Bullied by WyldClaw
Plot: just a short animeverse one shot though Noctowl's eyes about an incident in her past. Written when Derek is about thirteen months old. Slight spoilers for A Blast From Dad's Past . I own nada but Derek, Noctowl's flockmates -which I named after famous fictional birds- Storm and her disability and the Pichu pups. I made up Noctowl's backstory and based Redwing's call off the Clan meeting call from the Warriors book series. There are a few lines I modified from Zootopia, which is where I got the idea for the attack on her. Thoughts are Italicized and () are translated Pokéspeech.
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Noctowl sighed with content from where she was sitting in her trainer's large backyard , her black ringed red eyes half closed as the warm August sunlight warmed her feathers. She heard her trainer's thirteen month-old son Derek baby-babbling to his mother a few feet away. She chuckled to herself- Derek was growing so fast - looking more and more like his father as time passed . . it seems like just the other week that Ash was asking me to fly him and Misty to the hospital when her water broke.
she knew Misty was so proud of her baby boy for she made a fabulous mother. She had great practice with being a foster mother to Togetic all those years ago. On the side of the yard she could hear Ash and Pikachu trying to teach Pikachu's squabbling daughters Electra and Thora some basic attacks. She sighed . I wish him the biggest luck with those two. she heard Electra and Thora's Pichu siblings Taran, Zapp and Aki playing with Bayleef nearby. She heard their squeals of delight as they climbed over the Grass Type. She smiled to herself. I am loving my life right now . The weather is perfect , my life is going perfectly...
"wal!" Derek's baby voice said interuppting her thoughts .
(hmm?) The golden-feathered Flying type fully opened her eyes , looked around and saw the little baby with untidy jet-black hair and light sea green eyes crawl over to her. He wore a blue onesie with images of Dewgongs on it. Most likely from his aunts in Cerulean she thought. Bayleef, Noivern and her just couldn't get over how much Derek looked liked their trainer-well apart from the bright green eyes.
(Hey little hatchling .) She said, knowing the baby couldn't understand her… just yet. His mother -dressed in a light yellow blouse and blue shorts was watching from a few feet away on a checkered blanket as she brushed her and Ash's small female Pikachu Storm.
The baby boy pointed a chubby finger at her. He's pretty adorable for a little human.. He smiled showing a few teeth. "Wal!" He repeated.
"Hmm? What's that, sweetheart?" Misty looked up as she heard him.
He pointed again at her. ." Wal." he repeated again .
"Wal? What do you mean by-" She looked at where her baby was pointing.
(I think he means me Misty. ) the bird told her. (I don't mind if he calls me that.)
" ah. I see. That's daddy's Noctowl. You can call her Wal if you want. Isn't she beautiful? " he nodded,.
He nodded. "zy-ee ."
( Close enough little hatchling ) the owl replied kindly and chuckled . the baby smiled - for although he couldn't understand Pokespeech yet he could tell her comment was kind
"that's right .. she's a shinny. She's sure pretty, huh pumpkin?"
He nodded. Noctowl stretched out her wings as the sun caught them. Derek stared at the feathers, amazed at them . "by."
"Yes they are very bright sweetheart. I think she's gorgeous as Sunset. She's lucky to have such beautiful feathers. "
"piddy."
" that's right sweetheart. she sure is pretty Derek."
Suddenly the shiny owl pokemon was reminded of when she was a little HootHoot and her crush said the same thing...only he hadn't meant it.
X flashback begins X flashback begins X flashback begins X flashback begins x
The golden-feathered HootHoot felt the glare of the older Noctowl's guards' stare like it was a Poison Sting attack. Ever since the accidental death of her foster mother Zephyra and the capture of Zephyra's sister the old leader Falcona - for which the new leader Redwing blamed her for-everyone in the flock seemed to reject her. Redwing had loathed her from the minute Falcona had found her - lost and alone as a tiny just hatched mewling hatchling- and brought her in. Zephyra and Falcona didn't treat her any differently- they encouraged her to use her powers for good. They were so proud of her when she took down a bunch of tough Spinarak. Oh Mama, Falcona, Ho-Oh, give me strength
(Move it wimp) he ordered knowing full well he'd used his powers to tie her wings to her side with a vine and clamp her beak shut. He used Confusion to move her through the air to a high branched darkened clearing where another Noctowl- Eaglefeather -was teaching the older fledglings about berries.
