14. Double Agents

    “Not a chance!” the Rocket yelled, and a dark green lizard shot out of nowhere, punching Firestorm square in the jaw right as he inhaled for the Smokescreen.  The Charmeleon recoiled backward, coughing and sputtering as the opposing lizard backflipped away before he could counterattack.  It landed nimbly in front of the Rocket, bouncing lightly on its hind legs and leering at us with bright yellow eyes.

    Fine then, if she wanted a fight, she’d get one.  My eyes traced the leaves on its head, arms, and rear—a grass-type, most likely.  Both my Pokémon had the advantage against a grass-type, so if they could tag-team the lizard with both close and long-range moves, it’d be screwed.

    “Firestorm, Ember!  Swift, Aerial Ace!” I ordered.

    “Dodge ‘em, Grovyle,” the Rocket said playfully.

    Growling, Firestorm shot out a flurry of red-hot flares at the green lizard, who leaped aside at the last second with a smirk on its face.  Behind it, Swift shot downward like a bullet, beak glowing white.  Grovyle spun around, its eyes going wide for a split-second right before launching itself out of the way.  No chance!  Swift pulled out of the dive the instant Grovyle leaped, then followed up with a blindingly fast down-and-up strike, clean across the lizard’s back.

    All right!  I knew it couldn’t dodge the Aerial Ace!  But then the grass-type spun around in midair and… grabbed hold of Swift’s talon?  What?  Grovyle drew back a forearm and its leaves lit up with green energy, extending into long blades right before slashing Swift’s underside.  The Pidgeotto cried out and kicked his legs to shake the reptile free, but it had already jumped down to avoid more embers from Firestorm.

    Dammit—it knew it couldn’t dodge the Aerial Ace so it took the attack and went for the immediate follow-up.  The same technique I’d learned from Stalker.

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