Even her Pokemon turned towards Inyssa in a mix of confusion, fear and in Kuro's case excitement. The Monferno's dark eyes studied all of them for what seemed like an entire minute.
A devious smile stretched across his lips. He raised one of his arms and pointed at the small flying Pokemon sitting on her hat.
"Frerr…" he chuckled, eyes full of menace.
The Starly let out a chirp of fear and dug his talons strongly into her hat, making Inyssa squint from the pain.
Yeah, that's kinda what I figured.
Enma might've been a reckless asshole, but he wasn't dumb. Even with a type disadvantage he must have realized Steven wasn't just the weaker member of her team but the one most averse to combat. Even if his fire would be strong against Bret or Shadi they both had infinitely more combat experience and could deal with him accordingly.
Still, she wouldn't have proposed such a fight if she weren't ready for the worst case scenario. She raised one hand to softly pat Steven's head. "Hey, no need to be afraid. You're with me, remember?"
The Starly jumped from her hat and flew in place in front of her face, eyes still opened wide and full of terror. His tiny beak shook as he tried to chirp in disapproval.
A violent tug at her heart almost managed to break her smile. Doubt formed in her mind and for a second she considered cancelling the fight altogether. If Steven truly was that scared she couldn't force him to fight, could she?
You need to set an example. You can't let Enma destroy your credibility as a trainer.
"Steven, do you trust me?"
The question silenced him for a few seconds, until he nodded nervously. Next to him, the rest of her Pokemon stared at the Starly with a mix of doubt and pity.
She formed the brightest smile she could and held him with both arms. "I trust you too, and that's why we're going to win. Why? Because there is not a single Pokemon I can't achieve victory with!"
Steven recognized her words instantly, having been at the other side of them a long time ago. The first battle they ever had, back when things had been different. Back when the idea of a fight excited him instead of filling his gut with a terrible unease.
He nodded strongly and twirled toward Enma, furrowing his brow. His wings shook from the wind and cold, and doubt was still very clear in his expression. But he would not run away. Not when his trainer needed him. A look of respect flashed across Enma's face as their gaze met.
"That's the spirit!" She raised her arm forward, imitating a referee's flag. "Now, start!"
Enma lowered his body until his knees were almost touching the ground, and as if he had springs instead of feet he shot himself forward with enough force to raise a cloud of dust behind him. Steven's body froze at the sight of his opponent coming straight at him, glowing fist raised and a wicked smile across his face, but Inyssa was ready.
"Double Team!"
Steven chirped loudly as he extended both his wings to their full length. The edges of his body shifted and waved as three identical afterimages appeared around his opponent. The Monferno took a chance at the one on the right and buried his fist in his stomach, which faded into smoke as soon as he came in contact with it.
Inyssa allowed herself a smile. She could do this. She could win.
"Maneuver from the back!" she yelled over the sounds of the battle. "Aerial Ace!"
One of the three remaining Steven swerved right mid-flight and dove towards Enma's back, his wings glowing with energy. His opponent caught a glimpse of this, and with the time he had left before the impact he whipped his tail from side to side, sending a small trail of flames in his direction.
The impact sent the fire Pokemon to the ground where he stopped himself with one knee, letting out a pained cry. His opponent made a similar sound, the improvised fire whip managing to burn the underside of his right wing.
Inyssa bit her lip in frustration. She never thought Enma's tail could be used to defend from attacks he couldn't evade. She'd just seen it as decoration, as another part of her Pokemon's body which showed her how angry he was at any given moment. She swallowed the shame down and tried to focus on the fight. That last exchange had ended in her favor, but Enma could take more damage than Steven. She had to think of a way to attack him from the front without him retaliating.
An idea came to mind. Not a very smart one, but it would have to do. "Steven, fly up to where he can't reach you."
He did as he was told, trying his best to evade the streams of embers being sent his way. She waited until he was at a reasonable height and issued her next command.
"Use Whirlwind on the ground!"
Both Pokemon stared at her for a full second, probably wondering if she'd gone mad. Even Shadi, Kuro and Bret looked confused from where they were sitting, spectating the match.
However Steven did trust his trainer, and as such he did as he was told. He flew even higher, almost reaching the leaves of the trees surrounding them, and started flapping his wings with all the strength he had in him. A gust of wind hit Enma and forced him to dig both hands into the ground so he wouldn't get knocked back. But soon the dirt and dust around them started to rise too, forming a small typhoon which turned the air into a grayish brown and prevented Inyssa from seeing anything but her Pokemon's flaming tail.
