PokéRangers: New World

Seeing Double

After solving many puzzles with the aid of the medallion, our heroes – Bewear and Infernape – found themselves mere steps away from the inner sanctum of a gargantuan vault, rumored to house a PokeSpirit of immense power. Though before they could claim their prize, Giravan made his presence known – having remained hidden up until now so that the two could light the path forward.

With no option of escape or way to stall for reinforcement, our heroes find themselves in a life-or-death game of 'doubles' as Bewear takes on a frightening new Colossus variant – the very same type that almost bested Dawn outside the vault – and Infernape - channeling the powers of both the Houndoom and Mandibuzz Rangers - takes on Giravan via this enigmatic shadow.

The entire cavern trembled from the creature's baleful cry as it tried to crush Bewear under one of its tentacles; but she merely punched it into the ceiling – impaling it on one of the massive crystal stalactites overhead. Not missing a beat, she dug her feet into the ground before catapulting herself into the beast's abdomen. The force of the impact sent the beast stumbling backwards uncontrollably until its ensnared tentacle was torn completely from its back.

'One appendage down, four to go' she thought to herself as the creature let out another roar and began to counter attack.

Much like the Colossus, dodging its attacks could prove tiresome – and risky – ; but fending them off with her own super-powered punches allowed her to never break eye contact. As long as she could see them coming; she could continue to whittle this beast down arm by arm, tentacle by tentacle.

The beast continued its pattern of attacks – punch, tail swipe, tentacle, punch – and as it came to the part where it'd use its now missing tentacle, Bewear expected a change in its attack pattern. Though to her surprise, the beast continued its movement.

'Not very smart is it? Is it really in so much of a rage that it doesn't even remember...'

There, in the slightest of intervals, she could have sworn she saw the creature almost conceal a smirk.

'Dodge!' her gut screamed as she leapt out of the way just as a new tentacle grew out of the socket and pulverized the spot where she had just been standing. 'Well that's going to be a problem.'

Meanwhile at the other end of the massive space, the Infernape Ranger began his battle with Girvan's shadow.

"A little different than the one you used to best Tyrannox a few days ago" Giravan mused as the shadow slunk between the oncoming sword swipes. "Just how many of these forms do you have?"

Though despite offering a bit of small talk, Giravan's words were only met with silence.

"Oh come now, we've already been over this: I'm far less captivating an individual when speaking through my Shadow! So you may speak openly!"

Despite Giravan's repeated insistence on that claim, the Infernape Ranger took Zekks's advice to heart – don't speak to him and don't trust a single thing he says.

"Or is that how you and your doppelgänger differ - you being the more reserved, silent type?" Giravan added. "I'll admit the boy was interesting – at first – ; but I realized very quickly that there was an expiration date on our arrangement. A few too many things we did not see eye to eye on – primarily of which his treatment of others."

A fan of shadow-like spears shot out from the ground; but Infernape Ranger quickly summoned what appeared to be a small bony shield in his left hand before leaping back – the shadows scraping against his new defense.

"Do you find that odd of me to say?" Giravan resumed as the two eyed each other, a brief pause between the assaults. "I'm sure Zekks has already filled your head with plenty of misconceptions about me; but I'm not some soulless monster devoid of feelings. A little over the top sometimes - I'll admit - ; but can you blame someone who's undergone such losses?"