[X] My Assistant

[Living Arrow]

*You’re up first, Darryn! Time to prove yourself out there! The combinations are set, the battle plan decided. You’ve got friend to cheer you on, what more could you want?*

Darryn slumped even as they walked up the hill through town. What he wanted was some time to think about the past twelve hours! A hot guy just had to come along on the most important day of his Pokemon journey so far and mess with his brain. Typical!
The group slowly drew up to the doors of the impressive Pokemon Gym and, much to Darryn’s displeasure, no-one was there to great them. He pondered for a moment, wishing harder not to be stood up than he did for the gym badge. Where was Troy?

“Lose something?” Meiko urged Darryn towards the door. “Or are you just going Torchicken on us?”

“Uh, no way!” Darryn puffed out his chest and headed for the door. “Just collecting my thoughts is all!”

The interior of the Arasam Gym was even more impressive than the exterior. A massive vaulted hall carved directly out of the rock of the mountain extended far and wide, accommodating an enormous battle field of stone suspended by rock pillars from underneath over a seething pool of molten lava. It bubbled and spat angrily, waiting impatiently for the next trainer to try their luck against the cavern’s owner. A great circle of light blue sky allowed the sun to shine brightly down into the stone dome and it was then that Darryn realised where they were. They were in the crater of Mount Carello itself.

“Oh, now this is way cool!” Meiko grinned. “Reminds me of the gym back in Blackthorn City – obviously Clare is a better gym leader than anyone in this region could hope to be, but the gyms are still similar. The only way challengers could win was to use the arena to their advantage in the battle to get the badge.”

“And that’s just how I’ll get mine…” Darryn muttered, eyeing the rocky field, bubbling lava and soaring cavern walls that grasped the azure sky.

“There he is!” A voice that sang sweeter than any Chingling announced from a seat over in the stands. “There’s the guy who’s gonna beat ya, Otis! Just like I said, y'know - he's a definite keeper this one!”

Darryn blushed immediately. The guy who he’d met the night before was already fighting his battles for him. And… Oddly… Darryn kinda liked it! He also kinda liked the way Troy sat back in an extremely relaxed lounge with Mawwie rocking back and forth in his lap singing merrily.

“Oh he is, is he?” A tall, lithe man walked smartly out to the opposite side of the field where a Pokeball transportation machine was waiting for him. He keyed a few buttons with long slender fingers and an orb of crackling energy materialised, slowly fading into the familiar red and white of a Pokeball. “We’ll soon see about that.”

[Master Houndoom]

"The rules are simple," Otis intoned, holding out a hand to the machine as another ball crackled into place. "The battle will be two pokémon per side, with one in reserve for a total of three. You may replace one fainted pokémon with the reserve, but cannot hold your reserve back if one of the original fighters has fainted." Otis waited patiently for the third ball to form, his eyes on the machineas if Darryn were inconsequential. "The first combatant for whom all their battling pokémon faint loses the match. Is that understood? Good," he said, not waiting for an anwer, "Then choose your team and present them."

As Darryn's hands went to his belt, Otis lifted a finger. "Bear in mind, having more than three pokéballs on the field when the battle commences is instant disqualification." He raised a brow. "Also, you should have come to the arena knowing which pokémon you wished to participate with. It shows confidence."

Otis would have continued, but a voice from the stands interrupted. "What are you trying to do, bore his pokémon into fainting? Let him fight!" The voice was light hearted and laughing, and Otis rolled his eyes mildly.

"Fine, then." He lifted his hands, releasing all three pokéballs at once, which popped open, not in the simple flare oof white light, but in red, blue, and golden flames.

"Long ago, fire inside the mountain erupted forth, launching into the sky in a futile attempt to fly. From some of those motes of flame was born the symbol of this gym, the Moltres, and since, we of Arasam have saught to unite the beauty of the flame with the majesty of flight." Otis smirked. The speech, though presented dramatically, we so well practiced that he could deliver it without a thought. "You do not face a moltres today, but you face three pokémon that best embody the spirit of that day. Magmar, Fearow, Growlithe! Come and face your foes!"

Sorry it's so short. I think Darryn needs to introduce his team before the fighting begins.

[Living Arrow]

*Damnit, they look strong!* Darryn froze on his podium, unsure of what move to make. Not one of his muscles had the energy to contract, his bones rigidly rooted to the spot. Was he really pushing his luck with the strategy he had taken? Should he switch around his options now? Romeo and Zulu... they would definitley have the advantage here...

"So, what's your big battle plan!?" Troy called from the stands, still louging back at his gorgeous leisure.

*I can't send the others now... we've worked too hard on these combinations!*

Still unable to move, Darryn stared blankly at Otis - the leader of the first gym Darryn had challenged. Everything seemed different from the Challenger's podium. When he had sat on the sidelines and shouted for Jaima and Mindy to kick ass during their last battle, nothing had been too serious for him. But now, everything was different. This match meant too much to him for him to simply sit back and watch.

"Make your move, Challenger." Otis frowned across the vaulted cavern. "We don't have all day - we have another trainer waiting in the stalls."

*Am I even ready for this? How long ago did I start out? Several weeks ago? A month? Is that long enough to truly be a trainer worthy of even a single gym badge?*

"Come on, Darryn!" Jaima called eagerly from the stands. "You can do it!"

"If you don't, your boyfriend will dump you!" Meiko giggled loudly.

*Oh my God! Troy! I need to win this if he is watching... If I don't, he won't want to talk to me again - it's obvious. He must think I'm a right fool for entering into this competition. But hey, I just met the guy, what do I care what he thinks?*

"Not my boyfriend!" Darryn shouted back at the stalls. Even as he looked over, Meiko was making a heart-shape with her hands. Jaima gave her an exasperated glance and she stopped immediately, flushing more red than the Magmar on the field... The field!

