Chapter 3: A Friend In Need
Pyre slowly sat up, yawning and stretching. Of course he immediately regretted it as his body was sore to an almost ridiculous degree. "Uuugh I hurt all over. This suuuuuuuuucks!" Pyre slowly lifted himself off the bundle of leaves he'd been sleeping on. After a brief glance around he found himself face to face with an intimidating crimson eye.
"You are the most lazy pokemon I've ever met." The deep voice of Shadow came moments later.
Pyre stepped back only just realizing he was in front of the Darkrai. "Oh cut me some slack, ya can't expect me to do more of that training, my body is sore all over I can barely stand."
"You need to train your body to the point of breaking. This pain is nothing, I can see it within you, you can push beyond this."
Pyre smirked, "Was that a compliment?"
"Don't push it."
"Hehe, ugh you really aren't gonna let me out of this?"
"No, I'm not." Shadow looked away from him. "Don't act like a newborn, look at Rai, he didn't complain at all when I told him he had to keep training."
The Darkrai pointed to the Raichu, who was just a short distance away dashing back and forth switching between doing so on two legs and all fours. His body was shaking and his fur was soaking with sweat as he kept moving. After a few more moments he began to strike the air with his limbs, swinging his tail around without losing momentum. Stepping forth with surprising speed and thrusting his fist out letting the momentum carry him forward. But as Shadow took notice, his movements, while faster, were still too rigid to be properly effective.
"But we aren't focusing on him right now." Shadow floated away. "Come along then."
Pyre reluctantly followed behind him. "Ugh, so what's next?"
"Sparring." The Darkrai turned back to face the Charmander. "For your own safety, neither one of us will use any form of special attack. I'd rather not knock you out."
"Alright then" Pyre stretched, feeling his sore muscles burning as he did so. He took a battle ready stance, taking an almost squatting position.
"You may begin when you wish." Shadow spoke softly as he sprouted two dark spindly legs.
Pyre made his move, stepping forward and throwing a clawed fist forward. He was stopped, however, as his fist collided with a thin pitch black limb. What seemed to pass for a foot based on the rest of the dark appendage extended from the Darkrai.
Shadow pushed Pyre's fist to the ground, pulling the Charmander down with it, off balancing the fire type. And once Pyre hit the ground he felt the small tendril-like limb strike him in his chin. He flopped onto his back.
"Stand up."
"Give me a break I can barely stand as it is!" Pyre groaned as he slowly stood up.
"Perhaps I need to find a way to properly motivate you." Shadow thought for a moment. "I suppose tough love will have to do."
"What do you.." before Pyre could finish his sentence he felt himself getting hit hard in the stomach. Shadow had kicked him again, knocking him backwards into a tree.
Not giving him a chance to recover Shadow flew forth coming to a stop mere inches from his face and pinning him to the tree. "To clarify, I'm going to beat you down each time we spar, each time we spar will be to see your progress. You've made none. Where Rai has already improved greatly." Shadow pulled him from the tree and threw him to the ground hard enough that Pyre's body practically bounced up. The Darkrai quickly slammed his foot down on the fire type's stomach slamming him to the ground and pinning him there. "I can see the potential in you. You're too weak. I don't see why you bothered to ask me to teach you if you weren't going to take it seriously." Shadow let him up and began floating away. "We're done with this, you can resume your normal training now."
"No!" Pyre stood up. "I'm not weak!" The Charmander rushed forward punching Shadow in the back surprisingly causing the Darkrai to stumble forward. Shadow turned on what would've been his heels and slammed Pyre's head down with a heel kick.
"Are you finally going to start taking this seriously then?"
"Yeah!"
Shadow began to lift his leg back up, quickly swinging it back down. Pyre suddenly filled with determination, flipped onto his back and held his arms over his face blocking the strike just enough to prevent him from taking another blow to the head. "Then get up, as I said we're resuming your normal training."
Pyre stood up once more. "Alright, then what am I doing next and why?"
