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The desert sand was warm as Jimmy raced across it in his sandals, side by side with Ludicolo, his partner.
Months of training a stubborn Lotad and Lombre, side by side with his newer Pokémon, had lead them back to the desert. Back to Pixandria.
As Jimmy made his way over the dunes, he was careful to avoid the holes left by Sandiles and Watchogs. You could never be sure how recent they were and Jimmy had learned young not to mess with burrows.
He still had a small scar across his nose from when he'd stuck his head in a burrow and gotten bitten by a Trapinch.
At the start of his journey, he'd made this trip before, all the way out to the desert oasis. Pixl's Cufant had absolutely destroyed Lotad and Surskit. In two attacks each. The lessons that day had been simple; do not fight someone like the Copper King with brute force alone unless you want a loosing battle. Skill and preparation were required. And more than two unevolved Pokémon.
Now, as he crested the last dune and saw the anthill in the noonday light, he was returning for a rematch.
Pixandria was bustling as he reached the city. Civilians with their partners of all sorts flooded the berry market. Children raced along with more local companions, like Chimecho, Sandshrew and Rockruff. "Wild" Pokémon residents, protected in local gardens and covered terraces, roamed freely. A few local wanderers stayed straddled on the backs of their Mudsdales, Cyclisars or Gogoats as they visited the civilization.
Jimmy marveled at it all. His home kingdom was working on making sustainable decisions to create an area for people and Pokémon to thrive together. Pixandria had mastered it long ago. Battles and training were not a sport as they were in other nations, they were simple pieces of culture. Training was done alongside Pokémon, strengthening both trainer and companion at once. Anyone could compete with wild Pokémon, resting assured that the Roaming Healers were always just around the corner and there would be no hard feelings.
He passed the mighty Vigil on his way towards the palace in silence, as he knew he should. The Vigil was carved with runes and the stonework around depicted some intricate unknown Pokémon, a legend, tied to death and souls. The candles around tracked souls of the region, souls of those lost. When a candle was magically snuffed, this legend had placed it in another vessel, whether on this plane or on another.
The legend had never manifested beyond selecting a ruler, and even then it was not them in truth but their following Pokémon.
Pixl had been chosen a long time ago at this point.
Speaking of, Jimmy didn't have to enter the palace to find him, he was perched beside the palace on the back of his mighty Copperagjah, fixing up cracks in the decorative sandstone lining the west wing of the palace.
Of course, the Copper King maintained his own palace, that was tradition. If surplus space was going to waste or crumbling or surplus food was spoiling, you were keeping too much. Such a simple principle of this city, it kept everyone looking out for each other.
As soon as Pixl noticed Jimmy, he let himself down to the sand.
"Welcome back, Codfather." he started with a smile, "It seems things have changed."
"They absolutely have!" Jimmy replied, "Wait, when did Cufant evolve?"
"Quite some time ago. He was on the verge when you last met him."
Copperajah, upon being mentioned, trotted over. Jimmy placed a hand gently on his trunk, feeling the shimmering patina. Such an interesting texture, teals and greens tracing patterns of veins.
"So." Pixl continued, heading back towards the door of his palace, "What brings you back?"
"A challenge," Jimmy replied.
"A....rematch?"
Pixl wore the Copper King's smile, the sign of a taunt. The Copper King was not a man who take everything seriously. He knew his strength was more than his reputation gave him, he knew he was underestimated. He made sure those who underestimated him did not make the same mistake twice.
The bitter called him mischievous. The angry called him manipulative. His friends knew him as creative and cunning. Jimmy knew him as someone who laughs as he teaches a lesson.
Sometimes the lesson was being beaten into the ground, but still, it was a lesson.
Jimmy had been bitter the first time, in shock from defeat, but he'd gotten over himself quickly, realizing he could learn from his humiliating loss.
"A rematch." Jimmy said decidedly, fully confident in his power and in his team.
"Alright." Pixl conceded, "You know where the battle grounds are, lead the way."
*
Jimmy couldn't keep himself from cheering as Lampent collapsed under Ludicolo's Hydro Pump. Four down! And Pixl had already lost his Copperajah, his ace. Whatever he had left, Ludicolo could take out now that he was ready to charge and was sure to attack first.
It had been a close race. Copperajah had beaten Muk but fainted from poison. Surskit had made honey out of Combee. Relicanth set up the perfect revenge for Surskit, before joining her in defeat from Flygon. Ludicolo finished Flygon after getting healed up and had absolutely smoked Lampent.
