A/N-Hiya, I'm back. This chapter has been in the works since September and now finally I've finished it. So hopefully you all enjoy it. AM

"LEXI! NO!"

There was a huge explosion and a cloud of thick acrid smoke descended upon them.

"I can't breathe," Kat spluttered

"Noivern...Air Slash! Clear the smoke!" Alexa commanded. She had pulled her shirt up over her mouth.

As the smoke started to dissipate, the sea of devastation before them became clear. Where once had been a maze of short, well kept hedges and neat beds of blossoming buds, now lay only distruction.

"God..." Viola murmered.

Smoking piles littered the area. Chared twigs, smouldering leaves and burnt flowers all strewn across the path. The Pokémon who called the area home screeched and called, all panicking from the explosion.

Calem pulled out a Pokéball, "Froakie, we need your help." The small frog landed on soot covered floor and look up at its master, waiting for instruction. "Froakie we need to put the fires out."

The small frog croaked in response, and started using Water Pulse on all the smouldering piles.

Alexa turned to her two sisters. "Kat, stay her with Calem, find your find. Viola, come with me, we need to find those men."

The two young women turned away, intending to fly on ahead to search for and hopefully capture the criminals.

Kat, just watched her sisters walk off. Why did they always have to be better than her. They were better at battling and always did things together. It was unfair.

"Are you alright?"

Calem had taken his attention off of his Pokémon and was now standing beside her, looking concerned.

"Yeah, I'm alright. Just a bit frustrated, that's all."

"Okay. If you want to tell me, I'm always here. But just so you know, Alexa writes about Pokémon for a living and Viola is a Gym Leader. You've just started."

She smiled. He was always a softie, always knew what to say to make her feel better. It was a skill, she supposed that had come from them being friend for years.

"Thanks, Cal."

"Argh,"

The teens turned around immediately at the sound. One of heaps that Froakie had just soaked, was moving.

"What the..." Calem started to say, when a hand appeared from the large pile and swiped at the nearby Froakie.

"Squirt me again, and regret it," Lexi said, glaring daggers the frog.

Kat ran to her friend, "Lex, are you alright?"

"I'm fine, where's Litleo?" Lexi asked, shoving herself upwards into a sitting position

Kat and Calem glanced at each other, both knowing that Lexi would stop at nothing to get her Pokémon back.

"Where's Litleo?" Lexi repeated

"The Team Flare Grunts took her."

Lexi muttered darkly under her breath, got to her feet and started walking off in the direction of Lumiose City.

"Where are you going?" Calem asked following her as he was already on his feet.

"Lexi stop, you've just blown yourself up," Kat replied, also getting up and following them.

"They have Litleo." Lexi insisted, glancing over her shoulder.

Kat grabbed Lexi's arm and stopped her, "Lex, I'll go on up to towards Lumiose instead and see if I can find them. Stay here."

Lexi glared at her for a moment but seeing no way of winning the argument, nodded her affirmation, even if reluctantly.

"Okay then, I'll head back into town," Calem said, holding his Froakie. "They may have gone through there into Santalune Forest."

"Good, if we find something send up some kind of signal. Oh and Lexi, stay here."

She didn't feel good leaving Lexi on her own, and not just because she was injured, even if she said she wasn't. It was because she knew what her friend could be like when told to do something. She would agree, and then just do the complete opposite. Normally it would annoy her, but right now she agreed with her reaction. Stealing a Trainer's Pokémon was illegal, and if it had been her Pokémon, who knows what she would do to get it back.

A girl on rollerskates suddenly went whipping past her in the direction of the Pokémon Centre, an injured Fletchling clutched in her arms.

"Hey!" she called as the girl flew straight past her. "What's going on?"

She had met some skaters before, they were known to be fast, but what was that girl.

"Calida!" a boy, also wearing skates, yelled. "Hold up!"

"Hey, are you alright?" she called to him.

The boy came to a stop. "You don't want to go that way," he said adamantly. "Me and Calida were up by the fountain when these two guys in orange suits came running. We challenged them as it looked like they were up to something, but they beat us bad."

"Did they look like they had been blown up?"

"Yeah, kind of...how did you..."

"Thanks," she replied and took off in the direction of the fountain.

Bingo! Standing almost almost directly in front of a large golden fountain were the two Grunts. One was still carrying a sack, but seemed to be struggling with something inside.

