Wolf in a Different World: Chapter 1
#2 of Wolf in a new world (RJ's adventure edited)
Legal Stuff: I do not own Pokémon or anything from, never have, never will, all characters in this story are my original characters, any similarities to anything is strictly coincidental.
** Pokémon speak**
Character thought
= scene transition
Wolf in a Different World
Chapter 1: Escape and Recovery
It's an early summer morning in the mountains of the Baina Region, a region to the far west of the region known as Johto. Dew is forming on the grass, the birds are starting to arise and the bugs have gone silent until the next night. A slight wind begins to blow through the forest and mountains, causing the trees and berry bushes to sway with a hypnotic movement. Along one of these berry bushes is a single Pokémon, picking a batch of assorted berries for her and her pup. This Pokémon is a Lucario, and while she seems happy enough picking her berries to eat and make her pup happy, deep down she is worried about the possible events of the near future.
Just as the Lucario finishes picking her assortment of berries, the sun begins to rise above the mountains, she realizes she has enough food and heads back to her new home. This home comes in the form of a small cave in the side of one of the mountains, and inside is just a few handmade items needed for every home, including a small handmade table, a few larger stones for chairs, and a makeshift bed made of leaves. The sun has risen just enough for light to flood the small cave, enough so that it lands on and awakens the young Riolu laying on the bed. As the young Riolu awakens, she lets out a small yawn, just as her mother arrives back with this morning's breakfast.
As Riolu and her mother both sit down to enjoy their breakfast, she picks up a Nanab berry off the table and begins to eat. Normally she would be happy and enjoy her breakfast, but she and her mother had only just settled into their cave two days ago and looking at her mother, she could see how tired her mother has become from the move. Riolu was used to her and her mother switching homes over the few years of her life every few weeks or months, and she had always gone along with her without questioning why. However, seeing the stressed and worried look on her mother's face made her curiosity get the better of her, and she finally decided to ask her why.
"Mom, why are always moving from place to place? Why can't we stay in one home for a long time?" she asked. (yes the riolu and her mother can speak human and usually do)
The Lucario looked at her pup, trying to come up with some kind of excuse to tell her, so that she wouldn't worry, but after the years of leaving her in the dark, she finally decided it is time her daughter knew the truth.
"Riolu, I believe you are now old enough to understand why, and by now even if I lied you would probably be able to tell and keep questioning me until I told you the truth." She lets out a sigh, "The truth is that over the past few years, poachers have been hunting us, trying to capture us in order to sell us to someone for whatever purposes they want us for. This is why we keep moving around and avoiding humans, because most of them can't be trusted"
"But why would they want to do such a thing to us?" asked Riolu.
"Because Pokémon of our species are rare in this part of the world and are highly wanted by greedy humans and some will do almost anything to capture us." replied her mother.
Just as Riolu is about to ask another question, a loud rustle can be heard from the forest outside. The Lucario closes her eyes and puts her paw in the air, using her aura sight, as her dreadlocks rise up and she takes a sweeping view of the area around the cave. Riolu tries to do the same, but she cannot see anything due to her lack of experience, even after years of practice she never could quite get the hang of her aura sight. After she stops trying, she looks up at her mother and can see a look of fear in her eyes as she opens them back up and her paw and dreadlocks lower.
How did they find us so quickly, I thought we would safe here for a while, what could I have forgotten to do to cover our tracks?
"Mom, what's wrong?"
"We have to go, now! I don't know how they found us so quickly, but we can't stay here, follow me."
With that statement, the Lucario and her daughter rush out of the cave and start to head down the mountain. As they run they can hear men yelling out orders to others, trying to capture the duo once again. Shortly after they start running, and blast of electricity flies through the air just missing the mother Lucario, she motions to her daughter to hide nearby, and she takes refuge in a small berry bush, as she jumps up into the tress hoping to ambush the poachers.
