Nova and Viper whipped around at the sound of my voice.
Their eyes widened in shock.
"You!" Nova snarled.
Finally seeing the face of the hidden attacker who'd been hurling rocks at them.
And this Pokémon... it must be his.
But it was too late…
Meowscarada reacted in an instant.
Her form blurred with speed as she lunged forward.
"Nyaa!" she cried sharply.
Claws extending in a flash of dark energy.
Night Slash, channeled at full power straight toward the Black Poké Ball in Viper's hand.
Meowscarada's strike connected with a violent crack.
The blade-like energy sliced clean through the ball's casing.
It shattered in a burst of red sparks and fragmented metal.
Sharp shards flew outward.
Several slicing across Viper's fingers and palm as she gripped the broken halves.
Thin lines of blood welled up instantly.
The recall beam flickered weakly.
Pulling Ralts only halfway into red light before the device fizzled completely with a dying pop.
The little Pokémon dropped back to the ground.
Landing in a limp heap.
Viper staggered.
Clutching her bleeding hand close to her chest.
"No! The ball..." she shouted.
Already scrambling into the jeep.
She turned her head.
Eyes blazing with raw anger.
"What have you done?!"
Nova gripped the wheel, face twisted in fury.
"We don't have time! Retreat!"
The jeep engine roared to life.
Viper barked one last command.
"Ralts, Use Psychic! Destroy them all... go all out!"
Ralts horn flared bright pink.
"Ralts...!" it whimpered.
A massive wave of psychic force erupted outward.
Rippling visibly through the air like a shockwave.
It slammed into everything in range.
Raw, crushing mental and physical pressure that hit like a hammer.
Its small body trembling as the power intensified.
Pink energy crackled around it.
Lifting rocks and debris into the air.
Hurling them in wild arcs.
The wave grew stronger.
Shoving everything away in a chaotic storm of psychic fury.
Seeing the situation turning dangerous, the swirling pink energy growing wilder, Lopunny and Meowscarada still close to the center of the storm, I acted fast.
"Return, now!" I yelled.
My hands snapped to my belt.
Fingers closing firmly around their Poké Balls.
I pulled them free in one swift motion.
Pointed towards them
Red beams shot out.
Pulling Meowscarada and Lopunny back just as another pulse ripped through the air.
I was instantly thrown off my feet.
My body slammed hard into a tree trunk.
A heavy thud echoed through the clearing as my back hit the bark.
The blast didn't spare anyone close.
Dr. Seymour, still dazed on the ground nearby, was hurled several feet across the dirt.
Tumbling with a pained groan.
Even loose rocks and branches skittered away like leaves in a storm.
Raw, crushing mental and physical pressure wrapped around everything like invisible chains...
Nova and Viper had already jumped into their jeep.
The engine roared to life.
They floored the accelerator.
Tires spinning furiously as they sped away into the forest.
Leaving only a trail of dust and Ralts behind.
The clearing fell into an eerie silence.
Broken only by Ralts' cries.
I pushed myself up slowly.
Every movement fought against the lingering psychic weight pressing down on my body.
My head throbbed.
My limbs felt heavy...
But I forced my eyes open.
And I watched in horror.
Ralts floated slightly above the ground.
Its tiny face twisted in agony.
Pink energy flickered wildly around it.
Too much... too uncontrolled.
If this kept up, it would tear itself apart from the inside.
I was close.
Close enough to feel the heat of the psychic storm on my skin.
But I had to get closer.
I pushed myself up from the dirt.
My body screamed in protest.
Every muscle aching from the earlier blast.
"Ralts, stop! You're safe now!" I called.
My voice cracked against the humming air.
I took a step forward.
The pressure hit me immediately.
Like walking into a wall of water.
Invisible force shoving at my chest.
My feet dragged.
Sliding back half a step for every one I gained...
I clenched my jaw.
Lowered my shoulder.
Pushed harder.
Another step.
Then another.
I kept going...
The air grew thicker.
Heavier.
My lungs burned with every strained breath.
Pink light pulsed brighter.
Waves rolling out in rhythm with Ralts' pained whimpers.
Each pulse slammed into me.
Knocking me back slightly.
Forcing me to brace.
To dig my heels in and fight for every inch...
Sweat stung my eyes.
My legs trembled under the strain.
But I refused to stop.
Not now.
Not when it was suffering right in front of me.
Its horn pulsed erratically.
Wilder with every passing second.
The energy crackled louder.
Debris whipped past me.
A rock grazed my arm.
Drawing a thin line of blood.
I didn't care.
One more step.
Then another.
The pressure crushed down harder.
Trying to force me to my knees...
My vision blurred at the edges.
But I dropped low.
Crawled the last few feet on hands and knees.
Dirt grinding into my palms.
Fingertips scraping the earth.
Until I reached it.
Finally.
Close enough.
I held Ralts.
My arms wrapped around its tiny body.
Pulling it tight against my chest.
The moment I did, a fresh wave of psychic force surged.
Directly into me.
Like an iron grip clamping around my ribs.
Squeezing.
Harder.
Harder.
As if trying to crack my bones from the inside.
My breath caught.
Vision tunneling for a second.
It felt like my chest was being crushed.
Every rib protesting.
Threatening to snap under the relentless pressure...
But I didn't let go.
I held tighter.
Warm against my shirt.
I lowered my gaze.
Spotting the thin black collar around its neck.
The source of all this pain.
The cruel device that amplified its suffering.
With a surge of determination, I grabbed the collar.
My hands burning from the sharp psychic feedback.
It was strong.
But I twisted hard.
Channeling all my strength until it snapped with a sharp crack.
"It's okay," I whispered.
Dropping pulling the small Pokémon into a gentle hug.
"You're free. No more fighting. Just breathe... you're not alone anymore."
Ralts' body tensed one last time.
Then slowly relaxed in my arms.
The pink glow fading.
It let out a final, soft whimper before going limp.
Unconscious but finally at peace.
I held it close to my chest…
****
If you join Patreon (C0DX) for advance chapters, please message me on Discord or directly on Patreon so I can send you the advance chapters and images.
Sometimes I have to remove or hide chapters because Patreon's Trust and Safety team reviews them.
Thank you for the support, it really helps keep the story going!