Cherrygrove's Winter Knights

…

- She Knows About Timed Hits!

Aubrey had only seen one full Pokemon Battle.

That's what they were, right? Not little scuffles like what her classmates had between themselves until a teacher broke them apart at lunchtime, and not a fight that ended in a capture, like Marie and the Shadow Pokemon earlier. Pokemon Battles were one-on-one bouts between Trainers, sending out combatants and shouting commands until one of them fainted. The only one like that, she was too young to really remember. Her cousin was involved, she knew that much. Aubrey could scarcely remember the actual Pokemon that were forced to fight, and even the face of the opposing Trainer was hazy.

But Aubrey could recall what it was like seeing the battle end. She could recall, with flawless accuracy, her first burst of sorrow. She remembered bruises, cuts, broken bones...Aubrey even remembered going home and immediately devoting her life to the Day Care, barely-infant girl that she was.

Yet, for the first time, Aubrey wondered if she had gotten the full story behind that battle.

It was a gross, embarrassing question. She felt her skin crawl every time she had thought about it in the past. But…What if that battle had been justified? After all, Aubrey was so little, she knew nothing about the cause behind it. Maybe she had been in danger, and her cousin had thrown a Pokeball as a defense?

...Did that mean battling could be the right thing to do?

With Kenneth standing in the large white room, Summer tied at a wall and Paddy behind her, Aubrey had trouble answering. Kenneth's sadistic laughter didn't even faze her.

"You're something, kiddo," Kenneth said, his eyes locked into Aubrey. Whatever emotions Paddy had created in her out of thin air, Kenneth had snuffed them out like a candle. "At noon you're with a Covenant kid and some red-headed mess...and five hours later, you're jamming around town with the Fail Brigade.

"You're one of those kids who has trouble just running for them, aren't you?" He raised a thin eyebrow.

Kenneth's pocket started singing a high-pitched wail; he took out the phone and held it with enough bravado to conquer planets. "Ken here.

"Nah, she's not with me...And what do you want me to do?

"Look, take it up with Gracie. I'm kind of busy," his fine features scrunched in acute annoyance. "Well, whatever. Call me if you can't find her."

Kenneth held the phone out at arm's length as he snapped it shut. "Lamesauce," he groaned. "Your friend up on the ninth floor? She's hella strong. What's with that? She's making this tower way more trouble than it's worth."

Aubrey waited for Paddy to say something back. That's how these things went, right? Villain says something, heroes say something back, and then the battle begins. Paddy's silence, his stiff posture, and the determined emotion frozen on his face were the exact opposite of expectations.

"Rude," Kenneth said. "Way to not banter back at me, kids."

"I'm not here to banter," Paddy finally said, his voice back to the lower, angrier tone. If Aubrey ever got back to school, she'd have a lot to tell her friends about how boys' voices were cracking. "This is about my friend. Let her go."

"Your friend, the Pokemon Ranger?"

Wait, what?

"She's more trouble than your friend above us, to be honest," Kenneth gave Summer a once-over, and Aubrey swore it was almost too friendly a glance. "There's no way I'm about to just let her go. I mean, maybe if you to were more into the banter-y side of playing the heroes, then I might have a soft spot for you.

"Luckily, I suppose there is one thing you have that might interest me."

Paddy didn't mince words. "What?"

"That Chikorita right there," Kenneth pointed with a lax finger. Chikorita stood by Aubrey's leg, tall and proud. Aubrey couldn't tell if it was brave or simply oblivious. "Give it to me, and I'll let Summer go. She'll be as free to be as you and me. And hey, that rhymed! Go, me."

"You have to be out of your mind," Paddy growled.

"Don't be silly, you guys already know that I'm out of my mind," Kenneth joked, bouncing himself up off the wall. Summer started to struggle again, but it was no use; when Aubrey got a closer look, there were plastic ties reinforcing the ropes. Team Cipher played for keeps.

"Now, you did kind of catch me at a bad time," he started to walk toward the exit on the opposite wall of the room. "See, I'm supposed to go help nab that friend of yours. If I leave, then I'd definitely beat both of you down, but that girl up there would probably blow my pals to bits.

"Also, Gracie would be pretty ticked that I hurt another Chikorita Bearer.

"So...I'll do the next best thing. I'll bounce out that-a way," Kenneth jabbed a thumb toward the door, "And I'll let my buddies right behind you take care of this situation."

Paddy and Aubrey had been so focused on Kenneth that they completely ignored the men that had been chasing them. Kenneth's words hadn't been a bluff: Paddy turned to find three Cipher men blocking their path. When Aubrey followed his lead, Paddy gripped her hand tightly.

"Hey, guys?" Kenneth leaned past the youths to his fellow agents. "Shoot to kill, yeah?"

Oh, that sounded absolutely grand.

