Pokemon Syndicate

Episode 13: King of the Iron Fist

"Let him go, Carnivine. We had no intentions of invading anyone's home."

"I'm sorry, but I'm not feeling inclined to listen to anything you have to say. The upper hand is mine. Cacturne. Maractus. Please join us."

Suddenly, two other Pokemon appeared before Zoroark, Toxicroak and Froakie. The two new enemies accompanying Carnivine were reminiscent of desert cacti. Convincing disguises for a group of bandits needing to "protect" their oasis.

"What should we do with the others, boss lady?", asked Cacturne of Carnivine.

"I dare you to touch me. I could care less about the insurance gecko", expressed the annoyed Toxicroak, his red claws beginning to glow with poisonous malice.

"Insurance gecko... good...one...", struggled Grovyle to squeeze out a laugh of good spirits all while being choked to near-death.

Cacturne turned in the trio's direction and replied ,"Yes, it would be ill advised to attack you head-on, Toxicroak, but there is the matter of the little blue one standing next to you."

"Froakie, quick! Get behind m-", yelled Zoroark motioning to the young blue frog before suddenly falling to her knees."

"Tripping over nothing?" joked Cacturne.

"That was just a cleverly placed Grass Knot. Don't kid yourself. Froakie, hide quickly! Croakster, do your thing, but be careful not to hurt Grovyle."

"bE cArEfUl NoT tO HuRt GrOvYlE, ugh. I got this. I just hope Lizard Boy can grow his tail back if necessary."

Toxicroak began to charge forward, aiming to fire a Sludge Bomb at Cacturne, but missed by a close shave to the cactus bandit's face. Toxicroak quickly lunged his legs forward, loosening the grip of another Grass Knot.

"That won't work on me. And I won't be missing a second time."

Cacturne was suddenly collapsed in the arms of Toxicroak. A Poison Jab to the stomach sent venomous toxins running through the bandit's bloodstream.

"Don't struggle. The poison spreads faster than way", boasted Toxicroak before tossing Cacturne's near-lifeless body next to the oasis's beachside. He then glared at Carnivine from a distance.

"You're next, Venus flytrap."

"And you just forgot that I existed, huh", replied Maractus before unleashing a vicious round of Pin Missiles in Zoroark's direction.

"Dammit!" yelled the ninja frog as he ran to his partner's rescue, catching the pins in his back.

"Toxicroak!" screamed a helpless Zoroark.

"Please, this is nothing. I'm just glad that I made it in time."

Unbeknownst to the Espeonage agents, Cacturne Ingrained himself by the pond, gathering nutrients to heal himself. Maractus and Carnivine did the same, but were less subtle about taking root in front of the agents.

"You know", Toxicroak spoke to Zoroark while shielding her from the three bandit Pokemon, "we could've definitely handled this on our own. The runts are a liability just like I said they would be. Even an evolved Grovyle can't do anything to free himself from bondage...and speaking of, where are the other two?"

They both glance over at Grovyle, vines still wrapped firmly around his neck, with baited breath and weak movements, still mustering up enough strength to give a thumbs up.

They turn to each other, both sighing before saying in unison "fucking idiot".

"We could really use some fire-type attacks."

"We could really use them as poké-shields."

"That's not a nice thing to say, T-Croak."

"I'm tired of being nice. I want to ki...do some severe damage to these bandits and continue with the mission."

"Then help me protect these kids on their first mission and I'll let you go crazy on as many Pawniard as you want."

"I'd love to take you up on that offer if we weren't outnumbered and overpowered at the moment" replied a shockingly somber Toxicroak.

Suddenly, a flaming ball eclipsed the sun, followed by a soft, yet bellowing Disarming Voice in the distance exclaiming "LET OUR FRIENDS GO!!"

The ball of fire in the sky descended at an accelerating pace, crash landing on one of the Maractus. It bounced back and forth between both Maractus like a tilted pinball machine, dizzying the cactus Pokemon before sticking a final landing near Froakie.

"...Is that...Chimchar?"

"Well, yes and no. But I'm glad that you're safe buddy. You can call me Monferno now."

Froakie's eyes began to water with tears of joy and relief that he was reunited with his friend.

"Was that Kirlia's Disarming Voice?"

"Yes, it was. Don't worry. Kirlia and Riolu aren't too far behind. And it looks like we'll need all the help we can ge- WATCH OUT!"

Monferno shoved Froakie out of the way of a sudden Pin Missile shower before swiftly dodging the attack and responding with a well-placed Mach Punch to one of the Maractus' stomach.

Blown back and severely injured, the evil cactus henchman droned "that actually hurt... but that was a fighting type move. What the hell are you?"

"My friends call me Chimchar. But it looks like I've evolved...and I have to go by Monferno now, but right now, you can call me King of the Iron Fist. Now let's finish this."