Chapter 7

“Piplup whirlpool!”

“Piiiiipppluppppp Pipluppppp” A whirl of water controlled by the water Pokémon appeared in its arms. Water Pokémon flaunting its power, Misty felt a catch in her throat. Dawn had raised an awesome Pokémon that was for sure.

“Now let it go and jump in!” Misty felt her eyebrows rise significantly. Now just what was Dawn doing? She had agreed to referee her match with May, not a match of madness!

“Come on Wartortle!! Don’t be afraid, jump in that Whirlpool with Piplup!” Misty rolled her eyes, contests might be interesting in their own way, but these battles seemed to be missing the point, what next, were the Pokémon going to engage in a dance?

“Use Aqua tail! Stir it up more Wartortle!” May cried out. Misty watched in amazement as the whirlpool picked up speed and ferocity. Piplup was being dragged and thrown around the whirlpool instead of just swirling as before.

“Piplup!” Dawn cried out one hand reaching out for her Pokémon

“Wartortle use Ice beam now!” A stream of ice started freezing the swirling water. If it caught Piplup that would be the end of the battle. The Pokémon would be unable to move. Misty found herself holding her breath for Dawn’s move.

“Drill Peck!”

Misty found herself smiling. That was unexpected, she watched as Piplup sent the ice into shards before they spun into the air. They glittered and whirled Piplup looked almost powerful the way it was surrounded by the glittering flying ice shards.

“Rapid Spin then Bubble Wartortle!” Wartortle started its spin causing Piplup to dodge, but it was too slow to avoid the bubbles coming from Wartortle’s shell and Piplup flinched.

“Don’t let that stop you Piplup! Ignore those bubbles and Headbutt!”  As Piplup launched itself at the bubbles and Wartortle Misty caught a smile on May’s face. It is a set up. Misty realised

“Freeze those bubbles Wartortle with an Ice beam!”

“Noo Piplup! Drill Peck!” But it was too late. Wartortle had already frozen the bubbles and Piplup had slammed right into one stunning it. As it started to fall, May called her last move.

“Skull Bash!” And that was all she wrote. The move hit Piplup solid and it was down for the count.

“And that’s that you guys.” Misty said stepping forward. “Time for Piplup to have a good rest. And hey you didn’t use up five minutes May!” Misty knelt by Piplup who had already started to stir, she ran her hand over it and smiled. It would be fine.

“Piplup!! Are you okay?” Dawn knelt next to Piplup and took him into her arms. Misty and May exchanged a grin Piplup was in obvious heaven. It was no big secret how much Piplup adored attention from Dawn.

“Thanks so much Wartortle!” May said to her Pokémon who had walked forward. It blushed from the praise and hugged her legs. Misty shook her head; just looking at the display had her stifling laughter. These Pokémon had just put 100% into their battle just to impress their trainers; it was so cute.

“Maybe you should take a rest now Wartortle, I couldn’t have done this without you.” May smiled. Upon receiving a nod from Wartortle she returned it. Dawn on the other hand seemed to be smothering Piplup with hugs and kisses, not that the Pokémon was looking to complain if anything it looked like it was in heaven.

“Now take it easy okay? We are going to have you looked over by Nurse Joy, my strong Piplup, I’m so proud.” Piplup shoved its chest up high with pride causing all three girls to laugh. “Now take a rest now okay? Return!”

Misty and May burst out laughing the moment Dawn returned her pokeball to her side. “Wow usually it is Piplup with the smothering Dawn.” May teased winking.

“Yea, but Piplup deserves it, that was an awesome battle May.”

“I know!” May’s eyes were shining with excitement. “Those moves were powerful and Piplup was just dazzling. A water Pokémon at its best, right Misty?”

“Well if it was up to me, you know I’d choose both as the winner.” Misty said laughing. “But that battle was so beautiful, just ice and water.” Her voice started to trail off and a small smile appeared on her face.

Dawn rolled her eyes before turning to May. “You keep getting better and better May, I didn’t see that Skull Bash coming at all, you used the rapid spin with the bubble as a fake shield, knowing that I would try to break through and go to you. Then you used the bubbles as an armour while you launched your last attack. It was perfect!”

“We still have a long way to go Dawn. But we really have improved, your moves really showed off Piplup that was for certain.” Both girls smiled at each other.

“We had better get back to Nurse Joy.” Misty said as she eyed the courtyard they had been practising in. “The contest for you guys is in the morning, your Pokémon need their rest. And I think I’m going to practice with Psyduck a little bit this evening.

