*Senior Year

*Kalos High

*April 23, 2557; 5:30pm

*3 years and 22 days later

~ Eevee

"Ready bestie?

I stood in the battlefield courtyard in the back of the school with me on the left side and Evelyn on the right. She asked me to have a spar battle with her in preparation for the God's Tournament.

Ryu couldn't because he was training with Mewtwo today, and Sylveon was busy so I was the only one available.

"I'm ready! Bring it! And don't hold anything back!"

"Okay, you asked for it! HAAAAHHHH!"

I stood my ground calmly as Evelyn charged at me. Anticipate your opponents movements and you already have the victory.

She boldly threw her fist towards my face, so I slid using the ground for momentum to dodge it until I was right behind her and kicked her from behind.

She rolled on the ground but recovered fast and attacked again this time with Iron Tail. I blocked with Protect which annoyed her as her attack did nothing.

I knew she was stronger than me so I had to tire her out if I wanted to win.

Before I could strategize, she shoved against my shield hard and it forced me on the ground.

"Aagh!"

"This can only protect you for so long!"

I disarmed the Protect and wrapped my legs around her waist and suplexed her on the ground. She recovered again and retaliated with Double Kick square to my stomach.

"Ack!"

I fell back on the floor in pain as Evelyn stood up massaging the back of her head.

"I keep underestimating you. Won't make the same mistake twice."

She took a deep breath and I immediately flipped backwards before she used Ice Beam where I just laid moments before. I had to keep jumping around dodging as the attack continued and the last thing I wanted was the get frozen.

I used Swift and tossed them at her which she had no choice but to block. She was forced backwards and I used the chance to Quick Attack.

Hit to her chest.

"Aagh!"

Jump and attack into her again.

"RAAARGH!"

Narrowly avoid her fist bounce off a nearby tree and use Quick Attack again.

"Oww!"

Now kick up Sand Attack into her face.

"Agh it burns!"

She instinctively started using Ice Beam everywhere and I dodged but it froze the side of my face.

"Tch!"

"Where are you?!"

She yelled as she continued to flail her Ice Beam everywhere. I had to jump and flip like it was a game of hopscotch. I used Swift during a midair spin and it slammed her hard into the ground.

I pushed off the ground and catapulted into her chest. To my surprise, she swung a fist at me and socked me in the face.

I rolled on the floor and spat blood onto the dirt.

"I can barely see you. But I can still hear you."

She used Shadow Ball on me and I yelped in pain still dizzy from her striking me. I awkwardly tried running to make it harder for her to hit me as she used Ice Beam again.

Instead of wildly using it she blew it on the ground turning the battlefield into ice.

I fell down not having very good balance.

"There you are."

She used another Shadow Ball when she saw I was having trouble standing so I had no choice but to Protect. The force applied and the lack of friction on the ground pushed me hard and fast into a nearby tree.

"Augh! Oww..."

"Give up?"

"Yeah I give up. Geez for just a practice fight you sure hit hard."

She helped me up and handed me a Sitrus Berry.

"Ugh, thank you."

I practically gobbled it down feeling instant relief as my wounds healed.

"The God's Tournament is next year and I fully intend to win. Even if I have to fight my best friends."

"I get nervous thinking about it. I'm not sure if I'm ready to go against different Pokémon as an Eevee even with Sylveon's help. I'm just going to hold him back a lot."

The God's tournament is held with double battles until the very end where the final team are declared the winners. The gods oversee it, hence the name, even changing the battlefield to make it more entertaining for them. The winners receive blessings from the gods which is the highest honor, and a hefty amount of prize money. Only the first five teams are compensated so you better be prepared to win it all or nothing.

"Don't worry about it Eevee. Just give it your best when you absolutely have to and you'll give your opponents hell."

"Thanks."

I said as I walked over to the bench to get my bag.

"Where's Sylveon? How come he's not here with you?"

"He's got work today and several afternoon classes after that. He'll probably be tired and I want to let him rest. I'll be able to see him on our weekly date night anyways."

"Well if you're sure. I don't know how you guys can handle anything together like being apart. If I spend more than 3 days away from Ryu I get really tense."

"Have you guys tried setting a time when you can see each other? That's what I recommend if you feel you're not spending a healthy amount of time with him."

"We just go out when we're both free. But you're right I should go talk to him about it."

"Communication is the key."

"Yeah it is."

We kept chit chatting until we reached the school entrance.

"I gotta go. Dad's inviting some dinner guests to the house and he wants me to be there."

"Alright I'll see you later then Evelyn."

"See you."

We hugged briefly before going our separate ways. I picked up some Magikonalds on the way back home.

~

Feon Residence

I opened the door and laughed when Hope came running to hug me.

"Hope careful. You're going to make me drop my food."

"Sis! Sis! Can you help me with my Sandy Tacky? Pwease! Pwease! Pwetty Pwease?!"

"Not now I just had a battle with Evelyn and I have a lot of homework to do today. Maybe another time kiddo."

"Aww but Veevee."

"Next time I promise Hope."

I said giving him a light peck on his forehead.

"Eevee, do you want dinner?"

"No thanks mom!"

I said as I headed upstairs to my room avoiding dad's gaze from the kitchen.

I felt bad for lying about the homework but I had too much on my mind.

This was my last school year and although I knew what I wanted to do after graduation the pressure of not evolving was weighing heavily on my shoulders.

Yes there are financial benefits given from the capitol if you want this lifestyle but it feels like a burden more than a choice. Pokemon look down on you or treat you like a child.

The world is tough when you're not a strong pokemon, pokemon pity you because you chose to stay weak. It bothers me on how my reluctance to evolve will be perceived.

All my classmates have evolved at least once already and I'm one of the few that doesn't want to. Or I just can't seem to pick one.

If you don't evolve before graduation, you are applied to the Non Evolution Program and be given discounts, payments, and looks of pity just because of the way you are.

I don't care about money. I just want to live my life without having to feel pressured to choose or judged for not going through with it.

It's not a big of a deal to others but it bothers me a lot. I get I'm an Eevee and I don't know if I'll change.

My mom even bought me a Water Stone for my 17th birthday as a last minute choice if I decided to work with them at the flower shop. I just left the present in the box.

It's here in my room as if it's mocking me for not making that option.

Vaporeon.

Jolteon.

Flareon.

Leafeon.

Glaceon.

Umbreon.

Espeon.

Sylveon.

One of the choices will either change my life for the better or inconvenience me. That's the thing with being an Eevee. You have all there options, but I guess I'm having an identity crisis.

Will I even like what I pick? Will I look pretty?

I know Sylveon would say yes I'm pretty as any, but he wants what's best for me, and would want me to make a choice that makes me happy.

What is the best one for me?

I ate my food in silence as these thoughts continued to plague my mind.