Julianne rose the next morning refreshed but disheartened. The storm had stopped for the moment, but the heavy, dark sky threatened its continuance. She sighed, rubbing the Vulpix's head. It – he, she'd found, when he relieved himself on a tree on the way back from the north pier – leaned his head into her hand. "I hope I wasn't swindled with Runt," she murmured. "It doesn't look any better than yesterday… she probably still won't want to go." She sighed again, picking up the jar of salve to treat her face. It felt much better, but was still a bit tender. Xavier yawned from his place on the floor. "Sleep well, Xavier?"
He smiled a bit beneath his drooping mustache, nodding. "Ah?"
"Yes, me too… but I can't wait to sleep on my own couch in my own room… wearing my own clothes…" She frowned at the breeches she'd hung on the footboard, so that they wouldn't wrinkle. "It's like walking around in my underclothes. I feel indecent without a skirt…" Xavier smiled sympathetically. "Well! To the waterfront! Let's see if Runt will take us home." She picked up the breeches, slipping them over her stockings. Cinching tight her belt, she buttoned the blouse she'd slept in before slipping the doublet over it. After a few moments, she managed to find the comb among her belongings, and used it to untangle her hair as best she could. "And to tie it back…" She tied it lower this morning, below her nape, keeping it back without feeling as awkward about it. She was far too used to wearing her hair loose. "… and then we're all set, I think!" The Vulpix whined, pawing at her pantleg. "Hungry?" she asked him as she shoved her foot into a boot, tucking in the excess pantleg as well. "Me too. But we can get something when we get to the mainland, I promise. Go into your 'ball if it's really bad." The Vulpix replied with a moody pout. "What you really need," Julianne mused, "is a name. I can't just call you 'Vulpix'." He cocked his head to the side curiously. "Some boys don't name their Pokémon, but that's just lazy of them. Everything needs a name." His four-and-a-fraction tails waved. "Uli. You look like a 'Uli' to me. Do you like 'Uli'?" The Vulpix cocked his head to the other side in apparent confusion. Julianne giggled. "Well, we'll see how it works."
"Vul!" Uli agreed pleasantly, tails waving.
"All right. Let's go home."
After cleaning up the room and returning the Pokémon to their 'balls, Julianne returned the key to the innkeeper, paid her tab, and, as an afterthought, bought some dried Tauros jerky and poached Pidgey eggs in case Runt refused to cross the water. Not knowing what the Lapras ate, she added some dried watercress and dates as well.
"I've oranges fresh from the sea kingdom if ya like, lad."
"No, thank you. This should get us to the mainland easily."
"Not staying for the tourney, boyo? No ships be sailing to keep from missing it. I'd think you'd be heading there now."
"No, I need to get home right away. I bought a Lapras to carry me."
"From a gap-mouthed man, or a greasy wench?"
"No! Not that it's your business, but a man with gold teeth."
The innkeeper nodded. "Ah, you're in luck then. Gap Jack and Alessandra the Grease breed Lapras but never train the things. Mostly use 'em as food for Orangers. Sometimes they swindle mainlanders for three or four gold."
"What's a good price for a Lapras?"
"I'd not give over a bronze for untrained. Sanulus – the gold-tooth you got yers from – trains his good, him and Sanathus, his brother, both. I'd give two silver for the ones I'd afford." The innkeeper frowned. "What's it, lad? You're flushed like a maid."
Julianne forced herself not to cringe. "I… paid a whole gold. He knew I wouldn't know better…"
"Well, in general he's easy on trainers since they're best for Lapras, so he says."
"All I got was a little one he called Runt."
"Runt! He sold you his Runt?"
"What?"
"He's hid his Runt some years now! Rather attached to her, what with that spirit she has. Never gives in, she don't."
"She did to the weather yesterday."
"Aye, stubborn, but not stupid." The innkeeper looked at her with such scrutiny she fought not to bolt. "He must've seen the same in you, lad. You got a good deal there, a great Pokémon even with the bad name."
"You… really think so?"
