Finally. We've finally arrived at Ambrette Town, our little cruise through the cave leading to it going easier than I expected, although I'll probably be needing a shower later.

"There it is!" Before I can even catch my breath from running so much Mami's already in front of me pointing out all the scenery, and one building in particular. "The Contest Hall!"

The Contest Hall. My heart won't stop pounding, and I think it's not just because of the exercise. I'm actually anticipating this whole thing. Then it dawns on me that I have yet to decide on what performance I'll be using, since all my week's practice has been freestyling with Fennekin and Teddiursa.

"I gotta pee!" Jack arrives last and immediately rushes into the Pokemon Center, his Gardevoir waiting outside the building. I guess she knows the meaning of privacy.

"There's a beautiful beach, leading up to Cyllage City, too!" Mami strolls around the edge of the cliff, using her arm to shield her eyes from the bright sun as she gazes at the sparkling blue ocean in the distance."I can't wait to swim!"

"Swim?" My mind is taken off of the upcoming Contest and in its place is the thought of swimming. One, I have no clue how to swim, two, who wants to be half naked in public, three, why do people make such a bug deal about being seen in their underwear when it's just like a swimsuit, and four, isn't the beach filthy?

"Yep!" I guess I can expect Mami's confidence. Everything she wears looks good on her, and I bet she'd be a real hit with the boys. I, on the other hand, hate being around most everyone, am wearing the most ridiculous outfit known to man, and I'm so pale I'll probably be burnt to a crisp after the first step I take on the sand.

Mami turns around, her eyes gleaming in the way they did when we were in Lumiose City. Shopper's face."Cyllage also has a boutique, where we'll be able to buy all kinds of clothes and swimsuits!"

"Okey-dokey." It would be nice to wear some new clothes, and I have to admit that it's getting hotter. Spring's about over and Summer's bearing its head already, and wearing this scarf is getting to be a bit too much.

"Ursa, Urs."

"Piplup, Pip!"

Right by the Pokemon Center, Piplup and Teddiursa are talking about something in their strange Pokemon babble. Piplup holds her bow and strikes a cute pose, Teddiursa attempting to imitate it and Gardevoir doing the same, getting the pose perfect. I bet Pokemon are replacing models, too.

"Whoo!" Jack finally meets us after his little bathroom break, only to throw himself on a nearby bench and end the day, his egg secured in a pouch attached to his chest.

Mami pays no attention to him and has wandered off anyway to the Contest Hall, and she returns with a slip of paper. "It'll be open in a week, and that's when the Contest will be held."

"Okay." I almost wish I could say more than one boring word, but if any of my wishes had ever been granted I wouldn't even be on this Earth.

I turn my head to Teddiursa, who's appears to be having a fun conversation with Gardevoir and Piplup, along with the Chespin I recently learned was Jack's.

"Jack! We're going to Cyllage!"

"Already?" How can we leave now? There's an aquarium and even some fossil lab to check out. Sure, I'm not interested in the Pokemon, but all the flyers posted around the rocky town have me curious.

"Yeah. Is that a problem?" I narrowly avoid looking Mami in the eyes as she turns to me.

"Not at all," I quietly reply, and with that we leave.

As we walk along the shore and Jack and Mami start a conversation about the Gym Leader, I'm left walking a few paces behind them, staring absentmindedly at the sea.

First time I've seen it up close. I find myself admiring it, but as I take in its breathtaking sights I also get the feeling that I've spent too long shutting everything out. Maybe I don't yet deserve to be happy or content with myself, but some days I wonder.

"Hey, Gina!" I get confused as to why I'm even considered a member of this group. It happened out of the blue and all, but I don't contribute anything someone else couldn't. So why-

"Gina, you okay?" Jack slows down to walk beside me, brushing his bangs out of his eyes to look at me. "You seem kind of sad."

Sad? And here I am, my face betraying me and showing all the emotions I always hoped were worthless.

"I'm just thinking."

"About what?"

