After successfully persuading Akiza to his cause, Light left the Pokemon base camp to rendezvous with Ashley, who was already negotiating with the Human forces.
"Are you sure you don't me to come with you?" Volc asked as Light prepared for takeoff.
"Ashley and I should be more than enough to bring the human commander around. Besides I need you here to prep and debrief Akiza on our strategy." Light replied while changing his Dark Pulse Armor. His disguise for the Pokemon camp had involved adding more armor to his existing design, For the human camp, Light seemed to be doing the opposite. The bulky armor which had served Light well against Akiza dissolved to paper thin levels all across his torso and legs with the biggest change occurring on his arms, where the armor had completely disappeared except for a small strip which twisted around the Meowth's white fur and came to a sharp point at the paw.
"Contact me if you run into trouble." Light said before giving his comrade a slight salute and taking to the skies.
It took about a day of solid flight to travel from the Pokemon Headquarters in Dewford to the Human one in Mossdeep. The reception Light received was completely different from the one he received at the Pokemon Headquarters. As soon as he landed, Light was greeted by a small guard of soldiers who led him directly to where Ashley was meeting with the Commander.
As soon as Light entered the room, Ashley stood and saluted, as though he were a superior officer. Playing along, Light responded with an "At ease."
"I've explained our situation to the Commander here and he has graciously agreed to help us against Devon Corporation." The Aura User reported.
The Human Commander extended a hand and said, "I'm Taro, the commander of the fine troops you see around you. I've read of your exploits and honored that Light would want my help."
Taking the outstretched hand, Light replied, "I think you have me confused with my brother in the Sect of the Slash. I am Hakuren not Light."
"Whoa whoa whoa. You aren't Light?!" Taro said in disbelief, "Then the deal is off."
"What do you mean the deal is off?!" Ashley cried, "You said you trusted my judgement as an Aura User and as long as the battle would be hard, you would help."
"I did say those things." Taro said, sitting down and visibly relaxing. "But that was before I received the news that you were giving the same schtick to the Pokemon Commander. If Light himself had come, I was going to keep my word but since you obviously see us as a second fiddle, let me put it in more colorful terms, you can take your deal and shove it where the sun don't shine"
I hoped we could avoid this... Light thought. In order to get the 2nd Commander to work with the first special measures would have to be taken, but then those measures could be interpreted as favoritism bringing the 1st deal into jeopardy: A catch 22.
"It's true I'm offering you the same deal as the Pokemon Commander but I'm doing so out of a sense of fairness to both parties." Light said, "Is there any way you could reconsider?"
"I told you before if your Sect had sent Light, I would but instead I've been stuck with some wannabe I've never even heard of."
"I may be an unknown in name, but I can assure you, I'm just as capable on the battlefield as Light. In fact I'm willing to bet on it."
"I'm listening..." Taro replied very badly masking his interest.
"We'll battle one on one just like Negata did Akiza." Light explained. "If I win, you will uphold the bargain you made with my colleague."
"And if I win?"
"If you win, I will personally aid you in an invasion of the Sinnoh Region."
"But that-" Ashley began
"Would give our forces the morale boost they need while putting pressure on the Pokemon." Taro finished, grinning widely. "Ok Hakuren, I'll take your bet. We'll fight first thing in the morning. I hope you're ready." He smirked once more before exiting the room, leaving Ashley and Light by themselves.
"You shouldn't have done that Light." Ashley said. "He already had an agreement with me. We could've forced him to honor it."
"Yes but it would create ill will which we can't have for a successful operation." Light explained. "Don't worry. I won over Akiza without too much trouble and I'll do the same for Taro."
"I hope so..." Ashley replied.
The Following Morning
"Are you ready Hakuren?" Taro yelled, standing confidently at one end of the battlefield.
"I'm quite ready." Light replied, slowly floating into the air on the other side of the field. "Whenever you wish to begin."
"Then let's get right to it shall we?" The Human Commander replied. He entered a fighting stance before charging across the battlefield at his opponent.
I have the advantage in the air. Light thought. All I have to do is wear him down with ranged attacks and a victory will be within reach.
"Shadow Ball!" Light yelled, launching an attack at the hard charging Taro.
As the attack closed in on its target, Taro made no move to dodge or block the attack. Instead, he rushed straight toward it with arms spread wide open and allowed it to strike him for maximum damage.
"W-What?!" Light cried as he launched more attacks. Each one was met with the same response: a completely defenseless Taro welcoming each Shadow Ball's strike.
"Is that all?" Taro asked as the smoke cleared around him. "You might be stronger than most people, but you're attacks have nothing on Akiza's"
These tactics aren't working... I need to try something else. Light thought before replying, "I can promise you there's plenty more where that came from."
"I should certainly hope so." Taro said before goading Light to continue his attack.
Meanwhile, Ashley and a few soldiers spectated from the sidelines as the battle unfolded.
"This isn't making any sense!" Ashley said, "It almost seems like Taro wants to lose the battle."
"You must be out of the loop little lady." Replied a large man beside her. "Have tried asking a more obvious question? Like why Taro is fighting without a Knight or AK?"
"He must be trained in the martial arts or something like that."
"Yeah, something like that..." The soldier replied before turning back to the battle.
Light had retained his distance from the unrelenting Human using Thunderbolts, but Taro was still charging, now even faster than before.
"You've shown me your skills. How about I show you mine?" Taro yelled, before jumping into the air and landing a punch that sent Light flying to the ground.
H-How was he able to jump that high? Light thought in disbelief as he picked himself off the ground.
"And I thought you were something special." Taro said, "You're reacting just like all the others when I first show them my power."
"I don't care about any power you may have." Light declared, flying back into the air. "I'll take you down either way. Dark Pulse Full Power!"
