Fireworks and fire dance

The tent looked lonely, Bonnie decided as she was coming back from the river, where she had gone to fill her pan and her water bottle. It was cheery enough by itself, the same ultra-lightweight tent with a shellder design that she had shared with Serena on that other, long ago trip. But it seemed a very small refuge, here in the forest under those big trees. The blond girl shook her head to clear her mind from those gloomy thoughts. So she was travelling alone, true, but it was not really unexpected in the beginning. And if she wanted to find travelling companions, there would certainly be enough people gathered for the Fireworks in Santalune.

"So, Dedenne, let's make dinner, shall we?" She said to her little companion in a bright voice.

"Dedenne!"

As usual, the mouse pokemon showed his enthusiasm to the idea, and Bonnie got to work. Dedenne's dinner was easy, she still had plenty of his favourite pokemon food. Her own, well… she got the mini gas stove going with some trepidation – she had practiced beforehand, but she still did not like the "whoosh" it made upon starting – and got the water to boil in her pan, before throwing some instant noodles in the water. I'm going to miss my brother's cooking, she thought. But at least the noodles were warm and filling, and she planned on eating at pokemon centres or on the road as much as possible.

The night had fallen while she was cooking and eating, and the world had become quite still. Bonnie was feeling peaceful after dinner, as she stretched out on the grass before her tent. In the sky, the first stars were starting to appear, and as she gazed at them, she remembered warmly a long-ago night of shooting stars and wishes with her friends. There was no shooting star tonight, it was the wrong season for them, but Bonnie still kind of hoped she could see just one right then. It would have been fitting. And in her heart, the wish rose unbidden, shooting star or not: I wish to find my dream. The stars twinkled but did not answer, and after a while, Bonnie rose, got ready for bed, and crawled inside her little tent, where she was asleep in seconds, despite the afternoon nap. The day had been full of emotions.

xxx

Some undetermined time later, Bonnie woke up for no reason that she could discern. Certainly the world outside her tent was still dark and quiet. At her side, Dedenne slumbered on, uncaring. What could it have been, she wondered? Wide-awake now, she decided that she would have a look outside. Carefully getting out of her sleeping bag without waking Dedenne, Bonnie gathered her shoes and got out. The night was clear, and the half-moon was giving out enough light that she could see her surroundings, all bathed in that weird black-and-white feeling that moonlight often gave. The position of the moon showed that there were still several hours of darkness left before sunrise, and Bonnie wondered again why she had woken up. As far as she could see, nothing seemed amiss.

"Whoosh!"

The sound was almost more felt than heard, and it came from somewhere on her left. It reminded her of the sound her stove made, yet there was a different quality to it. Bonnie dithered for a few seconds, but as she heard the whooshing sound again, caution lost the battle, and, curiosity now fully awakened, she decided to investigate.

She did not have very far to go. On the riverbank, upstream of where she had gone for water in the evening, and on the opposite side from her, was a small pokemon.

In the night, and half-hidden in shadows, it was difficult to identify. It stood on four legs, had a stocky outline, and was moving somewhat clumsily. A dog pokemon maybe? The pokemon emitted a low growl, then the whooshing sound could be heard again, and a little flame appeared in front of it before getting snuffed out by the light night breeze. So a fire pokemon, certainly. But which one, and what was it doing? As Bonnie watched from her side of the river, the creature advanced into a patch of moonlight. Now, she could see many more details, and the puzzle resolved itself into a pokemon that the blond girl knew, and had personally encountered some years ago: a litleo. But what was a lion pokemon from the grasslands doing in these woods? Again, the whooshing sound was heard and a flame trembled in front of the litleo for a few seconds.

"I wonder if it's trying to practice a new move," Bonnie murmured. "Maybe it's going to the Fireworks as well? Maybe it's famous among pokemon too!"

Excited, the girl stood up and advanced towards the litleo.

"Hello Litleo!" She waved cheerily.

