Montagne Khastil - Unranked - June 20 - Menhir Trail, Kalos
Monty stared into the fire as it crackled and popped, watching the sticks reduce to ashes as the logs finally started to catch. It had taken a few tries to get the fire going, but thanks to the wonders of modern technology (a lighter) it wasn't long before their camp was illuminated and the collapsible pot was put to use.
"Hungry?" Monty called out to Oracle, who was resting on her bedroll across the fire from him. She'd stayed in the same spot since they'd set up camp, her eyes closed and head down, and she hardly acknowledged her trainer. She made small movements with her head, her horn reflecting the firelight as it swayed back and forth, and Monty huffed and said, "Fine, ignore me. I'm hungry, though." He poured a water bottle into the pot for boiling, and as he waited for the water to bubble it occured to him that Oracle may be searching for disaster.
The criminal frowned, recalling Oracle's species' reputation as harbingers of disaster, but what could strike them now? He looked around, but there was nothing but forest. No storm clouds, no coasts close enough for a tsunami to sweep them away, and no mountain close enough for a rock slide to be a threat. Maybe an earthquake? Monty shuddered at the thought, but he'd never known Southwestern Kalos to be quake-prone.
Whatever. She could search for whatever she wanted, but he'd searching for a good meal option. Monty dug through the small stockpile of camp food that the PokeMart salesman suckered him into buying, settling on a thick packet of gratin dauphinois with bacon, and wagged it at Oracle. "What do you think of th-"
The Absol's eyes suddenly snapped open, and her head shot up and looked out into the forest. The shadows cast by the fire seemed to accentuate the darkness which surrounded them, and Monty was unnerved by his partner's sudden stirring as he scanned for whatever she had sensed. The night had gone strangely silent, the only sound being the crackle of the fire, and Monty half-held his breath as he listened for a sign of whatever spooked Oracle.
Their stalker had arrived. Oracle had sensed...something...on the edges of her horn's sensitivity intermittently throughout the day, the vibrations from its steps weak and hard to pin down by the time they reached her, but the vibrations had ceased entirely when the sun went down. It was...unnerving to say the least, made all the worse by useless Monty's obliviousness, and Oracle had grown tired of feeling like she was being hunted. Now she was the hunter, and their stalker was about to walk right into her trap.
Oracle felt quite pleased with herself and her brilliant plan, but it was a fleeting feeling as she sensed another set of footsteps approaching. Then another. Then...this could end up being a problem.
"AWOOOOOOOOOO!"
"A-A-AWOOOO!"
"AROOOOOOOOO!"
"RO-RO-ROOOO!"
An eerie chorus of howls erupted from the darkness, coming from all around as Monty and Oracle leapt to their feet in tandem. They were surrounded?! How many were there? What was even coming? Oracle's fur stood on end as she activated her Pressure, stifling the camp in the oppressive aura in preparation for battle. The howling cacophony was incredibly off-putting, and the sound was unlike anything Monty had heard before. It was a hungry sound, almost frantic with excitement, and the longer it went on the louder it got.
In perfect sync, the howling ceased, ushering a silence that was even louder than the howling was. Monty's blood pumped with anticipation, and his mind raced for something that would give them an edge against what sounded like a dozen opponents.
A solution clicked, and the criminal speedily dug through his pea coat pockets for the X-items, and grabbed one labeled "X-Attack". The criminal shouted to Oracle and tossed the capsule, which she snagged with a quick SNAP! of her jaws as the first of their opponents emerged from the darkness.
A low growl sounded as a Houndour limped from the shadows, the firelight glinting off its eyes and bone growths. It looked rough, clearly having taken a ton of recent damage, and Monty realized that it must be the Houndour from earlier. The Dark Pokemon's malice was palpable, and smoke poured from its nose as it exchanged glares with Oracle. It wasn't alone this time, though, and a pair of Houndour emerged at its flanks.
