Ch.13

The Battle Ace and Heiress

Pokemon is the property of its respective owners

"Luka, I need you to get Maris, Dmitri and Shinx out of here ok? Don't get any ideas of waiting for me," Catherine said solemnly while Luka eyes widened in terror and took a step toward the unconscious form of Maris and the deathly motionless body of Dmitri. Luka knelt down, allowing Shinx to jump onto Luka's head, which she seemed to not mind in the slightest.

"(I will not Master; I will get them to a safe location, but there's no way that I'm leaving you alone with these savages,)" Luka responded just as seriously as she heaved Maris onto one shoulder and Dmitri on the other while Shinx rested on top of her head.

Catherine shot a death glare at Luka who stared at her best friend stoically with the neither backing down. Finally, Luka. with great hesitance, nodded and gave one final nod at her best friend; hoping she was going to be alright.

Luka, Dmitri, Maris, and Shinx seemingly blurred out of existence as the sudden increase of wind nearly knocked down surrounding trees and Catherine, Alice, and Infernape. Catherine didn't even register the fierce wind blowing against her body as she stood strong while Alice and Infernape had to put one foot back to balance themselves from being blown away. Finally though, the ferocious winds subsided and Alice wore a shocked expression on her face which quickly turned into red, hot rage.

"How, how could have Catherine's lap dog gotten so fast? Even if the mongrel mutt used extreme speed she shouldn't be fast enough to the point where she can nearly knock down everything in her path!" Alice thought angrily as she glared at her little sister and clenched her fists.

"What's seems to be the matter dear sister? Don't tell me that some wind would be able to knock down the "invincible" Alice Wayne?" Catherine mocked contemptuously as she put her hands on her hips.

Alice grinded her teeth and tensed her muscles as she glowered at the bug in front of her; wanting nothing more than to just cave in her skull. The sadistic trainer, however, finally just took a deep breathe in and out before just smirking at her and folding her arms across her chest.

"Oh Catherine, Catherine, Catherine, still just as foolish as the day you were born. However, this idiotic choice of yours just seems to take the cake. You stayed behind knowing full well that I wouldn't leave you with just a bloody nose and you sent your only form of protection away from here. I took you for a fool sister, not a dumba**," Alice said crazily while Catherine just smirked confidently.

"It's you who's dumba** for thinking that I would just allow you to harm my friends without consequence," Catherine retorted bitterly while folding her arms and glaring at her sister.

"Oh really, what do expect to do without your precious, third rate Luc-"

"Her. Name. IS. LUKA!" Catherine snapped while Alice smiled arrogantly as she grabbed a pokeball on her belt.

"Oh spare me your lovey-dovey bullsh** dear sister! Infernape, return! I don't need you for what I'm about to do," Alice said in a dangerous tone as Infernape disappeared in a flash of red light into the pokeball.

Alice clipped Infernape's pokeball back on her belt and cracked her knuckles while stepping toward her unfazed little sister. Alice finally stood before Catherine, mere inches away from her and placed her hands on her hips. Catherine looked up at her sister's face and didn't back down from the furious glare that she was giving her.

"Alice, you will pay for what you've done here today. Every blow you dealt towards Dmitri and Maris will be paid back to you a thousand fold. You will regret the day you ever touched them," Catherine told Alice eerily calm as venom oozed with every word.

"How do you plan on following through with your threat?" Alice asked disinterested.

Catherine smirked and rested her hands on her sides; never taking her eyes of Alice.

"Like this," Catherine said nonchalantly and as quick as lighting, kneed Alice in the gut, causing her to wheeze and double over in pain.

Catherine wasn't finished as she brought her hand back and struck her with a devastating haymaker right on the eldest sister of the Wayne family's cheek. Alice snarled in pain as she brought one hand back on the dirt to keep from falling face first onto the ground until Catherine's fist collided with her nose; causing Alice to howl in pain as she felt it break.

Alice growled as she stared up at her little sister who looked at her with apathy. Alice gave out a war cry as she tackled Catherine to the ground and mounted her. Catherine gave out a surprised yelp of pain as she felt her back connect with the unforgiving Earth as Alice shouted angrily before she began slugging her little sister mercilessly causing Catherine's head to shift from side to side as each of Alice's rock hard hand meet with Catherine's soft cheeks. Catherine felt her world go dark and fuzzy as each blow messed up with what she was seeing. Catherine, however, wasn't out of the fight as she inhaled and exhaled loudly before finally found enough strength to finally bring her hands up to her face to defend herself.

