12:30 p.m. October 26th, Monday, 106 PH (Post Hoopa Event). Day 139.
Events: Rhea and the girls are on a Badge Hunt, trying to get all the Kanto Encrusted Badges before time runs out! Our girl started her journey on the 9th of June, and the end of registration for the Winter Indigo Cup is December 5th (39 days away).
Rhea’s legs trembled beneath her as she looked out over the battlefield, the scene from their last bout vivid in her mind. She could barely hold herself up, feeling every ounce of exertion from the intense battle.
I can’t believe I'm still standing, but V’s power helped a lot with keeping me going after that Night Shade and all the Stat Boosts…
Her tired eyes focused on the hologram of Jason. Despite the sweat dotting his forehead, he appeared calm and collected, ready for the next round.
How does he do it? We threw everything at him, and he's still standing… He really has come so far since Kalos. She couldn’t help but smile at the thought as her Pokemon returned the sentiment. Sure, we went all out, but he managed to survive it all. Taking you out at the start, Nova, really threw us for a loop. That means his training in Kalos was worth it—for both of us.
“Hey, Jason!” she teasingly called out over the hologram. “You ready to call it a day, or do you still have some fight left in you?”
Jason grinned, wiping his forehead. “Oh, I'm not done yet, Rhea. You might need a break, though. Those legs look like they’re about to give out. I wouldn’t want to be accused of abuse.”
She laughed while stretching out her stressed muscles. “Yeah, yeah. Don’t worry about me. I’m still good for one more round for our babies… I’m shocked you managed to survive all of that abuse, though. I haven’t gone this hard against anyone…not even the Gym Leaders. I’ve literally used everything I had.”
Her heart ached as she saw an uncharacteristic break in her boyfriend’s demeanor. Lips pulling in and nose flaring, as if trying to hold back hot emotions, he cleared his throat and rubbed his cheek, releasing a long breath.
“…Well, we’re not done yet, and I have yet to claim my prize.”
Rhea somehow felt twice as light from that statement, the words repeating in her mind. Yet to claim his prize? He really thinks I’m a prize worth fighting this hard for? Even to fight through a literal Legendary Pokemon’s fully empowered attack…that could have killed his Pokemon—not that Franky would allow that. Still… I’m worth it, huh?
With a flick of her wrist, she recalled Alice and Mya as they returned to her side of the field. Lulu teleported onto her head, looking a little tired but still cheering on her teammates.
“Neee!”
Rhea activated Shae’s Poke Ball, taking a deep breath and willing her heart to settle. Months of tension had built up to this moment, and she was waiting for her sweet release.
She looked at her long blonde hair, fluttering to the side, her cheeks turning red while recalling the moment she’d tackled him when he’d returned, lying atop him with her unbound locks veiling them in their own little world.
If we continued like we were, I might be in trouble with my Fortitude. Jason could have pushed it and made me surrender. His Pokemon were stalling me out, but instead, he accepted the draw and hinged everything on our baby Pokemon… If I’m the star for him, he can be my anchor.
Looking up, she prepared to release Shae as she exchanged a glance with Jason through the hologram. Her heart was full as she recalled every interaction they’d had since that first kiss that had sent her to the moon, yet one incident returned—one that was so…them.
“Hey, Jason,” she whispered, only loud enough for him to hear while holding up her device, “remember that time you texted me to sneak out in Fuchsia and we walked around, talked, and got lost…ending up in that convenient store?” she asked with a smile.
Jason chuckled. “How could I forget? The contrast from dazzling goddess in a kimono to a pajama queen. You were teasing me that the guy behind the counter was hitting on you, offering you those discounts.”
“Hey, he totally was! And you were too busy stuffing your face with chips to notice.”
“Oh, I noticed! I just wanted to see what you’d do. The skittish, awkward comments, trying to get out as fast as possible—cute.”
They both laughed, the memory easing the tension of the moment. Their parents watched from the sidelines, their expressions a mix of pride and amusement. It was a little embarrassing, but right now, she was just sharing a moment with her old best friend as they moved on to something better.
Jason nodded, his expression turning serious but warm. “Alright, you done stalling and ready to finish this?”
“Oh, shut-up! Shae is ready to show you what she has. And if you win, you get one wish! So make it count,” she whispered, unable to believe she actually said it.
She giggled inside as it took a second for her boyfriend to respond. “Well…I can’t lose now. Let me turn that around on you. If I win, I’m your servant for a day. I’m yours, so make this last one a battle to remember.”
