AN: I've got time to update so here's the first new chapter of Burning Dream in 2017! I realized! LOL. 2017…Chapter 17. Huh? What a coincidence! I'm done. FYI, for the use of metronome I used a generator so it is all random. Enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I've made a terrible pun this couldn't even say I own the awesome lifestyle that is Pokémon.
Chapter 17: Payments of the Past
Celadon City was reached fairly quickly. After leaving the orphanage they headed straight there and it went by fast. During the time only got Keygan more excited for her gym battle. She was beyond ready and she felt confident. The gym specialized in grass types and looking at her team she had advantage. She had Vulpix, Beedrill, and Clefairy. Well, Clefairy won't be as much help if any those grass type were secondary poison types. Some weren't so she didn't have to worry about that so much at this gym. As soon as Keygan made sure her Pokémon were alright she told her friends they were going for the gym.
"I'm always so nervous for your gym battles." Catelin admitted.
"Why?" Keygan asked.
"Do you think what you're doing isn't serious?" Javan asked. "This isn't just some gym challenge."
Keygan stopped dead in her tracks. Vulpix looked to her trainer from shoulder to try and see her face. Vulpix hated when she did that. Vulpix liked to know what Keygan was feeling or even if she could, thinking about. Her head was down like Keygan was trying to calm herself. Vulpix didn't have to see that Keygan was getting mad.
"I know exactly what I'm doing." Keygan said in a calm voice that was actually scary. If Vulpix hadn't known the anger wasn't directed at her she would have jumped away. "I'm putting my life on the line to help people. Make the world a safer place. I want to defend it against those who dare try and harm it."
"Keygan, I didn't mean it like that." Javan said seeing he might have asked the wrong question.
"Then how? Don't you think you should evaluate what you're doing with me?" Keygan asked.
"We're helping you!" Catelin said.
"Are you?" Keygan snapped. She didn't know what came over her. Ever since Catelin and Javan found out her parents didn't want her they treated her differently. They seemed to make sure that the trainer knew they cared and were there for her. Did they begin to see that Keygan may have thought she didn't care about her life back then? Her escape was figured out in many different directions. This stretch for freedom being a trainer was an unsaid suicide attempt that she didn't have to commit. She wasn't a coward. She was at least going to go out swinging. That was another reason she wouldn't let Vulpix kill herself to save her. She didn't need to go down with her trainer. "I'm not throwing my life away."
"We didn't say you were." Catelin said stepping closer to her friend.
"You're secretive." Javan said.
"I know." Keygan said. "If I win then I'll tell you what you want to know…within reason."
"Keygan…you don't have to…" Catelin said.
"No, it's not right. I know so much about you two, but you know nothing about me. It's not fair to you, or my Pokémon."
Keygan looked to her Vulpix and smiled. Vulpix gave her trainer a small reassuring smile back. Of course the fire type wanted to know, but she wasn't going to force her. Keygan didn't force her to tell about her past. Vulpix made a deal with herself. If they won she was going to tell Keygan more, just not everything.
"Pix." Vulpix nodded.
"Thanks girl." Keygan said as she caressed her ear. "Let's go."
Keygan's nose and breathing twitched as they entered the gym. Perfume. She could smell before they even reached the front door. The smell was overwhelming and she wasn't the only one who thought so as Vulpix buried her face into her jacket. Keygan coughed a little and her friends gave her an odd look. She waved her hand. She didn't have to tell them anything, not yet. She wondered if health problems included in or before the deal. Asthma was a medical problem Keygan had dealt with since she was child and still this day still did. One of her triggers was perfume or at least sprays. Smells were different as sprays were a physical airborne.
"Pix?"
"I'm fine."
"You must be a challenger. My name is Erika, the gym leader." A soft voice said. Looking over the plants surrounding the grass battle field was a woman with black hair wearing a kimono.
"My name is Keygan and I challenge you to a battle." Keygan said.
Erika hesitated a moment before she answered, "I accept your challenge."
"The challenge between Erika, the gym leader, and Keygan, the challenger will now begin. Each side will use three Pokémon and the battle will be over when one side can no longer continue. In addition, only the challenger may substitute. Trainers begin." A female referee called in a calm voice.
