Here's chapter thirty - six. Thank you Blue-Eyed Cat, jordanobx, Antex-The Legendary Zoroark, and Kauris Azurai for reviewing last chapter!
Chapter Thirty - Six: Oddities
Doublade dragged Eris's arm to block. The sneasel's sharp claws clanged uselessly off its blade. Its second sword spun rapidly, blocking the other sneasels' attacks.
Eris attempted to keep her footing. So, are these sneasel what are causing the disturbances? Why are they so upset?
The sneasel continued to lunge, alternating who attacked. Doublade moved to keep up, swords flailing, whipping from one area to the next. Its swords moved quickly, but the sneasel were undoubtedly fast; Eris knew they'd break through before long.
Okay. Think, Eris, think. Technically, you're a trainer, too. Ug, but what moves does Doublade learn? I only know that it knows swords dance and slash. She wracked her mind for a move it might know that would help.
A sneasel broke through. Its claws tore her coat.
Eris yelped, stumbling backwards. She didn't feel pain, which meant it hadn't reached skin; however, that didn't mean it wouldn't happen if she didn't do something.
Eris continued to backpedal through the snow. The sneasel followed, bounding easily through the drifts.
Um. Um. Oh! I know a move! "Doublade, use autotomize!"
It blinked. "Blade."
"Oh. You don't know that one?"
A sneasel lunged, then another. Doublade caught the second, but the first slid by. Eris lifted her other arm, blocking it and sending it backwards. The sneasel snarled and fired a shadow ball. Doublade cut through it.
"Alright, then we'll do it this way. Swords dance!"
Doublade spun, its blades glowing, forcing back the sneasel.
"Okay, now let's use slash!"
Doublade's sword dragged her forward. She followed, trying not to stumble, while its front sword sliced at a sneasel, its back sword parrying any sneasel that got too close.
But they're still too fast. We need something that'll make Doublade faster.
Doublade whipped around, trying to hit the sneasel. The sneasel, undeterred, fired several shadow balls. Doublade cut two; Eris dodge another. The final two missed entirely.
But what can- wait. Doublade learns a priority move, doesn't it? "Doublade, do you know shadow sneak?"
Doublade answered by allowing a sword to dive into the ground. Suddenly it appeared underneath a sneasel, stabbing upwards. The sneasel screeched. Doublade's sword returned.
Eris blinked. No blood? Is that something to do with the attack itself?
The sneasel stood, its face twisted into a snarl. It's companions surrounded it.
Well, at least we've got something to give us an edge! "Doublade, shadow sneak again!"
Its single sword dove beneath the ground, appearing again against the leading sneasel. The other sneasel encroached; Doublade swung its front sword, the other repeating the shadow sneak.
Eris swallowed. Alright, we're doing better. But they're still moving faster. What can we do? "Uh, Doublade, swords dance again!"
Doublade obeyed, spinning her and cutting a lunging sneasel.
Alright, do we have enough power now? "Shadow sneak then slash!"
Doublade obeyed, diving beneath the ground, emerging on a sneasel, then swinging its sword. The sneasel screeched, flying back. Doublade tugged itself free from Eris's hand, releasing her and sending its blades spiraling around her body. The sneasel stayed away, hissing, while Doublade's swords returned to their original positions.
Eris's attention flicked between the dark types. We're not making much ground. But what can we do? "Swords dance, once more."
Doublade spun them, its blades glowing brighter.
Okay. Focus. Relax. I have to be of use, somehow. "Doublade. You should have one more move, right? Right now would be a good time to show it off."
Doublade eyed her speculatively.
A sneasel lunged.
Doublade lifted and parried. The sneasel flew high.
Doublade's eyes glowed purple. A mist snaked from the sword pokemon to one of the waiting sneasel. The sneasel back away, growling, then coughed, suddenly looking alarmed.
"Toxic," Eris breathed. "That's your last move? Really? We could have been using that this whole time?"
"Blade."
"Well, yeah, I guess I never really asked. Oh, was that even what you said?"
"Blade." The pokemon's free blade collided with a shadow ball. It released a quiet hiss.
Eris recollected herself. Okay. No time to be daydreaming. Think. "Okay, Doublade. Wait until one of the sneasel lunge. Then use slash."
Doublade quivered.
The sneasel watched. They fired several shadow balls, parried by Doublade's other sword. One tentatively neared, then they lunged, all at once.
Doublade moved.
Eris, feeling the tug, added what strength she could behind the blow.
The sword cut through a sneasel, sending blood flying.
Eris flinched when some landed on her cheek, but hardly had time to react. The other sneasel descended, clawing a scraping. "Toxic!"
