Can You Take The Strain: A Pokémon Oneshot Collection

Can You Take The Strain? is my oneshot collection, a collection of grueling battles, some real and some not. The Pokémon starring in these short bits of fiction reflect on their toughest skirmishes, often with visions of glory and bravery. Some win, and others lose. Such is the unpredictability of the video games, animé, and TCG matches held every day.

If there is one thing that I have learned in all my years as a Pokéfan, it's this: Life's unpredictable, so never let your guard down. A Water-type can be just as easily defeated by a Ground- or Ice-type as a Grass-type.

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Mainly, this project was inspired by the insanely complex Animé-Style Battles of the Cave of Dragonflies Forums, where I met hundreds of fellow Pokémon fans. This collection is dedicated to my fellow members, friends, and fans. May your lives grow ever more insane.

Also dedicated to my best friends Ryusuchos and Techion, who have helped me to understand more than just the basics of battling.

Broken Connections

Rated PG-13 for blood

Calmly, I padded alongside my trainer. We were nervous, breathing heavily as we ascended the dark staircase that lead to a place we had been to only a few times before. Each time, we ended up with our hopes crushed, and sides hurting. It's even worse for me, especially since I'm a Mud Fish Pokémon. A Swampert.

See, we don't have thick, sturdy bones like humans and most other Pokémon have. We're mostly mucsle and rough, scaly skin, built for strength and effeciency, not speed or very long-ranged attacks. Even though I already had Attack and Defense stats that were the envy of most Pocket Monsters, I was still very afraid. Not even my trainer, who had loved me as a friend ever since we had been paired, nor my mate, Niagra, would be able to comfort me. The arena beyond the final few steps that loomed ahead of us was a place of nightmare.

I had battled long and hard there, eventually submitting to horrible visions, terrible brain-crunching attacks, and the cold, hard edge of finely tempered metal. It was terrible, and I didn't see how Gracie would possibly want to come back again. She had a special connection, so to speak, with me and the others. Whatever pain we felt, she could feel. Whenever one of us fainted, she would grow tired. Eventually, when all six of the Pokémon she had clipped to her belt had collapsed, my trainer would also black out. It was hard for me to think about one of my best friends feeling each and every of my emotions, pains, and thoughts.

Finally, after what seemed to be an eternity, we climbed the last stair, and onto a level area with one dark, foreboding doorway not even ten feet away from us. Simultaneously, Gracie and I inhaled deeply, and she seemed to answer an unasked question. "Yes, I'm ready Delph. But are you?"

I didn't bother answering her question. Of course I wasn't ready, but I still put on a brave face, and tried to walk as boldly as I could into the pitch-black hall. Instantly, orange-colored lights flickered to life, having sensed my presence. Gracie wasn't far behind, squinting from the sudden change. I, myself had to blink a couple times to ajust to the brighter light levels.

As if to taunt us, thick metal doors slid shut behind us, blocking off any hope of turning back. I gritted my many small, sharp teeth. The person we were about to face was certainly a master of messing with minds. Or, at least, the person who decided to install pneumatic doors after every arena in the League Building was. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my trainer nervously biting her lower lip. "Just keep a poker face, and don't let 'im intimidte you. We can still win, if not today, then tomarrow, or next week, or next month," she said. I nodded. Brave words for such a nervous person.

Cautiously, we delicately stepped into the unusual low light that seemed to bounce off of every corner of the arena. I couldn't see any sign of any other human, but I could certainly smell something odd. I continued to sniff at the air, noticing that there was, in fact, a second human in the room. And a familiar scent lingered the air: fear.

It was hard to distinguish, but there was actually two different people, the only humans in the room, that were giving off the heavy, dark smell. But why? The other human had monsters that were much stronger than I was. Why fear me, or Gracie, when you controlled enough power to decimate Lilycove City? Slowly, as I pondered the question, I began to grow impatient. But I did not ask the question.

"Will you quit hiding and show yourself?" she yelled, just as angrily and impatiently as I would have, had I the ability to speak human. In an instant, the lights that illuminated the room dimmed slightly, destroying an illusion that cloaked a tall, male figure. Even in the horrible lighting, I could tell he was smirking.

"You two are awfully persistent," he said. I couldn't tell weather it was a compliment or a complaint. But I could tell that Gracie was beginning to get ticked off. "Let's just get on with the battle, I'm tired of the suspense!" She yelled. "Go, Delphi!"

I hesitated, inhaling the dark scent that filled the room. It played with my mind, fogging my vision and reason for a few slow seconds. I felt the urge to battle, to hunt, to taste blood. I shook off the feeling, then padded onto one end of the arena. The man just continued to smirk, but eventually threw a red-and-white sphere into the air. It clicked open, a brilliant white light emerging from the Pokéball, taking the form of a steel bird. From the very first sound of the battle, I was in a trance. The same killing urges returning. Slowly, I began to charge up a power, my Surf ability.

And all hell broke loose.

I had intentionally overcharged the wave. It crashed over my opponent, nearly slamming the Skarmory against the far wall. While it was momentarily stunned, I pounced upon it like Raikou would a Stantler, biting at its bright red feathers. I could taste blood, but whose it was I am unsure of. But the sweet taste fuled my rage. I brought a clenched fist sharply over the bird's head, rendering him unconcious. I felt the urge to finish him off, but the recalling beam of a Pokéball stopped me from further damaging the Skarmory. I was shocked. How dare they inturrupt me from my hunt!

I wheeled around, spitting a mouthful of blood onto the floor. So the bird had damaged me, but did I care? No. What I cared about was further submitting to the Battle Rage, the fire within me that wanted to feast. It was living off of the fear, growing larger and more powerful with each breath I took. It wanted to taste human flesh. I ran flat-out at my trainer, and tried to knock her onto the floor. I was not even ten feet away from her, when a horrible pain tore away at my head. It felt like someone was driving a jagged, splintering spear through my brain!

My knees buckled, and my temples pounded, threatening to pop. I sank onto the floor, the horrid feeling continuing to claw every inch of my mind. I wanted to cry out "Make it stop! Please! For the love of all that is good and right in this world, show me mercy!"

But I couldn't. The Rage would not allow it.

Instead, I waited for the psionic power to stop. After a long, terrible struggle, it did. And with it, so did the connection that Gracie and I shared. I felt alone, for the first time in my life. And, I also realized why the other human was so afraid. He was aware of the Rage, and somehow knew that I would channel it in this battle. But how? I thought, watching as a faint shadow began to eat away at the corners of my vision.

Yes, how? was my final thought, before drifting off into unconciousness.

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Pyraven (Me): I claim Gracie, Delphi, and the Battle Rage.

Umbremance: -Baps Pyraven- And what about ME, HMM?

Pyraven: -Rubs the back of her feathered head- And Umbremance, though he didn't appear in this fic.

Umbremance: Yay.