Harry asked if I could repost my winning story from the 2005 Summer Writing Competition, as PE2K has gone down, so here it is. No grading or anything necessary!
ABSOLUTION
My insides were twisted in hunger, my stomach had been empty for days, maybe even weeks. Truthfully, I could not remember the last proper meal I had consumed. I sniffed around a trashcan, looking for something edible. Anything that I could use to fill the gaping hole inside me. The bin was filled with old papers, yellowing and mouldy, but they would do. I scratched at them roughly with my torn paw, my long black claws shredding the paper. It was dry and smelt of decay. The taste was even worse, like mothballs and rotten food that had been left out in the sun, but I was desperate. The paper stuck around my fangs. It was soggy and hard to eat but I managed to swallow a few mouthfuls before I gagged at the appalling taste.
Giving up on finding food, I began my slow trudge down the forgotten alleyway, which led from the main road of Saffron out to the borders of the city and then toward the large mountains behind it. It was already dark outside but, being nocturnal, my eyes were well adjusted and therefore I saw easily in the blackness. Numerous trashcans lined the alley, though I could not pick up the scent of food. My empty stomach gurgled hungrily as I continued my solemn walk.
Suddenly I felt something cold upon my face, I brushed it away with my clawed paw, only to find that it was in fact snow. It was already mid-winter, and snow was well overdue for this part of town, especially because it was so close to the mountains where it seemed to be snowing almost all year round. I turned my gaze to the sky for a moment. An eerie orange-tinted moon looked down at me through the grey clouds. It was well past midnight and now large snowflakes were falling. The ground began to shimmer with a white glow, helping me to blend in even better than earlier. Before long, a chilling wind picked up. If it had not been for my long white coat I would have been frozen through within minutes.
I sighed. There was no way I would find any food now. With the snow falling, most Pokemon would have scurried back to their nests, underground, or in the tops of trees. There was no way that I could reach my prey. As I reached the border of Saffron City and the outside world, I began to feel weary. My eyelids were heavy and my limbs sore from my constant wandering. Having no food didn’t help the matter. I sniffed around, looking for a safe place to rest. I had never felt truly safe before in my life. By ‘safe’ I meant a place where I could see anything coming before it saw me.
I had found a good place behind some large rocks. Wearied, I lay down my head straight away. My whiteness blended in to the snowy ground and with the comfort that I should be well camouflaged, I shut my eyes and drifted off into a troubled sleep.
As always, morning came before I expected, and way before I was rested enough. Knowing that it was too dangerous to stay out in the open in broad daylight, I hurriedly got to my feet, shook the snow from my fur and blinked my eyes.
It was an overcast day. The whole world seemed to have adopted a blanket of white as the snow had covered mostly everything. In turn, this would make it easier for me. Nearly everything stood out against the white backdrop. I, however, was an exception.
I continued on my way, performing the daily act of searching for food. I went where ever my nose took me, and I found myself being drawn toward the large mountains in front of my eyes. Knowing that there would be scarce food up there, if any, didn’t really affect my decision, as I knew I was just as unlikely to find any food down here. I padded slowly up the mountain trail, lost in thought.
“Aroooo!”
My whole body stiffened. That was the unmistakable call of an Absol.
“Arooooo!”
The call from leader to follower. I continued cautiously, on the look out for a flash of blackness in the white snow.
After about half an hour of walking, I was startled by movement behind me. It was either an attacker, or prey. Sensing a chance at finally getting some decent food, I cautiously moved to the side of the pathway, using the camouflage powers of my coat fully.
After a few minutes a strange shape came into view down the path. On closer inspection it was a large Pokemon carrying a human. I shuddered. Humans were the beginning of all my problems. Retreating slightly more into the snow, I watched them approach, my hope that I would find food slowly melted away.
The Pokemon, an Arcanine, had stopped a few yards back and was now sniffing the air. I cursed under my breath as I realised that my invisibility in the snow would not carry to my scent.
“What’s wrong, Arcanine?” the human said, climbing off the Pokemon’s back.
“Arc, Arcanine.” Arcanine barked.
I wondered why the human bothered talking to it. It was unlikely she could understand anything the Arcanine said. I, however, could. So I listened as the Arcanine explained that there was a strange scent in the air. It then proceeded to move forwards, coming closer and closer to my hiding spot.
