“BunBun-Chan!”
A cry was all that was needed to alert the bunny Pokemon that would leap back once. A swift kick back as it evaded a sweeping strike with an appendage moving like a blade. As it was airborne, however, a second strike would come and catch the Buneary off guard.
“Bun-chan!” The voice of the violet haired boy cried aloud, worried for the Pokemon that was suddenly knocked back...fortunately. As the figure emerged from the curtains of shrubbery and reaching blades of grass, Orchid considered Buneary lucky.
“A-a...Scyther…”
The familiar Pokemon was a shock and dread for the violet-haired boy. Even if it was not a grass-type, the Pokemon was still famous in its own right. The Safari Zone kept the beastly mantis in its wilds, and most likely not just for its rarity.
“I-It did not use the blade edge,” Orchid swallowed that fact with the lump in his throat,
“If it would have...Bun-chan would be-” he dared not speak it out loud. He knew himself lucky that the Pokemon went simply for a Double Hit, and nothing more, but Orchid knew he would have to act quickly.
“BunBun-chan! We have to move faster!” Orchid would hint and notice two things: the first was Buneary knowing well what he meant as it got on all fours ready to race forth. The other was the sharp glare that the Pokemon shot towards the Buneary who was ready to charge.
“W-what was that?” Orchid was not sure why, but the Scyther sent a chill down his spine with that gaze in its eyes. The left was slightly broken green flesh exposing a brown tan brown that told stories of its fighting history. The other was not going to let it end in the same result obviously. The mantis movements were slow and hypnotic, drawing back the right blade as the Buneary kicked off quickly to strike. It paused slightly before brandishing the blade that was exposed. The scythe-like appendage suddenly racing swiftly as Orchid’s eyes bucked realizing in that moment, that once again, he messed up.
“Buneary! W-wait!”
The scythe would sweep swiftly through the air. It was far from making contact with the Buneary who drew close, but the Scyther seemed not concerned. With a second passing, the air exploded from the Scyther’s swing with a burst! A wave of air racing forth would pass forth over the Bunny Pokemon aiming to strike with a powerful gust. The strength was mounting, sweeping over Orchid’s body, as he reached his arms upward as if guarding against the blow himself. His eyes widening as he felt fear at the strength of the attack that came racing forth.
“What attack was that?” Orchid’s blue eyes viewing past the sleeves of his kimono like curtains,
“It is strong!”
Orchid witnessed the Buneary flying back as the breeze would die down. The Bunny Pokemon had already been pelted by attacks and it seemed as if it would not get the chance to strike back at this rate. The Scyther was faster, and speed was to its advantage.
“Bun-chan! Defend yourself and look for an opening!” As Orchid said this, the Scyther was already moving swiftly. Contrary to what he heard, the Pokemon was not raging or angry. It was calm and precise with each of its movements. The large scythes turning as they aimed to strike once more with a series of Double Hits.
Upon doing so, Orchid took note of the exchange…
“It is stronger.”
Each whip of the mantis’s limbs was met with an impact of the bunny’s punches. The impacts were subtle at first, but they would become stronger with each hit. Buneary would parry one hit, but the next would come suddenly, either making a light impact or being dodged. The Buneary only had managed to strike twice with its punches, but they did not even seem to phase the Scyther who would aim to strike with its next scythe like the back of a sword.
“Bun-chan’s punches are powering up, but even if so, Scyther’s strikes are still stronger. It must have a difference in level.”
Orchid would watch as the Buneary was sent flying back with one more swing of the Scyther’s arm. Even how it executed final blow, it would hold its pose as it would take a breath and lift its body. Its eyes would stay steely, gazing past the Buneary and looking on towards Orchid.
“W-what is wrong with it?” The boy cringed,
“I-It feels though it is angry with me!” The Buneary struggled to stand just as Orchid struggled to understand the Pokemon’s thoughts at that moment. It went beyond simple “jealousy” that wild Pokemon would have for trainers: This was disdain!
“I don’t think we can win,” His eyes dulled by the sight of the mantis,
“Not like this.”
A soft glow would catch Orchid’s eyes. A radiant pink that would shine forth from before him. He was familiar with the glow, but that did not keep him from being surprised given the source. The Buneary that was standing before him was radiating the aura that was turning into a strong light.