The pokemon visibly startled, and spitted more flames in her direction. This time, the flames were much bigger, crossing the little river without effort. Bonnie recognised the move ember, but there was a peculiarly rounded quality to the flames. She darted to one side to avoid being singed.

"Hey, sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she said. "I don't mean you any harm. Hey, come back!"

But the litleo had already disappeared in the darkness.

"Well, that could have gone better," Bonnie sighed. "Maybe my big brother is right, and I should think before acting sometimes. I didn't think I would frighten it though, I just wanted to say hi!"

The girl slowly came back to her tent, where Dedenne was still sleeping like a log, but sleep was a long time in coming this time.

xxx

"Well Dedenne, there we are!" Bonnie exclaimed, stopping to catch her breath. "Right on time too!"

To make up for the lost afternoon, Bonnie had been walking as fast as she could the past two days, only stopping for a quick lunch and again for the night in a pokemon centre. The Kalos Fireworks only lasted a single day – and night, of course – and she had been loath to miss even a single part. But she was right on time, for the official start would be at noon, and she had just arrived in Santalune.

"Now, where was that Santalune pokemon centre again? I forgot." She mumbled, looking around. "I know there is this big fountain and it's somewhere on the right…"

"You seem a bit lost", said a voice behind her. "Can I help you?"

"I'm looking for the pokemon centre," Bonnie replied, turning around. "Alexa?"

"Hmm, do I know you?" Asked the good-looking brunette with a helioptile on her shoulder.

She seemed confused.

"Well..." Bonnie started, only to be interrupted by Dedenne.

"De-dedenne!" squeaked the electric rodent excitedly

He jumped down to greet Helioptile, who had scrambled down Alexa's back, and sparks flew as the two electric pokemon renewed their acquaintance.

"Oh,", Alexa said in a tone of recognition. "That blond hair, a dedenne… You're Bonnie right? Clemont's sister? My, but you've grown!"

"Well," Bonnie grinned, "It must have been about eighteen months since we last saw each other I think."

"Most probably", Alexa agreed. "I have rarely been to Lumiose City these past two years, and then mostly to see Professor Sycamore. I did call on your father once last year, but I did not see you. I was kept pretty busy doing that series on mega-evolution, and I travelled several times to Hoenn to visit Steven and his metagross. Are you already old enough to be a trainer? Time flies!"

"I certainly am!" Bonnie said proudly.

"Are you going to challenge my sister like Ash then?" Alexa asked.

"I'm nowhere good enough to defeat Viola yet!" Bonnie exclaimed. "Your sister is really good. Even Ash didn't win the first time he battled her, and I know she has gotten even better since then! I was there when the Kalos gym leaders had this informal tournament last year and her surskit evolved. She really trounced my brother even with the type disadvantage, and she would have won the whole thing if Wulfric and his avalugg hadn't come up with that combo move."

The blond girl smiled carelessly.

"Besides, I'm not sure yet I want to try for the Kalos league. I need to think it over, first."

"Nothing wrong with that," Alexa replied. "Sometimes it takes time to discover what you want to do. So, you are here for the Fireworks, I guess?" At Bonnie's nod, the reporter continued: "Would you like to come with me then and have a peek backstage? I will be doing some interviews of the trainers who participate in the shows."

"I'd love to!" Bonnie answered with enthusiasm. "But I really need to go to the pokemon centre first."

"That's fine, you can meet me at the north entrance in an hour. Then you'll fill me in on what our mutual friends have been up to while I was gone. I heard quite a lot about Serena while in Hoenn, but I don't really know about the rest of the bunch! Oh, and the pokemon centre is this way, to answer your first question."

