Weaned

Giggles erupt from the silk nest as the brood of tiny Joltiks play.

Pouncing and nibbling on each other’s fur, the little fluffy bugs have not a single care in the world. No, they just wanna have fun and use up all the pent up energy in their growing bodies. It’s been quite some time since hatching, and they’re now quite a bit more balanced in their movements and can talk very fluently.

Popcorn seems to be growing a bit more than the others, having hatched first, and that gives him the advantage as he tries to pin down his other siblings and nibble their fur. The name of the game was to try and nibble for five full seconds, but so far, there’s no winner.

Feeling his sister pounce on him, Popcorn lives up to his name and bounces all about in a hyper bundle of fur, literally jumping off the walls. He then tries to turn the tables back on his sister and pounces on her. She bursts with laughter as she pulls away and hops out the nest opening. Her siblings give chase, all laughing as they dash across a silk bridge towards another nest.

Eyes trailing the bundle of furballs as they hurry along and disappear into the nest, the Galvantula adults don’t seem quite as amused by their play. No, a good majority of them seem frustrated and annoyed, but they keep themselves in check, knowing they don’t have to tolerate the young ones for much longer…

Popcorn and his fellow Joltiks are very much unaware of what the future holds. Every single day has been full of happiness and fun, with plenty of food, sleep whenever they want, in complete and utter safety. He has no reason to believe things will change as he tries to win the Nibble Game.

More Joltiks rush into the nest to join their play and the silk cocoon shakes a bit as the Joltiks run all over. Popcorn manages to pin down one of his cousins and nibbles the fur eagerly.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

He was certain of victory when the nest dips under the added weight of a new occupant. Popcorn and the other Joltiks immediately recognize the dip and they happily turn towards the Galvantula standing by the exit. They hurry over, Popcorn forgetting all about the game to follow suit, his cousin tailing him.

The Joltiks gather around the Galvantula, eager for lunch, but to their surprise, the massive spider doesn’t spark. Instead, he goes about scooping each and every Joltik up in his pedipalps. The fluffballs are confused, but they question nothing as the scooped Joltiks climb up the adult to cling to his back.

Popcorn feels himself get scooped up and he hurries up to the rest of his siblings, pressing close to them. He doesn’t know what’s happening, but he has utter trust in the grown-ups and wonders if they’re going on an adventure. Perhaps they would finally be allowed to explore the forest!

Once all the Joltiks in the nest are gathered, the Galvantula moves out onto a branch and climbs down the tree. Popcorn feels the excitement from the other Joltiks and he shares their feeling. Something big’s about to happen and he can’t wait to see what it is.

They travel across the forest floor for a while, the Joltiks eagerly taking in the new view. They’ve never been this low to the ground before and it’s quite a sight looking up at the trees rather than down. But no matter where they go, familiar web is always visible and they can even make out some sparks emerging from said web.

They follow the web until they reach a clearing with several other Galvantula, yet more Joltiks gathered around their feet. Popcorn scans them, but he doesn’t recognize them. They must’ve been raised in a separate nursery. He personally can’t wait to make friends with them!

Their Galvantula escort lowers himself to the ground and hisses out his words. “Get off.”

Popcorn tilts his head at the snappy tone, but he follows his nest-mates and climbs down to the ground. It’s weird, having something that isn’t silk, bark, or fur under his feet. He shifts his weight and shakes a foreleg, trying to get used to it.

But he doesn’t have much time to do so, as another Galvantula arrives, carrying not Joltiks but…

“What is that?” he hears one of his brothers ask in confusion. He hears more of his fellow Joltiks ask that question too as the Galvantula sets down a blue bird, whose wings are all tied up in web.

Popcorn doesn't understand. The bird seems terrified for some reason, crying and shivering, but unable to speak with web tied around her beak. The little Joltik feels a huge wave of sympathy for the bird, and he knows the other Joltiks feel the same by the looks on their worried faces.

What is going on…?

“This is a Ducklett,” hisses the Galvantula that carried in the bird. “This and every other Pokemon on this island will be the source of your meals from now on.”

