Chapter 125 (Rough)

Author Note:

Short chapter today due to unhappy reasons (explained in the author's note below). No chapter on Friday. I will see you next Tuesday.

Please enjoy the holidays! Weā€™ll be back on the very last day of the year!

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Everyoneā€™s eyes were on Primeape. His body heaved up and down with every breath. His arm was still extended from where it had smashed right into his brotherā€™s face.

His brother wasn't moving, but he was alive. As it stood, he was just unconscious. A single hit had knocked him out.

Slowly, Sam took a step forward. The clearing was practically silent.

ā€œPrimeape...ā€ he said softly, trying to call for his PokĆ©mon to step back.

Unfortunately, all his voice seemed to do was snap Primeape out of his shock. The Fighting Type blinked and looked around as if he had just now realized what he had done.

His eyes flicked to his brother, to the Mankey, and then to Samā€™s team behind him. He said nothing, and neither did anyone else. Primeape proceeded to do the only thing he could do:

He ran.

Faced with the weight of everything that had just happened, Primeape turned and dashed right out of the clearing. Arm over leg, he scrambled to escape, quickly disappearing into the curved ravines of the nearby cliffs.

ā€œWait!ā€ Samā€™s shout saw no response, only his voiceā€™s echoes returning to him. Primeape was already gone, too busy running away to do anything else.

Sam cursed, breathed out, and readied himself to chase after his PokƩmon, but he froze when he realized the current state of the clearing. All of the Mankey crouched by the boulders in the back, watching his group warily. Despite this being their all, they all looked ready to flee.

As for Primeapeā€™s brother, he groaned in his unconsciousness, but he wasnā€™t in a state to stand up. A few of the Mankey looked like they wanted to run up and protect him, but none wanted to get closer to Samā€™s group after that demonstration.

ā€œUgh. Alright.ā€ Sam rubbed the side of his head. ā€œTyphlosion, come out. We need your help!ā€

Upon the appearance of such a large and fully evolved PokĆ©mon, a ripple of greater nervousness passed through the entire Mankey tribe. However, it turned to curiosity when Sam placed two items into Typhlosionā€™s paws.

ā€œHere. A Sitrus Berry and a Super Potion. Heal the Primeape, okay?ā€

Typhlosion nodded her head. Sam looked over everyone else.

ā€œMisdreavus, help her. Haunter? Stay on guard with the Gastly.ā€

Those two gave their acknowledgments, and Sam took off. Behind him, Typhlosion turned toward the wild Primeape as Misdreavus drifted over to float beside her, but both of them just looked down at the human-made Super Potion spray bottle in confusion.

Sam didnā€™t see what they did next as the cliffs soon obscured the campsite from view. However, he trusted his PokĆ©mon to manage the situation, and even in the worst case, it wasnā€™t like a bunch of Fighting Types could hurt Ghost Types, anyway.

Primeape had charged right through this ravine path, traveling in the same direction as those Gligar but sticking to the ground. Sam didnā€™t see any of those gliding PokĆ©mon, but he did see the trail Primeape left behind. Primeape hadnā€™t bothered to cover his tracks, so there were obvious footprints, disturbed dirt, and the occasional trampled shrub that guided Sam in the direction of his friend.

Weaving between the stones, Sam hurried after him. He found it slightly ironic that Primeape had found such a ā€œfollowableā€ path only after his old tribe had been located.

Still, he was more worried about his PokƩmon than anything else, and he soon slowed as he reached the end of the trail. Ahead of him, the ravine opened up to a short ledge. Primeape sat on a stone at its edge, staring out over the entire valley at once.

In the distance, clouds of flying PokƩmon traveled in flocks, and the occasional movement in the dry foliage below hinted at other PokƩmon scavenging for food along the ground. The sparse few patches of trees and shrubs tended to lack leaves, but they still added a splash of green to this otherwise dirt-brown view.

But it was still a valley. And it was full of life. This was where so many PokƩmon fought and struggled and thrived while living off-route.

Primeape remained seated. He stayed on his stone and watched it all. Sam hung back for now, giving Primeape the chance to calm down while trying to see how he was doing. Though he was facing away, he did look slightly better. At least, that heavy breathing from before was gone. He was tense, but his body was no longer heaving with every breath like before.

After waiting a few seconds longer, Sam moved to step forward but stopped himself when a pebble fell from above. Rocks cracked as roots pierced into the stone, and rather than Sam walking up to talk to Primeape, Trevenant left his position at the top of the cliffs to approach, instead.

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Primeape heard the crunch of stone behind him. The regular cracking of the earth betrayed sharp spikes being stabbed into a wall. He did his best to ignore it, but he knew he couldnā€™t ignore it forever. Soon enough, the noise changed from a PokĆ©mon defying gravity to that of the rapid taps of multiple legs moving closer to him along the ground.

