Chapter II: When Eyes Meet
Note to self: Don't let him off easy!
It was a hot summer day, but the breeze was inviting. A trio of Machop laid the last few yoga mats on the bright green grass. Steph, Trevor and I found three adjacent mats and sat with our legs pretzel style; we figured it was only right. Students were laughing, chatting and chasing after each other.
I was the opposite, however. Even Steph and Trevor were having a conversation, which they rarely did, about textiles and bedding of all things. The yoga mats were soft enough to remind one of them of a pillow or luxurious bedsheet of some sort. I'm not exactly sure. I was hardly paying attention to anyone. All I could think about was victory.
When the final playback of Damion's defeat left my head, I looked over to the classroom door. There he was with Clair hovering over him. She appeared to be giving him explicit instructions. Upon walking outside I was looking forward to not seeing Damion for at least the next half hour. But the longer I daydreamed I recognized that I needed to know him so much more if I was going to make this the most demoralizing loss of his Pokémon training career.
After their discussion, Clair and Damion walked over to our group. There was purpose in his eyes. He caught me staring again but this time my gaze did not let up. He accepted my eye-locking challenge as Clair began her lesson.
"Meditation, boys and girls, is about silencing your mind to let understanding flow through you. It helps with focus and mental clarity in this busy world of ours. It is an ancient practice that has been passed down for millennia because of both tradition and function. It is a gateway for us to see and think more clearly when adversity comes knocking at our doorsteps. Before we begin, I must properly thank these kindhearted Machop for helping me set up our safe space."
Clair turned to the juvenile Superpower Pokémon with a jubilant appearance. Their eyes grew wide as she motioned Damion to pay them in Poffins. He reached into his Bag and flung the muffin-like rolls into the air. The Machop stuffed their faces while Clair petted their grooved heads.
"Um, Ms. Clair?" Steph asked nervously.
"Yes, Ms. Williams?"
"If you don't mind me asking, as a Dragon-type master do you have many other types of Pokémon like these?"
"Oh," Clair responded, "these Machop aren't with me. I saw them trying to pick some Berries from a tree top and asked if they would assist me for an edible reward."
"Wait," Chadwick blurted, "so these are wild Machop? Like, I can catch them?"
"Well, technically, I guess you cou—"
Before Clair could finish her sentence, Chadwick had already started his pre-battle theatrics.
"Hey, Machop! Guess what?" He pulled off a Poké Ball from his belt. "With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Pokémon and Poké Ball!" He chucked the ball with all his might straight at the closest Machop. Without looking, the Machop ate a Poffin with one hand and caught the Poké Ball with the other, crushing it to pieces soon after. Chadwick's look of disbelief quickly refigured when the Machop retaliated with a flurry of hard-hitting punches to his face and body. I had never seen such agility from a Pokémon.
"Machop!" exclaimed Clair. "Are you finished?" The regretful Pokémon ran over to Clair and wrapped its arms around her waist.
"Mah, Mah-chop."
"It's alright Machop. I think he's okay."
"That's easy for you to say," said Chadwick, struggling to get back to his feet.
"Maybe next time you'll think twice before you challenge such a strong Pokémon without one of your own," she scolded.
Once the dust settled, Chadwick and the Machop reconciled. It was time to start our meditation. The trio went on their way, heading south towards Route 32. We students returned to our yoga mats eager to receive tutelage from one of the greatest Pokémon Trainers to ever live.
"Now," Clair began, "the first step of meditation is learning to control your breathing. Damion will be my example up front." Damion sat down on his mat with his legs folded in and his hands on his knees. He must have done this a thousand times. The way he carried himself made it hard for me to read him. He was mostly emotionless, always calm but pompous nonetheless.