"First of all, this," Shadow grabbed a rather large rock and pressed it to Pyre's back. "Something I have found is that if your body is to grow stronger it should be pushed, so carry this rock for the rest of the day." Pyre began to open his mouth, but Shadow silenced him as the rock began to glow. "You needn't actually carry it. I've used Psychic to bind it to you in a way. It won't fall until I let it, however, gravity is still in play." With his last word he released the stone and It pulled Pyre to the ground. "As for what else you'll be doing, practicing the motions I suggested to you yesterday. Punching, using your momentum to make your attacks stronger. And obviously strengthening your muscles any way you can. You can try sparring with me again if you can knock that tree down." Shadow pointed at the tree he'd pinned Pyre to minutes prior, which the fire type only just noticed had a comically Charmander shaped crater in the trunk. Without another word he floated over toward Rai.
Pyre however stepped up to the tree punching it several times. "Ugh this is going to take forever!" He struck the tree again. And again. And again. He stopped for a moment. 'I should build up my physical strength first, maybe my muscles.' He looked up at the tree and noticed a rather sturdy looking branch. And he had an idea. Gently stabbing his claws into the tree he began to pull himself up slowly, the added weight of the rock making it much harder to do. And after a short struggle he fell from the tree, not even making it half way up. But he wasn't going to give up yet.
And this he tried again slowly pulling himself up the tree, making less progress than his first attempt. He felt himself panting heavily as he tried for a third time just barely passing his initial attempt, but still not making it even halfway up the tree.
*Hours Later*
Pyre hit the ground hard, despite hours of pushing himself, he barely made any progress, just barely pulling himself up a third of the tree. "Chaarrrr…" he was left panting heavily, barely able to breathe let alone stand, but after a moment he managed it. But he felt himself slump forward against the tree.
"Both of you worked incredibly hard today. So don't push yourself farther," Pyre felt himself lifted into the air, floating up beside Rai. "Rest, you'll need it for tomorrow."
The Charmander felt his eyes shut almost against his will.
*Several Days Later*
"Chaaaaarrr!" The Charmander cried out as he finally managed to hoist himself onto the tree branch he'd been trying to climb to for the past few days. "Finally!" Pyre took hold of the branch as he slid himself off of it, now only holding himself by his arms. And he began to pull himself up. "I need to strengthen my body, so if I can pull my own weight and this dumb rocks I should be able to do it!"
"Yes but it needs to come easy, it took days for you to even reach that branch with the added weight." The voice of Shadow came from behind. "That said, once you can do it with ease, you shouldn't have anything to worry about."
The fire type continued exercising his muscles pulling himself up again and again. Despite how his muscles ached it was worth it. Something inside him wanted to get stronger. "Yeah! I'll do it! I'll be strong!"
"If you don't mind me asking Pyre, why do you want to be strong?" Shadow asked, surprising Pyre with an uncharacteristically sincere tone.
"Because….hmm I'm…not sure.." Pyre seemed to falter and he fell from the branch. "Ow…awww ya messed me up!"
"Blaming someone else for your lack of focus is lazy, and it won't help when it matters." Shadow lost his sincere tone. "Now get back up there."
Pyre groaned, but maintained a smile as he scaled the tree again, this time finding it much harder as his body was growing exhausted. The Charmander looked off a short distance away, watching his friend Rai. He seemed to be making an unrealistic amount of progress, his movements were as fluid as water, and each strike he made against one of the many trees around him did a surprising amount of damage. "How has he made so much progress already?"
"You haven't asked him yourself, then I won't tell you." Shadow watched the Raichu as well, rather impressed. "I don't think I'm all that great of a teacher, but Rai is an excellent student with his conviction. That's what you need, Pyre, a reason to be strong, a reason to push yourself."
"I guess you're right." Pyre resumed pulling himself up the branch. His mind was clouded, did he have a reason, why did he want strength, he wasn't sure. The minutes began to drag on as he went, his arms felt like they were going to melt off.
"I'll be back, I'm going to find food for the two of you. You may both take a break." Shadow spoke a bit louder before he teleported away.
Pyre dropped to the ground landing on his butt hard. "Oooow…gotta work on my landings."
"Hehe you always find a way to be goofy don't you Pyre?" Rai's voice came next. Pyre couldn't help but hear something in his voice. Higher pitched and softer than Shadow's, but there was something more. Passion in his words.
"Well someone's gotta bring some fun! It's not gonna be our scarecrow of a friend." Pyre joked, smiling wider. After a few moments he spoke again. "Hey Rai?"
