Estimated Reading Time: 26 Minute

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Leafstorm

WHAM!

Red's fucking socked Ness in the face! The psychic staggered back, his hands instinctively flying up to cover the bruising impact. His fingers trembled as he pressed them against his face, trying to ease the throbbing pain. He took a few unsteady steps backward, struggling to regain his composure, his eyes narrowing in focus as he steadied himself for what might come next.

Red: "YOU FUCKIN' BITCH!"

Red drew his arm back, muscles tensing as he prepared to deliver another blow. But this time, Ness was ready. His eyes sharpened, and with swift reflexes, he raised his forearm, blocking Red's punch with a solid thud. Using the momentum, Ness pushed forward, shoving the Pokémon Trainer to the side with enough force to make Red stumble. For a brief moment, the two locked eyes—both steady, both determined—as they braced for the next move in their clash.

Ness: "Red, what're you doing!"

Red: "I know what you fuckin' did…"

Ness: "What did I do?"

Red: "You're fuckin' usin' Leaf!"

Ness: "Excuse me?"

Red: "You heard me! YOU'RE USIN' LEAF!"

Ness: "Wwhat! Using her how?"

Red: "Don't act like you don't know what you did."

Ness: "I really don't."

Red: "And you can't even admit it. YOU'RE THE WORST KIND OF HUMAN SCUM!"

Ness: "Red, let's calm down and settle this down like adults."

Red: "Settle this down like adults, huh? Oh, we'll settle things down alright."

Ness: "That sounded like a threat."

Red: "GO, IVYSUAR AND SQUIRTLE!"

Ness: *Sighs* "Great. I guess we're fighting now."

Red swiftly released his two loyal companions. Ivysaur and Squirtle let out fierce cries, rallying each other before charging straight for the brunet. Ivysaur's vines snapped out with a whip-like crack, wrapping around Ness's leg and yanking hard. The sudden pull sent him crashing to the ground, his balance ripped away in an instant. Before he could react, Squirtle launched himself into the air, his shell glinting as he curled up tightly and dove down in a powerful Skull Bash. The attack struck Ness squarely in the stomach, driving the air from his lungs as he gasped in pain.

Ness: "Gah!"

Red: "Great job you two! Now finish him off!"

Ivysuar summoned a storm full of leaves that came straight at the injured Brunet. Squirtle assisted the speed of the leaves using water gun. The two powerful blows were speeding its way over to Ness.

The pyschic's eyes widened in alarm, but he quickly raised his arms outward, fingers splayed. "Shield!" he shouted, his voice carrying a determined edge. In an instant, a shimmering, translucent barrier formed around him, glowing faintly as it surrounded his body.

The projectiles hurtled toward him, their momentum unstoppable—until they struck the shield with sharp, resounding impacts. Sparks flew as each projectile was deflected, ricocheting off the barrier, leaving Ness untouched within his protective aura. For a brief moment, he looked almost untouchable, safe within the glow of his psychic shield.

Red: "Kch! Squirtle use Skull Bash to break that there darn shield!"

Squirtle: "Squirt!"

Squirtle obeyed, retreating into his shell with a practiced spin and launching himself like a cannonball toward the shield. His shell gleamed as he gained momentum, a blur of blue and brown aimed directly at Ness. But as he struck, the impact landed with a muted, almost hollow thud. The shield remained unbroken, its surface rippling briefly but showing no signs of damage. Squirtle bounced back slightly, the force of his attack absorbed by the barrier, leaving him dazed and wobbling as he emerged from his shell. Ness stood firm behind the shield, a hint of a smirk at its impenetrable strength.

"Heal!" Ness commanded, and a warm green aura flared to life around him, washing over his body in waves. The aches and bruises from earlier seemed to melt away, replaced by a renewed energy. Feeling whole again, he let his shield dissolve, leaving him seemingly open to attack.

Ivysaur saw his chance, sending his vines lashing toward Ness with a fierce snap. But as they reached him, Ness seized both vines in a firm grip, surprising the Pokémon. With a swift yank, he pulled Ivysaur forward, using the creature's own momentum. Ivysaur hurtled through the air, unable to stop his trajectory, until—wham! Ness's fist met him mid-flight, connecting solidly with Ivysaur's body.

The force of the punch sent the green Pokémon flying down the hall, its small frame slamming into the wall with a resounding crack, vibrations rippling through the stone as pain shot through every inch of Ivysaur's body. The poor Pokemon struggled to get back up, but his legs gave out and he lay there unconscious.