There was a painful tension as Kenneth walked out the exit, opened the door, and slammed it shut again. The instant the door had closed behind him, Paddy bolted from Aubrey's side to Summer. He removed the gag at her mouth carefully; as it fell, Summer's full lips moved with precision. "Paddy, my Styler's out of juice. There's nothing we can do to—"

Paddy had started working on her binds using a pocket knife from his jacket. "We're going to be fine."

"What are you talking about? You don't have any—"

"Aubrey?"

Aubrey had been counting the seconds.

"Remember what I told you? If I ever needed you to fight, I would help."

She remembered.

Aubrey and Paddy had made the potentially-fatal mistake of letting themselves be boxed in; they had entered the second room together when Kenneth left. Now the three Ciphers had the door swarmed, and were slowly drawing Pokeballs from their belts and pockets. Chikorita watched intently, its expression no more blank or alert than normal.

"I don't suppose you can be talked out of this," Paddy asked as he left Summer and returned to Aubrey's side. "Maybe I can convince you to help us?"

"You wouldn't pay enough," said one of the men.

Paddy shrugged. "I suppose we'll have to do this the old-fasioned way."

Old-fashioned way?! Paddy must have fallen off of the deep end. Aubrey and Chikorita were the most inexperienced individuals one could have possible thrown into this situation. Whatever came out of those Pokeballs would likely eat them alive—

She didn't have to wait very long. Three Pokeballs exploded against the ground: two flying bat-type Pokemon, followed by an especially-ferocious bird type with a long, pointed beak.

"Two Zubats and a Spearow," Paddy said. "I guess trash is still trash, wherever it comes from."

"Shut it!" said the same grunt from before. "Spearow, go! Tear that brat a new one!"

Chikorita raced from under Aubrey's legs before she had the chance to pull it back.

Talk about things going from bad to worse. Chikorita faced down three flying opponents, and Aubrey had worked the Day Care long enough to see what happened when grass Pokemon take on just one of those types.

"Zubat! You too!"

"Get in there!'

The three opponents dived for Chikorita at the same time. Aubrey pulled her hands over her face—

Paddy was already there, holding her wrists down with both of his hands. "You can't look away! Lesson one!"

The battle began with the Ciphers seemingly having the upper-hand, but Chikorita was faster than any of them would have guessed. The small grass-Pokemon leapt and swerved around the predators, sending them crashing into walls from their own momentum. It landed on all fours, the leaf on its head flowing with grandeur.

One of the Zubats came back around—

But Chikorita was ready. It kicked out with both hind legs, clocking the Zubat and sending it against back to the wall with a painful thud.

Aubrey didn't know where this was coming from. She hadn't told it to do anything—

"Lesson two. Pokemon Battling is a bit different sitting in the drivers' seat than on TV. Chikorita's going to dodge and attack on its own."

"Then what am I supposed to—"

"It needs you to call out special attacks," Paddy rushed. "Chikorita won't be able to hold its own without some special commands."

"I don't know any attacks!"

"It's a grass Pokemon, just like any other. You need to focus."

"I don't...can't you—"

"It won't listen to me. Chikorita is your Pokemon, you're it's Trainer."

"I'm not a—"

Chikorita dodged the second assault, but this time, it came out markedly more exhausted. It breathed quicker, its landing saw it tumble a bit—

"Aubrey, now!"

She apologized in advance. Deep breath—

"Chikorita?"

It craned its head up in attention—

"Razor leaf! Now!

"...Please?" She added softly.

Aubrey barely understood the command herself, and were the situation reversed, she would have just stood in place and flailed haplessly. But Chikorita, already bred for battle as a starter Pokemon, had combat in its genes. Spearow led the charge, soaring with its talons spread and beak pointed into a fine point—

Chikorita twirled its leaf toward the opposition—

A volley of foliage sprang forth from behind Chikorita's body, catching the Spearow off-guard; it nose-dived to the ground to avoid meeting a gruesome finish. It would be on the ground in seconds—

"Aubrey, now's your chance!"

She had to act fast—

"Chikorita, now! Tackle attack!"

The response was instant. Chikorita raced for its nemesis, propelling itself forward like a missile. Aubrey knew firsthand how light Chikorita's body was; with speed added to it, Chikorita was lightning.

The Spearow had no chance—

Wham! The Spearow lost consciousness upon impact. Its limp body crashing to the floor was just icing on the cake.

The dual Zubats hovered, their vulture-like mentality replaced with a sudden respect. It showed in the face of their owners as well; the defeated Cipher grunt retired his Spearow wordlessly, powerless under the shameful glares of his comrades.

"In my defense?" He started.

"Don't," one of the others said. "It's just a little girl…This is embarrassing."

Aubrey felt her little-girl-self grow numb.

Chikorita scrambled to its feet, but it would be too late; the Zubats had their opening. One raced for its front, while the other came from behind, both with devilish jaws opened and wings set to maim. Paddy remained silent because there wasn't anything she could do; Chikorita was finished—

A very-audible beep came behind her—

The Zubat from behind suddenly darted toward the wall, followed closely by a red bolt of light. Chikorita took the instant to leap from the other Zubat's line of fire. This was the chance it needed—

"Chikorita…Razor leaf?"