"Send out your Pokemon or you will forfeit the match!" Otis urged from across the battlefield, folding thin arms over his narrow chest.

"Give him a break, Oaty!" Troy called down from his own perch. "You can't time perfection!"

Darryn bit hard on his lip, drawing pain to silence his doubtful thoughts. He had battled trainers on his way here and won. He had fought against evolved Pokemon, took on Team Deception and he was still doubting his skills? Sure, Jaima was the heart, always caring and knowing exactly how to treat his Pokemon in order to draw out their true powers. Mindy had been the arms, supporting and strong as she bonded with her own Pokemon to bring out the absolute best in them - calling on powers than even they didn't know they had. But what was Darryn?

He wasn't an idiot. Every team had members that filled a specific niche. Without that niche, they would eventually be removed from the process. After all, it was only wise to separate the wheat from the chaff. He could see Tuesday's place already forming - Jaima's actions, right down to his body language, made it absolutely clear that the young girl would be sticking around for a long time to come and her place was set and waiting. Her obvious passion for knowledge made her the brains of the operation. Maybe not yet, she was still a kid, but she was smart - that much Darryn knew. Smarter than he had ever been at that age.

* What am I?*

<You are the eyes, of course.> Lady, sat at his ankles looked up at him with those hypnotic dark eyes. <You see all that is in front of you and adapt accordingly. You saw the female's sadness and so sent India to watch over her. You saw the way our skills could be combined to fill your own design for our battles. You saw the way that male looks at you. You reacted... accordingly.>

Darryn was astounded. How could that little Pokemon know so much. Even what he was thinking?! Lady turned her head to the stands where Mercury floated, nodding approvingly. Darryn clenched his fists. It was time. He had to make this move or his feet would be still forever!

*If I'm going to send my Pokemon to fight on even ground with a Gym Leader, I should follow the local proceedings, too... Here goes!*

"I call the fleet footed form of November, blinding speed of Bravo and beautiful grace of Lady Foxtrot to the field! They, too embody the majesty of Moltres and together they shall produce flames that Mount Carello has never seen before!"

Darryn was shocked at the sound of his own voice. Commanding and firm. It was too cool!

"November, Bravo - to the front!"

And so Darryn's battle for the Emberwing Badge began...

[Master Houndoom]

"It's commendable to attempt to outdo another trainer in his chesen element," Otis intoned. "So I commend you - as foolish at it was." The gym leader mad a fluttering motion with his hand, and the fearow he called out blurred, rising near the top of the arena. At the same time, the growlithe leapt with a snarl, racing for the ponyta with a look of pure, ferocious glee on his face.

* * * * *

Meiko crossed her arms in front of her chest. The outfit was not having the desired effect! Jaima wasn't distracted (which was a good thing, as far as his match was concerned, but it would be nice if he'd noticed!) And he was giving her that look, exasperation mixed with the eyerolling dismissal of a parent. Ugh!

Tuesday was subdued next to Meiko, and the other girl was bothered. She seemed tired, but Meiko knew for a fact that Tuesday slept through the night. Maybe she should tell Jaima...

She looked, and Jaima's eyes were glued to the match. He reached down and stroked Grondir's head, frowning when his hand came away wet. Muttering something about putting Grondir in a pokeball, he turned his attention, briefly, to the rest of his team. He let them walk freely. It wasn't common for an entire team to walk freely. Still, it wasn't unheard of...

He's concentrating on his match. Tuesday will be alright. I'll keep an eye on her myself.

* * * * *

Jaima wiped his hand off on his jacket, muttering about Grondir possibly needing to go into his pokeball. He had to fight not to lean over and ask Meiko if he should. She looked better than just fine in the tank top and shorts, and he'd caught a glimpse down her shirt when she was teasing Darryn. He'd had to grimace and roll his eyes away to keep her from catching him.

He'd better watch himself, he knew. He respected Meiko far too much to be peeking down her shirt...

* * * * *

Otis watched the growlithe intently, as it's approach changed from a pell mell dash to a zigzagging circle that confused the ponyta. As it reared up, his ears perked. The signal, a high pitched whistel from far above, had been sounded.

"NOW!"

From the rafters, dodging past the pidgeot, came the streaking spear like form of the diving fearow. the growlithe jumped up onto the back of the ponyta, and before it could buck, leapt off into the diving back of the fearow, leaping even higher into the air and opening it's mouth to send a stream of flame at the bird above it. As this happened, the fearow spread it's long wings, pulling out of the dive just above the floor of the arena and using it's wings to knock the ponyta off it's feet from the side. A slight smile craced Otis' lips as he watched. It was wonderful to see his friends performing admirably, as always.

This post has been edited by Hungry Hungry Houndoom: Jul 22 2009, 08:22 PM

[Umbrae Calamitas]

Tuesday tried to concentrate on the match, she really did. Jaima and Meiko were paying apt attention to the goings-on of the battle, as was the stranger who sat some feet away, obviously here for Darryn by what had been said. She wanted to watch the battle and cheer on the boy who was becoming a friend, becoming a member of her ersatz family, but she couldn't seem to concentrate.

Every time she blinked, in that darkness behind her eyes, she could see the nightmare happening again. It was like the blackness of her eyelids were a consuming force, a black hole that longed to suck her into its depths, where she would be lost forever, forced to bear witness to the repeated deaths of Shadow and Zorro, and sometimes both at the same time. Because wasn't Shadow Zorro, and Zorro Shadow? Or was that all just in her head?

She blinked again, trying to moisten her aching eyes, and the vision flared. Shadow, as a lucario, standing in the middle of a field. Off to the side were the fallen bodies of his comrades, he the last member of a small, insignificant army. Alone. A failure.

