Pichu popped out from his hiding spot, behind a pipe in the corner of the main computer lab. The mouse Pokémon's head darted from side to side, making sure the room was empty before moving forward. Clear, move. He dashed forward, and jumped up onto the desk while using the drawer handles on the left side as a ladder. Ears swiveled and nose twitched as his tiny paws seized their prize, the flash drive that his trainer had left in the plug in. Package safely in hand, he jumped down, scampering down the floor towards the back corner once more.
Hidden behind the pipes and equipment, was a small little vent. Of which its grate was loose on one side. Pichu slipped the flash drive through the metal bars of the grate, before going towards the loose side. It took a little prying and struggle, but the mouse squeezed into the vent with a small tumble. Shaking his head clear, Pichu grabbed the flash drive again and darted through the ventilation system. Thank Arceus, that his trainer had looked up the building specs and made everyone study them before arriving. Pichu would be in real trouble if he didn't know where he was going.
He had a deadline to keep.
The room around her was still, other than the fluorescent light that sometimes flickered overhead. A simple padded bench was beneath her. The walls an eggshell white, and the floor had glossy grey tiles, made to resemble marble but were still far from the real deal. Amanda would call it almost clinical if it weren't for the filthy state of the room.
Umbreon sat at her side, and the young woman reached out a hand to rub her partner's head. The room certainly wasn't built to reduce trainer's anxiety before a battle. Then again, what would a terrorist organization know about trainer psychology. She shouldn't have hurried to arrive here, but it would've looked worse if she didn't fake panic.
The door opened slowly, light slipping into the dark computer terminal. Amanda very quickly shut off the computer screen, but kept the machine running, allowing the download to complete. She held a sigh of relief when she saw the stranger who had walked on her committing digital theft. A janitor. No giant red "R" on his shirt, or weird hat. Just a normal, middle aged, brunette janitor.
He looked at her through thick round glasses. His brown eyes searched her, puzzled.
"What are you doing in here Lil 'miss?" He asked.
Amanda made an over exaggerated surprised face, widening her eyes and bringing a hand to her mouth.
"Oh, I wish I knew. I was trying to get to the arena, but got lost in the crowd," She said with giggle, and bouncy movements, like that of a dumb empty-headed girl, "I thought I could slip the crowds by going up stairs then down. I mistook this for a stair well. I didn't mean to cause any trouble!"
The janitor's face softened, clearly fooled by her act. Hook line and sinker. She still had it.
"Well, c'mon no use staying up here," He said, "Don't worry I'll show you to the stadium."
"Oh, I can't ask you to do that, sir," Amanda said. Refuse all help, citing you don't want to be burden to them. Make them feel selfless. The hero.
"Don't worry about hon."
Amanda twisted a finger into one of her dyed locks, and bit her lip.
She had left Pichu in the room to collect the flash drive after she, Umbreon and Lucario were escorted out. Her little buddy was small and stealthy, and in a room that had a lot of power running into it, if he was caught, they would chalk it up to him being electricity hungry. She pulled her phone from her pocket and checked the time.
Pichu was cutting it a little close, there was only three minutes until she was scheduled to go on. She needed three Pokémon. Without Pichu her team would be incomplete. Putting her at a disadvantage. Not that she wanted to win. She was indifferent to victory now that her objective was completed. The only reasons that she didn't pull out is that it would be unfair to the other competitors, and it would look suspicious if the janitor who saw her talked to someone about their interaction.
The vent in the corner of the room shook and gave out. A little ball of pale yellow and black fluff fell out. Pichu sneezed as he reoriented himself from the stumble. Then held up the flash drive over his head in a victorious manner.
"Pi Chu!"
Amanda smiled, and collected the drive from the mouse, "Nice work."
She slipped the flash drive into pocket along with her phone, and the door to the arena opened. Beckoning them to go through. Amanda swallowed and stood up. No time like the present.
Being on the battlefield brought back bad feelings...and things...she didn't want to remember. However, she measured her breathing, and focused on the differences. This arena was brightly lit, the sky visible through a ceiling window. Not underground, and lights flashing in a chaotic storm. The air was clear, no smoke or smells to cloud her eyes or judgment. And the crowd, they weren't screaming, lusting, for a fight of bloodshed and death. They were simply people who wanted a good show.
She had forgotten how clean Pokémon battles could be.
"Please welcome the competitors to the arena! Odette Cinq-Mars from Lumiose City! And Amanda Gen from...From?...is this right?...Amanda Gen from Ryme City?"
At the announcer's rather confused declaration, similar feelings rippled through the crowd like a riptide. Amanda could hear them whisper to each other trying to confirm what they had just been told. Yes, people you aren't dreaming a gal from Ryme City is competing, get over yourselves.
