Chapter 27
Discipline (Brink)
"Dah hospital should be on that street!" Ciecro shouted, pointing forwards before picking up the pace. The excitement was intoxicating, so much so that he hardly noticed the rain anymore.
He cleared the exit, glancing down the road for a second before darting down it. Almos' dere! I hope we're in time.
Something whizzed past him in a flash of white light, causing him to trip and fall on his stomach. "Ack! Huh?" He looked up to see the white blur slow down and fade into the form of an Absol, that immediately rushed over to him.
"Ciecro!" Jaron exclaimed, rushing over to help his brother back on his feet.
"Jaz?" Ciecro said as the Absol faced them. "Wha' are yah doin' out 'ere?"
"I could ask the same" she said, a few pants amid her question. Her head turned, noticing the trio arriving behind the sibling pair. "You guys?"
Clyde pointed down the street. "We're checking out the hospital. Jaron here thinks those goons from two days ago are making another attempt, at least that's what he feels whatever that's supposed to mean."
"It means he's in danger," Jaron answered with a leer at Clyde.
Jasmine nodded, "He's right."
Clyde raised a curious brow as Jaron looked at Jasmine more fearful than pleased he was correct. "Dolly got a message from Humphry that they're going after Vragon again. She sent me ahead while she rounds up the volun-"
Jaron cut her off by looking upwards and making a panicked cry.
"Jaron?" Ciecro grabbed his brother and then looked upwards as well. There was the sound of some kind of explosion coming from the rooftops nearby, a flash of dark blue and orange light erupting with trails of small meteors falling around like fireworks.
Ciecro pulled Jaron up against the wall, the others joining them as these orbs of fiery light struck the road and some nearby buildings, causing powerful explosions in their wake.
"What on-" Clyde started, but suddenly pointed. "Clara! Help him!"
The Braixen looked to see a Hitmonlee falling from the building, flailing about. She pulled her stick out, her eyes surging with pink light as she slowed the mon's fall but couldn't stop it. She fell to her knee, panting as Clyde helped her up while Ciecro rushed for the Hitmonlee ranger.
"Sir! Are yah okay?" Ciecro asked, trying to help the mon, but the Hitmonlee waved his hand.
"Get clear."
Obeying, Ciecro backed up towards the wall as the Hitmonlee heavily jogged over to it, placing his hand on it to recuperate himself.
"Mallaidh!"
Ciecro looked to see a Scizor fly down, landing next to them with a look of relief and concern. "You alright?"
"I'm fine," the Hitmonlee said with a dismissive wave. "Just bad position when he let that Draco Meteor loose."
The Scizor turned his attention to Ciecro, his concerned look shifting to a stern stare. "Why are you out here? It's not safe."
"I uh."
"Humphry sent out a message that there was an attack going on," Jasmine said, joining next to Ciecro. "Dolly sent us ahead to help while she gets volunteers."
"Well, this situation is far from standard protocol. You kids need to get somewhere safe." The Scizor glanced at the buildings across the street, a dismal look on his face as he saw the damage to some of the buildings. "Help the emergency mons deal with this damage. We'll deal with the threat."
Having regained his strength or perhaps nerve, the Hitmonlee got off the wall and reached into a pouch on his shoulder strap. "Violet? You okay?"
"Yeah," a voice said from the orb amid some foreign static, be that the connection or damage surrounding the Mismagius ranger. "I had to dive into the building for cover. Lost track of the Gengar."
"We need to find them before they get too far. Where did the boy go?"
"I don't know."
"Damn." The Hitmonlee shook his torso head and looked down the street. "Well, keep a look around." He looked at the Scizor, saying, "Go help her find those mons. I'll go the hospital and check on the commissioner."
Nodding, the Scizor's wings flapped with incredible speed as he floated upwards before zipping off into the air.
"You kids get somewhere safe, you here." The ranger left without hearing an answer as Ciecro's eyes lowered.
