Triumvirate, chapter 11: Cerulean City, Part 3
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokémon
With Gary and Ash both passed out from exhaustion and injury, Ivy was left to help out Jenny and the clinic nurses with the ailing townspeople. She showered and dressed, refreshed if not a little sore after the marathon fight. She'd never needed much sleep and often would go for days without it when she was with Team Rocket on a mission.
"Reaper."
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she counted her scars and thought about what Agatha had revealed. Perhaps it explained her frequent insomnia, the lack of physical exhaustion now. She ran her fingers over her belly, where phantom nails had raked into her. There was no trace of them despite what Ash had told Gary and her about the Rocket Agent he'd killed with Haunter's help once they regrouped and Agatha departed. Ripped his soul out, was the way he'd described it.
Maybe I don't have a soul to rip out anymore.
Gary shifted under the covers in the adjoining bedroom they'd all rented at the Pokémon Center, and Ivy smoothed out her shirt. It had been a long time since she'd worn plainclothes without armor. She wrapped her green cargo jacket tighter around her middle and took a deep breath.
"Better get to it."
She cast a last look at Gary and Ash sleeping soundly in their beds. Pikachu looked up and squeaked. She raised a finger to her lips and winked. The yellow rodent watched her exit the room in near absolute silence and went back to sleep.
Ivy found Jenny at the clinic, and as soon as the older woman saw her, she visibly deflated with relief.
"Oh, thank god you're here. We could use all the help we can get." She tossed Ivy an apron to wear over her clothes. "Put that on so you don't stain your clothes."
Ivy put on the bright, pink apron and got to work without complaint. She helped the nurses and Jenny stitch up superficial wounds, reset broken bones, and the like. The mists still clung to the town, but the strange chill she'd detected in them the other day was gone. The Ghosts had returned to wherever they'd come from.
The minutes turned to hours, and Ivy moved from body to body, doing as the nurses instructed. She was so lost in the monotony that she jumped when a hand closed around her wrist all of a sudden. A girl, maybe a couple years her junior, looked up at her with eyes so dark and blue they were almost violet.
"You," she whispered. "You're one of the people who got rid of the Ghosts, right?"
Ivy eyed the girl's grip on her wrist. "That's right."
The girl's face was scuffed up, and a thick scar passed through her left eye, an old wound. Ivy did a cursory glance for weapons out of habit. The girl wore loose, black pants and sandals. A violet sash tied her lightweight shirt in place, and her arms were gloved and bandaged. Ivy narrowed her eyes and brushed the knife at her thigh with her free hand.
"You're not injured," she said softly, a warning in her tone. "Who are you?"
The girl smirked and made a show of struggling to sit up in her stretcher. "Just wanted to meet one of you in person, at least. I saw what you did here. That guy you were with, the Clairvoyant. Did he make it?"
Ivy drew her knife in one fluid motion, but the girl was lightning fast and caught her wrist. Their faces were inches apart, and Ivy got an eyeful of her freckles and split lip. Her curly, chestnut hair was tied back in a bun, but frizzles escaped it and tickled Ivy's forehead.
"Calm down, I'm not here to fight. I just wanted to make absolutely certain."
Nurses bustled around behind Ivy in her peripheral vision. She was near one of the walls next to an open window. The girl followed her gaze and chuckled.
"Don't worry, I didn't steal this bed when I came in. It was already empty."
Ivy applied more pressure to her hunting knife, which hovered just a hair's breadth from the girl's throat. "You have five seconds."
"I saw how you and those boys took out the Rocket Agents here. I like your style."
"You mentioned Clairvoyant," Ivy said. "What did you mean by that?"
"That guy you were with. They fight a certain way, like puppet masters. Listen, I know what I saw." Her nails dug into Ivy's wrist and drew blood. "And I know what you are, too, Reaper."
"Then you know I wouldn't lose sleep over your death."
"I'm not with Team Rocket. Why would I reveal myself if I was?"
The girl was beginning to sweat under the constant pressure of the knife, and Ivy's hands ached with the pressure the girl was applying. They stared each other down for another couple of seconds before Ivy relented. The girl scooted back against the wall and put one hand on the open windowsill.
"How do you know about us?" Ivy said.
"I'm like you, sort of. I'm Veleno." At Ivy's lack of visible recognition, she added, "A Poison Tamer."
"If you're against Team Rocket, like you claim, why not help us? We could've used it."
"Looks to me like you had enough help in the end."
An old man gasped in pain nearby, and a nurse rushed to his side to stop the bleeding from the sutures he'd ripped out in a spasm.
"What do you want? Why reveal yourself now?"
"Like I said, I just wanted make certain."
"Certain of what?"
"Ivy, I need your help over here!" Jenny shouted from several beds away where she struggled with a little girl having a seizure.
Ivy spared her a brief glance over her shoulder, and when she looked back, the girl had slipped through the window. Only her face was visible under the thick hood she'd pulled over her head.
"Nevermind that right now. We'll meet again, I'm sure." She tossed a round, glass vial through the window filled with shimmering, pale pink liquid. "For your Houndour."
Ivy caught the vial on instinct. "What? Hey, wait a minute—"
"Janine," the girl said. "You better remember my name if you know what's good for you."
Ivy climbed up on the bed and looked out the window just as Janine disappeared, but when she stuck her head outside, there was no sign of the elusive girl.
"Ivy!"
Jenny was having trouble restraining the seizing girl, and Ivy abandoned her search for Janine and pocketed the vial. She pulled on a pair of sterile rubber gloves and helped Jenny restrain the girl while they waited for the seizure to pass. Ivy cast a glance back at the window, but there was no sign of Janine. Another patient was already occupying the stretcher she'd commandeered.
"Hand me that EpiPen," Jenny said.
"Sure."
Ivy tossed the thick syringe to Jenny, who uncapped it and stuck the little girl in her thigh. The weight of the vial bobbed in the inside of Ivy's jacket, where she'd stashed it.
"Hey, I'll be right back. Gotta check on Houndour at the Pokémon Center."
Jenny nodded. "Sure, just make it fast."
"You won't even know I was gone."
Ash tossed and turned in his bed, disturbing Pikachu's slumber and knocking it off the bed. He groaned in his half sleep and pulled the pillow over his head to block out the voices, but they only got louder. Unable to take it anymore, he snapped his eyes open and sat up.
"Would you guys keep it down? Geez."
But when he looked around, Gary was running the shower in the adjoining bathroom and there was no sign of Ivy. The sun was low on the western horizon. He'd slept the entire day away.
"The hell...?"
Pikachu squeaked angrily and hopped back up on the bed. Tiny sparks danced on its cheeks in warning. Whispers in his ear drew his attention skyward, where Haunter hovered.
"You," Ash said. "Those voices..."
Haunter grinned and floated down to Ash's eye level. Pikachu kept a wary eye on the Ghost, but it didn't move away. A shadowy plume of smoke connected Haunter to Ash's chest.
"So this is how it's gonna be? You're gonna wake me up whenever you feel like it?"
A giddy tremor crawled from Ash's chest down to his fingertips and toes, making him shiver. He rubbed his ears and tried to focus on blocking out the incessant whispers.
"This is gonna take some getting used to."
The shower switched off, and a few minutes later Gary emerged with a towel around his waist. His mussed hair dripped a trail of water as he went back to his bed and rummaged around his pack for clean clothes.
"You're awake," he said.
"Couldn't sleep with all the noise."
Gary cast him a glance askance, and his gaze lingered on Haunter, who hovered at Ash's pillow and attempted to poke it, only have its hand pass through it.
