Attached
A Pokémon Persona Crossover Fanfiction
by Three Black Noises
Chapter 4
Christina woke with a start. At first she had no idea why she was awake, or what had woken her.
She flicked her ears to see if they'd picked up something, and, sure enough, they had. She followed them outside and she was lead to Sarah.
Right away, Christina could tell that the aquatic bird was extremely distraught, and she felt she knew why.
"Trouble sleeping?" she asked from a safe distance.
Sarah turn to see who had spoken, and ended up blasting Christina with water.
"Oh, it's just you, sorry." Sarah said; somewhat embarrassed.
"Oh that's quite all right, but what are you doing out here at four thirtyish in the morning?"
"Well," Sarah hesitated, "I'm scared of letting Michael down this morning." She finally finished.
Sarah moved a little closer before continuing.
"This will be my first real battle you see, and I don't want to be the weakest link, especially because it's just me and Hope this morning."
"Oh come on." Christina said; placing her tail ball on Sarah's head, "Michael isn't going to chunk you if you lose one battle, just go out their and do your best this morning."
"I'm not worried about being dumped, I'm worried that the one move I know won't be enough to win the day."
"I'm not sure I'm the best Pokémon to ask if you want a teacher," began Christina.
"Maybe we can help each other." Sarah cut in.
"I doubt that, but I guess it couldn't hurt to try."
"Well, maybe you just need someone to talk things over with. Do you remember anything at all about how to battle?"
"Of course I, Oh, you mean how many attacks can I remember? Well, their's a lot of stuff banging around in here," Christina pointed to her head, "But nothing makes sense."
"Does something get away from you the more you try and remember it?" asked Sarah.
"Yeah, that sounds about right. I mean I try thinking about how to use water gun and I get, call the water from, mango, tree sap, girder, blast, phase"
Sarah started laughing.
"What?" asked Christina.
"Even a stupid bird like me can figure this out. Your talking TM is getting mixed up with everything else. Just try thinking about water in general."
Christina closed her eyes and began mumbling to herself.
"Water, flowing water," she switched to English, "Cool refreshing water on my skin, babbling brook HYDRO PUMP!"
"Use it." Sarah said calmly, and Christina did as asked, releasing a stream of water that sent Sarah flying high into the air. Christina caught her as she fell, and the two of them began an impromptu dance on the spot.
"So," Sarah began casually, "How does it work?"
"Oh, that's easy!" Christina launched into an extremely detailed technical description of Hydro Pump; switching between her own language and English as she did so.
Suddenly, she fell over on her side and appeared to fall asleep. Liz came out a few seconds later.
She took Sarah in her arms and walked back into the house; leaving Christina where she'd fallen.
"Shhhhh." Liz said as Sarah drew breath to speak.
Once they were back in the room Alder had assigned them for sleeping, Sarah turned to Liz.
"what got in to you? Christina was just starting to"
"I know. You're thinking I did a vary bad thing, but you'd be wrong. In truth, we may have done something incredible tonight."
"Oh really? May I ask what that is?" Sarah asked; a little calmer now.
"You may indeed. You got Christina's mind working like it should, and I helped her into a state where her mind can put things where they belong."
"and I guess leaving her outside is part of this process?"
Liz sighed before asking, "How much do you know about instinct?"
"I know it tells you what to do when you don't know what to do."
Liz laughed, "Yeah, something like that. At least you get the concept anyway.
Christina's instincts aren't working right. She's been dehydrated for sometime now, but all last night she kept asking for drinks of water like she was a human, and not for a bath tub full of water or where to find a clean source of water like any other Azumarill should have done."
"So, what, once she wakes up, she should start asking us to help her find water?"
"More like begging us." Liz laughed.
An hour should tell the tale, but until then, we need our sleep. Liz said as she climbed back into bed.
Michael's POV
I awoke to the sound of someone at our window.
"Can someone please let me in?"
It was Christina, but how she got outside during the night; I had no clue.
I could tell that almost everyone else was already up.
I heard Chris go to the window as Liz nudged me gently.
"Please don't be alarmed, but Sarah and I managed to get Christina back to normal, and this is just the proof of that."
Chris got the window open, Christina clambered in, and the both of them managed to get the screen back in place and close the window. I have to admit, it was; at the vary least; interesting to listen to.
"You do know that we do have a door, right?" asked Hope.
"It was locked." Christina said as she came over to me.
"Hay Michael, can I take a bath?" she asked somewhat breathless.
I started to reply, but a sound from the direction of the bathroom stopped me.
"Hay guise? Which one's the haa" Squirt! "aaaaah"
More sounds of nobs being turned, "Never mind!" yelled Sarah.
Despite my just waking up, I couldn't help laughing at the situation.
A door opened somewhere else, and I heard Alder say, "What the heck is going on at, seven in the morning?"
"Sorry mister alder sir." came Sarah's reply.
Alder started laughing.
"Are you trying to take a bath?" he asked with something like mischief in his voice.
"No, but Christina needs one badly."
Everyone except me gasped.
"What?" I asked; not knowing what was going on.
"So where is Christina?" the conversation continued.
"I have to get her."
"That won't be necessary."" I never heard Christina move, but she apparently had.
"Thank you Alder for your hospitality, and thank you dear Sarah for all your help as well." she finished.
"Oh you're quite welcome, but you better hurry and get in before you get any drier."
Liz put her hand on my shoulder like she had done when Christina was speaking last night.
"Pip pip lu laa plip Christina lup pup."
"You fixed Christina?" a pause; probably for a nod, "That's great! Good job Sarah." alder finished.
"lup. Liz Piplup pip."
(She can say names now?)
(It sure seems that way.) Liz answered as I heard Christina climb into the bathtub.
"Liz helped to?" a pause, then, "You're not one to take someone else's credit are you?"
Alder came into our room a minute or so later.
"I can say this, Life won't be dull in your group."
"Yeah. I'm coming around to that same conclusion myself." I said just as Sarah came back into the room.
"I'm sorry I didn't ask first, but, I just wanted to help Christina a little more." she said as she came to my side.
"I know you meant well, but, yeah, you really should have asked first." I replied after a few seconds.
I heard a rood sound from down the hall, followed by a rather strange squelching slurping sound.
"Okay?" asked Robin.
The slurping sound came again.
"What in the world?" Robin asked.
"It would seem that the pretty water rabbit is regaining her water." Trey said from what sounded like a few steps behind Robin.
"Why thank you so much Trey for thinking I'm pretty." Christina said.
By that time, everyone except Christina had rejoined me in the room where I'd slept.
"So," began Alder. "The morning's young, we're all up, and I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm thinking we get some food in us and then start on the planning phase of the battle for this morning."
"It's only seven. What time are the two trainers coming anyway?" I asked.
"Somewhere around nine. I expect you'll want to get in some practice before the real thing?"
"I was kind of hoping for some practice myself so, yeah, good call, and, thanks again for everything alder." I said.
The "planning" phase was little more than deciding what Pokémon I'd be allowed to use during the upcoming match. I'd sent Sarah and Hope to the battle room to practice by themselves, and Alder and I had just come to an agreement that they'd be the only participants when the doorbell rang, and Robin got up to answer it after explaining that one of the "skills" he'd needed when under one of his previous trainers was being a doorman.
