As soon as the dynamic duo beheld the magenta chain wrapped around the Archeops’ barely airworthy body, it brought out their worst deep-seated grudges, human and ogre perfectly mirroring each other in their fits of spiteful rage.

“What did you do to that Pokémon?! Are you serving the never-rot?!” Andrea did not wait for an answer, immediately activating her Z-Ring. No explanation or excuse could placate her. She wanted revenge. She wanted justice.

The never-rot was the embodiment of evil. The Toxic Chain was its sinful mark. Therefore, purging that abomination was not only right, it was their duty. That was her and Ogerpon’s single-minded objective right then and there.

“Disappear! Disappear! Disappear! MEMORIES OF ONIGASHIMA!!”

“GRAAAAH!! POOON!!!!”

The diminutive ogress sprouted a pair of gigantic arms made of ivy and thorns, with which she delivered a ruthless flurry of punches, each with the potential to turn the primordial bird into a fossil anew.

This Z-Move also had a secondary effect. As some of the punches inevitably connected with the ground, it imbued the soil with nutrients, causing a Grassy Terrain to manifest.

Andrew Fisher //skirmishes

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Andrea’s inability to control her anger proved to be an exploitable weakness. Normally, she would have ordered Ogerpon to protect against that swing, but in her immensely triggered state, she just wanted to see that prehistoric bird end up in a museum.

“Gah… P-pon…” The masked Oni was badly poisoned by the Toxic Chain’s venomous touch, groaning in pain and retching. In spite of that, she powered through, using the Grassy Terrain’s gradual healing to offset the damage.

“Pon, Incinerate that Archeops!” At its caretaker’s order, the former mad beast of the feeding pit spewed out flames of rage against the unfortunate target of the duo’s wrath.

Andrew Fisher //skirmishes

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Even without an added effect, Metagross’ Psychic was quite strong, forcing the poisoned ogress to her knees. The last of her vitality was drained by the Toxic Chain’s lingering, pestiferous influence, causing the Oni to collapse.

“Pon, return!” Andrea withdrew the fainted Ogerpon, pursing her lips. She had not expected a second Toxic Chained abomination to show up. That pale, haggard zombie of a man was likely a bigger threat than his scrawny physique and pitiful throw might suggest.

She would show him a proper throw. Jalapeño’s Pokéball was shaking with RAGE. The Fuecoco was eager to fight and make his human mommy proud. The costumed woman threw the ball with the skill of a professional pitcher, letting the small crocodile out.

“Let them hear you sing, Jalapeño! Sing the song of angry men!”

“FUE-CO-COOOOO ♪”

Empowered by its trainer’s Sygna Suit, the red reptile belted out an operatic Torch Song, spewing raging hot flames from its mouth in an attempt to super-effectively scorch the opposing Steel-type.

Andrew Fisher //skirmishes

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The reptilian cosplayer didn’t even dignify her opponent’s salt-induced rant with a response. She knew that their victory was no fluke. Jalapeño had really come a long way. From getting one-shotted by Isaac Merlo’s Totodile to holding his own in a high-stakes battle.

Now that the Toxic Chain was no longer within her field of view, the young PokéManiac was significantly calmer, though her bitterness remained. “Someone who sold his soul to the never-rot has no right to complain.” She bluntly stated, willfully deactivating her Sygna Suit.

Nidoking’s attack had left her Fuecoco poisoned, but that was about to change imminently. A glowing Tera Orb was hurled into the air, and soon, a turtle-shaped hat manifested atop the crocodile’s head, orbited by floating, hexagonal crystals representing each of the 18 types.

“Jalapeño, no matter what happens, I’m proud of you! I love you!” Andrea proclaimed, smiling as any mother proud of her son would. Their bond was one that transcended blood and even species. “Now show them your Stellar power!”

And show them he did! Cured of any previous status ailments, the Stellar-Type Fuecoco fired a boosted Tera Blast that contained the power of every single type at once.

Andrew Fisher //skirmishes

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“Wait!” Andrea shouted, but the man was already gone. For all his glaring character flaws, he had a singular strength: When push came to shove, he apparently could run faster than some of Josh Devlin’s Pokémon.

How could a mere human become a retainer of the never-rot? Why had the Toxic Chain not ceased to exist with Pecharunt’s defeat? How many more of those abominations were out there?

For the time being, those questions would remain unanswered. All that mattered was that they had won.

“You did great, Jalapeño! Mwah~!” The young trainer picked up her victorious Fuecoco and gave him a loving kiss. “Let’s go to Rustboro before we have to fight anyone else.”

She needed to get Pon to the nearest Pokémon Center. This was the first time Pon had ever fainted in a battle. Even under the command of a middling trainer, Toxic Chained Pokémon were not to be trifled with.

Andrew Fisher //skirmishes

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