X - new day or 24 hour or more time jump
— - 2 to 12 hour time jump
'Internal speaking'
"External speaking"
**** Start/End Pokespeek
Galvantula (Female)
Flare/Litwick (Female)
Shay/Dratini (Female)
Pierce/Starly (Male)
Void/Shuppet (Male)
Tamall/Skiddo (Male)
Meredith/Marill (Female)
A shiver forced any nerves to ramrod straight. They had been buzzing for the past few minutes of walking up to her plate. It wasn't just due to the importance of the match.
The referee had his head down on his tablet tapping away. Less than three meters away a man dressed quite prim for the occasion twisted his wrist back and forth rapidly. The mic in his hand just added more weight to the twists.
There was a sense of two day old deja vu when she ran over the requirement to win or tie.
Why? Aella was neck and neck with Tristan and Rain was one behind. Rain needed the win of two points, Aella just needed one. As a rundown of the last days matches leading up to this situation.
Rain and Mary were locked in a duel the afternoon on the same day she tied with Tristan. Poor Rain was a bit numb after another loss and was submitting to the fact they might come in last in the pool.
Honestly Aella thought they were pretty well set. They had a good team that listened to them and more than enough teaching on how to be a professional trainer. The problem lies with the fact that first, that information was for an advanced trainer not a beginner trainer and second, their extreme lack of experience. Rain was constantly ordering her team around because they didn't know how to fight on their own.
Aella had learned from Galvantula that during her duel in the Mist with Snover he kept trying to grab her and wack her with Leafage while blowing Powder Snow in her face. Snover knew Stomp. He would have done far more damage if he actually tried to grab and Stomp.
Rain did instruct him, but she wasn't clear on what moves to use. That was a lack of experience. Rain's were very strong and clearly showed extensive training but it was experience that told you what to do in situations. Her's had. Through hunting and that most of them had the benefit of working with Wild Light and her children.
Tamall had very good instincts and it was clear his Monarch taught her herd to the best of her ability in such a cramp cell. If he had a chance to strike his vile captors, they would. Meredith's rebelliousness led her to constantly seek out battles whether it was with just a simple Caterpie or something way beyond her league. Her eyes followed every battle, watching every move, every movement.
Rain did get her comeuppance against Tristan with Aubrette the next day. Although it was a Togetic vs Heracross battle. Aella plainly decided to ignore how far that pendulum swang.
The win from Mary that Aella secured with Pierce was a tough one. The utterly sick amount of status moves plus having complete omnidirectional movement put her on the other side of the whittle down strategy.
Aella thumbed Galvantula's ball. Her ace would pull any and all the tricks in their book, that were legal, on this match; no hold backs, no stops.
"Alright alright folks it's the beginning of our last day on July 4. It's a quiet day with nothing special going on so let's all turn our attention on this battle. We got a strong one vs one match over here at arena 8. And it's already looking like a good one and we haven't even started," the announcer's voice dipped and rose in an alluring way. She could see a crowd moving in on the edge of her sight.
"You all know green goes first and that is a great sun hat. Makes me wish I had one!" He raised his arms and looked around the crowd who whooped and laughed.
"And the toss is out and—Ohhhhhhhhh," his went breathey, "it's a Glavantula. These unique pokemon are from all the way out in Unova! What a treat to see one here in Kanto."
Across the field she could hear Rain shout, Really! Roggenrola needs to evolve before she can deal with anything like that!" There was exasperation in their voice, but with no heat behind it while their shoulders shook with a silent chuckle.
Aella grinned and shook her head, "You know whoever wins this moves on and Meredith will pout for days if we end here."
Rain, knowingly shrugged. The girls had been sharing their wins and losses even though it was suggested not to, nothing in the rules said they couldn't. It made her wonder if Tristan knew, but he'd figure it out soon enough when scores were posted later.
Their fingers taped back-and-forth between two pokeballs grumbling, bug or electric. With the match announcer amping up the crowd as they called out the time left, Rain snatched and tossed out one in the last few seconds, "I'll put up with the bug side then."
'Ah they mean put up with the Bug type weakness,' Aella understood what Rain meant when a creaking groan filled the clearing and the temperature dropped.
The buzz in the audience kept rising. The click of the referees tablet snapping onto their belt. The shield flashed visible again before transparency returned. Flare curled her power inward as an Alakazam joined the Slowbro. Clearly the runners of the tournament were preemptively preparing as Galvantula had shook the shield more than once.
As Snover's ability kicked up a heavy flurry that would very quickly bring shards of ice, the announcer kept building up the crowd with statements that they get a rare treat to see two unusual and rare pokemon duking it out on the field.
Aella could barely hear the referee announcing the match, it's one on one status and that the contestants will battle until one faints or withdraws, "Begin!"
The referee barely finished the word begin before Galvantula slammed her front two legs forward, raised her head and pedipalps, opened her chelicerae and just Screeched.
"Swords Dance and set u"— was all Rain could say before the barrier reappeared and vibrated. Snover could do nothing but swing in circles with his armed branches, pressed tightly against the side of his canopy.
With her claws on her back legs, she curled into the soil, raising her abdomen. Agility slammed over her form and she moved. A ripple of the flurries of snow were left in her wake. Snover only had a second or two to himself before yellow and pain.
He swung out only to hit air, Galvantula utilized Lunge again to escape to the right and her abdomen swung to face away from the snow covered tree. A pedipalp dragged across his trunk, "Icy Wind Snover! Arceus of the White Palace! Aella are you nuts?!"
"Screen! It's an all or nothing fight! So we're going all or nothing!" One pedipalp waved and drew a Light Screen into the frosty air. The other stayed a pale emerald green that grew darker with time and white glow signaled Slashes involvement.
Another layer of Agility and she was off again. Striking again in the formation of an X appeared on the tree's trunk. He could only groan as Fury Cutter built in power.
"Stomp! Get her away!" Her spider stepped back again, but not without getting clipped. Pierce would've been so proud if he was out when she turned to give a retaliatory Sucker Punch. A layer of Mist appeared at Rain's dew command.
"And Gavantula speeds away again but not without a Sucker Punch for the Stomp! Rain seems to be in a bit of a bind. That Hail should be chipping away, but it seems to be doing hardly nothing. That's one tough Bug folks," Aella drowned out the announcer.
Galvantula raised her abdomen and though the smell of ozone was blocked by the shield Aella could see the crackle travel through her fur. The sound of a whistle had her stepping in, "Stop Screech! Drown it out and Wave the field!"