The poison mist didn't seem to slow them down.
Frantic, Eris bit one of the sneasel's legs. The pokemon yelped and jumped away.
"Hey," a voice called, "what's going on?"
Crap. She realized belatedly that they'd neared Mamoswine Road's transportation system. Two men were rushing over, pokeballs out.
The sneasel hissed, backpedaling.
Wait. Ug, if they leave, I'll have to try and find them again. She held up her hands, crying, "Stay back!"
The men stopped. Their eyes suddenly widened, landing on the pokemon attached to her back.
Well, I guess that's one way to do things. Doublade, make this look good. "So you know who I am. Um, I am a mighty natural disaster, the servant of Yveltal! Stay away or face your doom!"
The men stared blankly.
Well, I feel dumb.
A sneasel attacking her face brought her attention back to the fight. She pried it free, flinging it into one of the other sneasel. Doublade swung its free blade, dragging Eris's arm to help it parry.
A pokeball opened and a mamoswine appeared. Eris stared, swallowed, and wondered if it would attack her.
The sneasel suddenly seemed more focused on the mamoswine. They snarled and lunged.
The mamoswine swatted them away with its tusks.
The sneasel turned and started running.
Eris groaned and raced after them. Unfortunately, they seemed to have disappeared.
Someone coughed dryly.
Eris turned slowly.
The men stood, arms folded, mamoswine between them. "So," one said, "what was that about being a mighty natural disaster?"
"Um, nothing?" She stepped back.
Something caught her from behind. She struggled, then suddenly found herself growing tired, vision fading.
-Richard sighed. "Good job, Wilson."
Wilson held her from behind. "Yeah, yeah. Just be glad my smeargle knows spore, you dolt."
The smeargle waved its tail.
The other man, Samson, said, "Well, what do we do with her?"
"Take her back to the station, I suppose. We'll contact the authorities, and they can deal with her."
Samson shrugged, then hoisted her over his shoulders and slogged through the snow.
"It's crazy, though," Wilson commented.
Richard asked, "What's crazy?"
"Those sneasel. We've never had a problem with them before, and now suddenly they attack everyone who comes on the road?"
"Not if they have mamoswine. Which they're supposed to."
"They can still attack people before they get here. Besides, it's still weird."
"Maybe they have rabies."
"Don't say that!" Wilson crossed his arms, sulking. His smeargle shivered.
Richard snorted. "Well, they might. It's not a common disease, but it's possible."
"I don't think so," Samson interjected, opening the station door. "They'd probably still attack the mamoswine if that were the case." He deposited the girl on the couch.
The inside of the station was homey; polished wooden walls and floors, a long couch, a circular rug in the center. A television hung from one wall. The room separated into a kitchen, a small stove and counter connecting to each other. Samson walked there, lifting the phone.
Richard sat on the sofa's arm. Wilson settled on the floor, glaring at the sleeping girl and pokemon.
Samson said, "Hello, is this Professor Sycamore? Yes, I know, I'm not using the holocaster. This is the Mamoswine Road transport service. We're calling in to let you know we have custody of that girl you guys are looking for."
A pause.
"Oh. Well, that's quite alright. Thank you. Good bye." Samson hung up.
Wilson asked, "So are they sending someone?"
"Apparently they already have."
Richard frowned. "But we didn't capture her until a few moments ago."
"Someone else called before us and reported seeing her."
"Huh. Not very good at hiding, is she?" Richard prodded her.
Wilson caught his hand. "Don't touch her, you idiot! You heard about what she did, didn't you?"
Richard snorted. "And you saw how she acted." He freed himself and folded his arms. "Are you sure we have the right kid?"
Samson said, "She flat-out said she was a servant of Yveltal."
"Yeah, but she seems so harmless. You know, human. Couldn't it be just some kid looking for attention? And why would a natural disaster be fighting sneasel, and losing?"
The other men exchanged glances. "Well, look at her arm," Wilson said. "She has that weird tattoo that kind of looks like some horned monster's head. Wasn't a weird marking something people were told to watch out for."
Richard shrugged. "I suppose."
Samson added, "We'll just wait until the authorities get here. They'll decide whether she's the real deal or not."
That'd be the end of chapter thirty - six. Review responses:
Blue-Eyed Cat: Ah, sorry. It's good to know that for the most part I'm explaining things well, though. As for Eris getting another pokemon, I don't really plan on it, but you never know.
jordanobx: Thank you for pointing that out! And thank in in general.
Antex-The Legendary Zoroark: Thanks!
Kauris Azurai: Hmm, I suppose you'll see.
Have a comment? Drop a review, please!