Chapter 13
Cinders of a Fiery Heart
"Dya!" Seliph cried as he tripped over a root and face planted into the ground. "Ow," he groaned, clenching his wounded arm tightly as he scrambled to his feet. There's no time!
His legs felt heavy as he tried to break back into a sprint, but could only manage a simple jog.
I…I need to… his form broke into more of a stumble, till he finally stopped at a tree to avoid another collapse. He turned, planting his forehead on the rough bark of the tree, and just took slow, heavy breaths.
Many thoughts flooded his mind now that he was forced to rest, including his fears. They crept into his heart and his gaze slid back to the path where he came. It's alright. You got them to the tunnel, he assured himself as he turned around and pressed his back against the tree.
His tired legs gave way to the promise of comfort as he slid down to the roots. The wound on his arm even showed him a small ounce of grace and eased it's hurting now that his body could relax.
Despite this ease, his thoughts were anything but. That Electivire was tough. So was that Weavile. I guess that's why Mom was so worried about us being attacked. They're super tough. He arced his head upwards, letting it rest against the tree as he stared into the darkness of the branches above. Everything is clearer now. Having an emergency tunnel, being secluded…everything. His hands pulled his legs in, while his gaze dropped to his kneecaps. But…who are these guys? Why do they want Mom's sample? What even is that sample?
His eyes shut as he sighed with a heaviness that matched his heart. Guess there's still a lot I don't know.
A loud noise broke him from his thoughts. Glancing to the left, Seliph gasped at seeing a light in the distance. It was orange, sectioned between the trees in a sporadic fashion.
Dread filled his soul as he got to his feet and broke into a full-blown sprint. He didn't care that his muscles started aching again. His mind was all focused on that horrible noise he heard over the com and the worry thoughts it gave him.
He drew closer and closer to the light, realizing the source was some kind of fire by the faint flickering it made. This made him rush faster till he stumbled into the clearing. Sure enough, there was a large wall of flames in all their glory, but on the right side past the house.
Right as he moved to get a closer look, his foot touched something that moved along with his step. He glanced down and leaped back with a startled cry. Once the initial fright faded, Seliph stared bewildered at the door lying in the middle of their sand battlefield with something underneath.
How did I miss that? He thought as he looked at the gaping hole in the back of their home. Wait, no. He shook his head a few times. No time for that. He dashed to the right, rounding the corner of the house. I need to hurry and tell- once again he stopped dead in his tracks.
In front of the wall of flames was what looked like Tetheron, engaged in brutal combat with somebody else. Their moves contrasted with the flames behind them as their speed and fluid styles made it hard to distinguish either mon.
The Frogadier watched in captivated silence, till he saw the ground uproot near Tetheron's opponent as a giant spike attempted to pierce the stranger in his side. The foe leaped over followed by Tetheron lunging for a strike, their moves clashing in midair.
Seliph raised a brow, looking to the right. His eyes widened as he rushed towards the other mon he saw. "Roweilo!"
The Chesnaught faced him, staring with surprise and then displeasure. "You shouldn't be here."
"I know, but I need to warn you guys."
"Warn us?" Roweilo raised a brow as he focused back on the fight near the fire. "Warn us about what?"
"The rangers you contacted. We used your com orb to reach them and they were-" Seliph almost jumped onto his back as Roweilo falling in front of him, like all the strength in his legs had been sapped away in an instant. Seliph stared shocked at the ranger, who was covering his mouth and staring at the ground horrified.
As Seliph just stood there clueless on what to do, Roweilo lifted his free hand onto Seliph's shoulder. "I-I'm okay. I just." A little gag followed. "Need a minute."
Relieved to hear this, Seliph decided to look back at the battle going on. His nerves went on edge as he saw a Tetheron get blown back by the remnants of a crescent purple wave, though the Blaziken quickly grounded himself, sliding on the dirt without taking his eyes off the enemy.
The opponent, a Zoroark, simply smiled in a way that only seemed to grow darker as Tetheron's slid to a halt. He then swung his left arm wide, igniting a Night Slash over his claw, but then strangely raised a brow.
Seliph gasped as the Zoroark turned his head, their gazes meeting. The villain's curious expression shifted to one that sent a fearful shiver through Seliph's spine.
"Well, what have we here?" he said, facing Seliph fully.
The boy started backing up without even noticing. Suddenly, he was grabbed from behind, causing him to squeak in surprise as he was pulled to the Chesnaught's chest and then gently pushed around the larger mon's body.
"Stay back," Roweilo commanded, placing a protective arm in front of Seliph and glaring at the Red Eyes viciously without a single trace of the horrified look from before. It looked so unlike Roweilo that it almost scared Seliph, though the Zoroark's voice grabbed his attention.
"Now, why would our little friend be out and about?" He sent a cheeky leer to Tetheron, who immediately charged. One playful sounding cough later, the Zoroark flicked his wrist, sending a Focus Blast right at his attacker.
The nimble Blaziken leaped over it and continue his assault as the move crashed into the house. He did a high leap and spun in a sideways flip, igniting his right leg with Blaze Kick and brought it down his opponent, who leaped away.
"Uncle Tethe!" Seliph shouted, feeling the urge to help, but the Chesnaught's large arm held him back. Seliph could just helplessly watch as Tetheron clashed with his foe, who matched Tetheron's aggression with wicked glee.
