Chapter Text
The soft sand shifted beneath a Clauncher’s tiny feet as he crawled out of the waves. Sunlight beamed down onto him, occasionally broken up by a passing cloud as he marched up the beach, passing a small herd of Slowpoke slowly crawling toward the sea. One paused to tilt its head at him curiously, before continuing on its slow journey.
After migrating all the way from Kalos, he had finally reached another region. The journey had been exhausting, but he was certain it would be worth it. Maybe this place would be different. Maybe here he could find a trainer willing to take him in. In Kalos his species hadn’t drawn much attention, but here he might stand out. Surely someone would want a rare Pokémon like him on their team.
The boardwalk came into view ahead, crowded with humans walking about, stopping at a few stalls for tiny toy Pokémon or treats. Perhaps one of these humans would be a trainer, and would share their delicious treats and delightful toys with him! The possibilities were endless!
As he hurried closer, something caught under his feet, and he tripped forward into the sand. Scrambling upright, he turned to see what had tripped him…
A freshly shed Slowpoke tail!
His claws tightened around it as he pulled it free, grains of sand spilling off of the pale pink appendage. His heart raced. He couldn’t believe his luck. This was it. The first sign that things were finally changing. His luck was finally turning around-
A massive shadow fell over him, followed by a thunderous impact as a large Pokémon landed directly in front of him, the force of the landing sending him flying back toward the shoreline. He landed in the wet sand, sinking into the muck as the world spun around him.
After a moment he was able to flip himself back onto his feet, before looking back to where he once stood, and saw a large Charizard standing there now, alongside two humans who seemed to have just dismounted him. One human was blonde, wearing a yellow jacket with an orange flame pattern, while the other had black hair fading into red at the tips, and wearing an oversized red hood.
The blonde stretched, lifting her arms overhead. “Ah, Luminara Bay. Lovely around this time of year.” She exhaled contentedly before letting her arms fall. “Maybe I should go swimming while we’re here.”
The brunette glanced at her curiously. “I thought you said you had a date?”
The blonde shrugged. “Yeah, I’ll go after the date. Now c’mon, let’s get you to that gym.”
As the two humans started toward the boardwalk, the red hooded one stopped abruptly. She glanced down at her boot, then bent down to pick something up-
Clauncher’s blood ran cold.
“Hey, a Slowpoke tail! Isn’t that lucky?” The girl said lightly, before tossing it to the side. “Here you go, Charizard!”
Clauncher watched in despair as the overgrown lizard caught and devoured the tasty appendage. The despair quickly gave way to rage, which granted him the energy to furiously scurry up the beach. Once the large orange reptile was in range, he raised his claw and fired a Bubble Beam.
The shot landed, hitting the Charizard square in the side of the face, causing it to sputter and wipe the area with a claw. It recovered quickly, however, and turned to glare at its assailant, letting out a low growl.
The humans had also turned to face him, and were each giving him a look that was a strange mix of amusement and bewilderment.
The blonde titled her head and chuckled. “Heh. Well, that was either really brave or really stupid of you.” A smug grin crossed her face as she pointed at Clauncher and yelled, “Charizard! Dragon Claw!”
Clauncher’s eyes widened again as the gravity of the situation sunk in, too little too late. Charizard snarled, raised its claw, and moved to strike. Clauncher tried to scurry out of the way, but was too slow to avoid the blow, as it sent him flying back out to sea, causing a visible splash on the horizon.
As Charizard growled in satisfaction, Yang huffed and scratched her head. “Man, what was that little guy's problem?”
Ruby shrugged, equally clueless. “Eh, who knows.”
As the two girls and the Pokémon turned and walked up toward the town, they remained oblivious to the eyes that watched them the entire way. Clauncher had clawed (heh) his way up a rock that poked its head over the sea level, standing atop it to glare at the trio as they disappeared into the crowd. His claws clenched tightly, his eyes burned with righteous fury. He vowed, right then and there, that he would have his revenge on that false dragon, and the trainer who had humiliated him.
And on that day, a glorious rivalry was born.
The Luminara Bay Gym stood at the far end of the boardwalk, its glass and steel exterior standing out amongst the wooden huts and shacks of the town that surrounded it. Water flowed through shallow channels carved into the pavement, looping around and through the building before spilling back into the sea. It was beautiful. Also intimidating, in its own way.
Ruby stared up at it in trepidation, fingers tightening around Budew’s Pokéball.
“This is it,” Yang said casually, hands tucked behind her head. “First badge. No pressure or anything.” Ruby shot her a look, drawing a chuckle from the blonde. “Hey, lighten up. I believe in you.”
