Chapter Ten: Two Annoying Rivals.

Both trainers' eyes locked. This battle was a long time in coming, Sapph thought but I don't mind. He was finally going to get Kamren for his over bloated ego and vicious bullying and he couldn't be happier.

"I've been waiting a long time for this", Sapph snarled, a furious expression on his face.

"Really?" Kamren yawned, a lax expression on his face. "For what? A chance to get your *** kicked?" he asked, now twirling his pokéball on his finger.

Everything was still in the evening air. Only the wind blew gently as both trainers cocked back their fists, ready to begin.

"Go, Ledyba!" Sapph called, releasing his first placer into the fray.

Is that your best shot, Sappy? Kamren said in his mind. Well, it ain't good enough. Not by a long shot…

"C'mon out, Ciela!" Kamren yelled releasing the largest Flying Pokémon Sapph had seen so far since his arrival to the Corei region. It had vermillion red body and wings and gold plumage at the tip of its two long tails and medium length wings. Its strong looking talons were jet black, set in large, gold feet whose colour matched its short, conical beak, which was set in an equally brilliantly-vermillion red plumed head. It glared at Ledyba through its laser-like, crimson eyes.

"Whoa, what's that?" Sapph pondered, bringing out his trusty Pokédex, who said:

Zwi-tail, the Noble Crow Pokémon. Its sleek, streamlined body and amazing aerial prowess allows it to dive precisely from heights of up to fifty feet even in dense forest. Zwi-tail is the evolved form of Ravow.

Hang on, Sapph thought, remembering his double battle in EverWood Forest. Ravows are darker than that… do they change colour during evolution?

"Not only that, it's a shiny Zwi-tail!" Dex informed an awed Haley.

A shiny?! So that's it! That guy! Always getting all the cool Pokémon from under my nose! Aloud, however he said: "Well, shiny or not, we'll still beat it! Ledyba, Supersonic!" Sapph shot back.

"Useless… Ciela, use Double Team and Air Cutter together!" Kamren ordered.

Whoa, Sapph thought, thrown temporarily off guard. Two attacks at once?!

Ciela multiplied four times and shot towards the Bug/Flying combination Pokémon before Ledyba let loose a shriek that befuddled the fore running attackers. However, it became apparent that he hadn't hit the real one, for as soon as the clones vanished, the real Ciela came up from behind and struck Ledyba in the back. Hard.

What kinda insane speed was THAT? Sapph screamed in his head.

"Ledyba!" Sapph yelled as his Pokémon fell, spinning towards the ground.

"Rip that bug apart, Ciela! Use Fury Attack, now!" Kamren called to his Flying Pokémon.

Sapph countered quickly. "Dodge it, Ledyba! Quickly!"

Ledyba righted himself and putting on a spurt of speed which left two clones striking the field in their haste to make contact with the Five Star specie. Letting out a loud combined squawk of pain, the two doppelgangers disappeared in two puffs of smoke.

"Grrr…" Kamren growled in a manner reminiscent of a rabid Houndoom. Then he ordered his Pokémon, with a vicious look on his face, "Ciela, multiply again and squash that bug with Peck!"

"Ledyba! Head for the ground and kick up some cover!" Sapph responded.

Ledyba nodded and plummeted to the ground, whilst dodging the rain of Noble Crow Pokémon as they attempted to inflict some serious damage on his back. Skimming the field with a bare inch of space between his underbelly and the field, Ledyba began to work his wings furiously. Not only did this increase his speed even further, but it had also created a humungous cloud of red dirt to fill the air as the Zwi-tails closed in.

Unconcern etched in his face, Kamren ordered, "Don't back down, Ciela! Rush 'im!"

He's fallen for it! Sapph thought with glee, "Ledyba! Pull a fast one-eighty and use Supersonic!"

Ledyba quickly complied, knocking all the Zwi-tail that had followed silly. Several seemed to crash-land onto the dirt, and those who were lucky to stay airborne wound up unluckily attacked by each other.

Sensing that his plan had worked, Sapph pumped his fist and said "Nice! Now, Ledyba, get outta there and ready a Comet Punch!"

Ledyba flew backwards out of the cloud unscathed, his little fists alight with cosmic energy, scanning the field below for Ciela.

Kamren simply smirked and said, "Now you're in for it, Sappy."

