Chapter 72: Going Where The Fairy Flies
In a quiet suburb away from the beaches of Cianwood City, though still within driving distance of the ocean, a green haired woman made her way inside a nursing home, grocery bags in hand. There were only two, and they weighed heavy on her skinny arms. But carrying bags of groceries on a consistent basis for months helped to strengthen her arms significantly. As she made it to the kitchen, she wasted no time putting the food in the cabinets and cupboards.
"There you are, Marie!" A heavyset woman carrying a ladle exclaimed. "Thanks so much for bringing those in. I was going to make some shrimp penne tonight."
"That sounds delicious," Marie replied, sliding some bags of flour into any empty spaces she could find in the cabinets. "I'll go and set the tables."
Once Marie finished putting the groceries away, she walked into the dining area, where several rectangular tables were lined up perfectly parallel to one another. She went to another cabinet and pulled out a stack of plates. As she set two of them down on one table, she stole a sidelong glance out the window. The flower beds that were set up outside were completely empty because of the cold weather, and she could see some cars pulling into the parking lot. It had only been a few months since she started working here, but she still felt...lost.
"It still feels so strange being called Marie…" She said to herself, setting out some more plates. "I wonder when I can go back to being called Harriet again?"
Marie—or rather, Harriet—found herself lost in thought. How long had it been since she had been called by her real name? Before she could lose herself, she shook her head. This was no time to be reminiscing on the past, or worrying about the future. All she could afford to focus on was the present. She pulled herself out of her reverie and set out some more plates. She went to grab the eating utensils, but when she reached up to get them, harsh footsteps stopped her in her tracks.
She shivered. Were they here?
"Marie?"
Oh. It was the cook. Harriet gave a sigh of relief. The cook walked inside, ladle still in hand. "Marie? Someone's in the lobby askin' for you."
"For me?" Harriet didn't know anyone outside the nursing home. "Who is it?"
"It's an Officer Jenny. She says she investigatin' somethin'," The cook explained.
An Officer Jenny? Which one? Harriet didn't know. Anything could happen. She could feel her hands trembling, transfixed by terror. But she steeled herself and made her way out of the dining area. The lobby wasn't too far away, and most of the staff were here in case something happened. Harriet tried to remain calm and focus on the positive side of things. Maybe this Officer Jenny wanted some information? Maybe she just wanted to talk?
There was, indeed, an Officer Jenny at the lobby, right in front of the reception desk. Harriet stopped in her tracks, and the fear that once threatened to eat her up dissipated. She recognized this Officer Jenny! Many of them looked exactly alike, but there were very subtle differences between them. Some of them stood out more than others, and this one, she knew, had short, curly bangs. She only knew one Officer Jenny whose bangs were curly.
"I heard you're asking for me?" Harriet approached the policewoman slowly, her voice meek and frail.
Officer Jenny turned to look at her and smiled. "Marie Hargreaves? Nice to meet you. Cianwood City PD," Jenny flashed her badge. "I'm conducting an investigation and was told you had some information. Is there someplace private where we can talk?"
Harriet wasn't sure if Officer Jenny recognized her or not. She gave no indication that she did. She couldn't afford to let her guard down. With a hand in her pocket, fingering one of her PokeBalls, she gave a nod and escorted Officer Jenny to another room. Having worked here for a few months, she knew several places that provided great privacy, but she didn't want to go someplace where she couldn't get help in case this was a setup. So she settled on a rest area near the elevators leading to the second floor. There was a small nightstand with a cordless phone in between two plush chairs, so this would be perfect.
The policewoman stole glances down both halls before turning to Harriet with a reassuring smile. "There's no need to be scared, Harriet. I'm the Jenny who helped you when you washed up on the beach. Remember?"
So this was the same Jenny who helped her back then! Harriet gave another relieved sigh. For once, in what seemed to be an eternity, she allowed herself to relax. Her shoulders slumped as she sat down on one of the plush chairs, and she felt like a weight had been lifted off of her.
"I do. I just wasn't sure, since Officer Jennys all make themselves look the same," Harriet confessed.
Officer Jenny gave a chuckle. "That's fair. Being under Witness Protection can make you feel paranoid after a while. Not that you don't have any right to feel that way."
Marie Hargreaves, the name Jenny and everyone else in the nursing home referred to her by, was a pseudonym Harriet used to hide her identity. She had been recruited by Team Rocket against her will and was made to participate in many of their crimes. After one particular crime too many, Harriet tried to make a break for it, with many Team Rocket members intent on killing her and making sure she didn't reveal their plans to the public and authorities. She made it to safety, but since there was still a possibility that they could come back for her, as it had happened once before, Harriet was put under Witness Protection by the government for her role in foiling a grand scheme that Team Rocket tried to enact on the Goldenrod Radio Tower several months ago.
"So...can I ask why you're here?" Harriet asked, her voice trembling with nerves. "I know the trial date is in February."
"Yes, but this is something...more personal," Jenny clarified, sitting down on the chair next to Harriet's. "My team and I searched the house you lived in to find additional evidence your attorney can use for the upcoming trial," She explained. "Most of it had already been processed, but...Madison found a loose floorboard in your old…" Jenny paused briefly, groping around for an appropriate word she could use. "...Roommate's bedroom."
Roommate. Harriet knew Jenny's choice of word was deliberate, probably an attempt to refrain from referring to her by what she really was: a Team Rocket grunt. It was probably out of respect for the fact that Harriet wanted nothing more to do with Team Rocket. As awkward as the phrasing was, Harriet at least appreciated Officer Jenny for trying to respect her wishes. That was when she noticed the box in Jenny's hands for the first time.
"We looked through it and found this box," Jenny presented it to Harriet. The green haired girl looked down and noticed black ink on the top, reading To Harriet Latham. Her name. She recognized the blocky handwriting. It was Margeaux's handwriting. "I thought maybe you'd like to have it, since it is addressed to you."
Harriet's eyes widened. What could possibly be in this box that was for her? Was it something Margeaux wanted her to have? She stiffened, eyeing the box with suspicion. Was this some kind of trick? A ploy to get her killed before she was to testify in the trial? Was something inside it that would cause her harm? Noticing Harriet's discomforted expression, Jenny was quick to assuage her worries.