Alder quietly got up and headed for the battle room, presumably to check on Hope and sarah.
A gasp and a scream followed Robin's opening of the door.
"Can I help you?" he asked.
"Maybe we have the wrong house?" asked a girl's voice in a kind of joking manner.
"Not unless Alder moved his house over night." answered a boy in the same way.
"You indeed have the proper place of residence, but may I asked what business you have here on this fine morning?"
"well, I'm Seymour, and this is Cassie, and we're here for our 9 o'clock session with Alder." the boy explained.
"I see. Might I ask you to wait here while I confirm your appointment?"
Cassie spoke up. "Can we at least wait inside?"
"I suppose." Robin answered as he opened the door.
Both children came in and Robin; somehow; shut the door behind them, then asked them; once again; to wait, then smartly left the room, heading for the back of the house.
"Nice bird." Cassie said after Robin was safely out of ear-shot.
"Thanks? I think." I said; not knowing what else to say.
I heard Robin say something to Alder as they came down the hall. I couldn't make it out, but I did hear Alder say, "Yes, that would be a big help. Thank you."
He came into the room just then, and the children moved to greet him.
"So, what are we doing today?" Seymour asked.
"What else? Battling!" Alder exclaimed.
"But we've battled each other so much it's not even a challenge anymore." Cassie complained.
"Oh, that's okay. You'll be battling him today." Alder said.
I figured he'd be pointing at me, so I stood and introduced myself formally.
Liz did the same as Sarah and Hope came into the room with Christina following close behind with chris in tow.
After all introductions were made, Alder explained that I'd only be using sarah and Hope in the battles; in that order; and we then adjourned to the battle room where Trey and Robin were waiting.
Alder handed the children one Poké Ball each.
"Sarah and Hope are both vary new to this trainer battling thing, as this will be their first real battle against anyone even remotely considered a trainer.
Liz, Chris and Trey had their first attempt last night against yours truly." Alder explained.
"So Alder, who has the advantage?" Cassie asked.
"I'm not telling! But that's because I really have no idea. You see, I had Robin randomize
the Poké Balls before we got here, and he didn't know what either of the Poké Balls contained before he did his thing. All that aside, you'll both be full fledged trainers in about a week, so I won't be giving you any pointers during your final lesson."
After about fifteen seconds, Seymour said, "Well, I guess I'm going first."
We both took our positions.
"Sarah?" I asked.
"Yes?"
"I choose you."
"What? Oh, okay." she said as she came to take her place on my side of the arena.
"Michael," Alder began, "I'm not going to be helping you either. If you feel you do need help, please don't hesitate to call on your other Pokémon."
I nodded my understanding, but I also understood what Alder had just done.
In a rather shrewd way, he'd just taken himself out of the equation on both sides, while allowing the other Pokémon unable to participate directly to stay involved in the battle.
"So can I ask Cassie for help?" asked Seymour.
"Sure, but I'm staying out of it aside from calling the matches." Alder replied.
"Well then, let's go!" Seymour called as he threw his ball.
"Pansage!" the Pokémon called as it emerged to take the field.
"Oh dear, a Pansage." Liz said.
I pulled out my Pokédex and turned it on.
"What is that?" asked Seymour.
I thought about answering him, but decided to let the device do it for me.
"Pansage, the Grass Monkey Pokémon. A forest dweller by nature, Pansage shares the stress-relieving leaves on its head with weary-looking Pokémon.
This Pokémon also has a knack for berry gathering, and is kind enough to share them with friends."
As with all of the other entries, I also got a load of other info on the braille display including gender, male. height, 2 feet, and wait, somewhere around 23 pounds.
I also got Pansage's stats, level, 11, and all of his other stats, which were balanced between his two defensive and offensive stats.
"That's an odd-looking Pokédex." Cassie observed.
"Why isn't their a screen?" Seymour added.
"Oh, that'd be because I'm blind and have no need of it." I casually said.
"Then this battle's 'gunna be really quick, 'yanow, 'cause Sarah's outclassed in every way by my Pansage." Seymour said.
"If I'm victorious in any way, it's going to be making you at least sound your age, young man." Alder put in.
Oh, sorry alder sir." Seymour said before amending his previous statement.
"Then this battle is going to be really quick, seeing as Sarah's outclassed in every way by my Pansage."
"Better. Now you actually sound like someone worthy of using that Pokémon." encouraged Alder.
He waited a few seconds before shouting, "Battle, begin!"
"Wait!" Sarah shouted. "I need to let Michael know I learned peck while I was training just now, and also, who goes first?"
"Good question." I responded before looking in Alder's direction.
"Who goes first? Well, yes it is. In most cases, the trainer with the most skill starts the match, but I'd be willing to make an exception this time if Seymour here is willing."
"One more move isn't going to improve Sarah's chances, so, okay Michael, you can go first." Seymour answered.
"Okay, so," sarah began.
"Whatever you do, don't use water attacks." Chris said.
"You'll only help Pansage." Robin added.
"Just do your best." Trey encouraged.
"No trainer should expect more than that." Christina finished.
"Okay Sarah, all your long-range attacks are useless against Pansage so you're going to need to get in close to do any damage.
Try using tackle to help you move in a little faster, but be ready to try and dodge incoming attacks from Pansage, because I'm willing to bet they'll hurt a lot."
"Pansage, you use tackle to!" cried Seymour.
Both Pokémon ran at each other, but Pansage was fast, and succeeded in knocking Sarah to the ground.
"Vinewhip." commanded Seymour.
The vines lashed out and struck Sarah at least a dozen times.
"Sarah, grab the vines!" I called.
She did so; with some effort; and used them to pull herself to her feet.
"Now, get in close and use Peck!"
Sarah charged up her beak, and proceeded to peck away at the grass monkey with a staccato "Pip Pip Pip Pip Pip Pip."
"Using a trump card huh? Two can play that game. Pansage, Magical Leaf!" shouted Seymour.
"But" began alder, but he was cut off as Pansage threw a hole lot of leaves at Sarah.
She, sort of, staggered, back, then fell on her side, screaming at first, then moaning as she hit the ground.
I opened my mouth to give encouragement to her, but I never got the chance.
Her moaning suddenly turned into a growl as she stood up, then began charging toward Pansage.
The monkey kept firing leaves at her, but she didn't let the pain get to her again.
"You, Won't, Make Me Let Them Down!" She screamed as she charged.
She delivered a running peck to Pansage, then got hit with a particularly strong blast of magical leaf and fell again.
"Sarah!" I half screamed, half sobbed.
"No No NO NOOOOOO!" Sarah screamed as she stood once again.
She let out a pure scream without words as she ran flat-out toward Pansage again.
The scream changed in pitch as she got about half way to her goal, then she stopped in her tracks and kept on screaming.
The scream changed to a triumphant yell as it finally ended.
"You 'wunna mess with meeeeee! Bring it!" Sarah said after a few seconds.
(Did Sarah just) I thought.
(Yes. She evolved.) answered Liz.
Seymour didn't seem to be put off in the slightest by Sarah's sudden change.
"Don't let up Pansage! Just keep using Vinewhip and Magical Leaf until Sarah faints!" he shouted.
The grass monkey did as instructed, but Sarah just stood their and laughed.