Snover swayed with a leaf in hand to the tune of Grass Whistle, 'Inept, but effe̴͕͛c̶͇͝t̶̡́i̴̫̓v̶̻̔ē̴͙ enough.'
Aella did wish she could hear what was going on inside, but at the same time there was a reason those shields were fully visible to the point that the inside was blurred. Instead she could see snaps and flashes of light as the Thunder Wave traveled outward.
The entire field was electrified for just a few short seconds in a sort of pseudo Electric Terrain. To create the real deal required a very specific organ to extend a Thunder Wave's… animation? Lifespan far away from the host and on the field? Point is, without it, an Electric pokemon can severely injure or cripple themselves, for life.
Aella could see Galvantula visibly sit down through the fading distortion in the shield. Well, more like placed her abdomen on the ground. She had turned to face her side towards the tree and started to nod off, twitching from the electricity as she did her best to stay awake.
"Looks like Galvantula is about ready to take a nap and Rain is having Snover set up a Swords Dance. That opening Screech stopped them last time. Will it be successful the second time?" The announcer riled up the crowd as clear glassy swords danced into appearance. They looked like ice among the snowfall.
One of the swords dropped when the tree spasmed from paralysis but it was caught on an unseen power to rise again. All the while Galvantula continued to sit and fight off the hypnotic effect from the whistle.
Aella had to call her name four times before she showed some sign of listening through a false ear twitch, "Shock Wave Galvantula! Chip damage till the drowsy spell ends."
Her pedipalps waved and she stamped one of her front feet, sending out a light wave of blue voltage. Aella couldn't tell if he let out a groaning creek because of the Shock Wave or a successful Swords Dance. Probably the second one.
She managed to stamp one more blue wave out before her front legs slid out in front of her. Galvantula flopped onto the ground and a thick white band across her forehead marked her status.
Aella sighed, she could yell as loudly as she wanted but until the spell weakened with time, nothing except severe pain or a move that intentionally snapped the spell would wake her.
Now it was Rain's turn. They need to decide whether to go for another Swords Dance or strike. Risky with how mediocre that Grass Whistle was. Best thing they could go for is Stomp and reap the benefits from the boost if they didn't have something better.
Icy Wind or Trailblaze were good. One slows Galvantula down the other speeds Snover up. But one was distance hitting Light Screen and the other was type resisted.
"Tie her down with Grass Knot then charge up a Ice Beam," Aella clicked her tongue. That was a…interesting tactic for the situation. It did not make use of the Swords Dance though…more to the plan?
Grass sprouted between the snow, and grabbed hold of Galvantula's legs and pedipalps. It twisted into her fur. She'd probably leave some behind when she woke.
There was a horrible freezing crackle that formed in front of his open jaw. She could see Snover's girth increase as he breathed in. As he breathed out a jagged line of frosty energy went with it. It splintered apart almost instantly and brought a frown to both his and Rain's faces.
He took another breath and refocused the energy back in front of his face. This time it fired off like a Thunderbolt, not accurately but good enough to hit. The surrounding snow took on a faint pink tone that darkened as the Hail continued to cut.
"Again," Rain hollered and Aella suddenly picked up on the fact that this was their plan, their whole plan, using the strongest move they had.
Aella cocked her head, she was very confused, "Why did you use Swords Dance if you're not going to benefit from it."
Rain had a slow play by play reaction of coming to terms and the look of wanting to slap themselves silly appeared, "Wait change to Trailblaze!"
Now it was Aella's turn to look like she wanted to slap herself, "Resistance Rain! He knows Stomp," she held her gaze steady with Rain as a yellow snow covered leg twitched on the edge of her vision.
Aella was really starting to feel bad. The fast pace and high pressure, especially from the start of the match, was getting to them. They weren't thinking just going with what felt right but they didn't have the experience to do that correctly. Snover was rightly getting annoyed at constant change in moves. Rain hollered an apology saying they'll be better.
Concern laced their voice when Aella just dropped onto fours, "You're Grass Knotted to the ground and a Stomps coming! Get Up and Move!" Galvantula had stirred, shaking some of the powder and crystals to pile around her.
That got her moving. There was the sound of tearing plants and the snow around them turned yellow and red. She ignored the pain and backpedaled away from a rooted foot. Somewhere in the background she could hear the announcer of stating the obvious that she was back up
Electricity gathered phenomenally fast and a Thunderbolt struck dead center before Aella could call, "Lunge and Bug Bite," Cutting the voltage just as fast to surge forward on insect energy.
At Rain's insistence he backed up, Paralysis for once not slowing him down but a crude Electroweb sure did.
The Lunge sent him to the ground and the Bug Bite had him creaking in pain. The blood and wet snow made it impossible for Snover to get a firm grip with her speed. He inhaled through his nose and the temperature dropped.
Snover grunted when Galvantula swung her back leg under her body and into his gut and blankend energy struck full with his impending attack. She didn't relent when her Light Screen shattered, only raised her head and let Icy Wind freeze her neck and chelicerae shut
Without Bug Bite her anger was let known as electricity spread like wildfire, caging around them, "Looks like Galvantula put them in an electric boxing ring! There's no way for Snover to get out without getting a good hard zap. Looks like we're going to have a brawl on our hands!"
Aella smirked, 'Nope he's going to have to guess a little harder, Galvantula had cranked up another layer of Agility and zipped out and sent there rarely used combo Netball. Flare was pinged and made note of working on it, it had a lot of viability to it.
The electricity was ripped and reformed into three pillars of lightning. She could've just used Thunderbolt or Strike a few times but dang it she wanted to take this tree down with style.
Snover spasmed from the net and glowed like a Christmas tree when the pillars slammed together on top of him. Somehow the announcer could be heard over the thunderous electricity, he shouted about Rising Voltage how rare of a move it was to see in play on the field.
The silence the field took on when all electricity was gone said who was going on to Bracket battles, 'The talker is m̷̥͝o̷̖͒v̶̛̰į̴͝n̸̛̹g̵̰̾ o̵̿ͅv̴͉̓er.'
'Ah right interviews are a thing afterwards,' It was the one thing she was not looking forward to. Aella slipped into the field as soon as the referee made the call. Some time was needed to prepare and she'd use taking care of her own as an excuse.
Crouching to avoid soaking her pants, her hands turned red from the blood that oozed from the cuts Hail made. Galvantula clicked and purred at the win and attention before being recalled.
