We carried on walking through the track. Lumps of rock jotted from the ground, tickling our soles. I kicked at them a few times and was quickly snapped at by Kalina.
"You never know what could be just a rock," she explained in a harsh whisper. Her hair flowed smoothly over her shoulder. Chops of it fought with her buttonholes. I looked at her, frowning. She sighed.
"Zoya, show him." A flash and I was on the floor. Looking up at her Geodude. It looked angry and knelt over me menacingly, diamond hard crumbs of rock scattering on me from its gravelly complexion. I nodded frantically at Kalina. Point made
Zoya was smiling behind her makeup.
We continued the trip in silence, lightly broken by the odd cough or sneeze. A few times I had stopped when the odd Rattata ran past, sniffing the ground. Kalina shook her head as I looked at her eagerly.
"You can catch better than that Zen."
The grass reduced as the tips of Cherrygrove's buildings peirced the skyline ahead. It was midday and the sun was shining gloriously. We quickened our pace.
Advancing into the city, we passed a number of people. Women and children walking along, various pokémon in tow. A child was leading a big deer-like pokémon off into a patch of grass. It's lazy expression made me smile and it flicked its tail blissfully, stretching in the streams of sunlight. Two strong antlers protruded from its head proudly, and an orb-like growth grew on each one. They glistened in the sunlight. Kalina snorted. "Just a Stantler," she informed us, barley looking at it. "Come on."
We walked through the town, which was at best an open farm. Quaint wooden houses were crookedly placed, like splinters. Their windows were dull but every chimney we passed produced a different coloured smoke. It was oddly fascinating.
We passed a house belching out a pink haze when Kalina stopped suddenly.
"Zoya," she looked at her, face sharp. "I'm going to take Zen on to Violet City." Zoya nodded.
"You're more than welcome to come with us, but I know there's a certain man on the way you'll want to see. Thing is, we don't pass him. You go right, and we go left." Zoya looked at Kalina curiously. "Who is he?"
"His name is Bill." Kalina said gruffly. "He is a living ledgend among us pokémon trainers. He will give you the best advice for you pokémon, and set you up with a processing system to use at every Pokémon Centre." Zoya looked confused.
"Process...?" Kalina nodded. "You'll know more when, sorry if you speak to him," she said.
"But it's your choice." Zoya looked at me before snapping her eyes back to Kalina.
"And you won't hurt Zen?" I frowned, Kalina's face darkened. "You know I won't," she said firmly. "You saw what I did in that battle right?" Zoya nodded slowly, chewing her lip.
"I could have beaten them," she said. Her eyes glistened. Kalina's face remained emotionless, her emerald eyes burned against Zoya's deep blue ones. An ocean stare.
"What pokémon do you have?" Zoya asked. Kalina laughed, a listless whisper. "Ones which would destroy yours."
Zoya persisted. "But in the Pokémon Centre? The.. processing thing? You must have some lower levels." Kalina smiled.
"I do," she confirmed. Zoya nodded. "Right, well pick three and give me a battle."
My heart fluttered. "Zoya, what are you doing?" I hissed, treading the line between fear and astonishment.
Zoya grinned, Kalina's face twisted into a knowing smile. "She wants to proves herself," she said harshly. Her hair whipped the air as she turned on her heel towards the Pokémon Centre. I followed, looking back at Zoya who looked worried.
But jubilant.
The doors creaked open as Kalina brushed into the Pokémon Centre.
The outside was the same as the in; unimpressive. Wooden beams made the building, which looked dates. Limp curtains hung from dirtied windows. The smell of old hung in the air.
Sad coloured tiles were glued to the wall, like a child's playroom. Except the child had grown up, got married and had kids of his own. I tried not to choke on the musty smell. My sinuses wept.
Kalina swept to a dilapidated computer in the corner of the building. Inserting a key into the machine, it coughed into life, and an option of different pokémon pictures flashed up onto the screen.
Sifting through them, she muttered under her breath. I avoided the words, instead looking at the counter which was at the back of the building.
It was gaudy and red, a faded bright memory. Behind it stood a pretty woman, dressed in white. She leaned on the counter, her chin resting on her arms. A hat rested on her flash of auburn hair.
"Are we ready?" Kalina had sneaked up behind me. I whipped around to see a small smile pasted on her thin lips. Her ghostly complexion was dusted red and she looked at the girl behind the counter.
"Have a crush do we Zen?" I frowned, cheeks burning. "Let's go," I muttered, ushering her towards the door. I flashed a glance back at the girl, who seemed more interested in the state of her nails than anything else.
Outside, I saw Kalina walk towards Zoya. A few sentences and they both set off towards an empty field.
"Zen," Kalina called as she strode to the grassy patch. "Will you be the ref?" I didn't answer, just shook my head.
She laughed.
"Right," Kalina and Zoya were squared off against each other. "Are we ready?"
Zoya nodded. "Good," a throaty whisper, two flashes and the battle began.
Zoya had sent out Eevee. Kalina had sent out... something.
It was small reptilian pokémon, it's skin the same colour as soft apple juice. It looked like a miniature dinosuar. It's eyes were bright and alert and a thich waxy leaf protruded from the top of its head. It cried, soft and sweet. The leaf smelt amazing. Thick and fragrant scented. I sat down heavily, staring at it lazily.
"Are you going to get your Pokédex out Zen?" Kalina asked sharply. I shook my head.
