each feather can be moved independently. Its wings are really hollow. Its feet have three toes on them, two in front and one in back, and its tail has hooked ends. This Pokémon is known as a Skarmory. Kairi sees the metal bird Pokémon flying at them. She gasped.
"SORA! WATCH OUT!" Kairi exclaimed. Sora looked up and saw it was coming right at Stantler. He quickly took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Heracross! Go!" Sora called out. Heracross came out and flew at Skarmory. He knocked the metal bird Pokémon down to the ground. "That was close." He looked at Skarmory and took out his Pokédex and scanned it.
Skarmory, the Armor Bird Pokémon
Type: Steel/Flying
Skarmory's entire body and wings are made out of steel. The feathers it sheds were once used to forge knives and swords.
"Skarmory," Sora said. Just then, he saw gray jeep and the driver. He steps out.
"Look what we got here. The one that got away. Just wanted to thank you kids for bringing that little Stantler back to me," McCleet said.
"Back to you?" Lyra asked.
"Are you Malcolm McCleet, the Pokémon Hunter?" Kairi asked.
"So, you've heard of me. Looks like my reputation proceeds me," McCleet boasted as he laughed.
"You're the Trainer of that Sneasel and Weavile that attacked the police station yesterday!" Sora said.
"So, you've met my Sneasel and Weavile, huh? I was wondering who gave them so much trouble, and it looks like I got my answer. I'm willing to let bygones be bygones if you would just hand that little Stantler over to me, huh?" McCleet asked.
"If you think we're going to hand Stantler over to you, then you can just forget it!" Sora said.
"We're returning this Stantler back to his mom and herd!" Kairi said.
"Oh, isn't that nice? The thing is, I already got mama," McCleet said, holding up an antler. Stantler was saddened by what he did, making Sora's blood boil.
"YOU WHAT?!" Sora exclaimed.
"You awful man!" Lyra yelled.
"He's not a man! He's a monster!" Kairi said.
"Sticks and stones. Look, make it easy and gimmie that Stantler, you little brats!" McCleet said.
"Make us!" Sora defyingly said.
"That wasn't a request!" McCleet said.
"Lyra, run back to the police station and get Officer Jenny. She should know about this," Kairi said.
"What about you?" Lyra asked.
"Don't worry, because we can handle him," Kairi said.
"Okay," Lyra said. "Good luck. Come on, Marill!"
"Marill!" Marill said, following her Trainer.
"Pikachu, get in there with Heracross!" Sora said.
"Chu!" Pikachu said, stepping in. Kairi took out a Pokéball and threw it.
"Go! Misdreavus!" Kairi called out. Misdreavus came out to assist. "Angel, you help out, too!"
"Eevee!" Angel said, stepping in.
"So, it's a battle you want, huh? Fine with me! I owe you some payback for what you did to my Pokémon! Skarmory! Use Steel Wing!" McCleet ordered. Skarmory came down at the Pokémon with Steel Wing.
"Pikachu, Heracross! Dodge!" Sora called out.
"You dodge, too, Angel!" Kairi called out. Angel dodges as Misdreavus turns invisible. Skarmory missed completely. Misdreavus turned visible again. "Use Hidden Power!" Misdreavus forms Hidden Power and sends it at Skarmory, landing some damage.
"Don't take that laying down! Use Metal Claw on that Misdreavus!" McCleet ordered. Skarmory came at Misdreavus and slashed her with Metal Claw. Kairi gasped.
"Misdreavus!" Kairi gasped.
"Heracross! Arm Thrust!" Sora ordered. Heracross came at Skarmory, but he missed it completely.
"Use Brave Bird on Heracross!" McCleet ordered. Skarmory came flying in an orange bird-shaped aura, landing some heavy damage onto Heracross. The Singlehorn Pokémon had been taken down with one hit.
"Heracross!" Sora gasped. He called Heracross back inside. He took out another Pokéball and threw it. "Go! Hoothoot!" Hoothoot came out with a swirl of stars.
"A Shiny Hoothoot. That should sell me some big money! Skarmory! Use Steel Wing!" McCleet ordered. Skarmory came flying at the Shiny Owl Pokémon with Steel Wing.
"Dodge and use Wing Attack!" Sora ordered. Hoothoot dodged and came at Skarmory, landing a hit. It did little damage due to its steel body. Skarmory came at Hoothoot, but he dodges him with his speed. Sora smiled. "Hoothoot might be small, but he's fast! Keep it up!"
"What do you think you're doing?! Get that little runt now!" McCleet shouted. Skarmory tried to get a hold of Hoothoot with its talons, but the Owl Pokémon was flying too fast for it. Sora and Kairi figured he was trying to tire it out by flying around, but they knew he wouldn't last for long.
"Misdreavus! Use Hidden Power! Angel! Swift!" Kairi ordered. Angel and Misdreavus fired their attacks at the Armor Bird Pokémon, landing a combo hit. "Sora, won't you do the honors?"
"My pleasure," Sora said. "This is for you, Stantler. Pikachu! Thunderbolt!" Pikachu unleashed Thunderbolt, shocking both of Skarmory and McCleet. The Armor Bird Pokémon goes down for the count.
"You little brats! I'll teach you both a lesson you won't forget!" McCleet said, taking out a Pokéball.
"Growlithe! Use Take Down, now!" A voice ordered. A Growlithe came and tackled the Pokémon Hunter down to the ground. They turned to see Officer Jenny, Lyra, and Marill riding in the scene in her motorcycle. The policewoman stepped out and handcuffed him. "Malcolm McCleet, you're under arrest for Pokémon poaching."
"Dammit," McCleet hissed. She dragged the Pokémon Hunter to her motorcycle as a couple of cops have arrived and towed his jeep
"Thanks to you, McCleet will be serving a very long jail sentence," Officer Jenny said.
"We're just glad we were at the right place at the right time," Sora said.
"You certainly were. If you weren't, we still would have thought we had a Stantler stampede on our hands," Officer Jenny said. She rode off, leaving Sora, Kairi, Lyra, and the Pokémon with the orphaned Stantler. Sora sighed.
"I'm sorry about your mom, Stantler. I know she tried very hard to protect you. I know you'll miss her a lot," Sora said. He thought about his father for a moment. Stantler than nuzzled him again.
"He wants to be with you, Sora. I mean, you saved him from that awful Pokémon Hunter, twice," Kairi said.
"Not alone," Sora said. "You fought alongside me."
"Yeah, but you were the one who calmed him down. And I know he'll grow with your help," Kairi said. Sora smiled, knowing she was right.
"Yeah," Sora said. He took out a Pokéball. "You can come, too, Stantler." Stantler beamed and nuzzled him affectionately. He tapped the Pokéball, making the caribou-like Pokémon flow inside. Stars swirls around the Pokéball to confirm the catch. "I won't replace your mom, but I'll do my best. Your tears will be my tears."
With a big heart, Sora has taken in an orphaned Stantler and vowed to do what he can to make him grow into a confident Pokémon. The journey to Violet City and the rest of the way shall continue.