Humphry. His fists clenched, trying to push out the worst thoughts he could. He's…okay. I know it, He assured himself, but it did little to kill off those horrible thoughts in the back of his mind.
Ciecro blinked, remembering Jasmine was still next to him. "Oh uh…" He saw for a moment a brief look of concern on her face.
"Over here!" The Bellibolt shouted, prompting the two to hurry on over to what looked like a construction zone for a repurposed building.
"Huh?" Ciecro noticed Clyde and Clara were hunched over his brother, who was fiddling with a chain lock. Jogging over, Ciecro asked, "Wha's goin' on?"
"I think they're in here," Jaron said, not taking his eyes off his work.
Ciecro looked up at the towering structure. "Dere?"
"Apparently." Clyde leaned against the wall, staring down at Jaron's lock picking with a disapproving glance. "We probably should be alerting the rangers instead of picking locks like we're trying to rob the place."
Jaron leered back. "Feel free to sprout wings and tell them."
"Just focus, squirt," The Braixen commanded, looking at her stick and sighing. "Why have a dark lock anyway? Who's going to go into a repurposed building?"
"Dark lock is industry standard you twat," Jaron answered with a snarl. "It's been that way since locks were a thing."
"Still stupid."
"It's not stupid, it's practical." Jaron turned his attention back to his work. "What's the point of a lock if a psychic can just twist the schematics inside? Putting a tera-infusement on it is pretty much a necessity for it to do its basic function."
The Braixen rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Why do you know so much about this random stuff anyways?"
"It's not random, it's a hobby."
Clyde rolled his eyes. "Why am I not surprised you'd have lock picking as hobby."
"Can it, Clyde." Ciecro snarled, stepping up to Clyde who turned to meet Ciecro's challenge. Ciecro went silent, holding himself back from saying what he badly wanted to and instead saying, "Le' 'im focus."
The Monferno didn't reply, just rested his back against the metal bars of the barrier and crossed his arms, leering back.
One heavy sigh later, Ciecro turned around to Jasmine. "Jaz."
"Huh?"
"Dat rangeh goin' to dah hospital. Yah need tah tell 'im dat dose bad guys are 'ere."
Jasmine looked at the door, annoyance in her expression. "While you all go charging in without me?"
"While we go in looking for Vray," Jaron corrected.
"He's righ'." Ciecro walked up to Jasmine, their eyes less than a foot apart. "We all can hold till dah adults get 'ere. Vray can't make it on 'is own, dese guys are jus' too strong."
Jasmine's eyes lowered as she, much to her reluctance, accepted the truth of the matter and walked past him. "Don't do anything stupid," she said as she zipped away in a Quick Attack.
I won' dis time, Ciecro promised as he heard the clanking of the chain unraveling.
"I got it," Jaron said with glee as everyone shoved the gate open and hurried inside.
As they piled in, they found themselves in a torn-up lobby. A lot of the wood had been uprooted and the walls were torn with some holes in them. The place was dusty but did have various metal poles placed around for added support.
"Well this is flattering," the Braixen said with a disgusted look on her face.
"This building has been neglected for a while." Clyde walked over to the counter, brushing off some of the dust. "It only recently got repurposed."
"Marvel later, right now we've got to move," Jaron stated looking upwards. "I definitely sense them better now that we're inside, but it's faint. I think they're above us, but I don't know how far."
Ciecro nodded. "Kay, we need tah hurry den." The group pressed onwards, running down the hallways until Clyde came to a halt in front of a pair of doors. "Clyde, wha' are yah doin'?"
"Stairs." Clyde shoved the doors open, revealing a square spiraling staircase of stone steps leading upwards.
Jaron rushed in first as Clyde followed with Ciecro taking third, while the last two took the rear.
As they ascended, Ciecro said, "How did yah know dah stairs were 'ere?"
"My father is one of the mons working on this building. I've been to the site a few times before."
"Really?" The Braixen said. "I know your dad was in construction, but I didn't know he brought you on-site. Lucky us."