Aella could feel the eyes of the announcer drilling into her back but the way Rain held themselves was more important. They screwed up big and they knew it.
"I choked. I had Snover Swords Dance and my foolish head goes for my strongest Chain which is completely distance based and then you have to remind me"—they paused—"twice."
Rain repeatedly said, "I should have used Stomp," a few times over. "Bug resists Grass. I should know this," and it took Aella two attempts to bring their focus back to her.
"Keeping a cool head in a tense fight isn't easy. Knowing what to call intuitively is even harder. Trust me I had my fair share of failed calls," Rain was already well on track to becoming a feared trainer so Aella's only advice was experience. Their team absolutely needed experience.
"I think I might put off getting a Magnemite in the future and look at picking up a Ground type that also resists Bug or a Fire type to burn it," they thought For a moment before nodding their head, "or just get a Numel to solve both problems."
Glad to see them out of a downward thought spiral and she even suggested Celodon's northern scrap yard when they were ready for a Magnemite ( and when Team Rocket was less of a problem in that area).
Now, it was time to tackle that interview.
X
Aubrey was right. After the morning of her last match and the afternoon that Ilana posted final scores for the 16 pools in Feraligatr and Wartortle and the 32 for Piplup, there were droves of people teleporting out. Even this morning Aella had counted at least two dozen Pidgeot, a fancily saddled Tropius and groups riding Dodrio and Rapidash with Arcanine loping beside them packed with gear.
Almost the entire festival has been packed up within the day and Aella almost didn't realize the quietness of the town mimicked the days she first arrived here. Flare hadn't picked up Mary or Tristan since yesterday so she was very confident that both were summoned home after they reported to their families.
"Rain! You're heading out?" Rain looked up and the blue faded from their eyes. A feline with fur as deep blue, patterned with splotches of the brightest of whites, folded his ears tight against themselves, "I thought you said something about sticking around to watch the matches?"
Rain placed their hand on the Arcanine's nose to keep her from licking the Meowstic who leaned away from the giant slobbery canine, "I was but I decided that I'm taking your advice. My team needs experience more than anything so we're going to go around Kanto, Johto and Sinnoh and participate in a bunch of different battling events."
Having already talked with their parents and even being gifted transportation, and a Psychic to help manage a training regimen (along with keeping an eye on them), Rain wasn't going to wait around. Pewter would be hosting its own battling event in a week and they wanted to participate.
Aella couldn't keep the sadness out of her smile. She knew she probably never see Rain again and it was no different with the others. Of course, if they became legendary trainers, and ended up on the news…She would definitely see them then, and naturally celebrate their victory. Aella knew the only place she was destined to be was the shadows.
Arcanine woofed and with Rain and Meowstic on her back Teleported with a crackle of energy leaving nothing but embers behind. That was a surprise. Aella had read the list of all pokemon capable of teleportation and though they were on the list it didn't come naturally.
'Feline Assist, P̵̮̈sychic,' Made sense. Flare gave another ping and this got her excited, Jazz was nearby.
She looked around even moving on to her toes fully knowing that would make no difference. Her eyes focused on anything yellow that moved. It was Jazz's signature hair color. And there.
Aella deftly slipped through the crowd, she nearly ran into a few people following Flare's guide but one she situated herself behind her Ally? Knowledgeable friend? She wasn't sure what to label Jazz. Aella only knew of her Torkoal and yet she considered her a trusted person.
"Where have you been to these pool rounds?" If Jazz wasn't human she probably would have jumped two kilometers (a mile) into the air.
"Holy Molteau! AELLA!" their breath came out in huffs of laughter, "one of these days I'm going to get you back,"
"You'd be very hard pressed to," Aella dipped the brim of her sunhat, showing off its waxy 'decoration'. Jazz leaned away, and Aella suspected she'd probably never be comfortable being around a carnivorous ghost.
She didn't blame her, Boris had a similar response. Rain… well Aella actually never straight up told Rain it was a carnivorous ghost. So Aella ended up reiterating her question.
So it turns out Jazz's pool was really fond of the festival, especially the gambling games. So she ended up spending almost all of her spare time down at the festival, the one place Aella and her pool avoided.
That fear was kind of forgotten when they got to look at the bracket. Aella would get a redemption match against Jazz in her third match. She skimmed through the brackets set up on the right for the Feraligatr pool and paused, "Wasn't Boris in Feraligatr?"
The restrained wince told her everything before words, "He tied for second place in his pool."
"Is he still…"
"He's still here," Jazz dipped her head to the side, "well sticking around for another day. There's one in Pewter going on in like a week Boris wants to participate in it."
Aella's head couldn't snap any faster, "Rain said the same thing. Member of my pool," Aella gave clarification that felt unnecessary, "they just teleported out in fact."
Jazz chuckled, stating good trainers think alike, "Will have to tell him to look out for she? he?"
"They," Jazz mumbled gotcha and nodded, causing her hair to sway.
"Did you"—Aella narrowed her eyes—"add red in your hair."
Jazz reached out to brush the bundle of red among her yellow hair, "Yea! Someone set up a hair dying parlor for trainers to come get their hair dyed. It was sort of promotional for the shop so they were doing it for cheap and I've always wanted out of color to my hair since my Glazed Sand always seems to have a dull tone to it."
She wondered what she got into when Jazz started going off on different names of colors of red. She wanted to do Scarlet or Rose but when she said they started, suggesting she do Sangria she completely lost Aella. She nodded along in an act of politeness anyways.
There was a question from Flare on whether to add this, and she's very tentatively added hair dye to the very bottom of the list.
—
She really needed to visit the forums because she was horribly inept. She didn't even talk to Jazz that long and the list of things that she needed to look up about society doubled, no tripled.
Aella was kicking herself again for not adding Flare to her roster cause Fire was the one thing that could actually dish out heavy damage against an Escavalier. Of course she didn't tell Jazz Flare was not in her roster but she was smart enough she'd figured out soon enough.
Both of them were quite perceptive although Aella had the addition of being very good at getting people to divulge information. It felt rhetorical to explain where she got that from.
Of course she needed to deal with the guy across the field and whoever won the match to her left before she could even bother worrying about Jazz's Cavalry pokemon.
There was no 'green release first' on bracket rounds. Instead Aella and her opponent readyed and released at the same time at the referee's call.
