Croagunk went with Team Rocket, but every second he spent near them the more he resented it. They didn't like him, and the feelings were mutual. Meowth tolerated him, which was more than what Croagunk could say about most people.
He didn't want to be just tolerated though. He wanted to be appreciated. He wanted someone to want him around, just because. He wanted Brock, but just as strong as that longing was a fear that it wouldn't be as good as he foolishly hoped for.
He knew that Brock didn't understand him. The boy liked him well enough, but he was confused by the things that Croagunk did, and why. What if Brock wanted Croagunk to change? To be more of a hero type, like the kids and all of their pokémon seemed to be?
Brock saw the best in pokémon, but Croagunk was afraid that the best that the boy saw in him was something that wasn't actually there. Croagunk didn't care about people. He didn't care if things were stolen. He could only be bothered to be interested in situations when they directly involved him. Would that make him selfish in Brock's eyes? Would the boy pretend to be okay with it to hide how disappointed in Croagunk he really was?
Sometimes he wished he had never left the marsh. It had been unbelievably boring, and as much as Croagunk didn't want to admit it, it had been lonely. But it had made sense. There had been nobody whose opinion he had to try to figure out. Nobody whose expectations he needed to meet.
He felt like a coward, hiding from Brock because he didn't want to get hurt. What kind of a fighting type was he? Or maybe it was because he was a fighting type. All other fighting type pokémon he had met also struggled with showing emotional vulnerability. They were physically strong, not emotionally. That was what fairy types specialized in.
Croagunk didn't think that Brock would care so much about typing stereotypes. He saw pokémon as individuals, not what type they were. Usually Croagunk didn't think much of those stereotypes himself. He knew that pokémon could be whoever they wanted to be, despite what kind of pokémon they could be, but it was one thing to believe it about others, and believe it about himself. He couldn't help but hold himself to a higher standard.
So Croagunk avoided Brock, and resented himself every second that he did so. Team Rocket said that he was moping. He didn't like that word, but they thought that he was being creepier than usual. Even though they didn't like him, they'd started including him more in what they were doing. Meowth said they were trying to distract him and cheer him up. Croagunk just thought that they wanted him to warm up to them because they wanted him to take it easy on them when they did things he might not approve of.
The joke was on them. Croagunk only disapproved of Team Rocket stealing pokémon from other trainers, and when their schemes went against Brock and his friends. If they wanted to catch wild pokémon, well, what made them any different from other trainers? And if they wanted to steal gems or other valuables, so what? Who did it hurt? The valuables usually belonged to people who had all kinds of other riches like that. They could afford to lose a little.
But Brock probably wouldn't be happy with that kind of thinking. He would probably want Croagunk to be more morally righteous.
He felt claws dig into his arm. Croagunk huffed and brought poison to his hands, jabbing at Meowth, making the other pokémon yelp and pull away.
"Hey, watch it, bub." Meowth growled. Croagunk just glared at him.
'You started it.' Croagunk said just as irritably. Meowth rolled his eyes.
"We were going to check out the meteorites around here." Meowth said. "They're supposed to be really valuable. You can come, if you want."
Croagung had no interest in meteorites. Not in protecting them, and not in trying to take them. But he wasn't in the mood to be alone, so he slowly followed Meowth and his human friends up a hill to a landmark or other.
It was boring. They were just rocks. Team Rocket was excited, because they were apparently valuable, and the people in this town valued these rocks for some reason, but Croagunk couldn't care less about them. Still, when Meowth suggested that he use some of his strength to help them get the rocks, he reluctantly agreed, because it wasn't like he had anything better to do.
Before he could do anything, the rocks suddenly started to glow. Team Rocket got scared, like they so easily did, so they hid away and waited, watching for any development.
Croagunk wasn't interested in this situation, but he could sense psychic energy nearby. It felt somewhat familiar. He'd felt an energy like this in the runes, except this wasn't the pokémon that had overwhelmed the cave. The source of this power had been in the runes, though it didn't inhabit them.
Even before they saw the Team Galactic grunts run towards the meteorites, Croagunk knew they were there. They had been at the runes. They had to have some pokémon on them that had psychic moves that he had sensed back then, though it had mostly been hidden by the overwhelming power of the unknown pokémon, and he was sensing it again.
Croagunk was always on edge when he felt psychic energy around. He watched Team Galactic carefully, even as Meowth pulled him behind a bush so they wouldn't be spotted. While Team Rocket watched the meteorites they had come here for get stolen by people who were clearly more prepared, Croagunk only had eyes on the apparent leader of this small group.
