Meeting Combusken
This is the first time I have done anything like this; in fact, it's the first time I've written in a few years, and the longest story I've ever written. Also, it's just a prologue to get the two introduced. Yeah, I know its actually got the little mark above the e in Pokemon... but I'm just too low tech to pull that off conviniently. Sorry 'bout that. Oh, and don't worry. There will be "stuff" in later chapters. ^-^ I just feel a need to put over-emphasis of character developement, setting descriptions, stuff like that; I need quite a bit of practice on that issue. <.<;;
Oh, yeah. Pokemon (in the plural sense) belong to whoever officially owns them (I did not make them), I made the characters and the story. Shit like that, yada yada...
So... yeah. Have at it.
High noon hung over the verdant forest, the sun's rays lighting an overwise bleak situation. The forest's many trees differed in both species and height; some opted to stay in the shadow of others, their leaves dark and depressing as they mimicked their surroundings, and even more grew tall and light as they struggled to escape each other's shadows. A small dirt road led a straight path, point A to point B, right through the forest, scarring the alluring natural charm of the otherwise untouched forest. On this road walked a teen, somewhere around the "Ha-I-can-drive-but-I-still-can't-smoke" age line. His face held solidly sculpted facial features, emnating a somewhat regal yet kind look, with beautifully long raven hair to match. However, his clothes were but an echo of such near handsomeness.
What used to be pants were nothing more than patches with a bit of pants strewn in between to keep them all together, travel having long worn down their original look. Custom made, a belt created for the single purpose of Pokeball storage was slung around his shoulder, occpied by a single empty Great Ball. A stained, dull grey shirt rested on his shoulders, clinging to an averagely-toned body. Dusty and worn, his shoes resembled that of a distant vagaond's as its color slowly turned from black to the faded brown of trail dust. And, just like almost every other living thing in the forest around noon, he was sweating his ass off.
A tanned hand swipped wildly at the teen's face in a well-placed but futile attempt to clear the matted hair away from his eyes. He grumbled loudly at his own stupidity, the slow realization that this entire journey was indeed his fault.
_ Well, it IS true that I wouldn't have ever gotten a starter Pokemon from that stingy Professor Meyes,_ he argued with himself, but maybe a passerby would be willing to... pass on a Zigzagoon or something...
_ That's total crap,_ Nick, he rebuttled, you know very well that you wouldn't have accepted something like that. Pokemon are living, killing creatures, not just something you can give away..!
_ Fine, but perhaps you shouldn't have hiked THREE DAYS out of Honesville.
...
Ha! Got you with some killer logic there, didn't I?
Just shut up.
But--
No. I refuse to talk to you and your stupid logic._
Nick couldn't help but notice that massive lump of conglomerated common sense that his inner voice threw at him made quite a lot of since. Still, he hadn't even so much as seen another Pokemon since he began his self-invoked journey beyond that Ursaring. He wasn't really a big risk taker when it came to getting maimed by things with claws, though, so he had happily went on his way. He was quickly starting to regret that decision, considering a slow, painful death of bleeding out to be better than all this damn excercise!
And so, Nick continued his painful, neverending trudge along the trail, his feet full of pinpricking pain. By this time, early evening had arrived to the expansive verdant forest. A gentle bug song floated through the air, its tone harsh and rythmical, but somehow pulling it off like it was a distant lullaby. The sun had long began its decension as it now painted the sky a beautiful lavender and fucshia hue. As the scenic section of his surroundings changed, Nick couldn't help but notice other impending alterations that could possibly be a problem. The path slowly wound at a steep upward angle, arousing a deep groan from the dilipatated teen. He squinted his steely blue eyes in a brief moment of concentration, to catch a glimpse of further problems. The road ahead seemed to differ from its lengthy predecessor as well, forking off in two seperate ways. As an assertive pessimist, however, Nick could see not two possibilities of infinite wonder, but...
_ I don't like the looks of either of those. Best to just hope that in this last stretch, I--_
SNAP!
His ragamuffin clothes nothing but a stained blur, Nick whirred around to face the trespasser of his general travel bubble and thoughts. His already widened eyes gazed out with even more attentiveness as his eyes beheld what was surely a Pokemon, lost from its normal living boundaries. He could see its movements on the fringe of the forest, nearing the road every second. A rabid aura quickly filled the excited teen's eyes and anticipation welled inside of him, ready to explode straight out of his chest like some kind of otherworldly being. Combing their alluring powers of enshroudment, tall trees and a fading sun masked its true appearance.
