Disclaimer: This story, the OC -main, secondary or otherwise- don't belong to be but to a dear friend of mine who decided not to share it here. So I took it upon myself to do it for her.
However as to not be accused of plagiarism, I still made a few changes so it was more in my style than in hers (but that's about all that'll be changed). If anything, think of it as a remake.
Regarding the main cast from Pokemon, they belong to Game Freak or whoever own them.
Time for a Challenge!
Tap-tap-tap! Tap-tap-tap!
"Uhnn…" I moaned out when a mysterious, tapping noise entered my ears, pulling me out of my dream, though not completely waking me up either. My body was toasty warm from the sheets, covering my whole body with a secure weight. With a tiny sigh, I squirmed a bit, adjusting my position for more comfort, ready to get back to sleep and to my dream.
Tap-tap-tap-tap!
The tapping pierced the quiet sound of night once more. I groaned a bit more loudly and moved again, curling up into a ball. While I shifted position, I felt something climbing on the end of bed to my right. Instinctively, I kicked but my feet didn't touch anything. Instead, my leg now has something heavy on it. An instant later, the object hopped off. Satisfied that nothing was bothering me anymore, I turned on my stomach and sighed out in relief.
Through my foggy sleepy brain, the idea that someone was in my room and had climbed on my bed made its way. And I jerked awake, my eyes opening suddenly. Of course, I couldn't see anything in the darkness of the night that the glowing numbers of the alarm-clock were not sufficient to lighten. While my eyes were adjusting to the obscurity, I listened, but nothing. Even the tapping sounds had stopped.
Little by little, I could make out more of what was around me, from the desk in the corner to the other bed that now was occupied. I had met the girl when I came back from my meeting Lillie's brother to fetch Justice's incubator. I hadn't been pleased to know that I was going to share the room with another individual, yet it was for one night only, so I decided to bite the bullet. Good thing that this girl didn't seem to be invasive and she kept to herself.
A squeal brought me back to my own bed and I saw that the 'something' that had climbed on the bed had been Gaïa and that she was pointing at the window.
"Okey… What's goin' on?" I muttered as I stifled a yawn. I moved the curtain away when my Snivy insisted, but couldn't see anything at all. Everything was quiet, safe from the blowing wind that furiously moved the tree branches in the park around the Pokemon Center. "The noise woke you up too?" I whispered, making sure to spoke low enough so I'd not wake my roommate.
"It probably was a nocturnal Pokemon, nothing more." I said with a yawn I didn't even cover. "Let's go back to sleep. Tomorrow we're going to take the ferry for our next adventure." I said, laying back on the bed. Yet Gaïa was having none of it and she hopped on my stomach, emptying my lungs in the process in an inelegant gasp.
With a grunt, I sat back up, eyes sunken with annoyance and exhaustion, but Gaïa had already left and was standing on the windowsill, looking intently outside.
"You really want to go out now?" I exclaimed, keeping my voice low as much as I could. I glanced at the blue digital numbers on the clock, now really taking in what they showed. "It's past one in the morning… Gaïa… Why?" I huffed. "Fine… You'll regret it tomorrow." I said, opening the window. A cold breeze entered just as my Grass Type Pokemon left. But not for long. As I was about to close the window, she was back, a paper in her hand. I sighed out.
"All that for that? Com'on, you don't need an old piece of paper. I thought you had stopped your collection?" I said, shaking my head. A few years back, Gaïa had taken the habits of collecting stuffs – usually old unwanted small items, or plain trash – and to bring them to my room. It had been hard to have her stop doing it. She hissed out as she placed it on the bed and left, looking offended.
"I don't have time for this…" I sighed, plopping back onto the bed, my head hitting the pillow with a soft sound. Without looking, I took the chilled piece of paper to put it on the night table and throw it to the trash at a more suitable hour. Yet, I realized that it wasn't really an old piece of paper. It was neatly folded and I could see some handwriting on it.
It was a letter.
Who could have left a letter here? I wondered. I glanced over to the sleeping form of my roommate. Perhaps it was meant for her? There was only one way to know and I opened it. There were only three sentences written on it.
'I have decided to accept your battle challenge. I want to see for myself why Tapu Bulu would grant you a Z-Ring. Meet me at Hau'Oli City's beach at 7:00 AM.'