Just as she gets out of sight a group of five poachers, armed with net guns and a few Pokémon, included an Electabuzz, which the Lucario could tell was the one who shot the electricity, as a few sparks fly off his body. As the poachers continue to argue amongst each other, the Lucario charges up an aura sphere and launches it at the Electabuzz in the center and it collides with its chest, creating a small explosion, knocking several of the poachers off their feet. As the dust settles the poachers get back to their feet and start firing their net guns into the trees trying to find their prey.
As the Riolu watches her mother launch more aura spheres into the pack of poachers, she fails to notice a couple of Pokémon sneaking up behind her.
Well, well, well. Look what we found here., says the largest of the Pokémon.
Riolu lets out a gasp of shock and slowly turns around out of fear and is nearly face-to-face with three large and vicious looking Mightyena.
I know our masters were looking for a Lucario, but if we bring them back the pup as well, then we will defiantly get some kind of reward. , says the smaller Mightyena to the left.
I completely agree, lets rough her up a little so she won't run away , the largest Mightyena says.
Just as they start to move in on the frightened Riolu, her mother jumps down from the trees and delivers a kick to side of the largest Mightyena, causing it to collide with the one to its left, and another kick to the head to the final Mightyena standing. It all happened so quickly, Riolu hardly saw it happen right in front of her.
Just as she starts to turn around to check on her pup, one of the poachers nails her with a net gun and pins her against a nearby tree. At the same time, the Electabuzz launches a powerful thunderbolt and gets a direct hit on her. Riolu can see her mother screaming in pain, she gets up to help her but she stops her daughter.
_Riolu! Run while you still can! _She yells at her through her aura speak so the poachers can't hear her.
Just run I will be fine, and I will come find you as soon as I can!
Riolu can't believe what her mother is saying, but she knows that if she tries to help she will get in the way. So she turns, tears in her eyes, and sprints off down the mountain.
Don't let that runt get away! The large Mightyena yells out as the three take off in pursuit.
They catch up pretty easily, and begin to try a pin the young Riolu to the ground. Riolu was not the best of fighters, but she was defiantly able to dodge attacks fairly well. She ran for what seemed like hours, when in fact it was only a couple of minutes, but after constantly dodging claws and shadow ball attacks she couldn't keep track of time anymore.
As she is nearing what she thinks is the edge of the mountain, she manages to trip on a stray root, causing her to lose her footing for a split second, but that was all the Mightyena needed to land a blow on her. The largest of the Mightyena managed to swipe his claws down the Riolu's face with a Night Slash attack, creating a large gash down her face, and the blood started to coat her fur and into her eye, obscuring her vision.
The force of the blow caused the Riolu to completely lose her balance and start rolling down the hill. As the Riolu's ride comes to an end, she stops just at the edge of a high cliff, and below it a raging river and jagged rocks. The Mightyena stop a few yards away from her, as she slowly gets to her feet. The Riolu is disoriented and feeling weak and wobbly from the tumble and the blood loss.
Think we roughed her up too much boss? Said one Mightyena jokingly.
Nah, she's still standing, that's enough for our masters to work with. Replied the largest Mightyena.
Riolu now feels as though she has lost and is about ready to give up. The Mightyena slowly move in, just as they are within a few feet, the ground starts to rumble, and a second later, the weak cliff gives way and Riolu plummets into the river below as the Mightyena manage to jump back enough to escape the fall. As the Riolu falls down to the river, all she can think of is if her mother got away. As she hits the frigid water, everything goes black, and her seemingly lifeless body is carried down the river
- Just outside of Strata Town in the Baina Region -
A young wolf is walking down a path following the local river that flows down from the nearby mountains. This young man is Robert Marks, and he is thinking about his parents and how he wants to go on a Pokémon journey. Robert is a tall twenty-one year old wolf, with wild blue hair that he never seems to be able to tame, blue eyes, and blue and white fur covering a slightly muscular build. Robert is not human like his parents, or any other living being in the world it seemed, neither human nor Pokémon. He did have a good life though, he had friends who accepted him growing up and he had been working at the Pokémon lab in his home town, making a nice sum of money.
