Finally reaching the hallway with their exit teleporter, the two began to hear voices as they approached their destination. Silently peeking around the corner, they found the Grunts who called the alarm on them pacing by their exit. Their Golbats stood at the ready, though one was favouring one wing over the other, and another looked badly dazed…probably the one that had rammed itself face first into the door multiple times.
“They placed us on guard duty, Tyler.” The one that Arun had roughed up previously growled, pacing back and forth. “That means we failed the Boss, Arceus above, they're probably going to fire our asses.”
“Will, it'll be fine.” The Grunt addressed as Tyler replied, “We did what we were supposed to, they can’t blame us for that.”
“Who the fuck just attacks someone like that?” Will exclaimed, his pacing growing more agitated, “Fucking barbarians.”
Pran turned to his brother, raising an eyebrow. “How should we do this?” he whispered.
“I can't handle another fight right now, we're doing a Pokémon battle” Arun said, massaging his shoulder. “So long as we play smart, we can handle it.”
“Alright. They know Bite so Shuppet can’t get hit, otherwise he’s done for.” Beside his brother, Shuppet scowled, and Arun felt the anger and stung pride bubbling from within the ghost.
“Seedot,” He whispered, gently lowering the Pokémon from his shoulder, “Can you buff yourself up a little bit? [Harden].”
Seedot tensed, its body tightening up as muscles within began to flex. Though Arun didn’t ask for it, it also began to grow leaves, before finally ending the routine in a dance that grew more and more frantic with every step.
“Alright buddy, you got any stealth options?” He heard his brother whisper “Need you to play keep-away for this one.”
Shuppet let out a hiss, causing Pran to crack a smile, “Come on man, any other Pokémon you’d be right up there! But Seedot needs backup, and there’s no way you can go toe-to-toe with those guys.”
His Pokémon grumbled, but after a few moments complied, quietly drifting into the corner of the ceiling, where it seemed to almost meld with the shadows, disappearing.
“Look at that, vanished.” his brother murmured “Alright, ready when you are.”
Arun nodded, before breathing in and out slowly, attempting to calm the hammering in his chest. He couldn't risk a physical confrontation here, it was clear that Pran no longer had the physical capabilities to fight like he used to, and the hits Arun sustained earlier were already bruising, their dull pain echoing across his body. If the Golbats got a clean hit on him...well if the isekai rules still worked, he really did hope he got sent to Yu-Gi-Oh world. He shook himself out of his thoughts, he needed to focus. This was their first “actual” battle without outside help…and it was against veteran trainers.
Concern. Are you ready? He sent.
Determination. Always. His little buddy replied.
Arun smiled, then aloud whispered, “Just like before, [Rollout], build your speed, when you get the momentum head down the hall, target the one that’s a little dazed.”
Seedot nodded, and tumbled off his shoulder in a roll. It went back and forth down the hall, out of sight from the two Grunts, building speed and momentum. Finally deciding he was fast enough, Seedot skidded around the corner, the screech that came from the movement causing the guards to snap to attention.
“Get in the air!” Tyler and Will both shouted. The one with the injured wing rose, its face strained in pain as it did so, hate burning bright in its eyes. The second Golbat, however, wasn't so lucky. Still dazed, it stared in confusion as the speeding Acorn approached, before finally realizing the danger it was in. Too late, a massive crack echoed across the room, and the Pokémon fell backwards, twitching slightly.
“Shit!” Wilbur spat “Get up meathead! Come on!” When his Golbat didn’t respond, he cursed, reaching for his belt and withdrawing the now unmoving Pokémon.
“Enjoying your night boys?” Pran asked, sauntering out of the corner. Arun stood by his side, arms crossed, as Seedot rolled back in front of him, eyes gleaming in anticipation.
“You!” Willl seethed, before Tyler placed an arm on his shoulder, giving him a look. Arun watched a silent conversation between the two, before Willl finally deflated, stepping back as Tyler stepped up.
“Any chance I can convince you this is a bad idea?” The Grunt said, holding out his arm for Golbat to perch on.
“Two on one, and your friend’s wing isn’t looking too hot.” Pranav said with a sly grin. “Honestly this looks like one of my better ideas.”
“Any chance you’ll let us walk out? We got what we need.” Arun said, arms folded to allow the muscles to bulge a little bit more.
Tyler sighed, glancing down, “No can do. Took an Oath when I joined up.” When his eyes locked back onto the two of them, it was a gaze of steel "Hope you understand, it’s just business.”
“Just business.” Arun agreed.
Deafening silence filled the room as the three of them shared a long, tense look with one another. Arun could feel the pressure building, hear his heart pounding in his chest as the standoff continued.
He broke first.
“[Bullet Seed!]”
“[Air Cutter!]”
With an ear-splitting screech, the Golbat leapt off Tyler’s arm and shot up into the air just as Seedot unleashed a spray of empowered seeds. Despite its injury, the Bat Pokémon danced and weaved through the air with incredible agility, narrowly dodging the onslaught of bullets as Seedot grew increasingly frustrated.
Just as Seedot’s attack ended, the Golbat swooped down, and with a heavy beat of its wings, sent dozens of scythes raining down onto the battlefield, right towards the little Acorn.