Before Monty could shout a command, Oracle was on the move. With a crackle of black sparks she SLAMMED! into one of the Houndour, sending it crashing back into the darkness before the other two could react. The battle had begun! Oracle's Pressure crashed over the remaining two, hindering their attempt at escape as the Absol's paws lit up with a bright-pink light; << Play Rough >>.
The injured Houndour rolled between Oracle's legs, popping up behind her as she set into the other one, but its companion was wide open! Her paws stomped down into the black-and-orange puppy, tearing into it with her claws and dealing super-effective Fairy damage, and it howled in pain as it flailed its legs in a fruitless defense.
Oracle sensed the injured Houndour jump up, but its attack wouldn't land! DID THESE PEONS NOT KNOW WHO SHE IS?! Oracle << Detected >> the incoming Bite, and she side-stepped off her battered opponent as her attacker collided with its companion. The Absol loomed over the pair, gathering energy in her horn for a Night Slash, and she raised her head up to swi-
"QUICK ATTACK, DODGE!"
WHOOOOSH!
Sensing the disturbed air from an incoming projectile, Oracle whirled around as she activated Quick Attack. An Ember was rapidly approaching from across the camp, and Oracle ducked underneath the ball of flame as she sprung forward at super speed to meet her new opponent. A fourth and fifth Houndour had revealed themselves, both of their noses pouring smoke as they prepared a second volley, but thanks to Quick Attack Oracle was faster.
She leapt up, contorting between the soaring Embers and crashing into her opponents, two legs each. The Absol THUMPED! to the ground as the two Houndour were sent rolling back into the shadows, but before she picked herself up she sensed a new opponent. A stronger opponent.
"DETECT!" useless Monty shouted, and Oracle obeyed unquestioningly as she rolled out the way as a roaring column of flame impacted the spot she'd just been in. The eerie howling erupted once again, the cacophony blaring from all around the camp, as at least ten Houndour stepped forward from the shadows.
Monty's heart dropped at the emergence. He'd heard that Route 10 was particularly prone to hordes, harboring several pack-bonded species, but most sources he'd found online said they rarely exceeded five or six Pokemon. This pack numbered a dozen, not counting the ones Oracle had already defeated, and the Houndour growled and barked, snapping their jaws in a frenzy. The anticipation of a meal was clear on their faces.
Shit, what was he supposed to do? Breath stuck in Monty's throat, and his heart POUND! POUND! POUNDED! in his chest as he thought back to the Tyrouge battle at the brothel. This was the same feeling as back then; fear. Would Oracle be able to handle so many? Would they be killed? Would he be eaten?
A sudden wave of Pressure poured off of Oracle, snapping Monty back to the present and riling up the Houndour even more. The Absol stood defiant against the odds, holding herself high and proud in the face of so many opponents. There wasn't a shred of fear in her posture nor her red eyes, which were wide with fury and disdain. She believed she could win, no, she was certain of her victory.
Resolve wouldn't even come close to what Monty sensed from his partner. She was livid that these Houndour would dare challenge her in the first place. Oracle's horn glowed in the firelight, a shining blade ready to cut down whoever would be foolish enough to be her first attacker, and her venomous glare struck each Houndour in the circle as she poised herself to strike.
A << Howl >> pierced the Houndours' barks and growls, and they immediately fell silent as a much larger black-and-orange dog revealed itself. Two horns curled back from its snarling face, and a long pointed tail lashed back and forth as it sized up Oracle. Monty didn't even need to bring up the PokeDex to recognize the menacing Pokemon; the skull like growths and the Houndours' subservience told him enough. They were facing a Houndoom.
The Houndoom let off furious barks, a clear challenge to Oracle who emanated Pressure in strong enough waves that some of the surrounding Houndour physically dipped down under the weight. One of them seemed to grow tired of waiting and it sprung at Oracle from her side, its jaws glowing with a << Bite >>, but before Monty could call for Detect the Houndoom sent a WOOSH! of flame at its subordinate.