"Don't worry, Madison and I scanned the box, and there's nothing lethal inside. No bombs, guns, dynamite, or anything," Jenny reassured her. "I had specialists come in to examine the contents with a machine, and they've determined that there's nothing dangerous inside."
Although the knowledge was of some relief, Harriet remained on guard. The box's tape was loose, from having been cut open previously, and Harriet pried the top of it open. She looked inside and saw...four PokeBalls. Harriet pulled them out one by one, and they were slightly heavy, indicating that there were Pokemon inside.
"This is...odd. Why did she put PokeBalls in here?" Harriet asked out loud...until she glanced at the bottom of the box and saw it.
A white envelope. A letter. Harriet took the letter in her hands and pulled out the contents. Three whole pages of folded notebook paper with paragraphs written in pencil lead. Harriet read the contents aloud, with Jenny leaning closer to read it herself.
To Harriet,
By the time you read this, I'll very likely be dead, probably by Yannick's hand. I don't think I was ever going to get out of this alive anyway, so I've accepted my fate.
I've thought a lot about what you said to me after we saw Danny being beaten. I was in a position similar to yours once. Wanting a job, taking any opportunity I had to get something without thinking about what it would entail, ignoring the warning signs, just trying to get by, and so on. In a way, I saw my old self in you. Unlike me though, you didn't accept your fate. You fought against it and did whatever you could to get out of there when you realized the whole thing was horribly wrong. You have more strength than I could ever have in a lifetime. You salvaged what humanity you still had and made a break for it. To tell you the truth, I saw you run away in the dead of night and found out later that Yannick had captured you.
Knowing what they were going to do to you was enough to convince me that you were right all along. None of this is right. It's too late for me to change things, or myself, but it's not too late for you. You have your whole life ahead of you. I'm glad you called me out back when we saw Danny get beaten. Normally I'd get mad, but...it was the wake-up call that I needed. You're right. Just because Team Rocket does whatever they want, that doesn't make it right. I can't ignore everything that's been going on around me anymore. I know you acted to save Danny's life, along with all the other kids TR plans to indoctrinate. I wish I had your courage.
In the event that you manage to get out of this alive—and I know you will—please know that I want you to live your absolute best life. Don't make the same mistakes that I did. It's not too late for you to make things right and live the life you want to live. Go through with your plans to foil Team Rocket's plan, not just for yourself but for all the lives you'll save through your actions. I know that by taking your place, I'll die for sure. To whoever finds this package, please give it, and the PokeBalls, to Harriet Latham. I'm relinquishing ownership of my Pokemon, and I want her to have them. I know she'll take good care of them. Or if not that, find good homes for them. They always did deserve better than some frivolous tramp like me.
So...this is goodbye. I'm sorry I didn't act sooner. I'm sorry for all the things I did to you, and never did for you.
I really hope you get out of this safely and live a happy life. It's your life. Live it the way you want to. For yourself and no one else.
Sincerely,
Margeaux Lynnette Smith
"Margeaux…" Tears overflowed from Harriet's eyes, dampening her cheeks. Some of the tears dripped onto the letter, leaving marks. Harriet's voice trembled as Margeaux's name slipped past her lips. She knew Margeaux willingly stepped in to save Harriet, but that she did so knowing what would happen to her...Harriet had always thought Margeaux was just another Team Rocket grunt, who threw away her humanity to pursue a life of crime and violence like so many others had. But no, she was just a woman who was like Harriet at some point in her life, who had lost her way. Not some caricature or an evil villain like in those children's cartoons.
If Margeaux hadn't saved Harriet, the green haired woman would never have gotten to where she is now.
Only when she looked down did she notice a portion she hadn't read yet.
P.S. Before you left, you said you didn't think of me as a friend. I don't blame you at all for that. I know saying this won't change anything, but...for what it's worth, I consider you one of the best friends I've ever had. Probably the only friend. I'm truly happy I got to know you. You helped open my eyes and gave me the wake-up call I needed. I wonder, had we met in better circumstances, if we really could have been friends? I wish I had someone like you in my life. Maybe that way I would never have joined Team Rocket.
A sob escaped Harriet's throat, then another, and more. Harriet buried her face into her arms and bawled, with Officer Jenny gently holding her close, letting the green haired woman cry. That section reaffirmed what Harriet had suspected: She had completely misjudged Margeaux. Now she was gone, and Harriet would never have the chance to thank her for saving her back then. Guilt settled into her gut as she thought of how horrible Margeaux's final hours on Earth might have been. Trapped in a literal torture chamber, being made to endure cruelty no human should ever have to go through, not only to keep her silent, but to satisfy someone else's sick desires. She wished Margeaux hadn't gotten killed trying to save her. In her mind, Margeaux deserved so much better.
"Margeaux...I'm so sorry…" Harriet sobbed and cried, mourning the life Margeaux never got to live. The life Margeaux could have experienced had she not been recruited by Team Rocket. "You're dead because of me…!"
"It could have been anyone," Officer Jenny whispered. "There was no way you could have foreseen this. Team Rocket conspired to have you both killed."
The memory of seeing Yannick's torture dungeon came rushing back. Harriet remembered Yannick saying that he knew Margeaux was lying about being the one to blow the whistle on them and killed her anyway. Harriet's sobs slowly died down. If Harriet hadn't fought back when she did, she would have become his next victim. Officer Jenny was right. It was possible there wasn't a way for the both of them to survive, considering how Team Rocket is so intent on making sure nobody blows the whistle on their plans. They tried to have Harriet killed for exactly that reason.
"Even after everything...the things I said to her...she still thought of me as a friend...enough to do this for me…" One word stumbled onto another as Harriet sniffed and sobbed, trying to calm down. But all of her attempts to do so were futile. She looked down at the PokeBalls in the box. Margeaux's Pokemon.
"What would you like to do?" Jenny asked.
It was an easy decision to make. Margeaux sacrificed herself so Harriet could live. As guilty as she felt about how it happened, Harriet knew in her heart she couldn't let Margeaux's death be in vain. Not when she accepted death and trusted Harriet to take care of her Pokemon. Both of her hands held the box close to her chest. Although her face was red and puffy from crying, she looked down at the PokeBalls with new, steely determination gleaming in her brown eyes.
