《A Pokemon Parable》


 Prologue

    In a realm of undefined existence, centered around a singular sphere of vibrant blue and a mixture of greens, sat an entity of amorphous design, an absence of color, and a mere outline of delineation between itself and the surroundings. This being had no fixed form, and had details which changed as it was continuously observed. The Watcher, an incomprehensible being of countless dimensions, continued to process the souls of the dead from its assigned planet of sapients. The job had been automated from an unquantifiable amount of experience and work, leaving the cosmic entity bereft with little more than to simply be while its workings ran without guidance. Soul after soul would float from the planet, each would be evaluated and tagged, cleaned and sanitized, and finally sorted into the appropriate bucket. While more akin to inter-dimensional and inter-spatial gateways and routes, they took the appearances of buckets, each with a unique coloring scheme to signify their outlet.


    The tags were simple and in order of priority. Karma ranged from -1 to 1, reflecting the impact an individual had on their environment. They were rare, but individuals with a karma score of -1 were simply obliterated, while scores of 1 were directed towards the white bucket. In the current era, souls had lately floated closer to the range of -0.5 to 0.5, with only a few outliers beyond this bell curve. The Watcher had learned early on not to closely inspect those with too low or too high of a Karma score, as it was a designation based on parameters it did not fully comprehend.


    The next tag was the Remaining Potential tag, ranging from 0 to 1, reflecting how much more a soul could accomplish. This tag was never either 0 or 1, always something in between. Even a newly born babe had a potential below 1. Souls with a score below 0.1 were directed towards the gray bucket. This was an attribute that was hard to describe, but was still one of great importance nonetheless.


    After that came the Compatibility table, again with values ranging from 0 to 1, but this was much less defined and rigid. This table could be as short as two entries, or as varied as a matrix; the dimensionality was dependent on the world itself and the soul¡¯s knowledge of other life forms. This table was where the bulk of the sorting came in, with different buckets each representing a singular attribute or combination from this table. Some souls would have a combination of metrics which made them more compatible with the aquamarine bucket, while others would be better fit to the pink bucket. On rare occasions, a soul would be designated for the ultraviolet bucket. Truly this tag held the bulk of the sorting influence, and had been the most difficult part when The Watcher first undertook the task.


    Nothing changed, everything was the same, and The Watcher no longer needed to personally inspect any of the souls. Its powers did all the work, classification, and sorting while The Watcher awaited for the End. But as fables dictate all good things must come to an end, so too did The Watcher¡¯s solitude, as an unwelcome and uninvited guest penetrated its domain. This invader was no more or less powerful, but the lack of decorum or courtesy painted them as the uncooperative type with little regard to the desires of others.


    <The Watcher took note that once again, there was a mass casualty event on its assigned planet. The beings under its care did try to throw a grand extinction party every so often, so this was nothing new or exciting.>


    The mood, in so far as one existed, shifted to one of simmering adversity. The two eternal entities engaged in the equivalent of a staring contest, their powers gently waging for dominance.


    <It did not care for the surge of extra effort, but one soul in particular caught its attention. With care and interest it->


    The multidimensional entity rippled, as across indescribable planes and realities The Watcher shifted to give the invader an equivalent of a glare and verbal lashing. As time is not a factor here, the resulting gap between events can be likened to a pause or Mexican Stand-off.


    <If The Watcher chose to inspect a particular soul, at this particular instance, and found it to be worth sorting separately from the rest, The Watcher would be able to convince the intruder that he should leave with all due haste.>


    Again another pause, before The Watcher moved and de-escalated the situation. In an unspoken, unconfirmed agreement, it focused its will on the mass of new souls, in particular one with a tang of energy matching the other being¡¯s. Karma was acceptable, 0.25 was currently slightly above average. Remaining Potential was a solid 0.75, showing the soul to be early in its journey through existence. The Compatibility Table was, unusually extensive, possibly one of the largest in recent evaluations. With reluctance, The Watcher gently pulled the soul from the flow, moving it away and towards the guest. Its automatons suggested the soul would likely best belong to either the teal or chartreuse buckets, but this was beyond normal operating procedure. Right as the cleansing process was to begin, the invader interrupted.


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    <Selecting the correct soul, and recognizing the remaining potential, The Watcher seemingly by accident neglected to perform the memory sanitation process, and dropped the specially-selected being into the small purple-tipped rainbow bucket.>


    The Watcher gave an impression of confusion, as it observed a new bucket among its collection. The newly-created bucket was indeed small, and placed at the edge of the random arrangement. It was relatively small, but in good company. With a glacial motion, The Watcher gradually moved the special soul right over the purple rim. With a flourish the bucket activates, connecting to somewhere wholly new. Carefully observing the intruder, The Watcher released the soul into the bucket as the plume of ectoplasm vanished with a swish and a pop.


    <The intruder, satisfying their end of the deal, would move towards and into the new bucket. As he flushed himself after the special soul, he could only imagine how thankful The Watcher was to have yet another fine bucket for its collection. That is a nice bucket, The Watcher thought->


    The intruder was gone with a pop, before The Watcher could reprimand them further. Paying the events no further mind, The Watcher returned to its duties, this time spotting yet another soul of interest. This one, without the mark of the intruder, seemed to have been flagged by another entity, one who had been gracious enough to properly knock before entering The Watcher¡¯s domain. She faced The Watcher with grace, and a soft smile, before making her request:


    {Those two were meant to be a pair; may I request your assistance?}


    <hr>


    A man and a boy were walking together along a stone sidewalk, the man holding the child¡¯s right hand with his left. In the crook of the man¡¯s right arm was a large white egg with green spots. The child had a neutral face, unreadable to any kind of emotion. The man seemed jubilant, with happy thoughts clearly illustrated by his soft smile and upright posture. He was of average height, sported short-cut chestnut hair, matching brown eyes, and a lean build decorated with what would be best described as ¡®casual wear¡¯ by someone who thought that a banana cost one-hundred Pokedollars. The boy was the appropriate height for his age, with medium-length blonde hair, unnaturally green eyes, and a slight pudge that betrayed an above-average weight, sporting a generic shirt and shorts which alluded to an active outdoor lifestyle.


    <Things had been tough for Eric; his only son Stanley was still having difficulty with verbal communication to the degree doctors worried he might remain a mute permanently. The lad was almost thirteen years old now, and clearly aware of the world and others around him. He could read just fine, and follow instructions suitably for his age, but seemingly made no effort to communicate with others. The lack of social progression had been hindering Eric¡¯s ability to focus at work, to say nothing of his marriage. But today was the day, everything would change! Having read about a new study, he registered his son as a participant. The goal of the study was to evaluate the impact a Pokemon companion could have on developing adolescents, and who was a better example than his son?>


    Eric took a moment to glance down at Stanley, who was surprisingly calm despite being given his own pokemon. Several of their neighbors and the wild pokemon who lived in the town were giving appreciative nods, a congratulatory wave, or other signifiers of approval as the pair passed by. The egg was just that, a large egg with a firm shell and an unlimited number of possibilities just waiting inside.


    <Neither Eric nor the assistant knew what type of Pokemon was growing in the egg, but he was excited! It could be anything, maybe even a genius psychic type like a Ralts to help draw out his son¡¯s latent potential! Eric had expressed concern with trusting a child with an egg, but the assistant explained that this was not meant to start a trainer¡¯s journey, and that Eric and his wife Diane would need to actively participate to help document Stanley¡¯s growth. The duration only solidified the legitimacy, as the study was slated to last for the next ten years. Stanley would be a fully grown adult by that time, but there was no reason he could not show great promise before then!>


    As the daylight was coming to an end, and the sky began to shift from a vibrant blue to an aurora of oranges and purples, the pair arrived home. A window on the front was propped open, allowing the aroma of the night¡¯s dinner to waft out and welcome them. A woman of similar age to Eric, wearing a light green and white sundress noticed the pair through the kitchen window; disappearing to open the front door and welcome her husband home with a smile. Her long auburn hair was straight and well-maintained, outlining her light brown eyes and supported by a lithe build.


    <¡±Now Stanley, go wash up for dinner. We¡¯ll make your pokemon a warm bed afterwards.¡± Eric instructed, closing the front door behind him. Stanley, hungry for his mother¡¯s delectable pot pie, made a beeline for the washroom and cleaned his hands thoroughly; with soap this time. Knowing better than to leave the egg as it was, Eric pooled together a few blankets on the couch and swaddled his son¡¯s new hope for normalcy. He leaned in and whispered to the egg, ¡°You¡¯re my son¡¯s last chance, I know you can help him break out of his shell, just like you¡¯ll do soon enough.¡±>


    The egg remained still on the couch, too young to do much beyond serve as a decoration for the near future. Eric made his way to the kitchen table, where Diane was busy plating steaming hot casserole. With near-perfect timing, Stanley wandered from the bathroom and took his seat at the table, his expression unchanging.


    <The wholesome family dinner continues without a word from young Stanley, both of his parents excited for the potential future that may open thanks to having a pokemon from an early age. But you, Reader, are probably more interested in what happened with soul from earlier in this tale, no? ¡°I bet he¡¯s going to merge Stanley with the soul from earlier¡± is certainly one thought. ¡°Ugh, another self-insert Pokemon trainer fic? What¡¯s the twist, he¡¯s actually bad at it?¡± may be another thought. I¡¯d wager at least one of you is hoping this tale takes a turn for the weird, becoming yet another harem story. Each of you certainly has a vivid imagination, and none are inherently invalid prospects. But ask yourselves, if that certainly were the case, why would the Author mention the Compatibility table towards the start of this chapter?>


    Hey, Narrator, no spoilers.

 Chapter 1_v2: Hatchday

    <The months that followed were very much a continuation of those that preceded the start of the study. With the exception that Stanley seemed almost inseparable from the egg. He modified his favorite bucket by adding soft fabrics and fluff to make it a comfortable bed for the developing pokemon. The bucket, not an unusual sight to be by young Stanley¡¯s side while he went about town, proved quite capable of ferrying his future partner on their little ventures. Both of Stanley¡¯s parents noticed a slight change, as their son was now much more interested in leaving the house, albeit without striking up an actual conversation, but it was a change. And that change came to a head on the day the egg began to wiggle. Stanley watched from next to the egg, fascinated by the process, while his parents moved to turn off the television and position themselves to see the small miracle of life.>


    An orange scaled arm burst from the shell, with three clawed fingers, as the pokemon inside struggled to escape its former prison. The arm flailed about, trying to widen the hole and make way for the slightly larger round head that pushed at the side of the opening. Failing to do so, it withdrew the arm, allowing an orange snout to shove against the hole for a breath of air.


    <¡±I guess it isn¡¯t an Ralts, hah.¡± Eric laughed, his guess being wildly incorrect. ¡°Nor a Sentret, guess I was wrong on it being something soft and fuzzy.¡± Diane admitted, having hoped for a soft cuddly partner for her son. Stanley thought it was weird his parents would have a specific preference, he just wanted someone who could understand him.>


    With one solid shove, the top of the egg cracked up and opened like the lid on a tin can, with the small pokemon¡¯s reptilian head poking out and breathing hard. Slowly maneuvering to clamber out of the former egg, the orange pokemon wiggled left to right, covered in goop and letting out a small cry ¡°Finally! Freedom!¡± The quarter-meter tall pokemon was small for its species, but having just emerged from an egg this was bound to change with time. Its cream-colored underbelly continuously expanded and contracted as it caught its first breaths, before opening a pair of sky-blue eyes to take in the world.


    <Stanley was happy, his new friend looked healthy and did not appear to have the wrong number of limbs. ¡°Oh, huh, I don¡¯t actually recognize this one.¡± Eric mused, as he and Diane worked a towel to clean off their son¡¯s new pokemon before it made a mess of the den table. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a fire type?¡± Diane asked, slightly on edge while pointing at the tip of its tail. ¡°Can we raise a fire type here? I worry for the carpets and drapes.¡±>


    While the two adults were careful to get the cotton towels too close to the open flame at the tip of his tail, the new hatchling seemed to perk up at their words. ¡°What, fire type? The hell¨C I have a tail?!¡± The Charmander attempted to grab its tail, but failed as they could barely stand, its balance not being helped by the four human hands trying to clean it off. ¡°What¡¯s going on, where am I?¡± It continued to wail, albeit not in a way any human could comprehend.


    <The young pokemon seemed to be brimming with energy. I wonder if they want to go exploring with me today, Stanley pondered. ¡°Stanley, I hope you¡¯re ready for this new responsibility,¡± Eric said, moving the remains of the egg to the bin and starting to clean the fragments that were spread across the room. ¡°Yes honey, you¡¯re still too young to go on an adventure, but maybe getting a head start will help you practice communicating with other kids?¡± Diane chipped in, folding the goopy towel that may not be recoverable with a simple wash.>


    ¡°Why are you ignoring me?!¡± The small pokemon cried. It could only look up at the titans towering above, even the small child was nearly double his height.


    <Stanley stood from beside the low table and moved to the front door, where he sat down to don and lace his shoes. I hope my new pokemon likes to go exploring, Stanley thought as he finished the last bow and waited at the door, willing his new pokemon to join him.>


    The small lizard was visibly confused. ¡°His new- I am nobody¡¯s Pokemon! Now tell me where I am, and who you all are before anything else!¡± Charmander demanded, while the two adults went about their business. The child stood, silently waiting by the door, expectantly.


    <The Charmander, with a happy chirp, joined Stanley.>


    ¡°Just because you say I do something doesn¡¯t mean I have to!¡± Charmander squeaked, earning a concerned eye from the two adults in the kitchen. The two seemed to be whispering about something.


    <The Charmander, with a happy chirp, joined Stanley.>


    Sensing he would not get a response just yet, the small orange lizard sighed and stood, walking to the edge of the short table before climbing down. With a lack of grace, he slid down and fell on his tail before standing and moving beside his new ¡®trainer¡¯, careful to be aware of his pyromatic appendage. ¡°Fine, let¡¯s go see the town,¡± he responded, hopeful.


    <¡±Don¡¯t go out into the tall grass Stanley! You¡¯re not a trainer yet, so just do a normal walk around town.¡± Eric suggested, smiling to see that somehow things were already looking up. ¡°Oh, if you go by the grocer can you buy some carrots for tonight?¡± Diane asked, pulling a few Pokedollars from her purse and offering them to Stanley. That shouldn¡¯t be too hard, thought Stanley, as he accepted the both the quest and offered currency.>


    ¡°Okay, so your name is Stanley. I¡¯m guessing Eric¡¯s your dad, and Diane is your mom. This is already weird enough.¡± The orange pokemon grumbled, making sure to follow behind the thirteen year old close enough to avoid any further complications. Once the duo were outside, Charmander took note of what appeared to be a fenced front yard, bifurcated by a stone walkway leading from the front door of the house to the gate. The house itself looked to be moderately sized, though relative to himself it could¡¯ve passed for a mansion. The air was clear, with only a handful of cheerful white clouds dotting the sky in a scene straight out of a kid¡¯s book.


    <Sitting atop the fence, a cute Fletchling whistled a merry tune, taking notice of the pair as they approached. Hello Fletchling, thought Stanley, your song is very beautiful today. Stanley waved to the bird as he opened the gate, as he received a cheerful tune in response.>


    ¡°Ah, you must be the egg he¡¯s been carrying around, eh?¡± The bird inquired, its gaze now on the lizard at the boy¡¯s heels.


    ¡°Yea, any idea where we are? I keep trying to ask them but they can¡¯t hear me.¡± Charmander pleaded, thankful to finally have a real conversation.


    ¡°Well of course they can¡¯t, humans can¡¯t understand us Pokemon.¡± The bird got a chuckle, clearly entertained to have heard that question. ¡°I suggest you hurry along before you lose Stanley; and welcome to Vaniville!¡± It said, taking to the sky to fly elsewhere. Charmander, seeing that his companion was now almost a house ahead, broke into a jog to catch up.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    <He must¡¯ve wanted to say hi to Fletchling, I should¡¯ve waited a bit, thought Stanley. Maybe my pokemon likes talking to others, he concluded. Stanley briefly thought about how he read about psychic pokemon being able to converse telepathically with humans. Maybe if I have a pokemon that can talk for me, others might not be so uncomfortable with me, he theorized.>


    ¡°I mean, maybe? I just wanted to ask where we are. And I don¡¯t recognize that pokemon or this town. What region are we in?¡± Charmander asked. As they walked, other townsfolk would wave at the pair, some verbally expressing congratulatory messages of their new bond. The weather was calm, with barely a breeze to accompany a warm sunny day. The fresh vibrant flowers and flora gave the impression of a full-swing springtime.


    <Stanley continued walking, waving to neighbors as they passed. He wasn¡¯t quite sure what his pokemon was saying, but if what he saw on television was true he could eventually understand a few things. I wonder what I should name it, Stanley pondered, unsure of either the personality or gender of his new pokemon. How do you even check for that?>


    Slightly irate at the indignation, his buddy had a short outburst aimed at the child. ¡°I am a man, a fully grown adult man, and my name is¨C!¡± Charmander tried to say, but for some reason the last part came out as silence. He attempted to vocalize the sound several times, but it was as if he had been muted. ¡°Why can¡¯t I say my name?!¡± Panic began to set in, as he felt around his throat, trying to discern the impediment in his speech.


    <Stanley, walking in front, did not take notice of his companion¡¯s distress. Maybe I can name them Bucket, he thought. After all, he loved buckets.>


    ¡°No,¡± the young pokemon pleaded, as his entire future flashed before his eyes, always known as ¡®Bucket¡¯. ¡°Please no, at least let me pick? Or give me a real name?!¡±


    <Stanley remembered he already had a Bucket, and two of them could be confusing. He would need to think this over, since you couldn¡¯t change a name. He also considered naming his pokemon Bob, which was a fine name, but it might not be appropriate if his new friend were a girl. That idea reminded him of a funny song, and he briefly considered the idea of naming the pokemon Sue, regardless of gender.>


    ¡°Take all the time you need. I¡¯ll find a way to teach you my name, somehow.¡± Charmander said with exasperation, worried his trainer may jump on an early, terrible, idea for a name. If any of the onlookers felt the situation was odd, with a silent trainer leading a very vocal and emotive pokemon, none of them deigned to express it.


    <Only a few blocks into their journey, Stanley stopped outside a somewhat large building, the front covered in large windows, with a sign overhead proudly proclaiming the purpose of the building to all who could see. ¡°FOOD!¡± it shouted, in big bold and friendly letters. Stanley remembered that his mom asked him to fetch some carrots. Glancing at the money she provided, he attempted to count it only to remember he was not great at math. It was at this opportune moment that his companion made a loud, gurgling noise. Oh, Stanley realized, I haven¡¯t fed my pokemon since it hatched. Maybe I should buy it something to eat instead.>


    Charmander, having just experienced rapidly-onset hunger, was starting to hunch forward holding his stomach. ¡°That¨C that did not feel right. How did I just suddenly get this hungry?¡± He asked with a quiver of pain in his voice. Several advertisements for pokemon food were stuck to the windows, many showing overly-happy pokemon eating bowls of brown kibble. ¡°Oh, oh no, I¡¯m going to be stuck with dog food aren¡¯t I?¡±


    <Noting his new friend¡¯s distress, Stanley grabbed the lizard gently by the hand, and led him inside the store through the automatically-opening glass sliding doors. Stanley remembered that the carrots were with the other vegetables, from the times his mother took him here. After passing by several bright and colorful adverts that would persuade any other child to buy sugar-laden cavity-inducing facsimiles of food, the duo arrived in front of the locally-grown produce.>


    With a groan, Charmander was able to stand mostly upright and focus on the task at hand. ¡°Well, at least the human food looks normal, and I can read the text. Maybe I can write my questions and get some answers when we get home.¡± He postulated, planning to try and find some way to communicate with his new family.


    <Stanley stared at the carrots, for there were many of them, and his mother forgot to specify which kind she needed. Baby carrots, large carrots, diced carrots, spicy carrots, oh so many varieties to pick from! There was even a full bucket of carrots! But Stanley looked at the numbers, and the money in his hand. Oh no, which one can I buy? His thoughts fraught with terror.>


    With a look of disbelief, his partner counted the money, and read the labels. ¡°She said she gave you five Pokedollars. You can get a bag of baby carrots and still have plenty left,¡± he explained, trying to somehow cover for a child clearly behind in their academic development.


    <Stanley had no idea what his partner was saying, but it was clear the pokemon was trying to get his attention. What is it, Stanley thought, focusing his full attention on his compatriot.>


    With a recognition of the previous attempt¡¯s futility, along with yet another reminder that he was realistically as effective at vocally communicating as his trainer, Charmander pointed at the bag of baby carrots, then held up 1 finger. He would¡¯ve preferred a different single-finger gesture to represent his feelings, but at the moment this sorry child was his key to survival, and said gesture might not convey the same emotions with only three fingers to start with.


    <It says we can get one bag of the baby carrots, Stanley realized, questioning if his newly hatched pokemon was capable of reading and doing math despite being only a few hours old. Having faith, Stanley grabbed a bag and moved towards another stand. This one held a variety of apples; green, red, orange and red in a swirly pattern; why, there was even a pink one! Stanley knew his pokemon was hungry, but was unsure if they would want an apple, let alone how many he could still buy.>


    Gratefully, the orange lizard read over the prices, and pointed to the red apples, this time motioning with two fingers. There were no other shoppers nearby to witness this odd behavior, and the boy nodded while grabbing two of the red apples from the stand, before leading their troupe to the checkout kiosk. ¡°Self-checkout? I guess the pokemon world never really had to deal with rampant theft, huh.¡± He lamented, unsure whether he should be appreciative of the good fortune he had been blessed with.


    <Stanley scanned the carrots, then the two apples, with the machine ringing up a total cost of five Pokedollars exactly. Amazing, Stanley thought, my pokemon can do math really well. Maybe he can help with my homework next. Stanley took the receipt and placed it folded in his pocket, handing one of the apples to his partner while carrying the other with the bag of carrots.>


    ¡°Thank you!¡± Charmander chirped, quickly taking a large bite out of the apple. Sweet juice dribbled down his chin as he chewed slowly, a face of bliss savoring the flavor. The duo began their journey home, one happy to have completed his quest, the other excited to satisfy the unusual pangs of hunger.


    <The rest of the day was rather uneventful, as Stanley gave his pokemon a tour of the town. Dinner that night was a lovely vegetable medley, with Stanley¡¯s family giving their new member a plate of steamed vegetables, resolving to buy appropriate pokemon food tomorrow. The baby carrots Stanley procured were the beloved primary ingredient.>


    ¡°Wait, it was still mid-day when we left the store, it can¡¯t have taken us all afternoon to walk home?!¡± The fire type observed in a panic. The outside world was clearly evening with the sun on the horizon. ¡°It was barely past lunch when we left, and no way does it take six hours to walk a few blocks- agh!¡± he grunted, taking a knee and holding his head, symptoms of a migraine. ¡°Why, but we didn¡¯t do any of these-!¡± He squeaked out, as the world spun around him.


    <The family spent the evening watching television, before turning in for the night. Today was a good day, thought Stanley, as he tucked himself into bed, his pajamas decorated with a pattern of buckets over a blue fleece. Good night buddy, he thought as the lights went out, his partner next to him on the bed, careful to keep the flame away from anything that might catch fire.>


    Now fully dark, Charmander saw his chance and slowly crept off the bed, holding his head and making his way over to the small child¡¯s desk where he grabbed a pencil and paper. After a moment, allowing the headache to settle so he could focus, he held the pencil in two hands and gently wrote out his questions. ¡°Can you read this? Where am I? Who is that weird voice in my head?¡± Seemingly satisfied with his rough handwriting, he snuck out of Stanley¡¯s room and into the kitchen. Using a nearby step-stool to reach the counter, he placed the cry for help in front of the coffee machine. Hopeful it would be enough, he turned around and made his way back towards the child¡¯s bedroom.


    <Tut, tut, tut. No cheating, little one. Worried about his family¡¯s memory, the small pokemon wrote a reminder for them to buy his food the next day, and left it near the coffee machine.>


    In a panic, Charmander ran to the kitchen, in time to watch his message change to instead be a reminder to buy pokechow, in someone else¡¯s handwriting. ¡°How¡­¡± He said, pain in his eyes as he became aware of how trapped he was. ¡°I¡¯m trapped here,¡± he realized, sliding down to the floor with his back against the cabinet. ¡°Why is this happening to me? And how do I have memories of the time we just¡­ skipped over?¡±


    That is a bit mean, Narrator. You could¡¯ve waited until he went to sleep again.


    ¡°Who said that?!¡±

 Chapter 2_v2: Basic Math

    <Eric held the paper disappointed, as the math quiz showed a failing grade of zero points. ¡°Stanley, I know this can be difficult, but if you can¡¯t catch up in school before you turn 15, you won¡¯t be able to go on your journey,¡± he said. Stanley wished he had been allowed to bring his pokemon with him to school, I know he could help me, he thought.>


    Charmander was sitting in front of the television, a program about the history of the apricot pokeballs playing on the device. ¡°I could help you, but your dad has a point. Basic addition is a bare minimum to do much of anything.¡± He chided, observing a master craftsman hollow out the near-sphere organic shape.


    <¡±Stanley, this quiz doesn¡¯t have the answers on it, so why don¡¯t you retry it? Just get a new piece of paper and try working on it until dinner,¡± Eric suggested. He wanted his son to succeed, and thought the home environment with no pressures might give him the chance. Stanley, realizing that his father didn¡¯t require him to do things alone, grabbed a pencil and fresh paper from his bag, placing them on the table next to the quiz. I can do this, Stanley resolved, I just need a little help.>


    Watching Eric turn away, Charmander slid over to the table, reading the page. ¡°Ok, your first problem was¡­ three plus two. Wait, we did this at the grocery store, how did you forget?¡± He asked incredulously. The remaining problems were all the same, single-digit addition. ¡°Stanley, you know how bad this looks, right?¡±


    <Stanley put all his brain power into the first problem. Three plus two was, was¡­ His thoughts trailed off, before a bang of inspiration gave him the answer. Yes, thought Stanley, three plus two is two!>


    Charmander froze, mentally struck by the equivalent of a Thunder Wave attack, before pinching the bridge of his snout. ¡°Okay, Plan B.¡± He sighed, scampering to Stanley¡¯s room and returning with a handful of plastic construction toy pieces. Waving to get Stanley¡¯s attention, the lizard placed three pieces on the table in one pile, and two pieces in a separate pile. ¡°Here, we have three pieces, and two pieces. If we combine them into one pile, we have five pieces. Therefore, three plus two is five, get it?¡±


    <Stanley was confused, he was trying to do homework, not play. Why couldn¡¯t his pokemon understand he needed to work?>


    ¡°Look, three pieces, two pieces, same as the problem.¡± Charmander repeated, separating the two piles again, and motioning back and forth between them. ¡°Please tell me you can count, I¡¯m just trying to help.¡±


    <Stanley was confused by his friend¡¯s actions, unable to understand what it was saying. Why is it trying to get me to play with the three pieces, he thought. It¡¯s not like the plastic toys could have anything to do with this math quiz, they¡¯re just toys for fun and construction. Looking back at the quiz, Stanley realized two was not the correct answer, as that was the answer he had put the first time, which the teacher had so nicely signified was incorrect with a little red line through it.>


    ¡°Listen, Stanley, I know you know your numbers, which means you can count. If you can count, you can use this method to practice addition and subtraction. Just please, trust me, understand me,¡± Charmander pleaded. The vocalization had clearly drawn Eric¡¯s attention from nearby, but he said nothing, merely watching.


    <Wait, a pile of three, and a pile of two. Was his pokemon trying to help him, Stanley questioned, did it know of a new way to do math? With a burst of trust, Stanley once again counted the piles; three and two, just like the math problem. What would happen if he combined them, Stanley wondered, would this give him the answer? Stanley merged the two piles, and counted the pieces. One, two, three, then what came after three¡­four? And after that was¡­five, right? Five? Was the answer Five? It had to be, he had counted it himself. Two plus three was five!>


    ¡°Yes, two plus three is five, good job.¡± The small lizard groaned, now fully aware of the mountain he was going to carry his partner up.


    <Stanley wrote down the five, proud of himself. But will this work again, he asked himself. The next problem was four plus four, to which his original answer had also been two.>


    ¡°Oh sweet heavens, did you answer two for all of them? Surely that was the answer to at least one problem?¡± Charmander leaned up and over the small table, confirming both that Stanley had indeed written two as every answer, and that none of the problems would have a correct answer of two.


    <Stanley grabbed four pieces and put them in one pile, then made another pile of four pieces. He counted both piles again, until he was confident he had counted correctly. Then, merging the two piles, Stanley counted the result. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Eight! Unsure, Stanley wrote down the number and looked to his pokemon for confirmation.>The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Yes, four plus four is eight, good job,¡± Charmander confirmed. He relaxed, turning back to watch television and let Stanley finish the quiz. The television continued explaining the merits of apricots, and how the primitive humans first got the idea of the pokeball. ¡°You know, the games never really explained how people managed to convert a fruit into a device capable of conversion between energy and matter¡­¡± He pondered aloud, aware that nobody could understand him and now seriously questioning why his entire future was tethered to the individual who had just been taught how to count for solving addition problems.


    <Steadily, Stanley proceeded through the quiz, using the small plastic pieces to correctly determine every answer. Proudly, he waved the completed quiz at his father, eager to show his progress. With a quick glance, Eric could tell every answer was correct, with nary a two on the paper. ¡°Well done, son,¡± he congratulated. ¡°You got them all correct, I am proud of you.¡± Stanley, happy to have finally conquered basic addition, beamed and then sat next to his pokemon, blissfully unaware as to what was actually on the television beyond people, pokemon, and some food items.>


    Charmander spared a glance to the kitchen, where he locked eyes with Eric. There was an unspoken pause, an agreement, before they broke their shared gaze and returned to their normal activities. ¡°If that doesn¡¯t get his attention, I don¡¯t know what will,¡± the lizard mused.


    <I¡¯ve never had such an easy time doing homework, thought Stanley, as he planned and plotted ways to sneak his pokemon to school. I really want to go on a journey when I get older, and I need to do better in school or my parents won¡¯t let me go. Stanley began to question if his pokemon could help in subjects other than math, like language or history.>


    A few minutes passed, with hushed conversation in the kitchen as Eric was on the phone to someone. ¡°Stanley,¡± Eric called from the kitchen, hanging up the soft off-white phone in its cradle on the wall. ¡°I just had a conversation with your teacher Miss Potts; I explained the situation and she agreed to try letting your pokemon help you in class Monday. But she expects the both of you to behave, and any funny business means you can¡¯t bring him back.¡± His explanation was clear, with zero wiggle room.


    <Stanley was shocked, ecstatic, over the moon! My pokemon is going to join me at school, I¡¯ll make more friends and finally have someone who can help me catch up to the others, he beamed. No need to sneak or lie, he had permission, the glorious blessings to do exactly what he wanted!>


    ¡°How about you go get ready and we¡¯ll visit the park for a bit?¡± Eric suggested, walking into the living room and turning the television off. The boy, still absent any sort of visible emotion, made for his room to get ready to go. Eric leaned down, whispering to the pokemon ¡°I took a risk doing that, make sure it pays off.¡± Charmander, caught off-guard by the sentence and the fact Eric¡¯s voice sounded different, tried not to let the panic show on his face.


    ¡°What do you mean a risk?¡± the pokemon asked, walking beside the man as they went towards the front door.


    ¡°Listen, you can clearly understand me, but it¡¯s one-way. I know you tried to leave me a note on the coffee machine, but you need to be smarter if you want to get past it,¡± he said in a hushed whisper, quickly standing up after noticing the boy returning from his room.


    <Stanley was energetic, it had been a week since they last went to the park. He planned to try and conquer the climbing gym with his new pokemon. He considered trying to sneak to the battlefields, but realized his father was not going to let them slip away so casually. First a perfect math score, and now the park. Why, it was almost as if Arceus himself had come down to help young Stanley correct his life and rise to the greatness he knew was inside him.>


    The trio stepped outside, as Stanley led them towards the town park. Eric glanced down at Charmander, their earlier conversation interrupted. Charmander gave a grim resolute nod, as the three walked on under the cheerfully oppressive sun.


    <The trio had a wonderful time at the park; Eric took advantage of the time to rest and continue reading a book he had been studying lately, ¡®How to Properly Care for Your New Fire Type¡¯. Stanley ran everywhere, climbed every object which could offer a hand hold, and even attempted to build a permanent sand castle. At least until his father caught the pair and told them not to burn the sand into glass. Overall it was a great time, and when they returned home for supper it was a lovely family meal. Stanley was proud to show his mother how he had conquered his previous math quiz. After a quiet evening, the family went to bed to rest for the next day. Stanley was so excited it took him a while to go to sleep, for tomorrow was Monday!>


    <hr>


    Waking up, Charmander bolted off the bed and made a Combee-line for the bathroom. Not trying to be quiet, he hastily lifted the toilet lid just in time for the dinner he was being forced to remember eating to squeeze itself from his body. His head was throbbing, mouth burning from bile, and body starting to collapse from exhaustion from the trip he supposedly had enjoyed for several hours. Confident his belly was fully empty, he wearily reached up to flush but realized he was too short.


    With the lid closed, he pulled himself to climb atop the closed throne and hit the flush button on the very top. With a ¡®woosh¡¯, he could hear the water swirl beneath his feet as he slid off and onto the ground, moving to the bathtub and attempting to use the faucet. The main disadvantage of being barely a foot tall was an inability to access tall surfaces, like the human-sized sink. He gargled the cold water until he couldn¡¯t taste anymore, using the bottom of a towel to wipe his mouth.


    The orange pokemon slid to a seated position, his back against the edge of the cold bathtub, as he felt the pain recede, the memories done flooding in. He sat motionless for a while, in the dark, with only the light of his tail to illuminate the room; the only light in the oppressive overwhelmingly large darkness. It was small, weak, and barely strong enough to even reach the walls as the shadows danced menacingly in its trifle light.


    He froze like a Stantler hit with a flash as the room was fully lit. A glance at the doorway revealed ¨¦meric and Adrienne, both looking relieved in their nightgowns. ¡°We¡¯ve been waiting for you to hatch; welcome to the party.¡± He offered, moving to sit down beside the little lizard.


    Adrienne sat on the opposite side, smiling softly. ¡°I suppose introductions are in order; I¡¯m Adrienne, playing the role of Stanley¡¯s mother, Diane. And this is my husband, ¨¦meric, who is playing the role of Stanley¡¯s father, Eric.¡±


    The fire type blinked, visibly confused at the admissions, and managing to communicate his mental state. ¡°What?¡±


    ¡°We don¡¯t have too much time tonight, but let¡¯s get you up to speed on what we know,¡± she continued.


    Just remember little guy, you aren¡¯t alone.

 Chapter 3_v2: First Day at School

    <The exciting weekend had come to an end, and Monday morning crept above the horizon. Stanley was always happy to watch the sun rise, as it signified the start of something new. Today was certainly going to be a great day, as he was finally going to turn his grades around. Excitedly, Stanley prepped for his day, packed his backpack, and made perfect timing for breakfast. Eggs and toast, a classic.>


    As the boy sat at the table, the fourth to sit down, Eric began to pack away his papers into his satchel. Charmander repositioned himself on his chair, moving to center with the plate and placemat, away from Eric as he eagerly dug into his own breakfast.


    <¡±I need to head into the office a little early today champ, I trust you can walk yourselves to the bus stop?¡± Eric asked, standing up from the table, his plate having been completely cleaned. Diane smiled and gave him a quick kiss goodbye as she was nearly finished with her own food. ¡°Stanley, you¡¯ll need to hurry, or else you¡¯ll miss the bus.¡± His mom reminded him, as Stanley shoved the last piece of toast into his mouth. A full slice, dangling by a corner in his mouth, as he grabbed his bag with one hand and his pokemon with the other, bolting out the door and up the street.>


    Charmander could only watch as the majority of his breakfast receded away from him, along for the ride. ¡°Here¡¯s hoping I can swipe a few snacks later,¡± he grumbled. The jog was fairly short, only elongated by the indignation of the pokemon laughing at the sight of him being dragged about like a stuffed toy.


    <The duo ran and ran, barely catching the bus in time for Stanley to be the last one aboard. While the two tried to find a seat, many of the other children waved and said hello. I wasn¡¯t this popular last week, Stanley recognized, finding a seat for the two of them closer to the back.>


    There can¡¯t have been more than six other kids seated around them, and Charmander was the only pokemon visible, if the only one on the ¡®bus¡¯ at all. Trying to avoid garnering unwanted attention, he turned his gaze out the window to watch as the world went by. From what he learned this morning, the small school was located in Aquacorde Town to the north.


    <Turning in her seat, a brown-haired girl roughly Stanley''s age smiled and had a face plastered with joy. ¡°Hey, is that your pokemon?¡± she asked, her excitement rubbing off on Stanley. He nodded, remembering her name was Shauna and that she lived on the opposite side of Vaniville. ¡°They look cute, I¡¯m jealous! But won¡¯t you get in trouble bringing it to school?¡± Shauna asked, recalling the incident a month ago when another student brought a pokemon to school. Stanley was confident, he had permission after all. He wasn¡¯t going to get in trouble.>


    The girl gently sat back down and faced forward, having gotten no response from Stanley. Charmander seemingly took note of the interaction, glancing back at Stanley. The city was growing as they approached, and much larger than Vaniville had been. Overall the journey had been relatively short, as the ¡®bus¡¯ pulled up in front of the small school. The building was fairly small, maybe capable of hosting at most a hundred students. The age range of the students walking in or milling about was large, implying the school itself covered the formative years up until the start of their pokemon journeys. Some kids were escorted by a parent, others laughed while riding up on bikes, and a few were dropped off by a large pokemon. Above the entrance was a large sign, ¡®Southern Kalos Preparatory Academy¡¯.


    <Stanley was quick to notice his teacher Miss Potts standing in the center of the campus gates. She was certainly imposing, and clearly waiting for him to arrive. Upon making eye contact, she gestured for Stanley to speak with her immediately. I hope she didn¡¯t change her mind, thought Stanley as he disembarked the bus.>


    Charmander took a longer look when they stepped off, the ¡®bus¡¯ had been just a special carriage pulled by a pair of odd pokemon he didn¡¯t recognize. The powerful quadrupeds were barely exhausted from the trip and stood tall in the morning light, with soft brown fur topped with a mane of green leaves, and a pair of large black horns on their heads.


    Miss Potts herself was an equally imposing figure, a woman roughly Diane¡¯s age with a clean-cut pantsuit of deep purple with lavender pinstripes tastefully spaced in a vertical pattern. Her glasses had thin rims, perched in front of light brown eyes, and a face that would be considered stern. Her hair was stylized, with a base color of black, straightened and shoulder length, with a gradient to neon purple ends.


    <¡±Stanley, good morning to you,¡± she greeted, her tone firm but friendly. Stanley gave a small wave as he waited to hear what she had to say. The other children seemed to notice Stanley and his pokemon, but merely exchanged a few whispers before moving away. They likely expected him to get in trouble for violating school policy. Oh how Stanley was feeling smug, eagerly awaiting the moment they would realize their folly. ¡°Stanley, as you know the rules you are free to continue on while I educate your pokemon on what expectations we have of them.¡± Miss Potts informed, her back staying completely straight and upright. Stanley agreed, his pokemon would need to know what not to do while they were at school, and nodded before walking ahead.>You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Once he was far enough ahead, Miss Potts crouched down closer to the small lizard, until her head was roughly the same height the boy¡¯s had been. ¡°Welcome to Southern Kalos Preparatory Academy. Given what ¨¦meric described over the phone, and how you carry yourself here I must admit I am impressed. Young fire types aren¡¯t exactly known for composure and restraint.¡± She clarified, examining the fire monster while extending an open hand. ¡°I trust you will be able to behave as expected, and not force my hand to send you both home?¡± Charmander, with a resolute smile, accepted her handshake with his tiny closed fist. The handshake was somewhat comical to a witness, and with a smile Miss Potts stood again, pocketing her fist after the physical ritual of agreement.


    <The first warning bell rang out, reminding Stanley that he needed to be at his math class quickly. The young boy hustled to his classroom, confident that his buddy would be escorted by Miss Potts. Stanley knew his pokemon was smart, but even Miss Potts was acknowledging them, a handshake at their first meeting! With a companion who had already earned the fabled handshake, Stanley was certain his future was in good hands.>


    Charmander, while walking in the hallway alongside Miss Potts, was being fully briefed on what to expect for the day. ¡°I primarily teach math, and Stanley¡¯s classmates are fairly early in their progression. There are going to be smaller children in the class, and I expect we¡¯ll need to allow a moment for the novelty of a pokemon in the classroom to wear off. All I need you to do is remain silent, and not hurt any of the children; can you do that?¡± She asked, preparing the lizard for what he was about to face.


    ¡°Yea, I got it; be a statue and don¡¯t hurt the other kids.¡± He responded, aware that nobody in earshot would understand.


    ¡°Stanley has what we call the Protagonist¡¯s seat in the back right corner of the room, so you only need to worry about in front of you and on the right. But today is a test run, and I expect no outbursts from either of you. However you wish to help him is up to you, but do not distract the rest of my class.¡± Her warning came just as she walked up to a solid wooden door, with a frosted glass window mounted in the upper half and a cheerfully painted blue number ¡®106¡¯. The door opened without a sound as Miss Potts held it open for the two of them to step through.


    <¡±Settle down class, settle down,¡± Miss Potts called, as her students stopped conversing and realized today would be different. The class of nine was borderline buzzing in their seats. Miss Potts brought in a new pokemon today! ¡°Now, this pokemon belongs to Stanley, and it has been helping him with his math homework. Say hello everyone.¡± She smiles, as a loud cacophony of greetings from the eight other students in the class.>


    Charmander does his best to remain still, even as the children leave their seats to touch him. Keeping his claws tucked into fists, and mouth closed, he has faith that the adult beside him can keep the wandering hands away from his open-flame of a tail tip. It was certainly a trial, as the 8 young kids were seemingly trying their best to get a reaction.


    <After the excitement ended, Miss Potts guided the children back to their seats, allowing the orange lizard to walk back and sit beside Stanley. Oh, he was so cool, like out of a movie, Stanley thought. I hope he brought the plastic blocks today, thought Stanley, planning to use what he learned over the weekend to get through today¡¯s lessons.>


    Cool as a cucumber, or in this case an Articuno. Charmander¡¯s eyes scanned the room, trying to find anything he could use to help express math in physical constructs. As he had suspected, there was not much he could access without causing a distraction. Notably, each student had a small whiteboard on their desk with a dry erase marker.


    <¡±Now class,¡± Miss Potts began, ¡°You¡¯ve been doing very well on your additions and subtractions, so this week we¡¯ll be learning about addition of larger numbers.¡± She explained, as she began to write on the whiteboard at the head of the classroom. ¡°Let¡¯s start with something simple, what is ten plus ten?¡± She asks the room, and immediately a few hands raise into the air. Stanley was worried, he didn¡¯t have that many toys to use to count. Miss Potts motioned towards a child in the front, who correctly responded with the answer of twenty. Miss Potts would proceed to write more problems on the board, calling on a different student each time, until the only one left was Stanley. ¡°Now Stanley, your turn, what is thirty plus twenty?¡± She asked.>


    Charmander watched as the boy sat completely still, lost in thought, until Stanley began to write the problem down, and locked eyes with the pokemon, pleading for help with the most stoic face he¡¯d had all day. Gently, Charmander put a single finger on the problem, covering up the three and two, showing the problem of zero plus zero. With a nod to his trainer, he watched as Stanley slowly understood and wrote a zero. Then, the finger shifted to cover the column of zeros, revealing the problem of three plus two.


    <It¡¯s the same problem we solved over the weekend, Stanley remarked. Three plus two is five! As he wrote down the five, Stanley saw the results of his friend¡¯s little trick. Thirty plus twenty is five zero? Slowly, he revealed his answer to Miss Potts, expecting to be wrong yet again. ¡°Fifty is correct Stanley, well done¡± she congratulated him. He did it, Stanley got a math problem right on the first try! This was glorious, it would work!>


    Charmander stood a little straighter at the praise, with a soft smile. He shuffled over just behind Stanley so he could see the board while helping the boy.


    <The rest of math class went well, as Stanley was happily able to solve all the problems presented, and he didn¡¯t even need the toys to count this time! Stanley was looking forward to their next class, languages. I wonder if pokemon can read, Stanley pondered. He knew they couldn¡¯t speak, but somehow could understand when spoken to. Could they be taught to read or write?>


    Charmander did his best to grit and bear it, as the headache and foreign memories flooded in. Even if this time was only an hour or two, this was going to be an issue. Forget being exposed for his ability to read and write, these time skips were killer, even if so far they had only been a few hours at a time. The idea of one being longer, perhaps a day or more, was causing the poor pokemon a near panic attack. ¡°No, please no. No more, please,¡± he cried softly, begging for the pain to stop.


    Gradually, the pain began to fade, leaving the Charmander hale and hearty.


    With a panicked jolt, Charmander sat upright, scanning the room to find the source of the second voice, the soft and kind one. ¡°Thank you¡­ are you, like him, the other one?¡± he asked softly, trying not to be overheard, his face contorted in fear.


    No, but I¡¯ll make the memory sync less painful. Listen; you are strong, you will get through this. Just know that I¡¯ll be here to watch over you.

 Chapter 4_v2: Behind the Curtain

    ¡°Stanley,¡± Miss Potts called, ¡°I am afraid you will need to leave your pokemon with me for the rest of the day. You may come by during lunch to feed them, and to pick them up at the end of the school day.¡± The pair, having nearly left the classroom, made an abrupt about-face. ¡°I was the only teacher who gave permission after all. But I¡¯ll speak with your other teachers and see what we can arrange,¡± she offered.


    <Stanley was surprised, he had forgotten about the other teachers! He would just need to go through the rest of the day like normal then. But he was confident! Miss Potts could be very persuasive, and he was certain she would be able to convince the others. Stanley nodded and left, now needing to hurry as to not be late for his next class.>


    As the boy left, Charmander took a seat next to Miss Potts¡¯ desk, an expression of determination on his face while gently rubbing his head. After a moment, the teacher strode over to her desk and began withdrawing specific papers, each appearing to be a math quiz. ¡°We have maybe a minute before it jumps forward again, probably to the end of the school day or later.¡± She explained, arranging the papers into a neat little packet and tucking it within a tan envelope. Withdrawing a crumpled paper note from her pocket, she glances over it again before writing on the back side and tucking it in the envelope, and then writing ¡°To Eric¡± on the cover before sealing it. ¡°You need to make sure you bring this home with you, and not to open it until then. If you have a pokeball, it might be easier to transport¨C¡±


    <Stanley was rather bored by the rest of the school day. Oh it had been a wonderful time in his math class, but history was boring as usual. And he had gotten a demerit for being unable to read the sentence aloud in languages, again. It wasn¡¯t his fault, thought Stanley, he just couldn¡¯t figure out why nobody could understand him. Lunch was also boring, as he ate a fish salad sandwich with an apple. He loved his mom¡¯s cooking, but was unable to escape jealousy of the kids who were eating mini pizzas with soda. Stanley made sure to remember to stop by Miss Potts¡¯ classroom after the final bell, he didn¡¯t want to leave his pokemon alone at the school overnight! The bus ride home was even more uneventful than usual. As the duo were approaching the door to their home, Stanley felt a nagging feeling in the back of his head, questioning if he had forgotten something.>


    With a shake of his head, Charmander seemed to awaken from a fugue state and take stock of his surroundings. With a grimace he followed the child into the house, and upon seeing the boy drop his backpack, began digging through it to find only textbooks and papers. ¡°Shit, the envelope¡­¡± Tearing a small corner off a scrap piece of paper, and utilizing Stanley¡¯s black and red pens, the lizard drew a small caricature of a pokeball and quickly looked for both the boy and Eric.


    <¡±Welcome home, son.¡± Eric said, a smile on his face as he finished his day¡¯s work before turning away from the family computer. ¡°How did your day go?¡± He asked. Stanley was befuddled, for he indeed had a good time in math class, but lamented at how his other classes had gone. With a shrug, Stanley decided to start on his homework for the day, rationalizing that the better he did in school the more permissions he could garner.>


    With a glance, Eric eyed the small pokemon, waiting. The lizard nodded, and handed over his rough sketch of a pokeball. After only a short moment of gazing at the iconography, Eric had an epiphany and hastily drafted a message to the study organizers asking if they would be able to supply a pokeball. It took easily ten times longer than drafting the email, to regain his composure when it bounced back with an invalid recipient message. ¡°Honey,¡± he started, as Diane poked her head from the kitchen, ¡°did you still need to run to the market to get the onions for dinner tonight?¡± She was ready to respond when she caught his gaze, her face shifting in recognition.


    ¡°Why yes, I can¡¯t believe I forgot! Silly me, I¡¯ll go buy them while it¡¯s still early.¡± She responded, tucking a bag of white and brown vegetables into a cupboard on the wall. ¡°Stanley, since your pokemon probably didn¡¯t get much exercise at school with you today, would you like for them to accompany me on a walk while you finish your homework?¡±


    <Stanley looked up from his homework to nod, for he had learned that physical gestures were equal ways to convey a ¡®yes¡¯ or ¡®no¡¯ as simply saying them. Why, he had even theorized the correct sequence of gestures to say ¡®Dear sir or madam, your shoelaces are untied and covered in cream cheese¡¯, which was not a sentence he ever expected would need to be uttered. And yet, being prepared for such an occasion never hurt.>


    <hr>


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.


    Adrienne and Charmander had walked out the front door after she grabbed her purse, the two walking in silence until they were a few houses away, before she asked ¡°So what are we actually buying?¡± The pokemon handed his sketch over, before raising a single finger, and then pointing at himself a moment later. ¡°I guess he wasn¡¯t exaggerating. But ever since ¡®it¡¯ arrived, I guess nothing has really been normal.¡± The two continued on, stopping at a general store just opposite the ¡®FOOD!¡¯ Grocery from before, with a cheerful blue roof. Inside were a few aisles of goods, the majority of them seemingly oriented towards pokemon training. Behind the cashier, a teenager was watching some sort of video stream on their Holo Caster before noticing the customer. The sound was turned down, but it clearly contained explosions, loud roars, and a commentator shouting a mile a minute.


    ¡°Ah, hello there! Can I help you with anything?¡± The girl asked, muting the device and hiding it behind the counter. Adrienne placed the boxed pokeball on the counter, the packaging had a clear window on the front, a bar code on the back, and a list of instructions covering the bottom and sides. ¡°OK, and if that¡¯ll be all I also need your trainer ID please.¡± The teen requested, as Adrienne withdrew a plastic card from her purse and passed it over.


    ¡°Watching anything good?¡± Adrienne asked, as the clerk went through the process of verifying the trainer ID. Said clerk bit her lip and froze, pleading with her customer. ¡°Don¡¯t fret, I ¡®studied¡¯ up before starting my journey, too.¡± She admitted with a smile. This caused the teenager to relax, returning the ID.


    ¡°Highlights from the conference, especially for water specialists. I¡¯ll be starting my journey next year, and I just met my Froakie starter. She¡¯s a lot of fun; so I want to save up what I can to support her.¡± She clarified, revealing the Holo Caster from below the counter, which was frozen on a scene featuring a Magneton and a Lapras.


    The teen scanned a complicated image on the pokeball box, ringing up the item. ¡°That will be 200 Pokedollars, ma¡¯am.¡± The exchange continued, meanwhile the flame lizard explored what else was for sale. Adrienne refused the plastic bag, accepting the box and receipt directly. ¡°Thanks and have a nice day!¡± The teen called, quickly returning to watching the match on their device.


    The pair, having accomplished their main objective, continued across to the grocery to obtain the onions they had set out for. ¡°You know, at first we thought we could fight it¡­¡± She began, selecting from the pile of near-perfect looking onions and placing them in a small net for a bag. ¡°But after redoing the same day, over and over¡­ we realized that it could just go on forever,¡± she continued, twisting the bag and forming a small knot with the opening.


    ¡°The days we played along, were the smoothest. It doesn¡¯t demand anything unreasonable or dangerous.¡± She explained, glancing around to ensure nobody else was in earshot. Absent-mindedly, she grabbed a small bag of candies while passing by. ¡°But only a few of us seem to notice it. Especially after it directs you to do something, or say something.¡±


    Reaching the self-checkout, she began to scan the handful of items she had selected. ¡°Most of the town has no idea what¡¯s going on, or even that time keeps reverting. But I¨C¡± she paused, tapping through the touch screen and inserting a plastic card into the device. ¡°I am just done with caring for a child who is beyond the believable levels of stupidity. It was odd at first, and I thought he would improve with time.¡±


    The kiosk spat out a printed receipt, which she pocketed while turning to face the fire type. ¡°But he hasn¡¯t, and at this point calling a thirteen year old who can¡¯t do basic addition ¡®mentally challenged¡¯ is an insult to the actual mentally challenged individuals who try their best every day.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯m worried,¡± he responded, looking at the polished linoleum floor. ¡°There¡¯s no way that kid will be capable of a journey anytime soon.¡± His opinion fell on near-deaf ears as the two left the grocery store and began the walk home.


    ¡°¨¦meric and I will do what we can to assist you, behind the scenes. We know Miss DuPont¨C or as you know her, Miss Potts¨C is also aware, and coordinating with us. But ultimately, despite our previous best work over these past two months, you are our only hope for getting this child on his journey.¡± Adrienne informed her late afternoon traveling companion, as the two passed dozens of homes where other families were already sharing dinner.


    <Stanley closed his textbook in triumph, his history homework was completed, just in time for his mom to walk through the door with the onions. ¡°Stanley,¡± she called, lifting a bag of sweets, ¡°I heard you did well today, so I bought us some candies for after dinner to celebrate.¡± Hooray!, thought Stanley, eager to be rewarded for his hard work. Maybe if I do better, next time she¡¯ll make us cookies, or a cake!, he thought.>


    Charmander stumbled forward a step, off-balance when the door closed behind him as Diane headed for the kitchen with the groceries from their trip. He stood still for a moment before making his way towards the kitchen. After washing her hands to pick up where she left off, Diane glanced down, asking ¡°Did you want to help me today?¡± With a nod, the orange lizard began to push a tall stool towards the nearby counter before climbing up to sit before the workspace.


    ¡°In that case, why don¡¯t you help peel the garlic for me?¡± Diane asked, passing the reptile a handful of cloves. With a nod, and some assistance washing his claws, the little pokemon got to work at removing the white shells, and gently crushing the cloves. He was unable to help with bigger tasks, but the two worked in tandem to the best of his capabilities before she dismissed him so she could focus on the steps requiring a full-sized human body.


    From the living room, the boy watched unmoving, his eyes fixed on the pokemon without blinking, a face completely devoid of emotion or expression. A careful observer would note the absolute statuesque rigidity and lack of breathing by the subject. A smart observer would never call attention to any of this in the first place.


    But you, dear reader, are not a participant in this story, so what is your opinion?

 Chapter 5_v2: First Pokeball

    <Stanley powered down his breakfast for the morning, having woken up just slightly earlier than yesterday and grateful for the extra few minutes this had allowed him. His family were around the table eating as well, albeit not quite as quickly as he was.>


    ¡°By the way Stanley, you¡¯ll want to practice using a pokeball starting today. Your pokemon may be cute now, but if it evolves people may be uncomfortable with having a large fire type walking around.¡± Eric suggested, sliding the brand new and shiny pokeball in its box across the table. Charmander, taking notice, seemed to try and shovel the remainder of breakfast into its mouth before hopping down to stand before the child, careful not to send any food particles on the papers next to Eric.


    <Oh wow my first pokeball, Stanley remarked, his eyes entrapped by the clean red shine off the top of the orb. Unboxing the sphere was simple, as Stanley ripped the top of the plastic box off and flagrantly discarded it on the table to extract the shiny orb within. Just like he¡¯d seen on the television, Stanley grabbed the ball, took aim, and threw it at his pokemon.>


    The ball hit the lizard on the head with a thunk, before plopping to the ground inert while the lizard rubbed the light bruise on its head. ¡°Ow, kid did you not read the instructions?¡± It asked sarcastically, likely knowing that the answer needn¡¯t be spoken.


    <Stanley, unsure what he did wrong, grabbed the ball in disbelief, as his mother informed him ¡°Stanley, you need to press the button three times, then throw it to catch a pokemon.¡± Oh, Stanley realized, and quickly pressed the small button three times, causing the little button to intermittently start glowing a pulsing red, before he gently lobbed the ball at his pokemon.>


    This time the ball fell softly, clicked, and snapped open as a bright red energy surrounded Charmander. The lizard quickly vanished amidst the energy as it shrunk down into the ball. The ball wiggled for a few seconds before the light went out and it gave the chime of a successful capture. ¡°Now Stanley, try to keep your friend in his pokeball today when you aren¡¯t in math class, OK?¡± Eric suggested, moving to put on his coat and expanding a pokeball from his own pocket. With a gentle kiss goodbye to Diane, Eric walked out the front door and called forth a Pidgeot. Climbing the giant bird¡¯s back, Eric waved goodbye to Stanley as he and the pokemon flew off for work.


    <Stanley waved goodbye to his mom as he left to catch the bus. It was always exciting to see dad fly off on the company¡¯s Pidgeot, and Stanley hoped he¡¯d have a pokemon that would be able to fly him everywhere someday soon. Walking towards the bus stop, Stanley began to feel slightly mischievous. Why do I need to keep my pokemon in its pokeball until we get there?, he questioned. With a glance to ensure his mom hadn¡¯t secretly followed him, Stanley withdrew the pokeball from his pocket, clicking the button just as his father had done to make it expand in his hand. He paused to lob the ball on the ground nearby to let his partner out.>You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    The ball fell to the ground, with a single bounce, but nothing happened and both the pokeball and boy stood motionless.


    <The pokemon exited from its pokeball in a blaze of fiery red energy.>


    To an outside observer, this would be one of the scenes where, to save money, the animation team would draw a simple still frame, and zoom out over several seconds to indicate a motionless tension; a standoff in this situation.


    <The pokemon, understanding Stanley¡¯s intent, emerged from its pokeball, immediately.>


    This time there was a flash, as the ball snapped open to reveal Charmander after the bright white light faded. ¡°You need to do the thing, you need to vocalize something like ¡®Charmander, come out!¡¯ for me to know what it is you want,¡± he explained.


    <Stanley, unsure what his pokemon was saying, plucked the ball from the ground and continued walking to the bus stop. Yes, this feels much better, he thought, happier to no longer be walking alone.>


    ¡°If you¡¯re going to enforce that we follow along with your story, the least you could do is be consistent with the established rules,¡± Charmander continued, keeping only two paces behind the child. ¡°How do you expect us to battle if he can¡¯t say anything?¡±


    <Stanley wasn¡¯t sure what his pokemon was saying. Maybe it was trying to reassure him for class today, or did he forget his homework at home?>


    ¡°No you damned dollar-store discount David Attenborough, I¡¯m talking to you. If we¡¯re going to play by your rules, you should too,¡± he said, raising his voice with tones of anger and frustration, as the child immediately ground to a halt. The world was still alive, still moving, but the way the child appeared frozen in time felt off.


    <You seem to be unaware of your role in this story, small one.>


    With a deep breath, Charmander gathered as much courage as it could find. ¡°I am aware of my role, but you are completely disregarding basic, established rules of this universe. How am I to fulfill my role when you have not provided me with your expectations?¡±


    <Such an accusation is quite rich coming from an individual who is attempting to circumvent the human-pokemon communication barrier via written notes, or were you entirely sure as to your role? A pokemon that can read and write is exceptionally ridiculous and outside the bounds of this narrative. How about this, why don¡¯t we start over? Yes, then we can both adhere to the ¡®proper rules¡¯ as you called them.>


    Ugh, Pokemon Parable, scene one take two; Action!

 Chapter 6_v2: Deja Vu

    <Stanley watched from next to the egg, fascinated as it began to wiggle back and forth, while his parents moved to turn off the television and position themselves to see the small miracle of life. It had been quite a wait, but they were eager to welcome the new member of their family.>


    An orange scaled arm burst from the shell, with three clawed fingers, as the pokemon inside struggled to escape its former prison. The arm flailed about, trying to widen the hole and make way for the slightly larger round head that pushed at the side of the opening. Failing to do so, it withdrew the arm, allowing an orange snout to shove against the hole for a breath of air.


    <¡±I guess it isn¡¯t a Ralts, hah.¡± Eric laughed, his guess being wildly incorrect. ¡°Nor a Sentret, guess I was wrong on it being something soft and fuzzy.¡± Diane admitted, having hoped for a soft cuddly partner for her son. Stanley thought it was weird his parents would have a specific preference, he just wanted someone who could understand him.>


    With one solid shove, the top of the egg cracked up and opened like the lid on a tin can, with the small pokemon¡¯s reptilian head poking out and breathing hard. Slowly maneuvering to clamber out of the former egg, the orange pokemon wiggled left to right, covered in goop and letting out a small cry ¡°Damn it, why?!¡± The quarter-meter tall pokemon was small for its species, but having just emerged from an egg this was bound to change with time. Its cream-colored underbelly continuously expanded and contracted as it caught its first breaths, before opening a pair of sky-blue eyes to take in the world.


    <Stanley was happy, his new friend looked healthy and did not appear to have the wrong number of limbs. ¡°Oh, huh, I don¡¯t actually recognize this one.¡± Eric mused, as he and Diane worked a towel to clean off their son¡¯s new pokemon before it made a mess of the kitchen. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a fire type?¡± Diane asked, slightly on edge while pointing at the tip of its tail, ¡°Can we raise a fire type here? I worry for the carpets and drapes.¡±>


    While the two adults were careful about getting the cotton towels too close to the open flame at the tip of his tail, the new hatchling seemed to perk up at their words. ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t we already do this? Why was I back in the egg?¡± Charmander attempted to grab its tail, but failed as they could barely stand, its balance not being helped by the four human hands trying to clean it off. ¡°This doesn¡¯t make any sense, did I go back in time?!¡± It continued to wail, albeit not in a way any human could comprehend.


    <The young pokemon seemed to be brimming with energy. I wonder if they want to go exploring with me today, Stanley pondered. ¡°Stanley, I hope you¡¯re ready for this new responsibility.¡± Eric said, moving the remains of the egg to the bin and starting to clean the fragments that were spread across the room. ¡°Yes honey, you¡¯re still too young to go on an adventure, but maybe getting a head start will help you practice communicating with other kids?¡± Diane chipped in, folding the goopy towel that may not be recoverable with a simple wash.>


    ¡°Wait, are you seriously having them repeat the same words and actions every time they reset?¡± The small pokemon questioned. It could only look up at the titans towering above, even the small child was nearly double his height.


    <Stanley stood up from the low table and moved to the front door, where he sat down to don and lace his shoes. I hope my new pokemon likes to go exploring, Stanley thought as he finished the last bow and waited at the door, willing his new pokemon to join him.>


    Under Eric and Diane¡¯s nervous glances, Charmander sighed and hopped off the chair, moving to join the boy. Once the duo were near the door, the lizard waited for a moment.


    <¡±Don¡¯t go out into the tall grass Stanley! You¡¯re not a trainer yet, so just do a normal walk around town.¡± Eric suggested, smiling to see that somehow things were already looking up. ¡°Oh, if you go by the grocer can you buy some carrots for tonight?¡± Diane asked, pulling a few Pokedollars from her purse and offering them to Stanley. That shouldn¡¯t be too hard, thought Stanley, as he accepted the both the quest and offered currency.>


    With an errant glance, Charmander locked eyes with Eric and Diane, he subtly placed his palms together and leaned forward in a slight bow. The duo¡¯s happy expressions faltered for a moment, as the child and pokemon walked out the front door. The view was instantly calming, as the lizard took the extra moment to take in the view of their house. It hadn¡¯t changed, still being composed of stone walls with creeping ivy decorating several places, though the styling somehow evoked the image of a countryside cottage in a certain country. ¡°Why does this make me feel like I want a croissant?¡± He asked nobody in particular.


    <Sitting atop the fence, a cute Fletchling whistled a merry tune, taking notice of the pair as they approached. Hello Fletchling, thought Stanley, your song is very beautiful today. Stanley waved to the bird as he opened the gate, as he received a cheerful tune in response.>


    ¡°Ah, you must be the egg he¡¯s been carrying around, eh?¡± The bird inquired, its gaze now on the lizard at the boy¡¯s heels.


    ¡°Yea, and we¡¯ve already had this conversation before,¡± Charmander responded, catching the bird off-guard. It trilled a happy high-pitched laugh with a smile.


    ¡°Well if that isn¡¯t the silliest thing a hatchling has said to me in a while.¡± The bird got a chuckle, clearly entertained. ¡°I suggest you hurry along before you lose Stanley; and welcome to Vaniville!¡± It said, taking to the sky to fly elsewhere. Charmander, seeing that his companion was now almost a house ahead, broke into a jog to catch up.


    <He must¡¯ve wanted to say hi to Fletchling, I should¡¯ve waited a bit, thought Stanley. Maybe my pokemon likes talking to others, he concluded. Stanley briefly thought about how he read about psychic pokemon being able to converse telepathically with humans. Maybe if I have a pokemon that can talk for me, others might not be so uncomfortable with me, he theorized.>


    Charmander followed behind silently, his face determined and illustrating just how fast the gears were spinning in his head. Meanwhile the peaceful sunshine and sounds of springtime were everywhere in the small town. Flowers were in full bloom, and small bug pokemon would infrequently flutter flower to flower.


    <Stanley continued walking, waving to neighbors as they passed. I wonder what I should name my pokemon, Stanley pondered, unsure of either the personality or gender of his new friend. How do you even check for that?>


    Charmander remained quiet, walking in silent lockstep behind the child.


    <Maybe I can name them Bucket, he thought. After all, he loved buckets.>Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Taking a gamble again, Charmander kept quiet.


    <Stanley remembered he already had a Bucket, and two of them could be confusing. He would need to think this over, since you couldn¡¯t change a name. He also considered naming his pokemon Bob, which was a fine name, but it might not be appropriate if his new friend were a girl. That idea reminded him of a funny song, and he briefly considered the idea of naming the pokemon Sue, regardless of gender.>


    As the duo continued, they came up to the main shopping area, where the grocery and general stores sat on opposite sides of the path. ¡°I wonder if they have a hospital or Pokecenter somewhere in town,¡± Charmander pondered aloud.


    <Only a few blocks into their journey, Stanley stopped outside a somewhat large building, the front covered in large windows, with a sign overhead proudly proclaiming the purpose of the building to all who could see. ¡°FOOD!¡± it shouted, in big bold and friendly letters. Stanley remembered that his mom asked him to fetch some carrots. Glancing at the money she provided, he attempted to count it only to remember he was not great at math.>


    ¡°Alright, I am a dumb, newborn pokemon. I cannot read the human language, or count. The boy will just have to solve this one on his own.¡± The lizard recited, resolving to try and remain in character. Though, he was absolutely vibrating in agitation watching the child attempt to count the money.


    <No problem, thought Stanley, as he walked into the store, sure that he had enough money for some carrots. Not wanting to be separated, Stanley grabbed the lizard gently by the hand, and led him inside the store through the automatically-opening glass sliding doors. Stanley remembered that the carrots were with the other vegetables, from the times his mother took him here. After passing by several bright and colorful adverts that would persuade any other child to buy sugar-laden cavity-inducing facsimiles of food, the duo arrived in front of the locally-grown produce.>


    <Stanley stared at the carrots, for there were many of them, and his mother forgot to specify which kind she needed. Baby carrots, large carrots, diced carrots, spicy carrots, oh so many varieties to pick from! There was even a full bucket of carrots! But Stanley looked at the numbers, and the money in his hand. Oh no, which one can I buy? His thoughts fraught with terror.>


    Charmander, who was clearly broadcasting his discontent with the situation, walked over and pointed at the bucket of carrots, which had a price of ten Pokedollars.


    <Shaking his head, Stanley knows he has less than ten Pokedollars, and that he can¡¯t afford the bucket. Such a shame, he felt it was a nice bucket, and clearly his new pokemon also loves a good bucket. Taking a random guess, Stanley grabs a bag of baby carrots and starts to head towards the checkout. I¡¯m sure this is small enough, he decides as he scans the bag with the automated terminal.>


    ¡°Right,¡± Charmander remarks with sass while attempting to steal an apple. ¡°I forgot he¡¯s only as dumb as you need him to be.¡±


    <The pair returned home, with a bag of baby carrots, the remaining 2 Pokedollars, and certainly not a stolen apple with a bite taken out of it. I got the carrots!, Stanley mimed as he entered the front door. The walk home had been peaceful, as the sun had started to rest and paint the sky a glorious orange. The same orange as his friend¡¯s scales!>


    The lizard, now bereft of his pilferage, closed the front door behind him with a pang of annoyance. Catching Eric¡¯s attention, he draws a circle in the air with his claws, before pointing at himself. ¡°You know Stanley, if you¡¯re going to be a proper Pokemon trainer, we should get a Pokeball for you to carry your new friend around in,¡± Eric suggested. ¡°Why don¡¯t I go and pick one up for you tomorrow morning, that way you can practice with him?¡±


    <That would be fantastic, thought Stanley, as he practiced poses for throwing a pokeball. I need a cool victory dance, he realized, as he began to try different moves he saw other trainers do on television. Not wanting to be left out, his pokemon joined him in practicing cool victory poses.>


    With a shrug, the orange pokemon moved to join the child, and began to act a fool.


    <Dinner was ready soon after, and the four enjoyed the steamed vegetables, with Stanley¡¯s carrots as the main hero of the dish. The family spent the evening watching television, before turning in for the night. Today was a good day, thought Stanley, as he tucked himself into bed, his pajamas decorated with a pattern of buckets over a blue fleece. Good night buddy, he thought as the lights went out, his partner next to him on the bed, careful to keep the flame away from anything that might catch fire.>


    <hr>


    After he was certain the boy was asleep, Charmander slid off the bed, and stealthily crept towards the living room. He woke up the computer, with a pencil and pad of paper on the desk for tonight¡¯s notes, disappointed to find the pad was fresh and empty. He made sure to turn the volume all the way off, glancing at the door to Stanley¡¯s room to make sure he had closed it properly.


    ¡°Well, aren¡¯t you as adorable as a baby Eevee,¡± a sly voice whispered from behind him. Sitting ram-rod straight in a panic, the lizard slowly rotated the chair around to view his silent assailant; a rather powerful Sylveon grinning at his unease. ¡°I guess she wasn¡¯t exaggerating then,¡± she continued, gently patting the round orange head with her ribbons.


    ¡°I am guessing you¡¯re the one Adrienne is always carrying around?¡± He asked, before turning back to the computer, using both claws to guide the mouse to the web browser. Sylveon sauntered around to his left side, with a grin betraying her interest in the little one. ¡°It¡¯s nice to finally meet you, I guess. I don¡¯t have a name yet, but with any luck it won¡¯t be Bucket.¡± He introduced himself, as with the bookmarked page loaded he began to read up on the Kalos region.


    ¡°Nice to meet you then. My name is F¨¦e¡¯renard, though do try not to pronounce my name as horribly as you write,¡± she teased. Charmander highlighted a word, before looking at the white pokemon with a sunken frown of disbelief.


    ¡°Can you repeat that for me, slowly please?¡± He asked, concerned.


    ¡°F¨¦e, renard,¡± she chided, putting extra emphasis on the appropriate syllables as he groaned in response. ¡°Rather a rude one, aren¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°No, sorry, it¡¯s just¡­ Your name, her name, I finally understand why everything feels weird.¡± He clarified, returning to the PC and pulling up the region map. ¡°This is the French region, which explains the architecture, the food, your names, ugh. I didn¡¯t actually play this one.¡± He explained, drawing a confused response from the faerie pokemon.


    ¡°Your words are confusing, and yet imply knowledge beyond what a one day old child should have. So, tell me, what is your plan for beating The Voice?¡± She inquired, spinning the chair again to force him to face her.


    ¡°Well, first, do you know the names of any of the kids in this town? Especially the ones who might almost be of age for going on their journey?¡± He asked, grabbing the paper and pencil to jot down ideas.


    ¡°That is a rather odd question. I do, but what might be in it for Adrienne and I?¡±


    ¡°This seems like the kind of town the protagonist would start from, with a pokemon from the region¡¯s main pokemon professor. They end up being the strongest trainer in the region, heck even strong enough to dominate other regions too. If Stanley travels with them, The Voice will get the journey he wants to see, and we¡¯ll be unlikely to face another big re-do.¡± There was a brief lull after the explanation, before she gestured for him to continue. ¡°We can¡¯t beat The Voice, we can only play along. If he wants Stanley to be a pokemon master, tagging along with someone strong is our best bet. That and the sooner he leaves, the sooner your trainer gets her life back.¡±


    With a nod, F¨¦e¡¯renard sat down on her haunches, ¡°Good, I approve of this plan. Unfortunately, there are only three other children in town who are the boy¡¯s age; Shauna, Serena, and Calem. They are good friends, I hear. And both Serena and Calem have parents who competed in the conference their first year.¡± The lizard promptly writes down the names, though their legibility is questionable.


    ¡°Does Adrienne still have any other pokemon, or just you?¡± Charmander asked, putting the paper down on the desk, and changing the page to look up more information on the faerie before him.


    ¡°Just me, unfortunate for you. After she met ¨¦meric, she decided to settle down for a while, so the rest of our team is currently staying at the gym in Laverre City. I still don¡¯t see how she fell for him though, did you know that bird isn¡¯t even his? It works for his employer, just to bring him to and from the city.¡± She chided, her voice low enough not to be audible in the next room.


    Resolution burning in his eyes, Charmander faces her with a serious expression. ¡°Can you train me?¡± He asks.


    With a curious smirk at the entertaining idea, she asks ¡°And why would I do such a thing?¡±


    ¡°Because the boy is mute, and The Voice expects me to actually win battles. You have experience, and want us both gone as soon as possible,¡± he explained, laying out his reasoning.


    ¡°Damn right we do,¡± she agrees with a sharp smile. ¡°But you¡¯re not going to get very far if your trainer is dead weight. What¡¯ll you do when a different team member is on the field?¡±


    With a sigh, the lizard slumped back in the chair. ¡°Yea, I know. I¡¯d have more success as a trainer than just a pokemon,¡± he lamented, before his eyes opened wider than a child in a toy store.


    ¡°You¡¯ve just thought up something crazy haven¡¯t you?¡± She inquired, her eyes fixated on the bundle of madness before her.


    ¡°Yea, actually I did. Hey, uh, other voice¡­ Can the British guy hear this conversation?¡± He asked, to no-one in particular, as F¨¦e¡¯renard looked at him skeptically.


    Not a word. So, what crazy idea did you have in mind?