When he stared out into the meadow, perhaps beyond it, his eyes were haunted... Tuesday didn't know what with. It ran deeper than mere emotion; it was a state of being. Loss. But something deeper yet than loss. Like a part of him was already dead, and his body had yet to follow.

And then he let it.

This time, as had been happening recently, Tuesday didn't see Shadow from the side, taking in his profile as he awaited his death. Oh no, here she stood before him, as though she were the phantom of Death, herself, waiting for the blow that would end his life. From this angle, she could see his gaze fully, and that it was not filled with expectancy of his death, as she had thought, but gratitude for its coming. Anticipation. Impatience, even. He wanted to die, and he wanted death now.

And then the tauros, for it was the bull in the lead of the herd, ran through Tuesday as though she truly were no more than a ghost. Shadow did not have the same immunity, however, and the horns of the tauros pierced his blue and black fur, sinking effortlessly into soft flesh, and blood bloomed forth like a schoolgirl's blush, only this was a fierce crimson instead of a soft pink. This was hot and sticky and flowed down over the fur of Shadow's body, staining it with death.

The hooves of the following tauros and miltank trampled the lucario where he fell to the ground, but Tuesday could see him as easily as if they weren't even there. He lay on his back, hands reflexively clapped over the wound in his stomach, but blood gushed easily through his fingers. Death... Tuesday... they were one in the same here, lingered nearby but refused yet to touch him, leaving the lucario to suffer through a painful and lingering death.

Shadow's pupils were dilated in shock, his green eyes glazed in agony and nearing death. His body twitched, convulsing in the final throws of fading life and rising damnation, and Tuesday could only watch. The part of her that knew she was Death wanted to reach out, to kiss the lucario with a touch that would bring him peace, but something held her back. Fear? Disgust? Did she loathe Shadow so much for letting himself be destroyed that she would force him to suffer? Did she hate him so much that she would condemn him to agony, and damn herself?

Shadow seemed to look at her, but he couldn't see her, could he? Of course not. She was Death. She was a ghost - a lingering phantom crafted from the very essence that was nonexistence. He couldn't see her.

But then why did it seem as though he gazed at her with eyes full of longing? Pleading for her. Because I could not stop for Death... Should she stop for him? Draw her carriage up and let him climb inside, and then let the four horses gallop off into eternity? Should she grant him peace? Should she... God... stop looking at her... she doesn't want... she can't... those eyes, so full of pain, dying, death, lingering, stop... stop....

"Stop!"

Tuesday rocked back with a gasp, jerking herself to a stop moments before she toppled over backwards, into the aisle behind her. She gripped the bench beneath her with hands so tightly that her knuckles were as white as marble, and she was shivering lightly, trying to calm her breathing.

She had fallen asleep.

During Darryn's match.

She had to be the worst friend on the planet.

Letting out a sound that was half sigh, half sob, Tuesday buried her face in her hands, breathing deeply. When she had herself mostly under control, she drew her knees up to her chest, wrapped her arms around them, and sat staring out at the battlefield, forcing herself to watch the match. She would root for Darryn, because he deserved to win, and she would stop being such a baby!

[Living Arrow]

Even as a torrent of fire headed for Bravo and November was knocked to the ground, Darryn was watching for the right moment. He had a multitude of combinations up his sleeve to counter any fire-flying opponent but all they needed was the right opportunity and timing...

*Fire attacks directed on Bravo - I knew it! Just as we planned!*

"Bravo! Take the hit!" Darryn shouted, producing a gasp from all watching. His Pidgeotto, loyal and brave, flared his wings and wrapped them around himself, allowing the fire to rain down upon him. The heat dashed into his wing's, charging them up with thermo energy that he needed to execute the first part of Darryn's first plan.

*Bravo can't use Heat Wave unless he flies at top speed or its attacked with fire. He might be a little hurt by that, but just wait...*

"November, get up and use Flame Wheel on the Fearow before it can escape! Bravo, use Heat Wave on November!" Darryn called out, hoping that his Pidgeotto hadn't taken too much damage in the last attack.

Bravo plumeted toward the ground, still wrapped in flames but as he went, those flames began to collate in his wings... more... more...

"GEOH!" Bravo's descent ended as he spread his wings wide, a spray of brightly glowing feathers pouring from his wings like crimson rain across the arena. Troy leaned forward in his seat suddenly, his eyes widening and his attention completely stolen by the beauty of the move. A streak of shimmering red energy flooded from Bravo as he kicked his wings into a frenzy, pouring every ounce of the move upon November even as she ran underneath him, her own body erupting into flames.

With a screaming whinny, November's Flash Fire kicked in and her Flame Wheel surged into a blaze twice her own size as she dashed at the fleeing Fearow. The bird looked over its shoudler, squawking loudly in surprise as a massive ball of flame galloped towards him.

[Master Houndoom]

"Interesting," Otis intoned softly. He crossed his arms, then nodded. "Growlithe, intercept the ponyta now! Fearow, lift off and use Mirror Move on the Pidgeotto."

The growlithe dashed in front of November, skidding to a halt and absorbing the fiery attack with its own ability, taking the hit in the side and tumbling, but saving the fearow. This bought the bird time to rise and intercept the Heat Wave attack, sending it back up to Bravo.

"I very much doubt your pokémon can channel that energy into another attack while still trying to generate his own. 'Know your opponent and know yourself'." He fell silent, however. The trainer was doing an admirable job of throwing him off guard by type and attack combinations.

A trainer, however, doesn't need to be told when he is doing well. Only when he is failing miserably.

He tapped his chin and wondered what to do next when an idea came to him. He called out now, inspired by the ponyta's fire spin attack. "Fearow, Growlithe, Special attack: Firestorm!"

The fearow's wings began to beat, not quickly, but strong, hard beats, whipping up a Gust, which began to spin on itself into a Whirlwind. As he did so, the Growlithe shot a Flamethrower attack into the winds, setting it ablaze with heat just before the fearow sent it careening toward the pidgeotto.

