章 20: Tocotoco #20
Auhtor's note: be aware that there's a little joke in the middle of the chapter that some might find offensive, so before any justice warrior dcides to brandish their keboards in my face, let me just save you the trouble and tell you that I'm a muslim from the middle east (you'll understand why my place of birth and religion are of any relevence once you get to the actual joke)
On a side not; my p-word page is finally 20 chapters ahead of the official release schedule, so do consider subscribing, if you're feeling generous and willing to part with your hard-earned money to read some crappy fanfic, knowing your money, knowing you'll still get to read the story all the same if you just have patience. And you know what the worst part is? Your money will just fund terr-- you know what? I'll just stop talking.
Do enjoy the read, though.... you infidels...
...
As the strange parrot-like creatures charged at me, I reacted on instinct, my training kicking in. In a fluid motion, I drew my bow, nocking an arrow and letting it loose. The first creature in line let out a shrill squawk as the arrow pierced its chest, dropping it instantly.
But there was no time to celebrate. The second creature closed in on me, its body pulsing with an eerie glow. Ominous beeps accompanied each flash of light, growing louder and faster.
Vito appeared beside me, his form tense. "That can't be good," he muttered.
I shared his sentiment. I barely had time to react, crossing my arms in front of my face as the creature reached a crescendo of light and sound. With a final, bright flash and a deafening beep, the creature exploded. The blast shattered my energy shield instantly, sending me flying backward.
"Shit..." I hit the ground hard, skidding to the edge of the cliff. The world spun around me as I struggled to regain my bearings.
The energy shield had done its job, protecting me from the worst of the explosion, but I was still dazed and winded. I forced myself to my feet, my muscles protesting.
The third and final creature was already charging, its body flashing and beeping in the same ominous pattern.
There was no time to nock another arrow or to dodge, and the edge of the cliff was right behind me, leaving me little room to maneuver. My mind raced, searching for a solution.
In a desperate bid, I retrieved a Pal Sphere and hurled it at the creature. The sphere hit its target, splitting wide open and engulfing the creature in a beam of light. For a moment, I thought it might work.
The Pal Sphere, beeped once, then twice, but what came next was not the satisfying click I'd hoped for. Ultimately, it failed to contain the creature in its unweakened state and it burst free with a screech, its body glowing even brighter.
The Pal Sphere beeped once, then twice, but what came next was not the satisfying click I'd hoped for. The creature burst free with a screech, its body glowing even brighter. The Pal Sphere had failed to contain the avian menace, but it had bought me precious seconds to arrange my chaotic thoughts and come up with a plan.
I materialized the baseball I'd recently had the pals at the base craft for me, feeling its reassuring weight in my hand. Taking a stance, I waited for the avian critter to close the distance. Its ominous beeping and flashing lights intensified, signaling an impending explosion. With a deep breath, I steadied myself, watching as it drew nearer.
When it was within reach, I swung the bat with all my might, connecting with the side of the creature. The impact sent it rolling back down the hill. It tumbled and hit a small rock, the jarring stop dispelling whatever skill or power it had intended to use to blow itself—and me—up.
Not wasting a second, I charged in, closing the distance swiftly. The creature was disoriented but still dangerous. I gave it a few more solid whacks with the bat until it stopped moving entirely, though I made sure not to kill it. With its energy drained, it was vulnerable.
I quickly whipped out another Pal Sphere and hurled it at the creature. This time, the beeps ended with a satisfying click, and the sphere flew back into my hand, securely containing the creature.
Vito materialized beside me. He looked at the sphere with an amused expression. "You know, there's a racist joke to be made about a creature making weird sounds while trying to blow itself up... I won't stoop that low, though."
I shot him a deadpan look. "Zip it, Vito."
With that, I pocketed the Pal Sphere and began my descent down the hill, making my way back to the base.
...