She saw that her so called 'friends'-the other HootHoot fledglings her own age or slightly older that wanted nothing to do with her along with her crush Coryn were in the group! A quick glimpse around with horror showed her that nearly the whole flock was gathering. ! What's he going to do to me? He turns a blind eye to when the other Hoothoots bully me and makes me after everyone. so what;s he planing?
They dipped their head in respect to the leader as he and his patrol fluttered to a nearby large branch. (I'm tired of this shiny troublemaking freak) She felt his mind let go of her body but two of the guards- Glyfie and Swoop harshly grabbed her with her talons cutting into her skin.
(Let all flyers around old enough to hunt hear my words and fly over near this branch.) Redwing hooted. Within a few minutes about twenty-five Noctowl and HootHoot were gathered around. She wanted to shrink down to the size of a Rattata and scamper away. Redwing raised his voice. (This traitorous shiny freak decided to infiltrate our hunting patrol and make dinner escape. )
Protests rang around the clearing:
(kick it out!)
( stupid shiny…)
(troublemaker..)
(how dare it..)
(loser!)
Redwing silenced the crowd with a raised claw. ( as much as I want to kick it out… I told Falcona-may her spirit soar in the skies- that that thing would stay until it evolves. ) the Hoothoot flinched. For even though she was used to being talked about like she wasn't a fellow bird pokemon- like she was an object it still hurt. (however it will not forgo punishment. As such it will hunt two pieces of prey for each flock member for three nights before it even eats the tail of a thin Sentret. ) He glared at her.
(Humph. Can we even trust her not to eat the food herself?) An older and bigger HootHoot turned her beak up at the young owlet.
(I wouldn't-) she tried to mumble through her gag but Swoop cuffed her head with a wing.
(We'll make sure it doesn't Gussie) he replied.
Glyfie sneered down at her as she felt his talons dig into her skin. (Or it will lose more than a few feathers.)
(What do you have to say for yourself in defense, Lokai'ie lsa'stana hatcilus?) He turned on her, using a term meaning 'trickster devil hatchling'.
She saw Glyfie raise a talon and cut the bindings away from her beak and a Swoop let go of her. (I - I just want to have some fun. G-great Ho-Oh you're all too serious. I'd never do anything to harm the flock...) Coryn flew over to her with his buddies Conrad and Zan. She suddenly felt very shy like a hatchling just out of its egg. (Coryn... you believe me don't you?)
(Your feathers make you pretty...) he stated.
(R-r-really?) She stuttered. (You actually think I'm pretty?) . I can't believe it! He thinks I'm pretty.
(I think you're pretty all right) He smirked at Conrad and Zan. (Yeah... pretty pathetic if you think we're going to believe that.). The three of them raised their right wings into the air.
(Wha-) but the shiny owl got no further. Conrad's wing hit her side, Zan's wing struck her middle- leaving a decent cut and Coryn knocked her off the branch and into the air about ten feet away from the clearing with a Quick Attack . Since her wings were still tied she fell like a pebble into a huge mud puddle beneath a tree a few feet away . The mud splattered all over her feathers and stung her cut. she struggled to get the vine off her muddy wings but then tripped over a twig and ended up covered in mud. She heard the rest of the flock laughing.
As she got the she heard the three bullies looked down and laugh at her. Zan looked down at her. (Whoops, my wing slipped.) He squawked, not seeming sorry at all.
(Y-you did that on purpose...) Tears welled up in her eyes.
(Duh you friendless loser.) Conrad rolled his eyes.
(Hey shiny freak!) Coryn called down. (What makes you think I'd ever be interested in you?)
