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"Ready?" Chili grinned, "we've already started!"

Pansear was shooting towards Chen Zhen at high speed, each step a blur. It was like his speed was double that of the other Pansear. Every time his foot made contact with the arena's grass, he'd leave a small patch of fire behind. The fire monkey trailed a blaze, dots of flame marking out where he'd been. Even though the grass was slightly damp, Pansear's flames ignited it instantly.

"Flame Charge!" Chili announced proudly, hands in fists on his hips, "Putting your inner fire directly into your legs makes your speed intense!"

What was more, Chili's Pansear had learned to evolve this technique. Instead of using it only as an attack, it was capable of utilising the energy normally used to generate flames. And then combining it with the attack's nature of absorbing that energy to boost speed. By absorbing the flames before they were generated, Pansear doubled the effectiveness of the speed boost. The fiery footprints were simply exhaust fumes from Pansear's burning hot legs.

Pansear blazed a path around Chen Zhen as Chili explained the technique. The pokémon's eyes were sharply focused on his opponent. Lines of fire began to rise from the grass, chopping a strange polygon shape like a frantic, fiery Zorro with Chen Zhen in the centre.

"Now!" Chili thrust his finger forward, teeth brought into a wide grin, "Flame Charge!"

Pansear seemed to vanish from encirclement of Chen Zhen. When he reappeared, it was right in front of the grass monkey. He charged directly up to the pokémon, challenging its guard. First he'd duck to avoid any horizontal attacks. Then while close to the ground he'd quickly roll to the side to avoid any vertical ones as well. He timed it so that it was all one fluid movement. When his legs went above his head, he'd plant on paw on the ground and use it for a handstand with his flame-covered leg kicking out to Chen Zhen's jaw.

If all went well, then Pansear's previous movements should've made Chen Zhen ready for a back attack instead of a frontal assault. Chili hoped to combine what he hoped would be Chen Zhen's surprise with Pansear's increased speed for a fast shot.

Assuming nothing went wrong, Pansear would then stand on both hands and push off the ground at blurring speeds, flipping right-side-up into the air and torching Chen Zhen with Incinerate while he was sent flying. Regardless of whether it hit or not, Pansear's speed would increase one more stage from the technique's usage.


**

Wayne stopped still. He waited until N was finished speaking before slowly turning around. He looked the other trainer up and down; he looked a little older than Wayne was. A quick look in his eyes told him that N was watching him carefully. A smile slowly spread across Wayne's lips.

"Thanks," he said with a grin, grabbing the lemonade. He held it out, raising it as if to toast N, "Must be my lucky day. Twice now that's happened."

Fire trailing behind his legs as he somersaulted, Pansear had to react quickly to Chen Zhen's counter. Handstanding on a single paw as the kick came at him, he used his free paw to shield his jaw from the blow, using that part that would be the equivalent to a palm.

It was a powerful move, no doubt, and Chen Zhen had a good grip on his martial arts. If it had been any weaker then Pansear would've grabbed hold and roasted the grass type with an Incinerate before he could flee. Instead he twisted his grounded paw and flipped back and to the side, sliding slightly as he reached his feet in time to see Chen Zhen dive into the ground. His paw ached, but it wouldn't be enough to impair his fighting abilities.

"Aha! Cilan's favourite move!" Chili grinned, ordering another, "Flame Charge!"

Enhancing his speed even further, Pansear reacted like a shot, darting to the side; one moment he was there, the next he vanished. This time instead of just leaving flaming footprints in the grass, a good portion of it turned into fire that raged, not just high, but wide like the wake of a boat. With Chen Zhen unable to keep up under the ground, Pansear sped towards one of the trees on the arena.

It became alight as he scurried up it, darting from branch to branch until he reached the top. The tree leaves exploded into dancing red flame as Pansear used the tree as a crow's nest; scouting the arena to spot where Chen Zhen might pop out from. The flames he'd trailed through the grass were beginning to spread, creating a wall of fire. Or in other words, lessening the area that Chen Zhen could battle in, or indeed jump out from. Knowing that the heat would begin to seep into the soil and force Chen Zhen to surface quickly, Pansear put his back to the area with the most flame.


