Sienna's P.O.V.

It's been two days since they got the news of Malachi's death. As if they weren't already joined at the hip, Jasper and Peridot are now even more inseparable. It's near about impossible to not see those two side by side. Jasper has been pretty talkative lately, like he's been trying to cheer everyone up. I know Peridot has been making a lot more calls to his mother and father than before. I had only seen him do it maybe once a day before, but now out happens about every five or so hours. I learned that Malicai's funeral is being held in Couriway in three days. I wonder why there...

Cerise and Russet have been training non-stop. Cerise seems very distracted. Normally when she's training, she's unbelievably focused. Now she seems like she doesn't even want to be there. Russet on the other hand has been very focused and extremely touchy. It's impossible to talk to him without having him yell at you. The only person he seems to show any patience for is Cerise.

Right now I'm sitting in the lobby waiting on Cerise and Russet. Cerise has decided to challenge the gym today so we can make it to Couriway in time for the funeral. I don't think she's ready. She's too distracted.

Do I feel bad? Not exactly. Yes, I've caused these kids a lot of heartache, but I'd probably be dead if I hadn't killed Malachi. Because that's what happened. He tried to kill me. I know he did.

I rub the top of Averie's head as we wait, right on the soft spot in the middle. I've found that she likes it best when I pet her there.

"Hey Sienna," Cerise says. She sounds tired and drained. "Ready to go?"

"Yeah," I say. "Where's Russet?"

"Oh, he's not coming," she says dejectedly. "He and Jasper are at it again. It's a lot more serious this time."

"Why are those two always fighting," I ask while standing up to leave. "Especially at a time like this" Cerise shrugs her shoulders, but she doesn't answer. That's very strange of her.

It doesn't take us long to reach the gym. The inside resembles a living room. There's a fireplace on the wall opposite of us with a free books and what looks like a multicolored trophy on top. On either side of the fireplace are wooden shelves, each with something different on top. The walks are filled with pictures of constellations and Pokémon. There are a lot more than I remember.

On the adjacent walks are windows with deep purple curtains, complementing the yellow walls very nicely. The floor looks tobe made of the same stone as the streets outside. In the center of the floor is a blue and yellow ornate rug. The only thing that lets you knew it isn't a house are the glowing gym statutes on either side of the rug.

"Where are we supposed to go," Cerise asks. I guess it wouldn't be very obvious to someone who hasn't been here before.

"Follow me," I say. I lead her to the Center of the rug and step in the middle of the Pokéball emblem . There's a quick flash of light and the entire room seems to disassemble. When the walls and floors disappear, the two of us are standing in an illusion of space. The sky seems to be slowly rotating and every few seconds, a sparkling comet flies by. There are a few flossing asteroids here and there and a constellation or two with the 'stars' connected by lines. Below us appears to be a glowing ball of blue and white energy. I've always thought that this was the most beautiful gym.

"I don't suppose you know how to get to the gym leader," Cerise says as more of a question. I shake my head. While I was here more often than at the Couramine Gym, I was always told to stay right where I was. No playing or anything.

"I guess we just have to figure it out then," she says blandly. She doesn't sound too happy about me not knowing. The two of us set of on the maze of neon platforms, each step we take making a sound that I can only think of as shimmering. We continue on silently, occasionally having to retrace our steps because of a dead end. I say it takes us twenty minutes, give or take five, before we reach Olympia. She's standing in the middle of a circular platform resembling a rotating galaxy. Her eyes widen upon seeing me.

"Sienna Glaçon," she says in her rhythmic voice. "What brings you to Anistar? How did you get here?" She doesn't sound too pleased. I understand why. She had never liked me.

"I walked," I say, trying hard not to sound sarcastic. "And I'm here because she's a trainer challenging gyms." Olympia doesn't stop with the questions.

"Does your grandad know? Are you allowed to do this? Should I have him called?" I can imagine the look on my face when she asked the last question. Horror. Hatred. Something else that starts with 'h'. Well, except for happiness. Anything but happiness.

"That's not necessary," I say. "Calling him that is. And my aunt didn't stop me from going on this journey. Besides, I'll see him in a few days." That last part is a bit of a stretch.

Olympia doesn't look too convinced, but she also seems irritated by my presence. "I will not call him as long as you swear to leave immediately." I feel like that's a lie. But... I'd rather not take my chances. I agree to her terms. "I suppose it is settled then. We shall begin the battle right now." She looks to Cerise for confirmation. Cerise pushes a piece platinum blonde from her face, the pink is slowly stating to fade, and steps into battle position.

"This battle will be," Olympia begins, "three on three. Is this fine with you?" Cerise nods. "Then let's begin." Olympia sends out a Meowstic.

Cerise stands still for a minute before choosing her Pokémon. "Ryster, I choose you." Out pops an Accelgor. This must be the one she traded with Russet.

"Meowstic, Fake Out."

