The Mudkip chirps again, nudging Batgirl's hand. It's so tiny, so fragile, yet it stands there, ready. Batgirl feels a surge of protectiveness. This little guy, fresh out of the egg, acting like a shield? Unbelievable.
"Stay close, little one," she murmurs, her voice regaining its strength. She moves toward Frogadier, who lies motionless. He needs a healing machine, fast.
The poachers aren't down for long. The leader, his face a mask of annoyance, kicks the now-useless sonic device.
"Get them!" he snarls, pointing a finger at Batgirl. "Don't let them escape!"
The remaining four operatives, all burly and armed with stun batons, move in. Their eyes are cold, focused. No more fancy tech, just brute force. The stakes just got a whole lot higher.
Batgirl straightens, positioning herself between the incoming poachers and her downed Frogadier. The Mudkip, with a surprising burst of speed for a newborn, darts to her side, then positions itself directly in front of her. It lets out a defiant, tiny grunt.
"Hey, new guy, I appreciate the enthusiasm, but stay behind me," Batgirl says, trying to keep her voice light, despite the serious threat.
The Mudkip, however, has other plans.
One of the poachers lunges, baton raised. Batgirl prepares to intercept, but Mudkip launches itself forward. What is it doing? The stun baton connects with a sickening thud against the Mudkip's head. The little Pokémon cries out, a sharp, pained yelp, and stumbles. But it doesn't fall. It shakes its head, defiant.
"You alright?" Batgirl asks, her heart pounding.
Another poacher swings. Again, Mudkip is there, absorbing the blow. Its small body shudders with each impact. It's taking hit after hit, not fighting back, just shielding. Each strike visibly weakens it, its movements growing slower, less coordinated. Batgirl feels a desperate anger building inside her. This newborn Pokémon, acting on pure, unadulterated loyalty, is sacrificing itself for her.
It's just a baby!
The captured Zigzagoon and Poochyena in their cages watch the unfolding drama, agitated. Their nervous whimpers add to the already tense atmosphere.
"Enough!" Batgirl yells, pushing past the battered Mudkip. "You want a fight, you've got one!"
She charges, a purple blur of motion, her escrima sticks snapping out. The leader barks orders. "Don't let her near the frog! Get the girl!"
Batgirl dodges a sweeping baton, rolling under an operative's arm, and delivers a sharp kick to his knee. He grunts, staggering back. Another operative comes at her from the side. She blocks his baton with her escrima stick, the plastic clashing with a sharp crack. This is no longer about intel; it's about survival. And protecting her Pokémon.
Batgirl dodges the incoming batons, but a heavy boot connects with her side. She grunts, the wind knocked out of her. The poachers are strong, their movements brutal. She blocks a downward strike with both escrima sticks, the impact jarring her arms. Her head snaps up. The leader grins. He gestures to the cage, where the terrified Pokémon are thrashing.
"Grab the little frog! And the new one!" he barks. "We'll double our profits!"
Batgirl sees the desperation in their eyes. They're not just after profit; they're after dominance, a sick thrill. She lunges, a flurry of strikes, pushing two poachers back. But there are too many. Another one wraps an arm around her neck from behind, pulling her back. She struggles, kicking wildly.
Mudkip, battered and bruised, somehow finds a burst of energy. It lets out a defiant cry, a tiny splash of water forming in its mouth. It fires a Water Gun, a weak stream that barely splashes the operative holding Batgirl. It's a futile gesture, but the intent is clear. Mudkip is still fighting.
Frogadier, still on the ground, lifts its head. Its eyes are unfocused, but it pushes itself up onto one arm. It tries to stand, but its legs buckle. It collapses again, a whimper escaping its throat.
The poachers laugh, a cruel, mocking sound. They push Batgirl forward, closer to the edge of the gorge. The ground gives way slightly under her heel. She glances down. A sheer drop, jagged rocks at the bottom.
