Pokémon Trainer Hero
Chapter 48: The Sports Festival part. 19- The Intermission.
While Izuku was sitting and waiting for his Pokémon to heal and figuring out a decent strategy, Gar decided to go stretch his legs and get something to drink before sinking himself up for the next fight. One he would be heavily involved! As he walked he excitedly held Mimikyu up to his face and recounted the events of the battle like a child to a parent. Even though Mimikyu was there the whole time, on his shoulders no less, and really couldn't tell what Gar was babbling about. So the little Pokemon was content to just be happily held and Bob his fake head, listening as Gar yammered on in gibberish.
As he continues his walking ramblings, he doesn't take notice of any of his soundings, until he hears what sounds like sobbing. He stops his lips and feet while turning his head to the source. Only to see the one person he didn't want to run into! Katsuki Bakugou.
The blonde teen was leaning against a wall, face first, and sobbing while trying to cover his face with his arm. Gar knew better to set off a ticking time bomb, and he had said and done more than enough for him for one day! So he carefully held Mimikyu to his chest, stood on his toes, turned around quietly as he could, and tried to walk away unnoticed. However, that didn't go to plan as Bakugou took notice of him before he could make the first step.
When he saw Gar turned away, and so obviously trying to sneak away, he quickly tried to wipe his face and yelled, "You!"
Gar stood frozen in place for several seconds before he simply said in a quick tone without looking at him, "Bye.", And tried to power run away.
"Get back here you ass hole!", Bakugou shouts at him while pursuing a run.
It doesn't take long for him to catch up and yank on the back of Gar's hoodie, making him gag.
Gar pulls away, with a slap from Mimikyu, and says, "What is your problem?! I'm trying not to antagonize you with my presence! So why are you trying so hard to make me stay?! Do you just like being mad all the time?"
"Shut up, Purple Fucker! This is your fault!", Bakugou yells at him while poking a convicting finger into his chest!
Gar looks at him confused and defensively says back, "Me? What in the Distortion World did I do this time?!"
"You-You-You did this! All of this! To me!", He yelled convincingly about poking him again.
"What are you talking about?", Gar asks back while Mimikyu hisses at him.
"Deku, and the fight! And everything!", He vaguely tells Gar.
Gar looks at him crazily and asks back, "You're mad at me cause Izuku won the Pokémon battle through compassion and bonding, rather than anger and fear?"
"No!", He yells with eyes closed and fist balled while half spitting in his face!
Gar wipes away his saliva and says, "Then what is it?! I thought I had you pinned down, but I see I was wrong in that assumption."
Bakugou shudders a few times before finally yelling out while clutching his hair, "It's-Its everything! How it went down, how it ended! Icy hot finally gave it his all in this, but not during our fight! My chance to redeem myself was watered down to-to this! And Deku won! He won dammit! He never wins! It doesn't make sense!", He rips his hands from his hair and yells at him in the eye. "Is this what you wanted from me!? Huh?! To see me conflict about everything I know, watching it kill me from the inside! To watch my fake reality crumble around me!? All because of a huge lie I was told my whole life!?", Bakugou finally finishes while going completely breathless.
Gar just stares at him, blank-faced, as he watches Bakugou catch his breath. Then he finally replies by saying, "I'm glad you're finally realizing this on your own.", The calmness and flow of the statement alone made Bakugou freeze up from what he was expecting. "You're taking all this far better than I realized. So I'm glad about that. And yes, this is what I wanted to see happen to you. Your fake little bubble has popped and now you're finally seeing the world for how it truly is.", Gar then turned away from the stunned boy and before leaving, told him, "Trust me Katskui, you're never gonna be the one thing you want most unless you learn to change your outlook on things, and yourself in general."
He then walked off and didn't look back at Katsuki. He just knew he had to get away before either of them tried to say anything else or one of them exploded. After he left he was thirsty from all the talking and shouting he's done. As he walked to the nearest vending machine, he ran into Tokoyami.
He looked at the bird teen, leaning on the vending machine he wanted, and said, "Hey Fumikage. What's up?"
