Super Effective

"Use Tickle, Cinccino!" the backpacker commanded.

The Cinccino charged at me with a confident grin, her long tendrils of fur extending out at me. I stood at the ready, keeping my center of gravity low as I waited for the very last moment.

"Dodge it, then use Dark Pulse!" Jayron called out to me.

I smiled as I laughed silently in my mind. Jayron and I both knew that he didn't have to give that command in order for me to do it, we were both in sync when it came to strategy. Nevertheless, Jayron still called out commands to keep up the persona for other humans.

Anyway, going back to the unfolding events, I sprang up high off the ground, my legs being strong and trained for high-jumps. While still in the air, I tilted my head down quick and breathed out a powerful Dark Pulse, catching the Cinccino right on her head. As I landed, the smoke cleared, and Cinccino was knocked out.

"Your Absol is too powerful," the backpacker said with a frown as he recalled his Cinccino into the Pokeball. He sighed and said, "I had better hike off to find an easier opponent. Good luck finding a strong enough rival."

Jayron shook his head and said, "Well, I'm not really in search of that. I just like traveling and writing. But if Krystal wants a battle, I'd scale mountains to get her one!"

I felt a mixture of embarrassment and love at Jayron's sentiment, and I gave a chuckling grin in response to it. Then I let out a contented sigh as Jayron came over and petted me on the top of my head.

The backpacker cracked a smile and said, "If you say so. Well, good luck on your travels."

"Same to you," Jayron replied cheerfully.

As the backpacker left, Jayron held an Oran berry out to me and said, "It's lucky that you dodged that Tickle attack."

I gratefully accepted the Oran berry and chewed on it thoughtfully before asking via telepathy, "What makes you say that?"

Jayron shrugged, "No reason. Just. . . lucky that you dodged it, that's all."

I sat down in a sphinx position and continued, "Oh, no you don't, Jayron. I dodged a bunch of moves, but you decided to bring up Tickle, a move that doesn't even cause damage. What made it stick out to you?"

Jayron sighed and said, "You aren't going to let this go, aren't you?"

I blinked my eyes at him, and gave a loud laugh as I answered, "Never!" I meant it to. I wasn't one to let go of things that didn't seem quite right. Add in the fact that Jayron is my best friend, and I do want to know what's up with him out of genuine concern, only increased that desire in me.

Anyway, that laugh I let out was slightly infectious, as Jayron gave a quick, soft laugh. Then he said, "Okay, fine. I just figured you might be embarrassed if you fell over and started laughing uncontrollably while Cinccino tickled you."

I gave a loud "Hmph!" at this, trying to sound indignant as possible as I turned away from him. "Really, Jayron? I thought you knew me better than that! Like I would get embarrassed about that!"

Jayron was silent for a moment, but I knew that was because I had caught him off guard and he was thinking of what to say. I know him so well.

"Well, I figured anybody would be embarrassed. That is what Tickle does right?" he asked in a unsure tone of voice.

I turned back to him and took in his nervous facial expression, his left eyebrow slightly raised as he fiddled with the cuffs of his black zipped shirt. "Well, I doubt it could do that to me. After all. . ." I stood up and gave one of my rare cheeky smiles I allowed myself whenever I felt extra victorious, "I'm not ticklish."

I spotted the brief widening of Jayron's eyes, and the even briefer twitch in his mouth. I knew what he was thinking, and it tickled me on the inside to know how well I knew my human friend. So, I turned away from him and started walking onwards, and I could hear Jayron follow close behind me. We were both silent, and I couldn't help but wonder if Jayron knew that I knew what was coming. I figured that he did know, and that he incorrectly assumed that I had resigned myself to me fate. Nevertheless, I kept walking in silence, waiting for him to make his move. And then, right when I was getting impatient, he did it.

"Ah-HA!" Jayron shouted, probably with a huge grin, as he ran forward and ran his fingers along my sides. I stood there, perfectly still and not moving a muscle, as Jayron ran his wiggling fingers along my sides. Then he moved to my legs, to my ankles, and then to my paws.

After about a minute of this, I gave a soft yawn and said, "Are you finished?"

Jayron sighed and took his fingers off of me. I turned around to face him as he folded his arms and said with an apologetic smile, "I probably should have taken your word for it. Sorry."

I shrugged and gave a warm smile, "You don't have to say sorry, Jayron. After all, saying 'I'm not ticklish' is probably kinda what someone who is ticklish would say."

Jayron nodded, "I guess so, I mean, I'm really ticklish, but I don't suppose it matters, uh. . ."

The two of use went completely still and silent as we just stared at each other.

It had come out of Jayron in a nonchalant, casually, not really paying attention to what you were saying type manner. But still, it had come out.

I smiled with pure delight up at Jayron's nervous face.

Jayron held out his left palm at me and shook his head. "Krystal, no. No," he said firmly.

I took a few steps backwards, still smiling that smile and looking right at him.

"Don't do it, Krystal. Don't," Jayron said as he shook his head vigorously.

I bent lower to the ground.

"No, Krystal!" Jayron shouted in a panicked voice.

I stuck my rear up.

"Krystal, NO!"

I licked my lips.

"KRYSTAL!"

I pounced forward with my forepaws outstretched, and neatly tackled the shouting human to the ground. His shouts soon turned into bursts of the most intense laughter I have ever heard as I gently ran my claws along his sides, making sure to to hurt him, of course. His laughter was even more infectious than mine, and I laughed along with him as I continued my tickle assault on his sides.

After the longest minute or two of our lives so far, Jayron eventually managed to crawl away from my reach, and I was too exhausted from all the laughing to continue. I could only imagine how exhausted Jayron must be. Eventually, we both managed to catch our breath, and I looked over at Jayron and asked, "Wasn't that fun?"

Jayron sat up and looked at me with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. He took a breath and said, "I hate to admit, but yes, it kinda was."

I grinned in response, but Jayron became serious and said, "BUT! But, you have to promise to never do that again unless I specifically ask you to."

I tilted my head a pouted, and I said, "But. . . you'd never ask me. . ."

I was actually caught by surprise when Jayron came over to me and gave me a hug. "Sure I would," he said with truth in his voice as he stroked my fur, "I'm serious, that was really fun. I wouldn't mind going through that again. . .when I'm good and ready!"

I just laughed. I couldn't help it. I may not be physically ticklish, but Jayron sure knows how to tickle me on the inside!

"Okay," I said as I held out my right forepaw. Jayron took it in his hand and we shook. "I promise," I said honestly.

Jayron ran his fingers under my chin. I smiled, in spite of myself.