Learning to Fly
Chapter 10: The Test
A Clover Guild Story
By Ribombee-anon
Previous part: https://rentry.org/RibombeeFly9
Although the alien instincts of my new form still affected me, I could manage them to a greater extent after my heart-to-heart with Sneasel. With that weight off my shoulders, I continued to train and work in the next couple weeks leading up to KFC’s test. It was ominous yet exciting, and I wanted to make sure I was ready for it. I certainly was making progress thanks to all the exercise and meditation sessions I did with my partner and trainer. By now, I could consistently sense the presence and emotions of other Pokemon, and I could even move my wings—not enough to take flight, but enough to make them hum. My new body was finally starting to feel natural and comfortable to me.
One morning, Sneasel and I visited the dojo as we did almost every day. However, we didn’t see my trainer, which was unusual. My partner and I did our typical exercises, and we chatted with Casey, who was pleased to check up on how far I’d come. As I was about to finish my workout, my trainer finally arrived with a leather bag slung across his body. He sat off to the side and watched me conclude my final stretches. When I was done, I walked over to him, leaving Sneasel and Casey to their weightlifting.
“Good morning,” I said.
“Good morning, Booker,” the Combusken replied. “I have good news. When I scanned your Aura after we meditated yesterday, I realized something: the distortion in your Aura seems to be gone. At this point, I believe you’ve balanced it enough to let you use moves.”
I let out a little gasp. Sneasel’s ear perked up, and she turned towards us excitedly, as did Casey.
“Wow, today’s the day?” Sneasel asked my trainer. “Booker’s gonna learn Fairy Wind?”
“He just might, if he passes this test,” said KFC. “But that remains to be seen.”
“Nice,” said Casey with a nod.
“It ain’t just nice, it’s awesome!” Sneasel said, pumping the air with a fist. “Good luck, partner. I know you’ve got it in you. Hey, can I watch, KFC?”
“No,” he said bluntly. “This is something Booker has to do without your support, and without any distractions.”
Sneasel looked dejected, but didn’t argue. I didn’t complain either, though I felt a little pit in my stomach. I wished she could have come. Her mere presence was greatly encouraging to me. Without her, I felt weaker. But if KFC honestly believed I could learn Fairy Wind today, I had to trust him.
“I’m ready to go when you are,” I said to KFC.
He opened his bag and gestured for me to get in. I climbed up the side, which was easy because it was lumpy and resting on the ground, then clambered over the edge and sank slightly into the contents. It was full of standard items like berries, apples, and seeds, but there were also bandages and bottles of medicine, which made me a bit nervous about what this test would entail.
“You can do it, Booker,” said Casey as KFC stood up.
“Good luck, boys!” said Sneasel. “I’ll be waiting for you! Don’t worry about a thing, partner!”
“I sure hope we b-bring back some good news,” I said, poking my head over the edge of the bag. “Bye, Casey! Bye, Sneasel!”
We left the guildhall along a dirt road that led to a forest. I spent the ride trying to brave myself for whatever would come next. KFC left the bag’s flap open so I could have fresh air, though it was a short trip. Before long, the towering trees on either side of the path became densely packed together, and their intertwining canopies formed a nearly solid ceiling up above. The path bulged out at this point, and one side had been turned into a sort of rest stop with a few fallen logs for benches and a lamppost that used a glowing rock instead of a flame. On the other side of the round dirt patch, a wooden sign had been erected. It provided warnings and information about a mystery dungeon at this spot, and it displayed the emblem of the Exploration Team Federation. Next to the sign was a conspicuous ladder rising up to a dark hole in the canopy.
KFC pointed at the sign and summarized its contents for me, since I still couldn’t read this language (aside from a few scattered words). “Twilight Overstory, a low-level forest-type dungeon with five floors. The main types are Bug, Grass, and Flying, and there are no known anomalies. It’s a popular place to train because it’s close to town and not very dangerous. We’re going up, so hold on.”
He began to climb the ladder. I grabbed the edge of the bag and watched as we ascended. When we entered the canopy, we were briefly surrounded in unnatural blackness before the light returned. KFC was now at the top of the ladder, and we were inside the dungeon.
