Disclaimer: I do not own pokemon, but Zora and Hunter are straight from my imagination.
--------
Note: Ember is my favorite pokemon from my GBC Crystal pack. My little brother, who at the time had a Yellow pack, spent all of his points buying coins and playing at the Game Corner to get a Vulpix for me. I named her Ember and lovingly, carefully raised her into a Ninetales. My brother later came across Articuno in the cave in Yellow. Having no Poke Points retracing his steps to buy the necessary Ultra Balls was useless. Therefore, he basically traded one of his most anticipated pokemon for me and Ember. Soon after coming to this realization, his Yellow uploaded a virus from an infected game deck and all of his data was erased.
---------
The Fire Balance-- Zora's Story
Hunter woke to Flamer and Ember's hissing. He reluctantly opened his eyes to find the two moving toward the tent's exit, each on opposite sides. Hunter puzzled over what they were so on edge about only a few seconds; he heard the footsteps.
"Easy, Flamer. Ember," he said softly. The two Ninetales turned to him and each backed down. Flamer laid his head on the sleeping Zora's shoulder and Ember lay down on the other side of her. "Stay here, you two, okay?" Both complied with a slow nod and a soft,
"Ninetales,"
Hunter climbed out of the tent and stood at the exit, stretching. He reached up and scratched his back, then rubbed his eyes. He only half contemplated returning to the tent for his shirt, but the morning was warm enough already.
"Hey, you!" Hunter turned and watched a boy who couldn't be more then eleven or twelve emerge from the brush.
"Can you be quieter, please?"
"Oh. Yeah, sure," the kid cleared his throat. "Will you battle with me?"
"If you really want to..." Hunter mumbled.
"Yeah! Please?"
"Alright," Hunter sighed.
"My name's Luke,"
"Hunter," he said as he leaned in the door of the tent to grab his belt and pokeballs. He strapped them on as he moved oppose to Luke.
"I'll pick first," Luke pulled a pokeball from his bag. "Go, Wartortle!" The 1st stage pokemon appeared in the bright flash.
"Warrrtortle!" Hunter looked over the Wartortle carefully. It looked healthy and well raised, its color was excellent. The water pokemon stood ready for anything, legs spread, fists high, its eyes big, observing. Hunter was sickened by the fact he'd out match this kid in his pride without even trying.
"I choose... Mightyena. Go!" Hunter threw the ball in the air and Mightyena appeared.
"Wartortle, Water Gun attack!" Wartortle complied, hitting the Mightyena.
"Mightyena, Reflect," Hunter said. Mightyena raised its special defense.
"Now, Wartortle, use Bite!"
"Counter it," Mightyena dodged left as Wartortle moved in.
"Again, Wartortle!" Mightyena jumped over the water pokemon, spinning the Wartortle slightly. "Use Skull Bash!" It reared its head back and began the charge.
"Mightyena, Take Down!" Hunter called. Mightyena's attack hit at the same time Wartortle's did. Mightyena was hit with the recoil. Wartortle was K.O.'d. Luke ran onto the battle field and picked up his injured pokemon. Mightyena returned to Hunter. He patted her on the head.
"You did well, Mightyena. Good job," he said as he returned her to the pokeball. Looking back up at Luke, he took a few steps toward him.
"Luke," the boy looked up. Hunter tossed him a Hyper Potion. "You have great potential. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, and don't give up,"
"Then why did I lose? How are you so strong?"
"I have to be, for my sake and for my pokemon," Hunter said. Luke looked back down at Wartortle as he used the Hyper Potion. The pokemon sprang back to life. After hugging his pokemon, Luke returned it and stood to face Hunter. He took a few steps forward and extended his hand. Hunter took it in a firm shake.
"Next time... I won't lose,"
"I look forward to it," Hunter said. Luke turned and walked into the woods. Hunter watched him until he disappeared, then sighed. He felt bad for Luke; loosing a battle hands down. It hurt, he knew it, but there was no way for him to fake Mightyena's abilities. He turned and kneeled down, crawling back into the tent. He found Ember and Flamer cuddled with each other in the far corner. Smiling, he laid down next to Zora.
"Bad advantage?" she mumbled. He looked down at her and found her bright green eyes amongst her brown hair.
"Yes,"
"Being strong is not always a good thing,"
"I hated to win, I really did. Mightyena even was reluctant to move,"
"You have a good sense of honor, Hunter, to feel no triumph when you've won over a weaker opponent,"
"Thanks," he said. She sat up and stretched.
"We should move on. If Lance has his way, he'll be on my tail,"
"Right," he nodded. "Come on, Flamer.
"Ember, why don't you go find Venomoth?" Zora said. Ember nodded and left the tent.
"Let's get going," Hunter said.
