AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. These chapters take a little longer to make, so I apologies for the longer waiting period. Still, I really liked how this one turned out and the new developments it has. Parts at the end get very emotional, so be prepared. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.
See the most recent Save State Chapter for Cover Art details.
Chapter 11 – Worth in Trust
The sun was close to setting as Yang fell on the grass, "Wow, we really lost track of time." She said before hearing a loud growl. In turning, she saw her Munchlax laying on his back rubbing his stomach, "Yep, you're done for the day." She said before looking at her Tyrogue, who was practicing tackling.
"Tyrogue! Tyrogue!" the scuffle Pokemon said with determination in his eyes, "Tyrogue!"
"You're not gonna catch on fire that way," Yang said as she stood up and walked over "However, you got the passion to do so eventually." She said before kneeling next to the scuffle Pokemon, "You just got to use that passion to light the fire in your heart." The blond brawler said while poking Tyrogue in the chest, "At least, that's what my dad used to tell me. I know, very cheesy." She said before standing up, "We'll come back tomorrow and practice more."
"Tyrogue!" the scuffle Pokemon said with a nod, causing Yang to smile.
Suddenly, the two heard a loud rumbling. They assumed it was the big eater Pokémon's stomach again, but it was the coming from further in the woods, "That sort of sounds like motorcycles." Yang said to herself, then heard the scream of terrified Pokemon.
"Cubone!" the screamed echoed throughout the forest, causing Yang and Tyrogue to gasp.
"That doesn't sound good," Yang said before clenched her fists, then looked down at her Pokemon, "We have to help." She spoke with Tyrogue nodding. The two started to sprint, but Yang remembered, "Oh no, the Egg." She thought while running past the stump, then turned to her other Pokemon, "Munchlax, watch the Egg until I get back." She called out before she and Tyrogue resumed their run, "And do not eat it!"
"Munch?" Munchlax spoke in confusion, then discovering he was alone with egg and a growling stomach, "…Lax…"
Meanwhile.
In a small clearing to the forest, three bikers rode their motorcycles in a circle around a Pokemon, trapping him from escaping, "Cubone." The lonely Pokemon spoke, hugging his bone club as he had nowhere to go. The bikers then stopped before each snickered.
"Nowhere to run anymore." The skinny biker spoke.
"Where done chasing you." The overweight biker added on.
"Now, give us that skull." The biker gang leader ordered, "I want to see if it will make a good addition to my ride." He said while walking up to Cubone, who was shivering in fear.
Suddenly, the trio of bikers heard a voice from behind them. "Hey!" They turned to see a furious Yang and equally enraged Tyrogue, "How about you pick on someone your own size?"
"Heh, get lost, Blondie." The overweight biker responded.
"Yeah, scram!" the skinny biker added on, "Lest you want to get hurt."
"Both of you, teach that girl a lesson." The biker gang leader responded, his eyes still on Cubone, "I'll get what I came for."
"Cubone!" the lonely Pokemon said before running deeper into the woods, but the biker gang leader was walking right behind him.
"Right Boss," they responded before each taking out a Pokeball.
"Go Koffing!" The overweight biker said as a purple ball creature emitting a poisonous yellow gas engaged the battle.
"Go Ekans!" the skinny biker said as a purple snake with a yellow rattle tail.
Yang gritted her teeth, but the scuffle Pokemon stepped forward, "Okay, let's show them the result of your training." The blond brawler said with a smile, "Tyrogue, use Tackle on Ekans!"
"Tyrogue!" the scuffle Pokemon said as he rushed into battle. He crashed into the snake Pokemon, but the attack damage was only slight.
"What a wimp," The skinny biker commented, "Ekans, use Wrap." He said before the snake Pokemon began to coil around Tyrogue's body, showing only the head of the scuffle Pokemon.
Yang gasped as the other opponent's Pokemon was grinning, "Now Koffing, show him a real Tackle attack!" the overweight biker ordered as the poison gas Pokemon slammed his body into Tyrogue's head.
"Tyrogue, you have to break free!" Yang called out, but only saw her Pokemon fall prey to the snake Pokemon. She gritted her teeth before taking out her Pokeball, "This should free you, return." She said as the Pokeball shot its red beam. However, it could no connect with Tyrogue's body, "But how!"
"Can't call him back now," The thin biker called out, "This little guy is done for."
Yang clenched her fist before she was about to rush towards the snake Pokemon. However, Koffing hoovered in her face, "Not so fast," the overweight biker responded, "Koffing, Poison Gas attack!"