He knew who it was. There was only one PokĆ©mon on the team who could move in that mannerā€”there was only one member of the team that had more than two legs. But he didnā€™t want to greet them. Pulling himself in, he continued to sit on his boulder and stare out at the valley that used to be his home.

When Trevenant eventually reached his side, neither of them said anything. He just stood there next to Primeape in silence. Primeape expected some kind of speech or a condemnation or any attempt to say something.

But Trevenant stayed quiet.

He only offered his presence, and that was enough.

...Mostly.

Primeape was already starting to feel a bit ticked off. He got the sense that Trevenant had something to say, but he was choosing to wait to say it. He just stood there, looming with that same quiet to him as always. It was awful, as the lack of anything was starting to make Primeape feel as though someone was beating him with a shovel. A familiar heat came from his chest, and a vein throbbed on his forehead.

He couldnā€™t hold back forever. Silence existed to be broken.

So Primeape talked, unable to resist blurting everything out. His rant started simple and summed up his feelings as succinctly as he could.

For Primeape, none of this was fair.

All this time, Primeape had been fighting to get stronger. All this time, Primeape had been fighting to stop being weak. And when he finally got a chance to prove to everyone that he wasnā€™t that same, pathetic Mankey?

It hadnā€™t mattered.

His brother, the same brother who had all but thrown him away when his usefulness ran out, didnā€™t even want to fight. It was like that thing had been happy to see that he was back.

It should have been afraid. It should have been furious. The PokĆ©mon that had once been family should have reacted in any way but exactly like that. But he hadnā€™t. When Primeapeā€™s fist sailed right toward his brotherā€™s face, his brother almost looked like he was full of regret.

And the more Primeape remembered that expression, the more extreme a twisting in his chest became. Fed up, he smashed a fist into the boulder he sat on. Dust fell from his hand when he pulled it out of the resulting crack, and he wrapped his arms around his legs.

Primeape breathed out, grumbling as he did. He tried to calm himself in the same way heā€™d practiced so many times before.

He hated this.

He hated his brother.

He hated everything that had just happened.

He hated how his brother didn't fight back. He hated how easily his brother had been knocked out. He hated how the entire tribe had been there for support. He hated how getting his revenge had felt wrong even though it was everything he'd sought.

Above it all, there was one thing Primeape hated the mostā€”he hated how his brother had acted as though everything would finally be alright now that Primeape had returned.

With that statement, he went quiet, a heaviness returning to his breathing even though he had nothing else to say. His rage continued to smolder in his chest, but at this point, he didnā€™t care. He felt far too exhausted to give it anything other than the briefest of acknowledgments.

Unfortunately and infuriatingly, Trevenant continued to choose to not speak. At least, Primeape appreciated that he was listening. If nothing else, having another PokĆ©mon there was nice. It meant he wouldnā€™t be alone.

For a while, they lingered at the top of the cliffside, and life in the valley beneath them continued on, unaware of everything that took place. Time passed, and after just a minute longer, a new set of footsteps echoed out as Sam moved up to join Primeape as well.

ā€œYou know,ā€ Sam said, ā€œyou are allowed to be upset.ā€

Primeape grunted in annoyance. He was not upset. He was angry! Yeah, he was definitely still angry, it was just that he was... angry in the opposite direction.

He let his head fall onto his knees, and Trevenant chuffed as if something Primeape had said caused him to laugh. Primeape grumbled in response and ignored how that was the first time Trevenant made a noise in this conversation. He didnā€™t want to get angry about it right now, and he didnā€™t want to think about how heā€™d done nothing but rant.

ā€œBut this sucks,ā€ Sam continued.

Primeape snorted. He could only agree.

ā€œI get this wasnā€™t supposed to happen. It really wasnā€™t what either of us planned. Instead of him being a raging jerk, we got here and he was a leader. An actual one. And that means we canā€™t just take the easy way out.ā€

Sam rubbed his temples.

ā€œIf he had been nothing more than a tyrant, we could have been leaving by now. You could have strolled up, punched him in the face, and left right after. Didnā€™t need to be more complicated than that. I mean, imagine what that could have looked likeā€”your fist smoking, your brother recoiling, and all of the Mankey looking up at you in awe.ā€

Primeape actually let out a short laugh before quickly schooling his expression.

ā€œExcept...ā€ Sam said, his voice becoming soft, and Primeape went silent to listen to his trainerā€™s words. ā€œHe was tired. Injured. All this time, heā€™s been fighting to defend the tribe, and he even proved his change when he gave that berry away. Your brotherā€”if you even want to call him your brother, I mean. That PokĆ©mon changed, but that doesnā€™t mean what happened to you changed. Just because he has the tribeā€™s support doesnā€™t mean you have to forgive him for what he did.ā€

Primeape looked up at Sam to see him staring back.

ā€œThe past still happened. Youā€™re allowed to be upset about how you were treated. Heā€™s done nothing to make up for that. Guilt isnā€™t enough to make everything okay.ā€

To the side, Trevenant rustled his leaves to express his agreement. Like usual, he shared no words, but his meaning was clear enough.

