(4) V1 - Chapter IV

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"Holy shit! I found someone, thank god." The man pants, leaning to place his hands on his knees, gasping for air, "Please — please help my group. You know — that, that Scyther, yeah? It's — attacked my group and they're — not dealing with it too — well. You don't have to, but please help in — some way, like get a ranger to help deal with it." He says, gasping for air in between words. 

"You've already found the Scyther? What were its stats looking like?" Kasumi asks, if she was to fight the Scyther, she wants to at least know what she and her Vulpix were up against. 

"Here, just looks." He states, chucking his unlocked PokePhone at Kasumi who catches it quickly. 

____

Scyther: Level 17. (70/919 EXP)

Growth rate: Medium-Fast

Nature: Serious

National No. 0123

Type: Bug, Flying

Species: Mantis Pokemon 

Height: 1.5 m (4'11")

Weight: 56.0 kg (123.5 lbs)

Abilities: Swarm, Technician, Steadfast (hidden ability) 

Known moves: Leer (Normal), Quick Attack (Normal), Fury Cutter (Bug), False Swipe (Normal), Wing Attack (Flying), Double Team (Normal), Feint (Normal), Silver Wind (Bug), Aerial Ace (Flying), Double Hit (Normal)

Stats: 50/50 HP, 42 ATK, 32 DEF, 23 SP.ATK, 32 SP.DEF, 40 SPD.

____

"Tch. Still stronger than Vulpix." Kasumi mumbles under her breath, "What HP did you get it down to? Your PokePhone didn't say." 

"By now? Hopefully around 32 but last I checked we were sitting at 38." The man replies, finally getting his breath back and standing up properly. 

"38… that would take roughly 4 Flame Charges. Has Scyther been affected by any status-related moves?" 

"We've used Growl 3 times, Acid Spray once, Fake Tears once, and Leer 2 times." 

"So that'll decrease Scyther's SP. DEF by 2, DEF by 1, and ATK by 3. That'll still take about 3 or 4 Flame Charges, possibly more.. and Scyther is faster by 16… hmm… do you have any Rock-Type Pokemon?" 

"No. Please help- they're probably dying right now, please, I'm begging—"

"It's not up to me." Kasumi states firmly, turning her head to look at Vulpix, "Want to fight a losing battle? Your stats are all lower than the Scyther but there are other Pokemon there, they can distract it and you can get the hits in. So, how about it? You heard me before, it'll take 3 Flame Charges, probably more, do you have it in you?" 

"Vulpix!" She yaps in reply, her conviction and determination shining in not just her voice, but her eyes too. 

"Atta girl. Alright, we'll help, but, you and the other need to be a distraction. Tell me details as we run." Kasumi chucks the PokePhone back to the man as she speaks. 

She breaks into a sprint, the man following suit as he speaks, "We have a total of 4 Pokemon that haven't fainted, a Bunnelby, a Tentacool, a Growlithe and a Corphish. They're levels 8, 10, 9 and 9 respectively. All of them are about half health. I can't say much more since I don't know their movesets or nature and other stuff, just that we need to hurry. If you're wondering about my Pokemon, it's fainted and in its ball so it can't fight. Thank you so, so much for helping. I'll pay you back, we all will." 

"As I said, it wasn't my decision to make, thank Vulpix for saying she's up for the fight," Kasumi replies, skidding to a stop as she enters a new clearing, one where multiple trainers are injured on the floor, Pokemon bloody and banged up, some possibly dead. "There were this many of you and you couldn't even get it to half health?" Kasumi mumbles under her breath. 

"Alright, Vulpix, when there is an opening, hit the Scyther with Ember as many times as you can. If you catch its attention, lead it into the forest, there's more coverage, and it is easier to dodge and avoid attacks, okay? It'll hinder your vision of it but it's marginally safer. Don't worry if it comes at me, just keep attacking. Use Ember and Flame Charge, preferably Ember so you don't get too close. Show them what you're made of." 

"Vul~Pix!" 

Vulpix leaps off of Kasumi's shoulder, zigzagging through all the chaos. The Scyther is currently preoccupied with fighting the Tentacool and Growlithe, using Wing Attack and Double Hit consecutively. It seems that those are its preferred moves.