 Chapter 7_v2: Everyone Starts Somewhere

    <Good Morning, Stanley thought as he rose from his slumber, the sun peeking through the curtains. He was the only one in his bed, and remembered that his pokemon was an early Pidgey. The smell of breakfast wafted through the crack of the slightly ajar doorway. Changing out of his pajamas, Stanley emerged into the kitchen to find his mom scraping a heaping of eggs and hash browns onto his plate. ¡°Good morning Stanley, be sure to eat up before you leave for school,¡± she said with a smile. On the floor near the table, Stanley could see Pidgeot, Sylveon, and his pokemon eating their breakfast with gusto.>


    ¡°Oh god, why does it taste so strong? It¡¯s like they found a way to make dirt taste like peaches and bacon.¡± Charmander complained, struggling to eat the Pokechow from the bowl on the floor.


    ¡°Stop being such a baby. You didn¡¯t really think you¡¯d get to eat at the table again did you?¡± The fox sniped, as the ribbons worked like cute tentacles to bring the pellets daintily to her mouth. The bird only nodded, offering no commentary.


    <After Stanley finished eating, he glanced at the clock. Oh no, I¡¯m going to miss the bus!, he worried. He reached for the pokeball and, as practiced, properly returned his pokemon, as small food crumbs fell to the floor where the fire type had been.>


    ¡°Now remember Stanley, Miss Potts is the only teacher who agreed to let you bring a pokemon today. So keep him hidden in his ball until you get there. You¡¯ll also need to leave him with her until the end of the school day, okay?¡± Eric reminded him, as he moved to pack his messenger bag, motioned at Pidgeot to follow him outside.


    <Stanley nodded, of course he remembered. School rules said no pokemon, and he very much wanted permission to continue to break that rule! As he happily jogged to the bus stop, he recounted how yesterday, his teacher had pulled him aside after class and given him such a great idea. Bring his pokemon to school, why it was genius, he didn¡¯t even think to ask how she knew about it!>


    <As usual, Stanley continued to struggle through math class. I thought my pokemon would make me better at math, he lamented, as his new friend stood beside his desk and smiled at him whenever he wrote down an answer on his whiteboard. I guess it¡¯s silly to think a pokemon would magically make me better, he thought. At the end of class, he brought the pokeball to Miss Potts, and left both it and his friend with her for the rest of the day. The rest of the day continued as per usual, with Stanley questioning the point of learning all these things.>


    <Math made some sense, as he would need to be able to count money to buy pokeballs and food. But History was a mystery, and the idea that it rhymed showed the value of his languages class. Stanley briefly pondered the idea of cracking quips and puns, before discarding the crazy idea. I want to be a master trainer, not a comedian, Stanley thought, having grown somewhat tired of the constant over usage of quips and snark in modern media. If something was truly funny, it wouldn''t need to try and stand out. The degree in which movies and television seemed to depend on such humor was clearly an indication of poor writing. You don''t need to wrap a joke in a tie-dye wife beater with torn khakis, give it a controversial flag, and have them wave it from atop the mountains shouting ¡°Laugh at my funny sentence which makes zero sense out of context!¡± just to get a laugh. See? I just made you laugh, and it wasn''t at the expense of anyone in this story, now was it?>


    Narrator, just continue the story please.


    <Right, yes. As we were, Stanley was going about his very boring, not-interesting day until the final bell rang. Finally, thought Stanley, time to go home. A quick stop by a smiling Miss Potts to pick up his pokemon inside their pokeball, followed by a short bus ride home, and all young Stanley could think about was how he''d be able to convince the other teachers to let him bring his pokemon around with him for the entire school day. Surely it couldn''t be that hard? All he needed was to show some improvement in his grades. Upon returning home, Stanley called out his friend from the little red and white ball, only to find it holding onto a large envelope with his dad''s name on it.>


    Charmander, free from his pokeball and holding a large envelope, nodded at Stanley and gestured to the living room table, ¡°Might want to start on your homework kid, you''ve got a long way to go to get your grades up.¡± He then set the envelope on the family computer keyboard, and moved to join the boy. ¡°Now, what do you need to work on today?¡±


    <Eager to prove himself, Stanley set his backpack beside the table, withdrawing a thick textbook. Stanley found himself questioning how they could contain so much history in a single book. He guessed that the world wasn''t really that old, maybe he was early enough in history he might be able to discover something big! One day, I''m going to be written about in a book like this, Stanley resolved.>


    ¡°Sure, but first you need to graduate.¡± The lizard chided, sliding the homework assignment on the table such that they could both read it. ¡°OK, it says here to write a short paragraph about the discovery of the apricot and its ability to store pokemon. That shouldn''t be too hard,¡± he said, cracking open the book and scanning the index.


    <Stanley wasn''t sure what his pokemon was saying, but he seemed interested in his work. If only my pokemon could read, they''d be able to help me with my homework, he wished.>


    ¡°Oh right, I''m not supposed to read. Uh, look, pictures!¡± He faltered, then excitedly pointed to an image of a blocky-shaped castle on the page. The image was somewhat cartoonish, depicting an old fortress from the pre-civilized era of Kalos.


    <I guess they like castles, thought Stanley, as he scanned the index to try and find the section on apricots. After going through the four pages of the index, he couldn''t find it. How do they expect me to write about something that isn''t in the book? Stanley questioned, returning to the front of the table of contents to search again.>


    ¡°Shame, it''s almost like you have to look in the appendix. Or, heavens forbid, read the entire chapter your teacher suggested at the start of the assignment.¡± Charmander mocked, fully aware there was nobody in the room able to comprehend his sarcasm. With a shrug, he backed away and headed for the door. ¡°I''m gonna go play outside,¡± he announced to nobody in particular.


    <Stanley observed his pokemon stand up and leave him to work, wishing they could do things as a team, but realizing that wouldn''t be possible until his buddy could read. Alright, Stanley nodded, I''ll be finishing up this assignment. He knew his mother would be home soon enough, maybe she could help him.>This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    <hr>


    Walking outside and closing the door, Charmander made his way over to where Stanley had left a few toys outside, placing one at one side of the yard, and another at the other side. The grassy flat square had a singular stone path leading from the front gate to the door, otherwise vibrant in the throes of spring. He took a stance beside one of the toys, and instantly began sprinting as best his tiny legs could to the other side of the yard. Once he reached the second toy, he made a hard slide and attempted to sprint back the way he came.


    He repeated this process several times, until he was too winded to keep going. Stopping in front of one of the toys, he squatted down and gripped it, before steadily lifting it off the ground. He rose to an upright stance before slowly lowering it back to the ground, careful not to bend over or arch his back. He repeated this a few times until he was unable to lift it fully and then dropped it with a huff.


    ¡°Looks like you''re puttin'' in some work, eh neighbor?¡± Perched on the fence was a Fletchling, possibly the same one he had spoken to a few days ago. ¡°Gotta admire the initiative, I bet you''re just itching for your first battle.¡±


    With a huff, Charmander sat on the grass to catch his breath. ¡°Not particularly, no. Especially since my trainer is a mute. I might have to figure out how to fight two on one,¡± he lamented, looking around to plan his next exercise.


    ¡°Oof, sorry about that, I forgot the kid was non-verbal. But hey, maybe Lady Renard might be willing to train you a bit? I heard she was a top competitor two years ago, her team earned six badges before the season ended. Most trainers barely get more than two, except for those two power couples who settled here a while back. Though, aside from the four of them, Adrienne is the best trainer in town.¡± The bird explained, seeming to know quite a lot about the residents of this town. Charmander, having recovered, stood up and stretched lightly.


    ¡°Speaking of battles, I have yet to have my first, actually. Would you be interested?¡± He proposed, a keen eye on the small bird. Things were quiet and tense for a moment before the ball of fluff chortled a playful laugh. ¡°I know, I probably sound like a battle junkie already.¡±


    ¡°No, heavens no, I am just flattered you would be so honorable as to ask first. Youngsters like you tend to tackle first and ask for consent later. It''s fine, I''ll be your first opponent, and I''ll even do you a courtesy by not using any abilities I didn''t have at your age.¡± The little bird replied, fluttering down from the fence to the other side of the yard. ¡°Mind you, I can''t exactly go home a wreck, so let''s limit this to first contact wins.¡±


    ¡°Sounds fine to me, though I think it''ll basically be a game of how many attempts you permit me before deciding to claim victory,¡± the lizard responded as he took a stance and loosened his legs.


    ¡°I would suggest not to doubt yourself, but for a dragon I''d say it''s remarkable you don''t have an ego.¡± Fletchling complimented, preening a few feathers from its left wing. ¡°You will likely lose quite a lot to start with. But as long as it takes you longer and longer to lose, that''s a victory in itself,¡± it explained, adopting the persona of the wise master.


    ¡°I mean, I''m not a dragon type, but mostly I don''t want to get in the mindset that I am guaranteed to win every time. That''s unhealthy and can lead to problems and bad sportsmanship later. Anyway; ready when you are!¡± The fire type positioned his right leg forward and left slightly back, both arms up and claws at the ready, tail gently swishing behind him in a slow quarter-time oscillation.


    ¡°Then, let''s begin. Show me what you can do, young blood!¡±


    Charmander led with a charge, swiping forward with his right claw in a wide arc once he was within distance of the bird. The telegraphed move was too slow, as his opponent gave a slight hop backwards and out of reach. Following up, he used the momentum of the swing to pivot on his forward right foot, spinning around to swipe with his fiery tail, again too slow as the small avian leapt over the tail without retreating.


    ¡°Interesting combo, Scratch into a fake Tail Whip? Not bad, but not quick enough yet, and you left yourself open for a counter there!¡± His opponent remarked. Finishing the turn to face them, Charmander sucked in a deep breath and held it, his cheeks puffing as he appeared to be preparing to exhale on the bird. ¡°Oh wow you can use Ember already?¡± Fletchling hopped back in response, as the lizard smiled and exhaled loudly with a laugh.


    ¡°No, not yet, but it would''ve been an easy hit that close,¡± he clarified, earning a laugh and nod in agreement from his opponent. Ready for round two, Charmander ran in again, this time opting for a sequence of scratch attacks using both hands and alternating angles of attack. The small bird seemed to dodge them effortlessly, amused and unphased by the rapid onslaught. With a swing, Charmander leaned into the momentum, going for another spinning attack. Fletchling, anticipating a repeat of before, leapt lightly off the group to avoid the tail, before having to spread its wings in a panic and flap backwards as the tail soars through where it had just jumped up to.


    ¡°Good, anticipating where I would be, leading me into the strike zone, you learn quickly. I guess that''s all you can do for now though, so how about you practice dodging?¡± The bird suggested, currently hovering in the air while flapping its wings before moving in for a strike. As it dove in for a peck, the lizard waited and threw himself backwards, throwing up both legs for a simultaneous strike. Both pokemon landed a hit on each other, with Charmander being obviously worse for wear.


    ¡°Interesting, I don''t think you can really get the same punch as a energy-powered Double Kick, though props for ingenuity,¡± Fletchling commended, unharmed and unscratched, while the orange lizard struggled to stand up.


    ¡°Damn, I think you could one-shot me if you hadn''t held back.¡± Charmander groaned, rubbing at the sore spot where the beak had made contact. ¡°Though, you are right; I don''t think I can learn Double Kick, I just wanted to try to make it a draw instead of a plain loss,¡± he explained, as the bruise began to gently fade.


    The bird nodded, ¡°Good; a draw is always better than a loss. In a team battle, a draw means one less opponent that your team has to deal with. Though, with your instincts, I suspect you may not face as many losses as you originally predicted. Now, at your age you probably can only use Scratch and Growl, but that''s a better starting point than a Magikarp.¡± Fletching jested, drawing a slight laugh from the three of them. Caught off-guard by the third voice, both sparring partners glanced at the front gate, where Adrienne and F¨¦e''Renard were observing.


    Adrienne gave a light-hearted, appreciative golf clap from the show, while Lady Renard entered the front yard. ¡°A good first showing, young one, but you have plenty of growth ahead of you if you seek to challenge the gym circuit. I am amused, and grateful that you show such promise,¡± she mused. ¡°Now that you have my attention, and given that dinner is still a few hours away, how about we begin your training?¡±


    With a heavy exhale and a grin, Charmander stood tall. ¡°Yes, Sensei.¡± Fletchling gave a light whistle of a tune, wishing the pair a good evening and flying off. ¡°How much of the battle did you see?¡± Adrienne giggled before giving a thumbs-up to the duo, continuing inside the house to start cooking.


    ¡°Improvisation, combinations and chain attacks, adaptation to enemy movements, and even a clever feint. I had expected a useless whelp, but instead I have a weakened warrior for a student. Were you capable of learning my special moves, I would consider you a potential future six badge competitor.¡± She responded, slowly stalking around the lizard and taking stock of his injuries.


    ¡°Speed, power, and special moves will come with time and training; the important thing is you have the right mind-set. So, let us begin!¡± She stated, sitting down directly in-front of Charmander. ¡°I will use only one ribbon to block. Your goal is to either hit me with a scratch, or get me to move from this spot.¡± She explained with surety, as one of her ribbons rose to float between the two combatants, the other relaxed beside her.


    Taking a deep breath, Charmander once again took his ready pose, before gently exhaling and beginning his assault. Left, right, left, left, right; he did his best to vary each strike, each angle of attack, his timing¨C with every attempt deflected by the sole white and pink ribbon. The little lizard kept up the pressure until he had to back off to catch his breath, the squiggle of a ribbon seeming to dance in a taunt. Ready, he pressed in again, except when the ribbon moved to block his left strike, he shifted into a grab, holding the ribbon while he moved in to attack with his right. Sylveon smiled, pivoting the ribbon to block his right claw with the middle of its length. And with a corresponding grin, Charmander grappled that too, lifting his left foot for a kick, aiming to scratch with his toes. Matching his madness, Sylveon''s ribbon lifted and threw him to the side, as effortlessly as he was a cloud.


    ¡°As I said, adaptability. You have a mind for fighting, but we need to get your body to keep up,¡± she said, her predatory gaze on the orange lizard. ¡°Until you can get past my ribbon, you aren''t ready to leave town. Now, get up and let''s see how quickly you can dodge.¡±


    Just your luck, looking like a young Dragon and captivating the interest of a Faerie type.

 Chapter 8_v2: Whats in a name?

    <Stanley was initially concerned when his partner entered for dinner, beat up and looked like he had been thrashed around. But when Sylveon entered behind them with a bounce and a smile, he was able to recognize that the two had just been playing. Fairy pokemon do like to play rough, he remembered. He just wished he had been able to see it, instead of being stuck inside doing homework. ¡°Stanley, time for dinner,¡± Diane called from the kitchen. Stanley noticed Eric wasn''t home yet, but remembered that he sometimes had to work late. He''ll be home soon, he never misses dinner, Stanley concluded, as he packed away his homework assignment.>


    Charmander, tired and beaten but not ignorant, stopped the boy from putting his homework away. He grabbed the history assignment¨C the paragraph about apricots¨C and carried it over to the kitchen, placing the page on the table.


    <Diane noticed the paper as she was placing the cutlery around each plate, picking it up to read. ¡°Stanley,¡± she began in a stern voice, ¡°this is not acceptable young man.¡± She placed the paper on the table, next to what Stanley supposed was his plate. ¡°You need to re-write this after dinner. Your teacher wants you to write about how apricots were discovered to hold pokemon, not which one is your favorite flavor.¡± Stanley glanced at his pokemon, unsure how it had known he did the assignment incorrectly. Hadn''t they been outside the whole time? He questioned, remembering that his partner couldn''t read either.>


    ¡°Call it a hunch.¡± Charmander shrugged, moving to sit before his bowl, wincing as he sat down. ¡°Ow, you couldn''t hold back even a little, could you?¡± He asked, as the Sylveon gracefully sauntered to rub against Diane before parking herself before her own food bowl, giving the complaining protegee a head tilt and sticking out her tongue in a tease.


    <Eric arrived soon after Stanley and Diane had sat down to eat, almost rushing through the door. ¡°Sorry I''m late, my boss fried an instrument and we needed to fix it for an overnight test. Dinner smells great, honey!¡± He remarked, haphazardly placing his bag and coat before taking a seat at the table. Pidgeot''s food bowl was full and waiting for it, as everyone gave their gentle prayer of thanks and dug in. After dinner, with a little help from his mom, Stanley was able to find the correct part of the history textbook detailing the apricots, and re-wrote his paragraph. Meanwhile, Eric was using disinfectant and a light potion spritz to help the young pokemon recover from his training session.>


    Charmander, catching Eric''s eye, pointed at the packet on the computer keyboard, to which he received a nod. ¡°You know Stanley, if you haven''t come up with a good name for your pokemon I might have a suggestion. What do you think of the name ''Chad''?¡± He asked, having finished treating the lizard''s bruises.


    <Chad? I guess it must be a boy, Stanley thought, as he tried to visualize calling his partner ''Chad''. It was a short name, a simple name, and very easy to remember. He had been debating between two names until now. His favorites had been ''Char'', since the pokemon seemed to say it a lot, and ''Jim'', because the name just stuck with him.>


    <Jim was a good, solid name. Jim was the name of someone who was always happy to help you out, whether it was moving some furniture, or re-planting the garden out back. It was the kind of name that made you smile, because everyone who knew someone named Jim had fond memories of them. Stanley had the brief idea to make a button, a single large button, which when pressed would proudly say ¡°Jim!¡±. But, as much as it pained him to consider it, Stanley knew his pokemon was not a Jim. No, and calling him Char was likely not a good name either; it might inspire him to lead some sort of violent rebellion. With a nod, Stanley agreed, the name ''Chad'' was indeed a good, reliable name.>


    ¡°Well, it certainly isn''t a bad name, though it isn''t very French. I wonder where he came up with that¡­¡± Charmander- newly named Chad- questioned as he watched Eric open the envelope and withdraw a stack of papers. A rather thick stack at that, but it was out of Chad''s line of sight to see what was on them.


    <With his partner Chad seeming jubilant about his new name, the family seemingly went to bed early tonight. Stanley had school again tomorrow, with it being a Tuesday evening, and he felt himself wishing it were Friday already. Once again donning his blue bucket-covered pajamas, young Stanley crawled into bed. Good night Chad, he thought, happy to finally have a name for his best friend.>


    <hr>


    Not long later, with the child fast asleep, Chad crept back into the living room, where ¨¦meric was waiting with the packet and a pencil. He motioned to close the door, with which Chad complied as quietly as possible, before moving to sit next to him. Pulling a blank piece of paper before him, Chad began to write as legibly as his shaky hands could allow.


    ¡°Why Chad? To be honest, I got the idea from a joke at work.¡± ¨¦meric explained, pulling a crumbled wad of paper from his pocket. It was a print-out of a meme, a well-known one that Chad seemed to recognize, with a sorry-looking guy on the left wearing glasses, and a weird caricature of a muscular, endowed man on the right. ¡°I figured from what I knew of you so far, you might appreciate it. Anyway, you need some solid sleep tonight, so let''s get started on this packet. Miss DuPont made this as a sort of cognitive assessment to see just what you can do. It covers mathematics, logic puzzles, reading comprehension, and a bunch of other concepts people learn growing up.¡± He explained, lifting the pages as he dug into the stack. ¡°Just start solving problems here, and I''ll tell you if you can skip the page.¡±


    Over the next hour, ¨¦meric watched on as the small pokemon began to crank through the math assessment, occasionally telling Chad to move on to the next page. It started with simple addition, subtraction, but ¨¦meric jumped ahead to multiplication and division. The scientist beamed when he observed the division of larger numbers, making a remark that he had not seen that technique used before. Deeper into the stack, they came across geometry, basic logic questions, and then trigonometry. These took a little longer, as Chad used the scratch paper to calculate things like squares and roots.


    He was nearly unstoppable until they turned to a physics problem, and Chad asked his first question of the session, ¡°How do you not know the gravity constant?¡± ¨¦meric questioned, caught off-guard by the abrupt stop in work. It took a few pictures, diagrams, and back and forth for Chad to explain the hole in his knowledge. ¡°The gravitational constant is 10 meters per second squared,¡± Emeric clarified, which yielded a hesitant expression from Chad, before he continued to solve the question of how a Rock Throw might arc across a field when thrown at a given force and angle.Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.


    Chad was just beginning to work on a heat transfer problem when ¨¦meric motioned for him to stop. ¡°I know you can do more, but I think it''s time for bed. Besides that, I need a break. This is a little too much for me to take in tonight.¡± He explained, placing the packet back into the envelope and ushering the pokemon back to bed. Still sore from the ''training'' session earlier, Chad agreed and trudged off to sleep.


    <hr>


    <As the sun peeked into the curtains, Stanley awoke with a smile. He had slept well last night, and clearly Chad had as well. His buddy was curled up and sleeping next to him. Stanley, not wanting to wake his partner, gently slid out of bed and made his way to the bathroom to shower for the day. By the time he was clean and dressed, Chad began to stir. Good morning, beamed Stanley, I hope you''re ready for today.>


    Blinking his eyes separately, Chad slid off the bed like a zombie. He definitely did not have his usual energy, but at least the pain was gone. He gave a large yawn with a stretch, before scratching his side and plodding towards the door of the bedroom. In the kitchen, Eric and Diane were having a hushed conversation, with odd hand gestures, until Diane noticed the freshly-woken duo and smiled.


    <¡±Good Morning you two, I hope you slept well,¡± she said. ¡°Breakfast should be ready soon, today we''re having omelets,¡± she informed with a chipper voice. I love omelets, Stanley thought, mentally planning what design of ketchup to doodle on his. Chad took a seat by his bowl, and slowly chowed down on the brown pellets placed before him. Sylveon was nearly done eating, without a spare crumb anywhere to be seen, and Pidgeot was halfway done but it''s beak covered in crumbs.>


    Eric, having taken a seat at the table, took the opportunity before Stanley was distracted with food to voice a question, ¡°Stanley, since you do not have math class on Friday, and Diane won''t be home either, would you like for me to take Chad into work with me for the day?¡± There was a palpable pause, as the three eaters awaited the answer, and Diane did her best to focus on the stove top.


    <Stanley was disappointed, he forgot that he didn''t have math on Fridays, which meant he couldn''t bring Chad to school until one of his other teachers agreed. With a frown, he nodded his agreement to his dad. It wouldn''t do to leave a young pokemon home alone all day, that was just cruel. Soon after, a steaming large golden omelette was placed before Stanley, and he happily used the ketchup bottle to draw a smiley face before digging in. He found himself having to pause between bites, as the eggs were so hot they burned his mouth. Once he finished his plate, Stanley recalled Chad to his pokeball and waved goodbye as he made his way towards the bus stop.>


    <Upon arriving at the bus stop, Stanley realized he was early today, and in the waiting crowd a young boy his age was waving to get his attention. Curious, he walked over to say hello with a smile and a reciprocated wave. ¡°Your name is Stanley, right?¡± The boy asked, to which Stanley responded with a quick nod. ¡°Great, my name''s Calem. I heard from my friend Shauna that you have a fire type pokemon; can I see it?¡± He asked excitedly. Stanley, trying not to brag like an over-confident smug person, matched the excited smile with an enthusiastic nod. The bus isn''t here yet, I''m sure he can meet Chad without it being a problem, Stanley reasoned, as he tapped the button twice and waited for his friend to emerge.>


    With a flash of red light, Chad found himself standing next to Stanley, and before a strange boy. ¡°Uh, hi?¡± He voiced meekly, aware of the conversation leading up to this point.


    <¡±Oh wow, that''s so cool! I love fire types, my mom has a Delphox which is super fluffy and gives nice warm hugs.¡± He explained, trying to refrain from absentmindedly touching the lizard. ¡°Have you two had a first battle yet?¡± Calem asked. Stanley, realizing the answer was neither yes nor no, did his best impression of a hand-sign for ''kind of'', not sure how to explain his partner''s first battle had been without him. ¡°That''s OK, you''ll probably have a lot more in the future.¡± Calem responded, turning his head when the group heard the approach of the bus. ¡°Once I get my first pokemon, we can have a match,¡± he promised, as Stanley recalled Chad to his pokeball. Stanley was glad, it sounded like he had made another friend. Things were certainly looking up!>


    <The rest of the day had been somewhat uneventful as usual, until lunchtime when Stanley ran into Calem again. Calem then introduced him to his friends Serena and Shauna. The four immediately hit it off, and began to talk about what they wanted to do once they graduated and became full-fledged trainers. It was invigorating, and Stanley finally felt like he had actual friends, a group of comrades. It sounded like the three had high grades and would be graduating on-time. Stanley couldn''t let them go without him, he needed to do better, he needed to graduate.>


    <hr>


    <On the walk home that afternoon, Stanley was stopped by an older boy, who challenged him to a battle. Stanley, who had yet to enter an actual trainer battle, was nervous about accepting, until Chad popped out of his ball to reassure him. With his partner up for it, Stanley felt it was safe to accept the challenge.>


    ¡°You gotta be kidding me, I hope you have a plan for this, because I can''t do anything if he doesn''t talk,¡± Chad grumbled, as the teenager sent out his pokemon. A Pidgey, which gave Chad a mean grin upon seeing its opponent.


    <¡±Pidgey, use Sand Attack!¡± The boy called, as Stanley watched on. Use Hyper Beam!, Stanley thought loudly, wanting his partner to overpower the bird.>


    With a flap of its wings, Pidgey created a dust cloud which swarmed Chad, causing him to cover his eyes reflexively. He continued to stand there, glancing around for the bird.


    <Oh wait, Chad doesn''t know Hyper Beam yet does he, Stanley questioned. ¡°Tackle,¡± the other boy shouted, as Stanley tried to come up with a countermeasure. Maybe use Growl, he thought.>


    The Pidgey flew out of the dust rapidly, diving at Chad as he was barely able to dodge the blow. ¡°C''mon Stanley, you have to actually say it,¡± he groaned, focusing on anticipating the next strike. The dust was obscuring everything around him, and he could barely hear the bird circling around for the next strike.


    <¡±Go for a Peck, Pidgey!¡± The teenager shouted. Stanley pondered if maybe Chad didn''t know Growl either. Chad, use a Scratch attack, Stanley thought, taking a firm stance. If his heart couldn''t get through to his pokemon, nothing would.>


    ¡°You damned idiot, you need to actually shout-¡± was all Chad got out before the Pidgey hit him from behind with the peck attack. The one-hit knockout dropped the lizard to the dirt like a bag of potatoes, as he lay unmoving. The world began to still and freeze, the color draining from the scene.


    <I know you aren''t dead, so let''s hear your justification for this little stunt.>


    Groaning, Chad rolled onto his back, looking up at the pre-Technicolor sky and clouds above. ¡°Look, either Stanley has to call out the moves, or I need to do this myself. I''m not a mind-reader.¡± He brought himself into a seated position, taking the time to properly size up his opponent''s frozen stature. ¡°We can re-do this fight if you like, but we need to be on the same page,¡± he continued, trying to negotiate with the being.


    <But we are on the same page; this was- no, this is to be Stanley''s miraculous first win as a pokemon trainer. And you had to go muck it all up whining about ''rules''.>


    ¡°Yea, rules are important, especially when you''re trying to ensure your audience understands the story,¡± Chad explained, dusting himself off before standing. ¡°So we need to be consistent; is Stanley going to talk, or am I going to do all the fighting? Because if I read his thoughts like you''re doing, it implies I''m psychic, and we do not need to explore that can of worms.¡±


    <Fine, you can do the fighting then. Satisfied? Honestly, I don''t know why I shouldn''t bother to replace you. I am certain there are hundreds who would fight to claim your current role.>


    ¡°If that were the case, you wouldn''t have picked me. So, this time, let me focus on winning, and show you how to really take advantage of the power of plot.¡± Chad said, giving his equivalent to the Hero''s Monologue, before dropping into a ready stance. ¡°I''m ready, go ahead and rewind it.¡±


    <If you insist. Though should you fail again this time, we will be exploring other options for an Actor.>


    Stanley¡¯s First Fight, take 2!

 Chapter 9_v2: First Battle, Round 2

    <The teenager smirked as the battle commenced, shouting ¡°Pidgey, use Sand Attack!¡±>


    As before, the dust cloud formed and began to creep towards Chad, but not before he leapt forward into a quick scratch, knocking the bird back and onto the ground.


    <¡±Huh?!¡± The teenager shouted in alarm, caught off-guard by Stanley''s silence. ¡°Pidgey, quick, hit it with a Tackle!¡±>


    Not wanting to waste the momentum, Chad continued forward, spinning for a low tail sweep of the bird''s legs as it attempted to stand up, once again knocking it off balance. He took advantage of the opportunity and repeatedly swiped at his opponent, the Pidgey proving to be less evasive than Fletchling had been, with a few even landing a hit.


    <The teenager grew worried, but held control over his panic and shouted: ¡°Get out of there, blow it away with a Gust and then finish it with a Peck!¡± Stanley could only watch, worried for his best friend. It couldn''t end like this, they had to win their first battle.>


    The bird gave a shrill cry as it blasted Chad back with a flap of its wings, before righting itself and bolting forward for the attack. Chad regained his footing and prepared himself for the incoming charge by lowering his stance and putting his right claw all the way back behind him, waiting. ¡°This¡­ is how you win,¡± he started, ¡°with the Power of Friendship!¡± As the battlecry reached a crescendo, Chad swept forward with the claw, diving down and to the left of the Pidgey. The movement was instant, with Pidgey landing behind Chad a few feet away, and Chad having taken a step forward with his right claw fully extended forward. There was a tense moment, before Chad fell to a knee gripping his right shoulder. Then another moment before Pidgey fell to the ground unconscious.


    <Stanley was in shock, Chad had won. They had won! Their first battle, against an older trainer, and they had won! It was unbelievable, how had his pokemon gotten so strong already?!>


    Chad took a look back at Stanley, and with his left hand made a thumbs up gesture with a wide smile. ¡°Told ya I could do it,¡± he bragged.


    <Stanley, realizing Chad was too injured to finish the walk home, recalled his pokemon to its ball, silently thanking him for the hard effort. When he looked up, he saw the back of the fleeing teen, so he made haste for home. Mom won''t believe it when I tell her about our first battle, I hope she isn''t too mad at us, Stanley prayed. Luckily, Stanley was not accosted by any further trainers on the rest of the walk home.>


    <Upon entering the front door, he bid a quick greeting to Diane and went directly to the first aid kit. ¡°Stanley, why are you looking in there?¡± She asked, noticing him pull out the potion. ¡°What did you do?!¡± Stanley, in ripping off the proverbial band-aid, called out Chad, handing the potion to Diane. He didn''t know how to properly use the spray bottle, but he needed to learn somehow. Besides, he had won the battle, hadn''t he? She would certainly be proud of the two of them. ¡°Oh Stanley, Chad, did you get into a fight on the way home? Here, let me help with that.¡± Diane gently sprayed on the biggest bruises first, starting with Chad''s shoulder, as the medicine kicked in quickly. ¡°At least it isn''t terribly serious; these look like the injuries of a winner.¡± She remarked proudly, gently wrapping a bandage around Chad''s shoulder with a cold pad beneath.>


    ¡°Yea, I''m certainly a winner alright,¡± Chad grumbled, wincing as the potion began to kick in. He was certainly in rougher shape than when he had trained with Lady Renard previously, but it was not enough. ¡°I need to get better, I can''t risk getting hurt this badly every fight.¡±


    <Stanely paid apt attention, as Diane explained how to provide proper first aid to an injured pokemon. It turned out the potion bottle was insufficient, and she mentioned something about an-tee-bye-awe-ticks? Stanley sure had a lot to learn, as he practiced by wrapping a bandage around Chad''s left arm. The bandage was originally too loose and fell off instantly. The second attempt was too tight, as Chad''s fingers began to turn purple. The third try was just tight enough to stay put, but loose enough to not restrict blood flow.>


    ¡°Stanley, why don''t you get started on your homework?¡± Chad suggested, pointing at Stanley''s backpack lying forgotten on the floor nearby.


    <Stanley was torn, he knew he had to start his homework. But he also wondered if Chad was simply putting on a brave face for him. After all, his pokemon had taken a harsh beating from that Pidgey. Putting faith in his partner, Stanley gently lifted the bag and ferried it to the living room table. Today''s homework was going to be languages, so he prepared the paper and his book, waiting for Chad to be able to join him. It may be tough, but with enough exposure maybe he can learn to read too, Stanley reasoned, looking at the battered pokemon expectantly.>


    With a slight smile, and the all clear signal from Diane packing up the first aid kit, Chad gently strode over to stand beside his trainer. ¡°OK kid, what''s your task today?¡± The assignment for today seemed to be focused on spelling new words he had been learning in class, as well as using them in a sentence. Skeptical, Chad lifted the paper to check the reverse side, revealing a blank page facing the table top. ¡°You''ve got to be kidding me, no way is this everything you need to do,¡± he expressed in disbelief.


    <Stanley felt a mild amusement that Chad had tried to look for the answers on the other side of the paper, reminding himself of the times he had tried that same trick. He stared down at the first problem, where he was required to write a sentence using the word ¡°Duel¡±. Stanley thought it was odd timing, given he had just had a pokemon match earlier, wasn''t that a duel?>Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.


    ¡°Yes, one on one, so it counts as a duel. Stanley, why are you learning homonyms? Shouldn''t you be doing more complicated words at your age?¡± Chad questioned, as he realized the paper did not include any ''new'' words longer than six letters. Dual, Duel, Do, Due, Those, Toes, and other similar words populated the word bank at the top of the page.


    <Stanley instantly had a great idea, and wrote down the sentence ¡°My pokemon won the duel¡±, proud that he had properly spelled the word. Though he was unsure what to do for the next word, ''dual''. Maybe it was a different spelling of the word? ¡°I challenge you to a dual¡± he wrote, confused why they would put the same word twice.>


    Chad, now even more aware how bleak his situation was, gently touched Stanley''s hand and moved it to the side, before grabbing the eraser, pointing the tip at the second written sentence, and offering it to the boy.


    <Stanley was confused, was his pokemon telling him something? He stood and walked to the kitchen holding his paper, careful not to interrupt his mother''s cooking flow. He tried to get her attention, then held up the paper pointing at the second sentence. Diane giggled, ¡°No Stanley, that is not correct. Your first sentence is good, but in this case, ''dual'' means a pair, or two of something.¡± She explained, returning to the vegetable saute on the stove. Stanley returned to the living room, dejectedly accepting the still-offered eraser. If my pokemon can''t read, then he sure has a weird sense of when I did something wrong, Stanley thought, brushing away the rubbings and lifting his pencil again.>


    ¡°Yea, it''s almost like I can read your thoughts or something, spooky¡­¡± Chad jested, waiting for the boy to make another attempt at the word ''dual''. Meanwhile, his errant eyes glanced at the open textbook, which was left open on what could be assumed as his current progress. The book went into detail about how some words could sound the same but be spelled differently, or how sometimes the same word could have different meanings depending on the sentence. ¡°And I thought the math was a worry, can we even get you to an appropriate reading level in two years?¡±


    <Stanley went slowly, pausing and re-doing each sentence when Chad pointed to it, managing to finish the assignment just before dinner. While he had been distracted, Eric had arrived home and helped out in the kitchen. With impeccable timing, Stanley got a nod of approval from his partner just as Diane called him to the table. Stanley hopped into his seat with what gusto he had remaining, while Chad took his usual spot beside Sylveon, his eyes downcast on the floor. ¡°How was work today honey?¡± Diane asked, as she began serving the aromatic veggie medley. ¡°It went well, we''re making great progress on the project,¡± Eric replied with a smile. Stanley was happy, he knew how hard his dad had been working lately.>


    <Dinner went by in a flash, as Stanley was allowed to watch television again tonight having completed his homework earlier. The family chose to watch a sitcom about a girl who was struggling to confess her feelings to a boy her age, while he was completely oblivious to her existence. As it got late, Eric tucked Stanley into bed, for tomorrow was Friday. Stanley was both dismayed and excited; Friday was the last day before the weekend, but he also wouldn''t have his pokemon accompany him to school tomorrow. He wished Chad a good night before tucking in and dreaming of all the things they''d do this weekend.>


    Not worried about waking the boy, Chad stole across the carpeted floor and exited the bedroom. The computer was still on, so he withdrew his hidden notebook and resumed tonight''s studies. Notably, nobody disturbed him tonight, allowing him to focus on researching the requirements Stanley would need to meet to become a full trainer. To say there were a lot would be an understatement, and Chad''s face began to slip into a worried frown as he went through the list. ¡°Forget about math, there''s no way I can get him up to speed on biology in time, he''s got zero chance of being an official trainer,¡± he whispered, slumping back in the chair.


    <Are you giving up already? After such a stellar first battle today?>


    Chad froze up, back straight as the questions caught him off-guard. ¡°No, not giving up, just stating my opinion. Is there any way you can like, up his specs?¡± Chad asked nobody in particular, keeping his voice down so as to not wake anyone.


    <Up his specs? You speak like Stanley is some sort of machine. Oh, sure, let me just wave a magic wand and have him magically evolve to the perfect adult. With a great memory, unmatched level of comprehension, and even a six pack of abs to accentuate a chiseled jawline. The Perfect Trainer, just for you.>


    ¡°No need to get snippy, but for us to have a chance, he needs to at least be reading at an age-appropriate level. As it stands, he''s equivalent to a seven year old in the body of a thirteen year old.¡± Chad explained, motioning to the long list on the computer monitor. ¡°I can help him with learning, but unless you start making some noticeable changes which conflict with your established story so far, we''re not going to catch up in time. Hell, some of these requirements aren''t really learned until the age of twenty where I come from.¡± He paused, jotting some words down in the notebook.


    <You speak as if this challenge was impossible from the onset.>


    Forgetting his surroundings, Chad exploded, shouting back at the mysterious voice. ¡°You gave me a mute, mentally-stunted child who thought that a number added to another number was equal to the first number! He can''t speak, which is going to be an issue when and if he recruits other pokemon. Pokemon which, unless you managed to bring along others like me, won''t be able to act on his thoughts coming from your speeches. And, to top it all off, the rotten cherry on this shit sundae, any attempts I make to compensate for these deficiencies have you reverting the story or completely ret-conning my efforts!¡±


    <Feel free to quit now, I can arrange for your soul''s oblivion if you would prefer that.>


    There was a brief silence, before Chad leaned back in the chair, eyes closed as if he were seriously considering the offer before him. The house was quiet enough for him to perk up as ¨¦meric emerged from his bedroom. ¡°It sounds like you''re having a rough night. Anything I could do to help?¡± He asked, as Chad leaned forward with a drawn out groan, head held in his hands. Chad, turning to face ¨¦meric, nodded once, before opening a notes application on the computer and typing out a few words. ¨¦meric read them over, before asking ¡°And why would you need something like that?¡± Chad continued to type, before a solid paragraph later ¨¦meric seemingly understood. ¡°I mean I guess that could work, though my work may not be interested in funding it.¡±


    <No, they would not.>


    ¡°I''ll bring up the idea when you come in with me tomorrow. I''m certain someone will be enamored with the concept.¡±


    <And I believe that you''ll find naught but disappointment. Really, why is it so difficult for you mortals to simply follow the script? Oh, look at me, I am a frail mortal and I have opinions! This custard is too cold, and as an important individual I simply must have one at room temperature! I had thought you would''ve learned from the previous incidents Eric, and yet here you are supporting the child¡¯s demand of a rewrite of the entire story just to suit his ideas for how his character should be.>


    ¡°Not a rewrite, a MacGuffin,¡± Chad explained, ¡°something which serves as a crutch until that important point of the story where it fails and the hero has to adapt or fail.¡±


    <Don''t explain literary tropes to the ephemeral sentient embodiment of all fables, I am literally made of them!>


    ¡°So you know it¡¯s a good idea,¡± Chad insisted, pushing for his concept.


    <Yes, I do concede that this may work without altering the story terribly. That does not affirm my willingness to endorse as such.>


    Well I just finished updating the draft outline to include this change, so you might want to get comfortable with it, Narrator.

 Chapter 10_v2: Take your genius Pokemon to Work Day

    <Stanley did not awake to a happy sunrise, but rather to the sounds of a somewhat loud cheer from outside his window. Rubbing an eye to clear out the sleepy sands, Stanley sat up in his bed and tried to spy on the source of the noise outside. He saw Chad having another battle, this time with a Fletchling. The small bird was singing with gusto, possibly taunting his partner as it evaded every attack.>


    <Not interested in over-thinking anything, he hopped out of bed and went to shower and change for the day. Upon walking into the kitchen, he saw the orange lizard entering through the front door, panting in exhaustion but with an enthusiastic grin. Stanley gave a good morning wave before taking his seat at the table. ¡°Good Morning, I made you some pancakes today.¡± Diane greeted, as four fluffy buttermilk pancakes plopped on the plate before Stanley. Sweet, I love pancakes! Stanley buzzed in excitement, as he lifted the maple syrup bottle off the table and began to drench the flapjacks with the sticky sugary liquid.>


    Seeing that Pidgeot was halfway done eating, Chad began to stuff his face until his cheeks bulged, attempting to cram down the unpleasant food quickly before Eric had to leave. With a slow lean forward between the two, F¨¦e¡¯renard''s predatory grin locked eyes with Charmander. ¡°You still haven¡¯t managed to figure out Ember, have you?¡± She inquired, a gleam in her eye revealing the true intentions behind the baited question.


    ¡°Not exactly, not sure how you do anything beyond direct physical attacks.¡± He responded between clumps of food, willing to speak with a full mouth in his usual undignified manner. ¡°But I can breathe on my tail and get a small burn that way. I think I can exhale flammable gas, or something.¡±


    Not receiving the desired answer, F¨¦e¡¯renard''s face turned to a frown. ¡°Pity, and here I had thought you to be a genius,¡± she lamented, lifting a bit from her bowl. ¡°If you can''t use Ember before the end of next week, then there''s no point in training a brute like you.¡± She stated before chewing on the kibble with a grace reserved for noble ladies. She swallowed with a matching grace, before facing him in earnest, ¡°A fire type who cannot conjure fire is merely a liability, and we cannot have the boy¡¯s starter being the reason behind his failure.¡±


    Chad, having caught up to Pidgeot, slowed down to reduce the risk of choking. He had glanced at the large flier when the fairy voiced her opinion, taking note of both a huff and a sagely nod. ¡°Fair, but I suppose I''ll need to talk with another fire user. I don¡¯t suppose you happen to know any?¡± Chad ventured, mentally updating his training plans, before answering his own question. ¡°Delphox; I remember that Calem kid said his mom had one, and that they were a fire type.¡±


    F¨¦e¡¯renard''s expression went from thoughtful, to concerned, to a malicious glee at the revelation. ¡°Oh my, how fortunate for you! She''s quite the tough customer last time we had a battle. If she can''t get you using Ember, nobody can,¡± she explained, her ribbons waving in the equivalent of a full body tail wagging. Seeing that Pidgeot had finished breakfast, Chad stuffed the last piece into his mouth before walking over to Eric.


    <¡±Good luck today Stanley, I''ll be sure to keep Chad safe with me.¡± Eric said as he returned Chad to the pokeball before storing it in his pocket. Stanley, with a face covered in syrup, smiled and waved goodbye. ¡°Oh Stanley, you''re a complete mess!¡± Diane remarked, as she began to try and clean up his face with a wet towel.>


    <hr>


    ¨¦meric closed the front door behind him, made sure his bag was secure and nodded to Pidgeot, ¡°Ready to fly?¡± The large bird nodded in response, spreading its wings as the adult somehow managed to clamber onto their back. There was a moment as the winds began to whip and blow, as brown and white feathers fluttered in the breeze and a sense of power began to form under them. With an announcing cry, Pidgeot lifted their wings up fully extended and then brought them down in a powerful beat, lifting the pair a full three feet off the ground.


    Wings fully extended downwards, Pidgeot began to repeat the motion, ascending with each powerful blast of air towards the ground, before it momentarily hovered in place. Spreading their wings forward, it then gave a powerful push behind it, rocketing the bird forward at high speed. They steadily deployed their wings outward fully extended, as eddies of air and energy drew across the arrangement of feathers. Not slowing, nor having to flap until they reached the city, the large bird simply cruised through the sky while ¨¦meric did his best to hold on.


    Pidgeot began to descend once Lumiose was in sight, gently slowing down as the duo angled for the top of a specific building which had a runway along the top. A pair of green lights signaled the bird that they were clear to land, as the pokemon gently glided to the lit lane with a puff, coming to a gentle stop with a single reversed flap of the wings. ¨¦meric thanked Pidgeot for the ride, before returning them to their pokeball and handing the sphere to the waiting attendant.Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.


    A double-wide set of stairs led from the roof down to the top floor of the building, from which ¨¦meric glanced back to spot another incoming employee being signaled to land. The stairs themselves were only two light flights, and upon scanning his badge at the double doors, ¨¦meric pushed on the right door when the buzzer rang, waiting inside such that the door closed fully and locked. There were a few open offices nearby, some of the meeting rooms he could see were already in full swing today. Crossing to the double elevators, ¨¦meric hit the arrow pointing down and waited for the carriage to arrive.


    During that time, he heard the door buzz behind him and someone else enter, just in time to coincide with the left elevator sounding a ¡®ding¡¯ and light up to announce its arrival. ¡°Happy Friday, ¨¦meric,¡± he heard behind him, as another man strode up beside him. The mess-head was topped with shiny black hair, sitting atop brown eyes and the face of a man who had been working too late the previous evening. He wore a white lab coat over top a simple sky blue polo and black slacks, accented by eye-catchingly bright sky blue sneakers. ¡°Looks like someone else has been burning the Litwick from both ends, eh?¡±


    ¡°Good morning to you too, Jean.¡± ¨¦meric responded, aware that he needed to fix his sleep schedule before the ghosts decided he would be a tasty snack. ¡°Managed to solve for that friction coefficient yet?¡± The two stepped into the waiting elevator together, the previous occupants having shuffled out after reaching their destination floor. Jean looked away from his coworker while they each pressed the button for their floor. ¡°I''ll take that as a no then. Don''t worry, you''ll get it.¡±


    ¡°Yea, though I don''t have a coworker to lean on like you do. I swear Madeline is almost your second wife with how much you depend on her,¡± Jean jested, lightly elbowing ¨¦meric. ¡°Speaking of, did you hear about what happened with Pep¨¦ and El¨¦a?¡±


    ¡°Yea, can''t believe he was getting away with it for so long, I feel bad for her.¡± ¨¦meric answered, ruffling through his bag to try and find something.


    ¡°Yea, but hopefully she doesn''t see the promotion as some sort of bribe from the company; she definitely earned that role.¡± The elevator sang a happy chime as the doors began to open. ¡°Well this is my stop, if I don''t see you again have a good weekend!¡±


    ¡°Same to you, Jean!¡± He responded, as his coworker stepped off the elevator, while a woman with fiery red curly hair and a matching scarlet dress stepped on, giving an acknowledging nod to ¨¦meric. Meanwhile, ¨¦meric had found what he wanted, and held the familiar envelope with his name under the crook of his arm. The near-silent elevator ride went without any conversation between the two occupants, before another chime announced ¨¦meric''s imminent departure from the box.


    It did not take him long to navigate the maze of corridors to his work area, badging past each door with a corresponding chime and green light. He was the first one in today, as Madeline''s desk featured an empty upturned coffee mug waiting for her arrival. Placing the packet on his desk, ¨¦meric withdrew Chad''s pokeball, summoning him on the chair. ¡°Good morning; while I take care of my early meetings I''d like you to keep working on the packet. You can even borrow my calculator if you know how to use one.¡± He explains, sliding a small black rectangle with white and orange buttons over to the lizard. ¡°Ideally, nobody should bother you, and I made sure Madeline knew you''d be coming. I will be back around ten, so try not to leave this room, OK?¡±


    Chad nodded, and flipped open the packet to the page he had last been working on. ¨¦meric sat his bag down beside the chair, grabbing his laptop and an empty coffee mug before speed-walking out of the room. Chad continued to work for a while, tempted to get up and explore the lab space, but he wanted to be done with this. Tests were never fun before, and having to prove his competence always bothered Chad.


    After a period of time, there was a swish and a thunk as the lab door unlocked, to which Chad observed a woman entering the lab, supposedly Madeline. She was wearing a long sleeved golden fleece with a long brown skirt that reached just above her ankles. Her hair was a straight, bob-cut dirty blonde, roughly halfway to her shoulders. She seemed distracted, to have not noticed him sitting there, but Chad returned to his packet seemingly content with the temporary anonymity.


    At least until she walked towards ¨¦meric''s desk with a folder, placing it on his keyboard and finally recognizing Chad''s presence, to which he gave a light smile and wave, before returning to the heat exchanger problem he was partway through. Madeline paused, before returning to her desk to grab her own laptop and hustle out the lab doors, presumably towards her own morning meeting.


    The quiet was a peace Chad hadn''t known for a while, as he bounced between the various sections, attempting to complete as much of the assessment as possible. He skipped the organic chemistry questions, along with a handful of advanced biology ones that were directly pertaining to pokemon. As it was evident those questions had reached beyond his knowledge, Chad thumbed through the remaining pages to see if there was anything hidden he could attempt, but with no success. With his work completed, Chad hopped off the swivel chair and began to explore the room, curious as to what ¨¦meric had been working on.


    The door swished again, as both Madeline and ¨¦meric entered, with her hurriedly whispering something to him she didn''t want overheard. Noticing Chad up and about, ¨¦meric locked his laptop into his desk''s dock, eyeing the packet left behind. ¡°So,¡± he began, ¡°my lab partner Madeline tells me she observed you solving a heat transfer problem for conductive transfer across multiple mediums?¡± Chad, meekly, nodded, as ¨¦meric flipped through the packet rapidly, pausing at the problem in question while reading it over.


    After a few minutes, he collapses into his seat, his face emulating the cliff edge of the man''s sanity. ¡°I don''t know whether to be more concerned that she included something of that difficulty,¡± he began, leaning forward with steepled hands, ¡°or the fact that you seemingly solved it. Regardless of whether the answer is correct, just how do you know how to do all of this?¡± He inquires, shaking the unbelievable written testament of the lizard''s education.


    Madeline, clearly oscillating between uncomfortable and unabashed excitement, slowly walked towards her desk to put down her own work computer. ¡°What if we borrow Jaque''s partner, Alakazam?¡± She suggested. ¡°He could easily tell us what''s going on.¡± ¨¦meric seems torn in addressing the idea, unable to give a proper opinion. Chad, not wanting to deal with more people and tests, pulls the pencil and a scrap of paper from ¨¦meric''s desk, writing his response. ¡°What device?¡± Madeline asks, having leaned over to read the note.

 Chapter 11_v2: Making a Plan

    ¨¦meric and Chad shared a look, before Chad began writing again. A long, winding paragraph, including the roughest sketch of a design the lab had likely ever seen, including that one time the CEO¡¯s grandchild came to visit. The sketch itself was of a roughly rectangular object, with an assortment of buttons covering the entire alphabet, and some functions with odd symbols. The paragraph itself was even more detailed, discussing the function of the device, and how to use it. ¨¦meric was jotting down ideas on his own notepad as Chad continued to outline the idea. Madeline simply watched as she was trying to adapt to the massive shift in her worldview just a few minutes prior.


    ¡°It''s basically a device to type out words and sentences, and then say them aloud. Not sure if you have hologram or touchscreen tech yet, but this is the most old-school design I can come up with.¡± Chad¡¯s explanation was pointless, as neither of the two could understand him, but sometimes people do weird things simply as a mental relaxant. There was a soft silence, as both adults stood in contemplation.


    ¡°¨¦meric, I''ve given you the benefit of the doubt the past month, because you said you were having troubles at home.¡± Madeline began, taking a seat in her chair as she formulated her thoughts. ¡°Yet you kept up with your work and even beat several deadlines. But this- What is going on? How did you seemingly manage to not only find a pokemon from another continent, but one which could even work here?¡± Her voice was tense and elevated, an octave short of shouting. ¡°And now, it somehow has an idea to potentially bridge the human-pokemon communication barrier in a way easily scalable. I''m sorry but we can''t just sit on this,¡± she says, as she lifts the desk phone from its cradle.


    ¡°Madeline wait, don''t-¡± is all Eric can manage to get out before she freezes like a statue.


    <Maddy put the phone back down, having realized that the idea wasn''t quite so crazy. Why, she even had a few pokemon coworkers in the building. She relaxed in her chair as she pondered over the impact such a device might have on human-pokemon relations in the future.>


    ¡°Oh, shit.¡± The two words were all that Chad could get out, now that the oppressive atmosphere had settled on his shoulders. He and Eric shared a worried glance, as the duo attempted to communicate in a way that wouldn''t cause further issues.


    Eric, with a curt nod at Chad, turned his attention to Maddy. ¡°Yea, that''s the idea, but mainly this was a solution we came up with to help Stanley. You see, he''s non-verbal and doesn''t talk, but I can tell from his body language and gestures that he''s trying to. I theorize that a device like this, while having potential widespread applications, could be a way to allow others to hold a conversation with individuals like him.¡± Eric explained the concept, having changed a few previous details to adjust with the conversation''s participants.


    <¡±Oh Eric, that''s right, I forgot about your son. The poor boy must be scared, being trapped in a body unable to do what he tells it to.¡± Maddy responded, her face displaying empathy and compassion for the unfortunate father. ¡°I believe we can make something like this, but why does it have buttons instead of a holographic panel?¡± She asked.>


    Eric shifted uneasily, ¡°Well a holopanel would be expensive, and harder to justify or hide in our research budget. I don''t think upper management would just let us have free access to cutting edge-¡± Eric paused, as he heard the door open, the three turning to see a man in a fancy suit standing in the doorway.


    <¡±Heya Eric, Maddy! Guess it''s your lucky day! The Advanced R&D lab just got an excess shipment of equipment they don''t need, and I figured my favorite team deserved a chance to shine. I brought you a box of some of their excess parts, figured you might get creative and have an idea to impress the board next quarter.¡± The man explained, as he carried the large cardboard box to the nearest cleared surface and set it down. ¡°Good luck, and let''s see what cool ideas you two have been sitting on, eh?¡± Maddy donned a smile and waved enthusiastically, ¡°Thank you Mister Burger, we''ll wow your socks off!¡±>


    The mysterious man was gone as quick as he came, as both Chad and Eric glared at the veritable gift from the heavens. Eric gently opened the flaps of the box, finding all kinds of components, most of which were at least a generation newer than what he had been working with.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    <¡±Oh wow, look at all this,¡± Maddy began, as she dug into the blessed bounty, ¡°They even included a few holo emitters!¡±>


    ¡°OK,¡± Chad began, pausing to choose his words carefully, ¡°it is wonderful that a manager somehow wandered in at the right moment with the cool tech we needed, but I worry about making such drastically influential moves like that.¡± He gently picked up a metal cylinder with some wires hanging off, inspecting it. ¡°I don''t even know what any of these are, or do.¡±


    <Having plucked a few parts from the bin, Maddy carried them to a workstation, activating the oscilloscope and soldering iron. ¡°With this, we should be able to have a basic prototype for Stanley by next week!¡± She exclaimed, enthusiastic for the opportunity to make her mark on the company yet again. Immediately, Maddy began to arrange the components, measure and cut different colored wires, and sketch out a design.>


    Eric, having come to grips with the new situation, assembled the same collection of parts and carried them to his workstation, motioning for Chad to slide a chair over. ¡°Might as well have you watch what I''m doing. Have you ever built any electronics before?¡± Chad, having climbed the chair to stand on, placed his left hand in the air, palm opened down, and gently rotated his wrist in a repetitive motion back and forth. ¡°I do not know what that gesture means, but I am going to interpret it as neither yes or no.¡± Eric then proceeded to explain each component of the device, what they did, and how much better they were than anything he had been working with.


    <The trio excitedly worked towards their new device and prototype, spurred on by the dreams of something more coupled with the desire to help a poor boy in need of their help. Chad would return home with Eric just in time for dinner, with an eager Stanley waiting to hear how his best friend had done at his dad''s work. Dinner was rather quiet that night, and after the family decided to play a board game rather than watch television. Stanley wanted Chad to play, but his parents agreed that wouldn''t be fair to Chad. And when the game itself was over, Chad found himself aligned with Diane and Eric; he would''ve absolutely trounced the three of them. Tomorrow was Saturday, which for Stanley meant planning all the fun things he would do with his pokemon. Maybe the park, thought Stanley, we might be able to find another battle there. With a smile, Stanley bid good night to Chad, and fell fast asleep.>


    <hr>


    Ruminating, Chad lay immobile on the bed for several minutes, before he grunted and left the bedroom. ¨¦meric was already sitting on the living room couch waiting, his frayed nerves on full display. Chad simply walked over and sat next to the poor man, before grabbing a piece of paper and writing out a series of questions. ¨¦meric took his time, before exhaling the breath he had been holding for who knows how long. ¡°Yes, that''s the first time anything like that has happened. No, she won''t remember; her memory of the day has already been overwritten.¡± He explained, pausing before the next question.


    ¨¦meric placed the paper back on the table, ¡°Chad, at this point it has become clear to me that the rules are flexible, and anything goes. I am unsure whether anything we choose to do will be undone, or when, or why.¡± He leaned forward to steeple his hands, elbows resting on his knees. ¡°I just find myself thankful we didn¡¯t finish the device in a day. I have no idea how such a thing will impact His plans.¡± He admitted, a melancholic strain evident upon his pained frown. The duo sat in silence, neither wanting to broach much further on the topic.


    Chad, opting for a change of pace, took a clean sheet of paper, and began writing out a list; ¡°Story Milestones¡±. ¡°Stanley Communicator¡±, ¡°Learn Ember from Calem¡¯s mom and her Pokemon¡±, he paused after the two items, catching ¨¦meric¡¯s attention.


    ¡°Oh you mean Grace? That makes sense, though Adrienne might be better to help set that one up. I haven¡¯t interacted with her as much as she has.¡± ¨¦meric chimed in, having read the second line on the to-do list. ¡°I¡¯ll bring it up with her tomorrow, and we¡¯ll try to work up a plan to encourage Calem and Stanley to get some time together at their cottage.¡±


    Nodding, Chad put an empty checkbox next to item two, then continued. ¡°Stanley Grades¡± was his third item, as his lips pursed from the extremely sour concept. Chad pondered a bit, before finalizing the fourth list item, ¡°Sales Pitch - 5 other Pokemon¡±. This catches ¨¦meric off-guard, as he contributes an opinion for discussion.


    ¡°Are you assuming that He doesn¡¯t have a plan for them joining you?¡± He questions, leading to Chad scratching his head while bobbing the pencil up and down.


    Oh, no he had zero plans, that was more of my department. Trust me, they¡¯ll join you, and they can be quite the rapscallions.


    Chad shakes his head, then scratches off item four, ¡°Guess that solves that then.¡±


    ¡°Why did you cross that off? You think it¡¯s pre-planned?¡± ¨¦meric questioned, clearly not having heard my soothing voice just a scant second earlier. Chad, remembering his powers of the Protagonist, nodded his head in agreement; and with a spark of inspiration began to add a fifth item: ¡®Who are-¡¯


    Chad, that also will not be an issue. Those three items are enough to start the journey.


    Chad glanced down at the list with four items, one crossed off, as ¨¦meric leaned back from his seated position. ¡°Looks pretty straightforward then. You can work on number two relatively soon, item one we¡¯ll iterate over time, and long-term you can do your best on item three.¡± He summarized, grateful that the duo could manage to simplify the solution to their problem so succinctly. With a hint of pride, ¨¦meric carried the checklist over and pinned it to the refrigerator with a cute sylveon-head magnet.


    ¡°I still doubt The Voice is going to approve of any of this,¡± Chad sighed, expressing his concern.


    They won¡¯t, but their plan would¡¯ve kept us in Vaniville Town past chapter 100, so too bad.

 Chapter 12_v2: Playing with Fire

    <Stanley awoke bright and early with the morning sun. It¡¯s Saturday, he thought excitedly, as he tossed the covers and jumped out of bed, ready for the weekend. Where did Chad go? Stanley asked, as he left his bedroom, only to be stumped as his pokemon was not in the kitchen or living room either. He was going to look further, but the enticing aroma of fresh-grilled hash browns drew Stanley towards what was most assuredly breakfast. Good morning, he bid his parents, as Eric sat at the table reading the newspaper while Diane finished cooking.>


    The noises from out-front of the house ceased, as a glowing F¨¦e¡¯renard hopped inside, dragging a worn-out Charmander with her ribbons. She was pride incarnate, depositing the defeated Chad right beside his food bowl. ¡°I swear, once I figure out Ember, it won¡¯t be so one-sided.¡± He warned, or hoped- it was hard to discern between prophecy and the ramblings of a sore loser.


    <Good morning Chad, how was training? Stanley questioned, taking his seat at the table as a heaping plate of various greens and browns were laid before him.>


    Chad sat up and delicately attempted to bring a food pellet to his bruised mouth, seemingly struggling with every slight movement. Giggling, the pink fox decided to weigh in, ¡°He certainly has grown from the start, but a gulf remains before he''ll be able to tackle his first gym challenge.¡± Chad almost seemed relieved to hear such praise, before wincing at some other remnant ache of his training session.


    Placing three plates of breakfast on the table, Dianna beamed at Stanley, ¡°By the way Stanley, I spoke with Calem''s mother this morning, and she agreed that you two could have a study sessions slash play date later today. She also promised to help teach Chad some fire techniques if you manage to complete all your homework while you''re there.¡± She informed, offering a challenge and potential reward to the youth. Inspired by the best of schemers, she brought her cup of steaming tea to her smile for a dignified sip.


    <Stanley was overjoyed; a playdate and his pokemon would get a personal lesson from the town''s fire specialist? And all he had to do was complete his homework for the weekend? This sounded too good to be true, but with a smile and enthusiastic nod he vigorously thanked his mother. With the weekend already promising, Stanley decided to spend his morning watching television, as Saturday mornings were when all the best shows were on. Chad spent the rest of the morning recovering and resting, anticipating a busy afternoon. And Eric took Dianna out for a short outing together. Around noon, Stanley with a hefty backpack took Chad and the two began their trek over to Calem''s house.>


    The duo enjoyed a peaceful walk through town, this time without a random challenger, and a slew of friendly waves from others out seizing the day. Upon approaching Calem''s family home, it was apparent that Grace still had several team members with her, as the cottage itself was modest compared to the overall property size. While the house was barely much bigger than Eric and Dianna''s, the land surrounding it was easily ten times the size. And spread across it were a variety of distinctly fire-type pokemon, either practicing or resting in the mid-day sun. A woman appearing to be in her mid to late thirties with long smooth hair that shone a mixture of browns and oranges took notice of the duo and strode over from a pride of what could best be described as ¡®fire cats¡¯. Her white sundress had a stylized flame motif along the bottom edge, billowing in the wind to create an illusion of a low-burning brushfire.


    <Stanley came to a pause right at the front entrance before waving with a smile. This is going to be great, he thought, as recalled that Calem was ranked number three in the school for mathematics. Between his tutorship and the personal training Chad would get under one of Kalos'' top fire trainers, today would be a monumental step towards their progression! Seeing her wave them in, Stanley gently opened the front gate and let himself and his partner in. Hi Calem''s Mom, we''re here to learn! Stanley thought to himself, with an eager smile and a gentle lift of his backpack straps. ¡°Hello to you too, Stanley. Calem is inside in the living room, you two can get started on your homework.¡± She confirmed, motioning towards the front door with an open-palmed wave sweeping in front of her in a grand gesture towards her home. Stanley nodded, heading for the house while giving his pokemon a wave, Good Luck! he thought, as he entered the house to try and level up his own skills.>


    Once Stanley was inside, Grace returned her gaze upon the small fire lizard. ¡°Now, as I understand it, you could use a little help with lighting your spark huh? I can only imagine the sort of training Adrienne¡¯s Sylveon is putting you through, so I bet you could use a little guidance from someone more encouraging,¡± she explained, leading Chad towards the open fields. With matching timing, a Delphox began to stride over to meet them, a litter of young Fennekin following in her wake.


    The Delphox exuded grace with her measured gait, a powerful personality, and a confident charm; the spitting image of an experienced battle pokemon. She towered over the little lizard, with thick muscular thighs, toned muscles visible where her fur ran thin, and a predatory gaze to reinforce her place atop the pyramid of power. ¡°This is Reine du Feu, my starter and team ace; if she can''t teach you how to channel fire-type energy, then I best suggest you hope you''re a regional variant!¡± The hopefully-a-jest at Chad''s expense earned a giggle from the flock of Fennekins, but Chad merely stood taller.


    ¡°It''s nice to meet you Reine du Feu, I''ll be in your care for today,¡± he responded, taking a short bow of respect towards the experienced fire queen. ¡°Lady Renard has done well honing my stamina and instincts, I look forward to learning how to be a fire type with your tutelage.¡±


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°Hah, he said Toot!¡± One of the little ones shouted, immediately causing everyone to laugh except Grace, Chad, and Reine.


    Reine raised an eyebrow, her smirk of confidence shifted to one of concern and suspicion. ¡°Those are rather fancy words for a lad barely a month old. Words I hardly would expect to find anywhere outside of the humans'' books.¡± Her stance shifted slightly, her guard up and aimed at the youngster who stood before her. The flame at the end of her baton perked up in response.


    A few beads of sweat rolling down the back of his head, Chad attempted to stand even taller, ¡°Yea, I can read their language, but I can''t really explain why. Can''t really explain any of it, but all I can do is move forward with my best,¡± he responded, muddying the waters even further. The three stood in a loose triangle while several decisions were made. Grace looked between the two, her face pinched in slight concern, while Reine appeared to be musing over a few things, before giving a slight wave.


    ¡°Fine, you may train with the little ones for today. If you fail to produce an ember before you and your trainer depart, then you shall not return here for any further guidance.¡± She explained, leading the small squad of fire starters over to a relatively empty area of pure dirt and rocks. ¡°Your first lesson, children, will be to feel the fire energy that I place in your care. Fire burns, it destroys, but it also keeps us safe during times of cold, it allows us to eat things that may not otherwise. And you will need to decide for yourselves what kind of fire you wish to represent.¡± She lectures, as the kits and lizard spread out into a line before her. One by one, she gently lowers the tip of her wooden wand, creating a small candy-sized piece of fire and placing it before each student.


    ¡°Now, I want you to focus on this warmth; feel the simmering energy I have placed inside it. This is an example of how you may start a small campfire while traveling. With proper control, you may be able to use a fire of this size to warm yourself or your trainer up when it''s freezing cold. Your first task is to control this small fire, and to keep it burning with your own willpower.¡± She clarified, as the small orbs began to flicker, leading one of the foxes to immediately bend down and try to blow on the struggling embers to keep it alight. The others glanced around, an edge of panic on their faces. Chad meanwhile simply sat down before the flame and focused on it. Over the course of a few minutes, the flames began to go out one by one, with Chad''s holding out until the very end, fighting for its very life before vanishing into a wisp of smoke. The fennec beside him, seemingly impressed, clapped in congratulatory support.


    ¡°Now that you have experienced the warmth, your next goal is to create a spark, the smallest of ignitions, and work to slowly grow it bigger and bigger. Feel that energy deep within, and urge it to move. Fire is always moving, never content to stay still. Follow your inner fire, see where it moves about your body, and guide it until it emerges.¡±


    The following minutes stretched on as each youngling made their own unique attempts at unleashing their own fire. Varying from an intense gaze at the same spot on the ground, to something best described as a dance, but Chad merely sat with his eyes closed, hands cupped before him as the flame at the end of his tail began to pulse. The studious group was shaken as one of the Fennekin yipped in excitement, a new plume of smoke rising from before it. Excitedly, the other kits gathered around to provide congratulations and hype themselves up before returning to the task with fervor. With time, each fox attained success, leaving them all watching Chad with hope in their eyes.


    Reine joined the small crowd, her focus entirely on the final student, ¡°I can see the energy flowing through you, it just needs an outlet. Find the outlet,¡± she hinted, as Chad began to sweat from the effort. Then there was a brief mote of a spark, then another. As more and more sparks began to pop and fizz, Reine rolled her eyes. ¡°Use your mouth, stop trying to force it out of your hands-¡± she scolded, just as Chad¡¯s eyes bugged out and his cheeks puffed up. On the brink of losing his lunch, Chad released a loud belch straight upwards, along with a sizable plume of fire closer to a flamethrower than a basic ember.


    After a short stunned silence, Chad¡¯s fellow students jumped with excitement, buzzing about how large his fire was, congratulating him while hyping themselves up to ¡®do one even bigger¡¯. One of them¨C the same fennec from earlier¨C even put her paw on his shoulder, complimenting him on how toasty the blast had felt. Chad himself seemed frozen in a brief daze, shocked by his own success. ¡°I did it, I actually-¡±


    <Stanley was overjoyed at receiving Calem¡¯s help today, and managed to complete all his homework with time to spare for returning home before dinner. Waving goodbye, he happily bounced home with his pokemon in tow; the two jubilant about their successful afternoon. And they still had another half of the weekend left! Upon returning home, Stanley eagerly powered through their dinner of Qualot-spiced salad. Not one to be left out, Chad was thankful to be given an extra Bluk berry with his dinner.>


    <After dinner, Stanley showed how much Calem had helped him with his weekend homework, impressing his family that he had managed to answer each question correctly. Together, they then spent the evening watching game shows, a gym battles high-lights reel, and the local news broadcast. Eric had asked if there was anything in particular Stanley wanted to do tomorrow, and young Stanley thought about going to the park again for more exercise.>


    <After a quick night¡¯s rest, the duo sped through breakfast and headed for the park early. Stanley and Chad ran and played, as Stanley quickly learned he was not in good physical shape, something he¡¯d have to fix in the next few years. The duo did not have a battle, but still challenged themselves to push their playtime to the limit. Returning home exhausted for lunch, Stanley spent the rest of the afternoon watching edu-tainment programs on TV while Chad joined him. Family dinner was a short affair, as afterwards the four split into two teams for game night, with the duo of Chad and Diane barely pulling out a win over the team of Stanley and Eric. Afterwards, with a new week starting in the morning, the family went to bed. Stanley was counting on showing his improvements this week at school.>


    Chad rose quickly, ¡°-did it¡­¡± He whispered, as the memories of the past two days took root. With a sigh of defeat, he fell backwards onto the bed. Closing his eyes, Chad inhaled deeply through his nose, before slowly releasing the breath. ¡°I kinda wish the time-skips were more¡­ considerate? Can¡¯t even celebrate my own victories,¡± he lamented in the darkness.


    I¡¯d suggest you buckle-up buckaroo. You¡¯ve hit the last major goal we needed, so all that¡¯s left is the giant leap forward; we¡¯re about to have a montage.


    Chad, whether genuinely entertained or merely remembering something from his past life, chuckled lightly. ¡°Mon-taaage~¡±


    I believe everything is in place and ready; are you confident in this plan?


    Chad grimaced, continuing to stare at the ceiling. ¡°How long is it?¡±


    A little over two years; we¡¯ll be stopping the night before the journey begins.


    The fire pokemon continued to try and see beyond the ceiling, thinking through everything he had planned out and set up. ¡°If anything goes wrong, we just have to start all over again; no big deal.¡±


    This is why combining time-skips and rewinds is so damn dangerous; no big deal, he says¡­

 Chapter 13_v2: The Big (Time) Skip

    <What followed were hours, into days, into weeks, into months, into years, as the two put forth their best efforts to progress. Stanley gradually began to show progress in all of his subjects, to the degree he was permitted to bring Chad with him for the whole day. This led to the breaking of the dam, so to speak. Every child earned permission to bring one pokemon with them, on the conditions that they upheld high marks and demonstrated good judgment.>


    <With time, and learning from Chad¡¯s actions, Stanley began to overcome his deficit. If his pokemon could communicate without speaking his language, why couldn¡¯t he also talk without speaking? Stanley began to carry around a mini white board and marker, writing out what he wanted to say to others. This was great, and Stanley began to- >


    The world slowed to a halt before resuming, with Chad finding himself in the hallway alone, seemingly right before entering Miss Pott¡¯s classroom. He glanced around to notice Stanley was missing. ¡°Uh, did something happen?¡± He asked in confusion, likely due to the sudden drop from the narrative fast-forward.


    <It appears Stanley has somehow gotten himself stuck in the Janitor¡¯s closet, and I cannot get him out.>


    ¡°Is the door locked?¡± Chad asked, rotating around in a searching pattern.


    <N¨C No, it is neither locked, nor closed.>


    Chad paused, opened his mouth, then closed it again before shaking his head. He began to walk towards an ajar door in the hallway which happened to have ¡®FACILITIES¡¯ in big friendly letters on it. Peeking inside, Chad found Stanley staring blankly at the bucket-packed utility shelving covering the wall, utterly still and unmoving. After a few seconds of this game of statues, Chad gently stepped inside and grasped Stanley by the hand, guiding him out and back into the hall, towards Miss Pott¡¯s class.


    <Right, thank you. As I was saying, Stanley began to rise up the class rankings, both for having a strong pokemon for a partner, and for getting steadily better grades on his assignments. Seeing the success of their joint efforts, Serena began to join Stanley and Calem for their study sessions. The trio quickly rose up and carved a niche for themselves as the power elite of their class, with Calem and Serena frequently tying for first place in a variety of subjects while Stanley holds the title of the school¡¯s top battler. Leveraging Stanley¡¯s success, Calem starts bringing his intended starter to school: one of the Fennekin from his mom¡¯s pack. Not to be outdone, Serena begins bringing her Chespin, which somehow manages to hold its own against the fire types in their duels.>


    <When they aren¡¯t challenging the world, the trio spend downtime with their other friends Shauna, Trevor, and Tierno. The six get along well, though early on they learned not to leave Shauna and Stanley unattended, as the two polar opposites got along like ghosts and normal types. Each had their own goals and ideas for what they wanted when their journey started, with half the group wanting to be the best they could, and the other half just wanting to travel and see as much of Kalos as they could.>


    <For Stanley¡¯s 14th birthday, his favorite gift was having his four best friends- and Shauna- come to celebrate with him. Eric surprised him with a prototype of a new device he had been working on: a tablet that would allow Stanley to type or write out sentences, and have it speak for him. Stanley was ecstatic about his freedom from the board and marker, and promised to keep it safe. The family got a good laugh when Diane¡¯s Sylveon tried to use it, as the gibberish was equivalent to a newborn babe. The next morning during their training session, she made Chad regret laughing so hard.>


    <As he had promised, Stanley managed to keep his grades above passing for his final year, managing to place in the upper half of his class. In the final months leading up to graduation, Chad evolved to his Charmeleon stage, quickly adapting to the increased mobility and capabilities that came with it. To honor the event, he was given a bright white scarf which he wore daily from then on. Eric suggested that Chad invest in a nice pair of goggles once he evolved again, citing his experience flying to and from work, and on the recently-learned fact that Chad¡¯s final evolution gained the ability to fly. Another benefit from Chad¡¯s evolution was his ability to help around the house, often assisting with the cleaning and cooking much to Diane¡¯s delight.>


    <On Stanley¡¯s 15th birthday, having graduated from trainer school (and thanks to Chad¡¯s insistence on filing the paperwork in advance) led to the boy opening an envelope from the League and joyfully displaying his new trainer ID card. As the sixth and final member of the troupe to receive their card, this renewed their discussions of plans and what they were to do when their journey started next month with the start of the season. Stanley did wish he could do more, as it was announced at graduation that the top handful of students would be given a digital Pokedex for their journey, and he was not among them. Thankfully, both Calem and Serena qualified, and agreed to travel together with him (especially after Chad let them try his pan-seared stuffed tofu).>


    <It was then the night before the troupe were planning to depart. Bags were packed, everything was ready to go, and Stanley couldn¡¯t sleep. Finally, after all these years, he was getting to start his very own journey! Who would he meet? What kind of pokemon would join him? It was just impossible to sleep!>


    At the family computer, Chad was still working, writing down notes from the computer, and drawing lines on a paper map he had out. The computer had a list of the regional gyms up, along with their types, and suggested routes previous trainers had taken. On the map, there¡¯s a differently-colored line that heads across routes 22 and 21 towards Snowbelle, with a large question mark on top. The notebook currently is open to a page naming each gym, its city, and leader alongside the pokemon type, some of which have notes beneath them (such as Valerie and her Fairy gym, which simply has ¡°see next page¡± right next to a crossed-out ¡°wtf is a Fairy type¡±).