Before Ruby could respond, a familiar, unpleasant voice cut in.
“Well I don’t.”
Ruby froze. She turned slowly, already knowing who she was going to see.
Cardin Winchester leaned against one of the stone railings near the gym entrance, arms crossed, his usual smug grin firmly in place. His Litten sat at his feet, lazily grooming its paw and pretending as if the two sisters weren’t even there.
Ruby’s stomach sank. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
Cardin chuckled condescendingly. “You know, I can’t believe you actually decided to take on the Gym Challenge.” His eyes flicked briefly to Yang, then back to Ruby. “Let me guess. Moral support? Y’know, for when you lose in spectacular fashion?”
Yang’s smile sharpened as she stepped toward the bully. “Careful, buddy. I'll reintroduce you to Charizard’s bite. I’m sure you remember how painful it was when he was just a Charmeleon.” As Cardin glowered at her words, she crossed her arms defiantly. “How’d you even know we were coming here? Have you been stalking us?"
Before Cardin could retort, another voice cut cleanly through the tension.
“No, he hasn’t.”
The three teens turned to look at the source of the new voice, and quickly found it.
A short elderly woman sat on a weathered bench near the gym, hunched over an open book resting in her lap, which now lay forgotten. Her eyes were completely hidden behind a pair of oversized, circular lenses that looked more like goggles than glasses, the bright blue glow they emanated preventing Ruby from seeing where exactly she was looking.
“He left the gym five minutes ago,” the woman continued calmly. “Spotted you two on approach, stopped, leaned against the railing, struck a pose, and waited.” She closed her book with a soft thump and leaned back against the bench. “And they call me dramatic.”
Cardin stiffened. “Hey-”
The woman cut him off. “And no, that doesn’t count as stalking.” A faint smirk tugged at her lips. “Just poor timing and an overinflated ego.”
Yang blinked, then glanced at Ruby. “Okay. I like her already.” She looked back toward the woman, and thought for a moment. 'Huh. She's kinda familiar. Have I seen her somewhere before?'
Cardin glared daggers at the old woman, before pushing himself off the railing and standing up straight. “Whatever. I already did what I came here to do.” He jerked a thumb toward the gym behind him. “Badge secured.”
Ruby’s eyes widened. “You… you already beat it?”
“Yep.” Cardin pushed himself off the railing and straightened, clearly enjoying the reaction. “Turns out Water types don’t like electricity much. Who knew?”
Yang frowned. “Wait. You didn’t have an Electric type before.” She turned her gaze to his Litten, which was now grooming its other paw. “What, did you teach that thing Thunder Fang or something?”
Cardin’s grin widened. “Nope. No need to, not when you have an Electric Type Pokémon..”
Ruby felt a chill run through her.
Cardin unclipped a Pokéball from his belt, lazily tossing and catching it repeatedly. “Since we’re both here, why don’t we make this interesting?” He looked straight at Ruby. “You and me. Battle right now. One on one. I’ll even make it fair.”
Ruby hesitated. “Fair… how?”
“I’ll only use my newest Pokémon.” Cardin’s eyes gleamed. “Grass type Pokémon resist Electric type moves anyway. Gives you an advantage. What’ve you got to lose?”
Yang stepped forward, putting her arm between Ruby and Cardin. “Rubes, you don’t have to-”
Ruby swallowed, then shook her head. “No.” She stepped forward, pushing past Yang’s arm, looking up at Cardin defiantly. “I’ll battle you.”
Cardin laughed, a familiar cocky glint in his eyes. “That’s the spirit.”
The two opponents gripped their Pokéballs tightly as they stared each other down. A few passersby, sensing the impending battle, stopped to watch. The old woman simply sighed and returned to her book.
With a cocky smirk, Cardin threw his Pokéball forward. “Elekid, you’re up.”
The ball burst open, releasing a small, yellow and black Pokémon that crackled faintly with electricity. It landed lightly on its feet, and glared at its trainer's opponent.
Ruby’s Rotom phone zipped out of her pocket instantly.
“Elekid, the Electric Pokémon. It rotates its arms to generate electricity, however, it can’t store the energy it makes. A weak electric current flows between its horns. Sticking a hand in there shocks the unwary.”
Ruby groaned and shoved the phone back into her pocket. “Not now.” She took a breath and released Budew onto the field. The small Grass type glared at her opponent, determination shining in her eyes.
Ruby clenched her fists. “Budew, use Absorb!”
Budew moved first, the small bud on top of her body opening to reveal a familiar green energy that flowed between her and Elekid. The Electric type staggered slightly as energy was siphoned away.
