Sorry people thus took so long but my computer crashed and burned. Please read and review. Also Sorry people I typed the last chapter a bit off. Mark isn't really scared of the water like I made him out to be, sorry Magnus.

Chapter ten: Plight of a Maiden

I woke up at about seven. I had some weird dream where I was in some kind of fantasy land. Everything there was beautiful. A lot of places had locks around them so I couldn't go in a lot of the places. But there were three places open. I went first to a cave that made me feel welcome and happy even though it was quite dark. There inside was a young man who was polishing his sword. The little light there was in the cave was coming from him. With every beat his heart made the light moved. It was almost like this cave was a part of him.

Next I went to the beach where the sand sparkled like diamonds. The ocean water was beautiful and clear. Across the top of the water danced a young lady. She was skipping along as if she was a swan. It almost looked like she was dancing, and with every spin she did the water spun with her.

Finally I went to a small forest clearing. The grass was full and neat. It was such a vibrant green that it might have put emeralds to shame. There were plenty of different trees some of them in a different seasons. There in the middle was another young man was lying down. He looked so happy and peaceful there. Every time he took a breathe in the leaves moved and every breathe he breathed out the grass moved.

All of their places felt perfect to me though I could none of their attentions. But as I stayed in all of their locations I noticed that something was wrong with each of there homes. At the edge of the forest clearing shadows were lurking and watching the forest kid. The water girl had weird moving shapes in the water that seemed to be lurking after her. And in the cave there almost felt like there were monsters deep within waiting for a time where the cave child could be attacked. And sadly, I had the feeling none of them knew they were there.

But weird dream aside, I decided to get ready. Some how I knew today would be a big day.

Scene Change

We all were back at the tournament arena, where everything was going great, well at least for us. Joey and Felix got a tag team battle where they completely decimated their opponents. Alisa got a pokébrawl and easily won her match. Michael won his pokémon battles as well. It made me wonder though, what are the chances that all of my friends would be so good. Though the battles were interesting, especially the part where Alisa set her opponent ablaze and almost got disqualified, my mind wasn't actually there. I was thinking about something my mom use to tell me.

Flashback

I was ten years old this day. My mom was tucking me in to go to bed. Dad use to do it, that was until the day he died. He, like my mom, never told me what his job was. But there were a lot of rumors about him fighting some secret organization, something that started with arc. Well on to the flashback.

"Remember, Mint." My mom's voice was soft and light, almost like a summer breeze. "Someday you will find some people especially special like you. Remember to take care of them. They will be strong but fragile, just like your dad." I was puzzled and I didn't know what she was talking about. But she kept on talking, like I understood it all. "Follow what your dreams tell you. They will help you keep them safe."

Flashback End

The next day I met my kirlia, even though I couldn't catch her. It was also the day my mom died. But before I could go on thinking though, I was shaken by Alisa.

"Mint, it's your turn." In my thinking I wasn't paying attention of course but when I did look at the board, let's just say I was surprised. It said my match was against Mark. I looked at him in which he gave a small smile before going down to the arena. Well there was no backing down, so I headed to the arena right after him.

When we both got to the stadium, he turned to me. "No holding back, okay?"

"Agreed." I replied. I let out my kirlia; she was my best pokémon and the one I met first, even though she wasn't my starter. He smiled as if he knew that would be my choice. He let out a leafeon.

"Well, let's get this started." We both quickly merged with our pokémon and ran at each other. Even though he had the advantage in a close up battle, he looked like he was weary. Then again I would be too since normally psychic types tried to stay away from the opponent. When we got to each other he swung his blade at me horizontally which I easily ducked under. I pushed my hand against his chest and used confusion which blew him back.

A lot of the crowd looked amazed that I would try such a bold move. I didn't see why it was so special, special based moves did the same amount of damage no matter where you where compared to the opponent. My strategy was to use my nature reflexes to dodge and to keep hitting him with my special attacks.

However, what surprised me was that he was smirking even though he had just taken a direct hit to the chest. He quickly regained his footing before dashing at me again, though I noticed that instead of holding the sword with two hands, like he normally did, he was holding it in one hand. When he swung I ducked it again just to have my hand knocked aside by his other hand.

"What?"

