The battle has ended, and while Shima and Shinobu may have called it quits and surrendered, it's clear that they're far from beaten. They both have many powerful pokemon at their disposal, as that Farfetch'd proved. What will Dokukage do now? Is there any way he can convince the two of them to come back with him? Or is he just not strong enough to make a difference?
KedharS: Rafe definitely has a unique style of battling, no arguments there.
Hyphenman: Yes, Rafe is very strong. Of course, that's only when he wants to be, too often he and his pokemon will just do whatever.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 1096
Dokukage couldn't understand what he had just seen. Shima, a trainer he'd known since he was a little kid, a master of the Bug type just like he was, had used a Flying type pokemon to take down Rafe's Swoobat. And that was no weak Swoobat, either, Formalin was demonstrably a powerhouse that had torn through some of Shinobu and Shima's best pokemon.
And a single attack had been all it had taken.
What sort of trainer WAS Shima, that he could use pokemon of that level so easily, with such skill? It wasn't like anything he'd seen before. And he barely HAD seen it- the Farfetch'd had moved so fast that Dokukage doubted he'd have been able to follow him if not for his training as a shinobi. A masterful display of technique.
Shima recalled his Farfetch'd without so much as a flourish. Rafe said nothing, just returning Formalin to his pokeball as well. They'd lost the battle, that was for sure.
Callie was still fumbling for answers. She knew how powerful her brother was, and couldn't imagine one of his pokemon going down so effortlessly. If this guy Shima could do something like that, why was he even leaving in the first place? She wasn't sure if ANY of her pokemon would have a chance against that bird!
Callie wasn't the only one wondering why they were leaving. Shinobu had her doubts as well, though she didn't express them. Instead she stood loyally at Shima's side, waiting for him to explain himself. That was what he wished of her, after all, and so she changed herself to suit his needs.
Finally, Dokukage found his voice.
"Shima, what the hell is this?!" He exclaimed. He'd been keeping his own thoughts and feelings to himself all this time, playing at the perfect shinobi. But it all came tumbling out. He didn't understand what Shima was doing, using a pokemon like that. "That's a Flying type pokemon, you know! Not a Bug type! Why would you use that?!"
Shima turned slowly to Dokukage, wearing a serene smile on his face.
"Dokukage… you're far too naïve," he calmly replied. "I left the village already. Did you honestly believe I would continue to hold to those stuffy, ancient traditions? Using Bug type pokemon… I've moved past that antiquated style of pokemon battles."
Shima took a deep breath and stared up at the sky. "The reason I left the village… you know that perfectly well, don't you?"
Rafe blinked. "Because Orochimaru promised you power?"
Callie smacked her face in frustration and Dokukage cringed internally. Shima's face took on a sour look, and he ignored the blonde.
"The reason I left… was to explore the world beyond that village. That bright, blue sky… what lay beneath it?" Shima mused. "I wanted to discover that so badly. I had a wanderlust that just couldn't be contained in that village, and needed to see it met. So I left. I tossed aside my faith in that place, and just focus on doing whatever I want to do."
"And what you want to do is train Flying types?" Dokukage asked, raising his eyebrow.
"Yes," Shima nodded. "Flying type pokemon are the purest form of freedom. Soaring far and wide beneath the sky, and most of all, they're they type that work best with other pokemon. Did you know, Dokukage? There is a Flying type pokemon of every type. That's how diverse they are. For someone who wishes to explore what pokemon are capable of… who wants to see new experiences… training Flying type pokemon is the logical conclusion."
Dokukage frowned. He still didn't understand.
Shima turned to Callie. "What you said before… about how your Infernape wasn't a Fire type pokemon who was part Fighting type, but a Fighting type pokemon that was part Fire type… that spoke to me. My pokemon, they aren't Bug type pokemon with the Flying type. At their heart, they are Flying type pokemon who happen to be Bug type. That's the class of pokemon I've embraced, and the type of trainer I wish to be, as the Pillar of Flying."