"Thank you, Alexa!" Bonnie replied, departing at a run.

xxx

Bonnie flopped down with a weary sigh. The day had been very interesting so far, but she was in dire need of some down time. She had first run all the way to the pokemon centre to deliver the rawst berries. Nurse Joy had been delighted, as she had totally run out the night before and had had to use alternative treatments ever since. The nurse had given Bonnie three of the berries in thanks for the service, and even though the centre was full of trainers, she had guaranteed her a place for the night. Then Bonnie had run to the other side of Santalune to meet Alexa on time. The opportunity to see the backstage of the Fireworks, with all the rehearsals, and to listen in on trainers' interviews did not come every day, and she had not wanted to miss one second! And it had been fascinating too. Never had she realised the sheer diversity of fire pokemons and moves, and all the training that went into making the Fireworks such works of art! Maybe her father and brother had something when they suggested that she get a fire pokemon someday…

But Alexa was indefatigable, and for all her enthusiasm, Bonnie had woken up early and walked hard to arrive in Santalune on time. She was currently resting in a quiet area while keeping an eye on Helioptile, who was recharging Alexa's equipment. Alexa herself had gone off with a trainer who had offered to help her teach her gogoat sunny day. The journalist was quite keen on Gogoat learning the move, since it could enhance the lighting of the environment tremendously and would be very useful for her next videos.

"Hey, you, get out of here, you're not part of the show!"

The angry voice startled Bonnie out of her daydreams. The man it belonged to looked disgruntledly in the direction of a nearby fenced field.

"What happened?" Asked another trainer, looking up from where his two darumakas were doing a juggling number with fireballs.

"It's that darned litleo! It managed to find its way in again, must be the fourth time already! I'm getting tired of this! My arcanine and flareon cannot rehearse properly if they're interrupted all the time!"

Bonnie perked up, instantly interested. She approached the big man a bit gingerly. "Excuse-me sir," she said, "I just overheard you, and I'm curious. Why can't a litleo be in your show? It's a fire pokemon too!"

The trainer grunted. "It's not the fact that it's a litleo, but this is a wild pokemon, it has never trained with us, and today of all days I don't have time for this! I'll be on stage at sunset, that's only two more hours!"

"Plus," added the trainer with the darumakas with a smirk, "This one is no good anyway. Doesn't even have a proper fire move, apart from that weird ember."

"Oh," Bonnie said. This had to be the same litleo she had seen practicing in the forest! It really was interested in the Fireworks after all! "Well, sorry to have disturbed you, I'll let you get back to your rehearsal then. I'm looking forward to seeing your shows!"

She returned to where she had left Helioptile, deep in thought. Alexa joined her just a minute later, explaining that she had been offered the opportunity to stand in the VIP stand and do some interviews, and Flint from the Sinnoh Elite Four would be there with his infernape, and would Bonnie be alright if she left her now? Bonnie assured her friend that she would indeed be fine, and was thinking of finding a good spot for watching the evening shows anyway. Alexa left in a hurry, almost forgetting her camera until Helioptile pointed it out. Bonnie paid her little attention: she was just as happy to be free right now, since she was very intrigued by the litleo's attitude and wanted to go look for it.

xxx

The blond girl decided to start where the litleo had last been seen. Slipping under the fence, she crossed the field on the other side until the far end, where a cluster of older houses stood. They seem deserted today. Probably all the inhabitants had gone to watch the fire shows, Bonnie thought. The little lion was not hard to find: as she turned the corner of the first house, it stood right in front of her, its fur all bristled, and growling.

"Hello Litleo", said Bonnie calmly, trying to show with her attitude that she did not mean the pokemon any harm. She took one step in its direction, but the growl intensified, so she crouched instead, hands extended in front of her. "I'm sorry I startled you the other night, I just wanted to meet you. I'm Bonnie, and this is my partner, Dedenne."

"De-dedenne" Squeaked her friend.

The litleo stopped growling, but it still looked very wary.

"Listen, I heard you wanted to be in the fire shows, am I right? Maybe I can help" Bonnie asked. The lion cub cocked its head in interrogation. "You can't just barge in the big shows, unfortunately, they are for professionals who have been doing that a long time, you know. But there is a session for beginners on the east grounds in one hour, anyone can join, you just need to show up on time, I heard. What do you say you take part in this one?"

