Pokémon Eclipse II - Light of Harmony

by moviemaster8510

Chapter 3 - Stringshot

Twilight led her group back into the main hallway where they all began, Mikael and Divvy leading behind her, followed by Sam, his two former Pokémon, and the rest of Twilight’s friends. Mikael looked about his surroundings, noting and confirming with himself that this was indeed where he started.

“So,” Twilight began to ask Mikael, “what do you think of the school?”

“Hold on, that was it?” Mikael’s question left some frowns on Twilight’s friends’ faces. “I mean, you didn’t even show where Sam’s classroom is yet.”

“You’re right,” Sam replied. “My classroom isn’t in this building, at least, not anymore. Heck, it’s not even on the same world…”

Sam’s light purring on the last word left Mikael confused. “…I’m not sure I understand.”

“We’re going to take you there next,” Twilight spoke in. “We just wanted to show you around the main campus before we move on to the next one.”

“Main…” Mikael began to visibly piece it together in his head. “Wait, so… you mean…”

“Yep.” Sam nodded, already certain that Mikael understood.

Mikael’s mouth opened partly upon fully realizing it. “Whoa, okay. And by the way, I wasn’t trying to knock your school or anything; it all looks very nice. In fact, it looks a lot nicer than most places I’ve been to.”

“Thank you very much,” Twilight said with a slight bow of her head. “We know you didn’t mean any harm by what you said. Now, if you could follow Sam and I to the eastern wing, we can show you around the new campus.”

“And we’ll be heading back ourselves,” Starlight added. “We have a little more administrative duties to attend to, so we’ll let you all have fun.”

“Bye Mikael!” Pinkie Pie bounded up over her friends to ensure she could be seen. “We’ll see you in class!”

As the ponies made their way down the other end of the hallway, Pinkie Pie bounced up and down at smaller heights as she went along with her friends.

“Lurantis,” Fluttershy sweetly called, “Salazzle!”

Sam knelt down to and faced his two Pokémon. “I gotta’ run for a bit, but I’ll be back to play with you some later today, alright?”

Lurantis and Salazzle happily chattered before giving him a quick hug and scurrying back. Lurantis slowed down and walked beside Starlight and her Sylveon while Fluttershy smiled upon seeing Salazzle come up beside her. Sam gave a nod to the group before turning and making his way down the other hall where Twilight and Spike were standing and waiting.

Mikael and Divvy quickened their pace to come up beside him. “Hey, Sam, so… if your Lurantis and Salazzle are living with them now, who’s taking their spots on your party?”

Sam proudly patted the two Poké Balls on his clip that were once occupied by his Lurantis and Salazzle. “Took some time in the Galar region last summer. And don’t worry, other than mine, those two are in the best possible hands.”

“Wouldn’t that be ‘best possible hooves?’”

“Alright, Mikael,” Twilight suddenly butted in, “follow me.”

As they continued going down the hallway, Twilight kept her eyes straight ahead, their destination no doubt in the same direction.

“So,” Mikael muttered, “if this other campus is back in our world… shouldn’t we go back to the EarthQuestria center?”

“No need, Mikael!” The excitement in Twilight's voice was palpable. “You see, shortly into our first semester, I saw the impact that Sam was leaving on our students, which made me realize that we needed to begin including humans as well as the creatures of my world into the School of Friendship. As I already explained in your acceptance message, my goal is to help bring Equestrians, humans, and Pokémon to a point that we can freely live and coexist in each others worlds, and so I decided to add another campus of the School of Friendship right in your world.”

Twilight continued talking as they neared the double doors at the end of the hall. “Now, even as a founder of both the School of Friendship and the EarthQuestria foundation, I still needed some support to help bring my plan into fruition, and lucky for you, you’re about to meet that support in just a few short moments.”

As magic surrounded her horn, it also surrounded both handles as Twilight opened them up to reveal the space inside. The room was appropriately wide enough, but it appeared to stretch on down to another doorway on the other side, even though Mikael felt certain that there wasn’t nearly enough of the building in that direction for a room so long to exist. Running flush along the floor, walls, and ceiling around the center of the room was a pristine metal frame with bright circular lights inside of them, their gentle humming nearly silent on the ears of everyone inside.

Standing on the other side of the frame were two women. Standing straight and attentive was a slender woman in her mid 30’s wearing a casual all-black outfit consisting of a sleeveless top supported by her neck, a shoulderless black sweater, and tight-fitting slacks, which made her pale face and dark-red hair pop out. Beside her in a slouch was a teenaged girl with ebony-hair and light-brown skin. Her outfit was a bit sportier, consisting of a short-cut orange jacket over a tight, black, waist-cut black shirt and a short khaki shirt over black leggings that ended below her knees.

