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Equilibrium	By : jvperric Category: Pokemon > General Views: 12587 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I don't own Pokemon. Nintendo does. I make no claim towards any of the copyrighted intellectual property contained herein. I am making no money from this story in any way.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
*****Book III: The Fire Gem*****

*****Chapter XI: Disturbance*****

SKORTA LAB EXPLOSION; NONE INJURED

—Headline, Sederan Post, 20 May 2000

*****

It was night, but Saffron City was still fully lit. Twenty-four hour businesses glowed with neon and incandescent lights, electric billboards on the sides of skyscrapers broadcast huge advertisements, and the highways that crisscrossed over the surface streets were filled with headlights moving in every direction.

The Saffron City Gym, nestled on a hill on the north edge of the metropolis, was one of the few buildings where all the lights were out. An envelope of psychic energy over the structure kept the city noise out, and on the far end of the Gym, in the Leader’s quarters, Sabrina’s eyes shot open as she sat up in a cold sweat.

She groped in the darkness for the phone on her nightstand and paused, trying to remember a number. It came to her and she waited for an answer.

“H-hello?” said the voice on the other side, just as groggy as her.

“Tate, it’s Sabrina. Did you feel that?”

“Yeah. Someone moved the other Core Gem. I didn’t want to believe someone took the first one, but now they’re both definitely gone.”

“What should we do?” she asked.

“Mewtwo’s more powerful than us, can’t he help us with finding them?”

She looked at the large feline Pokémon sleeping beside her. “No, he’s not attuned to their energy like us. I think we have to call Vincent. Get whoever’s in Sedera on this.”

“I agree. I’ll call him now. Let me know if you feel anything else.”

Sabrina set the phone back on its receiver. Her bedmate had woken up and looked at her with his bright purple eyes.

‘What is it?’

“Hopefully nothing,” Sabrina said, resting her head on her pillow and drawing the sheets over them. “But that might be too much to hope for.”

*****

Mira sat in front of the dimming fire can, pushing a pill out of a blister pack. She set it on a rock beside a few other pills, took a swig of water and downed them all, lying back in the sand as she let them work. Something made light footfalls just out of sight, and she turned over to look at the source of the noise.

Gallade wandered back into camp, swaying slightly in the moonlight, but stopped dead when he saw her looking at him.

‘Oh! Mira, I…I didn’t think you were still awake.’

“Just had to do something. Come sit with me.”

He obliged, sitting down beside her in the sand. Gallade glanced at the bottle at Mira’s feet, but the symbols on the side meant nothing to him. He and Mira locked eyes for a moment, but he quickly lowered his gaze.

“Hey, you’ve got stains on your face, were you crying?” she asked, holding his face still.

‘Please don’t tell Jason,’ he said, his mental voice cracking.

“Tell him what?”

‘I…’

“What is it?”

‘I don’t want to be like this!’ he bawled into her mind, fresh tears streaming down his cheeks. Gallade slumped against Mira and wrapped his arms around her, trembling.

“Oh, poor baby,” Mira said, hugging him and trying to ignore his sensor digging into her chest. “What do you mean, ‘be like this?’”

‘A Gallade.’ His sniffling stopped. ‘I wanted to be a Gardevoir. I always wanted to be a Gardevoir.’

“Why? I mean, why is this a problem? You can be both.”

‘My parents and sisters were Gardevoir. I don’t like the way this body feels. It’s wrong. I feel disconnected and scared.’

“So just shift back and stay that way.”

Gallade shook his head, his eyes welling up again. ‘That’s not what Jason wants.’

Mira stroked the crest on top of his head while she nuzzled his cheek. “It’s your body. Not anyone else’s. Believe me, you have to do what makes you happy, no matter what anyone else thinks. You tell Jason that he can either accept it or get out of your way. And if he’s got a problem with that, then I’ll have a problem with him.”

‘He thinks I look too feminine like that. And everyone else likes me like this, too.’

“So…what do you want me to tell you?”

He shrugged after several moments. ‘I don’t know. I just wanted to tell someone. I’m sorry.’

“You don’t have to apologize, I’m happy to listen. And I love you no matter what body you’re in, okay?”

Gallade smiled and warbled happily. ‘Thank you.’

“You’re welcome. But I really think you should tell Jason about this.”

‘Could you?’