"Hunh?" Sapph said, a puzzled expression on his face. Then he looked up and what he saw made his heart stand still. Two large vermillion-and-gold blurs were racing for his Pokémon; one cutting a wide arc from behind, the other one from above. Sapph opened his mouth in horror but before he could shout out a warning, Ledyba had been Double Teamed from the rear in two opposite directions, forcing him to lose concentration and the Comet Punch to fizzle out on him as he was sent spinning towards the ground, his eyes closed and his mouth open in a scream of pain.

Kamren laughed cruelly and tutted at Sapph, wagging his finger: "Rule number one in battle, Sappy: 'Always watch your back'. Ciela! Fury Attack, and make it count!"

Before Ledyba had hit the ground, Ciela was on top of him jabbing her short beak into Ledyba's back four times before they crashed into the ground, the Noble Crow Pokémon standing on top of the Five Star one.

"Ledyba! NO!" Sapph and Haley yelled.

I'm such an idiot! Sapph thought as he watched Ciela flap backwards over to Kamren's side of the field. I've sent him on a suicide mission! What the hell is wrong with me? Did I want to beat Kamren's smug little butt that badly?

Ciela turned her sharp face back towards the Bug type's prone form and scoffed Is that all your miserable excuse for a trainer could teach you?

Stop it… don't say those things… Ledyba mumbled.

Uh hunh, like you can stop me saying them, Ciela said coyly.

Ledyba's breathing was starting to look erratic as it laboured to push itself back onto his feet. Its wings were torn from Ciela's vicious pecking and it seemed unlikely that they would work again without care.

With what seemed to be an enormous effort, Ledyba croaked, Sapph…isn't…miserable…he's…my…friend…don't…won't… allow…you…let…you…you…say…mean things…about…my friends…

If all you can do best is being a worthless punch bag then you aren't worrying about… Talk about a crap pile! He stinks to the worst- no, wait! That's all crap like him can do! Ciela hissed in Ledyba's ear with a cruel laugh as she took off towards her master, making certain to kick a patch of dirt into the Bug Pokemon's face as she turned.

"Your Ledyba can't battle anymore, Sapph," Carla said sniffily. "Best to pack it in…"

"You know what they say, right?" Kamren asked his companions "'Like trainer, like Pokémon'?"

Ciela completed the hypothesis, although only Ledyba could fully understand what she said, In short, if the trainer is third rate crap, the Pokémon's not too far behind…

The laughter from Kamren, Carla, Chaz and Dex rang throughout the air as Sapph bowed his head helplessly. The sight made Ledyba very, very mad.

Just as Sapph was reaching for Ledyba's pokéball to return it, Ledyba started to rise out of the dirt, his wings thrumming furiously and his eyes reduced to angry, narrow slits and taking on a dangerous red colour.

Take. That. Back. Ledyba said slowly, rising into the air, his fierce eyes locked on the arrogant Ciela. What looked like bright red vapour issued out from in between the joints of his exoskeleton and enveloped his body, his wings healing before everybody's eyes, the scratches fading from sight.

Is that Aromatherapy? Carla and Haley thought incredulously, watching Ledyba with huge eyes.

Can't be, Dex thought with his eyes narrowed against the clouds of dust Ledyba's furiously-thrumming wings created.

Sapph raising his head said with a morose, hollow expression, "Ledyba, that's enough." Then, his voice cracking slightly, repeated "Enough."

"On guard, Ciela," Kamren murmured worriedly to his Pokémon. "This could get dangerous…"

Or what? Oooh, I'm… so… scared! Ciela laughed.

You should be. Ledyba whispered, his fist clenching as he gathered cosmic energy around it for a Comet Punch.

Really? Well, what will you do if I don't …oh, what was it? Oh, yeah… take it back? The Flying type Pokémon challenged Ledyba.

I'll make you. Ledyba hissed, his voice totally different from the usually cheerful tone Sapph was used to. The energy on his fist crackled as it reached an unattained volume and yellow sparks started flying off. Sapph noticed and for the first time ever, and even though he couldn't comprehend what was going on between the two Pokémon on the field, was scared for and of his usually timid companion.

"Ledyba?" Sapph asked uncertainly.

Before either trainer saw it, Ledyba had vanished, reappearing as he Comet Punched Ciela high into the air with a fist of pure lightning. Ciela screeched as the electricity coursed through her body, causing her muscles to seize up.

Sapph and Kamren were shocked, to put it mildly.