"Really? That's the best you can do?" Sarah asked before grabbing one of Pansage's vines and using it to pull herself close to the monkey.
"well, take this Peck." She delivered a vary hard Peck attack to Pansage.
"And, faint!" she finished before letting go of Pansage; who quickly fell to the ground.
"Ummmm." Seymour said; not knowing anything else to say.
(How much of that did everyone else understand?) I asked Liz.
(None of it, and it wouldn't really matter if they did either.)
"Well, I have to call it." Alder said before calling, "Pansage is unable to continue, so Sarah wins the match!"
"Oh yeah, oh yeah! Me! Me! Me! I win!." Sarah shouted as she danced.
"Come on little girl, 'wathcha got huh? Bring it! Bring it! Bring it on!" sarah shouted in Cassie's direction.
(This isn't like Sarah at all.) I observed.
(No, she isn't. It's just the evolution high. Let's try to keep the battle going. Maybe we can burn it off so it doesn't take the Sarah we know away from us.) Liz recommended.
Liz's line of reasoning made sense to me, so I asked Cassie to go ahead with her challenge.
She sent out her Pokémon; a Pansear, and Sarah attacked before Alder had time to call for the match to begin.
"Sarah!" I called, but the water bird practically drenched the fire monkey in water.
Pansear used some kind of week fire move to lessen the damage of Sarah's attack, but she didn't let up in the least.
Cassie tried to give a command to Pansear, but Sarah just kept blasting him with water until he fainted dead away.
Alder didn't even bother calling the match, but Cassie didn't seem phased by her overwhelming loss.
Sarah didn't gloat this time, she simply turned and started to walk out of the room.
"You owe Pansear and I a fair fight!" Cassie called to Sarah's retreating back.
"Get stronger." Sarah said just before the door closed.
"Now what?" I asked in the silence that filled the room soon after.
"I hate this." Hope said; coming over to stand beside me on my right.
"This is exactly what Sarah was trying to avoid." she continued.
Trey came over and stood on my left.
Leaning over, he gently pet Hope saying, "Now now. Let us just wait a little while."
"The evolution high?" I asked.
"Yes. It shall work itself out shortly, and then we shall deal with the Pokémon we will then have."
"I want the old Pokémon back." Hope said.
"I know." Trey said; reaching over to pet Hope again.
"You both made a strong showing, even though you both lost." I said to the two children; trying to pass the time.
"Well you can't win 'em all." said Seymour.
"And if you let every loss get you down, you can't be a vary strong trainer." Cassie finished.
"You have to try and take away something positive from every experience you have. In that way you become more knowledgeable, and eventually, stronger." Trey said; surprising us all.
"At least, that is what" Trey trailed off.
"What, Ruby, use to say, before, she" Trey trailed off again.
"This Ruby sounds vary wise." Alder commented, "and, she's right, by the way." he finished.
"Who is this Ruby?" asked Seymour.
"She was, is, my, elder sister." Trey slowly answered.
"Is she dead?" asked Cassie.
Trey let out a vary long, slow breath, then answered, "That, or, missing."
"We can find out real quick." Alder offered.
"How?" the two kids, trey and myself asked.
"Trainer's Eyes!" called Alder.
"Trainer's Eyes active." said a prerecorded voice.
Alder walked to one of the walls and began typing on what I thought to be one of those virtual keyboards.
"How long has she been missing for?" he asked.
"Try four years." replied Trey.
"All right. Dang it!"
"We aren't looking for an Onix." Cassie exclaimed.
"I know, but I'm used to the old numbering system." Alder explained.
"Let's try 15! Aah, that's much better! Form, Evolution, Aha! Their we go, Wigglytuff. How old is Ruby?"
"About six or so."
"Do you have any idea of what region she arrived in?"
"None of my people do. Sorry."
"That's fine."
He pressed a final key.
"It will take the app a few minutes to compile a list."
"How many trained Wigglytuff can their be?" Seymour asked.
"You'd be really surprised young man. Although most are just pillows or fashion statements." Alder allowed.
During that discussion, Robin walked over and acted like he was interested in how Alder was using the app.
"Is that bar at the bottom supposed to mean how long we have to wait?" he asked.
"Yes but" began Alder.
"Hay! What's this thing here?" Robin asked.
"No Don't Touch, that?" Alder said.
"Another app opened.
"Pokétube. Broadcast your Pokémon's talent to the world." Robin read.
"Oh it's like youtube." I said.
"Yes but no humans are allowed to appear anywhere on it." explained Alder.
"Why would their be a Pokétube link in an app that just looks for Pokémon?" asked Liz.
"I have no idea." answered alder.
An incredibly high-pitched voice issued from all of the speakers in the room.
"Hello. I'm Ruby, and I'd like to sing everybody a song I used to sing back home."
Trey practically jumped at the screen saying, "It is her!" over and over.
Then the song started, and everyone stood perfectly still and listened.
"I think I just might cry." Sarah said.
"How did" I began.
"During the song." she answered.
"Was that your sister?" Sarah asked.
"How in the!" I exclaimed along with everyone else; as I could have swarn I'd just heard sarah as a Piplup as well.
Prinplup came over to me and climbed into my lap.
While noticing how much heavier she was, I also looked her over; starting with her head.
As I got down to her bill, she forced it into my hands and held it their.
"Hello." she said.
"How can you both be here?" Robin asked.
"Yeah only one should remain. Oh well at least I get my rematch." Cassie said.
"What rematch?" Prinplup asked.
"You know, a redo of that battle just a few minutes ago, where you totally trounced Pansear?" Sarah asked.
"Hold it." I said.
"How did this happen?" I asked after quiet was restored.
"Well, we fought, and Piplup won, but I still wanted to stay." Prinplup began.
"Wait wait. Fought?" I asked.
"yes, in, our, minds." Prinplup explained as if to a vary dumb child.
"And as I came back to myself, Prinplup began to form in front of me." Sarah finished.
I thought about this for a few seconds, then it dawned on me.
"Persona." I said.
"Would this have anything to do with'
Alder was cut short by a knock at the front door.
I didn't hear it vary well, but Christina did, and let us know.
Most likely out of habit, Robin started for the front of the house, with the rest of us trailing not to far behind.
I started to use my cane, but Liz took me in sighted guide mode, and we did a vary fast jog to the front of the house instead.
The kids took up the rear, Alder, Robin, Chris, christina, Hope, and both versions of Sarah kept pace with us, but Trey was in the lead pretty much from the start, so it was he who answered the door.
Out of everyone it could have been, the last person I expected was standing on Alder's front porch.
"Good day." Margaret said to; I guess, alder.
"The same to you, and you are.,"
"Margaret, the one who rules over power." she answered as she came in and Alder locked up.
"You are the, older? Sister of Elizabeth? Correct?" asked Trey.
"I am, and before anyone asks, yes,
I'm aware of the surveillance devices that recorded my sister's, exchange with the champion league last night. Rest assured, you were the only other people privy to what happened last night, as it pertains directly to Michael's unique abilities in this world."
Margaret said all of this briskly as we all took seats.
"Not just me." I said.
"Someone else besides you summoned a persona just now?" asked Margaret.
Sarah, my Piplup, did, something, and Prinplup appeared.