The Combusken stepped off the ladder and held a hand next to the open bag. I climbed onto his feathery palm and sat down, then he lifted me up and let me view the current room. The dungeon floor was a solid platform of wood, with knobs and bumps here and there. A dense network of leafy branches surrounded us, forming walls and a ceiling. Countless shafts of sunlight filtered through the gaps from one direction, illuminating little specks of dust and pollen floating in the air. Although it was morning outside, it seemed to be dusk in the realm of the dungeon. The sky beyond the walls was ablaze, and everything had a faint orange tint to it. Overall, this place seemed remarkably cozy. If it weren’t a mystery dungeon, it would have been the perfect spot for a secret hideout or treehouse.
“I’ve never been t-to this dungeon,” I remarked. “I heard of it, but it’s too... low-level for Sneasel’s tastes.”
“But it’s perfect for our purposes,” said my trainer. He lowered me to his face and stared at me intently, which made me fidget in his hand. He continued, “As you know, we’re here at the Overstory so you can take a test. I’ve taught you a lot over the last two months. Your body and mind have grown stronger, your Aura has settled, and you’ve adapted well to your new Pokemon form. It’s time to see how far you’ve truly come.”
KFC brought up his other hand beside me, and a floating ball of blue Aura energy flickered into view above his palm. “At this point, you should be able to control your power and use a simple move like Fairy Wind. All it takes is focus and courage. Reach inside you, draw out your power, and command it to take the form you want. Remember what I’ve taught you, and don’t get discouraged if it’s hard for you. Many Pokemon have some difficulty controlling their energy at first.”
As he spoke, he idly moved his claws, and the Aura Sphere drifted around them gently. I watched until the sphere fizzled and faded away. During our training, he’d repeatedly demonstrated Aura and told me how Pokemon used their moves, though I was never able to accomplish it myself.
“D-do you really think I can do it now?” I asked him.
“Absolutely. Don’t underestimate yourself, Booker.”
“Okay... I really do trust you, so in that case, I... I’ll do my best. So, w-what does the test involve?”
The Combusken crouched and tilted his hand, depositing me on the wooden floor of the dungeon. “I will be blunt: you may not like it. However, I’ve decided this is the best course of action. After all, being under pressure is the most effective way to learn a new skill.”
I gulped. “H-how much pressure?”
He met my gaze sternly. “This will be your goal: reach the end of the dungeon. Alone.”
My heart skipped and my stomach turned. I stared up at my trainer, half-expecting him to tell me it was just a joke. “What?” I whispered.
“You will not receive any assistance,” he continued, his voice flat and uncaring. “You will need to rely only on yourself. Fairy Wind will be the key to your survival. But if you truly have internalized everything you’ve learned, then you will be able to summon that power. I wish you the best of luck, Booker.”
With that, he walked down a corridor and out of sight.
I was frozen solid. What just happened? Did my trainer actually abandon me? What was I supposed to do now? I’d never faced a dungeon alone. I’d never even fought alone. I had no way to fight or protect myself—this test was insane! My own trainer just betrayed me and left me for dead!
I quaked all over. My throat grew tight. I looked around frantically. Twilight Overstory no longer looked peaceful now that I knew it would be my tomb. The branches around me seemed to bend and warp, closing in and trying to suffocate me. The sunlight grew dimmer and the shadows grew stronger, as if they were about to erupt with all kinds of horrible monsters.
My legs gave out and I fell to my knees. I screamed for help, begging my trainer to come back and help me. There was no reply but the breeze rustling the leaves.
For the first time since awakening in this world, I was truly alone.
* * *
I’m still unsure how long I spent shivering on the floor, gripped in the cold claws of panic. Disbelief, confusion, and terror rampaged endlessly in my head, and tears fell from my eyes. My faith in my trainer, once as solid as stone, was shattered now that he’d thrown me to the wolves with no good way to defend myself. How could he do something so awful? At any moment, I could be ambushed by a feral, and my new life would come to an abrupt end.
But the end didn’t come. Time slowly crawled onward. No monsters appeared, and the dungeon remained peaceful. The comforting glow of twilight continued to wash over me, and slowly—so slowly—my mind began to stabilize as logic desperately fought its way through the shroud of fear.
First of all, I started to realize how foolish I was to doubt my trainer and accuse him of abandoning me to my death. He’d left me to fend for myself, yes, but it couldn’t be out of malice. Even if I didn’t like this, I was sure he believed this was for the best, and he was convinced that I would survive. It wouldn’t make any sense for him to betray me after all the time he’d devoted to teaching me. I remembered all the times we’d talked. I thought about all the support he’d given me so I could become stronger. I recalled how he fought so hard to protect me when that feral Floatzel ambushed us at our waterfall pond, even going so far as to shield me with his own body. He could be reckless, and too quick to jump to a risky and dangerous solution, but I was certain he didn’t want me to die here. That gave me a little boost of confidence. Still, regardless of KFC’s thought process, I was trapped in this dungeon, and I had to find a way to survive.