    Seemingly completed, Chad changed the computer¡¯s search, pulling up a bunch of anecdotes and travel tips. Each page, he would finish reading before writing a number next to each route on the map, before navigating the computer to the next page, with each number seeming to be in either hours or days. Once those were done, he pulled up the local grocer¡¯s website and began writing down prices and items.


    <Aren¡¯t you taking this a little too seriously? It¡¯s just a novice pokemon journey.>


    ¡°Unless you can magically materialize food and money for us, I need to come up with a plan for logistics.¡± Chad answered, not looking up from his work. He paused for a moment, ¡°And I don¡¯t mean using your mind magic to force people to just give us stuff, because that wouldn¡¯t work for your story either.¡± He clarified, having completed his estimates of vegetables.


    <Ah, well, no. Conjuration is not within my limits, something needs to previously exist for me to interact with it.>


    ¡°And that is exactly why I¡¯m doing all this, especially since I¡¯ll be cooking for us all on the trip. I want to trust Calem and Serena¡­¡± He started to explain, closing the foodstuffs and moving on to the miscellaneous gear such as tents and backpacks. ¡°But there¡¯s a good chance we may end up separating at some point on this journey, either by their choice or yours,¡± he concludes, before making a sour face at the price of space-folding backpacks.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.


    <Are you implying that I can¡¯t just make the two of them stick with Stanley until the end?>


    ¡°Do you always want Stanley to be in their shadow?¡± Chad retorted, quickly trying to find used spatial bags for sale online. The prices had barely decreased, leading to Chad biting his bottom lip before writing the price of a new bag on a list titled ¡®Things to save for¡¯. ¡°I can hold my own no problem, but I doubt the rest of our team will take well to a mute trainer. His device will be fine for a basic conversation, but it won¡¯t be enough during the heat of a battle.¡±


    <Again, I can just narrate what happens, and it shall be! Why are you so hung up on every little detail?>


    Chad, gave a resigned sigh, before closing the notebook and moving away from the workstation. ¡°Stanley isn¡¯t a human. Honestly, I question if he¡¯s even alive. Why did you make him?¡±


    <What?! Stanley¡¯s a perfectly healthy young lad->


    ¡°Who never uses a toilet, doesn¡¯t breathe unless you specify it during your narration, doesn¡¯t move so much as a finger without your say-so, and hasn¡¯t blinked a single time in the supposed two-plus years I¡¯ve been here. I would know, you just crammed the bulk of it into my head barely a few minutes ago.¡± He ranted, somewhat quietly, but potentially audible to the next room. There was a long silence, barely disturbed by the outside sounds of life in the night, before Chad leaned back in the chair and stared at the ceiling, ¡°I¡¯m right, aren¡¯t I Author?¡±


    Yes, Stanley is regrettably neither a real person, nor a living being.


    <Oh sure; take his side, as usual. You just couldn¡¯t handle the majestic arc of my story, your jealousy seeks to derail my greatest tale and ruin everything I¡¯ve worked for!>


    My aim is to remain neutral, but to foster cooperation between you two where possible. You are free to also make your own inquiries if you like.


    <Fine! Damned charlatan, explain to me this: What could possibly be wrong with my main character?!>


    Narratively: nothing. Readers these days seem to enjoy worthwhile underdog stories.


    <HAH!>


    Fundamentally though, his body is breaking down from the rotting food inside his cavity, among other things. I foresee him facing visible issues as early as Lumiose City. No heart or cardiovascular system means his body has no heartbeat and is also missing an immune system. No lungs equates to no breathing, no stomach means no acids or enzymes to break down food instead of just letting it all rot together. And no digestive system means the food never leaves his body, compounding the primary issue.


    ¡°Right, it was subtle but some of those things were pretty obvious after a month together. So, with Author¡¯s guidance, I made some backup plans, just in case.¡± Chad explained, seemingly bracing himself in the chair.


    <How bold of you to assume you would make a better storyteller than I, the sheer cheek of it is driving me to ask why I shouldn¡¯t scrap the whole plan, and you, right here and now. What possible reason would make you think I¡¯d so easily abandon my plans in favor of something you¡¯ve barely concocted in a few chapters?>


    ¡°Simple; because you still get your story, but we change the driving motivation,¡± Chad explained, tense with sweat starting to form on his brow. ¡°You were planning a simple coming of age story, but you know what else people love? Drive. A character with no drive is boring, and rarely of interest to the audience. And what¡¯s one of the most famous drives to push a character to go above and beyond?¡± Chad led on, leaving the answer unsaid.


    <Death¡­ You want to kill poor little Stanley.>


    ¡°Yea,¡± Chad admitted with a twinge of guilt. ¡°Though we have three options for that route, each with a different type of impact on the story. First being a sudden passing, like an aneurysm or heart attack. This symbolizes how quickly your life can turn upside-down and would resonate with readers who have lost someone in a similar manner. Second is to have it onset slowly, and have Stanley try to do everything he wanted before he can¡¯t go on anymore. Most people would happily root for the cancer kid to really enjoy life while they still could.¡± He explained, raising a claw on his left hand for each option, lingering before raising the third and final talon. ¡°Third is harder to do, but the Heroic Sacrifice route is tried and true. Though I question how well the readers may take it, Stanley hasn¡¯t exactly done enough for them to be emotionally invested yet.¡±


    <The second one would be difficult to do with no lead-up, and I trust you wouldn¡¯t accept being attacked by a pack of rampaging Gyrados?>


    No. We need Chad, Calem, Serena, Shauna, Trevor, and Tierno to all survive. That¡¯s too risky.


    <Oh, so he gets to kill someone off, but when I do it it¡¯s a problem? That hardly seems fair.>


    ¡°In his defense, I have a feeling the last three will be inconsequential to the story at some point. None of them have any drive to push far, and half the party is aiming for the very top,¡± Chad spoke, explaining his opinion on the Narrator¡¯s stance. ¡°That said, I think option 1 might be our best bet. It lets the Narrator focus on the actual story itself instead of needing to manage Stanley¡¯s condition over a period of time, and accurately time it to fail at the most consequential moment.¡±


    <How are you so familiar with all of this?>


    ¡°You didn¡¯t erase any of my memories.¡± Chad answered, tapping his right index claw to his temple. ¡°And I read a LOT of fan fiction online in my previous life. I could probably write out entire books and sell them here for cash if we wanted to follow that trope.¡±


    Yea let¡¯s not; I¡¯m deliberately trying to avoid the pitfalls and meta-knowledge tropes that so many other stories use. It¡¯s the main reason you¡¯re here in Kalos.


    <Ah, that would explain some things I¡¯ve noticed. Though, you have yet to explain to me why She is also here. I would be disappointed if you gave Her charge of our rival.>


    No, not a rival, She¡¯s taking care of his love interest, who just happens to be living a power fantasy arc instead.


    ¡°Wait, love interest?!¡±


    Don¡¯t worry about it, you¡¯ll meet them just after obtaining your badge in Lumiose City. Though I am sorry to inform you this is not a romance story, so try not to get your hopes up.


    <Rather cruel aren¡¯t you? The lad was going to meet them the day he died until you intervened¨C >


    ¡°WHAT!?¡± Chad was up and out of the chair at this point, likely having woken the whole house with his outburst.


    <Thankfully the Narrator had used his awesome powers to prevent the contents of this conversation from waking anyone from their blissful sleep. Oh yea, your buddy didn¡¯t tell you?>


    Narrator, don¡¯t.


    <He had you die in a ____ _________ at a _____ ___________, the same day you¡¯d have met your fated lover. It would start with a conversation after _______ __ ____ _________, then you¡¯d realize you shared so many hobbies, lived near each other. It was quite sappy but in an endearing way. There was also a fifty-fifty chance you two banged it out in the bathrooms by the end of the day.>


    Smooth. But He isn¡¯t wrong. I do regret that you were denied¨C


    ¡°I was going to lose my virginity to my life partner, you had me killed instead, and weren¡¯t even planning to tell me?!¡± Chad shouted, falling to his knees as tears began to well and fall. He fell forward, bracing both hands against the floor as the metaphysical gravity began to skyrocket around him.


    <Quite ironic, that you yourself were a victim of the ¡®sudden loss¡¯ route. But on the bright side, at least you gained magical powers.>


    Not helping, Narrator.


    <There was an extended moment, wherein Chad unleashed all his pent-up emotions upon the two entities, using unflattering language best never repeated, and metaphors too visceral for this story. Once he was too tired to continue, he relented and appeared to be calming down. He realized that he had just been handed the very thing he said was lacking in their story; Drive.>


    Gradually, Chad began to rise to his feet, deep breaths slowly clearing away the distraught that had wrecked him a few minutes previous. With two quick motions, he wiped away any lingering tears, staring defiantly at the ceiling. ¡°Lumiose City, huh? Pretty sure that was going to be my third badge, so that sounds like a workable goal,¡± Chad responded, seeming to be pulling a one-eighty from despair to decisive.


    <Odd that you¡¯d tie it to a city. What¡¯s to stop him from just making a Combee-line there?>


    Because it¡¯s not just a location. Based on my storyboarding and timeline, you won¡¯t earn the Voltage Badge until you have at least four other members on your team. And don¡¯t rush to fill those four with a bunch of Zigzagoons and Pidgeys; the right four will be easy to spot. Just trust the process.


    ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll ¡®trust the process¡¯. So we have an agreement? Stanley dies tonight, and in his memory I carry on the journey myself with his now-grieving friends. I¡¯ll hold off on recruiting any other team members unless Author gives me a heads up. And I¡¯ll conquer all eight gyms on my rise to the top, for Stanley.¡± Chad lists off, counting each one with a claw, resulting in his entire left hand being opened upwards. ¡°Anything else?¡±


    <I¡¯ll ensure your travel buddies are compliant, and that you never encounter anything beyond your capabilities. I can also ward off any unnecessary wild encounters with other pokemon who aren¡¯t your teammates, just to save us the trouble.>


    And I¡¯ll try and figure out a way to get you a bag; those things are way beyond what you¡¯ll probably earn on this journey. Good night everyone.

 Chapter 14_v2: A Fruit Parfait

    <The morning was somber, as the family awoke to learn their beloved son had passed away overnight. On the eve of his journey, a bright light had gone out in the dark, and they were bereft of any ideas for how to handle their situation. That was when Chad, dedicated to continuing onwards, announced that he would undergo the journey just as he and Stanley had planned to. Accepting his resolution, Eric and Diane helped the pokemon gather the gear Stanley had gathered to bring on his trip. The three of them sedately walked towards where Stanley¡¯s friends were waiting for him, unaware he was never to arrive.>


    Calem was wearing an ocean blue tracksuit with white highlights, a sturdy pair of black hiking boots, and a burgundy hat atop his jaw-length straight brown hair. A black messenger bag was slung from his shoulder, while he delicately held a pair of black sunglasses. A singular pokeball on his belt, he was smiling and eager to get going as his slate-blue eyes took in the sunny day.


    Serena was sporting a black v-neck top with a pleated orange skirt, her black thigh-highs stretching upwards from a pair of black sneakers, and a cute pink hat lightly resting atop long flowing blonde hair that dipped below her shoulders. She had a large matching pink purse hanging from her shoulder, with a pair of white-framed sunglasses protecting her desaturated blue eyes, engaged in small-talk with Shauna beside her.


    Shauna was wearing a neon pink t-shirt with three black bowties down the front in a vertical stack, with a pair of almost-booty-shorts and stylish pink boots. Her medium-sized pink purse swung about as she animatedly discussed her goals, sky blue eyes shining with energy. Her brown hair was best described as ¡°a business of sentrets¡±.


    Tierno sported a pair of eye-catching yellow pants under a black graphic tee with a stylized design of a blue Vanillite, a small yellow backpack hanging behind him with a long singular strap. He wore a pair of practical white and black tennis shoes, his short hair tied up in a bun atop his head, and had a singular pokeball attached to his belt beneath his shirt.


    Trevor wore a white polo under a greyish-blue vest, with black slacks and neon green shoes to match his neon green large backpack. His grey eyes were scanning something on his Holo Caster, as his spherical helmet-shaped orange hair seemed to defy the wind, with a singular pokeball attached to his waist.


    Tierno was the first to notice Stanley¡¯s parents approaching with Chad, notifying the group as everyone broke into a smile and wave. The excitement seemed to falter when they noticed Stanley was not with the three. They withheld saying anything while the trio approached, taking notice that Chad was carrying all of Stanley¡¯s gear.


    <The grieving parents and pokemon calmly explained what had happened to their son the night before, and Chad¡¯s resolution to march forward. His best friends consoled the grieving parents, agreeing to help Chad realize Stanley¡¯s dream however they could.>


    Before the group left, Chad pulled up the black speech-pad dangling on a strap to his side. The design was rugged and simplified, having forgone a fancy touch screen for some durable rubber buttons and a small text display. After a few seconds of hunt-and-peck typing, he pressed the ¡®speak¡¯ button and held it up for the two of them to hear. [THANK, YOU, EMERIC, AND, ADRIENNE] it spoke electronically, with some lost inflection and a weird gap between each word. The words seemed to bring the two near tears, before they bent down and gave the lizard a loving hug. With a final goodbye, the two return home, leaving the six to begin their grand journey and start the season.


    ¡°Right, well we should get going. Professor Sycamore sent me a message this morning and said he wanted to personally meet Calem and Serena in Aquacorde Town before we traveled too far.¡± Tierno informed the group, adjusting the straps on his backpack. One by one, the other five nodded, and the group set out north from their humble village. Route 1 was fairly unique, being the safest route in the region due to human foot traffic. The paved road was often traveled by Vaniville residents to access the larger nearby town. The short trek barely took an hour at their relaxed pace, with the mood steadily increasing as each member thought of something interesting they had been looking forward to.


    <Upon entering the town, the group was taken aback by the view, too used to merely passing through on the bus to school. Now as adults, they could explore the town to their hearts¡¯ content, taking group pictures and making memories of their first stop. Checking his Holo Caster, Tierno directed the group towards a terrace cafe near the waterfront, where the six crowded a small table and ordered an array of sweet parfaits and bubbly drinks while awaiting their benefactor.>


    Not long later, a man in a long white coat walked over while joyfully attempting to gain their attention. His purple button-up shirt was wrinkle-free paired with dark gray pants, a pair of meticulously shiny brown leather shoes, and swoopy gray hair clearly locked in place with half a can of hairspray. ¡°Calem and Serena right? Nice to finally meet you,¡± He calmly settled into the group, pulling up a chair from another table to join the 6. ¡°Congratulations on claiming the top two spots of your class, that¡¯s quite a feat, and I am excited about what you¡­ two¡­¡± he drifts off, his gaze locked on Chad. ¡°Is¨C is that Charmeleon one of your pokemon?¡±


    All five shake their heads in sync, with Calem answering for the group. ¡°No, Chad was the starter pokemon of a good friend of ours, Stanley, who passed away last night. The six of us were planning to travel Kalos together but¡­¡± He trailed off, letting the thought linger as the mood began to collapse the sugary treats before them.


    Resolutely, Serena lifted the mood, ¡°But, Chad agreed to carry on in Stanley¡¯s memory. That way it¡¯ll be like he¡¯s still with us,¡± she clarified with a soft smile. Chad, lightly sipping a bubbling orange soda with a frothy cream topping, nodded in accordance.


    ¡°I see, I am sorry for your loss, he was much too young,¡± the professor responded, becoming infected by the down mood. He pulled a messenger bag onto his lap and began rummaging through it to pull out a small red card-shaped device. ¡°On a lighter note, as part of your reward for graduating in the top ten percent of the academy students, or with special distinctions, I¡¯ve brought 5 Pokedexes for you all to take on your journeys.¡± He begins to hand out the devices to each human at the table, holding the final one up to give a brief demonstration of how it works by aiming it at Chad.


    ¡°I guess Stanley really was at a disadvantage, huh Chad? I know you were trying hard together, but climbing from the bottom of the class rankings probably was too much.¡± Serena commented, her soft smile trying to focus on the meteoric rise the duo had been on. Chad shrugged, taking a break from his drink to pull out the typing pad for a momentary response. [YES, BUT, STILL, CLIMBING] the device buzzed out, catching the professor off-guard while the rest of the former students smiled at his resolution.


    ¡°Did¨C Is he using that device to communicate?¡± The shocked adult stammered out, immediately standing to walk over and inspect the odd keyboard. [YES, STANLEY, MUTE] the board responded, as Chad took advantage of his now much nimbler hands than his previous evolutionary stage. Sycamore respectfully kept his distance, but glanced at the others at the table with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Stanley was a mute and couldn¡¯t talk, so his dad built him this device to let him ¡®speak¡¯. Chad had learned to use it before Stanley even figured out how to type numbers on it,¡± Trevor clarified, pushing up his glasses with a finger. ¡°Frankly, I believe Chad taught Stanley how to use it. I am also 75% certain of the rumors Chad was doing Stanley¡¯s homework¨C¡±


    [ALLEGEDLY] the device beeped, as Chad continued drinking his soda. The response got a weird look from everyone except Trevor, who grinned like the winner of a children¡¯s game.This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.


    ¡°Sure, but I bet there¡¯s a ton of words in Stanley¡¯s assignments that go beyond his reading level.¡± Shauna continued, finishing the spoonful of parfait with a smile. ¡°Like I know for a fact that in a single month, he went from thinking the sum of two and three was two¨C¡± Chad winced in pain, ¡°to turning in a paragraph that had the word ¡®derivative¡¯ in it when asked how to figure out how fast a Pidgey could travel between two cities.¡± She finished, leveling her spoon at Chad accusingly. Chad continued to sit still, almost as if he couldn¡¯t hear or understand her.


    ¡°So the five of you believe that this pokemon, sitting at the table with you,¡± Sycamore began, slowly returning to his seat, ¡°while speaking via a novel device that can serve as a universal bridge between human and pokemon communications, is the reason your friend managed to graduate?¡± The five tennagers shared a rotating collection of glances towards each other, seemingly communicating with facial micro-expressions, before all turning to Chad, then the professor.


    ¡°Yea.¡± / ¡°Pretty sure.¡± / ¡°100%¡± / ¡°Yup.¡± Four of them responded in sync, with Tierno providing a supplemental: ¡°I¡¯d bet 5 Pokedollars he also took the written Trainer exam too.¡± Chad, pretending to be a pokemon at the moment, sat quietly while his soda neared empty at the bottom of the glass cup.


    ¡°No way! A pokemon taking the trainer exam would be national news, I doubt he was even allowed to¨C¡± Trevor began, before Chad gently placed a trainer card from Stanley¡¯s bag in the center of the table. The six humans stood up, leaning forward slightly to see it, as right at the top, it read¡­ Chad¡­


    <Hold up; How and When did you manage that? I didn¡¯t even mention the exam in the montage!>


    Chad, free to speak with the world on pause, looked to the sky with a pleased toothy smile. ¡°I figured it out during a previous fast-forward, that if I set out any hints of wanting to get something done, that I would inevitably accomplish it during that period. For example, placing a knife on the counter with some vegetables and a recipe lead to selecting what we ate for dinner that night,¡± he explained, leaning back in the chair.


    <But that can¡¯t have¨C >


    ¡°Two years is a long time. Plenty of time to build up a reputation, file the endless amounts of paperwork, and communicate with just the right people to line everything up. Stanley did accomplish what you wanted him to, don¡¯t be mistaken about that. Rather, the Author agreed with me that I would need my own card in order to take advantage of the trainer services since the sob story would only hold out for so long. So the two of us worked on lining all that up off-scene to make it happen without violating your half of the story.¡±


    <...What are you saying, we only agreed on Stanley¡¯s death last night¨C You¡¯ve been planning this, ever since the beginning, haven¡¯t you? Every time I took my gaze off you, you were just placing another Chekhov¡¯s gun. You and the accursed Author were just laying your trap for me to stumble into and trigger.>


    Chad, frowning at the heated response shifts to sit upright. ¡°I took the initiative to do everything you would¡¯ve needed me to do! I put my scaly butt on the line fighting for the past two years to save up the money for this, for the 5 pokeballs in my bag, for the emergency rations, for the license fee! Did you think I would just evolve by the power of friendship? I worked hard for us, to line up every domino that would need to fall in sequence for us to have this strong start!¡± Chad was practically shouting at the end, standing on the chair with a leg on the table itself.


    <No wonder your old boss never promoted you; all you can ever do is think about yourself¨C >


    ENOUGH.


    Chad, the Narrator is partially correct. Had he been on-board with our plans from the beginning I believe he would¡¯ve been much more cooperative with the plan. Narrator, that last bit was over the line and unfair to Chad.


    ¡°Thanks¨C¡±


    It isn¡¯t his fault he failed to realize he was perpetually being abused by a company that never promoted anyone other than upper management. Now, I am going to insist we continue this scene so that we can move towards the first gym battle. Chad, I will be forwarding a copy of our big plan to the Narrator so he¡¯ll be in the loop. Narrator, I have pre-planned for Chad¡¯s entire team, and you can find it highlighted in the information packet. I will notify Chad when they appear, so do not feel the need to force any wild battles or captures. So please, promise me you two will attempt to work together more going forward?


    <I can promise I will attempt to keep the story flowing.>


    ¡°I promise not to antagonize the Narrator by planning things off-screen,¡± Chad recited, his face upset as he slunk back into the chair.


    Good enough, I suppose. Shall we resume?


    ¡°By the light of Arceus, he actually did it?!¡± Calem¡¯s eyes shone in wonder, as Trevor handed Tierno his winnings with a grimace while looking away.


    ¡°This is huge! Why is nobody talking about this?!¡± Sycamore exclaimed, looking around to notice the seven were the only ones remaining at the cafe. Chad sighed, before returning the card to his bag. [SECRECY, SPECIAL, RULES] he typed out, eyeing his empty drink with lamentation. ¡°What, rules? You have special rules?¡± Sycamore inquired as the other five leaned in with interest. Chad began typing a lot, frequently having to delete words and start over, until he hit the green button.


    [I, COUNT, IN, SIX, MAX, SIX, CONFERENCE, ABLE, PENDING] it eventually spat out, leading to some visible confusion in the group. Calem snapped, as he pointed at Chad, ¡°Oh, the first part means you count towards the carry limit right?¡± Chad nodded, ¡°And the second bit means your carry limit is six?¡± Chad shook his head no, but Serena popped in with her idea.


    ¡°Not the carry limit, I think he means he can¡¯t catch more than six, period, so only the five who will travel with him?¡± She questioned, to which Chad gave a thumbs up. ¡°But the conference¡­ Can you clarify that more?¡± Chad was about to type when Shauna put her hat in the ring.


    ¡°I think he means the league hasn¡¯t decided if he can enter the conference at the end yet,¡± to which Chad nodded again. ¡°So he could earn all eight badges and potentially be told he can¡¯t compete.¡±


    ¡°That hardly seems fair, if he gets all eight why shouldn¡¯t he be allowed to compete?¡± Tierno asked, reaching the end of his own snack pile.


    ¡°Secrecy; I believe the League is trying to determine how big of an impact the reveal of a pokemon like Chad would have,¡± Sycamore supplied. ¡°We already have pokemon working alongside humans in a variety of jobs. I guess it was inevitable that one would try to become a professional battler.¡± The man was calm, collected, and regarded the Charmeleon with new-found approval. ¡°If a pokemon could serve in the role as the trainer, with their superior senses and reflexes, just imagine how much harder facing them could be.¡± Sycamore stood up, sliding the chair under the table as he took another look at the group. ¡°Calem, Serena, when you two earn your first badge, come visit me in Lumiose city; I have your rewards for graduating in the top three at my lab. For the rest of you, I wish you good luck on your journeys.¡±


    <As Sycamore headed off, so too did the group begin to head out, leaving a tip for the waitress. Each had gained a new confidence in themselves, and a new appreciation for their friends. With a long series of shakes or nods, Chad fielded the group¡¯s questions regarding just how much of Stanley¡¯s homework he had done. ¡°I don¡¯t blame him, I¡¯d have done the same to make sure I got to go,¡± Calem commented, sympathizing with Chad¡¯s choice to intervene against school rules. ¡°Is that why you had Dorothy help you with that diorama last year?¡± Serena pointed out, as Calem¡¯s face scrunched up at the jab over his own flaunting of the rules with his starter.>


    <The group laughed and continued to jest through town, until they reached the entrance for Route 2. Unlike Route 1, here there was a warning sign about wild pokemon, highly suggesting any travelers have their own pokemon for protection. Which is the most illogical thing ever; ¡®Look out, that thing is dangerous! Be sure you have one of your own, to protect yourself from the dangerous thing with another dangerous thing!¡¯ Not even a thought to how dangerous a pokemon could be to the trainer themselves. Madness.>


    [QUESTIONS, TWO] the tablet beeped, as the group turned to Chad. [TRAVEL, TOGETHER, TO, CITY] was the first, followed by [SEEK, ANY, POKEMON]. The group took a moment to parse the questions, and confer with one another. Tierno broke the silence first, ¡°I want to build a team of the best dancers, so if I find any pokemon that share my dream I¡¯ll ask them to join. But otherwise, I¡¯m not seeking anyone in particular,¡± he explained, doing a twirl at the word ¡®dance¡¯.


    Trevor stepped forward next, ¡°I plan to be the first of us to complete the pokedex, so I¡¯ll be trying to meet every species that lives on the route.¡± Saying this, he pulled out his ¡®dex and scanned Chad, realizing he had forgotten to do so earlier.


    Shauna gave a flip of her hair with a proud stance, ¡°I just wanna see everything, so I¡¯m not in a rush to go anywhere!¡±


    Serena and Calem shared a look, before she chimed in with their shared opinion. ¡°There aren¡¯t any specific pokemon we¡¯re interested in that are on this route, but both Calem and I want to get to Lumiose quickly. I don¡¯t believe the professor will hold our rewards too long,¡± she explained, as Calem agreed with a nod. [SANTALUNE, GYM, BUSY, IF, WAIT] Chad typed out in response.


    <¡±How about this then?¡± Trevor started, ¡°How about Tierno, Shauna, and myself take it slow, while you three can rush to challenge the gym?¡± His suggestion to split the party was met with concern and quiet, as each member thought it over. Though one by one, they agreed with the plan. Calem and Serena were on a time limit, and it wouldn¡¯t be fair to anyone if they compromised either group¡¯s goals to meet the desires of the others. With an agreement to call each other to share big events, the group split in two. Calem, Chad, and Serena rushed off to try and reach Santalune City before the wait list for the gym got too long.>


    As the now-trio continued, Chad slowed to walk at the back of the group. ¡°We¡¯re probably gonna split from Calem and Serena once we get our first badge huh?¡± He asked, gazing upon the gentle passing clouds high above.


    <I can force them to go with you, it wouldn¡¯t do you good to travel alone.>


    No, they¡¯ll be heading to Lumiose. If you decide to try your detour for the ice gym, you¡¯ll be parting ways with them soon.


    ¡°Yea, I figured you¡¯d say that. But if I wait to do the ice gym last it¡¯s gonna be a hard one,¡± he explained, his voice low enough that neither human could overhear.


    <Life is all about the choices we, and others, make.>

 Chapter 15: The Road to Santalune

    <Making the most of the afternoon, Calem, Serena, and Chad were traveling at a power-walking pace, eager to get through Routes 2 and 3 along with the Santalune Forest in a single afternoon. Along their merry way, a young boy and girl flagged them down with a shout and jubilant energy. ¡°Yo! That¡¯s a cool pokemon! What is it?¡± he asked, utterly amazed with Chad. ¡°He¡¯s a Charmeleon, a species native to the Kanto region,¡± Serena answered, only to get a bewildered look from the youths. ¡°Where¡¯s Kanto?¡± the girl asked.>


    <Actually that¡¯s a good question, what¡¯s the world map look like? I don¡¯t recall ever seeing one.>


    There isn¡¯t really one; it¡¯s kinda in flux with each installment in the games. The first four were all sections of Japan, and the most recent ones covered Hawaii and the west coast of Europe. There¡¯s a game set somewhere in North America, but it gets messy when you try to piece everything together.


    <Got it, so the ¡®We make it up as we go for the plot¡¯ route.>


    <¡±It¡¯s pretty far, we¡¯re not sure how he got here, but we are happy to have him all the same,¡± Calem answered, unsure about the true answer to the question. Seemingly satisfied, the duo stepped back, and each held up a pokeball. ¡°Want to have a friendly match? Or is he the only pokemon you have?¡± the boy asked. Calem shook his head, ¡°Chad isn¡¯t our pokemon, but we each have our starters we can battle you with.¡±>


    <¡±Want to do a doubles match then? Or just two singles?¡± the girl asked. Serena shared look with Calem before answering ¡°How about a doubles match then? Oh, and I¡¯m Serena, this is Calem,¡± she suggested, introducing the two of them. ¡°Sounds great, oh and I¡¯m Austin, and this is my sister Jan! We¡¯re not going on our journey yet but still like to practice,¡± the boy supplied, as the five moved to a relatively open clear space.>


    Chad moved towards the middle, acting as the stand-in referee. He pointed to the challengers, waiting. ¡°We¡¯re ready!¡± Austin shouted, pumping a pokeball high in the air and raring to go. With a nod, Chad lowered his arm and lifted the opposite, now aiming at Calem and Serena.


    Breaking from their mini huddle, the two moved to their positions, unclipping the pokeballs, and responding with ¡°We¡¯re also ready!¡±


    ¡°This will be a friendly match, one pokemon per trainer with no switches. The match continues until one side is unable to battle!¡± Chad said, leaning into the role. He held up a hand with 3 fingers, ¡°3!¡± and lowered a finger to only have 2 claws pointed skyward. ¡°2!¡± another finger down, as both sides prepared to call for their partners. ¡°1, Begin!¡± his whole arm came down with a chop, as four pokeballs entered the field, followed by four bright flashes of light. As the light faded, a Fennekin and Chespin stood across from a Zigzagoon and a Bunnelby.


    <¡±Bunnelby, use Agility!¡± called Jan, trying to set up before her opponents got started. ¡°Ziggy, give them a Growl!¡± Austin followed, as the bunny began to sprint quickly around the arena, with a slight pinkish aura. The racoon let out a fierce sound, putting both the fox and rodent on the back foot.>


    Calem raised his arm taking a stance, ¡°Dorothy, let¡¯s use Ember to keep Bunnelby from getting too close!¡± The Fennekin, with a quick ¡®yes sir!¡¯ gathered a small orb of fire energy outside her small mouth, occasionally launching shots of fire whenever the bun got too close to her team.


    ¡°You¡¯re up, Claude! Use Vine Whip on Zigzagoon; go for the offensive!¡± Serena, not one to play second fiddle, focused on her own opponent and went on the attack. Her Chespin clapped and crouched to smack his hands against the dirt, grasping a pair of green shoots that grew from the bare earth beneath them. He held the pose, focusing directly on the racoon, as a pair of identical green sprouts rose up from below his target, catching them off-guard and forcing a small retreat. Satisfied, he stood fully, pulling the organic ropes free from the group before swinging them in a swift downward motion, creating an arc that pulsed out along each vine, steadily unearthing them along the way as the pair of kinetic energy flew towards Zigzagoon, resulting in a crisp ¡®thwack¡¯ as both tips emerged and unleashed the whip tip against the foe.


    <¡±Ziggy!¡± Austin called out, concerned for his partner as the small pokemon steadily rose to their feet. ¡°We gotta get in close, go for a Tackle!¡± Jan, after watching her own partner struggle to get in close, called for the same. ¡°Bunnelby, follow him, charge the Chespin!¡±>


    Calem, with a smirk commonly seen among youths who recognize their opponents making a major mistake, calmly instructed his pokemon; ¡°Dorothy, we¡¯re pulling a New Year¡¯s Festival with Claude, then line up the finale.¡±


    His cryptic comment seemed to catch Serena¡¯s attention, who followed up with her own command, ¡°You heard him Claude, go with floor routine B!¡± The Chespin held still, staring down the oncoming opponents as his teammate coated his vines in hot fire, igniting the whips as he spun into a dance.


    <With each hypnotic swing, the bunny and racoon had to dodge the burning line of fire, intent not to lose any ground in their advance. Several close calls resulted in singed hair tips, as the whips continuously got closer and closer to the duo. Just as they were about to make contact and turn the tides of the battle, the Fennekin popped into existence from just behind and above her Chespin teammate, blasting the oncoming duo with an Ember. Their momentum halted, Chespin was able to swing the flaming vines together, wrapping the two together with a flaming hot hug..>


    ¡°Zigzagoon and Bunnelby are unable to battle. The winners are Calem and Serena!¡± Chad announced, holding an arm towards the winning team in a proper display of professionalism. The two high-fived in victory, as their pokemon did their equivalent of a fist-bump.


    <Austin and Jan recalled their fainted pokemon, accepting defeat. ¡°That was cool, you two looked like you practice together a lot!¡± Austin exclaimed, too hyped by the battle to care about his defeat. ¡°Yea, and the burning Vine Whip was really pretty. You called it ¡®New Years Festival¡¯?¡± Jan asked, curious to the origin.>


    Serena shifted to a pose of slight embarrassment, ¡°Ah yea, at the last celebration I was doing a ribbon routine with Claude, but my ribbons accidentally caught on fire, so he did the same and we had to change up our routine. It¡¯s pretty shocking and can catch people off-guard, but it means the vines won¡¯t last very long. It¡¯s a trick for when we need to trip up our opponent, but the magic only works once,¡± she explained, as Claude pantomimed the sequence of events from her story.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    <Jan¡¯s eyes began to sparkle, likely imagining the performance from the story. ¡°Well you two work great together, are you going to tackle any doubles tournaments?¡± Austin asked, calmer now that the adrenaline was fading. ¡°Yea! Brother sister teams are always top contenders!¡± Jan supplied.>


    Calem and Serena laughed, as he clarified ¡°Oh, no we¡¯re not related.¡±


    <Austin¡¯s face was blank, but Jan lit up. ¡°I see, I see,¡± she said, leaning in towards Serena with a hand to block her mouth from Calem, ¡°You have great taste, good luck!¡±>


    Serena blushed before launching into a semi-nervous laugh, Calem glancing at her with a raised eyebrow before shaking his head. Chad rejoined the group, as the three of them said goodbye to the brother and sister.


    <They continued unaccosted until reaching the entrance to the Santalune Forest, and a series of growls led to a quick lunch break. Chad began prepping some vegetables, while Serena escorted Claude with a pot to grab some water, and Dorothy to fetch some kindling. By the time the vegetables were ready, Dorothy had a small fire going, and Claude had returned with a full pot of fresh water.>


    ¡°Hey Chad,¡± Dorothy began, earning a ¡®hmm?¡¯ from the chef, ¡°Are you going to travel with us, the whole way?¡± She shifted, fidgeting with a rock on the ground as she slid it around in random movements. He lifted a spoon of soup out of the pot, sniffed it twice, then returned to stirring their late lunch. ¡°I know you aren¡¯t part of our team, but-¡±


    ¡°You¡¯re going to miss his cooking,¡± Claude finished, earning a glare from the fox as she puffed up her cheeks in frustration. That held for barely a second before she admitted he was correct.


    Chad¡¯s amused smile faded, unable to look the two of them in the eye. ¡°No, unfortunately. If we meet up again, then I¡¯d be happy to. But after this first gym, I¡¯m heading towards Snowbelle City to challenge the Ice gym. For two reasons really; the first being that I read Ice types aren¡¯t super strong at lower levels, so if I want to lean on my type advantage I need to tackle it sooner than later.¡± After a minute or so, Chad removed the large pot from the fire, letting the stew bubble out the remaining energy. ¡°Second, I have this gut feeling that I¡¯ll find my first team member at the location of that Hurricane that swept Route 21 last month.¡±


    The two younger pokemon waited for their bowls to be passed out, but Claude asked ¡°Isn¡¯t Hurricane a really high level move? How do you plan to find them? Let alone convince them to join you?¡±


    Chad passed a bowl each to Calem and Serena, who thanked him and went back to their side discussion about the looming forest. ¡°Yea, it¡¯s a long shot, but my gut says I need to try it. They¡¯ll be on the way, so more of a side bonus than a real target.¡± He gently took a mouthful of the soup, his face the perfect example of relaxation alongside his smaller compatriots.


    <The five finished their quick lunch and packed up, with both Dorothy and Claude being returned to their balls as the group braved the forest. Whether it was due to their power, or just Chad¡¯s presence, the group was again unbothered by any wild pokemon, with many seemingly too scared to get near. With one lone exception.>


    <Midway through the forest, a curious yellow rodent crept up on the group, before taking a stance in their path, seeking a challenge. Without contention, Serena stepped forward and sent out Claude, introducing herself. The Pikachu took advantage of the terrain to hop between trees with a speed beyond that of the Bunnelby from earlier. Claude attempted to use his Vine Whips to hit it, eventually wrapping his foe when it slipped on a wet leaf. The Pikachu, with a malevolent grin, launched a strong Thundershock along the vines, forcing Claude to try and win a racing battle of attrition. With a light cry, the Pikachu signaled their surrender, and Serena immediately used a potion bottle on the two combatants before returning Claude to rest.>


    ¡°So, am I strong enough that you¡¯d want to travel with me?¡± She asked, holding a pokeball in offering to the yellow mouse. Glancing at her two travel companions, the Pikachu noticed the human was indifferent while the fire lizard was holding two thumbs up alongside an encouraging smile.


    ¡°Sure bitch, let¡¯s see what you got,¡± the yellow foul-mouthed rodent responded, pressing the center button before vanishing inside the ball with a pleasing chime. Chad¡¯s expression dropping to one of blatant disgust and disbelief.


    Calem walked up to her with a gentle golf clap, ¡°Congratulations on the new team member.¡±


    Serena bore a serene smile as she did a small jig, ¡°Thanks Calem, I can¡¯t believe I found one. Pikachus are pretty rare, Shauna is going to be super jealous! What do you think Chad, did I make the right call?¡± she asked, as Chad withdrew the tablet. [FOUL, MOUTH, NEED, DISCIPLINE] he commented, as the two humans laughed.


    <The trio encountered a few other travelers in the forest, taking turns facing the challengers while Chad focused on discouraging wild pokemon from interfering. Calem and Serena steadily racked up the wins, each gaining more spending cash as they went. Overall the trip was going well, and by the time the trio reached the exit of the forest it was only the late afternoon.>


    <Route 3 was similarly quiet, with a few trainers to help Calem and Serena sharpen their skills but no wild encounters. The only detractor to an otherwise great trip so far was when a small boy threw a pokeball at Chad, claiming he was trying to ¡®catch¡¯ the ¡®wild¡¯ pokemon. Chad, demonstrating the patience of a saint, returned the ball while trying to explain he was not wild, pointing at his scarf, as well as his traveling group. The group walked off as the child cried over how unfair it was that he couldn¡¯t have a ¡®cool pokemon¡¯.>


    <The trio reached the edge of Santalune City just as the sun began to fade below the horizon, making double time for the pokemon center to try and secure lodgings for the night. Luckily, there were still two rooms available. At the nurse¡¯s insistence, Chad returned himself to receive a check up, leaving his stuff with Calem. Eager to decompress from the journey, Calem and Serena handed their own pokemon to the nurse Joy on duty and went upstairs, one rushing to take off their shoes and lie down on the bed, the other desperate for a hot shower before bed.>


    <With four clean bills of health, sans a minor scuffle between the new Pikachu and his Chespin teammate, Chad regrouped with the now-relaxed Calem and wet-haired Serena. The group agreed to research the town¡¯s gym, and plan individual strategies for facing the challenge. With a few magic clicks on the Pokecenter¡¯s public computer, Chad found a way to register for gym challenges and booked three slots, flagging all three as willing to fill a standby slot should one open. With the plan set, and less than a day before their earliest challenge appointment, the two humans went up to bed, leaving Chad in the lobby as he returned to his research.>


    Remembering a promise, Chad drafted a quick email for Emeric, outlining the performance of the device thus far, while also revealing that he had a run-in with professor Sycamore. Keeping it brief, he added a closing personal message and sent the mail before returning to watch the posted one-star challenge videos.


    <Feeling ready for this? It won¡¯t be as straight-forward as the Pidgey fight.>


    ¡°No,¡± Chad responded, watching as the trainer failed the challenge in the current video, their second pokemon being taken down by a particularly agile Surskit. ¡°I¡¯m basically going all-in until I get a teammate, which means I can¡¯t afford to take risks.¡± He loaded another video, this time of a Fletchling soloing the challenge with a young lass who barely made any calls. ¡°And not having someone to make calls means I don¡¯t have any form of external support, no second set of eyes to see what I can¡¯t.¡±


    <Well that is why I am supporting your choice to head East after this. That encounter will be quite helpful if I say so myself.>


    Narrator¡­


    <Hmm? Oh, Chad was merely on the fence about whether to head East or to continue with the humans. I merely gave him a slight push.>


    How much did you tell him?


    <Oh relax, it¡¯s still a good surprise, I merely hinted that he may wish to traverse through Route 21 after winning his first badge. Nothing worth any amount of lip.>


    I am certain I did not share those notes with you.


    <And now you too may experience how it feels to have two individuals plotting behind your back. Or pen, in this case.>


    ¡°Guys, can we focus? I only have 4 moves and need some help planning how to use them,¡± Chad pleaded, as the charged energy in the air began to calm down. ¡°I only really have two attacks, Ember and Dragon Rage. And I am lacking any mobility enhancers, which is going to be important,¡± he continues, pointing at how fast some of the bugs are.


    Chad, you¡¯re overthinking this.


    <The exhausted Charmeleon, recognizing that he had indeed been pushing himself too hard, walked upstairs to bed, as Calem had offered him a couch in his room.>


    Defeated, Chad logged out of the computer and complied, as he recognized the need for proper rest to reset one¡¯s psyche.


    <Frustrated as I am with him, I can¡¯t deny how much weight he seems to be trying to stack on his shoulders. That was half the point of having Stanley, I must admit.>


    He just hasn¡¯t yet internalized what I meant back towards the beginning.


    <That reminds me, how is Project Happy Ending coming along?>

 Interlude 1: Operation Happy Ending

    Dragonair felt the shake, felt the vibrations before she heard the shell crack. Gently, she loosened her coils around the egg, her egg. Excitement began to bubble, her heart rate spiking. While she had not yet taken a mate, Arceus had blessed her with this child, her own child to raise. She watched as it wiggled, until a spike- no, the tip of a tail, poked out from the egg, creating a small hole. A series of holes were created around the top, progressively weakening the shell until the top burst upwards. Wearing the shell as a makeshift hat, a young Dratini, her child, smiled her way. ¡°Hello there little one,¡± she cooed, as the child¡¯s ear flaps perked up at the sound. They spun around, taking in the full sights of her small cave behind the waterfall. Several other couples were sleeping nearby, undisturbed by the tender moment.


    After a quick glance down at themself, the child¡¯s eyes widened, and quickly found a tail against their lips. Dragonair knew youngsters could be loud, and she attempted to convey the need for quiet. The young dragon nodded, waiting for her to remove her tail before whispering. ¡°Hi, am I a pokemon?¡± they asked, the voice high pitched and wavering. The question itself was odd, and it took a moment for the new mother to gather her wits.


    ¡°Yes you are, and I am your mother. Welcome to the world-¡± she began, whisper-rupted by the child.


    ¡°The world of pokemon! Oh, this is so exciting, and me! I¡¯m a Dratini! This is so fantastic!¡± The young dragon slithered out of the egg, the scent of a newly-born pokemon beginning to wake the others nearby, especially the younglings who were eager to meet their new broodmate.


    <hr>


    As part of their introduction to the colony, Dratini was grouped with other recently hatched dragons, left to interact with one another and learn social dynamics. Unfortunately for the poor child, the available conversations were at best hard to follow, and at worst would sound like the deep-fried output of a poorly-trained LLM. Thankfully, a young Axew approached them with a simple question, ¡°Wanna battle?¡±


    The young noodle glanced around, searching for any adults supposedly supervising the group. ¡°Are we allowed to?¡± they asked, absolutely lost on what to do. She looked confused at their response, like she had expected them to know already.


    Axew beamed with confidence, ¡°No, but wanna do it anyway?¡± The gall of the small dragon was remarkable, the brazen question leading Dratini to lightly scratch their head with the tip of a grey tail.


    ¡°I¡¯d rather not,¡± they answered, ¡°on the chance they punish us by not letting us battle later when they say it¡¯s ok.¡± This response disappointed her, until the tiny gears in her head finished spinning.


    ¡°You think we will get to battle?¡± she asked, already buzzing in excitement at the idea.


    Dratini shrugged, ¡°Maybe? It¡¯s a good way to burn energy, and us dragon types love competing for dominance,¡± they responded, the tone so neutral it bordered on deadpan, as the young Axew began to oscillate left and right like an unbalanced washing machine.


    Almost on cue, an adult Noivern crawled to the front of the group, clearing her throat. ¡°Young ones, today we welcome some of you to the clan; new faces who may grow big and strong in the future,¡± she began, her words causing a handful of the group to draw attention to themselves with braggart boasts. ¡°First, we need to cover the rules. Number one, no fighting without an adult present to watch. Number two, each pokemon needs to agree to be a part of the battle. Number three, stick with the group.¡± The larger dragon recounted the three simple rules; rules so simple even a young pokemon would understand them easily.


    The Noivern waited in silence, before wandering off and leaving the group to their own activities. Steadily, the younglings began to separate into groups, to chat or go do activities together. Nearby, Dratini noticed a Noibat struggling to shrink itself into non-existence. With a soft smile and a slow saunter, the noodle slithered an approach, ¡°Heya, would you want to play with Axew and I?¡±


    The little bat squeaked in surprise, glancing around before looking back at the noodle and pointing at himself. ¡°You mean me?¡±


    ¡°Yea,¡± Dratini responded softly, ¡°You looked like you could use a friend group, and we need a tie-breaker for our vote on what to do today.¡± The explanation was soft, light, and encouraging. ¡°So, would you want to spend time with us? Axew wants to battle, but I just want to explore. What do you want to do?¡±


    The purple dragon glanced at the approaching Axew, who grinned like a mad-woman when mentioned, before his eyes focused on the soft-spoken Dratini before him. ¡°Uhm,¡± he began, fidgeting with his tiny claws, eyes cast down to the ground, ¡°Couldn¡¯t we do both? Adventure a bit then battle later?¡±


    ¡°Why later?¡± Axew inquired, now having joined the tiny circle, hands on her thighs as she tried to intimidate the bat into her choice.


    ¡°Be-Because later the others will be tired, so we can win more?¡± Noibat supplied, looking up at Dratini for support. A flash of malevolence slipped through Dratini¡¯s serene smile, and Axew shifted from confrontational to supportive of the idea.


    ¡°Exactly, great idea. So, for the adventure, where should we go first?¡± Dratini nodded, posing the question to the group. ¡°I think a swim could be fun, but so could climbing around the rocks.¡±


    Axew shrugged, ¡°I like both,¡± she responded simply, leaving the decision to the others.


    ¡°Swimming then,¡± Noibat confirmed, ¡°Climbing may be too tiring for us to win later.¡±


    The trio jubilantly headed for the nearby pond, strategizing about how they¡¯d sweep the other kids later. Though upon arrival, they came across one of the adults sunbathing on the nearby rocks. She, as she was definitely a ¡®her¡¯, was out of place amongst the dragons. Her short yellow fur with a cream belly, paired with a big poofy tail sporting a white frosted tip was distinct. Being a bipedal fox even more so, as her three-fingered purple gloves held up a tanning mirror, while her right foot (crossed over her left leg) tapped along to some unheard beat.


    Lowering a pair of black sunglasses to better see the trio, her striking blue eyes were set into the smile of someone who enjoyed making others uncomfortable. Dratini was the first to break the silence, ¡°You¡¯re not a pokemon¡­¡±


    She smiled, folding the tanning mirror and placing it beside her. "Quite astute, young..." she trailed off, "My apologies, are you a boy, girl, both, or neither?"


    The Dratini tilted their head to the side, then brought a vertically-oriented tail before their face, scrutinizing the underside with a focused inspection. Barely a few seconds later, the tail was lowered, and the noodle did their best impression of a shrug. "Sorry, I can''t tell. Never did well in biology."


    <hr>


    Dragonair was fidgeting repeatedly, watching on from a distance as her child would be getting a turn to skirmish today with the other younglings. They seemed excited, chatting animatedly with the other kids, each vying for a turn to show how they¡¯d grown. Among the crowd were a smattering of the local dragon types, including other Dratini, some Noibats, a handful of Druddigons, some Deinos, and a few Axews. Each at various ages, different levels of experience, but all there to prove themselves and become stronger.


    The first few matches were cute, as the recently-hatched dragons barely knew any strong moves, and barely had enough stamina for a short bout. Watching her offspring take to the stage in the third round against a familiar Axew, Dragonair¡¯s fidgets began to shift into vibrations. Excitement, nervousness, who could say if it was more of one than the other. Dragonair was so distracted, focused on the battle, that she was taken in shock by a voice beside her. ¡°Which ones are yours?¡± the soft feminine voice asked, as the large worry-noodle leapt backwards almost a full meter in surprise.


    The pokemon was yellow, bipedal, with a triangular face and fluffy tail that reminded her of a Ninetales she had seen years ago. Bright sky blue eyes emanated kindness, her soft fluffy white chest spoke towards meticulous grooming, and a pair of odd purple gloves hinted at some kind of fighting type. ¡°Sorry to startle you, I should have noticed how worried you were,¡± she explained, offering an open hand to the dragon.


    ¡°No, no, not your fault,¡± Dragonair explained, returning to her seat. ¡°It¡¯s my firstborn, in the arena right now. I know they¡¯ll be fine, I just worry,¡± she clarified, the anxiety in her voice throwing the pitch off whenever mentioning herself.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    With a smile that sparked joy, two closed eyes and a slightly tilted head, the fox reassured the mother, ¡°Comes with the territory of being a mom, especially the first time.¡± Turning her gaze towards the arena, she joined the mother¡¯s vigil. The current two were lasting much longer than their peers, with the Dratini seemingly focusing on dodging while the Axew did her best to pursue and land a claw attack; the energy swapping between a bright white and a royal purple almost at random. ¡°Seems like your child is doing just fine; are the two of them friends?¡±


    Dragonair smiled a bit, ¡°Yes, those two have been spending every day with each other since they met. I believe they also have a third friend, one of the Noibats,¡± she trailed off, her mood having been lifted by the thoughts. It took a few seconds, but her eyes widened in shock, ¡°They aren¡¯t actually battling, just using it as an excuse to train.¡±


    ¡°I think there may be a second layer to it,¡± the fox responded with a smirk, her gaze drawn towards the waiting crowd of dragons. Some of the older ¡®kids¡¯ were getting impatient, their body language changed from excitement to frustration. After a heroic last attack, the Axew fell down and signaled a forfeit, to which the Dratini helped them up and off the stage. Just as a Deino and Noibat were about to enter the stage for their turn, the two were shoved aside by some of the bigger ones, two Druddigons in particular.


    From afar, things looked heated, a brawl was brewing in the pit of amped-up energetic dragons. A handful of parents had begun making an attempt to move towards the disturbance, Dragonair herself included. All were stopped, either by a partner, a friend, or the strange fox woman. ¡°Let it play out, I have a feeling this will be quite entertaining,¡± she clarified, her eyes now shining with a malevolent glee.


    ¡°Fairy,¡± Dragonair whispered, a mix of fear and disgust, as the fox waved a single finger from side to side with a tut-tut.


    ¡°Not quite, I just recognize Talent when I see it. Just watch,¡± she insisted, returning her hungry gaze towards the arena where Dratini was squaring off against the bigger Druddigon. ¡°Someone is about to lay down the proverbial hammer, and someone else is about to get knocked to the bottom of the pecking order.¡±


    Dragonair was confused, torn between the woman¡¯s confident words, and fear for her only child. This vixen was tempting her astray, but before she could change her mind, she Felt it. The plink of a lone cold raindrop, the gust of a forceful wind whispering dark tidings; the curtain of clouds that began to cover the sun and plunge the arena into an early night. Above, the black clouds began to swirl as lightning crackled between gaps between them, the heavens above unleashing a freezing torrent upon the earth below. ¡°What- what is that?¡± Dragonair asked, awed by the display of power.


    The fox¡¯s eyes glowed a soft neon blue in the dark, her gaze on the challenger frozen in fear down below as the whirlwind began to ascend into a tornado. ¡°Originally, just a Twister, and a good example of why your little one didn¡¯t attack last round. The control is impressive; none of the onlookers are feeling so much as a gentle breeze,¡± she explained, gesturing to a crowd of enraptured young ones who indeed seemed to be unaffected by the massive storm. Gradually, a chanting rode the wind into the arena, as a foreign choir began to sing their anthem promising regret and despair.


    ¡°This is no Twister, this is a Hurricane!¡± Dragonair interrupted, breaking free from the daze that continued to hold several of the other adults in place.


    The fox shrugged, ¡°As I said, Talent with a capital T. They¡¯re destined for an incredible story, and I am here to support them.¡± Leading the way down to the arena, the fox and noodle kept their eyes on the child in question, as the storm began to fade above. The clouds dispersed, the winds died down, and with it so too did the voices fade. Navigating past the fresh puddles, the two women reached the stage to find the Druddigon unconscious on their back, with a Noibat and Axew celebrating with the Dratini.


    The prodigy, spotting mom''s approach, sported the grin of a victor, ¡°Mom! Did you see that? I was incredible wasn¡¯t I?!¡± they shouted, immediately zipping over to her. Dragonair, to her benefit, was too stunned to answer, before the kiddo noticed the other woman. ¡°Hi Renamon! Did you watch my battle? I finally nailed it like you suggested,¡± they started babbling to the fox, as the two friends joined the club; pestered the yellow pokemon for her thoughts on their previous battles.


    The fox crouched down and booped the Noibat¡¯s nose, before reminding him that he hadn¡¯t fought yet, having been interrupted by the older kids. Flustered, the Noibat glanced back at their previous opponent Deino, who had abruptly run to their parents rather than get near ground-zero of the previous ¡®fight¡¯. Dratini offered a show match to their friend, and with a squeak the two were running about the arena as Noibat did their best to hit the small noodle with launched blades of compressed air that cut deep into the ground as the two gave chase.


    <hr>


    Barely a day later Ranger Colette landed at the entryway for the Dragon Territories, her own Noivern taking a supportive position at her side. ¡°On alert, Naeva, we¡¯re just here to offer support, but we don¡¯t want to offend any of the locals,¡± she explained to the dragon, slowly proceeding through the pair of rocks carved in the image of a Haxorous and a Dragonite. Wearing the official Kalosian Ranger uniform, with a full belt of 8 pokeballs, Colette held a calm but composed tempo as she proceeded to investigate the aftermath and cause of the massive Hurricane seen over the area.


    Naeva followed close behind, scanning the skies and cliffs above, ears wiggling to try and pick up any sounds that didn¡¯t belong. She was barely a foot taller than her trainer, but carried a strength that would belay her experience. The wind whistled as it blew through the tall canyon, with no other noises save for the crunch of gravel greeting the pair¡¯s ears. As the two neared the exit, a silhouette walked out from the side to stand in the center of their path. An elderly Dragonite stood waiting, hands clasped in front of themself, sporting a purple sash embroidered with the League logo, and an expression best described as ¡®I wish I stayed home today¡¯.


    Colette, per her training, performed a deep formal bow of respect, while Naeva offered a courtesy bow of her own. ¡°Greetings representative, I am Ranger Colette, and I was sent by the League to investigate the massive Hurricane spotted over your territory yesterday. We are here to offer assistance to any injured, or to aid in reconstruction efforts,¡± she recited, waiting for a response before lifting her head.


    The Dragonite, having experienced a lifetime of these formalities, waved for the duo to follow them. ¡°No injuries, nor damage really. You are welcome to see for yourselves and report back, just stay near me,¡± they responded, with Naeva gently pushing Colette to get her moving.


    As the trio continued, a group of other older dragons looked on from what appeared to be some game with small colored stones, laughing lightly. ¡°You should just keep the sash, it looks good on you!¡± A Druddigon jested, receiving the equivalent of a wing-bump from the adjacent Hydreigon.


    ¡°Just accept the post of valley diplomat already you old coot,¡± the three-headed dragon called, as the representative responded with a raised middle finger. The older dragons enjoyed a fresh round of laughs as they returned to their games. On the wall nearby was a collection of tally marks, underneath some odd shapes. With a slightly glowing finger, a Haxorous in the group delicately added a slash to the part of the wall with significantly more tally marks than any other.


    As the trio traveled around the area, Colette scanned her surroundings for any damage, or signs of injury. Whenever she spotted a resident of the Dragon Territories, she quickly averted her eyes back towards her guide. Naeva, however, freely voiced her concerns; ¡°A Hurricane large enough to eliminate a human town strikes your area, your home, and I do not spot so much as a leaf out of place. We arrived worried about the damages you might have faced, but now I worry more about the implications of such a strong move having no impact at all.¡±


    The Dragonite took the moment to pause and face the arena, where a few mid-stage dragons were honing their skills. ¡°You are familiar with it yourself; the desire to prove one¡¯s strength, to establish their place in the power hierarchy,¡± he began, as the current match ended with a Fraxure narrowly beating a Dragonair. ¡°Simply, we had a member decide to pull all the stops to show us how strong they were. It was quite invigorating, to see such a grand sight up close. The only thought I had resembling fear was when I felt pity for the poor sod who had sparked the entire ruckus.¡±


    As the next fight began, Dragonite turned and continued to escort the ranger through the area. As they passed by a cave with several young pokemon inside, Colette noticed three of them wave at her excitedly. Reflexively she waved back with a warm smile, careful not to anger any nearby parents. ¡°What of the young ones?¡± Naeva asked, aware of how happy the squad appeared to be.


    ¡°Those lucky brats got a front-row seat to power the likes of which none of them may ever reach,¡± Dragonite grunted. ¡°It was reminiscent of back when my great grandfather showed me the power of a true Hyper Beam, and we can only hope it inspires them to push hard.¡±


    The rest of the guided tour was similarly uneventful, with no signs of the slightest damage from yesterday. Returning to the front, the group of elder dragons were crowded around a single game between the Hydreigon from earlier and a yellow bipedal fox. Colette took her place facing the Dragonite at the edge of the canyon, bowing again. ¡°Thank you for permitting us to investigate. To offer once more, do you require aid in any way?¡± the human asked, to which the dragon simply waved his hand back and forth. ¡°Then we shall take our leave, but please reach out if you require assistance in the future.¡±


    The ranger and her partner marched out, until they were sufficiently far away and halfway through the canyon. ¡°That was a fairy pokemon at the end, wasn¡¯t it? The yellow one?¡± she asked her Noivern, who gave a single click in response. ¡°I know I should report it, but my gut says that would just make the situation worse,¡± she spoke, mostly to herself. Her partner remained silent on the matter, as the duo calmly made their way back to League headquarters.


    Dragonite, having served his role, removed the sash and placed it back on a nearby bust of stone; a statue of a long-forgotten ancestor and founder of their home. Joining the other elders crowding the game, he joined the group just as the recent addition to their territory placed the winning piece. Hydreigon groaned in defeat, as several of the onlookers jeered or laughed at their poor luck. ¡°Now,¡± Dragonite began, glaring at the yellow fox, ¡°I believe it¡¯s past time we addressed the Fairy in the room¡­¡±


    <hr>


    The three friends decided to share a dinner together, as the yellow fox crafted an aromatic dinner under Dragonair¡¯s suspicious watch. The war between hunger and doubt was over after the first bite, as the upset mother demolished the pile of food with a fervor she hadn¡¯t felt in years. The children were more sedate, stopping between bites to discuss what they had learned today. Upon finishing her serving, Dragonair let go of all the tension she had been holding together, melting down in a mixture of exhaustion and defeat. ¡°My love,¡± she began, ¡°can you stay here for a moment? The adults need to have a talk.¡±


    The kids nodded, returning to their lively debate over what moves they could do to match Dratini¡¯s Twister attack. Meanwhile, the mother and the chef leisurely walked a few meters away, just enough that the young ones couldn¡¯t overhear them. ¡°I take it you have questions, or misgivings?¡± the fox asked, daintily placing a piece of the juicy meat in her mouth.


    ¡°Just, I need a promise you won¡¯t harm them. I need to know they¡¯ll come home- that I¡¯ll see them again,¡± Dragonair requested, still as a board and straining to keep her voice level. ¡°I know the elders said we could trust you, that you wouldn¡¯t harm any of us, but it doesn¡¯t keep me from worrying about them, about¡­¡± she trailed off, sneaking a glance back at the three joyous young dragons.


    Finishing chewing, the fox swallowed then gave a mellow smile as she raised her left hand. It began to glow a mixture of rainbow and pink, forming an intricately designed circular pattern, which expanded into a second, then third ring with each rotating in a different direction along unique axes, before her whole body was awash with the rainbow energy.


    {I solemnly promise I shall not harm so much as a scale on your first born child, nor shall I hinder them from the freedom to return home at their will. I make these pledges on my existence, free of duress and of sound mind.}


    The glow rapidly coalesced into a small ribbon tied around the fox¡¯s pinky finger, before the light show faded and she returned to eating. ¡°I thought you said you weren¡¯t a Fairy,¡± Dragonair accused, the vixen shaking her head with a soft laugh.


    ¡°Not a Fairy, I just borrowed some of their magic to make this happen,¡± she clarified.


    Lady, they¡¯re coming your way; Plan B.


    Subtly, the fox nodded, focusing on hearing out and assuaging the fears of the poor mother.

 Chapter 16: Fight, Feint, Repeat

    <Calem rose with the sun while Dorothy attempted to sleep in like a pampered princess, at least until he lamented her sleeping through breakfast. Completing his morning meditation, Claude began to stir alongside Serena. After a quick shower, both prepared themselves for the day, regrouping with a busy Chef Chad in the canteen. Aromatic onslaughts of frying potatoes and the cackle of sizzling eggs had grabbed the attention of a few other trainers staying at the center. Though the show ended with a flourish as six filled plates landed on the table the group laid claim to.>


    ¡°Thanks!¡± / ¡°Thanks big bro!¡± / ¡°Thank you.¡± / ¡°Finally some real food!¡± / ¡°You didn¡¯t have to¡­¡± they each responded, as the meal vanished in a coordinated magic act. Chad, eating his portion slower than the others, glanced at the clock on the wall towards the entrance. The younger three, having finished eating, immediately scattered from the table to go socialize around the room. Calem and Serena, donning the mantle of ¡®responsible adults¡¯ in the situation, took the dirty flatware and cutlery to the automated washing station.


    ¡°What time is our slot?¡± Calem asked, as Chad continued eating while pointing a singular white claw at Calem¡¯s Holo caster. With a few clicks, Calem was able to locate the notification of his challenge slot. ¡°Woah, I thought it¡¯d be too busy to get a challenge this quick.¡±


    ¡°But why are we rushing? I just got my second pokemon, and Calem still only has Dorothy. Isn¡¯t this going-¡± Serena began, questioning the reservation times.


    <Serena had an epiphany mid-sentence, as she realized that they were still ahead of the main wave of trainers. Their quick run through Santalune Forest had put them almost a day or more ahead of the rest of the pack. ¡°Oh, I get it! We¡¯re trying to get past the first gym before it gets too mobbed, then we can slow down a bit and prepare more for the second gym.¡±>


    Chad nodded slowly, finishing his breakfast and placing the utensils in the designated receptacle. After thoroughly washing his claws, he pulled up his keypad, and asked [TRAIN, OR, WAIT]. The two humans paused as they shared a long look, occasionally making minute facial expressions or short gestures.


    ¡°No point training,¡± Calem said first, ¡°Dorothy and the others will go too hard and not be ready for the battle.¡± Serena, glancing at where her duo were chattering amidst a group of other pokemon, nodded.


    ¡°Yea, but maybe we can strategize? Like, I still need to learn what moves my Pikachu knows,¡± she suggested, as the aforementioned mouse received a light smack to the back of his head by Claude. Two accompanying nods later, the rampant pokemon regrouped, and a quick change of scenery to the gardens out back, the group split into three smaller areas.


    <Calem and Dorothy began to practice different movements and strategies for their coming gym battle, focusing on a mixture of fire and agility as they planned to lean on her speed to avoid incoming attacks. Serena and Claude worked with her new Pikachu to learn what special moves he knew, while trying to come up with some basic battle plans for the bug types.>


    Chad, seated on the ground in the butterfly position with his back facing a rose bush, cupped his hands together and shut his eyes in meditation. Slowly the air around him began to ripple and sizzle, forming an invisible aura of radiating heat. Flickers of an orb tried to stabilize in his hands, as he attempted to condense raw fire power into an existence.


    After a few minutes, it began to coalesce, as the orb held its shape, bathing him in the warmth of a miniature sun. Sneaking a peek with his left eye, Chad opened both in shock and awe at the power floating in his hands.


    <And he managed to enjoy his brief success for all of a second before his loss of focus doused the attempt like a candle in a hurricane. Left with naught but a wisp of the energy, Chad could only tally the failure as another of many.>


    ¡°Can¡¯t just let me have a minor victory, huh?¡± Chad asked, standing with a grunt and exhale, stretching his legs with a minor massage.


    <You said yourself the other night, you only have four moves for this challenge: Ember, Dragon Rage, Scratch, and Growl.>


    ¡°Yea, I did,¡± Chad admitted, glancing at his empty right hand and claws. ¡°I had a dream last night that I used a fire move from my hands to fly like Iron Man,¡± he started, straining as a miniscule ember floated above his palm.


    <With sufficient power, that would not be outside the realm of possibility. But first, how about we cheer on your companions?>


    <Getting absorbed in their planning, Calem¡¯s alarm is their only saving grace as the group races towards the gym. Upon arrival, the receptionist informs the group that they may watch each other¡¯s battles, invigorating Chad and Serena as they wish Calem well for the first challenge. From the spectator stands, the two cheer as Calem faces the gym trainer Zachary and his Spewpa. Their opponent uses a barrage of String Shot attacks to try and trap Dorothy, but thanks to their earlier strategizing she manages to ignite every sticky string, turning the field into one of fire. Unable to easily move through the flames, Dorothy corners the scatterdust pokemon and takes home a clean win, earning Calem his Bug Badge.>


    <Hyped up, Serena heads to the field, facing down her opponent, gym trainer Charlotte. Opening with Claude, her first opponent is revealed to be a Kakuna. This battle ends up being a race, between the cocoon¡¯s Harden ability, and the grass otter¡¯s Vine Whips. Claude, having practiced the move often, was able to thrash the bug into a clean victory, before facing down the buzzing Combee that was Charlotte¡¯s second pokemon. He did his best, but the Gust attacks overcame his stamina and forced him out of the fight.>


    Sensing his turn, Chad left his bag with Calem, heading to the field with only his white scarf securely around his neck. ¡°Alright, I guess we¡¯re lucky today, seems like we aren¡¯t facing the gym leader-¡± he began, cut off as he noticed who was striding towards the other end of the field. Her blonde bob cut was burned into his memory from the recordings.


    <Viola, with a flourish and wave, riled up the audience as she took to the home team box. Her white blouse and aqua leggings were the picture of springtime, and the blonde bob cut hair framed her joyous smile. ¡°Good morning everyone! Sorry I¡¯m late, there were too many cute bug pokemon to photograph in the forest today.¡± Her apology got a supporting laugh from the crowd. ¡°But, I¡¯m here now, and ready to welcome our new challenger!¡±>


    ¡°Shit,¡± was all Chad could think to say, his hopes for a reasonable battle curb-stomped into the gutters. ¡°You do realize I¡¯ll need several tries to beat her, right?¡± he asked under his breath, slowly moving towards the challenger¡¯s box.


    <Unlike the lesser trainers, I expect you to battle and beat each gym leader for a badge. No hand-outs. But yes, I suspect we¡¯ll be at this for some time.>


    <With both trainers taking their places, Viola unclipped a teal and white pokeball with a black criss-cross pattern overlaid atop the blue. ¡°I heard the story from the receptionist; I am sorry to hear about your trainer, but I admire your drive to achieve his dream. But don¡¯t think I¡¯ll go easy on you for it, I hope you¡¯re ready! My lens is always focused on victory, whether my opponent¡¯s tears of frustration or blossoming joy, nothing will ruin this shot!¡± her smile was infectious, as a murmur went over the crowd at her announcement. Spectators doubting they heard her properly, while Calem and Serena could only watch on.>


    <Chad stepped forward onto the field, as Viola lobbed the ball onto her half, releasing a surge of light that revealed a small blue squish on four spindle legs, with blushing pink cheeks, a pair of wide black eyes, and a cute natural golden hat. The referee raised his arms, each aimed towards the trainers. ¡°This will be a two on two battle with no switches, between Santalune Gym Leader Viola and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Chad nodded, and Viola affirmed, both attempting to intimidate the other. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡±>


    Immediately, Chad began charging the Surskit, determined to close the distance. ¡°Show me what you got, blueberry!¡± he shouted.


    <Viola frowned in disappointment, lowering the camera from her eye, ¡°Bubble.¡±>


    The reaction was immediate, as the barrage of colorful bubbles hit Chad straight in the face, before he twirled off to the left and fell to the ground unconscious. The world froze, the colors receded, and the cheers of the audience fell to silence.


    <Really abusing my powers, aren¡¯t you?>


    Chad stood up, dusting himself off before walking back to the starting point, as the world began to rewind from the past few seconds. ¡°I needed to know for sure. A single hit means I¡¯m down for the count, so now I need to focus on dodging,¡± he explained, doing a few last-minute stretches before taking his position.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    <The referee raised his arms, each aimed towards the trainers. ¡°This will be a two on two battle with no switches, between Santalune Gym Leader Viola and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Chad nodded, and Viola affirmed, both attempting to intimidate the other. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡±>


    Immediately, Chad began charging the Surskit, closing the distance while keeping an eye on the blue bug.


    <Viola frowned in disappointment, lowering the camera from her eye, ¡°Bubble.¡±>


    With no lag time, a barrage of colorful bubbles flew from the Surskit, impacting the ground just behind Chad as he leapt to his right. He began to circle his opponent, focusing more on lateral movement than closing the gap.


    <¡±Don¡¯t let up, if it can¡¯t get close it can¡¯t win!¡± Viola commanded, unamused by the battle.>


    Surskit spun and launched a volley towards where Chad had been heading to, as the Charmeleon spat a quick ember to pop the barrage and immediately charge inwards.


    <¡±Cute,¡± Viola admitted, now appearing outright bored, ¡°but clearly you aren¡¯t ready for this. Bubble Blitz.¡±>


    As Chad launched his close-range Ember blast, the blue strider vanished, and a blast of Bubbles struck him from behind. Fully unconscious, the ref declared Viola the winner as the world began to slow, and rewind. Rubbing the back of his head as he stood, Chad once again walked back to his starting point.


    <Better, but clearly not a winning strategy.>


    ¡°Yea,¡± Chad agreed, watching as his body was reversing the damage, ¡°time to try plan B.¡±


    <The referee raised his arms, each aimed towards the trainers. ¡°This will be a two on two battle with no switches, between Santalune Gym Leader Viola and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Chad nodded, and Viola affirmed, both attempting to intimidate the other. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡±>


    Chad inhaled, his cheeks puffing up as wicks of fire flashed in the corners of his mouth, before he unleashed a ball of fire upon the distant Surskit.


    <Viola looked to the ground in disappointment, letting her camera slip from her hands and hang from the strap, ¡°Fire types are all the same, huh? Bubble.¡±>


    After crossing half the distance, the blue bug unleashed a barrage of bubbles, which consumed the ember and kept going, before freezing in mid-air along with the world around them. ¡°Not even going to let that play out?¡± Chad asked, as the battlefield rewound again.


    <We both know the outcome. I can¡¯t even justify having the ref speak again, this one was just embarrassing.>


    The world resumed, and once more Chad sprinted towards his target. Frustration, anger, and determination blended on his face as the air around his shoulders began to waver.


    <Viola shifted from excited to calm, keeping her camera aimed at the orange lizard as he approached, ¡°Bubble, keep your distance.¡±>


    A flurry of bubbles spewed towards him, but a juke to the left barely shifted Chad out of the line of fire as he kept closing in. Whatever sparked it, whatever emotion flowed through him, caused Chad¡¯s shoulders to erupt in a facsimile of flaming wings, causing him to rocket towards the Surskit. With a lunging swipe, his right claws barely scratched the blue bean as it vanished from sight.


    <¡±Not bad, Bubble Blitz,¡± Viola commanded, a soft amused smile on her lips as the shutter clicked once.>


    Chad whipped around, crossing his left arm up to block as the bug appeared behind him and let loose the bubbles. Surprisingly, half of them popped on contact with his fiery wings, the others assaulting his guard. Still standing, Chad dug deep and tried to call upon a Dragon rage, but the Surskit immediately charged into him with a Quick Attack, knocking the wind out of his lungs and splaying the lizard unconscious on his back.


    As the world froze once more, Chad lay still, simply breathing in and out while staring at the ceiling of the gym. ¡°Not sure what that was, but coating myself in fire seems to be helpful. And that confirms Dragon Rage is the way to beat them,¡± he recited, pulling himself upright and walking back to the starting point.


    <I will give credit, you did manage to unlock Flame Charge that time. But yes, I suspect the key to your victory will be in using Dragon Rage as a finisher.>


    <The referee raised his arms, each aimed towards the trainers. ¡°This will be a two on two battle with no switches, between Santalune Gym Leader Viola and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Chad nodded, and Viola affirmed, both attempting to intimidate the other. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡±>


    Chad took a defensive stance, as he shut his eyes and began to focus, the air around his entire body shimmering in response. Tilting its head, the Surskit called out to their opponent, ¡°Hey vieil homme, this isn¡¯t the best time or place to poop, ok?¡±


    Oh shit, Narrator, this is the one; cue the music!


