The Castelia Arc: To New Shores
Jacky was reading a magazine while sitting on a bench by the harbor. When Mari arrived at the dock, she looked up. "Hi," Mari greeted her.
"...Did you make it?" the blonde-haired girl asked, standing up. Mari pulled out her badge box and showed her the Toxic Badge. "I did.",
"Nice..." She smiled slightly. Then, she pointed at the ferry that was already waiting in the harbor. "Shall we go inside? Then, we can talk."
Mari nodded in agreement and they entered the boat. They retreated to a quiet place- The stern of the boat- and Mari turned to her. "So? What did you want to talk about?",
"I wanted to apologize." Jacky looked away and bit her lip. "I overreacted. I just didn't think you'd ever say something like that... and maybe you didn't mean it, but then, anger got the best of me.",
"I noticed." Mari crossed her arms in front of her chest, "... That's water under the bridge, I'd say. I guess I know where I stand now... And the connection trainers have with their Pokémon.",
"If you know that, then you know why I train with Medicham.",
"Primarily, to get along with it. Secondarily, because you're tired of living.",
"I'm not tired of living!",
"I was kidding. Calm down." Mari waved off as the ship began to move. "...Aren't you going to get the Toxic Badge?",
"I thought I could try a few different badges now and then... Unova had different gyms in the past.",
"Yeah, but they're closed.",
"Oh...",
"The old gym leaders resigned, why else do you think new gyms were reinstated? Only eight badges are valid for the League. As someone who's so obsessed with it, I thought you'd know that best.",
"Oh well... I can always come back later", Jacky chuckled. The sea wind blew around their noses as they got farther and farther away from Virbank. "One question..." Mari began. Jacky looked up. "Huh?",
"...can we get something to eat once we're there? I'm starving. I skipped breakfast because I was so nervous." Jacky laughed out. "Oh dear... Sure, it'll be my treat."
They called out their Pokémon as they ghosted around the boat. Kirlia wearily sat down on the floor. "Ugh... The gym was really hard..." Skarmory looked to her. "Hm... that's true...",
"But you passed it with flying colors and that's all that matters," Absol said and then looked at Medicham. "How come you don't have sore muscles from all the training?",
"The question is good!" Zorua agreed. Medicham sat down on the floor cross-legged. "Sore muscles? I meditate after my workout and that makes me forget about the pain.",
"Doesn't sound very plausible...",
"Complaining doesn't exist with me. Otherwise I wouldn't have danced with Jacky for so long at a stretch... I mean, trained."
Gabite turned his head to her. "Dancing is pretty stupid training. It really wouldn't be for me.", "Yeah, well, who's surprised? Dragons go after everything and everyone without thinking anyway. Right?" Kirlia asked.
"Hey, that's an insulting prejudice!" the dragon growled back.
"Then prove me wrong!",
"At least she seems to still be fit enough to lock horns with Gabite every once in a while", Luxio commented. "Is that a custom with them?",
"You'd better get used to it real quick." Absol sighed.
"Say, Absol?" Zorua sat down on the ground next to the dark-type Pokémon's head. "Why are you so strong, anyway?",
"Well... Sometimes I think I can feel what my trainer feels. What she's thinking. Ever since she first touched my blade, I've felt that way. And it gives me strength.",
"Uh..." Zorua didn't seem to understand what Absol was getting at. "I don't think I quite follow you... But I'm really jealous! I lose absolutely every fight and it's kind of depressing...",
"You guys just need to work on yourselves." Luxio said. "You can't be too weak.",
"Tch... You've even evolved! And now look at me! I'm still small. Even as a Shinx, you protected me!",
"That evolution thing is so crazy!" Luxio let his fur rustle. "I've become much stronger. I could have defeated anything and anyone!",
"See?" Zorua flattened his ears.
"I can barely remember how I evolved!" Gabite growled when Kirlia had stopped nagging at it. "Do you, Medicham?",
"Yeah, that kind of thing sticks in the mind. Back then, I was training with Hariyama in a grassy field. It taught me the ability to steel myself through exercise and meditation. I evolved when I took my last test.",
"I only remember fire", Gabite muttered. "That's all.",
"You can talk well..." Absol groaned. "I'm really happy for you, but to be told about your evolutions and to know yourself that you'll never get that far...",
"You don't need evolution to become stronger, Absol." Kirlia said. Absol sighed, "I know." Gabite suddenly tilted his head. "Hmmh...",
"What are you thinking about? If you can think?" Luxio asked. Gabite gave him a nasty look. "I remember again", he growled, "I remember once being behind bars. Locked in a cage like a wild beast... At some point I couldn't take it anymore and I went crazy. I set quite a bit on fire with Dragon Rage.",
"Your movie-filled past aside, that doesn't justify your later behavior, nor does it help us." Medicham said. Gabite looked at her venomously. "Keep it down, stupid voodoo doll." he growled. Skarmory eventually got tired of them constantly complaining about each other and turned away from them. Mari granted it some space to fly, which it took advantage of with enthusiasm. It sailed over the deck and the water. "It's amazing how good the water can do." Jacky said, spreading her arms. Castelia City was already getting closer.
"Yeah, I think so, too. And the best thing is: We've almost managed to get a Hypno-free week.", "Everything is almost back to normal. Oh, oops..." She noticed something and was quite embarrassed. Her t-shirt had a hole in it. When Mari noticed it, she laughed, "Oh no, you're holey!" Jacky shook her head. "I can't walk around like this! When we get to Castelia, I'm going shopping first.",
"I don't think much of shopping..." Mari said sighing.
"Me neither, actually." Jacky nudged Mari lightly with her elbow. "But a change of clothes certainly can't hurt.",
"Where you're right... But we eat first, you promised! I also heard there's a world class ice cream parlour in Castelia! We definitely need to go there!",
"I totally agree." She giggled and winked at her friend before noticing movement in the water. "...Huh?"