Chapter 40: Minefield
As Happy and the group were trying to find their friends, they encountered Sid Seudo (Sergeant Olive), who gave Happy trouble due to his "Petrify Dance" move. Luckily, Happy was freed from its effects somehow thanks to Project PZ, a Porygon-Z variant. Meanwhile, Senior Head Barbeque, along with Brigadier Lee Way and their assassin Lasanne discovered the body of Doctor Sorbet, which forced them to get to the base sooner than expected.
For Manfred and Crusta, they were up against Major Cinnamon, whilst Morgan and her associates were up against Sergeant Sushi. Where Morgan and her associates were, they charged forward at Sergeant Sushi…well, everyone except Emma, but being very cautious of him as he stood still, not even moving an inch and not even worried in the slightest of their approach.
Morgan: (...Why's this guy not even budging…?)
To Dylan, he could feel something in the ground which put him on guard.
Dylan: Wait! Stop a moment!
They stopped and turned towards him, which confused them for a moment.
Morgan: What's up?
Dylan: …Something's not right.
Sushi: What's wrong? Not getting cold feet, are you?
Dylan looked around the floor, as if it was some sort of suggestion by Sushi.
Dylan: (...Feet…Feet…That's it…!) …You set us up, didn't you?
Sushi: Whatever do you mean?
Dylan: I started feeling something on this floor that wasn't normal, and now I know why. It's good that I stopped those two before they charged in any further.
Morgan: What the hell are you talking about?!
Dylan: …This floor has been poisoned. We're walking straight into a toxic minefield.
Morgan: W-What…?!
Sushi: …So you figured it out, huh?
Dylan: …However, you made a big mistake using Toxic Spikes to poison this floor. There's someone who can resist this effect, and that someone is me!
Sushi: …Oh, really?
Dylan: …Try me.
He stepped forward, triggering poisonous spikes from the ground that didn't even hurt him in the slightest. However, different types of spikes managed to stick into his feet, causing him to wince in pain.
Dylan: (...What…? He…He mixed them…?!)
Sushi: You were correct in one approach…But you didn't know the other surprise I had. In fact, you don't even know where those spikes are. They could even be on the walls.
Morgan: Dammit…! How are we going to approach him now?!
Wire stepped forward, somewhat determined to fight this time.
Morgan: W-What are you…-
Wire: Reach, play, careful position, everything nuts.
Morgan: *sweat drop* (...I still don't understand his "language"...)
The wires from his back then extended to the point where they were like long power lines, reaching towards Sushi, who managed to launch a barrage of spikes onto them to knock them away. Sushi then sprayed a stream of boiling hot water at Wire, pushing him back from the intense heat.
Morgan: Dammit! We can't even get a foothold in here!
Wire: Life destroys, king, fully future, bioengineered Pokemon.
Sushi: …Is something wrong with him?
Morgan: Ignore him. He's just…not very good with his speeches.
Sushi: …Okay.
Dylan: We're running out of options already!
Morgan: *growls* We're getting out of here, and I can't sit idly by as the chance to leave is slipping from our grasp!
She then turned to Emma with a scornful look, expecting her to be someone to do something as she yelled...
Morgan: Emma! Get your cowardly ass over here!
Emma shrieked but obediently rushed towards Morgan, which confused Sushi.
Sushi: …What on Earth are they planning?
Morgan: You're going to create a path for us!
Emma: *shakes* M-M-M-M-Me?! W-Why?! I-I-I ain't even helpful here!
Morgan: Shut your ass up and help, would you?! Unless you'd rather be a scary ass too cowardly to win a tournament?!
Emma: A-A-Alright…
Sushi: (...Poor thing…)
As she inhaled, she breathed cold air, which only made the room somewhat chilly. It earned a facepalm from Morgan, whilst everyone else was confused by her display.
Morgan: *groans* …Oh, for Arceus's sake…How much more pathetic do you have to be? Never mind. If you want to do things, do it yourself!
She then placed her right palm out with her left hand holding it, attempting to use a Moonblast attack again as a transparent moon was above her. As she gathered energy, sparkles formed in front of her palm to materialize a glowing white orb, ready to fire it. She shouted…
Morgan: MOONBLAAAAAST!
…As she launched the orb at Sushi, who had no choice but to force the Ariados to launch him upwards to avoid the attack as it went past him.
Morgan: Shit!
To Wire, he saw an opportunity as he inhaled and then spat out a fiery star-shaped daimonji towards Sushi, who couldn't dodge the attack at all. It knocked him back as the Ariados scurried to be where he would land, which was a successful catch. Parts of his cloak were burned, which didn't really bother him in the slightest.
Sushi: Not bad. I was taken by surprise there. But you are too late.
He then whistled, which confused the group as to what the whistle was for.
Sushi: …Are you willing to take me on with my army?
Morgan: What army, you-
Emma began shrieking, as cloaked Dirty Delinquent soldiers with weapons were around them. It was as if they "suddenly" appeared.
Dylan: Dammit! Where the hell did they come from?!
Morgan: Shit! There's too many of them! We can't get out of here!
Sushi: Surrender now, or die. Your choice.
