Pokémon Mystery Dungeon - Shattered Remnants
By Lth-RG
Chapter 1 - The Uninvited:
A mild breeze swept through the dull-green tall grass that cushioned several large, jagged stones. There were few clouds in sight as the sun beamed down. A youthful yet lanky blaziken trekked up the mountainous landscape, admiring the view. His short, spikey and unkempt feathers swayed in the wind, nested by the custom-made avian goggles that rested on his forehead. He briefly turned behind him and stared at the snow-capped mountains which dominated the horizon.
Flint flicked his wrist towards him, activating a small orb embedded in the bracelet. Flint peered at it, rotating it a bit. "Huh, so it's just a little after three in the afternoon. That should be plenty of time."
The young Blaziken gazed over the horizon and shielded his eyes from the afternoon sun. He squawked, rubbing his eyes. "Damn, why does the sun always have to be exactly in the corner of my eyes." Flint's face scrunched up. "Ohoho! So you can take the heat of a volcano but not the sunlight? What a load of Tauros-shit!"
Flint shrugged and continued to weave his way through the sea of tall grass and past several large boulders with little effort.
He took in a moment to squint over the horizon, yet nothing but pine trees and snow dappled mountains were as far as the eye could see. The trees overlooked a deep valley where a creek trickled down into the crevice. Flint looked just up ahead to see that there was a pair of pointed mountains, and both were connected by an arched stone bridge.
He felt the warmth trickle across his feathers, energising him from the blistering cold breeze behind him. Flint closed his eyes and took a deep breath, "Alright, let's see what we're workin' with today."
Flint licked and raised his finger to the air. He felt the breeze flow from the south west, nipping at his finger with a chilly throb. Flint brought his hands up in front of him and narrowed his focus as he framed the shot with his fingers, as if he was about to take a picture with a pictobox. "So far, so good." Flint murmured to himself.
Flint brought his arms out and stretched his fingers before shaking them off and began to prepare himself. He pivoted one shin at a time behind his back, and caught it with his hand briefly before letting the weight swing it back down. Flint then crossed his arms over his shoulders and held it for several seconds before releasing, before he squatted down to stretch his calves.
Flint scanned the nearby trees before seeing a decayed log. He sprinted over to it, slamming his foot down on one end of it, sending it spiralling into the air. With his free arm, he grabbed it and took a deep breath. Readying his free hand, his wrist crackled and spluttered into flames before he swiped down at the log, splitting it clean in half. "Okay, It's showtime." Flint adjusted his goggles over his eyes with a quick snap and knelt down in a sprinter's position. He glanced ahead to the horizon ahead of him with gleaming confidence.
Without hesitation, Flint darted towards the edge of the hill before he made the leap of faith into the air. He instantly felt a massive shot of adrenaline flood through his veins as he belted out an ecstatic "YEEE-HAW!" at the top of his lungs. Flint slammed the log into the ground, and jumped on top of it as it began to skid across the grass, and began to surf his way down the slope.
As he picked up speed, Flint leaned closer towards the ground and narrowed his focus towards a boulder. He stuck his tongue out as he sailed in the wind, lapping like a Boltund along with a self-asserted smile as he braced for impact. Flint intended to catapult himself from the momentum, or at least that's what he thought would happen…
The log shattered against the boulder, launching Flint into the air as he tucked himself like a cannonball and began to spiral in midair.
"WOOOOOO-HOOO— OOHH WAIT, WOAH WHAT THE FU— "
Flint then collided butt first into the frame of a mighty oak tree, startling several bird Pokémon out of the trees. He collapsed in a groaning heap at the tree's base, one of his arms stuck behind his back and his legs crossed over each other.
Flint slowly propped himself up and spat out some leaves. "Urgh… I swear that looked a lot cooler in my head," Flint moaned as he shook his head.
Flint rocked on his back and flung himself back on his feet with a stagger. He leaned his arm against a neighbouring tree and rubbed his eyes. "I'll just… pretend that never happened," He mumbled as he shamefully shook his head and sprinted into the forest in front of him.
The nearby grass and bushes rustled as a red blur sped by. He ran across the forest floor, before somersaulting onto the branches of a nearby tree. He felt the breeze flow through his feathers as he leapt from tree to tree. He catapulted himself from one of the branches to soar through the air, and landed on yet another branch on another tree.
Flint smiled to himself. "Hell Yeah!" With a mighty leap, Flint launched himself off a branch and dove towards the ground. With his arms out, Flint rolled onto the ground and unfurled into a sprint. Approaching a river bank, The Blaziken hopscotched across the small stone platforms to reach the other side, startling several finneon as they dispersed across the shallow riverbed.
Now approaching some upward rocky terrain, Flint pinballed back and forth up the incline like a gymnast before charging towards a small, elevated stone platform like a mad Rampardos. His eyes are on the prize, just up ahead was an arched stone bridge between the two pointy mountains. Flint slammed his legs against the cobblestone, launching himself into the air Flint savoured the moment with an ecstatic bellow. "THIS IS SO AWESOME!" , as he soared through the air like a missile with the bridge sailing behind him. Flint grinned to himself. This is what true freedom is, man! The wind in my face and not a care in the world!
Flint then kicked his legs side to side, sending him into a downward spiral. He then pulled his arms in, making him look less like a propeller and more like an avian shaped drill. The ground came closer and closer, trees and pines darting past. Flint stuck his arms out, slowing but not stopping his descent, now looking like a red and orange spinning top. His arm shot forward towards the ground as he slammed his legs side to side once more. The force sent Flint spinning from a handstand to a sweep. Slamming his right leg down, the Blaziken spun in place from the force of his spin kick, no worse for wear when he eventually stopped.
As the dust settled, Flint sprung up with excitement and yelled out. "BOOYAH! First try, baby!" Flint rubbed his forehead, before taking off his goggles and trudging over to a nearby boulder to rest. The Blaziken gazed above into the bright blue sky and took several deep breaths as he propped himself back up and continued his trek down the side of the mountain.
As Flint weaved his way through the dense vegetation, he peered down into a small slope and opted to slide down with a bit of his own swagger. Flint snuck his hands into one of the small pouches on his belt. Man, that dungeon I left from was pretty cool 'n all. Flint thought to himself as he brought out a measly handful of rusted silver and copper coins, squinting at them with disgust. But I doubt I'd get much from Jasper with this junk... Flint hastily stuffs the so-called antiques back into the pouch before slipping his thumbs behind his belt, pacing along until he reaches one of the crossroads.
Flint's mind wandered as he walked along the gravel paved road, gazing over the big blue horizon. I suppose I should make my way back. Flint pondered. Gettin' caught by dad for sneaking out again isn't exactly ideal, but I'm not really feelin' it. I suppose I could visit the tavern later, though… Flint trotted along the ground, his rough talons unfazed by the uneven gravel or pebbles beneath him, lost in his own thoughts. I guess I should visit Jasper though, get that outta the way at least.
However, Flint's train of thought was startled as he approached a bend in the road. Just then he caught a brief glimpse of a pair of cobalt blue tails that seemingly retreated behind the dense shrubbery. The Blaziken halted and tensed up for a moment. The hell? Flint asked himself as he tried to look over the dense vegetation from where he stood. Nothing. The Blaziken relaxed and decided to shrug it off. Must've been seein' things, oh well. Guess it's just that time of day, huh? The Blaziken continued his march along the curvature of the road.
But the further he walked along the path, Flint could not quite shake the feeling that something was off, eerie even. Flint paused and slowly turned his head around to where he believed he saw it. His body had caught a slight chill as he hesitated. The Blaziken shook his head and patted the sides of his face. "Urgh, Screw this!" Flint scowled as he began to backtrack. Flint hastily waded through the sea of bushes. Just to make sure, then I'm outta here. He told himself. Although after a few slashes here and several swats there, Flint suddenly froze. There they were, the twin tails attached to the limp body of what appeared to be a male Meowstic lying face down in a ditch. Flint felt his feathers shoot up on their end and immediately raced over towards the body, sliding across the dirt on his knees to inspect.
"Okay Flint… why are you freaking out about this, it's not like it's a dead body or anythin', c'mon man relax..!" Flint trembled as he turned over the body and brushed aside the mess of short, fluffy white hair that framed his small, round head. Examining the cat's forehead, he appeared to be injured, and with blood trickling down the sides of his youthful face. "Shit, shit, SHIT! Keep it together man! Think! What would dad do in this situation…?" Flint frantically inspected the body, poked and prodded at the limp cat. "Urm…. uh.." Flint instinctively began lightly tapping the meowstic's left cheek, hoping to wake him up. "Hey, hey! You okay there man? Wake up damn it!"
The cat gasped and warily blinked his eyes as Flint let out a massive sigh of relief. "Damn! Thought we lost you there little buddy!" Flint yelped. Although come to think of it, I don't think I've seen this guy around here before… The Meowstic shot up, having startled the Blaziken enough to tumble over on his back. As the cat sloped himself up on its two hind legs, they cautiously surveyed their surroundings. Flint looked on in astonishment but was momentarily caught off-guard as they started to quiver.
"W-where am I?" The cat mumbled. "W-where is my bed? Why am I outside? Why is there a giant talking chicken?!"
"I'm sorry— " Flint deadpanned. "Talking chicken…?"
"T-this has got to be a bad dream! I knew I shouldn't have had … well I know some … some ..." The cat looked perplexed, stammering over his words.
"Hey, easy there kid!" Flint interrupted as he put his hands over the cat's shoulders, the blue cat tensed up as he felt the coarse texture of Flint's talon-like grip. "The hell are you on about?"
The Meowstic slapped away the talons, closing his eyes in a panic. "D-don't touch me, please!"
Flint raised his hands upwards "Jeez, what's with you?"
The feline stammered and looked around in a tizzy.
"Say, where ya from kid?" Flint chirped. "Haven't seen any folks like you 'round these parts."
"Urm…" The Meowstic stammered. "I... uh ... don't know?" Flint stopped grinning like an idiot and saw the feelings of dread take over the Meowstic's body, as they looked into their paws, carefully expecting them.
"Well, what is your name then, Dingus?" Flint snarked.
"I...it's… Felix." The Meowstic looked over his shoulder, only to visibly recoil in shock at the sight of his tails. "N-no way! W-what's going on? W-what happened to me?!"
"Well let's see… I was on my way back from a dungeon when I saw you lying in a ditch so I thought I'd just— "
"W-WHY AM I A POKÉMON?!" Felix shrieked.
"Huh?" Flint blinked.
"And why are you a talking Pokemon?!" Felix hissed at fire type, his tails quivering without him even knowing.
"Excuse me, what?" Flint perplexed as he tilted his head. "Everything… okay up in there?
