Hey guys! Sorry it took so long! Lack of inspiration due to a crash while I was writing. :/ But anyway, it's done now! Hope you enjoy! It's a pretty long chapter, so hope that makes up for it. Please leave a review! I also took down the preview of this chapter so that any new readers don't have to read a preview before reading the whole thing.
Chapter six: Celestial Battles
Tony and Clover stood in the dream yard in Striaton City. It was nearing twilight, the sun beginning to set. The first stars dotted the sky, and the temperature was beginning to cool. Purrloin and Lillipup were inside of their pokeballs, as they could not stop bickering. The Striaton City gym stood in front of them, and a sign in front of the building read 'Spectra: The Psychokinetic Queen.' She's psychic too, thought Tony. This could be a great challenge for me. She could teach me a lot from this battle. He took a deep breath and turned to Clover. "Are you ready?"
Clover nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be," she murmured. She took a deep breath. Adrenaline was running through her, making her heart race. Nervousness was taking hold. Snivy seemed to pick up on her uneasiness. The small pokemon gently placed his hand on his trainer's shoulder in a comforting gesture from his new spot in the hood of her jacket. Clover looked over her shoulder and into the eyes of the grass snake. A smile spread gently across Snivy's face, and his eyes reflected a certain warmth that caused Clover to relax. She grinned at her pokemon and turned back to the gym building. I can do this, she thought to herself.
The two walked into the gym. A strange sight greeted them, and the gym was pitch black, the only faint bit of light coming from the door. They stood on a small platform at the door, but the rest of the gym seemed to be a reflection of the night sky. It was a deep, dark blue, with stars dotting it. "Where's the floor?" Clover said. She was utterly perplexed. All around them was stars and darkness. Welcome to my gym, a voice said to them. But there was something different about this voice: it was inside of their heads. Tony blinked in surprise but soon became comfortable with the voice. He was obviously used to being communicated with telepathically, as he was a psychic. For Clover, however, it was slightly harder. She clutched her head and gasped. A headache split her mind, and she doubled over. Clover would have fallen had Tony not caught her in his arms. He looked into her eyes with great concern in his.
"Are you okay?" Tony asked, worry thick in his voice. Clover stared into his eyes for a moment, that strange emotion stirring inside of her again. She blushed and pulled away, looking at the ground.
"I'm fine," she said. Her voice cracked slightly as she said this. "But...you know how much it hurts when you talk to me telepathically." Tony nodded and Clover bit her lip as the voice continued. I am Spectra, the Stiraton City gym leader. I am on the other side of this floor. Do not worry, it is safe. It is simply a projection of the starry sky. You can walk across it safely. Clover and Tony exchanged a glance, as did Gothita and Snivy. Every one of them took a deep breath as Tony took his first step out onto space. As his foot connected with the ground, a light rippled across the floor, illuminating the room. A faint outline could be seen on the opposite side of the room. That must be Spectra, Tony thought. He stood in the spot he had stepped on with his legs together. The floor under his shoes was faintly flickering with light. Neat. He turned back to Clover.
"It's safe," he said. "Come on." Clover hesitantly stepped onto the floor, and the same ripple of light greeted her. The fear in her eyes changed to wonder as the light spread across the room, and the silhouette could be seen for another moment.
"She's just ahead. Let's go," Clover said. The pair walked ahead together. With every step, a new wave of light spread across the gym floor. Eventually they made it across the space between the entrance and Spectra. There was a small staircase leading up to a platform where the psychic leader was. They climbed the marble stairs and faced Spectra. The floor at the top of these steps was the same as before. Squinting in the darkness, the two trainers stepped forward. As they stepped onto the black floor, the usual wave of light spread out, only this time, it stayed and illuminated the area with a bright glow. Spectra sat a short distance away, her features clear in the warm, soft glowing. She was a beautiful young woman, with long, curling blonde hair with white-blonde streaks, her soft, smooth skin a milky white. Her large, round eyes were oceans of blue. What she wore was truly a marvel: a long, flowing, rippling white dress that reached her feet. She sat in a large, throne-like white chair.
