Chapter 8

A Pokémon’s evolution was almost like filling a water balloon—the energy inside them would slowly fill and build pressure up to a certain point, and then it would “burst,” spreading out and inspiring a rapid, extreme change. Different species had different ways to achieve this sudden change, with the vast majority of species only needing the base prerequisite of a certain level of strength. A Pokémon like Beldum had two ways to evolve, one of which was becoming strong enough, and the other was to “merge” with another individual of its kind.

All that being said, I kept this in mind due to a certain fact I knew about a Metang’s brain. The species was essentially the equivalent of two Beldum put together. That might have seemed to imply that a Metang was twice as smart as its pre-evolved form, but that wasn’t the case. The increased brain power only served to increase Psychic-type potential.

In other words, a Metang wasn’t smarter. It only had its usual thoughts, just twice as fast.

When this Metang finally awoke in that Hyper Beam crater, we were waiting nearby, still hidden by the surrounding trees. The blue Pokémon creaked its eyes open to drag itself out of and off the ground. It took several long seconds for it to regain its bearings, and then it shook, causing lingering ash from the Hyper Beam to drift off its floating form.

The Metang stared into the darkness of the Metagross cave, looking as if it were debating the value of another challenge. However, it quickly came to a decision and turned around, rushing back into the forest instead.

“You’re kidding,” I whispered to my team. “Metang still isn’t giving up. It thinks that if it gets a few more wins in, it’ll be strong enough to try again.”

Rotom snickered at that harebrained plan.

Continuing where we left off, Liepard took the lead, and we followed. The Metang didn’t notice us; it flew with a furious mission, not caring about the branches and bushes that blocked its path. Splinters were sent flying as it crashed through the woods, but even with all of its injuries, its Steel type gave it enough sturdiness to ignore all of that.

In the distance, the faint clang of metal rang out, and the Metang’s interest was immediately piqued by the presence of an ongoing battle. From where it was sliding through the air beneath the trees, it changed directions to curve toward wherever the battle was taking place, wanting to gather even more experience for itself.

Unfortunately, as we hurried after it toward the ongoing fight, I couldn’t help but feel a little bad for the pair of Pokémon the Metang discovered. A lone Aron, a little, hard-shelled Steel type, growled at a small Beldum, attempting to taunt the floating into coming lower so that it could eat its metal carapace.

These two Pokémon were the most basic of the basic. They were managing to last in the Giant Chasm by not being a threat. Truly, their only real opponents could be found in each other.

But now, this Metang had arrived.

Honestly, it was a menace.

“Let’s fix this,” I said, tilting my head toward the floating Pokémon to signal for my Pokémon to ready an attack. “Night Slash, Valiant. Liepard and Rotom, reposition.”

Claws gleaming with the start of a Metal Claw, this Metang never got the chance to fully use its move. Before it could realize it, Valiant was already there.

Blade turning pitch-black, an upwards swing struck the Metang’s steel underbelly with a loud, ringing gong. The darkness of this Night Slash, a move inspired by Liepard, practically ate away at the Metang due to how its secondary Psychic type had imbued it with a Dark-type weakness.

Still, the Metang took the blow, eyes going wide, and the two lower-level Pokémon didn’t hesitate to take this moment to flee. Valiant continued their slash as the pair darted off, and Metang was sent careening forward.

Entering a small grove within this forest, it just barely managed to catch itself before it hit the earth.

“Again,” I commanded from within the trees. At the sides of this small grove, Liepard and Rotom took up position to ensure the Metang couldn’t flee.

Once more, the Steel type’s claws gleamed with metallic energy, but as injured as it still was, it wasn’t able to move fast enough to stop a second blow.

This time around, Valiant’s blade came from above, and before the Metang’s claws could reach near them, a blade had already slammed into the Metang’s head. The impact caused a new groove to be formed in the Steel type, and the power of the blow slammed Metang straight into the earth.

Valiant was not finished. I didn’t need to give them any more commands for them to understand my plan. Just to make sure, they jabbed down with their polearm, using both hands. Alongside that stab came a weak Dazzling Gleam that hit the Metang and pushed it down just a bit further to ensure it was fully and truly stuck.

