Pokémon Homecoming | A Galar Fanfiction

Chapter 67: Resistance

'Abbey?'

Leon glanced back. Alfie hurled his first Poké Ball. He sneered.

'Hearing things, Leon? Now, Electivire!'

Leon knew why Alfie was not using his usual Pokémon before he turned. It wasn't just intuition that led him here. A year ago, he thought he was hallucinating when during a match he refereed in Motostoke, he saw a ruthless Pokémon with a deeply unsettling aura of black flecked with sizzling purple. Then he remembered an incident he read about as a child. He flew to Postwick. His grandma winced as he ransacked the bedroom she diligently kept tidy to find the newspaper clippings. The first Shadow Pokémon were indeed discovered by a girl able to see black auras. Local police suggested he saw a doctor. He looked into it alone, but he was physically drained. Now he was not. He faced Alfie's Shadow Electivire.

'Shadow Bolt!'

Alfie didn't wait for his turn. Leon withdrew Charizard before the crackling bolt hit. It drilled into the wall. He ducked to avoid it as it fizzled.

'Let's play fair, now.'

Leon sent out Haxorus. He'd made a mistake already – assuming Shadow Bolt was an Electric-type attack. Shadow moves had no type. They were super effective against all non-Shadow Pokémon.

'Shadow Pokémon don't play fair. Electivire! Shadow End!'

'Haxorus! Earthquake!'

The floor rumbled. Plants and books fell off shelves. A cabinet crashed down. Electivire was still standing. It seized the cabinet and charged. Haxorus glanced at Leon. Its frightened eyes urged him to move.

'No! I'll stay by your side no matter what!'

Electivire slammed into Haxorus. It didn't let up. Alfie smiled mercilessly. If Haxorus fell, Electivire would charge on at Leon. He refused to budge. Haxorus sank its razor-sharp tusks into Electivire's neck. It was drenched in bubbling blood. Electivire wrestled to inch the cabinet over its opponent's head. Leon didn't really want to die one Pokémon in... but if he gave in and cowered, his Pokémon would go down alone. Sheer willpower kept Haxorus standing. The cabinet teetered. Electivire grunted. Its grip loosened. With a booming roar, Haxorus rammed it back. Clang. The cabinet dropped onto Electivire.

'Now! Earthquake!'

Haxorus was weak. Its entire body trembled. It still leapt to pound the floor until it rumbled. Electivire was zapped away. Alfie sent out a Walrein glowing with that same eerie aura.

'Well done, Haxorus! Now, Outrage!'

'Walrein! Shadow Chill!'

Walrein blankly took Outrage. Deep black crystals shot back. Haxorus' throat was sliced open. Its legs buckled. With its last shred of energy, it threw itself to protect Leon. He held out its Poké Ball. The barrage continued. Crystals slashed Leon's arm before he sent out Aegislash.

'Sacred Sword!'

Chunks of Walrein's tusks and fur were shaved off. Blood poured from its lacerated face. It was enraged. Shadow Chill bombarded Aegislash. It was slammed against the wall. The freezing beam forced it up to the ceiling. Walrein yielded. Aegislash clattered to the floor. Leon tried not to wince as he sent out Dragapult.

'Sucker Punch!'

The swift strike knocked Walrein out. A Shadow Sawsbuck, its great horns adorned with red leaves, prepared to charge.

'Dragapult! Dragon Darts!'

'Sawsbuck! Shadow Sky!'

The fired Dreepy knocked Sawsbuck down. A blinding beam was fired into the air. Flashing light rained down. As soon as it struck Dragapult, it was overtaken by rumbling clouds. It was as if a hidden Pokémon used Rain Dance. Alfie frowned.