"Lumiose City!" We finally made it! "It's beautiful!" Lumiose City is full of buzz, people passing by on the busy street. It's chock full of tall buildings and mingled scents, and at the heart of the city is Prism Tower, which is just barely visible from where I'm standing.

  "Lumiose City." Clara takes a good look around, cautious. Could she be looking out for Team Flare?

  That's right! We could see the group at any time! And if we do.....

  "Espurr!" Espurr at my left  seems to read my thoughts, giving a meow of fierce encouragement.

  "Right!" If we do happen to see them, we'll have to battle. I've been training for one, so I hope I don't end up slowing everyone down.

  "I'll go ask around to see if anyone's seen them," Clyde offers."We can't let them keep getting away."

  "Let's meet at the gate to '16. Millie and I will separate and look. It'll raise suspicion if they see us all together."

  "Good idea! See you two!"

  Clara turns away, looking over her shoulder to say,"You can handle it, right? See ya, Millie!" With that, she leaves, running down the street with legs that never seem to tire.

  "Petilil..."

  "I guess we're on our own for now." It's been a while....."But it's only temporary. We have to find Team Flare! "I take to the alleyway, my Pokemon close behind me.

  I wish we didn't have to worry about those crooks, but I agreed to help stop them. Now I'll have to do good on that agreement! Magenta Plaza has some people going about their day, idly chatting and walking, but none are dressed in orange. 

  " Espurr!" Espurr suddenly hisses, her fur bristling and her eyes fierce.

  "What's the matter, Espurr?" I whisper.

  "Purr!!!!"

Petilil spins around, jumping in surprise."Lil!"

  I look around, scanning the area. There isn't anything different. People chatting, moving around...Just like any normal city. But.... My eyes meet with an orange gaze, and at first I assume it's Lennie, but it's Braixen.

  The Braixen just stares back, not causing any trouble or anything of the sort. But there's that gleam in its eyes..."Espurr!" Espurr charges at it, whirling past me.

  "Braixen!" Braixen pulls out the long wooden stick from its bushy tail, and at its grasp the tip of it is lit up with fire."Braixen!!"

  "Flamethrower!"Then there's that voice, and she finally appears, completing the evil duo. " Nice to see you, pigtails, "Lennie sneers, a crooked smile moving across her face.

  They give us no time to prepare as Braixen sends fire at us on command. " Esp!!" Espurr leaps in front of us, creating a clear barrier that holds off the fiery attack. I pick up Petilil."We should report back to Clara!"

  "Running away so soon?" Lennie laughs.

  But then again, Clara said I can handle it, right? If I met up with her and Clyde, I'd look like a coward. Besides, Lennie and her Braixen could get away.

  I turn my attention back to Lennie after placing Petilil gently on the ground. "Why would I?" I try to give my voice edge as I speak."As if I'd be weaker that some kind of crook!"

  "So you think you've got gusto?!" Lennie pushes others our of her way and points to Espurr."Defend against this! Flamethrower!"

  My heart drops as another flame appears and is sent out. I have to think quick!"Psychic!" I suppose my order needs to be clarified, because Espurr uses Psychic on Petilil instead, lifting her instead of Braixen.

  "Petilil!" Petilil thinks quickly and counteracts the Flamethrower with Energy Ball, and the collision bursts into glittery smoke. I cough as the smoke assails my nostrils and attacks my lungs. 

  "Purr!" Espurr taps my leg, beckoning me to follow. I hurry after her and Petilil through the alleyway and out of the plaza, leaving the hazy smoke and Lennie. We hurry along the street in search of the gate to Route 16, and for some reason, Espurr seems to have a perfect idea of where it is. Being a Psychic-Type, maybe?

  "Millie!"Clara calls, waving her arm. When I catch up to her, her face is all smiles." You should've seen the battle!" Then she points at a circular video camera thing on her chest."But I had it filmed!"

  I struggle to catch my breath."So you record all your battles? Also...."

