2.
CaptɅin of the SurVey Corps
She came to Hisui carrying a saber on her back and three feet of powder-blue hair curled up in her satchel.
Zisu nearly mourned the fatal slice. "You were so pretty!" she told Cyllene. "Why chop it all down to nothing!?"
"So a wild Pokémon doesn't catch its claws and drag me to the bottom of a lake," Cyllene answered calmly. "Do you want me to cut yours as well?"
The suggestion was horrible — at least to Zisu Perilla, whose bouncing vermilion curls were a mark of royalty.
"No, I really am a princess," she told every man who caught her brazen eye. "My father's ancestors lived in a palace inside Mount Chimney, and all his daughters got to wear shining red silk robes with gold embroidery and flowers on the sleeves. Oh, but you'll never read about the Perilla dynasty. We were struck clear out of history and fable. That's just the consequence of getting so rich your enemies fill your beds with hot ash and pour molten lava down your throats. You just wouldn't believe how we managed to survive…"
It was all true. No one believed her.
In Hoenn she'd rarely finish the tale without being silenced. Sometimes that silence came with familiar hot, ashy threats. This because all Perillas were charlatans, and Zisu's father was a crackpot foot cream peddler — as much a prince as a moaning Psyduck gripping its head in a muddy puddle — and everyone in Fall Harbor knew it.
It didn't stop Zisu from feeling like a princess, but eventually the lack of mystique was boring her to tears, and she tore Cyllene from her scrivening and told her they were going to an island in the far north, to "discover it" with a team of settlers and scientists. And wouldn't that be exciting? To become whole new women? The first true Hisuians? Witnesses of history all their descendants would read about in books and things?
"You're marrying a man who is too foolish to deserve you," Cyllene had said, her hair shorn and her blue glare melting the icebergs off starboard.
Zisu broke into bellowing laughter. "Oh, you're such a sweetheart, Cy! I'm sure someday you'll find 'the one' too, if you only learned to smile more!"
It had been two years. Zisu now had two sons. Cyllene had seen her twenty-seventh birthday pass by in Hisui, and someone kept telling the villagers she used to be Hoenn's finest champion of the sword.
She quite liked the tale.
Yet it didn't feel true when that bruised blue sky was still too recent to bear.
"I am Cyllene Selenelion," she whispered, "and I fear nothing."
Her calves burned as she crouched, sandals slipping into the mud beneath a shadowed outcrop and her short hair caked in earth. Today was sunny, and hot enough to make her tie the blue jacket around her waist, revealing the shiny blue gi and black turtleneck beneath.
But still, that storm outshone the sun — pulsing and swirling above the summit of Mount Coronet while the bruises shrank to flickering purple scars.
If she held her breath, she could hear the rumbling of thunder in the distance. Her heartbeat quickened. Her muscles clenched. Her fingers braced against the cool outcrop, nails scraping more dirt off into the grass.
Forcing an exhale, she tore her gaze from the sky and let it settle on the treeless waste before her. The Obsidian Fieldlands lay in the valley southwest of the mountain. Patches of forest and dry yellow plains extended over an ancient layer of dense volcanic sediments, carved into cliffs and pocked by lakes in the wake of the last ice age. The soil was rich for growing crops, and the winding tributaries were safe and easy to fish. Combined with the relative lack of terribly vicious Pokémon, and the Galaxy Expedition Team had decided this was the perfect place to build a village.
But right now Jubilife Village lay far in the distance. One year ago, Cyllene had been appointed Captain of the Survey Corps — an elite team tasked with studying as many Pokémon as were known to live in Hisui — and perhaps discovering ways they might be tamed to coexist with humans. It was the most dangerous work in the region, with the landscape and its creatures hardly understood. But someone had told Commander Kamado that along with being Hoenn's finest champion of the sword, Cyllene had mastered reading and writing. And now, stone-faced and steel-willed, she made studying Pokémon her mission.
Stone-faced and steel-willed, she clasped both hands against her chest, still trying to calm her thundering heart. Zisu perched curiously beside her with the spyglass.