Twilight walked up to the two women, passing over the frame. “My apologies, Ms. Sixsmith. I hope I didn’t keep you waiting long.”

“Not at all, Twilight,” the older woman replied, the subtle regalities of her accent matched by her volume. “And please, call me Rosanna when we’re not engaging in business as usual.”

Twilight hopped up and let Rosanna take both of her hooves in her hands in greeting before she getting down to all fours again.

Sam and Mikael stepped past the frame, Mikael approaching Twilight and the two women first. “Wait, Rosanna Sixsmith? As in the Rosanna Six–”

As Divvy passed through the frame, an ethereal, metallic sound came out from it. Everyone turned in the frame’s direction and watched as the space of the room behind them warped and bent around, the lights inside now a foreboding red. Once the area reverted back to normal, the red lights faded back to their original glow. Mikael’s mouth hung open, completely baffled by what he just saw.

“What… was that?” was all he could stammer out.

“Hmph.” Rosanna couldn’t help but find Mikael’s shock amusing. “That was the Gateframe recalibrating itself. Magic is still sensitive to Psychic energy, and your Bronzong interfered with it when it passed through.”

“Passed…” Mikael whipped around to face her again. “Wait, so, are we in the other campus now? Was that some kind of portal we just walked through?!”

Rosanna let another grin grow on her face. “Bright kid. And yes, I am, in fact, the Rosanna Sixsmith. I take it you’re a fan of my work?”

Mikael enthusiastically shook her hand. “I mean, I’m more impressed by your story than anything. I mean, the heir to the Sixsmith empire swoops in and singlehandedly saves Macro Cosmos? Truly amazing stuff!”’

“Well, I can certainly tell you that I can’t take all the credit, but I appreciate the flattery nonetheless.”

“Rosanna.” Sam came up to her next and took both hands before respectfully pecking both cheeks. “How goes things here?”

“Wonderful, Sam. And such a pity that I didn’t see you take on the Gym Challenge again this year. I would have happily sponsored you again if you simply asked.”

“Eh, I had my hands full getting him ready for the school year,” Sam replied, snapping his head in Mikael’s direction. “Besides, there’s only ever room for one Brier in any region anymore.”

“Yes, I’ve heard your sister is taking it on herself this year; I wish her all the best!”

The girl accompanying Rosanna crossed her arms and huffed, her impatience beginning to get the best of her. Mikael was quick to notice this, approaching her with Divvy close by.

“Sorry,” he said to her, “didn’t want you to think that we all met up here just to ignore you.”

“Hah, good,” she said with a sardonic smile, “I was getting worried for a second. So, you’re the new kid? I guess that makes both of us.”

Mikael reached forward, the girl quick to meet his hand with hers. “Mikael. Yeah, and that’s my Bronzong, Divvy.”

“Cute name,” she replied. “I’m Jacqui. I’m sure you already figured this out too, but we’ll be classmates this year.”

“Yeah. Figured. Right.” The clumsiness of Mikael’s response made Jacqui giggle.

“Looks like you two are already getting along,” Twilight interjected, stepping in along side them. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you should be teaching classes here, not taking them!”

“Oh, dear me!” Rosanna then approached them alongside Sam, looking at Mikael in particular. “Have you been carrying those bags with you all morning? Come on, let’s drop them off at your dorm.”

Rosanna reached for the center Luxury Ball on her Poké Ball clip, detaching it and tossing it off to the side of the room. From the white energy that streamed out from the ball upon its opening was a large, purple scorpion-like Pokémon with two clawed arms protruding from the side of its head that matched its tail.

“Drapion,” she charmingly commanded, “please take this gentlemen’s bags as we head to the dorm rooms.”

As the Drapion approached him on its four tiny legs, Mikael quickly handed them over to the intimidating creature, who gripped them by their straps and began to exit the room. Rosanna walked ahead and held the door open for her Pokémon as it skittered to the direction of Mikael’s lodging.

Rosanna then motioned her arm into the direction of the still-open doorway. “Shall we?”

Divvy pulled both doors open with its psychic powers, allowing Rosanna’s Drapion to come inside. Mikael was next to enter, followed by Jacqui, Rosanna, Sam, and then Twilight.

“And here’s where you’ll be staying,” Sam explained. “We have more Equestrian students coming in in the first couple of days, so we thought we’d get you bunking together before someone else can call dibs.”

