The Light Of A Flare

Chapter 13 - Huh?

"So, Cyllage City next?" Beth asked us. Robin looked somewhat taken aback, to say the least.

"Wait. What makes you think we're all travelling together?"

"Um. Maybe the fact that you have to accompany me, and I want Rose along?"

"She's not coming." Robin growled, making eye contact with Beth. I had to step in.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Does 'she' not get a say in this?"

Robin smirked. "Of course. Would you rather travel alone, do whatever you like, go freely; or travel with me, whom you already hate, and is taking a certain route anyway?"

I honestly wasn't sure. "Okay, firstly, I don't hate you. You're just annoying." Robin made a mock bow, and I continued, "I have no idea where to start. I may as well travel with you guys." Shrugging passively, I looked up, only to see Robin's facial expression. It was one of shock, but also something else that I couldn't quite place. He muttered a small "Your call," before turning away.

Beth began to lead us toward the gate for Route 5, myself not knowing where to go, and Robin still out of it; and I turned toward Prism Tower, taking in its beauty - but also concealing my grin.

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"You gonna catch a Pancham?" Beth asked Robin as we walked along the well-worn path, the skateboarding rink to our right, not quite deserted but the last occupants leaving; the sun was just beginning to set, and the cold was starting to hit.

Shaking himself from his réverie, Robin shook his head. "Too much work to evolve them. And anyway, why Pancham?"

"You obviously specialise in dark-types. And anyway, it'd be easy to evolve - you've already got dark-types in your team."

Robin shrugged. "I guess.. Just not my style."

The two continued to converse as we traversed the slopes, and I drifted into my own world. There were so many wild Pokémon, more than I could have ever imagined, and we were just walking through as if they weren't -

"What about you, Rose?"

Crap.

"Um, what?" Oh, no. I say that I want to travel with them, and now I don't listen? They're gonna think I'm stupid, or ungrateful, or something and I'm ughhh...

"Uh, I didn't hear you.." I swallowed.

Robin shrugged. "Oh well." He began to walk off, a smirk adorning his face, but Beth pulled him back by his jacket, causing him to yelp and twist away. "Jeez, okay! We were talking about battle styles, and wondering if you had one," his smirk returned as he sent a wary but mischievous glance at Beth, "that isn't letting me distract the opposition while you let your Pokémon almost get knocked out, at least."

Beth shot him a playful glare and I watched them have a silent debate, the end of which caused Robin to squeal and cover his face while Beth laughed. I bit my lip in an attempt not to follow suit, and they both turned back to me.

"So. Battle style?"

"Uh, not really. I just try to use the best move at the time."

This seemed to satisfy Beth, but Robin folded his arms. "Best against the specific opponent, or best against anything in general?"

"Um, either, I guess. I don't really know?"

"Do your Pokémon have their own styles?"

"How would she know?" Beth tried to come to my rescue, but Robin - as always - had an answer.

"She might've noticed. And if not, she can ask your Espeon."

Okay, now we were both on the same page. That page was confusion, but even so.

"What?"

"It can telepathically communicate with you, right?"

"I - I've never tried?"

I, personally, was just glad to be out of the conversation.

"And it's never talked to you?"

"No.."

"Ask it."

My head was bouncing from side to side, as if I was at a tennis match. This, however, was more entertaining.

Beth released her Espeon. "Hey, Espeon. You okay?"

The purple cat tilted its head, and I silently took out my Pokédex, reading the description, as Beth asked it.

"Can you - can you talk to me? Telepathically?"

Espeon remained silent and still, but Beth leapt backward. "Woah. You're right!" Robin here made a gesture that said 'Well, yeah?' and Beth rolled her eyes. "Rose, bring out your Pokémon so we can ask them."

I remained sceptical, but released my Pokémon from their balls. "Guys, can you, uh, tell Espeon your goals and battle style and stuff?"

I avoided Robin's gaze and studied my Pokémon intently as they chirped to each other.

"Eev?"

"Spee, Espee."

"Kin. Fen?"

"Eievui!"

"Kyu.."

"Esp, Espeon.."

"Mimi. Kyu."

Apparently done, Espeon turned to make its report to Beth. "Huh."

"What is it?"

"Eevee knows as little as you, and wants to learn with you." I smiled softly at it, and it chirped happily. "Mimikyu wants to get stronger, to be able to beat the trainer who abandoned her -"

"Mimikyu's a girl?"

"Yup. So is Eevee."

I nodded, intrigued, and allowed Beth to continue. "And, well, Fennekin?"

I narrowed my eyes confusedly. "What about..."

"Him."

"What about him?"

"He doesn't want to evolve."

At this, Fennekin looked up at Beth and shook its head vigorously. "Well, not until he's mastered fire-type moves. All of them." she added, and my eyes widened.

"Wow, okay. I hope I can help you with that, Fennekin."

Fennekin smiled at me, before letting itself - himself - back into his Pokéball. Mimikyu followed suit, but Eevee stayed out, walking by my side. We shared a smile, and we were about to move again, when Espeon snapped its head to one side and opened Robin's first Pokéball, releasing Umbreon, who hissed and squinted.

"What the fuck?"

"Espeon, what was that?"

"Huh?"

My comment was the least intelligible.

Espeon walked slowly over to Umbreon, looking shyly at the ground, and I was the one to realise first.

"Does - yeah, your Espeon has a crush on Umbreon."

Beth gasped, while Robin smirked slightly but stayed silent. Espeon went to lick Umbreon's cheek, but the black beast turned away and Beth bit her lip to stop herself laughing. Disheartened, Espeon returned itself to its Pokéball, as did Umbreon, and Robin simply burst into laughter.