#apollopikachu

“Mr. Grail?” Apollo sat on the broad shoulder of the Feraligatr, a yawn escaping after he got the Grail’s attention. A low hum escaped from between his jaws as he continued moving through the misty forest. “Why did you ask me if Hydra had glowing eyes earlier?”

“Hmm? I thought you’d have known that spell at least. It lets you see the flowin’ of magical energy.”

“It can... flow?” Apollo tilted his head letting his ears flop to one side.

“Well of course... you don’t know that either?”

Apollo shook his head, “No...”

“Well, every ‘mon has energy flowin’ in and out of them. It’s like breathing but their bodies just naturally collect the stuff. They’ll collect it from tree o’ the air, everything really.” Grail moved his claws to point out those around them.

“But I’m draining other pokemon right? Do others do that as well?”

“Ah... no they don’t. My workin’ theory is that your body is starving of the energy, and being surrounded by so many Ninetales with an abundance of magical energy... your body started leaching off of them. In high numbers it’s no problem, but get someone alone for long enough and you’ll drain them completely.”

“So... Hydra figured out I was draining her and scared me off to save herself.”

“Ay, she could’ve explained maybe, but she probably wasn’t thinkin’ right.”

Apollo drooped his head, “Oh... I wonder if I should apologize then.”

Grail was silent before his deep voice rang again, “I- it’s not your fault, but it’s not her’s either. Might be just best to talk to her once we’re back”

Apollo: Oh, they were really nice to me. Probably the nicest person I’ve ever met besides Mr. Grail… I feel like I owe her a great deal for all of that kindness, the s’mores and the advice I mean.

I still feel guilty for never getting to meet her pikachu friend though, I was looking forward to meeting one for the first time. And they were talking quite highly of them as well.

Previous

“Apollo...” Grail’s deep but caring voice hummed between the trees as he looked down on the crying pikachu. Kneeling down he could tell the electric type was trembling uncontrollably, “Are you alright?” The feraligatr could hardly tell if he were shaking his head or trembling. “...What do you say we head back to the tower with Hydra? The event’s ending soon...”  Lowering his claw to his level Apollo shook his head.

He wouldn’t look up at Grail as he sobbed quietly, yet a question squeaked out of him, “Hydra thinks I’m a monster doesn’t she? Just like the others.” Apollo voice cracked as he whined out his question. 

Grail’s claw didn’t move, but whether he intended to pick Apollo up or just help him up was unclear. He gave a sigh seeing his little friend in such distress, “There’s a lot ya don’t know and-”

Apollo suddenly stood, “That’s what King has told me so many times... even Hydra said that!” he shouted up at Grail, tears rolling down his face even in his anger. “Just tell me why I can’t be normal!”

Grail paused at his change in mood, “You’re drainin’ magical energy from everything around you. Everyone you met at the festival, me, the ground below your feet, and Hydra.” His eyes changed from their normal grey color to a glowing blue tone. “I’m guessin’ Hydra’s eyes looked like this before you ran off here?” The hand he had offered him before pointed to his eyes, Apollo nodded slowly as he was still trying to take in what the Feraligatr was telling him. “Then she could see you actively draining her and had to scare you off before you drained her completely...”

“I-is she okay?” Apollo mumbled up at the Feraligatr.

Grail nodded, “She only passed out, King is taking her back to the tower to rest.”

“Wait, both of you are here? W-Why?” Apollo stammered.

“We both found out about one of the High Lord’s theories that you were draining others, but we knew if it were true then anyone here would be in trouble.” Grail watched as Apollo drooped his head a bit, knowing he caused them so much trouble. “Come on, King is worried about ya.” Apollo shyly climbed into his open hand, as the pikachu was small enough to be easily lifted to Grail’s shoulder.

But a thought rang in his head once he was there, “B-but what if I drain too much of your energy!”

Grail gave a short laugh, “You’ll have to spend about 2000 years with me in order to do that. Don’t worry kid, we’ll figure this out.”

Previous

Apollo made it into the darker corner of the forest, the light hadn’t been strung out this far making it a perfect place to be alone. His tears had all but fallen from his face, he wiped away the trail they left with shaking paws. He quietly sobbed into the dark of the forest around him, knowing no one would be able to find him. To see him so weak and useless. As he finished wiping his eyes a glow had appeared from the tree ahead that cast a harsh shadow on him. The long shadows of the trees around moved in sync with it as lurked it’s way out from behind the tree.

An Ampharos, though it didn’t look like a normal one. The tall standing pokemon wore black on it’s front accompanied by a pattern of the same color down it’s back trailing all the way down to one orb that illuminated the end of it’s tail. Another yellow orb sat on it’s mostly white head, shining at the sad pikachu who cuddled next to a tree. It drew closer; inspecting the small pokemon below it by craning it’s neck down. He could see into it’s eye, like it’s white pupil was floating on a sea of black. The other eye closed and didn’t open when it blinked at him. It simply shook it’s head at him, “Rejected... Poor child.” Her voice was calm, her hand reached out to wipe away a tear from his face. “But it’s okay, you see I’m a lot like you. We’re both pretty scary monsters to others...” 

