Five Unopened Pokéballs
I do not own Pokémon, Game Freak does!
Written for: Twelve Shots of Summer: Eleventh Hour - Week 4…
It was a quiet night in the Mossui Town Community Centre. Juliana was quietly eating her meal while the other Naranja Academy students and Carmine were animatedly chatting amongst each other. Kieran was the only student who hadn't shown up after their battle on Oni Mountain, which was worrying to say the very least.
However, despite feeling worried about him, Juliana's thoughts remained heavy. She took a glance at Ogrepon and Pyroar, who was awkwardly eating together nearby Juliana's peers' Pokemon.
When Ogrepon happened to meet her eyes with Ogrepon's star-pupiled orange, a flash filled the student's vision.
She remembered her battle with Ogrepon that late afternoon. She remembered how one-by-one, her Pokémon she had since leaving to Kitakami and exploring the small region had fallen to the knee-high Pokémon's power and signature cudgel as a test of strength for Juliana's bond with Ogrepon.
Then, she recalled the dull, simmering fire Pyroar had in her eyes after Ogrepon was caught. Pyroar was the only Pokémon Juliana had left after the devastation Ogrepon brought to Julianna's Pokémon. They didn't have time to celebrate with Carmine or Kieran when they came down the mountain, so Juliana slipped away the first chance she got to the stand that operated as the Mossui Town's Pokémon Centre.
At first, when Juliana approached the attendant who was briefly distracted by Ogrepon's appearance, the Pokémon Trainer thought the attendant would heal her five Pokémon up as the young woman typically did. But Juliana couldn't be more distraught and horrified when the attendant had to pull her aside and grimly explain that Pyroar was the only one that could be healed at that moment.
Braviary…
Amphoros…
Probopass…
Whiscash…
Komala…
All of them had to be laid to rest that evening.
Juliana couldn't bring herself to tell any of the faculty or the other students what had occurred. She didn't feel good bringing it up after how happy the townspeople had become in accepting Ogrepon finally after a grudge spanning decades over a misunderstanding had finally been uncovered and resolved by Juliana, Kieran, and Carmine this afternoon. But not even the teary embrace from the usually sassy Pokémon Centre attendant could bring Juliana any comfort.
The Pokémon Trainer numbly recounted how heavy each Pokéball was as they were handed back. How she couldn't stop thinking about how five of her six Pokéballs that went up the mountain would never open ever again.
Pyroar hissed fiercely at Ogrepon suddenly, snapping Juliana out of her daze as she blinked. The small humanoid Pokémon had cringed and hid her face in her hands under the Royal Pokémon's hostility.
Just seeing this left Juliana uncertain of how to respond when she heard Carmine scoff, "Juliana, can't you tell your Pokémon to stop being so mean to Ogrepon? Our little girl there has been shaking like a leaf since dinner started."
The brown-haired girl turned her head to the tall, long blue-black-haired Bluebell Academy student. Juliana pressed her lips together uneasily as she mumbled, "Pyroar is just having a rough time getting used to Ogrepon. She'll stop soon."
Carmine's eyes shone with her distaste as the orange orbs slid to Juliana. "That's still no excuse to be rude to Ogrepon." The jumpsuit-uniformed student closed them and shook her head with a huff. "It still puzzles me why you didn't bring your other Pokémon instead. I know they got a beating of a lifetime from Ogrepon, but maybe Pyroar just needs to go back into her Pokeball until she learns some manners."
Juliana's jaw tightened but she said nothing. She merely scooped up a spoonful of stew and rice and placed it in her mouth.
Her new friend's opening eyes softened slightly as she watched Juliana, before Carmine lowered her spoon and gaze. "I didn't mean to be critical of your Pokémon." Juliana kept the spoon in her mouth as the Mossui Town inhabitant grimaced to herself. "I was just… concerned… about Ogrepon. Since Pyroar's just been hissy all evening with Ogrepon." She growled out and dropped her spoon to whip her hands to her chest. She clenched them and shook in her seat angrily. "I just can't stand seeing bullying again after running around all day after the Terrible Three!"
With a blink, Juliana pulled the spoon out of her mouth. "It's alright. We're all adjusting to having Ogrepon around."
"We?" echoed Carmine as her trembling ceased. Her balled up hands remained close to her chest as she narrowed her gaze and cocked her head with a suspicious frown. "I hope my brother wasn't a crybaby and didn't try to guilt you into giving him Ogrepon with my back turned. Maybe he would be able to spend time with us instead of hiding in our house if he just tried to be less bratty about it."
Juliana didn't know how to feel about that either. As she glanced back at Pyroar, who abandoned her eating now as she growled in her throat at Ogrepon, the brown-haired student was aware that the joyful chatter of the other students were quieting. She saw their baffled gazes resting on the scene and a few whispers shared with each student, but Juliana knew maybe Carmine was right. Putting the two Pokémon together when Pyroar was being disagreeable about it wasn't going to make things better right away.
