A/N: Been a while, right? Sorry, I've been busy with other stories and stuff, and I just found the time to update this! Enjoy!
The hug had been a large surprise to Volkner, not even thinking that Kari would go to such lengths as to give him a hug to show her sympathy towards him. Volkner relaxed into the hug, allowing Kari to comfort him, until she pulled away, a small smile on her face, causing Volkner to give her a smile of his own.
Perhaps Kari wouldn't be so bad after all.
"So, how'd you manage to teach your Vaporeon Hydro Cannon? I thought only certain water types could learn it, like Empoleon." Volkner stated, watching as his and Kari's Pokemon all played together on the beach, running around and chasing each other.
Kari's face grew thoughtful for a moment. "Hm…well, I guess it just happened from practice and lots of hard training. Actually, Vaporeon just….I dunno…picked it up on her own, I guess. When she actually used it for the first time, it wasn't as powerful as it is now. We just worked our way up until it was super strong." Kari explained. "I will admit though, the hard work was worth it for a powerful move like that. It's always managed to get us out of a sticky situation or two." She stated, laughing slightly as she added in that last part. "We probably would've beaten Flint, had it not been that his Magmortar is super strong, and its trainer is part of the Elite Four."
Volkner chuckled slightly at that statement, before asking the one question that he had been wanting to ask. "Would you battle me?"
Kari whipped her head around to stare at Volkner in surprise. "Huh?"
Volkner smirked at her confusion. "You heard me. I'm challenging you to a battle."
"Eh…well, I'm not one to turn away a challenge, but…"
"But what?"
She sent him a smirk. "But I'd hate to make you cry when we wipe the floor with you and your electrifying Pokemon."
"Guess that's a yes then."
0o0o0o0o
"Each Trainer is allowed to use 3 Pokemon each for this 3 on 3 battle. Whoever runs out of Pokemon to use first loses. Begin!" The Robo-Ref exclaimed.
Volkner sent Kari a smirk as he threw out his first pokeball. "Go, Luxray!"
Luxray popped out from the Pokeball, taking front and center on the field. "Lux!"
Kari smiled, tapping each pokeball clipped onto her belt thoughtfully. "Luxray, huh? All right." She picked a pokeball and threw it. "Go, Ninetales!"
Ninetales popped out of her Pokeball. "Nine…"
Volkner went first. "Luxray use thunder fang!"
Kari mentally sighed. 'Predictable move.' "Ninetales, dodge it and use flamethrower!"
"NINE!" Ninetales shot out a large flame coil at Luxray, only to have it doge the attack at Volkner's command.
Volkner smirked. "Don't think that you can take Luxray down that easily. Luxray, use iron tail!"
Luxray ran at Ninetales, its tail beginning to glow. "Luuuuxxx!"
"Ninetales, counter it with fire fang!"
'Fire fang?' Volkner asked mentally. Ninetales grabbed Luxray by the tail, biting down and burning Luxray, earning a pained cry from it as Ninetales threw it back. "Luxray, you alright?" Earning a nod from his Pokemon, Volkner ordered it to use double team.
Kari smirked. 'Got you now…' "Fire Blast!"
"NINE!" Hitting Luxray and it's doubles dead on, Volkner gasped.
"Luxray!"
Once the flames were gone, Luxray was down, crisped slightly, but definitely down and out for the count. The Robo ref held up the green flag that was on Kari's side. "Volkner's Luxray is unable to battle. Kari and Ninetales are the winners of this round."
Volkner returned Luxray to its pokeball, smiling down at it as he held it in his hand. "You did your best, Luxray. Take a nice rest." He clipped the pokeball back onto his belt before looking over at Kari as she petted Ninetales. "You may have taken one of my Pokemon down, but don't think that the rest of our battle will be just as easy."
Kari returned Ninetales to her Pokeball. "Believe me, I'm not that naïve. I know better than to be overconfident. After all, you are the toughest gym leader in the Sinnoh region." She pulled out a different pokeball and began to throw it up and down in her hand. "Well, shall we continue?"
Volkner smirked and threw out another pokeball, an Electivire coming out. "Vire!"
"An Electivire, huh? Let's just see how long it can keep up with my next pick. Espeon, let's go!"
