 
# Disclaimer

This is a work of fanfiction. The author does not own Pokémon or anything belonging to Nintendo, Game Freak, or Satoshi Tajiri. All characters and storylines not from the original Pokémon franchise belong solely to the author. Any character resemblances to actual people are coincidental. This story is not being published for commercial or monetary gain and is designed for educational and writing practice purposes as fair use.

# Author's Note

Hello, readers!

Thank you so much for taking the time to check out my next installment of the **Extinction of Team Rocket** series. The last few years have been the toughest of my life, and this was such a healing part of my journey.

If you're a new reader, you can check out the first installment on Smashwords.

And don't forget – please follow me on Instagram at @CooltrainerAshton, and you can supplement your reading experience with music by following along to my "Storm Feather" playlist on YouTube!

Happy reading!

# Dedication

This is dedicated to all of you who fight tough battles every day. Whether you deal with a mental illness, or you've survived trauma, or you have low self-esteem, I want you to know that you are seen. You are beautiful, even if you don't see it. Your thoughts, feelings, and experiences are valid. You are worth the effort others make to have you in their lives. Don't let others get in the way of your happiness or your healing.

Some of those lessons have been tough for me to learn, but I've learned that healing is messy. It's not linear. And it looks different for everyone. But, in spite of everything, it's necessary, and I'm better for it.

I hope this story, which is absolutely dear to my heart, will enthrall you, inspire you, and validate you like it has me.

XO,

Ashton

"New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings."

~Lao Tzu

# The Storm Feather

# Written by Cooltrainer Ashton

#

_Cover image courtesy of @lkb222_

_Cover design by Cooltrainer Ashton & Haus of Clover_

_Edited with ProWritingAid_

_© 2020_

Chapter One

Hard Reset

If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. if you are at peace, you are living in the present.

~Lao Tzu

I woke up refreshed with the sunrise. I'd expected exhaustion from a restless night or sleep-deprivation from nightmares, which wasn't out of the realm of possibilities before an important day. Cool air wafted in from the open window, and the songs of chirping pidgey gave a lighthearted, cheerful tone to the neighborhood. The perfume of cherry blossoms mingled with the scrumptious aroma of bacon from downstairs. Espeon and Dragonair were curled up with me, keeping me warm. I wished I could enjoy this more, but today was an important, long-awaited day.

I slipped out of bed, and the morning chill sent goosebumps all over my body. I put on my robe with haste and slunk downstairs, with wonderful aromas continuing to tease my nose. I stretched when I reached the kitchen.

"Good morning," Mom said.

She enveloped me in a hug with a kiss on the cheek, the light floral perfume she wore doing the same. She was already dressed for work in a lovely ivory sundress with a cherry blossom print and had still managed to fry French toast and eggs in skillets, not to mention the bacon cooling on the counter.

"Morning, Mom," I said. "You're up early."

She smiled. "I wanted you to have a proper breakfast. Did you sleep well?"

"Mm-hmm, to my surprise."

"Oh, good," she replied. "Are you excited to return to the gym?"

I nodded. "And anxious... When am I not? It comes with my past."

"Oh, I'm certain everything will turn out great, honey. When are you meeting Dustin?"

"Eight o'clock."

"Then you have time to eat." As if she moved on air, she gave me a plate loaded with French toast, bacon, and eggs. "Eat up so you can start your day."

"If you leave the dishes, I'll clean up when I leave."

"I won't have you worry over them," she said as she sat down with her own plate. "I'll take care of them."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded, smiling.

Mom underestimated my hunger, and my plate was clean moments after she joined me. I smirked at her as I got up to wash the dishes. She chuckled under her breath.

"Are you staying here?" she asked as she ate.

"I don't see why I can't stay at the gym," I replied, beginning to scrub the skillets.

"Are you sure? I'm concerned about your mental health, Drew... Team Rocket might be gone, but there are still a lot of evil memories in that space."

"I can't run away from it forever, Mom. Living there was not ideal... but circumstances can change."

"Honey, as a successful gym leader, you are capable of anything, but you have a home during renovations if you need one."

I placed the dishes in the drying rack as I processed. "...Thanks, Mom... I just hope to not burden you for much longer."

"Honey, you're never a burden! I love having you home... I know you're itching to get your independence back, but... we have eight years to catch up on... and... maybe I'm not ready to let you go... it was hard enough the first time."

I returned to the table. "Even if I'm not staying here, we can still catch up on lost time."

She smiled.

"I don't plan on being a stranger, Mom. I felt like one for eight years... It was foolish to think I couldn't come home... I'm grateful I'm here..."

Tears were in her eyes, but her smile didn't leave her face.

"Returning to the former hideout won't be pleasant because it takes me away from healing in a safe place and bonding with you, but it's what I have to do... even if I have to battle my demons in the process, I'm committed to serving our city and maintaining our reputation."

She wiped tears from her eyes. It must have been hard not having me at home, but she nodded.

"Life isn't easy," she said. "We can't plan everything, and you've learned it more than most people your age... Your city and your family will always be proud of you. Whether you're here or elsewhere, you'll continue to heal and grow, and you'll have your mother cheering you on no matter what."

Now I was the one who needed to wipe my eyes. Mom stood up and walked over to me, enveloping me in a hug. I held her close as long as I was able.

"Go get ready," she said, her eyes full of love that burned bright since we'd reunited. "I'll walk back to town with you to see you off."

I smiled and ran upstairs. Espeon and Dragonair were awake and keen for head rubs, rewarding me with kisses.

"Are you ready for our big day?"

They both squealed, their joyful spirits brightening the room much like the sunshine.

I threw on a green shirt and gray shorts and put my belongings back into my bag.

"Let's go," I said, bolting down the stairs with them.

Mom was waiting at the front door with a brown paper bag in her hands. She smiled and handed it to me.

"For when you get to the gym, your pokémon can have a proper breakfast."

I smiled. "Thanks, Mom. I'm sure they'll love it."

The air outside was crisp and sweet, the aroma of cherry blossoms stronger. The sunshine warmed my skin as we trudged down our quiet street lined with oak and cherry trees and single-family homes in varying shades of green, lavender, and beige. We continued toward the outskirts of Viridian's downtown hub. Dragonair floated next to me on my left and Espeon walked on my right between Mom and me.

"What a gorgeous day," Mom said. "Hopefully, you and your team can enjoy it."

"Hopefully so," I said.

The wind wafted through the trees as we walked.

"Any idea on how bad everything is?" she asked.

"From my memory, there were one or two floors that were thrashed. The floor where everyone lived was untouched. But all floors will most likely need renovating to accommodate the needs of a real gym, not to mention amenities like central heat and hot water... Team Rocket's work didn't include a proper habitat or facility to take care of pokémon, which is crucial for a gym."

"Well, you're already mindful of what the space needs."

"To a degree... I need to confirm with some colleagues who're more experienced with running gyms, but it'll come down to how to pay for everything."

"Will the Pokémon League help with it?"

"I'm not sure... their stipends are meager and sometimes don't cover routine gym maintenance... Some gyms may have to seek financial assistance in the form of donations or serving the community in different capacities, and most gym leaders don't live in their gyms like we do."

"Well, Dustin will know more when you meet with him... plus, you'll have plenty of support from me and the city if it comes down to it."

I nodded. "Thanks, Mom."

We strolled down several streets and enjoyed the morning breeze before we mingled with the morning commuters. Soon, we arrived at Mom's restaurant, which sat right outside the downtown area near City Hall. This gave it plenty of business without being cramped around our bustling city.

She hugged me tight. "I hope your morning is productive, honey. Come by for lunch when you're hungry. My treat. I love you."

I smiled. "I love you too, Mom, and thank you. I'll talk to you soon."

~ ~ ~

The gym and restaurant were on opposite sides of the city, but I didn't mind. When did we ever enjoy a leisurely stroll on a pleasant morning? I jogged with Espeon and Dragonair close behind me through the city, past multiple shops beginning to open for the day, through various parks, and out of the downtown hub toward another rural area. A larger park leading to another residential area of the city housed our gym, and it was also a path travelers took to Pewter City. I resolved to tackle the next obstacle in my path and pressed onward to the drab building.

After a while of jogging, I caught my breath when we made it to the gym. The memories still gave the building an ominous aura, even with Team Rocket gone, and I couldn't stand the outdated and grotesque Roman theme Dad chose when it first opened.

I hadn't prepared myself enough for this reunion, and my body responded, with goosebumps on my skin, the hair on the back of my neck standing up, and my heartrate rising. The thoughts I'd set aside pounced on me, the same messages blaring about being ill-equipped or fearful of moving forward into this next challenge. As if success and happiness wouldn't reach me. Or the love and belonging I desired were too far out of my grasp. Whatever my logic said, my mind refused to relent on the soundtrack that I was still a criminal with too lenient of a pardon.

But, despite the internal battle, I hadn't come this far to turn back. I took a deep breath before taking the gym key and unlocking the front doors. I set my bag down and put Mom's special breakfast into two bowls for Espeon and Dragonair, which was the leftovers of our fried rice with vegetables and tofu from last night's dinner.

"Eat up," I told them. "I'll be back."

I went inside, being greeted with the aroma of fresh earth. The battlefield hadn't changed since my last match, and the floor was still in being in pristine condition. I removed the gear parts I'd confiscated and a flashlight from my backpack and pondered how to reach the room with the power generator without the elevator. The only choice was to teleport. I had exercised none of my telekinesis since the mission. I shut my eyes and breathed in slow, concentrating on the room I wished to visit, and after feeling that warm energy rush around me like a freefall, I saw I was where I selected.

I ignored the subsequent throbbing in my head and pressed the part back into its slot with a click before powering on the generator. Within seconds, it whirred back to life, followed by the lights. Rather than exacerbating my mind, I took the elevator up to where our security system was. The space smelt of earth and stale dust, and the eeriness from a lack of human energy here was unlike what I'd ever experienced. After I replaced the missing part for the security system, I rode the elevator back up to the gym floor and turned on the lights so we were no longer in darkness.

When Espeon and Dragonair finished eating, they joined me as I boarded the elevator and returned to the first basement floor. Major activities of Team Rocket had taken place here. The storage facility was in ruins with debris and broken glass littering the ground. Everywhere else we looked, whether it was the practice room, the fitness center, the cafeteria, or the recreation room, everything was grimy and trashed from the raid. The conference room and research lab, which had only been accessible to select individuals, were untouched aside from police gathering evidence.

We traveled down to the second floor next, where all grunts had lived. The entire floor reeked with a stench reminiscent of filthy socks and stale urine. I held my breath as we side-stepped the offending trash and clothing lining the floor, observing the damage and graffiti marking the stained, discolored white walls. Cleaning and remodeling this pigsty would be an awful job.

We continued down to the third floor with haste, where all the guards and junior and senior executives lived. I didn't care to visit any rooms of my adversaries, but I returned to my drab and abandoned suite. The chill remained, despite being a free man. I hadn't expected to pick up the helpless mindset I had as a prisoner, and our mission was to destroy and rebuild our home. Mom had a point. Being here would be a tough adjustment.

We returned to the gym to escape the chill. I checked my pokégear and saw it was past 8:00. No sooner had I checked, the doors opened, and a familiar figure appeared. I had expected to see Dustin, but the figure was shorter with messy hair and a toothy grin. When the light came into focus, I confirmed the person approaching us was Jake.

"Drew!"

I caught him in a hug, a laugh escaping from my chest. I'd forgotten how much I'd missed having this brown-haired, blue-eyed kid around during our separation.

"Jake! This is quite the surprise."

"I missed you so much!" he said.

"I missed you too, kiddo," I said, ruffling his hair. "I didn't think we'd reunite under these circumstances."

That same grin was back. "I didn't think so either. After your exoneration, I tried to get in touch with you, but I came up empty-handed. I hoped I'd track you down if I came back this way."

"Well, you chose the right time," I said, smiling. "Today is my first day back, and the Director of the Pokémon League is coming to help build a plan to reopen the gym."

"That's so cool," he said, his eyes wide and bright. "I'm so glad you have your old job back... Which is why I'm here..." His energy shifted into a low, reverent bow. "I want to be your protégé to learn how to become a great trainer. Just like you... That is, if you'll have me."

"Are you kidding? How can I refuse? Kiddo, you're the whole reason I'm here."

He grinned and jumped up for joy. "Thank you, Drew! You won't regret it," he said, bowing again to me.

I returned it. "I know I won't."

"I wanted to show you this also. I caught a pokémon during my journey."

He took a pokéball from his belt and released it, and out of the white light came a growlithe.

"Jake, this is awesome!" I bent down to scratch it behind its ears. "It's adorable, and when raised right it becomes a loyal partner."

"Thank you," he replied. "We've been together a week, and we wouldn't have met if I hadn't run into one of your friends, who traveled with me before we parted ways."

"Oh, really? Who did you meet?"

"Misty, from Cerulean City. We got to know each other, and we found a camp for abandoned pokémon she'd visited once before, and it's where I found Growlithe."

"How incredible," I replied with a smile. "She's a skilled trainer, and I bet you and Growlithe are already growing close."

"We have. It's been fun so far, and we've focused on spending time together and haven't battled yet."

"And it's okay. The bonds we develop with them outside of battle are just as essential... so you've started out well."

It ran around with Espeon and Dragonair, squealing and chasing each other around the gym floor.

"Espeon and Dragonair look like they're doing well," he said. "Where are your other pokémon?"

The topic was unavoidable. I tried to keep my emotions in check when I looked back at him.

"They're... not here any longer."

Shock painted his face. "You're serious? What happened?"

Sorrow and anger gripped my heart. "You heard about my father and I, right?"

He nodded. "I only read that you'd battled him, but the article didn't say much else."

I took a breath and kept it succinct. "...He not only attempted to poison me, but he took the lives of my Ninetales, Scizor, and Crobat... Pupitar is still alive but is recovering from its injuries."

"Shit, Drew, I'm so sorry. That's horrible..." His pained expression stressed the difficulty he experienced in finding the right words, and his body morphed into a low bow. "...My condolences for your loss."

I nodded, not able to say anything. I still felt my grief present, but I subdued it since this wasn't the time to grieve.

Right then, the doors opened again, and I saw a familiar figure with blond hair and brown eyes walk through the door, whom I recognized as Dustin, followed by a blond, balding man with blue eyes I didn't recognize.

"Morning, Drew," he said, giving his normal bow. "Glad to have you back here."

I returned it with a reverent bow. "I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

"Drew, this is John, one of our beloved contractors who has helped remodel many of our leaders' gyms."

"It's nice to meet you," I said, bowing to him also.

"Likewise," he replied, returning it.

"And who is this young man?" Dustin said.

"Dustin, this is Jake, my protégé, and the one to whom I owe my freedom. Jake, this is Dustin, Director of the Pokémon League."

"It's an honor, sir," Jake said, bowing, which he returned.

"So this is the kid I've heard a lot about," he said to Jake. "We're in your debt for rescuing Drew."

Jake blushed. "It was an honor to help him. A lot of what he did was all his doing."

"Well, it seems you were fortunate to have met each other. The gym is in the best hands."

I patted him on the back and ruffled his hair, eliciting a laugh.

"So, Drew, have you looked around?" Dustin asked.

I nodded. "The first two floors are a disaster, and we didn't touch the third floor during the raid, but in terms of functionality, we'd need to gut the entire space."

"It's valuable information for both of us. Let's review everything and determine what you need for living and your pokémon, and we'll draw up a plan to reopen the gym."

We escorted them throughout the entire space, allowing them to see the condition of everything before we reconvened on the gym floor.

"Overall, the gym is fine," I said. "If nothing changes here, I'd be fine since it's still functional. But I'd love to get rid of the awful columns and concrete outside and have the exterior match the nature around us. And, in terms of the interior, the way everything is now, we don't have any habitats for pokémon, and if we have visitors, I don't trust we can provide them proper hospitality."

"Not to mention without central heat or hot water, you and Jake aren't comfortable here either," Dustin added.

"I'm more concerned about the cost," I said. "I'm sure there are more critical matters the League has to address."

"Don't sweat over it," Dustin said. "The Viridian Gym is important to us, and we'll make sure everything gets done. We have a set of procedures for gym renovations, but since we don't have a Team Rocket fund any longer, we have some extra money we can invest into our gyms."

I smiled. "I can't tell you how much we appreciate it."

Dustin smiled back. "We're happy to do anything we can to support both of you."

Our discussions with John grew in color and depth as he created a mockup of how we wanted everything to look.

"So from what we've discussed," John said, showing us his designs on his portable tablet, "we'll renovate the bottom floor to give everyone larger suites along with central air, heat, and hot water. The other two basement floors will house your pokémon's habitats and spaces where you can tend to their care and entertain any visiting trainers. And for the gym I'm sure we can renovate it for a more theatrical viewing experience."

"Yeah, I'm all for that," I said. "What is our timeline for reopening?"

"My estimate, not factoring any delays or surprises into our timeline, would be around two months or sooner if we can identify any shortcuts. However, we want this to be the best it can be for you and your trainers, so we'd err on the side of two months total."

"And I also want to advise during this process," Dustin added, "while renovation is ongoing, this space won't be habitable, so I can't let you stay here while the team works. I'd rather you be comfortable somewhere else."

It all made sense, and once again Mom's earlier guidance was exact.

"But where would we stay?" Jake asked.

"Don't worry," I said, "we have a place."

"Really?"

"Yeah... Do you need anything from us, or are we all set?"

"We're all set," Dustin said.

I gave Mom's phone number to Dustin along with the key to the gym. We said our goodbyes and took a leisurely stroll through the park and back into the downtown hub, with our pokémon traveling beside us.

"So, Drew, where are we headed? Where else would we stay? I doubt my family would allow us to stay with them."

"Don't worry, kiddo," I replied. "My mom told me I could stay with her if needed, and since the gym is being renovated, it's the only option we have. I'm sure having you with us isn't a problem."

"Cool," he said, smiling.

"The League doesn't have the resources to put us up somewhere, so this saves money. Mom would tell us to stay with her if she knew the circumstances."

"No kidding," he replied. "So what do we do now?"

"Well, we can start with lunch and figure out the rest afterward."

We ran through the parks, weaved through bustling streets, and waving to shop owners, bearing with the rising heat of the day and enjoying the fresh air. The heat was only bearable with the trees and shop awnings that shaded us. Whatever thoughts still buzzed in my head were negated by Jake's positive energy, and I managed to smile as we traveled.

We arrived at Mom's restaurant, a spacious restaurant specializing in cuisine from all over the world, and the space sat at least 100 patrons inside and an additional 50 patrons on the patio. The floors were of dark green linoleum opposite bamboo pendant lights resembling lotus flowers. The walls were crisp white with photographs of various countries in dark brown frames, and the tables were all dressed in green linens. Aromatics like garlic and onions wafted from the kitchen along with warm spices like cinnamon, anise, and clove.

No sooner had we walked in, the owner spotted us, zipped over, and ushered us to the only vacant table, which was near the kitchen. It made me wonder how strong his morning espresso was. Like Mom mentioned, his French accent came through strong as he spoke, and his dexterity as he bowed almost to our feet was remarkable.

"Such an 'onor to 'ave you dining wit' us today," he said.

There were menus and water glasses on our table before we blinked.

"Thank you so much for your hospitality," I told him, "and for taking terrific care of my mother."

"Ah, t'is is my pleasure," he said. "She's a marvelous woman, and I love taking care of ze best in our city. Anytime you two need to refuel from your training, we'll take care of you 'ere, free of charge."

Jake stared at him in disbelief. I was grateful the city still had people in it who supported us.

"We can't thank you enough, sir," I told him. "That's so generous, and the Viridian Gym doesn't take it for granted."

"T'ink nothing of it," he said. "To repay us, keep being ze best trainers you can be and our reputation strong."

I smiled. "We accept."

The menu was extensive yet effortless to navigate based on your choice from among 50 of the world's most visited countries, offering three or four signature dishes from each. I was adventurous and ordered the Tikka Masala from India while Jake opted for the Spaghetti All'amatriciana from Italy. Conversations buzzed all around us, and I focused my energy on Jake.

"When we parted ways, did you make it to the Pokémon Center?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Despite being past curfew, somehow I got to safety and told the nurse a skirmish with Team Rocket delayed me, which wasn't a stretch of the truth. They put on tighter security that night, and I returned home in the morning."

"Was your family surprised to see you?"

"My parents were, but my siblings were happy to see me."

"You never told me you had siblings," I replied.

He nodded, smiling. "A younger brother and sister. We've been close since they were born."

"That's great you had that companionship, though it sounds like you weren't thrilled to see your parents."

"I miss my siblings when I'm not home... I'd told my parents beforehand I'd landed an apprenticeship with an engineer, but when I showed up unannounced, I told them the truth.

"I bet it disappointed them."

"They weren't pleased that I got mixed in with Team Rocket, but I told them how I'd helped you escape, so they came around, especially when the news about Team Rocket and your exoneration broke."

"I'm glad. And I can't imagine what they must think of me."

"They're skeptical, but I tried to tell them you aren't the person many people think you are... I also told them I was intent on being a successful trainer this time, and they didn't support me on it."

"You're kidding."

He shook his head. "They told me if I was intent on pursuing it, they would not support me financially."

"What? Why would they say that?"

"Because... I failed at becoming a trainer the first time."

His demeanor changed, his pupils shining and his voice growing softer. I felt glum witnessing it. He'd mentioned it when we'd completed our last mission together, but I hadn't asked about it.

"You haven't spoken much on it... what happened?"

"...My parents didn't enroll me in trainer school when I was young, as they didn't see it as a lucrative decision. When I turned 10, I told my parents I wanted to be a trainer, so they insisted they'd only support it if they put me in the best school they found... So they sent me to Pokémon Tech in hopes I would learn what I needed to enter the Pokémon League and repay their investment. But... after a year, they didn't see much improvement in my confidence, so they withdrew me and told me they weren't paying for my tuition if it was being wasted."

"But you were just a kid."

He nodded. "And I was receiving top grades... But my battling didn't improve because I got into my head too much."

"It's such a shame... to think they wouldn't support you just for that."

He nodded. "This time, I'm determined to succeed, so I'll do it, even without their support."

While it was a surprise his parents didn't support him, I was proud he pursued what he wanted.

"Well, regardless of if they support you, I'll support you, no matter what."

"Thank you, Drew," he said. "It was nerve-wracking having the conversation... my leaving wasn't on the best of terms, and it upset my siblings, but... I don't feel anxious hearing that."

I smiled. "Good. If you want to become a skilled trainer, then we'll make sure you become one. And your family will be proud of you."

When our lunches were ready, Mom came out in her chef's coat and set them before us. Jake's plate of pasta came with a rich air of garlic, onion, and bacon, and my spicy curry with chicken and rice warmed my nose. She also set three bowls of stew down for our pokémon. She hugged me once she set everything down, and I could now introduce her to Jake.

"Jake, this is my mom, Saundra. Mom, this is the young man who helped me escape."

"Jake, it's such a pleasure to meet you," she said, enveloping him in a hug. "Thank you for helping bring Drew home. I can't say how much I missed him."

Jake blushed. "It was my pleasure, ma'am. It's great to meet you too."

"Speaking of which, Mom, we're headed home when we're finished. I'll explain why when you're off work."

She smiled. "No problem, honey. I'll see you both there later."

We didn't utter a word as we ate. It was no wonder their restaurant was as popular as it was. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals, and it catered to so many cultures and visitors that anybody could enjoy something from home. We scarfed down our lunches, and our delicious, comforting meals left us in fine spirits. We gave our thanks and goodbyes to the owner when we finished.

Back outside in the sunshine, I showed Jake around with many of the most popular places in the city, like the Viridian Library, established restaurants bustling with customers, bakeries with fragrant baked goods teasing our noses, farmer's markets peddling produce that could make your mouth water, pokémon shops tailored to trainers and betterment of their pokémon, boutiques selling high-end clothing, fitness centers, jewelers, salons, and so much more. Jake loved all we saw, and when I'd shown him the last of my favorite places, we left the downtown hub, passed Mom's restaurant, and ventured into Mom's neighborhood.

Our adventure had left us sweaty with the afternoon heat, but finding relief under the shade of the trees and their sweet aromas was a treasure.

"I love your hometown," Jake said, "and your mom's neighborhood is so peaceful."

"It is," I replied. "I don't remember it being this peaceful when I was a child, but after the ordeal I endured, I appreciate it now."

We walked past beautiful parks and courtyards, and soon we arrived at the house. The same white coat of paint and brown-shingled roof stood out in the neighborhood, which resembled Mom. Pure, graceful, and offering solace to whoever needed it. It was our blank slate. We let ourselves in, and I showed Jake around.

"Welcome to our temporary home," I said, once he'd received the full tour. "Since there isn't a guest room, you can take mine. I can sleep on the couch."

"Oh, Drew, I'd hate to put you out. Are you sure?"

"Yeah, it's no problem. You're our guest. I'm fine taking the couch. Make yourself comfortable."

I stripped the bed of its linens to wash and redressed it for Jake. After I changed into a tank top, we let our pokémon play in the front yard before we sat on the porch. Dragonair laid in the sun while Espeon and Growlithe curled up next to us.

"Wow, you're a real trainer now."

He smiled. "And I'm anxious. This isn't the first time I've set out on this journey... and it puts pressure on me to succeed."

"It's not a fun feeling... I didn't learn the normal way. I fought for the team I had, and as a new gym leader there was tremendous pressure to succeed... What did you struggle with?"

"Only keeping my cool during a battle. I know enough of the basics to understand weaknesses and the benefits of offensive and defensive moves, but knowing what to do in a battle is challenging... remembering information I learned in class is different from applying it in battle."

"I can work with you. We'll make sure you understand the basics inside and out, and I'll help you keep your cool when we get to practice battles."

I lit a cigarette and took slow drags. The breeze was pleasant as we sat, and I figured now was the time to assess his knowledge.

"Let's start with the basics you know by heart," I said.

"Water is weak to Grass, Grass is weak to Fire, and Fire is weak to Water," he began.

I nodded. "What about Steel?"

"Steel is weak to Fire, Ground, and Fighting."

"Good. And what about Psychic or Dragon?"

"Psychic is weak to Ghost, Dark, and Bug, and Dragon and Ghost are two types weak against themselves. Dragon is weak against Ice, and Ghost is weak against Dark."

"Right on," I replied. "You know your single-type weaknesses, and the true challenge is when you put two types together. One type may cover another type's weakness, and vice versa gaining a secondary type might introduce a new weakness."

Jake nodded.

"Let's start with Dragonair. When it evolves, it gains the Flying type. What would it be weak against?"

"Aside from Dragon, it would have a double weakness to Ice, and it would also be weak to Rock attacks."

"Great! And what about girafarig, both a Normal and Psychic type?"

"It would lose its weakness to Fighting types, and its Normal type would eliminate the Psychic's weakness to Ghost, so... it would be weak only to Bug and Dark attacks."

"Right again, kiddo... I'm not familiar with a pokémon with this combo, but what if a pokémon was both a Ghost and Dark type?"

Jake thought for a moment. "...Dark is weak to Bug and Fighting attacks, and Ghost is weak to Ghost and Dark attacks. Dark is immune to Psychic attacks, and Ghost is immune to Normal and Fighting attacks... I'd say... it doesn't have a weakness. It would be one of a kind in type resistance."

"Way to go!" I gave him a high five. "You know your types."

He grinned. "One of the few takeaways from my school days..."

"But you're further along than a new trainer starting out."

"Yeah, that's true... and that's where the pressure comes in. I'm not 10 anymore."

"No, but you're prepared, and it's never too late to start over... I also started at 13, but I started as a gym leader without experience in a city that extols strong trainers... you're fortunate starting where you are."

He nodded.

I sighed and let out a stretch. "Well, you're free to enjoy the fresh air a while longer. I'm gonna clean a bit for Mom."

"Would you like some help?"

"Sure, but it's up to you."

Jake followed me inside, and we made quick work of tidying up the house. Aside from meager chores I did when Mom wasn't home or distracted, she didn't have me help. We began with wiping down the table and counters, scrubbing the stove and oven, and mopping the floors before dusting and vacuuming the living room, After moving upstairs, we dusted and vacuumed Mom's room and scrubbed her bathroom before tackling our own.

We sat down on the porch to catch our breaths, waving to the neighbors as they came home.

"Wow, boys," Mom said once she arrived home and found the floors shining and the house smelling bright like fresh citrus. "This was unexpected. Thank you!"

She set her bags down and paid some motherly love to our pokémon.

"It was no problem, Mrs. H," Jake said.

"Yeah, Mom, you serve everyone in town out of the goodness of your heart. It's the least we could do."

"That was thoughtful of you both. Now, go relax, and I'll get dinner started."

"It's okay," I said. "We want to help. You have two more mouths to feed than the lone three yesterday, so we're ready to work."

To appease us, she had us measure ingredients and chop vegetables while she sautéed the beginnings of stew in two cast-iron pots, all while we discussed our days. Mom was eager for details from the gym meeting. I told her everything we witnessed. It wasn't long before the smell of beef, carrots, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and thyme sautéing perfumed the air as we chatted.

"It's not surprising, Drew, but maybe this is best. Sometimes fate intervenes for a reason."

"She has a point," Jake said. "It fits why Drew was part of Team Rocket. If none of his story took place, we'd be suffering with them today."

"Terrific point, Jake!" Mom exclaimed. "You have an excellent head on your shoulders."

Seeing them interact warmed my heart and made me smile.

"Yeah, yuck it up, you two," I said with a laugh. "I don't care how long it takes to repair, and I'll be glad when it's done... Though the challenge will be not going stir crazy."

"I hear you," Jake sympathized. "It's much longer than I expected."

"But this might be the time to reassess your goals and how you plan to reach them," Mom said.

"Oh, that's a wonderful idea!" Jake exclaimed. "A clever suggestion."

She grinned at him.

"So what is your suggestion?" I asked. "You mean, make a list?"

"Why not? It might be easier to figure out if they're handwritten."

"Hmm... I guess I'll give it a try."

"It's worth a shot," Jake said.

As a group, we worked fast, assembling the stew Mom made for us and a separate vegetarian pot for our pokémon. Now they needed time to simmer.

Jake joined Mom in the living room to become more acquainted. I stepped outside with a notebook and pondered over everything. Who did I want to become? What characteristics did I not exhibit enough? How could I reach these goals? Whatever those were, I pondered and scribbled until Jake came outside a while later.

"Hey, kiddo," I said, smiling at him.

"Hey, Drew. Dinner's ready."

"Cool, our cleaning left me famished."

We sat at the table with Mom as she brought over a basket of sliced bread she'd warmed in the oven. Our pokémon attended to their own feast next to us.

"So what else is new?" Jake asked me.

"There is one thing-"

"Oh, shoot, we don't have silverware," Mom said. "Sorry to cut you off, Drew."

"It's okay, Mom," I said, catching her hand as she attempted to stand up. "Let me."

Rather than stand, I shut my eyes and focused my energy. Within a few seconds, I heard the drawer containing the silverware open, and three spoons clattered down beside each of our bowls. I opened my eyes and saw both of them staring at me with rapt attention.

It was difficult not to laugh, but I grinned and said, "Bon appétit."

They both laughed.

"Drew!" Jake exclaimed.

"What a surprise," Mom said as we ate. "Why didn't you ever tell me about your telekinesis?"

"I didn't until a few weeks ago. A fellow gym leader acknowledged it, and trust me when I say everyone was skeptical until the raid. It's like she knew I had the ability."

"Wow," was all Jake said, blowing on his spoon.

"It's a unique ability," Mom said after a bite. "I thought my mother was intuitive and resourceful more than anyone I knew, even until the day she passed. I wonder now if she was whom you'd inherited that gift."

"It's possible... I've known about it for a while, but it's still new to me."

"What does it feel like?" Jake asked.

"It's complicated to describe, but it's not much different from how you would accomplish tasks with your own physical strength, except this is all to do with your mind."

"I can't imagine," he replied.

"I bet it isn't simple," Mom added.

"You're right," I said. "I'm unskilled with it, so when I overexert myself, I'm left with a headache or fatigue."

"It sounds like it requires more training for it to subside," she said.

"Agreed."

When our bowls were empty, and Jake and I took second helpings, Mom asked, "So what did you write, Drew?"

I grabbed my notebook and looked over it, trying to make sense of my scribbles.

"Hmm... let's see... I'd like to become a stronger person, and therapy will help... I'd like to be a stronger gym leader, which will have to wait. But I can build stronger connections with other gym leaders and with our town's leaders and business owners... And I'd like to return to a fitness regimen since I'm no longer bulking for protection. Plus, seeing the doctor and making sure I'm healthy isn't a terrible idea."

"I think it's a start," Mom said.

"Yeah, and maybe I should look into joining a gym, too," Jake added.

"You can take part in whatever you'd like," I said. "Now that you're my protégé, you can become or do whatever you'd like if it helps you become a better version of yourself."

He smiled.

"And, Drew, if it's relevant, the same doctor our family's had since before you were born is still practicing, and his office is close to the restaurant."

"Great, I'll visit him tomorrow."

"Drew," Jake said as we finished our bowls, "I remember your team at the gym being diverse in type. Are other gyms the same?"

I shook my head. "Gyms often focus on a single type, and while I don't recall what my father did with the gym, when I took it over I didn't have any plan, so my team was diverse in type coverage."

"Makes sense. Do you think you'll keep that foundation when the gym reopens?"

"I don't think I could focus on one type because I love variety... plus, since we're most often the last gym trainers visit, they need to show mastery over multiple types to qualify for the Indigo League."

He smiled.

"When you build your team, you choose whatever you'd like, but what I can help with is finding balance so it's more of a challenge for a trainer to pinpoint a weakness."

"I'd like that."

Jake and I helped Mom with the dishes, and then we settled into the living room. Turns out Jake was a reader also, so he dove into his trainer handbook while Mom read one of her novels and I read one of my library books on pokémon breeding.

When it got late, Mom bid us her good nights, our cue to also consider turning in. I showered and brushed my teeth before coming back downstairs to where Jake was reading.

"Are you ready for bed?" I asked.

"Yeah, just about," he said, his eyes half-closed. "You sure you don't want your room?"

I nodded and ruffled his hair. "See you in the morning."

"Good night, Drew," he said before he retired to my room.

I turned off the light and wrapped the quilt over me. Dragonair laid along the couch's frame, and Espeon curled up on the armrest above my head. I tried to focus on my breathing and to relax myself, hoping to will myself into some restful sleep.

To my detriment, the night came with confusing dreams, several of them growing into nightmares. My father's evil manifested into my pokémon falling in bloody heaps on the ground next to my wounded body. I woke several times in tears, shaking and sweating. Dragonair laid its sullen head on my shoulder and Espeon's on my chest, and I wept into Espeon's fur, clueless how I let this happen and wishing I'd done more to save them.

Believing I was a failure, my sorrow lingered as I drifted off to sleep, those pained thoughts still blaring as I woke up to the sound of Mom in the kitchen. My friends stirred when I stood up to hobble in a groggy funk to the table.

"Morning, honey. Have an awful night?"

I nodded. Espeon had followed me and jumped up into my lap, nuzzling my chin. Dragonair laid in a heap beside me.

"I sensed that, but it was so precious to see your pokémon comforting you."

"What did you see?"

"You and Espeon were nose-to-nose, and Dragonair draped itself over you like a blanket."

I smiled and stroked their heads. "I had..." I had to catch myself. "...I _have_ loving pokémon..."

Mom said nothing but continued to prepare breakfast, leaving me to my thoughts. I missed my friends. The emptiness in my heart seemed unquenchable. I wasn't able to shake my thoughts or distract myself. The pain was too hard to ignore. And what a fucking worthless fool I was.

It was then my pokégear rang. I didn't get calls often, so I thought it had to be serious. The caller ID showed the name Fuji. I recognized it but didn't place where it was familiar.

"This is Drew."

" _Good morning, Drew. This is Mr. Fuji from Lavender Town. I apologize for calling you so early._ "

"No reason to apologize, sir. What can I do for you?"

" _I'd received a request by a Ken Douglas from the Saffron Police Department to memorialize three fallen pokémon, and he advised me they belonged to you. I wanted to notify you that their ashes are ready, and I'll be keeping them safe until you're able to pick them up._ "

I tried to keep myself together. My voice shook a bit as I spoke. "Y-yes, s-sir. I'll b-be happy to c-come by."

" _Great, if you're able to come by sometime this morning, I'll be at the House of Memories in the southeast corner of town._ "

"Thank you, I'll s-see you soon."

I put my pokégear down on the coffee table, with tears streaming down my face. I wiped them away and returned to the table where Mom was looking at me. I couldn't keep my composure when our eyes met, but I tried my best to smile.

"That was Mr. Fuji from Lavender Town... The police took my fallen pokémon there to be cremated... he called to say they were ready for me to pick up."

Mom enveloped me in a hug, and I cried on her shoulder. Mom held me the entire time and let me process. She rubbed my back and comforted me.

"They loved you, son, and they died protecting you. I know this is hard. We're all here for you."

I wiped my tears away and riffled through my backpack. I took out some dark clothes and changed into them. I returned to the table and pondered over today's to-do list. No sooner had my thought concluded, Mom gave me an omelet and fresh fruit and stew for Dragonair and Espeon. We ate fast, and when I had a second thought about my plate, Mom objected.

"It's okay, honey. I'll take care of it. Be on your way."

I kissed her on the cheek, called my pokémon to their pokéballs, and teleported away.

~ ~ ~

My time in Lavender Town on previous occasions had been brief, so I'd teleported to the outskirts of town. Since it was close to the ocean, a cloak of fog frequented the town, which added to its mysterious reputation, but its fragrance from the smell of salt water and flowers drew in visitors. I ventured into town past a multitude of homes in varying shades of lavender and gray, walking through the downtown area past shops and government buildings beginning to open as I moved toward the House of Memories' location. The Pokémon Tower, known as the resting place of the spirits of fallen pokémon, towered over the town in the distance. I wondered where my friends were. I pressed on and found the building painted a pure white with a purple roof, marked by a sign with its name.

I held my breath as I approached the building and entered a solemn room warmed by many lit candles. Shrines and tombstones lined the walls. A few visitors were present, paying their respects. The air smelled of incense, and through my own mental fog from teleporting such a substantial distance I thought I heard faint voices, even though the room was silent. I peered around at the displays.

To my beloved Growlithe, you were my dearest friend, and while life didn't spare me another moment with you, our love will burn forever like your flame.

My Sandshrew, nobody understood me or supported me like you, and I'll always feel alone without your presence. Rest in peace.

Clefairy, you were my everything. You were there for me through every good and bad day, and now that you're gone, I watch over you. Forever my love.

Reading these aggravated my tear ducts. I looked for anything to distract me from my grief.

Coming from a distant door, I saw a bald man wearing a tan tunic and apron enter the room. While those present were closer to my age, I assumed this must be Mr. Fuji. He spotted me and walked toward me, a faint smile crossing his lips. He was a bald older man with thick white eyebrows and amiable gray eyes.

"Good morning, are you Andrew?"

I nodded.

"Come with me."

I followed him through the same door he had appeared from and into a barren hallway lit with candles set on candelabra. The incense smell grew stronger, though it mingled with something else. The atmosphere was morbid, as if there were many spirits around, but I didn't sense any bad energy from Mr. Fuji. We turned a few times and entered a more intimate room with unadorned white walls. I sensed a distant heat, but this room was much cooler. In the center of the room was a broad table draped in purple velvet, and on it was a meager black box.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Andrew," he said, giving me a respectful bow that I returned.. "Chief Douglas spoke well of you and made a personal request for your fallen pokémon."

The new lump in my throat obstructed my voice, but the older man seemed to sense what I felt.

"I'm so sorry for your loss. When we received them, we took special care to bless them and ease their spirits. I assure you they're at peace, and we put something together for you."

He turned and retrieved the black box on the table and handed it to me. I took it and opened the box. They had shrunk my pokéballs and encased them in silver and welded them onto a silver bracelet. Each pokéball had an engraved letter, corresponding to each friend. I assumed their ashes were inside.

"One of our volunteers here is also a jeweler," the man said, "so they made some alterations so their only function is to hold its contents." He pointed to a button on each one. "If you squeeze it, a latch will open, allowing you to retrieve its contents." He demonstrated on each and opened them wider, revealing two jewels, with one being unoccupied.

Now I understood what they'd done. They made each from ash. Scizor was a garnet, and Crobat a tanzanite. However, I was fixated on Ninetales' desolate chamber. My eyes welled up.

"Though, I must say, your ashes for Ninetales vanished during the cremation process, and its spirit wouldn't rest like the others, which is why its pokéball is empty."

"How can that be?" I asked.

"Andrew, have you ever heard of reincarnation?"

"...Not a lot..."

"When ashes don't appear through cremation, we believe it's all because of a pokémon's spirit being reincarnated, meaning its soul overcame its barrier and came back to life again."

This shocking revelation didn't help my grief.

"So your ninetales might be reborn somewhere as a vulpix. When and where I'm uncertain... Your other pokémon can also... I can't be certain since it's up to fate."

"...A-are their s-spirits in them?"

"That I cannot say with full certainty," he said, "but I wanted to see that you received them."

He assisted me with helping the pokéballs snap shut to keep their contents safe.

"...H-how can I p-possibly thank you?"

He smiled. "It's our pleasure to treat all pokémon well." He led me back out into the front room and bowed to me. "Peace be with you, Andrew."

I returned it. "Thank you."

He left me to my thoughts. After looking over my bracelet again, I left the building. When I was in a secluded area, I teleported back home.

# Chapter Two

Reprogramming

Empty yourself of everything – let the mind become still.

~Lao Tzu

The main floor was vacant when I returned home. A plate of food covered in foil with Jake's name on it rested on the counter. I let my pokémon out and confirmed Jake was still asleep upstairs. My head throbbed from teleporting, so I took some painkillers along with my antidepressant and sat on the porch, letting my tears fall as they formed. I tried to focus on my friends rather than the thoughts which took turns throwing punches at my identity. Reunited and not in physical form, and Ninetales could've been an egg in the unknown world. I wanted answers to these new questions.

After a while, the tears stopped. The doctor's visit was still on my mind. It didn't enthuse me, but I'd promised myself I'd visit. I went back inside and noticed Jake in the kitchen in his shorts, heating his plate in the microwave.

"Good morning," I said.

He turned and smiled. "Good morning. How'd you sleep?"

"Not well."

"Aww, I'm sorry, Drew. You look exhausted." His eyes moved to my wrist. "Have you always had this?"

I shook my head. "I received it this morning... these are my friends. They turned the ashes from their cremation into gems." I unlatched the pokéballs so he could see.

"Wow, Drew, that was thoughtful of them... how are you holding up?"

"Not well... but I still plan on following through with my physical."

"Do you want me to tag along?"

"It won't be a fun appointment, so you're not obligated... you'd have more fun at the library."

"Sounds like fun."

I tried to smile. "Great. Eat up, and then I'll show you where it is. It's near the clinic."

I brushed Espeon's coat and massaged Dragonair's skin while Jake dressed, and we were out the door thereafter into another beautiful day. We sauntered into town despite my body dragging, and we watched as children played nearby in the park. In the distance, two kids were battling. Jake paid some attention to it as we strolled. It was clear they were new trainers, as their pokémon were as small and cute as they were.

"Do you feel up to a battle sometime soon?" Jake asked.

I nodded. "But maybe not today."

We moved away from the park and through the morning farmer's market hosting dozens of vendors in the city square.

"The festivities here seem like so much fun," Jake said.

"I'm glad you enjoy them," I replied. "I wouldn't have chosen any other city for my hometown."

We reached the library, a towering, marvelous brick building in the center of town, surrounded with flowerbeds.

"Go have fun," I said. "I'll ping you on your pokégear when I'm finished."

"Do you want me to reserve anything specific for you?"

"... Actually, yes... Look for anything on reincarnation."

"I sure can. Hope everything goes well."

Espeon and I turned and traveled to another part of town, weaving through people and pokémon and traversing through the medical district to reach the clinic.

The waiting area seemed smaller than I remembered. I checked in at the front desk and took the stack of paperwork to fill out for updates to my medical history. I bore through the questions, ignored my discomfort, gave my mother consent for all my medical information, and returned it to the receptionist.

A few moments later, I waited in the smaller room for the doctor. Espeon sat on the chair while I sat on the exam table lined with crepe paper. The smell of latex and paper wasn't off-putting but wasn't pleasant either. Espeon and I hadn't communicated through telepathy in a while, but I heard its thoughts. It looked at me with gloomy eyes.

_I understand your concern_. _Everything will be okay. I just feel awful today. And this part of our day won't be fun._

It jumped into my lap, nuzzling cheeks. I wrapped my arms around it and held it as we waited.

You're a huge part of why I'm here. I'm so grateful for you.

To contrast, its cheerful, unintelligible thoughts held the same love. Even though I felt the loss of my fallen friends not being here, I always felt love emanating from its spirit.

You can be here, but you'll be more comfortable in the chair when the doctor examines me.

Soon, the doctor arrived.

"My, my, Andrew, it's been a long time," Dr. Yamaguchi said, bowing, which I returned. "My condolences to you on what's happened. What brings you in today?"

"I came in today for a physical since it's been years since I was last seen and to confirm I'm in good health."

I elaborated more on the abuse I sustained and disclosed I was seeing Dr. Yamada for my PTSD and was already in treatment for my depression and anxiety.

"It's quite a lot for someone to endure, but we're happy to examine you and run tests to make sure you're in perfect health."

To start, he checked my blood pressure.

"It's a bit elevated. 130/80. Do you have a family history of hypertension?"

"I'm not aware of anything. I have headaches often, and I have one today."

"Are they usually only on one side?"

I shook my head. "All over."

"If it's normal for you, you may be having migraines. Have you experienced any other symptoms with them, such as nausea or blurry vision?"

"Not to my knowledge."

He nodded and listened to my breathing. "Breathe deep for me."

He listened for a while, placing his stethoscope in different spots.

"All right, Andrew, your heart and lungs sound fine. Lay back and we'll check your stomach."

I laid back, allowing him to pull out the grate so my legs could lay flat. He pressed around my abdomen and thumped a few distinct places before placing his stethoscope there to listen. He released the grate and guided me into a sitting position.

"Your organs sound fine. I'll test your reflexes and continue on with our tests."

He tapped my knees, observing as they jerked in response. He wrote everything he'd verified on his clipboard before setting it on the counter.

"So far, Andrew, everything looks fine. We'll send you next door when we're finished so you can have your bloodwork done to ensure your blood panel is normal for someone your age."

I nodded.

"Also, since you suffered sexual abuse in Team Rocket, I'd also like to evaluate your sexual health. Are you active?"

I shook my head.

"We'd need to check your privates and your prostate and the surrounding areas for damage or anything troublesome. We'll also swab the areas around your prostate to rule out any illnesses left by your abusers. It's not pleasant, but we want to be certain you didn't sustain any damage."

The thought was anything but pleasant. "Do what you need to."

After dropping my pants, he inspected each area.

"Well, to start, we can rule out HPV and testicular cancer," he said.

When he finished, I turned around and allowed him to continue the exam.

"Relax as much as you can, Andrew, and I'll be as quick as I can."

I breathed in deep, ignoring the pain and trying not to wince as he probed each area. Once he finished and he had swabbed the area, I refastened my pants and sat back on the seat, and he filled out more information on his clipboard.

"All right, Andrew, so everything seems fine. Aside from some scar tissue, I didn't discover any lumps or anything concerning we'd need to check. We'll have the swab analyzed, and this, along with the bloodwork, will tell us if your abusers passed anything to you. Otherwise, aside from the condition you're being treated for, I'd say you're in perfect health, and any ailments you wrote fall in line with your condition. Once you complete your bloodwork, we'll notify you of the results, but you're welcome to come in if you need anything else checked."

I bowed. "Thank you, Doctor."

He escorted me back to the waiting area, and Espeon and I left once I received a laboratory order from the assistant. We visited the phlebotomy clinic next door and had blood drawn, which left me lightheaded. Once I recovered, I pinged Jake to meet us at Mom's restaurant before Espeon and I made the trek there. At lunch, my mind and heart were still leaden with the day's events. I needed to do something so I wasn't subdued by this long-term. I needed to clear my head somewhere. I gave Jake my house key and advised I'd be out a while and I'd be back by dinnertime.

~ ~ ~

The sky gleamed a soft blue around scattered clouds as we flew through the Johto skies. On a whim, I'd flown to Saffron and took the Magnet Train to Goldenrod City. I sensed the place my spirit longed for was here somewhere. The air was warm, and the pleasant atmosphere and the views from soaring through the air gave quality time with my pokémon. Dragonair soared through the air, and Espeon was in front of me, enjoying the breeze much like I was.

Through my soul-searching, Ecruteak came to mind. Something about it sparked my soul. As if we were on the same wavelength, from the surrounding sights, we were flying right in its direction. It wasn't long before the Tin Tower came into view, a pillar symbolizing strength and hope, surrounded by trees and standing proud and unrelenting in the eastern part of the city. It was known for its staunch adherence to cultural tradition and a stark contrast to the Burned Tower at the town's western edge, which symbolized death, resurrection, and humility.

Once we were a fair distance away, we descended to the ground. I called my team back and trudged toward the tower. Even before I entered, everything was still, giving a solemn atmosphere, which only grew stronger once I entered the structure.

Despite this being my first visit, I'd heard plenty from word of mouth about the crystal bells hanging in the four corners on every floor. Legends tell they only rang when signaling Ho-Oh's return. The air's earthy aroma coming from the old wooden floors and the fresh air wafting from the open shutters reminded me of nature, folklore, ancient rituals, and meditation. Nobody was present on the first floor aside from an elder guarding the stairs.

I wasn't certain why this sacred landmark came to mind or how welcome I'd be, since my casual appearance didn't denote respect for any tradition. Still, the elder smiled when I approached him. I sensed friendliness in his spirit.

I bowed low to him, and he returned my gesture.

"You've traveled a great distance, my child," he said. "Take my hands."

I came closer so his hands could surround mine.

He took a lengthy pause, during which each breath became heavier and the time in between words longer.

"Ah, yes... your heart is pure. But you've endured much anguish, and your mind is a labyrinth filled with memories many of us couldn't imagine... how may I serve you in finding that which you seek so earnestly?"

It didn't matter what I said. I sensed he could read my intentions without a word being spoken.

"I need to clear my head... and something guided me here."

"Your intuition has guided you well," he replied. "You may proceed wherever you wish."

"You mean, I don't need to show any identification?"

"Material items aren't of value here. In this sacred space, we find value within the content of one's heart, and I don't detect any malice or darkness in yours."

I smiled.

"If you visit the top floor, please make sure you remove your shoes."

"Thank you, sir." I bowed to him again before I climbed the stairs.

Each floor was vacant, aside from an occasional elder meditating or keeping watch. I continued until I made it to the roof, which opened into an open space with a Zen garden, a fountain, and a golden shrine for Ho-Oh lit with flame.

I released Dragonair and Espeon and removed my shoes. I sat in the garden with them, and I was in a safe place and free to do whatever I needed to do. I bowed my head and let my emotions out, allowing myself to grieve for my friends who weren't here. As uncomfortable as it was to let myself break into a complete mess, the only way I would process was to experience it in full force.

Even if it took hours, I needed to embrace the vulnerability and move past this grief. When I least expected it, I heard something. I opened my eyes, but there was nobody there but my pokémon and I. I heard it again, and I wondered if it was coming from my bracelet. I unlocked the chambers for each gem and closed my eyes.

