Pokémon Swirl & Spiral

Chapter 15: Shadows

Kairi looked at herself and then at Zoroark in the mirror. They were nearly the same height, with the top of Kairi's hair just barely giving her the lead.

"We've been together for like...what? Over two months now?" Kairi said to him, smiling as she brushed his back. "Now you're practically my size. I'm going to miss picking you up and hugging you, you know."

"Zor..." he replied, calmed by her actions.

"Let's keep on getting stronger and stronger." Kairi urged, cheerfully. "We've made it this far already, only three Senators left to face. Then the trials are over, and we move on from there."

"..Roark!"

No one really knew what the League had in store for them after the Senator Trials would end. There were several challengers still in the League, and Kairi couldn't see just a single one making it to the end alone. Unless the final Senators were freakishly strong, the chances were too unlikely.

According to Director Garrison, Lady Hera would make an announcement about what would be their next challenge, the night of the final Trial.

Kairi finished brushing the last strand of Zoroark's mane and stared at her work in the hotel mirror. She was still amazed by his presence. A fully evolved Pokémon under her training, competing alongside her to become Arim's inaugural champion. Sure, the crown of Pokémon champion was definitely a big deal in Kairi's mind, but the simple act of training such an incredible species of Pokémon was something far greater.

Thank you, Dearest Lady. No matter how long it's been, this all still seems like a dream.

She still felt bad that Hazel wasn't competing with her, but she knew her friend would want her to focus on what's ahead.

Returning Zoroark back into his ball, Kairi headed down to the lobby where both Dakota and Taylor were waiting. It was earlier in the day that the two of them had formally met each other through her.

"H-hello." Taylor had spoken politely. It was there when Kairi noticed he was shy around people he didn't know.

"Hiya." Dakota had remarked. "So you're a Krit kid, right?"

Taylor had nodded. "Y-yeah. And you're from Sector Gnis?"

"Mhm."

From there, the three of them had spent numerous hours in the hotel lobby talking. Kairi had discussed growing up at a shelter, Hazel, her love for Pokémon, and general life in Sector Xevl. 

According to Taylor, he was the only child out of four other siblings to be chosen for the League, and worked in a family bakery for the majority of his life. 

Likewise, Dakota was actually a year older than both of them, having been part of the class that wasn't drafted to the sHARP ranks. Outside of that, she didn't really share much more about her home life. Still, Kairi found the entire conversation fascinating and it was a better way to pass the hours waiting for their departure to the stadium.

It was the first time in the competition she had truly exited from her shell, and she felt surprised by how comfortable she was with them.

"We're still down for round one?" Dakota asked her when she arrived.

"Yep." Kairi replied. "Second if it's full. 033, 015, and 067 are our numbers. Alright?"