Blazepanzer here, and welcome to my fourth Pokemon fanfic. This one is a little bit different compered to my previous three Pokemon fanfics for three reasons.
A: The Main character is Taeko Kondou from Girls und Panzer, my favorite anime girl and anime respectively. It's not necessarily a crossover persay, but it's kind of hard to list this fanfic as having her as a main character without listing it as a Girls und Panzer fanfic, or at least on . You don't really need to know much about the anime in and of itself other than that it revolves around a girl's high school sport that is kind of like simulated war thunder. They're a few spoilers, but nothing too major. Still, feel free to check it out, it's a good anime!
B: Mentions America and Japan existing in the Pokemon world, but is an alternate History scenario where America is not only sort of Communist but was very expansionist during the second world war.
C: This story is about a crippled girl who receives a new lease on life, but the cost is rather...immense. I won't go too much into the details, but yeah.
With that being said, enjoy! Note: Blazepanzer does not own Girls und Panzer nor Pokemon:
Her amber eyes gazed down in sadness as she gazed at her legs, frowning as she tried to move them, unable to do so. Still only a small twitch, not even any movement at all...she noted, almost erupting into a verbal sob when she heard a knock on the door. "Co...come in," she noted.
"Taeko?" her mother, Mayumi, asked gently as she walked in.
"I'm sorry..." Taeko quivered, her heart sinking as she saw her mother's brief look of distraught over her injuries.
"Don't...you didn't know that this would happen," Mayumi whispered.
"Will I really never walk again?" Taeko whimpered. She knew the answer, she had been told several times already, but her mind always wanted it to be a dream, to hear that yes, she'd regain the use of her legs, maybe in a few weeks, or at most a year or so.
"I'm...I'm so sorry," Mayumi's voice shook as she knelt down and took Taeko's hand. "We're lucky that it didn't effect more then your legs," she added.
"I guess so..." Taeko frowned. But why did this have to happen to me and my friends in the first place?
"You can still watch the sports if you want," Mayumi tried to encourage her.
"It...it won't be the same mom," Taeko sighed. "But yeah...maybe after I adjust to my new situation..."
"Alright, let's get you ready to go home," Mayumi whispered, rolling up a wheelchair and hoisting her into it. "I know it won't be the same," she tried to soothe.
"You're pretty strong mother," Taeko smiled, trying to lighten the mood.
"Well...yeah..." Mayumi noted quietly, guilt clearly flowing across her face.
"It's alright mom, I don't mind mentioning your time in baseball," Taeko soothed.
"It's just...I know that you wanted to be in the professional volleyball leagues so badly and...well..." Mayumi sighed. "With what happened to you...and the fact that..."
"I know," Taeko whispered as she was sat down in the chair.
"The actuator system will move your feet every twenty-five minutes to help with the blood-flow," Mayumi reminded her. "Would be good if we could get one of those walker assist machines that the Matsumino manufacture, but building one takes time and with it still being in the prototype stage and the already extensive waiting list..."
"We couldn't afford one anyways, I know mom," Taeko whispered. "Thank you for trying."
The ride to the car was quiet. She shut her eyes, hoping to focus on happier memories, but instead her mind flooded to the events that lead her to losing the use of her legs.
"Duck team, move along the ridge and see if you can get a good position on the enemy," Saori noted over the radio.
"Alright," Taeko acknowledged, before turning to her crew. "Miho wants us to drive along that ridge at point A-15, C-12," she noted.
"Understood," Noriko acknowledged. "Shinobu, do you know the way?" she added.
"Yes, I know the way," Their driver noted as she diverted the Japanese type 89 tank up the hill.
Glancing down at the map, Taeko watched as she felt the tank beginning to incline. Here goes nothing...she mused nervously as the tank seemed to shift to the right a bit.
"Be careful Shinobu," Noriko cautioned.
"I'm trying commander, it's a bit slippery on the rocks," Shinobu grunted.
"Should we fall back from the plan?" Taeko asked.
"What, no, Miho's plans have brought us to victory time and time again," Noriko declared proudly. "We follow them through to the end!"
To the end was right, Taeko muttered to herself, sighing as she opened her eyes and watched the rain begin to fall down the car window. "If only," she muttered, not exactly appreciating the dreary weather, though she wasn't too sure if she'd appreciate more sunny weather at the moment.
.A vibration in her legs told her that she had been in the chair for a good half hour now, though it was incredibly dull, and mostly only felt in the upper parts of her thighs. "Maus that's a weird feeling," Taeko muttered.
