The Light Of A Flare

Chapter 3 - First Battle

I ran up to Eevee, excited to see it for the first time in nearly a week. It was now fourteen weeks since my birthday, and my mum had fulfilled her promise of paying and refunding me for poképuffs. "Hey Eevee, look! My mum gave me a map, so we can explore the forest! I mean, you probably know everywhere, but..."
Eevee shook its head and jumped up and down in excitement. "Let's go!" Unable to wait even a second, we set off excitedly. We started walking along a path into the forest, and as we approached a fork, I told Eevee, "We can get to another small town that way, but let's go this way for now, 'kay?" Eevee seemed to be in agreement, so we set off to the left. Only a few minutes later, however, Eevee pointed out something under a bush. "Eievui!" it said excitedly, pointing an ear. I followed its gaze and saw a blue bottle with a light blue aerosol on top.

"A Potion!" I grinned and walked over to it. As I did, however, I stepped on what I thought was a rock and tripped into the bush. I winced, "Oops!" but then continued; but a buzzing sound stopped me in my tracks. I turned around and a yellow cocoon was angled at me. And behind a tree - a huge bee, with giant stingers that looked like they could impale me.

"Oh, no," I said in a weak voice. "Eevee?" I called quietly.

"Ka, Kakuna."

"Beedrill, drill!"

The Pokémon advanced. I looked around for Eevee but it was nowhere to be seen. I backed up, but realised I had hit a tree and had nowhere to go. The bee began charging up an attack and I covered my head. "Help," I got out, but it was almost a whisper. I peeked out just in time to see the giant bee release its purple attack, and - Eevee? It had jumped in front of the attack and saved my life! I released a shaking breath that I hadn't known I was holding.

"Eev!" it yelled defiantly.

"Beed. Beedrill." came the confident reply. Eevee turned to me and pointed at me, then itself, then the opponent.
"You want me to act as your trainer?" I asked, still shaken.

"Eievui!" it nodded.

"My first battle," I muttered. "Okay, then," I responded tentatively, then, "We can do this!"

I knew its moveset, as it had shown me on a previous visit, so all I had to do was - well, be a good trainer. I took a deep breath, and tried to forget about the scare. The cocoon backed off, leaving Eevee and the bee.

The bee moved suddenly, zipping from one side of my vision to the other. But Eevee was fast too.

"Quick Attack!" Eevee zoomed at the bee, and looked as if it would hit, but it dodged at the last second.

"Try again! Quick Attack!"

This time, the bee put out its stingers to intercept. It was pushed back a little, but then flung Eevee back.
"It's too fast. It even dodged Quick Attack. But Swift was more accurate," I murmured to myself. "Swift!" I yelled. Eevee complied, its tail glowing momentarily before releasing a burst of white stars. The opponent flew up, but the stars followed it.

"Woah, it does that? Wow!"

It gave up on dodging, and threw tiny purple spikes at it. The two attacks collided, and smoke covered the air. I got an idea.

"While it can't see! Swift!"

A moment later, another explosion appeared, suggesting that it was on target. But I didn't waste time.

"Climb the nearest tree and scatter Sand-Attack!"

Eevee responded, zooming up the trunk and landing on a high, sturdy branch. Sand flew across the area, some getting in the eyes of the bee, as the smoke cleared.

"Now jump off and use Tackle!"

The opposing Pokémon slashed the air and sent Eevee flying. It looked helpless, and the bee was already preparing another attack.

"Eevee, hang in there!" I sprinted to the Potion and sprayed it on Eevee, who recovered enough to sidestep the poisonous spines.

"Eievui." It nodded in thanks, and I returned the gesture.

"We can still do this! Swift!"
The bee's stingers glowed green as it flew toward Eevee. The stars flew toward the bee and it was thrown off-balance by one hitting its side, though one of its stingers still grazed Eevee's flank. The rest of the stars landed direct hits, and both Pokémon fell to the ground.

"Come on, Eevee! You can do it! We're so close!"
They were both struggling up, with equal success - or rather, lack of. They were pushing, but had nothing left.
"Come on! We can do this!"

Eevee's forepaw gripped a rock and it pulled itself up from there, as the bee collapsed. I gasped.
"We did it! You're so amazing, Eevee! Thank you!"

It had just enough time to point at me with its ear, as if to say, 'No, thank you,' before collapsing as well. I scooped it up and ran back to my house, using the map and my memory, not stopping for even a second.

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"Rose, are you - oh gosh, is that Eevee? What happened?"

I was panting so badly that all I could get out was, "Battle - hurt - bee thing - help."

"Explain later. I'll help Eevee, you have mail."

"Not - leaving." I pointed at Eevee.

"Fine. Open it here. But you'll want to open it now."

I tilted my head before grabbing a glass of water as soon as I could move properly again. My mum came back in as I sat back down.

"Here." She dropped the letter in front of me, then went straight to her first aid drawer.

I opened it slowly, watching my mum's every movement, and whether Eevee was waking up. I pulled the letter out distractedly, but shifted my full attention to it when I saw the sender.

Professor Sycamore
Pokémon Laboratory
Lumiose City
LMS006

"Arceus, it's happening!" I breathed. My mum smiled at me before getting out a plaster. I began to read.

Dear Rose,
We know that you recently tried to receive a First Partner Pokémon from us, and none were available. To compensate, we will give you a Pokédex with your Pokémon. Both will be able to be collected by Saturday, 26th August.

"This Saturday!" I realised.

We hope you appreciate our gift. Also, there's a keyring in the envelope. Your mum said you like Eevee?

Sincerely,
The Pokémon Lab

"Oh my Arceus, it's happening. I can get..." I trailed off as I saw Eevee.
Getting Fennekin would mean I could start my journey, but it also meant...

I would have to leave Eevee.