Pokémon : Black Rising

21. Punch to the Gut!

" Hey, good mornin'. Just wanted to ask when you would begin training. "

My eyes were still tired from the sleep. I yawned, " A soon as I'm ready. Gimme a minute. "

I stretched and began the daily routine: brush, bath, eat and dress-up. Riolu and the others were slowly waking up. Didn't they commotion or what?

When I got out of the room, Riolu made himself comfortable on my head as usual. I reached the common room and Tiyana was waiting.

" Not usual for you to wake up at this hour? "

I itched my head. When my eyes turned to the clock, I almost fainted. Seven in the morning. Wow, just wow!

I mumbled, " I thought it was ten or somethin'... Why so early? "

She smiled, " Early sunrays provide vitamin D which is good for your bones and teeth. "

" Great, I got myself a doctor. "

Sometime later, we were setting up in a patch not far from the city. Plenty of rocks, tricky trek and a river made it perfect.

Tiyana asked, " So, how do you start? "

" Warm-ups. Like a few jogs 'round this area. "

She looked surprised, " You don't battle wild Pokemon? "

I shrugged, " That's a two way traffic. Both parties get hurt. I prefer to train without hurting as much as possible. If wild Pokemon do find us, as long as they insist, we have a battle. " I felt Riolu nodding.

Her blue eyes twinkled, " You really are awesome... "

I shrugged, " But there's teeny weeny problem. "

Her eyebrows arched. I continued, " The exercises we do are kinda hardcore. Girls might not be able to keep up. "

Her face turned red, either in embarassment or rage. Probably rage because after that, I was out of breath. She punched me in the gut so hard that I could've passed out.

She smirked, " How's that for a girl? "

I gasped, still out of breath, " You could have... shown it on a... rock or... something. "

Her complexion changed immediately, she came to my side, " Oh my goodness! I'm so sorry Tyler! I get upset when people tell me I can't do things which they can... So sorry!"

I tried to scream, " I did NOT say you couldn't do it! "

Her face flushed red.

I added, " Forget it. It was a mistake on my side, I guess. Phew! You got some power, woman! "

She looked at the ground, hands tied in the front. I tried to cheer her up, " Come on, it's fine. "

She didn't budge. I layed my hand on her shoulder, " Hey, Tiyana... Don't be a cry-baby now. I never knew you hated stuff like that. Cheer up! "

She didn't even move. I sighed, "Very well, I will leave you in this place full of rodents and bugs. "

That brought an expected result, she screamed and hid behind me, shrieking, " Please! ANYTHING but that! "

I smiled, " Let's begin then, shall we? "

We tossed our Pokeballs which released our Pokemon. Everyone on my sqaud looked ready for the training but on Tiyana's side, not so much.

I thought and said, " For a change, let's warm up with a battle. You in? "

She smirked, " You know I am! " The Pokemon on her side seemed to brighten up at that. Zorua, Ralts and Fletchling, quite rare a combination...