Amanda rolled her eyes and looked at her opponent. Odette was a short girl with heavy curves in her build, specifically around her waist. Her black hair was worn in two thick braids. Underneath a pair of thick frames was a pretty pair of maroon eyes, and a displeased expression on her face. She wore a white tracksuit with purple accents, her sneakers made to match, over that was a sleeveless black crop top.
"I got a kid from Ryme?" Odette spoke, "This is going to be easy."
Amanda smirked, "Don't judge a book by its cover."
"This is an official Pokémon league battle. The terms are three Pokémon per trainer. Substitutions are allowed. A Pokémon will be deemed unfit to battle on account of fainting. No lethal measures are allowed. Trainers select your first Pokémon."
"Ange! Come on out!" Odette called out.
Floating on to the battlefield came a Chandelure, that cackled manically. A ghost/fire type. By logic, Amanda should play Umbreon to have the advantage, however something told her to hold off. She thumbed the pokeball on her belt. Plucking the sphere from its place, pressed the button and threw hard.
"Lucario!" Ash said seeing the Jackal Pokémon running back towards the group, "How did it go?"
I'm unsure as to how we accomplished the mission, but if Pichu manages to return to Amanda after retrieving the flashdrive, we are victorious.
"Well, done," Sir Aaron said.
Lucario smirked with pride, Riolu now jumping at his feet.
"Please welcome the competitors to the arena! Odette Cinq-Mars from Lumiose City! And Amanda Gen from...From?...is this right?...Amanda Gen from Ryme City!"
At the announcement, Ash began to smile. He was excited to see Amanda battle. He could tell that she had trained her Pokémon well. The night she broke into the lab was a testament to that. Pichus didn't naturally learn Body Slam after all.
However, his excitement morphed into annoyance, at the sudden murmuring and whispering when his cousin's name was announced. So, what if she was from Ryme City?! She didn't deserve to be underestimated because of that. He and Pikachu shared an unimpressed glance. The irritation he felt was kind of personal, there were so many times he had been called farm boy when people learned he was from Pallet town. No way was he okay with letting people judging his cousin for where she came from.
Odette sent a Chandelure out. And Ash paid close attention to who Amanda grabbed. Subconsciously expecting, for either pIchu or Umbreon to be sent out. Only to be surprised when she reached for the single poke ball that she kept on her belt. From the thrown ball flipped on to the battle field was...a Roserade.
In the corner of his eye, he watched as Goh pulled out his phone, and open the pokedex app.
"Roserade, the bouquet Pokémon, and the evolved form of Roselia. A grass and poison type. With its beautiful blooms, enticing aroma and graceful movements, Roserade is quite enchanting, however its appearance can be deceiving. Its arms conceal thorny whips that carry poison to harm opponents."
Goh looked at his phone, his face appearing puzzled, "Why would she play Roserade? Chandelure is a ghost and fire type, she's at a disadvantage."
"Amanda has a plan Goh, I know she does."
"You're making this easy!" Odette said, "Fire Blast!"
"Grass whistle!"
A giant wall of flames descended on the battle field, but through the blazing chaos, came a trilling melody and bright green glow. Right in the middle of throwing the blaze, the ghostly chandelier was put to sleep. He felt to the battlefield floor, with a clatter and snoozing bubble of drool. Roserade twirled away from the flames with some singe on his leaves, but he was still standing. And that damage wouldn't be there much longer.
"What?" Odette looked confused.
"Oh, let me guess wasn't expecting that counter attack from a Ryme kid?" Amanda smirked, "Well, then you're going to hate this! Giga drain!"
Both Pokémon, one burned and one unconscious, began to gleam in bright green. Roserade's wounds healed, while Chandelure seemed to fall deeper into sleep. Odette continued to call from her side of the field trying to wake her Pokémon. Amanda smirked. Roserade's strategy was a simple but effective one. Incapacitate and feed. There was something horribly satisfying about having your enemy feed their own downfall. Amanda ordered two more drains.
Still, she wanted a fair victory...
"Toxic," Amanda ordered.
Coiling bubbles of drenched purple spun and spat. They splashed against the Chandelure, penetrating the ghost type's matter, turning the already violet hue deeper into an elderberry tone. The poisoning woke up her opponent, but Amanda wasn't too worried. The drain had made the chandelier Pokémon weak.
"Are you okay?" Odette asked.
Chandelure shuddered against the poison but gave his trainer a determined nod.
"Good, Shadow Ball!"
"Dodge!"
