Chapter 14
This Side of Paradise
'Sometimes it's hard to know which way you're supposed to go, but deep inside, you know you're strong. If you follow your heart, you can't be wrong.'
"If you're happy and you know it, clap your paws!"
*clap, clap*
"If you're happy and you know it, clap your paws!"
*clap, clap!*
"If you're happy and you know it then your face will surely show it! If you're happy and you know it, clap your paws!"
*CLAP, CLAP!*
Ruby and Eevee both squealed with joy and she tossed the foxlike Pokémon into the air and caught him, and proceeded to wrestle him onto the ground until she started giggling so much she couldn't breathe. With a kiss atop the head, Ruby released him so that he could return to playing with his fellow Eeveelutions across the courtyard.
"He's the cutest present anybody's ever gotten me," she gushed to Sakura, lying on the grass nearby but too busy playing with Smoochum and Togetic to pay much attention to her.
Ledian fluttered down into Ruby's lap, the spots on her back glowing slightly due to the stars twinkling above. If it hadn't been for the light pollution of the city, they would've been glowing bright and a silvery powder would've been trailing behind her everywhere she flew. Nobody quite understood the exact nature of this powder, or why Ledian reacted to starlight, but both Bug and Grass-type Pokémon seemed to enjoy it, and Ruby was keenly aware that Ledian was always stronger at night than she was during the day.
Ruby spent most nights out in the country watching Ledian dance in the skies, spreading 'starlight powder' as she called it across the fields, forests, and even lakes. She'd join various swarms of wild Ledian throughout the night, and more than once Ruby wondered if she was looking for a mate. She didn't think Ledian would ever leave her or the team to start a family, and she tried not to dwell on it too much. In truth it was difficult to worry about anything when something so magical was occurring right in front of her.
"Don't worry," she said, hugging Ledian tightly. "In a few days we'll be able to see the stars again. I promise." Ledian nuzzled close and didn't seem too bothered about the spots on her back not lighting up. The hospital garden that Ruby had taken to sleeping in wasn't much different from the wild, albeit artificial and with more Pokémon, and was happy just having her trainer awake again. How any of the Pokémon were supposed to sleep without their trainer giving them goodnight kisses was beyond her.
Nearby, Meganium was making her nocturnal rounds. Much like Ledian, she also glowed at night, specifically her flower, but only while releasing pollen into the air. It would help the plants grow quickly and healthy, and thankfully due to it being a combination of Meganium's Sweet Scent and Aromatherapy, wouldn't upset anybody's allergies. Since her arrival to the courtyard, Meganium had adopted it as her own and become a celebrity among the gardeners. They all had their own Grass-type Pokémon to help with their work of course, but even the grass that continually got trampled was lively thanks to her. She was also popular among the hospital staff and patients, and many were crediting her for their speedy recoveries.
Ruby smiled at them both. While on her travels alone and with Yang, she had rarely seen other trainers with a Meganium or Ledian. It was a terrible shame in her opinion, and the majority of trainers didn't know what they were missing.
Hearing Sakura scream with laughter and Togetic chirping alongside her, Ruby's smile grew even wider. Everywhere they went, Ledian, Togetic, and Meganium always brightened the spirits of everyone around them. Herself most of all. She couldn't recall seeing any of their species on a Champion's team before, but they were all champions in her book.
Eevee of course were a popular species of Pokémon, perhaps the most popular despite their relative rarity, but for the time being he was still her little fur baby. Scizor on the other hand weren't uncommon on championship teams, and the ace of her own team was currently sparring with Yang's Blaziken, trading Bullet Punches for Sky Uppercuts. Before that he'd been training with Hitmonchan, and earlier that morning with Ursaring.
As a Scyther, he'd had been one of her sister's primary battlers, but they hadn't always gotten to complete her Alolan Trials together due to him and Ledian not liking to be separated, and overtime he gradually got used less and less in favor of Yang's other Pokémon. Even as a Combusken however, Scyther had still held the edge in battle, but that changed shortly after Scyther became Ruby's Pokémon. The gap between their levels seemed to grow every time they reunited, and the gap was more noticeable now than ever.
Ruby could only blame herself, and didn't much consider them both evolving or Yang's recent training atop Mt. Silver as reasons why he'd fallen behind. She simply wasn't the trainer her sister was, and her other Pokémon couldn't give Scizor the kind of competition he needed. Yang's entire roster of Pokémon on the other hand was made up of aces, each one vying to be the strongest, pushing each other to earn their spots. Scizor always made the most of his time when he reunited with his former team, and watching him now, Ruby couldn't help but wonder how strong he'd be under her sister's care.