"What do we do with the flea bag?!" he asked

"I don't know. Give it t'the boss. I'm sure Pyroar would enjoy a snack."

"Hey, you two. Those pokémon aren't yours, release them," she said firmly.

"Go home, Girly. This ain't none of your business," one of the men said dismissively. His partner, with the sack, laughed shrilly at his side.

"That Litleo belongs to my friend, so it is my business."

"What Litleo?" the man asked, feigning innocence.

She dropped her bag on the ground and walked forward. "Fletchling, let's go!" the small bird landed on the ground and chirped.

"Oh well if it has to this way, Gulpin use Sludge"

"Dodge it, Fletchling!"

Clearly being blown up by Lexi hadn't taught these two men anything.

"We already beat your little friend, what makes you think that you can do any better?"

"Let's just see, shall we?" she replied

The man glared at her, "Gulpin use Sludge"

"Fletchling! Dodge it and use Quick attack!"

The tiny bird took off and hit the Gulpin at a high speed, much to the annoyance of the Grunt.

"How dare you! Gulpin, Sludge again!"

"Fletchling, Peck!"

The battle seemed to be going a lot better than she had first expected. Then again...

"Zubat, Supersonic!" the other Grunt suddenly cried.

A high pitched noise spread across the battle field. She clamped her hands over her ears, trying to block out the ringing in her ears

"37, that was brilliant!" the man said to his partner

"Fletchling, please snap out of it," she begged the bird.

It wasn't any use though, confusion had set and was causing Fletchling to jerk about in a frenzy. There was nothing she could do either. Confusion was one her pet hates, it could cause havoc in a battle and the only way to cure it was to withdraw the pokémon.

What could she do? Not only was she less experienced as a trainer, but now she was also outnumbered and her Pokémon was confused. The amount of times that Viola used to ask her to practice with her and then use two Pokémon instead of one was ridiculous. If only she had kept ahold of her Pokéballs, instead of leaving them in her bag. Oh well, if Viola could win against two, why couldn't she.

"Fletchling! No!"

Her tiny bird fell from the sky, much to the amusement of the Team Flare Grunts.

"See, Girly. Don't challenge us. You will always lose."

A large flash of light suddenly came from behind her and Lexi's Pikachu appeared.

"Pikachu, get back in your ball," she said firmly.

The mouse shook its head indignantly, "pikka, pikachu."

"I don't care what you want, get back in your ball,"

The two men burst into laughter. "Worthless little rat," one of them sneered

This seemed to annoy the mouse, as a moment later a large thunderbolt hit the ground sending a huge dust cloud up into the air.

"Fletchling, fly!" she yelled. The small bird flew up to avoid the dust, with what little energy it had left.

Why couldn't Lexi's pokémon ever do as they're told. Then again she supposed it was fitting that they shared the same personality trait with their mistress. Speaking of the mouse, where the hell was it. There may have been a dust cloud, but Pikachu was bright yellow.

"Get 'em, Pidgey!" a voice suddenly yelled, and a small bird flew past her through the settling dust, directly at the grunts, clawing at their faces.

"Argh! Get off!" The men started hopping about and waving they arms above their heads, trying to avoid the pointed beak and devishly sharp talons.

"Fletchling, return," Kat said recalling the Pokémon quickly.

Using the attack as a distraction, Lexi stepped forward. "Pikachu, I told you to stop them from escaping, not cause a dust cloud." Pikachu had hoped up and was now sitting on its mistress's shoulder.

Kat turned to her. "Lex, I thought we agreed that me and Calem would look for those two."

Lexi grinned and scratched Pikachu behind the ears. "We did but I got tired of waiting, so I followed you."

Typical, Lexi can never sit still for more than five minutes, especially when told to.

"Catch," Lexi said suddenly and tossed a Pokéball at her. "You might need this

"How dare you attack us," the Grunt without the sack said angrily.

"We are Team Flare!" his partner joined in.

"Ooo, I'm soo scared," Lexi replied sarcastically. "Get this straight, mate, you attacked my friend. I don't like that."

"Gulpin, Sludge!"

"Pikachu, Thunder Shock!" Lexi called quickly. She put her hands on her hips, as the two attacks collided. "Don't you know any other moves?" she asked the Grunt mockingly.

"Don't insult me girly!" he roared. "Gulpin, use Poison Gas!"

Kat was already prepared though. "Chespin, Roll Out!" she yelled.

