Well, this is my first update of the New Year. Other than that, I've been lethargic in the writing process. I hope this doesn't say something about the rest of the year.

~~**X**~~

A Rival Battle for Club Champ

Once Gwen saw the "Entering Luxuria Town" sign, she was on a mission. After Cilan and Iris had their battle - and since Iris flat out refused to battle her - Gwen had asked Cilan where the next Pokemon Battle Club was. If she was hoping to get her next badge from Nacrene City, she needed all the training she could get before getting there. So for the past week, Gwen had been holding out for the sight of Luxuria Town. Now she ran straight for it, a grin on her lips as she saw the sign.

"There it is, Pikachu!" she called to her buddy.

"Pika!"

Gwen and Pikachu bounded through the doors, heading straight for the Bulletin Board. "Let's see what kind of Trainers I can battle to get ready for the Nacrene Gym!" She began searching through the bulletins.

Gasps sounded behind her with Iris and Cilan finally catching up. "What are you doing, running off like that?" she heard Iris reprimand. "The Battle Club isn't going anywhere. You're such a kid."

But Gwen wasn't listening, instead interrupting her with a gasp as she found a familiar face on the board. "It's Trip! He's in town!" She hadn't seen the likes of him since Nuvema Town when the two had battled. How his young Snivy had beat her sick Pikachu. That kid had a cockiness that didn't sit well with Gwen that had her wanting to set the score straight and snap him out of it.

"So, who's Trip?" Iris asked.

"I had no idea he was in town," Cilan commented.

Gwen turned to him. "You know Trip?"

Cilan nodded. "He challenged the Striaton Gym, too. He won against Chili and earned the badge." And he probably did that with Snivy.

"Will you two stop having a private conversation and tell me who Trip is?" Iris shot in.

"He's a Trainer I met a Professor Juniper's lab," Gwen explained. "The first trainer I battled in the Unova Region. Happy?" She turned back to the Bulletin Board. "And now I want to battle him again."

"Pika pika!"

"Right, and when it comes to battling, leave it to us." The trio turned to see Don George approaching them. "So, you want to have a battle with Trip, eh? What's your name, kid?"

Gwen blinked. "My name's Gwen. Hold on..."

"Uh, is there something wrong?" he asked.

Gwen shook her head. "There's nothing wrong, but didn't I meet you in Accumula Town?"

"Accumula Town?" He grinned. "Of course! You must've paid a visit to my cousin's club."

Gwen quirked a brow, pushing up her glasses. "Huh? Your cousin?"

Don George nodded. "Indeed. Look over there." He pointed off to the side where a picture hung on the wall that sported at least a dozen similar men. "This is the Don George you met in Accumula Town," he explained, pointing to one in the back row near the middle. "And this is me here." He pointed to one off to the side on the bottom row.

"Wow, talk about look-alikes," Gwen muttered.

"Pika..."

Don George moved to the Bulletin Board. "Allow me to get Trip for you. I'll contact him on the Cross-Transceiver."

"Cross-Transceiver?" Gwen wondered. "Is that like a PokeGear?"

Don George nodded. "Though the Cross-Transceiver has a whole lot more connectivity. You can even communicate inside tunnels and caves. Now..." Don George fiddled Trip's information page and Trip's face appeared on the screen. "Trip, I have someone here who'd like to have a Pokemon battle with you."

Gwen didn't let Don George waste any time in telling Trip his opponent as she nudged her way in front of the screen. "Hey Trip, long time, no see!"

"Pika pika!"

His eyes widened ever so slightly. "Gwen? So, you're in town?"

"That's right," Iris said, pushing her way in front of the screen. Gwen had no idea why she wanted to get into the conversation. She and Trip didn't know each other. "We're traveling with Gwen, and my name's Iris! Glad to meet you."

Cilan bumps in as well, though Gwen doesn't have to wonder why that time. "Looks like you're doing well, Trip," he commented.

Trip's eyes widened even more. "Cilan? From the Striaton Gym?"

Cilan nodded. "Right. Gwen, Iris and I are traveling together."

Gwen nudged her friends out of her way to address Trip. She was the one making the call. "So, you wanna have a rematch, Trip?" she asked.

Trip quirked a brow. "Thanks, but no thanks. What's the point of battling your Pikachu when it lost against my Snivy, who had zero experience back then? It would be a waste of time."