A torrent of flames erupted in the night sky, interrupting her daydream, followed by a wintry flurry and burst of psychic energy. Almost as an afterthought was a sphere of absolute darkness about the size of a baseball, which fizzled out before it could explode.
"Great work, Eevee!" Ruby called. "You're getting the hang of it! You'll master Shadow Ball in no time!" The foxlike Pokémon cheered, and fired off another volley in celebration, each one smaller than the last.
On the other side of the courtyard, near the Pokémon Center was a small clearing for friendly Pokémon battles. It was only inevitable that fights would break out among so many Pokémon staying in one place, but one of the rules that even the wildlings obeyed was that they were to take place on the dirt battlefield next to the sandpits. That way they wouldn't ruin the garden, and they'd also be close enough for Nurse Joy and her staff to keep an eye on them.
Yang and Weiss were overseeing the five Eeveelutions' training session, which in reality was just them roughhousing. Weiss had thought that her Glaceon would've immediately positioned itself as leader of the pack, and was disappointed that Yang's Flareon had taken the position without so much as a scuffle between them. She was the eldest after all, and the most experienced, but once the training sessions began, she began to see what Glaceon had from the beginning.
From Ruby's perspective, it seemed as though Espeon might've been the strongest of the three evolved Eeveelutions, which wasn't surprising since it was being trained by an Eeveelution expert. It was also the ace of Sakura's team, meaning it saw the most action, but Flareon despite being the youngest had an advantage the others didn't have. Yang Xiao Long as her trainer, and Arcanine as her mentor.
Espeon attempted a faster than light Quick Attack on Flareon, but it used Reflect at the last possible second, throwing Espeon off balance with an invisible barrier before hitting her with Flame Charge. Glaceon was met with a similar fate after attempting Iron Tail, but thankfully since it was a relaxed session, the super effective attack was only a mild inconvenience for the Ice-type. The two Eevee tried next, attacking while Flareon's back was turned, but Reflect knocked them away, and Flareon took them both out with a Quick Attack of its own.
"Your sister is something else," Sakura said, scooting over next to Ruby while Smoochum and Togetic played kiss-tag alone. "There's quite a few Flareon back at the studio since it's easier to buy an evolutionary stone than evolve Eevee through friendship, and I've lost count how many times Espeon and I have battled another trainee's Flareon or Naoko's, but I've never seen her have this much trouble landing an attack before."
Ruby nodded. "That's one of Yang's favorite strategies. Reflect halves all physical damage done to her Pokémon, and it also gives them the perfect opportunity to counter attack. Then she'll use an attack like Flame Charge or Power-Up Punch to boost their stats. Not only does she get to bolster her defenses and get a free attack off, but each subsequent attack is stronger than the last. Nobody trades punches with Yang's Pokémon and gets away with it."
"Simple but effective," Sakura murmured. "That's how Weiss described it. All of the Eeveelutions are quick on their feet but Flareon's the slowest when it comes to a foot race. Your sister makes up for it by raising its speed with Flame Charge, and Flareon also uses its bulk to its advantage, absorbing our lighter Pokémon's Quick Attacks and counter attacking. I'm honestly surprised Flareon doesn't try relying on its agility more considering it's the smallest Pokémon on your sister's team."
"Yang's too experienced to let Flareon think she's fast just because she's agile and trains with powerhouses." As if proving her point, Flareon attempted to chase after Espeon and Glaceon but quickly gave up. Even the two Eevee had little trouble outrunning her with their Quick Attacks. "Flareon's main job on Yang's team is to set up Reflect and take out the opponent's speedsters, but it's still quick enough to give Pokémon like Blaziken and Charizard a bit of trouble. Yang prefers matching power with power, and Flareon's kinda like an anti-speedster. Gives her slower Pokémon something less to worry about."
"I feel as though we should be paying your sister for the lessons," Sakura laughed. "If I didn't already have my heart set on an Umbreon, I'd ask her for a Fire Stone and evolve Eevee tonight."
Ruby laughed with her. "Yang taught me that this is what trainers are supposed to do. Help each other get stronger, but more importantly, help each other better understand our Pokémon." She spared a glance at Scizor, struggling to hold his own against Blaziken, but refusing to give up an inch. "Besides, you're the one who should be charging her for the dance lessons."