"Um... use Me First." Why would she use Me First? Why would she use anything at all? Cerise realizes this as Meowstic's paws clamp around Ryster's body. Cerise shakes her head and calls another attack.

"Ryster, use Bug Buzz." The two pieces of blue cloth billowing behind his body start to run together and somehow create piercing red soundwaves. Meowstic covers her ears.

"Calm Mind!" Meowstic closes her eyes and her body starts to glow with a whitish outline. She seems to forget that Bug Buzz is even happening. "Now use Psychic!" Meowstic opens her eyes that are now glowing bright blue. A blue the same color as her eyes surrounds Ryster and he is lifted into the air. The blue glows brighter and he is slammed into the ground. Cerise doesn't seem to react. Her eyes are downcast and she's tapping her foot quickly. She's very distracted.

"Mega Drain," she says uneasily, but she takes too long. Olympia has already called Shadow Ball. The sphere of darkness hits Ryster, tossing him across the battlefield. Ryster is still flying when Olympia calls one more attack: Psychic. The blue outline appears over Cerise's Accelgor and he is slammed one more time into the floor. The Bug type Pokémon struggles to his feet, or whatever it is he stands on, and looks back to Cerise. She sighs sadly as she tries to think of an attack. Olympia doesn't wait for her.

"Meowstic-"

"Olympia, wait!" The three of us turn to the voice. On the platform next to the is a girl. She looks older that us, about sixteen, with curly dark blonde hair and large blue eyes. She's wearing a shirt the color of Peridot's eyes and some khaki pants. She staring unhappily at Olympia.

"Ms. Mewn," Olympia says to the girl. "What is it? Why are you interrupting? I hope it's major."

"It is major, Ms. Étoile," the girl says to Olympia. "You're so distracted by your dislike of that girl right there-" She points to me. "-that you can't see that the blonde haired one is suffering." The girl hops onto the platform we're on and walks over to Cerise and I. "Cerise is going through a lot of heartache right now."

Cerise looks at the girl. "What are you, psychic?" The girl smiles brightly.

"That's what they call me, Pyschic! You can call me that too!" Cerise smiles softly at Pyschic. "I have an idea, Cerise. How about I battle for you?"

"I couldn't ask you to do that."

"Sure you can," Psychic says. "I don't mind. Besides, I'm benefiting from this too!" Psychic turns to Olympia. "Ms. Étoile, if I beat you in four on four, will you let go of my debt and give me and Cerise a badge?" Olympia considers this. First she shrugs her shoulders, then after a while she nods. Psychic's eyes light up.

"Awesome," she exclaims. "Cerise, call back your Pokémon; I'll take it from here!" Cerise returns Ryster to his Pokéball. "Thanks kid. Now, Squishy, come on out!" She tosses a Pokéball and out comes a female Goodra. Olympia leaves her Meowstic out. "Squishy, use Rain Dance followed by Muddy Water!" Her Goodra, Squishy, spins in a quick circle almost clumsily. That's when there's a flash of lightning and rain starts to fall. Afterwards, she raises her hands and a large wave of murky water rises and rushes towards Meowstic.

"Meowstic, Psychic on the Muddy Water." Meowstic's eyes one again glow baby blue. The same happens to the water attack, causing it to stop in its tracks. "Now, direct it towards Goodra." The blue light around the attack grew brighter and its course reversed.

"Squishy, send it back with Aqua Tail." Squishy spins her tail in a circle, creating a whirlpool of water. Just as the wave of brown water is about to crash over her, she sends it flying back towards Meowstic. Combined with the force of Aqua Tail and the effects of Rain Dance, Muddy Water's power is increased tenfold. It's a little bit overkill if you ask me. Meowstic cries out. When the water dissipates, she's left coughing and sputtering.

"Great job Squishy," Psychic says. "Now use Dragon Pulse!" Squishy puts her hands together then slowly pulls them apart. As she, does a blue ball of energy begins to take form.

"Meowstic, meet it with Shadow Ball." Meowstic is still, however, trying to catch her breath. When she finally does so, it's too late. The Dragon Pulse is already almost to her. She tries to form Shadow Ball but is too slow. The Dragon Pulse hits her head on. Meowstic collapses on the floor.

"Meowstic it's unable to battle," the referee says. "Goodra is the winner." My guess as to why she lost so easily would be that she's a little winded from the previous battle. Or Psychic's Goodra is just that powerful.

"Good job Squishy," Psychic says. "You can keep going right?" Squishy nods. "Alright then!" Olympia sends out an Espeon next.

"Espeon, Calm Mind." Espeon performs the move while Squishy launches a Dragon Pulse. "Dodge!" Espeon gracefully jumps out of the way and awaits an order. "Shadow Ball!" The spherical dark energy forms at her mouth and speeds towards Squishy.

"Squishy, meet it with Dragon Pulse!" Squishy throws the attack straight forward the other. When the two energies meet, a huge blast of energy is created. When the dust clears, both Pokémon look a little hurt, must likely from the force of the blast.

