Stop This Right Away

   1,293 words

   "Grrrrr..." A frustrated growl forced its way through the clenched teeth of a ragged and bruised Whimsicott. The drowsiness that came from her competitor's Sing was beginning to wear off, but she was weakened by the fast slaps that jolted her awake and left a shining bruise on her right cheek. She was hunched over, stubby legs spread and shoulders risen to either side of her head. She had managed to jostle the Clefairy around, but she hadn't done much in the way of damage. She wanted contact. But she also wanted to keep her distance. What to do...?

    "You're going to have to get up and fight if you want to win against me~" The Clefairy taunted with hooded eyes. His tail was fluffed up from all the wind the Whimsicott had kicked up, but he seemed to show no other outward signs of damage or pain. His expression darkened, his mouth curling into a toothy grin. "No one wins against a Five Times Infinity Fields Pokemon," he growled, voice echoing slightly. "Especially not Star Light Star Bright."

    The Whimsicott staggered back, eyes widening into amber orbs. How... How had he changed his voice like that? It scared the daylights out of her, though she couldn't quite fathom as to why. Shaking her head in an attempt to separate her new clouded thoughts, she gritted her teeth. "Well a Sunset Dreams Ranch Pokemon never fails!" She shouted in weak protest. "Especially... Especially not Tricky Trail!"

    Star let out an amused chuckle. "Oh really?" He inquired with a raised eyebrow. His voice had lost the disarming echo it just had, relieving Trick as well as confuse her even more. Before she could think anything else, Star lunged at her, clawed hands outstretched and muscles tense. Instinctively, Trick dove underneath him, rolling under his legs and landing behind him, where she reared up and released a strong gust of wind at her opponent. As he whipped around, he was taken aback at the sudden gust and lost his balance, sending him falling onto his side.

    "Did I stutter?!" Trick screeched as she hared on all fours at Star. As the Clefairy struggled to get up as he was hit with the end of the gust, he twisted around and managed to land a solid slap on her cheek, in the same spot as the previous one. The Whimsicott yelped as she kicked herself off of Star and landed skidding on his other side, preparing another gust of wind. She clenched her teeth in an attempt to dull the throbbing pain on her cheek.

    Trick scrabbled, back on all fours, towards Star as he shook the dust and soil from his pink coat. He let out another amused laugh and hunched over, bracing himself for the hit. But instead, as she leaped at him, he rolled out of the way, hopping to his feet in a split second. Trick had just scrambled up as Star tore at her with thudding footsteps muffled by the grass. He sprang up and lunged, one fist clenched and his arm pulled back, prepared to punch.

    Trick blinked, mind drawing a blank. Star didn't know any strong punching moves, did he?

    Oh, he did.

    Star screwed up his muscles and pushed his fist at her with the speed and strength of a comet. It made contact with a dull clang, hitting Trick squarely in the chest. She inhaled sharply and let out an earsplitting shriek as she flew backwards, kicking up dust and grass as she skidded along the ground. Star rolled again and quickly rose to his feet, expecting a fast recovery, as per usual.

    But Trick was still down. She was hurt. Clutching her stomach, she growled profanities as hot tears pricked at her eyes. That hurt far more than she ever could've imagined. Her breaths came in as strangled gasps and out as shuddering cries. Star's expression softened for a moment before his eyes narrowed again.

    "Get up." He commanded coldly, marching over to the slumped Whimsicott. "Next time, brace yourself. This battle isn't over yet." Trick barely stirred, cries softening considerably. "I said, get up!" Star snarled, lunging at her again.

    Without thought, Trick staggered to her feet and pulled a handful of something out of the ground. When Star should've landed another hit, he was instead pelted with seeds of all sizes, many of which clung to his coat like burrs that he couldn't flick off. He shuddered as they split open, roots digging through his fur and into his skin. One last seed hit him in the eye, making him grunt and snap it shut as it bounced off again.

    This small act allowed Trick to muster up her remaining strength to sprint a few yards away, followed in hot pursuit by many green orbs of energy. As they sank through her skin, the bruise on her cheek lightened, and the splitting pain in her chest seemed to ebb away slightly. She was finally able to take a full breath as Star whipped around, pained scowl replaced with a mischievous, maybe even playful grin.

    He couldn't possibly think this was just a game now?

    As he began to move forwards, more of the green orbs flew towards Trick. She prayed that they would ease the bruise on her cheek, which stung like fury. She was able to breathe, so the pain in her chest either disappeared or didn't seem to matter to her anymore.

    The Clefairy laughed once again, a playful shine returning to his dark eyes. "You're done for now, Trick." He growled. "Steel? Against a pitiful little fairy child like you? There's no way you could-"

    Trick wasn't listening. She didn't hear a word he said, even though she was staring him right in the eye, amber orbs glinting with hidden determination. She could see the moon out of the corner of her eye, making the meadow glow silver as the fiery light of the sun slowly disappeared. She tensed her muscles, and without another word, ran.

    She ran as fast as her legs would carry her, straight at Star. When she was within a few feet of him, she leaped into the air, tawny coat and tan tail glowing with moonlight. In split seconds she was covered in a veil of silver as she lunged at the Clefairy. She lowered her head and forced herself into his pink chest, listening with satisfaction to his breathless gasp. He hit the ground with a muffled thud, gasping for breath.

    As her opponent seemed to be in no condition to fight at the moment, Trick sighed and flopped onto the grass beside him. "You were right..." Star whispered, lifting a hand to the reddish mark where she had hit him. "How'd you do that?"

    "I'm not really sure..." She replied softly, gazing at her hands.

    Star rolled over to look at her. "Well, we both nearly killed each other there, who do you think won?"

    "I dunno."

    "Well it was nice to fight someone. Releases bottled-up frustrations, you know?" He added, rolling back onto his back. "I say you won. You deserve it."

    Trick sat up, gazing at him curiously. "Really? You hit me with a Steel-type attack that would've knocked me out if I hadn't braced for the other hits. You deserve to win."

    Star sighed, gazing up at the sky. "We'll figure it out." He said softly. "Eventually."

    Trick smiled and nodded, standing up. "Yeah." She reached out a hand to help him up. "But for now, it's getting dark. I'll get Esme and we'll walk you home." Star gratefully took her hand and pulled himself up, following on dizzy footsteps as Trick stumbled through the meadow back towards the ranch house.