Mikael looked about, seeing ten bunk beds lining each of the side walls with a large dresser to the right of each one. Rosanna’s Drapion walked over to the far end of the room and toward the beds on the left, the bottom bunk already disheveled from recent use.

Mikael followed the Drapion as it placed his things on the ground next to the bed. Mikael frowned to see several individual loose articles of clothing scattered around an open duffel bag where only a couple of shirts, socks, and pairs of underwear seemed to make it. Jacqui, seeing the expression on his face and realizing her error, ran over and began pushing her clothes on the floor into a single pile before dropping them into the bag, partially flattening it and leaving a small mound.

Mikael stared at Jacqui, who looked back to meet his judgmental gaze. “Guessing those were yours?”

Jacqui pouted her lips tightly in embarrassment, only to be interrupted from whatever retort she was going to make by Rosanna. “Jacqui, I told you to take care of that before he got here. My sincerest apologies, Mikael. Jacqui will do better to keep her space clean in the future, I assure you.”

“Don’t sweat it, Ms. Sixsmith,” Mikael dismissed with a hand-wave. “Chances are we may end up washing each others undies by accident time and again.”

Jacqui went from flustered to laughing, especially to see the blush on Rosanna’s face.

Rosanna quickly composed herself, looking serious. “Well, when the other students come, I’m sure they would prefer not to have to see any of your *ahem* undies…”

“Sure thing,” Mikael agreed before looking to Jacqui. “So, looks like you got bottom?”

Jacqui shrugged. “You cool with top?”

Mikael shrugged back. “I’m cool with top. I mean, Divvy’s going to be sleeping next to our bed while we’re here, so I hope you’re cool with him hanging out on your level.”

Jacqui looked over to Mikael’s Bronzong, it’s sharp-eyed stare already piercing into her soul and making her shiver. “Can’t you just keep him in your ball?”

Mikael put his empty hands out. “What ball?”

“You mean… you don’t keep your Bronzong in a ball?”

“Nah. He likes to stick around.”

Jacqui hung her head in defeat. “Fine. You get bottom.”

As she began making her bed for him, Mikael stole a quick backslap against the end of Divvy’s handle-arm, congratulating their successful attempt to ensure they slept together.

“Once Jacqui’s finished,” Twilight spoke up, “can we show them around town?”

“Yes,” Rosanna agreed, “certainly.”

Mikael picked his head up and turned. “Town?”

Rosanna led the group down the wide staircase and toward the large front doors at the other end of the foyer. “So yes, Twilight and I agreed that putting up just a single campus building out in the middle of the Kalos region wouldn’t really be very stimulating for the students that will be soon to arrive here.”

“Oh wait,” Mikael interrupted, “we’re all the way in the Kalos region now?”

“Sam never told you? My word, that boy loves his surprises.”

“You’ll see it when you walk through the door,” Sam told him, “so go ahead, check it out.”

Doing as he was told, Mikael and Divvy rushed ahead, pushing through the doors and squeezing in between the space. Upon getting to see what Sam was building up toward, he once again was compelled to stop over what he was seeing. Directly in front of him was a marble-bricked street separating him from a massive plaza and rows of stone buildings on either side of it across the way. Though only a few humans and ponies were out and about on their own business, he relished the thought of what it would look like when more would come.

Looking to the left, there was a neighborhood of compact, but modern-looking houses arranged in a cozy subdivision, more city buildings wrapping around it and extending further down. To the right, even more of the small city revealed itself, the mystery of what existed down there making Mikael swallow his spit with unquenchable anticipation.

Mikael couldn’t even hear Sam and Rosanna as they came up from behind. “Pretty amazing, isn’t it?”

“How…” Mikael felt his throat dry quickly, “How did…”

“It’s amazing what the combined efforts of people, Pokémon, and ponies can accomplish in just a few months’ time,” Rosanna interjected. “Twilight and I came up with the idea to build a small little commune around the new campus so that young Equestrians can experience the little wonders our world has to offer.”

“There’s really nothing little about it,” Twilight added. “This is going to be home to so many people and Equestrians in just a few short days, and it’s all thanks to your help.”

“Wait,” Mikael interrupted, “what’s all in here?”

“Well,” Rosanna answered, “we have several Pokémon Centers, plenty of restaurants and eateries to cater to both human and Equestrian diners, different types of stores, as well as an entire shopping mall. I also heard a little rumor that you really like to skate, Mikael…” Mikael slowly turned his head as if an otherworldly force did so for him. “…so I took the liberty of installing a rink as well. And before you ask, yes, it includes both a roller rink and an ice skating rink.”

