One day had passed since Paul had that battle with Ash, or, as he liked to call him, a pathetic loser. There was just something about that kid and his upbeat attitude that pissed him off to no end. He shook his head.

I have got to stop thinking about that, he thought. He grunted.

A loss, yeah, whatever. He didn't lose, that brown haired guy said so. It was a tie and- God DAMN IT!

He shook his head once more. He wondered if he was attracting stares from the other people in the Pokémon Center, but he seriously didn't care. Who cared about what other people thought? Unless it came to how strong of a Trainer you were, of course. And even then, only the opinion of those he thought were worthy to be considered strong could tell them their opinion and not get ignored.

Like that Loser, who does he think- Oh for crying out loud!

"Hey, Mister Twitchy?" someone piped up. "Mind cooling it? You're rocking the whole bench with your constant foot tapping."

Paul opened his eyes and turned to the voice. It was a girl who looked to be about his age, which was 15, or maybe even a year younger. She had Murkrow black hair that went a little passed her shoulders and was tied up in a ponytail. She wore a red bandana that had a white Poké Ball logo on the right side, a white button-up t-shirt, a red-and-black plaid skirt, and red sneakers. On her back was a red backpack. She also sported a fingerless glove on her left hand and a very annoyed look on her face.

Paul hadn't even noticed that he was tapping his foot quickly. He stopped it and huffed a very non-meaningful, "Sorry."

"Oh, thank you for the sincerest of apologizes," the girl replied, sarcasm dripping from her voice. She rolled her hazel eyes. "You must be a riot at parties."

"I don't go to parties," Paul stated curtly, ruining the joke, though he didn't care.

"Sorry Mister Sensitive," the girl mumbled, rest her right elbow on her knee and then her head on the open palm.

"I thought it was Mister Twitchy."

"You changed when you started being a pain."

"Why are you talking to me anyway?" Paul asked, glaring at her. "You don't even know me."

"Hey, all I did was ask you to stop shaking the whole bench, and then you had to be all pissy about it."

"I don't get pissy."

"Keep telling yourself that."

The purple haired boy grunted. He wished his Pokémon would get healed already, but the whole Center was crowded. "Thanks, Nurse Joy!" a little boy cried as the lady handed him his Poké Balls. He ran out the door. Paul sighed, getting impatient.

"I know, this is boring," the girl said. "How long have you been waiting?"

Paul wondered if he should answer that. One minute they were having a spat and the next she just wanted to chat. Weird girl. Might as well talk, though. I've got nothing else to do. "10 minutes."

"15," was the reply from the other Trainer. "Wonder why it's so crowed?"

"Does it matter?" Paul asked.

"Guess not." There was silence. "I would ask you to battle, but then we'd have to wait all over again."

Paul grunted, but this time out of amusement. If the girl knew him, she would feel proud. Getting any sort of amusement out of the teen was like trying to find a Ralts.

"How would I know if you're even worth my time?" he asked with a smirk.

The girl gave a smirk of her own. "I've been across Kanto, Johto, and Hoenn and challenged every single Gym and won every single badge."

"Doesn't mean shit if you haven't won a Pokémon League."

"I have, so don't be throwing that lame ass excuse at me."

"Where's your proof?"

"At home, proudly hanging on my wall." Then she dug through her backpack and pulled out a camera. "Or in the archives, since we can't exactly get to Saffron City from here."

Paul took the camera and turned it on. "Saffron, huh? Must be rich then."

"Hey, not every person in Saffron is a rich stuck up asshole."

The teen grunted in amusement again. "Touché," he said. "So, which picture?"

The girl scooted over and went through the various pictures until she got to one where she was standing in front of three plaques hanging on her wall.

Paul raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't look like any plaque of the Pokémon League that I've ever seen."

"Not familiar with the Elite Four Run?" the female Trainer asked.

Paul looked at her with slight surprise. The Elite Four Run was harder than the Pokémon League, so most people didn't participate in it. The challenge was to go through all four Elite Four members and then the Champion (the Kanto League was an exception) in a row without going to a Pokémon Center.

This girl must be incredibly tough if she won all three of these, Paul thought.

"You know, it's not fair to go into a new region with Pokémon that have done that challenge," he noted, giving her the camera back.

"I know that!" the girl replied, putting the camera back. "They all stay at home... Well, except for one."

"Haley Sedai, your Pokémon are all healed!" Nurse Joy announced.

"Finally!" Haley huffed, standing up. She walked over to grab her Poké Balls. Paul was curious about the Pokémon she never left behind, so he followed her. Normally, he wouldn't do so, but his curiosity was getting the better of him.

