Italics = dreams, memories

Chapter 10

"Professor, I've been having strange dreams..."

"It's nothing to worry about."

Bella and the Swablu, newly christened Song, were watching Jack's back while he peaked anxiously over the edge of a cliff. They weren't too far from Agate Village now, just a day's walk away, but it didn't seem close enough all of a sudden. He felt slightly nauseous, seeing how far away the ground was. Oh Arceus, was he really afraid of heights? He never knew that about himself before.

"What's the matter, kid? Not gonna jump, are you?"

Jack backed away and looked around sharply. "Well, if it isn't our favorite Jackal. Where's Thorn?"

In response, Jackal laughed and sent the shiny Espeon out. Jack gasped; Thorn's aura was darker than ever before. He thought it would be impossible for it to be any darker than how he saw it before, but it seemed he was wrong.

"Bella, Return!" he cried, just as Thorn rushed forward. The two collided, and Thorn rolled away. Jack hadn't been expecting the power of the move to be so strong, but was grateful for it, and ordered it again.

Unfortunately, Thorn had enough presence of mind to dodge of his own accord, without Jackal ordering him to. Then, all of a sudden, it was like when the two Pokemon siblings were Eevees again, their fight too rough for play, but the careful dance beginning without the trainers' consent. Jack didn't stop it, didn't say anything; he trusted Bella to win.

Jackal, however, was furious. "What are you doing?" he screamed as Thorn dodged yet again and used what seemed to be Quick Attack. "Shadow Rush, you son of a-oof!"

Thorn was thrown into the Snagem trainer as Bella's Iron Tail connected. Thorn immediately leapt to his feet, though Jackal was left winded and gasping for breath, unable to speak. The battle resumed once more.

Finally, after several long minutes, the two broke apart, facing each other, several feet between them. Both Pokemon were exhausted; Bella and Thorn were panting hard, and both of their eyes looked dull with fatigue. It was a wonder they were standing at all. The dance, it seemed, was over.

Jack felt a certain reluctance to break the silence, but he did anyway. "Bella," he said grimly, his voice quiet, arms crossed, "use Swift."

With the last of her energy, Bella formed the attack. Thorn braced himself; it looked for a moment like he might use another Shadow Rush. But then he seemed to hesitate, and closed his eyes instead...

Watching the purple Pokemon in the center of a dark cloud sailing through the air and crash into the ground, skidding a few feet, made Jack feel slightly sick. As always, Thorn had given his all in the battle; he had kept that much of himself intact; but Jack couldn't help but feel that he deserved better than what he was getting from his trainer's brother.

"All for a good cause..." he whispered. "Purity Ball, go!"

Strangely, Thorn still had the strength to fight. Rather than the usual three rocks, it gave four.

Jack was glad the Pokemon retained his "never say die" attitude. If he was returned to Cora without it...if he ever lost any of the core of himself...both Jack and Cora would have been heartbroken.

Slowly, Jack approached the modified Pokeball and picked it up. He saw, out of the corner of his eye, Jackal standing up, gripping his stomach. Jack turned away from Jackal and Agate Village, instead heading back in the direction of Pyrite Town.

"Where are you going?" Jackal demanded, drawing out another Snag Ball. "I'm not through with you! I still have a Pokemon to fight with, and this time I won't lose."

Jack kept walking.

"Trainers can't back down from a challenge!" Jackal screamed. "You can't run away from a fight. No real trainer does, no trainer with a shred of honour to them."

Jack's jaw clenched, but he called Bella back to her Pokeball and forced himself to keep walking. Not listening, not listening, lalalalala-

"So that's it, then? You're not a real trainer? What are you, then?"

Jack stopped, but he didn't look back. "If you count a real trainer as someone who fights even when their Pokemon can't take anymore, then no, I'm not a real trainer. I'm just a kid, smart enough to achieve a goal and go while the getting's good. Say what you will, but I have Thorn, and that's all I ever wanted from you." He started walking again.

Even if he wanted to continue fighting...even if he wanted, more than anything, to pound that piece of dirt out of existence for what he did to Cora and Thorn...Bella, Song, and Thorn's health were much more important.