Pokémon Chronicles 零 (ZERO)

Episode 36: The last hurrah

"Well, you heard the woman, Midori. Move, or we really will be forced to knock you aside," Lucca threatened, pointing one of his swords at the Chikorita. Midori didn't budge, instead showing his teeth with a cocky smile.

"No? Then don't say we didn't warn you," Megan shouted, jumping the gun immediately. She initiated the battle with her usual Flamethrower, not hitting her target due to his high speed. Just like last time, Midori disappeared into a blur and zigzagged across the room to try and confuse us. We were prepared this time however, and he found himself unable to even touch us. When he targeted me, I slashed him the moment he appeared in front of me, whilst Lucca had to block a hit before retaliating.

"C'mon now, your tactics really don't change? Did you really think you would like, somehow eventually stop us by constantly trying without learning anything new?" Brine bragged, being the last to hit him with heavy gush of water like a Hydro Pump attack. Midori had to take a moment to stop and growl at us from a distance.

"This area... is supposed to have no bestia. How? How are you still capable of using your powers?" he huffed, growling at us.

"Watermarked Pokémon don't use bestia for their water moves. It comes from our own bodies. That way we can't abuse it for evil – Undine couldn't be as evil as you say they are even if they tried," Brine explained.

"Wait, really?" Shelly asked in surprise.

"Yeah! Why do you think I don't go and mindlessly throw water everywhere in battle?" she questioned, making me think about it. "I could swamp a room like this in a tidal wave if I wanted to. But I also couldn't, the pressure of a move like that would probably take a few years off my life."

"Ye-years off your-" Shelly choked.

"Guys, focus!" Lucca interrupted, tensing up. A second later, my senses flipped and I realised why Midori had stopped attacking for the moment. I wasn't fast enough to avoid being snapped up by his Leech Seed, and judging by the cries and curses of the others, neither were they. I was taken off my feet and stabbed in multiple places, feeling the sting of needles slowly digging into my body.

"Gah, you've got to be kidding me, again?" Lucca growled, roaring when his energy was sapped. I did my best not to scream, but I knew I wouldn't be getting used to the spike in pain anytime soon.

"As you can see, my tactics don't need to change. And this time, there will be no staged act," he threatened, twirling his jagged leaf around. He was going to slice us to pieces with Razor Leaf, and I couldn't move an inch to do anything about it.

"You stupid... big headed little..." Megan growled.

"Megan?" I called out, scared of her rising tone and volume. She quickly started roaring at the top of her voice, almost drowning out the sudden sound of a small, fiery explosion.

"What the?" Midori gasped, widening his eyes at us. Just before I asked the same question of not knowing exactly what was going on, a high level of heat took over me, and I felt like I was close to a live fire. Then I was back on the ground and able to move again, stretching and glancing around to find that Megan had escaped from the Leech Seed using the flames from her back, setting the rest of us free as quickly as she could.

"That's right, I'm surprised that you're surprised, to be honest. Did you really think that I wouldn't go about making sure I don't get caught out by Leech Seed again?" Megan bragged, posing proudly. "I'm stronger than I was back then, and I'll keep getting stronger! I can't afford to lose to petty little guys like you."

"Don't let your guard down," Lucca warned, swiping his swords aside. However, Midori didn't move, instead choosing to stutter and stumble about on the spot.