Chapter Two- Strawberry and Banana
Airi marched along the beaten path, gazing into the stars overhead. The path was lined with countless trees and bushes. She glanced back, noticing that she made a considerable distance from Glamour, prompting her to grin. She continued down the road, holding herself up proudly.
SNAP!
Airi twisted to face a bush to the right of her, reaching in her bag for Ralts' Pokeball. She watched the bush carefully. A moment passed, then two, before finally a Cottonee revealed itself. It was covered in leaves and small broken sticks. Airi sneered viciously, holding Ralts' Pokeball out. "Congratulations Cottonee! You're my first opponent! You should feel honored to face me! In fact, I feel so generous as to…"
"Nee." The Cottonee cried as it began to float away. Airi broke her stance in shock.
"H-hey!" She snapped, chasing after the Pokemon. "Get back here! You're my opponent! I was going to catch you!" She wailed, sprinting at full speed. She chased it as it flew further and further, carried by the gentle breeze. "Come on stop! Please!" She cried, finally stopping as the Cottonee was far beyond her reach. She puffed out her cheeks in annoyance, kicking up dirt with her foot. "Stupid Cottonee…" She mumbled, her eyes slightly red. "It's okay. I don't need a cowardly Pokemon who would run away anyway." She asserted, standing proudly. She began to march back onto the path, making her way to the next town.
…...
Mailys wandered through the town of Flora, her hometown. She had long blonde hair and vibrant pink eyes. She dressed in a simple white sundress with a small flower design near the bottom. She began to slow her walk, before finally stopping in the middle of a bridge. It had been a long time since her last visit. She spotted many changes right away, notably the greenery. A large hedge surround the circular town, with many streams passing through, gathering in the center of town. A large tree sat at the northern edge of town, surrounded by a small pond. The houses were made of stone, old in design, bringing her back to the age of knights and lords. The beautiful flowers that adorned the town gave it life.
"So, you've returned?" An elderly voice inquired from the left of Mailys. She looked to the voice's direction, spotting an elderly woman in drab, grey robes with a green trim approaching her. "How have you been?"
"Kiyo-Chan." Mailys frowned, greeting the elderly woman, Kiyoko. "I'm not sure I'm old enough to travel Spes..."
"You're eleven, are you not?" Kiyoko sighed, moving to stand beside her. They looked out to the gentle stream below them. "I was only five when I began my journey with my sisters. You can do it."
"...I need a companion at least..." Mailys sulked.
"Go find someone your age." Kiyoko chuckled. "Hohoho! You'll see then! A brave Pokemon Trainer to travel with!"
"No one's traveling at my age." Mailys noted with a long sigh. "And I know traveling with an adult won't count."
"Hmm?" Kiyoko paused, closing her eyes. She held up her hand to get Mailys attention, before counting down. "Three. Two. One."
"Hey! Old lady!" A pink haired girl wailed at the top of her lungs. Kiyoko chuckled in amusement, turning to face the girl.
"Yes?" She inquired in an affable tone.
"Which way is the gym?" The girl demanded, visibly annoyed. "I'm in a bad mood so hurry up!"
"Ohoho?" Kiyoko chuckled. She had a long grin along her elderly face. "Aren't you a feisty one? Where are your parents?"
"If you must know, I am on a Pokemon journey!" The girl explained, taking a haughty pose. She let out a prideful laugh. "And you get the pleasure and honor of witnessing me before I reach the top!"
"I'm sure you will." Kiyoko supported in a semi-sarcastic tone. Her eyes narrowed for a brief second. "You need a slave- er, servant- to do your bidding, right?"
"Huh?" Mailys jumped, wincing as Kiyoko pinched her side.
"Her?" The pink haired girl sized up Mailys, pulling on her hair causing Mailys to wince. "She's too pretty. She'll steal my spotlight!"
"I don't know if I should be happy…" Mailys sighed, rubbing her head. The pink haired girl quickly swiped her bag and rummaged through it. "Hey!"
"No Pokeballs?" The pink haired girl stopped, allowing Mailys to take her bag back. "Explain."
"I just need Mailys here to travel all of Spes. Or rather all of Spes' cities." Kiyoko elaborated. "Mind letting her tag along? She's great at manual labor."
"Hey-" Mailys attempted to argue, only to get pinched again.
"Hmm." The girl contemplated. "Very well. You may join me. I need someone to witness my greatness!"
"Then that settles it!" Kiyoko affirmed, pushing Mailys towards the girl. "Have fun on your adventure with the strawberry, banana head!"
"What!?" Mailys gasped as Kiyoko wandered off. "Banana head?"
"My hair isn't red." The girl mumbled, holding her pigtails. "...I don't look like a strawberry do I, Banana?"
"Mailys." Mailys corrected. "My name is Mailys. Mailys LeBlanc."
"Neat." The girl dismissed, striking a pose with one hand on her chest and the other extended to the sky. "I am Airi Tailor, the cutest girl in all of Spes!"
"This is going to be… something." Mailys muttered beneath her breath.
"Anyway..." Airi continued to speak. "Where's the gym?"
"Follow me." Mailys groaned, leading Airi through the town.
…...
