Chapter 30: Nicola VS Kim
The industrial district smelled like rust and old rain. Puddles of oil-slicked water reflected the sodium glow of streetlamps, their yellow light cutting through the perpetual twilight of Aethelburg's lower quarters. Nicola walked at the rear of the group, Starly perched on her shoulder, Magnemite hovering at her hip like a metallic sentinel.
She wasn't in the mood for conversation.
The encounter in the tunnels had left her restless. Briv had caught a Gible—a fucking Gible—and Samuel had walked out of the nesting ground with two new Pokémon and a purpose. Everyone was moving forward. Everyone was building something.
What was she building?
"Hey." Dariana fell into step beside her. Gallade walked on her other side, silent and watchful. "You've been quiet."
"I'm always quiet."
"No, you're not. You're just selective about when you talk." Dariana smiled. "There's a difference."
Nicola didn't answer. Starly chirped softly, sensing her tension, and she reached up to stroke its crest. The bird leaned into her touch, trusting and warm.
"I'm fine," Nicola said finally. "Just thinking."
"About?"
"The League. The Eclipse Squad. Whether I'm actually good enough to be here."
Dariana's smile faded. "You're more than good enough. You held your own against Briv in the championship. You've got three strong Pokémon and a fourth that's still growing."
"Briv has six now."
"So? It's not about numbers."
"It is when you're trying to win."
Dariana was quiet for a moment. Ahead of them, Briv and Patricia walked side by side, their voices low and intimate. Samuel was telling Axel about the Aipom's tail dexterity, gesturing wildly. Even the stoic former champion seemed to be listening.
"You know what your problem is?" Dariana said.
"Enlighten me."
"You compare yourself to everyone else. Briv. Patricia. Me. Even Samuel now. You're always measuring yourself against someone else's ruler."
Nicola's jaw tightened. "That's not—"
"It is. And it's bullshit." Dariana's voice was sharp now, cutting through the hum of distant machinery. "You're Nicola fucking Sunfall. You don't need to be anyone else. You just need to be better than you were yesterday."
Nicola stopped walking.
Dariana stopped too, turning to face her. Gallade mirrored the motion, its red eyes unreadable.
"You really believe that?"
"I wouldn't say it if I didn't."
Nicola looked at her—really looked at her. Dariana's dark eyes were steady, her expression open. No mockery. No agenda. Just honesty.
"Thanks," Nicola said.
"Don't thank me. Just stop being an idiot."
---
The challenge came twenty minutes later.
They had just crossed into a pedestrian plaza—a wide, open space ringed by abandoned storefronts and a single functioning fountain that spat brown water into the air. The plaza was empty except for a few drifters and a pair of Rattata scavenging near a dumpster.
"Hold up," Axel said. His Rotom flickered, its orange body pulsing with sudden alertness. "We've got company."
Everyone tensed. Briv's hand went to his belt. Patricia stepped in front of Buneary. Samuel reached for Doduo's ball.
Then a figure emerged from the shadows of an alley.
She was young—nineteen, maybe twenty—with auburn hair that caught the streetlight like copper wire. Her build was athletic, compact, the kind of body that moved with purpose. She wore cargo pants, a crop top, and fingerless gloves, and her green eyes swept over the group with quick, assessing precision.
"Relax," she said. "I'm not here to fight."
Axel didn't relax. "Who are you?"
"Kim Possible." She smiled, and it was disarming—genuine, almost friendly. "I'm a trainer. Heard there was a League champion in the area. Wanted to see for myself."
Briv stepped forward. "That's me."
Kim looked him over. Her expression was curious rather than impressed. "You're Briv Ambertone."
"That's right."
"Huh." She shifted her attention to the others. "And you're Patricia Crownleaf. Nicola Sunfall. Dariana Brightone." Her gaze lingered on Nicola. "I've watched your matches. You're good."
"Thanks," Nicola said flatly.
"I mean it. Your Magnemite is a beast. That control you've got—the way you use its magnetism to manipulate the battlefield? That's high-level stuff."
Nicola felt a flicker of something—pride, maybe, or surprise. Most people focused on Briv. Most people didn't even notice her.