His dream ever since arriving in this world has always been to take on the Baina League with a team of his own prized Pokémon, but sadly he has never had the chance. While his mother supports his dream, his father claims it is a waste of time and he should stay in the family law business. His father has never liked Pokémon and only looks at them as workers or tools and not as companions. His parents have both been away on business for a week and he has had some time to try to convince his father to let him go, but he knows he will probably just shoot him down.
After about an hour from the start of his walk he feels it's time to head back home, since it is getting close to lunch time, he managed to skip breakfast this morning and was feeling pretty hungry. As he turns around to follow the path upstream to head back home, he notices an odd object floating down the river. As the object gets closer he can see it's an unconscious Pokémon, the water around it tinted red from its own blood.
He quickly wades out into the river and picks up the unconscious Pokémon, upon looking at it, he recognizes it as a Riolu, and is amazed that he got to see one, being extremely rare in the Baina region. However, his wonder is short lived, he notices that it is barely breathing and has a giant gash on its face. Worried for the Riolu's safety, he rushes home with the Riolu to try and help it, being that the small town has no Pokémon center.
- Three days later at Robert's house -
Riolu awoke with a start, panting as in a panic, but slowly she was able to calm down and relax a little bit. She soon realized that she can't see out of her left eye, after looking around she sees her reflection in a nearby mirror. Curious as to what is reflecting her image she kicks off the covers she is under and jumps off the bed she is on a slowly makes her way over. Riolu had never seen a mirror before, but she had seen her reflection in water before, so she didn't think much of it. What caught her attention was the fact that most of the left side of her face was covered in a strange white cloth. She is so intrigued by what is covering her face she fails to hear Robert enter the room carrying a plate with several berries on it.
"Well it's good to see your up, I was starting to really worry about you."
Riolu is surprised to hear a voice and quickly turns around and see Robert, she had never seen anything like him before, to her he seemed like a different Pokémon, but yet he talked and dressed like a human, and soon she gets into a defensive stance.
"Well that's quite the greeting, I help an injured Pokémon and the first thing you do is get ready for a fight."
"I've been taught that most humans can't be trusted, and though you don't look like one, but you sure act like one."
Robert is shocked at not what she said, but how she said it.
"Wow. You can speak English perfectly, how can you do that? I mean, I can understand Pokémon, but I didn't think they could speak our language"
"My mother taught me, and if you think that a mild conversation is going to change how I feel about humans or yourself, think again."
As soon Riolu finishes that statement, she begins to feel dizzy and falls down to her stomach.
Robert puts the plate of berries on the nightstand and walks over to help, "Easy there little one, you're still not quite ready to be up and around, let's get you back into bed."
"Don't touch me. I don't need your help." Riolu says getting up to one knee.
Against her will he picks her up and carries her to the bed, knowing she is too weak to struggle, the young Riolu doesn't put up a fight. "You've been sleeping for three days and your fever just broke this morning. Having someone help you when you need it is nothing to be ashamed of. Now get some rest and something to eat, I'll come check up on you later"
"What makes you think I won't escape after you leave?"
"I don't. But I think you are too tired and hungry to worry about going anywhere, now get some rest. And leave that bandage alone, you face hasn't quite healed yet. When your all healed up, you're free to go, I won't make you stay if you don't want to."
Riolu hated to admit it, but he was right. However she was hungry and began chowing down on the plate of berries he brought in for her. After she finished, she laid back on the bed, and began to let her mind wander. Why would this...thing help her? Was he different then the humans her mother had warned her about? Also, was her mother ok? All these questions roamed through her head as she drifted off to sleep again.
