Bianca and Iris manage to arrive on the center dock with me and N as Cheren and Joaquin are about to start on their 3-on-3 Pokemon Battle. The two rivals already got their first choice of Pokemon out on the wooded floor. "Alright, I'll take the first turn in this battle. Better be ready, Poindexter." Joaquin said. "Alright, Rex. Use Leech Seed!" He commanded.

"Sage!" Rex nodded. He lifted his right arm and rummaged into his tall green bushy hair and brought out a few seeds. He threw them to Servine, which vines wrapped around his opponent.

Cheren seemed to be unmoved by the attack. "That's all you can do? Throwing little insignificant seedlings on Servine? How pathetic..." Cheren thrust an arm forward. "Let me show you what true strength is. Servine, Razor Leaf!" He commanded. With the cluttered vines all over Servine, it didn't stop him from twisting his whole body and shot multiple spinning leaves towards his opponent.

"Sage..." All Rex did was hold up an arm as the attack bounced off, giving him a tiny amount of damage, and a little scar.

Servine remain expressionless as he eyed his opponent. "Servine...?" He saw the vines trembled a bit, shocking him for a quick second as little tiny orbs transfer from the vines over to Rex.

Cheren's face harden. "So what,a little bit of health being taken away won't stop me from beating you! Servine, Vine Whip!" He called. His Servine grew vines out of his sides as it whipped Rex on the face, making his opponent fall down to his right.

"Sage..." Rex pushed himself off the wooden floor, using the back of his hand as he rubbed the left side of his face. He got back on his feet with his eyes filled with anger at his opponent.

"Now things are getting really serious..." N softly spoke on my right. "I never heard such words coming out of an angered Pokemon before after such a hard hit his opponent did. I'm afraid this match is not going to send well..." I felt his left hand closing around my free right hand, wrapping his fingers around mine.

I have never seen this side of N before, though he did tell me he is not the one to see Pokemon Battles... I thought. I didn't have to look at him, but I can feel then tension in his grip on my hand intensified as he became more unnerved. I kept my eyes straight at the battle.

Joaquin growled. "You've hurt my friend, Poindexter! Now I'll give your Pokemon the same pain! Rex, Acrobatics!" He yelled out. Afterimages of Rex, with temendous speed, trailed behind him, Rex uppercut him in the jaw that made him fly up. Rex jumped up, and with his hand held together to make one big fist, and slammed Servine down in a blink of an eye.

"No! Servine!" Cheren yelled, eyeing his Servine falling and landed on the dock. Swirls were shown on his Pokemon's eyes. "W-What...h-how...can that...be!?"

"That is Acrobatics!" Joaquin spoke up. "My father taught me and Rex that move when my buddy was just a hatchling. You see, my father told me that the attacks damage intensifies if the Pokemon using the attack isn't holding an item." Joaquin smirked a little. "Plus, it is also a Flying-type move, as to why your Pokemon fainted instantly since Flying-type moves are super effective on Grass-type Pokemon."

"Wow..." Iris said. "That sure was a powerful move that Simisage made. Joaquin sure did get one of Cheren's Pokemon down and out with just one move."

I bobbed my head slightly. "Yeah, but this match has already started, so the winner has yet to be declared. But..." I shift my eyes to Cheren, who returned his Servine back into its PokeBall. "I'm afraid to admit that I am a bit worried about Cheren."

Cheren put his PokeBall back in his pocket before taking out another one. "Tranquill, front and center!" He threw his PokeBall, opening to send out his Tranquill into play. "So, Flying-types are super effective against Grass-types...perfect! Tranquill, use Wing Attack!" He commanded. His Pokemon's wing glowed as it flew up and over in a loop and nose dive to Rex. With its wing, it hit Rex's abdominal area, sending him flying to Joaquin's feet.

"Don't give up, Rex!" Joaquin said. "We can still win this Battle. Use your Leech Seed!" He commanded. Rex slowly got up as he reached back into his tall hair, throwing a few seeds at his opponent. The seed's vines wrapped around Tranquill and shocked it with little orbs going back to Rex.

"Man, my heart is pounding just by looking at the two battle." Bianca said, having her hands held together near her chest. "And it is not the good kind of heart pounding either..."

I felt N's grip tightened on my right hand, feeling a bit agitated from watching the battle in front of him. "So many voices echoing in my mind," N murmured, only for me to hear. "it's painfull to hear how much hate they have inside themselves from their Trainers. It's unforgivable..."

After hearing what N spoke, I feel completely bad about bringing him to a Pokemon battle between two Trainers who highly hate each other. Please, N. Hold on just a little bit longer... I thought.