"I'll raise Margeaux's Pokemon," Harriet replied, her voice hoarse but firm. "I owe her this much. Also…" She looked right at Officer Jenny, with none of the hesitation she had before. "When the trial day comes, I want to testify."
"Are you sure?" Jenny asked again, her voice adopting a concerned tone. "You don't have to if you don't want to. Your life is still in danger. Nobody will blame you if you go through with a written testimony."
"I know, but…" Harriet held the box tighter, as though holding onto it would prevent her from changing her mind. "Margeaux could have run away and thrown me under the bus. She could have outed me to Team Rocket and let them torture me, probably worse, just to save her own skin. That was how everyone else was. She didn't, though. She didn't run away. Not like how I did. That's why…"
Harriet stood up from the chair, with new conviction in her heart. "I don't want to run away anymore. I can't let Team Rocket win."
Jenny flashed a smile. "I think Margeaux would like that a lot."
Harriet wasn't sure what the future would hold, especially since she was still in hiding, and would be for another while yet. But after this, Harriet resolved to carve out her own future, and live the life she wanted on her own terms. No longer was she just a Team Rocket grunt.
Never again would she ever fear for her life.
"Another day, another battle," Perrine stretched her arms out, already at the trainer box in the auxiliary stadium. Today was the day she would battle Gladys Tatham, the new member of the Elite Four. Julia, Caiseal, Ethan, and Rocio sat on the spectator seats like before, and there were a few cameramen scattered about, holding cameras that were bigger than their heads.
"I wonder how this battle will turn out?" Julia leaned in to whisper to Ethan. "This Gladys lady is a new member of the Elite Four, but I haven't heard or read anything about how she actually got in."
"I actually read some magazines that talked about her," Ethan whispered back. "The only ways people can really get into the Elite Four are if the Elite Four themselves either invite you to join after seeing you battle, or filling in an application if one of them leaves. I read that Gladys was personally invited by Lance himself."
That certainly made sense. The Elite Four probably weren't the type of people to just pick random people off the street. Strong trainers were the only ones who had even the slightest chance of getting into the Elite Four, whether by invitation or more formal means. One thing was for sure: Gladys was probably a strong trainer in her own right.
Unlike Will's entrance, which was far more theatrical and melodramatic, Gladys simply walked into the stadium and her trainer box in her usual garb. When she met Perrine's eyes, she lifted her skirt slightly to give a bow, as though she were greeting a member of royalty. Julia looked over at Caiseal, who couldn't take his eyes off of her.
"Don't tell me you actually have a crush on her," Julia whispered, gently poking him with her elbow to pull him out of his reverie. It didn't work. He was absolutely lovestruck. Perrine wasn't exaggerating when she told her about Caiseal falling head over heels for her at the opening ceremonies. Rocio could only give a light chuckle, amused by the sight.
"Good morning, Miss Perrine," Gladys addressed Perrine right away, flashing her usual light, airy smile. "I must admit, I'm nervous about my first real match as a newly appointed member of the Elite Four," She began. "But I do hope to enjoy our battle to the fullest."
"I don't blame you. Everything seems kind of overwhelming when you first experience it," Perrine told her reassuringly, right before pulling a PokeBall out. "But whether you're a veteran or a newbie, don't think I'm going to go easy on you."
Gladys didn't miss a beat, keeping her graceful smile as she pulled her own PokeBall out. "It wouldn't be a fair match if I asked you to go easy on me. If you don't mind, I'd like to send out my Pokemon first," She threw her PokeBall outward. "I choose you, Clefable!"
Out from the PokeBall flashed a large, pink, cuddly-looking Pokemon with long, pointed ears with dark brown tips, a lock of hair curled tightly in front of its forehead, and a set of three-pointed, darker pink wings. Clefable gave a friendly coo as it materialized onto the battlefield.
"A Clefable, huh?" Perrine mused to herself.
This was going to be a tough battle. Perrine did as much research as she could on Gladys, and she found that she primarily used fairy type Pokemon. That in itself wasn't a bad thing, but Perrine did realize she had a problem: Fairies were weak against poison and steel, but not only did Perrine not have any Pokemon of either of those types, they didn't know any attacks of those types either. That is...except for one, but that could only do so much. Fire attacks weren't known to be effective against fairy types either, so using Kitsune wasn't even an option. Perrine's choices were limited here, but she knew she had to make use of the cards she had.
"Alright then! Baloo, I choose you!" Perrine sent Baloo out onto the battlefield. Fairy type versus fairy type.
"Would you like to make the first attack?" Gladys asked.
Perrine smirked. "Gladly! Baloo, start off with Hyper Voice!"
Everyone in the spectator seats covered their ears as Baloo sucked in a huge amount of air, expanding to twice her size. After a brief minute, Baloo opened her mouth, and a high pitched screech echoed from her mouth, sending white shock waves rippling through the air. Oddly enough, Gladys wasn't put off by the noise one bit.
"Clefable. Cosmic Power."
A purple aura surrounded Clefable, with star-shaped lights materializing around it. As soon as the Hyper Voice attack landed, Clefable closed its eyes and allowed the stars to dissolve into its body. Clefable smiled all throughout the attack, as if barely affected. Gradually, Baloo's screeching died down to nothing.
"Use Body Slam!" Perrine cried out.
Baloo leaped into the air, right over Clefable, allowing gravity to take over as she fell towards the smiling fairy.
"Use Dazzling Gleam," Gladys said, without raising her voice.
Clefable let out a croon as its body glowed in a harsh, pink and white light. Baloo covered her eyes, unable to bear the blinding light.
"Expand so you don't fall!" Perrine exclaimed.
Like before, Baloo sucked in a mouthful of air, but this time, it was so Baloo could stay afloat in mid-air, ensuring she didn't fall to the ground. Perrine could still make out some fresh singe marks on her fur, obviously from Clefable's attack.
Gladys raised one hand in the air elegantly, like she was a dancer ready to take the stage. "Now, use Ice Beam."
Clefable opened its mouth, shooting a turquoise beam of light towards Baloo. Perrine knew it was now or never. Baloo was the only Pokemon who knew an attack that could stand a chance against a pure fairy type like Clefable. She hadn't used it much, as there was never a need to really do so.
"Exhale, and use Gyro Ball!"
