Gah! Attacking Spearow!

You are awakened somewhat suddenly, your eyelids blearily being torn from their restful state. The hell was that commotion? ...It sounded pretty far off, but... there's no noise now. You turn over, digging yourself deeper into the pillow. You stay like that for a brief moment, trying not to think, before sighing and sitting up in resignation. The sun's up. You ought to get going.

As you pull your pants up, you reflect on what your next step should be. You're out of town, so you're clear of the immediate risk posed by that thug's friends, but it won't be long before your cash runs out. You're gonna need a job... though you don't have much in the way of skills. You're sure as hell not working at another register. Maybe you could-

"GaaHAAaaaA! G-gah, H-HEEELP! SOMEOoone!"

You snap around, bewildered, as a bloodied man comes running down the path from the direction of Pallet Town, wheezing and stumbling all the way. What? Was he the source of that noise from earlier? Leaving your shaded spot in the trees, you jog after him. "Hey! Sir! Are you alright? Sir!" He doesn't seem to hear. You slow down as the distance between the two of you widens. ...Was he running from something?

"SPEEEaaaaaaAA!! SpEAROW!"

Your blood runs cold as you slowly turn back. In the distance, a just barely visible flock of Spearow are rocketing forward. Ah. That'll do it. Another distant, though closer screech rips through the air, and you begin sprinting back to your campsite. Fucking idiot, idiot, should've taken Margo out of the ball, first thing when you got up. Fuck. You'd been hearing of such Spearow attacks recently; apparently, the invasive species released by the collapse of the Pal Parks and Safari Zone had **** the highly territorial Spearow populations to migrate in search of less competitive pastures. You'd also heard one of said Spearow attacks had been fatal. Little bastards. Shit.

Sliding to the ground at the campsite, you frantically begin pawing through your sleeping-bag, where you'd left the capsule for safekeeping, before resorting to turning it upside down and violently shaking it. Finally, the Poké Ball clatters to the ground. Ok. Ok. You'll just grab Margo and run; you can sneak back later for your stuff.

Of course, just as you reach down to grab the ball, a pair of talons rake across your back, sending bolts of excruciating pain shooting through you. You stumble to the ground with a yelp, as more birds slam into you, clawing, pecking, and screeching. They were faster than you’d thought. You feel more attacks shredding at your exposed back. You raise your arms to the sides of your head protectively, as a Spearow tears at your hair. It's hard to tell what's happening through the maelstrom of loose feathers; is this five birds? Ten? Twenty? Rivulets of something drip down your back. The cacophony of beating wings and screeches is deafening. Shit. Shit. Where is it... where's Margo's ball?!

A glint catches your eye. There! You lunge forward, palming the sphere. Now... just gotta run. You stagger to your feet, swatting a Spearow away violently, before being being knocked down by an ennewed eruption of avian fury. It's no use... at this rate you'll die. You've got ****.

"S-sorry, Margo." With a flash of light which scatters the Spearow, you release Margo from the capsule. This time, as her petite frame comes into focus, she is bare of any clothing, barring her boots. You hang your head, averting your eyes, partly in embarrassment, and partly in exhaustion. "...Joel?! What the fuck!" She quickly maneuvers to cover breasts and crotch. "I thought you were gonna release me behind some trees, so I could get dressed, and shit! Why the f- holy shit man. Are you ok?"

You weakly kneel, gesturing towards the sky. "S-Spearow attack. Just run... get to Viridian City, get help. They'll regroup soon."

She freezes for a moment. "Th-that wasn't a command, right? Remember to watch what you say," she says in a strained tone, briskly walking past you to your bag.

What? "...What are you doing? I can see them circling above, you need to g-"

"Shut up!" she hisses, producing a potion. "And hold still. This is gonna sting. My aunt was a nurse at a Pokémon Center, she used to use potions she got cheap for scraped knees. They don't work as well on humans as they do on Pokémon because our cells aren't as quick to multiply, but it'll stop the bleeding."

You wince as a cold mist coats your back. "Seriously, Margo, you need to-"

"Oh, shut up! I already told you that once, try fucking listening! I am NOT some little princess that exists for you to rescue so you can feel good about yourself! Last night you were talking all this crap about how you were done feeling powerless, but here you are, on the ground, begging me to do what you want." She runs her hand through her hair. "Besides, if I ran into Viridian City alone and naked, I'd get just recaptured! So get up. Let's get our shit and get out of here."

As you rise, grimacing from the persistent stinging of the potion, you catch sight of the Spearow entering a dive. "There's no time!" you cry. "They're coming!"

"Then we'll fight them off!" Margo growls.

You swallow, and brace yourself, realizing there's little in the way of alternatives. You can clearly see now; eight Spearow charge at you in a loose pod. There movement is extremely linear; if you can just get the timing right...

"SPEAAAAR-sKRa-" The first Spearow is sent careening, as you intercept it with a wide swing. You're unfortunately unable to react to the following seven, which swarm over you in an almost cartoonish frenzy, ripping open both recently closed wounds and new ones. Shit. Not again...

"Yo! Close your eyes!" Margo shouts. As you do so, Margo hurls a handful of dirt over you and the unsuspecting birds. They cry in surprise, some momentarily blinded. Seizing the opportunity, you grab two of them by the neck and swing them around, before casting them downward. Margo follows up by kicking one of the downed creatures, sending it flying, before swatting at another. This is winnable!

"Speear-SpeAAROW!!" With a bloodthirsty cry, the leader of the flock, which you'd previously sent flying, comes hurtling back. Egged on by its cry, the Spearow switch targets, pulling Margo's hair over her eyes and tearing at her flesh. "Aah! Little shits, get off!"

You race over, swatting the Spearow away from her hair. How long can this go on for? These Spearow just won't stay down. And that leader seems to be strategizing. That leader... would that work?

As the leader nears Margo, you lunge forward, managing to capture it in a hug. It immediately begins trying to tear at your chest with its beak, but your suspicions are confirmed; even as it does so, small noises escape it. Curling one hand around its head, you pinch its beak shut. Shocked, it begins struggling ferociously, but to no avail. Within moments the other Spearow let up their attacks, confused by the lack of orders.

"The hell'd you do?" Margo asks, panting.

"I shut this one up. 'Was the leader." You grin wildly as the Spearow's eyes widen is fear. "We can't knock 'em all out. But we don't need to; we just need them to stop attacking us. And to do that, it turns out we only need to knock one out."

Bonk.