Team Galactic was cruel and ruthless. It shouldn't be anything that Croagunk couldn't handle, but he hated every second of it. They saw him as even more of a tool than Team Rocket had, and Toxicroak wouldn't stop pushing him to accept that this was all he was good for.
Being forced to work with Toxicroak was probably the worst part. Croagunk had considered evolving, just to be bigger and stronger, and so he wouldn't be underestimated so much. People would still be disgusted by him, but at least they wouldn't dare to mention it. Now that he knew a Toxicroak for himself, he didn't ever want to be like that.
Toxicroak was cold, pessimistic, and uncaring about the feelings of those around him. Croagunk recognized these traits in himself, and he hated and feared it. He didn't try to be mean. He just knew how harsh the world could be. He closed himself off so he could keep himself safe from getting hurt. He expected the worst because that was all that was given to him.
People didn't care about Croagunk, and with very few exceptions he didn't really care about people. He'd always known this to be true, so why did he hate to hear Toxicroak point out that very thing about him?
If he could avoid the other pokémon, he would, but either Toxicroak or his trainer insisted on being the ones to 'train' him. They didn't lock him up or starve him the way that the grunts had. They didn't need to. All Toxicroak had to do was threaten Brock, and Croagunk would do whatever he said, because what else could he do?
He'd tried to fight Toxicroak. He'd tried to chase after him, and that was what had landed him here in the first place. If he didn't do what he was told, Toxicroak would go after his boy, and Croagunk wouldn't even be there to keep him safe.
So he played the role of a pawn and weapon. Toxicroak's trainer quickly realized that while his attacks weren't as strong as Toxicroak's, he was still tough. Saturn actually seemed pleased about it, and he soon used it to his advantage.
"Power is everything, but too much raw strength can destroy something completely." Commander Saturn said. "If we want to rebuild, we need something to build up from."
And that became Croagunk's job. Team Galactic was a very coordinated group, and they got like that through a lot of discipline. Croagunk had experienced an example of their discipline for their pokémon, but their trainers had high expectations on them too. If they didn't meet the standards set for them, there were consequences.
Those consequences were the same as they were for the pokémon. If they failed, they were hurt, and Croagunk was responsible for that. He was told to use poison sting on grunts who forgot to clean up their designated areas. He didn't hesitate to obey.
It wasn't the first time he had used an attack against a human. He knew they were more sensitive to pokémon attacks, but poison attacks in general weren't intended to maim. Most of them were about slowly draining energy and getting under someone's skin.
Even when Croagunk was told to start using poison jab on the grunts when their mistakes were more serious, he obeyed without a second thought. He attacked, and he felt no remorse for it. He had no attachment to these grunts. They were just nameless, practically faceless puppets. Tools for Team Galactic. And he knew that they saw him in the same way.
Toxicroak acted like Croagunk doing what he was told was admitting defeat. That it was a sign that they had torn down his spirit. Croagunk didn't say that this was barely more than he had done in his everyday life. In a way, he knew that would make Toxicroak even more smug, and he refused to give him the satisfaction.
Croagunk had given in to protect Brock. It was a hit to his pride. He was just glad that he wasn't being ordered to do something that he didn't feel comfortable with. He would have still obeyed, but it was a lot easier without the conflicted feeling in his gut.
A small voice in his head told him that Brock wouldn't like him to be doing this. The boy was a protector. He wouldn't approve of hurting people at all, let alone for punishment. He would be disappointed with Croagunk, but this was far from the first time. Croagunk already knew that he was more selfish than Brock would have wanted. He could live with that.
Croagunk let himself get comfortable in an uncomfortable situation. He adapted, and he did what he had to do, just like always. Nothing had changed. He let himself go through the motions. As such, when the commander gave him the order to switch from using a poison jab to using his brick break, he did so without a moment of hesitation.
Cruagunk struck the Team Galactic grunt right in the ribs, and he could feel the ribs give under the pressure. He felt the snap before he heard it, and the poor grunt's screams were quick to follow.
In a moment Croagunk felt the uncaring numbness slip away and he felt like he was the one who was hit in the stomach. He croaked and slowly pulled his hand away as he stared at the still screaming youth in front of him.
Because the grunt really was a youth. They couldn't be more than just a few years older than Brock. They were in pain, and for what reason? Because they'd disappointed their commander? Were they just being made an example? Was this youth's pain just a tool for Saturn to break down and train Croagunk, and it wasn't about the grunt at all?
What unnerved Croagunk most about this situation was that while he hadn't thought about the consequences when he obeyed, he would have done it again. He didn't actually feel too guilty, and that startled him. Good pokémon didn't hurt people, let alone without at least feeling bad about it. He didn't even know why he didn't feel bad.
He didn't really feel great about it either. He felt completely neutral about the damage he'd done, and it was frightening, because that was something that Toxicroak insisted was a similarity between them.
