They of the Sun
Chapter Fourteen: You, Sneaky Little-

     The Ruins of Life.

"This is ironic," I mused out loud, since no one else was around, except my Rotom Dex. I mindlessly tapped at its monitor (making it emit a static noise followed by a giggle), playing a long game of Tetris, because this is where I was told to go.

        Okay, so maybe I was lying a little bit and I'm just hanging around the outskirts of Memorial Hill. But what gives? They were side by side; the same creepy little Guardian statues that were on the Mahalo Trail lingered right on the horizon.

This layout reminded me of the Steven Stone book The Pokemon Sematary. Where kids go to 'bury' their partners in a nearby forest, but the real cemetery lies beyond, returning life to those who lie there. Spooky story for a Pokémon League Champion to write.

The sound of footsteps gave me some relief as I a powered down the game, sending Rotom back into my bag. My eyes had begun to hurt due to the blue light of the screen. Plus, it meant finally getting out of this damned heat before I caught on fire.

I really should look like a dried up Pyukumuku with how much I sweat.

I blinked a few times to relieve that pain and because instead of Kahuna Olivia, there was Plumeria with Salazzle coiled deviously around her legs. It's tongue flicking in and out of its mouth to taste the foul air.

"It's you," Plumeria said, blankly, resting her hands on her hips.

"No shit," I retorted. Who else would I be? What I said seemed to amuse her as her lips pulled up into a grin. Her white-lined eyes narrowed as she sized me up, raising a brow. Her Salazzle was slithering it's way towards me, sniffing fervently with its tongue, violet flames licking the corners of her jagged mouth.

"I'm sure I told you to stay out of our way," Plumeria stated coldly. I didn't have time to reach for Wicked or Pan as I dove out of the way of a jet of flames... My hat had fallen and was now burning right where I had stood. Darn, I actually liked the thing since it kept my Tangela mass of hair under control. I didn't have enough time to recover as Salazzle whipped her tail around, rearing for another attack. Fight-or-Flight instincts took over as I rolled away from the ghastly flames and got on my feet. I never thought I'd think this about anyone, but I totally think I'm in love and she's a bitch.

      "Can't fight fair?"

     "Oh, I don't think either of us know how to be fair ladies," Plumeria smirked and I sneered managing to wriggle a hand into my bag to dig out a ball.

"A girl graciously chosen by the Tapus, a Pokédex Holder, a Trainer."

I felt the sphere over with my fingers, I was sorry for which one of my partner's PokeBalls I was groping. (Hah, this was a bad time to joke, but who cares?)I don't understand how people can just grab shit without looking, knowing automatically which Pokémon it is. Both capsules were smoother than my dodging skills... which were failing me as I felt Salazzle's flames lick the sleeve of my shirt like a lollipop.

      Fuck fuck fuck! That's hot!

"What a pathetic display of promise," Plumeria spat with as much venom as her sinister sidekick could spew.

     I was distracted, panicky, and my instincts sucked ass as I watched a flickering flames fly towards me with wide, caramel eyes. This isn't exactly how I wanted to go out, but it was a way out... A ripple of psychic energy coursed through the air, dispelling the fire around me with force. Plumeria's merciless giggles ceased. When my hair stopped fluttering enough to allow me to see there was Plumeria, twisted to look behind herself and Salazzle ready to throw an onslaught of venomous flames at their new opponent.

       "Now, now children," a voice clipped, forging false precision and authority in their tone. "No need to fret over silly titles."

Behind her stood angels bathed in golden light and clad in white. Wait. No.

     It was a tall, lanky man whose frame hunched forward under the weight of his own ego. He wore a self-satisfied smirk while the grunts at his side seemed more than embarrassed to be in his presence. His pals wore one-piece suits in lily white, trimmed in gold. Adorned with matching hats and gloves... It's like Arceus hand-wove their uniforms. Everything about them screamed that they've never really gotten their hands dirty...

The man himself adjusted his puke-green spectacles, his self-assured grin staying plastered where it was. "We don't want any trouble now, do we?"

     You've got it doubled.

     I didn't waste my breath as I continuously glanced down to my bag, making sure I had the right ball, before releasing Wicked behind me. I turned my head to meet her confused eyes, ever-so-slightly nodding my head in the direction of the commotion. She caught my drift, slowly sinking into the ground until she was only a spot- slightly darker than its surroundings- on the grass. I felt her move beneath my feet and watched her speed towards her target... I was anxious that maybe she didn't quite understand what I mean, but that worry was quelled as tendrils of dusky shadows arose from the ground, enveloping Salazzle. The fear kicked in too late as she was already being engulfed, her snout raised almost as if she was drowning and was gasping for air.