Huh? Seliph looked down, seeing the Chesnaught's arm starting to shake. He glanced up at Roweilo's face, seeing the anger amplified. It was as if Roweilo was telling him all he wanted to do to this Zoroark by simply watching the fight. What happened? Finally, Seliph mustered the courage to say, "Roweilo?"
The Chesnaught didn't seem to notice him.
"Roweilo, the rangers ar-"
"I know!" Roweilo snapped, making Seliph flinch. There was a second of heavy silence until Roweilo lowered his gaze, still incredibly angry but now forming a few amounts of tears. "I know…"
Frozen like a statue, Seliph watched the large mon raise his right arm to his eyes to rub away the forming tears. Shakily, hy placed a hand on Roweilo's side. The mon's hide gave a calming sensation to the boy, giving him the courage to lean in closer. "I'm..." he pressed his little forehead to the mon's fur. "I'm sorry."
Despite receiving no negative reply in any form, Seliph felt even worse inside. His hand closed into a fist, pulling some of the fur into its clutch. I'm such an idiot. I didn't even consider if he was friends with them. Seliph shut his eyes and let go.
"Seliph."
The boy almost jumped at the Chesnaught's voice. "Y-yeah?" He looked up at Roweilo, who was looking at him but with a determined gaze instead of rage or sadness.
"Can you distract him with your Water Pulse?"
The Frogadier glanced back at the battle, then back to Roweilo. "What are you going to do?"
"Help Tetheron out."
He felt a lump in his throat. Something felt off in that reply, though Seliph wasn't sure if it was due to the answer being dishonest.
"Seliph, please. I can't do this by myself."
The words dug into him. It almost felt like a plea for help that no one in their right mind would turn down and yet it felt so damning as well. One deep breath later, Seliph nodded.
Roweilo nodded back and stood to full height, while Seliph sidestepped to get a clear view of the battle.
He stretched his arms out and spread his fingers till they formed a triangle in front of him, moving it along with the Zoroark's movements. "Ready?"
"Yeah."
"Okay." Seliph took a quick breath as a swirl of blue light appeared around his triangle. He waited till the Red Eye was stationary in the fight to let the Water Pulse fly. "Go."
It flew through the air, about to land a precise hit on the Zoroark, if not for the villain twisting around and slicing it in two with his Night Slash claw.
"Naughty, naughty," he chided, throwing a small Focus Blast downwards with his other hand to force Tetheron to stay back or get dirt in his eyes.
Seliph felt a rush of fear as the mon rushed towards him with a wide smile.
"Plageues!" Roweilo roared, gaining both Seliph's and the Zoroark's attention. The Chesnaught was moving to intercept Plageues, fists covered in a brown light that materialized to a bunch of rocks that covered his hands.
Seliph looked at Plageues, who seemed almost happy Roweilo was charging him.
"Roweilo, don't!" Tetheron shouted as Plageues's Night Slash extended over his claw to become a palm blade.
However, his happiness changed to confusion as Roweilo slammed one of his fists into the ground, a green light appearing at Plageues's feet a second later. Thick vines shot from the ground. Despite managing to avoid getting skewered by the rising vines, he found himself trapped by the thickness of this mini-forest.
"Get him!" Roweilo shouted to Tetheron, who instantly broke into a dash.
As Plageues struggled to cut free from the vines, Tetheron leaped into the air and pulled into a hook kick, an orange circle appearing in front of his foot.
Plageues managed to free his Night Slash arm and moved it to shield himself, intercepting the orange circle.
Tetheron pushed off, as the circle jolted forwards, shattering the Night Slash and sending Plageues crashing through the vines and skidding on the ground till his momentum died at the edge of the forest.
"Is he down?" Roweilo inquired, as Tetheron landed. He got his answer a second later and much to his frustration, it was Plageues standing back up.
"He tanked that?" Tetheron muttered, heating his fists and charging for Plageues.
Roweilo took his hand from the ground, letting the collection of vines disintegrate into small, green orbs of light that Tetheron easily rushed through.
"Have some more!" Tetheron exclaimed, shoving for a strong jab that unleashed a Flamethrower at the tip.
In response, Plageues swung his arm upright, tossing a Focus Blast that while wasn't able to defeat the Flamethrower, managed to stall it a little before being engulfed by the flames. He then swung his arms high, in a manner like a ragdoll, and slammed them to the ground with a purple hue glimmering as they made contact.
A large repulse of dark energy erupted, clashing with the Flamethrower and pushing back the Flamethrower and breaking through it a few seconds later.
"What?" Tetheron said with a look of disbelief. He quickly crossed his arms in front as the Night Daze struck him. He grumbled against the impact as it hurled him away.
"Uncl-" Seliph was pulled off the ground by Roweilo's strong arm and set down right behind the mon, who quickly stretched out his other hand and materialized a Spiky Shield. Unfortunately, it started cracking when against the Night Daze, the speediness of its creation costing it in power.
Roweilo grunted as he pushed back against the dark move, shifting both hands against his shield and surging it with more synergy so it would break into pieces. Unfortunately, the pushback was so great, that Roweilo started to slowly slide back.
Seliph supportively slammed his side into Roweilo's leg. "I've got you!" He said, even if what he offered was a just small fraction of what Roweilo was doing.
