A/N: And here it is everyone, the finale of the first arc and the between Tyler and the scyther!
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Chapter 7: The One Way
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I just stood there for the next few moments. The scyther didn't make any movement to attack, but instead simply sneered at me, seeming to indulge in the panic sweeping over my body. I looked to Lisa and she entered Sarah's mind so I could tell her to hide. I only caught a small glimpse of her fearful eyes before she obliged and went with Lisa to stand behind the trees and bushes that bordered the parking lot in organized rows. The moon's glow cast them in shadow.
"Alright," I started, trying and failing to appear brave, "what do you want?"
The scyther looked off in a random direction with thoughtful eyes. "What do I want?" he repeated. He flashed me a spine-tingling grin before answering a few seconds later. "I guess I just want you dead."
My ears perked at this and I noticeably took a couple steps back. I gulped and I couldn't keep my whole body from shaking. "Then," I stammered. "Then, why have you done all this? You let me go in the forest." I mumbled the last bit.
The scyther shrugged. "Fast deaths are no fun for the killer, you know?" he answered. "You've got to torture the prey a bit and play with their emotions to get full satisfaction. Besides, there's nothing quite like the feeling of power when you're the one pulling the strings.
"And, now!" he said sharply and took a forceful step toward me. "I suppose you're ripe for the picking. When the prey knows he's being tagged, he will give the predator the most entertaining fight. It's a shame, really. You have grown a lot over the past week in that new body." I shivered again at this. How did he know this? How did he even know who I was? I watched as he tapped his two scissor hands together with a loud clanging noise. "I was quite surprised, and actually pleased, to see you escape my elevator trap. Oh well, I suppose it's time to get rid of you before you become a real problem."
"What do you mean?" I asked shakily. "What have I done?"
The scyther laughed heartily at this. "You're thinking too highly of yourself," he said. "Yes, you're smart enough to act on your feet. That's why the Bender wants to get rid of you. You're a mistake and have no idea what you're doing. That's why he wants to erase you for good, before you pose a threat to him."
"What?" I asked, trying to make sense out of what the bug pokemon was saying.
"Well then, I believe that's all you need to know," the scyther said and closed his eyes. An angry red aura glowed around him. I gulped, recognizing it as focus energy. He snapped his eyes open and held his blades up and lunged. He was in front of me before I could even blink, but I kicked against the concrete and flew to the side before his slash attack could connect with me. "Oh-ho, so you've taught yourself to use quick attack? That body's quite nimble, eh?
"However, it won't do you any good." With that, he glared at me with red eyes. I turned my head away to avoid the glare attack, but that turned out to be a mistake as well, as the scyther rammed into me and sent me flying. I slid a couple feet across the lot and stood up, shaking dirt from my fur. By the time I looked up again, I was imprisoned in his glare, my body frozen. "Now you can't do those flashy, quick moves. Isn't that right, Tyler Young?" He slowly approached me with long, excruciating strides.
I closed my eyes, dreading what was to come. "Tyler!" I opened my eyes and looked around as best I could without moving my head, which I couldn't. "It's me, Jean! I think with your body immobile, your mental sense is momentarily heightened and that's why you can hear me right now. Listen, I have a plan. If you can withstand his next attack…"
The scyther loomed over me and I looked at him with a confident smile. He sneered. "So you think you can still fight, eh?" He held one arm to my neck and dropped to his knee so that his hot breath danced over my face. "I can cut that mug right off, so don't tempt me."
"Give me all you've got," I replied with a firm voice that surprised even me. "You wanted a good fight, so I guess I won't expect any less from you, so don't back down now."
I saw a twinkle in his eyes as he broke into hearty laughter again. "You've got some mouth," he said. "This is really one of the most fun jobs I've ever been assigned. Alright, Tyler, if you really want me-"
He was cut off by a burst of breath that escaped his lips along with a low groan. I quickly jumped back a few yards after having slammed into his stomach. "It looks like you lost your focus," I said.
"You idiot," the scyther said and I could hear him spit. Then I heard fast footsteps as he shouted, "How do you expect to fight me with your eyes closed?"
