katiekitten
The Compromise
Well, after recieving some very helpful advice from Negrek, I decided to rewrite Phoenix. I have currently rewritten the first chapter, and I hope it has improved. 
Enjoy!
Chapter 1.
The howling cry of the wind whistles across the land, a cloud of dust billowing in its wake. The angry bubbling of fiercely boiling water accompanies it, as it soars across the tortured landscape, rising to the bloodstained heavens as gouts of fire erupt from below. Volcanoes spit sulphur into the atmosphere, forming odious clouds that in turn release swaths of acid rain upon the newly formed continents. The crash of water on rock as the sea writhes and boils, splashing upon the lava and cooling it. Creation. Wonderful, isn’t it? So much wild, unrestricted power raging freely. It still surprises me that life could have been created from such unrelenting fury. Fate works in funny ways. The birth of everything: of time, of reality, of life, of death, all in this single episode. The day the first granules of time began to fall, slipping through the thin, graceful neck of the hourglass to land softly at the bottom, crumbling to dust. How beautifully it sparkles, shining like a falling star, mirroring the thousand births, the thousand deaths, the many years captured in a single moment. How silently they fall as centuries pass, cascading down like a golden fountain. The glass signifies the beginning, and the end. For all things shall end, some day. Even the great hourglass will eventually crack and crumble into dust. The ultimate end.
The still early morning silence was broken by a baby’s cries. As the setting quarter moon's rays beamed down at the mountain, a relieved mother was handed her new baby. She shone with happiness as she cooed to the miniature bundle in her arms, oblivious to her surroundings, feeling as if time itself had come to a halt. No sound pentrated the cavern other than those harsh cries, echoing hollowly. The sound of new life, accompanied by the mothers soft whimpers as tears poured silently down her face. Perfect bliss. Who would have thought that such a sound would fill someone with so much happiness? And yet it did. The mother smiled as the crying stopped. Two eyes opened, light brown in color, and gazed lovingly at the person who had brought them into the world.
“It’s a girl!” announced the midwife cheerily, washing her hands in a stone basin and turning to the mother with a huge smile. “Congratulations!”
The mother murmured her thanks and the midwife left. A man stepped out of the corner and walked over, grey eyes sparkling. His fawn tunic and breeches rustled slightly from the movement. Reaching the bedside, he hugged the mother tenderly, brown hair falling over his eyes as he bowed his head to look at his daughter. She blinked, face wrinkling in confusion as she gazed up at this giant. Kneeling down, he caressed his wife’s shoulder lovingly, a lump forming in his throat. She looked up at him, brown eyes filled with happiness, as he tucked her chestnut brown hair behind her ears.
“Well done, Dear!” He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. She rested her head on his chest and sighed happily. There was a rustle of bristled fur; a small, ferret type creature poked its head over the side of the bed and surveyed the new family member.
Lovely, it commented sarcastically, wrinkling its nose in disgust as it looked upon the scrawny pink thing.
The mother scowled, reaching over and slapping its small paws lightly, hurt at the reaction. The man guessed what had happened and laughed.
“The day you learn to hold your tongue,” he informed the furret who was sitting on its hind legs, wincing as it poked one of its front paws, “will be a sacred day, a day they will celebrate for years to come. They shall name it: The sacred day of silence, the merciful reprieve, the day Ganya finally shut u-” He stopped mid sentence to burst out laughing again at the expression on Ganya’s face. The mother smiled, sending a brief thought to her beloved companion.
That makes two of us, then. The furret stuck its tongue out at her, causing her to smile again.
Some friend you are. It sniffed haughtily, swivelling around until its back was facing them, nose in the air. The mother ignored it as it peeked over its shoulder to make sure it was noticed. Disappointed that it had not received any attention, it sighed dramatically, falling backwards onto the covers, where it scratched its belly casually.
I guess I could be quiet for a maximum of five minutes, it considered, sighing again. Although that is all together to generous… It fell silent, watching as the mother hugged her youngest daughter.
“Tala,” she whispered.
Time passes so swiftly, each day flitting past in the time it takes to snuff out a candle. Minute and hours, months and years, all blending together in a constant blur of activity, a raging river that thunders through oblivion, its waters bleeding through the empty space and leaving life springing up in its wake. Without time, there would be nothing. No light, no darkness, no good or evil. Without time there is no you, no me. Just an absence of anything.
Time... In a single second a universe can be born, its future bright before it, the starting block of an entire world. Yet in that same second, a future can be destroyed, a universe, quenched; burnt out like a piece of coal and left to crumble away. Yet those pieces fuel the creation of another universe, another future, another hope. The circle of life. So simple. So... effortless. Time cares for no one, young or old. It only knows itself, and that is the way it will always be.