Cheren glared at his opponent, fury blazing in his brown irises. "Tranquill, use Quick Attack! He commanded. His Pokemon flew down and lunge forward with such speed, landing its attack on Rex. "How's that for an attack from my Pokemon?"

Joaquin sneered. "Barely enough to bring down my buddy. Rex, return!" Joaquin called out to his Pokemon, who staggered and stumbled his way back to his Trainer's side. Joaquin brought out another PokeBall out. "Okay, Arthur, let's go!" He threw his PokeBall out, releasing a blue looking jellyfish Pokemon. "Everyone, this is Arthur, my Frillish."

"Frillish?" I said, rummaging through my back pouch for my PokeDex to identify the new Pokemon. "Let's see..."

Frillish, the Floating Pokemon. They paralyze prey with poison, then drag them down to their lair, five miles below the surface.

"It is so cute!" Bianca said. "Oh, I want to find one of those...if I can find my other Pokemon." She eyed on the wooden dock below, feeling empty within her without her Pokemon.

"Don't worry, Bianca." Iris said, pointing up to the sky. "Bodyguard Iris will find you a Frillish." She lowered her arm, laughing weakly. "E-Erm, but the thing is, I don't have a fishing rod...but I will try to find one in this city."

Bianca started to hop in place, making the wood underneath us creak for a bit. "Oh, thank you, Iris!" She gave Iris a huge, bear hug before hearing her suffocating from the hold. "Oh, sorry, Iris..." She released her hold, returning her gaze to Cheren and Joaquin.

Cheren crossed his arms, eyeing the new poke!on in front of him. "A Water-type Pokemon, huh? Though it was very elaborate for you to take down my Servine with ease so you wouldn't let me gave one of your Pokemon defeated. Well, I think I should take care of one of the problems." Cheren thrust one arm forward. "Tranquil, use Gust!" He said. His Pokemon flapped its wings continuously to generate a gale force wind at Frillish, pushing its opponent back towards Joaquin.

"Tran!" Cheren's Pokemon chirpoed as the vines zapped it, little orbs now going to Arthur. The bird Pokemon glared at its opponent.

"That Water-type Pokemon seems so calm." N murmured. "He doesn't show smite, nor any hint of vengeance within his heart. But after hearing that bird's voice, he seems so determine to take out his opponent." His hand opened and traced it onto my left hip. My heart began beating at a tenfold.

A sigh escaped out of Joaquin's mouth. "Man, I don't know about you, but I am getting bored of this. Arthur, use Water Pulse..." He groaned under his command. His Frillish raised its arms out in front of itself as a medium sized ball of glowing water formed and threw it at Tranquill. The small orb expanded, trapping the bird Pokemon inside until it explodes, making Tranquill fall onto the dock.

"Come on, Tranquill, get up!" Cheren yelled at the top of his lungs. "Use Quick Attack!" Cheren didn't realize that his Tranquill became confused from the Water Pulse attack. Tranquill swayed, flipping around like a flopping Magikarp when it is out of water while trying to get airborne. It used its Quick Attack, but went past Arthur and onto the dock behind Joaquin. "Damn it!"

"Come on, Poindexter. Why do you want to win so badly when you can just admit that my Pokemon are far more stronger than yours?" He closed his eyes and lowered his head. "You might as well forfeit, saves you the trouble from being all worked up."

Cheren's growling grew louder. "Never in my life will I forfeit to anyone like you! I will prove to you that I am better than you!" He yelled back. "Tranquill, use Wing Attack!" He commanded. His Tranquill struggled to bring itself up to use its attack. It snapped out of its confusion, hopping off of the boards to bring its attack at Arthur, hitting the midsection of its opponent. "No one, and I mean NO ONE will ever try to tell me to give up or forfeit a battle! Not even you! I will make my Pokemon strong and bring me to the top!"

Bianca his behind me, shaking with fear. "I...I haven't...seen this side of Cheren before..." She started to whimper. "I don't think I should go near him when he battles somebody else next time..."

N's hand clenched my shirt, a low growl seemed to escaped his throat hidden beneath his white over shirt flaps. "I don't like the tone of his voice one bit, even his choice of words irritate me. When the battle is over, come and find me immediately..." N dropped his arm as he stomped his way passed me, Bianca, Iris, and Cheren and off the dock.

I eyed N's back with worry. I guess the way Cheren has been acting throughout the battle must've pressed N's buttons too hard. N... I thought, seeing N disappeared in the middle alley. I eyed the wood underneath my feet as I hugged my encased egg tightly. Hearing Joaquin sighed, I lift my head up to him.

