They of the Sun
Chapter Eighteen: No Immunities

      
        "The hated boss who beats you down, and beats you down, and never lets up... Big, bad Guzma is here!"

I cocked my head to look at the man, narrowing my eyes to scrutinize him. Shamelessly. Out of all the Team Skull dopes that I've come across: he was by far the dopiest. With his crooked sunglasses, joggers hung low, and oversized hoodie, he seemed to be going through a huge mid-life crisis. It wasn't my problem, though. His attitude exuded boastfulness. Guzma smirked at me in a way that hit home. It was the same kind of smirk spread across my face.

"What's a girl like you doing in the Trials?" Guzma said, sizing me up as he took slow steps around me. He made no acknowledgement towards Sen and Lillie off to the side. The question had me thinking, because it was one that has hung around from the very start... why was I? I kept my face stoic as the question went around and around, playing hide-and-seek with a nonexistent answer. I had no answer. I kept my warm, earth-tone eyes on him each time he came into my peripheral vision.

      Even if I didn't have an answer, someone else did.

     "The Tapu chose her," Kukui stated from the entrance of Malie Garden. I kept looking straight ahead then. I could hear it in his voice that his usual smile was forced, his voice tight. Was he- for once- in defense mode? Kukui was all about the offense. Was there something I was missing?

      "It is their expectations upon her shoulders, cousin," Kukui was beside me now, his hand on my shoulder causing a burning sensation. The weight was becoming quite literal. I shrugged him off with a side-glance glare.

      "Tapu Schmapu!" Guzma laughed, pinching the bridge of his nose to hold himself together. He fumbled his sentences with an odd confidence. "S-So, she isn't even doing it for herself. You just forced her in? Good going, Kukui. I remember those good ol-old days."

      He spat the last sentence with a slight venom as he ran his fingers through his shock of white hair. A knowing smile fell on his face as he approached Kukui, nose to nose. I could smell it then, the alcohol wafting from him.

      "Do you... know him, Professor?" Sen finally squeaked out from the tension. Guzma scoffed then, his words slurring.

     "Know'im?" He bared half of his teeth with that smirk, his canines a little sharper than average. Like he was a Mightyena ready to tear the man apart limb from limb. "We were in our Trials together. We both wanted to be cap'ns. We both failed!"

     He laughed again. "Those Trials are nothin buta joke! They don' recognize you, they don' caaare! It's a pathetic display! A tradition with no purpose."

       One swift moment was all it took for him to catch me off guard. He had me by the collar of my shirt, hoisted up at eye level with him. Kukui had an arm on him immediately as Sen and Lillie cried out my name. Always the drama queens.

     "Put her down, Guzma," Kukui warned. "You're not sober."

       He didn't flinch under Kukui's hand, he didn't move a muscle as he kept me up. The dark circles under his eyes from many sleepless nights gave an extra sense of insanity to the glare he was giving me. I couldn't match that intensity but I held my ground. Who does this man think he is? He was worse than Plumeria, worse than even Gladion. I grit my teeth, my nails digging into the palms of my hand. The smell of liquor made me want to vomit.

      "So," he continued, his words a little more clear. "why are you doing this? It's written all over your face, little girl, that this isn't something suited for you. You know you will fail and yet... you let them drag you along. Carrying their fear as your burden. It isn't yours, no matter how much Kukui manipulates you into believing it is the will of the Tapu. It could have been any other plain brat. We aren't any different. Can't lie to yourself about that."

     The truth from myself was one thing. Hearing the truth pulled from the deepest depths of my mind into thin air? It had a nice sting to it. I felt a laugh bubble out of my mouth, as I reached up to grasp Guzma's hand. My mother taught me about respect. Did I absorb any of it? Not really. And that was evident from the moment I spat in the man's face.

     Guzma made no sound except a light chuckle as he threw me to the ground with a fair amount of force to wipe his face. "You're a bitch."

      "Thank you." I retorted, wiping at my mouth with a shit-eating grin. My gaze averted from the ground to the Team Skull Boss at the pop! of a PokéBall. Sen was at my side, but I shrugged him off as I stood up brushing off the grass and dirt from my new clothes. What a waste of my money...

