The buzz of tension that had built across the makeshift battlefield broke with the swing of my arm.
“Screen,” Yasmin called out the move as soon as my hand completed its arc. Sandslash immediately started slashing at the ground in front of himself, his claws rapidly spraying dirt and sand, despite there not being any sand on the grassy field. Interesting; I wonder if the ground-type energy converts itself into the sand or breaks down materials around it. I suppose it would be naturally stronger in a sandy environment if less of the energy is needed to break the rules of conservation of mass.
They were far enough apart that the rapid sand-attacks wouldn’t reach Heracross, but from my vantage point on the side, I could already see the reason for the move and predicted what the ranger pair had planned. I had been watching them abolish Geodudes in the same manner all day, after all.
The Sand-attacks rose into the air between the two Pokémon, creating a cloud of debris. As this cloud obscured Heracross’s line of sight, I observed him bend forward into a wrestler's stance; he seemed ready to either charge through the cloud or grapple Sandslash if he tried to burst out of it. Sandslash, of course, had no such intention. When he was mostly hidden, he used Dig to slip under the forest floor.
Knowing what was about to happen, I leaned to the side to ask Venonat for her opinion. “So, do you think Heracross is going to sandbag like you did?”
Before Venonat could answer, Sandslash burst from the ground beneath Heracross, uppercutting his face as he leaned forward in prime range. Heracross was knocked straight back up into a standing position from the force of the blow; however, his momentum didn’t stop there. His back bent backward at the waist, then twisted in a curve, bringing his horn around with a slight dark-reddish glow passing up it. Heracross's horn collided with Sandslash's side, sending him crashing to the ground at Heracross’s feet. The impact made Sandslash bounce into the air, creating a dynamic scene as he spun around the arc of his waist. His body moved in a graceful yet forceful rotation, the momentum from the hit transforming the battlefield into a spectacle of motion. This came to a rather undignified end as Heracross, who had continued to lower his horn past Sandslash after the blow, moved forward beneath the somersaulting sandbag. Sandslash was scooped out of the air by the horn and catapulted back across to his side of the field, landing in a tumble of limbs and rolling across the grass.
“Venonat…” doubtfully spoke my assistant ref.
“Yeah, me neither.” I coughed out, embarrassed at my previous assumption, as Sandslash stumbled to his feet. I think Heracross used the move Counter with that slam. It would double the physical attack's damage taken by Heracross back at Sandslash. Fortunately for Team Ranger, the damage will have been lessened somewhat, with Heracross being resistant to ground-type moves. Still, Sandslash's own move must have been packing some amount of power for it to hit back that hard. My keen trainer mind suspects Yasmin will stay at range now to avoid that nasty Counter.
“Sandslash, Sword Dance. Let’s show him who’s king of the melee.” Or not.
“Sand!” Sandslash gracefully takes on a poised and focused stance, akin to a skilled martial artist preparing for battle. The quills on its back stand erect with a slight fluttering, creating an image of heightened alertness. As it performs the Sword Dance, there's an air of determination and keen focus in his eyes, suggesting readiness to unleash powerful and precise attacks. The ambient energy around Sandslash seems to intensify. Heracross’s instincts must have felt the shift as he began charging across the field toward Sandslash. Yasmin's voice cuts through the air with precision, matching the agile and focused energy of her Pokémon.
“Swift.” Heracross made it about halfway to Sandslash before a torrent of white stars that rose from his quills bombarded the charging bug. Heracross was forced to raise his arms to defend against the blows impeding his movement forward. He didn’t stop but instead began to walk slowly forward, like a man bracing against the heavy winds of a blizzard, one step at a time. As the last of the Swift slowed Heracross, Sandslash finished preparing for the oncoming close-quarters battle. “DC into Rollout M!” Okay, I know what rollout is, but I’m lost with the rest. Following Yasmin's commands, Sandslash curled up into a ball and slammed his quills closed, a silver light washing briefly over his spherical form. Oh, DC, defense curl. I know that one. I’m so smart, but what’s the M move? Then Sandslash did the best imitation of Sonic the Hedgehog I have ever seen as he started to spin in place, and as Heracross roared his challenge once more, the last of the Swift striking his form; Sandslash blasted forward to meet the raging bug head-on. Heracross only had a moment to brace, the few muscles on his legs visible beneath the hoodie tightening. Harden probably, smart bug. Then I caught a faint glow of red from inside his right sleeve.
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“Shit, Yasmin, I think Heracross is using another…”
“I know, it won’t matter, just watch.” Yasmin cut me off, her eyes never leaving the Pokémon in front of her. Oh yeah, I forgot. I’m the rookie here.
Sandslash reached Heracross and slammed into the titan bug's chest. A large blast echoed through the clearing as the two collided. I could hear Pidgey flying from the trees around us at the sound. Heracross’s eyes glassed over for a moment at the impact, stunned; however, he was not knocked unconscious. How tough is this bug?