"Thanks!" Roweilo shouted, giving the shield another hard push.
Their sliding may have stopped, but they couldn't maintain a stalemate like this for much longer, or at least Seliph felt they couldn't by how Roweilo's leg shook under the strain. Come on! Seliph begged in his head as he shoved with all his might.
"Seliph, get back!" Roweilo suddenly shouted. Before Seliph could comply, Roweilo shifted his leg to nudge the Frogadier back. He quickly planted his leg to avoid sliding further and roared. He shoved back with his entire body glowing in green energy that surged into the Spiky Shield, making it grow in size and protrude massive spikes that pierced at the darkness.
The Night Daze collapsed and began to fade away like purple sparks from a fire as Roweilo stumbled forwards due to nothing pushing back against him. He caught his imbalance and moved his hands to his knees, panting heavily as the purple sparks around him faded alongside the green orbs of light from his Spiky Shield.
"You alright?" Seliph inquired as he walked over to Roweilo and placed a hand on the mon's back shell.
"Yeah," Roweilo wheezed.
That's good. Seliph glanced over at his uncle, who was getting back to his feet, seemingly unfazed from the hit. Good, he's okay too.
The relief in his heart was swallowed up as he heard Plageues break into a dark, spaced-out laugh. The duo tensed up, staring down the Zoroark, who eyed them like a meal. His posture was even more off-putting; his motions looked like some ragdoll being pulled to its feet by strings.
"Alright," the villain said, eyes glowing with a stronger gleam than normal. "If that's how you want to play, allow me to play rough too!" He lunged forwards as if whatever invisible chains that bound him were suddenly snapped.
Roweilo nudged Seliph behind him, though Seliph made sure he could still see around Roweilo's leg.
"Plageues!" Tetheron shouted, flanking the Zoroark, who alter his course at all. Seeing he couldn't reach Plageues in time, Tetheron did a short hop and thrust his hands forwards, sending a beam of fire towards the Zoroark. "What?" His mouth dropped at the sight of his move soaring just slightly above his target.
He missed‽ Seliph stared in equal disbelief. He didn't have time to ponder why, as Roweilo stepped forwards and materialized his Spiky Shield once more.
"Stay back!" He shouted, but Plageues didn't relent, almost skewering himself on the Spiky Shield before he jumped over. Roweilo tried to impale him mid-jump, but was too slow, allowing the Zoroark to soar over their heads. The Chesnaught spun around, letting his shield evaporate and instead materializing a Rock Tomb glove to slam Plageues where he landed, but instead he froze.
Seliph also stared in shock upon turning around as well. There was an exact copy of himself, holding its arms over its head in fear. No! Seliph drew a Cut, but the Zoroark had already leaped onto Roweilo's chest, plunging a Night Slash infused claw right into the left side of his throat.
The Chesnaught gagged in pain and stuttered backwards.
"Roweilo!" Seliph jumped to slice at Plageues, but was kicked down as the Zoroark morphed out of his doppelganger form, revealing the much larger body with much larger reach. Seliph quickly looked back to see Plageues look into Roweilo's gaze as the Chesnaught tried to grab him.
"Guess my gamble paid off," he said in a low, malicious tone as he concluded ripping Roweilo's throat wide open and leaping off before the Chesnaught could retaliate.
"No!" Seliph rushed to Roweilo's side as he staggered back, collapsing on his knees and holding his throat tight while staring forwards with a vacant expression. "Hang on," Seliph uttered, grabbing a handful of his frubbles. "I'll try to se-" He yelped in fright as Plageues landed on top of the Chesnaught, making the mon faceplant to the ground.
"You'll do what now?" The Zoroark said, licking his chops.
Seliph scrambled to his feet as he rushed away. "Help!" he cried as Plageues leaped after him and swiped Seliph in the back. While the move failed to do more than scrapes Seliph tumbled over as if it had done damage. He tried to get to his feet but froze as he saw the Zoroark tower over him.
Right as Plageues stepped forwards, he was kicked in the side by a furious Tetheron.
The Blaziken leaped after Plageues, raising his leg to bring down an ax kick down on Plageues, infused with Jump Kick. To his dismay and frustration, Plageues caught it between his crossed arms, both surging Night Slash.
"Oh deary me, you look mad. Is it because my Night Daze ruined your 'big saving moment'?" He said with a laugh, twisting his hands to back Tetheron spin in the air and strike the ground with a harsh thump.
Plageues dove on top of Tetheron, who managed to catch the mon by the wrists to avoid getting his face sliced up. "Shame it cost your friend his throat."
"Dyaa!" Tetheron pulled his legs back and kicked up, hoping to throw off the bastard. To his surprise, Plageues moved his legs up as well, matching Tetheron's so that he was sent somersaulting into the air.
Tetheron rolled onto his stomach to chase after but stared wide-eyed as half a second later a Focus Blast struck him in the chest. With a painful cry, Tetheron went tumbling towards the house, the hard wall breaking his momentum and knocking the air out of his lungs. He was still.
Meanwhile, Plageues landed gracefully, giving the downed Tetheron a little wink and placing a hand on his waist. "It's what you get for breaking the rules of our duel," he huffed. A dark smile formed as he turned towards Seliph, who squeaked as their gazes met. "But I don't think that's enough punishment, wouldn't you say?" With an evil chuckle, he started walking towards the boy, who crawled backwards in fear.
