How to Train Your Pokémon

Their Secret Revealed

How to Train Your Pokémon

A/N: Okay, since I just want to get this chapter started so that I won't ramble, let's get on with Chapter 17! Roll it!

Bold italics: Pokémon speech

Chapter 17

Their Secret Revealed

As expected, the following morning, Mari and Aiden were back in the Arena, facing off Larvitar for their final test to determine who will face Lucario.

The little Rock type was scanning its surroundings, searching for the two Trainers. The Arena had small wooden walls so that the recruits can hide behind. Mari currently was hiding behind one, her lance on her hip. Aiden then ducked for cover behind the same wall that she was using. Mari scooted away, but Aiden grabbed her arm.

"Stay out of my way!" He warned her. "I'm winning this thing." With that, he took off to hide behind a different wall.

As much as Mari felt a little hurt by his coldness towards her, she was just focusing on trying to not get blasted by the Larvitar. "Just don't get blasted to the other side of the Arena, Newton." She called back at him, standing up.

She looked around the crowd of spectators that have gathered around. She soon spotted her mother and brothers watching. She gave them a smile, which quickly vanished once she had her back turned.

Meanwhile, Aiden was just sneaking up on the Larvitar, barrel rolling from one wall to the next, holding his baton tightly in his hands. The little Rock type was heading its way towards Mari.

"This time." Aiden quietly vowed to himself, hiding behind one of the walls. "This time for sure." He then began quickly charging towards the Larvitar, his baton in his hand, ready to throw it... only to stop suddenly once he saw that the Larvitar was already on the ground, courtesy of Mari. The crowd then began cheering wildly.

"NO!" He yelled in frustration. "No, son of a half-freak, flesh-eating, spawn of Giratina!" He cursed, swinging his baton around, slicing through the air. Mari winced at the curses that he was spouting out. And she thought that she had a sharp tongue.

This wasn't how she thought this round was going to play. She had saw the little Rock type coming toward her, but he had stopped once he recognized her, swinging her lance around. She pretended to swing it hard at him, but she had actually thrown it weakly. The ball had hit the Larvitar on the head, but not hard enough. The Larvitar then pretended to be knocked unconscious just as Aiden had come up.

Just then, the crowd became silent as a long blonde-haired woman with gray eyes stood up on the bleachers. She wore a black pantsuit with dark gray fur trim and a light gray gem in the middle of her bust. It was Cynthia, the wisest woman in the village, and one of the most powerful Trainers in the faction.

Mari and Aiden looked up at her as she came closer to the ring, where the bars separated the spectators from the battles. "It is now time to select who will face Lucario tomorrow." She announced. Everyone began holding their breath in anticipation.

"This recruit showed remarkable ability and skill during training, as well as good teammate and leadership attributes." She said. "These are qualities I haven't seen in such a long time. My congratulations goes to.... Mari Ketchum!"

The crowd began cheering wildly again as Mari felt her blood freeze to ice. Gary had come up to her, along with Keira and Jenna.

"You did it, Mari!" Gary cheered as he lifted her arm up in victory. "You get to capture Lucario!"