“[Rollout!] Get out of the way!” Arun called, and Seedot rolled, frantically weaving between the deadly scythes that rained down on the Pokémon.
Despite his best efforts however, Seedot wasn’t fast enough to dodge them all. A stray blade caught the little Pokémon on the side, causing it to lose momentum and careen off course. The sound of Seedot’s impact against the wall was sickening, and Arun winced as he watched his partner struggle to regain its footing. Despite the amber that oozed out of its side, Seedot let out a fierce cry, staring up against its larger foe with defiant eyes.
Arun’s heart seized for a minute as he watched Seedot stumble forward, but forced himself back into attention. "He’s still standing," He thought to himself "worry about injuries later."
“[Rollout] again! Build your speed.”
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
“Keep your distance, Golbat. Wait for my signal.” The Grunt said, watching the Pokémon with a cool look.
Seedot huffed, and began to roll, leaving behind a worrying line of amber blood. Gaining momentum once more, it sped underneath the Golbat who watched its tiny form with malice in its eyes. As Seedot arrived by Arun’s feet and attempted to change direction, Tyler smiled.
“Now!” He shouted, his voice ringing with intensity “[Air Cutter]”
“[Night Shade!]”
Golbat beat its wings, readying the attack, but yelped at the sudden appearance of a ghostly fanged shadow that sprang out. The entity surged forward, its jaws clamping down on Golbat’s injured wing. The Pokémon howled in pain, and Arun felt intense fury radiating off the creature…as well as the smug satisfaction of Shuppet as it revealed itself from its hiding place.
“Hope you didn’t forget about us.” Pran said, his grin feral. “I get all emotional when I’m left out.”
“[Bite], get it off of you!” Tyler called, ignoring his brother’s ribbing.
Arun watched as Golbat seemed to exude something from its mouth, before clamping down hard on the shadow, dispelling it. It screamed in fury, surging towards Shuppet, but Pran was ready.
“[Confuse Ray!]”
A mote of yellow light flew forward, sinking into the Bat, causing its eyes to go red and hazy. It screamed again, this time flailing madly about in the air, as if trying to tackle an invisible target.
“Keep hitting it! [Night Shade!]”
“[Bullet Seed!]"
Shadows and seeds repeatedly struck the Pokémon from all sides, the Golbat writhing in pain as the onslaught continued. Arun felt just a tad bit sorry for what the Pokémon was going through, but it was either them or Galactic.
Despite the sounds of battle, and Wilbur’s curses, he could hear Tyler’s voice call out to his Pokémon, “Golbat! listen to my voice, can you hear me?”
The Golbat screamed, sending Air scythes flying out in all directions. Arun and his brother dove out of the way, their Pokémon managing to easily dodge the desperate attack, their own onslaught never wavering.
“Golbat, listen to me! focus on my voice.”
Despite the attacks, Golbat seemed to finally settle down, its eyes going from red to a faded pink.
“Get Shuppet out of there.” Arun said, as he saw more and more awareness creep into Golbat’s form
“What? A couple more attacks and he’s a goner.”
Golbat snapped to attention, focus and hatred reignited in its eyes.
"[Bite!] Lock that ghost down!"
“Get him out of there!” He shouted, shaking his brother’s shoulder.
Too late. Golbat surged forward at an impossible speed, as if somehow forgetting that one of its wings lay in tatters. Razor sharp fangs ripped apart the shadow that Shuppet sent towards it, before latching onto the silky fabric of the Pokémon. Shuppet let out a blood curdling shriek, and Arun could feel the bubbling worry that began to well up within his brother.
“Shit!” Pranav cursed “[Confuse Ray!] Get it off you!”
At this range, Confuse Ray was a sure hit, and red filled Golbat's eyes once more. Despite the confusion however, its fangs remained locked onto the Ghost Pokémon, shaking him furiously as the two grappled and slammed into the corridors around them.
“[Absorb!]” The Grunt called, clear satisfaction in his voice.
Motes of black light were pulled away from the little Ghost, and into Golbat. Arun watched with growing dread that some of its body wounds began healing slowly.
“Again! [Absorb!]”
Shuppet cried out weakly as more and more motes of light were pulled away, Pranav cursed loudly, looking to Arun for help.
"Bullet seed is his only ranged move, but even if it hits it won’t be enough to take it down." He thought sourly. "We need to hit Golbat with Rollout…but it’s too far off the ground!"
“[Bullet Seed!]” He called out again, and Seedot complied, unleashing a barrage of bullets that sank into Golbat.
It barely did a thing, at the very most it evened out the healing Golbat was receiving.
“That Golbat needs to be lower if we’re going to win this fight.” Arun growled
“Tell Seedot to use Rollout.” Pran said, his voice deadly quiet, “This either works or we're goners.”
Arun nodded grimly, his brother had a plan, he’d follow. “Build your speed again! [Rollout!]”
Seedot looked up, confused, but complied anyway, rolling forward and building up speed as the two airborne Pokémon furiously battered each other from above.
“[Night Shade!] Target the injured wing!”
