Welcome to Gaia! ::

Mag smiled as he watched the coordinators from the backstage area. Although it would have been nice to be out in the crowd, it was pretty cool hanging out in the back with all the coordinators.

First up was that annoying Crenu fellow. His choice was a Pokemon Mag had never seen and seemed to be a ghost and ice type. Although the ghost Pokemon was rather cute, the performance made her seem quite creepy as if she were the soul of a girl that had been lost in a snowstorm. Despite Crenu’s attitude, Mag had to give him props for his performance on the stage.

As the camera scanned the audience for reactions to the performance the orange haired boy noticed two familiar faces. ’Looks like Claire and Rajasi made it after all. I’ll have to talk to them when the contest is over and see how they managed to get tickets,’ Mag thought to himself. Next up was Amy, the nice girl Mag happened to bump into earlier in the day. Although the danger of poisoning the audience with her performance did cross his mind, the intrepid Bayleef kept everything under control and put on a nice show creating interesting patters of smoke through her Razor Leaf.

After a few other trainers, the spotlight finally came to Ryka. At first, her performance seemed quite ordinary. Her small, cat-like Pokemon doing a wonderful job jugging. ’That can’t be it, you won’t make it with tough competition like Crenu!’ Mag thought to himself as the Skitty continued. But much to his surprise, Ryka tossed in a small rock into the mix, probably a moon stone, and the cat suddenly began to evolve! Flabbergasted, Mag cheered quite loudly as did much of the audience. Mag quickly waited near the entrance.

“Way to go Ryka! That was incredible,” He said offering her a high-five. “Of course it’ll only work once, but I can’t think of anything that would be more spectacular for your first contest.”

After their conversation had ended the last person was up and it was the nice raven haired girl from before: Riza. Sending out a powerful looking Gardevoir, she took command of the stage. Her twirling vortex and then suddenly stationary command of swift made for a performance rivaling even Ryka’s. Although Mag was about to go congratulate her, it seemed that Crenu was already on the subject so he decided to keep with Ryka. Glancing around, Mag didn't see Amy anywhere, much to his disappointment, as it seemed like would be the type of person that would benefit from some encouragement before going to the next round.

With Riza's performance over, the judges took a small intermission to determine the results. After the tense break had finally ended, Mag was happy to find all four of the people he knew in the next round. At hearing the match ups, however, he was a little bit disheartened.

“Looks like you’re up against Crenu. A friend of mine ran into him earlier today and he wasn't the most cordial. He seemed like the type of fellow that wouldn’t give up easily no matter the odds.” He said to Ryka. “But with your skill I think you can give him a run for his money, good luck!” the orange haired man added with a smile as his friend made her way to the stage for the battle round.

***

Long story shot, the tournament in which Claire and Rajasi found themselves in was quite disappointing. Although there was no official rule about it, apparently all the participants in the ‘Buxamillion Contest Cup’ had been fishermen. With Magikarp. All of them. So the duo made quick work of the poor land locked fish and swept their way to two tickets in a relatively shot amount of time.

After rushing to the Pokemon Center and the Ludicolo Lotus Café and not finding Moti, the two left for the contest arriving in their seats just as it started. Better to enjoy it themselves than to miss out for the sake of finding their screwball boss, right? Giving the usual ‘oohs’ and ‘ahhs’ the two were quite enjoying the experience and one would hardly realize all the turmoil the pair had been involved in over the past week by their normal demeanor.

It was safe to say that Kirlia wasn't a species Falkner saw often in his gym, but the fact that more and more trainers from other regions were trekking to Johto to win badges meant that he was seeing a lot of Pokemon that were not native to the Johto Region. The Kirlia looked like it would be light on its feet and quite agile, so immediately Falkner knew this would be an interesting match. Jett was apparently eager to continue and quickly ordered a Confusion. Falkner looked to the Pidgeotto and slightly inclined his head. The Bird Pokemon responded almost instantly, drawing its wings in close to its body as it raced toward the oncoming blast of psychic energy, a a telltale streak of white light trailing behind it. Hoping to use the Confusion as a means to obscure its Quick Attack, the Pidgeotto swerved and arched around it at the the last possible second before turning its keen sights on the Kirlia.

As we can all probably imagine, there were fewer things Sasha enjoy more than shopping. Even less surprising was how much her current company was adding to the situation. So much so, that she actually focused more on Kasiya then actually shopping. Arm in arm, Sasha watched as Kasiya furrowed her adorable brow and expertly browsed for TMs. Elle est sur une mission! she thought with a coy, almost mischievous grin. When Kasiya left to go check out, she left Sasha to her own devices as to what TMs or items, if any, she'd like to pick up. After a bit of pondering and looking at her Pokedex, she felt her team was well rounded enough to take on what was again. I mean, with so many people, how bad could it be?