"Think? Boyo, I'd almost put a wager on your chances in the Fireleaf, 'specially since most people use Fire Pokémon 'round here." At her blank look, he added with a touch of condescension, "…and as everyone knows, fire Pokémon are weak to water attacks."
"Oh… yes, of course. Water douses flame."
"As flame kindles leaf and leaf absorbs water," he agreed. "You think about it, yeah?"
"I can't. I have to go."
"Missing out on a good shot of experience!" he chided her.
And the chance of breaking even more laws, she added silently. "My loss I guess. Thank you, sir."
"Aye, lad."
"Please, Runt!" Julianne pleaded, but it did no good: even satiated on watercress and a few strands of seaweed she'd found for herself, Runt turned her back to the mainland. "I have to get home! My parents are probably frantic with worry! It's been nearly a week now!"
With a flash of white, Xavier burst from his Fast Ball. "Maybe you can talk sense into her!" Julianne cried in frustration, resting her head in her hand.
"Ka? Kadabra bra?" Runt's stubborn, tinny cry answered him tartly. "Kadabra. Ka, ka, dabra brada Kadabra." Another tinny reply. "Dabra?" No answer.
Julianne lifted her head at Xavier's gentle tug on her sleeve. Her shoulders slumped at his apologetic expression. Her disappointment turned to confusion as he pointed back the way they had come. "What?" He touched her chin with the tip of a claw, then pointed more insistently. She looked to where he was pointing to.
The great stadium, its proud red and gold Cinnabaran banners still in the heavy air.
"What? No! We can't go to the tournament, Runt!" Xavier shook his head. "What? She doesn't want to go?" He frowned thinly. "She…? Forget it!" She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. "Absolutely no way! I can't enter! If someone realizes I'm-!" She lowered her voice to a hiss. "When someone figures out what I am, I'll be arrested! They'll take all of you away, and I'll get sent home in disgrace!"
Runt glared at her. If you don't, the glare said, you're not getting home at all.
Julianne
growled aloud in frustration. This was
ridiculous!
If you wait until tomorrow,
reason told her, you can buy a more cooperative Lapras from Sanulus.
But I can't wait! Panic cried desperately. I have to get home!
The format seemed simple enough: each trainer registered two Pokémon to battle with. Battles until the fifth tier of contestants were one-on-one. Sixth through eighth tier, up through the winner's combat, were two-on-two. Four battles went on simultaneously; her first was slated as being fifth on the west field.
She looked about at the other competitors, even as she kept her arms firmly crossed over her doublet. Only a few had their Pokémon out, and as the innkeeper had said, most seemed to be fire types.
She nearly jumped out of her skin as a hand fell heavily on her shoulder. "Hey, you made it! Good going, mainlander!"
"Alex…!" she cried, half out of relief, half to cover the sound of her heart pounding in her chest. "I couldn't get a ride…"
Alexus laughed. "What'd I tell you? Everyone's staying for the tourney."
"Yeah… even my Lapras." Alex laughed. "I'm serious! Stubborn little girl won't bring me home!"
Alex shook his head. "Girls," he snorted. "You have sisters?" She nodded, telling herself she wouldn't take anything he was about to say personally. "Me too, four of them. Each one's less understandable than the rest! I say, who needs 'em. I hate being the only boy."
"Is… your father the apothecary?"
"The-!" Alex burst out laughing, thumping her so hard on the back that she nearly bit her tongue. "You didn't see 'im then! Naw, my master's old enough to have grandfathered my father! P'pa is a fisherman. Our family name is Mariner, but P'pa was hoping for a more settled, reliable job for me. What's your p'pa do?"
"He's a miller. We're Millers."
"You have brothers?"
She nodded. "Both older."
"Ah, so they'll inherit."
She nodded again. "Julius gets the mill. Avius is training Pokémon… he's only a couple years older than me."
"Alexus Mariner!"
"Ipe! I'm up." He clapped her on the shoulder again. "Good luck, mainlander."
"You too, Mariner."
He laughed, giving her a thumb's up. "Good one!" With no more than a quick wave, he hurried after the official who had called his name.