He pushes the bird forward, earning a muffled scream of terror. The Ducklett stumbles, falling flat on her chest as she can’t open her wings for balance. Awkwardly pushing herself back up to her feet, her horror-filled eyes scan for an escape route. But the Galvantulas won’t allow it, surrounding the clearing with no way out.

“Really…?” Popcorn hears one of his sisters ask out loud. “But she can’t feed us… She doesn’t even look like an Electric-type…”

“Yeah…” his cousin joins. “How are we supposed to eat her electricity if she doesn’t have any…?”

The Galvantulas roll their eyes collectively and one of them impatiently grabs one of the Joltiks. Popcorn watches as the spider drags the Ducklett closer, the bird screaming and struggling uselessly. The Joltik is pressed tight to the Ducklett’s feathers and is forcefully rubbed deep into the coat. Finally, after a few minutes of this rough treatment, the Galvantula lets the Joltik go.

The Joltik immediately hops off the Ducklett, her own fur ruffled. But she does notice that there’s static clinging to her now…

“Get it?” The Galvantula hisses. He earns a hesitant nod from the children and throws the Ducklett carelessly in their direction. She hits the ground hard and the Joltiks gather around to help her up.

“So… We just rustle the feathers…?” another Joltik asks when they got the poor bird on her feet. Earning an irritated nod, the same Joltik glances at the Ducklett with obvious pity. “Well, does she have to be tied up like this…? It doesn’t feel right…”

This earns an impatient growl. “Just eat!”

The Joltiks cringe, Popcorn not at all used to this change of attitude. Why’re they being so snappy all of a sudden…?

Slowly, some of the Joltiks wander to the Ducklett, their steps very reluctant. They cling to her and rustle her feathers a bit. The Joltik that was used as demonstration turns to the others. “I can help…” she tells them and shares the electricity to her fellows. The Joltiks take turns feeding on the static of the bird, sharing it with the others instinctively.

After a while, all the Joltiks have eaten and they step away from the crying Ducklett to give her room. But no sooner have they done that than the Galvantulas rush forward, shoving the Joltiks and each other out of the way.

Popcorn and his peers don’t even know what to say as they witnessed the most terrible thing they’ve ever seen in their entire lives: the Galvantulas, the grown-ups they depended on so much, are now ripping the still-living Ducklett apart violently, fighting greedily amongst themselves to get as much meat as possible. The bird’s screams are terrible, ear-shattering before cutting off with a gruesome gurgle.

At once, tears flow in Popcorn’s eyes, the other Joltiks also crying. Some of the young ones scream in terror, huddling together and burying their faces in each other’s fur.

After a moment, one of the Galvantulas manages to snatch the largest chunk of the body and takes off running. Most of the adults pursue her, although a couple has decided that it’s not worth the effort. Turning to the Joltiks, blood smeared about their mouths and pedipalps, the larger male speaks out in a harsh tone.

“Your sheltered life is over,” he hisses. “and your time at the nest is through. Now that you know how to feed yourselves with other Pokemon, we have no obligation to care for you further. You’re on your own.”

The Joltiks are still crying, still horrified, as they stared at the massive spider, at the blood and gore splattered all over the scene. And things don’t get any better as the other Galvantula continues.

“This island is a cruel place and most of you will not survive. Learn fast, and learn well; stay strong and you’ll make it into adulthood. If you show weakness of any sort, you’ll be shown no mercy.” He steps back, preparing to depart before adding, “We don’t care where you make your stupid little community, but until you evolve, you will no longer be welcomed in OUR society. Is this understood?”

The clearing is nearly silent, broken only by the sniffles from the little Joltiks. Finally one of them, Popcorn’s brother, shakes his head, still in denial of this whole situation. Speaking up, his voice is incredibly shaky.

“N-no… I’m going b-back to Mom and D-dad…I… I’m going home now…” he says as he turns and begins walking back the way they came, back towards the nests. And he is stopped when the Galvantula tells him with particular cruelty:

“And I suggest you don’t do that. As I said, you’re not welcomed, not by us, not by your parents. If you go back now, you will be killed.”

--

The moment the Galvantulas were waiting for is finally here: Popcorn and his peers are now weaned and left to fend for themselves...

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3 (YOU ARE HERE)
Part 4
Part 5