Kiyoko sat in front of the pond that surrounded the Sacred Tree, feeding the Lotad that rested there. She closed her eyes, thinking of her sisters. The time was drawing near… She could only hope that Mailys gathers the stones on time. Allowing someone to take them would be… "Onix-ceptable." Kiyoko joked, causing herself to chuckle.
…...
Airi and Mailys arrived at a large greenhouse at the center of town. An aging man tended to the shrubbery that surrounded the vicinity. Airi casually waltzed over to the man, hands on her hips. "Hey, old man!"
"Oh?" The aging man twisted to face the girls. He had short graying hair and dull pinkish eyes similar to Mailys'. "Hello Mailys. I take it that your friend is a challenger?"
"Spot on." Airi sneered, taking her usual pose, hand on her chest. "I am-"
"Let me get the gym ready." The old man cut her off, proceeding into the greenhouse.
"Huh!?" Airi gasped, confused at the situation. Mailys let out a brief snort of laughter, following the old man. "B-b-but my…" She mumbled, pacing behind. "Stupid old man…"
Inside, the garden began to shift. What started as a beautiful maze of flowers and small trees rearranged itself to become a coliseum, surrounding the battlefield. The old man took his place on the opposite side of the field.
"I can tell you're a greenhorn and I am quite old." The man explained, tossing out a Roserade. "I'll take it easy on you and only use this one. Let's not take too long, okay?"
"Type advantage!" Airi announced, sending out her Ralts. Ralts glanced around, confused at her location. "Hey! Listen to my orders, got it?"
"R-Ralts…?" The Ralts cried, shivering.
"Do you know what you're doing?" Mailys inquired, slightly worried. Airi sneer grew even wider as she took her pose once again.
"I'm Airi Tailor!" She repeated, holding her hand out. "I always know what to do!"
"Ah shoot!" The old man grimaced, scratching his head. "I forgot to introduce myself! I'm Floris Dubois! Nice to meet you!"
"Nice to meet you, Floris!" Airi greeted in a disrespectful tone. "As I said, I am-"
"Sludge Bomb!" Dubois swiftly commanded. Before Airi's Ralts could react, she was knocked back by a poisonous blast.
"Hey!" Airi snarled, stomping her foot on the ground. "That was cheating!"
"You fell for it!" Dubois chuckled. "Remember kiddo, there's more to a battle than strength and typing!"
"Is that so…?" Airi curled her lip, swing her hand outward. "Use Confusion!"
"Ra…" Ralts cried, sending a weak psychic blast at her opponent. Roserade spun around once, dispersing the energy.
"Is that all?" Dubois questioned, his disappointment obvious. "You sure talk big for a little greenhorn."
"Shut up!" Airi snapped, stomping her foot. "What are you doing! Attack! Attack!"
"So reckless…" Mailys mumbled to herself. Ralts forced herself to fire a volley of weak psychic blasts at Roserade. Once again, Roserade pirouetted to disperse the weak energy.
"Hoo boy." Dubois sighed, scratching his forehead. "I've seen plenty of shoddy trainers in my day, but you certainly trumped many of them within a few seconds."
"You!" Airi wailed, throwing a tantrum. "Ralts attack! Go all out! I don't care how! You better win!"
"R-Ralts…" Ralts cried, sending another wave of psychic blasts at Roserade.
"Sludge Bomb." Dubois calmly countered. Roserade broke through the energy with a volley of sludge, knocking Ralts back.
"Come on! Get up already!" Airi snapped. Ralts forced itself up, the grass around it starting to warp. She let out a powerful cry, sending a massive wave of psychic energy at Roserade. Roserade was unable to dodge, getting defeated instantly. Ralts stumbled around, before passing out. "Aha! Nothing a little brute force can't solve!"
"Ralts!?" Mailys panicked, checking on the little Pokemon. As she picked her up, Airi returned her to her Pokeball. "Huh!?"
"That's mine." Airi glared, putting her Pokeball away. "Don't touch."
"Are you…!?" Mailys growled, standing up.
"Well… darn." Dubois coughed, getting their attention. He returned his Roserade and began to approach them. He revealed a small badge. It resembled three flowers side by side. "Here's the Meadow Badge."
"Thank you!" Airi sneered, taking the badge. She quickly turned and skipped away merrily.
"Well, Mailys…" Dubois groaned, stretching his arms. "I wish you luck."
"I'm gonna need it…" Mailys grimaced, slowly following behind Airi. "Do I really have to travel with… that?"
…...
After stocking up on supplies and healing her Ralts, Airi continued on her journey. She marched down the path to Arachnid. Mailys followed at least three feet behind her. The two continued until a snapping sound rang out.
"Hold up." Airi ordered, glancing around. She sneered as a Cottonee floated out of the bushes. Before it noticed the two, Airi tossed a blindingly fast Pokeball, nailing the Cottonee in the head. The Cottonee was sucked into the ball, a clicking sound notifying its capture. Airi snapped her fingers in victory. "Not this time!"
"That was…" Mailys gawked, taken aback. "Impressive…"
"I know right!" Airi jumped, retrieving the Pokeball. Her arrogant grin was replaced by a genuinely pleasant smile. "I've practiced my throw for years!"
"Well, if you can at least capture Pokemon, then you might be able to get farther than I thought." Mailys admitted, continuing on the path to Arachnid with Airi. Airi held herself up proudly the rest of the hike.
