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Cyllage City Gym

"Sweet, I was worried he might be straight!" Grant called back, his words littered with light laughter.

Raijin's reflexes were lighting fast. He was used to fighting and changing tactics on a moments notice. The smallest change to his perception of a battle would cause him to react to it. Intuitive impulses had turned him into a Pokemon with honed skills.

Lupin's attack would instigate this reaction speed. Raijin had already figured that the weakness to the opponents invisibility was that he had to reveal himself to attack. So long as Raijin could take advantage of this, and shrug off the blows, he could win the match.

For this reason, Lupin's entire strategy was too slow. He'd only have the time to touch Raijin's ear before the electric type was upon him with Quick Attack. At the cliff edge, he wouldn't get the chance to swing over to Grant's cliff, nor even pull the ear piece completely over to himself.

Raijin, instead, aimed to thrust him from the cliff with Quick Attack, all of the speed and force collecting into a fist that he'd position to throw Lupin diagonally where he couldn't escape into a shadow, nor use his tongue to right himself in the air in time.

If it worked, he'd spin himself in the air due to his body twisting from the direction of the blow. Hand open, he'd charge up the thunder bolt and, as he finished his turn, he'd fire it in the direction that he'd sent Lupin flying.

Cyllage City Gym

The two were battling for whoever would face the gym leader next. Grant didn't mind waiting a few minutes at this point, since he'd just go after Salieri, but it was still a bummer that she wanted to end the match this way.

Grant decided to play the good sport and said, "alright, but that makes us even!" He recalled Raijin. Ever attentive, he'd already noticed the missing earpierce. "I'll need Raijin's earpiece back first, though."

Cyllage City Gym

Grant shoved the earpiece in his pocket, clearly grossed out by the stickyness of it.

"I know," Grant said to Salieri about his inevitable victory. There wasn't a hint og smugness or confidence in his voice, it was just a matter-of-fact statement to him. "You're a decent combatant, but all of Raijin's moves are derived from my training, you can see him in me. I couldn't see any of you in your Kecleon."

Grant was wiping his sticky hand on his jeans when Salieri asked a name that Grant had never heard before. "No, should I?"

Sycamore Research Lab

'Look who's talking,' Zack grumbled under his breath. To his untrained Unovan eye, Lysandre looked ridiculous. He wasn't sure if it was the hair, the black leather suit or the fur collar at the height of summer, but then again he was in Kalos. They did things differently over here.

'Elisio!' Sycamore brightened up, hurrying around the large round table and snapping off his pink plastic gloves. 'You're not interrupting at all! In fact, we were just about to start-'

The Professor paused a couple feet away from Lysandre. From the waist up, Sycamore was covered in varying hues of varying slime that once lived in Aerodactyl's mouth. His hair was a splatter of slick bundles, his coat and bare forearms saturated and filthy. He slapped Dexio on the back.

'Dexio, give Mr. Lysandre a brotherly hug,' he said, and the aide stood to attention, hurrying towards Lysandre. He did his best, but the firm squeeze of arms and bodies was ultimately robotic and awkward. Sycamore washed his hands at a nearby scrub sink and started toweling them off. 'So what brings you to our neck of the woods? Oh wait. Kids, meet Elisio Lysandre. He's the owner of-'
'Lysandre Labs,' Sina swooned, on her feet and clasping her hands. 'Oh Professor, why didn't you say you knew such a rich man?'

Sycamore rolled his eyes. 'Sina, a man's worth isn't judged solely by his - you can let go now, Dexio - by his bank balance. Mr. Lysandre's also renowned for his humanitarian efforts. Isn't that right, old friend?'

The doors opened and Helena came in. Zack gave her a nod, and stepped aside so she had space to stand next to him. 'Bad move, little sister,' he said, leaning over so only she could hear him. 'You should've run while you had the chance.'

Battle Chateau - The Courtyard

Jullien spread his fingers on the balcony's white stone, silver rings clicking. The greeter told him that Elizabeth Leroux was waiting here, but it seemed she had more pressing matters at hand. Standing on a beam in the middle of the courtyard, the two duelists were physically indistinguishable from one another. Their fencing uniforms were identical, their mesh masks hiding their faces. He recognised his daughter immediately. Her collected, airy confidence with a blade, her easy composure; she radiated Juliet. Opposite her, Elizabeth reeked of unease and suspicion. Even across the yard, he could smell it.