"Oh, and you must be Paul," Nurse Joy stated as he walked up. Paul nodded. "Well, I just so happen to have your Pokémon as well." She showed him tray of four Pokémon.

In his battle against Ash, he had only used two of them, but in truth he had a team of four since he had just gotten back from the Johto region and had decided not to give two of his Pokémon to his older brother. He bowed (he wasn't rude to authority figures, even if they did make you wait forever) and took his Pokémon back.

The girl he now knew as Haley took her party of four. "So, show me this reoccurring member," Paul insisted.

Haley smiled at him. "If I do, can I get a battle?"

"I have a reoccurring member of my own. If I think yours is good enough, I might just agree.

"Okay then." She took one of the Poké Balls and threw it up. The ball opened and the beam released an Umbreon.

The feline-looking Pokémon shook out its body. "Um-Umbre!" it cried. Paul studied the girl's long-time partner.

Its muscles were well toned, looking like a runner; from the many days he had watched his brother (who was a breeder) take care of Pokémon, he could tell it was fast and light on its feet, a trait not common among others of its species, which while fast obviously not as fast as this one appeared to be. Its fur was glossy, meaning it was well feed and healthy. Its crimson eyes looked like it had seen many battles, not to mention they were calculating. He couldn't believe he was thinking this, since he never thought any Pokémon could do this, but he swore as he studied it, it was studying him. And its eyes seemed to scream, "What? Do you think you're good enough?" Paul kind of reeled back from that, making Haley laugh.

"Umbreon likes a challenge, don't you, Girly?"

"Um!" the Moonlight Pokémon cried, wagging her tail. Umbreon was looking at Paul again, and now her eyes said, "Come on, you're a strong trainer, right? Let's fight!" Or at least, that's how he interpreted it as. He had never read anyone's eyes before, much less a Pokémon's.

The teen had seen enough. He huffed in amusement. "Alright, I'll battle you," he decided. "You'll be taking on my Torterra."

"Oo, so big and scary," Haley said, obviously faking it since she had a big grin on her face. "Umbreon was my first you know. She was just an Eevee when we started," she continued, boasting. Said Pokémon was wagging her tail even more.

"Like that little cat can actually do anything," he stated with a smirk on his face.

"We'll make you eat those words," Haley challenged.

The next thing they knew, both Trainers and their respective partners were out on the battlefield right behind the Pokémon Center. Apparently, they had some sort of aura or atmosphere to the fight that attracted spectators. Not the Paul took notice. The only person he was focused on was his opponent on the opposite side.

"Just so you know, Torterra was my first," Paul warned. "It's not to be taken likely." Torterra cried out in agreement.

"He does look pretty strong," Haley agreed. Paul raised an eyebrow. Not even he or his brother knew Torterra was male, and yet this girl could tell without blinking an eye. "But Umbreon has taken down her share of big foes, so don't think size is everything." Umbreon crouched to the ground, as if she were ready to pounce. He expected her to growl from the hunting look her eyes gave, but not one sound came from the black cat.

"Then that only means I won't hold anything back." Paul sneered. "Not that I was going to." Haley snickered. "Since you were the one who challenged me, I'll let you go first."

"Aw, I thought you would let me go first because I'm a girl and you wanted to be a gentleman," she joked.

Paul couldn't hold back a small smile. When Ash bantered before their battle, it was something about being friends and trust. He assumed Haley was friends with her Pokémon as well, but unlike his rival, she didn't preach it. And though the joke was corny, he had to admit it was fresh compared to the "We'll show you the real super power of teamwork!" bullshit speech every other trainer gave him.

"Whatever, it's all the same to me. Umbreon, let's get this party started with a Shadow Ball!"

The way her Pokémon jumped in the air made Paul believe the reason the Moonlight Pokémon had been in that crouch was because she was anticipating her Trainer calling out that move as their first. Like they're in perfect sync or something. He watched as the purple ball of ghostly energy began to form in Umbreon's mouth.

Paul looked at Torterra. There was one problem with his starter: he was too big and too slow. With something as agile as Umbreon, there was no way he could dodge attacks. Of course, Paul knew this already. He had known it ever since he had evolved him the first time. So, the two had come up with ways to counter the flaw: either sit back and take it, or block it with your own attack. Seeing as it was probably best to try and slow the agile feline, he decided on the latter.

"Leaf Storm, let's go," he ordered with no trace of panic in his voice.