Tokoyami rose from the machine and asked, "May I make a strange request of you?"
"Uhhhhhh, sure. How strange are we talking here?", Gar asked while digging in his pocket for change.
Tokoyami was silent for a while, even looking at the ground as he fumbled with his words. While Gar just stood there and waited while putting the money into the machine.
Just then Dark Shadow popped out and answered for him, "He wants to see those Pokemon he used in the battle."
"Dark Shadow!", Tokoyami scolded his quirk. He heaved a sigh and said to Gar, "But he is right. I would like to see them one last time if it's not too much trouble."
Gar took his drink out, after punching the numbers, and said, "Sure."
He threw off the drink to Dark Shadow and went to his AMPD and took out the four pokeballs used by Tokoyami. He then threw the balls out and all popped open in streams of blue light that formed into the four Pokemon he used prior. Corviknight, Honchkrow, Doublade, and Mightyena. As the Pokémon realized who they were looking at, Gar took back his soda and gave the bird boy the thumbs up while stepping back.
Tokoyami looked hesitant at first and refused to look at the Pokémon, making them somewhat concerned and nervous, until Dark Shadow prompted him.
"Come on Fumikage! You got this far, sell it before they get too nervous.", Dark Shadow told him while shoving him forward.
Tokoyami sighed and said, "I just wanted to say….. Thank you, all of you for your work out there, and…..sorry. Sorry for not being able to coordinate you to victory and for not being able to give you more fluid commands for said victory.", He finished with a bow.
There was silence for a while until Gar piped up and said, "Oh Fumikage, you're so silly and cute."
"I-I am not cute! I'm a ray of darkness, there's nothing cute about me!", He whipped up his head to yell red-faced at Gar.
Gar couldn't hold back his laughter as he said, "I was referring to what you said to your pokémon and how you said it. Reminds me of my youthful days."
"You're only 20.", Tokoyami shot back incredulously.
"When you get to my age you'll understand.", Gar winked at him. "But you really shouldn't feel so down about losing. Being a leader is ahead job to undertake, especially for someone like you."
"He's not wrong.", Dark Shadow said in a singing tone beside his head, only for Tokoyami to push him away.
"But despite your loss, you took to battling quite well for a rookie. The Pokémon gave it all they got, but luck just wasn't on your side. That's no fault of theirs or yours. You should be proud of what you did do, and not what you didn't do.", Gar reassured him while placing a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I…. understand.", Tokoyami said while looking away embarrassed.
Gar then rubbed his chin and said, "You know what. Since I was so impressed with your skills, how about I let you develop them further."
"I don't think I quite understand?", Tokoyami gave him a strange look.
Gar rolled his eyes in entertainment and explained further, "Of the four Pokemon you used in battle, I'll let you keep one."
"Really? You'd…..do that...for me?", Tokoyami asked in flabbergasted shock while trying to hide it.
Gar nods vigorously and replies, "Of course! Haven't you seen Aizawa walking around school with Persian 24/7?", Tokoyami couldn't deny that. Ever since Gar drunkenly gave Aizawa what could be considered his first Pokemon, he hasn't been seen without it once despite Nezu telling him to keep him in his ball during school hours. "And also think of it as an apology for all the times I tried to catch you and Dark Shadow.", He smoothly added in with a sweat drip and head rub.
"I'll take this apology!", Dark Shadow exclaimed excitedly as Tokoyami pushed him away.
He stared at the four Pokemon before him and carefully considered his options. First, there was Mightyena, who looked completely uninterested in anything the bird boy said before. Instead opting to lick itself. Then there was Doublade, a good option but probably not the best. Sure he was the class grim dark emo bird boy, but that doesn't mean he wanted a real-life possessed object. Also, there was no way his parents would allow it since he practically begged him for that real sword for his birthday.
Then there were the two he somewhat dreaded to get, considering the fact they were both blackbirds with very grimdark vibes to them. No matter which he picked, everyone and Kaminari would have their jokes. So to lessen the jokes, he decided to pick the one who was least like him.
