Chapter Text
They’re winding-down from an exhilarating adventure when a mysterious Rick dressed in dark attire enters their garage and insists that they fight. Rick rolls his eyes, forcefully popping his bubble in annoyance. Morty cowers behind Rick’s coat, chewing nervously. The way that the mysterious Rick looks at him from behind his mask… it makes his skin crawl.
“Whatever. I could beat an idiot like you with my eyes closed.”
“Oh, but I’m not here to battle you. I’m here to battle your Morty. With my Morty.”
Rick frowns.
“...What kind of—?”
“It’s—it’s like p-pokemon. Y’know, like—b-but instead of forcing innocent animal-adjacent creatures to fight for us, w-we force our grandsons instead.”
“S-Sounds like a ripoff. Bu—URRP—but sure, we’re up for it.”
“W-What?!” Morty exclaims.
Rick grabs his shoulders and shoves him forward. Morty stumbles into battle. An equally nervous-looking Morty holding two cats faces off with him. BBG-021 pops his gum and the other Morty flinches, hugging his kitties closer.
“Morty, M-Morty—use thunderbolt.”
“I don’t know thunderbolt, Rick!” he shouts. “I’m not Pikachu!”
“God, fucking lame-ass—” Rick sighs. “Fine. Just—I dunno, punch him or something.”
Morty swings his fist into the other Morty’s face. It feels good.
“Ow,” Two Cat Morty whines.
“Get ‘em, Morty!” Mysterious Rick orders.
“Aw geez, Rick, o-okay.”
Sharp nails scrape across his skin, slicing his face open. Morty clutches his face with a yelp. Blood seeps through his fingers. Two Cat Morty looks proud of himself, smiling a cat’s smile.
“Y-Y’gonna take that shit, Morty? Are you gonna—you’re not gonna let this shit-stain beat you, right Morty?”
“No, Rick,” Morty seethes.
Morty swings his fist again, harder. He busts the other Morty’s nose with his knuckles. The satisfaction sits in his stomach like a hearty dinner.
Mysterious Rick is looking more and more pissed off. He snaps at his Morty to continue attacking. Two Cat Morty sniffles and wipes the blood off his upper lip. He lashes out with a growl. His claws sink into the skin of Morty’s neck and rip off his flesh in strings.
Morty cries out and presses his hand to the wound.
“Jesus fucking Christ! Morty, are you okay?”
“No, Rick! I-I-I’m obviously NOT okay!” Morty glares at his opponent.
He sucks in a breath and glares at the opposing Morty. With newfound fury, he draws his fist back and swings with all his might. His knuckles collide with Two Cat Morty’s head, which whips back with a sickening crack. He blubbers and stumbles to the ground, seeming dazed.
“No!” Mysterious Rick cries. “Get up! Keep fighting!”
BBG-021 Rick scoffs, gently pulling Morty to his side. Morty exhales shakily and clings onto his coat.
“Give it up. You lost, asshole.”
Mysterious Rick clenches his teeth and glowers at them darkly. He points at them with an accusatory finger.
“This isn’t over. I’ll be best, you’ll see!”
“Whatever.” Rick pops a bubble.
Mysterious Rick shoots a portal and drags his dazed Morty through by the scruff. Morty swallows thickly.
“...Wanna follow him?” Rick asks.
“Kinda,” he admits.
“Eh, fuck it.”
He and Rick step into the portal together.