"I want everyone to adjust their sitting position to emulate Damion," she waited. "Good. Now, students: Sit up straight and inhale slowly. Breathe in your dreams. Breathe in positivity. And exhale. When we exhale, we are releasing all of our toxic thoughts and the doubt that clouds our judgment. If you want to be a champion, there is room for error but none for doubt. Mistakes are our greatest teachers; they push us forward. Doubt is fear, the fear of realizing what you were born to become. Do not be afraid, and repeat after me: I am a winner." We imitated her in unison.
"Say it again. Breathe in slowly and deeply each time you speak. I am a winner."
"I am a winner."
"Fear will not consume me."
"Fear will not consume me."
"I am worthy."
"I am worthy."
"Greatness is my goal."
"Greatness is my goal."
"Nothing will stop me."
"Nothing will stop me."
She smiled and nodded. "Excellent work, class. We will now practice visualizing our goals. I want everyone to close their eyes. You may continue to rest your palms on your legs, or you may touch the tips of your index fingers and thumbs."
When I first heard her suggest touching fingertips I thought it was quite odd. But even if I looked weird, everyone's eyes were closed anyway so I figured, What the heck? Her lesson resumed.
"With all eyes closed, listen to the sound of my voice. Feel the warm breeze on your skin. Take a big, deep breath. You are here for a reason. And exhale."
Clair's footsteps brushed against the grass around our group as she analyzed our posture and body language. As silly and philosophical as this exercise felt at first, it was quickly making my mood a lot less tense.
"I need a volunteer," she said. "Eyes open, everyone. You there, with the red hat, please tell me your name, favorite food and one Pokémon you love."
The student Clair called on was Larry. He came from a long line of Fishermen. His grandpa was a Fisherman, his dad is a Fisherman and both of his uncles are, too. Obviously, Larry loves Water-type Pokémon. Ironically, Larry also loves food; he's no pipsqueak. He adjusted his hat and replied:
"Well, ma'am, my name is Larry Bridges and those are some tough questions. But I've got answers for ya. I'm a cheese-loving kind of guy so I'm gonna have to say mac and cheese is my favorite dish. Nobody makes it quite like my mama! And I love so many Pokémon. But my best pal in the world is Chinchou! Would you like to meet him?"
Clair smiled yet shook her head. "I will meet your Chinchou soon enough, Larry. This is why I needed a volunteer. I want to demonstrate the power our thoughts can wield mentally and physically. Everyone, please close your eyes once more. Relax your body and mind. Tune your breaths to the frequency of the Earth around you. Now, Larry, I want you to begin thinking of mac and cheese. Think of the gooeyness of the cheese. Remember what it tastes like and why you love it so much." She paused for a moment and asked, "How is your body reacting to these thoughts?"
"I'm slobberin' like a Snorlax waitin' on supper," he answered, "but other than that I'm doin' just fine."
"Wonderful," Clair said while the class finished giggling. What Larry said was true and relatable. He wiped off the last bit of drool from his mouth before asking Clair if it was almost time for lunch.
"We will eat shortly," she replied, "but I still need your assistance. This final exercise is for you only, Mr. Bridges. As we just saw, Larry was able to use his thoughts to visualize his favorite dish. By doing that, his body reacted accordingly, making him salivate even if he wasn't feeling hungry before."
"So what does this have to do with anything?" Chadwick interrupted. "I don't need meditation to tell me I'm hungry. That can happen at any time."
"This was simply an example to show all of you the power of the mind. The mind is like the wind in which we cannot see it or hold it but we know it is there. Our minds can connect through space such as when we feel someone we love is in danger. They can connect through time by recreating memories from our past. And they can connect through different dimensions as well. The science behind the Poké Ball is mostly confidential. But that doesn't mean we can't link with the unknown. If thinking hard enough about food can make you feel famished, imagine what our minds can do when we think of those we love."
Clair looked into Damion's eyes briefly before continuing to instruct Larry. "This is the last time I'll need you, Larry. I promise."
"It's no burden at all, ma'am. I reckon I'm gonna need to close my eyes?"
