Chapter 57: Gideon's Assault
Zamenza and Moody were trailing after Gideon Grant (a.k.a. Commander Chocolate) until they were slowed down by Dirty Delinquent members, but thanks to Moby's friends, they managed to shake them off their tail. Meanwhile, at Fox Village, Happy and friends were facing off against Gideon and his aerial force, but thanks to Norman's wits, he and his force defeated them but Gideon himself was still around, and not in a pleasant mood.
Speaking of, Gideon dug underground before everyone in the village could stop him, hiding from them as he needed to come up with a plan. In a quick moment, he grinned as he thought of something that would give him an advantage. Above the surface, they were forced to wait it out until a blast ruptured a teepee, destroying it. Luckily, no one was inside, but it was far from over as everyone else fled from the still standing ones.
Baye and Chibi headed towards the group, along with the chief's wife and children with worried looks.
Baye: What's going on?!
Tanner: Gideon's unleashing his attacks on us!
Another blast erupted, putting everyone on edge.
Charles: What's happening?!
Maga: He's using Earth Power to attack us from below!
More blasts ruptured from the ground, destroying more teepees until none of them were standing. Again, nobody was harmed, but now there wasn't a home left standing for the village. The air was dead silent, which made it all the more eerie to the group.
Tanner: …I've got a bad feeling about this…
Unhaus: What do you suppose he has up his sleeves?
Tanner: No clue. I-
From the hole Gideon dug along with the ones he made with his attacks, streams of sand filled the air, startling everyone as it stirred around like a thick blanket. It forced them to shield their eyes, including Norman's aerial force. They were blinded by the storm, but this worked in Gideon's favor.
Unhaus: He's using Sandstorm! I can blow it away, but-
A scream was then let out, assuming to be one of Norman's Pokemon, followed by more screams that resulted in the sounds of bodies hitting the ground.
Norman: My friends! Are you hurt?!
He heard them groaning in pain, which meant they were alive. However, as Norman was looking around with a wing covering his left side, a pincer reached out towards his stomach, narrowly missing him save for some plumage being plucked off thanks to his quick reaction.
Norman: (...He's using the Sandstorm to ambush us…!)
It forced him to fly up with his eyes closed, relying only on his psychic powers as he could feel a bit of Gideon's energy, but not as accurately.
Norman: (...I can barely sense his energy…! And I can't even tell where he is due to this Sandstorm…! It's like he's everywhere and nowhere…! At this point, we're sitting ducks…!)
He knew that Gideon was after him, so he had to fly erratically upwards, narrowly avoiding Gideon's pincers from every direction. As he flew higher, he was out of the sandstorm, which when he paused and looked down, it resembled a dustbowl made out of thick sand. He then flapped his wings, attempting to blow the storm away little by little. He then saw Unhaus flying upwards along with Honori, but before Unhaus could come back out, he was yanked back down, which to Norman meant Gideon got to him.
Honori joined Norman in blowing away the dust little by little until they managed to get rid of the storm. However, out of clearing it, everyone except Gideon and Unhaus were gone...or so, when Norman looked up and saw them in the skies. With one pincer, Gideon threw Unhaus towards the island, landing hard enough to draw everyone's attention to the impact. Eve, the most concerned, shouted…
Eve: UNHAUS!
…As she came to his side along with his friends. He appeared to be badly beaten with blood dripping down his beak and his feathers torn in some places. He managed to get back up with some struggle, but he felt his leg hurt from the grabbing Gideon did. Maga, Chibi and Baye examined his wounds, worrying for his safety.
Chibi: *gasps* Oh my goodness! Your leg!
Maga: …I assume Gideon did that in the Sandstorm.
Unhaus: *groans* …I…I don't…believe it…! He's just as…strong…as last time…!
Baye: "Last time"? You mean, you fought him before?
Unhaus: …Yeah…
Eve: Please hang in there, Unhaus!
Tanner looked up to see Gideon's hideous scowl and blood-red eyes peering at him, which gave him an idea.
