Freya Stark

I looked over at the doors to see Soren walking in followed by Jay. "Hey, over here!"

They looked in my direction and walked over before joining me on the couch, glad to be out of the cold. Soren leaned back comfortably before speaking. "So, did you check out the gym yet?"

"Ivan and Josef are challenging it now." I responded before motioning to the TV. "So, I'm guessing you haven't heard... Prince Salem is dead."

"What?" Soren looked completely caught off guard at the sudden turn the conversation had taken but I thought they should be aware of it. "Was it Valhalla?"

"Of course it was." I scowled and took out a pokéball. "His gengar showed up here to send a word of warning to Chant and Zure... Valhalla hasn't shown up yet but Gengar let me take him to train. I think he wants to get stronger to face them again."

Soren turned away with a depressed sigh. "Great... Just what we need. Valhalla to ruin our lives and others' lives even more."

Jay didn't comment like I expected her to but she did lean towards Soren and put one arm around him. I watched for a few seconds, not regretting what I had said but half wondering if I should have worded it better. I hadn't even been thinking about how Valhalla had killed her parents... probably should have waited. Jay would get over it though, she was tough, I knew that much about her.

Still, I decided to change the subject. "I trained with the others before they left to challenge the gym. Guess who evolved!"

"Well I doubt it was one of Josef's pokémon." Soren responded.

"Pichu evolved into Pikachu!" I smiled and let him out of his pokéball. "See."

"Pika?" Pikachu looked around before jumping up on my lap and greeting us happily. "Chu!"

"Nice."

"Yeah." I agreed. "My charmander egg seems to be doing alright too. It's incubating in my room still but the nurse says it could hatch soon."

Soren nodded. "I see."

I could sense I wasn't doing well in trying to help forget what I said. I got up and left with Pikachu to go check on the egg, glancing back at the two on the couch to see Soren casually rubbing Jay's arm in comfort as she stared off into space. Why hadn't I paid attention to that? Some friend I was. It had only been a day since her parent's died, of course she wasn't going to get over it just because of me trying to have a lighthearted conversation.

"So how do you think Ivan and Josef will do?" I looked down at Pikachu as I sat down on the bed.

"Pi, pika." He replied, seeming positive about the results.

I nodded. "I can see Ivan doing well but Josef... well it took a while to even get him to train. I bet he doesn't last too long."

"Chu." Pikachu agreed with a nod.

I smirked at him, proud to have the yellow mouse pokémon as my partner, before reaching over to the egg to check on it. Nothing to show it was hatching just yet... I couldn't wait until it did. Then I could train the charmander up into a charizard so it could mega evolve. Soren was already jealous of me getting a charmander egg and the mega stone for its final form and once I had a charizard he'd be even more jealous when I beat him in a battle.

Satisfied the egg was fine I walked back out to the front room where Soren and Jay were still in the same spot, though Soren was now sleeping while Jay petted Curse absentmindedly. I sighed mentally, I wasn't going to be a dick and wake him up like I normally might consider, and Jay probably would only give me a one sided conversation. Oh well, I'd just play some games on my computer until the other two came back or Soren woke up.

"Freya, you should've seen our battle." Ivan spoke up as he walked into the Pokémon Center with Josef behind him.

Josef shook his head. "Yeah, should've seen what a big waste of time it was."

"You lost?" I asked, though I could guess the answer.

"Yeah." Ivan admitted. "But we put up a good fight, we would've beat them too if Rapidash had listened to me..."

"It knows you aren't worthy to train it yet." Jay spoke up, startling me slightly, and walked over. "Until then she'll trust you to care for her but not to battle."

"Well, what was their fighting style?" I asked.

Ivan nodded in greeting to Jay before answering my question. "Chant tends to be the status guy while Zure attacks but they tend to switch around at times to mess with you. It's their endurance you really need to look out for, their defense is strong."

"Then we'll need to train." Jay muttered before walking back off to where Soren was still asleep on the couch.

"I could help you come up with some tactics for when you go up against them again." I offered to Ivan and Josef, though I doubted Josef would try again.

"Thanks." He nodded before giving his pokémon to the nurse and walking back over. "Lillipup evolved into Herdier by the way so that could change things, he learned take down too."

