[NRP] DoDo & Melomar's Journal (205 views)

[melomar]

Vignette: Continuation of Solo Prompt
Date: April 1 2014
Word count: 178
Interaction with: N/A

The inside of a pokéball was foreign, but strangely comforting for the doduo. It allowed both heads to remain calm initially while events replayed in their minds. Even Head One, whose injuries hurt more than Two’s, was able to assess the situation. His eyes hurt like some of the worst injuries they had ever sustained. Searing, throbbing, and wet, he could not rest completely. Worse, his right eye felt wet, and strangely numb. Perhaps the wetness was from tears, but what of the strange numb sensation?

Brother, I think my eye is broken.

Perhaps the humans will help us.

What if they can’t fix it?

Then I will protect you better.

I believe you. But now, maybe I am worthless. Without both of my eyes--

I don’t think so. If you have one eye, it will be enough. If you have no eyes, we still have mine. What else could Head Two do but make such assurances? What else could they do but their best? Somehow they would be all right. Otherwise, they were as good as dead.

[melomar]

Solo Two: 'Can you see me now?'
Date: 12 June 2020
Word Count: 874
Interaction With: Nigel, Rorie the Tauros
In which Nigel feels bad for the pokémon, and the pokémon begin to heal.

SPOILER: Click to show

Nigel rode home with his uncle looking anywhere but at him. The thought that this wild doduo would be stuck with humans for the rest of its life made him feel solemn. Not even Eclipse could cheer him out of his gloom, it was just too heavy. It wasn't just the bird, but also the tauros that he worried for. He understood what it meant that the bull had lost his place in the herd. They would not accept him now, nor would he return with his damaged pride. What kind of future did these pokémon have?

"Well, without the sight in that one eye, it would be too dangerous to let them free," his uncle said later, after they returned to the ranch and had the two pokémon given a thorough examination. "We've tried to heal them best we can but the damage has been done and only time will tell if his sight returns."

So that was that. Everything depended on if the doduo could heal on their own.

They released the doduo from the pokéball and into a paddock for them to wander around in. The railings were high enough to dissuade them from jumping for freedom. It would turn out messy if they did.

The doduo swayed a little, disoriented. Then it was downright confused.

"Let's leave it be for a while, let it acclimate to the new setting."

- - -

Head One and Head Two looked at each other and then at their surroundings, then back at each other again.

Where are we?

Did the humans do this?

Where is home?

Are we stuck here, now?

The doduo whimpered softly as they wandered over to one of the rails and pecked half-heartedly at it.

Brother, my sight is still gone. They did not fix my broken eye.

Yeah. Head Two's sinking feeling bled into his voice like their wounds had seeped into their feathers. They were stuck here, now. They would be transported in that pokéball whenever the humans wanted to wherever they wanted. But we can still fight.

There was a sudden CRASH! that knocked the doduo away from the fencing. On the other side of the barricade that had quite possibly saved their lives, the tauros snorted. He kicked at the metal bar with his sturdy hoof and meandered away. Don't think I have forgotten what you did, little bird.

The doduo slowly caught its bearings and settled down. We did what we had to! Head Two retorted once they were capable of speech. You were just being a bully!

Nice pun. The tauros snorted and turned away from them. His hindquarters were impressive, both muscular and scarred.

So he's next to us. Head Two glowered sourly.

Head One let out a ragged sigh. It could be said that he had been worried that Head Two would incite another charge from the bull. Thankfully his rage seemed to have cooled down somewhat at least. Things could be worse, he managed with a weak smile.

Turn and look at me.

Surprised, Head One nearly complied, then turned away in shame. No.

Let me see it.

It won't matter if you see it or not. The humans did the best they could.

Despite himself, the bull could hear the doduo talking amongst its heads and started to feel a little repentant of the damage he had done to them. He had not meant to hurt them so badly. Scratches and slashes heal, and ugly perhaps, but they do heal, unless it's something like an eye. He turned just enough to see them out of the corner of his eye.

Let me see it, Head Two repeated. Next time I won't ask and I will force you to show me. Head two pictured just how he would do it, too, knocking them down and holding that fluffy little head down with a foot. It was hard to say if he showed this imagery to his twin. Well?

Fine! Head One slowly turned toward Head Two, beak pointed downward and out of the way. There.

