Swanna Song, Sung Throughout Sinnoh

Fighting 'Vire With Ire

"HEY KIWIIIIII!!!" Robin and Gary screamed happily at the computer.

Riolu and Raichu also joined in, Riolu on Gary's shoulder, Raichu on Robin's.

Kiwi looked stunned and lowered her glasses. "Gary? Robin? You two are together?"

Robin burst out laughing.

Gary squinted at him sternly, catching the joke, before turning to Kiwi and rolling his eyes. "We had a good battle," he smirked at her.

Kiwi fixed her glasses on her face. "Gary won."

"Aha ha ha-huh?" Robin stared at Kiwi in dismay. "What makes you say that?"

"Just judging from the odds, Gary has done a bit more work than you, gotten further. He's the type to just barrel through his challenges with a trick up his sleeve, whereas you are more calculated. Both of those strategies are fine and all, but Gary has an extra kick of spice that can take a lot to water down. I don't think you've experienced enough in Sinnoh to keep up quite yet. No offense. But, I could be wrong. Who won?"

Robin looked hurt and mortified by Kiwi's words, his very soul sucked out of him.

Gary had an awkward, nervous smile on his face. "Well, actually-"

"That's right, I lost," Robin admitted, disappointment on his face and in his voice. "Gary was better. He was the one really thinking. Using his brain, as usual. And I just couldn't see things the way he was. If anything, maybe I was the one pushing too strongly and he was actually using tactics. Either way, that battle was quality! How about you, Kiwi? Have you been getting out much at all? You seem so different. You been getting any sleep?"

Raichu leaped away from Robin, the building tension and awkwardness driving him away.

Gary and Riolu stayed quiet, Gary with his eyes lowered, Riolu watching Robin.

Kiwi looked down thoughtfully. "I've been good!" she answered, looking back up. "You both seemed to have gained something out of that battle."

"Uh, yeah," Robin said lowly. "Huh?"

Did she just catch herself? Gary wondered, looking at her. Did she realize how rude she'd just been and just tone it down without saying anything about it? Is she okay? "Does the professor have you working hard?" Gary added.

There was a sudden, possibly and arguably, male scream in the background of Kiwi's video.

Gary, Riolu and Robin's eyes widened. "What was that?" the boys asked.

"Ri?" Riolu added at the same time.

"Just Prof. Sketchit," Kiwi answered nonchalantly. "I told you he has a lot to deal with. It's why I'm free to answer the calls. And I have to."

A loud explosion made Gary and company jump and gasp.

"Is he alright??" Gary called out.

Kiwi looked behind her calmly. She turned back after a few seconds. "Yeah," was her only answer.

"Aha ha ha ha..." Robin laughed uncertainly.

"So where are you headed to, Gary?"

Gary opened his mouth, but paused. Is the professor really okay? Man, Kiwi is so weird these days! "Uhh... I'm going to Eterna City. There's a Grass Gym there. I'm gonna get my fourth Badge and be halfway!"

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Have you heard where Aly is on her Badge count?"

"Three was the last number she gave me."