Episode 33: Down with Zude!
Kayla made another Dream Pool, and then the waiting game began. All they had to do was hide out of sight, using the uneven hills around the oasis to do so. They could peek over a couple of large rocks in the sand to get a clear view of the Sunbed, while sneaking into the oasis for all the water they needed. Like this, Kayla found herself so relaxed she could sleep again.
Taking the human's words at face value, she wasn't nearly as weak as she was before. Her fatigue earlier really was the effects of the human pulling her into the Dream World, something she indirectly battled with to resist. In her eyes, it was yet more proof that she was becoming powerful, the fact that she resisted such a strong magical force for so long. The desert heat still made her wish she shed fur before coming here, but it was nowhere near the smouldering feeling from before. She eventually took to the water again, and casually lounged in the shallow reaches.
"Er, I dunno about you but… Pokémon kinda have to drink from that, don't they?" Pola said.
"I don't see a problem," Kayla didn't even look at her.
"I do not wanna drink from a pond that a stinky Buneary bathed in."
"Yeah Kayla, you stinky!" Kari giggled.
"Oh c'mon, it's not like I'm bathing. Better than sweating in the sand for all these hours," Kayla rolled her eyes. "Also, you're being kinda serious today. Where's your chill pills?"
"Ugh, c'mon, get your head out your ass," she groaned skyward. "May said it too. This a Netherworld General we're talking about. And we don't have May or Ashe, or any of RSE backing us. We could actually get hurt here. Or killed."
"You genuinely think we can lose?"
"It's not about thinking we can lose. It's that if we do, gods knows what's gonna happen. And here you are acting like it's a trip to the beach," she said, and then sighed. "I said this before. I don't like sticking my neck out for shit like this. Do you even know how you're going to win?"
"Nope."
This time the whole group froze.
"Seriously, we gotta talk about that! We could die out here, and you've got no plan going into this battle?" Pola raised her voice.
"I play to win, even if I dunno how to yet," Kayla tried to shrug. "Life's funner that way."
Pola started shifting about. "I- ugh, for fucks- why am I part of this?" she grumbled.
"Hey she's right. Life is funner that way!" Kari giggled.
"Not when it's yours and others lives on the line. Do you at least have a way to run away if shit gets sour?"
"Nope, 'cos we're not gonna need to run away," Kayla shut her eyes. "Seriously Pola, give yourself some credit. We saved Isnomia. We saved Isnomia. We literally can't lose to anyone."
Pola groaned in defeat. "Fiiiiine, you keep tellin' yourself that. About this Dream World stuff then. Could you have done it when we were going to Mathildaath?"
"Uh, I think so… that one's weird. Technically we were in the Dream World, but it was Mog's dream, so we would've been at her mercy. But then again, we warped out when she tried to trap us in that illusory Gilded Hall, so I guess I can? It probably gets super weird and I shouldn't," Kayla swayed her head as she thought about it. "We probably won't run into that again since there's no one else like Mathildaath out there, so I wouldn't worry too much."
"Fair enough," Pola said. There was a pause. "Your dreams can get like that. Like, they can get that crazy and stuff? All that felt real, y'know."
"Real enough to make me ill," Shannon grumbled.
"Heh, sorry about that!" Kayla giggled.
"I didn't realise you could make them that real. And anything we take outside of those dreams becomes real, yeah?" Pola continued.
"Only if it already exists in real life, like an Oran berry."
There was another pause.
"Oooh? Does somebody have a wish?" Kari teased. Kayla perked up in surprise, but Pola was blushing.
"M-maybe. It's nothing I'm gonna tell you. But if that offer's still open, then yeah, I've got somethin' you could do for me," Pola said.
Now Kayla felt her chest twist. "No hints? Er, wanna whisper it?"
"Gah, not now! Just be patient. It's not a bad wish, if that's what you're thinking," she snapped.
"You blushing when you say that kills any argument you could have," Shannon said.
"Sh-shut up!"
"Psst, girls," Kayla hissed. "I think it's showtime."
