Help... (Open)

[Audrey Pnevma]

[OoC:] Seeing as Castor is one of my characters I’m going to include him in this post, I hope no one minds me RPing both him and Audrey for a minute.


Chumpy had caught wind of the fire burning in the park and feverishly began tugging on Audrey’s skirt. Then with a loud, “P I K A!” he captured her attention and lead the bumbling trainer towards its source.

Upon entering the park they saw an unlikely scene composed of an albino, pirate, child, and a horde of mix-matched Pokémon unfolding. What was going on here? Staring for a moment longer, Audrey attempted to take in the unique situation, but it was useless. No amount of contemplation could solve this riddle.

“What in the hell is going on here?” Audrey called out as she approached. Her clear voice and confidant tone echoed softly about the area, her stage presence called all attention to her. Just like a Gym Leader, Audrey had a responsibility to the island and her title as Top Coordinator dictated that she help those in need.

In order to better understand the odd situation for himself, Chumpy raced forward towards his pre-evolved form. “Pika?” was all he questioned the pichu before glancing to the others around him. What’s going on?

---

Castor snapped out of his trance as he heard the demanding female’s question. What the hell is going on here? That’s exactly what he’d like to know, though, he wasn’t sure he could handle an answer. Whether the injuries on the girl where caused by Pokémon or by people, the answer would be devastating. He felt his stomach tighten again as he looked to the two orbs attached to his belt, they were most certainly capable of inflicting serious damage, especially to a little girl.

Fumbling backwards, Castor fell into the woman who’d just approached them.
“I’m… I’m… not quite sure.”

[Akika Miroku]

One would probably love to thank heaven for the fact of how the girl stayed still and quiet, dependant on Zeke to treat her without causing too much commotion. She honestly didn’t know of the reason as to why one lifting her shirt was a ‘bad’ thing, and of course, as to why the boy was being so careful about it. Of course she didn’t: her father never really abused her in that way at all, thank god. As she let out a small moan to show she was still conscious, she just stayed still, her eyes closed, as if she didn’t care if a new voice was heard and joined in at the scene.

Sparkle on the other hand opened his eyes slowly to look at the Pikachu. At first, the pre-evolved electric mouse’s ears lowered to the sides of his head, before he heard the Pikachu ask him what was going on. The Pichu let out a small ”Pi….” before he managed to explain in jumbles of his species name. ”Pichu, Pi Pi Pichu chu…”

He explained everything he knew. How his trainer was beaten, how they ended up in the park weak, everything. He then glanced up to the other trainers worriedly, as if he wished they wouldn’t understand him as well. He didn’t trust them… Not yet. He only spoke to the Pikachu since he felt comfortable around him, just from being the same species in evolutionary line. ”Pichu… Pii…”

[Zeke Newgate]

Zeke had wanted a moment to rest, and a moment was all he got until Audrey’s thunderous demand snapped him to his senses. The somewhat spacey guy from earlier had now been joined by a slightly pissed looking girl and, oddly enough, a Pikachu to match the injured girl’s Pichu. If only the spacey guy had a Raichu then they’d have the whole set. Oh boy, now we’re drawing a crowd

Maybe one of them knew whoever this girl was; it would certainly make sense since her Pichu wasted no time dashing over to them and talking up a storm. Chatot perked up and tried to listen in, he had excellent hearing being a sound-based Pokemon but try as he might he only caught bits and pieces. As for Zeke, he was starting to get the feeling that if he didn’t speak up soon he was going to end up taking the heat for this mess so he stood up. Before following the Pichu however Zeke took out a couple of Pokeballs; Bagon was being a douche at the moment and Spheal was being…Spheal, so for the time being it was probably better for them to rest. Having fewer Pokemon out would probably seem less threatening to the onlookers anyways, “Thanks a million guys I’ll take it from here, Return!”

Zeke would have recalled Joltik too, but the tiny bug was still watching over the girl, and her recent movement had drawn its focus even more. He racked his tiny brain trying to think of a way to get another response but nothing came, then the days earlier events flashed through its head and a great idea revealed itself. Creeping closer to her face Joltik produced the cookie he had stolen from Zeke earlier invoking the sailor’s would-be wraith. Lord only knows where he’d stashed it all this time but he didn’t mind parting with it if he could get a response.