Baloo released the air from her body, falling to the ground as the icy attack flew right over her. As soon as she hit the ground, the balloon Pokemon glowed in a steely silver light as she began spinning faster than a top. Baloo charged towards the surprised Clefable, not giving the fairy Pokemon a chance to react before slamming into her abdomen. Clefable could only cry out as Baloo rammed right into it, sending her skidding across the battlefield.
For the first time in the entire battle, Gladys gasped, her eyes widening when she saw her friend lying on its side. "Clefable!"
"Awesome! That had to have done some damage!" Ethan proclaimed, throwing both fists in the air. "Go Perrine and Baloo! You can win this!"
Perrine knew she couldn't rest on her laurels. Cosmic Power was still in effect, so Clefable didn't sustain very much damage, even with the type advantage. Still, a strategy was forming in her mind, and she kept her blue eyes laser focused on Clefable, who hoisted itself back up.
"Clefable, use Dazzling Gleam again."
The fairy Pokemon glowed in her harsh pink light again. This time, Baloo saw it coming and closed her eyes beforehand.
"We're not falling for that again!" Perrine exclaimed, throwing her arm outward. "Baloo, bombard Clefable with Gyro Ball! Land as many hits as you can!"
Baloo spun around once more, rolling across the battlefield, slamming into Clefable as many times as she could. Since Baloo was spinning a lot of the time, Clefable's attack didn't hurt as bad as it did before, so she was able to focus on knocking Clefable off its feet. But with every attack that knocked Clefable down, the fairy Pokemon always managed to get right back up. In all honesty though, Perrine found one thing about this match to be fairly unsettling: The pleasant smile Gladys had on her face the entire time. It made her look like she was partaking in a tea ceremony rather than an intense Pokemon battle. What was she thinking behind that sweet smile?
Just as Baloo was about to land another hit… "Dodge, then use Meteor Mash."
When Baloo got close, Clefable stepped to the side, evading the attack. Then, Clefable raised its right arm in the air, and its fist glowed a sterling silver. When Baloo stopped spinning, Clefable charged towards the balloon Pokemon as fast as its thick legs could carry it. Before Baloo could comprehend what was going on, Clefable delivered a fast blow to her face. The punch was so strong that the impact made Baloo slam into a wall, leaving a large dent the size of Baloo's body.
Perrine could only whirl around with wide, fearful eyes when she saw her friend slump to the ground like a rag doll. "Baloo, no!"
Thankfully, Perrine's worries were quickly alleviated. Not long after having faceplanted on the floor, Baloo forced herself back up and walked back to the battlefield.
"You okay to keep going, Baloo?" Perrine asked.
"Tuff!" Baloo squeaked, giving a vigorous nod.
Perrine smiled. It was just like her friend not to accept defeat. "We're going all out! Baloo, use Echoed Voice!"
"Clefable, Ice Beam once more."
Like before, everyone in the spectator seats covered their ears. Baloo gave a loud scream as she unleashed a chain of rippling shock waves that ran across the battlefield. In response, Clefable shot another ray of crystalized light towards the balloon Pokemon. Baloo dodged by jumping upward while simultaneously screaming at the top of her lungs. This time, the attacks struck Clefable head on, though the fairy continued to stand firm. But Perrine could see the attack was getting stronger the more Baloo used it. Clefable endured the attack as much as possible, grimacing as it covered its ears. Suddenly, the ground beneath it began to crack. After another round of attacks and screaming, the ground beneath Clefable exploded underneath it, with the debris hitting the fairy Pokemon in every direction.
"Finish it with Body Slam!"
Happy to finally stop her verbal assault, Baloo leaped into the air before falling flat on top of Clefable face first. This time, Clefable wasn't able to dodge, what with it still reeling from Baloo's onslaught of Echoed Voice. Gladys could only watch in horror as her friend was flattened underneath the balloon Pokemon's weight. All was silent for one brief but intense moment. Baloo rolled off of Clefable, whose wings were deflated and eyes were closed.
Gladys frowned upon seeing the sight. "Poor Clefable. It seems she lost. You win this round, Perrine," She murmured before calling Clefable back to her PokeBall.
"Alright!" Perrine cheered, jumping up once.
"Wiggly!" Baloo ran over to her trainer to give her a hug. Her stubby arms couldn't wrap all the way around her, but Perrine appreciated the embrace nonetheless.
"You did awesome, Baloo! Great job out there!"
"Yeah! Go Perrine! Woo!" The boys cheered right out loud, as did Rocio. Julia simply flashed a silent thumb's up.
Of course, they knew it was too early to celebrate. Perrine locked eyes with Baloo. "Do you want to keep going or take a break?"
Baloo answered by returning to the battlefield. Perrine couldn't argue with that.
Gladys pulled her next PokeBall out. "I suppose I should send out my next Pokemon. Come on out, Togekiss!"
Out from the PokeBall came a large, white, avian looking Pokemon with an ovoid body, three horns on its head—one tipped blue, the other red—and little red and blue triangle markings scattered across its abdomen. Its face was flat, with small black eyes and a friendly, good natured smile.
"Tokiiiisa!" The flying Pokemon chirruped.
Julia stood up from her seat, green eyes shimmering with delight upon seeing the Pokemon. "Oooh! That's a Togekiss! They're super rare!" She declared, having already pulled out her PokeDex to analyze it.
"Togekiss, the jubilee Pokemon. Togekiss can evolve from Togetic with the aid of a Shiny Stone. Togekiss are a rare Pokemon that are never seen in places where there is strife and turmoil. Some legends claim they have never been seen at all," Julia rolled her eyes at that statement, considering she was literally staring at one right now. "They are often depicted in good luck charms, and Togekiss often share their blessings to people who are kind and respect each other's rights."
Perrine checked Togekiss's information on her PokeDex as well. Togekiss is a flying and fairy type. She wanted to switch Baloo out, as she had the perfect Pokemon to use against a flying type, but the balloon Pokemon already insisted on staying in the battle. Who was she to disrespect her Pokemon's wishes?
"Alright then. I hope you don't mind me going first," Gladys told her in her usual pleasant tone. "Togekiss? Use Air Slash!"
Togekiss flapped its wings once, sending sickles of air flying towards Baloo.
"Baloo! Blow them away with Hyper Voice!"
Everyone covered their ears once more as Baloo let out a piercing screech. As soon as the shock waves struck, the air sickles dissolved into nothing.