I flinched as its great eyes passed over me. There was no way that I could take that beast in a fair fight. I had the element of surprise, at least for a little while longer, and I planned to use it.
“Arooooo!” I howled as I jumped from the snow.
The trainer stepped back in fear at my presence. I was pleased, that was how things should be.
But instead of running away like I had hoped, the human pulled out a red device and pointed it my way. I was startled by this thing, was she trying to attack me?
“Absol, the disaster Pokemon. These Pokemon can live to be hundreds of years old. Absol live in harsh, rugged mountain environments. Absol have fine coats and powerful looking scythes on their heads, making them targets for Pokemon poachers.”
When the device stopped, I looked down at myself. I felt slightly ashamed at my appearance. My coat did not look at all fine, in fact it was knotted and matted, small twigs and other debris was caught around my mane.
The human seemed to notice this too as she looked at me with pitying eyes. I didn’t want her pity, I didn’t want anything from any human, ever.
When I didn’t attack, the human stepped closer to me. She rummaged in a large bag, pulling out a morsel of food. My stomach growled hungrily, but I would not accept charity from humans.
I growled angrily, taking a step toward her. The Arcanine jumped in front of her protectively. I sneered at its loyalty.
“You are a legendary beast, yet you are a slave to humans. You are a disgrace to Pokemon.” I spat, my brown eyes glinting.
“I am not a slave!” The Arcanine roared, it’s coat flaring up.
“Arcanine, stop it.” The human said, recalling Arcanine to her side.
And the great beast listened to her.
“See, you are but a stupid loyal slave, obeying her every order like an overgrown puppy.” I taunted.
The Arcanine shot daggers at me through its eyes, yet it would not disobey its human master.
“Absol...do you want some food? Here you go.” The human got down on one knee and called to me. But I was no slave to humans and I would definitely not take her food.
My stomach disagreed, but I had made up my mind. I was starved, but I was not stupid.
I began jumping from side to side, whipping up a small whirlwind. After I had gathered enough power I released it at the human.
It struck both human and Pokemon, giving me my chance to escape. I licked my torn paw before hurrying off the path and into the snow, where I felt I would be safest.
I bounded over piles of snow and rocks and dodged around trees, using all my pent up energy. By the time I stopped there was no sign of the human, or of anything else except snow. Miles and miles of white snow.
I licked at the ground as a smile came over my face. I felt sort of free, surrounded by all the whiteness.
“Arooooo!”
It seemed as if I had let my guard down too soon. The hairs on the back of my neck pricked up. I had been sighted.
I turned slowly in a clockwise direction, trying to detect my attacker. Then to my left I saw it, a flash of black against the white snow. I growled in that direction.
An Absol stepped out from behind a rock, sneering at me. Its coat was well groomed, not a scratch graced its muscly body.
“Aroooo!” it cried, signalling the others.
By then I knew it was too late to flee. I had been surrounded.
Slowly more Absol came up from the snow like beasts immerging from dark water. There were at least seven of them and there was no way that I could fight them all and make it out alive.
“Comrades...” I started, trying the only thing I could think of at that moment.
“We are no comrades of yours.” Sneered one of the Absol behind me.
“Filthy street animal.” Growled an Absol to my left.
“Please, I am one of you.” I pleaded.
“Maybe you are one of us.” The first Absol said, eyeing me greedily, “But we have not eaten yet today, and we are hungry.”
“Cannibalism?” I yelped, fury overcoming my actions. “Well then, you are certainly no comrades of mine!”
I leapt toward the Pokemon, my fangs beared and my large black claws outstretched. I slashed the Absol down the face with my right paw, but he managed to dodge the left.
“Fool!” screeched the Absol, lunging back at me. It opened its great mouth, preparing for a Bite attack.
At the last second I dodged to the right. I was skilled in combat, having lived most of my life alone, having to protect myself.
The Absol growled, “Aroooo!”, and suddenly I was surrounded by all of them with nowhere left to run.
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I paced around my small circle as I watched my freedom being taken from me once again.
“Any last words?” I heard the Absol sneer, as thoughts of my childhood overtook my mind. I could feel a vision coming on, the vision that I had had nightmares about since that day.
“Kouri, get away from there.”
“But, Mama...”
“It’s dangerous out there...”
“...because of Pokemon poachers,”I finished in a singsong voice “I’ve heard it all before, Mama.”