I nodded and leaned back. "Well another attack move is good, especially since fairy types are resistant to Herdier's bite, but take down can also do damage to the user so I would save that move for the last moment he's standing unless you're confident he can use it while withstanding any attacks. Like you said, they have a good defense, which means you should save up your own strength unless you can knock them out for sure with it. Your best bet would be to dodge and strike, separate and break any patterns you noticed in the battle."

"Freya, think I could have a battle with you?" Soren was walking over, looking reenergized after his rest. "I'd like to train before challenging the gym."

"Alright." I got up and walked out back to the Pokémon Center's battle field. "Ivan, get your pokémon, we can have a double battle."

"Um..." Soren glanced around as Ivan got his now healed pokémon and walked over to my side of the field. "Please tell me I don't have to work with Josef..."

"Oh wow, thanks." Josef commented. "I don't want to team up with you anyway. I'd much rather kill these people on my game."

Loser. I didn't speak though I was sure we were all thinking the same thing as Josef went back inside. Soren stood across from us, still waiting for my response about who his partner would be for the double battle. I sighed but refrained from face palming. "Go get Jay. She'll have to train at some point too if she's going to challenge the gym."

"Uh, I'm right here." Jay walked out on my other side as she moved around to go over to Soren's.

"There, now, is everyone ready?" I took out Gengar's pokéball. "Let's start!"

Gengar looked around in eagerness to battle before glancing back at me as the lack of Valhalla members became clear to him. "Gar?"

"Training." I responded. "We all need to if we want to get stronger."

"Gen!" She nodded.

I looked at my opponents, seeing who I should attack first. Soren had brought out Basilisk- good choice to train considering poison was good against fairy- and Jay was using Litten. "Alright, Gengar use sucker punch on Litten."

"Herdier, tackle on Litten. Don't let him attack!" Ivan backed me up on the double team.

"Don't let them land a hit, dodge and use ember." Jay tried to retaliate but Litten was no match for the faster pokémon's sucker punch, which left it wide open for Herdier to strike.

"Basilisk, poison tail, cut them off." Soren jumped in and I grimaced as our team up was thrown off balance, though it was good for training I didn't want to lose to him.

"Gengar, shadow punch, distract his pokémon."

Gengar immediately turned her eyes to Basilisk and went for the attack. Ivan took his own turn with a nod of thanks for me for getting the seviper off Herdier's tail. "Use bite on Litten and don't let it get away."

"Scratch it!" Jay snapped quickly. "Then use ember before it recovers."

Herdier yelped as the attacks landed before getting back to his feet and tackling Litten across the field in revenge. I focused on Gengar again as Basilisk landed a poison tail, though it didn't do that much damage considering my pokémon was a ghost poison. Not only that but Gengar was a higher level and could mega evolve, though I hadn't tried it yet. It wasn't the right time to, not when Gengar and I didn't fully trust each other in battle yet.

"Sucker punch!" I yelled as the seviper went for another attack.

Gengar obeyed and Basilisk went down, tumbling into Litten as he took a takedown from Herdier. The two pokémon stayed on the ground tangled up in a heap... Looked like we won. I recalled Gengar to her ball and sighed, that hadn't been much of a fight but then again, I had the better pokémon and none of their pokémon could do much damage to mine.

"Well... that was anti climatic." Josef commented from the sidelines before walking over. "There's an announcement about to come on, thought you'd want to see it."

"What's it about?" I asked, doubting if it would be interesting or important.

Josef shrugged. "All I paid attention to was that the champion was making it."

Well, that did seem important. Josef wasn't completely useless it seemed... at least not when it came to things on or concerning electronics. I led the way inside and sat in the middle of the couch facing the TV while the others sat around me to watch as well. The screen was frozen on a background of blue rose petals while large letters in a box made up of symbols you would find in a deck of cards, which read: Incoming Alert.

"Think this is about Salem's death?" Ivan asked.

I nodded. "It has to be. I mean, what other announcement could there be? Unless Valhalla did something else too."

Around us I could hear other patrons of the Pokémon Center muttering among their own groups as they began to gather around our TV and others location on the other side of the room. Most of them seemed to be the same question we had from what I could hear and I was glad when the screen changed, going blank before finally brightening again to focus on Tarot's solemn face. The room fell into a deathly silence at the same moment in anticipation of the news.