Mikael let out his breath at once, his eyes growing misty as his appreciation physically overflowed out from him. “I think I love you…”

“And we also have a bowling alley, some arcades, two parks, two movie theaters, and a few gyms if you want to find other ways to entertain yourself.”

“Yeah, thanks…” Mikael was clearly still too enraptured with the prospect of getting to ice skate to care about anything else she listed.

Rosanna giggled, happy to have made him happy. “And, being that it’s still so early in the morning, I thought I’d let Jacqui show you around, being that I’m sure she’s already explored every alley and corner of it. You think you could do that, Jacqui?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jacqui replied with mock disinterest and a lazy salute.

She nodded affirmatively, noting her clear sarcasm. “Then we can leave you two to it. Mikael, welcome to Poniose Town.”

“Poniose…” Mikael looked for a horizon to try and tell exactly where this place was located.

“We’re located just west of Lumiose City,” Sam explained, “and the School of Friendship campus here is connected to the main campus in Ponyville, we just decided to combine the names together. Very creative, we know.”

“Sam, please,” Rosanna softly begged, “let’s let them explore the city on their own.”

“Yes, right. Well, Mikael, Jacqui, I’ll leave you both to it. And whenever you’re ready to take a look at my classroom, just holler for me, okay?”

Mikael nodded and smiled. “You got it, Sam.”

With a farewell wave, Sam and Rosanna began to return to the inside of the school, Twilight following close behind. As Mikael and Divvy watched them off, he suddenly felt a tapping on his shoulder, whipping around to see Jacqui bent over slightly to be at eye level with him.

“So,” she purred, “you like to skate, huh?”

Mikael looked around, uncertain of the sudden sultriness she pressed him with. “Uh…”

“Cool! Hold up, let me grab my blades and my balls and I’ll be right down!”

Jacqui ran back into the building, leaving Mikael alone with Divvy to ponder just how he was going to survive at least one year with her.

Mikael walked down the plaza with Divvy while Jacqui coasted alongside him on the opposite side, her orange-and-white roller blades climbing up her calves like snug boots. As they passed an earth pony mare walking by, she gave her a friendly wave while Mikael kept his hands in his pockets, opting to flick his chin up to her as if to say, “How are you doing?”

“So, how do you know Rosanna?” Mikael asked. “You certainly don’t look like her daughter or anything, so did she handpick you for the school like Twilight did for me, or what?”

Jacqui swung around and began to skate backwards to face him. “If you really want to know, I’m actually her apprentice!”

“What?! Her apprentice? How’d you manage that?”

“Fun fact: I actually grew up in the same city as her.”

“Ah, a Castelia girl. Still though, I’m curious. How’d someone who can’t even keep their dirty laundry in one place get to become the apprentice to the chairwoman of one of the most powerful corporations in the world?”

Jacqui spun around and skated back to beside Mikael, nearly running over his foot and making him flinch. “Yeah, okay, so I don’t come from the ‘good’ part of the city like she did; some days were tougher than others and I had to do what I needed to to get by.”

“Hmm, do I sense the plot thickening?”

“So one day, Rosanna was in town overseeing the installation of a new MC Bank in my neighborhood…”

Rosanna stood on the other side of a dirty street as she watched a group of construction workers install a “MC Bank” sign over the center of the building, a black parasol in her right hand blocking the harsh sun from her skin. Just then, an orange, black, and green blur whooshed behind her, managing to snatch the small purse that hung from her left shoulder.

“Haha, what?!” Mikael couldn’t help but hop around as he laughed. “You seriously tried robbing her?”

“In my defense, it wasn’t like I was targeting her. She just looked like someone who would carry some serious cash on her. Of course, I didn’t find out who she was until later…

A bruised and scuffed-up Jacqui laid upon the ground with her hands holding up her upper half, doing her best to serve as a barrier to a leafy bipedal insect Pokémon hiding behind her. Four police officers kept her cornered against the wall at the end of the alley where they managed to trap her. Rosanna quickly walked up to Jacqui, but calmly slowed down upon passing between the center two officers and leaving only open space between them.

Squatting down, Rosanna picked up the purse that laid near Jacqui’s fingertips, opened it, and produced an ivory-white handkerchief that she handed to her. Jacqui nervously wiped the dirt and small amount of blood on her cheeks, keeping her eyes on Rosanna the entire time.

“What’s your name?” Rosanna finally asked.

“She dropped all charges against me;” Jacqui further explained, “told me that I have a drive that I could use to help the world and took me in.”