Nick's slightly callused hand carefully edged up to the single empty Great Ball on his shoulder-slung belt. Maybe investing the remnants of his savings into the single Pokeball would pay off if it aided his capture of an awesome Pokemon. The large shadow began to step out into the clearing of the pathway, revealing itself to be...
A Raltz.
The short, stumpish white body... A head of green, spongy substance... The everpresent crimson spike... It couldn't be anything BUT a Raltz.
An involuntary eyetwitch worked its way out of Nick's eyebrow, the stress of the situation turning out to work a great number on his insanity.
_ It's... not my first choice, that's for sure. It's times like these that I hate my imagination. I was hoping for something cooler, but I guess beggars can't be choosers._
Heaving a heavy, apathy-ridden sigh, Nick tugged at the Great Ball, the small Raltz completely ignorant of his presence. It slipped out with ease, and Nick didn't hesitate to throw it, the entire movement cooinciding into a single, flowing hand slide. However, his disappoint of the Pokemon's appearance clearly showed; in what once would have been an easy strike on the Raltz's head ended in the Pokeball hitting the dirt with a puff of dust. It gently rolled over to where the Raltz gazed off into space; the mockery in its slowness wouldn't have been more obvious if it had pointed and laughed at him.
_ Oh well,_ he assured himself, I'll just wait until it leaves. Yeah, wouldn't want to startle the little guy. He'll probably beat me to death if I make a wrong move at him. Then I'll just walk down and get the-- NO! Put that down! Dammit!
As Nick flaunted his self-conversation skills, the Raltz had gained less of an interest in his own thoughts, and had stared unmindfully at the Great Ball. Slowly, an idea hatched in his head; rather than now, he would take it back home and eat it later. So, without pushing the thought process any longer than need be, the Raltz had sweeped up the ball in its stubby arms and had ran away, back into the depths of the forest.
Nick could only sit in stunned silence as dusk slowly turned to night. The chance of catching the little theif was slim; too slim, in fact, to risk becoming lost in the expansive forest foliage, and surrounded by Pokemon... just the mere thought of such a thing almost brought a shiver down Nick's back. The sun was quick in its retreat, was soon replaced by a luminous night of stars. The transcendent beauty of the night sky slowly lulled the forest to sleep, and the sounds of day quieted as the many residents fell asleep. Only a few nocturnal Pokemon kept silence at bay as they sang out their infinite calls louder than ever, making sure that the other creatures of the night knew they were not alone at this late hour.
_ Might as well move on..._
Another sigh heaved outward from his chest as he resumed travel, Nick's ambition of catching a Pokemon just about damn well ruined. The slouch of depression weighed heavily in each step as it became harder and harder to walk, the will to live slowly escaping his flimsy grasp. He barely made it to the crossroads before collapsing for what would be the last time in his life that he did such a thing. His body remained largely undisturbed for the remainder of the night, the respect for the dead overwhelming curiosity of nearby Pokemon. Then, another call, most curious in nature, joined to dissonant chorus of the nocturnal Pokemon.
Nick ripped just about the biggest snore in history, the weight of travel exhausting him far beyond his usual limits. The sound of gravel grinding against clothing arose as he shifted to a very innocent fetal position in his sleep. All of his energy was expent, and needed time to recover; even if it was in the middle of a road. He was no where near having as pleasant of dreams as he did while lying in the middle of the road.