"What the f- "Kamren began. "What the f***ing hell did you do, Sappy?"

"Since when did you know Thunder Punch, Ledyba?" Sapph asked himself, as stunned as the others. The memory of his battle against Arlene's Ballomb came to mind in which Ledyba's Comet Punch seemed to swallow up Ballomb's Thundershock attack, and Sapph's jaw dropped as a crazy theory hit him.

No way…is that the true power of Comet Punch? Sapph wondered bewilderedly.

"Now he's using the 'F-word'," Haley mumbled, who'd have normally written this down to use as blackmail later but was as stunned as everyone else at Ledyba's sudden surge of speed and power. Not to mention the fact that Ledyba had mastered the use of Thunder Punch, which was supposedly impossible.

What was THAT?!! Where'd that insolent bug get that much power from? The Zwi-tail asked, wincing from the force of the attack as she rose into the air against her will, trying her best not to succumb to paralysis.

"Not to mention the Thunder Punch attack," Dex said in wonder.

Flapping her wings and finally able to stabilize her flight pattern, Ciela was finally able to sustain flight about fifteen feet up, where she started scanning the field below, furiously looking around for the 'insolent bug' that had the gall to hit her.

A split second later, Kamren's Zwi-tail experienced a world of pain as the Five Star Pokémon appeared out of nowhere, dishing out lightning fast jabs to every part of her body that he could reach. It felt to Ciela as though she was being crushed by a Rock Slide technique.

"How'd that Ledyba's Comet Punch get so strong? I've heard even Cassandra's Ledian didn't pack that hard a punch!" Carla demanded of Sapph, her eyes wide and fixated on her friend's rival.

"Was it the Comet Punch drills I put Ledyba through this morning?" Sapph wondered aloud, reflecting on the tough training routine they'd undergone at dawn…

-Flashback-

At a rocky, blocked path north of Nightspark City…

"…OK Mongle, Ledyba…one more time!" Sapph called.

Can't we- you know- take- five? Mongle gasped, on hands and knees and panting hard. My tail leaf- feels like- it's- about to fall- off!

I can't feel my hands. Ledyba mumbled, looking at his tiny fists and noticing that they seemed to refuse to close.

"Okay, guys," Sapph said, starting to get only a little impatient with his team mates, "I know we've been out here for the past three hours, but this will help both of you become stronger! One more time and we call it quits, OK?"

WHAAAT?! Ledyba and Mongle shouted.

ARE. YOU. FREAKING. SERIOUS?!!! Mongle yelled, stopping in mid-rant as he noticed their voices had created a loud-enough echo to result in part of the blockade of rocks falling towards them.

Ledyba, acting on what seemed to be instinct, clenched his fist and flew towards the rocks, dealing each one a direct Comet Punch, while Mongle raced up with Quick Attack to use alternating Razor Leaf and Pound attacks on a couple more descending boulders. Each rock shattered on contact into tiny little pebbles, which bounced harmlessly off their trainer below.

"See, guys? I told you it would make you stronger! Alright, one more time! Let's go!" Sapph charged his team mates, with a confident fist as both Pokémon hit the ground, utterly worn out.

Sapph's eager grin evaporated on the spot as he gave off a huge anime sweat drop.

Oh, crap. Crap, crap, crap… OH, CRAP! He thought frantically, returning Mongle and Ledyba to their pokéballs and sprinting back to the Pokémon Centre as fast as he could…

-End Flashback-

I was pretty rough on them then… Sapph thought. Who'd of thought it would be that effective? Or drive Ledyba that far over the edge? He added with a slight shiver at how far a Pokémon like Ledyba could get when it lost its cool.

Both Pokémon was falling to earth now; Ledyba 'helping' Ciela to a great degree by punching her in the back consistently, until both Pokémon hit the ground with enough force to create a small tremor. As the dust cleared, Ciela was to be found lying on its belly, twitching in the small crater formed from its impact with the field and Ledyba hovering slowly higher, ready to dive again.

Sapph, Kamren, Haley, Chaz, Carla and Dex were speechless at this turn of events. So were all but one of the trainers standing around who had been drawn to the field at the sounds of the battle.

"Dex, what the HELL was THAT?!!" Kamren roared, turning on his friend for some kind of explanation.

"Impossible… no Ledyba alive should have that much physical strength…nor use Thunder Punch… it's just not logical…" Dex spluttered, staring aghast at the two Pokémon's conditions after Ledyba's reckless manoeuvre.