"About why I'm here when you two could go it yourselves." I leave no room for emotions and speak bluntly and honestly, and I'm almost certain that once the words are out my mouth my companions will stop and ask the exact same thing.

And yet.... I really must have sound some aliens or something. Mami walks backwards and takes my left arm, holding my hand, and Jack pushes into me to take my left.

"We like being around you, Gina!" I guess Jack isn't much of a liar....

"You're our friend!" And what does Mami have to lie about?

"I guess...."

"Ursa!" Teddiursa hops onto my head, lifting strands of it as if they were reins. I see Piplup sitting on Mami's left shoulder and Gardevoir clutching onto Jack's arm.

We must look a mess, all friendly and stuff. But even so.... Some part of me glad to feel this warmth. Slowly and slowly , I'm thawing out....

"Ring!" Mami's holocaster shoots out of her skirt pocket and lands on the sand in front of us, and just like that I'm a frozen slab of ice again. Them.

Without even waiting for an answer that trio reveals themselves, even more obnoxious in the form of a hologram. "Cyllage City!" That Kai boy says with assurance, tugging on his headband that's barely containing his messy hair.

"Hope you're ready." Trick, as arrogant as ever gives a sly grin before turning things over to the last member.

Jocelyn winks, brushing her hair out of her face to point at us."You'd better not chicken out, Raticate!" She's glaring at Mami, and I can only imagine the curse words going through my friend's head at the unflattering nickname."You'd better bring it like you meant it!"

"Meant?" Did Mami call this bunch or something?

"I forgot to tell you that I called them," Mami sighs, her hand placed on her chin as if in deep thought. Right when I think she's about to crawl back into the shell of that intimated girl she became before, she turns around and snaps her fingers, forming a Sailor... Sun, was it, pose. "We'll get 'em for sure this time! In the name of the bright, bright sun, they'll totally be punished!"

"Definitely." Maybe I only need one word to get my point across, since this whole friendship deal has various methods of communication, and I'm sure the look on my face says enough.

"I knew that team practice would be useful!" Jack throws up his fist in the air in a "hurrah!" motion, and quietly I add to myself, and so would that Gardevoirite, but battles can still be won without any kind of evolution involved.

"We just have to get to Cyllage City, and-" Don't tell me I was too preoccupied with this "fun" business that I forgot we're already there!

"I smell rats!"

"Son of-"

"You'd better watch that mouth of yours, bonita." I feel a finger brush past my lips and I shudder, whipping around ready to punch Kai in the face.

"It's okay, Gina!" I somewhat doubt Mami's statement as she turns beet red afterwards. "He does it to all the girls....."

"So I guess once again I'm thrust into another battle...." The thought barely breaches my mind, because I already expected this as soon as we reached Ambrette Town. A Contest means that I'll be facing Trick anyway, and the six of us having met is inevitable.

But can we win? Nothing in my mind can answer that question, and I begin to wonder if this whole rematch thing is even a good idea.

"Piplup, pip!" Piplup springs forward, ready to see some action, but Jack asks Mami if she'll be using her.

Mami nods with confidence."My Goomy doesn't have much experience, and seeing what we're up against I have no choice. "

"What are we even-" I begin, but the words wither before they leave my mouth as I turn my head to our competition. Kai's got a Pangoro, Jocelyn a Raichu, and Trick a Golurk. They all look pretty fierce, but I don't know.

"I can't use Gardevoir against a Dark and a Ghost type, and I can't send an egg into battle..." Why is Jack struggling with his options?"Then I guess I'll have to use my Chespin! "

"Pin?"

"What about you, Gina?"

They're using starter Pokemon, but I don't have much experience with my Fennekin. Still, Teddiursa can't do well against a Ghost type and Fighting type, so the only other option is...

"Fennekin!" I reach for her Pokeball and toss it out in front of me, the look of surprise on her face matching the expression on Mami's.

"Fennekin?" She gives me a doubtful look, and I reply with a simple nod.

Jack, on the other hand, is completely onboard. "All right, Gina, Mami, the Pokemon, let's do this!"