"You're not here to trade compliments," she said. "What do you want?"
Kim's smile widened. "Direct. I like that." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a Pokéball. "I want a battle. Three on three. Your best against mine."
The plaza went quiet.
"You want to battle me?" Nicola asked.
"I want to battle you."
"Why not Briv?"
"Because Briv already has a reputation. Everyone knows he's good." Kim tossed the ball in the air and caught it. "You're the one people underestimate. I want to see if they're right."
Nicola felt the challenge like a physical thing—a weight pressing against her chest. It was anger, partly. Bitterness. The old familiar sting of being second-best.
But it was more than that.
It was hunger.
"Fine," she said. "You've got your battle."
---
They cleared the center of the plaza, forming a makeshift ring. Briv and Patricia stood on one side, Axel and Samuel on the other, Dariana hovering near the fountain with Gallade at her side. The Rattata fled. Even the drifters paused to watch.
Nicola and Kim faced each other across thirty feet of cracked concrete.
"Three on three," Kim said. "Standard rules. No healing items mid-battle. We fight until one side can't continue."
"Agreed."
They shook hands. Kim's grip was firm, confident. Nicola matched it.
Then they stepped back, and the battle began.
---
Kim led with Glameow.
The cat Pokémon materialized in a flash of white light, its sleek gray body low to the ground, its tail flicking with predatory rhythm. It was elegant, refined—the kind of Pokémon that looked like it belonged on a magazine cover rather than a battlefield.
But Nicola knew better than to trust appearances.
"Magnemite," she said. "You're up."
Magnemite hummed forward, its magnets crackling with stored electricity. Its single blue eye fixed on Glameow with cold precision, calculating angles, distances, weaknesses.
The two Pokémon stared at each other across the concrete.
"Glameow, Fake Out!" Kim called.
The cat moved. Fast—faster than Nicola expected—blurring across the plaza and slamming into Magnemite before it could react. The impact sent the Electric-type spinning sideways, its magnets flailing.
But Magnemite didn't fall.
It never fell.
"Thunder Wave," Nicola said.
The paralysis hit Glameow mid-retreat, yellow sparks crawling across its fur. The cat stumbled, its legs locking up, and for a moment it was completely vulnerable.
"Now. Spark."
Magnemite lunged forward, its body wreathed in electricity, and slammed into Glameow with enough force to send the cat skidding across the concrete. Glameow cried out—a sharp, pained yowl—and struggled to rise.
"Stay down," Kim muttered. Then, louder: "Glameow, Shadow Claw!"
The cat's claws extended, dark energy crackling around them, and it launched itself at Magnemite with desperate speed. The attack connected, and Magnemite shuddered—but didn't fall.
"Thunderbolt."
The lightning was blinding. It arced from Magnemite's magnets in a jagged, branching pattern, striking Glameow squarely in the chest and hurling it across the plaza. The cat hit the ground hard, rolled twice, and didn't get up.
Kim recalled it without comment. Her expression was unreadable.
"Not bad," she said. "But we're just getting started."
---
She sent out Buneary next.
Nicola's stomach tightened. Buneary wasn't just any Buneary—this one had the same coloring as Patricia's Pokémon, the same soft brown fur and curled ears. But there was something different in its eyes. Something harder.
"Magnemite, stay in it," Nicola said.
Magnemite hummed its acknowledgment. It was damaged—Glameow's Fake Out and Shadow Claw had taken a toll—but it was still battle-ready.
"Buneary, Bounce!"
The rabbit Pokémon crouched and launched itself into the air, soaring twenty feet up before hurtling back down with terrifying speed. Magnemite tried to dodge, but the attack was too fast—Buneary crashed into it like a meteor, sending it spinning into the fountain with a splash.
"Magnemite!"
The Electric-type didn't respond immediately. Its magnets sparked weakly, its eye flickering. Then, slowly, it rose from the water.
"Good," Nicola breathed. "Good. Now—Magnet Rise."
Magnemite's magnets flared with power, and it lifted higher into the air, out of Bounce's effective range. Buneary landed on the concrete below, its eyes tracking the hovering Electric-type with frustrated precision.