"What's up dude?" The Raichu asked back, giving a light smile of his own.
"Why….why do you want to be strong?"
The Raichu looked surprised for a moment. "Oh that's simple! I want to be strong so I can prove myself worthy of the woman I love!"
"Oh wow, she must be real special for ya to work so hard!"
"She is, she's got the sweetest most gentle voice, she's always polite with everyone, and well she's really cute…" the Raichu began to blush, his yellow cheek pouches turning red for a moment. A suddenly determined look crossed his face. "Once I'm strong enough, I'm busting out of here, with her and her family!"
"That's so noble and cool!" Pyre's eyes lit up with joy. "She'll be lucky to have you Rai!"
"Thanks hehe!" Rai returned the question a moment later. "What about you, why do you want to be strong?"
"I'm not entirely su…."
The two were cut off, both suddenly feeling a wave of fear wash over them.
"Something's wrong." Rai spoke first. "I don't know why, but I can just feel it, someone's in danger."
"Might be feeling their aura, but I can feel it too." Pyre didn't hesitate and he took off running. "Come on, we can't just leave 'em alone!"
Rai followed after him quickly. "What's the plan?"
"Plan? Uhhhhh wing it!" The Charmander kept running, feeling a desire to help whoever was in danger.
After a few moments they reached an area covered in bushes and trees.
They heard a feminine voice from inside. "Get away you monsters!"
After a quick search they found an opening in a rather large tree, entering which showed what seemed to be a large room. Most likely someone's den. And at the far end. A Raichu surrounded by several weavile and Sneasel.
"Hey, back off the lady ya jerks!" Pyre yelled out, getting their attention. He turned to Rai. "I'll handle them, you get her out of here."
Rai hesitated for a moment, but dashed around the aggressive pokemon as they approached Pyre.
"Wanna dance matchstick?" One asked as they brandished their claws.
"Hehe matchstick, that's pretty funny!" Pyre spoke almost tauntingly. "Sure, let's dance."
Rai called out from across the room "Pyre, bad news I can't get her out of here. She's got an egg! That's what they were after!"
"Big bad pokemon aren't ya, picking on a lady and her egg. Don't worry ole Pyre will teach ya." The Charmander rushed forth throwing out his clawed fist punching one of the Sneasel knocking them down. Before he could react he felt his left leg swept from under him as one of the weavile slashed him in the face knocking him into his back, which was technically cushioned by the large rock upon it.
"Weakling" the aggressive pack turned back to the two raichu.
"Hey jerkwad!" Pyre called out standing back up. "I'm not done yet!"
Pyre felt his right leg pulled off balance this time, but suddenly shifted his torso forward slamming his foot down pinning the one responsible, a Sneasel. When the weavile made their move he was ready, putting his arms up and blocking the attack to his face. Without warning he grabbed the one that came to him and threw them hard, tossing them outside though the entrance.
"Rai, handle the Sneasel!" Pyre then lunged forth grabbing the other weavile and promptly tossing them through the entrance. "I've got these two, you handle these three goons." And without another word Pyre ran for the entrance, not waiting for a response. Once he exited the den he found the two weavile, battle ready and angry at him.
"You're interrupting dinner time! Get lost ya little torch ass!"
"I don't think that's as funny as matchstick but whatevs." Pyre joked again, his smile coming back.
He stomped the ground taking his own battle ready stance, spreading his legs and leaning forward to keep himself centered. One of the two rushed him, slashing at his face only for him to grab them by the claw and throw them down. The other slammed a claw into his gut, it however had no effect as the Charmander grabbed him be the shoulders.
"Ya know people say I'm hard headed, let me know if it's true!" Pyre chuckled as he cocked his head back then threw it forward slamming it into the weavile's head.
The first weavile finally got to his feet as the second stumbled back. Pyre took a step forward and threw his fist forth with the momentum, without thinking he felt his fist enveloped in energy as the punch landed sending the first weavile flying into a nearby tree, unconscious almost on impact.
The second weavile stood up and came charging at Pyre only for the Charmander to jump up and slam his clawed fist down on his enemies head comically burying only his torso in the ground leaving his legs exposed.
"Well that was easier than I thought!" Pyre spoke as the three sneasel stumbled out passing him by and digging their leaders out.
