Chapter 27 - Back to Valt

  Tia opened her eyes, realizing she hadn't gone to bed that early in a long time. She had genuinely enjoyed herself the night before. Looking to her side, she saw Elduran sleeping soundly. He was an interesting man, and she felt drawn to him, invigorated by his positive attitude towards her. She knew she would be lying to herself if she said she had gone to bed with him just to please him. She liked him, that much was true and honest, but she had never thought she would be able to love a man as she would love a woman, at least not romantically.

  It wasn't just Zendaya who made her heart skip a beat; the female sex in general had that effect on her, especially when she glanced at beautiful women. Even Aisha the other day, she couldn't stop staring at her figure when she got out of bed half-naked. In the past, Tia would tell herself that maybe she wasn't bisexual, but just straight with the exception of Zendaya. However, she quickly realized that wasn't true. It would be unfair to herself to simply settle with Elduran when there was a possibility out there that she could find real love. She owed it to herself to at least try to find that.

  Elduran was the closest thing that made her feel whole right now. His impending departure in a few hours would leave her alone with her thoughts, a destructive combination. Although she couldn't convince him to stay longer, knowing she wouldn't either if she had set her mind on something, she understood that finding the courage to catch another Pokémon so soon after losing Vivillon and Heracross was the right thing for him to do. She had to let him go.

  There was one solution to this problem, but it was stupid, and she knew she would regret it. This was not her and it would never be her. But for some reason her brain would not let go of the idea. She was trying to produce arguments in her head to stop her from doing something so idiotic. But this was her she was talking about, when was the last time she managed to produce counter arguments to stop herself from doing anything her heart desired of doing at any given moment she thought. The answer she came up with, was absolutely never.

  She glanced at the clock, noticing it was nearly five in the morning. Usually, she went to bed around this time, especially in recent weeks. Without the relaxation and mind-calming effects of sex, she wouldn't have been able to fall asleep as early as she did last night. For years, she had been staying up for most of the night, finding solace in the calm and serenity that came with being awake while almost everyone else slept and the silence of the night took over. It was an unparalleled experience. No one in her group though shared this preference.

  Elduran stirred and opened his eyes a second later. He turned to face her, his eyes wide awake as if he had never slept. With the back of his hand, he brushed a few strands of hair away from her face.

  "I have to say Red, I didn't think you'd be awake already," he said with a smile, then continued to observe her in silence.

  This made Tia uncomfortable. She hoped Elduran wouldn't get any ideas of falling in love with her. "Listen, I meant what I said last night, it was a one-time thing," she said.

  His smile never faded as he spoke, "What makes you think that I think otherwise?"

  Tia stirred a little, contemplating what to say. "The way you're staring at me right now, it feels like lust."

  Elduran laughed. "Honestly, that might be exactly on point. I'm cozied up right next to a naked, pretty woman. What exactly do you want me to think?"

  Confused, Tia asked, "So, do you accept my decision never to sleep with you again or not?"

  His expression remained unchanged. "What does that have to do with me lusting after you?" he asked.

  Tia thought to herself, was he serious? Was he saying that he would be fine with her ignoring his advancements while he would jump at the opportunity to be with her again? What a weird man, that he could actually admit that with a smile. She decided not to respond. She got out of bed, put on her underwear and a white shirt, then took her backpack out of the closet and rested it on the bed.

  Cyndaquil yawned and woke up, and Elduran finally adopted a different expression, one of curiosity. He sat up on the bed and asked, "What are you doing? Are you going somewhere?"

  It was her turn to smile, though she had to semi-force it. She wanted to appear sure of herself and her decision. "I'm going with you," she blurted out.

  His lips curved back into a crescent shape. He got out of bed after giving Cyndaquil a pat on the head. Even with the chill of the early morning, she realized it was more important for him to put kibble in Cyndaquil's bowl before dressing. After grabbing a towel and tying it around his waist, he said, "We're leaving in about half an hour. Let me take a shower first."

  Tia grabbed his arm and forced him to turn around, facing her. "That's all you have to say? You won't try to stop me, saying it's dangerous and that I'll only slow you down, along with all the other regular excuses people give?"