Espeon popped out of her Pokeball, landing gracefully on the field in front of Kari, getting into a stance. "Esp!"
Kari got to go first. "Espeon, use swift attack!"
"Espi-OOONNN!" Espeon shot out multiple stars at Electivire, the electric Pokemon blocking them with ease with its arms, the attack not fazing it one bit.
"Electivire, use ice punch!"
"Dodge it and use it psybeam!"
"Espi!"
"Dodge it!" Electivire did as it was told and leaped out of the way. "Fire punch!"
Kari's eyes widened as Electivire came at Espeon with incredible speed and sent her flying into the air. Espeon landed with a thud, standing back up weakly. "Espeon, you ok?"
"Esp…"
"All right then! Use iron tail!"
"Electivire, grab Espeon and use Ice punch!"
As Espeon neared, Electivire grabbed her by the tail and used Ice punch, freezing the psychic Pokemon and knocking it out. "Espeon is unable to battle. The win goes to Volkner and Electivire."
Kari returned Espeon, thanking her for her hard work. "You've trained your Electivire well. But…can it defeat my next pick?" Kari asked before throwing out another pokeball, Vaporeon popping out.
Volkner smirked. "Picking a water type to fight against an electric type is just asking for a loss."
"Some water types aren't always that badly affected by electric attacks. And Vaporeon just happens to be one of those Pokemon. Your Electivire doesn't stand a chance now."
Volkner frowned. "Don't get too overconfident. Electivire, thunder punch!"
"Vire!"
Kari shook her head and sighed. "I warned you…Vaporeon, jump up and use Hydro pump with all you've got."
Vaporeon followed her trainers instructions and leaped up into the air, aiming straight for Electivire and shooting a strong jet of water straight at it, hitting the electric type dead on. Once the water was gone, Electivire was on the ground, out cold.
"Electivire is unable to battle. The win goes to Kari and Vaporeon."
"Told you." Kari said, smirking as Volkner glared at her slightly as he recalled his fainted Pokemon. His next pick was his Jolteon, who was pumped up and ready for a battle.
"Despite my two losses, I have to admit that this is fun." Volkner said, a playful smirk on his face, causing Kari to smile.
"Don't go thinking that you've won just yet, Volkner. I'm not out of Pokemon yet."
"But you will be just as soon as Jolteon here shows you what he can do. Use thunderbolt!"
"Jolt!"
"Bubble beam!"
"Vay!"
Both attacks canceled each other out, none of the Pokemon taking damage. "Jolteon, use shadow ball!"
"Vaporeon, dodge it!"
Vaporeon jumped back and out of the way, managing to get away without a scratch.
"Shadow ball rapid fire!" Volkner ordered, and Jolteon began to shoot out multiple shadow balls.
"Vaporeon, use surf!"
A giant tidal wave appeared, Vaporeon riding on the top of it. The wave crashed into Jolteon, Vaporeon jumping away and back to stand in front of Kari. Jolteon stood back up, albeit weakly, still ready to for Volkner's next command.
"Shadow ball once more!"
'This is!' "Dodge it, and use Hydro Cannon!"
"VAY!"
Jolteon was hit straight on and knocked back into the wall. "Jolteon!"
Once the dust cleared, Jolteon was down and out. "Jolteon is unable to battle. The win goes to Vaporeon and Kari. And the winner is Kari."
"Nicely done, Vaporeon!" Kari exclaimed, returning said Pokemon to the pokeball before making her way over to Volkner and Jolteon. "Well, it looks like I won."
He returned Jolteon and smiled slightly. "I underestimated you. You have an amazing spark that just doesn't seem to go out that easily."
Kari's cheeks became dusted with pink as she smiled sheepishly. "Well, I guess you could say that!"
Volkner nodded and dug into his pockets before pulling something back out and holding it out for Kari. "You deserve this."
Kari frowned when she saw the Beacon Badge in his hand. "But…I didn't do it for the badge, I just did it for fun."
He still handed it to her anyway. "Think of it as a prize and a reminder for your victory against me."
She had to smile at that, taking the badge and holding it in her palm. "Thanks, Volkner."
'Maybe…you're not so bad after all….'
A/N: This was actually really bad, but I'm too lazy to try and rewrite it. Either way, I hope you guys enjoyed it anyway! LATER TATERS!
