- Partners
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I heard Malamar is the new hot thing and this is my response.
This uses the characters from my Nori/Prema metaseries because it started off as "what would it be like from the perspective of someone who resists mind control" (Nori) then I came up with actual direction as I went along. Don't worry, there's no context needed here, it's totally standalone. It's part of what will be a greater whole eventually (I plan ahead and this was an idea that took shape because of this), but there's no time like the present to post this. It was created and edited in the span of like 48 hours, so might be a bit unpolished in places.
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Nori blinked away the spots in his soft red-colored eyes. For a second, it seemed like everything was upside down. But he couldn’t let weird things distract him! He adjusted his gray jacket and scowled at the stupid squid-thing.
“So you’re the leader here!” the chestnut-haired boy shouted. His voice reverberated through the basement. It was big, wide, open, and empty aside from all the people and their so-called friend. They were standing stupefied, and he hoped they stayed that way.
The thing apparently called a Malamar raised and wiggled its tentacles as its eyes narrowed into tiny little slivers. Nori used the chance to whip out a Poke Ball from his jeans’ left pocket. If this was a Pokemon, all he had to do was beat it!
Pachi emerged from his capsule. The little squirrel squeaked and struck a pose. A thought fleeted through his mind: where was Prema? They’d gotten separated, and he found his way here when looking for her. Well, it didn’t matter! She asked him to help, and he was happy to deliver.
“Pachi, quick! Swift!” Nori jumped and pointed with two fingers. No taking chances!
A bright light filled the room. Blinded again! He shook off the nausea from it and listened for the attack to execute. A Flash wasn’t going to do anything against a Swift!
Nothing happened. The silence was deafening as Pachi slowly turned around. He had a far-off look in his eyes. Was that confusion!?
The squid-thing gestured with a tentacle, and Nori’s breath caught in his throat as Pachi’s tail began to twitch. No, this was far worse! This was mind control!
He was still holding the Poke Ball, though! His Pokemon jumped into the air to attack – this was exactly what his training was for! He just never imagined he’d be using it on Pachi! His aim was perfect, and the Pachirisu returned to the confines of his ball.
“That won’t work!” he shouted, taking a step forward and stomping a foot down. “No wonder people are following you! It’s the only way they would like your ugly crazy–”
More flashing. He clutched at his head; this time was way worse than its previous attempts! It was like sparks were surging through his brain! Like someone was screaming at him! But no, this stupid thing wouldn’t beat him! He could still–
“Please calm down and look around you.”
Nori screamed, jumped, and swung wildly as a high-pitched voice boomed. He hyperventilated as he tried to find where that came from. It was unnatural; it didn’t echo in the room like his shouting did. It was like it was… Maybe right in his mind?
“Why should I listen to you?!” he turned and yelled at the Malamar. He assumed this was telepathy.
“Then please listen to them and hear how they feel,” it said softly. Its mouth didn’t move, so that definitely was telepathy. As if it were some sort of army general, the people all stood perfectly straight. Cued by a twirl of a tentacle, they addressed him.
“Malamar is my friend.”
“She is my friend.”
“My friend.”
“I love Malamar.”
“I love my friend.”
“Be Malamar’s friend.”
“Malamar is our friend.”
“Friend.”
This continued with similar remarks. They spoke monotonously, one after another, never speaking over each other. They kept prattling on and on.
Nori clenched his teeth and his fists. “What the hell’s going on here?! What is this?” he demanded, taking another step towards the squid-thing.
It was hard to tell with its beak, but from how its eyes moved, it was almost like the thing was smiling. “These are my friends. I always wanted to have a lot of friends. They’re happy, which makes me happy. Even your friends are my friends.” The Malamar gestured with a tentacle.
Nori turned, and a group of people parted to reveal her. In her violet robe, with her green hair. Prema was standing and staring forward vacantly. Her normally bright blue eyes were dull and lifeless. While she was often expressionless, this was way different from her typical serene calm. This was… It was like nothingness!
“Malamar is my friend.” she droned.
“No, please,” he sputtered. The boy ran towards the priestess. He reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her vigorously. “Prema, please wake up. It’s controlling your mind! You have to wake up! Please!”
She brushed his arms away. It was practically a feather touch, yet it sent Nori stumbling back harder than any shove could. His knees started to buckle. It felt like his eyes were burning. Was she just gone?!
“I want to be friends with you too, Nori. I want to make you happy.”
Those words did two things. First, hearing his name made a chill run down his spine. Then, adrenaline surged through his veins. “Screw you! I’m already happy! And why would I ever be friends with you?!”
He flipped off the Pokemon and turned to the brainwashed people. He wasn’t sure what he could do here, but he had to do something! Try something! There was nothing to do but do it! Because if he didn’t, he’d already lost!
“Snap out of it, you stupid morons!” he cried, stomping a foot. He sniveled before yelling, “Stupid… Malamorons! Don’t let this stupid thing control you!” His words had to get through to someone! Anyone!
