Chapter 1: One Foot in Front of the Other

The sweet-smelling Pokemon watched with an amused smugness as Maren tried to rein in her Oddish. This was entertaining to watch. The Grass Pokemon clearly couldn't have enough of him, which only inflated his lovely ego some more, and nothing was stopping her. Well, nothing except for the flash of light that cloaked Oddish and pull her into her ball. Strangely, a wave of disappointed washed over Spritzee. Hmm, weird. The Gratia was out of sight now, and he could continue his indulgences here in peace. Why did he feel like he was missing something?

Oh, because he was missing something! With Gratia gone and the Feebas not paying him as much attention and the human not that affected, Spritzee realized what it was. A creature going gaga for him! He needed some infatuated attention, he needed someone drooling over him, he needed that Oddish! He pouted. ( "Come back out here and love me!" )

The girl spoke to him, and he peered up at her with unblinking cherry red eyes, but didn't pay any notice of her words. Not now, human. Someone else needs me to come and help them learn to love me! The swirly-topped avian hopped over to Feebas. He hung around her, engulfing the fish with a strong scent of his lovely smell from his wonderful self. ( "Smell it and love it!" ) he cried. Why wasn't she crowding him already?! Where was that Oddish when you needed her?

Spritzee soaked in all the love that Brava could manage to show. It was weak, he thought dismissively, but it's better than nothing! He plopped down next to her and preened his feathers. Today was looking to be a great day for the prince Spritzee. His stomach was full and the adoration level he was at today was at an all time high. And he was never more beautiful and lovely-smelling than right now!

His self-admiring thought process was interrupted by the girl when she spoke. Hmm.. It appears that the human wanted him to join her. Spritzee cocked his head and studied her. She did set up a nice sell with the promise of his favorite, love and attention. Oooh she knew him so well! He just simply flattered with the invitation. Who wouldn't want him in their company? But no thanks. His home was here with all his adoring fans. Besides, no one can tie this handsome rascal down!

Before he could say anything though, a loud rustling in the bushes signaled the arrival of someone. Spritzee got excited. Another Pokemon? Smell me!

Sure enough, a blue round thing with another blue round thing on the tip of its tail burst from the brush. It's nose was sniffing madly, and when spotting Spritzee, it knew it had found it. Azurill cried out excitedly.

"You found it, sweetie?" someone called and then emerged into view. It was a slender young lady with bubblegum pink hair that cascaded past her shoulders. She had on a filly white sundress and a flowery headband. Her whole person was sparkling excessively in glitter. "Mimi, you are an angel!" She smiled adoringly at her Pokemon, but the pleased expression on her face fell immediately when she saw Maren there too. She stared haughtily at Maren.. and that flailing fish of hers.

"Heya there. I'm Cass, and I'm going to be the Queen of Fairies," the girl announced. Her voice was babyishly high. "We've been tracking down that Spritzee since morning. Y'all just happen to be lucky. But I believe that one is ours. So if you'd kindly step away from him."

Spritzee merely stared. Queen of Fairies? What kind of name is that? Whoever she was, this one also wanted a piece of him. Spritzee grinned gleefully. ( "Am I about to be fought over? How wonderful!" ) he chirped brightly, settling himself down to watch.

The "Queen of Fairies" put her hands to her hips and smirked at Maren. She was hoping Maren will simply do as she's told. But if not, she and Mimi were ready for a fight. The Azurill tensed up at the ready. Mimi was not attracted to Spritzee as strongly; though he did smell good, she didn't have the palette for sweet things.

A shrieking sound pierced the air as soon as Gratia materialized. It was the kind of scream that might've busted glass. Since glass was mostly absent in this area, a flock of Pidgeys flittered into the air instead. That shrill scream came from a red-faced Cass, who was fuming at the sight of Oddish. She knew her Azurill had a major disadvantage here with only Water attacks, and she wasn't happy. Cass had thought Maren only had the fish out of water Feebas.

"What a dirty trick! You don't play fair!" Cass accused childishly, her form positively bristling. Mimi was crestfallen when she saw who she was to battle. This was going to be exceptionally difficult. But unlike her trainer, Azurill took it in stride and shouldered up as much as she could confidently. Even against the odds, she'll try her hardest for Cass!

