บท 29: EPISODE 29: Flight*

The desolation I feel is all-consuming My mind became an icy wasteland, the wind howls in my soul, and is wrapped icy tentacles around my heart so tightly it almost stopped beating.

Sporting a counterfeit smile, I hope that the awkwardness that bathes my moment would be transient. I swallow, breathe heavily, unable to digest defeat in the hands of an unfledged amateur. It was the epitome of vanquish.

"Luna, it took me four months to be an agent, don't give up easily. Every night, trainees or even agents are given a chance to battle one another, maybe battling some of them can boost your skills in Pokemon Battling.

If Neuro and Stealth doesn't fit your personality, maybe being a Combat agent will do so." Charlotte cheers, giving my heart warmth and tenderness.

"I'm not a trainer Charlotte, I don't have the skills of Pokemon Battling. Maybe you're good at it, but me? All I do is draw and picture sceneries and panoramas.

I can't even defeat a Vulpix." My voice uttered solemnly, with only Sabrina's golden gym badge as my inspiration.

"You're not good at battling, and yet you have a gym badge? Hmm, it seems impossible." Charlotte doubts while glancing on the Marsh Badge on my bare hands.

"I didn't participate at Sabrina's gym challenge, she gave this badge to me for free."

"A free gym badge?! You're one lucky girl. Anyways, why don't you battle me? I can teach you some moves up my sleeves." Charlotte beams with encouragement.

"A battle? My Pokemons are weak, they only know two to three moves. Plus, I'm going to lose right away."

"Rule number one in Pokemon Battling, never doubt your Pokemons, it's important for people to trust their companions in order to grow closer with one another.

If a Pokemon and Trainer's heart combine, they form an unbreakable bond, making them limitless." Charlotte beams with encouragement once more, lifting my determination beyond my own limits.

"Alright then, Charlotte... I accept your battle!" From the ground, I stand up.

"Great! This will be a two on two Pokemon battle. The battle ends when either side no longer has any Pokemons to battle with.

Pidgeotto, take it to the skies!" Charlotte throws forth her first Pokeball, releasing Pidgeotto on thin air.

"Lily... wanna battle first?"

<Pet! Petilil!>Petilil leaps with pleasure, as she jumps right into the battlefield. Her passion for winning is as hard as a diamond, my passion should match hers as well.

"Ok! When battling, trainers often use their surroundings as an advantage point. Use your Pokemon's moves to either dodge or defend. Remember, the best defense is a good offense, let's see what your Petilil has to offer! Pidgeotto, use drill peck now." Pidgeotto's beak gleams with a white veil as it glides from the sky, heading forth to my Lily.

"Let's see... Lily, dodge the attack!"

<Pidgeotto!>Not a single opportunity is given to Lily for dodging the attack. Pidgeotto's immense momentum dealt an impact within seconds.

"Speed, it is important when it comes to Pokemon Battling. The faster your Pokemon, the less opportunity for the foe to dodge!

Pidgeotto, onwards and use Sand Attack!" Lily's face has been immersed with sand, causing an irritation on her eyes. She does not dare to open her eyes, while running like a wild goose, trying to shake off the sand.

"Accuracy and Evasiveness is also important. A move like sand attack lowers the foe's accuracy while boosting the user's evasiveness. The less accurate the foe is, the more chances of winning!

Pidgeotto, use Gust!"

"Lily! Use the wind to blow off the sand."

Petilil tilts her head towards the gushing wind, turning every attack into an opportunity for triumph.

"Well, that was a smart one. Me and Pidgeotto won't be giving up yet! Use Air Slash before it's too late!"

"Lily, use Razor Leaf and send Pidgeotto to the ground!"

"What the?! Pidgeotto, fly back to the sky, then use Air Slash once more!"

"Use Razor Leaf to send back Pidgeotto to the ground again!"

"Not this time... Pidgeotto, glide through the sky and dodge those leaves!"

From thin air, comes Pidgeotto's braveheart. It dashes through petals and leaves, trying to triumph over me and Lily. Such an astounding speed, yet was defeated by an impending Tyranitar.

Lily's body was gravely damaged by the attack. Her wounds and scars symbolize the pain her foe has brought upon her, yet she stands up and glares at the enemy. A sight to behold as Petilil's body starts to glow in a green veil. A long vine burst forth from her back, bringing a deadly warning against her foe. With the use of her vines, she whips of Pidgeotto, sending it back to the ground.

"Nice! Petilil just learned Vine Whip. I guess you ain't bad at battling after all. Pidgeotto, use gust, quick!"

"Um... Lily, use Vine Whip!"

With the power of her new move, she entangles Pidgeotto's wings, causing the bird's balance to disrupt. With a single whip, Petilil dashes Pidgeotto across the walls of the stadium, causing its face to swell because of the heat.

"Oh my... Petilil's Vine Whip is one strong move, not bad. Pidgeotto, return to your Pokeball!

Golbat, it's your turn to shine, burst forth, and win this match for the both of us!" Without a moment too soon, she tosses Golbat's Pokeball, nearly hitting the ceiling. Such an enormous mouth Golbat has, secrets and powers which lie within the foe is about to burst forth.

"Lily! Use Razor Leaf."

"Dodge the attack Golbat, then use supersonic."

Another Pokemon with such immense speed. It is able to dodge all those petals and leaves coming towards it in a flash. A surge of sound waves burst forth, giving our ears a painful sensation. The sensation causes Lily to become confused, as she hits herself, drastically leading her towards the path of defeat

"Lily, you did a great job. Now return to your Pokeball." I couldn't be more pleased with my very first Pokemon. She learned a new attack, and that's definitely something to be proud of.

"Ralts...it's your turn now!"

"Ah, I see! You're planning to use a Psychic Pokemon. Alright then, Golbat use Wing Attack."

"Um... Ralts use double team!" From a blink of an eye, multiple copies came forth, causing the foe to become confused about who to attack. Double team lowers the foe's accuracy, boosting the user's evasiveness on the other hand.

"Ralts follow it up with confusion!"

"Not if Golbat uses Supersonic first! Quick Golbat, use supersonic!"

A collision of two moves bearing a status condition. Only one could succeed, who would it be?

Supersonic irritates Ralts's ears. Her body couldn't handle the pressure, causing her to cancel out her attack. Ralts becomes confused, causing her to constantly hit herself.

"Golbat, use Wing Attack to finish!"

My eyes see the attack charging towards my Pokemon. It feels like, a blinding beam is heading towards her, and the only thing I could do is to wake up her confused sanity.

The dust disperses throughout the battlefield, and the moment of truth slowly revealed itself.

Once the dust finally settles, the truth smacks my face out of reality. Ralts is nothing but a mere fainted body, covered with swollen scars and wounds.

"Not bad for your first try. At least you were able to defeat one of my Pokemons." Charlotte compliments.

"See? I told you Pokemon Battling is fun! Why don't you challenge other grunts, and win against them? Perhaps your Ralts is about to evolve."

"E... Ev, Evolve?!"

"'Yes, it's just a hypothesis though. Anyways, let's go to the Pokemon Center nearby, let Nurse Joy heal our Pokemons for us!"

Charlotte is correct, Pokemon Battling is indeed fun. From boiling blood, comes determination, the internal feeling of enthusiasm. This may be the start of a new hobby. There's way more to Pokemon Battling than what meets the eye.