Sunlight skitters across the cavern, dancing over to a cave that branched off the main one where people were already stirring in preparation for the oncoming day. A makeshift stone stable sat stoutly in the center of the room, the strong odor of horse manure wafting through the doorway. Inside dwelled a Rapidash mare, who shuffled about agitatedly. Her creamy coat glistened with sweat; her constant shuffling had trampled the straw beneath her feet. She tossed her head and snorted with effort, her sides heaving.
“Come on! You can do it! One last heave!”
A small man was hopping about excitedly at her side, supervising the birth. She ground her teeth in frustration, wishing he would just shut up. But as she barely knew him, she had not yet formed the special bond that allowed Pokemon and humans to communicate. Grumbling, she shifted her weight to her other foot, pinning him to the wall. Like a weasel he wriggled out and was behind her again, shouting encouragement. She was so nearly there… Her bones creaked tiredly; it had been a long night. It had been a long seven months, or was it more? She could not remember, nor did she care. All she wanted was to complete her mission, the one task in life she had been asked to complete. Snorting with determination she gave a final push, eager to finish what she had started. A feeling of intense pain stabbed through her, causing her to scream out in agony before it was gone, swept away by a tide of other feelings. She had done it.
Satisfaction swamped her senses and she hung her head in relief, exhausted. The man was making new sounds now, a gentle crooning as he snipped something, before picking up the small bundle and laying it at her feet. She peered down at it, a feeling of love causing tears to spring to her eyes. At her feet was a foal, HER foal, she corrected herself. Reaching down she began to clean away the thin membrane that had protected him for the past couple of months. Once it was all removed, small fires lit up along his neck and at the bottom of his spine. The man was beside himself; he was crying, reaching into his sleeve to remove a well-used handkerchief that he dabbed at his eyes. After failing to mop up the endless flow of tears he blew his nose noisily before leaving the room with a muffled: “I’ll leave you two alone for a while.” The Rapidash ignored him, gazing with adoring eyes at her newborn child.
The foal stirred, blinking blearily at his mother and bleating in confusion. Colors, smells, sounds; they all assaulted him at the same moment, confusing him. He flicked his ears for the first time, staring around with fascination at the new world he had arrived in. After a while of examining everything, he shifted, noticing that there was more to him than he first thought. Craning his neck, he examined these new appendages. Yes, they were definitely his; he recognized the smell, the musky, faintly sweet smell he had begun to associate with himself. He had a strong urge to use them, to stand. He obeyed, lifting first one front hoof, then the other, and pushing up. But that was a hard position to hold, and it didn’t seem to get him anywhere. After a while his footing slipped, and he slid back to the floor. Contemplating what had just happened and his, what he now referred them to as, legs, he decided to try the two back ones. But the result was just as disastrous as the first and he fell once more to the straw.
A nicker sounded above him. He looked up to see this blurry, creamy blob towering over him. He blinked a few times, eyes struggling to focus. An image of a much larger version of himself slowly came into view. He sniffed at a stocky leg just a foot away, recognizing the scent. It was the same smell he had drawn in with his first breath. He felt slightly comforted, looking up with golden brown eyes wide. She nickered again, reassuring him. The urge to stand was stronger, and looking upon this… other... he had an idea of how to accomplish it. Taking a deep breath, he thrust all four legs underneath him and pushed up.
The ground soared away. A wonderful feeling swept though him; it felt as if he was on top of the world. He had done it! He whinnied with pleasure, nodding his head happily, not daring to move anything else as his strength was already failing. A couple seconds later he collapsed, falling in a heap. The other pushed its nose under his belly, helping him as he tried again. This time he managed it for longer. He could feel waves of pride emanate from his helper; he enjoyed it, and wanted to continue to please. After a few failed attempts he made it and stood proudly, turning to the other for praise. She nodded to him before turning and walking a few feet away. There she stood, staring back, willing him to follow. He stared after her in dismay. How on earth was he supposed to get over there? But the look in her eyes reassured him that he could do it. Steeling himself, he copied her and took a few shaky steps forward.
Happiness swept through him once more as he ook his first steps, determination leading his steps. He could see the other, so close yet so far. Every time he fell he remembered the other’s faith in him, and he gritted his teeth and got up once more. After what seemed to be an age, he finally made it and nuzzled the other’s belly, lips clamping around a teat and sucking. Milky goodness filled his mouth, flooding down his throat, the gentle warmth causing shivers of pleasure to run down his spine. He drank hungrily, closing his eyes. Now he knew who the other was. It was his mother... He snuggled closer, still drinking, the scent of his mother all around him, comforting him, making him feel safe. So safe…
There was a tradition passed down through Tala’s tribe that every child on their second birthday would receive a Pokemon that would be their companion. This was so they would have time to connect, to bond, to form the long lasting friendship and allegiance that made up the community. All were equal; Pokemon chose what they would or would not do, as humans could choose themselves.