* * * * *

Meiko sighed. Jaima had recalled Grondir, afraid he would get sick in the heat (and it was sweltering), and Mercury, too, had requested (Meiko assumed) to enter her pokéball, eliciting a worried glance from Jaima. However, she got her wish: She was returned to her pokéball.

When Otis turned the tables on Darryn, Meiko looked at Tuesday. Whatever line Otis had quoted had seemed right up the younger girl's alley. Therefore, Meiko was concerned about Tuesday's stance: Legs up, knees against her chest, staring blankly at the match below.

She wanted to alert Jaima to her suspicions, but thought better of it. It wasn't her place to intrude, and, besides, Jaima needed to concentrate on the match.

It would be up to Meiko to watch.

[Living Arrow]

*Crap! GOtta be quick!*

"November, return!" Darryn's surprise call-back was immediately followed up with Lady dashing straight into the arena as planned. They had previously agreed at Bravo would be the key in powering up during the battle and protecting him to a certain extent was the fire types' duty. Lady's scarlet fur burred across the field but she wasn't going to make it in time...

*OK, it's time to use the first defence... Here goes!*

"Bravo, Featherdance! And Lady use Extrasensory! Use Feather-Facade!!!" Darryn crossed his fingers. The defensive pattern had blocked a powered-up Fire Spin from November in their training but would it be enough...?

Lady's eyes shone bright blue as her psychic energies slammed into Bravo's rapidly expelled feathers, snatching them from the air and sending them into a hexagonal formation that created a neat, hardened wall of keratin between the Pidgeotto and the incoming attack.
With a roar of crackling, whirling howls, the Firestorm crashed with the feather-shield, burning and hammering away at its defences. Bravo, still pouring out feathers could not see that the wall was slowly crumbling, becoming ash that got caught up in the wind and began to decorate the air with dancing motes of darkness. Darryn, however, could.

"Bravo, no!" The flames tore the counter in two, shattering the formation and consuming Bravo once more.

*No time to hang around! Got to move!*

"LADY!" Darryn's Vulpix was already on the move, her Extrasensory working its magic. A small cloud of Bravo's feathers, untouched by the flames, swirled high in the air above the soaring Fearow. As one, they all swivveled and dove, the featherdance attack raining down on both avian and canine alike.

*Bravo, please be alright!

*****

Troy stared in awe at the move then to Darryn. The moves his Pokemon were performing were unlike anything he had ever seen before! The style was not something suited for Pokemon Battles at all - nothing was direct or simple. Everything was complex and showed of the visual aspects of the attacks rather than aiming to deal as much damage as possible.
Troy tapped his chin in thought. Darryn might be the best challenger he could meet in a while...

[Master Houndoom]

Otis nearly smiled as the boy took his ponyta out of play and sent the vulpix at his heels in. The strategy was, at first glance, sound, but as with most strategies, time pointed out the flaws all too readily. The firestorm flares as more fuel was added to it's flames.

"With both of your pokemon occupied with the defense of one, you've handed me a weapon. I accept it." He made a hand motion and sent the growlithe charging at Lady. A vicious bite to the flank broke her concentration, but not soon enough. The fearow fell out of the sky, caught by the recall beam bore it's body could crash to the ground.

"Magmar, take the field."

[Living Arrow]

*What's a Magmar?!*

Darryn watched with fascination as the Pokemon emerged on the other side of the field. He'd never seen one of thse before. If it was anything like a Charizard or a Typhlosion...

"It's got an ass for a head!" Troy laughed from the side of the arena, clutching his sides with both hands as he laughed outrageously. Otis shot a warning glare in his direction but either Troy didn't notice or didn't care. Darryn let out the tiniest snorts of a giggle as he, too, saw the uncanny resemblance and its sheer ugliness brought the whole atmosphere of the stadium down.

Back on the field, Lady had no time for the humans' games. The Growlithe dug his teeth deep into her side, blood beginning to seep through her already scarlet fur, darkening it with wetness. Her eyes, glowing blue, turned on him with anger. The dog looked at her with slight apprehension then gasped with fear as she lauched him off her with Extrasensory. She flung him high into the air, piercing his thoughts with mental daggers before slamming him to the ground.

"That's it, Lady!" Darryn cheered, excitement welling in him like a fountain fit to burst. "Now let's use that technical combo we worked on. Ready, November!?"

Darryn's Ponyta came clattering across the arena in a flash of dainty hooves and passionate flames. Lady's glowing eyes intensified as they lifted the Growlithe from the ground once more. Otis' Magmar ran towards the group but there was no way that fat ass could make it in time...

"Open his eyes!" Darryn ordered, Lady's psychic powers wrenching the dog's eyelids open even as he was attempting to force them closed again.

"Magar, do something! Faint Attack!" Otis sounded nervous... Darryn grinned.

"November, Hypnosis!" Darryn ordered, his equine partner skidding to a halt eye-to-eye with the Growlithe and fixing it with a sleep-inducing stare. Almost instantly the dog stopped squirming in the air and fell into a slump. Lady immediately flung the unconscious body high into the air, eplting it with psychic attacks as it went. Darryn wasn't ready to celebrate though. That Magmar was closing fast and Lady was completely exposed. He grabbed quickly for the Heal Ball on his belt.

*Tactical recall!*

"Lady, return! Bravo, back in the air!" Darryn announced, hoping that somehow November could dodge whatever that beast had to throw at her.

[Master Houndoom]

Otis' face hardened. The trainer had some surprising combinations, and he was showing quite well that he was more than flash. Still, once the element of surprise was removed, it was obvious upon whom the dependency rested.

