Chapter Fifteen: Castelia Crimes

Touko stood on the opposite end of the bug-inspired Gym, facing Burgh. He smiled, holding one of his Pokeballs. "I would like to thank you again for your help. My Bug Pokemon are scurrying with excitement about getting to battle you." He smiled, throwing out his Pokemon. "Let's get straight to it!"

"I would want nothing more! Rufflet, join us for battle!" Touko called out the Bird Pokemon who was far stronger than before. Whirlipede was at the other end of the arena and he got straight to it.

"Poison Tail!" Whirlipede rolled straight at Rufflet, who just watched it and didn't move even when Touko yelled at him to dodge. He flew back with a cry of pain, but steadied himself.

"You've got to move when I say so Rufflet, use Return!" Rufflet nodded, running full force at Whirlipede who was far faster and easily able to dodge the attack. Rufflet slid out his foot to stop himself as he faced his opponent.

"Far too slow Touko, Rollout my precious Pokemon!" Whirlipede zoomed straight at Rufflet, knocking him back and getting a shriek of pain.

"Rufflet!" Touko bit her lip, grimacing. She had to stop that Whirlipede.

"Rollout once more!" Touko watched as Rufflet watched the oncoming ball speed towards him.

"Think quick!" Touko watched as Whirlipede advanced and suddenly an idea formed in her head. "Rufflet! Stay there but be ready!" Rufflet looked at her in confusion but nodded and focused on Whirlipede. Touko waited for a moment, counting in her head. "Now! Jump!" Rufflet listened on cue, just missing the Rollout as Whirlipede crashed into the wall. Stunned, Whirlipede rolled backwards and fell to its side. "Now is our chance! Rufflet! Aerial Ace right on the center of Whirlipede!" He nodded, backing up and running full force at Whirlipede to hit him square before sliding to a stop next to Touko. Looking over at Whirlipede, she could see the Bug Pokemon was knocked out. "Great job Rufflet!" Touko laughed in excitement, holding out her arms for Rufflet to jump in her arms and cuddle into her neck. She laughed, kissing the top of his head but looking over at Burgh. The battle wasn't over yet!

"Hm, good strategy Touko, but say hello to my Dwebble!" Burgh sent out his second Pokemon and Touko nodded.

"Alright, Rufflet take a rest." She called back her Flying Pokemon and grabbed Tympole's Pokeball. "Now, Tympole!" The blue blob of excitement popped out with a flip, landing softly. "Tympole! Bubblebeam!" Touko wasted no time and Tympole blasted the slow Dwebble with bubbles that exploded on it. Dwebble was badly injured but he kept up and eyed Tympole.

"Well, Touko! Who knew you were so rough!" She shrugged and grinned.

"I like to win! Bubblebeam one last time!" Tympole obliged and the weak Dwebble was no good against the super effective attack.

"Hmph, that was almost cold! No matter, Leavanny, show them your stuff!" He called out the fast, graceful Pokemon and Touko recalled Tympole.

"Rufflet, show them that you can take out anyone!" She called out her blue fuzzball and the two Pokemon faced off. "Aerial Ace, quick!"

"Leavanny, protect!" The Bug and Grass Pokemon was fast and placed its shield which stopped what would've been a super effective attack. Rufflet was sent back and Leavanny was quick to place down her barrier and use the next attack. "Razor Leaf!" The leaves hitt Rufflet dead on and sent him flying back, though he gained ground and stood back up.

"Return!" Rufflet ran straight at Leavanny but Burgh was fast.

"Protect!" The barrier came up again and Rufflet smacked into it, unable to do much. Exhaustion made him stop and Burgh took the opportunity. "Razor Leaf!" Leavanny knocked down her barrier, and sent Rufflet flying back once more with a tsunami of leaves.

"Rufflet! Hang in there and use Aerial Ace!" Touko knew that one Aerial Ace could possibly win the match for her. Rufflet ran at Leavanny but Burgh just simply laughed.

"Protect!" Leavanny put up her protection and Rufflet stopped in time not to smack into it. "You see Touko, Rufflet will just continue to be worn down over and over again. Razor Leaf may not do much but ultimately it will win."

"No, we will win!" Touko gritted her teeth, watching the healthy Leavanny simply smirk down at Rufflet from the other side of Protect. Rufflet was panting and she could see he was exhausted. "Rufflet! Keep attacking the Protect! You will break through!" Rufflet looked at her but his eyes sparkled with determination and he nodded. He began hitting the barrier with Aerial Ace after Aerial Ace and Burgh just laughed.