_ It was happening all over again. He was in his old room, back at Honesville. It was decorated in a Pokemon theme, of course; back when he was into that kind of stuff, he was INTO that kind of stuff. The walls were a pretty sky blue, adorned by random Pokeball graphics in random intervals. Most of his toys were Pokemon action figures, with Fire-types taking a predominant majority. Nick was lying on his bed (the sheeting matching his wallpaper for an almost camoflauged bed), a copy of Trainer's Monthy in his face. The then seven year-old boy had his face practically buried in that magazine as he read over recent gym highlights and legendary Pokemon sightings. Neither of his parents were home at the time. His mom had been down at the grocery store, somewhere between Aisle eight and nine, determining which brand of towels were superior to all else. His dad, of course, was down at the gym._
_ Some total newbie no one had ever heard of had come in and issued a challenge to Al while his family had sat crowded around the television, relaxing as they watched Saturday morning cartoons. He, at least, had the good grace not to kick down the door like most did. Apparently everyone wants to make a good first impression whenever they meet a gym leader for the first time, and taking down part of their home was just part of saying "Hi!". As mandated, Al had accepted the challange and they had both left immediately. As he was very protective of his family, he left one of his Pokemon behind. It wouldn't be the first time, if someone had try to burglarize their homestead._
_ The Pokemon he left behind was his Mankey, of course. It was practically nothing but a white ball of perky fuzz with arms, legs, ears, and a face. What might have had potential of being cute was ruined by its constantly angry glare. It was stout, strong, and loyal to a fault. He could never imagine it ever doing anything wrong..._
_ Too bad they didn't notice its rampant jealousy of Nick._
_ What happend whenever that kid fell and scraped his knee? He was taken care of tenderly, the scrape healed with a combination of antibiotics and love. When HE was hit with a blast of fire? He got hurt even more when Al shot him up with Potion! Whenever that little shit was sick with the cold?! Food, made painstakingly for him and his wellness! When I'M sick?! I get probed by a cotton-candy haired slut! She's probably touched more ass than a toilet seat! Why does he insist on letting a wimp like HIM take all of his love?_
_ A quick glance in the refrigerator and its surrounding cabinets made his mother decide to leave for the market, to pick up a few depleted items. There was no reason not to trust the Mankey... right?_
_ "Be back in a bit, hun! Gotta go to the market!" she had yelled, leaving us where we were before; Nick, lax on his bed, letting the day waste by as he dreamed and fantasized of being a real Trainer._
_ The Mankey perked at this. Perhaps now was the time to release pent-up angst and frustration, directly at the child. A cold chuckle eased its way between his calculating lips as he contemplated how the deed would be done. Decisive and short, a snort bellowed out from its white furry body as it walked to Nick's room, abyssmal thoughts flowing in his head._
_ Nick looked up as his oaken door slowly eased open, their hinges protesting with a loud squeak. A curious look became him as he set his magazine to the side, confusion settling in._
_ "Is that you, mom?" he said lightly, as if anything but a whisper would send the Hounds of Hell on his heels. "I didn't think you'd be back so fa--"_
_ The door covered the last vestiges of opening with a loud rush of air and a slam as it hit the wall. The angry Mankey stood in the doorway, his arms crossed and mouth spread in a mix between a grin and sneer. There was something about his look that Nick didn't like, not at all._
_ "Something wrong, Mankey?" he asked carefully, "do you need some food or something?" The Pokemon almost winced as the boy talk, as if even his voice pierced is heart and wounded his pride. Mankey glared as hard as he could to see from beyond furrowed eyebrows. Unraveling its arms, he slammed his fist in a punching motion repedeatly into an open palm._
_ Nick could only look in terror, as--_
POKE.
_ -- the Mankey crossed the room to his bed, and--_
POKE.
_ -- withdrew his fist for another blow to his face, and--_
POKE POKE!
A groan was let loose from Nick's lips as he gradually came to terms with the realm of the wakeful. By now, the sun had once again started to climb to its zenith, signifying it to be late morning; sometime probably around nine. His eyes slid to slits, and then quickly snapped back shut as the sun's rays pierced his eyeballs with pain. The poking that had interrupted his dream came back harder than ever, almost breaking skin with the force of its talon. Nick yelped in surprise as rolled off to the side, shifted to a sitting position, and looked down at his new battle wound.
There wasn't anything there.
He grumbled angrily, as he raised his eyes from the prodded side to his attacker. A thin sleight of air sucked in between his teeth in fear as he realized what he came eye to eye with, though his dream could admonish nothing less than it.
Across from him, sitting Indian-style with one leg crossed over the other, sat a Combusken. Its legs unfurled as it stood up, talons digging into the thinly layered dirt to stay itself. Halfway up its legs, scaly shins gave way to an outgoing burst of burgandy hairs, poofing out quite a distance beyond the previously thin legs. The darker fur gave way around her thighs, coinciding to became a golden hue the rest of its body. A crest of burgandy maintained a length up its chest, resembling an upside-down plane. Thin and long, its arms stuck out from its shoulders at proper angles, muscley enough to show off it has been training for some while. A tuft of three burgandy feathers spouted from the top of its head. Its beak was spread out wide in what mimicked a smile, and its gentle red eyes glinted with joy. From all that Nick could see from the obvious signs, such as the lighter color of it and what little he could remember from all those years back, he was able to deduce it as a female.
