Okay, seventh chapter! This will be a dramatic one for our Blaze, and that's all I'm saying for this chapter. Enjoy!
The Legend of Blaze – Chapter Seven – Nightmare
I took a moment to stare into the Totodile's merciless, blood red eyes. He was exactly how I remembered. Cocky and arrogant. He had an iconic battle scar on his left shoulder, earning him his nickname.
"Anyone in there?" he laughed. He then continued his little onslaught of insults.
"Are you still that useless little runt I remember from Johto? You don't look much stronger than before. In fact, you look weaker." He sneered.
"Back off, dickhead." said Bulb. "I don't know who you are, but you are pushing me to the limit. You're on the right track to a vine whip to the face!"
The Pokémon laughed. "You don't know who your messing with, Bulbasaur. My name is Scar, and if you were from Johto you would know what kind of mess you have just gotten into."
"Right, okay. You asked for this!" yelled Bulb, and he fired a vine whip towards Scar.
He sidestepped, grabbed the vine and yanked Bulb off the bench. He landed hard, right next to Scar, who had the perfect opportunity to sink those sharp teeth into my friend. Bulb cried out in pain, squirming to get out of the croc's jaw. I looked around for John or Siria, but they were nowhere to be seen, presumably back in the centre.
Scar would not let up, having released his hold on Bulb and now beating his claws into him. He looked up at me, and a tear rolled down his cheek.
"Help me, Blaze!" he cried.
I was frozen with fear. I tired to move, but could only watch. Scar used to hate me. He would always hit me and beat me, along with the rest of the team. My old trainer would always let them do it, because I was a failure in his eyes. I could do nothing but watch as Bulb was beaten. Seeing someone as strong as Bulb getting beat up so easily just reaffirmed my fear.
"Blaze! Please!" came the cries.
I had to do something. I could not let this happen. I fired up my back and stepped forward.
"Stop it, Scar."
He stopped, and looked up at me. I jumped down from the bench and looked him in the eye.
"You're going to pay." I threatened.
Scar gave a brief chuckle before attacking. He fired a jet of water towards me, and I dived to the ground. It just missed me; I could feel the air on my now flameless back. I rolled to the side to avoid a bite, and knocked him down with quick attack. He rolled into the fall and got to his feet unharmed. He laughed and shot another water jet in my direction. I dived to the side and came up his left wing with quick attack, but not to do him any damage. As I hit him, he slid on his feet a little, but didn't fall. I quickly covered the few feet between me and him, and used crush claw into the side of his head. That one hit home, sending him tumbling. He got back up and looked my in the face.
"How did you!" he stammered.
I ignored this and shot a quick glance over Bulb. It was not nice. He was unconscious and was bleeding. I had to end this quick. It was my fault he was in that state, and so now I had to help him.
I looked back to Scar. He ran forward, and tired to hit me with those claws. I was ducking and diving the best I could, but then he shot and unexpected water gun right in my face. The currant took me into the air and caused me to collide with the Pokémon Centre wall. It made a loud crunch, and I slid down. I had failed again. All I could do was hope someone in the centre heard me impact the wall. My hopes were answered as John, Siria and my old trainer bust out of the centre, with a few other trainers. John pushed his way to the front of the crowd, and gasped at the scene.
"Whose Totodile is this?" he yelled.
"That would be mine." Came the sole less, dark voice of my ex-trainer.
"My name is Terry. I used to train that runt Pokémon of yours. Looks like it's so much stronger." He mocked.
"Terry, I challenge you to a one on one battle. Now." Said John.
Terry accepted, and they took their places. By now I was struggling to keep my eyes open, and I slipped down onto my side. All I could do was hope Siria would not get too hurt in her fight, she was only young. I watched the fight unfold as I was scooped up and taken away on a stretcher next to Bulb. Terry was using his Machop, against an Eevee. My heart sank as a white glowing fist came down onto Siria. All I could do was hope for her as I slipped into unconsciousness.
I awoke some time later, and it was still light, so I was only out for a few hours. I wondered what had happed for a few moments before hopping down from the bed and making my way towards the front room. The ward was empty, and so was the front room. Apart from one person.
"Hello, runt." Grinned Terry.
He then walked up to me, and kicked me to the side.
"Time for you to meet the newest edition to the team." He sneered.
He tossed a pokeball into the air and out of it, came Bulb. My jaw dropped.
"Hello traitor!" yelled Bulb. He then whipped me across the face.
"Thought it was funny, did you? Letting scar beat me?" he yelled as he whipped again.
"You coward! Terry is right, you are a useless runt! I hate you Blaze!"
That hurt. I turned and ran. My only friend had turned on me. As I was running, I tripped over just before the door out of the centre, and banged my head. I got up, stunned but conscious, and ran out of the centre. Then the ground below me began to warp into a dark void, and I knew what was going on. Terry's Gengar was sending my sleeping body into a bad dream. As the world around my plunged into shifting shades of black a purple, I kept telling myself it was all fake. Bulb's hurtful comments were echoing all around, and I closed my eyes and tried to block them out. I had been in them before, but never this bad. As the pressure piled up, I became more and more strained. Then, just as I thought I was going to burst, it stopped. Just like that.
My new surrounding was a sunny meadow, the exact opposite of the nightmare I had just experienced. I thought it was one of Gengar's tricks, but nothing happened. I took it in my stride and lay back. I closed my eyes for a few moments, and when i opended them again, I was in the Pokémon centre's ward again. Bulb was a few beds down, so I was pretty sure this was the real world.
I looked at the window and saw it was night now. I then looked around of Gengar, but he was nowhere to be seen. I finally managed to relax. I jumped down from the bed, and scaled the wall up the window of the centre. I climbed out of it and onto the roof of the centre. I lay down on the roof and let out a sigh of relief.
Tonight I was sleeping under the stars.