"Okay Paige, listen up cause you have a lot to learn before the contest." Milly smiled, crossing her arm in front of her. "There are five main categories to which your Pokémon will be classed and judged by. Beauty, smarts, cuteness, coolness, and finally, toughness."

I nodded my head to show I was paying attention, listening intently on Milly's advice for contests.

"Gardenia here," She motioned her hand to my shiny Gardevoir. "Is graceful, you can tell in the way she moves and battles that elegance is a natural instinct for her. Beauty is the perfect skill for you to hone in with her."

I nodded my head again, listening on how Gardenia's slim frame and elegant build could best be shown off in dance style movements, twirling and swirling to best show off her moves.

"Samurai hardly need to be told. He's strong and fast, best designed for toughness. In a double contest he and Gardenia would be perfect together to show of both skill and grace but more on that another time."

Another nod to show I was listening while Milly continued talking about his strength and battle ready style. Samurai gave a snort in agreement, smirking at Milly's lecture.

"And obviously Miku here is cute--" She began.

Miku however, cut her off. "Miku no cute, Miku kawaii." The little Manaphy said in a sassy tone that made it sound like Milly was being silly.

"More like Miku kowai." Milly muttered with a shuttle roll of her eyes.

"Miku heard that." She smirked.

"I mean-- of course you're kawaii."

"You lier. Mama says liars are naughty and don't get stwrbewwy Ice-cream after they finish all their dinner."

Milly gave me a questioning look which I shrugged to with my usual bright smile. What, Miku needs to learn that lying isn't allowed.

The brunette trainer rolled her brown eyes, turning to Gummie. "Reunicles have two brains, their power is maximised when both are thinking the same thing. Unfortunately, Gummie does have a hard time concentrating most the time but as long as she does as she's told in the contest, you'll be fine. Anyway, you're going to be showing off her smarts, combining moves together so they put on a marvellous display."

Gummie was to busy playing with Angel's ribbon's to be paying much attention to what Milly was saying but I was still giving her my undivided attention, eager to know everything I could about contests in the two days I had to learn before Petalburg Cities contest began.

"Angel here would most defiantly be cool. She is relaxed and calm at almost any given moment but still battle ready at the same time. Angel has the capability to fit into most categories but cool defiantly suites her the best."

Angel nodded in agreement, her silky ribbons fluttering in the slight breeze blowing through the late afternoon. Gummie was still playing with her friend's the feelers while Angel showed no annoyance towards the Multiplying Pokemon's behaviour.

"Champ though... I'm not really sure about him... He seems quite the cool type but could be just as tough or smart... I know why don't you have a battle with him!?" Milly exclaimed, clapping her hands together.

I looked towards the shiny Pokémon who was lazing about with no visible interest in what was going on. He was munching in the end of a blade of grass, relaxing on a rock, staring at the sky with his arms used as pillows. At the mention of a battle, he sat up, looking intrigued by the idea, his onyx eyes filled with curiosity but his reaction showed that despite his best efforts to show otherwise, he had been paying attention.

:How about it Champ?: I asked my Pokémon.

After a moment's pause, he nodded. ~Why not, I don't have anything better to be doing.~

Turning back to Milly, I nodded, smiling in agreement. This made the brunette jump up excitedly at my answer. "Goody! I'll be your opponent."

This surprised me, I'd never battle Milly before. Only Jake and the random trainers who stood waiting on the routes we trained on but I nodded all the same. Samurai and Gardenia sat in the shade of a nearby Sycamore tree while Angel hopped aboard  Gummie and the two floated up to the higher branches to play, Miku was building a small fort out of sticks and mud.

"Whirlpool, centre stage!" Milly called, bringing her Pokèball up to display before throwing it into the air. In a bright flash of light Whirlpool burst from his spherical home, his rounded blue body reflecting the late afternoon sun from his slimy wet scales. His white stomach region glimmered, the black swirl shining on proud display. His boxing glove like hands sat on where I'd imagine his hips to be. ~Poliwhirl.~ He said, not quite growling but pretty close to it.