"Y-you shouldn't be able to talk!" Felix exclaimed.
"Why though? The hell are you talking about, me not being able to talk?"
Felix trembled before blurting out. "E-e-exactly! Pokémon shouldn't be able to talk!" His fur ruffled while his tails poofed up slightly, not missing a beat. "I-I can't be a Pokémon!".
Flint scoffed "Pssht, okay". Flint began to approach Felix, to which Felix shrank back as he found that the Blaziken completely dwarfed him in height. Flint squatted down to meet the Meowstic at eye-level. "Well if you're not a Pokémon.." Flint questioned. "Tell me this." Flint then poked at the Meowstic's chest. "What does that make you?"
"T-that m-makes… t-that makes me a human!" Felix blurted out.
For a moment, Flint stared perplexed at the Meowstic, before snorting and turning away."You-you gotta be–" Flint howled in laughter. "That's gotta be the stupidest thing I've heard!"
"B-b-but I'm telling the truth! You have to b-believe me!" he whimpered softly, trembling where he stood.
However Felix's pleas went unanswered as Flint continued to wheeze, coughing from laughing so hard. "Dude! That's a good one," Flint coughed, before taking a breath of air. "You really had me going there for a second!"
The Meowstic blinked awkwardly at Flint, before going to point at him. "H-hey! N-now that's very-" He stopped as he saw his paws, before trailing down his arm to his shoulder, his eyes dilating all the while. "W-w-what the— " Flint's laughter cut him off.
"Man!" Flint cackled as he wiped a tear from his eye "I got to hand it to ya! That's one of the funniest jokes I've ever heard in a long time! You even went with a whole dead-person act to sell the prank! If this doesn't work out for ya you should totally become a comedian!" Flint struggled to stand up as he was suffocating from the laughter. "You seriously made your own ditch and just waited for someone to just walk on by?! Talk about being committed to a prank! That's some dedication!"
"What do you even mean by dedication?!" Felix's tails frazzled behind him as his fur puffed up. "W-what the hell is wrong with you!?".
"Man, I've got to try this out sometime, my dad would absolutely LOVE this! You gotta tell me what kind of jam you use 'cos that's a very convincing get-up!" Flint slowed down with his laughter, catching his breath.
The Meowstic went to wipe his head. "N-now what do you mean by ..." The cat paused, his eyes dilated as he slowly moved his paw back, shivering as he saw the sticky crimson liquid oozing from his paws. A faint trembling whisper escaped his lips. "T-that's still damp … and warm …" Felix looked at Flint with a look of dread in his eyes as blood trickled down.
"Dude, that is fake blood, right?" Flint's large grin soon changed from funny to worried. He blinked at the meowstic, he forced out a half hearted chuckle.
Felix sniffed the air, and whimpered. "I-it smells like i-iron, everywhere ..."
"... shit ... that's not fake blood" Flint mumbled to himself as he felt a trickle of dread creep up his spine. "... Hold up, I think I've got something for that?"
Flint fumbled as he reached into his belt pocket for a napkin. "H-here... use this to wipe your forehead..."
The Meowstic hesitantly took the napkin from Flint's talon-like hands, momentarily spacing out into the endless white void that seemed to be a piece of tissue. He lightly tapped his forehead and winced at the pain before applying pressure to it.
"Jeez, the hell happened to you? Did you fall over or somethin'? Just name the guy and I'll be sure to return the favour." Flint puffed as he inspected the cat for further injuries. His fur was all muddied up by the dirt.
"I…" Felix froze for a moment as his eyes began to dart to and fro as Flint couldn't help but watch on as he saw him tremble. Is he having a headache or something, he is a psychic type though, he's starting to freak me out a bit. Flint noticed that Felix's fur was slowly coming to stand on end as he put his paw towards his head. Though he tried to take in several deep breaths, it became immediately apparent that he was really panicking as his breaths were still rather shallow as he looked the other way. His expression was wrought with fear..
Flint swallowed his breath, if he has to calm him down, it has to be now. "Dude, you okay? You look like you're losing it."
"Hu— Wha? Oh! Sorry! I kinda got lost in th-th-thought there…!" Felix tittered with a nervous smile.
"You don't remember, do ya?" Flint sighed as he stood himself up.
"Uh… well— "
"Don't worry 'bout it kid, Let's just… bring you back to civilization. Well… Eden Town to be exact."
Felix was gobsmacked. "Did you just say civilisation? There's a town?"
Flint shrugged. "Yeah, I grew up near it. I know it like the back of my head."
"Well… I suppose I am… sort-of lost… You don't mind if I tag along with you…? I honestly have no idea where I am or what's happening." Felix stammered.
"To be totally frank, I don't think I know either…" Flint shrugged as he stepped out of the ditch. "I mean it's not everyday you find someone in this neck of the woods who is a bit delirious! Like seriously? A human?"
"H-h-hey!" Felix panicked as he wiggled his way out of the ditch to pursue Blaziken. "Th-thats not cool!"
"Relax! I'm kidding!" Flint chuckled. " It's just that I don't want my dad to think I'm headed for the loony bin with you around." Flint felt his muscles loosen up and relax, feeling an odd sense of reassurance that this strange Meowstic started to ease up himself as he drew a sigh.
Like a lost puppy, Felix praddled along, following Flint as he continued walking along the pathway. The young meowstic twiddled his thumbs as he looked around at the scenery around him. In silence, Felix still struggled to stomach the strangeness of the situation and tried to backtrack in his mind how he could've ended up here, as a Pokemon of all things.
"Let's see… I was about to retire for the night, since I had an exam the next morning…" His tails lashed in the air as he kept walking. "I can sort of vaguely remember that it was something to do with… biology or something?" He touched the top of his forehead, and winced after touching his wound. "Then I found myself here with a grazed f-forehead… and meeting … this Blaziken…" Felix turned his gaze toward Flint in the midst of his mumbling, the massive avian seemed to have his mind lost in the clouds as he held his head up high, with his thumbs tucked behind his belt.
"Huh, kinda like having hands in his pockets…" Felix murmured. before it suddenly occurred to him. The cat sprung up and mustered what courage he had to address the Blaziken. "E-e-excuse me…!" Felix murmured. "I'm so s-sorry, I didn't quite catch your name earlier…!"
Flint halted to briefly look over his shoulder, before flicking one of his claws back at himself with a grin. "The name's Flint." The Blaziken said with pride.
"O-oh!" Felix gasped. "N-nice to meet you, F-flint!"
"Don't worry 'bout it, just keep applying pressure and surely something will come back right?" Flint said rather flippantly as he waved his hand dismissively. "Or at least stop the bleeding. Regardless, I kinda do this sorta thing for a living."
"R-right." Felix murmured before turning his gaze towards the ground as Flint walked ahead of him to keep some distance from the cat. What followed was around a minute of awkward silence as they walked.
Flint gazed up into the clear blue sky with his arms crossed behind his head. The whole ordeal frustrated him to no end. "Well this is just… great." He thought to himself. "I guess I'm gonna be stuck with this poor guy for quite a bit. I can't begin to imagine how mortifying it's gonna be when I'm seen with this guy. How the hell am I gonna explain myself to Dad?" Looking over his shoulder he found it rather odd that the Meowstic trailing him was conjuring with many questions, his worried gaze fixated on the gravel-lined road.
A trickle of guilt swelled in Flint's stomach having seen the poor kid so stressed out. What if he was really telling the truth? Even for a professional prankster they wouldn't go this far and beyond to commit to a joke. All Flint could do was not get too worked up over this, the sooner he sends the lad on his way, the better.
The Blaziken sighed and flicked a finger back at the Meowstic. "... Dude, you're spacing out again, try to keep up." Flint remarked.
"O-Oh! I-I'm so sorry F-F-Flint!" Felix jumped, having been snapped out of his trance. The meowstic jogged behind the blaziken, before stubbing his toe on an errant pebble. Tripping forward on one paw, Felix hopped forward on it, windmilling his arms in an attempt to stay balanced. Flint glanced over his shoulder, eyebrow raised as the Meowstic returned his gaze with a quakey thumbs up and an embarrassed grin. The Blaziken squinted, cringing as he rolled his eyes and continued to march forward.
Felix caught up to Flint, hesitantly walking alongside him. Keeping his distance. The Meowstic murmured under his breath, struggling to compose his words just right before he finally blurted it out.
"Hey… Flint? S-so… What… exactly happened… to… h-h-h-humans?"
"Beats me." Flint said rather bluntly. "As far as I know humans are just some obscure myth that a bunch of superstitious old geezers made up when they're high on lansat or whatever. I really don't know to be frank."
Felix tilted his head, perplexed. "Okaay…?" He answered, seemingly unconvinced. "But you wouldn't h-happen to know what these myths are, r-right Flint?"
A devious sneer came across the Blaziken's beak. Flint slowly panned over his shoulder with a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Well— Lets see…" Flint mused. "Well there is this ONE myth that everyone seems to agree upon. According to the old… old, ooold legend of ummm, the… great… great exobum! Yeah! The Great Exobum! It was a very peaceful afternoon much like this one before suddenly there was some really kooky stuff happenin' in the sky."
"Great… Exobum…?" Felix asked. "I'm not sure I follow…"
"Yeah! And all of this sudden, this wormhole opened up in the sky and all the humans saw this ginormous beast! Right?"
"A b-beast?" Felix gulped.
"And he had erm… He was huge! Oh man, lemme tell ya he was ginormous! His entire belly was a big mouth with razor-sharp teeth, with his throat lined with… MORE TEETH! The guy was practically a living, breathing metal shredder!"
Felix's fur began to slowly puff up as he whimpered.
The Blaziken continued. "But that aint all he had! He had these massive crab-like claws on the side! And lemme tell ya, you're not gonna like what he did with those things!"
Looking down upon his small friend, Flint could see the goosebumps beneath the Meowstic's fur. The poor thing began hiccuping as sweat trickled down the sides of his round, fluffy face.
"W-what did he do to the humans?" Felix murmured with a shaky breath
"He deadass ate them that's what!" Declared the Blaziken, who flicked a finger at his fearful little friend, Felix winced. "He used those massive claws of his to grab his victims and shove them into his trap!" He continued in a rather theatrical tone.
"S-s-s-seriously?!" Felix shrieked.
"Yeah seriously!" Flint exclaimed as he leaned in closer, the Meowstic slowly backed away, falling onto his rump and shuffling back on on the gravel as the Blaziken approached him slowly. "And his appetite could not be sated man! He kept eating, and devouring and swallowing every single last human on earth until there weren't any left! He's the one that caused their extinction dude!"
"No…no no…!" Felix began to sweat profusely as his tails stiffened up like sticks. His fur grew pale as a sheet."This can't be happening, how could they suffer such a terrible fate?!"