"Sapph, you sure put Ledyba through some scary experiences," Haley mumbled, turning to face Sapph, who nodded mutely, his eyes as wide as dinner plates.

I said I'd make him stronger than Cassandra's Ledian, but I wasn't expecting this much growth from Ledyba so soon! ,Sapph thought.

"That thing scares me, Carla," Chaz whimpered.

"Everything scares you, you drip," Carla countered, her wide terrified eyes fixed on the Bug/Flying Pokémon.

TAKE. IT. BACK!!! Ledyba screamed, soaring in for another attack.

"Ciela, show that insect who's in charge! Wing Attack now!" Kamren roared, pointing at the descending Ledyba.

Why you… Ciela snarled, her wing glowing white as she half-rose up to her feet, swinging it around into Ledyba's head. Ledyba went spinning, his eyes slowly returning to their natural black colour as he fell to the ground.

It seemed to take an eternity for Ledyba to fall to Sapph. Eventually, the Five Star Pokémon hit the dirt, creating a cloud of dust as he collapsed, exhausted.

Carla was too stunned to announce Ciela as the winner of the match.

"Ledyba, return." Sapph mumbled numbly, returning his faithful friend, barely registering what was happening, his mind full of the last five minutes.

"What could have been the cause?" Dex pondered aloud.

"Could Ciela have angered Ledyba? Could it have been for Sapph's sake? To protect his pride as a trainer?" Haley wondered aloud, staring at Sapph, who in turn was staring at the ground.

"Pfft, like a Pokémon can feel that range of emotion…" Carla scoffed at Haley.

"Yeah, they're only dumb animals who g…gravilate…" Chaz began.

"Gravitate" Dex supplied dully.

"I knew that…gravitate to a really strong trainer for strength to surpass all others of their… uh, their… um, kind? Oh yeah! That's it! KIND!" Chaz complimented.

"Then why aren't you in a pokéball?" Carla muttered.

"You're dumb enough, based on your own criteria." Haley added in an undertone.

Too dumb to be wanted as well, Kamren thought, looking wistfully at his slow friend.

Why, Ledyba? Why all that for me? Sapph asked sadly, staring at the pokéball in his hand, reflecting on Ledyba's gross increase in strength in the cause of protecting his trainer's integrity. How could I have that effect on my Pokémon?

Phew, Kamren thought, inwardly calming down and resuming his usual arrogant air as he surveyed his rival.

"What's up, Sappy? Lost confidence already?" He yelled cockily, his eyes possessing a nasty glint.

Sapph didn't respond.

"I guess you are a retard after all. What trainer sends out a Bug type to fight a Flying type?" Kamren called.

Still Sapph refused to speak back.

"Guess it's really true that the Pokémon takes after the trainer…" Kamren continued, rapidly getting into his proud swagger. "I mean, look at your Ladybug, it's as weak as you are!"

Haley opened her mouth to retort angrily, but Sapph interrupted her in a low voice.

Eyes on his sneakers again, Sapph mumbled almost incoherently "Ledyba's not weak. Shut up, Kamren."

"You can't make me, Sap Head!" Kamren taunted. "Anyway, bring on number two! You can't withdraw either!" he added, noticing Sapph's solemn quietude.

Sapph knew Kamren was right and hated himself and Kamren's lot for trapping him in this mess. Arranging his face to reflect confidence he'd long lost in himself, he locked eyes with Kamren.

"Who's withdrawing? Go, Mongle, use your Quick Attack now!" Sapph yelled, throwing his second Pokémon into the battle.

Mongle appeared in a burst of white light and temporarily vanished, reappearing in the same spot two seconds later as the Zwi-tail, who, unable to react in time, went flying to the ground and fainted from over exertion.

Kamren gritted his teeth and returned her to her orb. He then looked up and somehow managed to sneer.

"Lucky shot, Manson," he spat, "but this match is mine! Go Burner!" Kamren called, sending out his second Pokémon into the fray.

The first thing Sapph and Mongle noticed as the blazing red light died down was that Burner had changed too. The Fire Tiger now stood erect, the white fur that had occupied a small portion of his neck as a Fryger had grown across his long arms, along the nape of his neck and along the middle of his forehead in a Mohawk. Burner stood about three foot seven inches tall and looked heavier. His long, wicked-looking claws, each about eight inches long and a foot thick at the base now matched his golden yellow eyes, which together with his black nose and bandy hind legs had grown wider.

