Here's my second upload of the day. With real life in the way at the moment I can't guarantee my next upload, but I hope you'll be around for Mind Over Matter Part 3 and the conclusion to the Saffron City arc. I hope you were excited to see the surprise guest in the last chapter, and the battle with her will be amazing.


Chapter Eleven: Mind Over Matter Part 2

"Come at me with everything you've got!" Kris called across the clearing to Quilava. "Flame Charge!"

Quilava rushed at his trainer who braced himself for impact. The flames lit up around the Fire Pokemon as his speed increased. He rammed hard into Kris's forearms that were protecting his chest, and also protected by fire-retardant cloth. The force sent Kris off his feet and onto his back.

"That was … good," Kris huffed, trying to catch his breath. Quilava came next to him and started licking his face apologetically.

"Lunch is almost ready!" Jule called from the camp. She was watching over some fish they had caught and stuck sticks through to cook them on the fire.

Kris stood up as he said, "Yeah, okay." He looked back to his Pokemon. "Let's do it one more time, and really let me have it!"

Jule shook her head as she watched the boys go at it. She looked over to Rally and said, "I'll never understand boys."

"Ralts," Rally said with a nod.

"Hot!" Kris shouted suddenly. Jule glanced up to see a part of Kris's sleeve had caught fire from the last attack. He quickly hit the ground and began rolling back and forth while Quilava frantically hopped on him to smother the flames.

"Like I said," Jule sighed.


"It's still not enough," Kris said through a mouthful of crispy fish.

Jule finished sipping from her canteen and looked at Kris. "Rally can catch you another fish if you're that hungry. I'd rather not see you try again," she added, remembering how he was dragged into the river by an oversized Magikarp while Rally used her Psychic attack just to lift the fish out of the water.

Kris swallowed and said, "Not that. I'm talking about our training. We've been out here for three days now, but I still don't feel like we'll be able to beat Sabrina."

"Give up on that," Jule pleaded. "Let's just head on to Cerulean like we planned. You can come back later to fight her. Quilava needs way more than a week to finish healing. Besides, have you even considered his feelings in this? Maybe he just wants a break?"

Quilava and Kris looked to each other, both with a strip of fish hanging from their mouths. "That true?" Kris asked in his muffled voice. Quilava shook his head. Kris looked back to Jule and said, "See, he wants to fight."

Jule palmed her forehead but thought best not to argue with the two blockheads. Giving it a quick thought, she said, "Then try to think of a strategy other than power and hiding in smoke. You saw her fight before, right? What was it like?"

"Like nothing I've ever seen. Alakazam never even took a hit. He used his abilities to basically make his opponents fight themselves. He had some kind of barrier that protected against all physical attacks, and another move like Psychic I think that turned all special attacks right to the user."

Jule tapped a finger on her chin in thought. "That seems like an unstoppable Pokemon. If you're lucky you may be able to get in one attack, so you'd have to find a way to make it count."

"Well, what are Psychic-types weak against?" Kris asked.

"How should I know?" Jule said defensively, focusing on her fish now.

"Don't give me that! You know a lot more about Pokemon than you're letting on! How else would you know Ralts don't live in Kanto?"

"I'm not a Pokemon freak like you, Kris. I can't remember everything."

"But you do! You remember every detail of those books you would read in Dad's study."

Jule didn't reply. Kris knew he had her and she couldn't force the lie any longer. After a moment of taking his stern, winning look, Jule placed her fish down and said, "Fine, I know everything about Pokemon – at least what was in those books – but I'm not helping you."

"Why not?" Kris asked.

A sorrowful look appeared on Jule's face. "I don't want you to fight in the Underground here. It's way too dangerous. Psychic-type Pokemon are no joke. They can injure you and Quilava in a way Charizard never could've."

There was a silence between the friends. Not even the Pokemon made any noise. Kris knew she was right, though. The fight with Charizard was bad, so imagine facing Alakazam. He couldn't live with himself if something that bad or worse happened to Quilava again.

"I don't want you two getting hurt again," Jule said finally.

"I know," Kris said. "But we're not facing a jerk like Ash. I'm sure Sabrina will be more professional about the fight. She seemed nice enough, anyway."

"You still wanna fight?" Jule asked sadly.

Kris and Quilava nodded together. "Yeah. This is a step for us to become stronger so we can face Ash again, and show him the kind of pain he brought on us. I don't care to injure others, especially Pokemon,"—Kris clenched a fist tightly—"but he deserves it."