"I dunno either dude!" Flint elaborated. "But after he went up and caused mass extinction, he left through the same hole he came from, never to be seen or heard from again!" The Blaziken cackled maniacally. "The big fella just went up and left as he was just having a light snack!"
"W-what!" Felix screeched.
"But that's not the worst part! Some say that the whispers in the wind are the screams of the damned. It has a very particular sound, ya wanna hear?"
"N-n-n-n-no?!" Felix whimpered.
Flint squatted and leaned in closer towards Felix's ears. "It sounds a little something like this…" There was a dead silence, eerily creeping down Felix's spine. The wind had come to an utter stop, only Flint's warm breath came up against Felix's head.
An immense belch rumbled up from Flint's throat and blasted into Felix's ears.
Felix let out a terrified scream, his hackles standing on end as he fell on his rump. "Y-you can't be serious! Are you s-saying that I could've been yanked out of my world at the v-very last second? Am I the last human?!"
"What? No! I was just pulling your leg dude." Flint deadpanned, his grin reaching the corners of his face.
Felix paused for a moment. "... h-huh?"
The Blaziken's cheeks puffed out before he sputtered out a howling laugh.
Felix's hackles lowered before he blinked a few times. "... w-wait …"
"Bahahahahahaha! You shoulda seen the look on your face man!" Flint cackled, slapping his own knee.
Felix sprang up onto his feet with frazzled fur like a zigzagoon. "H–h-h-hey! That's not funny!" Felix hissed. "I-I-I was seriously about t-t-to have a heart a-attack!"
Flint collapsed to the ground and kept on cackling until he was blue in the face, the Blaziken getting the most out of the joke. After a moment of wheezing followed by a cough, he took a few deep breaths before righting himself back on his feet.
"Relax dude! I'm just tryna lighten the mood, that's all! You should be safe with me now."
"You honestly have a sick sense of humour…" Felix hissed.
The Blaziken wiped off a tear from his eye as he sat himself back up. "Yeah yeah, I get that alot." Flint brushed off the remark as it was nothing. Felix's tails puffed as he let out a growl.
"Enough with making me the butt of your cruel jokes! What happened to humanity!? And why am I here?" Felix snapped as he pointed at the Blaziken.
"Woah there, easy there Liepard, I was being truthful when I said I really didn't know." Flint shied away for a moment. "Although if I were to recall, I think it had something to do with humans showing-up a long-ass time ago or something along those lines."
"Wait, Seriously?" Felix squeaked out. "You're not joking again, are you?"
"Yeah, no joke man! Honest!" Flint reassured the Meowstic with a rather guilty grin."Although don't come to me for the specifics since I never really was good in history class!" He let out a half-hearted chuckle and shrugged it off.
Felix rubbed his nose with a dirtied paw, a dreadful sigh of relief had left his mouth as he looked away from Flint. "So… is there anyone out there who does know?" He said, shaking his head.
"Probably?" Flint uttered "I mean we have a library and historians and stuff like that so maybe you could ask them maybe? I'm just as clueless as you dude. All I can say is that I don't believe in that sort of nonsense."
Tilting his body away, Felix crossed his arms, one caressing his chin as he stared off into space. "Okay… this is actually worse than I thought… No one just wakes up in the middle of nowhere without any explainable reason." Felix's ears twitched as he heard a scream echo in the distance.
Flint raised a brow. "That's probably just a wild vulpix or somethin. They tend to scream like that for… Arceus knows why."
The sound of a tree falling came next, followed by another scream and more creaking of fallen timber. Felix's hackles raised themselves once more, his tails becoming as bushy as a Zigzagoons.
"O-o-okay F-flint..! This isn't funny a-anymore!"
"Dude, chillax! That isn't me this time!"
"T-t-that doesn't make it any b-better!" Felix whimpered.
Flint suddenly paused as he slowly panned over his shoulder. "Shit, ok let's uh, get away from the crashing trees and go from there?" He hissed out. "Wait… shush, pipe down for a moment."
Flint crouched down beside the Meowstic, as he glanced in all directions. Dread gradually crawled through his feathers, he knew something was coming. As the Blaziken closely listened in, he could also make out the scampering of tiny feet that seemed to be heading in their direction. Something was coming.
"What do you mean— woah-hey!" Felix squeaked.
"Get down!" Flint ducked down and shoved Felix's head towards the ground to do the same, gesturing to be silent. "You hear that?" Flint whispered.
"Hear… what?" Felix murmured.
At that moment, Felix's ears perked up, picking up the sounds of rustling nearby. Felix's fur immediately stood on end as the crackling of twigs drew ever so closer. "W-w-w-what is that…?" Felix quivered.
"I don't know, but I have a slight hunch we might be in for some trouble…" Flint muttered.
"T-trouble…?!" Felix gulped.
"HUSH!" Flint barked as he slapped his hand across Felix's mouth. "Please tell me you have some moves…" Flint whispered in haste.
"I-I-I Don't know!" Felix mumbled underneath Flint's hand.
Flint carefully scanned the area with his eyes, it seemed that the rustling seemed to be coming closer, towards his right side. Flint quickly glanced over and braced himself, putting his arm in front of Felix as he slowly got up and approached. "Well… just my luck…" Flint grumbled under his breath.
The sounds of the bushes rustling and the scampering grew louder and louder, The Meowstic was completely paralysed with fear, anticipating the worst as Flint cautiously made his way towards the bush. Felix shivered as he could practically hear frantic breathing on the other side of the bushes. Flint braced himself as he felt a shiver crawl up his back.
Suddenly a Shroomish rolled out of the bushes and collided with Flint's shin with the impact of a bowling ball. Flint let out a massive shriek, jolting back and began hopping on one leg while he held the other before he lost balance and fell over. Surprisingly, Felix didn't wince as badly as he thought, the cat was mostly unphased and more so astonished but admittedly he found Flint rolling on the ground holding his leg, a bit amusing. Felix smirked awkwardly and wasn't proud of it.
The Shroomish sprang up and began to plead desperately. "Please! Someone Help! There's someone trying to kill me! Please!" Although having seen that she accidentally injured the Blaziken, it didn't exactly help her settle down as she continued to hyperventilate. "I'm so sorry! J-just please!" The Shroomish wailed with a stream flowing down her eyes as she began frantically scampering all around them. Felix couldn't believe his eyes. Who knew that one shroomish could sob that many tears. It's amazing that she hasn't even passed out yet from all the panicking.
As Flint sprawled over the floor in seething pain, Felix dropped his napkin and instinctively raced over to the shroomish, as if his body was moving by itself.
"Please! You have to help me! Help me Please!" The Shroomish pleaded. "Someone's after me! I have to hide! I was just minding my own business! I didn't mean to, I swear! Please Please Please! I don't want to die! I don't want to die! Please someone help!"
"I-it's okay! We're here to help!" Felix stammered as he managed to get a hold of the shroomish, who drenched herself in her own tears. "J-Just calm down and tell us what happened! Just relax and breathe slowly… Okay?"
Flint suddenly jolted upwards, still having to rub the sore on his knee. "What the hell lady?! Watch where you're going next time! That seriously freakin' hurt!" The Blaziken Squawked. Although Flint felt his anger subside as he saw how well Felix was able to get this shroomish slowly ease into relaxation.
Having glimpsed at Flint momentarily, The Shroomish's expression was suddenly flooded with relief as she immediately brushed Felix aside and dashed over towards the Blaziken, getting uncomfortably close.
"Oh my gosh! Faulkner! Thank the stars! You have to help me, there's someone chasing me! You'll get rid of them won't you?!" The Shroomish sobbed.
Felix stood up and dusted himself, now perplexed. "Who's Faulkner…?"
As the Shroomish huddled even closer, much to Flint's annoyance as he stood there, He just about had it. Flint took in a deep breath and picked up the Shroomish, staring directly into her eyes with a visibly fed-up expression. "Hate to break it to you ma'am, but I'm not my Dad." Flint said bluntly.
He saw even more tears well up in the shroomish's eyes and she began howling like a child. "I'm doomed!" She wailed.
"Jeez… sorry to disappoint." Flint sighed dreadfully.
Felix swiped the Shroomish from Flint's hands. "Great! Now your shitty attitude has gone and done it!" Felix hissed before turning his attention towards the shroomish. Flint was taken aback by Felix's sudden change in behaviour. He was in awe of the little guy's gall to grow a pair.
"There there, it's okay…" Felix said soothingly. "Everything is going to be alright, you can trust us!" Felix then momentarily glared at Flint. "Isn't that right Flint?" The cat growled with an indiscernible glint in his eyes.
"Urm… yeah… Sure man" Flint murmured, shying away his gaze with a scoff as the Meowstic tended to the mushroom on legs.
The hell? What crawled up his ass and died? Flint seethed to himself. She took a jab at my dad and suddenly I'm the one with a shitty attitude? Speak for yourself… sheesh!"
"I don't know what's happening that made you so upset but you're going to have a few deep breaths, okay?" Felix continued. "In, and out." Felix said with a rather gentle demeanour. "In… then out." The Shroomish, despite the feeling of having choked herself with tears, obliged. Felix gave a gentle smile. "There, now tell us everything, okay? We're here for you."
Flint couldn't quite fathom that the Mewostic tending to this Shroomish was the same kid who claimed to be human and almost had a nervous breakdown himself several minutes ago. Okay, this is seriously gettin' too weird for one day… Now I really need to visit the tavern after this… Maybe I'm the one with the concussion after all... Must've been that tree I hit…
"You're surprisingly calm for someone who freaked out earlier." Flint huffed, pouting as he propped himself up. "Look, I may not be as great as my dad, but I'm the next best thing so just make it quick…" He groaned.
"T-thank you… both…" The Shroomish murmured.
"Do you have a name, ma'am?" Felix asked.
"B-bella." she murmured.
"That's a lovely name!" Felix smiled. "Now tell us what happened, slowly, please."
Bella took a savoury sigh of relief, for a moment she relaxed and stopped sobbing as she looked towards Felix with a fragile smile. Felix gave a warm smile of relief himself. That is until Bella glanced over Felix's shoulder and a large shadow loomed over all their heads. Bella froze, turning as white as a sheet. Flint quickly perked up, hearing a strange metallic ringing sound accompanied by a gust of wind. Immediately, Flint swiped both Felix and Bella and darted, avoiding a light-blue blade of energy that sliced the gravel where they were.
But this was suddenly followed up by two more slashes of light. Flint cradled the two small Pokémon as he performed a backwards somersault onto the trunk of a tree, catapulting off of it before the second slash sliced the tree.
Flint unfurled and placed the two Pokémon down on the ground. "You guys alright?" Flint huffed. Felix's eyes dilated as he pointed behind Flint's shoulder.
