Blazy slipped to his left, dodging a high jump kick from Dad's Toxicroak, while the strange purple biped frog was in the air, Blaziken choose to wait for the start of his descent. The gravity created downwards momentum and Blazy pivoted with his right foot, his hips driving forward his left knee with a sharp whistle cutting the air. Just before the impact happened Toxicroak braced and made an 'X' shape with his arms to protect himself. He flew away from the hit, and Blazy ran towards him with the torso almost parallel to the ground. He stopped on a dime and started a combination of punches that overwhelmed his rival. Each strike was well put and purposeful, Toxicroak guard broke, an opening created by a left hook feint followed by a straight. Blazy didn't waste the opportunity. He aimed a low kick, but given the height difference, instead of hitting the calf, it landed against Toxicroak's hip-- something that wouldn't happen if he was sparring with a taller opponent.
I stood up from where I was sitting with Ducky. I got ready, relaxing my muscles and leaving the tension behind. Shifting my weight to my left, bending slightly my knee while rotating my body and extending the right leg in one motion, my left shoulder dipped and I kicked hard the space of air in front of me. My body kept its momentum from the prior movement, and I lost my balance while my leg kept going sideways. I fell pathetically. Psyduck made a noise resembling what I could imagine of a laugh from someone his species, I looked towards him, and he shot a little water stream to my forehead. Little rascal he is. He got up from the curb we were sitting watching the one sided sparring in our courtyard and helped me stand up. Water formed in front of him, wobbly figures started to made some kind of pattern. Drops formed two blurry dots and a line below, after a few seconds watching the phenomenon trying to discern what was the meaning of it, I saw something that resembled a smiley face. The liquid dropped and moistened the grass below us. "Thanks, " I said to him with the grace you could expect from a 16 month old child. He sat on the grass while I walked towards the curb for a better view. Even with all my memories I couldn't get right that kick from before, my body wasn't there yet. Hell, it probably wont be there for a decade but at least I could walk for a little now. A win in my books, it was frustrating, but I had time.
Arcanine's big figure stood majestically close to our left. A quadruped bulky Pokemon that resembled a Lion with black stripes, its orange fluffy fur made him look bigger than what he really was. A long snout that finished with two large fangs. He let out a long breath, his nostrils flaring slightly as his massive chest expanded. His eyes closed, unimpressed by what was probably the best kick attempt he'd seen in the last five seconds of his life. He rested his head close to his paws in front of him indifferently from whatever was happening in his surroundings. Roserade figure was moving just a few meters away from the chaos, dancing in a hidden rhythm with the flowers and grass surrounding her. The life around her seemed to follow her movements and every now and then a small blue or red flower would emerge and disappear from her trail.
My eyes moved back to the fighting scene in front of me, Toxicroak tried different variations and combos to make an opening in Blazy's guard. The main rule for sparring in the courtyard was no energy moves, which translated as no 'movements' from the games. Basically from what I understand, they were fighting only with the might of their bodies without putting type energy behind it, if it weren't for that the courtyard would be like a war zone with the amount of destruction they could generate, especially for Blazy. A few months ago Grandpa, who I discovered his name was Silas, accompanied us for a little picnic outside the town we lived. Dad's Manectric apparently had some kind of beef with Staraptor, and they sparred with a few rules, which were basically don't destroy the local flora and once the battle finished, help to get the place as close as it was before it began. With this rules they had to restrain themselves a lot but even with them in place, that day I discovered the amount of power they could wield. Well without having anything else to compare at least. Grandpa's Grumpig was close to us just in case a barrier was needed for a stray attack or something coming our way product of one. Manectric made short work of the bird. It wasn't just about the type advantage, he was faster, more precise. He sidestepped a Wing Attack with an ease that made it clear he'd done this hundreds of times before. The charge of electricity around his body wasn't desperate or reckless; it was calculated, controlled. In contrast, Staraptor was still trying to find its footing. The discharge wasn't even at full power, just enough to throw Star off balance. The bird flapped wildly, trying to stabilize itself midair. That was everything Manectric needed to decide the spar. Charged with energy he ran while Staraptor tried to gain altitude, in less than a few seconds he closed the distance and sent a strong lightning bolt from his body, the surprised expression of the bird turned into one of fear, Manectric have done his move before he could even react. Dad stopped the fight right there, recalling both of them and releasing them close.No words needed for the decision of who came on top. Claude later told me that Star was still adjusting to the team. "Experience isn’t something you can rush," he had said while scratching Manectric behind the ear. 'You don’t win just because you’re strong or because you have a type advantage. You win because you know what you’re doing."