    This is an experiment where I wrote the remainder of the story to the tune of Catch Us by T. Stebbins Spotify Link</a>


    You absolutely do NOT need to attempt this, as the required reading speed is over 300 words per minute to keep pace.


    But if so inclined to try, I suggest reading to the end first, then doubling back to this point to try and follow the song.


    Please let me know if this worked for you, or your feedback on incorporating such ideas for future chapters.


    <Viola looked at her challenger with a sympathetic smile, ¡°Sorry buddy, but even for your first badge I can¡¯t just stand back and let you set up. Hit ¡®em with a Bubble, Surskit!¡±>


    ¡°No hard feelings, Oji-chan,¡± the bug declared, their facsimile of a mouth buzzing as dozens of little soapy orbs rapidly expanded; the barrage steadily crossed the field. Chad¡¯s eyes flew open, pupils contracted to small dots, as his whole body burst into a fiery orange and yellow blaze. Several nearby spectators recoiled from the heat, as a minor wave of air burst from the ignition. The swarm of spheres collided with Chad, surrounding the lizard in an obscuring cloud of steam, before he leapt forward with a pair of fiery wings blasting him towards his target.


    <¡±Holy- Bubble Blitz! Keep your distance!¡± Viola reacted, leaning back in shock as her expression betrayed one of bemusement. Her shutter went wild as she attempted to capture the blazing charge on film.>


    The blue bug alternated between Bubble blasts, and Quick Attacks to jump backwards. With each jump, Chad began to accelerate even more, blasting through the assault and steam clouds to the point where Surskit didn¡¯t even have time to launch any more. From the stands, Calem stood and shouted his support for the gym to hear, ¡°GO CHAD!¡±


    <Viola shifted her camera, focusing the lens instead on her Surskit while calling out, ¡°Use Water Sport, then point-blank Bubble!¡±>


    During its jump, the blue bug floated across the battlefield, spinning and dousing the dirt ground like a sprinkler, creating a muddy stretch between itself and the speeding fireball. Chad closed in, undaunted as the flames seemingly shrunk once he set foot on the wet corridor. Determined, Surskit held its Bubble attack, waiting for the right moment, just before Chad spat a quick Ember at them. Reflexively, the blueberry released the attack, letting the plume be consumed by a wall of spheres, forcing Chad to expend another Ember to his left, literally throwing it to juke right and around the onslaught.


    <¡±No way,¡± Viole commented, as the camera shutter began to flicker several times during the exchange. ¡°Water sport-¡±>


    Faster than the spread of a wildfire, Chad was right on top of the bug, as repeated Scratch attempts forced Surskit on the defensive. The water strider seemingly sweating, either from the earlier move or the oppressive heat literally clawing at its face. But one bad dodge was all it took, as the Charmeleon sent it flying with a swift uppercut. Charging up with a deep inhale, Chad unleashed a torrent of purple fire at his opponent. The fire let loose all his feelings; his insecurities, his sadness, and his rage. The crispy oval fell to the field in a heap, unmoving as Chad waited for the call, his lungs heaving from the exhaustive effort.


    <¡±Surskit is unable to battle, Gym Leader Viola please send out your next pokemon.¡± The ref announced with a chop of his arm. The feinted water bug vanished in a red beam back into its ball.>


    The challenger immediately fell to one knee, coughing and hacking before a splatter of blood painted the floor. His aura immediately faded, leaving his scaly skin sizzling, with some parts appearing blackened or outright burnt. ¡°Chad!¡± Serena called, shocked and concerned with what she saw, held back by Calem¡¯s hand on her shoulder. The ref and gym leader eyed the lizard, as he rubbed his snout clean with the back of an arm, standing up and gesturing he was good to continue.


    <Viola nodded, palming an enlarged red pokeball. ¡°Not sure what you¡¯re up to, but clearly you¡¯ll put it all on the line to win. That determined expression, the glint in your eye; that¡¯s the drive it takes to become stronger. Now let me capture it, the moment that becomes your victory or defeat!¡±>


    From the surge of light, a butterfly with vibrant pink wings took to the skies. Charmeleon adjusted his stance, using the moment to catch his breath.


    <¡±Begin!¡± shouted the ref, bringing his left arm down in another chop between the two challengers. Viola focused her camera on the challenger as she gave her command, ¡°Go in and hit ¡®em with Infestation!¡±>


    Vivillon circled above before tucking their wings into a dive straight for Chad, who once again had ignited himself in a blazing aura, sliding his left foot backwards and locking back his left arm, building a swirling blaze of raw fire energy around it.


    <¡±Abort! Pull up and try to stall out that aura!¡± Viola called, as she snapped a shot of Chad fully posed.>


    The flying bug, at the very last minute, pulled to the side, barely avoiding Chad and the empowered Ember he threw forward, causing the tips of their wings to singe and leave a smoky trail during the climb back above the field. Cognizant of the race against the clock, and his opponent¡¯s plan, Chad began to cover the sky with flak shots of haphazard embers. The semi-random fireworks display forced the flier to dip, dive, duck, and dodge through increasingly narrow gaps. Unfortunately for the challenger, the butterfly was simply too agile, and managed to avoid every blast he launched.


    <Viola was nervous, a single hit would ground her Vivillon and cost her the match. At the same time, not having any ranged attacks meant her pokemon would need to get in close to win. Even the audience had quieted down, all on the edge of their seats as the situation quickly devolved into a war of attrition.>


    Chad¡¯s barrage was interrupted, as mid-Ember he was once again brought to his knees, struggling for breath as he tried to clear the blood from his airway. Struggling to keep himself off the ground, the aura faded and the gym¡¯s medical team began to shift nervously on the sidelines. Each violent cough continued to paint the ground below him, mixing with the left-over mud from the previous match.


    <¡±Now!¡± Viola shouted, framing the shot of her victory. The camera aimed at her challenger¡¯s collapsed form, slightly off-center on the left with room for when her Vivillon would smash into the shot.>


    The pink wings tucked as once again the butterfly dive-bombed the lizard, who now was seemingly unable to fight back or counter attack. Just a few meters away from impact, the bug¡¯s body began to glow with bright green energy. Chad raised his head, grinning like a madman with dribbles of blood still decorating his chin, as his cheeks puffed up with flickers of purple energy at the edges. There was no pulling away, as the Vivillon took the Dragon Rage straight-on, consumed by the blast of purple fire before crash-landing just past him, creating a crater on the battlefield.


    <There was a pause, a silence, as the referee waited for any movement from the downed flier. ¡±Vivillon is unable to battle. The winner is the challenger Chad from Vaniville Town!¡± The ref announced, as the stands broke into wild applause. Viola lowered her camera, scrolling through the shots he had captured of the draconic plume.>


    Chad smiled, his eyes half closed and wavering on his feet. He basked in the victory, the shouts and cheering, until his eyes shut and he fell face-first to the ground. Calem, Serena, and the medical team immediately closed in, as for him the world once again went silent and dark. Calem, thinking quickly, recalled Chad into his pokeball once the medics gave the OK. The duo rushed out of the gym and towards the pokecenter.


    <Well done; albeit brutal and extremely concerning, but a win is a win.>


    We can¡¯t let him do this again for the Ice gym.


    <On that I agree; Chad will simply have to follow the standard path. But zero chance he listens to either of us on the matter.>


    No, but She may be able to set him straight.


    <I just felt every instance of myself shudder at the revelation I¡¯ll be requesting Her assistance.>


    I¡¯ll do the talking, and if it comforts you, She won¡¯t be involved longer than a single scene.


    <I suppose that is comforting, a good step down from walking with shoes full of lego bricks, now just merely swallowing a live cockroach. What form did She choose this time?>


    Oh, believe me it''s super subtle; you won¡¯t even notice unless She flexes her powers.

 Chapter 17: An Intervention

    <Chad was confined to the pokecenter to recover for several days, as the staff repeatedly chewed him out for the insanity of burning himself alive using Sunny Day. Calem and Serena, after leaving a note, had departed for Lumiose City the day after their gym challenge. During his period of recovery, he had been visited by the other trio of Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor; the three having just arrived in town after a long trek through the forest. The slowpokes lamented the long multi-day waiting list they faced for their own gym challenge, but were happy to share stories of their experience traveling.>


    <The day he would be permitted to be discharged, Chad was already packed and ready to go. Laid up during his recovery period, he had taken the time to plan and brainstorm for his journey ahead. After saying his goodbyes to the three waiting gym challengers, he set off east for Route 22.>


    The morning was still somewhat early, with glistening dew decorating the fields on either side of the road. As Chad marched along, his head would swivel left and right to take in the sights, while keeping an eye out for either challengers, trouble, or new allies. His backpack was chock full of supplies, the white scarf clean and wrapped around his neck, and his communicator device dangling from its strap along his left side.


    Aside from the river nearby, the light rustle of trees on the breeze, and the occasional distant sound of an unknown pokemon, it was quiet.


    ¡°If it upsets you that much, why not just fast-forward until I find them?¡± Chad asked, doing his personal impression of That Crazy Homeless Dude You Want To Stay Away From.


    <The only individuals who would benefit from such reckless temporal shenanigans would be the readers and yourself. Everyone else would just experience time normally, including myself.>


    ¡°Didn¡¯t you just do a two year time jump?¡± he inquired, concerned for the mental stability of his babysitter.


    <Indeed, and I hated every second of it. But, my voice was tied, as it were.>


    ¡°Don¡¯t you mean hands? Your hands were tied?¡±


    <I lack gripping appendages, or a physical form, but the metaphor still works.>


    ¡°OK, but why? What forced you to do the time jump? I thought we were making great progress?¡± Chad took the chance to pause and just watch the scenery around him, watching some other pokemon frolic off in the distance.


    <The Author threatened to go on Hiatus, or drop us.>


    For a moment, Chad¡¯s entire being shifted into a Ghost type, before the color started returning to his scales. He immediately fell to his knees and began to kow-tow in submission. ¡°Author-sama, please communicate your displeasures before you do so. We will do what we can to keep you writing, please!¡±


    Noted; just don¡¯t drag things out. I don¡¯t want to write the pokemon equivalent of Berserk¡¯s boat arc.


    <As Chad was traveling at a more sedate pace than his blitz of Route 2 and 3, he was forced to stop and make camp for the evening. The lack of other trainers on the road was unnerving, at least until he heard a pokemon¡¯s cry high above.>


    Chad tucked himself further under the tree, trying to stay out of the fire¡¯s light just in case. There was a loud ¡®fwump¡¯ as a black and purple wyvern with oversized teal ears and a bat-like face landed roughly ten feet away from his camp site. As his breathing sped up, Chad¡¯s eyes darted to the sides, his feet quietly sliding to try and work his way behind the tree.


    <hr>


    Colette, clearly a Pokemon Ranger by her outfit, slid off the large dragon to approach the campsite, pausing once she noticed only a lone red lizard alongside a trainer¡¯s gear. She cleared her throat and calmly strode towards the campfire. ¡°Sorry to scare you buddy; do you know where your trainer is?¡±


    The pokemon nodded, still trying to hide itself behind the tree. The fiery tail barely peeking out from the darkness gave away a fire typing. There were small but growing gouges in the bark around its claws; clearly it was conflicted between remaining hidden or defending the campsite. ¡°Are they around? There was a general travel warning for this route and Route 21; all trainers under 7 badges are advised to go around a different way,¡± she explained, coming to a stop in the full light of the fire.


    The pokemon slowly stepped forward and towards the light, as Colette subtly held an open palm to signal her partner. As it got closer, she saw them pull up a black rectangle hanging from a strap, before continuing to peck at what appeared to be several buttons. [HE, NEAR, WILL, TELL] the device buzzed, surprising both her and her partner. The lizard took a cautionary step back as Naeva swarmed forward. ¡°Whelp, what is that thing you hold?¡± he asked, as Colette tried to position herself between the two pokemon.


    ¡°A talk box; I type, it says human words,¡± he explained, clutching the mystery device to his chest protectively. The two stared each other down, as the lone human tried to use her body language to de-escalate.


    ¡°Naeva, relax! I know, it surprised me too but-¡± Colette was cut-off by the intense gaze of her Noivern, and promptly shut her mouth to observe.


    Confident there would not be additional outbursts, Naeva steeled his gaze on the younger lad before him. ¡°And how are you so certain they understand it?¡± the elder dragon challenged, positioning himself to tower over the fire type.


    ¡°Two years of development, experimentation, and practice. If you want proof, what¡¯s something only the two of you would know?¡± the lizard asked, slowly lowering the device and preparing to type. There was a silence, as Naeva shut his eyes and took in the chilly night air; the tension literally melting away from his body.


    ¡°Say that my answer in Coumarine City was ¡®yes¡¯,¡± he stated cryptically, watching the smaller pokemon¡¯s claws flick around the device. The fire type waited, and glanced up at him for approval, receiving a simple nod. [COU, MARINE, CITY, ANSWER, YES] beeped from the device.


    Colette tilted her head in confusion, until her expression slackened, her eyes began to widen, and a light scarlet began to color her face. Naeva vibrated with a sinister laughter, even as his trainer lightly battered her fists against his torso while muttering incomprehensible frustrations. ¡°That will be a rather useful trick in the future. I should get one for myself,¡± he mused, enjoying the situation.


    ¡°Can you read?¡± the younger one asked, as Naeva could only raise an eyebrow and shake his head no. ¡°It translates their written language into speech, so if you can¡¯t read, you won¡¯t be able to use one,¡± the fire type explained. ¡°But maybe she can teach you?¡±


    ¡°Bah, that¡¯s enough!¡± Colette intervened, ¡°Just tell your trainer about the danger, and try to get them to turn back.¡± She led her still-smiling Noivern away from the campsite, before clambering atop his back once they reached a safe distance. With a powerful thrust, the duo blasted into the air to continue their patrol. Colette leaned down closer to reduce the drag, muttering, ¡°Can¡¯t believe you told them about that, dummy. I already knew¡­¡±


    <hr>


    Chad watched the ranger fly off before falling backwards to sit near the fire, taking deep breaths as his heart began to slow down. ¡°That was a bit overkill to try and get me to turn around, wasn¡¯t it?¡± he asked, gazing at the bright stars above as he leaned back to form a pyramid with his arms.


    <I would think that was rather tame, especially considering the truth.>


    ¡°Truth?¡±


    <I did not send her. She is a ripple effect on the meta-narrative caused by another story.>


    Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.


    Chad sat up straighter, having calmed down from the recent encounter. ¡°What do you mean, ¡®is¡¯? And by ¡®story¡¯ you¡¯re referring to her, right?¡±


    <Her, yes. And, much like you changed the flow of things by interacting with Calem and Serena, your counterpart has invariably done the same with that ranger. Now, I believe it¡¯s time you got some sleep. Chad tucked in for the evening and caught some Zs, rising with the sun the next morning to continue his trek.>


    <He traveled the remaining portion of the route, approaching the entrance to Victory Road, and Route 21.>


    Chad paused before the looming building, one which stood as the final gate for many aspiring trainers. There didn¡¯t appear to be any security outside, he could just walk right on through the entrance if he wanted. Though his thoughts were interrupted when, to his right, he heard the distinct click of fine china. A quick look, and he spotted someone sitting at a small circular table for two covered by a pristine white cloth, with a pair of dainty teacups, a fancy teapot, and a tower of pastries layered from silver platters. The shade provided from the nearby massive tree obscured some details from this distance, and Chad moved toward the oddity with care.


    She (definitely a she with a bust like that) held her saucer and cup with an elegance that implied a noble upbringing and class. Though her short yellow fur, with a white belly, and pointy ears atop a very vulpine head were odd. The purple finger-less gloves clashed with the air of a royal, while her puffy tail was still and gently tucked behind the chair. ¡°Might I request a moment of your time, young trainer?¡± her melodious voice asked, neither raised nor shouted, but heard from the distance as if he had been already seated at the table.


    Placing his pack at the foot of the table, Chad gently slid into place, but refrained from grabbing any snacks or drinks. ¡°What can I do for you, ma¡¯am?¡± he inquired politely, keeping his hands hidden beneath the table.


    She gently placed the cup and saucer on the table, not making a single sound in doing so. ¡°I have come to politely request that you turn back, and not pursue this path,¡± she explained, as her eyes were revealed to be an ethereal glowing baby blue, their weight bearing through Chad and truly seeing him.


    ¡°I was right, wasn¡¯t I? That hurricane was them,¡± he rationalized, fishing for an answer as the right edge of her mug slid into a smile. ¡°Can I at least-¡± she cut him off with a firm shake of her head, the smile seeming less amusement and now more apologetic. ¡°Please, I don¡¯t want to do this alone¡­ I don¡¯t want to be alone¡­¡±


    A small square of three-layered multi-colored cake with a whip of cream frosting floated from the tower and onto the dainty plate before him. ¡°I know, but they aren¡¯t a part of your story, not until the very end,¡± she explained, granting herself a madeline with an intricate chocolate piping decoration and taking the most refined bite possible, with nary a crumb out of place. ¡°The plumber didn¡¯t find his princess right away, not until the very last castle, remember? So too must you complete your story to earn your reward. Which reminds me, where is your Storyteller? It¡¯s rare that we travel too far from our charges,¡± she mused, gazing around the empty fields nearby.


    Chad barely hesitated, ¡°Omelette du Fromage,¡± he blurted out, catching a curious eye from the fox. ¡°He¡¯s not here; when he¡¯s around, all French gets forced into English,¡± Chad explained, eyeing the sweet treat hungrily.


    ¡°Interesting, but what form did he take here?¡± She pressed, selecting another pastry from the tower, this time a round cream puff with spun caramel on the top in the shape of a sparkle.


    I can answer this one; he doesn¡¯t have one. Used too much energy to make the world.


    ¡°Ah,¡± the fox reasoned, opening her jaw just wide enough to slide the puff inside without appearing unsightly. ¡°That is the price one pays for not filing paperwork correctly, I suppose. No matter, his narrative abilities are still sufficiently powerful. So let us turn the question to you, young one.¡± Once again, she lifted the teacup with grace and enjoyed a quiet sip of the steaming amber liquid. ¡°How exactly did you notice me?¡±


    Chad tilted his head to the right, raised his left eyebrow in blatant confusion, before using his hand to motion to all of her. ¡°You¡¯re asking why the reincarnated human, recognized a Digimon, in the Pokemon universe?¡± His cadence was slightly slow, bewildered that she lacked such self-awareness. ¡°If you wanted an appearance that would mark us instantly but let you blend in, it¡¯s a perfect choice. This world only knows of Pokemon and Humans, they have no concepts of other worlds or other creatures,¡± he explained, as his stomach began to rebel against his choice not to partake in the treat.


    The answer seemingly sufficient, the Renamon placed her cup back down with a restrained flourish. ¡°Clever, and true. Only the other 26 Actors would likely recognize me, though that assumes they are also sufficiently knowledgeable about your home world¡¯s pop culture.¡±


    ¡°26?! There¡¯s more than two of us?¡± Chad asked, alarmed and lightly bumping the table with his hands.


    ¡°Now, now, it¡¯s not like you¡¯ll meet them all. We Storytellers do try to keep our Storylines separate when possible. For clarification, one of them is in Joseon with a rather crafty Storyteller, one is with me just beyond that building which you shall not pass, and the remaining 23 are in Unova.¡± Chad stared, dumbfounded, as she once again made another pastry vanish with indescribable elegance.


    ¡°And each Story needs to be unique right? Pretty sure I was on the standard Hero¡¯s Journey, and I was told you¡¯re running a Power Fantasy,¡± Chad explained, leading up to his big question. ¡°So, what are the other Stories? Should I be worried?¡±


    She giggled, an honest-to-goodness giggle born of a higher being expressing amusement as the lower-class life-form began to catch on to the way things were played. ¡°No need to worry. And you are close but not quite. I am running an ¡®Overcoming The Monster¡¯ Storyline, while you are on a modified ¡®To Be A Master¡¯ Storyline. I believe one of the others is a fun variant of a ¡®Wunza Plot¡¯, and the other is an unpleasant take on ¡®There Can Only Be One¡¯,¡± she rattles off, counting each of the four with one of her four fingers.


    ¡°I don¡¯t like the sound of that last one, especially since I noticed your number of Actors decreased between sentences,¡± Chad responded, finally caving and eating the pastry in a single bite. His eyes flashed open in surprise, as he savored the treat, before taking a sip of the tea. ¡°Pretty sure I just screwed up and agreed to a Fae deal by doing that, but damn do you know how to tempt someone,¡± he remarked, as the fox delicately refilled her tea.


    ¡°No, silly. Storytellers are unable to directly affect the Actors for other stories while they are in progress. Even your beloved Author can confirm as much,¡± she explained, resting her head on her left knuckles, elbow braced against the table as a floating silver spoon stirred two sugar cubes into her tea. ¡°Besides, I believed this conversation was overdue, and the two of us agreed it was needed to finally convince you to keep going.¡±


    ¡°If it was so necessary, then why isn¡¯t the Narrator the one telling me this?¡±


    She could only shrug, ¡°Not all of us are very comfortable, or even acceptable, at having ¡®The Talk¡¯ with our Actors. Remember the awkwardness with your parents growing up? Those feelings get magnified when you graduate from talking about body hair growth to existential crises. I would much rather explain how fornication works than this,¡± she clarifies, as Chad notices the tea is empty, and snacks all gone.


    ¡°So what now; do I just walk back?¡± he asked, standing up and donning his backpack.


    ¡°Such a rush,¡± she mused, standing from the table and letting the smaller lizard look up at her towering seven foot height. ¡°As a courtesy, I will have you end the day arriving back in Santalune city. You will need to travel north to Lumiose City the next day, and not return to Snowbelle until after earning your seventh badge. As for my Story, we¡¯ll also be traveling Kalos, so we may bump into one another for a short scene or two. Just promise me you won¡¯t give up so easily, you can win this, everything you ever wanted-¡±


    ¡°To be a rough, battling pokemon with a huge beer belly?¡± Chad interrupted, catching the fox mid-sentence with a light chuff.


    ¡°Not everything is set in stone, just establish a plot hook that would justify you being slimmer or more muscular. Play along enough and maybe the Narrator will incorporate it into his plans. But you certainly did want a different body, a different form, a different life, and most importantly: someone who loved you for you. This opportunity,¡± she lectured, crouching down to place a hand on his shoulder, ¡°is not a chance, nor is there any real risk. So long as you seriously try, you will only succeed.¡±


    Chad¡¯s face shifted to one of resolution, commitment, and acceptance. ¡°I never do anything but my best.¡±


    Debatable, but I love the spirit.


    ¡°Same; let¡¯s pick this discussion up at a later time. Show me how much you¡¯ve grown next time we meet, young one.¡± The yellow fox stood tall and backed away a foot, facing the smaller lizard, as her hands became surrounded by rainbow rings of soft power, the mystic rings depicting a mish-mash of arcana, mysticism, and intricate geometry.


    {Chad returned to Santalune City after the previous night¡¯s encounter with the ranger, abandoning his plans to travel to Snowbelle City, and to instead head for Lumiose City.}


    Chad found himself standing at the Santalune City limits, as the edge of the purple sunset began to fade into the night. The chorus of blooming nightlife accompanied the still air, as the last few clouds in the sky began to give way. After a few steps forward, a familiar presence settled on his shoulders; the mantle both unsettling and reassuring.


    <He made his way back to the pokemon center, where he checked in a room for the night. He caught the attention of three familiar faces celebrating in the lobby, each hoisting their own Bug Badge. Regaling him with tales of their challenges, the four agreed to travel together to Lumiose City before each calling it a night, and heading upstairs to recover before the morning.>


    <hr>


    Chad lay on top of the bed, unable to sleep. Nothing to fidget with, nothing to research, and unable to just shut it off. ¡°Hey, are you still up?¡± he asked the ceiling.


    <Need a little help from Mister Sandman?>


    ¡°Not just yet, still bothered by a few things from earlier today.¡±


    <Oh, and what dismissive tripe has She conjured about me this time?>


    ¡°That you¡¯re powerful, dedicated to your craft, and reliable?¡± Chad quipped, a subtle smirk betraying his amusement at how easy that had been.


    <Clever boy. Be serious now; what were you told?>


    Chad turned his head to look out the window at the starry night sky, ¡°She gave me ¡®The Talk¡¯, then told me to abandon my plan.¡±


    <Ah. Yes. That. Well, perhaps I may attempt to field any questions you have?>


    Chad continued to watch the twinkle of the night sky, slowly curling up on himself to stay warm. ¡°She said you could help me change something, to set up a plot hook¡­Make it so my final form isn¡¯t so¡­ fat?¡±


    <... Is that it? You could request to have your attacks burn hot enough to melt even the sturdiest of foes. You could request the ability to shrug off every hit, or move so quickly no foe can touch you. You could request power above and beyond any other pokemon in this world. And yet, you simply desire to be slimmer?>


    Chad waited a moment, as he clutched his tail closer into a rolled hug, despite the room¡¯s ambient temperature being a comfortable warm. ¡°Almost all pokemon have a fixed design; most Pikachu will look exactly the same, except for scars or worn items. Charizard has a massive pot belly and skinny sticks for arms. No matter how hard I train, or exercise; no matter how much I regulate my diet to be as healthy as possible, that will be my future.¡± His eyes were somewhat moist, causing the pillow to grow damp. To prove a point, he gently poked his belly with a claw, watching as the surface deformed and implied a sufficiently padded layer of body fat.


    <Thankfully, while a great many things are immutable, this is not. I shall warn you that changing your ¡®design¡¯ may have unexpected knock-on changes, potentially a loss of the ability to fly.>


    ¡°If that¡¯s what it takes¡­¡± Chad responds, eyeing the pokeball on the nightstand.


    <I happen to have 3 ideas, and 3 accompanying solutions. We¡¯ll plant those seeds starting in the morning, and it will be up to you to nurture them to fruition. Now then->


    <Chad fell fast asleep, worrying himself into exhaustion into a deep slumber through the night.>


    Pardon my asking, but I just need to clarify-


    <Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor will prove rather useful, coincidentally. Just to verify, their teams are as it says in the notes? We¡¯ll need to make some adjustments along Route 4.>


    Yes, no recent alterations from what I sent you.


    <We¡¯ll need to keep an eye on things, but this shouldn¡¯t affect the Scenario Plausibility too badly¡­>

 Chapter 18: Dancing Lobsters

    <As Chad spent the morning doing some basic training, he caught up with the gang during breakfast; his cooking gained several more fans and raving reviews. Everyone was excitedly chatting about the journey to Lumiose City as they made their way towards the entrance of Route 4.>


    <The road ahead was peaceful, and Trevor shared his gratitude that they would not need to pass through another forest. Shauna laughed, teasing him about an encounter the group had with a Caterpie. Tierno was walking alongside Chad, before he spun in place, leapt forward like a ballerina, and posed with a flourish. ¡°Now that you are no longer in a rush, Chad, I must ask if you also appreciate dancing the way I do!¡±>


    Chad kept walking, eyeing the energetic boy, before simply shrugging. Capitalizing on the opportunity, Tierno¡¯s smile exploded, and he pulled a pokeball off his belt.


    <¡±In that case, shall we dance? I can teach you-¡± he was interrupted mid-sale by Shauna who cleared her throat. ¡°Tierno, can you wait until we¡¯ve at least made some progress? We have a long trip, and you can teach him to dance when we stop for a rest, OK?¡± she reasoned, powering ahead by walking backwards.>


    The group continued past the expansive and well-maintained gardens on either side, as several wild pokemon were seen scampering about. Shauna waved at a pair of Ralts, and beamed in happiness when the two of them waved back before teleporting away. ¡°I hope I can convince a psychic type to join me; seeing everything would be great, but it would be better if I could always return to places and see them in a different light,¡± she rattled off, head in the clouds.


    Chad, thoughtful for a moment, searched around until his eyes landed on a trio of wild pokemon off on the right, who were enjoying the soft sunshine and colorful flowers. [WAIT, HERE] his device buzzed, as he began to slowly approach the group, taking the extra effort to appear nonchalant. The three noticed him, and he immediately stopped, keeping his distance and trying to convey a lack of hostility. ¡°Hey,¡± he initiated, hoping the group wouldn¡¯t run away.


    Of the group of Ralts, Budew, and Skitty, the lone cat stepped forward, placing themselves between the group and the outsider. ¡°What?¡± they questioned, stance wide and ready for a fight.


    ¡°I just wanted to ask if you knew a Ralts looking to travel Kalos. My friend,¡± he motioned back towards Shauna, ¡°is looking to see every breathtaking location in the region, but she¡¯ll need a psychic type to help her get around. If you know or find someone, can you send them our way, please?¡±


    The trio shared a look, but Skitty spoke for them all, ¡°If we find one, maybe we¡¯ll let them know another human is looking for them.¡± The cat¡¯s voice was condescending, and outright rude, but Chad didn¡¯t press the issue, thanked the group and walked back.


    ¡°What was that about?¡± Shauna asked, with Tierno looking on in interest as Trevor quickly tucked away his pokedex. [WANT, AD] was their only response, as Chad continued to walk along the route.


    <The rest of the morning continued to be wonderful as the four trainers soon stopped for a break. While Trevor and Shauna took refuge in the shade, Tierno and Chad were standing across from each other in a more open area nearby. ¡°First, I¡¯ll show you how my starter and I dance,¡± Tierno began, as he withdrew his pokeball and released its resident beside him, a Corphish. The lobster looked to be a little slow, but it slowly waved in greeting to Chad. ¡°Now, watch closely!¡±>


    While Tierno was doing some elegant footwork and movements, Chad observed as the crustacean waved its claws back and forth, did a small spin, and then ran each claw along the length of the other. At the end of the little show, its claws were distinctly sharper, glinting in the sunlight when before they had been rather muted and soft.


    <¡±Most of it was for style, but the last part is called Swords Dance. It varies between pokemon, but the result is a higher physical attack power,¡± he explained, boasting with pride.>


    Chad glanced from Tierno to the lobster before asking: ¡°How did you do that?¡± The Corphish blinked, each eye separately and at a speed that was closer to intentionally closing an eye and then opening it again. There was a pregnant silence, before Chad looked back to Tierno.


    <Sensing the confusion, Tierno could only pride himself on his knowledge. ¡°If you want to learn it, dancing is super easy! You just need to move your body in a way that feels right, that expresses yourself, and then charge up with energy!¡± He began to swivel side to side, displaying a different type of boogie from earlier.>


    Nervously, Chad began to attempt several different dances, even replicating Corphish¡¯s, but was having trouble getting into the groove. Nothing felt right, he¡¯d get maybe a few seconds in each attempt before giving up and resetting to another idea. Even Tierno was getting concerned.


    <Trevor, having been watching the whole time, called out from his shady retreat: ¡°Chad, it only works with specific types of energy,¡± he explained, pulling up his left wrist and holo caster before tapping through and navigating a few windows only he could see. ¡°There, I found it. There¡¯s no Fire-type dances on record, so there may not be one. Your best bet would be the normal type or dragon type, Swords Dance and Dragon Dance respectively.¡±>


    ¡°A little direct on this one aren¡¯t you,¡± Chad grumbled, as he reset to a relaxed pose and steadied his breathing. Faint flickers of purple crossed his body, as the tell-tale plumes of Dragon Rage began to creep out from his closed muzzle. Chad raised his right foot, then promptly stomped the ground with a thud and a bent-knee stance. He clapped his claws before having one swing down and created a ¡®smack¡¯ sound off his thigh. Symmetrically, he leaned to the right while raising his bent left leg in a traditional sumo pose, before slamming that foot on the ground a step forward. Again there was a clap, and a slap on his left thigh.


    Chad released a low grumble of a growl, as the draconic purple flames streamed out the sides of his mouth like two plumes of smoke. He slapped his chest twice, before bellowing a deep roar of challenge. Visibly, his entire body took on a light purple sheen, his muscles now slightly more defined than before. ¡°Woah,¡± was all he could utter, as Tierno applauded his success.


    <¡±Seems like that did it, now you can join us in any future dance contests!¡± he cheered, excited about having a dance partner for double battles. Corphish did not react, continuing to stare blankly ahead. Tierno thanked his partner for the demonstration and recalled him, just as Trevor and Shauna began to walk over with a Ralts.>


    ¡±Hey guys, look this Ralts wants to travel with me! Isn¡¯t that lucky?¡± she said, as the small fairy pokemon hid behind her legs from the scary fire type. Chad gave a gentle wave, as Shauna tried to convince the small pokemon that he wasn¡¯t that scary. Just up the road, a young boy was skating directly towards the group on a pair of roller blades. His white helmet and shirt were pristine and clean, as he began to slow down upon reaching speaking distance.


    ¡°Yo! I heard your pokemon¡¯s roar from up the road and had to come see,¡± he explained, slowing to a stop just a few feet away. ¡°That¡¯s a cool pokemon,¡± he admired, clearly referring to Chad. ¡°Does his trainer want to have a battle?¡± he proposed, as the three humans looked straight at Chad, who gave a noncommittal gesture towards the others.


    <¡±Actually would you mind if we had a battle instead? Nurse Joy said Chad¡¯s not supposed to battle today; he¡¯s still recovering from fighting Viola,¡± Trevor explained, causing the newcomer to grin in pride.>


    ¡°Viola, huh? Did all of you face her? I heard she¡¯s been tougher to beat this year, especially for trainers with fewer than 3 badges,¡± he inquired, as he reached down to undo the straps on his skates and remove his feet from the wheeled platforms. He removed his helmet, and with it tucked under his left arm, extended his right for a handshake. ¡°I¡¯m Roland, not doing the gym circuit this year but I¡¯ll be blowing by everyone next year.¡±


    <Trevor matched the handshake, ¡°Trevor, and no; the three of us just faced gym trainers. I think if we had faced Viola, we probably wouldn¡¯t have a badge between us,¡± he jested, as Shauna mumbled something about how she would¡¯ve won.>A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    Roland appeared confused, ¡°But if he fought- oh there¡¯s four of you; yea that makes sense. Simple one on one match; any suggestions for a wager?¡± he laughed, stepping back as the two made space between them for the match.


    <¡±How about two-hundred?¡± Trevor opened with, citing the cost of a potion or pokeball, both common items newer trainers would need.>


    Roland paused for a moment as he palmed his sole pokeball. ¡°Are you sure you can afford to lose that much?¡± he asked with a predatory grin, expanding the pokeball to full size as he stood ready for the match.


    <Tierno quickly moved to the midpoint of the field, taking over as the referee. ¡°This will be a one on one match between Trevor and Roland. On the count of three, both competitors will release their pokemon. Ready? 1, 2, 3!¡± he counted down, as two pokeballs flew towards the field. On Roland¡¯s side, an attentive Pidgey appeared, scanning the ground and eyeing its opponent. On Trevor¡¯s side, a yellow mouse with red cheeks and black markings crouched on all fours ready to go.>


    ¡°Pidgey, get some distance and stir a storm!¡± Roland commanded, donning a pair of sunglasses that had been hanging from his shirt neck. The bird chirped and quickly departed the ground with a powerful flap; the rapid ascension causing a cloud of dust and sand to cover the field and obscure Pikachu.


    <Trevor raised his glasses by the bridge, having withdrawn his pokedex and aiming it at his opponent¡¯s pokemon, unmoved by the Sand Attack that covered the field. ¡°Play Nice, then restrain them with a Thunder Wave,¡± he commanded, as Pikachu took a cutesy pose.>


    ¡°I think we got off on the wrong foot; do you want to come down and start over?¡± Pikachu asked with a nervous chuckle, obscuring the building charge covering his tail. The question seemed to catch the bird off-guard, as its height faltered a bit, slowing it down enough that the follow-up zap connected with the mouse¡¯s jagged tail, resulting in a full-body spasm by the flier.


    Roland¡¯s sunglasses hid his reaction, but his response was immediate, ¡°Pidgey, keep your distance and blast it!¡± The bird gathered its wings together as they began coating with a glowing sky blue energy. With an impressive thrust, the bird expanded to its maximum wingspan, launching a pair of mini tornadoes at the ground-bound foe. Unfortunately, a mild spasm mid-attack caused the two swirls to go wide, each assisting to clear the remaining sand cloud to reveal an unharmed rodent.


    <¡±Now Pikachu, use Thunder Shock!¡± Trevor commanded, capitalizing on the opening and tucking the pokedex away in his pocket.>


    His partner bristled with static charge until an aura of power began to radiate. The connection, the attack, was near-instantaneous, lighting up both the source and target briefly, before Pidgey began to fall to the ground. With a thud, everyone waited for them to stand.


    <After a few seconds without response, Tierno raised his arm towards the victor. ¡°Pidgey is unable to battle; the winner is Trevor!¡± The victory was met with a light applause from the three members of the audience, the small Ralts completely caught up in the display of skill the two battlers had shown.>


    Roland returned his Pidgey, whispering to it before shrinking the ball to take its proper place on his belt. Reaching down into his socks, he pulled out two-hundred pokedollars and offered them to Trevor. Trevor, after seeing where they had been stored, grimaced and motioned for Roland to keep the money. Appreciatively, Roland tucked the money away and began to put his skates back on. ¡°Good match, but now I gotta head for the center and get Pidgey checked out. Safe travels, and watch out for me next year!¡± he called, as the buckle on his helmet clicked and the young lad was rolling away south.


    ¡±Good job Pikachu, I¡¯m proud,¡± Trevor said with a smile, returning the grinning yellow mouse to his pokeball. ¡°I think that¡¯s enough of a break, should we continue?¡± he asked, interrupted when he felt a tug at his pants. Looking down, a small white flower was floating near his left leg, with an even smaller white being trying to get his attention. ¡°Uh, hi?¡± he asked, trying not to startle them.


    ¡±I bet they were impressed by your battle,¡± Shauna guessed, crouching down to see the small pokemon better, ¡°weren¡¯t you?¡± The fairy nodded vigorously, looking up at Trevor, pleading. Trevor¡¯s face softened, as he crouched down to better see the flower.


    ¡±Are you sure? My goal is to meet and document every pokemon in the region,¡± he explained, withdrawing his pokedex to show the prospective team member. The flower pokemon was not dissuaded, standing as tall as it could to communicate their dedication. ¡°Well I¡¯d be happy to have you with me Flab¨¦b¨¦,¡± he smiles, offering a fresh pokeball which quickly becomes occupied with a pleasant chime.


    <Tierno glanced all around them, eyes sharp, ¡°I bet I¡¯ll get my second team member soon too; I hope they also love to dance!¡± he shouted in excitement, but deflated as no new pokemon stepped forward. Shauna gave him a reassuring pat on the back. The group continued north, reaching a giant fancy fountain just as the sun was beginning to set. Several other trainers were seemingly setting up camp for the night around it, chatting with one another, some even sharing food.>


    The three humans turned as one, giving their best attempt at Baby-Doll eyes towards the fire lizard. With a light-hearted sigh, Chad grinned and set his bag down to begin setting up a cooking station. [INGREDIENTS] his speaking-aid chirped, and the group began digging through their own packs to find what they could. ¡°I really need one of those bags, this is getting heavier with each route,¡± Chad grumbled, lighting the kerosene canister with a puff and placing it on the ground in a circle of rocks.


    <We¡¯ve got one lined up, should be yours in Lumiose.>


    <Tierno offered a bottle of water and a bag of uncooked pasta. Trevor produced some olive oil and his newest team member held up a bushel of some herbs. Shauna pulled out a pack of six frozen sausages, declaring herself the victor of the micro challenge.>


    Chad had to pause and plan, before pouring the water into the wok and placing it over the flames, thankful he had a wire rack to hold it. He held the sausages up to Tierno, [FISH, WASH] he quickly typed out, before pointing at the herbs. [CHOP] was his instruction for Trevor, before one final command went to Shauna, [SKEWERS].


    <A credit to their academic standings and past two years with the odd lizard, all three immediately understood their assignments. Tierno brought out his Corphish, using a gentle Water Gun to clean and defrost the sausages. Trevor pulled out a folding pocket knife and cutting board, dicing the fresh herbs. Shauna set off with Ralts to find something they could use to cook the meats with.>


    After a moment, Chad motioned for the no-longer-frozen meat cylinders, and placed them inside the now-heating water while still packaged. The thermal sink slowed the boil rate of the pot, but continued to defrost the proteins for cooking later. Once the water began to bubble, he removed the bag, handing it to Tierno and replacing the water¡¯s occupant with the raw pasta, stirring it gently to circulate the contents of the wok and distribute the heat more evenly.


    <Shauna returned with several sturdy-looking sticks, all very straight and unlikely to splinter or cause a health hazard. Proud of herself, she and Tierno began to stab a sausage on each stick. Holding the meat skewers in hand, the two glanced between the chemical fire, and Chad¡¯s tail, looking for approval to use him as a living campfire.>


    Chad, not interested in tasting anything not meant to be eaten, held his fiery tail tip over towards them, serving as a secondary cooking area. If anyone nearby hadn¡¯t been watching the odd display yet, they certainly were now. Each sausage only took a few minutes to cook, with the fifth and sixth being completed just as the pasta was done.


    <It was then when Chad realized he did not have a pasta strainer, and merely had a pot full of boiling water with no way to remove the pasta safely. With a soft purple glow, clumps of rotini floated from the water and were gently deposited on the waiting three paper plates. The young Ralts beamed in confidence and satisfaction at her contribution.>


    Once the last piece was removed, and without an ounce of shame, Chad flung the leftover boiling water into the fountain, leaving the empty wok on the stand to cool as he closed off the kerosene flame beneath.


    <Trevor and his Flab¨¦b¨¦ gently sprinkled the green herbs atop each plate of pasta, gently drizzling a little olive oil on the top, and lightly mixing each plate to coat the cute shapes with the flavorings. With each trainer having a plate, Shauna and Tierno passed around the sausages, eagerly digging into their dinners. Trevor pulled out some small bowls, filled them with pokechow, and spread them out for Chad and the trio¡¯s pokemon companions to eat as a team.>


    <The night was uneventful, as thanks to so many trainers being in one spot, the group did not have to worry about being accosted by wild pokemon. The following morning, after a hearty serving of scrambled eggs with cheese, the group continued north. During that time, their conversation drifted between a variety of topics, until Shauna glanced at Trevor while he was scrolling through his pokedex. ¡°Hey Trevor, does that thing say what other kinds of moves Chad can learn?¡± she inquired.>


    <Trevor glanced up at her, before fiddling with his pokedex and searching through its information. ¡°It says here he can learn a lot of moves, but some of them may require a technical machine due to their complexity, or typing,¡± he responded, scrolling through the giant list. ¡°What did you have in mind?¡±>


    <Shauna continued walking, her lips pouting while her eyes sparkled in a dreamy wonder. ¡°Can he learn any psychic moves?¡± she eventually asked, leaning towards Trevor to glance over his shoulder. Trevor pressed a button towards the top of the screen and applied a filter, shrinking the list down to just one. ¡°Hmm, I don¡¯t recognize that one,¡± she said, returning to an upright posture.>


    <¡±Rest isn¡¯t exactly a common tactic, you leave yourself wide open for a period of time, to the degree most trainers push to learn Roost instead if they can.¡± Trevor clarified, looking at the details of the entry. ¡°Did you want to have him learn Confusion so he could make fancier dinners?¡± he chided, as she turned away in embarrassment.>


    <With a flick, Shauna called out her Ralts to walk beside her. ¡°Hey Ralts, while we¡¯re walking, can you try to help Chad learn about Psychic energy? I have a hunch,¡± she requested, her toothy smile encouraging the small pokemon to attempt the impossible.>


    ¡°Rude; I bet you I¡¯ll learn this Rest move before we even reach the city,¡± Chad whispered to nobody in particular.


    <It¡¯s called setting the stage, plebeian. Just allow me to practice my craft and you¡¯ll be begging for my invaluable assistance.>


    <Ralts did her best to channel the Psychic energies, giving Chad a feel for them and how they washed over him. After a bit, and with some uncomfortable goading from Shauna, the group paused for a break in the shade, whereupon Chad used his claws to cut himself lightly on the arm. Ralts supplied the purplish energy, which roamed his arm but to no effect. Tierno had his own idea on the matter, and suggested that Chad simply try to meditate into a slumber.>


    <After thirty minutes, and barely discernible progress on the injury, the group continued their journey. Chad wasn¡¯t discouraged, but they had finally found something that would take him time to learn. On a positive note, during their break Tierno was approached by a Budew. After he challenged to a dance contest, the grass type happily joined his budding team.>


    <The group reached the gates of Lumiose City just as the sun began to set, and the city itself began to light up the night. Plenty of people and pokemon were out and about, some heading for dinner, others returning from a long day shopping, and others just enjoying a walk in the twilight. The four were awestruck and could not be more excited to be in the city, but Shauna pushed that they head straight for the pokemon center, citing her desperate need for a hot shower. The three boys laughed, but agreed; the town wasn¡¯t going anywhere just yet.>

 Chapter 19: Player 2 has joined the game

    <The four checked in at one of the city¡¯s three pokecenters, with only one member shocked that the mega-city would have more than one equivalent to a hospital. Unfortunately, due to current occupancy and what one might call ¡°politics¡±, the group was only able to secure two rooms, with Chad being asked to stay in his pokeball while staying overnight. After a good hour to let everyone get situated (and a hot shower), the group reconvened in the lobby to discuss where to go from there.>


    <After checking a free computer in the lobby, the group was disappointed to learn that the city Gym was currently closed due to power issues, with no known reopen date. When discussing what to do for dinner, the four also seemed to pull in different directions, leading to a split-up for the night.>


    As Chad embarked on his early-evening stroll, he took in the signs around him, careful not to bump into or jostle anyone else out for the night. The streets were diverse, with a variety of humans and pokemon walking amongst each other, all with their own unique story to tell. Dozens of storefronts offering a variety of craft goods, unique services, and a cavalcade of different foods. It was almost overwhelming to be forced to select a single location to grab dinner.


    <Following the flow of certain aspects of traffic, Chad wandered until he reached a section that seemingly was predominantly filled with pokemon, rather than humans. He came to a stop at the entrance of a shop which was an exposed caf¨¦ with a stage against the far wall. There was no text announcing what it was, just a graphic of a dog-like pokemon¡¯s head. It appeared to be white with brown floppy ears, brown rings around their eyes, and something white on their head which resembled a hat.>


    <The outdoor caf¨¦ was packed with a variety of pokemon, some with simple beverages, others with full plates of food, all re-enacting a species-shifted version of a normal human establishment.>


    ¡°When in Paris, I guess,¡± Chad muttered, stepping into the line that led towards a counter where a white puffball pokemon was taking orders and directing the customers. As he progressed through the line, Chad noticed the menu was merely a combination of iconography and colors. Each line had a different number of circles, and each line had one or two colors, but there was no text of any sort. Between red, blue, green, yellow, and pink, it was some sort of code.


    <Upon reaching the front of the line, the Swirlix gave Chad a gander and smiled. ¡°Welcome to Smeargle¡¯s! You new in town?¡±>


    Trying not to stand out too much, Chad shifted nervously and nodded. ¡°Yea, first time. How do I, uh..?¡±


    <The fluffball eyed him up and down. ¡°Colors represent flavors, circles are cost in coins- assuming you can count, though for the young ones they just play a matching game. As some advice for a first-timer, you don¡¯t strike me as a red kinda guy.¡±>


    ¡°Could I order one of the blue and greens, and one of the pink and yellows?¡± Chad asked, counting out the coins in his claws before handing over 7 of the appropriate discs. He noted that the menu seemed to use the 10 Poke coins, which was pretty affordable given the location.


    <Swirlix smiled, lapping up the coins with their tongue and depositing them behind the counter. ¡°Go find a seat and we¡¯ll bring them out when they¡¯re ready. Friendly reminder, please be respectful of the artists performing tonight, and be sure to tip them if you can,¡± the living cotton-swab explained, moving their gaze to the next customer in line.>


    Chad stepped to the side, and lucked into finding a seat towards the far corner from the stage, placing his pack down beneath the table and gazing across the crowd. ¡°Whatever I ordered has to be better than that bagged mass-produced garbage,¡± he grunted, watching as a younger pokemon stole a small red berry from their parents¡¯ plate and immediately began crying. ¡°I wonder how my spice tolerance has changed coming here,¡± he questioned, as the crowd began to quiet down.


    <The lights dimmed, and two spotlights ignited, creating a circle that focused on the center of the small stage. A white dog pokemon¨C the same one from the caf¨¦ banner above¨C stepped into the light, their long and thin tail tipped with a plume of white fur that appeared to be covered in green paint. ¡°Thank you for coming tonight everyone,¡± she spoke, her voice just loud enough to be heard at the back without carrying too far beyond the area. ¡°Tonight, we have a few returning faces, and some new voices, who have come to share their self-expression with us. Remember that we are always accepting new applicants, and to contact whomever is working the front counter after the event if interested in participating in the future.¡±>


    Chad noticed the line was much shorter now, likely due to almost all of the seating being claimed or occupied. The first poet to step onto the stage was a small yellow and green monkey, who shared a short sonnet about the trees changing with the seasons. Chad participated in the soft appreciative clap with the audience as the monkey finished and walked off-stage.


    <The night progressed, and Chad received his two plates of food after four more wordsmiths had come and spoke their piece. Some beautiful, others clearly in need of a rewrite, but all granted the same level of appreciation and applause. Chad was partway through what he suspected to be the pink and yellow plate when his eye caught the next performer take the stage.>


    The blue frog was equally small as some of the previous artists, but unlike the others she deigned not to introduce herself or explain the piece, immediately jumping right into the performance.


    ¡°Je ne comprends pas.¡±


    ¡°Pourquoi tu m''as laiss¨¦ ici.¡±


    ¡°Qu''ai-je fait de mal?¡±


    The food practically fell from Chad¡¯s mouth during her performance, as he froze like a statue. Everyone else gave her the standard soft applause, as she delicately bowed and stepped off the stage. Broken from his daze, Chad continued to eat as the host returned to the stage. ¡°Thank you everyone, both for participating and for providing our artists an audience. As a reminder, tomorrow night will be a performance by our local songstress Loudred, followed by Roselia¡¯s dance lessons the night after,¡± she listed off before the spotlights shut off, and the general lighting returned to normal.


    <Barely a moment later, Chad notices the blue frog moving towards the exit, and in turn she notices him staring.>


    ¡°I¡¯m not staring-¡±


    <Eyeing the lizard up and down, noticing the bag, she grins and pulls a seat over from an adjacent table.>


    ¡°Bonsoir monsieur; I haven¡¯t had anyone give me eyes like that in a long time,¡± she trilled with confidence, plucking a piece of food from the blue-green plate Chad hadn¡¯t touched yet. The way she slowly consumed the morsel would¡¯ve been textbook seduction, had she been in her final evolution stage. ¡°I¡¯ve certainly not seen you around before, and this-¡± she nudges the bag beneath the table with a foot, ¡°is certainly an odd thing for one of us to be ferrying around.¡±


    Chad, unimpressed, finished his mouthful before responding. ¡°Yea, traveling the continent and challenging the gyms; kinda need something to carry my supplies with.¡±Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.


    ¡°Sounds like there¡¯s a story there,¡± she leads on, taking another mouthful.


    ¡°Yea. After my trainer died, I took up his stead and set out to complete my journey in his memory,¡± he rattled off, less emotional and more rote repetition at this point. The frog stiffened at the admission, leading to an inquisitive eyebrow from Chad. ¡°Something wrong?¡±


    ¡°Most of us have never had an entra?neur, even fewer would seek one out despite living amongst a literal city of them. Why would you, now free of their cha?nes, attempt to continue on this way?¡± Her voice had sunk to a near-whisper, hushed as to be inaudible to the nearby tables.


    ¡°With or without him, I was set on this path. I merely traded one set of¨C uh, chains, for another.¡± Chad¡¯s plate was nearly empty at this point, as he noticed his new conversation partner was halfway through the other plate. ¡°I¡¯m Chad by the way,¡± he said, trying to relax the conversation.


    ¡°A Named too,¡± she scoffed, shoving a fist-ful of food into her mouth, her manners beginning to degrade as the conversation continued. ¡°I pity des imb¨¦ciles who choose to travel with you. Vous voil¨¤ en train de jouer ¨¤ faire semblant, comme une insulte ¨¤ tout ce que nous essayons de prouver ici-¡±


    ¡°Stop!¡± Chad whisper-shouts, trying not to notice the gaze from the adjacent table, but certainly not improving the mood of his conversation partner. ¡°Ugh, look I get it, can you stop being so obvious about it? I can¡¯t understand a word she says when speaking French.¡± The Froakie stares at him, confused and offended.


    We weren¡¯t sure how else to make it more obvious, but fine.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Chad responds, as his conversation partner begins to delicately slide away from the table.


    <I do find this entertaining though, and the translations failures add personnalit¨¦.>


    Chad groans, as the frog stops, her head spinning around in confusion. ¡°Who said that?¡± she asked, her eyes returning to Chad in panic.


    ¡°I said I had chains; he¡¯s the one who holds them. Mysterious poet, meet The Narrator,¡± he introduces, reaching across the table for one of the blue-green plate scraps.


    <Charmed; though I don¡¯t think the nickname fits. She¡¯ll need a proper name when she joins our merry crew.>


    ¡°Rather entitled to assume I¡¯ll be going with you-¡±


    <Your compensation package includes being elevated to an eight-badge battler, above average food, and a found-family to travel the continent with.>


    She pauses, still visibly upset but slightly less as the list continues. ¡°Still doesn¡¯t sound like-¡±


    <Also a solid chance at a woman who will become so smitten with you that we¡¯ll have to omit dozens of scenes from this story just to keep it reader-friendly.>


    Chad laughed with a mouthful of food before swallowing, ¡°Pretty certain some readers would prefer you kept those in.¡±


    <They can go write their own omakes, I would rather keep this at least borderline wholesome.>


    Stunned, the blue frog sat back in the chair, her gaze firmly fixed on Chad as he finished the last of the plate. ¡°So I don¡¯t get a choice, juste un autre pion, eh?¡± Her voice wavered, eyes conflicted, mouth taking another piece of food as she chewed both metaphorically and physically.


    Chad shook his head as a firm ¡®no¡¯, ¡°You get a choice, but I would wager the options are either joining me on this journey, or repeating this conversation until you agree to come.¡± The prospective teammate mulled over the answer, her face a petit scowl in anger and frustration. ¡°Just as a personal anecdote, I tried door number two back when I first started. You¡¯d be better off asking for door number three,¡± he explained, prompting a confused look from the frog.


    <Before she could respond, the two noticed a glowing circle appear next to their table, ringed by magical rainbow clouds. Slowly, an image began to come into focus; an image of an older, evolved version of the young lass, as the visibly upset Greninja glares at her.>


    <The amphibian could only look in fascination and abrupt disgust as the vision gave her a hand gesture so rude I can¡¯t explain it, before a deep and sultry voice echoed through. ¡°Arr¨ºte de faire l''idiot et accepte l''offre! Ne me fais pas revenir ¨¤ temps et me gifler pour avoir ¨¦t¨¦ si myope!¡± The image faded quickly, the young girl bordering on shock at the sequence of events.>


    ¡°So, what should her name be? I was thinking¡­ Or how about-? Wait, why-?¡± Chad spoke, as his mouth moved but on several occasions no words came out.


    <The Author and I agreed on a set of names in advance, especially after he showed me what names you used in your save files back on Earth. We decided to name her after an infamous French spy; Ginette.>


    Chad groaned, likely upset at being out-voted, but just as likely for remembering the names he had used back in his old life. ¡°I like it,¡± Ginette said with a wide smile. ¡°The name feels like the kind of girl who stirs up trouble and leaves it all for the men to clean up.¡±


    <Great, welcome to the team! Your pokeball is in the bag, and if Chad gives you any trouble feel free to ask for help.>


    <The duo finished up dinner before returning to the pokecenter. The humans had already gone to bed, so Chad and Ginette returned to their pokeballs to tuck in for the evening with the center¡¯s staff. In the morning, a brief round of introductions were made to welcome Ginette to the group. After someone suggested to visit the professor at his lab in the city, the group unanimously agreed and headed out to drop by.>


    Ginette, dizzy and unsteady on her feet, leaned on Chad for support. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, it gets easier over time,¡± he comforted, as the five of them walked through the lobby. There were several ongoing experiments they passed by, all dubious in goals and nature, before the familiar face walked out to greet them.


    <Eager not to be left behind, Shauna, Trevor, and Tierno all pulled out their badge cases to flash their Bug Badges with pride. ¡°They may have a head start, but we¡¯re not far behind!¡± Shauna promised with a determined smile.>


    <The professor laughed, ¡°Indeed you¡¯re bound to catch up with that attitude, then surpass them! Speaking of badges, Chad, I was shown Calem¡¯s recording of your gym battle. I think you and I need to have a discussion before you leave.¡± His voice dropped from a happy encouragement to immediate concern in the single sentence.>


    Chad began to squirm in place, the mood only downbeat for a split-second before Shauna spoke up. ¡°Wait, do you have a copy? We didn¡¯t get to see his battle,¡± she pleaded, the other two catching on and begging.


    <Faced with the human equivalent of a begging Dugtrio, the professor relented, typing a few things on a nearby computer to bring up the video file. Eager, Shauna grabbed Ginette by the hand and led her over to watch the ¡®epic¡¯ battle.>


    With them distracted, Sycamore motioned for Chad to follow him deeper into the lab, as the two stepped into an office with the professor¡¯s name emblazoned on the door. ¡°While I am upset at the lengths you went to, I can¡¯t fault your determination. You really put it all on the line to win, even though the odds were technically in your favor.¡± Chad tilted his head to the right, signaling a lack of understanding. ¡°You¡¯ve been training for two years, where a first gym battle is typically for trainers who have been with their pokemon for less than a month.¡±


    ¡°And yet a single attack was enough to take me down, hardly seems fair,¡± Chad grumbled, crossing his arms.


    Chad leaned down, opened the top buckles, and stuck his whole arm inside, wiggling it about. Satisfied, he closed the top of the bag, then smacked it, ¡°Oh yea, this baby can fit so much camping gear!¡±


    As he was in the middle of transferring over his supplies, the other four rejoined the excited lizard and generous professor. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen a fight like that below four badges,¡± Trevor remarked, as he took notes on his holo caster.


    ¡°No way, I don¡¯t think anyone has ever had a first badge battle like that in history!¡± Shauna exclaimed, somehow hyped up from the shaky hand-held hyper-cam2 recording.


    ¡°I see what that trainer, Roland, meant; that battle was way above what we had to deal with,¡± Tierno followed up, so shocked from the match he was walking normally.


    Ginette strode closer to Chad, standing before him with a focused look. ¡°I want to be able to fight like that, to dominate my enemies so thoroughly they can only chier dans son froc.¡±


    Chad, transferring the last item into his new space-folding bag, put a hand on her shoulder. ¡°Stick with me, and you¡¯ll get so good you won¡¯t have to try half as hard as I did on that video.¡±


    Shauna glanced between the two pokemon, observing their expressions and body language, before opening her mouth to ask: ¡°So Chad, how did you convince her to be your girlfriend?¡± Chad¡¯s face was redder than a Cheri berry as he quickly removed his hand from Ginette. Ginette gave Shauna a glare promising such a painful death that, where she a Ghost type, might¡¯ve caused the young girl¡¯s spirit to vacate her body immediately.


    Now things should be more lively. Shame Chad didn¡¯t earn a pokedex though, that would¡¯ve been helpful.


    <Agreed. Thankfully, one accidentally slid into his backpack while nobody was looking.>

 Chapter 20: Acclimating to Things

    <After saying their goodbyes once again, the crew gathered into a huddle at a nearby shady spot just outside the lab. ¡°Well it¡¯s been fun, let¡¯s stay in touch, yea?¡± Shauna said, her smile a mixture of excitement and regret. ¡°I¡¯m going to head along the northern coasts of Route 13,¡± she explained, clarifying that her route was no longer gym-focused and would deviate from the normal.>


    <Tierno crossed his arms with an approving grin, ¡°Glad to hear you know what you want. I¡¯ll be heading north along Route 14, since I want to get some outfit and costume tips from Valerie in Laverre City. Just dancing is half the challenge; one must also be eye-catching!¡±>


    <Trevor pushed up his glasses, glancing down at his holocaster. ¡°And I am planning to take Route 16, as I seek to get a reading by Olympia in Anistar City. She¡¯ll be a challenge, and I¡¯ll have to double-back probably, but I calculate it¡¯ll be worth being my first priority.¡± Trevor calmly tucked away the device and returned his gaze to the group.>


    Resigned, Chad pulled up his little device, tapping away. [GOOD, LUCK] the device beeped, as nothing more needed to be said. All three thanked him by returning the sentiment to one another, as each turned to walk away in different directions. Chad and Ginette did the same, as they headed west from Sycamore¡¯s lab. ¡°How do you know where you¡¯re going?¡± She asked in curiosity.


    <Chad pointed to a nearby metal placard with an arrow shaped-tip pointing in the direction the two were traveling, which eloquently said ¡°Route 5¡± on it. Just below that, was an arrow aimed in the opposite direction with a fancy ¡°Route 4¡± written on it.>


    ¡°Oh, that¡¯s certainly pratique. I¡¯ve wondered what those things were, never got a solid explanation,¡± Ginette responded, her eyes twinkling in wonder. ¡°So, does he translate any human-text?¡±


    <I can, but Chad is perfectly capable of reading and navigating a cityscape. I merely wanted to clarify for yourself and our readers where our merry band was headed next.>


    Ginette experienced a full-body shiver, but kept pace with her new team leader. ¡°Something about that accent, it makes me feel like my anc¨ºtres wish great misfortune upon him,¡± she clarifies, as her gait steadily warms up from the frozen shivering. ¡°Don¡¯t suppose you¡¯re a Galarian with that bourgeois way of speaking?¡±


    <Close, quite close really. Personally, I identify with no real nationality, as I am an eternal being outside all boundaries of any reality, merely being present and attentive in a small slice of the three dimensions you can accurately perceive and manipulate. However, my current illustrious voice- to which I will be regaling you with throughout this story- was modeled after a fine gentleman from an alternative world that happened to have a country remarkably similar to Galar in both culture and speech patterns.>


    The two were approaching the gate out of the city, and with only Chad in earshort, Ginette decided to blurt out something that she likely did not understand; ¡°Microwaved tea is sup¨¦rieure to boiled.¡±


    <How dare you make such an uncultured, unrefined, undignified, and factually wrong claim in my presence?!>


    I told you she¡¯d be fun.


    Chad was laughing, while also catching the gaze of nearby people and pokemon who had not heard the joke. ¡°Oh yea, she¡¯s going to be our little chaos gremlin, I can see it.¡±


    <The main character and the affront to all cultured beings reached the gate before embarking out upon Route 5. It was still early in the morning, with light sparkling on the dew-frosted grassy fields, and only a handful of other people out on the road. The few they did see were skaters, clearly in a rush to head further down the route. Chad remembers from his notes the presence of a large facility nearby exclusively for skating in a safe environment.>


    <After walking a bit further, they can hear the loud din signaling their approach towards the territory of the world¡¯s most fearsome creatures; bored teenagers with excessive energy. As the trees on the north side of the path begin to thin out, the travelers can see the massive facility, and all the youngsters zipping and zooming around. The spectacle appears to have also drawn in a crowd, as onlookers both human and pokemon are spread out across the shade beneath the canopies, several cheering when someone lands a trick or jump.>


    ¡°Huh,¡± Ginette remarks, ¡°I didn¡¯t even know this was here. I always saw humans speeding through the city, but never thought they had something quite this captivante.¡± She heads towards an open area in the shade, leading Chad forwards to watch for a moment. The two grab a seat and join the crowd, watching as several teens perform a variety of different jumps and spins.


    <While distracted by a younger kid who receives a round of applause for a basic 180 spin on the opposite side, the two are blind-sided when a girl in bright white suddenly appears from the ledge in front of them, gaining serious air time as she completes a seven-twenty spin barely a few feet from their faces, before dropping back into the park.>


    Startled, Ginette falls backwards with a cry, as Chad also pulls back to try and cover his face in reflex. ¡°Sorry about that, just the wrong place at the wrong time,¡± an amused voice called from their left. Ginette, having regained her senses, completed the backwards roll to lay eyes on the commenter. To the left of the tree sat a blue and black canine pokemon, seated in a cross-legged meditation, not even glancing their way. ¡°She has been rather antsy lately, so we came here to let her practice a bit.¡±


    Ginette, satiating her curiosity, crept over and sat to the blue dog¡¯s left, ¡°I see a lot of humans wearing those shoes, is it really that fun?¡± The lupine smiled, and gently affirmed the question with a nod, her eyes still firmly shut and somehow still meditating. ¡°Huh, I¡¯ll have to try it someday, though I¡¯ll need to find someone to teach me. Ravi de vous rencontrer, I¡¯m Ginette.¡±


    The doggo crossed her right hand over to complete the handshake. ¡°Nice to meet you, I do not have a name yet, but I believe I will earn one soon enough.¡± Ginette froze like an ice statue after the Lucario gave her full attention, including the gaze of two warm suns for eyes. The reaction prompted a light chortle from the dog, as both were distracted when the female skater in white rolled up to them.


    <¡±Sheesh Lucario, why¡¯d you run over here? Had me searching- Oh, hello!¡± the girl chided before side-stepping into a greeting. ¡°I guess you were just making a new friend, huh?¡±>


    Lucario nodded, as Chad stepped out from behind the tree to join the conversation.


    <¡±Well that¡¯s great, her aura is so unique I probably would¡¯ve wanted to say hello, too. My name¡¯s Korrina, the Shalour City Gym Leader-¡± she began to introduce herself, but went quiet once she finally saw Chad. Her face flew from delight, to confusion, to fear, to fascination, before shifting into the neutral expression shared between two predators meeting on foreign hunting grounds. ¡°I see, I recognize you. You¡¯re one of the trainers this year Viola warned me about.¡±>


    Lucario, unsure what had caused her trainer to become so serious, stood up and strode over to her side. She studied him, confused, as her gaze slowly panned upwards towards the sky. Her eyes steadily widening, a mixture of awe and panic, until she was looking up at the skies above. ¡°What..?¡± she inquired, her hackles raising as she shifted into a lower stance.


    <Hello there.>


    ¡°Don¡¯t startle the poor thing, General Kenobi,¡± Chad quipped, sliding his speak-and-say device from his side to within typing distance. [CHAD, NICE, MEET, YOU] the black box buzzed, earning a bone-chilling grin from the gym leader. ¡°Don¡¯t mind him,¡± he whispered to the Lucario, ¡°Just play along like he¡¯s not here, alright?¡±


    <¡±I see she omitted some details, but now you have my full attention. I look forward to when you challenge my gym, Chad!¡± She shouted, striking a pose and pointing at the fire type.>


    Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation.


    ¡°I hope to see you again,¡± her partner supplied with an accompanying bow, breaking Ginette from her stupor.


    <Korrina returned her partner before skating off with a wave, her speed incredible compared to Chad¡¯s typical pace. He realized that even moving as quickly as he had during the gym battle against Viola, he would still be quickly left in the dust.>


    ¡°Ma beau¡­¡± Ginette whispered, before lightly smacking her cheeks and facing her teammate. ¡°I need to be stronger, beaucoup plus fort, before we see them again. The Galarian promised me as such, how do we make that happen?¡±


    Chad held up his right arm and swept it outwards, motioning towards the giant skatepark. ¡°The same way I did; by beating the shit out of anyone we can and taking their lunch money.¡± He slipped a shoulder and slid the backpack off, placing it against the tree as he lifted the top flap. ¡°First, we should figure out what moves you know, then develop a strategy. The biggest constraints are that we do not know how close you are to evolving, and that you need to be able to fight on your own.¡±


    ¡°What, already skipping out on pr¨¦tendre ¨ºtre humain?¡±


    ¡°If you are the last member of the team who can fight, and you need to cinch the victory for us all, I can¡¯t risk you freezing up because you aren¡¯t being told what to do,¡± he chided, a twinge of frustration coloring the answer with a hint of desperation. Ginette seemed to shrink back at the scolding, as Chad recognized his error. Pulling a well-loved notebook from the bag, he apologized softly and flipped to a blank page before writing ¡°Ginette¡± at the top.


    ¡°A year,¡± she said, unprompted. Chad waited, looking at her expectantly, before she extrapolated for him. ¡°I haven¡¯t battled in over a year, don¡¯t really remember what I can still do.¡±


    <Chad remembered seeing something useful in his bag a moment ago, a little red device perfect for this situation.>


    Chad sat slack-jawed, before moving to open the bag again, finding a fresh Pokedex sitting on top of his gear. ¡°Narrator, where did this come from? No, why am I asking you- Author, where did this come from?¡±


    The Narrator, sensing you may encounter just this situation, ¡®appropriated¡¯ one back in Lumiose.


    Chad pinched the bridge of his snout between his eyes, as he pantomimed a massive Psyduck-level headache, groaning as he exhaled hard enough flicks of fire accompanied the de-stressing gesture. ¡°Fine, just this once. But no more ¡®re-appropriating¡¯ or ¡®retrieving¡¯ expensive stuff like this in the future, OK?¡±


    Chad, mimicking what he had seen with Sycamore and Trevor, held up the device to scan Ginette, as after a few moments the screen filled up with data. He ignored much of the physical measurements and immediately scrolled to the information they needed. ¡°OK, it can¡¯t really tell me what you know, but it has a list of major milestones for growth. I¡¯ll call something out, and if you know it, show me.¡±


    The duo began with the most basic moves on the list, Pound and Growl, as Ginette failed to really let out much of a noise, but succeeded in creating a small divot in the grass. A large Bubble floated across the grass, and a rapid Quick Attack intercepted it before the sphere could reach the route. A call to Lick the tree resulted in a revolting glare of disgust from the frog, and the final request of Water Pulse saw a ring of water fly out and up into the sky before dissolving into mist and creating a small rainbow.


    ¡°Alright, so you¡¯re much closer to evolving than I thought, as Water Pulse is considered the last big milestone for your current stage. Sadly, if you don¡¯t remember anything beyond what we covered, I doubt I¡¯ll be able to guess it, so let¡¯s just assume this is your current kit and plan around it. I have an idea for later, but first let¡¯s shake some rust off, yea?¡±


    <Almost as if on cue, a skater from the park pulled up beside the duo with a grin. ¡°Heya, name¡¯s Florin! I saw you practicing and wanted to ask if you¡¯re up for a quick battle; how about it?¡± His grin was infectious, as he tried to hide being out of breath.>


    Chad snapped his notebook shut, not missing a beat as the keyboard swung up below his claws. [SURE, WAGER] the device buzzed, as Chad counted only a single pokeball on the youth¡¯s belt.


    <¡±How about 300? I have a feeling this is going to get my blood pumping more than just grabbing air on the half-pipe,¡± the challenger inquired, gesturing the group move to one of the open battling fields attached to the skate park.>


    Chad nodded, grabbing his backpack and following the boy over to the battlefield. Ginette poked Chad¡¯s side gently, asking ¡°How much is that?¡±


    Chad, eyeing the other trainers who had doubtlessly noticed their progression towards the unclaimed field, responded carefully. ¡°Don¡¯t let it shake you, but do you remember that dinner of mine you ¡®borrowed¡¯ at the caf¨¦?¡± She nodded, ¡°Imagine eating that every night for over three months.¡± She paled, almost coming to a full stop had the lizard not immediately roped an arm behind to support her. ¡°Hey, relax, that¡¯s just how much faith we have in you-¡±


    ¡°But I failed¡­ My last trainer abandoned me because I was weak, because I couldn¡¯t-¡± she stuttered, fear starting to take firm hold in her mind.


    ¡°Your trainer threw you at the Lumiose City gym, I am guessing; a gym for electric types, to which you currently have no proper defenses and a serious disadvantage. Ginette, forget about the idiot who set you up to fail, and focus now on me, on us.¡± He stopped in the trainer box, crouching down to level his eyes with hers, waiting until she broke her fixation with the ground. ¡°You can do this. You have a protagonist and two literal gods cheering you on. Plus,¡± he chuckles, looking across the field as the challenger awaits, ¡°if this is anything like my first trainer battle, you literally can¡¯t lose.¡±


    <¡±You ready?¡± Florin called out, hefting a pokeball in his palm as he faced the field. He seemed confident the match would be quick, as he kept his helmet and gear on for the battle.>


    Ginette, inspired and now free of the jitters, hopped onto the field, her eyes burning with determination and courage. Across the field, the challenger¡¯s ball landed and, with a flash of white light, revealed a brown orb atop two skinny legs, with two similarly colored heads on long black necks, each with two beady eyes and a needle-like beak. Chad smirked, ¡°See? No type disadvantage here, just a battle of skill.¡±


    <¡±Doduo, Quick Attack!¡± Florin shouted, pointing at the blue frog. The bird cawed, and immediately sprinted forward at an astonishing speed.>


    ¡°Bubble and jump back, then prep a Water Pulse!¡± Chad commanded, as Ginette reflexively complied by swelling her cheeks until a massive soapy sphere floated forward, strategically placed between herself and the charging bird. Her cheeks began to inflate again, as water dripped from the corners of her mouth.


    <¡±Pop it and charge through with a Peck!¡± Florin called, as his bird jabbed a beak forward to pre-emptively pop the bubble obstacle, taking minimal damage as sky blue energy began to glow around it¡¯s other beak.>


    As the bird got closer, Chad waited until it was barely a breath away before demanding ¡°Now!¡±, as the pressurized circle of water blasted out, perfectly threading the incoming Peck attack, and smacking the offending head with enough force to divert the beak off-target. ¡°OK you got this. Use Bubble to zone, and blast with Water Pulse when you get the opportunities.¡±


    <¡±Keep at it, that frog should go down in a single hit!¡± their challenger shouted, as more skaters began to spectate the match. The Doduo continued to pursue Ginette around the field, getting close several times but her strategy held up until after a few more blasts, the two-headed bird fell to the ground unconscious. Several of the onlookers cheered or clapped, as Florin recalled his pokemon in frustration.>


    There was a gasp, as Ginette began to glow. Her body elongated, nearly doubling in size, as her arms and legs also extended for more reach and speed. A discerning eye could notice her head re-shape, going from two forward-facing eyes to two sideways eyes. As the light faded, her skin had darkened in spots, giving her a whole new look and identity. This kicked off a more enthusiastic round of applause and congratulations from the crowd.