It only took a moment for Head Two to squawk in shock. The eye was still there. He could barely discern a scratch bisecting the eye. That was all that was wrong? He should be able to see, right? The scratch, though, showed more damage as it continued past the eye, upward and down. It was a big, red, swollen mess. Perhaps the eye was more deeply cut than Head Two had imagined. You look... dashing... with your new scar.

Head One did not believe him at all and looked away. When he did, he noticed the bull watching them. Caught in the act, the tauros snorted and looked away. So he was worried about them on some level. It really was bad. Head One wanted to cry.

We're gonna be okay, Head Two said. I told you, we'll be fine.

I know you did. But you were just being nice, weren't you?

No! I meant it. Believe me.

Well, I did before...

And keep doing it. If we're strong we'll get well and return to our home.

Okay, I'll believe you, still. I want to go home.

Me too. Let's make sure we go.

[melomar]

Solo Three: 'enRaged away from home'
Date: 13 June 2020
Word Count: 1263
Interaction With: Rorie the Tauros
In which pokémon become acclimated to the ranch and the doduo learns the move Rage.

SPOILER: Click to show

The next day dawn came too soon to the ranch, in the doduo's opinion, as first light woke most of the animals in the yard. The sun's rose gold light crept along the hills in the distance, and a grassy breeze filled the air. Also spilling into their nostrils were the smells of dirt and animal dung, which would not have been as noticeable out on the Plains. Home was so close yet so far away.

Boredom was also unavoidable here. The doduo was tapping the bars with twin beaks before noon. Once they got used to normal sounds of the farm, even if they not identifiable, there wasn't much to do. No predators to worry about, no unruly members of the herd, or the tauros herd. There was no playing, running was in a circle or not at all. What did anyone do here all day?

Days passed, then a week. Periodically a vet came to look at Head One's eye, and then left them alone. In fact, very little attention fell upon the doduo. Compared to the tauros, that is.

The bull became known as Rorie. It seemed to the doduo that 'Roarie' was a fitting name, for the bull's rage fueled such outbursts. "That bull Rorie--" MOOO!, slam, "and there he goes again." So it amused the young bird, even if the tauros did not appreciate having a name at all.

The doduo, on the other hand, received names when it became obvious that Head One's sight would not return to that eye. The consensus around the ranch was that it be named Dodo, for the way it had pecked itself into unconsciousness. This was unacceptable, of course. But no, the boy had other names picked out just for them.

Head One received the name of Dominic, which he seemed to like. Head Two was dubbed Reagan. He told them in his own language that these names had meanings. Dominic meant "of the Lord," which baffled the doduo. "It is a name that is given to people born on a Sunday," the boy went on, "the first day of the week." Reagan meant "impulsive," which Head One thought was very fitting. If anything, Head Two thought, it was the bull who should receive that name.

But those were the names now borne by the doduo, and the only way the boy and his uncle referred to them.

"You now have a big responsibility, boy," the man said when the names were given. "You have named them, so they are now yours to gentle and train."

A loud SQUAWK! issued from the annoyed bird. They didn't belong to anyone! The two humans chuckled while the doduo tried to peck at them through the bars. And it was something that they stewed about for days.

I am nobody's bird but my own! Head Two raged.

Of course not. But we're going to see much more of the boy from now on. If only we could return home. Maybe we should try to get free when they come to feed us! What do you think?

I think that's a relatively dumb idea. That opinion was shared by the tauros, not Head Two.

What?

You heard me. Beyond your paddock are just bars and more bars. We're all stuck here.

Well why are you still here anyway? You didn't get hurt. Head two glowered at Rorie through the bars.

No, not much I didn't. I'm not sure why I'm still here. Maybe they'll sell me to the rodeo.

What's that?

It's where humans show off the animals they've stolen from the plains. They do horrible things to them and sell them off to other ranches.

Will we be in the rodeo too?

Rorie eyeballed the spindly little bird. Don't know. Maybe. Would you be fun to watch? Maybe when you do that thing where you peck at each other. Maybe the clowns will get hold of you and toy with you.

What are clowns?

They poke fun at the animals in front of an audience.

The doduo did not like the sound of that. What do you think we should do?

I don't know. But I don't like the sound of this.

There's nothing you can do, little Dodo bird.

Hey! Don't call us that.