~Joltik, Joltik-jolt~

It waved the cookie back and forth a bit as if to say ‘Look what I’ve got’, then it stepped back a few inches to see if she’d look his way. Oblivious to the slightly touching scene behind him Zeke approached the other humans with Chatot perched on his shoulder still trying in vain to eavesdrop but not make it too obvious.

“That’s what I’d like to know,” he said in response to Audrey’s earlier bellow, “All I know is something gave her one hell of a thrashing, by the time I got here she was half-dead under a park bench.”

[Audrey Pnevma]

Chumpy is what people like to call a harden veteran. He’d been on his adventure with Audrey for the past ten years and was nearing the age of fifteen. One would think that a Pokémon of such age and caliber would have seen it all, yet his expression grew troubled as he took in the young pichu’s story. Pokémon battled all of the time, they fought off attackers much larger and stronger then themselves, but humans rarely did. In all his years, he never once saw or heard of an evolved human attacking its pre-evolution. He grew increasingly distressed as he imagined Audrey in the young girl’s position. Yes Audrey was a great deal older and far more out spoken, but her bones would break just as easily. Humans were weak creatures, that’s why they had Pokémon.

Bounding back to Audrey, Chumpy struggled with how he’d tell his trainer what he learned. No human spoke Pokémon. Each grasped only the bare minimum of the other’s language, even with ten years time the barrier was still to large for Chumpy to clearly translate, but he had an idea… Rushing nimbly up her leg, side, and then down her arm, Chumpy tossed her limb into the white haired boy at her side. The blow glanced off his shoulder, before her arm fell listlessly back to her side. He repeated the motion two more times before jumping down before the pair and gesturing towards the little girl.

Confused Audrey looked down at her electric mouse Pokémon and then to Castor. He was gently rubbing his arm and eyeing her with the same muddled expression. Chumpy continued to ramble at her feet as the blonde pirate approached informing her that he had nothing to do with the injuries covering the girl. Trying her best to listen to her Pokémon, Audrey raised her hand towards Zeke in a cold “shut up” fashion as Castor simultaneously began to tremble next to them.

“Boy?” Audrey managed to questioned the albino before her eyes grew wide in shock. The pieces all fell into place as the repeating image of her limp fist striking Castor made sense. A human hit the girl. Audrey’s posture stiffened, “She, she was hit. By… By someone.” The top coordinator had no idea what to do. She’d been through the majority of the regions, helping those she came across, but like Chumpy, this was nothing she’d ever encountered. “We should call Officer Jenny…”

[/color]

But would the girl and her Pokémon stand for that? Surely she’d be better suited to handle a case of child abuse. [/size][/blockquote]

[Alix Taylor]

It was time for a certain brunette to make an appearance.

Alix's face was twisted in discomfort as she continued to walk, her socks squishing in her shoes with each step. Oh how she hated having wet socks and shoes. She detested the feeling of the moisture encasing and pruning her toes. She was two minutes from kicking off the footwear and striking along barefoot. It was better than sloshing around with soaked booties.

Damp weather yet again. Where was the sun? Alix grumbled, annoyed that she hadn't placed 'Sunny Day' in Felix's attack arsenal. She was seriously reconsidering that choice at this moment. She was also considering permanently removing 'Rain Dance' from Liam's move bag. Seriously, she couldn't take another long day of this dreary traveling weather.

Liam had fallen asleep an hour ago, so Alix returned him to his pokeball. The tomboy could hadn't carting around Riley, because the ape was light. Liam however, was pushing almost 50 pounds. The turd needed to diet because Alix had no intentions of carrying the fat frog all the was to Boron. He could enjoy the rain later. With the looks of things, the weather had no intentions of changing anytime soon. So in the pokeball he went, along with the hydrophobic fire lizard. Felix enjoyed this weather about as much as Alix did.

Riley was the only pokemon currently keeping Alix company. Oddly enough, the usually spiteful monkey was being helpful. She held her hand-like tail over Alix's head like an umbrella, catching the rain in an attempt to get the brunette out of her misery. Tossing ol' Rile a smile, Alix continued to squish step along the path.

