I know I said this would be a Righteous chapter, but I changed it up to flow better.
It had been 3 days after the party and Avaline Bloodsworth was still pissed at one person in particular. She was on the prowl to find and finally stomp out Alex Knight for good. He had become target number one on her hit list and she would beat that cocky asshole for good. It wasn't to do with the prank or the fact that Alex had spread the rumors about her. He had done something worse, he had made Kat cry. Kat had been a mess since the party. She didn't play with Scout or Gale, she was dragging behind in Dr. Walkmen's class, Kat had even been mediocre in her mentoring of Bunny, she had ignored all of Alex's text messages. In fact they made her sad to look at any pictures or anything associated with Alex. This wasn't the Catherine Kiner that Ava knew. This was some girl that had replaced Kat. This was not the Kat that was Ava's partner in crime. Ava wanted to make the person that had hurt her best friend pay. Or at least make him see what an idiot he was being which would be hard to crack his thick skull. That is why she had an assistant to help with the plan.
Bunny had noticed that Kat hadn't been her usual self since the party. She seemed depressed. Then Ava told Bunny what had happened. How Kat had unloaded on her. "Fucking Alex.", Bunny said. She hated seeing Kat like this especially since she was usually the fun loving girl in the group. That was why Bunny had been so excited to work with Kat. She was smart, kind, and understanding. Yet now she was just depressed. Bunny never wanted to see her friends hurt especially by another friend. Yet here she was again having to pick up the pieces from Alex's mess. Neither girl blamed JJ, she wouldn't know what that restaurant meant to Kat or their history there. But Alex should have known better. Even Bunny had figured Kat had some feelings for him. Alex was too obsessed with his Pokémon and himself to notice. So they would have to make him see. Make him finally open his eyes to what they had all seen. They had a plan.
"Bunny, what do you want to show me? I already have seen your new garden. I helped install it, remember?", Alex didn't understand why Bunny was dragging him out to her garden especially at night. He had just gotten ready to eat when Bunny had pulled him away. She had told him that there was something in her garden that he had to see. It was a bizarre request, but Alex went along with it. She didn't speak, she just dragged him along with her one good arm. She was strong when she wanted to be. Finally Bunny arrived at her garden as Ribes looked at Alex. Ribes was not his usually friendly self, he pulled away from Alex when Alex tried to pet him. Something was up here and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. Bunny looked at Ribes, "is she here?" The Torterra nodded then gave Alex a death glare. Bunny had told Ribes about what Alex did to Kat. Given that Kat also gave Ribes treats, he was very upset too. Alex raised an eyebrow, "she?" Now he was confused. Bunny grabbed Alex again and pulled him to the practice field portion of Bunny's garden. There, in battle gear, was Avaline Bloodsworth.
"What the hell?", he looked towards Bunny, but she seemed cold. Alex was so confused. This was odd, sure Ava hated him, but Bunny was acting odd. 'Hopefully Kat isn't upset with whatever I did.', perhaps it was the gift he had sent Ava, but why would Bunny be mad? "Isn't this what you wanted, Alex? A rematch with the freak who cheated? Well here I am. The freak.", Ava outstretched her arms in a bring it on motion. The glare she gave him was pure hatred. She did hate this version of Alex. He hadn't always been like this, when he first got to the Institute he was nice, but after their fight he transformed into someone that she didn't know. Kat had always defended him and said the old Alex was in there. Well Ava would bring him out. Alex glared at Ava, his eyes trained on her. This had been what he had wanted for months a shot a redemption. It fueled his thoughts and dreams, he had to beat Ava. Prove he was better. Alex stepped over to the practice ground directly across from Ava with that cocky smile of his, "Oh yes, Ava I have waited for this moment my redemption." He cracked his knuckles.
Ava sneered at him. She hated that smile and everything that it represented. There were times where Alex could even be worse than The Righteous. "Oh yes, your obsession with me. The thing that ruined our friendship. You know why we aren't friends anymore, Alex? Cause of how callous you were towards me. It wasn't just the rumors you spread, it was like I was so disposable. You didn't care that you hurt me, that you called me a freak. You were just worried about getting even." Ava pointed towards Bunny who stood with a scowl. There was pain behind her eyes. Alex hadn't even realized that she had been so terrified to tell him about her Battle Bond after how he treated Ava. "Is she a freak too, Alex? She was so fucking scared to talk to you and tell you about Battle Bond. There were so many conversations I had with her because she was worried you would hurt her. WELL LOOK AT HER ALEX. LOOK AT WHAT YOU DID!", Ava was panting hard. Bunny knew this was going to be a brutal match and conversation, but this was a whole new level. Still Alex needed to hear it. Alex shook his head, "you're just trying to get my head before our battle. Come on let's just fight.", he reached for a pokeball.