Everyone contributed to the society in their own ways, the humans to grow and plant the crop with help of their familiars, and the larger, stronger humans and Pokemon to pull the carts, to bind and stack the harvest. They worked side by side, hand in hand, none rising above the other. All must be united in the fight for survival, for there was no time for petty quarrels.
The parents of the child would choose the specie to suit their own profession and those available. For example, a farmer who would take the long and dangerous path to the surface would be more likely to give a child a small, fast Pokemon with hidden strength. This was because they would be able to help them sow the crop but would be strong enough to cut it by Harvest time. Because of this, Zigzagoon were a common favourite, joined by Eevee and other such small, normal-type Pokemon. For those who laboured beneath the surface, the majority, a selection of other Pokemon were available. Construction workers and the like would give Phanpy; their destructive power and reliability was greatly needed in that line of work. The distributors of food would choose Meowth, for their nimble fingers and quick minds, the cats ability to solve problems faster than any humans were able to.
Humans and Pokemon lived together in harmony, accepting each other’s differences and getting on with their lives. As the bond between two subjects grew with time, they would receive the ability to communicate through telepathy, as the bonding process was started so young they know each other as well as they know themselves. This bond was crucial. Without it they were divided, weak. Without it they would fall.
Tala yawned, rolling on to her back and listening hard. It was quiet, only the steady drip of a tap in the corner reaching her ears. She frowned, wondering what was going on. Normally her father’s snores punctuated the silence, and she would listen to it for a while before allowing the steady rumbles to lull her back to sleep. But today it was gone, and the room felt empty without it. She let loose a small whimper, seeing if her father had just stopped snoring. If he were still in the room, he would wake immediately and come to her, cheering her up with ridiculous expressions and tickling her on the tummy. There was no response. She sighed. Now she had to open her eyes. With another whimper for good measure, she flicked her eyes open and sat up, sticking her thumb in her mouth. Her parents' bed was ahead of her, covers tucked neatly under the mattress as if no one had slept in it. She knew they had, for they were there last night… They must have gotten up earlier than her for once. How strange. Normally she was the one who had to wake them up.
A small breeze slid past her, causing her to shiver. She pouted, not liking this one bit. She hated being left alone, and they knew it. So why had they gone now? Her eyelids prickled as tears began to form. Her pout grew bigger, and her face began to crumple in distress. Still no one was coming. Anger rose up from her fear of being abandoned as the first tears began to fall. How dare they leave her! She wanted them to come back NOW! Her anger caused her bed to shake, knocking her favourite toy, a ragged blanket, to the floor. That was the final straw. An angry wail thundered out of the room, echoing down the corridor to where her mother stood, talking quickly to her husband. Hearing her daughter’s cries, she excused herself and ran full pelt to the room where Tala slept. Skidding through the doorway, the mother rushed forward, making soothing noises to the screaming toddler.
Tala’s face was bunched up in an expression of pure misery as she smacked her hands down on her thighs, in the middle of a full-blown temper tantrum. At the sight of her mother hurrying through the door she began to calm down, comforted by the familiar figure. Her mother wrapped her arms around her, patting her on the back and whispering soothing things in her ear. Eventually the sobs turned into choked hiccups as she buried her head in her mother’s hair. The mother smiled gratefully, smoothing Tala’s golden curls. Soon she was silent and her mother stepped back, smiling down at her daughter. Stroking Tala’s face, she wiped away the tears and kissed her on the forehead before picking up Tala’s blanket, wrapping her in it and carrying her to the changing table beside her bed. Setting her down on it, the mother moved away and washed her hands. Returning, she smiled again.
“Do you know what day it is today?”
The whole village had gathered together and they all applauded when Tala entered in her mother’s arms. She blinked slowly, looking around in confusion. Who were all of these people, and why were they clapping? She had not met many of the other villagers, only the ones her age, who were not in the crowd. She sighed and rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, listening for the sound of the door closing behind them. It never came. Curious, she looked up. There were all her friends! Their mothers were also carrying them. She looked ahead, spotting her cousin staring back at her. How odd, why were they all here together? She had no idea.
It was customary to have a ceremony to celebrate the giving of a Pokemon. It occurred once a year at the tail end of autumn, timed to coincide with the ending of the harvest. After the ceremony there would be a great feast, with lots of celebrations and games, to comonirate the renewal of the bond that held the comunity together.
Wooden benches had been set up facing a rectangle of free space that was framed by three of the roughly hewn cave walls. The ceiling arched high above them, the light of the torches failing to reach the very top. The cavern had been naturally formed long before the people of the mountain had discovered it. Pokemon and humans sat together, as this was an initiation ceremony for the young of both races. The Rapidash mother stood beside Tala’s father, both worriedly watching the proceedings. Tala’s mother sat down on the front bench with the other mothers and placed Tala on her lap. Her twin son and daughter sat behind them, watching with wide eyes, as this would be the first ceremony they’d had gone too since their own. A wizened man and woman climbed into the middle of the stage and looked on their people, eyes bright with hope. They were the heads of the village, a title passed on to the elders of the tribe.
