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s1nn0hh · 26 days

Text

'Repeatable Offense'

While trying to warn Azelf of the incoming disaster that looms above the time gear he guards, Team Venture comes across Grovyle; and he has some new tricks up his arsenal that he plans to use to his advantage.

Based off of the ask that I sent to @sincerely-sofie and the idea she presented that I had in my mind for so long.

The mission was clear, and time was running thin.

After seeing how effortlessly Grovyle knocked out the two of them after their rebuttal against Mespirit and him getting his hands on their Time Gear with ease, they both knew that it would only be a matter of time before he would inevitably make way towards the one Azelf guarded in Crystal Crossing.

Between bathed breaths and the sounds of their legs tapping against the cavern floor, the duo made haste towards Azelf's floor.

Twig kept a determined expression on her face as she pressed on forwards, not allowing herself to stop for a millisecond; even if the cries of her quadrupedal compatriot that urged her to slow down for a just one damn second rang.

She couldn't blame Kip for needing to stop for a moment; as of right now, the two were marching towards a destination with no plan or forethought invested. They just nabbed whatever it is that they had stored from Kangaskhan's, and hoped that it would serve as any viable options to ward off Grovyle in case the wretched gecko decided that he could use another Time Gear for his collection, not to mention how absolutely terrifying his presence was despite the 15-second span that the two saw him in.

It was almost instantaneous. One second, they finish calming Mespirit's rage as she accused them of jeopardizing Uxie after the Fogbound Lake expedition, and in the other he barges in, knocks the three of them without doing so much as breaking a sweat. Twig could only hope that Azelf had something to stop him or at the very least *stall* him before he nabbed the final gear and went on his merry way.

But just as they were a few floors away from Azelf's chamber, they came across a sight that shocked them to their very core. Across the whole dungeon, there was an entire system of flora bursting through the cracks of the floor, walls and ceiling, forming barriers of vines between the tiniest of edges and trapping the pokemon native to those dungeons in them.

And the worst part was how all those pokemon; who are normally protective of their own territory and how almost little to no fear even in the sight of world-class explorers.. were absolutely horrified. Scared, bruised, and clutching onto whatever it is that they have to not pass out. Absols, Bagons and whatnot, all cowering behind the makeshift prisons that were made with the scorn and fury of Mother Nature.

All of them warned the duo of the exact same thing, and one thing only.

"Beware of the one who holds the power of time."

Even with the cryptic warning telling them to turn tail and run now, it is no longer an option. Grovyle was here, and he did not bear the best of intentions.

The rest of the way to Azelf was only filled with more mazes of grass and flora, only giving Twig more determination to press on forward and filling Kip with unfathomable dread about whatever opponent the two will have to face where their presence alone can effect the ecosystem of a mystery dungeon.

Finally, they made to Azelf. The long trail of grass and flowers that stretched on for all the cavern road and the overabundance of crystals that appeared in the waters shows that Azelf did end up taking to stall Grovyle, even if for a moment. Rushing down the long road and finally making it to the big crystal threshold, they immediately noticed Azelf, who was on the ground out cold, and none other than Grovyle standing next to him with his back turned to the two.

Seeing this with her own eyes, it only motivated her to step forward and call out Grovyle.

With his attention caught, he turned to her almost immediately, his eyes narrowing at the sight of them again. He knew what they were here for, and they couldn't let him leave here all nilly-willy.

Despite his own instincts telling him to knock them out again and book it before time stops, he tried to make a last-minute effort to try and deter them. He knew it was pointless, but he figured they would already get the memo that they stood no chance.

"You two. Go back. I have no quarrel with-"

Despite his own dismissive tone, Twig refused to back down on this. Not now, and not ever.

"Like HELL we will! You think you can just take the time gears as you please and not worry about everyone suffering because of it?! We're gonna stop you, one way or another!"

Just as he suspected. If this is what they wish, then he may as well entertain their plan.

"Is that so?"

Kip slowly peeped out of his hiding spot behind Twig, talking with utter fear and sadness in his voice, hoping to find some alternative solution to this already-doomed death scenario.

"P-please, Grovyle, it DOESN'T have to be this way! J-just stop all of this and we can all go! Nobody has to get hurt!"

Grovyle contemplated his words, but not before sharpening his own leaf blades and taking on a fighting stance as he gazed at the two kids, daring them to give their best shot.

"In life, some sacrifices have to be made. Ones that you know will hurt you more than anything. I have nothing left to lose, and I will do all that it takes to finish the mission."

There was no turning back. This was it.

"Please forgive me."

The battle waged on, Twig and Kip managing to land a few lucky hits on Grovyle but heavily sustaining a few heavy bruises from him as he soon enough retreated and left the two to their devices. The battle was hard, but the victory was easy. Just as Twig was about to celebrate their success, their vision whitened in an instant as they found themselves back at the start of Azelf's road; all the while keeping the exhausting and damage from the fight before. This.. was not supposed to happen.

