Show-Off
-XI-
Bloody Mary


The morning had broken. Opening her eyes blearily, Whitney ran a hand through her shocking pink hair and groaned. She pulled the sheets closer to her body and rolled over. The shutters lifted up mechanically, sending beams of light right at her face.

“No,” she muttered, turning again. “Not yet.”

“It’s morning,” came a voice. Whitney opened her eyes to see Milo walking into the bedroom, carrying a pot of tea and a rack of toast. “Get up.”

“Morning Prince Charming,” Whitney said, smiling as Milo set the tray down and joined her in bed.

“Sleeping Beauty,” Milo said to her. “How did you sleep?”

“Amazingly,” Whitney beamed, kissing Milo on the cheek. “I love you.”

“Love you more,” Milo replied, pouring her tea. “What do you want to do today?”

“Don’t you have to leave for Ecruteak City?” Whitney asked.

“I rang Andrew last night, he said it’s ok for me to stay a bit longer,” Milo replied.

“I know it’s unusual for you to be in the area,” Whitney said. “And I love having you here. But you need to collect more badges. You still need Ecruteak, Olivine and Cianwood.”

“I know,” Milo said. “But it’ll take an afternoon to get to Ecruteak, max. And from there, a day to Olivine. Honestly, I’m on top of this.”

“Good,” Whitney said, kissing Milo on the forehead. “Because the last few weeks have been amazing. I’ve loved having you around.”

“So,” Milo said. “What do you want to do today?”

“Honestly?” she said, as she munched on a slice of toast. “Stay in bed all day, with you, and not think about a single thing.”

“Suits me,” Milo replied, snuggling up to her.

*

The city was wild with noise. Sirens filled the air as people fled The Cloyster Club, spilling onto the streets. In a nearby alleyway Medicham was searching the city with her psychic abilities, trying to locate Jake, who had become separated from Milo during the chaos.

Milo was a few feet away, throwing up in the corner. The wretched taste of bile and a grim reminder of the day’s tastes brewed between his teeth. He was petrified.

“Any luck?!” he hissed at Medicham, breaking her concentration. She narrowed her eyes at Milo, who was oblivious to the distraction he was becoming. Medicham shuffled further down the alley a few feet, pressing her fingers to her temple and concentrating hard. Her spare hand flitted about like a compass going haywire.

Milo clutched his stomach, emptied and sore. Releasing Totodile, he ordered his bright blue Pokemon to wash the vomit off the walls with a water attack. The echoes of the water running down the alley stirred unease in the pit of his stomach once more.

“JAKE!” Milo roared, his voice hoarse and splintered.

Medicham clicked her fingers, emitting a rogue ember; this got Milo’s attention, who looked up as she began to glow softly. She must have found Jake. Rushing over, Milo clutched Medicham’s hand as she teleported to the location, briefly illuminating the alleyway as she was overcome with light.

Still reeling from the alcohol steadily sweating out of his system, and with the adrenaline wearing off, Milo naturally fell to the ground as they re-emerged. Medicham helped him up, revealing that they were on the outskirts of the city, away from the noise. A group of Murkrow perched on a lamppost, watching the trainer and Pokemon. At the roadside was a huge, well-lit diner with Rosie’s splashed across the door. Milo saw Jake sitting at a table, nursing a coffee.

He ran inside and bustled past a large woman who was presumably Rosie.

“Milo!” Jake said, alarmed. “How did you -”

“Medicham,” Milo explained. Medicham waved as she walked over in her own time.

“No Pokemon in my Café!” barked Rosie. “I don’t want any germs.”

“Medicham wait outside, would you?” Milo said. “We’ll teleport back to the Hotel in a sec.”

Medicham nodded, turning to leave the diner. Rosie nodded and went into the kitchen, bringing out three supersize breakfasts for a group of hungry truckers. At the door, Medicham swiped her finger sideways, causing Rosie to stumble and drop the three platters of bacon, eggs, sausage and toast. As she clattered to the ground, she looked up to see Medicham smiling, before she used her telekinesis to slam the door behind her.

“Are you ok?” Milo said, sitting down. “Did you get hurt?”

“Not hurt,” Jake mused. His manic dancing seemed so long ago.

“You must have done a runner as soon as that gun went off,” Milo replied, smirking. Jake’s face didn’t even move. “Are you okay?”

