Wayward Loser
Chapter X
"The Warrior - Part Two"
The first twenty minutes I spent around town was asking questions. It was mostly just me asking "Do you know a 'Gelaard'?" and "Have you heard of Gloam?". I always got (mostly) the same answers, the former always getting something like 'You mean the Gardevoir with glasses?', 'The poor guy who gets the mean side of Team Justice?', and 'Sure, I do. The loner on the outskirts?'. I always got a 'No'-ish answer whenever I asked about Gloam.
Though now I wonder, who's this 'Team Justice'? If they had such a cocky name like that, I woulda known- Not the first time I hear some team call themselves after something that the Police force work out. We're mercs, not cops... Albeit we usually help the cops for money. The only other thing that seems to get at me is all these teams that seem to comprise of a 'Human' (which I have no idea what it is) and another random kiddo. They're both always kiddos. Given Wigglytuff's guild is for TRAINING those kiddos, I just can't help but think that they aren't very original.
They all seem to name themselves 'Poképals'.
If I had a Poké for every 'Poképal' that needed help from other teams (again, sidejob money), I would've been rich at my entry rank.
I asked around about that 'Justice' team. Comprised of an Eevee and Chikorita with adjective names... Yep, couple of kiddos who're cocky about their work. I admire their enthusiasm, but that's not exactly what gets you places. It's skill.
I leaned against a totem pole that was sitting around the square, and folded my arms. Okay, so everyone seems to think that the Femboy is me, and Gloam doesn't exist at all. This is really, REALLY weird when paired with the fact that I randomly woke up next to him.
I looked up at the sky, lost in thought.
I wonder how the guy is doing, anyway. Hopefully he can get out OK.
So, back on track, I think I ought to plan an expedition to Ghost Tower-
"MAKE WAY! MAKE WAY! HEROES COMING THROUGH!", called the voice of some bratty half-pint.
Well, the yells caught my attention. I stretched my neck for a moment before looking.
Surely enough, it was some Eevee and a Chikorita coming through, parading a slew of, what I assumed to be, crooks they just caught. They were escorted by several officers Magnemite, and Senior Officer Magneton. They all looked pretty bored with this whole exposition... I hope to Arceus those two kids didn't make this a thing.
"TEAM JUSTICE IS ON THE JOB! NEVER FEAR, WE'LL GET 'EM GOOD!", the Eevee leader cried out.
I watched as they passed by. They were headed to the local police station to log the outlaws and get them squared away for their sentences. Seemed like they were a local team, from what I saw and heard. Maybe...
Guess it's worth a shot.
I cleared my throat loudly, as I approached their leader.
"'Scuse me," I asked. "Can I ask you something?"
The furball stopped, along with her buddy.
"I'm looking for a certain crook. Been chasing her from across the continent, and I just wanna know if you have any info on her," I asked.
"Mister, if there was a criminal out and about that we knew about, she'd be bagged and brought back here double-quick! Don't you worry yourself mister, if we find her, we'll get her!", the Eevee responded.
"Look, I appreciate the offer, but I'm able to catch an outlaw or two by myself. See, I'm a Gold-Rank Explore-"
"GOLD RANK!?", the Eevee chortled, almost as if she heard the most hilarious joke ever. "Mister, Team Justice is famous! We're Master rank! Gold ranks are a bunch of hacks, you couldn't do our work for us!"
I folded my arms. Someone's cocky...
"Thanks for your time," I mumbled.
"Anything for a good member of society! See ya 'round, hack!", the lead Eevee chuckled before leading their convoy on further.
"... Brat," I whispered to myself.
What a gold mine of information SHE was. Guess I'll have to track down Gloam myself... Ghost-types like to hang out in ruins like Ghost Tower, or places like the Midnight Forest. I'm sure she's moved away from Ghost Tower, so Midnight Forest is my next best guess...
I packed what supplies I had into my Exploration Kit. A few medicinal berries, two apples for on-the-way and on-the-search eats, and a Reviver seed just in case I get ambushed or lose too much strength. I wore the seed on a choker so I wouldn't forget to pop it before I got beat. That's just in case, though!