Seliph could feel the heat from the wall on his back, prompting him to look behind. His breathing quickened as he realized he couldn't go any farther. He tried to rush to the right, but a Focus Blast struck the ground nearby, sending him hurling onto his side with a yelp.
"Now, now, you wouldn't want bad mons to get away with their naughty actions, would you?" Plageues mocked, as he drew nearer to the boy. "Weren't you ever taught, good mons accept their consequences."
A small sense of anger rose in the boy as he thrust his hands forwards and fired a singular Water Pulse at Plageues. "Leave me alone!" he shouted but froze up with his mouth agape as Plageues sliced it apart easily.
"I can't hear you," Plageues teased, resuming his stride towards Seliph.
The boy was too horrified to put up a defense, staring into those devilish eyes was enough to make his entire being shake. His mind tried to think of what to do, brave the flames or try his chances with Plageues with neither option having a good outcome. Finally, it was too much for him. He pulled himself into a little ball and cried at the top of his lungs, "Mom! Dad!"
His eyes shot wide as he heard a roar from behind. A familiar roar prompted him to break out of balling up and glance back. Right as he did, he saw the flames part with something leaping over his head. A blue blur followed by a surprised howl that made Seliph's blood shiver.
Glancing back, he saw Gathor charging his foe who had a bloodied arm. The two clashed over and over until Plageues ducked underneath his attack.
Seliph gasped as Plageues quickly morphed into Freya, right as Gathor turned around to swing. "Da-" The warning had just left his mouth as Gathor tore into the face of his wife, sending the mon back with a howling pain and holding his face.
Seliph's eyes lit up as he saw Gathor leaped to the prone mon and shove it to the ground. While Gathor pounding the image of his mom to the ground was slightly disturbing, Seliph knew it wasn't really Freya or at least that that she wouldn't just take such a beating.
"Yeah, Dad! Beat him up!" Seliph cheered on as Gathor tossed Plageues to the ground, the Zoroark finally giving up the fake form.
"You feral!" Plageues shouted as he whipped out his finger with a Focus Blast at the end. "I'll-" For a brief moment, Plageues bore a look of horror as Gathor grabbed his arm, pulled him closer, and bit down on his right shoulder. The size of Gathor's jaw enveloped the skinny upper arm and shoulder, as he shoved Plageues to the ground, the Zoroark howling in agony.
A smile formed on Seliph, but it was quickly replaced by fear as Plageues stabbed into Gathor's side with a Night Slash infused claw. Gathor wouldn't budge, driving his teeth deeper into the villain's body as the Dark Type's stabbing grew more desperate and sloppy.
Finally, Plageues ceased his onslaught on Gathor's side and pulled back wide. He then drove his claw into Gathor's right eye.
The Feraligatr let out a blood-curling roar as he relinquished his hold on Plageues and rolled on his side, clamping his strong hands over his destroyed eye.
Seliph just stared in horrified silence, unable to process what just happened. He almost didn't notice running to Gathor's side and hugging his father in desperation. As he began to realize the situation around him, tears formed in his eyes as he looked up at his father's face, the mighty hand obscuring the bloody scene from Seliph's fearful eyes. He wanted to see his father's face, but didn't have the courage to try nor did he feel it was a sight he truly should see.
An angry yell came from behind them, making Seliph turn around and press his back against his father.
Plageues was leering at them, drawing a Night Slash blade from his fingertips. "You're going to pay for that!"
The boy looked at his father and then back to Plageues, drawing a cut as he stood up in slow, stern motions. He held the move in both hands and angled it towards Plageues as he eyed him with a scowl. "Stay back!" he shouted, trying to make up for his shaking with a voice of conviction and courage.
Plageues wasn't amused. He dashed towards the boy but was blown onto his side by an Air Slash striking near his feet. "Fuck!" He exclaimed, holding the bite marks on his chest as he glared upwards at the Charizard descending on their location.
She opened her maw and fired a powerful Flamethrower in his direction, the Zoroark was too injured to leap away and braced for the burning sensation. However, he was saved by three orbs of the primary colors appearing around him, firing their respective beams at the fire. The two moves clashed until the Freya cut off the Flamethrower, landing in front of Seliph and Gathor.
"Send them in now!" Plageues commanded as the PorygonZ dropped his move as well.
Seliph clasped his head, hearing a strange ringing that startled him but didn't hurt at all. What did scare him was the snarling sounds coming from the fire, as he saw several mons leap through the flames and charge them.
"Get down!" Freya shouted. Seliph immediately obeyed, while she swung her wings wide and then forwards, sending a grouping of Air Slashes towards the mob. She struck the Electivire and two of the Weaviles had to halt their advance to avoid. The third Weavile, the most wounded looking one, took the blow to the side and leaped for her. It surged a Night Slash and tried to stab her in the chest.
Freya met it with an upwards swing of Dragon Claw, grabbing it with her free hand and pulling it over her head. With a cold glare, she slammed it into the ground, the sound of its skull-cracking making Seliph's body feel numb.
He shook off the feeling and the fact a Weavile's head just was smashed in front of him to say, "Mom, Dad's hurt."
She glanced at Gathor, her eyes widening at seeing him holding the right side of his face. "Gathor!"