He didn't seem so bad, now that they weren't arguing over a price. Guys were nicer to each other than they were to girls. Her sister Julie said their vulgarity and stupidity was just them showing off, and in a few years she'd find it cute. Crazy Julie! Who could trust a cloud-headed girl like that? Julianne could swear her sister's Gloom had gotten to Julie's senses of reason as well as smell.
"Jules Miller!"
She jumped, almost falling off the bench she perched on: her turn! What was she to do? Straight-kneed so not to collapse in fear, she stumbled after the official.
She was led out into the open stadium, the overcast sky taking on an orange cast from the four great torches, one to each pinnacle at each compass point.
"First time, lad?" the official asked.
It took her a moment to realize he was speaking to her. "Y-yeah. I've never been in a real battle before…"
"Just trust in your Pokémon. Best advice I can give. Good luck, kiddo."
"Thanks…"
"Stand right there." She paused in a large, chalked rectangle she quickly realized was part of a stadium field. "That's it." The official headed back toward the waiting area; Julianne forced herself not to follow.
"Returning competitor, Bulus Finch of Cinnabar, verses new challenger, Jules Miller of Fuchsia!" the robed judged declared in a voice to be heard above the crowd in their quarter of the stadium. "Trainer! Choose your Pokémon!"
"I choose Poliwrath!" Bulus Finch declared, holding up a Lure Ball. The blue apricorn ball popped open, releasing the large, slick-skinned creature.
Poliwrath! For a moment, Julianne panicked. Poliwrath was a greatly evolved water Pokémon! Runt would have no advantage at all!
Of course… she wouldn't be the only one taking advantage of the amount of fire Pokémon here. He expected her to use a fire type, like everyone else.
But she, like everyone else, had registered two Pokémon.
"I choose Kadabra!" she shouted above the crowd, taking the Fast Ball from her pouch. The 'ball burst open as Xavier coalesced. Julianne was surprised to see Bulus visibly flinch.
"Pokémon, ready! Begin!"
"Poliwrath, Water Gun!" Bulus snapped immediately.
Counterattack! Julianne's reason screamed at her. This time, she listened. What were psychic attacks? "Confusion!" she blurted out. Almost immediately, the powerful jet of water coming from the Poliwrath reversed direction, slamming into the water Pokémon instead.
"Poliwrath, Body Slam attack!" Bulus shouted.
"Teleport out of the way, Xavier!" Julianne screamed. "Confusion again, quickly!"
"Watch for it and dodge!"
"No, not Confusion! Disable!" Xavier disappeared from the path of the Poliwrath's charge, reappearing a distance away. The water Pokémon halted in mid-air with a surprised grunt. "Now, Confusion!"
"No, Poliwrath!" Bulus cried. What was so bad?… unless Poliwrath had a fighting secondary type! Julianne had heard of Pokémon with more than one type, but wasn't sure what ones had them. As the Poliwrath went shooting into the air to land outside the field of battle, out cold, Julianne felt her guess correct. Xavier hadn't known Confusion long enough to do that much damage to anything but a fighting type. Brains always beat brawn.
It was then the truth reached her, at which point she almost fainted.
She'd won.
The sky cleared as the day continued, and the battles grew worse. For each she won, she knew, Xavier and Runt gained experience, and she did as well. Xavier didn't know Psywave, but could use Confusion both to take over an enemy's attack and to unleash his own; Runt could sing an opponent to sleep, and once ignored her order for a Water Gun to instead use some kind of ice attack to momentarily stun a Charmeleon in order to perfect her aim on the following attack.
So not to give anyone an unfair advantage, the vanquished were led to a booth to watch the rest of the matches rather than be able to tell their friends of an opponent's Pokémon or strategy. Upon the seventh round, Julianne was surprised to see Alex among those who had lost. In his lap rested a Tentacool, which he stroked reassuringly even as the Pokémon looked dejected. The water strategy must not have worked for him…
As for herself, she couldn't believe she'd gotten this far. Of course, Xavier did everything he could to obey, trusting her completely, while Runt generally chose attacks that worked when she ignored her trainer… but still! She was a girl! Did no one really notice? Was her disguise really that good, or was the idea of a girl competing so absurd that no one gave it a single thought?