“Then you must listen. Please Kouri.” My mother said, eyeing me with uncertainty.
I sighed.
We lived near Fortree City; my mother, my brother and I.
I watched my mother walk away and then I turned and looked over the open plains. They called to me, inviting me to explore...
With a quick look over my shoulder I took a step into the open. So far, so good. What my mother didn’t know could not possibly hurt her. I began to walk toward a small intriguing stream. It looked so close, yet it felt like it took me forever to reach it, as I had to keep watch for any sign of my mother. I tiptoed softly ever closer to the inviting water.
Just as the cool water touched my tongue, a heard a rustling sound from behind me. Fearing the punishment of my mother, I froze.
Large, heavy boots came toward me, I could sense something approaching, but it was no Pokemon.
Startled, I began to run back toward the safety of the trees. The thumping sound behind me grew louder. My short legs were growing weary as I ran, terrified of the monster behind me and what I would face when I returned home.
My thoughts were cut short as a shiny metal object sliced my left paw. I tripped, falling flat on my face.
I shivered with fear as I lay face down on the cold ground, too scared to open my eyes.
Just as the monster approached me, I heard the patter of feet in the distance. I looked up to see a white blur leap over me, crouching between my attacker and I protectively.
“Run, Kouri!” My mother yelled as she stood guard against the human.
I looked up at her worriedly. Her great mane was puffed out, making her seem bigger than she was. Her eyes were clouded with disappointment, anger, fear and courage, all at the same time. Our eyes met for one second before a resounding bang echoed across the earth. In my fright, I had shut my eyes tightly, and now when I opened them I saw my mother lying on the ground before me, her emotionless eyes staring back at me and her beautiful coat soiled with blood.
I looked away as a lump formed in my throat. The hunter had raised his gun again, this time pointing it at me. I forced myself not to cry as I scampered away into the covering of the trees that were our home. I ran for what seemed like hours toward our den. My paw ached horribly, but the pain of losing my mother overtook everything else. I didn’t stop until I could see my home in the distance, and only then did I collapse on the ground, my injured paw refusing to go on any further.
My older brother ran to me, his eyes full of fear as he blurted out question after question. But I could not answer any of them. I had held off the tears for as long as possible and now the water works began. Salty streams ran down my cheeks and I spluttered my story to my brother. His face was first full of astonishment, then fear as I told him of the chase with the unknown hunter. Once I told him what had happened to our mother, his eyes were disbelieving. His face was twisted in the most horrible mixture of sadness, longing, despair and finally anger that I had to look away, my own tears still falling.
“You killed her.” He stammered, refusing to look me in the eye.
“But...I...”
“YOU KILLED HER!” This time he screamed, his face contorted in rage as I looked into his hate filled eyes. He raised his paw, slicing my face with his claws.
I yelped, dodging back and away from my brother.
“I’m sorry. Please, I’m sorry.” I cried, not only to my brother but to my mother.
My brother opened his mouth, his great teeth bared in a twisted scowl.
“AROOOOOO!” He howled, making my hair stand on end. “AROOOOOOO!”
The Roar had me scampering off into the bushes, running as fast as my injured paw would allow. I had no idea where I was going but I knew I had to get away. The whole thing was like a terrible dream; I blinked back tears as I struggled to awaken from this nightmare.
Finally the events of that afternoon caught up with me. I could see my mother’s body lying in front of me, her dead eyes pleading with me to run. Blood spouted from her neck and down the front of her beautiful white coat. Behind me the poacher was grinning evilly, happy with his kill.
I broke down. My eyes had become so clouded with tears that I could no longer see. It seemed as if I had been running for days and days without stopping for neither food nor water.
“MAMA!” I cried as I ran, “Mama, I’m sorry!”
My head spun as I experienced the familiar feeling of coming back to reality. I shook myself, hoping to also shake the memories from my mind.
“I have moved on,” I told myself. “I am free now.” But I wasn’t free. I had never been truly free.
I faced the leader of the Absol without fear. My heart was pounding in my chest but I was not afraid, if anything I was expectant. For a long time I had been plagued with the guilt of my mother’s demise and the only release I could see was my own death.
“I know I must die, but I would like to die in dignity.” I said, looking the Absol in the eye.
“Of course.” He replied. Absol were a proud species, I knew he would be willing to give me my death wish.