Therline, the Fire Tiger Pokémon, the Pokédex recited in its usual tone. Therlines use their Fire Spin attack to trap prey and then cut it down with its long claws. Therline is the evolved form of Fryger. The Pokédex added, unnecessarily as Sapph, Haley and Mongle thought.

Don't tell me Burner's freaking evolved already! Mongle yelled.

So that was the 'heavy type advantage' Cassandra must have meant, Sapph thought. This'll be tough. But we're tougher!

"Mongle, use Pound!" Sapph said again.

"Useless…" Kamren repeated. "Burner, show 'em that we mean business." He told his Therline.

Burner nodded and turned to watch the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon race towards him. Like Ciela, his keen eyes could pick catch up with his pace in no time. Unlike Ciela, he could keep up.

Mongle lunged at Burner tail first. Just before he would have made contact, Therline, almost carelessly, raised a large paw and caught Mongle's attack in his bare paw.

Sapph's jaw dropped. So did Haley's.

WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT! They screamed mentally at the sight.

Hey there, uh! Burner greeted maliciously, raising Mongle by the tail leaf above his head and throwing him back across the field.

He stopped my attack with one paw! Mongle thought amazedly as he soared though the air.

"Mongle, hurry and try Quick Attack one more time!" Sapph cried desperately.

Kamren crossed his arms and said to his Pokémon calmly "Metal Claw."

As Mongle's fell, he twisted in midair and landed on all fours, readying itself to ram the Therline with his strongest attack. However, before he could launch his attack, Burner was right beside him, his claws glowing a silvery white, smiling a wicked smile reminiscent of his trainer.

What's up?! He crowed, using his claws to strike Mongle in the torso.

A dark red substance sprayed across the field as Burner's attack made contact with the Mongle's midriff. Everyone except Kamren stared in shocked horror as Burner, digging his metallic claws in deeper into the gut of his opponent, caused a greater cascade of blood to flow out of the smaller Pokémon.

"Mongle…" Sapph whispered in a small voice, the scene playing out before his eyes as though from an old black and white film running at half-speed.

Burner then dragged his claws through the Leaf Squirrel Pokémon's flank, up to the neck region and dangerously close to the jugular. With a darkly satisfied smirk, the Fire Tiger Pokémon drew his claws out and whipping his tail around, seemingly crushing Mongle's stomach region in a flash of otherworldly green light. Sapph's mind was in slow-motion; he knew something was broken, knew he'd seen the green light somewhere before but how Mongle could bear the pain without passing out was beyond him, for Mongle's face clearly showed that it felt what it was going through.

"Mongle!" Sapph whispered, his hand stretched out to help his Pokémon, but his legs lacking the strength to move him forward.

Mongle's eyes slid out of focus from sheer pain. He felt his body go limp as he flew though the air to crash into the dust, defeated by the single blow.

"MONGLE!!" Sapph screamed, watching his first Pokémon bite the dust, choking spittle onto the field.

Pfft, didn't even need to use Ember, Kamren thought, watching the scene of brutality without flinching. "Another one." Kamren ordered Burner nonchalantly.

Burner's claws glowed the same silvery white again as he raced towards the gasping Mongle.

"MONGLE, NO!!" Sapph yelled.

"Return him, quickly!" A spectating trainer screamed.

Haley covered her face in her hands.

"Mud Shot attack, now!" A brisk, baritone voice ordered.

Before Burner made it to Mongle, or indeed, before Sapph could have reached his pokéball on his belt, a powerful stream of sticky mud struck Burner in the chest, sending him soaring into a tree eighteen feet away. Burner slid down the trunk with swirls in his eyes, clearly defeated.

Sapph froze, his hand with Mongle's pokéball suspended before him. He knew that voice…

His head turned slowly around to see a flash of red light return to the pokéball held up by a boy his age. The boy was a couple of inches or so taller, his light brown hair under his green and white bandanna blowing lightly in the evening zephyr. He wore a large, baggy collared tee shirt under a green and white-lined jacket, long brown shorts with many pockets, blue and white trainers and a green, one-shouldered knapsack slung over his left shoulder. Although his eyes were closed, almost as though it was a bother to send out his Pokémon, Sapph knew that when they opened, he'd see his mother's hazel eyes look at him reproachfully.