"Alakazam is weak against Ghost, Bug, and Dark types," Jule said suddenly. Kris looked up at Jule in confusion. "You wanted to know, right?"

"You want to help us?" Kris asked in bewilderment.

Jule shrugged. "It's not like I can stop you. And at least with me you'll have a fighting chance. Think of me as your Battle Choreographer," she added with a wink.

"Awesome!" Kris said excitedly along with Quilava. "So, got any ideas?"

Jule went quiet as she thought for a moment, then said, "Well, I know a way better move set for Quilava, but it'll take too much time to learn the new moves. I suppose there's one that should be rather easy to learn, though."


A large steel snake Pokemon towered over Alakazam. Sabrina stood in the trainer box on her end of the arena with a calm demeanor while a rugged man of early twenties stood on the other side, looking pumped for the battle.

"Alakazam," was all Sabrina said to start the match.

Immediately a shiny, clear barrier formed around Alakazam, his eyes glowing a deep blue has his psychic powers began to grow with a second move that Sabrina didn't have to verbally order it to use.

"Steelix," the man called, "use Iron Tail!"

The Steelix roared as its massive tail whipped around and hit the barrier surrounding Alakazam. The glassy dome didn't budge underneath the force. Sabrina and Alakazam's expressions remained neutral and calm–they were in control.

A blue aura wrapped around Steelix and slowly lifted it into the air. A gasp came from its trainer, along with the rest of the crowd. The wise-looking Pokemon held an arm out straight, its spoon held completely vertical, and crossed the other arm over that one. "Ka … zam!" he cried, flicking the outstretched spoon forward.

The Steelix flew toward its trainer. The unshaven man screamed in terror as he dove out of the way and the metal serpent crashed into the ground. It was out cold.

"Amazing," Jule said as she and Kris watched from the stands. "You're right, she's tough."

"Yeah," Kris nodded. "Did you catch what she was doing?"

"I did," Jule said brightly. "She started off using Reflect. It's supposed to weaken physical type attacks, but Alakazam is so powerful that it just nullifies them completely. However, if you wait a few turns, it wears off and that's where your window of opportunity lies, but you have to be fast."

"Got that covered," Kris said with a grin, looking to Quilava who grinned back.

"Next she used Calm Mind," Jule continued. "It amplifies special attacks. There's no stopping it from happening, but it allows you time to build up some speed. However, you have to watch out for that final attack, Psychic. It's already a powerful move, and with Calm Mind on top of it it's no wonder it's a one-hit KO."

Jule looked to Kris who was gaping at her. She blushed in embarrassment as she said, "What?"

"You learned all that from one short fight?" Kris said.

Jule gave a nervous laugh as she scratched the back of her head. "It wasn't hard. The only thing is, I don't know Alakazam's final move, nor his Ability. But with the move we teach Quilava, I don't think any of those will be a problem."

"Great!" Kris stood up with his clenched fists raised at his sides. "Then let's get down to it! We've only got a few more days."


The air was peaceful. The sun shone bright in the sky without a cloud in sight. Not that Spencer was looking at the sky, though, as he sat on the riverbank with his Pokemon next to him. They both sat cross-legged and had their eyes closed, meditating silently.

The Pokemon had a thin upper body and stout legs. As they sat, it opened its left eye to peak at its trainer.

"I saw that," Spencer said, not having opened his eyes at all. "Take your meditation more seriously, Medicham."

"Cham," the Pokemon sighed, closing his eyes.

They continued in silence for longer, until a noise caused Spencer's ears to twitch. What was it? He knew Medicham hadn't moved through his ESP. Spencer opened his eyes and looked around. The disturbance caught Medicham's attention as well.

"What in the world could that be?" Spencer said as he stood and started climbing up from the riverbank … only to see a familiar boy out with his Pokemon.

"Agility one more time!" Kris shouted. "And this time, really fly!"

Quilava leapt forward off the ground, darting at a blinding speed as he stayed airborne only inches off the ground—for about five seconds before crashing into the dirt.

"Brush it off!" Kris encouraged. "You're almost there. Let's keep it up!"

"What are you two doing?" Spencer asked as he walked up to them.

Kris and Quilava stopped and gazed at the Psychic trainer. "Oh, it's you," Kris said sourly, not wanting to bother with this guy.