Ahhh! Rhea screamed inside; he just couldn’t let her have a win without pulling the uno reverse. I’ll make you regret that!
Rhea took a deep breath, calming her free-flying Butterfree, her exhaustion momentarily forgotten. “You too, Jason. Let’s make this one to remember.” She threw her Poké Ball, and as her final Pokemon emerged at the edge of the giant, water-filled crater Lulu had created. The battlefield was set for their ultimate showdown.
* — * — *
Shae emerged from her Poké Ball, her Quirky Nature evident in the way she twirled upon appearing. The battlefield was vast, a giant crater filled with water from Lulu’s previous attack, glistening under the sun’s blinding lights. Shae’s pink eyes sparkled as she took in the scene, feeling the residual energy from the previous battles.
Wow, this place is huge when outside of your Poke Ball! So much space to play!
“It sure is, kid,” Mya said with a short chuckle. “Try to stay focused, though—what is that, Rhea?!”
“A Lapras,” Nova responded. “We saw one on the Rescue Squad show, remember?”
“Right…”
“I don’t remember,” Alice yawned. “I’m more interested in battling than kids TV shows.”
Shae giggled as she heard Nova’s low growl. “Are you trying to say my favorite show makes me a kid?”
“No…” the bun mumbled unconvincingly.
Her thoughts were quickly turned away upon seeing Lulu wave at her from atop Rhea’s head. “You’re the best, friend! Jump and twirl to show dominance!”
“Yeah!” Shae cheered, following instructions, her black-and-white body twinkling in the sunlight. “We’re the best!”
She spotted Serenade’s calm and pretty sparkle reflected against the water as Jason’s Lapras glided gracefully across the water.
“Hi there, Serenade!” Shae called out, her voice bubbling with excitement while hopping forward to the water’s edge. “Ready for some fun?”
Serenade nodded, a serene smile on her slim face. “Of course, Shae. Might I add that you have a lovely shine to your black hair?”
“You, too! I like your white shell and shiny black skin. The white stripe on your neck and lower fins is really, uh, what is the word?”
“Elegant!” Lulu chimed.
“Yeah, elegant!”
“How sweet. Thank you,” the tempered girl smiled. “It looks like our Trainers are about to start.”
“Mhm! Ready.”
Shae’s heart raced with anticipation for her first battle, having watched closely how everyone fought. What should I do first? I don’t know anything.
“Alright, let’s show them what we’ve got!” Rhea internally soothed as Nova and Mya repeated her inquiry. Shae tilted her head, confused. “Oh! Don’t worry, I’ll tell you what to do. Just try to remain calm and have fun!”
Okay!
Franky floated up from the pond, between Serenade at its center and her on the shore. “I want an eerie and spooky match,” he snickered, his big white teeth gleaming. “On one, begin… Three, two…one!”
He vanished, and Shae’s eyes widened, the world coming more in focus as Perception activated, heightening her awareness. She could sense Lulu’s cheers and movements at her back as Rhea sent her first encouraging command.
“Let’s start with Mystical Fire; use it on the pond to make steam, heat up the water, and block her view!” Rhea commanded, her voice filled with encouragement.
Roger!
Shae started to jog to the side, as Nova suggested, drawing in Rhea’s sent energy for the first time; it felt as if flames were welling up within her whole body, filling her with delight. Holding up her right hand, sparkling purple, blue, and crimson fire twinkled into existence, leaving a trail of color.
Conjuring the burst of magical flames, she pulled it close to her chest before projecting it across the water to skid over the surface toward the Lapras. The dancing flames flicked through the air, their enchanting glow momentarily captivating Shae.
I did that? So pretty…
“Eh?!” her toe hit a rock, making her tumble and roll to the ground as a thin beam of rainbow light cut through the mist, passing right over her to leave a thin smoking trail of burned stone. “Aa-k! I’m okay!”
Hopping upright with another twirl, she noticed Lulu shaking Rhea’s head band and forth with her gasps, clutching her hair. “She dodged! She dodged!”
“Aurora Beam? Well played to sweep away the mist, Jason,” Rhea mused. “We’re going to have to—Dragon Dance?! What do you feed our Pokemon, Mom?!”
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“Impressive, Shae,” Serenade calmly complimented as the veil was swept away by the cut-through wind. “But let’s see how you handle this?”
“Quick, Shae, Confuse Ray!”