He noticed when the leader pulled out a pokéball and let out the creature inside. He didn't feel psychic energy, but he definitely had a bad feeling, similar to what he felt when he sensed a threat nearby.
Croagunk croaked as he stared at Team Galactic's Toxicroak. For a lot of pokémon, they were either drawn to their evolutionary line, or they despised them. Croagunk had never met a toxicroak himself. He didn't know which way he leaned. He didn't really have a good feeling about this pokémon though.
Because of his caution, Croagunk noticed right away when Toxicroak sent an attack right towards them. As much as he didn't like Team Rocket, they tolerated him, and Croagunk thought that the least he could do to repay that was to keep them from getting attacked directly. He used poison sting, hitting the sludge before it could reach Team Rocket.
Meowth looked at Croagunk with wide eyes. "Wow. Thanks for that."
Croagunk didn't acknowledge him. He wasn't even looking at Toxicroak. Probably attracted by the bright glow that the meteorites had given off a few minutes ago, people were running up the stairs to investigate. He only had eyes for one particular person though.
Brock. He was here. Croagunk hadn't seen him in what felt like forever. It probably hadn't been that long, but every day was a day too long. He'd been able to avoid even looking Brock's way when Team Rocket fought with the kids, but he couldn't avoid him now.
Ash and Dawn were defensive and ready for a fight. They were looking at Team Rocket, ready to blame them for whatever was going on. Brock just looked at Croagunk. He didn't look angry or disappointed. He just looked a little sad. Croagunk didn't know if he was sad because he wanted the pokémon at his side, or if he was sad because he was still with Team Rocket.
Croagunk could easily start spiraling again if he tried to figure out how he felt and what Brock wanted. For a few minutes he just stood there, not feeling part of Team Rocket, but feeling separated from the kids.
He knew that there was some arguing or accusations, as well as some confusing vague words about a new world, but that was all he heard and all he cared about understanding. He really didn't care who had the rocks. The city. Team Rocket. Team Galactic. It was all the same to him. The only thing he cared about was Brock.
When Croagunk got drawn into his head, he had a tendency to block out everything else, including danger. Still, he noticed when toxicroak sent a dark pulse towards the group. The kids were able to use their own pokémon's attacks to divert the attack, but it didn't completely destroy the pulses.
Toxicroak's attack scattered, and Croagunk felt a shiver down his spine when he saw one of the shadowy rings head right towards Brock. As complicated as his feelings about Brock were, Croagunk didn't want him to get hurt. Moving at a speed that was unlike him, Croagunk leapt towards Brock and knocked the attack away, saving the boy.
"...Croagunk?" Brock muttered. It was hard to tell if he was impressed, grateful, or surprised. Croagunk didn't try to figure it out. He had bigger concerns.
Croagunk huffed and glared heatedly at the toxicroak. He hadn't known what to think of this pokémon before, but now he knew that he despised Toxicroak with a deep-seated hatred that he'd never felt before.
Toxicroak had nearly hurt his boy, and he didn't look the slightest bit repentant. If anything, Toxicroak looked disappointed that he hadn't done any damage.
Croagunk knew that it hadn't been personal on Toxicroak's part, but that was exactly what made it personal to him. Brock meant everything to him, and Toxicroak couldn't care less if he had badly hurt him. This pokémon knew nothing about this boy, and yet he was a dangerous threat to him, and that wasn't okay.
Toxicroak easily met his glare, and Croagunk couldn't help but notice how much taller than him this other pokémon was. If he started a fight, Toxicroak would probably overpower him, because he was bigger and probably stronger than him, and they were on completely even footing when it came to typing.
Croagunk didn't care if this was a losing fight. He didn't care that he probably didn't stand a chance. Toxicroak had almost hurt Brock, and Croagunk couldn't let him get away with that.
"Croagunk!" The sound of Brock's cry pulled Croagunk from the stare down. He turned his head in acknowledgement, though didn't pull his gaze from Toxicroak. "Use brick break!"
Croagunk knew that a big part of what trainers did was they offered commands and direction for their pokémon. He'd never been on the receiving end of such commands before, and he knew he was strong and smart enough to not need the guidance. Hearing Brock shout out an order in this situation though, taking on the role of his trainer, even though that wasn't the nature of their relationship, Croagunk felt something inside of him stir.
Brock didn't understand him, and that was still frustrating, but he liked him, and he wanted him, and that was good enough for now.
