Stepping out of the station, I stretched my arms, taking in the fresh air again. It had been several hours since the lunch with Rose, but now I was ready to move on and head to the next gym. Receiving a message from Zinnia, I was told to meet her here—the Wild Area.
It reminded me quite a lot of home with how open it was. It seemed to go on for miles of open fields and adventure. Although compared to Paldea, this was nothing. Hopping down the stairs, I began to message Zinnia back, waiting for a response, only for a Shiny Eevee to stand before me, wagging her tail. Staring blankly at it, I edged for a Pokeball. "It couldn't be this easy, right?"
"Well, I'll be, is that? Could it be? I spy a fellow Champion!"
Turning around, I was met with Leaf and a sigh of disappointment. "Yup, too good to be true. Long time no see, you two; I wasn't expecting to run into you here."
Leaf's Eevee began running around me, excited by our sudden encounter. Leaf nodded, arms behind her back. "Eevee took quite the liking to you. I would ask how the Gym Challenge is, but I know there's no need to ask such a silly question. You're killing it with your Partner, umm, what was her name? Miley, no, Momo... Umm..."
"Zorua and I haven't had much chance to battle yet. I suppose that's what happens when the girl refuses to evolve. She stays weak."
"Hey, that's not very nice. She's your friend."
Leaf was right; that wasn't very like me. I would never say something so harsh about any of my team, especially Zorua.
"Friend or not, I didn't become Champion because I used a bunch of pre-evolutions. Nor will I beat Leon with a mere Zorua. Although I question the thought, you're a 'Neon' Champion, yet you still use an Eevee? Isn't that giving yourself a disadvantage?"
Leaf scoffed at this, letting Eevee jump on her shoulder. "Excuse you, I'll have you know my amazing Eevee is unmatched. She's more than meets the eye. You should know that, considering you had an Eevee."
"Sure."
"Still don't believe me? Fine, what say your Espeon and my Eevee battle, see who's the better Eevee?"
It seems like an unfair match-up to me, but I suppose there's no harm in a friendly warm-up until Zinnia and Zorua get here.
"Don't say I didn't warn you." I taunt, taking out Espeon's Pokeball and stepping back. "Alright, Cookie, I'm counting on you."
Espeon leapt onto the battlefield, focusing on Eevee with a deep glare. Leaf spun around, freaking out, screeching. "Oh my Arceus, he's so cute! Espeon was always one of my favourite Eeveelutions, but seeing them in person! Yay!"
"Hello, battle?"
"Right, sorry!" She echoed, swinging her arm forward. "Let's go, Eevee."
I looked to Espeon, already shaking my head; this would be too easy. Without any thought or planning, I sprung into action, ready to take down the Eevee in one hit. "Cookie, show them we mean business; use Psychic!"
Espeon focused its psychic energy, sending shimmering waves toward Eevee. The attack connected, but Leaf's Eevee stood firm, showing impressive resilience. But another hit like that should do it.
"That's why you're the best Eevee! Return the attack with a Buzzy Buzz."
"A whaty what?"
Eevee began to emit a spark of light before; out of nowhere, Espeon was hit with a sudden blast of electricity, paralysing him and catching us both off guard. Since when could Eevee use electric attacks like that!?
Leaf wasn't stopping there, already ordering her second attack before we could comprehend what had happened. "Turn the tide, Eevee, let's get the upper hand with Bouncy Bubble!"
Again, out of nowhere, we were hit this time by a water-type attack I had never seen, and to make matters worse, it seemed to have healed a large amount of her health by this attack.
Feeling completely thrown under the bus, I gritted my teeth, looking to Espeon, having to take this fight somewhat seriously. "Cookie, stop messing around and get back in the fight with a calm mind!"
Espeon looked to me, nodding, calming himself, and imagining a drop of water splashing over a peaceful lake powering up.
"Good, now le-"
"Don't let them utilise that move, Eevee; cancel it hard with Freezy Frost!"
Eevee began to shake, shouting as ice emerged around Espeon, engulfing him and shattering. Somehow, this attack had removed our buffs, turning my grinds.
"What sort of attacks are these!? You've got to be making these up; why didn't you bother to think of learning these crazy OP moves, Cookie!?"
Espeon looked hurt by my comment as Leaf began jumping, hyping Eevee up more. "Ready to admit defeat?"
Dropping my bag, I took out my Tera Orb, shaking my head, amused by her ego. "You're kidding me. I'm not about to lose to some Eevee and their made-up moves. Prove your worth, Cookie; it's time to beat the opponent into submission!"
Holding the Tera Orb out, it began to react, erupting as I watched Leaf look concerned. Throwing the Tera Orb with an underarm, effortless throw, Espeon was captivated inside a flurry of crystals, emerging now a fighting type. "Cookie beat her down with a Tera Blast!"
Eevee was blown away with a devasting, super-effective attack, almost down for the count. Not letting our victory dwindle any further, I continued to bark orders. "Don't stop, it's our win now. Espeon, pick Eevee up with Psyhic and continue to use Tera Blast!"