The girls giggled and continued to commentate over the rough game of tag the Pokémon were playing when Weiss suddenly stepped onto the dirt field.
"That's enough, Glaceon," she called. The snow-fox hesitated from attacking again but obediently returned to its trainer's side, and Weiss thanked Yang for another productive, albeit humbling training session. "Thank you, Flareon. You as well, Espeon. Oh, and you too, Eevee. Both of you."
The pair of Eevee cheered, all too happy to be of help even if they were just playing. "I think that's enough practice for tomorrow," Weiss said, walking with Yang back to where Ruby and Sakura were sitting.
"What about Froslass? How's she doing?"
The ghost appeared out of thin air beside Weiss, making Yang jump and zip up her jacket. "Incorporeal," Weiss said simply. "Already being dead has its advantages."
Yang Xiao Long didn't scare easily, if at all, but just being in the proximity of Ice-type Pokémon gave her goosebumps. She wandered over to Flareon to try and warm up, and wound up picking her up and carrying her like a baby. "Oof," she grunted. "You're a heavy girl, but you're also a pretty girl. Just like Momma. Built for comfort, not speed, eh?"
Flareon licked her face and nuzzled close, missing the days before evolution that her trainer carried her everywhere they went. "I know!" Yang said. "I'll get the brushes out and we'll play hairdresser tonight. You'll like that, won't you?" She rubbed her face in Flareon's mane which resembled her own, and the flame Pokémon laid its head on her shoulder, occasionally nipping at her neck.
"That's right," Yang said, baby talking to her. "Momma's gonna paint your nails and get you a charcoal bone to chew on, and then I'm gonna cuddle with you like you're a big fluffy pillow. Yes I am."
Weiss shook her head suddenly feeling nauseous, and glanced down at Glaceon walking beside her. "Good work tonight, Glaceon," she said, hiding a smile.
"Great battle, Eevee!" Ruby cheered as they approached. "You too, Flareon!"
"You were fantastic too, Espeon," Sakura said. The catlike Pokémon hopped into her lap, already preparing for bed. Its psychic powers weakened once the sun went down, and would steadily grow weaker until the sun rose again. Sakura's Eevee joined them, but only long enough to get its ears scratched before running off with its younger cousin to continue playing.
Meganium yawned, her pollen finally spent, and made her bed on the grass nearby. Several of the other Pokémon were also getting ready for sleep, but all around the garden, Hoothoot and other nocturnal Pokémon were awaking. Those belonging to trainers tended to have more set schedules, sleeping while their trainer slept, and cat napping the rest of the day in their Pokéballs like a cat or dog might.
"How was the training, Weiss?" Sakura asked.
"It was satisfactory," she said, straightening Glaceon's crown of Never-Melt-Ice atop its head. "Espeon being able to predict Glaceon's attacks means she's had to get faster and more unpredictable, and she's been an invaluable training partner. Thank you for letting us borrow her."
"I'm the one who should be thanking you. She's been having the time of her life training with you and Yang. Does this mean you're ready for your gym battle tomorrow?"
She sighed and nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be. I don't exactly have much of a choice at this point."
"You don't sound very excited," Ruby noted.
Weiss didn't say anything for a moment, and kept her face turned toward Glaceon. "I've been looking forward to tomorrow ever since I first set out on my journey three years ago," she said at last, "and now that it's finally here, I'd prefer having another three years to prepare, but my Pokémon and I have come too far to quit now." She stole a glance at Ruby before quickly looking away again. "I also refuse to suffer the indignity of rescheduling my battle to another day," she added.
"Sorry I don't have any Ice-types for you to practice against," Yang said, "but I guess your team's already used to training with one another. Are you sure you wanna challenge an Ice-type Master with your own Ice-type Pokémon? Isn't that kinda a bad idea?"
"Didn't you challenge Chuck with only Fighting-types, Sis?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, and I got my butt handed to me, but it gave me an excuse to train at a gym full of hot guys and work on my tan at the beach. I see your point though."
"Defeating Pryce this way is the fastest way to prove that I'm worthy of being an Ice-type Master," Weiss said, evaluating both Froslass and Glaceon. "Unfortunately, the only Pokémon still in Master Pryce's rotation from his championship days is Mamoswine, and it's not exactly as spry as it used to be. All his other Pokémon are only advanced or expert level, and probably belong to the gym, but I suppose they'll just have to do."