Jocelyn has that same look she had in Lumiose, as if this is just a waste of her time but she can fit it in into her "busy" schedule. I don't like the way Kai is cracking his knuckles, and I can't stand that sleazy smile on Trick's annoying face.

"Let's go!" Mami makes the call, and upon doing so Pangoro is ready to rumble.

Without even waiting for a command it uses Work Up, surrounding itself in a fiery red light as it clenches its huge fists.

"Kai!" Jocelyn pouts at the boy, pointing to us as she glares at him.

"Yeah, I know." He sighs before actually ordering his Pokemon to attack."Stone Edge. "

He's looking rather bored, I observe. And why is Trick just standing there as if he's waiting for something? They must be planning something...

"Jack!" All of a sudden Mami pushes me back to call for Jack, who then pushes me forward to nod at her. I feel like a tall pillow in the way.

"Piplup, Chespin, go!" They must have gone over tons of battle strategies or something, because Jack and Mami seem to have a plan of their own as there Pokemon spring forward to take the lead.

Piplup uses Bubblebeam, which surrounds Chespin's Pin Missile move, the whirlwind of attacks flying forth.

"Stone Edge!" Just before the combination lands on Raichu, Pangoro rushes over to her side before punching the ground in less than a second, creating beams of stone that ripple through the ground.

"Go, Raichu!" Jocelyn commands her Pokemon with a cute pose.

Raichu cries its name in a cute fashion before leaping from each beam, getting closer and closer."Charge!" Somehow she's still able to summon an electric charge as she jumps, and too late do I realize just what she was intending to do with this strategy.

"Thunderpunch!"

"Piplup!" Piplup gets caught on the side of her beak with a messy punch of electricity, but seems to be okay, except for one thing. "Lup...." Yellow sparks fly off her blue body, and her eyes are nearly shut with pain.

"Piplup!"

Meanwhile, Trick takes this opportunity to issue a command to his Golurk that's been standing by all this time. You're one to talk.

"Yeah, I am." My breathing hitches, and my eyes scan our battlefield, which happens to be right in the middle of the city. I hardly even notice the people until I stop to think.

I can't focus on all three, so I need to find one of them to focus on. Should it be Trick? Or Jocelyn? No, I just need to watch out for her.

"Yo, you feeling okay, bonita?" Kai waves to me and then sneers."Standing around looking pretty won't do you any good here."

"Raichu, Thunderpunch again!"

"Piplup!"

"Fennekin, use Ember!" A move like Flame Charge would be great if Raichu didn't have that ability. I can't remember the name, but it gives off Paralysis like a disease through contact.

Raichu easily dodges it, with an amused grin on its chubby, cute face. "Rai?"

Jocelyn looks exactly the same, just as obnoxious. "Aw. Was that supposed to hit me?"

Why are they all pike their Pokemon?! Then it hits me. I can see all of us as our own Pokemon, getting frustrated because we can't even land a single hit!

"Let it go, Golurk." Let what go, exactly?

"Lurk." Golurk's voice is deep and heavy, and it lifts a hard iron fist in the air as it walks forward.

At first he comes in slowly, while Jocelyn and Kai sit back with slick grins on their face to watch their teammate demolish our Pokemon with Focus Punch. In that moment when Golurk attacks I think that we're done for, but the Pokemon definitely have other thoughts.

Piplup, Chespin, and even Fennekin are giving their all to prevent Golurk from attacking, their moves combining all at once to apprehend the large blue Pokemon.

"Eh?" Even Mami is wide eyed, since she seemed to have given up just as I did.

We've only just begun, and how can I give up now and let all the experience I've gained turn to drivel? "Fennekin!"

"Fen!"

"Flame Charge!" Who cares if she has to tackle that thing head on? For a moment I actually wish that I could be her, settling things with a head butt to the torso or the face rather than be forced to look at the faces of our rivals head on.

