Chapter Text
Erika had always considered herself to be a calm and patient person. This belief, however, was severely tested by a newly caught Leafeon. Erika admits it, that Leafeon is special in every way: an expert said that her physical attack and defense stats are excellent; she is not ill and on top of that she is shiny (although the difference is… a little invisible).
But Leafeon is also problematic: she doesn't listen to Erika's orders and refuses to fight. It's certainly not a problem of spirit: Erika has repeatedly caught her scratching various parts of the gym to sharpen her claws and tail.
Erika may be twelve, a bit young to be a Gym Leader, but the League said she’s very capable, so she should be all right, shouldn’t she? Well, that Leafeon would apparently have something to say about that.
Erika sighs, snapping out of her thoughts. Gloom tugs at her kimono sleeve in an attempt to comfort her, while Vileplume mutters something, worried.
«It’s all right. Leafeon and me will surely find a way to become friends!»
«Gloo…» says her Pokémon.
«I mean it, really.»
She looks at the Leafeon, dozing on one of the arches covered with flowering plants. The sunlight illuminates her fur and makes her leaves shine.
A light shadow falls on Erika's eyes, and she looks down. «We'll become friends, I'm sure of it.»
As Celadon City's Gym Leader, Erika always knows everything about her city. Still, the news of the arrival of a Pokémon Breeder specialized in Eeveelutions seems almost like a godsend. Perhaps she has some solutions to her problem!
Leaving the Gym in the hands of her helpers, Erika heads to the little house outside Celadon City. The air is cool and crisp, with a light breeze softening the warm sun; a perfect day for Grass-types. Erika pulls Leafeon out of her Poké Ball. The Pokémon doesn't even look at her, simply walking beside her. Much better than the earliest days though, when Leafeon would leap at her and scratch her face.
«I'll take you to a fantastic place. There will be more Eeveelutions, so you can have some fun. I just need to talk to the caretaker», Erika explains.
«Leaf leaf», replies Leafeon, already annoyed.
«Don’t say that! I’m sure you’ll have fun.»
«Leafeon», the Pokémon rolls her eyes.
A silence falls, not exactly awkward but certainly not pleasant. Erika bites the inside of her cheek. She hopes this Pokémon Breeder can help her bond with Leafeon.
They arrive in front of the little house. The structure is medium-sized and rustic in style, but Erika can see a huge garden, full of flowers and well-kept. How big can it be? It looks like several acres, the fence disappearing into the thick trees. Whoever this Pokémon Breeder is, she must be very skilled and renowned if she can afford this.
Erika rings the doorbell. «I'll go!» says a voice, then a girl about her age opens the door. She has neck-length brown hair and eyes the same color. She wears a short green dress with gray shorts underneath, plus brown gloves. On her head is a green and brown hat.
«You must be Erika, the Gym Leader», she says. «I'm Canon. If you come in, I'll make you some tea and we can discuss your Pokémon if needed.»
«That would be delightful. Thank you.»
Canon enters the house and Erika follows, with Leafeon at her side. The two girls and the Pokémon reach a small living room, with a warm red carpet, a coffee table, and some armchairs. «You can sit wherever you like», Canon says, «just be careful with that armchair, Kiona is sleeping.»
Erika looks at the armchair, where a Glaceon is peacefully sleeping. His entire body radiates health: there is the right balance between fat and muscle, his fur is well-groomed and in the sun it glistens like snow.
«Is there anything you needed my help with?» Canon asks, preparing tea. «I took a quick look and your Leafeon is fine.»
Leafeon, for her part, went to sniff Kiona. Shortly after, she settled on the armrest of the chair Erika was sitting on. Erika smiles at her, but Leafeon doesn’t answer.
«The problem is not Leafeon herself, but our bond», Erika explains. «I caught her a while ago, and I never managed to battle with her. She never listens to my orders.»
Canon hums. «I have an idea.»
She pours the steaming tea into two teacups and heads into the living room. She hands one to Erika and keeps the other. «Let’s have a battle. You said that Leafeon doesn’t listen, right? Well, I think battling is the exact solution.»
«B-but she doesn’t listen to anything I say. How am I supposed to battle with her?»
Canon smiles and drinks some tea. «Say, how many strong Trainers have you met lately?»
Erika thinks. «Not many… actually, not at all. They usually come to me after battling Surge.»
«So you’re the “fourth” usually, right?»
«Yes, I am.»
«That is exactly our problem. Leafeon wants a great battle, something that gives her the thrill. The Trainers who usually come probably don't meet this silent requirement. So, we’ll have a battle.»
«It… sounds so easy…» says Erika, a bit surprised. «Are you sure it will work?»
Canon drinks again, then she shrugs her shoulders. «This is a hypothesis. I have many reasons to believe this is the right one, though.»
Erika turns to Leafeon. «Do you want to battle? With me?»
Leafeon looks at her, her expression unreadable.