She shook her head. “I can be with you if you decide to tell him. But I can’t do it for you. You’re his Pokémon. It’ll mean more coming from you.”

‘I…I can’t talk to him very well.’

“Why not?”

Gallade’s face flushed a deep red, plainly visible in the dimming light. Mira grinned.

“What, do you have a crush on him or something?”

He whined and scooted away from Mira. ‘I should go to bed.’

“No, no, wait, it’s cute,” she said, reaching for his shoulder. Her hand slipped down and brushed against the sensor on his back, sending him to the ground in a fit of sensation. Gallade trembled in the sand, gasping and panting wordlessly for almost a minute until he calmed down.

“I’m sorry,” Mira said, holding his hand.

‘It’s all right. I wasn’t expecting you to touch it, that’s all. They’re very sensitive.’

“Did it hurt?”

‘No, it just…felt.’

“Felt what?”

‘It’s everything. These sensors are how I feel things. It’s pain and pleasure, sorrow and joy, anger and kindness…love and hate…I felt everything you’ve ever felt in your whole life in a few seconds. It overwhelmed me.’

“E-everything?” Mira asked, her voice trembling. Gallade nodded, looking at her impassively.

‘Yes. Everything. I just experienced your whole life. Thank you, Mira. You helped me, but I need to lie down now. Goodnight.’

“Wait, what about Jason?”

‘I’m sure I can think of something now,’ he said, disappearing into his Pokéball. A bead of sweat snaked down Mira’s arm as she fell back on her sleeping bag. When she finally fell asleep, she did not dream.

*****

“Erica. Erica, what’s wrong? Come on, answer me.”

Xavier stood outside his sister’s quarters, knocking lightly on the door. He tried the knob, and the door opened silently and without resistance. Xavier stepped inside, peering into the darkened room, and heard the water running in the bathroom, from which light was filtering under the door.

“Eri? It’s Xav. I know something’s wrong. You haven’t come out of there in days.”

He tried the bathroom door. It didn’t budge.

“You have to give me something, let me know you’re still alive or I’m busting this door down. I don’t care if you tell me to go away, I just need to hear—”

“I’m alive,” came her voice from the bathroom. The water stopped. “I’m taking a bath. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”

“I’ll hold you to that.”

Erica listened to Xavier’s footsteps and the shutting of her door. She dropped her robe and stepped into the scalding water, whimpering when it hit her groin. She sat down in the tub, crying from the pain and the fresh memories burned into her mind in her brother’s office, and kept crying until she was only heaving and gasping in the water. Erica drenched her loofah in body wash and worked it over her body, but nothing she did seemed to make her feel any cleaner. She scrubbed herself raw, watching emotionlessly as bits of skin started floating up to the surface of the water. Eventually she scrubbed right through her skin, and the bathwater was a bright crimson by the time she stopped and drained the tub.

*****

Mira sat up as the sun rose, stroking Ralts’ hair and squinting at the rising sun. She cradled the small creature, smiling whenever she turned over or made any kind of noise. Zangoose was curled up next to the remains of the fire, his tail flicking occasionally at the Net Ball beside him. Mira picked it up and slid the release clasp back.

Sharpedo appeared in the water, snapping and snarling, trying to wriggle onto the beach. Mira walked up to it, holding the last scraps of meat from her dinner. She tossed it to her new Pokémon, who devoured the morsels and bobbed up and down in the water.

“Hello, Sharpedo,” Mira said, kneeling. Ralts shied away and buried her head in Mira’s shoulder. “I’m your Trainer. I know your mouth is probably sore where the hook got you, but we’ll get that taken care of. This is Ralts—she’s a little scared of you—Zangoose is over there, and Regirock and Staravia are in their Pokéballs. I’ll try to let you out whenever I can, I don’t want you to be cooped up in your ball all the time. I’m going to put you back in, okay?”

The small blue shark pitched its head up and down and waved its flippers to indicate understanding. Mira recalled Sharpedo and walked back to the campground, where Jason had shimmied out of his sleeping bag.

“Good morning,” he said, sitting up. “No concussion, as you can see.”

“We’re still going to the doctor’s. What should we do for breakfast?”

Jason checked his Pokénav. “Boat’ll be here in a few hours. I have some energy bars, not much sense in setting up another fire to cook something. We’ll get a proper meal on the island. Maybe check out the Gym. It’s Ground-type, right?”