So distracted by these thoughts, she nearly lost the second battle of the seventh round; only because Xavier was so fast did he manage to avoid many attacks while she figured out what he had to do. "I'm so sorry, Xavier," she apologized profusely when at last the Arbok he'd been facing was unfit to fight.
"Kadabra," he replied reassuringly, but it was more than obvious that he was too tired to battle anymore. His brow was slick with sweat, which ran down his nose and drenched his moustache.
"You need to rest. Runt can take over." She returned his frown with one of her own. "She should be satisfied to have gotten this far. You're too tired. Back in your 'ball, now."
With a worried expression, he reluctantly complied.
Julianne returned to the bench within the stadium's walls; now, where a crowd of boys and young men had once watched each other warily, there were only three others, who regarded her and each other with outright suspicion. One appeared younger than any of them; the tallest appeared her age, while the stockiest looked to be in his late teens. All of them were holding a pokéball tightly in each hand; following their example, she did the same. Only one of the others was holding a Lure Ball.
"Jules Miller and Daleson Thresher to the north field! Vandalus Reaper and Manison Archer, to the south field!" an official ordered.
Julianne looked with concern at the young man who walked with her toward the north field. He was the stocky, older one, who carried a black apricorn in one hand, a green one in the other. He sneered at her. "You're going down, pansy," he jeered as he shoved a beefy elbow into her ribs, nearly knocking her over. "Try a Fireleaf when you're old enough."
"You're old enough to retire," she retorted, refusing to hold her now aching side.
"I'm going to thresh you, titmouse."
"Oh?" Julianne tried to think of an insult becoming a Miller. "Well… you're going to get crushed. Pounded into cornmeal." She felt stupid. Daleson just snorted in reply, as if it was insult enough to ignore her.
They took their places on the north field, pokéballs clasped in each hand.
"Returning champion, Daleson Thresher of Cinnabar verses new challenger, Jules Miller of Fuchsia! Trainers, choose your Pokémon!"
Daleson held out his Heavy Ball. "I choose Onix!"
As the giant, living avalanche came into its natural form, Julianne nearly swooned from the sheer size of the thing. It was enormous! Each section was at least the size of the water wheel back home!
It was her verses a mountain!
Pull yourself together, Jule, she told herself. You don't have to win. You just have to look like you tried to.
"I choose Lapras!" Runt had probably never looked so appropriately named.
"Pokémon, ready! Begin!"
"Onix! Crush that guppy!"
"Runt, use your best Water Gun!"
Julianne cried out as Runt's attack was ignored as so much as morning dew: the Onix slammed straight through it. She could barely hear the Lapras' pained squeal over the thunder of the moving, mountainous Onix.
"No! Runt!" Think, Jule! she berated herself. Song and ice: those were the only two other forms Runt could fight with.
"One more Slam and it's gone, Onix! Get it!" Daleson snapped. The Onix formed a ring of boulders around Runt, cutting off any escape as it prepared to lunge again.
"Runt, use your ice attack on its face!" Julianne screamed.
Before the Onix could prefect its aim, it found its snout, then entire boulder-like head, encased in ice. Its roar was dulled as it fought to free its mouth and nose.
"Get it, Onix!" Daleson shouted, but it was no use: it could not hear its trainer through the ice.
"Now's your chance! Freeze it, Runt!"
Section by section, the Onix was encased. The moment it had freed one end of itself, it found half its tail frozen to the field. Runt was panting, gasping for breath, before the judge finally ruled the Onix incapacitated enough to no longer fight.
Julianne bit her lip nervously. Xavier was already wiped out, and now Runt was barely any better. She still had to deal with whatever Daleson sent out of his green pokéball. There was no way Runt could carry her and the others back in this condition! Oh, why hadn't she just gotten a new Lapras tomorrow?!
"I choose Victreebel!"
No! Leaf absorbed water – Runt was at a disadvantage against the huge flycatcher!
"Victreebel, Vine Whip!"
"Runt! Get out of the way!"
But Runt wanted no part of that. Raising her head high, she let out an icy blast that would have stilled the Onix's largest section. The attacking Vine Whips froze in place, the ice traveling like fire along them to ensnare the Pokémon using them. The Vine Whips then broke off, too heavy to hold their own weight.