She looked at him.

---

'I'd say your father wouldn't think much of either of us were we to bet our lives away,' Elizabeth turned back to Juliet when Nostrad put his hands behind his back, his face unreadable. She flashed her own grin back at her opponent, but of course it was invisible to the younger Nostrad. 'Especially you. And especially when you can't be sure you'll win.'

She swished her foil, eyes electric behind her mesh, and stepped further onto the beam. 'I seem to remember a little lady who couldn't hope to best me.' Elizabeth held her foil at the ready, 'Is she ready to try again?'

Route 14

Lumiose City's north gate wasn't far now. Wayne was red and sweaty from the run, which had been a little further than he'd bargained for. But since Ronin wasn't tired, he decided that he shouldn't be either. Then some girl started shouting at him for a battle. Thank god. He staggered to a halt, bent over, gasping. As Bridgette approached, Wayne held up his hand, trying to get his breathing steady.

Ronin glanced at his trainer, shrugged, then sat on a roadside rock, unaffected by the run.

'Hey, hey, hey! What're you doing stopping here? We're almost at the gate!' Aipom squeaked from the trainer's shoulder, hopping up and down and waving at the city gates.
'She challenged me,' Wayne gasped. 'We have to battle now. It's the law.'
'What the- no it isn't! Just ignore her!'

'Heeeey~!' Wayne stood up tall, waving to Bridgette. He grinned when she came closer. 'Careful what you wish for, people tend to quake in their boots once I get going. The name's Wayne Lee, but people call me Wayne for short. I'm a pokémon master.'

'Oh man, that's a pretty badass battle opener,' Wayne grinned, 'I once met a guy that just told me how much he liked wearing shorts and then bam, grabbed his balls and started battling me. Needless to say, I won. Though I don't think he appreciated my joke about him needing to wash his shorts cause I left a boot print on it, on account of me kicking his butt.'

Aipom sighed noisily and Wayne paused. 'Right. The battle. Gimme a sec.'

Wayne hurried back several paces. They were fighting in the middle of the route's main track, deserted at all hours, no witnesses to their battle. A park lay dormant not a dozen yards away, its swings squeaking in the breeze. Wayne smiled, drew his foot back, scratching up a cloud, and flicked the bridge of his nose with his thumb.

'We'll keep going until you give up, okay?' he called to Bridgette, grabbing a pokéball from his belt and calling on his Typhlosion. The pokémon materialised in a burst of light, and hit the floor face-first with a thud, snoring. Wayne stared at the slumbering pokémon and slapped himself on the face. He peeked out between his fingers. 'Uh, can we have a time out?'

Kabutops stood before them, blades gleaming in the sun. Wayne stopped shaking his Typhlosion's flank for a moment to stare in awe. 'Whoa. Cool scythe-hands.'

Aipom hopped down and peeked over Typhlosion's back, squinting. 'Huh. That thing looks nasty. You sure you're up for this? I mean, assuming you can get lard-butt here operational.'
'Absolutely,' Wayne grinned, pulling his hands away from Typhlosion's side and holding them up. They were covered in blue-black and yellow fur. 'Stand back and be amazed! Seriously, stand back.'

Wayne slammed his hands onto the Typhlosion's neck and swiped them sideways. The fur stuck to his gloves sparked against the pads on the back of Typhlosion's neck, and fire roared like a motorbike's engine as Wayne pulled his hands away. Instantly, Typhlosion snapped awake, shoving itself from the ground in a single push.

The trainer fell on the floor but couldn't stop grinning. His Typhlosion stood with its head tilted at the Kabutops, its collar of flames blazing and making the air shimmer. Aipom scurried back up Wayne's arm and to his perch on the trainer's shoulder.

'Right,' Wayne shouted to Bridgette, 'Prepare to get your butt whupped by my superior pokémon! Demo! Flame Wheel!'

Demo lurched forward and broke into a sprint. His body bowed, his collar exploded into an enormous ring of fire that span around his neck like a catherine wheel. While the flame itself wouldn't be very effective against a rock/water type, the sheer force would be enough to throw Kabutops off balance, leaving it open for a follow up 'Power-Up Punch!'