Author's Comment: Yeah, this took WAAAAY longer than the last chapter. That's what happens when I get a hold of Pokemon X! Instead of writing about Sokudo and Kowai, I spent the last week or so petting and playing with them with Pokemon Amie (That's right, I named my Ninjask and Shedinja after them)! X3 But I have been working on this chapter bit by bit in the meantime, so here it finally is! Special reviewer thanks goes to: Thewinkingme! And thanks to everyone in general for being so patient. I'm sure you guys understand!
Chapter 3: Resistance Is Futile
To say last night was a rough one is a big understatement.
Groaning as his eyes flutters open, it takes a moment for him to remember where he is. Why does his room look so different? Why does his bed feel so uncomfortable? And since when did his left wing feel so painful?
"Ah, so you're awake." comes a soft voice and Sokudo groggily looks towards it, seeing a Shedinja looking at him by the window. Since when did Kowai sound so different? And why is there an obnoxious net obstructing his view?
"Wha...?" Finally it all comes back to him in a flood and his heart stops. "Oh, shit..." Growling as all his lingering sleepiness fades away to be replaced with hatred, he tries to struggle, his efforts noticeably drained. He's been fighting to escape his prison for a good portion of the night and he just can't put his all into it anymore. It doesn't help that he injured his wing in the process. Glaring seethingly as Loren floats over, he makes another useless swipe at the husk before falling still when it speaks up.
"I trust you remember our agreement last night?" it asks calmly. "Hopefully, you're rested enough to get to work?"
"Fuck you," Sokudo snaps softly, leering at the other bug before grumbling to himself. Despite his words of hostility, he looks away seemingly in acceptance, his mind swimming. He has to get out of here, and maybe, just maybe... If he were to pretend...
Falling silent and compliant as the Shedinja floats higher, he watches as the husk cuts the line connecting the net to the ceiling and he braces himself for impact with the ground. But he feels weightless as Loren's psychic energy lowers him gently to the floor before carefully pulling the net apart in an effortlessness that pisses Sokudo off. The Ninjask takes a smooth breath, not to calm his anger, but to prepare for his next move. His wing's hurting, but he's sure he can handle it.
Just needs the right moment...
As soon as he feels the net release him, he gathers his strength in a flash of white light and charges at the Shedinja with an Aerial Ace. He feels contact with the husk and his heart leaps when Loren's thrown back against the opposite wall. Smirking, he prepares to push through his pain to grab some moondust and run, when his eyes widens.
Loren hasn't gone unconscious! But he hit it, without any interference of a Protect! It doesn't make sense!
It takes a second for Sokudo to comprehend this, to comprehend the now fading ghostly energy that has coated the shell. For a moment, he's speechless before a sputter comes from his mouth. "Bu... How..."
"Endure," Loren responds calmly despite what the Ninjask has done. "Did you really believe I would leave myself so vulnerable?" It mimics another sigh. "It does pain me to do this, but I believe it's for the best."
A silver powder comes from its wings before a strong wind kicks up right for Sokudo in a Silver Wind attack and the Ninjask barely manages to snap out of it just in time to fly out of the way. Taking another shot for Aerial Ace, he growls as Loren reacts with another Endure and he curses his injured wing for slowing him down so much. Maybe once more...
But before he can gather his energy again, Loren's halo flashes with a blinding light and Sokudo hisses as he's forced to turn away and cover his eyes. He can see spots even behind his eyelids and they continue to persist when he reopens his eyes to look around. But those spots no longer matter when he sees that Loren is nowhere in sight. Tensing automatically, he blinks the spots away and looks about for the shell, to find absolutely nothing. His ninja instincts raise a red flag, but it's too late when he feels a sharp pain erupt from the base of his injured wing.
Crying out, he feels his wing stop beating altogether and he collapses down onto the floor, Loren having him tightly in its surprisingly powerful jaws. Growling, he tries desperately to shove the Shedinja off, wincing as more pain travels in sharp stabs up his thorax from his wing. Struggling harder, he almost doesn't notice a liquid seep from the bite into his body. Panicked, he thrashes even more recklessly for a second before another pain causes him to cry out. But the torment no longer comes from his wings, but deep within and he can't keep back a whimper.
Finally Loren lets go and backs away, watching Sokudo's struggles to stand and continue the confrontation. But the Ninjask can't get far, the agony getting too much to handle as he crumples and curls up into himself in an attempt to cope. He hasn't felt this much pain since Kowai 'punished' him for trying to abandon it. He's almost unable to focus to Loren's words, spoken in an apologetic tone.