I will if I want to. You can't make me stop, the bull chuckled.

We can call you "Roarie!" You roar and kick at everything!

Watch your mouths.

Make us!

The bull roared and charged at the fencing between the two paddocks. The bars rattled and shook, as if they were ready to give under his might. But they held, and the doduo was safe. For now.

The little bird jumped back, briefly filled with terror. But when they realized they were safe, their anger soared. They hopped about, flailing. They jumped at the bars, rattling them viciously. Pecking at them, the racket was shrill. But they made only a fraction of the racket Rorie had.

The bull chuckled. That's all? Silly Dodo-bird, you've got nothing to me. You were lucky that time. That's all.

The dodo shrieked. I was not! He was not! We were nooootttt!

- - -

"What is that Dodo doing?"

"I dunno. He's been pretty upset for a while now."

"How long?"

"I dunno."

- - -

"Still at it?"

"Yup."

- - -

"Shouldn't we do something about 'im?"

"Naw, just let 'im tire 'imself out."

"Okay then."

- - -

Nigel and his uncle returned home from the herds on the plain towards the end of the day. They were so tired that as soon as their mounts were cared for they went in to dinner without another look at the animals. It wasn't until after dark that a racket outside became noticeable.

"How long has he been like this?"

"Most of today."

"So you left him in a Rage, just to let him knock himself out?"

"Pretty much. There wasn't much else to be done."

"Did you try a pokéball."

"I guess you could see if that'll work. But no, we didn't."

Nigel's uncle was nearly in a rage himself when he returned to the doduo's paddock with Nigel. "I don't believe this. Apparently he's been going at it all day."

Wordlessly, Nigel approached the gate and watched them through the bars. Clearly the doduo was trying to attack the bull through the bars that separated them, despite extreme fatigue. They were dragging, no longer able to leap into the air. They scratched with supremely heavy claws. They could hardly keep their heads up. But the bull was safely out of reach, looking bored and smug. "What do we do?"

It wasn't luck. It. Wasn't. Head Two couldn't get it out of his head. That day, he had planned things out. It was a fast plan but sound. It wasn't luck.

And Head One cheered them on. It was strategy!

You're just. You can't admit that I beat you.

"I think if we put him into a pokéball he will at least regain his strength. Whatever it is that got him to use Rage may still be angering him when we let him out again."

"D'you think he'll do this again?"

"I don't know. But maybe we should separate them. I was hoping they would help each other get used to the ranch, but I guess not."

Nigel's doduo found relief a moment later when they were recalled back into the pokéball. Both heads were too tired to converse. But their animosity with the bull was not about to end.

[melomar]

Solo Four: Stargazing is Star Finding
Date: 19 June 2020
Word Count: 1227
Interaction With: Lilac the Swablu, Eclipse the Umbreon
In which a meteor shower becomes much more memorable. Star Finding post.

SPOILER: Click to show

Nigel took his doduo, swablu, and umbreon out onto the Plains one night. It was supposed to be part of a series of nights during a meteor shower, with the best viewing that night. He wasn't sure if the pokémon would appreciate an astronomical event, but he would want to share it if they did.

He set out a blanket with a basket of snacks and drinks that they would like and released them from their pokéballs. He explained as best he could and sat down with them. The snacks were a big hit. Nigel lay down and crossed his arms under his head to watch. Already he saw one out of the corner of his eye, and with one blink it was gone. "Hey guys, it's starting," he said.

The pokémon witnessed the spectacle with varying levels of interest.

- - -

Dominic and Reagan sat down on the blanket. It was so much nicer than just sitting on the ground. Reagan continued leaning backward so that he could lay back and see the sky better. Dominic wanted to remain upright for snack snorking but his twin had other ideas. The two heads squabbled for the majority of the meteor shower.

- -

Lilac was shaped like a semi-deflated ball. She rolled onto her back; it was the perfect view, but when she tried to roll upright again found she was stuck. She struggled like an upside-down turtle several times during the show, when she wanted to stop for a snack. Well, at least she was getting her exercise, Nigel thought.

- -

Eclipse was having a great time. He wasn't too interested in the meteor shower. Stars were pretty and all, but lightning bugs were possible to catch! He could be seen hopping through the taller grass throughout the night, but he was hard to hear. Light paws sprang like a well-oiled machine, but his glowing markings were an easy target for Nigel to see.