Rafe narrowed his eyes. "Pillar of Flying?" He asked suspiciously.
Shima blinked, a little surprised. Shinobu grabbed his arm. "Shima," she sternly reminded him, "we aren't supposed to mention that!"
Shima shook himself free. "Why not?" He asked. "The Children of the Oracles don't control me. I do as I please, Shinobu, isn't that what we believe in?"
He shook his head. "The reason I'm telling them this is because they seem like intelligent, skilled trainers. We should be able to see eye to eye, at least, that's what I've always believed. Maybe if they know what our goals are, they'll see how important it is that we obtain the Oracles."
It was like a lightbulb switching on. Immediately Shinobu went from concerned and questioning to bright as could be. "Yes, of course!" She said, nodding eagerly. "By all means, Shima, do go on!" She encouraged him.
Mirar was stunned at that response. This woman, Shinobu… she would say something like that? Why? He was a master of reading people, and had seen a tangible shift in the woman's entire demeanor. It was definitely interesting, and it confirmed what he'd suspected from the second he laid eyes on her- she was someone like him, who changed her entire personality as easily as changing a shirt. That was curious.
Shima turned back to Dokukage, looking him in the eye. Rafe had been the one to press the issue, but it was Dokukage's opinion that Shima cared about.
"You see, Dokukage, the Children of Oracles are a group that seek to bring peace in our world," Shima explained. "We will create a new world, where we can live as we please, where everyone can get what they want. And what I want… is to live as I want. That's all."
"That's why you joined them?" Dokukage asked. "They're TERRORISTS, Shima!"
"We were ninjas," Shima shot back. "Tell me, Dokukage, what non-terrorist things have ninjas historically done?"
"Um… okay, well…" Dokukage didn't have a good response to that. Sensing his weakness, Shima pushed on.
"That's why we joined. We will be the pillars that hold up this new world, the Children of the Oracles," Shima explained. "As I told you, I'm the Pillar of Flying. And Shinobu, well… her loyalty to our old home is just a little stronger than mine, you see, which is why she became the Pillar of Bug. And together, we'll work with the others to create our new world."
Callie was already thinking about the other Children of the Oracles she'd heard of. There was one of each type? Well, that Valerie girl was pretty clearly the Pillar of Dark, and if she had to guess, Blake's sister, Gwen, was the Pillar of Psychic.
That left 14 types. She wondered what the Pillar of Fighting was like.
"You call yourselves the Children of the Oracles…" Rafe said quietly. "That's your goal then? To amass the Oracles? Why?"
"Because of the power they grant," Shima said simply. He reached into his robes and withdrew the mossy green crystal, which was giving off a dull shine. "This is the Bug Oracle. Its light, in the right hands, can enhance the strength of all Bug type pokemon in the fight," he explained. "I'm sure you recognize it well, Dokukage."
Behind his mask, Dokukage was biting his lip in fury.
"You know damn well that doesn't belong to you," he growled. "That stone is sacred to our village. They all are! All the stones you stole!"
"Wait, there are others?!" Callie gasped, shocked. "How many Oracles did your village have?!" She still wasn't quite sure what an Oracle was, but it didn't sound good. It did look familiar, though, given that Alcea had one as well. And she knew they had something to do with Kitty and Blake, but she still wasn't sure what.
"No, our village only contained the Bug Oracle," Shima said, sliding it back into his robe. "But that's fine. One Oracle is more than enough. What we had instead… were the keystones."
"Keystones?" Rafe asked, confused.
Dokukage reluctantly explained. If he didn't, then Shima would anyway. "In my village, there is a shrine," he said quietly. "Enshrined there is an altar to hold five stones. The Bug Oracle rested in the center as the village guardian, then in each of the four directions, the sacred keystones were placed. North, South, East, and West."
