A/N: Sorry for being a little late, but I managed to upload it eventually! So, I wont be able to write for at least 3 days, due to an anime convention that I'm attending. Well, enjoy!
The group of four began their descent to the pokemon center of Hearthome City. Maya glanced over to Karen, who was still out for the count, with a grin. She looked forward and urged her Ditto carefully to the ground. Maya's Ditto and Crobat landed on the ground with a soft thump, and Karen let out a small snore.
"Hm, even while she's out she making noise. That's… interesting." Maya let out a small laugh before sliding off Ditto, who returned to his original size and form. "Have a quick rest, Ditto. I know that you're not used to carrying me around." She pulled out a pokeball and returned Ditto to it. She turned to the… well, supposedly she was knocked out, but Maya was now convinced that she was, in fact, asleep, girl and Crobat, who was awaiting further instruction.
"Um… Just fly behind me until I tell you otherwise." Maya ordered. Of course, Crobat obeyed without faltering. She looked down the street, to make sure that there weren't any Grunts around to bother them. Shrugging, Maya started walked at a fast pace down the street towards the city's gym, Crobat following just behind her.
"Hello Champ! Haven't seen you in a long time, how have you been?" Said a man near the door.
"I've been alright. I need to see Fantina. And quickly, if possible." Maya added.
"She's in her chamber. As with last time, here is your flashlight, and remember what the symbol on the blue floor panel is so you can match it to the doorway in question." He handed a flashlight to Maya, and waved as she and her pokemon, with Karen chillin' on his back, entered the darkness of the Hearthome Gym. And two seconds later…
"I challenge you to a pokemon battle!" A young boy shouted from behind the group. Maya let out a startled shriek, twisted around to face the kid and threw the flashlight at the boy. She meant to wave it at him while chewing him out, but had let go by accident. "Ow!"
"…Sorry. You shouldn't yell at someone when they don't know you're there, kid. It might get you something worse than a flashlight to the face." She said, quite the stern look on her features. The boy looked down and away.
"Sorry, miss… I just wanted to battle…" He muttered. Maya quickly glanced at Karen, who she thought was beginning to stir. She looked back to the boy.
"I'll tell you what, I'll battle you as soon as I'm done with my business with Fantina." Maya promised. The boy's face lit up. "Now, go train up a little more to make sure you're ready." The boy nodded, handed her flashlight back to her, and trotted off to do as Maya had suggested.
"Ah, that wasn't too hard…" Maya said quietly, smiling at her own handiwork. Then she remembered what she was there for, and started on her way once more. Her group managed to reach Fantina without further incident, for which she was eternally grateful for.
Fantina was a bit of an odd looking gym leader, even by gym leader standards. Her long, dark purple hair was pulled back into four buns, showing her pretty face. Unlike most leaders, and even most trainers, she wore a long light purple ballroom gown, with a golden 'x' on her right hip. It reminded Maya vaguely of a Drifloon, actually. How that worked, she wasn't sure, but that's what it reminded her of. She was also the only foreign gym leader in Sinnoh, though no one was really sure where the hell she was from.
"Ah, Maya, non?" Fantina asked, looking up from her Mismagius, a hand full of pokemon food. Mismagius let out a small cry to gain the leader's attention once more. Fantina held out her hand so pokemon could simply eat out of her hand while she attended to the visitors.
"I'm glad to see that you remembered me, Fantina. I hope you've been well." Maya said with a smile. "Listen, I need your help. Team Supernova, a mixture of Teams Galactic, Rocket, Aqua and Magma, are after us, and we need as much help as possible to fend them off, as well as a place to lay low for a little bit. Think you might be able to help us, and hide us here in Hearthome?"
"You would like me to 'elp you? I don't see what's in it for me." Fantina commented, patting her Mismagius on the head after it had finished eating.
"I'll help you evolve your Haunter into a Gengar." Maya offered. Fantina mulled it over.
"Okay. I shall 'elp you." Fantina agreed. "By ze way, what is the deal with that Crobat? It looks like it is 'olding onto a person." She pointed at the still sleeping Karen on Crobat's back. Maya chuckled.
"That's Karen. I suppose I should wake her up now." Maya undid the ropes, and Karen slid to the floor, landing with a soft thump. She let out a slight moan and sat up, rubbing her eyes, trying to refocus her vision. She noticed Maya stuffing the rope back into her bag, and a woman who looked like an explosion of purple.
"Where are we, Maya?" She asked, pulling herself up. Maya returned Crobat to his pokeball, and brought Empoleon back out. "And why do I feel so dizzy?"
"We're in the Hearthome gym, and this is its leader, Fantina." Maya explained. "I dunno, maybe it's just your imagination." Maya said with a grin. Karen looked to the blonde warily, but didn't say anything in response.
"So, if you follow me, I'll 'ide you in the contest 'all for now. It should be good enough for the time being." Fantina said, stepping onto a green panel in the corner of the room, disappearing in a whirl. Maya gulped. Stupid warp panels. Whoever designed them would have to have their ass handed to them later. She reluctantly stepped onto the panel, hoping it wouldn't be as bad as last time. Her hopes were for naught.
The instant she stepped onto said panel, she felt the same spinning and the same dizziness, so she snapped her eyes shut, willing it to end. The instant she felt it stop, Maya opened her eyes slightly and stumbled forward. She waited for Empoleon and Karen to show up. Evidently, Karen had brought out Chansey for a bit of fresh air.
"This way." Fantina said, gesturing from the doorway. The four followed the gym leader. Maya slumped, remembering that Fantina was leading them to the contest hall. Oh well, as long as no one came after them.
It was a short walk to the contest hall, but Maya never stopped checking the faces of everyone they passed by, making sure that no unwanted visitors would show up.
"'Ere we are! The Contest 'all. Just tell the person at the counter that Fantina sent you. I will be by later to check on you." Fantina nodded with a smile and took her leave.
A/N: Here you go. It's kind of... there. I made Fantina french because... I can.