The Light Of A Flare

Chapter 5 - Who are you?

"Alright, Fennekin," I began. "Which moves do you know?"

It was the day after I had received Fennekin, and both of my Pokémon were standing beside me in a clearing in Santalune Forest. The sun was shining brightly, but a few dark clouds were scattered around the corners of the sky; a warning shot for later rain, perhaps. I folded my arms and added; "Use them on that rock."
Fennekin nodded and promptly released an Ember against the rock, sending fragments of rock flying.

"Nice. Anything else?"

Fennekin's claws lengthened and it slashed the rock, chipping the rock further. It then growled intimidatingly, before looking up at me for approval.

"Scratch, Ember and Growl. All right. That was great, Fennekin. Thanks." I thought for a moment, then spoke again. "Have you ever battled before?" When it shook its head, I asked with a slight smirk, "Would you like to now?"

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Eevee stood at one end of the clearing, Fennekin at the other, while I took the referee's position. "You both ready?" They both barked an affirmative reply, and I called "Battle begin!", grinning.
"Eevee, start with Tackle!"
Eevee began running toward Fennekin, who waited for a command.
"Fennekin, dodge, then use Growl!"
Fennekin obediently leapt up, out of the way of Eevee, then released a growl. Eevee shuddered.

"Eevee, Swift! Fennekin, counter with Ember!"
Swift always hits, I thought, so Fennekin has to attack in response. Eevee released its stars, while Fennekin shot embers back at Eevee. The two moves collided, but a few of each made contact. A light grey smoke cloud appeared, covering a large part of the battlefield. When it cleared, both Pokémon were grimacing.
"You both okay?" I enquired. They both struggled to their feet, nodding at me.

I smiled. "Eevee, Quick Attack! Fennekin, block with Scratch!"
Eevee became a blur, as it flew toward Fennekin, who extended its claws in front of it. Eevee slammed into Fennekin, and they tried to push each other back; neither was successful, and they both collapsed. They tried to get back up, but I called time.

"Thanks guys, that was amazing! Let's get you both to the Pokemon Centre."
I recalled the two quadrupeds and began to stroll to the town, but was halted in my tracks by a flash of black falling from the sky. The boy and his Pokémon landed gracefully - too gracefully to not be showing off - and stood in my path.

"Nice battle." he smirked, with about 90% mocking condescension, and 10% cute smirking older kid. I didn't just think that. I took in his features - black leather jacket and jeans, well-loved black leather bag across his shoulder, well-kept shoulder-length blond hair sweeping across his forehead, and his eyes - what colour were they? They looked green, but then he moved slightly, and they changed to dark brown, then back to hazel. He spoke again. "How long have you had your Pokémon?"

"Why does it matter to you?"

His smirk widened. "You're lucky you ran into me. Other members would take those Pokémon on sight."

My eyes widened. "Other members? Who are you?"

"That's for another time. Get your Pokémon healed, then I'll show you a real battle."

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Only when we were in the Pokémon Centre, did I get out my Pokédex.
"What Pokémon is that?" I asked him and my Pokédex.

"Umbreon." They replied simultaneously. I listened to the Pokédex entry before realising.

"That's different to the one in the Pokédex, though."

He smirked. "How'd ya figure that out?"

I looked at him, slightly glaring, until he very visibly pretended to try not to laugh. "Your Umbreon's rings are blue."