Well, another team change. Instead of Snivy, Gwen get a Buneary. Again, I love Snivy (it was the first starter I used when I played 5th Gen.), especially Ash's Snivy. I, again, just wanted a Buneary.

And this chapter is surprisingly shorter than the others. I'm quite surprised.

~~**VII*~~

Buneary Plays Hard to Catch

The trio walked in a more comfortable silence when they left Striaton City. Iris had called after Gwen when she raced away, calling her a kid as always. But Gwen hardly paid it any mind, and Cilan made a more light-hearted comment, managing to set aside Iris's annoyance. It seemed that Cilan managed to ease out the tension between the girls without doing a thing. Either that, or arguments were much more childish in front of a audience. Either way, Gwen and Iris weren't at each others throats so far. But then again, the day wasn't even half over.

It was nearly an hour past noon and Gwen began feeling a gnawing in her stomach. Her breakfast had been pretty filling as she didn't even feel the need for her mid-morning snack. Though, seeing as it was past lunchtime now, Gwen felt it was just the right time to eat.

And just as that thought crossed her mind, Gwen's stomach made a loud grumble. Looking down, Gwen gently smacked her belly, "Hush you, don't be such a whiner."

Iris quirked a brow. "Did you really just talk to your stomach?" She shook her head. "You're such a kid."

Gwen gave the girl a lazy grin and gazed at her over the top of her glasses. "And you have no sense of humor, girl scout," she replied dryly.

"Now, now," Cilan interjected. "It's well past time for lunch. Let's stop and eat."

Gwen turned to him. "Don't worry about this. I'm in too good a mood. Lunch sounds nice."

"And it would be the perfect time to dish out another four-star meal," Cilan added with a wink.

Gwen chuckled and rolled her eyes at him. He wasn't going to let that go anytime soon. "Four stars means there's room for improvement. And less vanity. Something that should be better achieved as a Connoiseur like yourself."

"Conceded," Cilan replied with a smile. "Let's set up right here. I'll whip up something quick."

While Cilan prepared their lunch, Gwen and Iris set up the table, on which they were playing a mini soccer game by flicking a plastic ball from one side of the table to the other. Pikachu and Axew stood at the edges to make sure it didn't roll off the sides, while the win was made if the ball passed Iris's or Gwen's cupped hands when the ball rolled by.

Gwen yelped as the ball rolled right past her hands. It was nearly off the side, but Iris had managed to aim for the far corner and just make another score. Keeping count - not counting 'fouls' as the ball rolled off the side - they were at 7-9 in Iris's favor.

"I win!" Iris called, triumphantly placing her hands on her hips.

"Axew! Axew!" her Pokemon cried in joy.

"Lunch is ready!" Cilan called, carrying two plates over two the table. One of the plates had a small bowl of cut fruit that seemed to have been given some time on the pan with some drizzled syrup on top. The other plate had a half dozen muffins. How Cilan managed to make muffins without an oven was an amazing feat.

Gwen took her seat and leaned forward, taking in the smell of the muffins. "Smells amazing," she commented, picking up one of the muffins. "Now for the taste test." She took a small bite, really tasting the muffin. There was something familiar about it. There was sweetness, but a bit of spice. Not the 'drain a whole cup of water or two' but a nice twinge on her tongue. "You used Liechi Berries in these muffins, didn't you?" she asked, managing to name the familiar taste. Yes, there was a hint of the berry in the muffin.

Cilan nodded with a smile. "Indeed, I'm glad you could point the taste."

"I may not be as professional as you when it comes to food," Gwen told him, "but I do know food." She took another bite of the muffin, a bigger one and took her time chewing, savoring the flavor.

Iris commented on Cilan's cooking as well. "You are a master chef, Cilan," she told him.

He beamed. "I'm so glad you're both enjoying it."

Gwen had moved on to try the fruit and actually moaned at the taste. "Okay Cilan, where have you been all my life?" From across her, Cilan's went pink as he rubbed the back of his neck. Whether he was unable to reply or not didn't matter as Gwen continued without pause. "I could have used your cooking for the past five years of my travels. Granted I never starved, but it would have been nice."

"I have to agree with you for once," Iris added. "And if I can eat delicious food like this every single day, maybe traveling with you two won't be so bad."