- - -

"Look, look! This one's coming down!" Nigel struggled to his feet and watched as one "star" approached on a vector that would hit the earth nearby. But then a strange thing happened. Five-pointed like the symbol of the same name, the star whizzed overhead with a shower of sparkles. When it reached the group, it slowed and almost stopped. Spinning rapidly, three pieces broke away and shot downward onto the Plains. Then the main part continued on a new trajectory toward some place unknown. Nigel was completely baffled.

"Those three pieces landed somewhere nearby. Each of you, go after one and find it!" Nigel had not brought his uncle's ponyta or he would have lead the charge. Only his pokémon would be fast enough to find those star fragments.

Lilac and the doduo looked at each other in puzzlement for a moment. Neither was sure what they would do when they found a shard, but at least they knew where to go. They nodded to each other before heading off in two separate directions.

Meanwhile, Nigel took off after the umbreon, leaving their blanket and snacks behind. "Eclipse, don't lose sight of that star!"

"Brrrreo!" The umbreon leaped into the air and bounded off in the direction of the third star fragment.

Nigel was surprised if nothing else when they reached the star piece. There was no crater like he'd imagined, no burn marks like he would have expected. It was just a softly-glowing star-shaped object seated neatly in the grass, which had been bent as if by something of mass. "Be careful," he said in awe, as he noticed his umbreon approach it. "It might be hot."

It wasn't hot at all. If anything, it was cool and metallic. "Brrr," the umbreon purred, booping it with his nose. Then he pawed at it lightly, turning it over and over in the grass with a batting paw. He turned to look up at Nigel, who caught a bit of glare and thought he saw something other than Eclipse's face: a child's face. Blinking it away, he smiled at the umbreon. "Great job, Eclipse."

"Brree!"

- -

If Dominic and Reagan could agree on one thing it was where the star fragment landed. At top speed it took them little time to find it. Like Eclipse and Nigel, they found the star seated in a small clearing of grass. No evidence of high temperature could be found, even if they were looking for it, which they weren't. They were transfixed upon the glowing piece of metal and picked it up in their beak.

Don't swallow it, Reagan muttered to Dominic.

I won't, came the annoyed reply.

I wonder what it is.

Ah. Hm.

Shortly thereafter, they headed back toward the blanket and snacks. On the way, they met up with Nigel, who took the fragment gently from Dominic's beak. "Great job, guys!" the boy said cheerfully. It would be easy to say that they all were in high spirits.

Now, to find Lilac.

- -

The swablu was not used to being out at night. The darkness stretched out everywhere, as far as she could see in all directions, further than during the day even. It was just so... vast. Everywhere, night birds and bugs could be heard making their noises. Shrieks and hoots, crackling, croaks and creaks. She became terrified as soon as everyone left. She was alone in this great cacophony.

Then something hit her. It was like a song. Each piece had its part to play in a symphony. It was just like the day time, but the creatures making the noises were different, so their sounds were different. As she listened, she began to croon, and in her own way added to the song.

Now that that's decided...! Lilac headed off toward the star shard only then, but she knew the general vicinity of the landing site.

Nigel and company found her before she had found the fragment. I'm not done! I'm not done! she wailed. Let me find it!

Okay, find it if you can, just don't keep us waiting!

I won't! I was scared, but now I'm not. I can find it. She wouldn't say that they gave her strength. She honestly believed that she would have found it on her own. Sure enough, she found it moments later, glowing softly in the grass. It's folded over like someone sat on it, she commented.

Ours was like that too, Reagan replied. Dominic nodded, though she was looking only at the star.

Here too, Eclipse piped in. The metal is cold, go ahead and touch it.

Lilac glanced back at the umbreon. Really?

Yeah. Go on. You should touch it first anyway, you found it.

Lilac reached forward with a cottony wing and touched it. The feel was of cold metal, just like Eclipse had said. Wow, she marveled.

- - -

That night, Nigel put the shards of starlight on the nightstand by his bed. No one came into his room normally, and no one did overnight. Nevertheless, when he awoke the next morning, the shards were nowhere to be found. And his pokémon, they had disappeared too. In their place were three children. One had glowing yellow markings, one was definitely a bird, and the last had two heads. "AHH!" His shout woke all three, and their voices added to his.