Hail Kinak,
Now I own an Earth Badge, and only the Boulder Badge stands in my way and Indigo Plateau. I headed through the Viridian Forest, pushing branches out of my path. Skull was at my feet, like usual. The rest of my Pokemon were wounded in my battle for the Earth Badge and were currently resting, ready to be transferred over to the Pewter Pokemon Center upon my arrival. Skull was the only one well enough to come with me. Diane was separated from us some way back, but I did not really care. This forest was treacherous, and I needed to say focused. Last time I went through this forest, I had a nasty encounter with a hive. I only prayed this time would be less eventful. It took three Pokemon to deal with the last occurrence, and now I only sported one.
The silence of the woods was shattered by a shrill cry. Startled at first, fearing it was something dangerous, we heard it more clearly the second time. It was recognized as the cry of a Caterpie. Skull lowered her weapon in relief. I was not as calm as she was. A monster is still a monster, and there's profit to be made. With greatest caution, we proceeded to the source of the sound. Slowly parting some leaves, I found more then I bargained for. A herd of Caterpie? Nay. It was a lone, small Caterpie that had stumbled into a hive of Beedrill.
Swarming around the poor creature were a sea of stingers. I for one was not up to the task, but Skull, ever since her mother was ruthlessly murdered before her eyes while she could do nothing to save her, has always found a need to help any who were weak and in need of aid.
A blood curdling war cry echoed from with in her helm. Flailing her cudgel wildly through the air surrounding her, she shattered the bodies of bees. Wings and limbs littered the ground as her feral wrath continued. More and more Beedrills came. It seemed for everyone she downed, two would take its place. They began to enclose on her. Soon her arms became restrained by the sheer mass of the hoard. She managed to keep most of them far enough way with her relic arm. Those close enough, though, mercilessly stabbed and skewed her.
During this maddening battle, I was still hiding behind some bushes. I could see the Caterpie was safe. It no longer quivered in fear, but now seemed to stand quite tall. That is, as tall as it could. The Beedrill were so tightly packed around Skull that some had taken to the air to increase the assault. A few dive-bombed with their abdominal stingers targeting the small portion of my Cubone's head, the only remaining part that showed. She was helpless to move herself, but some of the diving bees were knocked away.
I glanced over to see the Caterpie had thrown itself at one of the Beedrills. While it did knock one down, it took the direct venomous stinger blow from another and laid still next to the outside ring of the huddled swarm. Only one Beedrill did not have its plummet interrupted, and it came down full force on her mother's skull. The bee's stinger was broken, and it was tossed clear of the action. A crack gradually became more visible as the skull shattered into pieces.
Before anything could be seen, a deafening wail came from Skull, and she cast off all of the Beedrill that had surrounded her in a single swing of her arms. A violent rage had taken her over. Covering her face from view, she dove into the earth. The bees attempted to go after Skull, but the ground had swallowed itself up. Confused, they stayed clustered together until they all understood that she was gone. Their attention now was on the Caterpie.
Quickly encompassing the intruder on their territory, the Beedrills poised their poisonous pins inward. Showing no sign of fear, the Caterpie rammed one of them down flat. In no time the Beedrill fell upon it with their stingers. I could not longer see it through the thick mess of Beedrill. Assuming the worse, that the Caterpie had died and Skull was lost, I turned to leave. Just as I turned, an object whizzed by me and slammed into a tree. I saw that it was, in fact, a Beedrill.
Its arms and legs were sprawled out, and its back inside the tree. It did not move. More clamor of Beedrills clashing with trees and branches sounded through various parts of the surrounding woodland. I pivoted back to see Beedrill being thrown off the pile. As its number diminished, I saw a lone figure standing over the Caterpie with a protecting arm. Its brown skin riddled with wounds and blood that had dirt clinging to it. It kept Beedrill from advancing on the worm with strong swipes of its immense weapon. Of course, this figure was none other then my own Skull, but now she donned the ancient helmet of Marowaks.
Blessed by the newfound artifact, Skull thrashed at the Beedrill. Every dive was met with the end of her bone. They ceased their singular assault and dove at the two all at once. After concentrating she leaped backwards and hurled her glowing bludgeon. It twirled viciously through the air, but the bees parted in the time of its arrival. Coming back together, the ground below the bones flight cracked and gave way. Earthen blades and spikes rose from the ground. The Beedrill were caught in the terra-cotta onslaught and were crushed as the upturned earth fell back upon them. Few of them achieved ridding the dirt from their backs, but soon they heard the bone spiral over their heads, and Skull caught it flawlessly. Again, Gaia displayed her fury on the Beedrill, utter pulverizing them all.
After all of the action died down, Skull fell to her hands and knees. I dashed over to her and embraced her. Never was I prouder of her. She was severely exhausted from the battle, but she still did not let that stop her from caring about the Caterpie. It was in worse condition then her. Barely making out the sounds of the city, I knew Pewter was not far away. I grabbed Skull's arm and prepared to make a run for it, but she pulled back and notioned to the Caterpie. I could not resist her request and used one of the Pokeballs I had on me...
From the desk of Jackdaw
