Tavish did not draw his eye away from the target for a single moment. Rhys was correct to assume that this would only end in a fight as he got closer and closer. The Toxicroak arrived first, a few seconds ahead of the trainer. It looked to both targets before focusing on the Reuniclus.

Hesitation. It didn’t know exactly what to do. Its previously confident strides were replaced by strict internal confliction.

And then Tavish arrived. He had no such doubts– he ran straight to Rhys, straight through the Reflect set up by his Pokémon. As he stepped through, the strange field of light followed him with and immersed the man in a strange glow.

“Ya think that’ll stop me?” He asked as he pulled back and sent his fist straight towards the other’s face. Even if it hit, it would hurt less. Reflect made it so. But it wouldn’t stop the force behind the blow. If one was hit by a sledgehammer, they’d buckle from the force even if it felt like a tickle to the nerves.

While this happened, the Toxicroak rushed forward. It was subjected to this same phenomenon, but it was more about the surprise factor. The previously indecisive Pokémon now closed the distance between it and the Reuniclus and delivered a nasty Feint Attack to its chest. “Oi, you scared, mate? Plenty more where that came from."

---

Rhys Collins

Tavish stumbled from the sweep, but did not fall to the ground. Damn this Reflect– this was going to cause many a problem for his efforts. But certainly would not stop him; the goal was to stop them from harming the Pokémon. If this meant even a few were able to eat their fill and go on their merry way, then that would have to be fine.

“Let’s see how y’fair against this,” Tavish caught himself and whipped out a knife from his belt. It glowed in the same light that encased his entire body, but it was still razor sharp. A butter knife did damage, with enough pressure. He swung wildly for Rhys’ chest, careful not to over-extend himself.

At least he fared better than his companion. Bloke looked up at the semi-circle of strange energy that floated above his head and let out a single anxious croak. “Whoa whoa, hold on, we can–”

The light flew forward and surged into its body. “AUGHGHHHGHGHGHGHHGHG–”

He let out a horrific cry as 0 SpA Reuniclus Psyshock vs. 0 HP / 0 Def Toxicroak: 592-700 (192.8 - 228%) -- guaranteed OHKO. He fell to the ground with an arm draped across his back, down for the count. Tavish gave the poisonous frog a glance. “Hrmph. No matter.”

Bloke was returned to his ball– the one of two in his crew comfortable being bound by one. The second one, which emerged in a second flash of white light in front of the Reuniclus as a flat disc, was more out of necessity than desire. The massive cell’s next foe was a Stunfisk-Galar. Sonny looked at his foe with squinted eyes.

“STUNNNNNNNNN!” Somehow, someway, he flapped his body against the ground and launched himself with a surprising amount of speed. Straight for the green blob. Those razor-sharp teeth tried to bite into the Reuniclus for a terrifying Snap Trap.

---

Rhys Collins

Numerous calculations ran through the Sonny’s head, from his many years of watching Tavish do them. After all, he’d been the first one to join his crew, the one around the longest. Thicker than thieves. The initial point of impact, the velocity, the angle he’d need to… yes, it was possible.

But it’d be threading the needle.

So, at the very last possible moment, Sonny let go of the unicellular organism. The arm of goo hit him good, but not enough to take him out of the fight. It did send him straight into the air, the world a distorted mess while he flipped several dozen times.

But, his body, the way he positioned himself, the angle, the whole shape, how his outer teeth clasped together and angled– by Arceus, the fucker was turning into a damned boomerang! By all the laws of physics, it should be impossible to do such a thing. Defying everything everyone knew.

Yet it worked perfectly. The needle was threaded, and the green and black mass came back with a vengeance. Dark energies surrounded its entire body, and its velocity changed in midair. Despite having limbs that were better suited for pancake-flipping, its left balled up tight and guided his strike. This Sucker Punch, even if hindered by the Reflect, would certainly strike true.

“Sonny, ya beautiful bloody–”

Something stabbed into his side. Pain shot up through his body. He’d been injected by a doctor and given a taste of his own medicine. “... bastard.”

But this was fine. A tit for a tat, as Tavish roughly aimed his knife straight towards Rhys’ opposite side. They could look like mirror reflections of one another. “Yer a damned awful doctor fer that, y'know?”