"I'm sorry dear, but it'll help keep your legs in shape. We've got to if we're ever gonna have a chance for you to potentially use them again in the future," Mayumi urged.
"Yes mother," Taeko smiled reassuringly, though her heart felt hollow. How many with paraplegia died thinking that there was hope for them to walk again? She asked herself. Her eyes shut tightly as she remembered moment she lost the use of them clearly.
"Woah!" Noriko began as the tank slid. "Shinobu, gain control..." Her voice filled with a shriek.
Taeko felt the tank suddenly lunge to the side and before she knew it she felt herself monetarily flying, her head hitting the ammo rack before she felt herself fall, a sickening jolt of pain flooding through her lower spine. Blackness engulfed her as she felt herself drift in and out of consciousness.
Her eyes blinked open as she felt some liquid in her hair and she subconsciously rose her hand up to it, flinching as she felt a jab of pain. Great, a cut...hopefully it's not a concussion, she mused, trying to move her legs, her amber eyes widening as she realized that she couldn't feel them. Glancing at her bloomers, she frowned as she tried to will them to move. Only a very slight movement in her upper thigh was felt, but it was weak and far too insignificant for the purposes of actually moving it. The feeling in her legs was even worse, as she could feel a slight pull in the very top muscles in her thighs contract, but their was neither movement nor feeling in the rest of her legs.
"Noriko...Shinobu...Akibe..." Taeko cried out in fear, her chest beginning to heave in fright as she couldn't hear them. "Noriko!" She hollered. "Miho! Asuza...Mother...somebody!" She cried out, tears beginning to flow down her cheeks. After a brief moment she managed to calm herself down, wiping her eyes before taking a deep breath.
"Where are they, actually?" Taeko whispered, opening her eyes, gazing around the tank. She saw Akibe's neck bent on the gun breach. Noriko was moaning, her head practically covered in blood and some sort of clear liquid. Shinobu was hunched in her seat.
Before she knew it she felt herself puke. "No," she whispered. "I...am...I...I'm the only one alive?"
She flinched as she heard a knock on the door. "Anyone alive in there?" a male voice asked.
"Yes sir!" Taeko hollered. "I...I can't move my legs!" she added, panic setting into her voice.
"We're going to get you out as quick as we can. Are your legs pinned?" the man called.
"N...no...I think I might have got a back injury," Taeko stammered.
"What of the crew?" The man asked.
"Noriko is moaning, but she has a large injury to her head. Shinobu is leaning forward in her chair and isn't moving. Akibe is...her neck is longed against the gun breach," Taeko called. "I...I'm pretty sure she's dead!" she cried in anguish, closing her eyes.
"Try not to relive that scene dear, it'll only cause you pain," Mayumi encouraged her.
"I...I'll try mother," Taeko whimpered. "Can...may I stay in the guest room for the first few days?" she requested.
"Of course dear," Mayumi soothed. "Anything for you."
"Thanks mom," Taeko smiled weakly. "I...I hope that I'm not too much of a burden," she added softly.
"You're no such thing," Mayumi noted firmly, yet with a smile. "Sometimes these injuries happen, and our job as your family is to help you find your new way in life. You might have lost the use of your legs, but there is a lot of things you can do in life."
"Like?" Taeko asked.
"That's for you to decide, ultimately," Mayumi noted, giving her a slight smile. "We can and will guide you when we can, but we should not force you down one path or another."
"Kind of wish you had though," Taeko muttered.
"Do you really blame us?" Mayumi whispered.
"No...no, I didn't mean it like that mother," Taeko gasped in shock. "But you know how much dad is against women in sports, and...well...I not only insisted doing them, but I also ended up going into a conflict sport," she added more gently, her voice subdued.
"Sports can be dangerous," Mayumi agreed. "Conflict sports in particular. But you know that I always had your back. The idea of forcing you into the life of a dainty brown haired, brown eyed, glasses wearing lass who dressed in nothing but sundresses and always spent her time either doing household chores or reading in her free-time when you wanted to be a sports star..." Mayumi sighed. "What your father had in mind for you wasn't right for you, even if some of the other girls might have been alright with, or actively sought out that kind life.
"I know. Now I wish that Dad had gotten his way, but if the situation was reversed, if he had forced me down that metaphorical life route...I'd have resented him for not letting me into sports," Taeko mused. She flexed her fingers. "I can't even have children now," she muttered.