Eevee began to flail her legs, trying to escape as she was held in the air with no chance of escape. Leaf wouldn't sit down and take the next attack as she timed my attack with Eevee's. "We're never done; Eevee and I are number one; no one can hold a candle to our friendship! Counter with Sparkly Swirl!"
It's a fairy-type move, and given the situation, this isn't good. If this hits, Espeon is done. Trying to think of a quick strategy to overcome this, I felt my mind disappear. A pain came on as my body began to move without thinking as I withdrew Espeon, allowing the move to miss. Sending him right back out a moment later, Leaf was so caught off guard that the dirty tactic gave us the perfect chance to win.
"Now Espeon! Finish it!"
Espeon struck Eevee with one last super-effective Tera Blast, knocking the Pokemon down for good as victory was ours, even if it took a little more to get there. Leaf ran over to her Partner, picking her up and cradling her. "You did awesome, girl... Hey, what's the big idea!? That was cheating. Eevee would have knocked your Espeon out if you hadn't done that."
I couldn't help but feel bad. She was right; I shouldn't have done that. I should apologise.
"Beat Espeon? If Espeon could go down to such weak attacks, I would have kicked him from my team back in Sinnoh; admit it, your Eevee is weak. Maybe you should evolve her next time."
I didn't mean to say that. I didn't tell any of that. Even Espeon looked at me, disturbed by my words. His last trainer dumped him for not being up to their standard, and here I was threatening the same.
Leaf gave me a furious look, refusing to speak another word, running off into Town, leaving me dumbfounded.
That Eevee was strong. I should tell her that.
"That Eevee was pathetic, just like her. How did she become Champion?"
That wasn't me. I wouldn't say that. That wasn't me.
Kids like me should forget my goals and ambitions and fall in line with everyone else.
My head hurt.
Forget about it.
It isn't important.
****
Having taken my shoes and socks off, I dipped my feet into the river, watching the school of Wooper swimming by. Espeon had refused to come out of his Pokeball since I can't say I blame him. Maybe this journey is getting to my head. It has been non-stop since leaving home for Sinnoh. Maybe I'm stressed? Saving the world from the Space-Time Distortion and Team Phoenix was exhausting. Not even Alola was relaxing, though I can't quite remember why.
Falling further into my train of thought, I fell asleep as someone jumped on my back. Snapping awake, I fell into the river, hearing a muffled laugh. I saw Zinnia trying to hold back her laughs as Zorua stood leaning in with a worried look. She tried helping me out, but I refused it, standing up. "Yeah, yeah, laugh it up, why don't you? Man, this sucks. Why the hell did you do that for!?"
"Jeez, sorry, Y/N, it was a joke. We saw you in your world; you know how this one gets. Always so excited to see you."
Rinsing my shirt, I sighed. "Yeah, well, don't do it again, Zorua. I mean it. Whatever, what were you two up to while I was gone?"
"Pokemon searching. I had my eye on this Haxorus, but it got away. I'll get it next time. How was the lunch with that guy?"
"I stuffed myself like a Lechonk." I chuckle with a faint smile. "I met with Rose's business partner. He was a pretty cool guy. They're working on this method for unlimited renewable energy and wanted my input. Pretty neat, right?"
"They wanted business advice from a kid?"
Pondering the thought, I nodded along, shrugging it off. "I must admit I thought it was strange, but the business partner was adamant as a Champion; my skills were absolute to his plan."
Zinnia crossed her arms, humming. "Oh yeah, what was the man's name?"
"His name? Ahh, well, you see." I paused, scratching my cheek and laughing nervously. "I sorta forgot. I don't think it was said."
"I don't know, seems rather odd to me."
"You think into the matter too much; this isn't my Region. They can do what they like. Besides, it's not like I'm helping them; they want my thoughts. I don't know why you're always making such big things out of nothing, Zinnia."
"Where did that come from?" She responded, turning to me. "What do you mean by that?"
"You know what I mean."
I should stop talking.
"You always think everyone is out to get you, that it's the world against poor old Zinnia. Not every adult is some selfish, evil tyrant wanting to steal your Pokemon. When will you wake up and realise not everyone is against you?"
Zorua shouted, wanting me to take it back. Squatting to her level, I rubbed her off. "What you too, Zorua? First Leaf takes losing to me like a sore loser, and now you're giving me a hard time? Need I remind you, Zorua, you were the one who pushed me into the river? Oh, and since I don't have a fire-type Pokemon, it will take ages to warm up. Where's my sorry?"
Zorua lowered her head in shame, going to approach me but choosing not to, sticking with Zinnia instead.
"I didn't think the world was against me; you weren't. Guess I can be wrong twice." Silent momentarily, Zinnia took in my argument, nodding before leaving with Zorua not far behind. "She has a name, you know. Maybe you should use it more; you chose it."
I felt a turning stomach in the pit of my stomach. That was too cruel, too nasty. I would never say those things. Something isn't right. Something is very wrong.
"Zinnia!" I shout out, getting no response. "Help me."
The words faded. I never spoke to them.
Kids like me should forget my goals and ambitions and fall in line with everyone else.
My head hurt.
Forget about it.
It isn't important.
"Zorua has a name... Zorua has a name... Does she have a name? What did I name her again?"