"Tangela, I need you!" Erika said calling out her ball of vines.
"Beedrill I choose you!" Keygan said calling out her first Pokémon.
"Tangela use Bind!"
"Agility!" Beedrill quickly dodged out of the way of the bind and began to swiftly surround the grass type. "Aerial Ace!"
Using his increased speed Beedrill swooped in and struck Tangela with the super-effective flying type move. Tangela cried out and slammed against the field. He quickly got up and listen to his trainer.
"Tangela use Vine Whip!"
"Dodge it!"
Despite his quick movements Tangela had the upper hand as he had more than two vines to try and grab Beedrill. Beedrill thought he was dodging thousands. Eventually he looked forward only to be slammed by one in the face and knocked back into another that successfully had him in a bind. He struggled to get away.
"Poison Jab!" Keygan called to attempt to escape. As Beedrill's stingers glowed purple two vines wrapped around them holding them.
"Bee!"
"Toss it and use Ancient Power!"
Beedrill screeched as he was flung up and then brought back down to meet the super effective rock type move. As the rocks struck he slammed into the ground once he did to the grass type. Beedrill thought his damage was given back twice over and glared at them as he got off the ground.
"Poison Jab!"
Beedrill swiftly shot up and attacked Tangela. Tangela was knocked back and slowly got up.
"Gela…" Tangela moaned.
"No!" Erika cried seeing Tangela had been poisoned.
"Venoshock!" Keygan commanded.
Beedrill's stingers glowed purple then shot out a purple acid like substance. The Venoshock hit Tangela and he cried out. Tangela then fell over from the damage.
"Tangela is unable to battle! The winner is Beedrill!" the referee announced.
"Nice job Beedrill!"
"Bee!"
"Thank you Tangela. You did well. Weepinbell go!" Erika said bringing out her next Pokémon.
"Bell!"
"I'll start this round!" Erika stated. "Weepinbell use Sleep Powder!"
"Agility!"
Despite Beedrill's speed, Weepinbell just aimed for the bug type and made sure the powder went right over his head. Beedrill attempted to fight off the sleep, but failed and was out like a light before he even knew he was falling toward the ground.
"Slam!"
Weepinbell then made a huge jump and came straight back down over the sleeping Beedrill. Together they both fell toward the grass battle field and collided.
Keygan could only watch knowing she could nothing within her challenger's power about the situation. It was all up to Beedrill and it looked like he wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
After a minor dust cleared Keygan saw the opposing grass type move and reveal her Beedrill laying in the crushed grass and the beginning of the earth beneath it.
"Beedrill is unable to battle! The winner is Weepinbell!"
"Thank you Beedrill, you did great so take a nice rest." Keygan said returning her Pokémon.
"I wonder which one you'll use next." Erika taunted. Weepinbell followed his trainer and only laughed in a deep voice.
That was a good question as Keygan didn't know herself. She reached behind to place Beedrill's ball back. She felt among her belt feeling two left. One still contained a Pokémon while the other sat beside her. Vulpix wasn't a secret, but Keygan did know that Vulpix was her best chance and couldn't be afford to be wasted.
"Clefairy let's go!" Keygan called her second Pokémon.
Clefairy came out dancing on her little feet ready to battle. She then stopped seeing her opponent had a type advantage and prepared herself. She needed to be serious. Every battle needed to be taken seriously. No time for mistakes. She knew one day where it might happen that no one would be there to bail her out of a tough situation and she'd have to face it.
"Clefairy!" Clefairy shouted.
"Dazzling Gleam!"
Weepinbell took the attack head on and when the smoke cleared the grass and poison type only smirked. Keygan cursed to herself that she forgot that fairy type moves didn't really effect poison types. It was the other way around, but she didn't regret the move choice. She wanted to stay away from Weepinbell. Luckily, most of the time Clefairy's moves were all executed from a distance.
"Razor Leaf!"
"Dodge it and use Metronome!" Keygan said taking a risk. That was her wild card. Clefairy then wiggled her finger and twirled around effectively dodging the grass type move before a Shadow Ball was launched. Taken off guard Weepinbell was slammed by the attack. Erika grinned seeing this was her chance.