"You never seemed interested in the idea before," Mayumi noted.
"Just the feminine side of me speaking," Taeko reassured her.
"Do you want me to see if we can set you up with Nova?"
"No mom!" Taeko shouted, shutting her eyes before gasping. "I'm so sorry," she whispered her gaze moving downward in shame and embarrassment.
"It's alright, I know you didn't mean to snap at me like that," Mayumi smiled.
"It's just...Nova is the last of Drake and Yu's male line, and he needs to carry on the legacy of his parents genes as a Katoni and he can't do that if his wife can't have children. Sure, Hanoashi could do it, but from what he mentioned of her, she seemed adamant on taking on the last name of the family she married into," Taeko explained, before sighing loudly. "Plus...I...I don't want him to see me like this," she added.
"I understand," Mayumi noted, her tone sympathetic.
She thought back to the boy she loved, the only one she had ever dated back during her time back in America, and sighed. "I really would like to get with him, but it wouldn't be fair to either of us," she noted firmly.
"I understand, though...bear in mind that if he finds someone and you change your mind..." Mayumi warned.
"I know mother," Taeko let out a strong sigh. "I know. It's just...I...I can't ask him to do that."
"We're here," Mayumi noted a moment later.
Taeko felt the ramp moving into place, and she gently rolled herself onto it, frowning as light drops of rain fell on her hair.
"Let's get you inside," Mayumi whispered, lowing the ramp and handing her an umbrella.
"Thanks Mom," Taeko whispered, sheltering under the umbrella. Glancing behind her, she could barely see her mother setting the ramp in it's proper place, before grasping the handlebars of the wheel chair and guiding her into the house, a ramp recently installed.
"All this trouble for me," Taeko whispered.
Please don't think like that," Mayumi whispered.
As she was wheeled in, she spotted her father reading the newspaper in the corner. "Welcome home Taeko," he greeted gently.
"I...I'm so sorry Father!" Taeko gasped, wanting to bow apologetically but realizing how hard that'd be now.
"No, I'm sorry that this happened to you," her father began, giving her a sympathetic glance.
"Bu...but you didn't want me to go into sports precisely because...because you were afraid that I'd get hurt like this..." Taeko gazed downward toward her lap in shame.
"Volleyball would have been fine. Sensado though, not so much. Nevertheless I never wanted you to get hurt in your sports career, dispute my apprehension of it," He interrupted, before going back to his reading.
"Thanks Dad," Taeko whispered, before her belly rumbled.
"I'll go make you some lunch," Mayumi rushed into the kitchen.
"How has work been?" Taeko asked her father, wheeling up next to him.
"Fair enough," He grumbled. "Moving to a permanent station nearby," he added.
"I'm so sorry!" Taeko whispered, knowing what it meant. It's only because of my injury that he was to stay at local work now!
"It's fine," her father leaned over and patted her on the head. "I'm the manager of the local branch, so it's fine, the pay is basically the same and they let us have the house permanently, so that's good."
"Still, I know how much you and mom enjoyed moving every few years," Taeko sighed, gazing downward.
"It'll be good to set up permanent roots," Mayumi smiled as she brought over a board and sat it on Taeko's lap, before bringing her a bowl of miso soup and a bottle of water. "Enjoy!" she smiled.
"Thanks Mom," Taeko smiled as she began eating.
As she was she glanced at her father. "How's Hatsu been these days?" she asked.
"His schooling has been going well, he's also made a lady friend. Would be good if it works out but you know how these things go..."
"Right," Taeko gazed at her food briefly, not quite as hungry, but she ate anyways. I know that he didn't mean anything by it, but he used to be hopeful about Nova and I back when we were in America. Had corporate held us off from moving for just two more years...all of this would have been avoided.
She got over the sting of his words, and fished her food. She glanced at the raining falling outside of the window as Mayumi took the plate and board, leaving her with the water bottle in case she got thirsty. She then shook herself, muttering about how she needed to stay busy, and began wheeling herself over to the bookcase. After a few minutes of searching she nabbed a romance novel of her mother's and wheeled herself to the other side of the couch, and began reading.
She glanced up as the door opened, and her little brother came in. "I'm home," he smiled, before his gaze landed on Taeko. "Hey sis, it's good to see you home," he smiled weakly, clearly mixed between gratefulness to see his older sister back at home but worried about her being in a wheelchair.
