The Sneasel's sharp claws dug painfully into Gift's chin as he gazed, eye-to-eye, at the diminutive assailant. Blood began to trickle down his neck, and the Sneasel drew glinting claws back for a decisive slash. Wham! Ralts' small body hurtled into the would-be killer, jolting Sneasel sideways, his claws leaving a jagged red line across Gift's cheek in a thwarted strike. Hissing, Sneasel backhanded Ralts viciously across the midsection, sending the little Pokémon tumbling backwards. As Ralts came crashing to a halt against Gift's knees, Sneasel lept after her, all claws and teeth and shadow.
"Ralts! Flash attack, quickly!" A blinding burst of luminescence illuminated the chamber, and Gift heard Sneasel shout in surprise. Eyes closed, Gift leapt to the right, blindly pulling Ralts along with him, and heard a sinister whistle as Sneasel's claws ripped through the space previously occupied by Gift's head. There was a dull thunk as Sneasel impacted the far wall, and opening his eyes, Gift yelled "Tackle!"
Ralts went sailing into Sneasel's back, driving the Pokémon hard against the unyielding stone wall. Gift heard a grunt of pain from the dark Pokémon, then in a flurry of blindingly fast, swiping movements, Ralts was thrown brutally across the passageway, crashing into the hard floor and barely rolling aside in time as Sneasel came slashing down on the spot where Ralts had fallen. Sparks exploded from Sneasel's claws as they scraped grooves in the tunnel floor, and Gift darted forward, lowering his body and delivering a low, sweeping kick to Sneasel's legs. His foot met only air and floating gravel as Sneasel leapt above the attack, eyes flashing and teeth bared as he sliced a vicious gash in Gift's leg with the claws on his feet. Landing, Sneasel made another mighty leap, avoiding Ralts' desperate tackle, spinning around in midair, and kicking off from the ceiling to hurtle at Gift like a scything bullet. Gift almost failed to see the attack coming in the semidarkness of the tunnel, rolling aside at the last moment and receiving a stinging slash to the left shoulder.
Gift spun himself around on the floor, tearing one of his backpack straps and kicking out blindly at the spot where Sneasel had landed. He was surprised to feel his foot make contact, and he heard another grunt as Sneasel tumbled backwards head over heels. Gift rolled up onto his feet, blinking a trickle of blood out of his eye as he cautiously advanced. Back in the Grove, Machop had taught him some basic sparring techniques, but Sneasel was simply too fast, too skilled for those to be of any real use. Even as Gift was thinking this, he brought up his right arm to deflect a slash aimed for his face, earning another gash across his forearm for the trouble. Sneasel pressed the attack, and Gift backpedaled furiously to avoid the scything claws, finally coming up hard against the wall. Sneasel ducked under Gift's desperate guard and came up directly in front of the boy, eyes glinting, claws pressing delicately into Gift's neck.
"I'm impressed," Sneasel remarked. "You're the first trainer I've met who didn't make his Pokémon do all the work for him. Still, nobody trespasses on my territory. I let you through, and soon everyone will think this is some sort of public highway for them to use whenever they please. So it's nothing pers-" Wham!
Sneasel was once again thrown to the side as a battered and scratched Ralts slammed into his side. Wasting no time, Gift pounced upon the one course of action left open to him, the only thing that might actually work. Hissing in anger, Sneasel leapt to his feet and darted forward… straight into the PokeBall that came flying from Gift's hand. Surprise and fury showed for a brief moment on Sneasel's face, and then the Pokémon was enveloped in a blinding flash of white light and vanished into the red and white sphere. Immediately the ball began to quiver as Sneasel fought to break out. Grimly, Gift fished another PokeBall out of his back and strode forward just as the quivering ball exploded, and Sneasel leapt snarling back out. Even before the PokeBall had finished opening Gift was pivoting on his left leg, bringing his right up, bent, and straightening the leg into a vicious side kick that caught Sneasel in midair, slamming the Pokémon hard in the midsection and sending him flying backwards into the wall. Giving the assailant no time to collect himself, Gift threw the second PokeBall, momentarily glimpsing Sneasel's enraged expression as he was enveloped in a second wave of light.
The ball clacked shut and began immediately to vibrate. Gift watched the orb warily as he selected another ball from his pack, cocking his fatigued arm for another throw. This proved to be unnecessary. With a final shudder, the quivering ball fell still, the button at the sphere's center popping outward with a sharp click!
Gift bent down, scooped the ball into his pack, and looked around for Ralts. The spunky little Pokémon was standing, shaking with fatigue and pain, on the tunnel floor. Though she was obviously badly injured, Gift could see a satisfied smile on her face.
"Here," Gift slung off his pack and sat down in front of Ralts. "Gardevoir gave me some potions before we left; let's fix you up."
Too exhausted to reply, Ralts nodded, and slumped gratefully into the crook of Gift's bloody arm as he sprayed her with the curative liquid. It felt good to rest, and Gift lay gratefully back as he waited for the Potion to take effect. Eventually he became aware of a large number of Zubat, all eyeing his wounds rather hungrily, and, heaving himself to his feet, Gift scooped Ralts up in his arms and trudged onwards, towards the light at the end of the tunnel.