Title:Queen of the Darkness

Author

Disclaimer: Seriously, what do you think?

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--Mahogany Town, Opena's House—

"Thank you so much for letting me say here." Karen says to Opena. Opena smiles warmly as she walks Karen to the door. Other than a couch, chair, and some pictures on the wall, the room is empty. Opena's Jynx is standing near the door.

"Now you take care. And you should probably let Umbreon know that little Smoochum needs to say here." Karen looks down and sees Umbreon coming up to her with a Smoochum on her back. Smiling, she takes the little ice pokemon off Umbreon's back and puts her on the floor.

"Sorry, sweetie," Karen says, "You gotta stay here." Smoochum just looks up at her with the 'I'm so cute, you have to take me' routine. Opena's Jynx comes over and takes Smoochum into another room. Opena chuckles as she watches them leave. Through the doorway into another room Karen can see Jynx putting Smoochum into a playpen of some kind. Karen can't help but smile.

"That's Jynx's daughter." Opena explains. "Will has the other daughter. When I heard Will was going to be a trainer, I felt I should make sure he had at least one pokemon from the family, as it were."

Karen gives a wan smile. So that's why Smoochum was so happy to see Opena in Ecruteak. Karen thinks remembering how Smoochum wasted no time jumping on Opena's lap the moment Opena sat down at the table with them. Wish my family was like that… she thinks.

You want to be a trainer? Fine. Her father's words are forever burned into her memory. You can never come home. We will not even acknowledge you as our daughter!

"I'm sure your grandparents love you, even if it takes you parents longer to see their own love." Opena smiles. Karen shakes her head.

"One of these days I'll get used to that." Karen says. Then she starts thinking. "I don't even know my grandparents. I don't think I've ever met them…" Opena puts a hand on her shoulder.

"You've never even met them once?" Opena asks. Karen shakes her head.

"My parents said they worshipped the 'evil pokemon' and couldn't be trusted." Karen replies with a sigh.

"Have you tried to contact them?" Opena asks. "I'm sure I could help with that if you like." Karen shakes her head. Umbreon looks up at her trainer worried.

"I don't even know their names. I have no way of looking for them." Karen finally gets out. Opena thinks for a moment.

"You know, there is a legend passed down in this town. They say that trainers who go up to Lake Of Rage and see a Gyarados should make a wish. If they win their next battle, their wish will come true."

Karen gives her a skeptical look, "I hope you don't expect me to believe that stuff."

Opena smiles, "Can't hurt."

"I guess I better get going. The gym will be opening soon." Karen says. Opena nods.

"I wish you good fortune," she says. "If you like, I have a few charms that may help you." Opena goes over to one of the pictures and reaches behind it. When she draws out her hand, she is holding a small flower. It looks like it is made of plastic. She hands it to Karen. Karen takes it even though she is totally confused.

"What's this?" she asks.

"It's called the 'family charm'. People looking for long-lost relatives carry this flower charm with them. While you travel, you will see many different flowers around you, I'm sure. What you need to do is pick a red flower, a yellow flower, and a white flower from the ground, and one of any color from a tree and thread them into these four holes." Opena shows Karen four slots on the charm. "When all four are filled, you make your wish for what relative you wish to see. If all is done correctly, you will see that person within a week." Karen is still a little skeptical.

"Well, what have I got to lose?" Karen thinks for a moment. "Are you sure it is all right to give me this? I mean, you had it hidden, so it must be valuable."

"Not really. I have all of my family. There is no reason for me to have it any more." Opena puts a hand on Karen's shoulder. "Don't you worry. Just keep your head up and do your best, and I'm sure all your dreams will come true."

"Thank you." Karen says. They say their good-byes and Karen heads over to the gym.

--Mahogany Gym--

"Excuse me…" Karen carefully enters the gym. Umbreon is walking next to her. "Is anyone here?" Umbreon looks up at her trainer strangely. Then she decides that if Karen won't, she will.

"UMBREON!" Umbreon shouts at the top of her lungs. Karen smacks her hand on her forehead while glaring at Umbreon. An older man, probably in his fifties or sixties, comes out from the back. Whit is walking in with him.

"What, you training Umbreon to do that now too?" Whit says grinning.

"OK, three things. One, Umbreon did that on her own, I didn't tell her to. Two, what the heck are you telling all the gym leaders about that for; and three, what are you doing here?" Karen begins the stare-down with the other gym leader. Whit doesn't flinch.

"One, Umbreon learned it by watching you do it, two I don't want to hear the other gym leaders complaining to me because they suddenly went deaf, and three I like bugging Pryce." Whit grins while Karen groans. Her quest just got more difficult thanks to Whit. Pryce just shakes his head.