"Steel Wing."
Togekiss's wings glowed in a silvery sheen as it ascended into the air, then took a sharp turn to descend. Perrine gasped. This wasn't good. Steel Wing could do a lot of damage. She needed to think of something, and quick. There was one attack she could have Baloo use. It wouldn't be much, but it'd be better than nothing.
"Baloo! Defense Curl!"
Baloo curled into a fetal position, remaining still even as Togekiss rammed its steely wings right into her. The balloon Pokemon stood firm, even as the metallic wings threatened to cut right through her. They didn't, but Baloo could still feel the harsh sting from the attack, even as Togekiss pulled back. After a minute, Baloo uncurled, standing back upright. But a jolt of pain shot through her back, and Perrine could see Baloo's face contort into a grimace. Did Steel Wing do more damage than she thought?
"I'm going to finish this," Gladys announced, pointing her index finger at Baloo. "Togekiss. Use Steel Wing again."
"Not gonna happen!" Perrine shouted. "Baloo! When Togekiss gets close, use Gyro Ball!"
Remaining in place, Baloo spun around like a top, emanating a silver aura as she did so. Togekiss descended towards the balloon Pokemon once more. When Togekiss got closer, Baloo propelled herself into the air, striking the jubilee Pokemon right in the face. But Togekiss, being faster and having gained more momentum, shook off the pain and managed to ram its wings into Baloo's body. The force of the impact was such that Baloo fell right onto the battlefield, sending some debris flying as a result and conjuring a cloud of dust.
"Baloo!" Perrine cried.
The dust cloud dissipated not long after, revealing Baloo lying on the ground face up, eyes closed and mouth hanging open. Her pink and white body was covered with dirt and grime. "Oh no…" Perrine ran over to the crater to get a better look. There was no way Baloo could continue battling in this state, meaning Gladys secured victory in this round.
She pursed her lips together as she called Baloo back to her PokeBall. "It's okay, girl. You did great."
"Aww, Baloo lost," Julia lamented. She knew Perrine had the perfect Pokemon to use against a Togekiss, but still felt sorry for Baloo regardless.
Perrine returned to the trainer box, wasting no time sending out her next Pokemon. "You're up, Chirin!"
Chirin puffed out his chest when he made his entrance, letting out a shrill, "Ampaaa!" as he went into a battle stance.
Gladys could only smile. "I'm honestly not surprised you'd go for a Pokemon with a type advantage," Gladys said, taking the initiative once more. "Togekiss, use Light Screen."
"Tokiiiii!" Togekiss raised its wings into the air, and a translucent wall of light appeared before it dissolved into its body.
Perrine furrowed her eyebrows. 'Light Screen makes special attacks not work as well for a while. But even that can't necessarily negate it's weakness,' She thought before throwing her arm outward. "Chirin, use Thunderbolt!"
Chirin gave a battle cry as lightning shot out from the red jewel on his forehead. Without a word from Gladys, Togekiss ascended into the air, evading the attack. Chirin continued to fire lightning at the jubilee Pokemon, and while some attacks managed to strike it on its abdomen, they weren't enough to completely knock it out.
"Togekiss, get in close and use Dazzling Gleam," Gladys said.
Get in close? Perrine gasped. Gladys was trying to have Togekiss blind Chirin! "Close your eyes, Chirin! Then use Discharge!"
Togekiss swiftly descended, making a sharp turn as soon as it was just one foot above ground, before soaring towards Chirin. The light Pokemon closed his eyes as an explosion of thunder spilled out from his body. Togekiss still managed to get within Chirin's vicinity and make its body glow in a harsh pink and white light. Chirin continued to unleash thunder in every direction, even as he felt a burning sensation on his front thanks to Togekiss' attack.
"Headbutt!" Gladys commanded.
Before Chirin could react, Togekiss rammed its head into the light Pokemon's abdomen, sending him skidding across the battlefield. Luckily, Chirin kept one arm on the ground, preventing himself from losing his balance. Togekiss flew back into the air, its thick wings outstretched. Perrine had to admit, Togekiss was fast, and fairly well trained if it was able to withstand Chirin's electric attacks. But that didn't necessarily make it outright immune to them. Plus, Chirin did have another trick up his sleeve. Maybe now was the time to use it.
"Chirin! Knock it out with Power Gem!"
Chirin raised both arms into the air, letting out a shrill screech as the gem on his head glowed white. Ten round spheres of light materialized around him before charging towards the jubilee Pokemon.
"Use Steel Wing to knock them back!" Gladys cried out.
Togekiss smacked some of the rocks away, sending them to the ground, but some of them managed to strike the jubilee Pokemon on its abdomen. One of them even struck Togekiss square in the face, sending it straight to the ground. But no sooner did it make that resounding thud did Togekiss pull itself back up and get back on its tiny, stubby feet. Perrine smiled. Chirin was able to get some damage in, so that was good progress.
"Great job, boy!" Perrine cheered, throwing both arms into the air. "Now use Electro Ball—!"
"Extremespeed!"
Togekiss glowed in a harsh white light before making a mad dash towards Chirin. Before the light Pokemon could even react, Togekiss flew right in front of Chirin and rammed right into his abdomen, sending him skidding across the ground.
"No!" Perrine exclaimed, her blue eyes shrinking to dots as she watched Chirin struggle to get back on his feet. Luckily, even though his body shook from the pain, Chirin managed to hoist himself back up.
"I do hope you'll allow me to finish this," Gladys said in her polite manner as usual, snapping her fingers. "Togekiss, use Steel Wing once more."
The jubilee Pokemon rose into the air once more. Perrine had to think of something. This Togekiss was much faster than she had thought. If Chirin didn't do something soon, he'd be done for. Then again...slowly, a strategy formed in her mind. Maybe there was a way to keep Togekiss from moving so much.
"Chirin, Cotton Guard!"
Chirin stretched both arms into the air, the gem on his head glowing once more. Wads of cotton balls sprouted from his body, forming a protective, fluffy barrier all around him. Togekiss slammed both wings into the cluster of cotton, barely making a dent. The flying Pokemon backtracked soon after, and the cotton balls dissolved into Chirin's body.
"Chirin," Perrine said, calling for her friend's attention. "I'm gonna need you to trust me on this one."