Alice howled in sadistic laughter as she continued pummeling her little sister as most of her punches slipped by Catherine's defenses despite her best efforts.

"See sister, isn't this so much fun? Just the like the old days when you and I use to enjoy the agony and suffering of our opponents, just like when we were little!" Alice cooed ruthlessly as she once again punched her sister, causing blood to seep down on of Catherine's eyes.

"That may be who I was in the past, but this is now and I can say for certain that I'm nothing like you!" Catherine croaked out defiantly as yet another one of Alice's fist connected with her face.

"Oh, that's when I started to hate you sister. Thinking you're better than me just because you have "morals" and a "sense of right and wrong." Well, guess what, after I finish you, that Lucario of yours is going to be joining you in Hell so she can show more of her sense of justice. Who knows, I might have a little bit of fun with that boyfriend of yours before I do," Alice whispered calmly in Catherine's ears as she stroked her sister's hair while Catherine flinched at her cold touch.

Catherine, now absolutely livid, chomped on her sister's ear with all the force she could muster causing Alice to yell in agony as she repeatedly punched Catherine in the side of her face in a desperate attempt to free herself from her grasp. Catherine didn't care for the blood seeping into her mouth as she bit down harder causing Alice to roar in pain as she stopped punching Catherine as she could no longer find the strength to move them.

Catherine seized upon her sister's lack of movement and shoved her off her forcefully and quickly got on her feet while spitting out in disgust some of Alice's blood that was left in her mouth. Alice simply couldn't hold in her pain any longer as she felt the tears drop down from her face and wet, sticky blood pour down the side of her cheek. Catherine removed her backpack and viciously tossed an oran berry and a some gauze at her face causing Alice to snarl at her like an angry Arcanine.

"Here, the oran berry should restore you strength long enough for you to haul your sorry a** to wherever you came from and the gauze will help you patch up until you can receive proper medical attention. If I ever see you again, you'll need to be airlifted to the nearest pokemon center, understand?!" Catherine seethed viciously as Alice angrily brushed the oran berry and gauze off her face and glared at Catherine.

"You will pay for this dear sister, this I sw-gack!" Alice started to say until Catherine planted her shoe in her gut causing her to hack up blood.

"This is the only warning you'll get," Catherine breathed out in tranquil fury as she began walking away and leaving her sister on the ground.

Catherine suddenly heard footsteps behind her and turned on the ball of her with her hands up, but relaxed when she saw it was only Delia. Delia's eyes widened in shock when she saw Alice lying on the ground with a pool of blood forming around her head and when she saw the bruised and battered face of Catherine who was limping toward Delia. Delia walked over to Catherine who placed an arm around her neck as she blacked out and fell slack in Delia's arms.

Delia quickly grabbed Catherine's other arm and heaved her back on her limp feet as she regained consciousness and laughed sheepishly in spite of her injuries.

"Sorry bout' that Delia," Catherine said in a near whisper while the battle ace just smiled and helped her walk down the path toward Jubilife City.

"There's nothing to apologize for Catherine and that plan you had worked out well, in spite of the original plan being you walking away unscathed," Delia complimented Catherine who barely managed a smile on her battered face.

Flashback

"You're sure this will work?" Delia asked Catherine silently as they observed the climax of Dmitri's and Alice's battle from behind the trees.

"I'm sure; she'll want the pleasure of beating me up to herself and since I more or less know some self-defense from watching Luka and Maris spar with each other I should be able to handle her," Catherine replied seriously.

"Key word being should Catherine. I'm still not comfortable with the idea of leaving you alone with that demon and seeing martial arts moves and putting them into practice are two very different things," Delia responded solemnly just as Luka emerged from the bushes.

"You got the oran berry Luka?" Catherine asked Luka who nodded in response.

"Good, Delia, I'm following through with this plan whether you like it or not. Luka will meet up with you later and you'll take them to the Pokemon Center ok?" Catherine said kindly to Delia with a warm smile on her face.

"Catherine…"

"I've made my choice," Catherine told Delia firmly while Luka tilted her head in confusion as to what was happening.

