Chapter 14:
I jump to my feet and try to run to where I expect Crobat to land only to trip over my own feet. I fortunately hit the ground with my hands to avoid smashing my face on the stone covered floor. I have to let myself lie on the floor as the pain in my body takes over. Stones poke at the skin left sensitive by Muk and I think I have injured my wrist when landing. I grab my wrist and stretch my neck out so I can see Crobat.
Muk has dashed across to where Crobat is falling and Crobat crashes into the sludge Pokémon. Muk absorbs the impact and lets out a cheerful moan. Still gritting my teeth, I calm down. Crobat is safe.
"I hope that's not how you plan on winning tomorrow," a voice says.
I look up to see Daedalus towering over me with his arms folded and a stern look on his face. He suddenly relaxes and holds out a hand to help me up. I take the offer with the hand that isn't in incredible pain and find myself dragged to my feet with surprising strength.
"We have to stop meeting like this," I say and blush slightly as I recall our previous encounter in the hotel. I have to avert my gaze from him. I can't imagine how much of a mess I look like to him.
"Are you ok?" he asks, "You don't look too good."
"I'll be fine," I say. I might have to get my wrist checked, but apart from that I'm telling the truth.
"I hope so," Daedalus says, "Are you prepared for tomorrow?"
We both look over to Muk and Crobat as they sit and watch us. Crobat looks even more crushed than before while Muk is just being its usual playful self.
"I… I'm not sure," I say, "I think it's clear I can't use Crobat."
"Crobat has two sets of wings, only one wing is injured. What's the problem?" Daedalus asks.
"The second set is mainly for maintaining long distance flights, not the sort of flight patterns it'll need in battle," I explain.
"I see, so does that mean you'll be using Muk instead?" he asks.
"Muk," I say and hold out a hand to my dad's Pokémon. It gladly moves over to be beside me and Daedalus. "Would you be willing to battle for me tomorrow? I know I'm not your trainer, but we're family…"
Before I can say anything else, Muk responds cheerfully and waves its arms in the air. I think I can safely take this reaction as a yes.
"Muk isn't your Pokémon?" Daedalus asks, sounding surprised.
"My dad's," I say, "I don't have many Pokémon. I focused more on the ones I do have than building up a large variety of options."
A smile appears on Daedalus' face. "I see. I can appreciate that. If you have too many Pokémon, you can't give them all the attention they deserve," he says, "But… Using someone else's Pokémon is against the rules. No one likes a cheater, Holly. That being said, no one has to know. On one condition."
"Go on," I say cautiously. I'm not sure I like where this is going.
"You have to let me make sure you're ready for tomorrow," he says.
"What?" I ask. His response has completely thrown me off. I was expecting something sinister, but this is just confusing unless he has some kind of hidden agenda.
"You have to win tomorrow," he says, "Or rather, Thomas Byrne must lose."
"Why?" I ask. I then laugh slightly. "Are you bitter over losing to him?"
"The man is an alcoholic. His performance against me was totally disgraceful, banning him from drinking isn't enough. A man like that must never taste success, not on a global stage like this. He needs to be made an example of," Daedalus says passionately.
I don't understand why Daedalus feels so strongly about this. I would have thought the drinking ban is enough. I want to question him on it but I can't find the words. He seems to recognise that I am confused and holds up a hand to stop me from trying to formulate a question. I watch as he pulls off his jumper to reveal the vest beneath. He casts aside the jumper and then adjusts his vest so that I can see his chest. Red scars and faded bruising draw my attention. Conclusions fall into place in my head. There are a couple of possibilities I can think of, but they all give a good explanation as to why he feels so strongly about it.
"I see," I say. It's all I can say. I just need him to know that I now understand.
"Will you beat Thomas tomorrow then?" he asks, "Not just for me, but for everyone."
"Yes, I'll do everything I can," I say.
"Then prove to me that you and Muk are ready to battle together," he says and grabs a Poké Ball.
This is a rather sudden challenge, but one I have to face. If I am to use Muk against Thomas and win then I need some experience battling with it before then. Thomas beat Daedalus so I have to beat him too if I want to be able to stand a chance.
I turn to Muk. "Are you ready?" I ask. Muk nods. Its playful nature has evaporated and been replaced by a determined and battle-ready one. I step away from Daedalus to create a makeshift battlefield between us.
"Go, Scizor," Daedalus says. He really isn't going to make it easy for me. Just the sort of experience I need. The battle hasn't even started and I need to rethink my entire strategy. Fighting an opponent that I can't poison is going to be tough.
"Muk, use Power-Up Punch," I say.
Muk balls its hand into a sludgy fist and swings it at Scizor. The fist glows and Muk's arm bulges as though it has muscles.
"Aerial Ace," Daedalus counters before the attack can connect.
Scizor's wings shoot open and quickly carry the metal bug into the air. It flies around in a loop so it can dive down again at Muk with claws outstretched. Muk braces itself as Scizor swoops down and slices through its body. The top of Muk's body is split down the middle. My heart thumps against my chest as I see what has happened to my dad's Pokémon.