“Yeah. Swath talked about the Leader. She’s supposed to be strong.”

“Good, we’ll have to stop by.” Jason went through his bag and produced two snack bars, tossing one to Mira. She broke off a small bit and gave it to Ralts before taking a bite for herself. Zangoose’s nose perked up at the smell of food, but relaxed when he determined it was not meat. They ate quietly and released the rest of their Pokémon, who ran out onto the beach.

“We have a while before the boat gets here, just don’t wander too far,” Jason said to his Pokémon. They dashed off towards the water, Mightyena nipping at Lucario’s heels with Gallade trailing behind. Rufflet and Staravia flew off over the water, searching for any Magikarp or Goldeen near the surface. Regirock sat against the Air Spire, shifting sand around while Zangoose scurried up its side and perched on its head. Regirock’s eyes flashed in annoyance.

Mira watched the clouds pass along in the sky while Jason worked on his computer. Mightyena eventually trotted back up with soaking fur and a dour look on her face. They turned away just as she shook the water off and ran back at Lucario, who had pushed her in the first time. Gallade sat beside Jason, trying to ignore the smirk on Mira’s face.

‘What are you working on?’ he asked.

“Making a progress report for you guys,” Jason said, turning the screen so he could see. There were pictures of all of them beside long strings of symbols he didn’t understand. The one by his picture was much longer than the others.

“I have quite a bit to say about you, with this convergent evolution thing. I’m sure Professor Bayberry will want us to come back to get a look at you.”

‘Can we? Please? I didn’t get to see a lot of your town.’

“At some point, yeah. I’ll have to deal with my dad eventually.”

Mira got to her feet and walked along the shore with Ralts, Zangoose trailing close behind. ‘He wasn’t happy that you left, was he?’

“That’s putting it mildly. Imagine your father trying to keep you in the same boring place for the rest of your life.”

‘Hmm? I didn’t—’

A boat horn blared out, long and low. The Fruitful Shepherd sailed into view, chugging toward the island. Jason waved and stood up, taking the Pokéballs from his belt and kicking sand over the fire pit.

“Time to go, guys. We’ll stop at the Pokémon Center before lunch. Mira? Mira!”

She reappeared from behind the Air Spire, running a hand along the stone. Zangoose and Regirock returned to their Pokéballs along with the others, save for Ralts, and they climbed onto the deck before heading back off.

Mira reclined in her seat and watched the ship’s wake roll out behind them. There were other ships out on the water, some moving, others listing with the current out in the open. Clouds obscured the sun slightly, causing light to flash down intermittently on them. “So what are we going to do about the Air—”

“Shh,” Jason said, watching the crew. “Later.”

They talked of light, innocent things for a stretch, laughing quietly between themselves, and then were quiet for a time, observing the gulf around them. A question occasionally punctured the silence their conversation had drifted into, but matters of import stayed unspoken until a later time. Jason took some money from his billfold when they saw Redrock Town approaching, jutting out of the water that seemed to go on forever, and held it in his hand until they were safely in dock. He passed it to the captain as they disembarked, and soon the ship was gone, off for fertile waters.

“We should go to the clinic,” Mira said, pushing at a loose piece of wood on the dock with her foot. “Get you checked out.”

Jason shook his head. “Pokémon Center first. And food. Then we’ll go to the clinic, I promise.”

Mira nodded and they set off back towards the Pokémon Center, farther north in town. Redrock was busier than when they had left it, with the weekend crowds bustling through the streets like blood through a vein. Conversations swirled around them, and Pokémon with their Trainers dotted the crowds, some familiar, some foreign. Jason ended up with his Pokédex out more than once to identify a species he was unfamiliar with.

“I can’t imagine that Stoutland is very comfortable in this heat,” Mira said as they walked into the Pokémon Center. One of the Chansey at the desk stiffened up when she saw Mira, but there was a different nurse on duty.

“Probably headed for the beach. Ah—maybe you should hold on to Regirock.”

“Yeah, I will. Can we hand in those Trainer Companion forms while we’re here?”

“Oh, I’d forgotten.” Jason set his bag on a table and opened the main compartment.

Mira put Ralts down and tugged at the backpack. “Here, I’ll get them if you bring the Pokémon up.”