Champ hadn't moved yet, other then moving to his feet, he examined his opponent before shaking his head. ~To weak, I'd beat it in a heartbeat.~

:But Champ, I can't choose who Milly wants to battle with. That's not how it goes:

~Well I'm not battling get one of your other Pokémon to.~

:But this battle's meant to be to train you, so I can learn about you. Don't you want to become closer, so you can be apart of the team?:

~No, I just wanted to get out of the stupid lab.~ He huffed.

I gasped slightly, feeling hurt but Champ's words. My eyes lowered from his, instead looking at my feet. I'd truly thought he wanted to be apart of my team but now he said he didn't, it hurt, a lot.

"Paige, what's the matter?" Milly questioned, seeing that I'd become upset by Champ's words. "Are we going to battle?"

I shook my head, glancing at Champ who would not look at me but was instead watching as Samurai stomped his way over the the Meditation Pokémon, not looking very pleased. It was obvious he was yelling at Champ, but blocking me from hearing which he often did when he was angry at someone. Gardenia said he uses naughty words sometimes or just doesn't want to frighten me, which I think is silly, why would I ever be afraid of Samurai?

"Why not?"

I picked up my discarded blackboard, writing my response. Champ isn't up for it anymore. My writing was slightly cursive but still clear.

Milly looked at the two Psychic, Fighting typed Pokémon, arguing in the language of Pokémon which neither of us could understand. The two fought for several more minutes until Gardenia finally managed to split the two up. Champ jumped from his ledge and stomped off, crushing Miku's fort in the proses. The baby Pokémon let out a squeak of sadness as her fort was destroyed.

I picked her up, hugging her tightly as she began whining like a hungry infant would.

For a while, Milly just stood their awkwardly, not really knowing what went on between my Pokémon and I.

~Maybe we should just go back to the Pokémon Centre?~ Gardenia sighed, placing a hand on my shoulder. She was glaring slightly at her brother who wasn't really paying attention, instead he was watching Champ wth a tight frown. ~I don't think anyone's really in the mood for practicing right now.~

I nodded, looking up at Milly to see what she was thinking. She nodded to, without saying a word.

:Gummie, Angel, we're going: I called to my Pokémon. :Umm, Champ, you to:

Champ huffed, ignoring me as Gummie and Angel came to me without any question.

:Champ, we need to go:

He still ignored me. Gardenia started to walk towards him, sighing slightly as she did so. ~I'll take care of him Paige, you go ahead.~

I'm nodded, counting off my Pokémon in my head before walking back towards the Pokémon Centre. Miku had dozed off in my arms, muttering a quiet lullaby to herself as she drifted off. Samurai says I shouldn't really let her nap in the afternoon otherwise she'll be up all night but I don't really see the problem with it, she's still only a baby after all. A baby with magic chainsaws, but a baby all the same.

:Samurai, why doesn't Champ want to be apart of the team?: I asked, looking up at my guardian Pokémon.

He sighed slightly in response. ~All Pokémon are different Paige, they have different views and opinions on people. All your Pokémon so far have come with you willingly. Gardenia and I have been with you since we hatched, Miku's the same. Nyuu and Gummie both chose to join your team, as Nyuu did to leave it and Angel was a gift from N, which Eevee in general are quite loyal Pokémon. Champ, we know nothing about right now. For all we know, he could of been taken from his home and forced to live in the lab until you took him in. My guess is, he's never been part of a real team before so he's still learning.~

I nodded. :I guess that makes sense... He was a bit rude about it though. He hurt my feelings:

Samurai smiled slightly while ruffling my bright pink hair. ~Pokémon have different natures. This affects their behaviour as well as their battle style, but I'll save the later for a later date as it can be quite confusing, I myself have a Brave nature. Champ's is most likely Lonely, so he'll take a while to learn what it's like being part of a team. Just give him some time Paige, he'll get used to being in a group soon enough.~

:I hope so, all the other Pokémon in my team are so sweet and like each other, I couldn't stand it if one of them were unhappy:

~It's just how it is sometimes Paige. The real world isn't always cute and cuddly.~

:I know that first hand: I muttered grimly, subconsciously tracing the scar that ran around the length on my left arm. Although the scar was thin, it was a painful reminder of what Nicole has done to me.

