To Hideo's relief, the woman didn't seem to push the battle any further either. But her words seemed…odd. She was familiar with how other Leaguers fought? Had she been in a lot of battles with them?

The pieces started to come together in Hideo's mind; first to attack, using an attack that hurt him a lot, distrustful of the League. He probably wasn't dealing with a civilian here. More than likely, a Rocket. Hideo didn't answer her words, simply waiting to see how she'd act next.

The Poipole was no longer on the field - the Iron Valiant couldn't follow an order for something that was no longer out. It simply stood there, its attention on the woman as she whistled.

And then came the Charge Beam, striking the Iron Valiant square in the back. "Ah crap," Hideo muttered, "Didn't think it could still fight. Miss, I-"

Normally, his Iron Valiant wouldn't even retaliate against the super-effective attack - but the order to "don't let it make anymore noise" hadn't been rescinded or reduced - and that Klinklang was making noise again.

Hideo's words were interrupted as the Iron Valiant turned around, aiming to run it's glaive across the Klinklang - a Close Combat aiming to silence it.

Lulu Flint

That sound wasn't the kind of sound he'd expected from a Pokemon getting knocked out. It almost sounded like something metal broke apart? Hideo's confusion was only compounded by his Orbeetle not telling him what happened, a complete lack of information forcing Hideo to try and fill in the blanks.

A blank that became much easier to fill with the woman's words.

Hideo could feel his heart drop, a tremble running through his body. "W-what?" he muttered, frozen in place. He didn't move, even as the Noivern flew down to carry the woman away.

His Iron Valiant locked eyes with the new arrival, but didn't make any motion without an order. There was no reaction even as it flew away, their target making her escape.

Hideo was focused on the Klinklang, walking over to it once the woman was gone. "I-I didn't mean to…" He knelt beside it, trying to listen for any sounds - even a knocked-out Pokemon breathed in and out, and mechanical-like Pokemon would make other noises that revealed their presence.

But there was nothing there.

"No…no no no no no…" Hideo reached into his bag, taking out a few restorative items; he tried a potion, but there was no response. A super potion gave similar results. He even tried to apply a Revive to the parts he could find, without success. "Please. Work. Just work, please."

His Orbeetle tried to pull him away, well aware of the futility, but the boy kept trying to bring it back. To try and make Klinklang wake up. To convince himself he didn't just kill a Pokemon, that it was only knocked out. His Iron Valiant just stood there, watching over him. It made no sound, no signs of celebration or regret - just keeping to its silent vigil.

Hideo's futile efforts continued, the boy sobbing as he tried to deny the reality before him. A League patrol came by, attracted by the Noivern's cries, finding the boy having used all the restorative items he had on hand, just left crying over what his Pokemon had done. He didn't offer any resistance as they escorted him away from the area, the boy left muttering the same phrase repeatedly:

"I'm sorry."

The woman's words would fall on deaf ears, the reality of the situation undeniable.

He'd killed a Pokemon.

It was his fault.

Lulu Flint