Ciecro kept his eyes focused on Clyde as they rounded up the stairs. I didn' know dat. He hadn't given it any thought, but in that moment he realized just how little he knew about Clyde. The words the Monferno said before, about protecting the town, found themselves settling on his conscious. Sure, the guy was a pain in the tail, but there was some faint sense of comfort in knowing that an asshole like Clyde shared Ciecro's feelings about the town's wellbeing. Though, it would help if Ciecro wasn't a problem in Clyde's eyes.
"Here," Jaron said abruptly, stopping at an open archway, its door having been taken off its hinges and set aside neatly and out of the way. "This is the floor they're on," he whispered.
Ciecro leaned in, glancing down both corridors. "Where?"
"Somewhere, there." Jaron gestured his arm forward, making everyone give him disappointed looks. "Look, that's the best I got."
"What's the plan then?" The Bellibolt asked, quivering slightly.
Ciecro lowered his head to think, but his thoughts were cut off by Clyde speaking.
"It's safe to assume that Fraxure kid is nearby. We should try finding him and where those guys are. The rangers shouldn't be too far behind." Clyde stepped into the hallway. "Me and Ciecro will take this way. You three take the other."
"What?" Jaron and the Braixen exclaimed before remembering to whisper.
"We're trying to find Vragon. If you see those bad guys, don't engage them. If they spot you, just get out of there. The groups I've selected should be sufficient for both."
"But-"
Ciecro put a hand on Jaron's shoulder and looked at him. "It's a'ight. Yah've got yah're Wary an' I'm no slouch."
"Ciecro that's not what I-"
"Jaron, dere isn' time tah argue abou' dis," Ciecro pointed out. "We've gotta find Vray before dey find 'im. Okay?"
Jaron's head fell, as his fists clenched. "Okay," he said in a low, disagreeable though understanding tone. He looked at the two in his group. "Come on." He went down the right hallway with the other two following behind, both giving Clyde concerned glances before heading off.
The two fire types watched in silence as the trio rounded the corner, then went down the hallway. They cautiously made their way from space to space, room to room, checking every corner and listening for the slightest noise that wasn't theirs.
Suddenly, a noise prompted both to be quiet. Wha'? Ciecro looked over at an open doorway where there was some flashing. Tapping Clyde on the shoulder, he motioned the Monferno to follow and the two silently crept around the corner, taking position on both sides of a rubble wall where some violent synergy was erupting like flares of colorful fire taking an almost misty form.
"Wha' is goin' on in dere?"
Clyde peered closer. As the flashings of chaotic light started to die down, the form of the Haxorus revealed itself, along with the crashing sound of boxes and a metal rod. Both braced against the wall as the noise died down and a voice spoke up from the other side.
"What the fuck was that?"
"A trap."
Both boys froze, not daring to get a look at the second speaker. I don' remembeh a mon wit' dat voice from dah firs' attack. Ciecro did a silent gulp as he mustered his nerve to move, while listening carefully to the conversation.
"But, I saw him."
They heard the dragon's heavy footsteps. "A fake. Deliberately placed next to this synergy storage device." There was a sound of the Haxorus shoving something aside. "Tampered. Its safeties and ports have been cut so the synergy can escape the second a strong enough source is near. That intended source being you and I."
Someone made a trap fo' dem? Ciecro looked over at Clyde, who bore an equally confused look on his face. Using this information to bolster his nerve, Ciecro turned around and leaned over, peering past the rubble wall to look at them. He softly gasped at seeing the powerful-looking Haxorus staring down at the metal rod, which was currently sputtering out what little synergy it had left inside it in small, colorful sparks while the ghost looked on in disbelief and horror.
"What kind of sick fuck would-" Vex said, but stopped as he looked at the Haxorus. "Wait, you think it was that guy?"
"I have no doubt." The Haxorus answered, turning his body and thus making Ciecro pull back behind cover. "He and the boy are still here somewhere."
