"You're a trainer!" I gaped and I looked behind me. "A-and you're talking to me!" He rolled his eyes.
"Well of course." He grinned. "You're failing horribly at throwing a ball, so why wouldn't I help you?" He reached down and picked up the baseball that had slammed into my forehead and tossed it into the air. I pouted.
"Well no one can teach me, so I learn from cartoons!" I defended myself and crossed my arms. This made him bark with laughter.
"You're joking!" He grinned. But when I didn't respond. His grin faltered slightly. "Damn, even I had my pop to teach me." He paused, his eyes scanning the ground. "What if I taught you?" He suggested.
"What?" My brow creased in confusion. "Are you messing with me?" I got up and brushed grass out of my hair. "Because if you are, I'll go nuts." I warned. He laughed.
"You're funny!" He paused and stood up tall. "Yep, It's unofficially, official now. I'll be your mentor!" His grin somehow widened. "First lesson, this baseball will nev-"
"W-Wait!" I frowned. "What if you're just some creepy kid who will hurt me?" I objected. "I don't even know your name!"
"Well..." I sighed. "I'm Fin." His grin morphed into a frown. "As for hurting you..." Suddenly I felt a chill go down my spine. "I'm probably the only one who will truly protect you."
"W-Wha-"
"So anyway!" He interrupted, a grin plastered on his face. "That baseball won't do." He explained before I could ask before I could ask another question. "It weighs more then an actual pokeball." He plucked a red and white pokeball off of his belt and tossed it in the air. Suddenly a red flash of light erupted from the center and was sent in front of me. I yelped and jumped back, landing on my rear.
The beast that was released was a huge, brown furred bull with a large hump on the back of his neck. On it's head were two, very long, and very sharp horns that curved up and gleamed in the light. Small round plates adored the skull like jewelry or armor. The four hoofed beast had three tails that whipped around crazily while around it's neck was long, silky neck fur flowed down it's neck and over the beast's muscles.
I stared, frozen in place as the bull stomped closer. It's head bent down and glared at me on eye level. My mouth opened, but no words spilled out.
"This is Riggor my tauros!" He exclaimed excitedly while patting her side. "She is my best pal in the whole world!"
I could only stare. His grin faltered, but then lit up like a light bulb.
"Oh! Do you wanna pet her?" He asked as he tried to help me stand.
LOOK OUT! I felt something scream in my brain. Instinct, psychic link, or some otherworldly force, I jumped back not of my own accord. I saw a dark purple furred blur jump in front of me and spin around, raising his tail at the bull. I blinked in shock and my mouth opened and closed.
"Whose skunky is that?" I heard Fin ask eagerly. "Because I don't have a skunky on my team, and this one looks feisty!"
"Ah..." My voice croaked out. "That's Muffin... My dad's skunky.."
"Oh, so you haven't even started yet!" He paused and tapped his chin, leaning on the tauros' side as she glared at Muffin. "That changes a few things..."
"W-WHat did you mean by before?" My voice cracked.
"Hmm?"
"Before! When you said I could only trust you!" I pointed an accusing finger. Muffin growled.
"OH!" Fin's face lit up, then darkened considerably. "I can't tell you."
"W-What!?" I yelped, outraged. I took a step forward.
"Well, how about a little wager then?" His grin was joyful before, but now it was filled with malice. I hesitated.
"What kind of... Wager?" I felt my mouth go dry.
"A simple battle. One on One. No time limit. First evolutions only. I win, I get to be your mentor and you will not complain, nor ask questions. I lose, I'll explain everything your little mind desires." Fin's voice was sharp like a blade. The steel on the edge of my skin, just sitting there, ready to sink into my skin at a moment's notice. I felt self confidence and assurance teasing my fingers. Emotions that, I don't think I felt at the moment, but were there, ready to be utilized. I glanced down at my skunky, his eyes glaring at the hulking mass in front of us. I felt a sense of pride grow in me. Muffin was ready to protect me from a foe that was twice my size.
"OK." I grinned. "Let's battle!" Fin stood up tall, and I noticed how short I was compared to him.
What the heck did I get myself into? I thought to myself as I licked my lips.
"Alright, Riggor!" The bull's face raised from it's staring contest with Muffin and looked at Fin with dull eyes. "You don't need my help."
