Far away, in Veilstone City, Hunter's eyes opened. Sitting up, he looked around, swearing he'd heard Taren's voice. He got up from his bed, walking over to the door. As he walked across the room, he was greeted by an Umbreon trotting up beside him. It yawned.

Hunter knelt and scratched it behind the ears. "Morning, sleepyhead."

"Umbre!" it said, nuzzling his fingers.

Hunter got up again and walked out of his room and down to the kitchen. As he came back out with a small plate and cup in one hand and a bowl of Pokémon food in the other, he looked out the window at the rising sun. Golden light flowed through the windows, warm on Hunter's face. Setting the food down, he sat and dug in. Umbreon was on the couch beside him in an instant, eating its food like there was no tomorrow.

After finishing, Hunter walked upstairs and took a shower. Coming back down fully dressed, he looked at Umbreon, who licked its paws and gave a small belch.

Hunter smiled and gestured to it. It hopped down off of the couch, trotting over to him as he opened the door.

"Come on. We're going to visit Maylene."

Walking down the road together, Hunter closed his eyes, letting his gaze travel, seeking out a particular Aura. He couldn't find it. That's odd. I should be able to find it anywhere.

He opened his eyes again, slightly worried.

At the Veilstone Gym, he and Maylene sat inside the battle area together. Her Lucario stood in the center of the ring, punching and kicking at air. Maylene looked at him. "You know, I've never seen you in a Pokémon battle."

"What?" Hunter asked, looking at her.

"I've never seen you battle before."

Hunter smiled. "Well, we could test it. We'd probably bring the gym down, though."

"In my battle with Ash we blew the roof off. We can fix anything we break."

Hunter nodded. "Alright, then." He looked at Umbreon. "You game, Umbreon?"

"Umbre!" it said, getting up and running to the challenger side of the gym.

Hunter smiled and followed as Maylene and Lucario went to the other side.

As soon as she was in place, she looked at him, a fierce glint in her eyes. "Ready?"

"Whenever you are."

Maylene smiled. "Alright then. Lucario, start this off with Aura Sphere!"

Lucario did so, sending the attack across the field.

"Umbreon, dodge and then use Faint Attack!"

Umbreon jumped over the Aura Sphere as it hit the ground and exploded, then disappeared, moving around Lucario until appearing directly in front as Umbreon flew towards it.

"Lucario, jump, then counter with Bone Rush!"

Lucario vaulted into the air and conjured the attack, swinging downward with a roar.

"Umbreon, use Agility to dodge, then use Quick Attack!"

Umbreon shot to one side as Lucario's staff hit the ground, then shot towards Lucario and hit it in the chest.

Lucario slid backwards until it managed to stop itself. Maylene's eyebrows knitted together in a frown. "Lucario, use Close Combat!"

"Umbreon, use Agility again!"

As Lucario charged at Umbreon, it dodged to one side. Dodging a kick by jumping left, Umbreon was then tackled by Lucario, who carried it into a pillar on the side of the arena. Umbreon cried out in pain.

Hunter narrowed his eyes. "Umbreon, Night Shade!"

Umbreon turned its head towards Lucario, and shot purple beams from its eyes, which hit Lucario in the face and drove it back.

Umbreon faced it, breathing heavily. Hunter looked at it. "You okay?"

Umbreon tossed its head angrily, which Hunter took as a "yes".

Maylene looked at Lucario. "Lucario, Metal Claw!"

"Umbreon, Shadow Claw!"

As Lucario charged forward, Umbreon met it head-on with Shadow Claw. Sparks flew as the two attacks collided. The two Pokémon held their positions for a moment, then broke.

"Umbreon, use Flash Cannon!"

Maylene's eyebrows rose. "Flash Cannon?"

Umbreon opened its mouth as a white ball of energy began building there.

Maylene reacted quickly. "Lucario, use Force Palm!"

Lucario charged at Umbreon, who fired the Flash Cannon. It shot at Lucario, who met it with Force Palm.

A large explosion rocked the gym.

Lucario came through the cloud of smoke, singed, but still kicking. Hunter narrowed his eyes. "Umbreon, Teleport!"

Umbreon disappeared. Lucario stopped, looking around in confusion. Hunter looked up."Now, Umbreon, use Shadow Claw!"

Lucario looked up to see Umbreon flying towards it, a wicked-looking claw extending from its leg.

"Lucario, jump and use Metal Claw!"

Lucario jumped onto a pillar and met Umbreon in midair, both pushing against the other until they ran out of momentum and dropped to the ground.

"Lucario, use Bone Rush!"

"Umbreon, use Agility to dodge!"

Umbreon's Agility and Lucario's speed made both only blurs in the air as they attacked and dodged. Then Lucario landed a hit.

Umbreon flew across the gym, hitting the floor and sliding for a distance before managing to get up. It growled.

"Umbreon, Will-'O-Wisp!"

Umbreon shot fire from its mouth as Lucario spun its staff to dispel the fire.

"Lucario, Force Palm!"

"Umbreon, use Night Shade and Quick Attack combined!"

As both Pokémon ran forward, Umbreon shot at Lucario as its eyes glowed black, encasing its body in a flare of dark energy.

Both collided, causing an explosion and a large dust cloud that filled the room.

Hunter closed his eyes. Both Pokémon were still standing, though they looked almost spent. "Umbreon, Teleport to me."

Umbreon disappeared, then reappeared in front of its trainer. Hunter looked up at Lucario, who was tapping its foot impatiently.

Hunter spoke again. "Umbreon, use Agility."

Umbreon turned and ran at Lucario.

"Lucario, use Bone Rush!"

Lucario conjured its staff and swung at Umbreon as Hunter shouted again. "Now, Umbreon! Jump and use Iron Tail!"

Umbreon jumped, dodging the swing as its tail glowed and it swung around.

Thwack!

Lucario went flying across the gym, despite blocking the blow with its staff. It hit a pillar, then slid to the floor for a moment before getting up again.

"Umbreon, wrap this up with Will-'O-Wisp!"

Umbreon breathed fire at Lucario, who was quickly encircled by purple flames.

"Now, use Iron Tail!"

Umbreon ran at Lucario and jumped, turning and landing a hard blow on the side of Lucario's face. Lucario, amazingly, stayed standing as Umbreon's tail pressed into its cheek. Maylene seized the opportunity.

"Lucario, use Focus Punch!"

Lucario swung with one paw, landing a hard punch on Umbreon's cheek. As Umbreon spun away, it finally managed to bring down Lucario, who fell forward from the flames, landing face down on the floor.

Umbreon slid across the floor, coming to a stop a short distance away from Lucario.

Both lay there, unmoving as their trainers ran to them.

Hunter reached Umbreon and picked it up, cradling it in his arms as its eyelids fluttered. "Hang in there. You were great."

Maylene rolled Lucario over, its head in her lap as she put her hand on its brow. "You were amazing, Lucario."

Hunter walked over, carrying Umbreon in his arms. "Nice battle. Are you satisfied, or should we try to level the city next?"

Maylene laughed. "I'm satisfied. You're really good. How long have you been training with Umbreon?"

"A long time. Probably every morning, every day."

She looked at him, more seriously. "Is it better than Buizel?"

Hunter's voice grew quiet. "No Pokémon's better than Buizel." His tone then lightened. "It's close, though. Very close."

Maylene smiled. "Let's go up to Reggie's. I bet he could fix them both up."

Hunter nodded. "Yeah. I haven't gotten to know him all that well."

Yay! My first real Pokemon battle! Anyways, you can tell that Hunter's really been training hard. It'll pick up soon, don't worry. R and R!