The trainer had recalled his vulpix and sent out his pidgeotto instead, and, since he was now down a pokémon, Otis followed the trainer's release with one of his own. Fearow soared above, smarting still, but now awake and looking for vengeance. The magmar lumbered below, but in this the trainer's 'surprise' move of using a fire type was to his detriment. It wasn't that he hadn't chosen wisely; Both of the trainer's fire pokémon were powered up by fire attacks, and he had used that ability very well. However, fire type attacks had diminished effect on Magmar, who could live comfortably in the heart of an active volcano, and he had been trained in defense, and a minor boost in an already surprising speed.

He was no Rapidash, but he could indeed surprise a trainer who didn't expect him to get into the field of battle very quickly.

"Magmar," Otis intoned calmly. "Smog, smokescreen, and confuse ray on the ponyta." He smirked, just a bit. Yes, it wasn not very wise to concentrate on a one on one battle when the opponent was effectively using attacks that struck with double the power, but in this case his plan was to divide and conquer. Obfuscating the equine's eyesight was one step in that plan.

"Fearow," Otis snapped, allowing his anger at having lost one of his pokémon to show. "It is time to use our secret weapon. Target the pidgey and use Tri-attack!"

[Living Arrow]

*CRAP!*

"Bravo, protect November with Whirlwind! November, protect Bravo with Fire Spin!" Darryn called with more wishful thinking that actual knowledge that either plan would work. he was desperate! Bravo had already taken heavy hits and November wasn't exactly known for her endurance battling... In fact, she'd never won a battle...

"GEOH!" Bravo screamed his efforts as he blew down the descending cloud of Smog and Smokescreen but Darryn's error was two fold. Not only did clearing the air give perfect chance for the Confuse Ray to flash deep into November's eyes but the subsequent delusion meant that November could not react as speedily as he had hoped. Her dazed gout of spiralling flame flew wide of its mark, sailing harmlessly through the air with a triple-beam of thunder, fire and ice spashed from the foe Fearow's beak.

"Get out of there!" Darryn yelled, already knowing that even Bravo's speed could not outrun that piercing attack. All three bolts slashed into his body, feathers flying on impact. His flight faltered and he dipped in the air, xhaustion beginning to take hold.

*I've got to do something! If I don't then the match is as good as over...*

"Faint Attack!" Otis ordered from the opposite side of the stadium. Darryn wtchedin shock as the fire type glimmered and shimmer, disappearing and reappearing next to November in a flash, its fists slamming hard into her neck. She screamed as the impact drove her to the ground, making Darryn wince with her pain. Her equine eyes rolled madly as she bucked, kicking herself harshly in the stomach. She screamed again and again, each cry becoming weaker and weaker.

"Ponyta is unable to battle." The referree finally announced.

*We can still pull this back!*

"November, return! I call Lady Foxtrot back to the field!"

*Defence first. That was our original plan. Defence, followed by a hard attack. We've got to take them one at a time!*

"Bravo, settle down and use Roost! Lady, get ready!" Darryn announced, waiting for Otis' next move. "Protect Bravo!"

[Umbrae Calamitas]

Zorro watched as Darryn recalled his ponyta, November, from the field. She wasn't as pretty as Tuesday's ponyta, Wraith, but then, Zorro's favorite colors were black and blue. November couldn't help it if her natural colors weren't as royally awesome as his coat.

Tuesday sat on the bench with his arms around her knees, staring out at the match. It seemed as though she had calmed down, as Zorro couldn't feel misery or fear rolling off of her like he had been able to previously. Maybe things were working out for the better. He smiled. It was a nice thought. And he had something that would cheer her up the rest of the way, too!

He'd had to sneak off while she was busy paying attention to the match, but he managed to find the girls he was looking for. When he joined in their little routine and managed to mimic their lithe maneuvers perfectly, they had recognized his obvious cuteness and given him a gift. Zorro's grin widened, his sharp teeth flashing. He couldn't wait to use it!

Of course, he had wanted to use it for both battles, but he hadn't made it back in time. He didn't want to distract Darryn from the heated midst of battle (it looked like he needed all of his concentration for this match. Really, relying on a horse and a bird!? This was the job of someone amazing, like Zorro!), so he would just have to wait for Jaima's match.

It would be worth it, though. He sneaked a glance under the seat at his prize and grinned again, before turning back to watch the match.

This was going to be great!

[Master Houndoom]

Jaima was on the edge of his seat! The combinations being shown by both the Gym Leader and Darryn were absolutely fantastic to watch, Darryn's being crisp, clean, and precise, but Otis' being something of a power over looks philosophy. Already there was an outage on both sides, and both were, in Jaima's opinion, evenly matched.

Next to him, Tsunami watched, something in her eyes beginning to show, an excitement for battle she'd never had before. Likewise, Fang, sitting calmly, contrasting the last battle where he bounced around as if on a spring, was lashing his tail in eager anticipation. Jaima had already decided to employ them in the next battle, but who his third should be was still vague in his mind. Mercury seemed tired, and though he didn't doubt her power, he didn't want to stress her out. She already seemed lethargic. Grondir would be a surprise, but would it be worth the risk? He was vulnerable to both types of this gym, and if they dodged his status ailments, they'd make short work of him. Shadow was quick and agile, but the type disadvantage would be a detriment, and besides, he was grateful for the watchful eye he was keeping on Tuesday.

Tuesday worried him. He knew she was a quiet person by nature, with a kind of serenity and attitude Jaima had never seen in a twelve year old (not even himself, if he were completely honest). But this, with her knees pulled up and her eyes dull, this was worrisome. This was after a feraligatr, or in the face of her worst fear.

Which, of course, he had thought was the feraligatr.

He wanted to reach over to her and ask what was wrong, cancel his match until tomorrow and get to the bottom of this, but Meiko gave him a look and a light shake of her head. Girl things? Maybe. Or maybe Meiko knew that she needed time.