Already he was ruling out Honchkrow since the thing looked like an emo teens wet dream demon in the shape of a bird alongside the attitude and hat. Then there was Corviknight. Big, strong, erect, stoic, and serious. Despite being a bird, it was everything that Tokoyami wasn't, which made him perfect.
"I'd like to have Corviknight if that's alright.", he points to the large bird pokemon.
Gar raises an eyebrow and says, "You sure? Despite his serious Knightley looks and demeanor, he's quite mischievous."
"Yes I'm sure.", Tokoyami nods.
"Well let's see what he thinks.", Gar says while looking at Corviknight along with Tokoyami.
The large bird then walks up carefully to the smaller bird boy, its sharp talons clicking against the tile floor while leaving scuffs. The bird finally got chest to face with Tokoyami and the size difference is night and day! Considering the pokemon was one inch taller than the number one pro hero of Japan himself. Corviknight tilts his head to the side and before Tokoyami can question what he was doing, the pokemon suddenly whacks the bottom of its beak on the small boy's head three times!
The bird teen cries out in pain while Gar laughs and says, "He likes you."
"Good to know.", Tokoyami grumbles.
Gar then returns the other three pokemon and deposits them back into the PC. From there he hands Corviknight's Pokeball to the bird teen and ruffles his head playfully.
"Well, he's all yours now! Take good care of him, he's special. He helped get my butt to the Galar Championships.", gar told him while giving one last pet to the pokemon.
"I will and thank you.", Tokoyami said back as Corviknight bent its head down for petting.
Just before Gar completely left sight, he popped back from behind the wall he was about to travel down and said, "Oh, by the way, he doesn't eat seeds like other bird types. Only meat. Good luck feeding him!"
Their silence between the bird teen and the large bird pokemon for several seconds. They both finally look at each other for several more seconds of silence. After this, Tokoyami asks his new pokemon, "So…...ya like chicken?", only to get a CAW in return.
Gar continues his walk down a different hallway with a bit of peep in his step. He was nearly bouncing when he heard a very familiar and angry voice stamp his happiness away. Following the sound of the yelling voice and turning a corner while peeking out his head He saw the one thing he didn't want to see today. Endeavor, yet again yelling at his son. Now he was being scolded and berated for losing again and not even coming in second this time. Although Endeavor made it clear he thought the Pokémon battle was a waste, stupid, and demeaning to the name of the sports festival, he still expected his son to not only exceed in this challenge but blow something so simple and nonsensical for someone of his stature out of the water! And yet again Todoroki wasn't having any of it.
While Gar on the other hand was bleeding from the mouth and eats with anger at the man! Even Mimikyu looked murderous, as the small pokémon carved its claws into the wall they were hiding behind! He so wanted to go over there and deck him, especially after telling him off last time! But the message didn't get across and that made him fume!
He was about to do something when one of the Pokeballs on his belt began to shake. He looked at the Pokeball and realized which one it was! He thought he put that one away! Before he could send it back to the PC, it popped open and Walrein emerged from out of Gar and Mimikyu's hiding spot, to which they both ducked behind!
The appearance of the large Pokemon immediately alerted Both people and put them on edge! The walrus Pokemon roared as it lumbered into their area as fast as its large body would move! Both men became fearful and defensive as the Pokémon moved towards them in the most terrifyingly awkward way imaginable! Walrein almost seemed to run towards Todoroki while continuing to roar, who nearly froze at the charging Pokemon expecting it to attack him! Instead, Walrein placed himself between Todoroki and Endeavor, shocking the young teen.
The Pokémon stared down Endeavor and roared at him while keeping his mass between the both of them. Although Endeavor was taller than Walrein, Walrein was far bigger! An absolute unit if you will. Endeavor knew he would get crushed under this pokémon if it had the chance, that and the fact it was still roaring angrily at him.