"Already?" Kari squeaked. She stretched tall to look out over the distance, but Kayla bounced up to pull her down. All she needed was her ears for this, and for the team to stay hidden. Surely enough, something was headed towards them, something that didn't at all sound like a Pokémon. There was a motor, a strong wind, and sand getting brushed, sounding like the gush of a powerful water hose. A vehicle, most likely.
"Yeah, that sounds like," Kayla muttered to herself as she climbed up the sand and back to their hiding spot behind the rocks. Even without peering over, everyone could clearly see the huge wake of sand heading straight towards them. It went to the oasis rather than the Dream Pool.
"What is that?" Shannon was completely confused.
Thanks to all the heat fluctuations and sand flying everywhere, it was only clear once the vehicle came to a complete stop. It was a huge spaceship in the shape of a Chansey, with jets in place of feet, and wings in place of hair and hands, each with smaller jets under them. The pouch opened like a ramp door, letting several Pokémon march out and take position.
"Indeedee?" Kari squeaked. Pola jumped on her to cover her mouth.
Each of the Indeedee wore a green sash over their shoulder. There was no pattern between males or females here, and each one saluted. A moment later, Zude emerged from the ship, having to lean her whole body forward to slide out. She was taller than the ship itself, making it a wonder how she fit in the first place.
Just the sight of her made Kayla's heart race. There she was, the giant Arboliva she hadn't conquered yet. She frowned and focused, watching her like a hawk. The grass type didn't say a word as she walked ahead, each Indeedee stopping their salute as she passed.
"The Dream Pool really being here made it worth the travel in that cramped excuse for a vehicle," Zude finally commented. "Hurry up and secure the area. I don't want a repeat of Hammock. We can't have some unaware ferals interrupting my work."
"Yes sir!" the Indeedee chanted in perfect sync. They scattered throughout the oasis, two of them even dipping their heads into the water to search there. Three headed straight towards Kayla and company, prompting nervous poses.
The moment the three psychic types turned the rock, the team launched their attacks. Kayla tackled through one of them, Kari stretched and curled around two of them, Shannon's Thunder Wave caught the one Kayla had tackled, and then Pola's Tri Attack finished them all off in a big, explosive blast.
"What the?" Zude gasped as the team leapt over the rock. She quickly adapted, curling her leafy arms up so that her olives pointed at the team, only for them not to approach her. Kayla looked as though she were charging at her, but quickly changed direction, smacking into other Indeedee with Quick Attack. She ran so fast her attacks took them off their feet or knocked them into the water. Kari made herself a target just as much, stretching and darting about so fast that her fur coat blended with the desert tones. Zude found herself flustered as attacks were going off, but she failed to see who they were coming from, until the crystals and light from Pola's magic drew her eyes.
Pola went for Surf this time, casting a giant wave to swamp over the area. It took down the remaining Indeedee, and even their strange ship, knocking it over. Zude was the only one to withstand it, crossing her arms over her front to hold strong and resist. She barely flinched as the wave struck her feet, and when it washed away, she was surrounded by knocked out Indeedee.
"A Visionary, here of all places…" Zude muttered. Her tone was weirdly unbothered.
"Zude!" Kayla shouted, posed for battle. Her friends surrounded her just as intently. "Sorry, but you've just been had!"
There was a long pause, broken by Zude slowly relaxing her arms. "By… who exactly?"
"Ack!" Kayla fell over. "Not this again. You can't seriously not remember me!"
"If I knew, I wouldn't ask. I only remember Pokémon who make a genuine impression on me. Of which, you don't," Zude tilted her head. Kayla opened her mouth to respond, but Zude raised her arms and turned away. "Not that I care, either. If you think you've achieved something by taking down those goons, you're sorely mistaken."
"Because you're a General of Netherworld?" Kayla replied. That got her attention, to which Kayla shut her eyes. "And if you think you can make mincemeat of us by pulling a monster out of that Dream Pool…"
Kayla flashed, and the Dream Pool disappeared, to Zude's surprise.