As the energy blast raced toward its target, Taro once again spread his arms and let the energy wash over him. As the attack ended, Taro still stood confidently while Light was beginning to breath heavily.
"Have you figured it out yet?" Taro asked. "I'll give you a hint: I'm the only person who can go toe to toe with the Sadist Psychic. How can I do that without the firepower she has?"
"It's almost like... you enjoy it." The former NAA Commander replied.
"Give the man a prize!" Taro said. "Seriously, it took you long enough. The Pokemon forces are led by the Sadist Psychic while the Human forces are led by me: The Mega Masochist!"
Even if he feels pleasure from pain, there has to be a way to defeat him. This persona is supposed to specialize in ranged attacks but I'm going to have to try some Close Quarters Combat if I'm going to figure out his weakness. Light thought before charging in, claws at the ready.
"Finally decided to man up I see. I'll give you props for that but its too little too late!"
Light started with a Slash attack aimed at Taro's head, which the Masochist caught on his forearm before sending Light flying backwards once again from another punch.
"Gah!" Light spat out blood after recovering from the attack. Still dazed, he didn't notice Taro charging until it was too late. Taro launched a barrage of powerful punches and kicks before sending the Pokemon flying back across the battlefield once again.
"OK. Getting in close... was a bad idea." Light mumbled to himself as he took an inventory of his injuries. Taro's attacks had almost certainly broken a couple of his ribs and the impact from Light's forced landing had left multiple lacerations from which he was bleeding. In addition, most of Light's energy had been expended in his initial assault. "How... is he... so powerful?" Light said between labored breaths. "I'm in so much pain... I could pass out." Those words sparked one final strategy in the former NAA Commander's head
"Are you ready to call it quits yet?" Taro asked as he nonchalantly walked toward his foe. "I really don't think there's any way you can win."
"I still see one way." Light yelled as he mustered what remained of his strength and flew back into the air.
"Trying that again?" Taro replied calmly. "I'll admit keeping your distance was the better of your two strategies so far, but that still won't stop me!"
As the Mega Masochist jumped into the air to pursue, Light maneuvered out of his range and began peppering the human with Shadow Balls.
"I thought you would have realized that those aren't doing you any good." Taro yelled as landed back on the ground and started running to prepare for another jump.
Not enough. I'll try a Dark Pulse next time. Light thought as Taro jumped once more.
"Almost had you!" The Human Commander cried as he threw a punch that narrowly missed it's target. As gravity brought him back to the ground, he was once again hit by an attack from Light, only this time it was a Dark Pulse. Now slightly annoyed, Taro ignored the attack and prepared for another attack run.
Learning from his previous attempts, Taro launched with even more speed and was able to graze the former NAA Commander's cheek before being hit by the strongest Thunderbolt the worn out Pokemon could muster.
"That tingled a little but it's all over now!" Taro said, pointing out a small but gradual decrease in Light's altitude.
Darn it. A thought a strong electrical attack might do something to him. Now you only have one more chance. What's the most painful thing you can think of?
Taro had finally built up enough speed and was preparing to make his final jump when his path was cut off by a pitch black sword that had fallen from the sky. "What the hell?" As the Human Commander looked upward, he saw Light creating physical weapons, such as swords and lances out of his Shadow Balls.
"Let's see how you like my newest technique: Shadow Armory!"
Suddenly the tide of the battle shifted. Taro, who had clearly bee on the offensive was now forced to duck and weave across the battlefield to avoid the countless number of weapons being thrown at him.
While this new technique did shift some momentum to Light, it didn't solve the problem of his losing altitude and energy. Soon enough Light was left standing on the ground with Taro trying to press the small advantage he had.
"You think you can hold me at bay forever with that technique Hakuren? Think again!" The Human Commander yelled before turning to make a frontal assault on Light.
"It can't hurt to try." Light replied, "Shadow Armory!"
As Taro charged toward his enemy he was first struck in the shoulder by a sword followed by a lance striking his hip, and yet he continued his charge. Even after taking a sword to his knee, the Mega Masochist continued to limp toward his target with a flushed face. By the time Taro did reach Light, his body was riddled with injuries caused by the Shadow Weapons and his face was beet red.
Finally within striking range, Taro raised his fist and said, "This is... the end." Before passing out on the ground at Light's feet.
"Thank... goodness it worked." Light said, clutching his injuries.
Ashley and a Human soldier almost immediately rushed onto the battlefield.
"Taro is unable to continue!" The Soldier declared, "The winner of this exhibition battle is Hakuren from the Sect of the Slash!"
"How in the world did you turn that around Light?" Ashley asked as she helped him off the battlefield.
"Even if he is a Mega Masochist, there is only so much a body can take of both pain and pleasure."
"Wait. Are you saying you won-"
"By forcing his body to experience too much pleasure, exactly." Light replied. "If he enjoyed pain, I knew I had to overload his body with something else to win, in this case it happened to be pleasure."
"Great job." The Aura User complimented before adding, "Now let's get you fixed up so we can take on Devon." And carrying him to get his injuries treated.
AN: Long time no see guys but I'm back! Hopefully you all enjoyed the Mega Masochist! After having a Sadist as the Pokemon Commander, it thought it was only fitting to have a Masochist as the Human Commander (Nice little Character foil). Bonus points if anyone can figure out where I got the name Taro from.
Fun fact: I was actually already planning on doing something like this before I received the submission of Akiza, only the roles would have been reversed with the Pokemon Commander being super defensive and the Human Commander being super offensive.
But now only the final battle remains. Will Light and his team be able to thwart the Devon Corporation's plans? Does Light have anymore tricks up his sleeve? Will I ever come up with a different ending for these Author's Notes? Find out next time on Pokemon New Age!