Camilla: Since I'm awake before Jordan, welcome back, hope you enjoy, away we go.

Jordan: Camilla *yawn* why didn't you wake me…

10. Violet Wings

I didn't understand the dream and it didn't involve a lot, but I knew it was aura, I could feel the power course through me as I slept.

All I saw was a blue gas of sorts floating around aimlessly against a pitch black background, but I was unable to control it, although it felt like I was supposed to. As hard as I concentrated it didn't react to what I wanted it to, it was like it ignored me on purpose.

I woke up groggily, the light streaming through the blinds.

I hoped I wasn't grumpy the whole day, I was seeing Leaf and Liam today.

Camilla was already up. She caught my eye as she strapped her Pokéball belt to her waist before shouldering her bag and headed out of the room.

I got out of bed rather quickly, noticing that Brock and Jasmine had already left, was I the last one up? This was a rarity. But this was a new region so I had no idea if it would work any different.

I got dressed quite quickly, wanting to meet Leaf and Liam as soon as possible.

I strapped my Pokéball belt along with Cyndaquil and Heracross Pokéballs around my waist.

I shouldered my bag and I was finally ready to face the day and catch up with my old friends.

Before I could move, the door to my room opened and I was greeted with an almost bone crushing hug.

Leaf had embraced me before I had come to see her and Liam in the Pokémon centre lobby,

I didn't know she missed me that much, but the last time we saw each other was Pallet town and before that, we had seen each other everyday on our orange islands journey.

I could understand her reason for barging in my room to hug me.

'Could you not wait til I came out?' I asked once she let me go.

'Nice to see you too, Jordan.' Leaf said. 'I just heard the horrific things you'd been through yesterday, thought you'd need a hug.' She replied.

'Not sure if that's the way we greet each other now.' I replied with a chuckle.

'Come on.' Leaf insisted. 'Come and see Liam.' She grabbed my hand and dragged me out of the room toward the Pokémon lobby.

Obviously, my friends were already sitting at a table, talking animatedly with Liam.

I made my way over, sliding next to Camilla.

Leaf went to sit in between Liam and Jasmine. Brock sat on the same side as Camilla and I, but on the opposite side of me to Camilla.

'Hey, Liam.' I greeted as I sat down.

'Jordan.' He replied. 'Heard you've been through a lot since we last met up.' He continued.

'The usual.' I replied.

'It always is with you. Can't leave any of the fun for me, can you?' He asked rhetorically.

I shrugged nonchalantly.

I didn't mean to run in to trouble, I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Liam was good at helping me get out of trouble, he had done it once or twice before.

'What about you, I haven't heard anything about your journey.' I said. I wanted to focus more on theirs, as they knew mine and I had no idea about theirs.

'When we first left off we explored Tohjo falls.' Leaf interrupted Liam from telling me.

'Leaf thought it would be great to explore, but she got us lost.' Liam said. 'Ow!' He exclaimed a second later. 'Jeez, Leaf.' He said getting down to rub his shin.

'I can see your relationship hasn't changed.' Camilla pointed out.

Leaf gave her a look that said: "try me?"

'Liam got us lost.' Leaf clarified. 'As bored as he was, he found a Pokémon he wanted and chased after it.' Leaf told us.

'Did you catch it?' I asked.

'No, it got away.' Liam said.

'Did you know what it was?' Jasmine asked.

'No. Leaf does though.' Liam told me.

We all turned to Leaf.

'It was a Ryhorn.' Leaf told us.

I was disappointed, it was a Pokémon I had already seen, it would have been nice if Tohjo falls had some Pokémon that I hadn't seen or heard of before, but I didn't manage to see any new ones either.

Wouldn't Liam have wanted a new Pokémon instead of one he already knew about?

'Did Camilla tell you what happened in Tohjo falls?' I asked Leaf and Liam.

'She couldn't, it was still a sour subject for her, but Brock managed to fill us in.' Leaf said.

'Just save some of the world saving for me too, this time.' Liam joked.

'You'll have to ask Camilla, Liam, not me.' I told him.

Liam then proceeded to speak with Brock. I didn't think they'd have much in common to talk about, but the conversation they had, seemed like it was so effortless.