Kai's eyes narrow, and I notice Jocelyn getting a bit uneasy. The air between the six of us have definitely gotten tense, as if the heavy energy of a battle that's only been going on for a few minutes has already jolted everyone.

"You got this, Fennekin!" Jack encourages until I tap his shoulder.

"Won't that distract her?" But to my surprise Fennekin's fire glows even brighter, and she nearly makes her opponent that's several tikes larger than her fall over.

Just when my eyes were on Fennekin Mami issues another attack, her Piplup spinning into the air with a frosty beam of ice aimed at the ground.

"Kai!" Jocelyn screeches, her fists clenched together with her feet stomping the ground. She looks just like a child throwing a temper tantrum."Take care of this now!"

"Yeah, yeah," her teammate mutters with a nod to his eager Pangoro."Hammer Arm."

"Chepsin, Pin Missile!" Before the large black-and-white Pokemon can even lift a paw Jack's Chespin leaps forward with pins reaching out from it'd head.

The Pin Missile makes a trail in the ice, and the little Grasstype is able to hop from each one to get closer. At the same time Piplup slides on the ice, just ahead of Chespin.

"Goro!" Pangoro slams its paws into the ice, and Raichu zooms in with its hind leg out to kick the shsrds of ice at Piplup.

"Lup!" Piplup tries to get up and loses her balance, but she's quickly rescued by Chespin's Vine Whip. Thin green vines wrapped firmly around her torso, Mami's Pokemon is lifted into the air and avoided the flying ice.

"Fennekin!" Just then I see an oppurtunity! "Flame Charge on Raichu!"

"Fen...." Just like a Pikachu's Volt Tackle Fennekin sprints forward, picking up more speed and heat with each step. Her fiery paws melt the ice as she blazes forward, avoiding Golurk's attempt to stop her with its Superpower attack.

"Bubblebeam!"

"Pin Missle!"

Jack and Mami go to relying on their tactics, but Kai isn't about to let that happen. "Stone Edge!" Just in time those large pillars are back up again, shredding through the remaining ice on the enemy's side of the field.

Raichu steps back and runs forward to jump, landing on each stone pillar as they emerge out of the ground.

"On the pillars!" I command Fennekin before it's too late.

"But, Gina!" Mami protests, and I almost shoot a glare at her before I realize why.

"Fennekin!" The Bubblebeam and Pin Missile!

But Fennekin just swerves to avoid the blended attack, following through with our plan to jump on Pangoro's Stone Edge.

"Rai?!" Raichu almost slips midair, and just before Fennekin charges into her Mami tells Chespin to hurl Piplup in to intercept, and for a heartbeat I'm left stunned by confusion, until I remember too late that Raichu has the Static ability.

"Lup!" Piplup rolls in and slams into Raichu, the two falling and landing away from the stone pillars to the thawed ground.

"Rai?"

"Lup...."

Before Piplup can attack Jocelyn commands her Raichu to take a deep breath and use Bide. I don't know what that move is supposed to do but all I see after that is Raichu trembling with her eyes squeezed shut, as if she's waiting for an attack.

"Don't attack!" Jack places his hand on my shoulder as he leans in to explain that Bide stores power from the hits a Pokemon receives.

"Piplup..."

"I don't think Piplup would be able to attack if she wanted to," I add, observing electricity sparking off the small blue Pokemon.

"Piplup!" Mami gasps, holding a hand over her mouth. Her shock then slips into fury, and she glares at Jocelyn. "Just what did you do to my Pokemon?!"

Jocelyn shoots her an indignant glare back. "You were the one that had your Piplup interfere!"

That's right! If Mami hadn't done anything Fennekin would be the one paralyzed. She did that for me?

"That's because you're a jerk!"

"Whatever, rat!" Jocelyn retorts, sticking a tongue out.

"Why, you-"

The two go on to bicker, and I notice with a twinge of amusement that Kai seems to be suffering having to stay next to his loud and annoying companion.

But just as I'm focused on that he turns his head, his unnerving red gaze meeting my eyes. I flinch, and at that he grins. "Glad you're mesmerized."

