Fifteen minutes later, once all preparations were finalized, and Marcus had changed into a fresh change of clothes, the two trainers stood across from one another, on opposite ends of the clearing. Ember had been let out of her ball during the interlude, to fill her in on what was going on, and to provide her the opportunity to stretch and limber up as needed. She was the most competent battler on Adrian's team, and there was little doubt he would be relying on her strength in this fight.
Aureia and Blaze sat on Adrian's left side, the Vaporeon as inexpressive as usual, but the Eevee seemed surprisingly curious. Ember sat on Adrian's opposite side, flexing her claws idly, and occasionally glancing up to confirm that she hadn't missed anything yet. Even when she was not participating right away, she liked to observe ongoing battles, and learn as much about her opponents as possible before being called upon.
"You ready, little man?" Adrian asked with a smile. Marcus nodded, his body shaking with excitement. Ember held her paw in front of her face, as if examining her claws, but gazed beyond them towards the younger human, watching him carefully. It had been a while since she had last seen Adrian's brother, but if he had indeed earned three of Sinnoh's gym badges, then he was probably a stronger trainer than his boyish enthusiasm let on. She was looking forward to seeing what his team consisted of.
The two humans took a few moments to clarify the rules of their battle. It was going to be a single battle, with three Pokemon per trainer, and for whatever reason, they had agreed beforehand that Marcus would send out his first Pokemon before Adrian was required to do the same. In Ember's opinion, the most interesting rule was that, for this match, switching was not allowed. A Pokemon sent out had to remain active until defeated, and calling it back was going to be treated as it conceding, disqualifying it for the duration of the match.
That was an interesting twist. Maybe that was a standard rule for competitive or tournament battles, but Ember wouldn't really know. If she had to guess, such a restriction was made to encourage the trainers to commit to a Pokemon and strategy without interrupting the flow of the battle by swapping their active Pokemon constantly.
"Anything else before we begin?" Adrian asked his brother.
"Nope, all good!" Marcus responded. He reached into his jeans pocket and took out a minimized Pokeball. With a quick tap, the sphere enlarged to several times its initial size, and the young trainer lobbed the ball into the air. Just before it reached the peak of its ascent, the ball burst open, and a beam of white energy emerged from inside, swiftly forming the shape of a quadruped. The light faded a moment later, revealing a feline Pokemon of some sort.
It stood at a height slightly smaller than Aureia, with blue fur covering most of the front half of its body. It had electric yellow eyes with a pair of matching bands encircling its forelegs. Its face was surrounded by a mane of black fur, and its hindquarters were covered in the same black fur. A sleek black tail flicked behind its body, the appendage ending in a peculiar, four-pointed star of some sort, and small sparks leapt from its body as it shook its fur.
The electric lion peered across the clearing at Adrian, its yellow eyes narrowing at each of the Pokemon sitting nearby, and its gaze even briefly darted upwards to take note of Avis perched upon her trainer's shoulders.
Adrian reached into his jacket and extracted a small red device that Ember recognized, although he used it far less frequently than many other items he carried with him. Avis peered over at the screen as Adrian pressed one of the buttons, and Ember knew it was displaying an image of the opposing Pokemon, as well as several lines of text.
"That's a Luxio," Adrian murmured, looking up at Marcus again and smiling. "So this must be the one you named 'Sparky', right?"
"Wait, you're using a Pokedex during battle?" Marcus asked incredulously.
"Is that normally not allowed?" Adrian asked, in genuine surprise. "I've never heard of any rules restricting it...although I am out of the loop regarding the competitive scene."
"It's not against the rules, it's just...never mind, it's fine. Just caught me by surprise," Marcus said quickly, his enthusiasm evidently overriding his momentary indignation. "Who are you sending out?"
"It's an Electric-type," Adrian mused, now speaking more to himself than anyone else. In spite of his thoughtful tone, it was pretty much a no-brainer who he was going to send out first. Aureia had a blatant disadvantage, and Ember was probably the strongest battler, and therefore not ideal for the first pick. Sure enough, Adrian craned his head to look over at Avis. "You want to give it a shot, girl?" he asked the Snivy.
"Okay!" Avis giggled. She slid herself off of his shoulders, as if attempting to use his torso as a playground slide before discovering the descent was too steep. Adrian acted on reflex, catching her with his arms before she fell too far, and carefully set her down on the grass. She giggled again and bounded forward, taking her position opposite the Luxio.
Her bizarre and child-like antics seemed to confuse the Luxio, judging by the uncertain looks he was casting her way, but Avis merely waved cheerfully in response to this attention, and Sparky eventually just looked over his shoulder at his trainer, awaiting a command.
