"I'm kind of hungry," Val piped up, with eyes still closed. The night had moved on, and Val had a watch, but it was set to Orre's time. She'd have to find a PokeCentre, preferably in the next town, and align the time. Although, by some rough calculation, it was nearing midnight, give or take 30 minutes. Mal looked around, grumpiness flitting across his face again at the sound. It was silent all around, and oblivious to the large-scale battle that had occurred some ways away, Val was still ignorant of the strength of the local pokemon. Besides fighting off one or two ghosts with ease, all had been still around them - Mal was even chewing on some dirt. Swallowing, he returned to his vigil. Being nocturnal, the Zubat had, as expected, remained awake, but had been little trouble except for the occasional moving to lick its wing.
Evidently still wary of the company - not that Val could blame it - the Zubat had been as inconspicuous as possible, and had actually grown visibly uncomfortable when Val was observing it. How, she wondered, did it sense her watching? She had been slowly inching closer over the past few hours, as sleep eluded her, but it had screeched ear-splittingly when she came within a foot of it. It had since settled down again and she was toying with the idea of starting to pull closer again. Looking around, she could recognise a few bushes from the light of the fire, and knew them to be berry bushes, just not in season. Mal didn't need any plant material, but maybe she could bribe the bat over with some berries. Despite not being a native of either Orre or Sinnoh, the dual type bat was widespread enough that she was familiar with the pokemon.
The novelty of spending the night in a new region had dulled, but Val's eyes continued sweeping over the forest, not watchfully, but wistfully. "Mal, come a little closer," She called, spreading out her arms, as though asking for a hug. The reptile critically eyed her, before deciding it could use the warmth. Waddling over, he climbed onto her lap - with a few sounds of pained protest from her - before leaning against her. It felt rather as though a stone was digging into her stomach, but she draped her arms around the Larvitar anyway. "I feel a little alone," She explained, with a hand resting against the Rock type's head, even as the Zubat shifted slightly in its blanket wrap. Used to cold, damp caves, while cozy, the blanket was getting a little too warm.
Mal paused a moment, coughed up a rock and handed it to her with a knowing smirk. "...thanks. Stupid reptile." She grumbled, trying to hide a smile as she took the rock and pointedly threw it away. Expecting only the usual rustle of the forest, she flinched with surprise when an angry squeal met her ears. Nice. She managed to piss off two 'mons in one night. Mal looked understandably annoyed, as he flexed, warming up for the possible fight. Except...
A tiny insect crawled out. Well, it wasn't actually tiny. It was over two feet large. It was huge. Val gasped and scrambled to her feet, tipping the dual ground dweller off, who glared daggers at the intruder. The fuzzy pokemon looked left and right, appearing a little dazed, before turning towards the Larvitar, squealing. Malachite tensed, prepared for combat, but the newcomer simply turned and crawled sideways, towards the fire. It wasn't approaching Mal, but it wasn't actively avoiding him either. Brave little thing. It wasn't a pokemon familiar to Valeriya, but she was certain she had seen it somewhere. Maybe someone back home had one? Regardless, she couldn't remember anything about it - its name, typing, or strength. Either way, it was crawling towards the fire, and the Zubat shifted restlessly.
Carefully sidestepping the sleeping bag to avoid making any noise, Val scrutinized the interloper from afar - the insect had just walked into their clearing and seemed relatively peaceful, and strangely comfortable. It was also much smaller than the one she remembered seeing long ago. "Mal," She breathed, recalling the Larvitar to her side. The Zubat had grown agitated, and begun making low squeaks and gently flapping. Val pursed her lips, but didn't approach to calm the pokemon; it could still bite, or strike out with whip-sharp wing edges. The bug momentarily turned to gaze at the Zubat, chirped as though to reassure it, before settling closer to the fire.
"Wh- ...why is it sitting so close to the fire? Shouldn't bugs be afraid of it?" Val mumbled, bending to talk closer to Malachite. He didn't respond, and continued to watch, but with less wariness than before. The intruder had actually grown comfortable, and light churring noises could be heard as it closed its eyes. "Eh, maybe I should go see what it wants?" Feeling rather foolish cowering at the edge of the campsite, Val whispered again, eyes never leaving the little fuzzy bug. Mal turned around, eyes wide and clearly judging her. "Vita?" It asked in a flat tone; she knew what it meant and shot him a look in return.
"Shut it. Unless you can do it?" She asked with a sly smile. Malachite frowned, turned and gave the bug a once-over, before taking a deep breath. He'd show her! He wasn't afraid of some bug! Kicking some dust behind him - in Val's face - he walked closer. While his initial steps were full of confidence, it began gradually waning, until he was little more than shuffling closer. He was larger than the bug, and stronger, he'd bet - of course he would - but one never knew, and he wasn't taking any chances. The thing saw him coming, and rather than shying away or hissing and taking an aggressive stance, it actually seemed to welcome him. What could be described as a smile spread across its face, with small eyes crinkled and small sounds of 'la! la!', it wriggled its little legs as though excited to make a friend.
