Chapter Two: Inhibition
The sun…
When was the last time I saw the sun…
Teary-eyed, I pull my gaze from the sky, a slight afterimage following. "Ok, maybe don't blind yourself."
But, where is the water? The wind? The rain? I've been here for weeks… months? The weather never changes, it's always the same…
Looking around, I have to take in what feels like a whole new environment. Even as disturbing as the twisted plants are, the forest is so much brighter, so much more… enjoyable? I look down at the resilient grass and delicate flowers, a reminder of normalcy. I also appreciate the total lack of constant mud. Truly a much more pleasant environment. A small chuckle escapes, "reminiscing about dry ground are we?".
Glancing down at myself, the smile slowly fades. The warm light showing my true fur colors, no longer smudged by dark clouds and damp water. I look at the light blue fur dominating most of my body, the darker blue of my thick fur skirt? kilt? And the midnight black around my legs and forearms. I can also see the benefit of fighting for your life. As if awakened by sight, my earlier wounds start aching.
No time like the present, I dejectedly check myself for any serious injuries.
Spotting a couple leaves embedded in my skin, I decide those don't belong there. Wincing upon pulling them out, I toss the blood speckled leaves away. Next, I catch a slight discoloration and pull back some fur around my belly. Grimacing, I flatten my fluff back over the large bruise. I can't see it, it's not there. Speaking of things not being there, I recall the lost scalchop. Subconsciously reaching for it, I can't help but feel… unbalanced? Incomplete? I try to shake the feeling away, I'll look for it in a minute. Squeezing my right upper arm, a sharp pain is rewarded.
Not broken, but… fractured? maybe? Great.
Not bothering with checking any burn spots, "I'm a water-type anyway, right?", I decided that I wasn't about to keel over… Instead, I would starve.
Feeling like I haven't eaten all day, which I haven't, I remember the spilled items. Even if they did get away, there still seems to be a modicum of pickings. Snatching up a pair of apples, "God, why is it always apples?", I immediately start chowing down on one. Going to wipe my mouth off with my shirt, I realize I'm still kinda naked. Instead I wipe the juices onto my arm fur.
Deciding I'll eat the other apple back home, I set it down and begin organizing all the items that were dropped. After getting everything together, which wasn't a lot, the nice invaders left me, one apple, two pinkish heart berries, a roll of bandages, two seeds of some kind, and a bound piece of rolled up parchment.
Sending a quick glance around for any danger, the only thing of note being the two downed buizel, I undo the string, and… find something of concern…
The paper itself unremarkable and written on it was some kind of… footprints? pawprints? But you really don't need to know the local dialect to read a detailed picture. It's… It's something to think about later.
Scrutinizing the berries now, I think they're… Pecha? Yah, pink-for-pecha. But… what does it do again? Also a mystery for later.
Gathering everything up. I step around the unconscious buizels and make my way back home… only to stop.
I watch a leaf drift down into a dense patch of grass…
…
What's there?
Apprehensive, I go over and search the tall grass, and… find my damaged scalchop.
A single leaf sits neatly on top.
I pick both up, then look around at the surrounding forest.
"Uh… " I glance around randomly, not sure what I'm trying to find. " ...thanks?"
It only ever gets more strange.
Pretending like that didn't happen, I inspect my damaged weapon, letting the leaf slip to the ground. It looks like a third of the shell was destroyed, not to mention the concerningly large crack. A feeling I can't truly describe, "Anger? Shame?", builds the more I look at my ruined scalchop. Huffing, I put it on my hip and started on my way.
The path back was familiar and uneventful, if not unique seeing everything dry and sunny.
The closer I get to my home the more dense and wet the forest becomes. Even with the rain gone, a couple inches of water remain everywhere; turning the land rather swampy.
While the land fills with water, trees quickly grow in size akin to large redwoods. Exiting another flooded tree tunnel, I arrived at the place I was looking for. The biggest redwoods, for a lack of a better name, here were arranged in a half circle around a moderately sized basin; the middle of which was dark and unsettling.
Not to be outdone in strangeness, most of the redwoods had large round hollows that constantly disgorge more water into the basin and surrounding area. The amount of liquid spewed usually depending on the size of the hollows, but I was more interested in finding mine.
A practiced glance easily finds it, the four letter word 'HERE' etched above the middle hollow being a dead giveaway. Only a small and steady flow spills out, despite the opening's larger size. Finding my commonly used branches and footholds is eazy, climbing with my hands full and a fractured arm? Not so much.
Once inside the hollow, I walk into a small stream that soon turns into about a foot of flowing water. The liquid also randomly dripping from the ceiling or draining out of the round walls. A decent distance in, I come to a side room I had deliberately carved out with my scalchops. This far in the tree, there is little to no light and even less in my hovel.
Stepping up, and out of the flow, I step around some rocks, feel around a bit, and dump my new belongings into a corner, then flop face down into my bed. "Bed" being a generous term, as it was mostly a pile of damp leaves, grasses, and cloths I liberated from groups.
Rolling over to look at the entrance, I consider sleeping now and leaving everything for future me. But no…
Getting up, "why is everything aching again?", I make my way over to the spoils. Grabbing the other apple, I eat it and wash the taste down with a sweet Pecha, "Here's to it not being poisonous!". Whipping more juice on my arm, I consider a bath.
