"Well, I guess I'll go first—Pikachu, use quick attack!"
Pikachu sped towards Ninetales with sideways movements. For a few seconds, Kate did nothing, and Ninetales looked surprisingly unfazed by it. Just when Ash wondered if Kate was too inexperienced to battle him, she raised an arm and ordered Ninetailes to use Flamewheel. Pikachu was too close to avoid Ninetales now, and the flames collided with Pikachu, pushing it back relatively unharmed.
"An interesting defense." Ash commented.
"That's not all it's good for." Kate said. "You use quick attack too, Ninetales!"
Pikachu dodged Ninetales's onslaught by jumping in the air.
"Use Thundershock!" Ash told it.
"Flame Wheel!" Ninetales used the speed from the Quick Attack to leap from the air and start a super powered flame wheel that nailed Pikachu before it could release the Thundershock Pikachu went flying.
Wow, that was an awesome way to combine two moves together. Kate really knows how to use her Pokémon's full potential.
"Are you okay, Pikachu?!"
Pikachu got to its feet and looked at its trainer confidently.
All right, if I can't get close to Ninetales…
"Thundershock again, Pikachu!"
Ninetales dodged, but Ash just kept up with the electric attacks, landing one or two, keeping Ninetales on its toes. Then Ash ordered Pikachu to use Quick Attack while Ninetales was off balance. Before it could get too far, Kate said,
"Ninetales, use Imprison!" her Pokémon's eyes glowed, and suddenly, Pikachu's speed disappeared.
"What?!" Ash exclaimed in surprised.
"Imprison stops Pikachu from using any moves that Ninetales knows. Without your speed, Pikachu is a sitting duck—All right, Ninetales, use Flame Wheel again!"
"Pikachu, Thunderbolt!"
Pikachu's electric power was enough to slow down Ninetales Flame Wheel, and it staggers free, shaking from the shock.
"C'mon Ninetales, shake it off and use Quick Attack!"
Ninetales was coming with renewed vigor at Pikachu, and Ash barely had time to cry, "Use Quick Attack to dodge, then use Iron Tail!"
Pikachu dodged Ninetales's attack with a leap, and before Ninetales could use any other move, Pikachu's tail started to glow. Kate's expression froze as Pikachu did a spin mid-air, bringing down its iron-enforced tail on top of Ninetales's head. The larger Pokémon fell to its knees. Kate knew that Ninetales didn't have the stamina to withstand any more attacks, and she called it back to its Pokéball.
"I let my impatience get the better of me, I'm sorry, Ninetales." Kate apologized,
Ash praised his Pikachu as it returned to his side. All the kids on the sidelines were making excited noises, some groaning, some cheering. Ash stepped forward to shake his opponent's hand.
"Thank you, Ash, for such a thrilling battle." She told him earnestly.
Ash whistled. "Your Ninetales is something else! I thought I was going to lose it there for a second!"
"Ninetales and I have been working hard together for a long time. We like to take advantage when trainers pass through town."
"With skills like that, you could easily take on a gym!" Ash insisted, his fists pumping with encouragement. "Sorry, I don't mean to get so worked up—it's just that battles got me all fired up!"
"I can't leave this place while my Grandfather's sick."
"But if he was here… would you go? Because you're welcome to come travel with me and Pikachu."
"I can't."
"But if you could? If your grandfather got better?"
"I can't, Ash, so just leave it at that!" Kate burst out, and she instantly looked away, ashamed. Ash saw her fingers trembling at her side.
"What are you so afraid of, Kate? I saw how happy you were when you were battling. You train with Ninetales, so you must want to get stronger. So why aren't you moving forward? Sorry, I'm being rude, I'll leave now."
Kate didn't look at him, but Ash wasn't sorry that he'd confronted her. It was a shame to see someone denying what they wanted in life, because Kate and her Ninetales were clearly made for battle.
&.&.&.&.&.&
Kate walked to her parents' home, where her Grandfather was recuperating from his recent collapse, carrying a covered basket full of fruit. Her expression was clouded, because she had something very serious to discuss with the old man. She was facing a crisis of conscience, for Ash would be leaving in two days to continue his journey (she'd watched him grow more and more restless as the hours passed), and he'd told her that she was welcome to come along. She'd received offed like this before, and she'd never hesitated to turn them down, but for some reason she'd held her tongue. She'd felt a knot growing in her stomach, because she had a feeling that if she said no and let Ash leave, she'd truly regret it.
Kate unlocked the front door and went upstairs to where her father was resting. He was wide awake, reading a book, his beady little eyes bright with mischief.
"I brought you some oran fruit from our garden, Grandfather."
"Oh thank you, Kate—you sure know how to take care of an old man!"
"I know they're your favorite."
He took her hand in his wrinkled ones when she came to his side. "You treat me so well, Katie."
Kate pulled a chair up and told her Grandfather about the therapy center, telling him all sorts of stories about the children. When she mentioned Ash and their battle, she looked away from her grandfather's serious gaze.
"Travelling with my Pokémon was the most exciting time of my life. I wouldn't sacrifice those years for anything, and I hope that you don't either, Kate."
"You know that I'm happy here."
"No, you're content, there's a difference. And I won't stand by and watch you waste your time on this earth because you're afraid. You won't grow if you don't stretch your wings. This Ash Ketchum boy… he seems to have lit a fire in you, Kate, but you need to take the steps in order to keep the fire alive."
"But in your condition, what would happen to the Therapy Center-?"
Her grandfather suddenly threw his feet over the edge of the bed and stood up, his hands in fists. "Kate, I feel every bit as energetic as I did when I was a teenager… with a few kinks, of course. But your parents would never forgive me if you took responsibility for me, and not the other way around. Nothing would make me feel better than to hear of your adventures."
"So you think I… that I should go with Ash?"
"Absolutely."
"But I… I haven't stepped outside of Littleroot since that day…"
"It's time for you to try, Kate. And know that you always have a home here."