Only stopping before leaving town, I double-checked my supplies (not that I had many) and set off past Chimecho's bell. This was gonna take an hour or two to get there... Still, berries and apples grow outside of dungeons. I could just gather a few supplies on my way and out of danger. It's just that it's much harder to find berry bushes or apple trees in the overworld (Explorer's jargon for anywhere outside of a dungeon); but you're bound to find at least one before you get to a dungeon, unless you're in a desert or something.
It was gonna be a while... Maybe I should do a little sightseeing, enjoy the walk. I do way too much work and, maybe, spent a bit too much time with Cinnamon. I could use some me-time. All that's been on my mind is Gloam, and that one femboy who kept using my name. Not to mention, how exactly did I get into that machine-making facility? Where WAS that place? Why was I taken there, of all places? Who is Gloam working under...?
I shook my head. Too many questions, too little answers. The plains were a nice sight, a beautiful green expanse, wild grass blowing in the wind, various plant-eating Pokémon grazing contentedly... Sometimes I wish life was as simple as theirs. Of course, some Pokémon of their nature live in our society, but... some are wild. They don't know how to speak like we do, and are territorial and feral. I did a study on wild Pokémon once when I was still in a guild, young and full of more energy than I am today. Ha... I make myself feel old.
Now here I am at the woods before the mountain ridge. There's dew amongst the leaves, and small bug-types crawling around. It's actually kinda cute. I scooped up a Caterpie, and simply held it in my hands for a bit. It stared at me with it's big, beady eyes. Gently stroking it, I stood still while I thought about life. I looked around at the trees, and watched as more Caterpie, Weedle and Wurmple crawled around, enjoying the simplicity of their existences. I put the Caterpie I was holding down, and continued on my trip. Gee... Getting away from all the luxury and money I had, and all the stuff I owned, gets me to think a lot. I guess that's only natural, I need to always be thinking about something. If it's not about what I'm gonna eat, what I'm gonna do with Cinny, or... Then it's gonna be about life, I guess.
The time passed, and my pack had filled a bit with a few berries I plucked from a bush. Pecha, mostly. I doubt I'd get poisoned, but they'll be good for snacking on.
After half an hour, I was clear of the woods. Now I had to hike up the mountainside- at least, up to the bridge that was built recently. Guild expeditions across the mountains took a long time, so the coalition of Guild leaders sent out a few teams to construct this bridge for the prosperity and hastiness of world expeditions. It was a rather big bridge, as Wigglytuff's Guild was the most prominent user of it- and the guild grew very much ever since the world was saved by Raichu and Lucario.
Standing on the bridge was something else. It felt like it held history, even though it was something new. Maybe because it was built with memories in mind... I gazed up at the mountainsides. There was scaffolding all over, probably for cords to hold workers in place.
I looked back down-
"MWAAAHAHAHAAAA!", an all-too-familiar over-the-top voice rang out. "We meet again!"
... I swear to Arceus...
And then he jumps, does a few flips, and lands perfectly in a crouching pose.
"Yes, indeed! I, the great and mighty Gilgamesh, have returned!", he continued, standing tall. "I have learned from our previous encounter, and now I know..."
He pointed one of his bladed gauntlets to me.
"... How to defeat YOUUUUUUU!"
I planted my feet firmly, getting ready to fight. That's when I heard all the scuffling... I looked up at the scaffolding.
All sorts of miniature, sort-of lookalikes of Gilgamesh lined up. They didn't look exactly like him... Maybe a gang of earlier-evolutions of his kind?
They all started to jump down to the bridge.
"MUHAHAHAHAHA! I will defeat you, and continue my legacy!", Gilgamesh cried.
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
...
Then he randomly looks back up at some of the goons still on the scaffolding.
"Hurry up! Cue the music, you nitwits!", he shouted, impatiently.
My shoulders slacked.
"I'm sorry, what?", I asked aloud.
Then there was a symphony of harp, xylophone, and various other instruments in a prelude.
"You see, my opponent, the great Gilgamesh deserves his own THEME SONG!"
Then the song picked up into a fanfare of trumpets and rapid-tap drums, and as soon as that began, GIlgamesh's goons charged.
There was a lot of them, for sure.
...
Nothing I can't handle. I begun by intercepting the few that made a leaping charge and cast them aside into the incoming mob. There was too many to handle in one-on-one combat...
I wound my arms back, and spun like a top with my arm blades extended, cycloning into the crowd. I blew away a -lot- of his mooks with just one move.