"Yes, please and thank you."
"You got it. Now what?"
"Take a deep breath. Breathe in love. Breathe in laughter. Exhale. As you breathe, I want you to think of your Chinchou. Think of the great times you've shared. Remember the tough battles you won together. Feel the bond between you. Deep breaths, remember. With those emotions in mind, I want you to release your Chinchou from its Ball."
Larry reached back to detach Chinchou's Poké Ball from his belt. Clair quickly corrected him.
"Wait! Do not command Chinchou with your voice. Place its Poké Ball on the ground next to you."
"Ms. Clair," Larry said in confusion, "how am I s'posed to bring Chinchou out if I don't tell him to come out?"
"By using your mind!" she responded.
"B-But I'm not a Psychic."
"You don't need psychic abilities to feel the love of your Pokémon. Let's try it again. This time, do not doubt Chinchou's love!"
At this point in the lesson, most of us students concluded Clair had gone mad. We had been taught for years to use our voices to command Pokémon out of their Balls. Pokémon heard their Trainer's voice on a daily basis. It's how they determined if they should obey or not.
How can Chinchou know what to do without hearing Larry's voice?
"Remember what we've learned here today," Clair coached. "Inhale your desires. Envision Chinchou coming out of its Poké Ball. Exhale the doubt. Get rid of any uncertain thoughts. Breathe in again. Feel the bond between you and your Chinchou. Tell him you would like for him to come out and say hello. Communicate with your mind."
Larry was focusing so intently sweat trickled down his cheek. I noticed something in my peripheral. The Poké Ball was moving! With my mouth wide, I tapped Steph on the thigh repeatedly. We looked at each other in amazement, then at Larry, then back at each other. Clair's eyes fixed on the young Fisherman.
"C'mon, Larry," she encouraged, "you can do it! Trust in your heart and release Chinchou from its Poké Ball!"
Seconds later, a billow of white light erupted from the seemingly possessed capture device. "Chin-chow! Chin-chow!" the Angler Pokémon happily voiced. Larry opened his eyes and gave his dual-antennae companion a big bear hug.
"We did it, Chinchou! I knew we could pull it off. Thank you, Ms. Clair. This is the best day of school I've ever had!" Her smile was warm and rewarding.
"You're welcome, Mr. Bridges. This is one of many goals you and Chinchou will fulfill together. Thank you for volunteering. Oh, and Larry, guess what?"
"Yes, Ms. Clair?"
"Now it is lunch time."
Ding Dong!
There it was: the lunch time bell. Its ring woke me from my competitive slumber. I located Damion amongst the crowd of scurrying kids. I was ready to face him head-on. Until my stomach started grumbling, that is.
"Whoa," my brother observed, "sounds like somebody needs a pit stop before the big battle, huh?" His grin was exasperating.
"How did you know I was about to ask him to battle?" I asked.
"How did I know?" he scoffed. "You were standing there staring at him like some kind of scary movie villain!"
I guess my stance was fairly dark. I couldn't help it, though. When I'm locked in, I have no time for other people's opinions of me – especially not Trevor's. I tried sending him away so I could confront my future opponent.
"Hey, dingus."
"What do you want?" he snapped.
"Why don't you be a good little brother and go get my lunch box from inside?"
"What? No way!"
"C'mon, man. Just do it! Yours is inside too."
"So! That doesn't mean I want to get your lunch too. Quit being lazy and get it yourself!"
"Trevor, please just go get it. Please?"
"Fine, I'll do it. But only if you give me Steph's phone number."
As disgusted as I was by his suggestion, I agreed, hoping he would forget to follow up by the end of the day. While Trevor went to fetch our lunches, the Blackthorn City kids were filing out of the back door. Past the outdoor battlefield were chipped blue picnic tables for students to sit and relax. Mr. Earl followed behind them, prancing with joy. On a gorgeous day like today, why not enjoy Mother Nature as much as possible? That's what Mr. Earl always taught anyway.