"B-b-behind you!" Felix shrieked as his fur perked up in spikes. Flint glanced over his shoulder at the sound of bark cracking and creaking, the tree that had been sliced was about to topple over and crush them.
Flint shifted his foot in the sand, which started to glow red and burst into flames. The Blaziken braced himself to deliver a powerful roundhouse kick, completely obliterating the tree, shattering it into thin slivers of bark. Both Bella and Felix unfurled themselves and realised that thankfully, no harm had come to them. Flint took the both of them and hid them inside the greenery of the fallen tree.
"UNBELIEVABLE, INCONCEIVABLE!" Everyone winced at the abrupt shrilling of a metallic voice that pierced air. "Even more riffraffs?!" Suddenly a flash of metal burst out of the bushes and dive bombed at Flint, who was sent rocketing upward before he crashed toward the ground, crushing a nearby tree.
"Blaziken!" Bella screamed at the top of her lungs.
It was then a loud metal thud was heard, where a Skarmory perched on a nearby branch, eyeballing the Blaziken before it flared its ruffled steel wings out and snarled. "Just when I thought today couldn't possibly be worse!" The Skarmory shrieked. "More Interlopers who dare interfere with MY affairs!" The steel buzzard had a rough, tattered appearance. His metal hide was smudged and scratched. His beak was serrated and cracked in several areas and his jagged tail isn't exactly something to be pulled on without flaying one's hand.
Flint turned over on his side as pieces of wood fell from his ruffled feathers and slowly sat up to glare at Skarmory in its beady red eyes. "I'm sorry" Flint coughed. "Your forest?"
"That's right you insignificant fool!" Skarmory squawked back, "All those who dare set foot in my forest shall be shredded into ribbons! Now step aside you smouldering boob and hand over that insolent little mushroom before I poach you and use her as stuffing!"
Flint narrowed his eyes, he wasn't sure if it was out of disgust or cringe."Out of all the poultry insults I've endured, that has to be the most messed up…"
"Excuse me?!" The Skarmory shrieked as he straightened his neck up repulsively. "You dare tread into my kingdom and then have the gall to address its rightful ruler that way?!"
"Hold up." Flint snorted. "It's rightful ruler?" Oh man, that's priceless!"
"You find this amusing, Blaziken?" Snarled the Skarmory as he leaned his neck towards the Blaziken before him with a sharpened scowl.
"Well yeah!" Flint scoffed, dismissing his royal heinousness with an unflattering wave of his hand."You do realise this is a forest, right? You can't just 'own' a forest, other Pokémon live here too y'know?"
"SIlence worm!" Skarmory shrieked once again. "I am Buzzsaw! And this is no mere forest worm! I happen to rule this place with a steel wing! Every Pokémon here kneels to iron will!" Buzzaw bellowed as he flew up and sneered at Flint from the air. Several steel feathers plummeted off him, embedding into the ground. "Now tell me where that shroomish went and I just might spare your pitiful life!"
"What Shroomish?" Flint glanced away as he shrugged his shoulders. "All I see around here is just a rusty scrap heap of a bird like you."
"Playing dumb are we?" Buzzsaw scoffed, appalled. "That Shroomish has outright refused to pay tribute to her lord after I so graciously allowed her sanction in my domain. Step aside Blaziken and I'll only beat her within an inch of her life. Plus I just might let you off with a single cut to your neck and pride rather than slashing you into pieces if you start grovelling beneath my talons this instant.. You are nothing compared to me!"
The Blaziken returned his majesty's answer with a bored glance, completely unfazed. "Yeah? and what would be this, 'tribute'?" Flint asked in an uninterested tone.
"Why? Only complete and total servitude to my magnificent self of course! You smouldering boob!" He chuffed as he straightened himself upright in a more proper manner, something that more resembled authority he claimed to be as he pointed his wings at his chest.
Felix brought his paws around his head and folded his ears downwards to drown out Buzzsaw's metallic shrieking. Bella buried herself in Felix's tails and quivered in fear. The vibrations created a sudden chill down Felix's spine as he jolted away from the Shroomish.
"W-w-wha? Hey you can't g-grab those!" Felix hissed under his breath.
"B-but I'm scared! I need to hide!" Bella whimpered as she cuddled even closer within Felix's tails.
Felix paused for a moment. "O-okay… Just this once" He murmured hesitantly, allowing the Shroomish to huddle between his two fluffy tails before he covered his ears again.
Flint stood up and put finger in his ear to clean it out. "Yeah if you ask me, beating them to an inch of their lives doesn't exactly sound like graciously allowing them sanction don't ya think?" Flint chuckled mockingly before he bowed. "Your royal heinousness!"
"I won't ask you again, flame-retardant mongrel…" The Skarmory seethed with a trembling rage. "WHERE. IS. SHE?!"
"Inside voices please!" Flint playfully retorted, plugging his ear canals with his fingers.
Some buzzing noise could be heard "Yezzz, Waspinator thinkz Metal-Bird is blowing out Claw-Cat's earzz.'' There was rustling from the bushes nearby. From its leaves emerged a Beedrill, his wings buzzed incessantly as he darted to and fro in the air. Following closely behind, a Sneasel with a beret atop his head who was covering both of his ears waddled into view. Buzzsaw shot a glance over his shoulder and eyeballed both of subordinates with an intense glare.
"Yeah boss! Y'know how sensitive my ears can be!" The Sneasel hissed.
"NONSENS FOO— Oh wait shit. Sorry Chimbua" for a moment Skarmory gave out a wheezing cough and adjusted his breath. "Is this better…?" Skarmory muttered in a surprisingly sotto-like albeit raspy voice, no longer screaming at the top of his lungs.
Flint could see in the corner of his eye Felix shaking his head and flexing his ears. For a moment Felix relaxed and loosened up a bit. With the reassurance he needed, the Blaziken decided that some jesting was in order of the court.
"Too quiet!" Flint goaded. "C'mon even baby Whismur are louder than this!"
At the corner of his eyes, he saw Felix wince with his twin tails puffing up thought amused him as he snickered underneath his breath.
Buzzsaw gave Flint a deathly glare before the realisation hit him like a pile of bricks. "Oh … so you're going to be like that? The steel bird screeched out as he prowled closer, wings flared out, ready to slash.
The sneasel was writhing on the ground, clenching his ears. Felix was covering his ears as well. Waspinator winced as he too tried to cover his ears, but came to the realisation that he had no hands.
"Metal Bird is too loud! Claw-Cat and Waspinator sayzz— "
"Quiet down you miserable wasp!" Skarmory bellowed, who then began to violently shake like a mad ragdoll. "I'm the king around here! You're supposed to heed to my every command, you insufferable ignoramuses!"
"Bruh, that ain't a word you overgrown— '' In an earsplitting moment, the horrific screeching and scraping of rusted, grainy metal thundered in Flint's ears, while Felix and Chimbua screamed out in pain. The skarmory's body vibrated like an egg beater as he bellowed in rage.
"Enough talk! It's time for a welp like you to learn what true pain really is!—"
But before the Skarmory readied himself to hurl his body towards the Rescue Ranger, he was abruptly interrupted as Flint whipped out his finger with a self-asserted grin.
"Oh really? Is that so?" Flint addressed the armour-plated buzzard, feeling cocky as ever., "Then before you lose your feathers, tell me this! You got a warrant on—"
"Die!" Buzzsaw screamed as he slammed the air with his wings, hurling piercing white sickles of wind at the Blaziken.
Flint's eyes widened in shock, ducking and dodging before cart-wheeling backwards as a barrage of jagged air slammed and sliced into the ground.
"I'll take that as a no…" Flint snarked.
Buzzsaw howled in rage. "Tear these fools apart! Shred them into ribbons! Especially that insufferable blaziken!"
Buzzsaw sneered as he looked toward the bushes and trees, the leaves rustling faster and faster and … nothing. The overgrown bird narrowed his eyes, frustratingly darting his gaze to and fro. "I SAID, ATTACK!" Silence. Silence and the sound of Flint rolling his neck.
And then a hastily thrown rock bounced against his steel plated feathers, with a crumpled up note written on it.
Buzzsaw picked it up with his talons and unfurled the ball with his beak. Peering down at it with narrowed eyes, he mumbled under his breath, feathers ruffling as his left eye twitched.
Silence. Silence and mor—
An unearthly screech shook the air and the ground, the trees vibrated with the harrowing rage of it's ruler. Man this guy sure sounds like a Buzzsaw, a really rusty one at that. Flint thought to himself.
A dreadful hiss corrupted from Buzzsaw, as he stamped his talons on the ground. "Those … miserable cowards. Pathetic, worthless, yellow bellied …" The Skarmory trembled.
Felix shivered as he looked on. He shakily whispered in awe at the full grown skarmory throwing a temper-tantrum. "H-he's acting like a four year old who- who was told he couldn't get ice cream for supper… wow."
With the Skarmory abandoned, Flint chuckled boldly. "So much for your royal subjects huh? You'd think 'your majesty' would be able to train up better forces." He snarked."Suppose that warrant would come in real—
Buzzsaw dived at flint, eyes full of rage. "Fine! I'll just have to gut you myself! You self-roasting Unfezant!"
The Blaziken smirked as he leapt out of the way, a silver streak flashed by and soared into the air. As he soared into the skies, Buzzsaw sneered at Flint as his wrists started to spark and crackle, combusting into blazing cuffs of flames. Flint assumed a combat ready stance as he adjusted his avian goggles over his eyes. With a self-asserted grin, Flint beckoned the bird, flicking his claws towards himself.
Face convulsed with rage, Skarmory hovered as he began shaking himself furiously, launching multiple thin white slivers of energy in every direction. The slashes wizzed and sliced through the air, slamming and felling trees in an instant. Waspinator and Chimbua hot-footed away and stumbled to the ground in a panic. Felix and Bella dove against the grassy ground as a tree toppled behind them.
"Hey! Watch where you're firing those things, Boss!" Chimbua hissed.
"Nyooh! Wazzpinator don't want to be cut into ribbonzz!" the Beedrill wailed.
Meanwhile, Flint weaved his way through the Skarmory's bombardment of attacks with ease, having fun as though he was playing a lethal game of limbo. Buzzsaw stopped shaking like a madman to take a breather. As the Skarmory wheezed, panting like a Houndour, Flint saw his opportunity to strike. Flint unfurled into a front handspring and rocketed into the air. Flint slammed his leg at the back of Buzzsaw's head, the alloy flexing before both plummeted into the ground.
"And yet another perfect landing!" Flint bragged … for all of two seconds before a talon slammed into his stomach. Skidding against the gravel, Flint twirled around before slamming against a tree with a grunt "Cheap shot!"
