A small crowd was formed by the time Chira exited the store. She immediately spotted Greg and his friend sitting on a bench, laughing with someone from the crowd. She marched over, still thinking furiously of a plan. Morrie was snake enough that he should be able move on the ground, but they hadn't practiced that at all. He wouldn't be able to help, and she had already told Insight that she wouldn't be battling. Chira bit her lip. She couldn't leave it up to Cami.
"What's wrong, having second thoughts?" Greg asked acidly.
Chira's head jerked up. "No way! Name the terms, and let's get this over with!"
"How about we make this as quick and painless as possible? I have an appointment in Vermillion I have to make. One-on-one sound good to you?"
Chira came the closest to hugging him then and there. The closest, which, considering her intense dislike of him, wasn't very close.
"You've got a deal." She grabbed Cami's pokeball, and took her position on one side of the circle the crowd had formed. Greg smiled as he sauntered to his side.
"You're going to make this easy, aren't you?" he asked confidently. "You're going to regret treating my pokemon like a doll!"
Insight growled at her, and she forced herself to relax, taking several deep, calming breaths. When she looked back, Greg was calmly tossing a pokeball up and down.
"Let's start this show, shall we?" he asked, before tossing his pokeball out. "Feraligatre!"
"Cami!" Chira threw the pokeball out, the fire horse appearing with an excited whinny. "You know what we have at stake here. I'm counting on you!"
Greg snickered and turned to his companion. "She has to give her pokemon a pep talk; how cute."
An old man took the position of judge. "Go!" he yelled, not wasting breath on any preliminary commands.
"Feraligatre, let's make this quick! Bite!"
"Cami, stay on the defensive and look for your opening!" The blue reptile pokemon lunged for the Ponyta, aiming for her throat. With a nicker, Cami dodged neatly to the side, keeping her back away from her opponent. "Cami, don't worry about the skill difference. We're faster, we have the advantage!"
"Speed does not equal power; I though even you would realize that," Greg noted.
"I'm not counting on her power from speed." Chira replied, and left it at that. "Cami, let's see what a Fire Tackle will do. Just don't let it hit you!"
"A Fire Tackle? I've never heard of that one before."
Chira smiled, but said nothing, her eyes taking in every detail of the battle as Cami was surrounded with fire. "Now, Cami! It's coming in for the attack!"
"Feraligatre! Hydro Pump!" Cami burst from the flames just as a jet of water erupted from the Feraligatre's mouth.
"Cami, dodge it!" Chira screamed.
The horse stumbled, hitting the ground just as the attack went right over her head. The crowd's tension increased several more knots.
Chira's heart beat a staccato in her chest as she briefly closed her eyes in relief, then she was back in the battle. "Cami, watch out for that! Try to confuse it with Agility!"
The horse took off with full speed, turning perfectly to avoid the crowd, but flying circles around the Feraligatre. The pokemon couldn't keep track of her.
"Feraligatre, scratch!" Greg called lazily. Feraligatre immediately stuck out its massive claws, and Cami ran full tilt into one of its arms, flipping and hitting the ground. She was back up and circling warily immediately.
"Come on, Cami, let's take it out!" Chira called. "Stomp!"
The horse sprang forward, hooves flying.
"Feraligatre, use scratch!"
The enemy pokemon's claws swept out and around Cami's legs, catching her across the chest. Cami screamed and retreated, prancing around with pain. The whites of her eyes began to show, and she snorted agitatedly.
"Cami!" Chira had never felt such failure before. The battle was young, and she was losing! Everything she could think of had no effect, and she couldn't think of anything else to try. "Cami," she murmured again.
"Feraligatre, I'm growing tired of this," Greg said as Cami struggled to her hooves. "Finish it with a Hydro Pump."
The horse cocked its head and watched as the final attack was readied, unable to do more. She had been beaten and bruised, and she was in the same boat as Chira. But she could still dodge. She forced herself to take a slow step forward, then another. The blast was released, and her bunched muscles were ready for it.
