Hey guys and gals! Welcome back to XY. This is kind of a boring episode, but it leads onto the next one with a cliff-hanger… Well, let's get going!

Ep 9: The Sycamore Students

"Woo hoo! I'm home!" I shouted as I stepped through the doors of my house in Lumiose, Chespin on my head and Tori running after me; Fennekin in her arms.

"Tyler, is that you?" I heard my mum question from the kitchen. She walked out into the lounge and saw me. "It is! Welcome home sweetie!" We embraced for about 2 seconds until she started to nag me. "Now where have you been?! You said you would be home within a week!"

"Well, ah… I sort of expected to win my Gym Battle on the first try and then I stayed behind a while to train," I explained.

"Well then why didn't you call," she moaned, but it seemed Chespin's cuteness was the ultimate distraction. She gasped. "Who's this little guy?!" She proceeded and grabbed Chespin off of my head and started to cuddle him.

"Chespin!" Chespin squealed as he enjoyed my mums hug.

"Tyler, wait up," Tori groaned as she appeared through the door, panting. "Oh, excuse me!" She started to giggle as she realised my mum was right there. I looked back at my mum and saw she had a goofy smile.

"So who's this Tyler? …Your girlllllfriend maybe…?" she hinted at me.

"No mum! It's not like that! Tori and I are just friends," I explained.

"So you must be Tori! Hi, I'm Annabelle Colt, but everyone just calls be Designer Bella," she said with an introduction. Oh geez, I knew where she was going with this…

"No way, you're Designer Bella?!" Tori exclaimed in shock as she shook my mother's hand, while she just had an awfully smug look on her face. My mum loved the spotlight. "I loooove your clothing! For people and Pokemon! It's the best!"

"Thank you dear," she shrugged smugly. "Well, I insist that you two stay for dinner!" Passing up one of my mother's meals? Impossible!

"So Tori, you'll be competing in the Lumiose Contest then?" my father asked Tori as we ate dinner. She looked blankly at him as she had a mouth full of food and just awkwardly nodded which made him laugh. My father was back from travelling this weekend. He comes, he goes.

"It's great that you beat Viola too, Tyler," my brother remarked as he took some steak from the middle of the table.

"Thanks!" I cheered.

"I'm just so glad to see you happier and more out of your shell Tyler! Was this your doing Tori…?" my mother poked. I sighed and glared daggers at her.

"No, he was like this before I met him!" she giggled.

"Oh yes, Tyler! Professor Sycamore told me to tell you to come to his lab once you got back!" my mum told me. "He added, 'be quick, because Bree and Kevin are waiting'. Whoever they are."

"Bree and Kevin are still here?! I thought they would've left long ago! I'll be over there in the morning."

"Feels nice being back here!" Tori boasted as she walked through the gates of Sycamore's Lab. "This is where I got Fennekin, just a week ago."

"I got Chespin from Professor Sycamore in Aquacorde Town a few weeks ago. That's where I met Bree and Kevin, the ones I've been telling you about." We walked through the doors and the receptionist greeted us.

"Welcome back, you two. Although, the last time I saw each of you, you weren't travelling together…?" she quizzed. We quickly explained how we met and Bree showed her the shiny blue-flowered Flabébé she caught. "It's simply beautifully! You have to use it in your first contest Tori!" Tori giggled.

"I will!" she promised. We then proceeded to go up the elevator to the third floor, where Professor Sycamore's "office" was. The elevator doors opened and I was shocked, but for Tori it was just a familiar sight.

"Wow…" I muttered in awe as I stepped into the room, which felt like I was stepping into the future. Everything was modern and futuristic; metallic, glass, glossy and holographic!

"Tyler, Tori, so lovely to see the two of you again; and together, what a surprise!" he cheered. He shook both of our hands with enthusiasm and a bright smile.

"Tyler!" Bree ran over to me and hugged me, which I was quite shocked at. "Took you long enough to get here!"

"But that just gave us more time to get stronger for our next battle," Kevin chuckled as he walked over and shook my hand.

"And whooooo do you have here, Tyler. Maybe a, girlllfrienddd…" Bree giggled with a creepy smile. I swear she is exactly like my mother.

"No, why does everyone suggest th-"

"Tyler and Tori, sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Bree sang in a jokingly way, like she was child. I put my hand over her mouth to shut her up and turned back to Tori.

"Sorry about her," I apologised. She just giggled it off. "So, why did you want me to come here Professor?"

"Oh, it's not what I wanted, it's what they wanted," he said with a determined look as he pointed to Bree and Kevin.

"And that's quite simply, a battle," Kevin added.

"I know the perfect place! Follow me down to the Pokemon House."

"Wow… This place is beautiful…" I said in awe as we stepped into a large dome that was similar to a greenhouse, but for Pokemon. There were trees, flowers and even a lake!