Cardin barely reacted. “Elekid, use Swift.”
Elekid glared at the small plant in front of it, and swung its arms rapidly. A burst of stars surged forward, striking Budew head on. The little Pokémon cried out as it was thrown backward, skidding across the ground before managing to hop back to its feet.
Ruby winced. “Budew, use Growth!”
Budew glowed briefly, gathering her strength.
Cardin snorted. “Cute. Shock Wave.”
Ruby’s eyes widened in confusion. “Hold on, but that’s an Electric type move!”
Elekid swung its arms, generating electricity. “Ele… KID!” It shouted as it unleashed the energy. With its perfect accuracy, the attack hit Budew, covering the small plant with painful sparks.
Cardin smirked. “True, but it also gets a STAB bonus, and, much like Swift, it won’t miss.”
Ruby grit her teeth in frustration. “Budew! Use Absorb!"
With the boost from Growth, the absorption managed to siphon a bit more health away from Elekid, though only slightly more.
Cardin hummed, thinking for a moment. “Elekid, use Leer.”
Elekid shot Budew a look, a strange gleam in its eyes. Budew shuddered, shrinking away from the gaze.
Ruby pursed her lips, thinking hard. ‘Leer? Leer lowers my Pokémon’s Physical Defense. Both of his other attacks have used the Special Attack stat. Why would he-‘
“Ruby, focus!” Yang's voice rang out, snapping Ruby out of her thoughts.
Cardin smirked. “Too late. Elekid, use Quick Attack!”
Ruby gasped. “Budew, Absorb, now!”
The bud atop the Pokémon opened up, but too late as Elekid vanished in a blur, reappearing in front of Budew as it socking them hard on the face. Budew flew back, landing on her side.
The field went quiet.
Budew tried to stand. Her body shook. Then she collapsed.
“Budew is unable to battle,” Cardin said mockingly before anyone else could.
Ruby rushed forward, scooping Budew up carefully. “Hey, hey, it’s okay. You did great.” Her voice wavered despite her effort to keep it steady.
Cardin laughed. “Wow. That was fast. Maybe you should leave before you embarrass yourself again when you lose to the Gym Leader.”
Yang stepped forward, fists clenched. “Say one more word.” She dared.
Cardin began backing away with his hands raised in mock surrender. “Relax. I’m done here.” He paused, his smirk returning. “Word of advice? Head home, Little Red. Wouldn’t want you ruining your mom’s reputation.”
He whistled, Elekid and Litten bounding back to his side as they walked off down the boardwalk. The crowd that had gathered quickly dispersed, muttering to each other.
Ruby stood there for a moment, staring after Cardin with a mix of anger and sadness. She closed her eyes, taking a few deep breaths as she did, before looking down at Budew, still cradled in her arms.
Yang leaned down next to her sister, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Hey. It was just one battle. You can still beat this Gym, I’m positive!”
Ruby nodded slowly. “I know.” She looked down at Budew. “But it still hurts.”
“Pokémon Center first,” Yang said firmly. “Then we try again.”
Ruby took a breath and nodded. “Yeah. Okay.”
As the two sisters left for the Pokémon Center, the old woman stared at them. In particular she focused on Ruby, her eyes narrowed. She shook her head and sighed. Closing her book and hopping off the bench, she muttered to herself. “The girl has heart, like her sister, that much is for certain. A shame that alone doesn’t win battles.”
10 minutes later…
Ruby was no stranger to Pokémon gyms. Her father was a well known gym leader, so she and Yang had spent a lot of time around one during their youth. The Fighting type gym of Patch was practically a second home to them.
When she thought about it she could almost smell the scuffed mats and the leathery punching bags, mixed with the faint scent of sweat. She could almost hear the steady sounds of humans and Pokémon working together during spars. She’d grown up watching challengers come and go, some confident, some terrified, most leaving thoroughly humbled. Her father’s gym had been a loud, lively place.
This gym was… not that.
It wasn’t unpleasant, just different. Instead of the familiar thud of impacts and shouted commands, the space echoed softly with the sound of moving water. A short winding path lead inward over a pool of water toward a small battlefield. Streams of water ran along the edges of the building, connected to the pool, gently flowing in and out of the building. The air carried a cool, clean scent that reminded Ruby of the public pool back home, but that was the only familiar thing about this gym.
Also, the gym was very… empty. The only other person in the building other than Ruby and Yang was a Gym Guide.
Ruby looked at said Gym Guide, struggling to articulate the question on her lips. “Um… so, uh… where is everyone?”