Jason nodded and took her Pokéballs and his up to the desk. Mira came over a moment later and handed the forms to the nurse, who stapled them and dropped them in a bin. They went back to their table, where Ralts was amusing herself with the straps on Jason’s bag.

“Careful,” he said, closing the main pocket. “Don’t let it fall, it’s bigger than you are.”

Ralts squeaked happily and began chewing on the nylon. Mira stroked her back. “Think she’s hungry?”

“Yeah, I am too. I guess we can get something quick at the place next door and then go to the clinic. Or something from the vending machines here, but I’d like more than a snack.”

“We can get it to go and eat it as we walk,” Mira said.

“Sounds good.”

Jason took his turn amusing Ralts while Mira drew on her sketchpad. The nurse called their number not long after. They retrieved their Pokémon and went to the chain restaurant next door. It was cheap food, and not particularly healthy, but they scarfed it down all the same as they walked to the clinic nearby. The waiting room was sparsely filled, and no one seemed to be suffering any serious injuries. They went up to the desk.

“Hi, we wanted to see if my friend had a con—”

“Fill this out,” the attendant said, sliding a clipboard across the desk to them, never looking up from his book. Mira took the forms, frowning, and walked with Jason over to a pair of empty seats nearby. Jason went to ruffle Ralts’ hair, but Mira quickly replaced her with the clipboard full of papers. He sighed and took a pen out.

“You know, you’re the one that wanted me to come here, shouldn’t you be filling this out?” he asked, scribbling his signature wherever it was required.

“Now how could I do that and play with Athene at the same time?” Mira said, nuzzling her Pokémon. “Besides, you have the concussion, not me. Writing helps brain function.”

Jason grumbled and went down the lines, filling everything in. He took out his wallet and looked at his League ID for his Trainer number.

“Hey, I need your ID.”

Mira froze and squeezed Ralts, making her cry out. “W-why?”

“I need your Trainer number.”

“Two-two-zero-one-eight-eight,” she rattled off immediately.

“Oh. Um, all right.” Jason cocked his eyebrow, but shrugged and continued through the forms. He glanced over at Mira; she was staring into the wall opposite them, breathing deeply and stroking Ralts, who had curled up in her lap.

“Are you okay?”

“I’m fine,” Mira said flatly. “Are you done with those?”

“Yeah.”

She smiled suddenly and took the papers back to the desk for him, placing Ralts with him again. Jason played with her hair and Mira returned, sitting back in her seat and smoothing her skirt out.

“Shouldn’t be long,” Mira said. “Not many others here.”

An hour later, they were ushered into a smaller room. Jason was slid into a machine that scanned him, told he had no concussion, and left back in the waiting room slightly poorer. They walked back out to the street.

“Satisfied?” Jason asked, adjusting the straps on his backpack. “I could’ve told you I didn’t have a concussion. Could’ve done it for free, too.”

“I thought it would be better to be sure,” Mira said, shrinking behind him with Ralts.

Her companion seemed to disagree. “Do you know how to get to the Gym from here?”

“No, I haven’t been there in a long time. It’s on the map.”

They followed Jason’s Pokénav to the Gym, a low, squat building that stretched back a ways. The inside was decorated in a Ground-type motif, with the walls adorned with false rocks and shining veins of minerals. At the receptionist’s desk, which looked to be pulled right up out of the earth below them, a young blonde woman sat, her feet drawn up and tapping the desk in time with the song playing on the computer.

“Hi,” Jason said, walking up.

“Just a second,” she said, playing the air drums along with the song as it faded out. The woman sighed happily and brought her feet down, sitting properly at the desk. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I was looking for the Gym Leader for a match,” Jason said.

“Oh. Well, you found her. I’m Nadine, and this is my Gym.” She stood up and walked out from behind the desk. A small pair of snug shorts with the word ‘LEADER’ emblazoned on the side hugged her hips, while her top was nothing more than a sports bra, leaving her well-defined arms and stomach exposed. Jason and Mira both glanced over her body before collecting themselves.

“So you want a match? What Badges do you have?”

“The Wing Badge, from Presida City, and the Brawl Badge.” Jason unclipped them from his belt and showed her. Nadine nodded and he returned them to his belt.

“Came through Callport City?”

