I replayed one of my Persona instead of continuing my Fire Red after finishing my Layton. I should came back to my Pikachu and Magikarp before anything happens…

23rd Poke: The Definition of Battle

Trainers come with different style of battle. The finest example would be the gym leaders scattered all across Kanto. We could see endurance battle from Brock – one who relies on raw stamina to tire their opponents before striking. The offensively fluid combat from Misty – one who fights according to the flow, smooth like dance moves. Lieutenant Surge never bothers with defense – his quick attacks are enough as defense, speed like lightning strike. Calculative Blaine prefers the slow, strategic assault – gauging his enemy before landing a critical hit.

I could say, so far, no one had been quite like what Erika showed us.

She is a brilliant fighter, they'd said. Erika comes from a traditional family – the kind that won't allow modernization destroy their customs – a highly respected member since she's their first and only daughter. I'd have guessed that she would be all prim and proper, a battle as boring as normal in turns to respect the traditional way of battling each other. My guesses had never been so wrong…

"I've heard about how you beat every gym leaders before me with everything they got" she had said, bowing. Her gaze went straight to Red, piercing and determined. She picked a red flower, smoothing its petal to reveal a blazing red crystal. Her fingers delicately picked another flower, this time concealing a mild glowing blue gem. The next flower she picked was yellow, the golden light from the golden orb is prickling.

Erika shoved them to Red, "I've been thinking of how we could battle it out with everything we have," she brushed pollens out of her sleeve, "and I came upon an interesting piece of information about my, no, your eevee…" Lady gazed up, probably felt that she's being talked about. "Team Rocket had altered her DNA, she couldn't stay fix as a transformed Eevee…" Lady flinched at the mention of Team Rocket, "…those three stones can be used to alternatively transform her into the form you want" Red's eyes immediately fell to the crimson flower.

The gym leader let out a soft laugh, "I know, you'd love to use type matchups, but every trainers I met always did so, it tends to get tedious" a pokeball slipped into her grip, "…how about something's different?" she dropped the pokeball into the bush beside her. The ground shook, strands of ivy crawled out from the bush, curling around Red's legs. Before a shout of "Cheats!" – or "Pika!"- can leave my throat, I saw the ivy did the same to Erika, it even coiled around her torso.

A single spark of fire would set this building down in flame.

Red is thumbing Sire's pokeball, considering on how he could survive standing a grass move or two. The question was answered when a Flareon appeared from the bushes, stood obediently still as licks of fire crackled around him. With a roar, the whole gym tripled in temperature, light shone from the ceiling like it has been opened to allow the sunray to slip in. It looked prideful, sitting there watching them so pointedly. Sighing, Red switched the pokeball.

"Let's start now…" Erika's slender fingers wrapped around one of her set of pokeballs, "…give me your best shot!"

Apparently, Red's best shot are us – I mean, me and Lady who's now currently being assaulted by two dancing Bellossom with storm of petals of flowers. Which in fact, shouldn't be painful, yet their attack did. We ran, scrambled around – Lady tried her best to follow Red's order while I rolled around like a fool. I never thought Bellossom could be this fast as well as accurate. Their attack always seemed to connect, ambushed us in the least possible way. Throwing random jolt of lightning won't help the fight and Red occasionally all the gems in his palms, face scrunched up to think a way out of this mess.

Flareon yawned, a somewhat, nonchalant yawn like he doesn't give a single care to the fight at hand giving his job was only to keep the Sunny Field up. Red eyed the fire beast, flicking his gaze back to the gems then, the observer Flareon. Lady had already near exhaustion from dodging storm of flowers after flowers and she is pleading silently toward Red for a switch, or anything that would relief her stamina. The two Bellossom gathered, their movement sync with each other, for a while, the petal rain had stopped, sparing enough time for me to reunite with Lady.

