I have to keep going. Ava repeats to herself while resting on the dusty arena, one of her eyes swole shut.
"Get up, you asked for this when you stepped foot into this village." Keta stands above the girl, her coral hair sprawled on the ground.
"i don't want to…" Ava whispers before staggering to her own two feet, trying to take something that resembles a fighting stance.
Keta throws a quick punch that Ava blocks with a forearm; she winces from the pain that pierces their forearm. Keta tries to kick Ava's right side, but she pushes the fist back and does the same with the rising foot. Keta's foot slams firmly onto the ground as he prepares to lean on it.
I pushed his leg too hard. And right as Ava's thought finished a hefty blow is dealt to her left, making her stumble. She locks Keta's leg in a pocket made by her knee and elbow before pulling him in and going for his torso.
He swiftly moves Ava with his locked leg and grabs her punch, before throwing her over his shoulder and back first to the ground. "After hours of this you're actively improving, at first you used to go at me like a rabid dog but now you're fighting with your brain. Let's hope that continues."
Keta turns to leave, practically signaling for Aelita to finally come onto the training ground; rushing towards Ava. "Can you stand?"
Ava eyes Keta's retreating figure with a cocktail of distaste and admiration. "Yea,you got any streams or something cold I can soak in?"
Aelita tosses Ava over her shoulders. "We got… something like that." The girl's boisterous voice hits Ava's ears like a hard pillow, filled with comfort from a long day. As the two walk off the training ground the gentle sound of flowing water starts to fade into Ava's right ear.
After some time; the droning sound of trickling water echoes in a sombre cavern, the tiki torches waver as a warm breeze blows new life into the cool environment. A gentle symphony of highpitched chirps and rustling foliage. "This is 'The Spring Of Purification'! Great for healing wounds but not helping with aches." Celia guides the two through an open passage, hardly needing to use her cane to walk. "You can also use this area to purify your Shadow pokemon."
Ava limps while Aelita steady's them by their side. "Do I need to wear anything special? Am I allowed to be nude?"
Celia chuckles into her hand before turning to see Ava finally enter the expansive alcove, where a small waterfall flows from a hole above. "Yes, you may; but before and after you enter." The Elder turns her auburn eyes to her niece. "Aelita, do you think you can workout with Ava in the mornings? I can take care of the Inn until you and Ava finish training with Keta."
"I-I don't think [1]that's really necessary-...[2]" The intersex person stops, like their brain had manually reset itself.
Celia looks at Ava's left eye, its sunburst gleam wiped and lightly glazed over. The eldest clears her throat. "We'll leave you to your bathing."
The Eldest takes her leave with the purple haired trainee following. Leaving Ava with their varied thoughts.Aelita looks like an eggplant a little bit… Ava huffs.
Don't know who you are, what you want to be…[3]The confused coed student punches a mossy rock before marching over to the foggy spring. Ava's lidded eyes struggle to stay open as the water surrounds them. "I'll just rest here for a minute."
A tear runs down their swollen eye, as they let the sun slowly fade out of their mind, giving in to the soothing darkness. Their mind drifting in the water. Their breathing deep and labored, but not tired. Yeah, just a minute, just one…
"Just one more Alain!" Ava leans on the white and brown spotted hair girl as she does pushups. "Bullying me was fine, I didn't mind it. But Crescent just moved here!" The girl grunts as Ava applies more pressure. "We're in middle school! By now you should've changed a bit, just a bit."
Alain's arms shake as she tries to complete the first half of the push up ."Why do you care…!" With a grunt her arms straighten before caving in. "WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU HEAVY!"
Ava steps off of the girl, her maroon hair bouncing as she does so. "Rude, I'd say a woman would know better but… You're more like a Primeape." The girl playfully sighs and shakes her head. "I care for the same reason you care for Aero-"
Alain grunts, her deep sky blue eyes glare up at Ava with an Agate glare from the ground.
"-See, you protect him because you two are best friends. I want to protect Crescent, so we can become best friends." Ava forces Alain to her feet. "So you could either join the friend group and I help you have more friends, or continue just having Aero and not live up to the person he knows you can be."
Ava turns her back to Alain, her black leather blazer flows as a breeze travels up the small hill. "Why does it matter to you what happens to me? As long as-"
A Lampent pops out in front of Alain's face making her stumble back. "That little guy represents your relationship. Once he evolves or gets switched you'll either start to lose Aero forever or he'll stay by your side."
Alain opens her mouth but closes it when the Lampent's flame flickers and Ava's blazer blows with the breeze.
"So… you want in or are you gonna, 'play things out'?"
[1] "Then DON'T THINK"
[2] "It's a deal, you get to work off that flab and have eye candy. That's everything you could want."
[3] "You know 'What' you are; a horny animal with no prime direction"