  He placed his hands on her arms near her shoulders and squeezed gently. "I know trying to dissuade you will be pointless. As for slowing me down, I don't care. I'm not in a rush. Regarding your lack of experience trekking in the wilds and surviving wild Pokémon attacks, how will you improve if you don't actually travel outside of human civilization? It's better to do it with me than attempting it solo."

  He continued, "Your Pokémon definitely need the training. They'll learn to battle a bit on this trip, which is why I think your suggestion to come with me is a fantastic idea. I'll feel much better knowing this excursion will motivate you to start training with your Pokémon, giving me some peace of mind that you can actually defend yourself in case of an emergency." He kept his hands on her as he spoke.

  What a special breed of man this guy was. Definitely not gentleman material. Yet, it was precisely what she found so fascinating about him. If she told him that she wanted to find a way to transform herself into a Pokémon, she was sure he would ask her how he could help with that impossible undertaking. While just a minute ago, she was regretting making the decision to go with him, now she wanted nothing more than to go out there and gain some valuable life experience.

  She spoke to him, "Go take your shower, soldier boy. I'll go downstairs to make some eggs. You'll probably still have to make your coffee." Turning her attention towards Cyndaquil, she added, "You're welcome to join me in the kitchen."

  Elduran headed for the bathroom while Cyndaquil, looking happy, followed Tia down to the kitchen. Perhaps observing their intercourse yesterday, he felt closer to her, likely due to the fact that he thought she and his trainer had a stronger connection brewing. Hopefully, after this trip, they would all end up growing closer to each other, her Pokémon included.

  Two hours into the trek, Tia felt tired but surprisingly did not regret her decision to join. She hadn't once missed being glued to her computer, browsing, hacking, and playing games this morning. This was a welcome surprise.

  The heat was becoming unbearable, Tia thought, especially for October. It shouldn't be this bad, particularly after such an early cold morning. Freaking desert weather, she mused.

  Numerous Pokémon were out and about. Elduran led the way with Cyndaquil, skillfully maneuvering around potential dangers. He carefully avoided a group of Skorupi and steered clear of a menacing Donphan consuming its meal.

  Tia, accompanied by Misdreavus and Kecleon, enjoyed their time in the wilderness after being confined to urban life for so long. The Pokémon thrived in nature, prompting Tia to make it a habit to venture beyond city limits regularly, ensuring her Pokémon enjoyed the fresh air they needed.

  When Elduran first hiked this desert, he shared a story about Cyndaquil and the cacti. Now, looking at the little Pokémon, it was clear that any mistrust he once had for the plants had vanished completely. He didn’t even give them a second glance.

  Misdreavus was thoroughly enjoying herself, laughing so much that Tia often had to calm her down to prevent them from becoming targets for aggressive Pokémon. Tia was amazed that Misdreavus didn't rush ahead to bother Elduran by pulling his hair, ear, or worse, his nose. Typically, the more Tia advised her against something, the more she wanted to do it, much like a child. However, with Elduran, perhaps Misdreavus sensed he genuinely disliked ghost Pokémon and wasn't joking about turning her into ghost dust.

  In contrast, Kecleon was much more cautious. At nearly every unfamiliar sound, he would stop and camouflage himself to ensure the situation was safe before dashing to catch up with her and the rest of the group.

  Elduran slowed down, allowing Tia to walk alongside him. "Camo needs to toughen up and become more dependable in protecting you," he said seriously.

  Tia sighed. "He's my starter, the first Pokémon I got fourteen years ago. If he hasn't toughened up by now, I don't think there's any hope of him changing."

  Elduran looked at her, then back at Kecleon. To Tia's surprise, Kecleon didn't camouflage when Elduran made eye contact with him, despite him basically calling him a wuss. "Kecleon are very strong Pokémon in the hands of competent trainers," Elduran said. "They're very strategic in battles. I'm sure he would do fine if you put a little effort into training with him. What moves does he know?"