As a gun cocked, the sound was too scary for Emma as she dropped to the floor in an unconscious state with her hair strand flat on her face, earning an eye roll from Morgan.
Morgan: I'll be honest. If you take her in, I'll be happy. Seriously, she won't be missed.
Sushi: …How cruel of you to say that to a comrade.
Morgan: "Comrade"?! *scoffs* She's no comrade of ours! She's been a disappointment to us! You even saw how scary she is!
Dylan: Ease off, Morgan.
Morgan: What?! After the hell she almost put us through?! No way!
Sushi: *shakes head* Take her in.
The cloaked soldiers approached the unconscious Emma as she lay there stiff as a board. However, when they got closer, the strand of her hair stood straight up, as if by some sort of force. They were confused at first until she said something that caught them off-guard.
Emma: …ERFROREN!
Without warning, the soldiers were frozen solid by some mysterious power. As for Emma, she was in front of them in a landing stance, but her demeanor changed completely, shocking everyone. She was more…confident and focused, and her stance was bold and determined. Her eyes, however, were closed as if she wasn't herself.
Sushi: What?! How?!
Dylan: E-Emma…?!
Morgan: (...I must be dreaming…! This can't be the same cowardly penguin from before…can it…?! She's completely changed…!)
Sushi: Men, fire!
The soldiers pointed their weapons at Emma and fired, with every bullet missing as she dodged them with no effort whatsoever. In seconds, she was in front of them, which was on the opposite side of where Morgan, Dylan, Wire, Sergeant Sushi and his Ariados were. With a wave of her flippers, she froze their guns solid, landing them to the ground. The cloaked soldiers freaked out and backed away as if they were fighting some unknown creature before running away in fear.
Morgan: I don't believe this! She's completely changed!
Emma turned around to face Sergeant Sushi, not even opening her eyes in the slightest.
Sushi: I see. In that case, let me shock you back into submissive mode!
His entire body started sparking, not even harming the Ariados entirely due to the cloak's lightning-proof capabilities. He appeared to be drawing in more electric power until he reached his full capacity.
Sushi: Take this!
He took off his cloak to reveal the tips of his spikes being green, which sparked electricity from them.
Sushi: LIGHTNING PIN MISSILES!
He fired a multitude of spikes from his body as they were coated in electricity. The spiked missiles went everywhere, forcing Morgan, Dylan and Wire to dodge them as the impact left charred spots in their wake. For Wire, he could stand and take a hit from the electricity, but the spikes would damage him regardless. As for Emma, she dodged each spike as they landed and got close enough to jump, using a move only she knew of…
Emma: EISBOHRER!
She spun herself like a drill, using her beak like the pointing tip whilst the rest of her was coated in ice, resembling a frozen drill. She went straight towards Sushi and it was too late for him to react as she was already upon him, knocking him off the Ariados and sending him down the hall and out of sight. She also managed to land away from the toxic spikes but felt some shocking pain as she stepped in some hidden regular spikes. Despite standing confidently, she fell to the ground in an unconscious state.
Morgan: …Holy shit…! She's freaking awesome! I take it back! She's badass!
Wire: Coming, approach, sparks of fire. Done, polished.
The Ariados ran after Sushi, ignoring the unconscious Emma as he went past her. The trio went to her side to see if she was alright.
Morgan: …And now she's unconscious again. I wonder what happens?
Dylan: I don't know, but she paved a way for us.
Within seconds, Emma woke up and was confused as to why the trio was around her before covering her face with her flippers in shame. It was as if she was back to her old self as her hair strand was somewhat curled again.
Emma: P-P-Please don't look at me! I don't know what happened!
Morgan: *rolls eyes* …And she's back to her usual self again.
Emma: …What do you mean? *gasps* Did I do something wrong?! I didn't mean to!
Dylan: …I see now.
Morgan: Huh?
Dylan: It seems that the Emma we saw earlier was being operated from her subconscious. You can say she was "once scared, twice as fearless".
Emma: …Huh?
Morgan: In other words, she's timid, but once shocked out of her conscience, her subconscious becomes bold, right?
Dylan: Right.
Morgan: …Did you study psychology or something?
Dylan: No. I just observe and make an assumption based on that.
Morgan: Well, we can dwell on that later. Right now, our ticket to freedom awaits! Let's go!
...
Back to where Manfred and Crusta were, they engaged in battle with Major Cinnamon. Given that Cinnamon was a Pokemon who had experience of fighting since her childhood for survival, this was nothing new to her. Despite being outnumbered, she kept her cocky grin, as if she had something planned. She chuckled to herself without even letting on to her secret plot, not even taking her eyes off them.
Manfred charged forward with heavy footsteps shaking just about whilst Crusta ran a bit ahead of him with his quick legs, fists on guard for blocking and counter-attacking. Manfred formed some floating chunks of ice in front of his shaggy mouth and thrusted forward to hurl them at Cinnamon, who effortlessly dodged them as a sparkle shone in her left eye. Crusta ran forward and as he got closer, he prepared for an attack of his own.
Crusta: Get ready fahr ahn up-clahse, cahmbaht style puncheeng!
