Chapter 58: Gideon's Last Stand
At the Fox Village, it was under the attack of Gideon and his forces. However, after his forces were taken down, Gideon launched a full assault on the entire village. Thanks to Tanner and Maga, they managed to cancel his Hyper Beam attack with Solar Beam, but at the cost of their own energy. However, Gideon survived the ordeal and took down Tanner and Maga, leaving only the two children to take him down…
Charles: Oh, yeah? You're not scary to us!
Happy: Yeah! You're just some brown monster!
Gideon: *grins* …A brown monster? I'm not even offended.
Unhaus: Happy! Charles! Be careful! He's capable of-
Before Unhaus could finish, Gideon pointed a pincer in his direction and opened it, firing a small poisonous needle that he ducked. He could tell that Gideon was not amused due to the annoyed frown he sported towards him. Gideon then turned his attention back to the children, returning that slick grin once again.
Gideon: …Now, where were we?
Happy: Kicking your butt!
Gideon: Right. That. *chuckles* Good luck.
Samantha: Kick his ass, you two! Make him wish he didn't mess with the wrong one!
Gideon then noticed Samantha, which confused him by her color.
Gideon: (...A Skitty with that color is very rare…Aren't they from the Royal Regalian Society…?)
He shrugged off that thought for now and kept his eyes on the children, which if anything else, would be more delightful than…hearing or seeing a certain…"bird". He took on a stance where one pincer was forward while the other one was pointing somewhat to the side. Everyone else could do nothing but stand by and watch whilst worrying if the children would be okay from this fight.
To start off, Gideon flew forward at a quicker pace, to which Charles was noticing where he was, which was to Happy's left.
Charles: Happy! Your left!
Happy dodged to the right in time as Gideon's pincer swipe missed him, somewhat shocking him.
Gideon: (...They saw me…? They'd better be what I've heard…)
This didn't stop him as he took a few more swipes at Happy, who ducked and weaved with Charles coming in with a punch from behind, only for Gideon to swat him away. In a quick second, Happy delivered a kick to his stomach, pushing him back a bit. Despite Happy's small size, it shocked Gideon from the impact of his kick as he could feel pain in his abdomen, placing a pincer there to try and ease the pain.
Gideon: (...What the hell is this…? That bird couldn't do much damage to me, yet a child managed to actually give me some pain…!)
Gideon still kept a grin, hiding the pain he felt and to get a better reading of the situation, he spun himself around on his tail, spraying sand from his claws that eventually billowed into a tall wall of swirling sand, stopping the children's assault on him.
Naidu: It appears he's using Sand Tomb to create a defensive wall around himself. It's not going to be possible for them to hit him.
Happy: Charles, what are we going to do?!
Charles: I…think I have an idea.
Happy: Huh?
Charles began to dig at the ground slowly with his claws, which gave him an idea as the soil was easy to bury into. He dug faster and faster until he was now underground, shocking the village by a new move.
Unhaus: He's…burying underground!
Samantha: Alright! He's digging!
Gideon overheard the conversation despite the noise of the swirling sandy wall, which caused him to dig under as well. Unfortunately for Charles, Gideon was faster as he also could smell him out, leading him in his direction. From under, he caught Charles by surprise and knocked him upwards, opening a hole in the ground with Gideon following right after in the air, shocking everyone in the village.
Happy: Charles!
Samantha: I'm going to bring him down!
She began to wiggle her tail, which formed small black energy spheres that conjoined together to create a large black orb and as she looked up, she chucked it with her tail towards Gideon. The black ball moved erratically in a circular motion, which Gideon noticed without even taking his eyes off Charles, inching ever so closer to him. However, the ball went past him, which made him roll his eyes at first until it made a surprising drop and struck him on his right wing, knocking him out of the sky.
Samantha: Yes!
She danced around a bit as Charles came down just as fast as he flailed his arms and legs whilst screaming, stopping her "victory".
Samantha: …Oops.
Chibi: *gasps* Oh no! Someone catch the precious dear!
Happy: Charles!
Happy rushed to his aid, catching him in his arms. As for Gideon, he used the only good wing he had to land safely, realizing that he couldn't fly anymore. His cloak was even more tattered than before, although the emblem was still intact as he examined it and his wing.
Gideon: (...Dammit…! My good wing is damaged…! That damned cat is to blame…!)