“Good idea Misty!” Dawn and May started towards the Centre with Misty following at a more sedate pace. Those water Pokémon, so pretty even battling. But that is not what I’m supposed to be thinking about, ‘m suppose to be concentrating on where they need to improve.....Let’s see Dawn sure could use some improvement in her defence, and May could.......

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“Psssyyyyyy” One thing Psyduck was at the moment was not a happy Pokémon. Water was one of it’s most hated things, to be now facing a huge pool of it was the last thing it wanted. Psyduck would have bolted if not for its red headed trainer standing imposingly behind it.

“Come on Psyduck, we will use the tube after you touch the water.” Misty sighed to herself, the class was not going that well at all, and all the other Pokémon were in the water and trying their best to accommodate their trainers. Psyduck had only allowed her to get it to the edge of the pool.

Another sigh escaped her lips TLC, TLC TLC that is what Psyduck needs, where is my patience? Both of us need to remain calm.”

Misty forced another smile on her face before she tried coaxing Psyduck again. She got it to touch the water. Then all reverse world hell broke loose.

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May blinked as a rather soaked Misty struggled into the Pokémon centre that evening. She wanted to tell her how her competition had gone, but Misty did not look in the mood to be listening to someone else’s news.

“Misty? How was the lesson?” Misty gave May such a look of disgust that the brunette shrunk back partly because of fear and because of awe. Is that the look she used on Brock and Ash? May wondered to herself. No wonder they hold her in such high respect that look commands such respect, devotion, and attention. Not to mention it sends so many messages.

“Psyduck panicked and threw us into the pool. Nearly drowned us and half the other Pokémon there. Then managed to knock down at least two pillars. Do you need to hear anymore?” Misty ground out before slumping a little and letting out a huge sigh. “Sorry May, I just needed to let that out, how did you competition go?”

“Finished second, some girl took first place, but she gave a good battle and showed her Pokémon off perfectly.” Misty smiled.

“That’s what counts, sorry I couldn’t be there to cheer you on, Dawn back yet?”

“Nope, I’m waiting for her.”

“Could you let me know when she comes in? Then all of us could eat together.”

“And maybe you and I could have a battle after dinner?” May asked excitedly. Misty looked reasonably happier, than when she had first come in although she was still soaked.

“Sure, I’ll be using Marill, Psyduck needs some time calming down.”

“Yeah.” May said sweating. There was no way Psyduck was capable of battling after what she had heard. In fact, she had never seen it battle yet although she had overheard Brock, say Psyduck was powerful. You would never know it seeing how it behaves when you dump it in water. She mused to herself, as Misty escaped to her room to dry off.

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Dawn did not know whether to laugh or cry. Her battle had not been a disaster. It was stupid to expect to win the whole thing. Piplup had done its absolute best for her. If only that clock had not run out! But that was what she was here for, to figure out exactly what she needed to most improvement. To train as well as compete.

There was no sense in getting herself down, second was better than last. The collection was coming up soon and she wanted to enter her Togekiss. She had to finish making the accessories that would show off Togekiss’s perfect royal like nature.

Dawn sighed to herself as she walked into the Pokémon centre. The first person she spotted was May and she braced herself to let her failure be known but May spoke first.

“I came second in my competition, but it was a good battle.” Dawn felt her spirit rising at May’s tone.

“Me too, but I learnt something from it. Now I know what I need to work on, and next time I’ll be ready.”

May smiled at her. “Misty flunked out with Psyduck too. Guess this isn’t as easy as we thought it would be huh?

Dawn nodded in agreement but her thoughts were no longer on the down side. Travelling in a group was doing wonders for her already. Just like before.

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Dinner had been full of jokes and silent contemplation. As they held hands over their dessert Misty spoke what had been lingering on the majority of their minds.

“This is not as easy as we thought it would be, but we are here to improve and give of our best. So lets rest up and try hard again tomorrow guys!”

“Yea!” Dawn and May cheered.

After they retired, Misty found herself packing in silence as she kept a eye on her egg. Just what was it? The moon from outside caught her eye and she found herself going to the window to look out. She closed her eyes this was so familiar. She turned around half expecting to see Brock on one of the bunks and Pikachu sleeping on Ash’s bed with Ash either sleeping or watching her.

Her eyes went back to the egg. All hers but what could it be? When would it hatch? Misty sighed the sound travelling through the night’s silence.

The morning would bring light and another day’s travel, as well as a step closer to her goals, all of their goals.