Chapter 6 - Trudging through mud
Elduran and Aisha stepped into the thick fog of the early morning, which hugged them like a whisper as they made their way through Route 112. It felt more like a forgotten swamp than a path, with deep, muddy water threatening to pull them down. Each step was uncertain, hiding dangers beneath. But the swamp was full of life; there were curious Wooper, sneaky Poliwag, and Yanma's buzzing wings. Eyes peeked out from under reeds and mossy branches, quietly watching their journey through the maze of water and plants.
Elduran felt this was a place most people avoided, with few signs of anyone having been there. There were so many Pokémon around that sneaking past them was impossible. He muttered about seeing a Feraligatr far away and hearing a Poliwrath close by—two Pokémon they hoped to stay clear of. Heracross stayed close to protect them while Vivillon flew overhead, always on the lookout for danger.
Cyndaquil stayed safely in his Pokéball, not suited for the muddy ground where his small feet would get stuck. On the other hand, Aisha's Marill loved the swamp—it felt like home, splashing happily beside her. Wild Azurill, Marill, and even the rare Azumarill dotted their path, and Elduran could tell Aisha was delighted. She talked once how she dreamed of the day her Marill would evolve into its bigger form.
Elduran's thoughts, however, were more pragmatic. He contemplated the futility of setting up camp in the watery expanse and examined the map, calculating their progress. If they pressed on with relentless determination, he estimated they could leave the swamp by late that night—albeit after a few inevitable skirmishes with the wild Pokémon that were bound to occur.
"Aisha, let's push hard today. According to the map, this swamp ends shortly after the intersection of routes 112, 113 and 116. We should be able to reach the other side by day's end. I can't fathom the thought of spending a night here; perhaps the only viable option would be up in a tree. I've never been in a region with so many Pokémon—it's astonishingly dense," Elduran remarked.
"I agree, I've never encountered such a density of Pokémon either. You might be right, but I'm not sure I can manage walking through this terrain all day. It's exhausting. Another day I'll probably land us in trouble," Aisha admitted.
"Just like I need to enhance my skills in guiding my Pokémon as they learn new moves, you need to improve your physical endurance. We're up against some seriously dangerous people; you can't be just a trainer. I can teach you some self-defense too—it'll be useful," Elduran suggested.
"You're not wrong. I may not like it, but I need a bit more of your skills, just as you could use a little more of mine," Aisha quipped.
The air grew tense as Elduran and Aisha moved through the swamp, the distant sounds of hidden creatures echoing around them. Suddenly, the quiet broke. A nearby deep patch of water exploded, and a huge figure sprang up—a Feraligatr, its eyes locked onto Aisha with a hungry look.
Time seemed to slow as Elduran's instincts screamed a warning. In an instant, he lunged forward, wrapping his arm around Aisha and pulling her close. They slammed onto the muddy ground with a thud, rolling just in time to feel the rush of wind from Feraligatr's powerful claw swiping the space they had occupied moments before.
Quickly getting up, their Pokémon jumped into action. Heracross and Marill stood firmly between their trainers and the danger, their strong will easy to see. Marill bent down low, water drops coming together around it, while Heracross's wings made a scary sound, ready to face the enemy.
Above, Vivillon floated with deep focus, its bright wings moving quickly. In a quick moment, it shot out a string, with the silky threads cutting through the dim light to tie up Feraligatr's limbs with surprising speed.
Full of determination, Elduran and Aisha steadied themselves, their hearts pounding with adrenaline and a strong will to face this challenge head-on.
Feraligatr began to gather water in its mouth, glaring at them with malicious intent. In a split second, both Aisha and Elduran issued commands to their Pokémon.
"Use charm, Splash!" Aisha commanded Marill. Marill obeyed, causing Feraligatr to hesitate momentarily.
"String shot its mouth, Viv! Buy us some time!" Elduran commanded Vivillon while releasing Cyndaquil. "Use Smokescreen now! Blue, you can't protect us from what's approaching. Aerial Ace, strike it swiftly from the side!" As smoke enveloped them, Elduran recalled Cyndaquil back and quickly pushed Aisha aside, both concealed in smoke. "Hold your breath," Elduran advised her.
Feraligatr broke free from the silky threads Vivillon had put over its mouth. It leaned back, its huge jaws open wide, a strong power growing inside. With a loud roar that echoed through the swamp, it used Hydro Pump. A huge burst of water shot out with great force, like a powerful cannon. A twisting, curving line of water power. It hit the place where Aisha and Elduran were just standing, sending waves through the marsh.