It wasn't signed, but I didn't need much thinking to know who it came from. "Sweet!" I laughed quietly, placing the letter on the nightstand. Yet, even though I was thrilled by the battle that was awaiting me in the morning, I was also worried. Why would Gladion use such a strange way to set a battle date when he could just have met me at the Pokemon Center earlier? Lillie had warned me that her brother was a bit 'different' and 'strange' than how he used to be when he was younger.
Oh well, I'd ask about it when I was going to meet him tomorrow. For now, I needed sleep, after all, I was about to show a proud boy what I really was made of. I got back into a comfortable position to sleep and finally managed to drift back into dream land sooner that I'd have expected I would .
When I arrived at the beach, on foot as I had chosen not to use Ferocity given the early hour, none was here. I was a bit disappointed. The truth was that I had planned to ask him a thing or two before the battle started. The day before, during a break in my training, Lillie had shared a bit of their story, but I wanted to know what his side was. Maybe I'd have more time once we would be done.
I had time to imagine how the conversation, or even the battle, would go while I waited, Gaïa playing in the sand, digging and running around. I had thought of several moves and ways to counter his Lycanroc's attacks. Yet I didn't quite think I'd have to use them so soon.
When I had woken up, I had thought that I had dreamed the whole thing. However when my eyes had rested on the nightstand, the unfolded paper with the few words written on it showed that it hadn't been a dream at all. I had taken Gaïa with me as I rushed outside – as silently as I could in order to not wake anyone – and left Sabretooth with Marie and Justice's egg. The outside air was chilly and I wrapped my now clean jacket around me. The sun was slowly rising, tainting the sky in red and gold color. I took it as a good omen.
"Hi Gladion!" I hollered, waving my hand high when I saw him arriving from the road. His Lycanroc was walking next to him and I could see his surprised glance when I said his name. "You're late." I told him once he was closer.
"You're early." he retorted bluntly, stopping a few feet from me. "I recall writing the battle was at seven, not at six thirty."
"You betcha! I like arriving a bit early for such things." I replied with a wink.
Gladion merely let out a 'hmph' sound before walking away to the correct distance of a real battlefield, readying himself for the battle. Gaïa slided down my arms from my shoulder and landed on the sand in a well performed somersault. I carefully walked on the sand and punched my hands together. On the other side, Gladion was looking at me, his face emotionless. His Lycanroc was already in its place, waiting.
"Your move." he simply said.
"You ask for it! Gaïa, start this party with Magical Leaf!" I commanded her, thrusting my fist out. My Snivy stomped her feet into the sand, ran towards her opponent and jumped, using the momentum to spin horizontally, all the while firing sparkling razor-sharp leaves to Lycanroc. Lycanroc being rock type, I expected it to be super effective. Or that Gladion would ask his Pokemon to move away, or to counter it.
But when the leaves fell, I could see that the feral looking Pokemon was still standing there. It hadn't moved. It had taken the attack willingly… And it didn't show any hint of having suffered any sort of damage. The only results of the Magical Leaf were some green shade on the sand and a few grunts from Lycanroc. Gaïa landed and looked back at me, her eyes wide, just like mine were. Yet, we both grinned in sync, to Gladion's surprise as he rose his brow.
"Your move had had close to no effect on my Lycanroc." He stated. "And you're fine with this?"
"Of course we are!" I laughed, adding to his bewilderment. "Your Lycanroc took that attack like a champ! When we take you down, our victory will be all the more meaningful." I went on excitedly. "Gaïa! Get closer!"
"Lycanroc, use Stone Edge!" Gladion gave his first legitimate attack. My mind quickly came up with an idea.
"Gaia! Vine Whip on the first rock. Wrap your vines around it and pull yourself around the others!" I fired out. Gaia nodded in agreement, skided to a stop while glowing blue stones broke through the sand. Gaia swerved her vines around the stones, going left-to-right repeatedly. When her vines clutched the first rock, she pulled herself with her body swiftly following her vine's path. As she closed in, Gaia instinctively jumped onto the top of the rock.
"Lycanroc! Bite!" Gladion commanded with no tone of surprise in his voice. I swore he'd be stunned at my clever, successful tactic with the Stone Edge's rocks. We have learned that one with my father and I had thought it'd be a good idea to use it for this battle.
"Gaia! Jump!" I fired out. Gaia jumped up as commanded, her tiny feet barely dodging Lycanroc's snarly sharp fangs.
