Our heroes continue on with their journey with Swanna now part of Orihime's team. They continue on to Ira City, but they're stopping for a break of course.
"Check it out." Ichigo said as they all stopped on an open field. "This looks like a good place to stop." They all felt a nice breeze to blow through and it felt rather nice.
"That is a nice breeze." Rukia said. "How about we stop here for a little break and continued on later?"
"Good idea. This gives me the chance to work with Swanna." Orihime said as she held out the pokeball. "It won't be long until the Ultimate Talent Star and we need to get in some practice." With a new friend, there's some work that needs to be done.
Pokemon
Every trainer has a choice
To listen to that voice inside
I know the battles maybe long
Winners may have come and gone
I will carry on
Yeah, this dream will last forever
This dream will never die
We will rise to meet the challenge every time
(Advance challenge)
Yeah, this dream keeps us together
This shows that you and I
Will be the best that the world's ever seen
Cause we will always follow this dream
Pokemon
(Orihime's voice) The Fun in the Sky
"Swanna, come on out and say hello!" Orihime said as she called on Swanna.
"Swanna!" Swanna flew out and she was met with Orihime's other pokemon.
"I like you all to meet Swanna, our new friend." Orihime said with all of her pokemon saying hello. "Swanna, these are all your new friends. I thought we could use this opportunity to train. It won't be long until the Ultimate Talent Star and we need to be ready for when that time comes. What do you say?"
"Swanna!" Swanna seems to love the idea.
"A good way to start is some battling together." Ichigo said. "What do you say? Do you want to have a practice battle?"
"Sure." Orihime said. Orihime and Ichigo faced each other in a battle with Orihime using Swanna and Ichigo using Fraxure.
"Let's get started. Fraxure, Dragon Rage!" Ichigo said. Fraxure used the attack, but Swanna twirled around and avoided the attack.
"Great, Swanna. Now use Bubble Beam!" Orihime said, but there was a delay in the attack as Swanna danced around first and then used the attack.
"Dodge it!" Ichigo said and Axew was able to avoid the attack.
"What was that? Swanna gave Fraxure too much time to dodge." Chad said.
"You're right. That was a little weird." Rukia said.
"Swanna, try using Air Slash!" Orihime said, but Swanna did it again. Swanna danced around first and used the attack later, but that gave Fraxture the opportunity to dodge the attack again. "Swanna, what are you doing? Why are you dancing around before attacking?"
"Fraxure, Dragon Tail!" Ichigo said. Fraxure had energy form around its tail and slammed it against Swanna and dealt some damage.
"Swanna, Aerial Ace!" Orihime said, but Swanna just did it again. Swanna continues to dance around. "Swanna, please stop doing that. You need to attack before Fraxure has the chance to counter." Swanna stopped dancing and flew right down for the attack. Fraxure and Ichigo got ready for it.
"Beautiful!" All of them were surprised as a girl appeared out of nowhere and hugged Swanna. That put a stop to the attack. This girl had green hair with goggles and she wore a white body suit with an orange scarf, gloves, and boots. She seemed so happy to see Swanna and Swanna just welcomed it. "What a beautiful pokemon. So graceful and lovely."
"Excuse me, but we're in the middle of something here." Ichigo said.
"I know, but I couldn't help it. Are you battling?" The girl asked. "The way this Swanna was dancing around, I thought you were doing some kind of performance."
"And that makes it okay?" Rukia said as they all thought this girl was a little strange. "Who are you anyway?"
"You don't know who I am? How could you not know who I am?" The girl said. She acted like they were suppose to know, but they were all drawing a blank. "I'm Mashiro. I'm one of the Elite Four." Right when she said that, all of them were real surprised to hear that.
"You're one of the Elite Four?!" Orihime said.
"Mashiro… Her specialty is with bug-types." Chad said.
"Hey. Are all of you having lunch? Can I join you? Please. Pretty please." Mashiro said. They all thought she was a little weird since she was acting like a child, but she was one of the Elite Four. That means they should treat her with some respect. Right? Mashiro joined them for lunch, but she kept acting like she was a little kid.
"This is all so good." Mashiro said as she stuffed her face.