"Everyone ready, then?" Marcus asked, and Adrian nodded. Sparky faced forward once more, and Ember sat up straighter, watching both Pokemon with a practiced eye. It was a rare event that Ember had the opportunity to see Avis in action against an opponent she didn't know very well.
"Good luck, have fun!" Avis chirped, and then her eyes widened cutely. "Wait! I'm Avis! What's your name?"
"Um...Sparky," the Luxio answered, already sounding a little annoyed by her demeanor.
"Nice to meet you, Sparky! Okay, now I'm going to wish you good luck, and have fun!" Avis said, without losing any of the brightness from her voice. The Luxio grunted, and Ember distinctly heard Aureia mutter something along the lines of 'I told you, it's not just me'.
"Sparky, use Tackle," Marcus called. Ember immediately noticed that the youth's tone was firm, but it sounded more like a suggestion than an order. In the rare occasions where she had sparred against another trainer's Pokemon, many of them gave unambiguous commands to their Pokemon, like a master to its subordinate. Those Pokemon usually responded just fine to battle commands issued in that way, but it always stood out to her that Adrian never spoke to her, Aureia, or Avis like that. She wondered privately whether Marcus' approach was learned from his brother's example, or if that was how he was most comfortable directing his team.
The Luxio charged towards Avis, but the Snivy didn't bat an eye. Just when Sparky was practically upon her, she nimbly dodged out of the way. A vine extended from her collar, and she whipped it across the Luxio's thigh with a sharp cracking sound that caused both Adrian and Marcus to wince.
Sparky yelped in surprise and pain, and pivoted to face Avis, his eyes narrowing. Avis merely giggled, as if she had played an innocent prank on the electric lion, but it was her smirk that seemed to really get under Sparky's skin, because he immediately barreled towards her again.
"Avis, use Leaf Tornado," Adrian called out. Avis spun on her heel, her leafy tail sweeping the air around her and producing a sudden gale of wind that spun towards Sparky. The Luxio recognized the danger, but his momentum forced him closer, until his body became enveloped by the miniature gale. Green energy swirled around Marcus' Pokemon, almost blocking him from sight.
"Dispel it with your Shock Wave!" Marcus urged. Electricity crackled from the middle of the tornado and then erupted outwards in a large ripple, tearing through the winds of the gale apart and freeing Sparky from its embrace. Avis hunched over in discomfort as she took a residual blast of electricity to her stomach. "Quickly, hit her with Crunch!"
"Mirror Coat!"
"What?" Marcus practically yelled, looking over at his brother in absolute confusion. "Against Crunch?"
Avis' body glowed with a faint green light, and her smirk widened as she looked up at Sparky, who had lunged towards her, fangs bared and ready to strike. She spun on her heel again, and energy from her body slammed into Sparky at point-blank range. It wasn't enough to knock the Luxio down, but it caused him to stumble and almost lose his footing. Avis seized this opportunity to spring into the air and land upon Sparky's back. Before he even realized where she had gone, she slid down his hindquarters, and tugged on his tail playfully.
Needless to say, Sparky did not appreciate her doing this. With a roar of rage, he spun around, and lunged at her, snapping his teeth fiercely at the Grass-type. Avis giggled hysterically, retreating each time so that he just barely missed his target, and each near-miss combined with her constant giggling incited him to bite at her again.
"You fight so aggressively, almost like you're overcompensating for a sense of weakness or inadequacy," Avis giggled, strafing out of the way of yet another vicious attack. "Adrian's dex thing says your species live in groups, and forge rivalries, so I'm betting you rushed to achieve your evolution. Probably on the heels of a defeat or humiliation, judging by your temperament. Evolution is not all about strength, you know."
"How would you even know? You haven't evolved," Sparky retorted.
"I haven't," Avis agreed with a smirk. "But you're mistaken if you think I'm not strong enough to. I will evolve when I'm satisfied that I can grow no further in my current state. If you rushed into evolution in pursuit of strength or respect, you'll get neither."
Sparky launched a bolt of electricity from his tail, and Avis pivoted, allowing the stray electricity to pass by her harmlessly. The frustration was evident on the electric feline's face, and Avis was smirking more widely than ever.
"I bet you feel even more inadequate now, losing to an unevolved female," Avis giggled.
"I'm not losing!" Sparky snarled.
"Sparky, calm down!" Marcus urged his Pokemon desperately. The Luxio hesitated, only to snarl again as Avis gestured tauntingly in his direction.
"Easier said than done," Avis giggled, dancing just out of Sparky's range. "He's a competitive male Pokemon. He can't allow himself to get totally emasculated in front of a male Eevee. That would hurt his pride. Assuming he HAS pride."
"Shut up, just shut up," Sparky growled, sparks flying from his fur.