**

"Luckier than my Pokémon," Wayne said with a hint of bitterness as he cracked open the canned lemonade. It wasn't nasty bitterness, more akin to annoyance, though it was soon washed away by a swig of fizzy lemon. "Hitmonlee ended up the ICU cause of that match. You believe that? The gym leader kept attacking even when he couldn't get up!"

Not mentioning his own inability to command Hitmonlee. Then again, you don't say those things when you're complaining, do you?

"What about you? You a trainer too? I hear a lot of kids are starting their journey today," Wayne brought his can to his lips, stopping just before drinking, "though I have to say: you look a bit old to be a new trainer."

Pain, aching, she was slowly getting used to it. To hurting. She wanted to collapse but that wasn't an option. Her Pokemon, in the future, were likely to endure a lot more. She had to grit her teeth and keep at it. Be logical, be mindful and observant, all while suffering. She was a shy girl, but right now she wanted to support her Pokemon who she had failed thrice in one day.

A look of determination had formed on her face and quickly faded when she noticed the boy from earlier. He was offering to judge? No, he was simply stating his new position.

"H-h-hey!" she said, surprised.

And then the battle began.

"Ember," Henrietta said and Melty complied. The attacks met and exploded in the middle and Henrietta brought her arms up to shield herself. from any stray damage.

Melty had turned smaller earlier but had returned to normal after just a single move from the opponent. On top of that, it was capable of moving through the fire spin. Had it had a shield earlier? Henrietta couldn't quite make it out.

On top of that, it had the horrifying looking entity that hurt like a b***h and the attack where it yelled and smacked people. Needless to say, the enemy had quite the arsenal.

But Melty's was better. Kali's was built up for minor offensive with a primary defensive. Haze to even the metaphorical footing and protect to block out damage.

Melty was balanced well in both areas. Haze was the issue if it could revert all changes. But then, Henrietta only needed to utilize them in small portions.

So she said, "smog!" and Melty complied. Smog filled the area to blind Kali(and also damage). The Pokemon was left with two options, then, and Henrietta would react to both.

She recalled from her time battling Wayne that a two front versatility was needed when battling. If you could meld them together then attacks like rollout into psywave were possible.

From her battle with the gym leader she'd learned that one could not charge right into a battle where they were at the disadvantage. Melty also knew the attack Astonish, but she wouldn't be using it here. She didn't intend to let Kali land one blow. Not for her first battle of the night.

And so came the orders. Henrietta lowered herself to sit in sonkyo and she'd whisper to Melty the orders. After all, Avan could react to both what he heard and saw, if he couldn't see(because of smog) and couldn't hear(because of whispering) he had no tactical advantage.

"If it removes the smog, strike it with Dizzy Ray. If it makes for an attack, Minimize under it and use Ember."

((Wouldn't the smog be affecting Henrietta as well, since it filled the area? It'd be hard to talk while enveloped in it, since it's a poison atttack. Coughing everywhere, hard to breath, no? Just saying...doesn't really matter though.))


How troublesome the battle became already. A smog had erupted from the opponent and now obscured both Kali's and Avan's vision of the opponent. The first move he'd make? It was the incredible THIRD option. A common sense one at that. Get the hell out of the smog! They weren't battling in a closed area. They were outside, in the city, if anything the open air would do the work for them as the smog spread out, it'd disperse. "Kali, get back with me."

The two made a move to back up and try to beat the smog back, after all the attack from the candle pokemon could be seen as it was used and it was obvious they had to move and since it wasn't being continually released it would stop at some point But it wasn't working as he hoped. The smog was too fast. What could he do? Avan tried to remember the attacks he read in the pokedex. Haze? No, smog and haze would only make things worse. Protect? He didn't think that would work. Then it occured to him. "Kali do you remember how you saved me from that Cofagrigus, you pushed it back some how!? That strange wind...please use that!" He spoke, and breathed in. Avan began to cough. Damn that was some nasty stuff.