The Gym Guide sighed. “The Gym Leader will be here soon. He’s simply dealing with some…” He hesitated for a moment before deciding on, “Important business. Once he gets here you’ll be free to challenge him.”
Yang folded her arms. “Okay, what about the Gym Test? Mind explaining that to us while we wait?”
“You walk along that path and then challenge the Gym Leader.”
Yang and Ruby both stared at him in bewilderment. “… That’s it?” Ruby questioned.
The Gym Guide sighed again. “Yeah. The test would normally also require you to battle a trainer before the Gym leader, but they called in sick today. Also, our Gym Leader is new, and as such is required to come up with his own test. Unfortunately he’s not very… creative.”
“That’s not true!” A new voice cut in, drawing everyone’s attention to the Gym Entrance. Standing there was a young man, maybe around Yang’s age, wearing a pair of black swimming trunks with a belt for his Pokéballs, and a dark red swimming shirt. He had a pair of goggles on his head that were currently set on his forehead, just below his hair that was dyed a bright blue, and a pair of sandals on his feet. He’d probably look pretty cool… if it wasn’t for the yellow floaties on his arms.
He walked forward, finger pointed upward as though he were giving a lecture. “I have tons of ideas. I just can’t decide on which one to use.”
The Gym Guide rolled his eyes. “Of course sir.”
The Gym Leader narrowed his eyes at him, before putting on a smile, turning toward Ruby and Yang, and bowing. “My apologies ladies. I didn’t mean to keep you waiting.” He straightened back up and shot a suave smile toward Yang. “I hope the wait wasn’t too painful,“ he said smoothly. “I promise the challenge will be worth it. Especially if you enjoy a little flair.”
Yang raised an eyebrow, completely unimpressed. “Sorry pretty boy. I’m taken.”
The Gym Leader blinked. “Oh, um, by who?”
Yang smirked. “By someone who doesn’t wear floaties indoors.”
Ruby quickly coughed into her hand as she struggled not to laugh at the look on the young man’s face.
To his credit, he seemed to shrug it off quickly, shrugging nonchalantly. “Oh well. I’m Neptune, Neptune Vasilias. A little Pidgey told me that one of you wants to challenge me?”
Ruby, having sufficiently recovered from her sudden "coughing fit", raised her hand to get his attention. “Yeah, that’s me!”
Neptune smiled. “Alright! Let’s get to the battle mat and get it started!” He stepped toward the path, followed closely by Ruby. Yang stood on the sidelines next to the Gym Guide.
The two trainers made their way across the path… very slowly. Neptune was taking each step very slowly, and Ruby, who was stuck behind him, was forced to match his pace.
Ruby frowned and leaned to the side, waving and trying to get his attention. “Um, hello? Can we go a little faster?”
Neptune turned to look at Ruby, once again very slowly. His smile was a little strained and Ruby could almost swear she saw a trickle of sweat running down his forehead. “Hey now! Slow and steady wins the race. Safety first and all that!”
Ruby frowned and looked down off the side of the path at the pool of water. “But the water’s, like, a foot deep.”
“Four feet, actually.” Neptune corrected as he turned and continued to slowly make his way forward.
Yang chuckled. “Hey Rubes, the water’s taller than you are!” She playfully jabbed.
Ruby turned and glared at her sister. “I’m 5 feet 2 inches!” She protested.
“Please stop shouting.” Neptune said, grimacing as he held out his arms as though he were balancing on a tight rope, despite the path being nearly as wide as both his arms outstretched. Ruby groaned and trekked slowly behind him.
Eventually, the two finally made it to the battle area. Neptune knelt down toward the round center of the Pokéball symbol, flipped open a hidden panel, and pressed a button.
The circle began rising, and Neptune turned toward Ruby as it did so. “So how many badges did you say you have again?” He asked.
Ruby scratched the back of her head as she answered. “Zero. This is my first one.”
Neptune nodded and typed a few buttons on the pillar that had risen from the center. “Well, according to League rules, since this is your first badge, I’m permitted to use only two Pokémon, so this shouldn’t be too difficult for you. We’ll be out of here in no time.” He let out a sigh of relief, glancing toward the water. “Thank goodness for that.” He muttered.
“What was that?” Ruby asked.
“Nothing!” Neptune yelped as a panel opened on the side of the pillar revealing two Pokéballs. He grabbed them, before pressing another button, causing the pillar to sink back into the ground, and taking his position on the opposite end of the arena.
Neptune attached one Pokéball to his belt and held the other one tightly in his hand. “Alright, you ready?” He asked.
Ruby pulled Budew’s Pokéball from her belt, and took a deep breath. “Ready.” She affirmed.