Gwen quirked a brow at her latter comment. "Yes, because you're willingly subjecting yourself to the torture of our company for reasons unknown to all," she replied wryly. Finished with her first muffin, she grabbed a second. The last one too. Pikachu and Axew had grabbed one for themselves and Cilan had a picked at one next to his own plate. And Iris glared at Gwen on taking the last muffin as she'd also just finished hers.

"I wanted another muffin!" she said hotly.

"There are more if you want seconds, Iris," Cilan told her, quickly easing the tension.

Iris hopped up from her seat and made her way to the table where Cilan did his cooking. "Uh, Cilan...I don't see any seconds."

Both Cilan and Gwen paused at that, rising from their chairs and moving toward Iris. Indeed, there were no muffins on the table...anywhere. Cilan's brow knotted in confusion. "That's odd," he stated, "I know there were two more muffins here."

"Hm," Gwen thought, "maybe they knew Iris was coming, so they got on two feet and ran off," she finished with a cheeky grin.

And it set Iris off. "You are such a little kid, Gwenyth!"

Gwen felt her own brow knot. "Gwenyth?"

"That's what Gwen is short for, right?"

She shook her head. "Well, yeah. But my full name is Gwendolyn. In fact, my name could have been just Gwen."

"Whatever!" Iris snapped.

"Maybe we should get back to the issue at hand here," Cilan intervened.

Iris and Gwen took a moment to glare at each other just before a rustling came from the bushes nearby. The trio looked up at the noise. "What's that?" Gwen asked.

The three of them made their way through the bushes, slowly as to not startle whoever was in the grass off, as well as crouching in the moderately short grass. Gwen was the first to peek her head out from the grass, Cilan and Iris on either side.

And they found the mystery of the rustling...and the stolen food. It was a Buneary.

With a cheeky grin, Gwen turned to Iris. "Whaddaya know? The food got on two feet and ran off," she remarked. While it wasn't what someone would normally expect, it was in a way true.

"You are such a kid!" Iris shrieked, but Gwen merely laughed.

That and she lept from the bushes, a Pokeball in hand. A Buneary! A Normal-Type Pokemon and a cutie to boot! No way was she going to pass this opportunity up! Her Pokeball thudded Buneary on the head and preceded to encase it within the familiar red light. Wow, that was quick!. And it was still eating its muffin.

But after only one blink, the Pokeball popped open and Buneary was released, glaring at Gwen and kicking the Pokeball right back. It wasn't done that hard, so Gwen was able to catch it easily. Buneary was then quick to hop off into the bushes.

"Hey, get back here!" Gwen shouted, running after Buneary. She faintly heard Iris and Cilan call after her, but she didn't bother to see if insist they follow. She was on a mission. A mission to catch Buneary.

Buneary didn't go far. Gwen came to another clearing to where the little Pokemon continued comping on the muffin without a care. It seemed to be as enthralled with Cilan's cooking as anyone would be. Gwen quietly made a command to Pikachu. "Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"

Pikachu put on a burst of speed and lept for Buneary, who - just after popping the last of the muffin in its mouth - hopped up and out of the way of the attack. So quick! And it wasn't going to simply run away this time as it winked at Pikachu, hearts streaming from around it that went straight for Gwen's Pokemon. The hearts burst right in front of Pikachu and his eyes turn pink as he stares adoringly at Buneary.

Gwen felt her mouth drop. Pikachu just got hit with Attract! So...so Buneary was a girl! That definitely put a hitch in her battle plans. If her male Pokemon went up against Buneary, they would become to love-struck to battle.

And she had to think fast as Buneary sent out a Swift attack, Pikachu still incapacitated from the Attract. Instinctively, Gwen raced in front of Pikachu, covering his body with hers and taking the attack on herself. The sting of the attack makes Gwen cringe, but better her than Pikachu in his state.

The attack faded away and Gwen looked down at her special partner, who seems to have snapped out of his attraction. "Are you okay, Pikachu?" she asked. Pikachu nodded.

"Are you alright, Gwen?"

Taking Pikachu in her arms and rising to her feet, Gwen answered Cilan with a nod. "We're both fine," she answered. "And it's not the first time I've taken the brunt of an attack."

Iris joined the two of them. "That Buneary seems very intelligent, haughty almost," she mused. "Do you think it may have had a Trainer before?"

Gwen thought about it. "It does make sense," she replied. "Buneary doesn't seem like your average wild Pokemon, but...I don't see how anyone would release a Buneary."

Cilan nodded. "Not only are Buneary aesthetically pleasing, but they also have well balanced strength, moves, and the versatility of being a Normal-Type Pokemon," he added. "But that doesn't speak for everything. Sometimes Pokemon can leave their Trainers if they feel they have poor standards."