Yang snorted at the girl's arrogance, but appreciated it in her own way. She was still having difficulty seeing through the icy veneer Weiss put on, but Ruby and Sakura could hear the uncharacteristic uncertainty in her voice. Weiss still sounded arrogant of course, it was just her nature, but she lacked a certain snobbishness that they'd gotten accustomed to hearing from her.
"You'll do great tomorrow," Sakura said with a smile. "The gym battle starts at two, right?"
Weiss nodded. "I intend to sleep late and go over my strategy in the morning, so it'll probably be best if you just meet me at the gym."
"We'll be there," Ruby said. "I might slow us down a bit, but we'll be there to see you win your fifteenth gym badge and get crowned an Ice-type Master!" Several of the Pokémon cheered alongside her, but an infectious yawn after a long day ruined some of the effect.
"You'll do great," Yang said, noticeably more subdued than the others. "Pryce likes to bolster his defenses like I showed you, and he can attack the entire battlefield with Blizzard, so nowhere is safe. Since all your Pokémon will be Ice-types, that shouldn't be much of a problem, but-"
"-but Master Pryce was once the strongest trainer in the world and has forgotten more about battling and Ice-type Pokémon than I'll likely ever learn," Weiss finished. "Thank you, I'm well-aware."
Yang grinned, finally hearing what the others heard. "You'll do great," she said again. "You too, Glaceon. You're gonna ace the gym. Right, Flareon?" The flame Pokémon mewled affirmatively.
The snow-fox didn't respond, and held its chin high as though they were merely telling her what she already knew.
"Well-" Yang said- "if you're heading back to the hotel, I guess I oughta get going too. I hit things off with the trainer of that Rhydon that's been in the sandpits the past few days. He's gonna buy me dinner at the Pokémon Center. You two sleeping out here again?"
Ruby and Sakura nodded. Ruby herself preferred sleeping outdoors, either in a tent or a sleeping bag under the stars. Sakura preferred beds like most sensible teenage girls, but Meganium made awfully comfortable beds made of grass and leaves, and Sakura didn't want to leave Ruby's side again. The two slept in a secluded part of the garden in sleeping bags while Yang stayed next door at the Pokémon Center. She wasn't going to miss the opportunity to sleep in a warm, comfortable bed after months of roughing it in the mountains. Weiss however still preferred hotels over Pokémon Centers, finding the beds more comfortable and the privacy preferable.
Yang whistled for her Pokémon and they came from all corners of the garden. Arcanine, Charizard, Ursaring, Hitmonchan, Ampharos, and Manectric gathered around, with Blaziken the last to arrive with Scizor beside him, limping slightly. Including Flareon whom she set down, but not including Gyarados, she had eight Pokémon on her person. It was more than the Pokémon League recommended for traveling, but staying at a Pokémon Center with plenty of food and room to run around in, it was hardly an issue.
"How'd the training go, Blaziken?" The ace of her team nodded affirmatively, and gave Scizor a friendly grin. The mantis Pokémon didn't respond, but despite being exhausted, looked disappointed that its training for the day had ended so soon.
"After Weiss wins her gym badge tomorrow and we're all done celebrating-" Ruby told him- "we'll do some training together, Scizor. I promise."
"Are you sure you're going to be alright to leave town the day after tomorrow?" Sakura asked.
Ruby nodded. "I'm still not a hundred percent, but after tomorrow, Weiss will need just one more gym badge to enter both the Silver and Lily of the Valley Conferences, and Yang needs to get back to training. Besides, Nurse Joy just gave Gyarados a check up yesterday and fed him, which means he won't have to eat for another week. If possible, I'd really like to get him to Dragon's Den before we let him out of his Pokéball again."
She shuddered, followed by Weiss, Sakura, and several of the Pokémon. "We could be there by midnight tonight if we flew," Yang said, "but I know how much you like the 'scenic route'. You can't pay me to go into Ice Path, but going over the mountains shouldn't be an issue if the four of us ride Arcanine and Rapidash."
"I'm riding Meganium," Ruby said firmly, having had this argument with her sister before. "I know she's not fast, and that she likes to smell flowers and make sure everything is growing right, but this could be the end of my journey, and I'd like for us to spend as much time together as possible. I-if nobody minds, that is."
Weiss and Sakura shook their heads, more than happy to spend a few extra days together even if it meant dawdling, but Yang merely shrugged. "Suit yourself. First though, I think we should find out how much stronger you've gotten since the last time we battled. Heads up, Blaziken."
