Rigorous Relationships

A Jewel To Behold

Dena was awoken by the sound of Pokémon battling. Looking around her tent she noticed that everyone but her, Pancham, Mudkip, and Torchic had already gotten up. Rubbing the sleep from her eyes she crawled out of her tent and went to investigate the cause behind this mid morning ruckus.

She walked a short ways away and saw Serena sitting on the ground, Sylveon resting in her lap while Braxien sat alongside her. She walked up to where her cousin was and sat down next to her. She noticed that Serena's hair was a mess and, like her, she was still in her pajamas.

"Oh good morning Dena, did you sleep well?"

"Yeah I was sleeping like a Snorlax, until some loud noise woke me up."

"You can thank those two for that, their battle woke me up too." Serena said while pointing a little ways away.

Following her finger Dena saw Ash and Cal testing out their new partners in a double battle. Just from a glance you could tell who was going to win. Both trainers held a determined look in their eyes that was expressed through their Pokémon. The battle was intense and well fought but Ash's unique tactics and experience were proving too much for Cal and his Pokémon. The match ended with Eevee launching Shadow Balls into the ground to provide a dust smokescreen that allowed Pikachu to get in close and finish off their opponents with an Iron Tail.

Cal went and picked up his Pokémon congratulating them for lasting so long against Ash. Ash thanked his Pokémon for the victory and went over to congratulate Cal on a great match.

"That was so much fun, we have to battle again sometime!" Ash said while showing off his signature toothy grin.

"Yeah we definitely have to go again cause next time will be different!" Cal proclaimed while mimicking Ash's toothy grin.

They then heard clapping and turned to see their friends sitting a short ways away. Still grinning like madmen they made their way to their companions, only to get scolded not to have battles so close to people trying to get their beauty sleep. Their cheerful grins turned into nervous smiles as Dena and Braxien continued to chew out them. When they finished with their rant, Ash and Cal along with their Pokémon all apologized and promised to train further away.

"Good now while me and Serena get dressed why don't you guys make us breakfast."

Ash and Cal quickly agreed and rushed off to start cooking. Serena stood up and gave her cousin a look that said "you're really trusting them with breakfast!?" Dena gave her a look in return that said "what's the worst that could happen." With a sigh Serena followed Dena back to their tent where they spent twenty minutes getting ready.

As they walked out of their tent they smelt what seemed to be burnt milk. Confused and disgusted they made their way to the source of the stench. What they saw was pretty odd; the boys and their Pokémon were panicking while try to put out a flaming gallon of milk by throwing pancakes at it. The pancakes were having little effect and some were simply lighting on fire when they hit the flames.

Serena simply walked back into her tent picked up Mudkip carried him to the fire. Mudkip sleepily looked down at the small flames and used a halfhearted Water Gun to extinguish them. When they were all out Serena put her Pokémon down on a table where he curled up and returned to his slumber.

"Thanks Serena." Cal and Ash said in unison; their clothes smoldering slightly. Serena walked closer to Ash and patted out a small combustion that had ignited on his shoulder.

"Your welcome." Serena said while suppressing her laughter, "You two go get cleaned up, we'll have breakfast ready in a few minutes."

Gratefully they complied with her and went to change into less smoky clothes. As they were changing Serena and Dena got to work on the food. Serena was working on crafting a few dozen Poké Puffs with Braxien, while Dena started to bake a fresh batch of pancakes since the last ones were half burnt and half soggy.