PMD-U Eurasia: Cactus Field Part 4

Explorer Task 1: Rescue on the Rocks (Part 2)

*Pants, pants*

“Aww, man, this can’t be good.”

With the sand-filling ravine on his back, the Dewott scuffed after looking at his surroundings. This green-scarfed Discipline Pokémon was standing in front of a pile of carts, which backs to the ravine, holding his twin scalchops that has turned to duel aqua swords, and looked forward, seeing dozens of bandits in front of him.

He’s been fighting alone for God-knows-how-long since he covered the merchants and locals for their escape. His stubborn traits, however, just compelled him to stay behind and protect their merchandize, saying “it’s part of his job.”

Despite a fairly large group of bandits already taken cared of, the size of the foe group didn’t seem to reduce. He’s already badly injured, and the harsh sun had weakened him from the start. That green scarf he's been wearing for years was badly torn from the fight. He reluctantly tore it off his neck and throw it backwards. For once, he had valued his own safety above his job. He made up his mind, which he’s going to abandon the carts and try to make a break for it.

Just when he’s about to make the move first, something’s wrong. A silver explosion suddenly erupted from behind the bandits. Caught completely by surprise, the large, tight group of bouldering Ground-types scrambled, leaving a clear trail for the Dewott to see the other side. To his surprise, it was a Lucario leading a Sneasel and another Lucario toward the pack. Even more shocking for him, was that he recognized the leading Lucario, the one with the atypical dark eyes, as someone he knew, and the last ‘mon he would ever expected to see out here.

“No… this can’t be…” he blurted out, with a shaken voice.

* * * * *
-Max’s POV-

I ran as fast as I could with Dash and Athena toward the ravine after the lead of the Gabite we met earlier. For some reason, I ran a lot faster then I used to without even noticing. I stopped and looked back upon realizing that, and found the three ‘mons being left a pretty far distance behind.

“Good grief, Max! Can you just slow down a bit?” Dash complained with heavy pant after catching up with Athena and Gabite.

“Sorry,” I sweat dropped.

“We’re almost there, just take it easy from here,” Athena suggested.

I nodded. Then we continued our way, this time with a slower pace.

“Speaking of which, you said this Derek is your old partner?” asked Dash. “It must be someone important for you to go hysterical like that.”

I stopped walking, and the others followed.

“Hysterical? Did I really?” I asked back with confusion.

“Yeah, you just rushed off before we even noticed,” Dash replied with his hands behind his head. “And hell, you looked like you were about to kill somebody when you heard the news.”

I sweat dropped again. How come I had no memory about doing all that? I tried to explain, but in reality, I had nothing to say about that.

“It’s okay, though, we all had been through that before,” said Athena, seeing my dilemma. “He must be someone you truly endear for you to lose control like that.”

“Well, actually…” I slowly started, while continue walking. “Derek was a good friend of mine for years. We actually met each other while I helped him with a fight and ended up traveling together.”

“Then why did you two split up?” Dash curiously asked.

“He said something had happened back home and we parted way, then I’ve never heard of him again until now,” I replied.

“That’s why you went hysterical when you heard he’s there?” Dash asked again.

“No, that’s not it,” I shook my head. “I know the guy, he’s just one of the most stubborn ‘mon I’ve ever seen. Most of the time he would just keep on fighting until he couldn’t take it anymore. And I’ve already pulled him out of that hole twice before we parted way.”

“You think he’ll hold? There’s a huge group of Ruffians incoming before we left,” asked the Gabite.

“He’s a strong guy, he can’t go down that easily,” I replied. “But he’s still but one ‘mon against a group, he can’t take much longer if we don’t help him.”

“Then let’s hurry,” Athena remarked.

* * * * *

When we finally made it to the ravine, we could already see the large group of ‘mon slowly closing in toward several carts. I couldn’t see through the blockade, but I was sure that Derek is behind that wall.

“That’s it! That’s the Ruffians who attacked us!” exclaimed the Gabite.

“Right! Let’s go give them holy hell!” Dash followed and about to rush out, but I grabbed him from behind and pulled him back before he could move.

“Oi! What the hell!?” Dash struggled.