Enma let out a frustrated growl as he squinted through the mini sandstorm in search of his opponent, and Inyssa couldn't help but laugh. With such awful visibility it would be impossible to locate Steven, and most importantly it wouldn't allow him to dodge an attack no matter how good his reflexes were.
"Use Quick Attack! Then fly up and keep up the whirlwind!"
Steven retracted his wings and dove into the raging cloud of dust he'd created. He moved fast enough that Enma didn't even have time to raise a fist or attempt to dodge as he was head butted in the stomach with terrifying precision. He was sent backwards and barely managed to stand his ground as he sent another torrent of flame forward.
But the Starly wasn't there anymore. His speed allowed him to get out as soon as his attack connected and was now once again high enough to raise an even bigger whirlwind around them.
Another growl, another sound which very clearly expressed how much Enma was not enjoying the situation. He inhaled deep and shot the biggest flame so far, easily the girth of his own body. However since he had no idea where his opponent was it simply evaporated into thin air as Steven dodged it without much trouble.
Inyssa was suddenly very glad she'd taken some time to study the species of her Pokemon so comprehensively. It had taught her the interesting fact that the Starly evolutionary line possessed an ability called Keen Eye, which allowed them to see with precision through even the thickest of sandstorms. Enma, on the other hand, depended too much on his own sight to get around and was now caught in a situation where he couldn't do anything.
This continued for about a minute. Enma kept trying to escape by jumping out of the way, but just when he was about to free himself Steven fell on him and threw him to the ground again. Not a lot of damage was being made, but Quick Attack was the only move fast enough to pull off such a strategy, so she had no other alternative.
Besides, she had another plan ready on the wings.
"Freeer!"
Enma's cry pierced through the storm and hit Inyssa straight on, the force of it almost knocking her back. His entire body turned ablaze, expelling a wave of heat which scorched the ground beneath his feet and forced Bret and Shadi to take a few steps back.
The piercing gleam of his eyes cut through the clouds of dust to settle on Inyssa and Steven. She could see the outline of his blazing body and the pale blue that was now the flame of his tail. He lowered his body and letting out a mighty roar he jumped, turning himself into a spinning wheel of fire headed directly towards his opponent.
She suppressed a smile, seeing victory in front of her. "Double Team!"
Enma crashed full force against what appeared to be Steven's body, which evaporated into pale smoke as the real one flew to the side, wings extended to the side and eyes set on the Monferno's back.
"He can't dodge while in the air!" she exclaimed, sending her palm forward. "Use Aerial Ace!"
Realization hit Enma as he fell backwards, the flames covering his body extinguished and his limbs out of balance. His eyes opened wide in panic as he saw Steven soaring towards him with terrifying speed, his entire body covered in a white, blinding light. He sent both wings forward in an X and slashed at his stomach.
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The impact knocked the air out of his lungs. Vision turned dark and his consciousness wavered, at least until he hit the ground. A painful yank brought him back to reality as he realized he was buried a few inches in the ground.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Inyssa's scream resounded through the forest. "That was amazing, Steven!"
Steven chirped happily at her praise, flying back down toward her. His feathers were ruffled and covered in dust, and his chest raised up and down accompanying his heavy breathing. Pride burned somewhere behind his eyes.
Inyssa gave him a good few pats and scratches on his head before addressing Enma. "Well? Are you convinced now?"
The Monferno struggled to get to his feet, one hand firmly grasping the roots beneath his feet. His fur was soaked and covered in mud and the flame on his tail burned with a pale, weak red. He let out a pained growl as he attempted to take a step forward, falling to one knee instead as he was unable to keep his own balance.
Slowly, carefully, Inyssa approached him while the rest of her Pokemon stared in anxious anticipation. She knew better than to rub salt on the wound, but this was her only opportunity to get the message through his thick skull.
"It'll be easier if you just accept our help," she whispered, getting on one knee. "I promise you'll be stronger if you just let me-"
Her words got caught in her throat as she noticed a strange glow. The fire on Enma's tail grew bigger as she spoke, turning brighter and brighter until it was almost blinding. She had no time to react as Enma's body was consumed by a ball of flames. She saw the fire approaching until it was almost on top of her, and froze.
If not by Steven's intervention the flames would've engulfed her arm and part of her fcae. The Starly flew like lightning towards her and pushed her back with his own body, taking the brunt of the flames as she fell backwards and barely avoided them. Dry heat washed over her entire body.
"Agh!" she struggled to cover her face with her arms, kicking the ground as she tried to get away from the source of the heat. "W-wha…!?"
