The hidden secrets of Battle Bond
Chapter 20, Throwing down the gauntlet
Ash and Serena were listening in on the two singers. After Serena did her morning practice with Pancham and Illumise she wanted to be near them to hear the sounds they produce. Sitting remarkably close to the other they didn't mind the close brushing occasionally. Serena couldn't be happier. A great day with Ash and with his ever growing realization of his growing feelings Serena knew it was only a matter of time. He became much more receptive to her advances and he started to welcome the things a couple were going to do.
Nina, Primarina, Swanna, Madeleine and her Altaria were crouched over a piece of paper. Holding a pen they shot idea's and lyrics back and forth over the song they were writing together as they said lines in song.
"Minc!"
The Minccino that were cleaning the house suddenly screamed and they all ran outside in a hurry. The Pokémon all ran as far away and were all seeking a hiding place.
"What's going on!?" Serena asked.
"They keep yelling thieves."
Ash translated for them. Somebody broke into Madeleine's house. Cracking his knuckles he expected it to be Team Rocket. Even if they were in jail away from each other he knew them long enough to know they are quite resourceful. He warned them enough times to never come into his live again or else they pay.
Not to mention the young singer who will do even worse as Serena held a but of a hold on him.
A girl dressed in a light blue skirt and white short gloves and shoes with bright blonde hair stepped outside in the back with a male with black hair in a light blue outfit with hints of orange. The two intruders looked around as they saw the group.
"What are you doing at my house!?" Madeleine yelled at the pair as they weren't welcome. Nina with her sight on didn't like the look of the pair. There was not a hint of decency in them and she, Primarina and Swanna all took a stance to protect her and the Pokémon here.
"You better explain yourself because as she said, you're not welcome here." Nina threatened the pair to leave with venom in her voice. Ash and Pikachu as well guarding Serena the male in light blue and orange was a little insulted Nina did not recognize him.
"You say that as if we're strangers Nina." The male told her hurt confusing every one. Nina had a lot of history unexplored not wanting to talk much about her childhood and parenting issues.
"You know them?" Serena asked her.
"I don't. What do you want?" Nina demanded to know who they were.
"I'm Jason and this is Karin. Also known as your replacement. You were supposed to be my partner." Jason told them all while his female partner scoffed.
"Partner?"
"Bit slow are you? Your father told us all about you. Including how you and Primarina fit together like fire and gasoline."
Hearing how her excuse of a parent talked about her chosen partner she immediately jumped in front of her singing coach. Battle Bond hunters came to her mentors and she hated it.
"Stay back everyone!" Ash ran up next to her and Pikachu's cheeks sparked already. Serena could feel the tension in the air and she can cut it with a knife. The Performer immediately ran to Madeleine and her Altaria knowing things will get ugly now.
"Serena? Can you protect her while we clean up this mess?" Nina asked of her while grinding her teeth. The Performer took Madeleine by the wrist and guided her away to a safer distance as she did not wanted to get caught in the crossfire. Serena a bit further out of range it left the Battle Bond trainers and hunters to themselves.
"Here to soften us up for It?!" Primarina close to Nina they were ready for the longest time.
"Not really. I'm here to compare you to her." Jason said as he analyzed her. The Battle Bond trainers did not drop their guard as the hunters partner spoke up.
"You see these guys love to be nepotistic. Even if you are a traitor he still thinks you're better than I am." Karin said full of anger. Now that she's seen the original in person she was not impressed.
"Even the biggest mistakes make the right call eventually. Just from the way you talk I can tell you sound more like a banshee than a singer." The Battle Bond girl already hearing her voice knew she rather pull her ears off than hear Karin sing as if anything good can come out of it.
"I don't sound like cats getting skinned. No wonder your father wanted you gone. For the sake of everyone's eardrums I'll get rid of you now." Karin took a Pokeball from her belt. Nina already having Primarina and Swanna out ready to battle both Pokémon's attitude shifted from eager to learn to wanting to destroy.
"The feeling is mutual! Let's go Ash!"
"Sorry about your garden Madeleine! We're not going to hold back!" He yelled at Serena and Madeleine who got a safe distance and apologized in advance.
"Karin! Remember It! You're here to fight but not with Pokémon!" Jason screamed at her to not lift a finger. The girl lowered her arm but still clutched her Pokeball. It was clear who between the two of them was the leader but something else was noticeable.
"He seems terrified." Serena saw just how easily scared he was of this It. For as much as they claimed to hate people like Ash and Nina they were certainly eager to let It do all the work. Afraid of the mystery hunter it did not do her feelings well even if Ash and Nina were more than capable in defending themselves.
"You are lucky!" Karin frustrated at not crushing her original immediately. As if she will ever agree to the stupid suggestion and idea he gave out.
"Wait for what?! This only ends in one outcome for all of us! So if you don't want to battle what are you here for?" Nina experienced there was only one way this can end.
"Curiosity." The male hunter spoke.
"Come again?" Ash thought he needed to clean out his ears. Jason continued as he made eye contact with Nina. There was something he just can't pinpoint in how crazy she is having been a part of his group for the longest time.
"You were given an opportunity to turn away from that power and keep living with your family to fight for a more noble cause." He said proudly as their bloodline and history should weigh more than the power she and Primarina got.
"Noble!? You call what you're doing noble!? Separating chosen partners like you do is disgusting!" This infuriated her as Jason kept his calm. Her father did tell them she had quite a temper on her.
