Find my courage (Pokemon fanfiction)

~30 The Finals

The timer buzzed out just as Gummie landed her Shadow Ball, blow her Gengar opponent back several feet with a flurry of dust trailing as he did. Gummie did an elegant twirl before posing with the peace sign.

Turning to the grading board, I watched as my face was enlarged with the more filled bar by my side. I watched, gobsmacked as I was announced the winner of the semi-finals. How in flying poptarts did that happen?

Gummie pretty much barrelled me over with a hug. ~We won! Did you see me, did you see what I did?~

Patting the squishy head of my Reuniclus, before turning to my opponent, doing a curtsy and leaving back towards the waiting room. Milly was waiting for me, having lost the round before. "I can't believe your going to get your first ribbon before me Paige!" She exclaimed as Jessica made her way up to us.

Jessica was taller then both Milly and I and seemed to share her sisters intimidating aura, although it wasn't nearly so frightening. "Congratulations Paige, looks like I'll finally get that battle." She smiled as she walked with us out to the lobby of the Contest Hall.

"Jessica." Nichole snapped, stalking her way over to our previously merry little group. Milly took my hand and Gummie's face wrinkled as if she had eaten something sour. "Stop fraternising with the enemy." She attempted to grab Jessica's wrist and drag her away.

With a huff, Jessica pulled away. "I'm allowed to make friends with whom I please Nicholette. You're just my older sister, not mother."

I took a small step, cuddling closer to Milly and Gummie as I felt Nichole get angry and angry Nichole was even scarier then regular Nichole, who was already really scary. She wasn't the sort who liked it when people didn't listen to her... I don't even think she's the type to like people in general, although she seemed to be quite protective over her sister which was weird and scary to witness at the same time cause Jessica clearly didn't like being controlled.

Nichole's face hardened to a glare, I flinched but Jessica did not. "Jessica, come with me right now or so help me---"

Jessica simply crossed her arms, intervening with a tone so calm and collected, it reminded me of the way Samurai talks. "You'll what Nicholette, run off on your own little adventure for 6 years without so much as a phone call the entire time before popping back up out of nowhere and announcing I'm going to travel around Hoenn with you? Get real Nicholette, as if I actually have to listen to a word you say, Mum already said I can go off on my own if I wanted now too, so if it's such a big deal who I make friends with, just leave." The younger of the two ravenette's turned her back on her sister, walking away angrily. "After all, you've never had an issue doing that before."

I doubt it needed to be said that Nichole looked outright furious, although seemingly somewhat betrayed as well. She didn't say anything but gave me and Milly a filthy look, as if we were a pile of Grimer sludge (no offence to Grimer, I think they're actually kind of cute, not huggable cute like Miku but cute). My friend stepped in front of me, glaring back at Nichole while I shifted uncomfortably, unsure if I should meet her glare and risk her just getting more mad at me or shy away and let her know she still terrifies me. It was clear that there was a lot of family drama going on between Nichole and Jessica, drama I'd rather not get myself into.

After a minute, Nichole simply turned and stomped off without another word. Milly looked down at me, mild concern shouting in her dull green eyes. "Are you okay Paige? That got... pretty intense..." She looked back and forth between the directions that Jessica and Nichole had each gone. "Lets go find Jake, you only have an hour before the finals, although... I'm not sure if Jessica will be okay by then... Should we go look for her?"