Through the folds of her sleeves she saw Steven's body fly backwards, eyes closed and smoke coming out of his wings. Panic rushed through her as she turned around and pushed herself up, running to her Pokemon with a scream caught in her throat.
"Steven!" She knelt next to him, shaking hands hovering above the burn marks on his wings. She grit her teeth and turned her head to Enma, who was still covered in flames. "Why did you do that!? What the hell is wrong with you!?"
For a single moment she could see regret and panic flash through Enma's expression, the weight of her words making his eyes open wide and his flames wave just a bit.
At least until Shadi threw herself at him with a murderous look on her face.
"SHRYAAAAAAAAAAHHH!"
She slashed at his body, knocking him to the ground as she climbed on top of him. Her scythes pressed against his neck as a piercing cry of anger came out of her mouth.
"Shadi, wait!" Inyssa yelled with a brittle voice, feeling her anxiety form a knot inside her. "You don't have to-!"
Another explosion shook the ground and sent mud flying towards her, along with the now unconscious body of her Kricketune. Inyssa let out a yelp of panic as she tried to run towards her, but both Bret and Kuro prevented her, grabbing onto her legs strongly as they urged her to take a step back.
She looked up towards Enma, and the fury bubbling inside her was replaced with fear as soon as their eyes met. All signs of recognition were absent from his expression. He gnashed his teeth at her, taking slow but deliberate steps forward as fire formed around his hands.
Through the sounds of the flames crackling and the pained moans of her Pokemon she heard a beep as her Pokédex came to life and an electronic voice spoke.
Blaze: An ability exclusive to very few fire types. Once enough damage is taken the Pokemon will go into a frenzy and the power of their fire will increase immensely. Be careful, as a poorly trained specimen can show extremely violent tendencies.
Enma raised one of his hands towards Inyssa, and tentative sparks were born from the ball of fire forming on it. Still on the ground she tried desperately to move backwards as her remaining Pokemon stood at her side, growling at her starter.
A low, broken chirp came out of Steven's beak as he tried to free himself from her arms, eyes barely open and fixated on his previous opponent.
"Wh- no!" she held on to him even tighter. "You're not going anywhere! We have to find Barry and…"
Steven started glowing.
She stared in awe as a white light shone between her hands even brighter than Enma's flames, and the body of her Pokemon grew until she wasn't able to sustain his weight. His talons grazed the ground as he extended his new pair of wings, their length about as big as her own body. The automated voice of her Pokédex spoke again.
Staravia: The Fock Pokemon - Flying/Normal Type. A very cooperative and friendly species that work exceptionally well with others. The powerful muscles on its wings allow it to reach Mach 1.
Even with the incessant thunder roaring through the sky, even with the rain starting to filter in from the trees above and her own starter attempting to attack her, Inyssa couldn't help but feel happiness at the sight of Steven finally evolving.
Guess he won't be able to sleep atop my head anymore.
The Staravia took a step forward and extended his left wing to warn his trainer, dark eyes now devoid of all doubt as they set on the frenzied Monferno. At his side Bret and Kuro fell into similar battle positions. Even Shadi, badly burnt as she was, slowly pushed herself to her feet behind Enma, eyes squinted with agony.
Enma stared at them in disbelief, and Inyssa noticed his eyes were somewhat out of focus. Red veins clawed through the edges of them and his body waved from side to side, his legs barely able to support his fatigued body. Yet he still lowered his head and threw both arms to the side, coating them in even stronger flames as he prepared for a fight.
"Wait!"
She fumbled to her feet and through the pain in her legs she tried to stop her own Pokemon from charging forward. With the faintest thread of hope tying her together she opened her mouth and spoke.
"E-Enma, please…" she begged, voice weak and thin. "I know this isn't you doing this."
She felt the weight of her Pokemon's eyes on her back, but she didn't care in the slightest. She would not let her fist Pokemon fall to his own rage. She would not lose another friend.
"I-if you just calm down I'm s-sure we can resolve this," she continued, showing him her open palms. "I'm not angry, I just want to help you."
For a single, hopeful second she really thought her words would pass through whatever barrier of anger and hurt was separating them and reach the true Enma. His pupils dilated slightly and he lowered his shoulders, lip trembling.
Then the flames took over and a roar clawed its way through his throat, hitting Inyssa head on as he spit a torrent of embers.
Red filled her vision as she unconsciously threw herself backwards, the heat licking her right arm and just barely missing the rest of her body. The entire world went black for a few seconds as the back of her head hit the wet ground beneath her. Growls, screams and the sounds of a few impacts flew above her as she slowly tried to roll to her side.