“Yeah. I was kind of in a rush to get here, actually.”

“Ha! Everyone rushes down here, and then they find out there’s fuck-all to do on this rock. All right, no problem. You can head inside, let me call my ref and get her down here. The battle forms are on the desk by the challenger’s box.”

Nadine slid the door to the arena open and went into another room while Jason and Mira walked onto the battle floor. Apart from the bleachers on either side, there was very little even ground. From the dim lights on the ceiling they could see that most of the arena was a craggy, rocky mess, with large formations jutting out of the floor and loose rocks lying about everywhere. By the challenger’s box, lined off with white chalk, was a rickety wooden desk with several stacks of paper on it. Mira hopped onto the bleachers while Jason went to the desk and took the forms. He joined her and started filling out the information for the battle.

“So what are we going to do about the Air Gem?” Mira asked.

“Keep it safe,” Jason said, ticking off boxes on the forms.

“Where?”

“With us.”

Mira frowned. “All right.”

Jason finished signing everything as Nadine walked into the arena, phone in hand. “Sorry kid, my ref can’t come today. Something with her leg. It’ll have to be tomorrow, all right?”

“Yeah, that’s okay,” Jason said, disappointed. “Do you know where we could stay the night? Pokémon Center’s booked up.”

“I’ve got a little space here, if you don’t mind a futon,” Nadine said.

“Really? Thank you. We didn’t even have to pull the Gym-Leader’s-cousin card.”

She cocked her head. “Oh? Who’s your cousin?”

“Well, it’s Mira, actually. She’s Swath’s cousin.”

“Huh. I didn’t know Swath had any—”

“Why don’t we hit the beach?” Mira interrupted, standing up out of her seat and grabbing her bag. “It’s got to be a perfect day for it.”

Nadine nodded. “It’s one of the few things you can do around here. The spot just north of here is usually quiet and gets good sun coverage. How’s tomorrow at noon sound? I’ll show you how we battle down here in the south.”

“Looking forward to it,” Jason said. He walked out with Mira and they started north, releasing some of their Pokémon. Rufflet and Staravia took off above them, while Zangoose and Lucario walked beside their Trainers. Jason looked at Gallade’s Pokéball in his hand, then set it back on his belt.

“You don’t look like you get much sun,” Mira said, poking Jason in his arm. His skin was noticeably fairer than hers. “Do you even have swim trunks?”

“Just my shorts. We can’t all be nice and tan. I like camping better than the beach anyway. Not as noisy or crowded.”

“I mean, go out once in a while, you look like a ghost,” she continued.

“Yeah, yeah. Listen, go on ahead, I want to get something in the store.”

Mira looked farther down the street, where several shops were lined up in a row. “Oh? What are you getting?”

“It’s a surprise. Go on, I’ll catch up.”

She nodded and picked up her pace, Zangoose trailing happily behind her. Mira looked back to see Jason browsing the window displays of a few clothing stores all set next to one another. She smiled.

Jason went past the clothing stores slowly, unconsciously feeling his own clothes for rips or tears. Eventually he came to the Trainer specialty shop, where specialized Pokéballs and nutrient supplements filled the displays.

The shop was well-cooled, the air conditioning going loudly in the ceiling of the store. Jason browsed through the aisles, Lucario following close behind.

“Are you looking for something in particular?” he asked, taking in all the ambient auras of past customers.

“Mm-hmm,” Jason said, coming to the back of the shop. “Here we go.”

Under a glass case that spanned the wall were rows and rows of shining silver discs, each with something different written on them. Lucario watched them glimmer under the stark white lights.

“What are these?”

“Technical Machines,” Jason said, perusing the selection. He stopped at one, but shook his head and kept walking. “They let you learn a move early or wouldn’t learn normally. But the one I need doesn’t seem—ah! Excuse me, I’d like to buy this.”

A clerk came from the register at the end of the display case and took out the disc Jason had selected. Lucario looked at the writing on it, but it was illegible to him. He tried looking at the ambient aura again, and the energy around the disc was a faint, pale blue. Lucario shrugged and went over to Jason, who was standing at the register, handing a small piece of plastic to the clerk.

“Was there anything else, sir?”

“No, that’s it,” Jason said. “Wait. Actually, do you have the new Pokénav software? The, uh, what was it…I’d need Software Suite B for the 2000X model.”