Heracross struck Feraligatr with Aerial Ace, sending it soaring through the air. Vivillon, without awaiting a command from her trainer, began launching a series of gentle gusts at the foe, more to irritate it and buy Elduran time to regain control of the battle. Marill stood poised, patiently awaiting her trainer's directive.
Elduran, covered in mud, rose to his feet, unclipped his bow, nocked an arrow, and restrained himself from shooting. He wanted to test his skills as a trainer first; if the situation became critical, the bow could see action. He pondered something in his mind as the Feraligatr struggled to its feet. With a gentle smile, Elduran returned the arrow to his quiver and reclipped his bow. He picked up Vivillon's Poké Ball in his left hand and Heracross's in his right.
"Alright, let's do this!" Elduran declared.
"Marill, use Defense Curl and Rollout to get close!" Aisha instructed, rising from the mud and coughing uncontrollably.
"Blue, use Leer!" Elduran commanded as he recalled Vivillon to her Poké Ball, releasing her immediately behind the Feraligatr. "Use Struggle Bug, Viv!" Elduran added.
As the Feraligatr rose, it marched toward Heracross but faltered slightly due to Heracross's Leer. Marill, curled into a ball, rolled towards it, while Vivillon attacked from behind with Struggle Bug. The Feraligatr ignored Vivillon and Marill, dark smoke billowing from its mouth as it prepared to bite Heracross with Crunch, only to snap at empty air. Elduran had recalled Heracross and sent it back out to his flank just in time.
"Blue, use Arm Thrust!" Elduran commanded.
Feraligatr lunged at Heracross, aiming a slashing strike, but Vivillon swiftly intervened, assaulting from behind with needle-like shards from Struggle Bug. Meanwhile, Marill propelled itself into Feraligatr's chest with a rolling charge. Heracross counterattacked with Arm Thrust, fiercely battering with alternating fists. With blinding speed, disregarding the pain from Marill's powerful impact, Feraligatr raised its claws and slashed at Heracross with razor-sharp precision. The attack was so swift that Elduran had no time to return Heracross to its Pokéball. Heracross stumbled but held its ground, four deep claw marks slicing from its left shoulder to the lower right torso.
Feraligatr unleashed a roar as water engulfed its tail, which swung with a rapid motion, striking Marill and continuing its arc towards Vivillon. This time, Elduran was quick, recalling Vivillon into the safety of her Pokéball. Marill, resilient due to its water type nature, wasn't gravely harmed by the impact but was sent crashing into a tree trunk. The defense bolstered by the prior Defense Curl allowed Marill to recover and rejoin the fray.
Aisha drew another Pokéball from her side and released Hatenna. "Candy, this one's a formidable opponent. Use Psychic to slam it into the ground. Splash, prepare another Rollout—charge it up and go for it!" Aisha commanded.
Hatenna and Feraligatr were locked in a tense standoff. Hatenna strained to lift Feraligatr with Psychic, but it resisted, grunting each time it was nearly lifted, its feet landing firmly back on the ground. Yet, it couldn't break free from the attack. Elduran marveled at the resilience of this Hatenna, managing to hold a Feraligatr in place. He also noticed Marill charging up, nearly ready to launch at great speed toward Feraligatr. If Marill struck while Feraligatr was on the ground, it would be decisive. Elduran knew he had to assist Hatenna. He sent out Vivillon behind the Feraligatr.
"Viv, help Candy out. Let's finish this. Psybeam!" Elduran instructed.
Vivillon's purple beam struck Feraligatr from behind, and the momentary confusion was just what Hatenna needed. She lifted it off the ground and began slamming it repeatedly with tremendous force. Exhausted yet determined, Hatenna managed one last powerful slam, leaving Feraligatr sprawled helplessly. As it struggled to rise, Marill slammed into its face with great force, sending it back to the ground.
Remarkably, the Feraligatr had not yet fainted. As it fought to regain its footing, Elduran called out to Heracross, "Blue, finish it. Horn Attack!" Heracross stepped forward and delivered a powerful blow to Feraligatr's side. The formidable strike from Heracross's horn caused Feraligatr to collapse once more, a gaping wound left in its wake, blood flowing swiftly. Incredibly, it remained conscious, but the battle was decided. Heracross shimmered with a faint glow, and it dawned on Elduran that Heracross possessed the Moxie ability, which enhanced his attack power upon believing he had defeated a foe. Shortly thereafter, since he was neither threatened nor engaged in combat, the glow faded away. That was a strong and rare ability for his Pokémon to have, and power always made Elduran feel satisfied.
