Tainted Glory
By Evan Drake

Chapter 16: Hitting a Wall

“You do know you look even more out of place with that hood on your head?” Cassandra asked.

            I didn’t say anything. So what if I looked like I was casing the place? I wasn’t trying to be recognized. It felt so weird being in the crowd watching the battles, but for once I wasn’t the one in the hot seat, so I couldn’t complain.

            I still wasn’t stupid enough not to take any chances. Someone—most likely Bella or the bastards she works for—let it “slip” that I became Grand Duchess of the Battle Chateau. Since then, my popularity skyrocketed. I went from being barely recognized to not being able to go anywhere near a town without being swarmed, people shoving their copy of the book in my face to sign or challenging me to a battle or just wanting to shake my hand.

            I hated every second of it. They never cared about me before, but now suddenly I’m the greatest thing to walk the earth.

            But there was no reason to focus on that now. Supporting Ian was all that mattered. While I was away at the Battle Chateau, he was hard at work preparing for a new tournament. It was his first time entering one in months. To get over his battle anxiety, he would need all the help he could get. Even Taylor came to support, but I think she also hoped to grab any last-minute registration slots.

            “You know I could, like, get Cypher to hide you,” Taylor offered.

            “Then I would have to take her with me every time I leave the house,” I said. “She’s your Pokémon, she should be with you.” I didn’t tell her that I pulled Cypher aside one day to told her to protect Taylor if any strange people approached them. Better safe than sorry.

            “You sure you want to do this?” I asked Ian. “You’re just getting over your battling anxiety and joining a tournament is—”

            “I’m fine, mom,” Ian said jokingly. “But, seriously, thanks. I got this.”

            “You heard the man; he’s got it,” Cassandra said. She grabbed me by the shoulder and steered me towards the stands. “So let’s give him some privacy and stop making him nervous.”

            We found a good seat in the middle of the stands where we had a perfect view of the battlefield.

            “So, you finally gonna tell me about what happened?” Cassandra asked. “Yeah, I know they approached you again. You forget I can talk to Pokémon, and FYI, Aqua is a gossip.”

            I sighed and rolled my eyes. That sounded exactly like Aqua. “Look, I didn’t want to get you in the middle of my bullshit. I’ll figure something out.”

            “Maya, you’re like a sister to me. Anyone who messes with you messes with me. Just let me help.”

            I didn’t want her help, but she was going to whether I wanted it or not. “All right, but don’t do anything crazy.”

            “That’s my line.”

            We sat there and talked about random stuff until the announcer came on telling us the tournament was starting.

            The large monitor on the screen turned on with a list of names of everyone entering the tournament. There were 16 names in all. I was glad to see Taylor and Ian’s name on the list. Another name caught my eye. Neil Léonide.

            “What the hell is he doing here?” I asked, gripping the armrests.

            “Maya, chill. He’s not here for you.”

            I shrugged and kept glaring at the screen. This was a problem. If Taylor or Ian went against him, it would get ugly.

The monitor changed to show the pairings for the matchups. Ian and Taylor were on opposite sides of the board, so they wouldn’t come close to seeing each other until the semi-finals—assuming they made it that far. I didn’t want to say it out loud, but I didn’t think Ian was going to win this. He was a great trainer, but his battle anxiety was a serious problem. Against a skilled trainer, one moment of hesitation could cost him everything. Taylor was just too inexperienced. The biggest problem was Neil was going to battle Ian in the quarter-finals if they made it there.

            Ian’s first match was almost a loss. It wasn’t his fault. The tournament rules were one-on-one and they had to choose their Pokémon beforehand. Ian got dealt a bad matchup with Butter going up against an Abomasnow. The other trainer got too confident and didn’t think Goodra could use poison-type moves.

Taylor’s match went much better. Her Bayleef went up against a Sunflora. Herb had tactics to deal with same-type matchups. The Sunflora didn’t.

The other battles I didn’t pay much attention to. I could tell just by looking at the trainers who was going to win based on how they acted during their introduction.

Then Neil’s turn came.

I tried not to look, but I couldn’t help it. The first Pokémon he chose was Garden, Patrick’s Breloom. When Cassandra didn’t react, I knew she already found out. I dug my nails into my palm and ground my teeth together. He didn’t deserve her.

Of course, Neil won because why would I expect anything to go my way? I couldn’t even enjoy the tournament anymore. I knew he wasn’t there for me, but I couldn’t stand the idea of seeing his stupid face. I instead focused on the other matches. There was nothing groundbreaking. Just a few short battles between trainers trying to act tough. Out of the remaining five battles, two ended in a forfeit, one was a tie to be broken through a coin flip, and the last two ended in defeat. It kept the crowd satisfied, but it was a snooze-fest.

Once the first round of battles was done, they called for an intermission so everyone could get some food or go to the bathroom. I didn’t need to do either, but I figured Ian and Taylor would want congratulations on winning the first round.

We found both of them hanging around the nurse’s station, getting their Pokémon looked at. Ian wasn’t smiling, but Taylor had enough energy for both of them.