Ruby yelped as she was lifted off the ground by the back of her hood. "Y-Yang? What are you-"
"Go, Ruby! I choose you! Use Double Edge!"
The caped-girl flew through the air, screaming as she hurtled toward an equally terrified Blaziken who crumbled to the ground from the super effective critical hit.
"It's a one turn knockout!" Yang cheered. "BATTLE ROYALE!"
All at once a no holds barred battle started, with Sakura, Weiss, and half the Pokémon running for their lives.
"Ruby!" Sakura shouted. She tried to run back into the fray but Weiss grabbed her by the wrist. "It's too late! She's gone! Save yourself!"
Ruby's Eevee also tried to jump into the battle but was scooped up by Sakura. Ledian however flew in headfirst, not to save her trainer, but to trade punches with Hitmonchan.
A dragon's roar and the shaking of the earth caused the girls to drop to their knees, but rather than get up and run, they could only gawk and marvel at what they were seeing. "D-did Yang just-"
"-suplex a Charizard?" Weiss finished. "I believe so. Oh good, now she's attempting to choke out a grizzly bear..."
"Do you think Ruby's alright?"
Weiss took a deep breath, watching as Ledian flew across the courtyard after a stiff uppercut. "You wouldn't happen to have another Rainbow Wing, would you?"
Togetic flew after Ledian, and consoled her that the next battle royale would definitely be hers. Meganium watched from afar, enjoying the show but having no interest in joining. Scizor watched with interest as well, but like her was either intimidated by all the Fire-types, or more likely, feared getting body slammed or suplexed by Yang.
"That was a really good try, Arcanine!" Sakura called. "You know, something tells me that Yang doesn't necessarily need Pokémon for protection out in the wild."
Weiss nodded in agreement. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but if the red Gyarados breaks out of its Pokéball, we may have to protect it from her..."
The ground beneath their feet shook again, and a celebratory dragon's roar could be heard all across northern Johto. "And still The Undisputed World Battle Royale Champion, Yang Xiao Long!"
Yang stood atop a heap of half-conscious Pokémon, with her sister somewhere buried near the bottom. Once she'd gotten her fill of imaginary applause from her adoring fans, she hopped down and began helping her victims to their feet. "Great fight, Hitmonchan. Remember to watch your left. Sorry about the knot on your head, Arcanine. Good to see you haven't lost a step, Ampharos."
Over and over Yang congratulated her Pokémon on a well fought, one-sided battle until finally she found Ruby and scooped her off the ground. "Great battle, Rubes. Gonna have to work on that Double Edge though."
"Ruby hurt herself in recoil," she slurred.
"Is she going to be alright?" Sakura asked, running over to check on her.
"Probably. If not, there's a hospital next door. Hate to see her miss any more training though. I mean, what's the point in having a little sister if you can't practice wrestling moves on her or even Pokémon attacks?"
Sakura and Weiss, both having older sisters themselves, sighed and helped steady Ruby. Yang meanwhile returned her Pokémon to their respective Pokéballs. All except Arcanine and Flareon that is. They preferred sleeping outside their Pokéballs, and while Arcanine kept watch like the loyal wolf-lion that he was, Flareon would be cuddling with her trainer as usual, keeping her warm and comfortable.
"Get a good night's sleep, Rubes." Yang gave her a kiss goodnight and was oddly gentle helping Ruby into her sleeping bag.
"Night-night," Ruby yawned. "Don't let the Bug-types bite."
Ledian seemed to take some offense to this comment, but cuddled with her trainer just the same, with Togetic crawling in between them. Meganium wandered over and curled up around the party, in part to protect them from the wind. Scizor leaned against a nearby tree, his eyes watchful for anyone or anything that might mean to do his family harm. He and Arcanine had agreed to take shifts tonight, but both would spend most of the night awake anyway.
Sakura let Eevee back onto the ground and he wasted no time crawling into Ruby's sleeping bag, briefly fighting with Togetic and Ledian for optimal positions while Ruby giggled and squirmed.
"Goodnight, Yang," she said, giving the older girl a hug. "Have fun on your date."
"You know it." Yang gave her a lopsided grin and playful wink. "If you get tired of sleeping on the ground tonight, or if Ruby snores or starts kicking in her sleep again, just crawl into my room through the window. There's an empty bed, and I don't plan on bringing my date back to the room." She leaned over and cupped her mouth. "Flareon doesn't like me sharing beds with strangers."