"Being small and swift can be useful." I taunted Gladion.
"Stone Edge again!" Gladion growled. Lycanroc huffed out, punching his fist into the sand. Yet this time, they were much faster and she didn't manage to do that same thing she had earlier. One of the sharp rocks crashed onto Gaia's chest. She shrieked out and flew into the sea, a large splash of clear water spraying upwards. Yet she was as stubborn as her trainer and rushed back to the sandy battlefield, standing to her feet, clutching her chest with an agonized hiss and wincing eyes.
"Use Bite!"
"Vines around the legs, go!" I hollered out. At my command, my Snivy's eyes snapped open, fire of determination blazing within. However they were hardly enough to bother the Lycanroc in its dash. It closed in on Gaia, the tightness of the curled vines began to fall.
"Toss him into the water!" I yelled.
"VY!" She grunted out loudly when she tried her best to lift the mahogany Pokemon, using its momentum to her advantage, as the water was right behind her. However the blow she had gotten also seemed to have exhausted Gaia more than I expected and she was breathing heavily. I could also see her usually green chest turning reddish. Nevertheless, her determination helped her and if she couldn't send the Lycanroc to the water, at least she could change the direction it was going.
"Aqua Tail, Gaia! Let it rip!" I exclaimed in an excited manner. Gaia smirked, blasting a dense cyclone of water onto Lycanroc's chest. The canine Pokemon dug his hind legs into the sandy floor, waves lapping at his feet, in hope to prevent being blasted back. Despite its best efforts, Aqua Tail did its job, but not as much as I'd have hoped. Lycanroc was thrown back a few feet away. Gaia flipped onto her feet, her hand on the ground. We had to finish it quick!
"Nice one!" I squealed out. "Now, it's time for our favorite combo before Lycanroc can recover! Aqua Tail plus Tackle!"
"Lycanroc, Counter!" Gladion exclaimed in a slightly bitter tone. Maybe he hadn't expected the battle to last this long. Tough on him!
Gaia rammed her head onto Lycanroc's red tinted fist. The collision was short and Gaia shrieked out when she skyrocketed into the air with a pain-filled and rather dazed expression. Gladion took her condition and her rapid descent from the sky to his advantage by commanding Lycanroc to use a Stone Edge again. The rock slammed onto Gaia's back, sending her flying high into the air once again. My heart dropped when she plummeted onto the sand and remained motionless.
"Gaia!" I screamed, dashing to her side, fearing the worse. Gladion really had given her no chance. Counter would have been enough, yet he still had his Pokemon to use another Stone Edge. Gaia hissed quietly when I lifted her into my arms. Stroking her head, I whispered that her battling skills were incredible.
"Alright Gladion. You got me good there." I said when he came to me as I was getting up.
"Yes." he simply answered, not even stopping as he passed by me. "I hope you're satisfied. You got your battle, and I got to see what you were worth."
"You really needed to use that last Stone Edge?" I growled. "Wasn't that over-killing?"
That got him to stop and turn to face me, our differently shaded green eyes locking into one another's.
"You asked for it. However I'll be fair, you're not half bad of a trainer. Tapu Bulu may have made a good choice. Yet this remain to be seen."
"Why should I care what you think about me being chosen by Tapu Bulu?" I snapped. "Besides, I know you saw me when I was fighting Kahuna Hala. And I won. This should be proof enough."
"Think what you want," he replied with a shrug, moving away again. "Take care of your Snivy." he grumbled.
"One more thing!" I replied. He stopped, but didn't turn around this time.
"What is it?"
"If someday we were to bump into each other again, let's battle!" I exclaimed. He didn't answer anything but sighed.
"We'll see 'bout this." He answered with a feeble wave of his hand. "In the meantime, I'd advise you to take care of this Pokemon of yours. She's much too bold for her own good and safety."
With that, he slipped his hands into his pants pockets and walked away, his Lycanroc trekking alongside him. Unless its trainer, the Pokemon looked back and me and Gaïa, a sneer on its lips.
"We'll defeat him." I assured my injured Pokemon as I was getting back to the Pokemon Center at a slow pace. "We'll train, we'll get stronger and we'll show him what we're really made of. Won't we?"
"Sni… Snivy." She agreed in a weak voice, yet her eyes shone with as much determination as there had been in the Lycanroc's eyes when it had turned to face us on its way out.