“I will fight you, but at least give me a chance. One on one.” I said, challenging the Absol with my tone.
“Why should we bother with your request. We could kill you right here and now.” Another Absol spoke up, her teeth were bared as she looked at me greedily.
“Oh shut up, Tasha,” The first Absol growled. “You take him then, if you think you can.”
“Gladly.” Tasha hissed, stepping into the Absol-made ring.
The other Absol moved out, giving us a larger arena. We started by circling each other, copying each other’s moves.
“Come on, little kitty, this won’t hurt... much.” Tasha hissed my way.
I scowled. “Come and get it.”
She pounced, her claws outstretched, reaching for my face.
With difficulty, I dodged away, managing to keep clear of her claws. The snowy ground was quite soft, making it hard to move around. I whipped her with my razor-sharp tail as she flew through the air to my left.
She landed on the ground behind me, spitting with rage. Without waiting another second, I twisted my body and pounced myself, lowering my body as to use the scythe on the side of my head as a weapon.
She tackled me, our heads colliding, our scythes locked. She hissed angrily at me, her saliva stung my face.
“Aroooo!” I cried, forcing myself to push harder.
I moved forward, compelling her to take a step back. Her feet slid into the soft snowy ground, but she managed to get a foothold.
The other Absol jeered at her as they watched our battle.
I planted my back feet as firmly as I could before thrusting my head upwards, pushing her off me. My paw ached as I landed funnily on the side of it.
Taking a second to recover, and ignoring the pain in my left paw, I raced at her at full pelt. She dodged away, but not before my right paw could leave a nasty slash down her left side and across her shoulder. Bright red blood began to ooze down her white fur, dripping onto the snowy ground beneath her. She glowered at me, her eyes full of hate, but she knew she was beaten. Panting, she limped away.
I took a second to inspect any damage I had taken. My right paw was covered in blood, though Tasha’s or mine, I could not tell. My left paw was aching horribly, but by now I was used to the constant pain.
Before I knew what was happening, the other Absol began to move in toward me again, trapping me in the centre of their circle.
I turned to face the leader, my eyes questioning.
“You’ve had your battle,” He said, a smirk on his unforgiving face. “Now it’s time to die.”
“NO!” I yelled, angered at his betrayal. “You told me we would have a fair fight!”
“It is true that I agreed you could have a one on one battle. I believe that we gave you your request.”
“That’s...that’s not what I meant!” I cried.
The Absol smiled at me, “No, my friend. But that is what you said.”
I stepped backwards, only to be headbutted forward again by an Absol behind me.
“My time has come.” I told myself as tears began to prick my eyes. There was no escape from my fate.
I took one last look at the mountain peaks, towering into the sky above me. Snow glistened all around me, even the small red patch to my left seemed to sparkle. I looked up to the heavens one more time, asking for forgiveness for my mother’s death.
“Arooooo! Arrrrrooo!” I chanted, casting my Perish Song. If I were to go, they would come with me.
All at once, and before I was ready, they attacked. I felt claws digging into my skin, teeth ripping my flesh. The pain was unbearable, but I did not try to fight back. My body soon went numb, I seemed to be watching them tear me apart, rather than being torn apart myself. Time seemed to stop as my mind went blank. Another vision filled my thoughts.
“Kouri...”
“Kouri...”
Someone was calling to me. I looked around the space in my mind, but there was no one, only blackness. I moved forward, a dim light grew brighter to my left as I moved toward it. A silent stream ran in front of me. I bent down, looking into the murky water.
“Kouri...”
My name echoed throughout the small cavern. Someone was there.
I looked down at my reflection in the water.
“Mama!” I gasped, seeing her face for the first time in years.
She looked back at me.
A chilling wind picked up, ruffling my fur affectionately.
“I’m sorry.” I groaned, tears falling from my eyes, running down my cheeks and dropping into the water below.
“I know, darling. I know.”
The whispering was right in my ears.
“I am coming, Mama.” I said, my voice cracking.
She smiled at me.
I reached a paw into the murky water, longing to touch my mother.
My torn paw cast ripples into the stream, skewing the image of my mother until it had disappeared.
“No! Wait!” I cried, removing my paw from the stream. But my mother did not return.
“Kouri...”
I paused, listening for her whisper.
“I am always here, Kouri. Inside of you.”
“But...”
“You are free, my darling. I died for your freedom.”