“Did you see my battle?” Taylor asked excitedly. She pumped her fists in the air. “I totally nailed it!”

“It would be kinda hard for me not to see,” I said. “You did good though.” I turned to Ian. “You okay? You won your first real battle in a long time.”

“Yeah…I know.”

“What’s up, Ian?” Cassandra asked.

“I only won because that guy got full of himself. If he had taken me seriously from the beginning, I wouldn’t’ve had a chance.”

“You don’t know that,” I said. “Besides, you won. That’s all that matters.”

Cassandra nudged me. “Never thought I’d hear you say something like that. You usually sulk after an easy win.”

“I don’t—oh, forget it. I’m not winning that argument.”

Luckily, the nurse called Ian and Taylor to pick up their Pokémon so I wasn’t subjected to more teasing.

After putting Herb’s ball on the belt with the others, Taylor turned to me. “So give it to me straight. How, like, tough is our competition?”

I shrugged. “Tough enough. No one unbeatable though.”

“I like those odds,” Taylor said, rubbing her hands together and grinning like an old cartoon villain. “Let’s get something to eat before my next match.”

On our way out the door, we bumped into Vance. My response was to groan loudly, earning me a sharp jab from Cassandra.

Vance either didn’t notice or didn’t care. His attention was focused on his son. “Ian?”

Ian stared at the wall. “Hi, dad.”

            “I... I saw your match… You did good.”

            “Thanks.”

            Cassandra wrapped her arms around my and Taylor’s shoulders and steered us towards the door. “Well, the food isn’t coming to us. Let’s go grab a bite.”

            “Wait, what about Ian?” Taylor asked.

            “He’ll catch up,” I said. I didn’t like to leave him behind, but I didn’t have much of a choice. Us being there only made it more awkward.

            The food court had a lot fewer people than I expected. On the upside, it meant no long wait in line. I had lost my appetite, but Taylor went and grabbed five corndogs and a box of popcorn. I didn’t even want to think about where she was going to put it all.

“Sooo, what was that about?” Taylor asked through a mouthful of food.

“Ian and his dad don’t get along, remember?” I said. “What the hell is he doing here?”

“My guess? To support his kid,” Cassandra said, annoyed. “It’s none of our business anyway.”

            That ended any further argument. Without the distraction, my mind turned back to Neil. I pulled my hood further over my head and kept my head down in case he showed. I couldn’t promise we wouldn’t tear the place down if we saw each other.

            Part of me worried about Ian and Taylor. If Neil found out they knew me would he be the petty type and destroy them or would he pretend to take the high road and go easy on them? It was then I realized I didn’t know my former friend anymore. Not that it mattered.

Someone poking me in the shoulder made me lift my head. It turned out to be Cassandra.

“You haven’t heard a word I said, have you?”

I shrugged, not really in the mood to make up some lame excuse. “I was thinking I should warn Ian about Neil.”

            “Who’s Neil?” Taylor asked.

            “I don’t think you should. He’s just competition like anyone else.”

“Dangerous competition. He might the one of the few trainers here with the best chance of winning this.”

“Um, hello? Who’s Neil?”

“When you put it like that, you’re just gonna make them nervous.”

            “But if Ian and Neil win this next match, they’ll face each other.”

            “So? Why is that a bad thing?”

            Taylor pounded the table, getting our attention. “Who’s Neil and why should I be worried about him?”

            “You shouldn’t,” I said. “He’s nobody.”

            “But you brought it up.”

            “I said he’s nobody!”

            The announcement came on the loudspeaker that the next round of battles was about to begin, so Taylor had to go. I swore under my breath as she left.

            Real smart, Maya. That’s the perfect way to avoid an awkward conversation.

            I shoved my hands into my pockets and headed towards the stands.

            Ian’s match came up first. His opponent, some guy with a ridiculous uneven haircut, was one of the over-confident types. Ian would win easily if he kept a cool head.

            Ian chose Lulu. She looked nervous but adopted a battle-ready stance. His opponent frowned and released his Pokémon. A very large bipedal Pokémon covered in black armor-like scales. Its head, however, was covered with what looked like silver plating with two long silver horns protruding through the holes in the front. The Aggron threw back its head and roared, causing a massive wave of cheers from the crowd.

            The announcer easily shouted over the crowd. “OH NO! LOOKS LIKE MATTHEW DREW THE SHORT STRAW ON THIS MATCHUP, FOLKS! CAN HE SECURE A WIN DESPITE SUCH AN OVERWHELMING TYPE DISADVANTAGE?”

            I stood up. “Oh shit.”

            “What’s wrong?” Cassandra asked. “It’s a rock-and-steel-type against a fighting-type. As long as Ian keeps calm, he’s got this.”

            I wasn’t listening. I was too focused on Lulu. She stared at the Aggron with wide eyes, and her tail shook between her legs. Call her back, Ian. She isn’t ready for this.

            Ian didn’t seem to notice either. He glared at the Aggron like an arch-nemesis.