Roserade, twisted and twirled a way from the Shadow ball. The darkened sphere continued to chance Amanda's little dancer. She bit her tongue, feeling stupid, unless blocked with another move Shadow ball always hit its target. In a cloud of dark smoke, she heard a scream and then watched as Roserade was thrown across the battlefield, before struggling back up.
This had to end.
"Fire blast!"
"Sludge Bomb!"
Fire and living tentacles of pure poison launched and lashed across the battlefield. An explosion of hot embers and putrid splatter lit up the arena in a red plume with violet smog. Amanda shielded herself with her arms and a wince from the heat and rather unpleasant smell. Through a squint she looked for her little dancer.
"Roserade and Chandelure are both unable to battle! This round ends in a draw!"
Amanda returned Roserade to his Pokeball, trying to ignore the cold feeling in stomach.
She looked to the little one on her shoulder, "Ready?"
"Pichu!"
"Whoa, she's doing a lot better than I did," Goh said.
Raboot turned to look at her trainer with a rather displeased expression.
"I mean strategy wise. Putting an opponent to sleep and then sucking the life out of them. Ruthless."
Sir Aaron could only agree. Ruthless was a good word for describing his niece on the battlefield. Not that the knight knew much about Pokémon battling (war didn't count), but he could tell that Amanda was holding back. Like there was a line she was scared to cross. After all she did wake up the Chandelure before completely knocking her opponent out with the Giga Drain.
Pichu used body slam on the Froslass, who retaliated by freezing the poor mouse with an ice beam. Amanda solved the issue by having Pichu use nuzzle to break the ice.
She also seemed to have the same sort of battle intuition that Ash possessed. Yet, she didn't allow herself to become as immersed in the fight as Ash usually did. The boy on the battlefield, put all his focus on the fight. His heart, mind and soul. His love for the sport driving him forward and making his aura flare with raw power.
In contrast Amanda's aura remained restricted. The dark chains keep their tight hold. Not suffocating, but still holding her back. Like they were constantly reminding her not to grow too excited.
"Pichu is unable to battle! Froslass wins!"
His niece instead walked on to the field to retrieve her mouse, cradling him in her arms as she took her place. The knight couldn't hear what she was saying, but he knew she was comforting Pichu. And probably apologizing if the heavy wave of guilt that just washed through her soul was any indicator. She nodded for Umbreon to head on to the field.
"Since you seem to like this move. Why don't I show you, our version! Toxic!" Odette said.
The fizz of hard poison rippled in the air and struck Umbreon. Perfect. For Amanda it hurt to watch as her partner's cheek flushed with a violet tinted hue, however she knew this would work in their favor. A pale glow simmered across Umbreon's dark fur, and suddenly Froslass had the same purple tone on her face and ill expression.
Odette looked a little surprised, and slightly panicked.
Was now a good time to mention that Umbreon's ability was synchronize? The only ability that passes poison, paralysis, or burns on to the Pokémon that inflicted them? And that she was about to be an even worse person.
"Refresh!" Amanda called.
A blue glow surrounded Umbreon's body, and all poison was cured.
"What a move, Umbreon's synchronize has turned Froslass's poisoning onto themselves!"
Amanda smirked. She loved it when this happened.
"Not bad, Ryme" Odette called, "can you keep going, Isaur?"
"Lass!"
"Then let's try and stop them from doing anything else! Ice beam!"
Icy blue lit filled the arena...
"Dodge and use shadow ball!"
Umbreon was fast. Amanda had trained her with speed in mind, never wanting anything deadly to hit her. The speed of the dark type combined with and ice beam, meant that the battlefield was about two steps away from an ice rink. But eventually the attack ran out of steam, and her partner took her shot. The poison, exhaustion for battling, and having to dragon that ice beam for as long as she did, the Shadow Ball was a direct hit and...
"Froslass is unable to battle! Umbreon wins!"
Umbreon relaxed as her opponent went down. Crimson eyes glanced back at her, and Amanda knew they were smiling. The dark type was definitely handling the whole battling thing better than her human partner was. It was comforting.
Odette sent out her third pokemon...and all that comfort was out the window. It was a Sylveon. A fucking shiny sylveon. Of course. Why did it have to be a sylveon? Amanda swallowed down a panic attack...and a whole lot of bile.
Then the sky light caved in...
"Prepare for touble! You'd better duck!"
"And make it double! You've run out of Luck!"
Amanda looked up and screamed, "What the fuck?!"
A/N:
Okay, I have to split up this chapter, because it wouldn't be coming out today if I don't. So next time you get a team Rocket confrontation. And yes I made Jessie and James rob form their own organization again. Logic is not these grunt's strong suit.
And please give a hand to Reddit user, r/Sinderellas_shoe for allow me to use their OC, Odette. I hope I haven't offended you with this portrayal.