Nimbasa Arc: A Little Incident
The two of them went to the Pokémon Center. There wasn't much going on here. They dropped off their Pokémon and took a room on the second floor. Jacky flopped down on the bed. "Are you disappointed?" Mari asked. "You're so quiet.",
"Oh, no." She waved it off with a smile. "I don't begrudge you the victory, and it did me good to see what I need to improve on, too."
Mari smiled slightly. "Defeats are sometimes far more instructive than victories.",
"That's true." Jacky nodded. "You know, Mari, I've noticed something...",
"Mm?",
"You... have changed.",
"Eh?",
"I noticed it the last time we fought... You're different. You fight differently. You didn't have it easy before... You were insecure and distant and gave up easily. But now... look at you. Even when you lost in the gym of Virbank and I was mad at you, you didn't let me stop you from trying again. You didn't give up. You got stronger, I could tell."
Mari tilted her head. "...You think so?",
"Yeah.",
"Um... thanks." She grinned and put an arm around Jacky's shoulders. "And our fight is water under the bridge, isn't it? That's part of being friends, too.",
"Yeah..." Jacky had to grin as well. "Right you are.",
"What do you think about a sightseeing tour through Nimbasa tomorrow?",
"Sounds good. We can check out the gym while we're at it.",
"Good plan." Mari nodded and the two headed downstairs, right when the glass doors of the Pokémon Center opened and a stray Lillipup entered. Mari immediately got a weird feeling in her gut that caused her to inspect the Pokémon closely. It didn't seem hurt, so... The Pokémon built up eye contact; and before Mari could even react, it tackled her. The girl staggered back. "Ngh! What the hell...?",
"Mari! Did you hurt yourself?" Jacky asked, running to her.
"It's okay..." She shook her head and looked at the Lillipup, who was growling and bristling its fur. "But it's as I thought. Look at its eyes."
Jacky looked at the Lillipup more closely and groaned. "Hypno..." she sighed, "Not again..." Mari pulled out an Awakening.
"No, wait!" Jacky stopped her. "I'm sure this can be solved without force.",
"... This literally doesn't have anything to do with force-",
"I know, but I wanna give it a try!",
"... Try what, talking to it?",
"Yes.",
"Eh, I'm not too sure about that... It's asleep. I mean, you can still hear stuff when you're asleep, albeit unconsciously... but that still depends on how deep you actually sleep.", Mari said flatly. "I assume that Hypno keeps its targets in a deep stage of sleep for a reason, and that is making it harder for them to even wake up... Besides, sounds are processed through the brain, and I bet my money that Hypno is keeping their brains poisoned with its damn voice, so I think you're wasting your time. Talking won't get you anywhere. Just let me spray it, that would bring about a quicker solution to the problem at hand. You were under the influence of Hypnosis too, you should know that, right? It has no use trying to talk to it.",
"But..." The girl sighed. "Yeah... you're right... Fine, go ahead. Be careful.",
"Thanks, finally you listen to what I say for once." Mari approached the Pokémon slowly. Right when it lunged forward trying to attack, Mari sprayed it with the medicine. The Pokémon howled and shook itself, making sounds similar to coughs or chokes. But after a moment of surprise or... shock, which of both it was was hard to say, it looked up at her with clear eyes. "...?" As soon as it realized where it was, Lillipup barked and ran off.
"Told you so.",
"Jeez, Mari... You really enjoy being right, huh?",
"Oh, yes, I do. It feels like sweet victory." She turned around to her friend. "You're not the only one armed with the gift of reason, you know. I am a professional in this meanwhile, I've dealt with someone like you under Hypno's influence.",
"Ouch... That one hurt.",
"Well, it's the truth." She shrugged and stashed the spray into her bag again. "You may now call me 'anti-hypnotic'",
"WAAAH!" Jacky winced as Hypno's visage suddenly appeared at the window. It was grinning nastily. Mari followed her gaze and sighed in annoyance. She was getting tired of that bastard. "Hey, get lost!" she hissed.
'Soon', it promised, 'Soon, you will be mine. I will not let you go... You will be mine, just like all the others. You, who want to destroy my paradise...' And then it disappeared. "Asswipe. It didn't even give me time to tell it to shut the fuck up", Mari growled, and Jacky nudged her. "Hey! No strong language here!",
"Sorry", she grumbled, "So, let's ignore what just happened and let's go."
Jacky nodded and stepped outside. "It's just business as usual... The fact that Hypno hasn't attacked us itself yet though makes me wonder a bit." She then commented. "It's tried that on me a few times, but why not on you or when you're near me?",
"No idea." Mari shrugged her shoulders. "I don't care why it hasn't stretched out its yellow disgusting fins at me yet, though. When I get the chance, I'll twist its yellow neck about 360 degrees.",
"Yeah, okay, you don't need to elaborate now." Jacky reassured her. They walked through the streets and passed a gate with colorful lights.
"Ah, that's the entrance to the amusement park", Mari explained.
"So that's where the gym's at?",
"Yes, exactly.",
"Hm..." Jacky nodded thoughtfully. "Do you have a problem with me challenging Elesa first?",
"Not a bit. Go ahead and do it. When?",
"How about tomorrow?",
"I didn't realize you were in such a hurry. Weren't you always preaching to me to train enough beforehand?",
"Well..." Jacky laughed sheepishly. "...I'll still train, don't worry.",
"I'm not worried." Mari shook her head. "I was just wondering. While we're at the topic of training, why don't you do it in the form of a sports class?",
"Excuse me?",
"They offer sports classes at the stadiums", Mari said. "A little fitness for you and your Pokémon wouldn't be bad, would it? It's at least more useful than the weird getting-kicked-and-punched-stuff you did with Medicham.",
"You won't let that go, will you?",
"No.",
"I get it... What kind of sports classes are there?",
"Tennis, soccer, football, and basketball, I think.",
"Ugh, I'm not really good at any of those. I think I'll pass and leave it at the old training regimen."
Mari just laughed, "Whatever you say. How's your nose?",
"Better," Jacky replied. "I think it dried out a bit in the desert. At least, it doesn't run like a waterfall anymore." She had to giggle as if she had cracked a super funny joke. "I'm looking forward to the roller coasters," she then said. "I haven't been on one for ages and I can't remember if my stomach can take it, but...",
"Wow." Mari side-eyed her. "If you're going to barf, please don't barf in my direction. I'd still prefer it if you could keep your stomach acid and everything in it on the inside of your body.",
"You have a creative way of expressing yourself, I'll give you that." Jacky nudged her.
"I know, I'm freaking talented." She made an exaggerated bow. "So, you want to take a spin around the amusement park tomorrow before heading to the gym?",
"Correct.",
"...Okay, that's also an effective way to distract yourself. I just hope your mind doesn't get so turned upside down riding the roller coasters that you can't think straight.",
"You're mean! It won't happen!",
"Wait and see!" Mari just grinned and then continued walking through the city. Jacky followed her grumbling.