Disclaimer: Honestly, what do you really think?
--pokemon center; Cianwood Island—
I know there has to be a way… Karen thinks. Karen is in the Pokemon Center's cafeteria. Her pokemon are chowing down. Karen is just picking at her steak though. There has to be another weakness I can use…
"This seat taken?" Karen looks up and sees Bruno standing there with his tray. Karen just shrugs. Bruno sits down across from her. His pokemon, a Hitmonchan and a Hitmonlee, are at the table next to them. Karen is still just picking at her food.
"There has to be a way…" she mumbles.
"Ever consider a bird?" Bruno says. Karen looks up.
"Huh?" she says.
"Flying type is also super effective."
"I would like to stay with darks."
"So get a Murkrow." Bruno smirks at Karen's reaction. Umbreon growls.
"What's with Umbreon?" he asks. Karen smirks.
"A Murkrow nailed her on the nose." She replies. Umbreon goes back to her food. "Hmm… maybe I should have caught it…" She hears a snort, and looks down. It's pretty easy to see that Umbreon isn't thrilled with that comment.
"Grow up." Karen says with a smirk. Umbreon just stuffs her face. Karen shakes her head and turns back to Bruno.
"So now I gotta go find one… I doubt they are on this island."
"Not usually…" Bruno says. "The only ones here are the ones trainers bring. And…How the heck are you doing that!" Karen looks at him strangely, then turns to where he is looking. Somehow his Hitmonchan is using chopsticks.
"What the…" Karen says.
"I don't remember ordering that…" Bruno says. Hitmonchan points to Hitmonlee. Hitmonlee just shrugs. "Don't do that guys…" Bruno groans. Karen smiles.
"Excuse me…" Bruno and Karen turn to see Nurse Joy come in holding a Murkrow. "You're the Dark type trainer that came in earlier right?" she asks Karen.
"Yeah." Karen replies.
"Is this your pokemon?" Joy asks.
"I don't have a Murkrow. Not yet anyway." Joy looks at her strangely.
"That's odd…"
"What's going on?" Bruno asks.
"You really didn't notice her?" Joy asks Karen.
"Notice what?" Karen asks.
"She was following you to the Gym. Then when you came back, she was still following you. That's why I thought she was yours." Karen just stares at her a moment. Bruno snorts.
"I had a Murkrow following…wait a minute. You're the little Murkrow that pecked Umbreon on our way to Olivine."
"Krow!" Murkrow shouts.
"I already healed her wing. She's battle ready. According to the pokemon identification machine upstairs, she has no trainer."
"Then why did you think it was hers?" Bruno asks.
"Mostly because of the way she followed her." Joy replies. Bruno nods. "Do you want her?" Karen smiles.
"Does she want to come with me?" Karen asks.
"Krow!" Murkrow flies out of Joy's arms and lands on the seat next to Karen.
"I'll take that as a 'yes'." Karen says. Karen takes out a pokeball. Murkrow beats her to it and presses the button, effectively catching herself. Karen's smile fades as Umbreon starts growling.
"This is going to get interesting." Bruno says smirking. Karen just shakes her head.
"Would it kill you to just get along?" Karen asks Umbreon. Umbreon jumps on her lap and noses the pokeball with Murkrow in it out of her hand. It lands on the floor releasing the dark bird. Murkrow looks up at Karen and Umbreon. Umbreon starts growling.
"I guess it would." Bruno comments. Karen sighs. Murkrow flies up to the seat.
"Now you two will have to get along." She says to both of them. Umbreon lies down on her lap still glaring at Murkrow.
"Krow?" Murkrow asks.
"Um…bree…ON!" Umbreon replies. Karen sighs and shakes her head.
"You're right, this will get interesting." Karen says to Bruno. "Behave, both of you." Umbreon closes her eyes, while Murkrow gives her the 'sad/innocent' routine. Karen gives some of the vegetables on her dish to Murkrow. She seems happy enough with that. She pets her a bit, then finishes her steak. After everyone (on her side anyway) is done, Karen heads outside. Time to see what Murkrow can do.
--Cianwood Gym… oh boy…--
"Why are you following me?" Karen asks. Bruno has accompanied her to the gym.