"Above," Jean said.
I felt an oncoming breeze and ducked my head just as his slash attack swung over me. I stuck my tongue out at him and I heard him growl. Just as Jean said, if I kept my eyes closed, that glare wouldn't be a problem and Jean could see for me.
"Dodge to the side!" Jean shouted frantically and I did so just as the mantis's claw clanged against the concrete.
The scyther started to laugh. I visualized a sneer on his face in my head. "Brilliant idea," he said with an obvious mocking tone in his voice. "You've figured out a way to utilize your pokemon's soul. However, it seems you can only stay on the defensive."
"Where is he?" I thought.
"Five feet ahead and to the left," Jean answered.
I nodded and launched a quick attack into his chest. I heard him gasp for breath as he fell over backward and I landed on top of him. Perfect.
"You seem to know a lot about me," I said. "Did you know I'm also a regional level wrestler?" I smiled confidently at him. "As long as I can feel the location of our bodies, I don't need to see. I just need to keep you in close range."
"Are you sure that's a good idea?" the scyther replied and I flinched as I felt his arm blade cut a little into my neck. "You might want to think twice about getting too close to me."
I scowled and leapt back. He was right. A close quarter fight would be dangerous for me. I thought I had the advantage as a wrestler who was used to maneuvering my opponent's and my own body. But then again, I'd never met anyone on the mat with knives for hands.
"Now then, take this!" the scyther cried and Jean guided me to dodge. But suddenly, I was smacked in the face by the blunt side of his arm and then the other. A scratch across the check followed that and I was thrown back by an elbow lunge. I slid a few feet across the ground and groaned as I tried to get back up. "Are you sure you want more? My fury attack will only get stronger from here."
"I'm sorry, Tyler," Jean said. "He moves too fast for me to tell you where he's attacking from."
"Don't worry, it's not your fault," I answered and slowly opened my eyes. My vision was a bit blurry from my shallow breathing and weakened body. The first thing I noticed was that the parking lot was now filled to the brim with surprised spectators, frozen in shock and possibly fears of what was going to happen.
"So, I finally forced your eyes open," the scyther crowed and I looked up at him. His eyes were already glowing red. I hated the grin that spread across his face as I was once again trapped in paralysis. "It's time to finish this with my maximum power fury attack. Good bye, Tyler Young!"
All I could do was close my eyes and wait for the assault; an assault that seemed to be taking forever to come. I heard a scream of pain and a thump. Confused, I opened my eyes and the scyther was doubled over, panting. He glared over his shoulder angrily. I looked as well as there was Lisa, with a mixed expression of anger and confusion.
"Okay, Tyler," she said softly and then gulped. She shook her head and put on a confident look, before continuing in a louder voice, "Alright, I've had enough of watching. I'm going to help you, Tyler!"
I smiled at her. Then I looked at the scyther to see that he was also. "You think that because you're a ghost-type I won't be able to touch you?" he said, seeming to take in his surroundings with a smile that made my stomach roll. "It looks like the sun has completely set. The setting is perfect. Perfect for my night tactics, that is."
My eyes widened and I wondered if I was hallucinating. Even as we watched, the scyther's body slowly vanished into the darkness. "I am, after all, an assailant," he said, "and a master of disguise. The night is my ally." I jumped as Lisa cried out in pain, sent flying into a nearby tree by something I couldn't see. "Take that!" The scyther's voice spoke. "This is my perfected pursuit attack!"
"I couldn't even see him move!" I gasped aloud.
"That's right," the scyther said again from the darkness. "What good will your eyes do you now that I'm invisible?"
I looked around frantically in all directions. Trees, cars, people. No scyther. My mind was racing as fast as my heart was beating. Where was he now? Where was he going to attack from? My thoughts are interrupted by a smart smack on the back of my head that made me topple over. I quickly kicked off from the ground and lunged in the direction of the attack but only hit air. I felt my stomach leave my body as again I was attacked from behind, this time from the sharp side of his blade. I felt my back grow warm from the wound. My head was a blur as I continued scanning the area, my breaths coming out in shallow gasps.