In the distance, Damion was eating alone underneath a sturdy-looking Berry tree. Curious as to why he insisted on segregating himself, I went and sat down directly across from him (without his permission, of course).
"What's up with you?" I asked intrusively. Damion put the last piece of his sandwich into his mouth, chewed, and chewed some more. When he finished, he responded.
"How do you mean?"
"What I mean is: Why are you always distancing yourself from your group? Aren't these kids your friends?"
Before he had the chance to answer, Trevor returned with our lunch boxes.
"Maya, why are you bothering this guy so much?" asked Trevor. "Let him eat in peace."
"He's a smart kid," Damion sarcastically contributed. "You should listen to him sometimes."
"Thanks, dude;" said Trevor, "she never really listens to any of her peers."
"Peers?" I shouted. "We wouldn't be peers even if my IQ was cut in half!" Damion's social intelligence revealed itself as he decided to answer my prior question rather than fuel our sibling rivalry.
"Regarding what is up with me," he butted in, "I am a self-sufficient soul. I am familiar with my fellow students, but I wouldn't consider us friends."
"Well, if none of these kids are your friends then who is?" I pondered. He balled up his brown paper lunch sack and stood up to leave.
"Pokémon are the only real friends I've ever known."
Then he walked away. Just like that. Out of all the people here, I, the girl who he nearly went to blows with earlier, was the only one nice enough to come over and sit with him. And this is how he responds, by answering one question then leaving? Nope. That was it; I wasn't done with him. Since everyone outside needed to hear it, I adjusted my volume before trash talking.
"Is that so? If you're really that close with your Pokémon then why don't you prove it?" I knew that would grab his attention. He stopped in his tracks to face me.
"I don't need to prove to you that I care for my Pokémon. Look into my eyes if you need to know the truth."
He was right. I knew that from the second time our eyes met. But I had to keep egging him on. I wouldn't be satisfied with merely a battle of tongues.
"Be that as it may," I engaged, "you are still all talk up to this point. We don't know what Pokémon type you prefer. We don't know what kind of Trainer you are. Come to think of it, do you even have any Pokémon on you right now? I don't see any on your belt!" Just as I planned, he did not back down.
"I am a Trainer beyond your skill. I do not prefer one type of Pokémon. Building a team based on one Pokémon type is a faulty strategy. Unpredictability is a Pokémon Trainer's sole constant advantage. I choose not to let that go to waste. As far as my Pokémon collection goes, I have studied 54 different species so far. Two of which I carry with me at all times and one I caught late last night on Route 36. Are you finished with your game of questions or are there more still?"
"No more questions!" I yelled. "I am sick and tired of your gloating! If you don't battle me right this instant, I will direct my Pokémon's attack straight at your face!" Once he heard that, Mr. Earl immediately confronted me.
"Ms. Rodriguez, what has gotten into you? You have been nothing short of a nuisance here today and I will no longer accept this brand of mischief. There will be no battle!"
"Mr. Earl, I beg of you," Damion said, "please allow us to have this battle. It will provide some entertainment and education for all present. Besides, if we don't do this now, apparently my face will never be the same. I'd like to keep my face the way it is, if you don't mind."
"Young man," Earl noted, "as an instructor I must set a certain ethical standard. And once that standard is breached, it is my duty to put a cease to any and all naughty behavior." His knuckles pressed against his hips in vexation. Damion nodded in agreement. Then it was Clair's turn to chime in.
"Tell me, Mr. Earl," she persuaded, "is this not the competitive spirit you implore your students to exhibit? Sure, Ms. Rodriguez is quite aggressive in her demonstration. But she cannot help how passionate of a person she is. I agree with Damion. Let's have a little fun. If Maya wins, Damion must apologize for his arrogance in front of all of the students. But if Damion wins, Maya must remain silent for the rest of the day. What do you say?"
