Sorry about not updating for so long, I sort of got distracted. That happens occasionally; I get ideas for other stories and I just have to start them, or I continue other stories I haven't finished. Again, sorry. I won't be able to update over the next two weeks as well, and maybe not the week after that. I'm going to South America. I might post another chapter before I leave, but that's iffy. Anyway, thanks for reading and enjoy!
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The match was about to start, and the crowd was going wild. Chira shivered, hugging herself. She couldn't shake the feeling something was going to happen. Something big.
"Is this seat taken?" someone asked.
Chira quickly gave herself a mental shake and turned from the field to the person next to her.
"No," she stopped when she saw who it was sitting down next to her. "You!"
"Nice to see you remember me," Trey said, smiling at her. "Sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to offend you, I just…" he stopped. "I don't know why I challenged you in the first place, to tell the truth. It might have been because I hadn't had a good battle in a couple weeks, and I was just looking for a challenge."
Chira bit her lip. "I suppose I forgive you," she said, looking back to the field.
Insight, who had been with Drake and Lance, came bounding over. "Guess what!" she cried, leaping onto Chira's lap. "I got a piece of cake," she said smugly. "Nichole made it herself."
Chira smiled at her. She didn't say anything though, just ruffled her fur.
"Is that your eevee?" Trey asked, slightly surprised.
"Yup, got her last week."
"Really? Where?"
Chira looked into Insight's liquid black eyes. "I saved her from an incompetent trainer."
"Oh." Trey looked away. "Well."
"It's okay," Chira smiled at him. Changing the subject, she asked, "So, did you come here to watch a specific trainer in the matches, or…"
He shrugged. "I just came."
"Chira," Chris leaned over to her. "Do you know when… Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were talking."
"It's okay," Chira scratched Insight behind the ears. "Chris, this is Trey. Trey, this is Chris, and that's his cousin Jordan."
"Hi," Trey greeted them.
Chris returned his greeting, Jordan just nodded.
"So, how did you-" Chira didn't hear the rest of Trey's question, Insight was talking to her.
"Oh, yeah! Nichole wants you three to sit with her in The Box! She told me to tell you. That's why she gave me the cake."
Chira stared at her. The Box! She couldn't believe it. She looked across the arena at the viewing box. It had the best view, and was one of the most coveted spots in the whole stadium. If someone wanted to give away tickets as prizes, box seat tickets were their best bet.
"I-I don't understand," she murmured at last.
"Nichole said Lance has the whole Box for his guests, that was one of the deals for him battling the winning trainer."
"But-"
Jordan waved his hand in front of her face. "Hello? Anyone home?"
"Wha? Oh, yeah. Sorry." Chira paused, not sure how to do this. No one with her knew she could understand Insight. Then she got an idea. Taking a leaf out of Insight's book, she said, "Oh! I forgot. Nichole invited us to sit in the Box with her. Said Lance had the whole thing for his friends." She paused at the incredulous looks she was getting. "What?"
"The Box?" Trey said at the same time Jordan asked, "Are you joking?"
Chira laughed. "Yeah, that was my reaction as well." She stood up. "It was nice seeing you again, Trey. I wish you could come, but my friend could probably only save three extra seats. We'll see you around!" With a wave, they were off, Insight leading the way.
There probably will be an extra seat or two, she thought, feeling guilty. But then I would have to explain the connection to him as well, and I really don't want the whole world knowing I'm related to some famous trainers.
She shook herself out of her reverie, grateful that neither Chris nor Jordan were in the mood to say anything to her. They reached the door to the coveted seats in due time, but were halted by a security man.
"Wait here," he told them. He disappeared inside, reappearing moments later with Nichole.
"Oh, good, you got my message," she said, smiling brightly at them. "Come on in, Lance hasn't left yet."
She enveloped Chira in a hug and proceeded to drag them inside. Chira was surprised at the number of people inside, but shook it off. She shouldn't have been so surprised. After all, Lance was a famous pokemon trainer.
"Oh, Chira, you're here." Drake met them just inside the door. "I want to introduce you to someone." He pulled her over to a group gathered by the huge picture window.
"Ash, this is my friend Chira." A black haired young man turned at their approach. He looked to be in his twenties, and the woman by his side looked maybe two years older than him, with shouler-length red hair that was brushed back out of her face.
Chira froze.
"Chira, this is Ash Ketchum and Misty Waterflower."
"H-H-How d-do you do, S-Sir, Ma'am," Chira faltered, her face flaming red. She looked at the ground, her mind whirling. How could Drake spring this on me so suddenly? I didn't have a clue I'd be meeting Ash Ketchum today! Oh, man, I look horrible.