    <¡±Now, now, Frolin. You know the rules. You made a bet and lost, don¡¯t go slinking off now.¡± A female voice lectured from the challenger¡¯s side, where the crowd shifted to see one of their regulars, an older girl, holding him by the shoulder as he was facing away from the crowd. With a sigh, he unzipped his fanny pack and handed her three paper bills, skating away once she released him. ¡°I believe these are your winnings, sorry about him. Money¡¯s been kind of tight at home, so he tries to bully younger trainers.¡±>


    Chad accepted the winnings, nodding in thanks. The two of them waved goodbye and thanks, as the crowd began to disperse and return to skating or spectating skating. Ginette, who was slightly stumbling along while acclimating to her new limbs, broke the silence first. ¡°I haven¡¯t felt that rush in so long, incroyable. And here I thought I was going to have to repeat a battle over and over until I won!¡± she remarked with a laugh, lightly slapping Chad on the shoulder, who was not laughing.


    ¡°Thankfully, you did your part just fine. It helps that you were slightly stronger and had more options than your opponent did,¡± Chad explained, dodging the proverbial slight she had leveled at him unknowingly. ¡°And as a two part reward, you evolved, and I will teach you two new moves when we stop for a break a little further along the route.¡±


    <Roughly halfway through the route, the two took a short lunch break beneath a large shady tree.>


    Chad withdrew a pair of sandwiches from the pack, handing one to Ginette before unwrapping his own. ¡°So, before I met you, I was instructed by a master Dancer. He was so clever that, even with his pokemon knowing only Swords Dance, he was able to guide me into figuring out Dragon Dance. And now, we will carry his teachings on, to you.¡±


    Ginette had seemingly finished half her sandwich in the time it took for him to share the short anecdote, and looked at him expectantly. Shocked by her manners, Chad lowered his sandwich, and continued the lecture. ¡°Once you finish eating, I want you to step into the sunlight, and channel water energy through your body, like a Water Pulse, but for your whole body. Then, just try different motions; feel the way the energy wants to move, and let it guide you.¡±


    Ginette just shoved the remainder of her sandwich in a single glomp, before bouncing out into the field. Chad, finally getting a moment to eat, watches on as the frog begins to outright glow with the ripples of blue energy. Her movements are slow at first, awkward and rigid, but steadily they smooth out. First she takes a step to the left, then two quick claps of her webbed hands, followed by a slide to the right with two more quick claps. Then, with a twirl in place, she comes to a stop and once again gives two claps, before the third clap is accented by the boom of thunder. Water begins to fall in a small two foot radius circle around her, as the sunshower drops a lightly sprinkle on the open field, with zero clouds above her.


    ¡°Nicely done, that¡¯s Rain Dance, which will boost your water attacks for a short time. With more practice, you should be able to cover a wider area, make it last longer-¡± he explains as the water shuts off, with the doused area sparkling in the sunlight, ¡°and activate faster. The second dance is Swords Dance, which is similar but with normal energy, like your Pound attack. Given you¡¯re a special attacker like me, it may not be as beneficial for you to learn, but you have until I finish eating to try-¡± With a swoosh, Ginette cuts him off as she crosses her arms, then sweeps them out and down, the glint of normal energy coating her hands like the shine of a knife edge. With a grumble, Chad shut up and continued to eat.


    <Upon completing their break, and with Ginette having shown up Chad effortlessly, the duo battle a few more trainers as they progress through the route. They are forced to camp out for the night, but by the following afternoon the gates of Camphrier Town are within sight. The extra practice doing wonders for Ginette¡¯s confidence, and helping Chad relax as they pad their travel budget.>


    Ginette falls to her knees, gasping, and holding her head in her hands. Chad gently rubs her back, keeping an eye out for anyone nearby. ¡°Ow, OW, OW! Chad, what the f-¡± her shrieking is interrupted as Chad clamps a claw over her mouth.


    ¡°Shh, just give it a minute to pass.¡± She continues to hyperventilate, but slowly regains control after a few minutes of near-silence, with only the rustle of the winds and the far-off chirps of bugs seizing the evening. ¡°There, you just survived your first major time skip; congratulations!¡±


    Congratulations!


    <Congratulations!>

 Chapter 21: The Wise Master

    <After checking into the pokemon center and securing themselves an actual room for the night, Chad and Ginette make their way to the nearby training grounds outside to practice.>


    Selecting a flat rock under the shadow of a medium-sized tree, Chad crosses his legs and sits down to meditate, but finds himself immediately interrupted. ¡°Really, just gonna go to sleep and leave a girl unattended?¡±


    A popped eye wanders up and down the blue frog, before he sighs and pulls out their pokedex. ¡°I¡¯m trying to master Rest so I can get a handle on psychic energy, for reasons,¡± he says, coughing afterwards. ¡°In your case, I did not see any fire or dragon type moves on your list, so I can only help explain what you can do, but you¡¯ll just have to figure a lot of it out on your own.¡±


    ¡°For example, you could work on Quick Attack to the degree you leave after-images, which would build into Double Team for evasion. If you practice with Water Pulse, you could channel that into adding Water Gun to your toolkit, or with proper temperature adjustment pick up Scald.¡± Chad explained, opening the sequential entries on the device. ¡°Or, if you want to be really annoying, you could work on your Attract, but that one can really backfire if you aren¡¯t careful-¡±


    Ginette raised a finger to make a point, before Chad shut her down, ¡°No, I will not subject myself to such efforts.¡± Immediately her excitement dropped into a pout, mumbling as she stepped away to claim her own practice space.


    Chad, returning to his meditation, began to attempt at circulating the magenta energy, which lightly coated his body before fading, as he cycled between manifesting the energy and its abatement. His frustration with the failure began to build, until each failure was accompanied by a spurt of flame from an exhale.


    Ginette, not really having started her own practice, made her way back over and tried to get Chad¡¯s attention. ¡°Hey, une question, what move are you working on right now?¡±


    ¡°Rest,¡± Chad grumbled, as the magenta energy grew and abated again.


    ¡°So, you¡¯re trying to put yourself to sleep?¡± Chad opened both eyes to grant the amphibian his attention. ¡°Cause it looks like you¡¯re fighting it just as it starts going,¡± she clarified. Chad blinked, twice, before attempting again. This time, the magenta energy wavered but stuck around, covering his whole body as every muscle relaxed. His breathing evened out and deepened, but his body managed to stay upright on the rock, coated in the psychic energy as Ginette noticed a few signs of exhaustion slowly fade away.


    Satisfied, she snuck away and began pondering herself before coating her limbs in the bright white of normal energy. As described, she began practicing moving around with her body, making quick leaps and abrupt turns, pushing her speed increasingly faster. After a good half hour of various tests and experiments, she notices the slight blur of her colors starting to leak behind her. Stumped, she quietly asks ¡°Any tips, Monsieur Earl Grey?¡±


    <Technically I¡¯m more of a Chamomile individual, however I did notice that the effect seemed more pronounced when more normal energy was left behind. Maybe try leaving an empty shell of energy when you change direction?>


    With the smile of a child who just conned her parents out of a candy bar, Ginette took off again, this time coating her entire body in the white energy, before slipping out of it with a rapid hop. As she looked back, a watery ephemeral visage of her floated in the air for a split-second before fading. ¡°Magnifique, now to get it to last long enough I can sneak behind that lizard and place an ice cube on his neck.¡±


    <Ginette continued to practice until sun down, when her grumbling stomach informed her practice was done for the day. She had made great progress, able to leave behind a convincing after image that would last for almost ten seconds if unmolested. However, she now faced a new problem; Chad was still asleep.>


    Ginette, with a frown, stared at her teammate who hadn¡¯t woken up for the past two hours. ¡°Chad?¡± she asked, half-heartedly, before her frown pivoted to raw malicious glee. Unable to defend himself or dodge, she charged up a particularly large Water Pulse before blasting her teammate with the attack, completely soaking him. As the deluge passed, she waited for his angry retaliation, for a good minute or two. But still as a stone, she couldn¡¯t detect him having moved even a centimeter.


    <Uh, Ginette¡­>


    The frog crouched down, noticing the water had puddled under her teammate, until she was level with the base of the rock, and could see through the gap between its wet surface, and her teammate. ¡°Is he floating..?¡± she asked, waving a hand in the gap.


    <Ginette, I believe you may have a problem.>


    ¡°Yea, my attack wasn¡¯t enough to even phase him. Dude must be really tough,¡± she remarked, gently flicking his nose to no reaction.


    <Not quite, I am certain that such an attack would¡¯ve knocked him unconscious had he been awake. But your main problem is that he is the team chef, and the only one to cook your dinner tonight. You¡¯ll need to find a way to break that psychic cocoon keeping him asleep.>


    Ginette gently massaged her rumbling belly, ¡°...Merde. There has to be something I can do, right?¡±


    <Yes, but it¡¯ll be unpleasant, and the Author may be upset we¡¯re having you unlock it so early on.>


    ¡°Right, so what do I need to do?¡± She paused, ¡°Wait, who¡¯s the Author?!¡±


    <You need to remember your previous trainer, how they mistreated you, abused you, and abandoned you. Channel all of that sadness and rage into a tight little ball in your hands, pretend Chad is that absolute waste of air, and throw it at him.>


    Ginette, sensing she would not get an answer for her second question, did her best to focus on cupping her hands together. There was no pressure, nobody to bother her, and yet the pressure felt like a failure on her part would result in her being sent back to Lumiose, abandoned again. The feelings began to compound, as a tiny mote of the void floated in her hands.


    The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    Once the darkness grew to the size of a Cherri berry, she wound up and threw it at Chad, landing dead-center. The magenta cocoon shattered from the impact, as the ball of despair carried on and flattened the lizard against the tree with a satisfying ¡®thud¡¯.


    Chad groaned, rubbing the back of his head as he stood up. ¡°Did you have to use me for target practice?¡± he asked, using his free arm to wipe and wick away as much of the water still on his body as he could. Glancing at the lack of sun in the sky, ¡°Ah, I guess that lasted longer than I thought-¡± he was interrupted with a loud protest from both his and Ginette¡¯s rumbling stomachs. ¡°Yea, we need to figure out what I did wrong. I was only supposed to be asleep for a minute at most.¡±


    <Endless loop; the energy didn¡¯t dissipate after you were asleep, so it just kept applying the condition effect.>


    ¡°If it was strong enough to keep me asleep and recovering while she attempted to drown me, I¡¯d call that a success and move on. There¡¯s gotta be a different psychic move I can learn, right?¡± the dried Charmeleon asked, now heading straight for the center for dinner.


    <Not, uh, without breaking a few established facts, no.>


    ¡°Agility? Calm Mind? C¡¯mon those should be doable at least? I was literally just meditating,¡± Chad grumbled, the automatic doors sliding open to reveal one of the quietest centers they had stayed at. Chad grabbed some of the supplies from the fridge, getting a side-eye from the other trainers and their teams as he carried some eggs, meat, and flour towards a stovetop.


    <Not available to your line according to canon. And why the focus on psychic abilities?>


    ¡°Hyper-fixation,¡± Chad responds, washing his hands with soap at the sink while glancing around the room behind him. ¡°If you were planning to try and introduce me to fighting energy before the rock gym, I could be convinced to shift my focus.¡±


    <I am, but we still have a ways to go before then.>


    Chad grunted, drying his hands while insisting Ginette clean hers. Her visible confusion prompted a clarification; ¡°You¡¯ll be making the pasta, wash your hands.¡± Reluctantly, she did as bidden while he arranged a small pile of flour with a slight indent. Two eggs were sequentially cracked on the edge of the sink, with the yolk and whites placed in the crater as Chad was patient to ensure no shells landed in the pile.


    ¡°Mix and roll that together into a dough, knead it until it¡¯s thoroughly mixed,¡± he instructed, as he scooped a piece of butter into a waiting pan atop the stove. ¡°Alright, so no chance I can learn Calm Mind or Agility then? Those are generic enough that many species learn them,¡± he reasoned, as he laid the meat into the melted butter, causing the pan to sizzle.


    <It is possible, if we just find the right tutor. But I must ask, are we really doing another cooking scene for this conversation? Are you planning to pad out every short chapter like this?>


    No, but the conversation would be rather boring without it.


    ¡°He¡¯s right,¡± Chad agreed, flipping the seared protein onto its other side, before using a nearby wooden spoon to ladle the melted butter onto the recently-flipped side. ¡°But I also know that cooking anime and manga tend to be popular, so he might be leaning into that.¡± He turned the heat down, stepping to the side to fill a large pot with warm water, eyeing Ginette¡¯s handiwork. ¡°That looks right, just roll it out into a flat piece about two to three millimeters thick, evenly. Then use your Swords Dance and slice it into long noodles.¡±


    Chad was aware of his audience by now, but focused on the tasks before him; Ginette¡¯s nerves were definitely starting to creep in as her first cut was uneven and jagged. Chad shut off the water, placing the pot on the stove at max heat to boil. ¡°Relax, just keep trying. And whenever you mess up, just remember we can roll it back up and try again,¡± he assured her, returning to tend to the meat which was now approaching rare.


    ¡°Pardon,¡± a voice asked from his left, as Chad looked but was forced to aim his gaze upwards. The white ferret had purple accents and long fire-hazards for ¡®sleeves¡¯, but their gaze was locked on the cooking meat in the pan. ¡°But this one could not help but overhear your desire to learn two specific moves. An opportunity arises for a trade, should you be amenable?¡±


    ¡°I am listening, what is the proposed trade?¡± Chad responded, careful to match the much stronger mammal¡¯s speech cadence. With the water now at a boil, he gently lowered Ginette¡¯s noodles into the water. Seeing that she was finished, he pointed her towards the sink again, relishing the groan of her response.


    ¡°A meal for a move tutoring; this one can guarantee a rudimentary grasp of the basics with but a single session, especially for such simple moves as those two.¡± The ferret was steadfast, and certain of its capabilities. His combat experience was evident between his muscles and some faint scarring.


    ¡°A dinner for Calm Mind, a breakfast for Agility?¡± The stranger nodded, as Chad pointed his spoon towards the fridge. ¡°Fetch the meat for your dinner then, a deal has been struck.¡± Chad plated the two cooked pieces of meat, reloading the hot pan with more butter just in time for his new ¡®tutor¡¯ to refill the pan with fresh slabs. Concerned about the cook time, the fighting type confirmed they did not need to be fully cooked, just flavorful.


    Eyeing the pasta, ¡°Ginette, why don¡¯t you socialize with our new benefactor while I finish his food?¡± Chad requested, adding extra butter to the hot pan. Ginette led the Mienshao towards an empty table with trepidation, as the chef entered the home stretch.


    Flipping the meat over to sear the other side, Chad was visibly conflicted about serving under-cooked meat, but he also had two plates dying while waiting for the current batch to finish. Seeing the last of the pasta floating on the surface, he swapped over to drain the hot water into the sink, distributing the noodles among the three waiting plates. They were pretty rough, and definitely uneven, but all beginners start somewhere.


    Once he was certain his prospective tutor¡¯s proteins were thoroughly buttered and seared, he placed the last bits on the final plate, using the wooden spoon to ladle the melted butter atop the pasta. After that, a light topping of salt and pepper before he brought the three servings to the table. ¡°Bone appetite,¡± Chad offered, his thick Unovan accent butchering the pronunciation, causing Ginette to laugh dismissively before taking a fork of her pasta.


    ¡°Quite exquisite given the last minute addition, though this one eagerly anticipates breakfast,¡± the ferret complimented, as Chad glanced past him to a table that likely had the rest of Mienshao¡¯s team. The trainer was drooling, and the others were likely arguing over who got his servings of that detestable pet kibble.


    ¡°Breakfast hinges on our success this evening,¡± Chad reminded them, slicing off a chunk of his medium-well meat with a level of manners beyond the table¡¯s other occupants.


    The tutor made a soft sound of affirmation as he dug into the fettuccine, his whole body seemingly unaccustomed to this quality of food. ¡°The lessons can begin now, should thou wish. Simply focus on emptying your mind, let there be nothing but this plate of gourmet food sitting before you. Then, channel the psychic energies you were practicing earlier, but only within your head.¡± The Mienshao explained, biting off a partially undercooked mouthful of meat as butter dripped down onto their plate.


    Before gobbling another bite, Chad did as instructed, sitting perfectly still with his eyes solely on the fruits of his earlier labor. After a moment, he began to channel the magenta energy from earlier, as the waves washed around his head. While practicing, he slowly lowered a fork, spooled up a roll of the pasta, and brought it to his waiting tongue. The very act of eating emanated an aura of zen as the magenta glow faded away.


    Chad, with a serene smile, glanced up at his tutor, whose facade had broken into a slack-jawed amazement. ¡°Unholy Yvettal, you really did that in a single attempt?¡± he asked, his persona firmly gone. ¡°Damn, and here I thought I was the wise master. Are you a psychic or fighting type?¡± he inquired, inspecting Chad as he powered down the rest of the meat.


    ¡°Just a pure fire type trying to expand his options,¡± Chad explained, parrying an invasion by Ginette as she tried to steal some of his pasta. Her plate had long since emptied, with Mienshao¡¯s not far behind. Chad was eyeing down a two-front war, and began to skimp on table manners in favor of raw consumption. ¡°And just as you said, one session was sufficient. I look forward to part two in the morning.¡±


    Mienshao nodded, offered his thanks for the meal, then sauntered back to his group to become the immediate focus of attention and conversation. Chad collected the plates and cookware and returned them to the dirty dishes area after rinsing off particularly egregious offenders. ¡°That seemed a little too coincidental, Narrator,¡± Ginette stated, as the two of them decided to call it a night.


    <That, remarkably, was not my doing. Anyway, the duo relaxed for the remainder of the evening, before a spark of inspiration led Chad to introducing Ginette to the room¡¯s shower. He had thought the hot water might inspire her to learn Scald. Instead, he merely got to watch as she drained all of the hot water and blamed him for not going first. The sleeping situation was even worse, as Ginette took up all the sheets, forcing Chad to retreat to his pokeball or freeze overnight.>


    <The next morning, after making themselves presentable, the duo went down for breakfast to find Mienshao waiting in the cafeteria with the excitement of a kid who was just promised a puppy. Per request, Chad served bacon, eggs, and (thanks to a lucky potato) hash browns. His guidance for learning Agility was equally simple, but Chad had to spend a good part of the morning practicing until he could notice a slight speed boost.>


    <While he had been experiencing the joys of running, Ginette leveraged her experience from the previous night, and managed to master Water Gun before attempting to raise the temperature of it to just above lukewarm. Practice would be needed, but progress was made. In addition, her Double Team images became progressively easier to leave behind, as she combined the two to play ¡®water tag¡¯ with herself.>


    <After a quick rinse, and packing of their things, the duo were ready to depart again, passing through the gates for Route 7 just before mid-morning.>


    Is it just me, or did he just stumble upon one of the two Pokemon in the region who would know both of those abilities?


    <The odds are certainly wild, but sometimes luck can be on your side.>

 Chapter 22: The Road West

    <The road was reportedly the longest straight line in Kalos, with scenic views on either side, and a straight shot to Connecting Cave. It certainly felt that way as Chad and Ginette made their way further west, towards the next gym.>


    Chad, flipping open the notebook, was showing Ginette a page on the Ambrette Town gym. ¡°Rock types, huh? Seems a little too perfect to be co?ncidence,¡± she commented, experimenting with a hunched stroll alongside the orange scalie. ¡°Though why couldn¡¯t you just melt them with your super powers?¡±


    Closing the notebook, Chad groaned, ¡°Rocks are resistant to fire moves. And the ¡®super¡¯ fire you saw in the video wasn¡¯t even fire; it was Dragon Rage.¡± She eyed him, expectantly, until he elaborated, ¡°Dragon moves are neutral to Rock, but Rock is really effective against plain Fire types like me.¡± He slid the notebook back into his new pack, returning his focus to the road ahead.


    ¡°Ah, so that¡¯s why you were so insistante about those two Psychic moves,¡± Ginette commented, a satisfied grin punctuating her self-confidence.


    ¡°No? Those just make me faster and my special abilities hit harder; I literally can¡¯t learn stuff like Confusion or Psybeam,¡± Chad lamented, hunching a little forward in displeasure. The two continued walking in an awkward silence. Coming up on their left, there appeared to be a hedge wall with a wooden sign arching over the entrance. At Ginette¡¯s pointing, Chad guessed what she was going to say. ¡°Those are the Route 7 Berry Fields. Humans stop by there and help tend to the grove in exchange for berries on their travels.¡±


    ¡°Oh, great! We should stop by and grab some,¡± she suggests, quickening her pace and forcing Chad to keep up. A few minutes later, the duo are walking under the archway to take in the sights. The enclosed area is quite large, with dozens of rows of berry trees and bushes, each row seeming to be a specific variety space equidistantly with plenty of room for people to travel between.


    <Before the two can step further inside, they find their way blocked by an older man in working clothes and a large straw hat. ¡°Sorry young¡¯ns, but no free handouts here. We provide the majority of berries used in Lumiose City, so can¡¯t just give any to y¡¯all for showing up.¡±>


    Chad slid his trusty device from his side, [NOT, WILD, CAN, HELP, FOR, BERRIES]. ¡°I doubt he¡¯ll believe us,¡± he whispers to Ginette, who is too distracted by the bounty to notice. Reaching into a convenient pocket on his bag, Chad presents his trainer ID to the man.


    <Taking the ID, the worker is confused, but pulls out his holo caster to scan it. The device chirps, and he returns the ID. ¡°Huh, first time fer everythin¡¯. Rules are simple, drive away the bugs and birds, don¡¯t break the trees or burn anythin¡¯,¡± he explains, eyeing the Fire type in particular. ¡°I¡¯ll wave when yer done, reward¡¯s five Oran an¡¯ five Pecha.¡±>


    Satisfied with the arrangement, Chad begins walking towards the grove, as Ginette sprints past him using Quick Attack. Chad uses the time to practice using Agility, both for experience with the new move and to measure how it might affect his walking pace. The magenta energy circulated around his legs, but seemingly had no effect on how quickly he walked forward.


    Ginette, already several trees deep, spotted a rustle just a few more ahead. Sprinting under it, she triggered her Double Team to leave a murky image of herself behind just under the tree. The distinct red shell of a Ledyba pounced on her image with a Tackle, exposing itself to the trap as Ginette blasted the bug with a Water Pulse from behind. The hit pushed her foe forward into a tumble before it quickly leapt from the ground and attempted to fly away in fear. Satisfied the pest wouldn¡¯t return, Ginette sped off searching her next target.


    <While Chad was restricted from helping, Ginette¡¯s impressive speed made for quick work, and barely 10 minutes later the two were being waved back to the entrance by the farmhand from earlier. He didn¡¯t apologize for his attitude earlier, but provided the ten berries as promised. Satisfied with the reward, the duo departed west along Route 7, continuing their journey.>


    Roughly a little over an hour later into their travels, the two can begin to see the tips of the bridge arches in the distance. The excitement of progress turns into slight worry when they see an equally tall black object appearing on the right of the bridge as they get closer. The worry quickens their pace, but melts into relief once they¡¯re close enough to understand the situation.


    ¡°I guess we got lucky; had that Snorlax been asleep on the bridge I don¡¯t think we¡¯d have been able to cross,¡± Chad affirmed, as he decided not to dally and began crossing immediately. Ginette was only a minute behind him, captivated by the sheer size of the sleeping behemoth. The wooden bridge did not completely obscure the rushing water of the river below, and Chad stepped gingerly past the section which had a Snorlax-sized indent in the planks.


    ¡°Looks like it had been sleeping here,¡± Ginette pointed out, as Chad gave a quiet thanks to whomever had dealt with the problem before he arrived. Ginette used her foot to gently press down on one of the affected planks, hearing it groan as she pushed harder.


    <Beyond the bridge, the open fields continued, with the duo occasionally passing an artist engrossed with capturing the scenic vista of the waterfront. Roughly before sundown, the travelers spot a campsite just off the main road, with an oversized easel covered for protection against the elements. Next to it, a smaller covered easel stands, appropriately sized for the two individuals nearby. An older man and his Smeargle sit by a small campfire, discussing their day until they spot the approaching lizard and frog. ¡°Bonjour! Bit late to be on the roads, why don¡¯t you two stop here for the night?¡± he offered, motioning towards the available space nearby.>


    Chad looks to Ginette, who shrugs and hops over to join the gracious host by the campfire. Taking up seats across from the older, tan and bald man, Chad rummages around his bag before pulling out some food and passing a portion to Ginette.


    <¡±The name¡¯s Pierre, and if you don¡¯t mind my asking; where¡¯s your trainer?¡± the aging painter inquired, removing his and his partner¡¯s own dinner from beside the fire. He searched off to his left, looking down the road the two had come from, ¡°Don¡¯t see a sight of them, and it¡¯s getting awfully late.¡±>


    Ginette, with the smirk of someone who just thought up a cruel joke, pointed at Chad accusingly. The older man seemed to look to the left again, in the direction she was pointing, still seeing only the empty darkness of the route. Chad, exhausted from this routine, reached back and withdrew his trainer case, presenting his ID and Bug Badge to their dinner companions.


    <¡±Well I¡¯ll be, guess if I can teach Degas here to paint as well as I can, no reason you couldn¡¯t be a pokemon trainer,¡± he reasoned with a chuckle, as the Smeargle seemed to be frozen like a Stantler in a Flash.>


    As Chad was stowing his ID, the dog broke his petrification and asked, ¡°Can you really do that?¡±


    The lizard took another bite of his dinner, nodding. ¡°I mean, if your trainer can teach you to paint as well as he can, why couldn¡¯t I become a trainer? It isn¡¯t like I need to use special human-only moves or abilities,¡± he reasoned. Degas nodded, the metaphor clearing up any preconceived notions he had. ¡°Though, you may have even bigger shoes to fill with a name like ¡®Degas¡¯,¡± Chad admitted, earning a light chuckle from the pokemon painter.


    ¡°Yes; before I was given my name, we took a tour of the art museum in the city. He asked me if I wanted to try and create paintings that were just as good, if not better,¡± he recounted, smiling back at his trainer. ¡°I¡¯ve got a long way to go, but with each day I make progress.¡±This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    Chad, glancing towards the covered easels behind the human, ¡°Would you be up for a friendly challenge?¡± he asks, raising both hands appeasingly when Degas leans away from him. ¡°No, no. Not like that. I mean, would you want to set a competitive goal?¡± The Smeargle relaxed, motioning for him to continue. ¡°Well, we¡¯re doing the Kalos circuit. How about you try to get a painting on display in the museum by the time we earn our eighth gym badge?¡±


    ¡°Ooh, this sounds like fun!¡± Ginette commented, fully invested in the conversation as the lone human watched on in confusion. ¡°Le pari! What does the winner get for finishing first?!¡± she pushed, getting uncomfortably close to Chad and his personal space.


    ¡°How about a free portrait of your team if you win?¡± Degas suggested, setting the tone.


    Chad mused over it, and offered his own idea. ¡°That sounds appropriate, and if you win-¡±


    ¡°If he wins, Chad has to pay for it!¡± Ginette blurted out. There was a moment, before the three broke into a shared laugh, and signaled their agreement to the deal.


    <¡±I have to admit, it feels weird being on the outside of a conversation, but I¡¯m glad Degas and I got to meet you two. Just goes to show these old bones can¡¯t rest on their laurels; the next generation is hot on my heels,¡± Pierre remarked, standing with a creak in his knees. ¡°We¡¯ll be over there, but please don¡¯t lift the covers. Art is best viewed when it¡¯s complete,¡± he insisted, as the two artists retired to their nearby tent.>


    <With Chad¡¯s tail and fire moves for light, and his guidance reading the instructions, Ginette was able to help contribute to setting up their own tent. She briefly complained about sharing the tent with a man, until she was returned to her pokeball and left no recourse to ask for a third option.>


    <After a peaceful slumber, Chad and Ginette say their goodbyes to the two painters in the morning. Continuing to trek along the route, the two are challenged to a battle by another painter, whose Smeargle appears to be more of a combatant than artist. Ginette, in all her glory, focuses on winning the battle via evasion. As a result, her win is a slow one due to her preference for avoiding attacks rather than launching assaults of her own.>


    <The remainder of the route is uneventful, as yet again no wild pokemon step up to battle the demonstrably strong pair. Though their pace is impressive, Chad decides to set up camp for the evening right outside Connecting Cave.>


    ¡°Ow,¡± Ginette remarks, rubbing her arms and legs. ¡°The phantom battle experience feels weird.¡±


    Chad, staring at the dark cave in concern, bites his lower lip. ¡°Hey Narrator, this isn¡¯t one of those super dark caves you need the move Flash to pass through, is it?¡±


    <No, that HM isn¡¯t relevant to this game, as the developers moved away from such handicaps starting with this generation. During the daytime, it should be sufficiently illuminated that you shall not require a torch to traverse the depths.>


    ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± Chad exhaled in relief, stress vaporizing from his body. ¡°I was worried I would need to give up one of my team slots for an HM user.¡±


    <Luckily, you have Ginette for the water-based ones. And without the four move cap, it won¡¯t take away from her combat capabilities. I feel I must point out though, should things pan out the way I believe they may, your team will lack the capacity for flight. You were planned as the designated Flying type, and there is no wiggle room to adjust that.>


    ¡°Eh, just means more opportunities faire une farce as we go,¡± Ginette added, unphased by the idea of having to travel on foot for the whole journey. Chad flinched at the idea, as he dug through the backpack before pulling out a book titled ¡®Caves of Kalos¡¯. After consulting the table of contents, he flipped to a later page in the book and laid it flat on the ground, holding his tail above as a source of light.


    ¡°Seems like the path through the cave is pretty simple. If we follow the right wall-¡± he explains, tracing the map with a claw, stopping at the north-west exit, ¡°it will put us in Cyllage City, the location of the second badge.¡±


    Ginette pointed towards the south-west exit, ¡°And where does this go?¡± she asked.


    ¡°According to this, it should put us on Route 8, which heads south to Ambrette Town,¡± he responded, consulting the notes on the page.


    ¡°Is there a gym down there?¡±


    ¡°No, there¡¯s nothing down that way, it¡¯s just a dead-¡± he started, before his eyes opened wide in realization. ¡°...Narrator, I wouldn¡¯t suppose there happens to be a conveniently-placed reason why we won¡¯t be able to take the exit for Cyllage City, is there?¡±


    <Why, it almost sounds as if you are accusing me of foul play. I am heart-broken, our friendship will never recover from this breach of trust.>


    Chad waited a moment, inhaled, then exhaled before muttering a few choice curses. ¡°Change in plans, we¡¯ll try to take the northern exit, but plan to take the southern exit in case there¡¯s some sort of obstacle we can¡¯t get past,¡± he revised, closing the book and storing it back in his bag. Ginette bore into him with a raised eyebrow and questioning glare. ¡°For plot reasons, we¡¯ll be exploring every town and city in Kalos. The fact that Ambrette Town is so out of the way means it has some kind of importance that we can¡¯t skip.¡±


    Ginette, suspicious of the rapid change in plans, inquired ¡°What could be so important that it would add days of travel to the trip?¡±


    Chad, wishing he had a holocaster at that moment, pulled out the pokedex and searched species native to the area around Ambrette Town. With a grin, he shared it with Ginette. ¡°My guess is our third team member; there¡¯s tons of rock and ground types out past Route 9 to the east of town. We¡¯ll need one of those to tackle the electric gym in Lumiose City, I just wonder who it¡¯ll end up being.¡±


    <After a quiet dinner and setting up the tent, Chad was caught off-guard as Ginette returned him to his ball to claim the lodgings for the evening. This betrayal led to her karmic backlash that night, as she was struggling to sleep through the freezing cold, barely able to get much sleep. The next morning, a truce was brokered over breakfast, as Ginette agreed to sleep in her ball for the first few hours of the day.>


    <True to my word, Chad entered a reasonably lit Connecting Cave, facing no difficulty in navigating the terrain or reasonably wide passages. Whether naturally-occurring or artificially placed, the walls are lined with bioluminescent moss and a few glowing mushrooms which provide just enough light for traveling trainers and pokemon to avoid any trip hazards. Coincidentally, there were patches where it appeared some of the mushrooms had been forcibly removed, roughly around human shoulder height. Probably had nothing to do with why this cave was included as a must-visit for Grass specialists.>


    Chad came upon a crossroads, with two words etched into the rock as signposts. Headed straight was an arrow with the word ¡¯CYLLAGE¡¯, and an arrow pointing to the left with ¡®AMBRETTE¡¯. The fire lizard spat a small globe of fire to briefly illuminate the area, revealing a massive rock blocking the passage extending straight before him. With a small laugh of amusement, he quickly pivoted to take the passage on the left.


    <Not even going to try?>


    ¡°I can take a hint; plus having a third team member would help change up the social dynamics a lot. Ginette is a great teammate, but if you have been intentionally ignoring her antics you may miss how abrasive our conversations can get.¡± Chad grinned as he felt her pokeball wiggle on his belt in agreement.


    <Luckily for Mister Smarty-scarf, the cave was short and he emerged to a beautiful cliffside barely an hour later. The salty sea breeze blew in from the ocean, as air was wrestled towards the coast by waves of foamy teal water lapping the beach. Off on his right, Chad could spot the other cave exit, with the path to town separated from his current position. Clearly, the only trail from here led south to Ambrette, and he would need to traverse the beach from the town in order to reach Cyllage in the future.>


    As Ginette reformed from the bright white light, Chad stowed her pokeball back on the magnetic belt hanging off his waist not unlike a pair of sagging pants on an impressionable teenager. Her face stretched into an expression of wonder and joy, likely never having seen the ocean before. ¡°This is already worth it,¡± she affirmed, following a few steps behind Chad as the two traversed the cliff-side hiking trail downwards. ¡°Quelle belle vue.¡±


    <Thankfully, the trails here were well-maintained, as the rocks stood strong despite the sea¡¯s best efforts to gnaw at the landmass. Along the way, the duo was challenged by a young trainer whose three pokemon were handily dispatched, earning a nice sum for their travel budget. Luckily, they were able to reach the entrance to Ambrette Town before sunset, at which point the cliffside would have grown too perilous to traverse safely.>


    As Chad entered town, both he and Ginette couldn¡¯t help but notice the large amount of activity going on for what was supposedly a sleepy coastal town. Notably, there were a lot of police officers, and what appeared to be dozens of people in matching uniforms all tied up. Some appeared heavily injured and were receiving medical treatment. As the two closed in on the local Pokecenter, Chad spotted two familiar faces in the crowd, both speaking with one of the cops.


    <¡°Oh, hey Chad!¡± Serena called out, having noticed him approaching from her left. She and Calem thanked the officer and moved to meet with their original travel buddy. ¡°You just missed all the excitement, it was crazy,¡± she expressed, waving her hands to motion at everyone around them.>


    <¡±Yea,¡± Calem continued, ¡°someone came in and took down a huge Team Flare operation all on their own! I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen pokemon that strong before! Even my mom would¡¯ve had a tough time,¡± he explained, clearly motivated by the heights he could reach.>


    Chad, once again seeing the recurring value, whipped out his device from the storage bag, having packed it earlier for their rocky adventure. [WHAT, THEY, LOOK, LIKE] the device buzzed, as he took stock of just how many members of the criminal organization had been rounded up.


    <¡±She had really beautiful long, blonde hair, and a cute fuzzy ninetales hat with those long mittens that dangle on the sides,¡± Serena responded, enthralled by her memory. ¡°She also had a matching yellow and white sundress, which she looked really good in.¡±>


    <¡±She also had these odd purple gloves, blue eyes, and the face of a supermodel,¡± Calem added, as Serena furiously nodded along in agreement. ¡°It was amazing, we had been traveling towards Glittering Cave to see if we could find any fossils to revive in the lab, and she was just standing at the entrance to the cave, keeping anyone from escaping. Her team were inside creating absolute pandemonium, and she was just there waiting for the police to arrive. Though from the sounds of it, I¡¯m glad we waited outside,¡± he retold, receiving more nods in agreement from Serena.>


    ¡°Huh, well doesn¡¯t that sound like quite the tale,¡± Chad admitted.


    Yea, and perfect timing for a flash-back chapter!

 Interlude 2: Operation Babys First Raid

    Her disguise had been rather simple, altering as few of her visual aspects as possible. Hiding her fluffy tail as a huge ponytail was probably the most significant change. But as a middle-aged woman in her prime, with a tight-clinging yellow and white sundress that rippled in the winds, The Lady walked with a soft-power confidence. Her fuzzy yellow hat sprouted her two pointy ears up top, with long dangling attached mitts for her ¡®paws¡¯. Though her purple-gloved hands were nearly equal to her previous form¡¯s, she still wanted the warm space for when it got chilly (and a convenient way to hide several sharp knives in the ¡®fingers¡¯).


    As she approached the mouth of the cave, with five young dragons in tow, she took note of the two Team Flare grunts standing guard outside. They somehow hadn¡¯t noticed her entourage yet, leaving her team free for a pre-game strategy meeting. ¡°Now, do you all remember the rules?¡± she asked softly, her voice commanding attention from sheer allure.


    Dratini nodded, ¡°Stick together, don¡¯t go it alone. No attacking the trainers until their pokemon are unconscious first. Every human inside is with Flare, so everyone¡¯s a target. And, uhm,¡± they trailed off, as the watching Noibat, Axew, Bagon, and Skrelp waited for the final rule.


    ¡°And when you¡¯re done, just walk outside. The police should be here soon enough to do cleanup,¡± she clarified, standing up with a smile. The five nodded to each other, eager to play ¡®Super Sentai Squad¡¯ in the caves.


    ¡°Y¡¯know, this is really similar to the Mystery Dungeon games, just with the bad guys as humans,¡± Dratini remarked, going through their limbering stretches. Bagon and Skrelp shared a questioning look, as Axew and Noibat simply laughed; used to their leader¡¯s weird ideas.


    ¡°If you are all ready,¡± The Lady began, receiving five agreements, before a powerful turn and swish kicked off the operation. The five dragons sped ahead as she walked towards the cave with a power strut that¡¯d make Cynthia look like the copycat.


    <hr>


    Andre was bored out of his mind, unlucky enough to pull front door duty with that psychopath Elise. Sure, their organization took all types, but while he wanted to elevate the power of the beautiful, she outright wanted to eliminate everyone she perceived as ¡®ugly¡¯. He was just thankful she wasn¡¯t ranting today about some random person whose looks offended her. ¡®How dare any cafe hire an employee for customer service with pimples?!¡¯ was her last tirade, and somehow had only gotten her a commendation for loyalty to the cause.


    His monotony was ended when he began to hear something faint, steadily growing louder. ¡°Hey Elise, do you hear that?¡± he asked his coworker, who sneered at him but didn¡¯t respond. It sounded like someone was playing a grand piano, but the song was unfamiliar. That was when he noticed the blonde woman walking towards them in a yellow sundress. Crowding around her feet appeared to be five smaller pokemon- wait, shit, that was a Bagon!


    ¡°Heads up, we got a guest,¡± he warned, calling out his faithful Houndour partner as she brought out her Electrike. ¡°And she definitely isn¡¯t one of ours,¡± he muttered to himself, prepping for a fight. The music steadily escalated as she approached, and he began to recognize three of the other four approaching ¡®mons; almost a full team of Dragon types.


    ¡°Who does this bitch think she is?¡± Elise complained, clearly more annoyed than worried. But Andre, between the rising music from nowhere, and the oncoming team of Dragons, recalled the taste of fear. By the time he could see her smile, her blue eyes seemed to be shining, piercing his resolve, promising untold levels of pain and misery as her team got within striking distance.


    Elise shouted something, but Andre couldn¡¯t hear her clearly. His buddy since he was a kid, the dark dog, was pawing at his leg, begging to go back into its pokeball. He obliged, recalling them and slowly putting his hands atop his head in prayer, promising to chart a new path for his life if he made it out of this situation alive.


    <hr>


    Noele, growing bored of her task to keep the wild pokemon away from the dig site, was scrolling through her holocaster feed. She subscribed to dozens of makeup and hair care channels, as she had made it her duty to ensure she was among the prettiest women in Kalos. Every once in a while, a video would have an annoying soundtrack, forcing her to mute the device or skip the video. Kids these days just had terrible taste, new artists couldn¡¯t even create their own songs; they just remade the old ones, but worse!


    A harsh glance from her, and a Woobat on the ceiling ducked behind one of the spikes jutting down from the ceiling. Pivoting to stare down a Cubone peeking out from behind a large rock on her right, the ground type wailed in fright and ducked back behind the ineffective cover. Pleased at her ability to keep these mongrels in their place, she went back to browsing her inspiration feed.


    She clicked on a video about a new braid style trending in Lumiose City, which was going fairly well until some random classical music began to play and obscured the speaker¡¯s voice entirely. In frustration she hit the mute button¡­ but the piano music continued to play, even louder. To her credit, she managed to glance up in time to see a Dratini flying towards her head before everything went black.


    <hr>


    Bagon couldn¡¯t believe his luck, running into this group by sheer chance. He and the Skrelp had been arguing over a berry on the shoreline, food which was his by right of his strength, when the Dratini had managed to calm him down simply by being nearby. It was indescribable, the sheer peace he felt from the serpent¡¯s presence. That and the food the two were given quickly won over any loyalty he could muster.


    Confused, he asked his leader why a team of proud dragons would include the Skrelp, which earned him a joyous laugh before being told that just because Skrelp wasn¡¯t a Dragon now, didn¡¯t preclude her from the group. It seemed even Skrelp herself hadn¡¯t known that, after she was given confirmation she could evolve into a proud Dragon.


    The two of them had grown since then, learning how to combine her ranged abilities with his brute force and mobility. She¡¯d spray acid and water to force their foes into a specific spot, so all he had to do was run as hard as he could and bash them with his hard skull. Barely a day with the group, and he had gained as much strength as a whole year training by himself. To top it off, sticking with the team seemed to keep the rage suppressed, allowing him to think clearly and realize just how much both he and the Skrelp dreamt of traveling the world.


    Free food, massive jumps in power, a best friend, and all it cost was his willingness to follow the strongest dragon he had ever seen. Totally worth it!


    <hr>


    If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Axew paused to survey the damage. Sure, they all knew their leader was strong, but something about this just didn¡¯t look right. Dratini had used a Slam on the human, which caused them to go flying into a wall, creating an oval crater about half a meter deep. The human was completely fine, if unconscious, but the fall to the ground had injured them more than the process of compacting the dense rock.


    Pointing to the two pokeballs on the woman¡¯s waist, she called out to their leader. ¡°Weren¡¯t we supposed to defeat her pokemon before attacking her?¡± Dratini froze, as clearly they had forgotten that rule. Noibat, with a spark of inspiration, poked each ball to release their held pokemon. The appearing Gulpin and Zubat glanced nervously between the team and their trainer.


    ¡°Now, just to be sure, you two surrendered before our leader attacked your trainer, correct?¡± Noibat asked, his eyes darting between the two ¡®mons and Dratini, pleading. Gulpin nodded quickly, returning itself to its ball as Zubat twisted in shock at the apparent betrayal. The blue bat leaned over in defeat, before nodding and returning itself as well. ¡°There, see, we didn¡¯t break any rules!¡± Noibat was clearly proud of himself, as Axew rolled her eyes before admitting he was right.


    ¡°I think we¡¯re almost halfway done,¡± Dratini announced, gathering the group up again to push further in. ¡°Once we find the scientists with the fossils and secure them, the mission is complete!¡±


    <hr>


    Calem and Serena rubbed their backs in sync, both worn out from the Rhydon ride through Route 9. ¡°Remind me not to catch one of those,¡± she pleaded, as her travel partner gave a wince before promising to keep it in mind. Only a few minutes later, they spotted an odd woman in mostly yellow standing outside the entrance to Glittering Cave, almost like she was standing watch. Calem felt the pain vanish immediately as he was put on-guard, the woman clearly powerful and deserving of unquestioning respect. He mentally noted to address her as ¡°Ma¡¯am¡± unless told otherwise.


    Serena, on the other hand, was experiencing her first ever crush; her teenage hormones working overtime to drown out any cortisol in her system, forcing her fight or flight response to take a number and wait their turn. Once they were within speaking distance, the woman turned her head to smile at the pair, motioning for them to approach. ¡°Well, quite the pleasant surprise to see you two here to help out,¡± her melodic voice rang out, pushing the woman up another threat level in Calem¡¯s mind.


    ¡°How can we help, ma¡¯am?¡± Calem asked, restraining Serena from approaching the woman any closer. She opened her mouth to respond before the clatter of pebbles near the entrance drew the three¡¯s attention. A man dressed in a ridiculous red outfit was attempting to sneak by, but froze up once he locked eyes with the mystery woman. As she began her domineering approach, he tripped and fell, panicking as he scrambled to try and crawl away until the woman inevitably caught up to him. She towered over him, as the man seemingly lost all control of his ambulatory functions, and how to form sentences.


    ¡°Were you trying to sneak off?¡± She teased, crouching down so that her captive wasn¡¯t looking straight up at a weird angle. ¡°I must say, being able to creep past my team isn¡¯t very impressive. Nor is it very beautiful,¡± she teased, inexplicably pulling a flip-flop from one of her dangling mittens. ¡°But maybe you were just aiming to garner my attention instead, child. Could it be that you know you¡¯ve been naughty?¡± she teased, as the Team Flare grunt continued to ruminate over his mistakes and poor choices. ¡°And you know what happens to naughty boys~¡± she teased, running the edge of the slipper down the right side of his face before pulling it back to swing forward, smacking him across the cheek with a resounding ¡°PLAP¡±.


    The man screamed, cried, and promised he would be a good boy as the woman continued to smack him with the business end of her slip-on footwear. Calem¡¯s grip on Serena grew white as he vowed to steer clear of this monster at all costs. Serena, caught in a trance, merely whispered ¡°Dommy Mommy¡­¡±


    <hr>


    The crew found themselves emerging in a large chamber, with various lanterns strung across the walls, dozens of piles of rocks, and a minecart packed with fossils. A handful of humans dressed as miners gripped their pickaxes with their backs against the far wall. Clearly they had heard the commotion, deciding to place their backs against the wall for a last-stand.


    ¡°Noibat, can you hit them with a Supersonic? Or have you managed to figure out Sing yet?¡± Dratini asked as the five approached. The miniature wyvern leapt to the top of the fossil pile in the cart with a flap of his wings, taking stock of the humans before him. With a hum, his ears began to vibrate, slowly rising in frequency until they produced a soft melody. The sound carried across the humans, who fought valiantly to remain upright until their bodies succumbed to the siren¡¯s song and collapsed.


    ¡°Great job team, we beat Team Flare!¡± Dratini cheered, as the other four joined them in celebration. There was a slight clatter as a Kangaskhan revealed itself from the passage behind them. She strode over to the group, weary but without fear, as her child barely stuck his head out from her pouch.


    ¡°Are you here to claim my territory?¡± she asked of the little dragons, who had done what she could not and cleared out the invasive humans from the cave. When the five shook their heads in rejection, she visibly relaxed; her child sticking out from the pouch more to view the strange helpers from the outside. ¡°Then as thanks for your deeds, what can I grant you?¡±


    Dratini stepped forward, ¡°I was asked to find the strongest Fighting type in the cave, as The Lady wanted to request a favor from them,¡± they explained, as the other four went over to tie up the miners. ¡°She¡¯ll be inside once the police arrive to help out. But for now, you can relax; those humans won¡¯t be bothering you again.¡± The noodle stuck out their tail, letting her child grip it for a moment of bliss. ¡°As for what you can do,¡± they said, trailing off as they slithered over towards the wall where some bones of an ancient pokemon were exposed in the wall.


    ¡°Think you can help me gently remove this guy from the wall? He¡¯s gonna be important later, I can feel it,¡± the dragon explained, using their tail to scrape a groove vertically up the wall.


    ¡°I do not possess the ability to move or shape the earth or rock,¡± she began, confused over what was asked of her.


    ¡°That¡¯s OK, I just need you to keep him from hitting the ground and turning into rubble,¡± they elaborated, now being carried in the air by the wyvern to continue cutting an indent into the wall. By the time they were done, a rectangle had been carved into the wall. ¡°Skrelp, can you combine your Water Gun and Acid abilities into a single stream, and dig into the rock along that line?¡±


    The Kangaskhan simply watched as a combination of teamwork led to the five carving away at the rock, until they motioned her over with a simple task: ¡®catch¡¯. With a resounding ¡®twack¡¯, the Dratini hit the wall hard enough she heard the rock fissure, as the slab slid and began to tilt towards her. The mother was grateful she had the foresight to have her child wait off to the side and play with the green one. Exerting more strength than he had to put forth in years, she slowly guided the massive stone tablet towards the ground, gently tilting it backwards to be at an angle. In concert, the small ones lined the bottom with random rocks to keep it from sliding forwards.


    Now that she was up close, a primal wave of fear rose up her spine, the sight of the ferocious ancient pokemon¡¯s skull was that of a vicious predator, and it could easily fit half her body in it¡¯s jaws. The Noibat asked their leader how they planned to get it out of the cave, to which the Dratini said an extremely foul word. Had the Axew not covered her child¡¯s ears in time, she might¡¯ve felt the need to discipline someone for bad language.


    <hr>


    The Lady, Calem, and her new number one fan Serena, steadily progressed through the cave. Police officers followed in their wake, each one breaking away from the group to handcuff a member of Team Flare and drag them outside. Some of the wild pokemon, emerging from their hiding places, watched the procession with caution and gratitude. Once the group emerged into the central cavern, the woman in yellow surveyed the rocks with a smile. ¡°Good job team, no injuries and we caught them all, though you did forget to come back out when you were done.¡± This led to a round of cheers, including one from the baby Kangaskhan standing near a giant stone leaning against the wall.


    Her gaze caught on the massive stone slab leaning against the wall, and the pieces of fossilized pokemon bones visible on its surface. ¡°I see, that would explain things; you are forgiven for now. Though, did you manage to find the Fighting type as I requested?¡±


    From the crowd of assembled pokemon, a Machoke stepped forward, presenting itself. ¡°Good, I am glad Dratini was able to find you; it makes the next part simple.¡± The woman¡¯s captivating blue eyes began to glow, casting highlights of skies and shades of oceans across the cavern, which reflected in dozens of the shiny rocks embedded in the walls and ceiling. A weighted presence descended upon every being in the room, locking them in place.


    {Of thee I request two acts. The first act, to teach a Charmeleon in the ways of Fighting Energy such that he may utilize the move Rock Smash. The second act, in concert with any others you choose to rally, is to ferry this stone slab to Ambrette Town with the Charmeleon from the first act. Complete these tasks, and thou shall be granted the evolution to propel your strength to a new level.}


    The weird lights and presence faded as two black silken ribbons affixed themselves around the Machoke¡¯s biceps, drawing into picturesque bows on the outside so as not to interfere with any movement. The Lady smiled, ¡°Not to worry, he isn¡¯t far away. Unless he faces some meddling, your quest should be complete within the week.¡± While everyone was stunned, trying to make heads or tails of what occurred, the woman reached the cart of fossils and began to sift through them. ¡°Do you two happen to have any preferences? It seems like they have almost every fossil from the cave in here,¡± she asked.


    The two young trainers scuttled over, discussing their options with the mystery woman, all while the police were escorting the remaining troublemakers to the entrance of the cave.

 Chapter 23: The Climb

    <After their recounting of the events surrounding Glittering Cave, Calem and Serena showed off their new fossils, both of which were surprisingly intact and likely worth a lot to the right buyers. Calem hefted his egg-shaped dome-protrusion fossil, excited for his new Kabuto teammate he could get from the lab in town.>


    <Serena, not to be outdone, hefted her fossil which appeared to be the claw, ulna, radius, radiale, ulnare, and metacarpus of a large bird wing. If you happen to know what those words mean, congratulations on your knowledge of animal skeletal structures and anatomy. If you don¡¯t know, it¡¯s basically the equivalent of the bones in your hand and forearm.>


    Ginette looked over the rocks in awe, careful not to touch them. Chad, meanwhile, had a question. ¡°Wait, I don¡¯t recognize that fossil, is that one of the new ones?¡±


    No, but due to recent advancements in science we know that the Old Amber concept was even less viable than the stone casting of bone. Also, ¡®look at my cool rock with a mosquito inside¡¯ isn¡¯t as exciting. She¡¯ll be getting an Aerodactyl, I just felt this was more in-line with the other fossils.


    ¡°Got it, actually a smart idea,¡± Chad admitted.


    <The two humans mentioned they¡¯d meet up in the center later, and rushed off to the lab in the hopes of getting their fossils seen before closing. Prompted by the reminder, Chad and Ginette made their way towards the town¡¯s pokecenter to check in and hopefully get a room for the evening. Disappointingly, all of the center¡¯s rooms were in use, and the two would need to spend the night in their pokeballs.>


    <Not much later, their two friends walked through the pokecenter doors, discussing their new teammates. ¡°It may be hard to give them a good name before you know the gender,¡± Serena suggested, trying to dance around Calem¡¯s point.>


    <¡±Serena, are you really sure that¡¯s the one you wanted? You heard the technician; your Aerodactyl is going to be much bigger than average. I¡¯m sure we could-¡± he started, as she shushed him immediately. With a finger to his lips, she smiled with glowing confidence.>


    ¡±I know they¡¯ll be big, but a flying type is a major step up, a milestone in any trainer¡¯s journey. The sheer freedom to go anywhere without being confined to a route cuts travel time like crazy,¡± she rationalized, as she motioned for Chad and Ginette to follow them into the cafeteria. "Besides, have you put any thought into yours? I¡¯m not gonna hold back and walk just because you were afraid to get one.¡±


    Watching as the two gathered up a bunch of food, Chad noticed they each had 3 pokeballs on their belt, but one on Serena¡¯s was different; like it was more worn down than the others. As she released her three teammates, Chad was delighted to see Claude again, now evolved to his spherical Quilladin stage. Her second teammate, with a turtle shell and white fluff all too familiar to Chad, was a Wartortle who seemed both pleased and surprised to see him. The last member of the team, from the worn ball, was a Nidorina who bowed politely before immediately scarfing down dinner.


    Trying to get Claude¡¯s attention, Chad asked ¡°What happened to Pikachu?¡± To which Claude immediately began coughing, and the Wartortle laughed. His voice was surprisingly deep, with calming bass tones that Chad could feel in his soul.


    ¡°That rascal pushed our girl too far, so she traded him away for Louise here,¡± he explained, motioning towards Nidorina who continued to ignore the conversation. ¡°Though, to be honest, I wouldn¡¯t wish that troublemaker on any trainer.¡±


    ¡°Let me guess,¡± Chad began, thanking Ginette as she passed him a tray with a salad and baguette sandwich. ¡°I only knew the guy for a short while, but did he assault her?¡± The three across the table froze, glaring at him with a mix of anger, frustration, and regret. ¡°Yea, I had hoped for better, but that tracks with his attitude.¡±


    A tray was haphazardly placed on his left, as a warm and soft body hugged Chad from the side. ¡°It¡¯s good to see you again, Chad. That gym battle had us worried,¡± Dorothy said, her voice cheerful and full of energy. The Braixen motioned for her two teammates to join them, as an Ivysaur sat next to Dorothy, and a Pancham took the seat next to Claude. ¡°Oh, manners! These are my two new teammates, Fleur,¡± she introduced, motioning towards the Ivysaur who gave a slight wave with their Vine Whip. ¡°And Remy,¡± she concluded, as the Pancham gave a ¡®tch¡¯ and proceeded to ignore the group.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about him, he¡¯s still adjusting to being part of a team. And you¡¯ve met Claude¡¯s new pair, Hugo-¡± the Wartortle gave a thumbs up ¡°and Louise. So,¡± she settled in, eyeing the frog sitting opposite of the fire lizard. ¡°Are you going to introduce us, or..?¡±


    Standing up to see everyone, the Frogadier bowed, ¡°Greetings everyone, my name is Ginette! And it¡¯s my job to make sure this lug-¡± she elbowed her partner, ¡°only gets into as much trouble as I think he can handle. It¡¯s nice to meet you all!¡± she announced, taking a seat again. A glance at the ¡®adults table¡¯ revealed to Chad that Calem and Serena were deep in their own little discussion.


    Chad felt a grip on his left arm, finding that Dorothy had claimed it while she ate her dinner. ¡°So are you going to be traveling with us again, Chad? I- We miss your cooking, and it¡¯d be nice to shake up the training dynamics a bit,¡± she pleaded. Chad immediately felt a sense of Deja Vu, and chose to wiggle to his right a few centimeters.


    ¡°Would if we could, but your teams are so strong we¡¯re still playing catch-up,¡± he replied, turning up the charm with a smile. ¡°We just got into town and haven¡¯t even gone to see the cave yet, while you¡¯re all heading north in the morning. Plus, the Narrator was very clear that Ginette and I need to visit Glittering Cave first.¡±


    Dorothy and Claude evaluated his response with skepticism. ¡°Chad, who is the narrator?¡± Claude asked, as the pressure from Dorothy¡¯s intense gaze bore into the side of Chad¡¯s head.


    Choosing violence, Ginette firmly wrapped around Chad¡¯s right arm, pulling in close to respond. ¡°The Narrator is the voix dans le ciel who tells us where to go. He means well, but his Galarian nature makes him say mean things sometimes.¡±


    <The entire table had a variety of reactions to the statement; ranging from Remy and Louise¡¯s dismissal, to Fleur and Hugo¡¯s confusion, with Claude¡¯s stunned disbelief, and Dorothy¡¯s seething rage. All, of course, for different reasons. After all, why should anyone believe a Kalosian woman espousing higher powers? Did we all just collectively forget the last time we let that happen?>


    ¡°Enough!¡± Chad interrupted, cautious to keep his voice from reaching much beyond their table. With a wiggle of his right arm and expression of displeasure, Chad was able to free his arm from the frog¡¯s grasp. ¡°I am sorry Dorothy, but we can¡¯t travel with you this time,¡± he apologized, as the fox slowly loosened her grip.


    ¡°Fine, but at least make a girl breakfast before we split up again?¡± she pleaded, standing up from the table and her empty plate. Chad nodded, the corners of his mouth curling slightly upwards, before the rest of Calem¡¯s team stood and walked over to their trainer.


    ¡°Did I handle that right?¡± Chad asked the remaining ¡®mons at the table. Hugo shrugged, Claude motioned that he was also unsure. Ginette¡¯s devilish grin grew, only for her to be interrupted before she could speak.


    ¡°A woman¡¯s heart can be fragile, especially when you¡¯re only trying to do the right thing,¡± Louise recited, her eyes swapping back from Dorothy to Chad after the Braixen was returned to her pokeball. ¡°It appears Fleur and I will need to have several conversations with her. But I would say you did acceptable given what little information I have.¡±


    <After Serena¡¯s team returned to her, the two humans said good night to Chad and Ginette, heading up to their rooms for the night, under the promise they¡¯d try to have breakfast together before parting ways again.>


    ¡°Ginette,¡± Chad began, as he tucked his backpack where the nurse had instructed in the employee area, ¡°I think we need to talk about what just happened.¡±


    ¡°What?! So I made her upset, big deal. Next you¡¯re gonna say ¡®Ginette, that was very inappropri¨¦,¡¯ or something. It was a joke; it was meant to be funny! Why are you so worked up over it?¡± she ranted, leaning back against the wall so she wouldn¡¯t have to see Chad. Her arms were crossed, face wracked with anger and discomfort.


    ¡°Ginette, we¡¯re supposed to be a team. And back there, I needed a teammate who could distract Dorothy, maybe become her friend; not pour fuel on the fire and instigate that I had a romantic fling going.¡± Chad slid down to a seated position, with his back to the storage cabinet. He and Ginette were looking in opposite directions, trying to see anyone or anything but each other.


    ¡°So why don¡¯t you just tell her no?¡±


    ¡°Because-! Because, even if it isn¡¯t going anywhere, even if I don¡¯t feel that way about her¡­ It''s selfish, but I enjoy having someone who cares about me,¡± he admitted, scrunching up his legs to wrap them with his arms and tail. Ginette, almost reflexively, gripped her right bicep with her left hand.


    ¡°That is pretty selfish, and a bit mean if we¡¯re being honest,¡± she commented.


    ¡°Yea,¡± Chad admitted, punctuating his remorse with a deep exhale. ¡°It wasn¡¯t this bad back on Route 2 or 3, but I¡¯ll take the blame for things getting this far.¡± The two waited in the silence, as faint sounds echoed from the main lobby. ¡°Am I a bad pokemon?¡±


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    Ginette, with a sigh, walked over and sat down next to him. ¡°Not entirely, but there¡¯s room for am¨¦lioration; you just need to start working on it,¡± she answered, placing an arm around his shoulder. She let the moment hang before changing the subject. ¡°So, who would you pick; Dorothy or Hugo?¡±


    Chad lifted his head, staring at her in bafflement, mouthing ¡®what?¡¯ as he tried to read his teammate. ¡°Oh no, don¡¯t give me that look,¡± she continued, ¡°I saw how your face lit up when he laughed. I also saw how it triggered the fox to speed up and practically throw herself at you.¡±


    The two shared a subdued laugh at the imagery, as Chad began to relax his posture slightly. ¡°I take it your type is more like that Lucario we saw a few days ago?¡± he inquired, watching as a smile graced Ginette¡¯s lips. ¡°Yea, that was pretty obvious too; I just hope you don¡¯t have to wait until the very end like I do.¡±


    <The two eventually retired to their pokeballs for the evening, with Chad promising to treat Ginette to his own special puff pastries. As the sun rose on the coastal town, where a great number of criminals were still being processed and escorted away, the three teams met up in the cafeteria to try and rekindle the fun they used to have. Chad served his special-made berry-filled croissants, immediately winning the support of Hugo, Fleur, and Louise. Ginette used the meal period to swap training stories and tips with Claude, as well as brag about her blooming culinary skills.>


    <Chad used the time to talk things out with Dorothy, both of them conveying how they felt about one another, while also throwing Ginette under the bus for the stunt she pulled the previous night. Promises were made, as the group finished breakfast and said their goodbyes. Calem and Serena went straight to the lab to pick up their new teammates, while Chad and Ginette headed east for Route 9.>


    <Upon arriving, the two found a Ranger station with a collection of Rhyhorns milling about nearby. The path east was a replica of an untamed rocky ravine, without even the smallest similarity to a natural footpath to be found. Clearly this tourist trap was an enforced toll on travelers seeking to view the beauty of the mountainous area.>


    I don¡¯t think this counts as a replica.


    <Fair; the path east was a hazardous, untamed rocky ravine, with many sections seemingly impassable to any traveler unable to simply fly over the terrain. In the distance, Chad and Ginette could observe what appeared to be a trainer being ferried across the dangerous boulders and spires by an undaunted rocky rhino.>


    <As the two approached, a friendly Ranger strode over with a wave. ¡°Why hello there! If you and your trainer are looking to head east, we offer free Rhyhorn transport across the canyon for licensed trainers. Just have them come by with their ID and we can get them up into the mountain,¡± the Ranger explained with a happy cheer.>


    Ginette, almost annoyed, pouts at Chad, before waving in his general vicinity to the Ranger. ¡°Seriously, are we going to deal with this every time?!¡±


    ¡°Yea,¡± Chad responded in resignation. ¡°Unless we get a teammate who can trick people into thinking I¡¯m human, this is gonna be the running gag of the adventure.¡±


    Sorry buddy, no Zoroark for you.


    ¡°Zoro-what?¡± Chad asked, earning a concerned eye from his teammate. Waving his hand, he motioned for her to ignore it as he pulled out his trainer ID and presented it to the waiting Ranger.


    <¡±Oh, what¡¯s this?¡± they inquired as the familiar rectangle was passed to their hands. After beeping it with a scan from the holo caster, they brightened up and passed it back. ¡°Well I¡¯ll be, you¡¯re certainly a memorable one! Let''s get you saddled up and on your way; still plenty of light in the day.¡± Tucking the device away, the Ranger strode over towards the idle rock pokemon, pulling a fresh berry from their bag. ¡°Alright everyone, we got another traveler; anyone up for taking this young¡¯n?¡±>


    The Rhyhorn collectively stared down the fire lizard and water gecko, blinked, and inquired whether the ranger was pulling their leg. The Ranger¡¯s demeanor was unphased, holding out the offered berry to gain their attention. Reluctantly, raising itself above the crowd of its previous form was an old Rhydon, their hide cracked and worn by the decades, stepped forward. ¡°I¡¯ll take em, but the water lass stays in her ball,¡± the gravelly ancient voice demanded, brokering no negotiations.


    Chad apologized wordlessly, offering Ginette her pokeball. Grumbling something about old stones and calcified brains, she vanished in a spectrum of red light. Clipping the ball back to his belt, Chad strode over to meet his transit. The Ranger raised their arm high, handing over the berry to the old rock pokemon before walking off with a wave and a smile. Chad, following a gut feeling, waited for the ancient armored being to finish, making no moves to climb aboard.


    With a grunt, and a helpful offered arm, the old rock granted permission for Chad to clamber aboard. Careful of his claws and talons, Chad delicately scaled to the top of the beast¡¯s back and shoulders before straddling the old man and signaling he was ready to go. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind the conversation, how long have you been doing this?¡± the fire type asked.


    ¡°Long enough to spot trouble when I see it,¡± the earth rumbled he spoke, taking the first leap atop a boulder with surprising agility. Chad, forced to hold onto the two protrusions atop his mount¡¯s head, wisely did not retort. ¡°And you,¡± he began, before leaping to another boulder almost four body lengths away, ¡°are coated in the thickest aura of trouble I¡¯ve seen in my two hundred years.¡±


    As they continued, some leaps across great distances, others short hops up and down in elevation, Chad could spot other hikers and humans moving about the northern cliffside. ¡°Yea, I guess my own passenger can be a bit of an issue at times. But just as promised, I¡¯ll ferry him to his destination for a fair fare.¡± The wordplay earned nothing more than a grunt from the old codger, who used it as an excuse to make an even bigger leap; almost six body lengths this time.


    ¡°Best be careful dealing with beings like that, kid.¡± He lectured, pausing atop a particularly tall peak to look out over the entire pass. They had reached the halfway point already, but the view of the long rocky crevasse on either side stretched out to frame an amazing picture. ¡°With that much power, you¡¯re likely to get yourself killed long before your destination.¡±


    With a few short hops, the old man was progressing east again, having passed the younger Rhyhorn with the human trainer they had seen earlier. ¡°You seem a little strong to be ferrying us across the rocks; what¡¯s your story?¡± Chad asked, his question earning no response from the living transport until they could see the cave starting to approach.


    ¡°I used to have a trainer, a Name. Until she made a deal, a pact, with something she had no business associating with,¡± he began to recount, his pace slowing as the story flowed. ¡°That thing, it waited, biding its time until the day she faltered. A single moment of weakness, breaking their pact, and it turned on her immediately. I threw myself between them, her shield, her Rocky¡­¡± The old Rhydon stopped entirely, his mind elsewhere. ¡°Even my best was not enough, and by the time I awoke in the center, she was long gone. My hide was shattered- my prided defenses in tatters; and the only thing I had left of her were the memories of our time together.¡±


    A moment of silence later, the old warrior shook off the memories, and began leaping forward again at a sedate pace. Timing the jumps, Chad asked ¡°What was her name?¡±


    Four hops later, the deep earthy voice responded, ¡°Julia.¡± The quiet punctuated the statement, barely interrupted by the loud thuds of his steps. ¡°I joined her as her first teammate, and we trained together for over a year before¡­¡± His voice caught, and Chad held fast as he swung a haymaker, obliterating a nearby boulder into glass-grade sand. ¡°Before that thing came along.¡±


    ¡°I did manage to avenge her though; took a while, some serious training with the Rangers, and an evolution later I tracked it down to this place; where we first met it.¡± He continued, as the rage simmering in his steps sent out minor shockwaves which flattened the nearby rocks into fine sediment. ¡°No regrets about what it did, so I made sure it couldn¡¯t hurt anyone again; neither it nor its offspring.¡± The walking earth-leveler soon reached the end of the rocky road, as things began to smooth out for normal foot traffic. ¡°And for the past one hundred and forty years, I¡¯ve stayed here; ensuring no pokemon like that thing ever get a chance again.¡± Chad made no motion to dismount, ingesting the story and sheer power the pokemon- no, Rocky- was radiating in the moment.


    <As they marched towards the cave entrance, Chad could make out a humanoid arranging small boulders in a line outside, equally spaced apart. Which was certainly odd, as he had not yet met a human that strong, nor with biceps that big, or skin that- Oh, it was a pokemon. What a relief, he recognized the oddball as a Machoke. She seemed to have two black bands around her biceps as well. Was this a new training regimen?>


    ¡°Damn,¡± Chad swore, as they approached the fighting type, ¡°I think she¡¯s waiting for me.¡± With a helping hand, he slid down off the Rhydon, walking tall towards the waiting muscle-bound woman. Upon standing before her, one of the black bows around her biceps began to glow with a sheen of the rainbow.


    ¡°Good, you did not keep me waiting long,¡± she intoned, moving closer to one of the rocks. ¡°I have been tasked with instructing you in the art of brutal combat, the communication of fists, and the removal of that which obstructs your path.¡± She moved through a series of katas and stances while reciting her goals. Her voice was clipped, strict and only the bare minimum of sounds for communication.


    ¡°First, I impart the ki. Second, you summon the ki. Third, I show you how to use the ki. Fourth, you replicate use of ki.¡± The Sensei listed off, counting to four with her four fingered hand. Rapidly, the hand shifted to an open palm, fingers together, and coated with splotches of brown light. ¡°This ki, the expression of martial will. Allows you to push hard, assert will over reality. And today, you will learn,¡± she explained, before smacking the open hand against the top of the left-most rock. Nothing happened, until a few seconds later when there was a cracking sound, and the rock neatly fell apart into two clean halves, bifurcated by a flat surface down the middle.


    ¡°Rock Smash,¡± Chad remarked, before placing his bag on the ground nearby and releasing Ginette. ¡°Were you only instructed to teach me?¡± he asked, receiving a nod. ¡°Ginette, I¡¯ll be busy for a bit. Feel free to explore a little, but don¡¯t stray far. And especially don¡¯t bother the one kind enough to ferry us out here,¡± he warned, met with a fake smile and mocking salute. She walked over to examine the giant stone slab leaning against the wall alongside the old Rhydon.


    As Chad threw himself into learning, Ginette looked over the giant fossil in admiration. ¡°I can feel the raw power radiating off this old boy,¡± the ancient rock type rumbled, a hand pressed against the stone. ¡°If he had been around, maybe I-¡± he cut off, stepping backwards and away from the false hope.


    ¡°Not very rassurante to be pining over ¡®what ifs¡¯ over a hundred years later,¡± Ginette commented with a twinge of disappointment. ¡°It¡¯s been barely two years for me, but I still get the intrusive thoughts about how I could¡¯ve pushed harder, or done better.¡± She gently reached up to touch the rock, but pulled away in resignation. ¡°Which is worse, in your opinion; the idea they¡¯re gone forever? Or that you might have to face them in the future, that in the heat of a battle the memory of the moment they left might be what ensures your own incapacit¨¦?¡±


    The old rock type gently sat down on the ground, facing the smaller frog with the mountainside on his left. ¡°Neither is worse. Each just provides a different challenge, a different road to recovery. My pain,¡± he pointed at himself, specifically a nasty scar on his chest, ¡°led to the extermination of an entire tribe. The young children? I squashed their fledgling lives into the dirt for the simple crime of being born the wrong species. It brought me no joy, no satisfaction; no closure.¡± His voice teetered, eyes downcast in guilt. ¡°All it did was give me purpose. I did not avenge my trainer, I did not balance any scales of karmic justice. My actions simply put me on the path to devoting my existence towards ensuring no others suffer the same fate as Julia.¡±


    ¡°But you have a choice,¡± he continued to expound, drawing the Frogadier¡¯s attention. ¡°You can either choose to move on, to be happy it happened and find some meaning in your new life. He may not be human, but I would like to believe he is no worse than any other trainer you could¡¯ve found yourself beside.¡± The two of them glanced over, where Chad was panting hard, struggling to hold the brown energy on his claws.


    ¡°And the other option?¡± Ginette asked, as Chad swung his glowing hand down on the rock, only to recoil in pain and grip said hand with his other.


    ¡°The other is to become strong enough to seek revenge. Whether for you that simply means self-accomplishment, or delivering a fist to their face, or laying them out six feet under the soil.¡± Ginette spun at the idea, her eyes at maximum diameter in sheer surprise at the heinous suggestion. ¡°The only requirement- the main difference between those three options- is how strong you yourself need to be. Are you strong enough to be proud of yourself? Are you strong enough to make that traitor taste his own asshole? Are you strong enough to resist the world? When the time comes, you¡¯ll have your answer.¡±


    Monologue notwithstanding, Ginette fidgeted with unease, eyes darting around the ground in search of something to fixate on. After making several pseudo-ninjitsu hand signs, her gaze returned to the massive stone slab, her body stilling as the anxiety compressed into a singular ball. An inhale, her body relaxing; an exhale, and the anxiety was gone. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see. Though, on another subject, I wager we¡¯ll be bringing them back with us,¡± she motioned towards the fossil. ¡°Think you can carry it?¡±


    The old Rhydon pondered the question for a minute, ¡°With help, potentially. But what makes you so certain?¡±


    ¡°I overheard your conversation, about Chad¡¯s ¡®passenger¡¯. Something this old and powerful, this presence¡­ There¡¯s zero chance they aren¡¯t involved.¡± The rock and water types sat in contemplative silence, as the monument to the past towered above them.


    There was a shout, a yell grabbing their attention to watch as Chad¡¯s hand flared with bright brown energy. In a perfect arc, the fire type swung down on the top of the rock, passing all the way through. The energy permeated the rock, crumbling it, pulverizing the pebbles into sand, atomizing the sand and dust to leave naught behind. The Machoke lightly clapped, as her glowing bow began to shine and radiate before exploding into a cloud of rainbow bubbles.


    ¡°Good, now you practice. Second task,¡± she instructed by pointing to the remaining black bow, now also beginning to glow with the rainbow aura. ¡°We carry that to human town,¡± she detailed as her finger pointed to the giant slab.


    ¡°Called it~,¡± Ginette sang, as the Rhydon grumbled while moving to stand up.

 Chapter 24: Return of the King

    <With a coordinated effort between the Machoke and Rocky, as well as assistance from Chad and Ginette to clear a path, the squad was slowly progressing through the rocky terrain. Along their journey, various Rhyhorn joined up forming a procession, as the rock pokemon used their abilities to level the way for their local guardian. Various pokemon and trainers stood watch along the way, a sense of distinction compelling all to witness the eventual return of a once domineering legend.>


    ¡°Narrator, are you certain you aren¡¯t overselling this guy? I get he''s powerful, but this seems to imply he borders on an emperor or king,¡± Chad inquired while practicing forming the brown energy on his hands just as Sensei instructed. Occasionally, he would strike out, either denting or fracturing a nearby rock.


    ¡°I think it''s neat, I would love to have a parade like this in my honneur. It makes you feel important, makes you seem important.¡± Ginette voiced her opinion, once again offering some cold water to the hard working rock rhinos.


