Two chapters in a month. What is this, 2021?!
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon.
Piplup POV:
'Wake up, wake up, wake up!' I begged myself as I struggled in the filthy, old rope. I knew it was a dream, but this was the one I hated the most.
"Think of it this way. You're a unique, useless freak" my brother's venomous voice spoke. "At some point the breeder was going to sell you to some laboratory to be tested and tortured. You'd be lucky if one of those tests killed you. But now you can save us worthy Pokémon AND die quickly!" He laughed darkly. "Well, maybe quickly. Depends on how hungry those Ekans are." He and all the other Piplup abandoned me and disappeared into the trees.
"What have weee here?" a voice asked from behind me. That Ekans was about a foot away, with many more behind it. "A niccce, young, juicy Piplup; giftwrapped just for meee." I watched it rear back as it prepared to eat me. "Don't worry little one. I'll make this quick for you."
It launched forward, mouth gaping wide open, ready to devour me.
"Wake up, Piplup!"
I gasped in shock, instinctively shooting to my feet and raising a flipper, ready to strike whatever touched me. My eyes adjusted to the moonlight, revealing it was only Emolga. Seeing there was no immediate threat, I lowered my flippers back to my sides.
"Emolga, what's wrong?" I asked. Before she could answer, a loud howl pierced the air, ringing loud and clear. I immediately recognized it as coming from a Mightyena.
And it was very close.
Immediately I was wide awake, adrenaline shooting through my veins. We had to get out of here before they found us!
"Let's get out of here!" I whispered urgently. I grabbed her paw with my flipper, tugging her behind me. We got about twenty feet from the nest before a low growl rumbled from behind us. A mix of fear and dread shot up my spine. I slowly turned around and saw what I was dreading.
Several Mightyena stood behind us, with more approaching through the trees, their dark coloring helping them blend into the shadows. Emolga was right to be concerned; they were hunting, and we were a tasty-looking snack.
"So much for going to a safe shelter" I whispered. "I guess we'll have to fight them."
"There's no way we can beat them by ourselves, especially in the dark!" Emolga quietly exclaimed.
"What other choice do we have?" I hissed at her.
"We flee!" she answered. "It's our only chance!"
The Mightyena snarled, their deadly fangs gleaming in the moonlight, and began charging us. I responded by quickly firing an Ice Beam at the ground, making a slick, slippery surface in front of us. The Mightyena yelped in surprise, skidding to a halt just before the ice.
"Get out of here Emolga!" I demanded. "I'll be right behind you, don't worry! I just got to take care of these puppies first!"
"Be careful, Piplup" she muttered. A breeze hit my back, signaling she had indeed fled. Even though it was what I wanted, I couldn't help but feel slightly abandoned. I focused my attention on the Mightyena in front of me, smirking at them.
"Bring it on, whelps!" I challenged. "You can't beat me!"
Growling loudly, the Mightyena began charging from every angle. I flopped down on my back without hesitation, firing a Bubblebeam while spinning in place. I heard the dogs stop their advance, growling with frustration. I smirked to myself, loving the frustration my counter-shield was causing them.
I kept it up for several minutes, successfully keeping them away. However, I was getting tired; there was no way I could keep this up forever. I had to come up with a new strategy, and quickly.
A good offense was a good defense, right? So, maybe a combo attack? But which one? Not Bubblebeam and Hydro Pump, they had already seen both of those. Well, I could try that one; it was a powerful move that should work, although I had never tried doing it before, even on my own. But I had to do something, so might as well try it.
I abruptly halted my Bubblebeam, jumping up as high as I could. I turned my body to face down at the Mightyena, seeing them preparing to attack as they waited for me to fall back down. Instead, I fired a Hydro Pump at them. I used the power of it to propel myself backwards into a tree, hitting it feet-first. Quickly, I hardened my flippers with Steel Wing as I calculated my best path. Using the tree as a launchpad, I shot forward with Drill Peck, spinning rapidly through the air. The Mightyena howled in pain as I struck them with a Drill Peck/Steel Wing combo, the sounds of harsh impacts into trees echoing in the air.
I landed on the ground, skidding to a halt at the trunk of a large tree. I dropped to a knee as I gasped for air. Rapidly spinning a heavy Steel Wing like that, it was exhausting! I turned my head and saw the Mightyena slowly approaching me. Their eyes shone with bloodlust, no longer showing hunger. Now they were just angry. They were angry I had hurt them, and I was tired and outnumbered.
I was in big trouble; there was no way I could win this.
Suddenly, all the Mightyena halted their advance mid-step, the sound of crackling ice came from them. They see med unable to control their bodies, flattening themselves unnaturally on the ground. Suddenly they were lifted off the ground, their legs twisting in unnatural angles. Pained and panicked whimpers filled the air.
Something rocketed down from the dark sky, the shape of an avian Pokémon of some sort. It flipped as it neared the ground, slamming feet-first into it, sending an Earthquake at the prone Mightyena and launching them in the air. It spread its wings wide, halting their ascent as they whimpered with fear. It snapped its wings down, and the Mightyena rocketed down as well, slamming into the ground at incredible speed. It repeated the motion twice, further damaging the terrified Mightyena. Finally, it held its wings straight, the injured Mightyena suspended in the air.
"Don't mess with my son" Mom's fierce voice commanded. "Now, get out of here." They all unceremoniously dropped to the ground. The Mightyena immediately scrambled to their feet and ran back into the forest, tails tucked between their legs.
"Mom!" I yelled happily, running over and hugging her chest. I felt her wrap her neck around me in a protective, loving embrace.
"Hello, sweetie" she cooed softly, wrapping a wing around me as well.
"Thank you for saving me, Mom" I said. "I know I wasn't going to win that fight."
"Of course, you're my son" she replied, tightening her embrace. "I told you if you ever need me, I'll be there. I'll never let anything happen to you." She chuckled to herself. "Actually, I was planning on waking you soon anyways. Funny how life always works out." She then lowered her wing in front of me. "Hop on, there's something I want you to see."
"We're taking a trip?" I questioned, to which she nodded. "Where are we going?"
"The Undella Town Pokémon Center" she answered. Dread crept up my spine.
"Are you taking me to see Pikachu?" I asked cautiously. I didn't want to even think about what shape he must be in right now. There was no way it was good.
"Yes and no" she replied. "You'll see when we get there, trust me." I hesitated; did I really want to see him?
"Okay Mom, I trust you" I said, seeing the sparkle in her eyes as she smiled lovingly. I then climbed up her lowered wing, seating myself on her neck behind her protruding crest. Strangely, it felt familiar and natural to be sitting on her like this.
'Are you ready to go?' a voice projected in my mind. I jumped in surprise; what was that? 'What, you don't recognize your own mother's voice?'
Oh yeah, that's right; she knew telepathy. She told me about it when we last met.
'Sorry, I forgot' I thought at her. She told me if I projected my thoughts at her, she would hear them.
"If you ever want me, just direct your thoughts at me. I will always hear and answer you; I promise."
'Don't worry, Sweetie. It is a rare ability.' She paused. 'Are you ready?'
"Yes, I am" I confirmed out loud.
"Here we go" she replied, crouching down and spreading her wings. 'Hold on tight!'
/
Like it? Constructive criticism? Have any suggestions for future chapters? Leave a review please!