The scyther snickered. "It looks like true fear has finally sunk in," he said. "The look in your eyes is perfect, and so attractive to the maiden of death. I will send you off to the underworld with absolute terror in your heart."
I cringed and dashed underneath a car. "That won't save you," the scyther called and with an earsplitting screech, the car was left in two pieces, clean down the middle by his slash attack. I heard a whimper from the audience, probably the owner.
"I don't think we're going to get away with that one," I said. But my attempt at humor was futile as I felt the wind whip around me and I jumped back. Whether that was another attack from the scyther or just a breeze, I didn't know. I started to wonder what I could possibly do against him now that he was invisible.
"Tyler!" Jean called. I breathed a sigh of relief. That eevee's voice was really starting to become a real life saver to me. I leapt onto a bus, trying to get out of the scyther's reach while I listened to his plan. I suddenly heard footsteps coming toward me across the roof and jumped off again.
"You can't run forever," the scyther crowed. "I'll finish-" I didn't hear the rest of whatever he had to say. He was interrupted as sirens filled the night air. "Great, looks like we've attracted a bit of attention," he said. "But don't think this saves you." He suddenly rematerialized. "Come with me."
I mouthed "get out of here" to Sarah and Lisa and followed the scyther as he broke through the ring of astonished citizens who were watching the fight. We ran before coming to the National Park, which was now empty for being closed at night, and climbed over the fences. I heard chirps from birds and insects being awoken by our entrance and noticed some large hoothoot eyes gazing down on us, illuminated in the night air.
"You really are dumb," the scyther said. "I can't believe you didn't try to escape. I'm sort of disappointed, actually. A part of me wanted this little game to continue. But nothing will stop me now. Die, Tyler Young!" With that, he vanished into the darkness again and I heard twigs snap under his feet as he approached.
"Who would run?" I replied. "I've got to pay you back for what you've done to the pokemon village, to Sarah and Lisa, to Carlos, Father, and Mike. Oh yeah, and for the scar you left on me during our first meeting."
"Vengeance won't-"
I kicked off of the ground to the side and then lunged forward, slamming right into the giant bug's chest. I only wished I could hear him gasp in shock or his confused rebuttal. I wasn't running on my sight or hearing anymore, and I was glad Jean's plan was working. He sure was a genius in battling, despite being a pet for as long as I knew him.
I was seeing my opponent in a whole new light now. As Jean had suggested, if I mentally shut out what I heard and saw, I could allow my brain to focus on scents and vibrations. I could detect where he was and what he was doing based on what I smelled and felt.
I felt him approaching again and the air pull back from his windup. His attack was coming from above. I pushed myself back and felt the tremor as his scythe struck the dirt and small vibrations as he tried to wiggle it loose. I opened my mouth and focused on the sensation of my energy gathering at the lips.
With one final shake, I could tell he finally pulled his arm out of the ground and quickly let loose my shadow ball attack. I felt him fall over, and hoped against hope it was enough and I wouldn't have to sacrifice anymore aura to win this. I probably didn't have the energy to do it anyway. I slouched over, panting.
When I didn't feel any movement in the air or ground, I decided to open my eyes again. He was lying on his back, gasping and glaring at me with a surprised expression. When he noticed me looking at him, he grinned and starting laughing.
"The Bender told me about this," he said. "How could I forget? But then again, I didn't believe you had the guts to use it. How much time do you think you've lost so far, Tyler? Ten years?"
I scowled.
"That's right, the necklace is sapping away at your life," he continued. "If you keep using it recklessly, you'll end up killing yourself anyway."
"Well," I said, my voice coming out as a croak due to exhaustion. "I've kept myself alive for today." I started walking toward him. "And now," I added, looking down at him with all the hatred in the world. He continued to scowl at me. I was angry he wasn't pleading mercy from me. I growled. "I may be going out early in the future. But you're going out now!"
His scream pierced the night air and a flutter of wings announced the take off of hundreds of startled birds. His head dropped before I finally withdrew my canines from his neck. His eyes were wide as he looked up at me. Suddenly, the boundless black pupils began to take on a shade of blue as the green scales seemed to be absorbed into human skin. Black curly hair sprouted rapidly from his head and I gasped, choking back tears.