"Growlithe, use Ember!" A woman shouts as loud as she can, Kasumi looks over to an injured woman coughing blood in her hands, slumped against a tree. 

Shaking her head, Kasumi focuses on the battle again. The Scythers looked up, now staring dead at the woman who shouted her commands. It darts toward her, easily escaping the two Pokemon currently attacking it and swinging a bladed claw at her. She shrieks, flinching heavily but the Scyther is hit by an Ember, dodging the other two Embers, only getting hit because it was too focused on the woman to have realised it was being attacked again. The Scyther stops mid-swing, turning to face the Pokemon that just injured it. 

*Ping* <<Vulpix 9 has dealt damage!>>

Kasumi internally smirks, praising Vulpix in her head. The Scyther dashes at Vulpix, who has seemingly anticipated this and already jumped out of the way before it could get too close, firing another Ember at the Mantis Pokemon which it evaded.

Turning her attention back to the injured woman, Kasumi runs over, making it there quickly, and kneels by her. "Do you have bandages in your bag?" 

"N-No, I don't." The woman sniffles, leaning her head back against the tree and closing her eyes. "I'm going to die here, aren't I? Haven't even made it to the first gym and I'm already out for the count. FUCK!" She swings her hand and hits it against the tree. "I'm so fucking useless, Growlithe is going to die because of me." 

"No. Neither of you are going to die. Vulpix and I will sort this out, don't worry. I'll get you all to the PokeCentre as soon as the battle is over. You can recall Growlithe if you think that they're going to die." Kasumi says firmly, placing a hand on the woman's shoulder. Since when did she start being caring towards humans? Maybe it's because they're all heavily injured and she's not? 

She takes her backpack off, handing it to the woman, "I've got basic medical supplies in here, for humans, that is. It's in the front pocket. Patch yourself—" 

*Ping* <<Vulpix 9 has dealt damage!>> 

"—up and hide somewhere out of sight. I'll call out when the battle is done. Since you're one of the least injured, help the others too and tell them the same thing." 

The woman nods at Kasumi's words, opening her bag up. Kasumi stands up, focusing back on the battle. So far, Vulpix hasn't been hit but she's getting tired, she can tell. Her movements are getting more sluggish by the minute. 

"Vulpix! Try and use Quick Attack but not as a method of dealing damage! Keep the Move going so it increases your speed!" Kasumi shouts, hoping Vulpix can hear her over all the noise produced by the fighting Pokemon. Bunnelby is no longer there — must've been returned to their Pokeball — so it's now only Vulpix, Growlithe, Tentacool and Corphish. Corphish seems ready to collapse, Tentacool's floating unsteadily and looks to be in an extremely fragile state and Growlithe's fur is covered in blood, whether it's its own or something else's is unknown.

Scyther, if their health was at 38, should be down to about 20 health seeing as Vulpix is the only one that's actually landing hits on the Mantis Pokemon. Even so, it hasn't slowed down in the slightest and has managed to hit Vulpix with a Fury Cutter just now. 

*Ping* <<Vulpix 14 36 has taken damage! (14 HP)>> 

Fourteen damage even at a Type-disadvantage? Kasumi thinks to herself, not the worst, but not the best. 

Vulpix managed to gain some distance from the Scyther after being hit back with that Fury Cutter, though not coming out unscathed. Blood drips down Vulpix's side, tinting her fur a deep crimson, wobbling slightly while trying to stand straight.

"I'm going to draw its attention! When you see a chance to strike, take it and use Flame Charge!" Kasumi shouts to Vulpix, garnering the Scyther's attention like she wanted. She smirks. Her speed stat is higher so, if she stays focused on the battle, she won't get hit. 

The Scyther lets out a shrill, high-pitched screech and flies over to Kasumi at full speed, getting to Kasumi in no time at all, swinging one of its blade-like claws at her. She quickly manoeuvres out of the way, the blade swinging a few centimetres away from her before the Scyther tries again, though not before it's hit in the back of the head by a flaming Vulpix, burning bright with its active Flame Charge. 

*Ping* <<Vulpix 17 has dealt damage! (Critical)>> 

Kasumi quickly jumps away and unlatches one of her empty Pokeballs from her belt, pressing the centre so it subtly glows and throws it at the, now heavily injured, Scyther. The ball opens up when it reaches the halfway mark, pulling the Scyther into it with a soft white and red glow, closing once it's inside and dropping to the floor. 

