After leaving the gym Simon walked back to the Poké Mart. He purchased a few more items in preparation for the boss battle. He also purchased a few items 'just because'. Something about seeing the gym made him want to be prepared for as much as he could. In the end Simon ended up with more potions, some antidotes, something that claimed to heal paralysis, something that woke Pokémon up, and two of the foul-smelling bottles of repellant. The Poké Mart attendant was nice enough to put those in a separate bag.
Simon and Shadow wandered the town for a bit, looking for Pokémon to battle. When their search, or rather, Simon's search, was unsuccessful he decided to return to their previous battleground. It took about five minutes to find the right spot. Simon was somewhat disappointed when they arrived. The two Caterpie that had been knocked unconscious were nowhere in sight. But in the clearing, perfectly stationary, was a single Pokémon. One that looked familiar. Simon pulled out his Pokédex and aimed it at the green creature. The machine beeped twice then before displaying the appropriate information:
011 Metapod
Cocoon Pokémon
HT 2' 04"
WT 21.8 lbs.
It prepares for evolution by hardening its shell as much as possible to protect its soft body.
"This should be easy enough. Alright...Shadow, go!" Simon pointed at the Metapod as he gave an his energetic instruction.
In response to his trainer's command Shadow dropped down onto the grass. And then lay down on his side. His muzzle wide opened in a toothy yawn.
"Shadow..." Simon frowned at his Pokémon. "Come on. Let's go?"
"
"Cheee..." Shadow stuck his tongue out and panted deliberately. Following that move he raised his front paw and swiped it over his muzzle. Crumbs from the sandwich he'd consumed dropped to the grass.
Simon tilted his head slightly in confusion. He settled on an explanation that he could accept. "Okay. You did just eat. So you...you get a break. For now." Simon sighed quietly. This was not going as planned. But that was okay, he had more options. "Pen, let's go!" Simon tossed a Pokéball into the air.
"
Pidgeeeya" Pen emerged with an energetic cry.
'Now that's more like it.' Simon thought. He grinned and once again pointed to the Metapod. The green creature was still sitting in the grass filled clearing.
"Pen, tackle it!"
"
Pidg!" Pennant flew in a tight circle, then swooped down from the sky. Folding her wings the bird Pokémon became a high-speed missile with one target.
Simon watched the attack with his hands curled into light fists. Pennant hit the Metapod solidly with a loud sound of impact. Dirt and grass, stirred up from the impact, momentarily obscured Simon's view.
"Nice job." he said as he shifted his stance to try and see better. He heard Pen give an answering cry and the sound of wings beating rapidly. The Pidgey rose up into the air. And the Metapod...
"What? Really?" Simon blinked to clear his vision. Perhaps he was seeing things?
"Huh..." Unfortunately, he wasn't. The Metapod appeared unharmed. And it had an odd sheen to its shell. It almost looked like it was polished to a shine.
Simon brought his Pokédex out and re-read the entry.
"It hardens its shell...." he muttered. "That must be it." So it wasn't going to be an easy knockout. "That's okay, we'll try again. Pen, use Tackle!"
Still overhead Pennant circled the Metapod. She hovered for a few seconds and then began to circle again, this time faster. Loose dirt and grass began to rise underneath the Pidgey as she gained speed.
"That's it...." Simon narrowed his eyes and held his arm over his face to protect himself from the stirring debris. The whistling sound of wind increased as the attack continued to build.
[small]"
Chee? Cheeee!"[/small] From somewhere behind Simon, Shadow yipped. Simon assumed it was a complaint about the debris.
Pen gave a cry and dived towards the Metapod. The green Pokémon raised its head, its body still gleaming brightly.
"
Yen!" Shadow's cry interrupted Simon's focus.
"What is it?" He asked, starting to turn around. "I need to focus on-
Woah!" Simon lunged sideways as a wall of yellow and black filled his field of vision. He got a fleeting glimpse of red eyes before something sharp tore into his side. Simon gave a startled cry as whatever it was ripped the fabric of his t-shirt with ease. At the end of his lunge Simon hit the ground hard. He rolled twice before coming to a stop. Quickly Simon slid his bag off and scrambled to his feet. He wanted to be unencumbered for...whatever it was. He wasn't a strong fighter but his father had taught him a few of the basics. Simon centered his body, prepared to face...