  "I'm not a competent trainer," Tia laughed. "I don't have the strategic planning that goes with Pokémon battling. But to answer your question, he knows Scratch, Bind, Lick, and Shadow Sneak. As far as I know, he hasn't learned any other new moves on his own," she said.

  Elduran seemed shocked, "he only knows four moves after being with you for so long?"

  Tia felt a little embarrassed. "Yes, he was just given to the wrong person. Especially since he is very rare, he has the Protean ability," she said.

  Elduran stopped walking, eyeing the Kecleon. "Camo has the ability to switch his type to the type of the last move he used? That is amazing. One of the most sought-after abilities. That makes him even more of a powerhouse with a good strategy in battle."

  She deflated. "I told you, I am not a strategist," she said, clearly starting to feel worthless.

  Elduran walked to her and wrapped his hand around her waist to make her move. As they both walked like that, he talked. "Listen, you don't have to be a good strategist to be a good trainer. That would be Aisha, studying and planning, coming up with the perfect plan. That is the norm, but there are other ways. Just like with everything in life, use your strengths to gain an edge. I am no planner either," he said.

  Curious, Tia asked, "What is your secret to battling then?"

  Elduran smiled as he answered. "To surprise my opponents. Catch them off guard. Act in a way they don't expect. Also, I love infuriating them with high mobility. I let them think I have a plan, but seriously, I usually don't. I just wait to see when they let their guard down and then I punish them," he said.

  That did not make Tia feel better, because she realized she had nothing like that. "Well, I really have no skills that would let me be a better trainer," she said.

  He stopped her once again. He put his pointer finger and touched her forehead. "You have this," and then proceeded to hold both her hands with each of his hands and lift them up to her chest. "And you have these, your typing prowess. I am sure those two together can fix the problem you are having becoming a stronger trainer."

  This piqued her interest, "you actually have something in mind?" she asked.

  Elduran motioned her to keep moving. "Absolutely not. I have no idea how anything you do works. But I'm sure everything can be used to make you a trainer not to be trifled with."

  Tia playfully punched his arm. "Thanks for not helping," she joked as she walked ahead, lost in thought.

  She pondered how computers could be used to strengthen her Pokémon. The idea seemed ludicrous at first, but then it dawned on her: virtual training. By assigning an AI to throw challenging obstacles at her Pokémon, they could face multiple opponents daily without the risk of exhaustion or injury. She would have to do the same and train virtually alongside them.

  However, she realized that her Pokémon would still lag in learning new moves, as virtual training couldn't fully replace real-world practice. Their moves might not be as potent, but Elduran's point about the importance of strategy over brute strength resonated with her.

  She decided she would still have to take her Pokémon out a few times a week to focus solely on honing their moves, making the long training sessions more bearable and efficient. An idea was already taking shape in her mind.

  A positive cloud washed over her, and she turned around to hug Elduran.

  He stood there, likely trying to figure out what to do. Before he could react, Tia let him go and said, "Thank you for that. You really gave me a great idea. This might work."

  His confusion was obvious, but he decided to speak anyway. "Something tells me I shouldn't ask. I won't get it anyway," he said.

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  She smiled and replied, "No, you won't, soldier boy. You're the most tech-illiterate person I've ever met. It would be a waste of energy to explain."

  He was genuinely happy for her and not at all offended by the playful teasing. It was refreshing to engage in lighthearted banter, jokingly ribbing each other about their comically terrible abilities in various aspects of life.

  Misdreavus floated near Tia's head, grabbed her ear, and started pulling her to the left, giggling. In the distance, Tia saw some buildings on the horizon that looked like a quarry, similar to the ones around Dirthrow.

  "I don't really wish to go there," Elduran said.

  "Why is that?" Tia asked.

  "That is the Sunstrike Quarry, where I killed the ex ghost Pokémon of the owner that took her own life, Dorothy," he explained.

  Tia felt a little sorry for him, sensing his discomfort. "Too many painful memories?" she asked.

  "No, none at all. I just don't want to deal with people asking me questions about Dorothy and how I killed the Drifblim. Not in the mood," he answered.