It shakes the first time, "Vulpix get ready to Quick Attack it if it comes out." 

It shakes the second time, "Oi! Why do you get to catch that Scyther?!" Comes a yell from in the shrubbery. Kasumi pays it no mind, all her attention is locked on that shaking Pokeball. 

It shakes the third time, "Oh be quiet, she literally saved us all, you idiot! It's fair!" 

And… it stills, the little ding from the ball signalling that Scyther had been caught. "Would you look at that, Vulpix. We did it." 

Kasumi walks over to the Pokeball on the ground, picking it up with a small smile playing on her lips. "Our second member of the team." 

"Vulpix!" 

*Ping* <<Wild Scyther has been caught!>>, <<+1004 EXP to Vulpix, +502 ???>>, <<Vulpix is now level 11! Stats have increased.>>, <<Vulpix is now level 12! Stats have increased.>>, <<Vulpix is now level 13! Stats have increased.>>, <>

____

???: Level 12. (157/586 EXP)

Growth rate: Slow

Nature: Modest

National No. ???

Type:???

Species: ???

Height: 1.795 m (5'10")

Weight: 62.8kg (138.45 lbs)

Abilities: ???

Known moves: Transform? (Normal), Cosmic Power (Psychic), Seismic Toss (Fighting), Gravity (Psychic), Quick Attack (Normal), Confusion (Psychic), Take Down (Normal), Agility (Psychic), Protect (Normal), Swift (Normal), Reflect (Psychic)

Stats: 105/105 HP, 51 ATK-, 57 DEF, 78 SP.ATK+, 57 SP.DEF, 59 SPD.

____

Vulpix: Level 13. (97/547 EXP)

Growth rate: Medium-Fast

Nature: Timid

National No. 0037

Type: Fire

Species: Fox Pokemon 

Height: 0.6 m (2'00")

Weight: 9.9kg (21.8 lbs)

Abilities: Flash Fire, Drought (hidden ability) 

Known moves: Ember (Fire), Tail Whip (Normal), Disable (Normal), Quick Attack (Normal), Baby-Doll Eyes (Fairy), Flame Charge (Fire), Growl (Normal)

Stats: 42/44 HP, 17 ATK-, 19 DEF, 30 SP.ATK, 25 SP.DEF, 29 SPD+.

____

*Ping* <<Scyther has been added to the team! Stats have marginally altered.>>

Altered?

____

Scyther: Level 17. (70/919 EXP)

Growth rate: Medium-Fast

Nature: Adamant

National No. 0123

Type: Bug, Flying

Species: Mantis Pokemon 

Height: 1.5 m (4'11")

Weight: 56.0 kg (123.5 lbs)

Abilities: Swarm, Technician, Steadfast (hidden ability) 

Known moves: Leer (Normal), Quick Attack (Normal), Fury Cutter (Bug), False Swipe (Normal), Wing Attack (Flying), Double Team (Normal), Feint (Normal), Silver Wind (Bug), Aerial Ace (Flying), Double Hit (Normal)

Stats: 19/66 HP, 63 ATK+, 37 DEF, 25 SP.ATK-, 37 SP.DEF, 47 SPD.

____

Not only did the nature change but so did the stats… how bizarre… I wonder if Vulpix's stats also changed when she became part of my team. Kasumi pondered on that thought for a moment, shrugging, and moving on to something more pressing, the casualties of this fight. 

"It's safe to come out now!" Kasumi yells, the people hidden in the bushes coming out slowly, some dragged or carried by the more able. 

"Thanks for saving us!" One man says, happy despite the exhaustion showing plain as day on his face. Kasumi just nods. 

He seems to be one of the least affected, many are throwing up, coughing, dry heaving, bleeding and bloody, broken-boned, unconscious, and the worst, dead.

"Does anyone have a potion I can use to get Vulpix's health back up? If not, that's fine, but we're going to need you all to get your Pokemon out of their Pokeballs, it'll help deter the weaker Pokemon roaming the forest, and, if we do get attacked, we can dispose of them quickly." She asks, reaching down and lifting Vulpix into her arms, whispering to her, "I'm sorry, you'll have to stay on guard and ready to fight for a little while longer. Once we reach the PokeCentre, you can have a much-needed break, alright?" 