He yelped when a guy grabbed his arm. On sheer instinct, he whirled and smacked him across the face. The guy went stumbling back in a daze, stopping hunched over and holding his cheek. Did that do it? Was it that simple?! Just knock them to their senses?
The guy slowly looked up at him, with that same empty look in his eyes he had seen on everyone here. “He hurt me.”
“He hurt him,” a janitor droned, dropping his mop.
“He wants to hurt us.”
“He’d hurt our friend.”
“Malamar is our friend.”
“We have to stop him.”
Okay, wrong move! Nori scrambled away as they lumbered towards him like zombies, jabbing and swinging at anyone too close. The door was right there in front of him. He could easily get away, but then what?! He’d be leaving Prema here, and what if they just disappeared forever?!
“Please stop this, Nori,” the Malamar soothed as he slowed to a stop. “Why do you not want to be my friend?”
Nori closed his eyes, straightened his posture, and pivoted to face his foe. The action was enough to make everyone take pause.
“Because I’m Nori Carino, the Pokemon Rehabilitator! I deal with problematic Pokemon that no one else can, and YOU!” He put his hands on his hips with authority. “Have to be dealt with!”
He pumped his arms and held them in front of him. There was no need to overthink things! His first instinct was right! Just kick this thing’s ass and it’d all be over!
“Stop this.”
His body suddenly seized up and started floating. The Malamar’s eyes glowed a sickly violet. Damn it, that was right! This thing was a Psychic-type, too! But not even that could stop him!
Mustering all of his strength, he began to move his left arm. It was like trying to force through a thick swamp filled with snow. His limb shook violently, like it might pop right out of his socket or outright break in half. But he HAD to do this! He had to save Prema and all these people!
Maybe it was his instincts, or maybe the telepathy went both ways, because he could sense the gradually rising fear in the Malamar as his hand got closer to his pocket. He could feel his torso shift vaguely, as if it were contemplating simply throwing him with the telekinesis. He braced his body for that possibility. But as soon as it did that, he was sending out his Pawniard!
It wailed incoherently. The boy winced from the ear-splitting sound. He was freed and landed firm on his feet, but almost all the people in the room were suddenly rushing towards him.
They were on him too quick. Nori started swinging and kicking. He caught a few, there were too many. They swarmed him and pulled him to the ground.
“No, stop!” he pleaded as he thrashed violently. “Wake up! You’re better than this!”
The boy growled and groaned as someone drove their foot into his ribs. Another person grabbed his hair and began to pull. Yet another punched his leg. He lashed back at them, he tried to get up and get away, but they wouldn’t let him!
“Please!” he wheezed, as he elbowed someone trying to choke him. Mercifully, it did make them release their death grip. “I’m sorry! I’ll go! Just let me–”
Nori raised his arms to shield his head from the many people trying to punch or kick at it. Every time he tried to stand, someone shoved him down. Whenever he tried to go for a Poke Ball, someone kicked his arm away. Was this it? Was this how he…?
Everything was clear to her.
This was not a dangerous Pokemon. All that this Malamar wanted was to make friends. She must have been so lonely after her trainer left her. If companionship was all she wished for, then Prema would be happy to provide it. Malamar would be her friend. Malamar was her friend. That made her happy.
Why was Nori not seeing that? It was clear. Why was Nori saying to wake up? She was awake. There were so many questions. It bothered her. Something felt wrong. Something she could not identify.
Why was Nori saying all those bad things about Malamar? Why was he running away?
Why was he saying he was going to deal with Malamar?
Why was Malamar trying to hurt Nori?
Prema watched. His force of will had to be incredible to resist a Telekinesis attack. Her friend began murmuring in shock.
Then came a scream of panic. “He is going to hurt me!” Malamar cried out. “Help! Stop him!”
Her friend was in trouble! On primal reflex, she sprang into action. Then her body froze. Another part of her mind made her stop.
This felt wrong. Why was that? If only she could place it. She looked at Malamar, who was simply watching. Her friend wanted her to stop Nori. Nori wanted to hurt Malamar. Malamar was in trouble.
Her friend was in trouble.
He cried out in pain as the mob attacked him. They were hurting him. He was in trouble. Her friend.
Nori was in trouble!
Prema gasped and clutched at herself. Lucidity quickly gave way to terror. Her breaths came out in short spurts. How could this happen to her, a Kannagi?! The teenager cursed her weakness. This was no time for self-pity. She had to do something!
On sheer instinct, she reached out and grabbed the mop that was now lying forgotten on the floor. Her heart seized for a second at her action, yet her hesitation quickly vanished. Her nostrils flared, her muscles spasmed, and her pulse raced.
“Prema–” Malamar turned just in time to see, but not in time to stop her kendo swing.
“HYA!”
She took a step forward and swung with the full force of her arms and body. Right before impact, she was worried the mop was going to break. Instead, it held together. Her momentum briefly slowed as she made contact with the rogue Pokemon and sent it crashing face down onto the floor. It lay unmoving after her strike.