            “Maya, does Ian know that guy?” Cassandra asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen him look like that before.”

            “No. Ian’s got a bad history with Aggron,” I said. I was already squeezing through the seats, making my way to the nearest exit.

            “Bad how?”

            “I’ll explain later.” I stepped on some poor guy’s foot but didn’t apologize. There were more important things to worry about. “Right now, we need to get down there because this isn’t gonna end pretty.”

            “Right behind you.”

            You can’t help him. You really think this will make up for what you did? For how you failed last time?

            The ref announced the start of the match. I broke into a run.

            Just like before, you’ll stand by and do nothing. It’s not your place.

            I couldn’t look away from the TVs that lined the hall as we rushed to the trainer’s lobby. The cameras had zoomed-in on Lulu, showing the terror in her face. The monitors seemed to be getting bigger, brighter, highlighting every strand of fur on her face.

            “I don’t like that look,” Cassandra said. “She’s terrified of that Aggron.”

            I didn’t answer. I was too focused on getting down there before Lulu panicked. I didn’t want to think about the damage she would cause. Other people standing in the hall were whispering their theories to each other. I ignored them and started running.

            “Lulu, use Aura Sphere!” Ian cried.

            Lulu didn’t move. The crowd became quiet.

            Ian’s face turned red. Whether from embarrassment or anger, I didn’t know. Not that it mattered. “Lulu! This is your chance! Use Aura Sphere!”

            Lulu started backing away slowly.

            The camera switched to his opponent. who smiled deviously. “If she won’t attack, then I will. Aggron, use Fire Punch.”

            The Aggron took one step toward Lulu before she let out a shrieking howl and ran. She passed her stunned trainer and disappeared off the field.

            I somehow ran faster to intercept her. She couldn’t get to the crowds, or worse, run into security. I caught Lulu just as she was entering the hall. Thankfully, she wasn’t too panicked not to recognize me and buried her face in my chest. Her whole body shook as she clung to me for dear life.

            I held her and stroked her back as I tried to calm her down. “Shh. It’s okay now. You’re safe.”

            I heard Cassandra’s hurried footsteps approaching. Without looking back, I said, “Hey, you mind waiting here? I need to get Lulu out of here. I’ll be at the hotel if you need me.”

            “Not a problem.”

            I nodded and started walking with Lulu still hugging me. I kept her face buried in my clothes, so she couldn’t see anyone. We headed out the closest exit so she didn’t have to endure the shame of walking through the lobby.

****

I lay quietly on the bed, stroking Lulu who slept next to me. It took an hour to calm her down and she passed out almost immediately after. She clung to my side, her body shuddering occasionally or a soft whine breaking the silence.

Cassandra kept me updated. Ian forfeited the match since he didn’t have a Pokémon to battle with. Taylor dropped out right after.

            The door opened and Lulu snatched her head up, her paw gripping my arm. I calmed her with a quick pat on the head.

Ian came storming inside. Cassandra and Taylor followed, looking very tired. “Lulu, what the hell?!” Ian asked.

            I got out of bed and stood between them. “Ian, I know you’re upset, but you need to take a minute and calm down.”

            “I’ve been telling him that the walk over,” Cassandra said.

            “But, Maya—”

            “Don’t you ‘but’ me,” I said firmly. “You wanted me to be your teacher, so you need to listen. This is not her fault. Now back the hell off, take a breath, and calm down.”

            Ian stared at me like a complete stranger. Before I could say anything else, Cassandra walked over and punched Ian in the jaw. He grunted and fell over on the floor and didn’t get up again. Lulu cried out and rushed to her trainer.

            I spun on Cassandra. “What the fuck was that for?!”

            “Okay, and I thought, like, Maya was the scary one,” Taylor said.

            Cassandra rubbed her knuckles and shrugged. “He needs a minute to get his thoughts in order. Right now, he isn’t thinking straight. C’mon, help me put him in bed. I’ll apologize when he wakes up.”

            I wanted to argue, but she had a point. Ian was ready to blame Lulu for what happened, and that was the last thing she needed right now. I grabbed his legs while Cassandra took his arms. “So how bad was it?” I asked.

            “Not that bad,” Cassandra said.

            “You didn’t hear what people were saying when we walked outta there,” Taylor said.

            “I heard them, but they didn’t have the balls to say it to his face,” Cassandra pointed out.

We dropped Ian on the bed. Lulu sat next to her trainer and whined. Cassandra grabbed the Lucario by the shoulders and said. “This is not your fault, understand? You did nothing wrong. You are not weak and if anyone tells you otherwise you point them to me.”

Lulu looked ready to cry, but she nodded in understanding.

Cassandra seemed satisfied and turned on me. “Okay, I need the full story, because right now, he is seriously pissing me off.”

Before I could answer, there was a knock at the door. I shrugged in response to Cassandra’s questioning look then answered the door. Vance stood on the other side. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but I was. I wasn’t happy to see him, but now was not the time so I stepped aside and let him in.

“Ian, what happ—Is he asleep?”