Oracle stood unfazed as her attacker was blown backwards by Incinerate, howling in pain and writhing on the forest floor for a few seconds before going still. Holy shit, Houndoom killed it! The Houndoom barked again, whipping its head back and forth between its subordinates, and the message was made clear; they were not to interfere.
Who would make the first move? The two Dark-Types spent a small eternity sizing each other up, looking for an opening in their defenses and signs of an incoming attack. The Houndoom seemed content to wait for the Absol, and it bore a Nasty expression as though Plotting its first move.
Oracle was growing impatient, though. The Houndoom must have been the first peon smart enough to recognize her for the queen she was, and it seemed wary to be subjected to her might. Black sparks crackled up her legs at the same time as smoke began pouring from the Houndoom's nose, and Oracle SHOT! forward; straight into a wave of Incinerating fire!
The Absol SPRUNG! upward, wasting her Sucker Punch to dodge the Incinerate, but the Houndoom was ready for it. It leapt up, Fire spilling from its Fangs, but Oracle preemptively Detected the attack. She tucked her legs in mid air, falling just underneath the Houndoom's jump and Slashing at its belly with her dark-as-Night scythe.
The Houndoom grunted in surprise, and both Pokemon spun to face the other when they landed. The Night Slash only grazed the Dark Pokemon, failing to draw blood, and though little damage had been done both Pokemon had a better idea of who they were facing. Oracle's opponent was a cut above its minions, and she'd need to be wary of its quick foll-
"ROOOOAAAAR!"
The Houndoom Roared at the Absol, and her heart skipped a beat as she shut her eyes against the overwhelming noise. She heard useless Monty call her name through the noise, and she opened her eyes to see the Houndoom was already on her! Oracle tried to spring backward, shocked that she'd let herself be distracted so easily, but the attack was already connecting.
Houndoom RAMMED! its black-glowing horns into Oracle, throwing her backward toward the circle of Houndour. The puppies' skull caps were glowing black, too, and in quick succession they SLAMMED! into Oracle over and over. She was getting Beaten Up!
After several blows, the Houndour fell back into line and Oracle sunk to the ground. The Absol could barely hold her head up after the thrashing, and she glared at the Houndoom defiantly as it loomed over her. The camp was silent for a moment, until a different kind of uproar spread through the surrounding Houndour. They started yipping and yapping, a raucous display that contrasted the earlier barks and growls yet was eerie all the same; they were laughing.
The sound swirled around Monty. "Oracle," he whispered, staring at his partner. She was hurt. She was bleeding. Her glare remained furiously defiant, but her body was sinking further down with every passing second. Even her Pressure had almost completely subsided. The Houndoom joined in the jeering, gloating laughs of its subordinates.
"Oracle..." Monty world swirled around him, fear creeping up like smoke and clouding his vision. This wasn't how it was supposed to happen. She was supposed to be strong. They were supposed to be strong. So how could it already end like this, so soon?
Monty began to sway on his feet. They were supposed to get their first gym badge. They were going to get stronger than anyone in the Old Guard. He made her a promise, to get her back home when they were finished. He was going to keep it. It wouldn't end like this.
He may not have been a great trainer, but there was something Monty was good at. The criminal's body began to move on pure instinct, swiping a log from the smoldering fire and chucking it at the Houndoom. The Dark Pokemon ceased its laughing, snapping its head to the side and releasing an Incinerate, effectively taking the bait.
The flames' momentum dulled by their impact with the log, Monty dove through the Incinerate with his pea coat held in front of him. The coat caught the remaining flames and Monty tossed it to the side as the Houndoom, dumbfounded that a human would attack itself, prepared a Bite attack.
Monty wasn't afraid anymore. He wasn't scared to face a Pokemon. He wasn't scared of its attacks. He wasn't scared even of losing his life. Throwing himself into the heat of battle cleared the young man's mind, and for the first time in over half a year he felt like himself. Fighting was his element, his life, his pride, and if Oracle couldn't fight anymore, he would; and he'd win.