"The keystones represented the ways of the ninja," Shima said, taking over the explanation. "As well as embodied the Bug type pokemon the village treasured. The South keystone represented a ninja's strength, and the brute force of the stronger Bug types. So of course, it was a perfect fit for Shinobu and her Heracross. Then there's the West keystone, which represents a ninja's cunning, and the Bug type pokemon who rely on poisons to wear down their adversaries. And of course, my own personal favorite, the North keystone, which represents a ninja's speed, and the Bug type pokemon who soar above the clouds."
"You stole them," Dokukage glared. "Along with the Bug Oracle."
Shima shrugged. He didn't bother denying it. "There was a story. That the keystones weren't just symbolic, but contained a power in and of themselves. I've never seen anything that would suggest that, though. But you never know."
"And that's a reason to take them?! Some rumor?!" Dokukage erupted with rage.
Shima shrugged again. It wasn't a very big deal to him, anyway. "You managed to get the last one back, though."
"Which one was that?" Callie asked curiously.
"The East keystone," Dokukage replied icily. "Representing the endurance of ninjas, and the Bug type pokemon that rest patiently in their cocoons to grow."
"That's right, you managed to steal it back the day we left," Shima said. "Where is it now? Do you still carry it with you everywhere you go?"
Dokukage narrowed his eyes. "No, in fact," he replied. "I left it with someone… a trainer who could benefit more from its protection than I."
Shime listened quietly to Dokukage's words. "I see. So can I take it that means you won't be joining Shinobu and I?"
"That's right," Dokukage nodded.
Shima turned to Rafe and Callie. "And that goes for the rest of you as well?"
"I-I know that what you're saying sounds good," Callie admitted. Creating a world of peace where everyone could just do what they wanted, it was tempting. "But see… I became the trainer I am because I work hard. I try my best, even when I'm at a disadvantage. I'm short… and I'm not that pretty. But I worked hard and trained my body to be able to fight as well as anyone! And because of that, I have friends, rivals, people I care about…"
She glanced over to her brother.
"And yeah, it's hard sometimes… a lot of times, honestly, but… I don't think that what you're describing would be worth it. It sounds like I'd be taking the easy way to getting what I want, and that… that's never been my thing."
"What about the people who try hard, but don't succeed?" Shima asked, raising his eyebrow. "Those who struggle fruitlessly? Don't you see how good this would be for the people who aren't like you, who can't progress under their own merits?"
Callie baulked. She didn't really have a good answer to that.
"I understand what you're saying," Rafe said, offering a friendly smile. "A world where we could do whatever we wished, without worrying… I can't say I'm not tempted by it." He looked back at Callie, who shifted uncomfortably on her feet. "I'm not like my hardworking little sister, you see, I'd much prefer to take things easy."
Shima nodded in agreement, but he stopped when Rafe turned back to him, with a stony look on his face.
"But see… I can't say I agree with your methods very much," Rafe added. "You go around taking things that are important to others, things that don't belong to you, and try to use force in order to impress your ideals on other people, isn't that right? So tell me, this freedom you're after, is it the freedom to do whatever you want? Or the freedom to force other people to do whatever you want?"
Shinobu could feel the anger from Shima, and was enraged in turn. "How dare you?!" She demanded. "You don't understand anyth-!"
Shima raised his hand to stop her. She was shocked. Knowing what she knew, he was even more upset about this than she was, so why…?
"I understand what you're saying," Shima admitted quietly. "And yes, maybe if our positions are reversed, I would even think the same. But this goal of ours… this is right. And I hope someday, you'll come around to see that. But I won't force you."
Dokukage couldn't believe his ears. Shima wasn't going to force them? He'd come here in ORDER to force them to give up the Oracle, this was nothing but hypocrisy! …But that was just it, his old friend couldn't see it that way. And if he couldn't see reason…
Dokukage took a deep breath and exhaled. He'd made up his mind. He was going to stop Shima and Shinobu here and now. Reclaim the Oracle and the keystones and take them back to his village. His fingers danced lightly over the pokeballs on his belt like a gunslinger preparing for a duel.
