Santalune City was now behind Damon and Savannah. The couple journeyed north toward Lumiose City and Parterre Way stretched before them as far as the eye could see. Parterre Way was one of those Routes that the Kalosian Tourism Department would feature heavily in their brochures. The famed path's perfectly designed and executed gardens are its highlight and a special point of pride. Savannah took great enjoyment in the sight of the various flower gardens, and even Damon found contentment with the wonderful scents.
"Kalos really is beautiful," Savannah commented.
"I'm sure it is," Damon responded and was promptly hit on the shoulder.
He smiled and squeezed Savannah's hand gently. A stomach grumbling sent both to a halt and shared laughter gave the couple some levity.
"We did skip breakfast," Damon pointed out.
"I'll whip up something for us really quick," Savannah offered.
"I'll feed the Pokémon," Damon responded.
Both began their respective tasks and Damon prepared bowls of Pokémon food for Froakie, Fletchling, and Fennekin. A gentle breeze blew through the flower fields and tickled the back of Damon's neck. With the food bowls filled, Damon released all three Pokémon from their Pokéballs. The tickling sensation continued along the back of his neck, so he absent-mindedly scratched at it. Another breeze blew through the area and the tickling sensation left Damon.
Savannah was busy making sandwiches for her and Damon. Her hair swayed a little bit with the breeze and she cut both pairs of sandwiches diagonally. She heard a peep in her ear and she looked around herself, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. Something tickled behind her earlobe, so she rubbed her index finger against that spot, but collected something in the process. A tiny Pokémon clung to her finger and blinked up at her.
"Well, hello there," she greeted the tiny Pokémon, "What's your name?"
She took out her Pokédex and scanned the Pokémon still clinging to her finger.
"Flabébé, the Single Bloom Pokémon. It draws out and controls the hidden power of flowers. The flower Flabébé holds is most likely part of its body," her Pokédex stated.
"Wait, this says you hold a flower, but you don't have a flower," Savannah stated.
The Flabébé looked crestfallen at her mentioning this. Savannah frowned and looked over at Damon, who was listening to their Pokémon greedily consume lunch.
"Damon. I found a Pokémon!" she called out to him.
He perked up and hurried over to the sound of her voice, using his cane to guide his way. Savannah explained to him what had happened and Damon spent a moment thoughtfully considering her words.
"It seems that the wind had carried Flabébé away from her flower," he stated, "We need to find it. The species becomes weaker the longer they're away from it."
"Okay, but that's literally going to be finding a needle in a haystack," Savannah responded, "We're surrounded by flowers."
"Do you remember which way the wind was blowing?" Damon asked.
"No," Savannah answered flatly, "But we need to stop wasting time and find Flabébé's flower."
She held Flabébé gently in the palm of her hand and ran to the nearest flower field. Fennekin was close behind, yipping at Savannah's heels. Savannah presented Flabébé to the field of flowers.
"Is your flower here, Flabébé?" she asked.
Flabébé scoured as far as she could see and then shook her head. Savannah hurried off to the next flower field and repeated the process, but received the exact same result. Savannah refused to give up; however, and rushed to the third flower field. The crimson flowers swayed gently and Flabébé looked out at them. She smiled slightly, but weakly pointed at one of the red flowers being blown around by the wind.
"Sweet! Damon, I found Flabébé's flower!" Savannah called out.
She started into the flower field, but Fennekin yipped urgently, grabbing her Trainer's attention. Savannah looked down at the Fire-type, who was staring intently at the flowers. She followed Fennekin's gaze and spotted more Flabébé in the flowers. Savannah realized she could not risk traversing the flowers to retrieve Flabébé's flower without trampling over the others.
"Can you get to your flower?" she asked the Fairy-type lying in her palm.
Flabébé shook her head. She was too weak and the wind was too strong. A sudden gust shot the flower even further away and Savannah's shoulders slumped in defeat.
"Fennekin, go get the flower," she ordered the Fire-type.
Fennekin yipped and ran into the flower field. Her smaller stature allowed her to traverse the area without disturbing the other Flabébé. When the Fire-type reached Flabébé's flower; however, she realized the wind was keeping it out of her reach. Fennekin yipped angrily as she chased it around, but it was constantly out of her reach. The wind was almost taunting them.
