CHAPTER 7
Rylan ignored Buizel and looked at Vulpix. "I owe you," he said. "I don't care if I end up being punished for this. I want to help you with this mission."
"You don't care if you get punished," Buizel snapped, "but what about Vulpix? She could be punished even more for letting you come along. Well, you know what? I'm not going to let you come."
"Vulpix has done so much for me," Rylan said. "I'm going to repay her kindness."
"Are you even listening?" Buizel asked. "Or perhaps you're just stupid? Not that I'd be surprised, given everything you've been saying and doing ever since you came here."
"I'm not stupid, stupid!" Rylan barked. Buizel's comment angered him, but he couldn't bring himself to look Buizel in the eyes.
"Can't even defend your own comebacks, can you?" Buizel asked. "You're not even looking at me."
"So?" Rylan asked. "Who cares?"
"If you have any self-respect," Buizel said, reaching over to grab Rylan, "you'll look at your enemy when you fight back. I suppose you're stupid and cowardly, then. Some explorer you are."
Vulpix was bewildered by what was taking place. It was as though Buizel had disregarded everything the two of them had just discussed.
"Look at me and call me stupid!" Buizel demanded. Rylan continued to look away. Enraged, Buizel dragged Rylan closer to his face. "I said look at me, you coward!"
"Stop it!" Vulpix cried.
Buizel fell silent. He and Rylan looked at Vulpix, who was in tears.
"Stop fighting," Vulpix said. "Both of you. You should be ashamed of yourselves. How do you think I feel about all this?"
Buizel stood there, taken aback by the fact that he had just upset his closest friend. He released Rylan and hung his head. "I'm sorry. I was out of line."
"Rylan, you next," Vulpix said. "You owe Buizel an apology."
Was she kidding? Apologize to Buizel? Buizel made his point quite clear; he did not like Rylan at all. Rylan realized that Buizel was right about one thing, though.
"I am," Rylan said.
"What?" Vulpix asked.
"You're right, Buizel," Rylan continued. "I am a coward. I was stupid to think I could be part of this guild."
Buizel gave Rylan a perplexed stare. Was Rylan trying to attract pity or was he really admitting his feelings?
"Rylan…" Vulpix started.
"No," Rylan said. "I've pushed the limit with your team. Buizel doesn't like me and I… Well, I wish I could tell you how I feel about him. It was a mistake to join your team and a mistake to register as an explorer. I'm better off on my own."
"Just… Just leave," Buizel said. "I don't want to hear your excuses, and neither does Vulpix."
"I'm going back to the guild to turn in my badge and backpack," Rylan said. "I'm sorry I wasted your time." He started to walk back to the guild.
Vulpix just watched Rylan, hoping he would turn around and say something else, like "Just kidding!" or "Maybe I need some time to think things over." However, although she hadn't known Rylan for very long, she knew he wouldn't say anything of the sort.
Before Vulpix could try and stop him from leaving, she heard a violent cracking sound and quickly noticed that a nearby tree was about to fall in Rylan's direction.
"Look out!" Vulpix yelled. Before Rylan could react, Vulpix had rushed over and shoved Rylan out of the way.
Rylan landed on the ground, bewildered, hearing a scream of pain at the same time. "What happened?" he asked.
"Vulpix!" Buizel cried. Rylan turned around and saw that Vulpix had been pinned under one of the tree branches. He desperately rushed over to her.
"Are you all right?" Buizel asked, trying to lift the branch off of her.
"Yes, I'm fine," Vulpix replied. "My back hurts, though…"
Buizel strained to lift the branch, but his strength alone couldn't move the tree. He glanced angrily at Rylan. "Well, don't just stand there!" he yelled. "Help me!"
Rylan grabbed one end of the heavy branch and helped Buizel lift it off of Vulpix. Together, they successfully moved it out of the way.
"Can you stand, Vulpix?" Buizel asked.
Vulpix attempted to stand up but winced and sat back down. "It hurts when I try," she replied.
"I'll get you back to Chansey," Buizel said. He reached down to help Vulpix up, but they were interrupted by a rather sinister cackle in the distance.
"Heh heh heh…"
A look of horror emerged on Rylan's face when he heard the laughter. "Oh, no…"
"What is it?" Buizel asked. "Spit it out!"
"It's… It's him again…" Rylan responded.
Seconds later, a familiar group of menacing Rattata surrounded Rylan, Buizel, and Vulpix. An equally menacing Raticate joined the circle, staring Rylan down with a large toothy grin.
"I knew you'd wander my way again sooner or later, boy," he said. "This time, you're lucky. I'll make this one quick and easy so you don't have time to scream."
"Did you knock over that tree?" Buizel asked Raticate.
"Heh… You catch on quickly, weasel boy," Raticate laughed. "Accidents happen, I suppose. If you don't want to be given the same treatment as this spineless little runt over here, you'd best take your foxy friend and skedaddle."
Buizel stood up. "I'm not going anywhere," he snapped. "You hurt my friend and I'm going to make you regret it."
"Ooh, weasel boy wants to play," Raticate said. His underlings sneered and laughed as well. "You think you can take us all on by yourself?"
Buizel turned his head towards Rylan. "Get Vulpix out of here," he whispered. "I'll take care of these guys."
"But—" Rylan said.
"Just get going!" Buizel hissed. "Now!"
Rylan grabbed Vulpix and dashed out of the circle of Rattata.
"Get him!" Raticate yelled, pointing toward Rylan as he fled. The Rattata quickly pursued, but Buizel dashed in front of them.
"You're not getting past me!" he warned. "Aqua Jet!"
In a burst of streaming water, Buizel dashed through the squad of Rattata, sending them reeling. He continued his attack, running straight toward Raticate.
Rylan carried Vulpix further away from where the battle was taking place. The guild was almost in sight.
"Rylan, wait," Vulpix said. "Stop."
Rylan stopped running. "What is it?" he panted.
"I can make it from here," she said. "Buizel needs help. He can't handle all those Pokémon by himself."
"But I don't know how to fight," Rylan said.
"I won't leave him," Vulpix said.
Rylan trembled. He was scared, and he certainly didn't feel he should help Buizel, but he wanted to honor Vulpix's wish.
"You can't solve all your problems by running away," said Vulpix. "If you don't try, you'll never know what you're capable of."
"Okay," Rylan said, "but be careful." He gently set Vulpix down on the grass and ran back toward Buizel…and Raticate.
"What a waste of time," Raticate spat. "You call yourself an explorer? You're not fit to explore a patch of grass."
Heavily beaten down by Raticate, Buizel was struggling underneath his Rattata underlings, who were pinning him down like Rylan had been pinned the night before. Rylan arrived and saw what was happening, but his heart flooded with fear before he could make a move.
"I did warn you," Raticate said, "but as usual, nobody ever listens to the smart guy. Time to teach you a lesson."
What am I doing?" Rylan asked himself. "Why am I just standing here? I'm such a coward… No. No, I've got to pull it together. Vulpix wants me to help Buizel. This is not the time for backing off. I've got to try." Mustering up what courage he could, Rylan emerged from the tree he was hiding behind.
"Stop," he demanded. Raticate looked up and saw Rylan. "Ooh," he grinned. "So the young fool returns."
"I won't let you hurt Buizel," Rylan said. "Let him go. I don't want to fight you."
Raticate laughed. "You really think you can take him from me? Fine, let's see which one of us is faster!" He bared his fangs, lunging at Buizel as Rylan dashed forward.