"I don't hear anything."
Ash rubbed his ear. "Yeah, be glad you don't."
Gary pulled on jeans and a T-shirt and dried out his hair with the towel. "Where's Ivy? Her bed hasn't been slept in."
"I dunno where—"
Haunter pressed a finger to Ash's temple all of a sudden, and Ash hissed. His eyes rolled back in his head, and the room's light changed. Like looking through water, he saw himself lying in bed, passed out, and the sun was bright in the sky.
Ivy looked back at Gary and him before slipping out the door without a sound. As suddenly as it had come, the vision faded and Ash sputtered as he fell back against the wall. Gary, who'd been across the room just a moment ago, was now crouched with one leg on Ash's bed and a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, Ash!"
Ash raised a hand to his temple and looked around for Haunter. "Ugh, that sucked. A little warning next time."
The Ghost threw back its head and laughed, and the deformed skull hidden within its gaseous body laughed with it. Ash swallowed the bile in his throat.
"What happened?" Gary demanded. He glared up at the Ghost. "Did it do something?"
"Ivy left," Ash said by way of answer. "I saw her go."
Gary frowned and leaned back. "What? But you just said you didn't know where she was."
Ash shook his head. "I didn't see her, Haunter did. It showed me."
"Geez, Ash. Are you sure about letting a Ghost tag along?"
"Haunter saved my life and Pikachu's. That's good enough for me. And, well, if I'm really what Agatha said, I can't get rid of Haunter even if I wanted to. I think it'll be a good trump card for us down the line. No one ever expects a Ghost."
Haunter drifted closer to Gary, but when they locked eyes, it shied away in fear. Ash put a hand over his heart.
"Wow, it's kind of scared of you," he said.
"Why?"
"Dunno. Maybe it's got somethin' to do with you being Clairvoyant? Ghosts don't like Psychics, right?"
Gary sighed and slipped off the bed. "I'm not psychic. That's ridiculous."
"Clairvoyant," Ash corrected.
"Whatever, same difference. I'm gonna go look for Ivy. I can't believe she didn't get any sleep. What is she even thinking running around by herself after what happened? Annoying woman."
Ash's stomach growled, and Haunter rubbed its nonexistent belly in jest. "Maybe we can get some food, too."
"Yeah, just take a shower first. You look like hell."
"Yeah, yeah."
He rolled out of bed and headed for the bathroom to shower. In fifteen minutes, he was dressed in his favorite, red jacket and headed downstairs with Gary in tow. In the lobby they ran into Ivy, who was speaking with Nurse Joy and handing her a vial of shimmering, pink liquid.
"Wow, this is Muk and Grimer anti-toxin," Nurse Joy was saying. "This'll definitely speed along Houndour's recovery better than a regular Antidote. I'll deduct this from your bill. We haven't had much opportunity to resupply in a while, so this is a big help."
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
"Ivy." Ash approached her and they met in the middle of the lobby.
"Hey, sleepy heads. You guys feeling better?"
"Much."
Gary tugged at the soiled, pink apron she wore. "So, didn't get your fill of the fight yesterday?"
Ivy blinked and looked down at her apron. "Oh, crap, I forgot I had this on." She undid the tie in back and slipped the apron off along with her rubber gloves. "I was at the clinic helping Jenny and the nurses. The townspeople went through a hell of an ordeal."
"You didn't sleep at all," Ash said. "Aren't you tired?"
Ivy shrugged. "A little. But I'll sleep tonight while you guys're wide awake."
"As long as you're okay," Gary said, eyeing her with suspicion. "You are okay, right?"
Ivy put a hand on his shoulder and leaned her face close to his. "Why, you worried about me?"
Gary flushed prettily and backed away, nearly tripping. "Cut that out!" he hissed. "This is a public place."
Ash laughed. "There's a room upstairs and a clean bed Ivy didn't use."
Gary glared daggers at him, but Ivy headed for the entrance, unperturbed.
"You guys coming? There's a lotta people who still need help at the clinic."
"What're you trying to pull?" Gary said.
Ash raised his eyebrows and waved his empty hands. "I'm not pullin' anything, see?"
He jogged to the entrance before Gary could grab him. Haunter floated overhead and cackled. Ash bit back a grin of his own as he stepped outside and forced himself not to look back.
They spent the rest of the day helping out at the clinic. Ash and Gary got matching pink aprons for the night, and the nurses had a few giggles at their expense. The rush calmed down around nine at night, and the trio accepted Jenny's invitation to a late dinner.
"Thank you again for all your help," she said as they ate together in her home. "There's no way we'd have managed without you guys."
"I'm glad we got here when we did," Gary said. "Looks like a day later and things could've been too far gone."
Ivy and Ash were busy shoveling food into their mouths and barely followed the conversation except to surface for air. Gary rolled his eyes discreetly, but decided against starting a fight. The food was more than deserved for their efforts.
Jenny refilled everyone's glasses with a smile. "I wonder if I can convince you three to stick around for a bit. We could always use the extra muscle, you know."
Ash and Ivy looked up.
"You want us to stay?" Ivy said.
"I know you three have done way more than I could've ever expected from strangers, and for that Lavender's in your debt. But if you don't have any immediate plans, I wouldn't mind the help. I still have a pretty much nonexistent Police Department I need to restaff, and who knows how long that'll take?"
"That's a nice offer," Gary said. "But we do still have a few Gym Leaders to visit. Agatha was right. We can't just stop now. At the end of the day, the Elite Four are only four people."
"Just like us," Ash said. "And look what we did."
"There's a little bit of a difference between the Elite Four and us."
Jenny put up her hands. "Hey, I don't want to mess up your mission. Hell, after what happened here, I'd gladly go with you to stop Team Rocket for good if I could afford to leave. But anyway, the offer stands. You're more than welcome here whenever you want to stop by."
"We might take you up on that," Ivy said. "Let us talk it over. We haven't decided where we'll go yet."
"Of course."
They finished dinner and headed back to the Pokémon Center for a night's rest after. Lavender's mists glowed pearlescent under the moon and stars. Peaceful, like it was meant to be. There was a humming in the air, like it teemed with life despite the bones buried underfoot.
"So?" Ash said once they were back in their rented room. "What d'you guys think about what Jenny said?"
"I think she has a point," Ivy said. "This town has no Gym Leader, and if we hadn't gotten here when we did, I don't even think there'd be a Lavender Town left."
Eevee sat on Gary's bed and walked back and forth, rubbing its soft fur against his arms and back. "What about the mission? We still have a few Gyms to hit up. You're not thinking of quitting now, are you?"
"Of course not." Ivy lay back on her bed. "Ugh, I dunno. I just wanna help, I guess. Somehow, I feel like we're responsible."
Ash chuckled.
"What's so funny?"
"Nothing, just that you're actually a good person under all the scary."
Ivy sat up and frowned. "Scary? I'm not the one with a second shadow."
Haunter floated next to Ash on his bed and put its hands up like it had done nothing wrong.
"Look, guys, I get what you're saying," Gary said, "but I think it's especially important now more than ever that we keep traveling. Think about if Team Rocket could broadcast that radio wave across all of Kanto. What if they've figured out a frequency that could control other types of Pokémon?"
Ivy shook her head. "No, if they had something like that, there'd be no point in the experiment here in Lavender. They could actually take over the world with something like that, and they haven't. I think we're a long way off from something like that, if it's even possible."
They sat in silence for a moment, thinking.