  "Alright, I get it. Makes sense. Let's move on," Tia said, fully understanding his perspective and empathizing with him.

  Elduran successfully guided them safely past all potential dangers. Although they often took the longer route to avoid being seen by dangerous wild Pokémon, playing it safe proved worthwhile.

  By late morning, the desert gradually transitioned into patches of grass and expanding wetlands. As the scenery evolved, so did the density of Pokémon surrounding them. Tia observed that Pokémon were everywhere, making it impossible to avoid encountering them. This place was a nightmare. Elduran had helped Cyndaquil to his shoulder, as the muddy swamp terrain was unsuitable for the little Pokémon's feet. In contrast, Tia's Pokémon had the advantage in maneuvering through the challenging environment—Misdreavus hovered in the air while Kecleon jumped from one dry patch of land to another.

  "Elduran, how deep are we going into the swamp?" Tia asked as she was looking left and right, trying to spot from which side she could be attacked.

  "The Pokémon I am looking for, last time I saw it, was about just an hour or two away from here. very close to the route," Elduran said without sounding at all worried.

  Tia realized that she had never asked what Pokémon he wanted to catch. She decided to ask, "what Pokémon are you looking for anyways?"

  "A Croagunk," he responded.

  Tia was surprised; Croagunk wasn't a rare Pokémon. She quickly grabbed her phone and checked a Pokémon sightings forum. Croagunk were known to be near Valt and on the outskirts of Dasos, but their main habitat was supposedly near the lake by Dendra City. She wondered why he chose the most dangerous location. "We could have gone to Dendra, there's supposed to be a lot more Croagunk there, and it's a lot safer, too," she said.

  Elduran kept walking and clarified, "You misunderstand. I'm not searching for just any Croagunk. I'm looking for a very specific one."

  Tia's curiosity was piqued. "Why the hell for? I don't get it. You want a poison and fighting Pokémon. Why does it matter which one you get?" she asked.

  After jumping over a fallen tree trunk, Elduran responded, "You're not getting it. I'm not trying to catch a specific species of Pokémon. I don't even care about its types. I'm going to try to convince it to join me because I like its mentality. It could have been a Rattata for all I care, and I would still be trying to catch it," he said with conviction.

  Tia accepted Elduran's offered hand to help her over the trunk. She was surprised at Elduran’s approach to acquiring Pokémon, as she expected him to be old school and force a Pokémon into submission. Instead, he mentioned trying to convince the Pokémon to join rather than simply capturing it. She believed the rest of the group would refuse to catch a Pokémon against its will. It was becoming common practice for trainers to persuade Pokémon to join them, which she saw as the right approach. Moreover, Tia knew not all trainers were born for battling, much like herself, for some it was the only approach. "What exactly do you like about that specific Croagunk?" she asked as she jumped down from the log.

  For the next couple of hours, Tia remained puzzled as no Pokémon attacked them. It seemed as if Elduran could instinctively identify which ones posed a threat and which did not. He would steer them away from multiple Amoonguss, only to lead them past another one moments later, almost within arm's reach. Tia attempted to decipher this seemingly chaotic pattern but eventually gave up, as the last Amoonguss they passed looked no different from those they avoided earlier. She realized she wasn't suited for this environment and would likely not survive alone, especially given how weak her Pokémon were in battling, she thought.

  At some point, he paused and began observing the terrain to his right, which was dense with bushes and situated on a small hill. "I think this is it, Forge. This is where it was," Tia heard him say to Cyndaquil. He then began hiking uphill.

  Tia followed, carefully pushing branches away, unlike Elduran, who marched ahead without concern for possible cuts. When they reached the top, a clearing lay before them—just dirt, with no trees, bushes, or water—almost like a small natural arena, as it was perfectly round.

  She noticed three Croagunk lying under the trees opposite the clearing. Though all three noticed them, none seemed to care. Elduran placed his backpack on the ground along with Cyndaquil and began gathering small twigs and fallen branches.

  "What are you doing?" Tia asked.

  Without stopping to glance at her, he replied, "I want to start a fire."