Pleased at her wish to go shopping with Kasiya had been at least partially fulfilled, Sasha skipped merrily to the door where her lovely blonde friend awaited.

------

"My Pokemon?" Mike repeated, taken aback by such a simple question. "Uh, actually. Actually, my Pokemon are doing great! All things considered, they're doing fantastic." Mike dug through his war-torn bag and pulled out his 'new' Pokedex and flipped it open. "To my surprise, Magneton had a new form they discovered in Sinnoh, and Blaine was nice enough to bring Proton there when he went on a business trip and evolve him for me." He flipped the Pokedex around to show Flannery the image of a Magnezone. "He doesn't move around as much, but I can't wait to see the kind of punch he packs now. Oh yeah, and I spent some time training with Blaine. He gave me this Pokedex." He scrolled down the list and brought up the entry on Magmortar. "And guess who else evolved?" Mike said with a wide grin and a low chuckle. "Look at it, they're pretty much on fire the entire time! How great is that!? OH! And another thing!" he practically screamed. "Look what I got when I was in Mt. Chimney!" Hoisting a pokeball above his head like some sort of holy relic of old, he pushed the button, releasing a somewhat out-of-it Torkoal.

Mike sat down and hugged the dopey looking Pokemon around the neck. "Isn't Vesuvius just adorable? He's so warm and sturdy looking, and his shell looks like a little tuya. Now we both have one!" The boy rubbed his cheek against the tortoise's face, who, while confused, wasn't about to complain about the sudden burst of attention.

"Tor!" it yawned. Mike continued to snuggle up against his new Pokemon when he heard the doors behind him open. Out from them walked Kasiya and Sasha, walking very close together. Mike couldn't help but be intrigued at their sudden 'closeness'.

"Salut!" Sasha said with a curt wave.

"Hey Sasha. Hey Kass." replied Mike, speaking out of the free side of his mouth. "Oh, Sasha! Could you do me a favor?" Mike rose to his feet and rummaged through his bag yet again. "Since I can't go in the store for obvious reasons, do you think you could pick me up a couple TMs with this money?"

"Sure. What ones?" Sasha said, unlinking her arm with Kasiya's.

"Let's see. I want...four Solarbeams." He held out a pile of money and two colored discs. "With this money and selling these two TMs-"

"Four? Isn't z'hat a bit much?" she asked, accepting the money and discs.

"No." Mike said succinctly. "I need them to round out my teams massive weakness to water." he lied. "If my math is correct, you should have enough with those. If I remember correctly they are $3000 a pop."

"Z'hey are actually four s'housand each." the pink haired girl said, biting her bottom lip.

"Aw, what? s**t! That-" Mike was about to fly into an angry rant when he felt a soft, delicate finger press against his lips for the briefest of moments.

"Pas de problème, mon petit héros." she said with a wink. "If I recall correctly, z'here once was a boy who bought me three very expensive and powerful TMs out of the goodness of his own heart."

"Well, actually, you did give me an Earth-" Mike objected.

"Shhhh~" With items in hand, Sasha whirled around and walked into the store and returned shortly thereafter with three shining, green discs.

"You are wonderful." Mike said in thanks as he took the discs and began applying them to all of his Fire Pokemon.

"Je sais." Sasha said with a smirk.

"Alright!" Mike said as he stood up and brushed the dirt off his knees. "Almost everyone is here. Just one more person and we're good to go."

"And who might z'hat be?" Sasha inquired.

"Me." said a voice from behind.

Throughout the battle that had just finished unfolding, Scarlet and Cindy’d been quietly observing, and both were pretty impressed at the Sparrow’s defeat at the hands of Athena. Hypnosis had sealed the deal, and it was a technique Cindy took note of. Next up was Pidgeotto, who was powerful enough to take out half of the tag team that brought the Volcano Pokemon to her knees, and it did it with one gust.

“Wow. Looks like he’s gonna use- Yep.”

In a flash of light, Jett’s Kirlia, River, was released, and somehow, Cindy’s focus increased even more. River was strong, and although she was the third strongest pokemon she’d ever met, Cindy tended not to count the first two, what with one spawning a lake on all of them. So, River was one of her two self appointed rivals, and although they were friends, the Quilava really wanted to beat her one day.

Scarlet wasn’t much different. Jett was a powerful trainer, and this opportunity to watch gave him insight into both his traveling partner’s and the gym leader’s battle styles. And for now, one thing was clear. This was a battle of acrobatic feats that none of Scarlet’s pokemon, Cindy included, would be able to pull off easily. Still, he hoped the best for Jett. A Zephyr badge was the mark of a trainer’s progress through the world, and Scarlet thought that his buddy deserved it.

He supposed it would all be decided in this battle.