"Can you keep it down?" Spencer told him. He jut a thumb toward his Pokemon as he said, "Medicham and I are hard at work training right now, and you keep interrupting our meditation."

"You call that hard work?" Kris laughed. "Quilava and me are doing some real training."

"Making a bunch of racket is your idea of training?" Spencer said, almost disgusted by the thought.

"It makes us stronger than sittin' around humming."

Spencer raised an eyebrow. "Care to prove that?"

"Anytime, anywhere."

"At the Underground tonight. I'll arrange for a one-on-one match."

"You're on!" Kris said with a defiant grin as he watched Spencer walk away. He looked to Quilava and gave him a thumbs-up. "Your wound should be good enough, right?" Quilava merely gave him an unsure shrug. "Well, once we learn this move, we'll be untouchable and won't have to worry. Let's go! Agility!"


"I can't believe you!" Jule exclaimed as she, Kris, and their Pokemon walked down the long corridor to the Underground arena. "Quilava's stitches come out in three days, but you're already picking a fight? I oughtta slap you." She reached out and hit Kris in the back of the head with her flattened palm.

"Feel better?" Kris asked with a disgruntled look as he rubbed the back of his head.

"A little, but I'm still angry with you."

Rally and Quilava both exchanged unsure looks between them.

"So what Pokemon did you say Spencer has?" Jule asked as they walked through the market now.

"A Medicham," Kris answered.

Jule thought for a moment before saying, "It should be a good match up, then. But that's only if Quilava was at a hundred percent. I wish you'd quit pushing him so hard."

"He wants this just as much as me."

"Whatever," Jule said flatly as she turned away from him. "I'm heading to the stands." She started for a passage leading off the market ward, but then turned around and gave Kris and Quilava a worried but hopeful look as she said, "Be careful out there."

Kris made his away to a desk that had a sign posted that said "Arena Entrance." A young woman sat there, going over paperwork. "Excuse me," Kris said.

The woman looked up uninterestedly. "There aren't any events tonight. Only private matches."

"That's what I'm here for," Kris told her. "I'm battle a guy named Spencer."

The woman looked to a registration sheet off to the side and scanned over it. "Oh, I see," she said in a monotone. "You're up next. Go on in."

Kris walked passed her through the large double doors and into a short hallway that opened into another room. There were a few other trainers waiting for their turn in the arena.

"I thought I felt a telepathical disturbance," came a familiar and obnoxious voice.

Spencer was sitting on a bench with Medicham next to him. They both just opened their eyes, possibly both were meditating. Spencer stood as he continued to address Kris. "For someone with such high optimism and enthusiasm, your neurotransmitters sure are lacking."

Kris raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"

Spencer sighed as he rubbed his temples. "You really are brain dead, huh?"

"Oh yeah?" Kris said, realizing the insult. "Well my neu—whatever will outperform yours any day!"

"Sure," Spencer said, holding back a laugh out the lame comeback. "Well, we're up next."

"Let's do it," Kris said sternly as he and Quilava fell in stride with Spencer and Medicham as they headed for the door to the arena.


The crowd was thinner than the previous night when Sabrina had battled. The trainers and their Pokemon took their positions on the arena floor. There was no referee and no announcer calling the match. It would be a free-for-all, and only the trainers would decide what was fair.

Being in a new arena made Kris nervous, but it excited him even more. He was pumped for this fight, as was Quilava whose plumes were already ablaze with anticipation. Looking to his opponent, Kris saw the calmness in both Spencer and Medicham. Spencer had his arms crossed and relaxed, his eyes closed. Medicham's eyes were closed as well as he balanced on one leg, his body completely unmoving for the strain of balancing. They were well trained, and Kris could tell that immediately.

"Go, Quilava!" Kris shouted, ready to get the preemptive strike. "Flame Charge!"

Quilava shot forward like a rocket with fire draping around him. The opponent didn't react immediately until Spencer finally called out, "Detect."

Medicham's eyes popped open. He immediately gazed over Quilava, then spun to the side at the last minute, allowing the Fire Pokemon's attack to soar by him.

"Calm Mind," Spencer ordered.

"This trick," Kris said. "Watch out, Quilava. He's gonna come with Psychic next! Smokescreen 'im!"

Quilava shot out a puff of black smoke that covered the field, obscuring him and Medicham from view of the trainers and onlookers.

Kris placed his goggles over his eyes as the smoke reached him. "Follow up with Flamethrower!"

"Psychic," Spencer said plainly.