Tanner: …Since you came from up, we'll have to bring him down!
Baye: How?
Tanner: …A Solar Beam attack.
Maga: A Solar Beam attack? At this time of night? You do know that Solar Beam's power is cut in half at night, right?
Tanner: I know…But, perhaps one of you knows it?
Maga: …I do. Are you suggesting that combining the powers might be able to defeat him?
Tanner: Yeah.
Maga: Then it'll take our strength to gather up that energy.
The two of them stood together and began to gather up energy in the form of yellow sparkles, although at a slower pace. For Tanner, his body was uh…already yellow, which brightened up more to collect energy, whilst for Maga, the large pink azalea around his neck was glowing a bright yellow.
Charles: Whoa…! So that's a Solar Beam!
Happy: They're putting on a light show?
Charles: …You…could call it that…
From above, Gideon was watching the light show taking place until a blue energy-shaped horn was fired in his direction, dodging it as he noticed it came from Norman, whose…"horns" were glowing blue and seemed to have a dead serious look on his face. Unfortunately, Gideon looked back with a serious one of his own as Norman flapped in place.
Gideon: …Pfft. You're trying to take me on? ME?! You can't hit me on your worst day!
When Norman responded, his tone was as serious as his demeanor.
Norman: I may not be as accurate with my attacks, but I'm going to fight for those I held dear as good friends! The friends you brought down!
Gideon: Do your worst!
Norman charged his horn as he flew towards Gideon, firing a blue, energy shaped horn at him. He swiftly dodged it, with Norman firing more blasts his way. With his speed, Gideon managed to get close to Norman before he could fire more and struck him at every angle, and with one claw, he smacked Norman down towards the island. Unhaus, who was patched up in bandages on his body and leg, was the only one who saw his descent towards the island.
Unhaus: Mr. Norman's falling!
Maga: We can't help!
Tanner: We're occupied for the moment!
Chibi: I'll do it, sweetheart! Whatever means necessary to be of help!
Baye: So will I!
Chibi and Baye stretched the orange vines from their necks and managed to grab Norman before he could hit the ground. They set him down gently on the grass, with the chief and his family coming to his aid. Norman was bleeding from his beak, but otherwise seemed just fine to everyone.
Naidu: …How are you, my friend?
Norman: I could be worse…I'm not a fighter as much as I am a tactician behind the scenes…
Gideon could only look down as he focused his attention towards Maga and Tanner, who were charging up power for their double Solar Beam.
Gideon: (...They're stupid…Charging a Solar Beam attack at night…In that case…)
He pointed his pincers towards the island, charging an orange orb that collected energy at a somewhat faster rate.
Gideon: *chuckles, laughs loudly* With this, every single one of you will die, along with that miserable island!
Samantha noticed the energy being charged from Gideon, which made her eyes widened in shock.
Samantha: Hey! You have to hurry! That vampire freak's charging up a more powerful Hyper Beam attack that'll destroy this island!
Baye: What?!
The others looked up as well, fearing the worst.
Tanner: (...Dammit…! We're only halfway there in gathering up energy, and we can't reflect that attack back in time…!)
Maga: …I didn't imagine him going to such a risk…!
Naidu: Don't forget our Light Screen Shield.
Norman: …Unfortunately, most of our aerial forces that strengthened the shield are down for the moment, which means he'll have enough to blast through it and us!
Unhaus: …You've gotta be kidding me…! And I don't wanna deal with him either…Not like last time…!
Naidu: …Even if we got the Delphox around here to help with it, they can only manage it for a short period of time…! Unless…
Naidu took a stance as he closed his eyes to concentrate on something, raising his ghastly nine tails in the air. His family recognized his stance, including Norman himself, which shocked and worried them to no end.
Norman: Naidu! Don't do it! It's not worth it!
Nino: Father!
Venna: Daddy! Don't do it!
Everyone else was confused about the stance, which prompted them to ask about it.
Unhaus: …What's he doing?
