Chapter Text
Harmony was standing outside Wild Zone 8 and noticed something very peculiar inside.
A Noibat, was inside the wild zone, and it seems to be lost because it was flying around frantically.
Thankfully, none of the other pokemons were bothering it. But Harmony doesn't know for how long because with its’ frantic flying, it almost smacked onto the other pokemons around.
Namely the Alpha Camerupt.
Harmony shuddered at the thought of alphas in the wild zone now. She had gone to Wild Zone 6 by accident to try and help someone with their request. But even before she got to meet the person, she got chased around by a Meditite, a couple of Houndour and an Alpha Houndoom which definitely didn't want to hear reasons.
Harmony went home crying after that experience with AZ trying his best to comfort her, Absol promising vengeance (he also got beat up because the Alpha Houndoom jumped him), and Taunie's twin brother Urbain himself went there to help with the request.
Yes, Taunie has an older twin brother, who so far seems to be more reasonable than Taunie.
And.. Because of that experience, Harmony avoided the wild zones like a plague, especially the ones with Alphas inside.
Right now, Harmony can already see two alphas already on stand by. The Camerupt and Krokorok.
Not to mention she had heard Urbain said that even though it's rare, there's Gible as well here who would pop out of the ground and chomp on anyone who accidentally stepped on its’ hole.
Normally, Harmony wouldn't even think about going into that wild zone. But the Noibat looks so scared and confused, and its frantic flying, agitated the pokemons nearby.
Looking very much confused on how to proceed, she turned to Absol, “Do you think we could go in and out before any of the Alphas see us?”
Absol seems debating internally on the same thing, especially the well-being of his child trainer, “If we go in, you will stay close. No wandering off to do Mable’s request.”
“You know I barely did Mable’s request, and she doesn’t expect much from me after seeing my short little-self.” Harmony said, but complied when seeing Absol’s stern eyes, “I’ll stay close, Absol, I promise.”
Absol nodded, “Ready?”
“No. Let’s get that Noibat out of here.”
Harmony was very careful when she sneaked around the Alpha Krokorok and its cluster of Sandiles. She and Absol even managed to go around the Alpha Camerupt, hiding behind some stalls that her little body can fit into where no one else could. She could get closer to Noibat while being unnoticeable, no problem.
The only setback was, this Noibat is a very nervous pokemon, and he doesn’t know Harmony or Absol.
When Harmony tried to coax it gently and quietly towards her, Noibat cried and screeched loudly, alerting every pokemon in Wild Zone 8 that they have intruders.
“Dang it!” Harmony hissed in panic, before yelped and got out of the way of the charging Alpha Camerupt.
Noibat screeched again in fear when the Alpha Krokorok opened its mouth to bite him.
Seeing Noibat freezed, Harmony quickly ran and pushed Noibat out of the jaw way. Not knowing what to do anymore, Noibat latched tightly to the nearest thing, which was Harmony’s neck, and his grip almost choked her.
But Harmony has a bigger problem. She got separated from Absol after saving Noibat from the Alpha Krokorok. The one thing Absol asked from her and she immediately broke her promise.
And without Absol nearby, Harmony and Noibat are easy targets for the Alphas and the surrounding pokemons.
Noibat keeps crying from fear, hurting Harmony’s ears. And Harmony can feel her own eyes welled in terrified tears when the pokemons stalk closer.
Harmony took step backs and hitched a sob when the Alpha Camerupt and Alpha Krokorok readied an attack.
She scrunched her eyes shut while hugging Noibat tightly in her arms and clutched her mother’s wedding ring necklace around her neck, wishing above anything that it would be over quickly.
“Scolipede, Iron tail! Arbok, Bite! Roserade, Sleep powder!”
Suddenly, Harmony felt someone pick her up around the waist under one arm and ran to the nearest exit.
Harmony only dared to open her eyes when the person put her gently down on her two feet.
Harmony immediately regretted opening her eyes when she saw Corbeau's frustrated face trained on her.
He kneeled down and grabbed her shoulders tightly in his hands, “What were you thinking?!”
Harmony flinched and looked down to her shoes, but Corbeau immediately and gently tilted her chin up with his fingers, “Non. Eyes on me, petite. Explain.”
Harmony gulped and about to explain before her eyes widened in panic, “Absol! He's still in-!”
“He's fine. He's with my team.” Corbeau let her see behind him where a Scolipede, Arbok, and Roserade were half-circling around Absol who explains to them his own version of what happened, “Now, explain petite. What possessed you to go to a Wild Zone like that? I've told you to stay away from them.” Corbeau's eyes were hard but he seemed a little calmer than before.