  Tia listened to her surroundings, noticing the abundance of Pokémon noises and cries. "I don't think starting a fire is a good idea here. Wild Pokémon might see it as a threat," she warned.

  There was that smile again, Tia thought—a smile that hinted at a terrible idea, at least to anyone sane. But this was Soldier Boy. She was about to get her answer. "I'm betting on it," he said. "This is Croagunk territory. They should rush to protect their home from a possible fire. It's a great way to find the specific Croagunk I'm looking for and make a coffee for myself."

  Tia felt a spark of anger, "That seems like a sure path to getting us killed. That's exactly what it is," she remarked.

  He ignored her and, once he had a good pile of wood, instructed Cyndaquil to ignite it with Flamethrower. She wondered if that was a bit excessive. However, it seemed that Cyndaquil hadn’t mastered the move yet, likely why he chose it—for training purposes, even now. At that moment, the three Croagunk disappeared as the fire took shape and form.

  She was surprised to see he had brought hot chocolate with him. He simultaneously brewed coffee in one pot and hot chocolate in the other. Everything about Elduran seemed off. He was thoughtful and clearly cared about his friends, showing it at every opportunity. Yet, he was oblivious to the dangers he placed those same friends in. She genuinely believed he thought his actions weren't questionable; perhaps he thought her, or anyone else's concerns were mere jokes.

  After Elduran offered her a cup of hot chocolate, she thanked him, saying, "Smells good." Taking a sip, she thought it could use a little more sugar, but it was good enough, and she didn't want to bother him with something so trivial. "Yummy," she remarked.

  "You're welcome, Red," he replied, then turned his attention to Cyndaquil. "Forge, it won't be long until they come. When they show up, try to appear non-threatening. I'd love to resolve this peacefully," he added.

  Cyndaquil, calm and composed, nodded and said, "Cyyyn."

  Kecleon remained camouflaged since Cyndaquil ignited the fire. Conversely, Misdreavus loved the swamp, yet Tia noticed a hint of admiration from her whenever she glanced at Cyndaquil. Misdreavus was fascinated by her surroundings and often seemed tempted to introduce herself or play pranks on the wild Pokémon she encountered. However, she always restrained herself, likely out of fear of being attacked. This fear looked like it made her envious of Elduran's Pokémon, a fire type amidst so many water types, who exuded a sense of calm.

  Tia was sipping from her cup when multiple Croagunk appeared from everywhere, surrounding them in seconds.

  "Don't panic. Keep sipping your drink and let me handle this," Eldruran said, rising to his feet. "Giggla, stay calm. It's just a bunch of incoming friendly frogs." Cyndaquil lay on the ground, looking unconcerned—perhaps displaying too much blind trust in his trainer. Tia couldn't see how they would make it out alive. He ignored Kecleon, which made sense since Kecleon would never attack without a command from Tia, and even with a command from her, it was still questionable. Suddenly, a Toxicroak appeared behind the Croagunk and let out a cry, prompting fifteen Croagunk to start carefully marching towards them.

  Elduran stood, took a few steps, and then knelt, bowing toward the Toxicroak. "I come in peace. I'm here to convince that Croagunk to join me," he said, pointing to a lone Croagunk approaching from the north. With his other hand, he held a Pokéball high to ensure Toxicroak noticed it. Tia thought he was insane, certain they were all going to die here.

  An unexpected event unfolded when Toxicroak croaked, causing all the Croagunk to freeze in place. It walked directly in front of Elduran, who was still kneeling but raised his head to meet its gaze. "Let me talk to it. I want that one specifically, the one with the scars on its back. Do I have your permission?" he asked as Toxicroak shifted its stare from Elduran to the fire. Noticing this, Elduran instructed, "Tia and Forge, please extinguish the fire."

  Tia quickly got to her feet and joined Cyndaquil, who was already covering the fire with dirt. "Camo, could you help, please?" she asked while gathering more dirt, more like mud really, she thought, surprised to see Kecleon find the courage to break its camouflage and come to assist them.