     Guzma's Pokémon snapped its jaws, beady little eyes trained on me. This wasn't worth my time... and yet, I was compelled to grab Pan, releasing him into the air. Rotom whirred to life from within my bag, informing me on Golisopod's typing.

No immunities.

Maybe Trainer School hadn't been an entire waste as that thought came across. It's been so long since I sat in a desk... but would I rather rot away there? Or meet my demise out here?

Neither.

"Sword Dance then Razor Shell, Golisopod!"

The giant exoskeleton of Pokémon snarled, raising all six of it's claws into the air as it made its way towards me. In spite of how bulky this Pokémon looked with its armor-y shell it moved with grace in its dance. Two of the shells on it's body glowing as its claws grabbed them, prepping to toss. I signaled for Pan to move closer to Golisopod while Guzma had it trained on me.

"Pan! Pluck the shells!"

Guzma looked taken aback as Pan swooped in snatching away one of Bug-type's shells, the other thrown awkwardly at him as a last minute defense. Pan let out a hoot as it nicked his feathers, fluttering away.

"Thievery," Guzma mused. "How low can you go, princess?"

I smiled. "Pretty low."

     "I think that's the most I've ever heard her talk to one person." Sen not-so-quietly whispered to Lillie. A small "ouch" followed as she elbowed him in the ribs. I cast a glance at them... Lillie was watching- body tense and her hands up in fists by her chest- with something I wasn't used to being looked at with. Admiration?

      I was so lost in the look I didn't realize Golisopod was running towards me with shining claws until there was a cry from Lillie. "Look out!"

I snapped back to it as Pan fluttered in front of me with a "coo!" his body enveloped in shadows as a portal opened, swallowing both Pan and Golisopod before closing. Guzma and I were left looking at each other while one of his grunts mumbled under his breath: "That ish was wickity wack yo."

Where had they gone? The suspense turned to worry among the crowd until another dusky gateway opened in the sky; Golisopod limply dropping into the water to Guzma's dismay.

Elegantly and slowly another figure emerged claws first. With its cape-like wings outstretched and eyes glaring down at its opponent from a shaded hood. A few tawny feathers fluttered down as the shadows from above disappeared.

     Guzma called back his Pokémon as Pan- in his new and fully evolved form- fluttered to me with an excited hoot. He nuzzled into the palm of my hand, but my eyes were focused on the Team Skull boss.

     "You're l-uuurp lucky," he began with a burp and a crooked smile. "And luck is hard to come by. No wonder they're so bound and determined to brainwash you, Cyra. Next time, luck won't save your ass."

     He went on his way, sauntering with purpose. For how drunk he might've been, he certainly didn't stumble. One of the grunts pulled an eyelid down at me. And ran into his leader's back as he stopped.

     "A-another thing," Guzma continued. I didn't even need to turn around to look at him as I fed Pan a treat.  He was irrelevant now. "Think about why you're doing the Trials. Why you're sticking around when you're clearly a lone Lycanroc. And- and think hard. We both know the reality. I'm expecting an answer from you..."

        And then he left. The question lingered in my mind. It had been there the entirety of this journey and now it was in the forefront of my thoughts. Where it would probably stay until I could give myself a truthful answer... but when was I ever good at that?

     Everyone's words went in one ear and out the other as I returned Pan. I dusted myself off, waving a hand as I kept running through the last few months in my head. Every small moment with Lillie, Sen, and Hau. Every step of my journey I had taken with my Pokémon. My chance  encounters with the Ultra Recon Squad. Guzma's irritating, knowing smirk...

    Usually I was immune to everyone's stupid comments. After all words were just words. And they held no power if you didn't give them that power. But it's like he knew and he used it to his convenience... I had no defense against his truthful tactic.

•••
A/N:

If you've ever watched Rick and Morty, just know I totally imagine Guzma sounding like Rick. Except Guzma isn't the smartest man in the Universe.

It's implied Guzma drinks (see his room in Po Town. Mmmmm yep.) and he's obviously cocky with his abilities. Two very Ricksy traits.

And despite traveling through dimensions isn't necessarily Guzma's creation (or Rick C-137 for that matter)... he does do it. Just like... who?

Oh!
Rick.

Guzma is Rick Sanchez confirmed.

-sj