Joaquin has the bridge of his nose pressed between his right thumb and index finger. "You remind me of myself back when I was in the Hoenn Region, Poindexter. Yeah, I was cocky, ignorant, believing I can win every battle and reach up to be the Pokemon Champion, like you. And it was during my fourth Gym Battle when I received my first loss in my journey and learned a very valuable lesson."

"Feh..." Cheren huffed sharply, turning his face away. "I don't have the damn time to listen to your ridiculous stories, when the both of us are still in the middle of battli-"

"Would you damn please listen for one freaking moment!" Joaquin yelled. "Arceus, damn it, you are a chatterbox!" Joaquin took a deep breath to let the tension flow out of him. "As much as I didn't want to listen to some dumb old advice from some random guy who collects stones for a hobby, but what he told me actually made sense." He paused for a second. "We Trainers do strive to become the greatest Trainer out there by battling and making our Pokemon stronger. But in reality, as long as the bond between Trainer and Pokemon remains strong, they will achieve greater heights if they just believe."

I see in the corner of my eye Bianca and Iris are fascinated by Joaquin's little story. I have to admit, as stuck up and egotistical Joaquin us, he sure does prove a point. "Impressive..." is all I can say as a smile somehow formed on my face.

Cheren remained unmoved with no change of expression. His face intensified into as more agitated look. "Like I am ever going to believe anything that comes out of your mouth!" He thrust his arm forward. "Tranquil, Wing Attack!" His Tranquill picked up speed as it charged its way to Frillish.

With Joaquin's head lowered and eyelids shut, he shook his head in disgust. "Guess I have no choice...Arthur, finish it with Ice Beam..." As Tranquill came close to Arthur, the blue Pokemon opened its mouth as bolts of cold lightning hit the bird in midair. Tranquill is trapped in a block of ice with a pose as if it was about to land his attack. He fell, making the ice shattered on the dock below him as Tranquill has pronounced knocked out.

Angered, Cheren returned his fainted Tranquill back into its PokeBall. "Alright, one more Pokemon should get rid of it!" Cheren placed the PokeBall back into his pocket and brought out another one. "Purrloin, front a-"

"Enough!" Joaquin yelled, making Cheren stopped midway of bringing his next Pokemon out. Joaquin returned his Frillish back into his PokeBall and eyed him. "You just don't get it, Poindexter. The more arrogant you are, the harder it takes for anything to get through to you. It's like talking to a brick wall! Hell, or even a mirror image of myself when I was that arrogant." He began walking forward, his Simisage hopped onto his back.

Cheren stepped in front of Joaquin, making his rivals stop a foot away from him. "So, you're backing down on me!? What kind of a damn Trainer are you if you can't continue the battle you a-" Joaquin punched Cheren in the face, making him fall onto his back. Cheren's dumbfounded expression glared at Joaquin hovering over him.

"Your next Pokemon is a Purrloin," Joaquin said through his clenched teeth. "which you intentionally blurt it our during our battle with Team Plasma! Hoping if I would've taken down your Tranquill, you would use your Purrloin to take out Arthur, who happens to be a Water and Ghost-type Pokemon." He turned to the east. "My next Pokemon is a Bug and Poison-type called Whirlipede, whom I named Cruiser. With your last Pokemon being a Dark-type, it doesn't stand a chance against Bug-type moves."

Cheren got up quickly with his PokeBall still in his clenched right hand. "Come on! I can prove it to you that I can beat your Pokemon!" He yelled. "Just one last battle, coward!" The last word echoed through the shore and onward to the ocean.

Joaquin remained motionless. "He who calls everyone else a coward shows that you are one inside." Joaquin eyed the flabbergasted expression that was written on cherens face. "Face it, Poindexter. Your cockiness and your boisterous ego led you to your loss, even if the battle isn't over. Your are too bullheaded to even listen to my advice and only thought about yourself and wanting to achieve victory." Joaquin walking passed Cheren. "You aren't much of as challenge anyway..." His voice trailed off as he walked off the dock towards the Pokemon Center.

Bianca, Iris and I looked at Cheren, who has his eyes widen and staring blankly at the dock below him. Cheren... I know that kind of face anywhere in any region. That is the face of a first loss.

((Well, thoughts about this chapter and its quick conclusion? Next chapter, we will get to see Cheren's reaction to his loss, and also a moment with Crymson and N once the rest of the day comes to an end! See you next chapter! -CS))