I also wondered if Camilla had told them her real name and what happened with her family and Team Rocket, did she trust them as much as she did Brock and I? Jasmine didn't know, but Camilla used Brooke now, not Foster. If Leaf and Liam did know, they didn't say anything. I knew it wasn't a subject that Camilla liked to share.

I'm glad she told me before anyone else. I'm glad she trusted me with this.

'…Jordan is excited.' Camilla said snapping me out of my thoughts.

I only heard the last part of that conversation.

'Sorry?' I asked.

'Leaf asked if you were excited to watch Liam battle today.' Camilla explained.

'Yeah.' I replied.

'It will also help you when you battle the gym leader yourself.' Jasmine inserted. 'You won't have to wing it.' She clarified.

It would definitely help me to get a better understanding of what to expect, plus I might get to see Liam win an actual gym battle. I had only ever watched his battle in the Pokémon league, just over a year ago.

He had seen me win a gym battle, it was under very different circumstances, but it was still a gym battle nonetheless.

He was captured and so were all my other friends, my mother was also captured and I don't think I could ever forgive myself, even if my mother had forgiven me already. She would say that I didn't need to be forgiven because I was her son and it wasn't my fault I got involved with team Rocket, but that wouldn't lessen the guilt I felt for letting her get captured.

I shook my head, I couldn't let myself get sucked into that specific memory, I'd probably never get out and I'd lose the conversation I was now involved in.

I decided to distract myself by asking a question that would keep me focused on this journey and not my Kanto one.

'Can I see what other Pokémon you have?' I asked Liam.

He started to concentrate, holding his chin in a pondering way.

'Nope.' He finally stated definitively. 'You'll have to wait till my battle later.' He told me.

Well I'm sure I could wait, it wouldn't take that long until we all headed towards the gym.

My stomach rumbled.

'I guess it's time for breakfast.' Camilla said with a chuckle.

I blushed in embarrassment. My stomach was normally what decided when it was mealtime in my group of friends and I.

I helped myself to a bowl of cereal, Brock and Jasmine followed my example.

Leaf settled for a slice of jam on toast.

Camilla decided to have two slices of buttered toast.

Liam decided on three slices of pâté on toast, a bowl of cereal and a couple hash browns which he wrapped in bacon.

Normally, I was the one who ate loads, but what Liam had picked out surprised even me.

All of us, besides Leaf, looked at him with wide eyes.

'What?' He asked as he took a bite out of one of his slices of toast.

None of us said anything, it was normally the way I would eat if I knew a battle was coming up, I would need all my strength too.

Once we had finished breakfast, we made our way to the gym.

The gym leader, who's name was Falkner, was waiting for us.

Liam let me hand him the scroll before he had his battle, I wouldn't have minded keeping the scroll until Liams battle ended, but I was grateful all the same.

I gave him the scroll as soon as we reached him.

'So you completed Sprout Tower?' He asked with no surprise in his voice. 'I will battle you, but I believe Liam is the one who wants a rematch.' Falkner guessed.

'Yes, that's fine.' I replied.

'Fantastic.' He said with a grin. 'Let's go get ready.' He said with so much enthusiasm.

This guy was so energetic, how did he ever lose? He was optimistic with any outcome.

We made our way inside, following Falkner. Liam followed Falkner onto a platform that rose high up into the gym, the battlefield was probably up there.

My friends and I rode up an elevator that led to the stands where we would watch Liam battle Falkner.

'This official gym battle will be between Falkner, the Violet City gym leader and the challenger, Liam Oak of Pallet town, both trainers will have the use of two Pokémon, only the challenger is allowed to substitute, the battle will end when both Pokémon from one side has been defeated.' The referee announced.

That was a long introduction. Was it really necessary?

'Pidgey, you're up.' Falkner said sending out a Pokémon I had already seen multiple times.

'Spinarak, go.' Liam called.

I remember seeing this Pokémon on the route just before Cherrygrove.

Liam was at a disadvantage, but I guess he knew that, I knew he wouldn't let a disadvantage get him down, he knew how to get out of those.

'Pidgey use gust.' Falkner called.

'Spinarak, dodge and use string shot.'

Pidgey ruffled its feathers and shot a gust of wind toward Spinarak, but it had already scuttled out of the way and shot a string shot toward Pidgey which clipped its wing. The Pidgey spiralled toward the ground, now wrapped up with some string.