"Koffing!" the poison gas Pokemon said before spewing a purple mist from his mouth. Yang held breath but lost sight of the Pokemon in the gas. "Koffing!" suddenly, Yang felt a sudden pain in her stomach as the poison gas Pokemon crashed into her body. She gasped in pain, breathing in the toxic fumes. After a few seconds of coughing, the blond brawler fell to one knee. "Koffing! Koffing!" the poison gas Pokemon laughed with a grin.
"This will teach you not to mess with our gang!" the overweight biker called out, "Koffing, hit her with a Sludge attack!"
Yang coughed before looking up at the poison gas Pokemon, seeing his cheeks puffed as sludge gathered. She knew the poison would not allow her body to move and Tyrogue was still trapped. For her, the thought this was the end.
"Koff-" the poison gas Pokemon was about to spew, but something collided with his body. A pink beam of psychic energy blasted him out of the way of hit Yang. The blond brawler looked to the source of the beam, seeing it was from Hatenna who was still in Neo's arms.
"…" The mute girl said nothing as she ran to Yang's side.
Leaf followed as she looked to the blond brawler, "Yang, what are you doing here?" Leaf said before taking out her bag, "You know what, say it for later." She said before having her a yellow vile, "Here, drink this antidote."
"Thanks," Yang accepted in a weak voice, the guzzled down the cure to her poison. After a few seconds, she stood back up, "Wow, the stuff works fast." She commented before looking to the battle, "Oh no, Tyrogue!" she said before seeing her Pokemon still getting squeezed.
"…" Neo looked to Hatenna, who she then set on the ground. the calm Pokemon glowed in blue light, causing Ekans to share the same aura. The snake Pokemon was confused as his body uncoiled, allowing Tyrogue to escape.
"Nice," Yang called out, "Tyrogue, now's your chance, hit him with a Tackle!" she called out with the scuffle Pokemon charging headfirst into Ekans' skull, sending the snake Pokemon flying before he landed on the ground.
"Uh oh," the skinny biker said as his Ekans fainted.
"This is bad," The overweight biker said as his Koffing was unable to battle. The two bikers then looked over to towards the three girls, each having an aura of anger around them.
Leaf quickly looked around, "I'm not seeing the third guy, nor Cubone." She commented.
"Their leader was chasing after that Pokemon." Yang commented, "I know which way he went."
"Okay, you and Neo save that little guy." Leaf said before focusing on the bikers, "I'll make sure these two won't run away."
"Got it," Yang said as Neo nodded, causing the two to run off.
"Hehehehe." The skinny biker chuckled, "You think you can take us alone?"
"Hahahaha," the overweight biker laughed, "You made the wrong call, girly."
"Oh, you misunderstand." Leaf said with a girl, taking out a Pokeball, "I just needed to make sure there were no witnesses." The screwed trainer said as the bikers looked confused. She tossed out the Pokeball, causing Bewear to emerge and stand before the bikers. They each looked in dread as Bewear extended his strong arms for a hug.
Meanwhile.
Yang and Neo ran through the woods, "I think we should catch up to him soon." The blond brawler said while looking to Neo, who was focused on the path, "…Don't worry, we'll save that Cubone." She said before looking ahead as well, but then slightly glanced away, "And uh, thanks for the save back there."
"…" Neo did not say a word but did crack a slight smile.
Suddenly, the two heard a Pokemon cry, "Cubone!" they gasped before making it to a small clearing. The lonely Pokémon's body was recently flung into a large rock.
The biker gang leader watched on with his arms crossed. At his side, a pile of sentient purple sludge with white eyes oozed on the grass, "Now Grimer, melt away all but the bone." He spoke to his Pokemon, "Use Acid Spray!"
"Grimer!" the sludge Pokemon said before vomiting a corrosive green slim.
"Cu," Cubone spoke as his mind flashed to the horrific event, his mother shielding him from the same spray. He shut his eye in fear, waiting for the attack to hit. However, while he heard a slash, there was no pain, "Bone?" in opening his eyes, Cubone saw Neo standing before him. In her hands, an open umbrella had taken the Acid Spray.
While the canopy was melting away, Neo simply discarded the umbrella without taking any damage, "…!" She focused while pointing, causing Hatenna to fire off a Psybeam into the Grimer's body.
"Grimer!" the sludge Pokemon spoke in pain of the psychic attack, causing him to faint.
The biker gang leader gritted his teeth before seeing Yang stand beside Neo, "So, you had a little help to deal with my grunts." He said before looking at the mute girl, "Emphasis on little."
"…!" Neo pouted but saw the biker gang leader return his Grimer.