”They are certainly getting on, aren't they?” Someone whispered near the back. “They look like shrivelled old prunes.”
The woman glared pointedly in the person’s direction as the skeptic was quickly shushed. Sighing, she turned back to her partner and nodded, her long white robes rustling at the movement. She smoothed down her gown with wrinkled fingers as he prepared himself. Clearing his throat, the man began to speak, smiling at his audience.
“We have gathered here today to witness and celebrate our youngest receiving their lifetime companions! This is a joyous occasion, the birth of the lifelong friendship, the joining of two races!”
His voice boomed around the room. The other mothers got up and began to lead their children to the stage. Tala’s mother took the cue and, setting down Tala, led her to the center of the platform. The woman smiled kindly down at her and nodded to her mother. The man waited until all the mothers had sat down and the woman returned before continuing.
“May the father of this child come forward,” the man commanded.
The girl he had motioned to gazed up at him with wide eyes, lips quivering. The woman patted her shoulder comfortingly as a man from the crowd stepped forward, carrying something in his arms. Walking up to his daughter, he gave her a shaky smile and placed the brown bundle of fur before her.
“Samlin, its name?” the man asked. The father was examining the ground.
“Geoffrey.” Samlin’s voice was a whisper; he was unwilling to break the silence. The old man nodded.
“Thank you, Samlin,” The elder intoned, hinting that he should leave. The man did so, bowing to them respectfully, and, with a final look at his daughter, retreated back to his seat. The little girl stared at the furry brown creature fearfully as it shifted, a face emerging from its bushy brown mane.
“Vulll? Pii… Vul?” It squeaked, uncurling its tail and slowly approaching the child.
The girl didn’t move, gazing at it with wide eyes. The fox like creature bent its neck and sniffed her curiously, causing the girl to giggle as its warm, wet nose tickled her arms. Slowly getting to her feet, she carefully patted the Pokemon. It rubbed its head on her shirt, purring with delight. The girl smiled. The tension in the room faded immediately, and the proud parents walked up and collected their daughter and her new companion. The old lady held out her hand to Tala. She took it and tottered forward, sticking her thumb in her mouth as the kind lady instructed her to stand still and walked back to the old man.
“May the father of this child come forward,” the old man repeated, gesturing to Tala.
Her father nodded, giving his own Rapidash a comforting rub before leading her son upwards. The foal trotted along happily, eyes fixed on the treat Tala’s father had clenched tight in his fist. Once they reached the front, the father slipped it to him and stood at attention. The old man surveyed him with a blank face before continuing the ritual.
“Nogiindi, its name?”
Domego. The Rapidash informed Nogiindi through their bond. He smiled, repeating it to the elder.
Nice name! He commented back to her with approval in his voice. He felt a wash of gratitude come over the link before he returned to the present.
“Thank you Nogiindi. You may go,” Nogiindi nodded, walking over to Tala’s mother and sitting beside her. Her eyes were filled with happy tears as she watched her youngest daughter receive her companion.
The old woman came forward and slipped an apple into Tala’s hand before retreating again. Tala looked at the colt curiously, teetering unsteadily. The foal made the first move, smelling the apple.
What is this small pink and blue thing? Is it nice? he wondered, approaching cautiously, sniffing the air. Tala watched him, eyes wide, as he came steadily closer. Once he was only a foot away, he bent his neck and nuzzled her hand, wanting the apple. She gave it to him, giggling as his lips tickled her palm. The colt towered over her, but that did not matter.
He nuzzled her other hand, hoping there was more. Her smile grew wider and she stroked his nose, liking this new friend. He nickered softly, stepping closer to sniff her toes. She giggled again, putting her arm around his neck, hand passing harmlessly through the flame. Both mother and father gave a sigh of relief; they had been unitedly holding their breath with the fear that she would be burnt. Tala yawned tiredly and rested her head on the colts flank, wanting a nap. He briefly nuzzled her hair before her parents stepped up and led the pair away. It had been a long morning, and Tala fell asleep in her mother’s arms.
Authors Note: The beginning has a point, it is a little introduction by the Narrator. The Narrator is not me, by the way, but another character who you might meet later...
Those who read the previous version: I'm afraid chapters two and three will be prolonged for a while, for I have decided to insert more chapters imbetween the first and number two. So you get to know that characters more.
Edit: Oh, and I can't forget to mention this, (otherwise she will kill me,) Ejunknown beta read this for me. Thankies Ej!