Chikorita flipped around, ready to strike the backside of its target—

Its black, olive-like eyes met Aubrey without any kind of warning. The numbness that had been growing came to a painful head as the entire image came to her. Aubrey had thrown an innocent into a kill-or-be-killed arena, and the only way out was to keep fighting. Chikorita had trusted her to keep her safe, had trusted her to get it to the proper authorities and see it live without having to harm another.

She felt its eyes boring into hers…was that curiosity or judgment?

"Aubrey! Now!"

…What would her parents say?

Paddy's came to her side, his hand returning to hers, his voice bringing her bck to reality. "Aubrey!"

The two Zubats came back down. The red dot continued to circle, but what was that..?

Paddy's words might as well have been underwater, for how well Aubrey could register them. He turned back to the other fighter in the room—

"Summer, can you land it?"

"It's a double-capture, and they're faster than back home—"

"Can you do it?"

Chikorita and Aubrey remained glued to one-another in their paralyzed states, unmoving and vulnerable. The longer Aubrey stared, the less guilt she felt. It was strange, but…Chikorita wasn't pulsing at her out of anger. It pulsed for the hunt; it waited for orders like a warrior. It didn't hold anything against her, but rather, Aubrey was holding herself against herself. Chikorita wouldn't be angry for fighting if it won, or even if it lost, but simply if it didn't move…

"Chikorita?"

The small body snapped to attention—

"Behind you! Razor leaf, now!"

A potent nod came from the tiny Pokemon, and it leapt back into the world. It must have known that the Zubat was coming; it jumped clear over the flying adversary, the leaf on its head already wound up and ready to go. Zubat turned around, but it was too late; the foe knew its mistake long before the destructive leaves hit. Zubat went down in a mass of cuts and pain before retreating to its ball.

The final Zubat crashed down upon the warrior Chikorita—

"Not so fast!" Summer cheered.

The Zubat ceased its strike in mid-air. It hovered in a dazed mass, then slowly flew toward the door.

"Where are you going, you louse?!" Its Cipher trainer barked as the Zubat flew to freedom. Aubrey wondered the same question—what just happened?— as Summer came to her side. She held up her wrist, pulling a silver device tight. Aubrey recognized it: the 'phone' that Paddy had been using moments ago. It slipped into a holster on Summer's wrist-mounted gauntlet…thing.

"Pokemon Ranger Summer, stationed in Almia with just a teensy-tiny bit of experience from Oblivia, at your service!

"Thanks for bringing my spare Styler, Paddy," she said calmly. It didn't take a scientist to see that the Cipher men were afraid, having gone from commanding the situation to having no Pokemon to defend themselves with. The men backed away slowly—

Chikorita's surprisingly-vicious eyes made contact with the Spearow's owner—

The three men took off in a flurry of fear and panic, not even bothering to threaten the victors with promise of future perils. Isn't that what usually happened after a fight?

Aubrey listened closely.

"We've gotta warn the boss!"

"Are you crazy? She'll crucify us for this!"

"But it's another of those hell things…"

"What kind of Chikorita does that?"

"Let them run," Summer laughed. Aubrey turned back to her new allies; Summer's binds lay abandoned at the floor. "We've got work to do."

"Got that right," Paddy said quickly. "Leaf's in trouble. She's got to be on the tenth floor by now."

Summer snapped her fingers. "Not a problem! I got caught because I found the shortcut. Those bums busted my old Styler, so I can't use any signs, but still…Come on, yeah?"

Paddy and Summer took off for the same door Kenneth had ran down moments ago. She heard their echoing footsteps and the two clamored up the staircase, presumably toward another battle.

Chikorita rushed to Aubrey's side like a proud child towards a parent. Aubrey knelt on the floor, but fought back the urge to stroke Chikorita's leaf or otherwise touch it, in any way. There was more to this seemingly-innocent Pokemon than it had let on. She had found it in the cold, and so Aubrey had taken it in, but…but maybe there was a reason it had been left alone?

'Chikorita Bearer'. That's what Kenneth had called her…'Chikorita Bearer'. The one that bears the Chikorita.

And Gracie was one, too..?

"Aubrey!"

Paddy had ran back down the stairs. He poked his head through the door, urgency written in his cherry-red cheeks. He seemed ready to shout at her to hurry up, but at the last moment, he remembered that this was Aubrey, not some other person; he fell back into his soft demeanor with ease.

"We don't have a lot of time," he said gently.

She knew that. And to dawdle here wouldn't just put Summer and Paddy in more danger—along with herself—but it meant this Leaf person would be put in more danger. Chikorita was eager for battle…she just had to go along with it, right?

How bad could that be?

Helping people…that didn't make her a bad person.

Aubrey stood up again, fists clenched and strength renewed. She'd have to return it to Chikorita later.

"I'm coming," she said.