A soft hum began to emanate from her, resonating with the natural rhythm of the water. She closed her eyes, a pulse of navy-blue energy radiating from her body, causing the water beneath Serenade to ripple, responding to the surge of power building within the Lapras.
Slowly, Serenade began to sway, her long neck moving in graceful arcs. The air around her shimmered with an ethereal glow, a mixture of blue and violet light that pulsed in time with her movements. Each sway and turn became more fluid, more intense, as the dance progressed, increasing her Attack and Speed according to Nova’s explanation.
“Focus, Shae! I know she’s cool, and her dancing looks fun, but don’t let it distract you in battle!”
Shae watched in awe at the water’s edge, her lips following open, mesmerized by elegance of the dance but she swiftly jolted out of her revere, building the eerie force within her.
Sorry!
The energy around Serenade intensified, forming visible streams of light that spiraled around her as Shae’s eyes flashed purple. The pond’s surface was pulled into a mesmerizing vortex of light and water. As she continued to dance, almost gliding over the water, the light enveloping her grew brighter, her body absorbing the power and channeling it into every fiber of her being.
Shae extended her small arm, channeling the ghostly power into a single, concentrated point. A swirling orb of ghostly light formed, flickering and pulsing with a hypnotic rhythm. With a swift motion, she sent the shimmering orb hurling toward the Lapras, cutting through the ethereal glow of the Dragon Dance.
With a final, powerful turn, Serenade’s eyes opened and tried to dodge by jumping into the air with a blaze of fierce, draconic intensity. Yet, she didn’t manage to escape; the orb hit, making the Lapras squint and try to stop herself from swaying.
“Nice!” Rhea roared. “She’s disoriented and seeing stars!”
Serenade let out a melodic yet commanding roar, the sound reverberating through the air and water, sending waves rippling outward toward her. “Not bad…Shae.”
“Now’s our chance; use Shadow Sneak!”
Shae slipped into her shadow, moving with lightning speed as a black shade upon the rippling waters. Connecting to Serenade’s shadow, Shae leaped out of it to land on her hard-shelled back, striking at it with her shadow-infused fist. The attack landed, but Shae’s eyes widened upon seeing the thin outline appear on impact—Serenade’s sturdy shell armor had absorbed most of the impact.
“Woah! You’re so tough—uh-oh, I’m in the middle of the water, and I don’t know how to swim!”
“Nice try, Shae,” Serenade said with a light chuckle, shaking off the confusion to look at her back with a small smirk. “But you’ll need more than that to penetrate my defenses.”
Serenade retaliated by breathing in deeply, and Shae’s vision widened as the world seemed to slow, and multiple outlines of the Lapras’ attack flashed across her mind—Instinct kicked in. Shae danced forward, using Serenade’s long neck to slide around and stay ahead of the chilling, dry beam; everything it touched froze instantly, including a part of her own shell that easily broke away as the Lapras moved.
“Great job, Shae! Now, let’s use Encore! That’s a heavy Fortitude Move that will put pressure on Jason. Try to dodge—wait, you Traced?”
Shae clapped enthusiastically while landing back on her frosty shell, sending out a wave of compelling energy. Lights flashed over them, causing Serenade’s eyes to widen, forced to repeat her last Move. Eyes focused on Serenade, a new Ability came into her arsenal, and not a moment too soon. The Freeze-Dry attack continued, but Shae was ready this time.
Jumping off her shell, Shae’s toes barely touched the rippling waters, a new type of energy flowing through her, allowing her to skate across the waves as if ice. Riding the waves, Shae laughed, Butterfree swelling in her belly as she spun and twirled around the beams of ice, swapping to the frozen paths when available.
“This is so much fun, Serenade!”
Serenade smiled, her calm demeanor unshaken. “Well played, Shae. It seems we can both dance across the waves now. But I still have a few tricks up my sleeve.”
Shae’s Perception and Instinct kept her agile and unpredictable amidst the blasts of freezing breath, while Serenade’s calm and collected nature waited for the Encore to pass, only using Freeze-Dry to block line of sight and keep Shae moving across the surface. It didn’t take long for Shae to see something new, though—Serenade, much smaller than a fully grown Lapras, dove into the pond.
This is so much fun, and I’m learning so much! Shae projected to her teammates. I could do this all day!
Shae’s eyes sparkled with determination, her Quirky Nature never allowing her to stay still for too long while Perception helped her track Serenade under the waves.