Finally, I walked forward.

“I’m not going to lie about what I want to do here,” I said, stepping out of the surrounding woods. “I’m a Pokémon trainer. I catch and train Pokémon. A few days ago, you caught my attention, and now I want you to join my team.”

Metang’s red eyes twisted into sharp angles as it glared at me in defiance, but the Pokémon couldn’t leave the ground with how Valiant had ensured it was lodged deep into the earth. That, and Valiant was right there and capable of retaliation. That constant threat loomed even as Valiant took several steps back to give me space.

“So,” I continued, walking over. To ensure it didn’t try to escape, I planted my foot in the center of the Metang’s head. “My Pokémon beat you. You’re heavily injured. Most trainers would throw a Pokéball here. According to how things usually work, I have the right to try for a capture, but a capture like that isn’t why I’m here.”

I leaned into my stance, putting pressure on the Metang. Doing so slightly tilted the Pokémon back, ensuring it could see my face.

“I need to ask you a question,” I said to it. “Before anything else happens, just tell me— Why?”

Blinking, the Metang seemed genuinely bewildered at my question. I couldn’t lie and say I hadn’t been trying to appear intimidating, but I was here to have a chat first and give a recruitment pitch. Metang was supposed to join my team. There was no way I’d just toss a Pokéball and bring it with us without at least talking to it, first.

“Why throw yourself into so many battles?” I asked, continuing my questions. “Why risk it and push yourself to that kind of an extreme? And just... why challenge the Metagross in the first place? I mean, both of us know you weren’t going to win.”

I was not familiar enough with this Metang to get a strong read on it, but when it came to Pokémon, they primarily communicated through body language rather than any particular noise. However, I had plenty of experience interpreting the actions of my team as well as the glow in Valiant’s eyes to at least get the gist of what Metang was feeling here.

It was defiance. It was determination. It was so many different things at once. But, by bringing up that Metagross, one emotion pushed past all others.

The Metang was filled with awe. 

For it, the awe it felt about that Metagross was an intense, almost desperate sense of awe. That fully evolved Pokémon was a goal Metang wanted to surpass. It had seen the Metagross in battle, and it desired that same kind of potential for itself.

But while there was nothing wrong with being inspired, what had stuck with me was the way that the Metang had acted when it gave its challenge. And, with this look, it didn’t even need to properly respond to me to give me an answer.

However, as I stared at it, I realized I could only bring myself to frown.

“So I was right,” I mumbled, still watching the Metang for further reaction. “The Metagross wasn’t just another opponent. It is your opponent. It’s your goal—your objective. You want to be just as strong as it, except...”

All I could think about was the disappointed look on the Metagross’s face and how that had compared to the desperation that had filled the Metang's eyes.

“I see,” I said, and I looked the Metang over. “You do know that at this point you’re just letting that Metagross make your decisions for you, right?”

At first, the Metang blinked at me, not understanding the blunt statement in my words. Then, meaning started to settle in, and it shook where it was trapped as if it wanted to fight back against what I said. However, it didn’t have the energy to escape just yet, and it had no choice but to back down.

Trapped due to its level of physical damage, this Metang was forced to consider and think.

“Look,” I said, pulling my foot back so I could crouch and look the Metang in the eye. “It’s fine to use another Pokémon as an inspiration. It’s fine to use someone stronger as a goal you want to reach and surpass. But the way you’re going about it? You’re going up to that Metagross and challenging it all the time. You aren’t giving yourself a chance to define and understand your power. You’re forcing that Metagross to define your level of strength for you.”

The Metang’s red gaze practically stabbed into me, and I stood up, sighing as I walked a few steps back. Valiant tensed as I stepped away from the trapped Pokémon, aware that the Metang could try to escape now that it had space, but the wild Pokémon didn’t move.

It was too busy watching my every movement and listening to my every word, stuck both in place and deep in thought.

“I just... You can’t live with someone else controlling your decisions,” I said, turning away and running my hand through my hair. “Everyone has their own wants and dreams. It’s up to you to actually see those come true, and having that Metagross be the one to judge your efforts... Gah. I just hate it because I’m in a similar position as you.”