"Because I gotta see this." Bruno says with a smirk. "Chuck said you put up a pretty good fight when you came in before. Though I wish I knew what the 'wheel routine' was." Karen grins.
"That would be Haunter." Karen replies. On arriving at the arena, it is deserted. Karen takes a deep breath…
"Not necessary." Chuck says entering the room. Karen gives him the sweetest smile she can.
"You're no fun." She says. Then she notices who is behind him. Blake and Jace.
"Hey sweetheart! We meet again!" Jace calls. Karen groans.
"Told ya. Just nail him." Bruno says behind her. Jace heard it though.
"You stay out of it idiot." Jace yells at him coldly. "You and your second-rate pokemon shame the gym and our leader." Bruno is pissed.
"Come over here and say that." Bruno challenges. Karen smacks her hand on her head.
"While these two figure out what they're doing, can we battle? I want my badge." Karen says. Chuck laughs.
"Eager for another beating? Well, we aim to please." He says laughing. The referee takes Karen's dex and inserts it in the machine.
"Karen of Elwane Town versus Cianwood Leader Chuck! Two on two. Begin when ready." The referee announces. Bruno just stares at Karen. So do Blake and Jace. Karen just sighs.
"I am really starting to hate that." Karen mumbles.
"Poor kid. You must really hate getting that reaction." Chuck says on the other side of the arena. Karen looks at him.
"BATTLE NOW!" she shouts releasing Haunter. Chuck shrugs and releases Primeape. Primeape tries to get a foresight, but Haunter is faster with Double Team. Mix in the wheel routine and there is a serious problem. Not only can Primeape not tell which the real one is, all he can see are multiple moving blurs. Once Haunter starts mixing in Tackle, the match quickly goes in his favor. Chuck recalls Primeape. Haunter returns to Karen's side of the arena. Poliwrath is out next.
"Girl is good." Bruno remarks on the side.
"She's definitely gonna be my girlfriend." Jace says.
"I'D RATHER DIE FIRST." Karen calls from the arena. Jace starts the wounded pride bit. Bruno chuckles. Meanwhile, Poliwrath has managed to get the Foresight on, and has also used Lock On. Haunter is doing everything he can to mess with Poliwrath's accuracy, but unfortunately it is useless. The Dynamic Punch lands dead-on, and goes critical. Haunter is down. Karen recalls him. Then she grabs her new pokeball. Murkrow sits on the floor of the arena. After stretching her wings, she takes off and hovers in the air.
"You really think that's gonna help?" Chuck asks.
"Can't hurt." Karen replies with a smile. Chuck shrugs.
"Dynamic Punch!"
"Dodge and Peck!" Murkrow avoids the Dynamic Punch, and lands the flying move. The second and third also land. However, the Hydro Pump from Poliwrath nails dead on. Murkrow is able to get up and flies back at it with a Wing Attack. Poliwrath goes down.
"Not bad." Chuck says. Murkrow goes over to Karen.
"I didn't know you could use Wing Attack." Karen says picking Murkrow up. "I wonder where you learned that?"
"Krow!" Murkrow is very happy. Chuck comes over and hands her the Storm Badge and some money.
"You have definitely earned it." He says. Karen smiles. "With that Houndoom, you will probably make short work of Jasmine, too."
"Huh?" Karen says. Chuck laughs.
"Don't worry, you'll see when you get there." He says. Karen starts to leave, but Jace blocks the door.
"How about a date sweetheart?" he says. "Tough trainers should always hang out." Karen closes her eyes for a moment.
'Just sock him in the mouth. He'll get the idea. That's what the girls around here do. Jace doesn't take a hint unless you 'convince' him.' Bruno's words echo in her mind. So, she takes a deep breath and swings. Jace goes down in a heartbeat. Blake just stares at her. Bruno and Chuck both chuckle.
"Not only are her pokemon tough, she is too." Chuck says. "You keep picking fights with the wrong women Jace." Jace groans and slowly gets up. Karen looks at him.
"Gonna leave me alone now?" she asks coldly. Jace backs up with his hands raised.
"I get it, I get it…" he says. Karen smirks as she leaves the gym. Time to head back to Olivine.