"What the-"

"Lurk!" I'd been wondering where Golurk was all this time.

The Ghosttype roars and brings down its enormous fist on my Fennekin, who had hopped down from the pillars to stand by Piplup, wondering if she was okay.

"Fen!!" Fennekin is thrown back by the impact, and lands on her side a few feet in front of me, her body still.

No one else had made any moves, except for Raichu, who's Bide is useless at this point. And yet Golurk.... "Fennekin!"

Fennekin rises to her paws, but takes a few steps back. "Rest a bit before heading back in, okay?" She nods in understanding, and crouches beside Chespin to regain her energy.

"A risk I'll have to take,"Jack mutters to himself before pointing to his Chespin. " Belly Drum, then a quick Pin Missile on Raichu!"

"Pin!" Chespin beats on its belly like a drum, hence the reason for it's name, I suppose, but by doing so a result light takes over its body, and new scratch marks appear.

"Halves its health but raises its attack," Jack explains before I can even ask the question.

Chespin yells its name before focusing on Raichu, but Jocelyn quickly shifts her focus to her Pokemon and orders it to use Bide again.

"Pin?" The Pin Missiles hit before they can be stopped, and Raichu, although apparently in pain, let's out a tiny grin of satisfaction.

That grin... I can't just forget about him! I turn to Mami, who's sweating heavily as if she were directly in the battle. "Mami!"

"Yes?" She breathes, wiping her forehead.

"Have Piplup take care of Raichu no matter what, while Jack and I handle the other two."

"But... I can't," she gasps, her head hanging low.

I grip her shoulder, and with my other hand I lift her head and face it towards me. "You can and will."

For a second her eyes stretch wider, but it seems I've gotten through to her. Her purple eyes gleam with determination, and she removes my hand and turns her head back to her Piplup, who despite her condition is still standing.

"Piplup!"

"Lup?"

"Give Raichu all you've got, no matter what!"

Piplup, although weak with an eye nearly shut, she still manages to look up at her Trainer and nod. "Lup!"

Piplup pounds Raichu with her beak, too many times to be a mere Peck. Mami gasps, her eyes brimming with awe." Fury Attack!"

"Lup!"

"Hm." Trick watches closely, its Golurk waiting for an order to attack.

"Jack, help Piplup out real quick!"

"Got it! Chespin, run forward and use Seed Bomb!"

Chespin is faster than I thought, its attack hitting the preoccupied Raichu within seconds. Piplup leaps back, fitting in a quick Bubblebeam to match. The combination explodes into fireworks of bright colors that throw themselves into the sky, erupting form a gray cloud of smoke.

"Fen!" Fennekin gets back on her paws, and my eyes flicker to Pangoro for a split second before I tell my Pokemon to attack it.

She dashes forward, faster and brighter than ever.

"Hammer Arm!" Pangoro stops her just before she tackles it, its glowing fists counteracting her move.

"Fen!" Fennekin snarls at the taller Pokemon as she tries to overpower it to make her Flame Charge hit.

"Rai!" But Raichu distracts me. Even after the explosion she's still standing, her Bide bound to be even more powerful because of it.

"Piplup!" Mami yells to her weakened partner, her voice coming out a mix of distress and resolution. "Don't give up now! You still have time!"

Time to do what? "Pip.... Lup!" Piplup grabs Raichu's tail with both of her flippers, threatening to yank the Electictype and toss her. But she's too small...

Both Piplup and Raichu are engulfed in a white light, and for a second I worry that Bide is about to hit.

"Fennekin!" Fennekin growls, somehow managing to charge through Pangoro's Hammer Arm and slamming into its stomach.

"Goro!" Pangoro is knocked to the side, just in front of Trick's Golurk.

"Rai!"

Covered entirely by light it's hard to make out what's going on with Piplup and Raichu. Did Raichu win? Or.....

Piplup's shape can be made out only faintly with Raichu's shape overlapping it, but I can hear Piplup's voice, the voice of someone that refuses to give up even with the cards stacked against her!