  "There they are, Crevice!" Oh no!

  Lennie points at me and Clara, her partner from before standing next to her. They walk toward us, and Clara and I cautiously step back, but before we know it, they block off the gate with their Pokemon. "You were talking all brave, but you ran away." Lennie's malignant smile and her sneer make distorted music in my head.

  "Go, Frogadier!" Clara rears back and throws out her poke ball, and Frogadier emerges from a blue and white light. The people passing by stop and soon surround us, curios to see what's going on.

  "Looks like we've attracted a crowd," Clara says as she looks at the newly formed audience."Then let's deliver."

  Am I caught in some kind of film from Polestar Studios?! "Sounds good to me if you're ready to lose, little girl!" Crevice laughs like a wild Litleo as her Tyrunt gets in battle position next to Lennie's Braixen.

  "Frogadier, Hydro Pump!" I'm certain, in fact hoping for the gush of water to land on one of their Pokemon, but the move is easily avoided.

  "Rusty?" Lennie grins, commanding Braixen to use Flamethrower.

  "Ancient Power!" Now there's a blast of fire coming for Frogadier, and huge rocks coming for Espurr. I can't let them down! 

  Just then, something inside me clicks, like a sudden lightbulb. It's as if new energy has been awakened, as if old rusty gears suddenly clinked together and began to work. Maybe it's something from my mother, or perhaps it's just the excitement that comes from a heated battle. Either way, it's guiding me, or I'm guiding myself and my Pokemon with everything I've learned!

  "Use those rocks to block!" Espurr uses her psychic power to stop the rocks and use them as a shield for the oncoming fire.

  "Great job!" Clara makes a righteous fist, and then extends it forward."Hydro Pump!"

  "Dodge it!!" Tyrunt and Braixen avoid the move."Dragon Claw!" Tyrunt, the slightly small dark brown dinosaur Pokemon runs steadily towards Frogadier, and lashes out with claws glowing a menacing purple.

  "Frogadier!!!" 

  "Huh!?" Frogadier got hit! In my sursrpise, I forget that Tyrunt is nearby, and the Pokemon swings its large head at Espurr.

  "Esp!!" Espurr struggles to dodge, and ends up getting hit. "Purr!!!!"

  "Espurr!"

  "Water Pulse!" Clara yells, and Frogadier rushes in with a blue circular ring of water. Tyrunt fails to move out of the way in time, and gets hit.

  "Yes!"

  "Urgh!" Crevice growls. "Do something, you idiots!" She screams, and I'm shocked to hear her refer to her partners like that. Then again, it's not like Team Flare is a nice group.

  Lennie flinches, and I see the usually pompous girl shrink."You heard her, Braixen! Let's do it!"

  Braixen gives its owner a nod, and spins around and waves its stick. Clara's Frogadier sends out another Water Pulse, and Braixen dodges with quick feet. Somehow, though, it's a different kind of dodge. It's like dance practice!

  "Dragon Tail!" Tyrunt jumps and whips around to smack Espurr with its huge tail.

  "Espp!!"

  "Espurr!" Guess I was too focused on Braixen. Espurr lands on her feet, glaring at Tyrunt.

  "Don't just stand there, stupid! Fight!!" I can't tell if Crevice is talking to me or referring to her Pokemon, but I'm sick of her cruelty either way.

  "Espurr! Psychic!" Espurr lifts Tyrunt into the air, then slams it down. "Now use Psybeam!" Her signature purple beam hits, and Tyrunt struggles to get to its feet.

  "Rawr!" Tyrunt cries out, its feet wiggling and its arms thrashing as it tries to get off its side.

  "Ugh! What a useless Pokemon!" Crevice gives up and throws her Poke ball on the ground before turning to Lennie."I'm done with you weaklings! You handle it for now!" She speeds past Lennie, past her struggling Tyrunt, and past me towards the gate. The crowd gasps.

  "Ty....."