Jake looked up, meeting Milo’s eyes for the first time. He shone with tears.

“I don’t have Pichu with me,” he explained. “Someone took him.”

*

Eventually they went back to the hotel, Milo finally getting into bed at about 8am. The sun was out, and the general hustle and bustle of a Goldenrod morning ruptured beneath their room. However it was Jake’s loud sobs that kept Milo awake as he lay in silence, and he knew he wouldn’t be sleeping any time soon.

While initially blaming the weird guy that was talking to Jake the night before, Milo soon came to the conclusion Pichu had been stolen by the same criminals that took Gina’s Seel. Maybe they were after one of Milo’s Pokemon, or the thief, whoever it was, presumed Jake was a coordinator by his dressy appearance.

Whatever the case, they went to the Police station the next day to report Pichu stolen. The surly man behind the desk was not helpful in the slightest, and was not keen to file the case due to the increasing number of similar stories in the last few weeks. Added to the fact Jake had drunk so much, and had no idea what the thief looked like, and the entire thing seemed almost farcical.

“Cheer up,” Milo said to Jake, as they walked down the steps from the Police station. His eyes were red and blotchy from crying so much during the inquisition. Milo recalled Gina Gourmante’s chilling warning about thieves operating in nightclubs and almost wished he had lost a Pokemon instead of Jake. He knew the stylist had owned Wingull and Pichu for some time, and the three of them were close. Even little Totodile got on well with the lemon-coloured rodent.

They went to an ice cream parlour in the city, Milo wondering if the brightly coloured ice cream and the vast array of flavours were enough to entice Jake into one of his trademark squeals of joy. Unfortunately, despite the staggering amount of ice cream piled into his bowl, Jake did not manage a smile as he played around with the treat.

“Hey,” Milo said to Medicham, plucking the cherry garnish from his sundae. “Here’s your food.”

Medicham took the cherry and ate it delicately. Her diet only consisted of a single berry a day, which explained her slim state. Upon thinking this, Milo knew they were low on Pokemon food for Ruby, and reminded himself to get Meredith to send over another sack of ‘Corporal Crust’s Canine Chompables’, the expensive dog food the Arcanine ate. Totodile seemed to enjoy ‘people food’ quite a lot, especially meat. Milo tried giving him chicken and red meat as often as possible, since this is what he would be learning to hunt for in the wild.

“I wonder what Scyther eat,” Milo said aloud, wondering what food it could access in the National Park.

“Pichu…liked…CHOCOLATE!” screamed Jake, bursting into tears. He sobbed uncontrollably, causing Paras to burst from his Pokeball onto the seat next to Jake. Seeing his trainer upset, Paras wiggled its little orange body and released a pink powder around Jake. Milo made sure none drifted into his sundae, pulling it closer and leaning in close as he took gulps.

Jake began breathing in the pink powder and nodded calmly, breathing slowly. Paras gave a disturbing smile.

“Thank you,” Jake said, stroking the little Pokemon.

“What did it do?” Milo asked. “Caffeine Spore?”

“No,” Jake said. “That one was blue, remember? The pink one is used to calm you down.”

Jake took some deep breaths.

“I was getting panicky,” he admitted. “Paras, you frikkin’ rock.”

Milo decided, in his current state, Jake would not like to know what a retarded word ‘frik’ was. He kept that fact to himself, wondering if the spores had indeed spoiled his sundae. Jake, while still seeming despondent, was a lot less frenzied. He managed some of his sundae.

“Look, we’ll find your Pichu,” Milo said to him.

“We probably won’t,” Jake said quietly. “Goldenrod is huge. And he could have been shipped off anywhere in the world by now.”

“Try and stay positive,” Milo said. The parlour they were in was quite busy, maybe because today turned out to be quite a warm, sticky day. Suddenly, as their table gave a precarious wobble, a familiar face walked by.

“Afternoon boys,” Whitney said, smiling. Her Spinda had staggered into the table leg. “Come on, Milo, you clumsy oaf.”

“What are you doing here?” Milo asked. “Sacrificing the blood of children? Fucking witch.”

“Oh be nice,” Whitney said. “Actually I’m here with my new partner.”

She waved for someone to approach.

“Since we’re being civil,” she began sarcastically. “I suppose we should all introduce ourselves to one another.”

Milo sat there, hoping Medicham was giving Whitney and equally cold look. A woman stopped, apparently on her way to the restroom, blocking Milo’s view.