Enjoy!
Chapter 1.
The howling cry of the wind whistles across the land, a cloud of dust billowing in its wake. The angry bubbling of fiercely boiling water accompanies it, as it soars across the tortured landscape, rising to the bloodstained heavens as gouts of fire erupt from below. Volcanoes spit sulphur into the atmosphere, forming odious clouds that in turn release swaths of acid rain upon the newly formed continents. The crash of water on rock as the sea writhes and boils, splashing upon the lava and cooling it. Creation. Wonderful, isn’t it? So much wild, unrestricted power raging freely. It still surprises me that life could have been created from such unrelenting fury. Fate works in funny ways. The birth of everything: of time, of reality, of life, of death, all in this single episode. The day the first granules of time began to fall, slipping through the thin, graceful neck of the hourglass to land softly at the bottom, crumbling to dust. How beautifully it sparkles, shining like a falling star, mirroring the thousand births, the thousand deaths, the many years captured in a single moment. How silently they fall as centuries pass, cascading down like a golden fountain. The glass signifies the beginning, and the end. For all things shall end, some day. Even the great hourglass will eventually crack and crumble into dust. The ultimate end.
***
The still early morning silence was broken by a baby’s cries. As the setting quarter moon's rays beamed down at the mountain, a relieved mother was handed her new baby. She shone with happiness as she cooed to the miniature bundle in her arms, oblivious to her surroundings, feeling as if time itself had come to a halt. No sound pentrated the cavern other than those harsh cries, echoing hollowly. The sound of new life, accompanied by the mothers soft whimpers as tears poured silently down her face. Perfect bliss. Who would have thought that such a sound would fill someone with so much happiness? And yet it did. The mother smiled as the crying stopped. Two eyes opened, light brown in color, and gazed lovingly at the person who had brought them into the world.
“It’s a girl!” announced the midwife cheerily, washing her hands in a stone basin and turning to the mother with a huge smile. “Congratulations!”
The mother murmured her thanks and the midwife left. A man stepped out of the corner and walked over, grey eyes sparkling. His fawn tunic and breeches rustled slightly from the movement. Reaching the bedside, he hugged the mother tenderly, brown hair falling over his eyes as he bowed his head to look at his daughter. She blinked, face wrinkling in confusion as she gazed up at this giant. Kneeling down, he caressed his wife’s shoulder lovingly, a lump forming in his throat. She looked up at him, brown eyes filled with happiness, as he tucked her chestnut brown hair behind her ears.
“Well done, Dear!” He whispered, kissing her on the cheek. She rested her head on his chest and sighed happily. There was a rustle of bristled fur; a small, ferret type creature poked its head over the side of the bed and surveyed the new family member.
Lovely, it commented sarcastically, wrinkling its nose in disgust as it looked upon the scrawny pink thing.
The mother scowled, reaching over and slapping its small paws lightly, hurt at the reaction. The man guessed what had happened and laughed.
“The day you learn to hold your tongue,” he informed the furret who was sitting on its hind legs, wincing as it poked one of its front paws, “will be a sacred day, a day they will celebrate for years to come. They shall name it: The sacred day of silence, the merciful reprieve, the day Ganya finally shut u-” He stopped mid sentence to burst out laughing again at the expression on Ganya’s face. The mother smiled, sending a brief thought to her beloved companion.
That makes two of us, then. The furret stuck its tongue out at her, causing her to smile again.
Some friend you are. It sniffed haughtily, swivelling around until its back was facing them, nose in the air. The mother ignored it as it peeked over its shoulder to make sure it was noticed. Disappointed that it had not received any attention, it sighed dramatically, falling backwards onto the covers, where it scratched its belly casually.
I guess I could be quiet for a maximum of five minutes, it considered, sighing again. Although that is all together to generous… It fell silent, watching as the mother hugged her youngest daughter.
“Tala,” she whispered.
***
Time passes so swiftly, each day flitting past in the time it takes to snuff out a candle. Minute and hours, months and years, all blending together in a constant blur of activity, a raging river that thunders through oblivion, its waters bleeding through the empty space and leaving life springing up in its wake. Without time, there would be nothing. No light, no darkness, no good or evil. Without time there is no you, no me. Just an absence of anything.
Time... In a single second a universe can be born, its future bright before it, the starting block of an entire world. Yet in that same second, a future can be destroyed, a universe, quenched; burnt out like a piece of coal and left to crumble away. Yet those pieces fuel the creation of another universe, another future, another hope. The circle of life. So simple. So... effortless. Time cares for no one, young or old. It only knows itself, and that is the way it will always be.
