Time slowed for Harpuia…the sight of the once-mighty dragon-type falling to its doom with Freezer in its jaws…and it's falling form was headed right for his beloved trainer.
"TOOOOX!"
'KITTY!'
Harpuia reached out for the scene, letting the Absol go and attempting to run for Kitty—only for the Absol to TACKLE him to the ground, snarling.
'KITTY! NO!' Harpuia screamed, his pupils shrinking in terror.
Groaning, Eri came to when she heard the yelling and managed to look up – and gasped in horror. "K—KITTY!"
Something like rushing wind ZIPPED past Harpuia and sped for the fight, cerulean eyes narrowed dangerously.
Before the falling Pokemon could crash to the ground, something GRABBED Kitty and ran for a few paces, before covering the trainer as a cloud of dust and ash flew across the area due to the impact.
All was still…all was quiet…
Kitty's eyes were tightly shut and she trembled as she fully prepared to meet Tapu Fini in her mists…would she even BE in Tapu Fini's mist? Or would she see Arceus himself?
For a moment she waited…before slowly looking up…and gasping upon coming face-to-face with a Ceruledge. The same Ceruledge from Mela's incident!
"y—You!" Kitty was taken aback…what was this Ceruledge doing in th—Kitty suddenly gasped and looked back towards the impact as she beheld the sight of the dead Tyrantrum…and…
"FREEZER!"
Tearing herself away from Ceruledge, Kitty rushed to the fallen Pokemon, rushing straight for Freezer who had several puncture wounds in his stomach and chest area. "OH ARCEUS NO!"
Kitty sunk to her knees and she took Freezer's face in her hands, tears welling up in her eyes. "Freezer! Freezer! Honey look at me! Please!"
Freezer made no response…he didn't move…
Kitty whimpered and pressed her nose to the Sandslash's, a sob escaping her. "Freezer…baby please wake up…please…"
Once again, the Pokemon did not respond. The icy shrew had already departed.
"Oh no…" Eri watched the scene in horror, putting a hand to her mouth and shaking her head in grief. Another innocent Pokemon…taken by this….this…-Eri paused and rushed for the scene.
"KITTY LOOK OUT!"
Kitty paused, still cradling her deceased Sandslash to herself, looking behind her as Spector's Salamence came straight for her-
"CE!"
Ceruledge SLAMMED himself into the oncoming Salamence, slashing at the dragon type Pokemon with his flaming blades. The Salamence was knocked back several paces and started to get up, turning to attack—only for a blast of ice to hit it.
Leviathan cried out in fury as she sent her ice beam for the Salamence, enraged by Freezer's death. Not far behind her was Fefnir, who had FORCED himself to get up and was rushing for the Salamence, roaring in rage.
Kitty panted and held Freezer's lifeless form closer to her, tears running down her face. No….this…this wasn't supposed to happen! She never meant for ANY of this to happen! She had come to Paldea to FIX things! Not make them WORSE!
Kitty suddenly cried out when someone SNATCHED her by the neck and lifted her up into the air. She gasped and struggled, looking down at Spector, who was glaring at her…although, his same cruel smirk never left his face.
"HA! Look at you! You're almost as sick and twisted as ME! Sacrificing your own Sandslash for your own life? Tsk tsk tsk. I'm almost impressed!" Spector scowled and his grip on Kitty's neck tightened, before he BACKHANDED her with his free hand. "You know…that was my hardest hitter…"
Kitty choked and tried gripping at Spector's hands, gasping for air.
Spector's grip only tightened and he chuckled as the girl struggled to breathe. He proceeded to let loose a punch to her gut, her arms, her jaw…anywhere that he could find.
With each blow, Kitty tried to scream…but Spector kept his grip on her throat, limiting her supply of oxygen.
Spector narrowed his eyes. "Well since you've taken something from me…Let me…return the favor."
The sound of a Noivern roar could be heard from the air….followed by a loud angry voice.
"SPECTOR!"
Spector paused at the new voice and turned—Only to be SLAMMED to the ground by a Noivern flying at a high rate of speed. The impact forced Spector to release Kitty and sent him sailing backwards a bit.
"Kitty!" Eri rushed to Kitty's side as she was blown back and quickly knelt by the Alolan Champion, putting her hands on her. "Kitty! Are you alright?!"