Leaf absorbed water… and frost killed leaf.
"Victreebel is unable to battle! Victory goes to Jules Miller of Fuchsia!"
With a final, tired sigh of satisfaction, Runt collapsed from exhaustion. For Julianne, it didn't feel at all like her victory.
"Way to battle, mainlander!"
Startled, Julianne looked up at Alex's bright grin. He was cheering for her?
Well, why not? She was guaranteed at least second place, and he'd met her in person. Boys loved to brag about stupid things like that.
Sighing, she started back toward the bench.
"To the east field with you, Miller!" an official declared, pointing. "You have one more battle!"
"But…" Runt was out cold in her Lure Ball, and Xavier was barely fit to stand! Her Pokémon couldn't go against champion-worthy Pokémon in this condition!
"But nothing, Miller! Reaper is waiting for you."
Julianne shuddered. What a horrible name! Mechanically, she made her way to the east field. You don't have to win, she reminded herself. You just have to look like you tried.
But she wanted to win! She'd gotten this far! And she was finally getting a handle on this battling stuff! What a sight it'd be if all these people learned a girl had battled her way to the finals!
The fearful shiver that ran up her spine had nothing to do with Vandalus Reaper's name. You'd be burned alive as a witch, her reason predicted.
"The Championship Match!" the judge declared. The crowd fell silent. "Vandalus Reaper of Cinnabar verses Jules Miller of Fuchsia! The Champion of the Fireleaf Tournament will take with them glory, honor, the crown of red laurel, a Fire Crystal, and a thoroughbred Ponyta!" Julianne almost choked: a rare Fire Crystal and a thoroughbred Ponyta? "They who lose to the champion shall receive a trophy and an Element Crystal of their choice!" That wasn't so bad a prize either! She would choose a Leaf Crystal, without question. Green best suited her features, and she had more than enough money to have a beautiful jewelry set made from it – earrings, a pendent, perhaps a clasp bracelet…
"Trainers! Choose your Pokémon!"
From across the field, Vandalus smirked with confidence. He was the finalist her own age, a tall, broad-shouldered boy who could have been handsome but for the sneer that contorted his features. "I choose Haunter!" he declared.
Julianne cringed away from the awful ghoul that escaped the boy's Level Ball. The forbidding color of twilight, it wore a sneer similar to that of his trainer.
Runt couldn't possibly battle. "I'm sorry, Xavier…" she whispered. As if hearing her, he left the Fast Ball without being called. "I choose Kadabra!"
Vandalus' laugh sent ice down her spine.
"Moron mainlander!" she heard Alexus shout. What was his problem?
"Pokémon, ready!" the judge cried before Julianne could shoot the apothecary's apprentice a glare. "Begin!"
"Amateur!" Vandalus taunted her. "Haunter, Night Shade!"
"Xav-!" Before she could even choose an attack, Xavier was hit. "Xavier!" What kind of attack was that?! Like a violet river of energy, the Night Shade bowled the Kadabra over like a duckpin. "Come on, Xavier, get up!"
"We've got this match licked! Do it, Haunter!"
"Gross!" Julianne cried without thinking, as the Haunter unrolled a giant, dripping tongue that couldn't possibly fit into its vaporous frame. "Xavier, get up! Use Disable!"
The Kadabra pushed himself painfully off the ground. She didn't know… didn't know she had sent him against his one weakness. Reaching up with a wavering hand he barely managed to keep hold of the intangible creature.
"You can do it, Xavier! Use Confusion!"
Confusion wouldn't be strong enough… somehow he needed to take the other out more quickly.
He had gained more experience in this single day alone, than he had all of his years combined. He could feel powers emerging he had never been able to tap into before, far more than the Confusion and Disable his mistress knew. Perhaps not Psywave… but…
Concentrating, he attacked.
At first it began as a tingling in his forehead, a warmth, as if the star he bore there began to shine. Energy focused from every part of him, concentrating, collecting within the star.
And blasted the ghost point-blank.