Rushing towards the threshold again, they saw Grovyle once more. The same scenario played out, and so did the victory with it. Only for themselves to find themselves back at the start. This felt like a nightmare beyond their comprehension. Constantly forced back to fight Grovyle, winning, only for whatever cruel string of time to say "Like hell you did."

Twig could feel herself growing more exhausted and the adrenaline from the damage caused rushing to her head, all the while having to see Kip hold on out despite looking in an even more terrible state than she did.

By what they could only assume was their sixth confrontation with Grovyle, they were holding onto every bit of strength they had. The most unfathomable part was how Grovyle barely had a scratch on him, whereas they almost collapsed from the constant barrage of hits they endured.

The Dimensional Scream was going off at full-alert, and even with it showing that the two will eventually triumph over Grovyle, it was only a difference between how longer they were willing to put up with fate's constant roundabout of putting them against him or if Grovyle chose that he had enough and dipped. Twig could sense through the temporal energy that *he* had something to do with all this, but she could barely think as to how he could even pull any of this off.

The towering crystal walls were now covered in grass that breached and cracked through their walls. Then, an idea popped in Twig's head. If she lit the walls and pushed Grovyle close but not too close, it may just stun and deter him enough to run away, putting an end to this monochromatic crystalline nightmare.

The fight started once more, and Twig acted just as quickly. While it stunned Grovyle for a moment, it also took him a moment to snap out of that trance and deliver his own power at the two; this time managing to finally knock Kip out as Twig was at his mercy. She only watched as her partner laid unconscious not too far from her, and she felt her entire life flash before her eyes. All of this was going to end, right now. She cried as she clutched onto her own injuries, praying that this will end quickly as Grovyle approached her.

From his perspective, he could finally carry on with the task at hand and finally dispose of the two nuisances, but.. something about seeing Twig like this snapped something inside him. Seeing her this vulnerable and the way her face scrunched up.. it all made sense to him. She was alive. And right now, he hurt her more than anything else. He could only shakingly reach out to her, almost as if he was trying to say "Please I am so sorry I didn't mean to do this please don't hate me for this please I beg of you."

He felt his head spin a hundred miles, the thought of him nearly killing the one person he has left broke him.

Just as he was about to pull her for a regretful hug, he was immediately met with a punch to the face, knocking him just far enough from her.

Twig looked up after hearing the sudden interference, and saw none other than Dusknoir as he worryingly stayed close to her and helping her to slowly get up before Grovyle did.

"TWIG! Thank the gods that I made it here on time! Are you okay? Can you walk? Is everything in place?!"

"Dusk..noir.. Kip.. I.."

"Yes, yes.. I saw. I know this is a lot of asking from you at the moment, but can you take him to safety while I.. take care of our weed problem?"

"I.. will manage."

With her scurrying over to Twig in pain and managing to get them out of harm's way, she watched from the sidelines as Dusknoir was facing off against Grovyle, who had pure venom and anger flowing through his eyes and veins.

The two tosseled, just out of Twig's hearing range as Grovyle began to show his.. disdain towards Dusknoir's sudden appearance.

"You.. YOU. GET YOUR HANDS OFF OF HER, YOU-"

"And let you finish her off yourself?! Over my already-dead body, Grovyle. You're not gonna lay a finger on the two of them so long as I am here!"

Dusknoir may appear brave from an outsider's perspective, but he was horrified. Grovyle managed to evoke some fear within him, one that could only rival the fear he has of Primal Dialga. It was indescribable. And it didn't help that Grovyle was overpowering him in this fight.

"DON'T PRETEND LIKE YOU EVER CARED ABOUT HER! YOU HOUNDED US FOR OUR ENTIRE LIVES, AND YOU MADE ME LOSE SOMEONE THAT I LOVED!"

"What on earth are you babbling on about?! I didn't do such thing! Not yet, at least! You've gone MAD, Grovyle! You are an active threat to all that is around you!"

"I'LL SHOW YOU 'ACTIVE THREAT', YOU SEVEN-FOOT TALL GHASTLY WASTE!"

With the harsh tone leaving his mouth, Grovyle retaliated with a Leaf Blade right towards Dusknoir's eye, stunning him and making him trip and fall to his knees. Dusknoir let out a grunt as he clutched onto it, allowing Grovyle to flee and escape; not before looking at Twig, who was watching all of this unfold, one last time. She saw the desperation and pain in his eyes, but she did not sympathize with him. She never will.

With Grovyle gone, she immediately rushed over to Dusknoir to see if he was alright, despite her looking in a more horrid condition than him by a tenfold. The attack hardly affected Dusknoir, only leaving a mean scar in its place, but seeing Twig and Kip this hurt and damaged already killed him inside as is.

"D-Dusknoir! Are you- *cough* okay?"

"You needn't worry about me, Twig.. right now, you two are my top priority. I will carry you back to Treasure Town and I will notify the guild of your condition from there."

As he carried the two back home, Twig could only wonder a few things as she held onto her own wounds. Why did Grovyle look at her remorse and regret, and how did he manage to pull off all of that time manipulation, or whatever it is that he did?

And why did she feel like she knew him before?

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