Riolu woke up several hours later she looks outside and sees the moon is in the sky so she can assume she had been sleeping a while. She soon realized that he had checked up on her over time, being that she was under the blanket again and the tray that held the berries she ate were now gone. She then decides she feels well enough to try to escape, looking out the window she sees she is on the second story, and decides to not risk that and make for an exit closer to the ground. She gets out of the bed and heads out of Robert's room and down the stairs. With him nowhere in sight she cautiously makes for the door and freedom, but a sound catches her attention, making her ears twitch. She turns around a sees a square object with a glowing front and moving images.
Having never seen one before, Riolu doesn't realize she is looking at a TV. She moves closer to the TV, mesmerized by the sights and sounds appearing on the screen. She can't help but be intrigued as she watches two trainers and their Pokémon in a battle. The battle shortly ends as she only caught the end of it, but she notices how both trainers seemed to treat their Pokémon with respect and kindness whether they won or lost the battle.
Are these humans different then what mom taught me? They seem to treat Pokémon like friends more than anything. Is that thing different like them?
Another sound startles Riolu and she turns around to see Robert sitting on the couch facing the TV.
"I see you are well enough to be walking around, that's good to know." He notices Riolu is still curious as to what's on the TV. "Another gym battle is about to start, come up on the couch and watch with me."
Riolu can't believe how he is treating her, like a guest, or even like a new friend. Still wondering if she can trust him completely for now, she still climbs up on the other end of the couch, and goes back to staring at the TV. Robert had been watching the Gym Battle Network, and a live gym battle was about to begin featuring Jasmine, the gym leader from Olivine City in the Johto Region who specialized in Steel types. As the battle starts, Jasmine starts with a Skarmory while the challenger sends out an Infernape. As the battle carries on, Riolu's eyes start to wander around the room, eyeing various pictures and other knickknacks around the room.
"So do you have a name?"
Riolu is surprised he would ask such a question. "Why do you care?"
"Well I think it's kind of rude that I haven't been addressing you as such, and I figured I should at least ask."
Looking slightly depressed she shakes her head no.
"Well that needs to change, unless you just want me to call you Riolu, or little girl?"
Riolu blushed slightly at the second nickname, causing a small chuckle to come from Robert.
"My name is Robert, by the way, and don't worry I'll think of a good name for you."
Is he giving me a name to try and show wants to be friends? Or is he trying to tell me that I belong to him? He seems so much different then how mother told me about most humans, maybe he is one of the exceptions.
"So Robert, is this your home?"
"Actually it's my parents', but I live here to."
"How long have you lived here?"
"Close to eighteen years now, ever since I was little."
"I never had a home for that long, me and mother always seemed to move from place to place every couple of weeks, since poachers were after us."
"I'm sorry to hear that, but I'll know how it feels to move around a lot really soon."
"Really? Why give up a nice home like this?"
"Because I have always wanted to go on my own adventure. Making friends with Pokémon and people from around the world, and even take on the Baina League. I'm leaving soon, whether my dad agrees or not. I've already secretly bought a Pokedex without my dad knowing. He's not a fan of Pokémon at all, and he just wants me to join in the family business. At least my mom supports my decision. I'm breaking the news to my parents when they get home tomorrow."
The word friend is the word that stuck in Riolu's mind, something inside of her was saying that he means what he was saying. She then let out a yawn and laid down on the couch as Robert turned off the TV and began to head towards the stairs.
"I've got it! Riolu, do you still want a name?" He looks up at her and nods. "How does the name Rachael sound?"
Riolu looks at him wide-eyed and a smile, "I like it."
"Alright then it's settled, well I'm going upstairs to get some sleep, you should do the same. Goodnight Rachael."
Rachael is happy at her new name, and decides she should get some sleep too. So she lies down on the couch and tries to go to sleep. As she starts to drift off to sleep, he can't help but worry about her mother.
_She said she would be ok, I know she will be, I have to stop worrying so much. _That was her last thought before she finally fell asleep on the soft couch.
End Chapter 1