It created a dust cloud, but I knew Pidgey couldn't be defeated that easily.

Once the dust cleared, Pidgey looked pretty beaten up, but was still able to fight. I doubted that it could fly anymore though.

'Pidgey, use sand attack.'

Pidgey turned its back toward Spinarak and started kicking up dust with its talons.

Spinarak had to look away, but Pidgey kept on kicking up dust, until was hard for anyone to see.

'Now use scratch.' Falkner said.

Spinarak couldn't see, so Liam was helpless.

We heard a groan of pain from Spinarak, so it had been hit.

'Now finish it off with a peck.'

'Spinarak!' Liam called.

Spinarak popped out of the dust near Falkner, how it got there I don't know, the dust slowly disappeared and Pidgey was facing the wrong way.

'Use poison sting.' Liam said with confidence.

'Pidgey, watch out.' Falkner cried.

Spinarak let out a volley of purple needles that flew toward Pidgey.

Most of them connected.

Pidgey looked a lot worse than it did before the attack connected.

Pidgey faltered and had a hint of purple on its face.

'That was a good tactic, and brought Liam back in this.' Brock observed.

'Liam used poison sting and in turn now has Pidgey poisoned.' Leaf confirmed.

'That's a status condition, right?' I asked. I thought back to when Leaf talked about them in Celadon.

'You remember.' Leaf said.

'I have to learn as a trainer.' I replied.

'You are correct.' Leaf started. 'Poison is the status condition which inflicts pain upon the Pokémon every now and then and is considered the worst status condition, but the easiest to treat.' Leaf said.

'I'm not sure if Falkner would have any antidotes with him.' Brock mused.

'Even if he did, he is a gym leader, he would know how to counter such things, his Pokémon would push through this either way, plus he still has a second Pokémon.' Jasmine said.

We all looked at her.

'What?' She asked. 'So I know a bit about gym leaders, I am a trainer from far away, I should know a thing or two about them.' She told us.

We dropped it, we didn't need to know and she still didn't seem intent on telling us yet, plus she was valued as a friend and whatever her situation was, I was glad she was now travelling with us.

'Spinarak, use scary face.' Liam called with no hesitation.

Spinarak lifted up its lower abdomen and showed it to Pidgey who shuddered from the glare.

'That was also good, Liam is using special moves to get an advantage with his type matchup.' Brock explained.

'So Liam is at an advantage?' I asked.

'Not quite, he's just levelled out the match, so he has a better chance of winning. Pidgey is poisoned, slowed down because of the string shot and scary face and it is also grounded.' Brock told us.

Liam had thought this through from his loss yesterday.

I would have to think how I would beat Falkner.

Heracross would not be good against Falkner, a little training might help us before our battle. Cyndaquil was not an advantage, or disadvantage.

'Pidgey, use peck. Falkner said.

Pidgey was moving slow, it was not favoured to win.

'Spinarak poison sting.' Liam called.

Pidgey faltered before it got even halfway, that was the poison taking effect.

It was all too easy for Liam now.

The poison sting then hit the fallen Pidgey and I was sure it was now all over.

Pidgey didn't move after Liams attack had stopped.

'Pidgey, is unable to battle, Spinarak wins.' The referee said.

Falkner returned his Pidgey.

'Well done, Liam, you have definitely learnt from yesterday's battle, but this battle will end with me coming out on top.' Falkner said.

'You're up, Pidgeotto.' Falkner called.

I knew this Pokémon too, Rachel had this Pokémon.

I thought Falkner would have a more diverse team, like Elder Li with a Pokémon that was new to me.

Liam didn't want to change his Pokémon.

'Pidgeotto, wing attack.' Falkner called.

'Spinarak, dodge.' Liam said.

Pidgeotto was on top of Spinarak within seconds and its wing hit Spinarak with a lot of force.

Spinarak was sent to Liams feet.

It had fainted.

Spinarak had no advantage against Pidgeotto.

'Spinarak has fainted, Pidgeotto wins.' The referee announced.

All that work it had put in to beat Pidgey had now been taken away, plus Pidgeotto was a lot stronger than Pidgey so it wouldn't have been hard for Falkner to wrap this up, but Liam still had one Pokémon left.

'Totodile, let's go.' Liam called.

I looked at Brock, but he was solely focused on the battle.