One of the poachers grabs Mudkip, hoisting it up by its small body. Mudkip cries out, thrashing, but its strength is fading. The poacher aims a stun baton at its head.
"Let it go!" Batgirl yells, her voice raw.
Another poacher kicks Frogadier, sending it sliding a few feet. It lies still.
Batgirl is pushed back, right to the edge. Her feet scrabble for purchase. She sees the frightened, thrashing Pokémon in the cages, their eyes wide with terror. She looks at Mudkip, hanging limply in the poacher's grasp, and at Frogadier, barely moving. This is it. This is where her methods fail. This is where her companions suffer.
She is backed against the drop, nowhere left to go. The poacher holding Mudkip raises his baton, ready to strike. But then, Mudkip struggles, kicking its small legs. It squirms free, falling to the ground with a soft thump. It shakes its head, eyes locking onto Batgirl. It struggles to its unsteady feet, positioning itself between her and the poachers once more. Its tiny fins droop, its blue skin streaked with dirt and blood.
Batgirl drops to one knee, ignoring the pain in her side. She reaches out, placing a steady hand on Mudkip's muddy head. The contact is grounding.
"You don't have to keep taking hits for me," she whispers, her voice quiet but firm. "I've got you now."
Mudkip looks up, truly meeting her eyes. Its determination is unwavering. It gives a small, determined chirp, a promise. Beside them, Frogadier forces itself upright, wobbling but standing. Something inside Batgirl finally unclenches. A warm current flows through her, a realization. It's not about controlling everything. It's about trusting them. Trusting the bond.
"Okay," she says, a new resolve in her voice. "Time to show them what a real team can do."
She looks at Frogadier. "Ready for some misdirection?"
Frogadier nods, a spark returning to its yellow eyes. It pushes off the ground, a blur of blue. Its agility, even when exhausted, is impressive. It weaves between two poachers, quick and silent, a feint. The two operatives turn, momentarily distracted, their batons swinging at empty air.
"Mudkip!" Batgirl calls.
Mudkip, understanding, takes a deep breath. It unleashes a wide Mud Shot, not aimed at an individual, but across the ground. A splash of thick mud sprays up, splattering across the faces of the remaining two poachers, temporarily blinding them. They shout, wiping at their eyes.
Batgirl seizes the opening. She pulls out her last EMP batarang. It's not for the poachers. It's for the drone. The hover-drone, silent until now, begins to descend, its claw extended, ready to extract the captured Pokémon.
She throws the batarang with pinpoint accuracy. It flies true, a silent arc. The EMP hits its target, a small, critical component on the drone's underside. A flicker of blue light, a high-pitched whine. The drone sputters, its rotors losing power. It wobbles, then crashes harmlessly a few yards away, its claw retracting with a defeated clunk.
The poachers, disoriented, blinded, and without their air support, are easy pickings. Batgirl moves like lightning, her escrima sticks a blur. She disarms one, trips another, and sends them sprawling. Frogadier, using its newfound energy, tackles a third, knocking him off balance. They are quickly overwhelmed.
Soon, all five poachers lie groaning on the ground, their batons scattered. Batgirl quickly restrains them with zip ties from her utility belt. She double-checks the cages, ensuring the captive Pokémon are safe.
She sits on the damp stone, breathing hard, the adrenaline slowly receding. Her body aches. Mudkip, with a tiny, tired hop, crawls into her lap. Its fins droop, but its eyes are bright with contentment, a silent victory. Frogadier leans against her side, protective even in exhaustion.
A small, tired, genuine laugh escapes her lips, a sound she hasn't made in a long time. It feels good, light. She gently wipes mud from Mudkip's head with her thumb.
"You are such a disaster, you know that?" she murmurs, a smile playing on her lips.
Mudkip happily nuzzles her palm, its tiny head burrowing into her hand. Frogadier lets out a soft croak, a sigh of relief. The fight is over. They won.
***
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Advance chapters in P@T0n Najicablitz.