"Now you're just going to help us win by exhausting your Pokemon?" Touko didn't listen to him and instead watched Rufflet.

"Rufflet! Focus all your power on one spot!" Rufflet listened, focused on one direct spot and suddenly, there was a crack in the Protect and Leavanny shuddered. "Yes! Once more!" Rufflet nodded, and he reared up and banged down with all his might on the barrier, breaking it! He continued to fly down, landing a direct hit on Leavanny, both Pokemon crying out.

...

The dust settled a few moments later and Touko felt her body aching with anticipation and then joy. Rufflet stood there, proudly, on top of Leavanny. He held his wings up like a champion and had the smuggest grin ever. Touko just laughed and opened up her arms as Rufflet ran to her. She accepted him dearly and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "That was so wonderful Rufflet! I knew you could do it!" The two were locked in a hug until Burgh approached, holding a golden badge with three green gems in it.

"I lost." Burgh shook his head and smiled. "Whatever! Losing to you doesn't bug me because you are a-MAZ-ingly strong!" He handed her the golden badge. "This is the Gym Badge! You beat me, so it's yours!" He smiled as she adored it and let Rufflet balance it on his head before putting it away. "It's the Insect Badge! It's insectible-" He laughed and grinned. "- I mean, incredible!" Touko nodded, holding onto Rufflet with one arm and shaking hands with Burgh.

"Thanks for everything Burgh, from Team Plasma to the Insect Badge. I might not of been able to pull through without you." He nodded and smiled.

"You're a strong Trainer, stronger than even I am. I'm sure that whatever your life brings you, you'll be strong." He smiled once more, waving at her. "Well, I'm off to practice and heal my Pokemon. Take care and be safe!"

"Thanks again! I will!" Touko smiled, waving after Burgh as she exited the arena.

...

As soon as Touko stepped out the Gym doors, her Xtransceiver began to ring. She hastily picked it up, waving at Bianca's picture. "Hey Bianca!"

"Hey there! Where are you now?"

"Right outside the Pokemon Gym, why?"

"Well, I wanted to know if you could do me a favor?"

"Probably, what do you need?"

Bianca just grinned wide and Touko laughed. "Let's have a Pokemon battle! Iris has trained me and I've become a little stronger. I should be able to protect my own Pokemon now. Let's meet at the gate to Route 4!"

Touko nodded and grinned. "See you there!"

"Okay, see you later!"

...

Touko finished up the last of her Casteliacone, marveling in the taste and grinning. The city had proved to be quite the adventure, and Touko loved almost every minute of it. She shuddered when she thought of Ghetsis but pushed it to the back of her mind. She had made it to the gate into Route 4 and looked around, Bianca was nowhere in sight.

"Hey, Touko!" Surprised, she turned to see Bianca waving at here and approaching from the gates to Castelia City. "You remember the promise you made on the Xtransceiver, right?" After Touko had nodded, Bianca beamed. "So, let's get right to our Pokemon battle!"

...

Bianca turned away from Touko, grabbing her hat and pulling it down as she looked at the ground. "I'll never be a strong Trainer like you or Cheren or Iris, but... You know, since we left Nuvema Town, I've met a lot of people and I've been thinking about what I want to do in life!" She continued to be turned around and Touko approached her, laying a hand on her shoulder. "When you look at it that way, Pokemon have given me a lot of new experiences." She turned around, smiling with hope at Touko. "Having my Pokemon stolen was just really hard, and I felt really unsure... Still, I gotta say I'm really glad I went! I've learned so much on this journey. I also learned that being with Pokemon is really, really important!" Touko smiled softly, watching Bianca's eyes glow. She pulled her friend into a hug and Bianca returned it before pulling away and letting out a breath and grinning wide. "Okay, well, I hope to see you again soon! Bye-bye, Touko!" Touko nodded and watched her friend head back the way she had come before continuing on.

...

As soon as she stepped on Route 4, she had to block her eyes from the ever-blowing sandstorm. Through the sand, she could've sworn she saw a figure that looked like Cheren just standing there. Grinning, she approached him and grabbed both shoulders, feeling him flinch in surprise. She laughed and Cheren turned around and frowned lightly.

"Hey, Touko. I've been waiting for you to get the Insect Badge." He shrugged, stepping back to a battling distance. "Now it's time to see which one of us is the stronger Trainer! Go, Pidove!"

"Rufflet, show them the true Flying-type!"

...