“He’s taking a moment to get his thoughts in order,” Cassandra said. I noticed Taylor cover her mouth and shot her warning glare. “Right now, he’s not thinking too clearly.”

Vance raised a brow. “And knocking him out was the best solution?”

“Better than him saying something stupid,” I said.

“Fine. Can you ladies tell me what happened back there?”

“Maya was just about to tell us,” Cassandra said.

I leaned against the dresser and sighed. This was Ian’s story; it should come from him, but he was out cold and likely wasn’t in a sharing mood anyway. “Okay. Right before I became Champion, Ian and I were meeting up on Brun way.”

****

I checked my watch again and grumbled. Ian was late and he wasn’t answering his phone. He was lucky the weather was so nice today, normally it rained a lot this time of year. All year-round, the trees and the ground of Route 15 were decorated in a nice covering red, yellow and orange leaves. It was a popular romantic hangout. The whole place had a quiet, almost subtle beauty to it. During the fall months, though, it rained a lot, leaving the ground covered in a muddy mess of wet leaves. The rain also made the Pokémon who called this part of Kalos home more irritable as well. On top of that, Route 15 was home to an abandoned old hotel which served as a popular hangout for low-lives and dumbasses.

A breeze blew, making me shiver a little. A few leaves fell off of a nearby tree and began making wild loops and spins in the air as if trying to put on a show to alleviate my boredom. I sighed and watched the dancing leaves until the wind stopped and leaves fell lifelessly to the ground.

“Yo, Maya!”

I rolled my eyes but refused to turn around. He had me standing out here worrying about him and had the nerve to approach like he was right on time.

Ian suddenly appeared in front of me, a broad grin on his freckled face, “Come on, Maya. You’re not mad at me, are you?”

“You told me to meet you here at ten.”

“Yeah. So?”

“It’s after twelve-thirty!”

Ian chuckled nervously. “Oops. Sorry ‘bout that. The recovery at the Pokémon Center took longer than I thought.”

All of my anger vanished instantly. I was still a little peeved that he didn’t call or say something sooner, but in all fairness, it seemed fair to cut him some slack. “Recovery? Is everything okay?”

“Oh yeah, my Pokémon are fine,” Ian answered, waving away my concern nonchalantly. And just like that, I was no longer concerned. “I just wanted to make sure they were okay before I showed you”— he opened his jacket showing me a pink, crescent-shaped badge pinned to the lining.—“this little beauty.”

I could barely contain my excitement. I threw my arms around him, pulling him into an extra tight hug (extra because I secretly wanted to strangle him for making me wait and worry). “You won the fairy badge! Congratulations!”

Ian backed away when I let go and rubbed his neck, but he still had a cocky grin on his face. “Yeah it was pretty touch-and-go for a minute, but in the end,, Valerie’s Fairy-type Pokémon were no match for me,” Ian said, smugly. I rolled my eyes at him. By this time tomorrow, he would be telling everyone how he took down all six of her Pokémon using just one of his own. “Anyway, whaddya say to you and I having a quick battle to celebrate?”

“Let me get this straight: you just had one intense battle today, so to celebrate, you challenge me?”

“Yeah, why not?” Ian said, shrugging. “The nurse already gave me the go-ahead.”

“I have more gym badges than you.”

“Only a rookie uses the number of gym badges as a measure of strength,” Ian retorted, smiling at me.

I smiled back. I hated having my own words thrown back at me, but he had a point. “All right, it’s been a while since I had a battle. But not here, there are too many trees around. Follow me.”

We approached a large clearing well known to Pokémon trainers. I used the place as a training ground back when I wanted to challenge Laverre’s gym leader. There was nothing spectacular about it; it just was a simple open area surrounded by trees. It was good enough to allow a wide variety of Pokémon to battle without providing any special advantages. The place also gave an excellent view of Laverre City but with trainers using it to battle, their minds were elsewhere. The only part devoid of leaves was the two stone benches that sat at the edge of the battlefield for friends and lurkers.

As we got closer, I noticed a trainer was already there. The large man had his back to us but the Aggron standing next to him was facing us. The Aggron noticed us first and motioned to its master.

“Hey there, friends.” the man called to us in a gruff, but friendly voice as he turned and faced us. His voice may have been friendly, but his face told a different story: most of it was blocked by his long brown hair and bushy goatee, both of which were lined with streaks of grey. His beard grew around a long, jagged scar running down one side of his face making it stand out even more. There wasn’t a hint of animosity in his grey eyes, but I still wished we had chosen to battle somewhere else. His Aggron looked about ready to eat us, but it could also just have been her natural expression. “Did you need the field? Me and Agna were just about done training.” he gently patted the neck of the Aggron standing beside him.

Watching him pet his Pokémon gave me a strange sense of déjà vu and made my stomach knot. I don’t know where I’ve seen him, but I know I don’t like him; he looks dangerous. I snapped out of my thoughts when Ian stepped forward.

“Actually we did, but now I’m thinking you might be a better challenge,” Ian drew a PokéBall from his belt, “What do you say, old-timer?”