Buzzsaw clawed up from the ground, croaking and cawing in rage. "You damn, flightless little— I'll sever you in two!" The Skarmory's entire body glew a ghastly shade of blue, looking like the sky itself. His eyes glowed with hatred as he launched into the air.
Looping back from the sky, the skarmory dived towards the ground. His metal body enveloped in a blue bird-shaped aura. Buzzsaw picked up speed as he flew closer and closer to the ground, his wings slowly closing. Accelerating as the glow intensified.
"A'right, you wanna play it like that? Come on then! Hit me!"
Flint's body started to glow a faint red, embers emitting from the ends of his feathers. His eyes glowed a bright white as fire encircled him. Flint condensed the flames towards his core and unleashed an extremely powerful, catastrophic gout of flame. The eruption collided against the dive bombing Buzzsaw. The air shook and crackled as both pushed for superiority. The air around them combusted until ….
Flint screamed. The fire intensified, shattering buzzsaw's head crest as the flames overpowered him, blue glow overwhelmed by red.
And then the forest was on fire.
Flint's heart jumped to his throat. A horrific realisation slamming to the forefront of his brick of a head. "SHIT! Dad's going to kill me if this shit isn't put out pronto! Shit, shit, shit!" Flint attempted to douse the flames by stamping his feet, which only worsened the blaze.
He continued to dart to and fro, goosebumps on his skin, he flicked around his gaze darting around as the flame and smoke engluf's his vision, unable to hear due to the burning brimstone that is now the forest. His mind was choked by the smog, growing sluggish as the fire grew larger and larger, engulfing the forest in a raging blaze.
"Damn it, I need air," Flint coughed.
"You." Buzzsaw snarled at him. Flint whirled behind him, and saw the Skarmory. The air in front of him wavered and distorted with every passing second. "The moment these accursed flames die out, I will make you wish you have died here. You don't burn down part of my kingdom." Letting out a hiss, He flapped his wings as he darted from view, soaring above the treetops.
Flint stared upwards as he watched the steel type disappear from view. Letting out a wheezing cough, Flint doubled back into a dash. "Forget the Skarmory, he ain't worth it." He huffed to himself. "I gotta make sure the others are okay." The flames raged on as he chased after two screams from afar.
XXX
"W-what the hell is this guy doing? Is he trying to get everyone killed?!" Felix hissed as he frantically looked around as the entire forest was engulfed in a wave of flickering orange light. He was hoping the blaze wouldn't reach where both he and Bella were, having moved from where flint put them to now cowering under a canopy of logs and moss.
"W-w-we have to get out of he-ere!" Felix cried, hastily trying to find an opening for him and Bella to escape. In the midst of the blaze, Chimbua frantically scampered in all directions like an idiot, with his arms on his rear as his tail was on fire. Waspinator buzzed and whizzed around to avoid being crushed by the falling debris while Chimbua started to scrape and drag his flaming arse against the ground.
"I…"I can't!" Bella whimpered, Felix's ears twitched as he turned around. Tears were flowing down her face as she huddled close to the ground. "I-I can't move!" She hiccuped. "I don't want to burn up! We're gonna die!"
Felix knelt down and put both paws beside the Shroomish. "Hey! Listen to me! You can move and you won't burn up!" He assured her with a shaky voice.
"How can you be so sure?" Bella wailed.
"I know that you have to!" He answered in haste. "I'm scared out of my wits here but we have to get out of here! Just stay low to the ground and stick with me, I'll promise we'll make it out alive!"
Felix's heart thumped in his chest. He looked in all directions and found a possible exit "H-hey, look this way! There's less fire in this direction Bella!"
However Felix's hackles raised up again at the sharp sound of cracking and creaking of timber. He turned around and his eyes widened. His heart stopped as he took a step forward.
He moved without thinking as he lunged towards Bella's wailing form and crashed into her. The both of them tumbled forward as the oak crashed behind them, shaking the ground with a resounding boom.
Felix slowly raised his head from the dirt, unfurling and rolling onto his side. "Y-you okay?" He stammered. Seemingly untouched, Bella slowly opened her eyes to be met with his. At that moment her eyes sparkled as she saw a Pokémon of conviction standing before her.
Chimbua propped himself up and dusted his fur off, turning to Waspinator. "Looks like I have no choice... " he grimaced. "Ay Bug Boy, promise you won't laugh… please…!"
"Wazzpinator don't care! Wazzpinator don't want to be burnt to ashezz!" The bug type pleaded as he struggled to douse the flames on his wings.
Chimbua drew in a deep breath and exhaled to release the tension.
From a distance, The Meowstic's ears perked up as he glanced over his shoulder. Oh no, just when things couldn't get worse..!
Chimbua blushed as he began … swaying his hips and waving his arms slowly with such grace. Felix continued to watch as he saw the Sneasel grimace. Waspinator's compound eyes began glistening with light as the bug looked on in awe.
Felix's frightful face turned into a confused bewilderment ... Wha-?
In one last graceful move, the sneasel brought his arms into the sky and chanted something unintelligible … followed by a mewl leaving his lips. It was then that a dark cloud began forming above the entire forest and began pouring down. The rain seemed to make Chimbua's performance sparkle as he grit his teeth and hissed..
Waspinator began clapping his two drills together. "Wazzpinator think Claw Cat's performance izz most beautiful thing Wazzpinator has ever seen!" The Beedrill buzzed as he wiped a tear from his eye with his ginormous drill.
"S-shut up!" Chimbua hissed as his face flushed with a bright red.
Was that rain dance I witnessed…? Felix pondered. I can't help but admire his bravery for doing something so embarrassing…
Felix's ear's twitched as he heard something scraping above him, before seeing Buzzsaw swoop down and land in front of Chimbua. His metal hide sizzled with every raindrop that fell as he scowled at his minion.
"... boss, what in the distortion happened to your c-crest ..." Chimbua stammered.
"You'll be the one distorted if you don't shut up!" He stamped the ground, grimacing all the while.
"Not even a standing ovation for Claw-Cat?" Waspinator whimpered.
"Standing ovation? Standing Ovation?! Standing ovation my blunt talons! Make yourself useful for once in your miserable little lives and help your king!" Buzzsaw bellowed, before coughing.
As the Meowstic stood there with Bella like a deer in the headlights, Waspinator glanced over towards the two in the distance. Felix felt a sharp shiver crawl from his ears to the ends of his twin tails.
"Look! Wazzpinator found Twin-Tails and Shroom Girl!" exclaimed the Beedrill as he pointed his drill towards Felix and Bella.
"Then what are you standing around for?! After them!" Squawked Buzzsaw as he spun around.
"But Boss! I don't wanna hit a girl! I can't!" Chimbua squeaked out.
"Then what the hell am I paying you for?!"
Chimbua stared quizzically at the skarmory. "How much am I getting paid again boss? Last I remember I couldn't even buy a block of noodles at the— "
Buzzsaw bent down, and stared Chimbua in the eye. "Here is a better idea, do as I say!"
"Nurgh, Wazzpinator don't get paid enough for thizzz Wazzpinator and Claw-Cat don't get paid at all!'' Waspinator grumbled as he buzzed towards Felix and Bella.
"W-WAIT!" Felix screamed out, shocking Waspinator and Chimbua to a dead stop.
"What izzz it?" Waspinator buzzed. Right behind him, buzzsaw could be heard slapping his face with his wing.
"Y-Y'know, A-a-human can't be poisoned r-right? I'm a poison-type! Poi-oison types can't poison other poison types… right?"
Buzzsaw drooped his wings and scowled at the kitten. "... You must be dumber than Waspinator! I don't know what even a human is, but I know that you are not one of ... whatever those are!"
"Yeah! Wazzzpinator knows a poizzzzin type when he seeezzz one! All Wazzpinator seezz is a Meowzzztic!"
"Waspinator…" Buzzsaw snarled.
"Yezz Metal-bir—"
"SHUT. UP!"
"D'aww…"
The trio turned back toward Felix and Bella, who were slowly slinking away. Felix froze when they settled their eyes on him.
"Run!" Felix yelped as he grabbed the Shroomish and began scampering through the charred debris of fallen trees. Chimbua and Waspinator repeatedly slashed the trunks as they mercilessly pursued their targets. Waspinator started to spin violently in a drill-like motion as it raised its arms above its head, shredding the fallen vegetation like paper.
Felix and Bella frantically ducked and wove their small bodies through the crevices and nooks as the beedrill spiralled through the scraps, debris and dirt were flung into the air.
Chimbua leapt onto a fallen branch, and slipped, falling straight into a muddy puddle that he created from his dance. Jolting up, Chimbua snarled. "I had enough of this shit!" The sneasel then created small clumps of ice in the air that shaped themselves into sharp icicles before throwing wildly in the direction of Bella and Felix … only to end up hitting Waspinator in the back.
"GnOw! Watch where you're aiming!" Waspinator buzzed
"Oh suck it up princess! I'm pissed off!" the Sneasel hissed.
Eventually both Felix and Bella reached a dead end in the form of a rocky cliff-face, Felix plopped Bella onto the ground and took a stance in front of her.
"A'ight you slippery little buggar, No more running! No more hiding! And no more lookin at me without me knowing!'' Chimbua growled exasperatedly as he flashed his claws.
Waspinator readied his two drills as they glew a sickly purple, slowly hovering towards the Meowstic. "Yezz, Wazzzpinator engage enemy!"
Felix felt his stomach fall into his feet as he reared his head up high while trying not to quiver. "Urm… t-that won't be n-neccesary? W-we can be civilised about this, right?
Bella slowly retreated behind both of Felix's fluffy Twin-Tails.
"I'm DONE being civil with you folk." The Sneasel hissed. "Ain't nobody gettin' away making fools outta us!"
"H-how have I made a fool out of you? I just woke up!" Felix stammered before tripping over his tails.
"I don't want you knowin' I danced! A few knocks to the head and no one remembers!" Chimbua's face was a cherry red as he berated Felix.
"B-But I thought it was a g-good performance..!"
"Wazzpinator sayzz Twin-Tailz has a point. Youzz do have the movezzz" Waspinator shrugged.
"S-shut up!" Chimbua's cheeks were as red as could be.
"I-I-I-Its true!" Bella whimpered. "It was so graceful t-too!"
"Yezz! Thatzz what Wazzpinator is talking about! Wazzpinator thinkzz Claw-Cat shouldn't be embarrazzed!"
"Y-uh… You really think so…?"
In the distance, several footsteps of fire and metallic shrieking could be heard.
"Y-Y-Yeah!" Felix stuttered with a jittery smile. "Y-you've got a great talent! There's no need to be ashamed of it! I-I-I Think you could really s-s-show it off rather than working for that boss of yours…!"