***
One year and six months later
One year and six months later
Sunlight skitters across the cavern, dancing over to a cave that branched off the main one where people were already stirring in preparation for the oncoming day. A makeshift stone stable sat stoutly in the center of the room, the strong odor of horse manure wafting through the doorway. Inside dwelled a Rapidash mare, who shuffled about agitatedly. Her creamy coat glistened with sweat; her constant shuffling had trampled the straw beneath her feet. She tossed her head and snorted with effort, her sides heaving.
“Come on! You can do it! One last heave!”
A small man was hopping about excitedly at her side, supervising the birth. She ground her teeth in frustration, wishing he would just shut up. But as she barely knew him, she had not yet formed the special bond that allowed Pokemon and humans to communicate. Grumbling, she shifted her weight to her other foot, pinning him to the wall. Like a weasel he wriggled out and was behind her again, shouting encouragement. She was so nearly there… Her bones creaked tiredly; it had been a long night. It had been a long seven months, or was it more? She could not remember, nor did she care. All she wanted was to complete her mission, the one task in life she had been asked to complete. Snorting with determination she gave a final push, eager to finish what she had started. A feeling of intense pain stabbed through her, causing her to scream out in agony before it was gone, swept away by a tide of other feelings. She had done it.
Satisfaction swamped her senses and she hung her head in relief, exhausted. The man was making new sounds now, a gentle crooning as he snipped something, before picking up the small bundle and laying it at her feet. She peered down at it, a feeling of love causing tears to spring to her eyes. At her feet was a foal, HER foal, she corrected herself. Reaching down she began to clean away the thin membrane that had protected him for the past couple of months. Once it was all removed, small fires lit up along his neck and at the bottom of his spine. The man was beside himself; he was crying, reaching into his sleeve to remove a well-used handkerchief that he dabbed at his eyes. After failing to mop up the endless flow of tears he blew his nose noisily before leaving the room with a muffled: “I’ll leave you two alone for a while.” The Rapidash ignored him, gazing with adoring eyes at her newborn child.
The foal stirred, blinking blearily at his mother and bleating in confusion. Colors, smells, sounds; they all assaulted him at the same moment, confusing him. He flicked his ears for the first time, staring around with fascination at the new world he had arrived in. After a while of examining everything, he shifted, noticing that there was more to him than he first thought. Craning his neck, he examined these new appendages. Yes, they were definitely his; he recognized the smell, the musky, faintly sweet smell he had begun to associate with himself. He had a strong urge to use them, to stand. He obeyed, lifting first one front hoof, then the other, and pushing up. But that was a hard position to hold, and it didn’t seem to get him anywhere. After a while his footing slipped, and he slid back to the floor. Contemplating what had just happened and his, what he now referred them to as, legs, he decided to try the two back ones. But the result was just as disastrous as the first and he fell once more to the straw.
A nicker sounded above him. He looked up to see this blurry, creamy blob towering over him. He blinked a few times, eyes struggling to focus. An image of a much larger version of himself slowly came into view. He sniffed at a stocky leg just a foot away, recognizing the scent. It was the same smell he had drawn in with his first breath. He felt slightly comforted, looking up with golden brown eyes wide. She nickered again, reassuring him. The urge to stand was stronger, and looking upon this… other... he had an idea of how to accomplish it. Taking a deep breath, he thrust all four legs underneath him and pushed up.
The ground soared away. A wonderful feeling swept though him; it felt as if he was on top of the world. He had done it! He whinnied with pleasure, nodding his head happily, not daring to move anything else as his strength was already failing. A couple seconds later he collapsed, falling in a heap. The other pushed its nose under his belly, helping him as he tried again. This time he managed it for longer. He could feel waves of pride emanate from his helper; he enjoyed it, and wanted to continue to please. After a few failed attempts he made it and stood proudly, turning to the other for praise. She nodded to him before turning and walking a few feet away. There she stood, staring back, willing him to follow. He stared after her in dismay. How on earth was he supposed to get over there? But the look in her eyes reassured him that he could do it. Steeling himself, he copied her and took a few shaky steps forward.
Happiness swept through him once more as he ook his first steps, determination leading his steps. He could see the other, so close yet so far. Every time he fell he remembered the other’s faith in him, and he gritted his teeth and got up once more. After what seemed to be an age, he finally made it and nuzzled the other’s belly, lips clamping around a teat and sucking. Milky goodness filled his mouth, flooding down his throat, the gentle warmth causing shivers of pleasure to run down his spine. He drank hungrily, closing his eyes. Now he knew who the other was. It was his mother... He snuggled closer, still drinking, the scent of his mother all around him, comforting him, making him feel safe. So safe…
***
There was a tradition passed down through Tala’s tribe that every child on their second birthday would receive a Pokemon that would be their companion. This was so they would have time to connect, to bond, to form the long lasting friendship and allegiance that made up the community. All were equal; Pokemon chose what they would or would not do, as humans could choose themselves.