"She's right Alex.", Bunny mumbled, but made sure he could hear. He turned around with a confused and hurt expression on his face. He didn't understand what Bunny meant, but she stood her ground. "Even after we got hurt, you still wanted to fight me. To prove you were stronger. You didn't check on me. You were just too concerned about yourself and winning. You even picked the fight with me because I talked to Ava.", Alex looked at Bunny. For a brief second, his expression was the one she used to know, but he shook that off. Still his eyes lingered on her cast and sling. Ava rolled her eyes, "some friend you are Alex. You hurt one of your best friends and don't even care about her. You just think a few stuffed animals will make the difference. Look at what you did to Bunny. Just because you wanted to prove how strong you were. How tough you were. All because you lost one battle to me. Yeah you proved what a cold bastard you are. So tough, so ruthless.", she gaged. Alex had enough of these mind games. He didn't know what was going on, but he hated it.
"Come on, enough of this Ava. I'm an asshole, I get it. But let's get this underway. Come on call out your Pokémon", his voice didn't sound as sure as it usually did. There was doubt in it. Now Ava would go in for the kill to help crack him a bit. "You didn't even ask what's wrong with Kat. ARCEUS, I bet you haven't even noticed a difference in her. You know the girl you profess to look up to and care about? Yeah you haven't even checked up on her.Probably too busy obsessing over me and how to get revenge.", Ava hit the target square on. A perfect bullseye. Alex's tough exterior dropped for a few moments as he looked at Bunny then Ava. The both had the same cold look on their face. 'Kat? I mean sure she hasn't texted back which is strange, but nothing seems too wrong with her. What the hell is Ava talking about? Kat is fine, she would have told me if she wasn't. This is just mind games.', he wouldn't fall for this. He just trained his eyes on Ava and gnashed his teeth.
Bunny shook her head. There was no use talking to him right now. He only cared about himself and beating Ava. "Come on, Ava. Beat him please.", then Maybe just maybe Bunny, Ava, and Kat would have their old friend back. Alex heard the comments and stared at Bunny. She just stared back, this was a betrayal from Bunny, but she didn't care. Alex had done a lot worse.She shrugged and he continued to stare at her in confusion. Ava pulled out a pokeball, a love ball which meant that Ava was starting with a different Pokémon than usual. "I don't even need to use BattleBond this fight Alex. I am already so far in your head that this match is over. Might as well go out with a bang. That way I don't have to worry about you making up bullshit lies about me.", Ava tossed out the love ball and what emerged from it was her trusted ace, Grace. The fairy type horse started to dig a line in the dirt as she waited for Alex to send out Poe. She could read Alex like a book.
'Grace, really? What is she doing? Where's Vee?', Alex knew that Ava always used Vee to start out the match. But now she wasn't even doing that. This whole night was bizarre. Where was Kat? What was wrong with her? Alex shook his head as he looked at his poke belt. He didn't know what to throw out now, Ava had him second guessing everything. 'She knows that I have Poe. Poe is a nightmare for Grace except his dragon typing. Does Grace know disable? That could be a problem if she used disable.', Ava tapped her foot impatiently as she waited for a Alex to make a move. A small smile crossed her lips, she knew that she was so far into his head. He was second guessing everything which was not like him. Alex looked back down at his belt again as his hand hovered over his beloved Dragalge's pokeball. "Poe, it's revenge time.", Alex knew that Poe wanted revenge just as much as Alex did. Sure there was no water for the dragon-poison type to lay in, but if things went according to plan, Poe wouldn't need to worry about that.
There was a tension in the air between Ava and Alex. Both had wanted this for months. But there were different reasons. Alex had been so obsessed with beating Ava to prove he was a great trainer. But for Ava, she was fighting for the people he had hurt. The people that had defended Alex over and over again and had been disappointed by him. Ava had not told Kat what she was doing, Kat would have talked Ava out of it. But Ava had to do this in order to bring the old Alex back. Ava knew that for her it would be too little too late, he had burned this bridge. But she was doing this for Bunny and Kat. Especially for Kat. Ava wanted Kat to have a chance to talk to the real Alex, not this asshole that had inhabited his body. It would be tough for Ava, for all the bad aspects of him, Alex was a great trainer who had the loyalty of his Pokémon. But if he wasn't careful those would be the only friends he would have. He was at a breaking head, Ava wanted to show him how bad it was.