The Psybeam, he knew, would do little better than Confusion… but… there was still a better chance…
Vandalus' laugh was bone-chilling even to Xavier as the Kadabra's arms dropped beneath it. While conscious, he had expended so much energy he could barely move… barely hear his mistress crying out to him… barely see as the Haunter began chasing down its own trainer…
"Lucky shot, mainlander! But your Kadabra is finished, and I saw your Lapras collapse already!" Vandalus grinned viciously. "Victory is mine! Go! Machoke!"
Julianne couldn't believe it. Xavier had come so far… and now, to be crushed by a fighting type? It wasn't dignified, much less fair! If only there was something she could do!
Xavier couldn't – wouldn't – allow it. The idea of it! He had beaten a ghost! To be beaten by a musclehead would be a disgrace to his entire race!
But how to fight back? He was exhausted, unable to even lift himself from the ground.
Digging deep within himself, he sought any reserves he had left. Any ounce of strength, any trace of willpower. All he needed was a little more…
It seemed to come from all over – an answer to his pleading with himself. Strength – not a lot, but enough – flowed into him, from within himself.
"That's it, Xavier!" he heard his mistress cheer. "Recover!"
So it was – something else he must have gained from the experience of this tournament.
If anyone thought to take him from Anne, he was going to make them think twice.
The Machoke hesitated as the Kadabra climbed easily to his feet. Sharing a glance with his mistress, it was as if the two, for the briefest moment, thought as one.
"Xavier!" Julianne cried. "Use Psybeam!"
Vandalus Reaper stormed from the stadium without claiming his prize. It was determined that Daleson and Manison would battle in two days for second place if Vandalus did not return by then.
The red laurel held the colors of flame, a physical representation of the Fireleaf Tournament's name. Julianne could feel the flush beneath her still-tender cheeks and new layer of sunburn from the cleared skies. Healers put salves on Xavier and Runt's injuries and offered them fruit broths and icy spring water for refreshment.
The Fire Crystal felt warm in Julianne's hand as it seemed to glow with an inner flame, as warm as the wonderful glow in her face.
The warmth only grew at the first sight of her Ponyta.
The sleek hide was the color and sheen of a pearl, warm and bright in the clear afternoon light. The ears were alert, erect, and perfectly straight, legs long, bony, and powerful. Along the head, shoulders, and legs, brilliantly bright flames danced with a life of their own. The tail was a torch in and of itself, flames eager and strong.
Was it possible to fall in love with a Pokémon? Julianne wondered. Had she ever seen anything so beautiful?
With a Ponyta, once she was across the waters she could ride home within hours! With three new Pokémon, an element crystal, and a tournament crown of laurel besides! Had any girl ever done so much?
She could imagine coming home on this amazing creature, riding straddle like a boy in her breeches, the red, white, and blue apricorns clipped to her belt. She imagined passing the house where Julie lived with her husband, little son, and Gloom, passed the mill her great-great-grandfather had helped his father and four younger brothers build, down the clay slope shortcut to the sprawling, one-level whiteface farmhouse she had been born and grown up in, where Julius worked with their father to run the mill, where her mother kept the books with mathematical genius and ran the house like a well-oiled clock, where Avius trained his dozen or so Pokémon and little Julia played with the same cloth dolls she and Julie had played with before her. Just as with most families, the girls and firstborn son were given forms of their father's name, leaving only Avius to have any originality to his.
Her blood turned cold as the daydream turned more realistic. She saw her mother's humiliation, Avius' jeering taunts, her father's shame. Avius would take the Ponyta for his own: Runt he'd likely keep as well, but Xavier and perhaps even Uli would be sent to her cousins in Cerulean to fight over. No one would ever know of her feat; the subject would be banned. She would be barred from ever leaving the house: a marriage would be arranged for her since she would have no opportunity to accept suitors. She would never see Xavier again, and not likely ever have a Pokémon again, especially if her imminent husband was informed of her antics in Cinnabar.
The tears in her eyes as she took the Ponyta's reins were not of joy.
And as she walked toward the Red Rhyhorn, exhausted and forlorn, she threw the laurel crown into the sea.