Red: "IVYSUAR!"

Ness: ["Oooh, *winces* I may have gone too far…"]

Red whipped around to face Ness, his vision blurring as tears threatened to spill over. His face contorted with a mixture of pain and fury, eyes blazing with unrestrained hatred. "YOU FUCKIN' ABUSER!" he roared, his voice hoarse with raw emotion. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, and his teeth ground together in barely contained rage. Every muscle in his body tensed, trembling with the urge to strike back, as his gaze locked onto Ness with an intensity that could cut through steel.

Ness: "I didn't mean to hit him that hard."

Red: "SQUIRTLE, FINISH HIM OFF WITH SURF!"

Ness: "Ok, now that's just overkill, don't you think?"

Squirtle summoned a massive wave, the towering surge of water forming at his command. With a confident leap, he hopped onto the crest, expertly surfing the rushing current as it roared down the hall toward Ness.

The blue turtle's eyes were locked on his target, determined to overwhelm the psychic with the sheer force of the wave. But as the water crashed forward, Ness calmly raised his arms, summoning his shield in a flash of light. The wave collided with the barrier in a thunderous splash, sending water cascading in all directions—but the shield held firm, undented and unmoved. Behind it, Ness stood steady, watching as the water dissipated harmlessly against his psychic defense.

Ness: "RED, STOP!"

Red: "NEVER! I'LL KILL YOU!"

Ness: "WHAT DID I EVEN DO?!"

Red: "YOU KNOW WHAT YOU DID!"

Ness: "NO I DON'T! FUCKING TELL ME!"

Red quickly tossed a revive and a max potion toward Ivysaur, who lay crumpled against the wall. The green dinosaur Pokémon stirred as the items worked their magic, his bruises fading and energy returning until he looked as strong as ever, standing tall and ready to fight. Red's hands tightened around his pack, his expression determined; clearly, he had plenty more potions and revives stashed away, prepared for any battle. Observing this, Ness's eyes narrowed. Right... Red's loaded with potions and revives, he thought, a strategy forming in his mind. If I want this silly dance to end, I've got to destroy that backpack.

Red: "IVYSUAR, USE SOLAR BEAM! SQUIRTLE MAKE SURE TO DISTRACT THAT FUCKIN' BIIITCH WHILE IVYSUAR STORES ENOUGH POWER!"

Squirtle: "Squirt!"

Ness: "Are you kidding me?! Red, I don't want to fight you! Also you know I could just absorb the solar beam, right?"

Red: "SHUT UP!"

Ness: "Dude, stop putting your Pokemon in danger. I already knocked out Ivysuar—and that was by accident!"

Red: "I SAID SHUT UP!"

Ness: "You're pushing them too hard!"

Red: "SQUIRTLE, ATTACK!"

Ness rolled his eyes and let out an annoyed sigh. Squirtle dashed over to the psychic planning to hit him with his nair, but Ness ducked. As Squirtle was flying past him, the brunet with lightning speed grabbed the Pokemon's tail and threw him back over to Red.

Squirtle launched forward with a reckless dive, crashing straight into Red. The impact sent both of them tumbling to the ground in a tangled heap. They lay there for a moment, heads spinning, eyes glazed as they tried to steady themselves.

Lucky: "Espiii! Espeon!" (Guys, shut up! You woke me up from my nap!)

Lucky crawled out of the room, drawn by the ruckus echoing down the hallway. His sleepy eyes blinked in confusion as he took in the chaotic scene before him. The two brunets were locked in an intense showdown, their expressions fierce and focused. Suddenly, realization washed over the purple cat Pokémon, his ears perked up and his gaze sharpening. A Pokémon battle is happening, he thought, instinctively sensing the energy crackling in the air.

Ness: "Lucky? Took you long enough! How were you able to stay asleep for this long?"

Lucky: "Espeon… Espii?!" (What… Why didn't you wake me up?!)

Ness: "I have no idea what you just said."

Red: "SQUIRTLE USE-

Leaf: "STOOOP!"

All eyes shifted to Leaf. Anger flickered in her gaze, but it was overshadowed by visible exhaustion. Her back was pressed against the wall for support, and she was panting heavily, chest rising and falling as she fought to catch her breath. The tension in the room seemed to pulse around her, contrasting sharply with her weary stance. A few stray strands of hair clung to her forehead, damp with sweat, highlighting the strain of the battle that had unfolded. Despite her fatigue, there was a fire in her eyes—a determination that hinted she was far from finished.