"Lup......" Piplup swings Raichu around by her tail, the latter's body lifting higher and higher until her form looks as light as a balloon.

Is this what I think it is? I look over at Mami, but her expression us unreadable.

The light suddenly vanishes, and a taller Pokemon emerges from where Piplup was standing. The taller Pokemon throws Jocelyn's Raichu into Pangoro almost like a shot put.

"Raichu!!" Raichu's Bide attacks Pangoro at full swing, and the two of them crash to the ground.

"Prinplup..." Prinplup falls to the ground, a smile planted on its beak as it lands.

Jocelyn and Kai retrieve their Pokemon, and Mami does the same, and all three watch on ahead without a word.

Three out. "Great job!" Jack, however, begins cheering, but Trick storms all over his parade.

"Fire Punch!" The Fire Punch sears Jack's busy Chespin, and the Grasstype faints.

"What?"

"And then there were two," Trick says with a gleam of interest shining in his eyes. He doesn't seem as bored as he was when the battle began, but he doesn't seem too nervous either.

Is it because he thinks he'll win? Fennekin has taken a lot of hits, but I can't just forfeit now! Besides, judging by the look on her fave, I don't think she's want it that way, either.

"Fennekin!" Now she's acting strange... She's not using Flame Charge anymore, and yet her body is still enveloped in a fiery orange light.

"Blaze," Jack whispers, sending a chill down my neck when I notice that he's right next to me.

"But the question is can you control it?" Who does Trick think he is, acting like he's such a big shot?

But Jack goes on to give me news I'd rather not know. "Blaze is am ability starter Pokemon have, but they almost go crazy once it's activated!"

"Fen..."

"And when does this ability activate?"

"When your Pokemon is almost out of energy."

Great. Just when things were going good I learn that my Fennekin has not only gone rabid, but now she's on the brink of fainting too?

"Fennekin, I want you to-"

"Fennekin!" Fennekin lunges forward without listening, her Flame Charge getting bugger and bigger.

Golurk stops her, the sound its fist makes echoing and ringing in my ears. "Block."

He must be using that move to stop my Pokemon! But even after realizing that there's nothing more I can do. Fennekin continues to hiss and snarl at her opponent, and with one Superpower attack she's out like a light.

"Another loss...."

"Golurk, return." Trick retrieves his Pokemon, who looks as if it could have continued fighting. I expect him to have a satisfied look on his face, but when I look directly at it the expression that greets me is disappointment.

"What's that all about?" Jack grabs my arm, lifting it to the sky."Gina did great! She's the real victor!"

Jocelyn turns her back, her clenched fists on her hips as she waits as if she's ready to leave immediately. Kai stares at me with narrowed eyes before turning away, and Trick glares at me. "I hope this isn't how you'll be battling in the Contest," he scoffs. "Especially not with a beast like that."

They all turn and speak amongst themselves before walking towards us. I brace myself before stepping back to let them pass through, forcing my anger down and my mouth shut.

Jocelyn speed walks, her heels mading small thud sounds as she stomps past with Kai walking after her. For a split second he lifts one of the four curls in my otherwise straight hair and shoots me an unreadable look as he passes by before letting go, Trick calmly bringing up the rear.

I assume that the trio are heading back towards Ambrette Town, but in all honesty I could care less. They can get hit by a bus for all I care.

Despite my bitter look Jack pulls me close, grabbing Mami to pull her into the Ursaring group hug. "Pokemon Center, food, then fishing!"

"Sounds nice," Mami sighs.

"I don't even know how to fish," I breathe.

Jack hugs us even tighter, happier than ever despite having lost the battle. "Then I'll teach you!"

Losing sucks, and I'm not even sure what I'll do about Fennekin's Blaze ability, but surely it won't be too hard to control? Even with all that to worry about, am I even content where I stand at?

"Let's eat, Gina!" Mami, as if turning a complete 180, smiles and grabs my hand and runs to follow Jack to the Pokemon Center.

Yeah. It would seem so.