Just like Primeape, Trevenant was yet to forgive. Honestly, Trevenant would never forgive the people who burned down his family and his home. However, for the sake of his own well-being, he had to move on. He had to recognize just how pointless a constant search for revenge would have been. It wasnā€™t worth letting himself be controlled by nothing but rage.

And, as Trevenant looked back to Primeape, Primeape could understand why Trevenant had come. Their backgrounds were similar enough, and Primeape had already given him advice in the past. So just like how Primeape had once supported Trevenant, Trevenant was now supporting Primeapeā€”but it wasnā€™t an exchange. Trevenant was here because they were friends.

ā€œ...But, also, like, I donā€™t mean you should never forgive him. Or that you need to. Itā€™s complicated, you know? Morally and ethically and, I guess everything else, too?ā€

One of Primeapeā€™s ears flicked to the side. He hadnā€™t realized Sam was still talkingā€”or that he had started rambling, more like.

ā€œI mean, that PokĆ©monā€™s been fighting for the tribe for a while, so it makes sense why he fell into a leadership position. He had to, or, well, he already was in a leadership position, so he was forced to take on the responsibility no matter what. So then does that mean you need to forgive him? Because heā€™s changed and understands responsibility now? Or is that too much leniency, and you should wait until you actually feel better about the situation? Like, family doesnā€™t get a free pass to be rude just because theyā€™re family, so does that mean he needs to do something for you, or is it enough that heā€™s changed? Or maybe because he changed he will be better from now so you should just forgive him regardless or is there a better moral outcome here thatā€™s still an outcome that makes you happy so we should spend time finding a different solution thatā€”ā€

Sam stopped to breathe in, and he seemed to notice that Primeape and Trevenant were staring blankly. Awkwardly, he turned away from the pair and cleared his throat, coughing into his hand in an attempt to regain control of the situation.

ā€œSorry. I got caught up in my thoughts. Read too many books, yā€™know?ā€

Primeape snorted. He appreciated the effort, nonetheless.

ā€œBut I guess if I have to summarize everything I was trying to say, I think itā€™s worth talking to him no matter what, Primeape,ā€ Sam said softly. ā€œNot to forgive him outright, but at least just to talk. Even after everything else, he was still your brother. That doesnā€™t mean you two have to make up, itā€™s just... I just donā€™t want you to pass up a chance to say goodbye.ā€

And Sam went silent, his gaze gaining a certain quality Primeape couldnā€™t put into words. What he did understand, however, was Samā€™s point, and he disliked that he agreed.

Primeape had no way of knowing where heā€™d be in the future. The same was true for his brother. Leaving everything like this would only foster regret. If he wanted to move on, they needed to talk. He needed a way to move past this for the sake of his own well-being, just like Trevenant had said.

So, there was no sense in waiting. Primeape scooted back on the rock and hopped down to the floor. Trevenant and Sam both silently watched him begin to head back toward the ravine, and Primeape had to stop walking to shoot them a look to say that, yes, he was trying to return.

ā€œAh! Good. I justā€” I just want you to be happy, Primeape.ā€

Trevenant was already moving up to catch up. Sam had to jog to reach Primeapeā€™s side.

ā€œBut you know...ā€ Sam said, speaking as they began walking back to the Mankeyā€™s campsite. ā€œYour brother kind of got what he wished for. Heā€™s the strongest in the tribe, so heā€™s their leader, but that also means heā€™s the one fighting on the Mankeyā€™s behalfā€”Every. Single. Time.ā€

Primeape gruntedā€”so what? 

Sam just smiled.

ā€œSo you know what that means? Heā€™s caught in a trap of his own making. Instead of falling behind, heā€™s stuck in his position at the top. If I had to call it something...ā€ Sam let out a chuckle. ā€œIā€™d almost say that he made a wish on a Mankeyā€™s paw, yeah?ā€

He shot Primeape a smirk, and Primeape had to stop walking just to stare back.

That was awful.

That was genuinely the worst joke Primeape had ever heard, and he increased his speed to march far, far ahead.

ā€œWait! Hold on, donā€™t run off without us!ā€ Sam called out. ā€œWeā€™re off-route! Donā€™t go all the way back to camp on your own!ā€

But Primeape tread onward, his fast pace allowing him to keep a decent lead on Sam and Trevenantā€”yet never out of sight. They raced to catch up but failed to reach him. Primeape didnā€™t want to acknowledge that awful pun, but really, he didnā€™t want them to see the small smile that had crept onto his face.

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Author Note:

I don't think I was in the right headspace for this chapter. Over the weekend, my dog became seriously ill. Heā€™s somewhat better now, but ongoing issues still exist. Please forgive me if the schedule suddenly becomes more erratic, but we should be fine for a chapter next Tuesday. There just might be an unexpected break sometime in the future.

See you soon.

PokƩmon included in this chapter:
Mankey / Primeape

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