"This is a 4 vs 4 match between Aella and Riley from Cherrygrove City! Two switches are permitted throughout the entire match! Hold your first pick out and on my signal release. Delay and switch is not allowed. Do so and that pokemon is disqualified."
Blood pounded through her ears yet the distinct chink of a ball yanked from her belt was still perceived. She'd already had an order picked out but it would adapt to her opponent.
With an explosion of loudness and a buzzing humm from the opposite side of the field, they release at the referee's signal. Delicate wings that were deceivingly strong he buzzed around on that thankfully, Yanma didn't have Masquerain crazy omnidirectional movement, they were just really fast with stopping and turning.
That didn't make him any easier to hit. She passed this onto Meredith by crouching in a covering her mouth with a hand to prevent any lipreading, –"So go for the wings but take. your. time. You only have a few shots before they figure it out."
Aella rocked on her heels, but stayed down to get a perspective match of her mouse. Meredith also rocked on her heels as her stomach became bloated with the referees start call.
Her ears curled up in her face scrunched when a high pitch Screech blasted out from the bug. With a mouth full of water, she couldn't yell in anger when two copies of Yanma appeared and they all started buzzing around.
"What did Pierce teach you!" Her eyes darted about as she focused on each one, looking for any sort of abnormality. A bit of dirt. An odd wing movement. Misplaced Blurr.
One's wings overlapped clipping through each other that narrowed it down to two. She grew tired and the mouse almost wondered if she stayed up too late.
"Hypnosis! Meredith! It knows Hypnosis!" Riley had noticeable, disdainment at the catch. He furrowed his brows as Aella lowered her voice, and again covered her mouth, "Return the favor and ease into a dance. Make this confusing."
Stepping side to side, Meredith kept the power of Swagger low till she thought he was far too focused on her to listen to his trainer. Dips of sleepiness were slapped away.
Riley caught on too late and Yanma was already enraptured by her movements. The hexcomb pattern in his eyes allowing for a tighter focus. You could almost say it was a downside to having Compound Eyes.
Her stomach became extra large as she's super pressurized water in her gut. She no longer had two targets, just one.
"Detect Yanma!" it must buy a hairsbreadth Meredith loaded up for another shot.
'Double team, Hypnosis and Detect, pair that with a partner and he would have been a menace in any double battle,' Aella ruminated.
He called for Air Cutter but his dizzy state threw any sort of aim out the window yet he bought himself time since Meredith felt the need to bounce and roll away.
"Aaahhh U-turn!" A Yanma and two very blurry images that were supposed to be Yanma took off at high speed. They both were clipped before the bug disappeared in red light. One through retreat, and one through an Iron Tail.
"Up and land," Aella muttered. If he was going to do a free recall, they were going to do a free out of ball hit.
A feline of blue and black entered the field only to yowl as Meredith's Bounce landed square on its back.
'He,' Flare added. He was familiar as they've seen his final evolution back in Celadon.
The low growl he emitted had no energy behind it so Meredith turned quite expressive in shock before putting on a bit of Charm. Luxio huffed before his flummoxed trainer could get the laid-back cat to listen.
"Charge and Thunder Fang, take out the Marill," he huffed and meowed before complying.
'Rivalry, ȇ̶̬l̵̞̉e̴̼̓c̷̛͜ṭ̵͂r̵̪̾i̸̮͋c feline, wants figh̶͓͛t male,' Aella gave the smallest of nods, 'no Pierce or Tamall then.'
Aella could use one of her switches to pull in Galvantula but she doubted these two were his strongest and that U-turn made her suspicious of Volt Switch. They weren't going to get them again with Swagger and Perish Song can turn tables, if Meredith can pull it off but she'd give her a shot to do some damage.
"Water Sport and Surf against the fangs. I might recall you if things go wrong be preped," Aella dropped her lip hiding hand, "Go!" She shouted, bringing a flicker of worry to Riley's eyes. He breathed out when bloups of water soaked the field.
That wasn't good. Probably didn't have a Fire type then. Riley's Luxio surged forward, crackling in electricity. Long tusks of lightning were bared. Meredith also charged, swinging her arms and shouting, of course.
Water surged and in the last seconds she sank into her wave letting it crash into the feline. He did not appreciate the soaked fur and sent a Wave of static through the water. Aella gave Meredith the moment she needed to Refresh before recalling her.
Galvantula clicked as she took to the field, "I know it's early, but I can't put males up against him," Riley opened his mouth across the field, but closed it after a second, wisely, choosing not to say anything.
"Flashlight and Strike. His fighting reminds me of Wild Light," tapping a leg in response to know what to expect as Aella stood up.
Luxio paced and Snarled but she was faster with her Light Screen. Giving a Screech that rattled the box and left his ears pulled back. He Leered but Galvantula wasn't watching. Clearly he didn't understand the importance of drawing attention beforehand.
Her easy slip in and out of Agility blurred and grounded her making Luxio blink and stare. His undying visual attention is what she wanted when she Flashed him with the brightest of lights.
Luxio's grunt turned yowl from pain to his chest as Slash cut through fur and skin and down to bone. Spark electrified the air but his intuitive reaction did little past her fur.
"Volt Switch," his voice was laced with panic. Aella could have sliced his fear with her blade easily. His feline had twisted, scrambling away from her spider's pedipalps. Galvantula did not waste the opportunity to Strike his side the whole way down. Riley's vision never veered from the blood that splattered the ground.
She had forgotten. To most seeing blood, every day was not something most experienced in their childhood. To Aella she hardly batted an eye but to others her age, it wasn't something they saw a lot of. And seeing it come from your own, just made it so much worse.
Galvantula didn't like her prey running away and spat a Spider Web over the cat. The crackling rings of Volt Switch disheveled her fur. Aella tisked when Luxio fizzled red and slipped right out of Spider Web's entrapment and back to his ball. Flare made note of that.
"Sticky Web," and Galvantula with soldier-like speed switched webbing fluid and had the busiest parts of the arena covered. Thank Arceus she did because Lopunny was not known for being slow.
He seemed less pleased about all the mud that had accrued thanks to Water Spout and took a few clumsy steps with webbing hanging from his toes. Slow side steps followed his steps with a clicking that perfectly encapsulated the growls from a predator you would not wish to face in a forest.
Galvantula was not messing around as she was very high strung. In reverse order thunder rolled before lightning struck. A Thunderbolt laced with enough electricity to guarantee a bad time. But when the bolt rippled out from her center and struck Lopunny, he didn't show a hint of escaping.