She felt hollow inside as her heart broke and she felt raindrops hit her head. (Y-y-you knew?)
(Course I did you awful monster. You followed me around like some kind of lovesick Houndoom pup. It was so lame. ) Coryn scoffed in disgust.
(Wh-why didn't you tell me?)
(Because Holly, Tobias, Twilight, Buzz and the rest of the flock thought it amusing. The only reason we even let you stay is cause when he was deputy Falcona made Redwing swear on Lady Ho-oh's tail feathers secretly that should anything happen to her he wouldn't kick you out until ...you evolved or became a dignified Noctowl. )
(hah. Dignified my back tail feathers.) Conrad stated. (you? dignified. Riggght)
( I know about it since my father Cubasil was the witnesses. ) Coryn stared down at her. (Besides I have already asked Eva to be my mate. She's a proper, regular owl unlike you, troublemaker.)
A proper regular owl unlike you.
A proper regular owl unlike you
A proper regular owl unlike you
The shiny owl felt her heart shatter as his words echoed in her mind as rain started to fall from the dark clouds above in the skies . Tears streamed down her face as the rain drops hit her face. She looked down at the muddy ground for a heartbeat or two .
Zan, Coryn and Conrad flew to a nearby dry tree trunk hollows and got in just as the rain started to really downpour. (Hey freak loser.!) Zan hooted.
The young owl looked up at the sound. (You might want to get a move on finding the prey before it gets sopping wet ) Conrad shouted.
(Good luck finding any 'mon who gives a gizzard dropping about you or will be your friend or mate. Remember you orphaned wimpy dolt, I like the thickest Rattata meat you can find and it better be dry) Coryn laughed.
(You'll never be loved loser!) Zan cawed snd his words echoed in the young owl's mind:
You'll never be loved loser!
You'll never be loved loser!
You'll never be loved loser!
You'll never be loved loser!
she turned away so they wouldn't see the tears leaking out of her eyes in the rain. ( get going shiny freak...) Zan hooted.
The three males laughed. (You're a no good trickster loser HootHoot and you'll evolve into a no good trickster loser Noctowl... Noctowl...)
X flashback ends X flashback ends X flashback ends X flashback ends X flashback endsX
(...Noctowl? Noctowl? )
"What happened to her? "
"I don't know honey . She was fine ten minutes ago but then she just stood still ."
Ash, Pikachu and Misty's voices brought her back to reality as she saw Storm's paw wave in front of her face. (are you okay..)
She blinked a few times. She was back in the backyard- now Derek was drinking from his bottle on Misty's lap and Ash was staring at her concerned. Storm's mate was with Electra and Thora now. (Huh? What just happened? )
The two humans and the Pokemon sighed with relief. "Oh thank Arceus ...you're all right. You just froze up." Her trainer said.
(you were just gazing ahead.) Pikachu said.
(You stood stock-still) Storm put in.
"We thought something had happened to you." Misty commented.
(Is everything all right?) The mouse asked.
The bird sighed. (Y-yeah. I was remembering when the leader of my flock humiiltated me in front of everyone and then my crush broke my heart.). She explained what happened. They were horrified to learn what she went through.
"Oh Noctowl... I'm so sorry. If I'd known that I would not have said that . "'
(you couldn't have known it would set that memory off Misty..)
Ash looked shocked. "I ..I...didn't know. I always assumed you were a loner. I didn't know that your flock treated you almost as badly as Pignite's ex-trainer treated him. "
The owl nodded. ( I'm so sorry . ) the small Pikachu told her.
(it's okay Misty , you didn't' know. I've kept my past in in for so long it's good to get it out in the open. learned two important things that day.)
"Which were?" the couple asked.
(One ...that I was never going to let anyone see that they got to me just because I was different.)
(And. two?) Storm asked.