Out of the blank blackness of my mind, I glimpsed the spirits of my fallen Crobat and Scizor materialize in front of me. They looked healthy and delighted to be reunited, even though their bodies were no longer here. I brought them into my arms and held them close.

I've missed you... I'm so sorry I couldn't protect you.

Our embrace warmed my spirit, and I stayed in it as long as it lasted. When our embrace ended, I watched them fade, their happiness still present.

You'll always be with me?

They nodded, and a few moments later, they vanished. I opened my eyes and witnessed the gems in their holders had been glowing and their light faded until they were in their normal states.

Peace settled on my spirit. I stayed in the relief a while with my eyes shut and breathed in deep. I focused on my breathing first and then on my thoughts. After silencing my thoughts many times, my body relaxed. I used this opportunity to flex my mind as much as possible, much like an athlete would stretch before doing anything in the physical sense.

It wasn't long before I sensed another presence with me. The blackness of my mind glowed, but the aura wasn't from either of my pokémon. I knew my pokémon's energies well, but they were asleep. This aura was unique. It was a human aura. Better yet, an aura I recognized. The aura of someone more powerful than myself. Someone who would've been here for a similar reason as me.

_How long have you been hiding here?_ I asked.

_Hiding is a strong word,_ came Sabrina's voice from the darkness. _I had an inkling you'd find your way here eventually._

Must've been a strong hunch.

It's much more than that... but I didn't come to exchange vain pleasantries...

So what brought you here?

I'm here to help you... your mind is too clouded for someone with a new sense of freedom... you are too skilled of a trainer to be holding yourself back with such negative thoughts.

I sighed. _I... don't know where to start..._

I think I do... Hmm... after your exoneration, Dustin reinstated you as gym leader, right?

Yes.

And because of the raid, your gym isn't able to open until it makes repairs.

Nothing gets past you.

You learn quick... so now you're unsure of what to do... and you don't know how to handle your fame in the community because you don't think you're worthy of your freedom or your reputation.

I said nothing.

Am I right?

... _Pretty damn close._

I sensed her spirit constricting with conviction. _Drew, don't be foolish._

I'm not!

You can deny it all you want, but you're still a hero and worthy of freedom. If you refuse to accept it, your heart and mind will continue to rage against each other.

Again, I said nothing.

... _I've made grave mistakes, too... but harping on myself would've kept me from growing... you're destined for even greater success than you could ever imagine, and you won't acquire it until you accept what is and release what you think it should be._

_This isn't easy,_ I shot back, feeling defensive. Why, I wasn't sure. I sensed she was only trying to help. _...I'm doing my best..._

Life isn't supposed to be easy, Drew, but you need to get your stubbornness out of your way and own your mistakes. Regardless, you have the title of hero. Accept it and move on.

I sighed. _...All right... I'll work on it._

You'd better. You'll thank me later for it.

Did you come here to gloat?

I don't have to when I'm right. But... I came here to help you.

With what?

To start, beginning your new life on your terms since you harbor reservations... what do you want most right now?

I want to be okay... I don't remember what it's like... like I was when I was 10.

Drew-

Don't say it-

You won't regain how you felt when you were 10.

The words stung, and the air escaped like it was punched out of lungs.

However, you have the power to recover and encounter a new place of peace and happiness... but the real question is if you believe you can.

I was silent as I recovered.

She sighed. _For now, you should rest._

Nobody tells me anything different! ...I feel so restless... I don't know what to do with myself if my gym isn't open.

Interesting... you'd said before you wished you'd been able to complete the adventure you tried having as a new trainer, right?

Yes... what are you implying?

...What's stopping you?

It hadn't crossed my mind, but she had a point. _...You're right. Nothing's stopping me._

Right... now's the time you can focus on yourself and what you want, and your focus can return to your trainers when your gym is open again.

I smiled.

We could both have the adventure denied to us.

She nodded. You and Jake can create an unbreakable bond. He will become the trainer he's dreamt of under your training and mentorship.

I smiled more, and it brought me back to my goals. I'm sure Sabrina sensed it too.

I want to master my telekinesis and how to wield Psychic types. Would you mentor me?

Do you even have to ask? You know the answer already.

Her response made me smile.

We'll have our first session tomorrow so you have some lessons to take with you on your trip... you'll most likely meet others who can help you... H-

I beg your pardon?

Sorry, I had too many thoughts in my head at once... I sense your strengths and passions will extend beyond what I can teach, so you will need to find the others from our peers, but I can train you on telekinesis.

How can I even thank you?

Thank me by being gentler to yourself than you've been... you'll be in stronger shape for when life demands your strength, which may be sooner than you realize... I can't offer you more insight. There're some details even I'm not able to see.

You mean danger?

Yes... danger, hurdles, doubts... but when the time comes, you'll be ready... as long as you focus on your growth. There's nothing to worry about, but keep your eyes, your mind, and your heart open. This adventure will be arduous, but it will set the course for the rest of your life, so don't be a fool and waste it.

I nodded.

We'll have your first lesson in Saffron tomorrow morning. Since you'll be tempted, don't teleport - it's recommended you start slow and conserve your energy... Oh, and take these. They'll be of much value to your fighter's spirit... trust me.

When I opened my eyes, beside me were two bracelets and an egg.

I examined the egg. It was a bright slate blue with captivating black and white shapes around it. Whatever was growing inside, it wasn't ready to hatch yet, based on how firm the shell was. Next to the egg were two bracelets woven from black leather around what appeared to be moonstone beads. These gifts served a purpose, so I put a bracelet on each wrist and put the egg in my bag before I left the structure. Before we made our way back to Viridian City, I released Dragonair and Espeon again.

"I've been thinking," I told them. "You two have fought hard and been loyal, and I couldn't thank you enough. I caught and raised you under Team Rocket, but you still stuck by my side and helped me get here. To repay you, I'm not having you two battle for me any longer. From this day forward, you are not my warriors. You are my companions, and my happiness comes from being with you, not with your being my battle instruments."

They leapt into my arms, and I held them tight, tears seeping out of my eyes.

"I love you both too much to put you in danger. I couldn't protect our fallen friends, but I'll be damned if anything happens to you."

Their thoughts impressed upon me it was reciprocated. I smiled.

"Let's head home."

# Chapter Three

The Looming Adventure

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

~Lao Tzu

Dinner was already on the table by the time I made it home.

"Oh, thank goodness," Mom said. "We were wondering where you were."

"Sorry," I said, smiling. I hugged her and ruffled Jake's hair. "I'd forgotten how far away Johto is."

"You flew to Johto?!" Jake exclaimed.

I nodded.

"Sounds like you had quite the day," Mom said, passing a plate of meatloaf, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts to me.

"Very much eventful," I said. "But aside from the bloodwork, our doctor said I'm in great health."

"Wonderful," Mom said with a smile. "What splendid news."

"I'm sure you're relieved," Jake said.

"To a degree... and I'm sure Jake told you I needed to clear my head this afternoon."

"He did."

"Were you successful?" Jake asked.

I nodded.

Mom smiled. "I'm glad. I worried about you all day."

"Thanks, Mom, but I feel better after getting this and processing through it all." I showed Mom the gift I'd received from Mr. Fuji.

"It's gorgeous," she said. "What a touching way to honor them. Did he give you the bracelets as well?"

"They were a gift from Sabrina, the gym leader of Saffron City. She was the colleague who helped me discover my telekinesis, and she agreed to be my mentor."

"That's awesome," Jake said.

"Yeah, and she gave me an incredible idea, Jake. This includes you."

"What was it?"

"How does having the adventure we didn't have years ago sound?"

"You're serious?!"

I nodded with a grin. "We have two months. Why shouldn't we travel, catch pokémon, and reclaim our youth all over again?"

His grin matched mine. "Let's do it!"

Mom smiled. "I'll miss you both, but I couldn't imagine sitting around for two months. Any idea where you're headed?"

Jake turned to me.

"I'm not sure," I said. "There are a few places we can consider, but I didn't give it much thought."

"In our defense, we aren't on a deadline to decide," Jake said.

I smiled. "You're right."

The sense of peace from the Tin Tower remained with me. After dinner, I called Bruno from the Elite Four on a whim to find out where he trained. Turns out, he was a regular at the Dojo in Saffron City, but because of a change in scheduling, he and Chuck were training in Cianwood City, and he invited me to join them.

Before I reclined on the couch, I sat and closed my eyes. I found my telekinesis easier to grasp. My mind was clear, and I could flex more than normal. Getting to develop it with Sabrina thrilled me, so I reclined with the quilt over me and soon was asleep.

The next morning, after breakfast, I flew with Dragonair and Espeon to Saffron City and hurried to the Saffron Gym. Its whimsical, merengue- and crown-like structure was hard to miss. I hoped I wasn't late. Once I was inside, I had to use my intuition to find her, as there was nothing but a long corridor with stone floors and walls lit with torches. I followed my senses, ignoring what was in any of the rooms I passed. Rather, they drew me straight ahead, following the path until I was in front of two enormous doors, which led to my destination. I pressed hard, and it creaked open.

Semi-darkness bathed the large space, with the only light coming from a few lit torches on the walls. Sabrina sat on the battlefield on the farthest side in a lotus position. After the door shut with a firm thud, I took a spot on my side of the battlefield, assumed the same position, and closed my eyes.

_You're right on time,_ came Sabrina's voice in my mind.

I'm ready to learn.

_Yessss,_ she said. _I sense you desire to learn as much as you can... but your mind is still too clouded and chaotic to grasp complete control over your telekinesis._

The words stung. _What? But-_

Your powers have only recently surfaced, and while your bracelets will help draw them out of you, you are still not ready to develop those powers enough to master them...

I understood, but it was disappointing.

We will begin with the most basic and fundamental of all lessons... this extends beyond telekinesis, but to master it, a student must learn to clear their mind... your mind, though young, is riddled with scar tissue and negative thoughts stemming from your trauma... put all thoughts from your mind and focus on your breathing...

I swallowed and tried to quiet my anxious mind, dismissing them as best I could and focused only on my breathing.

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

Inhale. Exhale.

It was monotonous, but I tried to focus less on it and more on relaxing my body and mind.

You're showing improvement, but you're not there yet. Keep going.

I lost track of time, but it seemed to drag on for quite a while. It was difficult not to space out or return to any lingering negative thoughts, Pupitar, my upcoming session in Cianwood, or the adventure Jake and I would be on soon. But still I continued.

You're stubborn, Andrew, but, unlike you, I see your potential. Now, clear your mind, or else I can teach you nothing.

I tried again. Thinking about nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

Nothing.

...

Nothing.

...

...

...

_...Excellent,_ Sabrina said. _This is the baseline you need to return to each day when you practice... without this, you can expect no control over your telekinesis. Now... while still keeping your mind clear, we'll see if you can levitate... if your mind is clear enough, all you must do is try to stand without moving your limbs._

It made sense to me in theory, but execution was harder than I expected. My mind strained as I tried to stand, in terms of physical language.

...Good... I see it. It's minimal, but it's a start. With more practice, levitation will become easier.

Landing with a thud broke my concentration.

_I suppose you've had enough torture for today,_ Sabrina said. _Your departure is imminent._

My departure?

Yes, so this will be your daily lesson you must practice on your journey if you want to develop your telekinesis... and trust me when I say this will challenge you, but you must practice every day, morning and evening if you have to, but if you're committed... you'll be ready for the next lesson when you return. If you need anything, you know how to reach me.

I left the gym with a headache and a bruised ego and took the Magnet Train to Goldenrod City before flying over the ocean to Cianwood City to meet with Chuck and Bruno at the Cianwood Gym. The island's population was greater than met the eye and housed a lot of homes and buildings in tan and brown colors with roof colors of varying shades of blue. The unadorned gym made it difficult to locate. I only found the correct path by following some students who trained there, and its outward appearance resembled a temple or shrine more so than a gym.

I entered and observed students lining up for their martial arts lessons. After moving through the space a bit, I found Chuck and Bruno talking in the back of the gym. I ignored stares as I made my way over to them and bowed to them.

"Good to see you," I said.

"Likewise," Bruno said. "Are you ready?"

I nodded.

"Great," Chuck said. "Change into these." He held in his hands a pair of dual-fabric black pants. "We'll meet you in the garden through the back door."

I slipped behind a folding screen and changed out of my clothes and into the pants. I unpacked my egg and stuffed my clothes into it. I was easy to spot, as none of the other students there had tattoos. I felt their eyes on me again, but I ignored them and joined Bruno and Chuck outside, with Espeon following me and Dragonair curling up with the egg in the garden.

The surrounding garden was elegant and reminded me of the garden on top of the Tin Tower, but instead of an open flame, there was a water fixture allowing a giant waterfall to fall into a wading pool. Another muscular man with short brown hair was with them.

"Drew, this is Kiyo," Bruno said. "He is the leader of the Dojo in Saffron City."

"It's a pleasure," I said, bowing to him, which he returned.

"We train at the Dojo, but since it needed some repairs, we opted to train here," Chuck said.

"Since you're a beginner," Bruno added, "you must first learn the basics. The heart of being a martial artist and a Fighting-type trainer is to put your heart into your passion, and its foundation is solid focus."

We sat in a circle in lotus positions, with Espeon sitting at my side.

"Espeon will have more difficulty with this exercise than you," Kiyo said. "The uniqueness of Psychic pokémon allows them to see into the future and predict their opponent's next move. With Fighting types, they rely on their solid focus to attack and defend. No matter what happens, they don't flinch. The key to this is concentration. Outside or conflicting thoughts will only hinder your focus."

"So we would need to clear our minds?"

"Correct. It allows your body to relax, but it also focuses your mind, which translates into a united, holistic coordination of your mind and body... this same technique can also help Psychic trainers in their own training."

I considered myself lucky to have had this lesson earlier, so I did my best to practice relaxing my mind again. It took some effort, but I cleared my mind again. I did my best to bathe in the silence and the lack of preoccupation with anything.

"Now, focus on your breathing, but also notice how your body feels. Notice how when you clear your mind how your body will relax, and then it lends itself to maintaining solid focus for your body."

Nobody spoke for ages. I listened to my body and tuned out the sound of the water.

"It seems you've done this before," Bruno said, "but the real test of your determination is blocking out adversity. That is, focusing in a conflicting environment. Chuck will demonstrate."

Chuck stood and stepped into the wading pool and stood under the waterfall. He turned and sat in the same lotus position, exerting complete focus despite the torrent of water falling on him.

"Wow," was all I could say.

What he'd mastered was incredible, and I'd heard before of a colleague using this technique, but I couldn't place who it was. The importance of clearing my mind made a lot more sense to me now.

"It isn't easy," Bruno said. "It takes a lot of mental preparation to be unfazed under the weight of the waterfall. If you can master it, then you can channel your focus into various martial arts disciplines."

"You think you can handle it?" Kiyo asked.

"I doubt it," I replied, "but I'm willing to try."

"Be our guest," Bruno said.

I entered the pool, and Chuck stood and exited. I moved toward the waterfall and took in a deep breath before I stepped under it. The power was stronger than I expected, but I took deep breaths and inched my way onto the stone, with the water pounding into me, before assuming a lotus position. Its power left my focus scattered, but I tried my hardest to ignore the waterfall and clear my head. After a while, they beckoned me to come back, so I crawled out and rejoined them.

"Well, you performed better than most of our students do on their first try," Chuck said, handing me a towel. "I have to commend you, but with more practice it will get easier."

I smiled, drying myself off. "Thanks. It's harder than it looks."

"So how do you feel, Drew?" Bruno asked.

"I have plenty to practice. I'll be traveling soon, so I'll be able to practice while I'm away."

"Where are you headed?" Kiyo asked.

"My friend and I haven't decided."

"Well, we wish you the best and look forward to having you back," Chuck said. "And, Drew, I don't remember inspecting your scars well, but they're horrendous."

I nodded. "They're eyesores, aren't they? I tried tattooing over them, but they're still distinguishable. And my back is not touchable in its current condition."

"What I might suggest," Chuck said, "is visiting the Cianwood Pharmacy. Their products are true medical marvels. Who knows, they might even offer something for your skin."

"Wow, that would be incredible... I'll have to visit them."

We returned to the gym, and after I changed and gathered my pokémon, I hustled to the pharmacy.

They labeled the round building with more clarity than the gym and wasn't far away, and its domed roof reminded me of a fighter's helmet. They stacked the inside with multitudes of displays with various salves and items used in holistic medicine. So much of it fascinated me, but I had to stave my curiosity and remain focused.

"Good morning, darlin'," the associate at the counter said. She was an older woman with a benevolent smile.

"Good afternoon," I replied. "Is the pharmacist in?"

"He is, let me get him for you," she said before she hobbled into the backroom. A moment later, an older gentleman came out and smiled when he spotted me.

"Good afternoon, sir, what can we do for you today?" he asked.

"Chuck advised me to come pay a visit," I said. "I have terrible scarring all over my body, and he said the pharmacy might have something to improve my skin's condition."

"Hmm... we might. If you'll excuse me for a moment, I'll look through our supply."

He bustled throughout the store, reviewing their products before returning to the backroom. A minute later, he came back with two bottles wrapped together in plastic. One bottle was in a black container with a warning sticker on it, and the other was in a white container.

"You're in luck," he said. "I wasn't sure if we still carried this. This is an ointment set formulated to help rejuvenate your skin's healthy appearance and minimize even the most egregious scars. Do you have any known allergies to any medications or have any health conditions?"

I shook my head. "Would it affect tattoos?"

"It shouldn't," he said. "I should warn you the ointment requires the use of gloves, as it brings a burning sensation to the applied areas, but that's because of its high-grade medicine which helps your skin regenerate healthy cells. All you would have to do is apply the ointment in the black bottle onto the needed areas. After the ointment has soaked into your skin, you would apply the lotion in the white bottle to soothe the skin afterward. This will cause many layers of scarred skin to dry out and flake off in the shower."

"Wow, it sounds like quite the miracle product."

"It is, but it requires the patient to soak in a hot spring to get the full effect of the medicine."

"Hmm... with Cinnabar under renovations after the eruption, I don't know of any in the area."

"If I can suggest a place, we've advised patients to visit the hot springs in Lavaridge City in Hoenn, and they've had tremendous results."

"Hoenn? Hmm... I'd never thought of it... do you know much about the region?"

"Not too much, but it has more of a tropical climate than our region does, so it can be both hot and humid and cold and wet in certain areas... so I assume you're interested in the product?"

I nodded. "How much is it?"

"This set sells at ¥8,000, but since Chuck referred you, I'll sell it to you for ¥5,000."

"Wow, that's so generous of you," I said. I dug into my bag and pulled out the red card Dustin entrusted to me.

"Thank you," he said before he processed the transaction. "We don't see Pokémon League cards too often. I take it you're a gym leader?"

I nodded. "From Kanto."

"Wonderful. Which gym do you lead?"

"Viridian."

"Really?" he asked, his eyes focused on me. "You wouldn't be Andrew Brown, would you?"

"I am."

His smile grew. "Oh, sir, it's an honor to meet you. We are indebted to your bravery and service to the community."

"I'm humbled," I said.

He handed back the card and a receipt. "If I may, would I be able to look at the affected areas?"

I removed my shirt and showed him the faint scars on my chest and arms and the major scars on my back.

"Yes, they are much worse here. You can play this by ear. I'd say the minor scars may need only one treatment, maybe two, depending on how your body responds to it. Your back may need at least three treatments."

I put my shirt back on and shook his hand. "Thank you again."

"Visit us anytime, and please update us on how the treatment turns out for you. Remember, follow the instructions to a tee."

I put everything into my bag, and we flew back to Goldenrod City for lunch. On my way back to the Train Station, I caught sight of the enormous department store. I looked at the clothing and picked out some new clothes for Jake and me. We'd need some new duds to accommodate the new climate. When I finished, we returned to the train station.

My pokégear rang after we disembarked in Saffron City, and to my surprise it was Brock.

"Hey, bud, how's everything?" I asked.

" _Great! I wanted to tell you Saffron Pokémon Center called me and said Pupitar is well enough to come home."_

"That's awesome! Thank you for keeping tabs on it for me."

" _You're welcome, Drew. How's everything for you?"_

"Oh, some days are hard, but everything else so far is okay. I'm heading out of town soon."

" _Oh, that's cool! I remember you mentioning you never had the chance to travel, so this would be great for you. Where are you off to?"_

"Hoenn," I replied. "I know nothing about it, but I'm so excited."

" _I've heard it's a beautiful place, so I'm excited for you! Do you have everything you need?"_

"You know, I don't. I haven't started locating camping equipment yet."

" _Tell you what, why don't you come by, and I can lend you what I have? I don't plan on doing any traveling for a while."_

"Aww, bud, that's so generous of you. I arrived in Saffron City a moment ago, so I'll retrieve Pupitar and come by afterward."

" _Awesome, see you then."_

I sprinted to the Pokémon Center, and the nurse smiled at me when I came inside.

"Hello, Drew," she said with a smile. "That was quick."

I chuckled. "Brock told me the wonderful news."

She nodded before handing Pupitar's pokéball back to me.

"I can't thank you and your staff enough."

"It was our pleasure, and thank you again for everything you've done to keep us safe."

I smiled. "Are there any continued instructions for its care?"

"It will need to keep its bandages on for another week, and we'd recommend no battling or traveling for the time being."

Talk about a snag for our upcoming trip. Still, I was glad it was okay and back in my care.

"No problem, I'll ensure it has what it needs to recover," I said before bowing to her. "Thank you again!"

She returned it. "Have a great day!"

I dashed outside and released it from its pokéball. Pupitar emerged and floated off the ground, although it wasn't as strong as before. I threw my arms around it.

"We missed you, buddy," I said, letting Espeon and Dragonair out to greet it.

It looked ecstatic to be back with our family. After a few minutes of play between them, I called them back, and we flew to Pewter City.

After a meager flight over many farm, city, and rural landscapes filled with forest, I spotted Brock's gym, and we descended and found him waiting outside for us.

"Hey, bud," I said before I gave him a high-five.

"Hey, you're looking well."

"We're trying," I replied. I let my pokémon out to explore.

Brock inspected Pupitar. "Yeah, they took great care of it. It's not fully healed but enough to where there's virtually no risk of any adverse effects."

"That's great."

"So Nurse Joy advised against traveling?"

"Yeah, until it's healed."

"Hmm... and when were you leaving?"

"We hadn't decided on a date. This morning, I would've said tomorrow, but now I'm not sure."

"Tell you what, why don't you leave Pupitar with me?"

"Oh, no, Brock, I couldn't ask you for a favor like this. It's a huge undertaking."

"Oh, don't worry about it," he said, his smile plastered to his face. "You need the trip after everything you've been through. With Pupitar here, it'll be able to complete its recovery, and I could train it with our other pokémon depending on how it recovers."

"I'd be indebted to you, on top of everything else you've done."

"Think nothing of it," he said. "What are friends for?"

Our pokémon interacted and played while Brock and I organized his camping gear.

"Yeah," I told him. "I don't think we would need more than a tent and sleeping bags."

"Hmm... all right. But traveling can be strenuous, so I'd recommend having cooking supplies as well in case you two want to cook over a fire or if you're in between towns. And it gives Dragonair a break from flying, and who knows, you might learn to enjoy camping."

I nodded. "I'd rather be prepared, and I hope the load we're carrying won't be too heavy."

"I'll ensure it isn't too much for either of you."

Brock organized everything to where we had a small pot, utensils, plates, and cutlery in a separate bag that wasn't heavy when combined with my gear.

"I can't thank you enough for all you're doing," I said, offering my hand.

"Don't mention it," he said, accepting my handshake and drawing me into a hug. "Focus on having a wonderful time."

I turned to Pupitar and gave it a hug and a rub on the top of its head. "I'll be back as soon as I can, buddy. Have fun and get well, and you'll be back home before we know it."

Though crestfallen, it looked determined. We bid our goodbyes and flew back to Viridian City.

~ ~ ~

After a haircut for both of us, Jake and I organized our clothes to confirm we had everything we needed. We each had a pair of shorts and pants along with a few t-shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and jackets for when it was colder. I fastened our bag with cooking utensils to the top of Jake's bag and sleeping bag, and I fastened the tent bag to the top of my bag and sleeping bag. When we finished, Mom woke us from our naps in the living room after getting off work early.

"What a surprise," I said, yawning.

She hugged us both. "Wow, you look different with shorter hair, Jake."

He giggled. "It grows fast, so it's more manageable this way."

Then she looked at my buzz cut and put her hand to her head. "At ease, soldier."

I chuckled. "It'll grow back, Mom. Besides, I haven't been recruited yet."

She chuckled. "Just teasing, Drew. You both look ready for your trip. When will you be leaving?"

I looked at Jake. "Do you prefer when we leave?"

He shook his head.

"It depends on when we can get tickets for the ferry taking us from Pallet to Littleroot Town."

"I can call them and see," Jake said.

"Sure," I said. "And I can help you start dinner, Mom."

While Jake spoke to the ferry company, I helped Mom shred cabbage and daikon and pound chicken with her tenderizer. She hummed as she measured ingredients into different bowls. From my observation, with a bowl of flour, then egg, then a bread mixture, as well as a bowl of stronger, spicy elements, I figured we'd be having tonkatsu. I prepared the rice cooker for her while she began frying the cutlets.

"They have two tickets for tomorrow morning," Jake hollered from the other room. "Otherwise, we'd have to leave a few days later after they complete some ship repairs."

"Tell them we'll take them," I said. "My wallet's on the coffee table. Pay with the yellow card."

Jake took care of everything while we started dinner. He came in later with a smile. "We'll all set. The ferry boards at 9 AM."

"Cool, then we can fly over right after breakfast," I said.

Mom smiled, but this smile didn't radiate the same energy her regular smiles did. The word "bittersweet" came to mind.

"We'll miss you," I said. "It's difficult leaving. I want to stay, but I also want to explore what our world has to offer."

"And I wouldn't stop you both from going. You both deserve to travel after everything that's happened... I was able to travel when I was young, and it was a wonderful experience... I'll be cheering you on from here and want to know everything exciting that happens."

I smiled. "Nothing could ever replace being here, but we'll update you as often as we can on how we're doing and any exciting events."

During dinner, my pokégear rang. My mouth dried out and my heart rate picked up when I looked at the caller ID.

"Who is it?" Mom asked.

"...It's Professor Oak."

"Really?" Jake asked. "How awesome."

"Did you ever speak to him after you defeated Team Rocket?" Mom asked.

"No, I haven't. In fact, I didn't ever meet him... I wonder why he's calling..." I hesitated before answering.

"...Hello?"

" _Good evening, is this Andrew?"_

"It is."

" _Hi, Andrew. We haven't met, but this is Professor Oak from Pallet Town. How are you doing?"_

"I'm well, sir... It's such an honor to speak with you."

" _Believe me, Andrew, it's an honor to speak to you too. I hate that we didn't have the chance to meet years ago, but I wanted to invite you to my laboratory."_

"Of course, sir! I'll be traveling, so I could come by tomorrow morning, if you have an open schedule."

" _Yes, sounds perfect. I'll see you then. Good night, Andrew."_

"Good night, sir."

I set my pokégear back on the table, and time froze for a moment. I turned to Mom and Jake.

"Wow," Mom said.

"Jake, guess where we're stopping first?"

# Chapter Four

Liftoff

Your own positive future begins in this moment. All you have is right now. Every goal is possible from here.

~Lao Tzu

The next morning, anxiety weighed down on me like a coat of armor placed on me while I slept, making it difficult to get myself off the couch. The same thoughts that paralyzed me before attempted to constrict my mind again, but Sabrina's words reverberated through my consciousness. This adventure would set the course for the rest of my life. I had to go, in spite of my demons hoping to keep me from experiencing something I wanted more than anything. I took my anxiety pill and fought against my thoughts and ignored them as Jake and I readied our belongings.

After breakfast, Mom hugged us goodbye. It was adorable and touching to see how close she and Jake had become. I held Mom tight for as long as possible. Her gift of hospitality had been so vital to me after my exoneration.

"Thank you... for everything," I said. "I wouldn't have survived the start of this new chapter without you."

The tears in her eyes mirrored my own. "I love you, son."

"Love you, too. We'll be back... I promise you this time."

"I know you will," she said, her smile coming back strong. "Have fun. I'll miss you both, but please be safe. I can't wait to hear about your adventures."

I smiled. "We'll try to call every night."

We climbed onto Dragonair's back, with Espeon in my arms, and waved as we lifted off the ground and flew off into the distance toward the outskirts of town. The air was crisp and the sun warm as we flew south towards the ocean. I cherished the time we had to bond, train, and have fun.

"Wow, what a view.... does this bring back memories for you?" Jake asked.

"Mm-hmm... I feel 10 again... and I'm not afraid of being ambushed this time."

"Thank goodness," he said. "Are you nervous about meeting Professor Oak?"

"A little... He'd be a colleague now if I'd made it to his ranch eight years ago."

"Same for me if my parents had let me be a trainer instead of enrolling me in school," Jake added.

"Well, we get to meet him now, and it's under better circumstances."

He giggled. "You're right, and it's an incredible start to our trip."

"Are you ready for the greatest adventure of our lifetimes?"

"YES!"

"Me too! Let's go, Dragonair!"

Dragonair squeed and soared higher and faster into the air. It didn't take long before we were high above fields and open grasslands, flying with pokémon and enjoying 360-degree views. The landscapes of other distant towns were hazy on the horizon, and it showed us how while one felt small seeing sights with this magnitude, the world itself was small.

We soared longer before Pallet Town came into our view. In the distance a ranch house on a hill grew larger as we flew, so I guessed that must be our destination.

"Do you see the estate, Drew?" Jake asked.

"I do. Get ready for landing."

We flew toward the house and descended enough for Jake, Espeon, and I to jump down to the ground. I called Dragonair back, and we trudged across the field toward the property. Even before we reached the door, it opened, with a tall man with a full head of gray hair and a warm smile appearing in the doorway. We bowed to him, and he returned it.

"Good morning, boys," Professor Oak said. "Please come in."

We found ourselves in what appeared to be his living room. He beckoned us to take a seat and handed us teacups with tea, so we sat on the couch perpendicular to his armchair, based on the hordes of journals and books stacked on the side tables. Espeon laid in my lap and Growlithe in Jake's as we stroked their fur.

"It's an honor to be here, sir," Jake said.

"It is," I said. "Professor, this is Jake, my protégé. He's the reason I escaped, and it's ironic too that he also couldn't come here years ago to start his own journey like he wished."

"Well, this is more of a special visit than I expected," he said, smiling. "It's a pleasure to host both of you... sometimes words can't give proper justice to a sentiment as it deserves, but it's a shame we couldn't meet under ideal circumstances."

"It means a lot to hear that," I said, "considering the uniqueness in which Jake and I met. Because we didn't become trainers in the conventional way, we no longer have Team Rocket, and now we can partake in an adventure while the Viridian Gym is being repaired."

"What wonderful news," he said. "Given the circumstances, as hard as they were, I'm glad both of you are here now."

"So are we," I said, "and I have an idea and never thought I'd be able to share it with you."

"Wonderful. And what was your idea?"

"Looking back on my journey, nobody mentored me. When I became a trainer of some capacity, it was for Team Rocket so our hideout would remain secret, with my role as gym leader being a total façade... I was too petrified to visit the Pokémon Center to heal my team, which forced me to learn on my own... I strove to be the best gym leader in my mind, but until I acclimated to the role, I didn't have anyone to instruct me of how to battle or how to train."

"Yes, despite those challenges, you were still resourceful, and from what I've heard, you became a strapping gym leader for our trainers."

I didn't think his compliments would embarrass me. "My idea is to create a new trainer program with the Pokémon League so they're mentored when their journeys first begin so they don't feel lost."

"I love it. Have you considered its design?"

"My design was for new trainers who visit you to come to Viridian City and stay with us at the gym for a few days. They would watch battles and learn from Jake and I, from the gym leader of Pewter City, from the Pokémon League Champion, and even from you how to train, heal, and care for their team. Then there's a path in front of them."

"It's a great proposal, and I see what you're saying. Although it's been a long time since I was a new trainer, I can sympathize with how new everything is in the beginning, and the trainer guide we provide them can only tell them so much. The influence of mentoring on trainers is remarkable if introduced early... who knows, they might be more successful when they start out with a program like this."

I nodded. "And when the gym reopens in the next month or two, we'll have the means of creating it... We're not ready at the moment to organize it, but if we receive approval from Dustin Zane, would you be interested in participating?"

His expression was solemn for a moment, but the hard lines on his face softened with a smile. "I'd be happy to be part of it, Drew."

The grins Jake and I had mirrored each other.

"And not only because of how valuable this program would be," he continued, "but also to show my support for what you wish to carry out in our community."

My eyes welled up with tears.

"Thank you so much, sir," I said, wiping my eyes. "Your support humbles me. When we're close to coming home, and Dustin loves the idea, I'll start working on it and circle back with you."

"Sounds like a marvelous idea," he said. "Well, I won't keep you from your travel plans. By chance, where are you headed?"

"Hoenn," Jake said.

"Ah, wonderful. If you're stopping in Littleroot Town, consider visiting one of my colleagues, Professor Birch. He studies Pokémon like I do, and hearing about some of his recent discoveries may benefit your adventure."

"Great," I said. "Sounds wonderful. We thank you so much for your hospitality."

"It was my pleasure, and safe travels to both of you! I look forward to hearing about your adventures."

We bowed to him after he escorted us outside, and we got back onto Dragonair's back and waved as we flew off toward the ocean in search of the port.

~ ~ ~

It was beautiful being out on the ocean as the ferry glided over it. The chill from the ocean breeze was enough for Jake and me to need our hoodies, but our Pokémon loved it. Dragonair flew out in the open a fair distance out from the ferry, and Espeon stood on its hind legs to enjoy the view beyond the railing with me. Jake's growlithe cuddled with him on the deck.

"I can't wait to meet Professor Birch," Jake said with his traveler's guide to Hoenn open in his hands. "From what I can gather, he's conducted a lot of research on pokémon and written several books on it."

"How fascinating," I replied. "Pokémon have always intrigued and puzzled me, so I can't wait to learn from him."

"It makes sense with how much you read," he said.

I smiled. "I love it, and it's not normal for me to read less than three books a week."

"Wow," he said. "Guess I have some catching up to do."

I chuckled. "Your bet would be correct... does the guide say what his research is on?"

"It doesn't. It glosses over who the region's resident professor is and a summary of their accomplishments."

"Hmm... well, at least we know what we can expect from meeting him. Did you discover any other interesting facts about where we're headed?"

"Well, the region has a tropical climate, so we'll get to visit beaches, deserts, rainforests, a volcano. It's unique compared to Kanto."

"It sure sounds like it, and I'm glad we packed wisely."

He nodded. "I was wondering why you'd been wearing long sleeves."

"It's more so to keep a low profile," I said. "Even at home, despite all the support I've received, there are others who are less enthused about my being exonerated. Since we're visiting, I want to be more invisible until we know how people feel."

"Yeah, it's understandable," he replied. "Since this is our time to have fun and build our teams, it should be our focus rather than drawing attention to ourselves."

"I'm right there with you. I can't wait to see a lot of new pokémon. Does the book provide any information on them?"

"Not a lot," he said. "It mentions some names or some events including them, but the names don't offer any information to visitors."

He pointed to the name "Zigzagoon", but it was as he said. The name didn't convey any information.

"Professor Birch will be a wealth of knowledge, I'm sure."

It took about three hours to reach the port in Littleroot Town. The city was a lot larger than I pictured, but it felt exhilarating to be in an unfamiliar region. When we docked and left the ferry, I inquired with a nearby crewmember where Professor Birch's laboratory was. They stated it was in the southwest corner of town and offered us a Hoenn map, so Jake and I took flight with Dragonair and flew in the direction where it was located.

Even without knowing where we were headed, the views were spectacular, seeing an enormous expanse of buildings and forest all around us, and the excitement between us was tangible. When the larger expanse of land was visible near a ranch-style estate with rounded roofs, we crept toward the ground and landed, making our way toward the building.

Once we reached the door, a posted sign read: "Gone for fieldwork - Be back later."

"Damn," Jake said, "we missed him."

"Well, I didn't expect this. I would've thought if Professor Oak had recommended it he'd have had some idea we were coming."

"Professor Oak recommended it since he's the professor here."

"Yeah, makes sense... what should we do?"

Before Jake could respond, we spotted someone coming toward us in the distance.

"Hey!" they called to us. "Hold on!"

He panted when he reached us. He was a slender kid around Jake's age with brown hair tucked inside a gray sock hat, a red shirt, and black shorts.

"Were you two here to see Professor Birch?" he asked.

We nodded.

"I'm sorry, guys. He's in the field."

"Aww," Jake said, "guess we missed him."

"Yeah, I'm so sorry about the timing, but that's my dad for you. He takes off on a whim without warning."

"Wait, so Professor Birch's your father?" I asked. "Incredible."

"Yeah, he's a wonderful guy, but he works too much," he said before bowing to us. "I'm one of his assistants but want more balance. I'm Brendan."

"It's nice to meet you," I said, returning it. "I'm Drew, and this is Jake."

"It's a pleasure," Jake said, bowing also.

"Was he expecting you?"

"I don't think so," I replied. "Professor Oak advised us to visit since we're new to the region."

"Oh, how wonderful! Welcome to Hoenn. I think you both will love it here."

"So far, everything's been great," Jake said. "Since he isn't here, what would you recommend we do?"

"When he leaves, he's out all day," Brendan said. "I can't say for how long, but he's in the field somewhere outside the city doing research. You're welcome to look for him, but I haven't the faintest idea where he's gone off to... But I can take your pokégear number and call if he comes back."

"We'd appreciate it so much," I said.

I gave him my number.

"Great, well, I wish you luck in finding him," he said. "If he comes back, I'll call you."

"Thank you, Brendan," Jake said. "I'm sure we'll run into you again soon."

"Agreed," he said with a grin before dashing back into the field from which he'd appeared.

"Well," I said, looking at Jake, "shall we have some lunch somewhere?"

He nodded, and I called Dragonair back out. We flew around the city, looking at all the different landmarks before we reached the edge of the town. We enjoyed an array of different sandwiches from around our vast region at a local cafe. Our rou jia mo, bulgogi, gua bao, yakisoba pan, and katsu sando sandwiches were delightful. Once we had our fill, we resumed our journey.

Based on the map, it led us onto the route leading us to Oldale, the next town over. We set out on foot with Espeon so Dragonair could rest. We traveled through the fields and trees and enjoyed the scenery. So far, Hoenn was a beautiful place, and even if we hadn't met Professor Birch, we still enjoyed being where we were. The foliage and flowers all around us were beautiful, and it was hard to not want to enjoy it longer.

We had a blast observing pokémon in their natural habitats, despite not knowing what they were. We had seen small dark blue and white birds with red chests, fluffy tan-and-brown stripped raccoon-like creatures, gray-and-black, canine-like hyena pups, and red-and-tan caterpillars. We also picked and ate delicious round blue berries and pink heart-shaped berries growing in trees, which our pokémon also loved.

After an hour of wandering, we spotted a large cluster of trees in the distance set aside from the rest of the forest around us. As we drew closer to it, I noticed an older, huskier man with brown hair and a short brown beard clinging to one of the larger branches in one tree.

"Hold on a minute, Jake... do you see that?"

"Yeah, there's a man in that tree."

"Mm-hmm, and it looks like he's in trouble."

Our eyes drifted toward the ground, and the horror dawned on us. A large colony of kakuna and another pokémon I didn't recognize surrounded one side of the trees. They were lavender cocoon-like creatures with red eyes.

"Oh, God," I whispered to Jake. "He's trapped, and he picked the wrong tree."

"He'll be in serious trouble if they hatch," Jake said.

"We need to do something," I said.

"Yeah, but what?"

"I don't know," I said, pondering. "Any movement might anger them."

"Do you think he knew before he started climbing?"

"No idea."

Espeon leapt in front of us, its instincts much swifter than ours.

_Anticipating a battle?_ I asked through our connection.

It squealed, looking straight at the trees. We weren't close enough for the pokémon to notice us, but I kept my attention there.

The man appeared unsure of how he'd escape from this predicament as he took in his surroundings. After a while, he spotted us as we approached. His bewildered expression changed to panic. He tried to motion something to us, but I wasn't able to decipher what he was saying.

"I wish we could understand him," Jake said.

"Yeah, we're all screwed here," I replied.

The man tried to mime it to us, but as soon as he'd finished, all the kakuna and the other pokémon glowed with an opalescent white light, confirming all our fears.

"Shit, they're evolving, Jake," I said before I took off running. "The man is in danger! We need to distract them."

"What?!" Jake asked as we ran, trailing behind me. "What can we do?"

I chuckled. "Watch and learn. This'll be a great lesson in staying calm during battle."

We moved toward the trees, watching as the creatures changed form and grew larger. The kakuna ceased glowing and were now beedrill, its final stage, and the large green and lavender moths replaced the other pokémon. The anger emanating from their spirits would've caused any new trainer to shit their pants, but this didn't faze me. Nothing compared to my excruciating past in the Viridian Forest when I became acquainted with how mean wild beedrill can be.

The man was white from fright and held onto the branch for dear life as the pokémon set their sights on him.

"Hey!" I shouted at them. "The man did nothing to your colony. Leave him alone!"

Still agitated but now detecting another foreign presence, they turned around and flew at us. If this unknown pokémon was a dual Bug-type pokémon like beedrill, we were ready.

"Espeon, Reflect!"

Espeon squealed and protected us with a large shield of blue light, making the beedrill's Twinneedle and the others' Tackle attacks useless.

"Now, send them back with Psychic!"

Espeon's body glowed blue and immobilized the swarm before sending them flying back into their nest. We rushed toward the trees and confirmed they'd fainted, so I sent out Dragonair to help.

"Dragonair, rescue the man in the tree. Jake, let's escape! Before they come after us."

We sprinted in the other direction for several agonizing minutes until we were a safe distance away to catch our breaths. The man climbed off Dragonair's back and heaved an enormous sigh of relief.

"Oh my word, that was too close, but thank you so much for your help!" he said, tears in his eyes and a bright grin on his face.

"Don't mention it," I said, trying not to pass out.

"How did you even get up there?" Jake asked, panting.

"I was conducting some research and thought I'd have a clearer view from the top branch of that tree. I slipped and caught myself on a branch and realized I'd chosen the wrong spot."

"Wait," I said as I looked at Jake, everything clicking in our brains. "You wouldn't be Professor Birch, would you?"

He smiled. "I sure am."

We both bowed low to him.

"It's an honor to meet you, sir," Jake said.

"Oh, no, the pleasure's all mine," he replied. "I'm so grateful you two came around when you did. I wish there was a way to repay you for your help."

"We're from Kanto," I said, "and we came by your ranch at Professor Oak's recommendation, where your son told us you were doing fieldwork."

"Oh, my, I'm so sorry you'd come when I'd been out, but I think I've had enough of nature for right now if you'd like to return to my lab with me."

I chuckled. "Why not?"

We flew back to Littleroot Town within 30 minutes and descended on his ranch, where Brendan was waiting for us. He snickered when he recognized us.

"Well, it looks like you had no trouble finding him," Brendan said, smiling. "I should keep your number in case I have trouble tracking him down again."

He ushered us inside as Professor Birch recounted what led to our meeting.

"Wow," Brendan said. "What great timing. Pops, you should be grateful these two trainers passed when they did. You should be more careful when doing fieldwork. You could've gotten seriously injured by those beedrill and dustox."

"I'm in agreement," I added. "From personal experience, one sting from a beedrill is painful, let alone from an entire colony."

He scratched the back of his head, blushing. "...You're right... I immerse so much of myself into my research I lose track of my surroundings..."

"Speaking of which, sir," Jake asked, "what is it you've been studying? One thing we were looking forward to was hearing about your research on pokémon."

"Wonderful! Well, I set aside my new interest from my other research. A lot of what I study involves a pokémon's nature. We discovered a disposition like being calm or brave has a significant effect on a pokémon's development."

"Fascinating," I said.

"There are a multitude of natures, which all affect where a pokémon's strengths lie, and our research is still ongoing. One project we finished was the discovery of unique abilities pokémon possess."

"What are these abilities?" Jake asked.

"Well, every pokémon has an ability that may assist them in battle," Professor Birch continued. "With Drew's pokémon as examples, his dragonair has Shed Skin, so there's a chance in battle it'll heal itself of a status condition."

"Wow," I said. "I recall witnessing that from previous experiences."

"And his espeon has Synchronize, which passes on a status condition to the foe, so if it becomes paralyzed, the foe will also become paralyzed."

"Incredible," Jake said. "I bet your discovery was a monumental accomplishment."

"It was," Brendan added, "and what we realized is there may be a possibility pokémon possess more than one ability, but we haven't confirmed our theory yet."

"And your new interest is something different?" I asked him.

"Yes... I haven't witnessed it, but I've heard from individuals across the region there was a new pokémon sighted. It's so quick they weren't able to capture pictures. Anytime they sense it or catch a glimpse, it disappears. I thought I'd have a better aerial view to watch for anything that resembled it."

"Makes sense," Jake said.

"But, Pops," Brendan added, "Hoenn isn't small. If it's been roaming the region, it might be anywhere. What are the odds of it being here versus anywhere else?"

"Aw, c'mon, son," he replied. "You're no fun."

Jake giggled, and Brendan groaned.

"But I can sympathize with your curiosity," I said. "My livelihood is learning about pokémon, aside from being a trainer."

"I'm glad to meet someone else who loves pokémon like I do," he said, smiling. "Tell me something, you can't be a new trainer with pokémon like yours."

"You're correct, sir. I'm a gym leader from the Kanto region. Our gym is being renovated, and since my friend and I weren't able to become trainers when we were 10, we thought this was the perfect time to have an adventure of our own."

"How cool," Brendan said.

"Indeed," Professor Birch added. "Well, I'm terribly fortunate you came around when you did. I wish there was something to offer you at the start of your adventure."

"Hey, Pops, there is," Brendan said, looking at his father.

"Did we get everything we needed for our new trainers?"

"Yes, but there was a mix-up. We received more than we needed." Brendan handed his father two red devices and two pokéballs.

"Oh, perfect," the professor said before looking back at us. "It turns out we can offer something to show our gratitude. Our trainers here, as I'm sure your region does, offers them a pokédex, which is a miniature encyclopedia that provides information on pokémon you encounter, and it helps us track how many pokémon exist in our world so we can understand them more."

"How cool," Jake said.

The professor handed one to each of us. "Even though you won't be challenging the Hoenn League, I trust this will be invaluable to you both. And," he held out his two hands, one pokéball in each. "We normally acquire enough pokémon to give to our new trainers, but it looks like we have two extras. You're more than welcome to take them."

Jake and I looked at each other.

"Go ahead," he told me.

I considered the two pokéballs since their physical appearance wouldn't help me decide how to choose. My intuition confirmed both pokémon had fighter spirits. For whatever reason, as I moved between both, the one in his left hand drew me in. It resonated with my fighter's spirit. I reached forward and took it, with Jake accepting the other.

"Well, boys, have a look," he said.

Jake and I released our creatures, and when the light vanished an orange chick with blue eyes was in front of me. In front of Jake was a green, spotted mushroom with a cute face.

"They're so cute," Jake exclaimed.

I smiled.

"The chick is Torchic, a Fire pokémon, with a Blaze ability that raises its power if it's hurt," Professor Birch said. "The other is Shroomish, a Grass pokémon, with an Effect Spore ability that might give a status condition if it's struck by a physical move. Both pokémon are great and grow to become formidable battlers."

"They sound incredible," I said. "We'll take great care of them."

"Also, this may help you," Brendan said, holding two computer chips in his hand. "These chips allow your pokégears to communicate back home and within this region."

We swapped them with our old chips, which I put into my bag.

"We can't thank you both enough," I said.

"Have a wonderful time and take care of your pokémon, as I'm sure you already do well," Professor Birch said, bowing to us.

"And keep in touch," Brendan said, bowing also. "We might have some news for you, and if you see anything interesting out in the field, call us."

We returned their bows.

"That won't be a problem," I said before they escorted us back outside.

We both got back onto Dragonair's back and waved as we took off and flew back toward the center of town.

"Wow, what an experience," Jake said.

"I'll say," I replied. "Let's head for Oldale."

"Sounds good to me!"

# Chapter Five

New Friendships

Each friend represents a world in us, a world possibly not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born.

~Anais Nin

The journey to Oldale Town was an interesting one. We hiked after leaving Littleroot to see more pokémon and to offer Dragonair some rest. Any pokémon we observed we researched on our pokédexes, as Jake and I couldn't absorb information quick enough. Everything fascinated us. By the time we reached Oldale Town, all the excitement and exercise exhausted us.

Before dinner at the Pokémon Center, we stocked our bags with medicine and pokéballs and spent the rest of the night reading on the Hoenn region and having fun connecting with other trainers there. None of them knew who we were, but getting to bond with them on a trainer level about pokémon warmed my heart. Even as a gym leader, I did not bond with my challengers, and it brought fresh motivation for the program I hoped to create for my gym.

It was also fun for Jake and I to interact with our newest team members. Torchic settled in well with Dragonair and Espeon, as was Jake's new poochyena, one of the small, black hyena pups we encountered before, who fit in with his growlithe and shroomish. I couldn't wait to see what else was in store for us.

Over the next few days, we set out right after breakfast and hiked through forests and fields until we made it to Petalburg City in time for lunch. As much as we loved being in nature, returning to civilization and being able to shower and sleep in a bed were a major relief to our tired bodies. Once we were in town, we stopped at a local restaurant to rest our feet and refuel.

"Wow," Jake said as we found a table. "I don't remember my feet ever being this sore."

"It's been a while," I replied, smiling. "But it's a good sore."

He smiled back. "It is. I only wish I was more used to it."

"It'll take some adjusting... Plus, if we're lucky, we'll encounter those miraculous hot springs soon."

"Oooh, I can't wait," he replied.

Our discomfort eased as we devoured our yakisoba and fried spring rolls.

"The guide says there's a gym here," Jake said.

"Really? That's awesome."

"Yeah, and its leader is described as a master of Normal types as well as the move Façade."

I pulled out my pokédex and looked it up. "Yeah, it's an interesting move. Its power appears to grow if the user has a status condition."

"How fascinating," Jake said before returning to his guidebook. "It also says rare pokémon can be found in the areas around town."

"Oooh, let's take advantage of the opportunity. Does it provide any other information?"

"It doesn't. It says the pokémon change with the season."

"Well," I said, "at least we can still explore."

An older man with a strong five o'clock shadow who had been sitting next to us turned around in our direction. He wore a white shirt and a burgundy jacket.

"During spring and early summer, slakoth are more commonly found."

"Oh, thank you," Jake said. "Where would we discover them?"

"The only place I've encountered them is in the woods headed toward Rustboro, which isn't far from here."

"Great, thank you so much, sir, for the tip," I replied.

"It's my pleasure. Are you two new to the area?"

"Yes, we're from Kanto and are on a vacation of sorts."

"Wonderful," he said. "It sounds like you two have had an enjoyable start to it. It's nice to meet folks from Kanto."

"I'm Drew, and this is Jake," I said, with both of us shaking his hand.

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance, gentlemen. I'm Norman."

"The name sounds familiar," Jake said, "but I can't remember where I've heard it."

He chuckled. "It's because I love pokémon... And I'm also the gym leader here."

"Oh, wow," Jake said. "That's it."

