POKÉMON: INFINITE LEGACIES
THE CIPRYS REGION
CHAPTER 27
NOPE! DOESN'T RING ANY CHINGLING TO ME!

Route 3 continued through Whistltree Forest. Flame trained along the way, battling wild Pokémon and other trainers they encountered. He listened to Selina's advice and could tell with each battle his Pokémon were gaining experience and getting stronger.

A grin curved onto his face as he pictured standing triumphantly over the second gym leader, who, in his fantasy, was bowing to him and showering him with compliments. "Yeah, I know. I'm the strongest," said Fantasy Flame, grinning too.

Flame would have happily stayed in that daydream all day, but suddenly the second gym leader's praise stopped. Her face turned angry.

"It's you!"

"Me?"

"You . . ."

In the second gym leader's place was a girl he recognised with tanned skin, brown hair and eyes, and who wore a brightly-coloured floral skirt from her ancestral region. Her voice, spoken with hints of a distant accent, pierced through his fantasies.

"Flame," she growled. "I just, argh, cannot believe what you did!"

"What Idid?"

"What he did?" Selina wondered.

"Calm down, Keiki," said another girl with lighter brown hair but darker brown eyes, a Bulbasaur padding alongside her. As usual, she looked smart: beneath her short-sleeved demin jacket, her top was tucked into her skirt. Her sleek, stylish backpack complemented her clothing. "Flame, didn't do anything wrong."

The last time Flame had seen Kaitlyn was when her Bulbasaur's Poké Ball had been destroyed thanks to the Shadow of Festivalight. His younger sister, Helia, had stolen his trainer's license in an attempt to get him to stay in Festivalight, only to lead him into the clutches of the Shadow. If it hadn't been for Frost and then Alyssa, the local gym leader, turning up, he wasn't sure what would have happened.

"Hi, Kaitlyn," Flame said. "How's Bulbasaur?"

"She's fine," Kaitlyn replied with uncharacteristic sharpness.

"Bulba," Bulbasaur agreed.

Flame guessed they didn't want to go into details. "So then . . . what exactly am I supposed to have done?"

Keiki rolled her eyes. "You're oblivious, as always. PokéView?"

Flame shrugged. "Nope! Doesn't ring any Chingling to me! I mean, I know it's a streaming service, but yeah, don't know what you mean."

Keiki nearly facepalmed herself. "You and Frost. You make quite a pair, don't you?"

"Me and Frost, a pair?" Flame frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Keiki sighed. "Not what you think. That's for sure."

Kaitlyn stepped in. "Keiki doesn't like how you and Frost battled against Alyssa."

"That's right! You embarrassed the whole of Class 3K—the whole of the Academy, in fact!—with your uncoordinated display. Kaitlyn should have represented the class—not you two idiots!"

"I wouldn't say embarrassed. Embarrased," he repeated, "that seems like a strong word." He was in too much of a good mood from winning battles earlier in the day to be annoyed.

"You think this is a joke? Most of Ciprys was probably laughing at you and Frost. And it was a disgrace to trainers everywhere—battling like that against a gym leader! Where is Frost anyway? I'm gonna give that stuck-up twerp a piece of my mind!"

Flame shrugged. "Oh, Frost. He's off on some too-cool-for-us standalone adventure right now called The Champion's Shadow—available at all good sources—so he isn't going to be around for a little while."

"Eh?" murmured Keiki.

Flame looked away from Keiki and glanced up at the sky. "Was that a good enough plug?"

The sky looked down on him and winked.

Keiki glared at Flame and then the sky. "You're making me so mad right now!" she shouted with exasperation so fierce, her head looked like it might explode any second.

Flame was going to shrug again when Selina said, "Okay, drama Vespiquens. Just battle already. That's what you want, isn't it, Keiki? Or does Kaitlyn want to battle him instead?"

"I'll pass," Kaitlyn said at once. "It's Keiki's battle."

Keiki breathed out, then said with a smirk, "This'll be easy."

Flame grinned. Another win sounds good to me. "How about a 3-on-3?"

Keiki tutted him. "No. We're going to have a double battle. I'm going to show you how it's done."

"That's fine by me."

Selina appointed herself referee as the two trainers stood at opposite sides of the forest path. Kaitlyn made sure Bulbasaur was following her, then she stood next to Selina.

Keiki was quick to produce two Poké Balls, but when Flame went for his, he had to pause for thought. Litten and Eevee together . . . he thought. He imagined the outcome, it wasn't pretty. Well, that has the potential to go very, very bad.

