Chapter 28: Gorm

Heath suspiciously watched the elderly man leave. He had a feeling it was Zorua in disguise, but without confirmation, he couldn't be sure—especially since the old man had no tail.

"I just don't get it," Heath shook his head. Maybe Zorua was just being cautious? Nonetheless, Heath was impressed that Zorua could resist his favorite sweet and sour pork ribs for so long.

"Human! Over here!" Just as Heath was about to head home to watch TV and get some rest, he heard a familiar voice.

Heath turned around but saw nothing. The telepathic voice, however, made him realize Zorua was nearby.

"Where are you?" Heath asked, looking around. Watching anime never gave him this feeling, but now, faced with Zorua's illusions, Heath felt their true strength.

"To your back right, just walk over here," Zorua continued telepathically. Following the instructions, Heath walked over and saw a Caterpie on the ground.

The Caterpie blended perfectly with the grass, making it almost invisible. Heath looked at it, thinking Zorua must be the Caterpie.

"So that old man wasn't you?" Heath reached out to poke the Caterpie, feeling its soft, squishy body like a real one.

"Who said this Caterpie was me?" To Heath's surprise, another Caterpie fell from a tree, landing in front of him.

Heath looked from one Caterpie to the other, awkwardly retracting his hand. He had clearly misunderstood.

"That old man! He's bad! He captured me and brought me here!" The Caterpie, looking adorably dumbfounded, trembled in fear, likely intimidated by Farfetch'd.

Meanwhile, Zorua's telepathic voice continued in Heath's mind. Heath admired Zorua's disguise skills—it was truly impressive.

Zorua's words made Heath wary. If that old man had captured Zorua, then he must be Gorm from Team Plasma.

Heath paused, trying to recall Gorm's Pokémon. Since he was here for Zorua, it made sense.

"Leek!" As Heath pondered, Farfetch'd suddenly struck, and the sound of something shattering came from behind Heath. Turning around, he saw a Cofagrigus standing there.

"Cofagrigus!" Heath was startled. When had it appeared?

"It's that annoying creature!" Zorua shrieked, the Caterpie moving at an uncharacteristic speed.

Soon, Zorua stopped as Gorm, accompanied by a Sigilyph, stood there, smiling.

"I wondered why I couldn't sense your psychic waves for so long. Turns out you were waiting for me to leave, Zorua," Gorm said, smiling at Zorua, ignoring Heath and Farfetch'd.

"What do you want? Aren't you just a traveler?" Heath stood up, wary of Gorm.

Heath's situation wasn't great, caught between foes. But he wasn't too worried. Farfetch'd's abilities had proven useful, and Gorm likely didn't know about its modified traits, so an element of surprise was on Heath's side.

Additionally, Heath had other tricks up his sleeve.

"Sorry, kid. Let me introduce myself. I'm Gorm, Zorua's owner. Come back, Zorua," Gorm smiled, though his Cofagrigus and Sigilyph looked anything but friendly.

"I won't go back! You despicable scoundrels!" Zorua twisted angrily, and another Cofagrigus appeared.

"Nice, but useless," Gorm clapped, taking out a device and pressing it. Zorua's body twisted, returning to its original form.

"Farfetch'd! Tackle!" Heath glanced at Gorm, realizing he had something to counter Zorua's illusions.

Gorm ignored Heath, seeing Farfetch'd charging at Cofagrigus. Tackle wouldn't affect the ghost-type Cofagrigus.

A rookie move, Gorm thought.

"Now!" Heath shouted as Gorm remained indifferent and Cofagrigus sneered. Suddenly, Farfetch'd stopped its Tackle, its wing glowing with fire, and punched Cofagrigus with a Fire Punch.

Caught off guard, Cofagrigus took the full brunt of the Fire Punch, its face scorched black by the fiery energy. It let out an angry cry and used Psychic to envelop Farfetch'd.

However, Farfetch'd seemed unfazed, delivering another Fire Punch to Cofagrigus's face.

"Cofagrigus, stop playing. Use Dark Pulse!" Gorm frowned, watching Zorua struggle with Sigilyph.

Cofagrigus responded, but a second later, its wail echoed again. Gorm turned to see Farfetch'd land another Fire Punch.

Although the Fire Punch didn't significantly harm Cofagrigus, its previously menacing face now looked almost comical.

Gorm frowned, puzzled. Had Dark Pulse missed the young man's Farfetch'd?

Gorm now took Heath seriously, realizing he had been underestimated. However, Zorua was nearly exhausted, and Gorm wasn't worried. A little more time was all he needed.

"Heath! You jerk!" Just as Gorm felt victory was near, a fiery figure charged from afar. Gorm's face changed, but before he could act, Maple Jenny, still in her uniform, arrived on her Arcanine.

"Sister Maple! This guy's a bad person!" Heath waved happily. Reinforcements had finally arrived.

(End of the chapter)