And here we go with the last of the back-to-back updates! Probably never doing this again! Enjoy!

~~**XIII**~~
Minccino - Neat and Tidy

The comfortable silence between the trio as they walked was interrupted by someone calling out to them. They turned to see a young blond girl high-tailing it for them...with little notions of stopping! She tripped over something - probably a rock - and came crashing into Gwen and Cilan, knocking them into the river next to their trail.

Immediately, Gwen choked on water, not quite able to surface her head as a weight pushed on her back. The weight was soon lifted and hands gripped her shoulders and pulled her out of the water. Letting out harsh coughing, Gwen heard Cilan asking if she was okay as well as rubbing her back.

"I'm alive," she rasped at Cilan, rising to her feet with him. She then turned to the blond girl who effectively pushed them into the water. "What was that?!"

The girl cringed and spouted apologies, barely able to reach for her and Cilan and help them out of the river. After the two clamored out of the water, Gwen hastily removed her long vest and held it in front of her. "Nononononono, why?" The garment was soaked, and very heavy.

"Gwen, it's okay," Iris said. "It'll dry."

Gwen turned on her. "You don't understand, Iris. This is wool. Wool and water do not mix well."

Cilan put a hand on her shoulder. "We'll get a fire going and hang it to dry."

Gwen glowered at him over her glasses. At least they were glued enough to her face that they didn't fall off very easy. "What part of this is wool did you not understand? Those are two things you should not do when caring for wool!"

Cilan held up his hands in an exasperated surrender and began loosening his wet bowtie. Gwen then turned to the girl who still spewed apologies. "Just be careful next time!"

"I'm so sorry!" she said, head bowed.

"I'm gonna have to keep a tally soon," Gwen said, gently squeezing the water out of her vest. Don't strain the fabric. She then laid it flat on the ground. On the grass. Hopefully it would dry nicely.

"Please forgive me," the girl continued. "I feel totally awful."

"There's another one," Gwen tallied, straightening up to see Cilan without a shirt on. A blush crept to her cheeks and she quickly turned away, making to strip from her own wet clothing. "Iris, could you get me some dry clothes? I don't want to get my stuff wet."

"We're already on it," she replied, digging into Cilan's backpack while Pikachu went through Gwen's. Her buddy had been lucky to not be sitting on her shoulder when she and Cilan went under. He already pulled out a pair of capri pants and made for a plain purple shirt, but Gwen had a thought. "No, Pikachu, the dress-shirt, shirt dress." Pikachu's head tilted in confusion. "The dotty green one." That got Pikachu's understanding and he dug further for it. He pulled out the button-up shirt that went on to make a skirt just above Gwen's knees in speckles of several greens. It would be airy enough to put on with her still being damp.

"So, what are you doing here?" Iris asked the other girl, after building a small fire to help dry Gwen and Cilan's clothes.

"Actually, I wanted to have a little talk with Gwen," she answered.

Gwen paused in smoothing out her dress after resetting one of the buttons. "How do you know my name?" she inquired. Pikachu voiced out confusion as well.

"Professor Juniper sent me," she replied, inching closer and continuing before Gwen could respond. "Here." She held out her wrist where she wore a Cross-Transceiver and pushed a button on the side to reveal a familiar face.

"Professor Juniper!" Gwen exclaimed with a smile.

The professor returned the smile. "It's nice to see you, Gwen. My sister says hi. How are your Gym Battles going?"

"Great!" Gwen replied. "I got my first badge already!"

Juniper beamed. "I'm so proud of you! But about that badge of yours...please accept my apologies. I forgot to give you a badge case. I sent Bianca to give it too you. Bye bye." The small screen blinked off.

The girl retracted her hand and waved it vigorously at the three of them. "Bianca! That's me!" she said. "Hello there!" Gwen was silent at Bianca's pep.

Iris spoke up first. "Hi, I'm Iris."

Cilan went next. "I'm Cilan-Pokemon Connoisseur." He made a slight bow with that, but Gwen made to pointedly look away from him as he still wasn't fully clothed. At least Gwen had been able to pull on her dress before shrugging off her pants. And her shoes...she would merely have to wait for them to de-soggify. Yes that was a word. But a new pair of socks was in order.

