[ti]spawn[/ti]Rumble Tumble

The finish line is within reach. Gumball lets out a victory HONK as he tumbles at top speeds down the incline, but he can see through flitting glances that his trainer is not far behind. Alas, the man is too preoccupied with his rolling performance to notice what’s in store!

“Wh—GUMBALL!”

Or maybe he does!

Gumball laughs as he hits the little jutting stone at the end of the slope, sent careening into the air—to freedom. He spreads out his flippers like wings, backed by the sun peeking out of the storm clouds. Were it not for his trainer’s panicked yelling, there would be applause.

The Drilbur thankfully backs off once he manages to put enough distance between them. It sniffs in the air as it watches the chase, glad the human hadn’t tampered with its burrow further, before returning back down to nap.

Saint continues going after Gumball, who at this point has finally landed. Gumball had caught enough airtime to do a somersault, and even with his starter’s penchant for dramatics, he still couldn’t reach him in time to scoop him from the ground.

“I need to get back into running,” Saint mutters, willing himself to run faster before the popplio lands in the crosshairs of something that could harm him.

He thinks he’s about to have a heart attack. His pulse is in his ears, and he can’t think of anything past RUNRUNRUNRUNRUN. The only upside to this is that the monster’s earthshattering cry had shocked Gumball enough for the popplio to stop, at which point he had scooped him up. Now all he needs is to ensure both he and his starter survive.

CLANK.

The Duraludon’s footsteps suddenly stop. Saint turns, only to see an unfamiliar trainer battling it—with his fists?

“Stop!” He says, concern in his voice. “That’s dangerous! Just run!”

But neither the trainer nor the combusken he’s accompanied by are paying attention, both focused on wearing down the Duraludon’s thick armor.

Saint winces, pulling Gumball high enough that he covers his chin. That does not look fun. He’s still amazed trainers can even take on the pokemon themselves. This guy must be a maniac.

For whatever damage the pair do against their opponent, the Duraludon acts in kind. Saint doubts they’ll be able to keep it up at this rate. Guilt saturates Saint’s heart, being reminded that his main goal for this journey had been to aid other players in need.

“Gumball, can you try hitting it with water?” He says, moving a little closer. He’s still far enough that he can run if needed, but maybe helping chip its health down could give the other trainer a breather.

Gumball nods determinedly, before opening his mouth to let loose a jet of water.

The Duraludon takes a swing at him, and Saint’s heart just about leaps up his throat. He jumps out of the way, and as the beast moves to turn to him, the other team resumes the onslaught.

“Oi, you! Newbie!” Saint’s head snaps up to where the other trainer—Kazuki, his floating username says—is calling to him from the Duraludon’s back. “Try not to get killed until we get back!”

Get back? “Are you saying you’re about to die?” Saint sputters, wishing sorely that he had been able to teach Gumball how to heal or acquired a pokemon that can do so sooner. “Why do you have to fight it!”

“For the bytes,” Kazuki hisses, before yanking the Duraludon’s head to the side to get its claw away from his combusken.

Saint winces as the next hit comes, but somehow Kazuki is still standing. There are wounds and deep lacerations on the man’s body, as well as on his pokemon, but he doesn’t back down, weathering the next hit.

“Again,” he instructs Gumball, bracing himself to dodge the next hit as the popplio prepares to douse the dragon’s side with water once more.

KAZUKI WHITED OUT!

The notification blinks on his screen. The Duraludon turns around, finding only one target left to pursue.

“Oh no,” Saint mumbles, before resuming his previous tactic of running the fuck out of the way. The Duraludon screeches, heavy footsteps shaking the earth as it pursues him on chunky, waddling legs, like a terrifying sci-fi version of Barney.