Stunfisk drank her chilled tea, a bitter beverage that left a bad taste in her mouth. Still, she found the brew addicting.
"Hello!"
She turned to see Lord Palpitoad hobble down the stairs and join her in the parlour.
"Hello," Stunfisk returned.
"Perhaps you are well aware of today's engagement?" Palpitoad inquired.
"Yes, the competition."
"A young Connoiseur," Palpitoad mused. "Mr. Cilan must have quite a bit of faith in you if he wished for your participance, especially when you were recently acquired."
"I have full confidence in my abilities," Stunfisk said austerely. "Has Mr. Ketchum asked of your participation yet?"
"Not yet, but soon! I am also confident in my abilities, and I hope that I left an impression on the chap."
Palpitoad hobbled toward Stunfisk and kissed her on her brow. Stunfisk tried to hide her displeaser. (From Palpitoad, or herself?)
"It's time for me to visit Prof. Juniper," Palpitoad said. "Farewell!"
Palpitoad made sure his suit and bowtie were acceptable, then walked out the door.
Later that afternoon, Stunfisk joined her tamer, Mr. Cilan for a competition against a young, purple-haired female. She could tell there was bad blood between them.
"Cilan, I have returned to exact my vengeance!" the girl said.
"Now, now," Cilan sneered. "A woman's place should be in the kitchen, not the field of battle."
This enraged the buor, much to Stunfisk's annoyance and confusion. The girl should be well-aware that it is frowned upon for a woman to be unwed and competing in battle.
"You will pay for your caper!" the girl screeched. "I call upon my vintage, Sawsbuck!"
She summoned her Pokemon, a strapping Sawsbuck.
"Stunfisk!" Cilan said calmly, straightening his bend as though all of this meant nothing to him.
Stunfisk slid to the field of battle. There, she faced the strapping buck. He was older tha her, though, the difference was only slightly bigger than the one between her and Palpitoad.
"These competitions are not safe for the fairer sex," Sawsbuck said to her. "I advise you to recall yourself."
"I will do no such thing, thank you," Stunfisk returned, holding in her chagrin.
"I'll make this quick; I don't want to be associated with a dollymop like you," Cilan said to the purple-haired girl.
"Shut up, you mandrake!"
"Judy!"
"Magsman!"
Stunfisk and Sawsbuck engaged in combat. Sawsbuck refused to attack, thus leading Stunfisk to best him.
"Come now," Cilan said. "You should know that I can easily best you without cheating. I've done so twice before, and I will do it again."
"Our last battles were nothing but unfortunate luck," the woman whined. "And so was this one!"
"No. I bested you, and you must accept that."
"SHUT IT, LEST I HAVE YOU NIBBED!"
"Shall I return by informing them of your profession as an ameteur tail?"
While their tamers fought, Stunfisk flopped towards her opponent.
"Why didn't you fight back?" she asked.
"It is in bad taste to harm a woman," Sawsbuck said neutrally.
"I see...Next time, do me a favor."
"What is it?"
She shot mud right into his face. She said, "Next time, treat me as an equal in battle. A man, if you will. I will not let my sex compromise anyone's opinion of me."
"You remind me of her," Sawsbuck chuckled, motioning towards his tamer.
The woman burst into tears and ran off.
"I must be going," Sawsbuck said. "It was a pleasure."
"I feel the same," Stunfisk said with a smile.
She admired his gait as he followed his tamer.