"How about you save us the trouble of kicking your ass and just give up," Yang said before cracking her knuckles.
"Tyrogue!" the scuffling Pokemon added on.
"Ha! You think I only have one Pokemon like those weaklings." The biker gang leader said as he took out a new Pokeball, "Try this one on for size. Go, Grimer!"
"Another one?" Yang said she watched the Pokeball open, causing a sludge Pokemon to form. However, this one was a deep green with a yellow lower mouth. On the upper mouth, a set of white rock teeth were seen.
"…!" Neo ordered again, causing Hatenna to fire a Psybeam. However, the psychic attack had no effect on this Grimer.
"What?" Yang said as Neo gasped.
"This is a very different Grimer, one I imported from the Alolan region." The biker gang leader said, "He is both Poison and Dark-type, making him immune to all your psychic type moves." He said before grinning, "Now Grimer, use Bite!"
"Grimer!" the sludge Pokemon said while oozing his way towards Hatenna.
"…" Neo thought, causing Hatenna to use Protect. The physical barrier blocked the fangs, but the defense soon shattered, "…!"
"Hit her with Knock Off." The biker gang leader said before the sludge Pokemon reeled back his right arm. With one smack, Hatenna was sent flying across the clearing and into a tree.
"…!" Neo panicked as her Pokemon struggled to get up, "…" She tried to remain calm as Hatenna started to use Life Dew. However, Grimer was already oozing his way towards her again.
"Oh no," Yang spoke before looking at her Pokemon, "Tyrogue, you have to draw that thing's attention so Hatenna can heal." She said with her Pokemon nodding, "Go, use Tackle!"
"Tyrogue!" the scuffle Pokemon said before ramming his body into the back of Grimmer. However, he bounced off the sludge Pokemon without dealing major damage.
"What an annoyance," The biker gang leader commented, "Grimer, use Disable."
"Grim," Grimer said as he turned to Tyrogue. Suddenly, the sludge pokemon's eyes turned blue.
"Ty-" Tyrogue spoke as his body flashed in a blue aura.
"Come on Tyrogue, use Tackle again!" Yang called out, but her Pokemon froze in place, "What's wrong?"
"It looks like that was the only thing your Pokemon knows." The biker gang leader spoke, "And with Disable, he can no longer use that move." he said as Yang gasped, "Now, your Pokemon is worthless."
At that moment, Tyrouge's eyes widened. His mind flashed to a few days ago, his time at the dojo practicing his tackling. However, he was overhearing his former trainer speak to the dojo master, "I don't want him anymore. He only knows tackle." The words of the trainer echoed in Tyrogue's mind, but he continued to tackle, "He's worthless!" with those words, tears started to form in Tyrogue's eyes, but still practiced tackling.
In the present time, those tears formed again. And now, he cannot even tackle. For Tyrogue, that meant he was less than useless. However, someone spoke up, "You're wrong, he's not worthless!" Tyrogue eyes widened as he heard Yang speaking, "From the moment I've meet this little guy, he always been trying to improve. Even when others wrote him off, he still practices being better than he was before!" Yang said before looking at Tyrogue with a smile, "You're not worthless, you're worth more than they could possibly imagine."
"Tyrogue…" the scuffle Pokemon said as tears ran down his face, but a smile formed. Suddenly, he and Yang looked over to Grimer about to strike a still healing Hatenna.
"Now, show that pile of sludge what you're made of!" Yang called out.
"Tyrogue!" the scuffle Pokemon said as he ran into battle.
Grimer raised his hand for another Knock Off, "Grim-" he said, but was interrupted as Tyrogue latched onto his body. the scuffle Pokemon wrapped himself around the slimy arm, preventing Grimer from landing the final blow.
"It's Struggling." The biker gang leader said with a scowl, "Grimer, shake him off!" he ordered with the sludge Pokemon doing so, but Tyrogue landed on his feet as he took a fighting stance, "Now, finish off that worthless Pokemon with Knock Off!"
"Grimer!" the sludge Pokemon said as he raised his right arm.
"Tyrogue, you can do it!" Yang called out, "I believe in you!"
"Tyrogue!" the scuffle Pokemon responded as his eyes focused. Suddenly, his body started to glow in a white light. Everyone gasped as the height of the Pokemon increased, causing Grimer to lower his arm. As the light faded, the fighting Pokémon's body was a smooth brown with the eyes closer to the center of the chest. While he had thin arms, this new Pokemon had spring-like legs with triple spiked feet. Despite not having a visible mouth, Tyrogue spoke his evolution's new name, "Hitmonlee!"