Wow, she’s so fast underwater! What’s the plan?
Nova’s voice echoed in her mind. “Stay agile and use the water to your advantage. You can keep up with her. Just remember, she’s not just calm but tough. Don’t let her throw you off balance.”
Got it!
“Alright, Shae, let's keep it going!” Rhea’s voice cut through the intensity of the battle, filled with unwavering support. “Misty Terrain!”
Stars and mist swirled around Shae as she gathered Rhea’s intoxicating energy, creating a film of fog to hide in while skating over the waves.
Serenade surfaced gracefully, her eyes meeting Shae’s with a serene smile as she peered over the mist. “You’re quite the little dancer, Shae. But let’s see how you handle this.”
“Uh-oh. Those look dangerous!”
A brown aura projected around the Lapras, forming into large rocks that launched her way. Shae remained mobile, trying to follow the trajectory of each one, but when she jumped over one, the one behind it was aimed just right to slam into her body.
Shae winced as her energy matrix took a heavy hit, and using Wave Rider to give herself purchase, Shae gained a burst of speed to dodge the remainder of them as the stones created more waves for her to use upon striking the pond.
“Nice try,” she laughed, “but I’m fast enough with your ability to get away from most of those! Now, take this!”
Mystical flames erupted from her outstretched hand, mixing with the sparkly mist. The vibrant inferno skidded across the water towards Serenade, licking over the surface and creating steam that engulfed Serenade.
Shae couldn’t even look down in time to see the thin, multi-colored ray pierce the water at an angle below her, hitting her square in the chest and throwing her into the air—Aurora Beam. Serenity had dived below and countered.
Shooting through the superheated air and steam to tumble over the ground, Shae coughed. Serenade’s head slid through the surface, her voice still calm, yet her eyes narrowing slightly. “Impressive Moves, Shae. But let’s get a bit more serious.”
Shae struggled to her feet, having never taken a hit before like that; the single Ancient Power rock couldn’t compare. It felt like she was close to collapsing.
“Wow! You’re pretty strong, Serenade. It’s like you’re actually a lot stronger than me…”
“Use Disarming Voice, Shae!”
Serenade breathed in and let out a jet of water, while Shae released a melodious cry, the sound waves cutting through the air and meeting the stream. The focused sound displaced the jet, sending water raining over them and canceling each other out.
Shae winced as the charged droplets fell over her; it was hardly strong, but her energy matrix was already super low.
“Again, not bad, Shae. But it’s time to turn up the heat.”
Shae acted on instinct, clapping her hands while absorbing Rhea’s energy as the Lapras paused just as cobalt energy began to gather around her and spotlights struck her, preventing another Dragon Dance.
Shae’s heart pounded. That was a close one! What next?
“Nice, Shae!” Rhea cheered. “Watch out!”
Much slower on land, Shae tried to run away from the jets of water the Lapras launched at her, the pretty girl looking amused.
“What do I do? What do I do?!” she cried. “Agghghh!”
Pushed further back onto the land by the fast-moving liquid, Serenade swam closer to pursue as Shae felt her energy matrix getting dangerously low. It felt like the Lapras was so much stronger than her for some reason when they were supposed to be newborns.
Rhea’s guiding voice answered her.
“Shadow Sneak! Get back into position.”
A Water Gun flew over her as Shae fell into her shadow, weaving across the stone and water as Serenade’s blasts tried to predict her jagged movements. She darted across the battlefield with incredible speed, emerging from the Lapras’ shadow to deliver a swift strike infused with shadow energy. The attack landed, but Serenade’s sturdy shell absorbed most of the impact yet again.
She gulped as Serenade’s bright pink eyes were inches away from her, showing a satisfied smile. “You did good for your first battle. Unlucky for you, this is not mine.”
“Oh…that makes sense.”
Bluish white energy steamed off Serenade’s skin, rising into the air. A dense fog swiftly formed above the battlefield, pulling Shae’s gaze skyward as the heat of the sun was blotted out. The energy coalesced into a towering cloud that hovered ominously, its size and intensity growing within seconds—there was no escape.
Mya gasped. “No way! It’s that big?”
Nova gave her an option, though. “Avalanche?! Use your biggest Move against it!”
“Good luck,” Serenade winked, diving under the waves as the air chilled and snow appeared around them. “You’ll need it.”