"Well, it'd make the most sense to head to Saffron next," Gary said. Eevee settled into his lap and began kneading his jeans to make itself comfortable.
"Misty said we weren't ready," Ash said. "Actually, that reminds me. I did promise I'd bring back the armor she lent me."
"Misty doesn't know we have a Haunter and a Tyranitar on our team now," Ivy said. "I think that makes a difference."
Gary sighed as he scratched Eevee's belly. "I know we've made a lot of progress, and I hate to admit this, but honestly? Misty had a point. Surge, too, for that matter. We're just not where we need to be battle-wise. Agatha being here was a big help, especially for Ash. I dunno how it would've turned out without her around."
"I'd be dead right now," Ash said.
Haunter's perpetual smile fell to a dramatic frown, and Ash shivered violently. He clutched his head.
"Ugh, Haunter, we gotta work on your empathy."
Pikachu pawed at Ash's side in concern.
"So we need to train," Ivy said. "Well, I know where to start. You guys have got to learn how to fight. I can't be saving your asses every time, you know."
"You look for every excuse to fight," Gary said. "Just because you haven't seen me fight doesn't mean I can't."
"Well, I definitely can't," Ash said. "Woulda been useful against Surge, actually."
Ivy crossed her arms and frowned. "How about this: we head back to Cerulean and catch up with Misty, resupply, whatever. Then we talk to her about how best to get up to Gym Leader level. If the rest of the Gym Leaders wanna fight like Surge did, we need to be ready. Who better to teach us than a Gym Leader herself?"
"Misty never agreed to teach us," Gary said.
"We might as well ask." Ash smirked. "I'll ask her."
Gary rolled his eyes. "Oh, please."
"What? Don't be jealous 'cause she liked me better than you."
"Who the hell would be jealous of you?"
"Okay, settle down," Ivy said. "Goddamned prima donnas. How do we get back to Cerulean from here?"
Gary scowled, and Eevee sat up to bump his chin with its head. "Fastest way would be through Rock Tunnel."
"Fuck no," Ash said. "What'd I say about no more caves?"
"C'mon Ash," Ivy said. "You've got a freaking Ghost with you. I think whatever's hiding in Rock Tunnel will be more scared of you than you'll be of it."
"Hey, you have no idea how scared I can get."
"Oh, for god sakes."
"Rock Tunnel's the fastest way, end of discussion," Gary said. "We'll have a word with Misty and Brock about getting reinforcements for Lavender since we won't be sticking around."
"There it is, then," Ivy said. "All hail the Clairvoyant."
Ash stifled a laugh. "Hear, hear."
Gary sighed and closed his eyes. "This will not become a thing with you two."
Ivy yawned and stretched out on her bed. "Anyway, I need to get some sleep if we're doing Mt. Moon, Take Two tomorrow."
"You know what? This time I'm walking in the middle. No way I'm ending up alone in the dark again," Ash said.
The trio turned in for the night. Haunter drifted around the room, peering at its new Tamer and his companions. They slept soundly under the moonlight diffusing through the window. Haunter peered outside at the mists and grinned.
Ash turned in his sleep and shuddered. Haunter drifted back to hover over him and raked a spectral hand over his face. Ash sucked in a breath and fell still, sinking deeper into his pillow. Pikachu, wide awake, squeaked up at the Ghost. Haunter nodded emphatically at the yellow rodent, smiling. Curling up under Ash's arm, Pikachu drifted off to sleep, leaving Haunter to watch over the group.
The Ghost hovered near the ceiling and faded to amorphous fog. Only its red eyes gazed down at the group, ever watchful for the things that go bump in the night.
The next morning after breakfast, the trio stood just outside the mouth of Rock Tunnel with Jenny.
"Thanks for everything, Jenny," Ash said with a bright smile.
"Believe me, it's me who should be thanking you," Jenny said. "I'm sad to see you go, though."
"We'll be back," Gary said. "Once we check in with Misty in Cerulean, we'll have a better idea of how to proceed."
Jenny nodded. "Well, I wish I could do more for you guys than just restock your supplies. Lavender owes you a lot more."
"I guess we are running low on mon—"
Gary wrapped an arm around Ivy's head and covered her mouth with his hand before she could finish that sentence. "Really, it's fine."
Ivy struggled in his grip, but he held tight.
"Well, be seein' you." Ash saluted.
Jenny laughed. "Be safe. It's no Mt. Moon, but Rock Tunnel's still dangerous."
"Oof!"
Gary doubled over and clutched his stomach where Ivy had elbowed him hard in the gut to get free. She wiped her mouth. "I think we'll be okay this time around."
She selected a Pokéball from her belt and tossed it. From the burst of light, Tyranitar materialized and stood up to its tremendous height. Ivy put a hand flat on its flank and caught its yellow eye.
"Wow," Jenny said. "That thing's a real monster if I ever saw one."
Ivy smirked. "Nah, he's a big sweetie." She patted Tyranitar's flank. "Right, Tyranitar?"
The green dinosaur growled low in its belly and revealed thick incisors under its curled lips.
"Uh, I dunno if I'd use that word," Ash said. "Like, not even close."
Gary recovered from his beating and glared daggers at Ivy. "You punched me."
"Oh, grow a pair," Ivy said. "This is what I'm saying about you guys not knowing how to fight."
Gary's eye twitched and he crossed his arms. "I told you already, I know how to fight. I'm just not a junkie about it."
"Uh-huh, sure."
Jenny stifled a laugh. "Are they always like that?" she whispered to Ash.
"Every day. Kinda wish they'd wake up and smell the Roserade, but it's fun to watch in the meantime."
Another flash of light blinded the four trainers and Nidoking appeared next to Gary. The armored rodent zeroed in on Tyranitar, and the two behemoths glowered at each other. Tyranitar growled, a deep, feral rumble, and Nidoking stood up to its full height despite its few feet of height disadvantage. Ivy and Gary abandoned their tiff and threw themselves in front of their Pokémon.
"Easy," Gary said. "Stand down, Nidoking."
"Calm down, Tyranitar. It's not worth beating up a small fry," Ivy said.
Gary whirled. "What did you just say?"
Ivy winked over her shoulder.
"I see what you mean," Jenny said.
"Okay, guys, break it up," Ash said, stepping in between Ivy and Gary. "I promised Misty I'd bring back her armor, and she's not gonna wait forever."
Gary rolled his eyes. "That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard."
"Aw, c'mon, I know I've come up with lamer."
"That's definitely true." Ivy slung an arm around Ash's shoulder, disturbing Haunter, who floated overhead.
The Ghost peered at Ivy curiously, but it drifted to Ash's other side, as far away from her as possible.
"Huh, it doesn't like me."
Ash glanced at Haunter. "You think?" He shuddered all of a sudden and rubbed his temple. "...Okay, maybe he's a little freaked out."
"Looks like you three have a lot to deal with," Jenny said. "Maybe a nice walk in the pitch dark'll do you all some good."
"Yes, excellent idea," Ivy preened.
"Let's just get this over with." Gary motioned to Nidoking, and the big rodent tailed him but kept an eye on Tyranitar just in case.
"See ya!" Ash waved to Jenny and jogged after Gary.
Ivy tailed the boys in back with Tyranitar while Gary led the march with Nidoking. Rock Tunnel, like Mt. Moon, had been hollowed out for human passage between Lavender and Cerulean. Nidoking's pounding footsteps echoed in the cavern, drowned out only by Tyranitar's pursuit farther behind. Ash walked at a leisurely pace in the middle with Haunter and Pikachu at his shoulders.