"Hello." She said brightly before noticing Margaret.
"Are you a strange gardevoir?"
"No, I am, in fact one of the servants of Philemon, the demon who first gave humans the power of persona." Margaret answered.
"Persona, that's what I am?" Prinplup asked.
"You should be standing where Sarah is right now, or not at all." Seymour almost yelled.
"the persona ability is basically a method for allowing a person to bring into existence a, well a manifestation of what they imagine themselves to be." I supplied.
"That is quite a direct and accurate synopses of the persona ability." commented Margaret before adding, "At least so far as the video games of your world can describe it."
"So, what happens when I leave?" I asked; dreading Margaret's answer.
"As far as my master is able to determine, the rules of this world will fully take hold once again."
"So sarah will just evolve into a Prinplup?" Seymour asked.
"Or, what if, this is Sarah's chance to, talk to herself and get all the differences between her and Prinplup straightened out?" asked Cassie.
"That's definitely an option." Margaret agreed.
"So she is my persona?" asked Sarah.
"That is correct, for the time being." Margaret answered.
Silence ensued for a time, then; suddenly; Prinplup burst out,
"You know what Sarah? I for the life of me can't understand this hole selflessness thing, but I'm willing to try, if you'll agree to one condition."
"Please, name it." Sarah happily answered.
"You let me do what I think is best for your protection."
"Like battle for me?"
"No! I mean like, if I think you're going to be harmed in any way, you let me step in."
Sarah thought for a time.
"Like, Pokémon battle harmed?"
"No, I mean in the mortal sense."
"That won't be a problem, as long as you agree to my condition."
"And that is?"
"Be open, up front, and honest with me. I want to really know if you and I have any chance of reaching some kind of compromise regarding our two vary different life styles."
Prinplup thought for a time.
"Okay. We have a deal."
she made a loud watery breathy sound before continuing.
"You do realize, that this is going to be a huge stretch for me, don't you?"
"Prinplup, I know I'm asking a lot from you, some would even say to much, but if you have even a shred of me in you, I know you'll be able to understand my way of thinking with time.
For starters, why don't you just kind of, hang out in my head for a while, and watch me live.
I think you'll begin to understand."
Prinplup sighed heavily. "Okay, Sarah. For now, you win."
And with that she was gone.
"Wow." the two kids said.
"I'm betting any other Piplup would kill to do what you just did."Alder said.
"Most likely." Sarah answered before silence once again made itself our friend.
"So, Margaret, how, do I get home?" I asked.
"How do you think?" Their was no hint of back-talk in her voice, it was just the plane unvarnished question.
"If I had even the smallest hope that this world would make things easy for me, I'd say you could just open a door in the air and send me home. but life hasn't made itself easy for me yet, so, I'm guessing, the league is my ticket home."
"You're correct, and I assume you know how to go about that, so until we meat again."
Margaret got up and began to make for the door.
"wait!" I yelled on a whim.
"Yes?" she responded; turning to face me.
"Who's my persona?"
"don't you know?"
"What, I've already awakened?"
"Yes." Margaret opened the door and stepped out.
"When you kissed." she said over her shoulder; just before the door slammed.
"Wait! I have" I stopped talking, but Trey ran to the door and flung it open.
"Huh?" he said, then, "she is gone."
He closed the door just as Alder said, "That's not the half of it. When she left, she just stepped into nothingness."
That doesn't surprise me at all." I said.
I sat their in speechless disbelief at Margaret's last words for some seconds, before my mind began to consider the implications.
"Liz?" I asked with a shaky voice.
"All I did was bond like all Gardevoir do. Is she saying that I somehow became your persona?" She asked.
"It sure seems like it. Well their's one way to find out. How old are you?"
"I beg your pardon?" Liz asked; sounding just the slightest bit affronted.
"I know how that sounds, but I'm asking for a constructive reason, not to be nosy or, to be hitting on you."
"Well, if you must know, almost four years."
"Well that solves it. Their's no way you could be made just for me, or you would have poofed into existence just a few seconds after I arrived in this world. We'll get our answers, once I figure out how to get to the Velvet Room." I said; fingering the key in my pocket.
I reached out to touch Liz.
"Don't!" but it was to late.
My hand landed on her arm, just below her shoulder.
"what the!" The kids exclaimed. Liz gasped.
"Oh, she must have an illusion active." I explained.
"Well could you have her turn it off or move your hand?" Cassie asked.
"Yeah it looks kind of creepy passing half way through her dress." Seymour observed.
A few seconds passed, during which nothing seemed to happen.
Suddenly alder, Robin and Christina gasped.
"You were the one their that day!" Alder finally said.
"If you're referring to that dark day when an entire family of Espeon was killed? Yes." answered Liz.
"Oh, I remember seeing that on the news!" Seymour exclaimed before adding; in a spooky voice, "It stood out to me because noone knows what did the deed."
"And the case is still open to this day." Alder finished.
"Well, I did take the fur off of them before they bled out, after asking if it was okay of course, and I also tried to get any info they had on the killer." Liz explained.
"Did you get anything? It'd be more than we have." asked Alder.
Liz thought a moment, then said; vary slowly,
"The only thing all of them seemed to agree on, was the fact that whatever attacked them, was, big, pink, and had no psychic signature what so ever."
"Okay? How big, is big?" asked Alder.
"Oh, about my size, give or take a few inches." Liz answered.
"A big Wigglytuff?" asked Seymour.
"Oh no. No fur at all, and it was to heavy, and it kind of lumbered around, to." finished Liz.
Alder seemed to get vary thoughtful, so I asked Liz,
"So, what does that, um, dress, do?"
"What? You mean, aside from being pretty?" asked Seymour.
"Oh, not a hole lot. It lights up in the dark, and lets me take 1 dark or ghost attack without taking damage once per day." Liz answered.
Alder suddenly headed for the back of the house again.
"Kids, I'll be in my study doing some research." he called over his shoulder.
"We can manage." they said as one.
"Does he do this a lot?" Robin asked after alder was safely out of ear shot.
"It depends on what he's researching, and if we have stuff that can keep us entertained in his absence." Cassie answered as Seymour went to a book shelf and took down a book.
"What's that?" Christina asked.
"Oh, just a book on the starter Pokémon. I figure this is our last half hour here so, we might as well decide what we want and learn about them."
"Well I'd prefer to learn as I go so, no book reading for me." Cassie said.
"I'd rather spend my last half hour battling one last time with Pansear against Sarah or Prinplup." she said after a moments pause.
"But we have no judge." Seymour pointed out.
"Yes we do." Liz answered.
"But you're a Pokémon." I told her.
"All the better to judge a Pokémon battle."
So, five minutes later saw us all back in Alder's battle room, without Alder for the time being.
Liz stood in his place and called, "Trainers ready?"
"Ready!" Cassie and I said.
"Pokémon ready?"
Cassie called out her Pansear as Sarah walked forward.
"We're ready." they both said.
"Just a second." I called as I pointed my Pokédex at Pansear.
"Pansear, the High Temp Pokémon.
This Very intelligent Pokémon lives in caves in volcanoes.
When it is angered, the temperature of the fire within the tuft on its head can reach 600° Fahrenheit.
This hot fire lets Pansear roast berries before eating them.
Like Pansage, it likes to help people."
