Pokémon XYZ: Life, Death, Order, and Chaos (book 2 of the HBoD series)

Chapter 17: A Team with a Flare

"Oh come on," Alex whined, trying to coax some food to Absol. "You need to eat."

Absol swung her head away from Alex, ignoring the pokefood in her hands.

Clara laughed. "Oh, that's rich. I don't think she likes you much."

Alex glared at her and turned her back on her.

"Here," Clara said, swiping some pokefood from Robert's hands. "I'll give it a go." 

She went straight up to Absol and held out the food. "Here you go."

Absol swiped her hand away, scattering the pellets.

Clara's eye twitched. "All right then mutt! You're asking for it!"

She grabbed a pokeball from her waist and held it up, only for Alex to grab her wrist, glaring at her. "Don't even think about it Acord."

Robert sighed and glanced over at me as he filled a bowl of water. "Was bringing her along such a great idea?"

"I don't know anymore," I groaned. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I'm not so sure."

"I can hear you!" Clara snapped, yanking her hand free from Alex's grip, who resumed trying to feed Absol. 

Clara jabbed a finger at me. "And when will you battle me!? That's the whole reason I'm travelling with you!"

"Yeah yeah," I got up from my spot on the stone ground, stretching. "You want to battle my old team, right?"

She nodded. "Of course."

"Maybe later," I said, grabbing some pokefood from Robert. "It's getting late anyway."

I filled up three bowls and walked over to where Arcanine, Froakie, and Riolu were resting. I set them down and they began digging in.

I held out my hand to Robert. "Have anymore bowls?"

He nodded and dug out five more bowls from his backpack and filled them up for me. I set them down in a circle. Then I let out my Alolan team, Decidueye, Lycanroc, Gyarados, Kabutops, and Mimi.

I listened to them eat as I stared around the cavern. We had headed into Connecting Cave and were setting up for the night when an injured Absol stumbled upon our group. Robert had tended to her injured leg and Alex tried to give her food, but that seemed to be an issue at the moment.

Alex finally sighed, leaving the food near Absol. "You win. Just make sure to eat."

She got some pokefood from Robert and began feeding her Ninetales, Litleo, Flabebe, and Combee. Clara ignored Robert's offer of pokefood and dug out her own. She let out her three Pokemon, Barbaracle, Scizor, and Heliolisk.

I sat down again, leaning against a smooth part of the stone wall. That battle with Eve earlier had left me drained. That Mythical, Zeraora, was a surprise for sure. I don't even know if I actually beat it. I looked at the Z-ring on my wrist and took it off, slipping it into my backpack. I don't know why, but it didn't feel right to use that here in Kalos.  

Then I thought about the battle against Eve as a whole. It was much easier than battling Cassandra, despite Eve using the same Pokemon her mother owned. 

"I guess the trainer really does make the Pokemon," I muttered to myself.

...

The next morning Clara forced me into a Pokemon battle before breakfast.

"We all battled in the Alolan League and he made it to the final match-up," Alex said, once again trying to get the Absol to eat. "Don't blame us if you lose quickly."