He tossed off the cloak, no longer using it for battle. Without warning, he spat a ball of mud at Samantha, who jumped away and in a fit of anger, she responded…
Samantha: Hey, you son of a jerk! What did I do to you?!
…Whilst Gideon's response back as he glared at her was…
Gideon: …I don't even know you, yet you're pissing me off.
Gideon turned his attention back to the children, placing a pincer in the ground. The ground began to shake as the area under Happy and Charles's feet buckled by themselves, sending a blast that knocked them in the air.
Baye: Happy! Charles!
Gideon decided to take an opportunity and pointed his tail at them, charging with a similar purple aura that went from his body to his tail and fired a purple ray, only for it to be blocked by a green ball of energy. It shocked Gideon until he realized who it was, which was Tanner breathing heavily with arms stretched out.
Gideon: Impossible!
Tanner: *pants* …I'm…I'm not…out yet…
As Happy and Charles landed on their feet with some visible signs of dirt on their bodies, everyone else was relieved, but more likely wondering why Tanner was still up and running despite being low on energy.
Chibi: I don't…believe it…! But how is he still standing?
Norman: *grins* …Regenerator. It's surprising to see someone with that ability around these parts.
Chibi: That's nice to hear…Unfortunately, my dear husband isn't any of that at all…
She looked towards her husband, who was patched up and still unconscious. Gideon still heard everything they said, which made him realize what it was.
Gideon: (...So that's why…!)
Happy: Hey, Charles…What type do you think he is?
Charles: I dunno. Ground, maybe?
Happy: Oh. Is that uh…good?
Charles: For you, but for me it's not much of an advantage. Try a Water Gun attack on him.
Happy: *nods* Alright!
He inhaled, then exhaled a stream of water at Gideon, who dug underground before it could hit. It forced Happy to stop, with Charles coming up with an idea.
Charles: Hey, Happy…if he's underground, then that means he'll try to ambush one of us.
Happy: So…
Charles: Maybe if he was to come up…we could ambush him with a surprise attack. I'll lure him out, and when he comes out, you'll use that Water Gun attack on him.
Happy: Okay!
Charles: Hey, Mr. Gideon! I'm right here! Why not attack me?
However, Gideon resurfaced at the same spot from before, confusing the children.
Gideon: …Do you think I'd stoop that low into a trap? You may be children, but I ain't going to cave into your "demands". It's a clever plan, mind you, but I'm way smarter than that.
Charles: *growls* Darn! *mumbles* …There's gotta be a way to hit him…
Gideon: …You do realize I can hear every word you say, even under your breath?
Charles: W-What?! How?!
Gideon: …Nothing.
Happy: Charles, how are we going to beat him?
Gideon: …No comment.
Charles: I dunno, but considering how he can listen to us, there's no plan!
Happy: Hmm…
He pondered for a moment until he realized what he could do.
Happy: I know!
He inhaled, then spat out a stream of bubbles of varying sizes, except it was different, shocking both himself and Charles as it was forcefully ejected with a beam-like stream and was also quicker. It even shocked Gideon as the bubbles circled around him, forcing him to use his arms to shield himself. He thought about digging underground, but realized that the bubbles were itching closer to him, knowing that if he dug now, it would pop and leave him open to an attack.
Two bubbles that followed the beam towards him struck him, not doing any damage whatsoever, but he was aware that Charles was somewhere else, but not where he thought he was. He also realized that the bubbles were a distraction, and decided to create a stream of sand from his pincers, destroying the bubbles as he made another sandy wall. But his main concern was where Charles was…
Gideon: (...Dammit…! That was unexpected…! It appears that the red lizard used those bubbles to hide himself…! But, where…?)
He then remembered what Charles did earlier, which was digging underground, causing him to look down.
Gideon: *grins* (...So you're trying to damage me from below…In that case, it won't work…! I have the-)
Before Gideon could throw a pincer under his feet, some embers shot up from the ground, not doing much damage to him as he shielded himself, but when Charles surfaced, it was too late for him to counter as Charles wasn't targeting his face specifically, but rather his tail as Charles's tail coated into iron and slammed it, knocking Gideon off his tail to break his guard.