"Your strategy is too simple. Against someone else it might have worked, but that strategy is too simple to work effectively against me." With that he ran at me again and I was put on the defensive. Every swing of his sword was getting closer and I didn't want to put my hand out to attack afraid I'd get hit. I saw that the blade's edge was dull but I knew it would still hurt. I was getting pushed to the stages end and there was absolutely nothing I could do about.

I was about to just give up when I heard Felix call out. "Don't give up just because one idea failed. You can still win this match!" I took the words to heart right then and pushed my hands forward as quickly as I could before using confusion again. Even though the attack hit perfectly there were consequences. The blade hit my wrist right before my attack connected and it hurt a lot. It felt like my wrist had been snapped. However I somehow felt better. I guess it was because pokémon were use to taking damage but I think it was because I didn't give up even though I was scared.

"Nice hit, that was dead center." Mark was laughing even though I had hit him right in the chest. I actually felt a bit insulted until he started talking again. "I thought you were just going to give up after being pushed into the corner. I like it when they fight back. So what will you do now?"

My only answer was to raise my good hand and shout, "Magical Leaf!" The rainbow colored leaves flew at him quickly just to be cut up easily.

"Is that it? I know you're stronger than that!" With that he ran at me again. But this time I wouldn't be pushed back. I quickly charged a shockwave attack in my hand before shooting it at him. He tried to dodge it but the attack curved right towards him.

"I guess you forgot shockwave doesn't miss, Mark." He just smiled as the attack hit him head on. Then again he had a just reason for smiling; it didn't look like he had been hurt at all. What was this guy, a machine? He keep running at me and raised his sword, this time with both hands, I fired a magical leaf at him just for him to completely surprise everyone.

In one swift cut he sliced past the leaves which caused his blade to hit the ground. Then, using the momentum, he jumped into the air. If that wasn't enough be was descending incredibly fast right on me.

"Our battle ends here, Mint!" and with that he brought his blade and himself down on me. I closed my eyes getting ready for the impact just for it to never come. When I opened my eyes I noticed I was on the ground with him standing over me, his blade pointed towards my neck. "Do you concede defeat?" I nodded my head yes and with that the announcer called our match.

While we walked back to our seats I had to ask Mark a question. "How did I hit the ground?" I had just realized that the part of my body that had hit the ground was sore.

He smiled again before going on. "You got knocked over by the air pressure of my attack." With that he laughed before continuing on his way. I followed, slightly confused on how just the force of an attack could knock you down.

POV change

I smiled at the result of their battle. The sanctuary maiden had been a bit disappointing but the sword user had lived up to my expectations. I closed my laptop, which I had just got done using so I could rig up the next match. I was going to have fun tomorrow. I knew my match was next so I got up to head the arena while the announcer called my name. My opponent was named Marick.

He came to the arena cocky like he knew he was going to win. I loved a fun match, and I was hoping I would get one. I straightened up my pink hair before stepping into the arena. I heard the announcer announce it would be a pokébrawl, which was my favorite match type. I loved this match type so much because we, the trainers, got to do something.

"Sorry, little Lucy, but no girl has ever beaten me at a pokébrawl." My answer was to just smile. He let out a machoke before merging with it. "What's wrong to scared to pick a pokémon?" he said when I didn't let a pokémon out.

"I already fused with mine." I smiled while my voice came out soft and airy. He looked a bit surprised before igniting his hand with fire. He ran at me intending to end this early. I easily step sided the attack before breathing a small fire on his back. He jumped at the burning sensation that took over his body.

"What was that?" He kept trying to reach his back but unfortunately, machoke were normally muscle bound.

I answer in my soft sweet voice, "That was will-o-the-wisp. And this is shadow sneak." Before he could react my shadow dashed at him smashing his. He bent over in pain as if someone had punched him.

"Your using a ghost aren't you." My only answer was a smile. "Stop smiling!" He was getting annoyed, which meant my fun was ending now. He ran me with another fire punch.

I caught the blazing fist in my hand easily, shocking the crowd. I guess all girls were supposed to be physically weak. Then again the burn helped in the matter. I smiled one last time at him before twisting his arm and breathing the fire attack in his face again. He screamed, though I truthfully didn't think the attack hurt so much. Then again I must be used to it by now. He collapsed on the ground knocked out before I walked away, though not before slipping a rawst berry in his mouth.

Hopefully tomorrow's battle would be more fun.