Rescue Team Adventures: Chasing the Sky
Chapter I: Kaji and Tal
A/N: I recently got Pokémon Mystery Dungeon. And I love it so very much. :)
Though, I will admit, I have succumbed to the fashion and decided to write (much) shorter chapters for this story than I would normally. However, this is a good thing, because it means I can turn out chapters that much faster. Also, I've noticed that long chapters tend to discourage new readers, which is something that seems to continually vex me. So, my apologies to those who enjoy longer chapters. Hopefully, you'll be getting the same amount of content in the same amount of time. And, don't worry, I'm determined to write at the same level that I usually do— just because the chapters are short doesn't mean the story will be shoddy. ;)
Read on, and reviews are welcome.
Where…
Where am I? Is this a dream?
Ugh… My head really hurts… I feel like I just got the living daylights kicked out of me. What happened? I… I can't remember anything. Everything's so…
…So…
"Hey! Are you okay?"
Somewhere out in a forest, a small yellow creature known as a Pikachu was walking. Going to visit friends, as it were. He didn't travel too much, but even he knew he had picked a good day to go out. The sky was the most pure blue, without a cloud in sight. Despite the bright sun, a cool breeze blew, and the air smelled fresh. It was a pleasant day, no doubt about that.
In fact, very pleasant, especially in contrast to all those natural disasters that had been happening lately.
However, Pikachu's mind wasn't focused on things like earthquakes or floods. Rather, he was too busy enjoying his trip. So busy, in fact, that he almost missed the pained sounds coming from off the side of the path.
"Huh?" He stopped in the middle of the dirt road, turning to face the trees. His ears twitched back and forth for a moment, trying to catch the sound again— he wasn't sure that he hadn't just imagined it. But then it came again.
For a long few seconds, he hung back, unsure of what he should do… or really, what he could do… He was small, and without any items or abilities that would really make him capable of helping someone in need. And of course, what with all the unnatural happenings lately… Pokemon were becoming vicious. Wandering off of the road was a sure bet for trouble, especially for a little guy like him.
Maybe that's what happened, he thought, growing worried. He didn't hesitate any longer, darting through the trees towards the source of the noise. It didn't take long, before he came to a clearing, occupied by none other than the source of the cries.
In the middle, lying apparently unconscious, was a young Eevee. The only noise he made now was a low whimper. Pikachu crept up to him. He didn't know why… he had just always been taught to be cautious around strange Pokemon. However, as he drew near to the other creature, he found himself relaxing a bit. This little guy really did seem genuinely hurt, and finally the small electric-type Pokemon walked right up to him to get a better look.
And… now that he was up close, Pikachu suddenly realized that 'he' was actually a 'she'. He blushed, wondering why that was the first thing he noticed. What was really weird though, was that she didn't appear to have any injuries. Tentatively, Pikachu reached out one paw and placed it on her shoulder. No reaction. He shook her gently. "Hey! Are you okay?"
"Nngh… Wha?" Slowly, the Eevee opened her eyes, and looked groggily up at Pikachu. She then flinched, bringing one paw up to her forehead. "Agh, my head… feels like I got hit with a sack of rocks or something," she muttered.
Pikachu found himself grinning. "Good. You're alright."
Eevee started to rise. "Yeah," she mumbled. "I think so…" She then paused, turning to face Pikachu. Pikachu started a bit, seeing the alarmed look on her face. "Wait… did you just… you… you can talk?" she finally managed to stutter out.
"Nope," Pikachu said happily, teasing her. "…Wait, maybe…. Hm. Yes." He began chuckling.
Eevee, on the other hand, let out a cry of surprise, and jumped about a foot backwards. "You did just talk!" This, apparently, was the most frightening thing she had ever seen, as she started panicking and tripping over herself in her efforts to back away as quickly as possible.
Pikachu just stared blankly. "I didn't think you were serious," he remarked, dumbfounded.
"B-but… you're a Pokemon!"
Pikachu reached up and scratched his head, now thoroughly confused. "Well… yeah. So are you," he pointed out. "Wow… you really must have hit your head hard."
Eevee had immediately looked down at herself upon hearing Pikachu's words, and tried to stifle a yelp. Paws. She had paws! And thick brown fur. She tried to look over her back, and found herself turning in a circle. All she managed to get a glimpse of was a bushy brown tail.
"Uh… Eevee?" The name brought her out of her stunned reverie, and she turned to face Pikachu. He seemed rather concerned. "Are… are you hurt, or something?"
For a moment, she said nothing, unsure of what to do. This is all just a dream. A really, really bad dream, she told herself. However, she also found herself asking, then why does everything feel so real? "Um…no," she said finally. "No, I… I don't think so. Just a little weak." And a little Pokemon…ish.
Pikachu sensed that something was still wrong. "Are you sure? 'Cause, I could take you to the town, or something… If you need any help, you can definitely find it there."
The mention of a town made Eevee perk up, and to her dismay, both of her ears went up at Pikachu's suggestion. She immediately flattened them back down, but found it uncomfortable. Giving up, she let her ears rise up again, having something more important to focus on. A town! Apparently I can talk, even though I'm a Pokemon… I should be able to find some people there, and they can find help! Eevee couldn't help but smile, and she nodded. "Yeah, that'd be great!"