Pushing her chair out, the Pokémon Trainer headed over to the huge dark brown and light brown leonine Pokémon. Juliana sorrowfully put her hand on the top of Pyroar's head to give it a pat and murmured, "Let's take a walk, Pyroar."
"Hey! I didn't say you had to go!" complained Carmine as Juliana pulled out her Pokéball to send Pyroar into it. "Your food's going to get cold, Juliana! It's your last night here and you shouldn't have to feel you have to leave because Pyroar's being rude!"
Juliana turned back to meet the outspoken girl's eyes. "I know." Her gaze fell on her half-red and half-white Pokéball pensively. "But I think me and Pyroar both need space."
Without looking back at Carmine, Juliana made her way to the front doors. She stopped after a few steps as she heard Ogrepon fumble to get to her feet, only to speak quietly as she heard Ogrepon try to waddle after Juliana, "You stay here with Carmine, Ogrepon. I'll be back for you later."
She knew it only confused Ogrepon, and couldn't blame Ogrepon for not knowing what the matter was, but Juliana wasn't willing to prolong her departure. The Naranja Academy student made her way to the front of the room before she pushed open one of the doors into the nipping night air.
Streetlights dimly lit the emptying streets as Juliana stood outside, inhaling to calm herself as she threw her Pokéball out in front of her and released Pyroar. After the luminous white energy zipped out from the capture machine and morphed until Pyroar became solid before her, Juliana padded over until she could hug the Royal Pokémon's large body.
Her lips pulled down as a sniffle left her, leaving Juliana to hear Pyroar's low rumble as if Pyroar wanted to cry as well. She lifted her eyes and met the long red-and-yellow-maned Pokémon's eyes as she whispered, "You didn't do anything wrong. I know you miss them."
Pyroar gave a choked roar at that as her sky-blue eyes glistened.
"I should have been more prepared," said Juliana gloomily before the leonine Pokémon roughly shook her big head. As soon as its flowing mane calmed from whipping through the air, Pyroar meaningfully met Juliana's gaze again then the leonine Pokémon brought her body low to the ground.
Even though Juliana knew she could ride on Koraidon, she bittersweetly smiled in acknowledgement.
It took a bit until she could pull herself up onto Pyroar's back before she had a face full of Pyroar's mane. She spat out the strands that got into her mouth before she simply divided the mane in half so she wouldn't be blinded by it. Then, after adjusting her balance, Juliana placed her hands on either side of the base of Pyroar's neck, briefly contacting the rougher skin on the right side before her fingers cringed away at Pyroar's wince.
The Pokémon Trainer intentionally curled her right fingers to make sure to not touch that area again. She whispered to Pyroar to go to the Mossfell Confluence and Pyroar wordlessly started to trot leftward.
Juliana heard Kricketune whistles and Noctowl cries in the night as they left the town, the grass shifting as though the blades were currents of water to the direction of the breeze as Pyroar trode into the plains. Since it was so late, they encountered no hostile Pokémon on their way to the river, as Pyroar soon approached the dark, swishing water before shifting her head to Juliana with questioning eyes.
The brown-haired Pokémon Trainer looked around for a bit before she asked, "Are you up for going further?" After Pyroar dipped her head, Juliana nodded. "Let's walk along the shore then."
Pyroar made a low noise in her throat and proceeded to turn left and pad on. Her pace had slowed tremendously as Juliana watched the view ahead as Pyroar silently guided them forward.
It wasn't the first time Juliana had lost Pokémon. Very early into her Pokémon journey, she found out that if the conditions in battle were bad enough, you could lose your Pokémon to their injuries. All her life, Juliana thought nothing horrible would happen after Pokémon battles, so she imagined back then how great her shock was when she couldn't open Pokéballs after certain fights, even if she took Pokémon to the Pokémon centre.
Juliana at first thought she was a bad Pokémon Trainer when her Yungoos wouldn't leave their Pokeball. It had been a few days after leaving for the Treasure Hunt and after hearing about Arven's struggles with trying to cure his Mabosstiff, Juliana rushed back to school since the Pokémon Centres in the city that day were busy. It was there that the School Nurse had to sit Juliana down and explain Juliana wasn't a bad trainer, or that Juliana had encountered the exact same issue Arven was having. She was only encouraged to take more precautions when battling huge threats, so Juliana tried to take the words to heart after saying her farewells to her Yungoos.
Similar occurrences happened afterward. They piled up more and more, even to her Starter Pokémon, which caused Juliana to feel horrible inside when she had to give more goodbyes after repeatedly underestimating situations. So, when it came time that Principal Clavell announced that Juliana was chosen to go on a school trip to Kitakami with three other fellow students after her time in Area Zero, Juliana had thought maybe it would be a good break after all the losses she had.
She was disappointed that Nemona, Penny, and Arven weren't a part of the trip. With Nemona and Penny, she thought that maybe for sure Juliana would see them. But with how torn up Arven still was about Professor Sada, Juliana understood he had every reason not to go either. Even after being told students were randomly picked to for the trip, Juliana had her doubts if that was true, given what Principal Clavell and her went through with Team Star.
