[A/N:] This is extremely rushed, and I'm not pleased with it. I recommend listening to the song "Little Braver" in the media while reading. Lyrics are from Self-Inflicted Achromatic (Vocaloid), Little Braver (English by Sara Beat on YouTube), and Snowdrop (MLP, original song by ElectricKaplosion). Enjoy!

•

A dream which is an easy task I won't deny

But it'd be fine if people just like me would go and die

:jinx: A person or object that brings bad luck.:

•

The Pokemon is running, lush pelt a deep spring green, ruffled and tossed about by the morning breeze.

Rose-tinted flowers seem to flare out on both sides of the creature's chubby head, sunlight seeming to filter through the gauze-thin petals.

She runs with an unusual gait, short legs rapidly covering lengths of the earth's soil, beads of perspiration soaking her grasslike fur, eyes wide and alert. There is a worried look in those small pools of ebony, aglow with a sense of overwhelming desperation.

Where are all the other Shaymin? the Pokemon thinks to herself mournfully. They said we'd be playing "pass the bad luck", but the tagger is the "jinx..."

And I'm the jinx, aren't I?

She bows her head in half-defeat, worn out by its earlier attempt to find the others. No, she doesn't dare to call them her friends, because they're not. They're just her companions, burdened with an obligation to play with her for the simple reason that they were of the same species.

I don't want to be a jinx, the Shaymin broods. I don't want to have the bad luck forever.

Just then, she catches sight of another Shaymin, all four stubs of its legs flying outwards as it speeds across the path. Gasping, she conceals herself in a nearby bush, allowing herself to smile slightly. It hasn't seen me yet.

Nodding to herself, she springs forth, nearly exploding from the bush in a flurry of leaves. Her eyes might have scared her acquaintance off, but she didn't care--- not one bit. Her optics are stretched wide, wild with furious despair and hopeless desperation as she pounces as hard as she can.

I will pass the bad luck, she yells in her mind. I am not a jinx!

And, suddenly, everything goes so terribly wrong.

She's flying through the air, feeling more confident than she's ever been, and a split-second away from her success, but before she can even land, a sharp, agonised cry rings through the forest.

Abruptly, she crashes onto the ground ungracefully, and stands up once again, her eyes displaying nothing but bewilderment.

She looks around, and sees the Shaymin trembling next to a tall oak tree, bruises littering her thin white coat, a gash running along her tender underbelly. Her small eyes are glazed over with pain, and nausea bubbles in her stomach as she sees a small spot of dark red smudge the sepia bark of the tree.

Alerted by the creatures pained scream, several other Shaymin emerge from the thick patches of trees, stumbling through the packed undergrowth and crowding around their injured friend.

After they ensure that she's OK--- nothing fatal--- the group turns to her, and the sickening feeling inside her continues to grow. The Shaymin steps forward, head low, eyes apologetic. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry...

A laugh rips through the air like a sword and through her cowardly heart, and she shrinks back timidly. The biggest Shaymin's eyes are playful, but they are the most cruel optics she's seen, glowering, mocking, laughing. It's fine, the Pokemon calls, but her tone is deliberately slow and poisonous. You're just a jinx, after all.

Others join in with the laughter, and soon, it's the only sound she hears, a roaring, defeaning wave that's aimed at her.

Jinx. Jinx. Jinx. Jinx. Jinx.

Tears in her eyes, she whirls around, scrunching them shut so that no one can see her weakness, and she runs, and runs, and runs, but the mocking noises still follow her no matter how far she tries to escape to.

• • •

The next day, she's reluctant to step out of the den. She doesn't mind the emptiness of her lonely home--- after all, her parents are out most of the time, and she's long used to the hollow feeling the residence gives her.

The only problem she has is her grandmother--- she's had plenty of bad experiences with the elderly Shaymin to last her a lifetime. The strict Pokemon is one of her worst nightmares--- with unattainable expectations and harsh punishments each time the clumsy creature makes a mistake, she grew up living in fear of her grandmother.

Sighing, she pushes herself to go outside, and notes in pleasant surprise that her mother is still in their home, woven basket clutched tightly between her teeth.

Oh, you're up, her mother chirps pleasantly. She's in her Sky Forme, and the perfect image of everything she aspires to be.

Elegant, graceful, charming, polite, beautiful--- she's the exact opposite of her child, and the young Shaymin can't fathom why she's turned out so different--- why she's become such a disgrace.

Grandma is visiting today, her mother starts, and instantly, she startles, cowering in fear. Now, I know she's not the kindest to you, dear, but try to be polite, OK?

The Shaymin simply sighs in defeat. I'll try.

Smiling, the adult nuzzles against her, and she feels a wave of much-welcomed warmth ripple through her. Thanks for being such a sweetheart.

