Queen of the Darkness
Disclaimer: I wish I was making money here…
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--after opening ceremonies, in the town of Elwane…--
In a house near the border of Elwane the television finally goes out. Two people stare at the blank screen with a mixture of shock and disbelief. After everything they have done, everything they taught, their daughter is really a pokemon trainer. Not only that… but a good one…
-next day; in the park-
Karen is sitting on a bench near a small pond. She knows the picnic doesn't start for another hour, but she thinks it is a good idea to introduce the other pokemon to their newest member. With a small grin she releases her pokemon. Immediately everyone stares at Vileplume.
"Plume?" Vileplume seems confused at being the center of attention. The other pokemon look up at Karen.
"This is our newest team member. Be nice, OK?" she tells them. Vileplume is understandably frightened of Houndoom and Murkrow. Sneasel goes over to the grass pokemon and holds out a paw. With a look of relief Vileplume takes it. The others seem to take this as their cue and all gather around welcoming the new friend. Karen smiles. She is relieved that they are already getting along.
"Umbree!" Umbreon suddenly dives under the bench. The other pokemon are watching her trying to figure out what is going on. Karen gets down on her knees and tries to get Umbreon out from under the bench. But Umbreon isn't budging. Karen finally gets some help from Sneasel and Gengar. Between the three of them they manage to get Umbreon to come out. Frightened of something they can't see Umbreon tries to hide behind Karen.
"What's with you?" Karen asks. Umbreon seems to be staring at something. Karen follows the pokemon's gaze and sees a little girl, maybe eight or so, chasing an Eevee around and yelling 'I'm gonna get ya!' at the top of her lungs.
"Sneas?" Sneasel has made the connection and is staring at Umbreon like she has lost it. Karen is starting to agree with the ice pokemon.
"Why would you be scared of her?" Karen asks confused. "She's playing over there…" Umbreon dives back under the bench. Karen stops trying to figure it out. The girl suddenly looks right at Karen. Karen quickly looks away and sits back down on the bench. She can hear the girl yell something indistinct. Then, only a moment later…
"HI!" The girl is two feet in front of her. She is completely in pink: shorts, shirt, sneakers and a hair band holding back jet black hair. Her arms are clamped tightly around a little Eevee. Another woman comes up behind her. This one Karen recognizes. It is Alisa.
"Hello Karen." Alisa is grinning. "I thought you might be sleeping 'till the last minute." Karen shakes her head.
"I wanted everyone to meet Vileplume." Karen says gesturing to her pokemon. Umbreon is still staring at the little girl like she is a time bomb.
"Eevee eev…" the little Eevee gets the girl's attention and points a paw at Umbreon. Umbreon starts growling.
"Be nice." Karen calls down to her. Umbreon stops growling. The little girl puts Eevee down.
"Karen, this is Lelia." Alisa says patting the girl on the head. "And her pet Eevee." Eevee is trying to figure out why Umbreon is under the bench. Lelia is looking down there too.
"What's a matter with Umbreon?" she asks.
"She saw you chasing Eevee a few minutes ago and has been hiding under there since." Karen responds. Lelia blinks a few times, then kneels down in front of the bench.
"We were just playing Tag…" Lelia tells Umbreon. Umbreon stares at her for a moment, then slowly comes out from under the bench. Lelia sits on the bench next to Karen. Eevee wastes no time jumping on her lap.
"Are you a trainer?" Karen asks. Lelia shakes her head.
"I'm only eight, so I'm too little. But mom and dad said I could have a pet." She gives Eevee a squeeze. The little pokemon beams. "When I turn ten me and Eevee are gonna be the best!" Karen can't help but smile.
"Hey Karen," Alisa says, "Everyone has gathered, so if you all want, we can head over now." Karen doesn't need to be told twice. The three of them head over to the picnic area.
-family reunion-
"Karen!" Karen's uncle Andrew calls from one of the picnic tables. His wife Alexis is sitting opposite of him. With them are her paternal grandparents Tom and Crysta Oleke. There are also two other people that she doesn't recognize. One is a woman in an aqua tee shirt and jeans. The other is a man in the standard dragon trainer uniform; black pants, shirt and cape. There are pokemon all around the area.
