#008 – Wartortle
War-torn Wartortle
"I never really got used to killing. No… I don't think it's natural to kill a fellow Pokémon for no damn good reason. It's not like I was starving. Hungry, sure, but not enough to eat my prey. I was just one of many taking orders from the brass, and so were they. And where did all that killing take us? Nowhere. The world didn't revolutionise. In fact, the animosity between us only grew greater. And all we soldiers are left with are the terrible memories. Truth is, I never wanted to take the lives of those Totodile, still wet behind the ears and all. But what could I do? If not me, another would have done it. If only…"
Wartortle downed his whiskey. Though a Flygon was sitting a couple stools over, he wasn't talking to anyone in particular. The pub was quite lively at the other end. Those kids were having a good time. But they dared not draw near the bar, except to grab their drinks. Wartortle sat there every single evening, grumbling to himself about the war. Anyone who lingered for too long would be driven insane by his rambling. Granbull put up with it because Wartortle was his loyal customer. He just tuned it out as he polished his pint glasses.
A gang of Croconaw came into the pub looking for trouble, and expecting to make it double. A group sitting at one of the tables were provoked into starting a brawl. A chair flew out of someone's hands in Wartortle's direction and hit him on the back. Wartortle bade Granbull excuse him and he went to confront the Croconaw.
"What do you whipper-snappers think you're doing?" Wartortle growled.
"Go back to the retirement village, old mon!" Said Croconaw. Wartortle used close quarter combat to swiftly dispatch the Croconaw. The other gang members noticed and jumped him. The other Pokémon backed off, hoping that Wartortle alone would satisfy the Croconaw. Wartortle fought with skill but try as he may, the Croconaw were too many and his neck was feeling a bit stiff today. The Croconaw overpowered him and left him lying on the floor with a broken shell. Wartortle thought that this was some sort of retribution for what he did during the war. It was going to take a long time for the world to come together and heal.