"Has she ever heard of manners?" Rukia said.
"So what are all of you doing out here?" Mashiro asked.
"We're on the way to Ira City so that I can challenge the gym there." Ichigo said. "We were doing some training when you interrupted. Orihime was also training for the Ultimate Talent Star."
"Really? You're a performer?!" Mashiro said as she seemed very interested in that.
"Yeah. I was working with my recently acquired Swanna." Orihime said. "However, Swanna seems to delay her attacks and gives her opponents the chance to dodge. I don't know what to do about that."
"Having trouble with your pokemon? Let me help! Please! Please! Please!" Mashiro kept begging to aid Orihime in her training. They were all lucky no one was around to see all this because it was a little embarrassing.
"Okay. It actually might be great to have a member of the Elite Four help in my training." Orihime said.
"Yay! Let's go!" Mashiro said as she grabbed Orihime and started running and taking her away.
"Orihime, are you sure about this?" Ichigo asked.
"I'm sure it will be okay. Swanna, let's go!" Orihime said. Swanna started flying and followed after them. All of them are worried that Orihime might be getting into some trouble.
….
Orihime
Mashiro took Orihime over to a secluded area with her Swanna. Mashiro might be a little weird, but since she is a member of the Elite Four, she might be able to help out.
"So you say that Swanna dances around and takes too long to attack?" Mashiro said.
"Yes." Orihime said.
"Let me take a good look at what we have to work with and there's only one way to do that." Mashiro said. "You and I are going to battle right now."
"Me? Battle one of the Elite Four? I know I don't have what it takes to take one of you on." Orihime said.
"Don't get so down on me already." Mashiro said. "Let's just start by having some fun. Here's my partner. Come on out, Vespiquen!"
"Ves!"
"Lovely!" Orihime said. "I've never seen a Vespiquen before. It looks so elegant and radiant like a queen."
"So let's have our battle. It will be fun." Mashiro said. Orihime figured she had nothing to lose if she went through with this. So the two of them got into position and started the battle.
"Swanna, start out with Bubble Beam!" Orihime ordered, but Swanna did the same thing and danced around first before it attacked. That gave Vespiquen the chance to dodge as she moved to the side. "No. Swanna, don't you understand that's the problem."
"Now use Cross Poison!" Mashiro said. Vespiquen flew right at Swanna with poison flowing through her claws. Vespiquen kept trying to slash at Swanna, but Swanna kept trying to dodge around. Swanna wasn't fast enough as Vespiquen was able slash Swanna and knocked Swanna out of the sky.
"Swanna, try using Aqua Ring. Keep healing yourself." Orihime said. Swanna spread its wings and formed rings made out of water with Swanna healing. "Now use Air Slash!" Swanna continued to dance around before attacking and it was causing the same problem again and again. Orihime wasn't sure what to do to stop this.
"Confuse Ray!" Mashiro said. Vespiquen unleashed golden orbs at Swanna and they flashed with Swanna getting confused. "Now use Hex!" Vespiquen used dark power and Swanna was slammed against the ground.
"Swanna!" Orihime called as she could see Swanna takes a lot of damage. Mashiro was laughing at this.
"Sorry. Hex does a lot more damage when the opponent is suffering from a status condition." Mashiro said. "How about we stop it there?"
"Already?" Orihime said.
"Vespiquen, do you want to have some fun now?" Mashiro asked and Vespiquen agreed to that. "Take Swanna with you. You two do what you want. Just make sure you stay close by." Vespiquen understood. Vespiquen helped Swanna up and took Swanna up to the sky.
"Why are we stopping now?" Orihime asked.
"Why? It's because Vespiquen wanted to. Duh." Mashiro said.
"Vespiquen wanted to?" Orihime said.
"Vespiquen likes to fly through the air and likes to take a break between from battling." Mashiro said. "Don't get me wrong. Vespiquen doesn't mind battling and will if she has to. Although, you've got to give the pokemon what they want. I learned the happier they are, the better they battle."
"The happier they are, the better they battle?" Orihime said.
"It is a trainer's responsibility to make their pokemon happy and that means you need to let them do what they like." Mashiro said. "Take a look at Swanna right now." Orihime saw Swanna fly around in the sky and was having a great time with that happy look on Swanna's face.