    <Thank you, Ginette, I shall keep that in mind. And as for you, Chad; this individual is deserving of both your respect and this level of pageantry. In a time before humans ruled these lands, he was a prominent explorer and guild master of the area. He guided and rescued many a young pokemon from great hazards, treacherous dangers, and feral pokemon who turned their backs on civilization.>


    Chad walked in silence, before inquiring ¡°Did you just insinuate Pokemon Mystery Dungeon existed before humanity in this timeline?¡± His face was warped into a hybrid of skepticism and confusion. The others continued walking, most attempting to ignore the weird fire lizard talking to himself, others opting to whisper comments beneath his hearing.


    <Hush child, you act like it¡¯ll destroy the entire time-space continuum. If inserting ancient history were truly so bad, Dialga themself can come and correct me.>


    The world stuttered, as if reality itself were vibrating, before everything resumed as normal. ¡°You mean like that?¡± Chad asked with heightened insecurity, his head on a pivot seeking the location of the taunted divinity. But the world chugged along as if nothing had occurred.


    Yes, but in this case the Narrator does have a contract, so any objections are relegated to the appropriate judicial process, as outlined in section 4.


    <Why fight when you can simply establish an agreement in advance? Contracts get a bad rap from those conniving fae. Plus, it ensures we are not interrupted by those who should have read the entire document before signing.>


    ¡°Do¡ª do I have a contract? I don''t remember signing a contract¡­¡± Chad inquired with worry, as Ginette redirected her path to align closer with his. She offered him a sip of cold water, but her teammate chose to decline.


    <No, as you are not under contract; we have a different arrangement. But it also means I owe you nothing beyond what is in my interests to provide.>


    ¡°That isn¡¯t exactly true,¡± Ginette trailed off. ¡°Chad hatched here in Kalos right?¡±


    <Yes, technically he did.>


    ¡°Which makes him a Kalosian citizen. And as a Kalosian pokemon registered to a trainer ID, it means he has automatic union membership unless he completed the multi-stage process to personally opt out as a free agent.¡±


    <¡­What?>


    ¡°You didn¡¯t know about this? There were several chapters in the trainer¡¯s manual covering the rules for training Kalosian union pokemon. Things like limitations on training hours, dietary regulations, enforced holidays; heck there¡¯s even rules about required breaks throughout the day.¡± Chad listed off each item, showing off his memorization of the handbook he had been so thoroughly quizzed on. Ginette nodded along, blissfully aware of just how sweet of a deal her ancestors had ironed out for her.


    <This smells of socialist Tauros-shit. No game nor anime ever referenced the existence of any such possible union. Surely you don¡¯t believe you can take the piss with me and force your way?>


    Regrettably for you Narrator, they are being truthful. You were rushing the process so quickly that Kalos inherited French culture almost entirely, including the concept of worker¡¯s unions. It seems in response to poor treatment and abusive trainers, the native pokemon unionized and forced negotiations with the local League a few hundred years ago.


    ¡°But!¡± Chad intervened, sensing the slow buildup of anger steaming from the Narrator. ¡°I have been taking great care to ensure we do not run afoul of those protections. Additionally, because I am working at fostering a healthy, competitive, and welcoming team, we shouldn¡¯t need to worry about the single-party-enforced exit compensation packages.¡±


    The Narrator, in true posh Galarian fashion, proceeded to rant and decry what he referred to as the ¡®uppity thankless poors¡¯, among other more colorful defamatory denigrations.


    <Moving along, the procession continued their march, exiting the rocky section and emerging near the edge of the town close to sundown. By this point, every Rhyhorn in the ravine was participating, including a variety of other rock types native to the area. As they strode through the town, humans watched from the sidelines, some recording the event to share with the wider world, others even deigning to join the fun.>


    One gawker, likely a scientist by their lab coat, took notice of the giant slab barely illuminated in the moonlight, and wisely ran towards the fossil lab while placing a call.


    ¡°Yea, this is bordering on a religious congregation. Are they just going to follow this fossil wherever it goes?¡± Chad remarked with concern, noting the fifty-strong herd of Rhyhorns serving as an escort for the slab..


    Up ahead, the lab was fully lit with the front double doors wide open. Two men stood out front, animatedly having a quiet discussion about the oncoming crowd. One wearing a lab coat, likely the same they had seen earlier, and the other in much more casual wear. Neither prepared for what approached them.


    ¡°Uh, welcome to the Ambrette fossil lab! We are the regional experts in the study and revival of pokemon from ancient fossils discovered here along the shoreline. In exchange for the donation of any fossils league-approved trainers discover, we attempt to revive the pokemon from the fossil for you to take home with you. Uh¡­ Where is your trainer?¡± The man in casual wear asked, looking around the procession.


    Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!


    Chad, taking Ginette¡¯s giggle in stride, stepped forward and pulled out his trainer ID. Offering it to the speaker, who waved him off. ¡°No, where is your trainer? We only deal with licensed trainers.¡±


    ¡°Uhm sir¡ª¡° the lab coat attempted to speak up, cut off by the man who was presumably his boss, as an open palm covered the scientist¡¯s face.


    ¡°Steve, that rock is worth millions, if not billions! I''m not negotiating the handover of something that valuable with a damn pokemon! I''ve already got a half dozen private parties bidding for this thing, and the last thing I need is to be trying to iron out a deal with something that has less awareness than a toddler. Now I''ll ask one more time; where. Is. Your. Trainer?!¡±


    Chad glanced back at Ginette in worry, at the procession which watched the ongoing events with a silent but visible disgust. In a panic, he dropped his bag, digging around inside to pull out his speech device. His body shaking, Chad attempted to type out a response, but was interrupted when the angry human decided he¡¯d had enough. ¡°Fine, per the rules as outlined by the Kalosian Scientific Society, any fossils brought in by unlicensed individuals are forfeit and considered to be lab property. You may leave the stone here and promptly¨C¡±


    <Sorry, I was distracted for a moment. This is certainly no way for anyone to behave, especially not in this story. Such greed! I barely had to check his ledgers to spot that this charlatan has been embezzling lab donations for years! This won''t do, one moment while I rectify this slight oversight.>


    <The lab manager, having a change of heart, quickly began to draft his resignation email, naming his head scientist as the new lab manager. He also apologized for stealing millions of pokedollars, in writing, over his tenure. As a closing remark, he left final directions to ensure the recent fossil donation from Chad would be sent to the Lumiose museum so long as they covered shipping and handling.>


    <¡°Congratulations on the promotion, Steve. I will be resigning, effective immediately.¡± The former manager said, passing his badge to Steve. ¡°And now I must be away, my people need me,¡± he explained, quickly running away from the situation and off a cliff at the edge of town, leaping over the guardrail with the practiced grace of an olympic track and field athlete.>


    ¡°Oh my god!¡± Ginette shouted, as a woman screamed nearby. Several people ran to the cliff and looked out over, trying to find the jumper. One could interpret from their panic and collective discussion that he was nowhere in sight. Chad, still in shock over the turn of events, could only stand frozen in place, his eyes repeatedly flying laps between the other lab employee and the cliff-side crowd.


    Steve the recently-promoted lab manager continued to watch the cliffside, almost hopeful this was simply some strange prank. His holo caster started to ping with notifications, and buzz with incoming calls. Broken from the stupor, he faced the horde of pokemon awaiting his decision. ¡°Let¡ª let''s go inside. I¡­ I need to sit down.¡± Steve requested, as the procession gently carried the tablet inside; the doorway was just barely big enough to fit the massive slab of rock and took careful coordination to fit it through. Inside, another lab employee quickly strode forward to guide the team towards the reanimation lab.


    Steve collapsed onto a nearby soft sofa in the lobby, his expression locked in a daze of fear and inner turmoil. With a slow respect, Chad gingerly slid onto the chair across from him, and opted to wait in silence. Steve¡¯s holo caster continued to ping with notifications, and ring with inbound calls. The new lab manager seemed to make a decision, ignoring the device and focusing his attention on the fire pokemon which sat across from him.


    ¡°My¨C I guess now previous¨C boss was not exaggerating, about the fact that we have developed the technology to revive pokemon from their fossils. There¡¯s a lot of theory behind it, but¡­ Sorry, I¡¯m just¨C not sure what this even is right now.¡± Steve admitted, his face betraying the cacophony of emotions which polluted his thoughts. ¡°Do¨C Should I give you the whole speech, or just the business? Do you even have a trainer?¡±


    Chad, chewing his tongue, offered his trainer ID to the poor man, before pulling up his device again to type. [AM, TRAINER] it buzzed as he pointed to himself, then the plastic rectangle. Nodding, while eyeing the speech device as the afternoon continued to stretch his worldview, Steve returned the ID. [TELL, ALL, IF, HELPS, CALM, YOU] the device advised, as Chad slid it slightly to the side and gave the scientist his undivided attention.


    Whether it was the sudden-onset grief, or the sheer novelty of a pokemon¨C albeit using a digital aide¨C communicating with him in his native language without the headache-inducing telepathy, Steve simply stopped. With a sigh to expel the sum total of his recent worries, the fear, and the rapidly escalating stress, he muted the holo caster on the table.


    <Steve, centering himself and recognizing the words for what they were, sat upright and cleared his throat. He explained the full process, how the device would manage to extract the lingering energy of the pokemon (which lesser minds had proclaimed the ¡®soul¡¯), reshape it into an egg, and effectively restart the pokemon¡¯s life from the beginning. He noted that most of the pokemon revived this way were fully-formed, and hatched almost immediately following the procedure.>


    <As Chad began to learn more about type energy, infinite energy, and his own pseudo-mortality, Steve raised a point that to date they had only worked with incomplete fossils. Thus, upon revival, some pokemon were too weak to survive. Curious, Chad asked about whether this ¡®soul¡¯ energy could contain memories, being met with a simple shrug as Steve admitted they had no way to evaluate such a concept. Chad, ever studious, added the concept to his notes on the miniature lecture.>


    Steve, now holding a steaming paper cup of coffee, looked at the odd lizard across from him. ¡°Thanks, for listening. I don¡¯t know if you understood much of that, but just being able to get into the details¨C Most trainers¡¯ eyes glaze over once I start mentioning the energy conversion stuff.¡± Chad, holding his own paper cup of steaming tea, nodded sagely. He quickly jotted a few words down, ripped the scrap of paper from his notebook, and slid it across the table.


    Lifting the note, the new lab manager quirked an eyebrow, raising his gaze to the fire type. ¡°This¨C I don¡¯t know where you got this idea, but it¡­ This could work; it would be expensive, unethical, and would absolutely shatter a lot of concepts people consider facts if true. But, in the long run, it might be best to leave some ideas left unexplored,¡± he responded, passing the note back. With an affirming nod, Chad took the note back, folded it, and held it over his tail flame until naught was left but ashes.


    <Having recovered from earlier, Steve stands and suggests they relocate to the back area to witness the device work, an honor rarely given to other trainers. The two enter the restoration room, finding the slab laid flat atop a stone altar which had seemingly burst through the floor. The device itself, floating above the stone, seems to be at its maximum height, enhanced by a jury-rigged solution by the lab technicians to accommodate the increased size of the sample. Careful not to disturb their work, the Rhyhorn stand in an arrayed circle around the altar, humming a tune likely known only to their tribe.>


    As the slab was locked in place, the lone black bow on Machoke¡¯s arm began to emit a familiar rainbow light. This time, the energy and the bow itself merged into her arm as the fighting type¡¯s entire body became obscured. She grew taller, and quickly broke free as her four arms tore the body-tight cocoon apart. Flexing to enjoy her new success, the other ¡®mons in the room (and the researchers who likely just wanted to be included) applauded her success. With a quick bow towards her trainee, Chad, she confidently strode out of the room, visibly pleased at achieving a monumental boost to her power.


    <Once all living beings were cleared from the operation room, Steve starts the machine, which quickly dances a jig of lasers across the surface of the giant rock. The computers display a dizzying amount of information, drawing up a simulated model of what the pokemon looked like during its final moments. A whip of white energy lashes out from the machine¡¯s probe, seeming to pass through the stone and grapple the creature within. Several other beams whip out, securing around the beast at different locations, and begin to pull.>


    <Chad can only watch as a solid mass of dark purple and gray energy emerges from the rock. Most astounding is how it seems to hold a specific shape, like the beams are extracting a corpse from the stone. As the dark energy reaches the probe, it begins to compress and coalesce into a singular glowing sphere. Notably, when a shape similar to a head is pulled from the stone, the onlookers could swear they saw it glare at them, as a pair of malevolent yellow eyes burned with the fury of twin suns before the head was also shoved into the growing energy ball.>


    <When the extraction completed, a pair of arms swung down to encapsulate the energy into an egg-shaped mold, with various liquids pumped along several tubes feeding into the hastily-assembled oval. Steve remarked that the process seemed to be drawing in far more nutrients and chemicals than usual, as a metaphysical weight began to settle around the device. With the oddly apt ¡®ding¡¯ of an egg timer, the machine stopped. Slowly, the two arms lowered to a nearby pillow, gently sliding apart to reveal an egg which began vibrating upon landing atop the soft plushy surface.>


    With the process completed, the room automatically unlocked, letting Chad and Ginette be the first two through the door, followed closely by Steve and Rocky. ¡°Oh, they looked like a big baddie. If it''s a girl, we¡¯re naming her Lalatina!¡± She declared, as a crack snapped into existence along the egg¡¯s smooth surface.


    ¡°You know their name and gender are pre-determined, so it won¡¯t be happening. But I do concede that is a good name,¡± Chad admitted, causing Ginette to be visibly thrown off by his alignment with her antics. Both refocused on their new team member as another resounding crack echoed through the room.


    <Tight pinprick beams of purple energy began to escape from the egg like a mini disco¡­egg. Before the whole shell lit up with a glow and shattered with a ¡®BANG¡¯! But this was more of a celebratory bang than a grenade; nobody celebrates the poor grenade tossed amidst the enemy to sacrifice itself for the good of God and Country. The loud explosion fragmented the eggshell almost entirely, with scant pieces littering the floor like confetti. Standing atop the remains was a brown bipedal dinosaur, with two golden horns atop his head, a tuft of white fur forming a mane below his jawline, and the piercing gaze of two golden eyes which belied centuries of wisdom and experience.>


    With a flare of purple flames from his nostrils, the meter tall pokemon locked eyes with Chad and Ginette, his pupils narrowed in disdain. With a deep breath, a deep melodic tone, and the pomp of an aristocrat, he made himself heard and his anger extremely clear. ¡°Which of you empty-headed, polish-huffing, cotton-eared, rock-munching, slovenly disappointments of a dingleberry interrupted my nap?!¡±


    <Welcome to the team, Gaston!>

 Chapter 25: A Frog On Ice

    <After making it clear to the lab staff the gigantic fossil was to be donated to the Lumiose museum for display, as the only fully intact Tyrantrum fossil ever found, the gang departed the lab with their entourage of rocky supplicants.>


    ¡°I have witnessed the return of a long lost Emperor of the earth, and heavens willing I shall bear witness as he ascends his rightful throne once more,¡± Rocky intoned, as the Rhyhorn surrounded us in a half circle, all eyes on the brown tyrannosaur. ¡°We wish you good fortune in your journey, young ones, and shall keep an ear to the pebbles for your accomplishments.¡±


    Gaston gave a regal nod, acknowledging their tribute and blessing. ¡°Thank you, brothers of the quartz, sisters of the granite, friends of the marble. I shall perform to my utmost to attain the mantle of rock, and ascend to my rightful place. Rock and stone!¡±


    ¡°ROCK AND STONE!¡± The group shouted in unison, before heading on their way back to the ravine.


    Chad waited for them to clear the town limit before motioning to his two companions to follow. ¡°Going a little overkill on the whole ¡®Reincarnated King¡¯ bit aren¡¯t you?¡± He asked, as the three trudged toward the pokecenter.


    ¡°If thou did not wish to recruit my illustrious self, then thou shalt not have unearthed my tomb amongst my people.¡± Gaston rebuked, somehow managing to walk with an ingrained regality.


    Leaning in towards Chad, with a hand to cover her mouth, Ginette whispered in Chad¡¯s ear. ¡°Is he going to talk like this the whole time?¡±


    <Yes, but if it helps I can add a translation layer from ancient Kalosian to modern Galarian.>


    ¡°How would that even make a difference? Didn¡¯t you Galarians adopt that pompous way of speaking as your primary dialect?¡±


    <Apologies Miss Ginette, but I was under the impression that you wouldn¡¯t need my assistance with understanding your ancestors¡¯ ¡°superior culture and language¡±, as you so eloquently put it previously.>


    Gaston, visibly frustrated, halted his march to stink-eye the frog. ¡°Is she always like this?¡± He inquired, his speech now absent the pageantry. ¡°I know the Galarians can be oddballs, but in my time they were rather pleasant folk; especially my counterpart across the channel.¡±


    Chad chuckled as he walked past. ¡°Sometimes; would you believe we met at her poetry recital? Since then she has been a consistent source of chaos and mischief .¡±


    Chad was the first to enter the iconic red and white building, with Gaston close behind, and Ginette trailing in third while loudly arguing the intrinsic cultural value that came with overthrowing an established monarchy. Her image was not helped by the fact that nobody outside their party could hear any counter-arguments.


    The nurse manning the counter, in the spirit of a true professional, didn¡¯t even blink when Chad placed his trainer ID on the counter. Nor flinch when his speech device buzzed: [ROOM, FOR, NIGHT]. With a nod, a swipe of the card, and several keystrokes, she slid his ID back and smiled. ¡°Luckily we have a room available, 214. I trust you know the rules?¡± She supplied, returning the fire type¡¯s nod with her own. ¡°Then have a pleasant evening, and come visit the desk if any members of your team require medical care.¡±


    Ginette and Gaston were up the stairs before Chad could even react, as he slowly ascended behind them. ¡°Finally, a decent night¡¯s sleep,¡± he prayed to himself.


    <And indeed a good night it was. Chad and Ginette took great advantage of the hot shower to scour away the dirt and dust from their long trek through the stony ravine. Gaston commented on just how soft the bed was, owing to his past hundreds of years suspended in rock. And for a nice change of pace, the bed was big enough to fit all three of them without conflict.>


    <The next morning, fully rested and ready to continue their way north, the trio attempted to share a breakfast together. However issues arose when Gaston complained about being served ¡®peasant food¡¯, and in true classist fashion Ginette made it her mission to force the ex-royal to eat the breakfast provided. Chad laughed and made a reference to a French aristocrat which disrupted the scuffle for all of three seconds.>


    <Chad attempted to ask his wonderful Narrator if He had planned for them to travel the route normally, or if they were going to be gifted with His blessing of a time skip past such a boring series of events. The great and benevolent Narrator, in his kindness, preemptively helped guide the trio north along the scenic beaches. Skipping the worthless time walking along the memorable intersection of the two realms, pausing for the occasional battle with a trainer waiting to test their mettle against Gaston, and ascending the endless stairs to rise up to Cyllage City.>


    Ginette lost her balance slightly, leaning against Chad for support. Gaston fell over completely and puked, earning a mirthful laugh from the frog before she reflexively covered her own mouth. Reassuringly, Chad rubbed gentle circles on her back, until Ginette was standing upright on her own. Chad chuckled lightly, ¡°At least these are only small ones; I wouldn¡¯t wish that two year one on either¨C¡±.


    ¡°TWO YEARS?!¡± Ginette yelled right in his ear, as Chad shoved her away from him to let his hearing recover.


    ¡°Ow,¡± Chad huffed as he gently held his head, covering both ears from possible oncoming auditory attacks. ¡°Yea, two years. Thankfully the worst you¡¯ll have to deal with is probably a single day or two. Though I¡¯m interested to see how you two handle the loops and resets.¡± Both looked at him inquisitively from the ground, as both steadily found their footing and attempted to shake off the phantom pains from the day.


    <As the trio slowly makes their way into town, the sheer number of athletic individuals around are impossible to miss. Between the hikers, climbers, and cyclists (damned cyclists!), they feel out of place even more than usual.>


    ¡°Why do you hate cyclists?¡± Chad asked, as they approached the pokemon center. ¡°Let me guess, did one of them slam into your car while you were parked in a bike lane?¡± Chad jested, the context seemingly lost on his two compatriots.


    <For your information, it was a Morgan. Secondly, I was parked on the M3 during rush hour. But, that¡¯s a tale for another story. The double glass doors slid open automatically with their approach, the center filled with an average-sized crowd. Some celebrating their gym victory, others lamenting a loss. And practically none paying attention to you three as you queue up in the line to the front desk.>


    ¡°Must we stay with the peasants? For someone of my stature surely more lavish accommodations would be available, no?¡± Gaston asked his team leader, drawing a weird eye from a few of the nearby pokemon. Chad kept his eyes forward, as if he hadn¡¯t heard anything.


    ¡°Votre Altesse, if these lodgings are not to your standards, allow me to escort you to your own private, luxury room,¡± Ginette flourished with her dignified response, a small bow in deference to the Tyrunt. Gaston¡¯s smile was beaming, broadcasting the appreciation she showed for his plight. There was a click, as she smirked and aimed the pokeball at the shocked dinosaur; she laughed as he collapsed into a red light and vanished into his storage capsule. ¡°Please enjoy your stay here, we will notify you via room service when it is dinner time.¡±


    Once the duo reached the front of the line, Chad offered his trainer ID and hit the ¡®speak¡¯ button on his trusty device. [ROOM, OPEN] it buzzed, as a few nearby trainers took notice of the odd sight.


    <¡±Unfortunately we are fully booked for tonight, but we do still have some storage space for any pokemon in need of medical attention,¡± the nurse offered, swiping the ID in his computer.>


    Ginette gave a two-fingered salute before returning to her own ball, allowing Chad to hand both hers and Gaston¡¯s to the waiting nurse. [COLLECT, FOR, DINNER] his device buzzed, as the nurse nodded and returned his ID. He did his best to ignore the outright stares, moving to the center¡¯s computer bank to secure an open one. The whispers and discussion were getting increasingly louder, as he navigated to the gym¡¯s online portal to register for a match, with the soonest opening being in three days. A quick check of his email account found the confirmation of the appointment, but no emails from Emeric. Typing up another report on the fantastical device, Chad could feel the burning attention on him and kept the message quick.


    <I can easily¨C >


    ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. At some point you¡¯ll need to stop covering for me,¡± Chad whispered, logging out of the computer. With a deep exhale, he spun the chair around to face the room. Greeted by a crowd of young trainers and pokemon, a bead of sweat began to form behind his head. ¡°Though maybe take over if they get too pushy-¡± he remarked, before the onslaught began.


    ¡°Where¡¯d you learn to do that?¡± / ¡°Can you read?¡± / ¡°What else does that thing do?¡± / ¡°Can you teach my Ratatta to type?¡± / ¡°Where¡¯s your trainer?¡± / ¡°Who¡¯s his trainer?¡± / ¡°I challenge you to a battle!¡± / ¡°Why are you acting like a human?¡±


    The last one was higher-pitched than the others, coming from a small hermit-crab with a rock for a shell on its back, standing beneath the crowd of trainers. Leaning forward, Chad addressed the Dwebble first. ¡°Why is what I¡¯m doing only for humans? I¡¯ve met pokemon who like to dance, pokemon who love to sing, and pokemon who love to create works of art. Humans do those too, but that doesn¡¯t make those things just for humans.¡± He leaned back with a shrug, both hands raised and palms facing the sky. ¡°Just because you¡¯ve only seen a human do something, doesn¡¯t mean only they can do it,¡± he supplied, as the revelation seemed to blow the small bug¡¯s mind.


    Sliding off the chair, Chad slung a strap of his backpack over his shoulder, attempting to do the cool walk-off towards the front desk as the incessant questions followed behind him.


    <As Chad walked behind the counter, thankfully the nurse on duty waved away his pursuers. Tucking his backpack somewhere safe in the employees only area, he allowed himself to be returned to his ball, and given a medical checkup. Three clean bills of health and a few hours later, Chad and his team were released from their balls for dinner.>


    Entering the crowded cafeteria, dozens of sets of eyes found their way to staring at Chad again, as he made his way to the community fridge. Gaston, perturbed, voiced the invasive question at the fore-front of his tongue. ¡°Must we dine with this lot? Can¡¯t I just eat in my room?¡±


    Ginette held her gut laughing, as the pokemon in the room went from watching Chad in fascination, to glaring at Gaston in disgust and anger. ¡°Oh, my petit empereur, you are as quick to isolate your allies as you are to speak your mind.¡± With an apologetic wave to the crowd, and a smile that read as ¡®please forgive my grandfather, he was raised in a different time¡¯, Ginette forcibly guided her teammate towards the cooking area.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    ¡°Any preference on dinner?¡± Chad asked, taking stock of the available ingredients. Gaston opened his maw to respond, only for his request to be muffled into grunting when Ginette quickly closed it for him, while shaking her head ¡®no¡¯ to the chef. ¡°Great, meat and salad it is then,¡± the lizard exclaimed, pulling a large pan from the shelf, and several vegetables alongside three sizable cuts of raw red animal protein.


    <I¡¯m cutting this part, since we have a gym battle to get to. Yes, the amazing pokemon chef made a wonderful meal, much to the dismay of many onlookers and the words of respect from their new team member. Filling them in on the plan, the three spent the next few days battling and training for their gym challenge, until finally the day arrived. With Ginette and Gaston hidden in their balls, Chad strode confidently into the gym, only to learn upon stepping out onto the field who his opponent would be.>


    ¡°Oh for the love of¨C Again?!¡± The lizard complained, as a confident Grant stood across the field.


    <Oh shush, ¡®Adversity breeds toughness, and the tough succeed¡¯. Now, as Grant poses across from the challenger, he unclips a pokeball from his belt, expanding the white and blue ball with two red hashes in his palm. ¡°I''ve been waiting in eager anticipation for a worthy challenger to appear! It''s quite an achievement for you to have gotten this far. Very impressive, actually! I have a feeling that our battle will turn out to be worth the wait!¡± He shouted, as a Kadabra standing beside the referee began to raise a psychic barrier.>


    <The ref raises both arms, each directed towards a trainer¡¯s box. ¡°This will be a two on two battle, with the challenger allowed one switch. This match is between Cyllage City Gym Leader Grant and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Grant nodded, tossing the ball up in the air before catching it again.>


    Chad slid off his backpack and called out Gaston inside the trainer box. ¡°OK, listen, all I want you to do for this first attempt is just watch and learn, then start planning because next attempt you¡¯ll be going first,¡± he explained to the dinosaur, who was caught flat-footed as Chad rolled his shoulders while walking forwards onto the field. The standard-size battle field was a flat top of dirt, with several rocks and boulders strategically placed around at irregular intervals.


    <After stepping onto the field and signaling the ref, she nodded. ¡°Gym Leader Grant, please send out your first pokemon,¡± she requested, as Grant lobbed the sphere onto the middle of his half of the field. With a woosh, a Tyrunt similar to (but smaller than) Gaston appeared. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡±>


    ¡°First, let¡¯s see how hard he hits,¡± Chad whispered calmly, slowly walking towards his foe.


    <The well-trained enemy Tyrunt wasted no time waiting for an order, grabbed a boulder off the ground in their jaws. Hefting the rock which was as big as they were, the theropod spun before releasing the attack as the projectile rocketed straight towards Chad.>


    Chad kept walking, determined, right up until the boulder hit his face head-on, with a massive bone-breaking crack echoing through the stadium. The rock, having transferred all of its kinetic energy into the target, fell to the side. Chad fell forward, as his smashed-in face decorated a head that seemed to dangle from his neck in the wrong way. Several audience members screamed, Grant went pale in fright.


    <Oh poppycock.>


    Shit.. shit, SHIT! FIX IT! FIX IT! FIX IT!


    <hr>


    <Chad shook his head, the frightening vision quickly receding from his mind as the imagery vanished into the ether.>


    ¡°Fucking¨C Did you just kill me?!¡±


    <You didn¡¯t even make an attempt to dodge; do not try to spin this as my fault.>


    Chad, still holding Gaston¡¯s ball, tightened his grip and nodded to the referee.


    <¡°Then on the count of three, please send out your first pokemon and start; one, two, three, begin!¡± Chad and Grant tossed their pokeballs out, as a mirror match of Tyrunts appeared on the field.>


    Gaston glanced back at Chad, his eyes wide in abject terror. ¡°No time, explain later; Haka!¡± Chad shouted, spurring Gaston to face his opponent and begin replicating the movements he had learned. Coated in an energy best described as ¡®royal purple¡¯, the mini-tyrannosaurus rhythmically stomped the ground around him.


    <¡±Don¡¯t think I¡¯ll let you set up just because you only have one badge. Tyrunt, go for a Bite!¡± Grant shouted, as his partner was closing the gap with black energy dripping from its fangs.>


    ¡°Wait for it, then Uppies!¡± Chad shouted at his own dinosaur, as the comment broke Gaston out of the dance.


    Glaring at Chad, Gaston completely took his eyes off the encroaching enemy, raising his own left foot. ¡°For the final time, I refuse to call it that!¡± He punctuated the emphasis by slamming his foot down, as a spire of earth shot up with perfect timing to punch the oncoming Tyrunt high into the air, the dark energy vanishing from the sudden ascension.


    ¡°Fine,¡± Chad scoffed as he crossed his arms, turning his head to face the audience instead of Gaston. ¡°You can solo the first attempt, as far as you can. Good luck!¡± With a ¡®harumpf¡¯, Gaston slammed the ground again, forcing several stone slabs to rise up and create a protective barrier around him.


    <Hurtling towards the rocky structure like an asteroid, Grant¡¯s Tyrunt extended a foot, alighting it with a burst of white energy. Upon contact with the rock, there was a shockwave of power, and a minute crack in the protective stone. ¡°Break it or bury him, Tyrunt!¡± Grant commanded, watching as his dinosaur attempted and failed to exert their control over the stonework. Frustrated, the former fossil began to smack and pry at the rock, struggling to remove tiny pieces each time.>


    After what felt like a whole minute (but in reality was mere seconds), a slab at the front of the pile slid downwards into the earth, revealing an entrance to the makeshift cave with a grinding groan. Within, a pair of eerie golden orbs shone from the darkness, along with the occasional puff of purple flames.


    <¡±Can only hide so long before you get disqualified for inactivity, remember that.¡± Grant informed them, before raising a fist and clenching it in a pump. ¡°Now, Tyrunt, show him your jaws!¡±>


    Grant¡¯s dinosaur charged headfirst towards the darkness, but just as it entered, Gaston came flying out in a gentle arc over his opponent. Before the enemy Tyrunt could stop and change course, the stone ¡®door¡¯ shot up again, locking them inside. ¡°It appears my abilities have not yet flushed out since my revival. We shall work to remedy that in due time, I suppose.¡± He mused, performing the near-impossible task of snapping his two-fingered hand. The stadium shook as the earth structure slowly sank down into the ground, taking Grant¡¯s Tyrunt with it.


    <Moments after the rocks vanished completely into the field, a pink bubble appeared on Grant¡¯s side of the field, popping to reveal his feinted dinosaur. ¡°Tyrunt is unable to battle! Gym Leader Grant, please send out your second pokemon!¡± The referee called, as Grant recalled the fallen vanguard.>


    ¡°Do you want me to switch you for Ginette now?¡± Chad asked his teammate, who snarled at him in response.


    ¡°Dare you imply I am invalid or lacking in any such way that I¨C!¡±


    <Grant tossed the second great ball, revealing a blue long-necked dinosaur with yellow frills atop their head. ¡°Resume!¡± The ref called, as Grant barely waited before calling out his own attack. ¡°Amaura, Aurora Beam!¡±>


    Gaston barely was able to summon a shield in time, as the rainbow beam of energy collided with the solid rock, coating it in ice. There was a sharp ¡®crack¡¯ as a fissure appeared in the monolith. ¡°Now that I am better informed, I believe it would be prudent to give the lass her time in the spotlight.¡± Gaston admitted, clearly unnerved by his opponent¡¯s ice attack. Chad signaled the ref, and returned the dinosaur.


    <¡±Challenger Chad is using his switch. Challenger, please send out your second pokemon!¡± The ref announced, earning some light applause from the audience, and mild discussion.>


    ¡°Alright Ginette, your turn to shine!¡± Chad called, as he threw the pokeball into the arena. The blue Frogadier appeared with a flash behind the frozen rock. ¡°Ice and Rock type, don¡¯t get frozen!¡± He called, as she gave him a thumbs up.


    <¡±Resume!¡± The ref called again, as the quadrupedal blue dino ran to the side to get a visual on their opponent. ¡°Amaura, destroy their cover before moving in,¡± Grant commanded, as his teammate summoned several rocks to burst from the ground and fall onto the spire, shattering it.>


    Ginette wasted no time, and completed a little jig before zipping off in a blur. As the dust settled from her opponent¡¯s assault, the clouds darkened in the air and rain began to fall over the field. The dirt soaked up the water greedily, becoming a slushy mud; the droplets clung to the exposed rock faces, making them slippery. Rather than just run circles around her foe, Ginette took advantage of the mud, sliding along while performing a variety of graceful poses, as the white normal energy began to condense around the edges of her forearms.


    <¡±Rain is certainly a choice, but also why Amaura is here. Give us a skating rink!¡± Grant shouted with gusto. His blue dino responded with a yell, the frosty cold energy sweeping the field and freezing the mud into a flat hard surface.>


    Without breaking her momentum, Ginette leapt into a spin before coming back down to slide on the ice like a professional skater. Following the display of grace, she gathered a ball of water on the tip of her finger; the ball bubbled and hissed a plume of steam. With a playful wink, the water lanced across the ice, striking the long-neck dead-center.


    <Amaura wailed in pain, as the boiling water splashed off them to melt the ice nearby. The contact patch was burning red against their baby blue scales, clearly a burn from the super-heated water attack. ¡°A burn, huh? Interesting trick. Amaura, lock them down with a Thunder Wave!¡± Grant called, as his partner attempted to charge up the attack.>


    Ginette, continuing her routine with a beautiful display by leaving after-images during a jump, artfully evaded the electrical shock. With another outstretched arm towards her opponent, three baubles of water gathered at her fingertips. With a flick of the wrist, she rotated her hand to drag the spheres into a torus, gathering power into the compressed shape. ¡°Thank you for letting me shine, petit bleu.¡± With a blown kiss gesture, the ring flew across the field, oscillating outward and inwards in a pulse.


    <Amaura attempted to freeze the incoming Water Pulse, but mis-timed the oscillation as their Aurora Beam pierced right through the center to hit the barrier along the field¡¯s edge. Taking the blast again, they fell to their knees, struggling to stand. ¡°Amaura!¡± Grant shouted as the crowd was on the edge of their seats.>


    Working her way across the ice, Ginette closed the distance, another Water Pulse prepared in-hand. ¡°Merci d''avoir particip¨¦.¡± With the words of thanks offered, she blasted her foe with the final attack at close-range. Seeing her opponent down for the count, Ginette turned to the crowd and took a bow.


    <¡±Amaura is unable to battle! Challenger Chad wins!¡± The ref declared, unleashing a wave of applause and cheers for the artful finish to the battle. With a satisfied smirk, Grant recalled his pokemon, then stepped towards the audience side of the field, walking to meet with the ref and challenger.>


    Ginette, skating back towards her team, earned a smile and thumbs up from Chad before he recalled her. Grabbing his bag, the Charmeleon had to hustle over to keep pace with the human¡¯s large legs. The comical sight earned a few laughs, but lots of enthusiasm for his effort.


    <Grant looked down at his challenger with appreciation and support. ¡°There are some things that seem out of reach no matter how hard you try. However, it''s important that you never give up¨C no matter the opponent or the odds. I could tell from our battle that you and your Pok¨¦mon understand that. To commemorate such an impressive show of teamwork, please accept the Cliff Badge!¡± He announced, handing over a metal pin with an arrangement of six squares in varying colors.>


    <¡°In addition, for your fine display of trust and skill, I present to you this fancy geode to remind you of just how beautiful something can be given the right time and pressure.¡± From his fanny pack, the gym leader pulled out a pokeball-sized orb, with a smooth shiny surface, and a swirl of colors inside that seemed to move as you watched. The mixture of purple, silver, red, white, and gold was mesmerizing.>


    With a bow of thanks, the spectators gave one final round of cheers as Grant led Chad towards the exit of the arena. ¡°Not sure where you found that Tyrunt, but I¡¯ll certainly be watching out for videos of him in the future,¡± he commented just loud enough for the lizard to hear. ¡°Though, from what Viola sent me I was secretly hoping to see you take the field.¡± He lamented, as the two passed through a hallway and into the front lobby. Chad opted not to respond. ¡°Thanks for the match, Chad. With your historic showing, I would be amazed if you didn¡¯t place highly in the conference at the season¡¯s end. Keep climbing!¡± His parting words were supportive, and on-brand, as the hiker returned back to the arena deeper within.


    <The remarkably-fit woman at the front desk confirmed the winnings had been deposited in Chad¡¯s account, and wished him luck in the season. With a parting wave, Chad returned to the pokemon center, opting to give his team a debriefing in the training fields out back.>


    Releasing his two teammates, Ginette was bouncing with excitement and glee, while Gaston appeared pleased but still worried from earlier. ¡°Alright, congratulations on your win you two! You managed a perfect sweep; nobody feinted on our side, and we only had to reset that time I went first. Great job!¡± Chad gushed as he pulled them both in for a hug.


    ¡°I would¡¯ve preferred to face the barbare, but a girl has to make do sometimes. Also, I tried doing that dance you taught me, with the blades? But while I felt stronger, it didn¡¯t seem to carry into my attacks?¡± Ginette bubbled with energy, leading up to her question which belied a misunderstanding.


    ¡°Ah yea, Swords Dance only affects physical moves. You¡¯ll want to get into practice using it in case you pick up any physical moves in the future. The water dance at the beginning, that boosts all your water moves; but you can only really do it once,¡± Chad explained, likely parroting those details from the pokedex. Nodding as a child would, Ginette then returned to practicing elegant poses, shooting around the area.


    Gaston looked to the ground, chewing over something in his head while Chad simply waited. Scrunching his eyes in resignation, Gaston bore the weight of his attention upon his team leader. ¡°You died.¡± He stated as a fact, to which Chad nodded. ¡°I watched you die, right in front of me, and then suddenly I was back in my ¡®room¡¯, as if the past minute hadn¡¯t happened.¡± He rattled off, using air quotes for emphasis. Chad nodded again, silent and patient, Gaston¡¯s jaw going up and down as it sought the words he wanted to speak. ¡°Can I die? Can we¡­ die?¡± The brown dino asked, horrified at the implications.


    <No, only Chad. And even then, it¡¯s only to prove a point while I rewind things.>


    Raising a finger to the sky, Chad nodded sagely. ¡°Lesson learned, loud and clear.¡± He intoned before dropping his arm. ¡°Any other questions, Gaston? We can cover what I know, who I am, or a myriad of other subjects.¡± Chad offered, as Ginette returned with opportune timing.


    ¡°Ooh, how about more ¡®secret moves¡¯? Or what the next gym is like? OH! Can we stop for a spa day at some point!?¡± She launched her rapid-fire inquiry, earning a belly laugh from her team leader.


    <Spirits high from their victory, Chad uses the rest of the day to work with Ginette on her understanding of the Substitute move. Gaston, having put on a strong first showing, was given the starting points for Charm, some ideas for Ancient Power, and a simple primer which led to the immediate mastery of Hone Claws. Meanwhile, Chad continued his own experimentation with the recently-acquired Fire Fang, while trying to output an adequate Flamethrower.>

 Chapter 26: The Road North

    <Rested and still riding that battle high, Chad restocks the team¡¯s supplies from the local store before beginning their journey north along Route 10. But with their food restocked for the new team size (and a little extra just in case), our heroes dare not delay any longer.>


    Choosing not to remain in their stasis storage, Ginette and Gaston walk alongside their team leader, opting to enjoy the silence and the sights as they cross the wooden bridge hanging over the rushing water below. The early morning air is chilled by the nearby ocean, leading Chad to emanate a bit of his fiery aura to comfort his group.


    <The path forward was rather short, not even a day¡¯s travel if they kept this pace, which once again displayed the oddity of how the distance between cities seemed to warp, stretch, and compress depending on the required plot elements.>


    ¡°OK, they get it. It¡¯s not the author¡¯s fault you can literally travel the distance of a route in-game in barely a few minutes. They just didn¡¯t want the kids to get bored with the slog of a long hike.¡± Chad chimed in, as his two compatriots simply listened in to the odd conversation.


    Though, as a point of clarification, if you line up the map of Kalos with northern France, you¡¯ll notice how the cities seem to align very closely on both maps.


    <Oh, and pray tell, what is the distance between the equivalents of Cyllage City and Geosenge Town?>


    Well it¡¯s only a rough approximation, but on foot it looks like about 2 days.


    ¡°...Ah damn it.¡± Chad cursed.


    <Chad and his friends, despite their impressive pace, recognized they would need to camp out roughly halfway along the route; somehow they had overestimated their pace and the distance between their destination and starting point. This realization only reinforced their desire for a proper flying pokemon on their team, if only to cut down on this grueling travel method.>


    ¡°We get it, you really want me to just stick with my fire and flying evolution.¡± Chad grumbled in discontent, kicking a nearby rock to send it skipping down the trail.


    ¡°Is there anything particularly wrong with it?¡± Ginette inquired, walking a pace ahead of Chad to slightly look back at him. She seemed to be spending more time walking upright rather than hopping about lately.


    ¡°I mean, no? If I take it, then we can fly anywhere in the region and never travel on foot again.¡± Ginette waited for further elaboration, triggering Chad to roll his eyes away from her. ¡°I just¨C I don¡¯t want to be a fatass, that¡¯s all.¡±


    ¡°Would you deny yourself such a convenient method of travel, simply to avoid a specific body shape? Surely there¡¯s more to it than that?¡± Gaston spoke up, now keeping pace with Ginette as the group formed a reverse-V.


    At which point, Chad simply stopped, pulling to the side of the path to not impede any other travelers (of which there were none). ¡°Let me put it this way,¡± he began, using a claw to trace out shapes in the dirt. The art was crude, but covered the main proportions of a Charizard, including a possibly exaggerated belly size. ¡°I go from this¨C¡± he said as he motioned along his entire body, ¡°to this overweight stereotype.¡±


    Gaston, with a dignified grace, turned up his nose and walked slightly to the right; he used his foot instead but also drew in the dirt. His work of art was remarkably better, drawing a ferocious Tyrantrum. ¡°I shall have you know a little body fat is nothing to be ashamed of so long as you have the power to crush any who would otherwise mock you. Do not fret or worry about becoming obese, focus on how easily you wish to decimate any who would disparage you over something so petty.¡±


    ¡°Ooh, let me try!¡± Ginette vibrated, as she borrowed Chad¡¯s claw for a drawing tool. Chad opted not to fight it, as a few minutes later an incredibly detailed illustration of a female Lucario was winking seductively back at the group. ¡°This is fun!¡±


    ¡°Must you have so vulgarly enhanced her mammaries?¡± Gaston voiced in disappointment, as he opted not to focus on the detailed yet crude image.


    ¡°I feel tainted just for being on the same team as you, gremlin.¡± Chad frowned, agreeing with the brown dino. With a grumble, he used his foot to erase his sketch in the dirt but leave his two teammates¡¯ intact. ¡°But, I suppose the love bug bit you pretty badly, huh?¡±


    Ginette shrugged, longingly eyeing her artwork. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I would like to see her again, maybe have a bit of a spar.¡± She threw out a karate chop, taking a fighting stance before following up with a high kick.


    <As the group progressed, they faced two other trainers who gave each of the three of them a unique challenge to overcome. Some matchups were closer than others, but the experience let them refine their techniques and recently acquired moves. Though, as the sun began to fall and the group sought a location to set up camp, a stranger approached them.>


    Chad looked over from setting up their tent with Ginette, the newcomer not trying to hide their footsteps. Once they were better lit by the campfire, a familiar brown-furred fox stood with a smile. ¡°Hi! I was watching your battle earlier, with the human, and uh¡­ Can you teach me that thing you did, with your hand?¡± He asked, eyes sparkling as they were aimed directly at Chad.


    Sensing the impending conversation, Chad stepped away from the tent to leave its construction in the hands of his teammates. ¡°Can you be more specific?¡± He asked the Eevee, uncertain of either his aims or desires.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    ¡°When you were fighting that Dunsparce, and you swung at it like ¡®kya!¡¯, but your hand was covered in bright brown energy, and when it hit they went ¡®aaah!¡¯, remember?¡±


    Chad did, in fact, remember. ¡°You mean Rock Smash? I mean, I could try, but¡­¡± Chad trailed off, as he dug through the backpack to withdraw the pokedex. With a quick scan of the Eevee and some checking of the displayed data, he frowned.


    ¡°Buuuut?¡± The cute quadruped asked, tilting his head at the cutest angle.


    ¡°We¡¯ll try, but you may not be able to learn this move. It seems that your species has difficulty learning any moves that aren¡¯t normal typed until you evolve.¡± Chad was trying to set the bar high, his face visibly concerned the kid may not like the answer.


    ¡°I want to try, because if I want to become the strongest fighting type, I¡¯ll need to succeed.¡± The Eevee declared, his resolve shining brightly next to the campfire.


    Smiling weakly, Chad simply lifted his left claw, coating it in the brown soft glow he had become so adept with. ¡°This, as my sensei instructed me, is called Ki. It¡¯s also known as fighting type energy, and you¡¯ll need to be able to produce it before we continue onto the actual move itself.¡± He held out the hand, at a level low enough his student could touch it. ¡°Get a feel for the energy, try and have it coat your paws or legs.¡±


    <As the student became the instructor, Ginette and Gaston finished assembling the tent to a functional level. Encouraging Chad¡¯s new role, Ginette also took the liberty of arranging dinner for the four of them, which translated to just serving up sandwiches that had been held inside the refrigerated stasis compartment of the magic bag.>


    <Gaston, inserting himself in the lecture, managed to replicate the fighting energy quite quickly. Not to be outshone, Ginette also picked up the Ki with surprising ease. Conjuring up boulders for them to practice on, Gaston and Ginette took turns channeling the Ki into various attacks, both managing to nail Rock Smash after Chad suggested visualizing the rock as someone they desperately wanted to demolish. When asked who they visualized, Ginette nervously admitted it was her previous trainer. Gaston simply lowered his eyebrows in annoyance at the fire type.>


    <As the Eevee practiced into the night, the three seemed collectively invested in helping the young fox achieve his goal. After a restful night¡¯s sleep, he followed them on their travels, continuing to try and channel the elusive energy. Using the trainers who challenged them along the way, the trio leveraged these battles to demonstrate the move to their protege, while also honing their own mastery of the energy.>


    <However, as the day went on, hope began to fade and frustration permeated the ambience around the young Eevee. It had been a full day of almost non-stop practice, countless attempts to channel his inner Ki. And yet, without a single mote of the fierce energy to show for it.>


    The young fox had come to a complete stop, his face twisted. ¡°Why..?¡± He asked, as the corners of his eyes began to moisten. ¡°You two picked it up so easily, so why¨C why can¡¯t I..?¡± The trio looked on, Chad nervously rubbing his elbow. The brown fox, with a sudden pivot from sadness to rage, charged at a nearby rock. The stone was just one among many mysteriously located on either side of the route, all evenly-spaced and almost identical in size and shape.


    ¡°WHY?!¡± The Eevee shouted, as it bashed head-first into the stone. The collision produced a large ¡®smack¡¯, as the stone was undamaged when the fox pulled back their head. ¡°I was told I could be ANYTHING!¡± Another smack against the rock, this time leaving a bit of red. ¡°So WHY¨C¡± Smack, more red. ¡°CAN¡¯T¨C¡± A fourth smack, much more red blood on the stone. ¡°I DO¨C¡± Fifth smack, but a slight wobble of discoloration around the fox¡¯s head. ¡°THIS?!¡±


    <As the young fox pulled back to slam his head once more against the stone, a whirl of brown energy formed to ensconce his noggin. With a swing forward, his forehead made a solid thwack against the solid rock. But as he pulled back, one could spot a teensy crack opening on the rock beneath the blood. The group was speechless, as was the young boy who possibly gave himself a minor concussion, if not outright brain damage.>


    Chad, with almost practiced ease, pulled a potion bottle from his bag, lightly spraying the distraught pokemon¡¯s forehead. ¡°If I learned anything, Ki is all about visualizing your body as a weapon; a force of destruction. And that, seems to me like you may be on the cusp of something.¡± He explains, pointing at the bloody crack in the stone.


    Blood lightly beading on his forehead, Eevee¡¯s tears of frustration and pain become an expression of disbelief and joy as he takes in the sight. ¡°I did it..? I did it?! I DID IT!¡± As the young lad celebrated, the trio gave him words of congratulations, praising his efforts.


    ¡°So, Narrator, after he masters Ki, what will he need to do to evolve?¡± Chad asked the open sky, the brown fox eyeing the lizard with open suspicion.


    <Uhm, find a Fist Stone?>


    Narrator¡­


    ¡°That isn¡¯t a thing, and doesn¡¯t really jive with fighting types anyway. What if he had a trial of some sort?¡± Chad suggested, the brown fox glancing at his two teammates for help, until both of them shrugged. ¡°Like, he had to take down a full team of six pokemon on his own?¡±


    <That should be a sufficient display of willpower and might, yes. And with his new quest bestowed, the young Eevee thanked Chad for his help before bounding off back from whence they came.>


    As the cute little guy vanished into the tall grass, Chad smirked. ¡°What¡¯s his evolution going to be called? Puncheon?¡±


    <Close! I was leaning towards Angreon, but yours works better.>


    The trio laughed at the name, before settling in to watch the descending towards the horizon. The breezy seaside air was relaxing in the afternoon sun, as the large fields of tall grass swayed and danced around the massive rocks that stretched for the entire length of the route. Small figures of other pokemon could be spotted on occasion, all going about their peaceful lives in tranquility.


    ¡°Hey, Narrator, about that thing¡­ Have I set enough plot hooks? Have I been upholding my end of things?¡± Chad asked, flanked on either side by a teammate who enjoyed the view.


    <Yes, so far I¡¯d say you¡¯ve locked in two potential new options. As for the third, it¡¯s faint; the plausibility is somewhat below the threshold. You¡¯ll need to spend some time training with Korrina in the next town if you want to push it over the line.>


    ¡°Korrina?!¡± Ginette perked up, her pupils narrowing in focus. ¡°You mean¨C!¡±


    ¡°Yea, looks like you might get a chance to show that Lucario how much stronger you¡¯ve gotten since the skate park.¡± Chad confirmed with a nod, spurring the frog to immediately practice a variety of poses and greetings.


    <Continuing: so far you have made considerable progress on your Dragon and Psychic branch forms. However, your Fighting branch seems to be lagging, and that is the one you still must practice towards. Lastly, your trigger will be in successfully soloing another gym, specifically in Coumarine City. I am aware of the type advantage you¡¯ll have, but it will be no walk in the park. I suspect you will once again need to step up your game.>


    ¡°Yea, fire may be great against grass, but they can really dig in if you let them.¡± Chad mused, as Ginette seemingly selected the introduction she planned to use. A stray thought caused Chad to frown, before turning his gaze to Gaston. ¡°I think I owe you an apology, you¡¯ll be at a severe disadvantage for the next two gyms.¡±


    The rock dinosaur gave a barely-audible grunt in response, continuing to watch the ocean instead. ¡°A disadvantage is just that, not an impossibility. A dragon is a power that must be recognized, respected, and challenged. For the dragon can only grow stronger through adversity and hardship. A rock, however, is inherently strong. When the waters attempt to sweep away the lands with flooding, the boulder stands strong, shouting ¡®I shant move; YOU move!¡¯ to the heavens above as it cuts the flow in twain.¡±


    Chad locked eyes with Gaston, whose age shone brightly in the windows of his soul. ¡°Let these youngsters and upstarts try to challenge my throne; they shall find that few things survive time better than solid stone.¡±


    <As the moment passes, the three eventually decide to complete the journey, arriving in Geosenge Town just before sunset. Able to secure a room in the sleepy location, Gaston is introduced to the wonders of modern civilization, including hot water and comfy beds. The trio use the evening to watch some recordings of Korrina¡¯s recent matches, discussing a potential game plan, some strategies, and what pitfalls to avoid.>


    <A pleasantly restful evening behind them, the trio wakes up to prep for the day, and runs into a familiar face just before breakfast.>

 Chapter 27: Turning Point

    <Seated at one of the tables in the cafeteria, Korrina is just starting a bowl of cereal and glass of milk. Beside her, a familiar Lucario is seemingly enjoying some kind of high-calorie protein bar.>


    Chad immediately frowns in disgust. ¡°No.¡±


    Lucario, confused, looks towards the fire type mid-bite. ¡°No, what?¡±


    Chad grumbles, pulling up his talk box and attempting to gain the female trainer¡¯s attention. [ALLERGIES, ANY] the device buzzed, to which the gym leader shook her head. ¡°Good, I¡¯ll make us something more appropriate. You two can socialize.¡± Chad remarked flippantly, as he yanked open the fridge and began to collect various items from within.


    Sensing the opportunity, Gaston and Ginette clambered onto the table¡¯s seating, with Ginette softly shoving the dinosaur over to the seat opposite Korrina while she claimed the one facing Lucario. Giving her best expression and pose from practicing yesterday, Ginette made her move. ¡°Bonjour mon amour. Truly fate is kind, for her to arrange that we cross paths again so soon.¡±


    Lucario choked slightly at the sentence, before quickly composing herself into a short chuckle. ¡°Oh, fate was it? I find that sometimes fate and coincidence can be one and the same.¡± She rationalized, taking another bite of the protein bar.


    ¡°And yet, as I prayed to meet the beautiful lass who stole my heart that wondrous day, I now find myself in her presence once more.¡±


    Korrina eyed the pair before glancing to Gaston for clarification. The Tyrunt rolled his eyes before making a kissy face. Korrina tried not to laugh, a small splatter of milk flying out her nose in a puff. Now covered in air-propelled food and liquids, Gaston departed from the table to clean up the mess. Behind them all, Chad continued to work at the provided cooking station, as several omelets began to take shape on five separate pans.


    ¡°I will admit, you have definitely gotten stronger since then, but can you truly have gotten much stronger in just under two weeks?¡± Lucario asked, pointing the mostly-eaten affront to food at the frog.


    Ginette, flexing her muscles slightly, beamed at the blue jackal. ¡°Compared to how I was? I would call myself an entirely different woman. Stronger than you? I couldn¡¯t say without a point of reference. But¡­¡± she trailed off, letting the sentiment linger a moment to draw in her target audience. ¡°Maybe after breakfast, we can r¨¦parer that?¡±


    With a smirk, Lucario shoved the remainder of her ¡®breakfast¡¯ into her jaws and swallowed after a minimal amount of chewing. ¡°Done; shall we?¡±


    ¡°Tut, tut, tut!¡± Ginette wagged a finger back and forth in time to the sounds. ¡°I would hardly call that a breakfast. While we may both be d¨¦sireuse, believe me when I say it is worth waiting for this.¡±


    With astute timing, Chad serves the first two plates to the table¡¯s waiting blue ladies. The steaming golden pillows complimented with a side of gently toasted hash browns, with speckles of salt and pepper decorating the still sizzling potatoes.


    <Lucario, not one for waiting, immediately attempted to grab a fistful of the potatoes, only to flinch back as a scalding hot droplet of water shot through on an intercept course. Glaring at the source, she was met with a pair of offered human tools, the kind she had seen Korrina use previously. Accepting the utensils, she watched as the odd Frogadier delicately grasped her own pair, then slowly demonstrated their use on her own plate.>


    ¡°You needn¡¯t have intervened; I am certain I could have dissuaded her from such an uncivilized action on my own, merci.¡± Ginette commented dryly, as Chad placed the next two plates before Gaston and Korrina.


    ¡°Forgive my eagerness for our spar, Princess. Though after that comment it appears I should teach you what it truly means to be ¡®uncivilized¡¯.¡± The jackal warned, as Chad finally pulled up to the table with his own plate.


    Gaston, despite having only his jaw to displace anything, still managed to eat his food with an unusual level of regal grace and composure. Korrina, after battling with her own inner emotions (and sampling a bite of the plate placed before her) had shoved the cereal aside and quickly dug in. Chad ate slowly, his eyes always scanning the room, seemingly weary of any other trainers showing up to interrupt them.


    <The rest of breakfast was rather peaceful, at least once the two battle maniacs finished and sprinted off for the fields behind the center. Gaston offered to babysit, but Chad assured him it might be better should he stick with the rest of the group. Korrina, being a responsible adult, helped wash the dishes and cookware.>


    ¡°Now, with that taken care of, I would be naive to think you did all this for charity, or a match with my Lucario.¡± Korrina began, leaving the question unsaid as she stared down the fire type. Hands on her hips and a few feet taller than him, the gym leader was using her imposing stature to extract a confession.


    A few quick button presses, and Chad¡¯s trusty device buzzed an answer. [NEED, HELP, WITH, KI] he inquired, holding up his left hand and letting the brown energy flare to life before he released it immediately after.


    Korrina laughed. ¡°Coming to the fighting gym leader for tips on fighting moves, it¡¯s so normal I didn¡¯t see it coming!¡± Chad seemed to relax a bit more as his shoulders fell at the comment. ¡°Sure thing, let me make a call to borrow a pokemon to help out.¡±


    ¡°What is it you hope to learn?¡± Gaston asked once the woman was out of earshot. ¡°While the martial warriors indeed have a large swathe of various attacks, I doubt all will be available to you.¡±


    ¡°We,¡± Chad stressed, ¡°would be served well if she can teach us Bulk Up and Detect. Another setup move would be good for the two of us as physical brawlers, and the defensive option would be helpful in avoiding extremely dangerous assaults.¡±


    Gaston thought over the words, watching as Korrina made a call on one of the pokecenter¡¯s public kiosks. ¡°You are still thinking so far ahead, I worry you may have blinded yourself to the immediate situation.¡±


    The short call ended with the human retrieving a pokeball from the device, and carrying it over to the waiting reptiles. ¡°Alright, this is Luca, he should be able to help with whatever questions you may have.¡± Her statement is punctuated by the flash and formation of another Lucario, this one seemingly more experienced than the other.


    He crossed his arms with a confident smirk. ¡°So, you kids managed to earn a personal tutoring session? Props, though depending on what you want to learn, I may decline.¡± His attitude was cocksure and unwavering; almost enough to make the duo falter.


    Psyching himself up, Chad stepped forward. ¡°We each need to learn something different. Gaston would benefit from some coaching on Bulk Up. I would appreciate it if you could help me with Detect.¡± The blue canine sized them up with a nod.


    ¡°Solid choices. You sure you wouldn¡¯t rather try for a Force Palm or Aura Sphere?¡± He teased, generating the sky blue orb in an open palm.


    Chad shook his head. ¡°We only have an afternoon, so I wanted to keep it simple.¡± Releasing the Aura Sphere, Luca shrugged before glancing back at Korrina to give her a thumbs up.


    Leading the way towards the exit, their temporary mentor began to outline a plan. ¡°Bulk Up is pretty straightforward, you just have to surge your muscles with Ki and flex so hard they get bigger. Detect is going to require a more hands-on approach.¡± He explained, as the four strode out onto an open practice field.This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    Off on another field, the original Lucario was also providing some hands-on guidance, helping Ginette into a better fighting stance. The field around them already had markings of battle damage, but it was unclear of the outcome. The two gals were quietly whispering questions and answers as the amphibian slowly made minute alterations to her posture.


    ¡°Aston, why don¡¯t you go practice off on the right with Korrina; that way Chaz and I can focus on his request.¡± Luca waved dismissively to his right, leading Chad towards the other side of the rectangle.


    <Before you say anything: No, he¡¯s just that self-centered. I literally could not portray such a toxic personality.>


    Loosening up his muscles, the blue dog boy bounced in place while warming up. Chad began to try and do the same, keeping an eye out for any sudden moves. ¡°So, what do I need to do?¡±


    ¡°It¡¯s simple, Chet¡ª¡° / ¡°Chad.¡± / ¡°¡ªyou just need to flood your senses with Ki and let your body react without you thinking about it. And during that time, I¡¯ll throw some probing attacks your way until you can dodge them on instinct.¡±


    Chad, weary, began to concentrate, as the brown energy flickered. First forming on his hands, before eventually shifting to his head. It seemed overkill, but with his whole head coated in the light brown energy, Chad watched Luca intently. ¡°Like this?¡±


    With a surge of speed, Luca leapt forward, his right arm shooting forward in a punch aimed at Chad¡¯s head. The lizard didn¡¯t even have time to react, but his head shifted to his right, narrowly avoiding the attack. His eyes widened in surprise, as Luca slowly retreated. ¡°Good. A little excessive on the usage, but it seems to have the basics at least. Now, Chris, let¡¯s see how long you can keep that up.¡±


    While Chad continued to play the ¡°Let''s not get punched in the face¡± game with Luca, Gaston was receiving several tips from Korrina¡¯s observations of his attempts. ¡°You¡¯re getting the hang of this really quickly, just keep doing small amounts so you don¡¯t tear anything by going too hard.¡± She supplied, as the dinosaur seemingly iterated through increasing amounts of Ki and flexing across his whole body. ¡°Now, as for the third¨C¡± Korrina cut off, as her head spun around seeking the blue duo. They seemed to have vanished from the field somewhere, thus she could only shrug.


    <Both Gaston and Chad made remarkable progress over the next hour. Gaston was able to master the move while also shortening the activation time. Chad was able to cut down on the Ki usage for his own, allowing him to hold the move active for a longer period. Eventually, both Ginette and her training partner Lucario returned from the nearby woods, exhausted and covered in a mixture of sweat and what were likely remnants of a water attack.>


    ¡°I suppose that¡¯s as far as you¡¯ll go in an afternoon,¡± Luca began dismissively, not even breathing very hard from the exercise. ¡°You still have a long way to go to catch up to myself, so don¡¯t stop practicing, Chuck!¡± Chad gave a thumbs up, panting heavily while sprawled out on the ground nearby.


    Gaston, despite being worn out, soldiered on as he and Korrina rejoined the others. The small dino offered Chad back his speech device, while also helping the lizard to stand up. ¡°For not being fighting types, I will admit you three have the spirit of it. You¡¯ll be challenging my gym next, right?¡± Korrina asked, with Chad now sitting upright to face her. With a slowed series of taps, the black rectangle buzzes a response, [YES, SOON].


    His eyes wide open, Luca snatches the device from Chad¡¯s hands. ¡°Oh, and what is this?¡± Chad, exhausted from the training session struggles to stand up; his face fraught with terror. ¡°Hmm, does it make sounds when I press¨C¡± Luca begins, pressing on a button and immediately cratering the device before it splits in half. Plastic and electronics fall from the two pieces, as a puff of blue smoke escapes from the shell. ¡°Oh, it seems it wasn¡¯t very strong; shame. But it¡¯s for the best; only a Lucario should be able to communicate with humans¨C¡±


    Korrina quickly recalls Luca to his pokeball, slowly casting her gaze to Chad. The Charmeleon was completely frozen in shock, barely moving enough to gather the fragments and pieces from the dirt. Out of guilt, she attempted to help gather up the pieces, biting her lip while a flurry of thoughts clearly flew through her mind. Chad, seemingly desperate, whispered softly. ¡°Narrator, please¡­ please tell me you can undo that¡­¡±


    <Sorry chap, but I can¡¯t just give you another MacGuffin just because someone broke it.>


    ¡°But you rewound time, all the time! All my fights, whenever things didn¡¯t go our way¨C!¡±


    <This device was not, and is not, plot-critical to your journey. It was a crutch, a way to get over the early hurdles. I will admit it was clever, a nice alternative to telepathy or just outright learning to vocalize the human language. But this little apparatus has run its course, and I would suggest you learn to adapt.>


    Ginette¡¯s shoulders drooped, her voice despondent after the rapid series of events. ¡°I guess that¡¯s the end of my warm showers for a long time, huh?¡±


    ¡°Sorry,¡± the remaining Lucario apologized. ¡°I know my boyfriend is a bit self-centered, but generally¨C¡±


    ¡°Wait, tenir bon! He¡¯s your BOYFRIEND?¡± Ginette shouted, glaring at Lucario accusingly. ¡°You lied to me?¡± The burgeoning argument attracted Korrina¡¯s attention from the cleanup, her face scrunched in worry. ¡°So, what, est-ce que tout ce que tu m''as dit ¨¦tait un mensonge?!¡±


    ¡°No! No, I really meant everything I said. We just, we aren¡¯t really like¡­ you know?¡±


    Ginette moved away from the blue jackal, towards her teammates. ¡°Expliquez-moi, car je dois ¨ºtre un idiot colossal pour ne pas avoir remarqu¨¦ les signes.¡± She was facing the pokecenter, her back to both groups as she shrunk in on herself.


    ¡°Look, we had our fun. I loved it; you¡¯re a competent battler, you¡¯re entertaining, but unless you become one of Korrina¡¯s gym pokemon we weren¡¯t really going to be seeing each other more than once or twice. Did you really think we could be anything more?¡±


    Ginette said nothing, her true feelings suppressed and inaudible below the gusts of blowing wind through the nearby trees. ¡°Gaston, J''ai besoin d''un peu de temps seul, s''il te pla?t.¡± She requested, as the brown dinosaur nodded. Fiddling around with the belt to detach the ball, he returned her and re-attached the ball to their belt, gently laying it atop the rest of their belongings over on the side of the field. Lucario looked crestfallen, before her own trainer recalled her as well.


    ¡°This¡­ was not what I was planning¨C or even thinking could happen.¡± Korrina said, as Chad simply sat on the ground with the remnants of his miracle device in his claws. ¡°Can it be repaired, or replaced?¡± Without looking away, Chad scratched out a phone number in the nearby dirt.


    Korrina dialed it using her holo caster, listening as it rang three times before the other side answered. ¡°Hello?¡± The male voice responded, uncertain and hesitant.


    ¡°Hi, this is Gym Leader Korrina of Shalour City. One of my pokemon broke a device, and its owner gave me this number to call about fixing it?¡± She responded, eyes darting to Chad who was now leaning against Gaston for physical support. ¡°It was a medium-sized black rectangle that they could type on and produce words..?¡±


    The voice on the other end of the line was quiet, though she could hear background noise; maybe they were having a conversation with someone in the room? ¡°Miss Korrina, I regret to inform you that the device in question was a one of one prototype. It cannot be replaced and, depending on how it was broken, may be .¡± A silence hung both in the air and over the call. ¡°From your lack of response I take it the device was severely damaged. Short of giving him a psychic pokemon capable of telepathy with humans, I do not believe there is any way you can make this up to him. Please convey my condolences to Chad; it really was a revolutionary device.¡± Korrina promised to convey the message before ending the call.


    Turning towards the two pokemon, she takes a deep breath, and exhales. One seems concerned, the other practically frozen in existential crisis. ¡°I am deeply sorry. I will try to make this right, somehow¡­¡± Gaston nudges Chad, breaking him from the stupor. There¡¯s a moment where she waits, while the two have a hushed conversation, before she watches Chad dig through the bag and pull out¡­ his badge case?


    The orange lizard points at it, at the empty third slot where her badge would go. ¡°No, I can¡¯t just give you the gym badge. Even if you probably would earn it based on what I saw today¡­¡± Chad shakes his head, then points at the case again, and two fingers at her belt. ¡°You¡­ want me to use Lucario and Luca for your badge challenge?¡± A nod. ¡°They¡¯re a little strong for a third badge challenge; are you sure?¡± Another nod.


    She seemed to consider the idea, cognizant of both the oddity of the request, as well as just how badly Luca had made the situation. ¡°OK, I think I can agree to that. And to sweeten the pot, if you defeat them, I¡¯ll teach you about Mega Evolution. Deal?¡± Chad tilted his head in confusion, eyeing her expectantly. ¡°Oh, guess it isn¡¯t very common yet. Mega Evolution allows a trainer to supply extra power to a pokemon, letting them take on a temporary form. This form often has more power, and sometimes changes the pokemon¡¯s types.¡± She explained in the simplest terms.


    After a moment, Chad nodded, holding out a claw which Korrina promptly shook. ¡°I¡¯ll make you an appointment when you arrive. See you soon!¡± She waved, hurrying off on her roller skates to escape the situation her pokemon had created.


    After she was out of sight, Chad reached for Ginette¡¯s pokeball and forcibly brought her out. ¡°So, let¡¯s talk revenge.¡± He started, as Gaston perked up and Ginette pretended to still be brooding. ¡°If our opponents are Luca and the other Lucario, we can plan for that, plan how to beat them, and feel better in the process.¡±


    ¡°I have a feeling that you two will be handling this?¡± Gaston floated, as neither of his teammates denied the suggestion.


    ¡°I think we need to share notes a bit,¡± Chad started, eyeing his two teammates. ¡°Gaston, I¡¯ll need you to tutor me in Bulk Up. Ginette, I¡¯ll try to give you a crash course in Detect. Did you learn anything we can use?¡±


    ¡°I learned that I still had enough of a heart left to have it broken, again.¡± She responded immediately, bringing the mood down even further. ¡°Je suis d¨¦sol¨¦, that¡­ I learned Protect.¡± Her eyes were red as she wiped something away, turning to face her two teammates.


    Chad nodded, placing a hand on her shoulder in reassurance. ¡°That¡¯ll help all three of us. With that in mind; lets try and spend the rest of the day training these new moves, and set out for Route 11 tomorrow?¡± Gaston and Ginette nodded in agreement.


    <And with a plan made, the three spent the remainder of the day working off their frustration, their anger, and the heartache. Chad refined his grasp of Detect, while getting a basic handle on Bulk Up and Protect. Due to the recent incident, he found himself quickly picking up Hone Claws, as well as clearing the final hurdle for Flamethrower.>


    <Gaston, leaning on his past-life¡¯s experience, quickly took up Detect and Protect. With the extra time available, he was able to gain a sufficient handle on Dragon Tail and Ancient Power with the rest of the afternoon. While not keen to brag, he discreetly picked up Stone Edge and Rock Slide while practicing Ancient Power. Seemingly, his affinity for rock type energy was guiding his progress.>


    <Ginette, suffering the warring feelings within the remains of her heart, struggled with the basics of Detect. In a desperate push, she managed to bring Substitute up to a workable state, and channeled her grief into mastering Dark Pulse.>


    <That night, the trio barely slept. Whether it was dismay, sadness, or pure rage, feelings and intrusive thoughts kept the flock of Mareep away until exhaustion took hold.>


    I feel like I let them down with this¡­


    <Their journey can¡¯t be all sunshine and rainbows. Sometimes, life hits you faster than you can see it coming. What matters is how they¡¯ll continue from here.>

 Chapter 28: Noblesse Oblige

    <Rising before the sun, Chad prepared a hearty breakfast before the three left the pokecenter behind, and headed east along Route 11 towards the Reflection Cave. They had barely entered the route before finding their path forward blocked by a pink quadruped with spines and big ears.>


    ¡°You three! I have been awaiting your arrival, and it is exceptionally rude to keep a king waiting.¡± The pink rhino-rabbit hybrid proclaimed, his voice an earthly rumble of a baritone, layered with confidence and surety. The glint in his loam brown eyes spoke of clarity and vision for a future he could clearly see. ¡°But, as I was forewarned by your messenger, I shall permit this offense to slide. Now, as is custom, which of you shall bear witness to my prowess?¡±


    Chad, Gaston, and Ginette shared a look; none seeming sure how to respond. Chad extended a closed fist, to which Ginette responded with her own. The two shook their fists up and down together once, twice, and on the third time shifted their hands into a pair of split Vs with two fingers. Quietly, they reformed the two fists and repeated the motions, this time both forming a flat with their hands on the third shake. ¡°This is ridiculous, I¡¯ll do us the honors.¡± Gaston grumbled, moving forward to meet the challenger.


    Nidorino shifted his stance slightly, lowering his head almost in respect. ¡°I had not been informed that ¨¤ vous f¨ºte were escorting a fellow member of royalty. My apologies for such a rude introduction. I have been crowned as Alexandre; ruler of this area and future King of Kalos.¡± Nidorino said with a quadrupedal bow.


    ¡°Oh, an upstart who seeks to topple my throne? Very well; let us settle the manner as the gentlemen we are.¡± Gaston responded with a sneer, as the two squared off in the middle of the dirt road. With no referee, the two stood silently waiting, as Gaston¡¯s body lightly shimmered with brown energy that matched his own hide. Likewise, Alexandre¡¯s eyes were firmly glowing with white rings as his gaze bore into the dinosaur.


    For the opening salvo, Gaston swung to his left, turning his body perpendicular to his foe before slamming his right foot against the earth. A line of rocks emerged in a straight shot at Alexandre, but at a speed the pink challenger was easily able to sidestep and dive into the earth. Undeterred, Gaston summoned a pillar of stone to raise him up and create his own high ground.


    There was a tense moment as the dinosaur surveilled the field from his perch, waiting for the rabbit to reemerge. Then a lurch, as the pillar shifted, falling as the earth supporting it began to give way. Chad rode the falling rock downward, eyeing the rocks from his first attack as a new platform to leap to. Waiting until the opportune moment, Gaston leapt for his new vantage point¡ª only to whip around in mid-air and create a shield of white energy right before a glob of glowing purple goo would smack into him.


    Alexandre, his head exposed above the dirt near the base of the pillar, laughed. ¡°My, it seems I may have underestimated vous. A bloodline royal who can handle unconventional tactics is a rarity, indeed.¡± He lauded, as he slightly shifted around the fallen pillar. ¡°But beware, the high ground is only an advantage if you can use it.¡±


    With the taunt made, the pink rabbit disappeared back beneath the dirt. Gaston, having landed on his new perch, took the momentary lull to coat himself in purple energy and do a little dance. ¡°Do not misguide yourself of the notion I am unfamiliar with fighting amidst the muck; neither of us rose to power via inheritance.¡± Gaston rebuked with disdain, as several smaller rocks broke off from a nearby spire to float around him.


    One of the rocks began to sizzle and hiss as it intercepted another gooey projectile. To which Gaston responded by flinging it at the origin of the projectile, slamming the recently disturbed dirt with a ¡®poomf¡¯. In an odd game of whack-a-mole, the two traded jabs with Alexandre popping up to fire off a poisonous projectile, only to duck back down before Gaston could retaliate with a rock.


    The sporadic assault halted, as Gaston wearily eyed the grounds for the next attack. His eyes went wide when the rocks shook and shattered beneath him. Down at the base, Alexandre grinned as he darted away, having landed a solid kick where the rock was heavily fractured and collapsing. ¡°Then I suggest vous prepare yourself to get a little dirty!¡±


    Left with nowhere else to go, Gaston rode the collapsing rocks to the ground, rolling off the momentum. Alexandre faced him head-on, the two of them each preparing their next attack¡ª to be interrupted by a loud clap from Chad. ¡°Alright, I think that¡¯s enough for now. You both put up a good show, but anything further and we¡¯ll need to head back to town.¡±


    Both combatants relaxed, crossing the distance to share their equivalent of a handshake. With some coordination, they were able to clean up the mess, returning the dirt road to be at least functionally similar to how it had been before the battle began.