As I expected, Pansear's stats were identical to Pansage's.
"Positions please?" Liz called.
We all took our positions.
"All right." Liz said before raising her voice.
"This will be a 1-on-1 contest between The challenger Pansear and Sarah. Both Pokémon will battle with no time limit until one is unable to continue. All instant-defeat moves are hereby declared invalid. Only the trainers may give commands to their respective Pokémon, with any outside command on behalf of either party declaring this match null and void. Are both trainers in agreement with these terms?"
"Instant-defeat moves?" Cassie asked.
"It's just a formality. In most battles, this would mean things like self destruct and memento, but in this case it makes it so Sarah can't finish this battle in one shot." Liz explained.
"Does outside interference also include Prinplup?" Trey asked.
Liz gave a small laugh. "Why, yes it does." she answered.
"Oh, okay. Well, I guess I'm ready." Sarah called.
I'm not sure if anyone else noticed, but I heard Alder come up quietly outside the door. He didn't say anything, so I knew he was just here to watch the Proceedings.
"Cassie, you have the first move." Liz called.
"Hay!" Sarah shot back.
"It's only fair, seeing as this is a rematch, and you didn't give her and Pansear a chance to do anything the last time you went against each other." Liz calmly said.
despite the fact that I really wanted the first move, I had to agree with Liz's reasoning, so I said nothing.
"Battle, Begin!" shouted Liz.
"Pansear, use what we've been practicing, and keep Sarah from hitting you with any of her water moves!" Cassie Yelled.
The monkey immediately went into action, using something that I guessed was Flamethrower to put a shield between himself and Sarah.
Sarah started to counter with Watergun, but I called for her to only use it when she thought she had a clear opening so as not to waste all of her water.
Sarah did as she was asked, but still tried to find an opening for about 30 seconds before saying, "This is hopeless. Michael, I think I can get around his fire shield, but I can't tell you"
"Michael, are you using a time out?" asked Liz.
"What?" I asked; somewhat confused.
"Any talking longer than fifteen seconds between a trainer and Pokémon during a battle doesn't count as a command." Liz answered.
My hesitation must have shown on my face, because Sarah made a frustrated sound before saying; rather quickly, "Just trust me I know what I'm doing." before moving back onto the battlefield.
This from a Piplup who's only been battle-able for a day at most? I thought to myself before nodding to her.
I'm not exactly sure what happened next, but suffice it to say that Sarah and Pansear did a lot of scuffling before she shouted, "I've got him down! Call an attack!"
I drew breath to do so, but as I was doing that, Cassie simply said, "Role over."
To late, I realized what Sarah meant by "down," but Pansear was already following the command givin to him.
Sarah screamed in frustration, but started doing something else almost at the same time she got back up from being thrown to the ground.
It kind of sounded like Bubblebeam, but it also sounded different.
"Water bullets." Sarah said in between rounds of the things.
She kept firing them at Pansear as he kept up his flame shield.
"See little bird? You can't hi"
Pansear was knock to the ground before he could finish.
"Yes!" Sarah and I both shouted.
"get back up! And this time don't taunt her, or you'll geeee" She trailed off before saying, "yeah. Use Taunt!"
I knew what Taunt did, and it wouldn't be pretty if Sarah could no longer use the one attack that gave her the advantage in this fight.
"Stop" I yelled, but Sarah cut me off with, "Already on it!" before, um, taking Pansear's tail in her beak?
This time, I seized the chance.
"full-power Waterguu" The attack was already happening, but instead of speeding Pansear into a wall or just flying to the ground, Pansear's yell of pain traveled, upward?
Sarah began shooting water on the ground while "singing" a little ditty that translated as, "Swim in the pretty water."
I had to really try hard not to laugh at the irony of what Sarah meant, as a rather loud and wet splash was just as quickly followed by an extremely loud scream.
unfortunately, Pansear's pain didn't stop him from realizing that he was in a perfect position to fire off; or rather scream out; his Taunt.
unfortunately; for Pansear, anyway, it didn't seem to do anything.
"I'm sorry sir," Sarah said after about three seconds or so, "But I've put all that behind me."
Pansear said something to sarah, but she didn't take the bate.
"Oh no good sir. You see" A blast of water slammed into Pansear, and as he went airborne; again, Sarah spun into Pansear several times, all the while saying; with each spin, "It, wasn't, her, fault, so, their!"
Pansear screamed as each hit connected, and as he came back down while Sarah was catching her breath, Cassie ordered, "lick." in a calm controlled voice.
"Back Sarah!" I shouted, but to no avail, for the lick connected squarely.
Pansear's tongue drug along Sarah's body as the monkey fell back to earth, and as she moaned from the paralysis taking hold, I realized we might be screwed.
"it hurts it hurts it hurts!" she cried.
"I know, but you can either crawl away crying, or you can try and finish this." I said calmly.
"Finish this." Sarah whispered.
she tried to move, but let out a yell instead.
"Can't, move!"
"You're going to have to take a pot shot then." I said; fighting to keep my voice calm.
"A, what?" Sarah moaned.
"You have to shoot from your current position." I said; feeling a bit calmer knowing that Sarah was still trying to parse information.
Pansear put up his darn flame shield again.
"Good Pansear!" called Cassie.
With a colossal effort, Sarah began firing her water bullets at Pansear.
Most of them either went wild, or hit his shield, but a few of them managed to find their target.
Pansear cried out in pain, but Sarah was losing her strength rapidly.
Her bullets suddenly stopped, with the final shot being a clean hit.
Pansear cried out again, but remained standing.
Sarah slumped to the ground; moaning softly.
"Just keep standing and we've got this!" Cassie called.
Her words were in vain, for the fire monkey fell over in defeat.
"Oh man. No! no! Pansear." Cassie said.
Silence rained for a few seconds before Liz called, "Sarah and Pansear are both unable to battle, so I declare this match a drawl."
Liz walked over to me and put a hand on my arm.
"Good job." she said.
Cassie and I shook vary sweaty hands.
"Good battle." I said.
"Same to you." she said after a second or so.
"You win some, and you lose some." I said.
"We both lost." she said.
"Nah, we both gained knowledge, that's a victory on both sides." I said.
"Well said!" Alder said; clapping as he made his formal entrance.
"You're all going to be fine trainers one day." he finished as he made his way over to us.
"And Liz, not bad for your first time being a judge."
Liz thanked Alder as Cassie recalled Pansear; thanking him for a good job.
I bent down to retrieve Sarah, but Prinplup was their telling me to leave her alone.
I tried to protest, but Hope came over and told me that her and Prinplup would take care of sarah.
Alder told me that the two children and I needed to join him for a little talk, as he was originally coming to get us for that purpose before he noticed the match about to begin.
So I left Sarah with her, um, "Persona" and Hope, and joined Alder along with the rest of my Pokémon back in the living room.
Alder took a moment to collect his thoughts before he began.
"Well you both saw what happened with Sarah, and met Margaret, so my job is a little easier." he said to the two kids before filling them in on the events of last night.
"So, has Elisabeth's presents had any more effects than that?" Robin asked.
"Yes, actually. That's what I was going to tell you all about." Alder said with the tone of a man about to resign himself to a vary long conversation.