"Show it off…?" Chimbua pondered, retracting his claws to scratch his chin. "I suppose it would be better than working for that stupid Skarmory…"
But before Chimbua could reconsider his change in career, A loud metal boom sounded off in the distance.
Both goons glanced over their shoulder at the direction of a shrilling metallic sound that seemed to get louder and louder. And before they knew it, their boss slammed into the both of them and the three of them all crashed into a nearby tree.
Flint was panting as he strode towards Felix and Bella. "Ooh kay, you two are alive, that's a relief."
Buzzsaw glared, squawked and flew away, Flint went to pick up a rock and flicked it at the bird's head with a loud 'tink' as he disappeared into the hazy grey sky. Flint chuckled to himself with a fist-pump.
"Ay who's the chicken now ay tough-guy?" Flint retorted, dusting his hands off with a puff.
With an exhaustive sigh of relief Felix shook his head and marched towards the Rescue Ranger, his tired mind exasperated and intent on giving him an earful.
As he approached, Flint turned around with a reassuring smile. "Y'know, I gotta hand it to ya kid." He huffed. "You did good lookin' after that shroomish, you're a lot braver than I thou—"
"What the hell is wrong with you!" Felix yowled out with frazzled fur, his twin tails were as puffy as a zigzagoon's. "You nearly got all three of us killed!"
Bella quivered and whimpered as she shook off the ashes and soot from her small body.
"Urm… You're welcome?" The Blaziken snapped back. "Let's be real, for a sec, you see anyone else around here who can fend off that stupid buzzard or whatever-his-name-is? You would've been Skarmory-chow hadn't I helped!"
"And look where that got us!" Felix motioned his paws to the half charred forest, and to Chimbua, who waved awkwardly. "N-Not only did you destroy an entire forest but you left me, s-someone who just woke up in the middle of n-nowhere with no idea where they are and, to try not to end up dead or have someone else get hurt!" He growled, his breath shaking.
"Oh yeah? Well I find that hard to believe coming from some lunatic who claims that he's human!" The Blaziken squawked as he towered over the Meowstic, lightly shoving him with a push of his finger against his head "And now you decide to act like you're tough shit?"
"I'm not! I'm scared out of my wits right now! And so is— "
"Freeze Twin-Tailzzz! Burn-Bird!"
"Oh will you just shut u—!" Flint suddenly froze as he saw Bella squirming in Waspinator's clutches as he pointed one of his drills towards her forehead.
"Waspinator sayzz Burn-Bird and Twin-Tails should stay back or Shroom Girl gets big needle in her head!"
Felix's eyes dilated, as he slowly reached for a tree branch by his feet.
Flint chuckled to himself as he slowly leered at Waspinator. "Yeah, you wouldn't, you don't have the guts."
"Waspinator hazz gutzz! But soon Shroom Girl will have none! S-so stay back Burn-Bird!"
Felix took step after step, circling around Waspinator. He could barely feel his heart thumping in his chest, only focused on the bug narrowed his eyes at Felix. Bit by bit, Felix's ears unfolded, and heard Flint's voice echo within his head. The hell is he doing? He couldn't let Bella get hurt. He could feel Flint turn toward him, before he felt the blaziken shake his head and turn towards Waspinator with a smirk.
"Y'know, I just gotta get this off my chest real quick. Waspinator is such a terrible name!" Flint admitted nonchalantly.
"B-B-But Wazzzpinator think itzz a cool name! Strikezz fear into heartzz of enemiezz!" The Beedrill insisted.
"Oh please, the only thing it strikes me as is absolutely stupid!" Flint chuckled. "Although now that I think of it, it suits you!"
"Waspinator not afraid of Burn-Bird! Waspinator thinkzz Burn Bird will stop mocking once Shroom Girl is in pieces!'' Waspinator whirred as he brought his drill closer to Bella, who let out a squeal.
"Urm… hey… Waspinator…? I think it's best that we just think about this for a moment, yeah? Might be wiser to just… walk away?" Chimbua pleaded to the Beedrill.
"Not like bug-brains here would know any better." Flint scoffed.
"Then Wazzpiantor suggests that Burn-Bird let Waspinator and Claw-Cat slowly retreat with hostage! And—"
A sharp, sudden, and wooden pain slammed into the back of Waspinator's head. Followed by a panicked meep.
"Ough! Gaargh! Why you hit Wazzpinator- OW! Stop!"
Felix slammed the branch against Waspinator's head again. "Let her go!" Another slam. "You're hurting her!" Waspinator's exoskeleton cracked with the next hit. "You won't kill her!" The bug type let go with the next one. "Let her go, you sick freak!" Felix grabbed the branch with both paws like a baseball bat, before slamming it downward into Waspinator's back.
Waspinator started to sprawl and whine on the floor, covering his head with his two drills as Felix thrashed the poor bug without mercy.
Chimbua watched on as his accomplice was beaten within an inch of his life. The sneasel took a step back, covering his eyes with his claws. "OH man, that's rough even for him, c'mon!"
"Woaaah there!" Flint shoved his arm in between the cat and the bug. "Chill out man! I think the bad-guy's beaten now! Sweet Arceus man!"
Felix paused, panting raggedly, before dropping the branch as both he and Flint looked at the now-flattened Waspinator, with crooked wings and roughed-up body.
"Gnouh… Waspinator has a headache in his entire body…!" Whimpered the Beedrill before he collapsed onto the floor, limp.
"W-What happ- oh. Oh dear Arceus. Oh god. P-please don't tell me I-I." Panicked Felix as he fell to his knees.
"Eh…" Flint looked at the bug once again, who seemed to murmur. "I reckon he'll walk it off… hopefully." He knelt down and poked waspinator with a twig, who twitched with a slight whimper. "Yeah, he's alive alright."
"T-thank you so much for saving me!" Bella wailed as she began sprinting towards Flint.
Flint gave a self-asserted smile, "Hey! No problem ma'am, just doing my duty as a resc—"
Bella darted past the Blaziken, as she leapt over the Waspinator's shattered and battered form before snuggling herself into Felix's arms as she began to cry tears of joy. Flint was astonished. "Urm… Hello? Rescue Ranger?"
Felix simply stood there as the Shroomish drenched his fur with tears. He did not know what to make of all of this and was more worried about poor Waspinator.
"Anyone home in there?!" Flint exclaimed, the Meowstic was quickly snapped back into reality.
"O-oh? What was that Flint? I d-d-didn't quite hear you…" Felix tittered with an uncertain smile.
"Ugh, nevermind..." Flint scoffed. "I appreciate your 'gratitude' n' all but we really gotta move pronto before my dad finds out about this…!"
Felix noticed that Flint was tapping his foot against the ground. I halfway hope he gets in trouble for this madness. He thought to himself. Then again, the bird was his … guide to civilization ...
A branch crunched, and the group turned around to see Chimbua slowly tip-toe his way out, only to slowly turn around like a deerling in the headlights with an anxious grin.
"Oh? And just where do you think you're going?." Flint said rather nonchalantly as he casually approached Chimbua, who tried to scamper away before Flint picked him up from the leg and held him upside down.
"H-h-hey man… I don't want no trouble, okay? I was just following orders y'know…!" Chimbua pleaded.
Flint simply flicked Chimbua on the nose. A mewl escaped from the cat's mouth.
"Look, no hard feelings but I gotta take you in just so you could help me convince my dad not to grill my ass over going sight-seeing again, 'kay?"
Chimbua put his paws up. "Look man, whatever you say." He shrugged.
"Good, cuz at least you won't have to pay for prison food." Flint snarked.
"But I'm not even an outlaw! I'm just a guy working for his boss! That's all! Right?" Chimbua pleaded.
Flint gave Chimbua a nonchalant glare as he dangled the cat from his ankle. He huffed. "Yeah, and that makes you an accomplice, numbnuts." The sneasel gulped before waving his claws at Flint, followed by a nervous titter.
Felix scampered towards Flint out of concern for the sneasel. "Urm… Flint, could you kindly put him down…? I think you're h-hurting him…!"
Flint glanced down at the Meowstic near his leg. "Yeah yeah, I'll be careful with Mr twinkle-toes over here, isn't that right?" Flint chuckled to himself as he briefly shook the sneasel out of jest. Felix's face scrunched up in exasperation. "If it wasn't for him, this forest would still be on fire!"
Bella waddled up beside Felix. "Yeah! You're seriously lucky that he had rain-dance on him!" the shroomish puffed. "Although, I did think it was a very nice performance…" Bella blushed.
Chimbua momentarily flustered as before, rubbing the back of his head in response. "Y… you mean that wasn't just a bluff…?"
"I-it's true!" Felix nodded. "You're a pretty good dancer!"
Flint facepalmed, pinching the bridge between his eyes. Rolling his eyes with a hesitant huff, Flint frowned. "Oh, alright! I suppose he did us a favour" Flint acknowledged rather begrudgingly.
"Wait, what? Even YOU saw, you overgrown takeout bucket?!" Chimbua shrieked, his face once again becoming feverish with embarrassment.
"Ugh… it's always the poultry-insults, but yeah, I saw alright!" Flint snarked as he shook his head. "Although your footing needs a bit of work."
"Screw you!" Chimbua exploded into a flurry of desperate slashes at the bird, only for Flint to draw his arm out further with a shit-eating grin on his face.
"Man, I just love that I'm so much taller than you, I just can't take you seriously!" Flint smirked.
He hunched down towards the ground and motioned for Bella to come closer, keeping Chimbua at arm's length. "Anyways… It's Bella, right? You happen to have Stun-Spore on ya?"
Bella cautiously approached the Blaziken "Yes?… Why?"
"Great!" Flint exclaimed. "I'm just gonna have you use it on him so that he doesn't get up to any funny business. Got it?"
"Oh… okay…" The Shroomish murmured.
"As for you..!" Flint gently sets Chimbua on the ground before taking several steps away before turning to Felix. "You might wanna cover your nose for this one."
"R-right…" Felix covered his face with both of his paws.
Bella released a cloud of orange powder from the hole on the top of her head towards Chimbua as he winced. He crumpled to the ground as his arms and legs went slack, as if he had walked into a spinarak's web. He felt all sensation in his limbs disappear. "This is so degrading..." The Sneasel grumbled.
Flint picked up the limp cat while pinching his own nostrils and swung him onto his back to be piggybacked.
"Right then! now that's outta the way, let's get a move on shall we?" Flint smirked.
"O-Oh, okay!" Felix followed Flint with Bella not too far behind and went on their way.