"Thunderbolt."
The lightning came again—but this time Buneary was ready. It dodged sideways, rolling under the bolt, and came up running.
"Dizzy Punch!"
The attack caught Magnemite square in its center. The Electric-type spun away, its eye flickering wildly, and Nicola knew it was done.
She recalled it before it could crash. "You did well," she said quietly. "Rest."
Then she sent out Tangela.
---
The vine Pokémon materialized with a flourish, its blue tendrils writhing in the streetlight. Its white eyes were sharp, calculating, and they fixed on Buneary with unmistakable intent.
"Tangela, Power Whip."
The vines lashed out—a sweeping arc of green that caught Buneary mid-dodge and sent it tumbling across the concrete. The rabbit cried out, struggling to find its feet, and Tangela pressed its advantage.
"Again."
Another whip. Another impact. Buneary flew backward, hit a lamppost, and slumped to the ground.
"Buneary, Sweet Kiss!"
The rabbit's lips puckered, and a wave of pink energy pulsed outward. Tangela froze mid-attack, its eyes glazing over with confusion.
Nicola cursed under her breath. "Snap out of it! Power Whip!"
Tangela swung wildly—and missed. The vines cracked against the concrete, sending up a spray of debris. Buneary, still weak, managed a weak smile.
"Now, Bounce!"
The rabbit launched itself into the air. Tangela was still confused, still swinging at nothing, and the Bounce hit it dead-on.
Tangela went down hard.
But it wasn't finished.
"Come on," Nicola growled. "Get up. GET UP."
Tangela's tendrils twitched. Then it rose—slowly, unsteadily, but it rose. Its eyes had cleared. Its confusion had faded.
And it was angry.
"Power Whip. Full strength."
The vines moved like a hurricane. They caught Buneary before it could dodge, wrapped around the rabbit's body, and slammed it into the concrete with enough force to crack the pavement.
Kim winced.
Buneary didn't move.
"Not bad," Kim said. She recalled her Pokémon with a subtle shake of her head. "You've got two left. So do I."
"One left," Nicola said. "I still have Skorupi."
"Then let's see what it can do."
---
Kim's final Pokémon was Bibarel.
The beaver Pokémon was larger than Nicola expected—maybe three feet tall, with a stocky body, a flat tail, and teeth that looked capable of chewing through steel. It had the kind of calm, patient expression that spoke of experience.
"Skorupi," Nicola said.
The scorpion Pokémon appeared in a flash of light, its purple armor gleaming under the streetlamps. It was small—smaller than Bibarel by a factor of two—but it crouched low to the ground, pincers raised, tail arched, ready.
"Bibarel, Waterfall!"
The beaver charged, water swirling around its body, and slammed into Skorupi with crushing force. The Bug-type was thrown backward, its armor scraping against the concrete, but it landed on its feet.
"Poison Sting."
Skorupi lunged, its tail whipping forward. The barb struck Bibarel's flank, and the beaver grunted—but didn't slow.
"Superpower!"
Bibarel's attack was brutal. It grabbed Skorupi in its oversized paws and slammed the Bug-type into the ground, again and again. The concrete cracked. Skorupi's armor creaked.
"Skorupi, hold on!"
The scorpion's eyes flashed. It managed to twist free, scrambling backward, leaving a trail of dark fluid on the concrete. Poison. Good.
"Bibarel, Aqua Jet!"
The beaver launched itself forward, water trailing behind it like a comet's tail. Skorupi tried to dodge—but it was too slow. The impact sent it flying into the fountain, which shattered under the force of the collision.
Nicola's heart stopped.
Skorupi lay in the wreckage, water pooling around it, its armor cracked, its body still.
"Get up," Nicola whispered. "Please get up."
Silence.
Kim started to speak—something about the match being over—but then Skorupi moved.
Slowly. Painfully. One claw at a time, it pulled itself out of the debris. Its tail was bent. Its armor was shattered in three places. But its eyes were burning.
"Pin Missile."
Skorupi's tail moved. Barb after barb launched across the plaza, a relentless barrage that forced Bibarel to retreat. The beaver tried to dodge, tried to block, but there were too many—they struck its face, its chest, its legs, and it roared in frustration.