The mop clattered down as she dropped it in shock. She had attacked a Pokemon in a blind rage – and it worked! Thank the gods it worked, because that was uncharacteristic impulse on her part! She was just so mad at them for hurting–
“Nori!”
She dashed over and began pulling people off him. With the squid temporarily incapacitated, they did not stop her from doing so. Prema was unsure how long that would last. As soon as her path was clear, she reached out, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him up. Her friend quickly found his footing and followed her as she pulled him to safety.
Once she was sure they were not pursuing, she stopped to check on him. Nori looked awful just from those few seconds of being assaulted. He had a black eye, tears were streaming down his face, his jacket had been torn off, some of his hair was ripped out, and he had bruises on his arms and likely on his legs as well.
A series of pulsating lights overtook her vision. They gave way to images. It was like seeing through Malamar’s eyes. This time, what she witnessed was far more vivid.
An older silver-haired man in a black suit was standing before her in an empty field during the dead of winter. Her senses went haywire processing everything. She could feel the cold snow beneath her feet as if she was there, but it was less chilling than the man before her. Every muscle on his body and every word in his tone reeked of utter disgust. Her heart panged as emotions forced their way into it. Betrayal, fear, solitude.
No, not this time. Not when she knew what this Malamar had done. This was inexcusable. She shut her eyes and began to empty her mind. She replaced them with thoughts.
She had met Nori nearly a year and a half ago. It was fate that brought them together to help a Pokemon in need, and fate that saw them reunited. In the four short months she had been in Veilstone with him, he had become someone she could depend upon completely. And he felt much the same about her. They were comfortable confiding anything in each other, including concerns that they could tell no one else. They helped each other through so much already. The two of them were always there for each other. Because they were friends. Real friends, and best friends. She did not want to begin to imagine life without him.
When Prema opened her eyes again, her steely gaze made Malamar freeze. Her beak fell open. The spots on the Pokemon flashed again, but with her spirit and resolve hardened, they had no effect.
“I see,” Malamar spoke into her mind. “You value your friendship with him over your friendship with me.”
She reached over and steadied the wobbly Nori, holding him until his balance returned. He was still with her, thankfully. To think that she had only asked him to come along on a whim. It was his presence that helped return her to reality.
“I could not stand idly by while my friend was being attacked,” Prema finally replied. She glanced at Nori. At that moment, her skin and nostrils tingled. She could not help but smile as an epiphany sank in, warming her soul. “There is little I value more than him.”
“Prema, why?” Malamar lamented. “I thought we were friends. Why did you hurt me?”
“You are not my friend,” she declared. Not at present, and the chance of it in the future was dubious. “If you felt lonely in the wake of being abandoned, that is understandable. But forcing people to be your friends is not the way to go about it. You were controlling them. Even without this being in the literal sense, that is what is called a toxic friendship. There are many humans in the world who do not respect Pokemon, but there are also Pokemon who do not respect humanity. You are one of them.” She pointed at the rogue Malamar. “Your assault on a helpless person proves your true character. As a representative of the Kannagi family, I will stop you here and now.”
Malamar reeled back with a squeal. Prema was briefly concerned that they would have to flee from her enraged victims. But they were near motionless. Maybe it was her family name that made Malamar hesitate. Whatever it was, she would take what she could get.
She turned her attention back to her friend. The fact that he still had not reacted or even spoken a word was concerning. Much as he had before, she grabbed him by the shoulders. “Nori, are you okay?”
“Y-yeah, I’ll live. But Prema, that was…” He coughed and clutched himself in pain, yet a huge grin still managed to form on his face. He returned her gesture, holding her as well. “That was badass! All of it! And I feel the same!”
Had he seen her attack? She turned away slightly, unsure how to respond. So all she did was smile and nod. “Thank you,” she said.
Prema wanted to say that she took no pride or joy in it, and probably should have, but she was too caught up in the moment. If only it could last longer.
She glanced at their enemy. “We need to stop her.”
“But there’s people here!” He slowly let go of her and looked over at the crowd. They were now slowly advancing toward them. Yes, they were a problem.
“Then we will have to win this quickly,” she said with a confident smile. Nori was not the only friend of hers who would never fall for mind control. She reached into her robe for him. “Yahata, go!”
Nori took out a Pokemon as well. “Sengo, there’s no need to hold back.”
His Pawniard and her Dartrix emerged. The two Pokemon glared at Malamar, taking stock of the situation immediately. Between the two of them, the owl’s eyes – which he always kept open in contrast to most of his species – might have been even colder. Malamar’s reaction was the expected one: the lights on her belly flashed again.
She was fine, and Nori only growled. Prema held her breath. She let it out when she heard Sengo’s sinister chuckling and Yahata’s sharp cawing. Just as she thought. Yahata was fully dedicated to her protection, and Sengo had a meditative calm. Having seen that, she was certain Malamar would not chance having one of the people she enthralled send out a Pokemon. There was no guarantee that they would cooperate.