At the moment Endeavor was so shaken that he didn't know what to do. But the only thing his mind told him was to fight back. So he leaned down halfway to the Pokémon's face and roared back at his wall increasing the size of his flames! Walrein went silent for a moment at this comeback…..but only for a moment. Walrein then opened his mouth and seemed to charge up an Ice Beam, but it wasn't Ice Beam. The charge time was much much slower and the whole area around them grew significantly cold. This was a much different movie, and before Gar could try and stop it, Walrein let it loose directly upon Endeavor! In an instant, a huge white light came from the Pokémon's mouth and a rush of cold blinded everyone for a second!
When the light died down, the whole area was covered in ice and snow with Endeavor encased in a block of ice! Todoroki looked stunned at….all of this! Too confused and scared to make a move or even bring himself to speak legible words. He looked around with the day's expression at the now winter wonderland and tried to ask what in the world happened, But only managed to move his mouth around.
He was then shocked back to his senses when Gar placed a hand on his shoulder. He jumped back and around, falling into Walrein's massive body, seeing a half-frozen Gar and Mimikyu stuck to his shoulder.
Near encased in ice, hunched over and shivering violently, Gar tried to speak, "S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-S-.", Todoroki leaned off of Walrein and landed a decisive slap on the older teen shivering face! "Thanks. Are you okay?", Gar finally managed to say words.
Todoroki looked back at Endeavor, then to Walrein who looked at him with a lazy smile, and then be k to Gar as he replied with a slight smile, "Yeah. I think I am."
"Good", Gar said with a frozen smile before saying with a deadly serious tone, "Now turn your quick on full blast! I'm going to get hypothermia in a few seconds!"
Todoroki did what he said and turned on his hot half, to which Gar latched onto him with Mimikyu like life support! Gar sighed with relief as the ice on his body started to melt away.
As Far warmed up, Todoroki asked him, "What just happened?"
"I think in its desperation to protect you from your dad, Walrein forced itself to learn a new move.", Gar explained.
"Which movie?"
"Sheer Cold. It doesn't always hit, but when it does it's a one-hit K.O move. And since your dad was at point-blank range there was no way it couldn't hit."
The two of them looked at Endeavor's frozen body and stared at it for several seconds before Todoroki asked him, "You don't think he's dead? Is he?"
Gar shook his head and replied, "Not likely. Sheer Cold only the opponent, not kill them. And besides that, I can see your dad is still a fire type and fully conscious."
Gar points to Endeavor's frozen expression of shock and Todoroki sees his eyes move around, confirming his state of living. Much to Todoroki's disappointment.
"You think we should pick him out, Shoto? I mean, sure he's a Mudbray. But not even he deserves to be suffocated in ice.", Gar asks Todoroki.
Todoroki was silent for a few minutes as he thought this over. After he was done rummaging around in his thoughts he finally answered, saying with a cold tone, "No. I think it'll give him a good chance to chill out. And this isn't the first time he's been encapsulated in ice. He's probably just shocked right now, but eventually, he'll thaw himself out."
"In that case, we should go before he does and tries to meet us all.", Gar told him while grabbing his arm and pulling him away into the innermost parts of the stadium with Walrein following behind.
After a few minutes of walking and finding a waiting room to hide in. Todoroki made a nice ice bed for Walrein to relax on while he turns on his hot half-full fire letting Gar and Mimikyu warm themselves up faster. After Gar could feel his fingers again and Mimikyu didn't adhere to his trainer's shoulder, Todoroki said something that somewhat shocked Gar.
"I'm sorry you had to get roped up into my life again.", The half and half team apologetically said to him while looking at the ground.
Gar looked at him strangely and replied, "You don't have to apologize. If anything I'm always running into you when you're in the middle of...whatever with your dad. Like I said, don't be afraid to go to someone for help, especially me.", Gar then thought to himself for a moment and followed up saying, "You know what."
"What?", Todoroki asked while somewhat looking up from the floor.
"Since I'm already on a roll with it today I might as well include you.", Gar stated to himself as opposed to directly talking to the teen next to him.
Todoroki, now fully looking at him with a confused and stunned expression, asked back, "You're gonna...roll me? Like sushi?"