My trainer was right about one thing: I needed to rely on myself. There was nobody here who could save me, and rescue might never come in time. Of course, saving myself would be incredibly difficult without a single move in my arsenal. If only I could use Fairy Wind... KFC said this test would let me learn it, but trying to do something totally unfamiliar when under this much stress would definitely be a struggle.
Putting a hand on my chest, I tried to ignore my racing heart and focus only on my Aura. I could sense it as clearly as the heat of an open flame. I breathed deeply, desperately clinging to that warmth. It soothed me and helped my heart rate slowly decrease—not back to normal, but not as bad as it was during my panic. Thinking back to the information KFC had given me during our many weeks of training, I tried to take control of my Aura. I tensed and worked my muscles, and I visualized the energy flowing out of my core and along my limbs. It was all to no avail. That flickering mint-green light never budged, like it was mocking me. I grit my teeth and clenched my fist over my chest. Did I seriously need to entrust my life to a brand new technique like this?
Kneeling and slouching on the floor, with my antennae and wings drooping, I tried to analyze my situation and decide what to do. I’d keep trying to control my Aura, since it would certainly be the best way to survive this ordeal, but until I could figure out how to use it, I’d have to rely on my current meager skillset. My training had enhanced my physical abilities, but I was still a tiny, slow, fragile Ribombee, and the so-called easy Pokemon in Twilight Overstory would be unstoppable titans to someone like me. Considering the danger, this was my plan: I’d try to detect enemies with my Aura-sensing powers and avoid them entirely, and if I was unlucky enough to get into a fight, I’d predict the enemies’ attacks and develop strategies to get away.
If luck was on my side, I’d pull through and escape this terrible place. I wanted to get back to where it was safe and comfortable. I wanted to return to the guildhall. I wanted to see Sneasel again.
I sat upright. My partner would hate to see me like this—and she was waiting for me to return safely. No matter what, I needed to get back to her. My strength had mostly left me, but as I thought about my partner, I felt some energy return, enough to let me get to my feet. I was ready to confront the Overstory.
It was then that I realized my first mistake: I’d spent too long fretting, and something had found me. I could feel a presence not too far away, like a glimmer in the corner of my eye. I spun to face it and saw a Wurmple emerging from a nearby corridor. Its red carapace was covered in intimidating spikes, and its yellow compound eyes were staring right at me. It rushed at me, sending slight vibrations my way as its multitude of sharp legs scuttled along the wood. My mind was screaming at me to run, but my legs were locking up, and I stood frozen as the beast’s shadow eclipsed me. It seemed to loom larger than an elephant, a bus, a building—and I felt even smaller than usual as I looked up at its soulless eyes.
The monster only met my gaze for a moment before it reared up and aimed its horn down at me. The sharp spike glinted in the light of the sunset, and at long last, I regained control of my body. The first thing I did was scream. Then I backpedaled and tripped, falling onto my back. Still, I evaded the bug’s strike. Its horn clanked against the floor, and as the Wurmple flinched and recovered from its miss, I turned and fled blindly. Seconds later, I could feel the beast’s Aura behind me glow brighter for a moment, as if a light came on and off. I knew what that meant—incoming! I jumped to the side as big glob of sticky silk splatted on the ground where I’d been a moment before. If I hadn’t dodged, I would have been caught and immobilized, rendered helpless in an instant. The thought made my legs weak. Somehow, I managed to stop them from freezing again, and I kept up the pace.
Unfortunately, in my panic, I hadn’t been paying attention to where I was running. I suddenly found myself at the edge of the room with nowhere to go. My back was up against the wall and my heart was racing as the Wurmple approached again. My hands darted around, grasping for anything useful. All I felt was a large leaf, about half my size. I clutched it and wrenched it off the branch, holding it in front of myself like a feeble shield. It was so flimsy, but right now, it was the only thing I could use to defend myself.
The huge Wurmple towered over me again. It reared up, hissed, and spat another glob of silk at me. With a yelp, I shut my eyes and covered myself with my arms—and the leaf, which caught the webbing perfectly. I hadn’t planned that, but it saved me. Before I had a chance to be surprised, the Wurmple hissed again and charged at me like an angry bull. I dove to the side and gracelessly faceplanted, while the Wurmple’s horn impaled the branch and got stuck. As I scrambled to my feet, clutching my webbed leaf tighter, an idea came to me.
