Act 3 - Close Encounter
[PoV: Valence]
I keep myself next to Rodrigo, my gaze occasionally darting back behind me...at Artemisia.
We’ve been on the hunt for this hybrid for several days now, and luckily his tracks are actually fairly easy to find and distinguish from the terrain. However during this time I had to spend every moment to not let Artemisia get close to me, so we don’t have that...’talk’.
Currently she’s talking with the Gothitelle from that guild, however I can see her looking at me every so often.
I take a deep breath through my nose and turn away, shuddering.
“You can’t avoid her forever, Valence.” Rodrigo speaks up, his single eye looking down at me. “You can’t use me as a shield forever either.”
I cross my arms over my chest and grit my teeth. “Just watch me.” I growl.
His eyebrows furrow. “I’m being serious, Valence. You two will need to work things out, since this sort of tension can’t stay here.” He shakes his head. “You WILL need to talk to her.”
“Like hell I will.” I respond back sharply. “I’ve had to deal with her enough, the last thing I need is to get into another lecture or scolding.” I look up at the Chesnaught, glaring at him. “Do you honestly think she’ll even listen to me? That she’ll give me a chance to properly explain myself?”
“Well-” He starts but stops himself, a contemplative look replacing his expression.
“Yeah...that’s what I thought.” I mutter, averting my gaze from him. “She’ll never give me a chance, and even if she did...it won’t last. She’ll always treat me like some kid, even though I’m anything but.” That and she’ll always be a complete psychopath, however I didn’t say that particular sentence out loud.
An uncomfortable silence falls over us as we walk, but for me...I feel my mood growing worse. Several nasty thoughts pass through my mind, consisting of hurtful words and sentences I would like to shout at Artemisia. But of course I’d never say them to her, out of fear of what she might do.
Thankfully...the thought-process is quickly shattered by Rinako speaking up.
“I’ve found something.” The Medicham hybrid says, walking over to one of the trees. On its bark lays a scorched slash mark, the wood around it blackened from what may have been intense heat. She feels its surface with her fingers, her expression thoughtful. “Although I haven’t seen the hybrid with my own two eyes...” She turns her gaze to the rest of us. “...I believe this may be his work.”
Richmond snaps his book closed and tucks it under his arm, adjusting his glasses on his face he approaches the tree. He eyes it for a few moments before nodding. “This was certainly left by the hybrid.” He agrees.
Rinako looks back at the mark, her eyes narrowing. “It looks fresh, so the hybrid must be near.”
“Hey, I found more!” Another voice speaks up, and our eyes turn to the other Medicham hybrid that joined our group. The one dubbed ‘Dahlia’ is currently standing a good ways away, however near her are numerous trees showing the same marks. “It appears that ugly seems to have some anger issues.”
The Gothitelle named ‘Aster’ approaches Dahlia and examines the these markings. “These marks appear to contain no precision or thought, so my companion’s assumptions that these were delivered in a fit of anger may be correct.”
Dahlia rolls her eyes. “Come on, girl. I know my stuff.”
The Gothitelle turns to her, her eyes narrowing just a tad. “Most cases...you do.”
This makes Dahlia take a step back, her expression growing sheepish. The Gothitelle holds her gaze on the Medicham before walking away. The Mienshao called ‘Carnation’ that’s with them shakes her head, giving Dahlia a look that pretty much says ‘really?’.
I eye them with a mixture of confusion and curiosity. What the hell was that about?
“There is a disturbance...” Vedika mutters, but just loud enough for us to hear. Her blue eyes slowly lift up, her lips twitching. “An annoying...disturbance.”
All of us look at the Gothitelle/Jynx hybrid, several of us with expressions of wariness. I’m definitely in the whole ‘put-off’ category, since Vedika...definitely has several screws loose.
“What is it, Vedika?” Rodrigo asks, the Chesnaught looking at her with rapt attention.
She doesn’t respond however, instead her eyes turning from left to right.