“So a pickpocket gets caught and is rewarded with serving under one of the world’s most powerful women and getting to attend a massively exclusive school in Equestria.” Mikael’s straight-faced reply left Jacqui pursing her lips in anger. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

“Okay, Mr. High-and-Mighty, how’d you get into the school?”

“My aunt signed me up.” Mikael kept walking, not even bothering to glance at Jacqui.

“Your aunt?” Jacqui swung around Mikael from the back and resumed skating backwards, facing him once more. “So, what were your mom and dad too busy to do that or–”

“My mom’s dead and my dad’s a deadbeat piece of shit!”

The sharpness of Mikael’s response forced both Divvy and Jacqui to roll to a stop, the wind completely taken out of the latter’s sails. “Ahh… god dammit. Mikael, I’m sorry–”

“Whatever.” Mikael also stopped. “It’s not like you could just assume that my parents don’t happen to be in my picture. Anyways, I’m feeling a little too bummed out to skate anymore. I’m just going to head back and let Sam show me his classroom.”

Mikael turned on his heels and prepared to head back, only to find Jacqui riding up close and stopping with her face just short of his.

“Mikael, I meant it when I said I’m sorry. Look, I never knew who my dad was, and it’s just been me and my mom until Rosanna took me in. Yeah, I got by thieving before Rosanna began straightening me out, and trust me when I say that I don’t look back on that as fondly as you’d think. I shouldn’t have egged you on, and I don’t want this to be how we start the rest of our year together, so please… will you go skating with me?”

Mikael spent the next several moments looking into her eyes, reading any signs of genuine regret that he might see in them. With another swivel and walk forward, he resumed his assumed path to the skating rink.

“You’re a lousy pick-up artist, you know that?” Divvy rushed around Jacqui and rejoined its trainer.

Jacqui watched him continue walking before skating fast to catch up. “So, that’s a ‘yes?’”

Mikael, Jacqui, and Divvy both entered the rink, a very large building with a full-sized ice rink to Mikael’s left and a casual roller skate rink to his right, both of which had their lights off. In the back was a small snack bar that had not been stocked yet. Between all of them was a booth where roller skates, ice skates, and roller blades of all sizes were hung against the wall for rental. Hearing people enter, a bald middle-aged man with a goatee walked along behind the booth’s counter to see who had arrived.

“Hey, Jacqui!” he said with a pleasant rasp of familiarity.

“Hey Dave!” She greeted back. “I brought the new kid over to check the place out.”

“Cool! Great to see another skater. So, you prefer skates, blades, or perhaps you’re an–”

“Ice skater, yeah,” Mikael confirmed. “I think I’m going to be blading with her today, though.”

“Hey, no worries! What size skate are you?”

“8.”

“Give me a sec, I’ll get those to you.”

Dave disappeared behind the wall to look for Mikael’s skates. Meanwhile, Jacqui made her way over to the skating rink.

“I’m going to warm up for a bit if you don’t mind.” Jacqui seamlessly hopped down from the carpeted floors to the polished wooden one, already beginning to take her first of a few simple laps.

Mikael followed Jacqui on the floor, each and every attempt to speed up and overtake her met with an acceleration on Jacqui’s part. Despite his attempts, she very easily kept her distance and rounded each turn beautifully, never faltering. Divvy watched from the side as its trainer and his new friend had fun, not seeming to care that it wasn’t involved.

“Alright,” Jacqui chirped, impressed. “You can skate.”

“Yeah, it’s not on the ice,” Mikael retorted, “but it’s similar enough.”

“Okay. Are you a fan of Chaser Battles?”

“What?” Where’s this coming from?”

“Nowhere. Well, are you?”

“I… watch them time and again. Why?” Mikael then caught a glimpse of the three Poké Balls attached to Jacqui’s waist. “You aren’t seriously suggesting–”

“Hey, Dave!!” Jacqui skated up to the short wall closest to Dave’s booth. “You don’t mind if me and Mikael here have a quick Chaser Battle, do you?”

“Sure thing,” Dave said with surprising acceptance, “but if you break anything or mess my rink up, I’m telling Ms. Sixsmith.”

Jacqui stayed put and pondered the proposal just as Mikael began to skate by. “Yeah, that figures. Come on, let’s just keep–”

“Mikael,” Jacqui interrupted, spinning around to face him, “tell your Bronzong to get into the rink.”

“Wait, seriously? Didn’t he just say–”

“I’ll get in trouble if I make a big mess, so I guess we just won’t make a big mess now, won’t we?”