Malachite stopped dead in his tracks, debated if it was worth risking it over this clearly delusional pokemon, and beat a hasty retreat back to Val. "You big baby, it wants to make friends," Val giggled, stepping forward eagerly as soon as she saw the little bug was friendly. So far, pokemon and human alike had been the epitome of mean, so happy face was a breath of fresh air. Deception didn't strike the gullible girl - she had much to learn. Regardless, seeing the human approach, the friendly gestures dulled, but it continued making social overtures. "Aren't you a friendly little thing?" Val asked rhetorically as she stopped, letting the bug come to her. It even allowed her to crouch and scratch its furry little back! It was a little damp, but judging by the flame-coloured horns on its head and its attraction to fire, it actually seemed to be a fire type. Was it?
The insect rolled over, legs still wiggling, and Mal actually humphed behind her, a little jealous. The Zubat had since stilled, eerily facing the girl despite having no sight. The whole thing really disconcerted the Larvitar - it wanted out of this clearing, this forest, this damned region. It walked over to the wrapped up bat pokemon, worrying over the girl's safety - the Zubat didn't so much as flinch. The bug under Val's fingers coughed a few small embers before happily chuckling again. "Aw, you're so small. Why are you here alone?" Val asked, even as she knew the answer.
Malachite whirled around, pupils dilated and a snarl on his face. The Zubat violently flapped free of the blanket, flitting to the closest branch as the Larvitar gave the fiercest, most intimidating roar he could to the depths of the darkness beyond. Not again. Val stood, surprised, as a heartbeat of total silence passed; not even the insect moved, and she could hear her own racing heartbeat and wheezing breath. Then with a magnificent burst of flame, it came into view.
With the scent of smoke, and with hints of fire glinting off of its scales, a draconian figure came into view. With six flapping wings and horns along its face, some sort of hell's angel entered the scene. As Val would learn later, it was a Volcarona. Likely the parent of the Larvesta behind her - but it had shown not out of concern for its progeny, but from agitation from the battle that had taken place some ways away. Disoriented, a normally benevolent figure had appeared in the form of a seraphim of destruction, and Val knew they stood no chance against this pokemon. She had no PokeDex, but there was aura of strength around the pokemon, and being known for evolving late, this pokemon was leagues above them. "Mal! Run!" She called as she grabbed the Larvesta at her feet. Bug pokemon produced progeny by the hundreds, and they were abandoned immediately to fend for themselves; it cared nothing for the smaller counterpart before it, even if it had fathered or birthed it itself.
Malachite was having none of it. He knew that he represented the mountains and the thing before it was fire and fire should fear earth and he wouldn't back down! Small fists clenched, a punch to the earth led to a small avalanche of rubble upon the foe. It needed to know it wasn't welcome here; to turn aside and leave them be - but the doubly effective Rock Slide carried more of a punch than they expected, and it served to anger the dazed Volcarona instead. With an unholy screech, the sun god spread its wings, flared briefly before erupting in a sea of flames. Even a weak move like the unfocused burst of flames posed a great threat to the Larvitar, even if he did doubly resist it; it was just too strong, and the Larvitar was severely regretting not knowing when to back off.
As the waves washed over him, overheating the cold-blooded reptile, Malachite scrambled to escape the lick of deadly flames. As the surrounding vegetation charred to a crisp, Val snatched up her sleeping bag and the blanket that had housed the Zubat, who now flapped in alarm on the tree branch. Larvesta under one arm and bag draped over the other shoulder, it was all she could manage to scoop up her bag to make a hasty getaway. But she couldn't outrun fire. "Mal, cover us." She dug out his pokeball, which she showed to him before turning and trying her best to get away. The mechanism allowed him to be recalled over a certain distance, and he was certain Val would be watching to see he wouldn't get too hurt. The Zubat uncertainly fluttered on the tree, but as it was all but ignored by the fire-type, it decided to stay still and hope to avoid detection.
Malachite stepped behind Val, letting the flames wash over him, and effectively blocking them in a straight path behind. It had been a short burst, but the ignited foliage spread embers quickly, and soon the entire campsite was ablaze. Mal shook his head sideways in an inherited aggressive behavioural trait, wielding his horn threateningly, although the aggressor seemed unimpressed. The circle of fire had quickly spread, and while Val had outrun the initial burst, she soon found herself hemmed out. Alright alright alright, the fire will burn outwards until it stops. It'd be better if I head back. Sweating profusely, the girl whirled this way and that, Larvesta still clutched in an arm, unresisting and trembling; seeing no other option, she clutched Mal's pokeball tightly in her hand before heading back, following the ash trail.