"Whoa, who's the hunk?!" Carla and Haley asked hearts in their eyes.

"He's so dreamy and strong!" Haley whispered, almost literally melting into a pool as he opened his brown and gold tinged eyes.

"Back off, ugly! He's mine!" Carla yelled, grabbing the front of Haley's shirt and dragging her aside.

"Says who?!" Haley snarled, her eyes narrow, white slits of fury as she grabbed the front of Carla's vee neck shirt, staring her down.

"Me!" Carla snarled back.

"OH, YEAH?!!!" Haley roared.

The two girls started to shoot electricity into each other's eyes, creating sparks in mid-air, snarling as Chaz and Dex cowered in fear.

"That's enough, you. You won, so pack up and clear off." The boy added to Kamren, with no hint of a threat in his voice, but making his point clear from his cool gaze.

"He has such a cool, voice!" Carla and Haley squealed hearts in their eyes again.

"Yeah!" said a redheaded youth, who'd been watching Sapph and Kamren's battle.

"Too cool!" affirmed the boy whom Sapph had just been defending from Kamren.

The rest of the crowd murmured their assent and various comments.

"Did you see that?"

"No way…"

"…with one shot!"

"Totally awesome!"

"Beyond awesome!"

Scary, Kamren thought, breaking into a cold sweat. To avoid looking at the mystery trainer, he busied himself with returning Burner to his pokéball and beckoning to the others to follow his lead.

Dex and Chaz quickly complied, dragging off a snarling Carla, who screamed," Don't you DARE touch him with your dirty paws, you-", her voice fading as they ran around the corner and out of sight.

The trainer, after watching them go, turned to face the losing trainer, who'd returned his Grass Pokémon to his pokéball and hastily stowed it out of the sight of the other boy's prying gaze.

He felt him approach slowly and hastily closed his eyes, praying he'd pass by without a comment. However, the Johto trainer heard his saviour's footsteps stop right before him. He looked up slowly, tentatively into the taller boy's face to see his eyes closed again.

The boy exhaled exasperatedly, and uttered six words in a soft voice only Sapph could hear.

"You're such a disappointment, Sapph Manson."

And he walked away slowly, his shadow engulfing the boy trainer, as it had done all their lives.

The words cut deeper to the boy's heart than any other words had done all his life. He turned and ran towards the northern town limits, away from the trainer as the twilight faded.

"Sapph?" Haley asked, snapping out of her flighty daydreams regarding the boy and looking around for her friend.

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Haley found Sapph on the blocked route where he'd trained before his gym battle that morning as the reddish dusk had turned to twilight's navy blue.

Sapph held a pokéball in his hand as he stared blankly into the night sky, which reflected in his eyes red.

"Sapph? Are you OK?" she asked feebly, almost slapping her forehead out of pure 'duh!'

Wake up, Haley Kent! She chided herself. Does he look OK to you?!

Sapph closed his eyes tight as tears spilled out of his eyes, but he didn't turn around.

"Sapph, who WAS that guy?" Haley asked.

"My dear older twin brother" Sapph mumbled, feeling even more down by the second.

"You mean…?" Haley gasped, reddening in spite of herself.

"Yeah," Sapph said, turning around to face her. "That's Rubin."

Haley hated seeing Sapph this bummed out; she'd never done so before, but didn't know what to say. She moved forward to place a hand on his shoulder. Sapph beat the ground with his fists once howling in rage and dissolved into more tears.

"Why?" Sapph choked in pain. "Why must I be rescued every time by him? Why does he always get the spotlight? Why?"

Man, Sapph's had a rough day Haley thought sadly, looking at Sapph's sobbing form, wanting to comfort him, but not knowing how. First Kamren steamrollers his team into processed road kill, then his Pokémon is rescued by his dominating older twin… Now I know why everybody likes Rubin more, she thought sadly, reflecting on how she'd forgotten about Sapph, whom she knew better, just because of his handsomer twin. She searched herself for an excuse for leaving Sapph when he needed a friend most.

That's right! Carla made me jealously want to fight for Rubin! She thought, moving towards Sapph. I don't like him like that! No way! No… way…she thought, feeling a slight twinge as she recalled how she'd reacted upon seeing him, remembering how Sapph had reacted to Rubin's name and how, today, she may've just made Sapph feel a hundred times worse…

Who am I kidding? She thought dejectedly. You try rooting for Sapph to make him feel better, and you mess up! Think, Haley Kent! Think!