  The fire was extinguished quickly, likely because it was intentionally small. She suspected Elduran had foreseen how events would unfold, leaving her puzzled about his insight. Additionally, Toxicroak's decision to stop his fellow Pokémon made no sense to her.

  After another cry, the Croagunk Elduran was keen on began to approach him. Elduran got up and, while walking back towards her, gestured for Croagunk to follow. The little Pokémon complied, although Tia sensed it was obeying the Toxicroak rather than Elduran. It appeared unhappy.

  Elduran turned and kneeled down as Cyndaquil joined him. Croagunk paused, staring at him. Tia sensed it was considering how to begin its attack on Elduran, who whispered first, "Listen, I understand your situation. I know you frequently challenge that Toxicroak, and I've witnessed your strength in battle when I observed you two fighting once. Join me, and you'll become even stronger. One day, you can return and lead this group," he proposed.

  Cyndaquil engaged in a conversation with Croagunk, likely clarifying some misunderstandings. However, it looked that Croagunk remained skeptical. Elduran interjected, saying, "Croagunk, I only want you to join me if you're willing. If you doubt my strength, let's battle. We can prove to you that we have what it takes."

  Croagunk appeared deep in thought for a moment before continuing the discussion in a calmer manner. Elduran clearly missed some details, while Tia understood nothing. Yet, Cyndaquil conveyed the main points to Elduran, making him smile, "Now I want you to join us even more. You're quite the character, Croagunk. Beating you doesn't mean you'll get stronger with me. Your goal is to surpass Toxicroak. What you need is proof that I'm stronger than it," Elduran explained, indicating the large frog Pokémon. "If I can defeat it, your training will progress faster with me than by battling it repeatedly," he added, standing up.

  This time, Croagunk seemed both bewildered and intrigued, its anger dissipating. Elduran was winning it over. Still, defeating Toxicroak wouldn't be easy. In typical fashion, he raised his voice, "It seems Croagunk will only join if we prove ourselves against you," he said, addressing Toxicroak.

  It let out a cry, causing the other Croagunk to retreat into the trees, leaving Toxicroak alone in the clearing. It had accepted Elduran's challenge who he promptly grabbed... Furret's Pokéball? Was he considering using her? Aisha described her as a monster who followed no commands. But Elduran returned her ball to his belt and called Cyndaquil forward.

  "You got this, Forge. Let's show them what we've got," he urged, as Cyndaquil boldly advanced toward Toxicroak. "Watch out for his hands—they're tinged with purple liquid. His ability is poison touch, try to avoid getting hit to prevent the poison from affecting you," he warned Cyndaquil.

  Tia had to strain to notice it, even now that she knew what to look for. She wondered how on earth he noticed it.

  Toxicroak wasted no time and used Mud-Slap, swiftly kicking the ground, sending mud flying at a considerable speed towards Cyndaquil. Under Elduran's command, Cyndaquil used Quick Attack to skillfully dodge the approaching flying dirt.

  Elduran instructed, 'Use Flame Charge to boost your agility," as Cyndaquil obeyed and transformed into a fiery blur, charging toward Toxicroak. However, just before making contact, Toxicroak, with astonishing speed, punched Cyndaquil upwards with a fist shrouded in darkness. In a split second, Cyndaquil's momentum allowed it to push through and strike Toxicroak, entangling them as they rolled across the floor.

  Tia couldn't shake the feeling that this battle would be brief, as neither Cyndaquil nor Toxicroak appeared to be particularly defensive Pokémon. She suddenly realized this was her first time witnessing Elduran in combat."

  "Forge, use Quick Attack to dash away," Elduran instructed as Cyndaquil rose and sped toward him, while Toxicroak struggled to its feet, groaning. "Great, we got lucky, you are not poisoned. It knows Sucker Punch, so we need to bait it with non-damaging moves. Listen carefully: Quick Attack toward it, then use Leer at point-blank range. You know what to do next," Elduran whispered and gave his little Pokémon a knowing wink.