I sobbed, glancing around the cave.
“But I killed you. I deserve to die.”
“So I gave my life in vain?”
I paused. This thought had never occurred to me before.
“My only wish is for you to be free. I want to set your guilty mind at rest.”
“But it was my fault.”
“No, it was never your fault.”
No one had ever said that to me before and even if it wasn’t true, I felt my heart skip a beat. For the first time since my mother’s death, I smiled. A genuine, happy smile.
And suddenly, before I could say goodbye, I felt my head spin as I was pulled back to reality.
Time started again. A pain in the back of my mind told me that my body was being torn apart. I no longer cared. I was free.
I shut my eyes, relaxing my mind as I prepared to leave my body.
“I’m free.” I thought. My last thought.
“GROOOOOOOOWL!”
I ignored everything around me and smiled as I drifted out of consciousness.
“I’m coming, Mama.”
“Not yet, darling. Not yet.”
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I awoke in a small dimly lit room. My whole body was numb, but there was no pain.
“Mama?” I called, trying to lift my head in order to see better.
A sharp pain in my neck stopped me from moving as I let my head down again softly. I was alive?
I shut my eyes, trying to remember what had happened, but all thoughts of the bloody battle had evaded me.
I was lying high up on a stretcher of some sort. The room was dank and rich with the stench of humans. I shuddered.
A long tube protruded from my left arm and was hooked up to a strange looking machine in the corner.
Suddenly a neatly dressed human with pink hair entered the room. My fur stood on end as I attempted my most vicious look, hoping to scare it off before it realised I could not move. A Chansey followed the human and looked at me irritatedly.
“Where am I?” I asked the Pokemon. “How did I get here?”
“This is the Saffron City Pokemon Centre,” The Chansey said. “You’re lucky that human found you, otherwise you’d be dead right now.”
“I’d rather be dead,” I groaned to myself. “Did you say, a human?”
“Yeah, she’s right out there.” The Chansey said, pointing to the front of the Centre. “And this here is Nurse Joy, she helped to save you too.”
I tried to look around but I could not move my head.
“Easy, there.” The human known as Nurse Joy said as she adjusted the drip in my arm.
I refrained from biting her, even if I wanted to I probably couldn’t get at her anyway.
“You’ve been out for two days. You should be alright in another day or so,” She said, “As soon as the numbing solution we gave you wears off. Of course, there’ll still be some pain.”
So that was why I couldn’t move. I shut my eyes and waited to hear their footsteps leaving the room. Then after I was alone once more, I felt myself slowly drift off into subconsciousness.
“Flamethrower!”
“Grooooowl!”
It was hot...so hot...An absorbing change from the chill of the snow I was laying upon.
I opened my eyes and all I could see was fire, raging flames licking at the ground, but they did not touch me.
“Arooooo!” The cries of the Absol haunted me. They shrieked as they were burned.
The sound of pattering feet was all around me as the Absol retreated back into the whiteness, just as suddenly as they had appeared.
“Nice work, Arcanine.”
The master of the beast stood over me, her eyes full of pity. I had seen those eyes before.
She reached down, touching a large cut down my back. Her touch stung me. I flinched, my great jaws closed around her hand as my instincts took over.
She whimpered in pain and the great orange beast came to her rescue. The Arcanine bit my forearm, it’s teeth tearing my skin. Pain surged up and down my arm, causing me to lose my grip on the human. She immediately pulled her hand away and nursed it with tears in her eyes, but she did not run. She was not afraid of me.
I shut my eyes, the pain becoming too much. I willed the human to leave, I just wanted to die in peace.
“I can help you,” She whispered, “Please, let me help.”
I groaned, but there was no way I could stop her. I lay silently as I felt the life slowly drain from my body.
My whole body was freezing when I woke up the next morning. I was shivering from the biting cold, my teeth chattering in my mouth. Outside the window of the small room I could see miles of snow, pure, white, sparkling snow. I lifted my head slightly. My whole body ached but I was able to move. It seemed as if the numbness had disappeared overnight. I scrambled gingerly to my feet then made the small leap onto the floor. My back ached terribly as I landed but I managed to regain composure as I slinked toward the window.
I put my good paw up to the cool glass as I looked out across the open plains.
“Maybe I was never meant to be free...” I thought as I looked around the room I was enclosed in. “Maybe my destiny lies not in freedom, but in confinement.”