Instead he took it in full and a reflective coat glistened over the hairs of his fur. With the sheer ferocity and speed Galvantula was given no time to move out of the way of something they've never encountered.
Aella spoke only loud enough for her and Flare to hear, "Shit, Mirror Coat."
The cracks in the arena's barrier seamlessly closed behind her as her breaths were ragged and rough. Galvantula's saving grace was her shattered Light Screen. Her chelicerae shut so she wouldn't inhale mud when Lopunny stopped dead in front of her and Slash met Cut.
Her legs slid through the muck. She wanted to run, to put distance between them. To back up yet her butt was pressed to the box and the strength to do so had been blasted away in one go.
That Thunderbolt didn't do nothing, the fighting rabbit was also breathing heavily and if the field's barrier didn't exist Aella would have very likely smelled chard fur. They traded blocks with Double Kick and Sucker Punch.
Galvantula sucked up to the chip damage from Dark types disadvantage to Fighting. He squeaked and stumbled at the bright light yet still managed to stick up another Mirror Coat for Electro Ball and hang on.
Red enveloped her spider like a blanket and Aella was absolutely sure she was not going to be pleased when she woke up for being taken down so fast. The first to have one fall and yet…Riley had one on his last legs, another severely injured, a third confused out of their mind, and one untouched mystery.
Aella had two mysteries, and one still in more than fighting fit shape. She chose one of her mysteries. Pierce took the field a little bit glum that it was male and not female that he could work his charismatic nature on.
Lopunny had no qualms in tilting his head and blinking sweetly to show his Baby-Doll Eyes. Pierce just chose to ignore and soar high into the air on the energy of Agility. Riley's Lopunny let out a huff that more sounded like a cough and left his nose scrunched up from Work Up.
A glint of hidden pride appeared in the Starly's eyes before he performed his own fanciful acrobatic Work Up. Aella could almost see the tick forming on the rabbit's head.
The moment of calm had a tone of trepidation hidden within. It made Riley antsy, "Jump and Power Up Punch you can do it!"
He breathed and stumbled in the webbed mud and sucked in a breath. Pierce turned off his Agility and simply glided in lazily circles acting completely oblivious to the danger the rabbit's fists possessed. He didn't even hide behind Double Team.
No, he wanted the Lopunny to jump. Which he did. He wanted the rabbit high in the air. Which he was. Because Lopunny don't have wings. Why waste energy on Swift if your enemy can't dodge.
Pierce didn't dodge but twisted, letting Work Up darken the pale red tips of his feathers. All it took was a simple smack of Wing Attack to the Kluz's abdomen and his eyes rolled back. He was not going to appreciate cleaning the mud out his fur when he woke up later.
A look of contemplation was suspended over Riley's face as his fingers dragged over Yanma's ball then his mystery. He chose not to pick Luxio even with the advantage. She didn't blame him, he may have Rivalry but he was in really bad shape.
With the sun shining bright above, Water Spout just about ran its course but with a Slowpoke on the field it may get muddy again.
"Forgetness Peg," Aella hummed as the Stake of Curse slammed into her back and her eyes glazed over from Amnesia.
Pierce gracefully landed, flaunting a show of Work Up but Slowpoke only blinked slowly at the display.
Riley just grinned, "Psych Up," air hissed between her teeth.
Pierce who had swirled gracefully up into the air was rudely snapped from his blissful glide, "Stop! No boosts! They'll Psych Up and copy any you do."
He whistled to her call and turned it into an alluring melody. Slowpoke only blinked slow oblivious to it's draw and followed her trainer's orders to bring the bird down with Psybeam.
Rainbow rays curved high into the sky by passing bladed stars that shot downwards into her rubbery skin. Slowpoke's eyes widened comically at the pain after a few seconds.
"Oblivious!" Aella shouted skyward warning Pierce not to try Captivate again since she knew he would.
Pierce raced on air currents sending showers of sharp stars as broken and several bits of feathers trailed behind him. It reminded her of stories of meteor showers and she wondered How beautiful it would be if they added Heat Wave.
It was a gorgeous sight before Pierce stopped, literally stopped. He screamed as a blue haze contorted his body. Spinning he plummeted. Psychic.
"Break free! Pierce break free!" Aella seen enough, she was leaving this snail to Tamall.
Shrieking, screaming and flapping, Pierce nearly slammed the barrier as Agility took hold and blurred his form and Slowpoke's grasp.
She used Riley's Psych Up against him for the time needed for Pierce to beat out a Whirlwind.
He flew low with the wind whipping behind him to send that dopey pokemon back in his ball, "Yawn!" Riley's order just gave him the incentive to pick up his speed again.
A yowl ripped across the field. With fur a bloody mess Luxio was yanked out onto the field with little preparation. He wasn't the only one annoyed. Pierce didn't like limitations, even when necessary, and his bravado was ignored.
Ire, that translated into Star Slice. Emotion created far more than what was needed and sent the poor cat running down Pierce to perform a successful Volt Switch before he was struck out.
The bitter anger of Rivalry kept him running but with the combination of Agility keeping Peirce far ahead and his sopping wet fur from Meredith made any electricity jump erratically, zapping himself. Plus status buffs, and debuffs didn't just disappear the moment a Pokemon entered their ball. Pokeballs weren't that omnipotent. They could last for an hour or two on the target after use.
And Galvantula's Screech may have not benefited Pierce in this instance but his own boosts did. Luxio went down with a barrier from one of the tournament Psychics around his neck. His aim had been a bit too perfect for beheadment.
"Why not have had him Snarl?" Riley paused his finger taps between his two remaining, looking at her. He mouthed a few swears before he was called for attention to pick a pokemon.
Slowpoke retook to the arena and left Aella wishing it was Yanma. Pierce agreed with his own shrieks. He dove prompting Aella to holler for him to stay high, "It knows Yawn remember!? Star Slice!"
For the second that night, Aella verbally swore, why? Stored Power. Slowpoke had a lot of boosts on him, "Endure!"
He tried, he really really tried. She could see the golden dew float up around him. She could see the rings but he just couldn't get them in place. He was silent from shock that had kept him from screaming. Aella could practically feel the pain due in part to Flare's estimations. Broken feathers were scattered about the air.
She praised his effort before slipping his ball back in its slot, and clicking a new one out. The button glowed as she murmured to its inhabitant, "It knows Psych Up. Don't Growth it'll copy your boosts. Move fast it knows Yawn."
