Chapter 40: Four Brains Really Isn't Fair

I cursed myself for forgetting all about Zuko, even with the surprise of not dying, Daniel being in a war machine suit, and Crikey talking.

"Reg!" I yelled.

He came out from behind the nearest tree, whimpering slightly. The Ursaring from before was there, looking a bit timid.

"Don't give me that. I'm glad you're safe, but Zuko needs us." I started jogging. "Sniff him out. Ursaring, you're free to come along. We want to find Celebi after all this is done with."

Reg held his nose in the air before lowering it near the ground, leading us straight forward away from the charred part of the forest. Ursaring followed closely.

Amanda and Anthony were next to me, Rapier at the ready. Amanda had exchanged her Ampharos for Bella, who could make it through the forest easier. Crikey led the Pokemon pack, his massive footsteps shaking the ground. He kept humming what sounded like a super hero theme, which I guessed he'd made up for himself.

Daniel ran backwards next to me.

"Don't you have somewhere to be?" I asked dryly.

"I'm practicing in the suit," he said, going even faster than I could going forward before slowing back down and running facing the right direction. "I don't know all the commands besides that handy dandy screen."

"Why would it have commands?" I asked.

"Because it was my idea."

"What?" He wasn't making any sense.

Reg stopped, trotting over to a tree. I pushed tall grass out of my way, finding Zuko curled against the base of the tree, passed out.

"Zuko!" I gasped, falling instantly to his side and cradling his head. "Oh, I'm so sorry. I should have been paying more attention to you."

He had a cut across his face, which trickled blood. The rest of his body seemed ok, but he wasn't responding.

Anthony was by my side in an instant, spraying a Hyper Potion. "This will heal him quickly, but energy takes time without berries, which I'm out of."

"You sure he's ok besides that?"

"Yes, but we have to get moving," Anthony urged. "And find the others."

Reg growled. I looked up to see a Metagross next to the red suit Trainer, who was floating with the help of a Psychic attack.

"You stole my suit," the man stated.

"Ever heard of copyright?" Daniel countered.

"It's not your copyright."

A pause. "It's close enough to my copyright."

Daniel flicked his hand, telling us to go. Crikey seemed hesitant, but looked at Reg. "Lead the way. You have the better nose."

The rest of them followed without hesitation, which I was glad for. Ash, Misty, and Brock needed the help. Ursaring was with them, so maybe they could find Celebi if they had time. Maybe Celebi could explain things. Especially with that Pokemon translator thing.

I quickly recalled Zuko, staring at Daniel's armored back. It was so weird. Not really because of the suit, which made me feel like I was in the middle of a movie. But because I'd grown up with this guy. He had been a five year old kid in a private school uniform, showing up at my mom's gym. Looking like a little misfit who didn't know anything about the world. Lighting up at any joke, any invitation to anything. The guy who was so obnoxious and got himself into trouble all the time.

And here he was, getting me out of trouble. Twice in the same day. Three times if you counted the mental mess he helped me avoid on the flight over.

"I'm staying," I said.

"Get out of here, Emma."

"You take him, I take the Pokemon." I got a Poke Ball out, expanding it with a click as I eyed Metagross.

He didn't turn around. And I couldn't see his face. Any Daniel-like features. Just a blue, unmovable suit. Even with the voice changer, I knew how he sounded as he said, "Be careful."

And then the fight began and there was nothing to do but concentrate on staying alive.

I released Manny first, wanting at least one type advantage. I tried to send Maple out as well, but the second I threw my Heracross' Poke Ball, it ghosted through the walls of a cube that the man had thrown. I watched the Poke Ball drop to the forest floor, in a cage and useless. Not to mention Maple was trapped.

I didn't look up to watch as Daniel took off in his suit, jumping from branch to branch to get to the man in the red suit. "Manny, Scald."

The Scald went full force at the Metagross, who blocked it with Psychic. I watched Daniel ram into the man, causing both of them to fall closer to the ground, but rise again with Psychic as Daniel threw punches. But I was too busy as the Scald flew at me. I dove behind a tree and released Sadie, hoping the flying advantage would help. "Dragon Dance as many times as you can."

Sadie was still panting from flying so much, but I had no choice. A blue energy enveloped her. I released my only other Pokemon who was capable of fighting, my Breloom Raptor. "Try a Spore. Sadie, Fire Punch once you're ready."

I got out from behind the tree. "Manny, try a-"

But the Metagross was right in front of me, a blur. I gasped, having no way to get out of there in time. Raptor jumped in front of me, using Protect before the Ice Punch landed. The shield broke it was so powerful. I stepped inches out of the way and Raptor jumped up, using a Spore right over the machine-like Pokemon.

Metagross blinked wearily, floating lower. His eyes closed for a fraction of a second before he was up again.

This had to be part of the whole four brain thing. Maybe only one brain was asleep.

Maybe if we could get it down to one...

"Use Spore again! Sadie, we need you!"

