Contest Arena

"It's time to begin the next match! To my left is Saffron City's Trish!" Marian shouted to the audience.

Trish had a confident look on her face. Despite earlier statements, she was hyped to take on her opponent.

"To my right is Arrowroot Town's Princess Salvia!"

Princess Salvia waved to the audience for a few moments before turning her attention to Trish with a smirk on her face. She looked ready to fight.

"This round shall be a single battle, so release your Pokémon!"

Princess Salvia pulled out a small red box and took out a regular Pokeball. "Togekiss, I choose you!"

She used her index finger to press the centre button and release her Pokémon onto the stage.

Trish let out a deep breath and exhaled. She curled her right shirt sleeve back a bit to reveal a bracelet with 6 crystals around her arm. "Espeon, I choose you."

She used her index finger to touch the largest one, releasing her Shiny. Espeon onto the field.

"Let the match begin!" Marian shouted as the wheel was replaced with a 5 minute timer.

Princess Salvia started the match by issuing her first command to Togekiss. "Togekiss, use Thunder Wave."

Togekiss dashed towards Trish's Espeon and fired a gigantic wave of Electricity. But when the attack collided with Espeon, the wave was sent back to Togekiss, paralyzing the Pokemon and causing Salvia to lose a few points on the board.

Salvia was stunned. "How did that happen?"

Trish smirked. "Magic Bounce. This ability negates Status effects and sends it right back to the original user."

Salvia clenched her fists. "Fine then. Togekiss, Air Slash."

Togekiss complied with its trainer's command and began to charge at Espeon once again.

Trish began to think about what to do to counter Salvia's Togekiss. That's when it hit her. "Espeon, use Iron Tail!"

Espeon ran at Salvia's Togekiss similar to two bulls charging at each other. When they collided, they hit each other with their attacks. But because of Togekiss' typing, Salvia lose more points.

"How can Espeon learn that?" Salvia asked Trish.

"Now's the time to implement my plan. She appears to be an easy target." Trish said in her mind.

Trish then smiled. "It's quite simple Salvia. Not only did Togekiss get a type change. But now Espeon is Psychic/Steel."

Salvia was dumbfounded at what Trish said. "That does explain how Espeon can use that move. But no matter, it does get a weakness to Fire type attacks now so I should probably use that."

"Togekiss, use Flamethrower!"

Togekiss opened its mouth despite the paralysis and fired a huge beam of fire at Espeon.

Trish got scared. If Espeon didn't get out of the way in time, she would take damage.

"Espeon, dodge!"

Espeon jumped into the air as high as it could, but her hind legs got singed by the fire attack and Espeon was in pain from those burns.

As Trish's point total decreased, Princess Salvia smirked. She thought she was going to win this match now because of Espeon's injury and began to plan her final attack. "Togekiss, finish this off with Aura Sphere."

Despite the paralysis on Togekiss' body, it managed to create the Aura Sphere attack in it's wings.

Trish was worried now. Her Espeon was in pain, and she was worried that her Pokémon would be unable to dodge this attack.

"Come on Espeon, please get up!" Trish shouted to her Espeon.

Espeon was able to get up but was in extreme pain from the burns to its hind legs.

"Espeon, it's time to use Psychic!"

Espeon was in extreme pain, but was able to concentrate enough energy to light up her gem and fire a wave of Psychic energy at the Flamethrower, creating an explosion in the arena and causing both Coordinators to lose points.

"Espeon!"

"Togekiss!"

The dust lasted for a few minutes before the fans were turned on to remove the smoke. When the smoke cleared, both Pokémon were still standing, but appeared to be too damaged.

Marian walked to the center of the arena with her microphone and began to speak to the audience.

"This match is over. Both Pokemon are unable to battle any longer due to their conditions. So it's time to announce a winner."

Both Coordinators turned their attention to the screen and saw the results. "The winner is Trish!"

But Trish didn't celebrate; the first thing on her mind was getting her Espeon to a Pokémon Center. So she returned her Pokémon and ran off, leaving Princess Salvia confused.

Waiting Room

"That was an interesting match, but I hope that Espeon is going to be okay." Dawn said.

"We'll only know with time." May responded.

"The sad truth May is that Espeon is important to her, she wants to protect it at all costs." Suzy told May.

May turned around and asked Suzy. "How so?"

Flashback: 5 years ago.

Tonight was a big night for David, Suzy and Trish, they were going to celebrate our graduation from the Pokémon School and then head off to the dance.