Unlike Mt. Moon, Gary saw no sign of wild Pokémon. He smirked up at Nidoking lumbering along beside him.
"Don't worry," he whispered. "You'll get your chance later."
Nidoking peered down at its trainer and grumbled low in the pit of its belly.
The hike through Rock Tunnel was almost boring. The most exciting thing the trio encountered was an abandoned Zubat nest. The walls were covered in guano.
"Hey, Ash," Ivy called from the back. "Brings back memories, huh?"
"Haha, very funny. And by that I mean it's totally not."
Altogether, the journey was a little over four hours in the dark with only Pikachu's natural glow to light the way. Gary breathed a sigh of relief when they emerged on the other side at the edge of a cliff. Cerulean City shone like a living sapphire below several miles out to the west with its sparkling fountains and mangrove fields.
"You know?" Ash said, drawing up next to him. "It almost feels like coming home."
Pallet Town had been burning the last time Gary saw it. Daisy had been so strong helping those who'd lost everything when their grandfather chose not to be.
"Sure," he said softly. "Just like home."
Ash grinned and went on ahead, missing the way Gary's shoulders slumped just a little. Gary recalled Nidoking and stuffed his hands in his pockets. He walked to the edge of the cliff and scanned the scenery below.
"Missing home?"
Ivy didn't join him at the cliff's edge, but she stood just behind him out of reach. He didn't turn.
"You got a bad habit of eavesdropping."
A flash of light indicated she'd recalled Tyranitar, leaving just the two of them on top of the world looking down on the life that flourished below. Gary closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"We said no secrets," she said.
He released his breath and opened his eyes. "It's not a secret. I never said you were wrong."
She laughed lightly and leaned close to his ear from behind. "I know."
Gary set his jaw and glared at her over his shoulder. "What's your prob—"
He ate his words when she snaked an arm around his neck, hooked his jaw with her fingers, and drew him into a crushing kiss, close-mouthed and gently bruising, like an ache he didn't realize he'd had until now. It was over before he could react, and she raked her nails over the short stubble along his jawline as she pulled away.
"In case next time you really do die," she murmured against his lips.
She pulled away without a second look back and followed the switchback path Ash had taken down the cliff toward Cerulean. Gary stared after her a moment, suddenly very warm. He rubbed his lips to get the tingle out.
She'd made it around the first switchback and was fast catching up to Ash by the time he composed himself. Gary set his jaw and jogged after them both, intent on catching up.
Ash made a beeline for the Cerulean Gym over Ivy's complaints about checking into a room at the Pokémon Center first. There was so much to recount to Misty, and time was wasting. Cerulean was just as they'd left it, and Ash inhaled the dewy air as he walked. Haunter, who'd taken to resting within him, emerged when it felt Ash's spirits lift and tried to mimic his deep breathing motions.
The Gym's double glass doors were unlocked when he arrived, and he went in without a second thought.
"Misty? You here?"
"Can I help you?"
A slender woman in a bikini and a shortie wetsuit unzipped to her waist walked toward him from the Gym's main arena. Her wet feet left tracks in the glossy tile. Like Misty, she had red hair that was so bright it was almost orange in shade, and sparkling, blue eyes that looked down at Ash over a straight-edge nose not unkindly.
"Yeah, I'm looking for Misty." He paused before adding, "You must be one of her sisters. Daisy or Violet?"
The woman smiled a little. "Daisy. You seem to know my little sister pretty well."
Ash grinned and put a hand behind his head. "Just a little."
Daisy followed the path of his hand and came face to face with Pikachu and Haunter resting on Ash's shoulders. Her eyes widened and she took a step back.
"W-What is that thing?"
Haunter opened its serrated mouth in a grin and spread its disembodied hands. Daisy fumbled for a Pokéball at her belt and released a Dewgong that landed on the tile with a heavy slap.
"Already causing trouble, Ash?"
Ivy appeared next to him with Gary not far behind.
"Whoa! Hey, easy now," Ash said. "Haunter's friendly. Well, sort of. I mean! It's not gonna do anything, okay, I swear."
"What's going on out here?"
Another woman appeared dressed similarly to Daisy, though where Daisy and Misty were brightly colored and soft around the edges, this woman was cut from marble and had the glare to prove it. Her dark hair was tied back in a thick braid that swished behind her like a lash when she walked.
"These guys say they know Misty, but I've never seen them before," Daisy said. "And that thing... I don't like the air around it."
The woman examined the trio before settling first on Pikachu, then on Haunter. She narrowed her eyes at the Ghost. "I believe that's called a Haunter, though I've never heard of anyone actually training one aside from Agatha of the Elite Four."
"Is it gonna be like this everywhere we go?" Ivy said crossing her arms.
Gary sighed in frustration. "Listen, we do know Misty, and we're here to talk to her." He showed the women his Cascade Badge to prove his point.
"Oh, Violet, these must be the three Misty told us about," Daisy said.
Violet accepted the Cascade Badge and held it up to the light to examine. "Hm. It's genuine, all right." She tossed it back to Gary. "You three're the ones who helped my little sister out with Team Rocket a while back."
"That's right," Ivy said.
"So, is Misty here?" Ash said.
The sisters exchanged a look before Violet nodded. "Yeah, but she's busy with a guest."
"Oh, well, I can wait."
Violet nodded to them. "This way. You shouldn't linger in doorways."
Daisy kept a watchful eye on Haunter, but she followed Violet with her hefty Dewgong and led the trio into the Gym proper where Gary had had his battle with Misty the last time they were here.
"So how's Bill doing?" Ash asked when the five of them congregated around some chairs in the sitting area just shy of the indoor marsh. "I thought you guys were all taking turns lookin' out for him."
"We were," Daisy said. "But the threat of Team Rocket's been almost nonexistent lately, so we moved him to the city. It's important for all of us to be present here. One Gym Leader can't protect the whole city by herself, after all."
"Is he around?" Gary asked. "I'd like to talk to him."
"He's around." Violet crossed her arms. "I'm sure we can arrange something."
A door across the way opened and Misty walked out with her guest. Ash got up and jogged through the edge of the marsh to get to her instead of waiting for her to come to him.
"Hey, Misty!" He waved, and Pikachu squeaked enthusiastically.
Misty looked back over her shoulder and lit up. "Ash, you're back!"
She went to meet him, and before she could do anything about it, Ash picked her up in a hug and swung her around.
"Hey, what're you doing? Put me down, there's people here!"
Pikachu had jumped down from Ash's shoulder and scampered around Misty to get out of the way. Ash laughed and put her down.
"Sorry, guess I'm just happy to see a familiar face after everything we've been through lately."
She did her best to hide the flush on her cheeks, but to no avail. "Well, if it's familiar faces you wanna see, then today's your lucky day."
"Huh?"
Splashing in the marsh just behind Misty drew both their attentions. Pikachu sat on the damp grass and enjoyed a scratch behind the ears from Misty's guest. Ash paled in recognition.
"What'sa matter, kid? Surprised to see me?"
"Surge," Ash said.
The Red Flash himself scooped up Ash's Pikachu and stood up to his full but modest height. Even so, Ash's stomach turned on itself and his heart beat faster with a sudden rush of adrenaline and the urge to fight or flee. Overhead, Haunter sensed his mood swing and began to roil with violet smoke in warning. Surge eyed the Ghost while Pikachu climbed up his shoulder and pawed at his aviators. Gary and Ivy joined the group with Violet and Daisy, and the trio once again faced off against Surge.
"I see you had a good time in Lavender," Surge said. "Made a new friend, huh?"