For a direct hit, Charles slammed his iron coated tail into Gideon's face, knocking him out of the sandy wall and into the air for a few seconds until he used one wing to slow his descent, landing on his actual feet, which was unusual for him. Unfortunately, he felt his face stinging painfully unlike anything he ever felt before, shocking him by their strength alone and wondering about the rumors.
Gideon: (...I don't believe this…! They weren't lying at all about how strong those kids are…! That Iron Tail he used on me managed to sting my solid skin…!)
The sandy wall disappeared into thin air as he had to figure out a way to get the upper hand against them. He began to cross his arms again, only for an attack that he was about to use. His body emitted a mix of black and red aura, which seemed familiar to some of the others as this wasn't the first time seeing something like that.
Unhaus: …Huh…? It appears that he's using Dark Pulse! Happy! Charles! Look out!
Underneath his arm-crossing, he was grinning as he was ready and flexed them outwards, unleashing a dark ring that inverted what could be seen in it. Happy and Charles jumped out of the way, only for Gideon to point his pincer straight at Happy, firing a single dark ring at him, knocking him away a few feet.
Charles: HAPPY!
He ran after Happy, only for Gideon to fire another at him, knocking him away as well. Everyone else was forced to sit by and watch, knowing that they couldn't help. It especially worried Chibi as she didn't like seeing children in pain. As Happy and Charles got back up, Gideon stood still for a moment before pointing a pincer at Charles, firing a poisonous needle at him that was unavoidable. It struck Charles in his right leg, which forced Chibi to come running to his aid, shouting…
Chibi: CHAAAARLES!
However, Gideon spat a poisonous ball in her direction, stopping her in her tracks.
Gideon: *grins* …I thought this was between me and the children. Being the "babysitter" doesn't suit my role, but if it's to make them go to the depths of hell, then it shall be.
Happy: Charles, are you okay?!
Charles struggled to get back up, realizing that the needle in his right leg drew blood from it. He also felt his body going numb as the poison was kicking in.
Charles: *groans* …I'm alright…But I think I'm poisoned…We have to…finish this…!
Chibi: You don't have to continue!
Tanner: …No…Let them…They've got…something planned…I just…know it…
Happy didn't understand what Charles meant at first until he noticed that Charles's expression became pale, knowing this was a bad sign of something worse to come…
Gideon: *laughs loudly* Your friend's going to succumb to the poison eventually! There's nothing you can do!
In a fit of anger, Happy's mouth bore a scowl, both worrying about Charles's health and taking down Gideon. However, Charles decided to continue despite his condition.
Gideon: …Aw, don't look so angry. It's unbecoming of you to be that way. At least if I make the two of you succumb to the poison together, I'll feast on your blood as well… *chuckles, slurps*
He pointed a pincer at Happy and fired another poisonous needle, this time in his left leg. Happy could already feel the poison kicking in, but he decided to tough it out, knowing that defeating Gideon was more important. The sight of this made Chibi cry, who was being comforted by her daughter Baye. It also made the others feel tense until Norman's horns glowed blue, which formed a similar aura around Gideon.
Gideon felt as if he couldn't move, and he began glaring at Norman, only to feel more pressure as other village Pokemon joined in with glowing blue eyes and such.
Gideon: Gnkk…! You…You insufferable meatpiles…! *grunts* …Fools! This isn't enough…to stop me…!
His body began emitting a red and black aura once again, but more likely on himself as he was attempting to break free from the villagers' Psychic control.
Norman: No…! *grunts* H…He's trying to break…from our control using Dark Pulse…!
Naidu: *grunts* ...Happy…Charles…My little friends…If you have something to defeat Gideon with…then go for it…!
Norman: …Hit him with everything you've got…!
Happy and Charles looked at each other with serious faces before Happy came up with something.
Happy: …Charles…Use Iron Tail on me…
Charles: …You think that'll work?
Happy: …It will. I have a head, so go ahead. Hit me with your full strength…!
Charles: *smiles* …Alright…!
Happy struggled to walk a bit as he withdrew into his shell, with Charles right behind him. Charles's tail coated in iron and with all his might, he swung it like a sledgehammer, rocketing Happy into the air towards Gideon.
Gideon: …What? They're still moving…?!
Not fearing anything, Happy had his head leaned forward as he came with such speed. But the villagers' Psychic control was weakening by the second, giving Gideon some movement. However, it was too late. Happy had slammed into him headfirst in his face with such force that he knocked him away into a hill, bouncing off it and landed on his back in a very weakened state. He had blood trickling down his mouth as he was gazing at the night sky's waning moon, somewhat somber about it.