Bianca nodded, then began digging in her bag. "So, let me just give you your..." She frowned as her digging came up short. "Come on, come on! I know I put it in my bag!"

While Bianca continued looking, Gwen pulled out a plastic laundry bag to put her socks in. The same could probably go for her clothes, but she at least gave them a chance to dry before putting them back in her bag. Over the years, Gwen had found a handy trick in airing out wet clothing by gently batting the back and forth on a windless day like this one. But even as the clothes dried off and Gwen and Cilan replaced them in their bags, Bianca was still searching for the Badge case.

"Here we are!" she finally exclaimed. "I got it!" She pulled out the rectangular red and grey case...covered in dust and, was that mud? Bianca made a face probably much like Gwen's as she held it closer. She blew at it and waved away some of the dust and handed it to Gwen.

"Wow," Iris exclaimed softly. "Sure is dirty."

Pinching the corner of it, Gwen almost wanted to give it back. "Wish I hadn't put away my wet socks just yet," she commented, wiping at the grimy case. Whatever, she could clean it in the stream. She opened it and placed her Trio Badge in the first slot. Much better and just like her other two cases. "Looks familiar huh, Pikachu?" she looked to her buddy who beamed back up at her. "Now we only need to fill out seven more slots!"

Iris curled her arm around Gwen's shoulders. "When you do, you're ready for the Unova League!"

"And don't forget," Cilan added, "the Nacrene City Gym is now really close by."

"I'd love to see your Badge," Bianca said. "May I, please?"

Gwen snapped the case closed and handed it to her. "Sure, here you go." She made to place it in Bianca's hand and just brushed by it when a small, gray and fluffy Pokemon snatched it from her hands. The two gasped as they watched it run off.

"Hey!" Gwen called. "That's my Badge Case!" She ran after it.

"Pikachu!"

Pikachu hopped on Gwen's shoulder and she shouldered her back pack, making chase. But the little bugger was fast as Gwen saw the general direction it went but lost sight of the Pokemon itself. Please let it have kept to the path. Please! She heard her friends an Bianca calling after her, but she didn't care to turn. She needed to catch up to the Pokemon who snatched her Badge Case!

Gwen stopped at a toppled tree trunk that crossed over the road. Taking a moment to catch her breath, she leaned against it. "That Pokemon's a fast one, alright," she noted.

By then, the others had caught up with her. "Yes," Bianca said, "wonderful too!"

Gwen glared. "Wonderful because it grabbed my Badge Case?!"

Iris came to Gwen's defense. "Save the admiring for another time!"

"Yew!"

Bianca heeded the two very little. "It's just because I've never seen such a fast Pokemon before! It's so thrilling!"

"And you're so excitable," Cilan commented.

Gwen snarled in annoyance. "Knock it off!" She climbed up the tree, ignoring how it scratched at her exposed knees. "I've gotta get my Badge Case back!"

Bianca blinked. "They'll probably give you a replacement badge, won't they?"

Gwen made a sound that crossed between a gas and a growl. "What?!" She spun around. "Replacement?!" But the spin was too fast and caused her to lose her balance on the log and fall backwards. Too angry to feel any pain, Gwen shot right back up. "That badge is loaded with special memories, so that's the only one I want!" No, Gwen would not accept a replacement. It didn't matter that it would look the same. That badge was her badge. It symbolized the battles between her Pokemon and those of Cilan, Cress, and Chili. No other would compare.

"Pika pika!"

Gwen turned, forgetting that Pikachu had forged ahead, and followed the sound of his voice and saw the Pokemon who had taken her Badge Case. It placed it on the ground and began sweeping it with its tail. "That's my Badge Case!" Gwen hissed.

Bianca knelt down behind the bush just next to Gwen and pulled out her PokeDex. "Aw! So cute!" Gwen leaned over and looked at the 'Dex's information. Minccino, the Chilchilla Pokemon. Mincinno loves shiny things and will use its tail as a brush to clean any objects that are dirty.

"Mincinno likes things tidy," Bianca exclaimed, pocketing her PokeDex.