Mikael took the rest of his lap to mull over her proposal. Looking at Divvy, he contemplated the moves that it knew, wondering which ones would cause the least damage if any. With Jacqui waiting for his answer, Mikael stopped skating and waited until his momentum propelled him to her.

“Alright fine, let’s go,” he decided. “I’m actually curious to meet your team.”

“Yeah, that’s the spirit!” Jacqui removed the ball closest to the center of her waist and threw it up into the air. “Let’s go, Leavanny!”

With the ball coming open and shooting its energy into the ground, Mikael spun to a stop to watch as the energy formed into a green, leafy insect with a yellow face that featured a wide V-shaped smile and two small red eyes.

“Good thing your Bronzong has that Steel-typeness about it,” Jacqui taunted, “otherwise this wouldn’t last long.”

“Don’t worry,” Mikael said, pushing back to allow Jacqui to stand beside him in a starting position, “it won’t. Divvy!”

Swinging around the entrance to the rink, Divvy flew over and joined its trainer to prepare for battle. Jacqui’s Leavanny looked up at the large bell Pokémon, and it glanced over to look at it, its larger red eyes not seeming to phase the brave and stoic Bug-type Pokémon. With Mikael and Jacqui crouching slightly and twisting their back feet to prepare to push off, both Pokémon prepared to run and fly with their trainers.

“So first to take out the others’ Pokémon or overtake each other by a full lap wins, right?” Jacqui asked.

Mikael cocked his head. “Sounds about the right way to do it.”

“Alright then… 3… 2… 1… GO!”

Mikael and Jacqui pushed off, Mikael’s wide, forceful strides already putting himself well into the lead. As Leavanny sprinted with its arms running behind it, Divvy leaned forward and flew in the most aerodynamic way its body would allow. Mikael swung in front of Jacqui and wound the inner track in the same motion.

“Get ready, Divvy!” Mikael warned.

Once they hit the straightaway, Jacqui wasted no time in declaring an attack. “Leavanny, use X-Scissor!”

Leavanny rushed ahead and leapt forward with its arms tucked over its chest. Swinging them out, Leavanny struck Divvy against its back, pushing it down toward the floor. Divvy managed to regain its placement and took another turn with Mikael, who hugged the inside and refused to let Jacqui pass him.

“Nice job, Divvy!” he said to it before glancing back at Jacqui. “You’re not the only one who knows Bug-type moves. “Divvy, attack with Signal Beam!”

Divvy spun around and aimed its bottom at Leavanny. Striking its sides with its arms, a deep ring was heard as it materialized into a highly-repetitive wave of green rings.

“Leavanny,” Jacqui exclaimed, “dodge it and then attack with Throat Chop!”

Leavanny dove forward to try and avoid the attack from below, but Divvy kept its eyes on the agile insect, tilting down to change the course of its attack before Leavanny could avoid it. Leavanny was slammed into the ground and began to roll to a stop. Mikael, seeing the opportunity, quickened his pace, and Divvy followed suit by facing forward again and rocketing off to follow him.

“Leavanny!” Jacqui widened her stance and positioned herself to skate directly over her Pokémon, bending over and scooping it up in her arms. “Leavanny, are you alright?”

Her Leavanny hopped out of her grasp and swung around to hold onto her back with its arms and legs, its head appearing over her right shoulder. Jacqui looked back and nodded, happy to know her Pokémon’s vigor was as reliable as ever. In the same look, she saw as Mikael and Divvy rounded the turn behind them, both going all out to try and overtake her.

“Alright, Leavanny,” Jacqui exclaimed, “change of plans! Use String Shot on the wall!”

Once Jacqui reached the straightaway, Leavanny shot a thick strand of webbing from its mouth toward the wall in front of it, its trainer reaching her fingers around the strand as it continued retracting out. Once it hit the wall, Jacqui grabbed hold and tugged hard, greatly boosting her speed and managing to put herself half a lap’s distance between her, Mikael, and Divvy. Mikael panted as he tried to maintain his speeds, once again slowly gaining on her. Despite this, he knew he was too far away to declare another attack.

Upon coming out of the next turn, Jacqui pointed at the area inside the drawn outline of the rink’s track. “Another String Shot, a short one this time!”

With another shout, Leavanny produced another rope of web about a yard long, the front end of which hit its target exactly where Jacqui wanted it. Skating as fast as she could, Jacqui then kicked her legs forward and slid toward the web, grabbing it with her left hand. With her speed, she began to swing around the corner in a tight arc that only helped pick her momentum up. Mikael and Divvy spun around to watch this incredible display.