Time seemed to move in slow motion as Monty perceived the Houndoom's stance, anticipating its trajectory and side-stepping just as its jaws passed by. He knew he couldn't truly defeat the Houndoom, but he could get it into position to be defeated. The criminal shot his hands out, grabbing the Houndoom by the horns and TWISTING! with all his might.
Caught off-guard by the grapple, the Houndoom moved where Monty directed it, directly in front of the battered Absol. Monty wrenched upward, pulling the Houndoom onto its hind legs as it sprayed Incinerates wildly and exposing its belly to Oracle. She understood what she needed to do. Useless Monty had given her this opening, and she wouldn't waste it. Maybe he wasn't so useless, after all.
There was no gathering of energy. There was no shouted command, and there was no glory to be won in victory. From the first Houndour's appearance it started a battle of life and death, and Oracle gathered every last scrap of strength she had to THRUST! upward and end it the same way.
The Houndoom cried out, thrashing in Monty's grip, but the damage was already done. Oracle cleaved her horn downward, and the thrashing ceased. The battle was over.
Monty released his grip and the Houndoom sunk to the ground. There was a wild look in his eye and a wild grin on his face, and his voice was thick with the high of adrenaline as he spread his arms wide to address the shocked crowd of Houndour. "WHO ELSE?!"
Oracle stood high, too, her furious glare directed outward, and with a final pulse from her Pressure the Houndour started to scatter. Their yip-yap laughing had turned to scared whimpers, and all but one turned tail and ran. The remaining Houndour barked after its fleeing pack-mates, livid that they would run from a fight, and upon seeing the last one leave it turned to face Monty and Oracle.
The adrenaline high wore off, but Monty's mind was still clear. He didn't have anymore tricks to pull off, no coats left to sacrifice to the Houndour's ever-burning fire, and it took every effort from Oracle just to remain standing. The Houndour was a small target, harder to grab on to, and Monty assumed the only reason he'd managed to grapple the Houndoom was that it underestimated him.
Upon noticing which Houndour he was facing, a final trump card appeared in Monty's deck. It was the injured one, the same one they'd encountered that morning.
"This is the second time you've witnessed our strength!" The man shouted, confidence flooding from every syllable. "We beat you once! We beat your leader!" The Houndour kept growling, keeping low to the ground as Monty continued, "But you still think you can win against us?! Even now?! Look at you!" Monty started laughing at the Houndour, jeering at it the same way its comrades did Oracle. "You're weak!"
The Houndour's growling continued, though it seemed half-hearted. Monty's words seemed to be getting through. "But-" he continued, "-you don't have to stay weak! You already proved you were stronger than those others when they ran away and you stayed!" The Houndour's growling ceased altogether, and while its expression remained hostile it puffed its chest up a bit.
"Don't you want to get stronger?!" Monty asked. "Don't you want to be as strong as us?" The criminal's slipped a hand into his pants pocket, retrieving the dormant Dusk Ball. He expanded it to full size and crouched down, getting onto the Houndour's level. "Join our team," Monty said, holding the green-and-black ball out. "We're already the most powerful in the entire Kalos region. Everyone else just doesn't know it yet. And you can be right up there with us."
The three left in camp stood still for a moment, the fire casting flickering shadows over each of them as they waited for the Houndour's decision. Eventually it padded up to the Monty, investigating the Dusk Ball with its powerful nose, and Monty pressed the button to its skull-capped forehead.
The ball shook once...twice...thrice...and sounded a satisfying click. The strength gone from both of them, Monty and Oracle dropped to the ground at the same time, him onto his ass and her onto her legs. They'd survived the horde. They'd proved who was stronger. Monty looked at his partner, who regarded him with tired eyes, and said "I wasn't just bluffing. We are gonna be the strongest. Everyone else won't know what hit 'em."
The criminal lifted a hand to pat his partner, but she just fixed him with an irritated glare as she began licking her wounds. "Oh, right! Sorry, I'll grab the Potions!"