Yamask's eyes glowed a light purple and the strange, yet familiar wind began to blow, coming in from the side, the smog was being removed, pushed away, and soon he could see clearly again. Avan coughed again. Kali turned to him to make sure he was fine. "I'm ok Kali. You're good to go right?" She nodded, hiding the fact that she did indeed take damage from that smog. They weren't in it long enough, so no "lasting" effects were to be seen. Avan wondered if the girl and her Pokemon were ready for that. An attack and a means to rid them of the smog.

Our first move didn't work. How annoying. Avan pointed at Litwick. "We can't have that again. Kali, use Disable." He read that disable would prevent the opponent from using their last move. If this worked, then Smog would not be able to be used for some time.

Kali floated forward once again and released blue, ring-like waves at her opponent.


((Ugh...5 am...I fell asleep with laptop on bed and woke up and posted. The things I do for you Trop))

Above Chen Zhen, the battlefield was scorching. Soon, all the plant life would be burned up. And when that happened, the field would be safer. Until then, Chen Zhen had to be careful. Fortunately, Pansear had moved itself into a perfect position for him.

He had originally intended on using the tree as a distraction for Pansear, but the fire monkey being atop it was just as fine. Salieri had no idea where Chen Zhen was, but he needed to get out from underground before the heat got to him. “Rise up!”

From underneath the base of the little tree, the ground crumbled and expanded as Chen Zhen pushed up rapidly, blowing the tree and Pansear out from the ground. The soaked roots at the bottom of the tree became dry when exposed to the air, and then lit up entirely as the fire spread across it’s body.

Chen Zhen followed Pansear into the air from his underground spot. Now that Pansear was forced into the air, it would have less options on dodging. But if Chen Zhen is in the air as well, this could all come down to who has the better orientation. Chen Zhen is up there by choice, so he’s more prepared. Let’s see if we can get off a hit before we get toasted. “Now take him down!”

When he was close, Chen Zhen reached up to grab one of Pansear’s arms, specifically the one that had caught his kick before. The heat was all centered in Pansear’s legs. Grabbing one of those could be dangerous. If he managed to get one of the wrists, he’d pull Pansear down and himself towards his opponent to punch Pansear in the face using a Brick Break with the other hand. If not, then he’d have to change his position midair to be more advantageous.

He really hoped it’d be the former.

****

The gym leader wouldn't stop attacking? Was this a grudge match? Or a sick extension of pokemon battling itself? N thought in horror, although he masked that emotion completely. And that poor Hitmonlee, in the ICU?

"I also became a trainer today," N told Wayne as he took out his badge case to show Wayne the Trip Badge. It wasn't insult added to injury on purpose, but rather just to show Wayne where N stood on his journey. "Although in my gym battle the leader wasn't so cruel. Or do you just end up having savage battles with other trainers?"

Crap.

Both the trainer and the pokemon thought this as the Incinerate attack started. By now, Chen Zhen was in midair and missing Pansear completely. The fire plume was wide, too. He couldn’t escape this on his own.

Chen Zhen grabbed a hold of the bottom of the tree as it began to fall to one side. It’s structure was damaged, but it was still enough for the Pansage to use it as a pole vault. As the Pansear helped tilt the weight of the tree, Chen Zhen pressed it into the ground and pushed himself to the side.

Salieri exhaled a pent up breath as the Incinerate attack skimmed the top of Chen Zhen’s head. Too close for comfort, she thought as Chen Zhen landed on the ground a fair distance away from the Pansear. He grit his teeth as he wiped away the burnt leaves from the top of his head. His palms felt a little burnt, but not enough to completely impair him. Still, he had taken a little damage. The situation wasn’t looking good.

“Dig!” Salieri called, and her monkey did just that. Now that the plant life in the ground had almost all burned up, he could emerge in most places to use Dig. Burrowing underground, the monkey tunneled deep under the earth to prepare for his next strike.

“C’mon, Chen Zhen,” she muttered. I can’t lose here. Wayne and the the girl failed, so I can’t! I have to show him that I can do this! I have to show everyone that I can do this!