"That explains why it took the Badge Case," Cilan added.

"And if I weren't so annoyed and able to do it myself, it might have thanked it," Gwen said. "Now, time to get it back!"

But Bianca pushed her back and hopped out of the bushes. "No, I'll get it myself!"

Gwen blinked. "What?"

"She moves at her own speed," Cilan nodded.

"I'd say she's a little selfish," Iris grumbled.

Bianca turned to the three of them. "You just leave it to me!" she exclaimed. "I'll get your case back in no time!" From across the clearing, Mincinno took the Badge Case in its mouth and glared at Bianca. "Okay!" Bianca cried. "Time for battle! Go, Pignite!" A large, orange pig-like Pokemon sprung from the Pokeball. It had a resemblance to a Tepig. Gwen took out her PokeDex. Pignite, the Fire Pig Pokemon. Pignite's food converts into fuel for the flame that burns in its stomach, and when fuel burns in its stomach, it's speed increases.

"Pignite is the evolved form of Tepig," Cilan added. Gwen nodded, she'd made a guess.

"Now, use Tackle on Minccino!" Bianca ordered. Pignite charged at Mincinno at full speed, but Minccino was faster and able to dodge with ease...and with the Badge Case still in its mouth.

Bianca followed up with Flame Charge and Pignite stomped at the ground, building fire around itself and burst forth at Minccino. Still faster, Minccino leaped away.

Despite the move not making its hit, Gwen was amazed. "Wow, what a move!"

"Powerful," Iris agreed.

Bianca only got frustrated, stomping her foot on the ground. Pignite copied her, making a very childish move look actually a bit scary...and then funny again.

"Obviously Bianca may not look it, but she's a fierce battler," Cilan noted.

Gwen rose from behind the bushes. "I'd like my Badge Case back today if you don't mind!" she called.

Bianca turned and gave a thumbs up. "As good as done!"

The four of them saw Minccino run up a tree and deposit the Badge Case on a high branch. It turned a glare at Pignite, ready for battle. Bianca ordered another Flame Charge. But as Pignite started, Minccino rolled in its ears and made a loud, waving cry that stopped Pignite in its tracks, holdings its ears in pain.

"That's Hyper Voice!" Iris called.

"And it looks like Pignite can't move!" Cilan added. Indeed, Pignite was frozen in place from the attack as Minccino hopped onto the larger Pignite and began running its tail along the larger Pokemon, making him burst into a fit of giggles.

"Pignite, no!" Bianca cried.

"There goes Tickle," Iris deadpanned.

There was no way for Pignite to get away from Minccino's Tickle, so Bianca returned her Pokemon. Though instead of being annoyed or frustrated, she squealed. "Oh, you're so tough and cute at the same time that I just gotta catch you!"

Rolling her eyes, Gwen stepped forward. "I'll have to do this myself!" She turned to her partner. "Ready buddy?" Pikachu nodded and hopped off her shoulder.

"Pikachu!"

But suddenly, Oshawott burst out of his Pokeball, raring to go. "Oshawott, osha!"

"Pika," Pikachu rolled his eyes. Gwen silently agreed.

"Aw," Bianca gushed. "Does that mean Gwen's Pokemon come out all by themselves?!"

"Just Oshawott," Iris answered, as unamused as Gwen was.

Bianca didn't share the lack of sentiment, instead squealing. "Darling!"

Gwen ignored her and turned to Pikachu. "You alright with this?" Reluctantly, he agreed. "Alright, Oshawott, let's go. Tackle!"

Oshawott got right into it and rammed for Minccino. But again it dodged, leaping up and pounding Oshawott into the ground and leaping over him. But Oshawott wasn't done in so quickly and raced after Minccino, keeping up well until the Pokemon stops.

"Great Oshawott! Now use Razor Shell!"

"Hydro Pump, let's go!"

Both Gwen and Oshawott stared dumbly at Bianca. Hydro Pump? That was a high level Water-Type Move. Way beyond Oshawott's skill. Not only that, but she was trying to give Gwen's Pokemon an order? Who does that?