So as long as Pixl’s last partner couldn't take a hit, Ludicolo would pull through and win!
Pixl smiled, hand finding his last companion. He could always just revive Copperajah, he had a revive on him.
But to win this way would me more entertaining.
"Ready to get crushed?" Jimmy called, Ludicolo laughing along before continuing to dance to Pixl’s arena music.
"Ready to get humiliated?" Pixl asked in return. He held up the last Poké Ball at his disposal.
"Alright, little one." Pixl whispered where Jimmy couldn't hear it, "I have faith in you, I hope you have faith in me. Come show him your spark."
The ball split open as he clicked the button. Jimmy stared and squinted, unable to see the Pokémon in Pixl's cupped palms.
Pixl set down the little yellow ball of fuzz, smiling.
Jimmy looked at him, confused, alarmed and.....amused all at the same time.
"Is....is that a Joltik?" Jimmy asked, trying not to laugh.
"He is a Joltik, yes." Pixl replied calmly.
".....you're kidding, right?" Jimmy asked, "a Joltik?"
"Don't underestimate him." Pixl scolded gently, "his size is no tell of his power."
"You might as well just concede here, but alright!" Jimmy laughed, "Ludicolo, use-"
"Joltik, Thunderwave." Pixl ordered. Thin ribbons of electricity pulsed out as Joltik screeched. Ludicolo covered his ears and waited, fur standing on end and bristling with sparks. Paralysis.
"HOW?!?!?" Jimmy demanded, "How did you-"
"He's a timid little thing, he wants to get this battle over and done with." Pixl explained.
"Ludicolo, Hydro Pump!" Jimmy tried. Ludicolo struggled, but paralysis kept his power suppressed.
"Bug Buzz, Joltik, dont let him get any opening." Pixl countered.
Joltik leapt up and bit Ludicolo on the nose. Jimmy tried to get his head together. Ludicolo couldn't take too many hits and he didn't have any healing items left.
"Ludicolo, you can do this!" Jimmy tried, "Focus Blast!"
Joltik tried to get out of the way in time, but didn't quite leave the attacks range.
Pixl laughed. He actually laughed. Ludicolo was too tired for Focus Blast again and he couldn't use Hydro Pump without being freed from paralysis.
"Joltik, get your revenge. Giga Drain!" He called. Joltik readied himself and jumped again.
No. Not like this! Jimmy knew he was being cornered.
"Return the favor! Giga Drain!" He tried.
The webs from Joltik merged with the vines from Ludicolo. A power struggle ensued, both trying to leech from each other.
Jimmy held his breath. Pixl got down to Joltik's level, not a moment to spare.
"Alright, bud." He started, gently stroking Joltik's fur to give him a bristle of static, "that draining you're feeling? You gotta make him feel that too."
Joltik squeaked in a struggling reply.
"You can do it, you gotta remember what you are." Pixl continued, "You're a good little thief and it's going to feel so good when you win out in this, okay?"
Joltik doubled down on his Giga Drain, tiny eyes squinting.
"Thats it! Pull with all you got!"
Jimmy watched, flabbergasted as Joltik pulled on the drain harder and harder until eventually....
Ludicolo collapsed on the stones of the battle ground as Joltik won out the struggle.
Pixl scooped up his champion little bug in delight, holding him up into the bright sun.
"I told you you could do it!!!" He cheered. Joltik hopped foot to foot, gloating as best as a little bug could.
Jimmy returned Ludicolo to his ball, defeated but smiling amidst his confusion.
"I dont understand." Jimmy said, approaching Pixl, "He's just a little guy, how did he.....how did he do that?"
"He's got a lot of heart for just a little guy." Pixl replied, setting Joltik on his shoulder.
"I'll say." Jimmy replied, "What are you feeding him, he's insane!"
"Motivational praise." Pixl said, "and Lum Berries."
"Praise helps?" Jimmy asked, "like...battlewize?"
"Praise works for the timid. Other personalities need other kinds of motivation. You'll figure them all out with practice." Pixl continued, "you have to make use of how your pokemon approaches a challenge."
Jimmy thought for a moment before smiling. He’d never given much thought to the nature of his Pokémon before.
"Thanks for the fight, Pix." Jimmy said.
"Any time." Pixl replied, "I assume you'll be back stronger soon?"
"Of course I will!" Jimmy replied, "some day, victory will be mine!"
"I look forward to it!" Pixl replied. Joltik chirped in agreement.
Jimmy turned and heades out of the stadium. Pixl watched him go.
Some day, Jimmy would be ready for Pixl’s absolute power.
That day was not today.