Haunter's garbled susurrations intensified, and Ash rubbed his ear to block it out, unable to ignore it like he did the usual din while the Ghost was so agitated.
"What're you doing here?" Ivy demanded.
"Business. But I was also hopin' I'd run into you three after you finished up in Lavender."
Ash growled low in his throat. "You coward. You coulda sent help to Lavender a long time ago when they needed it. Maybe things wouldna gotten so outta hand if you had."
"Ash," Misty said.
"No, Cerulean's just as guilty, Misty, I'm sorry. Lavender was literally dying, and no one sent help." He rubbed his ears harder as Haunter continued to simmer overhead. "I can't even believe this. How can you all just stand there like it's no big deal that all those people died?"
Surge stepped forward, and Pikachu squeaked at Ash. "Can't say what woulda happened if I listened to Bernie and sent help. Fact is, I don't give a fuck about what coulda been. Can't do nothin' about it now, so no point in whinin'."
Ash held his ground, but the very air around Surge crackled with energy, static. Agatha had warned Ash that Surge was a Tamer like him, a Fulmen with an affinity for Electric types. He glanced briefly at Pikachu and how easily the yellow rodent had gotten comfortable on Surge's shoulder, how easily Surge had cowed it with a few words and a harsh tone the last time they crossed paths.
Surge put a hand in his pants pocket, and Ash reached for Ivysaur's Pokéball in response. "Point is," Surge continued like nothing was amiss, "you were there. All three o' you. Jenny told me the whole story and how you were comin' back this way. So here I am."
"Jenny? Why would she do that?"
"Dense as ever, eh, kid? Jenny was my subordinate before movin' to Lavender to head up the Police Department. Why d'you think she'd send the SOS all the way to Vermilion? She told me about what y'all did for the town." He fished out whatever he'd been looking for and grabbed Ash's hand. "So I flew all the way here to give you this."
The Thunder Badge glittered like a miniature sun in Ash's palm, heavier than it looked. Pikachu squeaked in delight and jumped to Ash's arm so it could sniff the Badge. Haunter also descended to get a better look at the shiny object. Ash's anger deflated to shock and confusion as quickly as it had manifested upon seeing Surge again.
"I... I don't understand."
"That Badge's yours. You earned it, and this time you better hold onto it, or I'll shove it down your puny throat."
Ash closed his hand around the Badge, and a knot formed in his throat. "This means nothing. You never agreed to help us with Team Rocket, just like you didn't help Lavender when they needed it."
"Ash." Misty put a hand on his shoulder. "Surge came here to convince me to join an alliance between Vermilion, Cerulean, and Pewter. He told me he was impressed with how you fought, and when he heard Officer Jenny's report about what happened in Lavender, he changed his mind about staying out of the fight."
"An alliance?" Violet said. "Coming from Vermilion? I must be dreaming."
Surge crossed his arms. "This ain't no dream." To Ash he said, "Provin' yourself in a Gym battle's one thing. Survivin' the shit that went down in Lavender's a whole nother can o' worms. So I'll bite. You say you wanna light a fire under Team Rocket's asses? Well, now I believe you got the cojones to actually pull it off without fuckin' up too much. So count me in."
Ivy bit back a smile and nudged Gary.
"For real?" Ash looked between Surge and Misty. "This is real? You're actually gonna work together?"
Misty smiled. "As soon as Brock gets here in a bit, we'll make it official."
He pulled off his hat and ran shaking fingers over the frayed, red brim. "Ivy, Gary?"
Ivy made that awful squealing sound that made Gary's stomach get intimately acquainted with his esophagus and slung an arm each around the boys, pulling them in close.
"Hell yeah!"
Pikachu squeaked excitedly from its new perch atop Ash's head, and Ash laughed. Gary slung an arm around Ash's other shoulder and completed the circle.
"Good job, guys," Gary said, smirking.
Meaty hands pulled back on Gary's and Ash's shoulders and broke the circle.
"Hold up, ladies, this ain't no time to celebrate. You got a long way to go before you're ready to take on the top brass. Time to start training."
"Hey," Ivy said. "The ladies here resent that."
"We can train here," Misty said. "We have the space, the equipment, and the experience. You guys should learn how to adapt to tough environments, and Cerulean's about as tough as it gets."
"No argument there," Surge grumbled. "Listen, I put Bernie and Sandra in charge o' my Gym for now, so you got a month tops 'fore I head back to Vermilion. In that time, I wanna see some real progress, and that means you, too, ladies." He looked pointedly at Ivy and Misty.
"What's that supposed to mean?" the girls said at the same time.
"It means you Syreni're fish outta water when you bother to get outta the goddamned water. And don't even get me started on you."
Ivy clenched a fist and made to let Surge have it, but Gary yanked her back and pinned her arms to her sides.
"What the— Gary Oak, you let me go or so help me—"
"Shut up."
"So, you really are Syreni," Ash said to Misty. "And you guys, too?"
Violet pressed her lips together. "A word of advice, kid. You don't talk about that kind of thing with just anybody. Say the wrong thing and it can get you killed."
"Not here, it won't," Misty said.
She and Violet locked gazes briefly in challenge.
Violet relented. "No, not here."
"Surge makes a good point," Daisy said. "Here, we can fight well because we know the land and the environment. But somewhere else against enemies we don't even know? That's something no one can prepare for just doing the same things every day."
"Very true. What do you suggest, Lieutenant?" Violet said.
"I suggest you lot get into shape, no matter how long it takes." To Ash he said, "You wanted my buy-in? You got it, but I ain't about to fight a losin' war with toy soldiers. I'm the only one here who's actually fought in a war, so we do this my way."
"Can we spare that kind of time?" Gary asked. "You weren't in Lavender. The tech they had... It was serious."
Ivy calmed down and stopped struggling, but Gary didn't let her go. "It's also destroyed, in case you forgot," she said. "Team Rocket works slow and steady, and they don't make mistakes. They got nothin' but time, so we can use that at least for a little while."
Surge nodded stiffly. "Exactly."
"So when do we start?" Misty asked.
"How about first thing in the morning?"
Everyone turned to the newcomer, and Ash grinned.
"Brock!"
Brock lowered his flight goggles to his neck. "Been a while, Ash, Gary." He shifted his gaze to Ivy and grinned. "Ivy."
"Brock, I see you haven't changed much," she returned. "Hey, how'd you get here so fast?"
"I flew, obviously. Onix's fast, but he's no bird."
"I didn't know you had any Flyers."
Brock stepped closer to Ivy and leaned down a little to her eye level. "There's a lot you don't know about me."
"Okay, that's quite enough of that." Misty grabbed Brock's elbow and dragged him away from Ivy.
"...Anyway," Gary said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Tomorrow works to get started. What'd you have in mind, Surge?"
"Now that you're all here, business tonight, training tomorrow at oh-six-hundred sharp."
"Hey, Lieutenant, how about the first night off? We all just got here, and I'm beat. As for the business, I'm in. Anything to get Team Rocket outta my backyard for good," Brock said.
"You call yourself a Gym Leader with that slacker attitude? Che, no wonder Team Rocket's got Pewter by the balls."
"Whoa there." Violet stepped in between Brock and Surge before a fight could break out. "Sorry to inform you both, but I'm fresh outta rulers for your dick measuring contest." She looked pointedly at Surge. "That goes double for you, old man."
Surge bared his teeth in a snarl. "The fuck did you just say to me, woman?"
"Oh, sorry, let me rephrase—back the fuck off and let these kids have one night off, for god sakes."