I turned to Ian stunned. “Dude, you can’t be serious. Think about this. I mean, this guy looks dangerous.” I looked at the Aggron. Her entire body was covered in dents and scars. She’s battled a lot, and they must’ve been intense to leave those kinds of marks.

“Maya, I got this,” Ian brushed impatiently past me, “So we doin’ this?”

The man and his Pokémon looked at each other, “Sure, why not?” The Aggron smiled and stepped forward, its silver plates glinting in the sun. I noticed a large band around one of the Aggron’s arms. Inside the band was a small stone that had to be a Mega Stone. This Trainer couldn’t be an amateur if he could mega evolve his Pokémon.

My stomach knotted even tighter. I wasn’t sure I would battle him and I was way more experienced. Then again, maybe a good curb-stomping would do Ian some good. He needed to learn that getting cocky wouldn’t do him any favors when he got the Pokémon League.

Ian and the old man took their places on the battlefield. I sat on one of the benches on the sidelines.

“Let’s do this,” Ian said as he tossed his Poké Ball into the air. “Go, Lulu!” The Ball burst open releasing a bright ball of light, releasing the Lucario onto the field. Lulu threw her head back and let out a loud, triumphant bark.

Agna gave a disinterested snort and stomped onto the battlefield.

“Alright, young man, I’ll let you have the first move,” the older man said, casually crossing his arms.

A chill went through me seeing that pose. I dug around in my bag into I found my book of dangerous trainers. Please let me be wrong, I said to myself over and over as I flipped through the pages.

There he was. A picture of the old man. His hair had less gray in it, but it was the exact same guy. He stood there with his arms crossed and angry-looking Aggron by his side. The man name next to his picture read Waylon Marks AKA Waylon the wall. It all came back to me at once. Waylon was famous for his tough, high endurance Pokémon. There were even rumors stating he was offered a spot in the Elite 4 numerous times, but he turned it down. There were also dark rumors surrounding him. People said he was secretly a crime boss or that he worked for one. Ian hadn’t even acquired all eight badges yet; he wouldn’t stand a chance against a man good enough to be a member of the Elite Four.

“Ian, listen to me, you can’t battle this guy. I realize who he is. He’s—”

“Lulu, use Power-up Punch!” Ian cried.

Lulu rushed forward while drawing her back her right paw. With a loud bark, she drove her fist into the stomach of Waylon’s Aggron. A loud crack! echoed across the battleground. Ian yelled out triumphantly, but I felt my stomach drop. The Aggron didn’t look the slightest bit fazed by the attack. Aggron were steel and rock-types both of which were vulnerable to fighting-type moves. Power-up Punch should have hurt.

“Agna, you use Power-up Punch,” Waylon said calmly.

“Lulu, quick, get out of—” Ian began. It was too late. Agna stepped forward and drove her fist deep into Lulu’s abdomen, sending the Lucario sliding back across the ground. Lulu drove her paw into the ground, leaving a thick trail in the ground and leaves as she slowly came to a stop several feet away.

 I looked at Ian. He stood there stunned and I couldn’t blame him. Lulu was a single steel type so she had the same weakness to fighting-type moves. But Aggron were doubly weak to them, yet it was clear Lulu took more damage. Ian was outmatched.

I jumped to my feet. I wanted him to learn his lesson, but not like this. “Ian, listen to me, you have to forfeit. You’re battling—”

“Maya I got this!” Ian cried angrily. “Lulu, use Aura Sphere!” The Lucario pressed her paws together and formed a bright ball of blue light between them. She let out a loud bark and thrust her palms forward, shooting the sphere of light at Agna.

“Use Flash Cannon to counter it.”

With a roar, Agna opened her mouth and shot a thin beam of white light at Lulu’s Aura Sphere. The two attacks collided, causing a large explosion and leaving an equally large cloud of dust on the battlefield.

“Use Power-up Punch again,” Waylon said, his voice still calm.

Agna surged through the dust cloud, a glowing fist primed and ready to strike her target.

“Lulu, dodge it!”

This time Lulu nimbly jumped to the side, causing Agna’s fist to slam into the ground.

Ian quickly ordered, “Now you use Power-up Punch.”

Lulu drove her fist straight into the Aggron’s jaw, but she remained unfazed yet again despite being hit by such an effective attack. “Now use Blaze Kick!”

Lulu performed a forward somersault, covering her foot in flames. She brought the heel of her paw down on the back of Agna’s head, knocking her opponent off balance and sending the Aggron face-first into the dirt.

Ian gave another happy cry. “That’s it, now use another Aura Sphere!”

Using Agna’s body a springboard, Lulu launched herself into the air. As she flew into the air, she pointed her paws downward, forming another blue sphere in front of her. With another loud bark, she launched her attack at her opponent. The aura sphere scored a direct hit, forcing Agna even further into the ground. 

Lulu landed on all fours while Ian jumped for joy, crying words of praise. I frowned at Waylon and his Pokémon.