"Welcome," she crooned, her voice smooth as honey. "I am Spectra, the gym leader of Striaton. It is an honor, Clover and Tony."
"Wait," Clover said. "How do you know our names? We never told you them."
"Psychics have a way of knowing things." It was not Spectra who had spoken, but Tony. Clover had momentarily forgotten that he was psychic, so she was slightly surprised that he had answered her question.
"This is true," said Spectra. She stood. Her dress waved behind her awesomely. Her dress looks like a Gardevoir's, thought Clover. Clover knew what a gardevoir looked like because her father had brought one home from one of his business trips. He had said she was one of his new traveling companions, along with his Dragonite and Milotic. Her father had a thing for beautiful pokemon. "I also know your friend Tony here is a psychic as well," continued Spectra, causing Clover to jump and drop her train of thought. "Who shall challenge me first?"
Clover and Tony exchanged a glance and a nod. "I will," Clover announced, stepping forward. "Go Snivy!"
"Very well," Spectra said. "Drowzee, I choose you." She threw a pokeball, which had been hidden in her belt, and out came her pokemon. "Use confusion!" Spectra ordered at the same moment Clover commanded Snivy to use vine whip. Snivy lashed out a vine just before drowzee had a chance to use the attack. He wrapped the vine around the enemy's waist, lifted him in the air, then slammed him back down. Drowzee jumped quickly to his feet, having taken very small damage. He then used confusion, causing Snivy to grip his head and squeeze his eyes shut. Once the attack ended, Snivy got his bearings then made a move to tackle drowzee at the command of his trainer. They rolled together on the ground for a short way, the ground under them glowing brighter underneath of the entwined battlers. Spectra closed her eyes and raised her hands to her head. Drowzee used headbutt with seemingly no command from Spectra, throwing snivy with the sheer force of his attack. Clover was confused until realization dawned on her: Spectra could telepathically communicate with her pokemon so as not to alert the opponent to her plan. This makes it a little more difficult. But I like a challenge! Clover thought.
"Snivy use vine whip!" Snivy grabbed Drowzee again, but this time once he had grabbed hold, the Drowzee grabbed hold of the attacking vine. Snivy was lifted into the air by Spectra's pokemon. Forced to let go of Drowzee, Snivy dropped onto the ground, a small thud echoing from the impact. "Quick use bind!" Clover shouted. Her pokemon stood and dashed forward, wrapping its body around abra, who struggled against his captor. Spectra's pokemon seemed to be weakening. Snivy squeezed the psychic type pokemon with his body as hard as he could. The Drowzee used confusion, weakening Snivy's grasp. He swiftly took advantage of the opening, shaking off Snivy with ease and kicking him, sending the grass snake reeling. Clover's pokemon slithered out of the way before Drowzee could land another hit on him. Both pokemon were panting by now, Spectra's seemingly slightly more tired. We can do it Snivy! Clover encouraged silently. "Use vine whip!" Her companion snapped Drowzee with a vine swiftly before he had any time to react. With a crack it landed, and Spectra's Drowzee fell to the ground in fatigue, unconscious.
"Very good," said Spectra, who had not spoken since the beginning of the battle. "You are a very skilled trainer indeed. I have only one pokemon left. Let us see who wins in the end." She held up her hand and a pokeball lifted from her belt. "Mr. Mime, go!" A silly looking pokemon came out of the pokemon. It waved its hands around for a moment before assuming a fighting stance. Spectra closed her eyes and put her hands delicately to her forehead again. That must be how she uses her telepathy, Clover observed. That's what she did when Drowzee started using attacks without her speaking. Suddenly, Mr. Mime cartwheeled forward and stopped in front of Snivy, who had a scowl on his face. Mr. Mime looked at him a second before using double slap, hitting him twice across the face. This enraged snivy, who balled his fists and tensed.