After the graduation however, Trish was nowhere to be seen.

Later

Suzy and David were walking over to the gymnasium where the dance took place. Suzy was wearing a purple prom dress, while David wore a regular black suit, black pants and dress shoes and a red tie.

"This is going to be a great dance, isn't it Davy?" Suzy asked

David blushed. "I guess so."

But as they walked to the doors, they heard crying from the changing room a meter next to them.

"What's that?" Suzy asked David.

"Not sure. But I think we should go and check it out."

They opened the door and saw Trish on a bench crying.

"Trish what's wrong?" David asked with concern.

Trish began to shake in fear. David began to walk closer until Trish finally told him. "My mother… is…"

David's eyes teared up a bit, until he collected himself and began to speak. "I understand Trish, you don't need to finish. I am so sorry for your loss."

David took a seat next to Trish and tried to calm her down.

"David, we don't have the time for this, the doors will lock in a few minutes and we won't be able to enter the dance. I'm sorry for your loss Trish. But we got to go." Suzy said.

"Suzy, our friend is depressed right now. She needs all the help we can give her." David told Suzy.

"No guys, it's fine…. I'll be okay…." Trish said on the verge of crying.

"You heard her David. Now let's go."

"Are you sure Trish?" David asked.

Trish slowly nodded her head. She didn't say a word.

David and Suzy left the room and heard Trish crying again.

David turned around and faced the door again. Suzy got angry in response to this.

"David, we have to go now!"

David began to curl up his fists.

"She'll be fine."

"Let's go, I didn't go all out for this just to get locked out."

David then snapped in anger. He turned around and told Suzy off. "Shut up! That's our friend in there and you care more about this stupid dance than her!"

"This is the only dance we have David. We won't get another chance at this!" Suzy shouted back.

David then uncurled his fists and let out a sigh. "You know what you also don't get another chance at? Life. I am worried that because of this, Trish might go down that path of no return."

"She won't David. She told us that she would be fine."

"So why aren't we helping Trish out in her moment of weakness?"

"Because this dance is important to us."

David then got even angrier and began to shout. "Us? Us! I only attended this dance because I wanted the three of us to be happy! Look whose missing!"

"I can't believe this. You honestly care about that dance than your own friend!"

"She'll be fine David. Calm down."

David was silent for a moment. He had no words to respond with. " You know what. Go enjoy your dance, I am done with you."

David left the hallway and went back to the changing room. Suzy just walked away to go to the dance.

"Hey David. Why did you come back? I told you I was fine." Trish asked David.

David took a seat next to Trish. "Trish, you are depressed right now because of what happened. I don't know what you could do, so I want to make sure you'll be okay, no matter how long it takes."

Trish weakly smiled. "Thank you David… You know it's funny, we've been friends for years and yet you're always reaching your neck out to make me happy, regardless of whether or not you get hurt."

David smiled in response. "I have gotten hurt a lot haven't I?"

They both began to laugh for a bit before calming down.

Trish then hugged David. "Thanks David, I needed something to cheer me up even if it was at your expense."

David then hugged Trish back. "It's okay. I am just glad to make you happy, which reminds me."

David broke off the hug for a second to reach into his pocket and pull out a Pokeball.

"I found you an Eevee."

Trish became overwhelmed with emotions and hugged David tight. "Oh thank you, thank you, thank you so much David. I've looked all over for this Eevee."

David gave her the Pokeball and she put it in her wallet. But when Trish turned back to David, she gazed into his eyes for a bit. She didn't understand this feeling she was having or why.

David became nervous at Trish's gaze and gazed into her eyes as a result.

They stared into each other's eyes for a bit before David leaned in to kiss Trish on the head.

They blushed as a result. They didn't understand this feeling they both had, nor did they understand why it was happening. But for some reason, it felt so good for the two trainers.

End Flashback

"That Espeon originally belonged to David and she treats it as a memento to her family member. She is always reminded of that event whenever her Espeon is in pain. That's why it's important to her."

"That would explain it. But why didn't Trish tell us this in the first place?" Dawn asked to Suzy.

"Trish may say a lot of stuff, but that incident is hard for her to talk about. Heck, it's hard for me to talk about because that was the night I lost David, and that was also the night where I decided to change myself for the better."

"I understand. Trish's bond with Espeon is most likely similar to the bond Trish had with her family member. So when it's hurt, Trish feels it." Nando said.

"That's probably it. Odds are Trish's Espeon will be fine, so yeah." Suzy responded.