Gar stared at the boy for several seconds with an expression crossed between a smile and self-contained disgusted shock, before saying, "Shoto, I love you but what the hell.", He then waved him off before he could reply and told him, "Anyway. Since I can't always be there for you if and when you do need me, how about I just give you Walrein."
Todoroki looked at Walrein, still relaxing in his ice bed, then back at Gar where he asked, "Really?"
"Of course! I meant it. Take him. He's yours until I leave this world.", Gar told him while holding out the Pokeball for Walrein. Todoroki was hesitant about taking the Pokeball from him and didn't even raise his hand to attempt to grab it, and just stared at it indefinitely.
When Gar saw that Todoroki wouldn't grab it, and the expression on his face, he asked him, "What's wrong Shoto?"
Todoroki sighed as he rubbed his arm and said while looking away shamefully, "I do appreciate your offer, and I don't mean to sound rude or selfish, but I was hoping to have a different Pokemon."
Gar gave him an inquisitive look and asked back, "Well? Which one?"
"Ambipom.", Todoroki finally admitted.
"Really?!", Gar exclaimed as Todoroki seemed taken back by his excited outburst. Seeing the boy's reaction, Gar quickly waved his arms while exclaiming, "No no no! That's good! That's better than good! I saw you two make amends during the battle. I think it's great that you still want to work with him."
Todoroki only gave him a slide smile in return.
Gar then rubbed his chin for a moment and thought, before saying, "You know what. I ... haven't given anyone else this privilege already, but how about I just give you both?"
Todoroki's eyes widened at his bold offer as he mumbles out in shock, "Really?"
Gar vigorously nods his head as he replies, "Yes Todoroki, I'm serious.", He then forces both pokeballs into the younger teens hand and says with a serious firm tone Well wagging his finger in his face, "And I'm not taking no for an answer! You take them, enjoy them, love them, and train them. Work with them and they may even help you find a bit of you that you never knew before.", He told him with a smile.
Todoroki looked down at the two Pokéballs in his hands and said in a low tone on the verge of tears, "I…..thank you."
Gar waves it off while patting his shoulder, "Think nothing of it. Just know that Walrein is kind of lazy and if he gets comfortable in one spot, he literally won't move from that spot. As for Ambipom….well less said is better, just watch your nose.", He tells him while getting up and tapping his nose.
Before he leaves he gives Walrein one last pat on the head before telling him to behave for Todoroki and moves to the door.
Just before he leaves, Todoroki stands up and says, "I will, and thank you again.", Gar gives a simple wave over his shoulder before exiting the door.
After he leaves, Gar makes his way to the nurse's office where he wants in on a peculiar sight. Izuku sitting hunched over in a chair, face deep and his notebook, writing and muttering at speeds unknown with a grim and creepy atmosphere that drifts everywhere. Gar paled at this sight as he moved his eyes over to Recovery Girl and her Pokemon, we're also feeling the effects of the atmosphere.
"Please get him to stop. I can't take it anymore." Recovery Girl told him while white-knuckling a syringe filled with morphine in it.
Gar immediately rushed into action and took Izuku by the shoulders while shaking him violently! Izuku screamed and threw his pen and notepad away while flailing his arms and panicking! When Gar stopped, Izuku stared at him with an expression crossed between anger, surprise, and confusion.
Gar sighed in relief, alongside everyone else, and said to him, "Thank Arceus I got you out of…. whatever that was. Recovery Girl was five seconds from drugging you."
He let go of the confused boy as he asked in a more nonchalant tone, "So I see you're hard at work trying to figure out a good strategy for the next fight, right?", Izuku nods, Gar smiles and says, "Good to hear! I hope you have a loose idea of what you want, cause you only have 15 minutes left."
Izuku's face dropped into shock and dilution at his words before HE went into full panic mode.
"AAAAAAAA! THEN THERE'S NO TIME TO WASTE! I GOTTA GET GOING!", Izuku screamed as he grabbed his notebook, TMs, and Pokéballs while rushing to make something usable!