"What was that glow on Blue just now?" Aisha asked Elduran.
"Well... it seems that Blue possesses the Moxie ability," Elduran replied.
"Damn, that's freaking awesome. It's supposed to be a rare ability," Aisha remarked.
When Vivillon saw that the fight was over, she flew to Hatenna. She used soft gusts of wind from behind to help lift Hatenna out of the mud. Hatenna looked very sad, stuck in the dirty ground.
Marill arrived, gently lifted Hatenna from the muddy ground, and set her down on a dry spot. Then, with a delicate stream of water from his mouth, he provided her with a refreshing full-body bath. Hatenna beamed with happiness.
"I'm really sorry, Candy. I know how much you dislike mud, but I genuinely needed your help. Thank you!" Aisha expressed gratefully as she returned Hatenna to its Pokéball. "Viv, you did a great job!" she continued, observing Vivillon's cheerful smile as she ascended once more to survey the area for any potential threats. "Splash, that was very chivalrous of you," she remarked to Marill with a warm smile.
Elduran approached Heracross, retrieved a potion, and sprayed it over his wounds, despite his protests. Surprisingly, this time Elduran could comprehend what Heracross was trying to express; he believed that using a potion might make him appear weak or something similar.
"Stop being an idiot, Blue! I need you healthy and strong; there's a long journey ahead before we reach a place where you can rest and recover naturally," Elduran told him.
"Heera," Heracross replied, accepting Elduran's reasoning.
"Great job; that was a strong horn attack," Elduran said to him, as Heracross beamed with joy, clapping his fists together.
Elduran and Aisha approached the Feraligatr, and Aisha couldn't tear her gaze from it.
"Please, don't tell me you want me to catch it again. That's a flat no!" Elduran exclaimed.
"What? Oh no, it got what it deserved. This isn't like Blue's situation. Back then, it was our fault. This Feraligatr attacked us; it doesn't deserve our sympathy," Aisha replied.
Elduran looked at her incredulously, unable to believe his ears. "Good. For a moment there, seeing you staring at it like that, I thought I'd need a truckload of Pokéballs to catch everything we encounter," he said.
"My sympathy is limited for Pokémon that attack without reason. But from a Pokémon trainer's perspective, I'm surprised you're not trying to add it to your team. A fully evolved Pokémon—that's what you wanted, isn't it?" Aisha remarked.
"You misunderstand me. That's not all I'm after. See the way it's staring at us? It thinks this situation is unjust. A Pokémon that chose to attack us, not the other way around, believes it's unfair because it didn't win. That's pathetic to me, a weak mentality. With Blue, as you said, we invaded its home. When I leaned over to catch him, I saw acceptance in his eyes. He didn't think it was unfair, even though he had every reason to. He didn't expect us to bend over and take it, unlike this piece of filth assumed we would," Elduran said, pointing at the Feraligatr.
"I must say, you may not excel in grasping human emotions, but your knack for interpreting Pokémon is extraordinary, despite your struggles to comprehend them. It's clear you've dedicated more time to studying Pokémon than people," she laughed.
"I was in APSO; the first two letters stand for Anti-Pokémon, and that's all I ever focused on—what else did you expect?" Elduran inquired.
"No way; you can't get that good at reading Pokémon just by studying them on paper. You're a natural, and that's not the kind of studying I meant. I think you've been learning from observing them, studying them through your scope," Aisha remarked.
"There you go again, bright spark, you've pieced it all together. Let's get moving before any more wild Pokémon decide to attack us," Elduran advised, resuming his stride with Vivillon soaring overhead and Heracross gliding closely alongside.
"For as skilled as you are at reading them though, I'm surprised you're utterly hopeless at understanding their speech," Aisha commented, beginning to walk as she encouraged Marill to proceed in front of them.
"Well, like you said, it's all about bonding with them, right?" Elduran replied.
"Yes and no. Bonded or not, I can grasp some meaning even when wild Pokémon try to communicate with me," Aisha explained.
"Good for you. Just seeing their eyes is enough for me to decide whether I need to put an arrow through them or not. That's all the understanding I need," Elduran said.