"How I regret this," it mutters. "I genuinely didn't want to resort to using Toxic on you, young Ninjask, but if it's the only way to get you to comply..." It trails off as it flies over to his now-shuddering form. "I have the antidote, Sokudo, and I'll be more than happy to give it to you if you agree to cooperate."
"Sick b-bastard..." Sokudo forces out a hiss from under his breath, convinced the husk is taunting him at this point. Shedinja are all the same, he decides. Nothing but evil sadists always wanting to cause him pain and give him ultimatums as 'choices'.
"Please, Sokudo, I don't wish for it to end this way," Loren tells him. "With your metabolism, it'll only take five to ten more minutes before you go unconscious and die. Plenty of time for you to give your word to help my village." Its voice lowers even more, and takes on a tone one would use with a child. "It's not a difficult choice, young Ninjask. Just say 'yes', and the pain will stop."
"Fuck y..." Sokudo can't even finish his retort, the pain growing even more and his vision starting to grow hazy along the edges. Loren's right; it's not a difficult decision and he cringes as he forces a soft nod through his pride. He sees Loren quickly fly out the room and his eyes lock onto the window, beckoning for him to escape while he can. But he can't, as he can't even uncurl his shivering form to move, his limbs locked in place against his body. The blurriness edging his vision is turning into blackness and he closes his eyes tight to avoid seeing his oncoming death.
He has no idea how much time has passed, every second felt like hours with all this pain. But eventually, he feels something press against his mandibles, a cold liquid lapping against his mouth. He almost doesn't have any strength left to drink it, wincing automatically although the antidote doesn't taste bad at all. In fact, it tastes very sweet and fruity and it encourages him gulp it down more easily.
Finishing as much as the antidote as he can, he feels it starting to work almost immediately, the pain beginning to subside bit by bit. His breaths start returning to normal and his shudders begin easing off. After another moment, he can move his limbs again and he gathers his strength to pull himself up onto his claws. He stumbles a bit and growls when he feels Loren trying to support him. Pulling away, he stabilizes himself on his own before looking to his injured wing. He can see a deep bite mark around the base of his wing and knows he won't be able to fly away anytime soon.
Glaring at the Shedinja heatedly, he forces out a hateful hiss to communicate his feelings even as he speaks in a relenting tone. "So... what do you want me to do...?" It takes everything he has not to snap at it completely, lest it ends in another Toxic-filled Bug Bite. The Shedinja watches him for a few seconds, feeling pity for the weakened insect.
"You should tend to your injuries and rest for a wh-"
"No!" Sokudo interrupts, his anger and pain beginning to drive him over the edge. "We're just going to get this done and over with, you... you... Ugh!" He can't even get himself to cuss this thing out anymore, and settles on hissing at it instead. Turning away, he begins stumbling towards the door, Loren slowly following the Ninjask. It concerns it that Sokudo is pushing himself too much, but it understands that the cicada isn't going to listen. So it pulls ahead to lead him towards the house's exit, Sokudo grumbling the whole way and wincing when they step outside, the light almost blinding him.
Turning to Loren, he leans back on his hind legs and abdomen to cross his arms pointedly, his words come out in a bitter sneer. "I hope you're happy about this," he spits. "I don't even want your fuckin' moonshit anymore. And if it wasn't for the fact that you almost bit my wing off, I'd be gone right now!"
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, young Ninjask," Loren starts calmly, not letting Sokudo's hostility get to it. "Even if I hadn't injured your wing, your escape is not something I would allow."
At this, Sokudo gives a contemptuous scoff. "And what makes you think you would actually be able to stop me, ya slow-ass fuck?"
"You have your speed, for sure, but you forget that there are plenty of Ninjask in this village," the Shedinja tells him. "One word from me, and they can bring you right back to where you started."
"Why?!" Sokudo barks, flaring his good wing in a further show of defiance. "You already won, you already beat me! Why keep me here if I didn't steal anything?! This is just pointless punishment to feed your sadistic ego! Just let me go and I'll be more than happy NEVER to come back!"
Silence comes for a minute, Loren just staring at him before clicking softly. "It's a shame how quick you are to label me as sadistic. I take no pleasure in any of this, and only wish to teach you. So don't see this as a punishment, young Ninjask. Look at it as a new learning experience." It turns away. "Now that's enough of hypothetical situations, and needless argument. Until your wing heals, and I feel you've earned your freedom, you'll be in my care for the next few days. Come."
Loren begins floating off and Sokudo stays rooted where he is for another moment, glaring at the Shedinja and the surrounding houses around him before reluctantly stumbling after the husk. Wincing heavily as his wings automatically try to get him airborne, he keeps his eyes focused on the ground, trying to ignore the other Bug Pokemon fluttering by over him. How he hates this, hates this place, hates this empty bug shell!