Shae hardly had time to jump onto the waves and touch the surface, sparks forming at the tip of her hand. Yet, at that moment, the cloud unleashed a torrential downpour of snow and ice, charged with Ice-Type energy.
Her hand rose, flames erupting to combat it, but her quick and unstable Move was overwhelmed by the sheer force of the Avalanche, burying her in a field of white that collapsed around her in a massive, crushing wave. Everything went black as she sank below the waves.
Yet, she landed on something incredibly soft and warm, a melodic voice whispering into her ear. “Don’t cry. It was an excellent battle. I look forward to our next…”
* — * — *
Rhea scanned the battlefield, now a tranquil scene of settling snow over the frozen pond. She watched as Serenade’s horned head broke through the surface, Shae resting on her back, the melodic voice of the Lapras whispering comfortingly to the unconscious Ralts.
Pride thumped in Rhea’s chest, mingling with the exhaustion that made her legs feel like jelly. She’d given it everything—every ounce of strength and strategy—although also been reckless with their energy. Despite the risky tactics they’d taken, he’d won. Jason had come out on top. Although, it did shock him how powerful their genetically enhanced Pokémon could be if higher-tier Trainers fed them their Fortitude.
He really did it, she internally whispered to her Pokemon. They survived Nova’s versatility in a surprise upset. They managed to keep Alice busy and match her speed. They mitigated Lulu’s ultimate attack, empowered by V. And finally…they bypassed Mya’s Hyper Cutter to lower her Attack and kept her confused… Jason really is strong. I bet he’s nearly tapped, though.
Rhea’s heart swelled with gratitude and pride as the Lapras carried Shae to the shore so she could be recalled. Holding up her Poké Ball, the beam connected to her, returning the fainted Ralts to her new little home to rest. Across the field, Jason went to the edge of the pond and did the same with Serenade.
A warm, sunny light began to spread across the field as Franky sent a solar ball into the sky, clearing the ice. Rhea hung up the battle chat and started walking around the edge of the devastated zone to meet Jason. Their parents kept a respectful distance, but Rhea could see their glowing faces.
We’re not a show! Jeez.
Jason met her on the grassy field beside the rocky lakeside. His warm amber eyes sparkled as they locked onto her coral irises, his lips pulling into a gentle smile. “You look like you could use a break,” he teased, his voice soft.
Rhea chuckled, pretending to trip as she reached him. “Maybe you should catch me with those shaky legs of yours,” she shot back, her legs truly feeling weak as he caught her, steadying her against his body.
“Maybe you should catch me,” he countered, his grip firm despite his own obvious exhaustion. “That was probably the last Move Serenade and I could do, so I wanted to make it a wide-ranged one you couldn’t dodge. You had me scared there for a bit… You’re no simple shock, little Joltik.”
She laughed, sounding light and free to her own ears while staring up into his eyes. “You actually won… What did that mean again?” she started to ask, only to shriek a little as his legs gave way, taking her with him as he landed on his back, her on his chest.
“You did that on purpose,” she accused, breathless and lightly smacking his shaking chest as he laughed, the reverberations transferring to her much smaller frame.
“Didn't you fake fall, too?” he mused, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Isn’t retaliation fair game?”
Rhea couldn't help but smile, looking into his tired face. “That’s fair.”
“Is it, though?” Jason brushed back her bangs, his touch gentle and fingers rough. “So, what did winning mean again?”
She shook her head, her heart fluttering. “You're hopeless. Amnesia already? Let me remind you.”
She leaned in, her lips meeting his in a long, tender kiss. Her heart soared, every worry and exhaustion melting away in that perfect moment. She felt the warmth of his lips, the electric connection that sent shivers down her spine. It was like the world faded, leaving only the two of them, wrapped in their own universe.
Pulling back, she saw the soft glow in his eyes. He chuckled, one strong hand steading her against him. “I missed that. What did we do again? Do you think I could get another example?”
Rhea snorted, knocking her forehead gently against his. “You're the worst.”
He pushed himself up just enough to meet her lips again, tickling her nose before pulling back and touching foreheads again. “Correction, I’m the best because I have the best girl in my sight.”
Rhea’s cheeks flushed, a warm, contented glow spreading through her. She looked into his eyes, her heart full. Yeah, he really is the best, but I’ll never tell him that! He’ll get too big of a head, and then who will keep me grounded?
“One more,” she chimed, forcing him down and running her fingers through the back of his hair. “And another one after that.”
“Your wish is my command.”