"Ah!"
Nate had hit something, but it was hard to tell exactly what at first. Small, but with a big head for its body, vaguely onion shaped. It flitted around blindly and into the open, trying to wipe off the mud that had presumably gotten in its eyes--a lucky strike for sure.
Meanwhile, Nip's distraction had worked. Sceptile stomped after him, swiping the shards away with ease to make a dash for the assaulting Sneasel. He opened with a slash at an awkward angle, which made for an easy dodge on reflex. But that left Nip prone in the air against an opponent seemingly faster than his very breathing.
But the attack was slow. Too slow--Stun Spore's effect was immediate, but not strong enough to halt Sceptile completely. Necrozma's Confusion followed, but it, too, didn't do much to Sceptile. Cabot's attack, while it connected, did only a little more than the others, shoving him a few inches forward in the sand.
"Wait, wait!" the tiny, flying creature begged.
Then, he raised his arm again, forming a Leaf Blade threateningly, and slashed down toward Nip. Whether he dodged or not, it didn't matter--there was a sudden boom when Maple's fist, coated in a golden energy, lunged through a portal and slammed into Sceptile's chest. The shockwave from the impact bent the light around the impact site.
He coughed spittle and dark haze, staggering back several paces. With a wobble, he collapsed to one knee at the same time that Maple, soaked in saltwater, emerged from the portal completely. Her chest was still smoldering from the Energy Ball, though she didn't seem bothered.
Necrozma and Nip both readied a second volley, but Maple raised a paw. "Stop," she said. "He isn't trying to kill you."
Sceptile wheezed, the invisibility wearing off for both him and the flying Pokemon--which turned out to be some strange, pink creature with an onion-like head and tiny wings.
Maple raised her paw. "When he tried to strike Mudkip," she said, showing her unblemished paw to the others, "he used a dull edge."
