Chapter 9: For the Castelia Cones!

Somehow—though it's beyond me how it happened—I ended up sleeping in the middle of the battle field with Swanna and my other new Pokémon snuggling up with me. The lights were still on, but they didn't bother me at all. In fact, I might have still been sleeping in the middle of the arena if someone didn't wake me up.

"Since when did you get an Audino?" Rudi's voice asked.

My eyes squeezed shut. Audino was the Pokémon Mr. Rhea had given me to help get past Rudi's Attract. Well, the Audino used to belong to my mom, so I guess he was technically mine as he was given to me as a gift. I still had a hard time thinking that Audino was a boy considering most Audino that come into the Pokémon Center, and the one that worked inside, were usually girls.

Audino, Swanna, and I were up late last night, figuring out a way to get past Braviary's Attract. It was a good thing Audino knew Attract, so we could get past it, but I don't ever remember falling asleep during our training. We worked hard, not giving up until we found a way to avoid the move.

Yet, we fell asleep.

I turned to my side, away from Rudi's voice, and snuggled closer to Audino. While the ground was hard, it wasn't terrible falling asleep on it. Not when I had two Pokémon to keep me cozy.

A hand grabbed my arm and yanked me up. My eyes shot open to see Rudi standing there, giving me a questioning look.

"What are you doing down there?" he asked.

As I was forced to sit up, my Pokémon sat up, being just as angry as I was. I don't know how much sleep I even got, but I can tell it was far less than the recommended eight hours I usually get. My guess, but feeling how droopy my eyelids were, I got about three hours of sleep.

That wasn't good.

"Training," I yawned.

"You were training," Rudi asked in disbelief.

I looked over at Swanna, who laid her head on my shoulder. Audino, on the other hand, refused to be woken and laid there on his belly. His head rested on his arms, so the light wouldn't bother him anymore from his nap.

"Yes," I confirmed, as I stretched my arms behind me. "I was, and we must've all fallen asleep in the process."

A mischievous smile found it's was on Rudi's lips. I was a bit confused for a moment, until I noticed Braviary outside his Poké Ball. The flying Pokémon and his owner glanced at each other. While I knew Braviary would do anything to hurt me, his Trainer wouldn't allow it.

Maybe I shouldn't be so trusting in Rudi.

"Why not give them some fresh air, Braviary?" Rudi asked.

It took me a moment to realize what he meant, but when I realized what was going to happen, I was already hit by the attack. Braviary flapped his powerful wings, causing Swanna, Audino, and I to fly backwards until we hit the wall.

Both Rudi and Braviary found this to be very funny, but seeing as they interrupted Audino from his sleep, it wasn't a good idea. The Pokémon stood up and sent some attacks at Braviary, chasing him around the arena like a madman. I laughed at the scene, standing up.

"Wasn't expecting that," Rudi commented as Audino used take down to tackle Braviary to the ground.

It surprised me that Braviary didn't just fly to escape Audino's attack. I shook my head in disbelief before looking at Rudi.

"Remember yesterday's battle?" I questioned.

Rudi nodded his head. "Yah."

"How about a rematch, right now," I challenged. "This time, I won't pull Swanna from the battle."

The boy pulled his head from Audino and Braviary's fight, and looked at me in surprise. I wasn't expecting him to see this coming, but his shocked face quickly turned to that cocky grin of his.

"Alright," he said, "and let's place a bet on this one. If I win, I have to take you to Nimbasa after breakfast."

"And if I win," I challenged back, "you can't have Castelia Cones for a month."

His face dropped in sheer terror. "No! You can't make me bet that! That's—that's—that's abuse right there!"

I crossed my arms over my chest. "Oh, so you're saying you're going to lose."

Rudi froze, realizing his mistake. For the first time, I think I broke him. Swanna flew up, and I grabbed her leg to pull me up. As I was flying up, I took my free hand and returned Audino to his Poké Ball, so he wouldn't be hurting Braviary anymore.

If I wanted a fair fight, Braviary needed to be on tip top shape. Audino wasn't expecting the return, so he returned into his Poké Ball without hesitation. Had Audino seen me return him, it might have been a different story.

I stood on the platform in the air moments before Rudi could even think about flying up. I cupped my hands around my mouth, looking down at him.

"Well," I yelled, "are you in, or are you too scared like a Dwebble and going to back out?"

Normally, I don't taunt people, but I really wanted to put our plan in dodging Braviary's Attract into action. My taunts did finally get to him as he had Braviary grab him by the shoulders and lift him up to the opposing platform. Rudi didn't look too happy, but I had to show him I've changed tactics.

There was no way I was going to lose this time.

"Fine, but you're going to regret it," Rudi challenged. "Braviary, Brave Bird, let's go."

"Fly up and dive with Peck!" I yelled.

Braviary swooped low for the attack, but as he did so, Swanna flew upwards to get far from the attack. Before long, she turned around and dove down with Peck, hitting Braviary right in the back as he was still flying. I smiled, seeing Braviary fall a bit before regaining himself.

Just like Braviary, Rudi wasn't too happy to see the attack happening like this. "You want to play that way, fine. Use Gust!"

His Pokémon flapped his wings towards Swanna, throwing her up towards the ceiling. This might have to be our next goal: getting past a gust attack. I don't know how I'd train with Audino on that, but that didn't matter.