---

Rhys Collins

Looked like things were not going to go as well as Tavish hoped, as Sonny was blasted away by the raw force of the Aura Sphere. Even as the flat, violent disk went in for one more Sucker Punch, it was unable to outspeed the attack. It was blown high into the sky, nearly clocking a passing by Unfezant in the dome.

While it was retreated into the ball, he clutched the stab wound and weighed his options. Obstagoon and Sir were at camp, so proper reinforcements were off the table. He had an unknown amount of time before he was subjected to an unknown substance. And his skin still shimmered from the Reflect, which meant that he couldn’t even try to put down his opponent. A competent one at that.

Retreat was necessary, and not even two minutes into the attack. Shameful, but he could already see the fruits of his labor. Several creatures had beelined for the large fruit and gorged themselves on the stuff. They’d be stronger than ever, soon enough.

That would work. He quickly sheathed the knife and pulled a large ball off his belt. A pot, covered by a piece of cloth and some string. “Ya don’t scare me, scum. Let’s see how ya handle this.”

With all his remaining strength, the pot crashed into the ground. White dust exploded from the point of impact, creating a thick cloud almost impossible to see through. Even worse, it bellowed out from the point of impact and soon submerged Rhys in the stuff. It would smell and taste innocuous enough, probably some talcum powder poured into a jar.

But what was more concerning was where Tavish ran. Straight for the nearest enlarged fruit. A few Lokix had dashed in during the distraction, and they gave the chemist dangerous stares as he came up. What was he doing?

---

Rhys Collins

The nearest Lokix extended its strong, black saw-like arms in warning toward Tavish, but he ignored the Pokémon and instead dug his hands deep inside the massive berry. If Rhys was from Galar himself, he’d know just how easily one could dig their hands into the sweet, sticky product of the Dyna Tree. Like a massive orange, ready to be pulled apart with enough force.

And he did just that. His hands now sticky with the substance, he turned back towards the two that came his way. The distraction worked– all he needed to do now was raise his hands high above his head and pull back. “If an apple works fer a day, this’ll last a week!”

The red, scrumptious fruit was thrown forward, right towards the two Rocket members. Even if they managed to dodge the nutritious fruit of the tree, they’d be unable to ignore what came right afterward: the Lokix that nearly cleaved Tavish in two instead turned its narrowed eyes to Rhys and his Lucario.

And it was entirely unafraid. It cried out and dashed forward, its saw-blades ready to tear them apart if they dared get in the way of its dinner.

“Why don’tcha ‘ave some more!” Tavish dug his hands back into the red fruit and lobbed more and more of its guts towards the Rockets. Even as the edges of his visions turned black and twisted, he kept on going until there was a large, pungent pile at their feet and over their clothes.

Something the wild Pokémon noticed with frenzy in their minds. Soon enough, a few other Lokix gave them curious and twisted stares. If any other Pokemon were nearby, the might smell the beautifl aroma that was Dyna Fruit. And in such large supply, with only two measly barricades in their way...

---

Rhys Collins

Tavish could barely notice the onlookers who gave the commotion their utmost attention. He was too busy trying to ignore the queasy feeling in his stomach and the weariness in his bones. Poison. Of course– leave it to a Rocket Doctor to carry poison on them at all times.

If the man hadn’t been consigned to death by the association with a terrorist organization, Tavish would have dragged him to the police and had him tried for war crimes.

Instead, he grunted as he tossed the last of the available fruit to the horde and took one last handful for himself. It felt sinful to take any of it for himself, but his life probably hung in the balance of whatever he’d been injected with. It tasted sickeningly sweet– but filling.

Energy surged through his veins, enough to ward off the worst of the poison that infected his steps. He steps away from the scene, from the fight. It was time to leave: he’d accomplished everything he could here, and this wasn’t the tree to die under.

So with all the energy in his bones, he tossed his only other smoke pot onto the ground and ran away. His heartbeat drowned out any potential yelps or curses towards him as he retreated into the city of Sootopolis. Into its alleyways and crooks. This was certainly not the end of their fight. Now, it was personal.

And Arceus help anyone who dare get in his way.

---

Rhys Collins