Flare spoke through mind, eerie words of the things this poke did to Pierce. A long loud bray and a slam of these hooves accompanied his exit of his ball. His shadow wavered, and his ears twitched from the words her Ghost had planted.
Nostrils flared as his breath came in short spurts. A growl so low it seemed to reverberate across the ground. Tamall surged like a freight train with Retaliation in mind. He was faster than Slowpoke could blink.
His head had lowered till his nose practically scraped the dirt, slamming Slowpoke and kept going until the barrier put an end to their momentum. Slowpoke's weren't much for making noise but it was three seconds of quiet before she made this horrible gurgling sound spitting up water.
"Push it back with Psychic!"
"Ving Whip and squeeze!"
The mental assault probably bought back some pretty terrible memories for her Goat yet his emotions seem to have been wiped clean. Her gut clenched and Flare responded with remorse. She had been trying to incentivize him. Tamall struggled with Retaliate because of the painful principal it relied off of.
The falling of an ally. In his past the only outcome of such an event was to be chopped and fed as nourishment for those strong, and willing to obey.
With Psychic constraints, holding back his vines he sucked in the air to bay with explosive energy that slammed the Water type till his hold up on his Whips was submitted.
She was wrapped and held high then dropped hard when Disable cut all control. Amnesia gave her an escape from Round so he switched to Stomping Tantrum that cut up her rubbery flesh. Slowpoke went down with the start of bruises starting to dye, her pink skin blue.
Tamall yawned, she had left a parting gift of sleep induced bubbles around his face. As much as she wanted him to get one good hit in on the confused Bug, his opinions were extremely limited and Yanma's ailment wouldn't last long.
Besides Meredith already went a round with the status wielding Bug. What's one more round only this time it can't U-turn out.
Her loud introduction was a few decibels quieter. Meredith may be tough, but she was still technically a prey creature and naturally shed away from the limelight, when they were more vulnerable (like when holding a defense debuff).
"Same as before. Go for the wings," she dropped back into a low crouch.
Meredith didn't stay back this time. Slapping her cheeks before getting loud again. She opted for charging in arms swinging and gut growing towards the slightly dazed Yanma. He had only just lost the fizzing red from release when she was spewing a jet beside his eye.
He spun out and landed awkwardly on the dry muddy flat, his left upper wing was bent slightly different from the rest. Riley put a quick stop to Swagger by having Yanma divert his gaze. Course it also puts Hypnosis in the can't use pile.
Meredith pushed on her assault, flattening her body before slamming her tail into the ground and shot herself high into the air.
"Yanma! Give the Marill many targets! Don't forget injuries and dirt!" he performed some sort of ground hop and glide action. Split into six, all of them had a bit of dirt and a twisted left wing.
"Crap," Aella muttered as Meredith guessed wrong and was sent skidding back to her side with a well-placed Wing Attack.
Enough was enough, Aella ran her fingers over Tamall's ball, "Screw it. Meredith, your ears only please!"
A pair of round ears wiggled as she became bloated in anticipation of firing multiple Water Gun rounds, "That's his last! I have Tamall in back, drowsy but battle-able. If you think you can bring him down with you in song… do it!"
Meredith heard her but kept firing till something connected. She rocked back on her paws and patted a tempo out on her belly. It was a slow yet melodramatic beat that led to closed eyes.
Saddened chords brought memories of the injury and fallen who protected those that would have fallen instead. Aella may not have had Meredith for long and she may have not experienced the pain of being caged, the loss of teacher or the slaughter of family.
But she's heard their stories and listened to their tales. She's taken lives hunting and watched lives taken so their group may feed. Meredith sang a wordless song of those memories letting energy take root in all those within the area. All that listened.
She sang her song once and looped around singing a second time before the pulsing bursts of sound from Uproar overpowered her and a Quick Attack shut her up.
"Stay awake, Screech and Wing Attack again!" Riley shouts we're barely heard over the pounding thrum that would prevent anyone from sleeping for a while. Honestly he was just raising his fall.
Meredith licked the blood from her jaw and sent a blast of fluid tinged pink back. The scowl from his use of Detect could not be missed.
She danced out of his way but the mouse's aim was poor and she kept licking her lips. A good indicator that something wasn't right.
Hypnosis was diverted with Swagger putting the match at a stall, "Air Cutter! Come on Yanma we can whittle out our win!"
"No you can't!" Aella hollered, getting him to look at her, "you're on a timer."
"There is no match timer!"
Aella smirked and shrugged, letting her words take on a slight melody-like tone, "That wasn't Sing and you're still on a timer."
She wanted to throw her head back and bust out laughing at the blank look on his face. Speaking of time it couldn't have been any more perfect than right then for her Marill to bellow her name and flop face first onto the ground with Yanma crashing into the soil.
"Perish Song," was all she said to his dumbstruck look.
When Riley recovered to shake hands Aella couldn't help but ask if he was a switching or status specialist.
Riley was both but favored switching. He spoke with surprise at her ease of analysis.
They parted ways leaving the volunteers to clean up the arena; they had brought in some sort of bug specialists for dealing with Galvantula's webbing.
One down, one to go and then one long trip to the library to figure out how to deal with an Escavalier.
XX
Aella was very glad they required a break day between each round because, great tri birds of sky and beasts of land, Mirror Coat and Stored Power do not mess around.
Both Galvantula and Pierce sustained enough damage to crack bone. It brought up fears she held hidden. What happens if she loses another. Can she handle another funeral or will she lose her mind. Death was a concept she's been familiar with since the first days of her youth that she could even remember. It was a concept that was constantly followed by fear.
Winnie once told her, they were good fears and bad fears, as long as they were kept within reason. It wasn't safe to be fearless anyway. As long as it doesn't keep you from your dreams a bit of fear will keep you safe.
She sighed and let her mind drift back to the ideas Boris gave her yesterday before he left this morning. Plenty of Water types found it easy to draw up the cold needed for Ice. Fighting would also be a go to with Meredith's high energy levels.
At no surprise Tamall absolutely needed more Grass moves and he already had a start in Ground. His Hippopotas had plenty a time, overwhelmed and stalled out matches due to field control.
Boris had worked with Ambipom on adding Normal type moves onto any other type move since they couldn't do heavy damage against any other type by themselves. He apologized as he didn't have any new information that Aella didn't have on Electrics. He only caught Luxio hours before his plane to Kanto left and the tournament took up most of his time for type research.