"… You're sorely mistaken," Kayla grinned cockily.
"You! How did you—" Zude snapped, and then froze. Her eyes narrowed, and Kayla's confidence came right back. "It was you the whole time. The Twinight Woods and Hammock City. You're the one who created those Dream Pools. It's you and your irritating team of rodents who keep getting lucky in closing my operations early!"
"Oh wow. She remembers us now!" Kari said.
"Makes me feel weirdly accomplished," Pola scratched her back.
"Yeah. Being in the shit sticks of a renowned terrorist. Definitely an achievement," Shannon rolled his eyes.
"This ends here and now, Zude. You've got nowhere to run!" Kayla posed for battle again.
"So that's what this is. You wanted a showdown," Zude said, still calm. Her olives trembled into position, all tilted at an angle to aim at the team. "If our previous confrontations are any indication, then you have just trapped yourselves in certain defeat."
"Sounds like you really still don't remember me. Or us taking down your cronies," Kayla's eyes narrowed.
She started the battle at last, charging energy in her feet as she sprinted towards the giant Arboliva. She spotted Zude squint, and then a second later, a glint of orange flashed in the cores of her olives. Beams of fluid shot from the fruits like lasers, throwing Kayla into her world of battle. The instant she heard those sizzling beams, her ears picked up on it, and she launched into Quick Attack to turn into a blue blur. The beams missed by a longshot, giving her free reign to crash into Zude's centre.
"Grah!" the grass type yelped and hissed as she was knocked over by the tremendous force. She caught herself before she hit the floor, pointing a leafy hand at Kayla, who bounced off her chest. Razor Leaf fired out, storming through the air around the Buneary.
"Damn, forgot about that!" Kayla cursed as she braced. The attack was haphazard, but she could still feel stings as leaves cut into her fluff like shards of glass. She skidded across the sand in order to gain distance, and Zude's attack stopped.
Kari did her part next, stretching up tall and large to take on the general. Zude appeared surprised, enough that Kari could swing an arm down to slash at her chest. Kari's claws bounced right off however, making the giant Furret cry out and stumble.
"There it is again, that sudden defence!" Shannon said, coming forward. "We need a way past it, or the fight will go the same way as the other times."
Will it? Kayla asked herself as she rushed into Quick Attack again. Zude's olives pointed at her, each one blasting more lasers of oil to force her to zigzag toward her enemy. Dodging was cakewalk, but even putting her all into her attack, enough that energy exploded from her on impact, it was nothing like the hit she achieved earlier. It was as if she'd rammed directly into a metal wall. Kayla let out a winded cry and her skeleton shook as she recoiled into the air, once again in clear view of Zude's aim. Her eyes widened as two olives aimed at her, and all she could do was try to take in a breath in attempt to brace. Both oil beams shot at once, and this time Kayla's mind blanked as they hit. She felt a harsh blast directly against her stomach, knocking the wind out of her until she hit the ground. Her view was groggy and her body shivered in pain.
"Kayla!" Kari and Shannon cried.
"Ack- dang… sh-she packs a punch," Kayla huffed. She was embarrassed by how pathetic she sounded, and even more that she couldn't get up. Her front burnt like it was on fire, while her head and feet ached. Cold droplets cooled her, and she blinked into focus. Shannon was above her, trickling Life Dew from his cupped paws. "Th-thanks."
"We'll need a plan. Physical attacks aren't going to work," he warned.
"That's what Pola's here for," Kayla grinned.
"Burn! Hidden Power Fire!" the Plusle called out, raising both paws high.
Fireballs stormed around her before soaring through toward Zude, who's eyes widened. She raised her arms high and began to shoot more oil beams. With six olives to shoot from, the beams sprayed from her at an impressive rate of fire, and with startling accuracy, too – each of Pola's fireballs was hit, causing them to explode early into mighty flames that lingered in the air, making the desert even hotter. Zude didn't waver at all, her sinister glare piercing the fires. Said flames fizzled out before they hit the ground.