"Encore!"
"Bel! Bel!" Weepinbell cheered as he clapped his leaves together and a pulsing energy came from them. The energy touched Clefairy and she glowed in a red aura. Keygan cursed herself. She wasn't stupid. She knew what Encore did. She was stuck using Metronome who knows who long.
"Metronome!"
Clefairy once again wiggled her finger and twirled. From her hand shot a boiling hot Scald!
Weepinbell took the attack grunted as his body burned from the water. Luckily he didn't receive a burn from the attack.
"Razor Leaf!"
"Metronome!"
Clefairy ended up staying in one place and an electricity followed around her. Metronome had come out as Charge and Clefairy was struck by the move. Worriedly Keygan watched on concerned her fairy type was done for. However, Clefairy got right back up.
"He. He." A sweet voice said. "She's very resilient. I'll give you that."
"That's because she's knows the stakes and knows what she has to do. Metronome!"
Clefairy's eyes glowed light blue and her body became surrounded by a crimson aura. Clefairy then raised her arms above her head causing the aura to get thicker. Both trainers looked at it unable to look away. With her eyes still focused upon Clefairy, Keygan reached around and pulled her dex from her pocket.
~Night Daze, a dark move and the strongest special attack of the type. The user lets loose a pitch-black shock wave at its target. This may also lower the target's accuracy~
"Razor Leaf!" Erika attacked scared for her Pokémon upon hearing what the move was.
Clefairy continued on with her attack. She brought her arms down toward the field and a pink and crimson force field of energy appeared. The force field then expanded outwards throughout the whole battlefield. Erika's attack became futile was it was simply knocked away as did Weepinbell who soon followed. Weepinbell was tossed backward and landed against one of the trees surrounding the field.
"Weepinbell!"
"Weepinbell is unable to battle! The winner is Clefairy!"
"Nice job Clefairy!"
"Clefairy." Clefairy nodded still kind of worn out. She then shook herself becoming aware that she was still in battle. She also realized the Encore had worn off and so did Keygan.
"You shall not grow to overpass me!" Erika shouted at her. Keygan rolled her eyes and watched as Erika brought out her final Pokémon. "Bellossom come out!"
"Bell." A sweet voice said as she gracefully swayed back and forth.
"Hidden Power!" Keygan said to start of what she wanted to be the final round.
"Petal Dance!"
Bellossom turned and a flurry of petals danced out from around her. The grass type move shredded Clefairy's Hidden Power and carried on to attack the fairy type herself. Having nowhere to go Clefairy took the powerful grass type move and fell back.
"Clefairy is unable to battle! The winner is Keygan!"
"Clefairy you did awesome too. Take a good rest." Keygan said returning her to safety of her Pokéball. "You ready Pix?"
"Vulpix." Vulpix said with a determination. She had been ready as they were walking up to the gym.
Keygan smiled. Bellossom was strong alright. Clefairy did her best and she managed to overcome her last challenge. She needed a rest to begin with. It was alright leaving this in Vulpix's paws. Her fire fox never let her down.
"Petal Dance!"
Bellossom was still locked into Petal Dance which Keygan was thankful for. Vulpix resisted grass type moves and she had her own moves to be able to counter it.
"Fire Spin!"
Vulpix released her spiral of flames that burned up the petals and struck Bellossom. Bellossom however, got up and glared at the fox before she walked around aimlessly. She was confused. A side effect of her own move.
"Quick Attack!"
Vulpix sprinted and attacked Bellossom sending her off her feet onto her back. Vulpix attacked also knocked the confusion away as well.
"Sunny Day!"
Bellossom turned and fired a ball of light up. After a moment it burst and everyone felt the intense rays of sunlight.
"Flame Burst!"
"Solar Beam!"
Bellossom fired the grass type attack. The beam went right through the Flame Burst and struck Vulpix.
"Vulpix!"
The smoke cleared from the attack Vulpix stood on all fours with a wince on her face. She had felt that last attack. Vulpix turned toward Keygan and nodded that she was alright.
"Synthesis!"
"Fire Spin!"