"Now," Nicola said. "Cross Poison."
Skorupi lunged. Its claws were wreathed in purple energy, and they struck Bibarel across the chest in a perfect X. The beaver stumbled, its eyes going wide.
Then it collapsed.
For a moment, nobody moved. Then Kim recalled Bibarel with a soft click, and the plaza filled with the sound of Nicola's breathing.
"You win," Kim said. She didn't sound upset. If anything, she sounded... impressed. "That Skorupi's got spirit."
Nicola recalled Skorupi—gently, carefully, already planning how to treat its wounds—and looked at Kim across the battlefield.
"Good match," she said.
"It was." Kim walked over, hand extended. "You're better than I expected."
"I'm better than everyone expects."
Kim laughed. It was a genuine sound, warm and unguarded. "Yeah. I can see that."
They shook hands.
---
An hour later, the group had gathered in the lobby of an abandoned hotel. The furniture was rotting, the windows were boarded, but the walls were thick and the doors were solid. Axel had declared it safe for the night.
Nicola sat alone near a cracked window, Starly in her lap, Magnemite hovering nearby. Tangela and Skorupi were in their balls, resting. She'd used the last of her potions to treat their wounds.
"You did good."
She looked up. Briv was standing there, a blanket in his hands.
"Thanks."
He sat down beside her, close enough that their shoulders touched. "I mean it. That was one of the best battles I've seen since... well, since the League."
"Better than yours?"
"Different." He smiled faintly. "You fight smart. Patient. You see things other people miss."
Nicola looked at him. In the dim light, his brown eyes were warm, and his face was relaxed for the first time since the tunnels. He looked like the Briv she remembered from before the League—before the fame, before the pressure. The Briv who had kissed her in the back of a forgotten gymnasium and promised that nothing would change.
Everything had changed.
But some things stayed the same.
"I can't do this right now," she said quietly.
Briv nodded. He didn't look surprised. "I know."
"Things are complicated."
"I know that too."
"But—" She hesitated. "Maybe when this is over. When we're not running from Eclipse Squads and sleeping in abandoned buildings."
"Maybe," he said.
He stood up and draped the blanket over her shoulders. Then he walked away, back toward Patricia, back toward the life he'd chosen.
Nicola watched him go, and she didn't feel angry.
For the first time in a long time, she just felt... steady.
Tomorrow, they'd find the Eclipse Squad's hideout. Tomorrow, they'd fight another fight, win another battle, take another step toward whatever was coming.
But tonight, she had a blanket and a window and a Pokémon purring in her lap.
It was enough.
====
The abandoned hotel settled into silence, each member of the group finding their own corner of the rotting lobby. Briv watched Nicola from across the room, her blanket-wrapped silhouette framed by the boarded windows. She hadn't moved in twenty minutes.
Patricia sat beside him on a musty couch, Buneary curled in her lap. Her fingers traced absent patterns on his thigh, grounding him in the present.
"She's stronger than she thinks," Patricia said quietly.
"I know."
"You still care about her."
It wasn't a question. Briv looked at Patricia—really looked at her—and saw no jealousy in her blue eyes. Just understanding. Just patience.
"I care about a lot of people," he said. "Doesn't mean I love you any less."
Patricia leaned into him, her head finding the hollow of his shoulder. "I know that too."
They sat like that for a while, watching the others settle. Samuel was already asleep, Doduo's two heads resting on his chest like feathered bookends. Axel stood guard near the entrance, Rotom's glow casting his face in flickering orange. Dariana stretched through a series of slow, deliberate movements—yoga, maybe, or dance—her body folding and unfolding with fluid grace.
The night pressed against the boarded windows, heavy and patient.
---
Morning came gray and damp, filtered through cracks in the boards like dirty light through a sieve.
Briv woke to the smell of instant coffee and the sound of Samuel tuning something—a small stringed instrument he'd produced from his pack, its wooden body worn smooth by years of use. The melody was soft, wandering, the kind of tune that didn't demand attention but rewarded it anyway.
"You play?" Briv asked, sitting up.