The clerk nodded and retrieved another disc from a shelf behind the counter. Lucario looked at it; it was much smaller than the first, easily fitting in his paw, and matte black, providing none of the fascinating glimmer that the other discs offered. Jason took them both and thanked the clerk.

“Come on, Lucario.”

He followed Jason obediently out of the store and back down the street. The purchase bounced lightly in the bag in Jason’s hand.

“What kind of move is that?” he asked.

“It’s a surprise for now,” Jason said. “I want to talk to all of you later about the Gym we’ll be facing tomorrow, and all shall be revealed.”

“What about the other thing?”

“Some new stuff for my Pokénav. I wanted a few of the new programs. Do we have to turn to get to the beach…oh. There she is.”

They were at the curb on the southwest side of the street, looking across at a long wooden building with steps in the middle going up and ramps on the sides. People were milling about on the raised deck, most of them carrying beach chairs or umbrellas or similar fare. Mira was leaning against the railing, her outfit exchanged for a teal bikini dotted with fractal designs. A long, thin piece of white fabric wrapped around her waist and fluttered around her legs. Her hair spilled over her shoulders and in front of her chest, the brown locks matching her tan. Zangoose was perched on the railing, watching the crowd. She smiled at them and lowered her sunglasses.

“Thought you got lost,” she yelled across the street.

“She’s pretty,” Lucario said.

Jason nodded. “Glad you see it too, I thought my eyes were fooling me.”

When the light turned they crossed the street, taking the steps up to the deck two at a time. They followed Mira through the building, which had alcoves on either side where vendors sold food and beach essentials like umbrellas and blankets. Mira nonchalantly tossed a tube of sunscreen back to Jason. He caught it and glared at her.

“Well, you seem to want to stay as pale as Gardevoir,” she said, grinning. “Come on, there aren’t too many people on the beach.”

Out on the other side of the building, a wide boardwalk wound down onto a beach with mostly white sand. The island’s namesake red rocks were arranged in long jetties that jutted out into the water like breakers. Around the jetties some red sand mixed with the white, resulting in alternating striations of pink and deep crimson on the beach. When the waves crashed, the colors bled together and swirled into a lighter red. Mira took a pair of tightly-folded towels from her bag and dashed off towards the water with Zangoose trailing behind, pulling away the fabric around her hips. Jason and Lucario watched her.

The Pokémon tilted his head. “Are they supposed to bounce like that?”

“Uh-huh. This beach should be a little quieter than the last one. No Sharpedo.”

“Are Gardevoir and Mightyena coming out?”

Gardevoir. Gardevoir. The name echoed in his head. “Yeah, as soon as we find a spot.”

Mira eventually plopped down in a quieter section of the beach, away from the crowds. She unfurled the blankets and laid down on one, brushing her hair out of her face and coating herself with tanning oil. Jason sat down next to her, grumbling as he applied his sunscreen. Lucario and Zangoose ran up to the water, darting away every time the waves came in, and Rufflet and Staravia eventually perched on a jetty nearby.

“Have you ever actually been to the beach before?” Mira asked, sitting halfway up, supporting herself with her elbows in the sand.

“Of course I’ve been to the beach,” Jason said, looking at her. “I just don’t like the beach.”

Mira flashed her breasts at him and Jason nearly fell over. “You have to lighten up, you know. Enjoy yourself. Life’s too short not to.”

It took a few moments for him to return to coherence. He shook his head, laughed to himself, and released his other Pokémon. Mightyena ran off to Lucario, while Gardevoir sat in the sand beside Jason. Mira released Ralts, scratching her head as she sunbathed.

“Do you want a blanket?” Jason asked.

‘Oh, no, I’m fine, thank you.’

“It’d probably be a lot cooler without that skirt.”

He caught his Trainer’s tone and reluctantly shifted back to Gallade, nestling the thicker body into the sand beneath him. For several minutes he laid there, wondering how to broach the topic of his body with Jason, until Mightyena trotted up and pressed her nose into his side.

“Ah, cold. What is it?”

“Why don’t you come play with us? You look sad.”

“I don’t want to.”

She bumped him again with her snout. “Please?”

“Go away.” Gallade waved his hand at her.

Mightyena snorted. “Fine. Sit here and be sad.”