He shook his head to dissuade her coming to his aid. "It wasn'…deep enough," he panted as he rose to a knee. "I can still figh'." The right side of his body looked covered in blood, a mix of others and his own.
While this horrified Seliph, he wasn't prepared for when Gathor took his hand from his eye to stabilize himself. The eye socket was vacant, instead holding a mix of red and white interspersed with dropping blood. It was enough to make him gag and look away for the sake of his sanity.
"No, we need to get out of here and patch you up." he heard his mother say before his arm was seized by her.
He yelped as she pulled him close and with a stern stare ask, "Where are your brothers?"
"T-t-tunnel," he answered, starting to cry. For the first time since he could remember, he yanked his hand from her and just used his newly freed hand to just cover his eyes. He wanted to just wake up from whatever bad dream this was, though he knew it wasn't some horrible nightmare. His dad's eye was gone, Tetheron was hurt, Roweilo was…
"Help your father up. We need to get him out of here."
He took his hand away and glanced up at her, though he had to shield his face as Freya sliced apart another attack with her Dragon Claw.
"I'm sorry, Seliph, but I need you to do this. Only you can."
He looked up at her and for a brief second, their gazes were locked. It wasn't too dissimilar to her serious face, but he noticed a small ounce of something else in her eyes. The conviction in them that fully believed in what she said. It was enough to make him force his fear, sadness, anxiety, or anything else that'd hinder him down and reach to help his father. He couldn't falter now, not while he was still needed.
He heard her fly off towards their enemies, roaring as she drove into battle with all those creatures, while he worked on steadying his father. "Here, lean on me."
Growling softly, Gathor tried to stand back up.
The boy tried to help steady his father, though he did very little compared to Gathor's strength. "There, just a little mo-" He suddenly felt Gathor's body fling forwards as he was tackled from behind. Seliph felt the whiplash that sent him tumbling to the side while Gathor fell forwards.
He glanced over to see what had happened, only to gasp at the sight of Gathor being struck in the back with the Electivire using Brick Break. His father's cries in pain ignited something inside him.
The Electvire's vacant yet wrathful expression surged the image of when one stood over Jaron. Staring down at the paralyzed boy with a look of pleasure at killing such a helpless being. Time felt slow as he pulled himself to his feet and drew a Cut, his shocked expression shifting to anger.
"Get off of him!" He roared, throwing himself at the Electivire. He leaped onto its arm and stabbed as hard as he could with it, making it screech and back up off his father. Seliph felt his blood boil as he pulled himself up higher with the Cut and leaped for the back, using the tufts of fur to hang on.
Once he had a good enough grip, he flicked his wrist to make another Cut and drove it into the mon's back. He let out a battle cry as he stabbed the mon over and over, while it spun around trying to reach for him. Die! He screamed in his head over and over, till the Electivire finally was able to grab him by the leg and pull him off.
It roared at him, holding him upside down.
Seliph formed a triangle with his fingers and blasted it in the face with Water Pulse, making it recoil back. However, this just angered it. It pulled Seliph back in a wide arc and swung its arm down, letting Seliph smack hard onto the ground and tumble a little ways while it wiped its eyes.
Seliph spat out some blood as his wounded arm ignited once more, the most it had since he received it. Slowly, he sat up knowing he couldn't be idle. Unfortunately, he took too long, for the Electivire was already moving to hammer him into the ground with a Brick Break.
Despite the looming doom above him, Seliph fought his fears and thrust his hands forwards for one last shot at saving himself. He never got the chance to fire it.
The ground uprooted right from under him, sending him tumbling backwards. Right as he came to a stop, he heard one of the worst screams he'd ever had, so horrible it made him instantly go to look. He stared with a cold sense of dread as the Electivire clawed at a giant ground spike piercing most of its chest. Its expression indicated incredible agony that made Seliph grab his chest just to make sure he didn't have something piercing it too. He watched in dead silence as it eventually went limp and its eyes stared at its kill vacant of any emotion.
Seliph then looked at the spike in front, confused. Roweilo! He rolled onto his hands and knees and went completely still at what he saw.
The Chesnaught was on a knee, pressing his left fist into the ground while the other held his throat. The blood from that wound had almost drenched his entire chest and hand, though he looked at Seliph relieved. Suddenly, he shriveled, his eyes shutting firmly as he fell onto his side, barely moving.
"Roweilo!"
O
Tetheron groaned as he rolled onto his side, clasping his stomach the second he felt it sting. Everything hurt, especially that area. Damnit, get up you idiot! Rolling on his stomach, Tetheron took a moment to push down the pain before making the struggle to his feet. Despite how exhausted he felt, he managed to will his body to obey, pulling himself to a resting knee position in about thirty seconds.
His vision was blurry, either from the blow he had or the blood loss. He didn't know or care; he just needed to save Seliph.
"Seliph?" He called out, hoping for an answer to clue him on where to go. What he ended up hearing instead gave him confusion. He heard the sound of fighting, all kinds of fighting. Which ones were real and which were just his imagination, Tetheron couldn't tell, but he could tell they were all coming from a singular direction.
He clasped his head to halt his dizziness and simply focused on breathing. His steady breaths brought closure to his mind, as the sounds became more distinct and the grass in his line of sight became more detailed.
When he felt his head was clear enough, he tried to look again, only to raise a brow at the sight of a wall in front. "Huh? Oh right." He spun around.