Mr. Earl lowered his head, struggling to approve of my antics. After a few contemplative moments, he came to his decision.
"Alright, fine," he conceded. "You may carry on with this battle. But if any of my students act out like this again let it be known that there will be consequences. Clair, would you mind refereeing this match? I need to go inside and get Charles. I'm sure he wouldn't want to miss this."
"I would love to," she said, shifting into gear. "Gather around the outside of the battlefield, everyone. It's time to battle!" This was my moment to finally show Damion what I'm made of. No more boasts, no more excuses; just us and our partners duking it out.
Both classes hovered around the battlefield's borders. Mr. Earl brought out a chair for himself and placed it next to the referee's box. I stepped into my challenger's box, confident but cautious. Damion was as poised as he could be, never taking his eyes off me.
"The time has come, boys and girls!" Clair declared. "Maya Rodriguez versus Damion Harrison! This will be an elemental battle so you may command your Pokémon freely. Each competitor will use all Pokémon in their possession. Ready? Begin!" Damion briefly held out his palm, signaling me to throw out my Pokémon first. At least he was somewhat of a gentleman.
"Alright, Damion, prepare to break a sweat going against my red-hot Fire Pokémon! Magby, go, I choose you!" I removed Magby's Poké Ball from my belt holster and pitched it to our side of the field. The ball opened and there stood Magby, the duck-billed, bulbous-headed troublemaker I love. He ran over to give me a hug.
"Bee! Mag-bee!" said the Live Coal Pokémon.
"Hey, Magby!" I giggled. "Are you ready to give these people a show?" I brushed his head with my hand before directing him to his battle spot.
Technically, the PokéDex considered Magby a baby Pokémon, but he was far from a weakling. He also will get a defensive boost from the rare Held Item Giovanni got me for my quinceañera. It was the last time I saw him. Damion grinned upon noticing it.
"I see you've equipped your Magby with an Eviolite. Maybe this match won't be such a blowout after all."
"Just zip it and throw out your Pokémon!" I demanded.
"As you wish," he said as he took out his first Poké Ball from his vest pocket, holding it in his left hand. It wasn't a normal Poké Ball, though. It was one I had only seen in books. A Dusk Ball was supposed to be used to catch nocturnal or cave-dwelling Pokémon.
What could he have caught that would be worth using such an uncommon Ball?
He glanced down at his Dusk Ball before hurling it in front of him. His throwing motion was backhanded – yet another attempt to stray from the norm. The lesser Gas Pokémon appeared on Damion's side of the field.
"I chose to catch this Pokémon because it wasn't afraid of a challenge," he commented without anyone asking. "It observed my skill as a Trainer but insisted on pestering me. Riddle me this, Gastly: At any point did you see yourself one day being by a Trainer's side, risking it all in battle? Today, my friend, fortune will favor the bold. Use your Hypnosis attack!"
Without warning, the battle began. Gastly's eyes and body smoke creepily swapped to catch a glimpse of its Trainer's intent. It then quickly reverted to battle position and unleashed its attack. Circular waves emitted from Gastly's eyes. They reached a certain size then streamlined directly towards Magby.
"Magby, quick, remember our training!" I instructed. "Close your eyes and dodge! Listen to where the waves are, but don't give into them!" Gastly chased Magby relentlessly, trying to get him to succumb to its sleep-inducing attack. But our training (along with Magby's natural speed) outwitted the mischievous Ghost-type.
"Your Magby is quick," said Damion. "But we have a plan for that. Gastly! Start rapidly circling around Magby!" The troublesome Gas Pokémon followed orders and began revolving around my Magby. This strategy was one I had never seen. Magby tried to identify Gastly, and although its motion seemed predictable, as a Ghost-type, Gastly could disappear and re-appear at will.
"Magby, don't mimic its movements!" I commanded. "If you try to keep up, you'll get confused! Jump up and use your Fire Spin attack!"