As they walked off into the distance, Waspinator began to twitch and move again. The underside of his thorax glowing pink, his wounds sealing and healing within moments. The bruises that Felix inflicted on his head began to vanish as he shook his head. The glow intensified as an odd marking appeared. It looked similar to a pink cat, sticking its tongue out, as if playfully mocking someone. "Gnoh... When Claw-Cat getzz injured, he getzz rescued, but when Wazzpinator injured, nobody rescue or stay with waspinator! Why doezz univerzze hate Wazzpinator…?" Waspinator grumbled as he dragged his battered,bruised, yet healing body across the floor. "Wait for Wazzpinator, Metal Bird!"
XXX
Buzzsaw exhaustedly flew across the treetops, the edges of his wings hitting the occasional canopy, clumsily flapping his metal wings with several loose quills flinging onto nearby trunks. He was grumbling curses underneath his breath, like scratches on a pipe.
"That cocky… punk of a Rescue Ranger! He thinks he's a real hot-shot doesn't he? Damn him and his stupid Meowstic buddy! Damn him! Who the hell does he think he is?!" Buzzsaw shrieked in frustration.
"He has no right to intrude upon my domain, interfere with my affairs and completely humiliate me! And my own minions… no… Those deserters! They left me on my own! How dare they!?" He shrilled, straining his voice until his throat shrivelled up.
Buzzsaw scrunched his neck, forcing out a whiny whimper. 'Oh no! Sorry boss! He's too powerful!' Buzzsaw scoffed "Pointless excuses from pointless whelps!"
"Why is it that I'm always the only one who ends up doing anything around here!? Why must I always end up having to do everything for my deadbeat minions!? There's no reliable help these days!"
"I'll find those traitors yet! And I'll… oh clawing their eyes out will be so rewarding. Each and everyone of them! They'll pay with their lives!" Buzzsaw cackled to himself until he fell into a wheezing cough. "And as for that damned shroomish… Ohohoho! I'll make sure she suffers dearly for disobeying my law!"
The Skarmory grunted as he felt his balance shift. He couldn't fly in this state, not for long. Slowly but surely, he lost his altitude, before unceremoniously skidding against the rough ground and soil of the forest. He shook himself violently to unearth himself and spat out a ball of dirt. "Gaugh! Fine! I'll waddle all the way there if I have to! Fortunately I know where to find reliable help!"
The 'king of the forest' limped his way down a steep incline, the dense canopy of the trees above began to choke out the afternoon sunlight as Buzzsaw hopped from log, to root, to stone, to ground. His metal talons slipped on one of the rocks and he tumbled down a small, sodden ditch, his hide clanging and crashing against each hard surface before spiralling onto the ground.
Shaking, Buzzsaw slowly raised his head from the ground, panning to his left to face a large entry. Its frame was lined with large, fat roots. It's as though the dusty grey trunks were woven together, sinewing into an imposing arch that towered over the two vigilant Frodadiers, meditating on the ground, legs crossed.
Buzzsaw used his steel wings to push himself off the ground, falling back into a clumsy swagger as he began to approach the entrance. The two frogs each opened an eye, peering with judging eyes onto their visitor.
"Speak you miserable bird. What happened to that crest of yours?" One ribbited.
Bringing himself to a halt with a heavy stamp onto the dusty floor, Buzzsaw glared as he puffed himself up. "That isn't any concern for mere sentries! Now move aside you amphibious boobs! I demand to speak with your boss! Right. This. Second!" Buzzsaw shrieked, flashing his tattered wings in a vague attempt to intimidate the pair. The two frogs looked at each other, one of them rolling his eyes, the other shaking his head with disdain.
"Our Master wishes not to be disturbed. We urge you to take your petty squabbles elsewhere, buzzard." The one to the right explained. Neither of the frogs flinched.
"Don't make me lob those 'Petty' heads of yours and have them SQUABBLING on the floor!" The Skarmory roared as he took a step forward.
"Again, our master does not wish to be disturbed. Or do you wish to have a crack added to your beak?" The one to the left sneered.
Buzzsaw hissed. "You know… Frog leg soup is sounding mighty delectable right now"
The Frogadier on the right drew a hefty sigh, and the both of them sprang up onto their webbed feet in a defensive stance. The duo held their hands together, creating a wave of water that flowed between their palms, before looking upwards. Buzzsaw sneered, refusing to back down as he flashed his tattered wings at them once again.
The Frogadiers gave a passing glance at each-other, one of them nodded before turning to confront Buzzsaw with a glare. "You besmirch your welcome and his honour with your foul temperament, you flying rat." The one on the right said sternly.
The other whipped out three, small black beads, twiddling with each one between his webbed fingers. "Do you wish to have a squadron called here?" The other added with a growl.
"Oh! OH! I'll do more than besmirch his 'excellency's' honour if you don't let me THROUGH THIS INSTANT!" Buzzsaw cackled as his wings started to glow.
"Only a fool would challenge us in such a sorry state, You've sentenced yourself to death you—"
A deep voice echoed from behind the two guards, causing them to stiffen in alarm. "Let him in, I grow tired of his constant prattling.
"Yes Master." The two reverently bowed as they shifted aside for Buzzsaw.
Buzzsaw glared at the two frogaiders as he passed by them, grumbling under his voice.
"Hmmph!" Buzzsaw held his head high as he waddled through the entry, snootily sticking up his rear towards the two of them as he left. The Frogadiers turned away from the prideful buzzard as Buzzsaw strutted inside and the doors closed behind him...
Buzzsaw marched forward for his first few steps, before falling into a wheezing fit. That damnable Blaziken had harmed him far more than he ever wanted to admit, and now he was now… now. Buzzsaw shivered as he spat out the words in a hoarse whisper. "A being magnificent as me… begging."
A light clink rang through the hallways, Buzzsaw's head shot up and stiffened as straight as a railroad spike as he drooped his wings. He looked around the almost pitch-black hallway frantically searching for the faintest sign of reassurance. Surely a magnificent specimen such as himself would not allow himself to be frightened by darkness… right?
His worries soon faded as the faint sound of a stringed instrument could be heard. As he took his steps forward, the way illuminated, candles lit on each side of him. The sides of the walls were illuminated by the soft glow of candles, revealing seashells of differing kinds plastered against the walls.
When the candle light graced the ceiling, the image of a black and white lotus could be seen. It seemed inviting enough, perhaps a bit much for Buzzsaw's tastes. There was just something about the atmosphere that conjured an almost haunting quality about the place. It must be the large roots that made up the majority of its arching structure.
The Skarmory continued prodding along the hallway. Drawing nearer towards the elegant twining of the instrument. The more he drew closer he heard deep, muffled voices from the end of the hall with several more light chinks. Buzzsaw felt oddly reassured, it sounded like… fine dining? The thought crossed his mind that if he didn't hurry sooner, he'd be made into silverware himself though he quickly dismissed such a gruesome thought with a scoff.
As the warm light emanated from a large, arched frame, Buzzsaw began to approach more cautiously. Stretching one spindly and serrated foot after the other. He wasn't sure why but it just felt… safer. The metal buzzard soon retreated behind the cover of the doorframe, peering his yellow beady eyes into the room.
His eyes were immediately drawn to a beautiful and elegant Mienshao, playing a rather strange string instrument as though she was in a trance. She sat towards the far right of the room. In the centre was a very short, and stubby table with a black-satin finish. It was elongated, facing vertically from the back of the room and towards the entrance. It was very minimalist in nature, and only two figures sat cross legged on the floor, facing each other at opposite ends of the table. There was a Greninja with glossy black skin, croaking silently as he poured some sort of herbal tea into a tiny wooden cup from an intricately decorated tea-pot.
Buzzsaw's face scrunched up as the strong herbal stench burned the insides of his nostrils. What kind of stupid tea is that? He grimaced in his mind. The wooden cup would soon be picked up by some rather stubby appendages as it was met with the face of an Accelgor, who took a gentle sip. The thought of drinking such foul-smelling tea made Buzzsaw cringe. What a moron! He's actually drinking that putrid stuff? Unbelievable!
The room itself had an eerily cosy feeling as Buzzsaw turned his attention towards a bright and warm flicker of some kind of strange chandelier. The rest of the walls were lined with more odd trinkets, each intricately and beautifully detailed. There were small shelves, some ink paintings of what Buzzsaw assumed to be 'chicken-scratch' calligraphy. Each piece gave the entire room a regal presence. The Skarmory felt a sharp chill down his spine at the sights.
Buzzsaw winced and ducked his head behind the cover as he began to hear voices from the room.
"You got the good ramen right? Beef flavouring?" The Greninja murmured as he gently placed the teapot beside him on a small, crudely constructed stove. Accelgor took several light sips before placing his beverage down.
"Unfortunately, no." He grimaced. "All I could find were these Grumpig flavoured ones…" The Accelgor crossed his arms, nodding solemnly.
"Well, that truly is a shame." The off-coloured Greninja croaked as he began to pick at a small bowl with thin, brittle wooden chopsticks, feeding ramen into his mouth with a subtle slurp. "You think it has something to do with the seasons, Chell-san?"
Chell-san? I thought he was just Chell! Buzzsaw thought to himself. Either they've got several screws loose or I'm losing my damn mind!
"Seems to be the only reasonable explanation." Chell nodded. "It's not usually this popular among the commoners. Forgive me for making this compromise, Kero-san."
"Not at all." Kero croaked. "Must've been hard to weave through that crowd just to get that ramen wouldn't you say?"
"As if that were a problem for us to begin with." Chell grumbled. "Still mocking my height as always… typical."
"Regardless." Kero mumbled as he slurped more of his ramen down. "Has there been any anomalies with our other settlements?"
"Hardly," Chell deadpanned. "It's been quiet lately… as it should be."
"I agree, we wouldn't wish to disappoint Sensei—"
There was a sudden, heavy thud, as the Greninja looked over Accelgor's shoulder. What he saw was a Buzzsaw, who fell over after leaning a bit too far. The Mienshao halted her melody with an awkwardly sharp 'twang' that reverberated in until she pressed her paw against the string. She opened one of her eyes to see the rather… pathetic sight of the skarmory shuffling against the ground.
"Oh, it's you. The scrap heap of a bird." A deep voice echoed from far ahead. Buzzsaw slowly raised his head and began rattling as he gazed towards the back of the room. The Skarmory trembled as there sat a gargantuan and bulky figure that was obscured within a blanket of darkness. He could barely make out the imposing silhouette that was sitting cross-legged, overseeing the entire room. Rapid clicks and clacks could be heard from the figure at the end, with a hint of gurgling.
The Accelgor tilted toward the figure, "Goro-sama, have you cleared your throat lately? That one sounded drier than usual."
"It would be within your best interests to have some tea with us." The Greninja snickered.
The figure growled from the dark, his eyes seemed to glisten with an eerie iridescence as he turned to his attention towards the hapless bird on the floor, leaning towards him ever-so-slightly before barking out an order. "Step forward."