He unleashed a flurry of pincer punches, to which Cinnamon dodged with no effort until she disappeared from his sight and without warning, Manfred began to stumble over as if he was tripped, taking him by surprised as he landed and slid on his right side, forcing Crusta to look behind and quickly move to his left. As Manfred got back up, he looked behind him to notice Cinnamon standing away with her back turned to them.
Manfred: (...What vas zat...? Did she just...?)
Crusta: Eempahsseeble!
Cinnamon: Oh? Surprised? I was just marking my scent.
Manfred: (...Zat's why I fell...! She purrrposely kaused me to trrrip...!)
Cinnamon: *chuckles* It's what we cat Pokemon call a "Playful Trip". The heavier the foe, the harder they fall. Looks like size really does matter. *chuckles*
Manfred: *growls* Nyet! I rrrefuse to be made fun of by tiny kat!
Crusta: *stomps* Ahnd I refuse to be mahde a puncheeng fool!
Cinnamon: Too bad, boys. I'm just smarter, and you're just…dumb with hormones.
Manfred: *growls, frustration mark* I do not take kindly to being made fun of forrr my intellect!
Crusta: *frustration mark* You feline wretch! I'm gahnna mahke sure your brain gets dahmaged!
They charged towards her with blinding rage, in which the green gem on her forehead glowed a bright green hue, summoning gems of white light in front of her like a wall, aimed their way. It stopped them in their tracks until they were launched magically, forcing them to dodge as each gem struck the tiled ground to cause some cracks. However, that was only one part of her plan.
She then lifted her cloak to reveal a saddle minigun, which took them by surprise. The rounds began firing, to which Crusta stepped up to the plate with quick thinking and started punching away rapidly, knocking every bullet away like it was nothing. It forced her to stop firing, but had another trick up her sleeve.
Crusta: Eat zat, beetch!
Cinnamon: *chuckles* You boys think you've won yet? Guess what? You're not the only one who comes with surprises. You'll be feeling the effects after this!
The gem then glowed blue, along with her pupils, which confused the duo until Crusta felt his body being controlled by telekinetic energy as the blue aura was on him. He struggled to free himself as he was now powerless whilst she easily hoisted him up in front of her.
Crusta: *grunts* (...Whaht ze...?!)
Cinnamon: *laughs* How do you like that? A Psychic attack…Not bad for a gal like me, huh?
Manfred: Put down tiny crrrab, feline kat!
A sparkle then glowed in her right eye, seeing as she could use this to her advantage.
Cinnamon: …You want me to put this crab down, you say? Then I'll do it on one condition. You stand down and surrender and perhaps I won't harm him. But charge at me…and, well…
The blue glow from her eyes and gem burned brighter, causing Crusta to scream in pain as if he was being crushed internally very slowly before easing the pressure to prove a point.
Cinnamon: …So, what's it gonna be?
At this point, Manfred felt like he was in a hostage situation. He really couldn't do anything to free Crusta. However, he noticed Cinnamon's expression change and her ears twitching as if she heard something coming their way. From down the hall heading towards her was a spherical blue aura that forced her to jump away from it as it struck the ground where she once stood, creating a small blast upon impact.
Whilst landing, she was then attacked by a Pokemon at high speed, which was a blur to Manfred but to Cinnamon she could see her attacker clearly. The impact caused her to lose focus and dropped Crusta to the ground on his back, struggling to get up until he was helped by a lift from Manfred's tusks. Cinnamon jolted back behind her, wondering what happened.
Cinnamon: Alright, who has the gall to attack me like a coward?!
To her surprise, a male voice that was rough and deep responded in kind with...
?: We do, of course.
The Pokemon walking towards them appeared to be a male Druddigon and a female Linoone who seemed to be fighters. The Druddigon had a black body coat including his wings and an orange head with blue pupils, and wore a yellow monk's robe that only had his right arm exposed. He also carried a book titled "The Holy Scriptures" in his right hand. The spikes on his arms and back, including the tail were the same color as his head, although a few of them appeared to be chipped off.
As for the Linoone, she seemed to be a different version, as she had glam rock markings on her, only over the orange eyes they resembled lightning bolts and were yellow, colored like the marking parts on her body. She also sported a long tongue and had shorter cheek fur. When she spoke, she also had an accent, which meant that she was from a different region.
Linoone: We can't' let' yau get' away with it, no?
Cinnamon: So more fighters from the tournament are coming out of the woodworks to stop us. We've already won, you know.
Druddigon: We know. But we oppose it. Abolishing such things necessary for the advancement of our world throws it into chaos.
Linoone: What' purpos' wauld yau hav' with removing everything fair to Pokemanity?
Cinnamon: …Everything. You're a Dark type, aren't you? Surely, you should have it figured out already.
Linoone: I do. But' tell me why yau're doing this.
Cinnamon: Bah! You're just as brainwashed like the rest of them. Abolishing this system brings us Dark types closer to freedom. To a world where we won't suffer anymore. But it seems as if you're not ready to be free. In that case, prepare for hell!
Manfred: (...What on Earrrth is she talking about...?)
...