"Hi there Karen." The male stands up and extends his hand. "I'm James Crown. Nice to meet you."
Karen takes his hand. "Nice to meet you too." She says. James indicates the woman in aqua.
"This is my wife Erica." He says. Erica comes up and gives her a once over.
"Hi Karen. Nice to finally meet you." She says. "I hear you already met our daughter." Erica smiles as Lelia and Eevee come rushing over. Corin snickers from his seat next to his father. Lelia takes it personally.
"When I'm a trainer I'm gonna beat you up first, right Eevee!" she calls over.
"EEVEE!" Eevee shouts her agreement. Karen grins.
"Couldn't if you tried!" Corin shouts back. Both sets of parents just sigh. Karen lets her pokemon out again to mingle with the others. As the pokemon check out the others around, Karen sits with at the table across from Corin. Lelia has let go of Eevee and is sitting next to her. Lelia and Corin are giving each other death glares while Karen just shakes her head. After a moment though a Wartortle jumps up on the table and squirts both Lelia and Corin with a Water Gun attack. Karen can't help but laugh as they both take off after the water pokemon.
"Well," Crysta says chuckling, "I suppose that's one way to break up an argument."
"Did anyone bring towels?" James asks. Everyone just looks at each other. "I guess not." The two kids have finally given up chasing Wartortle, mostly because it hid behind a Vaporeon and a Dragonite. Grumbling they go back to the table. Karen can't stop grinning. As the two drenched kids sit down again Andrew sets up his grill. While he is cooking Karen and Corin have to practically drag Houndoom away as the big dog makes very clear he likes what he smells. Soon the table is covered with plates of hot dogs, hamburgers and cheeseburgers (Karen was able to convince her uncle to blacken a couple for her), chips, sodas, fruit punch and salads. The pokemon all have some food as well and are eating at smaller tables in the area.
"So you ready to beat up your first opponent?" Corin asks from across Karen. "Should be easy."
"Corin…" Alexis says.
"What?" Corin frowns. "It's just one of those dumb school idiots."
"Just because you didn't go to the gyms doesn't make you and idiot."
"That's debatable." Corin mumbles. His mother heard him anyway and gives him a glare.
"Just because you don't agree…" Alexis leaves the sentence hanging like it is a threat. Corin glares back.
"Then explain why none of those guys has ever gotten past the third round, and the ones who made it that far did it because they faced each other." Corin is apparently convinced he is right.
"You're not helping." Karen finally says to Corin. "You're making is sound like it is waiting to happen. Don't jinx me." Corin grins.
"Don't worry dear." Crysta says. "You'll do just fine. Relax and everything will be all right."
"Which ones are ya gonna battle with?" Lelia asks. Karen blinks a few times.
"Good question…" Karen looks at her pokemon.
"You only have three in the first few rounds, so try to make up for their weaknesses." James says. "Personal advice, keep Murkrow in case of a fighter. Otherwise you could be in serious trouble." Karen grins.
"Yeah, but then I have to worry about electricity and rocks. Hmmm… Vileplume could take care of that…" Vileplume looks up with a smile. "That leaves one more…"
"Sneasel!" Sneasel is standing up trying to look heroic. Umbreon just rolls her eyes. Karen can't help but smile.
"Oh all right. But the other three are in round two." The pokemon seem to be happy with that idea. Karen, however, has thought of something else.
"I can't even bring them into the arena."
"I'll take care of the others!" Lelia is practically jumping up and down in her seat. James and Erica just shake their heads. Lelia notices. "PWEEESEEE!" James sighs and looks at his wife.
"If Karen says it is OK, then fine." Erica says. Lelia looks at Karen. Karen points to the pokemon.
"If you can get it past them, fine. If not, I find something else." Lelia looks next to the pokemon.
"Wanna stay with me? We can play lots!" Karen's pokemon look at each other. Then they all nod. Lelia is really happy now. Karen smiles as she goes back to her food and family.
This is the way it is supposed to be.