Nodding her head in reply, she exits the den, but the warm, fluttering feeling inside her is soon replaced by a cold, stone-hard sensation of dread.

• • •

It's been a long day, to say the least.

She'd venture out to meet up with her companions, but they'd all act strange around her. She's either be shunned--- perhaps a cold or fearful glance if she was fortunate--- or laughed at, the scornful sound of jinx reverberating through the air.

She doesn't know if they mean it as nothing more as a joke, but every time she tries to think about it, the only adjective she can conjure up to describe their demented guffaws was mocking.

Jinx, jinx, jinx, her mind whispers tauntingly.

Nothing more than an evil seed, she reassures herself, but the thought still remains.

An evil seed can still spiral out of control. It can still take over you--- and lastly, when your mind is too exhausted and defeated to fight back, you're eventually driven to pure, utter madness.

She'd try to apologise with an awkward smile, but the Shaymin she injured stayed as far away from her as possible.

The Shaymin doesn't blame her.

She's just a jinx, after all.

Meeting her grandmother is the last thing she wants to do today, but she has no choice. She trudges back into her abode, dejected, but tries to keep her posture as erect as she can.

The elderly Shaymin's mouth is set in a hard, thin line, sage eyes cold and scrutinising. She nearly stumbles out of fright, but manages to correct her gait just in time. She prays to Arceus that her grandmother doesn't see the slip-up, but she just knows that the older creature had witnessed her fumble.

And she simply stares into the (somehow) comforting blankness of the cave's wall, having memorised each and every flaw and crack in its surface, as she feels the (now numbing) throbbing of a powerful Energy Ball fly into her side--- the punishment for her clumsiness.

Useless to dodge, she tells herself dejectedly. I would probably bring myself bad luck. Besides, Grandma wouldn't allow me to simply dodge, after all.

Everything is just white now, fading into muted, overwhelming white that makes her feel so small and helpless against the huge canvas that stretches out into infinity.

(And she can only watch in despair as her grandmother speaks to her mother with such horrible insults about herself--- "Why are you even raising such a clumsy, untalented child? You might as well be keeping a jinx.")

• • •

Her grandmother has left.

She forces herself to cheer up, but somehow, it doesn't work. There's a sharp, stinging pain that thumps continuously against the walls of her heart. What her grandmother said is true--- no matter how much she wants to deny it, Grandma knows best.

Her mother approaches, and the Shaymin flings herself into the older Pokemon's grasp, the tears she held onto for so long erupts out of control, and they just keep flowing in fresh torrents, and she sobs and wails against the soft fur of her mother.

I was called a jinx yesterday by my friends because of an accident. They all think I'm full of bad luck, Mother. They're still laughing at me now, and no one understands. I don't want to be a jinx, Mother. And Grandma hates me. She punishes me so hard for being clumsy; for not being the perfect daughter that she wants. She calls me a jinx. I don't want to be a jinx!

These thoughts engulf her, but they hitch in her mind, and she's simply too scared to speak.

Will Mother hate me if she knows?

She continues to cry, the tears filled up with pent-up rage and anger and despondence.

And, unable to understand anything, her mother is only able to pull her child into a gentle embrace, whispering soothing words into her ear, stroking her fur with the tenderness only a mother could pull off.

• • •

If I am this way please just wipe me into gray

Hundreds of millions of people would be glad and shineNo one here hating me, that would be so nice to seeBut that kind of joy will never intertwine

•

She stares blankly at the unmoving corpse in front of her.

Her mother.

Dead because she protected her child from a rampaging group of Volcarona.

She's too scared, of course. Her cowardice does nothing but hurt people. She'd hidden while her mother had faced ten of those monsters.

Of course, it's probably because I'm a jinx as well.

...and I never got to tell her anything. She's never going to understand.

...I'm sorry, Mother.

• • •

:bravery: courageous behaviour or character.:

She's become nothing but an empty shell of herself, living each day with no purpose.

The cave now seems far too big for a child like her, and her grandmother never bothers to stop by anymore. Her life is just an endless, monotonous cycle that repeats itself over and over again--- eat, sleep, hunt, repeat.

She avoids going out if she can help it--- after all, she's a jinx, and she's accepted the label. Going out will only result in someone getting hurt.

The Shaymin just wants to goddamn kill herself--- that thought is so tempting, and haunts her every moment of the day, but as always, she's too scared to take the plunge.

The Pokemon currently sinks into the water, eyes closed, making no attempt to paddle or move.

I wonder, would it be easy if I just stayed down here forever? Could I just rid myself of my existence this way?

The water closes in, filling her system, and a terrifying feeling envelopes her as she drowns, but she forces herself to stay put.

"Hey, is that a Shaymin?"

The voice is incredulous with wonder, and in shock, she gasps and shoots to the surface, eyes wide, meeting face-to-face with a red-haired girl.