Everyone else rushed to the children's aid, removing the needles that struck them as Norman and Naidu stood over the defeated Gideon, looking upon him with some disappointment in their eyes. When Gideon spoke again, his voice was filled with regret.
Gideon: …I'm in mere disbelief… *coughs* …I had everything in sight, and yet…the unthinkable happened…
Norman: …Gideon, I'm actually disappointed in you. Here I thought of you as a remarkable Admiral in your Military days, hoping that the next generation would be better…I guess I thought wrong…
Gideon: …To be honest…I miss my Military days…But…then again…I don't miss them as much now…I've lived nothing but a lie…I thought I was doing something for the world, and I wasn't…Being thrusted into wars that profit others instead of coming to peace with negotiations…My life is a sad one filled with hatred and regret…
Naidu: …How?
Gideon: …Hatred for what I was becoming, and regret for what I didn't do…The Military isn't all it's cracked up to be…They're not heroes…They like to portray themselves as that…Tch…It's a lie…Just like that war that happened some years ago…I lose a family, and then what…? The most ironic part about my defeat is that I'm glad it was children who did it…
Norman: …I don't know what kind of life you lived…But I know that there's another side of the meadows you did not see. The meadow you were looking at was a blood-stained one…Filled with corpses and such…
Gideon: …I see…I look at this moon, and it reflects my soul a bit…Half of it bitter, and the other half cheerful…Kind of like two sides of our personality…
Naidu: …So in the end…Those children were what made you at least happy…
Gideon: …I'd like for them to grow up without being corrupted…Unlike me…They have good hearts…Perhaps I should look at the sun more…
Norman: …We all could…
He looked towards the villagers and the others surrounding Happy and Charles, including Chibi who held them with orange vines whilst crying, coddling them as if they were her precious things. It brought a smile to his face, knowing where he was.
Norman: …You know what they say. It takes a village to raise a child…And a child to bring joy to it…Perhaps the next generation is going to take things further…Probably for the better…Who knows what might happen? They could probably have spirits far more powerful inside them or something…
Whilst taking Norman's comments in, Gideon began to remember his younger years as a Military soldier on the seas, quickly growing to an Admiral and commanding a ship of his own with other members of his ship respecting him. He took charge and excelled in what he did as he loved serving for what he believed in. He was even liked by the Supreme Allied General at that time.
But there were some bad moments when he began remembering a conversation he eavesdropped between another Supreme Allied General and one of the Generals about secrecy and corruption and going to war with a country on orders from the government without question, which angered him and forced him to leave. He even witnessed firsthand a country devastated by its effects as Pokemon, innocent or soldiers, were killed. He felt like he was living in a lie.
Looking back at it now, he knew he was a victim of corruption. But looking at Happy and Charles gave him a little hope in the future…
Gideon: *smiles* …I leave it in their hands…Maybe they'll make something of this world...Let's see what tomorrow brings…
...
From high above the island, a flying cloaked Pokemon appeared to be looking for Gideon as it spotted him down in defeat, chiming into headquarters to report on what he was witnessing…or maybe more…
?: …Number 445 here. It appears that Commander Chocolate has been defeated.
?: What?! How?!
445: I'm not too sure about that. I also tried contacting Major Hamm, but I received no response from him. He's probably defeated as well.
?: Dammit! What about Corporal Kiwi?!
445: Apparently defeated as well. He said it was the work of children that did it.
?: …Oh no…What has our organization come to? "Child's play"?
445: …Not really. Another report has come recently. It seems that our forces in the world are weakening due to the pushback from the public. Also, the kingdoms and countries are secretly setting back their reigns once again…
?: No…No…! NOOOOOOOOOO!
445: B-Brigadier Chan-
Chan Way: This is a disaster! We're really screwed now! How is this possible?!
445: …Perhaps the World Government is behind this…
Chan Way: *groans* …We're doomed…We are really doomed… *sighs* …But thanks for the reports, Number 445…
445: You're welcome.
The cloaked Pokemon hung up, but with some concern in mind for the Brigadier's sanity…
445: (...We're going to lose what freedom we tried to establish…I wonder how the Senior Head is feeling right now…)
...