By the light of the moon
A story idea that came to me last night. I have been a bit sick.. this one just wouldnt leave me alone. Let me know if I should continue.
By the light of the moon.
Fire, roiling waves of heat erupting from seemingly nowhere. The burning plume igniting kindling along the forest floor as it rushed at the terrified human couple running for their lives. Barely escaping the blast of heat that licked at their heels scorched the earth behind them. They had not been the first to be attacked in such a way and they would not be the last. This was her forest, and she hated humans.
Humans, the vile race that had for ages enslaved her people. Capturing them and forcing them to fight for their own purposes. Her hatred for their entire race burned hotter than her fire ever could. They were false pretending they could be partners, friends and then abandoning them. Casting their “friends” away like so much garbage.
She had once served a human. She once had a name of her own, apart from her species. Something special given to her by the love of her life. Someone whom she had grown up with, cared for and even loved despite their obvious differences. He had betrayed her and the others. That night, four years ago he had promised to return. Letting them all gather as he explained he would return, promising them. Yet he never had, not even to say goodbye. To explain what had happened, why he had left so suddenly one night.
She had grown bitter in her loneliness. Forsaking the name, he had given her, never again wanting to hear it uttered in her presence. She had declared these woods HERS and she would protect the other Pokémon with her life. She had grown strong, evolved on her own. They would never be tamed again and woe to any foolish human who tried.
Making her way deeper into the woods, her mind wandered lost in remembrance. Memories that had once brought her only joy now serving to fuel the anger that had hardened her heart. He had been there when she hatched. A six-year-old boy who had found her egg abandoned and half frozen by the side of a road. He was so gentle with her, grooming her crimson fur and mass of tails every day. Speaking to her as If she were his sister and not a Pokémon.
The darker shade of red giving her a darker appearance than most Vulpix. She had always been self-conscious of how the others would view her. As If she were somehow different than others of her kind. Yet he never cared, or she thought he had not. She had thought him different as they grew up with one another. Sharing everything with one another. She had been there to comfort him when his parents passed, to keep him warm through those first terrible nights of their journey into the world. He had never forced her into a poke’ball like many trainers.
They had fought countless battles against wild mon, capturing and befriending dozens. He had been unlike other trainers, giving the defeated the choice to stay with him or to be set free once healed. Most had chosen to stay. A small assortment of creatures like herself whom had been drawn in by his warmth. Their little family had never been particularly strong, but they had been close. Always together, always there for one another. And then, one autumn night it all ended.
Gritting her teeth as she entered a clearing within her forest she stopped. It had been this exact clearing four years prior where it all fell apart. At first she had questioned if it was something she had done. On that night he released the dozen Pokémon from their balls and stood before them with a somber look. His scent That night had been bitter, rank with a rarely seen anger. Standing before them he had asked for their patience. He promised he would return. That he had something they couldn’t be a part of. Something that he had to do himself.
Without another word he had turned and left, never once looking back as he vanished into the woods never to return.
And yet, that night under the shining light of the hunter’s moon. A familiar scent floated on the breeze towards her. At the edge of the clearing, her friends. The other abandoned pokemon gathered in a semi-circle around something. She could not make out the hunched figure, though she knew that scent. Rage swelled within her. Tails thrashing behind her body as small flares ignited at the tip of her many white tipped tails. The Crimson furred Ninetails started forwards slowly. Anger and longing threatening to overwhelm her as her pace began to quicken.
By the time she reached the semicircle of Pokémon she was at a dead run. Her anger, her hurt and her bitterness boiling over as they parted around the hunched form of a sobbing man. As she saw him, so frail, his soft pale skin dried and cracked in many places. Small sores lining his arms and now gaunt cheeks. His hair, formerly a rich brown In color was gone. In it’s place the smooth skin of his scalp reflected the light of the moon. He looked more skeleton than man. Breathing coming in long harsh rasps in the night air.
His eyes, red and swollen with tears rose to meet hers. She did not know this man, she must have been mistaken. This pitiful thing could not be her friend, her love. No, there was simply no way this wretched creature could be the vital man she had known. Her heart caught in her throat, his scent was the same, his eyes still holding a dimming spark as he looked at her.