"Squishy," Psychic begins, "you okay?" Squishy yells rather loudly, signaling that she is in fact okay. "Good girl! Use Aqua Tail!" The whirlpool of water encircles her tail and she runs toward Espeon.

"Use Psychic on the water!" Espeon's eyes glow, hot pink instead of baby blue, with the same coloring outlining the water on Squishy's tail. As Squishy is running, the water stays still but her body keeps going. She doesn't realize this and tries to attack Espeon to no avail.

"Espeon, Shadow Ball." Without batting an eyelash, Espeon shoots the sphere at Squishy, right in the face. The dragon cries out and stumbles backwards. "Use Psychic before she falls!" With a shining pink light, Squishy is lifted into the air, the attack constantly constricting her. As this is happening, the rain from Rain Dance fades to nothing.

"Squishy," Psychic calls. "Fight it and use Aqua Tail!" With a struggle, Squishy creates a whirlpool around her tail. And with a loud cry, she torpedoes down on Espeon.

"Stop it again with Psychic!"

"Dragon Pulse!" Just as the Psychic attack closes over the Aqua Tail, Espeon is hit in the face by draconic energy. "Now, finish with one last Aqua Tail!" Squishy sons around, swiping the already downed Espeon with her watery tail. Olympia's Pokémon cries out and bounces across the field.

"Espeon is unable to battle! Goodra is the winner!"

"Doing awesome Squishy," Psychic says. "Do you need a break." Squishy nods breathlessly. "Alright, return! You did amazing." Psychic smirks and looks at Olympia. "You underestimated Squishy, it seems." Olympia stays quiet and sends out a Slowking.

"Slowking huh," Psychic says. "Spark, let's go!" She tosses another Pokéball, actually it looks more like a Great Ball, and an Ampharos materializes.

"Spark, use Confuse Ray." Spark nods and fires two bright yellow spheres towards Slowking. They float around Slowking's head before seemingly attacking him in a flash of light. When the spark disappears, he is standing there as if nothing happened.

"Own Tempo," Psychic asks. Olympia nods. "Of course... But that's okay. Use Discharge!" Spark raises her arms and with a cry releases a shockwave blue electric energy from her body in all directions. It hits Slowking but he doesn't appear injured or even affected.

"Use Yawn," says Olympia. Slowking does as told, causing Spark to do so too. Psychic frowns and starts to talk to herself.

"It'd be useless to switch out. She'll just keep using Yawn." She speaks louder. "Spark, try another Discharge." Obediently, she lets loose another wave of electricity.

"Calm Mind." Slowking closes his eyes and glows just as the electricity hits. The damage is drastically reduced. "End this with Earthquake."

"End this," Psychic says incredulously. I have to agree with her. Spark hasn't been hit once and I'm sure one Earthquake won't knock her out.

I'm proven wrong quickly. Slowking stomps the ground causing it to shake hard. Spark is rattled and thrown roughly across the battlefield multiple times. When the shaking finally stops, she's lying on the floor, fainted.

"Ampharos is unable to battle. Slowking is the winner!" There's a whimsical smile on Olympia's face. Psychic considers her options, but doesn't make a quip at Olympia.

"Sandstorm," says Psychic. "Let's go!" She throws a Pokéball, a dusk ball, and a Flygon emerges.

"Sandstorm, Super- oh yeah. Can't use that." Psychic chews the tip of her thumb. "Use Sand Attack." Sandstorm flaps his wings and sends a wave a dust at Slowking.

"Yawn, then Calm Mind." Slowking does the combination, a bright glow spreading over his body as Sandstorm yawns.

"Sandstorm, make the most of this while you can. Dragon Rush!" At the tip of Sandstorm's nose, a dark blue light appears. He flaps his wings and torpedoes himself forward. When he does, the light envelops his entire body, progressively getting lighter the further back you went.

Olympia chuckles. Psychic and I reel back at her strange actions. "Sandstorm is weakest. Slowking, you take him out now. Psychic then Earthquake." Slowking's dark eyes glow, stopping Sandstorm just inches from his face.

"Sandstorm," Psychic shouts. "Try to break free." Unlike Squishy however, Sandstorm is unable to break free of the attack. Slowking slams the poor Pokémon into the field. He has Sandstorm pressed to the ground when he stomps his feet hard, causing the entire arena to shake roughly. Sandstorm's cries echo.

"Flygon is unable to battle! Slowking is the winner!" Psychic mutters something under her breath. Probably something along the lines 'oh crap' or 'this isn't good.' All things that I'm thinking.

"You are aware child," Olympia says, "that if you lose, I will not give you a rematch." Psychic frowns. "Cerise may have one if she wants one but you will not get the option."

"So I'll have to pay off my debt in full," Psychic asks. Olympia nods. It takes a while for the blonde haired girl to answer. "Okay then. Let the battle continue."