  "Poor thing..."

  "Ugh!!!" Clara hisses."You Flare freaks are so pathetic! " She runs over to the Tyrunt and slowly helps it up. Looking at her, caring for a Pokemon she just battled, reminds me of a Pokemon Ranger or a Nurse Joy.

  Lennie, however, gives no heed to her and uses the opportunity to have Braixen target Frogadier. "Fire Blast!" Frogadier, caught by surprise, is slammed with a huge fiery blast.

  "Dier!!!!"

  "Flamethrower!" Braixen's Flamethrower also hits, and Frogadier is left badly burned.

  "Frogadier, return!" Frogadier is sent back into its Poke ball, and Clara gets so angry that her face is like a tamato berry. "You'll pay one day, and I don't even have to be the one to make you!"

  I understand what she's talking about. Lennie will one day regret being a part of this gang. 

  Clara turns to me with a firm nod.

  I nod back, then turn my attention to Lennie. She won't win this!

  "Ready for round two?" Lennie grins. "Braixen!"

  "Braix!" Braixen spins and gets closer, and pulls out its stick. It spins it into the air, the flame at the tip whirling with the wind. The crowd "oohs", and I begin noticing something. They think this is all an act, a performance for them to view. It's not. It's real life we're dealing with. I don't say anything, though. Now isn't the time to make everyone worried.

  "Braixen!" Braixen stick lands perfectly in its paw, and then the feminine-looking yellow and white Pokemon flips and uses Flamethrower.

 "Dodge it!" Espurr tries to dodge, but the Flamethrower turns and targets her, bursting into smoke when it hits.

  "Purr!!"

  "You can beat her, Millie!"

  Right!"Psybeam! "

  Espurr's move is blocked with Braixen twirling its stick. Hmm...

  "Fire Blast!" That stick!

  "Protect!" The move is stopped by an invisible barrier, and Espurr jumps high into the air. "Psybeam!" This time the beam comes out am energetic saffron color, and I realize that Espurr has learned a new move. "Whoa!"

 Lennie scoffs."What a rookie! Go, Braixen! "

  Braixen jumps and twists in the air, its stick now within reach."The stick! "I immediately point at it.

  " Espurr! " Espurr nabs the stick and throws it at me, and I catch it.

  "What the-?"

  "Braixen????"

  I throw out my arms."Psychic!" Braixen is lifted and spun around with Espurr's power before being suspended in mid-air."Charge Beam! " Espurr's new move works like a charm, and Braixen is sent flying to the ground. I throw Espurr the stick, and she spins it around teasingly.

  "Braixen!!" Braixen makes a fist surrounded by an orange glow and punches, but Espurr fends it off by blocking with the stick. "Braixen?"

 Espurr smacks Braixen upside the head with the sturdy stick, and Braixen tries to snatch it back. "Do it, Braixen!"

  "Do it, Espurr!" 

  Espurr, not letting go of the stick, turns back to me with a steady nod, then looks at Braixen and let's go. Braixen steps back abrubtly in shock, and Espurr jumps on the stick and runs up it and with her legs kicks Braixen in the face. "Braix!" The crowd gasps and cheers as Espurr kicks, slaps, and ultimately slams with a headbutt. "Braixen..."

  I stare in disbelief as Braixen falls over, its eyes jumbled."Espurr? "

  "Espurr!" 

  I jump and jump in happiness, every joint in my body rushed with new energy. "We did it! YOU did it!"

  "Petilil!"

  "Espurr!"

  "Woo-hoo, Millie!"

  "Millie!" "Espurr!" "Millie!" "Espurr!"

  I'm surrounded by tons of strangers, and Clyde and Clara congratulate me, along with my two Pokemon. I'm so glad to have won! We really won a battle for the first time! Yet, in the corner of my eye, I spot the loser slinking away past the preoccupied crowd, her defeated Braixen trailing slowly begin her.

                          Chapter 6...End! : •