"No way!" Gwen shouted. "Pikachu was sick then, he's back to full health now. That, and I have more Pokemon as well!"

Don George laid a hand on Gwen's shoulder an told her to calm down. She hadn't realized she'd begun shaking the computer.

"And quiet down while you're at it."

Gwen turned to see Trip standing just inside the Battle Club. Gwen grinned. "Changed your mind?"

He smirked slightly. "Maybe. If we're gonna have a full six-on-six battle I guess it's worth doing."

Gwen blanched slightly. That made a slight problem. "I only have five Pokemon."

Trip seemed genuinely shocked. "Just five?"

Gwen fought the urge to scoff at him. "Yeah, but," she pulled her badge from her jacket's inner pocket. Not the best place, but it was the best she currently had. "I already won a badge."

Trip smirked again. "I already won two."

"Two?!" Gwen gasped. Already?

"Pika?!"

"It's basic, Gwen," Trip scoffed. "Don George, I'm sorry, but I'm going to have to pass on this battle."

"You're serious?" he wondered incredulously.

"What's the point?" Trip said. "Gwen only has five Pokemon and one badge. I'm far too ahead of her to make this battle worth the effort."

Gwen blanched. Arrogant little punk! "Just because you have more Pokemon and badges than I do doesn't automatically extend your outcome. Don't think you can beat me just because you have the bigger numbers!"

"Pika pika!"

Trip chuckled. "Amazing. Where do you get all that groundless confidence? Are all the Trainers from the Kanto Region boonies just like you?"

Gwen seethed. "You make the boonies comment one more time, and my Kanto Pikachu will zap you into oblivion!" she threatened. Never mock the Kanto Electric-Types, they could do just that. Gym Leader Lt. Surge was a legend for Electric-Type Trainers for a reason. Kanto had, by far, the best Electric-Type Pokemon.

Trip didn't respond to her threat, instead made for the door. "I think I'll look for a better opponent in the next town. See ya."

He only got two steps when Iris spoke up. "Why not go for it? It's just a battle. It's obvious you're quite the talker, but big talkers like you are all such little kids."

Trip turned sharply and glared toward Iris. "Little kid?"

Cilan continued Iris's trail. "As for me, I'd really enjoy seeing the two of you have a battle. It's like passion and coolness colliding, creating a crisp and favorable combination with lots of depths. This is just the kind of battle I'd like to see."

Gwen couldn't help her grin as she realized what her friends were doing. Thank you Iris and Cilan! And it had the right effect as Trip accepted the battle with Don George as the ref of their five-on-five battle.

Gwen and Trip faced off in one of the battle rooms. Don George stood in the middle as their referee, while Iris and Cilan stood at the sidelines. "The five-on-five Pokemon battle between Trip and Gwen will now get underway," Don George announced. "Each Trainer may use five Pokemon and both can substitute. The battle will be over when all five Pokemon from either side are unable to battle. Get ready! Go!"

"Okay then, Tranquill, let's go!" Trip called, choosing his first Pokemon. It's a good sized bird Pokemon, grey in color...and looked slightly familiar. Gwen pulled out her PokeDex. Tranquill, the Wild Pigeon Pokemon, and the evolved form of Pidove. It is believed that a peaceful place without conflict exists deep in the forest where Tranquill live.

So, it's the evolved form of Pidove, Gwen thought, taking her first Pokeball. "Alright, Oshawott, I choose you!"

Trip's eyes widened at the sight of her Pokemon. "Isn't that...?"

Gwen grinned. "Sure is. He's the Oshawott from Professor Juniper's lab!" Gwen turned to her Pokemon. "Now, think back to our battle at the Striaton Gym, Oshawott, and use Water Gun!" Oshawott does just that and aimed true for Tranquill.

"Dodge it, Tranquill! Use Aerial Ace!" Trip ordered. With remarkable speed, Tranquill shifted away from the stream of water and darted for Oshawott before Gwen could even think to counter. The move streamed past Oshawott twice and knocked him unconscious.

"Oshawott is unable to battle," Don George announced. "Tranquill is the winner!"

Gwen gaped. How could Oshawott be knocked out after only two hits?! "No way!"