Neptune smiled. “Alright! Prepare to be swept away!” He proclaimed dramatically, before tossing the Pokéball. “Go, Psyduck!”
As a short, yellow Pokémon with a vacant look in its eyes left its Pokéball, Ruby’s Rotom Phone left her pocket.
“Psyduck, the Duck Pokémon. If its chronic headache peaks, it may exhibit odd powers, but doesn’t recall that it used them. That is why it always looks puzzled.”
Ruby sighed, shoving her phone back in her pocket. “Not even surprised anymore. Budew, you can do it!” She tossed her Pokéball, letting Budew out onto the field.
Neptune hummed. “A Grass type. Smart.” He pulled his goggles over his eyes before he pointed forward, commanding Psyduck. “Psyduck! Use Rain Dance!”
The Duck Pokémon wobbled side to side in a little dance. As it did so, the room darkened, and small clouds formed on the roof, and little droplets of water began falling from them.
Ruby shielded her eyes and focused on the battle. “Budew, use Stun Spore!”
Budew released its yellow spores at Psyduck. The Duck Pokémon flinched as sparks began dancing across its body.
Neptune hummed, impressed. “Hm. That was pretty smart. Stunning him means that he may not be able to move when I command him to. It also slows him down, making his Hidden Ability, Swift Swim, less effective.” He smiled and cracked his knuckles. “Alright then, let’s start doing some damage. Psyduck! Use Confusion!”
Psyduck put its hands up to its head, and let out a low hum. “Mmmmmm… Psyduck!” It yelped as it unleashed the attack. The Psychic waves hit Budew, the Super Effective damage causing the small plant to wince in pain. Thankfully, she remained unconfused.
Ruby groaned. “Crap, a Psychic move. Budew, use Absorb!”
Budew drained the Psyduck of its energy, replenishing some of its own in the process.
“Psyduck, use Confusion again!” Neptune ordered.
Psyduck raised its hands to its head, ready to attack… only to spasm as paralysis racked its body, preventing it from moving.
Ruby smiled. “Alright, Budew, use Growth!”
Budew gained a green aura briefly as its power was boosted.
Neptune grimaced. “C’mon Psyduck! Use Confusion!”
Psyduck put its hands up to its head once more. It let out a low hum… “Mmmmm…” Ruby and Neptune both tensed up. “Mmm… Psyduck!” It yelped as Psychic waves left its head and surrounded Budew. The small plant flinched as it was once again hit by the Psychic attack.
Ruby winced, concern flooding her mind as she watched Budew struggle to stand. “C’mon Budew! Use Absorb, I believe in you!”
Budew used the attack, draining the Psyduck, slightly more than it had before thanks to Growth, but both the Pokémon and the trainer knew it wouldn’t be enough.
Neptune smirked as he ordered his Pokémon again. “Psyduck, again, Confusion!”
The Psyduck hummed. “Hmmmm… Psyduck!” It once more unleashed the Psychic waves, which hit Budew, sending the small Pokémon down onto its back. Its eyes were small swirls as it laid unmoving.
“Budew is unable to battle!” The Gym Guide called out from the sidelines. Yang winced as Ruby lost again, cursing under her breath.
Ruby slumped down, calling Budew back to her Pokéball. “Well. I guess that’s it.”
Neptune raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean? Are you forfeiting?”
Ruby looked up at Neptune with, ironically, confusion. “No? My Pokémon is knocked out.”
Neptune’s expression didn’t change. “Yeah, so send out your next one.”
Ruby blinked. “Um… I don’t have another one.”
Neptune’s eyes widened as what she was saying finally sunk in. “Oh! Uh… I guess that means I win.” He called Psyduck back to its Pokéball, rubbing the back of his head as he did so.
Ruby looked down at the ground as she turned toward the path to the exit. “Yeah. You win.”
Yang, watching as her sister walked depressingly out the exit, sighed and moved to follow her. 'Welp. There's only one thing that's gonna fix this.' Yang thought to herself.
10 minutes later…
Clauncher grumbled to himself as he darted underneath the human's feet. A few exclaimed in surprise as he darted between them, but he paid them no mind, scanning the crowd for either long blonde hair, or a large red hood.
The search for the two girls had begun the moment he made it back to the beach, and already he was losing patience. So many humans walked around him, some blonde, some with dark hair, but none of them were the ones he was searching for. However, he refused to give up. He had a vow to uphold, after all. He would find that trainer and that lizard and destroy them for daring to humiliate him.
A quick memory from earlier that day of being sent flying through the air by a painful blow replayed in his mind.