Leaf: "WHAT'RE YOU TWO DOING?!"

Ness: "I'm defending myself. He came out of nowhere and-

Red: "I'M TRYIN' TO TEACH HIM A LESSON FOR HURTING YOU!"

Ness: "What did I do?!"

Red: "YOU FUCKIN' GOT HER PREGNANT!"

His scream shattered the stillness, echoing down the hallway like a thunderclap. Ness and Leaf exchanged wide-eyed glances, their expressions a mix of disbelief and concern.

Ness: "I-I-I… WWHAT!"

The piercing scream didn't just freeze the moment; it reverberated throughout the hall, drawing the attention of other Smashers from their rooms. Curiosity mingled with concern as they emerged, wide-eyed and alert, trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding before them.

Leaf: "R-Red—I can't… I…"

A wave of betrayal washed over Leaf, her heart sinking as she processed Red's scream. How could he let their conflict spill out for everyone to hear? The weight of his outburst hung in the air, and the curious eyes of the other Smashers bore down on her, their hushed whispers echoing like a chorus of judgment.

Feeling the heat rise in her cheeks, Leaf blinked rapidly, trying to hold back the sadness that threatened her eyes. But it was no use; tears began to stream down her face. She raised her hands to cover her expression, desperate to shield herself from their stares. Without a word, she turned and fled the scene, her footsteps echoing in the hallway.

Red: "LEAF, WAIT!"

Red was about to run after her, but Ness blocked his path.

Red: "GET OUT OF MY WAY!"

Ness: "No."

Red: "WHY YOU-

With a surge of adrenaline, Red lunged forward, throwing a punch aimed squarely at Ness's face. But in a swift and fluid motion, the psychic reacted. He caught Red's fist with his palm, gripping it firmly to halt the momentum.

Red: "WHA! L-LET GO!"

Ness: "Dude, she wants to be alone."

Ness released his grip on Red's hand, letting the Pokémon Trainer stumble back a few steps. Red's breath came in heavy, uneven gasps as tears welled up, blurring his vision, but his fury remained strong.

Ness: "Look around you. Stop causing a scene."

Red continued to glare at the psychic. Quiet growls escaping his lips.

Pac-Man: "What's going on?"

Radiant Ike: "Didn't you hear? The player of the year got that bitch pregnant."

Ness: "No I didn't!"

A wave of embarrassment and shame crashed over Red, suffocating him in its grip. The reality of his actions struck him like a blow; he hadn't considered the damage he'd done. Leaf's secret was out, and he feared what the others would think of her.

He should've led Ness away to a more private area for their fight, but deep down, he knew the psychic wouldn't have agreed to that.

During that time, his anger flared, consuming all rational thought. The need for revenge blocked everything else; all he could focus on was the urge to beat Ness into submission, to somehow make him pay for the hurt he had inflicted on Leaf. Dammit! He shouldn't have done that.

Ness: "Can you guys go away?"

Roy: "We just wanna make sure everything is ok."

Ness: "Everything's fine."

Roy: "Are you sure?"

Ness let out an exasperated roll of his eyes, clearly tired of the escalating drama. In one swift motion, he reached out and grabbed Red, pulling him firmly into his room. The Pokémon, sensing the shift in tension, scurried in behind them, confusion etched on their faces. With a decisive slam, Ness shut the door, cutting off the noise from the hallway and the prying eyes of the other Smashers.

Once inside, he turned sharply and shoved Red, moving him in the middle of the room. "What the hell were you thinking?!" Ness snapped, his voice low but filled with intensity.

"I-I'm sorry…" Red stammered, his voice barely above a whisper as his eyes fell to the floor, avoiding Ness's gaze. The Pokémon Trainer's posture spoke volumes; he looked genuinely ashamed, shoulders slumped and fists clenched at his sides.

As Ness watched him, his initial frustration began to fade, replaced by a wave of understanding. A shared sense of shame washed over him, recognizing that their reckless actions had drawn others into their conflict.

Ness: "Alright, let's set aside our fists for a moment and approach this rationally."

Red: "Sure…"

Ness: "I want this to be clear, I didn't get her pregnant."

Red: "Yeah right. Like I believe you. You're just tryin' to avoid responsibility."