"I said Hydro Pump and I mean Hydro Pump!" Bianca screamed.

Confused at the order, Oshawott shook his head and stamped his foot. Gwen shoved Bianca's shoulder. "Oshawott doesn't know Hydro Pump. You're confusing him. And let me do my own battle!" she snarled. She turned back to Oshawott. "Use Razor Shell now, Oshawott!" But by that time, Minccino had run off during the distraction and pounded down on Oshawott from above before he had the chance to counter. Immediately it began another Tickle attack that goes so far to make Oshawott literally choke on his laughter before Miccino moves on to do a Doubleslap. That was all it took to KO Oshawott.

"Oh, we were so close!" Bianca stamped.

Gwen glared at her. "If only you hadn't tried to control my battle."

"That's some battle style," Cilan commented from behind them. "Mincinno is, without a doubt, rich and full flavored."

Gwen returned Oshawott and looked to Pikachu. "You up for this now?" Pikachu nodded but Minccino retrieved the Badge Case and ran off again.

"Oh no, Minccino got away!" Bianca lamented.

Gwen huffed. "If it didn't have my Badge Case, I'd say good riddance!"

"Even if, we can't!" Bianca interjected. "You see, I have to catch Minccino! And you have to help me!"

"Do I have to?" she replied dully.

"Yes!" Bianca chirped, not noticing (or perhaps caring) about Gwen's tone. "You'll get your Badge Case and I'll get a new, cute Pokemon! It's a win-win!"

Gwen didn't even have the energy to reply. She merely waved her hand in silent comply.

"So, how are we going to find Minccino?" Cilan asked.

Bianca seemed to have an idea. "Do you happen to have any shiny pots or cookware?"

He blinked. "Uh, sure." He took out a bright, silver spoon from his pack. "See, there's nothing like the polished flatware."

Gwen almost wanted to comment on how miraculous it seemed to have such shiny cookware in the wilderness, but Cilan was a city boy at heart so it wasn't so shocking. For Gwen, a simple rinse in the stream and dry and it was returned and forgotten in her bag until the next meal.

Bianca grabbed it and began running through the dirt. Cilan gasped and shrieked at the defilement of his clean spoon. Gwen couldn't help it. She laughed. Hard, quaking laughs from the belly that left her gasping.

"Gwen! This isn't funny!" Cilan snapped.

Gasping for breath. "No, it's not," she gasped. "It's hilarious!" For the first ime in the past few minutes, she wasn't so angry anymore. But without only a couple more heaves, she stopped laughing, but she didn't apologize for Cilan. Bianca had a solid idea with the spoon. The 'Dex said Minccino loved shiny things and cleaned what was dirty. It was a double-whammy.

Bianca set up a trap that also involved Cilan's silver pot that could topple and cover Minccino with the stick and rope hovering over the dirty spoon as bait. The four hid behind the bushes, Bianca holding the end of the rope.

"My nice, clean spoon," Cilan lamented. Gwen absently patted his shoulder while trying not to laugh again. At least Cilan was being quiet, but they couldn't give themselves away to Minccino or Gwen would never get her Badge Case back!

"Hope this works," Iris mumbled. Gwen couldn't think that way though.

"Sh!" Bianca glared just as a rumbling sounded and Minccino came out toward the pot. It inched toward the spoon and sniffed it before shifting its tail to start cleaning it. Gwen started wondering how exactly Minccino cleaned with its tail, did it simply dust or..."Gotcha!" Bianca cried, pulling at the rope. The pot tumbled over on top of Minccino, trapping it. But it was a short victory as Minccino rose to its feet and ran off...with the pot still over it! "Wait, Minccino!" Bianca cried. "You can't just run away! Come back!"

"It's got my spoon now, too," Cilan muttered.

Gwen groaned, gently shoving his shoulder. "Cilan, it's a spoon. Get over it."

He leered at her. "I haven't said the same about your Badge."

Gwen gaped. Did he really just compare her earned Gym Badge that she battled for to an average kitchen utensil? She shook her head. Forget it. If he loved his silver spoon so much, fine! "You know what, I don't have time for this! And I am finding Miccino and battling it myself!" She took off after Minccino.