Trip sent her a smug grin. "My Tranquill has the ability Super Luck," he told her, "upping the chance of a critical hit." Tranquill hovered in front of Trip on the battlefield, sporting a similar smirk as its Trainer.

Gwen gnashed her teeth. So Tranquil got lucky, but luck only went so far. "Oshawott, return!" She exchanged one Pokeball for another. "Growlithe, I choose you!"

Trip quirked a brow. "Your Water-Type is a bust, so now a Fire-Type? Talk about straight-forward."

Gwen didn't bother replying to him, merely getting right into the battle. "Growlithe, Ember, go!" Taking a deep breath, Grolwithe shot flames toward Tranquil. The swift flying Pokemon easily dodged the attack, one, twice, three times. "One more time!" Gwen encouraged.

"Tranquil, use Double Team!" Trip commanded. Tranquil split into many copies of itself. All the same projection-like figures that gleamed like holos. No way for humans to make out the real one. Even Pokemon had extreme difficulty. And by the way Growlithe shifted his gaze among them, he was just as lost as Gwen was.

"Don't let it get to you, Growlithe!" Gwen called. Growlithe nodded and stood his ground.

"Now, use Work Up!" Trip called. Each of the Tranquill's gleam with a faint red light as well as steam, like a rock under fire.

Gwen was at a slight loss. "What?"

"It's a move that raises the user's attack power!" Cilan called from the sidelines.

"Tranquill, Aerial Ace!" Trip ordered. And just like with Oshawott, one hit sends Growlithe down for the count.

On an impulse, Gwen ran over to her Pokemon, gently shaking him awake. "Growlithe, are you alright?" He slowly rose to his feet and shook off his disorientation. his head drooped and he didn't look up at Gwen. "It's okay, Growlithe," she told him, patting his head. "Everybody loses sometimes. We'll just have to get better." Growlithe gave her half a glance before she returned him to his Pokeball.

"You should definitely start from the top," Trip stated. "Basic."

Gwen stoically returned to her side of the field. "Yeah, well I'm just getting warmed up! Pikachu, what do you saw we show them real strength!"

Her star Pokemon raced onto the field. "Pika! Pikachu!"

"Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Gwen called. The attack wasn't successful as Tranquill easily evaded the attack.

Trip gave a slight smile. "So, Pikachu really can use Electric-Type moves. Okay Tranquill, Work Up! And Aerial Ace." Tranquill went through the motions just lie before and zipped right past Pikachu, hitting him full on.

Gwen held her breath, hoping Pikachu was strong enough to endure the attack as her previous Pokemon hadn't. "Come on, Pikachu!" she cried.

"Oh, just give it up," Trip scoffed. "It's time for win number three. Now Tranquill, use Aerial Ace!"

For the attack, Gwen made a snap decision. "Pikachu, grab Tranquill!" Pikachu gripped Tranuqill's leg just as the Pokemon zipped past, hanging on tight. "Now toss it!" Twisting on his feet, Pikachu hurled a shocked Tranquill away. "Volt Tackle!" Pikachu charged at Tranquil, covered in discharge. Tranquill didn't have the chance, despite Trip's call, and the move made a direct hit. As well as a One-Hit KO.

"Tranquill unable to battle! Pikachu is the winner!"

Shifting her glasses, Gwen cheered for Pikachu. "Great job, buddy!"

"Pika!"

Trip returned Tranquill with a frown. "I guess so," he muttered. "But you'll never be able to beat my Servine!" He called out his Pokemon. A green snake Pokemon that looked startlingly similar to Snivy.

"A Servine?" Gwen murmured. "His Snivy evolved already?"

Trip smirked. "I trained it and it evolved. That's basic."

Gwen scoffed. Training Pokemon wasn't just about evolving it at the soonest opportunity. Pikachu was a testament to that. That, and she was getting very annoyed with Trip's contsant use of the word 'basic'. If she had to hear it one more time, she might just scream. "Pikachu, Iron Tail!"

Pikachu steeled his tail and raced for Servine. Trip called for Cut an Servine's claws grew and whitened, and the two attacks collided. Who knew which one did more damage as Trip swiftly continued with Leaf Tornado.

Leaf Tornado was a direct hit and Gwen could do nothing as her buddy was whipped around by the attack. "Hang in there, Pikachu!" she called. Pikachu slowly rose to his feet. "Now use Volt Tackle and turn this around!"