"Fletchling, grab it!" Damon ordered.
Savannah turned and saw Damon approaching, having used the sound of her voice to locate her. Fletchling speedily flew through the wind and snagged the flower by its stem within his beak. He flew back to Damon, landing on his shoulder, and he took the flower gently between two of his fingers. He handed it over to Savannah, who gave it to Flabébé immediately. A pink and green aura surged over the Fairy-type's body as floral energy reinvigorated her. Flabébé squealed happily and floated in the air before Savannah. The wind conveniently died down the moment the side mission was completed.
"Thank Arceus you're all better, Flabébé," Savannah told her.
Fennekin rejoined them, yipping in agreement to her Trainer's statement. Savannah sighed in relief, but was then overwhelmed by the thought of what could have happened if she and Damon were not there. How often does this happen to Flabébé in general? A hand gripped her shoulder and Savannah looked back at Damon. Without words, he calmed the sense of dread that had briefly come over her consciousness.
Flabébé's squeals turned Savannah's attention back to her and she watched the Fairy-type fly around on her flower. Something came over Savannah and she plucked a Pokéball off her belt. Flabébé stopped and stared at Savannah inquisitively before nodding her consent. Savannah pressed the button and opened the Pokéball. Flabébé was absorbed into the device and it gently wriggled in Savannah's hand. The Pokéball went still and Savannah grinned to herself.
Damon recognized the sound of a Pokéball being used and smirked. His stomach's sudden rumbling ruined the mood; however, and Savannah gave him a dirty look.
"Well, in my defense. Lunch was interrupted," he stated.
"Yeah, yeah. Tiny, innocent Pokémon who almost died be damned because Damon doesn't get his sandwich," Savannah responded.
"Wow…," Damon countered with disbelief.
"Okay fine… that was kind of mean. I'm sorry," Savannah apologized.
The two walked back to where they had their lunch set up, but Savannah paused when she saw a white-haired woman eating the sandwiches she had made for Damon and herself.
"Who the hell are you!?" Savannah shouted, alerting the woman to their presence.
The familiar foe smirked and swallowed her stolen meal.
"Your sandwiches were a bit dry, Red," she taunted.
Damon recognized her voice and the color drained from his face. The white-haired woman gazed at him and her smirk grew.
"Well, if it isn't my favorite blind buddy," she greeted him, "How's it been hanging?"
"Froakie, Bubble!" Damon snapped.
The Water-type launched forth a bubbly barrage at the white-haired woman, but a bolt of lightning blocked it before it got too near. Her monochrome Pikachu climbed up onto her shoulder and glared at the opposition.
"Rude much?" the white-haired woman asked.
"You're outnumbered this time, bitch!" Savannah shouted.
"I can count," the white-haired woman responded, "Sparx, use Flash!"
She closed her eyes as the Electric-type Pokémon on her shoulder emitted a blindingly bright light that left Savannah and all of the Pokémon disoriented. Damon was unaffected by the move and heard footsteps retreating. He ran after them. The footsteps stopped when the white-haired woman realized Damon was following her.
"Thunder Wave," she whispered to Sparx.
Damon still heard her and dove just in time to avoid being paralyzed. The white-haired woman stared at him for a moment before grinning.
"You're spunky," she told him.
"Who… the fuck… says spunky?" Damon asked as he picked himself up off the ground.
"Damon!? Where'd you go!?" Savannah's voice called out.
"Your girlfriend doesn't like me much," the white-haired woman stated.
"You attacked me and robbed us," Damon pointed out.
"I could have killed you and taken everything, so cut me some slack," she responded.
Damon gripped his cane until his knuckles turned white. The white-haired woman noticed this and then noticed Savannah and their Pokémon running up toward them.
"Are you going to risk your girl getting hurt just to get back at little old me?" she asked Damon.
Electricity cackled from Sparx's cheeks. Damon stepped forward and his hair stood up on end as static filled the air. He could not risk Savannah or their Pokémon getting hurt. The white-haired woman would not hold back, so them getting hurt was almost certain.