****

N narrowed his eyes at Wayne for a moment before tilting his head down ever so slightly. The brim of his hat formed a shadow that cast over his eyes as he put his badge case away. His hand holding his lemonade lowered to his side.

"So are you saying that pokemon can take the punishment doled out in battle? Just because a pokemon center is around doesn't mean that a pokemon is safe. Don't you think a pokemon trainer should know when to let up on his opponent, or when to stop the match for the sake of their friends?"

The green haired trainer tipped his lemonade can down, and the drink spilled out. Instead of splashing on the floor, it streamed down and disappeared like it was being swallowed away into another world. From next to N's leg came a split second purple flicker of fox shaped light.

Salieri’s clenched and unclenched her fists at her side. Pansear was too fast to keep up with. While she and Chen Zhen barely dodged defeat a few times, Chili’s Pansear didn’t have any trouble getting out of the way of attacks if they had their distance.

And now Chen Zhen was trapped underground, a Flamethrower attack probably behind him. Salieri couldn’t order him to move out of the way. She could only trust that he would when she told him to rise. This doesn’t look good. What do I do? Moze, what do I do?

******

The door to the Del Forrest household opened and closed slowly as someone snuck out, quietly pushing the door back into position. The man had his black hair back in a small, cone shaped ponytail, and the rest of it settled in a messy positon atop his head, save for his face. The hair on either side of his face cascaded down to his chin level. If it was in the center of his forehead, he wouldn’t be able to see.

Which is what happened just now as one of his sidebangs shifted over. He gently pushed it away with the jeweled orb tip of his blue waxwood staff, about the length of his body. One the top end of the staff, the one with the orb, was a small travelling bag slung onto it.

He had on simple Del Forrest back kung fu pants, but his blue v neck robe that ended at his calves displayed intricate patterns adorned on many pokemon of legend, and looked handwoven. The sides of the robe were slits at the waist so he’d have more freedom to move his legs. His hands were wrapped by gauze, but this gauze contained many different symbols like the ones on his shirt. Around his neck was a necklace of amber colored beads. The young man was dressed like he was from some sort of old time period, as if he was a sage or a monk of some sort. “Hurry up,” he said in a hushed whisper back towards the door.

From underneath the crack of the door poked a small mass of cotton. The cotton slipped through and resized to reveal a small, floating mass of cotton with two seed like eyes and green horns made of leaves on either side of it’s head. “Teeee~” the Cottonnee said quietly in agreement.

The young man frowned slightly as he began to walk down the porch steps. “Blacksheep, if we don’t hurry up, we’re gonna wake up-“
“Me?”

The other voice startled the young man, who in surprise tripped over his robe and crashed face first onto the ground before him. “Ugh,” he mumbled as he titled his head up, looking to find the familiar voice. “How long have you been up for, See-Sal?”

His little sister was sitting crosslegged atop one of the many smoothed boulders adorned around their house, this one positioned right next to the porch in the front yard. Her back faced him. “About fifteen minutes.”

“It’s the crack of dawn,” Moze muttered as he used his staff to push himself up to his feet, brushing off the dust on his robe after. He looked over to Salieri with eyes so squinted that you couldn’t tell were open, much like Salieri’s hero Bruno of the Elite Four.

“The best time to meditate, because no one else is awake.” Moze nodded, and Salieri shifted herself around so she was sitting to face Moze. “So, I guess you’re off again, huh? It’s only been two days since you got back.”

“Mmmhmm. Well, I didn’t want to wake up Mom and Dad and get them all worked up. You know how it is when I leave,” he said as he rested up against his staff, grinning at his sister. Blacksheep hovered next to his head, bobbing up and down in the air. “Can you tell them I said bye? And that I’ll stay in touch?”

“Yeah, I can do that,” Salieri nodded. The morning dew was refreshing, matching the morning mist that swept Moze’s ankles. It made his departure seem even more timely, like he was disappearing into the mist. “Moze, you’re still not gonna complete the challenge, are you?”

