Finding Truth Amongst The Lies

Chapter 27: Serena's POV

My first double battle went better than I could have ever hoped. Shinx and Roisel were up against a Ducklett and Murkrow and even before the five minutes were up my opponents had fainted from the battle. It had been thrilling to implement some of the battle strategies that Bree had taught me, and after the intense conditioning that she had put Shinx and Roisel through they didn't even look winded after their first battle. An immense feeling of pride rushed through me as I watched them celebrate our win, and it wasn't long before our next opponent was announced.

As I took my spot on the opposite side of the battlefield I felt a little bit starstruck to see Norio facing off against me. Since he was the one that won the Floaroma Ribbon at my first-ever contest experience, he seemed almost like a celebrity to me. Getting the chance to go up against him in a battle was making me fangirl inside, and I laughed at my own silliness. Even though I was excited to go up against him and his adorable pokemon, I wasn't about to let that affect my focus. I had Bree and Aryan watching me, I really really wanted to win.

Glancing over at Norio though, I couldn't help but want to know more about him and why he chose to be a coordinator. His blue-tipped spiky hair and punk-style clothes made him seem like the cool type, but as he released his darling Oshawott and an absolutely ADORABLE pokemon that reminded me of a Ponyta without the flaming mane I couldn't help but think his pokemon didn't match his style choice. His new pokemon's face, legs, and belly were all a soft tan color while its forehead down to its back was a vibrant green color and a yellow flower seemed to be growing at the base of one of its pointy ears.

"What pokemon is that?! It's so cute!" I squealed, not able to contain my emotions as I stared at the adorable pokemon. She blinked her large eyes at me and smiled, causing my heart to flip in response, but I noticed that Norio's cheeks had turned slightly pink and he frowned slightly.

"Don't underestimate Deerling just because she's a little cutie!" he called out to me, striking a pose that Oshawott copied, but Deerling didn't seem at all bothered by her trainers' words. She continued to blink up at me happily and I saw a small cloud of pollen come from the flower by her ear and I grinned happily at her.

"I would never," I called over to Norio, gesturing to my own insanely cute pokemon who were standing in front of me looking excited about the next battle. Marian chose that moment to start the clock and both Norio and I blinked at each other before he sprang into action.

"Let's start this off right! Deerling, use Take Down, and Oshawott, use Aqua Jet!"

I blinked in surprise as Deerling's body was encased in white light and she streaked forward at the same time as his Oshawott encased himself in water and shot off the floor of the stage. I watched for a second as the two raced over to our side of the stage, taking the time to weave around each other so that Deerling's light trail illuminated Oshawott's Aqua Jet and made it sparkle. I was impressed, but there was no way I was letting my cute pokemon get hit with physical attacks like that.

"Roisel, Fairy Wind twister, please," I requested, remaining calm and composed as Bree had taught me. Roisel raced forward without fear towards the oncoming pokemon, then took a deep breath and released her most powerful Fairy Wind attack that she could create.

The sparkling wind spun in a funnel, picking up Deerling effortlessly and catching Oshawott's Aqua Jet in mid-air. I watched as the two were sent spinning in the air for a few seconds and I could see out of the corner of my eye that Norio's points had taken a hit. Deerling seemed powerless within Roisel's funnel of incessant Fairy Wind, but Oshawott somehow got his wits about him so that he could force himself out of the twister. He turned his Aqua Jet towards Roisel, but his previous control was obviously lost as he leaned back and forth in the air and finally came to a spinning crash to the ground, his eyes swirling dizzily.