“Oy” he said to the bespectacled girl. “Out the way.”

“Excuse me?” she asked, confused.

“We’re waiting to meet someone,” Milo said.

“Err…Milo…” Whitney murmured.

“No, no, I want to see this fella you’re shacking up with,” Milo said. “Is this a friend of yours?”

“This…is Mary,” Whitney said. The woman, with vivid red hair, smiled awkwardly. She wore a green polo neck.

“Hi Mary,” Milo said distantly. “Do you know where Whitney’s new boyfriend is?”

Whitney stared at Mary and shrugged. Jake’s eyes were wide as he effortlessly put the pieces together.

“Milo, this is my new partner,” Whitney said, as Mary put her arm around the Gym Leader. “Mary.”

“Business partner?” Milo asked.

“Oh for fucks sake!” Mary cried.

“I recognise your voice from the Radio!” Jake cried suddenly. “DJ MARY!”

“Yes! That’s me! I am Mary!” she cried. She and Whitney kissed passionately before the two boys , who were staring with their mouths hanging open. Whitney leant in for the kiss, closing her eyes and tilting her head as she held her lover close.

“That was…wet,” Milo observed.

“Don’t enjoy that PDA too much,” Mary warned the two.

“Oh don’t worry,” Jake said, waving a hand. “That did nothing for me.”

“So you kissed a girl…and you liked it?” Milo said, bemused. He spoke slowly as if suffering head trauma.

“Absolutely,” Whitney replied.

“But you’re not a lesbian,” Milo said resolutely. “I…we…two years…”

“Yes Milo, I did date you for two years,” Whitney said. “But I’m exploring who I am as a woman. I feel that I have reached a point in my life where I want to be romantically involved with women like Mary.”

“You must have been terrible in bed,” Mary joked.

“Shut up you fucking dyke,” Milo snarled, like a guard dog being poked with a stick.

“Whoa!” Jake said, alarmed.

“Milo!” Whitney cried.

“What did you call me?” Mary asked crossly.

“A dyke,” Milo replied, standing up and meeting her gaze. “Why did you mess up Whitney like this? Stop confusing the girl.”

“She knows exactly what she’s doing Milo, she’s twenty-one,” Mary replied.

“This is ridiculous! You like men” Milo cried.

“Oh Milo will you grow up?” Jake snapped.

“Stay out of this, you know NOTHING about women!” Milo yelled.

“This is NOT about women you fucking idiot!” Jake cried, standing up so that the four were all on their feet, like a bizarre showdown. “It’s about your ego! You can’t stand the fact you won’t be able to charm your way into Whitney’s panties now you’re back in town!”

“You couldn’t pay me to sleep with her again,” Milo spat. “You were the worse thing to ever happen to me.”

“You seem so much better for having me out of your life,” Whitney said. “Immature, sexist, homophobic…it’s going well for you, isn’t it?”

“What will people think!?” Milo cried.

“Nobody cares but you,” Mary pointed out.

“I’m one of the few Johto leaders to keep my Gym title,” Whitney replied. “So I’m clearly not being judged.”

“Well if you sleep with girls and boys, there are more people you can bribe with sexual favours,” Milo retorted. “Dirty little slut.”

As the words left his lips he felt a sharp slap across his face. Whitney stared coldly at him as if he was a diseased little rat. Mary had her arms folded, while Jake brushed his hair from his face.

“You,” Whitney replied. “Are the worst excuse for a human being I have ever met.”

“Me?!” Milo asked wildly. He lowered his voice as he locked eyes with Whitney. “It’s good to see your arm has healed up, Whit.”

“What does that mean?” Mary asked Whitney, who said nothing.

“Fuck - you,” she said sadly.

“No,” Milo replied. “Don’t pass me off as a monster. You are no better.”

“Fuck off!” Whitney cried, turning and leaving the ice cream parlour. Mary looked on, half confused and half distressed, with Jake sporadically storming off too. Milo watched him go, still having not registered that he was alone with the formidable-looking DJ Mary.

“What the hell did you do!?” she screamed. “What was all that about?”

“She knows,” Milo said coldly. He turned to leave, but Mary grabbed his arm. Instantly Medicham used telekinesis to hurl her off Milo, causing her to fall into the table they had sat at. Milo calmly left the chaotic parlour and headed for the streets of Goldenrod City.