He winced as the memory ended. Okay, maybe he wouldn’t be able to destroy them. He wasn't powerful enough for that yet. However, he could at least… um… frustrate them! Yes, he could see it now. He would use those “Guerilla Tactics” he had once overheard some humans talking about back in Kalos. He would use his bubble beam to splash their eyes, shoot beneath their feet to slip them, knock important items out of their hands! Every time he would retreat and return, leaving them paranoid and worried, about when that ‘oh so terrible and dreadful Clauncher’ would return! He would haunt their every waking moment! Death by a thousand cuts!
As he chuckled to himself, amused by the genius of his plan, he caught sight of a familiar shade of blonde near one of the stands. He quickly ducked behind another stand, peeking around to ensure that it was the correct blonde.
Sunglasses? Check. Hair length? Absurdly long. Jacket? Annoyingly bright yellow with a ridiculous orange flame pattern. Bingo.
The blonde said a few thanks to the owner as she reached into the stall to grasp something. Clauncher chuckled to himself, raising his claw, ready to blast whatever frivolous human goody she was about to-
Clauncher’s eyes widened and his claws slackened as his eyes beheld a most beautiful sight. Two tan, light brown cones, each with a round creamy sphere on top of it. They glowed lightly as sunlight reflected off their surface, calling out to him tantalizingly.
As the blonde walked off, Clauncher scurried after her, intent on not allowing those delicious treats to escape his sight.
Ruby leaned over the edge of the boardwalk, looking out toward the ocean beyond the beach. Budew, having recovered after a quick trip to the Pokémon Center, was sitting on Ruby's shoulder, nuzzling her face and letting out a few reassuring noises. Ruby appreciated the effort, but her spirits remained unlifted.
“Here you go sis.” Yang said as she rejoined her sister, handing her an Ice Cream cone. Ruby sighed and took her Cookies N’ Cream cone, giving it a few licks before taking a bite, ripping a chunk out of the sphere. The chunk melted in her mouth as she chewed, the mixed flavor of Vanilla ice cream and chocolate cookies causing her to hum in pleasure. She held her cone up to her shoulder, allowing Budew to get a few licks.
Yang licked her Rocky Road, humming in thought as she looked at her Rotom Phone. “Let’s see… there’s some Electric types in the grasslands nearby. You might be able to catch something there.”
Ruby was pulled from her depressed musings by Yang’s words, looking at her sister curiously. “What? Why would that matter?”
Yang raised an eyebrow. “Well, you’re gonna need an Electric type when you challenge that gym again. Catching another Grass type wouldn’t be very smart, unless you’re planning on becoming a Grass type specialist.”
Ruby’s jaw dropped. “Challenge the- Yang! You saw what happened in there! I completely blew it!” Ruby lowered her gaze, staring at the sandy beach in front of the boardwalk. “Cardin was right. I should just go home. I can’t do this. I’m not good en-“
“Nope.”
Ruby raised her head, her eyes drawn back to Yang, who was giving her a blank look. “What?”
“Nope.”
“Nope?”
“Nope.” Yang shook her head. “You are good enough. You counteracted Psyduck’s Swift Swim with Budew’s Stun Spore-“
“I didn’t even know he had Swift Swim!” Ruby protested.
Yang continued, unfazed by Ruby’s interruption. “You took advantage of Psyduck’s paralysis and had Budew use Growth, which boosted her power and let her drain more with Absorb-“
“That was just luck, if he hadn’t froze up-“
“It wasn’t just luck, it was taking advantage of an opportunity.” Yang insisted. “Sure, it didn’t exactly pay off, but you played smart. You were tactical. Yeah, the battle was short, but that’s only because you have one Pokémon and Neptune kept spamming Confusion, which Budew is weak to.”
Ruby sputtered as Yang fished around in her coat pocket and pulled out a stack of Pokédollars. “Which is why you’re gonna take this money, you’re gonna buy a crap ton of Pokéballs, you’re gonna head out there, and you’re gonna catch another Pokémon.”
Ruby’s jaw dropped as Yang dropped the Pokédollars into her hand, before lifting her hand to Ruby’s face and closing her jaw for her. “You’re not gonna quit. I won’t let you.”
Ruby stared at her sister, looked down at the Pokédollars, back to her sister, and then to Budew. The small plant nuzzled her trainer again, letting out a small, “Budew!” In encouragement.
Ruby took a deep breath, pocketed the money, and stood up straight, looking out into the horizon. “Alright. Yeah, I can do this! I’ll catch an Electric type! I’ll challenge that gym again and I’ll win! I know I will!”
Yang smiled brightly as she held her hand up for a fist bump. “Yeah you are!”
