It's early when I awaken. Cerise is still asleep. Good. I didn't finish washing up. I go to the bathroom and wash my hands. I check my face to be safe. I'm clean. Excellent. I walk down out of the room. Jasper is there. His black hair is unkempt like his unfitting clothes.

"Good morning Sienna." He hesitates on my name, obviously unsure of it.

"Good morning Jasper. How are you today?"

He looks down. "Um, I'm fine. How are you?"

"I'm doing well. Thank you for asking." The boy is shifting uncomfortably. What is wrong with him?

"I-I'm gonna go wake up Peridot." He walks away quickly and goes into the room him and Peridot shared. I follow him. I don't believe Peridot is asleep.

I press my head to the door. I was right. Peridot is awake.

"Perry, that girl is creepy!" That was Jasper's young voice. I guess Perry is Peridot. I don't like that. Peridot is a beautiful name. It shouldn't be shortened.

"Jazz, you just met her," Peridot replies. "You can't judge her yet. Maybe she's just awkward around new people."

"She sounds like a dead person! Plus, she's always smiling. It's too early to be smiling! Especially when your voice sounds boring."

I hear someone get up from a bed. I think it's Peridot since he's the one to talk next. "So you noticed that too?"

"What?"

"That she sounds like she's permanently bored."

"Well yeah. It's kind of hard to ignore."

Hmm... So my voice. This could be a problem. Is my acting not good enough? But I'm renowned for my acting skills. They're just kids, though. They don't know anything. But... if they notice it, won't Cerise, Malachi, and Russet notice. Too bad. They'll just have to deal with it.

I'm done listening. They've changed the topic now and it's getting quite boring. I walk down to where breakfast is being served. All I get is toast. No sense in eating too much in the morning. I look outside to a large field in the back. That must be where trainers battle. Russet is there with a Azumarill and Skiddo. I go out to him.

"Good morning Sienna," he greets.

"Good morning Russet. Are you training for a gym battle." I ask gym battle specifically since the gym leader of Cyllage City is rock type and considering his Pokemon...

"Not my own," he responds. "These are Cerise's Pokemon. She's the gym battle person. I'm just getting them ready for the battle since she's sleep." He motions for me to come closer which I do.

"This is Vandy and Setter," he says pointing to the Azumarill and Skiddo respectively.

I wave at them. "Russet, you don't do gym battles?"

"Nu-uh. I'm training to be a coach."

"Does Malachi battle in gyms?"

"No. He's training to be a Pokemon field scientist."

Cerise comes outside fully dressed in a skirt and tank top. "Thanks Russ," she yells.

"No problem," he yells back. "Are ya ready?"

"Yup! Vandy, Setter! Let's go." The two Pokemon cheer and go after their trainer. I look at Russet. His face tells the story.

"She doesn't know where the gym is, does she?"

"She has no clue." He's smiling. "Come on. We can still catch her. The others should be awake by now."

"Ready to have your ass handed to you?"

I turn to the four boys. "She's kind of rude, don't you think."

"That's how she is when battling," Malachi's baritone voice responds. "She becomes an almost completely different person. Note the almost."

"That's no way for a young lady to talk," the gym leader, Grant, says calmly. I've never liked that man, or gym leaders in general..

"Well it's true," Cerise responds.

Grant shakes his head. "Amaura! Let's go." He sends out the tundra Pokemon.

"Then that means...Vandy, it's showtime!" She sends out the small blue mouse.

"First move is yours," Grant says.

"Thanks, but I was gonna take it anyway. Vandy, use Bubble Beam!" Vandy sends a wave of bubbles towards Amaura which lands a perfect hit.

"Amaura, Thunder Wave!" Yellow sparks come from the sails on its head and wrap around Vandy. "Now use Rock Tomb!" Amaura flashes white and a ring of rocks appear above Vandy.

"Vandy, dodge!" But everyone knows it isn't going to be able to. The paralysis from Thunder Wave slowed it down too much.

"Vandy! Are you alright," Cerise calls. The Pokemon nods with a pained expression. "Okay, boy! Use Defense Curl!" Vandy curls into a ball and a white outline covers him.

"She probably should have used that earlier," Malachi says. "It would've made a lot more sense."

"Amaura use Rock Tomb again!" Rocks crash down hard on Vandy but he's not as hurt as before.

"Alright," Cerise says nervously, "Use Bubble Beam."

"Amaura, freeze them with Aurora Beam!" A colorful trail of light comes from Amaura's mouth and hits the bubbles, freezing them in place."

"What the hell! Is that legal?!"

Russet sighs. "She's gonna lose. If he knocks out Vandy, her only other effective Pokemon will be Setter, and he has a type disadvantage." He placed a hand on his chin.

"What if she combines two attacks," I say.

"Combine two, huh?" He thinks for a minute. "I got it! Cerise, combine Aqua Tail and Tail Whip!"

"Huh? And what will that do," she asks.

"In theory," Russet answers, "It should lower Amaura's defense and deal a super effective hit."

Cerise looks unsure. "Mmm... Well, I guess it's worth a shot."

Malachi speaks. "If this doesn't work, it's over. Her other Pokemon all have a type disadvantage."

"But doesn't mean she can't win," Peridot says. "A type disadvantage isn't the end."

"For most, but in her case, it is. Her Skiddo isn't fast enough. Her Braixen and Fletchinder don't know any even have semi-effective moves. And her Axew is under-trained. If Azumarill doesn't knock out Amaura, then she's done."

I find two things strange. Malachi doesn't refer to her Pokemon by their nicknames and Cerise waits for him to stop taking before she calls the attack. I guess it was so Vandy could hear the seriousness of the situation.

"Vandy," she says, "This is our last chance. Combine Aqua Tail and Tail Whip! Full power!"

Vandy's tail glows white and begins to shake back and forth. It is then surrounded by a whirlpool of water. Vandy jumps in the air, falling towards Amaura.

"Amaura, Aurora Beam," Grant calls. The multicolored beam of light forms and torpedoes toward Vandy's tail...

"I don't deserve this badge," Cerise says as we walk from the gym.

"Yes you do," Russet says. I honestly don't think she does.

"Russ," Cerise says, "I lost the battle and the reason he gave me the badge was because of the attack you came up with!" Actually, I came up with it.

"But you could've ignored me," Russet offers. "Besides, it was your training that got Vandy strong enough to even do that attack."

"Whatever," she says putting the badge in her purse. "There's a more important matter to attend to. Sienna, are you joining our group or what?"

"If you would let me, I would love to join." Of course they'll let me. Why else would she ask?

"Course we'll let ya," Russet says with a smile. "Then I can catch you that Pokemon I promised you."

"Thank you Russet," I say with an equally as bright smile. I think about my 'to do' list. I came up with it the day before yesterday while trapped in my room. It is simple enough.

Step One: Escape that woman's house. Check

Step Two: Find a way to leave town. Check.

Step Three: Make sure no one reports me missing. With only a little trouble, check.

Step Four: Leave. Almost check. We're still here, but on our way to Menhir Trail.

Well, it seems that there's only one step left.

Step Five: Revenge