This was the starter that Liam had picked for his Johto team.

I wonder what starter Leaf had.

'What starter did you pick Leaf?' Camilla asked.

'I have a Chikorita.' Leaf replied.

I wondered if it was as difficult as Camilla's, but Camilla didn't voice that thought, so I let it go.

'Totodile, use rage.' Liam called.

Totodile ran toward Pidgeotto.

Falkner didn't issue Pidgeotto to dodge and Totodile hit Pidgeotto, it looked angry but that was just the attack.

'That's a good move to use.' Jasmine commented.

'It is.' Leaf affirmed.

'Rage is a move that grows in power whenever it is used in succession.' Brock added.

'So it isn't that effective the first time?' I asked.

Brock shook his head.

I guessed that was why Falkner didn't issue Pidgeotto to move.

'Pidgeotto, use quick attack.' Falkner issued.

Pidgeotto was almost invisible as it sped toward Totodile.

Totodile was hit and slid back a few feet, but didn't look any worse than it did before.

'Totodile, use rage.' Liam called.

I guessed Liam wanted to whittle down Pidgeotto's health quickly and every time that rage hit it would take more and more health.

Totodile once again struck Pidgeotto.

It's attack looked a lot more violent but less accurate, but Falkner once again didn't issue Pidgeotto to move.

I wondered why that was.

Maybe I would get an answer, or maybe I wouldn't.

Didn't he know that he would lose, doing nothing?

'Why is Falkner not issuing Pidgeotto to move?' I asked, hoping someone would have an answer.

'Rage becomes more aggressive and less accurate every turn it is used in succession, moving Pidgeotto could cause more damage because it is moving and a rage could halt or reverse the direction, this could cause more damage, so minimal damage is taken if Pidgeotto doesn't move.' Jasmine explained.

She was almost as informative as Leaf.

I think Leaf had found a rival in information, but she didn't look too sad. I know Leaf could get tired from explaining everything.

'Pidgeotto wing attack.' Falkner called.

Pidgeotto rushed toward Totodile.

Totodile fell as soon as the attack hit, he slowly got up and was a little battered, but still looked strong enough to battle.

'Think Liam has a strategy for this one? It looks like his Totodile is looking a little worse than Pidgeotto.' I asked.

'Liam knows how Falkner will attack, but because Liam used a different tactic today, it will be difficult to predict the outcome.' Leaf told me.

I knew Liam knew what he was doing, I was just surprised at how well he was taking this, he wasn't worried.

I would have doubted myself more than once already.

It was good that Totodile had been able to take the attacks that it had, soon it would be too much.

'Totodile, rage.' Liam said.

Totodile aimlessly headed for Pidgeotto, once again Falkner did nothing, but unfortunately Totodile missed its target and lost its footing falling to the ground.

It looked pretty beaten up now.

I felt a surge of energy push through me, this is probably what my dream was about.

My aura was active and I wasn't able to control it, just like the blue light in my dream.

Camilla and I exchanged looks, I saw her ESP had also activated. I saw a pulsing white glow around her.

I looked toward Totodile and saw a blue glow around it, the glow was going upward toward its head, but the glow still came from the bottom of it, never stopping.

It looked stronger than it did earlier.

Totodile got up feeling the energy coursing around it.

'What's that?' I asked.

'What's what?' Jasmine asked.

I just remembered that we might only be able to see the glow because of our abilities.

'Leaf, what is Totodile's ability?' Camilla asked.

'Torrent.' She said. 'When Totodile has a third of its health or less left, torrent activates, it boosts water type moves, making them double in power.' Leaf explained.

'I think we can see it.' I told our other friends.

'Is it active?' Jasmine asked.

'Yes.' I replied.

I didn't want this now, I had a gym battle later and this would just wear me out, I wouldn't be able to focus on my battle later.

'It makes sense, an ability is activated, so yours are activated too.' Brock told us.

I didn't want it to activate, I wanted to be able to control it, like my uncle and dad could.

My dad said someday he would teach me aura and how to use it, how to access it, and how to turn it on and off. Although for now I was too young.

'Do, Chikorita and Cyndaquil have abilities like torrent?' Camilla asked.