Her trainer had other ideas. Well, she had other Pokemon too, you know! She wanted this Spritzee and was going to do whatever it took. Azurill unfortunately didn't have what it took; she couldn't take chances. She was about to fetch Mimi's ball when her opponent's Oddish attacked. The red beam light from Gratia engulfed the tiny ball and drained. Azurill didn't stop crying until the attack stopped. She unsteadily got to her feet. She was still in!

Azurill prepared for an order, and a glance over the shoulder revealed Cass shuffling around in her purse for her Pokeball. Mimi let out a pleading squeal. Her trainer looked at her and gave in with an exaggerated hands up gesture. "Fine. If you think you can handle it, be my guest," she muttered, "Water Gun."

Knowing this was a long shot, Azurill sucked in a deep breath that expanded her circumference and let it out. Instead of air that she exhaled, a stream of water jetted across the clearing.



The water splashed against Gratia. Though the force of the jet caused most of the damage, the liquid itself seemed to barely harm the Grass type.

Mimi murmured gloomily when she saw that her Water Gun barely made a dent. If anything, the Oddish looked like she even enjoyed the spray of water. A groan from her trainer. Azurill gritted her teeth, her spirits dropping dramatically. Maybe Cass was right; maybe she wasn't up for this. Mimi didn't let her down-trodden thoughts reflect in her outward appearance though. Physically, she looked like she was determined to continue with one till the very end, whatever the result.

The result wasn't looking to be in her favor, especially after another Absorb hit its mark and sucked out her much needed energy. Eventually, she'll be too weak to even stand. Using the ball on her tail, Mimi rebounded to standing position.

Cass looked simply annoyed with the whole situation. At this rate, Mimi would be a twitching vegetable on the ground, and that dumb girl would run off with her Spritzee! Azurill was a hopeless case. Half-heartedly, the glittery girl forced out Mimi's next move, "Water Gun."

Inhale air. Exhale water. This jet was even weaker than the last one. Absorb was efficiently doing its job.

Cass was just getting a little resentful of her try-hard Azurill. Doesn't she realize that she had no chance?! Because of Mimi, Cass was looking like a crappy battler. Well she wasn't! She was doing just fine until this sucker of a girl showed up. Oh how she hated this plain, oh-so-innocent girl right now. Someone like that doesn't deserve to own Spritzee. Her Spritzee!

Another ray of Absorb struck the Azurill and another round of pained crying ensued. The blue mouse definitely struggled to get to her feet this time, her ears drooping and breaths heaving. Gratia the Oddish looked quite the opposite, her attack refreshing her with every successful hit.

Miss glitter reached into her sequined bag. No more of this. She had a reputation to uphold dangit. She had just grabbed Mimi's ball when she seemed to thought of something. Closing her bag up, she yelled for Mimi to attack. Only it wasn't an attack. "Mimi, darling, Tail Whip," she ordered, her drawl oozing with a sugary tone.

Another Absorb. More pained yelping. More tiredness. What else was new. Mimi was tired of this battle, literally. This was a bad idea. She had been so wrong; she couldn't do this, obviously. Azurill didn't even make the effort to stand. She wasn't going to give up, but she didn't see this going anywhere. She was a failure.

When her trainer asked for another Tail Whip, however, Mimi knew exactly what was going to happen. Not about to to disobey, the blue mouse half-heartedly lifted her tail and wagged it again.



Her weak Tail Whip was a failure too. Not able to put enough effort into a cute tail wave, Mimi let it drop sullenly.

Spritzee had grown bored of the battle. He couldn't have agreed more with Maren. It was like watching a game with one team so far ahead of the other that you might as well go home. He snickered at Cass and her Azurill. Really. It would've been an embarrassment to be caught within a mile's radius of them. He would be cheering for Oddish to win, just so he wouldn't be stuck with that sparkly girl and her sparkly Pokemon, but honestly, he didn't really need to; Oddish was wiping the floor with that Azurill. The avian's attention was wavering, and he just might hop off to find something more interesting to watch.