"Paa?" Chirin wasn't sure what his trainer had in mind, but he didn't question it.
"Togekiss. Extremespeed once again."
"Endure the hit, and use Growl!" Perrine exclaimed.
Everyone in the spectator eats exchanged perplexed looks. Growl? Why was Perrine using a move like that? Togekiss flew downwards, rapidly descending towards Chirin. The light Pokemon curled into a ball while letting out a piercing screech. Togekiss got in close and slammed into Chirin. Not enough to knock him out, as Chirin held fast, refusing to let the fairy Pokemon knock him out. But as soon as Togekiss made contact, a strange, tingling sensation ran through its body. Togekiss paid it no heed as it ascended back into the air.
Until the tingling sensation worsened, and its wings tensed up. "Kisaaaa!" Togekiss found itself going numb, unable to move. The Pokemon quickly descended back to the ground, unable to remain airborne.
"Togekiss! What's wrong?" Gladys asked, her voice rising with worry. She found her answer when she saw sparks of electricity crackling across Togekiss's body.
The confused looks on everyone's faces faded, and their eyes and mouths widened in realization.
Static had come into effect!
"We're ending this!" Perrine shouted. "Chirin, use Thunderbolt! Give it all you got!"
Chirin uncurled from his fetal position, firing a flashing bolt of electricity that shot across the sky.
"Togekiss! Get out of the way!" Gladys cried out, her composure breaking for the first time. Togekiss attempted to fly, but the muscles in its wings were numb, and the jubilee Pokemon was overcome by the sensation of pins and needles all throughout its wings. The electricity struck Togekiss square on the face, and it could only scream as agony as a new burning sensation spread throughout its body. The attack went on for several solid seconds. Before long, Togekiss fell to the ground, its wings limp and eyes closed.
"Togekiss…" Gladys' voice broke upon seeing her friend unable to move. But she knew her friend couldn't continue on. Another loss. Without a word, she pulled out Togekiss' PokeBall and made it return.
"Woohoo!" Perrine cheered, jumping up and down once more. Chirin ran over to his trainer, arms outstretched and ready for a hug. Perrine returned the gesture as soon as they made contact, embracing so tightly that they didn't want to let go. "Way to go, Chirin! You did awesome!"
"Amparooo!" Chirin warbled, rejoicing in his victory.
"That's two Pokemon down!" Rocio exclaimed.
She was right. Now Gladys was down to her final Pokemon. "I wonder what Pokemon she'll use next?" Julia asked no one in particular.
"Whatever it is, it'll probably be her strongest one yet," Caiseal reminded her.
No doubt about that.
Gladys' smile returned. "Perrine, I must thank you for this very fun battle. It's only my first one as a member of the Johto Elite Four, but it's been such a joy to experience so far," She said.
Perrine let go of Chirin, gesturing for him to return to the battlefield. "Thanks. You're really strong, too. But I'll have you know, I don't intend on losing. I have a dream to fulfill," Perrine fired back.
Gladys exchanged Togekiss' PokeBall for another one. "I'm sure you do. But let's see how you handle my partner here!" Gladys told her, throwing her PokeBall.
Out from the capsule came a four-legged, pink and white mammalian Pokemon with large, turquoise eyes that were quite pretty, two ribbon-like structures—one on its left ear and the other on its neck—with each one having long, white appendages sprouting out from them, tipped pink and blue. Its pink curved tail stood upward, almost resembling a crescent moon.
"Sylveon!" The Pokemon chirruped.
"Ooooh! What a cutie!" Julia immediately crooned over it, in awe of how cute it was. "I've never seen that Pokemon before!"
Ethan pulled out his PokeDex to examine it. "Sylveon, the intertwining Pokemon, and the eighth evolved form of Eevee. Eevee can evolve into Sylveon from both knowing a fairy type move, usually Charm or Baby Doll Eyes, and receiving love and affection from its trainer, not just friendship. Sylveon are a friendly, amiable Pokemon that give off a soothing aura which originates from the feelers on its body. This aura erases feelings of anger and hostility, causing any prey to let down their guard, which is when Sylveon strike when needed. Sylveon wrap their feelers around the arm of their trainer, which allows them to read their feelings, but they only do this when they are emotionally bonded with them. Although Sylveon have existed for centuries, they were not officially recognized as a legitimate evolution of Eevee until 2013, when the decades-long debates about their method of evolution were finally resolved. Sylveon are often used as therapy Pokemon because of their gentle nature and ability to read their trainer's feelings. Galarian fairy tales depict Sylveon as brave beings who slay dragon type Pokemon many times their size."
"Oh wow," Even Perrine couldn't help but find herself awestruck. She had a feeling Gladys wouldn't use a Johto Pokemon, since she was from Kalos, and although she had seen pictures of Sylveon previously, this was the first time she ever saw one in person. But she shook her head, reminding herself that this was no time to gawk at a new Pokemon. She needed to keep her head clear. If she won this battle, she could fight the next member of the Elite Four...and after that, Lance.
"Would you like to go first again?" Gladys asked politely.
Perrine wasted no time. "Gladly! Chirin, use Electro Ball!"
Chirin generated an electrified sphere and threw it towards Sylveon.
"Double Team!"
Sylveon began running in circles around Chirin, so fast that the Pokemon generated copies of itself. The electric sphere shot through one of them, but it did no damage. Chirin was completely surrounded. The light Pokemon looked in every direction, struggling to figure out which one was the real Sylveon.
"Don't get nervous, Chirin! Just use Discharge!" Perrine cried out.
Chirin nodded before shooting an explosion of electricity all across the field. One of them managed to strike the real Sylveon on its side. It wasn't enough to completely knock it out, but Perrine was just happy to have found the real one.
"Electro Ball again!"
"Counter with Shadow Ball!"
Both Pokemon fired energy spheres at one another, only in Sylveon's case, it shot a purple and black blob out from its mouth. Both attacks collided, causing an explosion of dust to cover a part of the field for a brief moment. It dissipated just as quickly as it appeared, and both Pokemon were just getting started.
"Sylveon, use Draining Kiss!"
