Ash's Story (Part 5: Modern Sinnoh)

Chapter 21: Fighting Pride

Eterna Forest finally fell behind us, but the smell of honey still seemed to cling to my jacket.

The path toward Eterna City felt quieter after Amber Castle. Cheryl had already gone her own way with Mothim and the Enchanted Honey, and the trees no longer pressed around us like walls. Even so, everyone looked tired enough that the Pokémon Center sign ahead felt like sunlight.

Lillie smiled when the red roof came into view. "A rest sounds wonderful before my Eterna Gym battle."

Dawn stretched both arms over her head. "And training sounds even better after that forest. My Piplup has been waiting for a chance to show off."

Piplup puffed out his chest beside her, and Pikachu laughed from my shoulder.

Buizel did not laugh with the others.

He stood a little apart from the others with his arms folded and his twin tails twitching. Ever since Lillie caught him near the waterfall, he had fought beside us when danger came, but quiet moments were different. Quiet moments gave him time to remember he had spent most of his life training alone.

Piplup waddled toward him and held out one flipper. His eyes narrowed like he was making peace only because he had decided it was the mature thing to do.

Piplup's meaning came sharply. "We are teammates. Do not make this weird."

Buizel stared at the offered flipper.

Then he pushed it away.

Piplup squawked with outrage and lunged forward before Dawn caught him around the middle.

"Stop this right now!" Lillie hurried between them, one hand stretched toward Buizel and the other toward Piplup. "Both of you!"

Buizel's meaning snapped across the space between them. "I do not need a team to fight."

The words hit harder than his shove. Lillie's face tightened, and I could tell she was trying not to take it personally. Buizel had accepted her capture, but accepting a Trainer was not the same thing as trusting one.

Gladion watched from near the Center doors with his usual steady expression. "That attitude will become a problem in battle."

"It already is one," Dawn muttered while Piplup kicked in her arms.

I looked at Buizel, then at Turtwig, who had settled beside my shoe with patient eyes. "Maybe Buizel just needs a battle where the point is not winning alone."

Lillie glanced at me. "You think a battle can help him feel better?"

"I think a good battle can show him what we are trying to understand," I said. "What do you say, Buizel? Are you up for it?"

Buizel's eyes sharpened at once.

His meaning came like a splash of cold water. "Always."

We moved to the Pokémon Center battlefield after Nurse Joy confirmed there was time before the next healing check. Turtwig stepped forward for our side, steady and calm, while Buizel rolled his shoulders as if the argument with Piplup had only warmed him up.

"Ready for this, Turtwig?" I asked.

Turtwig's meaning rumbled softly. "I will hold the ground until he sees it."

"Then start this with Razor Leaf!"

Turtwig whipped his head, sending a spray of spinning leaves across the field.

"Lillie, try having Buizel dodge and use Water Gun!" I called.

Lillie nodded quickly. "Buizel, dodge it and use Water Gun!"