The battle goes too fast.
The first strike is made by a Pawniard. Closest to Virizion, he dashes forward and attempts a slash. You're not surprised to see an effort so half-baked not go through. The counter, though, you don't expect. Like a sweeping whirlwind, Virizion kicks the Pokemon with her back legs so hard she sends him sprawling. The other Pawniard and his henchmen shriek in protest, and launch themselves at whoever is closest to them.
The big red drill-bug next to you spits on the ground and turns around so that its pointy rear faces you. It doesn't take much to dodge, but then you realize it's not just you and Jen watching each others' backs anymore. Though you jump over onto its back, its stinger goes right into Emolga. Not deep enough to get lodged under his skin and poison him, you realize with relief, but enough to send him yelping, rolling away. Deep enough to draw blood, you notice. 'Sorry," you call. But your voice isn't brave enough to rise above the thunderstorm.
What do you do now? Throwing a quick glance around, you realize everyone is engaged in a skirmish of some sort. Still on the Pokemon's back, you decide to scratch off the Dragon Rage option- any burns you inflict would be soothed in a second by the now bone-soaking shower.
Gurdurr, standing right next to you, takes care of it for you. All you see is a metal beam moving at the speed of light, and the next thing you know, the bug is sprawled on the ground, passed out. "Thanks," you say.
By now, both of the yellow spider Pokemon have been taken down. You have no idea how, but you're glad to see everyone working together. Emolga and Dunsparce, tag-teamming a Pawniard. Emolga letting Dunsparce have most of the glory, and just cleaning up after. The carpenters already whaling on the other red drill-bug. But mostly, you're glad to see EVERYONE working together. And that means, not only also, but mostly Virizion. Without losing a single ounce of grace and confidence, she sends beautifully glowing leaves, razor-sharp shine, straight into the Pokemon. You think then that that is a perfect way to describe the Pokemon herself.
You see, then, Jen, also watching Virizion, a hesitant look on her face.
"Come on, let's go help her out," you say, and reach over to take her with you over.
"That's the thing. She needs no help. She is strong enough on her own to take on all of these Pokemon."
"But she has us."
"She doesn't need us. She's strong. Much stronger than us. A Grass and Fighting-type for a reason."
"No way!" You glance at Virizion, then back at Jen. "A Fighting-type?!"
"Makes sense now, doesn't it?" Jen looks down at her feet, the droplets, unrelenting, flowing down her face. "We need to get stronger, Ned. I keep thinking we're strong enough now, we can do this... but really, it's everyone around us doing it all."
"Don't cry, not now."
"I'm not. It's just that..." A thunderclap, and you hear the others cheering as they see the last of them run off. "It just seems like there's always someone better. Always."
"What's wrong with that?"
You both turn, and it is your all-time nightmare in a softspoken tone. She tilts her head. "There's something you will always be worse at than someone else, but you'll be better at something else than that Pokemon, too. It's just how the world works."
"Awfully happy words from someone like you," you say.
"Who says I'm not a happy Pokemon?"
"Stop being weird, guys, we beat them!" Emolga's cheery voice rings out across the canyon. His eyes seem to glow even in the darkening storm. When the sky thunders again, he cheers even louder. "We really chased away the bad guys!" He turns to Dunsparce. "We did it, guy, we did it! We saved the day!"
The carpenters are beaming as well, despite the increasing amount of mud you see on their bodies. The Timburr in particular seem ecstatic, dancing around the gorge, yelling congratulations to themselves. Gurdurr, ever the steadying factor, keeps an eye on them, smiling.
Virizion, on the other hand, watches the two best friends. Her expression doesn't give away anything, only her eyes move, following their natural bouncing around. You've never been good with English Lit, nevermind that. Jen is looking down at her feet. You've no idea what this means the fair lady's heart fancies, or whatever.
"Hey, everyone," you call, gathering the especially cheerful ones back into the circle. "How did you find us here, anyways?"
"Our lovely Virizion told us," Gurdurr tells you, matter-of-factly. Thinking back, you're surprised the carpenters didn't try to hit on her during the battle. "She said Dunsparce was in trouble."
"You?" Emolga mutters, narrowing his eyes at Virizion. "You don't care how he feels at all. I don't believe that for a second."
Jen nods silently.
Virizion shakes her head, as if scolding a little child. "I believe you are quite mistaken. Supposing you do not know of it, I had happened to observe you conversing with Quagsire. Of course, I did not have the chance to take in every last detail, but it was more than enough for I to fit all the pieces together."
Emolga snarls, and Jen's glare doesn't fade, despite the downpour desperately trying to wash it away. Dunsparce is still too shaken, and the carpenters are busy gawking at the lady. You guess you should probably say something.
"It doesn't matter. For this, at least, thank you, Virizion, for providing help and calling for backup. Thank you, Gurdurr, Timburr, and Timburr, for answering to her call. Thank you, Emolga, for being so supportive, though I'm sure it goes without saying. Dunsparce is safe now, and we all made it through the fight."
Dunsparce is crying now, tears mixing in with the rainwater, shaking, but the smile on his face is real. "Thank you, everyone. I guess I got rescued again, huh?"
"You fought plenty hard," Emolga tells him, arms wrapped around him in a tight hug. "You did great."
"It's kind of funny, now that I think about it. I was gullible enough to believe that I could become strong, just like that."
"Don't scare us like that again, alright?"
