Pokémon Swirl & Spiral

Chapter 22: Omega

For the first time in months, the oversized pantry in Luxen Grand Suites was empty. Kairi had never really visited it as there was always a large group of challengers taking the majority of the snacks that were inside. Now entering it for the first time, she was blown away by how big the space was. All around her were shelves filled with free snacks and treats for the hotel guests and their Pokémon.

Arceus, people were feasting in here.

After taking a moment to admire the selections, she grabbed a couple chocolate chip pastry bars for herself. On the other wall were various shelves for Pokémon, with a dispenser for small plastic bags to carry them. The shelves were filled with numerous types of Berries and other items.

Kairi was about to grab one when she noticed a tiny candy that was hidden in the back of the shelf. It was sealed in a blue wrapper. Picking it up, it was something she had never seen before in the encyclopedia's pages.

Maybe Zoroark will like this. Always good to try something new.

Grabbing one of the bags, she placed the candy and two Lava Cookies inside.

It was still early. All of the other challengers were sleeping. The silence and emptiness of the lobby reminded her just how long they had been staying there. Somehow, she was in the top 11. Thinking back to the opening ceremony, that large group of one hundred challengers seemed so much greater.

Kairi wished Hazel was with her.

Stepping out of the elevator, she made her way back to her room, where Zoroark was lying down on the edge of the bed.

"...Roark...?"

"Just wanted to take a walk." Kairi responded. "I got you some stuff." She handed him the snacks, picking up the foreign one. "Never seen this blue one before, but it was in the panty...Maybe it's good."

Zoroark quickly devoured the Lava Cookies, then inspected the smaller candy. He slowly bit into it.

"Not good?" Kairi asked, after seeing Zoroark's slight grimace. "Sorry..."

An alert notified on her League Band.

Huh?

"What is...Night Daze?" Kairi asked. It was another Dark Type move, only its Base Power was a lot stronger and it was Specially offensive. "A new move...and...a stats boost? What did you just eat?"

Zoroark appeared to be perplexed as well, suddenly feeling energetic and healthier than before.

"Zor...!" He cheered.

"Well, whatever it was, that was the only one I could find back there." Kairi said, sitting next to him, and opening one of the pastry bars.

The bar was rectangular and flat, but resembled a chocolate chip cookie.

"You've been...insane these last few trials. Using your Illusion ability to hide us, protecting me from fire and webs...All while you've been hurt and nearly fainted. I guess that's what Pokémon Battling is...but those Pokémon the Senators and the Elite have...they're so much more powerful than I'd ever thought a Pokémon could get."

Kairi had been thinking about the dark particles for a while now. The amplified Pokémon had been a complete surprise to not only her, but to every other challenger. It was them that caused Zoroark and other Pokémon so much punishment. 

They were the ones capable of drawing blood.

The encyclopedia had zero entries on the concept of amplification. Through their existence alone, amplified Pokémon made Kairi's years worth of knowledge partially outdated.