Ness: *Sighs* "Red, it wasn't me that slept with her. It was my clone."

Red: "Right…"

Ness: "It was Nate who dated her, not me, remember?"

Red: "I sorta forgot about him."

Ness: "How? The Hands announced who he was. He helped save Smash from Mario's wrath."

Red: "Uh…"

Ness: "Oh for fuck's sake. My clone got her pregnant. It wasn't me. I've never even had a partner."

Red: "That's—depressing."

Ness: "Gee, thanks."

Red: "Then again, with your shit personality, I'm not surprised."

Ness: "Can you not?"

Red: "I mean *snickers* it's kinda true."

Ness: "I'm working on myself."

Red examined the nerd's room. He saw a shelf full of anime girl figurines. He shifted his gaze back to Ness and gave him a look of disappointment.

Ness: "What?"

The Pokemon Trainer pointed at the figurines. "You're one of those," his tone was harsh and judgmental.

Ness: *Blushes* "Those? Haha… Those are uh—gifts."

Red: "You better not be tryin' to sleep with Leaf."

Ness: "No! It's not like that at all."

Red: "I'm pretty sure you've jerked off to her."

Ness: "I haven't."

Red: "I don't trust you."

Ness: "I'm not into her."

Red: "You're a guy. I know you find her hot."

Ness: "I mean, well, yeah, but-

Red: "You don't really care about her, do ya? You're just pretending to be her friend so you could fuck. But now that I know you're a virgin and obviously she's not into you, now you're tryin' to avoid her."

Ness: "Wwhat! I don't even have a crush on her!"

Red: "Then why're you avoiding her?"

Ness: "Because I'm stressed out."

Red: "With what?"

Ness: "I'm an introvert. Hanging out with people everyday is exhausting. It adds a lot of stress. I just want time for myself every once in a while. This past month I've been doing nothing but hanging out with people and I'm getting burnt out."

Red: "Then tell her that instead of making up excuses."

Ness: *Sighs* "You're right. I'm sorry."

Red initially wore a smirk, but that fleeting grin quickly faded, replaced by a somber frown. "I'm sorry too," he murmured, his voice barely audible, weighed down by the weight of his regret.

Ness: "Huh?"

Red: "I shouldn't have attacked you like that."

Ness: "It's ok. I know your reason was to protect Leaf."

Red: "I care a lot for her. I hate seeing her in pain. She's like a sister to me."

Ness: "That's really sweet of you."

Red: "Ya think?"

Ness: "Despite trying to kill me, I think that makes you a good person."

Red: "Yeah?"

Ness: "Yeah! Going out of your way to protect her like that is respectable."

Red: "Hehe~ I suppose."

Ness: "But also I think you should also take care of yourself."

Red: "What'd you mean by that?"

Ness: "Please let me know if I'm going too far, but I know about your Charizard. I know you're hurting a lot. I have a feeling that you're suppressing your grief."

Red: "I'm not suppressing them!"

Ness: "I mean do you ever get to vent about your loss? It feels like you're always looking out for Leaf, but not yourself."

Red: "I-I… Yeah, maybe a little."

Ness: "I may not be the best person to vent to, but I'm here right now. If you want—you can talk about it."

Red: "There's nothing to talk about. He's gone."

Ness: "You can vent. It'll make you feel better."

Red: "..."

Ness: "But I'm also not forcing you. If you really don't want to, then you don't have to."

Red: "I just… Miss him."

Ness: "I'm sure it hurts."

Red: "Charizard was my everything. I took care of him ever since he was a Charmander."

Ness: "Aww, that's sweet."

Red: "Our bond was unbreakable. He was my everything. My first Pokemon."

Ness: "I'm so sorry."

Red: "I wasn't good enough to protect him."

Ness: "That's not true. You did everything you could."

Red: "I dunno."

Ness: "Things happen that are out of our control. That doesn't make you a failure or a bad person."

Red: "I just wish *sobs* fuck!"

"Here, let's sit down," Ness said, gesturing toward the bed with a calm yet inviting tone. Red hesitated for a moment, still grappling with his emotions, but complied, sliding onto the edge of the bed next to the brunet.

The only sound filling the room was the soft, muffled rhythm of Red's sobs, each one a release of the pent-up emotions he had been holding back. Ness sat quietly beside him, initially hesitant, unsure of how to bridge the gap between their earlier conflict and this moment of vulnerability. Finally, he reached out, gently patting Red's back in a comforting gesture.