Chespin curled itself into a ball and charged at Gulpin, hitting it multiple times.

"Zubat use Superson..." the other Grunt tried to yell

"Thunder Wave on Zubat!" Lexi yelled, interrupting the man.

A wave of electricity crackled around the enemy Zubat, cutting its speed in half and stoping its attack.

"Give me Litleo back!" Lexi yelled, suddenly

"And the Flabébés!" added Kat

"Never gonna happen, Girlies," the sack less man said, smirking

Lexi turned to Kat, "He really doesn't get, does it?" she said gesturing to the man.

Kat smilied, "apparently not."

Lexi grinned mischievously, "I think we should show him."

Kat nodded and said, "Chespin, grab ahold of Zubat!"

Vines shot out of the Grass Pokémon and wrapped themselves around Zubat's legs, anchoring it to the ground.

"Pikachu, use Quick attack on Zubat!"

The small mouse rocketed towards the bat at full speed and hit it in a full bodied attack, knocking it to the ground.

"Damn you," the Grunt with the sack screeched.

He must have jostled it too much as unbeknownst to him, small dark spot was beginging to appear almost exactly below where it was being held. Within a few seconds of the material beginning to smoulder, tiny flames were starting to lap at the man's fingers.

"Hmm... what's that smell? It's like something burning," he said sniffing the air.

"You do know that you're on fire, right?" Lexi asked, trying very hard to give to the fit of laughter that was threatening to take hold.

"What?" he asked, brows drawn together.

The Grunt looked down at his hand, "ahhh!" he screeched. He dropped the sack and started waving his hand about in attempt to put the flames out, although his efforts just made the problem worse. "Leave the pokémon! Let's get outta here!" he screeched at his partner. He took a flying leap and landed headfirst in the fountain. His partner just looked at him in disdain.

"Just give up mate, you're gonna lose." Lexi said, condescendingly.

"I don't think so, Gulpin use Poison Gas,"

"Scatterbug use Stun Spore!" someone yelled.

A large cloud of spores fell on Gulpin, paralysing it and effectively ending the battle. The Gulpin too weak to fight a paralysis, after the taking damage from three battles.

"Nice timing, Calem," Kat cheered, as Calem joined them with his Scatterbug.

Lexi turned back to the remaining Grunt, "you were saying?"

The Grunt paled, "I...uh," he stammered.

"Chespin, get the sack," Kat ordered.

Vines spread from the spiny nut and wrapped around the sack, bringing over to the group.

Lexi pulled open the sack, only to be met with a dark ball of fur promptly leaping at her.

"Litleo, you okay?" she asked, scratching the cub behind the ears. The cub started puring in response.

"I think Nurse Joy is going to be busy for a while," Calem said, helping free the injured Flabébés from their prison.

Clearly the Grunt had decided to take advantage of his opponents being distracted, as he had taken off towards the fountain and was currently trying to help is partner escape the water.

"Pikka, pikka pikka," Pikachu said loudly, gesturing at the fountain with its tail.

The three teens turned to the fountain in time to see the one Grunt lose his balance and drag his partner into the water as well.

"Pikachu! Light those bastards up!" Lexi yelled, clearly fed up with the two men and their Pokémon.

A large thunderbolt hit the golden fountain, spreading it's spidery tenderals through the water, paralysing all within the fountains combines.

"Was that strictly necessary?" Kat asked putting her hands on her hips.

Lexi just grinned.

"Let the match begin!"

"Fennekin use Ember!" Lexi yelled immediately

"Dodge it, Surskit!" Viola responded. "Haven't you learnt anything from last time?" she scoffed.

Lexi just grinned back, "maybe I have, maybe I haven't. Fennekin, Ember!"

"Looks like we'll have to do this the hard way. Surskit use Bubble."

"Fennekin, keep using Ember!"

"Counter it with Bubble, Surskit!"

As the two attacks kept colliding, steam began to rise towards the ceiling, forming water droplets on the glass overhead.

"What is she doing?" Kat whispered to Alexa

"Fennekin, return. Go Pikachu!"

"Finally realise that fire doesn't work?" Viola asked, condescendingly. Lexi just grinned in response. "Okay then," Viola replied. "Surskit use Quick Attack!"

The pond skater started moving in fast circles around Pikachu.

"Dodge it!" Lexi yelled.

It was no good though, the Pokémon was faster than Pikachu and was able to land its attack.

