Little Terror

It was the third day that Angelo and his Pokemon had swept around the outskirts of Brookfell, and they all were exhausted. They weren’t the strongest, but they could at least keep some of the Drifwick fusions occupied while stronger teams got to more important tasks. Gummy trotted beside him, on alert as much as his trainer. Fire crackled deep in the crevices that Groudon had split open when he emerged, as well as along the horizon and around them. It was unnerving.

His attention was drawn to a particular burning bush, his eyes drawn to the flickering red and orange flames that licked at the chilled air. His exhaustion tugged at him, and his usually sharp mind drifted as he watched the movement and fluidity of the fire as it curved and consumed the wood. Save for the snap and crack of other fires, the area was particularly quiet. Too quiet.

Gummy was uncharacteristically quiet beside him, in particular and he glanced down to check on his starter. The Pokemon’s mane of white fluff was puffed up, hair on end as he intently stared at something ahead of them. As Angelo came back to the present, he became aware of the Pokemon’s very faint growl. He knew it well. The smaller Pokemon was quite protective, after all. Angelo followed Gummy’s gaze, landing on the Drifwick floating along, lighting other things on fire as it went.

Before he could say anything to encourage or stop the Pokemon, though, the Dragon-type rushed ahead, jaws wide open with a screech. Shit!

“Gummy! No!” Angelo hurried after the little terror, but of course, the dinosaur didn’t listen. Rocks crunched underfoot, and his sleep-deprived brain wasn’t keeping up. He’d been pushing himself too hard, even when he’d been giving his Pokemon plenty of rest in between outings. His hiking boots snagged on something and he went down, hard.

Pain lanced through his nerves as knees and palms scraped across the ground, and the Tyrvesta didn’t stop. Angelo looked up, wincing as pebbles fell from where they’d dug into his face. Gummy’s arms and claws glowed white, and his electric blue eyes glowed that same eerie blue before he lept up into the air toward the opposing Pokemon. It squeaked when it sensed a body coming toward it, turning toward the incoming scaly missile.

Gummy swiped at the air repeatedly with vigor, before his large flat feet slammed into the Drifwick. Angelo’s technical display, hidden under his hair, flicked up a display as he pushed himself to his feet.

“Your Pokemon has learned a new move. Would you like more information?” So that’s what that was.

“Yes.” He said as he dusted himself off, before hurrying to his Pokemon as it grabbed the flying ball of fire and shook it viciously like it was a squeak toy. “Gummy! Drop it!”

“Gummy has learned the move ‘Dragon Claw’. It is a move where draconic energy is gathered in a Pokemon’s claws and expelled in a fierce, sharp attack. Would you like more information?”

Gummy let the Pokemon go alright. With a final shake of his head, he threw it back into the crevice they’d been walking along, and the Drifwick disappeared down into the depths of the earth. Angelo stared at his starter as he trotted back to him, looking pleased as anything and proud of himself to boot. He sighed.

“No, thank you.” The display flicked off, and the man shook his head again. “Come on, you little terror. Let’s go.”