Everyone contributed to the society in their own ways, the humans to grow and plant the crop with help of their familiars, and the larger, stronger humans and Pokemon to pull the carts, to bind and stack the harvest. They worked side by side, hand in hand, none rising above the other. All must be united in the fight for survival, for there was no time for petty quarrels.
The parents of the child would choose the specie to suit their own profession and those available. For example, a farmer who would take the long and dangerous path to the surface would be more likely to give a child a small, fast Pokemon with hidden strength. This was because they would be able to help them sow the crop but would be strong enough to cut it by Harvest time. Because of this, Zigzagoon were a common favourite, joined by Eevee and other such small, normal-type Pokemon. For those who laboured beneath the surface, the majority, a selection of other Pokemon were available. Construction workers and the like would give Phanpy; their destructive power and reliability was greatly needed in that line of work. The distributors of food would choose Meowth, for their nimble fingers and quick minds, the cats ability to solve problems faster than any humans were able to.
Humans and Pokemon lived together in harmony, accepting each other’s differences and getting on with their lives. As the bond between two subjects grew with time, they would receive the ability to communicate through telepathy, as the bonding process was started so young they know each other as well as they know themselves. This bond was crucial. Without it they were divided, weak. Without it they would fall.
***
Tala yawned, rolling on to her back and listening hard. It was quiet, only the steady drip of a tap in the corner reaching her ears. She frowned, wondering what was going on. Normally her father’s snores punctuated the silence, and she would listen to it for a while before allowing the steady rumbles to lull her back to sleep. But today it was gone, and the room felt empty without it. She let loose a small whimper, seeing if her father had just stopped snoring. If he were still in the room, he would wake immediately and come to her, cheering her up with ridiculous expressions and tickling her on the tummy. There was no response. She sighed. Now she had to open her eyes. With another whimper for good measure, she flicked her eyes open and sat up, sticking her thumb in her mouth. Her parents' bed was ahead of her, covers tucked neatly under the mattress as if no one had slept in it. She knew they had, for they were there last night… They must have gotten up earlier than her for once. How strange. Normally she was the one who had to wake them up.
A small breeze slid past her, causing her to shiver. She pouted, not liking this one bit. She hated being left alone, and they knew it. So why had they gone now? Her eyelids prickled as tears began to form. Her pout grew bigger, and her face began to crumple in distress. Still no one was coming. Anger rose up from her fear of being abandoned as the first tears began to fall. How dare they leave her! She wanted them to come back NOW! Her anger caused her bed to shake, knocking her favourite toy, a ragged blanket, to the floor. That was the final straw. An angry wail thundered out of the room, echoing down the corridor to where her mother stood, talking quickly to her husband. Hearing her daughter’s cries, she excused herself and ran full pelt to the room where Tala slept. Skidding through the doorway, the mother rushed forward, making soothing noises to the screaming toddler.
Tala’s face was bunched up in an expression of pure misery as she smacked her hands down on her thighs, in the middle of a full-blown temper tantrum. At the sight of her mother hurrying through the door she began to calm down, comforted by the familiar figure. Her mother wrapped her arms around her, patting her on the back and whispering soothing things in her ear. Eventually the sobs turned into choked hiccups as she buried her head in her mother’s hair. The mother smiled gratefully, smoothing Tala’s golden curls. Soon she was silent and her mother stepped back, smiling down at her daughter. Stroking Tala’s face, she wiped away the tears and kissed her on the forehead before picking up Tala’s blanket, wrapping her in it and carrying her to the changing table beside her bed. Setting her down on it, the mother moved away and washed her hands. Returning, she smiled again.
“Do you know what day it is today?”
~ ^ ~
The whole village had gathered together and they all applauded when Tala entered in her mother’s arms. She blinked slowly, looking around in confusion. Who were all of these people, and why were they clapping? She had not met many of the other villagers, only the ones her age, who were not in the crowd. She sighed and rested her head on her mother’s shoulder, listening for the sound of the door closing behind them. It never came. Curious, she looked up. There were all her friends! Their mothers were also carrying them. She looked ahead, spotting her cousin staring back at her. How odd, why were they all here together? She had no idea.
***
It was customary to have a ceremony to celebrate the giving of a Pokemon. It occurred once a year at the tail end of autumn, timed to coincide with the ending of the harvest. After the ceremony there would be a great feast, with lots of celebrations and games, to comonirate the renewal of the bond that held the comunity together.
***
Wooden benches had been set up facing a rectangle of free space that was framed by three of the roughly hewn cave walls. The ceiling arched high above them, the light of the torches failing to reach the very top. The cavern had been naturally formed long before the people of the mountain had discovered it. Pokemon and humans sat together, as this was an initiation ceremony for the young of both races. The Rapidash mother stood beside Tala’s father, both worriedly watching the proceedings. Tala’s mother sat down on the front bench with the other mothers and placed Tala on her lap. Her twin son and daughter sat behind them, watching with wide eyes, as this would be the first ceremony they’d had gone too since their own. A wizened man and woman climbed into the middle of the stage and looked on their people, eyes bright with hope. They were the heads of the village, a title passed on to the elders of the tribe.