"Poe, Dragon tail.", Alex didn't expect the move to hit. In fact he hoped that it wouldn't. Poe had an ability that he knew would work. Ava had fought through it last year thanks to Battle Bond, but that wasn't going to come into play anymore. Plus, Alex and Poe were stronger than they were last year. They had trained for this moment. For revenge and to prove himself against the best. He had scripted out various situations that could arise in battle and had drilled his Pokémon in these situations. So they were equally as prepared for taking down Ava. He just wished JJ and Kat could be here. Especially Kat who would know how important this was to Alex. He didn't know what Ava was talking about when she said Kat was acting different. But that was not important right now he wanted to see if his plan would work. The Dragalge hopped over towards the Galarian Rapidash and swung his tail slowly, "Bounce, Grace" the shiny Rapidash jumped into the air and crashed down on Poe. "Drag...", the seaweed dragon yelped. Alex wasn't worried, he saw Poe's poison spikes go into Grace. "You forgot Poe has poison Point, didn't you? Thanks for hurting your own Rapidash so early.", Alex smiled.
Ava cackled, "this is what I mean Alex. Such a pompous dick that you make a simple mistake." Horrified, Alex saw Grace shake off the spikes easily. She wasn't affected at all. Ava just laughed even louder and with more enthusiasm. "You think, I wouldn't have a counter to poison especially after The Righteous attack? Grace has Pestal Veil which negates poison attacks. Alex this is why I know you don't give a shit about Kat or Bunny. Unless it's about Alex Knight, nothing else matters.", she had a cocky look on her face as a Alex rubbed his head in disgust. "Poe, plan D. Plan D.", the Dragalge nodded, Alex pulled out his pokeball and recalled his ace. He would save Poe for later. Alex reached into the back of his poke belt, but did not get his master ball. Instead he grabbed a regular pokeball and tossed it out. A bright shiny light covered the field as the pokeball opened, "Toucannon!" Sam, the shiny Toucannon, would take off into the air.
"Grace, knock her out of the air with a fairy Wind.", a pink wind started to blow directly towards Sam, which fell right into Alex's trap. "Ava, you aren't the only one with a secret. Sam, steel wing!", the Toucannon's wings started to glow white as she charged towards the fairy type. The Toucannon cut through the fairy attack. Yes, she was hit, but it didn't matter as the steel wing attack had limited the impact of the fairy attack. Sam was like a bullet as her steel wings hit Grace. "Rapidash!", Grace called out in pain. She skidded in front of Ava as shook the attack off. Sam started to circle around again. Clearly Alex had commanded Sam to come around with another steel wing attack. He would never learn. But Ava did. She was going to copy something Kat had used against her. "Grace, wait till she gets close.", Ava mumbled. Grace stood still as Sam had started to fly towards her again. Sam got closer, "Grace, is psychic" a wave of psychic energy hit the Toucannon head on.
Sam fell to the ground. She struggled to get up, Ava laughed as Alex growled. "Learned that from Kat. Right before you were a dick to her.", Ava's comment caused Alex to pause for a moment. His eyes widened, whatever mind game Ava was playing at was getting way too personal. Alex didn't understand what exactly she was playing at. He hadn't been a dick to Kat. He could never hurt her. He cared for her too much. Ava was being weird. Ava rolled her eyes, "forget it. You don't understand. Grace use psycho cut!" The galarian Rapidash charged towards the grounded Toucannon. Grace got ready to come down on Sam with a cut, but she didn't notice that Sam's beak was glowing white hot. Grace cut Sam, but was hit by Sam's beak. "Dash!", Grace called out in pain. Ava looked around as Grace was whimpering, "Grace what's wrong?" Alex just laughed. "You forgot Sam has beak burst, didn't you? Grace is burned. Maybe you should stop making about lies about Kat and me. Maybe you should pay attention to the fight.", Alex growled.