A bug. A large bug. A Pokémon.
"What in the world?" Simon kept his partial guard up but stared at the Pokémon in confusion. He thought he'd been attacked by a irate human. An irate Pokémon didn't make any sense. The bug buzzed loudly, waving its pointed limbs in the air.
A sharp howl pierced through the sound of the creature's rapid wing beats. Shadow darted to his trainer's side. The Poochyena's fur stood on end, and its teeth were revealed by the low rumbling growl Shadow switched to making.
The yellow and black stripped Pokémon hovered in the air above where Simon had once stood. Its sharp needled appendages were waving rapidly as it made a second series of buzzing sounds. Simon shifted his gaze to where he'd last seen the Metapod. Pen was perched on top of the Pokémon with her wings folded and her head tilted down. She had obviously noticed the bug but hadn't moved yet.
'Stay.' Simon pleaded silently. He didn't know if Pen could take this new contender. He did allow a few seconds of triumph at Pen's victory.
At Simon's feet, Shadow was still growling.
"Shadow..." Simon said slowly, shifting his gaze back to the hovering Pokémon. "Just wait a min-"
But Shadow didn't want to wait. Ceasing its growl the Poochyena launched his small body at the Pokémon who dared attack his trainer. The bug Pokémon chattered rapidly and rose higher into the air. Shadow yipped as his attempt at a tackle fell short. The Poochyena dropped the ground.
"
Chee! Chee. Yen!" Shadow cried angrily once its paws were on grass once more.
"Bzz. Bzz Bzzz." The Beedrill's responses were just a terse.
While both Pokémon were occupied, Simon took out Pen's Pokéball and pointed it toward where she was sitting. The beam of red light and subsequent flash caught the Beedrill's attention. It stopped buzzing and turned to investigate.
"Shadow, use Bite." Simon ordered sharply.
The Poochyena yipped and jumped into the air again. There was a brief flash of white teeth followed by a buzz of pain from the Beedrill. Shadow dropped to the ground and gave a satisfied rumble. The bug Pokémon was visibly injured, Simon observed. Its wings twitched and beat in an disjointed rhythm and one of its limbs was tucked in close to its body. The Pokémon began to slowly descend as a result of its damaged wings.
"Shadow, tackle it now." Simon called.
The Poochyena began to run toward the falling Beedrill. He jumped into the air and curled his body into a ball. Simon grinned, confident that the attack would end the fight.
The Beedrill suddenly shifted its body so that its stinger was aimed at the airborne Poochyena.
"No!" Simon gave an alarmed yell.
Twin cries of pain echoed his denial. Shadow, with the Beedrill close behind, fell to the ground. A miniature cloud of dirt and grass sprang up from the impact.
"Shadow!" Simon ran into the battleground. He stumbled and ended up sliding on his knees to get to his Pokémon.
"[small]
Cheee...'[/small]" Came the weakened but triumphant response. Simon quickly surveyed his Pokémon, looking for damage. And then he found it. A puncture wound on Shadow's back with a viscous purple substance surrounded it. The result of Beedrill's sting.
Simon risked a glance at the Beedrill. It was twitching violently but hadn't found the energy to rise yet. Simon scowled at the Pokémon. The end of its stinger glinted with the same purple substance that covered Shadow's wound.
"Bzzzzz" The large insect gave a final cry and then was silent. Its wings stopped beating and its limbs fell slack.
Simon blinked in surprise. Shadow had won. "Hey, you did it bud." He said gently. He carefully inspected the wound, running his hand over Shadow's fur in an attempt to comfort the Pokémon. '
Poison' He knew, then. Simon quickly glanced around but realized he'd left his pack where he'd been attacked. "I'll be right back." he promised his Pokémon. Shadow whined quietly and closed his eyes. Fighting a wave panic Simon clawed at the grass in his scramble to rise to his feet. He ran toward his pack, yanked it by the strap up from the ground, and fumbled with the drawstring clasp.