She approached him with full trust, holding out her hand as she offered her aid to the downed man. Nick made a clumsly backwards tumble in his rush to flee from her jaunty behavior. It was apparent that she was just lulling him into some kind of trap by giving him a false sense of comraderie. Hands scraped and jeans tore as he scrambled to his feet, his mind mingling kindness with disasterful brutality. Without so much as a glance at his choice of seperate paths, he sped off to the left, taking the more scraggly, betrodden road over the one to the right. It probably would have been better to take the one to the right, which had the looks of a well-used highway, but panic had set in at full. There was no stopping him now.
The Combusken only looked on in perplexion, a claw raised to the back of her head as she scratched there thoughtfully. Such a reaction to a helping hand had never even been imagined by her, let alone witnessed. Perhaps he needed to just go to the bathroom or something...
Or maybe it was more serious..! He could really be in trouble!
Without hesitation, she hurried after Nick, a mix of concern and jubilance running through her head and perceptible on her face; she'd hate to lose her new friend after they just met!
Nick slowed, breathing haggardly as he set his forearm against a knotted tree for a moment's reprise. By now, he was sure he should have taken the other path; while he had, a half a mile ago, just been surrounded by trees, this road took a route straight through an area of the forest. Most of the surrounding were dead or dying, the bark on trees a disgusting charcoal color. Leaves had a dismal green to them; not the ordinarily vibrant green, but the kind that screamed disease. The grass in the area was a sickly brown color, echoing a past of poor health. As the settings generally set in to Nick, another familiar problem reared its ugly head. A sorrowful groan was let out of his stomach, its food reprevation limit long gone.
Man, things just keep getting worse... he thought apathetically as he continued his travel. Every muscle in his body ached with undescribable pain, a blend of sleeping on the ground and utilizing his energy for his escapade from Combusken. By now, he was quickly sinking into a pit of regret on his decision. He had absolutely no clue where he was, he was starving, and he was being chased by a visceral beast of untold slaughter! There was little doubt in his mind that the present situation could degrade any more.
Nick stopped in his tracks, the absence of noise prevelent in the dea forest. His feet came together with a kind of resigned fear; the fear of a man who has been broken of his sanity. He felt them reach around his abdomen from behind, connecting at his navel to form a hardened grip. Involuntary reflexes addled his body as his heart rate took a momentary leap of faith. His eyebrow twitched belegerently... His hands grew clammy and shiny with sweat...
He did, however, manage to retain control of his bladder.
Combusken, on the other hand, was just ecstatic to see her friend again. So overjoyed, in fact, that she just couldn't contain herself to give him a great big d'old hug! She pressed the side of her face against the small of his back, absence of care for hygeine disappearing as she nuzzled his grimy shirt.
With a deliberately slow movement, Nick craned his neck to the right, a dead wind catching his wispy hair as he did so. The flippant hair emphasized the darkness of his features as he stared down at the Pokemon, his expression a mixture of hate and terror. She looked up at him tenderly, her own eyes reflecting her very soul as they made contact.
In that instant, something strange and uncanny occured in Nick; he felt... calmer. His face, originally distorted in hate, quickly changed a kind of uncertainty that echoed massive personality shifts. It was different, looking at her on an even level. Kinda like he was happy, and he hasn't been that in a long time, ladies and gents. There was something else he could feel, too; like an underlying feeling, one of those that just kinda pops up in surprise at moments you're not expecting it.
He felt his eyes glance left and right as Combusken gazed at him in amazement. Nick's right hand lifted, and he ruffled the feathers on top of her head in a gesture of untold comraderie, coming from him as it did. She made a happy chirping noise as she gave him one last tight squeeze before letting him go to the world, bringing such a slight smile to Nick's face that it could be dismissed as a fitful smirk. It wasn't though; it was probably the first time interaction with a Pokemon had gaven him joy in ten years.
The Combusken stared up at him, as if she were waiting for orders. Nick looked at her nervously, her eyes conveying a sense of resposibility to him that he had no desire to have.
"Errr... what do you want from me?" Nick petitioned, his voice deep and chocolately, but slightly raspy from dehydration, "I don't have any food, if that's what you want."