Samuel nodded without stopping. "Since I was twelve. Helps me think."
"Think about what?"
"The battle I'm about to challenge you to."
Briv blinked. The melody continued, unconcerned.
"You're challenging me?"
"Three on three." Samuel's fingers danced across the strings, never faltering. "Your Pokémon against mine. I need to know if I'm ready."
"Ready for what?"
"The League. The Eclipse Squad. Whatever comes next." Samuel finally looked up, his warm eyes steady. "I've got three Pokémon now. A team. But I need to test them. And you're the best there is."
Briv felt something shift in his chest. Pride, maybe. Or recognition. He remembered what it felt like to stand on the edge of something new, uncertain and hungry.
"Alright," he said. "You've got your battle."
---
They found an open space three blocks from the hotel—a cratered lot where a building had once stood, its ruins long since cleared but never rebuilt. Weeds pushed through cracks in the asphalt. A single streetlamp flickered overhead, pointless in the daylight.
The others gathered at the edges. Patricia perched on a chunk of broken concrete, Buneary in her lap, Buizel splashing in a nearby puddle. Dariana stood with Gallade, her Combee buzzing lazy circles around her head. Axel leaned against a rusted girder, Rotom crackling softly at his shoulder.
Nicola stood apart, arms crossed, watching.
"Three on three," Samuel said. He stood across from Briv, Doduo pacing at his side, both heads alert. "No switches. No items. We fight until one team can't continue."
"Agreed."
They didn't shake hands. They didn't need to.
Samuel pulled two Pokéballs from his belt and released them in a flash of light. Bonsly materialized first, wobbling slightly before steadying itself. Aipom appeared second, immediately launching into a series of backflips before landing on Doduo's back.
Briv considered his options. Chimchar would be overkill. Turtwig was too slow. Piplup wasn't ready. That left his two newest additions.
"Shinx," he said. "You're up."
The Electric-type appeared in a crackle of blue sparks, its star-tipped tail flicking, its ears swiveling to take in the surroundings. It spotted the three opposing Pokémon—Doduo, Bonsly, Aipom—and didn't flinch. Didn't even blink.
"Interesting choice," Samuel said. "You're using a Pokémon you caught yesterday against three I've been training with."
"Gotta start somewhere."
Samuel grinned. "Alright then. Doduo, Quick Attack!"
The two-headed bird blurred forward, both heads striking simultaneously. Shinx dodged left, then right, then left again, its body a streak of blue against the gray asphalt.
"Thunder Shock."
The lightning was precise—a single bolt that arced from Shinx's body and struck Doduo's right head square in the beak. The bird squawked, stumbling, but its left head kept attacking, lunging forward with a Peck that caught Shinx in the shoulder.
Shinx rolled with the impact, came up on its feet, and didn't slow down.
"Good," Briv said. "Now—Spark."
Shinx launched itself at Doduo, its body wreathed in electricity. The collision sent both Pokémon tumbling, but Shinx recovered first, pinning Doduo's left head to the ground with a paw.
"Bonsly, help!" Samuel called.
The Rock-type waddled forward, tears streaming down its face. It didn't look threatening—it looked pathetic, a crying rock with stubby legs. But when it launched itself into a Rollout, Shinx had to scramble to avoid the impact.
"Use the momentum," Briv said. "Thunderbolt."
Shinx pivoted mid-dodge, lightning erupting from its fur in a jagged corona. The bolt struck Bonsly mid-roll, sending the Rock-type skidding across the asphalt. It hit a chunk of rubble and stopped moving.
"Bonsly!" Samuel's voice cracked. "Get up!"
Bonsly didn't move.
Samuel recalled it with a grim expression. "You're up, Aipom."
The Normal-type sprang from Doduo's back, landing on the asphalt with a grin. Its tail whipped through the air, testing the wind, and its eyes never left Shinx.
"Aipom, Fury Swipes!"
The monkey blurred forward, tail-strikes coming in rapid succession. Shinx dodged, weaved, twisted—but Aipom was fast, faster than Doduo, faster than anything Shinx had faced. A tail-strike caught it across the flank. Another clipped its ear.