"When I get my hands on him, I'll-"
Suddenly, the Haxorus swung around and sliced through a whizzing Shadow Ball, cutting it into pieces that flew past him and struck the ground.
Vex, while surprised by this, managed to fly away from a follow-up Air Cutter that struck the spot where the dragon stood, causing the dust in the room to pick up.
Landing near, Vex looked to see a Scizor hop from an upper scaffolding with the Mismagius float down to the level. Their expressions went stern as the dust settled and the dragon became visible again with no apparent injuries or hindrance from the move.
"Vex, find the target," the dragon said, effortlessly igniting Dragon Claw in his right claw.
Vex didn't need to hear anything else, immediately phasing into the floor.
"Violet, go after him."
The Mismagius phased partially into the floor, looking up to say, "Are you sure you can handle it, Gisela?"
"I'll be fine." The Scizor said, a bit firmer in tone as she went into the floor fully. With his fellow ranger gone, the Scizor's expression shifted to anger, anger that looked like it had been held back for too long. His claws surged with a metallic glint as he went into an aggressive stance.
The two boys watched the Scizor zip fly towards the dragon, thrusting his claws forward with incredible speed, while the Red Eye pulled back, evading and dodging the barrage of Bullet Punches.
"No way," Ciecro said under his breath as he started standing up, watching the Haxorus parry, avoid, or block the Bullet Punch.
"Did he use Dragon Dance before or is he just that fast?" Clyde questioned. The two watched as the duel went around the large room, with the dragon slicing for an opening, but the Scizor pulled back in time.
He flew up and unleashed Air Cutter once more, but the Haxorus merely walked forwards, moving his body to let the spiraling discs of solidified air whizz past him.
The Scizor snarled as he saw this mon avoid the last one with a simple turn of the head. "You piece of-" He vibrated his wings, sending out green sound waves of Bug Buzz that bore down on the dragon, trying to push him down on his knees.
While the dragon bent slightly, his legs remained firm. Instead, he moved his claws together, forming a ball of fire at the tip of his claws that he shot out into the Bug Buzz. Incinerate cut through the Bug Buzz, striking the Scizor on the side.
Wincing from the nick, the Scizor landed on a platform about a floor above.
"This does not concern you ranger." The dragon said, in a low, emotionless tone.
"Fuck you!" The Scizor shouted, his wings igniting with cyan light. "I'll make you pay for killing Mecks!"
What‽ Ciecro pulled back from the wall, his back touching the opposite one as he felt his heart spring to life in surprise. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Clyde was equally shocked and disturbed. They were distracted by the Air Cutters being unleashed, but the Haxorus hopped away, twisting his body to avoid them and shot a quickly made Incinerate that whizzed through the air and struck the Scizor right in the stomach.
"Ack!" The Scizor clasped his stomach, trying to fly away, but the dragon flicked his wrist to fire another Incinerate bolt to strike the wing, causing him to plummet and hit the ground at an awkward angle.
The boys watched in horror as the Scizor was pelted over and over as the Haxorus walked towards him while flicking Incinerates at him.
"Ugh, I'm not…done yet!" The Scizor exclaimed, as his defenses grew tired. Finally, one flaming bolt pushed the Scizor's arm to the side and a second was sent right into his chest, knocking him into a pillar of stone. He hunched over, grasping his seared wound as the Haxorus grew closer.
Ciecro's breathing picked up as he watched the Scizor yell, forming white lights that danced around him in the shape of blades. Powered up, the Scizor lunged for the Haxorus, but the dragon remained undeterred, simply ducking under the Bullet Punch aimed for his head and spinning to slam the ranger with his tail into a different pillar.
The Scizor cried in pain as he held his side, traces of blood leaking from the cracks in the exoskeleton.
"These matters concern far more than your town's existence. You would have been wise to stay out of the way of such greater things," the dragon said, resuming his walk to the ranger, who was struggling to pull himself up with the pillar.
