Pokémon: Lament of the Draconids (book 4 of the HBoD series)

Chapter 24: Sakushi Pirates

A flamethrower shot forward to engulf the pirates, but the Swampert stepped forward, taking the brunt of the attack and coming out with not even a single scorch mark. He hurled himself towards the offending party, which was Ninetales, fist bearing down on her. Uneruminamo burst upwards, her tail glowing with draconic energy. It broke off Swampert's attack and the Dragon type quickly followed up with a deafening roar.

Alex heard a click and the sound of a small explosion. Uneruminamo stumbled back, blood seeping down her side. Kurina yelled out as she charged the female pirate, her sword being drawn in the process. The gun went flying out of her hand as she used it to block the swing of Kurina's sword before she jumped back, drawing her cutlass.

Alex immediately grabbed for two pokeballs and hurtled out Lurantis and Absol. Absol moved to deflect another attack from Swampert as the Water/Ground type tried to attack the injured Uneruminamo. Lurantis then came crashing down atop him with glowing green sickles, slicing them along his side. Swampert roared out in pain before sweeping up a flood of water around him that cascaded out in all directions.

"HEY, YOU BLASTED SWAM-!" Alex heard one of the pirates grunt out before being swept away. Alex was barely on her feet before the water hit her. She saw Ninetales bound towards her, but was quickly caught up in the torrent. Alex attempted grabbing for a pokeball, but the wind was driven from her as she glanced off of something hard before finding herself pressed up against the side of a building.

Coughing and spitting out water, she pushed apart her sopping wet hair. Ninetales was struggling to get up a dozen meters away while Lurantis was still engaging Swampert. Absol was attempting to pick herself up, but she'd gotten wedged beneath a box.

Alex heard the scraping of metal on rock and twisted her head to see Kurina using her sword to lift herself up. Then she saw the two pirates wading their way through the receding water towards her, both with their cutlasses at the ready.

Alex hurriedly stood and ended up bumping her shoulder against something. She turned and realized the wall she was leaning against was the half-wall of the forge she'd seen earlier. The blacksmith and Turtonator were nowhere to be seen and their various forge-created weapons were just lying about. She gripped the hilt of the blade she'd bumped and swung it out. It didn't feel right in her hand, but she ran forward anyway, feet slapping against the muddy earth.

Just as Kurina looked up to see the pirates coming at her, Alex was there, her sword swinging. Sparks flew as the Draconid blade met the male pirate's cutlass. His eyes widened a fraction before he gave her a feral grin.

"Fighting spirit, eh lass!?" He pushed forward and Alex found herself off balance. However, it was just the right amount of time Kurina needed. She weaved her way around Alex and parried the pirate's attack before-

Alex felt sick as she stumbled back, finally regaining her footing. She watched as Kurina withdrew her blade, blood splattering the mud as she spun and met the other pirate's sword. She forced her blade upward and to the side before slashing down her chest diagonally. Alex watched with an almost detached horror as both bodies fell with muddled splashes. She raised her gaze to see Lurantis fall back to let Uneruminamo through. The Dragon type bit down on one of Swampert's arms and twisted as he dragged him across the ground violently. Blood spurted from the wound, and as Swampert cried out, draconic energy surged from Uneruminamo's maw. Swampert's arm was blasted off violently before he was kicked to the ground, one foot being planted upon his chest. Uneruminamo surged down for his neck, at which point Alex quickly turned her head, feeling nauseated.

"Are you okay?" Kurina was at her side now, hand clasping Alex's shoulder. "Priestess?"

"Don't call me that!" Alex managed to rasp out, then promptly threw up. Kurina didn't say a word, just stayed there as Alex emptied her guts. Sinking to her knees, Alex risked a glance at the pirates. The woman was still alive, but barely, her breathing slowing. She shut her eyes. She'd seen violence before. She'd seen death. Arceus, she fought a literal cult before! Yet it never got easier. And the way Kurina calmly killed them...