Stepping back down into the slow stream, the water coming up to my waist, I start scrubbing the dirt and dried blood out of my fur. Feeling a slight frustration build, I next pull out my scalchops and clean them, taking extra care when cleaning blood off the broken one.
More blood, more fighting, more pain, more-
Bottling my feelings up, I stow my weapons and dive into the water. Spinning around and scrubbing away all the grim, the water around me turns a murky brown and red before being pulled down stream. Soon I stop and slowly watch the remaining air bubbles escape my lungs. A slight panic builds before I quell it, an old instinct.
Then, I breathe in…
Alarm bells ring out in my head, but they are ignored. Focusing on my breathing, I try to let every little thing happen naturally. But it's hard, water is far thicker than air and the bells only grow in volume. Closing my eyes, I draw in as much water as my lungs can hold and then…
Nothing, I don't drown, my lungs don't burn, I lazily drift under the water… Body relaxing, everything starts to feel a bit tranquil. Eyes back open, I notice how far I drifted and use my tail to slowly paddle back home.
Enjoying the lazy trip back, I take in my little wet world. The slight weight of the water is comforting, gentle, and I can feel some aches and pains calm. Surfacing for a second, I nab one of my nice, smooth, rocks at the entrance. Swimming back to the hollow's exit, I surface once the stream becomes too shallow, cough up two lungs full of liquid, and sit on the waterfalls' edge.
Letting the water flow past me, I pull off a scalchop and engross myself in maintenance. Running the perfect, and smooth, stone along the weapon's edge like a whetstone, I work out any nicks or imperfections. Intuition guides my process. intuition? Or instinct?
The lines blur…
Catching movement, I glare at one of the two entrances. A wild Wooper stumbles through the right tunnel, trips on its own feet, and splashes into a large puddle. My work grinds to a halt, and I consider chasing the thing out. I have made it a point to drive ferals and groups away. Ferals most of all should know, no one is allowed in my territory, my home.
But I hesitated; if I jump down, then I'd have to climb back up and my arm is already starting to act up from just shell sharpening. Before I can decide, the wooper gets up, seemingly happy to have fallen into a puddle, and finds me glaring. Whether out of self-preservation or my reputation, the little water-type turns tail and runs.
Then falls, runs… falls… runs some more, and likely falls some more. But I stop watching and go back to work.
Getting a good sharpness takes time and patience, a lengthy distraction is also a blessing. Happy with the final result, I pull out the other scalchop and… and well… I could sharpen it, but it's missing a third of the shell and blade. Not to forget that nasty crack, how would I even fix that?
Great, a problem I can't solve.
I've gone through the theory of losing one of my weapons, plans to fight with one scalchop or none. But now that possibility has become reality, all I think about is 'how I can't fix it' and all I can feel is frustration. Getting nowhere with that train of thought, I put the ruined weapon away and head inside. This was supposed to be relaxing…
Climbing out of the stream, I shake off what little water that clings to me and place the perfect rock back with the others. Squinting, I find the three magic bags that I so generously liberated. Grabbing my 'Random Crap' bag, I put the bandages, paper, and two seeds into it. Then I stop and think, if these seeds are the explodey kind, "likely the same kind that the Treecko used", then do I really want to sleep a couple feet from a bomb?
Eh, where else would I keep them?
Gently, I place the bag against the wood wall and grab my food bag. Checking to see if any of the apples or other had spoiled, they didn't. I then drop the last Pecha berry inside. Noticing again how even though the bag is rather damp, the inside is still completely dry. The last bag I normally leave empty, but I feel compelled to check it anyway… yep, still empty.
Throwing the bag with the rest, I next throw myself into bed for rest. Rolling over, I try to keep an eye open on the entrance. But with my body already aching and tired, the vigil is brief and sleep comes easy.
I can feel the heat.
Flames all around me, spreading from shabby tent to shattered debris. I bask in the scenery, the Outlaw camp burns from my assault and their leader stands before me, battered and weakened. My charizard height easily outmatching the Krookodile's.
Time to end this!
"Your reign of terror, in the Fire kingdom, is over! Prepare to be defeated!" My voice is deep and strong, striking fear into the hearts of any evildoers.
Wordlessly, the outlaw Krookodile starts to charge at me, cloaked in some dark energy. Meeting its attack with my own, I call upon my internal flame and flare-blitz into the outlaw. A really big explosion is caused by our combined attacks, and as the dust settles, I stand over the unconscious body of a infamous criminal.
Suddenly, and out of nowhere, sheriff Magnezone and other Magnemites arrive and start praising me.
"Kzz Congratulations, another outlaw apprehended. Kzz" Magnezone said, floating in front of me and letting its subordinates handcuff Krookodile. "Kzz Return to Cinderfall, return to station, receive compensation. Kzz"
And with that, the 'U' shaped things on Magnezone started to spin and the outlaw was floated away. The other magnemites also tagging along, leaving me to enjoy my victory. I did it, I defeated the last of the local outlaw gangs!
I'm going to be famous! Everymon' will think I'm so cool…
I'm gonna be so rich! Once I turn this bounty in, I'll be swimming in Poke…
I'm going to-
"Wake up…"
What…?