Ruby raised her hand to fist bump her sister… only for her Rotom Phone to fly out of her pocket between the two sisters.
“Clauncher, the Water Gun Pokémon. Through controlled explosions of internal gas, it can expel water like a pistol shot. At close distances, it can shatter rock. Its claws occasionally fall off, and it keeps a low profile until they grow back. The meat of the claws is so delicious!”
The two girls stared at the Rotom for a moment, before following where the camera was pointed… and seeing a Clauncher. Standing on the railing. The railing where Ruby was currently resting her hand. The same hand holding her ice cream. The same ice cream the Clauncher was currently eating.
Yes, indeed, the small blue Pokémon had somehow climbed up onto the railing, snuck next to the two girls, and began chowing down on the ice cream, which was already half gone. Slowly, Clauncher stopped chewing as he realized his presence had been noticed.
He stared at Ruby and Yang, who stared at him. They stayed like this for a few more seconds… before Clauncher gripped the cone, tore it out Ruby’s slack grip as she reeled back and yelped in surprise, and dashed away… only to find himself without a surface to run on, his little feet twiddling in the air for a moment before he plummeted down to the beach.
He bounced as he landed on his belly, moaning in agony at the sudden impact, before his eyes widened in shock as the cone stabbed into the ground in front of him, and what was left of the ice cream landed perfectly in the hole atop the cone. Clauncher quickly pulled the cone from the sand and scurried underneath the boardwalk.
Ruby and Yang stared slack jawed at the spot Clauncher had landed, before Ruby shouted, “Hey! Wait a second!” And vaulted over the railing, holding onto Budew as they fell. Ruby’s knees bent as her boots impacted the sand, and she turned to look under the boardwalk… only to not see the Clauncher anywhere.
“Oh, come oooooonnn!” Ruby yelled at the sky in frustration, before slumping down again. “Ugh… I’m just gonna go catch a Pokémon.” She groaned, walking off, away from the beach and toward the nearby grasslands outside the town.
Yang sighed as she watched her sister go. “Buy Pokéballs first!” She called out.
Ruby halted in her tracks, and quickly turned to walk in the direction of the Pokémart.
Yang looked back out toward the horizon, and took a bite out of her ice cream, savoring the flavor. Charizard popped out of his Pokéball next to Yang, giving his trainer his best puppy dog eyes. Yang stared at him for a moment, before tossing the ice cream cone at his mouth, which he quickly opened and chomped down on the delicious treat. “There you go, you big baby. I probably need to save room for my date anyways.” Yang pulled out her Rotom Phone to check the time. “Speaking of which, what time is…” her eyes widened. “Oh, yeah, I should probably get going.”
5 minutes later...
Clauncher took deep breaths as he hid underneath the boardwalk. He had done it. His first, totally 100% calculated, and not at all spontaneous step had been taken in his plan. Yes, this was the start of his revenge. Death by a thousand cuts indeed…
However, for now, he would focus on more important matters. He took a deep breath, and turned back to his treat, ready to chow down… before he noticed a figure in the corner of his eyes, one who hadn’t been there a moment before. At least, he was pretty sure they weren’t.
As he turned to observe this newcomer, his heart stopped and his blood ran cold. The yellow color, the black tipped ears, the rosy red cheeks on its face, the zig zagged tail. It was a very familiar and instantly recognizable sight. That of a Pikachu, a ridiculously popular Pokémon amongst humans.
Normally, despite his type disadvantage, Clauncher wouldn’t be too worried. A Pikachu could be dangerous, but it wasn’t an insurmountable obstacle. No, what horrified him was the fact that, despite its appearance, it was very clearly NOT a Pikachu.
It had no arms nor legs. Its tail was a dark brown instead of yellow. Instead of a rich lively yellow, its “skin” was pale and ghostly. Instead of eyes full of life and mischievous whimsy, its “eyes” were dark soulless scribbles.
This thing stared him down, deadly silent, before letting out a bone chilling noise. “MimimimimiMIMIMIMI!” It hissed, increasingly aggressively. Clauncher, recognizing the danger, dropped the ice cream cone, letting it splatter onto the ground, and dashed away as fast as his little legs could carry him, running into a few wooden pillars as he hurried to flee from this terrible monster.
The creature stared after the fleeing form of the Clauncher, before looking down at the ice cream that had been left abandoned. It shifted, crawling over the cone and the cream until the both vanished beneath the disguise. Anyone nearby would have been able to hear multiple chewing and gulping noises, before it wandered off, leaving behind nothing but a few crumbs and a white stain on the ground.