"I'm not trying to offend you; I'm just curious. You're like... a video game character," Aisha said with a smile.
"What? What does that even mean?" Elduran asked, bewildered.
"You know, in video games, when your character earns skill points to allocate to attributes after gaining experience? It's like you maxed out Survival and Combat, leaving Intelligence, Charisma, and Wisdom at zero," Aisha said with a laugh.
"I have no idea what the fuck you're talking about. I haven't played a video game in... well, ages," Elduran responded thoughtfully.
"Anyway, never mind that. Do you think Feraligatr will pull through?" Aisha inquired, casting a glance backward where it was now out of sight. They had walked farther than she realized.
"If it were a human, that'd be doubtful, but since it's a Pokémon, it definitely has a shot. To be honest, I don't really give a shit if it survives or not," Elduran remarked as he hoisted the fallen log lying across the path.
"I get it. Even though I hope it's okay. I maintain that it received what it deserved. You might have let Blue handle that log for you—every Heracross delights in tasks that involve lifting," Aisha replied, casting a knowing wink at Heracross.
"Heeera," Heracross said excitedly.
"You're right; I had nearly forgotten about that. Blue, the next log is yours. Let's just hope our skirmish doesn't draw the attention of that Poliwrath we heard earlier," Elduran remarked, his eyes darting around as he scanned for potential threats.
Aisha looked worried as she asked, "Are you certain you heard a Poliwrath? That's really not good. They're quite rare. What are the odds of a Poliwhirl finding a Water Stone in the wild?"
Elduran noted how her fear seemed to grow as she scanned the surroundings. "Quite rare in most regions, but here in Tenera, with less development outside the cities, I suspect the odds are higher," Elduran replied.
"That makes sense. But how can you be sure it's a Poliwrath with all these Pokémon cries around us?" Aisha asked.
"I can identify the cries of most Pokémon. As for the legendary ones, unless I've encountered them personally, I'm unfamiliar with their sounds. Some Pokémon have cries that remain undocumented due to their rarity or because their encounters ended in their demise," Elduran explained. As he directed Heracross to clear a pretty large log from their path, Heracross complied effortlessly. Elduran found himself impressed, as he hadn't believed even two individuals could manage such a feat. He praised Heracross for his impressive strength, and Heracross beamed with pride.
"That's some impressive survival knowledge, but can you name a few Pokémon whose cries you'd fail to recognize?" Aisha remarked, giving Heracross a friendly fist-bump on the shoulder and adding a playful wink as she walked by.
"Relicanth is one. I've only seen sketches. It supposedly exists. Spiritomb is another—though I vanquished one, I did so from afar. And then there's Genesect, rumored to be real, but who knows?" Elduran answered.
"So only the exceedingly rare ones, then. Interesting. Since I work in Intelligence, I'll give you just one piece of information: Genesect are real," Aisha divulged.
Elduran didn't bother questioning her source. An ex-lover of another intelligence agent, he understood they disclosed only what they wished. There was no point in asking more, knowing he wouldn't get answers.
"Honestly, the way you recalled Viv and Blue into their pokéballs, only to swiftly release them in strategic spots, was quite impressive. I can't recall witnessing anything like it before. Did you come up with that on your own?" Aisha inquired.
"I have witnessed that before, typically from formidable trainers unaligned with any regional Leagues. League trainers, I imagine, would usually refuse to resort to such tactics, even against legendary Pokémon, owing to some misguided sense of pride," Elduran remarked.
"Do you mean those known as mercenary trainers?" Aisha inquired.
"Yes. We've received far more assistance from these trainers compared to league trainers in precarious Pokémon situations. More often than not, they are residents of various regions, having successfully gathered every gym badge from those regions at least once. By steering clear of any league affiliation, they maintain their citizenships. This enables them to move freely among the regions where they are citizens," Elduran replied.
"I understand your...admiration for them, but let's be honest—they exploit the system, and you're well aware of it. The citizenship granted to trainers who gather all the gym badges in the region is meant as a chance for them to live there for a year or two before deciding whether to join the regional Pokémon league. They refuse of course and they take on roles as mercenaries, addressing people's problems for a fee, naturally. The issue with this is that the league must expend numerous resources to monitor them since they remain outside the system. You might view all these legendary Pokémon as threats, but do you realize how swiftly and effortlessly one of these formidable trainers could level a city if they chose to? Some are on par with champion-level trainers," Aisha remarked.