At least before he left they got a good laugh picking apart Jazz's match which earned a good eye roll from the girl in question.
Speaking of matches she rocked on her toes on one side of field 7. There was a slight delay since the previous noon match had arena manipulating trainers so patches of Grass and Psychic fizz needed removal for a fair fight.
Gemma from Kanto's little peninsula town, Pallet Town wouldn't stop moving round her box or bouncing on her toes or stretching her arms. Really anything to keep moving.
Neither of them hesitated when they pulled out their first pick. It made her excited to go against someone with confidence that didn't stem from jerk attitude. And she was very pleased with both of their first picks.
Six pristine fluffy tails in a vain attitude to go with it, Aella heard rumors of this limited pokemon but she didn't even think she would see it much less battle it. They were hunted so obsessively for their fur that at one point people thought they were extinct.
"Vulpix," she called followed by a few short vul's. Gorgeous yet oh so very dangerous due to their petty and demanding personalities. It didn't matter if it was today or a 100 years ago people still debated on whether they were a pure Fire type or part Psychic.
With the grace of her species she snubbed off Meredith's exuberant hello. Instead she gave a flourish of her tails in a bewitching Tail Whip and Charm.
Meredith returned the Charm but she looked away, blew smoke and folded her ears. Aella could see the tick forming which was a rare event. Very little could cause her jubilant personality to go sour.
Placing her paws on her rotund belly she started a light chatter delicately waving a paw while strolling in circular fashion. The moment she faced away from the fox she twisted round and spat a Water Gun putting her back on her rump.
Vulpix stood stewing with anger at it, practically radiated off her fur like the heat that turned the moisture to steam. Gemma said something about paying for that but Aella hardly heard. She was too busy, watching Meredith, roll onto her head and seal her ears blocking Snarl's debuff and bringing the damage to almost nothing.
Another Water Gun caused a Agility encased fox to drag her muzzle through the dirt. Bubbles burst in front of her face bringing her ears flat and would have earned her another Water Gun if Gemma hadn't decided to switch.
She very clearly wanted Meredith out of the match with the immediate call for Toxic from the Vileplume that took her place. Meredith let Refresh run its course as she somersaulted and cartwheeled across the field with her tail growing an ever brighter silver.
Roots of Ingrain kept him from falling back on his petals and Meredith started practically melting under the draw of Mega Drain. Aella was quick to recall and switched to Pierce.
With feet deeply rooted into the soil, her own could not remove him from the match, good. An avian shriek shattered the quiet gained from Meredith's disappearance as he took to the sky. The barren brown land he left behind turned green with Grassy Terrain speeding up the fading mark on the plant's body.
Pierce didn't bother with stary guides to his winds to hit something that couldn't move. Instead, he was more keen on keeping spores that would lock up his muscles and fizzy powder that would make his eyes droop out of his currents.
Immobile as he was, it didn't limit his options. The stinky flower sent swaths of petals dipped in poison to form a blizzard. Slashed feathers look like sparking snow with their white and brown sides swirling through the air. Even Double Speed could do nothing but waste energy.
He shrieked and shrieked till it turned into a dragon's roar with Twister. Roots were snapped and the grass around torn asunder under his body leaving a wonky circle. Once vibrant red petals were turned to ribbons.
Growth was not called for yet still done as if it would reduce the damage. Ingrain did but Pierce came back with a vengeance on Air Cutter. Too many attacks hitting with extra effect overwhelmed anything from the terrain and Ingrain brought down the plant.
Vulpix was back on the field watching Pierce like he was some delectable treat. His talons slid into the soil as close to Aella as possible without leaving him backed to the barrier.
It was now she had a full picture of the damage he had taken. Still carrying enough plumage to stay airborne, his Agility would be shut off. For favor of the wind required to keep his turns sharp. She couldn't stop the click leaving her lips at the purple strip of poison coating his beak.
He chatters waiting till he properly has her attention before sprinkling the power of Captivate in. It's only Gemma's intervention that keeps him from doubling down on it.
She blew out blooms of fire that glowed pink on the edges. Flare had an immediate reaction. It was Will-O-Wisp but it didn't have a ghostly core, instead it had a psychic encasement.
If Pierce had teeth he'd be flashing them in a manic grin. He soared and dived, only letting them close enough to curl the edges of his remaining feathers.
Irritation grew through Vulpix hid it well. Even as Slicing Stars had her leaping and darting and it probably would've continued for a while if Pierce wasn't on a poisonous timer. His vision blurred and sweat plastered his downy fuzz to his skin.
"Times up," Aella said and could only watch as he dove for the well groomed fox. The slight widening of her eyes was her only show of shock at his bold actions. She yeps and snaps an Ember that sets his right wing a flame. He ignores it, and simply uses fire to fuel the damage done by Retaliation.
He doesn't add anything as the poison has left him with so little strength but her cry at her ruined coat is enough to appease him as the lights go out. Vulpix wails long after he's recalled and licks her once pristine coat.
Anger boils over and she Snarls at Meredith the moment she leaves her ball. Aella learns something about Meredith that day, she doesn't like cheap shots (although she's not against using them herself). She makes the vixen dance with rapidfire shots of Water.
"Soak the field," and Meredith has one of her rare moments of not listening. She keeps up the rapidfire until the hard call of her name. Vulpix is left, hissing and spitting as she tiptoes around mud and pools laying the field.
"Come on my dear, you still haven't used that move," Vulpix stopped her 'avoid the water pools' dance and Aella recognized code for something. She got her answer.
Her eyes glistened purple before releasing a blob of shapeless purple haze that bordered black. Aella felt her hackles rise as she shouted for Meredith to move.
The haze enveloped her, leaving her, stumbling and staggering swatting at things that weren't there. The wax on her head shifted as Flare scrutinized the attack, absorbing every scrap of knowledge she could through the barrier. It was a move similar to Swagger or Teeter Dance, just with a much more scary result.
The vestibular system is a sensory system in the ear that helps the brain process motion in balance compared to the surroundings. Most confusion moves like Swagger only effect this system. Confuse Ray, does this with the addition of creating false images in the optical nerves of the eyes.
A beginner can only create blips of light and flickers of images. But a master can bring nightmares to life. Some go as far as adding sound and smells, upping the scare factor to the point of fainting.