"Where …" Carlos's voice trailed off weakly as the fear in his glance became blank.
I don't know how long I sat there on the bare chest of my best friend, which had only moments before been the torso that embodied the anger I had bottled up over the last several days. I was so confused that I lost sense of everything around me. My stomach was turning so many somersaults I was surprised it wasn't rolling out of my body and across the dirt path ahead of me.
My heart beat was painful against my chest. It felt like a ticking time bomb ready to explode. Actually, maybe that was just hopeful thinking on my part. I didn't think I could live on. The lifeless shell that lay underneath my paws seemed to have shattered the glass around my will to live. My world was crashing down around me and I was ready to leave it.
I wanted to leave, so I wouldn't have to think anymore. I didn't know what to think, but I didn't want to think of what had just happened. What I had just done. I didn't want to believe it. In fact, I started to think this was only an illusion, a trick by the scyther. Even after I had killed him, he was torturing me. I started to feel a bit happier as I wondered where the real Carlos was.
"He is," Jean said and I gasped, so surprised that someone else could possibly be in this world, "the real Carlos."
"What?" I replied, and started to shout, angry he even thought this way. "What are you saying?"
"He has the same aura as your friend," Jean said calmly. "I'm sorry, Tyler."
"No way," I said. "That can't be true." My mind was racing and I had a hard time deciphering my thoughts. "If that was true, why didn't you tell me?"
"He was different before."
"What?" I snapped with irritation.
"He had a different aura," Jean replied. "He was just like us, Tyler; a human soul and a pokemon soul in the same body. Only in his case, the pokemon was in control and I couldn't detect Carlos's dormant aura."
I didn't know what to think anymore as I took another quick glance at his face and then looked away from the sickening image. I opted not to think, but then another voice broke me out of my reverie.
"Tyler!" It was Sarah. I looked up to see her and Lisa running to us. They both gasped and held their breath when she saw us.
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After Sarah had called the police we had been brought to a room in the pokemon center to spend the night and then she was going to be questioned. It was the next morning before I finally, begrudgingly, felt like explaining to them what had happened.
"This is what I told you about before," Lisa said after I finished my recollection. "The Bender somehow got his hands on a ghost pokemon's powers and is killing pokemon to put their souls in people's bodies. Your friend must have been one of his victims."
My mind lingered on that thought when the police had come in. They seemed reluctant to accept Sarah's tale that Carlos was indeed the scyther that had attacked her eevee in the department store parking lot last night. I couldn't blame them either. If I hadn't seen it happen with my own eyes and just so happened to be another human who was also trapped in the body of a pokemon, I wouldn't have believed it either.
We were therefore commanded to stay in Goldenrod City until the investigation was complete and we were to be under constant supervision by a police officer. It sure was convenient to be able to communicate telepathically to Sarah, who soon realized she was able to send her thoughts as well so she wouldn't have to speak either.
"So what now, Tyler?" she asked. Lisa had taken the opportunity of the officer's momentary attention on the platter in front of him as they ate at the pokemon center that night to open Sarah's mind.
"We're going to Ecruteak City," I answered with my face buried in the pokemon food at her feet. "Lisa, you know how to reach Ho-oh in Tin Tower, right? We're going to find out what's going on. I owe it to Carlos to stop the Bender."
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A/N: Well, as I said in the last chapter, chapter 8 is going to be a Reader's Chapter where you, the readers, tell me what you want to see happen. There's a link in my profile to a thread with more information and for you to submit your ideas. The story will resume and begin with the second arc on chapter 9, which will probably be up in maybe a month, because of the Reader's Chapter and I am going to be revising the first arc. I won't be changing anything, but I have learned a lot in the past few months since I started writing this and feel I should bring the past chapters up to my current standards. So I hope you enjoyed the first arc and will be coming back ready for more when Arc 2 begins next month. And don't forget to contribute to the Readers' Chapter! Cya next time! :)