"Hurry up!" Keiki called, holding one Poké Ball in each hand.

Flame made his decision. He grabbed his Poké Balls, and at the same time as his opponent, threw them forwards.

On his side of the field, a small yellow-feathered Pokémon and a slightly larger brown-furred Pokémon emerged from beams of light.

Opposite Flame, Keiki's Poké Balls popped open. A black avian Pokémon with a white face and neck and a long orange-and-red beak appeared alongside a more familiar-looking Pokémon, light yellow and orange-furred.

"This will be a double battle between Flame and Keiki! The winner will be the trainer who eliminates both their opponent's Pokémon. Battle be—"

Flame was staring at the avian Pokémon. He recognised it, but couldn't remember the name. "Who's that Pokémon?"

Keiki looked furious again. "Who's that Pokémon?! Are you kidding me?!"

"It's from Alola," Selina put in.

"Trumbeak! Trumbeak!" Trumbeak reminded.

"Oh yeah, Alola! Alo-la. Go ahead, Selina!"

"Battle begin . . ."

Flame picked up on Selina's deflated tone. "More than 1,000 Pokémon have been discovered, so excuse me, Selina, if I forget a few."

"Would you shut up already?!" Keiki snarled. "Trumbeak, Rock Smash on Eevee! Chimchar, Ember on Oriota! Let's get 'em!"

Trumbeak's beak glowed white and he dived towards Eevee. Chimchar didn't have to move; she opened her mouth and small fireballs shot out.

Flame thought quickly. "Oriota, push Trumbeak back with Gust! Eevee, counter Ember with Shadow Ball!"

Oriota narrowed his eyes at Trumbeak, flapping his wings to draw energy into them. Oriota was much smaller than Trumbeak, but Flame knew Oriota's determination would make up for it. He thought back to when he'd caught Oriota and realised just how much Oriota had grown, showing no fear as he took on a much larger Pokémon. I know you can win this, Oriota, he thought.

Meanwhile, Eevee stepped forwards and tensed. She was closer than ever to mastering the technique after numerous successful attempts, and so it didn't take long for black and purple waves of energy to converge into a sphere. As Chimchar's Ember hurtled closer, Eevee generated the last bit of energy she needed for her counter and sent Shadow Ball in the opposite direction.

All four attacks collided simultaneously.

The air shook, whipping up Flame's dark hair from under his headband and sending Keiki's hair swirling, as Oriota's Gust blasted Trumbeak backwards, the air energy dispersing into the surrounding atmosphere as the energy Trumbeak had raised to perform Rock Smash disappeared. The result was the same elsewhere—no matter the number of fireballs, Shadow Ball overwhelmed Ember and surged towards Chimchar.

"Chimchar?" murmured Chimchar, edging back, unsure what to do.

Shadow Ball would have been a direct hit, but Keiki shouted and Trumbeak dived down with a glowing beak, stopping the attack. Shadow Ball did nothing on contact with Trumbeak.

Flame stared at Trumbeak, puzzled. "Shouldn't Shadow Ball have hurt Trumbeak?"

"Trumbeak's not just a Flying-type," Keiki flashed back.

"Oh. I get you."

Selina suppressed a sigh. He should know all this already.

"Chimchar, use Taunt on Eevee!"

Chimchar's fear suddenly vanished. She pulled down the skin beneath her eye and stuck out her tongue at Eevee childishly. "Chim! Chimchar! Chim! Chimchar!"

Eevee's ears twitched and her tail swished forcefully from side to side. She was eyeing Chimchar and looked about to lunge forwards when Flame said, "Don't go anywhere! They want you to get angry!" and that seemed to get through to Eevee. She nodded. She trusted her trainer and was ready to wait for his command. Flame glanced at Keiki. She was staring at Eevee. Keiki's focused on Eevee, he realised. "Oriota, Thunder Wave on Chimchar! Quick!"

"Echoed Voice! Blast it away!" Keiki responded quicker than Flame thought she would have.

Sparks rippled across Oriota's wings. He flapped vigorously and electrical energy entered the air in the form of a series of yellow rings.

Trumbeak started flapping his wings as his beak opened, sending the soundwaves zooming forwards. Flame winced, his ears protesting as the shrill noise pierced his senses.

Chimchar didn't have to move a muscle. Thunder Wave crackled closer, but only until Echoed Voice arrived to blow it off course. The electrical rings hissed away as they disappeared harmlessly in the ground.

Flame smiled slightly. We seem evenly matched so far, but we've just been cancelling out each other's attacks. I have to keep her guessing. "Eevee, Sand Attack on Trumbeak."