Ever since the battle started, Waylon calmly stood there, arms crossed, face expressionless. Even during Ian’s three-hit combo, Waylon didn’t look the least bit worried. I looked at Lulu. She was breathing heavily and clutching at her right paw. Did she hurt herself after that last attack? Impossible. Some Pokémon had rough skin or spikes that made close-range dangerous, Aggron was not one of those Pokémon. Did that mean Agna’s armor was so tough Lulu hurt herself just from striking the Aggron’s body?

Agna climbed to her feet, stretched, and roared. If she was hurt, she was doing a damn good job of hiding it. Lulu, on the other hand, was showing signs she was approaching her limit. Besides the hurt paw, I noticed she stood so she didn’t put as much weight on her left leg. The same leg she used to strike Agna with her Blaze Kick. It felt as if my heart had stopped. She’s losing and Waylon hadn’t even started fighting back yet.

I went over to where Ian was. “Ian, Lulu’s hurt,” I pleaded, “You have to call off the match.”

“Lulu’s fine,” Ian responded angrily, still looking at the battlefield. “Isn’t that right, girl?”

The Lucario let out a confident bark and continued to stare at her opponent. She was lying. It was clear in her eyes. Ian always believed in finishing what he started even when he knew he wouldn’t like the outcome. Lulu was putting on a brave face because she knew her master would want to see this battle to the end. She was willing to endure as much pain as she had to, all for the sake of his pride.

The winner of this battle was decided before it even started. She was going to lose, and she knew it.

            Ian pulled back his jacket sleeve revealing his mega bracelet. “Sorry, old-timer, it’s time to wrap things up.” He glared darkly at Waylon as he tapped his keystone; it began glowing brightly as the mega stone Lulu wore on a chain around her neck did the same.

“Ian, wait! Waylon has a mega stone too; there’s no point!” I shouted. It was no use. My protests were quickly drowned out by the howling winds and surging energy caused by the mega evolution. Lulu was enveloped in a cocoon of light as the multi-colored leaves blew in every direction. The cocoon disappeared revealing Lulu in her mega evolved form: she had grown larger, the intense aura flowing through her body tipped her paws and feet red, and her blue fur was covered in black lines. The look in her eyes was fiercer than ever, but the pain and the exhaustion from before remained.

“Okay, old-timer, now it’s your turn.”

I whirled on Ian and grabbed his jacket collar. “HAVE YOU LOST YOUR FUCKING MIND?!”

“It’s very courteous of you to wait for me,” Waylon said, “But I’m not using mega evolution.”

Ian shook me off and smiled wickedly. “Your funeral, old man. Bring her down with Close Combat!”

“Iron Defense!”

Lulu rushed forward with greater speed than before. Agna barely had time to take a defensive stance before Lulu began delivering a furious flurry of punches. When mega evolved Lulu’s ability changes to adaptability allowing her to deal more damage when using fighting-type moves and Close Combat was one of the most powerful fighting type moves available. Hopefully, it was enough to bring down Agna.

Lulu stood there doubled over and breathing heavily from the assault, but Agna stood there unmoving. I breathed a sigh of relief and looked at Ian. He was still wearing a large grin on his face.

“Metal Burst!”

The Aggron threw her head back and roared, sending several small bits of metal flying from her body. The metal shards flew straight into Lulu, sending the Lucario stumbling backward as she felt all the damage she just dealt with Agna and then some.

Lulu dropped to all fours, but she maintained her mega evolved form. I stared at Agna disbelievingly. Metal Burst was a retaliatory attack that did more damage based on how much the user had taken. In any other case, returning the damage from a super-effective move would’ve decided it then and there. For Lulu to still be standing, Agna didn’t take that much damage. Just how tough is this Pokémon?

“Now use Heavy Slam!” Waylon shouted.

Agna rushed forward, throwing all of her weight into Lulu, sending her flying through the air. Lulu cried out as she hit the ground with a loud thud scattering dirt and leaves everywhere. She got up slowly but was still doubled over.

Waylon sighed and folded his arms across his chest. “It would seem this match is over, young man.”

I turned to Ian. He stood there, fist clenched at his sides, teeth bared like a rabid Mightyena, staring daggers at Waylon and his Aggron. It was a whole new side of him. “This isn’t over yet. C’mon, Lulu, let’s show this old man what happens when you pick with the best.”

Lulu forced herself to stand at her full height, but it was clear she was at her limit. I was shocked she was still conscious.

“Ian, stop the match.”

“I can still turn it around,” Ian argued. “Lulu, use Bulk Up then hit this bastard with another Power-up Punch.”

Lulu tensed her muscles causing a slight change in her size. She then moved toward Agna which looked more like a drunken stagger than a brave charge. She threw a punch at Agna, but the Aggron caught it. Agna sighed and threw Lulu over her shoulder like a ragdoll. Lulu cried out in pain as she slid along the ground.

“Young man, I’m getting tired of this. Forfeit this battle,” Waylon said, his voice was full of irritation.

