//------------------------------// // Chapter 5 : Violent Trauma // Story: World Anew, A New Chapter Unfold // by Uber Reaper //------------------------------// A Bagon cried softly as it trudged through the rain. It’s been on the move for days, weeks, months? The Bagon had lost count a long time ago. “Mommy....”The little female Bagon sobbed quietly as she walked in the rain.”Why did you leave me?” The few days from before had been hell on her. She didn’t know what happened when she seems to be locked in a box for a few days before opened up again to reveal a forest that she didn’t even know about. Surrounded by black suited humans she didn’t know, all wearing what appears to be a ski mask. She stayed like that for a few hours, until a Salamance, her mother caused a commotion. At first, she had been relieved to see her mommy. She broke the cage and freed her daughter, and flew away as soon as the men fired a few bullets after the Salamence. The Bagon was so happy to be with her mommy again, she expected to be going home soon. That plan was derailed when the Salamance mother began to lose altitude and crashed in a forest somewhere. “Mommy, please wake up.”The Bagon begged, while continuously poking with her tiny hands.”Mommy?” A groan sounded deep from the throat of the Salamance. She slowly opened her bleary eyes, until it layed on her daughter.”My child.....you’re safe.....”Her mother spoke with strained voice.”...I’m glad.” “Mommy!”The Bagon cried happily and hugged her mother’s muzzle.”You’re okay!” The Salamance chuckled, inadvertantly caused her to choke up some blood from her mouth.”....child! It seems, I won’t be able to last much longer.” “Mommy!”The little Bagon cried out in shock from the blood that came out of her mother’s mouth.”What are you-“Her words died off when she saw that when the Salamance shifted slightly, she could see a bullet wound just below her neck. Either way, this caused the Bagon to began sobbing softly after realizing her mother’s imminent predicament.”Why?” The Salamance knew that by all accounts, she shouldn’t be able to fly at all, let alone forcing herself to do it. It was either that, or risking her child safety. “It’s what a mother would do....protecting their child. Even at the cost of their lives.”The Salamance smiled, trying to make her little daughter be more optimistic. “Please don’t leave me, mommy. Not until I can beat you!”The Bagon stated while tears began to spill. She already knew what her mommy going to experience in a few minutes. He hugged her side. The Salamance draped a wing on her.”You will child, you will become strong. I am sure of that.”She coughed up more blood.”Promise me, don’t stop becoming stronger.” “Mommy.....” “Don’t worry child, I will always be by your side, and I-“She suddenly cut off, by the violent cough, more blood came. “Mommy!”She tried to think of something to help, anything, but it was all in vain when she heard a forced breath. Her eyes travelled to see her mother apply one more serene smile for her child as she softly closed her eyes. Silence, until the Bagon cut it.”Mommy?”No answer.”Mommy?”Once again, no answer.”Mommy.....?”She knew what happened, she just stood there, staring at the lifeless form of her mother, her one wing still draped over the child like a mother would even if she’s dying. A soft sob is heard afterwards. Her train of thoughts were cut off when she slipped on a rock. The result caused her to trip and roll down a small hill, unfortunately landing on her jaw causing her to cry out in pain. It took her a few minutes for the pain to die down and got up on her feet again, tears visible on the corner of her eyes. She’s surprised to find that she’s staring at the back of a house. The Bagon stared up at the sky to see the moonlight trying to penetrate through the cloud, she decided to get there to get some rest. After crawling through below the wooden fence from where the ground caved in a little. The backyard seems to be quite small. It’s also seems to quite plain, except there’s a just a single tree with a swing attached to a branch. After a little looking around, she spotted a hole in the wall of the house, near the right corner. Seeing as there nothing else in to sleep in, she made her way over and crawled into it. When she’s inside, she felt the tingling sound of some coins in here. Other than that, the hole is actually big enough to house a Galvantula. “I can’t sleep like this.”She used her tail to sweep the coins aside, until finally satisfied enough to close her eyes.”Mommy....”She muttered, sobbing softly again, until sleep took over. “MOTHER!”Sally jolted awake, sweats coupled with hyperventilation. She had....another nightmare again. The nightmare of that day that changed her life forever. She stared at the wall ahead of her in shock, not moving for a full two minutes, hyperventilating still. The Dragon Pokémon couldn’t move, she didn’t even dare try to move a muscle, as if out of fear that something in the dark is out to get her. Once she actually calmed down enough. She put one leg to her forehead in order to wipe off the sweat now covering her body. “Was it all a dream?”She muttered to herself.”A dream within a dream?” Suddenly something lander on her shoulder. She flinched and tried to bat it away.”Easy