”They are certainly getting on, aren't they?” Someone whispered near the back. “They look like shrivelled old prunes.”
The woman glared pointedly in the person’s direction as the skeptic was quickly shushed. Sighing, she turned back to her partner and nodded, her long white robes rustling at the movement. She smoothed down her gown with wrinkled fingers as he prepared himself. Clearing his throat, the man began to speak, smiling at his audience.
“We have gathered here today to witness and celebrate our youngest receiving their lifetime companions! This is a joyous occasion, the birth of the lifelong friendship, the joining of two races!”
His voice boomed around the room. The other mothers got up and began to lead their children to the stage. Tala’s mother took the cue and, setting down Tala, led her to the center of the platform. The woman smiled kindly down at her and nodded to her mother. The man waited until all the mothers had sat down and the woman returned before continuing.
“May the father of this child come forward,” the man commanded.
The girl he had motioned to gazed up at him with wide eyes, lips quivering. The woman patted her shoulder comfortingly as a man from the crowd stepped forward, carrying something in his arms. Walking up to his daughter, he gave her a shaky smile and placed the brown bundle of fur before her.
“Samlin, its name?” the man asked. The father was examining the ground.
“Geoffrey.” Samlin’s voice was a whisper; he was unwilling to break the silence. The old man nodded.
“Thank you, Samlin,” The elder intoned, hinting that he should leave. The man did so, bowing to them respectfully, and, with a final look at his daughter, retreated back to his seat. The little girl stared at the furry brown creature fearfully as it shifted, a face emerging from its bushy brown mane.
“Vulll? Pii… Vul?” It squeaked, uncurling its tail and slowly approaching the child.
The girl didn’t move, gazing at it with wide eyes. The fox like creature bent its neck and sniffed her curiously, causing the girl to giggle as its warm, wet nose tickled her arms. Slowly getting to her feet, she carefully patted the Pokemon. It rubbed its head on her shirt, purring with delight. The girl smiled. The tension in the room faded immediately, and the proud parents walked up and collected their daughter and her new companion. The old lady held out her hand to Tala. She took it and tottered forward, sticking her thumb in her mouth as the kind lady instructed her to stand still and walked back to the old man.
“May the father of this child come forward,” the old man repeated, gesturing to Tala.
Her father nodded, giving his own Rapidash a comforting rub before leading her son upwards. The foal trotted along happily, eyes fixed on the treat Tala’s father had clenched tight in his fist. Once they reached the front, the father slipped it to him and stood at attention. The old man surveyed him with a blank face before continuing the ritual.
“Nogiindi, its name?”
Domego. The Rapidash informed Nogiindi through their bond. He smiled, repeating it to the elder.
Nice name! He commented back to her with approval in his voice. He felt a wash of gratitude come over the link before he returned to the present.
“Thank you Nogiindi. You may go,” Nogiindi nodded, walking over to Tala’s mother and sitting beside her. Her eyes were filled with happy tears as she watched her youngest daughter receive her companion.
The old woman came forward and slipped an apple into Tala’s hand before retreating again. Tala looked at the colt curiously, teetering unsteadily. The foal made the first move, smelling the apple.
What is this small pink and blue thing? Is it nice? he wondered, approaching cautiously, sniffing the air. Tala watched him, eyes wide, as he came steadily closer. Once he was only a foot away, he bent his neck and nuzzled her hand, wanting the apple. She gave it to him, giggling as his lips tickled her palm. The colt towered over her, but that did not matter.
He nuzzled her other hand, hoping there was more. Her smile grew wider and she stroked his nose, liking this new friend. He nickered softly, stepping closer to sniff her toes. She giggled again, putting her arm around his neck, hand passing harmlessly through the flame. Both mother and father gave a sigh of relief; they had been unitedly holding their breath with the fear that she would be burnt. Tala yawned tiredly and rested her head on the colts flank, wanting a nap. He briefly nuzzled her hair before her parents stepped up and led the pair away. It had been a long morning, and Tala fell asleep in her mother’s arms.
Authors Note: The beginning has a point, it is a little introduction by the Narrator. The Narrator is not me, by the way, but another character who you might meet later...
Those who read the previous version: I'm afraid chapters two and three will be prolonged for a while, for I have decided to insert more chapters imbetween the first and number two. So you get to know that characters more.
Edit: Oh, and I can't forget to mention this, (otherwise she will kill me,
) Ejunknown beta read this for me. Thankies Ej!
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