"I should have expected you'd do something stupid like that. That'll be easy for Trumbeak to dodge."

Eevee started scratching at the ground. Quickly whisking around, she launched the dirt skywards with a powerful flick of her bushy tail.

Trumbeak watched Sand Attack approach calmly. As did his trainer.

Until a grin broke out on Flame's face. "Oriota, fly higher and use Thunder Shock on Trumbeak! Eevee, Quick Attack on Chimchar!"

Keiki's expression changed. Indecision seized her face. She only had seconds to act.

Oriota's body glowed yellow, beginning to spark away, while Eevee glowed white, about to spring forwards.

Keiki only had time to say, "Chimchar, Ember! And, uhh . . . Trum—" before Oriota's and Eevee's attacks reached their targets.

Trumbeak was flapping wildly, trying to avoid Sand Attack below and Thunder Shock from above. Trumbeak glanced between the two attacks and then Keiki shouted, "Dodge!" but the avian Pokémon was only confused further. Trumbeak managed to force Sand Attack off course, but Oriota's body was still glowing with electrical energy and he directed Thunder Shock into Trumbeak's path. The wave of electricity hit Trumbeak. Pain contorted his face. Sparks raced across his body and eyes closing, he became still and fell towards the ground.

"That looked uncoordinated," Selina remarked.

"This is Trumbeak's first proper battle since evolving," Kaitlyn explained, "so he hasn't managed to harness all of his new strength yet."

Meanwhile, Chimchar summoned up fire energy and breathed out. Fireballs shot out towards Eevee.

"Jump!" Flame shouted to Eevee. "Get behind Chimchar!"

Eevee had been racing forwards. Her speed on the ground transitioned into a mighty leap that sent her over Chimchar's Ember and behind. The white energy started to fade.

Anticipation gripped Flame. "Double Kick!"

As one of her Pokémon fell from the sky and the other spun round to face an attack, Keiki looked unsure how to respond, frozen to the spot.

"Trumbeak!" she shouted suddenly, breaking herself from her trance. "Open your eyes! Chimchar, dodge!"

Too late!

Trumbeak squeezed open his eyes, only for the ground to swallow his sight up, as he crashed against it in a clump of feathers; Chimchar tried to roll out of the way, but Eevee was too quick. Her hind legs rocketed back and struck Chimchar mid-movement, sending her crashing into Trumbeak.

Both of Keiki's Pokémon found themselves in an undignified pile at the centre of the battlefield, their fur damp and streaked with mud, trying their best to struggle on, gathering themselves up. One of Trumbeak's eyes were closed, and he tried but was unable to lift his right wing to take flight again. Chimchar eyed Eevee defiantly, yowling, but her lack of strength was as clear as the sun on a cloudless summer's day.

With Oriota overhead and Eevee on the ground, Flame's two Pokémon moved in.

Flame grinned. He remembered how the wild Mightyena had threatened and intimidated Oriota. He doubted that would happen again. And he remembered how Eevee had lost her first battle. He couldn't see that happening again anytime soon, either. Maybe it was just because he'd recently won his first gym badge, but he really believed his Pokémon had grown much stronger. He was more pleased than ever that Oriota had joined them.

This is what you're capable of, Flame thought. "Oriota, Thunder Shock! Eevee, Shadow Ball!" he called, hoping Taunt had worn off.

It had.

"Ngh! Trumbeak, stop Thunder Shock with Echoed Voice! Chimchar, counter Shadow Ball with Ember!"

And it was over in seconds.

Trumbeak's beak opened, but he couldn't sum up the energy to halt Oriota's Thunder Shock, his voice weak, and Chimchar's Ember, smaller than usual, wasn't enough to stop Shadow Ball.

Bang!

There was a small explosion as Trumbeak and Chimchar were trapped between the blasts of Thunder Shock and Shadow Ball. Both Pokémon cried out in agony. Smoke seeped out as the energy dispersed. Chimchar was already on the ground, eyes closed. Trumbeak glared up at Oriota, then dropped to the ground, succumbing to the same fate. Somewhere in the distance thunder rumbled, perhaps in appreciation of Oriota's Thunder Shock, and the small Pokémon's gaze was turned that way.

"Chimchar and Trumbeak are unable to battle," Selina declared. "The winner is Flame and Oriota and Eevee!"

Keiki huffed. Annoyance reigned over her face as she hurried to return her Pokémon, as if to suggest the battle never happened. But Flame had beaten her and she had been proven wrong. "I guess you're not so bad after all, Flame," she admitted after a moment. "Still, you and Frost make a terrible team."