Everyone went stock still and silent as Violet and Surge glared at each other until Daisy clapped her hands together and smiled brightly. "Well! I'm starving. You guys wanna join us for dinner? It's my turn to cook, and I'm pretty amazing at it."
"Yes," Ash and Ivy said at the same time.
Gary rolled his eyes. "Every time."
"Looks like we're in agreement," Misty said a little more forcefully than necessary. "I'll go see if Bill wants to join us. I'm sure he'll wanna see you guys." She nodded at Gary.
"Uh, I'll go with you," Ash said quickly.
"Me, too," Gary said.
"Me three." Ivy jogged after the group as they headed for the door.
Violet crossed her arms and stared Surge down. She had a good four or five inches on him, but it didn't deter him.
"Well?"
He spit into the marsh water. "This shit would never fly in my town."
"Well, this isn't your town," Violet said. "It's mine. And in my town, we like to welcome our guests the right way. So what do you say?"
"I say, excellent," Brock said.
"No one asked you," Surge bit out.
In the end, Surge's discipline gave way to everyone else's desire to kick back for a few hours. Daisy's dinner was a huge hit, and the trio found themselves wrapped up in the rare but welcome friendly company. They relaxed in the living area of the Gym on leather couches around a wide, glass coffee table littered with beer bottles and empty plates. The one-way glass walls offered a stunning view of the river and Route Twenty-Four in the distance. Fireflies lit up the bayou and Poliwag sang their night tunes to the half moon overhead.
Surge threw back his fifth beer like it was water, but didn't complain as the others laughed and joked together.
"Ash Ketchum, you destroyed my armor." Misty batted him on the chest.
"Hey, I said I'd bring it back, I didn't promise it'd be in mint condition."
She stole his drink and downed it in one, big gulp. Ash watched the amber liquid travel down her slender throat and swallowed hard. The pleasant buzz in head softened his vision, and he smiled lazily as he reached for her waist and scooted closer.
"Forgive me?"
She made a sour face. "You're not getting off the hook that easy."
"Aw, Misty, c'mon."
"No way. Now, you better have a good explanation for what happened. I wanna hear about everything that happened after you guys left Cerulean."
He put his hands behind his head. "Well, that's a long story. We might be up all night if you wanna hear the whole thing."
Her eye twitched. "I don't get how you can make something so crass sound so cute."
He laughed. "I'm a man of many talents. Interested?"
She punched him lightly in the arm. "You cut that out." Her cheeks flushed red as she did her best to look put off.
Brock was busy trying to beat Misty's sisters and Bill in a game of Blackjack and losing miserably.
"Well, fellas, looks like I win again." Bill threw down his cards, and Brock hung his head.
"I just don't get it. How's this even possible? You've won every single hand!"
"Well, Bill's a genius, after all," Daisy said with a smile.
"And a better cheater than you," Violet added.
Brock put a hand over his heart. "Ladies, please, I'd never cheat! Neither at cards nor on a beautiful woman."
"Brock, in this we're kindred spirits," Bill said.
"Hey, old man." Violet swiped Surge's beer and took a long swig. "Don't tell me you can't play cards?"
Surge scowled deeply. "Woman, please. Unlike someone else at the table, I don't need to dabble in that shit to get laid. And that's my beer you're suckin' down, by the way."
Violet smirked. "And yet, you're sitting all by yourself. Lemme know how that works out for you."
She downed the rest of his drink and set down the empty bottle in front of him to rejoin the game.
"...and then Raichu and Electabuzz both used Thunder, so Charmeleon was toast, right? But I got Pikachu in there, and this little guy redirected the lighting like—" Ash pulled his hands apart and made a hissing sound. "That's when I knew how I'd beat Surge."
"Uh-huh," Misty said. "Sounds like pure luck, if you ask me."
"No way! I mean, sure, a little, but I think there's some kinda skill in luck, you know?"
"Ash, that doesn't even make any sense."
"What shit're you talkin' now, kid?" Surge had gotten himself a new beer and ripped off the bottle cap with his teeth. He spat the cap at Ash.
Ash caught the cap and held it up over his face. "Just tellin' Misty how I beat you back in Vermilion." He flipped the cap like a coin and snatched it out of mid-air.
Surge chuckled low in his throat. "Oh, you keep talkin' like that. We'll see how you do tomorrow. I'm turnin' in, and I suggest you do the same if don't want your ass handed to you in the mornin'."
Gary sat with Eevee on a loveseat alone, content to sip his drink and let Ash have a good time catching up with Misty. The small feline was fast asleep on his lap as he petted it gently.
"Your Eevee's getting mighty big," Bill said, pulling up a chair. "I reckon he'll evolve soon, maybe another coupla weeks."
"I was just thinking the same thing."
Bill chuckled. "You know, Eevee's an interesting specimen. Always was fascinated myself. How can one Pokémon have the genetic potential to evolve in so many different ways? Ask anyone qualified, and you'll hear as many answers as there are stars in the sky tonight."
"Oh, yeah?" Gary sat up a little. "What's Gramps say about it?"
Bill smiled. "Well, he thinks it's got somethin' to do with the kinda trainer Eevee's got. You know, the Tamer class."
Gary frowned. "So you knew about this, too. Why do I feel like I'm the last to know anything these days?"
Bill watched him a moment as Gary stared into space, thinking of things far from here. "Well, wouldn't be much of a challenge to a Clairvoyant if people just told him everythin'. Your kind," he tapped Gary on the knee, "y'all ain't satisfied til you figure things out on your own, anyway. As for Eevee, whatever the real answer is, you can't go wrong with that little guy." He paused before adding, "Ivy, she's got an Umbreon if I recall, right? A perfect example of Eevee's uncanny potential."
Gary scanned the room, but there was no sign of Ivy anywhere. She'd been playing cards earlier, but he hadn't noticed her leave despite his vantage.
"By the way," Bill said, oblivious to Gary's change of thought. "I'm keen on seein' y'all's progress on the Pokédex. Been working out some kinks in the tech lately, and I've been able to see all the data you collected so far. It's pretty incredible. I think I can start transmitting between the three devices now."
"Sure," Gary said, only half listening. He handed Bill his Pokédex. "I do wanna talk to you about the Pokédex, but right now I'm gonna turn in."
Bill eagerly accepted the small, blue computer and flipped it open. "O' course, any time. It's not just your skills 'n technique y'all gotta train. You need to know what kinda Pokémon you might encounter in the future, 'specially against the Gym Leaders. I reckon we got a bundle to talk about."
Gary rose out of his chair and recalled Eevee to its Pokéball before heading for the door. Misty and her sisters had given the trio rooms at the Gym for what was shaping up to be an extended stay in Cerulean City. His body tingled pleasantly with the effects of the alcohol he'd consumed, so he went slowly. Ash was so absorbed in his conversation with Misty that he didn't notice Gary leaving.
Once he closed the door to the living area, the Gym grew eerily quiet and dark. Only the river that ran through the main arena oriented him in the dark, and he followed the wall two doors down to the sleeping quarters. A hall light was on when he entered, and he put a hand on the wall as he walked. He licked his lips and tasted salt, sweat perhaps, or the lingering effects of the beer he'd drunk.
Daisy had shown him to a room at the end of the hall that he would share with Ash, while Ivy would room with Misty across the hall. He stopped alongside the wall in between the two rooms and lingered. The two doors, identical, stood at either side.
"What am I even doing?" he murmured to himself.