Wicked arose from the ground then, eyes glowing with glee as shadows protruded from her body... the hair-like tendrils atop her head wiggling like a dying mass of Ekans.

      "You, sneaky little-!"

      Plumeria hollered in fragments. Her mind was probably working, processing that her Pokémon was being suffocated. I could see it in the way her body tensed, her head shaking to and fro as she looked all around her partner.

       "FLAME BURST."

      There was a moment of silence, the Tirtuoga-y old geezer's eyes were bigger than Watmel Berries at the scene before him. The two behind him were wearing a similar expression. All of our arms went up to protect our eyes in unison as fiery light burst from Salazzle's shadowy cocoon, knocking away my little ghost-type in the process. She floated about, her red and yellow eyes watching as her opponent shook off the Shadow Sneak. Salazzle's smooth skin was now marred with cuts, bumps, and self-inflicted burns. It gulped down air like it was the most precious thing in the world.

With the flick of Plumeria's wrist, Salazzle launched itself at Wicked, jaws wide open and claws splayed. The mischievous Pokémon looked at me for a choice. I don't know how people could be so on their toes with strategies.

"Astonish!"

     She let out a banshee-like screech, flying forward towards Salazzle's open chops in a glow of energy. It did not discourage the toxic creature as she clamped down on Wicked. I felt the rusty gears of my mind begin to shift and creak against one another, my eyes working for a way out. My vision blurred anything beyond the scuffle my Pokémon was in, all the old man was was a blob with some blurs beside him. Plumeria cursed on my name, before cursing out commands. Her glare was deadly as she called for Toxic just as I shouted out, "Shadow Sneak!"

      Noxious purple ooze began to rise like bile from the Pokémon's throat, seeping onto Wicked's skin. It took on a sickly color, her eyes focusing with more energy than she had as she slowly dissolved into Salazzle. There was nothing for the slightest of seconds then there was absolute terror in the Pokémon's violet hues as its body took on its own sallow tone. She collapsed on the ground, writhing, her tail producing flames as it thrashed about.

     "Salazzle!" Plumeria's bitchitude dropped as the Pokémon calmed to slow twitches and Wicked rose beside me, hovering low to the ground. I raised my hand to my chest to feel the hammering underneath my clothes and bones. Running was definitely much easier than picking a fight...

       Plumeria returned her battered companion to rest, taking aggressive and deliberate steps towards me until she was right against me. Slightly taller than me and a little more muscled, she could pummel me if she wanted to.  Her arms and abs were glistening with sweat. I raised my head back to look at her, jaw tightened and eyes glaring.

      "Next time, don't expect to get by with cheap tricks."

       Plumeria backed away a few steps before turning to push past the people clad in white. I put my hands on my knees to double over with an exasperated laugh. I was absolutely done with today.

Like I am every day.

"Fascinating!" The man cried after his several daft moments of silence. His Hypno absolutely unscathed before him. "Lady Lusamine would absolutely love to see a Trainer of your caliber! Defeating those numbskulls with no effort!"- he obviously didn't know what effort was-"You must come with us to Aether Paradise at once!"

I waved my free hand at him, the other occupied with tweezers and a medicine ball that I gently ran along Wicked's translucent skin. "Stranger danger."

Although I couldn't see his face, I could tell by the tone of his voice he was taken aback. "Well! If you change your mind, I, Aether Branch Chief Faba, will await your arrival at Hano Grand Resort. We depart back in two days time."

"Cool beans."

He was irritated further, but only made a "humph!" sound as he strutted away, his grunts following. I sat there with Wicked until the medicine ball had absorbed her toxins and her burns were soothed. A slow clap came from the other direction of Memorial Hill... towards the Ruins of Life.

"Fantastic job, Cyra," a woman said, her stone eyes filled with amusement. Her smile was as cool and collected as the gems that adorned her barely covered body. I didn't even know they made clothes that small. This woman was a stone cold heartbreaker by the way she could carry herself across uneven land in heels. Heels.

Boy, did I want to see her trip. I stared at her with no expression, but that didn't stop her from extending out a hand as she approached.

"I am Kahuna Olivia, your next Grand Trial."

•••
A/N:
VOTE IF YOU HATE FABA.

IGNORE IF YOU READ FABA SMUT IN YOUR CLOSET.

thanks for reading ~<3

(Heck yeah I love Plumeria.)
 
-sj

p.s. early update for TheRisingFlame  because he's a good supportive fellow writer and pal and I appreciate him!