"Finish this up with Cut, Servine!" Trip called. The attack hit at the same time as Volt Tackle, leaving Pikachu KO'ed on the ground.

"No Pikachu!" Gwen cried.

"Pikachu is unable to battle," Don George called. "Servine is the winner."

Gwen's shoulders sagged in defeat as she went for Pikachu. "That was some awesome battling," she said, gathering him in her arms. "Take a good rest." Pikachu smiled softly and nodded.

"You still wanna see this through?" Tip called. "Face it. You've only got two Pokemon left, while I've got four. I'd say this match is pretty much in the bag."

Gwen shook her head. "A match is never over till it's over." Pikachu jumped from her arms and added his agreement. But now Gwen had to strategize. As a Flying-Type, Pidove may be able to do some damage to Servine...but then there was Buneary's secret weapon.

With a grin, Gwen called out her newest star. "Go Buneary! Use Swift!" Buneary leapt from her ball and sent stars straight for Servine. Though Trip's Pokemon was quite agile and managed to dodge it. "Now Jump Kick!" With a powerful leap, Buneary made for her opponent.

"Servine, dodge and use Leaf Tornado!" Trip countered. Again, Servine made a quick dodge and was able to take advantage of Buneary's disposition to make a direct strike.

Buneary was down for a couple moments, but rose back to her feet. Gwen decided to go all out. "Use Attract!" Buneary winked at Servine an sent pink hearts his way. The hearts swirled around Servine and pounced on him, catching him in Buneary's snare.

Trip gaped. "No, Servine!" But it was no use as his Pokemon was non-compliant under Attract. And Servine made no counter as Buneary made to strike him again and again until the final KO.

"Servine is unable to battle. Buneary is the winner!"

"Yes!" Gwen pumped her arm at her side. On the field, Buneary put her hands on her hips, proud of herself as well.

Trip half-sighed. "Well, wonders never cease. Using Attract was something of a surprise."

"From a Buneary? No way," Gwen exaggeratedly mocked. She turned to her Pokemon. "I'm gonna switch it out so you can get some rest." Buneary complied as Gwen returned her to her Pokeball. "Well, the scales have tipped slightly in favor now."

"We'll see," Trip replied. "Go, Frillish!"

Gwen raised her brows at the blue tentacled Pokemon in front of her. It subtly reminded her of Tentacool in a more childish way. She pulled out her PokeDex. Frillish, the Floating Pokemon. Frillish can constrict its foes using its weil-like tentacles and numb them with poison. It is said to live in dens some five miles below sea level.

But how does it battle? Gwen thought. For a fish out of water, it didn't seem bothered by lack of water. The fact that it was floating made Gwen cautious. "Go Pidove! Use Air Cutter!"

Trip countered dully with Protect. Air Cutter merely hit the shield Frillish emitted, doing no damage. Then there was a counter with Water Pulse that consumed Pidove and sent her crashing against a wall, knocked out.

"Pidove, no!" Gwen gasped. It was too quick!

"Pidove is unable to battle. Frillish is the winner."

Gwen sighed, returning Pidove. So much for Buneary's rest. Pulling out the Pokeball, she called out her remaining Pokemon. "Buneary, Jump Kick!"

"Oh no! Gwen, don't do it!" she heard Iris call from the sidelines.

Frillish doesn't move to counter, and Trip actually smirked. Gwen watched dumbly as Buneary's attack makes contact. Frillish didn't even flinch at the attack and Buneary leanded on the ground, visibly disoriented with an odd, smokey mist surrounding her body. "What?"

Trip scoffed. "I guess you didn't realize that as well as being a Water-Type, Frillish is as Ghost-Type and is not effected by Fighting-Type moves. Not only that, but its special ability is Cursed Body."

"Cursed Body?" Gwen had never heard of it before.

Iris called from the sidelines. Scolded was more like it. "Cursed Body is an ability that disables your moves if you attack it directly! You are such a little kid for not knowing that!"

Gwen gaped at her, feeling her face flush. She'd never heard of Cursed Body before, let alone how to deal with it. Why did Iris expect her to be some expert? It wasn't her fault for not knowing!

