Chapter 11 - Nightmare

The sun was shining brightly overhead, only slightly filtered and subdued by the delicately built greenhouse that covered the Pokémon as it slept peacefully in the large plot that was its 'bed'. The door opened and the gardener arrived. As usual, he gently tended to each Lilligant as he gave them their water and food for the day. Always a carefully planned and measured diet to match how they would eat in the wild. The assorted Petilils floated around the greenhouse lazily - a few from every region the Pokémon could reasonably grow or adapt. It was supposed to be a normal day. But it wasn't. Today was the most important day of this Lilligant's life - the day it lived through again and again. The day its heart shut for good.

The gardener stood quietly in front of the garden of gorgeous flowers. Behind him was a woman in a white coat. Lilligant couldn't remember the face. It was different every time, anyway. It could have been a man or woman or child. It didn't matter. That memory had been blocked out. The gardener stopped and plucked its Pokéball from the stand nearby. "This one?" The woman asked, pointing.

"Aye. She's useless to me. Not even good breeding stock." What? Useless? But it hadn't done anything. It was just a decoration. She hadn't battled or gone to contests. How had she failed without ever trying?

"We'll take her then, thank you for your contribution." Lilligant wanted to protest, but quickly it was whisked away inside the Pokéball nice and snug. The world was muffled and obscured inside. It could see the gardener as he turned the ball around before placing it in the woman's hand. "She'll be in good hands. Would you like to see it again someday?"

"No. Not particularly." He said nonchalantly.

"I see. Very well then. The money will be transferred later today." The woman's slender hands wrapped around the Pokéball and she looked down at it. The Pokémon inside could feel the malice radiating from the woman. "We'll take very good care of you."

A lie. A lie from the depths of Hell. All it knew from that moment on was pain and suffering. Beatings. Battles. Hard labor. The screams of other Pokèmon. It was horrible. Pokémon were taken from their cages and taken away by a few scientists in coats - once again, familiar but unclear - each one with a sadistic smile as they dragged the screaming creature off to its doom.

Then it was its turn. The doors opened, and Lilligant tried to run. But it didn't get very far. Lashed to a table and rolled down the corridors, it finally arrived at the sterilized operating room. It was quiet and eerie. Just a singular human gathered supplies and adjusted her new Pokéball - a black and gray abomination pulsating with dark energy. The people transporting Lilligant lowered it into a pool of bitter cold liquid and left the room. Lilligant was cold and paralyzed.

"Ah, you must be the new girl." The voice said. The man turned around, a cold, hateful smile on his face. Lucian grabbed the last of his tools and moved closer to the tank that Lilligant was laying in. In his hands was a container holding a green worm-like creature. Evil energy radiated from it. "This won't hurt a bit…oh, it'll hurt a lot." He opened the container.

And the world froze. Streaks of deep red and purple began to cover its vision like lines of static. Sounds became muffled and still. A painful ringing began drowning out its own heartbeat.

"...sure? It won't… useless to…"

"I…when she…"

Lilligant's eyes slowly opened. The early morning sunlight filtered into the room of the Pokémon Center, filtered by the weathered glass window. A single light radiated a gentle yellow light from the table nearby. When was the last time its nightmare was interrupted? It stared up at the ceiling, its body in immense pain but everything felt alright. Mostly. It sat up in bed and looked out towards the window. Some feeling finally crept past the anger inside. It really wanted to go outside.

"Ah, up already?" A weary voice croaked from nearby. Lucian was sitting in one of the uncomfortable chairs next to the bed. A coat was draped over his front like a blanket, and it was clear he was fading in and out of sleep. He sat up and leaned forward. "Feeling alright?" Lilligant looked away, staring out the window again. Lucian sighed and slowly stood. After stretching a bit he began to walk towards the door. "Aisha said we could leave today, if you're ready."

He retrieved its Pokéball from a clip on the inside of his jacket and was about to expand it, but stopped. He turned back towards Lilligant and smiled. "You've been cooped up in your Pokéball for a while now…want to go for a walk?" His words jolted it out of its trance. Lilligant turned to him and tilted its head in confusion, as if asking 'what?'. But Lucian didn't say anything, only waiting for it to make a choice. Lilligant slowly slid out of bed and shuffled over to Lucian's side.

The two of them left the PokéCenter to a confused look and protest from Aisha. Arron seemed relieved, more than anything. Lucian's hand remained steady on the Pokéball in case Lilligant tried anything, but to his surprise, the Pokémon had somewhat mellowed out. It was just too sore to try anything other than obey. It kept looking up towards Lucian, or around for the next target. And yet no matter how many other Pokémon that passed by, despite its growls and protests, the order to attack never came. Lucian kept walking, only stopping to occasionally chat with someone. Lilligant could feel their hesitation, their annoyance, their anger.

It was confused. Her trainer - owner, rather - wasn't bothered by this. He hadn't let it loose, hadn't ordered it to fight those who were slighting him. How many humans and Pokémon had it fought? Hurt? Killed? How many owners had it had? And Lucian was not the first to be kind or gentle. Lucian wasn't even the first Gym Leader to own it. But he was the first to rein it in. How curious.

"The sunlight feels wonderful today, doesn't it?"

A question directed to the Pokémon by his side. Lucian stood a few feet ahead of Lilligant on the path. The Pokémon had stopped to think, lost in thought but looking up at the warm sun. Lilligant looked at him and tilted its head again. How it wished to understand this fool. Lilligant silently shuffled back to his side and continued back home. The deep gouges in the earth reminded both of them that Lilligant's power was not to be underestimated. Lilligant walked over to the edge and traced the edge of the gash.

"You sure knocked Trevenant down a few pegs. That boy wants a rematch." Lucian chuckled, gently patting Lilligant's shoulder. The Pokémon snapped, turning around viciously and slapping his hand away. But the motion itself felt rehearsed. Weak. Lilligant didn't want to hurt him at this moment. Maybe later, but for now it looked as confused as Lucian. Slowly the Pokémon lowered its arm and walked over to its sunny corner of the garden to sit in peace.