I can't breathe…

Lady slumped forward, sprawled on the floor completely out of energy. Red passed me the potion to fix her – which is a feat itself that I am able to catch that – that I gratefully took and sprayed at her, ignoring her protest that it made her fur soaked. When she still complaining, I grabbed a handful of her fur and tugged her forward, Look! We aren't finished yet! Either you shut up or give the enemy an opening to strike us both! That made her nod- fear fleeted her face. There was no time to spare for a spat. Erika's Bellossoms had finished their dance, the red flowers on their hand gently swayed. The movement created a small breeze, circling around the arena catching bits of grass and leaves.

We stood in utter fear as it grew, accumulated into big hurricane of pink and green. I looked back in panic - Red was fumbling with one of the gems, aiming for us. For Lady. The hint of blue gleam on his hand troubled me. Water Stone? What were you thinking? I grimaced. The air became prickling and the tornado sucked us in. Lady latched herself on the grass, desperately hanging on so the harsh wind won't swoop her in. We could die…we would be drawn in, slashed and done.

"Green! Bring Lady to me!"

It was an order, a command that trainer was privileged to give to their pokemons. My pride – that small part that refused to trust Red, that part which screamed for freedom, to rebel against Mew's wish - declined his order. That beckon for my willingness to obey him. Damn you…Red… choices…a right pokemon doesn't have.

To obey

To disobey

I readied my stance, electricity sparked to life beneath my foot. There were little to no adjustment to make, grabbing Lady by her tail, I propelled up, releasing every pent up lightning a Pikachu could possibly hoard. The sensation sent tingles across my body and I could tell – there's little chance I'd be able to stand. My feet pads are the worst – they burnt, the singed smell had hinted me that much. I shoved Lady, to meet Red's touch, the blue gem glowed a brilliant blue light, engulfing Lady in. Landing roughly on Red's arm catch, I watched through half-lidded eyes as the Eevee before us transformed.

"Green come back, switch with Sire!"

"Clemantine, interrupt, petal blizzard!"

Red was quick to flip Sire with Vyi, letting the grass pokemon hopping playfully between the rain of petals, unharmed. Erika signed for the Bellossom to stop the treatment and focused on getting the dance back. Lady had fully transformed, leaping to Red's side, waiting for order. Sire switched place with Vyi – two water pokemon stand in Red's side now, a complete disadvantage. The tornado of petals was closing in, flying leaves left and right on its wake.

"Sire, surf! Lady, reach the eye!"

A tremendous flood of water flowed toward the enemy line, carrying Lady in it – who vanished entirely once she entered the water. This attack won't do a thing to the water-absorbing type. I growled darkly as the field seemed to absorb the rest of the water before it reached both Bellossoms. There were seconds of complete silence, where Sire bowed at the enemies and trying to recite an apology for not greeting them properly before. And burst of water exploded right from the hurricane, sending shots of water everywhere. Clouds overpowered the light, causing Flareon to whimper while scrambling around to avoid the drop of water. The hurricane spiraled, water climbing until it barely touching the roof, Lady emerged from the top, crying victoriously for the absence of the heat.

"Blizzard!"

Sire apologized profusely when he summoned the storm of snow, hurling limitless amount of snow toward the defenseless Bellossoms. No way…I blinked blearily at the battlefield, everything is a mess, the enemies are fainted, but nobody was hurt. Erika called both unconscious pokemon back, smiling in a way that make her looked satisfied rather than devastated for losing the match. Lady has landed safely on the puddle of water, her head poked out of it the arrogant smirk is back on her face. Faintly, I smiled too. Red is a great trainer. Somewhere in my mind, the part that was rejecting the idea is silent, unable to give one single reason to stand for its belief.

Erika clapped, her smile didn't falter as she signaled for Flareon to come over. She gave the fire pokemon a pat, "Congratulation on beating me, Red. You sure are a remarkable trainer…" Flareon nuzzled her hand, "…I'm surprised you didn't choose the easy way, burning this whole gym down to win" the kimono-clad girl tapped Flareon's head softly with its respective pokeball.