It took only a single second, but everything was gone. Falling out of my mind, and into the waking world, I tug on my blanket a little.
"Hey! Wake up!"
Jolting up, I come face-to-face with a salandit, or rather my teammate Kaa. Squinting from the light coming through the window, I rub my eyes. Why is he waking me up? I want to go back to the dream, where I'm a powerful charizard, and not some E-rank charmander…
"Huh? What are uh…?" I mumble, slowly sinking back into my bed.
"Ash, come on, if we don't go right now, then we're gonna be late for Peer Presence and not get picked!" Kaa said pleadingly, while taking the blanket off of me and shoving a red cloth in my face.
Rolling off the large pillow, I plop onto the cold stone and slowly get up. "Peer Presen-?". Tail flame skipping a beat, I straighten up, take our team bandana, and start putting it on.
"Oh shoot, thanks for waking me up, let's go." I say, grabbing our treasure bag with one hand and pulling Kaa along with the other.
Kaa just snickers and gets pulled along. Running down the stone hallways and past many closed doors, we dodge around the occasional pokemon and burst into the bounty and board room. Finding the doorway with a plaque over it reading 'Junior cafeteria', I pull Kaa past a scant amount of guild members and into another stone hallway. This one much shorter, we burst into the cafeteria, tables and chairs moved somewhere else, and find a small crowd of two or three other junior rescue teams milling about.
It hasn't started? looking up at a Hoothoot clock, I notice that we are actually nineteen minutes early! Spinning around, I cross my arms and give the cheeky black lizard a mean look.
"Yes?"
"You said that we were going to be late!" I said, huffing.
"Technically…" His smirk only getting bigger. "If we did sit around for a while, then we would have…"
I gave him a raised eyebrow.
"Also think of it like this." Smirk still there, but placating. "If we arrive early, before the other teams do, then the Peers will think we're more dedicated and choose us."
To give merit to his meaning, Kaa points to the back of the room at four senior rank guild members standing on a raised stage and talking to each other. The cafeteria itself being a, sparsely decorated, decent sized rectangle room with glass windows lining the two side walls and a wooden stage integrated into the back for guild announcement.
Or Peer Presence events like this.
Getting a better look at the Peers, and kinda forgiving Kaa, I see a Braixen, Sylveon, Fletchinder, and an Absol.
"Oooh, Kaa, look! It's an Absol…" I say, pulling him over and pointing at the group myself. Kaa's eyes shone with a little wonder, but is unsure why to be excited. "I've never seen an Absol before, but did you know that they can tell the future?"
"What!? Really? If they can, then how do they do it?"
"Err, well…" I backtrack. "I don't think that absols can actually see or read the future exactly. More like, uh… feel it? Or can, like, umm, tell when something… bad? is going to happen."
Kaa now looks at me skeptically, my response not quite answering his question.
"Ok, well, if we get picked by the absol, then we can just ask them ourselves." I'm sure that I am right though, but not exactly how I am…
"Yeah, yeah, if the Peers can detect real talent, then we are sure to be picked." Kaa said, resonating with the idea that we are going to get a Peer regardless. His enthusiasm untying a nervous knot that was building in me.
With that, we join the other rescue teams in milling around and talking. It's nice seeing old and new acquaintances. Keeping an eye on the entrance, four more teams enter the cafeteria, each one causing concern to build in me, "More teams to choose from that aren't us.". Within no time though, I see Master Marowak walk into the cafeteria and the event begins.
Walking through the crowd, other students take notice of him and quiet down. Soon, the whole room is filled with anxious stares and hushed whispers. Feeding off of the crowd's energy, I can't help but be nervous too. So many rescue teams, too few Peers. Pulling Kaa over, I use his presence to anchor my nerves. Master Marowak finally makes his way onto the stage, takes a moment to review the crowd, and starts to address us.
"Welcome all junior rescue teams to this month's opening session of Peer Presence!" He said, emphasizing the event's name and twirling their bone like a baton.
"Now, you all already likely know this song and dance. But, to any new junior teams joining us, I'll do a quick explanation."
"These generous pokemon behind me-" He started, using their bone to point at the seniors gathered behind him. "-have taken time, out of their guild duties, to come and pass on their valuable experience and aid."
"Now, as most of you have already noticed, there are a good number of junior teams here today. Which is a good thing, I am always happy to see young and inspiring talent eager to prove themselves to the guild." Marowak spoke praisingly, before switching to a more dejected tone. "But in the same aspect, there are only a few Peers here. Even so, do not feel dejected if your group isn't picked."
Switching back to a more upbeat tone. "Work hard, keep your heads up, and you'll always have next Peer Presence day!" With that said, Master Marowak steps aside to let the seniors take stage-front. "Now, without further to do, it is time for our kind volunteers to choose which team they will be shadowing."
You didn't need eyes to see everyone was holding their breath, well… almost everyone. Seeming to take the surrounding anxiety and turn it into restlessness, Kaa was rubbing his hands together and smirking.
"Allright juniors, form rank!"
With the order given, all the pokemon went to their respective rescue teams and lined up, standing side-by-side to each other. Afterwards, me and Kaa ended up in the middle of the teams. First to choose being Braixen, the pokemon first took some stairs at the side of the stage and started walking down the line. And past us… Stopping near the line's end, Braixen picked a team of three fire-types. Swallowing a lump in my throat, I pull Kaa a little closer.