Apollo trembled under her caring hand, “I- I’m not a monster.” His voice was still shaky from crying, but his sadness had now been overtaken by fear of this mysterious Ampharos.

“That ninetales seemed awfully afraid of you though... don’t you remember her face? Those flames spilling out as she bore her teeth at you, she intended to use them on you...” A sickening feeling invaded his stomach as he as she described the events that had just unfolded. “Can’t you see I’m just like you? I’m here to help you, I’m here to-” The Ampharos removed her hand from the small electric type as she stood, a scowl covered her seemingly cheery face as she listened to the forest around them.

Apollo’s eyes welled up with tears, but as he started to clear them away both her orbs went dark and the forest went silent again. Apollo blinked as his teary eyes adjusted to the darker setting; the calm silence let him breath a sigh of relief knowing that lady was gone, but heavy foot steps behind him set his heart racing again. Only for it to be settled as an unexpected guest put his claw against the tree.

“M-Mr. Grail?”

A yawn escaped Hydra as she stood and stretched her legs, “Apollo I think it’s about time we head for home, or at least your home.”Her body wobbled a bit once she stood on all fours again, her face showing a bit of confusion to it.

Apollo jumped from his sitting position and tilted his head, “Are you sure we should be heading home so late? You look very tired...” His hands reached up to hide his own yawn from her.

“No, no I’m just-” The ninetales was still uneasy on her feet yet she still stood looking away. It was only when she tried to turn the her legs gave out from under her and Apollo rushed to her side.

“Ms. Hydra are you o...kay?” He hesitated on his word as Hydra’s glare shot up at him.

Her eyes were glowing with a flickering blue light rather than her normal purple. Without much provocation her maw bore her teeth and anger washed over her face. “Leave me alone! Get away!” Apollo stumbled backwards away from her, stuttering apologies and promises he did nothing wrong. The Ninetale’s anger grew as flame started drooling from between her teeth. “Get away from me!” Apollo, confused and with tears flowing down his cheeks, turned himself around and escaped on all fours.

“Miss Hydra!” Apollo called out to the sitting ninetales who gazed up at the stars. A brow rose at the strangely excited pikachu who ran to her side holding a s’more for her. “I brought you a s’more, I made it myself!” He happily held it out her way before realizing there was no easy way for her to hold it herself, instead placing it just before her on the ground. “Y-you didn’t seem the type to make one yourself, so... I thought I’d bring you one.” Apollo stood nervously twisting his hands waiting for her to try his creation.

Hydra glanced down at the sweet snack giving it a cautious sniff. She never really enjoyed sweets but she couldn’t just push it away. She nibbled at first, the edge of the gram cracker breaking off but nothing more. Apollo seemed to notice with a disappointed sigh thinking she wasn’t going to try it. In that moment she took one large bite of it, the s’more crumbling into the grass below. Apollo held his question as the ninetales tried to chew as quietly as she could. “That wasn’t too bad... good job.” She complimented him yet she had no plans on eating the rest of the s’more.

Apollo gave a sigh of relief as a smile crossed his face and his tail waved behind him, “That’s good.” He stood awkwardly beside her as she continued to gaze off into the starry sky before Hydra patted against the grass ground with her tail, inviting him to sit. “H-How has the event been for you? I’ve talked to a lot of nice people so far...” He trailed off with a yawn as he planted himself in the grass alongside her.

Hydra groaned a bit, “It’s... been fine.” she looked skyward again. The stars hanging beautifully above them. Apollo looked over at his with a concerned, yet tired look. “I bet you haven’t gotten to see the stars like this before, have you? Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I did either.”

“The few books and charts I’ve looked over just don’t do it justice...” It was quiet again, the crowd’s passing mumbling echoing in the hills around them.

“Shape Shifter... did you know the first person who held that title within our clan was once held higher than the first masters?” Apollo simply shook his head at her question, while many of his own questions waited to burst from his mouth. “So you don’t know anything, it’s better that way.” Her gaze watched the stars slowly turn as Apollo was left trying to form his own question. A sly grin crossed her face as she looked back to the pikachu who was ready to speak his question, “So when are you going to show us your vulpix form?”

This caught him a bit off guard, “I-I don’t think- maybe soon but I mean...” One of Hydra’s tails patted him on the head stopping the rambling little mouse.

She shook her head at his rambling and turn her playful grin back to the stars, “I’m messing with you kid, show us when you’re ready. I will admit that I am a bit curious... but it’s your choice.” Apollo smiled a bit as her tail lifted off of his head.

Apollo sat and thought for a moment, shifting his head back a forth thinking on who the Oshawott was talking about, “Oh, you mean mister Grail? I didn’t know you talked to him before.” Though he figured out that part of Dylan’s greeting his question was just as confusing.

“V-vaguely?” Apollo looked himself over and frowned at the comment, “I-I guess to answer you I made it look like this… but I was told I look close to a normal one.” Though his disappointed voice didn’t hold for long as he twisted his neck and looked over the Tepig before him, “And I’m not sick… If every odd colored pokemon were sick or dying I should be able to apply that to you, right?” He blinked a few times, scratching his chin at her confusing logic, “I mean, you look vaguely like a Tepig…”