"Roweilo!"
He jolted a little as he looked for the source of the voice. Seliph's voice. Gasping, he saw Seliph pushing on Roweilo's body, trying to get the mon to get up while crying his eyes out.
Tetheron's eyes went wide as his blood went cold. Oh no. He moved to help but flinched as a Weavile leaped into his path. Not now! He shouted in his mind as he raised his fists to fight, though his muscles tensing caused his stomach to sting again.
He watched it with a steady, cautious stare as it swayed side to side, its arms sagging and eyes indicating how much it wanted to end his life.
The Blaziken took steady steps backwards, letting the heat in his fists build.
The Weavile followed him at an equal pace till it broke into a dash as Tetheron's back touched the wall of the house.
Now! The Blaziken pulled himself to the side, letting the mon run its Night Slash right into the wall. He grabbed it by the back and drove his knee into its chest, knocking the air out of its lungs. He then quickly grabbed it by the wrist, preventing it from pulling out, and drove his elbow downwards, breaking its arm.
It howled in pain, pulling madly till it jerk itself free from Tetheron's grasp.
However, Tetheron didn't let it escape. He grabbed it by the shoulder and shoved it forwards, but not before he latched onto its head with both hands and gave it a harsh twist. However, the Weavile fought back against the twist, avoiding a nasty end of a snapped neck.
Come on! Die already! Tetheron begged in his head as they struggled. Suddenly, his eyes went wide as he felt something tear into his side. "Argghh!" he cried, letting go of his grip and clenching his wound, managing to see his new assailant move in for the kill.
It went for a slice at his face, but he managed to grab it midair. The mon pushed harder as the Night Slash tore into Tetheron's hand, making him cry and back up to the wall. It took all his might to shove it aside and kick the mon back.
He couldn't rest, for the first one went for a low stab, forcing Tetheron to hop back. Unfortunately, he slipped and fell onto his wounded side, making a loud cry as he rolled onto his back and watched in terror as the two lunged for their prize.
It felt like an instant that one was lunging for him and then it was pinned to the wall by some white stick piercing its skull, while the other was tackled from the side and had its neck bitten into.
Tetheron's mouth hung open as Gathor pulled, tearing off most of the mon's throat, leaving an exposed windpipe.
"Uncle Tethe!"
Tetheron looked to his right just in time to so see Seliph tackle him, hugging his torso and pressing his cheek into the mon's feathers. "You're okay," the boy sobbed.
The Blaziken could say the same thing, but the pain was causing him to not enjoy the scene as much. However, he didn't attempt to pry the sobbing child from him, instead caressing Seliph's head. Glad you're alright too. Though, please don't look to the right, he chuckled to himself.
"Can you still fight?"
"Huh?" He looked up to see Freya's back to them. She was back stepping her way to the group, firing Air Slash after Air Slash at the PorygonZ and Plageues.
"Gathor's badly wounded and needs treatment. Can you fight?"
Tetheron immediately glanced at Gathor and instantly regretted it. Arceus, God! He gagged into his hand, then held onto Seliph's head a bit firm so the boy couldn't see it. "Gathor, what happened?"
The Feraligatr wheezed. "He gotta 'noder cheap shot."
"Tetheron, I need an answer!" Freya shouted, now about three feet from them.
"Uh, sure." He gave Seliph a little pat before gently moving him away. "But I'll need a second." Grunting, he reached for the wall and tried to stand, thankfully getting some assistance from Seliph. "I got a bit torn up. Hrm?" He looked at Seliph, who was staring at him worried. "Heh well," he rubbed the back of his head. "Not that badly to-ORN!"
A second later his face tasted dirt as he felt Gathor's heavy body fall on top of him. Less than a second later, a loud booming sound resounded. Shrapnel and dirt flung onto their bodies as Tetheron felt Gathor jitter above him and hear Seliph scream in fright.
"Dat was close."
Tetheron spat out some dirt and looked up. He was about to say some not so nice things, if the sight of part of the house being crushed by a large Rock Wrecker, a mere two feet away from their bodies, didn't steal his attention. "What the-"
"Mom!" Seliph freed himself from under Gathor and rushed over to the side of the Charizard, who was laying against the wall of the house, covered in dirt, and unconscious. She had some wood shrapnel on her right side as well as blood dripping from her right arm.
"Freya!" Tetheron shouted, getting up to, though he also spotted another Rock Wrecker that resided next to her and to his horror, also covered her wing. He moved to free her, but Gathor latched onto his hand, yanking him back.
"I'll help 'er. Cover us."
He would have slapped Gathor if the rational side of his mind had been any slower. "R-right." He rushed past the Feraligatr and looked at what he was dealing with. Two Rhyperiors were closing in from the left through the massive hole in the dying flame wall, while the PorygonZ flew towards them, while Plageues watched with a victorious, but weary smile.
His eyes widened as the Rhyperiors started forming another duo of Rock Wreckers.
We're dead if those fly. He thrust his hands forwards and unleashed Flamethrower in their direction, forcing them to shift to using Protect. Unfortunately, it took all his power to keep them occupied, leaving the PorygonZ to form Tri Attack and let the beams fly at him.
In a desperate attempt, Tetheron pulled one hand away and aimed it at the incoming move. Please, God, work! His blazing flame met the Tri Attack and started to buckle.