Keygan knew that this seemed all pointless. The increase amount sunlight helped them both. Vulpix's fire type moves increased while Bellossom got no charge Solar Beams and more health whenever she used Synthesis. Whatever damage she could it wouldn't do much good against Synthesis. Keygan felt herself backed into a corner. Vulpix could only take so many hits despite the ineffective damage.
Vulpix looked back at Keygan. She could tell that her trainer felt the same as she did. Trapped. She hated this feeling. She had been promised and made one to herself that she'd never feel like that again. She felt something inside her burn. She had felt this feeling a few times before, but now it was overwhelming just wanting to explode out of her.
"Solar Beam!" Erika commanded and Bellossom immediately fired the powerful grass type move. Everyone watched as it seemed Vulpix would be powerless against the attack.
"Vulpixxx!" Vulpix cried as she released an intense blast of fire from her mouth. The flames were wider and more concentrated then her normal Fire Spin.
"Flamethrower!" Keygan cried realizing Vulpix's new move that she watched hold back against the Solar Beam thanks to the added power.
"Vuuulpix!" the fire type howled happily.
"Won't matter to use! Bellossom use Petal Dance!" Erika said and Bellossom twirled releasing the flurry of petals.
"Fire Spin!"
Two moves wrapped around one another and exploded.
"Solar Beam!"
Panic swept through trainer and Pokémon as they watched through the smoke for the attack. It never came. Keygan looked up to see the sun had lost its empowering glow. The smoke then cleared to reveal the grass type charging rather slowly.
"Alright Vulpix Flamethrower!" Keygan cried. Vulpix took a deep breath and a flame erupted from her mouth once again striking the grass type. Vulpix smirked as she stopped her attack to watch Bellossom be engulfed in flames as her own strategy with her trainer backfired.
"Bellossom is unable to battle! The winner is Vulpix! Thus the gym battle goes to the challenger!"
Keygan glared over Erika daring her to make a move. After the first attempt on her life Keygan knew she had to be prepared for anything these leaders through at her. However, Erika seemed like she was about to cry.
"I'm sorry…" Erika said as she wiped her face with her sleeve.
"Wait!" a familiar voice said. Everyone looked over and saw Wendy. The girl that they helped her missing Pokémon Ingrid.
"Wendy!" Erika shouted. "You know better than to come in here when I'm having a gym battle."
"Listen sister!" Wendy shouted. "Keygan is the one who saved me from Team Evolution. The ones I told you about!"
"What?" Erika said. She remembered Wendy returning frantically and explained that she had a run in with Team Evolution despite the agreement they wouldn't mess with their kin. Erika had almost wanted to quit, but didn't. She still gave a chance and apparently someone gave Wendy one.
"Please don't harm her…" Wendy pleaded. "I don't know what I would have done without her help that day."
"Don't worry." Erika said as she held her sister's hands in her own. "I may have vowed to them to harm trainers who defeat me, but I would never do as they ask. I do have to thank you for helping Wendy that day. I was so worried upon hearing the story and wanted to thank the person who helped her in person. Now I can. Thank you. Please, take the Rainbow Badge."
"Thank you." Keygan said as she cautiously took the badge.
"If asked I will say one of your Pokémon bailed you out. I was supposed to suffocate you, but in reality the sprays I would have used were only simple perfumes and water. They are harmless." Erika explained.
"I'm glad you didn't or you might have succeed." Keygan said.
"Huh?" Everyone questioned.
"You see, I have asthma and oddly enough one of my triggers is perfume."
"Oh yes. Then I'm glad I didn't either." Erika said.
"Keygan! Why didn't you tell us?" Catelin said to her.
"Didn't think it was too important. I hadn't had any problems until now. You don't notice when we run and neither of you wear any sprays." Keygan explained sheepishly. She didn't see what the big problem was. No one asked or noticed. Sure she had to put on the application to be a trainer, but that was medical importance that was required so it could be given to centers in case something happened.
"Anything else we should know?" Javan asked.
"Not here." Keygan said remembering the promise she made to them.