Suddenly, Muk groans and the sludge begins to move. The gap is filled and Muk has returned to normal. I should have expected that would happen, but I didn't. Daedalus is right to be testing me. I can't make that sort of mistake tomorrow.
I want to know how much damage Muk has taken from that attack. It doesn't seem like much, but I can't gauge an accurate idea since we're not using our Battle Gears. It's strange, I've always worked with estimates before. Having tried out something that gives me a much better idea of the situation, it's difficult to go back. Damn Elder Industries and their successful marketing attempt.
"Metal Claw," Daedalus says.
"Toxic on its claws," I respond, taking Daedalus by surprise.
Scizor glides forward, hovering just above the ground. It opens its claws and prepares to swipe at Muk. Muk spits out two lumps on toxic sludge, each one landing perfectly inside Scizor's open claws. Scizor stops and looks at its claws in confusion. It tries closing and opening them again. However, the sludge sticks the claws together when they close. Scizor's eyes widen and it frantically shakes its claws as it tries to get rid of the sludge.
"Shadow Punch," I say.
While Scizor is distracted by its own claws, Muk stretches out and punches the air in front of it. A ghostly apparition of its fist continues on and smacks Scizor firmly in the chest. Scizor is thrown across our makeshift battlefield and skids through the stones on its back. It quickly sits up again and glares at Muk.
"Aerial Ace!" Daedalus orders.
"Knock it out of the sky with Gunk Shot," I say.
Scizor suddenly jumps up and takes flight, easily dodging a pre-emptive shot at it. Muk begins hurling a barrage of sludge up into the sky where Scizor easily moves to avoid everything thrown at it. The sludge rains back down and covers the ground between Daedalus and myself. Eventually, one of Muk's lumps of sludge hits, splattering Scizor's shoulder, but does little to knock it off course.
"Now, Protect," I say as I notice Scizor beginning to descend.
Muk's arms and face disappear into its body, leaving just a pile of toxic waste to the unsuspecting eye. Scizor dives down and collides with Muk instead of slicing through. Ultimately, Scizor bounces off Muk and crashes to the ground next to it.
"Cover it," I say coldly. I remember seeing this tactic being used by my dad. It should end it.
Muk's arms and face reappear and it cheers as its body seeps over Scizor. A shriek of terror is quickly drowned out as Scizor vanishes beneath the sludge. Bulges appear on Muk's body where Scizor is thrashing about underneath it. However, its attempts at escape seem futile.
"Scizor's going to suffocate!" Daedalus cries out desperately.
"Release it and finish with Shadow Punch," I call.
Muk slides off Scizor to reveal a haunted face and twitching body. It raises a fist and prepares to deal the decisive blow. However, a purple blur shoots across the battlefield and Muk's Shadow Punch smashes a small crater into the ground. I look past Muk. Scizor is now lying motionless a short distance away. Above it, Crobat weakly flaps its wings and breathes deeply.
"Crobat still wants to battle," I sigh.
"It shouldn't though," Daedalus says, "You and Muk seem ready to fight together. Even if it will reignite the calls of Status Psycho. You should do what it right for your Pokémon."
"I should…" I say. I look down at the floor and clench my fists. It is a heart wrenching decision to make.
I return both of my Pokémon to their Poké Balls and continue to look down. I hear footsteps crunching on the stones and a hand rests on my shoulder.
"I know you will make the right decision, Holly, and I know you will beat Thomas," Daedalus says.
"Thomas is a drunken fool. Sure, he's not a great role model but there are plenty like him," I say, "What about me though? Why am I any better? I almost killed your Scizor. What sort of role model is that?"
"Ask me again when you actually do kill someone's Pokémon," Daedalus says.
"What if I actually do? I don't mean to, but I've got pretty close. What if I go too far? What then?" I ask. My eyes are stinging. Tears are building up again. Once again, I find myself letting my emotions out to someone I barely even know.
Suddenly, I freeze. Daedalus has wrapped his arms around me. It's awkward. I was not expecting this, but he's warm and comforting. Eventually, I give in. I hang limp in Daedalus' embrace. My body hurts but he makes it feel better. I lift my arms and rest them on his shoulders in an attempt to return the hug without aggravating my injured wrist.
Feeling safe and reassured, I shake the tears from my eyes and look up. I am met by Daedalus' emerald eyes gazing back at me. I don't know what comes over me. I am too lost in his gaze to realise what I'm doing until it's too late. I press my lips against his. He doesn't resist. In fact, he holds me closer. My eyelids droop shut and the kiss becomes everything for that moment.
I snap back to reality as we slowly separate from each other. My eyes widen as I stare at Daedalus, realising what I've done. I quickly pull myself free from his embrace and step back. I can't even look at him now. All I can do is run. Stupid, emotional Holly. Why did this have to happen now?
AN: I blame TissueMonster.