Torterra's tree began to glow green, and leaves began to shoot out at their opponent. In that instance Umbreon fired, and then followed up with something Paul never expected. Without even so much as her name being called, Umbreon's eyes began to glow blue, signifying that it was using Psychic. The Leaf Storm stopped dead in its tracks, and the leaves were dropped to the floor while the Shadow Ball zoomed straight to Torterra's face. The Continent Pokémon braced himself as he took the full force of the attack.

Paul, meanwhile, was stunned. "But... But..."

"Surprised?" Haley stated as Umbreon landed safely. "See, we do that all the time when someone uses Razor Leaf. It's kind of just a habit now. Girly here knows what she's doing." The black cat let out a cry.

Haley's opponent grunted. It was as if these two could read each other's minds. For a second he doubted himself, something he never, ever did when he battled.

But it was only for a second. The battle was just getting started, and it wasn't like he and Torterra hadn't faced impossible odds before. Now he knew what to expect. They had played their trump card most likely, while Paul was just getting started. He smirked as Torterra easily shook off the last attack. Never one to skip a beat, Paul went on the offensive this time.

"Rock Slide," was his next command. His Pokémon let out a cry, and rocks began to rain down towards the opponent.

"Dodge!" the girl responded. Umbreon jumped out of the way, not realizing it was heading straight for Torterra.

Perfect, Paul thought. Now, we'll take back the damage you took, if you don't mind. "Giga Drain!" Now his Pokémon summoned green vines out of the spikes on his back.

"Shit," Haley cursed under her breath. "Faint Attack, get out of there!" The Moonlight Pokémon disappeared.

"Keep those vines alive!" Paul ordered. The vines whipped the air like crazy, trying to locate the invisible Pokémon. And then, right before Umbreon struck, Torterra caught her. "Good, now drain it!" Energy began to flow from the captive to her captor.

Haley growled. Then she noticed the leaves. "Umbreon, Psychic!"

Her Pokémon didn't need to be told which objects to pick up, and with her mind sent the discarded leaves towards Torterra. Being half Ground type, it did some damage and allowed Umbreon to wiggle out of the loosening vines. She jumped back, never taking her eye off her opponent.

"Faint Attack once more!" And the Pokémon disappeared again.

"Same as last time, Torterra!" But then Paul heard a "Tsk, tsk, tsk."

"Honestly, never use the same trick twice in a row," she advised.

Paul was about to retort with how much of a hypocrite she was when Umbreon reappeared suddenly in front of Torterra, and with an already charged Shadow Ball in her mouth. Torterra was taken by complete surprise, as was Paul. With no order again, Umbreon attacked, and this time the close-range Shadow Ball did more than just faze Torterra; it made him faint.

Needless to say, Paul was speechless. No other Umbreon had that much strength, and yet in basically three attacks this one took Torterra down.

This Umbreon was special.

"Nice job, Girly!" Haley celebrated. The Pokémon let out her own victory cry before running to her Trainer and jumping into her waiting arms. "So, what did you think of that, Mister Hotshot?"

I get new nicknames with every passing second, Paul noted. He let out a "hmph".

"Not bad," he said. Probably the best praise anyone would get. "But I want one more battle." He got Torterra's Poké Ball and beamed him back in, then replaced that Poké Ball with a new one. "We each use a Pokémon we just got from the Sinnoh region. And I have the perfect one." He moved his arm back. "Chimchar, stand by for battle!"

He threw the Poké Ball, and out popped the Chimp Pokémon, looking determined as ever. "Chim-Chimchar!" it exclaimed.

Paul gave off an evil-looking smile. "Just as that Umbreon of yours is one of a kind," he began, "my Chimchar happens to be special. You got lucky with that pervious win, but you won't this time."

"So, things are about to get heated up, huh?" Haley replied eagerly. Once again Paul couldn't hold back a smile, dropping his previous one. Her starter jumped out of her hands as she reached for a Poké Ball. "Just don't come crying to me when you can't stand my kitchen. Chimchar, time to burn down the house!" She threw the Ball, and now there were two red chimps out on the field, both looking equally determined. "Since you were such a gentleman last round, I only think it's fair as a lady to return the favor."

The boy changed his smile again, now a smirk. "Don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're a 'lady'," he stated.

"That, my good man, would be even more insulting."

This girl knows how to battle. "Chimchar, Scratch!" he ordered, wasting no time. His Pokémon ran to the other, bearing its claws.

"Dodge!"

"Follow it!" He wasn't going to skip any beats this time, and he was taking all measures to win.