"Vul!" 

Kasumi nods, looking back up at the group of people whispering to each other in hushed voices. One of them, a woman, decides to speak up, "I have a potion, only the one, but it should help." She chucks the potion at Kasumi who catches it, twisting off the cap and spraying it on Vulpix's most injured areas like her side and front paw. 

*Ping* <<Potion 14 has been used. Vulpix's health increased —> 34.>> 

"Thank you," Kasumi says, chucking the half-used potion back at the woman who fails at catching it, earning a couple of snickers from the people around her. The laughing doesn't last long as the group goes back to a sombre mood. It's not a surprise, some of their companions have died, both Pokemon and human. Most are injured in some way, shape or form. The battle with the Scyther must've hit home, showcasing what it truly means to be a trainer, and what it truly means to go out and battle with and against Pokemon. It's not all happy, it's not all smiles and laughs, it's not all adrenaline and dopamine. It can be brutal, it can be bloody, it can be fatal. It's better that they've learnt of this revaluation sooner rather than later.

Kasumi walks over to where her bag lays on the ground, swinging it over her shoulder. "Alright! Everyone that's able needs to carry an injured person. When I say injured, I mean the ones that cannot walk without further worsening their injury, those that are unconscious and so on." 

At this point, Kasumi is proving to be a pillar of strength to these people, even without realising it. She's keeping them held together, stopping them from collapsing and panicking.

She's not affected by all of this, she's a Pokemon too, she's been in many battles growing up so she's already accustomed to how brutal it can be. Vulpix, on the other hand, is trembling ever so slightly. The only reason she didn't flee was because of Kasumi and their bond which is growing stronger by the second, giving her strength.

The group nods, lifting up the injured into their arms. It seems most of them are struggling, not used to carrying anything remotely heavy. Kasumi stares at them blankly, sighing. 

"Uhm! There are two people left, we can't just leave them!" A man calls out, and Kasumi walks over. 

"I'll carry them." She says simply, taking her bag off, placing Vulpix on the ground and lifting the unconscious woman into her arms. "Can you get on my back?" Kasumi asks the man with two very mangled and bloody legs. Most of the blood has dried and clotted but it's obvious that it's still bleeding. Why has no one performed even the most basic first aid? 

"Yeah, I think. Sorry, I'm rather heavy so if you can't carry me then I'll just stay here and wait." He says, holding onto Kasumi's shoulders and clambering onto her back, taking Kasumi's bag with him and hoisting it on his shoulder. 

"You're not heavy," Kasumi responds, well, he isn't heavy to her since she has superior strength to humans but that's left unsaid. "You'll have to keep yourself on my back, I can't hold both you and this woman." 

She can feel the man nod against her back, "Thank you. Uhm, I'm Dan, the woman you're carrying is my sister, she's called Hazel. Thank you so much for saving us all, we were about to all die, quite literally, if you didn't arrive when you did. You and your Vulpix are a great team!" 

"I didn't do much, it's all Vulpix's effort, I just guided her and told her what moves she could do in this scenario." 

"Still, you're a great trainer to be able to do that and come here with no fear! I wouldn't have been able to do that, and I'm sure no one else here would've been able to do that. I'll never be able to thank you enough. If we meet again and you need anything, literally anything, I'll do my best to give it to you." 

"There's no need." Kasumi shakes her head and Vulpix yaps at her heel. "Hear something?" She asks, it's possible Vulpix heard something before her since she's been distracted. Vulpix shakes her head but just nods at a man coming toward her, holding another unconscious man in his arms. It's the same guy that asked for her help with the Scyther in the first place. 

"You are one brave woman." He says, grinning at Kasumi like a fool. 

"Thank you?" 

"How about, as soon as we are back at the PokeCentre, I treat you to a meal? Huh, thoughts?" 

"I'm alright. I'll just take a break with Vulpix for a day and head back into the forests." Kasumi turns him down, oblivious to the fact he is attempting to hit on her. 

He nods his head, "Aw, alright. If we meet again, my offer still stands." 

"Okay?"