"Steal from us again and I will do everything in my power to make sure you never see the sun again," he threatened.
"It's a date, Damon," the white-haired woman responded, "Flash!"
Sparx released another bright light, blinding Savannah and the Pokémon again. Damon listened to the departing footsteps disappear and then he turned to where he had last heard Savannah and the Pokémon.
"Where'd she go? I'll punch her in the mouth so fucking hard, she'll be shitting teeth for weeks!" she snapped.
"She's gone," Damon stated, "We need to return the Pokémon to their Pokéballs and you need to calm down. Too many direct exposures to Flash can lead to permanent damage, and trust me when I tell you that you do not want that."
Savannah grumbled something under her breath and felt for Fennekin's Pokéball on her belt. She grabbed it and returned the Fire-type inside. Savannah's vision started returning to her, but things remained a bit fuzzy. She could see Damon's conflicted demeanor as he returned Froakie and Fletchling to their Pokéballs as well.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
"Frustrated," he admitted, "I… I wanted to confront her. I wanted to tell her how much she messed me up in Santalune Forest and how she almost ruined my relationships with two awesome people, but…"
He trailed off, tears forming in his eyes, and he shook his head. Damon wiped the tears from his eyes and steadied himself with a deep breath. His shoulders fell in defeat.
"I guess I should just let it go," Damon muttered.
Savannah stepped forward and put a hand on his slumped shoulders. She kissed him quickly and pressed her forehead against his.
"You should. I'll be the grudge-holder in this relationship and the bitch better not dare cross us again. Redhead Rage is nothing to fuck with," Savannah stated.
"I think everyone who knows you would agree," Damon responded.
"Good. Now, let's return to our stuff and I'll make us a couple more sandwiches," Savannah said.
After eating their lunch, Damon and Savannah continued along the route in silence. Savannah took in the opportunity gazing at the beauty Parterre Way had to offer while Damon enjoyed the scents wafting off from the various flower fields.
"Hey you! Are either of you Pokémon Trainers!?" a Trainer on roller skates asked as she rolled up to cut Damon and Savannah off.
She had caramel-colored skin, dark brown hair, and hazel eyes. She wore a yellow tank top and tan slacks. Her yellow roller skates glided across the paved path of Parterre Way and her yellow helmet both protected her head from falls, but also shielded it from the overhead sun.
"I am," Damon responded, leaning onto his cane.
The roller skater noticed Damon's disability and grinned to herself.
"A blind Trainer? This is gonna be easy!" she exclaimed.
Savannah took offense to the roller skater's comment, but Damon gently swatted her shin with his cane.
"It's okay," he whispered as he stepped forward.
A dangerous grin came over his face and he removed a Pokéball from his belt.
"A one-on-one sound good?" he asked.
"Sounds perfect, my dude. I'm Ramona by the way," the roller skater responded.
"Damon. Damon Pierce and this is my awesome girlfriend, Savannah," Damon introduced.
"Kick her ass, babe," Savannah responded with venom as she glared at Ramona.
Ramona became unnerved and immediately regretted voicing her opinion on battling Damon. She swallowed a hard lump in her throat and nervously looked away from the burning glare.
"Let's go Corphish!" Ramona called out.
She chucked the Pokéball up into the air and it burst open to release her Pokémon. Damon aimed his Pokédex at the unknown Pokémon and scanned it.
"Corphish, the Ruffian Pokémon. No matter how dirty the water in the river, it will adapt and thrive. It has a strong will to survive," his Pokédex stated.
"Go Froakie!" Damon called out as he tossed the Pokéball up into the air.
He pocketed his Pokédex as the Pokéball burst open, releasing Froakie from inside. The Pokéball returned to Damon and he clipped it back onto his belt. He took a calming breath and smiled confidently.
"Use Pound!" he called out, taking the initiation.
Froakie leapt up into the air and his fist glowed brightly.
"Use Harden!" Ramona countered.
A gleam shined across Corphish's shell and he dug his legs into the earth. Froakie connected with Pound, but Corphish held on strong. Froakie winced in pain as a shock ran up his arm to his shoulder.