The Wurmple yanked its head out of the wood, and as soon as I had a clear shot, I swung my leaf at it. Thanks to the big glob of webbing on it, it stuck to the Wurmple’s face and covered one of its eyes completely. Half-blinded, the feral chittered angrily and swung its head. I hopped back just in time to avoid the horn, but in doing so, I bumped back against the wall. Another leaf was nearby, and I tore it free of its branch without hesitation. This plan worked once, so maybe I could do it again.
The Wurmple kept thrusting and swinging its horn at me, but I got away from the wall and continued to dodge. To stop me from evading so much, it switched tactics and launched more webbing at me—just like I wanted. I caught the silk glob with my leaf and immediately rushed in, swinging my improvised weapon at its uncovered eye. I saw it flinch just before the sticky leaf hit it, fully blinding the beast. It flailed and uselessly rubbed its head against the floor to try to dislodge the leaves. Luckily for me, its own glue-like silk made them hold fast.
I took the chance to run away while its vision was impaired. I didn’t slow down until I’d entered a corridor and gone halfway to the next room. When I glanced back, I saw the Wurmple was wandering around aimlessly with the pair of leaves still affixed to its face. I let out a shaky sigh and continued on my way.
The realization hit me that I’d just survived my first solo encounter with a feral Pokemon. Even though I hadn’t defeated it, I’d managed to come up with a plan and escape, which was much better than I expected. I couldn’t stop a small smile from appearing on my face. Still, I was hardly filled with confidence. I definitely wasn’t out of the woods yet, and even worse, I noticed that I hadn’t even attempted to use Fairy Wind during that fight. My trainer said I could do it, and he wanted me to try it, but in my panic, I’d forgotten the entire reason I was here.
I looked at my little hands. They were shaking. I fell to my knees, shut my eyes, and exhaled deeply. Slipping into a meditative trance, I reached within me and took some comfort in the familiar mint-green flame of my Aura. Once again, I attempted to move it. Once again, it ignored me.
This was not unlike my problem from months ago, when I was still struggling to control my wings. My mind didn’t register my new body parts at the time, so I couldn’t operate them. I was sure the same problem was happening here, considering Aura was a new feature of this Pokemon body. And yet, while exercise had granted me better control over my physical form, all my meditation hadn’t enabled me to use my inner energy.
I shuddered once more before getting to my feet and resuming my trek. Trickery and strategy could only get me so far. I needed to get a hold of my Aura if I wanted to escape this dungeon alive.
* * *
I moved slowly and stealthily through the twilit treetops, with thoughts of Sneasel as my main motivation. I skirted the walls so I could duck into the branches at a moment’s notice, and I constantly reached out with my mind to detect enemies. I sensed and spotted various foes, and gave them all a wide berth or took shelter when I needed to. I sometimes tried calling up my energy and using Fairy Wind when enemies passed me and had their backs turned, but I never had any success.
Items would certainly have been useful, but I didn’t find any except a pile of coins that were too large and cumbersome to carry. On the bright side, I located the first of four sets of stairs in the dungeon. My excitement turned to dismay as I came closer and realized each step was the height of a table compared to me. Sighing, I slowly clambered up, eventually reaching high enough to transition to the next floor. One down, four to go.
After wandering this floor for a bit, I entered a small room with a Shroomish and a Caterpie, neither of whom noticed me yet. I crept along the edge of the room and made for the closest corridor. I was almost there when something horrible happened: a Weedle crawled out. My heart stopped as it stared at me. Then it hissed loudly, and the other two ferals perked up and looked my way. All of a sudden, I had three huge enemies confronting me.
I felt my stomach twist into knots. My breath came fast and shallow. I couldn’t run or hide, and as for fighting... My Aura weakly flickered into view in my mind’s eye, and I threw out a hand, silently ordering my energy to flow out as a burst of wind. Just as I expected, nothing happened. I gulped and shivered, cursing my own weakness while continuing to back away from the trio of monsters. Looking between them, a new option came to mind: if I couldn’t attack these foes myself, what if I made them attack each other?
