The Light Of A Flare

Chapter 9 - Apricity

When I started writing this it was a serious thing that I was proud of. I haven't written for several weeks now and it's becoming more ironic every day, so..

"Where are you going?" Robin had, somewhat abruptly, ended the conversation, and had started to leave.

"Lumiose. Why?"

"Can I come with you?" I blurted.

"No."

Surprised at his blunt response, I had to ask. "Why not?"

"Why do you want to?" He countered, sighing.

"I -" I was stumped. "You're strong, and I wondered if I could learn from you."

He sighed again. "As far as Lumiose." He paused, then added; "And I don't teach. You can watch, but that's it."

"Thanks." I answered, before we sank into an uncomfortable silence.

"So how many badges do you have?" I asked him, trying to break the silence.

"Just the one. The Gym Leader in Lumiose City - or rather his security system - was refusing to battle me until I got four badges, so I came here."

That was how our conversation went for a long time: me, thinking of questions to break the silence; him, answering with responses just long enough to imply that he could tolerate me. Just about.

"Favourite colour?"

"Black, though it's technically a shade. If you want to be that pedantic, then lavender."

"When did you get Umbreon?"

"Two years ago. We'd met in an alley one day, when he was still an Eevee, and when I got a Pokéball, he came with me."

"Goal in life?"

"Make the world a better place, in any way I can."

"What did you mean, 'other members'?"

That one caught him off guard. "What?"

"When we met, you said that other members would take my Pokémon. Other members of what?"

"Doesn't matter," he responded, turning away slightly. I shrugged, as the lights of Kalos' capital came into view.

"Favourite word?"

"What kind of person has a favourite word?" he snapped.

"Jeez, okay," I became silent for a lot longer this time. As we approached the entrance gate, however, I heard a small voice from my left.

"Apricity."

"What?"

"Apricity. It means the warmth of sunlight in winter." He smiled softly, almost apologetically, but it quickly faded. "You said as far as Lumiose City. Here it is."

"But - I didn't learn anything!"

"You learned about me. You could've asked about Pokémon if you'd wanted." He began to walk away.

"No! I mean, please can you teach me some things?"

He stopped and turned, seeming to weigh up his options. Finally, he answered, "What do you want to know?"

"What did you mean about my Pokédex?"

"It has loads of features," he sighed, "Like telling you a Pokémon's typing, moves, moves it can learn, ability, nature, things like that." He gestured for me to take out my 'Dex, before showing me the options. "This model also allows you to access the PSS, which you can normally only do from a Pokémon Centre."

"What does that do?"

"You can enter tournaments when not there, if you're running late for registration; you can trade with people around the world-"

"Trade what? Pokémon?"

"Uh-huh. You can-"

"Can I try?"

I had no idea why I wanted to do this so much. The only Pokémon I could trade, of course, was Fletchling, and I liked it; so why would I want to trade? I shook the feeling off. If I wanted to subconsciously, there must be a good reason.

"Sure, I guess? I'll show you."

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"There you go. Now, put Fletchling's Pokéball there-"

"Really? That's it?"

"Yeah, it's quick. Put its Pokéball there, then press here." Robin directed me, turning away. I did as he said, a tiny twinge of hesitation not stopping me. Fennekin's Pokéball floated up, before disappearing. A few seconds later, a new Pokéball appeared in its place, a strange pattern on it. A figure of eight? Robin answered my question before I even had to ask it.

"It's in a Repeat Ball, huh?" At my blank look, he sighed. "This should explain better than I can," he said, opening a program on my Pokédex. A load of Pokéball designs appeared with text around them, presumably explaining the balls' uses.

"Thanks, Robin," I smiled up at him, but he didn't respond. I looked at the Repeat Ball's description, then asked my next question; "So it works better on already-caught Pokémon species? Wow!"

"Yup." He nodded to the Pokéball. "You gonna see what Pokémon you've got?"

I smiled, picking up the Pokéball. I threw it into the air, releasing - something.

"That's a weird Pikachu," I semi-asked Robin, who simply smirked.

"That would be because it's not Pikachu," he replied cockily. "Scan it."

I dutifully obeyed, and the drone of the 'Dex blasted out. "Mimikyu, the Disguise Pokémon," it told us, before registering it.

"Mimikyu, huh? What moves do you know?"

"Check with your 'Dex," Robin suggested. I nodded in thanks.

"Shadow Sneak, Wood Hammer, Spite and Slash. And it's a Ghost and Fairy type?"

"Hmm," Robin pondered. "It looks young, yet it knows advanced moves. It must be a breedject."

"Breedject?"

"Some people breed Pokémon to get the best they can. This was one that didn't meet their standards, so they got rid of it."

"That's terrible! But... What will they do with Fletchling?"

"Probably release it into the wild," he replied matter-of-factly. "Or trade it again."

I frowned. Something about it bothered me, but there was nothing I could do now. In fact... What was I going to do now?

"Where are you going now?" I asked Robin.

"A café. I suppose you want to join me?" I nodded gratefully at Robin, and he led the way. "I'm not paying for you, though," he mumbled as we went.