"All I know is that the casualties would be far greater without them. They respond much faster than the league does. And when disaster strikes, they offer their aid for free, so you can't fault them for that," Elduran stated.
"Elduran, you're incredibly stupid on this matter. The league's slow response to disasters is due to their severe understaffing. If those mercenary trainers were part of the official system, then responding to emergencies—whether involving dangerous Pokémon or legendary ones—would be vastly improved. As for those trainers you admire so much, everything they do comes at a price, whereas league trainers offer their services for free. However, since they're so understaffed, people often have to pay to get their problems solved promptly; otherwise, they face long waits. Of course, there are the rangers, too, but they generally don't match the league trainers' caliber," Aisha explained.
"Yeah, sure. If they were part of the system, by the time they got the green light to assist, half of us might already be dead. When an emergency strikes, it's anyone's guess if it first reaches the champion. Then, who knows who it goes to next, and if we're lucky, the trainers dispatched to help might be third in line. Naturally, before they even set out, they have to devise plans to ensure they don't cause more harm than the Pokémon wreaking havoc. Do all that, and if luck is on our side, they arrive only thirty minutes late and at least half the town is still standing," Elduran remarked.
"You know very well that these mercenary trainers have led to countless needless deaths. Few face jail time because people see them as heroes simply for arriving before the league does. As you said, the league turns up later because they're mindful not to do more harm than the Pokémon they're confronting and..." Aisha was saying, her words cutting off as she gasped at what lay ahead.
Ahead, in the soft light coming through the tree branches, stood a majestic Goodra. Its shiny, lavender scales sparkled like a living gem among the plain greens and browns of the swamp. Elduran nodded with recognition and a hint of respect, having met a few Goodra during past missions and knowing their gentle nature. Aisha's eyes widened with wonder. Reassured by Elduran's calm presence, she sat on a nearby rock, captivated by Goodra's serene aura.
Elduran watched as Aisha and Goodra's eyes met, revealing a smart and calm nature that was hard to resist. Seeing Aisha's fascination, he stopped for a moment to check on his Pokémon. From a safe distance, Heracross and Vivillon noticed Goodra too, showing interest. When he let Cyndaquil out of his pokéball, the little Pokémon was curious, getting interested in the plants around. He poked at mushrooms with innocent curiosity and started to sample different plants and bugs.
Heracross, with its usual daring nature, wasted no time bridging the gap between the mysterious Dragon Pokémon and the humans. Before Elduran could say anything, Heracross was already near Goodra. Luckily, Goodra seemed to be in a good mood, letting Heracross talk excitedly.
Elduran watched as Aisha let out Hatenna, the mind-reading Pokémon, which moved closer to help understand the conversation. She began sharing the feelings of Goodra's words with him, her voice mixing admiration and sadness. Heracross happily talked about the joys of friendship and growth that came from working with humans and Pokémon, creating lively images of battles fought and victories gained, filling the air with excitement.
Goodra, the calm dragon, listened closely, its big eyes shining with memories. When it started to speak, a quiet hush fell over Elduran, pulling him into its sad story. Goodra shared moments of friendship and the deep pain of loss, explaining how Pokémon, used to having strong bonds, often found it hard to go back to the wild, wishing for freedom from the sadness of outliving their human friends.
While Elduran wasn't as used to the sad truths of Pokémon friendships, he found himself lost in thought about the growing connections with his own Pokémon. His look softened as Heracross happily came back to his side, showing the new friendship it had formed with Goodra. In that moment, Elduran couldn't help but think about the beauty and complexity of the bonds they shared, both with their Pokémon and with each other.
"Amazing creatures, aren't they?" Aisha said, her voice soft among the thick plants as they kept going. Goodra was still a strong memory, its gentle nature a warm thought in the cold swamp. They moved on, feeling energized by the surprising meeting, knowing that even in danger, they could find beauty and friendship.
The hours in Valt Swamp stretched like the long shadows from the fading sun, lightly lighting up the path. Aisha slowed down, her tired legs giving way. With a sudden slip, she fell forward, landing face-first in the cool mud. Elduran stopped, looking back with a mix of worry and impatience. The swamp, both enemy and teacher, took a chance to remind them of their limits.
Elduran had recalled Cyndaquil as they resumed their march, knowing he wouldn't be of much assistance, just as Aisha had withdrawn her Hatenna. Although Hatenna could have easily lifted her from the mud with its psychic abilities, Elduran believed that Heracross was best suited to help her, aside from himself, naturally.