Finding herself in a park, the girl looked around, finding little to no commotion present. Odd. Even in the rain, pokemon were usually active. A chill trailed down the female's spine as her hazel eyes hardened. Something... something wasn't right. Alix whipped around, expecting to find some villain behind her, or something cliche like that. Nothing...

On edge, Alix and Riley pressed forward. The pokemon picked up on Alix's anxiety, now put on alert. What was out there? The monkey's grip on Alix's shoulder tightened as her tail swung down, now hanging limply behind Alix's back, swaying with the girl's motions. Alix had a hat anyways. Riley wanted to conserve any energy that she might need, feeling the anticipation of a confrontation in her mind. And confrontation meant battling.

Their unknown unease was soon justified. As Alix rounded a corner, she immediately noticed a small troop of trainers. Alix couldn't guarantee the numbers. They had pokemon with them, that was for sure. The dim light from the hidden sun made it difficult to identify them, especially from the distance. Alix's eyesight wasn't great, as she was nearsighted and conveniently forgot her glasses.

The hairs on her neck stood on end as she approached silently. Riley suppressed herself, wanting to charge in loudly, but her trainer had not given her the green light to do so. In fact, Alix was acting strange...

Images were clarified as Alix got closer. A familiar brown haired trainer... Alix had seen her before. She had been on television. She was some famous person. Her name eluded Alix's memory. The 'star' was flanked by a pale haired boy. Alix had never seen him before, but she wondered if the two were connected. They were in fact standing close beside each other.

Another boy was placed further away, this time a blond. He was dressed in old fashioned clothing, holding a pirate-y air to them. That, or he was a land-locked sailer. Something like that.

However, Alix's eyes weren't really on them. Hazel orbs were locked on one thing and one thing only. The girl's throat tightened as she struggled to breathe. She almost collapsed to her knees as her mind fired, almost shutting down entirely from the overwhelming shock of what she saw. She could only utter one word through clenched teeth as she stood rooted in her wet brown sneakers.

"Akika."

[Akika Miroku]

Sparkle watched silently as the Pikachu attempted to tell the story that he told the Pikachu to his trainer. With a small sigh, the baby electric mouse leaned his head against Akika’s body, snuggling into her bruised body, trying to keep her warm with his own body heat. Slowly he closed his eyelids, hoping to get some sort of comfort at least, when he heard the Pikachu’s trainer speak. Wait… She understood what the Pikachu was explaining!? Sparkle hesitated, not knowing for sure if it was the right thing to do, as to let the humans know what was going on.

Hearing Audrey mention the police was certainly nothing that brought joy to Akika’s face. Instead, her eyes half opened, and she let out a soft whimper in protest, shaking her head as well. Her grip on her partner only tightened, and Sparkle winced. ”N… No…” The child pushed her voice out, shaking her head again. Her small frame shook in fear, afraid her father will find her again, if the police got involved. ”I… I fell…” She said, trying to lie her way out of this pinch.

”Pi…” Sparkle opened his eyes again, looking up to his trainer worriedly. He looked to the Pikachu next, a frown on his face, not happy with how his action placed stress on his trainer. He was about to try to tell the Pikachu to have his trainer stop, when another figure came forward to the group. Sparkle blinked and widened his eyes, recognizing the female immediately. ”Pi… Pichu-Chu!” He gasped.

Akika looked up, tears in her eyes, her body still shaking. She mastered enough strength to push herself up fully and hold herself up in a sitting position, breathing heavily, her face flushed in pink from a fever. After coughing once, she looked up to see what her partner was surprised about, and blinked slowly, as if she was trying to double check if she was still indeed awake.

”…Oneechan…?”

[/b][/blockquote]

[Zeke Newgate]

Zeke honestly wasn’t pleased about being shushed by this pretty yet bossy girl with the pikachu, he might have said something where there not a more pressing issue here…but then again she was pretty so the odds of that were slim at best. Never-the-less, shut up he did as the electric mouse scrambled to relay his information to the humans. Amidst the ramblings and gestures Chatot was the first of the duo to understand, since he could actually make sense of the combinations of ‘Pi’ ‘ka’ and ‘chu’ Chumpy was spouting. Unlike him however Chatot could speak human, albeit just repeated words but if the chance came he’d relay what he could of the horrid story.