"It's good to be home little brother," Taeko smiled, sitting down her book as he walked over and sat next to her. She petted his head affectionately, something that she had longed to do again for some time, giving that it was how she often greeted him. "So how was school?" she asked, her amber gaze filled with affection.
"It's going good sis," Hatsu smiled, though his gaze held sympathy for her. "But what about you, are you going to be alright?"
"Don't worry about me, I'll manage," Taeko laughed, though it was forced. Her heart stung at the lie, but she knew that she shouldn't bring Hatsu down anymore then the fact that he'd never see his sister walk again would on it's on. "Much homework?" she changed the subject.
"Five pages," Hatsu sighed, strengthening up as he received a stern gaze from her father, and a stern "no whining" from him.
Taeko barely managed to avoid a laugh escaping from her lips at her father's sternness. He never lets anyone whine, she remembered fondly. Granted, it was frustrating back when I was young, but I'm grateful that he taught me that whining doesn't really get you anywhere, or that it's cowardly to try it. "You might want to get on that then," she smiled gently.
"Yes sis," Hatsu bowed, grabbing one of the old table boards and settling himself on the couch, focusing on his homework.
"If it makes you feel any better I used to have over fifteen pages of homework from time to time," Taeko noted.
"Fifteen?" Hatsu's eyes widened in shock.
"Yep!" Taeko laughed. "It's all that bad though, as long as you pay attention and make sure that you focus on your answers rather than rushing through it that is."
"I'll try that sis," Hatsu smiled. "Thanks for the advice."
"What are elder sisters for," Taeko smiled warmly in return, before she went back to reading. As she did her mind went back to the incident.
Taeko's eyes widened as she saw the door open, and an emergency official slid in next to her. "Try to sit up if you can, but stop if you feel any pain.
Complying, Taeko managed to sit up, albeit it was awkward without the feeling in her legs, or rather how it stopped just below the hip.
"Alright, I'm going to carefully drag you out, so if you'll hold your arms out just a bit and then clasp down on them once my arms are through..."
Just don't grope me, Taeko mused to herself, but complying, satisfied that he didn't seem interested in touching her breast given how big they were and ho young she was. She let out a small sigh of relief as she felt herself being hauled out of the ragged tank.
However that relief soon turned to panic as she realized that she truly couldn't move or feel her legs. Thankfully she found herself being laid down on a stretcher, albeit she wasn't very found of being strapped into it. But they've got to do it, if I roll off I could be even more damaged than I am now, she reassured herself.
However, as she found herself being placed into the ambulance, her eyes shut as she began to pray that her legs could be fixed.
A vibration in her legs informed her that she had been in the chair for about another half four.
"What's that?" Hatsu gasped, alarmed.
"It's an actuator that helps to move her legs a bit about every twenty-five minutes, it'll help keep her legs...well...exercised," her father explained.
Yeah, but they'll probably never be the same athletic legs that supported me all those years in volleyball, Takeo sighed. Just being able to walk in them again, even with help, would be a blessing compared to now, though I suppose that I should be grateful that I'm not dead or an amputee.
"Will you really never walk again sis?" Hatsu asked gently.
"Hatsu Kondou!" their father snapped.
"No no, it's alright father," Taeko pleaded, her amber eyes gazing at his before he grunted and glanced away. She then turned toward Hatsu. "Not without assistance at least," she noted gently.
"And when will you get that?" Hatus asked, his eyes growing curious.
"In time," Taeko reassured him, but her heart sank at the lie. If I tell him that a machine like that isn't in the cards, he'll blame himself! I don't want to cause anyone more pain...
"Is there anything that I can do to help?" Hatsu asked.
"Just be yourself around me, and do your best in school, alright?" Taeko smiled.
"You know I'll do that sis," Hatsu smiled, before returning to his homework.
"Father, my I use the computer?" Taeko asked after a bit.
"No games," he growled.
"Don't worry, I just want to look up something on the news," Taeko reassured him as she wheeled herself over to the computer and turned it on. Typing up Sensado news, she frowned as the accident didn't seem to have nearly the same attention as when Ooarai won the finals.
So what little are they saying? She asked, clicking on an article, her eyebrows furling at how it was downplayed.
"And that is why I didn't want you going too far into sports."
Taeko gasped as her father had been reading over her shoulder. "Dad?" she asked softly.
"See there, they say that Miho has no fault, even though her order got your friends killed, and caused you the use of your legs. Anyone could have seen that ledge was unsafe, and yet she ordered you to go on top of it."