"We're from the Viridian City Gym," I replied, "so it's a pleasure to meet you."

"I love meeting visitors to our area," he said, smiling. "I was born and raised in Johto before I met my wife and moved out here to start our family. So having you as my guests at the Petalburg Gym would be an honor."

"The honor would be ours," I said.

I paid our bill, and we followed him to his gym, which wasn't too far away and featured a traditional design based on the region's cultural heritage. We sat on the battlefield with him.

"To tell you boys the truth, I recognized Drew from when the news of Team Rocket's demise first broke, so it's an honor to host another gym leader."

"I'm humbled," I said. "I haven't wanted to divulge too much in an unfamiliar area."

"Yeah, Hoenn is an interesting place. It's polarized on where people stand. There are quite a few people who will act like you're a hero, worthy of reward for your contributions, and then there are others who will feel your lack of punishment was far too lenient."

"It's sad since I can relate," I said. "I've had a lot of conflicting thoughts on my exoneration. I'm so grateful for my freedom, but I expected to serve out my crimes... it's still impossible sometimes to understand how people could see me as a hero."

"...I can't imagine how hard this has been for you, but I'm not someone who will pass judgment on you," he said. "Life dealt cards to you nobody should ever have to use, and how you used them was wise, even if it wasn't your idea."

"Thank you, sir," I said. "It's great to be in your company and your kind words."

"Don't mention it. I would've said the same thing to my kids, who I hope you'll get to meet at some point."

"Are they here in Petalburg?" I asked.

"They are, but I don't have the slightest clue where they've disappeared to. My daughter turns 10 in a few short months and will start her own journey, and her younger brother isn't old enough but very much wants to become a trainer."

"Awesome," Jake said. "We wish them both the best of luck."

"How long have you boys been traveling?" he asked.

"Only a few days," I said.

"But it feels like so much has happened in only a week's time since I left home," Jake said.

"Agreed," I said. "After my exoneration, I spent two weeks with my mother to recuperate before I returned to the gym, where Jake and I reunited. I agreed to take him on as my protégé, and we're here now that our gym is undergoing repair for the thrashing it received during our takedown of Team Rocket."

"Wow, I bet it's both frustrating and wonderful to start over and have a new gym once this is behind you."

"Exactly," I said. "So it's a pleasant distraction from recent events."

"Oh, without a doubt," he said. "And I'd imagine people who endure that level of trauma have major compromises to their health."

"It's true," I said. "I won't say I escaped unscathed, but as far as my physical health, everything is fine, aside from scars and some headaches every once in a while."

"But it was still traumatic, I'm sure," Norman said.

I nodded. "And it left me with PTSD, so it's a battle, regardless of my freedom."

A pronounced frown settled on his face. "Well, I'm so sorry a father could ever mistreat their own child," he said. "I hope those in our region educate themselves enough to have more compassion and empathy for those different from them."

"Agreed," Jake said.

"And so this must excite you," Norman said to Jake, "being able to travel and learn under a mentor and look forward to someday being a gym leader."

Jake blushed. "I wouldn't go that far, sir... but, yes, I love having an adventure of my own, and I get to have mine along with him."

I smiled.

"I didn't have the best support when I first became a trainer, but watching Drew inspired me to want to become the best I can be. So now I can learn as much as I can so I can help foster pride in our community for what the Viridian Gym offers to its trainers."

"Well said," he replied. "So, Drew, I'd love to see your team after hearing about how much they've done for your community."

I called my team out, including Torchic. I scratched it on the top of its head while cradling my egg in my arms.

"They look strong," he said of Dragonair and Espeon. "I don't suppose you'd be open to a battle?"

"Now that I'm not in Team Rocket anymore, I've retired them from battling, so now they're my companions, and Torchic is the only one I've acquired since we arrived in Hoenn."

"Understood," he said. "Tell you what, if you're open to it, let's have a battle. You can even use one of my pokémon against me. In normal battles I'd present a badge, but since you're a gym leader, I think you can rise to a unique challenge."

Espeon sat next to where I stood, with Dragonair sitting on the side, cradling my egg.

"So, fellow gym leader, what's my motivation for winning?" I asked.

"Well, luck has it I acquired a new pokémon a few days ago, but I'm afraid I know nothing about it, so I offer it to you if you defeat me."

"Drew, that's insane!" Jake exclaimed. "Even for you."

I smirked. "It is, but I'm always open to a challenge. Norman, I accept, but I assure you I won't lose, even if you have the home field advantage and stack everything against me. I'm used to smashing through walls."

"That's what I love to hear," he replied. "Jake, one thing you'll learn about gym leaders is we're super crafty. I have no doubt Drew can rise to the challenge." He tossed a pokéball to me. "You can have one of my most trusted partners against me. Are you ready?"

"Yes, sir," I said. I breathed in deep and felt the energy of my temporary partner. "Go!"

Out of the white light came a large, white, sloth-like monkey. I'm sure standing across from its trainer shocked it, but I had full faith in its spirit. I took out my pokédex to discover it was a vigoroth, the second stage of the pokémon we'd heard about earlier. I glanced over its information as Norman readied his pokémon.

"Great," he said before he tossed his. "Let's go, Slaking!"

A larger, brown sloth-monkey appeared. It must've been its final stage. The advantage was with Norman. Still, I believed we'd be victorious. Something about Professor Birch's research gave me an idea. The stakes were irrelevant - I wanted to prevail, especially against another gym leader, and what other opportune moment did I have to apply my theory than now?

Out of the corner of my eye, some visitors entered the gym through the far door and waited on the sidelines. I paid them no mind as I focused on our battle.

"Slaking, Focus Punch!"

It surprised me at how quick this pokémon moved despite its size, and its fist glowed with a white flame as it raged toward us.

I breathed in and out and remembered what I'd read. "Vigoroth, Counter it!"

It braced itself and glowed orange before being struck. Without question, it sustained monumental damage. Then, as quick as its foe, it struck back with an equal and powerful punch. Now I'd given significant damage to Norman's pokémon, and now was my chance.

"Now, Vigoroth, show it your best Reversal!"

It charged again at the foe and struck it hard, sending it back.

"Slaking, Body Slam!"

As quick as it fell, it returned to its feet and charged before jumping off the ground. It made contact, and Vigoroth's recoiled, its normal gait compromised. Damn, Slaking paralyzed it.

Then I remembered what Jake mentioned at lunch. I smirked at Norman.

"Vigoroth, you're doing amazing, but I need you to fight through the discomfort. Blow your master away with your best Façade!"

It struggled, but it moved fast, surrounded by an intense orange aura, and charged straight at Slaking, knocking it down, leaving it out cold.

Vigoroth chattered with a smile as Norman called back his pokémon. He couldn't suppress his proud smile. Jake's jaw would've hit the floor if it wasn't attached to his skull, and the visitors in the background applauded.

"Well, Drew," he said as he approached me and bowed low. "I hoped my test would prove successful, and you passed. How keen of you to look at their evolutionary line and my very own signature move for the advantage."

I smiled and returned his bow. "It was an honor."

"Congratulations, Drew!" Jake said, returning to my side.

"To honor my promise, please take this." In his hand was a pokéball. I took it in mine and felt its presence. It was a Psychic type, like Espeon. I tossed and released it, revealing a steel-blue robotic-looking pokémon with a red eye and claws at the end of its cylindrical body. My pokédex identified it as a beldum, a dual Steel type.

"It's a fascinating pokémon," I said. "I will raise it well."

Our attention then turned to Norman's guests. There was a brunette man and a blonde woman along with their son, who looked pale in contrast to his yellow-blond hair.

"What a marvelous battle," the man said. "No doubt an inspiring sight to behold."

Norman smiled before bowing to his guests. "Welcome to the Petalburg Gym. What can I do for you?"

"My son was hoping to locate some help with acquiring a pokémon. He'll be living with my brother's family in Verdanturf Town to help with his asthma. We were hoping he'd catch one so he would have a companion."

Norman appeared perplexed. "Hmm... I wish I'd had another pokémon available... but there are some rare pokémon found in this area..."

"Tell you what," I said, turning to the boy. "What about if I gave you the pokémon I won from Norman?"

"Oh, we wouldn't burden you so," the boy's father said. "That's generous of you, uh..." He looked unable to place a word for me.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I said, bowing to them. "I'm Drew, a gym leader from Kanto, and this is my protégé, Jake."

"It's nice to meet you," he said, returning it. "I'm Hank, and this is my wife, Priscilla."

"And I'm Wally," the boy said with a smile, trying to suppress a cough. "I want a cuddly pokémon like this one."

He was referring to Espeon, who had wandered over to him. He stroked the side of its face, and Espeon purred and rubbed against him, eliciting a giggle.

I smiled. "I don't blame you. My best friend is super cuddly, and I'd be happy to accompany you so you can catch a pokémon. I'm rebuilding my team, so I need cuddly pokémon too."

"Oh, Drew, what a lovely offer," Priscilla said, her eyes quivering like she was fighting back tears. "We wouldn't worry as much if he had a companion."

"I promise you, ma'am, nothing will happen to your son if he's in my care."

She dabbed her eyes, and it relieved her husband.

"How can we ever repay you for your kindness?"

"Oh, it isn't necessary," I replied. "I'm happy to do it. Jake, do you want to come along?"

"After your battle, I wanted to see if I could catch a slakoth," he said.

"Great," I said. "Why don't you take Dragonair with you?"

He smiled. "I'll be back as soon as I catch one."

"Great. And, Norman, I'll be back to offer my regards once I get the two of us settled."

He smiled and nodded. "Best of luck, you two."

I put my egg into my bag and called Torchic back. Then, Espeon, Wally, and I left the gym.

"Wally, are you ready?"

He nodded. "I wish I could run with you two. My parents are afraid it'll make my asthma worse."

"If you want to run, I'll help. Climb onto my back."

Once he grabbed on tight, I carried him as we jogged through town, with Espeon trotting beside me. I ignored my tired feet, as I needed exercise. Once we were on the outskirts of town, I let him dismount so I could catch my breath, and we returned to the woods Jake and I journeyed through earlier.

"So, if you're a gym leader from Kanto, why are you here?"

"My friend and I wanted to have an adventure," I replied. "Plus, I wanted to rebuild my team after I lost some of my friends." I showed him the bracelet I wore to signify my loss. "These gems came from their ashes."

"I'm so sorry to hear it," he said. "I can't imagine losing a pokémon, let alone having one."

"It's hard, but having one is lots of fun. As long as we're willing to take care of them."

He smiled. "I'm can't wait to have one."

"It's a tremendous honor to have its trust, and as its trainer you two are a team."

"I'd love to be a trainer someday... I don't think my family would let me because of how sick I've been."

"Yeah, I can't say I blame them," I replied. "But sickness doesn't last forever, so let's try to stay positive."

He smiled. "Okay, Drew."

"So are you thrilled for moving?"

"A little," he said. "My parents think the air quality here is responsible for my asthma, so since the air is cleaner where my aunt and uncle live, they hope my condition will improve."

"I hope so," I said. "But you never know... when I was your age, I didn't know what adventures were ahead of me, so it might surprise you later what's laid in front of you."

The trees had several pokémon nearby, but none of them seemed to get Wally's full attention. I followed his intuition, although several of them looked cuddly, by his own admission.

After walking through a thicket of trees and into a smaller clearing, we spotted two smaller pokémon playing with each other. They were tiny pokémon resembling humans with white bodies, green hair, and pink horns on their heads. If I had to guess, they could've been brother and sister.

We hid behind a tree for some anonymity.

"Oh, those are ralts," Wally said in whispers. "They're super rare."

"And they look cuddly," I said, copying him. "What do you think?"

He looked determined and smiled. "Let's catch them."

"All right," I said, reaching into my bag and giving him a pokéball. "I'll send out my Torchic, and when they're weakened, we can catch them."

"Okay," he said. "Let's get them."

We stepped out with Torchic on the ready. When they noticed us, they straightened their postures and sent Growl attacks at us, unnerving Torchic.

"Don't let them intimidate you," I said. "Ember!"

With swiftness, it fired embers at them, inflicting damage.

"Now, Wally!"

As they recoiled, our pokéballs made contact, enveloping them in red energy before it disappeared inside. After a few seconds, the lights stopped flashing, ensuring we caught our new friends.

"Nice!" I said before we retrieved our catches.

"That was so much fun! Thank you, Drew."

"My pleasure, buddy," I said. "Now, before we head back to the gym, let me show you how to heal your pokémon."

We released our ralts, and I sprayed a potion from my bag on their wounds, making sure they were back to normal. We walked back into town, with the two ralts skipping and giggling with each other as we walked.

When we returned to the gym, Wally's parents were waiting outside along with Norman and a new couple, who I took to be Wally's aunt and uncle. They both had brown hair and seemed friendly, like the rest of their family. Jake was also there, smiling.

"There you are," Hank said.

"We were wondering if you'd found some new friends," Priscilla said.

"And I think they were," Norman said with a smile. "Were you successful?"

I smiled and nodded. "We found a pair of ralts siblings, so we each have one."

"Wonderful," he said.

"Thank you so much for helping him," Hank said. "It helps us to know he has a friend, and it looks like everything's ready for him to leave with his aunt and uncle."

"We'll miss you so much, sweetie," Priscilla said to Wally, "but we'll be in touch every week. Please be an angel for your aunt and uncle."

"I will, Mom," he said, hugging her.

"Drew, I'm Robert, Wally's uncle, and this is my wife, Rosalind. Thank you for watching over my nephew. If you and Jake are ever in the area, we'd love to host you as long as you're able to stay during your adventure."

I smiled. "It was my pleasure, and we're delighted to accept once we're in your area."

The two ralts looked grieved about being apart, but I squatted to be on their level.

"Goodbyes are never easy, but you won't be apart forever. I promise you'll see each other again."

I turned to Wally and gave him a high-five.

"Best of luck on everything, kiddo. Here's my pokégear number if you need anything."

He put it into his own and smiled. "Catch you later, Drew and Jake."

We waved as their car drove away. Wally's parents bid us farewell and returned home.

"So did you catch your slakoth?" I asked him.

He smiled and nodded.

"Awesome," I replied. "Then a battle is imminent."

He grinned. "I'm looking forward to it."

Norman turned to us. "So where are you both off to?"

"Good question," I said. "We'll need to check our map and guide."

"Dewford Town is an island close to the mainland," Norman said, "and Rustboro Town, home of the Devon Corporation, is on the other side of the woods. Both are superb places for sightseeing and training."

"Thank you for everything, Norman," I said, bowing to him, but he insisted on shaking hands. "It's been a pleasure."

"Same here," he said. "Please stay in touch, and best of luck in your training and your gym renovation."

"Take care, Norman," Jake said, shaking his hand. "And thank you!"

# Chapter Six

Ill Feelings

Those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know.

~Lao Tzu

Whereas our first few days in Hoenn were enjoyable, my health took an excruciating turn once we reached Rustboro City. I laid in bed or stayed indoors as I dealt with migraines and nausea for several days. My doctor advised my bloodwork came back great and to rest as much as possible to let it pass, as nausea was common with severe migraines. My thoughts ran rampant, and feelings of inferiority tried to set in. Taking my medications was close to impossible with my stomach, and my pill for my depression stayed down, but it wasn't the case with my anxiety pill, so it forced me to bear with my thoughts.

I felt terrible that my illness made training difficult, let alone mentoring Jake, but he understood. I advised him to train if he wanted. I stayed in the common areas of the Pokémon Center if it held me up from training. I had tried to concentrate and clear my head for my telekinesis/fitness training, but my head throbbed too much.

If I wasn't in bed, cuddled up with my pokémon, I spent my downtime reading to distance myself from my thoughts, though my headaches kept me from reading as much as I wanted. I'd found in a book a promotional coupon for the newest PokéNav, a device similar to our pokégears but was more useful for our travel through the region. Since we couldn't tell how old it was or if it was still redeemable, Jake visited the Devon Corporation to inquire.

After he left, I remained in a corner of a common area, reading with my hoodie up to block any sunlight coming into the room. Some boys in a nearby common area were schmoozing. I tried to ignore them, but they were close enough for me to hear their conversation.

"...Yeah, I heard he was spotted in Hoenn..."

"Shit, you can't be serious."

"...I am, these kids from Dewford told us..."

"Oh, please. How would those doofuses there know?"

Out of the corner of my eye, the kids were about Jake's age. The punk with the most obnoxious mouth appeared to be the group's leader. Puffed up, but still smaller than me.

"How would they not? They receive a lot of gossip."

"Yeah, if they have visitors from all around Hoenn, then-"

"They love to spread gossip... it doesn't mean it's true."

"But... what if it is?"

"Yeah, and so what?" the guy asked. Acting tough was his shtick, but I didn't sense a fighter's spirit anywhere in our midst.

"Lee, you said it yourself. Anyone from Team Rocket deserves to pay, and if you were face to face with this guy, you'd put him in his place?"

"Oh, yeah, duh, of course I would... I'd knock this guy on his ass."

I wasn't sure if I wanted to vomit, laugh, or beat the crap out of him to show his groupies how fake he was. Still, if they viewed anyone from Team Rocket as an enemy, Jake was as much at risk as I was.

"...Oh please, Lee, you couldn't beat yourself at a game of chess, let alone the second-in-command of Team Rocket."

The group laughed.

"You all wouldn't survive without me," he said, blowing them off. "If I find him, he's dead meat."

The rest of the group followed him. I sighed and put my book back on the bookshelf and returned to the hostel Jake and I shared with a few other trainers. I tried to clear my head and get some rest.

However, my nausea spoke otherwise. I sprinted to the bathroom in time, and when I thought I couldn't hurl anymore, I returned to the room and slumped onto my bed, with Ralts and Espeon trying to comfort me.

One guy from the younger group was sitting on his bed. I'd noticed him before and hadn't sensed the same energy from him as the Lee kid.

"Your stomach's still crummy?" he asked me.

"Mm-hmm... I'd rather be outside training than being here... Why aren't you with the rest of your group?"

"Oh, they get on my nerves, especially Lee. Sometimes, I need to distance myself from them and their stupidity."

"Yeah, he seems special," I said.

He nodded. "I'm sure this guy he's so preoccupied with could battle circles around him."

"You seem confident of that... do you believe this guy's in Hoenn?"

"I'm unsure of what's true... the gossip out of Dewford isn't always accurate, but most of the time it is... If he's not evil, he'll have to contend with the hotheads who see him as an enemy, and I hope he doesn't run into any trouble."

I nodded, unsure of what to say in response.

"Well, hope you get better," he said.

"Thanks."

The guy left me to my boredom, but after a while of reclining, I couldn't stand it any longer. I put on my shoes and shuffled out to the practice field. It was a relief that it was an indoor battlefield, as an outdoor battlefield would have been impossible to manage.

I released my pokémon to put in some training. Dragonair kept my egg warm and protected, and Espeon and Ralts stayed at my side while I had Torchic and Beldum battle.

"Torchic, use Ember."

Torchic set its sights on its foe and shot embers toward it.

"Beldum, levitate away and use Take Down."

Beldum, with swift use of its magnetic core, dodged the fire and moved in for an offensive strike.

"Now, Torchic, use Ember on the ground."

By doing so, Torchic launched itself into the air above where Beldum hovered.

"Great, Torchic, and now lead into Scratch."

Torchic swiped hard at Beldum as it fell, landing a direct hit. Beldum's defense rendered the attack ineffective. Still, it was progress.

"Excellent work, team. Let's keep continue. Torchic, use Ember again. Beldum, evade at all costs."

Beldum evaded the attack, gliding out of the way of Torchic's fire.

"Stay strong, Torchic. Follow Beldum's path."

Torchic matched Beldum's determination and shot fire each direction it moved.

"Keep evading, Beldum."

This continued multiple times until Torchic hit its mark, being super effective.

We stopped for a moment to rest. I sat on the ground and stroked Espeon's fur, Torchic's feathers, and Ralts' head for a while. My anxiety left me shaking, and I tried my hardest to control it and take deep breaths and not focus on my stomach or my head. I struggled to stand but found my footing to train, and out of the corner of my eye I spotted Jake coming through the door.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" he asked.

"Somewhat better," I replied. "At least I'm not hurling."

"Great," he said, smiling. "They honored the coupon, so now we have a PokéNav at our disposal."

"Awesome," I said. "When you left, I overheard a group of kids talking. They're not fans of Team Rocket, and the leader wants to beat the crap out of me. He doesn't know my actual identity, but I thought we should head out to Dewford. The tunnel out of Rustboro is under construction, so it's our only option."

"Oh, okay," he said, caught a bit off guard. "It's no problem. And I looked at the PokéNav and discovered we have access to trainer information, if you want to review it."

"Sure, let's get our belongings together and split."

I gave a quick treatment to Beldum before we returned to our hostel to gather our belongings and left the Pokémon Center.

~ ~ ~

Before we traveled far enough through the town to leave, the same earlier group of kids blocked our path.

"Well, well, well," Lee said. "I wouldn't have guessed it would be this easy to find the second-in-command of Team Rocket."

All the guys behind him smirked except for the lone kid I'd spoken to, who looked nervous.

"Why are you blocking our path?" Jake asked. "Please let us pass."

"I'm here to make sure your felon friend pays for the crimes his organization committed against the community."

"Lee, don't-" the kid from earlier said.

"If you don't want revenge on this guy, then you're on his side and no use to us," Lee said.

The kid left, having no allegiance to them, leaving us with no means of leaving town. I sighed, hoping it wouldn't have come to this.

"C'mon, put 'em up," he said, holding two pokéballs between his thumb and forefingers. "I want to see what I've heard about you being a strong trainer."

Espeon and Dragonair burst out of their pokéballs, ready to fight.

"No, you two," I said.

They looked at me, and I sensed anger, determination, devotion, and protection within their spirits.

I appreciate it, friends, but I've retired you. You are my companions and not my battle instruments. I protect you now.

They agreed and returned to my side.

"What are you doing?" he asked.

"My veteran pokémon won't be battling you."

"Why, are you afraid they'll lose?"

I chuckled.

"What's so funny, wise guy?"

"I can already tell you're a weak ass trainer."

"What? You're bluffing! I'm not weak! You're only trying to intimidate me, like all your Rocket cronies."

"Your shaking from fright speaks otherwise... Besides, the way you treat others shows your weakness, and you're all talk and no bite."

"You're just too afraid to battle me."

Even Jake giggled.

"My veteran pokémon would make quick work of you."

"Is that right? Then why won't you battle with them?"

"Why would a gym leader waste his companions' energy on a wimpy trainer?"

"Stop your stalling! I'll teach you the lesson the government failed to teach you."

I smirked. "I doubt that, but if it's a battle you want, it's a battle you'll get."

He threw out two pokéballs, and out of them came a graveler and mightyena, a larger black canine pokémon and poochyena's final form. This was my first double battle, so now was my moment to tackle a brand-new challenge. I sent out my two teammates I'd trained. The kid howled when he saw them, as did the other goons behind him.

"Are you serious? Those are the pokémon you're using? Man, this is easier than I thought."

The advantage was not in our favor. Torchic and Beldum both had type disadvantages from our opponents, but I knew this battle wouldn't find favor with our foe. Not with how he was treating others. Pokémon possessed powers far beyond what humans could hope for, which gave me hope.

"Graveler, use Rock Throw on Torchic. Mightyena, use Bite on Beldum."

I didn't have enough of a connection with my teammates to communicate through telepathy, but it wasn't crucial to psyche Lee out as much as it was to defeat him at his own game.

"Torchic, dodge and use Ember on Mightyena. Beldum, counter with Take Down."

Torchic evaded the attack and fired embers at the black pokémon. Beldum countered, taking minimal damage and inflicting its own. Mightyena also took Torchic's attack.

"Argh, Graveler, use Rock Polish. Mightyena, use Swagger on Beldum."

Graveler shone like glass, and Mightyena glowed red, agitating Beldum. It was a clever move, so now we had to think quick.

"Torchic, use Ember again on Mightyena. Beldum, Take Down on Mightyena also." The truth was I wasn't positive we could defeat Graveler.

Torchic fired again, and Mightyena dodged the attack. Beldum, being confused, attacked Graveler instead, which caused minimal damage.

"Graveler, use Magnitude! Mightyena, use Bite!"

Magnitude hit its mark by sending shock waves through the ground and caused damage to both of my teammates, and Mightyena's attack struck also, causing further damage. My team was in trouble.

"So I see the stories told to us were false," Lee said, taunting us. "You're nothing but a loser without Team Rocket to make you look strong. Your pokémon are worthless, and I'll see to it you don't hurt anyone again."

I ignored his words and the crowd forming. We needed to do something quick, or else this goon would feel justified in everything he said, but my pokémon grew tired.

"Stay strong, Drew!" Jake called to me. "You defeated Norman, and you can defeat this goon."

"There's no way you could've defeated Norman," Lee replied. "You're nothing but a joke. Graveler, use Magnitude again! Mightyena, Hyper Beam! Finish this!"

"I won't let you down," I told my team. "Stay strong!"

As Graveler's attack launched, a dazzling, blinding light flashed between us. I shielded my eyes, sensing a power increasing. When the light faded after a few seconds, the sight before us left me winded.

Both of my pokémon had evolved, with their forms being larger and more powerful, and after consulting my pokédex, I gazed at Metang, a larger pokémon with two arms and two red eyes, who had used Protect to shield Combusken, a larger gold and orange fowl with sharp claws and strong legs, from harm. Pride surged through my veins, giving me some added strength to my condition, and Lee whimpered from the other side of the battlefield.

"Well done, team... So, Lee, what was it you were saying about my pokémon being worthless?"

"Argh, I will defeat you if it's the last thing I do! Graveler, use Earthquake! Mightyena, use Take Down!"

Mightyena leapt off the ground out of the range of Graveler's attack. Still, my team and I were ready to pin our foe.

"Metang, use Protect! Combusken, climb on top of Metang and use Bulk Up!"

My teammates avoided the fissure, and Mightyena's attack failed also.

"Now, Combusken, use Double Kick on Mightyena, and Metang, use Metal Claw on Graveler! End this!"

With a swift motion, the attacks hit their marks, knocking Mightyena and Graveler out cold.

The crowd cheered, and I looked Lee right in the eye. "You lost, so please let us pass."

Lee snorted. "You may have won the battle on sheer luck, but we'll make sure you don't get away unscathed."

They took knives out of their pockets and lunged toward us. The crowd gasped, and before they advanced close enough, with a slick thought, I immobilized them. There was no way I'd allow these goons to put my team in danger, so while my head throbbed hard, my telekinesis seemed stronger than normal and easier to control.

"Wha- what's happening?" Lee asked, now afraid.

"Yeah, I can't move," another goon said.

"Do something!" another shouted.

Before Lee said another word, their pants fell to the ground. The crowd guffawed, and I thought they'd had enough punishment. With the embarrassment rising with their faces red, the goons fled, which freed our path out of the city.

"Nice work," Jake said with a wink.

The crowd dispersed, so I sighed and turned to Jake. "Let's move before I keel over."

He giggled, and we turned to leave when an older gentleman approached us. He was a balding man with a thick beard and eyebrows with a wingull sitting on his shoulder.

"Good afternoon, gentlemen," he said. "I wanted to compliment you on a superb battle with those lowlifes."

"Thank you," I said, bowing to him.

He returned it. "I observed plenty of potential in you as a trainer. Are you looking for more training?"

"Hmm... yes, to a degree," I said.

"Then you should head to Dewford Town. Brawly, the gym leader there, specializes in Fighting types, so you'd benefit."

"Wonderful," Jake said. "It's where we're headed."

"Then allow me to help. I have a boat at my cottage, and I'll be glad to transport you there. My friend and I have been cooped up a bit too long and could use a change of scenery."

"What a generous offer, sir," I said, offering my hand. "I'm Drew, and this is my friend, Jake."

"It's a pleasure," he said, accepting our handshakes. "I'm Wilson Briney, and this is my companion, Peeko."

We followed him out of the city into the valley outside town which separated Rustboro from the wooded area, and we followed it until we reached his beautiful cliff-side cottage overlooking the ocean. The views were incredible.

Once we arrived, my nausea returned with a vengeance.

"Drew, you look green," Jake said.

"This way, son," the captain said, leading me to his bathroom.

As my nausea and anxiety racked my body, and with the white porcelain not providing much comfort, Jake filled the captain in on my condition.

"...Yeah, he's been in awful shape the last couple of days...."

"What brought it on?" the captain asked.

"...Do you know who he is?"

"I had a faint idea when the crowd gathered in Rustboro... is what the punk said true?"

There was silence.

"...When you've been alive as long as I have, you sense negative energy quickly, and I sensed nothing from him..."

"Drew's one of the most incredible people I've met," Jake said. "He doesn't have an evil bone in his body... and he would put himself in harm's way to keep his loved ones protected."

"Sounds like you know him well."

"He's taught me a lot, and right now I'm hoping to do what I can to help him heal."

"What has his condition been like recently?"

"...He developed PTSD from Team Rocket, so having flashbacks and stomachaches isn't anything new. His headaches are new, and he's suffered from nausea the last couple of days..."

"...That's rough... but we won't sail if he's ill. Let's see if we can help."

When I had nothing left in me, the captain and Jake helped me to the couch in the living room. The captain drew the shades and instructed me to lay my head. Espeon acted like my pillow, and I rested with my eyes closed with a cold pack on my head and a blanket over me. Aside from taking some painkillers the captain offered me, I didn't move and tried to rest. Espeon used its tail to fan me to keep me cool.

Whatever the captain was preparing in the kitchen, its perfume of herbs and savory chicken mingled in an exquisite dance with the smell of the ocean wafting through the privacy screen. The captain and Jake sat outside conversing while watching our pokémon play. Bits and pieces of their conversation floated into the space as I drifted in and out of sleep.

"...Wow," Jake said. "I can't picture how much fun it would've been to sail around the world..."

"It wasn't all pleasant, but many of those memories I remember now... time spent at sea with my friend are what I wouldn't trade for anything."

"You mean with Peeko?"

"She is my companion, yes, but I meant in my youth. I traveled the globe many times with my companion... there was nothing we wouldn't do to support each other when life was rough."

"Whatever became of him?" Jake asked.

"Oh, he's still very much around. Life can impede staying connected, but we're still friends. He spends his time now as a member of Hoenn's Elite Four."

"Really? How incredible!"

"Yes, Drake became interested in being a pokémon trainer while we were sailors, and over time he has become a Dragon master... he values strong training and trainers who take care of their pokémon and excel... but he has remained a gracious individual."

"Wonderful," Jake said. "I'm sure Drew will want to meet him one day..."

"I don't doubt it... you said he's a gym leader?"

"He was one during his time with Team Rocket, and after his exoneration, they reinstated his post. I watched several of his battles in secret when I was part of Team Rocket, and it showed me how strong of a trainer he is."

"Today's battle showed he follows through as a strong trainer."

"It does," Jake replied. "And it's with rebuilding his team. He lost three of his pokémon at the hands of his father, and one of his is still recovering from its wounds, but they stacked the odds against him with having new pokémon."

"Well, confronting those lowlifes shows me a lot... and are you looking at the same path as him?"

"I don't know... my journey as a trainer started late also... I've learned a lot from him, so my focus right now is to improve as a trainer, and then I'll see from there what I want to do."

After a while, I dozed off again, and I stirred later and found Jake reading in the living room next to where I was laying. Espeon was asleep, its tail twitching every once in a while, and Capt. Briney moved around the kitchen. I stretched my limbs, and Espeon stirred and kissed my cheek. I gave it a kiss on the forehead and sat upright.

"Hey, buddy," Jake said, looking up from his book. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," I said. "I think my appetite is back."

"It's music to my ears," Capt. Briney said from the kitchen. "We have plenty of soup, so I hope it's light enough for your stomach."

"It smells delicious, so I hope that's a good sign."

We sat at the table and partook in Capt. Briney's twist on a miso soup with the chicken he'd cooked and made stock from. My stomach was much stronger and didn't react to anything introduced to it. I ate the most I'd eaten in the last few days.

"Well, this sight leaves me flattered," Capt. Briney said with a smile. "Good to know your rest today helped you."

"Me too," I replied. "And thank you for your hospitality."

"It's my pleasure," he said.

Jake and I helped with the dishes. When we were about finished, I looked over at Jake.

"Hey, we've been meaning to have a battle for a while. You ready?"

"You sure you're up to it?"

I nodded. "I'm stronger now."

He smiled. "I'm ready if you are."

Capt. Briney sat outside with our pokémon lining the clearing where we stood. Our view overlooked the ocean as the sun descended in the west.

"Couldn't ask for more gorgeous scenery," I said.

For this battle, Jake chose his shroomish. After deciding which teammate I'd use, I felt my ralts' energy in the back of my mind. We hadn't gotten enough training yet, so I was sure it would be a fair matchup.

"Don't go easy on me, Drew," Jake said. "I want you to force me to take in everything you've taught me."

"You've got it, bud."

Jake looked ready to battle, but I had no intent of losing. It was the gym leader in me. As much as I wanted to let him prevail, it wouldn't be fair if I didn't bring my best. Jake had not yet seen any battles in which I used telepathy, so I held off on it for now.

Ready, little one?

Ralts squealed with delight. It was such a bright little soul.

"Shroomish, use Growth."

Shroomish focused and powered itself up with a green glow surrounding its body. Interesting choice.

"Ralts, use Calm Mind."

In the same way, it focused its mind and prepared for stronger offense and defense.

"Use Bullet Seed!"

Shroomish sent a flurry of fiery seeds our way.

Despite being new to battling, after only ever practicing with me and my team, we still had a bond because of its psychic nature. It seized up out of fear.

Relax, my friend. Nothing to worry over.

"Ralts, Magical Leaf."

Out of thin air, it brought glowing leaves around it and hurled them forward, canceling out Jake's attack.

He smiled. "Great way to use offense as defense. Headbutt!"

I smiled back. "Ralts, use Double Team."

Ralts multiplied so a circle of ralts surrounded Shroomish. The copy it head-butted vanished.

"Always expect the unexpected, Jake," I said. "You can never be too certain of what an opponent will hurl at you, so it's imperative to stay on your feet and think fast."

"Shroomish, Mega Drain!"

Shroomish shot bright green energy toward us. All the other copies evaporated, leaving the true ralts exposed.

"Great job! Ralts, counter with Confusion."

With its abilities, Ralts halted the attack and hurled it back, causing no damage to Shroomish.

"Shroomish, Headbutt again."

If I tried Double Team again, it would fail. Battles taught trainers there was often another suitable move.

"Reflect."

Ralts shielded itself with a wall of blue light.

"Future Sight!"

Ralts focused again and shot several orbs of energy into the air that vanished.

It threw Jake off a bit, deciding what to do.

"Shroomish, use Stun Spore!"

A storm of gold powder erupted from the spots on its body.

"Dodge!"

Ralts hopped and evaded the attack, but Shroomish was quick. It continued its attack, which struck Ralts.

Jake smirked, watching as it became paralyzed. But only a few seconds later, Shroomish reacted also.

"What happened?" he asked in surprise. "None of your moves cause paralysis."

"Correct," I said. "Jake, do you remember when Professor Birch told us about his recent research?"

"Oh, you're right. Ralts' ability passes on a status condition."

"You've got it. In the same way, if I'd used a physical attack against you, I'd be at risk of Shroomish's own ability."

He smiled. "It was a great reminder."

"Same for me, bud. You've battled well so far, so let's continue."

Capt. Briney smiled from the sidelines, with Peeko giving a hoot. All our other pokémon chattered in support.

"Shroomish, use Headbutt!"

It surprised me, as the sun peaked out of a cloud, which seemed to raise Shroomish's speed. Perhaps it had more to it than met the eye.

Ralts wasn't able to move, so it took minor damage. I was unfazed. It was almost time, so I had to stall Jake.

"Shroomish, Bullet Seed!"

The attack shot out and sent Ralts back.

Are you okay?

It struggled a bit but found the strength to stand, still suffering from its paralysis. It still gave me a mental affirmation it wasn't out yet.

Then, out of nowhere, psychic energy materialized and rained over Shroomish, knocking it off its feet.

"Wow!" Jake exclaimed. "What an incredible Future Sight! I forgot about it."

I smiled. "It's part of the beauty of Psychic pokémon, Jake. Their abilities will surprise you."

He smiled. "You use them well, but I'm not conceding."

"I was hoping not. Throw everything you have at me."

"Shroomish, Mega Drain!"

Despite having its stats raised, Ralts still took damage, unable to move.

Hold on, little one.

It struggled to stand but still looked determined to battle. I sensed something brewing inside it. Before I pinpointed what it was, Jake called out another attack.

"Headbutt!"

Shroomish charged, and Reflect broke, allowing it to land a direct strike on Ralts.

It blew Ralts back toward me.

Little one, are you too tired to continue?

It struggled on the ground, and I thought Jake had won this battle. But the energy I sensed was stronger. It was what determination and perseverance felt like, coupled with an undying spirit longing to achieve more. The energy connected with powering itself up through evolution. It returned to its feet.

Are you sure?

It cried out through our telepathy.

As if turning a switch, I gave my affirmation.

Transform, my friend. I won't let you down.

Ralts cried out and glowed a bright opalescent white.

Jake and Captain Briney appeared unable to say anything, their shock and excitement glued to their faces.

"Well, well, well," Capt. Briney said. "That was unexpected."

"How cool!" Jake exclaimed.

Its form grew taller, and when the light faded, Kirlia stood in its place. With its new form, its psychic energy and capabilities were amplified.

Well done, my friend. Let's finish this.

Despite still suffering from paralysis, it looked ready.

"Future Sight!"

Again, the orbs it created rose into the air and vanished.

This time, Jake knew he needed to act before the attacks appeared again.

"Bullet Seed!"

"Counter with Magical Leaf!"

The two attacks canceled out.

"Headbutt!"

It charged again, but I was ready.

"Confusion!"

Kirlia, with its mental power, seized it and sent it back to the ground.

"Shroomish!"

It flailed a moment but regaining its footing, appearing tired.

"Shroomish, Mega Drain!"

It tried to launch its attack, but its paralysis kept it from moving.

"Finish this with Confusion!"

Kirlia prepared to launch an attack but was also subdued by paralysis.

Without warning, Future Sight appeared and rained over Shroomish, knocking it out.

Jake, despite being taken by surprise, squat to bring Shroomish into his arms, smiling.

"You battled well," he said, smiling. "Take a nice, long rest."

"You did great," I said to him. "Much stronger than our last battle."

"Thanks, Drew. You and Kirlia were incredible."

Capt. Briney shuffled over and shook our hands. "A magnificent battle, boys. I'm impressed. And Dewford is a superb place to continue your training."

Jake smiled. "I'm ready."

"Great, then we'll set out tomorrow after a good night's rest," the captain said. "If Drew is up to it."

I smiled. "I should be."

# Chapter Seven

The Feather

A sense of curiosity is nature's original school of education.

~Smiley Blanton

The next morning, we set out after breakfast on Capt. Briney's boat for a morning voyage. I didn't have a care sailing on the ocean. The water was so clear, and we watched on the deck as pokémon flew above and swam below us. Being well again in a gorgeous environment thrilled me, especially when I thought about our upcoming adventures. Dragonair flew around us with Peeko before they came back for a rest.

"What a wonderful day," Captain Briney said, with Peeko roosting on his shoulder.

"I'll say," I replied. "It's understandable why you enjoy being out here. How could you ever grow tired of this scenery?"

"I'd live on a boat all the time," Jake said. "The water is so clear."

"And I bet it's delightful," the captain said.

"Do you think it's warm?" Jake asked.

"Only one way to find out," I said before I tossed my shirt aside and dove into the water.

The warmth of the water surprised us. With my eyes open, I marveled at all the surrounding beauty. Hundreds of magikarp and tentacool swam around us, all interacting with each other or swimming or making homes along the coral reef. Further in the distance, sharpedo and carvanha made their homes, though they were far enough away for our safety.

Before I could swim to the surface, something swam by us with such ease and speed that the water didn't shift. I wouldn't have seen it if it hadn't caught the sunlight, and it vanished within a second. It had been a blue flash that disturbed nothing around the community.

I processed a moment after I swam back to the surface, trying to determine what I'd seen. A few seconds later, Jake's head popped out of the water. I chuckled again when his usual toothy grin appeared.

"It's surprising how warm it is," he said.

"I was expecting it to be cold," I said.

"And you still jumped?" he asked.

"Duh, but you did too!"

He giggled. "Well, I faced my fear when you went for it."

"Did you discover anything interesting?" I asked.

Jake shook his head. "My eyes were closed."

"Take another look."

I dove again, with Jake at my heels. This time, his eyes were open wide. I peered in every direction, hoping I'd discover a miracle and see it again. However, I noticed something in the distance. Squinting didn't make it clearer, but it floated in the water several yards away in front of us. I swam closer to see what it was. It shone off and on in the sunlight, and when I approached it, it appeared to be a blue feather. I took it and returned to the surface with Jake.

"It's incredible," he said. "What did you grab?"

I swam over to him and showed him. I held it by its white calamus, and the sky-blue feather glowed in the sunlight as if it was a diamond.

"It's beautiful," he said. "Did you see what it came from?"

I nodded. "For a second, but I only caught a glimpse of a blue flash before it vanished."

"Wow," he said. "It must be one special pokémon. Do you think it's a Water type?"

"It's possible," I said. "One would expect it to come from a bird pokémon, but not all pokémon you encounter in water are Water-types, so we'd need to research it more."

"I wonder if the captain has seen it before. Let's ask him."

We climbed the ladder off the deck and dried off before heading over to him.

"Captain, have you ever seen a large blue pokémon with feathers like this?" I asked.

He took the feather from me and held it in the air, letting it catch the sun's light.

"I can't say I've ever seen something like this. Most feathers I've seen from pokémon don't gleam like this one. Did you see what it came from?"

I shook my head. "It swam so quickly, and nothing below felt the force of its speed through the water."

"I can't think of many pokémon with blue feathers, aside from an articuno or swellow, but their feathers are unique, as this is too. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's a special pokémon. You might meet someone in Hoenn who knows more about it."

"Incredible," Jake said, smiling.

"Did you enjoy the water?" he asked.

We both nodded.

"It's no surprise. Even in the winter, it's warmer than other regions."

"Wow," Jake said.

"Hmm..." I said. "...Captain, am I remembering correct a volcano is close by?"

"Yes, sir," he replied. "Mt. Chimney's been dormant for decades. Its ash yields fertile crops, and its heat provides life to Lavaridge's hot springs. The climate here is a lot more tropical, which means the weather can be troublesome a few weeks out of the year, but it makes the weather the rest of the time desirable for tourism and comfortable for residents."

"It isn't hard to believe," I said. "I understand why visitors would want to move after visiting."

"Could you ever imagine moving here?" Jake asked.

"Nah, I love it here, but my home will always be in Viridian City... What about you?"

"I'm with you," he said. "I love it here, but it could never replace home."

"Do you miss being home?" I asked.

"To a degree... but Viridian City is my new home."

We enjoyed the view of the water longer before Dewford crept into view. As we approached, it continued to grow. It was more mountainous of a city than I expected it to be. When we reached the port, we seemed tiny as we docked. We shook the captain's hand as we disembarked.

"It's been a genuine pleasure," I told him. "Thank you for everything."

"We won't forget your kindness," Jake said.

"Think nothing of it, boys," he replied, smiling. "It was a pleasure to meet some young fellows who have potential in front of them. If you ever want to sail, call me."

We waved and ventured into the city.

Despite its size, it didn't seem to be a well-populated island. Still, the community's culture revolved around the ocean. Everyone wore beach-appropriate clothes, and they placed stands all over for shell jewelry, beach gear, popcorn, snow cones, bicycles to rent, and so much more. One stand had brochures on the area, so Jake took one.

"Quite the happening place," I said.

"Everyone seems to love it here," Jake replied, "and the culture is vibrant. They seem to have festivals and events here often."

"It isn't a surprise at all with the pleasant weather and scenery. What do you want to do first?"

"I thought about training, based on the captain's recommendation, and they listed Granite Cave as a training hotspot."

"It sounds fun," I said. "I want to visit the gym. How about we meet for lunch later after exploring?"

"Sure," he said, smiling. "Sounds great. I'll call when I've had enough training and come find you. Take the brochure if you'd like."

I took it. "What direction is the gym in?"

"It's supposed to be in the southeast corner of town," he said. "So you shouldn't miss it if you continue in this direction."

"Cool, have fun, Jake! Later!"

I glanced at the brochure and caught the name of gym leader, Brawly. It didn't mention any more about the gym aside from mentioning its "fighting spirit." That's what I needed, as I wanted to return to my core with my training.

Throughout our vacation so far, it was pleasant to explore an unfamiliar place, like I was today with Espeon and Dragonair at my sides, without a care in the world. Experiencing the town's culture and meeting its people were fascinating since Team Rocket isolated me from anything outside Viridian City my entire childhood. The culture and traditions of my hometown constructed only one part of our great world.

They'd made buildings of locally sourced materials from the ocean, and the landscape of the city differed from Viridian, with the shops and houses having sand or blue tones. And I sensed something distinctive about the energy here. Locals were friendly as we passed each other, and something in their eyes confirmed the inhabitants were special. Was it the carefree, beach vibe they exhibited?

After a long stroll of sightseeing and window shopping, I spotted the gym, perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean. Espeon, Dragonair, and I sprinted toward it, but by the time we reached the structure, the sign on the door put our hopes to rest.

We're out. Please come back later.

"Well, this is wonderful timing," I said.

I looked around, and nobody was around this general area. While it was peaceful, it wasn't conducive to getting information or inquiring with residents. I couldn't be too disappointed, as the scenery was beautiful. The oceans swayed back and forth around us, and a group of people enjoyed themselves at the beach.

I considered my options. I hated to take Jake away from his training, and it was a wonderful day in this paradise. The only logical choice was to enjoy the moment rather than wallow in disappointment.

"C'mon," I said to my companions, "let's enjoy the beach."

We retraced our steps back to the town square and followed signs pointing to the water. A breeze blew by us as we reached the sand, and wingull and pelipper flew in the sky, enjoying themselves as much as the surfers and beachgoers were. I found a more secluded spot, laid out a towel, and assumed my lotus position, with Dragonair and Espeon sitting next to me.

I breathed deep and cleared my mind. As my mind became clear, I focused on my breathing and how my body responded. I wasn't planning on practicing my telekinesis here, but I felt some of what my mentors had told me. I had more control over my focus within my body by being still. I remained in it for a while, continuing to breathe deep and slow and stay connected to my body.

When I felt my reconnection was complete, it was time to enjoy the morning.

"Come on out, everyone," I said, releasing my pokéballs. "Let's have some fun!"

Espeon, Metang, Kirlia, and Combusken played together on the sand while Dragonair and I swam in the ocean. The water was so refreshing I considered how wonderful it would be to live here. Dragonair and I dove deep into the water to observe the underwear pokémon in their habitat. The tentacool, magikarp, and wailmer all seemed to coexist together. While I wasn't a Water-type trainer, it gave me more appreciation for wanting to be one.

When Dragonair and I had exhausted ourselves playing and swimming, I rode on its back as we swam toward the shore. In the distance, my other pokémon laid on my towel and enjoyed the sun. Espeon was curled up around the egg.

As we neared closer to shore, we noticed a group of surfers congregated and waited for a wave to approach them. The wave formed under Dragonair and I, and the surfers paddled on their stomachs before the wave caught and carried us within a few seconds. Their energy was contagious, and we were howling and shouting with excitement as we rode the wave to the shore.

"Righteous!" one surfer said, a grin plastered on his face.

"The waves are gnarly today," another said.

"Glad you could join us on that last one," another guy said, offering his hand. Something about him seemed distinctive from the rest of his group. They wore wetsuits and were surfing alongside their machop and meditite. This surfer's jet-black hair shone with blue hues in the sunlight, and he was surfing alongside his makuhita.

"My pleasure," I said, shaking it. "It's no surprise you're all out here. The weather and water are incredible."

He smiled. "It's why we surf as much as possible."

"If I lived here," I replied, "I'd do the same thing."

"So I take it you're visiting?"

I nodded. "My friends and I couldn't resist enjoying the beach when our plans changed."

"Well, it's wonderful to offer plenty to our visitors. Would you like to join us?"

"Sure, but I've never surfed, and I don't have any gear."

"Oh, it's not a problem. A shop here rents out suits and boards, and we'll be happy to teach you."

I smiled. "That's kind of you. Let me get myself squared away, and I'll be back."

"Groovy, we'll see you out there."

I turned back to my team and looked at Espeon.

Are you okay with me returning to the water and your keeping watch over everyone?

I sensed its affirmation through our connection. I scratched its head.

"Are you all okay?"

They all squealed. I opened a bag of food and distributed it to them before I strolled to the nearby shops. Within a few minutes, I'd rented a wetsuit and a surfboard. After changing into the suit in a vacant changing stall, I returned to my team, who was still basking in the sun. My pokégear beeped a few times, so I checked it. Jake had sent a message.

How's everything with the gym leader?

I clicked out a quick reply.

Long story, but gym was abandoned. I'm at the beach if you want to come here when you're done. No rush.

After setting my pokégear back on my towel, I rejoined the surfers in the water.

"Glad you could join us," one surfer said. "What's your name, benny?"

"The name's Drew," I replied. "Thanks for having me."

"Nice to meet you, Drew," the leader said. "And these blokes of ours are Laura, Tessa, Cristian, Hideki, Jocelyn, Takao, and Lily. And last but not least, I'm Brawly."

"No way!" I said. " _The_ Brawly from the Dewford Gym?"

He smiled. "That's right, the one and only."

"What a crazy coincidence. My entire purpose for visiting was to pay your gym a visit."

"Oh, shoot," he said, the surprise dawning on him. "That's on us for being out... we spend most of our time surfing."

"It's all right," I replied. "I can't say I blame you with how lovely it is here, but I found you anyway... so it all worked out. It's nice to meet you."

"Something tells me you're not a beginner if you have a dragonair or espeon," Brawly said.

"You'd be right. I'm a gym leader who is rebuilding his team."

"Whoa, far out," he replied. "Well, it's an honor to have you with us. Where are you from?"

"I'm from the Viridian Gym in Kanto."

"Hey, you're famous around these parts," one surfer said. "It's an honor."

"Why aren't you at your gym?" another asked.

"My gym's under repair, so my protégé and I took a vacation to have an adventure."

"Far out," one surfer said. "Were you looking for a gym battle?"

"Oh, no, I wasn't... Well, I'm open to it... but I was hoping to study under gym leaders while I'm here. I'd like to become more disciplined in my focus, much like Fighting-type trainers are."

"Righteous," Brawly replied. "We can help. It's why we surf a lot. Trainers might not enjoy it, but it helps us with our training."

"How cool," I replied, "I'm ready to learn."

"Is your protégé here?"

"No, he's training in Granite Cave, but I'm sure he'll find his way here."

We swam further into the water where we'd be able to catch waves.

"So," Brawly began, "how much training have you had so far?"

"I only had one lesson with my mentors before I came to Hoenn, so I've cleared my mind and been mindful of my breathing and my body."

"That's a rad first start," he replied, "It sounds like your mentors started with the same lesson mine did."

"I'm curious, who did you study under?"

"Master Chuck, from Johto."

"You're kidding," I replied. This was too good to be true. "That's who I'm studying under, too. Him, Kiyo from Saffron City, and Bruno from the Kanto Elite Four."

"Righteous," he said, smiling. "You'll be learning from the best... What I teach is unique, but it helps my students in their journeys. It's all about striking balance. Which is where surfing comes in... I believe my students do well by it, but that's me."

