The Path You Choose

Decisions and Transformation

⠀⠀"You'll pay for this!" The Arbok screeched, spitting Acid at the dragon.

⠀⠀Reikan moved his head to the side and watched as the acid flew over his shoulder and hit a rock, disintegrating it to nothing. "Ooh, interesting move. I'd be burned right now had that attack hit me. What's next?"

⠀⠀"This is!" Fang shot forward, his fangs out, glowing as he readied a Poison Fang. Before he could strike, however, Reikan's claws wrapped around his throat and shoved him into the ground. "K-kill me. Go ahead," he hissed.

⠀⠀"No," Reikan stated. "I won't kill you. You'll be my messenger instead. You can tell Boss that I quit. I don't care who he sends after me. He won't be having me back."

⠀⠀Fang gave a good snarl before spitting smoke into the dragon's face with Haze. He slithered out of Reikan's grip and slipped away into the forest. "Just wait," his voice called from the shadows. "You'll meet a menace just as threatening and deadly as you, maybe even more so! Her name is Rei Kiriyama, the Valiant Huntress, and she'll make cobra venom out of you!"

⠀⠀"Well that was entertaining," Reikan told himself, ignoring the ominous threat. He looked over at the two dead Ekans. "Sorry Koku," he said aloud, "I messed up again."

⠀⠀"You certainly did."

⠀⠀The dragon spun around, smoke shooting out of his nostrils. "Aw, cute, a little doggie," he mocked as a small Riolu entered the scene. "It even brought a toy." The Pokémon held a type of staff with a jewel fastened on the top with metal.

⠀⠀"You're just as rude as Fennel said," the Riolu stated monotonously. "Honestly, I don't know how she can make friends with Pokémon like you these days." He stopped and stood three feet away from the Charizard. "Don't ever call me an it. And this is not a toy. It is a sacred scepter." Still, the Emanation Pokémon showed no anger; he had only a blank, unreadable face.

⠀⠀"So, Storm I presume?" Reikan asked with a raised eyebrow. This Pokémon's outfit was interesting indeed. He wore a black, cloak-like cape and a worn, brown fedora. It had a golden symbol on the front that meant aura. "She never told me what Pokémon you were." The Riolu's voice seemed to have a calming tranquility.

⠀⠀"Storm Kaminari to be precise," the Riolu corrected. "Why did you do it?" He asked, pointing his scepter towards the two limp Ekans bodies. "It was not necessary, yet you took their lives without hesitation."

⠀⠀"Aww, is the doggie afraid?" Reikan snarled, teeth bared. "Are you scared that I'll do the same thing to you?" The Charizard took a step forward with a growl. "I could snap you in half."

⠀⠀"And you resort to violence once more. Will you ever learn?" Storm stood his ground, unnerved by the threat. He remained emotionless. "Your reaction to everything is a battle. You need calmness in your life, or you won't be able to find peace. You'll always be at war with yourself."

⠀⠀"Oh yeah? My reactions are none of your business!" Reikan ran forward and swung at the Riolu, but instead, felt himself being flipped over onto his back.

⠀⠀Storm had no problem ducking under and kicking hard. He heard the dragon land hard. Standing up, he brushed himself off. "You can't win against me. I've far too much experience compared to you. I didn't even need to use a move like Circle Throw to pull that off."

⠀⠀"That's Bouffalant," he muttered, getting to his feet. "I can beat you easily!" Blue flames erupted from his mouth, but Storm was more agile than he looked. He slid the side to dodge.

⠀⠀Crossing his arms in an x, Storm's aura glowed a faint red. Then red flames erupted from his own mouth, striking Reikan squarely in the face.