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
It felt surreal. One year or more had passed since the Gastly appearing in my room and laughing his ass off, and everyday I keep getting surprised from something new, meeting new Pokemon and species that I have never seen. Sometimes I prayed I could see one I've known from before, but in Hoenn they were rare to see, at least that's what it seems from the few trips with my Mom to buy groceries in Town.
Suddenly, Arcanine's ears perked up, Roserade elegant movements stopped and Toxicroak froze mid uppercut in direction to Blaziken's body. What now?
"Claude, come see this hon!" I heard Mom shouting from inside. My curiosity got the best from me so I decided to see what was happening, I got up and Ducky followed behind me, my new house was a labyrinth long explored and I walked towards the origin of the sound. Loren was wearing blue jeans with a white t-shirt on, some dishes were on her arms just before Dad grabbed them and put them in a nearby shelf. Both were concentrated watching the old TV in the living room.
"Hideki Sund, Prime Minister of Kanto," was in the caption of the news in the screen. A bald man with a well fitting suit. Cold slit eyes and a stone-like face. Behind him two figures stood up. To his right was a mid aged woman, her expression unreadable, the ever grinning expression of what I only could imagine a Gengar could be standing beside her, almost refuging in her shadow. To his left a mountain of a man with torn sleeves. His gaze locked forward, arms crossed. His four-armed Pokemon mirrored him, towering over the rest of the people on scene. They didn't need to talk, their presence alone was enough.
"Two days ago, an explosion at the Sigmarus Plant near Route 28 left dozens dead and a critical supply line in ruins. After an extensive investigation, the evidence is clear—this was no accident. The attack was planned, executed, and concealed by operatives from Johto’s League." The man said. The glass in Mom's hand trembled slightly. Her fingers curled tighter around it. The man continued, "Despite our efforts for diplomacy, they have chosen violence. This cannot, and will not, go unanswered. As of today, Kanto recognizes the actions of Johto’s leadership as a declaration of war. Effective immediately, we will respond in kind.
To the people of Kanto—this is not just about our borders. This is about our sovereignty, our security, and our future. We will not stand idle while our homes and our lives are threatened."
The glass slipped from Loren grasp, shattering against the floor. She didn't even flinch while looking at the TV. Just before the scene changed Gengar closed on the camera with an unnerving smile.
Dad crossed his arms, his jaw clenched and his gaze flickered to the floor where the glass fell. His hand moved slightly towards his pocket where he usually has Manectric ball on. "It's happening," he murmured. "We've been tracking the escalations for months, but I thought... We had more time left."
This last year I picked up clues about my dad's work, idle talk when coming home at afternoon or while eating. Apparently he is some kind of police officer, but I don't know anymore with this, some kind of secrete service?
You know the possibility always existed for us," she said, finally breaking the silence. She closed her eyes for a moment before looking at Claude. "Especially for you." She exhaled sharply, rubbing her temples. "This might escalate more than we think," she admitted. "We need to be ready for anything." The air chilled in the room, Frosslass materialized slowly from the floor besides Mom. She looked briefly at me and shot a chilly smile. Enough time has passed since I've meet her so I don't get scared anymore when she does that. She stroked gently Loren's hair. "Lass," she whispered comfortably. The screen changed again and showed the remains of the destroyed plant, a lot of the buildings were broken and sliced cleanly. The iron door that should've been at the entrance of the main one was likely melted. The images continued, the mountain behind the place had several markings from something like a laser, deep into the mountain. Probably an Hyper beam? Enough of the forest around was broken down and burned too. A total disaster. Dad's face remained unpassive, What was really happening?