"So surfing helps a student become a better martial artist?"

"Correct... surfing isn't easy. It requires you to maintain balance on your board and with the ocean, and it also includes focus and mindfulness of your body's placement. A Fighting pokémon who doesn't land a damaging attack is at risk of taking damage, so balance helps to benefit the trainer and pokémon alike."

"Makes sense to me."

"So are you ready for your first try? It's difficult at first, but we'll guide you through it."

I nodded. "Let's do it."

We all spread out so we had a sizable distance in between each of us. A wave formed not too far away from our group.

"The first thing we do is paddle toward the wave," one surfer said.

We all paddled. I mimicked them, and when we moved close enough to it, we stopped and turned ourselves around. Within moments, the wave carried us.

"Now! Stand and try to keep your balance!"

My attempt was premature, so I lost my balance and fell into the ocean. I came back to the surface and retrieved my surfboard as the rest of them rode out their wave. I swam back to them when the wave broke.

"Tough break, benny," one surfer said.

"Try keeping your knees bent when you stand," another said.

Brawly smiled. "It takes practice, but you'll get the hang of it. Ready for another try?"

I nodded.

My next try was an improvement but still resulted in a wipeout. But I was able to stand on my third wave, getting an enormous cheer from the group during my brief period of triumph before I fell off my board again. When I came back to the surface and rejoined the group, the surfers gave me high-fives.

"Glorious wave, benny!" they shouted to me.

I grinned. "I'm looking forward to more practice, but I'll take the progress!"

"Sounds groovy," Brawly said, "but the lunch counter is calling our names. Then you can have more practice."

We swam to shore and returned to the beach, carrying our surfboards. As I called back my team and repacked my bag, Jake appeared on the beach in the distance.

"Jake! Over here!"

He spotted me and jogged to me.

"How was your training?"

"Great," he said, smiling. "I connected with another trainer who shared some brilliant training advice with me, and I caught another pokémon."

"Wonderful," I replied. "Let's get some lunch with our crew, and you can tell me all about it."

We joined the surfers at a hut with a dozen tables on the sand, and after making our introductions with everyone, we sat around with a feast of fish tacos, mango salsa, and lime wedges. After being introduced, Jake told us about his training at Granite Cave.

"Yeah, this Steven guy spoke like an expert," Jake explained. "He's traveled all over Hoenn and has trained a lot, so he shared a lot of tips of what helped him when he first began his journey."

"Yeah, that Steven fella is a regular here," Brawly said. "He's often looking for rare stones, but he's a tough trainer. I'd take his advice to heart."

I smiled. I couldn't believe how great our adventure had been for us so far. To think we wouldn't have known about it if I hadn't visited Cianwood.

"Did you train any aside from connecting with him?" I asked.

"Yeah, I trained a bit with my pokémon, and it led me to catching an aron."

"Awesome," I said, checking my pokédex. "Sounds like a cool pokémon."

"So, Jake," Brawly asked, "your mentor told us this is your starting out?"

He nodded with a smile. "Drew and I both started late, and when the opportunity arose to travel, it was a simple decision to come here. We have the chance to train new teams and have some fun before our duties begin at our gym."

"Talk about groovy," one surfer said. "It's such a blessing despite the gym being closed."

"Everything happens for a reason," I said. "I doubt we would've been able to have this without everything happening the way it did. After everything we've been through, I'm grateful we have the opportunity to have fun, relax, and to adventure out into unknown places instead of being holed up at home."

"Agreed," Brawly said. "Memories last a lifetime, and it doesn't help to stress on unnecessary drama when life is short. Live for the moment, and enjoy everything until it's gone."

The surfers all cheered in agreement.

When we devoured our feast, we rented a board and suit for Jake, and we joined everyone in the water, practicing and surfing through the rest of the afternoon.

# Chapter Eight

The Blue Flash

To a mind that is still, the whole universe surrenders.

~Lao Tzu

We spent several days in Dewford surfing with everyone. By the end of our stay, our surfing skills had improved, with neither of us needing help as we surfed with them like we'd been doing it far longer than a few days. When the time came to move on, we bid our group farewell at the beach after a wonderful day of surfing and camaraderie as the sun was setting.

"Thank you all for everything," I said, bowing to them and shaking their hands. "We won't ever forget this experience."

"Yes, we've learned so much and bonded with our pokémon so much here," Jake added.

"You're welcome," Brawly said, "and please come back anytime. We're happy to have you and help you train."

"We'll take you up on it," I said before we waved to them and headed toward the Pokémon Center.

"Wow," Jake said.

"Fuck, I love Dewford, Jake," I replied, "and being here was all thanks to those goons."

"No kidding," Jake replied. "It's a small reminder that life redirects you when you don't expect it, and it can end up being the best thing."

I smiled. "Agreed... seems it happens to us a lot."

Jake giggled. "Might as well embrace it."

"Right behind you. So what do you want to do? Stay over tonight or catch a boat ride to a new place?"

Before Jake could respond, something caught our attention.

"Hey, boys!" a man shouted from a few yards away.

We turned our heads and grinned as our eyes fell on Capt. Briney's boat docked in the harbor.

"Afternoon, Captain," I said. "We didn't expect to see you here."

"Peeko and I sailed a few days and came back for supplies. Where are you two headed?"

"To be honest, we were trying to decide when we found you," Jake said.

He smiled. "Then it was fate wanting us to reunite. I can take you back to Petalburg, or I can take you to Slateport City, a larger beach town than Dewford that leads to other cities you might want to visit."

Jake and I grinned at each other.

"It's not a hard choice at all, Captain," Jake said.

"Yeah," I added. "Slateport has our name all over it."

He smiled. "Great, if you'll allow me two hours, I can get what I need, and then we can set sail."

"Sounds great," I said. "We'll meet you back here then."

We had dinner and fed our pokémon at the Pokémon Center before meeting the captain back at his boat. We glided across the water, sitting with the captain on the deck, stargazing and filling him in on our adventure on Dewford Island. It took us two hours to reach Slateport City, but due to the time, getting to the Pokémon Center before curfew wasn't possible, so we pitched our tent on the deck and made ourselves comfortable for the night.

The next morning, I woke with the sunrise, the smell of the ocean, and sounds of the sea and wingull chirping. I left the tent and stretched before I sat and cleared my mind, paying attention to my breathing and my body, and I struggled as I finished my levitation practice, but any noticeable discomfort would diminish the more I practiced.

When I finished, I stood and observed the water here was as crystal clear as it was outside Dewford Island. Without a second thought, I stripped to my shorts and dove into the water. It was not as warm as it was before, but it was still a refreshing rush to wake my senses. I opened my eyes and looked around, observing the schools of pokémon around us.

It was pleasurable to float and be present, surrounded by nature. I returned to the surface to catch my breath before I dove again. I sat on a coral reef and watched as two wailmer played together. In the distance, I watched a tentacruel looking after its young tentacool, and schools of magikarp, psyduck, azurill and marrill, and wooper swam with their respective evolved forms.

As I enjoyed the view, I felt a powerful surge of energy approaching. I turned my head toward where my focus was being pulled, and something streaked through the water at an unbelievable speed. A blue flash. Was this the same pokémon, the phenomenon Birch was researching? I looked around, and none of the pokémon around me noticed. With no trace of its appearance, it left me wondering. If this was the same, I could now understand Birch's fascination.

I swam to the surface and climbed the steps to the deck. I poked my head into the tent and grabbed my towel and my pokégear and gave the professor a call.

"Good morning, Professor, it's Drew."

" _Hi, Drew. This is quite a surprise. How's everything with you and Jake?"_

"Everything's been great. We've been having a blast exploring the region and learning about all the native pokémon."

" _Wonderful,"_ he replied. _"I'm sure Brendan and I would love to hear all about your adventures before you two return home."_

"Don't worry, we plan on it, but I wanted to inquire about something. Since we left, I've been thinking more about the new pokémon you've been trying to research. What do you know about it?"

" _Not a lot. Only that it's hard to spot with its speed."_

"Was it blue?"

" _Yes, it was... I forgot that detail, but others have confirmed- Wait, have you seen it?!"_

"I don't know, to be honest... I've had two separate experiences in the last week similar to what your colleagues have described... And I think I might have found something belonging to it."

" _What?! Drew, that's incredible! I have to know everything. Where are you, and are you near a videophone?"_

"Not at the moment. We're docked in Slateport Harbor, so we could stop by one."

" _Yes, please do, as soon as you're able. This could help us unlock some mysteries and remove some obstacles we've had in obtaining more information on this creature."_

"All right, let me get Jake and I packed, and I'll call you once we're at the Pokémon Center."

" _Thank you, Drew. I look forward to hearing from you."_

I hung up and continued to dry myself off before I poked my head back into the tent. Jake stirred and yawned.

"Finally awake, sleepyhead?" I asked.

"Somewhat," he said before letting out another yawn. "What did Professor Birch want from you?"

"He wants more information on the pokémon we spotted, so he wants me to call him once we get to the Pokémon Center."

"So I need to get dressed?"

"Yeah, but don't rush. We have a bit of time, but we'll be leaving soon."

I left the tent to locate the captain, who was in the kitchenette inside the ship's small cabin.

"Morning, Captain," I said.

"Morning, Drew. You both awake now?"

"Yes, sir. We'll be on our way soon. Professor Birch from Littleroot asked for a favor."

"No problem," he said. "Breakfast is ready."

"This is kind of you, Captain," I replied. "We wouldn't have troubled you."

"I was happy to," he replied, smiling.

He divvied the breakfast between three bowls of hot, steamy fried rice with egg, fish, soybeans, eggplant, and shoshito peppers topped with sesame seeds and pickled ginger.

"Thank you, sir," I said as I took the two bowls and utensils he provided to me. "It all looks delicious."

"It's my pleasure," he said. "Eat up."

I left the cabin and returned to the deck where a clothed Jake was feeding our pokémon. I handed him a bowl and utensil.

"I glanced at the guidebook last night," Jake said. "This place is more happening than Dewford."

"It's not a surprise," I replied as I ate. "It's a much larger city, so I'm sure it'll be fun to explore."

"It's vivacious," Capt. Briney said after joining us on the deck. "They offer a lot of fun activities, festivals, and historic landmarks, like the Slateport Museum... And, for travelers, it's the gateway to the next town over, which is Mauville City."

"What would you like to do?" I asked Jake. "Sounds like we have some great options. Plus, I'm sure the beach here would be fun."

"It does," he replied. "As much as I'd love to have fun here, there are more vital places we want to visit, like Lavaridge."

I nodded.

"Yes, Lavaridge is on the other side of the mountains beyond Mauville City," the captain said, "so leaving town would put you on its path."

"This is critical for you, as this was the key reason we came here," Jake said, "and the guidebook also mentioned this port is the most popular port in the entire region. Their ships allow us to travel to Kanto, Johto, or other regions, so it might be best to come back and have fun before we head home."

I smiled. "It's fine with me, but if you discover something you'd like to do, Jake, tell me. Since you're doing this for me, I want to offer you the chance to experience what you'd like during our journey."

He smiled back. "You have yourself a deal."

We finished our breakfasts and packed our belongings before giving our many thanks and goodbyes to Capt. Briney.

"We are so in your debt," Jake told him, "so we'll want to repay you someday for your kindness."

"You've played such a wonderful part in our journey, so we'll bump into each other again," I added.

"You two boys have such bright futures in front of you, so I'm happy to invest in it," the captain said. "Please have fun, and keep in touch!"

We both climbed onto Dragonair's back and waved to him as we took off into the air. The city gleamed like a magnificent jewel and bustled with activity from our vantage point, with the shops and houses containing hues of all shades of blue and green and hoards enjoying the marketplace and the beach. The ocean surrounded the area, and in the distance we marveled at the mountains lining Mt. Chimney, and to the far right we glimpsed the rainforests. The explorations on the horizon thrilled me.

After a meager flight through the city, we spotted the Pokémon Center in the northern part of town. We descended and dismounted before we went inside.

"I'll call Professor Birch," I told Jake. "If you want to shower, feel free."

"Right on," Jake said before we separated.

I sat at the phones and entered Professor Birch's information. Within a few seconds, Birch was on the screen, looking ecstatic and expectant. It creeped me out some, but this was exciting to him. Brendan sat next to him.

" _Drew! Thank you for calling me back."_

"It's no problem, Professor. I wanted to honor my promise after Jake and I arrived at the Pokémon Center."

" _Drew, I apologize for how passionate my dad is being,"_ Brendan said. _"It doesn't always come across the way he intends, but we appreciate your help."_

"Of course," I replied. "Anything I can do to help with your research, I'm happy to do."

" _What did you discover?"_ Professor Birch asked.

I rummaged through my backpack and pulled out the feather. Then I returned my gaze to them and held it within the camera's view. Their gaze moved to it, and their eyes widened.

" _That- that feather?"_ Birch asked. " _It's from the pokémon?!"_

I nodded.

" _That's incredible!"_ he exclaimed.

" _How did you find it?"_ Brendan asked.

"I was swimming off the coast of Dewford Island, and I was underwater observing the pokémon community below us. Something flashed before my eyes and disappeared. Nothing about its presence disturbed us, and it left something behind, gleaming in the sunlight. When I swam over and retrieved it, it was this feather."

" _Drew, how unbelievable,"_ Birch said, grinning. _"This is more than we're capable of gathering on our own."_

"The friend Jake and I were traveling with had never seen a feather like it, so I don't know if it belongs to a bird pokémon or what, but it traveled through the water quicker and more seamless than any other pokémon around us... I'm not sure what to make of it yet."

" _This helps my father and I in our determining what this pokémon is,_ " Brendan replied, " _and we appreciate what you've shared. Now, Drew, can we count on you to call us if you discover anything else?_ "

"Of course. It only piqued my curiosity when I started having similar experiences."

" _Thank you again, Drew_ ," Brendan said, " _and we'll talk to you soon._ "

"Of course. Take care."

# Chapter Nine

Trial by Heatwave

To be worn out is to be renewed.

~Lao Tzu

Jake and I took some time to rest once we reached Mauville City, exploring the city filled with shops and homes with varying shades of purple hues, restocking our supplies, letting our pokémon rest, and reading as many books at the Pokémon Center as we could. We wanted nothing more than to climb over the mountains and reach Lavaridge Town once we left town. We set off into the mountain range once we'd rested and gazed at all the city offered.

Once we were camping again, we realized we'd underestimated the environment. There was no water around for miles, and our canteens didn't hold enough water for us and our pokémon in this climate.

One particular humid morning during our trip, I woke with a headache, along with more feelings of inadequacy and fear over what lied ahead of us. I wasn't about to let them be additional obstacles to our destination. Since there was nobody around, I opted to journey in only my shorts to maintain my body temperature. Jake copied me, and sweat drenched our bodies as we continued through a scorching valley in the middle of the mountain range. Panting and wiping my brow multiple times, I didn't pay much mind to the heat as my headache intensified.

Mind over matter failed me after a lengthy trek into the canyon, and I collapsed on the ground, vomiting my guts out. Jake rubbed my back, in stronger shape but not far behind me with the heat.

"Here, Drew," Jake said, offering me the last of the water in his canteen he'd been saving. "You need it more than I do."

I shook my head, another wave of nausea coming. "Ugh.... I doubt I could stomach it, kiddo... Don't deprive yourself."

Nausea rocked my body again, and I slumped on the ground when I thought nothing else would come.

"Shoot, what are we going to do?" Jake asked himself.

None of our pokémon would tolerate this better than we could.

"Why don't we give you a suggestion?" came a seedy voice.

My vision wasn't clear, so I wasn't sure if anything I glimpsed was real or a mirage.

"Lee," Jake said, "what the hell do you creeps want?"

He cackled, followed by the rest of his cronies.

"We want to finish what we started in Rustboro, and this time we're prepared for a fight."

"Not today you won't," Jake said. I tried to stand, but the heat and my headache proved too strong, so I stayed where I was and shut my eyes.

"Looks like your fearless leader is out of commission," Lee said. "It's too bad he can't protect you now from our assault. Let's finish them!"

I heard them release pokémon, and I only hoped Jake could handle these jerks without my help.

"Scared yet, twerp?" Lee asked. "You should be, because once your pokémon are out of commission, we'll make you both pay."

"I don't think so!" Jake replied before throwing out his own pokéball.

Hysterics overcame Lee, his laugh uglier than before. What was so funny?

"This will be like last time! You think your puny shroomish is strong enough to defeat my Mightyena and Golem?"

"We'll see," Jake said. "Ready, Shroomish?"

It cried in agreement.

"Oh well, it's your funeral," Lee said. "Mightyena and Golem, Take Down!"

I heard furious stomping in our direction, and I tried not to worry.

"Shroomish, Stun Spore!"

A moment later, I heard Lee bellow, and Jake chuckled.

"Why, you little-"

"Now, Giga Drain!

I opened my eyes, and I only noticed was a mass of green energy surrounding Lee's pokémon.

"A lucky ploy, but this isn't over yet," Lee shouted.

"You want a bet?" Jake asked. "Shroomish, go!"

It cried, and then it glowed an opalescent white. Lee's cronies all gasped, and I watched as its form grew until it was a taller, slender mushroom pokémon with strong limbs.

"Yes!" Jake shouted. "Now, Breloom, Sky Uppercut! Send these losers back and finish this!"

I watched as it made quick work of Lee's pokémon and sent them back toward the group in a pathetic heap.

"Argh, we won't be defeated! Go on, boys! Let's get 'em!"

Espeon and Dragonair leapt in front of Jake to protect us, but their energy was far too low to protect us. They slumped on the ground, and the group split up and surrounded us both.

"Say your prayers, you disgusting felon, and enjoy your dirt nap!"

I tried to shield myself as the group wailed on me, sending a barrage of punches all over my body, with others doing the same to Jake. I didn't know how we'd endure this.

"Stop!" came a distant voice.

They stopped and searched for the source of the voice.

"Now, Alakazam, immobilize them with Psychic!"

All the goons stopped and floated off the ground with a light blue aura.

"What do you think you're doing?" Lee shouted at him.

"I'm keeping you from terrorizing innocent people," the young man replied. He was about my height but had shoulder-length brown hair in a ponytail and wore an orange shirt and brown shorts.

"We're doing the entire region a favor," Lee cried. "This guy is a criminal."

"And how fair is it to gang up on someone suffering from heatstroke in the middle of nowhere?"

"If you protect him, then you're with him."

"Well, then you'll have to lump us together because you low-lifes are flying out of here. Go, Swellow!"

Out of another pokéball came a large blue and red avian pokémon that took flight.

"Swellow, Whirlwind, and Alakazam, combine it with your Psychic!"

Swellow flapped its wings and created a large tornado, and Alakazam's Psychic intensified the air column and sent it right at the immobilized goons.

"Send them flying!"

"You'll pay for this!" Lee called as it engulfed the group and sent them far off into the distance and carried them out of sight.

I slumped onto the ground, the heat and pain preventing me from speaking.

"Thank you," Jake said to him.

"Think nothing of it," he replied. "You're all in terrible shape, so we need to get you to my family's estate as soon as possible. Now, Alakazam, Rain Dance!"

Within moments, the temperature dropped, and water started hitting my face. I pried my eyes open and discovered it was raining. Then my exhaustion overtook me.

When I woke later, I was in a bathtub of ice with an ice pack resting on my forehead and face. I must've been in someone's home, but I had no recollection of how I'd gotten there. The water was freezing, and goosebumps covered my body, so I was numb to how cold it was. My head throbbed some, but the pain I felt around the rest of my body overshadowed it.

Then I realized I was nude. To say it embarrassed me was an understatement, but my limbs were too stiff to move. I turned my head and noticed Espeon and Dragonair were near me, in stronger shape than I was. I smiled and struggled to move my arm so it was in range to pet them.

They came to when they realized I was awake and pranced around and squealed.

A moment later, I glimpsed Jake in the doorway. "Oh, great, he's awake."

An elderly woman with silver hair in a bun came in with a stern expression, and my embarrassment only increased. I couldn't move, so it was pointless to keep myself covered. I noticed a few other faces in the doorway through my peripheral vision but focused only on the woman. She had something in her hand.

"Open, please."

I did as she asked, and she put the thermometer under my tongue.

I tried to cover myself somewhat as we waited.

"No need to be embarrassed," she said. "It's nothing I haven't seen before... when you've raised a family, you've seen everything."

I remained silent as she took the thermometer from my mouth and read it. After a long, hard moment, her stern expression morphed into a more cheerful yet reserved demeanor.

"Wonderful, we're below 100 degrees," she said.

"Oh, thank goodness!" came several voices.

I looked, and beside Jake was the same young man who'd intercepted the goons, an older gentleman with shoulder-length black hair with gray at the temples, an older woman with dark brown hair, and a younger girl with the same hair as her mother.

"Grandma," the young man said, "he's been through a lot. Why don't we give him some privacy so he can get dressed?"

She nodded. "Yes, please give us some privacy, everyone, and I'll get him settled."

Everyone else disappeared, and the elderly woman remained. I hadn't expected her to use the word "us." I guess it wasn't negotiable.

She turned her gaze back to me. "Your limbs are too stiff for you to manage alone. Either I help you, or I can call in your companion."

Neither option appealed to me. Being exposed to a complete stranger was just as embarrassing as your friend. She struck me as the matriarch of the house, so I had no intent of showing disrespect to her.

"Would you like me to call in your companion?"

I sighed. "No, ma'am."

"Fair enough... you were in rough shape when you arrived. I take it you're in a great deal of pain?"

I nodded.

She filled a glass of water from the tap and took some pills from a bottle and handed them both to me while taking the ice packs off my face.

"Are these-"

"High strength painkillers, so they will ease the pain but will make you drowsy... are you nauseated?"

"No, ma'am, thank you."

I took them and chugged the water before she took the glass from me.

"Ma'am, I... thank you... for seeing to my care."

"Please call me Vicky, and you can thank my grandson. He's the one who found you and drove off those scoundrels... he was also instrumental in getting you here once you stopped seizing."

"Seizing?!" I exclaimed.

"Yes, you were battling a nasty case of heatstroke. You two were foolish to be in this area unprepared."

I was at a loss for words. "I'm... so sorry, ma'am. We're visitors to Hoenn, so the circumstances were new to us. Plus, I was ill before the heat was an issue."

"Well... you were fortunate my Vito came home when he did."

"Did he mention what happened?"

"Once he cooled the area off, you began seizing, and he and your companion kept you safe until it stopped. Then they brought you here, and we acted fast to lower your temperature."

I was in disbelief. "I'm in your family's debt."

"Yes, well, we would've helped anyone stranded out here... even you."

Her words left a bizarre impression on my ears. "I beg your pardon?"

"When you arrived, I took one look at your tattoos and assumed you were like one of those scoundrels my grandson drove off and refused to let you in, but your companion told us who you both were... He was in tears begging us to help you and to show understanding for who you've become... and..."

"...And what, ma'am?"

"And you reminded me of my Vito, so I did everything possible to save you."

"I'm speechless, ma'am," I said. "...I don't blame you for your initial impression, and I can't thank you enough for what you did."

Her smile grew. "It's my pleasure. And we sensed you were a strong trainer based on the pokémon you have with you, so having you here is a wonderful opportunity for us. Our family loves training, and we don't have trainers visit often... Your companion said you two were keen to visit Lavaridge, so we won't keep you from it, but we're always happy to train if you come back."

I smiled. "We're grateful to have found you, and we'll be glad to return at some point."

"I'm sure we'll have plenty to discuss. Now, how about we get you on your feet and into something light and conservative?"

I chuckled. "Please, I'd die being only in my birthday suit."

She chuckled with me. "No need for that."

She grabbed a towel and took my hand and helped me to my feet, her strength much greater than expected. My joints ached as I stood, and she steadied me as I stepped onto the bathmat. I wrapped myself in the towel, and what I spotted shocked me. My right eye was black and my right cheek all bruised. This didn't compare to the multitude of bruises all over my torso from those goons.

"Yes, those scoundrels left some nasty marks on you," Vicky said.

"How bad were Jake's injuries?"

"He had some nasty bruises too, but we've already treated them."

She took some salve from the cabinet and began applying it on my bruises before bandaging them. When she finished, she took a green kimono from a drawer and had me put it on. I removed the towel and hung it before she escorted me into their living room.

Jake was outside, healing our pokémon and feeding them. The rest of the family assisted him, paying attention to our team as they revitalized them.

Vicky led me to the couch and had me recline after she pulled out the daybed. Espeon hopped onto it and laid under my head to cushion it, and Dragonair laid around the frame of the couch. Vicky returned a moment later with a bottle of Moo Moo Milk.

"This will help you recover," she said as she handed it to me.

I sipped its contents, savoring the creamy, smooth beverage before I handed the bottle back to her. Within moments, drowsiness wrapped around my mind, and I shut my eyes and dozed off for a while, having dream-free rest.

I woke later with the family clattering in the kitchen, and I started salivating from an aroma of vegetables and rice in a wok and unagi on the grill. I stretched and turned to face Jake, who was napping next to me. He had bandages on his cheeks and torso like I did, and my heart hurt seeing it. My fingers brushed against them before I brought my hand back. I was the reason he'd gotten into this mess. But, yet, he'd stepped up and defended me when I was ill and defeated the goons in battle. I felt both proud and unworthy for what he did.

~ ~ ~

Despite our initial desire of heading straight to Lavaridge, we stayed several days with the family, getting to know them, completing chores around the farm, enjoying their family recipes, and training with our companions until our injuries healed. After we'd said our goodbyes and promising we'd return, we continued our journey north through the mountains around Mt. Chimney. We visited the peak by cable car and enjoyed breathtaking views.

As much as we loved the traveling and camping aspect of our journey, as many times as we attempted, we weren't raised with it and therefore had trouble. We were too used to sleeping in beds, so being outdoors in tents and sleeping bags was harder on our bodies than we expected. Water was still scarce, so we stopped anytime we found a body of it to refill our canteens and bathe and offer our pokémon the opportunity to enjoy it. We also didn't encounter farms or shops often, so we had to restock often and deal with the difficulty of keeping perishables chilled.

Despite our resourcefulness, living on the road was tough. We carried as much protein and vegetables as we were able, and sometimes we found fruit, nuts, and herbs in the wild. But it was all in good fun, and we still enjoyed traveling together despite our discomfort.

When we were camping, we played with our pokémon as much as possible, and we had practice battles to reinforce Jake's training. We'd cook together around the campfire and recall more pleasant memories from our childhoods. We'd watch the clouds on cooler afternoons and stargaze before heading to bed, and we'd spend hours reading books. As hard as it was sometimes to be away from civilization and domestic comforts, we made the most of everything together.

We traversed through fields, mountains, and desert. The scenery was beautiful but still took tolls on us. Our feet and joints ached, our shoes were filled with sand or rocks, and we reached neighboring towns or villages exhausted, filthy, and starving. We called Mom often, telling her about our experiences, and she told us how much she missed us and couldn't wait until we were back. I also stayed in touch with Dustin, Brock, and Lance, so I received regular updates about the gym from Dustin and Pupitar's training from Brock, as well as maintaining regular phone sessions with Dr. Namada. Jake kept in touch with his siblings and Misty and told them about our adventures.

After another sweltering day of hiking, we struggled to continue, even with wearing shorts and tank tops. The sun was high in the sky but beginning to head west. The temperature had been hot but not scorching like the beginning of our trip through the mountains thanks to relief from a consistent breeze. Panting, and after having drunk the last of the water in our canteens, we reached a sign pointing west that read "Lavaridge - 5 miles."

"Drew... I can't continue," Jake told me, sweat clinging to his face.

"We have to, kiddo," I replied. "We've been on the road awhile, but we're almost there."

He tried to take another few steps but stumbled to the ground. I stooped and brought him to his feet.

"Whoa, Jake, are you okay?"

He shook his head. "I can't, Drew... I'm starving... and exhausted. I can't take another step."

Tears flooded out of his eyes, which grabbed hold of my heart.

"We're close, kiddo, and I don't blame you... If you can't walk anymore, then I'll get both of us to Lavaridge."

I relieved him of his backpack and called Metang and Combusken out of their pokéballs and looped the straps of each bag around their arms.

"Thank you both," I told them. "We won't have you carry them for long. Tell me if it's too much for you."

"'Tang!" Metang replied.

"'Busken!" Combusken added.

They both looked determined to help. I smiled before wiping my brow and stooping again.

"Jake, climb on my back."

"Drew," he replied, "are you sure? You're as exhausted as I am, and I'm too heavy to carry in your state. Plus, you were in awful shape when the Winstrates came to our rescue."

"I don't care," I replied. "I'd do anything for my team."

He climbed onto my back, and I stood with my arms supporting his legs and his arms wrapped around my neck. As tired as I was, my act of service invigorated me, and I had to rely on the strength I had left to get us to Lavaridge. If all else failed, I could try to channel what mental energy I had to my limbs.

We changed direction and trekked through the mountains for another two hours, and the terrain shifted downhill, which eased the burdens on my sore joints. I exerted what energy I had and tried to alter my mindset for a second wind, even though I'd be in the same state as Jake soon. He'd fallen asleep, his head resting on my shoulder.

As the sun fell more to the west, about to set, I spotted the outskirts of Lavaridge, with lights in houses and buildings burning bright, and my energy returned at the sight of civilization.

"Jake, wake up."

"Hmm...?" Jake said, stirring. "Where are we?"

"Look for yourself."

He opened his eyes and blinked a few times, piecing together the facts. The "Welcome to Lavaridge" sign put a grin on his face.

"We made it?!"

"We sure did, kiddo. Now, why don't we find the Pokémon Center and enjoy a hot meal and a relaxing bath?"

"Sounds wonderful," he replied. "In fact, you can let me go. I think I can manage now."

I bent my knees so he could dismount, my limbs and joints burning with relief. Then I called back my pokémon, and we sprinted through the city until we found the Pokémon Center. We dropped our pokémon off with the nurse after we fed them, and we ate our fill and soaked in warm baths before passing out in comfortable beds.

The next morning, I woke first and stretched, rested after our long trek of traveling. Today was a day I'd anticipated for the longest time, and I sprang out of bed when I realized it was here at last. I put on my training pants and snuck out of the room with Espeon and found a Zen garden near the Pokémon Center where I could focus on my training for a while. I stayed there until my head was clear enough to listen to my body and to practice levitating before we returned to the Pokémon Center.

I changed back into my shorts. Jake stirred and grinned when he noticed me.

"Morning, sleepyhead," I said, rustling his hair.

Jake let out a yawn, giving me his usual toothy grin. "Morning. You look like you slept well. Are you excited?"

I grinned. "With my training done, it's the only thing on my mind now... I'm ready to heal my skin... Nobody will cringe when they see it, and it won't remind me of my past when I look in the mirror."

"Who would blame you? Let's take care of the first step now so we can soak soon."

I rummaged through my backpack and pulled out the ointment before handing him the bottles and the protective gloves.

"Thanks again for helping."

"You're welcome," he replied.

He donned the gloves and started applying the first ointment to my back. It wasn't long before the ointment burned.

"You okay?" he asked, seeing me wince in pain.

"Y-yeah, I'll be okay... I've endured worse pain, trust me... it'll subside."

I continued to have him apply the ointment where I showed him, so I had him apply it also to my arms, chest, abdomen, legs, and my left cheek for my facial scar. The burning reduced, allowing me to put a shirt on once my skin had absorbed the ointment. We left our room to retrieve our pokémon and enjoy a pleasant breakfast together before checking in at the hot spring desk. After filling out forms with our information and medical histories, we took our passes and entered the men's locker room.

The hot spring was partitioned for male and female patrons, and having to soak au naturel, per the town's custom, didn't thrill me. I bore with the idea if it meant I'd get the most from my skin treatment and took my anxiety pill so I could bear with the process. Jake and I left our belongings in our lockers and undressed, despite some hesitation.

Now we were naked, and I felt tongue-tied. I hoped it wouldn't be awkward, but it was. More than I wanted. I was too afraid to bring my eyes back to Jake. Still, he reminded me of a younger version of myself and looked as I would've expected with a slender, pre-pubescent build, untainted by Team Rocket's evil. It stood in stark contrast to my edgier, athletic, and adult appearance. He tried to smile, but if draw the moment out was optional, I was more than okay with skipping it.

"Well, this is awkward," he said, sensing my discomfort.

"Extremely."

He tried to speak, a smile still on his face, but I interrupted.

"Let's get this over with."

I rushed to grab my towel, which I wrapped around myself with haste, and dashed through the door toward the springs.

There were already several male patrons soaking, so we moved as far away from them as possible next toward the bamboo partition. My anxiety was still high, so I removed my towel and hopped into the water. It was worth the wait, and my back tingled as I sunk in and let out a sigh and my pent-up nerves. Jake followed, and we both smiled.

Per the regimen, I needed to spend as much time in the spring as possible without exceeding an hour. Whether it was the water or the ointment reacting in my skin, I felt a lot of heat behind me. It made me wonder if this was a cyndaquil's experience with flames erupting from its back. We soaked and chatted as we let the time pass, the steam obscuring us for some added privacy.

"I wonder why the town soaks like this," Jake said.

"It's either keeping with tradition," I replied, "or it may be to introduce as little chemicals into the springs as possible."

"Understandable. Though, for most visitors, I'm sure this would make them uncomfortable."

"Damn straight."

"...It's obvious being nude around each other made you uncomfortable. Why is that?"

I'd never told Jake the darker details about my abuse, so I tried to take a gentle approach.

"You grew up with it?" I asked.

He nodded. "It was like anything at home... not a big deal."

"...I don't like that I'm uncomfortable with it... We're guys, so it's bound to happen... it shouldn't be a problem... it's just... my discomfort comes from my past."

"You mean, with Team Rocket?"

I nodded. "I hated being nude when I was a grunt... if I wasn't showering, I was only nude because I was forcibly undressed and... violated by everyone older or bigger than me."

Jake's eyes widened with my response. "You mean... they...?"

I nodded. "By multiple guys, multiple times a night, and it happened multiple times a week, all because they wanted to show the leader's son he had no privilege or power over them."

"Oh, Drew... that's terrible."

"So if I was nude, it was because I was being assaulted. And if anyone else was nude, soon I would be too."

"...I can't say I blame you, with that abuse in your past."

"It's all gone now, but it's probably what led to my developing PTSD... being nude around other men triggers me... and it's nothing against you."

"Oh, no, it's understandable... and I can also understand how it affects so many things in the future, like something as simple as soaking in a hot spring... or even wanting to be intimate with someone."

I nodded. "...It's awful... but it won't affect me forever... at least, I hope."

We were quiet, but then I looked back at Jake.

"Let's discuss something more lighthearted."

He nodded.

"I can't believe you have your own team now," I told him." "It doesn't seem like it was that long ago we were at home in Viridian City, and look at you... I'm so glad you have the chance to be a trainer in your own right."

He grinned. "It's all thanks to you."

"I can't take the credit. You've done the hard work of catching them and training them."

"I've only followed your example," he replied. "The training will still take some tweaking."

"And it'll take some time. It's difficult at first to be creative, but you'll get there."

"How did you learn?"

"...I couldn't tell you. I didn't have a mentor to show me anything. I had a father who promoted me to gym leader but forced me to use stolen pokémon, and I lost battles. I had to defy him and catch and train my own. So it was like I had enemies all around me that I wanted to intimidate, and I wanted my team and I to be prepared if anything happened... I tried to be creative and expect the worst every day."

"Wow..." was all Jake said. "...What an awful mindset to have when now it's all about having fun."

"It's crazy to think about now... but you'll be able to train without all that shit in your mind... I may not remember how I created my training method, but I'll still try my hardest to instill it in you."

He smiled. "It's very much appreciated."

"Besides," I added, "you may discover your own style."

After a while of sitting, my skin appeared pruned, and I was sweating from the heat.

"Ready to get out?" Jake asked, observing me.

"Yeah, I think I've spent enough time here. Let's get dressed and explore the town."

"Right behind you," he replied.

I stepped out to retrieve my towel, and I thought I detected a face in between a space in the partition. I covered myself.

"Oops!" a woman said. "Didn't mean to spook you."

"It's n-no prob-blem."

"Relax, sweet cheeks," she replied. "I wasn't trying to sneak a peek... aside from those cakes anyway... Are you two trainers?"

"Yes, we are," Jake said. "My name's Jake, and this is Drew. We're visiting from Kanto."

"Nice to meet you," I said, giving a sheepish wave.

"Likewise," she replied. "I'm Sandi. I thought you two were trainers. We don't get many young studs here..."

Jake and I looked at the other.

"Yeah, this isn't the place," she replied before giving me a wink. "Let's meet in the lobby when you're done."

# Chapter 10

Trial by Fire

One who refuses to seek the advice of others will eventually be led to a path of ruin. His life will get ruined. A mentor helps you to perceive your own weaknesses and confront them with courage. A mentor knows the best about you. The bond between mentor and protégé enables us to stay true to our chosen path until the very end of our life.

~Vio

Jake followed me into the locker room, and we rinsed off in cold water for a minute in the shower area before we dried off at our lockers.

"What was that about?" I asked him as he applied the second ointment to my back, which soothed the reddened areas. I applied it to the rest of the areas.

"No clue," he said. "But you were blushing."

"Awkward... to hit on someone when they're defenseless and nude... It's been a long time since I've felt so embarrassed... why here, of all places?"

"But is there a place?"

"For me, never."

"I didn't think so... but if it helps, I'm sure getting a sneak peek at you wasn't her intent at all..."

I tried not to scowl, but I was unsuccessful.

"And a bit intimidating, I get it. It's uncomfortable. But hear me on this. You're not an unattractive guy. You're muscular, you have tattoos all over your upper body, you have great genetics, and you have a friendly aura around you, so maybe it was somebody who thought you looked interesting."

I sighed. "...I just wish I didn't draw attention... at least not now when we're trying to keep a low profile."

We dressed and returned to the lobby, with Poochyena and Espeon trotting beside us. Sandi was waiting for us in a white tank top and blue leggings that accentuated her curves. She had blonde hair cut short with it dyed pink in the front, and she looked to be a few years older than me. The pokéballs strapped to her waist told us she was a trainer. Next to her was a woman wearing a black halter top, capris, and sandals and had bright auburn hair in a ponytail.

I tried not to react, but I found my hands clenching, and the look in Sandi's eye caught it.

"So sorry for the awkward introduction, handsome," Sandi said before offering her hand. "I mean it when I say it's a pleasure to meet you... oh, and this is my friend, Flannery."

"Let's start over and forget it ever happened," I said, shaking it fast. "Nice to meet you both."

Sandi giggled. "I love when guys like you come off shy."

"Wait a minute," Jake said, shaking their hands, giving a segue from her comment. "I remember that name. You're the gym leader here, aren't you?"

She nodded, smiling. "I took over from my grandfather, but I visit the springs to unwind. Plus, I love taking part in Lavaridge's culture and traditions."

"I don't blame you," Jake said. "These hot springs are wonderful. We arrived last night, so we haven't enjoyed the town's festivities or visited any landmarks yet."

"Well then," Flannery replied, "why don't I give y'all the grand tour? Plus, it'll give us a chance to get some fresh air and get to know each other."

"Sure, sounds great," I said, tongue-tied and still recovering from my embarrassment with Sandi, who was eyeing me.

"So," Sandi began as we left the Pokémon Center, "what are you two cuties doing here all the way from Kanto? Are you challenging the Hoenn League to a bodybuilding contest?"

I groaned, and Jake giggled.

"We wanted to travel while our gym is undergoing repairs," he said. "I'm studying under Drew as his protégé."

"You're a gym leader?!" Flannery exclaimed. "That's wonderful. Welcome to Hoenn! How have you enjoyed it so far?"

"We love it," I said. "It's been a great adventure."

"I just knew you two were trainers," Sandi added.

"Why, are you psychic?" I asked, deciding to tease her.

"Oh, heavens no, I was only following my intuition... are _you_ psychic?" she threw back at me.

Jake giggled.

"Why, would it intrigue you if I was?"

"Absolutely, I'm fascinated by everything... especially when it involves hunky pokémon trainers," she replied, batting her eyes.

"We're visiting since we can't accept trainer challenges," I said, as a segue, "and we thought the timing was right to have the adventure neither of us had when we were 10."

"How fun," Sandi said. "I was a late bloomer too, but I'd love to study pokémon under a master, much like you are, Jake." She peered at me, and I looked away.

"What an awesome dream," Jake replied. "What brought you here?"

"Oh, to visit the hot springs, of course. I'm feel so rejuvenated afterward. Plus, I love catching up with my best friend, so I love to come back home when I can."

Flannery smiled.

"It's wonderful to have strong connections to your home," I said.

"It sure is. What brought you here to this area if you're not earning badges?"

"The same reason as you," Jake said.

"My back's been through a lot of hell," I said. "Long story, but soaking helps my medicine penetrate my skin more so its healthy appearance comes back."

"Wow, these springs are magical if you already look that good," Sandi said.

I rolled my eyes, and Jake giggled again.

"I told you!" Flannery added. "It's not the first time I've heard people cite their health as a reason to visit. We hope everything goes well with your treatment."

We followed the girls as they showed us around the shops, museums, temples, and restaurants in the city square, all with brown and red hues, keeping with the volcano's influence over their customs and culture. We browsed through everything, looking through a lot of old, majestic architecture, religious tradition, clothing shops, camping gear, pokémon memorabilia, and so much more. Their holistic medicine shop with various herbs for sale fascinated me. I found it remarkable that they gathered everything they sold from around the region. How fascinating.

After a while, we stopped in the middle of the town square to regroup and rest our feet. I let my pokéballs float off my belt and hover above my head in a carousel-like motion.

When Sandi caught a glimpse, she gasped and grinned.

"Oh my goodness, that's incredible! Flannery, look! He is psychic!"

She turned her head and amazement overtook her as well.

"I've never met anyone with that ability," she said. "Have you known about it since you were young?"

I shook my head. "It's only been a recent discovery by one of my mentors, so I'm in the beginning stages of learning to control it."

"What type of pokémon do you raise?" Sandi asked. "Are they all Psychic types like Espeon?"

"I don't have a favorite type. When I had my original team, they were all unique, but now I've been wanting to focus more on my strengths, so I've been practicing some lessons from my mentors as we travel. And I love to connect with the gym leaders here and gather any wisdom they have from their training."

"Sounds like you love pokémon," Flannery said.

"He sure does," Jake replied, "and he's one hell of a mentor."

"So," I asked Sandi, "why were you wanting to know if we were trainers, missy?"

She smirked.

"Well, I love battles when I encounter them, but I was hoping I'd meet someone with... breeding experience," she said with a wink. "...I wondered if I'd been raising mine right."

I swallowed hard, and to my relief Jake jumped into that thought.

"Well, Drew isn't a breeder by trade," Jake said, "but he knows how to raise strong pokémon."

"Wonderful!" she exclaimed, a dazzling gleam shining in her eyes. "I'd love it if you'd examine them... In fact, there's a cute park nearby if you want some time to run around and play... I mean, your pokémon, of course!"

"...Sure," I said.

"Great, then follow me, baby boys!"

"Sandi, wait-" Flannery said, but Sandi had already taken off.

We stood there, shocked. Jake and I blushed, but Flannery didn't seem too amused.

She sighed. "Typical Sandi. Once she locks onto something, she makes a beeline for it."

We sprinted after her, trying to follow her trail. She was beyond thrilled about this playdate, but after a long stretch of following, we caught her and sat under a tree to catch our breaths. Jake's shroomish, aron, growlithe, and electrike played with my combusken, kirlia, and metang along with Flannery's two slugma and torkoal and Sandi's grovyle, flaaffy, and swablu. Espeon and Dragonair stayed with me, and Jake's poochyena cuddled with him. Slakoth laid on its own in the shade.

"Jake, your pokémon are all adorable," Sandi said. "And Drew, your dragonair and espeon look so strong, just like their trainer."

"They are," I said, rubbing their heads. "When they were my soldiers, they didn't lose many battles. Now, they're my two closest companions." I cradled my egg as we chatted.

"What an unusual egg," Flannery said to me.

"It was a gift from my psychic mentor," I said.

Sandi looked closer at the coloring. "This isn't like any egg I've seen in any region I've visited... I think I've seen this in a book before... If I discover anything about it, I'll send the information to you... or maybe we'll bump into each other again." Her hand brushed against my arm.

I tried to smile, but the awkwardness was back. "Tha- that would be great."

We exchanged pokégear numbers.

"Your pokémon are so cool," Jake said. "I bet you're a great trainer."

"I like to think so," Sandi said, giving us a wink. "But this stud would know best."

I inspected each of them, trying to move past the awkwardness again. Sure enough, she'd raised them with loving care. I stroked swablu's head.

"You've done a superb job raising them."

"Oh, that's wonderful news," she said. "And it means a lot coming from you."

I smiled. "Oh, I'm flattered. I'm only doing what I can."

As our pokémon played, we became more acquainted. When they questioned how we knew each other, I divulged my true identity to them.

"You're _the_ Andrew Brown, the hottie who dismantled Team Rocket?!" Sandi exclaimed.

"The one and only," Jake said.

"Wow, it's such an honor to have met you," Flannery said. "I can't tell you how much of a gift you gave us through your bravery. Who knows how soon Team Rocket would've come here? Every upset person needs to get a dose of reality. We could've been next."

"I'm flattered," I replied. "It's still surreal everything happened the way it did."

"I can't imagine everything you faced, but now you're here," Flannery said, smiling.

"I couldn't be happier," I said, looking over at Jake. "We started over, and we're training new teams together... I wouldn't have it any other way."

Jake smiled. "Your mentoring means the world to me."

"Aww, you both are adorable," Sandi said.

"Seeing our pokémon all together makes me want to battle," Flannery said. "Who wants to have some fun?"

Jake and I both smiled.

"You found the right guys," I said.

"Oh, I'm excited!" Sandi exclaimed. "Flannery is tough, so this will be a hot battle!"

"If you two are interested, I think we need a change of scenery."

Jake and I both nodded.

"Follow me, boys," Flannery said.

We called our teams back and left the park. We followed the girls through town until we set out on a lone path surrounded by Japanese maple trees until we reached a white building with a red tile roof.

"Welcome to the Lavaridge Gym," Flannery said, her eyes giving off a fiery glow, "the pride and joy of town."

"Wow," Jake said. "How cool."

We followed them through a gate and found ourselves on an outdoor battlefield.

Flannery turned around and faced us, her smile spreading to each of us.

"Thank you for your hospitality," I said, bowing to her. "It's wonderful being a guest on a battlefield."

"It's my pleasure," she said, returning my bow before taking the left side of the battlefield and tossing one of her pokéballs. "Come on out, Meg!"

Out of the flash of light came one of Flannery's slugma, looking ready to battle.

"So who wants to be my opponent?" she asked.

Jake and I looked at each other.

"Go for it, Jake," I told him. "Use this as a chance to put your training to the test."

He smiled and nodded. "Right. Any advice?"

"I can sense Flannery's passion is unparalleled in this area, so I'd fight fire with fire."

"Fire... with fire?"

I nodded. "Just remember - each pokémon has its own unique strengths, so tap into your pokémon's strength... You can do this, kiddo."

A fire appeared in his eyes as he grinned. "I'll make the Viridian Gym proud."

Jake jogged to the opposite side of the field. Flannery hadn't expected him to rise to the challenge, as a more surprised expression replaced her smile.

"Flannery, I accept your challenge."

"All right, Jake!" Sandi shouted from the sidelines. "This'll be incredible! Best of luck!"

Flannery's smile reappeared. "Well, I can't say I'm disappointed, Jake. Sandi and I both love hot battles, so I won't be holding back."

"And neither will I," he replied. "It would dishonor those who believe in me and what I train for to not bring my best."

She nodded. "To fight for honor and hard work is more noble than other ambitions of this world, so you're among family here... tell me, what drives you, Jake? Since you were all too keen to be my opponent, I want to know what fuels the passion I see in you."

Jake was silent a moment before responding. "It took a lot for me to be here... I wasn't a confident trainer the first time around... and when I was in Team Rocket, I discovered I'd wasted my opportunity... Drew helped me see that being a great trainer is a process, and I promised myself I'd give it my all... I challenge you to not only honor my promise to myself but to bring honor to my mentor."

His words choked me up, as I was proud of being a witness to this moment of bravery.

Flannery must have caught something from my demeanor, but she smiled and returned her gaze to him. "Your fire burns bright, Jake, so whatever you're doing is bringing you closer to where you want to be. If you can defeat me, then I'll grant you a Heat Badge."

Shock replaced Jake's calm, confident demeanor. "A-a gym badge? Seriously?"

She nodded. "You're right - becoming a Master isn't easy, and it's the job of a gym leader to be a guiding light for visiting trainers... Drew's guidance has kindled an ember into a bright burning flame, so if you can defeat me, the Heat Badge will not only signify your victory here, but... it will be a confirmation that your hard work and promise to yourself made you a great trainer."

After a moment of silence, he nodded. "And I promise you I won't lose."

He reached for a pokéball and threw it into the air. Out of the white light came his growlithe.

"Smart choice," Flannery said. "Fire against fire." She then turned to me. "Drew, would you do the honors?"

I nodded.

Espeon and Dragonair stayed on the sidelines with my egg while I wandered to the opposite side of the battlefield, ignoring a wolf whistle from Sandi.

"This official gym battle between Flannery, Leader of the Lavaridge Gym, against Jake, challenger from the Viridian Gym, will now begin. Each participant will use only one pokémon... Now, if both participants are ready, begin!"

"Meg, use Yawn!"

Flannery's slugma opened its mouth wide and shot a pink bubble at Jake's growlithe. Jake had to think on his feet to escape this dangerous move.

"Growlithe, dodge with Agility!"

Growlithe jumped out of the way before Meg shot more bubbles into the air.

"Dodge again and follow up with Double Team!"

Growlithe evaded again, and within a second there were a dozen growlithe on the field.

"Impressive maneuver," Flannery said. "But here's one of my own. Smog!"

Smoke billowed out of Meg's mouth and covered the battlefield.

Jake's expression grew sharper, as growlithe was no longer visible. He tried his hardest to think of any feasible idea to regain the advantage. He closed his eyes, and within seconds his expression turned back to a smile.

"Growlithe, use Howl!"

From all across the battlefield, each growlithe howled, echoing from different parts of the battlefield.

He watched without breaking focus, as if he was looking for something.

Sandi looked perplexed. "What is he-?"

"Now, Growlithe, Take Down!"

In the blink of an eye, Growlithe had struck something, and when the smoke cleared, it appeared Meg had sustained a direct blow, reeling.

The display took Flannery aback, but her smile reappeared when flames surrounded Growlithe.

"Growlithe, are you okay?"

It shook it off, but a flame remained on its paw.

"Clever ploy, Jake. And, for payment, the consequence for attacking Meg is its ability. Its Flame Body can burn an opponent at a moment's notice."

"This is awesome!" Sandi called out. "Keep it up!"

"Meg, Body Slam!"

Meg leapt off the ground and hurled itself at Growlithe.

"Counter with Flame Wheel!"

Flames engulfed Growlithe's body as the two collided head-on. Both pokémon fell back to their own sides, and now a flame surrounded Meg, which took Flannery by surprise.

"Guess now Meg gets to have its own taste of a burn."

"Gotta hand it to you, Jake. For a challenger, you're keeping me on my toes... Body Slam!"

"Growlithe, Take Down!"

Both attacks were an even match, with neither side relenting and both taking damage.

"Meg, use Smog again!"