"Cami…"
"Chira!" Trey shouldered through the crowd, reaching Chira and spinning her around by her shoulders. "Chira, call this off right now! I mean it-" Words died in his throat as she allowed him to shake her, her head whipping back and forth in unresponsiveness. Her eyes were shining white through her contacts, and her expression was dull. His gaze traveled to the pokemon. "Not good…"
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She was moving, but stumbling as she had more than her normal two feet. An explosion of water hit the street behind her and she spun around, somehow managing not to fall. She bared her teeth at her opponent, all discomfort falling away as generations of battles sang in her blood. She whinnied with the pure joy of it before dodging yet another attack, her feet flying over the cobbles. She was behind her enemy, and the fire was building up inside her. She began to circle, fire trailing behind her and creating a burning cyclone, trapping the alligator pokemon. She slid out of it, her feet kicking up sparks as she performed a perfect 180 degree point turn. The fire died away to reveal a dazed, but still ready to battle, Feraligatre. She snorted, stamping her feet. This was her fight. She charged, hitting the ground and sliding as another Hydro Pump soared over her head, her hooves slamming into where her opponent was up until a moment ago. She looked straight up into a grinning face.
The attack connected.
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Trey was ready for the backlash when it hit. Chira screamed and jerked backwards, blacking out. He caught her, fumbling with the pokeballs at her waist for Cami's. He found it and Returned the pokemon, grimacing as he did so. His gaze met Greg's as the other boy crossed the battle 'ring'.
"So weak she can't even handle a defeat, huh?" he mocked, pocketing Feraligatre's pokeball.
"That's not why she blacked out and you know it," Trey said softly, picking up Chira's limp form after allowing Insight to jump on his shoulder. "You noticed how powerful her Ponyta was at the end and how unresponsive she was."
Greg was surprised, but recovered quickly. "So you're one too, huh? Figures, she would want someone who has an actual-"
"Stop kidding yourself," Trey interrupted, his eyes glinting dangerously. "Even someone like you should realize she's a pure blood." He turned on his heel and left, ignoring the hate-filled gaze boring into his back.
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Trey sat watching the girl sleep, fighting an inner war. She wasn't even aware of her heritage yet, but she could bond… He had never heard of someone achieving it that fast. The record was three months of intense training along the lines of eat, sleep, live it. But… To finally meet one whose blood was still pure, who didn't have a trace of dilution… Oh, he had heard of a family that had succeeded in that. But it was the blood itself that did it; they didn't have any conscious part.
He frowned. If they were to get a hold of her talent…the world wouldn't, no, couldn't, survive it.
A soft whimper escaped the girl's lips, and she twitched, turning over with a soft sigh. She soon frowned again, and her fingers clutched at the bed covers before her eyes fluttered open.
She stared at him, her eyes vacant, for several moments before she tried speaking. "Trey?" she asked, her voice raspy. She pushed herself to a sitting position, upsetting Insight who had been sleeping on her chest, before clutching at her head. "What happened?" she moaned.
Trey smiled weakly. "Nothing important. It can wait until you've had a chance to recover."
Chira frowned and shot him a glance. "It's funny. I remember my dream perfectly, but I can't remember a thing about lying down." She narrowed her eyes accusingly. "Why am I in bed?"
Trey chuckled. "You're falling into a habit. Two blackouts in two chapters…" He shook his head. "Evidently you challenged someone to a battle…"
Chira's head snapped up, and she swung her feet off the bed. "That's right! I have to beat Greg!"
Trey intercepted her before she could get out of her room, gritting his teeth against her struggles. "Calm down, Chira," he tried to reason with her.
Chira resisted her urge to throw an elbow. "No, you don't understand. I wouldn't be able to stand it if I had to forfeit. Greg would never let me live it down. Now let go!"
Trey shook his head. "Just sit down for a moment and listen to me, will you?"
Chira yanked her arms out of his grasp. "Fine, if it will get me out of here faster! Talk." She crossed her arms.
Trey motioned for her to sit. She did so with an irritated sigh, rubbing her forehead. Trey straddled a chair backwards, resting his arms on the backrest. "You've already had that battle," he said softly, watchful for any sudden movement.
Chira froze before raising an eyebrow for him to go on.
"You lost."
She bit her lip, closing her eyes from the mental slap.
"But before you did, you succeeded in proving yourself worthy of your ancestry."
Chira blinked at him. "Huh?"
He shook his head. "Nothing."
Chira slumped forward, her head in her hands. "So I really did lose?" she asked, voice muffled.