"Do it, Sam.", A huge burst of energy came out of the beak of Sam. The injured Rapidash couldn't do anything as she was hit with the attack. Grace was sent flying and landed in front of Ava. Grace weakly tried to get up, but her body was battered. There was nothing Ava could do. Alex saw his chance, "extreme times call for extreme measures. Sam, Brave Bird!", Sam leapt up into the air as her body became covered in red energy. She flew up high into the air and flew at Grace like a Kamikaze. Ava closed her eyes as the impact occurred. Dust and grit flew up into the air and covered the field. When the smoke cleared, both Sam and Grace were knocked out. Alex smiled, "see Bunny. See what happens when she doesn't cheat. I took out Grace. I did it. See what should have happened!" Bunny couldn't look at Alex. This wasn't her best friend. His mind had been twisted into hate and wanting revenge. He lost himself and it broke Bunny's heart. She knew Kat and even Ava felt the same.
Ava recalled Grace as Alex recalled Sam. Ava snarled, "yeah you took out Grace, but you also knocked out your own Pokémon. You sick bastard. What happened to you, Alex? You used to give a shit about your Pokémon now they're just tools to you. You are so twisted now. You might as well join The Righteous. You hurt your Pokémon, you hurt your friends. I never thought you would hurt Kat, but you're the reason why she's acting so weird. What happened to you?", her eyes just stared at him. Alex had turned red with rage and began to shake. Veins popped out of his neck. "Just shut the fuck up Ava. It's bad enough you turned Bunny against me, but don't you dare bring Kat into this. Don't you dare!", his voice was filled with hate. Ava just rolled his eyes, "oh yeah everything is a conspiracy against you, Alex. The whole world against you. Oh and I will bring up Kat. Because you're the reason why she's been crying herself to sleep lately.", Ava brought out her pokeball from her belt, "Amun, shut Alex up." Out of the pokeball came a flying and fairy type. The powerful Togekiss. "Kiss, Kiss", Amun said.
Alex paused for a second. The rage was gone, replaced with horrified confusion. Kat was crying? What did Ava mean? Alex looked over at Bunny, who had tears in her eyes. Bunny gave Alex a small nod to confirm what Ava said was true. 'Kat's upset? Why?', he was worried now. He turned back to the battle, he had to wrap his mind on it again. Ava had sent out Amun. Amun was strong and powerful, but Alex had a counter to him. This was what he was waiting for, "Poe, come on back out." Out again came the powerful Dragalge who narrowed his eyes narrowed at Ava and Amun. Poe was going to show last time was a fluke. Alex had been countering all night, now he wanted to set the tempo. "Poe, use hail.", there was a reason for this. The sky turned grey as hailstones began to pound away at the Togekiss. Ava though also had a counter to Alex's plan. Especially with Amun.
"Amun, I know the hail is tough, but use flamethrower!", Ava instructed her Togekiss. He floated over towards the Dragalge as a ball of fire formed in his mouth. He fired off the blast of fire as Poe cried out in pain. In fact Poe was burned, Alex grunted. He hadn't taken the flamethrower attack into account. It was effective because of Poe's poison typing. Ava smiled, "you aren't the only one who knows how to burn an opponent." Alex looked at Poe, yes he was burned, but could still fight and was strong. Plus, the hail was doing its part. Amun was getting battered by the hail. Alex could see the Togekiss wincing in pain. "Poe, Dragon Tail!", the Dragalge leapt up and swung his tail at the Togekiss and nailed the fairy flying type. And best of all, one of the poison spikes broke off into the flying fairy. Amun was poisoned. He cried as Alex could see that the poison had taken effect. He had drawn Ava into a trap and sarong it to perfection.
Ava rubbed her hair. She knew that Amun was in a bad situation, but so was Poe. They both had status conditions and were struggling to deal with them. As much as she hated to admit it, Alex had been getting better as a battler. He was smarter. 'For all the shit Alex talks, he's very smart.', Ava remembered Kat telling her. She was seeing it. He was better than last year. Ava would have to end this quickly even if Amun fell. "Amun, use flamethrower.", he took off into the skies again as he was pounded by the hail. The poison had made him fly awkwardly, but he still was in the sky. The fire ball formed in his mouth again as he got closer to Poe. Alex saw this and knew what he had to do. "Draco meteor, Poe.", the Dragalge nodded and looked up to the sky as he was hit with the fire attack, but it was too late. The sky opened up as little meteors of fire fell on Amun and drove him into the ground. Amun was unconscious, but Poe had taken the fire attack head on. He was out too. Each trainer was down to a Pokémon each as both recalled their Pokémon.