After Erika and Canon finish their tea, the three head out of the house. Before the actual pasture begins, there's a small field suitable for Pokémon battles. The ground is freshly laid dirt. It seems Canon had anticipated her arrival.
Canon and Erika take their places at opposite ends of the field.
«This is an unofficial Pokémon battle», Canon declares. «The match ends when one of the two Pokémon is no longer able to battle.»
«Leafeon, I choose you!» exclaims Erika. Leafeon follows the order reluctantly, already preparing to take a nap in the middle of the field.
«Use all your strategies, Erika, because I'm going to give you a real hard time!» Canon exclaims. «Mindsun, I choose you!»
An Espeon pops out of the Poké Ball and lands gracefully on the field. This Pokémon is also well-groomed. His body is slender, and his sensitive fur is a deep lilac. His red gemstone pulses with psychic energy.
«You can have the first move», says Erika, already knowing that Leafeon won’t listen.
«Very well, then! Mindsun, use Shadow Ball!»
«EESSPEE-OON!» The red orb pulses with black energy, then a huge, dark purple sphere forms. Shadow Ball is launched with force and speed. Leafeon doesn't move in surprise and finds herself hurled away.
«Leaf!» she exclaims, getting back to her feet.
«Leafeon, use Swords Dance!» instructs Erika and, surprisingly, Leafeon follows the request. The Pokémon waves her sharp tail left and right, then lets out a battle cry. Her attack stat has been raised a lot.
«Excellent! Mindsun, another Shadow Ball!»
«Use Leaf Blade to send it back!»
«FEOON!» Leafeon’s tail becomes of an intense green. She jumps in the air and hits the Ball with her tail. The trajectory reverses and now Shadow Ball is headed towards Mindsun.
Without a word from his Trainer, Mindsun rolls on the ground and dodges easily his own attack.
«We are not finished! Leafeon, Dig!» Erika exclaims with joy. It’s the first time she’s really battling with this Pokémon, and it is so fun!
Leafeon digs and disappears under the ground. She’s nowhere to be seen.
Canon smiles without telling Mindsun anything. The ground under Mindsun trembles and Leafeon erupts from it, landing a powerful blow. But…
«Mindsun, use Flash!»
Leafeon has a second to realize what’s happening, so does Erika, and a blinding light hits her straight in the eyes. Leafeon closes them instinctively. She shakes her head a couple of times, then opens her eyes again. The damage is done: evasiveness has fell dramatically.
«Let’s end this with Psychic!» exclaims Canon with a wave of her hand.
Purple energy surrounds Leafeon and Mindsun start to beat her on the ground.
With a plan forming in her mind, Erika exclaims: «Leafeon! Leaf Blade to the ground!»
A bit confused, the Leafeon does as told. The second she clashes again against the hard field, her tail gets stuck in a crack in the ground. Mindsun, not expecting it, lets go of his psychic control on Leafeon.
«This is our occasion! Leafeon, use Dig again!» a big smile paints Erika’s face. Leafeon follows the orders and digs deeply. «Now, Leaf Blade again!»
Before Canon can say anything, the ground begins to break up. Between huge cracks and flashes of green, Mindsun finds himself to not have a solid base.
Then suddenly, Leafeon erupts again from the crumbled ground and lands a blow.
«Mindsun, Psychic!»
«Leafeon, Detect!»
An orange energy shield surrounds Leafeon, keeping her safe from Mindsun's psychic attack.
«A Shiny with an Egg move? Incredible luck, I see», says Canon. Then she raises her hands. «I declare this match finished. Excellent work from both parties.»
Erika is taken aback for a moment. «But... no Pokémon are down yet», she says.
«I saw everything I needed to see. Why don’t we leave the Pokémon to rest while we talk a bit?»
While Mindsun and Leafeon rest outside in the sun, with Espeon taking the other Pokémon to meet the Eevees and Eeveelutions kept on the estate, Erika and Canon have a talk.
«I must say, your Pokémon is exceptionally well-kept. It’s not rare to have any kind of Trainer unprepared to an evolved Pokémon’s needs. This means that often Trainers do not treat their Eeveelutions so well. It may not be voluntary, but it’s present. You, however? Everything about your Leafeon radiates health.»
Erika feels herself blushing. It’s the first time somebody complimented her this way! It feels warm and soft, like getting hugged by a cloud internally.
«About your problem», continues Canon, «It’s quite simple. You could organize some days where you unleash your strongest Pokémons. I’ve seen it being done by Fantine in Sinnoh. She organizes big days where she battles and promotes her activity. You’re young, but talented, and this method could make the world see your real strength.»
«…This is not a bad idea…» murmurs Erika. «After all, Vileplume wants to fight someone strong…»
«Excellent, then! We can organize a first trial day together and see how it goes!»
«I can promote my perfumes», Erika thinks aloud. «I've always wanted to make them with Pokémon. Perfumers often use Pokémon unethically, which isn't right! Only with joy and care can a Pokémon release its true fragrance!»
«That’s what I like to hear. Well then, shall we start the preparations?»
Erika nods, smiling.