Kitty trembled and coughed, opening her eyes a little as she watched the Noivern land…with…
"….Guz…..ma?"
Kitty trembled and finally passed out, falling into an unconscious sleep.
"BASTARD!"
Guzma reared his fist back and PUNCHED Spector across the face as hard as he could, knocking the man to the ground. He then took two Pokeballs and took out his Scizor and Golisopod, who both came out with angry snarls.
Sample the Noivern lined himself alongside Guzma's Pokemon snarling in rage.
Spector quickly got himself up and spit out blood from his mouth, scowling at Guzma. "What the pit are YOU doing here? I thought I left you and your sorry team of Skull-losers in Alola?"
"Yeah well guess what, prick?" Guzma shook his fist at Spector, his eyes burning in fury. "You screwed up and threatened my baby sister! NO. ONE. Messes with MY SISTER!"
With that much said, Guzma rushed for Spector and aimed a punch for the creep's jaw, only for Spector to dodge and grab the back of Guzma's jacket. Spector then managed to grab Guzma's arms and SLAMMED him to the ground.
Growling, Guzma reached up and snatched Spector's wrists, before swinging his legs upwards and KICKING Spector in the gut, sending him backwards.
As Spector tried to recover, Sample roared and SNATCHED Spector by the arms with his feet, intent on bringing the jerk into the air. However, as Sample attempted to take Spector into the air, Lumine rushed to the scene and jumped into the air, sinking his teeth into Sample's leg.
Sample shrieked in pain, causing Guzma's Scizor to rush into action. Scizor narrowed his eyes as he gained on the fight, letting out a wicked X-Scissor attack. Lumine's eyes narrowed and he released the Noivern in an effort to dodge the X-Scissor…
…but nothing prepared him for the First Impression that quickly came up, hitting him head on and causing the Absol to fly backwards, landing on the ground and panting heavily.
Spector scowled and took a step back, glancing towards the battle. His Salamence was taking a horrid beating from THREE Pokemon, while Lumine was down and out for the count.
He hated to admit it…but he was outnumbered.
Putting his fingers to his lips, he let out a whistle, taking out a pokeball and returning his Absol to it.
The Salemence looked up and managed to break away from its battle, before rushing for Spector.
"Alright loser, I can see when I'm being ganged up on." Spector laughed, smirking cruelly towards Guzma. "Since your sister was…SO KIND to provide me with the information that I needed, I'll see myself out."
Guzma growled and clenched his fists in rage. "That's IT?! You talk a big game and now you're tucking your tail between your legs and retreating?! YOU ATTACKED MY SISTER, YOU COWARD!"
"And I'll do it AGAIN if she interferes!" Spector jumped on his Salamence's back and gave Guzma a rude gesture, smirking darkly. "But I'll be generous and let you have this one! I have a gym to reclaim!"
"LADY KITTY! LADY ERI!"
Spector paused and glanced behind him, where a newly arrived Cyclizar skidded to a stop, Atticus looking over the scene in horror. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, YOU VILE BEAST?!"
Atticus quickly got off of XLR8 and clenched his fists. "YOU FIEND!"
"Oh look. The Mighty Ninja finally figured out the deceit." Spector smirked and kicked his Salamence, resulting in the Pokemon taking to the air. "Enjoy licking your wounds!"
Atticus gritted his teeth and watched Spector take to the sky, heading in the direction for Galar.
"Tch!" Guzma growled at the cowardly act…before he turned and rushed for his unconscious sister, fear gripping his heart when he saw his sister covered in bruises. "K—Kitten—"
Eri looked up quickly, cradling the unconscious girl in her arms and giving Guzma a crazed look. She then looked over as Atticus rushed for them, a look of fear in his eyes.
Atticus gasped in horror as he beheld the sight…of Kitty limp in Eri's arms. All of Kitty's Pokemon were badly beaten up.
…and on the ground lay Freezer, lifeless and motionless.
Atticus felt his body trembling…what had happened?!...What had he just ALLOWED to happen!?
"Lady Eri! What has befallen Lady Kitty!? Does she breathe?! Please I beg of you! Speak favorably of her condition!" Atticus pleaded.
"Sh-…" Eri breathed out slowly and shook her head. "She's out cold. I don't know how bad it is, Atticus. But if we could just get her to your base—"
"Absolutely NOT" Guzma growled, marching over and standing over Eri, a scowl on his face. "I'm taking my sister home NOW!"
