#collapse thread

There were a few moments of inactivity while Lance got out his next Pokémon, which Fire used to take stock of his team. What he saw wasn't exactly stupendous; he'd already used a few of his small supply of revives, and nearly half of his team was still out for the count. He didn't even want to think about his dwindling supply of full restores, not with so many dragons left to face.

Bree turned around to glance at his trainer, perhaps sensing some of Fire's nervousness. The Blastoise looked tired, and was more than a little wounded from all of the Hyper Beams he'd taken head-on. Still, he nodded at his trainer and smiled in a transparent attempt to reassure him. Fire smiled and did his best to slow his beating heart. I can do this. Come on, calm down. For their sakes. 

Fire returned his gaze to the trainer--the Champion--that he was facing. Something about him seemed...off. Fire had noticed something ever since he'd stepped into the chamber, but it had gotten worse as the battle had gone on. A part of Fire wanted to ask what was wrong, but he thought it might be rude to interrupt the battle. That, and he didn't know how he could get Lance's attention amidst the cries of the Pokémon and the booming sounds of their attacks.

Fire's attention was pulled away once more as Lance sent out his next Pokémon--a Gyarados. Fire had to smile at that; at least it wasn't another Dragonite, he thought. Fire pulled out Bree's Pokéball and returned the Pokémon to his party. Then, he turned to the Pikachu on his shoulder. He nodded to Zeke, then pointed to the field with a snap of his fingers.