"Ugh, no way. If you can't keep her busy, my attacks are never gonna go through," Pola growled.
"But how? She's harder than steel," Kari whined.
"Maybe it is my turn," Shannon shuddered. "Kayla, can you try to attack? Don't get hurt, just distract her."
"Counting on you, then," Kayla smiled, shooting off at high speed. Shannon sprinted after her as best as he could, but was left behind in her sandy wake.
Zude chose to lower her arms this time, pointing them at Kayla. Their green glow warned of Razor Leaf, but she held back, taking careful aim as Kayla circled her. Kayla slowed for a moment, surprised.
Razor Leaf instead of those beams? She's a lot less desperate to stop me than she was Pola's fire… Kayla thought. Her heart skipped a beat when Razor Leaf missed her by a hair, jolting her to speed up. She hopped about to avoid the attack and even rushed in to try and strike Zude's legs, but the Arboliva was as hard as ever, and didn't budge an inch.
"Don't even try it, rodent!" Zude hissed, suddenly turning onto Shannon. The Pachirisu was rubbing his cheeks to prepare for Thunder Wave, but now was seconds away from being blasted in the face by oil beams. He cried out and thrust both paws to use Protect, but the way the beams hit his shield, it looked like a mine had gone off. Sand flew everywhere and Shannon was sent flying, as if he'd been hit.
"I got it, I got it!" Kari called out, stumbling back and forth. She stretched high up to catch him, much to his surprise. He was unharmed, but surprised. "Aha, see?"
"U-uh, thanks," he blushed.
This isn't working! Kayla growled, skidding to a stop over by her team. She glared at Zude, who stared back with just as much annoyance. The Arboliva appeared to be awaiting their next move, but the way her olives and leaves trembled stiffly, it was clear she was ready for anything. It's obvious fire is super effective, but she's too big and resilient to get stunned. If only there was a way for me to burn her, like Fire Punch or—
The very thought flashed a light bulb in her mind. I'm freaking Kayla Brunswick; I know Move theory! Of course I can use fire!
"She won't let me get close enough to use Thunder Wave," Shannon growled. "It's like she has eyes on the back of her head."
"Pola, your Hidden Power Fire isn't actual fire, is it?" Kayla asked.
"Well it is, but it blows up on contact, if you're thinking of combo-ing it with anythin'," she answered.
"Well charge it anyway, and make it your biggest ever. I'm ready to end this," Kayla grinned eagerly. It's up to me to get fire from somewhere else. And we've gotta end it in one strike so as to not give her a chance to adapt. Close odds like these really get me going!
"You've got a plan! Alright, I'll do my bit," Kari pumped her fists. "Shannon, let's try again!"
"U-uh, su-sure?" he cried, running after her as she sprinted ahead.
"You go get 'em Kari!" Kayla cheered. Okay now Kayla, quickly now. Something to make fire. Something, anything. If there's nothing, it's gotta come from Zude's oil bea- the oil beams! Of course! Oh Muffin, you're such a genius.
She snickered at her thoughts, scanning the desert. Zude's oil was everywhere, making puddles of the stuff that shone in the sand. Kayla skipped over to the largest puddle she could find and then got to work, running on the spot. She brushed her feet across the oiled sand so hard it was as if she were digging into it.
Dang, the sand is gonna make this difficult. C'mon Kayla, faster, faster! She told herself, ignoring everything else to focus on her task. She tensed up, clenched her eyes shut, and just sprinted on the spot, kicking that oily sand behind her. Faster, faster! You need to move faster!
She felt it. Similar fear to when she fought Mathildaath. Her heart raced and the scenery vanished to her, replaced by a very uncomfortable sensation in her feet. It was like scraping her feet against wet sandpaper, but that was exactly what she wanted. A burning pain not unlike the heat of the desert air. Her imagination came into play, and she saw herself as a match being struck. With a war cry and a brace for the worst, Kayla ran as fast as she could, turning that imaginary scene into reality.
