Maybe I shouldn't cram so much knowledge into someone's brain, just in case. Clemont pulled the card back and snuck it back into the wallet.
**
The Laverre Gym was a thing of beauty built into the city's grandest tree. By the time Ash and his group had arrived, Sawyer had joined them. As Clemont expected, only Valerie's Gym Trainer Linnea was there. "I welcome you to the Laverre Gym," she said as she bowed.
"I'm here for a Gym Battle," said Ash.
Valerie's Linnea stepped aside, letting the group pass through. The two Linnea's passed each other without a comment, Clemont's Linnea respecting the role of Valerie's Linnea. The group walked onto the battlefield, admiring its traditional aesthetic. Ash took his place on the battlefield, Valerie's Linnea took her position as referee,and everyone else made their way to the balcony.
Sawyer let out his Treecko and told him, "We're spectators today, okay? I know that if we watch their battle closely we'll learn a lot. I'll be sure to make lots of notes on this experience."
Treecko responded with agreement.
"And we will too," Clemont said.
"Knowledge is key to Gym Battles," His Linnea added.
"Right," Said Serena.
"Alright, learning's fun," Bonnie added.
A few seconds passed. "Hold on, Where's Valerie?" Ash asked.
"Lady Valerie will be arriving shortly," Valerie's Linnea explained.
The battlefield went dark. The windows lit up and petals began to appear on them. The windows became a display of a beautiful night sky, petals still fluttering.
Everyone gasped in awe. "Like a designer's Gym should look," Sawyer remarked.
This display is incredible, Clemont thought to himself. I'd love my Gym to have it.
The display ended abruptly, the lighting and windows returning to as they had been before the lights went dark.
Clemont gulped nervously. R-Right. Well, as long as it's in my wallet, I can copy it and return it to Valerie, right?
Actual petals flew through the entrance corridor on the opposing side. Valerie walked in among them.
"It's her," Said Ash.
"Pika," Pikachu replied with anticipation.
"It's Valerie," said Saywer.
"Lady Valerie is here," Valerie's Linnea announced.
"I welcome you all to my Gym. I believe your name is Ash, right? How many Gym Badges do you have?" Valerie asked.
Ash answered, "I have five of them, right now, and after this I'll have six Gym Badges."
Valerie giggled, "Such spirit. You're certainly confident aren't you. But I won't let you win that easily."
**
"Spritzee is unable to battle. Hawlucha is the winner. The victor is Ash of Pallet Town."
Ash's victory hadn't been easy, but it was a victory all the same. Those in the balcony came down. Clemont took the rear, pulling out the cards of the original Kali, Katherine, and Blossom. I don't want to keep these, he kept telling himself. He was so focused that he didn't hear Valerie's question or Ash's response. All he did was walk up to Valerie and say, "It's an honor to have seen you battle. I'd like to shake your hand."
Valerie smiled, "Of course." She raised her hand, still in its sleeve.
Clemont extended his card-holding hand. Valerie's face flickered for only a moment before the cards disappeared and the two shook hand with sleeved hand. The three Gym Trainers reappeared next to Valerie's Linnea.
**
As the others talked, Valerie's Linnea and Clemont's Linnea approached each other.
Clemont's Linnea bowed, "Your skills as a referee are most admirable."
Valerie's Linnea bowed back. "Thank you. How are your travels with Clemont?"
"They are going very well," Clemont's Linnea replied. "I feel that he is growing stronger and wiser every day, and I am honored to be by his side."
Valerie's Linnea nodded, "Such is the honor and duty of every Linnea. You do us proud."
Clemont's Linnea blushed, "Thank you."
Ash's voice broke through their conversation, "It'll be easier to explain with a battle."
"Yes!" Sawyer shouted. Ash and Sawyer left, Clemont, Bonnie, and Serena following close behind.
The two Linneas bowed to each other. "I must go. I hope to see you again soon," Said Clemont's Linnea.
"As do I," Valerie's Linnea replied.
Clemont's Linnea went gracefully to join the others.
**
Night had come, and the Pokemon Center was a welcome sight after the afternoon's tiff with Team Rocket. Team Rocket had tried to take Sawyer's notebook, but the notebook had be retrieved and now everyone was enjoying a good rest. As everyone was watching the tv, Clemont had pulled back to one of the videophones. A new idea had occurred to him, and he was going to try it out. Clemont dialed Serena's mother Grace.
The screen appeared above the phone, and Grace's face appeared. "Hello? Oh! You're Serena's friend. How can I help you?"
"I'd like your daughter," Clemont said bluntly.
Grace blinked, "Hello? Who is this?"
"O-Oh! Wrong number," Clemont said. "My apologies miss."
"Okay... good night then," Grace replied. She hung up.
Clemont put his backpack on the floor. He took out the card with his Perfect Card Copy Making Machine and placed it on the floor where it materialized in full. Clemont then took a pair of tweezers and used it to take out the cards with Serena and the display windows on them. He made a copy of each card and then put the four cards in his wallet.
Ash called out to him, "Hey Clemont! Me and Sawyer are going to have a battle tomorrow, so we're turning in."
"Go ahead. I'll be right there," Clemont promised. "Linnea, I'll give you the machine, okay?"
Linnea nodded, immediately turning to join the others as Clemont took his machine back into the wallet.
Clemont walked over to the front desk and rang the bell. Nurse Joy came out and bowed, "Good evening. How can I help you?"
Clemont asked, "I'd like to send three cards by mail. Do you have envelopes please?"
Nurse Joy nodded, "Sure. Let me get them for you."
Nurse Joy gave Clemont the envelopes. Clemont took two envelopes, put a Serena card into each envelope and addressed the two of them - one to Serena's currently-former Grace, and one to his father Meyer in Lumiose City. He added a letter in each one saying only, "For you to keep." He made sure to give both envelopes the first-class stamps and passed them to Nurse Joy, who put them with the rest of the Pokemon Center's mail. Clemont then put a design windows card into the third envelope, addressed it to Valerie's Gym, gave it a regular stamp, and handed that one off to Nurse Joy.
**
The battle between Ash and Sawyer had gone well. Ash had won. Serena's not here, but she will have been when Grace takes the card back. I really should look more into these retroactive effects later, Clemont thought to himself.
Sawyer parted ways with the group, hoping to earn more Gym Badges. Ash led his friends to Dendemille Town, their next stop on the way to Anistar City.
**
Everyone was going to sleep. Yesterday had been a day of mundane travel. Today had been a much busier one. Ash had found a Pokemon Egg and hatched it into a Noibat. Team Rocket had tried to kidnap it as they always had, but Ash and his friends had managed to drive them off again. Noibat had agreed to go with Ash. The Noibat had not yet learned to fly, but it was learning with the help of Ash's Fletchinder and Hawlucha. Tomorrow, they'd be continuing to teach it.
Clemont took a deep breath. The letters would probably arrive tomorrow morning. He hoped that all would go well and that both of them would get their Serena cards.
Sun Nov 13 05:03:13 2016