But nothing came to her except to be there, silently holding on to Sapph's hand, and promising herself not to let go as long as he needed someone to hold him, care for him or just need him.

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The duo returned to the festival city an hour later, Sapph marching along briskly and Haley doing all she could to keep up.

"Why're you in such a hurry?" Haley gasped trying to keep even with her friend.

"I've gotta get to the Pokémon Centre," Sapph replied tersely.

"Hunh? Why?" Haley said in surprise.

Sapph stopped abruptly and Haley walked right into him. Stumbling a bit, Haley looked up to see Sapph giving her an incredulous withering stare. Haley stared at him for a second, seeing a vague resemblance between Sapph and his brother that made her lose touch with reality briefly. Then noticing why he was looking at her that way, she snapped out of if and crossed her arms, frowning at Sapph.

"Now what?" Haley asked annoyed.

Stating it as though it were obvious, Sapph said snippily, "Easy… so you can pick up Bubbles and I could get my Pokémon healed, seeing as I didn't do so after what went down this afternoon."

Haley's eyes widened in shock. "You mean you haven't done that yet?" then adopting a sceptical tone, she added "Talk about irresponsible…"

"You know what?" Sapph said, obviously incensed. "If you were a little more serious about battling, your Pokémon would be beside you if you're going up against someone like Kamren…"

"Oh, so I'm not serious about battling?" Haley said indignantly, her hands at her hips now staring Sapph down. "You know what, Mr. Manson? I…never…was!" She said the last three words with forced emphasis, jabbing Sapph in the chest with her forefinger to add a point.

"Really?" Sapph said, getting into his argumentative mode "And why may I ask aren't you at home? This happens to be the Pokémon world," he added, his arms crossed. "It's insane to be out here without tough Pokémon to back you up!"

"Oh, so I'm insane and weak because I don't like to battle?" Haley half-yelled.

"And that's supposed to mean?" Sapph yelled back his eyes narrowed angrily. "Cuz incidentally, I did not call you weak!"

Sapph last words seemed to jolt Haley to reason… Sapph hadn't called her weak at all. "It means, Sapph Manson, that you think a researcher is useless in this world!" Haley said softly, looking at him straight in the eyes.

She paused, panting for breath while Sapph stared at her, his eyes softening in spite of himself as he looked into Haley's goose grey ones.

"No, I didn't," Sapph muttered, unfolding his arms and looking at her in a different light as the festival music blared on around them. "I think you're very important…"

"What did you say?" Haley said suspiciously.

Sapph shook his head vigorously and snorted "Nothing. Just that researchers are important! You never mentioned being a researcher to me…again, showing negligence!" he added, turning on his heel to keep from looking at her.

Haley spluttered in indignation. "Negligence? Me?! Who needs to get their Pokémon to the Centre because they neglected to do so sooner?"

Sapph animé-fainted and said angrily. "I was going there 'til you started this stupid argument!"

"I started it?! What d'you mean, I… hey! Get back here!" Haley yelled, dancing on the spot in a Primate-like temper as she saw Sapph was now turning the corner to the Pokémon Centre, leaving her behind. "We're not through yet, Sapph Manson!" She yelled, now running to catch up.

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Ten minutes had passed since Sapph had returned to the Pokémon Centre and handed in his pokéballs to the local Nurse Joy for emergency care. Chansey had barely left the room when Haley had stormed in, her bad temper still flaring around her.

"Oh, Haley! Come for your Pokémon?" Nurse Joy said cheerfully.

"Yes, please. I've got to leave town-"She spared the moment to glare at Sapph, who was seated at one of the videophone booths talking to Prof. Yew, and resolutely ignoring Haley as she'd marched in. "-As quickly as possible."

"Sure thing, Haley." Nurse Joy said as she left the room and came back with a tray designed to hold up to six pokéballs although only one was occupied with a small white orb. "Here you go, Haley," she said cheerfully.

"Thank you, Nurse Joy," Haley said, reclaiming her Pokémon and fitting it onto her belt.

"Oh, yes!" Nurse Joy said, as though remembering something. "These came for you and Sapph over there," reaching behind the counter and pulling out two identical brown envelopes. "They just arrived by Pidgey Post from Olville Town. Could you give Sapph's to him please?"