Sylveon walked over to Chirin with a pleasing smile, looking unassuming and showing no intent to attack at first. Chirin backed away two feet, but was unable to escape. Sylveon's feelers wrapped around the light Pokemon, restraining him against his will and pulling him close. Sylveon leaned into Chirin and kissed him right on the cheek. Waves of yellow light washed over Chirin, and he found himself unable to keep his eyes open. All the energy seemed to get sucked right out of him. A yellow light orb sprouted out from Chirin and dissolved into Sylveon's body.
Perrine blanched. Chirin was a sitting Psyduck! He wasn't even struggling to get away. Gradually, Sylveon's feelers released the light Pokemon, but Chirin collapsed, falling face first onto the ground. Perrine couldn't believe what she was seeing. Had Chirin been defeated?
"Chirin! Get up!" Perrine cried out, but received no response. Chirin was completely out cold.
"Man, I didn't realize Draining Kiss was such a strong attack," Caiseal mused.
"No, it's because of all the hits Chirin took from Togekiss previously," Julia told him. "Chirin probably couldn't handle much more after that."
Without a word, Perrine called her fallen friend back to his PokeBall. Having heard Julia speak just now, she figured that might have been the case. Considering she relied on Togekiss being hit with Static by letting it attack Chirin, it was inevitable that he'd have taken significant amounts of damage. At least now he'd be able to rest for the rest of the day. Now her options were more limited than before. With Sylveon being a pure fairy type, she had no idea how she was going to go about defeating it. Baloo had already been defeated, and none of her other Pokemon knew any steel type moves.
Then again...who said actual attacks were absolutely necessary to ensure victory?
Perrine knew exactly who she wanted to send out. "This is your time to shine, Florian!" Out from the PokeBall came Florian, who ruffled the petals around his neck before letting out a battle cry.
"A Meganium. I wonder which one of us will come out on top?" Gladys asked no one in particular before making the first move. "Sylveon, use Swift!"
Sylveon leaped into the air, waving her feelers and generating a barrage of glowing stars. "Deflect them with Razor Leaf!"
Florian ruffled the petals around his neck once more, shooting sharp leaves, watching as they cut through Sylveon's stars, slicing them to bits. Sylveon descended to the ground shortly afterward, using one of its feelers as a cushion to break its fall.
"Now use Sweet Scent!"
For a third time, Florian shook his flower petals. A sparkling cloud of pink dust spread all across the battlefield. Sylveon took one whiff of it, and its body relaxed. Its feelers lowered to the ground, and no longer did it take on a battle stance.
"Sylveon! Jump and use Fairy Wind to blow it away!" Gladys commanded.
The intertwining Pokemon took a moment to reorient itself before leaping into the air and flapping its feelers rapidly. A gust of pink, sparkling wind blew away the sweet-smelling cloud, though some of it still lingered. It wasn't long before Sylveon landed back on the ground, feet first.
Perrine took the opening. "Florian, Bulldoze!"
Florian jumped into the air, though only a couple feet, and landed back down with such force that the battlefield shook. The ground beneath Sylveon's feet rumbled, and the intertwining Pokemon couldn't keep steady. Some debris from the ground flew up and struck Sylveon on both its face and body. Gradually, the miniature earthquake dwindled down to nothing.
"Don't give in, Sylveon! Use Moonblast!" Gladys exclaimed.
With the battlefield back to normal, Sylveon shook its head to compose itself once more. After that, Sylveon spread its feelers wide open, allowing a pink sphere of light to materialize in front of it. Once it reached the size of a volleyball, Sylveon used one of its feelers to slap it, sending it right in Florian's direction. Florian couldn't evade it, as it came at him too fast, striking him right on the abdomen. But being a larger Pokemon, Florian withstood the attack, keeping his legs firmly planted to the ground, enduring the hit.
Perrine pressed her front teeth down on her bottom lip. 'This is getting testy. There's got to be a way I can get Florian to stop Sylveon in its tracks,' She thought, searching for a strategy. She had an idea of what she wanted Florian to do, but the problem was that Sylveon was agile and nimble. Those feelers certainly gave it an advantage when it came to movement.
Wait a minute...its feelers. They were basically Sylveon's arms. If Sylveon couldn't use them...Perrine gasped. An idea hatched in her head. "That's it!"
"Sylveon, use Swift again."
"Knock them away with Vine Whip!"
As soon as Sylveon shot yet another barrage of stars in Florian's direction, the green sauropod managed to smack most of them away with his vines. Some of them struck Florian on his head, but they didn't do much in the way of damage. As usual, Sylveon landed gracefully on the ground feet first, as if it were a real fairy settling into a flower garden.
There was an opening. Perrine needed to act now. "Wrap your vines around Sylveon's feelers!"
It was Gladys' turn to gasp, as her eyes turned as wide as saucers. Knowing time was of the essence, Florian shot his vines towards Sylveon, wrapping them tightly around both sets of feelers and dragging the writhing fairy Pokemon towards him. Sylveon dredged its legs into the ground in an attempt to resist getting pulled, but Florian's strength rendered the escape effort futile. When Sylveon was just two feet away from Florian, the opportunity had presented itself.
Now or never! "Now, Poison Powder!"
For the third time, Florian shook the petals around his neck. This time, a cloud of sparkling purple dust billowed out from the pink petals. Sylveon kept its mouth shut, but with its feelers restrained, the powder managed to find its way into its nostrils. In no time flat, a sharp, prickling, burning sensation shot through Sylveon's body. Every movement or gesture only exacerbated the pain.
"Good! Now bombard it with Razor Leaf!" Perrine commanded.
Florian wasted no time inundating Sylveon with an army of sharp leaves that cut through its fur in every direction. Sylveon cried out in agony, as every cut hurt with more intensity than the last.
"Sylveon! Use Shadow Ball to break free!" Gladys cried out, her voice rising in desperation.
Even as pain wracked its small, mammalian frame, Sylveon fired a purple and black sphere right in Florian's face. The force was enough to make Florian uncoil his vines from around Sylveon. As soon as the vines released Sylveon, it made a beeline towards Gladys' trainer box. But Sylveon couldn't go very far, as the poison surged through its body as it ran, sending jolts of pain through its legs. Perrine could only smirk. With Sylveon being poisoned, its health would gradually drain over time, and Gladys had no other Pokemon left, meaning she couldn't switch it out.
"Alright! We're finishing this!" Perrine exclaimed, seeing that victory was at hand. "Florian! Kick it off with Body Slam! Full power!"
