"I don't think you're going to find it, bud." Simon informed his Pokémon, who had been tracking
something for a good ten minutes now. Simon stopped at a large tree and leaned against it. "We're starting to wander off of the path. Come'on, let's head back towards the group." Shadow was still focused on the
whatever-it-was. Simon whistled sharply and turned around. His foot froze in mid-air as he went to make his first step.
Something with big eyes and a lot of white fur blocked his way back to the path. It growled and shifted back and forth on its two small feet.
'What. Is that?' Very slowly Simon reached into his pocket. He activated his Pokédex and pointed it at the creature, covering the main speaker with his thumb.
A muffled beep sounded and the Pokédex obediently recited the appropriate information.
NameMankey
ClassificationPig Monkey Pokémon
Height/Weight1'08" / 0.5m | 61.7lbs / 28.0kg
Type
DescriptionLight and agile on its feet, and ferocious in temperament. When angered, it flies into an uncontrollable frenzy.
'I'd say it's pretty angry right now.' Simon pulled his only occupied Pokéball out and threw it up into the air.
"Let's go Pidgey." Simon called.
'Sorry you don't have a name yet.' he apologized silently. From the thrown Pokéball a bright light shone. Then Simon's new Pidgey emerged with a battle cry of its own. The Mankey looked up at the circling bird. It began muttering angrily and hopping back and forth in an agitated manner. While the fighting Pokemon's attention was focused elsewhere Simon glanced over his shoulder. Shadow was running back towards his trainer.
'Good boy.' Simon thought. He re-focused on the battle.
"Alright Pidgey, use tackle!" Simon ordered. Pidgey let out a cry and folded it's wings close to it's body. Like a guided missile the bird flew down toward Mankey. The Mankey stood still with its arms crossed. The air around the Pokémon seemed to...shift.
'No...is that...something's glowing? What is that?' Simon squinted as he tried to figure out what the glowing orbs around the Mankey were. Then Pidgey's attack connected on Mankey's left side.
The orbs vanished. Mankey's feet left furrows in the dirt as it was forced sideways by Pidgey's blow. With a short cry and rapid beats of her wings Pidgey rose back into the air.
Mankey gave a low and angry cry. It glared up at the Pidgey. It's eyes glinting with something like malice.
'Oh no...that's leer.' Simon pulled out Pidgey's Pokéball. Then he hesitated.
'She can do it.' he decided. "Pidgey, tackle him again!" he called.
Pidgey dove again. This time her attack hit Mankey low and centered, causing a cry of pain to come from the fighting Pokémon. Pidgey's wings beat against Manky's fur as she fought to get airborne again..
Too slow! Mankey's claws raked through the air and connected with Pidgey's body in a fierce scratch attack. "No!" Simon cried out in dismay. Shadow began to growl. The trainer shook his head and looked at the ground, expecting to see his Pidgey beaten and battered. But the ground was empty save for torn blades of grass.
'Huh?'
There was a triumphant but weak squawk from the sky. Simon looked up. His Pidgey was airborne again. But she was obviously favoring on wing and there were bloody scratches on her flank. Simon sighed in relief.
'I can't let her get that close again' he thought. He needed something to lower the Mankey's accuracy.
'But Pidgey doesn't know Sand Attack yet.' Not good.
"Shadow." Simon looked down. The Poochyena next to his foot yipped in response. "I need you to take over now."
"
Cheee" Shadow shifted his stance and growled at the Mankey.
"Good boy." Simon said with a brief smile. He looked up again. Since he hadn't given an attack order yet his Pidgey was circling the Mankey. The irritated Pokemon was trying to jump and scratch the bird again but was unable to reach. Pidgey's circle became choppy and erratic.
"You did well, Pidgey. Come back now." Simon said. He pointed the Pokéball toward the sky. A red beam of light shot out from the device and hit Pidgey. Red light covered the bird Pokemon then in a flash it was gone. The injured Pokémon was returned safely to its Pokéball. The Mankey, it's prey now vanished, turned toward Simon and waved its arms angrily.
"Okay, Shadow. Go get 'em. Use howl then tackle!" Before Simon had finished his sentence the grey-furred Pokemon was already running toward Mankey. As the Poochyena ran it gave a low growl and its fur began to stand on end. The growl turned into a all-out howl. Mankey answered the battle cry of its own. One of Mankey's legs shot out in a low sweeping kick. Shadow leapt forward, over the kick, and smashed its weight into Mankey. The off-balance Pokemon tumbled to the ground.
"Nice!" Simon felt a bit of his tension drain away at the somewhat humorous scene. He slid Pidgey's Pokéball into his pocket and walked closer to the battling Pokémon. Mankey slashed its claws at Shadow. The Poochyena yelped and hopped backwards. Shadow shook his head briskly. Then he dashed forward and tackled Mankey again. This time he hit roughly in the center of Mankey's 'forehead'.
'Well if it had a forehead. Simon thought. The Mankey made an odd squealing sound then collapsed to the ground. Simon hurried to close the distance to the battleground.
He found Shadow perched on top of Mankey, and the Mankey...
Simon started laughing. The Mankey was out cold, it's left paw twitching ever-so-slightly. "Looks like you beat him, bud." Simon told his Pokémon with a smile. Shadow yipped and jumped down to the ground. With his hind legs he scratched a bit of dirt on top of the unconscious Pokemon. Simon didn't really feel a need for such an bad tempered Pokémon to be in his group so he left the unconscious Pokémon to recover. "Let's go, Shadow." he said.
'Speaking of recovery...' Simon walked until he was a safe distance from the battle-zone. He pulled out Pidgey's Pokéball and tossed it lightly onto the ground. His Pidgey emerged in a flash of white light. The wounded Pokémon hopped a few small steps on the ground, but did not try to fly.
"You did well." Simon said gently. "I'm sorry you were hurt." He picked up the Pokemon in one hand and shrugged his backpack off so that it dropped to the ground. With his free hand he rummaged around until he found a small green and purple plastic container with a nozzle and a trigger device. The Pidgey began to shake every-so-slightly and made sounds of distress. Simon began to quietly whistle a low tune and curled his arm so that the bird was leaning against his chest. He aimed the Potion at the scratches on Pidgey's side and pulled the trigger. As the clear mist fell on the wounds they began to slowly disappear.
When the Potion was half-emptied Pidgey stopped shaking and gave a soft warble. Simon paused the application.
'These things work really well' he had to admit. Simon smiled then returned to his task. He carefully finished applying the rest of the Potion. When the container was empty Simon stuck it back into his pack. Pidgey hopped to the ground without showing any signs of pain. She stretched her wings experimentally and then settled them back against her sides.
Shadow stepped forward, his muzzle low to the ground. Pidgey hopped from side to side then turned her head in a curious fashion. The Poochyena yipped several times and rose up on its hind legs. Then Shadow stilled. Pidgey gave a series of chirps and squawks and ducked her head.
'I'd almost swear they were talking.' Simon thought with a slow shake of his head. If only his Pokédex could function as a translator. Simon stood up and put his backpack one first one, then both shoulders. He looked down at the two Pokemon.
"You still need a name." He informed the small Pidgey. The bird Pokémon looked up. Simon continued speaking and made a short waving gesture. "How about..."