Pyroar gave a mournful growl that drew Juliana's focus. The leonine Pokémon had stopped moving and lowered her head, leaving the student to sigh as she leaned her body against the Pokémon more. "Shh… I know, I know it hurts."
The brown-haired girl closed her eyes as she tried to shake off the feeling herself, but it felt harder this time. It made her question what the point was to become close with Pokémon if you could never see them again after forming a bond. School never taught them this, her mother never taught her this…
Juliana could only think it was unfair, that she was going through this all over again by herself.
"Ogrepon wasn't caught at the time," Juliana told Pyroar, but the Pokémon only snorted derisively at that. Juliana opened her eyes and sighed into the Pokémon's pelt as she murmured on, "I almost thought I'd lose you too."
Pyroar scoffed and shook her head, only to meet Juliana's eyes again challengingly. Juliana pressed her lips together yet added, "I wish it never happened too. But when we get back home, let's take a break from adventuring and relax. No more battling until we're ready again."
The sky-blue eyes narrowed, as if asking Juliana if it would be enough. Juliana couldn't speak Pokémon, but she felt like Pyroar didn't believe her for once. Compared to all the Pokémon she had, Pyroar had been with Juliana the longest.
With a deep inhale, Juliana merely stared off to the distance and whispered, "Until we feel better, let's try to accommodate Ogrepon for now. It's the least we can do after everything that's happened."
She booped Pyroar's nose to try to be positive, but Pyroar snuffled with her snout and let out a few embers from her mouth in disgruntlement.
Juliana knew Ogrepon would never fill the holes of her lost Pokémon, but she knew better than to mistreat Ogrepon over it. But she couldn't deny that the biting memory of seeing each of her Pokémon go down made her heart ache in more ways than one. She wished she hadn't known it would be the last time Juliana would interact with them or Juliana would have maybe tried a little harder to keep them better protected.
In a memory that passed through her vision, Pyroar was furious by the time that Juliana pulled the leonine Pokémon out of the Pokéball when Juliana originally explained the situation. However, no amount of reassurances seemed to steady the usually unruffled Fire and Normal Type. Just seeing Pyroar break down almost felt like a gut punch, but having to fight Carmine with Ogrepon after the heart-clenching combat made Juliana think Arceus was cruel.
She got out of it with Pyroar, Koraidon, and Ogrepon, but every part of her screamed to leave Ogrepon in the Pokémon Storage Unit forever.
And yet, as she had watched Ogrepon cheer and jump around and soak up the new affections she got from the townspeople, after being shunned for something she was wrongfully mislabeled for… Juliana knew she couldn't blame Ogrepon.
Putting her right hand back on the base of Pyroar's neck, sweeping down the side where a jagged scar had formed from Ogrepon's Ivy Cudgel, Juliana continued stroking the side of Pyroar's wincing body to soothe her. The Pokémon Trainer and the Royal Pokémon contemplated their grief together as the air of the night grew colder.
- Fin -
Thank you for reading the story! :D
EeveeGen9988: Hello everyone again! I'm posting late but that's totally okay! :D
So this week, or last week I suppose now, I wrote for [Last Supper]. In the Pokémon Scarlet/Violet DLC: The Teal Mask, I distinctly remember there being a last supper before you return to Paldea, so that's my excuse for following the prompt this time around! While it hadn't been the main focus of the story, I wanted to touch upon it during the setting, and we never got dinner scenes, so I made a dinner scene! :D
While some of you might be confused on what's going on, I know that in the manga universe, Pokémon deaths can happen, as well as for Nuzlockes. I tried to be a bit more creative, as I didn't want to go totally graphic for the story surrounding Pokémon deaths. But in my mind, I would think that if a Pokémon becomes deceased, they have no reason to be let out of their Pokéballs, which softens the blow of the death. And considering we have Pokémon Trainers as young as ten years old, I didn't want to traumatise our Gen 9 Protagonist Juliana too much. Unless it's scary enough with the fact that the Pokémon do not leave their Pokéballs says enough...? *puts paw on chin*
My main inspiration for this story was a Nuzlocke I did for myself where when I reached Ogrepon... I almost had a full party wipe and my Pyroar, Cyzer, survived on three HP from Ogrepon's Low Kick she used in the fight. I can't argue with luck or explain why my Pyroar had survived that at all, but that's partly the inspiration for why Pyroar received a scar from the attack in the story. While the real life inspiration was the Low Kick, I thought to use the Ivy Cudgel, which is Ogrepon's Signature Move, for the story. I would imagine a cudgel would easily leave a scar more than a plain old Low Kick, but food for thought. :P
...Although, I can't make up the fact that scars can happen in the Pokémon universe. I think that adds a layer to battles and how sometimes, like Arven's Mabosstiff, accidents can happen. *winks*
I'm still working on finishing touches to my Week 2 one-shot, but I will post it when I am able. For now, I will be fixing up my Week 5 entry, and I hope you may like what I got cooking in the pot for that one. :O