Trey rested his head on his hands, looking at her sideways. "Yeah. But you gave him a battle he isn't soon to forget in the meantime."
Trey jolted and stared when Chira sniffled, noticing for the first time her shoulders shaking. "C-Chira?"
"I should have won! He'll never let me live this down. He'll never get out of my face until I can defeat him hands down."
"So you'll have to," Trey shrugged. "Giving up now will just prove him right, you know."
A pillow hit him in the face, knocking him off the chair. "Wha-?"
Chira stood over him with her hands on her hips. "Don't even think for a second that I will contemplate giving up. There is no way! I'm not going to let some know-it-all, good-for-nothing, pokemon master wannabe take away my dream! Got that!?"
Trey stared up at her. A smile played itself into existence. "You've definitely got the spunk to go all the way to the top." He pushed himself off the floor. After dusting himself off, he extended a hand. "Fine. Let's make a deal. Neither of us will quit, nor let the other quit. We will both do our absolute best at all times. Deal?"
Chira stared at his hand, before smiling and clasping it in hers. "Deal!"
Trey quickly dropped his hand, but not before noticing how small hers was. "Then let's get you a rainbow badge."
"A rainbow…? Oh!" Chira snapped to attention. "Of course!"
Trey shook his head. "ADHD," he muttered. "Come on." He led the way to the gym, hands in his pockets and chin tucked down, thinking. Chira trailed behind, the most alert she had been in a long time.
'At least the sickness won't affect her for a while after she used that much…' Trey thought, watching her.
Chira sighed. "I just don't understand. Why did I lose? I know I can beat him, I just know it!"
Trey rolled his eyes before catching up to the girl. "The reason you lost is because you don't have half as much experience as him. No amount of raw talent will allow you to beat someone who has experience, especially not that much." He watched her out of the corner of his eye. "Don't worry, Chira. Once you learn how to use your talent, that overgrown cretin won't stand a chance!"
Chira paused, confused, but they were at the gym. "Huh? Trey, what are you-? Trey!" She ran to catch up, blinking as her eyes adjusted to the sudden change of lighting. "Trey! What do you mean-"
"We're here to challenge Erica to a Gym Battle," Trey said, leaning on the receptionist's counter. "I trust she's in today?"
The receptionist sighed. "Yes, she's in. She's currently battling another trainer, but you can observe. The arena is right down that hall." She pointed, waited for them to begin moving, and turned back to her computer.
"Thanks," Chira smiled.
They headed down the hall, Trey shaking his head at the receptionist. "Talk about inhospitable."
"You know," Chira said, glancing back at her. "I don't think she enjoys this job."
Trey snorted. "You can say that again."
"I don't think she-"
"It's a phrase of agreement, don't take it in the literal sense," Trey interrupted, smiling at her.
"Oh."
"C'mon." Trey pushed open a door. The two stared down at the dirt stadium from among the benches.
"Thundershock!" A trainer yelled. The Mareep let loose a blast of lightning, but the Oddish it was attacking easily countered it with a Razor Leaf.
"Drat!" the trainer muttered, before yelling, "Try a tackle, Mareep!"
Chira's eyes widened when she saw the Umbreon by the girl's side. "Erin," she whispered, unconsciously taking a step forward.
Trey grabbed her arms, pulling her back. "Hold it," he hissed. "You said you saw her right after we got to Celadon, right? Don't you think she'll just run again if you approach her now? Better to let her finish her match, at the very least." He pushed her onto a nearby bench. "Now sit quietly." Chira acquiesced while Trey remained standing, his hands in his pockets.
Chira propped her chin in her hands, resting her elbows on her knees. 'At least I'll be able to study Erica's battle tactics,' she thought despondently.
"Oddish! Sleep powder!" Erica commanded calmly.
"Oddish, odd!" A blast of powder came out of the leaves on top of the Oddish's head, enveloping the Mareep.
"Mareep!" Erin cried. "Knock it away using… Using… Mareep!" The sheep pokemon hit the ground, breathing deeply in its slumber. "Return!" Erin traded pokeballs. "Okay, you took out my Mareep, but this one will work! Go, Slugma!" A slug that appeared to be molten lava took form on the battlefield. Chira's eyes widened. "Slugma! Use Flamethrower!" A stream of fire headed for the Oddish, who dodged with a cry.