Just like earlier, Florian leaped into the air as high as his heavy legs could propel him. Sylveon tried to run, but every movement seemed to suck the energy right out of it. One of its legs buckled, causing Sylveon to trip and fall on its abdomen. A shadow loomed over the fairy Pokemon, growing larger as Florian slammed right down on it, covering it from ear to toe. For a tense moment, all was silent. Julia, Ethan, Caiseal, and Rocio were literally at the edges of their seats, leaning closer to watch the battle with their eyes glued to it. Gladys and Perrine could only stand and wonder if Sylveon had managed to survive that.
Feeling some discomfort, Florian rolled to the side...revealing a dirt caked Sylveon, with its eyes closed and mouth hanging open in a silent scream. Gladys felt a heaviness weighing in her chest.
"No way…!" Perrine couldn't believe her eyes. First she had defeated Will, and now Gladys? She actually defeated the newest Elite Four member? Joy bubbled over like soda fizz, and Perrine gave a jubilant shout. "WOOHOOOO!"
"Mega!" Florian ran over to his trainer with a big smile on his face, allowing Perrine to throw herself onto him.
"You were amazing, Florian! Great job, boy!" Perrine cheered, jumping up and down as she wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Oh yeah! Go Perrine!" Both Ethan and Caiseal stood up from their seats, fist bumping one another as they rejoiced in their friend's victory.
Julia and Rocio simply ran over to the orange haired girl, giving her their own hugs. "You did it, Perrine! You won your second battle against an E4 member!" Julia exclaimed, wrapping one arm around her neck.
Rocio repeated the gesture as her daughter released her arms from around Florian's neck. "I'm so proud of you, dear!"
"Thanks everyone!" Perrine's cheeks flushed red, as she felt abashed by the praise. Still, it was surreal that this was happening at all...and she loved every part of it.
In contrast, Gladys could only flash a sad smile as she called Sylveon back to its PokeBall. "You did great, my friend. I'm proud of you," Gladys whispered before putting the PokeBall away. She wiped a stray tear from her eye with one arm, taking a second to compose herself and flash her usual, more polite smile.
She then walked over to the cheering girls as the boys joined them in celebration. "Well done, Mademoiselle Perrine," Gladys told her. "I admit, I am frustrated that I lost in my first tenure as an E4 member, but I enjoyed our battle immensely."
"Yeah. Me too," Perrine replied. "Though...sorry I beat you. I'm not trying to ruin your image as an Elite Four member. Honest."
Gladys shook her head, knowing that wasn't her intention. Why would Perrine even think such a thing? "It's quite alright. I know winning and losing aren't everything. In fact, my loss proves even further that you are a strong trainer in your own right, and that you've earned the chance to be here today. Besides, I won't get kicked out because I lost one battle."
That statement made Julia stop to think for a little bit. "How do you get kicked out of the Elite Four anyway?" She wondered out loud, looking up at the ceiling.
"I can only assume doing stuff like committing crimes," Caiseal chimed in. "I don't know for sure, though."
Interesting food for thought. Still, high on her victory, Perrine took Gladys' hand and gave it a gentle shake. "Thank you for the battle, Gladys Tatham."
"You're welcome. I'm glad I was able to face you today. Things will only get tougher from here on out," Gladys warned her, wearing her pleasant smile like usual.
As much as Perrine wanted to sit on her laurels, Gladys was right. She was halfway there. She couldn't afford to be complacent. Not now.
Everyone said their goodbyes to Gladys as they left the stadium. Since there was still some time left in the day, they decided to head to the Pokemon Center for lunch. The TV crew retired for the evening as well. Only Gladys and one other person, who stood right next to the second set of bleachers outside of view, remained. It was a woman, draped in a beige winter coat.
"I knew she was talented, but I had no idea she'd be able to take you down," The beige cloaked woman commented.
Gladys could only break into a self-deprecating giggle. "I suppose part of it is my own fault. One would think I'd know better than to forget about abilities like Static...and underestimate Poison Powder, of all attacks."
The older woman shrugged. "Don't be so hard on yourself, Gladys. That's the fun in battling strong trainers. You never know what they'll throw at you."
Gladys' smile turned into a thin line as she adopted a more solemn expression. She walked to the other set of bleachers, getting a good view of the woman this time.
"By the way...do you intend to let Perrine know you're here?" Gladys inquired gently.
The woman brushed a lock of brown hair behind her ear. "I will, in due time. But I want to see how far she goes first."
Understandable. Gladys mentally told herself not to spoil the surprise, should she ever see Perrine again. She didn't see any indication from Perrine that she noticed the woman. Then again, only one thing was on Perrine's mind when she left the stadium.
Two Elite Four members down, two more to go.
A/N: Hey guys. Sorry for the delay AGAIN. Life, vaccines, lack of motivation, battle fatigue, and so on. But there's five chapters left of this to go, and I intend to finish it no matter what! I was originally going to put in an additional scene showing the Team Rocket execs and Giovanni dealing with the fallout of Harriet's actions, but the chapter's long enough already, so I'll save it for the next one. It does address one criticism that a reviewer pointed out to me in their review in regards to their actions in that arc. Anyway, here's chapter 72! Hope you like it, and if not, that's okay too!
Perrine's Party:
Kitsune (Ninetales, Female, Quiet Nature)
Ability: Flash Fire
Attacks: Heat Wave, Extrasensory, Confuse Ray, and Faint Attack
Florian (Meganium, Male, Gentle Nature)
Ability: Overgrow
Attacks: Petal Blizzard, Bulldoze, Body Slam, and Grassy Terrain
Luminita (Lanturn, Female, Naive Nature)
Ability: Water Absorb
Attacks: Electro Ball, Discharge, Scald, and Aqua Ring
Fukuro (Noctowl, Male, Sassy Nature)
Ability: Tinted Lens
Attacks: Extrasensory, Hypnosis, Air Slash, and Moonblast
Baloo (Wigglytuff, Female, Docile Nature)
Ability: Cute Charm
Attacks: Gyro Ball, Wake-Up Slap, Play Rough, and Body Slam
Chirin (Ampharos, Male, Adamant Nature)
Ability: Static
Attacks: Discharge, Cotton Guard, Power Gem, Signal Beam