Before we blinked, Jake seemed to have another idea. "Growlithe, Flamethrower!"

The flames made contact and prevented the smog from continuing onto his side of the battlefield.

"Meg, use Yawn!"

Meg sent more pink bubbles toward Growlithe but at a faster rate.

"Growlithe, Agility!"

It leapt off the ground and dodged the bubbles.

"Now, use Flame Wheel again and aim for Meg!"

Flames engulfed its body again as it hurled itself toward her slugma.

"Yawn!"

Both attacks landed, and while Meg sustained damage from Jake's assault, Growlithe was now asleep on the battlefield.

"Growlithe, wake up!"

"Now, Meg, Body Slam!"

As much as Jake called out to it, Growlithe remained asleep, allowing her to land a direct bow.

"It's only a matter of time, Jake," she said to him. "But you've fought well."

Jake gritted his teeth. "I assure you, this isn't over."

"We'll see about that. Meg, Body Slam again!"

It leapt and scored another direct blow. I wasn't sure how much longer Growlithe could hold out.

Then, after another strike, its eyes opened.

"Awesome job, Growlithe! Take Down!"

Because of its speed and Meg's exhaustion, it landed a direct blow.

"Well, you're craftier than I gave you credit for," she said, smiling.

"Wow!" Sandi exclaimed. "Jake, you and Growlithe are unbelievable!"

"I appreciate the compliment," Jake replied, "and you've kept up your end of the bargain, but it's time for this battle to end."

"Meg, use Flamethrower!"

"Take the hit, Growlithe, and finish this with Flame Wheel!"

Meg spewed a hot stream of fire at Growlithe, and it charged right into it. The fire surrounding its body grew larger and brighter, and it landed a direct blow. When the fire's glow faded, Meg was out for the count.

"Meg is unable to battle. The victory goes to Jake of the Viridian Gym."

Jake's shock turned to relief as he dashed onto the field and threw his arms around Growlithe. Tears fell from my eyes as I watched the exchange, and I looked over at Flannery, who looked surprised at the outcome. But her smile won out, and she strolled across the battlefield.

"What a battle, Jake," she said, holding out her hand. "I didn't expect you to use Growlithe's ability against me to win."

Jake stood and shook it, smiling. "Thank you, Flannery. This was the red-hot battle you promised."

She reached into her pocket and pulled out a badge resembling a twisted flame.

"You've earned this badge for your performance, Jake, so please accept this as my gift to you."

Jake took it and looked at me, my eyes brimming with tears of pride. Before he said anything, Sandi rushed the field and engulfed him in a hug, surprising us all.

"Oh my goodness, Jake! You're wonderful! And tough! Your battle was so enthralling! Share your training secrets with me!"

I wiped my eyes and chuckled alongside Flannery.

"Sandi, you're too emotional for your own good," Flannery said.

"I can't help it, Flannery! This was a superb battle! It makes me want to join in on the fun!"

"So you're saying you want the next battle?"

"Oh, yes please! We're ready! Let's have some fun!"

I turned to Flannery. "Before the next battle, may I do the honors for Meg?"

"That's so thoughtful," she replied. "Please and thank you."

I took out some medicine out of my bag before I sprayed it all over its body and stroked its head till it was revitalized.

"So, Mr. Hunky Gym Leader," Sandi called from the opposite side of the battlefield, "are you ready for me to rock your world?"

I took my place on the battlefield. "If you mean you're ready for me to show you how tough the Viridian Gym is, then yes, I accept your challenge."

She grinned. "Oh my goodness, Drew, this will be the highlight of my life."

I smirked. "Heh, who knew you were such a fan of losing."

She giggled. "No, it's battling against hotties like you, but I'm tougher than I look."

"Guess we'll have to see now, won't we?"

"Go, Flaaffy!" she shouted as she threw her pokéball out. It gave a happy bleat after it appeared on the field.

I reached for my pokéball and threw it. "Let's do this, Combusken."

It emerged ready to fight. There's no way Sandi could combat the telepathic bond I'd developed with it through our training at the Winstrate estate.

"Drew, I'm so excited. I can't wait to see what you have up your sleeve..." She gave me a wink. "But... I would have thought you'd use a Psychic type."

"Combusken might not be a Psychic type... but I think our training will surprise you... are you sure you're ready?"

"You bet!"

Flannery stood on the sidelines, ready for the battle.

"This battle between Drew, Leader of the Viridian Gym, and Sandi of Lavaridge Town, will now begin. Participants will only use one pokémon each. Now, begin!"

"Flaaffy, use Take Down!"

Ready, my warrior?

Combusken turned its head and gave me a nod.

Stand firm and use Bulk Up.

Combusken held its ground and took a fighter's defensive stance, glowing a crimson color. It took a direct blow from Flaaffy, but it sustained minor damage.

Flannery gasped. "Incredible..."

Confusion painted Sandi's face as her mind processed what she'd witnessed.

"But... you didn't call out an attack."

"Does that surprise you? Combusken is my warrior, and I've bonded with it to where we can each assess each other's thoughts... call it psychic intuition, telepathy, whatever you'd like..."

"You go, Drew!" Jake called from the sidelines.

She grinned. "How cool... you're tougher than I thought."

"That's smart to keep in mind. First impressions are sometimes incorrect, but always expect there's more to a trainer than meets the eye."

"Oh, I can only imagine what else you're hiding," she said with a wink. "Flaaffy, use Cotton Spore!"

Out of its mouth came dozens of white cotton clusters that floated toward us.

Counter it with Swords Dance and blow them away.

Combusken entered a different fighter's stance and spun fast, deflecting the cotton balls and causing them to disintegrate on contact.

Now, Flamethrower!

Combusken shot out a hot stream of fire toward Flaaffy, but Sandi looked prepared.

"Light Screen!"

Right before the fire made contact, Flaaffy surrounded itself with a shield of gold energy, which shielded it from our attack.

"Thunder Wave!"

Dodge and use Slash!

Combusken leapt out of the way and shuffled with haste toward Flaaffy before landing a direct blow, sending it backward.

"Flaaffy!" Sandi shouted.

It had sustained more damage than expected, and Combusken reeled back, with electricity crackling around it. Shoot, looks like its Static ability paralyzed it.

"Flaaffy, can you still fight?"

It struggled, but it stood and returned to its former spot, panting.

"You might have paralyzed us, but it was worth the critical hit," I said. "We're not out yet. How about you?"

She smiled. "No, we're still going strong, too. Right, Flaaffy?"

It cried out before it glowed an opalescent white.

"Oh my!" Flannery exclaimed.

"Whoa!" Jake shouted.

Its form grew taller and its slender frame stood now on two legs instead of four. Out of the white light stood a regal yellow-and-black-striped ampharos.

"Oh my goodness, I'm so happy! Welcome, Ampharos! Let's win this!"

It squealed with confidence.

I gritted my teeth. The odds were now in her favor, but we needed to regain control.

Hold tight, my warrior. We're not out yet.

"Ampharos, Thunderbolt!"

It shone gold before firing a large thunderbolt at us.

You're already paralyzed, so don't fret. Use Swords Dance to absorb as much as you can into your feathers.

Combusken assented in agreement through our telepathy and spun around, glowing with electricity as it spun. It took minimal damage, and now Combusken had pulled its attack into its feathers while it continued to spin.

"Ampharos, use Thunderpunch!"

It charged toward us with its right paw drawn with a golden glow.

Now, channel the electricity into your strongest Double Kick.

Combusken stopped spinning and charged at Ampharos, striking it with its feet. Ampharos' attack landed also, sending both pokémon back as a sizeable amount of electricity crackled and broke on the battlefield.

"Wow, what an exchange," Flannery said with a gasp.

Combusken knelt on the ground, electricity still crackling around its body. Ampharos, while taking damage, still looked like it wasn't out for the count yet.

Hang in there, warrior. We're in this together. I won't let you down.

I tried to offer it any energy I could, but it was growing fatigued.

"Gotta hand it to you," I told Sandi. "You're tougher than you look, but I have no intent of quitting."

"Oh, thank you, Drew!" she replied. "You two are tough, and this battle is giving me life! Give me everything you've got!"

"Hang tight, Drew!" Jake called out to me. "This isn't over yet!"

"Wonderful job, Sandi!" Flannery shouted. "Make Lavaridge proud!"

"Ampharos, Iron Tail!"

Counter with Flamethrower!

Paralysis prevented Combusken from moving and evading a swift strike of Ampharos' tail, sending it back toward me with a pained squawk.

Warrior, are you okay? Do we need to concede defeat?

I felt a strong dissent from its spirit.

You- you want to keep going?

Its spirit felt surer than it had throughout the battle.

All right, then let's give it all we have till the end.

"So is the battle over?" Sandi called out to us.

"Not a chance," I said. "You've underestimated our power! Right, Combusken?"

It stood, determined to fight. A fiery glow surrounded it as it panted but looked straight at Ampharos, not ready to concede yet.

"Whoa," Flannery said.

"What?" Jake asked her.

"She awakened Combusken's Blaze ability. Now its power is much stronger."

I felt the same energy within it as I had with Ralts in my battle with Jake a while ago. Our battle was about to boil over, but would she be able to handle the rising heat?

"Sandi, are you ready? We're about to bring the heat, so brace yourself!"

Sandi giggled, with a smile still plastered on her face. "Bring all the heat, handsome!"

"As you wish. Combusken, I believe in you. I fight beside you. Now, transform!"

Combusken cried out, and its form glowed an opalescent white, and its form grew.

"Awesome!" Jake called. "Get it, Drew!"

"Incredible!" Flannery exclaimed. "What a battle..."

Out of its form grew a tall and fierce creature with red plumage, and Blaziken stood in its place as the light faded.

"What a transformation!" Sandi exclaimed.

I smiled.

You make me so proud, my warrior. Now, use Quick Attack and catch them by surprise.

Within a second, Blaziken had charged toward Ampharos and landed a direct strike, sending it back.

Surprise painted Sandi's face, but she still looked determined to prevail.

"Wow," was all Jake said.

"Yeah, this was what I wanted," Sandi shouted. "An all-out battle."

I smirked. "I wouldn't have given you anything less."

"Right back at you, baby boy. Best of luck. Now, why don't we end this?"

"It would be my pleasure to deliver the final blow."

"Ampharos, Focus Punch!"

Jake and Flannery gasped as they watched Ampharos charge toward Blaziken with its paws glowing white.

Dodge it and then counter with Blaze Kick.

Blaziken leapt out of the way and struck it with its foot ablaze, sending it back toward Sandi.

"Excellent move, but we're not out for the count yet. Ampharos, Take Down!"

This is it, my warrior. Give it all you have. Sky Uppercut!

Both pokémon charged, and with a flash both collided. Both Sandi and I looked determined, not willing to surrender. When the dust settled, we discovered both pokémon were knocked out.

"Blaziken and Ampharos are both unable to battle," Flannery called out, "so this match ends in a draw."

I smiled and strode over to our pokémon. I knelt and placed my hand on Blaziken's chest.

"You were incredible," I said to it. "I'm so proud of you."

Blaziken's energy radiated love back to me.

"You were brilliant, Ampharos," Sandi said. "Please take a long rest."

"Please, allow me," Flannery said, before she sprayed both of our pokémon with a potion to revitalize them.

Before I could blink, Sandi enveloped me in a hug. "Drew, you were so incredible! Thank you for a superb battle! I didn't know who would win!"

It caught me by surprise, and I'm sure Jake sensed the awkwardness and my discomfort in the hug. He only chuckled and joined us.

"You're welcome, Sandi," I said out of choked breath.

She giggled and released me.

"You fought well," I said with a smile. "Whatever you're doing in your training, keep it up, and you'll be going places."

"Oh, Drew, do you mean it?"

"I do," I said before I fished around for something in my bag before handing her a badge. "You have the skill to become a great trainer. Even though this wasn't an official match, you still defeated my pokémon, so please take it."

She gasped. "An Earth Badge... Drew, are you sure?"

I nodded. "We give badges to those we believe show the right potential, not because we're beaten. Defeating a gym leader is difficult, so please take it as a token of what you accomplished... and, who knows, if you come to Kanto, you'll already have a head start."

She smiled. "Thank you, Drew. I promise from here on out I'll continue to make you and Flannery proud."

"No doubt about it," Flannery said, before she gave her a high-five. "Great job."

Before I could react, she gave me a kiss on the cheek. "That's for you."

Flannery laughed as I processed through my stunned response, blushing far beyond what I'd allow myself to show.

Jake came over to me and gave me a high-five. "What an inspiring battle."

I smiled and was able to croak out, "Thanks."

"Battling builds up an appetite for both of us, as I'm sure it does for you boys," Flannery said. "Would you two like to join us?"

"We'd never say no to a delicious meal with friends," I said. "You game, Jake?"

"You bet!" he replied.

They escorted us to one of their favorite restaurants that served a fantastic ramen, and we spent the rest of the day with them, discussing their trainer experiences when they'd been old enough to begin. We finished our day at the Pokémon Center, reading to unwind from an exciting day.

The next few days were similar. We soaked in the hot springs to fulfill my regimen, and we spent the day with Flannery and Sandi. This time, we spent more time learning different training techniques from them.

By the fourth day, my skin needed less ointment for my treatment, so only my back needed it. By the end of our soak, my back was just about healed. Only time would tell, as the healing ointment put on afterward calmed my skin but also dried out the scarred layers, so the actual result would show once the rest flaked off.

At dinner that day, we enjoyed a park picnic with the girls, who had secured deluxe bento boxes from a nearby restaurant filled with lots of local delicacies.

"It's been wonderful getting to know each other," Flannery told us as we ate. "I hope you'll both come back to visit sometime once your adventure is over."

"We sure will," Jake said. "This has been fun, and I don't see how we'd resist coming back."

"How did your treatment turn out?" Sandi asked me.

"Very well," I said before I lifted my shirt.

"Wow," Sandi said. "It was irritated when I first saw it, but your skin looks so smooth now... I bet it must take a burden off you."

"It does," I replied. "Another means of burying the past and not being reminded of it anymore."

"Where are you boys headed?" Flannery asked.

"That's an excellent question," Jake said. "I figure we'll head back toward Mauville and decide from there."

"Well, once you head back that way," Flannery said, "you'll be able to visit Verdanturf Town, which will take you west of Mauville and back toward Rustboro. And to the East, you'll be able to travel through the rainforests and reach Fortree City, and you'll reach the ocean again and be able to visit Lilycove, Mossdeep, and Sootopolis. All the oceanfront cities are huge tourist attractions, so there'll be a lot of fun for you two to discover."

Jake and I grinned. "I guess we'll know once we get on the road, but they sound like fun ideas."

"I'm gonna miss you two," Sandi said. "You _have_ to stay in touch."

"Don't worry - we will," Jake said. "You know how to contact us, so we won't be distant."

She grinned. "You better."

"Since you two have been trainers a while," I said, "I wonder if you've noticed anything unusual around here."

"Like what?" Flannery asked.

"When we arrived in Hoenn," Jake said, "Professor Birch from Littleroot Town said there'd been a new pokémon sighted, but they didn't have any information on it yet. Since we've been traveling, Drew has seen something twice."

"Oh, what was it?" Sandi asked.

I recounted the stories to them of both close encounters and pulled out the feather to show them.

"Wow," Sandi said as she held it by its calamus. "I haven't seen a feather like this."

"Same here," Flannery said as she had the chance to observe it. "It's not from any pokémon I'm familiar with."

"And even with traveling around this region," Sandi added, "I've never seen a pokémon with a feather like this... it must live in a hard-to-reach area... reminds me of Dragon pokémon... they're hard to discover, but feathers most often come from bird pokémon..."

"But," Jake began, "doesn't Swablu's final form become a Dragon-type pokémon?"

Sandi nodded. "The Dragon type encompasses a lot of unique creatures."

Flannery handed it back to Sandi, who took out a notepad and some pencils and made a quick sketch of it.

"Wow," Jake said, looking at it. "What a realistic drawing. Great artwork."

She smiled. "Thanks, hon. Some of my friends conduct fieldwork... I'll inquire with them. But I believe this must come from a special pokémon."

"Couldn't agree more," I said. "I'm determined to meet this pokémon."

After we finished dinner, they escorted us back to the Pokémon Center. We bowed to them, though Sandi insisted on hugging us both.

"We had a blast," Flannery said.

"Thank you so much for the battles," Sandi said.

"Same to you," Jake said. "Best of luck in your pursuits."

"We'll be back," I said, waving to them.

# Chapter 11

Trial by Adversity, Part I

Be content with what you have, rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

~Lao Tzu

When we left Lavaridge Town, it wasn't a surprise the trip back through the mountains to Mauville was easier than the original trip. After everything we'd experienced, we were more prepared for the terrain, and our mindsets made the difference. After getting through the major part of the mountain, we hit our stride on the decline back into civilization. We dropped our pokémon off at the Pokémon Center once we were back in town before replenishing our supplies. As we headed back toward the Pokémon Center, we spotted some familiar figures nearby.

"Wally, please!"

"No, Uncle! I want to challenge Wattson!"

After moving closer, we saw it was Wally, the kid we'd met in Petalburg City, and his uncle, Robert. It seemed like we were intruding on a personal matter, as Wally's face was red, and his uncle seemed so sullen in contrast. He mumbled something, but we heard our names.

"Jake and Drew!" Robert shouted.

I smiled as we jogged over to them. Wally seemed to perk up.

"How are you both doing?" I asked, bowing and their hands.

"We're doing well," Robert said. "I'm so glad we bumped into you again."

"Why's that?" Jake asked. "You said you lived in Verdanturf Town, right?"

Wally crossed his arms, his eyes closed, still upset over whatever they were discussing.

"Yes, that's right. Wally was insistent on challenging the Mauville Gym Leader and got away from us, so I followed him here."

"Is that right?" I asked him.

Wally nodded. "And my uncle won't let me!"

"Wally, it's not that..."

"Yes, it is! I want to be a trainer, and nobody in my family's listening to me."

From the circles under his eyes, it seemed Robert had spent much energy tracking Wally and trying to reason with him.

"They aren't? And is that what's upsetting you?"

He nodded. "They don't want me to go anywhere. I'm supposed to stay home all the time to make sure I'm safe."

Things were clicking from what I remembered from our first meeting.

"Wally, can I talk to your uncle? I'm sure Jake would love to show you the pokémon he's caught and the badge he earned."

"Yeah," Jake said, smiling. "I'm sure they'd love to see you again."

Wally's expression brightened. "You won a badge?! How cool! Yeah, I want to see how strong they've gotten."

"Come with me, Wally," Jake said. "We left them at the Pokémon Center to rest, so they should be fine now."

Robert and I strolled a fair distance behind while Jake and Wally strode ahead, with Wally prancing around when he saw Jake's Heat Badge.

"I'm getting a clearer idea of what's going on," I told him. "How has his health been?"

"His condition has improved. He's had no treatments since he came to live with us, and you can tell by his energy and the color in his face. He's a new kid, and he's wanting to become a trainer more than ever. He's bonded with his ralts and acquired a few others."

"So, naturally, the family's concerned because while he's shown improvement you aren't completely sure he's okay?"

He nodded. "If anything were to happen to him, my wife and I would never be able to look my brother or sister-in-law in the eye again... our primary purpose is to care for Wally and make sure he's safe. But... we want him to be happy as well... it's put us in a tough position as guardians."

"Agreed," I replied. "Since Wally seems worked up, what can I do to help you?"

"Oh, you don't mind?" he asked. "I'd hate to bring you into a family matter."

"I don't. Wally's a great kid, and I'd like to help if I can."

"Our family would be in your debt," he said. "We need to get him home, and then we can figure out a plan, and you and Jake are still welcome to stay with us for however long you'd like."

"I have an idea," I said. "Follow my lead, and we'll do our best to get him home."

We reached the Pokémon Center, and Jake and I retrieved our pokémon and returned outside to let them all have some fun. Kirlia flocked to Ralts for a joyous reunion, and Wally's smile was bright because of how our teams had grown since we'd last met.

"They're so cool," he said. "I want to become a trainer too."

I sensed some discomfort from Robert, but I had to at least try out my plan. "So, Wally, you wanted to challenge Wattson?"

He nodded, a gleam appearing in his eyes. "Yeah, I want to earn badges and enter the Hoenn League."

"It's a great goal," I said, hoping Robert was following my reasoning. "How many pokémon do you have?"

"I have three. After we met, I also caught a roselia and a swablu."

"Good for you, kiddo! What a huge accomplishment. What do you think it takes to be a trainer?"

"You need to have love for your pokémon and challenge other trainers to get stronger."

"Absolutely," I said, "but there's a lot more to being a trainer than loving them and battling. Pokémon under a trainer who doesn't take proper care of them can put them at risk for sustaining terrible injuries."

"Really?" he asked.

I nodded. "That's why it's important for trainers to master the basic principles of how to raise and train their pokémon... I lost three pokémon at the hands of someone who was cruel and heartless."

"Oh, Drew, I'm so sorry," he replied. "I didn't know."

"They're great companions," I continued, rubbing Espeon's head, "but if we're battling with them, then we have to make sure we're doing what we can to make them their best."

"I didn't think of all that... and I don't want to hurt my friends."

"I didn't think you would. Jake and I could never be great trainers if we didn't think first about our pokémon's needs before our own. They have complete trust in us, and we owe it to them to take the best care of them."

"But how do I raise them properly?"

"Tell you what, kiddo, your uncle has invited us to stay with your family for a while, so why don't we all head back to Verdanturf, and I can teach you the basics?"

I expected him to be happier after our conversation, but he'd shifted from agitated and then passionate to glum.

"But my family doesn't want me to become a trainer. What's the point of learning anything if they won't hear me out?"

"I don't think it's that, Wally. There's a lot playing out, so I understand why it might seem like it. Why don't we talk to your family together, and we can discover why they're hesitant?"

"Well... okay... can you do that?"

I smiled. "I'm willing to try if you are."

"Okay, then I'll try too."

I turned to his uncle and saw him smile, with something twinkling in his eye. However, he turned around before I saw what it was.

"Okay, our car is close by, so let's get a move on."

Wally and Jake sprinted ahead, and Wally's uncle patted me on the back.

"Thank you so much," he told me. "I don't know what I would've done if you two hadn't spotted us."

"It's our pleasure," I said. "The goal is to make sure he's safe and happy, and I still have a plan to bring everyone onto the same page."

He nodded.

"As long as Wally knows you and your wife are seeking his best interest, and he feels understood by everyone, we'll get somewhere and make sure everyone's happy."

We then rode the hour's drive to Verdanturf Town. Once we were within the city, we lowered our windows, and Jake and I noticed how much purer the air was, with a pleasant floral aroma teasing our noses. Robert pointed out popular attractions, like the new Contest Hall, as we drove. The beauty of the town and its architecture reminded me of Viridian City, with the shops and houses all having varying green hues. It could've been home if I'd not been born in Kanto.

Once we reached their quaint, charming home, we brought our bags inside before being re-introduced to their family.

"Wally!" Rosalind exclaimed before embracing her nephew. "We were so worried. Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," he replied with a flat tone.

"Jake and Drew, you remember my wife, Rosalind," Robert said, "and this is our daughter, Wanda."

"It's so nice to have you with us," Rosalind said, her voice warm and gracious.

"Mom and Dad have told me great things about you," Wanda said. "Welcome to our home."

Wally's expression appeared pained, as he used one hand to brace himself with one of the kitchen chairs and the other on his chest.

"You okay, buddy?"

He nodded. "My chest is tight."

"Are you having trouble breathing?" Rosalind asked.

He nodded. "A little, but it's not terrible."

"This is what we were hoping to avoid," Robert said. "Exposure to the foul air may have aggravated his asthma."

"I'll give him a treatment," Rosalind said. "Please excuse me. C'mon, honey, and we'll get you comfortable."

Rosalind escorted him into the hallway. Robert sighed before turning to us.

"Let's get you both settled," he said before we followed him along the hallway.

We passed Wally's room, where he was lying on his bed with a mask on his face emitting a strange vapor. He showed us a spare room with a queen-sized bed.

"I'm afraid this is all we have," he said.

"Oh, don't worry," I said. "We'll manage."

"The bathroom is across the hall. Please feel free to freshen up as you need after your journey. We'll be tidying up and making dinner soon, so make yourselves comfortable."

"Oh, we'll help," Jake said.

"Yeah, we don't eat for free. If we're allowed to help, we'd like to," I added.

Robert smiled. "You two are something else... all right. Freshen up and come find us."

I organized our belongings and let our pokémon out to run around in the backyard while Jake drew a bath. Once I finished, I entered the bathroom and shut the door behind me for privacy. Jake was already soaking in their bamboo bathtub and surprised to see me.

I smirked at his confused expression and moved to the stone shower next to the tub.

"Are my eyes tricking me?" he asked with a slight laugh. "Or is somebody getting more comfortable?"

"It's possible," I said, stripping off my clothes before turning on the shower. "Or it could be he's forcing himself to be comfortable, despite his past."

"Well, I'm shocked," he said, laughing.

"Well, we've done this before, and there's no reason for us taking turns when we're comfortable around each other, right?"

"Yeah, you have a point... so what are you thinking? Can Wally and his family find common ground?"

I shut the water off and lathered myself up. "I believe so... Wally's sudden change in condition only works in his family's favor, and I hope Wally understands now why they're so concerned."

"It's sad," Jake replied. "I empathize with Wally. Look at us - we both wanted to be trainers at his age. Who are we to reinforce a message that says the opposite?"

"Agreed... I still believe we can strike a compromise here. There's no reason for Wally and his family not to all be happy. They have to come to an agreement... and we've become the mediators in this."

Jake sighed. "It's crazy how, if we hadn't come to Mauville when we did, we might not have made it here, and Robert would've had to use a different means to get Wally home. Or worse, Wally could've had breathing problems when they weren't home."

"Yeah, it's crazy how timing is key. In life and in a battle."

Jake smiled. "Drew, has anyone told you how wise you are?"

I resumed my shower. "Are you kissing up to me, wise guy?"

Jake laughed. "Is it working?"

I joined him. "Jacob, calm yourself."

"And what if I don't?"

I grabbed the showerhead and sprayed him, eliciting a shocked scream followed by uncontrollable laughter.

"Darn you, super effective attack!"

"Consider yourself warned, young man," I replied before I returned it above me to finish.

"I will get my revenge," Jake said.

"Yeah, you try it, and we'll see how far you get."

I turned the water off and grabbed two towels off the counter. I threw Jake's toward the water.

"Drew!"

Before it landed, I focused my mind and had it levitate above it.

"Phew!" Jake exclaimed. "What a jerk move that almost was."

"Yeah," I said with a smirk. "I'd never do _that_."

As I dried myself off, I had it levitate higher until it hovered below the ceiling.

"Wow, how original," Jake said. "Do you have more tricks, you sadistic magician?"

"Nope, I'm done," I said with a smirk. "Enjoy your bath, Jake."

I left the bathroom and shut the door behind me.

"Andrew!" Jake shouted.

I laughed and relaxed my mind before I dressed and rejoined the family.

"So, Drew, you're still up for helping?" Robert asked.

"You bet. I'm open to anything, and I help my mother in the kitchen as much as I can."

"Then you're with me," Rosalind said with a smile. "Can you chop vegetables?"

"Yes, ma'am."

I helped chop potatoes, onions, carrots, peeled fuji apples, and eggplants while she began browning beef chunks in a pot. Seeing as how I didn't get to watch others cook often, I watched as she orchestrated a great curry recipe.

Jake traipsed into the living room when I had all the vegetables chopped.

"Hi, Jake," I said. "You look dry."

"Yeah, like your sense of humor."

I tried to stifle a laugh. "Calm down, Jake. I'm sure you'll be over it after a good night's rest."

"Yeah, only you'd better sleep with one eye open."

I couldn't hold it in any longer and laughed as he tried to intimidate me.

"What was that about?" Rosalind asked.

"Oh, I was messing with him when we were bathing, so he's trying to get back at me."

"And I will," he said with an evil gleam in his eye before he left the room.

"It's wonderful you two are close," she said, smiling, "and thank you so much for looking out for Wally. Robert told me about what happened earlier... It's not that we don't want him to be happy, but... it's risky."

"It was my pleasure, and I understand the family's concern," I replied. "Anything to help everyone."

"You're too kind," she said. "Wally is lucky to have friends like you and Jake."

She caught me watching her orchestrate all the ingredients for her curry.

"Do you enjoy cooking?" she asked me.

"I don't do much of it, but I'm always fascinated watching my mother."

She smiled. "It's art, and it's even more beautiful when done out of love for your family."

"I don't doubt it one bit," I replied.

"Would you like to learn?"

"Absolutely."

"Great, then I'll have you do this, and I'll walk you through it."

Once the meat was brown, she had me remove it before adding two sticks of butter to the vacant pot, followed by the onions, a head of garlic and half of a large stalk of ginger she'd minced. I let it sweat for a few moments, perfuming the air with a beautiful aroma, before we added sake to the pot and scraped the pot for all the bits and flavor left by the beef.

"Do you like curry?" she asked.

"There's not much I dislike."

She smiled. "It's not super high-class, but it's a favorite in this house. Everyone will be fed well tonight."

She had me add mirin, oyster sauce, and tomato paste to the mixture before throwing in several tablespoons each of curry powder, garam masala, a pinch of cayenne powder, baking soda, and a few cups of flour before letting it develop an aromatic, thick roux. By this point, my mouth was watering. Then, she had me add several ladles of fresh stock from a different pot filled with water, herbs, aromatics, spices, and beef bones until it was the right consistency. Then we dropped in our vegetables and a cheesecloth pouch filled with bay leaves, cinnamon, star anise, fenugreek seeds, coriander seeds, cardamom seeds, and peppercorns she'd toasted on the stove before we covered it. It would continue to cook and thicken on the stove while we helped the others.

We joined in with Jake, Wanda, and Robert tidying up the house. I made faces at Jake when I caught his gaze, which he returned tenfold, getting a bunch of hilarious reactions from the family when they caught us. After the house was clean and organized, I followed Rosalind back into the kitchen.

"What else can I do to help?" I asked.

"You could set the table, if you'd like. Everything's sitting on the counter and needs to be placed for everyone."

I took the initiative while she put on a pot of water to boil for the uncooked udon noodles. I set chopsticks and napkins by each plate along with dipping cups. I took the teapot Rosalind brought over from the stove and added the tea bags to steep before pouring dipping sauce for everyone. A savory aroma also wafted up from the oven as Rosalind whipped something else together, which smelled like pastry, which was our appetizer that paired with a cucumber salad resting in a bowl covered in plastic wrap.

In no time at all, dinner was ready, and we were all seated, ready to enjoy our meal. The pastries ended up being dumplings filled with ground pork, ginger, garlic, chive, and cabbage. It paired well with the brightness of the salad and the aromatic and comforting curry coating the luscious udon noodles.

Our conversation was sparse but cheerful as we ate, and Jake and I had the chance to witness the love the family had for one another. I enjoyed being in someone's home, but it was heartwarming when there was love within the family. By the time we finished eating, I couldn't even think about dessert, as my stomach was so delightfully full.

"So Riley's doing his best to help with finishing the tunnel without disturbing its pokémon," Wanda said.

"He's persistent," Robert said. "Seems like he'll stop at nothing to reach his goal."

"I agree, and he's so sweet to you," Rosalind said. "It says a lot that he'll do anything to be with you."

She blushed. "Once the route is clear, he wants to take me to the Contest Hall."

"What an excellent idea," Rosalind said.

"And their opening day is this week!" Wanda said. "We should go."

"I've never heard of it," I said. "What is a contest?"

"It's a new craze that came from another region," Rosalind said. "Trainers can sign up and show off their pokémon, so it's not like a traditional battle."

"Awesome," Jake said. "So it's more about showmanship than battling?"

"Yes, it sure seems like it," Wanda said. "You have to show elegance through their attacks. And they're giving away some eggs donated from the Daycare Center, so it's a magnificent prize."

"Wow," I replied. "Sounds like fun."

Wally was quiet, so I'm sure our earlier conversation was still on his mind. Knowing his family loved him would make this easier, but they needed a mediator if they hadn't yet been able to come to a solution.

When I left the table to help with the dishes, Wanda pulled me into the kitchen for a private word.

"I'll take care of this," she whispered, "but please... help them talk through this."

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded. "Daddy told me what you offered Wally, and it's much more pressing than this. Please, if there's anything you can do, help them find a solution. Anything to not dim the light in that darling kid's heart."

I smiled. "I wouldn't let it happen... and I think you gave me an idea."

She smiled. "I hope so. We all deserve to be happy."

I returned to the table, took a deep breath, and looked at Robert and Rosalind and gave them a nod. They both returned my gaze and nodded back.

"Wally, you seem sad, kiddo," I began. "What's wrong?"

He was quiet a moment before speaking. "I feel stuck."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"I want to be a trainer... and my aunt and uncle want me to stay home... I thought they didn't care about my dream at all... but after my asthma came back, I understood their reasoning."

Rosalind's eyes were full of tears, and Robert's expression, while less emotional, still showed his concern.

"Rosalind, I see Wally's response affected you. Do you want to respond?"

Wally looked at her as she dabbed her eyes.

"We're so scared of losing him... we love him like he's our own... and we'd never be able to forgive ourselves if something happened to him we could've prevented."

"Wally, after what happened today, do you understand why they want to protect you?"

He nodded. "They want me to be safe... I can't be mad about it... but if I'm stuck here, I won't be able to be the trainer I want to be."

"Rosalind and Robert, if we're not thinking about his illness, do you support him wanting to be a trainer?"

"Yes," Rosalind replied.

"Of course," Robert added.

He looked at them, their responses affecting him.

"You- you do?"

Tears filled Rosalind's eyes again, much like Wally's were soon to be.

"Honey, of course we do... sniff... we want to protect you, yes, but we would never tell you you couldn't be a trainer."

Tears fell from Wally's eyes. It was hard not to catch the same emotion and try to remain objective.

"But... sniff... how can I become one? I wouldn't be able to travel... even if I become one, I'm stuck here because of my asthma."

"We're sorry, Wally," Robert said. "Being stuck somewhere isn't fun... We wish there was a way around your asthma."

Rosalind held Wally as tears continued to spill forth.

"Wally, you're not alone in this," I told him.

"...Sniff... really?"

I nodded. "We haven't become more acquainted yet, and I may not understand what it's like to have asthma... but I know what being trapped feels like."

"I'm sure Wally would love to hear more about your story," Robert said. "You've shown yourself to be an accomplished trainer."

I smiled. "I'm happy to share more about my background... some of this may shock you... I have a past, and I'm not proud of my upbringing... so please forgive me for my disrespect in bringing up any dark topics. I hope you can look past it and not view me differently for my choices."

"Please don't worry about that," Rosalind said. "We're human, and our mistakes make us who we are."

I took a deep breath and released it.

"Wally, when I was 10, all I dreamt of was becoming a trainer."

He nodded.

"Well... I didn't get the opportunity... I didn't know this when I left home, but my father was the leader of a criminal organization seeking to steal and sell pokémon to take over the world... he had me kidnapped and kept me prisoner until I agreed to join."

Shock and surprise painted their faces. I'm sure my revelation shocked Wally, and Rosalind and Robert were close, if not already there, to piecing together its significance.

"His henchman tortured me for a year, and I resisted as long as I could until I agreed... and it was another two years of being bullied and abused and learning to fight and protect myself before being promoted to the leader of the gym my father had under his control."

Rosalind and Robert were silent, though it seemed it was because of emotion rather than indifference or anger.

"Unbelievable..." Wally said, his tears gone. "How did you get through it?"

"...I'm not sure, to be honest... there were times I wanted to give up on everything... but even at my lowest, my will kept me alive... my hatred for the people who abused me left a resolve to not let them succeed... and when I became a trainer, my pokémon gave me more motivation to fight."

"Wow..." was all he said.

"When I became a trainer, I had to learn everything on my own without help from anyone... and out of training my pokémon and myself for protection, my gym gained a tough reputation in my community."

Rosalind and Robert smiled.

"And during everything, I accepted my fate as a prisoner of the organization," I continued, and I looked over at Jake, who was silent but listening still, and tears formed in my eyes, "until I met an incredible young man who broke through my doubts and gave me hope of living again... and with his help, I escaped."

"Wow... and who was that?" Wally asked.

They followed my eyes, tears falling from them, and everyone else at the table knew. It took me a moment to regain my composure, which brought tears to Jake's eyes.

"I was free," I finally said, "and I put the organization behind bars. Because of the Lavaridge hot springs, I've erased the physical scars, but the scars on my mind remain, so I live with it the best I can."

"Did you visit a doctor?" Rosalind asked, with concern flooding her demeanor again.

I nodded. "The abuse I survived led to my being diagnosed with posttraumatic stress disorder."

"How terrible," Robert said.

Rosalind was in tears again.

"What does it mean for you?" Wally asked.

"It means I relive my trauma if I'm triggered by something, so I could have flashbacks blurring with reality, nightmares, stomachaches, and recently migraines and nausea... and that doesn't include the crippling anxiety I experience."

"How awful," Wally said.

Jake blinked tears out of his eyes, trying to keep his composure.

"I don't understand how a father could do such a thing," Rosalind said, tears falling from her eyes as she continued to hold Wally.

"It's despicable," Jake said, breaking his silence, "and Drew has to pay the consequences of his evil every day... I've seen how hard all of those obstacles are on him... and yet he still smiles, he carries me on his shoulders when I'm weak, and he's been the best mentor I could've asked for."

He blinked away more tears, and I tried not to get choked up. I took a moment to breathe.

"That's all to say," I continued, wiping my eyes, "my path wasn't straight, but I'm improving and managing my condition... so, Wally, I understand what it feels like to have your health affect you in ways you don't like."

"Yeah, but ours aren't the same... mine isn't as terrible," Wally said.

"But you don't have to diminish your experience, buddy," I replied. "Everyone will have it worse than we do, but it doesn't change the fact that we still have things making our lives harder."

He smiled.

"And asthma is treatable... have you been seeing a doctor out here?"

He nodded. "I've only seen him once, though."

"The plan was to visit him once a month and monitor his improvement with experimental medications," Rosalind said, "and then if he showed enough improvement after a year, then we'd be able to manage it with an inhaler."

"See, this isn't so terrible," I told him. "You're not stuck here forever. This is so your body continues to improve."

"Yeah, but it's a year of being stuck."

"But, buddy, you can still be a trainer," I told him, "and I'm sure your aunt and uncle would love to discover a way for you to be a trainer while still being safe."

"How?" he asked.

"I think I have an idea," I said. "Wanda, could you join us, please?"

She returned to the table. "Yes?"

"What else have you heard about contests? Are they anything like a battle, or are they different entities altogether?"

"A friend of mine took part in one in another town," she said, "and she said they differ from battles but are still similar."

"What did they share with you about the format?" I asked.

She took a seat with us. "Well... contest coordinators all take turns dazzling the audience. Coordinators even dress themselves or their pokémon up, and they have a visual exhibition to show off their attacks."

"What a fun concept," Jake said.

"The top eight coordinators who impress the judges the most will move on to the second round, which includes battling. All coordinators battle and can lose points if their attacks miss or aren't strategic or used with finesse. A coordinator wins a contest if they knock out their top opponent's pokémon or if they finish with the most points."

"So it's like a battle but focused more on flair, right?"

She nodded.

I smiled and looked at Wally, and the connection wasn't clear yet. I looked at Rosalind and Robert, and they both nodded. I returned my gaze to him till he made eye contact with me. I smiled, and the gears began turning.

"Wait... Drew, is that what you were-"

"Absolutely, Wally," I replied. "You can't be a fully-fledged trainer now, but who says you can't be a coordinator here in Verdanturf?"

He smiled. "I never thought about it... do you think I could do it?"

"Why not? It sounds like it requires the same basics as being a trainer... who knows, you might end up enjoying it, and this will give you experience and allow you to bond with your pokémon more. And..." I grinned as I made my last point, "if your doctor clears it, you'll be able to become a trainer and have an advantage due to your contest experience."

He laughed. "Wow... What a great idea."

"Drew, you've outdone yourself," Robert said. "Was that your idea this whole time?"

"My intuition led me to most of it," I said with a wink.

"We can't thank you enough for helping us connect," Rosalind said. "If you weren't a trainer, I'd say you'd make a great therapist."

I blushed. "I don't know about that... but I'm glad we found common ground... what do you say, Wally? You think you'd be interested in competing?"

He grinned. "Of course. But only if you and Jake enter with me."

"Are you sure?" Jake asked. "We'd be there to support you."

"It means a lot, but I want you two to join in on the fun."

I smiled. "All right, if it makes you happy, then we'll enter too."

When we finished talking, Wally took Jake and I outside so we could start teaching training basics like type matchups and abilities. Before long, it was time for bed and to postpone training till morning.

"Good night, Drew and Jake," he said.

"Good night," Jake said before hightailing it toward our room.

"Good night, buddy," I said. "Sleep well. We'll resume our training tomorrow."

He smiled. "I can't wait."

I shut his door and retired to the guest room, letting out a yawn and seeing the room was empty.

"...Jake? Where'd you go?"

Out of nowhere, the sound like the crack of a whip startled me, and my ass stung like a beedrill had stung me. I turned and saw Jake grinning with a wet towel in his hand.

"Yow! Jacob Adams!"

He ended up doubled over in laughter before he said, "Okay... now we're even."

I spent quite a while icing it and getting past my discomfort at having to explain to the adults what I was doing, and I ignored Jake's giggles as I slipped into bed.

"Go to sleep, you brat," I told him, which only made him giggle harder.

# Chapter 12

Trial by Adversity, Part II

Because one believes in oneself, one doesn't try to convince others. Because one is content with oneself, one doesn't need others' approval. Because one accepts oneself, the whole world accepts him or her.

~Lao Tzu

By the next morning, the welt on my ass was noticeable, purple, and sore, which only made Jake cry from laughter when he saw it.

"Just remember I'm stronger than you, you brat," I told him.

"Too bad you don't have any of Vickie's salve," Jake replied, giggling.

We spent the entire day with Wally in the backyard, training with him and helping him hone a contest strategy and persona highlighting his pokémon's strengths while teaching him how to use attacks for defense and strategy and not only for offense. Wally was a willing student and trained all day until his foundation was solid with a functional knowledge of his team's strengths and how to use them to his advantage.

The next day, we made our way to town to register before the contest began. Once we reached the property where it was, the view took our breath away. The architects had flanked the large, mauve building with a large, gold diamond-shaped crest. A large rectangle of green grass and flowers split the aisle between two enormous wading pools shaped like pokéballs with lampposts and benches dividing them. Food trucks and vendor booths lined the pathway leading to the building. For a new event in town, everyone came out in full force to support it.

"Wow," Rosalind said, "the entire town is here."

"Isn't this going to be so much fun?" Wanda replied, her eyes lit up.

"What a marvellous way to bring everyone together," Robert said. "Wally, are you thrilled?"

He smiled and nodded. "I can't wait."

We made our way past booths selling food, costumes, signs, and much more and entered the building. We made our way through the lobby lined with blue marble tile offsetting the pale blue walls and stopped at the registration desk.

"We'd like to register for the contest, please," Wally told the receptionist.

"Of course," she replied. "Do you all have contest passes?"

"No, I'm afraid we don't," I said.

"Not a problem," she said. "Do you have a pokédex?"

"We do," Jake said, "but I'm afraid our other friend doesn't."

"I'm sure we can manage something," she said before she checked her computer. "Oh, dear. It looks like we only have room for one more person to register, so I'm afraid we won't be able to accommodate all three of you for today's contest."

"Oh, darn it," Wally said, looking at us. "I was hoping we all could compete."

"Yeah, but you can still enter," I told him. "It's what we came here to do, so register, buddy, and we'll cheer you on."

He smiled. "All right, let's do it."

The receptionist smiled and typed on her computer while Wally gave her his information. A moment later, she'd made a contest pass for him.

"All right, Wally, you're all registered. The contest will begin in one hour, so once you're ready, follow the door to my right to enter the contestant area. You'll be able to get ready in there and wait in the lounge until it's your turn to compete."

"Thank you," he said.

"Well, Wally," I said, "we have some time, so why don't we check out the booths a bit before the contest starts?"

He nodded.

When he turned around, he bumped into the person behind us, which caught them both off guard.

"Watch where you're going, pipsqueak!" he grunted.

"Sorry," Wally said, his face red with embarrassment.

When we realized who it was, Jake and I fumed. It was Lee, and his malevolent grin sent chills down my spine. We moved in front of Wally to protect him.

"Well, I'll be. Who knew I'd find you criminals here? And to think I sent my fellas into town when the action was here all along."

"Move along, Lee," I said. "Leave Wally out of this."

He smirked. "I'm not here to serve justice. I'm here to win this contest. Do you mean to tell me this squirt is your newest protégé?"

"And what if he is?" Jake asked. "What's it to you?"

The grin appearing on his face was as malevolent as it was unsettling. "You should run home, kid. This is no place for you."

"And that's not your call to make," I replied, "so please move aside."

He chuckled. "Are you saying you want to settle this here?"

"If you act up, then you'll have no choice," I replied. "I'll crush you, but that's beside the point. Any trouble hurts your chances of competing."

He stared at me with a determined expression, but after a long hard moment his stance relaxed.

"Suit yourself, but we'll return to this later. I'm going to get some fresh air to escape your stench."

He shuffled away and left the building. I heard sighs of relief expelled behind me.

"That was close," Jake said.

"Yeah, what a thug," Wanda said.

I turned to Wally. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah... no harm done. Who is that jerk?"

"Someone Jake and I have had issues with. Even though we're not competing, Jake and I will stick by you for protection when you're not competing. I don't want him trying anything around you. He messed us up bad last time we ran into him."

Wally smiled. "Thanks, Drew."

"Now let's get outside and enjoy the festivities."

We returned to the bustling festival outside and sampled the food and perused the other booths. At the costume booth, I bought costumes for Wally and his roselia to wear for a boost of confidence. For his roselia, I bought a small red and black masquerade gown, and for Wally a ringleader's outfit, which included a red coat, white shirt, black and gold vest, and black pants and shoes. They packaged everything, and I carried it as we browsed.

When the time came for Wally to get ready, Jake and I tagged along into the contestant lounge while his family took seats in the auditorium.

"Here, Wally," I said, handing him the packages. "I wanted to surprise you with something for your contest."

"Drew, you didn't have to get me anything," he said, smiling.

"I wanted to, so open them. You'll get everyone's attention with these."

He opened the packages, and his eyes and grin shone as he removed the costumes and looked at them.

"Wow, Drew, these are incredible. Thank you!"

I smiled. "You're welcome, buddy. I thought they'd give you some flair to wow the audience. There's no doubt you'll make the finals, but winning will come down to how in sync you are with Roselia."

He nodded. "I'll make you both proud."

"No doubt about it," Jake said. "But you should change. They'll be starting soon."

"Right," he said before he disappeared into the men's changing area.

I kept my eyes on Lee, who was in the back and not paying much attention to anyone else. My gaze didn't leave his area, as I wouldn't allow anything to interfere with Wally's performance.

He came back out a moment later wearing his costume, and many of the nearby contestants complimented him. I smiled at seeing how their kind words brightened his spirit. Not everyone wore costumes, but there was no malice in the room aside from Lee. I was already on guard and was ready to intercept if needed.

"Boy, do you look ridiculous," he said. "Mopping the floor with you will be even more fun."

"Do you ever shut up?" Wally replied before I could respond.

A few people around us chuckled.

"What d'you say to me, you brat?"

"Oh, so you can understand human speech," Wally said. "Good to know."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you're not the dumb dog everyone here thinks you are."

"You've got some nerve," he said. "I can't wait to see the look on your face when I crush you."

"Never mind, I guess you are as dumb as everyone thinks."

More contestants snickered, and Lee's face turned red.

"You're bluffing! There's no way you'll defeat me."

"Please, I doubt you'd even make it to the finals... even if you do, I don't intend on losing."

Lee gritted his teeth. "We'll see..."

He strode away, leaving us alone. Jake and I grinned at him.

"Way to tell him," Jake said.

"Yeah, you might not even need us to protect you if you can trash-talk him like that," I added.

He blushed. "I'm glad you two are here."

We sat and watched as the contest began, with the emcee and judges taking their places on an all-pink stage.

"Hello, and welcome to Verdanturf's inaugural Pokémon Contest!" the emcee said, bringing the audience alive to a roaring cheer. She was a slender woman with light brown hair and blue eyes and wore a pink dress. "My name is Vivian, and I'll be your emcee for today's event. Trainers from all over town have gathered for what I'm sure will be a spectacular display of unity between coordinator and pokémon."

The audience cheered again.

"Before I review the format, let me introduce to you today's panel of judges."

First, the camera focused on a distinguished-looking man in a red suit, black bowtie, and a short haircut of salt-and-pepper hair.

"Please give a warm round of applause for Mr. Raoul Contesta, the Chief of the Pokémon Activities Committee."

"Thank you, it's a pleasure to be here," he said as the audience applauded.

The camera then shifted to the man next to him, a shorter man in a gray suit and red tie.

"And next to Mr. Contesta, from the Pokémon Fan Club, we have Mr. Sukizo."

"Remarkable," he said, receiving another cheer.

"And to round out our panel of judges, we have a special guest with us. He's one of the best trainers in Hoenn, and he's also a proud father. Please give a warm welcome to Petalburg City's Gym Leader, Norman!"

The camera panned to him as the audience roared, and I grinned, remembering our friend well.

"Awesome!" Jake and I exclaimed.

"How incredible of an opportunity," Wally said. "Now I can show him how far I've come."

"You better believe it," I replied.

"It's an honor and privilege to be here, and I can't wait to enjoy what our trainers have in store for us," Norman said with a warm smile.

"Our judges and I are ready to witness some incredible displays of pokémon," Vivian continued. "But first, let's review today's format. In our first round, all 24 contestants will show off their pokémon for us in our Appeal Stage. Only the top eight will advance to the second round, the Performance Stage, in which our finalists will battle for today's prize, the beautiful Verdanturf Ribbon."

The camera panned to a gorgeous orange and gold ribbon, eliciting a loud applause from the audience.

"Only the top coordinator who can win every battle with the most points while still putting on a show will be today's winner... And as a bonus, we have an additional prize today. After receiving a special donation from one of our own Pokémon Daycare Centers, the trainer will also win a troupe of pokémon eggs."

The audience cheered again, and the camera panned to three eggs in protection canisters, one being pink and beige, one being blue and beige, and the other steel blue and red.

"Today's top coordinator has a lot to win, so we hope you enjoy!"

"What a prize," I said. "Are you ready, Wally?"

He grinned. "I sure am."

"On today's stage is a visitor from Rustboro City, so let's welcome our first coordinator, Lee!"

My stomach turned as the punk appeared on stage.

"So he's up first," Wally said.

"I wonder what he's got up his sleeve," Jake added.

"We'll have to watch," I replied.

I thought of not interfering, but I had a devilish idea. Someone had tossed a banana peel on top of the trash bin nearby. I focused my mind so it disappeared. Then as he stepped onto the stage, it reappeared, and he lost his balance and fell flat on his face.

"Oh, dear!" Vivian responded, trying to keep control of the event, as the audience roared with laughter. "Looks like Lee has started off with a hint of rotten luck."

Everyone in the lounge was howling.

"Wow, what a fall!" Jake said.

"Yeah, how did he not notice the banana peel?" Wally asked.

Lee, red from embarrassment, stood and brushed himself off.