girl, easy!”She recognized the voice. It was Eric. “Eric?”She turned her head to her side, Eric had woken up with the bleary eyed expression on his face. Still a Hydreigon. Here she thought that it was all a dream, she was wrong. What happened earlier had really happened. “Having the same nightmare again?”Sally nodded hesitantly in confirmation. Eric had known Sally for a long time. He essentially knew her needs, her behaviour, her voice, her , but out of all of them, Eric had known Sally had a PTSD case or post-traumatic stress disorder. It happens when she was a child, he had the news after a few days later of finding Sally that a dead body of Salamence is found on the road. He concluded that the poor thing must’ve witnessed the dead of her mother. It was certainly a traumatic experience, especially to the eyes of a pokémon child. “What’s going on?”Helen asked, head tilting up in question. “Nothing...just go back to sleep, Helen. I’ll take care of Sally.”Eric ordered, unintentionally raising his voice. “Did Sally have nightmares again?”Helen asked while raising one of her eyebrows. “Yeah,”Eric replied before turning to look at Helen.”Look, just go back to sleep, Helen. I’ll take care of it.” Helen sighed. She’ll deal with it tomorrow.”As you wish, Eric.”The Serperior instantly went back to dreamland. Eric began to soothingly rub one of his head back and fro on her back.”There, there. Relax, Sally. Everything is fine!” Everytime the Salamence had a nightmare, she had to resist from her dam bursting and crying onto Eric’s chest while he comforted her. “When will it stop?”Eric gave her a bewildered look while tilting his head.”The nightmares, I mean.” That’s one of the questions that Eric couldn’t answer. He might know a lot about pokémon, but he’s no psychologist. Knowing enough to know about PTSD case.”I don’t know. I’m no psychologist.” Sally’s head downed at the news. That is until Eric spoke again.”I think that there’s moment within our lives that will forever be remembered. Either good or bad. No matter how hard you try, you couldn’t forget it. I will always come back to haunt you.” The news only gave her more dread.“Then, what should I do?”Sally asked. She wanted to get rid of the ghost of her past that always haunted her to this day. The Brutal Pokémon-turned human silenced for a moment before speaking again.” I don’t know, but if you have any more trouble with the nightmares just tell me or anyone else, okay?”The Salamence nodded. Eric satisfied for now. “Just try to sleep, Sally. And hope the nightmare doesn’t come back.”She was reluctant to fall asleep again, but doing nothing until morning doesn’t bode well for her energy for tomorrow either. Sally reluctantly decided to try sleeping again. Before she fell asleep again, she heard Eric spoke again.”You know that I’m here Sally. Me, Helen, Larry, Ricky, Will, and Silas. You can’t keep your past a secret forever. It’ll only burden yourself.” Sally sighed, knowing Eric is correct.”I know....just give me some more time. I’m not ready yet.” Eric wasn’t all that satisfied with the answer. It will have to do for now.”Allright, if you say so.”Eric’s head propped up on her side again.”You know, if Larry was here, he’ll probably chew your out for being such a downer. Even if it means making fun of you again.” Eric only heard Sally chuckled.”I know....”Before both quickly falling asleep again toward the dreamland. It hadn’t been one of the best sleeps for the tiny Bagon, but she had been in worst place. Such as sleeping in a bush, sleeping out in the rain, etc. At least, she didn’t get caught in the rain when sleeping in here. The Bagon about to leave the space within the hole, until a human face of a boy with chocolate brown hair crouched over the hole and stared at her from outside the hole. “Huh, what are you doing in my secret stash?”She froze, before her brain caught up with her and caused her to scramble back further into the wall. “Easy there, I’m not going to hurt you!”The young boy put defensively, but the little Bagon just tried to remain as small as possible. “My name is Eric!”The boy asked with a smile."What's yours?" “B-bagon!” ; ‘I-I won’t tell my name to strangers.’ “Bagon, huh? Haven’t heard a pokémon like that before. Are you native to this region?”Eric smaked his head.”Of course, I’ll probably won’t understand you. Look, take it easy, I’m trying to help you.” “Ba, ba, gon, bagon.”She curled up while tried to stay away from the human as far as possible. ‘P-p-please, stay away.’ Eric considered trying to reach for her again as it just going to scare her away, anyway. So, he did the only thing he could, he left, heading back into his house through the back door. He glanced at the small alcove where the Bagon was hiding, he just chuckled before heading inside again. “Ba, Bagon!”; ‘ I’m safe.’ She sighed in relief, that is until the boy left through the back door again. He appears to be carrying some kind of plate. The tiny Bagon scrambled as far back again. The boy headed to the small alcove before stopping in front of it.