"Alright then," Pikachu said, gesturing over his shoulder. "The road's this way." He started heading for the path, and the other Pokemon followed. As they broke through the bushes and onto the packed dirt of the main road, he smiled. "You're lucky, Eevee, we're only a short ways away." He glanced back at her.
Eevee had stopped. She was giving him another strange look. "Why do you keep calling me that?"
Pikachu found himself confused, yet again. "Calling you what?"
"Eevee," she said, with a snort, and started walking again. Pikachu rushed to catch up the few steps to walk beside her. "That may be what I am," …for now… "But that's not my name."
Pikachu tried not to look too embarrassed. "Uh, sorry, that's just pretty common, at least around here."
"What is?"
It was Pikachu's turn to give her a strange look. "Calling other Pokemon by their species name… I mean, as far as I know, most Pokemon don't like being called by their chosen names, unless they're really close friends, or family…"
Eevee seemed to withdraw for a moment. "Oh…" She glanced away, seemingly uncomfortable with this new piece of information. "It's… different, where I'm from." To her surprise, the other Pokemon began laughing, good-naturedly.
"It's okay. I can call you by your name if you want. What is it?"
"Talla."
"That's a pretty name," Pikachu said, almost automatically. A second later, however, he realized what he had just said, and began to blush. "Ah, I mean—"
She hadn't seemed to notice. Instead, she was chuckling. "I don't really like it. I go by Tal for short."
Pikachu breathed a sigh of relief. "Tal huh? Alright then," he said, with a nod. "Tal it is. By the way, my name is Kaji."
Tal looked up in surprise. "You don't mind…"
"Nah," he said, with a shake of his head. "So… things are different where you're from?"
The Eevee rolled her eyes, with a half-smile on her face. "Way different."
"Huh." Kaji's eyes sparkled with mirth. "Then you don't get out much, do you?" he teased.
"What?" Tal demanded, the scruff of fur down her back rising up. However, she realized that he was just being light-hearted, and bit back the sharp reply she had been about to give. "Hmph."
Deciding to back off a bit, Kaji dropped it, trying to turn the conversation. "Speaking of… where are you from?"
Tal almost stopped dead in her tracks. Somehow, though, she managed to keep going, without looking completely panicky. "Uh… Well… I don't know what other Pokemon call it," she said, trying to make something up; "I just call it 'home'." She looked around, trying to think back to her own home… truthfully, it was more of a blur in the back of her mind than anything else. One thing she knew, though. "This sure isn't it," she added, quiet.
Kaji almost sighed out loud. Great. "So you're lost as well?" The Pikachu glanced over at his companion Pokemon, who looked away, as if a bit ashamed. "Well," he said, brightening up considerably, "someone in town should be able to help you find your way home."
The Eevee smiled, a bit sheepishly, but looked away again. Their conversation seemed to have ended, and for the next few minutes, they walked on in silence.
I feel so weak, Tal thought to herself. I wish I could remember what happened! A frown began to form on her face. All she really knew was that she was human— and that she knew for sure— but beyond that…
All of a sudden, she stumbled, tripping over her own paws. She felt herself flushing red underneath her fur as her clumsiness drew a glance from the Pikachu— Kaji, she reminded herself. She gave an apologetic grin, which faded from her face as soon as he looked away. Tal glanced back down at her paws. Paws. I'm never gonna get used to that, she complained in her head. She continued to stare at her paws as she walked, careful of where she was placing each one.
Unaware of the blissfully wonderful day around her, Tal's mood just kept sinking and sinking. Even watching where she was walking, she had stumbled several times and bruised all four paws… at least once. Her head still ached, and her thoughts seemed slow and fuzzy. And, to top it all off, her stomach was starting to rumble.
And started to get louder.
Tal suddenly realized that it wasn't her stomach, as she felt the tremor rising up through her legs, and the rumbling grew even louder. Tal froze, staring down at the ground in shock. An earthquake? Without warning, the ground bucked, and she found herself launched through the air, to smash back down after a few impossibly long seconds.
Then, as quickly as the quake had come, it subsided. Tal didn't move, her eyes still clenched shut against the now sharp pain, spread across her whole body. She could hear Kaji, groaning in pain she could only imagine was similar to hers— she hadn't been watching him when the tremor started, but she was sure it wasn't pleasant. Finally, she cracked one eye open, and saw him clambering to his feet. Letting out a short moan, more of protest than pain by now, she began pushing herself up as well.
"Wow," she heard the Pikachu mutter. "What was that all about?"
Tal didn't answer. Did he expect her to know? She stood all the way up, grimacing at the ache now firmly settled in her limbs. Strangely enough, though… the pain wasn't actually as bad as she expected it to be. In fact, she seemed to be recovering quite nicely. Glancing over at Kaji, she saw that he appeared to be doing okay as well, and decided not to mention it. I guess it's just one more thing about being a Pokemon.
However… Something about what Kaji had said caught her attention. She was about to ask him what he meant, when—
—A scream pierced through the air!