He just wished there was something to hurt so it would stop hurting Tuesday.

He turned back to the match. If he couldn't postpone it (Tuesday had looked stricken just knowing he'd been up late the night before last), he'd make it as quick as he could. And that meant one thing;

He'd have to win.

* * * * *

Otis almost grinned. "Protecting your pidgeotto is a good tactic. But if the vulpix is protecting him, who is protecting her?"

With a wave of his hand, he called out, "Fearow, Aerial Ace! Magmar, Faint Attack!"

He watched as his Fearow bolted to a dive toward the vulpix, a well groomed and properly trained specimen, and as his magmar faded from view to appear on her other side. The vulpix managed to dodge the more visible attack by leaping over the fearow, but that put it in prime position for the faint attack.

But that was not the plan. "Fair Play!"

As one the bird u-turned and the magmar dashed, both of them lashing out at the pidgeotto. Perhaps the name of the attack was wasted, but Otis didn't care. Turnabout WAS fair play, after all.

[Living Arrow]

Darryn watched with horror as the pair of Pokemon closed in on Bravo with a well co-ordinated bluff that paid of far better than Darryn could have ever expected. A sharp beak from above, a powerful fist from the front. Darryn's Pidgeotto had no hope of dodging, despite his incredile speed. A grounded bird would need time to get up to speed and time was something that Darryn's half of the field did not have.

*I don't have a choice... Bravo's got to take the hit but he'll be out for sure! I guess there's nothing else for it. I wanted to save that combination but now's the only chance we've got!*

<I am ready, Prince Darryn!> Lady landed gracefully and spread her legs wide. She was bracing herself... She knew what he was planning already?!

Darryn grit his teeth and made the judgement call. Bravo would understand... he hoped.

"Bravo, use Twister on yourself!" Darryn ordered, producing gasps from all around the stadium. Troy leaned forward in his seat, that lazy smile completely gone. Now, his face was one of intense concentration and observation. He did not blink as he took in the every detail of Darryn's battlestyle. It was gorgeous but completely unpredictable!

The Pidgeotto blinked with a moment of hesitation but, just as he was ordered, he threw his wings into a frenzy, ripping up a contained tornado that crackled and flashed with intense sapphire light. Otis's Pokemon rushed in, directly into the pathway of the attack. Even so, a dagger-like beak tore into his chest and a flaming fist slammed down on his back. His avian scream of pain carried desperation as Darryn's flying-type poured more effort into the attack.

"Move back!" Otis called out to his Pokemon, ordering the retreat but the Fearow was in now position to escape. It's broad wings were the perfect target for Bravo's localised whirlwind and so got caught up in the vortex, spinning higher and higher into the air. The Magmar, however, jumped away, wiping at its arm where the razor-edged wind had sliced at its burning flesh.

"Lady! Use Flamethrower on the vortex!" Darryn ordered, knowing exactly what the consequences were. Lady, unlike Bravo, did not flinch. Her mouth opened wide and her primal scream let rip a spiralling gout of flame that tore through Bravo and raced up the swirling storm of the Twister. Red and gold sparkled dramatically against silvery blue in the frenzy of fire and wind, producing a blindingly beautiful column of sparkling light that burned onto the retinas of all watching.

The resounding cries of not only Bravo but also the Fearow shook the stadium as Lady's flames proceeded to calify the atmosphere and drain all the energy from their bodies. Moments later, two unconscious bird collapsed to the floor and Pokeballs were raised.

"Bravo, return!" Darryn held up the Premier Ball and kissed it as it closed, whispering under his breath "You did amazing out there. I am so proud of you!" The ball was minimised and Darryn's focus came back to the match. He was nearly there. All it was now was one-on-one.

"Let's do it Lady, Extrasensory!"

[Master Houndoom]

Otis' eyebrow raised. A very nice turn of events had just happened, and he had come close, dangerously close, to praising the trainer. He'd have to be sure he was getting enough sleep at nights.

The trainer was relying far too much on extrasensory from the vulpix. (Perhaps he'd like to trade the vulpix. She was a beautiful specimen). However, Extrasensory could, like most attacks, be negated quite easily.

"Magmar, use Smog. Cover the arena!" The magmar grinned and blew clouds of a seemingly viscous, malevolent gas from its mouth, its dark form covering the entire form and spilling from the arena floor into the lava below. The smog cloud reached up to the magmar's chest before Otis waved for it to stop.

"Now! Rock Smash at the arena floor at your feet!" Another pokémon may have hesitated, but the magmar simply slammed a fist into the ground, sending a plum of rock debris over his head. "Again!" The magmar repeated the action. "And again!"

The smog was thinning now, pouring over the edge, the wind from the magmar's blows lending it a small amount of momentum. When the magmar struck the ground, there was a yelp to the side. "Magmar," grinned Otis. "Find her and strike her down with Faint Attack!"

* * * * *

Meiko was grinning from ear to ear, but Jaima's lips were pressed together. It was annoying. "Come on, Jaima, Darryn's got this in the bag! There's no way that thing can use fire on Lady, her ability negates it! And he's got her hidden in smog!"

Jaima nodded once, but said nothing. Meiko folded her arms. Probably wanted to go back to the Nurse and get some personal care or something stupid. This was a great match, and he was ruining it.

"Darryn's a great fighter," Jaima said. "He took on two pokémon with a team he was hardly familiar with. But he's not fighting right now... it's almost like he's putting on a show."

Meiko frowned. "These are effective attacks he's making."

"Yeah, but they're also organized. Like that feather shield thing he did. Lady took a little time to make perfect shapes. It was affective, but..." Jaima shook his head and smiled, a nice, handsome smile, that was both sweet and self conscious. "Listen to me. Pokemon color commentary." He smiled again, then turned to the field. "Never mind me. He's doing a great job. Just... I dunno, there's something I can't put my finger on.

