As Archie stepped outside it took all of his willpower to repress a shiver. It had been unnaturally cold lately, especially for tropical Hoenn... Tv stations had gone on nonstop about how weird it was and blamed the pollution. Some were willing to bet it was a new and hidden pokemon but that was hard to swallow. Weather stations were starting to give a chance of snow. Archie hadn't seen snow since he was just a lad, and he wasn't even in Hoenn at the time. It would've been bizzare and he hated to admit, even scary if it snowed.
His mind had shifted to Paku. He hadn't heard of this thing until the temperature started to drop, and it did specialize in ice...
"I wonder...-" He was cut off as a small voice interrupted him.
"Wonder what?" Archie jumped and turned quickly to see Emi, dressed in the same clothes as before. She smiled at Archie's surprise and Archie had to look away to not show he was embarrassed.
"Um.. Just the weather..." He mumbled faintly.
"It has been quite bizarre." Maxie's voice immediately got on Archie's nerves. He looked up to see Maxie and Lexie walking towards them.
"What are you doing here?!"
"I'm quite curious to see this pokemon in battle." He mumbled, looking at Paku who was sitting on Emi's shoulder. Emi smiled, struggling to voice what she was trying to say. She faltered a bit and looked away, looking even more embarrassed.
"She doesn't use Paku for battles." Lexie filled in what Emi couldn't say. "Archie's heard it but you haven't. Paku and Emi have to be connected to be able to use energy. It's why she fainted at the contest. She used too much too soon. Battling would take even more."
"Oh." Maxie sounded dissapointed. "Well then, it can't be helped."
"You can hold her though." Emi took Paku in her hands and before Maxie could refuse put her in his. Maxie frowned at the little creature that looked up at him...
"... It's cold." He muttered and then handed her to Lexie. "I don't like the cold all that much."
"Is that why you're dressed in like, 6 layers." Lexie had taken Paku and set her on her shoulder. "It's chilly but it's not that cold." She mumbled, then moved closer to Maxie to move Paku closer, although she blushed and looked away. Maxie immediately took advantage of Lexie's hospitality and began observing Paku, mumbling to himself as he did.
"Anyway... Enough of that." Emi smiled and then stepped back. Archie couldn't help but noticed her elegant and confident steps. She didn't fumble or sway at all, and her hand moved and grabbed a pokeball hanging from her bag.
"Finally! Now this is going to be the fun part." Archie readied his pokemon. He wasn't much of a planner like Maxie, he was just more interested in the thrill of the fight, win or lose! Although he hoped he could win against a frilly contest star...
The battle had been short and swift, barely lasting 15 minutes as Emi's Raichu completely wrecked through Archie's whole team. She hadn't even switched out at all, there was no need. Emi giggled as she rubbed Raichu's head and it nuzzled into her.
"Sorry!" Emi smiled apologetically at Archie, although her Raichu's cheeks sparked with triumph. "I may of told a bit of a lie!~"
"M-My whole team... destroyed by a frilly contest scamp!"
"Even I could of predicted that." Maxie was still observing Paku. "She had the aura of a champion." He mumbled. He had a notepad out now, sketching Paku with detail.
"Hah! I knew she'd be able to beat you easily. She can even beat me easily." Lexie had jerked which caused Maxie to give an annoyed sigh and he gave her an annoyed look.
"How is that impressive." He muttered, putting away the notepad.
"I'm the champion." As the words left Lexie's mouth both Archie and Maxie froze and stared at Lexie in silence. The only noice coming from Emi and her Raichu.
"You're the champion?! I thought it was that Rock dude?"
"I beat him awhile ago. Then Emi came and beat me after that, but she said she was more interested in the contests rather than being champion, so I kept the title."
Archie pouted but then sighed, kneeling down next to Emi.
"What other pokemon do you got?" Emi perked at the mention of it, but her Raichu fumed, not liking how close Archie sat. As Emi started to go into detail about her pokemon team and when and where she got them, small flakes started to fall from the sky. Paku was the first one to notice and made a loud cry of happiness as it floated in the air to play with the flakes. Emi stopped talking as she noticed the white flakes and stood up.
Emi and Lexie glanced towards each other and shared a look of worry, then they looked at Paku who seemed so excited about the snow...