“Yahata, swoop in with a Leaf Blade!” she shouted.
Nori put his hands on his hips. “Taunt it,” he said simply.
Malamar swung her tentacles twice, sending Psycho Cuts at each of their Pokemon. It fizzled harmlessly against the Pawniard’s body, whereas Yahata deftly avoided it and struck with the edges of his wings. Right after impact, Sengo began making mocking gestures, likely making some cruel commentary.
Prema was intrigued, leaning forward to watch the result. Nori had taken an interesting approach. There was a certain brilliance to it. A Taunt normally enrages a Pokemon into attacking. If it worked, that might distract her and make her unable to hold her spell!
Malamar, however, simply narrowed her eyes to slits and shook it off. She was too levelheaded herself. The priestess huffed, but supposed it was too much to hope for.
“Fine, whatever,” Nori said with a smirk. “Sengo, X-Scissor.”
The Pawniard dashed forward, grinning maliciously. His claws began to shine a lime green color. Malamar could sense that attack would spell trouble. She levitated herself and began to float away into the sea of people.
Prema was aware she had to act fast. “Cut Malamar off with Shadow Sneak, Yahata!”
Malamar had almost made it into the crowd when Yahata rapidly extended his shadow along the ground. A phantasmal projection of the owl materialized and knocked her back, right into the crossed blades of Sengo. The attack was brutally effective, sending the rogue Pokemon crashing down onto the floor.
Prema could sense bits of the Pokemon’s desperate telepathy leaking through as she lay flat. “H… …tect…”
People started diving onto Malamar to cover her. Nori raised a palm at the advancing Sengo. He feinted a lunge; the enthralled people did not even notice. His Pokemon would have no regrets about going through them, but Nori was a different story.
Yet it did not change the truth that taking human shields would not save her. “Yahata, finish this with Swift!”
Yahata drew back a wing and fired out a wave of stars. The projectiles soared through the air, finding every little opening there was. Each impact made Malamar cry out, until finally, she stopped reacting to them.
At this, all her victims fell over at once. Some crumpled, others toppled like a tree, and the ones trying to protect Malamar simply went limp.
“Oh no!” Nori bolted over and started shaking people at random. “What happened?! Are they okay! How did–”
“Nori, do not worry,” she called out to him. She flashed a smile of assurance. “They were simply rendered unconscious by the shock of the psychic connection being broken. There should be no lasting harm. They will recover shortly.”
Her friend took a deep breath. “That’s good, that’s good. I just hope no one got hurt when they fell.”
That was how someone could get hurt by it, yes. But it was not something they could concern themselves with for the moment. Nori understood as well. He walked over to her with a massive grin on his face.
“Prema, thanks.” He bowed formally to her. “You saved my life.”
“Nori, you saved mine,” she said in return, placing a hand over her chest. “I do not want to think of what would have happened if not for your willpower. You stood firm in a way that would make the Great Azelf proud. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
“I guess,” he sheepishly rubbed his head. He momentarily paused and tapped it as he felt his missing hair. Her friend shrugged it off with a chuckle. “Gonna need to cut this even. But anyways, you broke out of it, so you have willpower too.”
“It is because I had someone important to protect,” she said with a beam. That was the source of her strength.
“Me too.” He gave her a thumbs up.
She slouched as reality crashed upon her. This was a situation she never should have been in. She was not just a Kannagi: she was the heir to the family. Her abilities and training should have been enough to protect her from a simple thing as a wild Pokemon enthralling her. It was not. She had a long way to go before she was worthy of the title of Master.
“Are you okay?” Nori was right in front of her, a hesitant hand reaching for her.
“I am,” she lied. This was not the time or the place for self-loathing. They still had a situation to finish dealing with. “For the moment, we must do something about this Malamar.”
At this, Sengo raised his claws, ready to deliver a final blow. Nori waved him off with both hands. The cruel Pokemon faux pouted, though kept his Cheshire grin. “I guess we should capture her, huh? Do you have a Poke Ball?”
She did. She always carried some with her in case they were necessary. Prema retrieved it from her robe’s inner pocket and offered it. “I believe you should be the one to do so. She is a Pokemon you might be qualified to help.”
She glanced over at Yahata, considering how he would feel about a new comrade. He gave his answer by pointing at Nori.
“A facility might accept her. We’ll see how I feel and what the Officials say,” he said as he accepted it. He turned and started to approach to use it, only to freeze mid-step.
Prema was about to ask him what was wrong, when she saw it herself. It was a little hard to see with all the people on top of it, but she knew what that was.
A bright light was shining and enveloping the form of the unconscious Malamar. Sengo and Yahata backed up and got into battle stances. Prema looked at Nori, who nodded in acknowledgment. This was not over yet. But with her friend at her side, they could take on any challenge.
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TO BE CONTINUED IN SOME FIC SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE...