"But what about its Tickle?" Iris sounded, running after her.

"I'll figure it out!" Gwen replied without turning. She crossed a shallow river, feeling the splatter against her calves, climbing over a moderate rock and then she saw it. Minccino. It sat up in a tree with Cilan's pot and spoon, as well as Gwen's Badge Case.

"Right!" Gwen affirmed, taking out her Pokeball. "Buneary, let's go!" Buneary came out from her Pokeball and leered up at Minccino. "Use Attract!" Buneary executed her attack but Minccino dodged it. So weird to find that move can be dodged. It seemed more like a hit or uninterested move.

But even weirder was when Minccino repeated the Attract, sending it right for Buneary. Gwen was confident that it wouldn't work as Attract didn't work on the same gender...but it did. So Minccino was a boy...and managed to perfectly ensnare Buneary. Gwen hung her head. So much for that. And so much for a piece of Buneary's confidence, she supposed. Guess Attract had to work both ways. "Buneary, return!" Still twitterpated, Buneary returned to her Pokeball. "You got this, Pikachu?" She looked down to her partner.

"Pika!" He nodded and leaped forward.

"Alright! Iron Tail!" Gwen ordered. Pikachu's tail glimmered and raced for Minccino, but he dodged it. "Quick Attack, let's go!" Minccino followed and the two kept a quick, even pace. "Now another Iron Tail!" But Minccino was prepared as he used a Tail Slap and both moves collided, pushing both Pokemon back. Minccino the prepares a Hyper Voice.

"Pika!"

"Pikachu, no!" Gwen cried. She knew what was coming next. Tickle. And just so, Minccino curled around Pikachu and waved his tail in Pikachu's sweet spots. Pikachu grit his teeth, trying not to laugh and failing in some spots. Though he held tough as Minccino kept going and going until he eventually tired out.

That was her shot!

"Now, Pikachu, use Zap Cannon!"

Gwen screamed incoherently. "Pikachu doesn't know that move!"

"Just give it a shot!" she replied.

"Stop moderating my battles!" Gwen ordered, before turning back to Pikachu. "Now Pikachu, use Thunderbolt!" Cackling with lightning, Pikachu shoots his attack at the tired Minccino. "Great job, Pikachu!"

Bianca ran up and grabbed Gwen's shoulder. "Come on, Gwen, please tag me! I want to catch him!" She started digging in her bag for a Pokeball...and had a rough time of it. "I know my Pokeball was in here before-"

Gwen groaned. "Hurry up or you'll miss your chance!" she snapped.

But Bianca still searched. "Maybe if I cleaned out my bag every once in a while, I'd never have this problem in the first place!" she groaned.

Gwen shook her head, not believing her conviction for a second. But she then noticed that Minccino had shaken off Pikachu's Thunderbolt and began running away. "No, Bianca, he's escaping!"

"I've got it!" Bianca called triumphantly, holding out her very, very dirty Pokeball. Gwen shook her head in disgust. How dirty was that bag that her things could be covered in dust and dirt? But it seemed to catch Minccino's attention as he leaped up onto Bianca's shoulder and began swiping at it with his tail. The Pokeball then popped open and sucked Minccino inside. The ball whirred and shuttered a couple times before stilling. Bianca turned to Gwen. "See, I caught it," she deadpanned. Gwen let out a dry chuckle, believing it, but not believing the hilarity.

"I suspect a dirty Pokeball was too hard for Minccino to pass up," Cilan stated, approaching them.

"Yeah, you're right," Iris commented. "I guess people say it's better to be lucky than good. The question is, will those two get along?"

Cilan beamed. "Of course! If you take Bianca's unique personality and pair it with all of Minccino's talents, what a combination!"

Gwen smiled. She had to agree with him. Not only that, but Minccino could help make up for Bianca's messiness. They would be a harmonizing match.

"It doesn't matter," Bianca stated. "'Cause I just caught a Minccino!"

Gwen went up to the tree and hitched herself up, grabbing her newly clean Badge Case and popped it open, reveling in her badge for just a moment. She then handed down the spoon and pot down to Cilan. All problems and hitches solved. Wait-! "Where's my vest?!" Gwen didn't remember grabbing it when she started after Minccino!