  Tia knew that Sucker Punch theoretically failed if the opponent wasn't using a damaging move, but she found it puzzling. After all, it was a punch. Cyndaquil, now even faster due to a boost in speed from Flame Charge, became a blur as it stormed towards Toxicroak.

  The frog Pokémon seemed ready to use Sucker Punch again, darkness gathering on its fists. However, the punch slowed as quickly as it had started when Cyndaquil stopped abruptly and used Leer. This caused Toxicroak to stumble slightly, providing an opening for Cyndaquil to unleash a point-blank Flamethrower, engulfing Toxicroak in flames.

  The move didn't exactly fail but did slow down significantly, making it likely that even Tia could dodge the sluggish punch, she thought. Toxicroak appeared charred.

  Cyndaquil instinctively dashed away without needing a command from Elduran, but a Mud-Slap from Toxicroak still clipped it, eliciting a pained groan.

  "Forge, great job! We got lucky—you burned it. That Mud-Slap hit you hard. Are you still okay?" Elduran asked.

  "Cyyyn," Cyndaquil responded with gusto.

  "Shit, Quick Attack, Forge," Elduran urged, but it was too late. A dark wave flew from Toxicroak and struck Cyndaquil directly. "You've been hit with Taunt, Forge; there's nothing we can do. You won't be able to resist charging at it. At least its physical moves should be significantly weaker now that it's burned."

  Elduran had hardly finished talking when Cyndaquil was already charging relentesly toward Toxicroak unable to help himself with quick attack.

  "Stop, Forge! Use Ember," Elduran commanded. Cyndaquil halted mid-dash and launched a stream of fire at Toxicroak.

  Although the distance was too great for Toxicroak to retaliate with Sucker Punch, it instead spewed a poisonous liquid from its mouth as the flames reached it. This Toxicroak clearly relied on overpowering its opponents rather than agility and evasion.

  "Counter the attack with your strongest Flamethrower!" Elduran shouted. Cyndaquil obeyed, unleashing a much more powerful blast than before. Some of the toxic liquid splattered onto Cyndaquil, but it endured the pain. Without hesitation, Elduran gave the next command: "Keep firing Flamethrower from that distance!" Cyndaquil complied, continuing its assault.

  Tia wondered what Elduran was doing. She realized that Toxicroak was too far away for the underdeveloped Flamethrower to reach. However, it dawned on her, Elduran was using the move to stall, knowing that Taunt would not last forever. Toxicroak seemed to be taking its time, but eventually, it recognized the need to close the distance as the burn damage began to weaken it considerably.

  Toxicroak closed the distance in a few seconds, surprising Cyndaquil with its agility. It dodged the close-range Flamethrower and positioned itself to Cyndaquil's flank.

  "Flame Charge!" Elduran commanded.

  Toxicroak struck first with Sucker Punch, but it didn't stop Cyndaquil from landing its attack. Cyndaquil managed to get up more easily this time, but the battlefield was almost equalized, as the fire Pokémon seemed to have been poisoned. Tia realized that both Pokémon were slowly weakening and wondered which one would be able to deal more damage and drop the other first.

  "Quick Attack," Elduran said with a smile on his face.

  Toxicroak once again, seemed to be relying too heavily on sucker punch so it opted to use it once again, but a fast command from Elduran cut the Quick Attack short, "Smokescreen!"

  Tia realized why Elduran was smiling, he had seen that Taunt had faded.

  Cyndaquil concealed himself in smoke as the Toxicroak's punch slowed to a crawl. Without a single command, a close-range Flamethrower hit the Toxicroak in the chest, finally bringing it down.

  Elduran quickly retrieved an antidote from his backpack and called out, "Forge, come here fast!" As Cyndaquil approached, Elduran hastily removed the packaging and injected the antidote into Cyndaquil's body.

  "We can't afford for you to faint," Elduran said. "Don't feel too comfortable with just Ladylike. Here, let me get you a potion too."

  After administering the potion, Elduran carried the Toxicroak to shallow water to help with the burns, deciding not to waste Burn Heals or Potions on it. He then returned to Croagunk, who, for once, was eager to have a talk with Elduran.