It was worth a try, and I had to act fast, because the Weedle’s horn was glowing an intimidating shade of purple. I dashed to the side, circling the trio of ferals and putting the Shroomish between myself and the Weedle. The bug used Poison Sting, carelessly shooting the Grass-type with a bunch of poisonous needles. The Shroomish cried out and staggered. I hoped it might faint right away, but instead, it shook its body and scattered small seeds all over. They flew quite far, covering most of the room and digging into the wooden floor of the dungeon. They each left behind little glowing green sprouts, and I recognized the move as Leech Seed. I knew getting too close to those tiny plants would make roots erupt, entangle me, and sap my energy. Then again, maybe I could use this trap to my advantage.
I ran about the room, barely outpacing the larger Pokemon and trying to lead them to the sprouts. Despite being mindless beasts, the ferals were smart enough to avoid the traps. But I knew how this move worked, and I had one other idea. I picked up a fallen twig and hurled it at a little sprout which was close to the Caterpie. The plant reacted like a mousetrap being sprung. A dense cluster of roots burst from the floor and flew at the Caterpie. The feral squirmed uselessly as the Leech Seed held it down and drained its energy. Unfortunately, I could sense the energy being beamed right back to the Shroomish, which began to move faster as it recovered from the Weedle’s collateral damage.
The Grass-type stomped closer and closer, then it abruptly lunged at me, rolling like a giant boulder in an attempt to crush me. I dodged to the side as it went by, and we both got back on our feet at the same time. It shook and emitted a burst of sparkly yellow powder from the top of its head. The large cloud spread and nearly washed over me. I barely managed to fall back in time, but some bits of the powder got caught in my fluff and made me feel tingly. It must have been Stun Spore.
The Shroomish backed away as the Weedle closed in and took its turn attacking me. As the bug tried to headbutt me with its horn, I hopped to the side, skirting the edge of the Stun Spore cloud. The Weedle avoided sticking its head into the dust, but I grit my teeth and buzzed my wings aggressively, kicking up a wind that blew the paralytic powder into its face. The huge bug tensed up, then rigidly toppled to the side.
Somehow, I’d managed to turn the ferals’ strength against each other—but with two Pokemon incapacitated, I wasn’t sure how to beat the Shroomish. As the Stun Spore dissipated, the Grass-type feral advanced on me, waddling closer with a frighteningly blank expression on its face. I kept my distance, glancing at the nearby Weedle and the Caterpie farther away. The green bug was still struggling against its bonds, and as I saw it throwing its horned head around, I remembered something I’d read about this species that could prove useful.
I ran toward the Caterpie as fast as I could, and the Shroomish pursued me. The Grass-type lunged and rolled at me over and over, but I evaded each time with my Aura sense. With my foe right behind me, I reached the bug, scooped up the twig I’d thrown earlier, and leaped into the air. I swung my little stick and brought it down hard on the Caterpie’s red horns. Then I landed on the ground, dropped the twig, and held my antennae against my head in an attempt to block what was coming next. It didn’t help much. With its horns injured and irritated, the Caterpie instinctively unleashed a horrid stench. It smelled like rotten eggs, and it assaulted my antennae and burned my eyes. I retched and nearly collapsed, but somehow endured the noxious fumes and got away.
Meanwhile, the Shroomish stumbled and backed off, driven away by the smell. I ran to the corridor and only stopped when I reached the first bend. A look around the corner showed that there were no ferals up ahead, and looking back showed me that none of the monsters were coming after me. I’d successfully escaped the trio.
My legs quaked, and I fell down to all fours, coughing and trying to ignore the remnants of the Caterpie’s awful odor. As the stench faded, and I waited for my racing heart and fearful shaking to settle down, I took a brief rest at the corner of the corridor so I could keep watch in both directions. I could barely believe it, but I’d survived again, even with the odds so strongly stacked against me. Like when I escaped the Wurmple, I felt a little surge of confidence wash over me. Sadly, this was just as short-lived as the last time. Disappointment replaced my happiness when I thought about how I’d once again failed to use Fairy Wind. And this time, I had been under duress with three monsters bearing down on me, which should have made it easier to use the move (according to my trainer). If I still couldn’t do it under these conditions, what would it take to let me learn the move? Could I even do it at all? Was KFC wrong about stress helping me learn, or... was I just a failure?
Those negative feelings were building up again. Even though I’d survived thus far, I hadn’t made any progress in learning to use my moves. I’d only used my mind, outsmarting and tricking my foes, rather than relying on my inner power like I was supposed to. Plus, I’d only been through a measly two battles and completed one floor of the dungeon, and I was already rattled to my core. I still had so far to go, and a single mistake would be fatal.
“Sneasel...”