Checking over my shoulder, I saw the Metang blinking again, and I gained a soft smile. Memories filled me, but they weren’t happy memories. However, they were memories of the actions I took to bring myself to where I was right now.

“I’m not throwing myself into battle like you,” I said to it. “I am battling with my team, but we aren’t trying to prove ourselves to anyone else. But for me, I’m kind of trapped. Not necessarily because of what I’m doing, but just because of... expectations.”

I properly turned back around.

“I’m not the first person to be in my position,” I continued. “I kind of know a bunch of things I shouldn’t. But the last person to be in that same spot ended up doing a lot, so they set a standard that’s way too high. People expect the same of me, so now?”

“Now, I have to live with that,” I said.

I walked back over to the Metang, and I didn’t turn away. With how it was positioned inside the earth, the Metang had no choice but to watch me, but after what I had said, I could tell it would have been watching me regardless of its current state.

“I want you to know that even with everything hanging over my head, I live for myself, just like how my Pokémon live for themselves, too. I wanted to catch you because of your drive, but I also want your drive to be your own rather than some desperate attempt to live up to whatever standards that Metagross may or may not have.

“Look,” I continued, “you’re a strong Pokémon, and I’d lie if I said that wasn’t a big part of why I want you on my team. But that’s just it—I don’t just want you to be my Pokémon, I want you to be on my team, and that means I need to make sure you understand what you’re getting into, so...”

I crouched before the Metang once more.

“Wanna hear a secret?”

Leaning in, I pulled out my secret weapon.

“That Metagross isn’t even the strongest thing in the crater,” I whispered. “There’s an actual monster out there, and my team and I are here to defeat it.”

Pulling back, I smiled, and my smile wasn’t meant to be any show of joy. My smile was the weapon I used in my day-to-day life. Contracts could be restrictive, and financial support could be turned into strings. Yes, I had come here to take on the World Coronation Series, but that decision hadn’t just been my own.

But my smile served as proof that no matter what other people wanted of me, I would keep going and keep living a life according to myself and not just them. And, in this moment, my smile was my way of showing this Metang that there was more than just trying to impress someone else.

With my speech—probably a bit closer to a rant, in all honesty—finished, Metang took a while to process everything I had just said. However, when it came to a realization, it came to more than one realization. I had spoken for long enough that it now had the energy to pull itself out from the ground.

Without anything holding it back, the wild Pokémon broke free from the earth, sending dirt and torn-up grass raining down around it. The injured form of that battle-hungry Metang floated above me, and its red gaze bore down at where I crouched.

“So?” I asked it. “What are you going to do?”

Valiant was frozen—they could make no sudden movements. With how close this wild Metang was to me, it could unleash an attack before my team could even hope to get close.

But it didn’t. The wild Metang didn’t attack. It shifted back through the air to move to the other side of the grove. There, its gaze purposefully met my eyes, and it looked at me with an unspoken question.

“So my words didn’t really get through to you. You still just want to be strong,” I said, standing up and stretching my arms. “That’s a bit of a disappointment, but I get it. If we’re going to be challenging the strongest Pokémon in this crater, you want us to prove our strength in a fight.”

There was a reason most Pokémon were caught after a battle. Battles proved a trainer’s skill and demonstrated the strength of their team. No Pokémon wanted to be caught by an undeserving trainer, and for this Metang, no battle we had before now had counted for this capture attack.

“Alright. We’ll fight you. Valiant, I want you to—”

A resonating cry left the Metang’s body; Valiant wasn’t the Pokémon it needed to see in a fight.

Though my words had been spoken from the heart, they had also been spoken in an attempt to convince it. Back when I had first entered this open space, I had told the Metang of how trainers trained Pokémon, and now it wanted to see if I could live up to that promise.

It knew Valiant was strong. Valiant was the strongest member on my team by far. So, the Metang didn’t need to see Valiant’s strength. It needed evidence that if it joined us, I wouldn’t ignore it and just cause it to be left behind.

Understanding its request to meet a different Pokémon in a fight, I looked to the woods and nodded at someone else. Quickly, Rotom zipped over, not in any machine form. He was just a tiny little lightbulb, or a living electric bolt. It was almost humorous how small he was when he wasn’t possessing anything, but he floated in place regardless of his diminutive size, willing to meet any opponent head-on.