These thoughts ran though my mind as I curled up underneath the window and fell back into a light sleep.
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“Absol, you can go now.” Nurse Joy said to me later that day.
She opened the door for me, showing me freedom once again.
I walked outside. The freshly fallen snow was cool on my paws and the air was as fresh as ever.
“Arc! Arc!”
I looked back over my shoulder to see an Arcanine bounding toward me. I stopped.
“Absol. You are well.” The beast greeted me.
“Yes. I am free.” I replied. This was the Pokemon that had saved me.
“So am I.”
“You’re free? Nonsense. You are held inside a tiny ball and only called upon when your master needs you. That is the opposite of freedom.”
“No, Absol. I am free because of her.” The Arcanine said, motioning towards his trainer.
“Then you have no idea what freedom is!”
The Arcanine sighed, “I always thought I knew what freedom was.” He said as he stared into space, imagining life before he was captured, I imagined.
“And?”
“And now I realise that sometimes you find freedom in the most unexpected places.”
I watched the Arcanine carefully. Maybe there was truth in his words.
“So you are saying that even though you are not free to go where you want and do as you please...”
“I am still free in my mind, and that, my friend, is the greatest freedom of all.”
I smiled, a small smile, but a smile all the same. No matter where I was...locked up in a cage or out wandering the open plains...I would always be free in my mind. Always.
“My friend,” I said slowly, pawing the ground as I spoke. “You have shown me true freedom more than once. How can I thank you for saving my life?”
“Fight me,” He said, looking into my eyes. “Fight me, and if I win, join me and my trainer.”
I was a little taken aback by this offer. I had just been released...was I willing to risk being captured again so soon?
I sighed, I owed this Pokemon my life. “I accept your challenge.” I said unsurely.
“Grooowl!” Arcanine howled.
Almost instantly his trainer appeared from inside the Pokemon Centre.
She walked toward us. I stiffened as she came closer, but I was no longer scared of humans.
I watched her pat Arcanine affectionately as he explained what had happened.
"She won’t understand a word." I thought as I began to realise what a stupid idea this had been, but to my great surprise, she nodded at Arcanine. We would battle after all.
I was watching the human intently, wondering what having a trainer would be like. My gaze landed on her injured hand, nasty red gashes lined her skin. I flinched at the sight of the pain I had inflicted. She touched her hand when she saw me looking at it.
“It’s ok.” she said softly, pulling her long sleeved jumper down over her injury.
A light snow was falling, adding another layer to the large blanket that already smothered the earth.
“Let us begin!” The Arcanine said.
“Tackle!” The human commanded.
Arcanine bounded toward me, his great paws barely touching the ground.
I shut my eyes as I envisioned him coming toward me. I imagined myself duplicating, breaking into copies of myself.
When I opened my eyes, I was surrounded by duplicates. I smiled, my Double Team attack had succeeded. I watched Arcanine race toward one of my copies, crashing straight through it as it disappeared into thin air.
“Use Flamethrower to find the real one!” Arcanine’s trainer called, it seemed as if she knew what she was doing.
“Grooowl!” Arcanine howled, opening his large mouth to reveal huge, canine fans. A powerful flame erupted from his mouth, blasting my doubles as they vanished.
I could feel the heat of the Flamethrower, but I had to wait until the right moment to make my move.
Arcanine turned to face me and I saw a flash of recognition in his eyes. He could tell me apart from my copies. As the heat from the Flamethrower burnt my face, I jumped into the air, landing behind him. I lowered my head and raced at him, slashing him across the back.
“Grooowl!” He cried in pain as the scythe on my head made contact with his skin.
“Arcanine!” His trainer called worriedly, but the canine did not seem too phased by the blood running down his back.
“Well, if you’re sure you’re ok...use Agility!” Arcanine’s trainer called.
“Arc!” Arcanine barked before dodging from left to right, building up his speed.
An attack at that speed could be fatal. I had to get away...
I used Double Team again, my copies surrounded the Arcanine, giving him no where left to run without taking the risk of being attacked. Now that I felt protected, I took the chance to look up at the human. To my surprise she was smiling. I watched Arcanine confusedly.
Larger snowflakes began to fall, making it harder to see. Grey clouds rolled overhead and a chilling wind picked up, ruffling my fur. I would be nearly invisible in this weather. I smiled to myself.