"Wow," Yang responded in awe, "So that's what it looks like when a Pokemon evolves?" She said as Neo remained speechless. Suddenly, as Hitmonlee looked down at Grimer, the blond brawler saw his left foot start to ignite. "Heh, there it is." Yang said while smiling, "Hitmonlee, show then your fire!"
"Hitmon," he said before reeling back his left leg, causing his foot to get set ablaze, "Lee!" Hitmonlee said before kicking Grimer, setting the sludge Pokemon on fire as he rocketed through the air and into the biker gang leader.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!" The biker gang leader screamed as the scorching sludge landed on his chest. He rolled on the dirt in pain but was still on fire. Eventually, the fire went out as he and his Grimer had fainted.
Yang let out a sigh of relief at the battle finally ending. However, she heard a voice from someone else approaching with applauds, "Look at that, I didn't need to step in after all." Yang turned to see Leaf walking up, seeing Hitmonlee stand next to the blond brawler, "And it looks like Tyrogue evolved into the Kicking Pokemon." She said before smirking, "Not what I would have guessed coming from you."
Yang smile as she looked at Hitmonlee, "I guess you took more of liking to the fire than the punching." She said with a slight giggling in her voice, then petting her newly evolved Pokemon on the head, "Doesn't matter, cause your still awesome."
"Hitmonlee!" The kicking Pokemon said with a smile, despite nobody being able to see his mouth.
"…" Neo watched on with a smile, also seeing Hatenna healing with Life Dew. However, the mute girl turned around, seeing a still quivering Cubone. The lonely Pokemon was hugging his club, his eyes closed. However, he opened then as he saw Neo's smile. The mute girl knelt, looking on with sincere eyes as she slowly reaching out her left hand.
Cubone flinched in fear, sticking her fingers with his club. While Neo recoil from the pain, she then giggled while maintaining the smile. Cubone had a look of confusion as Neo extend her arm again. This time, the lonely Pokemon cautiously felt her fingers with the club. He then slowly felt her palm with his hand, allowing Neo to gently pet him. "Cubone…" he said before tears started to form in his face, dripping down from the skull. Neo then softly pulled Cubone towards her body, hugging him as he cried in her lap. As Cubone recalled how his mother held him in a similar way, the tears ran more rapidly. Still, Neo smiled as she comforted the lonely Pokemon.
A short while later.
The three walked through the woods with Neo cradling a sleeping Cubone. Leaf looked on with slight worry, "Little guy must have cried himself to sleep." She commented, "I wonder how many nights he's had to do that as of late." She said as Neo still held onto the lonely Pokemon, "Still, I think he's taken quite the liking to you."
"…" Neo responded with a smile.
"Hopefully, those three jerks rot for what they did," Yang said as she stretched out her back.
"Agreed," Leaf said as Neo nodded, "The police said there was a story of two other girls rescuing a Pokemon from a poacher. They didn't have many details beyond that." She said before looking towards Yang, "However, you said the daycare guy gave you an Egg!?"
"Pretty cool, right?" Yang responded, "When it hatches, I'll have three Pokemon on my team."
"And you left it with your Munchlax?" Leaf said with slight panic in her voice.
"Yeah," Yang said as they came up to a clearing. Seeing Munchlax standing right next to the Egg. His eyes were sleepy as his stomach growl was almost audible from a few meters away, "But I knew he wouldn't eat that." The blond brawler said as she walked over to the Big Eater Pokemon, "You did great looking after the Egg for me, just like a big brother would."
"Munch…" Munchlax spoke in hunger and sleep delirium.
"Don't worry, you can eat all you want when we get to the center." Yang said before turning back to Leaf and Neo, "See, he knows now what he can and cannot ea-" The blond brawler said before she felt a tug on her golden locks. Her eyes widened as she turned around, seeing a barely conscious Munchlax biting on her hair, "AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!" Yang screamed, flailing in panic, while Leaf and Neo watch on with half-open eyes.
AN: There you go, Tyrogue evolved into Hitmonlee, the Kicking Fiend. His evolution was a big debate for a while, but the reasonings for him over the other Hitmon Pokemon were stronger. While Chan is more punching focused, Lee allows Yang to get knew perspective on her own fighting style. You know the lyrics; you teach me, and I'll teach you. Plus, Munchlax already has Fire Punch and I don't want moves to overlap like that. Hitmonlee having Blaze Kick on evolution seemed fitting for one of Yang's Pokemon and gives her a powerful second member. As well, Neo finally helps save Cubone. The two will get more time together in the next chapter to grow as our favorite mute decided on her first Gym Battle. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.