Norman: Naidu! Stop it before you'll lose your soul, or more importantly, your life!
Unhaus: (...Is he…sacrificing himself for us…?)
Naidu: …I wish…I can…But I'd like to help out…even if it's only for a little bit…
Venna: Daddy, please! Don't do it!
Green energy began swirling around him, but as he looked back at his family, the energy dissipated as his nine tails fell flat. His family had breathed a sigh of relief that they could still see him again.
Naidu: …You guys don't want me to disappear, do you?
Norman: Of course not. It would be a tragic end to our residents without a village chief.
Naidu looked around to his village Pokemon, noticing the worry behind their eyes, which gave him second thoughts.
Naidu: …In that case, I'm sorry I've worried you all.
Unhaus: Uh, guys?
Unhaus noticed that the orange orbs Gideon was charging were bigger and actually ready.
Unhaus: I don't think we have much time! He's going to fire!
Norman: No!
Tanner: (...We're…almost there…! Any…second now…!)
Gideon: *laughs loudly* Goodbye, you pieces of trash!
The orbs from his pincers fired into a large orange beam headed towards the island. It freaked out the villagers of the oncoming doom.
Unhaus: He's fired the beam! How much longer will it take?!
Tanner and Maga kept collecting energy until they felt a surge of power, signaling their readiness.
Tanner: …It's ready! Mr. Maga, ready?!
Maga: Whenever you are!
Maga stood and pointed his head as he opened his mouth, whilst Tanner placed out his palms towards the skies and fired yellow colored beams, able to meet the Hyper Beam head-on to create a beam struggle. However, both Tanner and Maga struggled to push it back.
Gideon: *laughs* Even with the two of you combined, the move is just as useless!
He could feel victory within his grasp as the beam pushed the Solar Beams back even more. But that didn't stop the duo from trying harder.
Tanner: *grunts* …I…I…I won't…give up…! Even if…I have to use all of my energy…for it…! Mr. Maga…! We have to…push haaaaardeeeeeer…!
As the beam was almost about to hit them, they managed to salvage their own energy into it, allowing them to push back, which surprised Gideon as theirs were suddenly overpowering his. Slowly, the power was shifting in their balance. When the beam reached Gideon, he realized he was seeing the impossible.
Gideon: …This is impossible…! Their Solar Beams shouldn't be able to overpower my powerful Hyper Beam…!
The beams managed to cancel out his, engulfing him in the full force of it as it exploded, causing him to scream in pain. Smoke brewed in the air from its impact, earning a win from the village. Both Tanner and Maga were exhausted as they used their energy to do it, collapsing to the ground as they needed to rest.
Baye: They did it! They defeated him!
However, not everyone shared the enthusiasm as Naidu and Norman were the only ones who didn't seem to be cheerful from the situation.
Naidu: …Not really.
Norman: …It worked, but…
As the smoke cleared, Gideon was still in the air, although his cloak was now tattered and appeared to be shielding himself. He also wasn't in a pleasant mood as if the smoke was revealing his…dark side. To the village, it came as a shock that he was still there.
Tanner: …W…What…?!
Maga: …I knew it…I knew he'd…survive it…
Unhaus: …We're as…good as dead…!
Samantha: His cloak's only torn!
Gideon: ...Congratulations…You managed to tear away the very thing I wore. Not that it concerns me, but a fruitless attempt, nonetheless. And judging by how exhausted you two are, you won't be able to fire another one in the meantime. For that…I'm going to enjoy sucking the life out of you…
He swooped down at incredible speed with his eyes glowing red, preparing his fangs as he headed towards Tanner, biting down on his thick, viney back. It caused him to scream in pain as everyone else rushed to his aid but he then headed towards Maga, biting him on his neck, drawing blood from him as he screamed. As everyone else ran towards him for assistance, Gideon flew back in the air, licking his lips in delight. He even looked better as if he was healed from it.