"Blue, go help her!" Elduran instructed Heracross, already turning his attention forward with concern.
Heracross swiftly flew over to Aisha and, slipping his hands beneath her arms, lifted her to her feet.
Aisha, covered in mud, glared at Elduran with annoyance. "Well, I was already covered in mud. Thanks for the help, soldier boy," she said.
Elduran turned to face her, taking a moment to realize why she was upset. He joked, "But didn't you say Heracross like lifting things?" trying to make the situation lighter with a bit of humor.
"Key word... things," Aisha replied, still fixated on Elduran before addressing Heracross. "Blue, thank you for your help. Please tell your trainer I am extremely grateful for sending you to my aid," Aisha expressed her gratitude to Heracross.
Heracross looked at both Elduran and Aisha with curiosity. Vivillon flew down, calming him by indicating it was just a human matter. Elduran then turned to Vivillon, grinning.
"He's not the sharpest, is he?" Elduran remarked.
"Heera," Heracross sighed dejectedly, lowering his head.
"Oh, don't fret, you're more like me than you realize; we thrive on tackling problems with strength and vigor," Elduran said, smiling warmly.
Heracross's spirits visibly soared as he replied, "Heeeeera," and clashed his fists together.
"Viiiii," Vivillon chimed in, pleased to see Heracross cheerful once more.
Aisha pondered Elduran's words, knowing they strayed far from the truth. In hindsight, anyone unfamiliar with his conduct in perilous situations—where every choice teetered between life and death—couldn't possibly recognize how that irritating person transformed under pressure. Here was someone who would immerse himself obsessively in studying Pokémon, their habits, their cries, yet couldn't be bothered to read even a three-page guide for rookie trainers in Tenera or so much as a single page comparing Tenera with other regions. It was a mystery to her. Yet what was undeniably clear was that he hadn't taken a single misstep in the dire situations they faced, whereas she, despite priding herself on her intelligence, had unintentionally put them in jeopardy each and every time. He must have considered her utterly useless beyond being a compass, merely indicating their direction. Even in the realm of training, she felt she'd let him down. Though he made earnest attempts to improve, his methods remained unorthodox. She struggled to envision his growth when his approach to it was so flawed, and she felt it was her failing that she couldn't impart to him an understanding of the process.
As the sky got darker over the Valt Swamp, the place turned quiet and peaceful. The air was cool and smelled like wet dirt and wildflowers. Lotad floated gently on the calm water, their backs that looked like lily pads blending in with the muddy surface. Oddish peeked out from where they were hiding in the leaves, their bright leaves standing out against the dark sky. Close by, Psyduck walked in the water, sometimes putting their bills in the cool water. Barboach moved smoothly and easily along the muddy bottom. The calm presence of these Pokémon made the swamp feel peaceful and calming, giving Aisha a moment to think quietly while she cleaned herself.
"I am so exhausted, I don't think I can keep going," Aisha groaned, taking a few weary steps forward.
"We need to keep moving. In about thirty minutes, it will be pitch black, and our pace will slow even more. The sun has already set," Elduran cautioned, as he abruptly stopped and scanned his surroundings.
"What is it? Is it the Poliwrath?" Aisha asked, not seeing or hearing anything, but the look on Elduran's face told her he had.
"What? Oh, no, that's not the Poliwrath. That one stopped stalking us after we met Goodra. This is far worse. I suspected it would wait until darkness," Elduran replied.
"I didn't hear anything. What is it?" she asked as she released all four of her Pokémon.
"Do you hear those soft hisses in the air? It's jumping and moving quickly. I'm sure you can guess the rest," Elduran said, releasing Cyndaquil onto his shoulder.
"Shit, it's a Greninja. Why not just say it?" Aisha shot back.
"Alright, little one, your job is to light up the area. We're dealing with a Water-type, so attacking aggressively would be stupid," Elduran instructed Cyndaquil.
"Splash, get in the water and listen for it coming from there!" Aisha commanded Marill. "Luna, scan all around us. With Cyndaquil's light, you should be able to spot it," she told Clefairy as she firmly planted her feet, scanning around.
"Just keep walking," Elduran said casually as he began to walk.
"Are you insane?" Aisha exclaimed.
"If we stand here with our Pokémon at the ready, it'll never attack us," Elduran replied calmly, continuing to stroll.
Aisha stumbled to her feet to catch up with him. "Isn't that the point, not to be attacked?" she questioned.