The room felt heavy with emotion as they remained in that position. Gradually, Red's sobs began to subside, his breathing evening out as he worked to compose himself. The weight of the night's turmoil slowly lifted, creating a fragile sense of understanding between them, allowing space for healing.

Red: "Thanks."

Ness: "Feel better?"

Red: "Yeah."

Ness: "Red, I know you hate me, but honestly, I can see us as friends."

Red: "Tch!"

Ness: "I mean you like Pokemon and I like Pokemon. We both have something to nerd about. I even have my own Pokemon now."

Ness gently patted Red's lap, a small gesture of reassurance. Lucky saw and sprang into action, hopping onto Red with an enthusiastic leap. The Espeon began licking Red's face, showering him with affection.

A smile tugged at the corners of the Pokemon Trainer's lips, despite his earlier sorrow, as he tried to restrain a laugh. The playful onslaught of love from the purple cat was impossible to resist. He surrendered quickly, reaching out to pet Lucky, running his fingers through the soft fur.

Red: "Ya know, I have an Espeon too."

Ness: "Really?"

Red: "Yeah, he's in my PC box right now."

Ness: "They should totally meet~"

Red: "That does sound cute."

Ness: "Lucky has never met another Espeon. This could be good for him."

Red: "I think so too."

Ness: "I would love some tips and tricks on how to Pokemon battle."

Red: "Hehe~ I suppose I could teach you a few things."

Ness: "Then again, Lucky and I are a pretty strong team. We'll probably win. I might not even need your guidance~"

Red: "Are you kiddin' me? I'm a champion ya know."

Ness: "Yeah, but Lucky and I fought a Wendigo. I'm pretty sure we could easily take you guys down in a heated battle."

Red: "A what?"

Ness: "Hahaha!"

Red: "Ya know Ness, I think you're right."

Ness: "I know~ Lucky and I are too good."

Red: "No, not about that."

Ness: "Huh?"

Red: "I can see us as friends."

Ness: "W-what! Really?"

Red: "I can see why Leaf likes you so much."

Ness: "Wow, I-I don't know what to say."

Red: "I'm sorry for being a bitch to ya. What'd ya say? Wanna start over?"

Red extended his hand, a tentative yet hopeful gesture. Ness's eyes sparkled with renewed energy as he grasped Red's hand firmly, a broad smile spreading across his face. "Yeah, let's restart, ok?" he said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm and a hint of excitement. The warmth of their handshake symbolized a fresh beginning, washing away the tension of their earlier conflict.

Red: "Here, let's trade numbers."

Ness gave him his number and Red immediately texted back.

[- Ness

DM

Red: Did yu get this message?

Ness: Yup!

…

Red suddenly wrapped his arms around Ness in a heartfelt hug, catching the psychic off guard. For a brief moment, Ness's eyes widened in surprise, a look of shock crossing his face as he processed the unexpected gesture. But as the initial surprise faded, his expression softened, warmth flooding through him. After a moment of hesitation, he awkwardly returned the embrace, wrapping his arms around Red with a gentle squeeze.

Red: "Well, it's gettin' late. I should get goin'."

Ness: "Before you go, I have to tell you something."

Red: "What's that?"

Ness: "I want to let you know that I'm awkward and not great with friendship. So if I ever do something that upsets you, please let me know. I'm—kind of hard to deal with."

Red: "I gotchu."

Ness: "Thanks."

Red: "I'll see you later."

Ness: "This was a nice talk. I don't regret any of it."

Red: "Me too."

After Red left, Ness found himself alone in the quiet of his room. He let out an exhausted sigh, the sound echoing softly against the walls, as he plopped down onto his bed, limbs sprawled out like a ragdoll. The emotional whirlwind of the evening had drained him of all his social energy, but he felt a flicker of satisfaction that they had managed to resolve their conflict.

Yet, a nagging concern tugged at the back of his mind—Leaf. He knew she was hurting right now, and the weight of that thought settled heavily on his chest. But as he lay there, he realized he was simply too drained to muster the energy to reach out to her. Even the idea of practicing his guitar felt daunting.

She probably wants to be alone anyway, he reasoned, closing his eyes and letting the silence envelop him. Tomorrow, he promised himself. Tomorrow, he would find the strength to talk to her, to check on her and see how she was holding up. For now, though, he needed to rest.