"Use tackle Snivy!" said Clover, balling her fists in front of her. Snivy happily obliged, pummeling Mr. Mime to the ground. Someone doesn't like Mr. Mime, thought Clover, holding back a giggle. Snivy kept Mr. Mime pinned for a while before the latter used psywave, blasting Snivy off of him and jumping to his feet. Snivy scrambled ungracefully to his feet, panting hard. He's fought two pokemon now. He must be tired. "Return Snivy!" Clover ordered. Her grass snake dashed back to her and sat at her feet happily, still breathing hard. "Go lillipup!" The puppy pokemon came out of her pokeball with a yip and a wag of the tail. "Use bite!" Clover said. As she spoke, Mr. Mime had cartwheeled forward again, this time using psywave as soon as he landed in front of lillipup. Lillipup yelped and rolled a little way before jumping up and growling. She ran forward and bit Mr. Mime on the arm. The barrier pokemon cringed. "Quick, use bite again!" The puppy pokemon jumped forward and bit Mr. Mime again, this time on the leg. Bite's a dark type move. Those are super effective on psychic types, remembered Clover. Mr. Mime by this time seemed ready to throw in the towel, but he had one last trick up his sleeve. He jumped high into the air and performed a flip. The acrobatic pokemon sprawled out in the air, arms and legs extended, and blasted another psywave at Lillipup. Lillipup scarcely managed to jump out of the way before the attack landed, and used tackle quickly at a command from Clover. Puppy and clown rolled together before Lillipup jumped off Spectra's Mr. Mime, which was laying out cold. The victorious trainer turned to Spectra with a huge smile on her face. "I won! I won my first gym battle!" she cheered, jumping up and down. Snivy and Lillipup joined in, both jumping up and down. Lillipup barked in joy and snivy cried out happily.
"You have battled well, Clover," Spectra hummed. "For that I award you the Spirit badge." The gym leader levitated a shiny, tear shaped badge toward Clover, who accepted it with enthusiasm. It was a white badge with a gold outline, with pale pink stripes on the inside.
"Thank you," Clover said gratefully. "Well I guess it's Tony's turn." She stepped back, out of the way. Tony took her place.
As Tony walked forward, gothita squeaked eagerly. "Hold on gothita," Tony said. "I won't be using you yet." Gothita looked dejected. "Don't worry, you'll still get to battle." This seemed to cheer the little pokemon up a little, but she still had a pout on her face as she sat on Tony's shoulder. "Go purrloin!" Tony said, throwing the pokeball containing purrloin. He levitated it back into his belt as purrloin came out of her pokeball. The cat pokemon meowed and took on an agressive stance. Her tail lashed and her eyes gleamed in anticipation.
"Go Drowzee," Spectra said melodically. She levitated a pokeball onto the field and out came her pokemon, which had been magically healed somehow. Spectra swiftly brought back her pokeball and assumed her telepathic stance with her eyes closed with her hands on her forehead. Suddenly, Tony held his hand up and directed it toward Spectra. Nothing was happening on the battlefield. Spectra or Tony would have had their pokemon attack by now, Clover thought. What gives? Even the battling pokemon looked confused, both looking expectantly at their looked up at Tony and lowered her hands. "I see," she said. "You blocked my telepathy to my pokemon so that I have to give away my attacks. Clever. Although I must say, I am impressed. It is a rather advanced skill to be able to block one's telepathy. I was far older than you when I was finally able to do such a thing." So that's it! Tony found a way to get her to reveal her plans. "Very well. I can still beat you even without my telepathy. Drowzee, use confusion!" Drowzee held both hands up and his eyes flashed. Purrloin flinched but didn't seem very damaged. She simply shook her head and tensed. Psychic isn't very effective on dark. That's why his purrloin isn't very affected, Clover thought.