"We'll be back, you'll see. And when we come back that egg is ours! We'll be back."
The air became cold, nearly chilling Pyre to the bone. And there was an overwhelmingly oppressive feeling in the atmosphere.
"You'll be back?" The deep voice of Shadow came as he appeared behind the Sneasel and weavile. "I think not. You'll never return. And to prove it." Using psychic, he ripped the weavile away from their subordinates. And holding the one that was still awake a short distance away as he pulled the unconscious one close. He took hold of their head and without hesitation wrenched it around until it snapped and came to rest facing backwards. He tossed the now deceased weavile aside.
The three sneasel would've cried out in fear, but the Darkrai's oppressive presence has them both frozen and voiceless.
Shadow pulled the still awake weavile to him. The ice type shook his head furiously, his voice gone, but silently pleading for mercy. "It's too late to beg for your life, you'll die here, unknown and unmourned." Shadow took hold of the crest stop the weavile's head, and with a violent tug, tore it off. Before the weavile could utter a pained sound Shadow reached into it's mouth pulling it's tongue out slightly before slamming it's mouth shut, severing the organ. The Darkrai then pulled one of weavile's claws holding the sharp appendage. Then without breaking eye contact bent them back toward the weavile. The ice type struggled against the monstrous Darkrai. Their struggle was in vain as Shadow pierced weavile's right eye with their own claw. Weavile stopped struggling, their body paralyzed by pain and fear. Shadow tore one of their blood soaked claws clean off and tossed it to the Sneasel. Then holding the weavile by the neck with one clawed hand he looked to the Sneasel. "Take that claw with you, and remember the fate that awaits you should you return." With the Darkrai's final word a sickening crunch was heard as he crushed the weavile's neck in his hand.
The three sneasel grabbed the claw and fled in an instant.
After a few moments of stunned silence Pyre finally spoke. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT SHADOW!?" Pyre wasn't the only one to feel this way as Rai and the other Raichu had watched what happened from the entrance of the den.
"Necessary." The pitch black pokemon replied tossing the body aside.
"Ne-ne…HOW THE HELL WAS THAT NECESSARY!?" Pyre shouted, throwing his arms up then down. "I already beat them!"
"Those Sneasel who fled and survived will never return for fear of suffering the same fate." The Darkrai spoke blatantly.
"That doesn't justify what you just did!" Pyre was dumbfounded. "That was easily the most fucked up thing I've ever seen! Nothing about that needed to be done!"
"Your protesting doesn't change the result Pyre. You may have won, but they were going to return. This way, they never will."
"The ends don't justify the means!"
"Your naivety is endearing, but misguided Pyre."
"I…" Pyre stopped talking and turned away. "Enough, I'm…you…just go, I'll talk to you later, there's someone I need to check on."
"As you wish." The Darkrai vanished in an instant.
Pyre stepped back into the den inside the large tree. "Hey, you guys okay?"
"Yeah we're fine Pyre, how'd things go out there? We heard you yelling." Rai spoke, still looking over the other Raichu as she held her egg close.
"Shadow just…he just killed them. Two of them…and he didn't even care."
Rai didn't seem too bothered "I guess that works, could've definitely handled it better though."
"Please tell me you aren't okay with that!?"
"I'm not, but I can understand why he did it." Rai frowned looking to Pyre. "I don't agree with killing, but you have to admit that that isn't something that is easy to avoid."
Pyre didn't want to answer the question, he believed wholeheartedly that taking a life was wrong. He stepped up to the female raichu. "Are you alright, how's your egg?"
She looked over the two pokemon. "I'm fine, and my egg is okay….thank you"
"Hehe, no need to thank us miss, you needed help, and there's no way this char was gonna ignore someone in need." Pyre smiled, "what's your name?"
"Raiee." She responded slowly, still holding her egg.
"Hehe, oh just like Rai over here! Isn't that a coincidence dude?" The charmanders demeanor had shifted over to a more friendly and happy tone. "Well it's a pleasure to meet you Raiee! Crazy question, but uh…wanna be my friend?"
She looked at him dumbfounded. "Uh sure…but why?"
"Awesome welcome to my friend group! Ever expanding and happy to welcome anyone that wants in! And well, you were in need, and ya know what they say about a friend in need!"