(That if- if the flock was only going to see an orphaned owlet as shifty and as tricky as Redwing said I was, there was no point in being anything else. I Played my tricks on them - I hated Coryn and his cronies from then on. My tricks became a way to mask my sorrow and pain. After I evolved they pretty much gave me the boot. So I traveled from place to place, getting stronger until I found that forest far away from them where that human kept on trying to get me using traps.)
"That's where we found you." Misty finished.
(Yeah... I learned that my little tricks weren't going to work that much and I needed to become a team player. )
"You picked up on that pretty fast." her trainer complimented.
She blushed. (Thanks. But I realized something over the years...Zan and the others were wrong about one thing. )
"What that?'
(About never being useful or loved. I've got my own family and friends right here and at the lab)
"Well stated. Look at how many friends you have now compared to when you were little. I can't even count how many there are. Plus all the Flying types at the lab that look up to you," Misty complimented as she took the nearly empty bottle from her son's hands.
(Yeah.)
"You've come a long way since I first caught you. Now I get why you did those illusions. Those jerks sound horrible"
Derek looked up at his father and tugged on his light colored shirt.. " dada? Wal hez?"
"Don't worry champ. She's fine. She was just remembering when she was little and some bullies made fun of her and."
The boy cocked his head. "whys?"
"They were being…. bullies. They told her she'd never have any friends. " He explained.
The baby pointed to her Then to himself. " wal Fen." He said.
All of them chuckled. The little boy was so innocent . but he was right. "That's right baby. Noctowl has lots of friends now including you. " Misty told him.
Storm nodded. They saw Bayleef come over to them, Aki, Taran and Zapp at her heels chattering about learning attacks though Aki was hesitant. Storm looked up at her kids lovingly. (Hello my darlings,) she nosed them and licked them each in turn as they came up to her.
"Be-Bay!" he looked up at the Grass Type and pointed as her necklace of leaves. "Up! Up"
Noctowl's friend got the idea. (I think he wants me to swing him back and for with my Vine Whip.)
He nodded. "That's fine but be gentle. He's only a baby so just lift him up him a foot."
Two vines extended from her necklace and gently wrapped around the infant. ( obviously I will.) She said as she did just that. The baby giggled in delight. Ash stroked Storm under her chin gently and she licked his hand.
.
The owl noticed that Aki stood a little apart from her brothers- looked a little down as she looked across the yard to over at her older sisters as they practiced electric attacks with their dad. The Pichu sighed.
Poor Aki. She thought.
She knew the mouse had trouble with attacks and could be a bit on the hyper side. However there were times she caught the Pichu looking down. She flew over to her. (What's the matter Aki?)
The mouse sniffled. (N-Nothing) she mumbled.
Noctowl nudged the mouse lightly with a wing. (Uh huh sure…. and my species is from Unova.)
The mouse lowered her voice, (I …just can't get the hang of the attacks an' my sisters are better than me...) she muttered.
The bird patted her back with a wing. She knew how hard it was for the little Pichu. (Hey, don't worry kid. You'll get the hang of it. I didn't get Air Slash or Extrasensory on my first try.)
(I just wanna be good as my sisters maybe even more so.) She whispered
(You can only do the best you can. When I was little I wanted to be the best HootHoot ever to impress this HootHoot I liked but he turned out to be a big jerk. He along with the rest of the flock called me names and insulted me saying I'd never have friends or a family)
(That's horrible.) The most exclaimed. (How did you ever get through it?)
(Your dad actually. He told me that no 'Mon is accurate at everything. You must play to your strengths and remember what you're good at.)
(I see where you're getting at. kinda Can you help me with getting the attacks down?)
A sense of purpose swelled up in the owl's chest. She recalled how hard it was learning her attacks after Zephyra and Falcona's accident on her own, and even how tough it had been after she'd been kicked out the flock and had to survive on her own. She felt closer to the little pichu than ever.,
(Sure thing kiddo. Family helps each other out.)
(But I'm an Electric Type. An' you're a Flying type.) Aki pointed
(It doesn't matter to me -flyer or electric type or bird or mouse, you're family in my eyes and family helps each other out.)