Buzzsaw winced before he coughed to adjust his breath. "Why! Y-Yes! Of Course!" The bird chuckled nervously.
Holding his head up high, the Skarmory slowly waddled with a slightly clumsy gait before the giant figure obscured in the dark, anticipating what he had to say. Buzzsaw felt as though he had to force himself forward, lest he suffer some horrible fate.
"You better not waste my damn time you pitiful, flying rat." Goro's voice echoed through the room.
"My sincerest apologies, your excellence." Buzzsaw smiled with a shaky breath. "How it pleases me to be graced by your presence… I have come here before your omnipotence as a humbled Pokémon—"
"Spare me your prattling, you rustic sycophant!" Goro barked.
"Y-yes! My Master!" Buzzsaw squeaked before hastily covering his beak with his tattered wings. The whole room stared at him, the awkwardness swelled up inside Buzzsaw's stomach, making him hopelessly queasy. "M-my sincerest apologies!" He stammered.
The titanic silhouette slowly slouched back into his seat. Motioning as though he was rolling his eyes."Out with it already, my patience is wearing thin." A growl bubbled in Goro's throat, growing sick of the Skarmory..
"Yeesss … yes! Of course! Goro!" the Skarmory squeaked.
"Lord. Goro." snapped the Accelgor.
"Right! Where are my manners Lor-Lord! Goro!" Buzzsaw gracefully bowed before him, splaying his wings out.
"You see, well, I need your oh so gracious and magnificent help. What happened is that a miserable little urchin had— "
"And I should care because?" Pressed Goro.
Buzzsaw could just make out two pairs of small, spindly, jointed appendages pointed towards him that writhed aimlessly similar to an upturned venipede. He felt Goro's scowl weigh him down. He knew he had to get straight to the point, his life depended on it.
"R-right! It happened when one of my subordinates refused to pay tribute as per our agreement Lord Goro, I tried to pursue them but your sworn enemies, a Blaziken Rescue Ranger had trespassed onto my- er…your territory and helped them escape my lord."
"And? What was so important that you've come crawling for my help for something that your numerous 'royal subjects' couldn't handle themselves?"
At that very instance, Buzzsaw's nerves instantly froze as an answer struggled to leave his beak. "Well…erm- you see…"
Goro slammed his fist beside him, jolting Buzzsaw upwards and causing the miniature table to splinter slightly. "Really, you come into my abode." Goro inhaled sharply, his breath chuffing and segmenting with a long exhale. "My realm." Gleaming red eyes, horizontal slits of crimson glared down at Buzzsaw. "And you have the damn gall to … beg?!" The figure's voice changed to a roar, and a mocking one at that "Over one of your pansy ass SUBJECTS disobeying you!? Do you take me for a fool?"
"I-I-I Swear! Your Excellency! It's more important than-than that!" Buzzaw pleaded as he scampered backwards on his bosom, his wings desperately clawing the ground in retreat "They've escaped without prop-p-per punishment and managed to overwhelm me and my forces!"
"May I remind you that part of our agreement was that I allowed you to share this territory, bestowing upon you the privilege of monitoring it on my behalf and paying me tribute with your precious resources?"
"I-I Haven't forgotten my liege! Please! Have mercy!" The Skarmory cried.
"And yet you STILL. FAILED."
"Y-yet I'm still loyal! As per our agreement!—"
"Then deal with it yourself you idiot!!" Goro bellowed. "A mere Rescue Ranger should be nothing more than a damn toy for you, especially if you have reinforcements as incompetent as yours!"
"I beg of you! My subjects abandoned me, they deserted me!
"Do you really think that by catastrophizing your pathetic plight you hope to save yourself the suffering I intend to 'reward' for your incompetence?!"
"Calm your nerves Goro-Sama, at least hear him out before you skewer him, I'm trying to eat," the Greninja scoffed dismissively as he helped himself to more ramen.
Buzzsaw nodded as Goro glared back at him. "H-he w-wasn't alone either!" Buzzsaw yelped. "Th-here was a Meowstic ac-ccopmanying him!"
"And why should that concern me? Don't tell me you were defeated by a tiny pussycat!"
Kero choked for a moment on his ramen, trying his best not to laugh. Chell simply rolled his eyes.
Buzzsaw stammered for a moment, before a loud crash was heard down the hallway followed by the Mienshao tilting her head.
Echoing through the hallway was a spluttering, buzzing sound that seemed to draw near. Everyone turned their attention towards the arching door frame. Buzzsaw's heart sank as several more crashes were heard with a familiar voice whinging.
"Friend of yours?" Kero asked rather nonchalantly. As Waspinator zipped into the room, spiralling up, down and all around before bouncing off the floor, landing just right next to his boss. Strangely enough, the Beedrill appeared to have fully recovered, save for the rather nasty looking bruise on his head.
"Ahh! Wazzzpinator finally found Metal-Bird! Took forever but way worth it!"
"YOU!" Buzzsaw shrieked with a hint of relief, as he began to point his wings at the Beedrill.'' It w-w-was his fault! That buzzing bumbling buffoon!"
"Wazzzpinator… don't know what izzz happening here…"
"It's because of you and that feather-brained furball Chimbua that you let them get away!" Buzzsaw cawed.
As the two bickered, the sound of a sword being grabbed at the hilt in its scabbard could be heard. Goro's eyes glared at the two buffoons before him, waiting for the perfect moment to silence the two.
"But Wazzpinator did everything Metal-Bird Command! But Wazzzpinator didn't do anything wrong!"
"Of course it was your fault you bumble-dunderhead! You've had many chances to grab that insufferable cat and that urchin of a shroomish! And you blew EACH ONE."
"Nnouugh! Wazzipinator always get blamed! It's not Wazzzpinator's fault that Flame-Bird burnt down entire forezzt! Not Wazzpinator's fault Metal-Bird got metal hide kicked up hizz mandiblezz!"
Goro slowly stood up and began to draw the massive blade from its sheath. The sound of metal against leather went unnoticed by the squabbling bird and insect, only the Mienshao unfurling a paper fan in front of her face.
"WELL! Even that dunderhead of a meowstic who called themselves a human is smarter than you'll EVER be!"
A massive steel blade crashed down in front of Waspinator and Buzzsaw's face, just centimeters away from cleaving through them. A growl bubbled up from Goro's throat as he wrestled the blade out of the ground, sending splinters into the air as he forced the blade away into its leather covering.
"SILENCE!" Goro bellowed before kicking the idiotic duo, sending Buzzsaw into the air and crashing into the his associates table, shattering the fine dining, with Waspinator following suit by slamming into the wall. Kero drew out a long, dreadful sigh. With an unceremonious thump, the beedrill fell on top of his metal leader.
Goro snarled, clicking and gurgling as he marched slowly towards the duo, the heavy thuds of his large feet shook the earth with every step. Buzzsaw and Waspinator quivered as they bowed on the floor, they felt their skin crawl as the titan leaned closer, practically feeling their nerves spike with every rapid click and clack as Goro huffed some air onto their small bodies.
"What did you say… about a human?" He forced out in an obviously fake serene tone. Buzzaw's beak clattered and chammered as he choked on his words. Waspinator buzzed his wings at small, irregular intervals.
"W-w-w-w-w-w-wazzzzz-zzz-zzzpinator didn't say anything about…. Hu-hum-hum-hu…"
"Answer me, now. Stop buzzing like the mindless insect you are and use that buzz-brain of yours to come up with one complete thought! " Goro roared.
Waspinator nodded his head violently. "Pleezzzze don't kill Wazzzzpinator! Wazzzpinator hazz planzz!"
"My lord! Please! Spare me! I can confirm on his behalf! The Meowstic claimed to be human!" Buzzsaw pleaded.
"Where did they go?!" Goro bellowed "Tell me or I'll grind the both of you into dust and use your remains as fertiliser for my master's garden!"
"I-I urh… I Don't know! I'm so-sorry!"
"W-w-w-wazzzpinator saw them follow path-th-th-way to E-eden Town! Wazzpinator lazzt one to escape!"
"Eden Town…" Goro's throat gurgled.
"Goro-Sama, I believe that's the central town, where the Guild's main operating quarters are." Accelgor murmured.
"In that case, we should plan to intercept them in town…" The Greninja mused. "Goro-Sama, allow me and Chell to pursue them. This is a delicate situation, my pupils and I will be able to handle it."
Goro stood silently, his back turned to both his accomplices. "Bring that Claydol then, you may be fast but teleportation is quicker than you'll ever be. Get going Kero."
"Understood." Kero knelt.
"And get Minako to patch up the two hapless idiots, If I see them a moment longer…" Goro growled out. Mienshao bowed, turning to a nearby cabinet and ruffling through it.
"Your will shall be done." Chell added. And in a moment's flash, they vanished. Goro approached his 'throne' and slouched himself down, retreating back into the darkness.
"As I said, you two get out of my sight." The sound of Goro grabbing the hilt of his sword was heard by the bug and bird brains respectively, Buzzsaw and Waspinator scampered across the floor, crashing into each other before they whizzed out the door. Minako soon walked after them, arms full of medical supplies.
"Kero … why do you always treat everything as a delicate situation?" Goro mused as he slouched into his throne. "Why not massacre any fool who dares oppose you in that town? All that matters in this world is strength, not a bunch of fancy tricks and a legion of frogs." He cackled.
"I suppose I should fetch myself some Sake to drink, Kero should succeed. After all, it's just a meowstic and a blaziken, shouldn't be any trouble. Hiding in plain sight is his speciality."
XXX
Author's Notes:
HOLY SCRIMBLO BRIMBLO this took ages to put out! Phew! Man I just feel great for putting this out here after… What, like, two, three years of planning? Good grief man!
Hello people of the interweb! Lth-RG here! The lazy potato grand chancellor. Hope you've enjoyed this snippet of what's to come for my new fanfiction! There's definitely more of this planned in the hopefully near future so I hope you'll stay for the utter madness that is… this fanfic! … Probably!
But first, Humongous shoutout to the following beautiful bastards over at the numerous discord groups I'm in who helped me on this journey to become a big boi writer! ESPECIALLY to Just-A-Reader0Love who helped me write and look over this chapter. Seriously, you guys rock and I'm literally choking on my words here cuz I cannot express how grateful I am for you putting up with my shenanigans!
As for you! Yes you! The reader who managed to crawl through all 13.5k words just to read this small snippet here! Don't hesitate to lemme know how I can improve my craft! Please I need criticism for sustenance!
Cheers you fabulous fricks! Have a good one now y'hear?
Again, special thanks to the Just-A-Reader0Love who helped me write this dang thing, go ahead and check out their stuff on here, FFN. Seriously you'll be missing out if ya don't.