"Seymour, you've been following current events lately. Do you recall a proposed change to the gym challenge?" Alder asked.
"Oh yeah I do. But if I recall right, it didn't pass, because, they couldn't find a dark type gym leader." Seymour said as if recalling the event as he was talking about it.
"I think, Liz and I heard rumblings of that in our travels." Chris put in. "As I recall it, trainers were vary concerned that if it passed, all their journeys would be doubled." he finished.
"They had good reason to worry. It passed, and it has." Alder said before waiting for a response.
"Wait. Christina called. "What's going to happen to the trainers that have almost completed their journeys?"
"Well that's also going to effect you all, because the PWT has been moved up drastically." Alder explained.
"PWT?" a lot of us asked.
"Basically, a bunch of gym leaders are gathering for a friendly competition against trainers from around the world." Liz explained before adding, "You hear a lot when visiting multiple Pokémon centers."
"I don't doubt it. It's been vary big in the news lately." Alder said before addressing the children.
"I'm, afraid, that, your paths have been altered as a result of these events, so when you get home, you should use the week ahead to get online, find out the names and regions of the gym leaders who are staying out of the PWT, and plan your paths accordingly."
"Does Mom already know?" asked Cassie.
"She should. All trainers in waiting and their parents have been notified of the changes via e-mail." Alder explained as he lead the children to the door.
He opened the door, then said, "Go home, talk things over with your parents, then decide how you're getting to wherever your going. and please, take your time. The world is a big place, and it isn't going anywhere."
"Thanks for the heads up." Seymour said as he stepped out.
"Yes, thanks for everything, and please take care of" something was handed over.
"I will. And thanks for being good trainers to them." Alder said.
They all exchanged final greetings and well wishes before Alder waved them home and closed the door.
I waited a few seconds to make sure they wouldn't be coming back for anything before I said in Alder's direction, "I take it that little ears don't need to hear whatever you're about to tell us?"
"It only concerns you and your Pokémon." he responded smoothly.
He took a seat and waited to make sure we were all comfortable before continuing.
I'm sure you are all wondering what's to become of your jym challenges now that the PWT has been announced, yes?"
"The thought was on my mind." I said; nodding at the same time.
"Well, you happen to have lucked out. Cheren is going to participate in the PWT, but he doesn't leave until ten on Sunday, that's tomorrow morning, so he's agreed to battle you for a badge, provided you can make it back to Aspertia. Roxie over in Virbank City has a spot open the vary next day at two in the afternoon, and if you're feeling up to it, Burgh in Castelia can battle you on Tuesday morning."
"That's a lot of gyms, and not enough time to train." Robin observed.
"I know, but events are moving rapidly, and I'm afraid Michael is going to have to move fast or lose these chances." Alder explained.
I ran over all the gym leaders I knew of in my head, then asked, "Is Clay still the only ground gym leader?"
"Yes, but he's already said he isn't taking any formal challengers until after the PWT has ended, and he gets some rest."
"So, how long is this PWT?" asked Liz.
"It lasts six months, but the gym leaders who are participating are all going to take a short brake to rest every two weeks or so."
"So we'll be traveling to another region, or waiting six months huh." Chris thought out loud.
"But can't they take a boat from Castelia?" Hope piped up.
"Hope! I wanted to tell them!" Sarah said.
"Oh, sorry Sarah, it just came out."
"I know." Sarah said; a little calmer.
"so you are leaving us after all?" I asked; not to surprised.
"Well yes. As I already said before, Juniper was going to send me to Castelia so I could work for the medical unit their." Hope explained.
"Before you came, I kind of, um, promised Hope I'd go with her if she decided to do that," Sarah began.
"But now that I have a Prinplup living in my head, well..."
"Ah I get it.". What better way to show her selflessness." I deduced.
"Wow. That was easy." Sarah said before continuing.
"See, Hope and I were thinking we'd train here a little bit more today, then travel with you all until we reach Castelia, and help out with the gym battles along the way. I'd stay with you for the week or so it takes Hope to do that, conference thing, then join her on the ship when it departs. And once Hope's life runs its course, I'll find you all again."
"How long will that take again?" Chris asked.
"optimistically? Oh, about eight months, or so." Hope answered.
"Well, if you're sure that's really what you want to do, then who am I to stop you." I said.
"Oh thank you! Thank you!" Sarah yelled; giving me a huge hug.
"And in the mean time, you can train a blind Azumarill." Christina said. "That is, if you want to." she finished.
"I'd love to." I said with a little laugh.
"Hay Alder, I wonder if I can use your battle room one last time to train Hope and Sarah for a few hours?"
"I figured you might ask that." Alder said; a smile in his voice.
"More than that though, their's something else I want to do before we leave you."
"Oh, And what might that bee?"
Robin shrieked with joy as he flew above Alder's house.
The battle room had been opened to the sky, and all of us enjoyed a pleasant breeze as we listened to; and watched; respectively, robin's joy.
I figured Alder would have such an accommodation for his Volcarona, and I wanted to take advantage of a controlled situation to allow Robin to get a handle on the basics of flight before we went out into the world.
He wasn't flying vary high; most likely due to his wing feathers not being completely grown in yet, but this was probably the highest he'd ever been, so I decided to teach him how to really fly later; if I could.
Liz and the others were helping to train Hope and Sarah, and I asked lots of questions and gave out ideas; some bad, and some good; as it turned out.
We all passed several hours in this way, but eventually, three PM came around.
That's when Alder came in and handed me my Pokédex.
"I put some things in your documents folder. Your beginners guide as well as a list of all the gym leaders who aren't participating in the PWT, among other things."
"I thanked him as Robin came in for a vary rough landing.
"You'll get the hang of it." Alder and I said, then we laughed together before I thanked him for everything he'd done for us.
"I made a three thirty reservation for you at Aspertia's Pokémon center, but Crystal called me up during my research a while ago, and she's coming by within the next few hours." Alder finished.
"Wait mom's coming here?" Christina asked; more than a little surprised.
"She sure is. After you had that speach TM used on you, she got a new assignment that just so happened to bring her to Aspertia City. She's still unloading her things at the moment, but after I filled her in on everything that's gone down regarding you, she said she'd love to check up on you and meet Michael at the same time."
christina was more than taken aback by the news.
After she had time to take everything in, she walked up to me.
"Mom's, unique, but if you give her a little bit of time, I'm sure the two of you will become awsome friends." she finally said.
"I look forward to meeting her." I replied; and I genuinely meant it.
So what do we do in the mean time?" Liz asked.
Robin cleared his throat.
"If I may?"
"Sure Robin, go ahead." Liz prompted.
He paused to gather his thoughts.
"This gym leader match is really going to happen tomorrow morning yes?"
We all nodded; or, at least, I did.
"Well, instead of trying to guess what skills Hope and Sarah will need, why don't we go on-line and look up our opponent and start developing a strategy based on the information we're able to retrieve?"
"Would that not give trainers an unfair advantage?" asked Trey.
Robin went over to what I thought was a wall and began to gently pek at it; or maybe he tapped at it with his wing; I'm not sure whitch..
"No. It's all on-line, if I can just remember how to" Robin said between peks or tapps.
A beep sounded from, somewhere, and Robin let out a "Yes! Here we go!"