"I've got it!" Iris said, holding up. Gwen stared in horror.

The fabric was frayed in several places, taking precedence over the beautiful, airy stitching. There were creases in several places and stretchy in others. Iris seemed to finally notice it and looked sheepishly up at Gwen. "Uhh...sorry?"

Gwen slowly inhaled and exhaled through her nose, not daring to open her mouth lest she start screaming. She thrust out her hand. "First, I'll see if I can fix this, then we'll discuss it later."

The four of them made for the nearest Pokemon Center to check over Pikachu, Oshawott, Minccino, and even Pignite, as well as Gwen's Egg. Gwen had lain out her vest and did what she could to fix it, starting with a flattening and trimming of the frayed wool and gently brushing the creases. There was little to do about the streching, but it wasn't that severe. And for a white garment, it was still quite clean, so Gwen put it back on.

"Here we are," Nurse Joy announced. "All your Pokemon are feeling much better."

"Thank you, Nurse Joy!" Gwen and Bianca stated.

"And Gwen," Joy continued. "I gave your Egg a thorough check-up, too. It's as health as can be!" Gwen took the Egg from the counter and gave her thanks.

"What kind of Egg is it?" Bianca asked, examining it.

"A Pokemon Egg, of course," Gwen joked.

Bianca chuckled and rolled her eyes. "I mean what Pokemon is it gonna be?"

Gwen shrugged. "I don't know yet," she answered. "Have to wait 'till it hatches."

Bianca's face fell slightly. "Bummer..." But she soon perked up. "Hey Gwen, how about a battle?"

Gwen grinned. "Sounds great! Let's do it!"

The group left the Pokemon Center and to the little battle arena just outside. "Okay!" Gwen called to Bianca at the opposite side. "We'll each use one Pokemon each! It's over when one of our Pokemon's unable to continue!"

Bianca nodded. "Right! I'm going with Pignite!" She took out Pignite's Pokeball and he emerged on the field.

"Right," Gwen murmured. "A Fire-Type So I'll use-"

"I know!" Bianca interrupted. "You're going to have to use Pikachu, right?"

Gwen sighed. Even moderating what Pokemon she used. This girl was a handful. "Sure." She turned to Pikachu. "That alright with you?" Pikachu nodded and bounded into the arena. "Now use Quick Attack!"

"PIgnite, use Take Down!"

The two attacks collide with Pikachu taking more damage and going down for the count. Bianca followed it up with Heat Crash. Pikachu didn't even get to rise to his feet as the attack hit.

"Come on, Pikachu! Get up!" Gwen called as she heard Iris and Cilan's disheartened comments. It was a bit of a struggle, but Pikachu lifted himself to his feet. "There we go!"

"Great!" Bianca exclaimed. "Now Pignite, Flame Charge!" Pignite stomped his feet, charging his attack.

"Pikachu, Volt Tackle!" Gwen ordered. Both attacks collide in a power battle, making a great dust cloud and a shock wave that Gwen felt graze against her body.

Both Pokemon were thrown back exhausted, but it was only three heartbeats when Pignite fell backwards, knocked out.

"Pignite, no!" Bianca cried.

Gwen let out a soft cheer. "Way to go, Pikachu!"

Cilan rose from his seat at the benches. "Pignite is unable to battle, so the winner is Gwen!"

Bianca returned Pignite to his Pokeball, only momentarily down. She turned to Gwen. "May I say something, Gwen? Please?" Gwen nodded and gestured for her to continue. "I may have lost today, but I am just starting out on my journey! Which means the next time we meet, Pignite and Minccino will be much stronger "

Gwen nodded. "And I'll be ready for our battle."

Bianca grinned and clapped her hands together. "Perfect! And I can't wait! Good luck at the Nacrene Gym! See you later!" She took off in a hurry.

"She sure can move," Iris commented as she and Cilan approached Gwen.

"At her own pace, too," Cilan added.

Gwen nodded. "Odd, and a bit annoying, but I can't help but be glad to have met her."

"Pikachu!"