... With Gilgamesh rubbing his chin, looking up to the sky.
"... I know! A theme this grand should be named in the moment! I shall call it... Battle on the Big Bridge! MUUAAAHAHAHAAAAA!", he guffawed, awed in his own genius.
What an ego...
The last handful of his mooks that I didn't get started to approach. One came at me, but I sidestepped and hammerfisted him to the ground. I scooped him up and chucked him- straight at Gilgamesh.
"Hmm- OOUH!", he grunted, getting tackled to the ground involuntarily.
I snickered to myself. He threw his goon off of himself, and promptly got up.
"Enough banter! Now we FIGHT!"
And then he charged- predictably but deceptively quickly. The rest of his goons still standing cleared away as the music kept playing.
I parried his blow and pivoted around him. I swung at his back- but then he crouched low and swept my feet out from under me. I fell on my back instead, only for him to grab my foot and swing me around a few times to throw me into the mountainside.
"UGH!", I groaned- loudly.
"MWAAHAHA! Is that the best you got!?", Gilgamesh taunted.
I got to my feet, and swung a few Psycho Cuts.
He stood on one foot, leaning back a bit, before throwing his arms out.
"Tooh!", he grunted as a flurry of crescent Night Slashes cut through the Psycho Cuts.
I swung my arm blades, using the fighting-type advantage to dispell the damage.
"Hm! It seems you, too, have been honing your skills! A battle of legend, yes! This is what I must have!", Gilgamesh rambled on.
"Can it, would you!?", I shouted, as I jumped up and tried to dive-kick him.
"Eeyu!", he chattered as he dove to the side, sliding on his feet upon landing.
I landed and twisted to face him again. Never take your eyes off the opponent!
He charged forward with two Night Slashes flying flat-side forward just in front of him.
"Sky-high!"
I didn't have the time to defend myself. I was cut by the incoming Night Slashes, and he struck me twice, launching me upwards from behind.
"Crrrumble to dust!"
I tumbled through the air, the view of the world spinning very rapidly-
"Hut!"
Time seemed to slow itself down, as I spun- I could see Gilgamesh having somehow launched himself up before me, chasing me down... Then he tucked in his arms, as black energy drew in.
"Huuhn...!"
...!
I quickly, inexplicably, managed to worm my way under his impending attack.
"Hrrrak!", Gilgamesh shouted, performing an X-shaped Night Slash.
And there was the opportunity. I had a chance to strike!
I drew my arm back and swung-
"Ha!", I called.
... But he must've knew I would attack quickly... As he dodged!
"Huuh!"
I should've been smart, though... I thought he was going to attack slowly again-
"Kuwi!", Gilgamesh grunted, chopping down.
I took the hit, and plummeted back down to the bridge!
"Guh!", I groaned.
I sprawled out on my back to spread out the impact- groaned again UPON impact- and got back to my feet as Gilgamesh came back down, making another strike.
I swung my arm, apparently strong enough to throw him off-balance.
"Groh!?", he dizzily muttered
"Got you, now!", I called.
I rushed forward and started to strike. Two blows-
"GAAK! OOUH!"
Four blows-
"GAAK! GAAK!"
Six blows-
"OOUH! OOUH!"
Eight-
"GAAK! OOUH!"
And I drew back both of my arms for a climactic finish-
"I'll cut you in two!", I shouted.
-and struck.
"GYAAAAK!"
I watched as Gilgamesh tumbled across the bridge in a heap. That makes it two to zip, albeit he actually put up a fight this time...
...
...
Oh, come on! He's getting back to his feet!
I saw his silhouette stand.
"MY RIVAL! YOU MAY HAVE WON TODAY, BUT NEXT TIME... VICTORY IS ALL MINE! I PROMISE YOU-"
And he made a leap, disappearing into the distance. All I heard was the echo of his voice...
"I SHAAALLLL RETUUUuuuuurrrrrrnn..."
... Just who IS this guy? Is he stalking me?
He's no less over-the-top than last time... Seems somewhat easy-going, considering that he wants to treat me as a 'rival' rather than an enemy... Just what's his motive, anyway?
I suppose Gilgamesh is just another enigma that the world will never learn about... That's too bad.
I have to continue on my way to Midnight Forest on my search for Gloam, though. I popped an Oran berry into my mouth and slowly chewed as I continued along the bridge.