Turning back to the battle at hand. "Buneary, use Ice Beam!" she choked out.

Trip countered again with Protect and followed with Water Pulse. Gwen vainly tried with Ice Beam again and even Attract, but Frillish dodged both of them. What could she do now? Nothing was working and Gwen couldn't concentrate over the pounding in her ears and chest. What else did Buneary know that would work on a Ghost-Type? "Use Bounce!" It indeed hit, but left Buneary was momentarily incapacitated by the effects of Cursed Body and called for another Water Pulse. The attack left Buneary confused and Trip finished it with Bubblebeam.

Gwen's heart hammered as she saw Buneary fall to the ground. She'd failed her. She promised Buneary that she would be a worthy Trainer for her and she broke it. Gwen dejectedly returned Buneary to her Pokeball.

"I guess Pikachu and Buneary were okay," Trip said from across the field. "But your other Pokemon were a complete joke. So was their Trainer."

Gwen couldn't come up with a reply, so she merely glared at him over her glasses.

Trip left the arena, giving a word to Don George. "Thanks for everything, Don George. I'm leaving." The closed shut behind him.

Gwen turned to grab her bag. "Better luck next time," she heard Cilan say.

"Until then, you'll just have to train extra hard," Iris added.

Gwen turned, slinging her pack over her shoulder. "And less ignorant for your expectations, it seems."

Iris's brow knotted. "What?"

"I mean, knowing things that I've never heard of in advance so I don't get reprimanded by you." Gwen started with a calm tone, but it began to rise. "You see, I'm not an expert! I don't know about abilities like Cursed Body! So don't treat me like a dunce because I make these kind of mistakes!"

"Now, now," Cilan spoke up, trying to ease the tension. "There's no need to get riled up."

His hand made to pat Gwen's shoulder but she slapped it away. She had a perfect reason to be riled up! She was...she was...she needed to get away from here. "Leave me alone!" She ran out of the Battle Club.

Cilan eventually found Gwen at the small arcade. He wondered how she'd known that there even was one or to come here, but then remembered she often looked at his mapbook and she'd probably studied Luxuria Town in her apprehension to get here. She was staring intently at one of the game screens, her hands methodically mashing buttons. Pikachu was at her feet, using her backpack as a pillow as he slept. A couple moments passed and she released the joystick, seemingly finished with the game.

"Pikachu Surfer," Cilan said, stepping up next to her. "Chili loves this game." When they were younger, Cilan had often played with his youngest brother since Cress never wanted to.

"It's one of my favorites, too," Gwen agreed, pushing up her glasses. He noticed that she didn't look up at him.

"I can see that," Cilan said, his eyes flickering down to her sleeping Pikachu. The goggles were the first give away. Just like the surfer on the game.

"Yeah, they were a big hit in the Vermillion City Pikachu Fan Club," Gwen said. "They wanted to have Pikachu as their fan mascot." She shook her head at the memory. "That had to be one of the most awkward days of my life. I didn't fit into that club one bit. Everything I thought was right, they said was wrong, in battling, training, caring and raising." She closed her eyes and her shoulders sagged. "Four years later and I can remember that day clearly." Cilan said nothing, but his hand went to her shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Maybe it was just me?" Gwen continued, "And I took it too seriously? I mean, they did make me rethink me and my Pokemon as a team. But I still can't help but remember how bad they made me feel. I'm sorry for snapping."

"If my opinion matters," Cilan spoke up, "The relations you have with your Pokemon is something unorthodox. You don't stick with the same recipe, even when it's known to be a tried and true one. You're not afraid to experiment with new flavors and combinations, regardless of an unsuccessful dish. It's a style that I find both refreshing and jarring, in the best of ways."

Gwen took on his statement with something of a bemused expression. All Cilan's talk of food was beginning to make her hungry and it wasn't the first time. She wouldn't be surprised if she'd gained some weight despite all the traveling. Though the only way she'd find out was if she ever cared to step on a scale. Anyway... "Your opinion matters a lot to me," she said, looking up at him. He smiled back and she knew she was forgiven. "I guess we should get to the Pokemon Center," she said, glancing down at Pikachu.

"How about a game first?" Cilan asked, holding up two coins. Gwen grinned, taking one of the coins and popping it into the machine. Cilan was quick to follow.