"Poor standards?" Gwen wondered.

"If they don't treat their Pokemon well enough," Cilan answered. "If their battle styles don't mesh, or even if the Pokemon feel above the skill of their Trainer."

Gwen took that all in and a grin slowly spread on her lips. "Well, if that's the case, then I want Buneary more than ever!"

"Pika!" her partner agreed enthusiastically.

Iris scoffed. "Will you calm down!"

"What's the point of that?" Gwen pushed back. "I set out to catch Buneary and that's exactly what I'll do. And if Cilan's hunch is correct about Buneary having a poor Trainer, then I want to prove to Buneary that I'm worthy of her."

"Her?" Cilan pondered.

Gwen nodded sheepishly. "You may not have noticed before, but Buneary struck Pikachu with Attract."

Iris gaped. "Then how exactly are you going to battle Buneary? The only way to get around Attract is to battle with another girl Pokemon. Are any of your other Pokemon girls?"

Gwen paused, thinking it over. "I'm not sure," she answered slowly. "But," she pulled out Pidove's Pokeball, "I'm still going to try. Pidove, go and find Buneary!"

Pidove soared from the red iridescent light of the Pokeball, following the direction Gwen pointed out. Gwen raced after her Pokemon's flight path, keeping an eye on Pidove and waiting for the signal that Buneary was found. It wasn't long before Pidove circled in the air, notifying Gwen from the ground.

Buneary was at the top of a moderate rocky incline and turned to face Gwen as she heard the approach. Gwen turned to Pikachu, "You ready to go again, buddy?"

Pikachu nodded, but at the same moment, one of Gwen's Pokeballs burst open and Oshawott lept out. "Oshawott!" He turned to Gwen. "Oshawott, Osha, Osha!"

"Wait, you want to battle Buneary?" Gwen asked. Oshawott nodded, but Gwen hesitated. Oshawott was male as well, so was that a good decision? Well, seeing as she was about to battle with Pikachu again, perhaps that snag was more of a moot point. "Alright then, let's go!"

The three are quick to climb the rocky incline, even at the danger of falling rocks - which Buneary actually kicked at them. Feisty one, that Buneary! Gwen made the climb in one piece with Oshawott situated on top of her head. At least Pikachu did his own climbing. Buneary was waiting for them and immediately Oshawott took position.

"Now," Gwen called, more than ready for the battle. "Let's do this! Oshawott, Water Gun!"

Oshawott spat a stream of water toward Buneary, who easily hops out of the way, only sprinkles of water dropping harmlessly on her nose. Buneary glared at Oshawott before countering with Jump Kick.

"Dodge it, Oshawott!" Gwen called. Oshawott, instead of moving out of the way, actually took the attack with his scalchop. Gwen admired Oshawott's strength of actually managing to hold back the attack. "Way to go! Now, use Razor Shell!"

But just as Oshawott readied his attack, Buneary winked again and the familiar pink hearts surrounded Oshawott, love-struckingly incapacitating him. Buneary then used Doubleslap.

Conceding that Oshawott could do no more in this battle, Gwen called him back. Buneary turned around and hopped off again. "Sly and shifty, aren't you?" Gwen muttered, racing after the Pokemon again. She made sure Pidove continued following as well. No way was she going to allow Buneary to get away.

Following Buneary through the trees, Gwen saw her actually leap up to the branches and continued on higher ground. A thought crossed Gwen's mind. "Pikachu, hop on!" Pikachu lept onto Gwen's shoulder and she jumped up to grab at the hanging vines. The momentum of her run gave her a powerful swing as she went from vine to vine until one actually snapped under her weight. With a cry, Gwen fell and landed on top of a lily pad in a muddy river. It was cushy enough so her landing was only slightly jarring. It took a moment for Gwen to rise to her feet, wiping some mud off her glasses. Buneary stood a few lily pads away, staring as if slightly impressed by Gwen's gall.

"Stopped running?" Gwen called to Buneary.

"Pika pika!"

Gwen looked down a Pikachu, her question dying on her lips as she saw the lily pad under her feet began sinking. "Pikachu, get on my shoulder!" she called, turning for the shore. Bad idea as her first step had her foot sinking down to the knee in mud.

"Pikachu!"