Ian’s face turned red. “You got such a problem with the battle, you forfeit,” he countered through gritted teeth. “I plan to see this match through to the end.”

Waylon’s grey eyes flashed. Without even looking back at her trainer, Agna shifted. I felt a change in the air. That couldn’t be a good sign.

“Fine, young man,” Waylon said slowly, his voice calm. I instinctively took a step backward. I knew that tone; it was the same tone my dad used when he was pissed but didn’t want it to show in his voice. He sounded calm, but I could hear the anger hiding underneath the surface.

“Lulu, hit her with Aura Sphere,” Ian commanded.

“Power-up Punch,” Waylon said.

It took Lulu two attempts before she could properly form the Aura Sphere between her paws and by then, Agna had closed the distance between them. Lulu tried to launch the sphere at point-blank range, but Agna swatted it away like it was nothing. Instead of looping back around to strike her in the back, Lulu’s Aura Sphere dissipated. With an angry roar, Agna drove her fist into the top of Lulu’s head. Lulu crumbled to the ground.

It hurt to watch. Lulu was just being a punching bag just for the sake of her master’s pride and he was too damn stupid notice. It was like someone turned it into a video and it was stuck in a loop. Lulu pushed herself to her feet and took a swing at Agna. Agna would either swat the attack away or catch Lulu’s paw. Then she would strike Lulu and send her crumbling to the ground again. Each time Lulu fell, she lay there just a little bit longer and took that much longer to stand up again. Every attack she launched was sloppier than the one before it. And every time, I reached for one of the Poké Balls attached to my belt and froze. Interfering in another trainer’s match was an unspoken rule among trainers. Regardless of the outcome, I had to stand by and watch.

“Have you had enough yet, boy?” Waylon asked. “No Pokémon should have to suffer for the sake of its trainer’s pride.”

“Fuck you!”

 “Ian, stop it! You can’t beat him!”

“Maya, shut up, I need to think!”

“Why do I always have to be the one who punishes young trainers for their ambitions?” Waylon asked. “Agna…put an end to this. Head Smash.”

Agna nodded to her trainer. She bent down and hauled Lulu to her feet by the appendages on the back of her head. Lulu cried out in pain and struggled against the Aggron’s grip.

“Lulu, use—” Ian began. The rest of his sentence turned into a strangled cry.

Agna drove another fist into Lulu’s gut. Lulu grunted and staggered backward, her paws covering her stomach. Agna lowered her head and rushed forward. Lulu looked up in time see the Aggron drive into her. Lulu went limp as she flew. I wanted to look away as Lulu flew through the air, but I just couldn’t. She hit the ground hard and lay there for several moments before struggling to get up again.

“Your Lucario has an impressive will, boy,” Waylon said. “It’s a shame it’s wasted on a trainer who doesn’t understand his Pokémon.”

I turned to Ian. He still wasn’t calling it off. “What the fuck are you still battling for, Ian?” I asked. “You barely made a dent in a thing; there’s no way you can turn this around now.”

“Unlike you, Maya, I don’t give up just because things are tough,” Ian growled. He turned back to Waylon. “Either battle or shut up, old man.”

Waylon was unfazed by Ian’s threat. Actually, Waylon’s eyes showed no emotion at all. Agna looked back at him and he shook his head.

The video that was stuck loop went into slow-motion. Lulu was somehow standing again, but she could barely raise her arms. Agna lowered her head and drove her horn straight into Lulu’s chest. Lulu’s eyes widened in shock, her mouth open in a soundless scream as the steel horn pierced her body. At first, she grabbed at the horn in an attempt to pull it out or stop it from going any further, but her arms quickly went fell limp at her sides. Her eyes stopped showing any signs of fear or pain, there was nothing at all. Ian just stood there, horror-filled eyes bulging out of his skull. He moved his lips as if trying to say something, but no sound came out. I waited for him to do something—return Lulu to her Poké Ball, call another Pokémon to save her—anything. I felt like I was going to be sick.

Agna tossed her head and flung Lulu to the ground.

“LULU!!!” I ran to her side, snatching off my jacket. I froze when I saw the damage. Agna’s horn had left a gaping hole just below the spike of bone that Lucario naturally have. Blood covered the white fur covering her torso and pooled around her neck. Her eyes remained wide open and full of shock as she breathed in quick, short bursts. I pulled out Dust’s Poké Ball and slammed it into the ground, releasing him at my side. I folded the jacket, placed it on the hole in Lulu’s chest, and pressed down. My jacket was soaked with blood in a matter of seconds. Lulu whined.

“Lulu, it’s gonna be okay. I know this hurts, but you have to stay with me. I have to keep pressure on it. I need to do something to stop the bleeding.”

Is that even going to work? You saw the size of that hole in her chest. She’s gone and you know it.

I forced the dark thoughts out of my head and shot Waylon the darkest glare I could muster. You didn’t need to take things that far, you bastard. If she dies, I swear no force on this planet will stop me from making sure you join her.

“Ian, help me!”