"Make me," Avis retorted petulantly. Sparky lunged, and Avis yanked one of her arms back, in a tugging motion similar to the one used when trying to start a lawnmower. Strong, thin vines erupted from the grass underneath Sparky, and tightened around his paws. He had not even gone two paces before his legs were yanked out from beneath him, sending him face-first to the grass in an undignified heap.
"Sparky! What happened?!" Marcus shouted, running out onto the field and kneeling beside his downed Pokemon. "Ugh...yeah, I'm calling him back. Just give me a second," he told Adrian.
It was during this momentary lull in action that Ember caught sight of Adrian's expression. He was looking at Avis with a perplexed and mildly concerned look. Even without the context of knowing exactly what words had been exchanged, it must have been obvious that Avis had been deliberately provoking her opponent, and had set a trap for his inevitable reaction.
"Thanks for the battle, I had fun," Avis told the Luxio smugly. His reply was too muffled to make out, but Avis covered her mouth to stifle her giggling. "Well, can't deny I'd enjoy that," she replied with a smirk. "But I've got to finish the other battles first."
"Laura will kick your obnoxious, unevolved tail," Sparky spat.
"No, she won't," Avis chirped, a moment before Marcus withdrew Sparky back into his Pokeball. The human looked at the Pokeball with a sigh, shaking his head before returning it to his pocket.
"Sparky's been having a rough streak lately," he told Adrian with an apologetic smile. "I don't really know what it is, but he takes losing really badly, and that just makes it easier for him to get riled up and lose in the next match, and ugh...it's a vicious cycle."
"Understandable," Adrian acknowledged, with a hint of sympathy in his voice, and although he didn't give any indication that he was thinking about her, Ember fidgeted self-consciously. Losing wasn't the problem; Ember liked to think that losing was a necessary step in improving one's style and technique, but getting frustrated by a loss was something she understood all too well. Sometimes there wasn't an easy explanation for why a loss had happened. It wasn't necessarily getting outmaneuvered, making a poor judgment call, or getting overconfident. Sometimes...the explanation was that the opponent was simply better than her, and those losses were hardest to take.
Marcus had returned to his place on the field, and had taken a second Pokeball from his pocket. Without much fanfare, he hurled the ball forward, and it burst open, releasing his second Pokemon from its confines.
Adrian inhaled sharply, his expression showing pleasant surprise on seeing a rather tall, slender, bipedal Pokemon with brown and cream colored fur. It stood taller than the other Pokemon, and Ember noted with some distaste that it was almost the same height as a Charmeleon. Most of its body was covered in the brown fur, and it had long, bizarrely thick, dangling ears with cream fur covering the majority of it. Its wrists and legs were surrounded by a cloud of cream fur.
At the same time, Ember felt a stirring of battle lust welling up in her chest. In spite of its incredibly slender, feminine appearance, she could see that it was not an opponent to underestimate. The bunny Pokemon's legs and ears looked strong and powerful, and even Avis seemed a bit wary of this new foe.
"Your Buneary evolved already?" Adrian asked incredulously. Marcus grinned proudly, and the Lopunny crossed her arms, flashing a confident smirk in Adrian's direction. "I'm genuinely impressed by the bond you must have forged with your team to achieve that."
"Thanks! Are you ready, Laura?" Marcus asked, looking over at the Lopunny, and receiving a confident nod in return. "Don't drop your guard. That Snivy might try to provoke you into attacking recklessly. Stay focused."
"Ooh, I've been found out," Avis giggled. Laura balled her paws into fists and bounced from leg to leg, limbering up in anticipation of the fight. Her movements were surprisingly graceful, and Ember even felt a stab of envy. The Lopunny radiated with confidence, and her sleek, slender figure rivaled that of human magazine models. Ember had no explanation for why the latter trait simultaneously annoyed and allured her, but she forced it from her mind all the same. She needed to focus on how this Pokemon battled, because it was very likely that she would be up against her soon.
"Laura, use Fake Out!" Marcus commanded, his voice startling Ember from her thoughts. The Lopunny kicked off the ground, her powerful legs adding an incredible burst of speed to her movements, and clapped her paws together. A wave of air expanded from the contact point, mere inches in front of Avis' face, and shoved her backwards with impressive force.
The Snivy squealed in surprise, tumbling across the grass. The cutesy amusement had vanished from her expression, but she stubbornly pushed herself back to her feet, her eyes a bit unfocused.
"Press your attack with your Quick Attack," Marcus continued. Laura all but pounced upon Avis and delivered a swift blow to the grass lizard's stomach, forcing the wind from her lungs, and then spun around to deliver a roundhouse kick. To the mutual shock of human and Pokemon alike, a green blade of energy formed between Avis and the Lopunny, halting the kick at the last moment.