The creature exited from underneath the boardwalk near the tree line by the grasslands, and quickly returned to the shade of the trees. It looked back out to the sea briefly, spotting a ship that was drifting nearby. It appeared to be some kind of fishing boat, with multiple nets being visible even from here. Strangely, a large cage was visible atop the deck of the ship, which one of the crew members was staring at with trepidation. He considered it for a moment, curiously, before dismissing it, and continuing to wander.
After a few minutes of skulking in the shadows, he heard a shrill noise sound out across the clearing. It was one he was unfortunately familiar with: screaming. A crackle of electricity sounded out, followed by more screaming. Curiosity growing, he decided he might as well see what all the fuss was about.
After about a minute, he was able to locate the source of the noise. A girl with a large red cloak was running around, swiftly dodging electric shocks being sent at her by… a Pikachu. The creature growled as it spied the infamous Electric type, envy growing larger in the depths of its soul. It could already piece together what had happened. This girl had attempted to catch the Pikachu, the small rodent had taken offense to that, and decided to teach the girl a lesson.
The girl swiftly ducked under another bolt, before diving into the tall grass, followed closely by the Pikachu, hiding both from sight. More screams rang out and more electric bolts were flung around as the scuffle continued. After a few moments the girl dived back out of the grass and ran for the tree line, quickly hiding behind one of the thicker trees. Other than some dirt smudges, she seemed unharmed, if out of breath. He would almost be impressed… if she hadn’t forgotten about her cloak, swaying in the breeze, peeking out from behind the tree, which allowed the Pikachu to easily find the girl once it exited the tall grass.
Instead of charging toward the tree, the rodent calmly trotted over to the girl's hiding spot. The girl peeked around one side of the tree, right as the Pikachu walked calmly around the other side. Not spying the rodent, the girl pulled her head back and sighed, gulping down air as she tried to calm down. The Pikachu stared up at her and gently tapped her leg. The girl flinched and looked down, instantly spotting the electric mouse. A mischievous glint in its eyes, it waved a stubby little paw. The girl smiled nervously and waved back.
The two stared for a moment longer, before Pikachu’s rosy cheek pouches began sparking. It gave the girl an angry smile, and shocked her. The girl yelped and spasmed as the electric current racked her body. As the attack ended, the girl collapsed face down into the dirt. The Pikachu kicked the side of her head with a stubby little leg, and then turned and dashed into the bushes. The girl was silent before letting out a drawn out and pained groan.
The girl slowly and painfully pushed herself up, brushing the soot off of her body as she walked back out of the trees. She stood there for a moment, body slumped and eyes vacant, before taking a deep breath. As she let it out, she stood up straighter and glared with determination out at the grasslands. She pulled a Pokéball out of a small satchel on her hip, and marched forward, utterly oblivious to the eyes watching her.
For a few moments, all was still. A few branches rustled, and a few blades of grass bent with the breeze. Then, a small, pale, unnatural form left the trees and stepped onto the grass, following the path of the girl. If nothing else, this would at least provide him with some entertainment. It had been a long time since he felt amused.
After all, the life of a Mimikyu was rarely a happy one.
Out on the fishing boat by the beach, Perry adjusted his glasses as he stared at the large cage in front of him. Its large, steel frame, gleaming in the sunlight, was flawlessly sturdy, which he was eternally grateful for. After all, as he heard a low growl echo from within, he knew that it was the only thing keeping him from being on the other end of that thing's wrath.
Feeling some morbid curiosity taking hold, he took a peek into one of the few openings on the cage. For a moment, he saw nothing… before a large red claw smashed against the peep hole, denting the metal, and sending Perry jumping back with a scream. A deep growl followed, before the claw retreated, leaving the large dent as the only indication that anything had happened.
Okay. Maybe it wasn’t “flawlessly” sturdy.
Perry took a deep breath, his heart hammering in his chest. “Holy crap… that thing is pissed.”
“Yeah, that’s the point.” One of his squad mates pointed out bluntly. “Now get away from there before it claws its way out and rips you in half. Or smashes you into a stain. Either way, I don’t want to be cleaning you off the deck.”
“Glad to know you care.” Perry grumbled sarcastically.
His squad mate glared at him, his canine ears pinned as he clenched his teeth in anger. “I care about getting this done correctly. Adam will have our heads if we don’t do this properly. Now come on. We need to get this thing into position, and then get the hell out of dodge.”
Perry nodded, walking away from the cage as quick as his feet would go, but felt another chill crawl up his spine as another growl emanated from the depths of the contraption.
Yeah, he could definitely see the appeal of getting away from here as fast as possible.