Next was Fletchinder, the bird pokemon not even walking past us before picking a rescue team consisting of a wurmple and swellow. That's fine, I can't really see how a bird 'mon would give us fighting advice. Neither me nor Kaa have wings or a beak, really, it's fine...
Glancing at Kaa, I see that he still isn't bothered, despite half of the Peers already gone. Then came Absol, their steps were slow, their gaze appraising each and everyone one of the teams. Stopping suddenly, Absol gradually turns their head and scrutinizes us, the morning day light glinting off a sharp, black, horn. Hope smoldering, a smile slowly builds across my lips,
First looking at Kaa, eyes squinted, they scan him up and down, as if looking for something. Stepping forward to introduce them to Rescue Team Tegu, I can barely utter a word before Absol's focused gaze hits me. This close, I can actually get a good look at their face. A slight frown holds firm on their muzzle, contrary to Kaa's unending smirk. Absol's eyes though, looking at me less like a prospective trainee, and more of a sudden curiosity.
I stare at them… They stare at me…
I blink… They blink…
Then Absol closes their eyes, shakes their head, and moves on.
What… What does that mean? Speechless, multiple thoughts swirl in my head. I barely feel Kaa pull me back in line. Why did Absol shake their head? What does that mean? D-did I do something wrong? What's wrong with me?
Shaking my head this time, I take a step back behind Kaa. No, no, n-no, I'm strong, we're strong. Me and Kaa have potential, we just… we just need a little help…
There is sound, and things are moving around me, but all I see are my hands. So small, so weak. Could… could it be me? Gingerly I look at Kaa, "My better half…", and notice him looking ahead, but that's not what I truly see.
It's almost always there, for friend or foe, sun or storm, and for just a moment, his pleasant grin looked just a little bit forced. For just a second, Kaa glanced an eye back at me, saw that I was staring, and quickly looked back ahead.
"Does… does he think I'm the problem too?"
My eyes widen in realization, I am the problem… aren't I? Looking back down at my hands, My thoughts only swirl faster. I'm holding our team back, "my weakness.". That's why no one wants to join us, "my weakness.". Thoughts spiraling down from there, my mind digs up any moments of failure into a building concussion…
I'm holding the team back… "Kaa doesn't need me…"
…
…
"Hey, you alright there pal?"
Snapping my head back up, I see a Sylveon. The Peer Sylveon. Kaa seemed to have stepped aside, while I wasn't paying attention, to show me off to them. Glancing between the two, I see a confused look on the fairy-type's muzzle and a concerned grin on Kaa.
"I… I uhh…"
"If you would excuse him-" Kaa stepped in. "-then you would see that my partner Charmander is just speechless that you choose us for Peer Presence!"
Huh? We got chosen? Oh… Oh yah! I forgot about the fourth Peer. Joy and relief taking the place of my traitorous thoughts. Seeing a moment to speak, I take it.
"Yeah, yes, thank you mister Sylveon. Team Tegu is happy to have this opportunity to-" But I was interrupted.
"And with that!-" Master Marowak begins, spinning their bone into the air and catching it. "We conclude this month's first Peer Presence!"
Last statement said, most of the teams meander out of the cafeteria. With only some pokemon staying to quickly talk to Marowak or make plans with their Peers. Like I should be doing…
"Oh! Ah… where was I? Uhh…" I masterfully began. "Team Tegu is honored for this opportunity to have such an esteemed Guild memb-" But I was interrupted, again.
"No need for that." Sylveon said, waving me off with one of their ribbons. "I get enough formality from Houndoom and the front desk. Thank you, anyway."
"Mister sylveon! Mister sylveon!" Kaa said, taking their attention. "If you don't mind, then could you tell us what your guild rank is? Our's is 'E'."
"~Ah, straight to the important questions. Well, currently at team Tegu's disposal is me; 'C+' rank rescue team leader Sylveon." The fairy type said, giving us a mock guild salute. "And guys, I already said, no need for formalities. You two are my bosses today, just call me Sylveon."
"We have a senior team leader on our team! that's so cool…" Grabbing Kaa's arm, I can't help but bounce in place. "We just went up to 'E' recently, Err well… actually it's been a couple months… But still…"
Saving me, Kaa interjected himself.
"That's actually why we wanted your help." Kaa said, looking up pleadingly at him. "If you could help us get stronger, or like show us some cool tricks, then I'm sure we'll be rank 'E+' in no time!"
Sylveon gave a small laugh and started petting our heads with his ribbons. The long, pink, feelers were soft… really soft actually, and warm… My eyes slowly close and I lean into the pleasantness. Next to me, I hear Kaa let out an audible sigh, likely enjoying the same treatment.
Pulling back their feelers, Sylveon let out another laugh. "Heh, you both are too cute." Pulling a paw up to cover any more giggles, they continued. "Heh, but yeah, I would be glad to help you guys where I can.
Coming down from the pleasant daze, my eyes flutter open, then snap open as I realize what they said.
"Hey! I'm not cute! And neither is K-Err-Salandit." I protested, crossing my arms and pouting. "I'm almost eleven years old and he's twelve! In a couple years we'll be adults, right?"
