"C'mon! We gotta keep going!"
"How'd they find us? I thought our hideout was secure!"
"I've no clue! Doesn't matter! We have to get away from here!"
"But... We cannot run away forever! They'll always find us somehow!"
"Nailah, there's no point in it! You know, what he said... Now come on!"
"And if he's wrong? How can we be certain?"
"Trust him... Every bit of his hope, no... The whole Noscates' hopes are lying within our survival! If we die now, everyone's deaths were for nothing!"
"But... I..."
"Torak! I can hear something! They caught up to us! No... No! This is not... CURSED! They're too close! It's too late for Blast Burn, that'd be risky as hell!"
"Keep calm, we have to get ready... Ready to fight! Nailah! Bosco! We will be successful!
Torak could see the Marshtomp standing next to him taking a deep breath. "We... We will be successful! We're gonna get outa this alive!" He turned to Nailah, who was looking around nervously. "Torak..." He looked the Combusken in the eyes, nodded, and then directed his view forward. "They've arrived..."
He could hear fast steps coming closer and closer, accompanied by jeering screams. Despite the nocturnal darkness Torak was able to see his enemies quite well on that vast wasteland. The pallid moonlight facilitated viewing a bit. "Alright... As we planned! Are you ready?" Both of his companions nodded in agreement. "Here we go!" He dashed forward, the leaves at his arms started shining. "LEAF BLADE!" He attacked the first enemy in reach and hit a Sableye to send it flying backwards. He dodged some punches and blocked a Sneasel's Ice Punch using Detect, then countered with Bullet Seed.
The action next to Torak was not less intense. Bosco had troubles eluding a Pawniard detaining him with one Metal Claw after another. Nailah assisted him using Flamethrower, forcing his opponent to flee. He noticed Torak fighting with three enemies at once. "Torak! Detect! Now!" Torak reacted and executed his instructions. "MUD BOMB!" He launched an enormous ball of mud directly onto Torak which exploded at the impact, leaving the attackers defenceless and disoriented.
Torak looked around. "Thanks, buddy! Now then... Let's cut you down to size, eh? LEAF BLADE!" He could feel the razor-sharp leaves at his arms cutting deeply through his opponents leading them to yelp and run away. After some steps, they fell and kept lying on the ground.
Nailah was busy blocking off a Sneasel pestering her with Slash attacks. She flinched when getting hit at her flank. Notwithstanding the pain she jumped leftward and her enemy's next attack missed, what she exploited countering with Double Kick. After getting rid of the Sneasel, she looked around noticing a Sableye sneaking up to Bosco, who was just fending off a Pawniard's attack with Mud Shot. "Bosco, watch out!" She looked at him tensed, recognizing he did not hear her. "Bosco! Argh... What shall I..." An idea came up in her mind. "Damned! FLARE BLITZ!" Blazing fire embraced her as she rushed forward. Both of her fists ahead she rammed that Sableye sending it flying and crashing against a rock leading it to fall down and lying on the ground motionless. The attack's recoil damage was huge, Nailah staggered.
Torak startled as he noticed the explosion Nailah emanated. He saw Bosco turning towards her as well and shoring her up. "You got this?" "Yeah, I'll take care of her! Watch out, behind you!" He turned around and saw another Sneasel dashing towards him and prepared to counter-attack. "SLAM!" With his shoulder ahead he pounced into his attacker's direction. The moment he touched the opposing Pokémon, it vanished and something hit him heavily. Hngh... Blast! Feint Attack... I should've anticipated this! He rolled off over the ground and as his opponent wanted to pursue with Slash, he countered using Bullet Seed.
Bosco glanced around. Their enemies' numbers slowly decreased. Crimson liquid had already dyed the ground at some spots. He had some hostile hits to record, Nailah and Torak were looking slightly stricken as well. They're getting fewer... We will go out here victorious!
Nailah had recovered and was back in the fight. Her painful flank was not exactly making it easier for her, nonetheless she was far from being entirely exhausted. "In the name of Arceus, leave us alone! FLAMETHROWER!" Her opponent dodged and laughed, preparing to attack. She noticed this, dashed to the right causing her enemy to jump into emptiness, then she answered with another Flamethrower. With this enemy being served, she took a deep breath. She shuddered when suddenly being struck by a strange feeling of fear. I... what is this feeling? I can feel something coming closer... Something mightily sinister... What is that? "Torak! Bosco! Something's coming closer! And I fear it's not a friend!"