The journey was long and arduous, the adrenaline slowly fading, leaving me exhausted. The sun had fully risen by the time I reached the base, its golden light casting long shadows across the landscape.
Elena was waiting outside, her bandaged arm resting in a sling. She looked up as I approached, her eyes widening at the sight of me. "Rough night?" she asked with a wry smile.
"You can say that again," I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. I sighed and began recounting my adventure, starting with capturing the Tombat and all the way to it leading me to that strange leafless tree.
Elena's smile faded, replaced by a look of curiosity. "That's strange," she said, pausing as if to gather her thoughts. "Pals are naturally attracted to these fruits, but they're not usually picky. Normally, they'd eat all three without hesitation."
I furrowed my brow, trying to piece together the puzzle. "So why was Tombat only interested in the ice fruit?"
Elena's eyes sparkled with amusement as she mocked my ignorance. "You really don't know much about Pals, do you? It's kinda cute." She chuckled, then continued, "There are several types of Pals: water, fire, grass, and so on."
I nodded, absorbing the information. "What type is Tombat? And what does that have to do with anything?"
"Tombat is a dark-type Pal," she explained. "Dark-types are vulnerable to dragon-type Pals, who, in turn, are vulnerable to ice-type Pals. That might be why Tombat was after the ice fruit—to compensate for its weakness."
I was even more confused. "How is it possible for Tombat to be smart enough to figure all that out and even track down an ice-type fruit?"
Elena shook her head, a mix of admiration and concern in her eyes. "Pals are way smarter than they look and act, but not that smart. There's something else at play here."
Hesitation crossed her face for a moment before she continued, "There's a faction of eggheads in the Astral mountain. Their leader is obsessed with the idea of creating the ultimate Pal, and there have been whispers about them experimenting on pals to improve them somehow..."
I looked at Tombat, who was now curiously inspecting the area, its eyes sharp and intelligent. "So, you're saying this Pal might be some kind of experiment?"
Vito materialized beside Elena, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Magic creatures, advanced technology, and now even mad scientists. This world really has it all."
Elena nodded thoughtfully. "It's possible. Maybe they improved its intelligence too much, and it ended up escaping one of their facilities."
She shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts, and then shifted her gaze back to me. "But the story you told me so far doesn't explain why you look like you fell down a cliff."
I managed a bitter smile, rubbing a bruise on my arm. "Funny you say that, because I almost did." I summoned the strange parrot-like Pal from its sphere, its wide bulging eyes and the mohawk-like feathery comb on its head giving it an almost comical appearance. "I ran into three of these on my way back and nearly got blown to bits."
The Pal, Tocotoco as the Paldex called it, seemed oblivious to the conversation, its eyes blinking slowly as it took in its new surroundings.
Elena's eyes widened in recognition. "Tocotocos? They appear near the tower, but they're extremely rare. I didn't expect you to be so unlucky to run into them."
Vito chuckled, clearly enjoying my misfortune. I, on the other hand, could only wince and grumble. "Just great..."
grumbled about my rotten luck. Elena quickly overcame her surprise and said, "It's a good thing you managed to catch one of them. They're very good in a fight."
I deadpanned, my tone stern. "I won't be using it as some witless creature as a suicide bomber."
Elena shook her head, a hint of frustration in her eyes. "That's not what I had in mind." She pointed at my wristwatch. "Look through the blueprints it offers."
I frowned but turned to my wristwatch nonetheless, navigating the technology tab with a few quick swipes. "Alright, what exactly am I looking for here?" I asked Elena, my voice tinged with skepticism.
She leaned in, pointing at the screen. "It's a pair of gloves. Keep scrolling until you see them."
After a moment of searching, I found the blueprint she was talking about: Tocotoco Gloves. The name alone was enough to make me raise an eyebrow. "Tocotoco Gloves? What the hell are these?"
Elena grinned, clearly enjoying my confusion. "Just unlock the blueprint and make it. Trust me, you'll be pleasantly surprised."
...
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