Ciecro's eyes widened as his fists clenched. "No…" he mumbled under his breath as he saw the Dragon Claw ignite in the dragon's claw. "Leave 'im alone!" Ciecro roared, charging.
"Ciecro!" Clyde shouted, but it was too late. The element of surprise was gone and the Red Eye turned to see Ciecro thrust his claws forward to send a Flamethrower. He pointed his left and fired a countering Incinerate.
The moves clashed, a fierce swirl of flames that almost seemed like serpents trying to bite each other, one being large and straight while the other weaved around to nip at the sides. However, their stalemate was short-lived as the flames of the Haxorus began pushing back the Charmeleon's. Ciecro's muscles tightened like he was pushing something very heavy, his fierce anger from before slowly falling prey to a lack of confidence in his ability to win this flame duel.
How is he so strong? Ciecro planted his feet and fired more, hoping to tip it back but all it did was slow his losing side down. I can't keep dis up, he snarled as he ceased the clash and dove as fast he could out of the way, the Flamethrower passing him by and striking the wall.
Glancing back, he saw the Red Eye rushing towards him, however, he suddenly planted his foot and leaned forwards, swinging to slam an incoming Flame Wheel with his tail. Clyde tumbled out of the flames and stopped on his stomach.
Ciecro saw Trishula charge once more, this time rushing to meet him, surging his own Dragon Claw. They both swung and clashed. Ack! Ciecro groaned as he felt his shoulder hurt from its wound again. Not now! Ciecro pulled back, the pain and strength of his enemy forcing him to play defense. Jus' need an openin' Ciecro thought, but he didn't know how long he could last till one showed itself. His shoulder pain grew until it finally made one of his blocks have a rocky base, allowing Trishula to knock him off balance.
Shit! The Haxorus did a follow up swipe, while Ciecro did his best to put his Dragon Claw between his body and his enemy's move. He saved himself as the move pushed him back off balance, only for him to see in horror as the dragon leaned into the momentum and smacked him with his girthy tail, sending Ciecro spiraling across the room and landing next to Clyde.
He coughed, as he rolled on his side, the pain in his shoulder now shared with an ache in his stomach and chest. Fuck. As his vision refocused, he saw Clyde was on his feet, fists raised.
"Get your tail in gear, Ciecro," Clyde snarled, followed by a cough. "We're not gonna win if we just charge him wildly."
I know, ugh, Ciecro thought as he panted, rolling on his stomach to get to his feet. Not like I wanted tah ge' hit.
By now the Haxorus was charging them again.
"Flames now!" Clyde ordered, thrusting his arms forward to unleash Flamethrower.
Ciecro quickly did his own, neglecting to get up from his knee so he could meet the request.
The Haxorus rushed to the side.
Clyde glanced at Ciecro. "Go help the ranger. I'll keep him at bay!"
"Bu' wha' abou' wha' yah sai-"
"Do it asshole!" Clyde roared, putting more power behind his flames as the dragon was forced to defend himself due to the limited area to flee to.
With a minor snarl under his breath, Ciecro rushed over to the Scizor, who was leaning on the pole. "'Ere, lean on me." Ciecro grabbed the stranger by the side as the Scizor let go of the pole.
"Ugh…thanks." He looked at Ciecro and instantly his gratitude went away. "Wait, you're- I thought I told you boys to-" Their conversation was interrupted by Clyde's flames being cut in half. The Monferno hopped back, backhand springing away from the slice, but the dragon flicked his free wrist to send a sputtering drone of a Flamethrower to strike the spot, knocking Clyde onto his back.
"Attack from the right," the ranger whispered as he pulled himself free from Ciecro's grip. His wings went light green and beat rapidly, a noise filling the room and green shockwave ripples hitting the Haxorus, who shielded himself with his arms from the onslaught.
Taking the opportunity, Ciecro rushed to the right and surged Thunder Punch in his right and Dragon Claw in his left. He charged the dragon from the side, leading with the claw to meet with the inevitable Dragon Claw from the mon.
