• I had never felt such relief in my life compared to when I had beaten my first challenger. But I am a Zangoose. Ferocity runs in the blood of my family and I, and that same ferocity shows its true form in battle. I marveled at this as I lay at the mouth of the cave that my sister and I share. I sleep at the entrance because my sister tends to make little noises in her sleep. It's impossible to achieve even a cat nap. But I was desperate for rest, especially since more challengers would arrive for the courtship battle tomorrow. Maybe I could sleep if I looked at the stars... and the moon... and the sky...
    Before I knew it, morning had come. I really did manage to sleep, for I woke up refreshed and full of energy. And not a moment too soon, for my mother ran to the mouth of my cave, and said, "Wake up now, daughter! There's yet another Pokemon who has arrived!"
    I scratched behind my ear with my hind foot, something that my mother would usually call, "unlady- like" (I still can't believe she is a Zangoose), but she was too excited to notice. The morning sun greeted me cheerfully, a large contrast to the vigorous battle that would await me today. The only thing about this battle that interested me is who my opponent would be. I hoped it would be someone with some physical skill, unlike yesterday's opponent, who was Swalot.
    I approached my mother, who was conversing with the new Pokemon.
    This Pokemon stood on four legs. His fur was black in color, with the exception of 3 bands of pulsing yellow fur on both ears and his tail, and a circle of the same fur on all four of his legs.
    "An Umbreon..." I said to myself. "Finally, things start getting challenging."
    Umbreon didn't seem to have much to say to my mother, who was trying in vain to talk. Finally, she gave up and turned to me. "This is Umbreon. He's come here for the challenge, and he is interested in battling."
    "I see," I sarcastically said. There wasn't really any other reason a male Pokemon would come here for.
    "When shall this battle start?" Umbreon asked quietly, slightly startling my mother. It seemed he would only talk if necessary.
    "Now, if that's what you want," I answered.
    "Who is my opponent?" he tacitly questioned.
    "I am." I said.
    "Very well."
    He seems pretty accepting, I thought. I'm surprised that he's not surprised.
    "Let's go to the arena. The rules will be explained before the battle starts."
    "Good."
    I tried my best not to stare at him. His apathetic personality almost threatened me.

    Aunt Fury was already waiting at the arena. "You didn't sleep here the whole night, did you?" I asked her.
    She shook her head. "I just arrived. Stubby woke me up several minutes ago. Is this the challenger?" She looked towards Umbreon.
    "Yes. Since Father is not here, will you observe the battle?"
    "Of course. Only a few of our clan members are here, but we can't wait for the others."
    I was happy to see that amongst the dozen and a half of the members (who were mostly aunts, uncles, and cousins), Stubby and Grandfather Patriot were present.
    Aunt Fury walked to the side of the arena. "As always, the first to faint loses the battle. The last Pokemon standing is the victor!"
    Umbreon's eyes suddenly seemed more alert than they were moments ago.
    "Let the battle commence!"
    Both of us charged towards each other. But just as I was about to use Crush Claw, Umbreon disappeared, almost as if he faded.
    "What the-?!"
    But before I could even finish that exclamation, I felt a hard blow at the back of my head. I landed hard on the ground, landing on my stomach. I turned back and glowered at Umbreon, who stared impassively back. He had first used Quick Attack to raise his speed, then used Sucker Punch to ambush me. I felt a snarl rising in my throat, but pushed it down and got to my feet again. Losing my temper wouldn't help me in this match. I had to think: If I attacked again, he might attack from behind.
    I ran, and picked up speed in a matter of seconds. In doing this, I meant to use the speed of a Quick Attack, then attack with one more Crush Claw. But as I approached at blinding speed, Umbreon rushed forward and countered. Using Headbutt.
    I leaped back, and he did the same. We rushed again, with the same attack. Again, and again, in a never ending cycle of mach speed and staggering blows that never landed. Finally, during the fifth rush, I started sheathing and unsheathing my claws, like in my previous match. But this time, instead of an electric build up, the friction caused an intense blazing heat. I rushed in again, and this time, my fist ablaze with fire, I delivered a right cut Fire Punch to Umbreon by attacking seconds earlier than my other attacks. Umbreon went rolling over and over, but in an unfortunate twist, came to his feet and faced me in one motion.
    If Umbreon was in pain, he wasn't showing it. He fired star shaped beams at me, a Swift attack. I barely managed to counter it with Iron Tail, though in doing so, created a cloud of dirt. I couldn't see my opponent, until amidst the thick cloud, I saw a yellow glow...
    Out of the dust, a dark clod of some unknown substance shot out, and I barely dodged, a Shadow ball attack. There was another yellow glow, and another Shadow Ball came towards me. Even if a Ghost move had little effect, there was no reason to give myself any form of injury.
    There was one more glow of yellow light. I took this opportunity, and ran straight towards that beacon of light. My paw became icy, a temperature that didn't affect me, but I knew would affect my foe. I burst out of the dirt cloud, with crystal clear vision of Umbreon. I landed an Ice Punch on his shoulder, and it froze one of his legs. Umbreon struggled to free himself fruitlessly, the first time he showed any form of emotion.
    With his wings clipped (metaphorically) I was now safe to finish the battle with a risky move. I ran forward, and with a flurry of fists, feet, and tail, used Close Combat. Umbreon landed on the ground again, but this time, he didn't rise again. I had beaten him.
    There was applause from the crowd, not as noisy as it had been before, but just as enthusiastic.
    "Zangoose is the winner!" Aunt Fury proclaimed, gesturing to me.
    I was panting, but happy nonetheless. I gained a little more strength from this battle. I felt as though my victory would last.

    And it did. Throughout the third and fourth day, three more Pokemon had arrived, and all had been defeated with ease, grace, and horrifying power. A mysterious Lunatone, a mighty Luxray, and an overconfident Machamp. The third one of them all, the Machamp, was quite discriminate against females. "I know after one fight against these guns," (he gestured to his grossly large sized arms) "I won't be walking home alone!"
    It took only five minutes before he was flat on his face and out like the flame of a sleeping Chimchar. After, he was a more humble Pokemon.
    Now here I was, sitting near the stream with Aunt Fury, Stubby, and Grandfather Patriot. The sun 's golden light reflected off of the pond, and cast a luminous glow on the surrounding area.
    "The final day of battling is tomorrow," Aunt Fury said.
    "Another day we get to see you murder some poor, lovesick Pokemon," Stubby put in.
    "That last bloke was similar to some of the humans who would show off their muscles to females who weren't interested. A canny resemblance, if I've seen," Grandfather Patriot said, his fur sparkling with the reflected light. "Poor fellow, he didn't have any smarts, did he?"
    "Not with overconfidence like that," I said.
    "He makes your mother seem a bit smarter," Aunt Fury said. "Not to offend you, niece."
    I wasn't offended at all.
    "Anyways, let's all head back. We all need rest, not just our reigning champion," Stubby said.
    All three of them got up, and began the trip back to the clan territory. I paused, and looked back at the golden river. I have such a strange feeling... There's a possibility I might not be here again tomorrow, but even so... there's the other half of the chance that I will...