Pokemon: The World Tree

Chapter 3: Blades of Grass

It was still early morning when the Pikachu woke and looked to the sky.   It seemed, somehow, that the clouds strengthened their dastardly grip on the heavens, making the air was stagnate - like it was being suffocated.  As if to warn Pokémon to retreat to their dens; the familiar unease which always presented itself before a storm perforated the air.  There was no doubt that the rain was coming soon.  Too soon.  He resolved to wake Maya up early. 

After some soft name calling and gentle nudging, the Pikachu simply shook her off the branch she was perched on.  A small argument broke out, but soon enough they were off.

The two Pokémon trekked forward, shrouded in the green tinted mist of the early morning.  The orange leaves that would have normally crackled under their feet said nothing under the layer of dew, and the clouds covering the sky didn't help the day's dreary mood, nor the cold air.  However it did not dampen Maya's spirits, or her longing to hear a story.  The trip was filled with Maya talking, and the Pikachu asking her to stop - less and less politely as time went on.

She asked what he was doing last night, but she was just waved off.  Yet, after two solid hours of begging she got her answer.  He explained that he had to discharge electricity occasionally.  Maya's following, "Why?" was met with a look which said, "That's all you get."  It was convincing enough to get her to drop it.

It wasn't until the sun was at its peak - probably - when the Pikachu announced that they'd be entering the clearing, and a few minutes later, Maya stopped dead in her tracks.

"Kid, we need to get going.  I told you we'd take a break in five minutes." He had been saying that for the past hour.

"Shiva, I think something's coming," Maya said, completely monotone.

"Yeah, the storm.  Hurry up."

"No, something else."

"Oh yea?"

"Shiva, I'm serious.  Wait!"

Maya's alarmed voice caught the Pikachu's ear.  When he turned to face her, he found Maya's eyes sparkling with glee, and a smile spanning from ear to ear.  "I had my first vision!" The girl began to bounce up and down singing a chorus of, "yay's," and "thank you's."  After a couple of finishing backflips she continued, "Oh my Arceus, yes!  I saw it!  There was, this um. Green thing.  Oh!  Razor leaf!  Yeah, and someone was using it.  And it was coming at you.  And it came from the bushes, you know, somewhere..."

As Maya attempted to explain her vision, the Pikachu was scanning the foreground and listening for anything.  Eventually, he found it.  "Yeah, you're actually right." The Pikachu said, interrupting Maya's babbling, "There's something moving quietly, and coming closer.  Hey, what'd you say this thing was?"

"A Pokémon that can use razor leaf?"  Maya said with an unconvincing shrug.

The Black Pikachu never took his eyes off the spot as he spoke, "I know.  Can you give me a little more?"

"Yeah!"  She closed her eyes and concentrated.  "Wait."  She clenched her eyes even tighter.  "Yes, yes!  No, no I can't.  I've got nothin'."  The little bird puffed up her feathers and stared at the ground, "Maybe it was just a fluke."  She offered, "Like now I'm just going crazy and seeing things because I'm so-"

Before she could finish here undoubtedly long speech about her inabilities and insecurities, she was silenced by a single stern "Shh."

The wind bustled through the cluttered forest with the grace of a Tauros in a china shop - lifting the fallen leaves off the ground, and wrenching others form the trees.  The result was a blizzard of golden and auburn leafs.