"You don't fear nothing," Zisu said, raising red eyebrows in an incredulous grin. "I know I fear nothing, but that storm's turned you into a trembling mess."
"Do I look like a trembling mess even now?"
Cyllene looked hurt. Her eyebrows still hadn't grown back, and Zisu stifled a snicker.
"Oh, your face is so pale and plain. I was cruel to you."
"You were," Cyllene bit, and then crawled on hands and knees out into the sunlight, trying to get a better view of the creature prancing along the riverbed just north. "But I will forgive you. As long as you promise to uphold my dignity from now on."
"Hisui's no place for promises."
Cyllene sighed. "Then a favor."
"You're always asking for favors."
"You're always giving me nonsense."
"Fun nonsense."
"I don't like fun."
"Yes you do.
"I'll tell you when I need that favor."
"Of course. Whatever you need."
The two nodded in understanding, then focused hard on that fast approaching spirit of ragged brown-and-yellow fluff. It was a Pokémon — one the dueling Clans of Hisui called Lopunny — and it was capable of sprinting on two legs with a pair of huge draping ears trailing behind it.
"He's spotted us," said Cyllene. "Be ready to dodge at will."
And then Lopunny rushed right at her. Cyllene leapt out of the way in a perfect somersault, feeling her knees slide and scrape against the crinkled dead grass. The creature's body glowed silver before its head slammed hard and fast into the outcrop where she'd just been kneeling. Dirt sprayed everywhere. Roots and gravel blasted out from the impact. But Lopunny, with the uncanny strength Pokémon were feared for, merely raised its head and turned glowing red eyes to face Cyllene once more.
"Be ready to take it from behind!" she called to Zisu. "It's quick, so stay partial to Agile Style! I must see it use all of its moves!"
"Got it!" Zisu called, right before Lopunny charged again, one clawed paw missing Cyllene's head by inches. She tumbled to the ground and rolled before popping up on her knees, right hand gripping hard at her waist. Her breath came out in practiced huffs, lungs bracing for the next blow.
It wasn't a swipe or a rush, however. This time Lopunny inhaled, rodent incisors gleaming, and spewed a jet of scarlet flames toward the woman in the dirt. Cyllene rolled again, then jumped and flipped over a sharp stone, catching herself on the balls of her hands and skittering to beside where Zisu stood. Behind her, the dry grass erupted in flame.
"That furry thing breathes fire!" Zisu exclaimed.
"The move is called Flamethrower! We've seen plenty of Pokémon use it! But did you see those tee-eeth!? DODGE!"
Both jumped, Cyllene somersaulting forward and Zisu hurling herself out of the way of that silver-bodied Quick Attack with a force that had her crashing down on her bum.
Cyllene clapped her hands twice, then gave a shrill whistle. Both women dropped their hands to their hips, where hung each a crude wooden Poké Ball tied up on a length of red string. Another whistle, and their fingernails peeled up the latches, popping open the spherical capsules.
Puffs of hot steam burst out, growing, morphing and coalescing into the shapes of solid Pokémon beside them. Cyllene's was a floating yellow feline creature with its eyes closed and its long, pointed tail wagging aimlessly through the air. Zisu's was a lanky monkey, its tail tipped with flames and its muscles all twitching to go.
Lopunny rushed Zisu this time, incisors gleaming as it charged up a Super Fang attack. On her feet once more, Zisu placed herself behind her fiery partner. With incredible strength, she launched herself into a backflip, then slapped her right bicep and threw it forward in a powerful punch.
"MONFERNO! FLAME WHEEL INTO MACH PUNCH! AGILE STYLE!"
Mimicking the woman's movements, Monferno jumped up high in the air, then spiraled down, flaming tail trailing behind in a glittering circle of fire. The Flame wheel hit Lopunny like a blade, burning off a perfect line of fur along its chest. Then Monferno's fist came out, popping its opponent right in the jaw.
Lopunny stumbled backwards, enraged and heaving, as Monferno jumped back toward Zisu. Meanwhile, Cyllene placed her hands on her own partner's shoulders, closing her eyes and bracing herself for her own command.
"Abra, Teleport."