So there they were, one swiping at air as the other dodged, not easily but not too difficult either. The boy called off Scratch and went for Ember, despite the fact that it wasn't effective at all. Chimchar fired, and the other one dodged. Haley followed up with her own Ember, which Paul's Chimchar took on full force. He was left with just tiny burns but nothing major. And when his opponent ordered another Ember, Paul commanded a Flame Wheel. He hoped the opposing flame would get sucked in, which it did, and he also hoped for Blaze, which once again did not appear.

Paul was getting a little agitated. Where was that Chimchar he had seen only two weeks ago? The Flame Wheel displayed was weak, at least by his standards. But to Haley it was amazing. When the wheel broke, she was about to compliment how hot it burned when she noticed the unpleased look in his eye.

Strange, she thought. Why does he look upset? Maybe it's because we dodged again. Then she heard a voice.

Across the field, Paul was contemplating about whether or not to yell at Chimchar for his abysmal performance yet again when he noticed a look of confusion on the girl's face. She blinked twice, and then was whispering harshly to her own Chimchar.

Wonder what that's about? Paul questioned. Doesn't matter. "Chimchar, Flame Wheel again!" The chimp charged up another one and shot towards the other.

"Try and keep him at bay!" Haley exclaimed. Her Chimchar fired off another round of Ember, which Paul welcomed but at the same time did not like. If Chimchar decides to wimp out on me, I-

His thoughts were cut off when Flame Wheel became bigger and stronger, and now the wheel was charging faster towards Haley's Chimchar. "Come on, dodge!"

But it was too late. The Flame Wheel, while not as strong as the one Paul had seen the first time, hit full on, sending the girl's Chimchar flying right into her arms...fainted.

Paul couldn't believe it. That couldn't have been Blaze, he knew it. So... Was it just by accident? Had his opponent miscalculated?

No, Paul thought, frowning. She knows the battlefield; she was dominating it the entire time. It's like she wanted to lose but... Why?

He walked over to his Chimchar, who looked a tad confused but happy that he (once again, this girl knew the gender and Paul was now informed) had won. Paul looked down at him, and Chimchar went from a very big grin to just a plain expression.

"Why'd you throw the match?" Paul asked, turning his attention to Haley.

The girl looked at him, perplexed. "Not sure I follow," she replied as she petted her now awake yet very sleepy Chimp Pokémon.

"I'm not stupid," Paul retorted. "Why did you throw the match?"

"I didn't!" Haley defended. "I don't know what you saw to think I did, but I swear I'm not lying! Why would I throw the match anyway? Not like I have anything to gain from it. Not to mention I'm not a quitter, or have these two battles blinded you to that?"

Damn it, she was right. She hadn't faltered once in her attacks. He was probably right in assuming she had miscalculated, thinking Ember would actually push the Flame Wheel back. Paul sighed.

"Sorry, I get paranoid sometimes. I don't like those who just give up." He quickly eyed Chimchar, but it was so quick the only one who noticed was the target, who had trained himself for moments of harsh criticism. It was what came with the price of being on Paul's team, after all...

"I completely understand," the girl stated, smiling. "So... Paul, right?"

"Yeah. And yours was Haley, I believe."

She grinned and, shifting her Chimchar, stuck out her hand. "Good battling, Paul. You're really something else, you know."

Paul looked at the extended right hand. He wasn't the type who would usually return it, but he believed this opponent deserved his respect so he extended his own right hand and shook.

"You're not a bad battler yourself," he replied. "I would take pride in that; I don't hand that compliment out often."

Haley beamed, and even the tired Pokémon in her arms managed a pretty big smile, as did the Umbreon at her feet. "Hey, we'll see you again sometime, right?" she asked.

Silence. "...Perhaps."

"Good enough for me. Come on, Chimchar, I'll feed you some Oran Berries and then we can be on our way. I am not waiting again." Chimchar nodded, and with a wave and a "See you later!" the girl and her Pokémon walked off.

When they were a good distance away, Paul noticed Haley and her Chimchar looked at each other and shared a triumphant smile. He saw her lips move. He wasn't good at lip reading, but those four words were so etched into his brain that he could easily tell what she said.

"He fell for it."

His eyes widened. She had thrown the match; that whispering must have been a quick plan ordered to do so, but for what purpose?

Why did she throw the match?

That question kept ringing, and it was so God damn loud. And it hurt that she blatantly lied to his face about it. He felt sick, betrayed, and most of all confused.

Chimchar looked up at his Trainer. He met the Pokémon's eyes and crossed his arms.

"What, you expect praise?" he lectured. "You got lucky, again. It's obvious we have to work harder on you." He narrowed his eyes as the girl disappeared into the city. "And we're going to find out the reason behind her actions." He growled. "Haley Sedai, I will find out those motives."

"Just you wait."