The Buneary & the Beartic (A Pokémon short story)

Part six ❄ Wish

"Ice where are you?" Minny called out softy, her velvet ears twisting around for any sound her Beartic friend might make.

"I'm right in front of you." Ice replied, slightly amused by the small Buneary in front of him as he gently nuzzled her chest to assure her that he was there.

Minny sighed softly, wrapping her tiny paws around his muzzle, feeling the safety she felt whenever she was around the Beartic. Several months had passed since the battle between the Beartic and Drapion, almost a year since she had first met Ice in the first place but for the young Buneary, it was hardly cause for celebration anymore. Ice had moved back into his old cave, one at the top of the mountain, with Minny. It was no longer a feared place as it had used to be. Many of the village Pokémon had welcomed them both to stay with open paws, claws or whatever appendage they had since Ice, true to his word, had turned vegetarian. But many were still weary of the Beartic's presence and few worried about why he should able to take care of an infant, especially one as disabled as Minny's had become. 

The attack Minny had received from Drapion had healed within a few weeks, her eyes however, did not. The toxins from Drapion's claws had dripped into the wound he caused, including her eyes. While the poison was cured with a few simple Petcha Berries, the acidity from the poison in her eyes had blinded her. For life.

The first few weeks Minny was terrified of her darkened world, hiding away in the corner of the cave she lived in with Ice cave refusing any attempt to get her out with a frightened squeal of panic. Ice never gave up on his friend, reassuring her that it was safe, that he was there, that nothing could hurt her again.  Eventually, with Ice close by her side, Minny did work up the courage to leave her corner. She was still easy to frighten but Ice was never far away from her, making sure that she always knew what was going on around her. She relied on her hearing now, using her slowly sharpening sense of sound to guide her. While she was getting used to hearing rather then seeing, her ears could not tell her if a stone was lying in the snow waiting to trip her like her eyes could.

Small tears ran from the misted eyes of the young Buneary as she buried her head into Ice's think fur. "You went quiet." She murmured softly. "I couldn't hear you."

"I'm right here." Ice assured her gently, patting Minny's head with his large paw. "I'm sorry."

Minny relaxed a little, feeling safe in the company of her large friend. Her ears pricked into alert at the sound of an approaching Pokémon. It took her only a few moments to recognise the waddle like steps of Bubble, much larger since her evolution from Marill to Azumarill which had happened just a few days ago.

A weak Bubble Beam was her greeting from her friend, something she didn't expect but should have. Minny squealed from the surprise, jumping back from instinct. "Bubble!" She squeaked as she wiped the water from her fur, carefully as so not to hurt her still healing wound in the process.

Bubble smiled brightly, giggling to herself as she waddled over to her little friend. "I'm sorry,mI'm sorry, I just couldn't resist."

"You say that everyday." Minny's replied, giving a small smile as she tried to figure out exactly where Bubble was.

"Yeah I know. But seriously, sorry." The Water type apologised, helping Minny's to her feet. 

"Whatever." Minny mumbled, shaking any remnants of water free from her fur before turning her back back to Bubble to snuggle up with Ice. She struggled not to cry in front of her friends, she didn't want them to worry about her.

Being constantly in the dark had given Minny a case of depression, while Ice and Bubble did what they could to cheer her up, but they could only do so much for the little Buneary who's world was called nests toy darker but her broken eyes. Minny's knew they worried about her, and she didn't want them to go through any more trouble for her so while her friends were around she forced a brave face so she didn't hurt them. They didn't deserve that.