She was an elite grunt of Team Plasma and took pleasure in making my life a misery. Her Bisharp was the one responsible for the scars after I'd been brought back to the Team Plasma Palace, as punishment for running away, Ghestsis had allowed grunts to beat me before later letting Nicole attack me with her Pokémon. I'd almost died of blood loss because of it and it took weeks of being nursed by N, my Pokémon, Jake, Milly and Kay before I was fit to travel again. After Team Plasma's downfall, she had been one of the ones to escape, leaving me nervous of future conflict with her.

Samurai noticed my deep thought, lightly nudging my side. ~Hey, don't worry about it Paige. Their long gone, all the way back in Unova as one of the most hunted outlaws of the region. They won't be out there long.~

Hugging Samurai tightly, I glanced behind me at Gardenia and Champ. The two were talking in Pokélanguage so I wasn't able to understand them but I caught a glimpse of guilt in Champ's eyes as he trailed beside Gardenia. I had a slight feeling that Gardenia was sharing part of my past with him, or maybe a fraction of her own.

Jake was waiting in our room when we entered, lazing about as he read a book, the title read 'Why me?' Is elegant curved writing and showed several Pokémon on the cover, most of which I did not recognise, apart from the Eevee since I have... Had my own but she's a Sylveon now.

"Done training so soon?" He asked, sounding a little confused since it was still quite early.

"Kinda... Champ said something that offended Paige so we decided to end off early. That's what I gathered from it anyway..." Milly explained, awkwardly rumbling the back of her head.

I flopped onto the opposite bottom bunk from Jake, intentionally being over dramatic about. Tucking Miku under the covers before crawling under myself. Samurai chuckled, pulling the covers away. ~You can't sleep now Paige. You haven't had dinner yet.~

:But I'm sad: I pouted. :Champ was mean:

My older Pokémon rolled his eyes. (Yes Samurai is technically older then me because they age twice as fast as a regular human.) ~I know but you can't always go all mopey like this. Don't make me tickle you-!~

:You wouldn't:

He raised an eyebrow. ~Wouldn't I?~

:Don't you-- SAMURAI!: I yelped with laughter as her started tickling my sides. :Okay okay, I give... Just stop!:

Samurai smirked as he stopped the torture, taking me instead into his arms, giving me a tight hug as Gardenia came up to us, Champ by her side. ~Champ has something he wishes to say Paige.~

I looked down at Champ, a slight frown on my face.

~I'm sorry for what I said earlier Paige... I didn't intend to hurt your feelings.~ He said sincerely.

Scooping him into my arms, I beamed. :It's okay, just try and be a bit more friendly from now on. Okay?:

Champ simply nodded, looking slightly uncomfortable by my embrace but also somewhat comforted by it.

~And if you'll still have me, I'd like to have that battle now. Even if it's with a weak Pokémon.~ He sighed, looking over to Gardenia whom simply nodded.

:Yaaay!: I squealed, hugging him again before grabbing my blackboard and scribbling down that Champ and I were ready to battle before showing it to Milly

She simply gave an eager smirk, reminding me much of her brother as she pulled Whirlpool's Pokéball back off her belt, spinning it expertly on her fingertip. "Well I'm ready when you are!"

NOW!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~🌺~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Word count: 2306

A chapter of FMC! Yaaaaaay! Thank you all for being patent with the updates, as I've said this isn't my highest priority right now, 'Star struck' was but I've just finished it so now I'm going to try and finish 'Why us?' but I will of course still write this one as well as my other books when I can ^_^

We got some character development on Cham this chapter, yaaaaay!

Anyway, my free period is about to end so please vote, comment and keep on reading on!