Perfect Strangers (James X Reader, Pokémon)

A turn of events

{It's now 4 months on from the last chapter, and you are now travelling with Ash and his friends in the Alolan Region. You don't attend Pokémon school, however.}

"So what would everyone like?" Mallow asked. You were in her restaurant at a table with Ash, Emily, Sophocles and Kiawe. Unfortunately Lillie and Lana couldn't come. "Erm... I'll have a malasada, please." "Me too!" Sophocles shouted, a little loudly. "Same!" Emily exclaimed. "Me... Six!" Ash shouted. He wasn't really the mathematician. "Sure, I'll have one too then." Kiawe said, staring out the window as he spoke. "That's good! We've just had a new stock on ingredients on that! It should be a while before we run out, so have as many as you like!" Mallow said, taking it all down on her little notepad. Not that it made much of a difference as we all wanted the same thing, but each to their own. It'll only be a few days before the ingredients run out again with Sophocles in here! You thought. Ahhh, dark thoughts.

You ate and chatted with everyone, everyone but Kiawe. He wouldn't take his eyes off the window. After you'd eaten, you went out to the kitchen help Mallow with the washing up. "So, what's wrong with Kiawe?" You asked. "How should I know?" She said, blushing slightly. "I dunno. Maybe because you like him?" You flicked water at her. "I do not!" She said, looking at the ground. You raised an eyebrow, but she didn't say anything else. "Anyway, you can't talk. What about James?" She said. You sighed. "What about him?" You asked. "You like him, don't you!" "Well... Yeah..." You said shyly. You chatted about these things for quite a while.

{Later, on the beach}

"Torracat, use Flamethrower!" You shouted. "Mareanie, poison jab!" James shouted back. "Dodge it!" You told Torracat. She quickly jumped up, out of the way before letting the flamethrower loose. "Mimikyu, dark pulse!" Jessie shouted. "Run towards it!" You commanded Torracat. "Y/N! What are you doing?!" Kiawe shouted from behind you. "Yeah! Torracats' gonna get hurt!" Emily said, her voice dripping with worry. You ignored them. You knew what you were doing. They just didn't have a clue  "Go, Torracat!" You shouted. She knew what to do. Torracat countered the dark pulse, whilst running towards it, with another flamethrower. You watched as the two moves collided, pushing each others moves towards it's opponent. The flamethrower was winning. It pushed the dark pulse back towards mimikyu, hitting it. Before long the flamethrower hit as well. But mimikyu was hardly fazed. It didn't really seem to want to battle with you. It was more focused on Pikachu. But you made it very clear to your friends that you wanted to do this one alone. Although Torracat couldn't use a Z-Move due to her everstone, that didn't mean you couldn't win. Right?

~Flashback~
"Have you ever used that Z-Crystal I gave you?" Kiawe asked. You looked over at him. "Umm... No." You said, a little guiltily. He shook his head and sighed. "Why don't you just take that everstone off of Torracat and try it?" He seemed a little ticked off now. "I... I can't. Anyway, you don't need a Z-Move to win a battle!" You replied. "You're missing the point. You don't just use them for battling, you use them to create a stronger, everlasting bond between your Pokémon, and you, their trainer." He said, crossing his arms. Now you were getting ticked off. "So you're saying that I don't have a bond with my Pokémon?!" You said. Tears were welling up in your eyes, threatening to spill. "No, I just-" You cut him off. "That I'm not strong?!" You threw words as him, making sure they were peircing. "Y/N, I'm sorry. I just thought that you could become a better trainer if you used them, that's all. The Firinium Z especially, seeing as Torracat is your strongest Pokémon." You felt somehow soothed at his words, but it wasn't going to overlook what he said. "Sorry won't cut it this time." You said, and turned to walk away.

"Ok Torracat, let's take this to the next level!" You shouted. "Are you sure you don't need help?" Emily asked. "Yeah Y/N, we're right here." Kiawe said. Here we go again. You thought. "Guys, I'm fine. Now, use lick on Mareanie!" You said. Mareanie got hit and was close to fainting. It was also paralysed. "Mareanie!" James shouted, picking it up. "Mimikyu, what are you doing!" Jessie said, as Mimikyu walked (well, moved) towards James and Mareanie. They communicated in their own language for a while, before Mimikyu went back over to Jessie. It screeched at her a bit. You could see that Mareanie wasn't doing too good. "What's wrong with Mareanie?" You heard your friends whisper from behind you. You felt kind of bad, but at the same time you needed to finish this. You were stuck between the decision. Fight whilst they were distracted or go help? You clenched your fists. "Torracat, come back." You said, in almost a whisper. She looked back to you, confused, but obeyed. "Meow." She rubbed up against your leg. "We can't battle right now. Mareanie doesn't look too good." You explained, bending down to stroke her. "Y/N, what are you doing?" Mallow asked. "I'm surrendering. I can't fight anymore. Mareanie isn't looking too good. I don't want to cause any permanent damage." You explained. Then you walked over to Mareanie and James. "I'm sorry. Did I do this?" You asked, bending down and stroking Mareanies' head. "Nah, it's not your fault. She was acting a but off this morning. I should have noticed and given her treatment right away." Her breathing became more difficult. "We'd better get her to a Pokémon center right away." You said, shielding your eyes from the hot sun. "Yeah. Is there one nearby?" James asked. "Yes." You said. "We'll finish this." Jessie said. You and James ran off in the direction of the Pokémon center, sand getting in your shoes. You didn't care though. All you cared about was his Pokémons' safety. You couldn't help but feel like this was all your fault, and you had to make it right.