Eri looked up at Guzma, shaking her head softly. "You're….You're Kitty's brother? Please, we need to get her to Atticus' base for medical treatment."
"Agreed. I beg of you." Atticus looked towards Guzma and put a hand up. "Allow me to atone for my sins and bring her to the safety of the Navi Squad. I will tend to her wounds myself as my deepest remorse."
"Remorse?" Guzma scoffed, crossing his arms as Sample made his way past Guzma and joined her own Pokemon, trying to wake the girl in Eri's arms. "Ignoring her for two years is scummy, but I'm not interested in 'fixing your friendship'. No, I gotta get her back to Alola where she will be SAFE."
"Sir, please!" Eri put her hand up. "I promise Kitty will be safe at the Navi squad! Atticus cares so much for her! He never would have sent her away from his base if he had known that—"
"WHAT?!"
Guzma's attention snapped to Eri, his pupils shrinking at the news. "Sent her AWAY?!"
Eri paused…and she winced, inwardly kicking herself for letting that slip.
Guzma turned to face Atticus, seething in rage. "Let me get this straight? Kitty was AT your base….and you sent her AWAY?!"
"I—" Atticus' felt his breath getting shallow and he took a step up. "I had no intention of bringing any harm to Lady Kitty! I desire nothing more than for her to have safety and happiness upon her! When—When that vile villain Spector arrived—"
"SPECTOR WAS ALREADY HERE, AND YOU SENT KITTY AWAY FROM YOU!?" Guzman snarled in rage, clenching his fists.
Atticus trembled and let out a shudder. "I-…That-….I didn't mean—" Atticus didn't have time to say anything else, because Guzma rushed to him and PUNCHED him across the face. Atticus stumbled backwards and landed on his back, his hood falling against his back from the force of Guzma's blow.
"ATTICUS!"
Eri gently passed Kitty to Harpuia and rushed for Atticus, quickly getting in front of the fallen ninja with her arms outstretched to oppose Guzma. "Leave him alone! Atticus isn't the one who hurt Kitty!"
"YES HE IS!" Guzma snarled in reply, pointing towards the Poison-type trainer in accusation. "This bastard Shut Kitty out of his life and shut her out of his own group! It's HIS fault she came to Paldea in the first place! It's HIS fault he didn't take her into his base and made her vulnerable!"
He pointed towards Atticus, seething. "Because of YOU, my sister was attacked! Because of YOU, Freezer is DEAD!"
Atticus looked up at Guzma, tears running down his face and a broken expression on his face.
"….I—"
Guzma clenched his fist and snarled.
"ALL OF THIS IS YOUR FAULT, YOU BASTARD! I HOPE KITTY NEVER FORGIVES YOU, BECAUSE I SURE AS HELL WONT!"
With that said, Guzma spit towards Atticus and turned, storming over towards the group of Pokemon staying near Kitty.
Atticus managed to sit on his knees, spitting out a little blood from his mouth mixed with saliva and panted, putting his hands to his head. "….Kitty….I-….I never…..I—"
"Sir please!" Eri continued to stand over Atticus, watching as Guzma took the unconscious Kitty into his arms and began returning her Pokemon to their Pokeballs. "Atticus didn't mean for all of this to happen! He loves Kitty! He would never do anything to hurt her!"
"Well guess WHAT, sunshine, He DID!" Guzma managed to get all of Kitty's Pokemon into their balls, and was studying the Ceruledge who was watching the scene silently. For some stupid reason, the Pokemon wasn't returning to any of Kitty's Pokeballs. "And now Your…'Team Star' is now mortal enemies of Team Skull!"
Frustrated that the Ceruledge wasn't returning to a ball, Guzma plain CHUCKED one of Kitty's balls at the Fire/Ghost type, causing the Pokemon to disappear in a flash of white light and enter the ball…one shake…two shakes….three…..click.
Guzma made a weird face…before shaking it off and collecting the Pokeball, and heading towards Sample, carefully climbing Sample with Kitty in his arms.
"Nearest town. Now." Guzma growled, returning his own Pokemon to their balls.
Sample frowned and pumped his wings, hovering in the air and gently taking Freezer's body into his claws, before he let out a shriek and began swiftly flying for Zapapico.
Atticus watched the Noivern take to the air, carrying of Guzma and Kitty, his heart shattering.