"Kids these days…" he says. Then he steps toward Karen. "If you want the attempt at a badge, I'm the one to speak to. I am Pryce, the leader of this gym."

"I'll be nice and make it quick." Karen says. Pryce gives her an evil smile.

"You are right about one thing, it will be quick," he says. Then he motions for her to follow him. Whit heads out after calling her 'encouragement' to Karen.

--Battle Arena--

The arena was not what Karen expected it to be. A pool of water, at least it was until it was frozen solid. Pillars of ice rise up in random areas of the surface.

"Oh boy… this is gonna suck." Karen says looking over the ice.

Pryce smiles, "Giving up already?"

Karen glares at him and doesn't respond. Well, not verbally anyway. Grabbing her pokeball, she releases Sneasel. Pryce nods and releases a Dewgong.

"This will be a two-on-two match between Karen Oleke of Elwane and Gym Leader Pryce." The referee lights up the official screen as he is talking. "Begin when ready!"

"This will be short and sweet." Pryce says. "Dewgong, use Body Slam!"

"Dodge it and counter with Cut!" Karen cries. Sneasel is barely able to dodge, but is unable to nail the counter attack as Dewgong rams the ice and heads to the water below.

"Not going to be that easy young 'un." Pryce says.

"What the… there's water under there?" Karen exclaims.

Pryce nods, "About twenty feet. However, Sneasel will be seeing the ceiling in a moment…"

Karen's eyes go wide realizing what is going to happen. "Sneasel, start nailing pillars!"

"Sneas?" Sneasel has no idea what that will do, but she does obey. And by doing so she avoids Dewgong when it rams up trying to come under her. Sneasel gets a bright idea and grabs onto Dewgong's horn.

Dewgong is shaking its head wildly trying to get Sneasel off, but all it manages to accomplish is making itself too dizzy to go on. Pryce recalls Dewgong. Karen is really trying not to laugh. Pryce snorts and glares at her. "I bet you two kids think you're so smart, don't you."

"Sneasel." Sneasel dares him to bring another one on.

"She's not scared," Karen proclaims proudly.

"Not yet anyway." Pryce responds. Piloswine appears on the arena.

It looks slow… but that may mean it can take some serious damage. Karen thinks.

"Tackle attack!" Pryce calls.

"Sneasel, use Faint Attacks!" Karen calls. Sneasel starts nailing Faint Attacks repeatedly. Since a couple of the ice pillars are still standing, she uses them to push off of. Unfortunately, Piloswine starts to notice a pattern in Sneasel's attacks. Karen sees it as well. She can only watch as Piloswine nails a powerful Tackle attack. Sneasel is reeling then finally goes down, Karen recalls her regretfully. Hmm…gotta think of something...but which one…gotta be careful. My dex says that thing's also a ground type…

"Umbree?" Umbreon has been patiently sitting next to her through the battle.

Karen looks down at the Eeveeloution. "You want a shot?" Umbreon nods. "OK then, go for it!"

"Umbreon!" Umbreon shoots onto the ice. And manages to crash into a pillar. Karen groans.

Pryce grins, "I hope that isn't the best this pokemon can do." He says. Umbreon slowly gets up. Piloswine just stares at her and seems to be laughing at Umbreon. Umbreon makes it very clear that she isn't happy with that by giving her a very hard Bite attack and streaking off. Piloswine goes after her as fast as it can. Umbreon seems to have learned how to move on the ice and is making good use of the pillars. She sends all of her attacks with added power by pushing off them. Piloswine is meeting each of them head-on. After a few minutes of Tackles and Faint Attacks it doesn't seem like either of them is winning. Umbreon doesn't give up though. She jumps into the air and tries and aerial Faint Attack. Piloswine answers by moving about a foot to the side. Umbreon is just barely able to come out of the move in time to land on her feet. Pryce's eyes go wide at that move. Then he does something completely unexpected.

"Piloswine, return." Pryce recalls Piloswine. Karen stares at him a moment, completely unsure of what just happened. Umbreon is sniffing on the ice where Piloswine was. It looks like she is trying to figure out where her opponent went.

"Winner, Challenger Karen!" the referee makes it official. Pryce goes over to Karen. Umbreon goes back to Karen's side, looking exhausted.

"Congratulations. Here is your badge. You have obviously earned it." Pryce says.

Karen smiles, "Thank you."

"At least some young people are polite these days." Karen gives him a funny look. "Most trainers who get badges just give me lip." Pryce grins. "If you ever want to battle again, and I mean ever, come on by. I'll be here until I die."

"In that case, I hope you live to be a thousand," Karen responds. Pryce smiles as Karen and Umbreon head out of the Gym and to the Pokemon Center to rest for the next challenge.