Moze continued to grin. “Until the challenge becomes my calling again, I’ll just keep looking over this region. I haven’t yet explored the rest of Unova. I hear that there are some awesome relics to uncover.” His grin grew wider. “And that the Mistralton Gym leader is a total babe.”

Salieri huffed, crossing her arms at her brother’s comment. “So I guess I’ll be the one to get our gym back?”

Moze’s grin turned into a gentler smile. “If you really feel that that is your calling, then all you can do is answer the call. Whether or not you’re ready to respond is up to you.”

Salieri smiled. “Do you think…do you think I can do it, big bro?”
“Only if you really want to, Salieri.”

He began to back away before his face flushed with red. “Oh, and, er, I know this is awkward for you, but-“
“Is there another girl upstairs?” Salieri asked, her voice rising as her suspicions were confirmed by Moze nodding. “Moze!”
“Look, just tell her that I had a great time and I had to go, please? And that I’ll call her when I’m back?”
“No way, Moze! This happens every time you-“

“Sssh!” Moze hushed, and even though she hushed for no one, Salieri got quiet on her brother’s command. “You’ll wake Mom and Dad,” he whispered as he pointed up to their bedroom window. Salieri looked up, and her eyes darted over to the window of Moze’s bedroom.
“Damnit Moze, I’m not your-“

When Salieri looked back, her brother and his Cottonee were gone, replaced by air in the empty vacuum they left behind. They had disappeared into the mist. Salieri’s lightened face grew duller again now that her brother was gone. She turned back towards the empty field beside her boulder and continued meditating. “…middleman.”

From up in Moze’s room, she heard a loud groan. “Damnit Moze, not again!” came a young lady’s voice from the top of the house, and Salieri sighed.

****

Salieri looked up at the battlefield. “Chen Zhen!”

On command, her monkey rose from the ground behind Pansear, and a orange glow came from the hole under him. The Pansage landed, glaring at his opponents back as a column of flame burst up from the hole behind him into the sky. Chen Zhen was panting, but his anger was even more apparent with the fire behind him. [You…singed…my…HAIR!]

The Battle Girl pointed across the field at Chili, with one hand planted on her hip. “Look, Chili! I’m gonna be the greatest gym leader in the world someday! If I lose here, to one third of a real gym leader, then I’m less than nothing! There’s no way that’ll happen, cause my spirit is ready to shake the world to it’s core! It is TOO DAMN HUGE for this café! Chen Zhen!”

Her Pansage darted at Pansear, his speed much higher than before. Perhaps it was his trainer motivating him. Or maybe it was his adrenaline rushing from the heat. But either way, Chen Zhen’s darting motion was a blur. Chen Zhen would try to grab Pansear’s shoulder and twist the monkey so he’d be facing around, disoriented from the surprise turn and facing his opponent.

“Uppercut!” she roared as she leaned back, her fists at her sides and her legs bent in a power stance as she screamed up at the ceiling. “HIGHER THAN THE SUN!!!!!”

If Chen Zhen’s forced turning of Pansear worked, the monkey would duck and then rise up his body, tilting with the weight to launch a Brick Break uppercut straight into the fire monkey’s stomach. And if it didn’t, then he’d roll to face Pansear’s front and launch the uppercut anyway.

****

N’s eyes darted at a recycling bin next to the soda machine. If his calculations were correct, he should be able to throw the can into the bin with one motion based on simple geometry. Or he could test another formula and try to get a rebound. 85% chance success rate.

The green haired trainer threw the can at the side of the machine. It bounced off, landing into the bin. Success.

“Trainers push their pokemon too hard all the time, especially new trainers,” N agreed, adding his own little comments at the end. He spun on his heel. He had talked to Wayne enough to learn what he wanted to know about the trainer. “If a trainer isn’t responsible enough to take care of his pokemon, then he isn’t fit to be a trainer.”

“This world is beginning to shift, trainer,” he told Wayne in an ominous tone while walking away, the flicker happening once more at his feet before disappearing again. “’I’d spend my time listening long and hard to my pokemon if I were you. They can sense the world change.”

And then N rounded the corner, disappearing from Wayne’s view while exiting the pokemon center.