Croagunk cried out and engaged in battle with Toxicroak. For once, he wasn't holding back. Croagunk could never be bothered to give battles everything he had, because it just hadn't been worth it to him. This wasn't a friendly spar, or something he was doing to keep away boredom. This was to keep Brock safe. For Croagunk, nothing was more important.
They exchanged hits, and dodged, and squirted around each other, neither of them able to get an edge on the other. Croagunk was vaguely aware of the other kids and some other people starting to fight against Team Galactic to try to stop them. He didn't really pay any attention to that though. This fight for the meteorites was not something he cared for. He was here for Brock.
What Croagunk was pleased with was that even though his friends were dealing with Team Galactic, Brock's attention was just on him. The boy continued calling out orders and advice, and even though they weren't strategic choices that Croagunk would normally take, he did what he was told. He trusted Brock, and this was his way of showing it.
Croagunk only took the fight into his own hands once, when Team Rocket got in the middle of their battle. Croagunk spared a moment to jump to the side, just so Team Rocket wouldn't get caught in the crossfires. Meowth had helped him. Croagunk could do just this for them.
It was Brock's idea for Croagunk to climb onto Toxicroak's back. It would make it difficult for Toxicroak to hit him, and make it far easier for him to hit the other pokémon as well.
Latching onto Toxicroak's back was a desperate move, but Brock knew what he was talking about. Croagunk was smaller and more flexible than Toxicroak, and that was something he should use to his advantage.
He just started to think that he had the chance of getting the upper-hand when Toxicroak's trainer returned him, ruining the battle. Croagunk seethed and ran towards Toxicroak's trainer, the apparent leader of this group. Brock called out for him to stop, but Croagunk didn't listen to his order this time.
He wasn't here to be careful, or smart, or anything more than defensive and protective. Toxicroak was a threat to his boy, and Croagunk wasn't going to let him get away so easily.
Team Galactic was getting ready to retreat. They got into their helicopters and soon started to leave. Croagunk growled and leapt just in time to get a hold on the helicopter before it got too high and far.
"No! Croagunk!" Brock called out. He sounded scared. Croagunk frowned and looked down. He felt a small moment of vertigo when he saw how far off the ground he already was. He was a fighting type. He wasn't meant to fly. He pushed that out of his mind when he saw Brock running after him, trying in vain to catch up to him. He was too far away to see his facial expression, but Brock's voice and body language screamed desperation. He was scared for Croagunk.
He knew that doing this was reckless, and probably stupid, but that wasn't his highest concern right now. He acted on his instincts, and right now his instincts were screaming at him to continue his fight.
Croagunk pulled himself up into the helicopter, running on pure determination. He growled as he scanned the members of Team Galactic until he laid eyes on the one holding Toxicroak's ball. Croagunk let out a raw shout as he jumped towards him, aiming to knock the pokéball out of his grip and finish what he had started.
Before Croagunk could grip the pokéball there was a tight grip on his arm. He cried out in alarm as he was lifted into the air. He struggled and kicked, but the grunt that had grabbed his arm had a firm hold. At times like this he hated how small he was. Formidable fighters shouldn't be beaten just by being picked up. It was humiliating.
"Commander Saturn," The grunt holding him said. "We have a situation."
"Yes, I can see that." Toxicroak's trainer stared coldly at Croagunk. He huffed and prepared poison in his sacs, ready to release a poison sting. Before he could attack, Saturn struck first. He stepped right in front of Croagunk and grabbed his inflated poison sacs.
Croagunk blinked, too surprised to react quickly. Saturn squeezed his poison sacs, and it hurt. Croagunk made a choked sound and swallowed down his poison to deflate his sensitive sacs and make this man release them.
"You're a bothersome little thing, aren't you?" Saturn said almost boredly. "I've seen you with Team Rocket. Why do they insist on forcing themselves where they don't belong?"
Croagunk growled. He had been with Team Rocket, but he wasn't with them, and he hated the implication that he was. He wasn't here on their behalf, he was here for Brock.
"We don't tolerate stowaways." Saturn said. Croagunk really didn't like the cold, cruel look in his eyes. "If someone tries, they're considered a recruit, whether they want to be or not." Saturn smirked ever so slightly. "You're far from the first strong spirited pokémon we've broken down."
Croagunk huffed and glared, hiding the tight fear in his chest. Team Galactic was even more ruthless than Team Rocket was, and Croagunk knew first-hand how little Team Rocket cared about hurting other people or pokémon. He wondered if he had gotten in over his head.
Maybe he should have stayed behind with Brock after all.