"Oh! It's a screen! For a moment, I thought you were just pecking at the wall." I exclaimed.
"No I'm tapping it with my wing, and I should have told you what I was about to do." Robin explained as a second beep sounded.
"Oh kay." he said slowly.
"It looks like we'll be facing off with a man named Cheren." Robin said.
"Sounds about right." I said.
"Let's see. He trains normal type pokémon, the match type is, single battle using two Pokémon, And his choices for our team level are, a level 12 Patrat and Pidove, as well as a level 14 Lillipup."
"Does that also give the moves the Pokémon know?" Trey asked.
Robin sighed as he; most likely; looked the screen over.
"Let's see. It says here that his signature move is something called, Work Up."
"Oh no." Trey said in a vary low and quiet voice.
"Oh no is right. Work Up raises a Pokémon's attack stat to a vary high level." I explained.
"That's bad?" Hope asked.
"For us, yes! Especially at your current level. Sarah's to."
"Um, okay?" Sarah asked.
"Well, if one of those Pokémon gets off a few Work Ups, we can kiss that vadge good by." I explained before thinking of another question to ask.
"Hay Robin, what other moves do his Pokémon know?"
Robin tapped around a little bit.
"huh. It, looks, like, mostly, Tackle, and, Bite for, the two normal types, with a few status moves like Leer. Hmm, and,"
"Here let me." Liz said; going for Robin's position.
"Oh no." I said, rushing to her, and; sort of; hugging her so I could keep her from getting to robin again.
"Robin can do this, just give him a chance okay?" I finished.
Liz; sort of; sighed, then seemed to think for a moment.
"Robin, we need to know what moves each Pokémon knows. we can't plan a sound strategy without that information." she explained.
"I know. I'm just reading what's here." he replied.
"But you're leaving out moves." Liz argued.
"No, I'm not. It's showing five moves for Patrat, but the last one is just a bunch of question marks." Robin explained.
"Odd." Hope added."
"And Pidove is mostly, um, blocked out except for work Up and Leer. Lillipup has two moves that aren't being shown to us, as well."
"O kay." Liz said slowly.
"Well, it's not like the rest of the moves can't be inferred." I challenged.
"How so?" asked Sarah.
"Well, Pidove is your normal basic flying type, so it most likely has Gust and Quick Attack, and maybe Tackle as well.
"Well that makes sence." Trey put in.
"So, basically, we'd have to base our strategy around a hit and run tactic?" Sarah asked.
"That would be the best way to go, but we don't exactly have a lot of move choices to work with." I pointed out.
"Well," began Trey, "I could try and teach the ladies Work Up, if they would be willing to learn something new in a vary short time."
"How well, do you think that would work out for us?" Hope asked in Trey's direction.
"I do not know. If you and Sarah are willing to try and learn it, our odds of winning in the morning would increase."
"We are!" Sarah exclaimed.
"Trey, how confident are you in your ability to teach Work Up to them?" I asked.
"I will not say for sure, because I do not know how it will go within such a short time limit, but I will also add that I can possibly teach Hope Defense Curl so she can take a few more hits from these most likely powered-up Pokémon."
I was just a little uncirtain about all this, but Trey came over to me and rested his hand on my leg.
"Michael, they have the will to learn, and that is the most inportant thing right now. I will do my best to insure they are ready for tomorrow."
"Then we will to." I said before calling robin and Liz over and facing them as best I could.
"I hate to do this to the both of you, but could you offer support to them? they'll definitely need it."
"Think nothing of it! we're glad to do our part!" Robin answered in an unusually enthusiastic tone.
Liz made a sound of agreement.
"while trey is doing his thing with the girls, we need to perfect the strategy they'll be using." I finished.
"Now that, we can do." Liz responded before making sure Trey was okay training the girls on his own.
"So do you really think we have any kind of chance of winning?" I asked Liz after making sure that Hope and Sarah were fully involved in Trey's training.
Liz seemed to think; but only for a second; before saying, "Hope and Sarah have big hearts, but they also have vary strong wills. While I can''t say we'll win for sure, there is a definite chance we'll succeed."
So we spent some time; I don't really know if it was closer to two or three hours; deciding what Hope and Sarah would do in the coming battle.
I tried to think of every possible situation they could find themselves in and devise some sort of counter plan.
I knew we'd have to come up with a few new tricks, but trey and Liz; after some persuading; convinced me that we'd have to mostly make do with what we had.
after some time, Trey tought Hope work up, Defense Curl and refreshed her memory on a few other basic moves.
I mannaged to convince Sarah to try and learn Work up from Trey, and we were just finishing up that particular lesson when the doorbell rang
I knew that would be Crystal, so I asked Liz if she'd be good enough to watch the Pokémon that were still training while I went to meet crystal by myself.
Liz was okay with the idea, but christina seemed like she wanted to tag along, so I let her.
That ended up being a good thing, because half way to the front of the house, a creature of some kind ran up and took christina into its arms.
"Christina! Please, say something to me?" it almost beged.
"Mom I'm fine okay? But aren't I a little to big for you to be picking up? And how'd you get here so fast?" christina replied.
Crystal reluctatntly put her daughter down before responding.
"I thought I lost you when I got the notification that a speach TM was used on you. Was it rough? And how'd you pull through it?" she asked seemingly in one breath.
"My new friends sarah and Liz worked together to restore all my normal cognitive functions early this morning." christina answered as if she were talking about the weather.
"Please don't make light of this. If you even think their might be any lingering effects, I need to know now so we can resolve them." crystal explained calmly.
"Mom, I'm fine, really! Christina said.
Crystal seem to consider, then; eventualy; relented.
"all right, but remember I'm always only a phone call away if you ever need me." she finally said before turning in my direction.
"So, your Michael, I presume?"
"I am." I said as I offered my hand to her.
She shook it, and I couldn't help noticing that it felt strange; kind of furry, but rough, as if it had been made for being under water or something.
I also noticed that she was tall; vary tall; at least for a Marill.
Suddenly, crystal took my hand in hers and guided it up her arm.
"Go ahead and touch me if you wish. You can even feel of my face, I don't mind. Christina does it all the time, so I'm used to it by now." she said.
So I felt her face; for a time, then ran my hands down her sholders; finding that she wore a kind of leather thong of sorts that culminated in a waste belt that held a lot of items.
After I was done looking her over, I asked if she wanted to meat the others.
"That would be wonderful!" she said, and we all walked back to the battle room.
When I arived, Trey was trying to teach Hope some defencive move, and Hope; for her part; wasn't taking it to well.
"Trey!" she finally exploded. "I understand what you're trying to do, but I don't need these skills okay?"
"What if you are in danger?" he asked.
"I'll hide." she responded smugly.
"And if hiding is not an option?"
Silence, broken only by crystal's soft snickering.
"See? You cannot be a healer and help people and Pokémon if you are dead, correct?"
More silence, then, Hope sighed.
"Point taken, I just don't want to become some kind of weird healer slash soldier."
Trey laughed; or made something almost like one.
"And I am not trying to make you one, but I do at least want to make sure that if something bad does happen, you can keep yourself safe."
"Okay, but I cant really understand anything you're telling me."
"Then, please, explain what you do kind of understand, and I shal endeavor to make the rest clearer."