He immediately unleashed the Counter he had prepared, his right fist smashing down at where Sandslash had struck his torso. The air swished around his fist as he struck nothing but air. The grass in the area where his fist would have punched had he slammed it into the ground rippled out from the force of the blow despite not being struck.
Heracross had been pushed back from the power of the rollout, his feet skidding across the dirt beneath him. Sandslash rebounded in the opposite direction, creating space between the two, allowing for Counter to pass by harmlessly. Sandslash, still in his Rollout, began rolling towards Heracross the second his body touched the ground. Heracross wasn’t planning on taking that attack twice. He dug his horn into the ground as Sandslash closed in, ready to catapult the cannonball of a Pokémon. Right, Sandslash is stuck in that move for the next few seconds if game rules apply. Maybe the type energy (TE) compresses his body preventing it from being released early unless he…
“Misses,” I whispered to myself as I realised what was happening. Instead of rolling into the waiting Heracross, Sandslash veered to the side spinning past. As he did his rotation slowed and he sprung from his sphere, turning to face Heracross’s back. He dug his claws into the dirt to arrest the rest of his momentum dragging him away from Heracross. Thrusting off of his claws he came up behind the unprepared Heracross. Heracross was attempting to stand and turn to face Sandslash but it was too late. Sandslash Slashed his left claw across the defenceless and already weakened pokemon. The Sword Dance empowered Slash raked across Heracross’s side cutting a gash through his hoodie. Heracross fainted to the forest floor ending the battle.
“Oh not the hoodie, that’s just salt in the wound.”
“I’ll get it repaired; we'll need to get a replacement that can stand up to battles better anyway if he’s that attached,” Yasmin said as she casually walked over to the passed-out Pokémon. She carefully nudges a pokeball against the knocked out Heracross, both him and his treasured item disappearing in that familiar flash. Huh, does that count as a held item now? “Don’t you have something more important to be doing, ref?” she joked at me. Fuck it, why not. I walk over to Sandslash and carefully grab his claw. He gives me some side-eye but lets it happen as I raise it above his head and declare…
“Winner, Sandslash!” Venonat begins to cheer as Sandslash looks a little confused, then pleased with himself. Yasmin bursts into laughter, clutching at her belly.
“What was that? You're supposed to call out both of us as winners from the sidelines. This isn’t boxing,” she chuckles out between bouts of laughter.
“Meh, he did all the work anyway,” I sniped back.
“What!” Ha, that shut her up fast. “It was totally teamwork.” She declared seriously.
“If you say so…” We lock eyes for a few seconds. I will not lose. This is all the pride I have left. Glare on, full power. Nope, can’t hold it. Watching Yasmin's face contorting as she tries not to break is too much. I burst into my own giggle fit, which she then does as well, unable to hold back any longer. Shit, when was the last time I laughed like this? It feels good just standing in the middle of this forest full of monsters, laughing like maniacs for really no reason. The stress of everything that’s happened since coming to this world washing out of me. If only it could last a while longer. I sober up as I remember we will be at the outpost soon, and when my ID gets checked, showing what is likely a warning of Pokémon abuse; Yasmin will be another member of the Anti-Cain club. Ekans' condition will likely not help my case.
“Thanks, I needed that,” I say a bit more solemnly than intended.
“Yeah, seems it,” she says, again watching me with a cheeky smile on her face, but her eyes are on me like I'm made of glass and about to shatter.
“So where we camping then, got my supplies back.” I announce holding up my bag. To change the mood.
“No need to rush out of the area now.” She punctuates this by waving Heracross ball then attaching it to her belt. “We can take a break here, I’ll keep watch while you take a nap. Paras won’t come back for a few days, least till they are sure the Hoodie-mon is gone.”
“I don’t…”
“Not optional.” I get cut off again. “We can walk a bit when you wake up then make camp for the night. After that we should reach the outpost by mid-afternoon. Might even make the announcement for the league season starting.”
“Fine, but if you put my hand in water while I’m sleeping, I’m telling the first Officer I see.” She looks at me like I need to get my priorities in order but just smiles and waves me to a shaded spot. Yasmin then took up a seat on the hollowed-out log that should be home to the Paras. I begrudgingly pulled out my sleeping bag and tried to crash out. It was hard to let my guard down knowing Yasmin was nearby. I prefer to have a locked door between me and anyone else when I’m going to be this defenceless.
“Venonat?” Venonat stumbles between me and my view of Yasmin, her bulk hiding the ranger from sight.
“Hey Love, just taking a naaaap.” I yawn out as the now familiar fog begins to seep in again. Okay maybe I am a little tired. The blackness takes hold of me as I see a flash and briefly hear Yasmins voice in the distance calling out.
“Cain? Cain!”