"So you used Parting Shot?" Olivia asked with a smile. She took a bite of her sandwhich. The four of them had stopped for lunch before Olivia had to leave. "Clever boy."

Braedon nodded. "Defeating Avalugg was a cinch after that."

She put a hand on his arm. "You're so smart."

Argent frowned. Why was she putting her hand on him? And why was he letting her?

Argent shook his head to clear it. Why did he care? Braedon wasn't even attracted to girls. And besides, she probably wasn't flirting anyway...

"Well, I have to go." Olivia said. "Thank you for lunch, and for the information. Talon, are you ready?"

Talon nodded. "Flame!" he cawed.

"It's really cool that you can ride your Talonflame." Amber said earnestly. "Especially with how hard it is to train one."

Olivia beamed. "It was nothing. I raised Talon from when it was a low level Fletchling, so it was easy. But Argent has a Talonflame too, one he tamed in it's final evolution. Taming one while fully evolved is impressive."

Argent sweatdropped. "It's no big deal..."

"Especially since you haven't tamed him yet." Braedon said with a smirk. "He can't even bring him out without him attacking us."

"I can help with that." Olivia said.

"How?" Amber asked.

"Well, training it must be hard if you can't fight with it." Olivia said. "But if your Talonflame sees mine, it will focus only on attacking Talon. It will completely ignore you three."

"So it can get experience without nearly maiming us." Braedon said.

Olivia nodded. "What do you say, Argent? Want my help?"

Argent pulled out Talonflame's pokeball. On one hand, he didn't want Olivia to stay longer. On the other hand, he wouldn't get another oppurtunity like this... And he'd love to beat her...

"Let's do it." Argent said.

Olivia backed away and Talon flew and landed in front of her.

"Talonflame, go!" Argent yelled. He threw his pokeball.

Talonflame looked around. She was finally outside her pokeball. Now where was that foolish human who tried to catch her?

"Talonflame!"

Talonflame looked forward. Stannding across a grassy field was the most handsome Pokemon she had ever seen.

His feathers had a certain sheen to them, and his beak was sharp and curved like a weapon. His claws were longer than that of any Talonflame she had ever seen. Most appealing of all, he radiated an aura of power that Talonflame could feel ripple through her body.

"Talon! Talon!" Hello. He said. You are to be my challenger?

"Talonflame!" Yes. I'd love to. She said.

"Talon! Talonflame-flame!" My friend has named me Talon. You can call me that as well.

The human gave a command. Talonflame ignored him.

"Talon?" You let it name you? How weak.

"Talonflame!" I am not weak!

Talon shot a jet of blue flames at Talonflame. She took to the sky swiftly, dodging the attack with ease.

"Talon!" Nice shot! Talonflame yelled. She flapped her wings, creating razor sharp winds that shot at Talon.

Talon flew turned upward sharply and flew into the sky to dodge the attack.

He's fast... Talonflame thought.

The girl gave another command, and Talon folowed it. He flew towards Talonflame like a blur, then slashed at her.

Talonflame cried out in pain and began to plummet she caught herself before she hit the ground.

That attack was powerful. Talonflame thought. This opponent is stronger than even me.

"Talon!" Take this! Talon yelled.

Talon shot a giant ball of fire at Talonflame. It turned into a something resembling a five pointed star and hit Talonflame.

Talonflame fell from the sky as pain seared through her body.

"Talonflame!" the human yelled.

Talonflame fainted.

When Talonflame woke up, her head was propped up and her whole body ached.

Talonflame looked around. Her head rested in the human's lap.

"You're awake." He said. "Good. Now I can give you a potion."

"Arg, I'm not sure that's a good idea." Braedon said. "Won't she attack once she's healed?"

"Talon!" I won't let her. Talon cawed.

Talonflame went still. She was far too weak to protest.

"Okay. Here goes." Argent said. He pulled out an object Talonflame didn't recognized. He wrapped his pale fingers- ugh, fingers. Humans are so ugly- around it and squeezed.

Stinging pain pierced Talonflame's wounds, like something was clawing into them.

Talonflame began to struggle. "Talon!" she cawed.

"Talonflame!" Stop. Were trying to help.Talon said softly.

"Shh." Argent said. "You're healing. See?"

Talonflame inspected her wounds. They were... Gone?

He had helped her? But why? She lost? Why did he still have interest in someone who was obviously weak?

Was it because, weak or not, she was still stronger than any of his captives? Yes. That had to be it.

Talon seemed to read her mind. "Talonflame. Talon-Talonflame." He cares for the Pokemon under his care. That's what humans do.

"Talon?" Why?

"Talonflame." He said. It's called being a good person.

Is that a human concept? Talonflame asked.

"Lon." Yes. Talon answered. "Talonflame-flame." You do things nice for others, without wanting them to return the favor.

"Talon." Strange.

"Talonflame, tal, talon." Your human is strange. My human, Olivia, speaks highly of the strength of him and his companions.

Talonflame thought about that. Their strength was notable. They had beaten her, after all. And Talon, a high level Pokemon vouched for their power. Interesting.

They continued their conversation, oblivious to the humans around them. Well, almost oblivious. Talonflame noticed how the human- Argent- was stroking her feathers, similar to how her mother would. Only the boys claws were less precise and more caressing.

Talonflame sat up.

"Talonflame." I've decided to partner with this human. She said.

Talon looked shocked."Talon?" Oh?

"Talon, tal, tal!" As you can see, I am not as strong as you. She said. And I intend to become stronger. To do that, I must train. Training with a human has helped you become strong. So I will try it too.

Talon looked happy. I look forward to my defeat at your hands. He said.

Argent's legs were starting to fall asleep and he was sweating a little, but he didn't care. Talonflame looked to peaceful to disturb.

But eventually he had to return the sleeping pokemon to her pokeball.

"I'm heading out." Olivia said to them. She looked toward the setting sun. "It was nice to meet all if you."

"You too." Amber said. "Call us anytime."

"I'll take you up on that offer." Olivia promised.

"Be safe." Braedon said. "Take out some of Team Hallow for us."

Olivia laughed. "I'll bag the ones I catch and send them with a ribbon to your doorstep."

Argent stood up and walked to Olivia. He stuck out his hand.

"Thank you." he said. "Talonflame is much more tame now. I don't know why, but I know it's thanks to you and your Talon."

Then Olivia surprised him. She pulled him into a hug.

"You're welcome." she said in a voice that only Argent could hear. "And I hope you get your man."

"I-I-I'm not- How do you-"

Olivia pulled away. "I am a detective, after all."

"Huh?" Braedon asked. "What about being a detective."

Olivia laughed once more. "Nothing." she said. She looked at Talon. "Ready?"

He nodded, then spread his wings and took to the sky. He flew up into the sun, then swooped down and grabbed Olivia with his talons.

"Show off!" Braedon yelled as Olivia disappeared into the sky.

"I hope you know that your my rival now, Argent!" Olivia yelled as her figure became smaller.

"Are you blushing?" Amber asked Argent.

"N-no!"

A/N: Don't worry folks, Olivia will be back. She's too fun of a character to not come back.

Now Talonflame listens to Argent! Yay!

And now they all have a rival. Ken for Braedon, Sapphire for Amber, and Olivia for Argent.