In the meantime, Liz was trying to help sarah with tactics that could help her in the; hopefully; upcoming gym battles.
"sarah, don't just blast randomly, find your target, then attack."
"I can't hit you if you won't stop moving!"
"Moving? Oh no sarah, this is just walking for me. Now this."
Her voice distorted and started moving around the room.
"This is moving."
"Liz, please stop that teleporting stuff!"
"Then. Hit. Me."
Liz started teleporting faster and faster until Sarah had enough and somehow blasted her with a watergun attack that caused Liz to stop moving.
"See? you can do it if you focus on the objective at hand." Crystal said calmly.
Sarah didn't say anything for a little bit, then, "You're right!"
"You see? Once the battle starts, if you only concern yourself with the battle and let everything else go, things will work out for you most of the time." Liz explained.
"I do! I Finally understand! I think." sarah said.
"Let's find out then. This time I'm actually going to attack you, no, it won't hurt if one connects, and I want you to avoid me and strike back at least six times. Understand?"
"Isn't that a bit mutch?" Crystal asked.
"No, not really." Liz answered coolly as she charged up some kind of attack.
"besides, she'll have to face mutch worse than this!" she threw some kind of projectile at sarah. "Tomorrow." she finished as sarah got hit by the thing.
"Liz!" Sarah wined.
"Oh please, I know for a fact that didn't hurt." Liz admonished.
I pulled out my Pokédex, and; sure enough; Sarah was still at full health.
I pointed this out, and Sarah seem taken aback just before another projectile hit her.
This time; at least; she made some attempt at moving out of the way.
She then began firing seemingly random waterguns at Liz.
"Don't just shoot randomly, watch your opponent for a patern, then make your move." robin suggested.
I was about to say something to, but just then, Sarah tried another attack, and, almost hit Liz.
"Oh, almost!" exclaimed Trey.
"Keep trying!" I encouraged.
"You have no idea how close Sarah came to hitting Liz." Crystal observed.
"Wait for the patern to come back around, then try to hit her just a little bit earlier than what you just tried!" Christina added.
"Good call!" Crystal said in Christina's direction.
Sarah did try, but after several seconds, Crystal called out, "Sarah dear, you missed the patern!"
"Oh sorry, Crystal?"
"Yes, and that's okay. You're still new at this, just try again." Crystal encouraged.
Then we all stood in silence as Liz went through her patern, five more times.
On the sixth run, sarah made a noise low in the back of her throat, and Trey whispered, "She has found the patern and is now making her move!"
And what a move it was!
Sarah inhaled extremely deep, then hit Liz at least eight times in a roe with just one attack!
All of us applauded as Liz reappeared.
"Well done Sarah!" she said as she gave her a hug.
She put sarah down, then asked, "Trey, how many hits was that?"
Trey; for his part; seem just the slightest bit put out.
"Um, nine, I think?" he finally said.
"Robin, what did you see from your angle?" Liz asked.
"It looked like eight hits to me, though I could have missed one." he promptly answered.
"And how many did you hear?" Liz asked in my direction.
"At least eight." I answered without having to even think about it.
"Well, the idea was for Sarah to hit me with six separate attacks, but seeing as that one new attack hit eight times, I guess we're good for now." Liz said.
We all laughed before introductions were made between crystal and everyone else.
Hope seemed to have gotten the hang of whatever Trey was trying to teach her, so I told everyone that we most likely needed to start rapping things up.
"No don't, at least not yet. I kind of want to watch you train a little more, seeing as I do still have some time to kill." Crystal offered.
"Okay fair enough. So, what should we train for now?" I asked the others.
"Sarah and I need to make sure we can defeat that gym tomarro." Hope responded.
"Just make sure you do your best and we'll deal with the result regardless of what it is." I said.
"Okay." she said before calmly walking over to sarah and launching a magical leaf attack.
Sarah; for her part; tried to avoid the attack by batting some of the leaves away with her flippers, then attempting to jump over the rest in order to get to Hope.
Everything went well until her flippers came out on the jump, as the leaves pinned her down by her flippers.
"Okay, bad idea." she said before launching a watergun at Hope.
The attack almost hit, but Hope jumped out of the way just in time.
she changed direction during the jump and; well at least it sounded like she tried to kick sarah.
sarah charged up her beak and stuck it directly into Hope's foot.
Hope cried out and fell to the ground on her back, but she quickly roled onto her side screaming, "ow ow my tail!"
"Go for the finish sarah!" I yelled.
Sarah didn't waste any time in delivering a full-power watergun directly at Hope.
Hope got back up quickly and shot a magical leaf at sarah before going directly into a tackle before the leaves had even found there target.
sad to say, sarah had no defence against the combined attack, because both moves hit right on schedule and brought her down with a despairing cry of defeat.
She tried to get to her feet, but fell again and didn't get up.
A high-pitched wistle sounded just then, and Alder called, "sparring match over!"
"Hay." he began in a more normal tone as he approached me, "I know you're stil new at all this, but if you continue, the normal healing procedures won't work on sarah so you need to stop now and let me heal her."
"No let me." Crystal said, taking a smallish-sounding bottle out of; somewhere.
I did as instructed and let crystal work on Sarah.
"Remember, for feuture reference, always moniter your Pokémon's health during sparring matches and don't let it fall below 40 percent okay?" Alder said as crystal worked.
"Thanks for the tip. I'll keep it in mind!" I said.
Crystal was checking something on sarahs body, then she opened up another bottle and asked Sarah to drink it.
sarah did so, then exclaimed, "Wow this tastes really good!"
"I'm sure bethany will be glad to hear that."Crystal said as she released sarah from her grip.
"Sarah's all good." Crystal told us.
"What about me huh?" Hope asked.
"Oh you're no problem. It just so happens their's enough left in this first bottle to put on your foot and tail." Crystal replied with the sort of tone that also said, "and I planned this all along."
"Crystal applied the treatment to Hope, then turned back to us again.
"I was already thinking about asking all of you over to my place for the night, but after seeing how you all work together, i'm really hoping, no pun intended, that you'll take me up on my offer, especially seeing as I also need to upgrade Michael's Pokédex as well."
"I'd love to come along, provided we have enough time to walk to your house before dark, and we aren't imposing on you in any way." I answered.
"Um, Michael? Crystal came here in a car." Alder said with a strange tone in his voice that I couldn't quite read.
"A, car?" I echoed.
In response, Crystal jingled a set of keys.
"That's correct, and I'm fully certified with all the proper test completion records, an official license, as well as six years of driving experience to boot." Crystal added.
"Well if that's the case, and seeing as Liz here hasn't warned me of any possible bad outcomes, I guess I'm okay with you driving a car, provided it has enough room for all of us." I said after some thought.
"If we're a bit creative we can make the available space work in our favor. And, no you aren't imposing on me and mine at all. In fact, we'd love the company." Crystal happily said.
So I once again thanked alder for his hospitality, and he wished all of us luck as he showed us out of his house.
Before he left us, he bent down in front of Trey and said in a heavy voice,
"I tried to do some research on that video with Ruby, but I came up empty. Perhaps crystal would be willing to help, if you ask her nicely."
"I will do that, and thanks for trying alder sir." Trey answered before we all shook hands and Alder went back into his house, leaving us in Crystal's care.