    Chad and Ginette walked over, introducing themselves as well. ¡°So, will you be joining us?¡± Chad inquired, eyeing the formidable Nidorino. ¡°Because I have a feeling you¡¯d be a great addition to our team.¡±


    Alexandre nodded, prompting Chad to pull an empty pokeball from his bag, expand it, and offer it to his new teammate. With a gentle tap, the pink rabbit disappeared inside the sphere, which gave a pleasant ¡®ping¡¯ sound. Immediately after, Chad released his new teammate, shrinking and affixing the fourth ball to the magnetic belt around his waist.


    <That went well, and we got a little show out of it. And now we shall continue the journey!>


    <The group continued east, getting to know their newest member while accepting all challenges along the way. With four trainers stepping up to the plate, everyone got an equal challenge and time to practice their new strategies for the revenge plan against Korrina¡¯s team.>


    <Just as the sun began to fade for the day, and the sky shifted from a bright blue to a subdued orange, the group arrived at the entrance to the cave. With Alexandre gathering some firewood and prepping the fire pit, the others worked to set up the tent.>


    As the four sat around the crackling fire, enjoying their dinner (some type of meat mixed with grilled veggies and a helping of rice), conversation flowed. ¡°And that¡¯s when I told her, ¡®If you go keep that up, my Water Gun won¡¯t be the only thing splashing you in the face¡¯!¡± The group shared a hearty laugh at the end of the story.


    ¡°My, quite the salacious seductress, aren¡¯t you?¡± Alexandre remarked with a face covered in food scraps, using his shoulder to nudge at Chad on his left to encourage a laugh. ¡°And, how did things go?¡±


    Ginette¡¯s smile faded slowly, gradually shifting to a pained reminiscence. ¡°She said it was only going to be a coup d''un soir; something I wish I knew she felt before I allowed myself to¨C to feel like maybe¡­¡± The camp fell to silence, with only the whistle of the wind and the crackle of splitting firewood to fill the void.


    <I suppose I need to clarify a limitation of mine; I am only capable of witnessing or affecting a singular area at a time. And, unfortunately for you lot, that means there are periods where my attention must be elsewhere to guide the pieces for future events. It just so happens that¨C >Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.


    ¡°That¡¯s just an excuse for something you shouldn¡¯t have even been contr?ler in the first place!¡± Ginette shouted into the night sky. ¡°This isn¡¯t about you, or her; this is me, once again feeling like I was finally safe and accepted, like I finally found someone who saw moi.¡± Gaston slid over to sit next to her, as a comfort. ¡°How am I supposed to face her? Just avaler mes sentiments and treat it like nothing happened?¡±


    There was a pause, before Alexandre spoke up. ¡°What if you tried to bring her with us?¡± The other three eyed him in disbelief. ¡°With two royals, surely no knight could decline such a prestigious offer?¡±


    ¡°She¡¯s a gym pokemon.¡± Chad responded with a grimace, to which Alexandre motioned for him to elaborate. ¡°It would be unheard of; you¡¯d need to incept the idea in both her and Korrina¡¯s heads before we even get there. Plus, we¡¯re already facing a tough battle, wouldn¡¯t such a stake raise the difficulty or expectations?¡±


    <Actually¡­>


    No use being coy, Narrator.


    <Right. You¡¯re right, no sense beating around the proverbial bush. So, hypothetically, let us say that such an idea was already implanted in both parties¡¯ consciousness. Such that, should you win with zero knockouts, Korrina might be willing to let Lucario join you on your journey. On top of which, you three¨C sorry, four¨C are also candidates for her to recruit for the Tower of Mastery.>


    Straight from a western film, a gust flew across the camp, dragging a collection of leaves with it. ¡°How¨C why¨C when did you set this all up?¡± Ginette asked as she balked at the admittance.


    ¡°You had planned for Lucario to join us from the start,¡± Chad voiced, as the pieces seemingly clicked into place on his face. ¡°She¡¯s the fifth team member, right?¡±


    <Correct, dear Watson. As we said back in chapter 13, your partners have been set in stone since the beginning. The full lineup of 6 for when you challenge the conference is the best we could balance things without breaking too much Plausibility.>


    Gaston took the opening to voice his concerns. ¡°That implies we shall be breaking some Plausibility. What violations will we be incurring?¡±


    You will have one team member who is not from this region.


    ¡°Author-sama, the others couldn¡¯t hear that.¡± Chad sighed, opting to repeat the information for the rest of the audience. ¡°If Lucario is number five, that means the final member will be this wildcard. But that¡¯s neither here nor there; right now we should focus on the Reflection Cave.¡±


    <Ah, yes I have one detour to request, if you please. I already made a deal with the locals¨C do not inquire¨C to secure us a Moon Stone for Alexandre. You can find it atop a steep climb in the southernmost section of the cave.>


    Chad unfolded the cave map, spreading it out while dangling his tail as an overhead lantern. Tracing the path with a single claw, he whispered directions from the cave entrance to the supposed location. ¡°Noted; that¡¯ll be incredibly helpful for going against the Lumiose Gym.¡± Chad stuffed away the map, eyeing Alexandre. ¡°You¡¯ve got a tough decision ahead; you can hold off on evolving and practice your poison moves more, or evolve as soon as we secure the stone. The latter would give you more time to practice in your new body, which I imagine you¡¯ll need.¡±


    The pink rabbit tilted his head to the side. ¡°What do you mean?¡±


    ¡°Nidoking? Your next form? It¡¯s bipedal?¡± Silence, visible confusion. ¡°Right; rare stone, rare evolution. Your final form walks on two legs, and gains the ground type. You¡¯ll get access to a ton of new moves, but you¡¯ll need to re-learn how to walk.¡±


    ¡°For tonight, I believe a better use of our time would be to plan a path through the cave. Such a decision should be given the proper time to weigh both options.¡± Gaston commented, changing the subject.


    Ginette, visibly conflicted and potentially agitated, stood and strode towards the tent. ¡°You boys can fight over being cold tonight; I¡¯ll see you in the morning.¡± With a tap of her ball, still attached to the belt, she vanished in a red light.


    Gaston locked eyes with Alexandre, before asking him ¡°Do you want to sleep outside or in the ball?¡± The boys were still cleaning up the mess, as the rhino swept dirt over the fire.


    ¡°As the newest member of this entourage, I shall request that vous make the decision, Emperor.¡± He responded, as Chad finished storing the remaining cooking tools from dinner. Gaston took a small bow, before tapping his own pokeball to vanish for the night. ¡°It must be quite comfy in there.¡±


    ¡°It varies; I¡¯ve heard the fancy ones are much more comfortable, but it¡¯ll be a while before we can afford one.¡± Chad responded, holding open the tent flap for Alexandre to squeeze in. Sealing the canvas structure with a long zip of the entry zipper, the two laid down atop the unrolled sleeping pad, the sides stretching and expanding outwards as the tent was clearly undersized for the two of them.


    ¡°Quite crowded in here already; will even a single one of us fit inside after evolving?¡± Alexandre asked with a smirk as Chad unfolded the cold weather blanket.


    ¡°I dunno, maybe Ginette and Lucario. But you and I sure won¡¯t.¡± Chad responded, eyeing the spines along the rabbit¡¯s back and body. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll be able to use the blanket.¡±


    The pink rhino chortled, smiling at the orange lizard. ¡°That may be; my spines are great for defense, not so much for soft objects.¡± Chad, setting the blanket to the side, shuffled over to be closer. Reaching to envelop Alexandre in a hug, the quadruped nervously shifted away. ¡°Hey, don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but I¡¯m not that kind of King.¡±


    Chad, exhausted, simply patted the spot his teammate had moved away from. ¡°I understand, but it¡¯s going to be cold tonight, especially without the blanket. You need a source of warmth, and I¡¯m touch-starved. It isn¡¯t ideal, but we just need to get through tonight. If it makes you more comfortable, I can have my back to you the whole night.¡±


    Alexandre looked away in shame before returning to his spot, relaxing as his side pressed into the warm back of the fire type. Chad curled up in a fetal position, keeping his fiery tail tip away from anything flammable. Alexandre opened his mouth to say something, before a flash of guilt crossed his eyes, changing his mind and lying down flat to try and sleep.


    <Fully rested, the next morning the four awoke and kicked off the day with a simple breakfast. Conquering the cave was easy, not a single wild pokemon attempted to bother them. Following the memorized directions from the previous night (and the occasional checking of the map under firelight), Chad guided the team towards the southern section of the cave. A towering climb awaited them¨C >


    ¡°No, climbing is for the weak.¡± Gaston announced, slamming a foot on the ground. With a rumble, a pillar began to rise beneath them, steadily elevating the group towards the top of the climb.


    <...Fine, I suppose that¡¯s one way to tackle the problem. Gaston¡¯s elevator brought the group up to the peak, where Chad had to restrain Alexandre from rushing the shining white crystal. With minor convincing, Ginette placed the Moon Stone in the team¡¯s backpack, and the group rode the stone pillar back down.>


    <The rest of the cave was borderline boring, with the exception of the various trainers who challenged the team to a series of battles. Between bouts, the team used the mirror-like walls to fine-tune their poses and stances. Or, in Ginette¡¯s case, to try and startle her teammates with no success.>


    <Emerging from the exit and into the light, the team was relieved to find the sun still high in the sky. Plenty of time to practice, spar, train, and prepare for the ordeal to come. After entering the pokecenter, Chad handed over his license and played a desperate round of charades to secure a room, with no success, Chad then retained the presence of mind to log into one of the open kiosks, lucking into reserving a match for tomorrow. With a little over twenty four hours to prepare, the group did their utmost to hone every stratagem and technique they planned to unleash on the unaware targets of their ire.>


    Chad, Gaston, and Alexandre were spread around their chosen spot in the lounge area, each focused on their own task or thoughts. Alexandre seems to be coming to, his eyes no longer spinning nor head wobbling. ¡°Woah, that¡­ was quite unlike anything I¡¯ve felt before. Do you do that often?¡± The pink bunny inquired, his voice edging with excitement and anticipation.


    ¡°Yes,¡± Chad responded with a deadpan stare, before shuddering and falling backwards onto the bean-bag chair with his tail dangling off the side. ¡°The time skips are handy, but damn do they feel weird. Like watching a movie of your life, except at the end instead of a credits roll you feel every ache and injury from the whole thing.¡±


    ¡°Agreed, though the benefits slightly win over the drawbacks. To clarify a point of confusion: I was unaware we could interrupt the process?¡± Gaston spoke his opinion, ending on a question which had not yet been brought up.


    ¡°Yea, that¡¯s the first I¡¯ve seen that too. Last time, the Narrator interrupted it to have me tackle something.¡± Chad followed up, sitting upright after remembering the occasion with the janitor¡¯s closet. ¡°Actually, that didn¡¯t make sense; why did an entity capable of controlling everything and everyone need me to help¨C¡±


    Because I thought it would be funny.


    <You rascal; and here I was believing you weren¡¯t the type to put a finger on the scales.>


    It was harmless enough, I just wanted to shoe-in a reference for the readers.


    <And how many of them caught it?>


    ¡­Zero.


    <That, readers, is why you need to be careful about trying to force meta-humor.>


    ¡°Do you two mind? I think we have more important things to think about than whether some anonymous entities understood a joke.¡± Chad grunted, trying to enjoy the last bit of comfort before they called it a night.

 Chapter 29: Feelings are Messy

    <As the sun rose on Shalour City, the team made their final preparations. For Ginette, that meant forcing everyone on the team to take a shower and scrub down from a combination of Scald and Water Gun, mumbling about filthy boys and proper hygiene. For Alexandre, it meant the best breakfast he¡¯d ever had, being served toast on demand by Chad as he would slice off pieces of bread with a knife made of solid fire. For Gaston, it meant some extra time to clean up and ensure he was presentable as the stand-in trainer for the match. After a better round of charades with the front desk nurse, Chad left his backpack behind, striding out of the pokecenter with only his scarf and belt.>


    <Chad, after nearly being drowned by the frog''s over-use of water, and relegated to cooking breakfast for everyone (including another trainer¡¯s team who paid him in cash), found his mind too busy and distracted to worry much about the match. But, keeping it light, Chad strode into the gym¡¯s entrance with his three teammates stored in their pokeballs. The attendant was confused, as were nearby trainers waiting their turn, until he handed over his trainer ID. ¡°Oh, Chad, she¡¯s been expecting you. Please proceed through the door on the left.¡± The attendant explained, scanning the ID before handing it back when the computer chimed.>


    Chad took a deep breath in, then out, and slowly walked towards what was sure to be the hardest fight so far. The hallway was relatively short, and the door at the far end opened as he was within four paces of the portal. Emerging through the other side, the bright lights revealed a wide open area, complete with stone ramps and quarter-pipes along the outer walls. Several oddly-placed metal rails were spread about, some in the middle of nowhere.


    Chad took each stair one by one, unhooking the belt from his waist and grabbing Gaston¡¯s pokeball. Across the field, he could spot Korrina standing in the gym trainer¡¯s box. She was palming a blue pokeball, her face somewhat pained but firm in her resolution. Upon stepping into the trainer¡¯s box, Chad releases Gaston beside him, reattaching the pokeball before handing the belt to his teammate. The room is deafeningly quiet, without an audience or referee, just the two trainers preparing to throw down.


    ¡°I guess you want to face Luca first, huh?¡± Korrina asks, as Chad steps onto the field. He nods, as she lobs the great ball onto the field. ¡°I¡¯ll count us down. Three, two, one, begin!¡±


    Yep, another theme song for a fight, this time in keeping with Chad''s Eurobeat kick, it''s "Faith" by T. Stebbins. Didn''t have the time for the whole synchronized reading thing, but I felt it set the mood.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/54XyIRN5U4ZKcFIDsOEGyr?si=8787c67c62884707</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=thxEeVpg0mA</a>


    Chad chose the moment to stand stock still, shutting his eyes in meditation. Throughout the arena, faint piano notes began to play¡­ His head was lightly glowing with magenta energy, his feet flickering with two miniature matching wings sprouting from his ankles. His pose was solemn, almost in quiet contemplation, his lips moving with an inaudible whisper. Were he human, it almost would¡¯ve been described as a personal prayer.


    <Are you trying to pretend to have a flashback? Well, I can¡¯t just let you set-up for free. I know you need to win this, but I don¡¯t do freebies. Korrina, recognizing the glow as a move, ordered Luca to engage. ¡°Rush in, don¡¯t let him prepare!¡±>


    Luca leapt across the distance in a flash, piercing where Chad had been standing as the lizard leapt backwards. The psychic energy faded, and he quickly coated his body with brown ki. As Luca continued to give chase, Chad barely kept ahead of the attacks with his newfound speed. Meeting strikes, punches, chops, and kicks with continuously creative attempts to evade, Luca begins to press Chad even as the fire type¡¯s ankles flicker with another pair of magenta wings. Chad speeds up even more, using the distance to coat his head in another application of the psychic energy.


    <¡±He can¡¯t keep it up forever, Luca! Start mixing in ranged attacks!¡± Korrina shouted from her box, inspiring the blue jackal to pull back from the next attack and generate a glowing white orb between his two cupped hands.>


    Psychic energy fading again, Chad raised his left arm defensively while compressing fire into a blazing sphere in his right. A transparent white disc begins to form along his forearm, acting as a buckler while the fire orb begins to compress into plasma. ¡°C¡¯mon, just a little bit more¡­¡± Chad begs, as the raging ball of energy flies from Luca straight towards him, exploding with a cloud of white as he barely finishes forming the miniaturized sun. As the micro star floats into the sky, Chad begins sprinting towards his foe.


    <¡±Now, show me the results of your training, Chad! Luca, press him with Metal Claw!¡± Korrina commanded, as Luca¡¯s claws shone bright silver.>


    Chad reached for his sides, near his waist, as fire energy began to concentrate again and compress into two small daggers of raw energy. Swinging in a cross motion, the two daggers met with Luca¡¯s claws, arresting both of their attacks as the two collided and pushed Luca back a step. Between the sparks flying and the piercing high-pitched sound, both tested for an opening but were found wanting.


    <Luca swung up quickly for a light kick to Chad¡¯s stomach, forcing the lizard to disengage and giving the blue jackal a slight gap to close¨C >


    Chad threw the two daggers at his pursuer forcing him to hack at the two fire weapons with his claws instead. A quick bulge of the cheeks and the lizard blasted a gout of flame as a follow-up; the sudden fire forced Luca to retreat and propelled Chad some extra distance away. One final time, his head and feet were coated in the magenta energy as he kept moving to the side, strafing his foe¡¯s position. Luca, not to be outdone, took an odd stance as wind began to whirl around his arm. ¡°I will admit you¡¯re definitely better than those I usually face, but still miles behind me!¡± Luca shouted, firing the wind cannon across the field to intersect with Chad¡¯s path.


    A quick blast of flame threw Chad backwards, barely dodging the wind as several lacerations opened on his chest. Immediately, he began sprinting towards his opponent, who was charging up another air punch. A pair of fiery wings sprung from his back, accelerating the lizard forward as another two daggers formed in his hands. Right at the apex of Luca¡¯s wind-up, Chad¡¯s eyes flared white, and he threw himself forward in a dive. Barely threading the needle, the fire type began to bleed all over as he successfully leapt through the opening in the center of the gust.


    ¡°Huh, that¨C¡± Luca was interrupted as Chad threw one of the daggers at him as a distraction. The jackal was forced to dodge by shifting his head slightly to the left, nonplussed by how close the attack flew by. ¡°-was moderately acceptable.¡± He finished, his eyes glowing white as he made slight movements to dodge Chad¡¯s dual-wielding flurry of stabs and slashes. Chad couldn¡¯t keep up the speed forever, and had his entire assault frozen when Luca caught one of his wrists, holding the lizard¡¯s arm across his chest and leaving him wide open.


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Chad responded, his body surging with Ki and muscles exploding as he used the caught arm to pull Luca off the ground and throw him in an overhead arc. Floating through the air, Luca charged up another white sphere, daring Chad to get closer. The fire type narrowed his eyes before charging headfirst, both daggers ready to intercept the ball.


    Luca waited until the last moment, unleashing the orb right when Chad was too close to dodge, obscuring the pair in another white cloud. A split-second later, Luca leapt back, a searing slash mark crossing his chest from one of the daggers. A gentle touch with his paw met with light recoil, as Luca laughed in amusement. ¡°Impressive, but I doubt it was worth the trade, right Chaz?¡±


    The smoke cleared, as Chad stood with one dagger gripped in his right arm, his left dangling limp and slightly off-set. Straightening up, Chad dismissed the dagger, placing an empty palm against the front of his dislocated left shoulder. Like a tree, he slowly fell backwards to land on his back at an angle, shouting in pain as a spine-tingling ¡®crack¡¯ echoed through the arena. Luca couldn¡¯t help but smile as he watched his foe slowly stand up, the arm back in its socket, as the fire lizard took up a battle stance again. ¡°I didn¡¯t hear no bell,¡± Chad responded, slowly trodding forward.


    <Luca, recognizing that Chad had shown all of his tricks, smiled confidently as he shifted his stance. ¡°Allow me then; I¡¯ll end this in my next attack.¡± Luca proclaimed, his right fist held back and absolutely brimming with Ki. Enough Ki to blow his opponent¡¯s head clear off.>Stolen novel; please report.


    Chad, having increased in speed, prepared to launch his own counter attack, first flooding the gap between them with a purple explosion of flames. Trusting his instincts, Luca threw his fist forward in a punch, dead center for where he expected Chad to be. The punch threw energy, wind, everything that wasn¡¯t bolted down, forward into the draconic plume. The obscuring attack was ripped apart as the attack flattened everything in its path.


    With his right arm up, Luca created a small blindspot, one just big enough that Chad was able to step in and bury a dagger deep into Luca¡¯s exposed armpit. As Luca shouted in pain, Chad used the momentum to swing up, wrap his legs around Luca''s waist, and repeatedly drive the other fire dagger into his foe¡¯s back. The brutal stabbing stretched on for several seconds, before Luca went silent and collapsed forward. Satisfied, Chad, dismissed the energy hanging over him and limped back to where Gaston was waiting.


    <Stunned, Korrina recalled the unconscious Luca, saying something to him that didn¡¯t reach across the expansive arena. With a pained expression, she unclipped the second ball, this one black and yellow on the top. ¡°Hey, you¡¯ve done enough to earn my badge, are you sure you want to keep going?¡± She asked, her voice laden with concern.>


    Chad, an absolute wreck and miracle to still be standing, sat down beyond the challenger¡¯s box, crossing his legs. ¡°Gaston, you know what to do.¡± He instructed, closing his eyes as his entire body became awash with the soft embrace of psychic energy. The dinosaur, eyeing his teammate with warranted concern, plucked Ginette¡¯s ball from the belt with his teeth before chucking it with a flick of his head.


    <Resigned with what was about to happen, Korrina gently lobbed the ball out on her side of the field. The Lucario appeared, confident and ready, only to falter and hesitate when she saw Ginette waiting for her. ¡°Ginette, please, I¨C¡± >


    ¡°Narrator, s''il te pla?t. Just stay out of this one, OK?¡± Ginette requested, her eyes firmly on her opponent.


    <I understand.>


    Lucario and Korrina seemingly shifted, like they had been released from a psychic hold. ¡°Only once or twice, huh? Never thrice?¡± The frog inquired, her stance relaxed as she remained still on her half of the field. The two had locked eyes, one pair filled with regret, the other with simmering rage. ¡°How many?¡±


    ¡°How many, what?¡± Lucario¡¯s gaze began to blend in a hint of panic, now that she was free to make her own choices, her own mistakes.


    ¡°How many c?urs have you stolen? How many r¨ºves have you crushed? Combien de fois avez-vous gagn¨¦ l''amour de quelqu''un pour lui dire ensuite que vous ne ressentiez plus la m¨ºme chose?!¡±


    ¡°Ginette, I¡¯m sorry! I just got so swept up by you that I didn¡¯t¨C¡±


    ¡°Non.¡± Ginette widened her stance, sliding down into a battle pose. ¡°You broke my heart, now you¡¯re going to stand there while I break my body and soul until there¡¯s nothing left for you to take from me.¡±


    Oh Baby a double! Yep, Chad shouldn''t be the only one getting a theme song; Ginette gets one of her own. "Feel Good Drag" by Anberlin


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/3EuiMoY8lTjAvIqNf8Uyr3?si=b843775dbf3842bc</a>


    Youtube (warning, age-restricted) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4sqFmSqrSc</a>


    Lucario watched on as Ginette acted out a hybrid dance between a waltz and a ballet, her emotions exuding from every gesture. In response, the sky began to cry in sympathy; the dark clouds covering the field with ambient sounds of distant thunder, while the rain steadily began to pour. However, Ginette continued to dance, as echoes of her began to appear like mirages between the water droplets.


    Recognizing the situation, the blue jackal¡¯s body flowed with brown Ki, her muscles gaining further definition and mass. Calmly, she walked towards the center of the field, watching as the clones shifted their dance to something more aggressive; their arms glinting with white energy along an edge. Reactively, Lucario¡¯s eyes took on a bright white glow, as she scanned around her for the opening salvo. ¡°If I had known you¡¯d react this way, I likely wouldn¡¯t have¨C¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s just it, love...¡± The voice echoed from each of the clones, a harrowing chorus from all around the field. ¡°I meant every word I said, while I fell for the hollow facade you gave me.¡±


    Lucario threw herself flat as a pulsing ring of water shot overhead, having come from an angle behind her. Glancing back, she barely had enough time to roll to her right before a steaming jet of water cratered the arena beside her. She had to keep rolling, dodging the sequence of boiling shots that seemed to be leading her directly around towards¨C


    Lucario brought her arms up in a cross block, a pair of white rectangles covering her forearms as she intercepted a kick radiating Ki that had been aimed at her prone form. Pushing against the attack, she stood up without even a grunt, demonstrating the amphibian¡¯s flexibility. ¡°I gave you my everything, et tu n''as m¨ºme pas pu dire merci!¡± Ginette growled, lifting her leg up and around with a jump into a roundhouse kick that sent Lucario rolling.


    She tumbled for a few feet before pushing off the ground to land in a crawling crouch, using her tail for balance as the two squared off. Ginette lowered her leg back into a ready stance, as Lucario rose up while compressing raw white energy into a sphere in her left paw. ¡°Why do you believe I wouldn¡¯t go with you, if I could? We have our own responsibilities; you to your team, and me to this gym.¡± There was a clap as Lucario threw her hands together, extending her left arm down and right arm up as the white ball reshaped into a glowing white quarterstaff. The base of the staff had two small white nubs, while the top featured a forty-five degree angle change with a large sphere at the end, with the whole weapon resembling an elongated femur.


    Ginette¡¯s forearms barely had time to coat with a similar edge of white energy before the jackal was on her; the clashes of energy sending bursts of sparks with each contact. Her arms slowed down with each block, forcing her to increasingly rely on dodging the energy weapon. Desperately, the frog blew a small glob of water at her attacker¡¯s face, the boiling gambit creating an opening for her to slip away. ¡°Excuses; I bet she¡¯d be just fine with Luca to be her ancre. The only one keeping you here is yourself.¡±


    Lucario aimed her staff at the frog, furious. ¡°Are you insinuating that airhead is better than me?¡± She vanished, her charge so quick it was practically a teleportation. There was a ¡®poof¡¯ as she re-appeared and dispersed one of the clones. ¡°That the guy who can barely use aura beyond offensive moves, the idiot who caused this whole mess, is somehow capable of replacing me?¡± Another pop, as Ginette¡¯s clones continued to be eliminated one by one.


    ¡°Not better,¡± the frog wheezed, breathing hard as blood dripped from her fingertips. Her arms had small trickles running down, the blue skin broken up by red splotches and blackening bruises. ¡°Just willing to prioritize his own d¨¦sirs over the benefits of others.¡± The two stared each other down, as Lucario finally noted her own injuries; the pain smothered by coursing adrenaline. ¡°You said you¡¯d join me if you could. If she gave you the choice, right now, Qu''est-ce que ce serait?¡±


    Lucario glanced at Korrina, her train of thought broken when she noticed the gym leader¡¯s face. The young woman had clearly understood every word, her lip quivering. Lucario knew this expression; it always came up when a difficult decision was presented, where neither answer was correct. ¡°I¨C¡±


    ¡°Lucario!¡± Korrina shouted, interrupting the battle as her voice reverberated inside the stadium. ¡°If you can¡¯t win a fight against a single two-badge pokemon, then maybe it¡¯s time you took a break from gym duties and focused on your training!¡± It was hard to tell if she was soaked from the rain with how water streamed down her face, or if her true feelings didn''t match her words.


    Both competitors locked up at the declaration, the white staff disintegrating as Lucario¡¯s arms fell slack. The two women stood as statues, both using the moment to catch their breath, while Ginette¡¯s balance began to waver. Lucario¡¯s breathing steadied with a deep inhale and a long exhale, turning to face her opponent. ¡°Think you can finish this in a single attack?¡± She asked, noticing the frog¡¯s unease.


    Ginette smirked, standing upright with her rapidly diminishing stamina reserves. ¡°I guess we¡¯ll see? To be honest, I''m still working on this one.¡± She responded, watching Lucario slip into a defensive stance. With a soft smile, Ginette shut her eyes, crossed her arms, held her breath, as she fell backwards like a tree. There was a splash as she fell into the puddle and vanished beneath the three centimeter deep water.


    Lucario¡¯s eyes flared white, as she waited for the final move of the fight. The arena was quiet, only the steady fall of raindrops to break the silence. Until she smiled, and canceled the move around her eyes, right before a dark blue mass leapt from the puddle just under her. Their bodies tangled and rolled until, coming to a stop, it was clear Ginette had Lucario pinned with neither able to move. The jackal began to laugh as the ''attack'' went for all of her most vulnerable spots, shifting and repositioning at random before she could adjust or slap away the offending digits. ¡°I forfeit,¡± were the only two words the jackal could respond with, barely able to breath between the involuntary giggles.


    <hr>


    Chad, having recovered enough to be moving about, placed Ginette¡¯s full pokeball back on his belt, with Gaston remaining out just in case. Korrina, drying herself off with a towel, stood nearby as she worked through what had happened.


    ¡°First off: I want to congratulate you for defeating two of my team members who were rated above your level. I¡¯m pretty certain a three badge trial would¡¯ve been even more one-sided. As a reward, here¡¯s your Rumble badge.¡± She offers a metal pin, this one of an orange fist fist-bumping a white fist. ¡°The winnings should be deposited in your account later today. Now, there¡¯s two more things I want to cover, but first we should head to the pokecenter. Need to have the four of you looked over while I fill out the paperwork to register Lucario to you.¡±


    Chad nodded, leaning on Gaston with a hand atop the dinosaur¡¯s back for balance as they slowly took the steps down from the raised battlefield. As the two pokemon and one human were on their way out of the gym, Chad whispered a small side conversation. ¡°Hey, Author, Narrator¡­ Can either of you maybe fix the dialogue from their fight? Maybe make it less teenage angsty romance?¡±


    <My boy, you still fail to grasp that I cannot alter the past; merely rewind back and let you change it.>


    I mean, I can give it a shot, but I also wrote it the first time, so no guarantees.


    ¡°Nevermind,¡± Chad exasperated, walking through the automatic glass doors of the familiar red and white building. ¡°What¡¯s her name going to be?¡±


    <Lucielle.>


    And she should mellow out Ginette¡¯s antics just enough for you to enjoy both of their company.

 Chapter 30: Mega Evolution, a Primer

    <With their teams fully recovered, Korrina informed Chad there was one last thing she needed from him, leading the way north towards the coastline. Keeping his teammates tucked away in the pokeballs (partially to prevent the two lovebirds from their incessantly distracting PDAs, but also to avoid drawing any more attention than they already were) Chad followed closely behind the gym leader. She led the two of them towards a series of stairs carved into the hillside, descending from the town¡¯s level overlooking the ocean, down to the short sandy beach below.>


    <At the water¡¯s edge, it was apparent just how small this sandbar was, with an extension out through the water barely two humans wide. With waves lapping at both sides of the pathway, Korrina continued to lead them towards the island at the far end. Standing proud against the ocean, this fortress of rock and brick towered proud with its back against the open seas. In the center of the fortress rose a large singular tower, seemingly a hodge-podge of various designs and architectures.>


    Korrina paused at the base of the steps from the sand to the opening entryway. ¡°This is the Tower of Mastery. I¡¯ve met many strong trainers in my time as a gym leader, but the ones with exceptional bonds with their pokemon, I bring them here.¡± She side-eyed Chad, with a mischievous smirk. ¡°Though I think you were interesting enough to bring anyway; I want to see how grandpa reacts.¡±


    <Korrina led the way, as Chad noticed just how empty this place seemingly was. Despite the winding unconventional route, the two progressed towards the central tower and began to climb several stairways upwards. Things were rather forgettable, until she opened a door leading to a furnished room containing a couch, television, kitchenette, and tons of fancy-looking research equipment. Their entry caused an older man with huge eyebrows reminiscent of a fu manchu mustache to look up from his work and appraise the newcomers.>


    ¡°Hmm, Korrina, aren''t you supposed to be at the gym today?¡± The man asked, jotting down a few final notes before moving over to greet the pair.


    Korrina laughed, intercepting the man with a hug. ¡°Grandpa, I¡¯m not that irresponsible! I just finished my last match for the day and wanted to bring someone interesting for you to meet.¡± She stepped aside, motioning with a sweep of her arm to the Charmeleon standing hesitantly by the open door.


    The man eyed Chad, taking notice of his backpack, the scarf, but pausing on the belt of pokeballs around his waist. ¡°Granddaughter, I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll need to explain this one to me. Is it a rare pokemon?¡±


    The gym leader giggled, as the ¡®rare pokemon¡¯ shuffled awkwardly in place. ¡°You could say that; I¡¯d like to introduce you to Chad, the region¡¯s first and only pokemon trainer.¡± She used her fingers to air-quote and emphasize the word, but the reveal caused the old man¡¯s expression to crack with a hint of excitement and fascination.


    Stepping forward, the man offered his right hand. ¡°Well, Chad, it certainly is historic to meet you,¡± he commented, shaking hands with the orange lizard. ¡°I should introduce myself properly. My name is Gurkinn, the Mega Evolution guru. I don¡¯t suppose you know what Mega Evolution is, do you?¡± Chad shook his head no.


    ¡°To put it simply, Mega Evolution is a temporary evolution for pokemon who are fully evolved; a whole new level of power!¡± The guru shouted in excitement, throwing his hands in the air for emphasis. ¡°However, that power comes with conditions, requirements for activation. First, you must possess a mega stone attuned to the specific pokemon. My research so far has shown that each stone has a unique coloration and is tied to a single species. For example, this is what I have named ¡®Lucarioite¡¯!¡± He explains, motioning towards a perfectly smooth sphere in a stand on the table. Inside, swirls of blue, silver, light brown, black, and gold flutter around in a mesmerizing mix.


    ¡°Just as its namesake, this stone allows a Lucario to Mega Evolve. The second piece is a counterpart, the mega bracelet.¡± He pulls a thin black bracelet with a clear gem embedded in the top, and several odd markings carved into the inner and outer band. ¡°The trainer wears this bracelet to help act as a conduit and trigger the transformation. Which is where the third part comes in; you and your pokemon need a strong connection, as you channel your energy into the bracelet to empower the evolution.¡±


    Korrina rolled her eyes so hard her head tilted sideways. ¡°Ugh, Grandpa, can I just show him? And can we borrow a bracelet and your Lucarioite? I have a feeling¡­¡± The young woman was exaggerating how bored she was, likely angling for this from the beginning.


    Gurkinn leered at his granddaughter with a knowing smile. ¡°I see, so that¡¯s why you¡¯re really here. Come then, let us test your hypothesis dear.¡± He grabbed the fancy stone and ushered Chad in front of him, both trailing the bouncing Korrina who was already racing up the nearby stairs. ¡°My apologies, Chad, but it appears you¡¯ve been drafted for an experiment.¡±


    <Chad and Gurkinn reached what appeared to be the top floor of the tower, with the barest allusion of a ceiling, several archways of open air, and the stairs leading back down. Upon the floor were the markings of a frequently-used pokemon field, with Korrina bouncing up and down in the far trainer¡¯s box.>


    Gurkinn handed the stone to Chad, who stood entranced by its beauty before looking towards the guru for guidance. ¡°Simply give the orb to your Lucario, equip the bracelet, and focus on your bond.¡± He summarized, placing the mega bracelet from earlier into the lizard¡¯s other hand. With a shrug, Chad gently slid the hoop onto one of his claws, getting it all the way to the base where it dangled loosely.


    Reaching for the black ultra ball with his free hand, he released his newest team member, Lucielle, who did not appear surprised the group was in the tower. At least not as shocked as Gurkinn upon seeing one of his granddaughter¡¯s pokemon appear with another trainer. ¡°So, the mega trial?¡± Lucielle asked, accepting the mega stone from her ¡®trainer¡¯.


    ¡°Seems like you know what¡¯s going on. Should I even be wearing this ring? I don¡¯t know if our ¡®connection¡¯ is anything like they described¡­¡± Chad inquired, pointing at the mega bracelet.


    ¡°Yea, this is a bit of a weird situation¡­¡± Lucielle admitted, while Gurkinn and Korrina played charades in the background, with him motioning towards Lucielle several times. ¡°You might need to pass her the role of trainer for this one.¡± She suggested, pointing towards a ball on Chad¡¯s belt that wiggled in response.


    Accepting the situation, Chad released Ginette from her ball, as the frog promptly slid the bracelet off the lizard¡¯s claw and held it out towards Lucielle; all in the time it took for her corporeal body to solidify. ¡°On one condition; you need to put the bracelet on my wrist.¡± She demanded, extending her left hand towards Lucielle.


    In a violation of biology, Lucielle¡¯s blue cheeks shone bright red through her fur, with Chad chuckling as he ambled over to stand beside Gurkinn. The old man was confused at the shuffle, while Korrina was practically vibrating in excitement. Collecting herself, Lucielle slid into character as she knelt down and delicately held the frog¡¯s hand aloft. ¡°Ginette, do you solemnly swear to fight by my side, through poison and paralysis, the good times and the rough, until death do us part?¡±


    Ginette, despite blushing as red as Chad¡¯s tail flame, merely huffed. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to lean into it,¡± she whispered, earning a mirthful chuckle from the jackal who slid the bracelet on without further fanfare. Immediately, the gem on the bracelet began to glow brightly, inspiring a knowing smile from Lucielle before she strode into the arena.


    ¡°I knew it!¡± Korrina shouted, as she tossed a familiar great ball onto her side of the field. ¡°Luca, let¡¯s give our good friend a strong send-off, yea?¡± As the light took shape, Luca appeared standing upright with his arms crossed.


    ¡°What, think you¡¯re too good for me now?¡± He snorted dismissively, his aura beginning to flare with rage. His stance shifted lower, as he prepared to pounce. Behind him, Korrina¡¯s mega bracelet began to shine brightly. ¡°I¡¯m going to beat you both, then drag you back home with us.¡±


    Lucielle threw her head back laughing. ¡°Luca, I¡¯m breaking up with you.¡± She stated, standing upright and exuding confidence as her opponent¡¯s rage was inflamed.


    Korrina raised her arm up high, the bracelet acting like a lighthouse, as she shouted across the field. ¡°Let¡¯s give this our all, show me the strength of your bond!¡± Immediately, Luca began to glow and change.


    ¡°Lucielle, win this and I¡¯ll do that thing you liked later tonight!¡± Ginette shouted, raising her own bracelet up high as her teammate also began to glow and grow.


    ¡°Fascinating!¡± Gurkinn remarked, having pulled a recording device out and capturing the trial as it unfolded. ¡°This is the first time I¡¯ve seen a pokemon Mega Evolve without a human!¡± Both lights faded to reveal a mirror match of two Mega Lucarios, as Luca quickly crossed the field to land the opening blow. In a split-second, Lucielle had formed her signature white bone staff, using the bulbous end of the large femur to swat away Luca¡¯s left fist.The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    Luca, steadily succumbing to his rage, spun up a white orb with his off-hand, driving it at his now ex-girlfriend who brought up the bottom of her staff to parry. Contact between the two energy weapons led to an outward gust of wind from the point they touched, as energy flared off violently from the contest of raw power. Sensing her follow-up attack coming, Luca¡¯s left claws began to shine with bright silver energy and extend into a set of claws, which he used to block the other end of her staff before it could crash down on his right forearm. Unlike the intersection of the ball and staff, his claws drew a loud screech and bright sparks as the two angled to create an opening in the other¡¯s defenses.


    ¡°Just because you figured out your fancy tricks doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯ll win!¡± Luca shouted, pushing back with all four limbs to gain some distance and reset their positions. His body surged with brown ki, muscles growing beneath his blue fur before he duplicated the silver claws from his one hand to the other hand; even including his feet.


    ¡°I¡¯m not worried; you were always rather shit at finding my openings.¡± Lucielle taunted, earning a hearty laugh from Ginette and a struggling cough from Chad and Korrina. With a smooth ¡®crack¡¯, the staff split in half, joined in the middle by a link of what appeared to be a chain. She swung the nunchucks with showmanship before changing her stance, one hand flat and aimed at Luca. With a grin, she curled her fingers, inviting him to make the first move of round two.


    Enraged, the jackal leapt across the arena to hit her with a spinning kick, for it to be blocked by the nunchucks. Keeping his momentum, he spun around to swing with his other foot, forcing her to dodge right into where his hand was waiting. A scratch across her arm drew first blood, which she punished him for with a solid strike to his knee. The two danced, trading light blows while blocking or dodging the stronger ones. Luca eventually changed things up and started trying to weave in additional attacks with his white spheres. Lucielle changed her strategy, accepting more hits from his metallic claws in exchange for landing more of her own strikes with her weapon which had split and shifted into a pair of tonfa.


    Then, Luca lost focus, attempting to go for an all-in attack with two white balls. She capitalized on the opening, landing a solid kick to his stomach and winding him. The two balls dispersed, as did his claws, as he lay folded over her knee. Luca slid off her leg, landing limply on his side as he coughed and tried to breathe. Before he could recover, she rolled Luca onto his back and straddled him, with her right leg kneeling on his chest below the steel spike. He grinned in amusement. ¡°Love the view, babe¨C¡± She punched him hard across the jaw, fist coated in rampaging Ki.


    ¡°You never asked what I wanted.¡± Holding him in place with her knee, she punched him with her other fist, again to the jaw. ¡°You never listened to what I had to say, especially when I said ¡®No¡¯.¡± Another punch, back to the main hand. ¡°Your entire concept of a relationship revolved around what I could do for you, and nothing else.¡± A fourth punch, again with the off-hand. Luca was barely conscious, wheezing and bleeding as his face looked like it had been hit by a freight train.


    Lucielle stood up and stepped back, dismissing her former boyfriend as anything but the trash he was. ¡°I would say this has been a toxic relationship, but even a poison type would have been a better person than you.¡± With a strong wind-up, Lucielle kicked Luca hard between the legs and sent him flying across the field. Mid-air, his body glowed again before rolling to a stop at Korrina¡¯s feet as a normal Lucario.


    ¡°Bravo! That was amazing!¡± Gurkinn shouted, putting away the camera to clap as he approached the field. Meanwhile, Ginette had attempted to tackle Lucielle from behind, only to be swept up and swung around by her larger girlfriend. Having recalled Luca after his second defeat today, Korrina hustled over to join the celebration. Lucielle set Ginette down, as she reverted to her original form and offered the reappearing Lucarioite back to the guru.


    Gurkinn held up a flat palm towards her, refusing the stone. ¡°No need; you two have given me so much revolutionary data I¡¯d say you earned both the mega bracelet and mega stone. Two major breakthroughs in a single day might be enough for this old man.¡± He jested, as his granddaughter lightly elbowed him. Chad, zapped by a bolt of inspiration, dug around in his backpack before pulling out the stone reward from the Cyllage City gym, holding it up to Gurkinn. Accepting the orb, the old man studies it before taking a picture with his holo caster. ¡°Fascinating; if this is a mega stone, it''s one I have not seen before. If you figure that out, be sure to come back and show me!¡±


    <With several parting comments, and a semi-tearful goodbye between Lucielle and Korrina, Chad and the gang headed back to town for some supplies before heading east into Route 12. By sheer chance, someone flagged them down and handed over a parcel sent by Calem and Serena. The gift contained a letter, and an odd disc, which the letter explained to be a hidden machine to teach the move Surf. According to the two trainers, Chad would need this move for his team to continue traveling to the next town. See? All the more reason to reconsider the flying type evolution.>


    <After Chad grumbled about his omnipresent benefactor and ¡®cheating¡¯, he followed the instructions to teach Ginette how to ride the waves. Armed with their new method of transportation, the group left town to be faced with the immediate obstacle of a river outlet into the ocean, with no footpath or bridge to cross. ¡°Oh, I sure am thankful my friends are looking out for me, otherwise I¡¯d have to walk all the way around!¡± Chad would profess, deeply grateful for the benevolence of the two fellow trainers.>


    ¡°Alright, Alright! I get it, I¡¯ll be sure to give them my thanks next chance we get.¡± Chad groaned, pulling Ginette¡¯s ball as he began to take off the belt and backpack. She took in the sight of the river while he worked to fasten the buckle sufficiently tight. Sliding the backpack straps over her shoulders, Chad looked her straight in the eyes. ¡°I have an idea what you¡¯re thinking, but just get us to the other side before you do it, please?¡±


    Ginette rolled her eyes before nodding in agreement, returning her team leader to his ball and clipping it to the magnet on the belt. Sprinting in a running start along the beach, she leapt out over the water; letting the bubbly blue energy enshroud her feet before landing. The result was similar to ice skating, as she glided across the surface of the mildly turbulent water. In all, it barely took her a few minutes to cross the river before reaching dry land on the other side, where she enacted her plan and released everyone but Chad.


    ¡°Team meeting!¡± She called out, gathering the three¡¯s attention, all of which waited expectantly. ¡°I want to discuss our plans going forward, since there¡¯s now five of us, and I expect Chad will bring up type advantages as justification why maybe only two or three of us will get to fight at each one.¡±


    ¡°That isn¡¯t exactly the wrong idea, depending how bad the match ups are.¡± Lucielle supplied, earning a nod from Gaston and an eye roll from Alexandre.


    ¡°Anyone who throws in the towel because of typing isn¡¯t someone I can respect. The disadvantage just makes your victory that much more euphoric.¡± He chimed in, asserting his position as a battle maniac.


    ¡°Comments noted, but maybe I should explain first,¡± Ginette continues, sliding the backpack off onto the ground and pulling a familiar notebook from it. ¡°Up next is the grass gym, and if memory serves, the black tea enjoyer will have Chad handle that on his own.¡±


    <Galarian Black Tea is a staple and tradition for a reason, young lady. But you are correct that I am challenging Chad for the next gym.>


    ¡°Preferential treatment,¡± grumbled Alexandre, kicking the dirt. Gaston rolled his eyes hard enough to nearly trigger a Rollout.


    ¡°Beyond that,¡± Ginette continued to prevent a fight, ¡°up next would be the electric gym. Gaston and Alexandre will tag team that one, especially once we give Alexandre his shiny rock.¡± This earned a greedy smile from the pink rabbit, forcing an elbow nudge from Lucielle.


    ¡°After that is the fairy gym, which from what I remember implies it should primarily be handled by Alexandre and Lucielle.¡± The two in question shared a fist-bump, or a close approximation of one.


    ¡°The last two are going to be a problem though. My evolution is our only counter against psychic types, and the toughest gym will be relying on Chad and Lucielle. Everyone else on this team will have a serious weakness. Do you see where I¡¯m going with this?¡±


    ¡°So he gets the most time in the spotlight; are you arguing for someone to take his place?¡± Alexandre responds with a wobble of his ears. ¡°Because I would happily take front and center for every battle from here out if you¡¯re worried, little miss.¡±


    ¡°No,¡± Gaston intercedes, his experience highlighting the main issues. ¡°The first issue is how much is riding on Chad, but the main one is that the battles won¡¯t be evenly dispersed. While I may not be suggesting my increased participation, I will note both Ginette and I only have a contribution for one more gym each.¡±


    She nodded in confirmation. ¡°That and we haven¡¯t yet met the final team member, who may throw that out of balance. Unless our gracious Narrator cares to show us behind the curtain?¡±


    <No love for a bit of mystery? Shame. In recognition of your polite inquiry, I will clarify that your final teammate will be primarily for the psychic gym challenge.>


    ¡°We can work with that, but it also reinforces what I¡¯m trying to say. We know what kinds of opponents we need to prepare for, and with Chad¡¯s help we can watch some recordings¡ª¡°


    ¡°Watch what?¡± Gaston interrupted, as he and Alexandre eyed the frog in confusion while Lucielle smirked.


    ¡°The humans can capture the images and sounds of battles, allowing them to plan for their opponents. Korrina has a lot of videos available, and she used them to help myself and the other gym pokemon improve.¡± Lucielle supplied, adopting the airs of a teacher.


    ¡°Then why are we talking about it? Bring up one of those videos!¡± Alexandre demanded, the battlelust shining in his eyes.


    ¡°We can only watch them at the red and white buildings in human towns.¡± Ginette supplied, crossing her arms.


    Alexandre, visibly upset at the answer, slammed his front feet into the dirt. ¡°Fine! Weird voice guy, speed up time so I can either watch these fights or engage in my own!¡±


    <Ginette, recognizing the problem at hand, recalled Alexandre to his pokeball to cool off.>


    Clipping the pokeball back on the belt, the frog pouted. ¡°You didn¡¯t need to do that for me,¡± she grumbled, before releasing Chad from his ball. There was a knowing look before she sighed and returned herself to her own ball, causing the belt to slide off her energy form and onto the ground.


    ¡°It sounds like I should keep an eye out for some trainers then. Do either of you want to walk with me, or would you also prefer the comfortable stasis?¡± Chad offered, slipping his arms into the backpack straps.


    Gaston shook his head no, vanishing in the red light, while Lucielle shrugged and nodded. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, I would appreciate hearing your story; should you be willing to share.¡±


    <He surely would. Chad explained along the peaceful walk along the northern coast how he came to arrive in Kalos, his early experiences with his old trainer, Stanley, and how much he appreciated everything his wonderful Narrator arranged for him.>


    <In preparation for the Lumiose City gym, Alexandre was given his Moon Stone, forcing an evolution into his powerful Nidoking form. The evolution had the pink rabbit riding a high which persisted through four trainer battles on the way. Chad instructed him to focus on his new ground typing, which came almost naturally to the rising king.>


    <During the journey, Lucielle gave Chad a few pointers on stances, close combat techniques, and footwork. While he may not have been practicing Ki techniques, the basics would elevate his up-close fighting style. Her continuous reiteration about visualizing your movements seemed to inspire something in Chad, as he experimented with the shapes of his fire fang attack.>


    <Ginette and Gaston paired off to help her practice attacking quickly and by slipping into her opponent¡¯s blind spots. Gaston meanwhile was working on his floating defenses, increasing the number of rocks he held floating around as an ever-adapting defensive field. The exercise pushed both her agility and laid the groundwork for her evolution¡¯s ninjutsu techniques, while stressing his battlefield awareness and forcing him to expand his theater or control.>


    <After a grueling three days of training and travel, Chad walked through the gates of Coumarine City. Entering the northern section of the city, off on the left were a slew of boats and yachts, all of their owners likely here to relax in the popular resort town. Once again, the team struggled to negotiate for any sort of shelter, being offered only a night in the center''s storage. To take their minds off the boring night, Chad introduced Alexandre to the wonders of the internet. The team spent the evening researching the Lumiose City gym and it¡¯s leader Clemont, with a minor interruption of Ginette dragging the pink rabbit outside the center by his tail to ¡°wash off the stench¡±.>

 Chapter 31: A Dragon Earns His Wings

    <With the rise of the morning sun, Ginette attempted to help Chad stay focused on the day by preparing breakfast for the team. After serving plates of burnt toast, raw eggs, and something so inexplicably disgusting it bore the hallmarks of the finest Kalosian cuisine, the team chef thanked her for her efforts, and provided a replacement serving of sunny-side-up eggs, a few slices of crisp toast, and what he described as ¡®sausage links¡¯, which proved violently popular.>


    <Despite not remembering to schedule an appointment the night before, Chad found a notification reminding him of his battle with Ramos in a few hours. Before he could raise the issue of a switch order, his team reassured him of their confidence, their belief that he could handle this all on his own.>


    ¡°Don¡¯t believe in yourself; believe in me, who believes in you?¡± Chad asked as he walked through the gym¡¯s automatic glass doors.


    <You won¡¯t trick me into repeating such drivel. As our hero strode into the building, exchanging his ID and pleasantries with the front desk, he was guided off to the side by the attendant. This gym was lush with greenery, and had the most pleasant aromas of any he had experienced thus far. As a physical challenge, trainers were forced to climb the tree to face their trial at the very top. Wanting to conserve his stamina, Chad swapped out with Lucielle, who was able to effortlessly climb the vertical obstacle course.>


    <Upon arrival at the top, she followed the signs through a flourishing flower garden to the battlefield. The field itself was a lush green grass, with straight lines of white flowers perfectly arranged to form the boundaries and trainer boxes. While there was tons of open air around them, and breathtaking sightlines of the ocean and surrounding wilds, the audience seating area appeared to be a collection of small tables with a variety of adult and elder humans enjoying tea and small confections.>


    <In the opposing box stood an old man, wearing a gardener¡¯s outfit and a green beret, with a gigantic pair of shears acting like a walking cane. ¡°Ho! So yeh''ve made it clear up here!¡± He says with a gentle laugh. ¡°I''m the Gym Leader; Ramos''s the name. So what''d yeh think, whippersnapper? Did yeh enjoy the garden playground I made with all these sturdy plants o'' mine? Their strength is a sign o'' my strength as a gardener and a Gym Leader! Yeh sure yer up to facing all that?" He eyed Lucielle with a knowing smile.>


    Lucielle held out a paw in the universal expression for ¡®please wait¡¯, as she unclipped Chad¡¯s pokeball from the belt and released him in the challenger¡¯s box. ¡°We¡¯ll be over here watching,¡± she informed him, before moving over to claim an empty table and releasing the rest of the team to watch. Lucielle and Ginette claimed the two chairs, forcing Gaston and Alexandre to sit on the ground.


    <The onlookers shared hushed conversations and whispered concerns, as Ramos weighed whether his challenger was just plain cocky, or maybe being punished somehow. ¡°Chad, this is a four star gym battle. You are allowed to use more than one pokemon, and you do have switches¡­¡± He tried to explain, feeling out his opponent.>


    Chad could only shrug, stepping out onto the field. ¡°Normally, yea. But my role as team leader is sort of riding on this. I apologize if it seems disrespectful,¡± He explained, finishing with a slight forward bow with his arms straight down his sides.


    <Ramos waved it off, pulling a pokeball from his belt. ¡°Not sure what you were saying, but I can spot an apology when I see one. Ref, start us off?¡±>


    <On the opposite side of the field from the audience, a gym trainer wearing a similar gardener¡¯s outfit to Ramos stepped up to the edge of the field. They signaled an Exeggutor beside them who began to raise a psychic energy shield around the battlefield. ¡°This will be a one on three battle with no switches, between Coumarine Gym Leader Ramos and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Ramos nodded, and Chad signaled an affirmative to the ref. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡±>


    Author-chan here! This is the third and final song that influenced me into having themed battle tracks for this work. "No Guardian Angel" by T. Stebbins.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/2iuOE6268e5wNbvYAyzjYn?si=23d586a5fc844f72</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zF9VdIs5RGI</a>


    Chad didn¡¯t wait to see Ramos¡¯ first pokemon, he immediately started setting up like before, this time flooding his body with Ki as his muscles flexed and grew. The ki faded, leaving his body steaming, as his first opponent solidified into a blue orb floating in the air with three white puffballs surrounding it.


    <¡±Jumpluff, stall tactics.¡± Ramos commanded lightly, his soft tone carrying decades of experience, as his partner spat a blast of seeds towards the fire type.>


    Chad intercepted the projectiles with a quick burst of flame, incinerating them, before he began to power-walk to the left. With his ankles glowing from the magenta wings, he simultaneously compressed raw fire and energy into a sphere of raw plasma before letting it float into the air. The miniature sun seemed to perk up all the nearby plants, with several seeming to turn to bask in its glory.


    ¡°Sunny Day may help you burn hotter, but it also helps me take you down faster!¡± The grass type called out, as it leapt forward at an incredible speed to strafe past Chad. When at a sufficient angle, the Jumpluff spat out another barrage of seeds, forcing the lizard to leap and roll forward to escape them.


    Once again, Chad coated himself in Ki, pushing his muscle definition from ¡®decent¡¯ up to ¡®gym rat¡¯, as he curved towards the puffball. ¡°I would love to see you stall faster,¡± he joked before belching a cone of flame towards the grass type. There was a flash of light blue as his foe flew up and over the flames, diving back towards where he held two fire daggers, ready and waiting. Both made contact, with Chad sliding back and the Jumpluff bouncing across the grass before rolling to a stop. As the puffball began to rise up, Chad chucked his two daggers at them, the raw fire energy digging in and earning a final wail from his foe before they went down again. Not waiting for the ref to make the call, the fire type pumped his body with the brown fighting energy one last time, escalating from ¡®gym rat¡¯ to ¡®ugh gross¡¯ levels of musculature.The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    <¡±Jumpluff is unable to battle. Gym Leader Ramos, please send out your next pokemon!¡± The referee called out, as Ramos aimed the red recall beam at his pokemon. Only a moment later, he threw forward another ball, revealing a yellow and green bell-like plant with large googly eyes and two sharp leaves sprouting from its sides. ¡°Weepinbell, he¡¯s already setting up. Poison him!¡± The old man demanded with a glint in his eyes.>


    Chad immediately pulled back at the order, coating his ankles and head in psychic energy as he eyed the poisonous plant pokemon. Across the field, the air began to haze as a purple powder floated off the grass type. ¡°Thankfully I¡¯m no one-trick dragon,¡± Chad reassured himself, as he conjured another ball of plasma in his hands. He was able to throw it up in the air just as a glob of purple gunk flew at him from the organic cannon.


    The audience began to chatter as the second sun began to orbit with the first in a slow dance, rather than merge or cancel each other out. Weepinbell¡¯s leaves rotated to soak in the rays, as it rotated its mouth to track the fire lizard. Steadily, the cloud of poisonous powder began to flow forward across the field in a slow march. With perfect timing, before Chad could unleash a gust of flames, the little bell fired off a near-instant solar beam, forcing Chad to abort and dodge.


    This continued for a few shots until Chad seemingly chose not to dodge, the raw solar energy searing his left shoulder as he blasted back with a potent gush of fire. The burning blast cleared out half the poison power and forced Weepinbell to retreat. But appearing from within the flames, Chad unleashed a point-blank burst of more fire, trading for a final solar beam from the plant before it too fell unconscious.


    <¡±Weepinbell is unable to battle. Gym Leader Ramos, please send out your final pokemon!¡± The ref called, as Ramos immediately made the switch, as a large brown and green goat took to the field. ¡°You¡¯re leaning a little too hard on type advantage, whippersnapper. Gogoat, show this sprout fire isn¡¯t everything.¡±>


    The new quadruped stared down his tired opponent, his hooves flaring with light brown energy as he lightly dug at the ground with a front hoof. ¡°Think you¡¯re hot stuff for getting this far?¡± He asked, beginning to walk to the right as the two circled each other.


    ¡°Only literally, but I¡¯ve still got a ways to go.¡± Chad responded, as a pair of fiery wings burst out of his back, forcing him to charge across the ring. The goat smirked, charging in as well as the dirt began to rumble and split behind him. Chad, not spotting the glowing green vine poke up from the ground, caught his foot and tumbled forward before colliding with a pair of horns and a thick skull.


    With both combatants again at opposite sides of the field, Chad slowly stood up, a flap of the wings steadying him on his feet while the goat prepared another charge. ¡°Though, there is one thing I¡¯m pretty sure only I know,¡± Chad said, trailing off as he gathered yet another micro sun in his hand. Prepared for a final attack, Chad tossed the sun up into the air, sending it on a straight line for the other swirling two.


    ¡°Oh? And what might that be?¡± Gogoat responded, his hooves blazing with ground energy as he lowered his head. A silent signal sent both running in at full tilt, while the third sun began to orbit the other two.


    Just as the new solar body was swinging around to the front of the two others, Chad leapt into the air. ¡°Orbital mechanics,¡± he responded, firmly grabbing his left wing with both hands and compressing it down into a large katana. As the third sun interposed itself between the field and two other suns, gravity inverted; both combatants rose into the air, including the onlookers, chairs, tables¨C if it wasn¡¯t bolted down, it was floating.


    Gogoat was tumbling through the air towards Chad, who threw a short puff of fire behind him to accelerate towards, through, and past the goat while swinging the katana with a solid cut clean through their body. With the sun vanishing behind the other two again, gravity resumed its hold, pulling everything back to the ground. Chad spun around and took a ready stance, his right fiery wing flaring and katana at the ready.


    Gogoat struggled to his feet, huffing in annoyance as his gaze bore into the lizard. ¡°Always something new,¡± he grumbled, lining up for another charge. Chad shifted his stance, aiming the sword back and behind him on his right. Coating himself in white energy, Gogoat bolted straight at Chad, determined to knock at least one of them out. Chad attempted to move, only to find his feet tied down in place by vines, and instead lowered his stance further. In a split-second, just before the charging goat pummeled him into next Tuesday, Chad swung forward in a well-timed slice.


    The crowd waited in silence as Gogoat went past, before Chad fell to a knee coughing, followed by Gogoat collapsing to the ground unmoving.


    <¡±Gogoat is unable to battle! Challenger Chad wins!¡± The ref announced, to a mix of applause, cheering, and angry shouts from the audience over their ¡®ruined¡¯ tea party. Chad¡¯s own team were giving their own mixed reactions, from Ginette¡¯s exuberance beside Lucielle¡¯s polite golf clap, to Gaston¡¯s rhythmic stomping paired with Alexandre¡¯s complaints about ¡®showboating¡¯.>


    <Several waiters hurried around to address the audience complaints, while Ramos returned his Gogoat and began to walk onto the field with an amused grin. ¡°Cuttin¡¯ it close there, sprout. But you showed spirit and drive, just like I heard.¡± He commented, as Chad fell backwards to sit on the ground breathing hard.>


    ¡°How. Am I. This. Tired. After. Five. Minutes?!¡± Chad shouted between deep breaths, earning a laugh as Ginette swept over to help him to his feet. Leaning on her for support, he offered a claw for a handshake.


    <Ramos humored the upcoming trainer, giving a soft shake of their claw before breaking away to pull out his badge. ¡°I present your Plant Badge, sprout. I look forward to seeing how far you can go.¡± The little emblem was a dewdrop of green with a proud golden tree trunk growing up the middle from the base, with the whole icon resembling a leaf.>


    <Chad went out like a light then and there, prompting Lucielle to recall him from her seat. Ginette softly pantomimed an apology as the four quietly left the area. Thankfully, the ref showed them to the elevator down (which required recalling the two big boys as it was barely human-sized).>


    <After leaving Chad at the pokecenter, the four decided to take advantage of the city and Chad¡¯s winnings to treat themselves to a spa day. Luckily, they were able to find one which catered towards pokemon, and promptly went all-in on the services. Ginette and Lucielle found themselves enjoying a full body massage from a pair of skilled Machamps, working muscle groups the two hadn¡¯t even realized were stiff or sore. Alexandre took advantage of a poison specialist Scizor working at the spa to get a general clean-up for all of his claws and spines. And Gaston enjoyed a meditation class led by an enlightened Alakazam, tapping into his inner self.>


    <After their afternoon of fun, the four returned to the pokecenter where Chad happily made the team dinner, eager to¨C >


    ¡°You spent HOW MUCH?!¡± Chad shouted, catching the attention of the entire building with his rage. The four, realizing what had happened, cast their gazes down in guilt; except for Alexandre who upheld his aura of ¡®You should¡¯ve given me more money¡¯.


    ¡°We just wanted to relax a little, do something for ourselves.¡± Ginette defended the group, still unwilling to meet his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re always super cautious, and never let us buy anything for fun.¡±


    Chad, torn between grilling his teammates and grilling the protein audibly searing on the pan, roared with rage as he resumed the one thing he had control of. ¡°Lucielle, when Korrina beat a challenger, do you remember how much money it cost them?¡± The jackal shuffled nervously, silently answering no. ¡°Had I lost today, our savings would¡¯ve been a third of what it was before the match.¡±


    Ginette looked lost and confused, while Lucielle bit her lip. Gaston was visibly uncomfortable, while Alexandre huffed. ¡°Seems dumb to think you were even capable of losing today; not like you¡¯re that much of a pushover.¡± His statement spiked the anxiety in the group further, tensions running as high as the heat of the stove.


    ¡°And now, we¡¯re barely going to have enough funds for supplies for the trip to Lumiose City.¡± Chad continued, visibly irritated when he flipped a cut of meat and spotted a tinge of burnt black at the edge. ¡°Are you OK with catching and eating Caterpie and Pidgey?¡±


    ¡°I won¡¯t let it come to that!¡± Ginette asserts, finding her resolve. ¡°I¡¯m going to challenge every trainer I can for some extra cash after dinner; anyone with me?¡± Alexandre slammed his fists together in excited agreement, while Lucielle and Gaston expressed their participation in more muted means.


    <And challenge they did, though it took them a few attempts to properly convey they were looking for wager battles. The notion of a trainer-less team drew sufficient attention that they were able to claw back some of the funds from their little excursion, but the four realized they had a long road ahead to refill the team¡¯s warchest. A quiet evening together later, and the topic quickly shifted to Chad¡¯s evolution. The Narrator played coy, avoiding any and all questions while merely directing them to wait while he made arrangements.>

 Chapter 31.5: Turning Point 2

    ¡°So, how will this work, exactly?¡± Chad asks nervously; the group were arranged around the room in the pokecenter. "And thanks for getting us a room for tonight; not sure how many more times I can sleep in my ball."


    <You''re welcome. First, I¡¯ll separate the timeline into four waveforms. Each waveform will be an independent timeline, and once we¡¯ve selected which to make the ¡®true¡¯ timeline, I¡¯ll collapse the other three. As far as any of you will remember, Chad only experienced a single evolution. Any questions?>


    ¡°Will the separate timelines continue or will you be ¡®pruning¡¯ them like in Loki?¡± Chad inquired, shuffling in place as he fidgeted with his claws.


    <Yes. I¡¯ll be splitting the waveform in a second, and then I can release the evo-lock.>


    <hr>


    ¡°So, what do I need to dooooOOOOAGH!¡± Chad began roaring, his voice dropping in pitch to a deep tremor as the room shook. His body went pure white before expanding in all directions. His tail doubled in length, bending after impacting the wall and being diverted. His head shot upwards as his height doubled, with a significant boost coming from his new long neck that now sported a head with two horns extending back from both sides of his skull.


    His hips expanded sideways, pushing his stance wide while both legs almost doubled in thickness, retaining their previous length. Lastly, a pair of massive webbed wings erupted from his shoulder blades, the tips touching both sides of the room while the knuckles scraped the ceiling.


    As the light faded, an orange Charizard took in his new appearance, eyeing his right wing before grabbing his rotund belly. Giving it a shake, his arms fell to his side as his head drooped with disappointment.


    ¡°Ooo! You can fly now!¡± Ginette commented in excitement, climbing up Chad¡¯s back and gently moving his wings while making ¡®flap, flap¡¯ sounds. ¡°No more ground travel for this team, we can just zip about!¡±


    ¡°Not quite,¡± Chad began, retracting his wings to free up the space. ¡°I¡¯ll need to pass a certification exam in Lumiose City first before we¡¯re allowed to fly around. And that could take a week or more depending on if they even let me sign up.¡±


    <Oh, they will.>


    With a sigh, Chad sat down and swept his attention across his teammates. ¡°Thoughts?¡±


    ¡°We can fly now! Why are you so focused on minor things; you think Luca can fly? He¡¯ll be lucky if he can run as fast as you do!¡± Ginette spoke up first, firmly putting herself in the camp of ¡®Don¡¯t even think about asking me to walk anywhere again¡¯.


    ¡°I have no reference for your species, and I can understand why you may dislike the aesthetic changes. But I would remind you that there are going to be many pokemon who will not see a ¡®fat dragon¡¯, but rather a powerful dragon not native to this region.¡± Lucielle went next, attempting to compliment Chad and elevate his mood.


    ¡°I find myself at a loss for context here, but you¡¯ve grown from a scraggly little lizard into a man. You exude power, and need to start acting like it. I refuse to accept the presence of a wingman with no confidence.¡± Alexandre stated in annoyance. His pun earned an open smile from Ginette who managed to convince the giant to give her a fist bump.


    Gaston, having deliberately waited, raised himself up as the final contributor. ¡°There are many things in our lives we chose, and many we have no say in. If this form is not of your choosing, what you do with it will be. Don¡¯t give up just yet.¡±


    ¡°Thanks everyone.¡± Chad accepted the group hug including everyone but Alexandre, Gaston, Lucielle, and Ginette. ¡°So, Narrator, what happens next?¡±


    <Well next I will go through the other evolutions and you just hang tight.>


    ¡°Wait, what¨C ¡°


    <hr>


    ¡°So what do I need to do?¡± Chad asked, as he stood there with nothing happening.


    <Ah, for this one, I need you to unwrap the present that I left for you.>


    ¡°What present? I don¡¯t¨C ¡° Chad began before noticing the box sitting on the bed, wrapped in back sparkly paper with a bright blue bow. Nervously, he undid the bow and shredded the black paper, revealing a plain box. Inside the box however, was a perfect sphere, swirling with red, black, light blue, and indigo. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a mega stone?¡±


    <Yes. Now, this may sound odd but, I need you to eat it.>


    Chad eyed the large sphere skeptically. ¡°Eat it?!¡±


    <Yes. Open up wide, shove it in, and swallow.>


    ¡°Phrasing?¡± Ginette asked, receiving a bonk on the head from Lucielle. Eyeing the sphere, Chad gulped before stretching his mouth as wide as he could. He froze as the orb touched both his tongue and the roof of his mouth, removing it.


    ¡°Are¨C Are you sure this is the only way?¡± He asked weakly, his hands shaking.


    <Sigh; Lords and Ladies, would you mind?>


    Chad¡¯s face shifted to abject fear as Lucielle pinned both his arms behind him, Ginette catching the orb in her webbed hands. Alexandre effortlessly restrained Chad¡¯s legs, while Gaston bit down and held the flaming tail in place. ¡°Say ¡®Aah¡¯!¡± Ginette instructed, shoving the orb into her teammate¡¯s mouth, pushing down his throat until he swallowed and coughed. The lizard violently coughed, not having been prepared for the ordeal.


    Nothing happened, however. ¡°Did you seriously just force me to eat a mega stone for noooOOOO¨C¡± Chad¡¯s body shone white, his body beginning to grow outwards and upwards as his voice dropped to a deep tenor. His hips widened, legs doubling in thickness. His tail doubled in length, growing thicker at the base to match his new torso. Doubling in height, much of it due to his new long neck, his single horn split into two atop his skull with one on either side, curving upwards to two points.


    On his shoulders, four new horns grew with two on the front and two on the back, each curving up to make a pointed-tip ¡®U¡¯. From his back erupted a pair of webbed wings which managed to touch two opposing walls and the ceiling. Interestingly, the wings had points sticking out the bottom which were reminiscent of feathered wings.


    As the white faded, his new body was revealed to have swapped to a color scheme of black scales with a blue underbelly and light blue webbing on his wings. The blue perfectly complemented his eyes, which were now scanning his form in confusion. ¡°Why am I black?¡± He asked, eyeing his new form, noting that even his tail flame had changed colors to a soft baby blue.


    ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter; you can fly AND you look bad-ass!¡± Ginette cheered, climbing up Chad¡¯s back using the newly-sprouted spines as footholds. She stood upon his shoulders, locking her feet using the shoulder-horns. ¡°Now Team Blue has our third member!¡±You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.


    Chad, looking down, grabbed his belly and shook it with a sigh. ¡°Guess some things are just constant¡­¡± Eyeing the other three teammates, he folded in his wings and stood tall. ¡°So, Ginette has shared her opinion. What are your thoughts?¡±


    ¡°Downright menacing!¡± Alexandre cheered with a fist pump. ¡°You¡¯ve graduated from the whiny little lizard with some skill to the beast who commands respect and fear. The energy you¡¯re putting off has me itching for a spar right now.¡±


    Gaston lightly smacks the battle junkie with his tail. ¡°I echo my impulsive compatriot¡¯s sentiments. While you may be disappointed with your body shape, do not let it distract you from the raw upgrade in power you have been granted. I take it by your expression this form was unexpected?¡± Chad nodded. ¡°Then that just means this form must be superior in some regard, and the only one unhappy with it is you.¡±


    Lucielle eyed Chad closely, before reaching out and touching his arm. She seemed to be intently focusing on something, as wisps of white energy floated about her. ¡°Your new typing seems to be fire and dragon, which explains the raw feeling of power you give off. I don¡¯t dislike it, but I worry someone with your mentality could be¡­ difficult if empowered by draconic energy.¡±


    Chad took a deep breath in, then out, as he smiled and basked in the support of his teammates. ¡°Thanks, everyone. So, Narrator, what¡¯s next?¡±


    <Oh, we¡¯ll do the remaining two evolutions then close things out.>


    <hr>


    ¡°So what do I need to do?¡± Chad asked, as he stood there with nothing happening.


    ¡°Maybe it has something to do with this?¡± Lucielle asked, motioning towards the black gift box with a blue bow sitting on the bed.


    <Ah, please wait. That was for a different timeline. For this one, I need you to reach nirvana.>


    The room was quiet, waiting for an explanation, because dear Narrator you can¡¯t just say something like that and not expound on the steps and goal.


    <Even when you aren¡¯t directly speaking to me you can be irritating. Fine. You will need to stack Calm Mind four times, then meditate in a Rest. When you discover the universal truth, the evolution will trigger.>


    ¡°That sounds like it could take a while.¡± Lucielle commented, comfortably seated on the bed beside Ginette as the two held hands.


    <Ye of little faith. Simply start your progress and I can assist with a contained temporal anomaly.>


    ¡°You mean you¡¯ll lock me in a makeshift hyperbolic time chamber?¡± Chad asked with a sly smirk, sitting cross-legged on a pillow on the ground. The other four exchanged confused looks, but he didn¡¯t let it slow him. With each iteration of psychic energies coating his head, Chad¡¯s breathing began to slow. Upon completing the fourth application, the psychic energy spread to cover his entire body.


    <With his breathing slowed to a glacial pace, and as he began to float over the pillow, a translucent cover stretched down from a dome over his head. Once the shroud sealed to the floor, time inside began to rapidly speed up, to the point his shallow once-per-minute breathing was now going so fast it was almost impossible to tell.>


    At least up until the dome shattered with an audible crack, his form completely coated in a bright glow. His tail doubled in length, but seemed to keep the original thickness, which made it long and spindly. His legs doubled in length, now thin and more athletic. His arms gained some definition, as the fingers seemed to shift around for better grip, while also lengthening to accommodate his new body. His torso stretched out, increasing his height but without much of a shift in his shoulder width.


    Lastly, his horn split in two, with each migrating to frame both sides of his skull to match as two long whiskers sprouted from the tip of his snout. With the changes seemingly complete, the light faded, revealing an orange elongated dragon with a light underbelly. Standing upright, Chad was now roughly the same height as Alexandre, but much thinner and leaner, with a tail that could easily be as long as he was tall. ¡°Huh.¡±


    ¡°Aww,¡± Ginette whined. ¡°I was hoping you could fly. Now you look like a stiff breeze could carry you away.¡± The visual earned a light poke from Lucielle into the frog¡¯s side, causing the amphibian to squeak.


    <To clarify, this form is your psychic variant. You should have access to a multitude of psychic abilities now.>


    Clicking his claws together, Chad slowly turned his gaze to Ginette before furrowing his brow and intensely focusing. She was shifting nervously, rolling her shoulders, until with wide eyes she threw herself forward furiously scratching at her back. ¡°Aaaaaah! Stop! Stop, it itches so bad!¡± She shouted, as Lucielle attempted to help scratch the hard-to-reach areas. The itching began to fade as Chad laughed in amusement.