Flame smiled. He almost laughed at how much of a mess they were in that battle. "I've got better since then. So have my Pokémon. 'Sides, Teamwork was hardly ever Frost's middle name."

"You better watch out, we're so gonna beat you next time," Keiki promised. She paused for thought, then said, "You took Litten, didn't you?"

"Yeah," Flame said, although he wished he hadn't as soon as the word left his mouth. Was Keiki going to attack him for that too? He wasn't sure his ears could take another Echoed Voice.

"I was planning to choose Litten, but you took him instead. Don't get me wrong, though, I love Chimchar. She's tough and beautiful and a Chimchar was the first Pokémon of my hero anyway." Keiki smiled and gave Flame a small nod before returning to Kaitlyn's side.

"See you later, Flame. Selina," Kaitlyn added. "We're going to see what other trainers we can find."

Flame and Selina added their goodbyes. Then Flame spotted Eevee, padding back towards him, and Oriota. A moment later, the Flying-type landed on his shoulder and chirped happily.

Flame was smiling still. "You did awesome, guys. Awesome!"

"I think that might well be seven in a row, Hotshot. And pretty emphatic too."

"Thanks," Flame said, glancing back over his shoulder, Kaitlyn and Keiki heading the opposite way. His gaze returned to Selina. "We should battle next! Then I can end your winning streak!"

Selina laughed. "Not likely."

"Why not?" Flame protested, encouraged by his recent victories. "I did promise Litten a match against Rowlet, you know. And Litten hasn't forgotten."

"When you're on my level," teased Selina, "I'll let you now."

"I could beat you. Just you wait!"

"Once you win four badges, we'll have a real battle."

"Challenge accepted! Right, team?!"

Eevee yowled her agreement, but Oriota did not. Flame glanced at Oriota, surprised. The small Flying-type was looking into the distance, further down the dirt path that curved back and forth to make up Route 3 . . . focused on something Flame could not see.

Then Oriota chirped hopefully and flapped his wings, climbing into the sky and leaving his trainer below, clueless. Rain had started to fall and the wind was picking up. Flame exchanged anxious glances with Selina. He hurriedly returned Eevee to her Poké Ball and chased after his other Pokémon, now only a yellow speck in the darkening sky.

Author's notes:
This chapter was a tricky one. I wanted Flame to battle a random character in this chapter, but wasn't sure who to put into the role, so had to rewrite it two times. I'm happier now than before with how it's turned out; today's editing went well. I decided to have Keiki vs. Flame to link to the first chapter of the Frost standalone, The Champion's Shadow—out now! (If Flame's fourth-wall break didn't make it clear enough!) The deleted scene at the end of Chapter 24 was also originally at the start of this chapter, which I should have realised before including there. But I felt like writing something else would fit better to setup another trainer's interruption. Like the second gym leader bowing down to Fantasy Flame. :P

Before Keiki I had written Max Fulton from my 'Gigantamax: Rampage Through Galar' entry in KokoroEcho's Pokémon Chronicles in the role—check that out too if you haven't already/if you like my writing. It's good stuff!—and although it was fun to write him and some Galarian Pokémon (Corviknight and Zigzagoon), I wanted a character to bring up and challenge Flame over his and Frost's performance against Alyssa, and for that, I felt a character from Ciprys would more naturally raised that conflict.

Also, there's a reason why Keiki, originally from Alola, chose Chimchar as her starter since Litten was unavailable—if you also follow KokoroEcho's Kickin' It In Kanto, that should soon explain why. So, basically, plenty of crossovers in this chapter! ;P

Reviews:
AppleCrescent: 'Who gave Frost the poultice... someone who was watching him last night... hmm. It can't be Declan... but i have an inkling it is. The bit of slice of life was good to read between Serena and Flame. Oriota is very intelligent and social with his species. I have a feeling he won't forget about his flock even when a year goes by'—Close, but not quite! Frost's standalone will reveal who helped him there. You're right about Oriota; his flock is a big part of his character.

KokoroEcho: 'I have a feeling. A strong feeling, that you've given Hoothoot a new evolution. Frost didn't finish saying that he wanted a "Noct" and since you've introduced new evolutions before, I can totally see you giving a third stage. MACHOP! MACHOP! MACHOP! It needs a Dragon/Fairy variant. This was a nice and simple chapter. I really liked it. I liked a lot of the small details'—You've honestly made me start thinking about doing a third stage for Hoothoot, haha. That Machop would have to be pretty mutated. :P