When Aki finally spoke up Zeke relaxed a bit, she’d been unresponsive for so long he was glad to see major movement and hear her talk, even if he didn’t believe a word she was saying. Zeke had seen every wound on her body and no mere fall was going to leave those kinds of marks, he’d seen and been in enough sailor brawls to know what kind of mark a fist and foot left on the human body. “Yeah right I saw those wounds, if that’s from a fall then I’m a big red Liepard.”

~ Lie, lie! She was hit! Chaaat!~

Chatot used a bit of dialogue from Audrey combined with the ‘lie’ from Zeke’s Liepard remark to confirm Audrey’s deduction, not too loud of course, he didn’t want Aki to hear and get more stressed out in the shape she was in. Deep down Zeke agreed with the pushy girl’s idea of contacting the local Officer Jenny but Aki’s lies made him hesitant, if she didn’t want the people involved she was either protecting someone, or hiding from them; and that someone was probably the one who did this. Either way it seemed Chatot understood something so a little Q&A was called for. But that would have to wait because someone else had something to say, the girl with the Aipom only said one word, as did the newly named ‘Akika’ but it was more than enough to show these two knew each other, finally it looked like they were going to get some answers.

“A family member?” Zeke mused to Chatot, fully intending to go right over and explain things to Alix as best he knew them. Unknowingly, Zeke had just given Chatot the word he needed along with Aki’s ‘no.’ The bird Pokemon took flight, fluttering in a tight circle to get the group’s attention while squawking.

~No family! No family! Chaaat!~

“But she just called her oneechan, they must at least be friends or something.” Chatot’s intention was trying to warn them to keep her away from her family but Zeke had misunderstood thinking Chatot meant that Alix and Aki were not related, which was technically true not that Chatot knew that. The grumpy bird paused and shot Zeke a look as if to say ‘how the hell can you be that stupid?’ Even so Chatot tried again, this time recalling an older quote he had used and hoping the revised message would work better.

~ Family member! She was hit! Family member! She was hit! Chaaat!~

Zeke’s body went cold, far colder than the rain, wind or even Spheal’s Ice Beam attack at last he understood what Chatot was saying. “You mean one of her…did that…’

[Audrey Pnevma]

Though Audrey had mentioned calling the Jennys she hadn’t yet made the attempt to reach for her pokégear. She was waiting for the other’s reply before she set her plan in motion. Yes it seemed to be the right thing to do, but the two males who’d gotten here before her may have known more then they lead on. They could have heard something the child had said in her weakened state, though the only sounds coming from her since Audrey’s arrival were soft pained groans.


Castor continued to shake in fear as he struggled to take in the situation. His family’s vast wealth had kept him ignorant to many of the world’s evils. Pokémon abuse was rare in his world, let alone child abuse. Though his family seemed to have little love for him, it could be argued that it was merely a matter of perspective. He continued to tremble as the rain picked up. He’d forgotten all about the ill weather seeing the battered child. He felt utterly helpless as the cold rain-washed over him…

Hastily backing away from the scene, Castor’s arm brushed by and knocked Pollux’s pokéball from his belt. The small orb grew in size as it bounced off the sodden grass and released a clean white light reviling a cheerful castform.

“From~! (:” Cried the weather Pokémon, not knowing of the evils before him.
Castor cast his companion and empty gaze for several seconds before an iron fist hit him from behind. He swiftly crumbled onto damp lawn and whirled to see his attacker. Audrey stood above him gently shaking her hand to relive the pain she’d caused to it by striking him.

“You’re an idiot,” groaned the Top Coordinator as she glared down at her second cousin. Audrey’d done her best to ignore him -as he did her- but her temper had gotten the better of her as he continued to prove himself to be utterly useless. He was nothing like his brothers who’d left home for bigger and better things. They were busy leading gyms and giving the Pokémon League a run for its money, while young Castor was here. Failing.

Audrey continued to stare at her young relative. He wasn’t nearly as helpless as he seemed, was he? Whatever, there was no time to find out, the situation a hand was terribly more important.