This uses the characters from my Nori/Prema metaseries because it started off as "what would it be like from the perspective of someone who resists mind control" (Nori) then I came up with actual direction as I went along. Don't worry, there's no context needed here, it's totally standalone. It's part of what will be a greater whole eventually (I plan ahead and this was an idea that took shape because of this), but there's no time like the present to post this. It was created and edited in the span of like 48 hours, so might be a bit unpolished in places.
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Nori blinked away the spots in his soft red-colored eyes. For a second, it seemed like everything was upside down. But he couldn’t let weird things distract him! He adjusted his gray jacket and scowled at the stupid squid-thing.
“So you’re the leader here!” the chestnut-haired boy shouted. His voice reverberated through the basement. It was big, wide, open, and empty aside from all the people and their so-called friend. They were standing stupefied, and he hoped they stayed that way.
The thing apparently called a Malamar raised and wiggled its tentacles as its eyes narrowed into tiny little slivers. Nori used the chance to whip out a Poke Ball from his jeans’ left pocket. If this was a Pokemon, all he had to do was beat it!
Pachi emerged from his capsule. The little squirrel squeaked and struck a pose. A thought fleeted through his mind: where was Prema? They’d gotten separated, and he found his way here when looking for her. Well, it didn’t matter! She asked him to help, and he was happy to deliver.
“Pachi, quick! Swift!” Nori jumped and pointed with two fingers. No taking chances!
A bright light filled the room. Blinded again! He shook off the nausea from it and listened for the attack to execute. A Flash wasn’t going to do anything against a Swift!
Nothing happened. The silence was deafening as Pachi slowly turned around. He had a far-off look in his eyes. Was that confusion!?
The squid-thing gestured with a tentacle, and Nori’s breath caught in his throat as Pachi’s tail began to twitch. No, this was far worse! This was mind control!
He was still holding the Poke Ball, though! His Pokemon jumped into the air to attack – this was exactly what his training was for! He just never imagined he’d be using it on Pachi! His aim was perfect, and the Pachirisu returned to the confines of his ball.
“That won’t work!” he shouted, taking a step forward and stomping a foot down. “No wonder people are following you! It’s the only way they would like your ugly crazy–”
More flashing. He clutched at his head; this time was way worse than its previous attempts! It was like sparks were surging through his brain! Like someone was screaming at him! But no, this stupid thing wouldn’t beat him! He could still–
“Please calm down and look around you.”
Nori screamed, jumped, and swung wildly as a high-pitched voice boomed. He hyperventilated as he tried to find where that came from. It was unnatural; it didn’t echo in the room like his shouting did. It was like it was… Maybe right in his mind?
“Why should I listen to you?!” he turned and yelled at the Malamar. He assumed this was telepathy.
“Then please listen to them and hear how they feel,” it said softly. Its mouth didn’t move, so that definitely was telepathy. As if it were some sort of army general, the people all stood perfectly straight. Cued by a twirl of a tentacle, they addressed him.
“Malamar is my friend.”
“She is my friend.”
“My friend.”
“I love Malamar.”
“I love my friend.”
“Be Malamar’s friend.”
“Malamar is our friend.”
“Friend.”
This continued with similar remarks. They spoke monotonously, one after another, never speaking over each other. They kept prattling on and on.
Nori clenched his teeth and his fists. “What the hell’s going on here?! What is this?” he demanded, taking another step towards the squid-thing.
It was hard to tell with its beak, but from how its eyes moved, it was almost like the thing was smiling. “These are my friends. I always wanted to have a lot of friends. They’re happy, which makes me happy. Even your friends are my friends.” The Malamar gestured with a tentacle.
Nori turned, and a group of people parted to reveal her. In her violet robe, with her green hair. Prema was standing and staring forward vacantly. Her normally bright blue eyes were dull and lifeless. While she was often expressionless, this was way different from her typical serene calm. This was… It was like nothingness!
“Malamar is my friend.” she droned.
“No, please,” he sputtered. The boy ran towards the priestess. He reached out and grabbed her by the shoulders, shaking her vigorously. “Prema, please wake up. It’s controlling your mind! You have to wake up! Please!”
She brushed his arms away. It was practically a feather touch, yet it sent Nori stumbling back harder than any shove could. His knees started to buckle. It felt like his eyes were burning. Was she just gone?!
“I want to be friends with you too, Nori. I want to make you happy.”
Those words did two things. First, hearing his name made a chill run down his spine. Then, adrenaline surged through his veins. “Screw you! I’m already happy! And why would I ever be friends with you?!”
He flipped off the Pokemon and turned to the brainwashed people. He wasn’t sure what he could do here, but he had to do something! Try something! There was nothing to do but do it! Because if he didn’t, he’d already lost!
“Snap out of it, you stupid morons!” he cried, stomping a foot. He sniveled before yelling, “Stupid… Malamorons! Don’t let this stupid thing control you!” His words had to get through to someone! Anyone!