Gar stood back with an award shadow over his face as Izuku scrambled around like a Wurmpul in the dirt, with Recovery Girl glaring at him incredulously. Gar looked around uncomfortably while rubbing his head and tried to make a wishlist to tune out his mistake. Though he remembers he can't whistle well.
After silence settled in with Izuku muttering in panic, Gar finally says while scratching his cheek, "Perhaps I should've laid that on him differently."
"No, you think?", Recovery Girl replies sarcastically.
"So um, are they ready?", Gar tried to change the subject smoothly.
It doesn't work on Recovery Girl, but despite this lets it slide as she replies, "Yes dear, they are ready and waiting."
Gar then rushes over to a device where five Pokéballs sit. He trades them out with five of the six Pokéballs on his belt and waves off to Recovery Girl before running out the door.
About 15 minutes later, Izuku was finally ready to battle! He had thought long and hard, then acted quick and panicked to get himself together. He was ready for just about anything thrown at him….or just ready in general, and worked on the links as he went along.
He walked out of the stadium and into the field ring. As he walked into the blinding light, letting his vision adjust, he was greeted by the near defending roar of the crowd excitedly anticipating the upcoming battle! And to be honest, Izuku was sharing their mentality. He looked out into the ring he battled in once before and was surprised to see that it had been changed.
No more did it have four corners, but instead a large circle divided in half. One-half blue, the other red. At the very furthest parts of the circumference of each half was a smaller part no doubt for him and his opponent to stand on while they gave commands.
At the center of the ring, where an even smaller circle was painted, there stood Gar waiting for him with Mimikyu on his shoulder wearing a small cloth as a scarf colored like his outfit under his sweatshirt. He saw the older teen wave at him and Izuku shyly waved back as he continued to walk to him. Once he was in the center, Gar raised his hand and the roar of the crowd died down enough for him to speak.
"Izuku. Good to see you again and back in the ring. I hope you're ready for this battle. No cold feet I hope?", Izuku shook his head and Gar smiled.
"Good! Wouldn't want to leave these people high and dry on a battle they've all waited for.", He then turned to the crowd and announced, "PEOPLE OF JAPAN! ARE. YOU. READY!", and the crowds cheered louder than they have before!
Gar nods and says, "Now that's what I like to hear!", He then turns back to Izuku and says, "Now I bet you're wondering who it is you'll be facing. You probably think 'there's no one else'. Well that's where you're wrong.", Gar says mysteriously with a chuckle as he turns and walks away from Izuku, who gives him a curious and nervous look, like anxiety and excitement flutters in his stomach.
Gar then stops a few feet away from him and grabs the hem of his sweatshirt as he says without looking at him, "You see Izuku, the last person you can face here-.", Gar then rips off his sweatshirt in one clean movement and spins around to a surprised Izuku, while exclaiming, "Is Me!"
Standing before Izuku is the same old Gar he's known since months prior, but now he wears a much different-looking hero outfit than before! Although it's in the same style with clothing parts, it's a completely different color like his strange pokémon hoodie! A strange mixture of purple and pink gives a psychedelic feeling while looking at it. Even Mimikyu's scarf matches too as he sits there excitedly waving his arms! In addition, Gar's normally purple hair is in the same color style as the cherry on top!
So this is what he wanted to save for last? Izuku was surprised to see this. Though he didn't have time to admire Gar and his new change of looks as the older teen took out a Pokeball and held it out confidently and boldly while proclaiming to him over his mic through the roar of the crowds!
"I hope you're ready Izuku! Cause this is gonna be like no battle you've ever had before! Now you're playing with the big boys!"
Hey y'all, it's me again. I've brought you all another chapter, a short one, which is the only reason I was able to get it out so quick. Anyhow, I just wanted to give you guys this as something to wet your appetite and keep you somewhat satisfied until I can type up the next chapter, which I don't have to tell you is going to be a long one. And so will the next three. But right now we're at the final climax and coming to the real meat and potatoes of the Sports Festival arc. There will be surprises, new revelations, and something else for the continuity and world building of the story. Hope you all enjoyed it and hope you all can stay patient as I painstakingly try to type it out, with that stay safe and Plus Ultra!