'Yes.' Brock replied. 'Chikorita has the ability overgrow. This activates when it has a third of health or less left and it doubles the attack power of grass type moves.' He explained. 'Cyndaquil has the ability, Blaze. When it's health is a third or below, blaze activates and doubles the power of its fire type moves.' Brock finished explaining.

I concentrated back to the battle, trying not to think about my aura too much, it was however proving to be quite a difficult challenge because it was active.

'Totodile, use water gun.'

I knew this would be effective because torrent was now active, but another move could knock Totodile out. I wondered how long it would take for Pidgeotto to faint.

The water gun connected with Pidgeotto before Falkner could issue it to dodge and it pushed Pidgeotto back a bit, since it was a lot more powerful now.

Maybe this would be the move that Liam would stick with.

It would definitely help, especially when the power of its water type moves were doubled.

'Pidgeotto, quick attack.'

This may be the move to finish the battle and Liam would lose again.

'Totodile dodge.' Liam said immediately after. Did Liam know that Falkner was going to issue an attack, or that attack?

Pidgeotto charged up speed, but Totodile just danced out of the way, he literally danced.

Totodiles entry did say it was playful, so maybe dancing was a way that it played.

Pidgeotto missed and crashed into the ground where Totodile was a few seconds ago.

'Totodile, water gun.' Liam called.

Totodile fired a powerful water gun at Pidgeotto, who was still on the ground.

Since the water gun was so close it was extremely powerful.

I knew that Pidgeotto couldn't survive that, I sensed that the energy had completely drained from it, it would no longer be able to fight.

Liam had won.

A few seconds passed, the referee waited to see if Pidgeotto would get up before he made his announcement.

'Pidgeotto is unable to battle, the winner is Totodile which means this official battle goes to Liam Oak of Pallet Town.'

Falkner returned his Pidgeotto.

'Well done Totodile.' Liam praised kneeling down to his Totodile before he returned it.

I slumped down in my chair out of breath, like I had ran a marathon, I was extremely tired now, sleep felt like a good idea, but I still had my gym battle today.

Camilla looked tired too.

'You guys okay?' Jasmine asked.

'Just tired.' Camilla replied.

'It's always like this when their abilities deactivate.' Brock explained.

'I'll meet you guys in the Pokémon centre.' Leaf started. 'I'm going to congratulate Liam.' She said and left for the battlefield.

Brock, Camilla, Jasmine and I stayed in the stands for a while longer so Camilla and I could catch our breaths, it took about a minute until I could breathe regularly again.

I was the first to get up, I made my way towards Falkner who was conversing with the referee.

I had completely missed Liam getting the badge from this gym and Falkner praising him on the way he battled.

'Jordan Hale.' He said as I reached him. 'I would love nothing more than to battle you right now.' He said with excitement clearly evident. 'Unfortunately, I don't have any Pokémon to battle with at the moment, can we postpone our match for later this afternoon?' He asked.

He was obviously sad that we couldn't battle, but it didn't matter that we couldn't battle right now.

It would give me time to train my Cyndaquil and Heracross.

I would need them trained up, or I would never beat Falkner, he had Pokémon that had super effective moves against my Heracross and my Cyndaquil couldn't take on this gym by himself.

'Yeah, that's fine, I need to train anyway.' I replied.

I didn't even see Liam receive the badge, I had no idea what it was called.

'What is the name of the badge?' I asked Falkner.

'The Zephyr badge.' He replied taking a pin from and inside pocket, showing it to me.

It was a hexagon with an indent on the bottom going halfway through the badge, it looked like a light grey pair of wings on the front.

'When you battle me later you might earn the right to hold it.' He said. 'I look forward to our exciting battle.' He told me.

'Me too.' I replied.

I turned and saw my friends standing by the door waiting for me.

I went towards the door leaving Falkner to once again converse with the referee.

My friends and I made our way to the Pokémon centre, we would be saying goodbye to Leaf and Liam.

Liam was standing at the counter alone.

Leaf was sitting at a vacant-save for her-table

We sat down at the same table.

'So where are you off to now?' I asked Leaf.

'The ruins of Alph.' She replied with enthusiasm.

'Ruins of Alph.' Jasmine asked.

'It's a site of ruins to the west of here. Apparently it was first excavated hundreds of years ago, once a huge temple, now holding many secrets and mysteries, apparently there are some rare Pokémon that reside there, the best place to fill up my Pokédex.' Leaf replied.