As their moves clanked, Ciecro's being the one that was knocked away, the Charmeleon used the momentum and lowered himself to drive the Thunderpunch for the dragon's gut, but was forced to hop back as the dragon's defending arm went to impale him.
The Bug Buzz's force pushed the dragon back a little, exposing his back to Clyde who zipped forwards with Mach Punch to land another blow. However, the dragon swung his tail to parry the move and knock Clyde off balance.
"Clyde!" Ciecro shouted caught off guard Monferno looked up at the dragon, who brought his Dragon Claw down upon Clyde. However, the Monferno suddenly had a small pink hue around him and was yanked back by something invisible, saving him from the mighty Dragon Claw.
Clyde rolled on the ground and looked back. "What the-?"
"Can I hear a thank you?"
Ciecro looked over to see the smirking Braixen lowering her wand as the Bellibolt fired a Thundershock at the Red Eye, who countered by raising his Dragon Claw to block it.
The reenergized smile on Ciecro's face vanished upon realizing something. "Clara! Where's Jaron?"
Unfortunately, she was distracted by the Haxorus firing Flamethrower from his mouth at her and the Bellibolt. The two fired Psybeam and Thundershock, but their moves struggled against the stronger Incinerate.
Ciecro spotted the Scizor and Clyde get on the opposite sides and unleashed Bug Buzz and Flamethrower, to which the Haxorus spread his arms and fired Incinerates to counter each.
How can he be dat stron'? Is dis dah kinda enemies mom an' dad fought? His eyes lowered, but he quickly shook his head. Focus nitwit! Hastily, he made his way to the two, thrusting his arms forwards to join them in pushing against the winning Incinerate.
"Where's Jaron?" He shouted over the noise of their combined moves.
"I don't know," she replied.
"Wha'‽" Ciecro snapped, pushing his move out harder and leering at her.
"He was with us one second and then he just ran off. We tried to catch up with him, but we-"
He'd heard enough. "Can it! Jus' keep pushin' agains' it!" Ciecro roared, stepping from the line of fire to rush around the Incinerate.
"Get back here! We need your-" The Braixen shouted, but had to refocus on firing back at the Incinerate, the duo now losing the battle again.
I know wha' I'm doin' bitch. Ciecro snarled in his mind as he shifted his anger towards his target. He surged Dragon Claw and closed in.
The Haxorus turned his head, attempting to make Ciecro the new target, but the Charmeleon kept rushing forwards. The dragon moved his right arm to aim for Ciecro, but the Charmeleon slid under the Incinerate and rushed straight for him now that he had his chance.
With a mighty roar, he stabbed for the Haxorus, keeping an eye out for the Haxorus's tail. The dragon instead stopped firing Incinerate with his right and instead parried Ciecro's stab with a smack on the move itself.
The Charmeleon backed off so Clyde's Flamethrower could hit, thrusting his arms forwards to fire his own. The Haxorus roared as the flames engulfed him.
"Now!" Ciecro shouted, the duo fired Psybeam and Thundershock upon the swirl of flames. The last defending Flamethrower vanished as the Scizor fired Bug Buzz into the mass collision of moves.
Ciecro narrowed his eyes, trying to get a glimpse of their foe inside. Come on, be dead. His eyes widened and he gasped. He stopped firing and stepped back, a mix of surprise and fear across his face.
"Ciecro, what are you-" Clyde began but stopped as what Ciecro had seen became visible to them all.
Inside the various moves were black pockets of synergetic light that were growing in number as each second passed.
"What is he doing?" Clara asked, not relenting in her attack.
"Is he using Draco Meteor?" The Scizor exclaimed, flapping his wings faster to send out a stronger bug buzz. "How many ways does he know how to use that damn move."
No, It's black not dahk blue. It's a dahk type move. Ciecro stepped back, ready to move around as he studied the move. "Oh no," Ciecro turned around and ran as fast as he could. "It's Payback!"