“One more!” On Jacqui’s call, Leavanny shot one last web into the ceiling, yanking its head with it still in its mouth.

Jacqui was pulled up as well, managing to get her skates back on the straightaway and continuing her pursuit of Mikael and Divvy, who she was now beginning to gain on.

“And what an amazing recovery by Jacqui ‘Stringshot’ Sweeney!” Jacqui followed her fake announcement with a series of hard breaths out of her open mouth, imitating a roaring crowd.

“Impressive…” Mikael muttered. “She’s in our sights now, Divvy! Attack Leavanny again with Signal Beam!”

Divvy aimed its bottom out again and shot another wave of warbling energy.

“Not this time!” Jacqui cried. “Now get ‘em with Throat Chop!”

Jacqui crossed her arms over her chest as Leavanny slung itself over her shoulder and planted its feet on her forearms. With a wild swing out of Jacqui’s arms, Leavanny was catapulted up and over Divvy’s attack while Jacqui squatted down and quickly coasted underneath it.

Before Divvy could swing up to shoot its attack at Leavanny, Jacqui’s Pokémon was already coming in too close, its arm raised over its head before slashing down, a black tail following its arm. Upon getting hit, Divvy immediately ended its attack and crashed down into the floor, leaving a sizable divot and a small explosion of splinters.

“Divvy!” Mikael shouted, swinging back around to tend to his Pokémon.

Dave, hearing Mikael’s voice, looked over to the rink and could already see the damages. “Dammit.” He then got his phone from his pocket and began to dial.

As Divvy slowly lifted itself off the floor, Mikael stood back up with it, trying to keep his eyes on both it and Jacqui and Leavanny as they began to take the corner behind them and threatened to overtake them. Divvy groaned as it tried to fully come to.

“It’s okay, bud,” he whispered, showing his back to it. “Let’s do the thing, just like we practiced at Lake Acuity!”

With a single nod, Divvy tilted itself so the top of his head was against the small of Mikael’s back. Jacqui squinted, the area just ahead of her opponents her only goal.

“Alright, Divvy! Zen Headbutt, now!”

With a burst of energy blasting from the bottom of its dome, Mikael was rocketed out toward the corner, leaning in and letting Divvy do all the work. Looking to his right, he was happy to not see Jacqui there ready to overtake him. Reaching the straightaway, he let his leg up and leapt, twisting 450° and landing to face Jacqui and Leavanny. Divvy continued moving, pushing into Mikael’s stomach as he grabbed on to maintain balance and support.

“I may be better on the ice,” Mikael shouted back, “but I can still hold my own on wood too! Divvy, finish Leavanny off with Gyro Ball!”

Mikael shoved off Divvy before spinning to his left and facing forward just as the next curve came, using his momentum to ride with it. With Divvy separated from its trainer, it swung its body in the opposite direction and torpedoed at Leavanny, spinning its body like a drill to the point that its body became a conical blur.

“Leavanny,” Jacqui shouted, “hit it with Throat Chop, quick!”

Leavanny ran straight at Divvy’s advance, leaping up and winding its arm back to strike. Calculating the timing, Leavanny swung with all its might, only for Divvy’s top to ram into Leavanny’s stomach before its own attack could connect. Jacqui slid to a stop as her Pokémon fell to the ground and limply rolled up to her, it’s eyes shut in exhaustion.

“Yeah!” Mikael bellowed, prompting Divvy to race along and rejoin him. “Awesome job, Divvy!”

Jacqui huffed out her nose before quickly pulling a second Poké Ball from her belt with her left hand and returning Leavanny to its ball with the right. As Mikael and Divvy rounded the turn behind her, she held her other Poké Ball up and let it open in her hand, the energy bending up and down onto her right wrist. Forming from the energy stream and hugging onto her arm was a small, fuzzy yellow spider with four proportionally large legs.

Once Mikael came onto the straightaway, Jacqui held her arm up at Divvy and let her next Pokémon shoot a large glob of web that opened up into a large, sparking net. Divvy was too shocked and caught off guard by the spider’s sudden attack to avoid it, letting the organic, electrified net wrap around it and shock it. Divvy fell lifelessly to the ground and rolled out at Jacqui, though its advance was quickly stopped by the web’s natural stickiness.

Mikael slid to a stop rushed to his Pokémon’s aid. “Divvy no!”

After giving her spider a congratulatory scratching of its back, Jacqui approached Mikael as he began trying to rip the web off of Divvy, only to tear his hands away upon it shocking him too.