"Mightyena, go!"

His black canine pokémon emerged from its pokéball, looking both regal and intimidating as it did during our previous encounters with it.

"Now, Howl!"

It opened its mouth and let out a grand and haunting howl. It captivated the audience, sure, but I wasn't finished.

"Now, Mightyena, use-"

With a slight twist of my mind, Lee's pants dropped to the ground. Fright painted the judges' faces, and the shock we heard from the audience made us gag. What amused us more was the laughter within the lounge, as everyone was crying with sore sides. It was too much fun messing with this punk.

He tried to refasten them, but another twist popped the button off, leaving him with no means to keep them secured to his waist.

"Folks, this is the most rotten luck I've seen in quite a long time. What will Lee do now?"

He held his pants together and continued his appeal. "Taunt!"

Mightyena glowed orange, all while continuing his broody and regal appearance.

"Remarkable, and what a comeback!" Vivian shouted. "Such a convicting performance for our first contestant."

The audience cheered, and we gave a meager clap. The group of us in the lounge tried to keep our amusement contained, but we would've been lying if we didn't think it was a rich payment for his rude and bullying behavior. He stormed out of the lounge, leaving us to watch the rest of the coordinators display beautiful and masterful combinations.

"Our last contestant of the day hails from Petalburg City but lives in Verdanturf Town, and is making his contest debut today, so please give a warm welcome to Wally!"

"Go get 'em!" Jake and I shouted.

Wally took the stage, and we caught the moment of realization on Norman's face as he entered.

"Come on out, Roselia!"

It emerged from its pokéball looking magnificent in its new gown, and the crowd cheered as it made its debut.

"Wow, that's quite the reaction from our audience," Vivian said. "Wally and Roselia look the part for a splendid start to their appeal."

"Now, Magical Leaf!"

Roselia twirled in place and raised its roses into the air, firing off multitudes of glowing green leaves into the air above it.

"Wow, what a beautiful Magical Leaf!" Vivian exclaimed.

"Follow with Petal Dance!"

Roselia twirled again, this time sending a flurry of pink petals into the air. As the two attacks collided, the petals disintegrated into shimmery sparkles, raining over both of them, sending the audience into hysterics.

"Wow, what an excellent display of beauty," Mr. Contesta said.

"Yes, remarkable!" came Mr. Sukizo.

"A wonderful performance, young man," Norman said. "You've come such a long way, and I can't wait to see what else you've prepared."

"Wow, such high praise from our judges!" Vivian said.

Wally waved to the crowd before returning to the lounge, getting high-fives from Jake and I and many of the other contestants.

"You were great," I said.

"You were such a natural out there," Jake added.

"Thank you, guys," he replied, blushing. "I wouldn't have made it here without your training."

"Well, you were a receptive student," I replied.

A moment later, Vivian brought us back to attention.

"We now have the results from our judges, so these top eight contestants will move on to the finals."

Eight tiles appeared and flipped over. Out of the eight, Wally was one of them.

"Marvelous job, kiddo!" I said.

"Drew, look who else made it," Jake said.

I looked, and Lee had also made it through. Guess the judges had looked past the gaffes. I sighed.

"It's all okay, Wally. You can win. Just do your best."

He smiled. "I will."

"We're going to join your family, so break a leg!" I said.

"You've got this!" Jake added.

We returned to the lobby, and I glimpsed Lee re-entering the building with a package as he held his pants. I smirked at him before Jake and I entered the auditorium and took seats toward the front where his family was.

"Thank you for your patience," Vivian began, "so let's get our Performance Round started. To advance, finalists must reduce their opponents' points as much as possible before the time is up. This isn't like your average battle - a coordinator's skill and finesse will count more here than prowess, so using your attacks and even your opponents' attacks to your advantage is key."

I peered at Jake, and we grinned at each other. How thrilling to enjoy these performances.

It was such a breathtaking show to witness. Wally fought his hardest against the other finalists, earning himself multiple victories. Finally, Wally made it to the final round, and to our chagrin, so had Lee.

"Now for the moment you've been waiting for, let's bring out our finalists, so let's give a huge round of applause for Wally and Lee."

The audience roared as both of them appeared from opposite sides of the stage. Lee wore a costume of his own, appearing like the Grim Reaper.

"Wow, and you said I looked ridiculous?" Wally asked.

"Yes, and now I'm going to make sure you reap what you sow."

The audience chuckled some at his pun.

"Besides," he continued, "you're only mad because I made it through to the finals."

"Think whatever you want," Wally replied. "You might have snuck through, but your costume says everything I need to know."

"Oh yeah? And what's that?"

"Your chances of defeating me are grim."

The audience snickered.

"And the two finalists begin with some smack talk," Vivian said, "so it's anyone's guess on who'll be the victor in our final matchup."

"We'll see about that," Lee said, the mood in the room angering him. He sent out a pokéball. "Let's go, Exploud! Make some noise!"

Out of it came a purple, reptilian animal. It looked like it would be a serious annoyance for Wally.

"Come back out, Roselia! Let's give them a show!"

Roselia reappeared, dazzling again in its gown.

"The final battle in today's contest is Exploud versus Roselia. Five minutes have been added to the clock. And... begin!"

"Roselia, Sunny Day!"

"Exploud, use Stomp!"

It charged at Roselia while it sent off two orbs of light from its roses into the air, intensifying the sunlight above the stage. Wally stood firm, not flinching or reacting to Lee's offensive move.

"And already Lee moves on the offensive," Vivian said, "but Wally seems unfazed."

Exploud lunged at Roselia with its foot extended. It made contact, sending Roselia back, but when it returned to its feet, Wally smirked.

"Use Synthesis," Wally said.

Roselia glowed a luminescent green, healing itself of any damage it took from Lee's attack. I looked over at Exploud and noticed its face now flushed an angry purple.

"Incredible!" Vivian exclaimed. "Wally allowed Roselia to endure the attack and heal itself so it could poison Exploud using Poison Point! What an unexpected strategy from our newcomer."

Lee was the only one who lost points from the display, and he was already gritting his teeth. I was unsure if it was because of Wally being smart or himself being foolish.

"A lucky move," Lee quipped. "Exploud, Screech!"

Out of its mouth came a terrifying, grotesque sound, making everyone in the audience, and even the judges and emcee, cover their ears.

Wally mouthed something, but I didn't make out what it was. And from the command, Roselia was unaffected and glowed a lustrous gold aura. When the screech died out, we uncovered our ears and heard a lovely song coming from its mouth.

"Incredible," I said.

"What happened?" Jake asked.

"Wally must have known sound-based moves don't affect Exploud, so he used Grasswhistle to cancel out his Screech."

"What a magnificent Grasswhistle, and Roselia is unaffected," Vivian said.

Lee's points reduced again, and his anger continued to build. "Argh, Exploud, use Fire Blast!"

It was a sudden change in pace, and it exhaled a large fireball powered up from the strong sunlight morphing into a star as it shot at Roselia.

"Roselia, use Petal Dance on the ground!"

It aimed its roses at the ground, and its attack propelled it into the air, avoiding the attack.

"Now, Solarbeam!"

With the sunlight still being strong, it charged and launched a powerful solar attack, striking Exploud and sending it onto its back, with sparkles floating all around the battlefield.

"What an outstanding display of grace and power," Vivian said. "Wally's totally in sync with Roselia."

Lee lost more points, now showing a 50% deficit to Wally's intact 100%.

Wally's family cheered, along with the rest of the crowd. This only exacerbated Lee's anger.

"You'll pay, pipsqueak," he said. "I won't stand here and be humiliated."

"You mean more than earlier?" Wally asked. "If anyone can be, it's you."

"That does it!" Lee shouted. "Take Down that runt!"

Exploud charged at Roselia again.

"Magical Leaf!"

Roselia aimed its roses and pelted Exploud with more glowing leaves, but it broke through the flurry and struck Roselia, with Wally losing some points.

"Hyper Voice!" Lee shouted.

It shot several blue disks of pure energy out of its mouth at Roselia.

"Counter again with Grasswhistle!"

Roselia glowed again and sang, though this time the attack didn't weaken the attack enough to withstand damage, with Wally losing more points.

"Take Down again!"

As it drew nearer, Wally shut his eyes to think of a counterattack before he smirked.

"Mega Drain!"

Roselia shot green energy out of its roses, and it immobilized Exploud and sapped its energy, returning it to Roselia and sending Exploud back to Lee, panting and its purple flush growing stronger. The attack caused Lee to lose more points.

"Another beautiful attack from Wally," Vivian said. "This may be the end for Exploud and Lee."

"Not if I can help it! Hyper Beam at full power!"

"Counter with Solarbeam!" Wally called.

Both pokémon charged their attacks and fired, and the attacks collided with an explosion, with smoke erupting on the field.

"Wow, what a powerful explosion between two mighty attacks," Vivian said. "It's anyone's guess who's still standing."

The smoke dissipated, and both pokémon were still standing, though both had sustained some damage. The audience gasped. Their attacks had left a glow about the field, with both trainers losing some points, with Wally being at 50% and Lee close to 0.

"Incredible!" Vivian exclaimed. "Both pokémon survived the attack. This has been one incredible battle to behold."

"Argh, let's finish this! Exploud, Take Down!"

Exploud started to move, but as it took a step, it fell to the ground. It was out of commission, as the lack of opportunity to heal had left it susceptible to poisoning.

"Well, folks, it looks like we have a Battle Off! Since Exploud is unable to battle, the winner of the final round is Wally and Roselia!"

The audience roared, and Lee ran off the stage in a huff. Wally ran and embraced Roselia, both of their faces bright with happiness.

"A splendid performance," Mr. Contesta told him.

"Indeed, remarkable!" Mr. Sukizo said.

"Outstanding job," Norman said. "You should be proud of your accomplishments."

The roar from the audience refused to relent until Vivian motioned for the audience to come back, a smile still prominent on her face.

"Wow, we see how much you enjoyed this performance. On behalf of the Pokémon Activities Committee, it's our honor to crown today's contest winner and bestow the prestigious Verdanturf ribbon onto today's top coordinator, Wally!"

The audience roared again as Wally stood with Vivian, tears welling up in his eyes.

"An outstanding display of showmanship," Mr. Contesta said when the audience calmed, shaking Wally's hand.

"So remarkable," Mr. Sukizo said to him.

Norman beamed with pride. "And here I met you as a child wanting his first pokémon, and today you are already an accomplished coordinator. Congratulations!"

Wally stood with his pokémon and posed for pictures with his ribbon and his eggs, beaming with pride.

Once the contest concluded, we rushed onstage and hugged him tight.

"Honey, you were incredible," Rosalind said, tears in her eyes.

"We're so proud," Robert said, tears in his eyes as well.

"Us too," I said.

"Yeah, you were great!" Jake said.

"That's my cousin!" Wanda said.

When the cameras stopped rolling, Vivian came over to us.

"I hope we'll continue to watch you compete," she said, extending her hand to him. "You were fantastic, and you might even excel at our other locations."

"Thank you, ma'am," he said. "I need to give it some thought... my health might keep me from traveling for the time being, but this experience means so much."

She smiled. "Of course. Your health is a priority, but if anything changes, we'll be looking forward to seeing you."

We gathered our belongings and left the auditorium, with spectators and contestants offering Wally their congratulations as we made our way outside. There waiting for us was Lee, seething about his loss.

"There you are," he said.

Wally rolled his eyes. "You again? Just accept defeat, dude."

"Not a chance," he said. "I'm not giving up, and we'll settle this here and now."

"Oh dear," Rosalind said.

Robert moved to defend Wally, but I caught him.

"Don't worry, Robert. I'll handle this."

"Time to pay, you brat," Lee said before he lunged at Wally.

I thought fast and teleported before catching his fist, earning a shocked gasp.

"If you even so much as lay a finger on him, I will lay plenty of hurt on you."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, try me, you scared, little punk."

"Drew!" came a voice from behind us.

Norman sprinted to us. "Are you all okay?"

"We're fine," I shouted to him. "Just making a point for this punk to leave Wally alone."

"You won't defeat me so easily," he said before whistling, signaling the rest of his cronies.

Robert and Norman appeared behind me, balling their fists.

"We've got you, Drew," Robert said.

"Don't worry," I told them. "Just keep Wally safe. They're only here because of Jake and I."

"Are you sure?" Norman asked.

I smirked. "Just watch." I turned back to them. "So me versus all of you?"

Lee and his cronies cackled. "And this time we'll finish the job we couldn't in the mountains."

"That's what you think. Give me everything you have."

They took the knives out of their pockets, with Lee relying only on his fists. He brought it back, and I took the chance and swung fast and hard at his face before teleporting and doing the same thing to each crony, teleporting fast, swinging faster, and confiscating their knives. They laid on the ground in a stunned heap.

I grabbed Lee by the shirt and held a knife to his neck, eliciting shocked gasps from everyone. I ignored my aching hand, red and bruised from my assault, and looked at him, an enormous bruise on his face.

"Still think you're tough, punk? What makes you think I don't have the balls to slit your throat right here?"

Lee's eyes widened, a whimper escaping from his throat.

I threw him back to the ground and walked back to my group, keeping them protected behind me.

Lee dragged himself to his feet, still looking determined.

"Just give up," Norman shouted. "You won't win."

"You can't handle three grown men," Robert said.

"Yeah, I'm sure we'd all love to mess up your faces more," I said. "Or maybe carve our favorite pokémon into your flesh."

The cronies all stood, each having prominent bruises like their leader, and split, bolting in the opposite direction.

"Thank goodness," Rosalind said, a sigh of relief escaping from her chest.

"Drew, are you okay?" Norman asked, inspecting my hand. "Your hand's all bruised up."

"Yeah, I'm okay. I would've fought through it. Those lowlifes messed Jake and I up the last time we saw them, so we had a score to settle."

"I doubt that'll be the last time we see them," Jake added.

"Drew, we're so grateful for you protecting Wally," Rosalind said, smiling. "We'll take care of your hand when we get home."

"Thank you for lending your support," Robert said to Norman.

"It's my pleasure, and I hate to let lowlifes like him bother innocent people," Norman said, smiling.

"Please, we'd love to have you as our guest for dinner, if you don't have anywhere to be," Rosalind said.

"Thank you," Norman replied. "I should get home. It'll take me a while to get back to Petalburg City."

"I can get you home quick," I said. "Don't let the distance keep you. You'll be home right after dinner is over."

He seemed shocked by my response, much like everyone else.

"Trust me," I said, "I have a way. Right, Jake?"

He chuckled. "Agreed. Drew isn't lying. I mean, you just saw how he handled those thugs."

Norman smiled. "Well, I'd hate to refuse an invitation. It wouldn't be well-manned."

Rosalind smiled. "Please, it's rare for us to host multiple gym leaders at our home."

I chuckled. "Yeah, Norman, it'll be fun."

He smiled. "Lead the way."

We reconvened back at the house. Jake and I freshened up while Wally called his parents to tell them about his first foray into being a trainer. Wanda helped Rosalind prepare our feast while Robert set the table and poured drinks for the adults. Jake and I joined the table once we finished.

"Drew, would you like something?" Robert asked me while Norman treated and bandaged my hand. "You helped Wally immensely, so this is a true celebration for everyone."

"I don't drink," I replied, "but I'll try my hand at whatever you gave Norman."

Norman chuckled. "It's only sake, so it won't knock you down or anything... At least, I hope not. You won't be able to get me home if you're drunk."

"I don't know, I'm crafty."

He smirked at me. "I'd have to agree. If you can beat a gym leader single-handedly, I don't have any doubts of your abilities."

"Thank you," I told Robert after he placed a ceramic cup in front of me. "And thank you, Norman, for helping. My hand already feels better, though the welt Jake left on my ass hurts worse than anything."

Norman blushed, and Jake giggled.

"Don't underestimate this kid with a wet towel, I'm warning you now."

Norman chucked. "Thanks for that. And it's my pleasure... Robert, since you've poured for us already, let me pour yours."

"Thank you very much," he replied before accepting the cup.

Rosalind brought me an ice pack for my hand before accepting a cup of her own.

"To Wally," Robert said, after Rosalind, Norman, and I raised cups with him before we drank.

Wally joined us a while later as we chatted.

"Well," Norman told him, "you've done well since we last met. How has everything been since you moved here?"

"It took some adjusting," he replied, "but I've never been happier."

"Wonderful," Norman said. "You have more color than you did in Petalburg City, and I can tell you're much happier."

"It's all thanks to my family... and to Drew and Jake," he said, smiling. "It took me a while to understand that everything happened for a reason... and now I'm more grateful than anything for it all."

"You deserve it," I said. "You're a wonderful student, and I don't doubt this is the beginning of many incredible opportunities for you."

"If I can fail and then become a competent trainer," Jake said, "then you'll have a bigger opportunity to be a great trainer."

"I'm so grateful for your teaching," he said, "and I want to give both of you something."

"Kiddo, you don't owe us anything," I said.

"No, you two played such a big part in this, and I can't keep this entire prize to myself."

He left the table and came back with his three prize eggs, setting two in front of us.

"There's no sense in my keeping them all, and I want you each to have one," Wally said.

"That's so kind of you," Jake said.

"You both have given me so much, so it's the least I can do."

"All right, buddy, if you're sure," I said, turning to Jake. "Any preference?"

"Nah, your intuition's on point."

I smiled, and then I turned to the eggs and placed my uninjured hand on each one, clearing my mind and reading the energy in each one for a few moments. Each egg contained a powerful pokémon, and each had a distinct strength. But it was clear where each strength fit best.

I opened my eyes and turned to Jake. "All right."

Norman and Robert watched, captivated.

"Each one will be a strong pokémon," I told him, "but the tan and blue egg would be best with you. It'll serve you well."

"Wow, how do you know?" Robert asked.

"Drew's intuitive," Jake replied.

"How fascinating," Norman added. "Seems you're full of tricks, Drew. That display today surprised us all."

"C'mon, Norman, all gym leaders are full of surprises," I replied.

He smirked, a twinkling in his eye. "No kidding. I might have to challenge you to another battle... if you think you have what it takes to beat me again."

I chuckled. "I'm always up for a challenge, especially if I can beat the pants off a cocky challenger."

"Great, then if you and Jake visit my turf again, be ready."

"You've got it."

"So are you going to tell me your secret?" Norman asked. "Or do I not have the clearance?"

Jake and I snickered.

"It's not much of a secret," I said. "But it's an ability many don't have or may not believe unless they bear witness to it."

"So you're psychic?"

I smirked. "How perceptive. Nothing gets past you."

My pokéballs floated off my belt until they bobbed above our heads. Within moments, all three eggs were also floating with Jake and Wally too.

"Incredible," Norman said, dumbfounded.

"Whoa," Wally said, unsure about this recent discovery.

Jake giggled. "Hilarious, Drew."

Rosalind and Wanda were just as surprised as they were.

"Is there no end to what he's capable of?" Rosalind asked.

"Impressive," Norman said.

"Thank you," I said before I had everything float back to the table and chairs.

"How did it come up?" Robert asked.

"It was a surprise revelation from a fellow gym leader from Kanto. She told me point blank one day I had the potential for telekinesis, and it was only a matter of flipping the switch so I was aware of it."

"Well, I'll be," Norman said. "I've never met anyone with the ability, and it explains your swift movement dealing with Lee and his thugs."

"It's unique, but when you're not trained enough in it, almost everything you do is taxing. It leaves me with such a headache."

"Well, we have plenty of sake for that," Robert said. "Drew, what do you believe are inside the eggs?"

"I'm not sure about mine," I said. "Its energy is hard to read, but I'm confident Jake's is a Water type."

"Awesome," Wally said. "What can you tell me about mine?"

I placed my hand on his and focused my mind, reading its energy.

"I'm not sure what type it'll be," I told him, "but I would bet anything it'll be a great companion and teammate on your team."

We enjoyed a lovely dinner together filled with warm company and the best sukiyaki, sushi, and tempura I'd ever eaten. When our conversations died down from exhaustion, I demonstrated my powers to Norman and teleported us to his gym after he'd said his goodbyes. I said my goodbyes after he offered an invitation for us to train with him. I teleported back to Verdanturf and supplemented my headache with more sake before bed.

# Chapter 13

Trial by Storm

A friend is he who gives a helping hand to his friend in distress.

~Persian Proverb

We spent a fun-filled week with Wally's family, training him as much as possible while exploring the city. When we left, we promised we'd be back if our path brought us back to town.

After restocking supplies, we made our way back to Mauville City and hiked through the river separating Mauville from the path to Fortree City and Lilycove City. We camped along the river and made our way into the rainforest. The tropical weather gave plenty of rain, something we hadn't encountered so far. Compared to the mountain range around Mt. Chimney, we traversed this area with ease. We bore with the temperature with ease with heavier clothing, and we had plenty of nuts, berries, and fruit around to supplement what we brought with us.

As we hiked more into the mountainous area of the rainforest, Jake's egg started glowing, a sign it would hatch soon. We stopped by a lake the river flowed in and out of and set up camp. The egg hatched not long after we arrived, and Jake now had a feebas, which swam in the water while we sat by our campfire.

"Drew, what is this pokémon?" Jake asked. "How am I supposed to train it?"

"Remember, Jake: first impressions are often incorrect. I bet our ancestors had no idea something as harmless as a magikarp would later become a powerful and ferocious gyarados."

"...You have a point," Jake replied.

"But even without evolution, any pokémon can become strong with the willingness, dedication, and strength of its trainer."

He nodded.

"And every pokémon, no matter how insignificant it might seem to others, has its own unique strengths. It'll be your job to train with it and draw them out."

After camping out in the wilderness, and catching a castform in the area, we hiked through the hills to Fortree City. Jake fell in love, as he dreamt of having a treehouse. After exploring the city and flying around with hang gliders and the pokémon of new people we met, we continued our journey east, continuing to camp and explore the rainforests. The sight of Mt. Pyre unnerved us, so we decided to forego the area.

It thrilled us to reach the Pokémon Center in Lilycove City. We pampered ourselves by visiting a spa, watched a contest take place at the Contest Hall, shopped at the Department Store, and enjoyed the art at the Museum. We flew to Mossdeep City after we'd explored everything we wanted, which turned out to be a colorful island of palm trees, tropical flowers, and asteroids from space. We visited the space center and learned to scuba dive, two incredible experiences. We also trained with the gym leaders in zero gravity, normally harmful to the body within extended exposure but in short increments allowed the mind to be free from the body's weight. After we'd finished our training, we flew southwest to Sootopolis, where we spent a few days exploring another exquisite city.

Jake seemed tired, a bizarre occurrence for him, so I figured we'd been overexerting ourselves. When we left Sootopolis for Slateport City, my headache returned with a vengeance. Despite trying to endure as long as possible, my blurred vision proved otherwise, which required Jake to be my eyes and guide us to a nearby island. It had a modest Pokémon Center, at which we stopped for the rest of the day, in hopes we'd both recover.

I'd hoped some sleep would mean I wouldn't wake with a worse headache, but after tossing and turning all night, I woke with a more severe throbbing. I sat up for a while, holding my head.

I looked over at Jake's bed, surprised to see him still asleep, with Poochyena in the crook of his arm. He was usually awake first and preceded to wake me so we could continue our adventure on that given day. I figured he only needed some rest.

Espeon kissed me on the forehead and looked at me, its thoughts laced with concern.

_I'll be fine_ , I told it as I stroked its head.

I stood and hobbled through the hall to the restroom. After a quick shower and sitting in hot steam to clear my sinuses, I returned to the room and noticed Jake still sleeping. This was unusual.

I noticed Espeon watching him.

Does he seem off to you, too?

Espeon gave me affirmation through our connection. I wandered to his bed and nudged him.

"Jake, wake up," I said. "Get in a quick shower, kiddo. We need to leave soon."

After receiving a nonverbal response, I dressed and packed our belongings. When I finished, Jake hadn't moved, with Poochyena whimpering and nudging him with its nose. I moved to his side and noticed he looked more pale than normal. I nudged him awake again.

"Jake, are you okay?"

He groaned as he sat. "I'm tired."

"Did you get enough rest last night?"

"I slept the whole night..." he said, removing the blanket off himself.

I watched as he took a few steps toward the bathroom and stumbled, his equilibrium unstable. I rushed to his side and steadied him. When I touched his forehead, it was warm but without a fever.

"Kiddo, you don't seem fine."

"Don't worry... I'm just tired."

I wondered. Something wasn't right. Jake usually had more energy than I did.

I let him go about his shower as I finished getting everything together. I sat on Jake's bed and waited for him while I tried to comfort Poochyena. When he returned with a towel around his waist, I watched him struggle to keep his balance. This change in coordination confirmed my suspicions.

"Jake, sit. Let me help you get dressed."

He did so, and I helped him into his clothes and shoes and had him recline while I asked around the Pokémon Center. Upon speaking to the head nurse, she explained the island didn't have a hospital or clinic. The island docked all their boats since the worst tropical storm the area had seen in recent years would hit Hoenn soon.

I cursed myself for having stopped here because I'd been ill. If we'd been anywhere else, receiving medical care wouldn't be difficult. We'd have to take a risk and try to make it to Slateport City, impossible with the storm forecast to reach the area soon, or we would have to head in the opposite direction back to Sootopolis City, closer to our current location, as long as the storm didn't delay us. I decided to call Mom before we left.

" _You don't look good,"_ she said.

I filled her in on my symptoms and Jake's condition.

She gave me some advice on how to care for him in the meantime. _"Drew, please be safe, but you need to get him to a doctor right away."_

"I will, Mom. This is so unlike him. I'll call you once we get to the next town and can see a doctor."

" _Please,"_ she said before giving me the smile I missed. _"I'll inform Jake's mother for you, and I'll call your doctor's office to see if there's anything they can say regarding your condition. I love you."_

"I love you, too."

We left with haste, carrying Jake out of the Pokémon Center.

I released Dragonair and strapped our gear to my backpack, slinging it over my shoulder and sitting Jake on Dragonair's back in front of me. Storm clouds approached in the distance.

"Hold on tight, Jake," I said. "Dragonair, we need to fly as fast as you're able to avoid the storm."

Within seconds, we flew through the air and zoomed east out into the middle of the ocean toward Sootopolis. I hoped our speed allowed us to avoid the storm.

My concern grew as the storm caught us. The wind currents grew stronger, and the sky grew dark long after the island was out of sight. The clouds became the angriest shade of black, and the oceans below us also became enraged by the storm. Soon, the gales intensified into an annoying obstacle, swaying us back and forth along our path. I wasn't even sure if we were moving in our desired direction.

When the visibility vanished, I worried more this would be an impossible mission to finish.

Dragonair, stay strong. Use Safeguard.

Within seconds, a glowing aura surrounded us and shielded us from the rain as we flew. I didn't know how much longer it would be to reach our destination since we had no service available on our PokéNav. The lightning came so close to us my heart in my throat.

When I least expected it, Jake loosened his grip on Dragonair, and within a moment he slipped off its back and hurtled toward the ocean.

"JAKE!" I shrieked.

We dove, my heart rate up, and flew fast to catch up with his freefall. We descended fast, but I grabbed him by the hem of his jeans before he hit the turbulent waters. I pulled hard and pulled him back into my arms. I held him tight as I regained my composure and held tight also to Dragonair.

"Jake, are you with me?!"

He groaned but didn't utter a verbal reply.

I touched his forehead, now hot with fever. He needed help as soon as possible. Our efforts to brave the storm failed. It tossed us around, and Dragonair's energy waned, as our Safeguard broke and left us soaked. I'd hoped we'd make it to our next destination before the weather intensified, but the gales hindered our efforts. I tried not to worry.

Dragonair, try to calm the storm.

Its orbs glowed, but the storm proved to be stronger than its best efforts. We flew our best, not sure of our location because the visibility provided no confirmation if we flew over land or sea. I feared for our safety.

Don't fret, friend. This storm is too strong... Wait... is that... It is! There's land! Let's land and take shelter.

We descended fast before landing on solid ground. I dismounted and attempted to check our surroundings without clear visibility due to the rain. I tried to teleport us back to the previous island or to a city I thought had a hospital, but it only intensified my migraine. I felt useless without my telekinesis. How had I managed without it?

Espeon released itself from its pokéball, looked around, and turned to me. It squealed through our connection.

Do you see a safe place?

It squealed again.

Lead the way, my friend. We have to move fast.

I brought Dragonair back to its pokéball and turned my attention back to Espeon as it led the way. Jake laid lifeless in my arms, aside from his feverish forehead resting against my neck that reminded me he was still alive. The foreign agent in his body fought harder than his body could handle. Fear tried to strike my heart, but I banished it to stay focused. I carried him in a bear hug while I dashed after Espeon, dodging trees and rocks and making our way through this mysterious forest.

After what seemed like ages of journeying, we found a dry, abandoned cave. I set Jake and our backpacks on the ground, released our pokémon, and unpacked everything in a hurry.

I set our last mini log in a pit built by a previous traveler. The remains of the charred wood made it difficult to determine how long ago they'd been here.

"Growlithe, use Flamethrower."

It blew a powerful stream of embers onto the log to ignite it. I then stripped Jake of his wet clothes and put him in his sleeping bag near the fire, along with my eggs. I folded his shirt and placed it over his forehead. He shivered inside his sleeping bag.

Time worked against us, and his fever was rising. I didn't want to know what would happen if I didn't act fast, and I pushed the thought from my mind. Being a broken mess wouldn't save him.

"Poochyena and Growlithe, lay with Jake and do your best to keep him warm _._ Dragonair, do your best to keep the fire lit."

I looked outside and observed how the rain weakened. The island was abundant with foliage. Some looked familiar, and some didn't. I thought back to books I'd read and the items I'd seen in Lavaridge Town. There had to be something, be it berries, flowers, or plants growing in the forest, that would help his condition. I looked at my pokéballs and put Kirlia's and Jake's feebas on my belt.

I turned to Espeon.

I'm heading out there to find something to heal him. I want you to stay here and keep everyone protected.

It didn't seem pleased, its thoughts filled with disagreement and fear.

Please, friend. I'll be fine.

It came over to me and rubbed against my leg, wanting to accompany me, but I couldn't bear to leave Jake unprotected. I brought it into my arms and held it close, always grateful for my best friend who would do anything for me.

Listen, I hate being apart as much as you, but I can't bear to lose you or Jake. Everyone here needs you. I promise I'll be back soon.

I kissed it on the head and set it on the ground.

I turned to Breloom and Blaziken. "Please, I need you two as well. Guard this cave at all costs. We don't know what's on this island. While Espeon guards Jake and our other pokémon, I need you two to guard the cave."

They both gave me their cries of agreement. I searched through my bag for something to store items in once I found them. I figured our berry pouch could suffice and put it in Jake's empty backpack along with our canteens.

_Please, no matter what happens, don't let him out of your sight_ , I told Espeon.

I looked at Poochyena and Growlithe, among our other pokémon who also looked sad.

With a heavy heart, I left the cave and observed my surroundings. I found it peculiar our location and the current time didn't show on our PokéNav. Nobody on the island we visited had mentioned a place like this. I found the atmosphere, not to mention the inconsistent weather patterns, to be peculiar, yet peaceful and unnerving, as if it somehow held a mystic energy cloaked within the swaying trees, the foliage's aroma, and the plumage's beauty.

I searched all around for water and anything to help Jake. The clouds had dispersed enough for sunlight to peak through, but if the trend continued, it wouldn't last long. I zigzagged around the area, ignoring my throbbing head and checking every tree and bush I found. I tried to remember what I'd read or seen on our adventures, encountering several varieties of berries I'd never seen and not knowing their specific properties.

Through my search, I found a stream. I let Jake's feebas out to swim while I refilled our canteens. When I found some familiar berries, and to my surprise the feather had been tucked into the berry pouch. I transferred it to my pocket and packed our pouch with oran, sitrus, and lum berries, knowing they had healing properties. The sun disappeared again, and the rain resumed, so I called feebas back after adding pecha berries to the pouch.

When I thought I'd finished my search, I found a revival herb plan, a complete lifesaver, growing in between some bushes. If I hadn't seen it in Lavaridge Town, it would've been another nameless plant to me. I snipped off a few of its leaves and hurried back toward the cave.

The land-soaking torrent pounded the ground harder, and my vision became even more blurred. I didn't know my proximity to the cave, and the pain in my head was almost unbearable. If I'd had to put it on a normal 1-10 scale, it was a definite 12 and still rising. I could only search the forest and return to Jake's care as I fought through the searing pain.

Lightning struck around the island, and I feared for my friends' safety. I kept moving, and I thought I'd pass out at any moment. I rubbed my bracelets that before had helped me focus my energies so well.

Then a thought popped into my head.

Oh no. Not here. Not now.

Kirlia burst out of its pokéball, but I couldn't connect to its energy. My mind seized and convulsed as an awful flashback reared its ugly head.

Memories of being in the Viridian Forest and calling out for help during torture flooded back to my consciousness and rendered me helpless.

" _MOM! MOM! I need you!_

Laughter from many dark voices surrounded me.

" _She can't hear you out here. She's long gone, no longer able to help you... I bet she doesn't even love you anymore, you crybaby."_

" _Please, anybody! Help me!"_

More laughter came. _"A lot of good that'll do you, kid. You're nothing but a worthless piece of garbage... how could Giovanni have a son as weak and useless as you?"_

Tears overcame me again.

" _You know what you have to do to end this, but if you continue to refuse, then we'll keep reminding you why your resistance is futile."_

I would've done anything for it to stop. I'd never experienced a migraine that felt like someone attempting to split my brain in half with a blowtorch. I doubted I'd survive this. Anything, even death, sounded more pleasant than enduring it.

You have to get through this. Jake's counting on you. You've overcome so much already. Focus and push through.

As hard as I tried to talk myself through, I didn't have the strength to continue. The last thought I had was of my mother, Jake, and Espeon, and how I wouldn't see them again. The pain overtook me, and I cried out before entering a void of cold silence and blackness. I laid cold and lifeless, wherever I was, marinating in this nothingness.

Just when I thought my demons would swallow me, another presence came beside me. A psychic presence. Whereas I couldn't connect with Kirlia's presence before, this presence, stronger than one I'd encountered before, seemed tangible. Not human like Sabrina's, but also not a malevolent spirit. I didn't recognize it, but it grasped my spirit like an outstretched hand and embraced it, restoring life to my body.

Noble warrior, for everything you've endured and set out to do, I give you the key to unlocking your true potential and burying this evil burden. Be free.

The pain vanished, and my strength returned to me, like when someone's lungs can fill with air again after being squeezed too tight. I harnessed the once subdued energy inside me and unleashed it with all my might at the demon inside my mind, the same entity which paralyzed me for far too long. The black monster fought but weaker than my assault, shrinking until it vanished.

I don't know how long I'd passed out, but when I came to, I looked up at the cloudy sky from the ground, Kirlia at my side, frantically trying to nudge me awake. I smiled and caressed its cheek, trying to calm it, considering the circumstances, with relief emanating from its spirit. The ordeal took a toll on me, but words to describe this escaped my mind. No pain or illness remained, and the black cloud I'd lived with for years ceased to exist. Unbelievable. How could I have described being healthy when I'd only known being sick?

I sat and rubbed my head, wiping away wet mud. Aside from some pain from where I landed, I had no headache, and the storm died down again. I looked at Kirlia and smiled.

Thank goodness we're safe... are you okay?

It nodded with a slight curtsy.

The presence... the one who intervened just now... it wasn't you, was it?

Its thoughts confirmed to me it hadn't been, but it pointed behind me. I brought myself to my feet, brushed myself off, and turned around.

There before us, a pokémon defying any normal description levitated off the ground nearby. It resembled a bird, though I'd never seen any avian creature like it. The wings on its bulky frame made it resemble a jet. But the royal blue feathers resembling thin sheets of diamond covering most of its body set it apart, aside from its white, wispy ears and bright red irises.

The sight left me speechless. I didn't want to frighten it, but I wanted to move closer. I pulled out my pokédex to find out more, but it had no data available on it. Then realization struck. The mystery. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the feather.

Its eyes shut, and joy emanated from it like Kirlia.

So you're what I've been sensing this entire trip.

It nodded and moved closer to us.

I wish I knew your name... but thank you. I don't know what we would've done if you hadn't found us.

_Young warrior,_ it said through our mental connection, _my name is Latios, and you have a spirit unlike one I've ever encountered. I found you almost at death's door. I couldn't bear to let the black mass in your mind take you from your loved ones and wanted to set you free._

My eyes welled up with tears, ready to flood out like a levee at full capacity. I'd believed I had to live with the pain and misery for the rest of my life, but I felt freer than I'd ever had. Even my psychic abilities felt stronger and sharper than ever.

_How do you feel?_ he asked.

_Like new,_ I replied, tears streaming down my face. _I haven't felt like this since... since childhood._

The joy emanating from it grew stronger. _And hearing that makes me happy_.

I smiled. _I don't know how I could repay you for your kindness._

_Think nothing of it,_ he replied. _There's no price on a gift given to someone who deserves it._

I looked around at our surroundings and back at Latios. _Tell me, where are we? The storm forced my friends and I to land here._

It's an island kept hidden from pokémon and humans because of its fertile land and to protect my clan.

So there's more of you?

Yes, my clan and our sister clan live here. We try to keep this island invisible because they view anything or anyone outside it as a threat to our safety.

Because of my past with Team Rocket, I understood it well. _Latios, I'm so sorry to have intruded. If I'd planned better, I wouldn't have come._

There's no reason to be sorry. It was meant to be. I sense no danger from you. Take anything you wish, especially anything benefitting your companion.

Like any Psychic pokémon, it read my intentions. I needed to make a mental note of what I learned. _Thank you. I must return to his care._

The place you're staying is much too far away. Climb on my back, and I'll fly you over much quicker.

I smiled and called Kirlia back before climbing onto its back. Its coat shone like glass but felt pleasantly soft. We floated off the ground and soared through the air, a rush coursing through my soul. It was wonderful to not be on the ground and bear witness to the gorgeous views above everything. The island was larger than I imagined. Thick patches of forest surrounded us, with lakes and streams nestled all over the island, and the ocean surrounded its entirety. Sea salt and fresh air from the forest perfumed the air. Nothing I'd experienced could compare. Despite circumstances being dire, this island was magnificent.

Four glowing rings flew out of nowhere, as fast as lightning, and wrapped around Latios and I, sending an electric shock through our bodies. It immobilized us and sent us hurtling toward the ground, the material negating any psychic energy exerted by either of us. We struck the ground with a hard crash, with Latios taking most of the fall.

# Chapter 14

The Spy and the Race of Death

When we honestly ask ourselves which person in our lives mean the most to us, we often find that it is those who, instead of giving advice, solutions, or cures, have chosen rather to share our pain and touch our wounds with a warm and tender hand. The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing, not curing, not healing and face with us the reality of our powerlessness, that is a friend who cares.

~Henri Nouwen

We'd landed in a clearing among the trees. When I regained my mobility, I struggled to writhe out of the contraption and did my best to move until I found my footing. Kirlia released itself from its pokéball.

Magical Leaf!

It was useless, as the leaves didn't even scratch the material.

_Use Confusion to pry it apart_.

Its eyes glowed blue, and blue energy surrounded the rings, but nothing happened. It seemed the creator responsible designed them to withstand any psychic attack. I needed to be craftier to free our new friend. If only I had our other pokémon with me.

"Fool!" a voice called in the distance. "A few lousy attacks can't destroy my industrial, anti-psychic rings! Such a rookie mistake."

A young woman emerged from the thicket of trees. Her gray blond hair jetting out on both sides of her head with bangs covering her forehead refreshed my memory. It was Oakley, one of my father's favorite spies. I would've done anything not to have seen her again. The look in her eyes showed it was mutual.

"Well, well, well. Look what we have here. I didn't know I'd be capturing a rare pokémon _and_ a traitor all in one day."

"What's the meaning of this, Oakley?"

" _I_ am on a mission to capture this creature, and _you_ are standing in my way."

"And what do you want with it?"

"Team Rocket has many reasons for wanting a strong pokémon on its side."

"Team Rocket's gone, thanks to some of our best officers and trainers."

"You may think so," she replied, "but those of us who are still loyal to Giovanni will continue to do his bidding, even if he's behind bars."

Shock rang through my mind. Even in jail, his schemes were still alive. I had to notify someone of this later. But my concern was with Latios, its thoughts clouded with pain.

Are you all right?

Argh... for the moment, but I'm getting weaker.

Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you.

I returned my full attention to Oakley. "You're making a grave mistake. If you walk away and let us be, we'll spare you."

"Your attempt at intimidating me is pathetic. A punk who wimps out and relies on the police to do all the hard work doesn't scare me."

"If that's all you took away, kid, you'd be wrong. If you insist on carrying out this deluded mission of yours, prepare yourself for a fight."

She smirked. "I doubt it. From the looks of it, this pathetic pokémon is the only one you have with you. This shouldn't take long."

My blood boiled at the witnessing of Team Rocket, yet again, insulting my pokémon.

_Don't listen to a word she says_ , I told it. _She doesn't recognize the strength you have waiting for her._

Kirlia looked fierce, ready to take her on.

She cackled. "This'll be a cakewalk. Let's make this more interesting!"

She threw two pokéballs our way, releasing her ariados and vileplume. Only confirmed she wouldn't fight fair.

"Sludge Bomb!"

Both of them hurled sludge toward us.

Reflect!

In a second, it shielded itself with a wall of blue light, protected from damage.

"Wow, defending on a first move. How amateurish. I thought battling a gym leader would be more of a challenge."

"You can never assume anything about an opponent right away, especially your opponent's true power."

"Oh, save it! String Shot!"

Future Sight and follow with Confusion.

It shot off its orbs, but before it counterattacked, they immobilized it.

"Quick, both of you, jump! Ariados, Leech Life! Vileplume, Acid!"

It took heavy damage from the acid and from having its life sapped, being immobilized.

It frustrated me not being able to remove the rings. Even my strength wasn't enough to break through the material. Kirlia struggled to stand, and Latios grew weaker from the rings. On top of it, Jake was still without help and unprotected, much like the rest of our team. What were we going to do?

_Don't give up, my friend,_ I told Kirlia _. You have the power to defeat them. I believe in you. You are my warrior I'm depending on._

I caught its determined glance, and in its hand was a small aquamarine-like stone. The same energy I felt before it evolved from a ralts coursed through its spirit again but was much stronger.

Go, my friend. Be your true self and let your inner strength come forth.

Its form flashed an opalescent white and grew in stature. Pride surged within me as it evolved, but where I expected a gardevoir to stand wasn't a gardevoir at all. It had arms resembling blades, thick legs, and a head resembling a fighter's helmet. It left me in awe and bewilderment, and my pokédex advised it was a gallade, a Psychic and Fighting pokémon.

"You've met your match," I said.

Oakley didn't seem amused. "So your kirlia evolved. So what?"

"So now we'll seal your fate. Gallade, Slash!"

Gallade turned and slashed through the rings like it was rubber, freeing Latios and I. It was too tired to levitate, so it stayed on the ground.

"Sludge Bomb at full power!"

They launched another fast sludge attack, but I wasn't fazed.

Now, my friend, counter with Psychic, and follow with Aerial Ace!

Gallade sent their attack right back, stunning them, and it rushed toward them and, with a swift move, knocked both of her pokémon back toward her, giving Future Sight the perfect opportunity to annihilate them.

Gallade, protect Latios. I'll handle her.

It leapt out of the way, leaving me to walk closer to her.

She called her pokémon back with a scowl. "Humph, I don't need pokémon to thrash you."

I chuckled. "Foolish girl, I'd love to see you try."

She charged at me, taking advantage of her athletic abilities. I kept my eyes shut, waiting for the right moment. When she was close enough, I teleported a few feet behind her, amused by following her reaction as she stopped dead in her tracks in front of an angry and determined gallade and looked around. When she turned around and found me, she charged again.

She won't learn.

When she was close, I teleported again, a foot in front of Gallade. When she turned to face me again, she looked like she was ready to scream.

"How foolish can you be?" I teased. "You should know Fighting pokémon are weak against Psychic pokémon. How similar it is with you and me."

"Hold still!" She charged again.

"As you wish," I said before I focused my telekinesis and immobilized her.

"W-what's going on? What are you doing?"

"What does it look like?" I asked her. "You're being schooled by a traitor..." I tweaked her nose with my fingers and gave it a hard press. "What's wrong, can't break through my telekinesis with a lousy attack?"

She gritted her teeth, her anger fuming outward. "You'd never understand what Team Rocket stands for. Pokémon are for controlling, not for friendship."

"And that's where you're wrong," I replied. "If you believe you can control any pokémon for your selfish gain, then you'll lose every time. This creature behind me is not for anyone's gain."

I sensed more energy, like what I felt from Latios, approaching in the distance.

"And who's gonna stop me?"

"I'm sure those approaching pokémon will."

_Warrior, you need to flee,_ Latios told me _. Our clans are upset humans have found us. Please see to it your friend is all right. Thank you for protecting me._

I smiled and tossed a sitrus berry from my bag to it, which it ate.

I'd do it all over again. Thank you for saving me as well.

I relinquished my grip on her and let her fall to the ground. She stood fast, but her expression grew white when she recognized its clan approaching, with at least 12 each of latios and its smaller red sister clan present.

With that, Gallade and I joined hands and teleported away.

~ ~ ~

A few moments later, our eyes readjusted back to the darkness of the cave where our party was waiting. Espeon trotted to me and leapt into my arms. Blaziken squawked in surprise of Gallade's new form, and they threw a few friendly punches between each other. I held Espeon close and kissed it before I carried it over to where Jake was laying.

He was as pale as snow, so I needed to act fast. Tears formed behind my eyes, but I held back and kept my focus. I knelt at his side and checked his forehead, still hot with fever.

"I'll save you, Jake. Hold on."

He groaned, not able to speak or move.

Thank you so much for looking after him, Espeon. I'll take over now.

I filled a small pot halfway with water to start.

Gallade, can you levitate this over the fire?

It nodded and used its energy to keep the pot floating above the fire so the water could boil.

Blaziken came to me, pondering how to help.

These are too firm to cut. Can you quarter these?

As if they were tomatoes, it cut through the tough flesh and left me with quarters of all the firm berries. I put them into the pot to soften so they'd be of use. Before anything else, I fed all our pokémon, making sure I took them care of them before I focused on our boy.

I took the wet shirt off him and used my telekinesis to gather the water I wrung out into a sphere.

Dragonair, use Ice Beam.

Its energy made a perfect sphere of ice.

I turned to Metang. _Use Metal Claw._

Its right claw glowed and made contact, breaking it into a floating heap of ice chunks. I held the shirt in my hands and tied the ice up into it and placed it on his head.

Next was my soaked clothing. I hung a clothing line outside before I stripped mine off and put on a fresh pair of shorts. When the berries softened, and the water changed color, I added the revival herb and let it simmer until the air smelled strongly of it. I added the pecha berries and let it simmer for another minute.

_Now, Gallade, let's set this on the ground so it can cool_.

It focused its energy to levitate the pot off the fire and closer to where Jake was, where it sat to cool. I then had Gallade recline and massaged out its muscles after giving it a stray sitrus berry.

You fought well, my warrior. I wish I could do more for your injuries, but we're all safe, thanks to you.

Our pokémon dozed as I organized our belongings for our short-term stay in the cave. My stomach growled, but I ignored it. Our food supply was meager, but I wanted to save what we had for Jake.

When the berry herb mixture had cooled enough to not scald his tongue but still warm enough to warm his body, I sat on the ground next to him and kept him propped upright with my left arm.

"Jake, you need to swallow as much of this as you can, even if it doesn't taste the best."

He sputtered at the first sip but swallowed as many spoonfuls of the syrup as possible. To my amazement, he swallowed it all. I laid him back in his sleeping bag and tidied up my mess. Then Gallade and Blaziken joined me to chop wood from trees of my height so we'd have enough firewood for the next 24 hours.

I sensed an energy source nearby, and when we returned to the cave, to see if it might be Latios, we were alone. However, near the mouth of the cave was a variety of fruit from the island. The gesture made me smile, so I took it back inside and ate by the fire to keep warm.

I stayed silent, with Espeon's head in my lap, following Jake's steady breathing pattern as he dozed. His face still lacked color, but I refused to do anything so as not to distract myself from detecting any changes to his condition.

After a while, with the sun having already set and the moon beginning to rise, sweat appeared on his face. I walked over to him and unzipped his sleeping bag, seeing it all over his body. It must've been trying to defeat whatever was inside him.

To help it along, I took more water from my canteen and froze it with the same means as before and repackaged it inside the compress before returning it to his forehead. I also rubbed his body down with cold water.

Our PokéNav had no signal, and without the moon and stars we'd have no means to tell time. It hurt not to hold him to keep him warm, but I didn't want to add heat to his fever. Tears coated my cheeks as my worry remained. I took his hand and cradled it within my own, tears splashing onto them.

"You have to recover, Jake... I can't lose you... everything wonderful I have is all because of you... I wouldn't be able to live if you left us..."

Out of nowhere, I remembered something Mom mentioned to me. Doctors not only used pain relievers for pain management but also for fevers. I searched through my bag and found them, thankful we still had a few. I propped him upright again and had him swallow two tablets and some water, and I remained at his side.

As the clouds continued to dissipate, and night drew on, Jake seemed stable. I had continued to wipe him down with cold water until his sweating ceased, and his forehead was less hot, which meant the worst was over. I took a moment and smoked a cigarette to calm my nerves, now that I didn't need to track his condition so close. The surrounding view was gorgeous. I only wished my companion was well enough to enjoy it with me.

As I smoked, I looked to Gallade and Blaziken, who were still awake.

Can I ask for you two to take turns guarding the cave? Latios is our friend, but we don't know if Oakley's still on the island.

They both nodded.

When I returned inside, I found Jake shivering with nothing to keep him warm. The temperature had plummeted because of the storm, with goosebumps covering my skin. After adding more wood to the fire, I brought over my sleeping bag and unzipped it, doing the same with his and zipped them into one large sleeping bag. I laid it flat on the ground and set him on one side, with Poochyena flanking him, and I zipped the sleeping bag closed with me on its other side. Espeon laid next to my head, purring, and Growlithe and Electrike laid next to Jake. Dragonair laid near the fire, and the rest of our team slept in scattered places. Gallade and Blaziken remained outside to guard the cave, with Breloom joining them.

I laid still for a while, trying to calm my thoughts. For tonight, we were fine, and for that I was grateful. A yawn caught my attention. I turned and checked Jake's forehead. His fever was still dropping, so it was more relief from my anxious mind. He turned onto his side, shivering, so I turned over and brought him into my arms to keep him warm, hoping everything I'd done had saved him. I wept, unable to restrain myself. I couldn't bear with losing this kid I'd grown to care about so much. Soon, after my tears left and my spirit calmed, I was asleep.

# Chapter 15

Brotherly Love

We cannot tell the precise moment when friendship is formed. As in filling a vessel drop by drop, there is at last a drop which makes it run over; so in a series of kindnesses there is at last one which makes the heart run over.

~Ray Bradbury

The next morning, I woke from a restful sleep and checked Jake's forehead. He had no fever, and some color had returned to his face. I crawled out of our sleeping bag and let him rest while I dressed. Dragonair accompanied me as we foraged the area for more fruit and berries and refilled our canteens while Blaziken, Gallade, and Breloom rested.

After packing as many berries into our pouch and fruit in my backpack as possible, I returned to the stream to refill our canteens and to let Feebas have some time to swim. As I washed my face, I found the face of a familiar friend reflected in the water next to me, its presence warm and friendly like yesterday. It lowered itself so it could take a drink.