Those matchstick feet of hers sparked, and with the oily sand around her, quickly burst into flames. The flame was controlled however, controlled by her feet. She felt it, a hideously hot sensation all around her lower body. She continued to ignore it to shoot off toward Zude, this time leaving flames in her wake.
"What the?" Zude gasped.
Kayla didn't hold back in the slightest. She charged right up to Zude and leapt into a kick, striking the grass type's lower midsection. Flames burst around Kayla's attack, flames that swirled and gushed in streams of red shades and embers, like a crimson rose had exploded around her point of impact. Zude continued to be as hard as a statue however, and barely flinched, but she did grunt in pain. She locked eyes with the Buneary, whose cocky smirk unnerved her.
"Check out my Blaze Kick!" Kayla cheered as she spun off Zude's body, conjuring more flames around her. She backflipped hard to shoot those flames in an arc, and they struck Zude hard enough to earn a cry and a scream. Fire streamed up the centre of the Arboliva as if she'd been cut into two by a flaming knife. With her size, the flames raged and filled the air with red hues and embers.
"Look!" Kari cried and pointed. Somehow, despite Kayla's powerful hit and the lingering fire lined down her middle, Zude was retaliating. Energy was pulsing across the ground around her feet, generating a grassy aura.
"That's her Seed Sower, Grassy Terrain will heal her!" Shannon cried. "Pola, it's now or never!"
"Fragments of the V-Wave, respond to my call and become element incarnate!" Pola yelled at the top of her voice, and raised both arms with all the gusto she could muster. "Hidden Power Fire!"
Whatever she had done, she lost control of it. Large, blindingly bright red spheres shot out of Pola like a geyser. The spheres flew everywhere, even making the rest of the team cry out in panic. Zude's eyes widened as she couldn't hope to avoid the rain of orbs, and several struck her head on, each one exploding into a massive burst of flames. Kayla was astonished as her world of battle was engulfed in a sea of flames and explosions.
Thankfully those fires didn't last, and the desert tones returned. Several spots were charred however, black spots in the sand that were oddly shiny and difficult to look at. Kayla's view eventually settled on Zude, who was crouched down on one leafy hand. She had just as many blackened marks all over her.
"That was uh, destructive," Shannon finally commented.
"I was in a hurry! This shit takes time to do properly," Pola complained.
"Guys, it ain't over!" Kari squealed, pointing and dancing on her toes.
You've gotta be kidding me! Kayla was astonished. Zude was standing right back up, and there was no mistaking those oily flashes in her olives. She was damaged, yet moved as if she was at full health. Seeing that, Kayla went straight back into her world of battle, and prepared for the worst.
Zude leered at Kayla directly, and her leaves swayed as her energy rose. An attack was coming. And then, she lowered her arms, her oil retracted into her, and she loosened up. "Cease. I yield."
"H-huh?" Kayla was dumbfounded.
"I yield. I give up. Surrender. If I had a white flag, I would raise it," Zude stated. "Whatever signals to you Pokémon that I don't want to fight anymore."
Oh thank gods, Kayla sighed internally. "Wait a minute- Ya-think we're gonna fall for that when you can clearly still fight?"
There was a pause. "How would I communicate to you Pokémon that I surrender?"
"Hey, we should take this," Shannon said.
"S-seriously? We fought you several times only for you to give up without than fighting until the end?" Kayla said angrily.
"I am a General of Netherworld. My forces have fallen and my foes have shown they can defeat me. I see no reason to prolong this," Zude reasoned. "If pride in defeating me is what you were after, then you now have it."
"What? This isn't- this is just anticlimactic," Kayla complained. "The world-renowned terrorist who the entirety of Isnomia cowers behind and can't take out, really just gives up the moment she's hit by fire?"
"Hmpf. Is that what you Pokémon are saying about me?" Zude replied, stifling a chuckle. She crouched onto one hand again. "I am merely an extraordinary Arboliva who would not stop growing, who screwed with her genetics and is no longer the plant I should be."