"Are you ready to wait all night for it to attack? Just keep moving. It'll have to strike before we exit the swamp, or maybe it's just observing us. Either way, I'm not wasting time waiting for it to attack. We can't track it unless it makes a move—it's too fast," Elduran said as Heracross and Vivillon followed him without a care in the world. Even Marill and Togetic were trotting along, seemingly relaxed. Clefairy was definitely on edge, but she usually was. Hatenna, however, didn't ignore her like the others but nudged her to move along. Even she trusted Elduran to be right.
"How can you be so relaxed right now?" Aisha asked as she picked up the pace, her tiredness forgotten, adrenaline fueling her.
"It's just a Pokémon encounter. If we can't handle this, how do you expect us to deal with the Watchers? Plus, we have seven Pokémon against one. This might be stronger than Blue, who knows, but when I faced Blue, I only had Viv. You and Luna were out cold," Elduran said.
Aisha noticed he wasn't even scanning for it anymore. He was pretending not to be concerned. He really wanted the Greninja to attack. Maybe he was right, she thought. Better to confront it and move on than worry for hours. He had a point. "You know what, you might be right. I always stress before an encounter, but I do relax a little once it begins," Aisha confessed.
"As I've observed, all your Pokémon, apart from Splash, wield offensive fairy moves. So we have the upper hand, yet the issue arises with Dazzling Gleam being a close-range attack, whereas Greninja prefers long-distance combat. Viv's Struggle Bug is also close-range. The cornerstone of our strategy lies in Blue's Pin Missile—super effective and long-range—though admittedly on the weaker side. However, as I mentioned, we have seven Pokémon at our disposal. I noted during your training that Gale used Wish. Maximize its use on Blue; we'll heavily depend on him in this fight," Elduran advised, not even glancing in her direction.
"You catch that, Gale? He's right. Whenever Blue takes a hit, use Wish on him," she instructed Togetic. "When did you first realize this Greninja was tailing us?" Aisha inquired of Elduran.
"I first became aware a couple of hours ago, shortly after we parted ways with Goodra. I heard nothing more until now and assumed it would wait for nightfall to make a move," Elduran responded.
"Why the heck didn't you mention it earlier?" Aisha demanded.
"You'd have made you uneasy, and it would have slowed us down," he replied with a serene detachment.
"For goodness' sake. You're impossible. But we managed the king of the swamp, right? Isn't that what they call Feraligatr? We should be capable of handling a Greninja," Aisha remarked.
"Feraligatr, in my experience, are quite dumb in the wild. Under a trainer's command, though, especially around here, I'd agree—king of the swamp. Greninja, by contrast, are cunning and elusive, yet vulnerable to close-range attacks. We must determine how to close in on it," Elduran elaborated.
A few moments later, Elduran and Aisha clipped their flashlights onto their jackets, as Cyndaquil's light had been their sole beacon until then. Suddenly, the air was pierced by a whistle, and Cyndaquil let out a groan.
"That was a water shuriken," Aisha observed, noting that Cyndaquil was far tougher than it appeared. A super-effective move from a fully evolved Pokémon had landed, yet Cyndaquil's light remained steady.
"This may sound foolish, but we still can't take action. Keep moving! Even my bow is useless here."
"Forget this!" Aisha cried, bending down to instruct Splash to dive deep into the water and hide until it found Greninja. Elduran clearly overheard her and couldn't help but smile. What was his deal? Aisha wondered.
"Alright, that's risky, but I like it. Splash will be vulnerable for a moment, so stay alert—we'll need to react swiftly," Elduran advised.
Not a minute passed before they heard Splash emerge from the water fifteen feet away, roaring as it used Charm on Greninja, momentarily stunning it—just the opening everyone required.
"String Shot and Pin Missile," Elduran commanded. Vivillon immobilized Greninja's feet with its string, while Heracross unleashed a barrage of Pin Missiles. Judging by Greninja's cries, it was certainly feeling the impact.
"Candy, throw Luna with psychic power towards it. Luna, use Dazzling Gleam in midair. Gale, start a fairy wind and don't stop!" Aisha said then Hatenna lifted Clefairy with psychic power, skillfully sending her hurtling towards Greninja. Midair, Clefairy unleashed Dazzling Gleam, illuminating the entire area. Greninja howled in pain, while Togetic's relentless fairy wind added to its torment
Following a brief telepathic exchange with Hatenna, Aisha swiftly turned to Elduran, this time noting the bow gripped in his left hand, an arrow already nocked and ready. In his right hand, he held a Pokéball, prompting her to wonder whose it was and whether he could manage to shoot while clutching one.