"Lit?"

"Normally they wouldn't accept a wild pokemon, but we'll just pretend you belong to me, ok?"

"Litleo!" The little lion looked very excited. Bonnie laughed at its enthusiasm.

"Very well, we just need to practice until show time, then. I heard about what the other trainer called your weird ember move, and I've been thinking: you're not trying for ember at all, right? The move you're aiming for is fire spin, isn't that so?"

"Litleo!" The cub confirmed.

"That a great move," Bonnie smiled. "So let's practice, shall we? Dedenne, you can help us too!"

For the next hour, Bonnie and her new friend practiced intensively. At first, the litleo did not have more success than previously. When it tried for ember, the move was flawless, but fire spin was a different story.

"Ok, I think I know part of the problem," Bonnie said after a few failed attempts. "I think it might be because you do ember so naturally, so it gets mixed up in the new move. Plus, you should take very deep breaths before you try fire spin, it will increase the power of the move. Now, stand upright on your paws, head high, and focus all your attention right in front of you. Aim at Dedenne, directing your move will help you. Dedenne, be ready to dodge. Ok Litleo, one deep breath, then another. And… fire spin!"

This time, the characteristic spiral of the move was definitely there, though wobbly. Dedenne leaped to the left to avoid it. Bonnie and Litleo were dancing enthusiastically around each other.

"You did it! I'm so happy for you! Now do it again, and it will be perfect in no time at all, you'll see!"

The rest of the hour went quickly. Litleo gained more assurance each time it tried the move. On Bonnie's advice, it tried aiming it at the sky, and the resulting twist of fire was pretty. Too soon they ran out of time and departed at a run to avoid missing the show.

xxx

"We would like to take part in the beginners' show, miss" Bonnie told the official standing in the middle of the eastern grounds. Around her, about fifteen trainers with fire pokemons were being organised on the grounds, with plenty of space between them to avoid mishaps. "Litleo here is my pokemon." She added, blushing a little at the lie. But the woman never noticed. "Number 16, you can have the plot at the end of this line. You have twenty minutes. Have fun!"

Litleo really gave it its all, noted Bonnie a few minutes later, watching the pretty fire twister it was producing. And looking around, she could see that some of the others were not doing as well with their little shows. Not bad for a new move and something we put together on the fly in less than one hour, she thought with satisfaction.

"You could try turning on yourself while doing fire spin. Then alternate with ember while running in close circles." She suggested aloud to the lion cub. It did, and the resulting combination was even prettier. The twenty minutes of the beginners' show were over much too quickly. Still, quite a few people had come to watch, while waiting for the big shows to start. And Litleo seemed very happy.

Later, they found a good spot to watch the night shows, and it was even more beautiful and spectacular than Bonnie remembered from the previous year. Litleo seemed absolutely fascinated too, its eyes shining.

"The Fireworks are really great, don't you think? Maybe someday it will be you on that stage!" Bonnie said. "In any case, we had a lot of fun together today, didn't we?"

She took a deep breath of her own, then went on: "Litleo, would you like to have more fun with me and Dedenne? We're not sure yet where we're going, but we want to travel and have many adventures, and we would be happy to have you as a companion. How does that sound?"

The little lion turned to her with a serious demeanour, then playfully jumped on her, almost bowling her over, and started rubbing its head on her face. Bonnie laughed delightedly. "I take it that's a yes!" She took out a pokeball, and the cub touched its nose to it, disappearing inside with a beam of red light. Bonnie called it back immediately.

"Welcome to our little group, Litleo! I'm sure we'll have a great time together!"

END OF CHAPTER 3

So I decided that since Clemont had an electric lion, Bonnie should have a fire lion. Plus, I think Litleo and Bonnie go well together!

Also, I'm going to try to upload one chapter per week. I have at least twenty planned, finding the time to write them is the hard part!