Magby obeyed and attempted to pinpoint Gastly with its potent, twisting flame. But it was too late. Upon instruction from Damion, Gastly vanished without a trace.
"Excellent work, Gastly," Damion commended. "Pick the perfect moment and strike with your Lick attack!" I knew we might be in some real trouble as soon as I heard that.
"Keep your guard up, Magby! Don't let them trick you!" Magby's head was on a swivel as we both searched for Damion's sneaky companion. In a flash, Gastly materialized right behind Magby, frightening him into a frozen state. A large, pink tongue exited Gastly's bi-toothed mouth, slathering Magby with its noxious saliva. He was instantly paralyzed.
As I watched tiny sparks flicker off Magby's body, I frantically started looking for the next best move in my head. However, Damion seemed to be one step ahead of me.
"Great hit, Gastly!" he cheered. "Follow that up with Mean Look!" I could tell Magby was scared. That Mean Look move only fueled his fear. Once Gastly's glare completed, there was no way Magby could focus enough to return to his Poké Ball. But that was never a part of my game plan.
"Gastly, move away from Magby and begin storing energy for our next attack!"
"Magby, hang in there buddy! This battle is far from over!"
"It's time, Gastly! Show them our true power – Night Shade attack, now!"
"Magby, look out!"
Paralysis dominated Magby as he fixated on the purplish cloud that surrounded him. It engulfed Magby, thrusting him to the ground. He struggled back to his feet, each breath heavier than the last.
"Keep going, Magby; just be patient!"
"Your Magby is tough," Damion noted, "but it's time for it to go. Gastly, finish this up with another Lick attack!"
Damion fell right into my trap. Although Magby's status condition hindered his agility, I knew I could count on him to get off one last move before his stamina hit rock bottom. I waited until Gastly was in mid motion before issuing my order.
"Magby, use Feint Attack!"
He dropped to the ground like a limp Magikarp, barely dodging Gastly's harmful tongue. Magby sprang back swiftly before touching dirt, and then launched his shoulder into Gastly's spherical frame.
"It's super effective!" yelled Clair. She visually examined Gastly's fighting status from the boundary of her referee box. "Gastly is unable to battle. Magby wins!"
Steph, Trevor and Charles cheered loudly for me on the sidelines. I wanted so bad to turn to them and celebrate. But I had to continue studying Damion's composure. I needed to know if I broke his spirit at all. I stared in his direction. His eyes were glued to the ground. After a few seconds, he slowly nodded his head as if he finally processed what just happened.
"Okay," he mouthed. "I hope you have enjoyed this glimmer of hope. Gastly and I have not had sufficient training time together, but that is no excuse. You took advantage of our weakness. Kudos. It has been a long time since I've seen one of my Pokémon faint without some kind of status condition. But it won't happen twice." He once again reached into his inner vest pocket and threw out his next contender. This time it came out of an everyday Poké Ball. "You're up next Eevee! Let's do this!"
This Pokémon needed no warm-up or pep talk; their bond was tight. I surveyed me and Magby's side of the field. Magby was low on Hit Points but I had to waste as much of the catlike creature's energy as I possibly could if we had any chance of winning this fight.
"Alright, Magby, just take it slow! Use your Smokescreen!"
"Hold your breath and close your eyes, Eevee. Don't give in!"
"You can try to ignore it but my Magby's Smokescreen will stay with Eevee for as long as it's on the field. Magby, Fire Spin!"
"Magby is a sitting duck. Eevee use Quick Attack!"
"Oh, no! Magby, dodge it!"
But he couldn't. His paralysis, along with my hasty command, left Magby defenseless trying to generate an attack. In the blink of an eye, Eevee tackled Magby to the ground. It stood over him growling.
"Magby is unable to battle. The match is now tied; Eevee wins!" Clair broadcasted. I returned Magby to his Ball and thanked him for his valiant effort. Now it was Ponyta's turn.
