Piplup tries to hold off Ursaring by trying to find it’s way in front of the sprinting Ursaring. Ursaring quickly approaches the duck and goes for a bite which Guts doesn’t even budge. Almost getting hit, Piplup arrives in front, and in between the two pokémon and uses Water Gun on the bear, hitting it in Ursaring’s mouth causing it’s glowing teeth to stop shimmering but in retaliation (not the move) it uses Slash hitting the two rings. It penetrates and hits Piplup who is thrown across the clearing.

“Piplup!!!” Heath sees his partner get hit hard right before his eyes and a buildup of emotions take over him. He wants to run over to his partner but He needs to make sure Piplup attack wasn’t in vain.

“Guts use leer and then use Joust.” Heath yells.

Guts eyes widen immediately and he quickly shoots this invisible intention of fear to Ursaring who isn’t affected by the status move. Guts tries again while also bringing back the leek which grows to double it’s size.

“GOooooo” Heath yells.

Guts swings the abnormally giant leek to it’s front and thrusts it into the Ursaring’s gut which makes the bear tremble in pain. It staggers before trying to use slash but in pain Guts hits Ursaring once more but this time in the leg.

The slash and Joust both hit but Guts is the one flying back towards piplup.

“No” Heath flinches in the assault.

‘Come on. I know you guys are stronger than that.’

Heath’s heartbeat is fluttering wildly building adrenaline to cancel to the fear. Feeling weakness in his legs Heath falls to the ground as he sees the Ursaring approach him.

‘C’mon. I can’t die here.’ Heath unlike his body is trying to fight all of his thoughts and instincts. The Ursaring roars triumphantly, but Heath only pays attention to the screen that shines brightly in this dark situation.

[Speed boost has risen one stage]

[Guts has learned Swords dance]

[Piplup has learned Endure]

“Are they still conscious?” Heath felt a little bit of hope flicker in his soul like a weak candlelight. He looked up to the sky and the back to where they were thrown. Dust rose where Heath had last seen them and out of that Dust plume Guts and Piplup sprinted towards Ursaring and himself.

“Guts Brick Break on the knees, Piplup recast Aqua Ring, use Bubble Beam on Ursaring’s head” Heath orders before passing out.

[Piplup’s Pov]

“Is he okay?.. I swear if he’s hurt, I’ll kill this bear” Piplup squawked but Guts smacked Piplup on his head which only cause Piplup to become angrier, but Piplup’s thoughts were interrupted before he had a chance to speak.

“Stop becoming consumed by your emotions. Calm down and think rationally.”

“NO!” Piplup sqeaked. His body began to glow and the forest grew quiet but the silence would not last for long.

“Is that what Heath would want? For you to become like that, like the ones we are fighting. Let’s defeat this together.” Guts calmly addressed. Piplup look on at the enrage Pokémon who was now only paying attention to them It’s body seething with steam from the amount of sweat evaporating from it. Its breath labored from the damage and their crimson blood shot eyes looking on them with rage.

“I will kill you alllllll!!!!” The Ursaring called out into the air before preparing its last assaults in this battle.

Piplup’s body stopped glowing and he quickly became calm and the young penguin looked towards Guts who was analyzing their opponent.

“Let’s do this” Piplup says before feeling another burst of speed go into his system. Every step he took felt as light as a feather having already decided to follow their trainer’s orders.

Guts was the first one to take off but Piplup easily overtakes him and charges up a quick Watergun.

‘I finally achieve partial control of the move. Let’s test this puppy out’ Piplup thought. The small blue penguin built up water and spit it out towards the enraged giant. The water shot hit and made the bear back down by force stopping it from charging.

“It’s more powerful. You were doing nothing before” Guts jibbed as he moved past. Ursaring’s claws and Guts leek which both glowed in the excess of energy being imbued into them. They clash causing slight winds to surround all of them.

“Fuck you. You freaking bird.” Piplup assaulted but Guts only snickered.

Guts quickly approaches Ursaring but dodges due to Ursaring’s Slash.

“Hold him down. You guys are exchanging hits to fast. Slow him down” Piplup complained but only hearing a grunt in response, Piplup thought it would be best to shoot a couple of water bullets. Meanwhile, Guts was trying to evade Ursarings powerful Hammer Arm. Guts failed as he got hit with the move and shot back off to the background.

Ursaring rushed towards Piplup

“I guess he’s trying to finish us off even faster, we are going to die but not before him.” Piplup squawkes before evading Ursaring.

“Guts I- come on and stop being lazy” Piplup commanded while trying to evade the bear. Hammer arm is activated and Ursaring quickly swings and hits the penguin.

“Fuck, it’s strong” Piplup groans in pain as his insides feels mangled inside. He tries to reactivate aqua ring but with fainting levels of pain it doesn’t do much to help. He shoots off towards the ground and bounces hard before being laying there looking up in the sky. It was a clear sunny day which had no clouds in the sky. The sun rays laid upon him uncomfortably and he was annoyed with the situation they were in.

‘Is this where things end? Is this where our journey stops.’ Piplup felt an overwhelming ball of regret well up in his body. Piplup closed his eyes to cry, slowly the small pokémon accepted him and his friends fates. Not taking long, Piplup hears a roar coming from Ursaring once more right in front of him.