"Yeah, I won't. I'm sorry. But I guess it's my fault, as usual. It's because of me that you all..." Dunsparce trails off. "I really am useless, aren't I...?"
"No way!" Emolga says, a determined look in his eyes. "That's not true. You realized it before it went too far, didn't you? That it's not that easy to get strong." Your eyes flicker over to Virizion. "That, if anything, made all this worth it. And besides- you fought bravely until the end without giving in to fear. I know it. You really gave it your all."
"I think so too," adds Jen.
"And me," you say.
"We all think that, Dunsparce," says Gurdurr. Timburr and Timburr nod eagerly, showing all their teeth in wide grins.
Virizion steps forward slowly. You can nearly taste the tension between her, Emolga, Dunsparce, and Jen.
"I must apologize as well as praise," she begins. "By way of admitting it surely was due to the words I spoke to you that you had to feel such a way. For my actions, I offer unto you my equal apologies. However, do remember what I tell, once more, and that is the matter that there exist Pokemon willing always to take advantage of ones such as you. Dunsparce, you do trust much too easily."
"What's wrong with that?!" Emolga retorts angrily, taking a step forward.
"The way I see it, and so should you, is that it is simply impossible to live in such a manner nowadays. I repeat myself, and I wish for you all to memorize my words, that there is absolutely no rhyme nor reason to trust others."
"That's all your opinion, Virizion," you say. You don't know where you're going with this, so you let your heart do the talking. "It's probably true that you shouldn't trust just anyone you meet straight away." A glance at Jen. "That leads to bad things sometimes, such as today, when Dunsparce trusted the Pawniard Brothers in a single, emotionally consumed moment. But I don't think that you have to press such an extremist opinion on everybody. Is it really that bad to trust others? Is it really so wrong to believe in someone?"
"It appears to me you still do not understand."
"Virizion, I know that there are a lot of dishonest Pokemon out there these days. We even fought Gurdurr when he was still blinded by rage and pulled under, accompanied by Scrafty, one of the most wicked criminals of the west. There are bad Pokemon out in the world, and increasingly so, due to the spread of the Mystery Dungeons. We know that just as well as you do."
"Then why must you keep believing?"
"You can't live without believing in others. If you don't take that first step, no one else is going to open up and trust you, either."
"I do believe I've said I'm fine with such an outcome."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Are you?"
"Yes."
"Are you?"
Virizion looks away, face shielded by the rain.
"You know, Virizion," Jen continues where you left off. "It is much like you said. Someone will always be better at you in something, but you'll be better than that someone at something else. You may be stronger than Dunsparce, than Emolga, than Ned and I, than the Timburr brothers, than Gurdurr. You may be the strongest Pokemon in Post Town. But that means, therefore, that everyone else is better at something than you are. And that's trusting others."
"I find it a weakness."
"You're wrong." Emolga steps up. "Trust forges friendships. Friendships forge bonds. Bonds forge strength. And that strength make friends a real force to be reckoned with! A strength you'll never have!"
"You may be able to fight well, Virizion," Jen says. "But I think that being able to trust each other, having enough courage to do such a thing... that is what bravery and strength are all about. It's real strength. And though we are weak, that courage is what has kept us going, taken us this far." She gulps, and catches your eye. You smile. This is it. Go ahead, you tell her.
"That's why I have to ask..." she falters, but when she begins again, her voice is strong enough to drive out the storm all by itself. "Dunsparce? And you two, Emolga."
"Something wrong?"
"No," Jen says. "I just wanted to ask something. Would you two come join us, and come be part of our Paradise?"
The both of them jump like the lightning strike had been particularly close. "You want US to be part of YOUR Paradise?!"
"I do."
"Why?!"
"You know of our dream, right?"
"Kind of."
"We want to build a Pokemon Paradise." You see Virizion frown. "A Paradise where everyone can live in harmony. And the lot of us, well, we'll go on every adventure beyond imaginable and find all sorts of treasures in hidden lands. We'll enjoy every day full of excitement and fun with each other. A paradise where everyone can live in peace forever. I think that everyone deserves that. No matter what background they come from, where they've been, what they've done. As long as they are good Pokemon deep down, I think everyone deserves to live out the rest of their days as friends with everyone else. That's our dream. And I will see to it finished."
"Wow," is all that Dunsparce forces out through a suddenly croaky voice. You can see the touched tears in his eyes. What a pure, untainted Pokemon. He really does deserve all the good things in this world.
"We'll be needing good friends to help along the way," Jen says, smiling at the both of them hopefully. "No, GREAT friends. Like the two of you."
"Are you sure?" Dunsparce stammers. "I mean, I'm not-"
"Absolutely sure," you say. "Your trust and loyalty is greater than any of ours."
Dunsparce sniffles. "If you'll readily have me, I wouldn't even think of refusing!"
"Well... I..." Emolga's ears droop a little. He hesitates before speaking again. "Well, I mean... I don't really mind, if that's what Dunsparce wants."
"Of course!" Dunsparce cries. "I'll do my absolute best! We'll make a real paradise together!"
Emolga smiles warmly. "Then I guess I don't have much of a choice, do I? I'll give it my all, too!"
"Let's do this!" you say, rallying a cheer as you thrust your fist into the air.
"Yeah!" Jen yells.
Dunsparce throws his head towards the sky, where the rain doesn't let up. It doesn't matter anymore, the weather has no relevance to the situation anymore. A dark and stormy night, yet the best day ever...
"For Paradise!"