I knew that was Leafs dream, to fill up a regional Pokédex and the ruins of Alph seemed a great idea, once I had won my badge my friends and I should make our way there.

'Seems like a good place to look into.' Camilla agreed.

'Then where is Liams next gym badge?' Brock asked.

I thought he'd be the one with an answer to that, but he did live in Kanto like me. This was Johto he had no idea of the layout or places that were here.

'Azalea Town.' Leaf replied. 'It's just past Union cave…'

'Which is where we'll be heading to as soon as Leaf has had enough time at the ruins.' Liam finished coming up to our table. 'Ready to go Leaf?' He asked.

'Ready.' She said standing up quickly. 'See you guys.' She said and walked off toward the front door.

'Bye, good luck with your gym battle, Jordan.' Liam said and followed Leaf.

Now I had to concentrate on battling.

'So what are you going to do?' Jasmine asked me.

'Train until my Pokémon are tired, I might have to train so long that I might need to postpone for tomorrow.' I replied.

'Remember, if you do have a battle today and you lose, Falkner might seem generous to let you battle him a second time, like he did with Liam.' Brock told me.

I didn't know, Falkner was excited for battles, but he did seem serious, so two battles with him might be pushing my luck, he might just choose random trainers to battle him a second time, picking me and Liam one after the other didn't seem random to me. Then again I could be wrong, but it wasn't a question I needed an answer to, I didn't think I'd want it that much either, I might not even need it depending on how well I battled against him.

I believed that if I trained both Cyndaquil and Heracross a bit then they would both be capable of beating Falkner, but I would need both of them to help me win.

'If you want a battle today then we need to start your training.' Camilla told me standing up.

She seemed as eager as I was.

'Right.' I replied, mimicking her action.

'Maybe you could find another Pokémon who could help in the battle on the next route.' Jasmine said as she stood up.

I doubted it, I had the team I wanted to use against Falkner. I didn't need another Pokémon to help me.

I had hardly started my journey and already I had two Pokémon, half my team before the first Gym seemed pretty eager, plus there were loads of other Pokémon out there I had never seen before. I'd want to use some of them, maybe I would save Pokémon for my team until once I had beat a couple more Gyms after this one.

We all walked to the route below Violet city, there was a small clearing where we could train. I needed Jasmine and Camilla's help.

Jasmines Pokémon could levitate which almost mimicked flying and Camilla had a Dunsparce that could dig, I'd just have to apply that, but the opposite when I battled Falkner.

I figured I'd use Cyndaquil to train with Dunsparce since I wasn't strong against Dunsparce, whereas Jasmine told me that Magnemite was electric, so Heracross was not super effective against that.

I asked Brock if he could help my Cyndaquil train as I needed to focus on Heracross.

I asked Cyndaquil to trust Brock and he had no trouble with that.

I asked Camilla if she could get Dunsparce to dig and I asked Brock if it could get Cyndaquil to move and try and anticipate where Dunsparce would come up from.

I asked Jasmine if her magnemite could levitate around the place while My Heracross tried to hit it with struggle bug and mach punch.

We had been training for a while and I saw our Pokémon were feeling tired.

Brock suggested a rest and some lunch, it seemed like a good idea, it would make me and my Pokémon refreshed for the gym battle I looked forward to have later.

I believed both Cyndaquil and Heracross had trained really well and would now definitely be able to tackle and beat the Violet city gym.

Cyndaquil was much quicker and was good at dodging moves.

Heracross had improved its speed at delivering attacks, it had also perfected its struggle bug, instead of the lines waving towards its opponent they all went outwards and connected on impact.

Brock had made sandwiches while I set out the bowls for the Pokémon and poured the food into the bowls.

Brock let out Totodile and Vulpix.

Camilla didn't let out Chikorita, if they didn't trust each other then they're relationship would never grow.

Just as we were clearing up we heard a bleat of what seemed like immeasurable distress.

We dropped everything and ran to the source of the noise.

There was a Pokémon in trouble and I was obliged to help, no matter why it was in trouble.

Jordan: Okay, a quick sign off, currently saving a (spoiler alert) Pokémon.

Camilla: Not really a spoiler , we'll see you next time.

Chapter Eleven: An Electrifying Encounter.