"W-ha-" He's trying to throw you off your game dammit! A voice inside my head yelled at me. I blinked, and shook my head. "Alright, game plan..." I froze. "This is our first battle..." I whimpered. "I don't have a game plan..." I rubbed my head. "Alright, Alright, calm down Kayla..." I let out a deep breath. "The bull looks... big.. And big pokemon don't move fast... Except if they are fast..." I slammed my palm into my forehead.
"You alright there?" I heard Fin holler. "You seem to be in distress... Do you want to go first or not?"
"Ah!... Erm..." I paused and rubbed my arm. "This is my first battle.. I haven't even taught Muffin how to fight yet!" I explained sheepishly.
"Oh!... OK.." Fin paused, then leaned towards Riggor. "Change of plans, just roll with me alright?" I saw the bull snort
I rubbed my arms and looked down at my pet.
"Erm... Muffin!" I commanded for his attention. He growled at the bull and turned his head slightly at me, then nodded. I pointed a finger at the bull. "Get her!" I commanded, hoping he would understand. He paused, his face scrunched up in confusion, until he followed to where I was pointing and then his tail perked up.
"Alright, Riggor," The bull snorted. "Easy." The bull let out a small rumble from her throat and stood still. Muffin ran strait for the bull and his head slammed against the bull's leg. Riggor didn't even flinch. She just let out a small noise and raised her hoof slowly into the air. Muffin seemed to see this once the hoof was coming down and jumped out of the way. Muffin slammed his head against the bull's leg again. Riggor lifted her hoof, this time faster. Muffin yelped at the unexpected speed and jumped away, but his tail got caught under her hoof and he let out a cry.
"Muffin!" I called out in shock. He looked up at me, expecting something. I blinked at the unexpected authority, and called my cartoon knowledge. What would the hero's do?
I-I don't know! I yelped at him as I covered my face in shame. "B-Bite her?" I suggested lightly, then made a chomping motion. He rolled his eyes, then bit her calf. The bull grunted and lifted up her hoof. Muffin darted out from under the bull and let out a low, primal growl. Muffin suddenly turned around and lifted his tail. I grinned in realization. A green liquid/gas sprayed from his rear and coated the torus in a horrible stench. I clutched onto my nose as my tears watered. "Good job!" My voice sounded nasality, but Muffin seemed to get the idea.
The bull let out a loud moo as she jerked around, as if she had a rider that she didn't like.
"Ack! Look out! Riggor stop!" Fin yelped and hid behind one of the three trees. Riggor spotted my pet and ran at him. Muffin let out a squeak and darted away. I noticed they were running in circles, but the angry bull was catching up as Muffin tired out. I bounced from one foot to the other as I my mind sped around in circles. My felt panic inclose my system, making it blank out.
"A-Ack!" I choked out as Riggor caught up and headbutted Muffin into the tree Fin was hiding behind. I heard a snap as branches rained down. I ran forward into the fray as I saw the bull had pinned a now unconscious stunky against the tree, a large crack ran down the tree where Muffin was pinned. I jumped onto the stinky bull's neck fur. "Let him go!" I cried out as Riggor bucked around. I yelped in surprise and flew a few feet from the bull. I landed on my back and I cried out in shock. I didn't get up immediately. I just sat there, absorbing the pain like a sponge. Once I sat up, I saw an angry bull not two inches from my face. I froze in place, like a deer caught in the headlights and my mouth opened.
"Riggor!" I heard a voice growl behind the bull. The voice was deep, and I even jerked to look at it. Riggor flinched in front of me, making me yelp and cover my face. I heard the heavy stomps as the bull turned around and I heard the sound of a pokemon being returned. "Are you OK Kayla?!" The deep voice turned lighter, but full of worry. I blinked as I peered past my hands and saw Fin inspecting me. I looked past him and saw Muffin laying on the ground in a furry heap.
"Muffin!" I pushed past Fin and ran to my partner. I knelt down, my hands hovering above him. I wanted to help, but I didn't want to hurt him anymore.
"He should be OK. Riggor only used headbutt." Fin's voice sounded behind me.
"Only HEADBUTT?!" I snapped at him. "That BEAST pinned my pokemon against a TREE!" I pointed at the tree behind Muffin. I saw Fin's face darken quickly and he took a step forward.
"That Beast is my partner." Fin hissed at me. My eyes widened and I took a step back. "And I suggest you stop it before I do the same thing to you." His voice was eerily calm, even though he just made a threat. My voice cracked as pure terror enveloped my face. Fin's face lit up at the horror of what he just said. But before he could start, I jerked around and picked up my partner in my hands. I glanced back at him, before running away.
I have to get to the pokecenter.