He was trapped. It was taking all his strength to keep both at bay, only to watch them slowly begin to overcome. It then clicked for him. The words Plageues taunted him earlier about being a heart. His arms started to shake as his breath sped. No...I don't care. He inhaled and let out a mighty roar, forcing as much of his synergy as he could into both attack.
A brow raised. The moves felt easier to use and when he looked at their effect, they seemed more vibrant and bigger. In fact, his single one was turning the tide against Tri Attack. Despite now winning the battle, a cold thought crept into Tetheron's head. My ability is active.
His head lowered as he stared wide-eyed at the ground. I don't have much synergy left in me. And when I run out of that. His eyes narrowed as he started to back up. Gathor is in terrible shape. Freya may be… He shivered at the thought. And Seliph is strong, but can't take much from them at all.
Time froze for his senses as he debated over what to do. What could they do? Here he was, at the call dance with death, his family next in line. There seemed no hope in sight.
I don't know what we're going to do. I'm on my last legs and so is Ga- It was then he noticed in front. The Chesnaught was still laying down, motionless. Roweilo's arms were laying on the same side as his head was curled down, away from Tetheron.
A tense somber feeling filled Tetheron as he remembered how Roweilo looked not long ago. He watched that face go from uncertain but wanting to help, to being chased around and crying like a young Sobble, to fierce anger at the brutality done to his friends.
If I hadn't missed. Tetheron's eyes shut as he felt tears forming. I'm sorry Roweilo. Thank you for everything. His eyes opened with a stoic glare. I know what I need to do.
"Tetheron."
Freya's voice snapped him from his self-motivation and filled his heart with joy. "Sis, you're alive?" He asked with relief, though couldn't afford to look at her.
"Yes," she answered, a heavy cough following.
"Are you injured?"
"My right side hurts like hell, but I can still walk and fight."
"What about your wing?"
"Damaged, but I can still fly with it. Just won't be as fast."
The Blaziken felt his heart slow down as he gulped. Guess there's no way around it. If it's the only way to protect them, then to hell with the consequences! "Freya!" he shouted.
"Yes?"
"Get Seliph." He took the following silence as his chance to continue. "Me and Gathor will finish the fight here."
"What are you say-"
"Gathor can you help me take out the Rhyperiors?" he interrupted.
Gathor grunted followed by the sound of him shuffling to his feet.
"Tetheron." Freya grabbed his shoulder and move her neck so she could look at his face. "You both are too injured to fight. Even if I can get help, you may not have-"
"Freya, can you get Seliph out of here?" He couldn't bring himself to look at her, lest he lose his nerve.
"Tether-" She paused mid-speak.
He wondered if he should say something or assure her in some way that they'd be okay. Was he even okay? Suddenly, he felt something touch his neck, making his feathers perk on their ends. He felt Freya's snout brush on his cheek as she whispered, a hint of stuttering in her tone, "I'm glad you're my brother."
"Heh." A smile formed as he closed his eyes. "Likewise, sister."
He heard her pull back, followed by the heartbreaking sounds of Seliph struggling and crying.
It fueled him to keep it up as he patiently waited for everyone to get set. He then heard Gathor's low growl as he joined his side.
"Yah made Freya cry."
"Sorry about that." Tetheron smiled, though he felt heaviness in his heart.
"Don' be. I did too. Bu' I'm not gonna letta single kiss be dah last time I make 'er cry."
The Blaziken took a deep breath. Yeah. I don't like our odds, but let's do it till the end.
The two of them tried their best to tone out Seliph's desperate pleading as Freya moved into position.
"Are you ready?" She asked.
The Blaziken let his arms sag and immediately looked at Seliph. The boy's face was covered in tears as he stared at them with broken eyes. Tetheron smiled back and pressed a finger to his forehead, saluting the boy in a cheesy manner. "Be brave for us, champ."
With that said, he rushed towards the Rhyperiors, who were dropping their Protects. He could hear Gathor rushing alongside him, wondering just how much it was taking the big Feraligatr to keep up. Doesn't matter, this is our fight to win.
"Don't let her get away!" Plageues shouted.
Tetheron glanced to the right, seeing the PorygonZ fly after Freya. Shifting his focus back to the Rhyperiors, the Blaziken said, "Take the nearest one!"
"Got it!" Gathor replied as they neared their foes.
The first swung low, attempting to punch Tetheron in the gut, but the Blaziken leaped a little and landed on his back, sliding right underneath it. He pulled himself back onto his feet as the second swung for him. Swiftly, Tetheron hopped onto the swinging arm and used it to propel himself to shoulder. He used the Rhyperior's rocky body to grab a footing and swung himself to its back. Grunting as he pulled his legs up, he cupped them around its neck and used that to sit up and grab the Rhyperior's drill horn.
It tried to swipe him off, but Tetheron leaned far enough to avoid each attempt at grabbing him. When he had a clear shot, he leaned around the Rhyperior's neck and swapped places with his leg. He opened his talons as he and the Rhyperior locked gazes.
Please don't throw up, he begged as he drove his talons straight into the mons eyes. He pulled forwards and pushed with his stomach, the stinging sensation it brought paling to the jerking motions of the mon below. It flailed in agony and anger as Tetheron drove his fingers as deep as he could.