Right now, we only had one thing to worry about.

"Hang in there, Swanna!" I yelled.

She responded by flapping her wings to try and stabilize herself. It was hard, but she did a good job until Braviary finally gave up.

"Good job," I congratulated. "Now, hit 'em with your Water Gun!"

"Fling it back with Steel Wing!" Rudi yelled.

Swanna shot the attack. The attack was about to collide with Braviary, but the Pokémon turned around last minute, swinging his wing like a baseball glove. Because of this, Swanna's water gun took a turn towards her, not having any effect on Braviary as he had deflected it.

"Dodge it!" I yelled.

My warning came all too late. Luckily, water gun was a water type move, so it didn't have much of an effect on Swanna. One thing was for certain, she wasn't doing so well. Compared to Braviary, it looked like we weren't going to do so well.

That was when I saw the smirk on Rudi's face. It wasn't a good sign. He was up to something. I couldn't afford him to win. Going into a big unknown city wasn't on the top of my to do list.

Besides, shouldn't Rudi be doing other things like tracking down Team Miasma to stop them before things got worse?

"Now, use Brave Bird!" Rudi cheered.

Brave Bird! That's it! Brave Bird does a lot of damage to the Pokémon using it. If he was going to use this, then maybe I might still have some time. I would just have to use my secret weapon a bit earlier.

"Double Team, Swanna!" I shouted.

The Braviary flew straight into a decoy as it disappeared. There were twenty Swanna's surrounding Braviary. None of which were easy to tell apart.

"You want to play that way?" Rudi asked. "Fine, then let's do it. Braviary, turn and use Attract!"

Perfect!

"Deflect with Water Pulse!" I yelled.

With no where to run, or fly, Braviary did just as he was asked, using Attract while turning. His mistake, as the move warped into the pools of water that flooded towards him and knocked him down. The Pokémon looked like he had just taken a swim in the ocean when the entire thing was over.

Not to mention hurt.

Rudi growled. "For the Castelia Cones, Braviary! Use gust!"

I smiled. The Pokémon used gust to get rid of all the copies, but when he was done, nothing was left. Rudi and Braviary looked everywhere for the real Swanna, well, everywhere besides down.

"Not going to happen," I called. "Finish it with Hydro Pump!"

The quick stream of water bolted up from underneath Braviary, hitting him straight in the stomach before he crashed into the ceiling. I knew it was over as it happened, seeing the Pokémon crashing down to the ground.

Rudi's face was worth it. It was as if someone had taken every last Castelia Cone away from—oh wait, that was because we were on a bet. No wonder he looked like he was never going to be happy again.

Swanna flew towards me, and I grabbed onto her leg. She lowered us down to the ground. As she did, I heard someone clapping from below. I didn't look down until I landed, seeing Rena standing there. Before she could run up to me, I sent Swanna up to help Rudi get down.

"Finally, someone's strong enough to beat him in a sky battle," Rena congratulated. "How about a triple battle tomorrow with my Pokémon?"

My eyes widened. "Hows that fair? I only have two."

Rena adjusted her blazer. "You're Swanna Girl. If Team Miasma were to take you on from now on, they'll be expecting to beat you unfairly."

"Fine," I said, "but at least tell me what Pokémon they are."

Just like Rudi with his cocky smile, Rena held a very signature look, only, hers was just a small smile. She meant business whenever she did anything, which made me wonder if that's why she wore the pencil skirt and blazer all the time. Knowing I wasn't going to get an answer, I sighed.

"Fine," I gave in, before my stomach grumbled.

Rudi laughed, swinging his arm around my shoulders. Had he not been so tall, I would've found a way away from him, but I was so exhausted from lack of sleep and that battle, I didn't even want to fight him on it. I may have won the battle, but Rudi won this round.

Guess he deserves some points after he will be going a month without his favorite treat.

"Hungry?" Rudi asked.

I glared up at him. "No."

My stomach growled once more in disagreement. Rudi laughed. I looked over at Rena who was looking back and forth from Rudi to me. A part of me wanted to ask, but I think she caught me staring at her in question that she smiled.

"Well, Mom and Dad made pancakes, chocolate chip ones to," she chipped in.

"Oh fun," I tried sounding enthusiastic.

"Actually, Sylvia and I were going to have breakfast at the Litwick Diner. You can join us if you want," Rudi suggested.

Rena's eyes widened. "Are you okay? You never turn down chocolate-chip pancakes. Last time you were sick, you turned down all sweets, including Castelia Cones."

I chuckled a bit, but no one noticed as Rudi covered up his lie. "No, but Sylvia's never been to Nimbasa. Thought of taking the day off and checking out the city."

My eyes widened realizing what he just did. Oh that sneaky Snivy him. He's going to pay for that.

"That sounds perfect!" Rena cheered. "Maybe you can stop by the Ferris wheel and Battle Subway for you know what."

While I had no idea what she was talking about, Rudi did. He nodded his head and squeeze my shoulders. His answer must've been enough for Rena as she smiled and walked away.

I was about to scream at Rudi for tricking me, before he let go of my shoulders and patted me on the back, saying. "Grab you suit, be ready in five."

Wait, why would I need my Swanna suit?

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