"Yeah but..." Taeko paused...a nagging feeling developing in her chest.
"What she asked you and the crew of that Hetzer to do during the finals was far too reckless," Her dad continued. "And it wouldn't be the first time her order caused someone to fall of a ledge," he added.
Taeko suddenly felt a strong surge of anger towed her commander as she realized that her father was right. "And she received no punishment for it?" she breathed.
"None, in fact, she received all of the sympathy cards from the other commanders, none even went toward the families of the victims." Her father then shook his head. "Young lady, if you're not a team commander or a member of the prestigious Sensado families, you're just a bench warmer in the modern girl's Sensado sport."
"What do you mean modern?" Taeko asked as she shut off the computer.
"It's a long story that I'll tell you later," Her father grunted as he sat back down and sighed. "Sorry...just upset about what happened to you."
"I think we all are," Taeko whispered.
As Taeko laid in her bed, her minds fell back to all the times someone on her team had done something dangerous. That one time her team commander, Noriko, nearly fell of the Type 89, or the time when the freshmen nearly burned themselves and destroyed a lot of the camping food when they tried to cook too much.
Dad is right...we were too reckless...and now it's too late for me...she whimpered as she closed her eyes.
Rusty let out a disgusted sigh as he heard leaves rustling behind him. "Daisy, we're not getting back together," he sighed, not even gazing at her.
"Red I wasn't...oh fine, I was going to ask, but I won't bother," the girl in question stood beside him. "I overheard rumors that you're going to check out the available girls up for contracting, is that true?"
"It would have been you and me...had you not...you know...cheated?"
"Red, I...I was confused, nine at the time," Daisy protested.
"You didn't just cheat, Daisy," Rusty muttered. You gave up...you know..."
"He was...sorry...I know that..." Daisy flinched at he gave her a cold stare.
"You initiated the relationship with him just because he was richer than me," He hissed, before glancing down. "I'm sorry..." he whispered. "But all of the free girls seem to care about is how rich their boyfriends are. You and I have been friends since childhood and I thought that we had something different."
"We still could...but I understand," Daisy whispered, taking his hand gently.
He simply sighed and pulled his away. "I'm sorry Daisy, I...I can't. You have my sincere condolences for how abusive he was toward you, but I need a girl who has loyalty. You need to find someone who'll give you a second chance."
With that, he walked out of the forest, not even bothering to gaze at her. He gave himself a small shake. I should probably reconsider her a bit longer, but...if all the times I've contemplated it hasn't changed my mind on this manner...I don't see how waiting an extra month or so will do.
Besides, she and I promised Oak that we'd catch him and the lab some specimens for their studies, so if I'm going to contract a girl, now is the time to do it, before we set out. And I've waited until the last moment to do that.
He soon entered his house, which was a one story two bedroom house. Nothing major about it, white picket fence with a small yard for gardens, and a single bath and kitchen-bedroom combo. A reminder of what middle class looked like in the Communist Imperial States of the Unovan Empire.
"I've transferred the necessary credits to your account, Rusty," His mother noted. "It's not too late if you want to try again with Daisy, but..."
"Sorry mom, you know how I feel about loyalty," Rusty sighed. "Any word from Leaf?" he asked.
"No, it could be a while. Regardless of what class she she got contracted for, it could be a while," She sighed. "Anyways, your share of the cooked potatoes is at the table," she added.
"Thanks mom...I just hope that she doesn't become a Blue-dove class," Rusty sighed as he quickly gave thanks before digging in."
"Blue-dove doesn't necessarily mean a bad thing," His mom noted as she joined him, beginning to eat her own portion of the food. "I mean your father and I worked out just fine," she added with a smile. "And whatever girl you end up with is going to luck out as well."
"Is it wrong that I can't forgive Daisy?" Rusty asked.
"I think that you have, deep in your heart Rusty. But...you can't quite place your faith in her again, and that is perfectly understandable."
"Thanks Mom," Rusty smiled as he finished up his meal and rose up. "Think I'll study the rules one more time, just to be safe," he added, before retreating to his room, pausing at a photo. Two girls and two guys where smiling, those being himself, his young sister Leaf, Daisy, and her younger brother, Gary.
I know that Gary hated the idea of being destined to be a Classer...as did Leaf. I hope that you both are happy wherever you are, he whispered, feeling a deep pang in his heart as he touched the photo briefly, before picking up his rules for contractor and classer book and began to read.