Harmony’s blue gray eyes met Corbeau’s golden one, as it welled once more with suppressed tears, “I- We were just going to help him. I never want to meet the Alphas..”
“Him.., “ Corbeau’s eyes trailed down to the one thing still latched around hugging Harmony's neck, “This little guy?”
Harmony nodded, “He seems so lost in there, and when Absol and I tried to get him, he panicked and attracted the other pokemons. I got him out of Alpha Krokorok's way, but then I got separated from Absol, and- and..” Her breath hitched more and more after the adrenaline wore off.
Corbeau softened a bit before rubbing her arms and back to soothe her fear, “You're not in there anymore, petite. Breathe. You're safe.”
Harmony's tears fell down silently, not quite sobbing, but finally letting her fears and tears free. Corbeau shushed her gently while wiping her tears away gently with his purple handkerchief, “There, you're alright now..-” And he seemed to remember something while his eyes widened, “You are alright, aren't you?” Corbeau asked while looking all over her, trying to find any injuries.
Harmony quickly nodded, “I'm fine.” When Corbeau looked a bit suspicious, she added, “Just.. scared out of my mind..”
“Scared me out of my mind too..” Corbeau muttered to himself, “Why didn't you ask for adult help?”
Harmony's eyes started to wander again, but a light tap on her forearm reminded her eyes to stay and look at him, “I.. didn't think of that..”
Corbeau’s eyes narrowed, “That was very reckless Harmony, and dangerous.”
Harmony nodded nervously, “I know.. I wasn't about to, but-”
“But you did it anyway.” Corbeau sternly said before sighing, “What am I going to do with you, petite imprudent?..”
Harmony only knew probably a quarter of Kalosian words, and she barely knew what Corbeau was calling her. But she has a feeling it's related to what she had just recklessly done.
Feeling that Corbeau's hands trembled a tiny bit on her shoulders, Harmony patted his shoulder back, even when her own eyes were still shiny after her tears, “I really am fine, Mr. Corbeau. T-Thank you for worrying about me..”
Corbeau searched her eyes before he sighed and ruffled her hair gently in response, “Next time, ask, and I’ll help however I can. I’ll put in my phone number, where’s your Rotom?”
Harmony’s rotom phone flew out of her pocket and Corbeau typed in his number before it flew back to her, “There, that should do it. No more doing dangerous and reckless things on your own, alright petite?”
Harmony nodded, “Yes, Sir..”
Corbeau patted her head before standing back up to his full height, which.. was not much, but Harmony is a small child too, so he still feels tall to her, “Now, what do you want to do with the little guy?”
Harmony hesitated a bit, “Uhm.. I’m not sure where Noibats usually live around here..”
Corbeau thought for a bit, “The sewers maybe.. Come, I’ll take you there myself.” But as Corbeau offered his hand, the Noibat screamed so loudly and clutched Harmony more tightly in desperation.
“I- too tight-” Harmony pried Noibat’s claw a bit from her neck, “Okay, okay! You don’t want to go back then?”
Corbeau looked on with quiet amusement in his eyes when Harmony, now holding Noibat in her arms, and Noibat’s head, almost as big as the child, looked at each other.
Small holding small. Even Absol looked at them with fond amusement.
Noibat cooed a bit with shiny eyes from his previous tears and looked into Harmony’s eyes.
Harmony hesitated, “Are you sure?.. I’m not-” she looked at Absol who just shrugged, giving her the options, “I’m not sure I’m a good choice..”
Before Corbeau could scold the child for her self-deprecating thoughts, the Noibat gave a bright cry and hugged her neck again.
Corbeau huffed softly and offered her a dusk pokeball, “Here, for him.”
Harmony gently took it from his hands, “Thank you..” before she tapped it to Noibat who went into the ball willingly. The ball only shakes once before it ‘pings’.
Her rotom phone immediately flew out to announce she had caught Noibat.
She let Noibat out of his ball again which immediately latched to her back, holding on to her neck. This time, happily, considering the smile on its face. Harmony still doesn’t know why Noibat chose her, since he doesn’t talk even once. But before she pondered on it too much further, Corbeau put his hand on her hair and gently ruffled it.
“Take care while going home, alright?”
Harmony nodded obediently, “I will.”
Corbeau put a bit of pressure with his hand on her head to get her full attention, “I mean it, petite. I don’t want to hear you almost got trampled by pokemon again. Do you understand?”
Harmony nodded again, “Yes, I understand.. Sorry Mr. Corbeau.” when he took his hand off her head, she gratefully thanked him, “Thank you again for saving me, Absol, and Noibat.”
Corbeau smiled softly, “You’re welcome. Now go home before your guardian worries about you.”
He watched her walk home with her two pokemons before he too went back to his syndicate with his pokemons.