The Nature's Brightness {Book One}

Chapter 18

Star stiffened. He looked at his paws then inhaled. Don't let them scare you... don't let them scare you... don't let them scare you...
Star glanced at the trees from where the voice had come from. "Who's there?" He asked, controlling his voice.
"Simply a friend who wishes for a fun time with you..." The voice whispered from the shadows.
"Oh, so dramatic. If that's what you're going for, I'd give you an 5/5." Ember said with a roll of her eyes. "But, it seems as if you're just doing that to make us scared of you." She looked at the shadows with a calm face. "Tell me I'm wrong, Mr. Bark And No Bite?"
Star blinked at Ember. Shes true... Star observed. But how would she just come up and say that? Wonder if just that will get us all killed...
The voice said nothing. Until a gloomy shape of an Alakazam stepped out of the shadows slowly. "A snappy one, Aren't you?"
"An obvious one, you are." Ember replied.
The Alakazam chuckled. "Anyways..." he looked around the pokémon. "Which one of you will be the lucky one to witness death first? Hm..."
"Wait." Star stopped him. He felt all the gazes of the Pokémon on him. Could I have just brought myself to death? Star shook the thought away and watched the Alakazam slowly turn to face him. The Alakazam looked at him, waiting for him to go on.
"No one does this without reason..." Star said as he tried to find a peaceful way to figure this out. "Why are you doing this?"
The Alakazam narrowed his eyes at him. "Shut up... You annoying weak Umbreon..." he grunted and sliced a deep cut on Star's head. He cut the vine that tied around Star's neck so that Star was hanging upside down.
Star blinked as it happened so quickly, feeling like as soon as he had cut him he was already dangling. He heard the steady drip of blood coming from the wound. His fur feeling matted.
The Alakazam smirked at him, as if Star didn't know what could happen.
Blood loss. Star thought with a frown. Being upside down for a period of time with a wound, some will go to the head trying to heal the cut. But one this deep would take hours... He looked at the Alakazam from upside down. You might be clever, but so am I.
"Now, back to business..." Alakazam paced around the trees, studying each Pokémon. "One of you lucky fellows-" he paused and looked at a Glaceon strapped onto the trees. "You." He looked at her. He used Physic to pick her up from the vines and put her in the center of the clearing.
The Glaceon grunted and tried to stagger to her paws, but fell limp as if she has been there for days without food nor water.
"Alright." The Alakazam paused in front of her. "So, would anyone like to be brave and join her and end up lying on the floor dead? Or would you rather live longer?" He looked around the room.
With this wound, stuck here I'm going to die anyway... Star thought. And there are the chances it could get infected. If I'm going to die anyway, why don't I use my life to save someone? Before Star could call out, he heard a loud crash of a tree being broken.
Ember pricked her ears and looked towards it along with Star, hearing a voice.
"Guys! I'm sensing aura in this direction! We must be getting close!" A familiar voice called.
Lucas! Star thought with a rush of relief and fear at the same time. What if his friends ended up wounded and bound to death like him?
"ALRIIIIIIGHT!" Another voice replied. "SO, WE GET TO GO KICK SOMEONES BUTT?!?! TELL ME WE DO! THEY CANT EVEN DREAM OF BEATING ME AFTER THE SKILLS IVE LEARNED FROM PUNCHING STAR!"
And there's Nature... Star predicted.
"Nature-" Cross grunted slithering up. "We're here to save your brother-" she stopped as she slithered through the trees inside, seeing Pokémon and Star strapped to trees.
The others pulled up beside her and blinked.
"Well..." Blade started.
"This is new. I guess? I dunno I've never really been paying attention." Nature did a derp face.
The Alakazam turned away from the Pokémon and glared at Star's friends. "Who are you?"
"Who are you to kidnap innocent Pokémon and leave them to die?" Cross asked and lashed her tail to Star.
Blossom stared at Star with a puzzled expression as she saw the wound. Star frowned at her. Don't worry...
"Innocent?" The Alakazam grunted. "How dare you speak of innocence to my face?!-"
Within a blink Lucas was behind the Alakazam, his fist held up. "You know, I'm getting real tired of these evil speech bull shit." (😱 LUCAS LANGUAGE! Well I guess he is triggered :P)
"Brother!" A voice whispered behind Star. Star blinked and looked behind him seeing Nature.
"Nature?! What are you doing?!"
"Welllllll while they were being all dramatic I decided I could free you. You having fun being a bat?" She studied his upside down position.
"It's most enjoyable, Nature." Star said.
"And if you don't free us right now maybe we can make you try it?" Ember called from beside them.
Nature did a derp face. "SOUNDS LIKE FUN!" She used Leaf Blade quietly, cutting the vines and freeing them.
Star hit the ground with a quiet thud and got to his paws. He felt light-headed, the throbbing of his head protesting. He ignored it and looked at the Alakazam.
By now, Lucas, Cross, Blade, and Kim were battling it. Loud crashing echoed in the eerie forest. Star snuck past them and went to the Glaceon he held out his paw to help her.
"You alright?" He whispered. Hesitating, she took his paw and sat up. "Yeah. Who are you?"
"Star. And you?"
"Jewel..." she looked at the battling. "How long is this going to last?"
Star looked at the battle, seeing unclearly. "I don't know... but if they won't let us find a peaceful way to solve it, I'll have to fight with my friends." He leaped behind the Alakazam and used Confuse Ray, the purple ray slipped towards it and the Alakazam blinked. He put his hand to his forehead and grunted, turning to Star and slashing him with a move to fast Star couldn't see.
Star winced and saw a gash on his stomach. Well it's harm Star day for everyone? I'm sure Nature would like that holiday. He sat up and saw Lucas pinning the Alakazam to the ground with his bone rush.
"Star!" Lucas called. "Help the others free the pokémon and then get out!"
Star nodded and ran to the nearest trees. He used Slash on the vines on the tree of a Frogadier. He nodded to him. "Go, you'll be safe." He promised. The Frogadier looked at him then leaped out. After setting more free, he heard the others call to him as they left the area.
Star sat up and then looked at Jewel. She was standing there, not knowing where to go.
Star walked up to her. "Come on, We can take you with us."
Jewel blinked at him. Then after a bit of hesitating, she nodded.
Star led her to his friends.
"Alright." Cross looked into the trees. "Lucas!"
A moment passed then Lucas landed in front of them, his Bone Rush still in his hand. He sat up. "That Alakazam isn't that wise in battle."
He seemed right, he barely had any wounds.
Cross nodded. "Let's go. Hopefully Aqua is still around and some of us can go find her. We need to get Star and-" she looked at Jewel.
"I'm Jewel..." Jewel swayed her tail a bit in greeting.
"Right. We need to get Star and Jewel treated. Ember? Are you alright?" Cross looked at the Torracat with concern.
"I'm fine. I don't need help." Ember didn't meet their gaze.
Cross frowned. "Let's head back towards home."
"YES, MRS.BOSSY CROSSY!" Nature said as she leaped onto Cross's back. "LEGGO!"
Cross glared at her then grunted, slithering with the others following.
Blossom stepped in beside Star. "Here, lean on my shoulder." She suggested, seeing his wounds.
"No, no. I'm fine." Star insisted.
Blossom frowned at him and looked at his limping. "No-" she put her shoulder against his, supporting him. "You're not."
Star laughed a bit, and his throbbing head canceled it out. Star shook his head a bit and followed the others towards home.