It was the silence that MunchMunch noticed. No one was cheering. No one was yelling.

  When the enemy Pokemon appeared, he stared at Gastly like she was small. It stretched, the red fins on its head flaring.

  “Croconaw.” It said, before settling into a fighting stance.

  If it wasn’t an enemy Pokemon…MunchMunch would think he was kind of cool.

  “Confuse Ray,” their Trainer shouted, and Gastly’s eyes started flashing. MunchMunch cheered - he had seen what this could do!

  But Red shouted something and Croconaw just closed its eyes. When it opened its eyes, it did not look very confused.

  And it was still looking at Mama Gastly like she was small. Then it opened its mouth and shot out a Water Gun. It looked scary, but didn’t move very fast, and Gastly was able to dodge.

  But then MunchMunch noticed the Water Gun was just a distraction, and that Croconaw was running towards Gastly!

  “Hypnosis,” their Teddy yelled. Red yelled at the same time, and Croconaw just closed his eyes again.

  “Munch.” MunchMunch huffed. That was really unfair.

  Then the Croconaw opened its eyes and MunchMunch saw it use Bite, except it looked a lot scarier than when Zubat did it. He could even see little shadows on his teeth.

  He latched onto Gastly and MunchMunch gasped. Then, the Croconaw tore and pulled a bunch of shadow away from Gastly.

  Mama Gastly screeched, and MunchMunch almost dropped the Egg. It felt like something had bitten his heart too, and pulled it away.

  “Munch!” He cried.

  Red’s Croconaw just turned its head to the side and spit out the shadows which quickly wisped away.

  “Weak,” he said, staring down at Gastly.

  MunchMunch didn’t think that was very fair. Mama Gastly had won two Pokemon before fighting Croconaw. Mama was not weak! She beat the scary-blue haired trainer all by herself, too!

  MunchMunch did not like this Croconaw.

  “Gastly use —“ Teddy shouted, but Red interrupted him.

  “Bite.”

  Gastly tried to move, but the Bite earlier had hurt her a lot, and MunchMunch saw her flinch. Croconaw bit into her again, and Gastly cried out.

  When Croconaw pulled away this time, Gastly was resting on the ground, panting.

  “Gastly!” their Teddy shouted, pulling out one of the magic potions MunchMunch had seen him use earlier.

  It was perfect! If he could use it on Gastly, she would be ok!

  But Gastly and Teddy looked at each other, and MunchMunch realized.

  She was too far away.

  Gastly looked at MunchMunch and smiled, before turning back to Croconaw.

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  Then, she shuddered, and all the shadows inside her looked like they came out — rushing at Croconaw. He tried to dodge, but didn’t make it. The shadows wrapped around him, before sinking inside.

  MunchMunch was going to cheer, but then he saw Mama Gastly had fainted, giving everything she had for a Curse.

  MunchMunch had never seen Gastly lose before. He had never even thought about it before. Then the Croconaw shuddered, and some shadows left him. MunchMunch could tell it hurt him. Hurt him a lot. Mama Gastly had done what she could to help him win.

  She had trusted him.

  The Croconaw shot a weak Water Gun at the ground next to Gastly.

  He didn’t even try to hit her. It was just to be mean. His Teddy sighed and recalled Gastly to her Pokeball. He looked so sad. He started to walk toward Red, but MunchMunch didn’t understand why.

  The battle wasn’t over! He could still fight! It was his turn! Mama Gastly had used that move so MunchMunch could win!

  Teddy was almost halfway across the field now.

  “Munch!” He shouted at his Trainer. Teddy stopped to look at him. MunchMunch looked back, putting on the most serious face he could.

  His Teddy shook his head no.

  “Munch!” He shouted again, stomping his foot and pointing at Gastly’s Pokeball. His Teddy looked conflicted, looking between the Pokeball and MunchMunch. Then he nodded. A short yes this time, and came to take the Egg from MunchMunch.

  MunchMunch waddled on to the field. He would not let Mama Gastly down. And he would not lose to the mean trainer and his mean Pokemon.

  The Croconaw looked at him.

  “Your trainer is weak. He sends a baby to fight me.” He wasn’t even trying to be mean, he was just saying it — like it was the truth. It made MunchMunch very upset.

  He took a chew of his forever-snack and prepared for battle.

  ___

  “Munchlax, Defense Curl,” his Teddy shouted.

  MunchMunch knew how this move worked! He would still get hurt at first, but it would hurt less and less. Eventually, he would be too strong to hurt!

  Croconaw jumped forward, raising his eyebrow and Leered. He looked at Munchlax and didn’t look angry. He just looked bored, like Munchlax wasn’t worth his time.

  MunchMunch bit down hard on his forever-snack and concentrated on his Defense Curl, but couldn’t get it to work for some reason. He just kept thinking of how scary Croconaw’s eyes had been, and it made him feel cold. Too cold to do what he wanted to do!

  Then Croconaw used Scratch.

  And it hurt. A lot. MunchMunch gasped in pain as the scratch not only gave him cuts, but knocked him back.

  “You are too weak to even fight. You just try to curl up. Go back to your Pokeball, baby. This is not your fight,” the Croconaw said.

  And maybe he was right? That hurt way too much. MunchMunch didn’t know if he would be able to stay awake long enough to keep using the move!

  But then, shadows crept out of Croconaw again, and MunchMunch saw him shudder.

  That’s right, he thought. I can’t let Mama Gastly down.

  He took a bite from his leftovers and felt the warmth in his tummy, getting ready for another round.

  Then Croconaw opened his mouth and shot a Water Gun. MunchMunch was afraid it was going to hurt a lot, but still squeeze aaaaall his muscles for a Defense Curl.

  MunchMunch peeked open his eyes and realized the water gun had already hit him, he just hadn’t felt it! MunchMunch laughed! All of the food he had been eating was giving him lots of Thick Fat, and the water didn’t hurt!

  Croconaw looked very surprised. Then more shadows came out of him, and he looked very tired.

  MunchMunch smiled.

  But then, the Croconaw smirked, and took one of the amazing tasty blue berries out and ate it. MunchMunch remembered how good and warm they made him feel, and Croconaw looked much better.

  “Not bad, kid. Maybe one day you can be my rival. Just not yet,” the Croconaw said.

  Then he pounced.

  MunchMunch cried out as Croconaw bit him. He tried to use Defense Curl, but he flinched, the pain was so bad he just couldn’t! He took a munch of his favorite-snack, to try to feel better but it wasn’t enough. Croconaw used latched onto him again, dragging him across the field.

  MunchMunch cried. He heard his Teddy cry out too.

  Shadows drifted out of Croconaw, but they just made him look scarier.

  I…I’m sorry Mama Gastly, MunchMunch thought.

  One more Bite, and MunchMunch fainted.