"Oddish, use Razor Leaf!"
"Slugma, keep using Flamethrower!"
"Slug slug." The leaves disintegrated in the flames, and then the flames were heading straight for the Oddish. "Oddish, dodge, then counter with- Oddish!"
The plant pokemon had been too slow, and was hit full force. It bounced backwards several times before getting back up slowly.
"Slugma, finish it with Rock Throw," Erin ordered triumphantly.
"Slug, sluuuuug!"
Rocks dropped onto the Oddish, and it was out cold on the third one.
"Wow," Chira whispered. "Erin's good."
"She should be," Trey responded, then shook his head at her inquiring glance.
"Oddish, return! Let's go, Victreebel!"
"Aw! A Victreebel!" Chira's eyes positively sparkled. "I've never seen one before!"
Trey stared at her, amazed. "But you've seen a Slugma?" he asked hoarsely.
Chira nodded. "Mm-hmm. A trainer came to our town several years back. He trained fire pokemon, and Slugma was his first. He also had a Magmar, and a Cyndaquil. Oh, and his Charmeleon had just evolved, too, so he had a Charizard." She thought for a moment. "He had Flareon and Houndour as well."
"Right," Trey said.
"Victreebel, Focus Energy."
"Viiiiictreebel!" it sang, glowing for a brief moment.
"Slugma, use Flamethrower again!" A stream of fire once more erupted straight at the Victreebel.
"Victreebel, counter with Razor Leaf!"
The leaves shot through the fire before slamming into the Slugma and throwing it back several feet.
"Wha!" Chira turned wildly to Trey. "How come they didn't burn up?" she demanded.
Trey narrowed his eyes as the Slugma struggled back up, panting. Erin's eyes narrowed. "It would appear the leaves were spinning fast enough that the fire couldn't even touch them. Amazing. I've heard about this kind of thing, but never seen it."
"How would you defend against that?" Chira asked under her breath.
Trey placed a hand on her shoulder. "Either move extremely fast or have an extremely hot fire."
"Slugma!" Erin yelled. "Hang in there. We can still win. Rock Throw!"
Rocks shot at the Victreebel, flying at amazing speeds. It braced itself, and was hit straight on. It was thrown several feet back, but got back up quickly.
"Victreebel, let's finish this. Razor Leaf!"
"Slugma, Defense Curl!"
It was too late. The fire slug was out cold before the torrent of leaves subsided.
"Slugma!" Erin's eyes were wide, then she nodded. "Return, good job. Zwilum," she turned to the Umbreon at her side. "Take them down."
The black dog nodded, and jumped into the fray.
"Start with Faint Attack," Erin called. Immediately the Umbreon became a shadow, flitting this way and that.
"Bell?"
"Victreebel, Focus Energy, quick!" Erika cried, right before the Victreebel was hit from the side, smashing into the wall of the Gym.
"Victreebel is unable to battle. This round goes to the challenger!" the judge proclaimed.
"Okay, I'm not done yet," Erika said, returning Victreebel. "Bellosum, go!"
"Bellosum, Bell!"
"Bellosum, use Solar Beam!"
A blast of energy shot straight at Umbreon, but it easily leapt over the attack.
"Good job, Zwilum, now counter with Bite."
The Dark dog lunged forward, clamping its teeth on the Bellosum's head. "Bell-o-sum!" it cried, frantically trying to get it off.
"Bellosum, use Petal Dance!" Pink flowers began to fly around the flower pokemon.
"Zwilum, get out of there! Use Faint Attack!" Umbreon glowed black and disappeared, right as the flower petals raced at it. They missed, and hit the Bellosum, sending it dancing around, trying to lesson the damage. It shook itself and said, "Bel," determinedly.
"Bellosum, let's finish this. Use Solar Beam and immediately follow it with Petal Dance." The double attack hit its mark, enveloping the Umbreon in a green and purple light. When the attack slowly faded, Zwillum was still standing, enveloped itself in a white light.
"Zwillum!" Erin cried dully. Her eyes were slightly dazed, and her fists were clenched loosely at her sides.
"She's bonding," Trey muttered. "The idiot is bonding!"
"Bonding?" Chira asked, confused. "What do you mean?"
"She's joining consciousness with her pokemon!"