He ran his hands through his hair hard, scratching his scalp and waking himself up. Taking a deep breath, he knocked on the door to his right and leaned his forehead against it.
"It's open," a muffled voice said on the other side.
He fumbled for the knob and got it open after a small amount of difficulty. Inside it was dark, and he blinked to orient himself after absorbing the plentiful light in the hall. The back wall was made entirely of glass panels held together by carved stone. They let in the light cast by the moon and stars outside, bathing the otherwise pitch black room in a pale cloak. Ivy stood at the window looking out.
"What do you want, Gary?" she said without turning.
He wandered into the room slowly. "You left early. Feeling okay?"
"I'm fine. Just got a little loud in there is all."
There were a few articles of clothing discarded on the floor, softer and smaller than anything he owned, and he did his best to avoid them in the dark. The moonlight reflected off Ivy's bare arms and legs.
"Don't like the loud?"
"I like the dark," she said. "And the quiet." Her blue eyes caught a shadow of the moonlight when she turned to look at him over her shoulder. "But you knew that. And now you're here."
He approached until he stood directly behind her. "You want me to leave?"
She smirked and looked back at him through her lashes. "I want you to say what you came here to say."
He searched her face and tried to focus through the subtle haze of alcohol that magnified the moonlight around her. Maybe to balance himself, or maybe just because—but really because he knew exactly what he was doing—he hooked his fingers under her jaw and forced her to look up at him the way she'd done to him earlier that day.
"Why'd you do it?"
"I told you," she said softly. "In case I don't get a next time."
"You really have no faith in me?"
Her laughter reached his ears like bells at a funeral, pretty but heart wrenching. She faced him fully and ran a hand up his chest. "This," she said barely inches away from him, "You and me, it has nothing to do with faith."
Every instinct in his body screamed to take that last step forward, but his mind had always been stronger than his physical form. So he lingered at the edge of her, too suspicious to close the distance but too afraid to run.
"So it was just the moment," he said at last. "Life and death. We both acted on instinct back then without thinking. You're still the same girl I met in Pallet Town."
She sighed and caught his hand in hers to lower it from her face. "You know, Gary? I think you could use a little more moment and less clarity." She released him and circled around him toward the middle of the room. "You're still the same boy I met in Pallet Town, after all."
Sobriety had never hit him harder than in that moment. Shock devolved to simmering resentment out of nowhere, and he stuffed his hands into his pockets to keep her from seeing them shake. She stood with her arms crossed, gaze hard, waiting. Gary swore under his breath and made for the door without looking back.
Outside, the hallway lights made him flinch as his eyes adjusted. He stood out there for a long while, breathing and trying to forget the darkness, re-acclimate after all those beers. Laughter startled him out of his fitful reverie, and he looked up to see Ash and Misty smiling at something Ash had said.
"Uh, hey man," Ash said. "What're you doing out here?"
Misty frowned in concern. "Everything okay?"
Gary blinked hard and shoved off the wall. He opened the door to his shared room with Ash with more force than was necessary. "I'm fine."
He disappeared into the room, which was dark with disuse and wandered to one of the beds.
"That was weird," Misty's muffled voice drifted in from the hall. "You think he had too much to drink?"
"Nah, not Gary. He always knows when to back off," Ash said.
Gary sank back onto the bed and lay an arm over his eyes to blot out the yellow light filtering in from the hall. Soon, Ash's and Misty's voices faded as sleep crept in like a cold fog, and he breathed deep. The darkness settled over him, and he welcomed it.
Ash's head whipped forty-five degrees to the right and he saw not stars, like the stories liked to say, but double of everything in reverse as the ground rose to meet him instead of the other way around. The mud did little to break his fall, and his hip took a beating without armor to protect it. The skin on his cheek split and bled where Surge's ring cut through the skin after the fourth or fifth punch.
"Get up."
Ash winced and cupped his cheek. "Why, so you can hit me again?"
Surge glared at him through his aviators. The sun was at its zenith over Cerulean, though to Ash it seemed as though days had gone by and not mere hours.
"Until you learn how to fuckin' dodge or block me, then yeah."
Ash spit blood from his mouth and pushed himself up on his elbow. "Some teaching methods you got."
"You learn best when you memorize all the shit you did wrong so you don't do it when it counts. That's how I learned, and it's how you're gonna learn."
Ash struggled to his knees in the swampy mud and wiped his mouth on his already soiled sleeve. "Ever consider maybe it's not the best way to learn? I feel like my jaw's gonna fall off, shit."
"You ever consider you'll be in worse shape in a fight where your enemy actually wants to kill you? Whatcha gonna do then, huh? Ask for a time out? Whine like a baby? Get your ass up and come at me. I told you before, war ain't about winnin' so much as stayin' alive long enough to be the last man standing. So stand the fuck up."
Ash got to his feet, panting. Pikachu wasn't here to help him, and Surge had expressly forbidden him from using any other Pokémon. Only Haunter's ghostly presence remained within him, dormant. He stared down Surge, who had barely broken a sweat all day. It was faint, perhaps a trick of the light, but a golden hue flickered around him, like he stood before a bright light. Ash squinted and held up a hand to his eyes, not trusting them.
He musta hit me harder than I thought.
"Good," Surge said. "Now, hit me if you can."
Ash swallowed the pain in his face and took off at a jog. He picked up speed and ran at Surge, who crouched in anticipation. Ash pulled back a fist and Surge raised an arm to deflect, but at the last minute, Ash feinted and lashed out with his elbow. He caught Surge in the abdomen for half a second before an iron grip closed around his arm and threw him bodily to the side. Without thinking, he lashed out with his other hand and raked through something more solid than air.
A mouthful of mud was his reward for falling yet again. Deep within, Haunter stirred and whispered secrets in dead languages Ash could never hope to understand.
"Don't," he managed after spitting out the muck in his mouth.
The Ghost remained agitated within him, but it didn't emerge. A meaty hand closed around Ash's arm and hauled him up like he weighed nothing at all.
"Better," Surge said.
Ash's eyes widened at the long, bleeding tracks in Surge's shoulder. Blood seeped into his wife beater, but Surge barely noticed it.
"I'm sorry," Ash stammered.
"Don't be. I didn't expect your double feint. That was good instinct." He paused and regarded Ash's soiled face. "You move without thinking. Can't say I know many Mediums, but I did fight one once. This crazy bitch from Hoenn, heard she's one of their Elite Four now. She fought like she was on acid, like you. You pull shit outta your ass, and somehow it works most of the time. Not all the time, and that's your problem, but I'll say this—no one's gonna see you comin'. We could use that against Team Rocket."
Despite the ache in his face and the shredded skin under his nails, Ash grinned. "Thanks."
Surge grunted and released him. Ash nearly fell over before he caught himself.
"Again," Surge said.
"Again," Ivy said.
Gary eyed the knife in her hand—a switchblade, small but deadly—and wiped the blood from the cut on his face. His own switchblade lay in the damp grass where she'd knocked it from his hand. He bent down to pick it up, keeping an eye on Ivy as she circled him.
"You're too easy to read," she said. "I can see you coming a mile away."
"Why don't you put down the knife? Then it won't matter if you see me coming."
She smirked. "Why don't you put it down for me? If you can."
She moved like a trick of the light, fluid when she dodged but hard and ruthless when she jabbed. The knife was as much of an extension of her as the scars she carried around. If he'd ever doubted her story before, he couldn't anymore after watching her up close like this. Gary clicked his knife closed and put it in his pocket. Ivy narrowed her eyes, but said nothing.
He cracked his knuckles. "Okay, then."