“Castor. Have your Pokémon use Sunny Day,” the coordinator demanded, before glancing to the blonde. She thought she saw a look of irritation cross his face, but quickly dismissed any remorse she might have had for silencing him. Her eyes then fell onto an approaching trainer, who seemed to appear out of nowhere just as the battered child spoke.


Looking up at his elder, Castor suppressed a shivered. He was terrified, frozen, drenched, and involved in something far bigger then himself. His gaze then fell onto Pollux who was already performing Sunny Day. The rain slowed and then stopped; the clouds broke and then vanish completely in a matter of minutes. He didn’t notice the kindergartener’s speech or the arrival of another to the scene until he regained his feet. He’d planed to speak to Audrey once he righted himself, but the appearance of the underprivileged brunette halted his attempts.

"Akika?" He repeated after the brunette looking down to the child. Was that her name? He was answered with the pirate’s chatot bursting into call shouting a slew of jumbled lines... Had he been screeching the whole time?

“No family! No family! Chaaat! Family member! She was hit! Family member! She was hit! Chaaat!”

The singsong voice of the bird chilled Castor even further then the rain and wind had, and he could swear that he felt the others grow tense as he sung. All eyes shifted to the child.

[Alix Taylor]

Terror gripped Alix's mind, limbs and body as she could only stare at the beaten and battered child that sat poised beside some foreign man. Akika. She was... in rough shape. Ha, that was an understatement. Words couldn't describe Akika's unfortunate state, nor could they describe the turmoil that raged within the older brunette.

Alix couldn't pin down a single emotion. Too many were overriding her thoughts. Anger, horror, hatred, sadness, distrust. She couldn't tell. Yet, she felt downright upset. The sight made Alix's eyes moisten, something that didn't happen often with the tomboy. Alix didn't cry that often, especially in front of others. She had to bite back tears as she stayed there, utterly petrified and unsure of exactly what to do.

Should she run to Aki and take her away? Demand what or who did this to her? Or just act on an impulse and attack these people around her? She didn't know. She really couldn't think rationally. She needed to set herself away to think, then come back to this situation. But she didn't have that option. Akika was right there, staring at her with those childish brown eyes. Something had changed within them. There was a present fear that had never existed there before. When Akika uttered Alix's nickname, Alix's frozen mentality shattered.

She charged forward, only to be halted by some talking featherbox. Accusations? At her? Alix's eyes instantly narrowed into venomous slits, as if insulted. How dare he. Alix would never, ever lay a finger on anyone, and certainly not Akika. Riley shot forward just as the sun emerged, landing mere feet from the pokemon recorder to hiss with such a ferocity that it could make even the toughest of opponents shudder. A warning. Or was it a challenge? Riley was threatening the bird with a clear message to just try and repeat what it had said earlier. If so, Riley would break its beak in. Riley wasn't a lovey dovey, fall-at-her-trainer's-feet-at-any-command kind of pokemon, but no one insulted Alix. And no one got away with accusing her of child abuse.

Said brunette, at this time, had reached Akika and had outstretched her hands, as if to pick her up and hold her tight. Yet, would she harm her if she did? Was her little sister too weak to be held? Would hugging her to more harm than good? Alix's fingers trembled and she snapped her jaw tight to prevent it from quivering. She could not cry here. Instead, she turned the emotion inwards. She needed answers. Pronto.

Alix did a second quick survey, eyes guarded and suspicious as she watched the other three. Who were they? What did they know? Did they do this? Anger sprouted once more, burning like hot fire in Alix's throat. She swallowed it back with logical reasoning. There was concern in these peoples' eyes. They were not the perpetrators. However, this didn't mean that Alix had to trust them.

"What happened here?" she said carefully, tone forced and as guarded as her eyes were. Her posture was rigid, as if she subconsciously was putting herself between these people and Akika. True, Alix had decided that they were not harming Akika (in fact, Akika had been bandaged, which suggested some sort of aid by one of them), but Alix had always been overprotective of the girl.

She quickly looked back to Akika, eyes softening as she did so. Hazel orbs gleamed with the slightest moisture as Alix's compassionate gaze held one meaning. 'I'm sorry. I am so sorry I let this happen to you.' Alix's hand moved to gently touch Aki's. She willed a silent message to the bruised child as she fought to keep control.