"No, it's okay," I garbled, my voice thick. I continued to inhale the scent of the leaf, head spinning. I heard a faint curse from Kalina as she gritted her teeth. For the love of...
"Eevee," Zoya shouted, pointing ahead. "Use Charm!" Eevee growled and spat pink haze from its streamlined jaw. The haze twisted and turned, dancing around Kalina's pokémon. The creature looked around, eyes wide.
Kalina laughed. "Bayleef!" She shouted, glaring at me. "Use Leech Seed." Bayleef jumped up and the pink haze disappeared easily, melting into the wind. The creature spat bullet shaped seeds at the Eevee which embedded into its coat. Zoya looked on anxiously. "Eevee!" she called out anxiously. "Are you okay?" The creature looked and nodded.
Kalina grinned again, smug. "Now Bayleef," she shouted throatily. "Use Petal Dance!" The Bayleef roared, and it's lead span on its head, like a propeller. The ground beneath it split as a giant root pushed up from it, like a giant ugly arms.
Angry dull bulbs on the root were forced open by the wind, splitting with sharp cracks. Pink petals flew from the cases, razor sharp and slicing into Eevee, which fell hard into the dirt. It struggled to its feet, as Bayleef looked on menacingly.
Suddenly there was a loud pop as the seeds in Eevee's side burst open, revealing sharp purple flowers. They hung like sores, waving in the air like blackened anemones. Bayleef pointed its leaf to the flowers which stiffened and suddenly sapped Eevee's energy in a ruthless drain.
Eevee squealed, falling hard to the ground, twitching in discomfort as the flowers feasted on its energy. Bayleef sparkled greedily in the sunshine. Zoya cried out, her face a mixture of horror and upset. After three minutes of helpless watching, the flowers finished their job and suddenly rotted away, withering like blackened scabs on the dirt next to Eevee.
The pokémon had fainted. Defeated by fauna. It was recalled by Zoya.
I glanced at Kalina, eyes wide in admiration and grotesque interest. She remained entirely motionless, emotionless. Her eyes still shone but her expression was devoid of anything.
Zoya threw her next ball out with less gusto. It bounced on the grass and exploded open. Voltorb rolled out, static crackled.
Kalina recalled Bayleef and threw another ball into the ring.
A blast and a small egg stood in the middle of the ring.
It was a pokémon which looked like it had yet to shed its shell. The egg has red and blue shapes on it; they looked painted onto the exterior. A pair of yellow stubby hands and round feet with two toes each pushed from the eggshell. Dustings of the shell lay at its feet as it shook excitedly.
Its eye were coal black and it had five spikes on its head that seem to form a crown. It chirped like a cricket, sharp and high.
I pulled my Pokédex out under the glare of Kalina. It hummed into life.
'Togepi, the baby egg pokémon. Its shell is said to be stuffed with happiness that it shares with kindhearted people.'
I looked at Togepi and chuckled. Kalina raised an eyebrow.
I shrugged defensively. "I think Zoya's got this one," I called out teasingly. Kalina smirked.
"Voltorb, use Thun-
- Togepi, METRONOME!" Kalina screamed, warm dark sound filling her throat.
I jumped.
Togepi didn't. It glowed cherry red and shook, squealing defiantly. Steam poured from its shell, eyes tightly closed as red hot pressure built up in it's shell. The ground blackened under it's feet.
Suddently, a pop like a champange cork went off and nothing. Togepi cooled down. Chirped. Kalina smiled.
Zoya looked at me, panicking. She didn't know what was happening.
Truthfully, I didn't either. Why didn't the Togepi attack?
"Vol-" Zoya barely stumbled the word out when Togepi exploded, releasing waves of red hot heat at Voltorb. It screeched so hard my eardrums burst, and the raw power surged from its shell. It smashed into Voltorb, which instantly fainted.
The roaring continued as Togepi was pushed off the ground by its own force. The power was immense.
Chunks of earth was blasted up as it lost control of the attack. I dodged flying rocks and clumps of soil as the roaring faded. I ended up on my back, winded, pumped, scared. A soupy mix of adrenalin and complete fear rolled through my veins.
Breathing heavily, in the middle of a giant blast-made bowl, stood Togepi. Sweat rolled of it's leathery skin. It chirped defiantly.
Zoya was sprawled on the ground, her satchel resting on the back of her head. Breathing hard but not moving. Voltorb was already recalled. Nowhere to be seen.
Kalina in comparison, was standing tall, composed. Hands on hips, she stepped into the bowl, picking Togepi up gently. It chirped and nuzzled her shouler. Sitting up, I tried to catch my breath which was escaping faster than I could catch it.
Zoya stood up shakily and was pulled to her feet by Kalina. Tears scratched her face, her makeup lopsided.
She looked scared.
"You did good," Kalina whispered softly. Almost friendly.
"But you'll never beat me Zoya. Not now. Not ever." The words sliced at Zoya, who deflated.
Nodded. Accepted it.
"I think you should see Bill." Zoya directed the sentence like a suggestion. With the tone of an order.
"Come on," she took Zoya's hand. "Let's go and heal them."
A small sob escaped Zoya's lips and she allowed herself to be dragged away by Kalina.
I stood awkwardly. Kalina turned around.
"Wait here Zen, we're going to Violet City as soon as I get back."
My stomach twisted.
Zoya continued to cry.
The sun burned.