"Swanna does look really happy." Orihime said. "What about all that stuff was Swanna did earlier? Did Swanna do all that simply for the love for it?"
"You said that you're a show-woman, a performer for Pokemon Talent Star. You're entering the Ultimate Talent Star, right?" Mashiro asked. "Does Swanna love to perform as well?"
"Yes. Swanna actually belonged to another trainer." Orihime said. "Swanna loves to perform."
"Maybe Swanna is just trying to show you how dedicated and determined it is to go through with this." Mashiro said. Orihime didn't think about it like that. "I don't think you need to change Swanna's style. You just need to figure out how to use it in battle."
"Figure out how to use it in battle?" Orihime said as she turned to Swanna. "Swanna, come down!" Swanna heard Orihime and flew over to her. "Swanna, does it make you happy to perform? Are you trying to add some style and grave to your attacks because you're dedicated and determined to perform."
"Swanna!" Swanna seemed to confirm that.
"I'm sorry, Swanna. I should have known that. I was told that was what you wanted." Orihime said.
"You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. You said you just got Swanna." Mashiro said. "It's going to take time for you two to understand each other, but now that you know what to do, let's try starting that battle again."
"Sure. Swanna, we'll make a great team. We just need practice." Orihime said as she held Swanna close. "So let's become the best team we can."
"Swanna!" Swanna really loved that idea. Both of them took their positions and were ready to continue this battle.
'I just need to figure out how to use Swanna's way of battling that involves style and grace.' Orihime said.
"We'll attack first." Mashiro said. "Vespiquen, Cross Poison!" Vespiquen flew in and tried to slash at Swanna.
"Dodge it!" Orihime said. Swanna was doing its best to keep out of Vespiquen's reach from the attack.
"Keep on it." Mashiro said as Vespiquen chased after Swanna. As that chase was going on, Orihime kept trying to figure out how to use Swanna's style to battle. Suddenly, it came to her.
"Swanna, fly straight up in a spin and come right down with Aerial Ace!" Orihime said. Swanna did what Orihime said as Swanna spun around and flew straight up. Swanna came right down and Aerial Ace was able to hit. "Great work. Now use Air Slash in a ballerina spin!" Swanna spun around and used the attack with Vespiquen getting hit from the attack again. "It's working."
"Not bad." Mashiro said.
"Yes. As long as Swanna moves with a little style or grace, the timing of the attacks can still work." Orihime said.
"That's pretty good, but I still don't want to lose a battle." Mashiro said. "Vespiquen, Confuse Ray!"
"Not this time. Swanna, dance around while using Bubble Beam!" Orihime said. Swanna did a little dance in the air and used the attack with it spreading wide and Vespiquen being blasted before the attack was used.
"Not bad, but not good either. Power Gem!" Mashiro said. Vespiquen fired a beam and it blasted Swanna with Swanna taking a lot of damage. Swanna was knocked right out of the sky and lost this battle.
"Swanna!" Orihime called as she hurried to Swanna's side and tried to help it. "Are you okay?"
"Swanna's fine. It looks like my work is done." Mashiro said as she returned Vespiquen to her pokeball. "Bye." Mashiro just ran off without much warning.
"Bye." Orihime said as she thought was a little weird. Suddenly, Mashiro realized something and ran back to her.
"I almost forgot. I heard the Ultimate Talent Star is happening in about a month in Platinum Valley if you're interested." Mashiro said.
"It is? Thanks for telling me." Orihime said.
"Bye!" Mashiro and ran off again. She never seems to stay still and holds a lot of energy. Once Orihime's training with Swanna was over, she headed back to the others where they were all waiting for her.
"There you are. We were just about to come get you." Ichigo said. "Did everything worked out?"
"It sure did." Orihime said as she wrapped her arm around Swanna and already felt closer to her.
Thanks to Mashiro, Orihime is learning how to use a pokemon's own style in her battles. Now she knows when and where the Ultimate Talent Star is happening. First, Ichigo's gym battle. Then, it will be off to Platinum Valley. Stay tune.
To Be Continued….