The air was knocked out of her lungs, and her stomach twisted, feeling as though it were suddenly filled with ice. A rush of wind made her ears pop. She trembled and barely caught herself on her knees as her vision shifted and her pulse wavered. Up on top of the outcrop. Abra's psychic power had displaced them ten feet up in an instant. Now its tail dropped lazily again, and its pointy ears wiggled, waiting.
"HIT IT AGAIN! MACH PUNCH REPEATEDLY!"
"FernOOOHHH!" the monkey screeched, as Zisu struck the air and it brought its fists pounding into Lopunny's sides, limbs, and skull. She sent an exhale flying and kicked a nearby stone so hard it cracked. Monferno responded by kicking Lopunny's back so hard tongues of flame erupted between its toes and burned a perfect footprint in the fur.
"Accursed," Cyllene swore, trying to take in everything at once. Zisu's commands were too fast. Though her bond with Monferno was new, she'd taken to martial arts as a child, and now corroborated that knowledge with the Survey Corps' studying of Pokémon moves. That a new mother could be Captain of the Security Corps was unnerving. And now she had a Pokémon, too.
Cyllene put her hands on Abra's shoulders again. "Teleport!"
Another brief stomachache and she was back in the dry grass, off some distance from the battle, yet seeing it better. Lopunny had managed to strike Monferno with a Double Kick and was reeling back its head for another Flamethrower.
It doesn't have fangs, but can use Super Fang. Its teeth look shinier after using Flamethrower. Do the flames polish them? Are the membranes of its mouth flame-resistant, or does it take care when using Fire-type moves? As far as we know, Lopunny is a Normal-type and shuns both authority and cowardice.
She had to take mental notes with battles. Foolish to try and write anything when the attacks were growing stronger.
Like when Lopunny turned in her direction and hacked out a flaming hairball. It soared toward her like a rippling pumpkin. She dodged just in time, then clamped around Abra's tail with the toes of her sandals. The resulting fire roared, blackening the grass to floating cinders.
"TELEPORT!"
This time, the sleepy psychic deposited her in midair. She clutched her stomach, falling down right on top of Zisu, whose hot breaths were chugging like an engine. The two women crashed down groaning in the dirt. Zisu just barely gave Monferno the command to punch again before Lopunny's teeth clamped the air where its tail had been.
"Don't let it burn the whole field," Cyllene cut. "Stay close with it."
"I'm as close as I can be. You keep your distance," Zisu growled. Her brow was slick with sweat.
"Right. Teleport!"
She was separated from Zisu by a patch of spreading flames. Cyllene fell hard onto her knees, insides threatening to spill up her throat and all over her shaking fingers. Her head was swimming. She gritted her teeth, somersaulting over another stray Flamethrower and immediately tripping on her jacket sleeve.
"Abra, use Light Screen. Disperse the heat a bit."
Abra purred. Its claws pulled and prodded at the air until a shimmering veil appeared. Like a see-through bubble made of pearlescent glass. Cyllene watched as it worked.
Abra sleeps most of the day, yet hears me as if lucid and follows my commands. I wonder if it dreams.
"HYA! HYA! HYAAAA!"
A loud thud rang out above the crackling of the brushfire. Cyllene popped her head up, sneaking back toward the outcrop with Abra floating behind. The problem presented itself clear as the glaring sun — Monferno had been knocked out — recalled to its Poké Ball — and now Zisu was punching Lopunny herself.
"Abra, teleport to Zisu and— ZISU!"
Zisu had the huge rodent's jaws clamped in both hands. She wound up and gave it a powerful knee-punch in the stomach, then hurled herself on top of it, rolling in the grass until she came dangerously close to where Cyllene stood.
"Here, Cy! Take your notes on his big chompers!"
Her thumbs were lodged between the lips and gums. Slipping. Squelching. Evading a glowing pair of incisors eager for her flesh. She shook her curls in victory and gave Cyllene a goofy grin.
"Why don't you catch it, Zisu? If you can subdue it, then you can train it. We'll be able to study it safely that way."