"Shinx, hold your ground!"
The Electric-type planted its paws and let the electricity build, a low hum that vibrated through the asphalt. Aipom hesitated—just for a second—and that was enough.
"Discharge."
The explosion of electricity was blinding. It radiated outward in a perfect sphere, catching Aipom mid-leap and hurling the Normal-type across the lot. Aipom hit a lamppost with a sickening thud and slid to the ground.
It didn't get up.
Samuel stood frozen, two Pokéballs in his hand—both empty of their occupants, both recalled. Only Doduo remained, one head dazed, the other still fighting.
"Just Doduo left," Briv said.
"I know."
"You can forfeit. No shame in it."
Samuel's jaw tightened. "No."
He didn't say anything else. Just looked at Doduo, and something passed between them—a silent understanding, a shared refusal to quit.
Doduo rose. Both heads, battered and exhausted, fixed on Shinx with the same stubborn fire.
Briv nodded. "Shinx—finish it."
The Electric-type lunged forward, faster than it had any right to be after taking that many hits. Doduo tried to dodge, tried to counter, tried to do anything—but Shinx was relentless. It hit the bird with a Quick Attack, then a Spark, then another Thunderbolt that lit up the entire lot in stark white light.
When the glare faded, Doduo lay on its side, both heads still, both beaks closed.
Samuel recalled it with shaking hands.
"You win," he said. His voice was hoarse. "You win."
Briv walked over and put a hand on his shoulder. "You did good."
"I lost."
"You lasted longer than most would. And your Pokémon fought hard."
Samuel looked at the three Pokéballs on his belt—Doduo, Bonsly, Aipom—and something shifted in his expression. The disappointment didn't fade, exactly, but it mixed with something else. Determination, maybe. Or resolve.
"I need to train more," he said.
"Then train more."
"I need help."
Briv smiled. "That's what I'm here for."
---
They walked back to the group together. Samuel's Pokémon were in their balls, recovering, and Shinx rode on Briv's shoulder like a conquering hero. Gible's ball was still at Briv's belt, unopened—he hadn't needed it.
Nicola watched them approach with an expression that was hard to read. Not jealousy. Not admiration. Something in between.
"Not bad," she said.
Samuel laughed. "You too."
"What?"
"You heard me." Nicola uncrossed her arms and started walking. "You did good yesterday. Against Kim. I watched."
"Thanks."
"Don't get used to compliments."
They fell into step together—Samuel, Nicola, the rest of the group trailing behind. The morning was cold and gray, and the Eclipse Squad was still out there, still hiding, still planning whatever they were planning.
But for now, right now, they were moving forward.
---
They found the first sign of the Eclipse Squad that afternoon.
It was Rotom who spotted it—a blinking red light half-buried in the rubble of a collapsed warehouse, pulsing with a rhythm that matched no power grid Rotom recognized. Axel identified it immediately: a surveillance node. Small, efficient, and almost invisible if you didn't know what you were looking for.
"A nursery," he said, his green eyes narrowing. "This district is their staging ground."
"How many?" Patricia asked.
"Unknown. But we're close."
They moved carefully, avoiding the obvious streets, sticking to alleys and abandoned tunnels. Briv kept Shinx out of its ball—the Electric-type's senses were sharper than his own, and its ability to detect electrical currents had already proven useful. Gible walked beside it, small and grinning, ready for anything.
They rounded a corner and saw it.
A facility—massive, industrial, ringed by chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. Security cameras dotted the perimeter at regular intervals. Floodlights swept across the entry points.
And standing at the gate, arms crossed, expressions arrogant, were two figures Briv recognized instantly.
Roger. Callum.
Eclipse Squad.
The two men hadn't spotted them yet. They were too busy arguing—Callum gesturing wildly, Roger shaking his head with a sneer. They looked exactly as Briv remembered: cocky, stupid, and utterly convinced of their own superiority.
Fuck.
Patricia's hand found his. "Briv."
"I know."
"What do we do?"
"Same thing we always do." Briv stepped forward, Shinx and Gible flanking him, Chimchar's ball already in his hand. "We win."
They moved.