"I hope you're ready for what's next, Damion! Ponyta come on out!" I said with a determined look.
"Wow," observed Damion, "you're about the 30th girl I've seen with a Ponyta. How typical. Let me guess: Was she a birthday present?"
Why did he have to be so smug? Furthermore, why did he have to be so right?
"Ponyta, use Flame Wheel at full power!" I commanded.
I had no time for his games. Someone needed to shut him up, and I was going to be the one to do it. Unfortunately, his Eevee didn't skip a beat.
"Eevee, stand your ground and counter with Sand Attack!"
Ponyta's face was bombarded with battlefield dirt, negating her Flame Wheel attack.
"Shake it off, Ponyta!"
"Eevee, follow that up with Tail Whip!"
"Ponyta use Stomp!"
The crowd reacted as Ponyta's rugged front hooves smashed Eevee's head into the earth. Clair yelled from her box, "That's a critical hit! Eevee's health is low!" Damion became oddly silent.
"Let's finish this, Ponyta. Back up and try a Flame Wheel one more time!"
With no word from its Trainer, Eevee repeated its Sand Attack. This time Ponyta lost her footing from being blinded by the guided debris. Clearly injured, Ponyta reached down to eat the Sitrus Berry I gave her to hold. To my disbelief, Eevee slammed into Ponyta, stole the Berry from her neck, and ate it immediately after.
"Hey!" I screamed to Clair. "That's not fair! Eevee can't just take my Ponyta's Berry and eat it! That's Ponyta's Berry. She needs it to stay in this battle!"
Clair turned to her godson, "Damion, would you care to explain what just occurred?"
"I'd be glad to. You see, Maya, Eevee just used a move called Covet on your Ponyta. On top of dealing more damage than Tackle, Covet also steals the opponent's held item – which, in this case, was your beloved Sitrus Berry, returning my Eevee back to good health."
"Oh, come on. Cut the crap! I've never even heard of that move!"
That was a lie. In the moment it wasn't, though – selective memory, I guess.
"Whether you had knowledge of that move or not, it is an official Pokémon move," said Clair. She looked down at Ponyta. "And it appears your Ponyta is unable to battle. Please call your next Pokémon."
I slowly walked back to my battle spot. There was no reason to complain any further. I had been defeated and there was nothing I could do about it.
"Well?" said Clair. "Are you going to send out your next Pokémon?"
I stood in my challenger's box with my head still hanging. Tears rolled down my face. It was time to tell the truth. "I… I…" I stuttered. I couldn't look Damion in the eye. Instead, I slid down to my knees in shame.
"Wait a minute," he detected, "you don't have another Pokémon, do you?" I sniffled a few times. I had every intention to confess, but a battle cry erupted from my side of the field before I could come clean.
"Charrr!"
I whipped my head back into place. Apparently, Charles had jumped in from the sidelines to help me in my time of crisis. I hopped to my feet to express my gratitude. "Thank you so much, Charles. This means the world to me," I whispered to him, gently holding his face. He smiled as we got into our battle positions. Damion inquired Clair.
"Are you really going to allow this?"
"I am," she grinned. "Don't tell me you've had enough already."
"Never that," he replied.
"Okay, everyone! This battle is officially continued. Charmeleon and Eevee, are you ready? Maya, Damion, are you ready? Begin!"
"Wait!" I paused. "Mr. Earl, what moves does Charles know?" Mr. Earl put his index finger and thumb together, slid them across his lips and shrugged. I was on my own.
"Eevee let's start with a Quick Attack!"
"Uhh… uhh… Charles use Flamethrower!"
He looked back at me puzzled and ignored my request. I scratched my head in embarrassment.
"My bad, I got a little excited."
Charles didn't need my help, it seemed. Eevee initiated its attack, zipping towards him. He reacted with lightning speed, catching Eevee in mid-air. His eyes turned a fiery blue as he roared with might and flung Eevee across the field.