Ian refused to budge. He still stood there with that same stupefied look on his face.

I ignored him and did my best to place myself and Lulu on Dust’s back. It was an awkward fit to make sure Lulu was as comfortable as possible and wouldn’t slide off while not blocking Dust’s wings in any way. Once I was certain we weren’t going to fall off in mid-flight, I patted Dust’s neck and shouted “Get us to Laverre City, buddy! Fast as you can!”

Dust kicked off the ground and surged toward Laverre City. I didn’t even bother to look back at Ian and Waylon. I kept my eyes on Lulu and holding her on Dust’s body with one hand while keeping pressure on her wound with the other. The wind whistled around us and was freezing; it sliced at my face and arms like little daggers. I hugged Lulu as best I could to keep her warm.

Dust landed in front of the nearest Pokémon Center, almost knocking down two people exiting the building in the process. He didn’t wait for me to try to get off his back--he just ran through the front door. Several people cried out in surprise and jumped out of our way as he made straight for the counter. One poor man who didn’t get out of the way in time and got knocked to the floor. I made a mental note to apologize to him later.

The pink-haired nurse behind the counter looked ready to throw a fit at the sight of Dust running through the center. “Hold on, you can’t have your Pokémon—”

“Not now!” I shouted. I slid off Dust’s back and did my best to keep Lulu from hitting the floor, thankfully the man Dust almost ran down hurried over and helped me. Now I really had to apologize to that guy.

“Oh my goodness! We have a code red! I need the cart!” the nurse shouted as she hurried around the counter. “What happened?”

“An Aggron stabbed her with its horn,” I said quickly.

At that moment two more nurses, one of which had short, brown hair instead of the usual pink, rushed out of the back with gurney meant for Pokémon. The man helped me place Lulu on the gurney.

“Okay, Miss, we’ll take it from here. I need you to wait over there in the waiting area,” the nurse said gently pushing me away. Turning to the other nurses she said, “She’s lost far too much blood, we need to get her into surgery now.” They rushed Lulu into the back leaving me and Dust standing in the middle of the Pokémon Center.

****

“As you can see, Lulu didn’t die,” I said. “But Ian never battled again until now.” I finished my story, fighting back the tears from relieving one of my worst memories. Lulu clung to me, shaking as if she stood in a freezer. Cassandra sat on the edge of the bed, her face grim. Taylor and Victor stared, horrified.

            Taylor spoke first. “Wow. Just…wow. I really can’t believe you.”

            “Wait, what?” I asked. “What did I do?”

            Taylor jumped to her feet. “Seriously? You talk big and go on about your ‘special training’ and act you’re a total badass, but then you just stand there and watch as your friend’s Pokémon is practically beaten to death. Then you think you have the right to lecture me on being a good trainer.”

            “Hold on, Taylor. You have no idea what that’s like. That sort of thing is what Maya wants to protect you from,” Cassandra said.

            “Don’t try to defend her! You know that what she did was fucked up.” Taylor turned back to me, her eyes burning with anger. Lulu clung to me tighter. “You brag about how strong you are. Why didn’t you do something?”

            “You don’t interrupt another trainer’s battle,” I said. It was bullshit—and I knew it, but it was the unspoken code between trainers. I didn’t know where it started, but that was the way things were done. Win or lose, everyone was expected to accept the outcome.

            Taylor snorted and stomped out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

            “Don’t worry about her,” Cassandra said.

            “But she’s right,” I countered. I stroked the back of Lulu’s head to calm her down. Her shaking lessened a little.

            “No, she isn’t,” Cassandra said, firmly.

            I looked up at her, surprised by her sudden change in attitude.

            “Maya, people say all the time what they would’ve done in your situation, or how you should’ve reacted. But honestly, you don’t know what you’ll do until you’re in that situation. How many battles did you see that had that kind of violence in it?”

            I shook my head to answer her question. Until the battle between Ian and Waylon, I hadn’t seen that level of violence in a Pokémon battle before. Even with my brutal tactics, I never drew blood or came close to killing anyone. The trainers always forfeit before then anyway.

            That battle had been my first eye-opener. My first real look at what happens when a trainer didn’t hold back and things went further than they should. Not long after that, I moved on to become Champion and witnessed Dorian lose his mind. 

I shuddered as I thought back to what I felt that day. The bloodlust coming from Agna, the lack of emotion in her eyes every time she knocked Lulu down. The sound of her hits landing made me want to vomit.

Lulu rubbed my arm and whined. I could tell she was trying to cheer me up. I smiled and hugged. “I know you don’t blame me.”

            I turned to Vance. He still had that I-can’t-believe-it look on his face.

            “All this time and he never told me,” Vance said.

            “Ian said that you never wanted him to become a Pokémon trainer,” I said. “I guess he didn’t say something because he didn’t wanna hear ‘I told you so’.”

            Vance glared at me. “I never would’ve told him that.” His expression softened and he looked tired. “But this the kind of thing I wanted to protect him from. Some trainers are just plain cruel.”

            “Yeah, they are.”