Gideon: *slurps, chuckles* …Ah, I love it when I get to taste blood every now and then. But not as interesting as my wine…
Down at the village, Tanner and Maga were now out of commission as they were completely low on energy.
Norman: …This is no good…He's gotten too dangerous!
Unhaus: And it looked like he was healed! Tanner and Mr. Maga are unable to fight now since they used up almost all their energy!
Charles: W-What's going to happen to us…?!
Happy: Can't we fly up there towards him? Hey, Charles! Let's do that thing again!
Norman: What "thing"?
Charles: We uh…spin like a tornado combining our types and shoot upwards. Unfortunately Happy…we're not going to be able to damage him with that, as he looks like he could counter us…
Happy: Aww…
From above, Gideon decided to give the village a present that was special from him.
Gideon: …Allow me to repay you with a move only scorpion Pokemon can know.
He then opened his arms, circling purple energy around them until they coated his body, causing him to shine in a purple-like aura and then the aura moved towards his tail. It alerted Norman as he could see what he was doing from the light.
Norman: …It appears that he's preparing another move!
Unhaus: …I hope it's not another Hyper Beam…None of us can learn Solar Beam, and because of the night, it would be nigh impossible to gather that much energy in such a short time…
Gideon began to position himself as his body pointed down at the island and his shining tail raised past his head as if it was pointing with the two "teeth". For the attack, he shouted…
Gideon: SCORPION RAAAAAAAAY!
He unleashed a purple ray of light, which traveled much faster than his earlier Hyper Beam. Unhaus, being the first to see it, worried about its descent.
Unhaus: This is not good! Whatever he used, it's coming at a faster rate!
Norman: …I'll try to stop this one!
His horns glowed blue, and fired a blue-shaped energy of it at the ray, which destroyed the attack. It didn't shock Gideon as he came back down to the village, hoping to deal some more damage and some crucial blows.
Unhaus: He's coming back down again!
He landed on his tail, but not with a smile on his face as he had something else in mind. Much, much darker in mind…
Gideon: …Alright, I've enjoyed what I've done for now. I could blow this place up if I want to, but standing in the air is quite boring. I've drained the energy from your two "Solar Associates", so they're quite useless. However…
He then looked to Happy and Charles, which piqued his interest.
Gideon: …Those two children over there…I could've put them out of their misery earlier, but you know what happened. I've heard something interesting about them, which intrigues me…
Chibi: Y-You'd better not lay a hand or um…"pincer" on those adorable children, or else!
Gideon: …"Or else" what, little dinosaur?
Chibi quivered a bit as she looked into his blood-red eyes, seeing a killer from within it, but so long as her daughter and the children she knew were around, she didn't back down a bit. Some of the village Fox Pokemon were preparing attacks of their own in case things went south, but the chief himself spoke up on their behalf.
Naidu: …Let them fight. I believe they're stronger than they look.
Chibi: What?! No! They're just-
Baye, who was beside her mother, supported the chief's words based on her experiences.
Baye: …Mom, let them. I've seen them fight. They're really strong.
Chibi: But, sweetie…
Baye: *smiles* Everything's going to be okay, as long as those two are around.
Chibi's eyes wavered a bit as she looked towards Happy and Charles until she had to close them, trying to convince herself that they could do it.
Chibi: …Alright. But if that creepy brute does something to them, I'm going to make him regret doing something so cruel to them.
Gideon's face was unamused as he was listening to the entire thing.
Gideon: ...Uh, hello? "Elephant" in the room?
Chibi: You get the point.
Gideon: …Whatever.
Happy and Charles stepped up towards Gideon with serious faces as the villagers moved back, giving them room. Gideon's mouth curled into a smile as they were in front of him, knowing he'll get some pleasure out of them. They took on fighting stances as they looked at the tall monster before them.
Charles: Don't be fooled by us just cause we're a couple of kids!
Happy: Yeah! We're going to kick your butt!
Gideon: *chuckles* …I wonder how strong you kids really are…There's nothing more satisfying than listening to the sounds of disappointment from an audience… *chuckles*
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