"Use scratch!" Tony ordered. Purrloin sprinted forward swiftly and raked her claws across Drowzee's chest, nimbly jumping back before she could be countered. "Now assist!" As an aura came off of gothita (which caused her to jump) and wrapped around Purrloin, Spectra commanded Drowzee to use confusion again. He held up his hands and his eyes flashed yet again, and Purrloin again shook her head, this time growling in obvious annoyance. Suddenly, the aura went away and Purrloin used pound, crashing both paws down hard on Drowzee. That move makes a pokemon use an attack that another pokemon in your party has, Clover thought. Interesting. As purrloin's attack landed, Drowzee fell down into a sitting position. Spectra swiftly commanded her pokemon to use headbutt. Drowzee stood up and rammed into purrloin faster than either the pokemon or Tony thought possible, and Purrloin fell back in surprise. Her pokemon took advantage of this without needing a command, slamming his hands (which were joined together) down on Purrloin's exposed belly in what appeared to be the move pound. Tony's pokemon scrambled up ungracefully, clearly winded from the swift action. Purrloin took on an aggressive stance with teeth bared and swiped at Drowzee with extended claws intimidatingly.
"Psychic!" Spectra said. This time when Drowzee assumed his position, a pinkish glow could be seen around purrloin, and she was lifted into the air. Drowzee stopped the attack, and the cruel pokemon fell to the ground. She twisted in midair as cats do and landed on her feet, unharmed. Maybe a little surprised, but unharmed. Tony ordered her to use scratch. Again she sprinted forward and slashed at Drowzee. Before her claws made contact, Drowzee ducked and avoided the attack. Somehow, Purrloin was ready for this and swung her paw down hard, her claws raking across the top of the psychic pokemon's head.
"Use bite now!" Tony said. Purrloin thrust forward and chomped her jaws down on the Drowzee's arm. Drowzee fell onto his back, fainted. "Return Purrloin, it's gothita's turn." Gothita squeaked happily and jumped down from Tony's shoulder.
"Very good, but I am not quite done yet," Spectra said. "Go Mr. Mime!" Her clownish pokemon came out of her thrown pokeball and did his hand waves. Gothita interrupted the Mr. Mime's waving with a command from Tony to use confusion. The barrier pokemon stumbled out of surprise and shook his head to clear it. He looked up, appearing angered at not being able to finish his 'performance'. Spectra ordered him swiftly to use double slap, and he obeyed swiftly, not even bothering to show off his acrobatic skills in his rage. He reached Gothita within seconds and smacked her twice, knocking her over.
"Quickly, use confusion!" Tony said, almost in a yell. Tony must be really into this battle, Clover thought. He usually never yells, even in a battle. Gothita's eyes flashed again, and Mr. Mime staggered. He looked around the gym, seeming to have lost his bearings. The barrier pokemon was also breathing heavily.
"Use psywave!" Spectra commanded. There was a tone of desperation in her voice, as if she realized that Tony was winning the fight. Clover looked swiftly at the gym leader, and noticed a twinge of panic in her eyes. She directed her attention away from Spectra and back to the battle. Mr. Mime stood and spread his arms wide, but the move seemed to backfire on the pokemon, a small explosion of purple and pink aura bursting in front of him. The shocked and surprised pokemon fell back and rubbed his head with his eyes closed. Tony ordered Gothita to use pound enthusiastically with confidence in his voice. Just as Mr. Mime was opening his eyes in recovery, Gothita smashed her head down onto the weakened psychic type. Spectra's pokemon fell onto his back, unconscious. Tony's eyes gleamed with satisfaction and he looked up at a shocked Spectra. They sat in silence for a few moments before Spectra spoke up. "Defeated twice in one day. It seems I may need to train harder," she said simply. She pulled out another shiny white and pink badge and levitated it to Tony. "Now that you two have a gym badge, stronger pokemon will listen to you. It was a pleasure battling you." With that she returned to her throne like chair and sat peacefully in a meditative position. The light that had lit the battlefield faded away. Clover and Tony took that as a dismissal, and turned to exit the dark, starry gym. This is just the beginning, Clover thought. Unova league, here I come!