"Pretty sweet, aye?" Kevin walked over to my side and pointed over towards a clear patch of grass, where I could see battlefield markings.

"Yes, it's a lovely place for Pokemon and humans alike!" Professor Sycamore proclaimed as he put his left hand on his chest and the other forward. "So, who will be battling whom?" We all looked at each other blankly, not saying anything.

"How about a three-way battle?" Bree suggested.

"A three-way battle?" I said like she was a child.

"Yes, why not? It's not like it's a new idea, trainers have been doing it for a while, it's just not an official battle style," she explained.

"Well, I like it," the Professor agreed. Kevin smirked but nodded and ran over to the battlefield, where Bree was already waiting. They edged me to come over, so I obliged, but the whole idea just seemed a little weird to me.

"Ah, Professor!" a voice called out. We all turned around to see the young receptionist run through the doors to the Pokemon House. "You have a visitor who wants to see you."

"What's their name, and why?"

"He didn't give me a name, but he said you two were old friends."

"I'm sorry children, but I must attend to this. Start your battle without me." Professor Sycamore then proceeded to walk off with his receptionist to the main lobby.

"Oh well, looks like I'm the referee!" Tori giggled. "This will be a three-way Pokemon battle between Tyler, Kevin and Bree, with each trainer allowed to use one Pokemon. The winner will be whoever is the last one standing, so let's begin!" We all nodded and threw one of our pokeballs.

"Go!"

"Fletch!" Fletchling chirped as she took to the skies, along with Bree's Vivillon. I see that her Spewpa evolved.

"Leo!" Kevin's Litleo roared as he took a fierce lion pose. He started to growl deeply as he stared down the two Flying-Types.

"Litleo, shoot them out of the skies with Ember!" Kevin quickly commanded. Litleo opened its jaw wide and fired out a ball of fire towards Fletchling and Vivillon.

"Vivillon, dodge it and then use Gust on both of them!" Vivillon flapped her wings and dodged the attack but Fletchling and I just stood there, confused by the new battle style. Fletchling was shot out of the sky by Ember and landed right next to Litleo, which was the perfect scenario for Vivillon. She started to use Gust and both of our Pokemon were hit, damaging them.

"Litleo, use Headbutt on Fletchling while she's defenceless!"

"Le-o!" Litleo jumped up before jumping down onto Fletchling with a hard-hitting head. Fletchling was sent flying backwards, and I just stood there, yet again. "Get your head in the game Tyler, before it's all over for Fletchling! Now, Litleo, use Headbutt one more time!"

"Vivillon, use Sleep Powder on Litleo!" Bree intercepted. Vivillon flapped her wings and sent out a beautiful pale blue dust, which floated down to Litleo and made him fall asleep.

"What are you doing, I was going to damage an opponent which would've helped you?!"

"Sabotage," she giggled.

"Alright, Fletchling, Razor Wind them both!"

"Fletch!" Fletchling chirped as she shot into the sky and reared back her wings, before shooting them forward which fired out blades of blue wind which hit both Vivillon and Litleo. "And now, Aerial Ace that Vivillon!"

"Vivillon, dodge it!" Bree retaliated as Vivillon flew high into the air, avoiding Fletchling's initial attack, but since Aerial Ace can't miss, Fletchling surged into her with wind power!

"C'mon Tyler, attack Litleo while he's asleep!" Bree ordered me. "Use Struggle Bug Vivillon!" I followed her orders and proceeded to attack Kevin.

"Fletchling, use Peck!" Vivillon was starting to be surrounded by a red aura before she created a massive red lightning bolt that hit Litleo. Fletchling swooped in after Vivillon and used Peck with her shining beak, damaging Litleo further.

"Litleo, wake up… Please!" Kevin cried out. Litleo suddenly jumped up, but wavered as he'd been severely damaged by the barrage of attacks.

"Now that Fletchling is close to Litleo, use Stun Spore!" We both gasped as it had seemed I'd fallen into Bree's trap by getting in close.

"Dodge it!" Both of our Pokemon started to run/fly away, but Bree countered.

"Spin!" While Vivillon was flapping her wings and emitting an orange dust, she started to spin upon command which made the Stun Spore cover the entire field, engulfing our Pokemon!

"No!" we both screamed as they stood there, paralyzed.

"Now, use Gust!" Bree commanded.

"Lonnn!" Vivillon blew a raging wind out to our two paralyzed Pokemon. All they could do was endure the hit, and it was unbelievable that they could, considering that they had both taken massive damage, while Vivillon had taken barely any.

"Time to team up, aye Tyler?"

"Agreed."

"Alright then, Razor Wind/Ember!" When paralyzed, you have a chance to be able to attack, and luckily for both our Pokemon, they could attack! Fletchling reared back before shooting out dozens of streaks of power that cut through the air. Litleo jumped up and whipped his head around, all while sending out a fireball with Vivillon's name on it.

"Gracefully dodge it," Bree said with serenity as she put her hand forward.