Her Pokemon formed a small circle around her as they tried to protect her, even Shadi managing to make her way to her side. She forced her sight through their bodies and focused on the place where Enma stood just a few seconds before.
He wasn't there anymore.
"Wh-" She tried to get up but her legs failed her, sending her straight to the ground again. "Agh! E-Enma! Enma!"
She felt the softness of Bret's petals under her left arm and the strength of Steven's wings on her right as they lifted her from the ground. She set one foot strongly and expelled herself forward, barely maintaining her balance.
"Enma!" Her yell tore through her throat. "Enma, come back!"
Panic and desperation alone fueled her as she started running towards the darkness between those trees, stepping into the path of the storm.
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Barry really wished he had followed the first explosion.
He was drifting between awake and asleep when it happened, back against the freezing stone wall of the bridge's pillar. He unconsciously felt the vibrations shake the ground weakly before the bang and flash of light yanked him from his stupor. He and his Pokemon looked towards the forest at the other side of the road where Niss had disappeared to.
"That… is that normal?" he asked, not really expecting to get an answer. "It's probably just Niss training, right?"
Paulette and Razen exchanged a confused look, not knowing how to reply. Kitsune, who was peacefully dozing off against the opposite pillar -a habit he hadn't quite gotten ridden of since evolving- ignored it completely. Pedri was the only one to take a step forward, brow furrowed and a strange shadow over his face.
"S-should I…?" Barry said tentatively, anxiety prickling at the surface of his skin like needles. "I'm sure she can take care of herself, but…"
He made up his mind when the second explosion came. This one definitely sent a tremor through the earth as a powerful flame escaped from the trees into the skies above.
Barry felt his heart drop. "Crap! I gotta go see if they're okay!"
He left the egg in charge of a very grumpy Kitsune and ordered Razen and Paulette to help him. The Staravia took into the air, slightly bothered by the rain pelting her feathers, and followed the boy as he ran towards the sea of trees.
By the time he stopped being bothered by the branches hitting him in the face he had to admit that he was freaking out. Every tree looked the same and the darkness between them was so thick he wasn't sure he was going the right way anymore. He stopped after a couple minutes when he arrived at a small circle of ground, his heart jumping to his throat. Signs of battle were all over the place; burnt leaves, toppled branches and more than a few scorched holes in the mud the size of a small Pokemon.
And Niss was nowhere to be seen.
"Niss!" he screamed into the night as loudly as he could. "Niss, it's me! Where are you!?"
No voice answered back. Cold washed over his veins as he moved his head from side to side, eyes opened as wide as possible and his entire body shaking. Pedri stared at him in surprise, never having seen his trainer like this.
He had no idea where to go, and the anxiety was eating him from the inside. There were no footprints around either, probably having been washed away by the rain already. He unconsciously started walking in circles, worst case scenarios going through his mind at an alarming rate.
"Niss!" He stomped the ground, a hot feeling growing from his stomach outwards, "Niss where the hell are you!?"
As soon as he said those words the warmth behind his eyes came back, stronger than ever. He didn't have time to be surprised by it as a wave of pain hit him and spread through his limbs, cutting his breath short. His legs lost strength and would've sent him to the ground if Pedri hadn't managed to catch him on time. The Prinplup let out a chirp of worry as he helped his trainer to his feet, whose hair was now covering his eyes.
Barry was more confused about the fact that the pain felt familiar than anything else. Almost like it didn't belong to him. The flash of a distant memory came to his mind: a young, crying Niss with her face buried in her knees.
Realization hit him; this was her pain, somehow. And he could feel exactly where it was coming from.
He took off without an explanation, leaving his Pokemon both confused and concerned as they were forced to follow him. He kept running north for an entire minute before finally exiting the forest and entering the left side of Route 215 once again.
There were four small silhouettes in the distance, surrounding what Barry instantly recognized as his friend.
"Niss!"
Fear crept up on him the more he got closer. First he noticed scorch marks adorning the bodies of her Pokemon. Then he saw the position his friend was in, knees and hands deep in the mud and head lowered. Thick tufts of hair covered her face as her entire body shook.
Shadi walked up to him and growled in desperation as she pointed to her trainer. He walked to her and got on his knees too, putting a hand on her back as he spoke.
"N-Niss?" His voice came out as barely a whisper, "Are you okay!? What happened!?"
She looked up at him, and Barry felt his veins turn to ice. The faint pain he'd been feeling coming from her paralyzed him completely as their eyes met.
"I-I'm sorry..." Her voice was completely broken as she spoke, tears running down her face. "H-he's gone. Enma's gone."