"Surskit, again! Viola commanded.

She had to slow that pond skater down somehow, but how. "Pikachu, Thunder Wave!"

A wave of electricity enveloped the Surskit, forcing it to halt in its attack.

"Surskit, no!" Viola yelled, watching her Pokémon's legs trembled as it fought against the paralysis.

"Pikachu, now's the chance! Use Thunder Shock!"

A large jolt hit the opponent Surskit, causing its legs to give way and collapse to the floor.

The referee held up the flag to his right. "Surskit is unable to battle!"

"Not bad, but this picture isn't done yet," Viola said with her signature smirk. "Come out, Vivillion. Let's show them what a real masterpiece looks like!"

Her large butterfly appeared from its Pokéball and hovered effortlessly in mid-air, above the battlefield.

"Pikachu, Thunder Wave!" Lexi yelled, but was best to the post by Viola.

"Vivillion, Infestation!"

Pikachu bent over in pain, as the same turquoise light from before surrounded it. Damn it! This was the same attack that had caused her downfall from before. She needed to block the attack. As before the light faded, allowing Pikachu to move again.

"Pikachu, use Quick Attack!"

"Dodge it, Vivillion!"

The butterfly was too fast, allowing it to evade the attack.

"Keep using Quick Attack, Pikachu!" Lexi yelled.

"Keeping dodging it!" Viola commanded.

The two kept it up, almost like a dance, attacking and avoiding. Pikachu wouldn't be able to keep it up for very much longer though, especially with it being affected by Infestation.

"Now this is a masterpiece!" Viola exclaimed, watching the two Pokémon. "Vivillion," she called "let's finish this with Tackle!"

The huge butterfly flew up high for its final attack.

"Pikachu!" Lexi yelled, "stop Vivillion with your tail!"

Pikachu stopped immediately and positioned itself on all fours with its tail ready.

Vivillion dove down directly at the mouse, only to be stopped by its opponent's tail.

"Throw Vivillion up!"

Pikachu flicked its tail up, sending the butterfly soaring straight back upwards. Vivillion hit the glass ceiling. Its wings flat against the glass, feathery patterns soaked with water droplets.

"Use Thunder Shock on the ground!"

A bolt hit the ground, sending large dust clouds up and completely covering the battle field. As predicted Vivillion was told to fly up to avoid the dust, leaving Pikachu hidden below.

"Vivillion use Infestation!"

Only it didn't work, the dust seemed to work as a shield, blocking the dangerous attack. Her plan was finally working.

"Pikachu! Thunder Shock straight up!"

A large thunderbolt came out of the dust cloud and hit the butterfly squarely, the water droplets in its wings strengthening the electricity's power.

"That's not possible," Viola exclaimed

"Vivillion is taking damage," Calem said from the stands.

The Pokémon cried weakly and fell to towards the ground into the settling dust, its wings seemingly useless.

"Pikachu, let's finish this! Use Quick Attack!"

The mouse suddenly rocketed towards the partially paralysed butterfly, hitting it squarely and causing the butterfly to crash with greater speed to the floor below.

The referee lifted the flag on his left. "Vivillion is unable to battle, the winner is the challenger"

"You and your Pokémon have shown me a whole new depth of field! Fantastic! Just Fantastic!" Viola held out a small metal box. "Please accept this. It's the Bug Badge."

"Cool," Lexi murmered, picking up the badge. It was a coppery kind of colour with two small green gems glinting in the sunset and not surprisingly, looked like an insect.

"With this badge," Viola continued, "all Pokémon up to level 30 will listen to your orders...Yup even Pokémon you get from trades! It also allows you to use the HM Cut when you get it! And here! Take this!" Viola handed her a small disc. "This TM commemorates your win against a pro photographer like me. It contains Infestation."

"No offense to you, but right now I really hate this move."

Viola laughed, "it can be annoying if it's used against you, but you did well."

Lexi smiled at the older female, "thanks."

The pair wandered over to where the other three were speaking.

"So, what do you plan on doing after seeing the Professor?" Alexa asked them.

"You should challenge the Gym Leader while you're there," Viola said, joining the conversation. "Clemont is young, but his battles are a masterpiece."

Lexi put her hands in her back pockets. "Right now, I don't care as long as it doesn't involve people in orange suits."

A/N-Any opinions? If you found any mistakes, I kinda got fed up trying to edit it, but hopefully it was good. AM