Ava and Bunny had both expected some pithy comment from Alex. Some statement that showed how much of an arrogant asshole he was. Instead Alex looked at Ava, the pompous asshole armor had started to crack. He was pale and looked concerned, "what did I do to Kat? What's wrong with her?" While it hurt Bunny to see that it had been hurting Kat that had finally cracked Alex, she was glad that he had started to come back and realize the repercussions of his actions. "You took JJ to Mydia, Alex. I know you were trying to be kind to JJ, but think about it. Who took you to there first.", Bunny was eager. Her voice filled with hope that Alex, her Alex that she knew so well, would return. Looks looked even more confused, "but why would Kat be upset? What does taking JJ there have to do with Kat? Why would she care?" Alex was baffled. He just didn't understand. "She's in love with you, you idiot." Ava sighed, Alex was just a stupid boy. He was stunned. He was in disbelief at this, "no she can't be. That doesn't make sense. She's my best friend. She isn't in love with me." He shook his head, he was in denial.
"Stupid guys you'll never see what is in front of you. Let's finish this.", there was only one Pokémon she knew she could use that would throw Alex off completely. Ava unclipped her pokeball from her belt, "Vee go!" Ava tossed out her pokeball, Alex had expected Ava's trusty Eevee to appear. Instead he was shocked to see that staring back at him with red eyes was an Umbreon. Ava smirked at Alex's expression. She had finally evolved her precious Eevee. Alex had never thought she would ever evolve Vee. This threw his game plan completely off. He searched through his belt. He had always planned to use Drago. She was his secret weapon. But Bunny had probably told Ava about the dragonite. He needed to throw something else into the fray, then it hit him. "Morrissey.", Alex tossed out his Avantura version of the Sawsbuck. The dark and ice type stared at the Umbreon. The tension between Alex and Ava returned as this had been a brutal battle for both. Now they were down to one each. The tension that had been building would reach its tipping point.
"Vee, Shadow Ball!", Ava would make the first move, but Alex had a counter. "Weather ball, Morrissey!", the two powerful attacks would collide right in the middle of the field. The explosion from the impact blew everyone back including the Pokémon. Alex then saw an opening, he knew he had to take it. He would never ever get it again. "Grass knot.", he whispered as the Sawsbuck's horns glowed blue. Suddenly grass vines, ripped into Vee and pinned him down. The Umbreon struggled, but every time he did the vines grew tighter and pinned him to the ground. Ava was shocked as her eyes widened at the realization that Alex had finally got her. "Shadow sneak, Morrissey.", the ice and dark type disappeared into the shadows as he snuck up behind Vee and delivered the final blow. Vee whimpered as he passed out. Alex just stood there as Ava hung her head after losing to Alex. He had finally done it, he beat Ava! So why did he feel like shit? He should have been happy, but he was not. The weight of his actions crashed down upon him. He would fall backwards.
"ALEX!!!", Bunny ran over towards him. She didn't want this, she wanted Alex to see what he had done, but not this. "Sawsbuck!", Morrissey ran over followed closely by Ava. Not even she wanted him to get hurt. Afterall there was a small piece of her that she cared for him. She wouldn't have done this if she didn't. All three gathered around him and looked over his limp body, he was sobbing. Alex's face was red and wet, he had been crying. His eyes were completely bloodshot. Bunny had never seen him like this. She used her one good arm to grab one of his arms, while Ava grabbed the other. They sat him up and once they did they were grabbed into a hug that neither had expected. "I'm so sorry. Bunny I didn't mean to hurt you. It was my selfishness and pride that challenged you. I'm sorry. Im a dick.", he looked at Morrissey. "I'm sorry that I used you and the others like tools. I'm sorry you deserve a better trainer.", the Sawsbuck licked him and nuzzled his face though the fur was freezing.
Alex looked at Ava's eyes. "And you, Ava. I'm so sorry. I fucked up bad. Now we aren't even friends. I was too obsessed and ruined it. I couldn't handle a loss. I shouldn't have done what I did. You're the best trainer I have met. Please forgive me.", Ava smiled a little which surprised even Bunny. She playfully smacked his arm, "when did you become a softie?" Ava and Bunny exchanged looks, Alex was back. He looked at both of them, "I need to talk to Kat."