“You look hungry, maybe this will help you!”The boy smiled, putting the plates of berries.”Knock yourself out, Bagon.”Without another words, he left. After a while, after making sure that it’s safe, she stepped out. Eyeing the plate of berries, Either way, she’s hungry so she started nibbling on the. Her taste buds exploded, and began eating vigorously. The boy, Eric, heard the crunching sound from the window above the hole, satisfied that at least the Bagon had eaten something. The days have passed, weeks, the same routine happened every day for the Bagon and Eric. The young boy would always come back to her hiding spot and gave her some random amount, but still generous amount of berries of many kinds. Still, that’s enough to satiate her hunger at least. As those days passed, she began to actually get out of her hiding spot and greet him with a cheerful cry, finally letting her guard down around him once sure that he won’t harm her or associated with those bad humans. Eric would actually at times sat beside her hiding spot and tell her a story. Stories about his life in school and such, the Bagon actually finding that listening to his story seems to be quite refreshing as she always stayed in place without anything to do. “He’s so kind, like mommy.”Bagon murmurred as she happily nibbled on her berries that Eric left just now. The female Bagon happily munched without a care in the world. In her mind is now only how delicious these Berries that Eric gave, and somehow she also seemed to be much more healthier with each one she ate. “So delicious, I could-“Her words were cut off when a muffled sound of crash came from the house. “What was that?”Bagon muttered a question to herself. She tried to go back to her hideout until she could see an unknown woman seems to be running past the window from something. It’s revealed to be a few men in balaclava running after her. “What? More bad guys!” The Bagon spotted those bad man that chased Eric. She knew that she should escaped, and she did, quickly running away. She stopped as quickly as a bird in it’s emergency landing because she remembered Eric. The human who found her and gave her food. The Bagon knew that common sense told her that she should escape, but in her heart, she felt she couldn’t just leave Eric behind. She pondered her choice in silence, a minute have passed. Her eyes shone with determination while wiping some tears away from remembering her mother words, 'always repay those that help you.' “I cannot abandon Eric, I can’t.”She ran back with her tiny little feet.”Not after he after his kindness.” Being a kid is always bordered on curiosity, being a pokémon doesn’t always help either despite being sapient, they’re curious bunch of creatures. Against her better judgement, she walked to the house. The house back door, of course, is huge, at least to a Bagon’s eye. She tried to push it open with little strength.”Huh, won’t open?”She tried to put more strenght into it, but her tiny Bagon body doesn not help. She eventually got tired. “I’m tired.”The Bagon whined while resting her back on the door.”Now how am I suppose to-“Her words are cut off again as she tumbled inside when her back happen to be leaning against a door made for quadrapled pokémon. “Owww, that hurts.”The Bagon got up, observing the familiar house that she once sneaked in upon in search for food.”Time to find Eric.” “Please, don’t hurt my mom!”Eric cried desperately. “SHUT UP!”A man in balaclava shouted in retort before pushing the gun harder against the kneeing boy’s skull. Two Roggenrollas flanked a Espon, who hissed at them while laying on his side after being surprise attacked. The gem gleaming threateningly on it’s forehead. “You good for nothing, robbers. Get off me!”An attractive woman in her mid-thirties wearing a red blouse with flowing blond hair reaching down her back and apron appeared from one of the hallway where she gone off the get the phone earlier. She’s being held by two more robbers. The robbers forcefully shoved her onto the ground, she tried to lash out again only to be pushed down onto the floor entirely. A man shoving another gun into the back of her head. “Now, why don’t you tell us where the goods are?”The man in balaclava beside Eric’s mom asked, his grin wouldn’t have been visible behind the balaclava. His mother remained quiet. Before a cocking of a gun is heard, the men forced her to look at the kneeing Eric while he whimpered.”I ask again, where the goods you kept, bitch?” “No, don’t hurt my son!”Eric’s mother pleaded. “Then you’ll tell us, or I won’t guarentee his safety!”The man behind Eric threatened while slowly pulling the trigger. Eric’s mother nearly screamed.”No, no, the family jewels is in the safe behind a wardrobe on the second floor bedroom. The two men beside her proceeded to cuff her up.”Now, that’s better not be a nonse-“ “BAGON!”All the men, except the one in the back turned around to see that one of their member got headbutted in the....bane of all male in existance, causing him to bend to his knees in pain while holding his wounded pride. That one member is the one guarding Eric. The tiny pokémon didn’t let up, she suddenly breathed ‘Dragon Breath’ on the pair of Roggenrollas. They were too surprised to react properly and can’t defend themselves as the dragon fire washed over them, before another ‘Headbutt’ sent one flying to a wall, knocking it out. The other tried to retaliate with a ‘Headbutt’ of it’s own, but Bagon skillfully stepped aside and tripped it with her feet, causing it to crash to a table. Before she could do more, she suddenly grabbed on the tail and held upside down by one of the bad man in the balaclava.”You stupid little Bagon, I ought to sell you to a pokémon collectors. “B-Bagon!”; ‘No, please no. I can’t go back to that bad place.’ Somehow the man could hear the distress in her voice.”Ha, beg all you want, I bet you’re scales are going to make a nice clothing.” “Ba, Bagon!” ; ‘No, please, mommy!’ “Shut up, you miserable little-“A dull thud sounded. Silence....then the men fell over, revealing the woman that got chased a little while, holding a book. The tiny female Bagon fell and rolled on the floor, coming to a stop somewhere on the floor. She got up with a groan, witnessing that all the men were all knocked unconscoius. One Espeon standing triumphtly between another bad man and another Roggenrolla. They were all knocked out when Bagon distracted them, she figured. ”Bagon!” ; ’Whoa!’ “Bagon?”Eric came over from where he was sitting earlier.”You come and save us!”Before the tiny Bagon could react, he scooped her up and hugged her, muttering thank you. “So, that’s how the supply of berries are disappearing.”Her mother said with a stern voice.”You gave them to this Bagon haven’t you, young man?” He still hugged the gasping Bagon to his chest when he muttered an apology.”Sorry, mom, but I found her outside, drenched in rain. I couldn’t just leave her when she seems hungry.” Eric stayed quiet, expecting some lashing to appear any time soon. Silence....silence, nothing happened. He just stared at his mom, still waiting for anything, just anything to appear because this is getting awkward to him and the Bagon. His mother smiled so wide that it almost literally split her face.”I couldn’t be more prouder of you!” “Huh?”Questions filling his head. “You take care of a distressed Pokémon. Not many kids are willing to do that.” “Huh? What do you know?”Bagon heard the whole thing and shrugged. Eric pondered a few things, Bagon just saved him, his mother and Herdier. Eric grew fonder of the Bagon these last few weeks. In fact, if it weren’t for her, the situation could’ve gotten worse. He’s been taking care of her for a few weeks, just like one of those trainers would. So, he dreaded this one question that he’s been meaning to ask for a while to his mom.“Can I keep her mom? I promise I’ll take good care of her!” Her mother’s grin threatening to split her face in half.”Why not? You’ve taken care of her this few weeks, then I’m sure you could take care of her for years to come. Plus, that makes her a new part of the family.” “Really?”Her mom nodded, Eric turned her around so he could see her face before hugging Bagon to his chest again.”You hear that, Bagon, we’re going to be best of friends!”The Herdier from before also barked happily “Bagon!”She cried happily. Yay! I’m Eric’s new friend and he’ll give me more berries. “What should I name you? I don’t want to keep calling you Bagon. What to name, what to name....” “That’s up for you to decide, Eric!”She stared at the men in the balaclava around the floor of the living room.”If you’ll excuse me, I’ll call the police that take care of these robbers first.”Eric’s mother went off somewhere into the house without another word. “I’ll name you....wait are you a girl?"The Bagon answered with a nod and happy smile. Eric stared at her eyes just for a second before making his decision."...Sally! Sally the Bagon. I’m sure you’ll grow and evolve into a big strong pokémon one day.” Eric couldn’t help, but grin in ecstasy. Before he could continue further the temperature seems to suddenly drop a few degrees. He shakes involuntarily, while holding Sally close to his chest. Eric is a boy who never believe in ghost, except ghost-type pokémons, of course. Other than that, he doesn’t believe it. Not at all. So, the sight of seeing a transparent Salamance. He tried to scream, but he’s seems to be too freaked out, evident by squeezing Bagon even more. Sally couldn’t see anything because her back is to the ghost. It muttered two sentence. Two sentences that enough for Eric to carry it out.”Thank you. Please, take care of my daughter.”The ghostly Salamance smiled, closing her eyes and fading away. Eric is....silenced, and couldn’t help but think if this is a hallucination or not. He rubbed his eyes, opening it again to witness.....nothing. He looked around to no avail, he shrugged. Sally wouldn’t trade Eric for anyone else, not even another human from that day onward. “You’re going to need a bath, Sally!”Eric cried, and so began the first bath of Sally and many more after that. Sally couldn’t help, but cringe. Having a bad feeling when Eric said the word ‘bath’. One of the very few times in the life and times of Sally the Salamence that she had actually smiled hin her sleep.”Eric....”And one of the few times she witnessed a shooting dream. Meanwhile, in the distance within Canterlot Castle. Luna smiled at her handiwork. She had altered the pokémon’s dream a little so instead of nightmares, she would experience one of her happiest memory. Luna is rather hesitant to make an appearance in her dream for fear of her lashing out and ejecting her from the dream. Regardless, she had finished her job. Now she moved on to hundreds more dream that had recently appeared.