Chapter Text
Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognise
They eventually met the scientist again
She explained that she was using the dream mist for her experimentations, but to be completely honest, Hilda pretty much zoned her out after a few minutes as she realised professor Fennel was going to continue on for a while. Science had never been her strongest point. She preferred to be outside and see the world with her Pokemon right at her side, not stay inside and research hundreds of things.
Managing to finally get out of the conversation that Bianca and the professor were having by stating that she wanted to train her pokemon, which wasn't even a lie, they let her go. Returning to the Dreamyard, she took a deep breath as she just closed her eyes and enjoyed the sunlight as well as the peace and quiet. "Hilda?" Ilayda asked in confusion at seeing her trainer just stand there and do nothing.
"I'm just fine, sweetie. Don't worry about me. I'm honestly just enjoying the peace for a minute." She replied without even looking down as she spread her arms, her Oshawott slowly imitating her pose and doing the same for a few seconds. She let out a little cry as she relaxed like her trainer and Balor and Sylvaine enjoyed the sun as well, Hilda having let all her Pokemon out of their Pokeballs so that thei could just enjoy the day together. Especially Sylvaine as a fire type enjoyed the heat of the sun, before they went to train for the upcoming gym battle
"Ilayda, use water gun!" Hilda quickly ordered her starter as they battled a wild Patrat, her voice catching the attention of a certain passerby. N had been walking closer to inspect the ruined facility that was the Dreamyard when he had heard her voice. Looking around a tree, he saw her battling the Pokemon and frowned, thinking that she was no better than all the other trainers he had heard about growing up
That is, until the Patrat was defeated by a final tackle from Ilayda and she actually walked towards it, using a potion on it. "Did... did you just heal me?" The Pokemon asked, just as shocked as N felt. "Of course. You gave us a great battle and I wouldn't feel right if we just left you in that condition. It could take ages before you feel better." Hilda explained, her own Pokemon coming to see if the wild Pokemon was okay
"You sure gave me a challenge." Ilayda stated to cheer the Patrat up and the wild Pokemon smiled as it got up and thanked them, before running back into the forest. "Don't get into too much trouble. Not all trainers will do the same!" Hilda called after it and it briefly stopped and waved at them to show it had heard her, before disappearing into the tall grass. "What a sweet thing." She then commented and her pokemon agreed as they decided to take a small break. N decided to visit the Dreamyard another time and walked away, deep in thought
That evening, they returned to the Pokemon centre for the night and had dinner with Bianca, Cheren and their Pokemon. "You know, I could've sworn I saw N walking just an hour ago, but he was gone before I could look properly." Cheren commented and Hilda looked down at Balor to see what his reaction was. "You're my trainer now. I can see what he was trying to do, but it doesn't hurt anymore." He told her at seeing the look
"Are you sure?" Hilda asked quietly and he nodded. "He did what he thought was right and even though it hurt at the time, I wouldn't have been part of your team if he hadn't released me." He said and she smiled as she petted his head, carefully telling the others what he had said. "I do wonder what N will say if he realises the Purrloin he released is now a member of your team instead and still a trainer's Pokemon." Bianca said.
"Don't care." Balor immediately stated in a deadpan voice and Hilda snorted at hearing it. "He doesn't care." She muttered to explain to her friends and they both chuckled as well, before they finished their dinner and went to their rooms to rest after a pretty eventful day. Sitting on the edge of her bed and brushing Balor's fur again as he was taking a nap on her lap, Hilda was thinking of both the gym battle ahead of them and the fact that Cheren really might have seen N. Was she just going to run into him all the time in some way?