*

Later in the day, Milo had found himself in the underground passage. It ran from West Goldenrod to East Goldenrod, and had a few shops located among it, including the urban stylists Weaves. It was a common place for trainers to battle due to a lot of battles being forbidden in the streets.

With Ruby out on the field, Milo watched as the trainer he was facing released a Magcargo. The gloopy snail had a thick, round shell comprised of crusted, cooled magma, with globules of magma dripping from its jowls. Ruby looked repulsed at the Pokemon. Milo could see why.

“Maggie, use flamethrower!” cried the girl. Nodding, Magcargo opened wide and blasted a jet of flames at Ruby. She dodged elegantly, landing further away and, on command, sending a bigger, searing mouthful of fire at the foe.

“Whoa!” the trainer said. “Nice flamethrower!”

“Thanks,” Milo said, despite doing nothing to help Ruby learn the move. “Ruby go for iron tail1”

Nodding, she raced across the battlefield, her tail shimmering and sparkling. As she leapt up she tucked herself in, flipping forward and whipping her tail across Magcargo’s brittle shell. It cracked somewhat, causing the girl to worry.

“Heat wave!”

Nodding, Magcargo throbbed as a soft steam hissed from the cracks among its shell. Milo could feel the heat in the unventilated passage; sweat began to trickle down his forehead. Ruby looked very hot, but nevertheless ready to battle on.

“Okay Ruby, use a swift attack,” Milo ordered. Ruby blasted a mouthful of tiny golden stars that grew as they span in the air. They swept towards Magcargo, but Milo had other ideas.

“Fire spin!”

Flames curling within her jaws, Ruby barked and the flames shot out her mouth, whipping up into a fiery tornado that engulfed the swift attack. As it span around like a tornado, the golden stars seared red with heat, whipping around the vortex and shining brightly.

“Now!” Milo said. “Extreme speed and thunder fang combo! Race into the vortex!”

She became a silvery blur as she tore along towards the attack. Hurling herself through the vortex, Ruby caused the flames to burst and the stars to lose their pull; as her fangs crackled with sparks she leapt from the fire spin, the flames danced along her elegant body, the stars spinning around like comets.

“Brilliant!” Milo said, who was using this relatively easy battle to practice for the next contest. Ruby tackled Magcargo and chomped its soft but warm flesh. Magcargo screamed as sparks jolted through its body.

Ruby raced back to Milo as embers still fell from above. Milo was glad he was able to conduct a new appeal with his mothers Pokemon, but gasped when one of the embers burst into flame on Ruby’s back.

“Watch out!” he said, noticing the flame burning hair on Ruby’s mane. She looked and began to worry, yelping softly and dancing around the battlefield in a fit of panic. Milo couldn’t understand how she wasn’t burned before, but was now seemingly attracting the flames; soon her mane was completely gone as the flames licked her body.

“Totodile!” Milo said. “Extinguish the flames!”

The brightly-coloured Totodile burst from the ball and spouted jets of flames as Ruby looked on sadly as flames swathed her entire body. They refused to be extinguished, however, causing Totodile much distress as he failed to do as commanded.

“Ruby!” Milo yelled. He looked to see the trainer not responding whatsoever, arms folded as Magcargo throbbed calmly. Steam rose from its shell. “Wait a minute…

“Totodile use water gun on Magcargo!”

Totodile turned to the snail and blasted a jet of water through the air. It struck Magcargo in the side, causing her to slide along the arena and mutter in contempt. Upon the execution of the attack, the flames faded from around Ruby, and she appeared not to have been burned in the slightest.

“What the fuck?” Milo snapped.

“Hey! You used a different Pokemon!” the girl cried in protest.

“You made me think my Pokemon was burning to death you heartless fuck!” Milo snapped.

“Magcargo can create illusions through its fire,” she girl explained coolly. “I learnt that from the Cianwood Gym.”

“Cianwood?” Milo said, furrowing his brow. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll share my secret if you can beat me,” the girl said, getting a new Pokeball out. “Let’s make this a double!”

She hurled another Pokeball into the air. It burst to reveal a slick, white Absol, whose curved, grey scythe on the side of its head was grim and disturbing. Absol gave a higher-pitched bark than Ruby’s; the four Pokemon eyed each other as the battle turned into a double.