"On top of my head!" Gwen ordered, not allowing herself to feel fear. Though sinking in muddy water was not how she would plan to go. The muddy water was already lapping over her waist. In one shallow thought, Gwen wondered if the mud would wash out of her clothes should she get out of this mess. She loved these jeans.

"Gwen!" Gwen looked up to see Cilan tossing her a vine. Most likely the one that snapped on her. "Grab hold of this!" Gwen did as she was told as Cilan and Iris tugged her slowly, but surely, from the muddy river. As she got close enough, she reached for Cilan's outstretched hand and he hauled her out.

Gwen fell to her knees. Her muddy, and slightly aching knees. Panting in attempt to push down her quaking nerves at almost being consumed by mud, she looked up at her companions. "Thanks you two, you're both lifesavers."

"Are you still after Buneary?" Cilan asked as Gwen rose to her feet.

"You bet!" Gwen told him.

Iris groaned. "Why don't you just give up already? Buneary's not going to let you catch her. Accept the fact that it's not happening."

"Although your determination is impressive-" Cilan started before Gwen cut him off by slapping her hand over his mouth.

"Hold that thought," Gwen told him, turning to see Buneary had hopped back to their side of the river. Even though Buneary looked at her with a bored expression on her face, Gwen couldn't help but think that her not running off was saying something. She could have hopped off and Gwen would have truly lost her.

Gwen removed her hand from Cilan's mouth and grabbed Growlithe's Pokeball. "Alright, Growlithe, I choose you!"

"Gwen, make sure Growlithe doesn't get all goo-goo eyed from Buneary's Attract!" Iris called.

"Axew!"

"Yeah, yeah," Gwen waved her off without even looking at her. "Growlithe, use Ember!"

Growlithe shot a stream of sparks toward Buneary that she merely hopped away from. And again, she countered with Attract. Again, Growlithe fell hook, line, and sinker.

Gwen groaned, returning Growlithe to his Pokeball. How was she going to catch Buneary if all her Pokemon would simply fall head over heels for her?

"Pidove!" Her Flying-Type Pokemon - who'd been following the battle this whole time - placed herself in battle position.

"You want to battle?" Gwen wondered. Pidove gave another chirp of confirmation. "Awesome! Use Gust!" Pidove flapped a heavy Gust at Buneary, but being quick as she usually was, Buneary dodged. And as always, countered with Attract.

Gwen gasped. "No! Pidove, dodge it!" Pidove gained height but the heart were too quick as they spun around her flying Pokemon and sprang on her. As they sunk away, Pidove seemed...unaffected! "Wait," Gwen muttered, "you're a girl?" She shook her head. "I could have used that information a while ago."

But it was fortunate, as Gwen could concentrate on the actual battle. "Alright then, Pidove use Air Cutter!" Pidove slashed at the air, the slices heading right for Buneary who'd countered with Swift. Both moves collided and neither hit. But Gwen was quick to move on. "Use Gust!" she called and Pidove complied, hitting Buneary without having a chance to dodge. "Quick Attack and then Air Cutter!" Pidove gave a quick barrage of attacks and gave Buneary little or no room for recovery or counter.

Once Buneary hit the ground, Gwen tossed her Pokeball. The Pokeball hit, Buneary went in, and it fell to the ground. But after one shake, Buneary broke free, still defiant.

"A fight to the last," Gwen mumbled. "I like that about you."

Buneary combated with a whole other move. Ice Beam.

"Dodge it, Pidove!" Gwen gasped. Pidove barely arced out of the way. Vaguely, she could hear Cilan and Iris calling the move out as well, but her attention remained on the battle. "Use Quick Attack!" Gwen tossed her Pokeball again and waited with bated breath as the Pokeball twitched once...twice...three times...and stilled.

Gwen pumped her arms and hopped in glee. Buneary was finally hers. She turned to Iris, pointing at her. "Ha! And you said it wasn't happening. I proved you wrong, didn't I?"

Iris didn't respond, instead seemed jarred about something. But Gwen didn't dwell on it.

Cilan, on the other hand, handed a compliment. "Buneary's stubbornness and defiance is bound to make her a powerful battler. I can't to see your first one together."

Gwen smiled, turning toward the Pokeball and moving to pick it up. "I can't either," she agree. "Now, come on out Buneary!"

Buneary stood in front of Gwen, standing tall despite the hard battle and still a proud look in her eyes. Gwen smiled at her new Pokemon. "Well Buneary, I promise to be a Trainer worthy of you."

She nodded. "Buneary."