"Use Aerial Ace on the two attacks!" Fletchling stood frozen for a couple of seconds but she fought through the pain and zipped forward, all while Vivillon did a serene backflip, avoiding the two attacks. Fletchling could've easily hit Vivillon, but she instead swooped around her, hitting the two attacks right at Vivillon with more power, hitting her spot on!

"I'm sorry Tyler, but now that they're both together, use Noble Roar!"

"Leo!" Litleo screeched as he unleashed his inner voice, which pierced the ears of our Pokemon and us! Fletchling dropped to the floor with her wings covering her ears. Litleo stopped, and Fletchling did not look happy.

"Fletchling, use Quick Attack!"

"LING!" Fletchling roared as she zoomed towards Litleo at a breakneck pace, smashing into him and sending him rolling across the battlefield. The attack looked powerful, and although the attack was meant to hurt Fletchling it seemed to just bring out her inner rage. We all looked over to Litleo, and it seemed as though he had swirls for eyes.

"Litleo is out of the battle. That means this match has become one on one!" Tori cheered with a fist bump to the sky.

"Fletchling, we can still win this!" I reminded Fletchling, trying to remain positive. She nodded sharply, obviously still inflicted with her rage. "Use Peck!"

"Struggle Bug!" Vivillon's red aura turned into another red lightning bolt and shot Fletchling out of the sky as soon as she flew into it. Fletchling's wings looked shaky as she began to get up which meant the battle was nearing its end.

"Aerial Ace, you can't miss!" I roared as Fletchling took back to the skies.

"You can if we intercept. Gust, Vivillon!" Vivillon smiled as she blew out strong, gale force winds towards Fletchling, who wasn't surrendering and was flying full force into that Gust. SLAM! Fletchling reached Vivillon and sent her to the ground.

"Now Razor Wind!"

"Roll along the ground!" Roll? How is a Vivillon going to roll? But, to my surprise, Vivillon wrapped her wings around her body allowing her to roll out of the way of Fletchling's Razor Wing. "We've been working on strategies of what happens when we get stuck on the ground." I clenched my teeth. "Now, Sleep Powder!"

"Vi-vi!" Vivillon called as she unleashed blue powder faster than I could react to, causing Fletchling to instantly fall asleep.

"Now, let's finish this with Gust!" With one fowl flap, it was all over and Fletchling was sent rocketing back to me, with swirls for eyes.

"Fletchling is unable to battle, which means that Bree and Vivillon are the winners!" Tori yelled with another fist bump to the air.

"Well done Fletchling, you fought admirably…" I muttered to Fletchling as I returned her to her pokeball. "Wow Bree, you're even stronger than before!"

"Hehe, thanks," she giggled as Vivillon flew by her side. She had one by a long shot, but I don't think it was because of power, it was because of her strategies and moves.

"Bree, Tyler's right; you definitely are something else!" Kevin added with a smile as he walked over. Tori then proceeded to join us.

"I wonder why Professor Sycamore hasn't come back yet?" she quizzed as she looked over at the door.

"Oh well, let's enjoy the Pokemon house! Chespin, Froakie, come on out!" I chanted as I span and sent my two non-fainted Pokemon out.

"Pin!" Chespin boasted as he came out and said hello to Bree and Kevin. However Froakie just stood behind me awkwardly, looking at the two new faces.

"You caught a Froakie? Awesome!" Bree screamed which made Froakie freak and run away to a nearby tree. "… What did I do…?" I just sighed.

"He's a bit… nervous." I decided not to tell them the entire story and ran over towards Froakie. I found him hiding behind a tree, just crouching there, scared. But that's when it happened… BOOOOOOMMM!

"What the hell was that?!" Kevin screamed in shock as we saw fire and smoke shoot out into the sky from the glass roof of the dome. The ground shook for a few seconds and you could hear the air crackle. 10 seconds later Professor Sycamore ran in.

"Kids, are you alright?!"

TO BE CONTINUED…

NEXT EPISODE: STAY ALERT, LUMIOSE

Well, there's your cliff-hanger. I felt like the first battles for these rivals wasn't really a proper battle, I guess…? I don't know, but I wanted them to have another one. This was another short chapter, but the next two and hopefully the one after that as well will be around 4k or more. And finally, the chapter I'm excited for is coming up next time! All I can reveal for now is that it will be in a new character's POV. Now, onto the Pokemon listings!

Tyler:

Chespin: Lv.16 (m) – Tackle, Vine Whip, Rollout, Leech Seed

Fletchling: Lv.17 (f) – Quick Attack, Peck, Aerial Ace, Razor Wind

Froakie: Lv.15 (m) – Quick Attack, Bubble, Water Pulse, Acrobatics

Quick Questions:

1. Who/What do you think made the explosion?

2. What are you hoping for to happen next chapter?

Until Next Time – MonfernoFreak