The Campagna Adventures

Chapter 22-Double Evolution

Phil woke from his sleep to the singing of the Fletchling.  He crawled out of his sleeping bag and tent into the early morning sunshine.  Denny was already up, starting a fire, and Racheal was apparently still asleep.  The teenager could tell because he heard snoring coming from her tent. 

"Hey Denny, need a little help from Blazer?"

"I do not know Phil, Blazer might burn more than the fire."

"It'll be fine."

"I have got a bad feeling about this."

Half an hour later Denny and Phil were covered in sweat and soot from putting out a small forest fire.  Racheal chose that precise moment to come out of her tent.

"Something smells burnt and.  Wait.  What in the Distortion World did you do!  Half the forest around the clearing is burnt down!  Denny your tent is singed, the rocks we used to make a fire pit are burnt to a crisp, and you are both as black and smelly as a Houndoom!"

"Denny?"

"Yes?"

"Two things, one, I think we got Racheal out of her shell, two, we should probably run."

"I second that."

The two Aura Guardians then took off running, only to be met head on by a lot of water.  Racheal was standing in front of them with her Kirlia.  The female Aura user then dragged them by their ears to a clean river and tossed them in.  Her Kirlia then teleported above them, and proceeded to dump some soap on the two boys.

"When you two come back I better not smell a whiff of smoke!"

As she walked away Phil heard her mutter something about understanding her mother's dilemma.  When Phil and Denny returned to camp, Racheal had cooked bacon and eggs.  After she noticed her companions, Racheal walked over and checked to see if they still smelled.  However, Phil and Denny passed the smell test, and were allowed to eat.  Phil sat down next to Evie and Mary.

"How are you girls doing?"

'I'm doing great!  Thanks for picking me out of all the Eevee!'

"Random, but I'm glad I picked you, Mary?"

'I still miss my parents and can't wait to nail the son of an Absol that killed them.'

"Mary, watch your tongue, but I understand what it means to miss family.  If you ever need a hug, don't ask Denny.  He doesn't do hugs, ask me."

Mary laughed, 'Thanks Phil.' 

"Anytime."

Phil then wolfed down his bacon and eggs like there was no tomorrow.  Then they began to pack up.

"Racheal I have a question."

"Yes?"

"What self-defense training do you have?"

"None, I was never, I never had the opportunity."

"Well, remind me to give you some, every evening immediatly after supper."

"Why do I need training?  I have Bellezza."

"Bellezza, and any other Pokemon you catch along the way, won't always be there.  Someday you're going to have to fight off someone, and Bellezza or any other Pokemon you catch before then, might not be there to defend you."

"Phil, I do not think it is a good idea to train Racheal in self-defense."

"Why?  Is it because she is a girl?  I noticed the lack of female Aura Guardians, and the ones I have noticed have minor roles and ranks!  The highest ranking female Aura Guardian I have seen was a Healer with the rank of 2nd Lieutenant."