He yelped when a guy grabbed his arm. On sheer instinct, he whirled and smacked him across the face. The guy went stumbling back in a daze, stopping hunched over and holding his cheek. Did that do it? Was it that simple?! Just knock them to their senses?
The guy slowly looked up at him, with that same empty look in his eyes he had seen on everyone here. “He hurt me.”
“He hurt him,” a janitor droned, dropping his mop.
“He wants to hurt us.”
“He’d hurt our friend.”
“Malamar is our friend.”
“We have to stop him.”
Okay, wrong move! Nori scrambled away as they lumbered towards him like zombies, jabbing and swinging at anyone too close. The door was right there in front of him. He could easily get away, but then what?! He’d be leaving Prema here, and what if they just disappeared forever?!
“Please stop this, Nori,” the Malamar soothed as he slowed to a stop. “Why do you not want to be my friend?”
Nori closed his eyes, straightened his posture, and pivoted to face his foe. The action was enough to make everyone take pause.
“Because I’m Nori Carino, the Pokemon Rehabilitator! I deal with problematic Pokemon that no one else can, and YOU!” He put his hands on his hips with authority. “Have to be dealt with!”
He pumped his arms and held them in front of him. There was no need to overthink things! His first instinct was right! Just kick this thing’s ass and it’d all be over!
“Stop this.”
His body suddenly seized up and started floating. The Malamar’s eyes glowed a sickly violet. Damn it, that was right! This thing was a Psychic-type, too! But not even that could stop him!
Mustering all of his strength, he began to move his left arm. It was like trying to force through a thick swamp filled with snow. His limb shook violently, like it might pop right out of his socket or outright break in half. But he HAD to do this! He had to save Prema and all these people!
Maybe it was his instincts, or maybe the telepathy went both ways, because he could sense the gradually rising fear in the Malamar as his hand got closer to his pocket. He could feel his torso shift vaguely, as if it were contemplating simply throwing him with the telekinesis. He braced his body for that possibility. But as soon as it did that, he was sending out his Pawniard!
It wailed incoherently. The boy winced from the ear-splitting sound. He was freed and landed firm on his feet, but almost all the people in the room were suddenly rushing towards him.
They were on him too quick. Nori started swinging and kicking. He caught a few, there were too many. They swarmed him and pulled him to the ground.
“No, stop!” he pleaded as he thrashed violently. “Wake up! You’re better than this!”
The boy growled and groaned as someone drove their foot into his ribs. Another person grabbed his hair and began to pull. Yet another punched his leg. He lashed back at them, he tried to get up and get away, but they wouldn’t let him!
“Please!” he wheezed, as he elbowed someone trying to choke him. Mercifully, it did make them release their death grip. “I’m sorry! I’ll go! Just let me–”
Nori raised his arms to shield his head from the many people trying to punch or kick at it. Every time he tried to stand, someone shoved him down. Whenever he tried to go for a Poke Ball, someone kicked his arm away. Was this it? Was this how he…?
---
Everything was clear to her.
This was not a dangerous Pokemon. All that this Malamar wanted was to make friends. She must have been so lonely after her trainer left her. If companionship was all she wished for, then Prema would be happy to provide it. Malamar would be her friend. Malamar was her friend. That made her happy.
Why was Nori not seeing that? It was clear. Why was Nori saying to wake up? She was awake. There were so many questions. It bothered her. Something felt wrong. Something she could not identify.
Why was Nori saying all those bad things about Malamar? Why was he running away?
Why was he saying he was going to deal with Malamar?
Why was Malamar trying to hurt Nori?
Prema watched. His force of will had to be incredible to resist a Telekinesis attack. Her friend began murmuring in shock.
Then came a scream of panic. “He is going to hurt me!” Malamar cried out. “Help! Stop him!”
Her friend was in trouble! On primal reflex, she sprang into action. Then her body froze. Another part of her mind made her stop.
This felt wrong. Why was that? If only she could place it. She looked at Malamar, who was simply watching. Her friend wanted her to stop Nori. Nori wanted to hurt Malamar. Malamar was in trouble.
Her friend was in trouble.
He cried out in pain as the mob attacked him. They were hurting him. He was in trouble. Her friend.
Nori was in trouble!
Prema gasped and clutched at herself. Lucidity quickly gave way to terror. Her breaths came out in short spurts. How could this happen to her, a Kannagi?! The teenager cursed her weakness. This was no time for self-pity. She had to do something!
On sheer instinct, she reached out and grabbed the mop that was now lying forgotten on the floor. Her heart seized for a second at her action, yet her hesitation quickly vanished. Her nostrils flared, her muscles spasmed, and her pulse raced.
“Prema–” Malamar turned just in time to see, but not in time to stop her kendo swing.
“HYA!”
She took a step forward and swung with the full force of her arms and body. Right before impact, she was worried the mop was going to break. Instead, it held together. Her momentum briefly slowed as she made contact with the rogue Pokemon and sent it crashing face down onto the floor. It lay unmoving after her strike.
