Black markings, reminiscent of a thief’s mask, covered its eyes. A tail as hefty as a mace extended from its end, its tip colored as black as the thief’s mask and the sock-like black legs it sported. Two strands of black fur extended from its snout, looking like a mustache.
Nickit evolved, and brought back bad memories with it as it stood, a regal Thievul.
“I guess that suffices.” Rose clicked his tongue. “Pawniard, deal with the Nincada.”
Pawniard dashed forward and, with its blade hand glistening white, Slashed every single Nincada into ribbons. Rose lifted a black cauldron off the campfire and approached Patrick.
“I can’t treat that leg, but I can keep you alive.” Rose’s mouth was a straight line, his eyes devoid of expression.
Steam billowed from the cauldron as water sloshed around its insides. Pawniard flipped Patrick on his back and held him by the shoulders. It let out a sharp bark and made Pancham freeze in place. The bear locked eyes with Patrick and grimaced, before heading over to his legs and holding them both down. Patrick tried to move his healthy leg but it didn’t even budge.
“Wh-what are you doing?” Patrick choked out.
“A makeshift treatment.”
Rose poured the steaming water onto Patrick’s leg. Sounds of sizzling erupted as Patrick shook his entire body, the Pokemon at both ends not allowing him to move. He bit his lip till blood dripped onto his chin. He opened his mouth to shout but Rose shoved a towel into his mouth, gagging him into silence. The pain against Gyarados was masked with a brittle shield of adrenaline. This one was raw, relentless. Rose kept pouring until the cauldron emptied, washing off the grime, saliva, and blood.
It felt like an eternity of suffering. An endless torture of stabbing with cauterizing knives. Patrick’s torso kept convulsing, the only part of his body not restrained. Zigzagoon growled in the corner of Patrick’s eye, held back only by Thievul’s tail.
“Keep him still.” Rose spat at Pancham and Pawniard as he walked back to the campsite.
The pain persisted, despite the water finishing, Patrick still felt like his leg was burning. From the campsite, moist crushing ensued and persisted for quite a while. Rose came back with a white roll of bandages and a small pot. He scooped up an amalgamation of berry juices and Potion spray and lathered it on the bandage before wrapping it. He repeated the process until Patrick’s entire leg was covered, the maze-like contractures hidden by white layers.
The juices seeped into his wounds, its cool battling off the heat of the steaming water. Patrick slumped, his body too exhausted to stay tense. The pain was still a screaming siren but the cool of the potion dragged him from the brink of passing out.
Zigzagoon padded towards Patrick, dodging Thievul’s tail and dropping a smaller, but sturdy branch beside Patrick.
“Up, boy.” Rose said.
Patrick rose up on his healthy leg, trying his best to not put pressure on his mutilated one. Zigzagoon handed him the branch, and Patrick tried using it as a cane. He placed a bit of pressure on his leg as he tried to take a step, supported by the cane. He winced as a jolt sent up his spine. His heel couldn’t touch the ground, but as he leaned heavily on the wood he found his balance. He couldn’t run, but he could walk.
Or so he thought. But as soon as the last drops of adrenaline fizzled out. Patrick tumbled down, the ground rising up to meet him.
***
Sun filtered through the leaves of the canopy and Pidove chirped at the arrival of dawn. Patrick stood up and stared down at himself. The white-bandaged, contracted lump of meat could barely be called a leg anymore. He got his Pokedex out and checked the notifications for some reprieve.
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Pokemon defeated: Lombre (Lvl 24)! | EXP Allocated (Underdog Bonus Applied!):
Zigzagoon has leveled up!
Level 11 —> Level 15
Stats: +9 HP, +3 ATK, +4 DEF, +3 SpA, +4 SpD, +6 SPE
Nickit has leveled up!
Level 10 —> Level 14
Stats: +8 HP, +4 ATK, +4 DEF, +6 SpA, +4 SpD, +5 SPE
The Lombre was way above their level. Patrick smiled. His suffering bore fruit, at the very least.
Pokemon defeated: Lotad (Lvl 10) Lotad (Lvl 6) Lotad (Lvl 4) Lotad (Lvl 5)...! | EXP Allocated:
Zigzagoon has leveled up!
Level 15 —> Level 19
Stats: +8 HP, +4 ATK, +5 DEF, +3 SpA, +5 SpD, +7 SPE
Nickit has leveled up!
Level 14 —> Level 17
Stats: +6 HP, +2 ATK, +2 DEF, +4 SpA, +4 SpD, +4 SPE
Pokemon defeated: Nincada (Lvl 11)! | EXP allocated:
Nickit has leveled up!
Level 17 —> Level 18
Stats: +2 HP, +1 ATK, +1 DEF, +1 SpA, +2 SpD, +1 SPE
Nickit has evolved!
He pushed off the floor and wobbled over to the campsite, following the scent of cooked food. The movement with the cane was unnatural, painful. He still couldn’t get used to not using his injured leg and put pressure on it every now and then, sending jolts up his spine.
Rose was sitting on a log, cooking a few Magikarp on skewers once again. Where did this guy get these Magikarp?
“You haven’t followed my orders completely, but I’ll let it pass,” Rose said as soon as Patrick sat down, pushing a skewer into his hand, “With one evolved Pokemon, and two unevolved Pokemon you can make your way to your next mission.”
Patrick tilted his head and gnawed at the fish, the salt and meat melting on his tongue. It was bliss. He teared up at the taste of meat after eons of eating berries.
“You’re my disposable pawn, boy. I saved your life, you owe me.”
Patrick gritted his teeth, grinding his jaw as he lowered the fish from his mouth.
“I want a signal, a way to get back at Macro Cosmos. So…” Rose’s lips rose up for the first time since Patrick met him. “You’ll kill Milo.”
“What?!” Patrick let out, louder than he intended. Kill a gym leader?! That guy is nothing but muscle. He throws bundles of hay like it’s nothing. I’ve got nothing but a fox, raccoon, a battered bear, and a cane. This is suicide.
“You’ve burned a person alive before. Don’t play tricks on me, boy. I need a pawn, someone with no emotions, wrecking the foundations of this entire system.” Rose locked eyes with Patrick, letting his words sink in. Patrick racked his brain, trying to remember if he even mentioned his arson with Rose. “I may have lost my position, but I still have my connections. I know all about you, boy. Everything. So, zip your mouth and follow my orders.”
Patrick balled his fingers into a fist. He was being blackmailed, and he could do nothing about it.
“We share the same goals, no? You will get your revenge on the person who stole your Mimikyu, and I’ll get back at Macro Cosmos. It’s a win-win, brat.” He spat the last word. He stayed quiet for a second, the fire crackling cutting the silence, before getting back on track. “Milo is quite strong. He is the first gym leader, but he’s only there due to his charm and flippant personality. The ‘golden retriever’ of the Gym Challenge.”
Rose threw a few sticks to stoke the fire further. “You need to catch him by surprise. An assassination, you won’t win otherwise.” He locked eyes with Patrick, sending a shiver down his spine. He saw it, Patrick saw the eyes of the person who tried to conquer this entire region, filled with bloodlust. “Now go, kid. Find yourself a better cane and pummel Milo to death.”
But, I love competitive Pokemon as well, 2v2s and VGC. So, despite popular belief and prayers, I'm against WiWa (Pokemon Winds and Waves) being of that same playstyle. I'd like to use the new moves with their accuracies, their PPs, and their turn-based effects.
What do you think? Would you like the real-time battles to continue on to Gen 10? Or keep the turn-based combat we've all gotten used to?