In his pain, he directed his rage at Jacqui. “That was bullshit and you know it!”

Jacqui put up her hands, stunned by the accusation. “Hey now, I said the first to take out each others’ Pokémon, and it’s not like I haven’t been carrying around three Poké Balls since we left the campus. Plus, if your Bronzong managed to outlast that attack just long enough for both of you to pass me, I would have lost.”

“Well, how am I supposed to get him out of here now?!”

“Here. Take this.” Jacui dug into her jacket pocket and pulled out a Max Revive. “I mean, obviously it would be much easier for you to carry him around in a Poké Ball, but at least once he wakes up, he’ll be strong enough to break out of that.”

“There won’t be any need for that.” The voice of Twilight brought chills down both Mikael and Jacqui’s spines.

Looking over to the entrance to their rink, they not only saw the alicorn standing there, but Sam, Rosanna, and Dave too, the latter crossing his arms in frustration.

“Uh…” Jacqui glanced over and looked at the bits of damage that were caused from their battle. “I’ll help clean up.”

Twilight used her magic to reassemble and repair the bits of broken wood on the floor as Mikael used a flat-surface mop to polish over it, an awake-and-well Divvy floating and observing behind him. Dave sprinkled powdered sand onto the bits of web still stuck to the floor before Jacqui scraped them off with a plastic shovel.

Rosanna walked up to the rink’s manager with her hand over her heart. “Dave, my sincerest apologies for their mess. I’ll be certain to talk to her about this when we leave.”

“Eh, don’t worry about it, ma’am,” he sighed out. “They honestly didn’t cause that much damage, and they’re taking responsibility for it. Plus, not to encourage them or anything, but… they’re both really good chasers. They could easily become pros with skills like theirs.”

Jacqui looked away to smile, hoping not to be seen by her mother, who was busy looking away to contemplate his words. Meanwhile, Sam walked up to Mikael and crossed his arms, a gesture that Mikael appeared cowed by.

“So…” Sam’s frown morphed into a smile. “Did ya’ have fun?”

Mikael gasped, expecting that question the least.

“I mean,” Twilight said, “I wish you two could have found another way or another place to do that, but… it does seem that Dave has mostly forgiven you, and the damages are almost repaired.”

Mikael looked over to Jacqui, who gathered the pile of dusty web in a pair of rubber gloves and placed them into a plastic bucket. “I…” He then felt compelled to nod and smile. “Yeah, I actually did.”

Twilight also smiled. “Well, I’m glad that you were able to bond today. We definitely picked a good pair of kids to attend this school together.”

“And how,” Sam agreed.

Twilight rejoined Sam as they both stepped away from the rink. “Well, my work here is done. Once Dave okays your polish, if you could help Jacqui with the rest…”

Mikael flicked a salute at her from his forehead. “You got it.”

As Sam and Twilight walked away, Dave examined the floor that Jacqui cleaned, seeing little else other than a loose scattering of sand and a few specks of web that could easily be mopped off.

“Hey, Ms. Sixsmith,” Dave called to her, “if you want, you and the kids can get out of here. I should be able to take care of the rest.”

“Are you certain?” she replied. “I certainly don’t want them to feel like they’re–”

“They did a fine job, ma’am. Besides, what good am I if I can’t keep my own rink clean?”

Rosanna breathed a sigh of reluctance, her sense of mercy overcoming her. “Jacqui, Mikael. You’re free to go. Just please no more Chaser Battles in here again.”

“Yes, ma’am,” Jacqui said with a bow.

“Very good. You two have a good rest of your day.”

Rosanna walked to the exit that Sam and Twilight were both stepping out of. As Jacqui walked off the rink, patting the sand clinging to her off onto the carpet, Mikael walked over to Dave and handed him the mop to let him finish touching the rink up. As he stepped onto the carpet to join Jacqui, Divvy sliding up behind him, she began to make for the exit herself, prompting both of them to follow.

“You know?” she inquired. “Dave’s right. We are really good chasers. You did really good yourself, man. That thing you did with Divvy’s headbutt was some really crazy stuff.”

“You know that if it was a one-on-one,” Mikael responded, “I would have totally won that battle.”

“Well, good thing for you is that winners buy the losers lunch.”

Mikael opened his mouth to object, but decided to keep it closed and brush her words off with a shrug. “I could eat.”

Both of them pushed the doors to the exit open, going from the cool, air-conditioned interior and into the harsh summer sunlight outside.

Comments

[moviemaster8510]

10327768 How's that for a Chaser Battle?

[Mlpfan2]

Good story