She had to admit that she wouldn't really mind it as she still thought that he was rather handsome and while he was a bit odd in his interactions, she felt like he didn't mean any harm, but despite the words of Balor, she had to wonder if he would be upset to see his former Purrloin in her care instead. She shook her head. They'd cross that bridge when they got there. After taking care of all her Pokemon, she went to bed
The next two days were mostly spent exploring the city and training, before Hilda felt that she was ready to take on the gym. Cheren had already gone ahead and had told her it had been a real challenge for him, so she made sure that she was prepared for it as she battled Cheren himself first as a final preparation, before healing her pokemon and going towards the gym, both her friends going with with her for support
Standing in front or the doors, she took a deep breath and walked in, only to stare at seeing a restaurant inside. "Did we get the right place?" She quietly asked Cheren as whole she knew about the gym leaders, she didn't know much about the building itself and he immediately chuckled. "We did. The building is separated into two areas, this and the gym itself. Those three waiters over the are the gym leaders." He explained as he pointed at three men walking around. One of them eventually noticed them and walked closer
"Hey Cheren! Back for round two?" He asked and Cheren laughed. "Not this time, Cress, I'm afraid. My best friend Hilda over here actually wants to challenge the gym as well." He replied as he gestured to the girl. "Ah, say no more, my dear friend. What starter did you pick?" Cress asked her. "Oshawott." She replied. "Got it! Cilan, a battle order for you!" Cress called and another man quickly put down his tray
"Very well, brother. Come with me. Excuse me, everyone. I'm afraid duty calls." He apologised to the patrons of the restaurant with a theatrical bow and several teenage girls followed them, whispering and squealing among each other. "Someone has fans." Hilda muttered to her friends and they snorted. "It was the same when I challenged the gym. The three of them are pretty much celebrities here." Cheren replied
Hilda pulled a face as they went through a door and into an official arena. After wishing her luck, Bianca and Cheren went to sit on the stands with the girls as Hilda and Cilan went to stand on opposite sides of the field. The referee announced the match and told them they could begin. Cilan began with a Lillipup and Hilda sent out Ilayda so she could still fight in this battle and she let out a battle cry as she got ready. "Ilayda, use tail whip!" Hilda ordered and her oshawott immediately began to wag her tail in a cute way
"Use bite!" Cilan ordered and the Lillipup immediately charged forwards. "Dodge it!" Hilda called, Ilayda jumping out of the way just in time. "Use water gun!" The girl then continued, the water hitting the opposing Pokemon right in the face. "She certainly has grown quite a bit already." Bianca commented with a smile and Cheren immediately agreed with her as they watched her and Ilayda fight with all that they had
The Lillipup was eventually defeated by the Oshawott and now, the real challenge was coming as Cilan quickly sent out his Pansage out to fight next, it being his last pokemon too as it shouldn't be too difficult for new trainers. "Ilayda, come back!" Hilda then ordered her Pokemon and Ilayda immediately ran back to her as she sent out Sylvaine instead. Cilan only smiled at seeing the Pansear, before looking at the girl
"Very smart choice, my dear girl, but don't think I'll make it easy for you." He replied as he ordered his pokemon to use vine whip. "Incinerate!" Hilda then ordered her Pokemon in return and the Pansage cried out in pain as his the vines got burned by the flames. Hilda winced at seeing it as she knew that burn had to hurt the poor thing, before steeling herself and stubbornly continuing on as she knew she had to fight on if she wanted to win the badge. "Fury swipes!" She then called and her pansear scratched the Pansage all over.
Her training clearly paid off as only a few minutes later with a final incinerate attack, the Pansage fainted and she had won her first gym battle. "We did it!" Hilda cheered as her friends applauded her from the sidelines while the teenage girls groaned at seeing Cilan lose. To his credit, the gym leader only smiled and recalled his fainted Pokemon. Looking over, he saw that Hilda was busy congratulating her own Pokemon
"You guys were absolutely amazing!" The girl quietly but proudly praised her Pokemon as she had kneeled down and petted them both. They immediately smiled up at her as Cilan walked towards them and she stood up. "You gave us an amazing battle." He commented and she smiled. "Thanks. You gave us quite a fight too." She replied as they shook each other's hands and he gave her her very first gym badge
"Will Lillipup and Pansage be okay?" She then asked in concern. "They'll be fine. One trip to the Pokemon centre and they'll be alright again." Cilan immediately reassured her, feeling rather touched that she was worried about his Pokemon. Bianca then tackled her friend into a hug. "You did it! You were all amazing!" She cheered and Hilda laughed as she hugged her friend back. Cheren followed on a much more calm pace as he congratulated Hilda and her Pokemon on their victory as well, making them all smile at him
Going back to the Pokemon centre to celebrate Cheren and Hilda getting their badges, they weren't the only ones with business as the two grunts Hilda and Bianca had met were on their way to meet with their King. "Cannot believe we failed on our mission If it wasn't for that stupid girl and her Oshawott. I wish I had managed to kick that stupid Pokemon." The man said. "What did you say?" A low voice asked from behind them
They stiffened up as they turned to see N. "N-nothing, my liege. I was only kidding!" The grunt hastily replied, but N just narrowed his eyes. "What happened in the Dreamyard?" He asked and they told him. "We just wanted to get you dream mist." The female grunt tried to explain, but he told them to leave. Once they were gone, he rubbed his face as his thoughts once again went to Hilda as there was no doubt it had been her
"You really are something else, aren't you?" He asked, before deciding it was time to go to the next city and walking away