Combusken shook her head "no", almost in disbelief at what he was saying. It was obvious to the casual observer that he was the one who needed food. Quick as a lightning bolt, she roughly (but not violently) grappled the base of his forearm in her claws and led him off the path. Thorns grasped at his jeans and tore brand new holes in them, denim drooping like sheared flesh. A few even scratched as his thighs, but none were high enough to scar his face with unfalliable gashes.
_ Perhaps this wasn't a good idea,_ he thought fitfully to himself, questionning his own judgement. Maybe, she's gonna, like, mug me, or something... Nick was surprised to hear that little voice slowly shrinking away, as if it was agreeing that this was good for him. The next part nearly shocked him into a coma.
_ Hey, you know what? She's not half bad. A bit touchy-feely, but probably the coolest Pokemon you could ask for! Seeing as you have no Pokeball (idiot), you should ask her to travel with you._
_ Yeah,_ Nick agreed, maybe, just maybe, Combusken ca--
And then, suddenly, it hit him.
THWACK.
It hit him hard, too.
The low branch that had caught him by surprise smashed into his forehead, its rotting wood snapping in many places as it came off the tree. Nick let out a small oomph, the force of his own forehead sending him to the forest floor on his ass. The small branch landed in his lap, its unhealthy leaves glistening in the noon sun like a cheaply-plated metal. A beautiful sound filled his ears, the temptation to grin ear to ear thinly veiled. It was a titter unlike any he'd ever heard; he almost couldn't explain why he felt so attatched to it all of a sudden quite shocking. He looked up at Combusken as she tried but failed to conceal a bright smile. She stopped laughing as they made eye contact, a hint of guilt visible in her eyes as she offered him her hand. Nick accepted it gladly as he got back on his feet. The Pokemon looked up at him worriedly, her face almost asking if he was hurt.
"It's all fine, I'm good..." he mumbled, caressing the bruise where the tree hit him on the side of his brow fretfully. It probably wouldn't scar, but it still hurt dearly. Combusken made a loud chrip that resembled an exclamation as she pointed downwards at the decapitated branch. Nick took a glance at it before realizing that berries dotted the knobbly bark.
They were as big as a tennis ball, the miniscule stems barely holding their immense weight on the tree. It was a strange color, too; yellow, like a week-old bruise, with dots of beige adorning it like the pockmarks of a dirty bomb survivor. Everything about it screamed on of two things; diseased, or rotten. Nick looked at them disdainfully, doubting their edibility.
"Combusken, I don't think those are good to eat..." he said, raising his eyes from the branch to the Pokemon. She looked at him like he was a lunatic, her mouth already full of the berries. The next few second were spent making what might have sounded like a logical argument to such a frail diet, but made moot by the fact that her mouth was full, and she couldn't speak English. At the end of her final sentence, she looked at Nick with disbelief at his ignorance. His jaw half-sagged at just how intelligent she made herself seem, as if confidence flowed out of every word. She let out a empathetic sigh as she plucked a berry and tossed it into his gaping mouth.
Nick almost choked as it only intruded halfway into his open mouth, the outer skin filling his mouth with a tart flavor. Taking the berry in hand and biting into it, it almost blew up with juices, sending rivulets down his chin. He struggled to wipe them off before they could soil his shirt further as he continued to consume the fruit-like food. Qithout even think, he took another in hand and began whittling away at it.
It didn't take long before they were both full, their stomachs filled with the strange berries. Nick let out an exasperated yawn as he stretched himself out on the forest floor, laying down as his stomach began the long process of digestion. Combusken followed him suit, cuddling up between his side and his arm. He took a quick, worried glance down at her, past phobias and experiences catching up as quickly as they appeared, then settling down to a dull murmur. It was okay; he put his full trust in her, though he didn't know why. Combusken let out a tiny chirp as she shifted to a more comfortable position against him, sling her arm across his chest before the first vestiges of sleep came over her.
Nick could only stare down at her in amazement, ecstasy filling his mind as he looked at the sleeping Pokemon. He felt that odd feeling resurfacing again, like a combination of happing, joy, and friendship. Hastily, he clung on to that feeling as long as possible, wishing to have it with him before he departed to the dreamworld himself. A superficial tingle ran down the top of his spine, the chill catching him off guard. It didn't belong there, in the humid forest afternoon. He couldn't place a finger on it, but he felt... different.
_ Tch, it can wait for the morning_, he pompously thought, overconfidence replacing the nigh-on suicidal depression he started out with. It couldn't be that important...