“Crimson Rose… you look so pretty” He reached for her, boney fingers trembling.
As he spoke her name she knew. He had returned to keep his promise. She rushed into his touch, her forearms wrapping around his shoulders and pressing his weak form into hers. She could feel his bones ache at her extra weight, his scent reeked of sickness. His arms wrapped about her body, face burying itself into the fur of her chest.
“I’m sorry it took a while to come back my Rose, I wanted to see you one last time”
His words stole the breath from her lungs. Her cheeks stained with tears as she felt him lean into her just a little more. His body trembling against her from the cold. The others, their family moving in closer. Some supporting his form as he slid forwards against her. He had no strength left. His breathing had become weaker, more labored and much slower.
She slid back and away, tails going limp as she stared down at the now prone human. Her family pressed themselves to his sides, trying in vain to keep him warm as the shaking of his body grew. He seemed barely able to open his eyes now. The light within beginning to fade as he stared up at her.
She was beautiful, her fur had kept it’s crimson color despite her evolution. Stunningly glowing against the light of the moon. He reached a hand out to cup her cheek. Wanting to comfort her as he felt himself slipping away. Struggling against the coming darkness he fought for words, for the strength to fight on. For her.
“I’m so sorry. I tried to come back sooner. I missed you my Rose. I wanted you to know… I… love…yo..”
His hand fell from her cheek. His eyes rolling back as the last of his strength faded away. She could feel the very energy within his body, his soul stirring to flee. He was leaving her once more. He had somehow managed to make his way back to her. His devotion to her, to his family driving him into the forest with the last of his strength. Her heart felt as if it was being torn in two as she felt him once again leaving her.
Throwing her head back in a howl of pain she screamed out her pain. She had hated him for so long, feeling betrayed and alone. He had abandoned her, tossed her aside she had convinced herself. She had never thought that he might be ill. He had kept it from her, kept her and the rest from seeing him so very sick. And now, it was too late.
The night seemed to grow brighter, as if responding to her cry the moon shone just a little brighter upon them. A stream of silvery light, falling upon the gathered beings. A soft warmth filling them, soothing their spirits as they grieved over their fallen friend. Her heart would not be soothed, even as the light focused itself across her back.
Tightening into a single thin beam to shine along her back, over her heart before tightening further. The beam gaining in power and pushing through her body. It’s light touched her heart, burning warmth easing her pain as the love she felt swelled within her. A Luminous glow engulfing her as she stepped over his form, moving as the light guided her.
Her forepaws rested to either side of his shoulders. Covering him with her body as she leaned downwards. Eyes closed, shoulders hunched as she brought her muzzle to his lips. The soft press of lips to one another as the light swelled within her. Reaching a shimmering peak before rushing forwards. The power, mixing with her own rushing into his body. Filling him with itself and beckoning his spirit to stay.
It was not enough. She felt his spirit trying to slip away, tired of the pain it had endured over the last few years. She threw her emotions at the flickering ember of his consciousness. Pouring her very soul into an unspoken plea to stay. She begged that smoldering ember to reignite. Her fire raging around it, attempting to rekindle his will.
All to suddenly, the spark extinguished. The light faded and she collapsed atop his body. She was exhausted, the strength stolen from her body after the immense struggle. Whatever had driven her forwards had fled. Leaving her to lie atop his form. As exhausted eyes fell closed she knew she had failed.
Her eyes would slowly begin to open as sunlight cascaded over the tree line, bathing her in warmth and stirring her from dreamless sleep. Her heart sank as she slowly pulled herself upwards, remembering how once more he had slipped from her grasp. He had chosen to leave, chosen not to fight anymore. His spirit had been so weary.
She felt a stirring beneath her, drawing her gaze downwards. Her eyes met the emerald green orbs of another Pokémon. Another Ninetails. He cocked his head a little as their gazes met. His voice reaching her, somehow very familiar. “You're heavy ... my Rose”
End