“Wait...disturbance...” Rinako mutters, but her eyes slowly widen. “Hold on, I hear something! Quiet everyone!”
In utter silence we all listen with rapt attention, trying to pick something out. After a few moments of straining my ears I pick it up.
“...Shouting...” I say aloud, my voice quiet. My ears swivel towards the direction and I turn towards it, my eyes narrowing. “I hear shouting...”
The more I listen the more clear it becomes, whoever’s shouting sounds...angry. They sound very angry, and...they sound...
...familiar...
My eyes widen.
“It’s the hybrid!” I immediately say. “And it seems like they’re with someone, and it doesn’t sound good.”
“Then we must hurry!” Rodrigo says resolutely. “From what you’ve all described about this hybrid, if he is within the company of others then they are likely in danger!”
My claws slide out of the slits in my arms, my teeth bared. “Then what are we waiting for?! Let’s go!”
[PoV: Charlie]
I have to say, the anger on the fella’s face is kinda putting me off. I shuffle my feet, my smile becoming sheepish. “So...uh...” I start, chuckling nervously. “...do ya think ya’ll will let me int’a ya group?”
The Bisharp’s eyes narrow dangerously. “...Excuse me?!” He hisses.
I lean my head back slightly, tugging at the collar of my shirt. “Ya know...ya actin’ group?” I grin again, but seeing the confusion and frustration building on his face makes it waver. “Like...tha’ reason why ya are in this here forest?”
The Pokemon’s talons dig into the earth, creating deep grooves. “You think...I am an actor?” He growls.
I nod my head uncertainly. “...Yeah?”
“I AM NOT AN ACTOR!” He roars loudly, making me take a step back.
“Ya...aren’t?” I say nervously. “But what about earlier? Were ya actually tryin’ ta’-” I stop, noticing that the Pokemon’s mouth is widening. Inside his maw is a bright blue glow, and it gets brighter and brighter by the second.
“What are ya-” I start to ask only for him to unleash a powerful beam of raw blue energy. My eyes widen, my body standing frozen in fear as it approaches me at high speed.
And just before it hit...something tackles me out of the way.
I land on the ground roughly, the air being knocked right out of my lungs. Coughing violently I turn my head to look at who was it that saved my rear end, and to my surprise it’s an odd-looking Zangoose.
“Thank...Arceus...I got here in time.” He wheezes, his face sweating.
The loud sounds of footsteps hit my ears and I whip my head around, only to see eight more Pokemon arrive to the place.
Are they actors too?
No, the other fella said that he’s not an actor.
So...then this must be the real deal...?
“So you all followed me.” The hybrid growls, glaring at the group with open malice. “And you brought even more numbers with you.”
“This ends here.” The pure-bred Gothitelle says calmly, approaching the Bisharp with a closed umbrella in her hands. “This is your last chance. If you do not come along calmly, then you will leave us no choice but to use force to bring you in.”
The Bisharp clenches his fists, the...real blades on his arms glowing a bright blue. “Calmly?” He repeats, venom dripping from his voice. “You wish for me...to come with you...calmly?!”
The Gothitelle’s brows furrow, her grip tightening on her weapon. Behind her the numerous Pokemon also ready themselves, either drawing their weapons, channeling whatever power they have, or simply bringing up their fists.
“No...” The Bisharp says, shaking his head. “No...I’ve come too far for this to end.” He raises one of his arms, pointing the humming blades at the group. “I need to grow stronger, to end the ones who have destroyed my life.” The gaze from his eyes intensify, his lips twisting into a malicious grin. “And I will not let ANYONE stop me.”
He lets out a loud, primal roar. “I WILL TAKE YOU ALL ON!”
With that, he charges straight at the group.
“Hey buddy...” The Zangoose whispers to me. “I recommend staying on the sides, because things are about to get really ugly.” With that he leaps into the fray to aid his comrades, not waiting for my response.
Even with him already out of ear-shot, I still feel myself nodding numbly. “S-Sure thing...”
That hybrid was really trying to hurt me...