“Odour Sleuth!” The human yelled.
I groaned. So much for my invisibility.
Arcanine stopped running, his large paws coming to a rest on the soft ground. He was panting slightly, it seemed as if his injury was taking its toll. He began to sniff the air, using my scent to track me. He sniffed for a few more moments before coming to rest in front of me. My copies disappeared, I had been found.
“Now, Flamethrower!”
Arcanine leapt at me, flames spluttering from his mouth. They scorched my body as I struggled to escape the burning heat. I howled, using Sword Dance to raise my attack power and protect me from the Flamethrower.
I jumped backwards, my body glowing with power. I began jumping from left to right, whipping up a small storm of my own. I then sent the Razor Wind attack at Arcanine. It mixed with the falling snow, causing a mini blizzard. I could barely see through the blinding snow, and I doubted Arcanine could either. I smiled in satisfaction as I heard him howl. It seemed my attack had been a success.
I peered through the snow, a large still object was blocking my view. Arcanine had been frozen solid. The snow had helped me once again.
I looked up at Arcanine’s trainer. She had one arm across her face, trying to aid her sight. Her clothes billowed and ruffled in the wind.
“ARCANINE,” she cried, probably hoping that he would be able to hear her over the noise of the storm, “USE FLAMEWHEEL!”
Suddenly everything began to glow red as the ice that Arcanine was trapped in lit up from the inside, like a giant light bulb. It cast red light over the snow, making it glisten in the midst of the snowstorm.
Suddenly the Flame Wheel erupted and Arcanine was trapped inside a ball of fire. The ice was no more than a puddle of water at the great beast’s feet.
“NOW, TAKE DOWN!” Yelled the human through the snow.
Arcanine’s flaming body was a blur as it rushed toward me. My feet were frozen to the ice as the burning monster leapt at me. I was thrown backwards, landing in the cold snow as I felt my breath leave my body. I was still weak from the attack of the Absol. I couldn't let Arcanine attack me again. Panting and weary, I carefully managed to get to my feet. I ignored the pain in my left paw and shut my eyes as I summoned my most powerful attack.
My eyes glowed purple as I called upon the power hidden inside of me. The gem on my head began to glow as well, signalling the coming of the assault.
I could see specks forming around Arcanine. They grew, slowly but surely. It was only a matter of time.
“EXTREMESPEED!”
“No!” I whimpered. All I needed were a few more seconds...a few more and my Future Sight attack would be ready...
“GROOOOWL!”
Arcanine howled as he slammed into me, knocking me backwards once again. This time, there was no way that I could get up. I shut my eyes as I felt the will to fight leave me.
“You won.” I whispered inaudibly as I fell to the ground, on the verge of fainting.
I watched through one slightly open eye as Arcanine stumbled, but did not fall. The great beast was still bleeding, his blood casting an ugly pattern onto the pure snow. He was panting heavily, his large pink tongue hanging limply from his mouth as he gasped, trying to catch his breath. The human ran toward him, patting him behind the ears. He looked into her eyes as she grabbed a blue and red ball from her belt. She thrust it at me, almost violently. I shut both eyes tightly as the orb closed in on me, preparing to be pulled in.
I could feel a strange tingling sensation throughout my body as everything went red. I felt myself being sucked up as I imagined my spirit being pulled into the ball. I struggled against the force that was holding me, but there seemed to be no escape. Once the pulling sensation was over, I opened my eyes. Everything was black, even my whiteness did not repel the dark. I flailed, suddenly afraid. I slashed in all directions, trying to find an opening in the fabric of time through which I could escape. My body was still tingling as I began to feel claustrophobic.
“Let me go!” I cried, rethinking my decision. Tears began to form in my eyes as I realised that this is what the rest of my life could be like.
"Please, I don’t want this. I want to be free...please, let me be free.”
“You are free, Kouri,” something whispered, “You’re always free...”
I fell to the ground dizzily, my head spinning, wondering whether this ball would seal my fate...
-----------------------------------------------
Originally Posted by
Jack of Clovers
Formal Grade unnecessary.
Great story. Details, grammer, plot, everything. I loved the point of view from the Pokemon. Poor Absol. almost makes me not want you to catch it because the story is so sad for Absol. Keep up the great stories and I hope this is your entry for the Competition.
Outcome- Absol Captured!
~Jack~
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