The mop clattered down as she dropped it in shock. She had attacked a Pokemon in a blind rage – and it worked! Thank the gods it worked, because that was uncharacteristic impulse on her part! She was just so mad at them for hurting–
“Nori!”
She dashed over and began pulling people off him. With the squid temporarily incapacitated, they did not stop her from doing so. Prema was unsure how long that would last. As soon as her path was clear, she reached out, grabbed him by the arm, and pulled him up. Her friend quickly found his footing and followed her as she pulled him to safety.
Once she was sure they were not pursuing, she stopped to check on him. Nori looked awful just from those few seconds of being assaulted. He had a black eye, tears were streaming down his face, his jacket had been torn off, some of his hair was ripped out, and he had bruises on his arms and likely on his legs as well.
A series of pulsating lights overtook her vision. They gave way to images. It was like seeing through Malamar’s eyes. This time, what she witnessed was far more vivid.
An older silver-haired man in a black suit was standing before her in an empty field during the dead of winter. Her senses went haywire processing everything. She could feel the cold snow beneath her feet as if she was there, but it was less chilling than the man before her. Every muscle on his body and every word in his tone reeked of utter disgust. Her heart panged as emotions forced their way into it. Betrayal, fear, solitude.
No, not this time. Not when she knew what this Malamar had done. This was inexcusable. She shut her eyes and began to empty her mind. She replaced them with thoughts.
She had met Nori nearly a year and a half ago. It was fate that brought them together to help a Pokemon in need, and fate that saw them reunited. In the four short months she had been in Veilstone with him, he had become someone she could depend upon completely. And he felt much the same about her. They were comfortable confiding anything in each other, including concerns that they could tell no one else. They helped each other through so much already. The two of them were always there for each other. Because they were friends. Real friends, and best friends. She did not want to begin to imagine life without him.
When Prema opened her eyes again, her steely gaze made Malamar freeze. Her beak fell open. The spots on the Pokemon flashed again, but with her spirit and resolve hardened, they had no effect.
“I see,” Malamar spoke into her mind. “You value your friendship with him over your friendship with me.”
She reached over and steadied the wobbly Nori, holding him until his balance returned. He was still with her, thankfully. To think that she had only asked him to come along on a whim. It was his presence that helped return her to reality.
“I could not stand idly by while my friend was being attacked,” Prema finally replied. She glanced at Nori. At that moment, her skin and nostrils tingled. She could not help but smile as an epiphany sank in, warming her soul. “There is little I value more than him.”
“Prema, why?” Malamar lamented. “I thought we were friends. Why did you hurt me?”
“You are not my friend,” she declared. Not at present, and the chance of it in the future was dubious. “If you felt lonely in the wake of being abandoned, that is understandable. But forcing people to be your friends is not the way to go about it. You were controlling them. Even without this being in the literal sense, that is what is called a toxic friendship. There are many humans in the world who do not respect Pokemon, but there are also Pokemon who do not respect humanity. You are one of them.” She pointed at the rogue Malamar. “Your assault on a helpless person proves your true character. As a representative of the Kannagi family, I will stop you here and now.”
Malamar reeled back with a squeal. Prema was briefly concerned that they would have to flee from her enraged victims. But they were near motionless. Maybe it was her family name that made Malamar hesitate. Whatever it was, she would take what she could get.
She turned her attention back to her friend. The fact that he still had not reacted or even spoken a word was concerning. Much as he had before, she grabbed him by the shoulders. “Nori, are you okay?”
“Y-yeah, I’ll live. But Prema, that was…” He coughed and clutched himself in pain, yet a huge grin still managed to form on his face. He returned her gesture, holding her as well. “That was badass! All of it! And I feel the same!”
Had he seen her attack? She turned away slightly, unsure how to respond. So all she did was smile and nod. “Thank you,” she said.
Prema wanted to say that she took no pride or joy in it, and probably should have, but she was too caught up in the moment. If only it could last longer.
She glanced at their enemy. “We need to stop her.”
“But there’s people here!” He slowly let go of her and looked over at the crowd. They were now slowly advancing toward them. Yes, they were a problem.
“Then we will have to win this quickly,” she said with a confident smile. Nori was not the only friend of hers who would never fall for mind control. She reached into her robe for him. “Yahata, go!”
Nori took out a Pokemon as well. “Sengo, there’s no need to hold back.”
His Pawniard and her Dartrix emerged. The two Pokemon glared at Malamar, taking stock of the situation immediately. Between the two of them, the owl’s eyes – which he always kept open in contrast to most of his species – might have been even colder. Malamar’s reaction was the expected one: the lights on her belly flashed again.
She was fine, and Nori only growled. Prema held her breath. She let it out when she heard Sengo’s sinister chuckling and Yahata’s sharp cawing. Just as she thought. Yahata was fully dedicated to her protection, and Sengo had a meditative calm. Having seen that, she was certain Malamar would not chance having one of the people she enthralled send out a Pokemon. There was no guarantee that they would cooperate.