'I'm sorry I left.'

[/Fail. Sorry]

[Akika Miroku]

“Yeah right I saw those wounds, if that’s from a fall then I’m a big red Liepard.”

Akika clearly flinched at those words and failed to contain a whimper. She didn’t know what else to say, and the loud bird was not helping one bit. Her first instinct was to just deny everything, anything, that she didn’t want the others to know about. If she possibly believed and convinced herself that this was all from a fall, maybe the others would believe so too? That had to be the case. Otherwise, Akika knew she was going to break down. She had to keep this all in herself to make sure her father is safe… It wasn’t his fault, after all. It just couldn’t be. Daddy must’ve just not been himself when she was there. She couldn’t bring her daddy into trouble for something she did.

The child let out a shaky breath, as if she was going to start crying, and started to quiver once again. She had to convince herself… She just had to. For her father’s safety… For her safety. She didn’t know how to do so however, resulting in her only starting to sniffle and hug her Pichu close. This was too much thinking for a six year old… She really didn’t know what to do to solve her inner problems. She bit her quivering lips, determined to not cry, but tears only started filling her eyes.

What was she supposed to do? Everyone just left her anyway, even after they gained her trust. And each time that happened, it became harder for Akika to open up to begin with. And only very few returned, only to hurt her again.

This couldn’t be any different.

Akika felt both relief and fear build up in her chest when she saw Alix. It was an odd mix of feelings; she was happy to see her oneechan: the teen that actually cared for her and protected her. But at the same time, this was also the same teen that left her as well. To the child, no matter what the reasoning behind it was, the fact only remained: Alix left Akika once.

As the child tried to hold back her tears desperately, she shifted her gaze down and released her Pichu. Sparkle noticed the loosening grip and blinked curiously, looking up to his trainer’s face and frowning worriedly. He placed his yellow hand on his trainer’s cheek, but got no response. Slowly Sparkle patted the girl’s plump cheek, but still nothing. Akika was trapped in her own shell again, unable to pull herself out of her own fear.

She could see the world she didn’t want to live in. Where her mother just left her several times with Akika’s baby brother, only to come back and leave once again without another word, as if she was completely ignoring her. Where her father would hit and kick her for fun. Where her Pokemon all just pointed and laughed at her, taunting her of her weaknesses, and where people she learned to call her sisters and brothers left her, and only came back every now and then to taunt her much like her Pokemon friends did.

All the true voices of the three older trainers talking did not come into Akika’s ears. She mentally blocked them all out, not wanting any interference to break her shell and hurt her even more. The bruises on her body suddenly began to ache once more, despite how they were subsiding only seconds ago, and the trembling of her small frame increased. No… She had to be stronger. She had to live on her own. She had to-…

Akika felt gentle warmth on her hand and suddenly snapped back to reality. For a moment she felt dizzy, like she didn’t know where she was, and what exactly was going on anymore. Her eyes first landed to Sparkle, who stared up to Akika with tears in his eyes, his hand still on her cheek trying to get her to come back. For a moment she stared blankly at the small Pokemon, unable to hear the squeaks he let out as he tried to communicate with his trainer and comfort her. As if she never noticed her Pokemon friend, she just shifted her gaze away from the Pichu to her hand, subconsciously wanting to know what brought her back to this cold world to hurt her even more. She stared at the much larger hand that touched her small one, warming it slowly but surely.

Who was this…?

Akika’s dull irises followed the hand up to its arm and to whom the hand belonged to. It took a moment for Akika to register her oneechan into her mind once again, despite how much she loved her, but as soon as she noticed as so her facial expression changed drastically. Her brows furrowed, causing a small wrinkle to appear in between them and her lips parted slightly, only the middle of her lower lip attempting to stick to the top. Tears flowed freely from her eyes, and suddenly, she just started to cry loudly.

It was as if she was just dropped into this world as a newborn. She didn’t care who was watching her anymore, she just needed to get this all out, and with a young mind this was the only solution she could find. From the top of her lungs she just cried, allowing her voice to echo all around the park, possibly even into the stores nearby.