"Payback?" Everyone said as the Haxorus's figure inside stood up amid the moves striking his body and swung his arms to the side with a mighty roar. Various beams of black synergy shot from his body, piercing the moves barraging him, knocking everyone off their feet and into the walls on the ends of the room. The walls ached from the strikes of the black beams as the ground cracked beneath the Haxorus.
A heavy breath from the Haxorus followed as he relaxed his muscles, glancing around the room at all his downed, bloodied opponents. His eyes turned to focus on Ciecro, who was struggling to get up.
Damnit, Ciecro coughed, holding his stomach until he felt his body suddenly lurch forwards uncontrollably like he was about to vomit. Wha'? He tightened his grip around himself as he felt the warmth in his body build up, so much so that even the blood he was bleeding felt hot. His vision was becoming hazy.
Wha's happenin' to me? He looked up at the Haxorus, a curious look in the dragon's eyes. I… Ciecro could hear his heartbeat, beating in passion and viciousness. He slowly started getting to his feet, his vision, focus, and being all on the enemy. I'll…kill… He could feel his mood shift to anticipation, a lust for rending this vile creature apart.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed movement. It was Clyde, struggling to pull himself up with a crate. The sight of the Monferno instantly pulled up the memory of towering of the bloodied mon's face, ready to throw more punches into the downed boy. This created an opposing, fearful voice in Ciecro, one that immediately fought against this primal desire.
Blinking, Ciecro suddenly fell forwards once more, but this time it was intentional. W-w-wait. He started shivering uncontrollably. I-I can't. I might hurt dah others. He repeated it in his mind, fighting the feelings building in, the arguments to let go so that he could stop this foe. I said I can't! He cried in his mind, grabbing his head. I'm not ready! Dad, how do I get Death Wrath to stop!
A crashing sound broke him from his stalemate. He looked up at the Haxorus, who had turned in the direction of the noise, and raised his arm as an orange light made contact with him. The Haxorus was dropped to a knee, but surged Dragon Claw and swiped as a figure kicked off, back flipping, and landing nearby with acrobatic grace.
Ciecro's eyes widened at seeing the Hitmonlee ranger, standing up and ready for battle. Dat means. Sure enough, the sound of water filled the room as a door on the opposite side was burst open by a formation of water that swirled into a wave to engulf the Haxorus.
The dragon thrust his arms forwards and swung them apart, cutting a hole for him through the Surf as the water disintegrated into blue orbs of light to avoid harming anyone else.
"You're not getting away," Humphry said, splashing in the vanishing shallows of his Surf as he entered, a look in his eyes Ciecro had never seen before. A look of pure, unfiltered anger.
The Haxorus lowered his arms, meeting Humphry's emotion-filled stare with a blank one.
The Seismitoad raised his fists as the Haxorus browsed around.
Everyone was getting back on their feet, a circle forming around him.
"You're outnumbered. Surrender now," Humphry ordered as his scowl tightened. "Because that's the only way you'll live."
A smile formed on Ciecro's face as he took up position at the back. Despite the danger, Humphry was here and he was mad. He surged Dragon Claw and looked at Humphry for a cue, only for his smile to go as he remembered it wasn't Gathor he was looking at, but Humphry.
"Death Wrath."
Ciecro gasped, seeing the Haxorus facing him with a quizzical stare.
"That's your gift, is it not?" The dragon's eyes narrowed. "Why did you fight against it?
Ciecro shut his mouth tight. He instead readied his defense, his Dragon Claws gleaming as a response.
The Haxorus's eyes narrowed. "You're a strange Norfarion. But perhaps there is reason. You who are young in a place where none of your kind wander."
He suddenly spun around and blocked a Mud Shot with a Flamethrower.
"I'm your opponent, you piece of garbage!" Humphry shouted, taking his fist up.
"Tck," The Haxorus lowered his arm. "My opponent is beyond you and your line."
"Whatever," Humphry nodded. "Kids, stay out of the fight unless I need you for support. That's an order." Humphry pulled his arms back, blue light swirling underneath him. He flung them forward as he propelled the water like a wave, picking himself up along with it.