"Whoa! Great job, Charles! That looked like your Scary Face. What other moves do you know?"
"It's time for a new strategy, Eevee. Sit with your eyes closed and wait for my command!"
Eevee did as it was told, sitting with excellent beauty-pageant posture. I wanted to direct Charles' battle motion, but I still wasn't sure what all his moves were yet. So I decided to be more of a watchful eye than a direct commander until I got a better feel for his skill set. I thought it would be relatively easy to pick up on his attacks. However, deciphering what was self-defense and what were official Pokémon moves proved to be somewhat of a challenge.
Damion had his Eevee postpone its attacks until after Charles committed to striking. It would then illuminate its Baby Doll Eyes and follow that up with a Sand Attack. With his physical attacks weakened (and half a beach's worth of sand in his eyes), Charles became visibly frustrated after a few attempts. He jumped back to our side and screamed at the Sun.
"A bit flustered are we?" teased Damion.
"I'm sorry, Charles," I said with a heavy heart. "We can beat these guys, I know it. I just have to be better."
"Are you finished with your little pow wow? I have a few things left on my schedule today."
"Put a sock in it, dude! Quit being such a pansy and hit us already!"
"Be careful what you wish for; Eevee use Quick Attack!"
"Charles! Take the hit!"
I may not have known Charles' complete move set, but I did know his Ability. Unless Mr. Earl found himself a super rare Charmeleon, Charles should have Blaze – an Ability that turns a Fire-type Pokémon's vulnerability into strength when their health is low. Charles and I were finally in sync. He proved to be a crafty fighter as I recognized that he caught on to my plan.
Once Eevee's head rushed into Charles' chest, his Ability activated. He knew what to do. "Let's finish this, Charles!" I yelled. He stood up tall, tilted his head back, and unleashed a furious, glowing flame. Eevee's fur was scorched and black, followed by it fainting.
"Eevee is unable to battle," Clair stated. "Charmeleon wins!"
I jumped with glee. Steph scurried to me for a quick celebration before returning to her spot next to Trevor. "You go, sis! You do that thing! Yeah!" he applauded. It was cute hearing Trevor cheer me on. This was a nice change of pace from all of the arguments and disagreements. I doubt twins could be more opposite than me and Trevor, but today things were different.
Speaking of opposite, Damion looked happy for the first time possibly ever. His hands were in his pants pockets, thumbs exposed. He gazed upon the sky like a child watching his first successful kite flight. He almost looked relieved. A soft breeze blew in from the west. He fixed his eyes in my direction.
"Shall we proceed?" he asked.
"Ladies first," I answered. I expected another rare Poké Ball for his final choice but to my surprise a normal Poké Ball filled his palm yet again.
"Ms. Clair, permission to heal Charles?"
"Only by Berry, Ms. Rodriguez."
I held up my last Sitrus Berry that I had retrieved from my shirt pocket. She approved its use. Charles approved its taste.
"You've given me a match I could have never predicted," Damion acknowledged. "For that, I thank you." He tossed his Poké Ball in front of him and unveiled his final ally.
Its sea blue skin glistened in the sunlight. Its eyes were a deep, regal purple. Cold and calculating was its stance. It gave the impression that battling was its sole purpose. Pokémon this magnificent were only seen on screens. The only thing missing in this battle was a camera crew.
He calmly commanded his unevolved Dragon Pokémon, "Go."
Have you ever wanted something so bad that it tingled in your bones? It was an exhilarating feeling – blood pumping, nerves pulsating. Once-dormant hairs now rose to the occasion. This was it. This was my chance to make a name for myself. To defeat a Johto Junior Champion I had to be precise. I closed my eyes. What would Dad say in a time like this? I thought. I tried listening for his recycled advice that dwelled within my subconscious. But in its place was a deafening ring.
That's when everything went black. . .