Arriving to their destination, Loren turns to Sokudo as the Ninjask catches up with clumsy strides. "Here's your first task of the day, young Ninjask," the husk tells him, having led him to a bare patch of earth, a single Ivysaur with a straw hat tenderly planting some large seeds. "Jacques."
Hearing his name, the Ivysaur looks over at the two bugs before ambling over hurriedly. Smiling brightly, Jacques expression quickly falls at seeing Sokudo's hateful glare and he clears his throat as he looks up at Loren, attempting to ignore the tense atmosphere. "Good morning, Mr. Loren. You need anything?"
"Indeed I do, young Jacques," Loren tells him before urging Sokudo forward, earning a loud snarl that startles the Grass-type. Sokudo pulls away, his growls lowering to grumbles as he shifts his weight a bit in blatant discontent. Sighing, the Shedinja explains the situation softly to its associate. "This is Sokudo, a newcomer to our village. He's going to do some community service, and I'd like him to start here with you. Is that alright?"
"Um," Jacques drawls a bit, glancing at the Ninjask and his contemptuous scowl. Peering back at the patch of dirt, he takes a breath and nods. "Sure. Makes for lighter work, I guess."
"Thank you," Loren mutters before glancing at the other insect. "Keep an eye on him and don't push him too hard. He can't fly and I'm certain he's still feeling the effects of the scuffle we had earlier."
"Stop treating me like I'm some weak-ass shit!" Sokudo snaps once more. "I don't need you talking down about me, and I certainly don't need some dumbass weed telling me what to do!" Glaring at Jacques as an outlet of his aggression, he gives them no further time to react before he pushes passed the Ivysaur, sitting himself at the center of the garden-in-progress with his back turned to them.
Cursing under his breath, never had he wished to go back home so fervently. He knew coming here was going to be bad, yes, but even he couldn't predict what's been happening since last night. He could be home right now, curled up on the couch, drinking tree sap and warding off Kowai's annoying advances. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath to calm as much as he can given the circumstance before glaring out to the horizon leading home.
"Can't believe I'm saying this," he whispers softly to himself. "But... Kowai, please hurry up and save my ass..."
"Oh, brother..." Kowai whispers softly to itself, following the most direct path to Sokudo with noticeable urgency, as if it can sense the trouble he's in. Perhaps it's simple paranoia, but it can feel it. Something's not right, and it must have something to do with Sokudo!
Mossy Village is much farther away than it thought, having traveled the entire night and seemingly getting nowhere. Then again, it's never strayed too far from Tao Village without its brother speeding up the way with the Traveling Scarf, and maybe it's own natural slowness is making it seem far. But at least it's recovered a good portion of its strength back, the souls of many unfortunate Pokemon helping to make that happen. And Kowai is using every bit of that strength to hurry along as fast as it can.
Something else feels off though, especially since this morning. It's found itself in thick forests, and every once in a while it would hear a rustle from the treetops above. It has tried to focus on identifying this disturbance a couple of times, but there's so many other Pokemon around, so it's hard to pinpoint. Probably just its paranoia again, but it swears it's being watched...
Who cares, it needs to find Sokudo. It's waaaaay overdue for its next Cuddle Session. Hopefully Sokudo will feel appreciative enough to let it cuddle extra, make up for lost time. Maybe even let it groom him, or vice versa! The very thought keeps it going despite its growing weariness.
There's that rustle again, this time accompanied by a loud droning sound zipping past it. Freezing with a hiss, it waits for a second for something else to happen before continuing on hesitantly. But it doesn't go far before the drone zips passed it again. And again. And again! It even feels a soft brush against its wing on that last one.
Yup, that did it. Screeching loudly, it launches Shadow Balls all over the canopy above, forcing many Bird Pokemon to flee. And after a few blind shots aiming at nothing in particular, it hits something seemingly out of thin air.
With a grunt, another Bug Pokemon hits the ground, shaking as it tries to catch its breath. Glaring at the intruder, Kowai knows instantly that this is the source of the persistent droning: a Ninjask.
But wait, something seems very off about this one. It seems very familiar, and Kowai hesitates when it floats a bit closer. "Brother?"
The Ninjask stands onto its claws and Kowai instantly knows that this isn't its brother, for the other bug is female, with a mother-of-pearl decorating the black scarf covering her face in a typical ninja mask. But why does this female, or moreso her energy, her scent, seem so much like Sokudo? Maybe it's the mother-of-pearl, or maybe... Confused, it reacts by backing away and keeping its distance, growling at the stranger that's not a stranger.
Shaking herself off to fully recover, the Ninjask stares at Kowai for a long moment before speaking up softly, with a hopeful yet cautious tone.
"S... Sokudo...?"