Searching for my backup, I look over at Kaa and see him, eyes closed, rubbing the spot where Sylveon had pet and giggling.
"Kaa!" I yell, and then grimace from accidentally saying his name in front of strangers.
"Huh? If you need something, then what is it?" My dumb friend said, giving me his goofy grin and goofy mannerism,
"Sylveon said that we are cute, and we're not." Turning back to our Peer, I try to give them as serious an expression that I can manage. "We're, in fact, really cool."
"Yeah, what he said." Kaa supported, moving next to me and striking a small pose.
Sylveon gave a small snicker and brushed back one of his floating ribbons.
"Well, I apologize honored rescue team Tegu, but I truly think that it's about time we start our day." He said, sounding earnest enough. "My first recommendation is that we should begin at the mission boards."
"Yeah, that's a good idea, let's go Salandit." Grabbing Kaa's hand, I quickly pull him towards the cafeteira's exit. Daydreaming about what new missions we could get done with a 'C' rank member, a dainty smile quickly forming. "I hope there's good jobs to pick from."
Glancing back to see if Sylveon was keeping up, I instead lock gazes with Absol. Even from across the room, Absol's stare was… it was… My smile falters…
Blasting past my vision, Sylveon dashes towards the exit. "See you slowpokes there~."
I bring my gaze towards Sylveon.
"Ash." Kaa said in a hushed tone. "C'mon, let's not let Sylveon beat us there." This time Kaa pulling me along, my smile being reinforced by his.
"Yeah."
And with that, I push thoughts about Absol out of my mind and let Kaa pull me after Sylveon. Said disaster pokemon watching as Ash left the cafeteria, before closing their eyes and scratching an onyx horn.
It's me…
…
"Is that how they really see me?"
…
Groaning, I rub any excess sleep out of my eyes and look back at the paper. Sitting at my hollow's edge, I find the sound of falling water a soothing oddity. I knew looking over that group's paper wasn't gonna bring any actual good news, but… did they have to make it so unflattering?
Moving the parchment around, I couldn't find an angle where the picture displayed me in a good light. The poorly, in my opinion, drawn picture showed my fur all grungy and patchy. Not only that, it also showed me glaring at the reader with my lips pulled back in a snarl.
"What do they take me for? Some kind of crazed animal?"
Standing up, I transition into an awkward stretch, wince a little because of my arm, and bring the paper back around. Taking a moment to find a good spot to see my reflection in the water, I pull the parchment up and try to mimic the snarl in the picture and find… that it's actually a rather close resemblance.
Suddenly a little self-conscious, I try to smooth out any parts of my fur that stick out or look wild, occasionally brushing over hidden scars or poking ribs.
Looking back into the water mirror, I watch as my handy work slowly undoes itself, fur jutting back out in rebellion.
"Humph, this isn't really me anyway…"
Looking back at the paper, I review the strange foot scripture. Even unable to read it, I could still glean something from it. At some point, I figured that the groups of pokemon that showed up were organized, "Or at least smarter than the average feral animal.". I mean, between the matching clothing, magic bags, and noises they make at each other, you'd have to be a dumbass not to put two-and-two together. But this?
Scrutinizing the bad omen, realization coursed through me.
This is a legitimate written language, or something of the likeness. That, in itself, shows more than basic type of organization; are they civilized? I then consider the parchment itself, you don't just find paper growing on bushes and branches, it has to be made. How civilized could they be? More importantly…
"How fucked am I?"
That group from yesterday, they were sent here to kill me, weren't they? If I hadn't beaten them back… If I wasn't strong enough to fight, they'd have… I feel my fur start to bristle, and decide to smooth it back down. I then sit back down on the waterfall's ledge and try to focus myself. But… I keep looking at the art of me. A beacon to those looking for work and wealth, a bounty. I'm curious, how much is my head worth? Who's next big payday will I be?
I huff, trying to replace my worry with some other emotion… anger will do. How do they get off deciding that I'm someone to be hunted down? How did it even come to this? I try to think back, but the days really do blend together. All I can remember… or feel… is desperation, hunger, and pain… pain, and more pain, and more desperation. And the ferals trying to take my food or territory, and the groups just generally trying to take my life… Fuck'em, fuck'em all!
Grinding my teeth, I stand up, ball up the stupid fucking pice of paper, and chuck it out into the swirling dark basin. I watch the victim of my throw land near the middle of the water, before it was dragged down to the undertow. Slightly panting, I'm filled with frustration and energy, internal water roiling. I consider going out, finding a random pokemon, and blowing off some steam. But… no… no, random violence isn't the answer. I glance at one of the clearing entrances…
"Even if it would be a really great distraction right now." I consider, daring a random feral to stumble into my territory.
Interrupted by a sudden tap on my head, I touch the spot and bring back a wet finger. Looking at the sky, I had failed to notice the building overcast. Or my building hunger. Cursing, I head back inside and swim to my hovel.
Emerging from the water, I grab a circular, flat, and smooth rock that I use as a plate or cutting-board, "Cutting-stone then?". Next, I take stock of my food; A single apple and two different berries. I scowl, then I sigh, no matter how much I ration, the food seems to always run out. Taking out my last apple, I set the fruit on my improvised plate and start cutting it into nice little slices. Scalchops are so useful, not biased.