"What does she mean?" "No clue... BULLET SEED!" Torak kept on attacking with everything he had. His enemies were weak, their strategy was built upon numeric superiority, which faded more and more. The battle was nearly over, the battle they would leave as winners. A feeling arose within him, of pride and unbeatable strength. Completely taken by it, he did not recognize the same fear coming up within him, which had already embraced his partner. He got himself an overview of the situation. Only here and there were enemies on their feet, many of them were lying on the floor, in puddles of their own blood.
Bosco on the other hand was slowly but steadily able to comprehend Nailah's fear. As he looked around, he could spot a single Pokémon running towards them incredibly fast. "Torak, Nailah, what is that?" They both turned around and shortly after the Pokémon had reached them. Rather small, but with a malicious gaze and sharp claws. Bosco noticed a red gem on its forehead, shaped like a star. Upright it stood in front of the three Noscates. "Hmm... So, you are the three chosen ones... Ts..." It laughed gruesomely. "Well... My master told me about you... I just wanted to... You know... Convince myself!" A sneering grin marked its face. "And who are we facing, if you'd grant this question?" Torak's voice had a sarcastic undertone. The Pokémon performed a sweeping gesture and bowed. "Why, of course... How dare I forget to introduce myself... The Name is Vondur, the species Weavile... Never to forget... Commander of the Dystopes!"
Commander? This explains the sinister feeling... He has to be really strong... "What should we do?" Nailah tried her best to keep her voice down. Torak looked at her tensed. "We don't have any choice but to fight... Bosco?" In the corner of her eye, Nailah saw Bosco nodding. She raised her voice. "I'm just making a guess now... There is no way for us to solve this peacefully?" The only answer she got was a derisive laugh and Vondur lunging backward. "I'm gonna count this as a 'no' then..." She sighed.
Torak dashed forward, hauling off, Bosco right behind him. "LEAF BLADE!" He could see Vondur exactly before him, but the moment he struck, he hit nothing but air. He landed on the floor heavily and could barely break his fall. He saw Bosco sidestepping left. "TAKE DOWN!" He likewise missed. Nailah tried to support them with Flamethrower attacks, but the only thing they realised from Vondur was his creepy laughter.
"Damned! He's too quick!" Torak looked around but kept moving. Every now and then he could spot the Weavile for a tiny moment, before it vanished again. He was frightened as Vondur suddenly emerged very closely to his face and punched at him, only to miss him again. He stood still and looked around once more. "I grow weary of this... And what are you supposed to do with toys which are getting boring? Throw them away, am I wrong?" Vondur's voice had a sadistic tone. All of a sudden Torak could hear Nailah gasping loudly. "TORAK! WATCH OUT!"
She could see Vondur manifesting some steps behind Torak and running off. His claws began to glow in a white light. She reached out her arm for Torak but he was too far away. In the corner of her eye she saw Bosco also running off. She turned towards him. Step by step he ran towards the Grovyle. "TORAK!" Nailah saw the muscles in Bosco's legs straining as he prepared to jump. With his shoulder ahead he bumped against Torak, leading him to fall down. Bosco now stood exactly where Torak stood a second before and only another second later, Vondur had reached him.
"NIGHT SLASH!"
Nailah's heart missed a beat as she saw Vondur's claws slashing through her best friend's body. Bosco looked her in the eyes. With the last bit of his energy, he opened his mouth. "Go... You have to... Escape and... Survive... GO!" Then, his eyes closed and he fell.
"No..." Torak could hear Nailah's voice. "NO! BOSCO!" Triumphantly laughing Vondur stood over his best friend's lifeless body. Blood was dripping from his claws. Bosco's blood.
"Alas... It is so easy... You filthy Noscates are relying on values not existing... Friendship... Is void, an illusion! Run... Run all you like! Someday... You'll all face your own bloody death!" Torak rose. "You... YOU GUTLESS COWARD! COME ON AND FIGHT!" Vondur sneered at him. "Ts... Fighting you wouldn't even be worth the effort..." He wanted to run off and fight but Nailah retained him. "We have to get away from here! We don't stand a chance against him! Don't let Bosco's sacrifice be meaningless!" "No! We cannot just make a run for it again! He KILLED BOSCO!" "I know! He's gonna pay for that... But not here! Not today! NOW COME ON!" Torak unwillingly started moving and followed his partner.
"Run, you insignificant fools! You cannot escape your destiny!" Vondur laughed resoundingly and as Torak looked back one last time, he could see him holding Bosco's ripped armband in his claws.
It featured a snow-white Crescent Moon.