Kris watched in surprise as the fire and smoke began wrapping together, clearing the field of the black veil. It all balled together, and with a flick of Medicham's wrist, sent it straight for Quilava, hitting him in the chest and sent him backwards across the floor.

"Quilava, you all right?" Kris called in worry.

Quilava pulled himself to his feet and nodded, keeping his eyes on Medicham.

"This might be tougher than we thought," Kris said. "If you're not up to it, Quilava, we can stop."

"Giving up already?" Spencer said with a sly smile.

"I'm more worried about my friend than I am about some stuck up snob," Kris told him.

Quilava barked, grabbing the attention of the trainers. He gave Kris a determined look that told him he wanted to see this to the end. Kris couldn't help but smile as he said, "Then let's do this. Flame Charge!"

The fire burned brighter around Quilava than before as he rushed at Medicham. Spencer merely said, "Detect," and once again his Pokemon dodged, with Quilava rushing past him.

"You can't dodge forever," Kris said. "Quilava's only getting faster and faster. Show them your speed with Flame Charge once more!"

"Force Palm," Spencer commanded.

The two Pokemon rushed at each other. Flames danced around Quilava as Medicham's hand shone brightly with energy. The two attacks collided, causing a burst of energy to shake the arena floor. Medicham's attack, however, overpowered the Flame Charge. The Force Palm connected against Quilava's face and he was thrown backwards, sliding across the ground and almost to Kris's feet.

"Get up!" Kris called. "Hurry before—"

"Psychic." Medicham's eyes glowed a bright purple. The same type of glow surrounded Quilava and lifted him into the air, tossing him backwards and into Kris, taking the trainer off his feet.

"Give up," Spencer told Kris. "You'll never touch Medicham, just like you'll never touch Sabrina's Alakazam."

Kris glowered at Spencer as he stood up and returned Quilava to the battle field. "There's something you don't know about me, Spence." Spencer looked at him questioningly. "I've got the smartest girl in the world on my side, and she's already warned me about all of Medicham's attacks. Though I don't remember even half of what she told me, there is one thing I remember."

"And what's that?" Spencer asked.

"I'll show you. Flamethrower, now!" Quilava let out a burst of fire toward Medicham, spreading out in a large cone.

"Detect," Spencer said.

A smile cracked on Kris's lips. "Hit it, Quilava! Aerial Ace!"

Spencer's eyes became wide as he heard the attack called. Quilava shot off the ground with a burst of speed, soaring mere inches above the ground. As Medicham dodged the Flamethrower, he was unprepared for the next attack.

"Detect!" Spencer called in worry, and despite the use of the move, Quilava's attack still hit its mark, sending Medicham flying backwards and into the arena wall.

"The thing about Detect," Kris said, "is its effectiveness gets lowered if used consecutively. And also, your Medicham is part Fighting, allowing a Flying-type move like Aerial Ace to be double effective, on top of the critical hit I just gave you."

As the smoke cleared around Medicham everyone could see he had been knocked out cold. Spencer couldn't believe his eyes as he stared at his Pokemon.

"Dealing with Psychic-types is mind over matter," Kris said with a big grin. "And since Quilava and me don't mind the challenge, you certainly don't matter."


"That was amazing!" Jule said excitedly as they returned to their camp outside of Saffron. "You got pummeled in the beginning, but you really turned it around. Quilava, you did wonderful!"

"How about some praise for the trainer?" Kris said, offended. "It was my quick thinking that won the match."

"Using information I gave you," Jule said. "But I suppose you didn't do too bad either. And I'm surprised you mastered Aerial Ace in just a day."

"It was rough, but we didn't give up. Right Quilava?" Kris looked to his Pokemon walking beside him. Quilava hummed in joy as he nodded. "I think we're ready for Sabrina, now."

"Not until I take those stitches out," Jule said. "Speaking of which, I'm looking at Quilava when we get to camp. That wound could've opened up."

"I doubt it," Kris said. "Anyway, I think we can wait a couple days to battle her. It'll give us time to perfect Aerial Ace."

"Boys never stop, do they?" Jule said to Rally who was in her arms.

"Ralts," Rally said, shaking her head.

Kris looked up at the night sky, stars dazzling and shining down on them. And he saw his lucky star, shining brighter than all of them. Regardless of how powerful Sabrina would be, he had a good feeling about the fight. In only a few days, he and Quilava would be ready to face anything coming their way, no doubt.