Shuppet, despite the pain it exuded, followed through, Shadows began latching themselves onto the Golbat’s wing, biting and ripping away at it as the Pokémon screeched in anger.
“Golbat, you have to drain it faster!” Tyler cried out, concern creeping into his voice as he realized what the two were planning.
More and more black motes pulled away from Shuppet and into Golbat. But Absorb was a weaker move, and the wings eventually took on more damage than they healed. The Pokémon sank, just low enough for Seedot to have a clear shot.
“Full speed! [Rollout!]”
“[Poison Fang!]"
Golbat spat out Shuppet, who fell weakly to the floor, barely able to keep its head up. Seedot sped towards the Bat Pokémon, whose gaping maw began to glow with a sickly purple, the light it gave off coating the room in its glare.
“No!” Arun shouted “Back off Seedot, don’t let it catch you!”
But Seedot was already moving too fast to turn. Having no other option, it launched itself at Golbat, whose eyes narrowed in anticipation.
“[Astonish!]”
Shuppet let out a short, piercing wail, and Golbat flinched, the light of its fangs instantly dying out, just in time as Seedot crashed into it with a sickening crack! The Pokémon staggered back, a look of pure shock and confusion in its face. Arun watched as Golbat swayed, desperately trying to hold onto its consciousness…before finally collapsing to the floor with a soft thud.
Silence filled the room, as the 4 trainers looked at the battlefield.
“No…” Tyler said, clear disbelief on his face.
Arun strode forward, “On your knees, hands where I can see them.”.
The Grunts, now defeated, complied. Kneeling on the floor and raising their hands.
“Can I return my Pokémon?” Tyler asked “The longer she stays injured the harder it’ll be for them to heal her.”
“Do it.”
The Grunt nodded gratefully, activating his pokeball. Red light streamed out, enveloping the Pokémon in its gentle embrace, before returning to the ball.
“We’re taking their money.” Pran said, cradling Shuppet in his arm. “We’re gonna need it.”
“What?” Will nearly shouted, “You can’t be serious, you’re robbing us?”
“That’s exactly what we’re doing.”
“This is ins-”
“Shut up,” His brother hissed, bringing his face close to the Grunt. “Shut. Up.”
They didn’t take all their money, despite Pran wanting to. But they took about 2000 pokedollars, how much that really meant Arun had no clue, but it was a start.
“Ok buddy.” He heard his brother whisper to Shuppet. “I’m gonna put you back in your pokeball for a little bit, ok?”
The Shuppet protested, weakly trying to rise, but floating back down.
“Hey, hey, don’t worry. You did awesome, now you just have to rest. Once you're all healed up you’ll be back out, good as new, no problem. Ok?”
Silence, and the Shuppet nodded. His brother smiled softly and returned the Pokémon into its ball.
Arun knelt by his little Seedot, grimacing as he cupped the Pokémon in his hand, its amber blood still leaking.
Gratitude. You did amazing, thank you. He sent, reaching for his pokeball.
Warmth, as it leaned into his hand, You are an excellent partner. Curiosity. What happens now?
Determination. We leave. You heal, then you choose.
Gratitude. Thank you.
Arun returned Seedot, relishing the feeling of the pokeball in his hands. ‘You are an excellent partner’ Seedot had said. Maybe the nuances of Pokémon language were different, but did mean he accepted Arun as a partner? Whatever the case, it made him smile.
After leaving the Grunts bound, the two took the teleporter, finding themselves in another hallway, this one thankfully empty.
“You’re up from here.” Pran said, massaging his temple. “You got the map right?”
“Yea, let’s go, one more run.”
They sprinted down the corridor, weaving past different halls and avoiding stray patrols, before finally seeing their exit. An unassuming fire exit. Perfect for their escape and away from the bulk of Galactic Forces. They pushed through, and were instantly greeted by cool night air, and open seas. It appeared they were at the far side of the dock, closer to the edge of the city than the Pokecenter, but with more than enough room to sneak back unnoticed.
“Home free.” Pran gasped, as he tried to gather his breath.
“Not quite.”
The brother’s whirled, behind them two figures stood. The one in front caught his attention the most. A beast of a man standing at 6’4, with light blue spiky hair and a cold look on his face wearing a thick Galactic Jacket. Arun knew him as his first nemesis, their very first boss, the man whose goal was to create an entirely new universe.
“Cyrus.” He breathed.
“You know me.” Cyrus answered, his tone was curious, but there was no wariness behind it.
Not seeing a Pokémon by his side, Arun lunged forward. He'd take out Cyrus on the spot, before the man could draw his Pokemon. Cyrus watched with a raised eyebrow, but made no move to dodge. As he got close, however, Arun felt an impact land square in his chest, and he was sent flying backwards, crashing into a cargo holder.
“Arun!” His brother shouted, but he wasn’t listening, instead trying to catch his breath as the wind was knocked out of him.
"What hit me?" He thought, as he finally managed to breathe normal again. A sharp object at his throat gave him his answer, and he looked up to find a short figure with a red crown holding its claws to his throat. "A Weaville." he realized.
“I think.” The Boss of Team Galactic said, his curling up to a thin smile, “We need to have a chat.”