Aki blinked up at the bird. (r-really?)
(Really, really.)
aki looked at the bird. ( but I don't wanna hurt you..)
Noctowl looked at the little baby mouse and then over at her mother who had been listening to them. Their trainers had gone over to Bayleef and her brothers and were playing with the mice and Derek, who babbled and gurgled happily. (I can help out with that. ) Storm stated as she got up , stretched, and walked over to them . (I'm not that good with electrical attacks myself but I can do the basic attacks. And then you can try to copy them .)
(O-okay Mom.)
( and I can pretend to be a big bad enemy bird Pokemon or make illusions of them , ) The shiny owl added.
(N-not a F-Fearow. A-any bird pokemon but th-that ) . A flicker of fear crossed Aki's face and the little mouse Pokemon shivered . She was utterly terrified of the Flying Type Pokemon for a good reason .
Noctowl and Storm looked at one another in complete silent understanding of the mouse's fear. She patted the mouse's shoulder with wing (Of course not little one. } she patted the mouse with a wing. (I understand. )
. I don't blame her for being horrified.
Recently Aki had gotten a deeply rooted true phobia of Fearows when Misty was about five months pregnant thanks to a one eyed scarred newly evolved one named Skar and his exiled cronies. He had original been a part of the flock of the Fearow who Ash had hit on his first day as a trainer- who had originally despised Pidgeot. Fearow had tried and-failed- to take over the woods where the Pigdeys and Pidgeottos a bunch but she had saved him one time which had changed the old bird's perspective. A sort of truce was formed between the two birds and their flocks but Skar and his flock had not been pleased . They tried to mutiny but were stoped and Skar was given his scar and exiled. Shar had been found by by two of Ash and Misty's old Team Rocket foes Butch and Cassidy- now a part of a rising group called Neo Team Rocket . They healed Skar and gave him a powerful but rare Berry on a gold chain-a candle shaped small Berry that weakened Electric Types and absorbed the electrical current, growing rich and lush as it did,
Skar and his Spearow cronies had lured Aki, Taran and Zapp far away from their parents and trainers in the park with the intent of using one of them as blackmail to make Pidgeot and her flock submit to him and then as bait. Skar had evolved and trapped and injured Aki. He had just managed to tell his followers to torture and do what they wanted to Taran and Zapp had been torturing her when Storm and her mate had rushed in and saved her brothers. Skar had grabbed the small mouse- telling her not to say a word, flew into to the air and placed her in front of the Wacan Berry . The Electric type had been ready to attack the bird when Skar demonstrated how fragile baby Pokemon could be . The scarred Fearow had then briefly poke-napped the baby pokemon and brought her into the air. After Aki caused the Wacan berry to snap off his neck and shatter on the ground Skar had been furious with her . Luckily she and Pidgeot had saved her before Skar had succeeded in using Drill Peck on the mouse . Since then she was terrified out of her fur of Fearows.
(th-thanks Noctowl.)
..
They trained for a while-the little Pichu determined to get better at her attacks,
Aki trained so hard that she fell asleep on the grass. Noctowl gently picked up the sleeping mouse with her Confusion and brought her over to their trainer. Misty and Bayleef had brought Derek and the other Pichus into the house for Derek's nap so it was just Ash and Pikachu outside. Storm's mate licked her cheek as the Avian Pokemon carefully dropped Aki into his outstretched lap and ended her attack,. "Thanks girl." he said as he stroked her feathers.
(Anytime.)
Storm looked over at the bird. (You're a good patient teacher )
( you sure are. ) her mate agreed..
Noctowl felt herself blush. (I try.)
"I'm proud of you Noctowl. You've really gotten past thought harsh times when you were a hatchling ." Ash commented.. "I think your mother and Falcona would be proud of the Pokemon you have become. You've achieved what Coryn and his jerky buddies said wouldn't happen: you have a large family , lots of friends and are greatly loved. "
She felt a burst of pride at his words. (you're right.)
The end