"Heh, My cooking teacher would be chewing my ass out if she saw me cutting on a plate and not… a…"
…
"Mrs. Jones…"
…
I stop and just… sit there. Nothing to see, but staring anyway…
…
"Alina…"
…
Hunger gnaws within, but I barely feel it.
Why am I here? Back home I was at least someone, "If only to a handful of people…", but here… There's nothing here for me, nothing but a struggle for survival.
"Heh, not to mention those fuckers hunting me." I muse, humor from despair.
Suddenly a jolt of pain spikes up my fractured arm and I drop my scalchop. I consider doing something about it… about the pain, the hunger, the constant struggle… gingerly, I pick the problem-solver back up, noticing just how sharp I keep them.
"It took something to get here. Perhaps… It takes something to get back?"
And I consider, not for the first time, doing something about it all…
…
I laugh at my own naivety, like it would be so easy as that. Bottling up my feelings, I don't bother wiping away my tears and resolve to just finish chopping up the apple. Deciding that, I could at least solve one problem of mine.
Eating the apple slices, core and all, I then, in a moment of weakness, take the pecha berry out and wash down the taste of apple. "No point in rationing if I become too weak to get more food." I reason.
Reaching back into the food bag, I pull out my last oran berry. Scrutinizing it, I then contemplate it. A miracle food if anything, I've seen some pokemon come back from very debilitating injuries; throughout the course of a fight though, yeah, but definitely better than a couple months stay at the hospital. Cheaper too, probably.
I better take this with me, just in case. Putting it in the travel bag, I then consider the whole point of moving a oran from the food bag to the travel bag, if they're both just as empty. Deciding to take the food bag, "Won't have to switch the food between bags when I get back.", I head out to a place that usually has some grub growing.
Standing at my hollow's edge, I take a moment to appreciate the scenery around my home, minus some of the twisted looking plants and ominous basin. Yeah, an exorcism here and a little holy water there, and this place might actually start to look normal. Watching as the occasional drop of rain disturbed the basin's surface, a sense of urgency fills me. "Don't want to be sloshing through the mud if I can help it."
Dropping down, a little too hard, I stumble and catch myself on the injured arm, nice. Shaking the pain off, a sudden wind urges me forward. Starting to the right path I- the gale picks up even harder, wind and leaves blasting into my side; then down the left path.
Looking at the left tunnel, a thought wiggles into my head; "I should go that way…". Wait… why should I?
I need to gather food, I mean, I haven't really explored that way so there could be something. But on the other hand, should I really be exploring parts unknown, with only a single oran to my name, in the hopes of finding a decent haul? Quickly, I reason out that- ouch, actually, a migraine hits me and- and it's really quite distracting…
"When was that last time I drank some water?" I ask myself, remembering that dehydration causes headaches and hangovers; or was that a theory or something? Whatever, something to alleviate this pain.
Power walking to the basin's shore, I dunk my head straight into the water and just gulp that shit right up; a taste like mineral water greets me. Pulling my head out, I vomit up any water that got into my lungs. Breathing normal again, I begrudgingly notice that my migraine hasn't gotten that much better. Standing back up, I then have to brace against pestering leaves and wind, this just causes frustration. Putting my back to the wind, I find myself looking at the alternate route again. Despite the headache, a constant feeling in the back of my mind tells me to… to go that way…
"It is important to take risks sometimes…" I tell myself…
Ok, yeah, whatever… I just need to get my move on. Deciding to trust my gut feeling, I move with the wind and settle in for a bread run accompanied with a throbbing headache.
Once I make it out of my territory, and into the strange tree tunnel, the wind stops abruptly. I snort to myself. "If only this pain stopped just as fast.". And once I make it out of the tunnel, and into a different part of the forest I can't quite remember, the migraine slowly recedes into nothing… Huh, I guess the water just needed time to work its magic?
"No need to worry about problems that aren't there…" I reason to myself.
With that, I walk in a somewhat random direction. Following my gut feeling and leaving scalchop cuts in trees to mark my path back.
"Kaa! Watch out!"
Unfortunately, instead of diving out of the way, Kaa stopped moving and turned to look at me. Standing completely still for the descending spinarak.
Calling upon my inner flame, I build fire in the back of my mouth. But I'm not fast enough. By the time I'd fully charge an ember, the poison spider will land on Kaa and I'll run the risk of hitting him and the feral. What should I do?
Like a blessing from Arceus, Sylveon, shrouded in a white glow, uses Quick-attack and slams into spinarak; sending him and the feral away. Swallowing my ember, I dash over to my shocked teammate.
"Hey, are you ok?" Shaking him out of his stupor, he nods and slips on a nervous grin. "Great, uh, let's hurry, Sylveon needs our help!"
Building another ember, I spin around to help our Peer. Only to find that everything had already been taken care of, flames sputtering out in my mouth. Sylveon catches sight of me, muzzle screwing up into a pleasant smile as he flicks some bug gunk off a ribbon.
"Is everyone alright?" He asks, more directed at Kaa.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, sir! If you hadn't been there, then I would've been in some trouble." Kaa praised; his words inadvertently causing me guilt.
"Thank you Salandit, but did we learn anything from this?" He asked, this time directed at both of us.