She flew from above, ramming a fiery fist into Metagross, who crashed into a tree. He pushed off it and sped forward, using Zen Headbutt, ramming into her. She fainted instantly. I recalled her. "Manny, Scald again!"

I was hoping to burn Metagross, but the attack was instantly repelled. "Spore! Work together guys."

Both of the attacks were flicked away with Psychic. Three brains. Easy for three different tasks. I looked up to find Daniel crashing into a tree, throwing up a shield. The other man floated, waiting to attack again. So he was being levitated with Psychic as well.

"Daniel, act like you're throwing a punch!" I screamed up at him. "Fight like you!"

I didn't even know why I'd said that, but he seemed to be losing because he had no idea how the suit worked. So if he claimed he made it himself (sure he did) then he should be able to work it. Not that I had more time to think about it as the attacks sped at me. This time, Manny jumped in front, using Protect, which faded as soon as Metagross used Meteor Mash. Manny was hit, flying upwards.

"Spore, Raptor," I commanded.

Raptor jumped, sending it at the distracted attacking Metagross, who began falling before catching himself. Manny landed on top of him, hitting him with a Scald. Metagross grabbed Manny off and threw him. His body limply hit a tree.

"Manny!" I yelled, recalling him instantly. I locked my jaw. "Alright Raptor. It's just us. Type disadvantage. It's ok. We can do this."

He growled, readjusting his footing as the Metagross faced us.

"Protect. Try to hold him off. Then go under him and Seed Bomb."

The shield broke quickly, but Raptor was fast. He used Seed Bomb before Metagross used Psychic. Raptor screamed in pain.

"No!" I yelled, grabbing onto him, shielding him with my body as he was thrown. My back hit the tree, sliding down and landing roughly.

"You ok?" I asked weakly, my back aching.

He nodded tiredly.

"If we make one more brain sleep, Daniel can get the advantage. We can do this," I said, standing up, trying not to wince.

Raptor stood up shakily, facing Metagross.

"Use the tree," I said.

Metagross rushed forward, an Ice Punch ready. Raptor jumped backward, dodging it, and landed with his feet on the tree, pushing off to get above Metagross.

"Spore!" I yelled.

The Spore hit, making Metagross stagger. His eyes shut and he let out a mechanic groan.

Raptor landed, pleased with himself.

"Nice work!" I exclaimed.

Metagross' eyes flew open and an Ice Punch rammed into Raptor. He collapsed instantly.

I recalled him, facing Metagross by myself.

"Emma!" I heard Daniel say from above. The sound from their battle cycled through my brain. Lots of clanking as they smashed into each other. That laser-like sound of the force field, which I guess had the same kind of likelihood of lasting as Protect did after time went by as I heard it less and less. Which meant Daniel couldn't protect me anymore.

Yeah, I thought to myself, I am Ash Ketchum's kid. I'm tasked with saving the world and instead go back in time and ruin the past and still can't save the world when I get a second chance. Not even with help. Dad was right all this time.

I pasted a smile on my face as the Metagross hovered in front of me, a Hammer Arm at the ready.

"Go ahead," I said.

"My pleasure," a rich growl of a voice said from behind me.

I dared to turn my head away from the Metagross to find Zuko, teeth bared, scratch still bleeding, glaring at the Metagross with his ears back. Crikey was next to him, but it wasn't his voice. I looked down to find the armband along Zuko's arm.

I stared.

And then Zuko jumped, a Flamethrower growing in his mouth to meet Metagross, but not before the Hammer Arm landed. Zuko hissed and kept going, the Flamethrower erupting from his maul. It hit Metagross, engulfing him. He fainted instantly.

"Do not threaten my Trainer," Zuko roared.

I stood there with my mouth open. "Zuko?"

"Yes?" His ears instantly turned back. His amber eyes softened as he looked at me almost quizzically. The change from death threat to my best friend was amazing.

"You're ok?"

"I've been better," he mused.

"You're talking."

"You're just now noticing?" he asked, grinning as toothily as Crikey.

Crikey bumped my arm and pointed a hundred feet away from us. They must have started fighting on the ground now that the man couldn't levitate.

"Oh right. Daniel." I started running, needing to make sure he was safe.

Crikey stopped me and handed me something. The gun.

I groaned. "This? And now you can't talk to explain. Ok. Fine. I'll figure this out. Maybe."

Crikey shrugged, then went over to pick up the cage that still held Maple's Poke Ball, which was a good thing because my mind was frazzled.

"Let's go."

I absolutely love that Pokemon translator thing. Seriously, with all the tech in Pokemon, why don't they have something like that? Sure, giant flying ships and Pokemon traps of force fields. Giant robots. But not a Pokemon translator.

What'd you guys think of the fight? Let me know!

Pokemon Question of the Day: If you could only use the Pokemon translator on one of your Pokemon ever, who would you pick and why?

Keep on keeping on.

-Flips