“Eat me, you wild beast” Piplup sniffles. ‘What is this feeling… Water’ Piplup opens his eyes and sees Guts. His body standing upon the small blue penguin and further from Guts is Ursaring who used bite trying to kill the defenseless pokémon. Guts had stopped the attack from killing Piplup but in result was badly injured. Blood dripping down from his body and onto Piplup. Rage and Regret consume the blue bird once more.

“WHyyy. Why did you do this?.”

No response was heard and with that the sky quickly darkened. Raindrops feel upon them and Piplup felt a huge surge of energy well up in its tiny body.

“You will pay, and it will be with your life!” Piplup yelled as he condensed all of the power it can muster within one point and released it like he would normally release a water gun. A power water cannon shot off and Decapitated Ursaring’s head causing its body to get thrown far from their position. The headless body stood their in shock before slugging to the ground bleeding which sound was muffled due to the rain. Piplup gingerly gets up before checking on Guts who had fell due to unconsciousness. Cuts, scratches and lesions were laid upon the brown duck.

“Guts”

“….You did good. Protect our Trainer” Guts smiled in praise for his team member before truly fainting. Piplup hurries and goes to Heath pulls out Guts pokéballs from under him and Puts guts in the pokéball and then spots a small pokémon running up to him and Piplup prepares for another battle. But Piplup soon recognizes the pokémon as Teddiursa who is crying and running up to the head of Ursaring.

“..”

‘I can’t stand around and talk’

Piplup puts guts who was in the pokéball back to Heath’s possession before painfully dragging Heath into a dry spot under a group of trees.

“There” Piplup chirped and looked out into the pouring rain.

‘I want to go out in the rain but I have to protect them.”

A couple of minutes go by with Piplup not doing anything but looking upon the crying Teddiursa being consumed in grief under the rain.

‘Bothersome’ Piplup thought before looking upon the defenseless and fragile looking Teddiursa.

“…” Piplup looked on emphatic towards the young mon but not knowing what to say Piplup quickly got up and grabbed Teddiursa bringing it towards the drying Heath.

“Who is that” Piplup murmurs to himself but it was loud enough for Teddiursa to look at the direction Piplup was speaking towards. Next to the headless body, a being in a long brown cloak was becoming drenched in the warm rain.

“He feels similar to Heath but different” Piplup analyzes. The cloaked figure looks up and sees the Piplup and Teddiursa with his sharp glaze. Piplup also notices the cloaked figure looking at his fallen trainer.

“What do you want. Who are you?”

“I’m just wondering around. Do you need help?” The figure asks.

[Timeskip a couple of hours.]

Heath smells the forest inside the nostrils and tried to collect his thoughts before hearing movement.

‘What happened-…’ Memories rushed to his head and Heath’s eyes shot opened and he quickly sat up and looked around.

“Woah kid. Relax I was just trying to make some food.” A cloaked man chuckled as he tried to calm Heath down.

“Where is the Ursaring. Where are my Pokémon” Heath whispered as he clutched his pocket. He felt both of their Pokeballs but he knew that Piplup would never go in one. He felt something move and snapped his head towards the blue penguin who was now laying on his arm. He heart slowed before looking over the mysterious cloaked person.

“Who are you?” Heath cautious asked backing up into the tree behind him. He noticed that his clothes were a little moist while the top was dry

The cloaked man continued cooking moving and mixing the pans and putting seasoning on the food before turning towards Heath, looking at Piplup.

“Stop uncovering me with your eyes kid. I helped your pokémon and I also took the Teddiursa from you. Sorry but if I didn’t it would’ve died” The cloaked man said.

“What’s your name?” Heath questioned.

“I’m afraid I can’t give you that”

“Why not?” Heath pondered, still remaining cautious to the stranger. A pause was heard and then the stranger broke it.

“I’m sorry, It’s just better that I don’t, for my freedom and for your safety.” The mysterious man apologized.

‘So he’s important? Is it Looker? Maybe Alder….or N?’

“It’s alright. You could’ve murdered me if you want too” Heath remarked.

Silent whims were heard with Heath sitting there reflecting over what happened yesterday.

‘I was so afraid. The Ursaring was so strong, and I swore Piplup and Guts were outmatched for a while but I guess they weren’t. It was my faith.’ Heath thought as he looked at Piplup and then the notifications.

[Piplup has learned Rain Dance]

[you have defeated a pokémon with a higher rank. Additional 1500 exp]

[Piplup has leveled up]

[Piplup has leveled up]

[Piplup has leveled up]

[Piplup has learned Protect]

[Guts has leveled up]

[Guts has leveled up]

[Guts has learned Night Slash]

[Mission issued: A real challenge

Details: beat the enraged and untolerable Ursaring.

Reward: +1 to previous mission counter, and random item]

[Random Item has been issued to trainer]

[+1 to counter]

[Quest Issued competed: Beat the Night

Quest Details: Complete 10 missions before daylight

Reward: Skill Trainer’s Instinct]

[User has Received Trainer’s Instinct]

‘Woah that’s a lot’ Heath looked around and there was a faint aura around the man.

‘What the-’

[Trainer’s Instinct (Passive) You perceive what usually takes many years too. Intentions become visible, as well as potential. You haven also received an enhancement to your connection with the world. Though the intensity of what you might see depends on you]

‘So, is what I am seeing from that guy is his potential, connection, or intention?’ Heath monologued inside his head.