I'm out. I'm a jinx. I'm clumsy. I'll hurt her.

Instantly, she jumps out of the lake, scooting several feet away. Don't... don't go near me.

"Why not?" the girl asks, unperturbed by the Pokemon's apparent fear.

I'm nothing but a jinx, the Shaymin answers. Please stay away. I'll hurt you if you go near me.

But the girl simply laughs--- not the mocking sounds she's used too, but instead a clear, amused tune. "That's ridiculous. There's no such thing as a jinx."

Angered, the creature maintains her distance. Then explain why my acquaintance got injured because of me. Why all the other Shaymin and my grandmother think I'm a jinx. Why my mother was killed because of me--- trying to protect you. I just don't want to hurt anyone, so please leave.

There's a moment of silence before she hears an answer. "Maybe these things happen, and I'm sorry to hear that."

Then go away.

"But I know what you mean," she says calmly, her eyes soft. "I've been where you are. You just want to give up, don't you? Even if you want to help, someone else ends up affected. Because of this, you're scared to take another step."

The Shaymin freezes, knowing that what the girl says is the complete truth. And when she looks into the trainer's sorrel eyes, they're the most genuine and empathetic she's ever seen.

"I used to be like that," the teenaged girl continues, her tone oddly comforting. "But that's all wrong. Y'know, just keep living on, because you never know when someone may need you."

But--- but who could ever need me? The Shaymin's tone is flat.

"You'll know someday," the girl states, smiling. "Because I know you're brave."

Brave? The Pokemon easily detects a lie. Ha. I'm the most cowardly Pokemon I know.

"Wrong," comes the reply. "It all depends on how you look at it. You can view yourself as cowardly, but I think that you're brave. How much bravery does it take to keep on living on despite what happens in a life like yours?"

Tears start to form in her eyes. Just look at me. I---

"Sometimes, the most cowardly Pokemon is the bravest. The weakest Pokemon can be the strongest. A worthless jinx can be the most precious thing."

I never knew I needed to hear that, the Shaymin mumbles, finally daring to take a step towards the trainer.

"It's what all of us need sometimes," the girl smiles. "Someone to tell us that we're worth something."

• • •

I'm so afraid

But I know it's in me

The bravery

•

And at that moment, flames lick the trees like a rabid monster, consuming the forestation in mere seconds, leaves and grass being devoured and reduced to nothing but brittle ashes.

A forest fire, the Shaymin exclaims. I knew it. I still---

"It's not because of you," reassures the teenager. "You have to stop blaming yourself for everything."

Together, they run as fast as they can, barely avoiding the fallen branches and debris that seem to rain down at an alarming rate.

Flocks of Starly squawk, their cries piercing the air as they beat their wings furiously in a bid to escape. Bidoof and Kricketot run as fast as they can on their stubby legs.

And the group of Shaymin she abandoned years ago find a patch of Gracidea flowers that's miraculously untouched, their forms changing to one more elegant and sleek. They rise into the air, one by one, until she's alone with the last flower.

At the same time, a huge branch blocks their path--- impossible for anyone to clear on foot. The Shaymin glances at the Gracidea flower, and back at the teenaged girl.

I can't go. You're going to die. I'm not going to lose the one who saved me, the Shaymin cries.

"Go."

The answer is short, but the desperation in the girl's eyes is clear. "Only one of us can make it. I know you can do it."

"...just remember, you can do anything if you become a little braver."

In the heat of the moment, she rushes forward, and feels her body changing, a feeling of lightness washing over her. She's floating in the air as if it's the most natural thing to happen to her, and the tree is nothing but a mere obstacle.

"Go."

I'm... I'm so sorry...

"It isn't your fault." She must be so scared, but why is she still smiling? She's about to die...! "I just hope you can continue living your life fully. I hope you'll stop hiding from who you truly are."

And with that, she flits over the trunk gracefully, running once again--- far, far away, until the forest is nothing but a speck in the distance.

I hurt you because you met me.

• • •

Mommy?

The young Shaymin is baffled as it runs to catch up with his mother.

Where are we going?

The female Shaymin merely shoots him a tired smile. You'll see.

Soon, they arrive at a forest, blackened and destroyed--- leading the both of them to wonder if any Pokemon could still survive in such conditions.

Where... where is this, Mommy?

It's a special place, the Shaymin replies. Somewhere that holds a very special someone who sacrificed herself for me.

The child's eyes widen in amazement. Really?

Laughing, she tosses her head. Someone that saved me. Who told me what life really means.

(Someone who told me that I wasn't a jinx. That the word didn't define me.)

...someone who taught me how to become a little braver.

•

If you stand strong and hold fast, you'll discover who you are

If you listen to the world at night, you can hear the twinkling stars

If you use love to guide your heart, you are bound to go far

You have the power to change the world

Being uniquely who you are

•

[Word count: 2759]