---

As they strolled further toward Viridian, both Alex and Roll were preoccupied with their own goals. Alex’s head was stuck in her pokedex, where she was researching her pokemon’s strength and weaknesses. And she almost had a panic attack right then and there. It was all she could do not to start hyperventilating. What if a leaf falls on her head…? Or she steps into a puddle… It-It can’t be that bad. It’s not even remotely possible. … But what if it is?

While Alex was busy figuring out when she could get an umbrella for the rain and a certain legendary rainbow phoenix to utterly ruin any horrible grass types who would hurt her Roll, the little Larvitar was busy enjoying the sweet smell of grass, the excited battle cries of starting trainers, the trees covering the sides of the path… For her, it was an awesome day. She could even see an amazing lizard with a fire tail off in the distance, like a smaller version of one of those dragons that used to walk into Sabrina’s gym.

“… Maybe if I caught a bunch of caterpie and made an offering in Bell Tower… Birds eat worms, right…? … But I could never win… Then again, I’m trying to call out Arceus…”

While Alex was so deep in thought about how she’d be luring in her precious grass smiting rainbow bird, Roll wandered further down the route, searching out one of those funny kids in funny hats with the squishy looking pokemon, so she could squish them.

I really hope Petalburg city does not charge Zii and I with damage to their roads. Circus man and his dog continue to look around until he grows a mischievous smile.

"Your pokemon has left the battle! You lose girly!"

I sigh and clench my fists. I really want to punch this man right through his skull to smash his brains all over the concrete!

"You are an idiot you muck for brains! Stop trying to win like an ekans and realize that you can train your pokemon to use tactics even though you do not command it! Zii is going to win in exactly two seconds!"

As I said this a crack reveals itself in the concrete. When did Zii learn dig? I don't think this is dig. It's just Zii being creative. Pokemon Gods I love Ziii so much! He makes fighting so easy sometimes. The crack gets bigger and houndour finally realizes what is going on. He jumps back a few feet. His master looks to the concrete then at where the flames were spread on the ground.

"I see lil missy! You're zangoose went and used the heat from the flamethrower to break a hole into the road! Such a smart pokemon in the hands of someone so dense."

I've had it with these insults. I growl and spread curses all over the man's insults. I get an idea, a good one! Using the tactic I usually do I run straight for the circus man. This should distract the dog into blocking my attack to his trainer. I jump high up for a kick to the circus man's face. The dog does exactly as I thought. He jumps right in front of me and lets loose a terrifying growl. Even if this was a distraction that growl made me shiver. It's not everyday a trainer is struck with a pokemon's attack. But, in my life I try to endure human and pokemon attacks equally. It gives me an understanding of what Zii goes through, and maybe Ecko when I decide to use him.

Zii does something from underneath the road and I feel a tremble in the cement. The cracks begin to spread throughout the fighting area in a massive spider web like design. I jump back suddenly to find the road collapse! I laugh because it looks like the houndour is eaten by the road.




So, Flutterby survived Mach-Ni's bite. Even though Deedee is a ditz in class she got a talented and endurable pokemon. Mach-Ni, unlike Flutterby, seems a bit off in this battle. I named him and he still seems like he's looking at the clouds in the sky. Perhaps he's dreaming of a time when he can fly? He does evolve into a flying dragon type. Well, that's my first goal with Mach-Ni.

"Mach-Ni, bite Flutterby!" I say as Deedee begins swooning over me using her Pokemon's name. I can't understand girls sometimes. They're priorities a bit mixed up.

Yay! Go Distance Go! We Love You! Mach-Ni Go! Beat Up That Heifer!

I really do not understand girl's and that competitive spirit they have with other girls. Mach-Ni doesn't budge from his spot as I find him actually looking at a leaf floating in the wind. My eye twitches as my mind is going on overdrive. This is too many analytical observations for my single brain to overcome. But, let's see if I can.

"Go Flutterby, shake off that bite attack! Mach-Ni is sleeping, hit him hard!" Deedee screams while doing a cute jump. She does have a charm to her.

Flutterby speeds up as a cloud of sand follows it. I notice in the corner of my eye that Mach-Ni is now looking at Flutterby, but acting like he's looking at the leaves. I got it!

"Mach-Ni, counter attack with a bite!" I say as I understand what type of pokemon Mach-Ni is. That was the problem, I did not understand his fighting techniques. He's a counter type!

Mach-Ni closes his eyes and right when the worm type pokemon is within a foot of him he spins around and bites the worm's tail. Again he spins the worm around and flings it to the side. Flutterby rolls toward Deedee and she catches it with care. It's amazing how different trainers are. She would actually dive to save her pokemon from further dangers.

"You did well Flutterby, but Mach-Ni uses a counter attack we can not beat just yet. I'll give you another fight with Mach-Ni in the future. I love you Flutterby!" Deedee says before sending Flutterby back into his ball.

Mach-Ni celebrates for a moment with a cute spin and dance. The fan base I have seem to sway back and forth with him as he dances. I really don't understand girls.