"H-huh?" Kari was confused.
"Do as you will. What you do with your badges and whatever. I assume you have a way of taking me into custody," she demanded.
"This…" Kayla shook irritably. "I hate this. I actually hate this. Is this some kind of stupid trick? Why are you giving up so easily?"
"Why do you have a problem with it? We got everything we wanted!" Pola snapped.
"I have a problem with it because—" Kayla tried to reason, stopped by Pola's appearance. The Plusle looked like she might strangle her if she continued, so she sighed. "Kari, just send her away already. Be ready in case she tries something."
"U-uh, okay," Kari said.
"Kari?" Zude looked up at her briefly. Her look made the Furret hesitate and gulp, but all she did was narrow her eyes. "Kari Viola?"
"… How do you know—"
"Forget it. Forget I said anything."
Kayla was leaned forward in interest now, but it appeared that was all she would get. Somehow, that little exchange drained all the colour from Kari's face. Kari still used the badge to send Zude away, but she couldn't help but stay there for a moment, as if deep in thought. Focusing, Kayla could just about hear her mutter to herself. "Yeah. It doesn't matter."
"Kari?" Kayla cocked her head.
"We did it you guys!" Kari squealed, suddenly bouncing over to everyone with her body shaped like a spring. "You said you didn't have a plan, but then you did have a plan and it was awesome and super pretty and then Pola went all crazy and then—"
"Alright, alright! Don't smother me I swear to gods!" Pola cried.
"But this is so exciting and cool! We really did it. Kayla said we couldn't lose, and now it's like, Mathildaath wasn't just a fluke. We really are heroes!" she cheered. "There's no-buddy we can't beat!"
"Yeah. That's the spirit," Kayla smiled.
"Ugh, seriously? We do not need her ego looking like her belly. We got lucky," Pola groaned.
"No we didn't," Shannon argued. "I have to admit, that was clever tactics. Using Zude's flammable oil to make your own Blaze Kick like that."
"… Okay, that was kinda cool, I guess," Pola folded her arms and turned away.
"Heh, knew you'd see it my way. Like this, we can't lose to anyone, yeah?" Kayla nudged the Plusle.
"… Yeah."
"Yeeeeaaaaah?" Kayla leaned into her, half-lidded.
"Ye-yeah. Ugh, cut it out, let's just get outta here already. After all that fire, I need a cold shower."
"Heh. Alright. But that's a good shout, actually. A shower sounds real good about now," Kayla agreed. She turned to the far end of the Sunbed, where there was nothing but blue sky and bright sand. And somehow… I have you to thank, too.
Back at RSE…
Gema's office was silent. The Tyranitar, his three legendaries, May, Ashe, and Mog, were sat around the central table with a map of Isnomia displayed on it. Several toy figurines had been scattered across it, with a brown one next tall a tall green one on top of a desert region. The green figure suddenly fell over, prompting the group to exchange glances.
"So Zude actually lost," Gema broke the silence, though no one replied. He sighed and clasped his hands together. "It appears we're going ahead with your plan after all, May. It's like you knew how this was going to play out."
"I did infiltrate Team Daybreak directly. My brief time with them has taught me more than you could imagine. I made my plans based on that, and as always, I aim to please, sir," the Pichu replied without looking at him. "I've no doubt they'll be exhausted from their recent work. Tomorrow is the best time to strike."
"Tomorrow it is, then," Gema nodded in agreement. He snuck a glance at Mog. "You look like you want to say something."
The Swoobat gasped, then gulped and glared back. "You won't get away with this."
"Ha! Comical," Mesprit leaned forward onto her hands, and wiggled a finger at her. "And how, pray tell, can we possibly lose? You're part of this, you know."
"What?"
"You are Mathildaath. Your powers will be used in this, or else," May warned. Mog sunk in her seat as if to hide away from the others.
"Tomorrow, we begin our plan," Gema announced firmly. "At long last, the plan to create Netherworld's new world will finally come to be!"