Was that what all of Team Galactic's pokémon were like? They weren't bad, and they definitely weren't good, they just didn't care. Was that why Croagunk was used as a pawn so much? Because he let it happen, simply because he couldn't bring himself to care? Did he not fight enough?
The doubt should make him want to growl and punch and force his way out, just to prove he could. Croagunk felt far too tired. Instead of fighting, he stepped back and turned away from the crying grunt. He caught a glimpse of the commander, who was smirking, and Toxicroak, who looked like he'd just cornered Croagunk. They both looked like they had won, and Croagunk hated that he didn't feel like proving them wrong.
He just didn't feel like doing anything.
Croagunk didn't really have a designated place to rest. He still didn't have a trainer with a pokéball to hide away in. The closest thing he had to a safe place in Team Galactic's base was a corner that he would hide himself away in. Usually he would find a reflective surface and lose himself that way, but today he avoided doing just that. He didn't think he could stand looking at himself right now. He was scared that he just wouldn't like what he saw.
He tried to ignore everything, the same way he might when he stared at his reflection. Of course, he wasn't given a break. Toxicroak came to find him.
"You felt nothing." Toxicroak said. It wasn't a question, it was an observation. Toxicroak knew Croagunk far more than he felt comfortable with. "But you're still moping. Do you feel guilty about not feeling guilty?"
"I won't feel guilty about tearing you apart." Croagunk huffed and glared at Toxicroak. He didn't lunge for an attack, but his posture made it clear that he was ready to strike if he was given any provocation.
Toxicroak didn't rise to the bait. He just leered down at Croagunk. "Do you still think you're deserving of that boy of yours? Pokémon like us aren't soft enough to fit in with people like them. We belong here."
"I don't." Croagunk couldn't possibly belong somewhere that Toxicroak was. He despised him too much. He couldn't argue that he belonged with Brock and his friends. Not for the first time, Croagunk thought that he didn't belong anywhere. It wasn't something to mope about. It was just a fact of his life
"We'll see." Toxicroak said. He finally walked away, leaving Croagunk seething and numb. He crouched on the ground and buried his head in his legs.
His break didn't last long. All too soon Commander Saturn was dragging him back into punishing his subordinates. Croagunk considered resisting, or holding back his power, but that involved thinking and having the will to fight, and he didn't think he was capable of that. He couldn't focus. He didn't think he could fight if he wanted to. All he could do was retreat into the sanctuary of his mind and numbly do as he was told.
He was acting like the good little puppet and tool that the Team Galactic Commander thought he was.
Day after day Croagunk went through the motions. He felt similar to how he did when he stared for hours at his reflection, except it went on for days, or possibly weeks. He really didn't know. The monotony only changed when Saturn decided that it wasn't enough for him to hurt the grunts.
Team Galactic was moving forward with whatever their plans were, and Croagunk was going to be a part of it.
The job he was given was different enough from what he'd been doing that it broke through his drowning mind, but it was similar enough that he still didn't have to think. Team Galactic was trying to steal an orb or something while it was being transported from one city to another. Croagunk was supposed to stay with Saturn and Toxicroak, and if they came across security or resistance, he would incapacitate them in whatever way was necessary.
He knew he shouldn't obey. He knew that this was wrong. He couldn't bring himself to really care. This didn't really feel any different than punishing the Team Galactic grunts. He was still attacking people who probably didn't deserve it. He was still doing what he was told. He still felt numb. He had to. If he let himself feel anything else, he would fall apart.
Emotions were hard, and at times like this he was relieved that he was able to feel nothing. What he usually considered to be an annoying inconvenience was probably the one thing saving his sanity.
Team Galactic successfully stole the orb thing, and this was just the start of it. There was another orb that they were looking for, and they were going for it now. Croagunk wasn't involved in this particular part of the plan. He could just sit down and block it out. Saturn and Toxicroak kept him at their side, but at least he was in the fresh air and could ignore everything.
At least, that was the plan, but then he heard Saturn say something about the group that had interfered at Veilstone. That was where the meteorites had been. Brock and his friends had definitely interfered there.
Croagunk felt his will come back to him immediately. He practically scrambled to the edge of the roof that they were looking out over. He looked through the railing bars, leaning forward so much that he almost fell right through them. They were on a building across from a museum or research center or something, where the target was. There was a group walking into the research center now, and Croagunk recognized them right away.
Brock. His boy was here.
Croagunk reacted without even thinking about it. He turned around and ran towards the entrance to the roof. He needed to get down there. He needed to get to his boy. He hadn't even reached the door when his arm was grabbed and he was yanked back so harshly that he felt his shoulder become strained.
Croagunk cried out in pain and frustration. He growled and glared at Toxicroak, who was leering at him.