Chira was all of a sudden very conscious of how she looked. Though she had used the showers there, she hadn't had a chance to wash her clothes. She was wearing the only clean clothes she had, a faded pair of knee-length blue jean shorts and a light green t-shirt that had a Bellosom print. She rubbed her scuffed running shoes over the floor, but stopped immediately; scared that would draw attention to them.
"It's nice to meet you, Chira. I have heard promising things from Drake and Lance concerning you," Ash was saying.
Misty nodded. "I understand you have a very unique gift. You must be very proud."
Chira froze, unwilling to believe either one of her cousins would have been so callous as to tell someone she could understand pokemon word for word, even someone famous.
She looked at Drake, her question plainly writ in her eyes. He shook his head ever so slightly. She relaxed. Turning back to the other two, she said, "I would be a fool to be proud of something I have no control over."
Ash looked at Drake. "I like her already."
The loudspeaker crackled to life. Chira turned in time to see Lance running out the door, Nichole running after him yelling something.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," the announcer was calling. "Would everyone please take their seats? The match is about to start."
Everyone quickly settled into their seats, Chira and her friends sitting with Drake in the first line of seats. The arena was right below them.
"Will the challenger please step up to the trainer's block?"
Greg appeared and stepped up, his face set in a smug half-grin.
"I'd like to wipe that look off of his face," Chira muttered below her breath.
Drake placed a hand on her shoulder. "Calm down, Silver Girl," he said. "Lance won't let him win."
Chira ignored the nickname, knowing no one would understand it except those that already knew. "And what if he loses?" she asked crossly.
"He won't, trust me."
"Chira, if Drake says Lance won't lose, then Lance won't lose. It's as simple as that."
"You, Chris, are too trusting."
Chira turned back to the arena. The announcers were letting the audience stew for a couple minutes before Lance came out. Greg was betraying little nervousness. Chira absently stroked Insight's head, her eyes drawn to where they had vacated just fifteen minutes before. Trey was still there.
She narrowed her eyes. He had let his growlithe out to watch. But there was something else about him. His posture gave hint that he was distraught. He seemed to be agitated about something.
"And now," the loudspeaker cut into Chira's thoughts. "The moment you've all been waiting for, the challenger's opponent is none other than…" There was a moment of intense attention in the audience. Not a sound was heard. "Lance the Dragonite Trainer!"
Lance appeared and the crowd went wild. Greg eyed Lance as he took his place and set his pokeballs in the provided spots. After a moment, Greg smiled.
"He thinks he's going to win, the overconfident little bugger," Drake remarked, smiling evilly. "Boy is he in for a wild ride."
"This will be a six-on-six battle. It will be just like a gym battle where the gym leader cannot switch out his pokemon, but the challenger may change his pokemon however many times he wishes. The first trainer to defeat all of the other trainer's pokemon will be declared the winner. Are there any questions from the two trainers?" Both trainers shook their heads. "Very well, begin!"
Lance and Greg both threw out their first pokemon.
"Charizard, go!" Lance called out a charizard.
"Feraligatr!" The blue crocodile pokemon appeared from Greg's pokeball.
Drake nodded. "Lance was right. This guy starts with his strongest pokemon, wears the enemy down, then switches to a weaker one. I don't see how that can work."
"I don't think that's his strongest pokemon," Chira muttered to herself. Drake didn't hear her.
"Hydro pump!" Greg called.
"Charizard, dodge it!" Charizard leapt up into the sky, flying in intricate maneuvers that never repeated. After several tries, Feraligatr stopped to take a breather.
"Now!" Lance called. Charizard immediately charged up a hyper beam and let it loose. The feraligatr jumped to the side, but dropped to the ground in pain. Charizard swooped down to finish it with a Slash attack at the same time Lance yelled, "No!"
Chira sat forward on the edge of her chair at the same time Drake said, "What is he doing?"
Chira noticed Greg's smile of delight and her heart plummeted to the depths of her stomach.
Charizard flapped its wings hysterically, trying to rise back up quickly. It was too slow and Feraligatr lunged at it, its claws ripping through Charizard's left wing. Chira put her hand to her mouth in horror as Charizard careened hard to the ground. Lance was in agony. With a mighty roar, Charizard let loose with a mighty Fire Blast. Feraligatr took the attack full force, fainting immediately.
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Any known last names of some other prominent characters would be nice as well. Otherwise I'm going to have to start making up some. Thanks!