"Don't worry Luka, just follow my lead," Catherine told Luka with confident smirk while Luka just narrowed her eyes and folded her arms across her chest.

"It's ok, it's nothing bad," Catherine reassured the suspicious Luka who nodded warily.

Catherine nodded and got up on her feet and hustled out of the shrubbery leaving Luka to catch up to her. Delia watched as Luka's aura sphere knocked Infernape's flamethrower off course and made it fly into the sky. Delia couldn't help but smirk approvingly at Catherine's bravery and just as planned, moved quietly like a ninjask through the trees while intending to stop at the trail that lead to Jubilife City.

"Good luck Catherine, I place the lives of Maris and Dmitri in your hands," Delia thought to herself as she moved swiftly through the trees.

Back to Present

Currently, the battle ace and potential inheritor of the Wayne family fortune were slowly making their way to the Pokemon Center where Luka was ordered to keep watch on Maris and Dmitri. Delia breathed in and out slowly before she turned her heads toward Catherine and asked her something that was bugging her.

"Did you really mean it Catherine?" Delia asked Catherine cautiously as Catherine looked at Delia with child-like curiosity.

"Hm?"

"Did you really mean that you were going to beat Alice within an inch of her life or were you just bluffing to scare her away?" Delia questioned Catherine impatiently.

"Yes, I did mean what I said. If she ever tried to hurt them again, I would beat her to a bloody pulp and smash her bones to paste. You don't know what she's capable of Delia, but I do. She wouldn't have just killed them Delia, she'd prolong the fight just so she could see Maris try and fail to protect both Dmitri and Shinx. They would have died if Luka hadn't intervened," Catherine responded seriously as she narrowed her eyes and clenched her fists at the mere thought of her sister harming her friends.

"What happened to the happy and cheerful Catherine I know?" Delia asked as Catherine looked at her with an annoyed expression.

"Delia, I see two of my friends near death with one of them lying on the ground seemingly not breathing at all. Not only that, I see the one person in this world I absolutely loath and her pokemon is about to finish off a defenseless baby Shinx. Do you honestly expect me to be happy Mrs. Sunshine after everything I've seen?" Catherine asked her incredulously.

Delia shook her head, indicating she meant no, which seemed to satisfy Catherine. The Pokemon Center finally came in sight for the two causing both of them to give a sigh of immense relief. Delia and Catherine poured on the speed and just as they approached the door it seemingly opened on its own causing them to fall face first on the ground of the Pokemon Center. Nearby trainers stared at them with a mix of shock, confusion, or amusement as two pairs of red eyes stared down at both of them.

"(It's about flippin' time! We've been waiting ages for you guys!)" Maris yelled at them annoyingly and soon regretted it as her sides erupt into pain causing her to grimace and fall onto one knee.

"(See sis, this is exactly why I told you to stay in bed. You're not even close to being fully recovered and yet you still insisted on seeing Delia and Master,)" Luka told Maris matter of factly which caused Maris's brow to twitch irritatedly.

"(Luka you-)"

"Maris! How's Dmitri doing?" Delia asked the Martial Arts Pokemon whose eyes softened when she heard this.

"(Fine, I guess. He just needs a few days to rest thanks to modern medicine stabilizing his condition. Nurse Joy said he got lucky that Infernape didn't kick him any harder or his condition could have been much worse,)" Maris answered her kindly which caused Delia to nod in response.

Delia noticed some trainers looking at them strangely, but she paid them no mind and walked up to the counter while still holding Catherine in her arms.

"Nurse Joy, could you please attend to Catherine's injuries?" Delia asked Nurse Joy who gave a warm smile and nodded as Chanseys burst from the side doors near the counter and ushered Catherine into the back room.

Luka gritted her teeth and scowled as she folded her arms across her chest.

"(She told me it was nothing bad,)" Luka said bitterly, feeling betrayed by Catherine.

"She felt as if it was the best course of action," Delia replied simply which caused Luka to turn around and give her a death glare.

"(And how could you at least not tell me what she was planning when we were headed to the Pokemon Center?! Telling me "She has a plan" isn't exactly filling me in on what was happening!)" Luka yelled angrily at Delia who didn't even flinch at her livid tone.

"Luka, if we had told you that Catherine was going to stay and fight Alice, would you have really opted to get Maris, Shinx, and Dmitri to the Pokemon Center?" Delia questioned Luka who grumbled and turned her back to the battle ace.