"You're strong, I hope you know that Touko!" Cheren called over the sandstorm, looking smug. "But, my Liepard will show you that we can overcome anything no matter the circumstance!" The two had been duking it out, with Touko still having all three of her Pokemon and Cheren left with his Liepard. Both Tympole and Rufflet had taken some pretty heavy damage and Touko knew someone who liked to prove they were strong just as much as Cheren did.

"Yeah, well, someone wants to show you the true meaning of strength! Snivy!" The Grass Snake Pokemon popped up, landing with an elegant twirl. "Snivy, Tackle!" She ran at Liepard and Cheren just smirked.

"Try this on for speed. Dodge it." Liepard jumped, easily dodging the Tackle in lightning fast time. "Scratch." Quick as it was gone, Liepard was back and ran a claw straight across Snivy.

"Snivy!" Snivy brushed her face, grimacing from the pain but she stood standing. "His Liepard is fast."

"Liepard, Pursuit!" Liepard was at it again, rushing at Snivy and striking her before Touko had time to tell her to dodge.

"Snivy! Hang in there!" Snivy knelt on one knee before pushing herself up. "Vine Whip!" The vines sprang to life from her collar, flying at Liepard who jumped over each of them with ease. "Keep it up Snivy!"

"Liepard, find an opening and use Scratch!" Liepard continued to jump over the vines before finding his way to escape and was besides Snivy and scratched down her shoulder. Her vines retracted and Snivy fell to the ground in pain. "Snivy! Don't give up! You can beat him!" Snivy was still but her tail still twitched with life.

"Sorry Touko, Liepard end irt quietly..." Liepard began to slowly approach Snivy, raising one paw and unsheathing his claws.

"SNIVY!" Touko called to her Pokemon, desperation in her voice. "You will not lose here! You are stronger than any Pokemon I know! You are my partner and you will prove Cheren wrong. Snivy, please!" At this desperation, Snivy placed one paw on the ground and began to push herself up. Her back feet placed flat on the floor and her head slowly began to raise. Suddenly, a light enveloped Snivy, causing Liepard to place his paw down and stop in his tracks. "Snivy, you're-"

"Snivy's evolving!" Cheren cut her off and the two watched as Snivy's body grew longer and her leaves sprang. As the light popped and shimmered off, in her place was a Servine, standing at ready although just as weakened.

"Snivy - I mean, Servine! You've evolved!" Joy coursed through Touko but Cheren didn't let it last long.

"No matter, Liepard, Scratch!" Liepard sprang back into action, running full speed at Servine.

"Dodge it Servine!" Quicker than Liepard, Servine moved to the side, letting the Liepard sink his claws into air. "You're fast now! Awesome! Leaf Tornado!" The leaves rushed from Servine, hitting him hard and sending him back.

"Liepard!"

Touko just laughed and grinned. "Sorry Cheren, but we like to win." She winked and giggled, pointing at Liepard. "Vine Whip!" The two vines flew from Servine's collar and smacked down simultaneously on Liepard's dazed body.

"Liepard, no!" Cheren peered through the dust and raging sand, and saw his still Liepard. He sighed, returning him and walking over to Touko. "Impressive. But why can't I win?!"

"I'm just too good." Touko grinned and Cheren just shook his head and went deep into thought.

"It's now clear to me. The reason you are so tough is the trust between you and your Pokemon. But... That shouldn't be a problem. I can get more out of my Pignite and my other Pokemon, too." He seemed like he was going to continue but the duo's Xtransceiver rang and they picked up. On the other screen was Professor Juniper, saluting them.

"Hello there!"

"Hey Professor." Cheren greeted her absentmindedly and Touko nodded at her.

"Touko, do you have a second?" She asked to Touko but before she could respond, Cheren answered for her.

"Professor Juniper, do you need something?" The Professor seemed to ignore Cheren, looking at the other fuzzy screen.

"I called Bianca too, but I guess she didn't hear the call. I wonder what she's caught up in. Well, I suppose I'll just have to call her again later." Cheren seemed to want to say something else, but she snapped her fingers. "Okay! I'll be waiting for you two in front of the gate to Nimbasa City!" With that she signed off and cut the connection, leaving both of them hanging. Cheren just sighed, tossing his hair to one side of his face.

"Nimbasa City's gate is straight down Route 4. Watch out for the sandstorm though, some people get lost in it. Try to stick to the path." He waved at her once, heading off down the path and disappearing into the sandstorm.

"Well then." Touko picked up her Servine that was standing by her during the conversation. "Congratulations Miss Servine!" She grinned and Servine wrapped her arms around her Trainer's neck. "You're awesome!"