Sakura laughed. "I'll keep it in mind. Thanks. Try to get some sleep, Weiss. You'll do great tomorrow, and we'll all be there rooting for you."
Weiss nodded and said her goodnights and farewells without any hugs despite them being offered, but did kneel down to hold Ruby's hand. "You're gonna do great," Ruby said. "I can't wait to see you win tomorrow!"
She smiled and said all the polite things she was supposed to before excusing herself one final time and made her way back to the hotel with only an invisible chill for company.
"Next time we see each other-" Weiss said quietly- "I'll have won the Glacier Badge, and I'll also be an Ice-type Master. I'm just sorry that you can't be there to see it..."
The next morning Weiss got out of bed several hours earlier than she intended after barely getting any sleep, which admittedly was still more than she expected. She ate a plain breakfast that would've been meager even in the wilderness, but she didn't dare put anything more exotic than dry toast on her stomach.
She felt terrible for not telling her friends the real start time of her gym battle, but she also didn't have any regrets. Weiss had lost a small handful of gym battles since starting out on her journey, not that she'd ever freely admit it. It'd been over a year since her last unsuccessful attempt, but she still had the bitter taste of defeat in her mouth every night when she closed her eyes, or whenever she looked into Ruby's. She didn't need any more distractions than she already had, and she also didn't want to embarrass herself in front of her newfound friends. Besides, this was a private matter and didn't concern them.
Froslass and Glaceon were of great comfort that morning. They were both prideful like their trainer, but if they were nervous about battling an Ice-type Master, neither showed any indication. Pokémon as a rule tended to look forward to battles and proving themselves against strong opponents, and today was the culmination of all their training and hard work.
Weiss took extra time that morning brushing Glaceon's snowy coat before sneaking into the Pokémon Center for one final check up. It didn't take particularly long, but she was nervous about running into her friends there. She wasn't sure if she'd be able to lie to their faces again, and was particularly afraid of running into Yang, who she had learned was far more perceptive than she previously gave her credit for, especially compared to her somewhat oblivious little sister.
She left the Pokémon Center in a hurry, and wasted little time marching to the gym. She'd already explored Mahogany Town while shopping for Ruby while she was still unconscious, and there was very little she cared to see again. Although called a 'town', Mahogany was in fact a small city, but even the largest city in Johto paled in comparison to her hometown of Lumiose City. One could spend their entire lives in Lumiose and still not have indulged in half of the city's delights, but all of Mahogany could've been explored in half a day.
The gym had been one of the first sights she visited upon her arrival, and she had walked past it several times since. It lay on the southside of town, and one of the city's many rivers had to be crossed before entering. It was a massive ordinary brick building with white walls and a red roof, and high windows placed around the second and third stories. It was exactly the kind of gym one might expect from Pryce Willows, and Weiss doubted it had changed much since he had taken over as leader half a century ago.
Kalos' gyms were all either modern or ancient, and were as likely to be found inside an architect's masterpiece as a medieval castle. Johto's gyms tended to be somewhere in between, and built for function rather than any kind of heritage statement. It was without a doubt the ugliest gym Weiss had ever seen, and if not for the sign, she might've thought it was some sort of dilapidated factory.
"It's beautiful," she murmured. Froslass nodded from within her shadow, hiding there from the sun to conserve as much energy as possible.
"Papa had a battle against Master Pryce in this very building, Froslass. It was just a friendly match since he'd retired from battling years before. It was his first in a long time, and also his last. If ever he told me who won, I'm afraid I've forgotten, and it's too late to ask him now..."
Blinking something from her bad eye, she took a deep breath. "I suppose that's enough dawdling for today." She approached the door and grasped the handle, noting that it was cold to the touch. "I'm afraid Ruby might be rubbing off on me. If that ever happens, and I become like her, you're welcome to carry me off into the afterlife, Froslass."
The ghost nodded obediently, and Weiss gave her the faintest of grins. "No matter what happens today, I want you to know that I never would've made it this far without you, Froslass. I'm proud to be your trainer, and these last few years have been the happiest of my life. Thank you."
Froslass bowed and held her trainer's hand, giving it a faint squeeze before grabbing the door handle with the other. Weiss shivered slightly, but together as partners, they opened the door and were met by a rush of wintry air and a plain hallway with blue tiling. Weiss shivered again but quickly grew accustomed to the near freezing temperature. Both Kalos and Sinnoh were known for their harsh winters, and she felt right at home seeing her breath plume in front of her. Froslass of course had no breath, but she kept a close eye on her trainer and suggested she put on a thicker coat.