"Keygan! Ugh!" Catelin cried as she paced around the room resisting to smack her friend. Keygan had told them that yes, she was an orphan and only became a trainer to escape the life she was given. Whether it was being a trainer or some gym leader would kill her. She didn't expect her to get such an amazing partner and good friends. She regretted ever thinking like that, but it just felt in some aspects of her life she drew the short end of the stick.
She had been lying to everyone and now she was scared. She was scared that they might look at her different. She didn't understand what the deal was. She technically didn't lie to them. Despite her fears Keygan had to wonder what her friends were keeping from her.
"What are keeping from me?" Keygan speculated.
"What?" Javan asked.
"I'm assuming I'm not the only one at fault here. I told you something about me, shouldn't you have to?"
"You're right." Catelin agreed. "Keygan, I know I said I went with you because I wanted to help you and myself, but I had an ulterior motive. I just really wanted out of Pewter City and you were like my ticket out. I'm sorry that I used you."
"That's alright. I don't know why you didn't tell me. I did the same." Keygan said.
"What about you Javan?" Catelin asked.
Javan looked at the two females uncomfortably.
"Well." He started. "I don't have any credentials in being see the relationships between trainers and their Pokémon. I dropped out about a year ago and set my place there."
"So everything you told us when we met was a load of crap?" Keygan asked.
"Not everything." Javan defended. "I really want to learn about the relationships between people and Pokémon. I want to try and do that without the training or at least find a way to get into the programs."
"That makes sense. I guess we both have something to look forward to after Keygan makes everything right again. What I don't understand is why hasn't any other strong trainers tried?" Catelin asked.
"Are you saying I'm not strong enough?" Keygan asked.
"No! I think you'll do for sure! It's just, we haven't heard anything else on this."
"Fear." Javan said. They both turned and looked to him. "Team Evolution are obviously the ones behind everything keeping reins on everyone including gym leaders and possibly the Elite Four. I remember this all started when that new Champion rose up. No one knows anything about him and there is nothing on record, but I assume he works with Team Evolution."
"How do you know this?" Keygan asked.
"I thought it was obvious." Javan said. "Team Evolution is the only criminal group known and to even cause trouble while gym leaders seemed to influence by fear or their own desires for power with Lt. Surge being an example."
"I guess you have a point." Keygan agreed.
"This is all too serious!" Catelin said interrupting the silence that followed Keygan's comment. "Vulpix do you want to share something about you?"
"Pix." Vulpix turned her head away before moving to behind Keygan on her bed to curl up.
"I'll take that as a no." Keygan said getting a laugh from everyone.
Keygan smiled as she laid in the bed of the Pokémon Center. She was turned on her side looking at her Vulpix who slept beside her. The fire type was fast asleep. Keygan was smiling at so many factors. One she got her gym badge today without a hitch and Vulpix learned Flamethrower too. Two, Vulpix actually slept by her and the nightmares had calmed down. Third, the fox Pokémon was allowing her trainer to pet her in her sleep, but it was fair in Keygan's eyes. Now, Vulpix was dead sleeper so she either didn't notice or cared. Vulpix also was sprawled out on her side proving to her trainer that she was bed hog. As Keygan's hand brushed past her neck she felt her finger dip a little and touch where something seemed missing.
Keygan moved up a little closer to look at Vulpix. That shouldn't have happened. She checked over all her Pokémon and so did Nurse Joy after the battle. After any battle. All her Pokémon were given a clean bill of health. If it had happened before she would have noticed or at least been told. As Keygan got a closer look she saw fur was missing or at least there it looked like it had been ripped out and was slowly growing back. Brushing some back she saw a scar. What could have happened to her starter? Why didn't she notice before? Keygan felt some guilt strike her and she began thinking about what happened to Vulpix. She didn't want to ask her starter because she doubt the fire type would actually answer her or simply lie. Keygan really doubt it came from just getting in a fight. Her head hurt thinking about all this in a tired state and simply laid down to worry about another day.
AN: Finished! I hope you liked this chapter and will come back for 18 when I have it up. I hope in the meantime you'll leave a Review, Favorite, and/or Follow! Thanks and see you later!
Fun Fact 1: I, like Keygan, have asthma.
Fun Fact 2: The actual battle was the last part I wrote for this chapter. I skipped over the fight to come back to it later.