Tony and Clover sat in a lively restaurant with their pokemon. This particular cafe was run by three former gym leaders from Striaton, Cress, Cilan, and Chile. On the menu was something called the 'gym badge special' which the pair had ordered. It was a special deal reserved for anyone with a Striaton City gym badge, and it included a menu item of the trainer's choice along with a plate of various berries for the pokemon. And the best part: it was free. So the trainers sat eating their meal, Tony with stew while Clover had selected a noodle and veggie dish. Clover and Tony chatted about their battle, complimenting each other on how well they performed and discussing how they could improve. Their pokemon sat happily eating their berries, each with a content and proud look on their face. Lillipup, who was seated next to Purrloin, finished her plate first. The puppy gazed sadly at her plate for a moment and glanced at Purrloin's only half empty plate. She stealthily brought her head closer to the cat's plate, aiming to take a berry from the unsuspecting pokemon's plate. Clover noticed this and nudged Tony with her elbow, interrupting something he was saying about how good she was at battling, and pointed toward Lillipup, holding her hand up to her lips to stifle a giggle. Just as Lillipup grasped a cheri berry gently in her jaws, Purrloin looked down and saw the theft. With an angry growl she scratched the top of the puppy pokemon's head with her claws. Realizing her cover was blown, Lillipup swiftly chewed and swallowed the berry, yelping from the blow. Tony and Clover cracked up with laughter as their pokemon scuffled, not even trying to break the two up. Lillipup tried to seize more berries and Purrloin defended her plate, soundly cuffing the dog when she attempted to take her food.
Tony looked over at Clover, the familiar feeling he got when he looked at her rising. She looked beautiful in the dim light of the restaurant; her green eyes reflected the light in the room nicely, her long brown hair fell over her shoulders stunningly, her headband accenting it adorably. The zip up hoodie she wore was a light green, a shade lighter than her eyes, and had a beautiful brown floral pattern on it that representing her love for nature. I have to tell her how I feel sometime, he thought. Might as well be now. He took a deep breath and started. "Clover.." he said, his voice only coming out as a hoarse whisper. The young psychic cleared his throat and tried again. "Clover?"
"Hm?" Clover said. She turned her attention to Tony from giggling at the squabbling pokemon.
"I want to tell you something," Tony said carefully. "It's just that...what I'm trying to say is.." Why is this so hard? "I want to tell you that I think you're..." Amazing, the most beautiful girl I've ever laid eyes on, have the most magnificent personality ever, I like you a lot. He coughed to buy himself time. I can't do this. I can NOT do this, he thought nervously.
"What is it? Just spit it out," Clover said, curiosity plain on her face.
Tony at this point was fighting panic. He couldn't follow through with telling her how he felt, but he didn't want to look like a complete idiot by not saying anything. He had to think of something. Fast. "I just wanted to say..." he was talking slowly now, "that I think you're...the most amazing pokemon battler I've ever seen." Inwardly he sighed, relieved that he had come up with an excuse.
"Aw, thanks Tony!" Clover said cheerily, not realizing her friend's nerves. "You're the best friend a girl could have." That familiar spark came back to Clover, and she didn't fight it. She had grown to like the feeling she had when she saw Tony; it was a sort of mixture of joy and nervousness and excitement, and though she couldn't exactly put her finger on what this feeling was, she suspected that she liked Tony. After all, the feeling more or less matched the description that her mom had given her of love when she was a little girl. She thought back to that day.
"Mommy, what does love feel like?" a smaller Clover asked from her mother's lap.
"Well," her mom began, "It's kind of a little jolt inside of you. Like a spark."
"Mommy, do you think I'll ever fall in love?" the curious child inquired.
Her mother giggled softly. "I'm sure you will someday."
Clover sighed. But there's no way he'd ever feel the same way about me, she thought. Pushing the feeling to the back of her mind, she continued to talk with her companion, unaware that he did indeed feel the same way, even felt more strongly about her than she did for him.
Hope you enjoyed! Again, please leave a review, good or bad. Thanks in advance!