"If I must." Weiss removed the stylish jacket and carefully folded it into her backpack, and traded it for a white fur coat. Furfrou clothing was all the rage in Kalos, and it was fortunate that the poodle Pokémon enjoyed getting their fur sheared and styled, and that it grew so quickly. Even more fortunate perhaps was being able to afford such a jacket.
"Welcome to the Mahogany Gym, Miss Schnee." Weiss turned and saw standing in the hallway an elderly gentleman wearing a navy blue suit and a matching tie. His hair was white as snow, and he had a faint Kalosian accent. "Would you like me to escort you to the challenger's waiting room?"
Weiss did her very best not to smile, barely managing it. "That won't be necessary. Please inform Master Pryce of my arrival, and apologize on my behalf for arriving early. I simply wished to visit the ice sanctuary before our battle."
"Very good, milady, and if I may say so, it's an honor to serve your family once more." He bowed, and Weiss nodded affirmatively, agreeing that the honor was all his.
"It's good to see you again, Lyam." She couldn't quite hide the beginnings of a smile.
The gentleman bowed even lower. "I'm honored that you remember me, Lady Weiss. I apologize for having left your family's service after the death of your grandfather, but it was his wish that I return to my homeland and serve another master."
"I know, and no apology necessary. You served him well, Lyam, as you did my mother."
Several new wrinkles touched his elderly face, but he remained professionally expressionless. "I'm terribly sorry I couldn't do more for her."
Weiss swallowed and shifted her weight uncomfortably. "You did your duty, Lyam. Nobody could ask anything more of you. Now, if you'd please continue fulfilling my grandfather's wishes."
He smiled slightly, the first hint of an emotion since she arrived. "Yes, milady." With practiced grace he bowed again and started down the corridor, but not before a passing glance behind him. "Forgive me, Lady Weiss, but it's unbecoming for a lady such as yourself to be concerned with a servant, no matter how loyal they may be."
With his back turned, Weiss finally smiled, and she even laughed. She and her sister had more than enough servants at home tending to them, even a few that actually cared about them, and vice versa. Pryce however had few friends and even fewer people looking out for him. Her grandfather had known that, and one of the last acts of the kindly old man dying before his time had been to take care of his dearest friend. And for a man like Lyam, there was no greater honor than carrying out his master's will.
She forced her smile away before anyone could see and think less of her for it, and made her way toward the Pokémon sanctuary down the opposite hall. Diana and her younger brother had shown it to her when she first visited the gym earlier that week to schedule a gym battle. It had taken her breath away then, and it did so now when she opened the door.
The only semi-adequate description Weiss could give the sanctuary was a winter wonderland for Ice-type Pokémon. One would've thought they stepped out into the arctic due to the snowy landscape, evergreen trees, and massive lake with icebergs floating in the middle. Snow fell from above at regular intervals, as it did so now, created by the Pokémon for their own comfort. Weiss had been to the arctic several times and visited some of the best animal and Pokémon sanctuaries in the world, but nothing could compare to the fruit of Pryce's lifetime of labor in Pokémon conservation.
A couple dozen Seel and Dewgong lounged atop the ice while a dozen more played in the water. A few Shellder and Cloyster could also be seen, but most of the shellfish Pokémon were resting at the bottom of the crystal clear lake. Even more spectacular however was the pod of young Lapras racing one another. Weiss counted eight in total, but there was no telling how many were currently in Pokéballs or swimming in the underground labyrinth beneath the gym.
Several rivers flowed in and around Mahogany Town, and while it would certainly be a circuitous route to take, it was possible to swim from the Lake of Rage through Mahogany Town to Ice Path, or to continue southwest from the city and eventually swim out to sea. Lapras were known to occasionally swim into Union Cave east of Azalea Town, and sometimes were even known to swim further inland. Supposedly, several centuries ago, a pod of Lapras had swum inland all the way into Ice Path, and ferried people across the rivers and protected them from the ferocious Gyarados that lived to the north.
Weiss wasn't sure if it was specifically because of them or the city's proximity to Ice Path, but they'd had a strong influence on Mahogany Town always being home to an Ice-type gym. More than a gym however, it was a natural preserve and safe haven for Pokémon like Lapras, which had only recently come off the endangered species list after being hunted to near extinction by humans that didn't understand or appreciate just how intelligent and beautiful these gentle creatures were.