“Hold your Ponyta there, Dash, we can’t just barge into that wall without injuring ourselves,” I said, placing the hyper Sneasel down after he calmed down.

“What are you suggesting?” asked Athena.

“I’m going to blow open that wall from their arse,” I explained. “As soon as my attack lands, you two rush in for the kill.”

“Sounds great enough,” answered Dash and he got himself into position with Athena.

I, on the other hand, gathered a silver sphere between my hands. Moments later, I launched out the Flash Cannon with all my strength, which it impacted the group and exploded. Dash and Athena immediately rushed out toward the scattered bandits and I stood to wait for the smoke to be cleared. Behind the smoke, was several Ruffians lying on the ground with shrapnel all over them, and the dumbfounded Dewott looking straight at me.

“Y-you are… this can’t be…”

His voice was shaking, maybe because he couldn’t believe to see me here, or he was just too tired. But…

“What the hell are you standing there for!?” I shouted impatiently, “Let’s move! We have a cleanup job to do!” I then rushed in to take my share of fight.

“R-right!” the Dewott put himself together and joined the fight.

* * * * *

The fight concluded fairly quickly. That Flash Cannon caught most of the Ruffians in surprise and scattered away almost immediately, leaving few of them persistent enough to stay and fight us, which we quickly took care of. Dash and Athena went to check the surroundings while I rushed to tend the Dewott, who’s sitting next to one of the carts in exhaustion.

“Derek,” I remarked, while sitting down next to him. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, just a bit of cuts and bruises,” replied the Dewott. “Jesus, Max, I never thought I would see you out here.”

“Neither would I. And damn it, you, what the hell did you got yourself into this time?”

“You don’t wanna know.”

We both laughed.

“Max, the area’s all cleared of bandits, we’re safe now,” Dash appeared and said, followed by Athena behind him.

“Thanks,” I replied.

“He must be…” Athena noticed the Dewott next to me and asked.

“Yep, he’s Derek. The old partner I told you guys about,” I said.

“Nice to meet you two,” Derek weakly smiled.

“Now that the Ruffian’s done, now we have another problem,” Dash commented, looking at the carts behind us. “How are we supposed to take these stuff back to the camp?”

I looked behind me to the carts I leaned on and sweat dropped. “Good question…” I said.

“Hey!!”

I familiar voice came from afar that caught our attention. We looked toward it, and saw Wesley rushed toward us along with Ray, Ryos, Masamune, and Akatsuki, who’s holding his Ditto partner Zeron, turned to a scythe.

“Aww, man, it’s over?” Wesley groaned when he saw the field’s full of passed out bandits.

“Wesley, I thought I told you to stay behind,” I impatiently complained.

“You think I’ll just sit back there and do nothing while you have all the fun here? Oh hell no!”

“Really? That wasn’t what you said back there trying to pull others out with you,” Akatsuki commented, and was immediately served with Wesley’s Thunderbolt. Zeron jumped out of the Mudkip’s hand and transformed himself into a Grovyle right before the electricity hit his partner, and Akatsuki fainted.

We all sweat dropped.

“As soon as we settled those merchants back at the camp, Wesley found us and asked about you, so I told him everything,” said Raymond.

“Wes went all out hysterical at the saloon, saying ‘Max is in grave danger and we need to save him’,” Ryos forced a laugh and commented. “So I tagged along with Masa to see what I can do to help.”

“Looks like you guys are still in one piece, aren’t you?” asked Masamune with a blank face. He looked like he’s about to fall asleep again.

“Couldn’t be better,” Dash replied with a smile. “You guys couldn’t have come for a better time, we need some help here pulling these carts back to the camp anyway.”

“Great, let’s get to work,” Ryos grinned, pulling Masa with him.

Derek leaned to my ear. “Max, these ‘mons are…”

“We’re with the Andalusst Explorer Guild,” Wesley showed up in front of us and answered before I could. “And I’m Wesley, Max’s current partner.”

“Andalusst!?” Derek gasped. “Isn’t that…”

“We’ll explain that to you later, buddy,” I interrupted. “Let’s get you out of here and take some rest.”

I helped Derek up Raymond’s back and helped pushing the carts. After a quick rest, we returned to the Field, where the night’s barbecue was about to start.