“Your move first,” I told the wild Pokémon. Rotom chirped out his name in support.

Across from us, Metang brought up its arms just to lock them to its sides, and they were almost like a glider’s wings as the tip of the horn glowed a brilliant blue. It went on to rush at us like a rocket, intended to stab into Rotom with a Zen Headbutt.

But Rotom didn’t move. I said nothing.

Metang approached regardless.

When it was only a split-second away from reaching my Pokémon, I gave a single command.

“Thunder Wave.”

Rotom turned to pure electricity and flickered off to the side. Metang slammed its head forward, trying to stab its move into him, but Rotom was no longer there.

Instead, next to Metang, static crackled out of my tiny Pokémon’s form, and it pierced into the Metang like needles. The electricity crackled through the Steel type, coursing through its body and causing it to go tense in pain.

“Paralysis. You’ll struggle to move,” I said to the Metang.

Fighting through the pulsating currents, the Metang tore an arm away from its body in an attempt to swipe for a Metal Claw.

Unfortunately for it, Rotom was an extremely annoying Pokémon to hit when he wasn’t possessing anything. He easily zipped away to make as much room as possible within this small grove. The Metal Claw went wide by a dozen feet, and the Metang tried to go after him.

However, the Thunder Wave’s paralysis meant Metang could barely move before it tensed, locked in place, unable to do anything to pursue any attacks.

“Rotom,” I said to gather my Pokémon’s attention, knowing that with the Metang’s injuries, there was no sense in delaying the outcome of this fight. “Use Shadow Ball.”

Arms made of plasma stretched out, and Rotom focused to create a darkened ball of energy in front of their floating form. His Shadow Ball seemed to draw in the shade from the trees, the darkness fueling the move’s power to create a concentrated sphere of pure, spiritual energy.

When he finally let it fly, I reached into my pocket to pull out a spare sphere, myself.

As the Shadow Ball hit the paralyzed Metang, the darkened energy burst out just to creep back into the Metang’s body. Somewhat similar to Valiant’s previous use of Night Slash, the move hit with increased effectiveness to deal super effective damage.

The sheer number of injuries it had sustained, combined with the pain of this Shadow Ball, left the wild Pokémon stunned and dazed. Still paralyzed, the Metang could do nothing as I let my own projectile fly through the air.

Then, that yellow-and-black sphere struck the center of its head, and for the second time in the past few days, this Metang was turned to light and sucked into an Ultra Ball.

Holding my breath, I carefully watched the outcome. Quickly, the ball began to move.

One shake, and the Metang didn’t escape.

A second shake, and the Steel type tried its best to snap the ball open.

A third shake occurred, and the Metang had no more energy left.

Paralyzed and injured to a concerning level, the wild Pokémon was unable to break free, and a click echoed out of the unmoving Pokéball.

The sound signalled that Metang had been caught.

“YES!”

For more reasons than one, I was ecstatic. It was rare to find a species like Metang, but it was even rarer to find a Pokémon with a drive that’d so fit the motivation of my team.

“That’s Metang caught! A Metang’s been added to our team! And that means we have a fourth team member, which means we can finally start heading toward—”

A hand placed on my shoulder told me I should stop.

With an even gaze, Valiant sent me a simple stare, and that flat look was enough for a realization that hit me like cold water.

“Oh. Yeah. We need to leave—and probably as soon as we can, at that,” I said, looking up from the now-occupied Ultra Ball. “Metang’s a part of our team now, and that means I’m responsible for them. After all of their battles and all of their injuries... We really need to head to the Pokémon Center. Metang needs to be treated, and I think...”

I smiled.

“I think we all deserve a bit of time to rest before we make our final push.”

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Author Note:

It’s hard to overstate just how much this chapter and the last chapter fought me. But at least the upcoming chapters will be fun. We’re about to reach the motivating reason behind why I wrote this initial arc.

Don't forget, there's no post on Friday! After Thursday's chapter, updates will pick back up next week!

Pokémon mentioned in this chapter:
Metang / Metagross

Nick’s Team:
Iron Valiant
Liepard
Metang
Rotom

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