"And powerful..." Weiss said to herself, reminded of her fast approaching battle. She had come here to take her mind off it even if only for a few minutes, but perhaps she'd succeeded too well because she now struggled to think of a single strategy she'd come up with for battling Lapras.
"He won't use both Lapras and Dewgong," she said quietly to herself. Being more than familiar with Johto's most common Ice-types, and Pryce's favorite Pokémon, Weiss had some idea of what to expect in her battle. No matter how much she thought about Pryce's team however, Weiss' mind always wandered back to Mamoswine. It was the only Pokémon Pryce had left in his regular rotation from his days as champion. All the others had sadly passed away or were living in the sanctuary, enjoying retirement.
"Tell me the truth, Froslass. Do you think we're ready? Do you think we can win?"
The ghost met her gaze and looked thoughtful for several moments, but finally nodded. "But it won't be easy," Weiss interpreted, sighing. "I know it might be foolish to challenge Master Pryce with only Ice-type Pokémon, but I have faith in all of you, as well as my abilities as a trainer, but mostly in all of you." She smiled faintly. "If we win today, we'll win much more than just a gym badge. I'll finally be recognized as an Ice-type Master, and Father will have no other choice but to recognize me as well and admit he was wrong. If I do that, it might just give me the leverage I need to continue our journey a little while longer. If I'm both a Master and a Champion, he'll have a difficult time forcing me to retire and work for the SDC."
"Miss Schnee?"
Weiss jumped and saw that Lyam had silently entered the sanctuary behind her. Even Froslass seemed surprised. How long he might've been listening she couldn't tell and didn't want to think about. "My apologies for interrupting your thoughts, milady, but Master Pryce is on his way to the battlefield now. I don't expect you need to hurry, but it's best not to keep the master waiting. For being an Ice-type specialist, he's a rather impatient man."
She nodded, understanding all too well. "Thank you, Lyam. If you'll be so kind as to escort me to the battlefield."
"It would be my honor, Lady Weiss. Right this way, and do be careful of the ice..."
(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. It was fun returning to the more slice of life aspects of Pokémon in the first half of this chapter. As much fun as it'd be to battle and discover legendary Pokémon, I think I'd probably enjoy the quieter moments alone with my Pokémon even more. Some of my most fond memories of my family and pets have been just us lounging around not doing anything. You can't really beat petting your dog while they lay in your lap, and imagining Ruby singing/playing 'If you're happy and you know it' with Eevee just brings a smile to my face. Yang, Weiss, and their Pokémon like to train when they have down time, but Ruby and Sakura strike me as the types who'd rather play, talk, or stare up at the stars.
Yang wrestling with her Pokémon just makes too much sense, and while there are some serious moments in this fic, I do like the "sillier" aspects of RWBY and Pokémon. Yang suplexing a Charizard, knocking out a Hitmonchan, choking out an Ursaring, and using her sister as a Pokémon is absolutely ridiculous but at the same time very fitting. To me, Yang is just one of those larger than life, over the top personalities that just works in whatever situation or setting you put her in.
Flareon is an underrated Pokémon in my opinion, and seeing how Yang's the best trainer of the group, I really wanted a scene where all the Eeveelutions are playing/training, and show that Flareon is the "pack leader". I also wanted to give you a taste of what Yang's battle strategy looks like, and I think her being first portrayed as a "counter-striker" in RWBY works really well in the world of Pokémon where you can lower the opponent's damage then counter with stat boosting attacks, and follow it up with attacks that progressively get faster and stronger. Flame Charge and Power-Up Punch just fit Yang's personality perfectly, and I'd imagine that Ruby and Sakura (and Weiss) will become better trainers just by having Yang around. I've written a few dozen fight scenes over the years, and it's really a lot of fun seeing what little techniques characters pick up from one another.
As for the second half of this chapter, I really wanted to focus on Weiss for a bit since challenging and defeating Pryce has been the major goal of her journey, and was established all the way back in Chapter 1. Having Ruby, Yang, and Sakura share those scenes with her would've taken something away from her, and as always she'd feel the need to put on a face in front of them. She doesn't want any distractions, but she's also scared of losing in front of her newfound friends. I think Ruby would feel understandably embarrassed and disappointed to lose in front of everybody, but I think Weiss likely feels ashamed of failure due to her upbringing. I hope you enjoy the upcoming Pokémon battle, and thank you for all the love and support, friends.
All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with this story and wonderful readers such as yourself. God bless)