“Ruby use flare blitz on Absol! Totodile, water gun on Magcargo!” Milo yelled. Ruby burst into flames as she raced along the arena like a firework. Absol charged energy in her blade and slashed wildly, but Totodile leapt forward and blasted a water gun to redirect the energy into the wall. Absol watched, stunned, as Ruby tackled into her with an intense explosion of heat.

Milo was shocked at Totodile’s manoeuvre to protect Ruby, but was impressed with his accuracy. He shot another jet of water at Magcargo, causing a mist-like steam to rise from its hot body. Absol looked irritated by the burn but raced along the arena quickly, smashing into Totodile.

“Your Totodile is an unusual colour,” the trainer noticed. “Where did you catch it?”

“Near Olivine,” Milo replied. “Totodile use ice beam on Magcargo!”

The moisture coating its body would help. Ruby created a fire spin to distract Absol; the swirling fire blocked her from view. Totodile scampered along the arena and leapt up, firing a beam of pearly white ice that slammed into Magcargo. A thin ice began to crackle over the snail’s wet skin, limiting its movement. The Pokemon’s yellow, lamp-like eyes moved curiously.

“Maggie!” the trainer said. “Absol! Use psycho cut!”

Eyes glowing vividly, Absol concentrated hard. Using her mind, she carved into the ice freezing Magcargo and began trying to free her team mate. In that time, however, Totodile raced through the air and attacked with another water gun. Distracted, Absol skidded along the arena, snarling. Totodile dived under Absol’s legs and deftly slashed her stomach, causing her pain.

“Now Ruby! Overheat on Absol! Totodile spin out the way and hit Magcargo with water gun!”

As Ruby charged a huge jet of flames in her mouth, a golden glow took over her body. Totodile saw this and, behind Absol, blasted a jet of water at the ground and was propelled out of the way. Spinning in the air amid droplets of water, Totodile vaulted over the attack Ruby unleashed; a swirling beam of flames swathed in gold light. Absol was struck and shrieked wildly as she was ploughed into the wall.

“Go on Totodile!” yelled Milo. Firing the water gun down, Totodile hit Magcargo, who seemed defeated. Landing next to Ruby, Totodile leapt up and down happily. The girl recalled her Magcargo and ordered Absol to get up.

“Strike with quick attack!”

“Evade with extreme speed,” Milo said. Arcanine shot out the way of Absol’s alleged ‘quick attack’, leaving the wolf-like creature confused. Totodile leapt at Absol and swung his tail around as it shimmered blue. It whipped across Absol’s face, but she sank her teeth in and crunched hard. Totodile gave a yelp and hung limply from Absol’s mouth.

“Swing it into the wall!” cried the girl.

“Charge up ice fang!” Milo ordered. “Then while your fangs are still nice and cold use water gun to escape!”

Totodile began clenching his jaws as icy crystals formed, but Abosl flung him through the air in no time. Totodile struck the wall and collapsed to the ground, hurt from the attack. Absol stalked over as Totodile clambered back to his feet. Perhaps instinctively, sensing an attack, he began creating ice crystals among his sharp teeth once more.

“Absol use slash!”

“Dodge! Ice fang!” Milo said. Totodile leapt to the right as Absol swung her scythe. Chomping down on the Pokemon’s front paw, Totodile sent a freezing sensation through her flesh, causing her a sharp, stinging pain. On Milo’s command, Totodile blasted out the way with a water gun as Ruby fired a flamethrower to finish the dark Pokemon off.

“Yes!” Milo said, as Totodile scampered over excitedly. “Good work dude.”

He stroked Ruby as the disgruntled girl recalled Absol.

“Good battle,” she muttered.

“So spill it,” Milo said, not being particularly friendly with the girl. “What’s going on in Cianwood?”

“The Illusion Gym is open,” she explained. “Run by Eusine Grimm.”

“I know the guy you mean,” Milo muttered. “His mother is Veronica Grimm, the mayor of Ecruteak, right?”

“I don’t know,” the girl scoffed, irritating Milo. “But he owns the gym in Cianwood now. And his Quilava creates illusions using its fire. Causes dehydration, hallucinations, that sort of thing. He helped me learn to do the same with my Magcargo.”

“Where is Chuck?” Milo asked.

“How am I supposed to know that?” she snapped. “Anyway, I need to go to the Pokemoncenter. I have to keep training for my rematch against Whitney.”



*