Harmonia | Pokémon Fanfiction

22 | Head Over Heels

Music in media: Head Over Heels from the "Head Over Heels" musical

14 January, Friday, 1:15 p.m. | Winter

The Hisuian Zorua would not respond to headpats or Berries. It would sniff Rae's hand for a while, then opened its mouth to express its hatred for her, or what was presumably hatred. Hisuian form or no, it was still a Pokémon who used illusion and deception.

According to Ingo, they were a species exiled from other lands by humans because of their illusions, and unable to survive in the Hisui region due to the harsh environment and conflicts with other Pokémon, the souls of deceased Zorua linger on in a new form, reborn by their malice towards humans and Pokémon alike. Illusions were cast by constantly unleashing its spiteful power of malice through its ghostly fur, specifically atop of its head. In a modern region such as Unova, the sense of loneliness the Hisuian Zorua felt only heightened.

To the Zorua, humans were the same as ever, no matter the time period, no matter the region. So were the Pokémon, casting him all sorts of glances when they caught him going through the trash. But it was strange. It was as though the wintry lands he had been accustomed to had been warped into an atmosphere rather than a place. Everywhere he went, it was so cold, so hollow. His night escapades in the amusement park or the desert or the arenas or the runway highlighted his numbing solitude. Legs brushed against legs, knocking him around, and he always had to squeeze his way through the awfully passionate crowd. He felt he was the only one in tune with the world and its slow music.

How was it that there was no need for him to craft an illusion anymore? Every single creature had their own illusions cut out for them. His presence felt obsolete.

Until this peculiar girl walked in with a Dunsparce on her shoulder and kept pestering him for what seemed like eternity, though it certainly wasn't eternity. He was nameless. Anonymous. That should instil fear. Yet this girl wasn't afraid of him. He expected a battle, but she wouldn't give him that, as if she knew well enough how hostile Hisui was and decided he would have that break he always wanted.

The Dunsparce she called Noko-Noko was a nuisance, always getting in between him and the girl named Rae. She must be no stranger to the malice of living things, then, to live alongside such a creature. But why would she accept him? Why bother feeding him and luring him out of the dingy corner?

What reason did Rae have to disrupt his life?

She was on her fours now, showing off her dimples as she preened herself like a Glameow. Was she a human or a Pokémon? Perhaps a Zorua, like him? No, impossible. He could detect no Bitter Malice from her, nothing about her came off strongly besides the pungent revenant, Love, and she seemed at home with a cold that wasn't as cold as he was used to.

Neither of them spoke or made a sound. They held eye contact without a care for time and its sincere ravages. The other beings in their midst, however, stuck to idle chatter flooding with apprehension.

A Minccino burst out of one of her Poké Balls and grabbed a Shiny Stone to polish, out of boredom. No, not so. It was a veiled enthusiasm, as if the Pokémon didn't want his vested interest in the stone to be found out by his trainer.

Light.

Then the Pokémon grew a scarf, became elegant and velvety. He was now a Cinccino, and more attractive and adorable than ever.

The Hisuian Zorua had never seen such a Pokémon before. While that Dunsparce was a buzzkill of a presence and the Pokémon back at home were brimming with rage, this one was different. This one was more harmless.

"You evolved!" The girl broke out of her stance to hug the Cinccino. Joy. All smiles. Reddening ears. Stray strands brushing past the eye.

How could a human be so kind?

The Hisuian Zorua took three steps forward, his eyes trained on the girl.

"Hmmm?" She glanced at him without a change in her expression.

He supposed it wouldn't hurt to try. This modern girl might just be different. She didn't seem the type to abandon her Pokémon. But he must still be cautious.

He must still be cautious, he told himself, as he let the Cinccino knock him head over heels and onto the platform. And he submitted to the Poké Ball, turning into red energy, before being summoned out.

"Zorozoro!" said the girl as she extended a hand towards him. "You shall be Zorozoro!"

Ugh. She wasn't as creative with names as he hoped. Why not Illuxio or Wisp-of-Woe? Those were better nicknames. Zorozoro sounded like the name of a newborn who strived to be a hero at one month old. It was stupid.

At least the human wasn't. To his scrunched-up surprise, her other Pokémon introduced themselves with names of a similar pattern. He licked their snouts then proceeded to ignore them. They had no business to be happy when he was suffering.

Happiness — that shapeshifter in a world embroiled in deceit.

Zorozoro blinked slowly.

Happiness was an illusion he didn't mind playing with for the time being.