"Huh? Why should I?" Red asked, touching the hem of his cap.

The gym leader laughed, "I see…" she tapped her thigh twice and a Tangela appeared from the bush, it cried happily, "…you are truly live up to what my fellow leaders had told me" the ivy loosened from her body as well as Red's. Tangela was alarmed of our existence, but it didn't show any aggression whatsoever and bounded toward Erika.

"Take this…you earned this by your strength, your resolve to win…" the Rainbow badge shone in different color, mesmerizing Red for a bit.

Congratulation…Red…

I softly touched his cheek, subtly praising him. The badge seemed prouder when Red tacked it on his bag, next to the badges we've collected so far. He gave his farewell to Erika, thanking her for the great battle before he beckoned Sire and walked away, glancing at my direction with a grin so proud. Like he had achieved something so amazing so he told his big brother. Lady had reverted back to her usual state, swishing her furry tail, pleased to have it back.

Choice, huh? I glanced back toward Erika. Our eyes met for a flicker of second and her lips tugged to a much sadder smile, a wistful, knowing smile.

"…burning this whole gym down"

No way. For a gym leader to devote their life to battle is acceptable. But to actually put their life in line? Isn't that taking things a little bit too far? Her resolution to battle with all she has isn't a bluff. Flareon is there. Had Red chosen to use fire pokemon, there's no doubt that he'd won, easily. Discounting the painful burn mark he will get or perhaps imminent death for Erika since she has no pokemon to protect her, Red would win effortlessly.

Those gems that she prepared for Red; they were choices. Choices for Red to either hurt someone to gain victory or make up a way, a magical way to win without hurting anybody. That wasn't an ordinary battle; it's a test to see how Red battled, what is it that he believed. What is a battle for him? Is it simply a scuffle for power, to choose who is the strongest of all combatants? Or is it a stepping-stone? To muse over one's weakness and utilize one's strength to its fullest?

You realized that, Rodent?

Lady looked up, toward me, her brown eyes narrowed in fury, This kind of battle had been taken place twice since Erika stepped in. Red's the third. The battle before him hadn't ended prettily. She hissed, Why do you think Erika wears a kimono even under Sunny Day?

…burn down the gym…

I shuddered, the image dreading my mind.

You should be proud that Red wouldn't stoop so low to win against her. Lady nudged Red's legs, Although, I already know he wouldn't… Red reached down to pat Lady's head before he called her back inside her pokeball. I looked over my shoulder once again, toward Erika.

You are a remarkable trainer too, miss…

…..

The glass door closed.

Erika sighed in relief. A great battle, satisfying and…

"Refreshing battle, eh, Erika?"

Without looking back, she closed her eyes, "What do you want?" she replied, sounding annoyed.

Someone stepped in, footsteps light, "Relax…I've quitted that group"

"Really, Koga? I've seen you visiting them now and then" she finally turned around, facing the man.

The man snorted, "Just paying a visit and relaying order. Apparently, Blaine had new commands" he twirled the end of his scarf, "…there've been sightings of legendary all across Kanto and Giovanni is too focused on getting to his goal to notice…"

Erika raised an eyebrow, a silent inquiry.

"Blaine asked us to help Mew. These legendary, he wants us to gather them in one place" he let the fabric swayed, "everything might rely on our succession in collecting them if our hope runs out of time"

"Every leaders are already on their way?" the woman asked.

Koga shook his head, "Lieutenant Surge and Misty had begun their search and Brock is trying to contact Professor Oak for Poke Radars to be distributed among the leaders" he turned at his heels, "…you should start too"

"How about you?" Erika crossed her arms.

A smirk, "Nah, Red hasn't faced me yet…" he strode toward the door, "…until then, I will stay put and do my duty"

With that last sentence the glass door once again closed, leaving Erika sighing at the wind.

…..

I know I shouldn't play Persona and focus on this fic…but my fingers keep twitching.