Me and Kaa share a glance, but neither of us speak up immediately. Sylveon just stands there patiently; occasionally scanning the surroundings for something. I tap my chin and think back a bit…
Me and Kaa were searching the ground for the lost item, then I heard the spinarak screech and spotted it descending down towards Kaa. Thinking fast, I yell at him to get away, but he doesn't and- Ah, that's it!
"Uh… was it when I warned Salandit to move but he Err… Accidentally didn't?" I cringe. Feeling like I'm throwing him under the Onix.
At my response, Sylveon focused back on us. "That is definitely one good note, but not exactly what I was looking for." He said, giving my head a little pat with their ribbon; even the brief contact quite soothing…
"Well yes, it's definitely important to have trust in your teammates; but I find it alot better to avoid feral ambushes in general." Sylveon explained, "While looking for the Sleep-glasses and other items is a must, it is also equally important not to get hurt along the way."
Me and Kaa just stand there, transfixed, trying to soak in as much wisdom as possible.
"It's better to learn this now, and not the hard way." Sylveon began, gesturing towards the twitching spinarak. "Not every fight we find ourselves in is going to be simple, or fair. I've found that some ferals, bug and dark types in particular, like to set up ambushes; so you have to look out for their surprise attacks."
"If you don't mind, then could you tell us how to spot the ambushes?" Kaa said, stepping forward.
Sylveon laughed a little at that.
"If I truly knew how to, then I would tell you guys the secret of how to spot every single surprise attack." Sylveon said, mirroring Kaa's mannerism. "But, unfortunately, I don't."
I slumped a little at that and saw Kaa tapping his chin, likely thinking about a solution or scheming.
"But I do have the second-best thing." They said, bring our attention back to him. "With a team like yours, I think it would be best to have one mon' keep an eye on the surroundings, Charmander or Salandit whoever is up to it, and the other mon' looking around for the missing item."
"I'll do it!" I spout out. "I'll, uh… I'll keep a look out for any danger."
The idea of keeping my friends safe kindling my inner flame. "Err single friend, I guess…"
"That's very kind." Sylveon praised, rewarding me with a nice, soft, ribbon pet. "This strategy is actually what I use with my own team, and it worked well for us so far; so I imagine it'd work well for you two."
"If you're going to be the ambush-finder,-" Kaa began, pointing at me. "-then I'll be the treasure-finder!" He ended, jabbing a thumb at himself.
"Yeah, yeah, you can trust me! I'll find all the sneaky ambushes and traps." I said, slapping the guild bandana around my neck. "And you'll find all the treasure for us!"
Me and Kaa then joined hands and started dancing and jumping around; filled with joy at getting our new roles. "We're finally becoming a true rescue team!"
"And what about me? Guys?" Sylveon said, stopping our celebration and bringing out a grin to match Kaa's. "What's my role, boss?"
So caught up in our new roles, I had forgotten to give Sylveon one!
"Oh, ah, sorry mister Sylveon." I stammered, rubbing my hands together and trying to come up with a job for them. "You can be a, Err, actually could you-"
"I know! I know!" Kaa suddenly shouted. "When I find us all the treasure, then you can carry it back for us!"
…
Yes! That is a great idea! With the amount of loot Kaa is going to find, we're gonna need somemon' as big and strong as Sylveon to carry it.
Turning my attention back to our Treasure-Hauler, I find them on the verge of complete laughing hysteria. Holding it all in, Sylveon then straightens up, lets out a long breath… and then laughs anyway.
"Haha, oh, heh, I'd-" He has to cover his muzzle to stop any more giggles, before letting out a sigh. "Heh, I'd be honored to carry your stuff back."
"Well… I was due for some good luck."
Staring up at the canopy of a tree, I find it occupied with ten or so decently sized apples. I huff a little at that, "Why is it only apples?". Reasoning that an empty stomach is worse than the taste of apples, I decide not to complain; too much.
"Would have been nice if they weren't guarded though…" I tell myself, glancing back at the Lombre I have to fight. The weird, lilypad looking, pokemon injured and beaten.
Bringing my attention back to the spoils at hand, I find myself with a different problem. I can literally see the food before me, yet it is also like ten or twelve feet up in the tree's canopy.
Trying it again, I breath in a little air, focus on my internal water, pulling on it, forcing it to go into the back of my throat. The stream puts up a fight, but l get my results anyway.
Shooting out a water-gun, I notice some of the power is lost by the time it reaches the fruit and I end up just pushing some branches and apples around. Feeding more power into my attack, the water-gun's stream thickens and I manage to focus on a single apple.
Stopping the attack, I let out a small pant and scrutinize my handy work. The apple is still up there… and it's mostly destroyed.
"What?"
Are they? Are all apple trees like this? Pulling out my problem solver, I try to do something ridiculous. With a little bit of aiming, and a lot of hope, I throw my scalchop up at an apple's stem. Time seems to slow down as the spinning blade cuts through the air, imminent death to a fruit's stalk. The pitch is perfect… almost perfect…
The blunt handle of my scalchop ricochets off the apple's stem, before the blade part embeds itself into a random branch
"Fuck!" I exclaim, grabbing my head.