Plastering a huge fake smile on her face, Haley grinned, "Why, of course, Nurse Joy! No problem!"

As Haley drew nearer to where Sapph sat she opened her envelope, only half-listening to the conversation going on around her.

"As I was saying, Sapph," Prof. Yew said. "It could have been an Aromatherapy technique, or might have been, if Ledyba couldn't do something so similar…"

"It was no Aromatherapy, Professor," Sapph said firmly.

"How can you tell, Mr. Sapph Manson?" Haley scoffed, stopping behind Sapph and dropping his letter onto his lap with negligent care. "Hello, Professor," she added, ignoring Sapph and speaking to the face on the videophone screen.

"Are you listening in to my phone calls?" Sapph started angrily. "Why don'tcha mind ya own business!"

"I plan to, Sapph," Haley hissed back, not looking at him.

"Hello, Haley! Any new discoveries yet?" Prof. Yew said cheerfully.

"Aside the fact that Sapph is a total Neanderthal? Nope," Haley said nonchalantly, yet with a hint of exasperation.

"What?!" Sapph yelled, spinning around to glare at Haley.

"Well, maybe there's something unusual I'd like you to check out for me," Prof. Yew said, his eyes twinkling in a way that Sapph associated with nothing good for him.

"What is it, Professor?" Haley said eagerly.

"Well, Sapph's Pokémon have recently been displaying strange phenomenon. I was wondering if you two would consent to travel together so as to help me gain some answers." Professor Yew said, pushing his thin, wire-rimmed glasses up his large nose.

Haley and Sapph looked like they'd been asked to assume responsibility for Ol' Flo's upkeep.

Gesticulating wildly, Haley spluttered, "Wa-what? J…Just- uh…w-w-wait, Professor! My mom sent me a telegram just now…she probably wants me back in Olville…s-s-see?" And she pulled the telegraph out and read aloud, her voice faltering the more she read:

"'TO HALEY KENT STOP WAIT FOR SAPPH IN NIGHTSPARK CITY STOP SPOKE TO HIS MOTHER AND WE BOTH DECIDED THAT IT'LL BE BEST FOR YOU TO TRAVEL TO GETHER STOP SAPPH SHOULD HAVE ATELEGRAM FROM HIS MOTHER BY NOW EXPLAINING THE WHOLE SITUATION STOP YOU HEARD ME NO BUTS LADY STOP TAKE CARE STOP LOVE YOUR MOTHER.' What the…no way!" Haley yelled in disgust.

"Well it's settled then!" Prof. Yew said happily. "Right, Sapph- you're in Haley's excellent hands now. I'll keep in touch! Good night you two!" and the screen went black.

"Professor! Professor, noo!" Sapph screamed, trying and failing to get the Professor to maintain the link and failing.

Haley, in a state of shock, could only mumble in reply to the news: "I've got to travel…with Sapph…together? With…him?" She stared at him in horror.

Turning around in zombie-like fashion she dragged herself to the room where she stayed in the Centre, muttering as she punched the wall with resounding noise "All a bad dream…got to wake up…maybe…maybe tomorrow…all this…will be…just a …a nightmare…"

"Sapph? Your Pokémon will have to stay the night…Sapph, dear?" Nurse Joy said tentatively.

Sapph didn't hear her. He could only stare at the envelope, not opening it, yet knowing what it would say, what it would contain…

…His sentence.

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How's that? Hope you like the battle. Please post your comments, please! I love comments! Especially from you!

Lastly, the new Corei-DEX's first entry!

Mongle
Corei-DEX Number: 001
Species: Leaf Squirrel
Element: Grass
Name Derivation: 'MONG' from 'MONGoose' and 'LE' from 'LEaf"
Height: 1'02"
Weight: 9 lbs
Evolution Line: Normally Mongle follow the following pattern:
Mongle-(16)-Squirrage-(36)-Warrel
Artist's/Author's Note: Mongle was one Pokémon that went through a couple of changes before I came up with the leaf-tailed, hunched over Grass starter people like Diddy love. He was initially a mongoose Pokémon with two long stripes running along the length of his back. his leaves were ringed around his neck and his body was much longer than it is now.
Ironically, Mongle wasn't my original choice for the grass starter of the Corei region. I'd initially wanted Cactadder, a Grass snake to take that position as it had a full evolution chain and Mongle's wasn't ready. In the end I'd settled for Mongle having finally settled what the higher forms would look like.