Meiko looked back at the battle and tried to ignore her heart pounding.

[Living Arrow]

"Vuuul!" Lady exploded out of the smog, tendrils of purple smoke clinging to her body as she flew limply through the air. Even as the poison cloud faded, the Magmar's raised fist could be seen along with an ugly grin on its beak. Otis wore that same smile. Confidence personified.

*Lady can't take much more - she's too tired to do much more... We've got to finish this!*

"Lady, let's go with Agility!" Darryn commanded. His Vulpix snapped out of her daze to land gracefully and burst into a blur of speeding crimson fur, trailing a cloud of Smog behind her. The Magmar watched her warily, turning slowly to keep her in sight.

"Magmar, Confuse Ray!" Otis commanded.

*Oh no you don't! Time for our next trick!*

"Lady, Imprison!" Darryn called. Lady's eyes flashed blue and a visible yet insubstantial net seemed to weave itself around the fire-duck-monster-thing's body. It's attack was stopped dead and it gasped with confusion.

"Now, Energy Ball!" A green sphere smashed into the Magmar's chest, making it stagger backwards. "Again!" Ball upon ball rained into the foe as Lady charged head-on spitting veridian globes that forced the opponent back one step at a time. "And get in with Flamethrower!"

"Magmar? Mach Punch now." Otis intoned. Suddenly everything seemed to move in slow motion. Lady launched herself at the Magmar, her mouth already spitting fire in a spiral-jet of flames even as the Magmar seemed to disappear and reappear at her side with that grin on its face again. Darryn's Vulpix gasped and her eyes slowly turned to meet the fist coming straight towards her...

"MAG!"

"VUUUL!"

"LADY!"

The small vulpine Pokemon hit the dirt with a sickly thud, dust kicking up around her with the impact. Darryn didn't need to wait for the referee to call the result to know that his Pokemon was unable to battle. It was quite obvious - anyone in the stadium could see that Lady wouldn't be getting up in a hurry. Leaping off his platform, Darryn ran to Lady's side where he scooped her up carefully in his arms and kissed her head.

"Oh, Lady. You did so well!" He nuzzled her fur. "I'm really proud of you."

"Magmar, return." Otis said calmly, his Pokemon shrinking back into its Pokeball. He turned to Darryn and raised an eyebrow. "You did well, Challenger, but I'm afraid the Emberwing Badge will not be yours today."

Darryn's heart sank. He'd lost. His gym debut and it had resulted in a fail. After all that work. All those nights grooming and getting the attacks just right. All the studying and sparring. What was it all for if he still didn't have anything to show for it?

"I understand." He admitted, clicking Lady's Heal Ball to its maximised size. She stirred momentarily and kicked weakly into his chest.

<I will not lose!>

"Thank you for the opportunity, Otis." Darryn bowed respectfully and shook the Gym Leader's hand. "I'll keep training and try again some day."

"You do that." Otis said loftily, looking Darryn up and down. "Send the next challenger into the arena once you're out."

Regretfully, Darryn nodded and made his way over to the stands where three pairs of eys were watching him. Were those eyes carrying pity? Darryn didn't know. He hoped they weren't. If they took pity on him that only meant that yet again he was left behind while the others moved ahead. He held back the tears and made his way up to where Jaima and the girls were waiting.

*****

Troy sat back and folded his arms. Darryn had lost. Even so, it had been extremely close. That Magmar's knees were shaking when it had been called back - it was about ready to drop. To be able to take a gym on with no strategy for type advantages was risky but in this case the battle was so close that it had almost paid off.

*Those moves were amazing... not what you'd normally see in a gym... I wonder...*

Troy flippped open his cellphone and rapidly clicked out a text to the master of ceremonies, Gillian Meridian.

[Open more spaces for the Contest this afternoon. Might have some real talent coming in.]

Troy grinned. That Darryn boy really was something else. Now... only to convince him...

[Master Houndoom]

Jaima had no clue what to say as Darryn came up the stairs into the seating area. He knew he would be devastated to have gotten that close and lost, but from the outside, Darryn had put on a magnificent showing. He had knocked out two of the three gym leader's team with no type advantage, no strength advantage, in fact, he seemed to have a disadvantage where that was concerned. Jaima's opinion of Darryn had only gone up since the day he met the other boy.

Luckily for Jaima, Meiko seemed to know exactly what to say. As soon as he appeared near them, Meiko stood and walked to him, giving him a generous hug. "You were terrific!" She beamed into his face, then punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Seriously, Darryn, you did a fantastic job!"

Darryn didn't seem convinced, and expressed as much, but Meiko waved the nay saying away. "Darryn, not everyone wins their first gym challenge! I had to do my first gym three times before I passed, and these gyms are a lot more complicated! There is nothing at all to be ashamed of with a showing like that!"

"She's right," Jaima chipped in. "Besides, who could work out combinations like that? You can't have forgotten our battle on the mountain. You were phenomenal, and you hadn't even met half of those pokémon until that day!"

Meiko spared Jaima a small grin. "Jaima's right! You'll get 'im next time!"

"Meiko's right about me being right! Y--"

"Will the next Trainer please come to the arena?" The voice was impatient and condescending, and set Jaima's teeth on edge. Meiko seemed to feel similarly. Her eyes narrowed as she looked toward the arena.

"Well, that's me," Jaima said, suddenly and inexplicably nervous. Darryn had taken a lot of care and work, had taught his pokémon moves that made them into an effective team, but Jaima had nothing like that in his arsenal.

A ball on his bandolier burst open, and Mercury appeared, looking haggard and frantic. Did I miss it?! Did his match start?!

"No, Mercury, I'm still here, but they're calling for me." Jaima peered at his pokémon and came to a decision. "You can watch up here with Shadow and Grondir."