"You're not interfering." Toxicroak said. For the first time there was something outside of emotionless nothing in his voice. He was passionate about this, but Croagunk had more.
"I'm not interfering." Croagunk huffed. He'd said multiple times that he didn't want anything to do with Team Galactic. That included fighting against them. If Brock and his friends wanted to fight them, fine. It wasn't Croagunk's business. He just wanted to be at the boy's side. That didn't mean he had to help them. And unlike Team Galactic, Brock would accept that.
At least, Croagunk liked to think he would, and right now he was not in the mood to let his doubts get the best of him again.
He wasn't going to let anything or anybody keep him from Brock, and that included Toxicroak.
Croagunk hadn't been bothered to fight back before, but all of that will power came back to him in an instant. He took his free arm and used brick break, hiding Toxicroak's wrist as hard as he could.
He hadn't held back when he'd attacked the grunts, but there was a difference between doing that and giving everything he had. Croagunk never used his full power, because he'd never had the need to.
Toxicroak though, he deserved this and so much more.
Toxicroak didn't let go right away, but his grip loosened just a little bit. That small amount was enough. Croagunk hit him again and gave a sharp pull and was able to slip away. He didn't bother trying to continue the fight, as much as he wanted to. He knew he couldn't beat Toxicroak. Not in his weakened and desperate state. This wasn't about defeating him, it was about getting away.
Fighting types didn't like to run away from a fight, but poison types did whatever was necessary to get what they wanted. Right now, that meant fleeing.
Croagunk didn't bother struggling to jump for the door knob. He just hit the door, breaking it open. It didn't stop him for a second. He was running down the stairs so quickly that it was almost closer to falling. But Toxicroak wasn't letting him go so easily. The larger pokémon was right at his heels. Croagunk was only able to stay ahead because the stairways were too narrow for a pokémon of Toxicroak's size.
Croagunk ran outside and made his way towards where he had seen Brock. He scurried, ignoring the pain in his hips and burning in his legs. He wasn't built for this kind of movement. He wasn't going to let it stop him though. Brock was more important than some physical discomfort.
Croagunk saw police everywhere, and he didn't want to be stopped by them. So he kept out of sight and ran to the side of the building instead of the front. It was far too easy for him to find a window. He broke it open and climbed into the building. Maybe property damage wasn't the best thing in the world, but he was desperate, and he knew that Team Galactic would do far more damage than just this.
Toxicroak had started to catch up to him, but Croagunk's size came to his advantage again. Toxicroak couldn't squeeze as easily through the window that Croagunk had chosen. He also cared so much more about not being found by the police than Croagunk was. Toxicroak sent a dark pulse towards him, but could hit the pulses away and walk away untouched.
Toxicroak glared at him through the window, and a small bit of Croagunk was a little intimidated, but he pushed it down. Toxicroak walked away, probably to find another way inside. He wasn't going to give up, but neither was Croagunk. He forgot about the other pokémon. He was here for Brock. Nothing else mattered.
Croagunk ran and wandered down the halls, looking all over for the boy that would be his trainer. It took more time than he would have liked. He felt like he was going in circles, and he couldn't sense the presence of their pokémon the way he could Team Galactic's. He had never had the best sense of direction, but the thing that he had going for him was that he was stubborn. He wasn't going to stop until he found the boy.
Croagunk didn't know how long he walked around aimlessly before he heard familiar voices. He perked up and picked up his speed. He opened his mouth to call out to them, but before a sound could come out he felt a pressure over his mouth as he was wrenched back.
Croagunk was restrained, kept still and silent by Toxicroak. The other pokémon wasn't tearing him apart or attacking his friends. He just kept out of sight and waited patiently until the kids and their companions walked right past their hallway and turned another corner.
"We've come too far to be stopped by a little thing that's too stubborn for its own good." Toxicroak said coldly. "You have no idea what we're doing here."
He was right, Croagunk didn't know, and he really didn't care.
"I have a job to do." Toxicroak said. "I don't want to waste my time on something so useless, but I will do whatever is necessary."
Croagunk didn't doubt that Toxicroak meant it. However, he thought that the other pokémon was underestimating just how stubborn he was. He forced his mouth open behind Toxicroak's hand and used poison sting at the same time as he used poison jab. He aimed for the same spot, so Toxicroak was being hit with a double dose.
Toxicroak growled in pain and fury, and Croagunk slipped away from him. He ran after the children, but Toxicroak didn't let him get very far.
It became a chase. Croagunk tried to find the trainers, but any path he tried to run down Toxicroak would catch up and grab him, throwing him the other way. Croagunk was forced to run away from Toxicroak instead of running towards Brock.
Croagunk had thought that Toxicroak had just been keeping him moving and away from the trainers. He underestimated him. Croagunk didn't notice that he was being herded until he stumbled into another stairway, with Toxicroak blocking his way back into the halls.