He watched her walk away, reaching towards her and opening his mouth as if to say something, but he only fell back into the sand, curling up with his back to the others. His lip quivered and he locked himself up inside his own mind, where he could have whatever body that he wanted.

The day passed slowly, punctuated by several battles, most of which they won. By the time the sun had slipped halfway below the horizon they were each several hundred dollars richer, though most of their Pokémon had tired and whined loudly to return to the Pokémon Center. When there was no more sun to be had, Mira began packing up their things, but Jason seemed not to notice. She tugged on the blanket under him and he came back to the present.

“Sun didn’t fry your brain, did it? The beach is closing.”

“Oh. Right. Yeah, here.”

He stood up and rolled his towel tightly, handing it to Mira to put back in her bag. “Something on your mind?”

“Just running through some strategy, that’s all. I don’t want to—”

Jason put a hand to his temple, doubling over as he did. Gallade shot up to his side, and Mira put her hand on his shoulder. He took several deep breaths and then straightened up.

“What was that?” Mira asked.

“Head rush. Probably got up too fast. Come on, let’s go find something to eat before we head back to the Gym.”

She nodded and they recalled their Pokémon, walking up to the boardwalk as they did. The crowds had all gone, and only a few people remained at the vendors inside, making last-minute purchases before the close of business. Long banks of lights began to switch on with harsh buzzing sounds, lighting the building in flickering, sterile white light. Before long mosquitoes started to swarm around warm bodies, and the air echoed with the sharp smacks of flesh on flesh as the last remaining people swatted at them.

They found a small, quiet diner on the next street where they sat and broke bread. Mira ate her burger in a circle, always biting to the right of where she had just bitten, while Jason picked at his pasta. The television over the counter was playing a news report of an accidental lab explosion in central Sedera.

“So,” Mira began, her mouth still full of burger, “Got a plan for the Gym tomorrow?”

“I’m putting something together,” Jason said, nodding and twirling some spaghetti on his fork. “I don’t quite have it finalized yet. I don’t know what Pokémon she’s going to be using, so I have to have some flexibility. The outline’s there, I guess, but I’ll have to fill in the details tomorrow.”

She nodded approvingly. “Good, good. Nadine’s tough, you’ll have to work for the Badge.”

“Yeah. She didn’t seem to remember you. You said you’ve been there before, didn’t you?”

“Years ago,” Mira said, without missing a beat. “Went with Swath, saw her battle. I’m not surprised she doesn’t remember me.”

Jason grunted his acknowledgement and went back to his meal, visions of battle dancing in his head.

*****

It was dark when they returned to the Gym. Nadine was nowhere to be found, and the door to the Leader’s apartments was locked. They sat in the lobby, perusing the magazines stacked on the end tables until Nadine returned a short time later, out of breath and with sweat glistening on her body.

“Oh, you’re back,” she said, grabbing a towel from behind the desk and patting herself down. “You didn’t have to wait in here, you know.”

“The apartment was locked,” Jason said.

“Shit, sorry about that. Force of habit. Right through here, let’s get you situated.”

“Are you all right?” Mira asked, getting up and following her. “You look exhausted.”

“Did a little rock climbing,” she said, grinning as she unlocked the living quarters. “Kitchen’s on the right if you want a snack or something, guest room’s right here. I’ll get you an extra bedroll. The futon’s already made up, you just have to push down before you pull it out. Let me know if you need anything.”

They thanked her and went into the guest room. Jason brought out the futon while Mira silenced an alarm on her Pokénav. As soon as the mattress was out Mira jumped onto it, pulling the sheets over herself. She poked her head out of the covers and wriggled into a comfortable position.

“I see the bed has been claimed.” He tried to pull one of the sheets off the bed, but Mira growled and he took his hand away. “Yeah, I guess you should rest up. You have a long day of spectating ahead of you tomorrow.”

Jason shook his head and pulled his backpack over to an empty spot on the floor. He sat down, took a pair of earphones from his bag, and plugged them into his Pokénav, resting against the wall as his head bobbed back and forth.

Nadine returned with a stack of blankets and pillows. Jason thanked her and laid them out on the floor, turning and turning and trying to find a comfortable position. Mira began to snore.

*****

“Ivan. It’s Nadine. They were right. I got back from the Air Spire a little while ago. It’s gone.”
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Equilibrium