I see you there…

My name is Veronica. I’m twenty eight years old and have been an active competitor since I was ten. That year, my parents gave me a firestone and told me to use it wisely…

Nearly all of my friends had already evolved into their adult bodies. They were shocked when I came to school the next day, still in base form. It’s true, the enhanced strength and stats that come with evolving had been most tempting, but I knew I’d made the right choice. Juvenile Pokémon learn moves at lower levels than their adult counterparts. As such, I was among the first in my age bracket to learn many top-tier techniques. I was weaker, but the sheer power of my move set overwhelmed many of my opponents. Match after match, the little Vulpix from Cinnabar Island wowed the local judges.

I devoted myself to becoming the very best I could be. By graduation day, when everyone was awarded their Training Ribbon, I had already earned my Effort Ribbon, too! I stepped up on stage, waited while the principle pinned both awards to my chest and then stepped forward. I held the firestone I’d received eight years earlier above my head and preformed a dazzling Firespin as I evolved into the Ninetales I am today! I was truly ready to be an adult…

So, you think you’ve got what it takes to stand up to me? Want to knock me down a peg or two? Well you’re too late!

A typical Mary Sue. The very best anyone had ever seen. A savant… Boy the real world hits you hard! Big fish in a small tank; small fish in a big ocean! Are you picking up what I’m laying down? I was totally unprepared for what awaited me! I lost my first gym battle in less than thirty seconds… and that was just one of Koga’s minions!

I felt disgraced…

The fire had gone right out of me…

It was about that time that natural disasters started becoming more frequent and attention turned away from competitive battling and towards rescue efforts. I met up with a Cubone named Skully. He said that he was looking to make a team consisting of well rounded Pokémon to aid in relief efforts. There were already a ton of other rescue teams in the area, but many of them seemed more interested in boasting about their great deeds or simply reaping the rewards offered by those in trouble. Skully just wanted to help and never turned away anyone in need. That’s why I joined THORN.

And so it was for quite some time, until things were settled and the balance of nature was restored. By then, Skully and I had assembled a team of unique individuals from all over the world. Aureus, the Lucario, is a skilled Blackbelt. His fighting techniques are offset by his increasable special attacks. Arrow, the Aerodactyl Sky Trainer, became his doubles partner. His immunity to Aureus’s earthquake technique proved most useful! I partnered with Basel, the Sceptile Chef, who could capitalize on my Sunny Day with his Solar Beam. Zeke, the Zoroark Punk Guy, took starter position and uses his illusion power to confuse opening opponents while Cassie, the Expert Blastoise, is like our brood mother, looking after us all and backing up the team with powerful water and ice moves.

We made quite the team, though I’ve now stepped down to let Voss, the Delphox Psychic, take over for me. I still act as competitive team leader, and keep things running at HQ so Skully can focus on his the rescue team. We continue to offer help to any who seek it, but we spend most of our time training for competitive battles; same as it ever was…

So you still want a piece of me? Let me show you what eighteen years of effort can do!
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Pokemon © Nintendo
Image by  shiverz