Her friend smiled wider at that suggestion. "He's a fighter, for sure! Lucky I have one extra Poké Ball on me. If you could fish it out of my jacket, please? Woah!"
Lopunny growled. Its glowing eyes followed Cyllene as she crept over to Zisu, and it almost lunged before Zisu gave it a steely-gray stare and squished its cheeks. Carefully, Cyllene found the wooden capsule in a pocket, and undid the latch. In a deft movement, Zisu snatched the Poké Ball and bashed it into Lopunny's shoulder. The spittle stretched and splashed on her fingers, but in seconds, the Pokémon had transformed into steam and was sucked inside. Large fingers tightened around the hemispheres as the Poké Ball wobbled. Then a spray of sparks broke from the hole in the top.
Caught.
"Gotcha! I really have a new Pokémon!" Zisu cried, though her breath was still ragged, and she groaned when Cyllene helped her to her feet.
"Thank you," Cyllene said. "If only more of us were better at battling, maybe we'd make some progress in our mission."
"Your way's good, too," said Zisu. "All stealthy."
"I prefer to observe."
"Just know Eiffel will ask you all kinds of questions when we get back! He likes you, Cy."
Cyllene rolled her eyes. "He can read my report in the morning. I still need to read his as well, if he's finished it."
"What Pokémon was that one about?"
"It's called Piplup. A very proud little Water-type. I'd tell him to catch it if I trusted him to keep it."
And there was more for "her report" all the time. Just then, a mighty Floatzel leapt up out of the river, inflating its floatation sac to full puffiness and screeching as it shot jets of water onto the burning plain. Cyllene cocked her head at the display, before Zisu gently nudged her in warning. The two women ducked down, crawling in ashy mud until they reached a large enough boulder to hide behind.
"Have Abra take us back to basecamp," Zisu said. "Monferno fainted, and I was bitten."
"Of course you were bitten. Abra, Telep…"
Cyllene's breath hitched. Her hand had touched something in the undergrowth. Soft and cold and leathery, as if alive.
"Zisu, wait. Zisu?"
Zisu and Abra had vanished. Teleported back to basecamp, while Cyllene had forgotten to touch the creature and share in its powers. She cursed and wiped her face off with a sleeve of her jacket. Luckily her canteen wasn't empty yet, and she drank the rest of her water before spying on the river again.
Except in leaning forward, she touched the soft thing again. And this time, she caught a glimpse of it.
It was a lithe, pale, long-fingered hand. Missing the thumb and pinky nails, and connected to a long, sinewy arm partly buried in the sediment.
"Accursed," Cyllene whispered, in inevitable disbelief. Her hairless brows raised, and her heart dropped like a stone in her chest. She knew what she was about to see, whether she'd like it or not. It was the only thing promised when she set sail two years ago — that some would venture into Hisui's unforgiving wilds and never come back. Simply baffling that when she finally faced reality, it would be in broad daylight, in the middle of an open plain.
His clothes were smeared entirely in mud. No shoes. Torn hemmed trousers. A rich silk tunic that must have once been an iridescent white — gone black from the sediment and humors.
Ginkgo Man, Cyllene thought. Only a merchant of the Guild would be able to afford a tunic like that, cheekily tucked away under his heavy wool coat and apron. But where were they now? Stashed away? Stolen by bandits? She couldn't find any large cuts on the body. He'd likely only died of exposure. But wouldn't a Ginkgo Man be smarter in the Fieldlands?
And then she saw the fatal flaw. Something that would make her slap the man with all her might, had he been breathing before her.
Covering his loosened, slipping face was a tangle of hair. Sunny golden blond and shining. At least three feet long, and torn out of its bun to lay idle and crinkled around his bloated figure.
Strands of it were scattered all over the ground, as if caught by claws.
Cyllene threw up.
here in the open space…
~N~
So continues the wildness of Hisui...
Come find me in the Pokémon Fanfiction Discord server! Username scrivenernoodz! And for a modern Sinnoh fic, check out my completed work My Previous Life Was a Thunder God!
Published by Syntax-N on FanFiction . Net May 15 2023. Please don't repost. Follow, fave and review, for sure!