“Baton Pass…” he uttered remembering his training, The Buneary was reluctant to use such a fourth technique.
“...she is not one for relying on others, and she does not like to lose.” Orchid’s eyes would sit upon the Pokemon’s back. For some reason, it felt as if the Pokemon refused to look to Orchid as if it was close to admitting defeat.
“This Scyther must really have her on edge.”
The rabbit would lift its little arms readily, the Buneary would freeze in place as if surrendering itself. The Scyther? Perfectly still as if waiting for Orchid to make his move.
“Okay, Bun-chan! Baton Pass, now!” The violet haired boy called, raising the Buneary’s Pokeball and another. The Bunny Pokemon would turn completely into a shining pink light that erupted forth and zipped through the air. The radiant glow would curve heading towards Orchid as he pressed the other Pokeball in hand that opened up. A second light joining the first as it zipped through the air and collided with Buneary’s.
“Go! Toggie-kun!” The light would land before the Scyther as the Togepi would lift up its little arms. A confident smile was on his face as the Egg Pokemon would begin to use its signature technique.
“Toggie-kun’s Ancient Power should be able to do it!” Orchid would nod,
“If fighting it in Close Range is out of the question, then long range attacks that hit its weakness should do!”
Large boulders with an ominous energy would float through the air. After orbiting the Togepi once, one after one, they would fall in a consecutive line towards the mantis Pokemon. The last boulder would make a powerful impact that would distort the image of the Scyther that seemed to be there. The next moment, Orchid would gasp as he would take notice to the second image of the Scyther that was on the right side, and then another on the left.
“No!” Orchid would cry out, noticing late.
“Toggie-kun! Be careful, this is Double-!”
SWISH!!!
Orchid had noticed this too late. The mantis’s body had appeared as if it phased into existence. Its aura was that usual calm. Togepi, from where it stood, would be the only one that noticed the look on its face. A sinister smile as if amused by the Togepi’s attempts and Orchid’s hesitation to try to avoid the danger. The Pokemon would reach slowly and gracefully, crossing its blades over one another as it cast a shadow over the Egg Pokemon. With one sweep back, the Pokemon would cut in one precise strike across the Egg Pokemon’s body, sending it falling back as it fell back stiffly.
“Toggie-kun!”
Orchid cried as the Scyther would step forth with a kneel. The Pokemon looking over its large thin wings to see the violet haired boy in panic. It seemed almost delighted at the sight.
“He broke the Baton Pass…” Orchid would raise the Pokeball, recalling the smug Togepi back. Orchid would take out the next, eyes set on the next choice hesitantly, but he knew he would have to try...something.
“Go! Owl-san!” With a toss, the Pokeball sprung open unleashing the flash of light. The Rowlet took flight, looking down upon the field as it would gaze at the Scyther from above.
“Owl-San! Nasty Plot!” Orchid would watch as the Owl Pokemon’s eyes would start to narrow. An idea coming to mind as quickly as the Scyther was preparing itself. Its arms would pull back as it would readily seem to brandish one of its blade arms like a katana. With one sweep, the Pokemon would send a pressured blow of air towards the Owl Pokemon that had been beating its wings and watching from above. The Pokemon would gasp, finding itself helpless.
“Owl-San!” Orchid would cry out worriedly, watching as the pressured burst of air barely would scrape the Owl Pokemon who was thrown off balance. The Rowlet would fall into a nose dive as it was knocked from the air. It’s body twirling about as the Scyther would draw in close for an attack as it kicked off. It would draw back its blades.
“It is good with planning!” Orchid observed,
“The first attack was to disrupt Owl’san’s flying and get in close!” Orchid would toss the sleeves of his kimono out like a flag beating the air. His voice would raise an extra decibel more than what he was used to.
“Owl-San! Use Ominous Wind below you, now!” The Rowlet would let out a beat of its wings to retaliate.
The sickly purple wind served two purposes at that moment: it propelled the Rowlet out of its nose dive while blowing the Scyther back with the turbulence. The Pokemon was quickly caught off guard as the attack had blown both of them back from the blast breeze. The Scyther would guard its face with one of the gleaming blades. Only when it would lower it slowly to show its straight face.