The side doors near the counter were flung open as Catherine stepped out with some band aids covering her cheeks and her once battered eye with blood dripping down it was now cleaned, disinfected, and was now just looking slightly bloodshot. Luka immediately walked up to Catherine and narrowed her eyes at her causing Catherine to take a few tentative steps back.

Luka, already enraged by everything that happened, used extreme speed to get behind her and picked her up causing Catherine to squeak in surprise. Luka, as quick as a blur, approached one of the waiting room chairs and shoved her onto one of them. Catherine gasped and outstretched her arms to catch herself as she gripped the arms of the chairs until two firm paws grabbed her shoulders and spun her around so she was facing Luka's angry face.

Luka pinned her Catherine to the chair by pushing her paws against her shoulders and forcing her face near hers until their noses were touching. Catherine could feel the hot, angry breathe of Luka as she didn't take her eyes off her for one second.

"(You told me, and I quote, "Its ok, it's nothing bad,)" Luka seethed to her shocked friend who tried to laugh it off, but this didn't go well for her as Luka growled and firmly shoved her paws against Catherine's shoulders causing her to gasp.

"And it was nothing bad Luka; I just got a few cuts and bruises. Nothing major," Catherine replied casually hoping this answer would calm her down.

"Nothing major?! You had blood dropping down one of your eyes and you call that nothing major?!" Luka yelled furiously not caring about how loud she was being.

"Yes?" Delia answered hesitantly which in turn caused Luka's eyes to widen and her arms to tremble in absolute rage.

Luka angrily raised one of her paws as if to strike Catherine who was too shocked to do anything but close her eyes and wait for the blow to come. Instead of the immense pain of the slap she expected, she just felt a quick, stinging pain on her forehead causing Catherine to open her eyes. She saw Luka holding one paw out with her index finger curled into her thumb while she also took note of the angry, teary eyes of Luka.

"You…thumped me?" Catherine asked unsure and surprised.

Luka didn't answer as she poked her paw onto Catherine's chest repeatedly while saying:

"(Don't EVER something like that AGAIN! Next time, I'll fight and you take our friend's to the Pokemon Center!)" Luka seethed as she buried her face onto Catherine's shoulder and let the suppressed tears fall down her face.

Catherine could do nothing but just rub Luka's head soothingly and reassure her that everything was going to be alright. Luka looked at her best friend and wiped away her tears with her forearm as she stood up and regained her usual cool and collected demeanor.

"(Master, Maris and I will watch over Dmitri while you two can go get ice cream like you wanted)," Luka said coolly to Catherine while Delia shook her head.

Luka took note of this and turned her attention to Delia who looked back at her with a neutral expression.

"(Delia, he's going to be out cold for three days, two if he's lucky, so might as well do something while we're here,)" Luka told the disgruntled battle ace who couldn't argue with what she said and grumbled.

"Wait, how the heck is Dmitri unconscious for three days if Maris took more damage than he did," Catherine asked incredibly puzzled.

"(Idiot, Pokemon naturally are stronger and more durable than humans which means that our bodies take less time to recover than humans,)" Maris answered irked a bit due to her injuries keeping her from training.

"Makes sense," Catherine said simply as she shrugged her shoulders.

"What about Shinx? How's is it doing?" Delia asked Luka who smiled brightly and pointed her index finger behind her back towards one of the side doors.

"(She absolutely refused to leave Dmitri's side so she's lying down on his stomach as we speak and taking a "cat nap" so to speak,)" Luka responded happily as she admired the loyalty shown by the little pokemon.

Delia, satisfied by this answer, nodded and told Maris to "have fun" recovering who in response told her to go jump over a cliff. Catherine chuckled under her breathe and patted Luka on the shoulder telling her to watch over their friends who smirked and gave her a thumbs up.

"I'm ready to go if you are Catherine," Delia told her as she put her hands behind her head and walked towards the door.

Catherine nodded and jogged towards the door as Delia was a good distance away from her. Catherine gave a quick bye and waved behind her as she sprinted to catch up to Delia while Luka smiled, put her hands on her hips, and shook her head.

"(Please don't ever change Catherine,)" Luka thought earnestly as she saw the disappearing form of her master and couldn't help but let a wide smile come onto her usually serious face.