"Your speed and power are both so impressive," Avis cooed, but Ember felt a shiver run up her spine. There was something off about the Snivy's tone, different from her usual, over-enthusiastic squeals and chirps. Her voice was more composed and calm, even silky. If Ember pushed herself to describe it, it reminded her of a hunter stalking its prey, and delighting in the game despite having an overwhelming advantage. However, much like every time Avis spoke, her tone did not appropriately match the situation.
Avis flicked her arm backwards, allowing Ember to see that the green blade of energy was an extension of the Snivy, similar to how she utilized her vines earlier. Laura stepped back a pace, eyeing the Grass-type warily.
"Leaf Blade?" Adrian wondered aloud, drawing his Pokedex out again and focusing it upon Avis. "When did you learn how to use that?"
"Got to keep some mystery about me, don't I?" Avis giggled, her eyes never leaving the opposing Lopunny. "Not gonna lie, I have no chance against you," she told Laura, but the statement only seemed to make the bunny Pokemon more wary.
"You beat Sparky," Laura accused. Avis giggled innocently.
"I barely touched him. His temper got the best of him," she said, and then crossed her arms into a pout, her voice rising into a whine. "He called me obnoxious!"
"Can't imagine why," Aureia muttered from the sidelines.
"Laura, use Pound, break through her defense," Marcus urged. Laura dashed towards Avis, who immediately brought her Leaf Blade up to defend as the Lopunny drove her small, tight fists at Avis' body. After a couple ineffective jabs, one of the Lopunny's ears rose, and delivered a fierce wallop to the side of Avis' head. The grass lizard barely even cried out, as the force of the blow knocked her sideways. She tumbled across the grass, wincing in obvious pain, one paw clutching her head where she had been struck.
"Shit. Avis, are you okay?" Adrian asked, rushing over to the fallen Snivy, only to be stopped in his tracks by two vines shooting up from the ground. Avis slowly climbed to her feet, a pale green aura surrounding her body, and the energy blade at her arm growing larger, as if it was drawing energy from the grass and plants nearby.
"I'm satisfied," Avis whispered. Her eyes were unfocused, but she was smiling, a different expression entirely from her usual smirk. It was a softer look, as if the grass lizard was truly at peace with everything around her. "I've always enjoyed my cutesy, adorable exterior. People underestimate you when you look like that, but the truth is, it's as much a disservice as a blessing. To stay that way, you have to restrict your natural growth, and let yourself become stagnant."
Ember blinked several times. She hadn't the foggiest idea why Avis had gone off on such a peculiar monologue, but at the same time, she felt like something was about to happen. She was clearly not the only one receiving this sort of vibe, because Laura, Marcus, and even Adrian were all tensed, exchanging looks uncertainly, and from the corner of her eye, Ember saw that Aureia listening attentively to the Snivy's words, her expression perplexed, but otherwise unreadable.
Avis giggled, looking around at everyone, as if confirming that she had their full attention. Without a word, she closed her eyes, and the green aura surrounding her body intensified. There was only time to squint in confusion before the Snivy's body glowed white. Her shape seemed to stretch and lengthen, and each of her limbs followed suit. Her yellow collar extended outwards, forming a large V-shape that extended past her shoulders, and even her tail grew longer, with multiple, smaller leaves growing along her spine.
As the white light faded, so did the green aura surrounding the newly evolved Servine's body, and Avis inhaled sharply, as if all of her energy had been ripped away. Her eyes opened, exposing brilliant red eyes. It took some effort, but Avis straightened, now standing several inches taller.
Adrian stared at the Servine, visibly strapped for words. There was no denying that, despite the changed appearance, it was still Avis. Her smile had widened into a smirk that was somehow more vain and smug than ever before, and she held herself up with as much confidence as possible under the circumstances.
"Heehee," Avis giggled, swaying a little bit on her feet, but focusing on Laura specifically, her gaze unusually intense. "You didn't kick my unevolved tail!" she said, and promptly keeled over, losing consciousness before she even hit the ground. To Laura, the declaration probably came off as the most absurd non-sequitur imaginable. To make the scene even more bizarre, Avis was obviously asleep, not knocked out.
"...well, that happened," Adrian said, staring at the Servine as if he still couldn't quite believe what had just transpired. He pulled Avis' Pokeball from his pocket, and recalled the Servine. Ember was already rising to her feet, flexing her claws expectantly, and without waiting for Adrian's cue, the Charmander stepped onto the field.
"My turn," she rumbled, exhaling a wisp of smoke from the corner of her mouth. Adrian chuckled from behind her.
"Like I could even try to keep you away from this one," he murmured. "Do your best, okay, girl?"
"Like I give anything else," Ember snapped back. In spite of the moody reply, she was excited for this battle. Avis had lasted long enough for her to get a taste of what Laura could do in battle, and that taste left her wanting more.