The Haxorus fired Incinerate at it, harsh steam erupting.
As Humphry went over, the Hitmonlee closed in, throwing kicks that the Haxorus started parrying. However, the Haxorus was pushed back as Humphry landed with a firm punch to the ground, sending out Mud Shot.
The two rangers and the dragon engaged in a heated clash, the coordination of the two struggling against the skill and power of the Haxorus.
Ciecro was awe-struck by the battle, he didn't notice Clyde rushing up to him. "Hey, idiot."
The Charmeleon blinked as Clyde grabbed his arm and yanked him for one of the boxes.
"We're supposed to stay out of the way."
Ciecro felt annoyance building, but let it out with a sigh. "Righ'." They both looked out from their cover at the fight going on.
"What was that?"
"Hm?" Ciecro looked at Clyde, who gave him a serious stare, but not one out of anger or disgust.
"What that freak called, 'Death Wrath'?"
"Oh, uh…" Ciecro looked back at the fight. "Now ain' dah time."
"Is that why you went mental on me three months ago?"
Ciecro tightened his mouth shut, his eyes lowering. "I don' wanna… No, it wasn'." Ciecro heard Clyde sigh and go silent. Damnit, why did he 'ave tah ask me dat, Ciecro thought as a scowl formed on his face.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a yellow flash. Huh? Ciecro's eyes widened as he saw the Bellibolt using Charge. "Wha's he doin'?" Ciecro whispered to Clyde, who looked and his face went grave.
"Don-!" Clyde started, but it was too late. The Bellibolt fired a Thundershock at the Haxorus and Humphry. It surged upon the two, Humphry looking confused instead of harmed.
The Haxorus, on the other hand, flinched a little, but used this chance to spin and tail slam Humphry aside.
"Humphry!" Ciecro shouted, but looked back at the Haxorus to see him flick his wrist to send a quick Flamethrower bolt whizzing at the Bellibolt, striking him directly in the stomach. The boy pulled back, holding his stomach as he stumbled back a few steps, but managed to turn to the side as he was struck with another.
"Clyde!" Ciecro said, and Clyde nodded. The two of them climbed out of cover as the Haxorus turned to swipe away the Hitmonlee's attempts at a sneaky Mega Kick.
Ciecro surged Dragon Claw and rushed in, his move clanking with the Haxorus's knocking Ciecro onto his back but the Haxorus off balance.
Clyde stopped to shield Ciecro while he was prone as the Braixen took the offensive and fired Psybeam at the Haxorus while the Bellibolt was holding his burn wounds.
The Dragon blocked it with Dragon Claw but was pummeled by Bug Buzz from behind.
The Hitmonlee rushed in again with Mega Kick, forcing the Haxorus to block his other side with Dragon Claw.
"Go for the kill!" He shouted as Clyde helped Ciecro to his feet.
The two saw the prone Haxorus, bearing the brunt of the Bug Buzz and were about to rush in till they heard the dragon roar, "Enough!"
He lowered his head, a sphere forming at the tip of it, swirling with dark blue and orange energy.
"No, you don't!" Clyde shouted as he rushed forwards, surging Mach Punch. He rushed in but was caught off guard as the Haxorus stepped forwards, attempting to ram the orb into him.
"Clyde!" Ciecro exclaimed, diving low and sweeping Clyde's legs with his tail, just narrowly sparing him from the orb as the Haxorus raised his head, sending it upwards.
Ciecro looked up, the sphere flying up, breaking through the roof, and bursting above. "Run!" Ciecro pulled himself from under Clyde and grabbed the Monferno, trying to pull him away from the center, as the Haxorus looked up.
The sound of an explosion above resounded, followed by a crashing noise that grew ever louder.
Ciecro tried to get to where Humphry was getting up, but alas, he felt the floor give way as the ceiling caved in. The flames sputtering around shifted to pure darkness as he felt a blunt force strike him in the head.