"Elduran, some info you should know: Greninja knows the moves Lick, Night Slash, and Shadow Sneak," Aisha relayed to him.
"Wait, how do you know that?" Elduran asked, briefly glancing her way before resting his gaze on Hatenna. "Ah, never mind, Candy's ability is Anticipation, isn't it? She senses moves that are super effective against her. That's valuable intel—could turn the tide of battle. Handy skill." Elduran remarked to her.
"Gale don't stop using Fairy Wind. Keep at it!" Aisha commanded her Togetic.
"Blue, the same for you, just nonstop Pin-Missile," Elduran commanded.
Greninja steeled itself despite the relentless barrage of attacks it endured. Amidst the chaos, it unleashed an extremely swift Night Slash against Marill, its hand morphing into dark shadow claws. Three dark scars, emitting smoke, were seared into Marill's body. Even with its legs ensnared by String Shot, Greninja executed a Water Shuriken, severing the strings, then leaped swiftly into the air, performing a backflip, gliding towards Vivillon. It was executing an Aerial Ace with remarkable speed—a move that would be super effective against Vivillon. Just as the attack was about to strike, Vivillon transformed into red light; Elduran had managed to recall her just in time. In the ensuing confusion, as Greninja landed and turned, livid, towards Elduran and Cyndaquil perched on his shoulder, an arrow struck its chest.
A crimson glow appeared in its eyes—Elduran recognized that Torrent, its ability, had activated, signaling Greninja was nearly spent. Now its water attacks would become devastating. It lunged toward him, launching enlarged Water Shurikens. Elduran quickly instructed Cyndaquil to use Smokescreen, similar to the strategy against Feraligatr. Just as he began to roll aside, a Water Shuriken cut his cheek and another struck his shoulder. Despite the pain, he completed the roll, casting Cyndaquil to safety, and then heard Greninja land precisely where he and Cyndaquil had been a split second before.
Elduran released Vivillon before him, commanding her to deploy Struggle Bug. Greninja, not expecting this obstacle in its path to Elduran, collided with Vivillon. Despite the impact, Vivillon unleashed Struggle Bug, tearing into Greninja. Heracross, regaining sight of Greninja, unleashed another Pin Missile barrage. Realizing the proximity of Elduran, Cyndaquil, and Vivillon, Aisha commanded Togetic to cease using Fairy Wind and instead to employ Ancient Power behind Greninja. The tactic succeeded; as Greninja attempted to withdraw, it crashed against a barrier of floating rocks, propelling it back toward Vivillon's Struggle Bug. The miniscule, needle-like shards shredded Greninja, and just before it collided again with Vivillon, Clefairy, heeding Aisha's command, delivered a precise Thunderbolt from afar. Greninja finally crumpled to the ground. Vivillon ceased her attack, but Heracross persisted with Pin Missile, guided by Elduran's instincts to continue. His intuition was confirmed when Greninja smoothly rose, somersaulted, and delivered another blistering Aerial Ace to Heracross. The blow caused Heracross to howl in pain, yet it maintained its stance. Aisha instructed her Togetic to use Wish to heal Heracross, and a star ascended into the sky from Togetic.
"Blue, forget it. It's barely standing. Go all out! Arm Thrust! Don't stop until it drops!" Elduran commanded.
Heracross began pummeling Greninja with alternating punches. Even as Greninja utilized Shadow Sneak, extending its shadow, appearing behind Heracross and continued to paralyze Heracross momentarily with Lick, Heracross remained undeterred. After the third time Greninja reappeared behind him, Heracross' Arm Thrust evolved into a form of Elbow Thrust, as he turned to continue his assault. Neither Pokémon had much fight left, but a precisely aimed Air Cutter from Togetic—a thin blade of air traveling at high speed—struck Greninja. Then, Marill leaped over Greninja, delivering a powerful Slam that drove it to its knees. As Heracross neared exhaustion, an ethereal star descended from the heavens, infusing Heracross with light and renewing its vigor. However, Heracross needn't act further; Vivillon arrived, encasing Greninja in a cocoon of String Shot, then bombarded it with Struggle Bug for three relentless seconds. Greninja was undoubtedly down for the count.