The Volcarona had grown agitated, and Mal, seeing no way out for a quick exit, not that Val was stuck, quickly struck out with a second barrage of rocks. A regular hit hurt bad enough, this one seemed to crit, and the pain jolted to outright aggression. It was evidently back to its senses, but wouldn't leave without one good hit - and that was all it would take, really. Wings outstretched and ghostly wisps playing about it, the Sun pokemon raised itself off the ground, as the air around it superheated. Here was a strike of unquestionable power, and through Mal's type advantage, through his rock skin, not even ashes would remain.
Malachite stood in the face of fear and death, frozen stiff. So this was it for him. There was no way out. Nowhere to run. If this was how he went-- like a slap across his face, a sky-splitting shriek rend the air apart. Starting violently, Mal stared wide-eyed about for the source before reacting quickly and naturally to start digging downward frantically. Small arms pumping, he turned around as he saw Val approach - no! She would die here! Pokemon typically did not target humans, but Mirai, as always, seemed to be the exception. They had angered the pokemon, and for that, they would die. The unfairness of it struck Mal hard, and he felt cold tears form, roaring indignantly at the Volcarona in a last act of defiance. "Shut up, Mal. Get in," Brusquely chiding him, Val whipped out the pokeball and tried to withdraw the Larvitar, only to have him jump aside. Their one hope could be that the inorganic metal of the pokeball would withstand the flames better than organic flesh, if thrown what would hopefully be far enough from the Sun incarnate.
Said sun seemed to be done charging, but was behaving peculiarly again. The heat around it wavered as it turned in different directions, as though having difficulty locating the Larvitar, despite him standing right in front of it. The gathered power shook again; almost all energy was unstable, and a lot of it gathered and unreleased was never a good sign. Surprisingly, the Zubat flapped out from the tree it had huddled in, a little smoky and voice a little harsh but miraculously unscorched; swooping down, it replicated the ear-splitting screech Mal had heard before - this time made him a little woozy. Zubat were known for using different frequencies of sound against their opponent, and this one was no exception - except its timing couldn't have been better. Disoriented, the Volcarona flapped in a desperate bid to ignite it all, but the energy, instead of fanning out as it had intended to, seemingly imploded in a powerful burst of flame. Embers flung far like meteors, and the one that struck Mal left a deep black mark on his skin - if it did that to rock...
It hardly seemed like night - the forest was aglow with the fury of the powerful solar deity. Ash and smoke obscured the air in a terrible aftermath, but the ash remaining would give way to new life. Struck with its own power, the Volcarona staggered, more dazed than hurt - which followed shortly as Mal grabbed the opportunity to pummel it once again with rocks. Taking the beating, the Volcarona staggered back, contemplated for a moment, evidently clear of head, decided it couldn't take another one of those - and majestic wings beating, left. It left. Val watched it turn away with something akin to incomprehension - she felt like she was having an out of body experience. The Larvesta in her arms showed no remorse except a small chirp to acknowledge its peer's strength. Malachite's frigid exterior never cracked; he remained bristling and growling until the air had cooled, long after the heat course had disappeared through the unscathed undergrowth, and Malachite and Valeriya were all that were left in the jagged circle of ash and ruin. Destruction spread out perfectly, immaculately. That was the power Malachite feared, and sought.
"Oh, Arceus. Oh, sweet baby Mew, we lived," Val breathed, as giddiness mixed with delayed shock, and she sank to her knees, staining her pants with ash; Mal glanced around at his trainer, his partner - he was glad to see her. Toddling over, he placed a still-warm hand on her arm, and the Larvesta crawled out, furry body rubbing against her torso. So that's why it was so small and so attracted to the fire - it was freshly hatched and wanted warmth; well, it had had plenty of that now, hadn't it? Stifling a cough from all the ash, she got to her feet - dusting off her pants and bag, she decided sleep would elude her after that adrenaline rush and rolled up her sleeping bag. Casting a wary glance around - you never knew what watched her from the darkness of the forest, she wrapped the Larvesta up in the blanket, murmuring to it. ('What? So fire? And? What else are you? Grass? Bug? Think you'll grow up to be that cool, you cheeky fuzz? Let's see if we can find you your guardian.')
As Valeriya prepared to leave, calling to Malachite and offering him the respite of a pokeball - which he refused - aforementioned Larvitar turned around, as memory served him in time. Red eyes slowly sweeping over the treeline, it settled on what he was looking for. The Zubat. It sat perfectly still, wings folded - one not quite, but almost - and stared dead ahead, at the retreating company. Val paused and looked around, eyes finding what Mal had honed in on. There was a moment of heavy silence between them, much like the one that had settled over them at the campfire, as Val cradled the grudging Malachite against her. And then Val smiled, held out an arm and said, "Come. We feel a little alone." And that was how the Zubat found a perch on her shoulder as they moved through the night.
~~~
Name: Valeriya Mikhailov
Money: 2500 PokeYen
Team: Malachite (Larvitar, M), Zubat (???), Larvesta (???)
Bag: Nada~ Except MPL guide. She needs some pokeballs :v
(I swear that's it for the forest! xD)