"Vice Grip!" Ramona called out.
Corphish reached out and clamped his pincers around Froakie's wrist. He repeatedly slammed the Bubble Frog into the dirt before tossing him aside. Froakie rolled to Damon's feet, but was quick to return to his own.
"You okay?" Damon asked.
Froakie croaked in response and smirked.
"Then use Bubble!" Damon ordered.
Froakie released the bubbly barrage at Corphish.
"Bubble Beam!" Ramona countered.
Corphish fired a tighter spread of bubbles from one of his pincers that pierced through Froakie's Bubble with ease and struck him in the chest. Froakie wavered slightly, but shook himself steady.
"Hmm… Corphish's defenses make it difficult to get up close and Bubble Beam is strong enough to nullify our ranged attack," Damon muttered under his breath.
"Use Bubble Beam again!" Ramona called out.
"Quick Attack!" Damon shouted.
Froakie dashed forward as a bubbly beam was fired at him from Corphish's pincer. Froakie easily maneuvered the bubbles and slammed his shoulder into Corphish, sending the Ruffian Pokémon sliding backwards.
"Is that the best you got?" Ramona asked, "Corphish, use Bubble Beam!"
Corphish fired off another Bubble Beam at Froakie, but it once again was dodged by Froakie's greater speed. The battle turned into a bit of a stalemate at this point as Corphish's defenses were not so easily cracked by Froakie's attack, and Froakie's speed allowing him to easily dodge all of Corphish's attacks. Someone had to take a risk and change the tide, but neither Damon nor Ramona dared to make the first move in fear of it ending badly for them.
Froakie was becoming impatient and dissatisfied with how the battle was going. He clenched his fists tightly and looked back at Damon to see if he had any ideas of how to win the battle.
"You trust me, right Froakie?" he asked.
Froakie responded with a quick confirmation and Damon smiled. He clenched his cane tightly.
"Then let's give it everything we've got!" he exclaimed, "Quick Attack! Get behind Corphish!"
Froakie smirked and dashed quickly toward his opponent. Corphish steeled himself in preparation of the oncoming attack, but was surprised when Froakie wound up behind him.
"Now use Bubble!" Damon shouted.
"Corphish, use Bubble Beam!" Ramona cried out.
Corphish tried turning around to respond to Froakie's attack, but the Bubble Frog was simply too fast, and sent the bubbly barrage into the Ruffian Pokémon's carapace. Corphish withstood the attack; however, and turned to face Froakie, but his fellow Water-type was already on him.
He had a ball of water forming in his hand and Froakie thrust it into Corphish's face. The pulsating explosion threw the Ruffian Pokémon into the air and he plowed through a nearby hedge, comically leaving behind a Corphish-shaped hole. Ramona ran over to check on her Pokémon's status and was immediately joined by Savannah. Both saw that Corphish had been knocked unconscious and could no longer continue battling.
Ramona sighed in defeat and returned her Pokémon to his Pokéball. She looked at Savannah with humility in her hazel eyes and the redhead looked her over with all-knowing satisfaction.
"You're one tough cookie, Damon," Ramona complimented as she handed over six hundred and forty Pokédollars.
"So are you, Ramona," he responded, taking the prize money, and handing it off to Savannah so she could count it.
With that, Ramona left the couple to bask in Damon's victory. It felt good to prove someone's assumption of him wrong. It felt good to show how strong he has become despite not being able to see. He fed Froakie an Oran Berry as the Bubble Frog Pokémon clung to his shoulder. Savannah was checking out Damon's Pokédex and its information gathered on Froakie.
"Huh, so that final attack was Water Pulse. It's a strong attack that can cause confusion on the opponents it hits," she revealed.
"Good work, Froakie. You learned Water Pulse," Damon congratulated.
Froakie croaked happily and resumed eating his Oran Berry. Savannah then looked at the picture provided in the Pokédex and noticed something odd when comparing it to Damon's Froakie.
"H-Hey… I think we should get Froakie checked out at a Pokémon Center. He looks pale compared to the picture of his kind in the Pokédex," she explained.