Suddenly, he pulled them out, blood gushing from the sockets as Tetheron latched onto its horn to avoid plummeting to the Rhyperior's feet. He then pointed his bloody hand to its mouth and right as it roared, fired Flamethrower.
Its expression went from anger to shock, at least Tetheron guessed since it lacked eyes now. Its limbs slowed until coming to a complete halt at its sides and it started to bob around. That's for harming my sister. Tetheron pulled himself up and kicked off of it, letting it crash onto its back while he landed safely on his legs, albeit hurting all over.
"Gathor?" Right as he spun around, he saw the other Rhyperior fall onto its stomach, Gathor still holding its drill horn and using it to pull back the mon's jaw till it snapped. He then drove an Ice Punch with a thick point right into its skull, though it took a few seconds to pierce through.
Seeing Gathor had killed his opponent too, Tetheron looked at his bloody hands and started to shake them. "Yuck," he grumbled as Gathor hopped off his dead foe, his eyes still in the Death Wrath state but looking far more controlled than before. The Blaziken looked at the sky, unable to see Freya and the PorygonZ anymore. It's up to you now Freya.
Tetheron grunted and started browsing the battlefield. "Now just fo-" he gasped, frantically looking around. Plageues was nowhere to be seen. Did he leave or morph into so-
A roar came from Gathor as Tetheron spun around, seeing his brother-in-law clasping at a purple blade that ran through his stomach from behind. "Gathor!" Tetheron rushed towards the large mon, who stumbled forwards as the move was withdrawn from his body. The Blaziken caught Gathor, but the larger mon shoved him aside as he stumbled to a knee.
"Don' worry abou' me," Gathor snarled. "Kill dat sonova bitch."
The Blaziken didn't need to be told twice. He rushed for Plageues and leaped into the air, swinging his leg down upon the mon as it ignited in flames.
Plageues caught it between his crossed arms encased in Night Slash like before, but this time Tetheron smirked.
Not this time. He twisted his body, swinging his other leg into a brutal strike on Plageues's cheek. Tetheron pushed the offensive on the staggering mon but realized too late that Plageues had a Focus Blast formed and aimed at the ground. A second later, Tetheron felt the sting of dust flinging into his eyes.
"Argh!" He backed up, trying to rub the dirt off. Unfortunately, his arm was coated in dirt and blood. His frantic attempts to regain his vision were cut short as he felt his body freeze up and his mind go blank.
The pain in his stomach amplified as he felt scorching energy inside him. Blood leaked from his beak as his nerves amplified to levels he'd never felt before. He felt the move be pushed deeper and deeper till it cut through his back, making him gag.
He felt cold. His body shook more than even the harshest snowstorm could as he felt the move within him start to move start to pull out.
…No. Tetheron grabbed Plageue's wrist and started brutally swinging down onto it, slamming the Night Slash with his fist. "No," he whispered, as he heard the move shatter.
Plageues snarled and tried to pull away, but Tetheron's grip was the grip of a dead mon. He yanked Plageues closer and grabbed a fist full of the mon's chest mane. "No," he said, letting go of the Zoroark's wrist and slamming his fist into the mon's face.
"Dyargh!" Plageues exclaimed, jerking back in vain.
Tetheron kept blindly pummeling Plageues in the face, over and over, faster and faster. "No. No. No. No. No! No! No!" He repeated, using it like some kind of metronome for his jabs. He felt Plageues's clawing at his sides diminish as he reached four solid jabs per utterance of "No!"
The Red Eye's legs gave way, but Tetheron kept punching, turning instead to doing both hands this time. He then grabbed Plageues's chest and pulled him up. "This is for Roweilo!" he roared, driving a knee into Plageues's stomach, making the mon gag and spit something all over Tetheron's stomach. He kneed him a few more times before forming a Jump Kick into his knee with whatever strength he had left and drove it right into Plageues with as loud of a shout he could make.
He heard Plageues tumble down the clearing without a sound from the mon himself. Once the villain had stopped, all that was left to hear was Tetheron's heavy breaths.
Slowly, he reached for his stomach as his adrenaline died down. He could feel the blood leaking out of his wound, like a hole in a dam. Groaning, he stumbled back though avoided falling over. "Gathor…" he weakly called as he stumbled back, hoping he could find him.
"Gathor…Gathor…." His hopes perked up as he the Feraligatr's low breathing near him. He fell to his knees and reached out, feeling the scaly skin of his friend.
"Gathor…Don't you dare die before me." He fell onto his side.
His senses grew weaker. He could almost feel some force of intangible hands reaching inside him to pull out his soul. Even his pain had dulled down. "Please don't die before me…" he spoke, though he couldn't hear the words come out of his mouth.
"Gathor…tell Freya I don't regret coming. It's worth it…heh. I'm glad I could…prot…protect-"
Interrupted by his muscles giving way, Tetheron just lay with his back on the grass. He couldn't see a thing with his eyes shut, though he wasn't sure he could even muster the strength to open them. He felt like he was uttering a weak laugh, but no sound came out.
I'm…sorry guys. I couldn't make it back to you all. Friega…heh…thanks for the help and sorry I couldn't keep my promise. Everything felt tired as he began to drift off into sleep. He could almost see the concept of death holding its hand out to him, asking him for the dance all mons would dance.
Singe…Seliph…Ciecro…Oswald…Jaron…Zoe…see you around…some…time.
