Earthbound: Champions of the Future

Chapter Twenty One

~ Gandamu Tanakan's POV ~

I sighed as Trudeau collapsed, electricity crackling in the air around her. The man she called Torchwick had shot her with a jolt of electric energy, which immediately weakened Trudeau and sent her falling to the ground.

"It's such a shame you have such a fatal weakness," Torchwick taunted, staring down at the girl's limp form. "You're probably not cut out for the whole 'save the world' business."

The tiny green form that was Syo was kneeling next to Trudeau, glancing around helplessly. For such a small creature, she was quite powerless to defend herself should she be in any danger. Seeing no other options, I also leapt down to the ground level and landed next to Trudeau.

"Ugh, there's more of you?" Torchwick groaned. "I thought this would've been an easy job. Take some crystals and get some cash in return."

"Who are you working for?" I demanded. "Who is your leader? A woman?"

Torchwick cursed. "You heard that? Here I was, thinking I'd been sneaky... Oh well. Does it really matter who the big bad boss is? I mean, you won't be around to hear it."

Torchwick raised his staff and a multitude of bullets flew in my direction. I drew my blade from my side and knocked the bullets away, taking care not to hit Trudeau in the process. I glanced around quickly, trying to see any sign of one of the others. I didn't exactly appreciate their existence, but I also didn't expect them to just sit back and watch.

"Huh...?" Trudeau whispered as she sat up, glancing around in a confused daze. "What's going on...?"

"Stand down," I commanded. "You can't fight in your condition."

Trudeau tried to object, but something blonde and brown flew out of nowhere and landed a few feet away from us. It was Akuro, grinning goofily as she padded up to us on all fours. "Hoi!" She exclaimed in a loud whisper. "Don't worry, Naoma! Come hide with me! Kireina and S'yan should be here soon. They're just finishing up some enemies."

"But-!" Trudeau began. Akuro lightly bit into Trudeau's arm and began to drag her away, leading to a rather awkward sequence of Trudeau being dragged along the rocky floor, muttering the occasional 'ow'. I sighed and turned back to Torchwick, who was lazily leaning against the wall. "Are you done yet?" He asked.

I frowned. "PSI Freeze Gamma!" I exclaimed, pointing towards the criminal. Shards of ice flew towards him, sending him staggering backwards as he was hit. Akuro's words rang true as the other two appeared by my side, Kireina's blade glinting in the dim purple light.

"These kids just keep getting weirder..." Torchwick muttered. He clicked his fingers and a blur of pink and brown rushed out from behind him, swinging some form of weapon in my direction. I blocked the attack and pushed the perpretrator away so I could get a better look at them.

It was a woman, vastly short, dressed entirely in pink. Her eyes were pink, as were the streaks in her brown hair. She gripped a parasol in her gloved hand.

"Who are you?" I demanded. The woman remained silent; she only stared, the smallest of smirks on her lips.

"Answer!" Kireina cried, lifting her blade so that it was directly pointed at the mystery woman.

"She won't answer you." Torchwick said. "Illusions have no soul, no heart, no emotions to speak from."

"Illusions?" I repeated. "You are an illusionist?"

"Of a kind." Torchwick answered. "So when I'm nastily outnumbered like this, I can still fight back."

"You can't handle a fight on your own?" S'yan questioned.