Snowball (Pokemon One-Shot)

Snowball

Mairin darted around the corner, heart thumping as she ran. She pressed herself up against the wall of the building, trying to catch her breath. Puffs of white air rose from her mouth, the freezing wind blowing around her. Her legs ached from running, her entire body shivering from the cold. Despite this her face was flushed, panting in exhaustion.

She hesitantly peered around the corner, eyes nervously scanning the empty streets for the one pursing her. She gulped, chills racing through her despite not seeing any sign of him. She knew that the one after her was smart and patient, out running him now did not mean safety later. She knew that it would only be time until he caught up, and she had to be ready.

She closed her eyes, before taking off down the sidewalk at an uncertain pace. The icy cement below her was nothing but a hazard for her, and she considered if it would be worth the risk to go back to the park. Yes it was more open– but if she fell down on the ice here there'd be no chance of her getting away from him.

Mairin hesitated as she reached the end of the street, peering down both ways. Nothing but icy roads and snowy rooftops– and no sign of him.

She turned to the left, deciding to take her chances with the park. Surely he had gone looking for her, so he wouldn't be there still. If she could just get to the park and rest she could plan out her next steps, properly catch her breath, and hopefully make a break and find Professor Sycamore. This thought made Mairin's steps swifter, her heart warming as she saw the park up ahead. The lab would be able to protect her, she'd be safe!

She kept glancing behind her as she approached the park at the end of the street, making sure that she was still safe. The silence around her was getting to her, but Mairin knew that would be safety soon. She was almost there, park then the lab, the park then the lab...

She at last reached the end of the street, and she bolted towards the park. A frozen playground met her eyes, a huge field of practically untouched snow in front of her. She could find the lab from here, she was going to be okay...!

"Found you."

Mairin skittered to a halt– freezing in her tracks as heard his voice.

Panic rushed through her and she spun around to face the speaker– which was her mistake.

She was able to catch a glimpse of gleaming triumphant blue eyes and a cruel grin– before a speeding white shape collided with her face, blinding her.

Mairin staggered, the force of the sphere sending her stumbling back, and she collapsed into the snowbank. Any warmth that Mairin had left as taken from her as she sat there, a cold liquid running down her face. She sputtered at the coldness, wiping it away from her face.

"A slushball, Alain?!" She cried, and she heard Alain cracking up in laughter. "That's low– even for you!"

"All's fair in love and war!" Alain said, smirking as Mairin pushed herself to her feet, snow covering her coat and snow pants. "You're the one that started this!"

Mairin growled, scooping up some snow from the park ground, swiftly packing it into a snowball. She raised her hand to throw it at Alain in retaliation– only to realize that he had a second, dripping slushball waiting in his hand. He step-sided her snowball with ease, smirking as he threw his slushball.

Mairin attempted to duck– but he had been anticipating that, and had aimed lower. The second slushball knocking her cap off of her head. The slush dripped down into her hair, and Mairin shot a glare at Alain.

"You're going to pay for that," She growled, teeth chattering together, her head now turning just as cold as the rest of her body.

Alain was still grinning. "Hey, I warned you not to throw any snowballs at me, but you still went through on it..."