But Shima didn't seem bothered by the potential challenge. He almost looked like he was expecting it. And that was enough to give Dokukage pause.
"You saw what my pokemon are capable of," Shima said calmly. "Even if the three of you came at me together… even if I didn't have Shinobu here with me… do you honestly think even then that you would have a chance of victory?"
Dokukage wanted to say yes. He wanted to believe that he would have a chance, that they could actually win.
But at his nature, he was still that cautious boy from his youth. He was still a boy who didn't have the strength to risk a losing fight. And even if, by some miracle, they did win, what would happen then? They would have exhausted their pokemon, when they needed every hand on deck for the coming battle with Samarra.
There was no winning here. There was just staving off defeat, through raw stubbornness. And acknowledging that stung. But it was only rational. He lowered his hand and hung his head in resignation.
Shima sighed, shaking his head. "That's what I thought," he said, turning to Shinobu. He gave one last look towards Callie and Rafe. "Well, this has been fun," he murmured. "But we really must be going. Protect that Oracle well; I promise the next Pillars that try to take it from you won't be as generous as we are."
With that, he turned and headed down the road leading out of the village. But Dokukage wasn't about to let it end like this.
"SHIMA!" He roared.
Shima turned back to him one last time, curious.
"You said… that you had changed. That you'd thrown aside your past convictions," Dokukage said. "You aren't a Bug type trainer anymore, you're a Flying type trainer."
"That's right," Shima nodded.
"If that's the case… then why are you still using your Pinsir?" Dokukage asked. "That pokemon isn't a Flying type. All Kalito should be is a reminder of the past, the same past you want to throw away. And yet you're still training him like all your other pokemon. That seems rather questionable, if you ask me, old friend."
A rueful smile crossed Shima's lips. He shook his head.
"Dokukage… you couldn't understand. Maybe I don't even understand," he admitted. "Kalito may not be a Flying type, you're right, but… I just can't seem to give him up. Our bond is just that strong. I suppose that's just how it is."
Dokukage watched his friend depart, frowning behind his mask.
Maybe Shima doesn't understand… but I do. The reason he refuses to let go of that Pinsir… it's got to be because of that bond, it's just like he said. He doesn't want to give up his Pinsir… and if that's the case… Dokukage had to be careful about getting too optimistic.
…No, that's a dangerous thought, he cautioned himself. Just because he won't relinquish his bond with his pokemon, that doesn't mean that he's still cherishing his bond with the rest of us. If I think that way, I'll just be being naïve.
Dokukage wanted to believe that some part of his old friend still cherished that time in the village. And he hoped that the same was true for his sister, that maybe that was why she still held onto her Bug type pokemon.
But he knew that hopes like those were too good to believe in.
If I want to get through to them, I'll have to do it by force, Dokukage resolved. But he was too weak. Even with all his tricks and techniques, Shima had him beat. That Farfetch'd was powerful, perhaps even as powerful as Kalito, if not more. And that was just the first of his Flying type pokemon. Who knew what else Shima had up his sleeve?
We may have driven them off, but we lost this battle. We lost it badly, Dokukage said to himself. The only consolation he could get was the fact that they hadn't exhausted their resources for the upcoming fight with Samarra. Other than that, this was an abysmal failure.
Dokukage turned up to watch his sister and friend depart. He made a vow then and there that after this mess with Samarra was resolved, he would redouble his training, and focus on defeating them and bringing them both home.
Well, Shima and Shinobu have left, but at what cost? Callie and Rafe have lost a few pokemon, so if Samarra attacks soon, they'll be in a difficult position. But at least Dokukage still has his team to use! The bigger issue, however, is the fact that Dokukage has had his confidence shaken; even if Samarra is defeated, he isn't strong enough to do what he set out to do.
