Flame continue to struggle, but the Hypno is determined to win. Can Flame pull off the nearly impossible and win? And if so, at what cost to himself?

Episode Twenty-Six: Defiant To The Very End

"Truely pathetic, looks like your friend's opinion of your strength were completely wrong," The Hypno said, from out of my vision. "And here I thought that you would put up an entertaining fight. Well at least I will get a little joy out of finishing you off," it added.

Suddenly I felt something wrap around my throat an lift me into the air, but there was nothing actually touching me. The psychic hand lifted me untill I was a meter or so above the ground. It turned me so I hung, facing the Hypno. It wasn't actually choking me, which was suprising.

"You are completely powerless. For that, your Trainers will die and your allies will become mine," Hypno sneered and suddenly I felt myself thrown backwards at very high speed. I slammed into a tree and found myself crumpled on the floor once more. My back was in complete agony by this point and I was close to passing out, but the Hypno had other plans.

"I will make this slow," it laughed and spat on the ground infront of me. Again, I felt the psychic hand lift me up and again it rammed me up against the tree. Leaves were shaken loose and fell all around me, a few landed in my shrunken tail flame and it began to flicker back to life.

With a small amount of energy restored, I managed to climb to my feet. I stood facing the Hypno, swaying on unsteady legs.

"Go too hell," I gasped out as I felt my throat be constricted. I was lifted into the air and this time I was thrown towards a thorn covered bush.

"Defiant all the way, well little good that will do you Charmander."

I winced as my back connected with one of the bushes branches. Thorns where piercing the damaged flesh all over, but I was determined not to cry out. I wasn't going to give the sick bastard any enjoyment out of my torture. I saw Hypno walking towards me, taking his time. There was no rush, I couldn't go anywhere.

I was certain that I was doomed when I smelled a familier scent. A very spicy scent. Out of the corner of my eye, to m right, was a small red berry. I was about to make a move for it when the Hypno threw his hand forward and my body suddenly felt as though someone had punched me in the lungs.

I fought through waves of pain, trying not to black out. All my hopes were on the small berry laying only centimeters away. I slumped to my left, crying out as the thorns widened the injuries in my back. The Hypno laughed and picked up its pace, it was only meters away. Little did it know that my tail was flopped right next to the berry.

I felt something fill my mouth and spat but instead of saliva, it was blood. The pain was really starting to get to me, I only had one shot.

'Please let this work,' I thought, hoping against all hope that my last action wouldn't be futile. My tail flame touched the berry and it ignited with a loud boom. The small explosion fully re-ignited my flame and filled my with energy again.

The Hypno was stunned by the loud explosion and I dug in my claws before launching myself at it. The Hypno was unable to react in time and I knocked it to the ground. I pulled back my fist let all my rage and energy flow into the one punch that landed right between the Hypno's eyes.

Needless to say, I did a lot of damage to that. As it fell into unconsiousness, its controll over the others went with it. I heard Pika and Squirtle rushing over to Moron and Perfume, presumably to help them. I managed to roll off of the Hypno and collapsed onto the floor. Scout appeared in my view, concern was evident in his eyes.

"Sorry Sarge, none of us meant any of that," he said, glaring at the unconsious (or dead, I really couldn't tell) Hypno.

"I know. Don't worry about it," I managed to say between breaths. Breathing was becoming very difficult and my vision was starting to blur. I had won the battle, but at what cost?

I was aware of someone, Moron I presume, placing some sort of cloth on my back before lifting my sore body up.

"You saved us Flame, lets hope we can do the same," I heard Squirtle's voice say as my vision completely vanished. My last thoughts before gladly falling unconsious were simply, 'hope. I can do that.'