“Owl-san is okay!” Orchid would blow a breath in relief. The Pokemon would be distant once more and the mantis was actually cautious as it seemed to sit and stare at the Rowlet who was the first to get an actual blow against it.
“It could not be just the damage.” Orchid thought looking to Rowlet,
“It has been aggressive the whole match! Something...must be different.” Only when Orchid would catch a glimpse of Rowlet’s wingbeats, the Pokemon would fly stronger than usual. It’s visage seeming to be intense!
“Did Owl-san, power-up?” The violet haired boy’s eyes would go to the Scyther’s feet that dug into the terrain. Scooting slightly, it would maneuver around as if it was looking for an opening, or at least waiting for one.
“I see...Owl-san powering up means it is as strong as it now. If Rowlet passes the Baton, it will be able to give that strength to the next Pokemon that will stand a chance too. But, Scyther is so fast, and-”
Orchid would stop. His mouth hung upon! He had his plan!
“Owl-san!” The violet haired boy would cry cloud as the Scyther would suddenly take heed in the boy’s voice. The Mantis springing into action as it would attempt to close in and strike once more. It flew swiftly with one kick of its feet nearly gliding on its wings.
“Use Nasty Plot, now!”
The Owl Pokemon would sharpen its gaze once more, even as the Scyther closed in. The Scyther would put its foot down, spinning as it would toss out its two scythe-like hands in reverse as the backs woulds strike the Rowlet twice. The mantis Pokemon sending it flying aback with a direct hit as the Rowlet crashed to the ground suddenly. Its eyes barely opening as it seemed to resist fainting. The Scyther, not letting up as it dove forth to attack once more.
“That was your only chance!” Orchid would reach into his sleeve, whipping out a Pokeball that had been hidden in his wide sleeves among the other. He hoisted it into the air swiftly as his eyes stayed locked with the mantis Pokemon.
“Owl-san! Baton Pass!”
Rowlet would explode with a green aura as it would raise its little wings as high as possible. Scyther’s next attack would come up short as the Pokemon would sweep and attempt to strike. The attack coming short as the Owl Pokemon would become nothing more than a ball of energy that collided with the Pokeball in Orchid’s hand before skipping off to its own Pokeball that opened and closed shut. Orchid would throw the Pokeball out quickly as it exploded.
“It is up to you now!” His voice crying aloud and echoing through the jungle,
“Eve-chan!”
The brown bundle of fur would materialize right below the Scyther that towered over it. The Eevee looked small in comparison and insignificant in stature and appearance. It was only when its own body would glow brightly in the shadow of the Scyther. The small Pokemon turning to the side as it would look up confidently to the mantis Pokemon that seemed to raise its eyelids in fascination.
“Eve-chan!” The Scyther reacted to the sound of Orchid’s voice. Once again, its body reacting as its form begun to split in multiples in images.
“I knew it! Eve-chan! Use Swift!”
The Eevee would let out a ghastly howl like no other as around the Pokemon, an explosion of small stars would appear. They became engulfed in a bright blue aura as they nearly burned bright enough to be called an intense fire attack. With a sudden burst, the stars would explode and race from where they appeared, striking the images as they begun to vanish one by one in succession. It was only one image that reacted, raising and crossing the blades across its body as it tried to hold off the barrage of small stars.
“Eve-san! Keep it up!”
The Pokemon would howl once more, generating more of the stars as Scyther could no longer hold back the attack. It slid from the sudden rush of stars that were pummeling it until finally it would be tossed back from the rain of stars. Scyther’s back would hit a tree, the bark cracking under the pressure of the attack, and finally exploded outwards as the leaves would fall and the branches would break. It was only after the a few seconds where Eevee would be tuckered out, the rain of stars would end, that Orchid would reach his hand to his sleeve seeing the Scyther had finally fallen to one knee. Its maw of its mouth opened as it breathed heavily.
“This is the only chance I will get!” Orchid snatched the empty Pokeball and tossed it forth in desperation.
“Pokeball, fly!”
The Scyther was open, unable to react. The battle would strike its body as it would envelope the creature and snap shut. Its eyes, not missing a beat as it kept glaring at Orchid. A smug smirk on its face speaking volumes of this encounter not being over just yet.
But in what way? Orchid would wait to see as the Pokeball that was shaking would give the answer...