Tarot blinked once, adjusted his white card patterned cloak, and took his top hat off to reveal more of his spiky red hair before speaking. "Ladies and gentlemen, trainers and non-trainers, I know many of you are already aware of the news that our prince, and beloved gym leader, has died. For those of you who are not aware of the full story, Salem had been attacked by Valhalla in a failed assassination attempt... This same cult succeeded in their second attempt. As your champion I swear on the crown to avenge Prince Salem and destroy Valhalla."

He paused and two people came onto the camera, obviously Salem's parents- The king and queen of Drucan. There was more silence before the King finally spoke, his voice held power and evenness despite the tragedy. "Hello people of Drucan. As you know, Tarot has been entrusted to take out Valhalla by any means necessary. I wish to warn you to stay away from any suspicious characters and avoid traveling alone at this time. For gym leaders, while I believe my son was targeted for his bloodline, I wish to warn you to stay on guard for anything that could harm those in your cities and towns. It is your job to defend your home and the people in it. I do not want another war to start and I hope Valhalla can be taken care of before any other deaths occur. If need be, my wife and I will summon our pokémon Lunala and Solgalio from their resting places in Alola to aid in this dispute and end it."

"Well said." Tarot bowed gracefully, though the slight movement was barely noticeable as he straightened again. "Now, I would like to add onto what our dear King has said and advise that trainers report anything suspicious as well. Do not engage Valhalla unless necessary, as we have seen recently they are not against killing people and pokémon. I am currently tracking down their locations as we speak and I hope to have-"

An explosion off frame cut him off and Tarot turned away from the camera with a glare, quickly putting on his top hat and taking out his pokéball. He turned to someone, probably a guard- who was off screen as well before giving an order. "Get the King and Queen out of here! We must protect them at all costs understand? I'll hold Valhalla off."

Several furret and raticate emerged from the smoke followed by a trevenant and torterra. I felt Jay shift beside me as she saw the large grass type. "Wait, I think that's Alice."

Soren nodded. "Yeah..."

"Wait, how do you know that?" I questioned.

"We met her once." Jay growled slightly in dislike for the Valhalla member.

I went silent and went back to looking at the screen in time to see Tarot toss out his pokémon, a tyranitar, and proceed to mega evolve it. I was hyped up along with everyone else to watch the battle but an earthquake from the torterra knocked the camera over and several gunshots rang out, one hitting the camera lens, and everything went to static. The Pokémon Center was quiet as everyone took in what happened, stretching on until whispers flooded through the groups, some people shouting eventually while others left to go who knew where. We stayed where we were though in silence, glancing at each other as we waited for someone to say something.

Surprisingly it wasn't Soren; it was Josef. "I'm out. I'm going home next time we get to a port."

"One threat and you're going home?" Ivan spoke up. "Why?"

"Because he's lazy and useless." Soren commented. "He hasn't done anything since we met him to help us out at all!"

"You know, you're a coward, Josef." Jay sighed the insult as she leaned back into the chair.

I had to admit, they were right. Josef was a waste of space in the group, though they didn't have to be so harsh. "Well, if you feel like running away then go ahead. It's your choice after all."

Josef shrugged. "I know that. But don't go getting killed when you could've left like me. Drucan isn't the only region with a league after all. Other places are just as good to have adventures in."

That wasn't our point but whatever. I shrugged and changed the topic back to the warning. "Well, guess we should keep an eye out for danger... probably shouldn't stay here to much longer."

"Obviously." Jay agreed. "Wonder if we'll even be able to challenge the gym after that."

"Come on, we should train some more." Soren suggested as he got up. "We need to be ready for an attack even if we can't challenge Chant and Zure. It would be stupid if we couldn't though. I mean, they have to accept challengers!"

I watched them go, deciding not to train with them this time. They would probably do better against opponents they could have a chance at beating. Ivan left soon after to go train with them, which left me with Josef who was off in his own little virtual world as he played on his tablet. At least it gave me time to think and check my computer for messages. Most of them were from my parents asking how my journey was going, I answered those quickly but left out anything that could worry them, but the last message was what really interested me: I had been accepted to the training school to be a Pokémon Rescue Member.

I glanced up in the direction my friends had gone in... I would have to leave them if I went. I was sure they would do fine without me but I would miss them, most of them were fun to be around, but once I was done with training I would be able to meet up with them again. I looked back down at the message in thought... I still had a few months left to decide what to do. Everything would work out and by then I would have time to tell the others and get ready to go.