He lunged, hands loose and elbows tucked in close to his body, and only closed his fist when he was close enough to slug Ivy in the face. Her switchblade reflected the light as it arced underhanded, and he was forced to turn. The blade ripped a hole in his T-shirt and nicked his skin, but it was shallow. Ivy rolled with his punch, but he managed to graze her jawline. Not missing a beat, he kicked his leg around and caught her in the shin. She grunted in pain, but fell to the side and cartwheeled over him out of the way. They were at a standstill with Ivy crouched low on the ground ready to bolt and Gary on his feet, panting.
"Geez, kid," Violet said, walking over. "You move like a Bellator. Where'd you learn your footwork?"
Gary wiped his mouth and nose on his sleeve and sniffled. "What's a Bellator?"
Violet sighed. "Forgot, this is all still new to you guys. Bellator is a Tamer class, specifically the guys who prefer Fighters." She made a face. "The ones I've met're all pretty handsy and slow up here," she tapped two fingers to her temple, "but they can sure as hell fight like none other. It's pretty incredible to watch them, actually, so long as you're not the one on the other end of their fists."
Ivy stood up and closed her switchblade, which Gary still had not managed to knock out of her hands. "I'm guessing it's not normal for a Clairvoyant to mimic a Bellator's fighting style."
Violet shook her head. "It's not normal for a Clairvoyant to fight at all. Not that you have a choice in this instance."
The two women watched Gary expectantly, and Ivy put her hands on her hips.
"Anything you wanna share?" she said.
"It's not a secret that I trained in Johto for a year."
"That doesn't answer my question."
"Huh, kinda shitty when when someone won't be straight with you, isn't it?"
Violet pursed her lips together. "Well, I'll leave you to it. Brock and Misty are working with their Pokémon, so join us when you're done out here and get some actual training in."
Gary and Ivy held their staring contest until Violet had disappeared inside the Gym once more.
"What're the fuck're you doing?" Ivy said. "Cut the crap already."
Gary shrugged. "You wanna know about my year in Johto, and I don't feel like talking about it. It's as simple as that."
"You're the one who said no more secrets. I held up my part of the deal."
"And you're the one who said you didn't care about what I did in Johto. Why the sudden interest?"
Ivy opened up her switchblade again and slashed it in an arc across her body. "Alright, be that way. I'll just have to cut it out of you!"
She came in swinging, and Gary was forced to backtrack to avoid her armed hand. He reached for her wrist, but she expected that and smacked him away with her other hand. Gary abandoned the plan and twisted away from her. He swept his leg out in an arc, but this time Ivy was ready and jumped. Using his momentum, he swung his fist around in a mean uppercut that caught her in the same place on her jaw as his last punch. If he'd had the time, he would have marvelled at the way she let the punch slide up her face, avoiding the brunt of the blow. Realizing his mistake too late, Gary only saw the flash of metal when she brought her switchblade down near his face.
But the blade never struck him, and he got an eyeful of her white-knuckled fist and the butt of the knife. His back hit the ground with a hollow thud, and Ivy straddled him before he could roll her off. Cold steel pressed against his throat, and he dared not swallow.
Furious blue met stunned green as she hovered just inches over him, pinning his legs with hers and applying just enough pressure to his throat to discourage retaliation. Her breath came in short, pronounced bursts and mingled with his. They stayed that way, suspended, for several moments. He gripped her arms in his hands.
"Good thing you kissed me before," he said. The blade nicked his throat where his Adam's apple rubbed against it when he spoke, and a thin line of blood trickled down the side of his neck. "Kinda looks like this time I really will die."
She blinked, and the ire faded from her eyes. Her gaze flickered down to his lips and then to the blade she held at his throat. The pressure on his throat eased some.
"You goddamned idio—"
He caught her by the back of the neck and, careless of the knife in her hand, pulled her down in a bruising kiss that cut her off and took her by surprise. She dropped the blade, and it drew a thin scratch along the side of his neck as it fell to the ground. There was mud in her hair and blood under the nails he raked through it.
She scrambled to regain a better angle against him, but he held fast and bit down on her lower lip. The pain made her hiss and he took opportunity to deepen the kiss until a sharp pain in his stomach knocked the wind out of him and caused him to spasm.
Ivy rolled off, fist clenched, and quickly got to her feet. Gary winced and managed to get to his knees while one arm held his middle protectively.
"What the hell?" he demanded. "I thought you wanted—"
"Shut up. We're in the middle of a fight."
He got to his feet, still clutching his middle, and held out a hand to fend her off in case she decided to lunge at him again. "That's what you want?"
Her mouth was slightly ajar, and her lower lip was swollen and turning red with the beginnings of a contusion. Her lips curled up in a smirk as she sized him up. "Afraid I'll beat your ass again?"
The pain in his middle had subsided enough to be tolerable, and he resumed his fighting stance. "You can't if you keep your distance."
They circled each other, and with each step the sounds of the world around them blended together in an unintelligible din. Ash's training with Surge, Misty and Brock duking it out in the Gym, the squelch of muddy water underfoot, the still and stagnant air, all white noise. Only her sharp intake of breath broke through the droning and spurred him into action.
He came at her with a left hook, and she ducked under it to get at his stomach. He brought his knee up to catch her in the jaw, but she rolled with it and sidestepped him completely. A backhand caught him in the temple, and she never stopped moving. Gritting his teeth, Gary swept out with his leg, waited for her to jump, and hooked an arm around her knee, throwing her off balance and forcing her to roll on the ground. He was waiting with a punch, but his fist ate mud when she rolled to the side and leaped to her feet.
A broken branch sat next to where his fist had punched the malleable ground, and he swiped it up and threw it at her. Ivy's eyes widened and she turned her back. The branch hit her shoulder, and Gary dove after it. She deflected his punch to the back of the head with her wrist and twisted around to slug him in the face. She never made it, and her fist hit his palm with a loud smack.
Locked in a stalemate, she was close enough to make out the faint scars Meowth had painted down his face. But instead of the fury he'd seen in her eyes before, they sparkled with vigor.
"Eyes open," she said.
He blinked and looked down to where her knee was perfectly positioned to kick him in the balls if he so much as breathed wrong.
"...I hate you," he said.
"Sure you do."
All of a sudden she went slack in his grip dug her nails into his shirt. Before he had time to worry about the future trajectory of her knee, she yanked him forcefully down into another crushing kiss that sent his head spinning. Teeth tugged at his lip in rhythm with her wandering fingers that pulled fruitlessly at his soiled shirt, searching for the bare skin underneath. There was no room for clarity, for thought, for any consideration even of what the hell he was doing in broad daylight letting her push him around with sharp knives and persistent fingers. There was just the moment in a way he'd never felt it before.
His hands found her waist and the hem of her black tank top, which dragged up happily and without a fight as he kissed her back. But just when he got a good hold on her, she flattened her palms against his chest and pushed him away with all her strength. Shock and the dizziness of the moment cost him an ungainly stumble, and his foot splashed in a pool of water, soaking him to the knee.
She had retrieved her switchblade while he reoriented himself and now wielded it backhand. Her navel, smeared with his finger tracks in dirt and a little blood, peeked out from where he'd hiked up her shirt.
"Again," she said.
Damn, pesky woman.
But he met her blow for blow until he couldn't take anymore, and they picked each other up out of the muck, one foot at a time, until it was their Pokémon's turn to train.
For the next seven months they would stay together, best friends turned rivals and the girl who'd landed on their doorstep with secrets better left unsaid. One foot at a time.