“Yahata, swoop in with a Leaf Blade!” she shouted.
Nori put his hands on his hips. “Taunt it,” he said simply.
Malamar swung her tentacles twice, sending Psycho Cuts at each of their Pokemon. It fizzled harmlessly against the Pawniard’s body, whereas Yahata deftly avoided it and struck with the edges of his wings. Right after impact, Sengo began making mocking gestures, likely making some cruel commentary.
Prema was intrigued, leaning forward to watch the result. Nori had taken an interesting approach. There was a certain brilliance to it. A Taunt normally enrages a Pokemon into attacking. If it worked, that might distract her and make her unable to hold her spell!
Malamar, however, simply narrowed her eyes to slits and shook it off. She was too levelheaded herself. The priestess huffed, but supposed it was too much to hope for.
“Fine, whatever,” Nori said with a smirk. “Sengo, X-Scissor.”
The Pawniard dashed forward, grinning maliciously. His claws began to shine a lime green color. Malamar could sense that attack would spell trouble. She levitated herself and began to float away into the sea of people.
Prema was aware she had to act fast. “Cut Malamar off with Shadow Sneak, Yahata!”
Malamar had almost made it into the crowd when Yahata rapidly extended his shadow along the ground. A phantasmal projection of the owl materialized and knocked her back, right into the crossed blades of Sengo. The attack was brutally effective, sending the rogue Pokemon crashing down onto the floor.
Prema could sense bits of the Pokemon’s desperate telepathy leaking through as she lay flat. “H… …tect…”
People started diving onto Malamar to cover her. Nori raised a palm at the advancing Sengo. He feinted a lunge; the enthralled people did not even notice. His Pokemon would have no regrets about going through them, but Nori was a different story.
Yet it did not change the truth that taking human shields would not save her. “Yahata, finish this with Swift!”
Yahata drew back a wing and fired out a wave of stars. The projectiles soared through the air, finding every little opening there was. Each impact made Malamar cry out, until finally, she stopped reacting to them.
At this, all her victims fell over at once. Some crumpled, others toppled like a tree, and the ones trying to protect Malamar simply went limp.
“Oh no!” Nori bolted over and started shaking people at random. “What happened?! Are they okay! How did–”
“Nori, do not worry,” she called out to him. She flashed a smile of assurance. “They were simply rendered unconscious by the shock of the psychic connection being broken. There should be no lasting harm. They will recover shortly.”
Her friend took a deep breath. “That’s good, that’s good. I just hope no one got hurt when they fell.”
That was how someone could get hurt by it, yes. But it was not something they could concern themselves with for the moment. Nori understood as well. He walked over to her with a massive grin on his face.
“Prema, thanks.” He bowed formally to her. “You saved my life.”
“Nori, you saved mine,” she said in return, placing a hand over her chest. “I do not want to think of what would have happened if not for your willpower. You stood firm in a way that would make the Great Azelf proud. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.”
“I guess,” he sheepishly rubbed his head. He momentarily paused and tapped it as he felt his missing hair. Her friend shrugged it off with a chuckle. “Gonna need to cut this even. But anyways, you broke out of it, so you have willpower too.”
“It is because I had someone important to protect,” she said with a beam. That was the source of her strength.
“Me too.” He gave her a thumbs up.
She slouched as reality crashed upon her. This was a situation she never should have been in. She was not just a Kannagi: she was the heir to the family. Her abilities and training should have been enough to protect her from a simple thing as a wild Pokemon enthralling her. It was not. She had a long way to go before she was worthy of the title of Master.
“Are you okay?” Nori was right in front of her, a hesitant hand reaching for her.
“I am,” she lied. This was not the time or the place for self-loathing. They still had a situation to finish dealing with. “For the moment, we must do something about this Malamar.”
At this, Sengo raised his claws, ready to deliver a final blow. Nori waved him off with both hands. The cruel Pokemon faux pouted, though kept his Cheshire grin. “I guess we should capture her, huh? Do you have a Poke Ball?”
She did. She always carried some with her in case they were necessary. Prema retrieved it from her robe’s inner pocket and offered it. “I believe you should be the one to do so. She is a Pokemon you might be qualified to help.”
She glanced over at Yahata, considering how he would feel about a new comrade. He gave his answer by pointing at Nori.
“A facility might accept her. We’ll see how I feel and what the Officials say,” he said as he accepted it. He turned and started to approach to use it, only to freeze mid-step.
Prema was about to ask him what was wrong, when she saw it herself. It was a little hard to see with all the people on top of it, but she knew what that was.
A bright light was shining and enveloping the form of the unconscious Malamar. Sengo and Yahata backed up and got into battle stances. Prema looked at Nori, who nodded in acknowledgment. This was not over yet. But with her friend at her side, they could take on any challenge.
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TO BE CONTINUED IN SOME FIC SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE...
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