"Antidote. Antidote. Antidote." Simon muttered the word like a mantra under his breath. He gave a grunt of frustration as he pushed items aside. Potion. Potion. Another potion. Finally- "Ha!" he found what he was looking for.
Gripping the half-closed pack in one hand and the antidote in the other, Simon rushed back to his Pokémon. He sank to his knees, ignoring the fleeting pain of his knees impacting the dirt. Shadow yipped softly when Simon placed his hand near the wound.
"I'm sorry, I have to- It's okay. Here. It's okay." Simon began to spray the Antidote on Shadow's wound. He held the fur away from the edges of the wound while he worked. Slowly the poisonous residue started to alter. The opaque purple changed to a murky white and then a clear. Then it just...vanished.
'Evaporated?' When the antidote was empty Simon retrieved a potion and emptied half of its contents onto the wound as well. Then he dropped the container onto the ground and sat back. Simon peered anxiously at his Pokémon. Shadow was still breathing, but remained still.
'Come on...come on...work!' Simon leaned forward to brush his hand against Shadow's ear.
"
Chee?" Shadow's eyes blinked open. The Poochyena tilted his head upwards, with no sounds of pain, to nudge Simon's hand.
"Heey bud." Simon sighed in relief before smiling wide.
"
Yen!" With an abrupt twist of his body Shadow stood up. He shook himself vigorously. Small remnants of the dual sprays flew off onto the nearby grass. When the shaking was finished Shadow rose on his hind legs and placed his front paws on Simon's knee.
"
Chee." The Poochyena's tongue lolled out in a canine-grin. Using Simon's knee as a springboard Shadow tackled his trainer.
"Hey!" Simon fell backwards, grunting at the impact. Shadow turned in a circle on his trainer's stomach, then yipped in an excited manner. Simon began to laugh. Shadow was definitely feeling better.
"Alright. You win. Now get off." Playful though he was the Poochyena was heavy. Shadow obediently hopped to the ground. As he stood up Simon brushed grass and dirt from his clothing. It was then that he saw the large tear in the side of his t-shirt.
"Aww." Simon scowled at the damage. He poked his forefinger through the tear then gave a quiet sigh. "I guess I'll have to go shopping again sometime." he noted.
Shadow yipped, catching Simon's attention. He turned to find the Poochyena standing next to the Beedrill with one paw on top of the Beedrill's body. It was very similar to the post Pen had taken over her opponent.
'I wonder where they get that from.' Simon thought. He approached the downed Pokémon cautiously. Shadow backed up to give his trainer room. With his tennis shoe Simon nudged the Beedrill. It didn't react, but it seemed to be still alive. Just...very unconscious.
"Good job, Shadow." Simon said quietly. He withdrew his Pokédex at aimed it at the creature. The machine beeped and then displayed a series of text with an image.
015 Beedrill
Poison Bee Pokémon
HT 3' 03"
WT 65.0 lbs.
It can take down any opponent with its powerful poison stingers. It sometimes attacks in swarms.
Shadow used his back legs to scratch a small amount of dirt onto the Beedrill's body. Watching the action caused Simon to laugh again. The trainer gathered up his things, securing his bag and pocketing the emptied Antidote container. He wasn't sure if they could be recycled or not but he thought that he could at least take it to the Mart later to check.
"Alright Shadow let's head back to the PokéCenter." Simon instructed. Though Shadow seemed to be back at 110%, Simon still wanted both of his Pokémon checked out. Just to be sure they were okay. In all the excitement with the Beedrill Simon had been unable to congratulate his Pidgey on her win.
"I'll do that later." Simon promised himself. It was a solid win, it just happened to be interrupted.
'What was that Beedrill's problem anyway?' With a final glance at his attacker Simon began walking toward the PokéCenter. He was down a shirt, his jeans needed washing, and he had to buy another Antidote. But those were tasks for later. For now Simon was content in the knowledge that he and his Pokémon were truly a team. He was proud of both of his...friends.
