Hroondeel's Notes

After this chapter, Battle Girl's taking a fall break until either when I feel like it or when I get 25 reviews. Haha, I am very evil. This would've been the end of the story, but many characters are yet to be introduced, and some characters, (mainly Wally) still need to be truly discovered.

Fear vanished and appeared in me. It was Roxanne, in all her mighty glory.

"H-hey…w-what's up, Roxan-n-ne…" Crystal said in a tiny, trembling voice. Hold on…if this Roxanne could scare Crystal, then that's saying something! Wait! She might scare Crys, but not me!

"Hello, Akao, Crystal." Roxanne said disdainfully at Crystal, as if she was some kind of lowlife.

"And who might you be? You say you want to challenge me?" Roxanne said in a monotone voice, turning to me. She is pretty creepy, I have to say… A little girl appeared from behind Roxanne, staring at the floor, and pink-faced.

"Tanaya, Meiri informed me about this…" she then added, "You can go now, Meiri. Don't expect any extra test points for this." Meiri looked a bit disappointed before trudging away in misery.

"Yes I do! And I don't care about what kind of training you have to have to challenge you either! So, why don't you come fight me, you coward?" I said bravely. Many people around me gasped, but Roxanne didn't change her dull, emotionless expression.

"Very well." Roxanne said, turning and walking away. I expected she wanted me to follow. A few kids followed, and I hoped each and every one of those kids would see my victory, so they wouldn't have to be ENSLAVED under that witch any longer! She opened a door, leading to a library, and then another door…this time in the back of the room, using a key. She revealed a battle stage, with rocks, valleys, and uphills. There were some rows of seating a safe distance away, and she gestured to them, where many kids rushed to take a good seat without hesitation.

"Don't be afraid to watch. I hope you learn a lesson." What the hell did she mean by that? She climbed up the stage, taking her stance, and I followed.

"Prepare to go down!" I threatened, eager to get the battle started. She showed a faint smirk on her face, as if she knew better. That girl really pisses me off! How dare she mess with my brain!

"GO! CHAKA!" I cried, releasing my fiery little Torchic. This was going to be way too easy. Almost everyone in the room started whispering to each other.

"WHAT!" I shrieked. Roxanne sneered.

"Alright. Please watch, students. Geodude." A muscular Geodude came out of a pokeball from her hand. Ha! That thing can't beat ME!

"Chaka, ember!" Roxanne gestured with her hand for Geodude to dodge, and Geodude obeyed.

"Rock tomb, Geodude." Geodude picked up some surrounding rock, hurling it at extreme mass and speed at Chaka. In no time, Chaka was covered in rocks.

"CHAKA!" I cried, rushing to the rocks, trying to uncover her. Roxanne turned to the 'audience'.

"You see, ignorant fools aren't treated well at this academy. I hope you have learned your lesson." Tears started forming in my eyes, and my throat went dry. Geodude easily picked up a rock, unveiling my Torchic- knocked out and covered with cuts and bruises. I grabbed Chaka in my arms, and ran out of there, out of the school, so no one would see my tears.

I wonder where I can start my debut in Pokemon contests? But for now, I'm on the lookout for first-class, master-rank champions! I stomped around in the tall grass outside of Rustburo, Nana and Zuzu doing the same a bit far off. I hope I'll attract Pokemon this way.

"Yap! Yap! YAP! YAPYAP!" Nana's high-pitched bark rang through my ears. What now? Zuzu and I turned around, seeing Nana yapping at a sleeping pink, cat-like Pokemon. The pokemon's huge ears twitched.

"How cute! Simply kawaii!" Then it hit me. This was my number one! At least in cuteness…I don't picture this little cutie winning any tough contests though!

"Zuzu! Water gun!" I said to Zuzu, who was ready for battle.

"Kip!" He said in cooperation as he blasted the Skitty in the face. Skitty was pushed back violently into the tree trunk it was sleeping against.

"Alright!" I said happily. The Skitty must have been very light to be pushed like that-I have to say!

"Fnyah…" The Skitty said faintly, before passing out. I threw the pokeball elegantly, capturing the Pokemon with ease. Must be real weak…

"Great work, both of you!" I said, patting Nana and Zuzu on their heads. I was interrupted by a speeding girl rushing past my eyes, and tears fell behind her. There's only one girl I know who can run that fast…could it be?

……………………………………………………………………………

I heard even her friend Crystal couldn't stop the tears. It was just a stupid battle anyways, what to get worked up for? I found her behind some bushes, her head down. She was sitting on a tree branch, her legs dangling from above.

"Hey." There was no response.

"May?"

"May. Get down here." No response. Her head was down, so I couldn't see her face. Her hands were holding onto the branch.

"May!" I was getting a bit annoyed, but decided against yelling at her. There was nothing else to do.

I placed a foot on the tree's trunk, but it slipped. I jumped up and grabbed higher, placing my foot on one of the tree's dents. Going higher and higher, I realized how easy all of it seemed. What would have happened if I had never tried climbing a tree? Would I still have that fear?

"Zuzu!" A much younger Brendan was crying, looking up at a tree. He saw his Mudkip, which was still a baby, sitting on a tree branch.

"Zuzu!" He called again, tears streaming down his cheeks. He was like this for half an hour, with no one to help him. Zuzu merely looked down at him from the branch, thinking he was playing a game.

"Zuzu…Come here! ZUZU!" He cried. Finally, he jumped onto the tree trunk, climbing using his clammy hands.

"ZUZUUU!" He screamed, tears falling behind him. He heard the piece of tree bark he was holding onto snap, and he fell onto the ground. He felt his nose being pushed backwards, and his vision became blurred. He couldn't see anything, but since then, he was always scared of climbing a tree.

"There…" I said, finally reaching where May was sitting. Her head was still down.

"It's only a battle you know. Nothing to get so worked up about." I heard her sniffle faintly. Without thinking, I took her face in my hands and lifted it. It was stained with tears, and her eyelashes were soaked. She started at me, not blinking. I let go of her face.

"May…it's only a battle." I tried coaxing her. I was sitting very uncomfortably in the tree, not knowing how she could manage it. This reminded me of a song I remember hearing when I was little…I starting humming it, "The sun, the moon, and the stars

When you smile, they don't seem too far

You lift me higher than the planets in the sky

I'm still searching for reasons to why

Why was I born here, what to do?

What is my goal in my life today?

And even though we sometimes shed tears

I hope that someday they will help us

And erase our fears

No matter how much I will lose my hopes

I will live to the fullest and be what I can!

I am sometimes scared of time

I want to see it all

To see and hear everything

How will people remember me?

I hope in a good way

I was given the power to love, to live…

Let's both share it together

Forever…"

Her face lifted to glance at me. I held her gaze. All of a sudden, I felt her arms around me and she started sobbing. I blinked, shocked.

"Th-thank you…" she said, burying her head in my neck. She felt so small and fragile in my arms.

"I love that song…my grandma used to sing it me all the time." I patted her head, thinking about when she'll tell me the whole story. I'm a bit impatient…but again…I have time.