But..!

"No buts, sugar. You're tired, and these three haven't had a chance to fight yet." He gently caressed Mercury's crest. "Root for me, OK?"

"If the Trainer is not on the arena in five minutes, he will forfeit his attempt!"

Jaima sighed, gave a shaky smile to his friends, and made his way down. There was so much on his mind. Tuesday's silence, which, while possibly normal, was never such a fearful silence. Meiko's seeming ire at him, coupled with the times she seemed almost friendly. Darryn's obvious distress. Mercury's fatigue.

Slowly he allowed such concerns to pile into the back of his mind, determined to keep his mind on his match. But he didn't have combos, and he didn't have a lot of training. He had a type advantage, but that wouldn't hold up well against a good trainer. He was outclassed. Out skilled. Out maneuvered.

Calm.

Jaima sent a mental smile to Mercury, and stepped up to his podium. One by one he pulled pokéballs from his bandolier.

The blue ball with the small fin built up on top.

The blue-grey ball with a mold of a flame on the back.

The black ball with the gold star shape on top.

"My name is Jaima Kuonji, from Cherrygrove City in the Johto Region." Jaima's glasses flashed in the light. "And I challenge you."

[Umbrae Calamitas]

Tuesday followed Darryn with her eyes as he made his way slowly back into the stands. She wanted to tell him that she thought he had done a good job. What little she had seen of the match had been brilliant on his part. Her mind kept slipping off into the darkness of dreams and memories, and occasionally she would doze off, but Zorro always woke her dutifully, as she had asked him to. But when Darryn sat down, Meiko was talking to him about the match, so Tuesday turned back into Silence and then turned back to the field, as Jaima walked out onto it.

His glasses flashed in the stadium light as he challenged the gym leader, Otis, and Tuesday had to smile. She knew he'd do well, of course. His pokemon were deeply loyal to him, and he to them.

That was sometimes a frightening thing, however, wasn't it?

Tuesday shuddered, the memory that had never actually left her mind flashing forward into her attention. Closing her eyes, willing the visions away, she wrapped her arms tighter around her knees and tried not to cry. This was becoming too much. She had to stop being such a baby! It was ridiculous!

"Coward," she whispered softly, and buried her head in her arms.

~*~

Zorro was giddy. Finally, Jaima's match had begun. He could finally put his super-awesome plan into action! It was guaranteed to make Jaima win!!

Crouching down on the floor, Zorro dug through his secret stash of items, quickly donning them. It took a little over five minutes for him to be completely satisfied (time enough for Jaima and Otis to formally introduce themselves and their pokemon), but then he leapt up onto the front of the stand, right on the edge.

It was impossible not to see him. The riolu was dressed in a cheerleader's outfit, with a bright yellow blouse and a crimson skirt. He held red and yellow-stringed pompoms in his hands, and began waving them erratically around, cheering loudly for Jaima with a continuous cry of "Rii! Riio! Lu Lu Riolu!"

Tuesday made a bare glance at him (something that Zorro would have been disappointed at if he had noticed), but Dante gazed at him with an exasperated gaze, and then smacked himself in the head. Obviously, the charmander thought this was going to be a really long match.

[Living Arrow]

Darryn listened to Jaima and Meiko's supportive words and was grateful for them, even if he didn't show it very well, but he couldn't help thinking how things would have turned out if he had used Romeo and Zulu... They were the smart choices! They probably could have given him a victory! But he had chosen to be a smart alec and take on the gym leader on an even battle field. How could he be so stupid?

Troy's icy eyes watched him with a mixture of interest and concern from across the stadium. That lazy smile and relaxed slump was gone. He looked tense. Apprehensive. Darryn looked away. The embarrassment of losing in front of the first guy to pay him any attention since Justin was too much to handle on top of the loss itself. Life sucked.

Jaima made his way down to where Darryn had been standing on the Challenger's Platform, his selected Pokeballs already picked from his bandolier. Darryn was surprised to see that both Mercury and Shadow were watching from the sidelines and mentally gave Jaima kudos - they were his strongest Pokemon, after all. Even so, Fang and Tsunami were the obvious choices for the gym's inhabitants and yet Ember was in the lineup... Whatever Jaima was thinking, there was no doubt a plan behind leaving Mercury on the side lines...

Darryn stood up from his seat and shook out his depression. There was no point being selfish and brooding like that. He'd just go on with even more drive than before. If Meiko had multiple attempts and still got as far as she did, he could too!

"Come on, Jaima! Show him what you've got!" Darryn cheered, gripping onto the rail at the field's edge.

*****

"My name is Jaima Kuonji, from Cherrygrove City in the Johto Region." Jaima's glasses flashed in the light. "And I challenge you."

"Come on, Jaima! Show him what you've got!" A shout whooped from the viewing section.

"It would be appreciated if all spectators remained silent in the opening of the match." Otis shouted right back, not looking away from the next challenger. This one seemed different. While the first had quite clearly taken a penchant for his own appearance and the glamour of his Pokemon, this one seemed more basic. Modest. Competant from the get-go. Strategy was key, as always, but one that was more complex might be more appropriate...

Otis delicately rolled the selection menu on his Pokeball-transporter and seleceted three from his collection, their energy crackling into existence on the pedestal on his own platform. He maximised two and held them firmly between delicate fingers..

"By watching the previous match, you already know the history of this gym and the Pokemon that I choose to battle with. I doubt, however, that you are aware of the extent to which I train Pokemon to bring out the very limits of their potential. We know that battling me with my chosen elements is futile after the earlier performance but what will you do? Give me something more to think about, I hope.
Anyway, without further ado, it is tme to start this match. Let me introduce you to three further examples of Moltres' passionate flames - Noctowl, Numel and Golbat! Come and face your foes!"