Where Croagunk's small size had allowed him to escape before, Toxicroak's size was the very thing that left him trapped now. The other pokémon's body took up the door. If Croagunk tried to get past him, he would be effortlessly knocked back. Frustrated, Croagunk had no choice but to retreat up the stairs.
"You have a lot of fight in you, I'll give you that." Toxicroak said as he made his way up the stairs after him. He didn't even hurry. Toxicroak took his time, because he knew that there was nowhere for Croagunk to go. "But you're a fool to fight against Team Galactic." Toxicroak growled and hit the wall, leaving a dent that was larger than Croagunk's head. "And for what? You don't even know what you're fighting for!"
Croagunk felt shivers go down his spine as he ran up the stairs and stumbled onto the roof of the building. Toxicroak sounded angry, which was the most emotion he'd heard from him. What got under Croagunk's skin was that in a way, Toxicroak was right. Croagunk didn't know what he was fighting for.
All his life Croagunk had fought, and struggled, and there had been no good reason. But then he ran into Brock. The boy himself wasn't a fighter, but he was still the strongest person that Croagunk knew. He was genuine. He cared. And he had people that cared about him too. Their fights were his fights, and he gave everything he could.
Then there was Croagunk, standing on a roof with an enemy just behind him. He was alone. He didn't know what he was doing this for, and he didn't have somebody at his side to give him direction.
Croagunk knew that Brock cared, but the boy wasn't here. He was fighting alongside his friends, with his actual pokémon at his side. Croagunk was alone, and he had nobody to blame but himself.
His legs shook as he ran towards the edge of the roof. There was nowhere to run, but he couldn't stop. He thought maybe he could somehow climb down from the roof, or lure Toxicroak away from the stairway so he could get away. He was so busy looking ahead that he didn't watch his back, which was an amateur mistake when an enemy was just behind him.
Croagunk gasped when he felt a strike against his back, knocking him forward. Croagunk had the brief sensation of falling, but before he could think to panic about it he found himself landing on a tilted glass surface. He hadn't fallen far, but he couldn't afford a moment's relief. He had to try to get a grip on the glass before he fell off the roof. There was nothing else below him that could catch him.
Croagunk breathed harshly and clung to the glass panes. He stepped back and retreated up the incline as he watched Toxicroak slowly approach him. His feet slipped, but he caught himself, and kept going. It was risky, but letting Toxicroak get to him would be far more dangerous.
As Toxicroak cme closer, Croagunk realized that he had backed himself into a terrible corner. Not only was Toxicroak gaining on him, but there wasn't a way for him to fight back. If he tried, he would lose his footing and just make himself more vulnerable. He was stuck, and they both knew it.
Toxicroak had no more taunts for him. He didn't try to reason with or scare him. He just lunged forward and grabbed Croagunk's leg, lifting him into the air. He twisted and tried to grab Toxicroak's arm, but he was dangling upside down and unable to do anything about it.
He'd lost. He was alone. And he was oh so tired.
He saw Toxicroak's sneer as he pulled Croagunk back and harshly threw him down. He landed on the glass pane beneath him, and the sound of it shattering on impact echoed in his ears.
Croagunk cried out as he fell, the floor rushing up to meet him. He couldn't even brace himself or try to land better. The only thing he had time for was to feel a rush or fear before he hit the ground and had the air knocked out of him.
His ears were ringing. There was sound all around him, and he couldn't really understand any of it. He couldn't breath, and he couldn't move. He just laid there, stunned, scared, and wishing that Brock was here. He didn't want the boy to try to fight Toxicroak. He'd done his best to protect Brock.
But Croagunk was only one pokémon, and he could only fight for so long. He had taken care of himself and been strong his whole life. He couldn't do it anymore. For once, he wanted somebody to take care of him.
But he was alone. He always had been, and he always would be.
Croagunk groaned and forced his eyes open, hoping desperately to see a familiar or friendly face looking after him. For someone to take him into their arms and tell him that he would be fine, and he'd done good. He felt his stomach twist when the vision before him was Toxicroak, leaping down from the hole in the glass ceiling.
His rival's poison shard on his fist was glowing, and even though he was a poison type and could usually take a hit of toxin, he knew that he didn't stand a chance. Toxicroak's jab hit him like a punch to the gut, with all the force that his own strength and gravity could muster. Which was a lot.
It was agony. Croagunk screamed as his stomach was dug into and poison seeped into his system, lighting his every nerve on fire. He couldn't breathe. He couldn't think. The only thing that existed was pain and fear, and the pleading voice in his head begging it to stop.
He could take a lot, but this was too much for him. After what felt like an eternity of torture, he couldn't take it anymore. He groaned and his body grew lax. He closed his eyes and finally let unconsciousness overtake him.