My voice shook as I murmured my partner’s name.
“I wish y-you were here with me. I w-wish I wasn’t alone...”
My heart ached, and I rubbed my damp eyes. My mind was filled with my partner’s face, her voice, and memories of the encouragement she had given me during these difficult months. I had derived so much strength from her... but now I was completely isolated, a fact that weighed down on me like a thousand pounds. If I could rely on nobody but myself, how far could I go? Could I really survive this place? Would I ever see Sneasel again?
That last thought was like a knife—no, a frigid icicle—plunging into my heart. Shivering, I forced myself to stand up. I didn’t care if I failed the test and didn’t learn Fairy Wind. Right now, I just cared about going home to my partner.
* * *
I trudged into the next room of the dungeon. It looked empty, and there was only one other corridor leading out of it. When I was halfway there, I sensed something behind me: a Pokemon using an attack. I dove to the side, but I was too slow. Something nicked my leg and drew hemolymph. Pain shot through me, and I gasped and grunted as I crumpled to the ground. Meanwhile, the thing that slashed me flew on and embedded itself in the floor. It was a glowing crescent-shaped leaf, sharp as a blade and as big as my entire body.
With wide eyes, I pushed myself up and looked at my attacker. A Bulbasaur was slowly stomping toward me, its big red eyes staring at me blankly. From my perspective, the beast seemed as big as a three story building, towering at least twice the size of any feral I’d seen so far in this dungeon. After wasting a few moments staring in fear, I forced myself to get up again. I backed away unsteadily, trying to keep my weight off my injured leg and moving my wings to maintain my balance. The Bulbasaur was faster, though. Even though it was merely walking, it easily outpaced me due to its much larger size. I could feel the light shaking of each footfall, a constant reminder that it was getting closer.
I should have focused on running, but I couldn’t resist looking back at it through my gossamer wings. I gasped as I saw the massive bulb on its back glowing brightly, with more leaves materializing around it. They became coated in green energy and raced towards me like enormous spinning saws. I did my best to evade them, using my Aura sense to predict when and where they would come for me—but each time I moved my bad leg or put weight on it, I winced in pain and stumbled, causing more leaves to graze me. The giant blades sliced through my waist cape and my exoskeleton alike with the same horrifying ease. Blue-green bug blood leaked from the wounds, staining my chitin and setae and splattering on the floor. Sharp, hot pain lanced through my body. My vision blurred with tears, and my mind blurred with terror.
I’d never been attacked like this before. As far as I could remember, this was the first time a feral had even landed a hit on me. Sneasel always protected me, keeping me safe and secure in her belt pouch. But now, she was gone. And without her, I was exposed, defenseless, vulnerable...
I stumbled and fell again and again as pain overwhelmed me. I was no longer running, just scrambling madly to escape the titan that was slowly slashing me apart. Then I sensed something approaching, and glanced over just in time to see a huge vine swinging at me like a whip. It slammed into my side, lifting me off my feet and throwing me across the room. I screamed and clutched the new dent in my exoskeleton. My head spun, and as much as my mind yelled at me to get up and flee, I couldn’t move. Pain and panic had taken hold and frozen me.
Through my watery eyes, I saw another vine snaking toward me. The thick green tendril curled tightly around my waist, then effortlessly lifted me off the ground. Caught in its grip, I weakly kicked my one good leg and pushed against the vine with my hands, but the feral ignored my struggles and reeled me in. I found myself face-to-face with the Bulbasaur. I could even see my reflection in its huge red eyes—and I saw a tiny, helpless bug, abandoned in a horrible place and caught by a deadly monster.
Despite the pain and panic, one spot of hope remained. Within me, I could still feel my Aura. This was my last chance to use it. I raised one hand, and as I struggled to hold it steady, I pleaded with my energy to listen to me. The only thing that could save me now was Fairy Wind. I needed my Aura to flow, just this once. Please, just this once...
My Aura ignored me.
My arm gave out and fell back onto the Bulbasaur’s vine. It was hopeless. I’d failed.
I didn’t struggle as the monster raised its vine, lifting me high into the air. I looked down on it from above, and I suddenly had a strong sense of deja vu. I recalled flying with Taillow through the brilliant blue sky, gazing at the world so far below. It was the most wonderful feeling I’d ever experienced. But I would never know it again.
After a moment’s pause, the feral swung its vine down and slammed me into the wooden floor. The last thing that flashed in my mind was Sneasel. Then everything went black, and I remembered no more.
To be continued...
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