"Instead you gave up everything and went into hiding. I can't imagine a scenario in which the life you choose is more pleasant then the one you had. Your dream of being a singer gone, doesn't that mean anything to you?"
"I found a bigger purpose realizing what having this power meant for me and what to do with it. I always am and will be a singer. That's who I am and if you can't live with it then how about we finish this?" Eager to not listen to a word but in battle the blonde took up her invitation.
"You're inferior to me." Karin said.
"I wasn't second choice banshee."
"The only one wailing here is you. Watch this!" Karin throwing her Pokeball an Altaria came out of it. The Humming Pokémon saw the girl and Primarina and it got a scowl on its face. The Pokémon vile in comparison to Madeleine's it did emit an aura of violence snapping its beak.
"This Altaria was supposed to belong to you. It's better in the care of a real artist. You should hear it sing. It's better than anything you'll ever produce."
"I feel so sorry for it. Because Primarina is better in every way! And it's not even the second best singing Flying type here!"
Nina telling that Swanna and her teachers Altaria were better Karin wanted to put that to the test.
"I'm going to prove him wrong by beating you."
"Come on then. You're going to make a nice warm-up for our vocal cords! Ready Primarina?!"
An orb of water surrounded Primarina. Seeing the transformation Karin reached for the Key Stone on her necklace.
"Altaria, Mega…"
"KARIN!" Her partner screaming to stop the bickering between them again.
"You already forgotten!? I said there will be no battling between us!" Karin lowered her hand while Primarina kept up the orb just in case ready to finish the transformation the second their opponent Mega Evolves.
"Settle this how I want you too." Jason called the two singers out. Leave them both for It to play with. He had some other fun time planned for the both of them.
"And what kind of sick game are we going to play?" Ash called them out really wanting to let loose. Jason rubbed his hands as he saw the change to finally challenge the traitor.
"You can't stand one of us being better than you in something you love right?" Nina stayed quiet but knew he was talking to her.
"There's going to be a musical competition in Laverre City. Just try and beat Karin if you're at least brave enough and don't have stage fright." The Battle Bond trainers couldn't believe it as Jason continued to mock them.
"Karin here is quite a musical genius, at least she thinks she is."
"I heard that!" Fuming he still kept up his act she got angrier and angrier. Nina personally was in disbelief.
"So you came all the way here to challenge me to a sing off?"
"This is a trap if I ever heard one!" Serena could still hear them. There's no way Nina is dumb enough to take that challenge as it most definitely is a trap or ambush for It to sneak up on her and Ash.
"No trap. Taking her out before It does is going to ruin my live more than your old man did yours."
"Just who is It?" Serena wanting to know. Jason looked at the Kalos Queen and smirked. Seeing his grin Ash started to get angrier as well.
"If you lay a finger on her…" He warned Jason.
"I saw the papers. The Kalos Queen finding her sweet prince. How can you ever fell in love with a freak like him? You must be insane or really stupid yourself!"
"Use Thunderbolt!" Ash had heard enough. Pikachu launched off his shoulder and fired a lighting bolt to the hunters.
"Altaria, Hyper Voice!" The hunters Altaria let out a shriek from its beak that smashed against the Thunderbolt. A large explosion erupted and as the smoke cleared the hunters used the time to escape through the house.
"Are you two ok?!"
"Ash?" Serena ran to him. Pikachu had already climbed back up on his shoulder
"I hate them." He growled. Serena didn't want him to stay angry and hugged him to calm him down.
"I know you do."
"I'm just glad you're safe."
Madeleine and her Altaria came close to Nina. She took it better than Ash because of the experience she already had with them. Primarina dropped the orb of water stopping the Battle Bond form before they achieved it.
"So those are the type of people you've been running from."
"Not running." Hearing it as running it makes it sound she's scared of them. She's not scared, she just wanted them gone out of existence. Madeleine hoped that this diversion won't affect their lessons so that the Battle Bond trainers are going on a wild chase.
"Are the rest of the Pokémon alright?" Nina ignored her and looked around as something more important was on her mind.
"They seem to be. A bit scared but some of them are coming out." Madeleine looked at all her little critters. They were a little shook but slowly started to come out with some crawling up to Nina for support. The girl took a few in her arms and started comforting them.
"You can be proud of you are and who you want to become. You know I want to help you with that right?"
"I know. You have nothing to do with them. I'm sorry you had to see that."
"You're not going to go to Laverre City and enter that contest right?" Ash said as he and Serena went to her. Even if he knew it was one of Serena's favorite spots because of Valerie he did not wanted to go there right now.
"No. There are more than enough ways to become known with singing. If we go there I might as well order a tombstone for the both of us."
"You're going to perform there." Serena said surprising everyone.
"I'm sick of these people. You're going to make your debut in Laverre City and I'm going to make sure you win that contest."
Serena thought it wasn't fair. Nina got denied her dream for so long like many other Battle Bond trainers before her. It might be to early for the help she's about to ask but it would be a great opportunity to test out if Palermo's initiative of a defense force for Kalos really works. Nina and Ash are friends of the producer and a threat to them is also a threat to Kalos.
"You just worry about the song. I need to make some calls."
"If you want a break just say it." Madeleine offered Nina and the Pokémon the rest of the day off.
"No. I'm not just going to sit around. Music has always been my comfort in hard times and it's not going to change. Let's do it."
See you around.