Good morning, warrior.

Good morning, my friend. How are you?

Much better, thank you. How is your companion doing?

He made it through the night, and his fever's gone.

Latios shut its eyes, and happiness radiated from its spirit.

How is your clan? Did they take care of the poacher?

Yes, she left. They're furious humans have found our island. The only reason they're allowing you two to be here is because I've asked them to show compassion.

_That's so kind of you_ , I replied. _I hate that our accidental intrusion is creating tension._

Don't feel bad. They don't trust anyone, given so many have hearts filled with evil or greed. I don't sense anything in you, but my clan is unwilling to open their hearts to the possibility that not all humans or pokémon are looking to take advantage of us.

I understand their skepticism... I don't have a perfect past.

But I sense you're not the same person anymore... and the fact you've cared so well for your sick companion shows a lot about your character.

I smiled. _I owe him everything... and I'd do anything to keep him alive._

Sounds like he's like you. Pure in heart.

More so than me.

His eyes shone more than usual. _May I... see him?_

Of course. Will it be a problem? What if your clan knows you're so close to us?

Let's not worry about it. I'm not.

I turned to Feebas, lowering myself to stroke its whiskers. "Let's get moving, Feebas. We'll be back soon enough."

It chirped before returning to its pokéball. I turned back to Latios.

Climb on my back.

We lifted off the ground and flew over the island back to the cave within a few moments.

I dismounted when we reached the ground, and it floated behind me as I entered the cave. Espeon greeted me, and I held it close in my arms.

_Thank you again for taking care of him._ I turned toward Latios. _I want you to meet our new friend, Latios. He helped me yesterday, and he wanted to see Jake. Latios, this is Espeon, one of my best friends._

Espeon squealed.

Latios shut its eyes, happiness emanating from it again. _Nice to meet you too._

I set Espeon on the ground, strode over to Jake, and touched his forehead again. His temperature was normal.

I took all our pokémon outside and let them scamper and play while I attended to Jake. Thrilled to meet it, they convinced it to play with them. It was so cute to witness. Every once in a while, I caught its gaze as I mashed some berries and assorted fruit in a bowl.

I took it over to Jake and nudged him awake.

"Morning, sleepyhead. How are you?"

He stretched out a bit and yawned. "Somewhat better... less pain than yesterday."

"I was so worried about you, kiddo. You must be starving."

He nodded. I propped him upright under my arm and fed him the mashed fruit. It relieved me his appetite was returning. When he'd finished the fruit, he took a few sips from his canteen.

"How much pain are you in?"

"It's dull right now."

I took two tablets from my bag and gave them to him, which he swallowed with some water.

"How about some fresh air?"

He nodded.

"Our pokémon have missed spending time with you, and we have a new friend for you to meet."

"Really?"

I nodded. "He's helped me a lot since you've been sick."

I helped him into his pajamas and carried him and our sleeping bag outside. I laid it on the ground in the morning sun and placed him on top of it. Everyone came closer to him, bringing a smile to his face.

Latios was nearby and came closer to where we were.

"Jake, this is our new friend. Meet Latios."

His mind was still calibrating with the present when he took account of the sight, but a few moments later the reality dawned on him.

He looked at me. "Drew, is this...?"

I nodded. "Looks like we solved Professor Birch's mystery."

He smiled and turned his attention back to Latios. "It's nice to meet you."

Latios' energy continued to emanate joy, and it laid next to him on the ground, giving him the chance to stroke Latios' head. It was such a pure, innocent moment I wished I could remember it forever.

Seeing all our pokémon play did his spirit good. As they played, he looked at Gallade, who was practice-sparring with Blaziken and Breloom.

"Wait... Kirlia evolved?" Jake asked me.

I nodded. "Yesterday. Took me by surprise. I wasn't aware Kirlia had another form."

He smiled. "Same here... Good for you, Drew. It looks strong."

Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed my black-and-blue egg glowing back in the cave. I rushed to retrieve it and held it close as I came back outside, wondering if it was time. All our pokémon came closer and chattered, waiting.

It glowed more before turning an opalescent white. It morphed and grew until the light faded. In my hands was a pokémon I'd only seen in a book once a while ago. It was an adorable canine pokémon, like growlithe, but with black on the mask of its face, feet, ears, and the vest on its chest. It also had red eyes, and the rest of its body was a slate blue with a yellow ring around its neck and white ovals on its paws.

The pokémon smiled when it opened its eyes and looked at me.

Sabrina's words echoed in my mind.

They'll be of much value to your fighter's spirit... trust me.

Fighter's spirit? I wondered. I took out my pokédex and discovered it was a riolu, a Fighting pokémon.

"Well, hello there, Riolu," I said. "I've been waiting quite a while to meet you." I turned to Gallade and Blaziken, smiling.

"This is your new protégé. I trust you both will teach it well."

Gallade and Blaziken both nodded.

I returned my gaze to Riolu. "Welcome to the team. Like all my companions, I'm your protector. Nothing bad will ever happen to you under my care."

Riolu squealed and accepted my head rubs before I set it on the ground to explore and play with the rest of our pokémon.

After a while, Jake became drowsy. When he dozed off, I took him back inside and laid him near the fire.

I came back outside and fed our pokémon. While they ate, I turned to Latios and rubbed its head.

You'd better get back to your clan. They'll be wondering where you are.

He nodded.

Thank you for visiting with us. We all enjoyed it.

As have I. Until next time, warrior.

It ascended into the air and flew off. With my duty to our pokémon finished, I tried calling my mother but still couldn't reach her. I returned to the cave and laid next to Jake and dozed off.

Later, after leaving to refill our canteens, I returned to the cave with a blue feather resting on our sleeping bag. I smiled and undressed and slipped into it before falling asleep with Espeon, Dragonair, and Riolu laying with me.

~ ~ ~

The next morning, as I stirred, I let out a large yawn as I stretched out my limbs, which prompted a lighthearted giggle from next to me. I opened my eyes and discovered Jake was already awake with a smile on his face.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," I said, matching his smile. "How are you?"

"Much better."

"How long have you been awake?"

"Oh, for a while."

"Why didn't you wake me?"

"Because you were still resting... Besides, as crazy as it sounds, I enjoyed having someone's arms around me."

I chuckled. "Oh, I was holding you? Why would I do such a thing?"

"I'm not falling for it, Andrew," he said, giggling. "Besides, I'd imagine that's what a big brother would do..."

"Is that right?"

"I also recall hearing someone crying the other night," Jake added.

"I don't know where you get these crazy ideas from."

"Oh, no, we're not playing that game," he said, and soon we were both laughing.

"Drew, are you blushing?"

"And so what if I am?"

"I've only ever seen you blush when Sandi was hitting on you."

"...Well, it looks like you caught me when I was vulnerable..."

"Why's that?"

"...Because I almost lost you, Jake." I tried to conceal the tears in my eyes, but I wasn't successful. "If I hadn't acted as fast as I did, you could've died... It's a miracle you're still here."

"No, it isn't," he replied, tears in his eyes as well. "It's because you saved me. I don't know how to thank you."

"You already gave me my freedom, so we're even."

He smiled. We were silent for a while, enjoying our surroundings. He reached behind and pulled my arms closer so I was holding him again.

"Big brother, huh?" I asked.

"Mm-hmm," he replied. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, nothing at all... I kinda like it, actually."

"You do?"

"Yeah, it means I can wrestle you to ground or beat you up if you act up."

He giggled. "I guess I didn't think about that."

"Too late, it's already out there... but I promise I'll go easy on you... till you're older and bigger than me."

"I doubt that. Have you looked at yourself lately?"

I chuckled. "Whatever, kiddo."

We were silent for a while, just enjoying the stillness, my arms still around him.

"I also didn't wake you because I didn't want to get up yet."

"Me too. It's too chilly."

When we least expected it, Riolu pounced onto our sleeping bag, scaring us and sending us into a fit of laughter and Poochyena into a fit of angry barks, which seemed to wake everyone else. Espeon and Dragonair cuddled closer, so I stroked their heads, and we huddled for warmth longer before we needed to start our day.

"All right, I guess we can't be lazy anymore... Are you strong enough to walk?"

"Yeah, I'm back to normal."

"Let's get packed and head to Sootopolis so we can locate a doctor and make sure you're 100% recovered. Mom was worried about you, so we need to call her and your mom too once our PokéNav service is back."

"Sounds good."

I stood and organized our belongings.

"Looks like your welt is healing," he said as he rolled our sleeping bags.

I chuckled. "I hadn't noticed."

"Yeah, it's faded a lot. Does it hurt still?"

"Not as much," I replied, slipping into my shorts. "Now, if you're done reminding me of how you marked me in an uncomfortable area, let's get moving."

He giggled. "Whatever you say, Your Excellence."

We both dressed before I packed our belongings and Jake fed our pokémon. As I was finishing, I sensed a familiar aura nearby. I strolled outside as Latios descended toward me.

_Good morning_ , I said as I nuzzled its head.

Good morning, warrior. How is your companion?

He's much better. We're leaving soon and traveling back to our original destination when the storm brought us here.

_That's wonderful news_.

Happiness beamed from it, but I sensed something else. Was it sadness? That's what it felt like. But why it could be sad I couldn't imagine.

What's wrong?

I've disappointed my clan.

Did they know you were here yesterday?

Yes, and we can't agree regarding outsiders. No matter what I say, they won't change their minds.

I'm sorry to hear it. Jake and I will leave soon, so I hope it calms them.

It will, but it doesn't solve the problem for me.

How so?

Because I haven't conducted myself the way my brothers and sisters have, they've instructed me to either conform to their ideals or leave.

Why would they make you choose?

This island is our home, and they fear any deviation from what we've always done will continue to attract visitors.

What did you tell them?

I told them I would leave.

Are you serious? That's horrible!

Oh, no, trust me. It was a positive decision... I've had conflicting feelings for a while, and I never enjoyed being stationary here... which is why you sensed my roaming around this region.

So what do you plan on doing?

I've wanted to discover a higher calling than protect an island. I thought I'd help pokémon and humans or contribute to the greater good of this world. Possibly align myself with someone I trusted who can help me accomplish it...

And you can do anything you desire. And much more. I believe it.

Yes, which is why I'm here. I've sensed something in you for a while... Where do you live, and what is your highest purpose when you're not traveling?

My home is several hours away in a quiet, supportive community of people who love pokémon, and I teach trainers how to care for and train their beloved companions the correct way before they head off to regional championships. I help pokémon and trainers be their best at what they do, and I'm trying to become the best human I can be.

It shut its eyes, and happiness radiated from it more. _That's all I needed to know. I'm not much for fighting, but it's different if a friend were to have my back and help me find my calling._

So what do you say, friend? Are you open for some company with your freedom?

It nodded. _I'd like that very much._

Latios, I can't thank you enough for setting me free from my illness. I promise you if I'm breathing, and you're here by my side, I won't let anything happen to you. I intend on taking care of your needs and helping you fulfill your purpose if I'm lucky enough to be your trainer.

It means the world to me. I'm honored.

I reached into my pocket and pulled out one of my empty pokéballs. _This might seem new to you, but this will help me protect you. If this isn't comfortable, we'll figure out another arrangement._

Don't worry, I trust you.

I pressed it and waited as its energy surrounded Latios and brought it inside. After a few seconds, the light on the button ceased, cementing it on my team. I held it to my heart for a moment before I put it on my belt.

Jake came outside. "Everybody's fed."

"Everybody but us. I'm starving. Are you ready?"

He nodded.

We grabbed our bags and climbed onto Dragonair's back. Within a few seconds, we ascended into the air.

~ ~ ~

It took an hour for our PokéNav to regain its connection to the Devon Corporation's network. Once we had a signal, we re-routed ourselves back to Sootopolis City. As soon as we arrived at the Pokémon Center after an uneventful flight, a hoard of nurses ambushed us.

"Drew!" one of them said. "Thank goodness we found you. Please come with us!"

"All right, but- hey!" I shouted as they put me on a gurney. "Wait-"

"What are you doing?!" Jake asked.

"No time to explain," another nurse said. "We need to transport you to Lilycove Hospital."

In a blur of the moment, they wheeled me through the Pokémon Center and out onto a tarmac, where a helicopter was waiting. They shut the hatch with Jake and I inside, and the helicopter lifted off the ground as paramedics took my vitals.

"Can someone please tell me what's happening?!" I shouted. I didn't understand this hysteria, and nobody was paying the slightest bit of attention.

"We're taking you to the hospital," one paramedic said. "Your doctor recommended it based on-"

"Can I call him?! I want answers, and nobody's offered any information since they ambushed us!"

"I apologize, Mr. Brown. We were told at all costs to admit you as soon as possible."

"The least those nurses could've done was answer my fucking questions!"

I dialed my doctor's phone number, and the receptionist put me on the phone with him right away. I had the call on speaker.

" _Drew, thank goodness! We've been trying to reach you for hours."_

"Dr. Yamaguchi, what's the meaning of all of this? Nurses ambushed us as soon as we arrived in Sootopolis City, and nobody has answered my questions."

" _Drew, we reviewed your chart again after your mother called us and told us you'd still been having recurring episodes of nausea and severe migraines with no family history of them..."_

"So what has these nurses acting so frantic?! Please, tell me..."

" _Drew, have you also experienced any weird occurrences like blurry vision or any seizure-like activity during your trip?"_

"...Yes, I have..."

" _Drew, the symptoms you've experienced may be from a brain tumor..."_

Jake and I looked at each other.

"C-c-cancer... are you positive?"

" _For the most part, yes,"_ he replied. _"The only way to be sure is to admit you to the best radiology department closest to you so they can administer the tests, and we'll have an answer."_

"D-d-does my mother know?"

" _Yes, and we told her we'd do everything possible to get you admitted... we'll notify her when you're safe in Lilycove City."_

"Is- is there anything I can do?"

" _Just try to relax. We've already sent your records to the hospital, so they'll be able to admit you once you arrive."_

I sighed. "...I don't know what to say... I'm powerless here."

" _And you're in excellent hands with the hospital staff. Please try to be patient with them, Drew. We were frantic to locate you since we don't know how far along this tumor is, and our prerogative is to identify and treat it."_

"Understood, sir. Thank you... I'll be in touch."

# Chapter 16

The Tumor and the Secret Celebration

Health is the greatest possession.

~Lao Tzu

I looked at Jake after the call ended. His worried expression was much like mine had been when I thought I'd lose him. His hand found mine, and tears fell from his eyes.

"Jake... it's okay."

His chest quivered from trying to keep himself calm. "No, it's not... Drew... this is serious."

"Jake..."

He shook his head, tears streaming down his face. "Just when I recover, now I might be losing my mentor... my friend... my b-b-brother..."

He held him as he sobbed on my shoulder.

"Kiddo... it's all going to be okay... this might seem bad, but the worst is over... you have to trust me... it doesn't make sense now... but it will."

We were silent during the rest of our trip, and he took my bag and my pokémon as they wheeled me deeper into the hospital.

As soon as I was within the emergency room, they took account of my vitals and had me change into a gown before they began taking several vials of blood before they wheeled me elsewhere. I lost track of where I was as they escorted me to a new floor and traversed multiple hallways.

Throughout this journey, they explained each test. The first was a CT scan. After explaining how the machine operated, they inserted an IV into my arm with contrast before they moved my body into a metal tube for their computer to x-ray my head.

Once it finished, they moved me to a new area where they administered a different IV for an MRI. They offered me a pill for anxiety before they put me into a larger tube with headphones of calming music as they carried out this longer test.

Last, they performed a lumbar puncture after sedating me to get a sample of the fluid surrounding my brain and spinal cord. When they finished, they said they'd transport me to a private room, but I fell asleep before I arrived.

After a nap, I woke in a private room with Espeon and Riolu laying next to me on my right and Dragonair on my left. Espeon's nose was almost touching mine, Riolu's head was under my hand, and Dragonair's head rested on my shoulder.

"Hey, buddies," I whispered before receiving plenty of kisses on my face and scratching their heads.

"Drew!" Jake exclaimed. It was only a second before he was sitting at my side, my hand in his.

"Hey, kiddo," I said. "How long was I asleep?"

"Around an hour. I was here when they wheeled you back in, so you've been asleep the whole time... the doctors are reviewing your results but haven't come by yet."

"Fuck," I said, speaking slow. "What a day."

"I'll say," he replied. "I spoke to your mom while you were being examined."

"Is she okay?" I asked.

He nodded. "Worried... she wants us to come home right away."

"I don't blame her," I said. "...This is probably terrifying her."

"It is, but not for her. For everyone... She also wanted me to get checked for my illness."

"Were you?"

He nodded. "They already examined me and took some of my blood. All tests came back negative, so you cured whatever I caught."

I smiled. "I'm glad to hear it."

"Me too. She said it was only a few hours in between when I called her and when you'd last spoken to her."

"What? ...That's impossible. We stayed in our cave at least a day and a half, without taking our flight into account."

"I agree, but she swears the calls were in the same day... is it possible the island was in a unique dimension or time zone?"

"I have no idea... it never crossed my mind."

We were silent for a while. When I made eye contact with Jake, I smiled. He tried to return it, but he still looked concerned.

"What's wrong, Jake?"

Tears formed in his eyes again. "It's the tumor, Drew... we don't know how bad it is yet... I'm terrified."

I smiled and brought him closer into a hug and held him for a while, his voice breaking into soft sobs as his head rested on my chest. We remained like this for a while. I rubbed his back until his sobs diminished.

"Kiddo, it's okay... I'll be fine... when you were sick, something happened... I didn't have a chance to tell you."

"W-w-what was it?"

"Something that might put your mind at ease... Do you remember our friend, Latios?"

He nodded.

"After we found shelter during the storm, I set out to find anything to bring you back to life."

He nodded again.

"During my journey, I... well, I passed out."

"You did?"

I nodded. "It's hard to explain, but my headache just... reached a point I couldn't take the pain anymore... I swear I was being ripped in half."

Concern painted his face again. "Were you seizing, like you did in the mountains?"

"It's possible... when I thought the pain would overtake me, there was a presence with me who breathed life back into me, and within a few moments, my pain evaporated... and when I woke, Latios was there... I swear, Jake, I felt better than I had in years."

Now he was following me.

"Now do you understand why I'm not afraid?"

He nodded, tears in his eyes again, but his grin was as bright as I'd seen it. "So you think it healed you?"

"I'd bet my life on it," I replied. "So I'm in Latios' debt... and I have to repay it."

"I'm sure we'll see it again," he said.

"Yes, sooner than you might expect," I replied.

"Why's that?"

"Well, Jake, did you notice I had an extra pokéball than normal?"

"...Yes, I noticed."

I peered around the room and confirmed nobody was present but us. "What if I told you Latios was with us?"

His eyes widened. "He's part of the team?"

I nodded, but I kept my finger over my mouth. "It needs to remain a secret."

He nodded but smiled. "Damn, Drew... this has been the craziest, most unpredictable, yet most wonderful trip we could've ever had."

I grinned. "Agreed... did you ever eat?"

He shook his head. "I've been too nervous."

"Kiddo, why don't you see if the cafeteria has any decent food? Don't wait on my account."

"Well, you need to eat, too... and I don't want to eat without you."

I squeezed his hand. "I probably won't be able to eat until we're done here... which I hope is soon."

He sat again, and I looked toward Latios' pokéball sitting on the table next to us.

Latios, can you hear me from here?

Yes, warrior. How are you feeling?

Exhausted, but I'll be happier when the doctors realize the truth.

They will soon... I'd like to see you with my own eyes.

It may not be a good idea. Aside from me, Jake, and the poacher, nobody has ever gotten a glimpse of you before.

No need to worry... I can disguise my appearance.

You can? ...Well, if you're sure, then please do what you'd like.

Within a second, its pokéball opened, catching Jake off guard. Then we noticed, instead of Latios' usual form, there sitting next to Jake was another teenager who resembled him but had platinum blond hair and gray eyes and wore a white shirt and blue jeans.

"What the?!" Jake exclaimed. "Where did he come from?"

I couldn't help laughing, and Latios followed.

"Drew, what's so funny? What kind of trick is this?"

"Jake, relax... this is Latios... but in a different form."

"You must think I'm gullible," Jake said, not amused.

I laughed harder. "You don't have to believe me... but Latios would attract a lot of attention if it was visible in its true form."

"Nice to see you're no longer ill, Jake," Latios said, holding out its hand.

It flabbergasted him, which amused me.

"I swear, you two could be twins," I said, prompting us to chuckle with some relief.

When we finished, a doctor came in to check on us.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Brown," he said. "I'm Dr. Ito, the head of the radiology department. How are you feeling?"

"I'm tired, but I'm managing."

"Yes, we put you through a battery of tests today, but I'm pleased to advise we have the results."

I nodded.

"Drew, the quick answer for my explanation is you don't have cancer, and you're in perfect health."

Jake and I both grinned.

"And, Drew, this is such a marvel of medicine it left me speechless... Let me show you why."

He took the CT scan and MRI x-rays out of the folder in his hands and put them on the film viewer. There, on the x-rays, images of my brain showed every crevice and structure with ease. But a hole of empty space toward the center where a tumor once was drew our eyes.

"As you can see, it shows a tumor was there, which would've been responsible for the symptoms you reported to your physician. We even detected trace amounts of protein in your cerebrospinal fluid that confirmed a tumor was present. But, yet, as you can see here, it's gone, and your bloodwork found no other protein in your blood to indicate a tumor could be somewhere else in your body."

"Incredible," Jake said.

"The space will fill in on its own, and everything else we've examined shows there's no risk to your health, so we've notified your physician of everything we found. If you'd like to consult with doctors at home, you're welcome to, but our review of everything shows you're cancer-free."

I grinned. "So does this mean I'm free to leave?"

The doctor smiled. "Yes, as long as you're well enough, I'll have your discharge paperwork ready for you to sign."

I shook his hand. "Thank you, Doctor."

Within 30 minutes, we'd received my paperwork, and Latios and Jake helped me dress and supported my body as we traveled the many hallways out of the hospital. The relief within us from being back in the sunshine was incredible. I couldn't believe we'd survived the past few days, and I desired something low-key for a while.

"Well, our day's nearly spent," Jake said, "so what do you want to do?"

"It might sound anticlimactic, but all I want is to enjoy a pleasant dinner and pass out."

He laughed. "I'm sure I'd say the same if I was you."

We climbed onto Dragonair's back and flew over to the Pokémon Center. Before we did anything, I needed to call my mother, and I encouraged Jake to call his family so they knew he was okay.

Within a few seconds after sitting at my videophone, Mom's face appeared on the screen, and tears were in her eyes as soon as our eyes met.

" _Drew,"_ she said, softer than normal.

"Mom... I'm okay."

She nodded. _"...Your doctor told me everything a few moments ago... I was so terrified... I was sure we'd lose you."_

"I understand... and the entire experience was crazy. It defies logic... and I promise I'll tell you everything once we're home."

" _Of course, honey... When will you be home?"_

I was silent. "... I haven't the faintest idea. My mind has been so fuzzy today with all the tests, I haven't even considered how and when we'd get home. If my mind wasn't so tired, I'm sure I can teleport us home."

" _I told Jake I wanted you both home right away... but it was when I thought you were sick... Since you're healthy, you're not obligated to keep the promise..."_

"Let me think more on it... we're about finished anyway with everything here, so if Jake and I can enjoy ourselves a bit, we'll know when we're ready."

" _I understand, honey... Goodness, you look tired."_

I nodded. "Those tests were grueling, and I haven't eaten today since they rushed once us we were back in civilization."

" _Well, Drew, why don't you go eat? You need it, as well as a long rest."_

"Of course, Mom. I'll call you tomorrow once I'm awake."

" _All right. By the way, did you know Jake's birthday is this week?"_

"No, I didn't! This week?"

" _Yeah, the day after tomorrow. He's a Cancer, like you. I wanted to ensure you knew after his mother shared it with me."_

"Wow. Well, thank you for telling me. He's been quiet about it, but now I can try to do something for him."

She smiled. _"Take care of yourself, honey. I love you."_

"Love you too."

After we were both finished with our conversations, we went to a local teppanyaki restaurant recommended by the locals and ate chicken, steak, shrimp, scallops, lobster, zucchini, and fried rice to our heart's content before we returned to the Pokémon Center before I passed out once my head reached my pillow.

~ ~ ~

After having a day to recuperate and do nothing but read and play with our pokémon, we were traveling again, and the only destination we had in mind was Slateport, a city we didn't explore but made a note to visit before we headed home. Rather than fly, we splurged and boarded a fancy yacht and lounged on the deck in our trunks and sipped fruity drinks while it glided to our destination.

Bright sunny skies greeted us when we arrived. We spent a major part of our first day there visiting the Oceanic Museum, perusing their marketplace, and being part of the audience at the local Contest Hall. We spent the rest of the evening dancing at a club, which neither of us had done before but didn't care if we didn't steal the spotlight.

The next day was Jake's birthday, and I woke early and made plenty of phone calls to all our friends and loved ones to wish him a happy birthday later in the day. I also set up a surprise at the Seashore House off the beach for later. When we were both awake, I did my best to act like it was another ordinary day.

We made our way to the beach and staged our towels and belongings, with wetsuits and surfboards rented. We released our pokémon, with Latios disguised as a regular teenager again, and we all had the best time we could. Jake and I spent the morning surfing and teaching Latios how to keep its balance, with Poochyena and Espeon surfing with us on our surfboards, using the lessons Brawly taught us. Our other pokémon played in the water or scampered and played on the sand. It was the lighthearted fun we needed after overcoming our illnesses.

After we'd surfed our hearts out, we returned to the sand.

"Can you feed our pokémon?" I asked. "I'm gonna visit the restroom and get us some drinks."

"Sure," he said, smiling.

I dashed inside and spoke to the employees and told them we were all ready. With stealth we brought our party favors, drinks, and cake outside, and they staged everything at a secluded table while I returned to the water, where he finished feeding everyone.

"Where are the drinks?" he asked me.

"Oh, I set them over on a table near the building. Care for a break?"

"Yeah, sure."

"But you need to wear this," I said, handing him a blindfold.

"Drew what is-"

"Just put it on, kiddo."

He agreed, and I led him by the hand, with our pokémon following behind us.

We reached the table, and the decorations were all staged. The employees had donned party hats, and I distributed them fast to our pokémon, who gathered around the table. I had Jake take a seat next to me.

"All right, Drew, what have you planned?" he asked.

I grinned. "Take off your blindfold and find out."

As soon as he removed it, his eyes lit up, and he grinned.

"Happy birthday!" we all shouted, with our pokémon chattering in agreement, before we broke out into a traditional birthday song. The employees bid us adieu after we finished.

"Wow, Drew! How did you know it was today?"

"Your mom told my mom. Why didn't you tell me, silly?"

"Well... I'm not crazy about birthdays. They used to be a reminder I didn't become a trainer like I wanted. Plus, with everything we've dealt with, I thought it would've been too much trouble."

"Kiddo," I told him, with direct eye contact, "do you realize how important you are to me and our teammates? If there's ever anyone I want to go to the extra trouble for, it's you."

He smiled, and I brought him into a bear hug. "Happy birthday, Jake."

"Thank you, Drew," he said before I started cutting the cake and passing slices out to Jake and our pokémon.

"So do you feel any older?"

He giggled. "No, 14 isn't much different from 13."

"Just wait till puberty," I replied.

We both laughed.

"Since you're now a fully-fledged trainer," I said, "let's make sure you enjoy your teenage years to the fullest. We receive a limited number, so we might as well enjoy them before they're gone."

He smiled. "Well said... speaking of which, Drew, when is your birthday?"

I chuckled. "In a few weeks."

He grinned. "So we're both Cancers."

"Yep, caring, moody, and lethal as hell," I said, smirking.

I passed out coconut pineapple juices, and we all enjoyed the strawberry and mango ice cream cake I'd ordered. The Seashore House's atmosphere couldn't have been more pleasant. Our pokémon chattered as they ate, with soft, upbeat music pumped out of the speakers. The mild breeze blowing over us was pleasant, the sun not too hot today, and everyone on the beach was having a splendid time. As we enjoyed our time here, Jake fielded phone calls from many people, including Flannery and Sandi, Norman, Capt. Briney, Wally and his family, his parents and siblings, Misty, and my mother.

"So what were you wanting for your birthday?" I asked him after he finished a call.

"Oh, Drew, you don't have to buy me anything. You've already given me so much."

I shook my head. "I want to buy something for you that you'd enjoy."

He was silent, and then mid-thought his pokégear rang again.

"Hello? Oh, hey, Dustin, how are you?"

It surprised me that Dustin knew, but he'd always been thoughtful. It was nice of him to call.

"Oh, thank you! Yes, I've had a great day so far... yes, our adventure has been greater than we could have ever expected... Oh, yes, sure. Hang on a moment."

He handed his pokégear to me.

"Dustin wants to speak to you."

"Hey, Dustin, how's it going?"

" _Hey, Drew. All is well. I decided to take a break from the renovation and give you both a call."_

"Aww, well, thank you for thinking of us. How's the gym coming along?"

" _Great, great. We're making tremendous progress, and we're including some surprises for both of you."_

"Oh, wow. Well, please don't spoil us too much. We'll be grateful just to have a home to return to."

He chuckled. _"Don't worry. You'll be at home here. But I wanted to update you on our timeline."_

"Sure, where are we at?"

" _We're on schedule with everything in John's plan, but we're still another month away from finishing. Since you both have been traveling for the last month, I wanted to make sure you were aware in case you needed to adjust your trip, or at least you'd know how much time it leaves before the city permits the gym to reopen."_

"It's no trouble at all. We appreciate the update, and it helps us plan. By the way, the proposal I emailed you - what were your thoughts on it?"

" _Right. My apologies for not getting back to you right away because of our grueling timeline. It's a brilliant idea. If all who are taking part are interested, you can move forward with it."_

"Great, thank you, Dustin! Please give my best to John and the team for their hard work, and we'll look forward to seeing everything once it's finished."

" _Thanks, Drew! I'll continue to keep you updated and hope you enjoy your day."_

"You too, thank you!"

I ended the call and handed the device back to Jake.

"So what's our timeline?" Jake asked me.

"It's looking like it'll be toward the end of the two-month window they estimated for us, which isn't a surprise with the amount of labor the job required."

He nodded.

"So I guess it's our decision what we want to do."

He smiled. "Well, I have an idea... And this pairs with your earlier question."

"Sure, Jake. Anything you want. Just like I promised. What is it?"

"Well, if I'm honest, I didn't expect we'd survive camping as much as we have."

I chuckled. "That's for damn sure."

"It's been tough, but... I sort of love it now."

"I do, too... we've been able to grow closer with each other and our team."

"Exactly, and it's why I'd like to stay in Hoenn longer."

"It's fine with me... what did you want to do with our extra time?"

He nodded. "I want to earn the other Hoenn badges."

I grinned. "Really?"

"Yeah, I wouldn't have considered it until I received the Heat Badge, and I've had it in the back of my mind ever since."

"Kiddo, what a great idea... And," I said, reaching into my bag and handing him a package, "this will serve you well in your endeavor."

He unwrapped it and giggled.

"Drew, how did you know?"

He'd unwrapped a wall plague of the entire map of Hoenn in a tropical template I'd bought at the market, and in each city was a tiny slot into which a trainer could snap in their gym badges.

I grinned. "I had a hunch, but it's still a lovely memento from our trip I thought you'd love."

"I do, thank you," he said. "And, by the end of the trip, I'm sure we'll have plenty of mementos and memories to take back with us."

I nodded. "When do you want to start?"

He smiled. "Well, I'm all for enjoying this beach as much as we can today, and then tomorrow I'm ready to get started."

"Sounds good, kiddo. Let's enjoy every part of our trip."

# Chapter 17

The Fork in the Road

If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place.

~Lao Tzu

The next three weeks of our adventure flew by, like the first month of our trip did, and now we were traveling on the back of Jake's arcanine, leaving Oldale Town and headed for Littleroot. We'd wasted no time once we woke that morning, setting out early after we packed our bags and scarfed down our breakfasts. We'd spoken to Professor Birch the day before about stopping by to say our goodbyes before boarding our ferry back to Pallet Town. We hadn't mentioned the mystery, which would be our surprise.

"Boy, this makes traveling easier!" Jake shouted, laughing as Arcanine flew along the road, with any pokémon or trainers in our path appearing in our vision for a second before we whizzed past them.

"You said it, and I'm sure Dragonair is thankful for the break."

"Keep it up, Arcanine!" Jake said. "You're doing great."

I smiled and spent a moment looking at Jake and marveling at how wonderful our journey was.

Aside from all the turmoil we'd faced, it was what we needed. Our time together after Jake's birthday held so much joy and happiness that the first part of our trip looked depressing in comparison. We'd traveled the region again (and with more ease thanks to teleportation) and purchased souvenirs, bought disposable cameras and plenty of film, met more incredible people, and we even spent some extra time training with the gym leaders that gave Jake the advantage in trouncing them. We spent more time with Wally's family, the Winstrates, and Norman's family and built stronger connections with them. We also bumped into Lee and his goons and took every opportunity to pay them back for their trouble. Now our next destination was home, and Jake was the proud owner of eight Hoenn badges and a stronger team that he'd honed more at our gym.

"Does Professor Birch know why we're visiting?" he asked.

"He only thinks we're saying our goodbyes."

Jake giggled. "Let's hope he doesn't have a weak heart."

"At his age, I doubt it. This'll make his day."

I sensed uncertainty from Latios' pokéball.

Don't worry, friend. I won't put you in danger. Besides, trainers won't be able to locate your clan, and we'll tell him only enough for him to see the magnificent creature you are.

All right, warrior. I trust you... I doubt the information would get into the wrong hands, so please don't censor yourself too much.

"And Latios will be safe?" Jake asked.

"Of course," I replied. "He doesn't need every detail, but this will at least help him build his scope of Hoenn's native pokémon. Plus, can you imagine how extraordinary Birch will appear to his colleagues when he's the only one who has information on Latios' species?"

"This will put him on the map, if he isn't already."

We sprinted a while before we reached a stream, at which we disembarked to let Arcanine rest and rehydrate itself. We let our entire team out to do the same while I confirmed our ferry reservations and refilled our canteens. We were all set to head home once we visited Professor Birch. After our break, we climbed back on Arcanine's back for the rest of the way to town and flew to the laboratory.

No sooner than we arrived, the professor and Brendan were already waiting for us, sitting on the bank of the pond on the estate, observing some pokémon in their own habitat. They smiled and came toward us.

"Thank you, Arcanine," Jake said, rubbing its head and scratching it under its chin. "Take a nice rest."

It barked and moved over to the pond to get a drink.

"So, Professor, no fieldwork today?" I asked, teasing him before bowing.

He returned it with a chuckle. "Not today... you can credit my son for encouraging me to be here so we didn't miss you."

"Good on him," I said.

"So, tell me, how was everything?" Brendan asked us.

"I doubt we'd have the time to cover everything, but..." Jake began.

"We bonded," I added, "Jake earned all eight badges..."

"Wonderful," Professor Birch said, smiling.

"And," Jake continued, looking at me and raising his eyebrow.

I chucked. "And... we solved your mystery."

We expected nothing less than a surprised, explosive reaction from them.

"YOU WHAT?!" Birch exclaimed.

"YOU'RE SERIOUS?!" Brendan echoed.

"Yeah, and we wanted to stop by to share our information with you," I said.

"Boys, you don't understand how much this means to us," Birch said, appearing like he could break down at any moment.

"Yeah, we never expected to obtain the information we have so far, so hearing this is astronomical... thank you so much," Brendan said, drawing more from a heartfelt vein. "This helps us so much with furthering our understanding of all the pokémon in our region."

"We're thrilled to be a part of it," Jake said.

"However, before we share anything, I want you two to promise me two things."

"Yes?" Professor Birch asked.

"What are your conditions?" Brendan asked.

"First, this pokémon is rare, and I would hate for people to seek out its clan if information gets into the wrong hands."

"Oh, no, we understand your concern," Brendan said.

"Yes, this information would only be within the academic community," Birch said. "We wouldn't document anything that puts the pokémon's population at risk."

"Great," I said. "Also, when you present this research or share it, we'd appreciate it if you omitted our names so our friend stays safe... when you state you acquired information, you can say that your research associates procured the information."

"That's fine," Birch replied. "Whatever makes you comfortable. We're just grateful for your participation."

I smiled. "It's so funny how this happened since we only became interested when we started witnessing what you had described to us."

"So what did you discover?" Brendan asked.

I took its pokéball off my belt and showed it to them. "How about if you discover everything with your own eyes?"

"Are you serious?" Brendan asked. "You caught it?!"

"I'll explain more about how it joined our team, but as long as you keep to our promise, we'll offer any information you want."

Professor Birch was close to salivating from the reality he was about to meet the pokémon he'd wished to see for months.

"What's its name?" Brendan asked.

"Latios."

Professor Birch scribbled on his notepad, focused on nothing else.

"Do you know what type it is?" he asked.

"It's a dual type pokémon. I knew right away it had Psychic abilities, but it wasn't until we met Drake of the Elite Four who confirmed a suspicion it was also a Dragon type."

"Incredible!" Professor Birch exclaimed, tears welling in his eyes. "The typing alone provides us plenty to pursue."

My friend, are you still okay with this? This is still your choice.

Yes, warrior. These two men are harmless, and I'm intrigued to meet them.

I smiled and expanded its ball. "But I'm sure you'd still like to meet Latios in person, right?"

"It would make my being a researcher so worthwhile," Professor Birch said, sincerity painting his face. "As long as I can remember, I've always wanted to interact with pokémon and learn all about them... these moments are what I live for."

"All right," I said, tossing it into the air. "Come on out, my friend."

The pokéball opened, and its white energy escaped and coalesced in front of us. It came together into its form, and the light faded, allowing both of them the chance to meet this mysterious pokémon face to face. Their eyes widened, and their expressions changed from solemn anticipation to unadulterated joy.

If we hadn't met these two men, I would've feared them fainting from turning white. This was a precious sight to behold. Jake and I looked at each other and smiled before returning our gaze back to them as they processed the sight in front of them, speechless.

Latios shut its eyes, and joy emanated from its spirit again. Rather than sensing fear, I only felt curiosity and wonder, much like our friends.

After remembering they had use of their limbs, Brendan began sketching it as Birch moved closer to it to get a clearer view. Latios' eyes opened and watched him as he came closer. Joy emanated from its spirit again when he rubbed its head.

"Seeing is believing, right, Professor?" I asked.

His smile shone bright. "Agreed, Drew. I'm in total awe over this moment."

Brendan continued to sketch as Birch shuffled around Latios, measuring the length of his body and feeling the structure of its arms and wings.

"Can you open wide for me?" Birch asked it.

Latios opened its mouth, giving the professor a view of its tongue and its teeth.

"Marvelous," he said before stroking its head.

"Oh, wait until you ride on its back," I said.

"Wait, we can?" Brendan asked.

"Sure, as long as it's okay with Latios."

It descended to the ground so they could climb onto its back.

"Jake, go with them. Have some fun."

He giggled. "Yes, Your Excellence."

After he climbed aboard, Latios rose into the air, and within seconds, they were flying around the estate at a high speed. They hollered and cheered as they soared through the air. After a bit of flying fast, Latios slowed, and they came back to the ground.

"That was incredible!" Brendan said as they dismounted.

Brendan took a device resembling a more complicated pokédex and pressed buttons before he stood in front of Latios and pointed it at it. An aura shone out of the pokédex, most likely capturing Latios' image, and after a minute of pressing buttons, he collapsed it and put it back in his pocket.

"Tell me, Drew," Birch said. "What happened? How would it have been possible to encounter Latios if it's as rare as it is?"

I recounted the story of how Jake was sick and how we became stranded on the island where Latios' clan congregated without disclosing the location. Despite withholding the fact Latios healed my brain tumor, I told them about how I encountered Latios and having to defend it from Team Rocket's spy. I concluded with how it came to be part of our team.

"Outstanding," Birch said.

"What an incredible pokémon," Brendan added.

"What have you learned about it?" Birch asked me.

"Well, since I have telekinetic blood, I can communicate with it through telepathy. And it can also understand human speech. Let me think... it can also read others' emotions and can change forms."

"How cool," Brendan said.

In the blink of an eye, it disappeared, and its normal teenage form was present. Jake and I chuckled as they stared in amazement.

"We like to joke Latios is Jake's long-lost twin."

Brendan snickered, and Birch was furious in his scribbling on his notepad.

"Do you know anything about its family?"

"Not about the rest of its clan. But it does have a sister clan."

"Really?!"

"Yes, it's sister pokémon is Latias, which is a smaller version of Latios, but it's red instead of blue, its irises are yellow, and the triangle on its chest is light blue."

Brendan turned a page over on his sketchpad and scribbled for a while, his hand flying across the page in an erratic dance, before wandering over to Latios. "Is this close to how your sister looks?"

Latios smiled and nodded.

"Incredible!" Birch said. "Drew, this information doesn't have a price. It's... invaluable in our efforts to expand our pokédex on our region's pokémon. Thank you so much for your help!"

He offered his hand, but embraced me instead. Brendan opted to shake my hand.

"I'm so thrilled for both of you," I replied. "I would've never expected to solve the mystery or to gain another friend."

Latios reverted to its normal form and floated to me, nuzzling my head, which made Jake and I chuckle.

"All I can say is you have yourself an exceptional teammate," Birch said. "We'd love to have you back anytime. I know you're heading home to reopen your gym, but you two are always welcome."

"Thank you both," Jake said. "I'm sure we'll be back soon, and we'll keep in touch."

I looked at my pokégear to confirm our ferry departure time was approaching.

"I guess it's time for us to head home," I said, calling Latios back to its pokéball and calling Dragonair out of its own. Jake called back his arcanine.

"Enjoy your day, fellas!" I called out after he took off.

"Have a safe trip home, and thanks again!" Birch called.

"Have fun!" Brendan called.

~ ~ ~

Three short hours later, our ferry reached the port in Pallet Town. It was a bittersweet reminder our journey was over, but both of us were ready for this next chapter of our lives to begin. We left the port and moved into the farmland, and out in the distance the road forked into two paths. The left path would lead us to Viridian City. The right path would take us more into town to Professor Oak's laboratory, where I was headed.

Jake looked at me, his face solemn. "Well, I guess this is where we part ways... at least, for now."

"Gonna head home and see your family?"

He smiled. "Yeah, I've missed my siblings, and I want to see my parents' faces when they realize I was eligible for the Hoenn League."

I grinned. "Well, regardless of what their reaction is, I'm so proud of you."

I thought there were tears in his eyes, or I could've been projecting mine onto him. I brought him into my arms, and he squeezed me tight.

"We won't be separated long, but I'll miss you, Drew... You've become my best friend... Thank you for everything... This was the best adventure I've ever had."

I sniffed hard and wiped my tears away, trying to not let my chest quiver and holding him tight for as long as I could before our embrace broke. "Right back at you, kiddo... sniff... But please enjoy the time with your family. I'll call you when I get word of the renovation being complete."

He smiled and released his arcanine before climbing onto its back. "See you soon, Drew!"

"Take care of yourself, Jake."

Within seconds, Arcanine took off, and they were out of sight.

I took out my pokégear and called Professor Oak.

" _Good morning, Drew. How lovely to hear from you."_

"Good morning, Professor. I'm in town again and wondered if you were busy."

" _Actually, I took a table at our local pizzeria a moment ago, and you're welcome to join me."_

"Wonderful. I just left the port. How do I get to you?"

" _At the fork in the road, take the path to the right, and it's the red brick building on the corner of the first street you meet."_

"Great, see you soon."

I followed the path to the right and strolled along it with Espeon by my side, losing myself in my thoughts while enjoying the scenery. I couldn't believe this was the end of our adventure. We'd had some of the craziest and most wonderful experiences of a lifetime. Gone from my mind were thoughts about how undeserving I was of being a hero and feeling inadequate, and the same went for the looming black cloud of my illness. I was a new person now. And I couldn't believe how close Jake and I had become. Now life could resume at our gym. Our job now would be to mentor and challenge new trainers and continue to train and make each other the best trainers possible.

After wandering a while, I reached the restaurant and spotted him at another table. I placed my order at the counter before bowing and joining him.

"Ah, Drew," he said, holding out his hand. "So good to see you again."

"Likewise," I replied, shaking his hand.

"So I take it your trip was splendid?"

"It depends. How much time do you have?"

He chuckled. "I have plenty of time for an excellent story."

Because he was keen and open, I started from the beginning and told him about our adventures, our troubles with goons, our illnesses, our pokémon captures, and Jake's success as a trainer. Our food came when I finished my recap.

"Remarkable," he said after I finished. "That's quite an adventure. So how are you feeling now? I take it Jake traveled elsewhere?"

"Yes, he returned home to see his family, and, if I'm honest, I'm sad it's all over. We had a blast being somewhere new and experiencing everything like new trainers. But I'm also glad to be home. Now I'm blessed with perfect health and a new team. I can't wait to get started."

"It's all understandable," he replied. "Change isn't easy, and it's constant. But it's what we make of it, and you're still on the right path. You're now able to return to reality with a fresh mind and make it what you wish."

I smiled. "Professor, that's very poetic."

He chuckled. "I'm flattered... So the mentoring program you mentioned last time we met, what did Dustin say about it?"

"He supports it, so as long as your schedule allows it, we'll have our kickoff session after the gym reopens."

"Wonderful. Once you know the exact date, let me know, and I'll make sure my schedule is open."

~ ~ ~

The atmosphere was quiet and nostalgic as we flew over Viridian City. The town buzzed below us, with a few citizens spotting me and waving to us. It relieved me to be home. There was a lot to complete on my to-do list, but I was ready to tackle it.

Mom knew I'd be home today, so since she was at work, returning Brock's camping equipment was first on my list. We flew out of the city's limits and over the forest for a while, enjoying the stillness, the views, and the fresh air.

Pewter City crept into view, and I couldn't help but appreciate my cheerfulness. Seeing friends again was wonderful, and this was also where Jake's family lived. I hoped they would be on good terms. After flying over the downtown area, we flew toward where Brock's gym was and descended once it was in view.

Once we were on the ground, I opened the doors, but the gym was pitch black, and the only life I sensed was from my pokémon and I. We left and wandered around the property to the house. I knocked on the door and waited.

"Oh, hey, it's Drew," Forrest, one of Brock's younger brothers, said as he answered the door. "Hey, everyone! Drew's here! Come on in."

As soon as I came in, the rest of Brock's siblings bombarded me. I chuckled as I hugged and high-fived them all.

"Nice to meet you all," I said. "And it's nice to meet you, Forrest."

"Likewise. Brock's cleaning, but I'll tell him you're here."

Since their siblings all vied for attention, I thought of a quick plan to occupy their energy.

"Hey, why don't we head outside? Do you want to play with all my new pokémon?"

This seemed to pique their interest. We sauntered to their backyard and released my pokémon. My team looked happy to have some time to play. I looked on with pride as Brock's siblings ran around and played with everyone.

Gallade and Blaziken, my top fighters, looked carefree as they played with kids on their backs. Then there was Riolu, who was learning from their instruction, and my newly hatched Gible, both playful. Then there was Metang and Latios, who zoomed around with some of his siblings riding them. Castform zoomed through the air between siblings like a ball being tossed. And I couldn't forget Espeon and Dragonair, my forever companions, who enjoyed the affectionate attention. My heart was full watching them, and to think my team wasn't complete like this a few short months ago.

"Hey, buddy," Brock called as he came outside. "This is a surprise."

I chuckled. "Sorry for the lack of warning. I thought I'd drop by once I came back from my trip."

"Not a problem," he said as he drew me into a hug. "How was it?"

"Incredible," I replied. "It was the adventure I needed, and I bonded and trained my new protégé I told you about."

"Oh, right, I remember. That's wonderful, and I can't wait to meet him."

"Same here. He lives in Pewter City."

"Really? That's interesting. I wonder if I've ever met him and forgot his face."

"Who knows... since I'm here, I wanted to return your equipment."

"Oh, of course," he said before we took inventory of everything together. We took this time to catch up, and I told him about our adventure.

"Wow, you weren't kidding," Brock said. "You're a new Drew now."

I chuckled. "And ready to get to work... Lending us the camping gear and taking care of Pupitar were such gracious gestures. Thank you again."

"It was my pleasure," he said with a smile. He took a pokéball off his belt and handed it to me.

I released it, and out came Pupitar. It looked healed and ecstatic to be reunited.

"It's so good to have you back, buddy," I said as I loved on it.

It floated with excitement and rejoined its friends as my pokémon continued to play with Brock's siblings.

"So what do you have planned?" I asked him.

"You know... I was thinking of taking a trip, and I can't deny how fun it sounds after hearing about yours."

"Really? That's awesome... If you're ever wanting to visit a cool place, Hoenn is a great option."

"For sure. Just hearing about it stoked my interest."

"You won't regret it," I told him. "Who would man the gym?"

"I've been mentoring Forrest, and I think he'll be a talented leader to fill in for me."

"Wonderful... I wanted to ask you about something else, too. When our gym reopens, we'll start a mentoring program with the Pokémon League. We'll be hosting new trainers who've received their starters and show them how to battle and how we train so they get a solid introduction to what being a trainer is all about. Would you and Forrest be interested in participating?"

"Oh, of course, and I'm sure Forrest will say yes. Is your gym open?"

"It will be soon. We're nearing the end of the project, so it should be ready soon for Jake and me to live in it and reopen to the public."

"It'll be an exciting day. Please keep me updated."

I shook his hand. "Well, I won't keep you any longer, and I'm sure my mother is dying to have me home."

"Take care of yourself," he said to me through a hug.

"And same to you."

I said goodbye to Brock's siblings and called my team back before Dragonair and Espeon and I took flight.

# Chapter 18

The Reunion

Life takes you unexpected places, love brings you home.

~Melissa McClone

I resisted the urge to fly to the gym after recalling Dustin's previous warning.

Resist the urge, Drew. We want everything to be a surprise. You will be the first we call when we finish.

I flew back to Mom's neighborhood and dismounted, wanting the chance to stroll this familiar street.

Latios came out of its pokéball in its human form and walked with Espeon, Dragonair, and I as we made our way through the neighborhood.

So, warrior, this is your home?

I nodded. _This is where I've lived since I was born._

Joy emanated from its spirit. _It's a tranquil place to live._

I smiled. _As much as I've loved visiting new places, no other place could substitute for my home._

We reached Mom's house, and I took a moment to breathe in deep and view the home I'd missed during my trip.

Is this where you live?

I nodded. _For now. Our home is being repaired, so this is my mother's home, and she's graciously embraced Jake and I with open arms while our home was uninhabitable._

I took my house key from my pocket and unlocked the door. It was as I last remembered - clean and organized, with an unmistakable love in the air. I placed my bag on the floor and released my pokémon.

"Welcome to our temporary home, everyone," I said.

I showed them the backyard and let them scamper and play while I came back inside and looked around.

Espeon, Dragonair, and Pupitar settled with me in the living room as Latios looked at the photographs in frames sitting on the mantel above the fireplace.

Your mother is lovely... and these photographs show how much she adores you.

I smiled. _She's an incredible woman._

I can't wait to meet her... and who is this in this other picture?

Latios held the lone picture of Will Mom had on the mantel. It was a studio portrait of the three of us taken before Will left home. I didn't remember it because I was young, but I knew the picture well.

That's my older brother, Will. He became almost as evil as our father. Mom has had no contact with him, but keeps it out because she still loves the photo.