Aella kept calling. Trying to get her to calm down and explain that it was illusions. Meredith has been Swaggered before, she knew what confusion felt like. She and Pierce had a whole game since she learned the move revolving around who could successfully Swagger the other more.
It was the optical apparition side that was doing her in. She knew there was training that could be done to deflect it, to ignore and override the obvious. It was one of the things she would've been taught if she had stayed in that facility. Yet right now, her and her own had no such training.
Incinerate slammed her back against the barrier. It was smoky deformed as Water Sport sucked it's strangth away. The burns made by Will-O-Wisp were washed away as Refresh was far too cemented in her mind to forget. That left Vulpix with combining Quick Attack and Flame Charge to do any decent damage at the cost of a fallen mouse and a panting fox.
Galvantula made very quick work to even the score. Aella realized a little too late that Gemma may specialize in fire because her ace was put up against one of the worst matchups possible, Magcargo.
Really, she isn't surprised when Water Sport burns out; it's not as if there is a pokemon made of lava on the field. Their chances seemed to drop even lower when the day became bright that even mud that still survived shined.
"Electric is the only thing that can do real damage to them. Keep your distance, they have stupid defense," she clicked and moved sideways, slamming up a Light Screen to take the splash from Incinerate. Her shield practically melted from the heat.
Allowing her Compound Eyes to focus, Galvantula struck Thunderbolt with perfect precision. He seemed annoyed by that and sent a Lava Plume on wide coverage that shrink her area of movement. A burst of Smog left residue bringing what remained untouched to under half.
As the temperature rose, so did the barriers visibility and so did the chance of burns appearing. Molecules really start to dance when the heat cranks up. Dehydration and simply overheating become a real danger.
Agility was performed for a second time, and she used that speed boost to send his form warping with Electro Ball. Magcargo really didn't like that and a 270 head twisting of Clear Smog made it very obvious.
The sudden drop in speed gave hits that mangled her fur. Rocks Thrown by the molten pokemon through its own type had been kept up since the start. It meant Galvantula, who threw out another Thunderbolt to lace through its molten form, ran out of fight quickly. Sent against another pokemon with a double advantage. It was no surprise when she went down after the next Lava Plume.
Tamall rumbled, annoyed that any of Growths benefits hissed away in the hazy white smog. Aella tipped him off that it didn't affect the snail and that if he manipulated the soil beneath him would make a mess of his already shaky form.
Large chunks of stone flew out when he ran and slammed his hooves deep into the ruined field. A mark of poison appeared on his nose, and the leaves on the very bottom of his coat were burned as he ran through the fires brought by Lava Plume.
He didn't stop though, if there was one thing Tamall could ignore, it was pain. Magcargo was swiftly recalled when they looked like no more than a puddle of molten goo with shards of rock that were the remains of a once perfect shell.
Poisoned, burned and shaking on his hooves he went back to Aella's side of the field, ready to at least try. The bear glimpses of Synthesis could only take the smallest bits of growing pain away.
Rhyhorn we're extraordinarily weak to grass. A simple trip from a Grass Knot proved it. But Tamall was swaying dangerously to the sides and his vision blurred to the point of near impossible aim.
Aella hears her voice before she knows it. She doesn't know what she said, and neither does Tamall but he still stops because the intentions are clear. He had sat down at some point, letting Defense Curl keep him in the game.
His eyes droop yet he uses all his focus to keep them open to listen through the pain, to feel her touch upon his snout. Even with Flare help, Aella will never remember walking through that barrier to crouch in front of her own. She will never remember the steps she took.
She will never remember what she exactly said, but she knew she said she was proud. Aella was proud of how far he went. How long he held on. How he didn't falter when fire burned in his face. The moment his eyes slipped close was the moment he disappeared in red light.
Her second round fight. A fight only lasting five minutes where every second either felt like three or felt like none. It determined her placement. She was out. Aella and her own were done.
Aella shakes hands with Gemma. Words of praise are heaped towards her team, their skill, their instincts. She is impressed with Aella's skill and was deeply moved by her recognition and strength to act when enough was enough.
Words came through yet Aella could only nod as numbness washed through and grief of her own ones pain laid in the back.
—
The sky was a clear blue, and the leaves of their current tree tickled her skin. They had called this tree their base for quite a long time. Certainly not the longest but a longer time than any tree they stayed in as of late.
Air smelled fresh and sweet, away from the bustle and battles. The shifting of a long body had her stroking her scales on her lap again. She had lost in the second round of the bracket in the bracket of eight. Before the two battles that would've left her on the stage and top of her pool.
It was where she wanted to end up yet also the last place she wanted to end up. Flare and her survival intuition was right. This was a good place to end. Of course, I didn't mean she wasn't bummed.
The talk with Jazz helped some, they'd met right after she left the pokecenter with an empty belt. The bench wasn't cold by the time Aella finished running through every event in the battle that she could remember (which was pretty much everything with Flare).
Jazz herself did win her round, and would be fighting Gemma in two days. Aella could stick around and watch, but there was this itching nag in her head that kept coming to the conclusion that they had been here for too long. The itch had first appeared after Winnie's death, and grew stronger when she fled Celadon. Things always seem to become… dangerous, when she stayed in one place for too long.
She didn't voice it and she's pretty sure she didn't show it yet Jazz seemed to have sort of picked up on her nuances. She said she wouldn't be at all offended if Aella chose to travel on tomorrow, to not stay for her match. It felt strange to hear a line achingly familiar to Winnies when Jazz mentioned to keep moving forward to her ment traveling.
Aella's was never good with heartfelt goodbyes and it wasn't something she'd ever think she'd ever be able to do properly, but Jazz understood. She waved her off before having to leave and prepare for her next match. She had wanted and planned to give Jazz a few hints before she faced Gemma but Jazz laughed and said that would ruin the surprise.
With a yawn and wiggle she situated herself in the hammock as comfortable as possible, while missing most of our own. Tomorrow would be the start of a journey through Grampa Canyon and on to Matcha. It brought a strange squirmy feeling when she wondered what that librarian would say if she recognized her.
Oh how much Aella wished she could thank her for giving her the idea to her name.
Thank you for reading
Chapter 16 will be released on May 1st (4 month break)
I'm really excited for the next few chapters coming up. We get to meet some new pokemon and some interesting new people. Unfortunately I really need a break. I've been working on the Terracotta Tournament since April. I wish I was joking but I'm not. So Merry Christmas/Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, Happy Valentines Day and any other holidays you celebrate. I will see you guys in my next post on May 1st.