Thinking quickly, I power up another water-gun and let loose at the scalchop. After a bit of aim training, I spray my weapon and it wiggles free. Not even considering letting it fall to the ground; I catch my descending scalchop and start fusing over it.
Finding no imperfections, I let out a subconscious sigh. Glaring up at the tree, I consider alternate methods.
"Alright, the hard way then."
Walking up to the side of the tree, I put my scalchop's blade facing the bark and hammer it in. Pulling the weapon out, I bring my weapon an inch higher, angle it down, and hammer it in again. Through this process, I manage to carve handholds into the trunk of the apple tree. With a moderate amount of effort, and some tricky positioning once I got higher, I managed to make a shitty ladder up.
Brushing any remaining residue off my scalchop, I stow it and climb up the tree. Once I make it to the tree's branches, I try a little weight, then add a bit more weight. Shrugging, I climb onto a decent sized branch and find it rather sturdy…
"Or I'm half the size and weight I once was… Besides the point."
I gingerly move to a hanging apple, a rather large one at that. Now that I'm up and close, I notice these aren't your typical red fruits. These things have to be about a third the size bigger.
I try tugging on it and end up pulling myself towards it instead, "What the fuck?". Switching strategies, I pull the problem solver out and cut into the, rather thick, apple stem. Once I get most of the way through, the fruit's impressive weight takes hold and it falls to the dampening earth below.
Glancing down, I happily notice that the apple seemed to handle the fall just fine, good. Moving on, I cut three more apples down and- Err? Wait… Blinking, I look back at the ground.
"One, two, three, but… where's the fourth? Was I just not paying attention?"
Shaking my head, I reasoned that was likely it. Back to work, hmm, that apple is gonna be a bitch to get-
A wild buizel peeks out from behind a tree, finds me busy, and snatches another big apple. Back to hiding…
"Allright, that wasn't so bad." I think out loud, having nearly lost my balance and plummeted.
Unable to stop myself, I check on my spoils and… hmm, missing another one…
…
I slowly go back to cutting more apples down…
…
A wild buizel peeks out from behind a tree, finds me busy, and snatches another big apple. A perfect pitch…
Buizel lets out a pained cry, red blossoming out from a scalchop embedded in their arm.
Grinning, I hastily climb halfway down the tree and jump the remainder. Landing just fine, I bring my attention fully to the weasel.
The wild buizel finally overcomes its pain and pulls the blade out, letting it fall to the ground. Then, the thief has the audacity to growl and hiss at me. My lip twitches in irritation, and I can't help but show them my pearly whites in response. We stay like that for a second, the buizel making noises and me silently bearing my teeth.
Then, the tension snaps.
Buizel wreaths itself in water and jets at me. Quickly, I reach for my other scalchop and- hesitation. I can't, it's still broken.
That moment of weakness costs me and the aqua-jet crashes into me; sending me onto my back with the feral on top of me. Slightly dazed, I focus through the spraying water and pain. Bringing my forearm up, I catch Buizel's bite. Dark-type energy slams into my arm before the feral starts jerking its hold, fangs tearing at the muscle within.
Deciding to switch the fight's direction, I, awkwardly, rear my free arm back and punch the thief right in the face. Pain lances up my fractured arm, but I swallow it down, again…
The second blow sends my vision a little blurry from agony, but gets the desired effect. Buizel releases its bite and rears back, I press the attack. Grabbing a hold of them, I wrestle around with the feral before pinning them to the ground. Face to face, I have one hand around the thief's neck and the other pulled back.
Buizel then sucks in a quick breath of air, but I beat it to the punch. Pounding my fist into its snout, Buizel only manages to hack up a chipped tooth and a handful of water. Red runs from my arm wound and dribbles down onto the feral, staining us both. I decide to share more of my pain.
I punch the thief again, and again. Buizel lets out a choking, desperate, cry and I just want to hear it one more time… I punch the thief again, something gives. Whether or not it was a finger bone or the Buizel's crumpled muzzle, I'm not sure, but I rear back for another strike.
Suddenly, the feral inflates its yellow collar and causes me to lose my grip on its neck. Thrashing about, I miss my punch and hammer the dirt instead. Seizing my mistake, Buizel lets out a weak water-gun and blinds me, causing me to shield my face in order to see. Opening achieved, the feral weasels out from under me and makes a break for freedom.
"Not fast enough…"
I reach out, seize one of Buizel's two tails, and winch them back across the ground. They spin around to face me, fear stricken, desperate for escape.
"Where do you think you're going? I'm not done with you…"
Heart pounding, I pounce onto the thief. Buizel flinches and raises their arms up to protect their face; but it's useless. Colliding with them, I bite down on one of Buizel's arm fins and pull. I use one arm to keep the thief pinned down and the other to help tear the fin off. Buizel thrashes around and beats against my arm, but there's no give; I have it beat in size and strength. No escape this time…
I give a hearty pull, and my prey lets out a terrible cry. Mouth full and grunting, I try for a better grip.
Buizel, though, tries for freedom. Pulling on their need to live, she focuses on their flow, her ocean, and it's cold… Cold and angry. Guiding that feeling, guiding it up her arm, Buizel clenches their hand into a fist and forms her first ever ice-punch, short lived as it was.
I pull again, a spray of red, ice shatters… Severance.