Sounds like she's been through a lot as well.

I nodded. _And none of it being deserved on her part._

The front door opened, and Mom came in with her groceries. She dropped her bags, and within seconds I was in her arms. She held me for as long as she could, and then stared into my eyes after our embrace broke, tears in my eyes and tears already leaking from hers.

"I'm so glad you're home," she said. "I didn't think your time away would affect me like it did."

I nodded. "Me too... I had a wonderful trip, but it's wonderful to be home."

She embraced me again before she released me, and I brought her bags into the kitchen. She showed love to Dragonair, Espeon, and to Pupitar, whom she hadn't met yet, and it surprised her to see another human in our house who wasn't Jake.

"Hello," she said.

Latios smiled, joy emanating from its spirit again. "Hello. You must be Drew's mother."

"I am. It's nice to meet you."

"Mom, this will be easy to explain but harder to believe. This is Latios, one of my pokémon."

I expected nothing but the confused look she had.

"It can change forms to protect itself."

"Oh, that's fascinating," she said.

"I was admiring your photographs, ma'am, and I'm not used to... living as humans do, so I would hate to break something in my normal form."

She smiled. "That's so considerate of you, but please, since you're Drew's companion, don't feel uncomfortable here. Drew's friends and pokémon are family here."

"Mom, why don't you come meet the rest of my team, and Latios can show its true form outside?"

I led them all outside, and I introduced Mom to my new teammates. Latios also returned to its normal form. Mom smiled and was her loving self with them.

"I have to hand it to you, Drew. You always discover and raise wonderful pokémon."

I blushed. "Thanks, Mom."

We returned to the kitchen to prepare dinner, and I helped her prepare one of our favorite dishes I remembered from childhood, yose nabe.

"So," Mom said as we worked, "tell me everything."

We spent the whole evening discussing the recounting of our adventures from beginning to end while we cooked and enjoyed our dinner. Our conversations and recounting everything took all evening, but Mom, enthralled with our stories, listened to every word. I showed her how my skin was blemish free (aside from the welt that still hadn't faded), our souvenirs, and the photographs we developed from our disposable cameras.

I made it clear during my recounting of Jake and I both being ill on Latios' home island that it was what saved me. I'd saved the x-rays from the hospital and showed them to her, explaining why all the tests showed there was no sign of the tumor once present in my brain. I'd never seen Mom as emotional as she was when she embraced Latios, overwhelmed with gratitude for its gift.

"So Jake is with his family?" she asked when we'd finished discussing our adventure.

I nodded. "He wanted to see his siblings and show his parents how great of a trainer he'd become."

"I don't see how they couldn't be proud of him," she said. "It sounds like he excelled... though, I picked up on a bizarre feeling from his mother. She was so gracious with me and grateful for my involvement, but the way she spoke about her son was... not how I would describe you to someone."

"Yes, he's mentioned dynamics with his family haven't always been positive, so you might have picked up on their energy pattern... my guess is he wanted to spend time with his siblings more than anything."

"You can't fault him for that... so when does the gym reopen?"

"Soon... Dustin hasn't notified me yet, but if they're still following their timeline, they're at the end of everything now."

"You must be thrilled."

I smiled. "I am. And I wanted to ask you. We're starting a new mentoring program with the Pokémon League. Would you speak to your boss and ask if he'd be willing to cater food? It would only be for two or three days maximum, and this would only happen quarterly, whenever we have new trainers coming from Pallet Town."

"I'm sure he'd love to partner with it, but I'll discuss it with him tomorrow."

~ ~ ~GI

Sure enough, the next day, Mom called me while I was en route to Saffron City to tell me he was on board with the idea. Everything was coming together for our program.

I started off my morning in my fighting pants with Chuck, Bruno, and Kiyo in Saffron's Fighting Dojo, constructed in a similar manner to Chuck's gym. They marveled at how content I looked and my skin's renewed appearance. After offering them a short recap of my adventures, we began our training. Blaziken, Gallade, and Riolu joined me as we sat in lotus positions in a circle and focused on calming our minds and listening to our breathing.

Afterward, I took their challenge again and sat under the waterfall located outside the dojo in its garden. This time, with being healed of my ailments and having practiced, the weight and power of the waterfall's rush did not faze me much as I sat under it and held my focus.

"Wow, what tremendous progress," Kiyo said.

"Marvelous form," Bruno said.

"He's ready," Chuck said.

"Agreed," Kiyo and Bruno said.

"You've done well," Chuck said. "We encourage you to keep practicing this first lesson. When we meet next week, we'll start teaching you the basic principles of jiu jitsu so you understand how something as simple as breathing and inner focus affects your form and mindset. Once you understand those basics, we'll help you put them into practice."

After saying my goodbyes, I teleported away when nobody was around and reappeared on the battlefield within the Saffron City Gym.

Sabrina was already present, the same ambiance as before giving the atmosphere an air of solemnity and mystery.

I resumed my lotus position and cleared my mind.

" _I must say, I'm surprised... your mind cleared a lot faster than last time."_

I chuckled. _Let's just say I'm a new Drew now, and I came prepared._

Yesss... I sensed a renewed spirit within you while you were at your previous appointment. Your mind is much more plastic now... which makes for better molding... Please demonstrate what we covered in our last lesson.

With my mind being clear, I willed my body and mind together to levitate, and held it for as long as she wanted.

Great... You seem to have limited difficulty with levitating now. Hmm... I sense you've had some extra practice with your powers, yes?

Yes... but not much. Just a little fun.

I see... not part of the plan, but still useful... let's see how your powers have manifested so far. Bend this spoon as far as you can.

I opened my eyes, and there was a metal spoon next to me. I focused on it so it floated in front of me and breathed in deep. While I felt the strain, it wasn't as difficult as I expected. It took a minute, but I had bent the spoon till the head and handle were almost touching.

Excellent. You seem to have more control over your powers than many of my beginning students. Let's try one more thing... I want you and your pokémon to fight, and first I want you to dodge.

I had a strong suspicion where this was heading. I tossed Gallade's pokéball and released it. It looked at me, ready to assist.

My warrior, this might seem out of the ordinary for training, but please trust me.

It nodded.

Now, attack me with Aerial Ace.

I waited for the right moment. With our connection, I observed through its eyes. Its body glowed as it approached me, but before it could strike, I teleported away and reappeared behind where it had stood.

Again, Gallade. Aerial Ace!

It ran toward me again. As before, right before it made contact, I teleported away and reappeared in my original spot.

One more time. Aerial Ace!

It charged one last time, and this time, before I teleported, it struck me and sent me to the ground. I groaned and sat, seeing its face plastered with fear and sorrow.

I smiled, ignoring the shock and pain my body was processing. _Magnificent job, warrior. What an outstanding blow._

_A valiant effort_ , Sabrina said. _Better than I expected, though there's room for improvement. Now, I want you to try again, but this time, rather than dodge, deflect. This won't be easy, but this will require extreme mental effort._

I looked at Gallade, who still showed concern.

Don't worry, I'm fine. Now, attack me with Slash!

It charged toward me, ready to strike. Before it got close enough to me to land, I breathed in deep and immobilized it. It wasn't easy. Gallade's strength made Oakley and the goons seem like defenseless weedle, and the strain in holding it back was too great.

Fight it, Drew. Move past the strain. Gallade will continue to attack, but you need to channel whatever necessary to deflect.

I focused as best as I could, continuing to hold it off.

If you continue like this, Gallade will break through your control. Listen, Drew, and stop being stubborn. Channel and deflect. Use your strength to counter Gallade's.

I gritted my teeth as Gallade fought its hardest, a true testament to our training. I strained and tried to maintain my steady breathing. I counted to three before I unleashed as much power as I could, and within a second, I sent Gallade backward, landing a few feet away.

_Well done,_ she said, walking over to me. _Your telekinesis is now free to control. We'll have plenty we can develop, so please keep clearing your mind and levitating as much as you can. As long as your mind is clear and focused, then it will prepare you for our next lesson, which... won't be for a while. You'll be busy with your gym reopening, so come see me when everything's wrapped up._

~ ~ ~

With our lesson completed, I returned to Viridian City and stopped by Mom's restaurant to have lunch.

As soon as I walked in and bowed to the owner, I locked eyes with a familiar face.

"Hey, long time no see," he said, giving me the same toothy grin I'd missed.

"Jake!"

Within seconds, I surrounded him in a bear hug and ruffled his hair. "What are you doing here?"

"I decided to stop for lunch after I returned."

I joined him at his table. "I thought you would've been spending time with your family."

His smile changed to an apathetic expression. "Yeah... it didn't unfold like I hoped, so I cut my visit short."

"What happened?"

"Well, I had quality time with my siblings, and they enjoyed playing with my pokémon, but..."

"What about your parents?"

"Well, it's the weirdest thing... they're pleased I've become a strong trainer, and it impressed them I'd earned enough badges to challenge the Hoenn League. But... they credited it to the education they paid for."

"Are you kidding? You said yourself Pokémon Tech didn't teach you everything you needed."

He nodded. "Correct, and my parents didn't support my being a trainer when we left. I reminded them and made it clear they shouldn't be expecting to receive credit when they have no claim to my success. My desire and your mentoring brought me here. After a huge argument with them, I emptied my room of all my belongings and left."

"Oh, Jake, I'm so sorry. That's awful, especially after having such a great adventure."

He smiled. "Don't worry over it, I'm not. I won't let them ruin this. It's unfortunate, but I won't change their minds, and they were out of line, so I'm focused on my progress... which is why I came back."

I returned his smile. "Well, we're thrilled to have you back, and Mom missed you."

"I'm glad to be home again."

After I placed my Moussaka order, my pokégear rang. Dustin's name on the caller ID surprised me.

"It's Dustin."

"It could be the gym!" Jake exclaimed.

"We're about to find out." I answered. "Hey, Dustin, how's it going?"

" _Great, Drew. I have some wonderful news. What are you doing right now?"_

"Jake and I are at lunch. What's the status?"

" _The gym is almost complete, but we finished the last touches on your home. When you're finished eating, come on by."_

# Chapter 19

Home is where the Gym Leader is

The best journey takes you home.

~Unknown

I couldn't contain my excitement as Jake and I rode on Arcanine's back through town over to the gym. Everything that passed us was a blur, but we were both in agreement. We'd waited for two months to have our home back, and nothing would separate us from our desire to reunite with our drab gray building.

When we reached the gym, I already felt tears behind my eyes. I didn't even recognize it. It was gorgeous. They rebuilt the gym, so it looked more like a standard stadium complete with a retractable dome on top. They'd repainted its once drab exterior to varying shades of green, which mimicked the coloring of the Earth Badge, and the outside resembled a peaceful meditation garden. The fountain was still present, but the columns, concrete, and outdated Roman theme were nowhere to be found.

"Fuck, Jake..." I said, my hands were over my mouth. "I... love it already."

He smiled and took my hand. "Are you ready?"

I nodded.

"Then let's see our new home."

We walked through the front doors, and it amazed me at how refreshed the interior looked. We were in the lobby, painted a calming light blue, and we walked straight ahead and into the stadium. It brought us onto the same battlefield I'd always known. John and Dustin were sitting in two seats near the top of the stands. All the seats were of varying shades of green, and they'd painted murals of Viridian City and the Pokémon League, along with insignias of all known pokémon types, on the walls.

"Howdy, fellas!" John called to us. "Welcome home!"

They stood and flew down the stairs before shaking our hands.

"What do you think?" Dustin asked. "Is this incredible or what?"

"It's stunning," Jake said. "This is what I call a kick-ass battlefield."

Dustin grinned. "Now this will be a new focal point for the city's culture and pride. Whenever you host events or have televised battles, this will be the ultimate fan experience. In fact, John, why don't you show them how the lights and dome work?"

John smiled. "Sure, follow me, boys."

We followed him up an aisle to the control box, and he pushed a few buttons, and the whole stadium erupted in a fiery glow.

"Wow," I said. "This will make our previous battles look so dull."

"Agreed," Jake said.

"And don't forget the dome," John said before he shut off the lights and pressed a few buttons. This activated the dome, whirring and collapsing before our eyes.

"Awesome," I said. "This will make night battles so fun, and we can utilize the air space."

"You've got it," John replied. "And we'll teach you how to use these controls. But this box allows you to control the lights and dome, and it allows someone to be an MC for public events."

"Wow," Jake said. "This is greater than I expected."

"Me too," I said. "You two outdid yourselves here."

John chuckled. "Wait until you see the rest. Follow me."

He shut the dome, and we followed him back to the battlefield where Dustin was waiting.

"What do you both think?" he asked.

"It blew our expectations," I said. "Battling here will be spectacular."

"That's what we're hoping," he said with a smile. "But we have more to show you."

We followed John into the lobby. The light blue walls featured one wall having a plaque dedicated to the Pokémon League explaining its mission and the trainer requirement of earning eight badges to be eligible for registering for the Indigo League. Another wall was blank.

"This wall," Dustin explained, "is for whatever you'd like to display. If I know you well enough, I'd imagine you'd want to hang pictures of both of you and of your pokémon or memories you've made."

I smiled. "We have plenty of those."

"And I'm sure we'll acquire more," Jake added.

Dustin pointed to a short hallway to the left of the entrance. "This will take you to the elevator leading to your suite at the base floor. It will be your home and can accommodate five guests, should they be friends, family, or colleagues. The other hallway," he said, pointing in the other direction, "will take visiting trainers to a separate residential floor, where they will discover comfortable dormitory-style housing with a hotel quality and gender-specific communal restrooms."

"Wow, Dustin," I replied. "You two thought of everything... I'm speechless."

He grinned. "We wanted the gym to be special for you and the community. I want to mention your elevator requires scanning badges we've made to transport to the gym staff's residence."

"Cool," Jake said.

"Let's head to the next floor and show you the habitats and communal areas," John said before we followed him into the trainers' elevator.

He pressed the B1 button, and it took us to the next floor. The elevator opened to a new hallway lined with fresh carpet with clean, white walls with baseboards and crown molding. The second floor had an open concept design with wall decals stating each room's purpose. We headed left first.

"And this entire area has hidden video cameras, so if you need to review security for any reason, it will capture anything in communal areas and store the data on a hard drive here and in our main office."

The space opened into a community room with empty bookshelves, couches and chairs, a television console, a computer and videophone, games, and desks. Blue floor rugs warmed the hardwood floors.

Then there was the kitchen right next door, which reminded me of a restaurant-style space with the means of feeding a crowd, opened into a large dining space with multiple tables seating 50 people. There was also a room divider allowing the space to be more intimate if we weren't hosting an event and kept it intimate with only three tables.

Other rooms within this area of the B1 floor included a modest fitness center and an accompanying steam room, swimming pool and jacuzzi, a Zen garden, and gender-specific locker rooms.

The other side of the floor required a scan of an ID badge, but once the door opened and slammed behind us, we were in a makeshift Pokémon Center with an examination area, a large bathing station, storage cabinets, and plenty of counter space for our work. Another door led to a vast open space where our pokémon would live. There were greenhouse-style windows high in the roof bringing in natural sunlight. The landscape of the space held an enormous lake in the middle, and much of the surrounding space was flat ground and still in need of plants, trees, and grass. The outskirts had a rocky terrain sloping upward, where it was much designed for pokémon who preferred a mountainous environment. Another area crept downward for those who enjoyed a colder climate.

"This will look incredible when it's finished," I said.

"And we've already spoken to one of our gym leaders, who said they'd be willing to come by and assist with transforming this space into the perfect habitat, based on their experiences. We'll coordinate with them to make this functional within the next few days. We also have all the oxygen produced in this habitat piped to the rest of the building."

We left the habitat and returned to the elevators. Next, it transported us to the B2 level. Here, this had the dormitory concept Dustin mentioned. The same white walls and hardwood flooring followed us here, and they'd split the floor down the middle, with three rooms on each side of the hallway, with gender-specific communal restrooms in the middle.

"And each restroom also has laundry facilities," Dustin said.

They'd outfitted each room with a full-size bed dressed with a green bedspread, a dresser, an armchair, and a desk. It also had a wall unit allowing guests to control how warm or cool the room was. Each restroom had two sets of washing machines and dryers in one partitioned area, and it opened into a larger space with multiple sinks, shower stalls, and restroom stalls.

"If I was a traveling trainer," Jake said, "I'd be impressed. How often can you stay at a gym and train like this?"

I grinned. "Not often, but our trainers will have a comfortable option."

After we'd looked at everything, we took the elevator back to the lobby and moved to the elevator leading to the B3 floor, where Jake and I and any special guests would stay. Dustin scanned a badge from his pocket before it took us to the bottom of the gym.

The elevator opened into a hallway leading to a front door of sorts. Off to the side was a locked room.

"This room houses your electrical breakers, your hot-water heater, your gas and water meters, and your air conditioning unit," John said.

"And," Dustin added, "we have solar panels installed around the property as well to help offset some energy needed to power the gym and your home."

Dustin scanned his badge again at the front door, and its lock unlatched. We walked through, and it looked like we'd walked into an actual home.

There was a coat closet near the front door, and the entryway opened into a large living area, with recliners with brown slipcovers and a tan leather sectional situated around a magnificent stone fireplace with a flat-screen television mounted above the mantel.

The entire space had dark hardwood floors and crisp white paint and crown molding, with an exquisite green rug to warm the space. To the left of the living area was a large modern kitchen with a light green backsplash tile and gray concrete countertops and an island with bar seating. To the right of the living area was a formal dining room with a dark wood table seating eight people and an office to carry out any crucial gym or Pokémon-League-related business.

I couldn't believe my eyes.

Jake looked over at me and chuckled. "You two are good. Drew's speechless."

"That's what we hoped for," John said. "And we have another floor to show you."

Off the living area was a carpeted staircase leading to the second floor. We climbed the stairs and were in a hallway. To one half led five guest rooms, all adorned with queen beds with green comforters, end tables, and armoires, and two full bathrooms. The other half of the hallway led to a laundry room, fit with two sets of washing machines and dryers, a folding table, and storage cabinets, and two master suites.

"The entire home has central heat and air conditioning," Dustin said. "Since you're underground, I doubt you'll need the AC, but it's available if you need it. Now, Drew, you won't ever have to worry about being cold with heat and hot water."

I grinned. "It's music to my ears."

"Well, go ahead, boys," Dustin said with a grin. "Check out your suites. Drew's on left, and Jake's on right."

Jake and I separated and visited our respective rooms. I opened my door and held my breath as I took in what was before me. I flipped a switch for the ceiling fan, and the sight took my breath away. They'd offset a queen-size bed with a lovely quilt of varying shades of green and a tan leather tufted headboard with two dark wood nightstands and green table lamps. A window behind the headboard also let in sunlight. How was that possible? Had they put it more greenhouse windows in the ground above us?

There was also a dark wood dresser with photographs mounted on the wall in a collage. Across from it was a dark wood bookshelf filled with books and a leather armchair. On the other side of the room was a walk-in closet filled with new t-shirts, dress shirts, formal pants and slacks, shorts, jeans, and sweaters of various colors, and the other door led to a full bathroom with a jacuzzi tub and a spa-style shower doubling as a sauna. They'd stocked everything with dark green towels and washcloths.

I returned to the room and noticed all the photographs on the wall were of Mom and I from my childhood, and on the end table with the armchair was a photo album filled with baby photos of Mom and I up to when I left home to become a trainer. Another wall had a lone, large picture frame with the newspaper article of my exoneration and my freedom medal pinned inside along with a photograph of Chief Douglas and me from that day's mission.

I was so overwhelmed. It was perfect. I never imagined I'd have a room as luxurious and personal as this.

Dustin came in and smiled. "Your mother was instrumental in your home's design and decor. She made your quilt and insisted on buying fresh clothes and stocking your bed and bath linens. She also offered to stock the guest rooms and the kitchen."

I wiped the tears from my eyes. "...It's all wonderful... thank you."

He hugged me tight. "You're welcome, Drew. You two deserve a pleasant place to live while you mentor and challenge our trainers."

He released me, and I smiled.

"I'll never forget this gift. But... how did this get paid for? In most instances, the League can't afford to provide more than a meager stipend."

"True," he replied, "But there were a few factors in this compared to our normal gym renovations. One, you're the only leader who lives in their gym... and, two, we have loads of connections. We recycled as much as possible from the remains of Team Rocket's old hideout, and we secured donations from private donors for either furniture and appliances, materials, money, or labor... and more than half of it came from businesses and individuals here in Viridian City."

"Wow," was all I said, choked up. "I don't know what to say... but I serve a wonderful community."

We shut the lights off and shut the door before checking on Jake. Jake's room was identical to mine, except it had a mirrored layout. The pictures on his walls were of him and his siblings, and the quilt on his bed was of varying shades of red, Jake's favorite color. His bed and bath linens were also red. They'd tailored everything to our needs, as they'd promised.

Jake smiled. "This is so wonderful."

I nodded. "Agreed. You've spoiled us."

John and Dustin were smiling.

"Thank you both," I said as I bowed to both of them.

"It was our pleasure," Dustin said.

"We were happy to create a wonderful home for you," John said.

"So when can we move in?" Jake asked.

"Anytime," Dustin said. "We have your badges already made, and we'll continue to make the habitats functional. However, it might be best to wait until the habitats are ready so your pokémon are at home as well."

"What about the reopen date?" I asked. "Since the habitats remain, when can the gym open to the public, and do we need to publicize?"

"We have the beginning of next week in mind," Dustin replied. "It should permit us enough time to finish everything. As for the reopening, we've already made flyers for a public event letting visitors see the second floor and the stadium, and we had an idea. Would you and Jake be open to visiting businesses across the city and invite them to our event? We're already reaching out to reporters."

"What a brilliant idea," Jake said. "Drew, this was something on your list, wasn't it? To have stronger relations within the community?"

I smiled. "You're right. Dustin, I love it. Don't even worry. We'll market the event for you. And I'll plan for our mentoring session to start the next day, so you two are welcome to stay with us during the rest of your time here."

The next day, Jake and I put our plan into action. We spent the entire day visiting businesses and speaking to the business owners. Most of them were cordial with me and accepted my flyer and my sincere thank-yous for their support. A few had less than cordial words, but I was gracious and told them I hoped I could help repair any damaged bridges in the community. Any businesses we didn't visit we did so the following day, and that was when I returned to my old stomping grounds at Old Smeargle Tattoo. With an ecstatic reunion, they offered to retouch my existing tattoos and add to my collection, all before our event, and would lend me their full attention and reschedule their existing appointments.

With all businesses in the city covered, and with our event generating buzz in the community and the media, we only needed to pamper ourselves. We'd already moved into the gym after Erika helped Dustin, Jake, and I set up the habitat by planting flowers, plants, and trees and having her pokémon bring the area to life. Now, after having a spa day and massage at the town health spa, Jake accompanied me to get our hair cut.

"Try something new," I told him. "Do what you want and create your own identity."

I chose a short mohawk with the rest of my head shaved. Jake chose an edgy yet conservative fauxhawk. Afterward, we visited Old Smeargle, and Jake and I bonded by having our ears pierced. Then, Jake left while all the artists took areas and began tattooing me. As wonderful as this was, I bore through a painful afternoon while they worked.

# Chapter 20

The Trainers' Arrival

In every conceivable manner, the family is a link to our past, bridge to our future.

~Alex Haley

We came off a successful community event filled with excitement from the press, the public, and many of our colleagues, and now our training program would welcome new trainers and introduce them to the world of Pokémon. Lance had a schedule conflict and wasn't able to attend, but after Jake had contacted Misty, it delighted her to be present and stayed with us along with Brock and Forrest after attending our open house.

The day of our trainer program was also my birthday, and it started off with Jake coming into my room when I was asleep. I stirred and felt another presence in bed with me, among Espeon and Riolu, who were all already laying with me on the right side of the bed, under my quilt. Dragonair had curled up on the floor beside us. I groaned as I stirred and discovered a giggling Jake under the quilt on the left side.

"Jake? What are you doing in my bed?"

"It's cold, and I didn't want to turn the heat on."

"Said the trainer who also has three pokémon that sleep next to him. How could you be cold with an arcanine, manectric, and poochyena?"

"And that's the thing - my bed's also too crowded. You know, with how big Arcanine is."

"So you thought you'd come crowd mine instead and wake me up?"

"Drew, why do you sleep nude?"

"Why are you in my bed?"

"I asked you first."

"Yeah, well, I'm gym leader."

Jake couldn't keep a straight face with my strong stare and collapsed into a heap of giggles.

Soon I was chuckling. "You're something else, kiddo, and you won't get away with this unruly behavior."

We wrestled a bit, with Jake being overpowered with ease, before I eased up.

"Happy birthday, Drew," he said.

"Thanks, kiddo... now, if we don't have to wake up, can I snooze more?"

A while later, I heard a knock on my door, and I stirred, realizing Jake was still laying next to me, and groaned before seeing it was Misty, who was surprised to see Jake here and not in his own room.

She giggled. "I wondered where Jake was."

"He ambushed me earlier to wish me a happy birthday and fell asleep."

Jake giggled, which Misty found contagious.

Espeon and Riolu greeted Misty, getting lots of head rubs from her.

Jake yawned. "Do we have to get up?"

"We should," I told him.

"Brock and Forrest are up too," Misty said, "and we're ready to help get everything ready."

"All right, we'll come downstairs in a minute and start breakfast, but I need to make myself decent first."

Misty blushed, and Jake giggled.

~ ~ ~

By the afternoon, we'd made the rooms up before waiting on the battlefield for Professor Oak.

"This is exciting," Dustin said.

"Yeah, this was a genius idea," Brock said.

"Yeah, what better way to teach them what training's all about than showing them?" Forrest asked.

"Agreed," Jake said. "Both Drew and I would've benefited so much from this, and even without it we both made it here... I hope this sets them on the best course possible."

"Couldn't have said it any better," I said, rustling his hair.

"You two are adorable," Misty said. "There's no question your adventure bonded you."

"Yeah, I can't imagine being without this little squirt."

Jake giggled.

After a while of conversing, Professor Oak arrived, flanked by his three new trainers, Adam, Jack, and Neale, who all bowed to the mixed company.

"Nice to meet you three," I said after shaking their hands. "I'm Drew, the Gym Leader here, and this is my protégé, Jake."

"Nice to have you with us," he said, shaking their hands.

"This is Brock," Professor Oak said, "the gym leader in Pewter City, his younger brother and protégé, Forrest, this is Misty, the gym leader in Cerulean City, and this is Dustin Zane, the Director of the Pokémon League here in Japan."

"It's a pleasure," Dustin said.

"Nice to meet you," Forrest said.

"We hope this will be informative for you," Brock said, "and once you're on the road, you'll be stopping by our gym first."

"And then mine," Misty said, smiling. "This will be so much fun."

"I'll show you where you'll be staying," Dustin said before escorting them downstairs.

"By the way, Drew, I'd love to see the habitats Dustin designed," Professor Oak said.

"I'll escort you," Misty offered. "I need to check on my pokémon anyway."

"Thank you, Misty," I replied.

"And I'll set up the dining room," Jake said.

I smiled. "Thanks, kiddo."

They left the battlefield, leaving Espeon and I by ourselves.

Are you ready for some fun?

It squealed and leapt onto my shoulders and purred in my ear.

I smiled and stroked its face. _As long as you're by my side, I'm all set._

I heard doors open and shut in the distance. Soon, I glimpsed Mom coming into the stadium.

"Hi, honey!" she said before she hugged me. "Happy birthday!"

"Thanks, Mom, and you're right on time," I said, following her. "Do you need help with dinner?"

"Sure, honey, everything's in the lobby. This young man was kind enough to help carry some bags for me."

As soon as we reached the lobby, my eyes moved to a younger man with shoulder length auburn hair and dark brown eyes. Something about him seemed familiar. He bowed to me.

"Hi there," I said, holding out my hand. "I'm Drew."

"Nice to meet you, Drew," he replied. "I'm Silvestre, but I go by Silver."

"Likewise. Tell me, were you here for a gym battle?"

"I wasn't," he said. "I'm here for your trainer event."

That was a surprise. From what I could recall, Professor Oak only mentioned three new trainers, and Silver seemed older than them. Regardless, we had the room and plenty of food.

"Wonderful," I said. "Our other trainers are getting settled, so I'll be glad to show you where you'll be staying so you can drop off your belongings."

Silver and I helped Mom bring her groceries into the trainers' elevator and escorted them to the kitchen on the B1 floor.

"I'll be back in a bit to help you," I told her.

"Thank you, honey," she replied with a smile.

I took Silver to the B2 floor. The other trainers reserved the rooms on the left, so I let Silver pick any other available room he wanted.

"Thank you," he said. "I can't say I've ever been to a gym with this much hospitality."

I smiled. "Everything's brand new, so we had some input on how we wanted to use the space."

"It's wonderful hospitality," he said. "So what's on the schedule today?"

"Well, we'll have an introductory orientation here soon, after I help my mother start dinner, and we'll have a battle demonstration before we eat."

He smiled. "Sounds like fun."

"Well, I hate to leave you hanging, but I need to return to the kitchen. Once you're settled, everyone is on B1 in the recreation room, next to where we were a few minutes ago."

"Cool, thanks, Drew."

I ran upstairs and helped Mom prepare our meal. We had vegetables and potatoes we'd be roasting with London Broil. We had salad and rolls, and those were already pre-made or pre-washed and ready to use. There was also a lone box, which must've been a dessert, but since it seemed to be a surprise, I left it alone.

I assisted Mom by chopping the vegetables and potatoes while she seared the meat and prepared the gravy.

"How long will you be preparing dinner before we eat? Are you able to be with us for any part of the orientation or demonstration?"

"Oh, I suppose so," she replied. "We could serve everything buffet-style so it's easy to assemble. Once everything's in the oven, we can let them roast, and I can be with the group."

"Great," I said, smiling. "You've never seen me in a battle, so I'm keen for you to be present."

She smiled. "No doubt I'm thrilled for it."

We plugged away a few moments in silence before she spoke again.

"Drew, you said you were expecting three trainers?"

I nodded. "Silver's appearance was a surprise."

"I could tell," she replied. "And something seems special about him."

"You sensed it, too? I thought the same, like I remember him from somewhere... but I've never met him."

"It's weird," she said, "but he reminds me of you."

"You think so?"

"Without a doubt. When I was struggling to carry all my groceries, he offered to carry some. His voice wasn't familiar, but when I saw him, it shocked me because his eyes were so much like yours."

"It's bizarre," I replied. "I wonder who this kid is... guess we'll find out more later."

Once the meat and gravy were in roasting pans, and the vegetables and potatoes chopped and seasoned, we put everything in the oven and joined the rest of our group in the recreation room.

"Well, everyone, dinner is in progress, so why don't we head to the stadium for our orientation?"

We escorted everyone to the battlefield, and since the sun was setting, Jake turned on the stadium lights and opened the dome, which added to the ambiance.

"Wow," Misty said. "The tour yesterday didn't do this justice... this is incredible. Can you imagine a battle here not being exciting?"

Mom shook her head. "The theatrics will only encourage the community to invest their support in the gym."

Everyone gathered within the front few rows, and Dustin, Brock, Misty, Professor Oak, and I stood on the battlefield in front of them. Espeon and Riolu sat with Mom. The new trainers sat in the front rows with their starters.

"Before we begin," Dustin said, "I first want to let you all know today is Drew's nineteenth birthday, so we get to celebrate this hardworking, compassionate, all-around incredible gym leader tonight, so let's let him know how special he is to us."

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DREW!" everyone said.

I blushed.

"Thank you, everyone," I said, smiling. "Well, first off, we'd like to welcome you all again to the Viridian Gym's pilot mentoring program. Through this workshop, we hope to help you build a firm foundation of what it means to be a great pokémon trainer."

The three new trainers cheered and clapped, and while Silver didn't join in, he smiled and kept his attention on those of us on the field.

"Unlike you, Jake and I didn't become trainers at age 10. To keep this brief, we had obstacles in our way delaying us from starting our journeys. But, eventually, our paths led us here. Everything I learned as a new gym leader was on my own. Then, when Jake became a trainer, I did my best to mentor him. That's all to say that I wanted to partner with the Pokémon League on a program that provides you with all the building blocks you need to become a successful trainer."

"I'm in complete agreement," Dustin added. "When Drew came out with this idea, I thought it was a magnificent way to help trainers, and it's why we're all here. We all have our own styles and techniques, but at the core we all love pokémon and teaching trainers how to take care of them."

"So this workshop will offer you the opportunity to learn and ask questions," Professor Oak said. "And you'll be able to build connections with each other, and those in particular will become invaluable on your journeys."

"And you might discover you'd benefit from having a mentor," Misty said. "Drew's been a great mentor for Jake, and Drew even has a few mentors himself who are teaching him how to become a better version of himself. So whether it's about how to raise your pokémon, how to heal them if you aren't near a Pokémon Center, or how to train for the Pokémon League, we're all here to teach you rather than have you figure it out on your own."

"Misty's right," Brock added, "and something that isn't apparent when you start is you can train your pokémon wrong and put them at grave risk of injury. Training and battling can be strenuous, for both pokémon and trainers, so having great care and balance for how you train and battle is key, and we're thrilled to lend our experience to teach you."

"So who's ready for a battle?" I asked.

"Me!" the trainers exclaimed.

I turned to Jake. "Are you up for a challenge?"

He nodded, looking determined. "Always, birthday boy."

I gave high-fives to all the new trainers before I ran to my side of the battlefield. When I turned around, Jake was sitting on the sidelines, smiling, and at the other end of the field was Silver, wearing a smirk.

"Well, this is a surprise," I said. "I had an inkling you weren't a beginning trainer."

Silver smiled. "I guess the secret's out..."

"Tell me, bud, where are you from?"

"Johto," Silver replied. "I earned eight badges, and through various circumstances I met a skilled trainer named Lance who told me I needed to train more to become a great pokémon trainer."

"No way!" one trainer said. "He met Lance?"

"Lance is so cool!" another exclaimed.

"Since he trained in Kanto," Silver continued, "I decided to come here to train. And, of course, to meet you."

"Well, I'm honored," I said, "and you're in excellent company. Lance is a friend and inspires me to do well also."

I removed my shirt and tossed it to the side of the battlefield, earning a wolf whistle from Jake, which made everyone in the stands howl with laughter. Now everyone bore witness to all my retouched tattoos, including the new rose and flame tattoos on my hands and the Viridian City mural tattoo on my back.

"Whoa, check out the tattoos," one trainer said.

"Dang, those must've hurt," another said.

I held my hand open, and in a second one of my pokéballs materialized.

"Did you see that?" a trainer said.

"No way!"

Brock, Misty, and Mom chuckled, already knowing about this, but this display shocked Forrest, Professor Oak, Dustin, and the new trainers.

"Did you see that, bro?" Forrest asked.

"I did," Brock replied. "I mentioned Drew was special, but you'll witness it all here."

Silver smirked. "I guess I'm not the only one with surprises tonight."

"You'd be correct..." I told him. "So if I accept your challenge, I don't plan on holding back."

"And I'd have less respect for you if you did," Silver said, looking determined to battle.

He threw out a pokéball, which contained a sneasel. An interesting choice.

"For sure a native to Johto, but I can't say I'm worried."

"Bring it!" Silver said. "We're ready for you."

My pokéball levitated out of my hand for a second before bursting open, and out of it came Pupitar.

"Yeah, go, Pupitar!" Jake shouted from the sidelines.

"Show 'em what you're made of!" Brock and Forrest added.

"How exciting," Mom said to Misty. "I've never seen Drew battle."

"Me too," she said, smiling. "We get to experience it together."

"Was this your injured pokémon?" Silver asked me.

"It sure is, and my buddy's recovered from all its injuries and is ready to defeat you." I turned my head to the sidelines. "Dustin, would you do the honors?"

"Yes, of course, Drew," he said before he stood at the side of the battlefield. "This unofficial battle between Drew, the gym leader, and Silver, the challenger, will now begin. Each player will use two pokémon, and both the gym leader and the challenger may make substitutions. If both players are ready, begin!"

"Sneasel, Blizzard!"

I planned to be one step ahead of him the whole way. A predictable strategy.

"Pupitar, Sandstorm!"

Pupitar spun around fast, and from its body came a fierce tornado of sand, canceling out Sneasel's Blizzard.

"Whoa," the new trainers said.

Dig underground, friend, and cover your tracks.

"Well played," Silver said. "Didn't expect that."

I smirked. "This old geezer's had some practice, and you still have a lot to learn about me."

Jake chuckled from the sidelines. "You show him, Grandpa!"

Mom and Misty giggled.

I smirked at him. "I'll make you pay for that later, squirt."

Jake giggled. "Oh, please, as if you'd remember."

"What a wise move," Professor Oak said, getting the new trainers' attention.

"Agreed," Brock added. "Silver wasn't expecting it. Drew showed even if an attack isn't offensive, it can still be useful as a defensive move."

"Wow," Forrest said. "That's such an unexpected ploy."

When the sandstorm subsided, Silver took notice of Pupitar's absence.

"Where'd it go?" one trainer asked.

"You probably know this already," I said to Silver, "but gym leaders can be crafty. Attack!"

It shot out of the ground and sent Sneasel flying.

"Sneaky move," Forrest said. "Sandstorm was a defense tactic _and_ a diversion."

"You won't faze us that easily," Silver replied. "Sneasel, Metal Claw!"

"Counter, Pupitar! Ancientpower!"

Both pokémon collided with their attacks, sending them both to their respective sides. It was an even matchup, and both sustained damage.

"Sneasel, Fury Swipes!"

"Pupitar, Protect!"

While its attack looked vicious, Pupitar shielded itself in a green force field, rendering it useless.

"Now, Pupitar, Hyper Beam!"

The new trainers gasped.

Pupitar charged an orb and fired a high energy attack, leaving Sneasel limited time to react.

"Quick, counter with Blizzard!" Silver shouted.

It fired another barrage of ice that couldn't counter my attack and sent it back toward Silver.

"Why did he use Blizzard if it wasn't strong enough to counter Hyper Beam?" Mom asked Misty.

"I doubt it was Silver's intent," Misty replied. "He knew it couldn't match its power, but he used it to weaken Drew's attack so it took less damage."

"Remarkable," Professor Oak said.

"Yeah, Silver's crafty, too," Brock added.

Silver looked perplexed, sweat forming on his brow.

I smirked. "What's wrong, bud? Trying to still figure out how to break my defense and attack combo?"

"Just analyzing your tricks."

"Well, you'll have to think fast. Finish this, Pupitar! Ancientpower!"

"I don't think so. Sneasel, Metal Claw!"

Both pokémon charged and collided again, with a flash from their collision, but when the light faded and dust settled, Sneasel was unable to battle, and Pupitar, while winded, was still standing.

"Sneasel is unable to battle," Dustin called. "The winner of the first round is Pupitar."

Our crowd cheered, and I caught Mom looking at me, her eyes expressing me every affirmation she was proud.

"That was so cool," one trainer said.

"Yeah, Drew is tough," another said.

"True, but Silver is also," the third said. "I wonder what else they have up their sleeves."

"Sneasel, return!" Silver called before calling it back.

I walked over to Pupitar and rubbed its head. "You were wonderful out there, buddy. I'm so proud of how far you've come. Now, take a nice, long rest."

It squealed before returning to its pokéball. I returned to my side of the field, collapsed the pokéball and tossed it behind me, from which it vanished out of the air.

"That's so cool!" the trainers exclaimed.

"Showing off?" Silver asked, smirking.

I chuckled before I held out my hand again, and a new pokéball materialized. "Nah, I don't like to draw attention to myself."

Our crowd chuckled.

"A likely story," Jake crooned. "The stories I could tell..."

Silver smirked at me and reached for another pokéball. "I have to hand it to you, Drew. You're every bit as tough as I'd heard. I didn't expect an easy battle, but if I'm going down, I intend on going down fighting."

"A gym leader never wants a challenger to concede easily," I replied, "but I assure you you'll have a lot to contend with now."

He threw out his pokéball, and out of it came a gengar.

"Smart choice," I said, "but can it withstand an assault from one of my most trusted companions?"

My pokéball levitated out of my hand and burst open, and out of it came my dragonair.

"Whoa," one trainer said. "This ought to be good."

"Indeed," Professor Oak said, "These are two unique pokémon, and each have their strengths... I wonder how this will end."

"Gengar might look formidable, but Silver is in for a tough battle," Jake said. "Dragonair's a major powerhouse."

_One final battle, for old time's sake_? I asked it.

It squealed through our connection.

"Gengar, Will-O-Wisp!"

A dozen blue flames appeared all around it before it fired them in our direction.

I smirked. "Is it getting hot in here, or is it me? Dragonair, use Safeguard!"

It shrouded itself in a veil and negated its attack.

"Do you ever run out of tricks?" Silver quipped.

"Nope, and you've yet to see them all," I replied. "Dragonair, let's raise the stakes! Outrage!"

Dragonair glowed red and flew fast at Gengar.

"Gengar, counter with Shadow Punch!"

Sparks crackled around its claw before it punched the surrounding ground. As Dragonair drew closer, a fist appeared out of the ground and sent Dragonair flying back toward me, but it caught itself and continued with its attack.

"Gengar, Hypnosis."

As it drew closer, it stopped midair, entranced by Gengar's blue outline and glowing eyes. A brilliant strategy, since putting it to sleep calmed it. It fell to the ground near it.

"Well played," I told him. "Both attacks took me by surprise."

He smirked. "Flattered, but I'm not done. Gengar, Dream Eater!"

The trainers gasped.

"That's its strongest attack," Forrest said.

"It's over!" a trainer exclaimed.

"Hold on, guys," Jake said. "Wait to make your call."

A mirage of Gengar escaped from its body and flew through Dragonair, sapping its energy. It was still asleep, but, in spite of its own power, with Gengar's strength it wouldn't last long if it continued its barrage of attacks.

"Come on, Dragonair!" Misty called. "You have to wake up!"

"Stay strong!" Mom added.

"Go, Gengar!" Silver said. "Again!"

I shut my eyes and tried to connect with Dragonair through our mental connection.

Come on, friend. We need you right now. I believe in you. Now, come back!

As the mirage flew toward Dragonair, it woke and stiffened its body.

"Now, Ice Beam!"

The ice attack cut through the mirage and struck Gengar.

"Yeah!" the trainers shouted. "Way to go!"

"What a quick comeback," Professor Oak replied.

I smirked. "Surprises are my specialty. Now, Dragon Rage!"

A fiery orb charged on its head before it fired at its opponent.

"Gengar, counter with Dark Pulse!"

To counter, it clapped its paws together and sent black purple circles out at Dragonair. The attacks collided and exploded, with smoke erupting over the battlefield.

"Ohmygoodness!" a trainer exclaimed. "Who do you think is still standing?"

"Gengar!" one said.

"Dragonair!" another said.

"C'mon, neither could've withstood that," the third said.

When the smoke cleared, both pokémon were still standing and panting from exhaustion.

"You're putting up a tough fight," I told Silver. "I'm impressed."

"Right back at you," he said.

"Magnificent job, you two," Professor Oak called.

"Yeah," Brock added. "As a gym leader, it's always a rush of euphoria to battle a challenger who keeps us on our toes."

"It's what we live for," Misty said. "They're both fighting their hardest."

I expected Dragonair to be winded, but strength coursed through its spirit, despite its condition. I'd never felt such power and determination within it.

Are you okay?

It squealed through our connection, and the same surge continued to build.

Could it be... are you ready?

It gave me affirmation. It brought tears to my eyes, which I wiped away.

I'm so proud of you. Let's fight on and finish this.

"What's with Drew?" one trainer asked.

"Yeah, is it because he's about to lose this battle?" another asked.

"Not a chance," Jake replied. "Drew's just an emotional person."

I wiped more tears away and smiled as I looked Silver in the eye.

"You've fought well," I told him, "but you better be ready for a new level of power. Now, go, Dragonair! Transform!"

It cried out, and a second later glowed an opalescent white.

"Awesome!" the trainers shouted.

"Incredible," Forrest said.

"It's evolving!" Misty said.

"Unbelievable," Jake said. "We've waited so long for this."

"This will provide Drew the edge," Brock said.

"You go, honey!" Mom called.

Its long slender form grew larger, and wings and limbs grew out of it. After it couldn't grow anymore, the light faded, and in front of us was my tall, bulky, orange-and-cream winged friend Dragonite, here after a lot of love and training. It roared and took flight, leaving the crowd bewildered and amazed as it flew around the battlefield.

"So," I told Silver, "ready to finish this battle?"

"Absolutely," he replied. "Gengar, Dark Pulse!"

"Dragonite, counter it. Thunder!"

Dark circles erupted from Gengar's paws again, and Dragonite's antennas glowed before sending large thunderbolts at Gengar. Both attacks collided, creating another explosion and sending hordes of smoke through the battlefield.

"Now, Dragonite, use Twister!"

It flapped its wings and sent a large tornado toward Gengar. It had no time to dodge the attack, thanks to the smoke, and sustained a direct blow. It flew backward but recovered and floated off the field.

"Gengar, use Shadow Ball!"

Its paws clapped together with dark static and sent an orb of dark energy toward us.

"Dragonite, Ice Beam!"

Out of its mouth came a strong streak of ice, and it collided and broke through Gengar's attack and shot toward it.

"Dodge it!" Silver commanded.

Gengar faded and disappeared, out of range for the attack.

Now we had to counter Silver's strategy, but it was impossible to see it. I shut my eyes and tried to feel around our surroundings. I sensed Gengar's presence, and it was creeping closer to Dragonite.

"Figured out my plan?" Silver asked.

"Just about," I said. "Dragonite, Safeguard."

Then, Dragonite's body glowed blue, right in time to shield itself from a surprise Will-O-Wisp attack.

Silver groaned. "How did you pick up on that?"

The new trainers cheered where they were.

"That was intuitive," Professor Oak said.

"How did he know?" one trainer asked.

"Because," Jake told them, "Drew has a sixth sense."

"No way!" one said.

"Does he really?" another asked.

"See for yourself," Jake said.

"Gengar, Shadow Punch!"

Out of nowhere, Gengar materialized and shot off a purple fist in our direction.

"Dodge with Dragon Dance!"

Dragonite surrounded itself with a turquoise aura, allowing it to move faster and evade the attack.

"Dark Pulse!"

"Counter with Thunder Wave!"

Both attacks canceled out and caused an explosion. Both pokémon panted, having taken a lot of damage. It was time to finish Silver off, and I believe it was on his mind as well.

"You fought well," I told him.

"You too," he replied, "but we won't lose like that. Shadow Claw!"

Gengar flew toward us with its claw glowing with dark energy.

"Dragonite, end this! Hyper Beam!"

Dragonite focused the rest of its energy and charged an orb of energy out of its mouth before firing it at full power. It struck Gengar before it could land its attack, causing another explosion of smoke.

"This is it!" the trainers exclaimed.

When the smoke cleared, Dragonite stood, but Gengar was out cold on the ground.

"Gengar is unable to battle. The winner is Dragonite, and the victory of this battle goes to Drew."

Everyone in the stands cheered. Even Silver smiled and called back his pokémon.

I walked to Dragonite, and it bent down and kissed me on the forehead.

"Thank you, Dragonite," I said as I stroked its head. "You were incredible."

It roared before I called it back to its pokéball and had it vanish. I walked over to Silver and shook his hand.

"Magnificent battle, Silver. You've done well for yourself."

"You were incredible," he said. "I have a lot more to learn."

"And you're in a great place for it, so you'll become the trainer you'd like to be."

"I'll check on dinner," Mom said, "so get ready to eat. I'll be back when everything's served."

"I'll help you, Saundra," Misty said before following her.

All the new trainers gathered around us and asked questions, with their starters prancing around us.

"Drew, I want to be as strong as you."

"Yeah, can you look at my pokémon?"

"Teach me your secrets!"

I chuckled, smiling. "Of course, but I'm sure Silver has a bunch of secrets too. He's become a strong trainer, and he started out like you three."

Their enthusiasm migrated to him.

"Silver, you were awesome. Can I see your other pokémon?"

"What was Lance like? Wasn't he the coolest?"

"What's Johto like?"

I smiled and grabbed my shirt from my side of the field and put it on before I high-fived Brock, Jake, and Dustin.

"That was incredible," Forrest said, shaking my hand. "I can't wait to be a gym leader."

"Indeed," Professor Oak said. "You've become a great trainer, Drew. The rumors I've heard were true."

"Thank you both," I said, blushing.

"Marvelous job, gym leader," Jake said.

I laughed and rustled his hair. "Thanks, kiddo. I'm gonna step outside for a moment, and I'll be back."

I smiled at Silver as he interacted with the new trainers. I walked by them and stepped outside, with Espeon and Riolu at my sides. I lit a cigarette and spent a moment enjoying the stillness of the garden, with Riolu chasing after a moth. The stars began to poke through the sky, its twilight blue hue changing to a dark midnight blue.

Did you have fun watching?

Espeon squealed.

I smiled. _I'm glad you did._

I heard the doors open, and when I turned my head I discovered Silver was joining me.

"Hey," I said.

"Hey," he replied.

"You don't smoke, do you?" I asked.

He shook his head. "Never tried."

"Don't ever start. It's hard to quit."

"How long have you smoked?" he asked.

"For the last six years," I said. "But I haven't smoked much lately."

"What made you start?"

"Stress... in a weird way, it helped me feel like I had some control over something."

"Oh, yeah. I remember hearing about all the crap you've been through. I'm so sorry for what they subjected you to."

"It's fine. Not your fault."

"I know... but I still think it was horrible what your father did to you."

"It's done," I said, "and I've moved on... Now my life couldn't be better."

He smiled.

"So what are your plans? I doubt meeting me was the only item on your list."

"I have a few ideas," he said. "I was considering making a challenge for the Indigo League, but..."

"But?"

"I did genuinely want to meet you."

"You're serious?"

He nodded. "Ever since I heard about your involvement with Team Rocket and exoneration, the desire grew stronger."

"I'm flattered, Silver... and please don't take this the wrong way, but... you look so familiar. I don't believe we've met, but when I look at you I sense something familiar."

"Yeah, I know why... it's why I wanted to come to the Viridian Gym."

"Okay, so tell me. Why did you travel here to meet me?"

"Before I tell you, please know I'm not joking about this."

I nodded.

"Drew, I don't know how else to tell you this, but... we're related."

"We are?" I asked.

This was quite a shock. I doubted him, but his face offered nothing to support the thought.

"Are you- are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Wow... I've been through a lot of crazy shit, but that's a definite surprise."

"It is... and, to be frank, I'm not proud of the link existing between us, and even drawing attention to it right now is hard to stomach."

"Indulge me, if it's okay... what's the link?"

He took a deep breath and sighed. "Both of my parents were part of Team Rocket."

"Holy shit!" I said. "That's insane... I don't blame you for how you feel... but how does this connect to me? Who are your parents?"

"...M- my parents are... Ariana... and Giovanni."

My eyes widened, and I just stared at him for the longest time, unable to believe what he'd said. I'd despised Ariana after how she treated me when I became an Executive, which resulted in harboring a lot of venom in my spirit, and my father had destroyed me in so many ways... this was outrageous.

I would've challenged his honesty, but even Mom and I had picked up on the familiarity in Silver's appearance. Without question, we both had our father's eyes, and he had his mother's hair. It was too logical to argue, and his eyes held sincerity as well as shame. As intense as my reaction was, I sighed and lit another cigarette, taking a long drag before responding, the atmosphere now grim from his revelation.

"So, that means... you're my..."

He nodded. "Your younger brother."