    ¡°Oh yea, this feels right. Before I go test it, thoughts?¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t appreciate being the test subject, but you¡¯re going to be a nightmare to fight against now.¡± Ginette commented, sitting back upright and burying herself in Lucielle¡¯s soft fur. ¡°I¡¯ll have a double type advantage and will probably still lose.¡±


    ¡°Oh dear, don¡¯t fret too much. I¡¯ll just teach you Korrina¡¯s anti-psychic techniques.¡± Lucielle whispered, offering a smug smile towards her team leader. ¡°That said, I worry how this will mesh with your previously all-in offensive style. That body doesn¡¯t look super durable, if anything you might be more fragile.¡±


    ¡°She has a point,¡± Gaston agreed, eyeing Chad¡¯s thin limbs. ¡°Your new form seems to be specifically tailored for special and ranged attacks. You may need to rethink your strategy and develop some new tricks.¡± The fire dragon nodded, though he clearly wasn¡¯t 100% paying attention as he slowly began to float off the floor.


    ¡°Though that could work out for us; I know you were trying to follow in my huge footsteps, but there¡¯s no need to force yourself to fit my shoes. We needed a ranged attacker, and it seems fate has arranged for you to don the mantle.¡± Alexandre¡¯s gaze traced up and down his leader¡¯s new form, before settling into a grin. ¡°On the plus side, you may be able to put on a dress and win a beauty contest.¡±


    Chad¡¯s harsh gaze drilled into the pink rabbit. ¡°Narrator, please tell me I can thrash this meathead now?¡±


    <Not quite, still one more to go.>


    ¡°No matter which timeline becomes reality, please ensure I give Alexandre a much-needed beatdown.¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°So what do I need to do?¡± Chad asked, as he stood there with nothing happening.


    <This is the fourth and final timeline, so listen carefully. You need to use Bulk Up until your muscles hit their limit, then do it one more time and surpass your limits. You essentially need to will your Ki to override reality. That or complete a heroic feat of strength, but there¡¯s none of those in this dimension.>


    ¡°That¡­ does it involve screaming or anything?¡±


    <You may if it helps.>


    Chad widened his stance, squaring his feet with his shoulders, before coating his body in Ki and flexing. The first stage was quick, barely toning the muscle mass, before he leapt straight into the second stage. Expanding his muscle mass to be distinctly visible, the phase took several seconds to lock down, forcing him to pause for a breather.


    Centered and focused, Chad coated his body with Ki for a third time, pushing his muscles to the absolute limit as his body began to look more like a Mister Universe contestant (sans the shining oil). Without the pressure of battle, Chad took his time, almost a full minute, to complete the transition. While catching his breath and panting hard, he seized the moment to appreciate just how swole he could go.


    ¡°Chad, this¨C I have never heard of anyone doing this. Please be careful, the body has limits for a reason.¡± Lucielle warned from the bed, as Ginette draped an arm over her shoulder.


    ¡°Thanks, I¡¯ll try, but you heard the Narrator. I need to push beyond. And on that, I apologize for the noise¨C¡±


    <The sound cancellation bubble has been in place since before we started.>


    ¡°It¡¯s still going to be loud for us.¡± Chad admitted, as he began to coat himself in Ki once more. At first nothing happened, so he flooded himself with increasing amounts of fighting energy. The brown energy began to shine as it thickened, with parts even beginning to flicker away as they drifted away from the main mass.


    Clenching his teeth in pain, with blood dripping from the side of his mouth where he clenched too hard, Chad quickly abandoned holding it in. ¡°Aaaaaaaaaaa¨C¡± he began to shout, pumping in even more Ki until the aura was a full five centimeters around him like a bubble. The surface was turbulent, rippling as the energy sought to escape from the crowded mass.


    ¡°Haaaaaaaaaa¡ª¡± he continued to scream, pumping the aura to the point it began to expand, now a full twenty centimeters from the surface of his body, rounding out into an egg with the edges breaking off akin to the fringes of a candle.


    ¡°HAAAAAAAAA¨C¡± he screamed even louder, as the Ki bubble doubled in volume again for a few seconds before it rushed into his body. Now glowing with the familiar light of evolution, Chad¡¯s height shot way up, with his head firmly above Alexandre¡¯s, the iconic dual horns poking out from either side of his skull and tapping the ceiling.


    His legs, arms, and torso all lengthened; now much closer to a humanoid structure. That was when everything started to get thicker; biceps, thighs, calf muscles, forearms¡­ His shoulders also widened until he was an inverted pear shape. The light began to fade, revealing an incredibly muscular orange dragon, with a short neck, medium length tail, and enough definition to use his body as a guide to every fiber in a humanoid muscular system.


    Chad gave a few test flexes, checking his flexibility while grinning like a madman at what he saw. ¡°Now THIS, this I could get used to.¡± His voice was infectiously alluring, and he chose to strike a pose for his teammates, not noticing the four pink energy hearts which flew out to impact each of them.


    <Oh you absolutely empty-headed, Arceus-forsaken idiot.>


    ¡°Maybe I was too hasty back when we first met. I would be happy to share a tent with vous any night.¡± Alexandre complimented with a suggestive smile and a wink.


    ¡°Nonsense, if he¡¯s to spend the night in anyone¡¯s bedchambers it shall be mine, by right of the throne.¡± Gaston asserted, locking eyes with Alexandre as sparks flew between them.


    Ginette and Lucielle shared a look. ¡°Is it cheating if you do it together?¡± Lucielle asked softly, feeling out her girlfriend¡¯s opinion.


    ¡°No, that¡¯s just sharing. And I am not against proper sharing¡­¡± Ginette answered, as the two slowly crept forward to avoid drawing the attention of the feuding royals.


    ¡°Uh, Narrator¡­?¡± Chad took a step back, trying to keep the four hungry predators in his sight, with both hands extended outwards with flat open palms.


    <You used an exceptionally potent Attract. Your only hope, should this become the prime timeline, is to return them to their pokeballs before they can restrain you.>


    ¡°Veto? VETO! Can I veto this one, please?!¡± Chad pleaded, as his four teammates quickly shouted ¡®No!¡¯.


    <hr>


    So, Narrator, what¡¯s your take? Which do you think will win?


    <I would hope our readers aren¡¯t so depraved as to support the fighting type route; Arceus knows there¡¯s already too many fire-fighting pokemon out there. While I recognize the draw of ¡®new and shiny¡¯ from the psychic route, I do hope our readers value the classics. Flight is a powerful function beyond just battle, and will be valuable to finish out the rest of the journey.>


    Sounds like you¡¯re pulling for either the flying or dragon routes. Well, let¡¯s see what happens.

 Interlude 3: Operation Row Row Fight (for) the Power

    The red sands crunch under her hiking boots with every step, unobstructed in her path as every pokemon on Route 13 does their utmost to stay out of her line of sight. Her white and yellow sundress with matching fuzzy yellow hat ears flutter in the light breeze, as the attached paw-mittens gently whip about. Her purple-gloved hands swing lightly as she sashays through the desert landscape. Upon reaching the start of the bridge to the power plant, she lowers her metal-framed baby blue sunglasses, revealing a matching pair of blue eyes.


    On the bridge, and looking positively sunburned, is a Team Flare grunt who likely drew the short straw. He had been watching her through the hazy air, but slowly reached for a pokeball at his belt now that she was within an audible speaking range. ¡°I apologize, Ma¡¯am. The power plant is currently closed for repairs.¡±


    The woman slid her sunglasses back on, her grin locked into a firm smug, before she began power-walking towards the man. ¡°I am aware; I¡¯m here with the janitorial team.¡± She called out, swinging her arms to distinctly show a lack of pokeballs at her waist.


    The grunt, having a lick of sense, expanded a pokeball and released a Houndoom at his side with a howl. ¡°There¡¯s no need for some cleaners until the repairs are complete,¡± he argued, tensing up as she reached the edge of the bridge.


    The woman laughed, her voice deep and sultry. ¡°Oh, dear me, has that claim worked on anyone yet?¡± She inquired, forcing the fire dog to launch at her with embers building within its mouth. ¡°It probably has. But unfortunately for you, I was not lying.¡±


    The attacking dog was nearly upon her with flames ready to go, before it immediately vanished backwards, being carried by a massive stream of water at untold pressure levels. The horizontal pillar of water blew right past the grunt and into the far stone canyon wall with a large ¡®crack¡¯. The grunt was frozen, turning his head backwards to see where his pokemon had gone. In that moment, a deep blue blur made contact with him, transferring all its inertia and sending the man flying into the same rock wall beside his black dog, creating an even larger crater in the stone.


    The Lady whistles in amazement. ¡°You know, if it weren¡¯t for the safeties, that¡¯d have killed him right?¡± She prods, resuming her march towards the objective. The blue mass lengthens and resolves its form into a long, white-bellied serpent with a jewel just beneath their skull. Dragonair rolls their eyes before slithering along behind the woman.


    ¡°With how many hospitals and lives depend on this electricity, I find myself slightly less worried about their safety.¡± It responded, glancing back for a moment. Behind the two of them, the rest of the team were not far behind. Skrelp looked proud of herself, curled around the armored tank of a Shelgon for stability as the pair led the pack. On their flank strode a familiar Fraxure, who was seemingly vibrating in excitement as she whispered her chant of ¡®raid, raid, raid!¡¯. Pulling up the rear, Noibat was flying just above the two latest recruits; a Goomy and a Gabite. The two had been found arguing nearby, and Dragonair made it a point to bring them along for the journey.


    ¡°Be careful about those feelings. The Protagonist sets the tone for the Story.¡± The Lady lectured, wagging a finger with a concerned expression. ¡°So far we¡¯ve kept it upbeat, but if you push too hard that may vanish, and any safety measures with it.¡±


    The team came to a stop once the massive building was in view, towering over the sands and stone. ¡°Noted, but if they continue doing stuff like this I may not be able to keep an upbeat smile.¡± Dragonair twisted the upper part of their body to face the group behind them, determined and focused. ¡°OK team, unlike the cave we need to be mindful of the walls and ceiling this time. We can¡¯t afford to damage anything, so watch your background before you launch an attack. Any questions?¡±


    Gabite raised a wing/claw in the back before asking ¡°How do we know who¡¯s an enemy?¡± He seemed a mixture of confident and nervous, at least until Fraxure tapped his shoulder.


    ¡°Just stick with me, buddy system! Target who I do, simple!¡± She said with a cheer, eliciting a smile in her new ¡®buddy¡¯. ¡°Noibat can go with Goomy, and Skrelp with Shelly!¡± Shelgon huffed at the nickname, as Skrelp gave a giggle that sounded like bubbles popping.


    ¡°Guess I¡¯ll be solo this time,¡± Dragonair concluded, their fins flicking up and quickly searching the skies.


    ¡°Oh, no; you¡¯ll have a partner. The Narrator arranged for him to arrive just in time to help with this, so please be on your best behavior.¡± The Lady clarified, her eyes locked on a bird in the sky which slowly circled around to descend beside the party. He landed with a flap of his light brown wings, two long bird legs covered in off-white plumage standing on the sand. The white plumage extended up his body, up until an emerald green cape-like arrangement of feathers covered his shoulders and back, coming up into a pseudo-hood to obscure his owl-like face where a pair of orange eyes glowed from within the shadows.


    ¡°You¡¯re a long way from home,¡± Dragonair commented, as the newcomer nodded before offering a respectable bow to The Lady.


    ¡°Welcome, Keanu. We were just deciding pairs before covering the briefing. You can pair up with Dragonair here. Now, for a quick run-down¡­¡± The Lady began, explaining the objectives and challenges to come.


    <hr>


    ¡°First, there are several Team Flare members strewn throughout the plant. They won¡¯t be caught off-guard like last time¡­¡±


    ¡°-And that¡¯s when that loser Andre just surrendered. Like, I had a feeling he wasn¡¯t really on our side, but he didn¡¯t even try! Asshole just recalled his weak pokemon once that woman smiled at him.¡± Elise ranted, and yet again I was forced to listen. I had been further inside the cave during that raid, but for whatever reason I had been put on the vanguard for this mission.Stolen novel; please report.


    ¡°Don¡¯t hold it against him, Elise. Andre had never really been cut out for this; guy was just desperate for enough cash to feed his Houndoom.¡± I chimed in, defending the only member of our organization who hadn¡¯t accepted the ¡®Get Out of Jail Free¡¯ offer. My timer beeped and I pulled out the provided holo caster to call the point man. The line rang, and rang, and rang¡­ and went to voicemail.


    ¡°Pssh, another slacker. And Jerome claimed to be ¡®the responsible one¡¯.¡± She mocked using air quotes, disregarding the reality of the situation. I didn¡¯t, and quickly pulled out a pokeball for the loaned Croagunk, releasing it nearby and palming my personal Scraggy.


    ¡°Jerome isn¡¯t a slacker; if he isn¡¯t responding, then the intel was true.¡± I shared, as she rolled her eyes and called out her own Croagunk. Then, echoing in the silence of the hallway, I heard it.


    Someone was playing a grand piano like their life depended on it.


    <hr>


    ¡°Second, there are some local employees who will need to be rescued¡­¡±


    Doing his best to match the symbols, Noibat pressed the buttons on the number pad in the same sequence they appeared on the paper taped next to it. It took a few attempts, but eventually he squeaked in happiness when the numbers went green and the door chimed. There was a ¡®thunk¡¯ as the mechanical latch unlocked, but it took both his and Goomy¡¯s efforts to slide the heavy door open.


    Inside, six humans in worker outfits were hurriedly using the computers and switchboards, with dozens of manuals left open on any available surface, and several hastily-sketched diagrams drawn on paper and taped near specific areas on the switchboards. As the door opened, all six had their eyes on the two dragons, their expressions first that of fear, then confusion, and finally relief. ¡°Are you here to save the plant?¡± One asked, hopeful.


    Noibat nodded, gesturing for them to follow. However none moved, and the one who spoke earlier bit her lip. ¡°We¨C We can¡¯t leave yet; we¡¯re the only thing keeping this plant from going completely dark.¡±


    ¡°If you can remove those invaders, we can get the automated systems back up and at least identify the damage around the facility.¡± Another chimed in from near the switchboard, before returning to his task of shifting cables around. Noibat and Goomy shared a look, before both nodded and made their way deeper into the facility.


    <hr>


    ¡°And third, absolutely avoid damaging the equipment!¡±


    I was lucky Raphael had abandoned his position to reinforce mine. A Gabite was already a tough customer, but this Fraxure acted almost trained. Between his Golbat and my Mightyena, we were barely holding our own. ¡°Keep your distance, Mightyena; use your range!¡± I shouted, eyeing Raphael beside me.


    ¡°Golbat, punish them if either one over-extends! Use Wing Attack!¡± He called out, and just as anticipated the bat dove at the Gabite who was too far away from Fraxure. The dragon ducked barely in time, as the Golbat cut through where it had been, slicing through and hitting a pipe extruding from the wall. There was a shower of sparks as the electrical wires within died out, distracting both dragons for a moment as they eyed the damage.


    ¡°Damnit, Raphael, you better hope that wasn¡¯t important!¡± I shouted, secretly hoping it was. I¡¯d been aiming at his role in the organization; if I could pin the blame for this on him, it might secure my promotion. That was when I heard another slicing sound, as the Fraxure cut the other side of the pipe and pulled. It hefted the pipe above its head, shouting ¡°FRAX!¡±, which was definitely odd.


    ¡°Heh, looks like we can just blame¨C¡± Raphael started to say, before the little menace threw the pipe like a javelin, nailing Golbat dead-on and dropping it out of the sky. Even the Gabite was caught off-guard, watching the events in awe.


    ¡°Mightyena, cover for Golbat until it can fly again!¡± I ordered, trying to keep the match a two on two. At least, until I saw the Gabite cheer, and then use its wing to cut another piece of pipe with live wires off the wall; one we hadn¡¯t damaged yet. It held the damaged object, still sparking, overhead before rushing in towards Mightyena and Golbat. The Fraxure seemingly laughed before closing in behind it for some kind of follow-up.


    ¡°I really hope Aliana is having a better time, or is close to finishing up.¡± Raphael commented from my side, as we watched our pokemon take a combination bash from the pipe, electrocution from the charged wires, and a follow-up slash from the second dragon.


    <hr>


    I kept working the controls, checking the power levels and readouts against the numbers I was streaming to my holo caster. ¡°Aliana, how close?¡± My number two for this mission asked, as she was focused on handling the two pokemon that had arrived to challenge us.


    ¡°95% of the target, we¡¯re almost there.¡± I responded, glancing back to notice she was on the back foot. To buy the final few moments, I tossed out my loaned Mightyena. ¡°Mightyena, let Liepard lead the attacks and exploit any openings you can find. Prioritize the ghost.¡±


    96%, just a little closer. I observed as Liepard was forced into complete defense, unable to get a single attack in as that damn Dragonair just kept up the assault, even throwing a few distractions towards Mightyena. Meanwhile, the ghost pokemon continued to fire random feathers into the fight, always at random and unpredictable angles.


    97%- I watched as Liepard made to dodge the feather shot, but Dragonair was anticipating the move, and slammed the pokemon into the floor hard enough to dent the metal gantry. My admin hastily recalled her fainted pokemon, releasing her personal Houndoom. ¡°Last one, Aliana!¡± She shouted, which was definitely a bad sign.


    98%, I saw water swirl around the dragon¡¯s tail. ¡°Mightyena, swap targets!¡± I called, implying her Houndoom should focus on the ghost instead. In advance, I began to grip my Escape Rope, hoping we could finish the power draw in time.


    99%, it was now or never. I pocketed my holo caster, returned the Mightyena before it could get pummeled, and straightened up; time to monologue the last few seconds. ¡°You are quite strong, indeed I feel that the reports from the cave were understated.¡± I noticed my admin recall her pokemon, also gripping her rope. ¡°Congratulations. As we now have enough power for our device, we shall be taking our leave. I look forward to seeing you again!¡± I pulled the rope, feeling the emergency escape activate, proud of our success in this mission.


    <hr>


    ¡°Alright everyone, gather ¡®round!¡± The Lady called with a simple clap, gathering the attention of the eight pokemon. ¡°While not a perfect job, this was a success. Now, Lumiose City should be back to full power.¡±


    ¡°They still got away,¡± Dragonair grumbled, as even the lone sentry who had been implanted into the rock wall had escaped. ¡°And I could swear we fought some of them at the cave last time¡­¡±


    ¡°A win is a win,¡± Keanu countered, as the rest of the group nodded in agreement.


    ¡°They¡¯ll still be more prepared next time, and their leader mentioned something about stealing power for a device.¡± Dragonair pointed out, but the group was unmoved.


    ¡°So we just need to be more prepared than them, yes?¡± Fraxure suggested, earning a supportive cheer from the other dragons.


    Despondent, Dragonair slumps down. ¡°Why am I the only one worried?¡± The Lady squats down, gently stroking the back of the noodle¡¯s head and neck.


    ¡°Because this isn¡¯t a story about worries or grand plans. Your story is a group of rascals turned friends getting together and saving the day, one day at a time.¡± She explained, gently trying to assuage the young one of their fears. ¡°I warned you earlier about setting the tone. If the Narrative shifts to give you what you desire, there will be consequences.¡± Her second sentence was a quiet whisper into the dragon¡¯s ear, the rest of the group ignoring them while discussing their favorite parts of the raid. ¡°A serious story has serious stakes; who would you be willing to lose for such an end?¡±


    Dragonair¡¯s eyes were wide with panic, as they took in the happy chatter of the team. The smiles and laughter of their first two friends from back in the valley. The excited discussion between the two newest friends, and the pair from the beaches. With a shudder and a swallow, they shut their eyes, inhaled, and donned a mask of a beaming team leader proud of their squad. ¡°Alright everyone! We did good today, so let¡¯s go see the fruits of our endeavor and visit Lumiose City for a little rest and relaxation before we start training again!¡±


    Everyone was smiling, most from raw joy and elation, one from the facade they decided to keep up for the others, and the last with sad eyes. Her eyes flickered from left to right, reading some invisible text for her eyes only.

 Chapter 32: Alexandre Goes to Lumiose

    <Gather ¡®round everyone, for we have a winner. The timeline which has been selected to continue is¡­ This one!>


    The four onlookers were unsure how to react, though Chad had a strong enough reaction to cover them all as he burst into tears, wailing loudly. Lucielle, keeping her head on straight, asked the important question. ¡°So, what does that mean for the three that aren¡¯t¡­ this?¡±


    <Well, I was planning to just terminate them. No use having four simultaneous timelines running in parallel, not like we¡¯re in a multiverse story after all.>


    ¡°YOU LITERALLY PULLED ME FROM ANOTHER WORLD!¡± Chad shouted between the tears, the room shaking in his anger.


    <Ow. No need to yell, child. As I was saying, I was planning to, but recent events have dictated that I keep them running. The Author will be focusing on us, here in this timeline. But, as it stands, us three adults believe we may need to lean on at least one of the adjacent timelines in the future.>


    No use sugar coating it, Narrator. Your other half? Their story¡¯s core concept is beginning to wobble. Worst case scenario? It¡¯ll take all four timelines¡¯ teams to address it.


    <Yes, so while you may be distraught over how things played out, Chad, you need to remember there are three other Chads who are getting this same speech.>


    ¡°Wait, are you saying every Chad thinks he¡¯s the principale timeline?¡± Ginette inquired while attempting to console her teammate.


    <Yes. And yes, you asked that question in two of the other three timelines.>


    ¡°Why not the third?¡±


    <Things¡­ are not going as anticipated. Chad is currently enacting a sort of zombie survival scenario in that one. It¡¯s best if the rest of us continue and they can catch up later. Now with that being said, we should continue the story.>


    ¡°Wait, if there¡¯s four timelines, doesn¡¯t that mean you also have four problems which would each need four timelines each to resolve?¡± Chad raised, now seemingly starting to feel a little better with it out of his system.


    <¡­Poppycock. Right, forget that plan, we¡¯ll just go with this one timeline and hope for the best. Shame, I anticipate you would¡¯ve had an interesting reaction to Buff Charizard. I highly suggest you keep that mega stone I gave you, just in case. You can unwrap it later, I still need to have a holder made for you.>


    ¡°Can it be a gauntlet?¡±


    <No, you aren¡¯t going to cosplay as Thanos. Maybe a necklace, or a helmet. Considerations for later; right now you need some practice in your new body.>


    <Chad, feeling the need to practice in his new form, set up the room¡¯s television to show a series of battles involving the Lumiose Gym Leader, Clemont. Whether it was habitual or not, Lucielle took notes on which pokemon appeared, and what kinds of moves they demonstrated. Meanwhile Alexandre could only point out the flaws and openings he saw, completely missing the point of the exercise. Gaston noted that Clemont didn¡¯t rely entirely on electric attacks, and they may want additional counters.>


    ¡°Hey, Narrator?¡± Ginette asked while the group watched a matchup of a familiar young boy with a Delphox against Clemont¡¯s Magneton. ¡°I didn¡¯t get to ask, but why am I able to read Chad¡¯s handwriting, but not anything written by humans?¡±


    <Because it was necessary for the subplot¨C >


    ¡°D''accord, but will we or won¡¯t we be able to read Lucielle¡¯s notes?¡± Ginette pushed the issue, holding up a page of scribbles and wiggly lines.


    <...Admittedly I was hoping you and the readers would overlook that minor detail.>


    ¡°So we can¡¯t actually read, or write?¡± Lucielle clarified, putting the pencil down.


    <Only Chad''s, and that is due to odd rules that I have no control over. I highly suggest you ask Chad nicely for lessons if that is a skill you wish to learn.>


    Lucielle decided not to let the small speed bump stop her, and stood off to the side of the screen. ¡°I noted that you may want secondary coverage for his likely team. First, Magneton¨C¡± she pointed at the screen, where Delphox was forcing the metal pokemon to decide between being hit by fire, cooked by fire, or melted (also by fire). ¡°If we can teach you a fire move, that¡¯d give you a surprise option. Next, he likes to use an Emolga, which appears to be part flying type, so Gaston could help you with a rock move. Lastly, while not strictly necessary, I can teach you a fighting move for coverage against his other likely choices for the third slot.¡±


    Alexandre grinned at the list, pounding his fists together with a solid thunk. ¡°Sounds like vous may not even get a turn, Gaston.¡±


    The brown dinosaur eyed his pink rabbit compatriot before clearing his throat. ¡°We need to verify, but so far Clemont has used both Emolga and Magneton in every battle. I would posit that they are guaranteed matchups, as he seems to always start with an Emolga. Thus, I propose I take the vanguard position and tackle the cute squirrel, attempt to wear down his second choice, and pass the baton to Alexadre to finish the match.¡±


    <A polite chime sounded in the room, coming from an inconspicuous speaker in the ceiling. ¡°Would the trainer of the Charizard please come to the training area? Pokemon are not allowed to be left to train unsupervised, especially right after a fresh evolution.¡± A young woman announced, likely the same nurse at the front desk.>


    Ginette lightly struck her forehead with an open palm. ¡°Lucielle, go help Chad; take his trainer ID with you. The rest of us are going to brainstorm some strategies for Clemont.¡± Her girlfriend nodded, grabbing the plastic rectangle from the backpack and rushing out the door.


    <After Lucielle managed to defuse the situation downstairs, the group decided to call it a night. The next morning but before setting out for Route 13, Chad made an apology breakfast for the pokecenter staff who quickly forgave him for the previous night.>


    <As a compromise between Ginette¡¯s desire for flight, and Chad not wanting to run afoul of League rules, Chad agreed to fly through Route 13 but close to the ground with the blue frog riding on his back. With no trainers along the way to battle, the flight took only a few hours rather than two days.>


    Chad came to a soft landing at the entrance for Lumiose City, lifting up his flight goggles as Ginette (who was very exhausted from the excitement) returned to her ball to rest.This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version.


    <The city seemed more upbeat and lively this time around; it was likely the power issue was fixed, which meant more businesses were open. The giant tower at the center of the city, the gym, was lit up and clearly open. Chad managed to find his way to one of the pokecenters in the city, where his benefactor was magnanimous enough to assist with reserving a room. Logging in to one of the public kiosks, Chad attempted to register for a gym battle. There appeared to be a one week wait, so Chad registered a slot. Before forgetting, Chad also remembered to sign up for flying certification lessons a few days before said battle.>


    <The team would have a while to explore the city and prepare for the match. Ginette quickly stole away Lucielle to show her around the city for the rest of the day. Gaston and Alexandre were itching for some practice bouts, so Chad escorted them to a nearby practice field to wear off some energy. By nightfall, the five reconvened for dinner, having earned a few extra pokedollars for their troubles.>


    <This routine repeated itself for the next few days, allowing Chad to save up their winnings while giving Alexandre time to hone his ground moves and learn Flamethrower, Stone Edge, and Power Up Punch while he was at it. Gaston used the time to finish mastering Crunch and Earthquake.>


    <As the fateful day arrived, Chad found himself in a more relaxed mood since his evolution. He strode through the city with confidence, as several others took pictures while he walked past. Flying would have been more convenient, but as Chad learned during his early lectures these past few days, there were stiff penalties for violations in crowded areas.>


    <The double glass doors slid open as Chad walked into the gym, his belt on full display with his signature white scarf wrapped around the base of his neck. His appearance caused a stir among the waiting trainers, but a quick exchange of his trainer ID with the front desk led to his passage into the waiting elevator. The challenge this time was a series of three minor trainer battles, which Lucielle and Chad tackled without breaking a sweat.>


    <As the doors of the final elevator cracked open, Chad sauntered into the arena, where Clemont was waiting for him on the other side. ¡°Greetings challenger¨C Wait, am I being pranked?¡± The young boy asked, glancing around in confusion. The waiting referee beside the field coughed to clear her throat. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re the one the other gym leaders have been talking about. Finally, it¡¯s my turn!¡±>


    <The ref pressed a button on a simple remote, causing four pillar-shaped devices in the arena¡¯s corners to hum to life, as energy fields began to take shape around the arena. ¡°This will be a three on three battle with one switch, between Lumiose Gym Leader Clemont and the challenger Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± Both Clemont and Chad nodded simultaneously, each palming a pokeball. ¡°Then on the count of three; one, two, three, begin!¡± Clemont¡¯s Emolga took to the field before taking to the air, climbing into the sky and circling the field.>


    Just a single song for this gym, one that really embodies the feeling of an unstoppable rampage. "Exile" by LukHash and Shirobon


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/22slFj2pqpufMr5ksC4Jjo?si=417d6ce783ef4113</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nm1Zsr2uRAE</a>


    As Gaston solidified, he looked to the skies, eyeing his already airborne opponent. ¡°You can do this, Gaston. Show me the might of the Emperor!¡± Chad encouraged, as Gaston flared with magenta energy as he grooved out a quick haka.


    <¡±I see, smart choice, but did you know Volt Switch doesn¡¯t count as a switch? Emolga, zap him!¡± Clemont shouted, as the ref facepalmed before clarifying that no, Volt Switch would count. Clemont, confident in himself, chose not to hear her as his flying squirrel began to charge up and dive down.>


    Gaston barely had to shift to dodge the attack, continuing to dance in place. Weaving the movements in, he was able to continuously evade the squirrel and enrage the opposing trainer. After the fifth pass, Gaston struck a pose, taunting Emolga to try once more. ¡°Are you really slower than this old fossil? Such a shame.¡±


    <Clemont, clenching his teeth in frustration, swept his arm in front of him. ¡°Emolga, switch it up, use Aerial Ace!¡± The airborne rodent climbed high into the sky before coating it¡¯s body in sky blue energy and falling for an immediate dive at their foe.>


    Gaston merely stood in place waiting, and in the blink of an eye there was a resounding ¡®thwack¡¯ as the speeding squirrel came to an immediate stop upon crashing into a stone slab that had not been present before. Emolga peeled off backwards, before righting themselves and leaping back into the air. ¡°Hmm, more durable than I expected. Very well, let us test your agility and pattern recognition.¡± Gaston sounded impressed, before stomping on the ground to raise dozens of small pebbles into the air.


    <Emolga climbed higher, trying to put some distance between itself and the rocks. ¡°Try again, Emolga! Show him you¡¯re too fast to be hit by a simple rock!¡± Clemont commanded, fire in his eyes as his partner coated themself in light blue energy again, preparing for another dive.>


    The pebbles arranged themselves into two diagonal rings before slowly beginning to orbit around Gaston, crossing from his upper left to lower right, and upper right to lower left. ¡°Ah, this takes me back,¡± Gaston commented, as the rocks began to whip up wind from how quickly they orbited him. Once Emolga reached the peak and began to dive, Gaston began firing the pebbles one at a time, forcing the squirrel to take evasive maneuvers on the way in (and thus slowed their approach).


    Emolga looked ecstatic when it was just within a meter of Gaston, locking eyes with the dinosaur as it celebrated the victory of finally landing a hit¨C only to be sent off-course by a rock to the face at an unavoidable last second. The rodent crashed into the ground, rolling and tumbling, only to be squished between two stone ¡®hands¡¯ that rose from the field to make a clapping motion.


    <¡±Emolga is unable to battle! Gym Leader Clemont, please send out your next pokemon!¡± The ref called from the sidelines, as Clemont returned his fainted pokemon. He didn¡¯t bother to say anything, releasing his second pokemon as a Magneton took to the field.>


    ¡°How bad is this, Chad?¡± Gaston asked, using the moment to spin up another ring of rocks.


    ¡°Bad; it¡¯ll resist everything you have except Earthquake, and unless it¡¯s touching the ground that won¡¯t do much. You¡¯ll have to ground it to hurt it.¡± Chad laid out the issues, crossing his arms in frustration. ¡°Just do what you can, you¡¯ve achieved your goal already.¡±


    <Clemont clenched a fist, holding it in front of him with his forearm aimed skyward, like some sort of protagonist. ¡°You may have beaten my fastest, but now you face a wall. Magneton, charge up the field and start blasting!¡± The flying steel balls gave a response in the form of a high-pitched screech, as the very air in the field began to ionize.>


    Gaston flung a barrage of stones at the floating machine in raw defiance, as the pebbles plinked upon making contact without even a scratch to show for it. After the tyrannosaur¡¯s ring of stones was empty, Magneton wiggled its magnets and a massive yellow spike of lighting shot down on Gaston. It came and went, leaving the fossil charred and smoking as he fell to the ground unconscious. ¡°Good show, Gaston; you¡¯ll get your chance to shine soon enough.¡± Chad promised, recalling his fallen teammate before releasing the next one.


    <Clemont adjusted his glasses, unfamiliar with the pink rabbit that appeared across the arena from him. Maybe a fighting type evolution of a Nidorino? With muscles like that, it had to be. ¡°Interesting choice of a poison type, but unfortunately for you my Magneton is immune to poison!¡± He shouted, as his pokemon began to charge up another Thunderbolt.>


    Alexadre rolled his shoulders, cracked his neck, then began to slowly walk across the field with the most nonchalant expression possible. When the first lighting bolt hit, he leaned back in surprise with his arms shaking as he shouted in pain. When it faded, he continued to approach the floating steel type. The process kept repeating, as he ¡®tanked¡¯ each attack and continued to advance with relentless endurance. The final bolt stuck as he was almost in arm¡¯s reach of his opponent, at which he laughed mid-shock, and grappled the Magneton in his hands. ¡°Gotcha!¡± He whispered menacingly, before his hands glowed an earthly brown and he shoved the three spheres into the dirt. Point-blank, he spat a gush of hot flames from his mouth, super-heating the metal pokemon caught in his grip.


    <Clemont was caught off-guard; he¡¯d never seen a pokemon take so many of his Thunderbolts and keep going! It was almost as if¨C ¡°Oh, wait that¡¯s a ground type, isn¡¯t it? No matter; Magneton, use Mirror Shot instead!¡± He commanded, adjusting his glasses. Magneton glows a bright white, as the beam smashes into the Nidoking¡¯s chest at point-blank.>


    ¡°Hah, I almost felt that!¡± Alexandre laughed, as he once more dragged his opponent through the dirt in a circle around him. With a grin, he smacked the ground with his tail, causing the field to rumble and shake as the vibrations transferred into the steel type. Its eyes began to swirl as it stopped resisting the firm grip.


    <¡±Magneton is unable to battle! Gym Leader Clemont, please send out your final pokemon!¡± The ref called, as Alexandre lifted the fallen pokemon up to be recalled by the signature red energy beam. ¡°You are tough, I can admit that. But just because you can ground my charge, doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t overpower your resistance!¡± Clemont shouted in the most corny way possible, as a yellow lizard with a black head appeared on his side of the field.>


    Alexandre laughed, seeing his opponent was barely half his height. ¡°You look like a fast one, just try not to end this match quickly.¡± He warned, his words dripping with malice as Heliolisk flared its hood with a hiss. The little guy bursts forward, slamming into Alexandre with a burst of white¡­ only to bounce off harmlessly. Disappointed, the pink rabbit placed both fists on his hips, leaning over to tower above his opponent. ¡°Well?¡±


    <Heliolisk, aware of the goliath he stood before, suddenly decided that delaying the inevitable wasn¡¯t worth a day in the pokecenter, and signaled their surrender. Clemont was flabbergasted, as the ref signaled for Chad¡¯s victory. As the ref pressed another button on their remote, the energy around the field began to fade as the devices wound down. ¡°I suppose the others weren¡¯t over-selling it, you are quite different.¡± Clemont admitted, walking into the field and gently patting his lizard on the head.>


    Chad met him at the halfway point and shook hands with the gym leader, accepting the Voltage Badge and adding it to his case. ¡°Though, I wish I had the chance to fight you earlier; I enjoy the second badge fights the most. Shame the power wasn¡¯t stable,¡± Clemont admitted with a shrug, before waving goodbye as the referee escorted Chad and Alexandre to the exit.


    <As the pair strode out from the gym, Alexadre was gawked upon by dozens of adoring eyes, as his raw power radiated with every step. The two were even stopped by a Pansear who suggested Alexandre go apply to work part-time at a pokemon cafe in the city, providing the address and insisting he could get a lot of fans. Chad promised Alexandre they could drop by after getting Gaston medical attention.>


    <Later that day, as the sun began to set, the team of five headed out for the pokemon cafe they had heard about to celebrate their victory. As described, the cafe had no humans inside, and a wide variety of different patrons. A Sylveon hostess guided the five of them towards a table just inside, where they could still see the sunset, as well as enjoy the upbeat ambiance of the place. Alexandre, after some hushed words with their hostess, was led towards the back.>


    After having barely a minute to read over the menu, an elegant Dragonair slid over to their table, balancing a tray on its head with five glasses of water. With a practiced flourish, the noodle grabbed each with their tail and arranged the glasses around the table, smiling the whole time. ¡°Welcome to Eevee¡¯s Choice, what can I start you with tonight?¡±

 Chapter 33: May I take your order?

    ¡°Oh, oh! Do you have the bubbly-fizzy water?¡± Ginette asked, practically bouncing in her seat as Lucielle did her best to restrain the frog. Dragonair nodded. ¡°Cette, one of those! Luci, you should get it too! It feels weird on your tongue but tastes sooo much better than normal water.¡±


    ¡®Luci¡¯ giggled, but made eye contact with their waiter before ordering. ¡°If you have herbal tea, especially Pecha, I would appreciate a steaming cup.¡± Their waiter nodded, as they faced the remaining members of the party.


    ¡°Cheri parfait for me, please.¡± Gaston requested, as Chad stuck out a tongue in disgust at the spicy treat.


    ¡°I don¡¯t suppose you have Baklava?¡± Chad inquired, as Dragonair shook their head ¡®no¡¯. ¡°Hmm, what about Molten Chocolate Lava Cake?¡± Another no. ¡°Ugh, do you at least have milkshakes?¡±


    ¡°Yes, we offer milkshakes made with both normal milk and Miltank milk, in any variety of berry flavors.¡± Dragonair informed, their smile calm and encouraging.


    ¡°So, no chocolate?¡± Another shake no. ¡°Bluk berry then, and just normal milk for now. Really craving some chocolate¡­¡± Chad ordered, as his thoughts trailed off. ¡°Go figure; it''s my first time in France and I haven¡¯t seen a chocolate croissant yet.¡±


    Dragonair laughed in amusement. ¡°Well, as unfortunate as that is to hear, I must remind you this is Kalos, not France. If you wish to gorge on sugary chocolate desserts you may need to fly across the ocean to Unova. On the plus side, it appears they do not consume mollusks here, so that may be a blessing for¨C and do forgive my assumption¨C the standard American.¡± Their waiter/waitress was halfway to the back of the cafe when Chad¡¯s expression exploded in surprise.


    ¡°That¡¯s them,¡± he whispered, in complete disbelief. ¡°That¡¯s the one I¡¯m doing all of this for¡­ Right?¡±


    <Correct, just try not to blow this. Come across too strong and there¡¯s nothing any of us can do to fix it. Just, be normal?>


    Ginette blew a raspberry with her tongue, ¡°As if Chad knows how to be normal. Do you need some flirting advice from the master, mon fr¨¨re?¡± Chad waved her away, sitting up straighter in the massive (yet still appropriately-sized) chair. After pokemon-watching for a few minutes, the group noticed Dragonair emerge from the kitchen, balancing the tray with five items on it atop their head without even a wobble. Placing each of their orders on the table before them, Dragonair placed a fifth item on the table to Chad¡¯s left, before pulling up a fifth chair to the table.


    And claiming the seat for themselves.


    ¡°I hope you do not mind, I wanted to appreciate the spectacle we¡¯re about to witness.¡± They teased, taking a sip from the rainbow-colored fizzy drink. The four were confused, until Dragonair motioned towards the back kitchen door with their head. ¡°Your friend is about to cause a stir, for better and worse.¡±


    At that exact moment, the door opened, and Alexandre strode forward carrying a tray filled with micro taster-sized drinks, using his free hand to adjust the black bow tie around his neck. Somehow, he appeared to have slimmed down and gotten even more muscular in the past few minutes, carrying the tray past the group towards the entrance. Playing into it, Lucielle gave him a whistle in appreciation, matched with Ginette¡¯s two thumbs up.


    ¡°Enlighten me; is he really going to work as a waiter? His personality seems like it might be a deterrence..?¡± Chad whispered to Dragonair, who gave him a knowing look in return. He then glared at Lucielle and Gaston, ¡°And which of you two taught him Bulk Up?¡± The two plead innocent, looking anywhere but Chad¡¯s eyes.


    ¡°Not yet, first he has to complete the trial by fire; pulling in customers off the street.¡± Dragonair answered, as Alexandre was fully outside the restaurant, searching for his first target with a predatory smile. ¡°Though, admittedly, he may be able to do just that.¡± The dragon noodle commented, as two pokemon approached him and accepted the offered samples. Chad watched the sequence in stunned silence, as the pair (seemingly charmed by his performance and charisma) were handed off to Sylveon and led to their seats. ¡°So, you¡¯re the guy I¡¯m rushing around to save the world for?¡±


    Chad froze, the two-hit combo of a brain freeze and the statement¡¯s absurdity. ¡°Uh, I mean, maybe? What are you saving the world from?¡±


    ¡°Team Flare. Nasty bunch, good at keeping their people out of prison, but still beatable. I tried to take down Lysandre before they could get much momentum, but I was informed that would be ¡®cheating¡¯. My crew cleaned up the Power Plant out west not that long ago, and now we¡¯re just waiting around for the green light on our next op.¡±


    Chad gently placed his glass on the table, taking measure of the pokemon beside him. ¡°What do you think of your Storyteller? She seemed nice the one time we had tea and snacks. At least more pleasant than mine.¡±


    <Rude. I am right here, you know.>


    ¡°You¡¯re always right here; I suggest taking this feedback and adjusting your relationship with your Actor, Narrator.¡± A sultry woman¡¯s voice spoke from across the table, as between blinks a familiar Renamon pulled up a sixth chair to claim the only open spot at the table. In her hands was a delicately-held crepe overflowing with whipped cream and various berries. ¡°Hello again, Chad. It seems you¡¯ve grown since we last met.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t believe I caught your name last time..?¡± Chad responded, as Gaston shifted uncomfortably in his seat upon seeing the newcomer, subtly moving away from her and closer to his teammates. Ginette and Lucielle were hushedly discussing something incredibly important, based on the speed of their exchange.


    The yellow bipedal fox responded with an all-knowing grin. ¡°My proper title is ¡®The Lady¡¯, though for now you may simply address me by this form¡¯s name.¡± Behind her, another group of three customers walked in, glancing back and discussing the ¡®hunk¡¯ who had suddenly reminded them how parched they were.


    ¡°Are we teaming up?¡± Dragonair asked, eyes firmly locked with the Lady¡¯s. ¡°Do we finally get to end them once and for all?¡± Renamon finished chewing before dabbing a bit of creme with a napkin, gently swinging her snout back and forth. ¡°So¡­ Why are we meeting then?¡±


    ¡°Because I asked them for it!¡± Chad blurted out, his outburst seemingly not affecting any of the other cafe patrons. ¡°I just¡­ I wanted to meet you; to know that all of this was worth it¡­¡± He trailed off, as the noodle simply appraised him. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten smacked around, trained until I passed out, broken bones, hell I¡¯ve even died at least once. I just¨C I needed motivation.¡±


    The Lady¡¯s eyes were wide in surprise, interrupting her before another bite of fluffy goodness could grace her tongue. ¡°Narrator, did you disable his safeties?¡±


    <Not disabled, no. I just felt that he needed proper stakes as motivation to perform well, especially after he abused my generosity in the first gym battle. They¡¯ve been selectively lowered from the very start.>


    ¡°You need to turn them on before he continues. This world instituted them for a very good reason.¡± She explained, visibly upset at the formless entity. ¡°The contracts are only with The Creator, and the Gods of Space and Time; not the Lord of the Dead.¡±


    ¡°Hold the phone; I suffered because you thought I needed your version of motivation?!¡±


    <It worked; stop your incessant whining.>


    And stop. I think this is getting out of hand, and off-track. Narrator, you will re-enable all of the safeties for Chad. And no grumbling; just because the reader can¡¯t see it doesn¡¯t mean I don¡¯t hear it.


    <Fine. Safeties enabled.>


    And now, the real reason I arranged for you two to meet. Lady, would you be so kind as to voice my plan for the benefit of the others?¡±


    ¡°Certainly,¡± Renamon responded, turning in her seat to face the two Actors. ¡°Due to the progression of events, the Author has decided that you need to make a temporary loan. Specifically, Gaston will be traveling with my team for the remainder of your gym circuit. To avoid hindering the remainder of Chad¡¯s journey, we¡¯re introducing you to your sixth teammate early, Keanu.¡±Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!


    ¡°I demand you cease your discussions, for I am no object to be passed about!¡± Gaston growled with an authoritative voice, angling himself to raise his head higher. ¡°If thou seeks to recruit my divine self, thy shalt petition solely me.¡±


    ¡°Yea, I don¡¯t jive with this either,¡± a deep and husky voice added, as a mysterious brown and white avian pokemon with a green hood appeared beside The Lady, his beak gently nibbling on a berry-stuffed pastry held by two bending feathers at the tip of his wing. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t we both get final approval on who we work with?¡± In frustration, Renamon tore a huge bite from her crepe in a near barbaric manner.


    <Gentlemen, this arrangement redresses both of your recent issues regarding the current situation. Gaston, you haven¡¯t truly had a moment to shine with your current party, and will only be side-lined for the remaining three gyms. Keanu, you did not appreciate the motivations or goals of Dragonair, and were not brought here to remain with them for very long. Quite simply, Keanu''s participation was never necessary for the Team Flare activities, and Dragonair¡¯s squad will give Gaston the limelight he deserves.>


    The table sat in silence, eyes darting around as everyone dared each other to go first. Dragonair cleared their throat, adjusting their posture to be more upright. ¡°I¡¯ll go first then. My team is on a mission to exterminate Team Flare, destroy The Ultimate Weapon, and make Kalos safer for every human and every pokemon. If you want strength, the opportunity to do good for the world, we would be happy to have you join us, Gaston.¡±


    Nodding in acknowledgement once Dragonair finished speaking, Chad adjusted himself to gain the table¡¯s attention. ¡°My team is simply tackling the gym circuit and traveling around Kalos. We have three gyms left, but outside of that is a lot of training and-¡± he eyes Ginette unpleasantly, ¡°shenanigans.¡± He lets the word hang before motioning towards the frog and the dog across the table. ¡°If you wish for a second and third opinion, Ginette has been traveling with me the longest, and Lucielle just joined us a few days ago.¡±


    ¡°To clarify, the duration of this arrangement would be up until the start of the conference.¡± Renamon added before swallowing the final piece of her dessert. ¡°I won¡¯t sugar coat it, this needs to happen. Gaston won¡¯t evolve if he stays with Chad, and Chad¡¯s team cannot beat the seventh gym without Keanu¡¯s participation.¡±


    Gaston cast his accusatory glare at his team leader, waiting for a response. ¡°She¡¯s right,¡± Chad admitted with a sigh. ¡°You¡¯d struggle against the fairies, have little impact against the psychics, and be absolutely trounced by the icicles. I¡¯m sorry, Gaston, but she¡¯s right; you¡¯d be better off traveling with her for now.¡± Chad cast his eyes to the remains of his milkshake, fiddling with the straw and spoon, unable to meet his teammate¡¯s disheartened eyes.


    Gaston shoved his chair backwards, moving away and deeper into the cafe. ¡°I¡¯ll talk with him,¡± Renamon offered, sliding her chair back to its original table before following after the dinosaur. Ginette stood, giving Chad a thumbs up and a wink, before she and Lucielle led Keanu away for a chat. Leaving only the two Actors left at the table.


    ¡°So, do you have a name?¡± Chad asked, barely tilting his head to look towards the noodle. ¡°I, uh, tried to name myself, but it kept getting censored.¡±


    ¡°Same,¡± Dragonair responded with a sigh, before gathering the empty cutlery and glasses towards the center of the table. ¡°Until I complete my task, She said I wasn¡¯t allowed to use my old name. But, uh, Chad, huh?¡± They chuckled in amusement, ¡°I wasn¡¯t aware that was a Kalosian name.¡±


    ¡°Nah, it isn¡¯t; they just thought the meme was funny and went with it.¡± Chad, absentmindedly rubbing his stomach, swung his head to face the dragon outright. ¡°Did you get a choice? Was Dragonite your favorite or something?¡±


    Dragonair shook their head, ¡°No, no choice here, but Dragonite is my favorite so I would¡¯ve chosen them anyway.¡± Their smile softened, knowingly. ¡°Charizard wasn¡¯t your choice, was it?¡±


    ¡°No. I even tried to set up some plot hooks for alternate evolutions, which succeeded¡­ But I somehow ended up in the vanilla timeline.¡± He squeezed his fat belly, wiggling it with a frown. ¡°Any chance your second favorite was Charizard?¡±


    Dragonair, seemingly aware of the unspoken words, wrapped their long body around Chad in a soft embrace. ¡°I don¡¯t know what your life was like before this, but you can do this.¡± Chad leaned into the embrace, gently rubbing the long dragon¡¯s body with his hands. ¡°And yes, Charizard was my first starter; he helped me through some tough years.¡±


    The two enjoyed the moment a bit longer before separating as Dragonair began to load up a tray table with the used glassware. ¡°Though, I will say, I was expecting to die of like, microplastics poisoning, or maybe road rage. A ____ ________ was not in my top ten most likely causes, really.¡±


    Dragonair eyed him suspiciously before shrugging. ¡°I died about two months before the doctors predicted I would, though originally it was going to be from my heart giving out.¡± It became Chad¡¯s turn to eye his conversation partner, encouraging them to elaborate. ¡°Muscular Dystrophy. My family found out via a test when I was barely six years old. Nothing guilts parents into spending for Christmas like finding out your only child won¡¯t live long enough to raise their own kids.¡±


    The orange dragon¡¯s expression fell to pity and empathy. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry¨C Here I am complaining about being fat while you¡¯re just happy to get a second chance. I sound ungrateful¡­¡±


    <In your defense, you put in a respectable amount of work to make a change. It was just unfortunate that you were unable to benefit from said change.>


    The pair sat in silence, watching as yet another customer was pulled in from the street by ''that charming pokemon''. ¡°Wait, don¡¯t you have that weird window power thing? Like you used with Ginette?¡±


    <Yes, though I must point out it only connects past and future, especially for things of narrative benefit.>


    ¡°Details; can it show the other timelines?¡± Chad pleaded, as Dragonair finished bussing the table.


    <Yes, but I fail to see how- >


    ¡°He wants to see proof that his hard work paid off in some way,¡± Dragonair supplied, miraculously having performed their duties as a waiter in a flash.


    <Fair; I suppose it would be to your benefit to see what you had accomplished.>


    <A rainbow cloud began to form over the table, growing and extending into a flat surface as the clouds shaped into a hexagonal border around a swirl of rainbow energies.>


    ¡°Ooh, this looks important!¡± Ginette commented, as she, Lucielle, and Keanu walked up from behind to watch. Without comment, Gaston and Renamon rejoined the group, the former having a stoic expression on his face.


    <The mirror shifted backwards to permit the newcomers a proper view as well, before the colors began to still and solidify. The image came into focus, showing a familiar scene as four friendly faces were arrayed around the room, each eagerly watching the fifth member as he unwrapped a blue giftbox that sat on the bed.>


    ¡°Is this one of the alternate timelines?¡± Lucielle inquired, recognizing the scene.


    <The visual continued to play, albeit without sound, as the five pantomimed some sort of debate between them, before watching the other four converge on the red lizard. It was hard to tell what was happening, until Ginette hefted the odd sphere from the giftbox high before shoving it into the lizard¡¯s held-open mouth. With a bright white light, Chad grew into a black and light blue variant of Charizard, with lots of spikes and an amused Ginette who seemed absolutely excited about his new body.>


    ¡°Huh, isn¡¯t that just your Mega X form?¡± Dragonair commented, as Chad shrugged. ¡°I mean, it¡¯s pretty similar to what you have now. And those spikes would get uncomfortable quickly.¡± Ginette grumbled something about wanting to match colors with her and Lucielle. A gentle pulse made Chad acutely aware of the mega stone hidden within his bag, still in the black and blue wrapping.


    <Before the image faded into a swirl again, Mega-Chad turned to look directly at the window, before waving at the group with a soft smile. The colors continued to spin before the image reappeared with the same beginning. Except this time, Chad sat down on a pillow on the floor before a weird dome of energy covered him. It was hard to tell what had happened, as after the light of evolution faded, a taller and thinner orange dragon stood in his place, at least until he began to float in the air.>


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s original. Psychic right? Lots of inspiration from Mewtwo, probably a real powerhouse of a special attacker.¡± Dragonair commented, studying the image. Before the view could continue, the illusory Chad in the mirror locked eyes with the group, moving towards them with determination, the other four in the image continuing to act as if he were still on the pillow.


    Psychic-Chad put one hand on the mirror, then another, desperately banging on it, causing a solid ¡°thud, thud¡± from the viewing window. His mouth was moving, but no sound came out, his eyes a mixture of raw fear, terror, and fright. ¡°Narrator, what are you doing?¡± Renamon asked, stepping backwards from the display.


    <Now, now; this is not your timeline. Off with you! The image began to fade back- >


    A claw wreathed in psychic energy burst through the window, quickly grabbing the side of the frame, before another burst through to grab the other. Both arms stretched the tear open, until the alternate Chad¡¯s visage was visible through the hole, as he fought for every inch to widen the small opening. Real-Chad, whether it was the fear in his other¡¯s eyes, or some other emotion, spurred into action by firmly grabbing both of his doppleganger¡¯s arms. ¡°Hold on, I gotcha!¡± He reassured himself, using his tail as leverage before lifting both legs to brace against the clouds.


    <Chad, don¡¯t do this. He doesn¡¯t belong here- >


    ¡°And neither did I! Let him through!¡± Chad shouted, as his teammates grabbed where they could to help pull. Whether it was the Narrator releasing their grip, or a solid pull from Team Chad, the skinny Psy-Chad flew through the small opening to land on top of Real-Chad in a heap, allowing the window to revert to its swirling nebulous state. Psy-Chad gently floated up and off Real-Chad, his hands glowing with psychic energy as he pulled the flying type up onto his feet.


    ¡°It appears only the Original Blend version was permitted to continue, I see?¡± Psy-Chad inquired, before looking around the cafe. ¡°Thanks, for the help. It¨C It was really dark, and cold¡­¡± He trailed off, before slamming into the oversized gut of his counterpart for a strong hug. Real-Chad hesitated, before gently returning the embrace.


    ¡°I¡¯m confused, I thought you cancelled the multiple timelines bullshit?¡± Real-Chad asked, seemingly unwilling to release his other self.


    <I did! I am quite perplexed as to how this happened.>


    Narrator, did you actually delete the alternate timelines, or just put them on pause?


    <...In my defense- >


    ¡°Show us the third one,¡± Real-Chad demanded, distancing himself from Psy-Chad to approach the floating color vomit. ¡°I put in all that work, show me the third one.¡± Real-Chad pulled the visualizer closer, waiting anxiously.


    <The colors began to reform, returning the view once more to the original state of the room. This time, the orange lizard took up an odd stance before energy began to course through his body. His muscles grew, and grew, and grew, until eventually they could grow no more. Instead, the energy itself began to flare outside of his body. He appeared to be screaming, or shouting, as the aura grew and grew, the screen itself flexing outward towards the viewer. Until the energy reached a crescendo, swarming and compacting into the lizard with a bright white light. When it faded, an incredibly muscular athlete stood in his place, much to the admiration of the rest of the room. Then there was a bright flash of pink, and slowly the other four began to converge on their teammate, who was quickly panicking with nowhere to go.>


    ¡°Damn it, Narrator, even I can figure out what you meant by a zombie survival; open it!¡± Real-Chad shouted, running his claws across the surface to find an opening. Psy-Chad joined in, his psychic-coated claws finding a tiny crack and working it open as the two pulled at the tear. ¡°Hey, come with me if you want to live!¡± Real-Chad shouted through the opening, as Buff-Chad reacted and attempted to maneuver past his teammates.


    Buff-Chad managed to make it to the portal, before getting stuck at the opening, as his massive shoulders were too wide to fit through. Threading one thick arm through the portal, Real-Chad took hold and pulled as Psy-Chad focused on trying to widen the opening.


    <Always so dramatic. The opening expanded with a pulse, disgorging the stuck meathead before quickly contracting back into a solid surface, the scene fading before the crazed visages of the team could slam into it. With a puff on the wind, the clouds and viewing window faded away. This left our little party with three Chads, each their own strengths and weaknesses.>


    A psychic pink bubble enveloped Buff-Chad, as the orb strobed with pink energy. ¡°Don¡¯t panic, just¡­ Stop using Attract. You need a handle on that before you cause a problem.¡± Psy-Chad ordered, his eyes firmly locked on Buff-Chad.


    Buff-Chad, with a hand rubbing the back of his head and smiling, looked appreciative and calm as the bubble continued to flash pink. ¡°Erm, sorry. Thanks, but I, uh, don¡¯t know how.¡±


    So¡­ what now?

 Chapter 34: The Frog Princess

    Renamon, massaging her temples as she contemplated the massive headache, spoke first. ¡°You can¡¯t have three of the same Actor. You can¡¯t just leave alternate timelines ¡®on pause¡¯. But most importantly, this whole thing is killing the Plausibility levels, Narrator!¡±


    <Don¡¯t raise your voice to me; I am not the cheese-brained, incompetently malicious, self-centered moppet who pulled us into this precarious situation!>


    ¡°I mean¡­ They don¡¯t have to be part of the Story. Can¡¯t they just stay here in Lumiose?¡± Real-Chad asked, eyeing Buff-Chad and Psy-Chad pitifully. Somehow, the question managed to upset everyone, almost equally, for completely individual reasons. The shouting died down when the Sylveon from earlier came over, requested they leave, and highly suggested Dragonair return to work. Dragonair returned to waiting tables, after The Lady informed them the squad would meet up again tomorrow to discuss their next operation.


    ¡°So, having said my part, what do you two think? I mean, I can guess because I was both of you a few days ago, but I would think you¡¯d be interested in just peacing out here?¡± Real-Chad suggested, eyeing his muscular and floating counterparts.


    ¡°I mean, maybe? Once Team Flare are gone, Kalos seems one of the better places to put down roots, by the looks of things.¡± Psy-Chad commented, appreciating the architecture as they strode past. ¡°And maybe it¡¯s the stockholm syndrome talking, but I¡¯ve been¡­ enjoying my time here, I guess.¡±


    ¡°True, all true, but hear me out¨C¡± Buff-Chad started, bubbling with excitement within his sphere of protective energy. ¡°What if we go to Italy instead? Also pretty, no world-ending bad guys, and most importantly: Italian Cuisine.¡± He noticed a woman openly staring at him from across the way, giving her a smile and cheerful wave. The orb flashed a bright pink and her pokemon immediately fainted, causing the woman to panic.


    ¡°What is Italy called here anyway? We could look it up at the pokemon center.¡± Real-Chad offered, ignoring the whispers from behind him from the other four. ¡°But that could be great; I still need to talk with Dragonair more, figure out what they¡¯d like to do. Assuming we end up together, that is.¡±


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that, you saved us from being erased into nothingness; we can find our own special someones!¡± Buff-Chad reassured himself, attempting to drape one of his thick arms across his flying-type self¡¯s shoulders only to be stopped by the protective force field. Psy-Chad nodded in agreement while patting Real-Chad on the back.


    ¡°And I believe this is where we part ways,¡± Psy-Chad declared, as the group reached a three-way intersection. ¡°Chad, thanks for saving us. If you¡¯re ever in a bind, the Narrator should be able to let us know. Hopefully I¡¯ll have mastered Teleport by then.¡± The three shared one final group hug, followed up by an oddly emotional hug for Buff-Chad¡¯s protective ball from Lucielle, who had to be pulled away by Ginette rather forcefully. Alexandre offered a fist-bump and a smirk for Psy-Chad, who returned the gesture. Keanu, not holding any emotional attachments, simply left down the path towards the fields, the rest of the team following in his wake. Psy-Chad and Buff-Chad waved goodbye before heading down the opposite way.


    I¡¯m gonna need better names for them if they show up again.


    <By now, the sun had fully vanished below the horizon, leading to the city being illuminated by its network of electrical lights. The fields were mostly empty, as many a trainer had run home for dinner, leaving the five unbothered and free to do as they pleased.>


    ¡°So, Keanu, I guess I¡¯ll start us with introductions. I¡¯m Chad, fire flying type, and I specialize in all-out assault. You spoke with Ginette earlier, she¡¯s currently just a water type but should gain a dark typing soon based on what I researched online, and tends to be a ranged evasion battler. Next to her, also someone you know, Lucielle who is fighting steel, but I am unsure of her fighting style¡­¡±


    ¡°Mixed bruiser with technician. Always up-close and personal, but I can beat them black and blue with more than just my fists.¡± She supplied, as Ginette enjoyed the minor joke.


    ¡°Right, and lastly is Alexandre, poison and ground, mix between a raw tank and a staller-¡±


    ¡°If my fists don¡¯t do you in, you won¡¯t be standing long anyway,¡± he supplied viciously, pounding his fists together to punctuate the statement.


    ¡°Yea¡­ Gaston will rejoin us for the conference, but his style may change between now and then so no comment there. With that said, how about you?¡±


    The brown and white bipedal owl stood up straight, whipping out an extended wing with the other covering his chest in a respectful bow. ¡°Alola; Keanu, grass and ghost type, ranged attacker with a focus on hit-and-run tactics. I have more battle experience than the rest of you combined, and request you respect that fact.¡±


    <With introductions complete, Keanu demonstrated his techniques to the group, offering to assist Ginette with her progress on Shadow Sneak, as well as introduce her to Nasty Plot¨C Wait a minute, this move didn¡¯t even exist in gen 6!>


    Just go with it, Narrator. Unless you would argue Ginette doesn¡¯t already fit the concept?


    <I shudder to contemplate what that mischievous tosser would even attempt if they could affect me.>


    She¡¯d probably start by replacing your tea with decaf.


    <Monstrous. Following the demonstration, the group recognized how late it was and returned to the pokemon center, where the night shift nurse was able to register Keanu to Chad¡¯s team. One restful night later, Chad left the other four to continue practicing and planning for their upcoming gym challenges while he completed the last session of flight school. The group couldn¡¯t stay long in Lumiose, and for their final evening went back to Eevee¡¯s choice. Much to Chad¡¯s dismay, Dragonair was not working that night; however, thanks to Alexandre¡¯s popularity, the Nidoking was offered a free meal for his table if he put on the bow tie again for a few hours.>Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    <The team set out the following morning, heading north along Route 14 and into the swamplands. Wanting to help her along, Ginette was designated the primary battler as the team took all challengers along the way. The opportunity allowed her to work on mastering another move from Keanu¡¯s set; Swift. It was tough, and Ginette was exhausted from her effort, but when the warm light of evolution enveloped her the team showed their support.>


    The dark blue frog took in her new form, barely able to examine much beyond her arms before being captured in a big hug by an excited jackal. The two were now roughly equal in height, and the energy became infectious as both celebrated the achievement.


    <Ah, one moment, Lucielle; I need to have Ginette make a quick call. A familiar white circular cloud begins to appear. The center flows outwards, opening a view into a familiar cafe in Lumiose City, where a certain Froakie sits at a table, mystified by what she sees.>


    Remembering the event vividly, Ginette replicates the offensive gesture before shouting at her past self. ¡°Stop being an idiot and take the deal! Don''t make me come back in time and smack myself for being so short-sighted!¡±


    <The clouds and window to the past fade away on the wind, closing the loop.>


    ¡°Sounds like someone needed a little motivation originally, hmm?¡± Lucielle teased, reappearing to embrace her frog.


    ¡°His sales pitch was caca at first. But, after being informed of the compensation package¡­ Let¡¯s just say I¡¯m glad I accepted.¡± She replied while leaning in for a peck on her girlfriend¡¯s cheek.


    <The group continued northward until night fell, whereupon they set up camp beneath an old tree. Keanu offered to take the night watch, and Chad offered to let Lucielle and Ginette claim the tent for the evening. Alexandre proceeded to make some rude gestures before he was recalled to his pokeball, to which Chad apologized and returned himself as well.>


    <The next morning, after reviewing the map, the troupe set forth, with a focus on giving Lucielle and Alexandre the focus for any battles that day- >


    ¡°Chad,¡± Keanu called out from his perch in the trees above, drawing the attention of the orange dragon below. ¡°I have two questions following the events of yesterday.¡± Nodding, Chad motioned for him to continue as they walked. ¡°First, it seems like every wild pokemon in the area is actively avoiding us-¡± To which Chad shrugged. ¡°Second, if you went through all the trouble for a flying license, why are we walking?¡±


    Ginette¡¯s ball vibrated to signal her interest in the second question. ¡°Simple; we need to battle trainers for both practice and money. And most trainers can¡¯t fly, or at least the ones willing to battle won¡¯t be.¡± Chad clarified with a response, ducking below a relatively low-hanging branch. ¡°The flight license is for the parts when we don¡¯t want to be walking, like Route 17 which is pure snow and cold.¡±


    <At that opportune moment, a trainer emerged from between the trees, readying a pokeball in challenge only to falter upon seeing Chad¡¯s scarf. Chad nodded, pulling a pokeball from his own belt and matching the trainer¡¯s pose. I could describe this thrashing where an experienced trainer trounces a poor child for what is effectively their lunch money, but we all know just how unfair this match was going to be.>


    <Towards the end of the day, Keanu notices a slip of paper flutter through the wind, barely visible in the setting sun. Before he can discard it, Chad insists the owl keep it about his person, commenting on the odd power it exudes. Chad and crew finally arrive in Laverre City, awed by the sight of the towering tree towards the north end of the town. Oddly, the city seems to have departed from Kalosian architecture, with all of the buildings in the city appearing to have been built following Kantoan or Johtoan styles.>


    <Before dusk faded to night, Chad managed to convince the perceptive pokecenter nurse to give the team a normal room, as well as book a gym battle in a few days. The town was much more relaxed than Lumiose, or maybe the trainers delayed by the Lumiose power outages were still following the western loop? Who could say, but for now Chad welcomed another location where they wouldn¡¯t be confined to their pokeballs to sleep.>


    With Keanu nesting in one of the chairs, and the duo of Lucielle and Ginette hogging the bed, Chad and Alexandre once again found themselves attempting to make the floor tolerably comfortable. By arranging all of the soft pokemon beds in a pseudo-mattress, the two were once again left with an uncomfortable situation. ¡°I miss him,¡± Alexandre admitted unprompted, gently attempting to lie down with his head on one of the few remaining intact beds; the others scattered around him torn or shredded by his spines.


    ¡°I know, but this will be good for him. He¡¯ll be so strong next time we see him, maybe he can solo our whole team.¡± Chad encouraged, holding his tail in his claws to keep the flame away from anything flammable. ¡°Plus, with his new evolution I doubt he¡¯ll fit inside these tiny rooms anymore.¡± Both chuckled lightly, doing their best not to disturb the others.


    Alexandre stared at the ceiling, thinking, before he frowned. ¡°I mean, maybe he will fit? The rooms seem to get bigger as we go.¡± Chad eyed the rhino suspiciously, before standing up and attempting to reach the ceiling.


    And failing to get close.


    <Ah, someone noticed. Yes, the snug size of these cubbyholes weren¡¯t intended to allow a trainer access to their full team, especially not if they¡¯re evolved like you lot. Without some, creative arrangement, barely the ladies would be able to fit in here outside of a pokeball.>


    ¡°I remember scraping the ceiling when I evolved, pretty sure Alexandre did too. Are we that big?¡± Chad inquired, eyeing his teammate in suspicion.


    <Have you not noticed that Alexandre seems to grow bigger when he enters battle? Or how none of you have experienced difficulty navigating a singular door frame despite being twice as wide as a human? Let us not forget the fact we¡¯ve been hand-waving over or outright ignoring food, or any of your other biological needs.>


    ¡°Right; it can be quite easy to skip over the mundane events when people aren¡¯t looking for them. But why the size thing?¡±


    <Because without those adjustments, you would be spending almost eighty percent of this story stuck inside a pokeball. This world, despite being built for your kind, only has human civilizations, who design their buildings and infrastructure for other humans.>


    ¡°So why not make one for pokemon?¡± Alexandre suggested, lying on his back while having managed to avoid skewering another pillow. ¡°Sounds rather fun, raising up a whole new kingdom from the dirt. One where humans are just the guests who come to visit¡­¡± The two lie in silence while the idea takes root in the world.


    <Alexandre, I believe we should have a conversation, later. First, I believe you owe an apology.>


    The pink rhino sighed to the degree his soul nearly left his body, turning one eye to look upon Chad without rotating his head from the comfy position. ¡°Yea, I do. My behavior towards you back when we first met was rude, and I made an assumption about you that was clearly untrue. I shouldn¡¯t have been so disrespectful, and I will endeavor to do better.¡±


    Chad rotated his head to lock eyes with his teammate, stunned by the change in personality. ¡°What brought this up?¡±


    ¡°I saw the way you embraced that long dragon back at the cafe; how it made you cry-¡±


    ¡°I didn¡¯t cry.¡±


    Yes, you did; now let him finish.


    ¡°...I saw how badly you were craving the touch of another. It made me think back on how often I too initiated some form of physical contact with others; and not just to punch them into submission.¡± There was a pause, a light ¡®eep¡¯ from the bed where one of the girls accidentally sleep-tickled the other. ¡°You just didn¡¯t want to feel alone.¡± His eye went back to the ceiling, staring into space. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡±


    Chad shifted his head to also stare at the ceiling, his horns proving to be a hindrance and angling his skull slightly forward. ¡°Thanks; even though I have you guys as teammates, there¡¯s a difference between a team and a family. And then there¡¯s a further distance between a family member and a loved one.¡± He paused, chewing over his words before continuing. ¡°Even if I had almost a hundred teammates, if none of them are someone special to me, I¡¯d still feel like I was on an island waiting for rescue.¡±


    ¡°Couldn¡¯t you just fly? I could swim, I bet.¡± Alexandre commented, the metaphor seemingly lost on him.


    ¡°In this case no, you¡¯d be stuck on this figurative island. Because even if you could leave, there¡¯s no guarantee you found another piece of land¨C or a boat¨C before you got tired and sunk into the depths.¡±


    Silence hung over the pair, broken by an innocent question from the rabbit. ¡°Is this because of the lovebirds?¡±


    ¡°No, it¡¯s been a thing since before I even met Ginette. I spent my first two years here surrounded by people who made me feel valued and loved... only to learn it was their scripted ''characters'' and not how they truly felt.¡± Chad shut his eyes and huffed. ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t be trauma-dumping on you. I accept and appreciate your apology. Let¡¯s get some sleep so you can go punch more people tomorrow.¡±


    Alexandre smiled, closing his own eyes and likely dreaming of himself going on a rampage across Kalos as pokemon and trainer alike feared his mighty strength.

 Interlude 4: Operation Pokeball Blitz

    After the incident with the power plant, I volunteered to be point guard with Jerome. He took things seriously, even the most boring of roles, to the degree he even updated our security check-in procedures. Shorter check-in intervals, dual call-signs, each of us checking in with a challenge response pair¨C a list which was horrendously annoying to memorize, but damn effective¨C and plans for how to respond if we went dark. [FAIRY] the radio buzzed, as we both thumbed the buttons for our own.


    ¡°Steel¡± / ¡°Dragon¡± we said in near unison, as the radio beeped twice in confirmation. Returning to silence, I was thankful this job was a short one. We just needed to grab one thing and we could bail, rather than try to stick around and protect the place. Or at least, I was thankful, until the whispers on the wind began to burn my ears. Jerome had already summoned his Houndoom and a Toxicroak. I grabbed each of my pokeballs in one hand and brought forth my Mightyena and Golbat, taking no chances.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re ready, Blaise. They¡¯re here¡­¡± Jerome commented, as I thumbed my radio to report in. The same piano music from last time was building, as that woman¨C no, the harbinger of pain¨C approached from the distance. Somehow with even more dragons in tow beside her, as a few began to rush ahead.


    ¡°Front Desk to Tower; the VIP has arrived.¡±


    <hr>


    As the smoke cleared, Dragonair let loose a roar of rage, as the two Team Flare grunts had vanished and taken their fainted pokemon with them. ¡°Damned Escape Ropes are a nuisance! No wonder they keep escaping the cops.¡± The noodle growled, as Fraxure provided a reassuring pat on the back.


    ¡°Don¡¯t worry boss, they weren¡¯t the goal anyway, just the first hurdle.¡± The mid-sized dragon reassured, marching onward towards the front door. As the squad continued, both Gaston and their newest member Deino pulled up the rear. Gaston gave Dragonair a worried look as he went past, leaving the issue for The Lady to deal with.


    Wearing her iconic hat and sundress, she crouched down to have her head level with her Actor¡¯s. ¡°Dear, I thought we discussed this. You need to relax more and enjoy this story for what it offers. The more serious you take it, the more skilled and coordinated they will be.¡± She lectured, gently forcing them to look her in the eyes.


    ¡°I know, I know, I¡¯m sorry I just¨C I¡¯ll be fine. Maybe take a back-seat on this one.¡± Dragonair relinquished, admitting they were still having trouble letting go.


    ¡°Sometimes, that¡¯s the best choice one can make. Now c¡¯mon, why don¡¯t we enjoy watching your friends enjoy the party?¡± She suggested, standing up fully and walking forward. Dragonair lightly sighed and followed after her. Up ahead, the rest of the group were waiting at the door, motioning for their team leader to hurry up. With a faint smile, Dragonair gestured for them to continue inside, spurring the young dragons to excitedly invade the facility.


    ¡°I hope you¡¯re right. The Master Ball is a dangerous thing, especially in the hands of humans like them¡­¡±


    <hr>


    We heard the call on the radio, as both Raphael and I ran to join Elise in the lobby. We just had to buy some time for Bryony and Celosia to work their magic in the back room, each of us holding our Escape Ropes tightly after releasing our pokemon. He called out his Golbat, while I held onto my Swallot until we regrouped. We had barely made it to the lobby in time before they waltzed through the front door. Elise¡¯s Croagunk was out and ready, as Raphael¡¯s Golbat joined them and I tossed Swallot into the fray.


    ¡°I¡¯m getting really sick of that bitch,¡± Elise commented, calling out her Liepard beside her. Following her lead, I released my personal Murkrow, as Raphael pulled out an Arbok.


    ¡°I count 7 of them,¡± Raphael commented, concerned by the numbers present. ¡°6 on 7 is already going to be messy, but I¡¯m not confident in our coordination.¡±


    ¡°Just follow the plan; we don¡¯t need to win this one.¡± I reminded the two of them, eyeing our opponents and trying to pick targets. Murkrow wasn¡¯t going to be a play-maker for this one, best to keep them on air support. Same story for Swallot, this was going to be tough.


    I don¡¯t know who moved first, or gave the opening command. All I remember is how we went from a stand-off, to a chaotic melee in the blink of an eye. It was a mess, I gave whatever commands I could, but there was so little I could contribute, Swallot was basically on their own. Noticing the tiny seaweed one shooting poison and water balls at Golbat, I ordered Murkrow to focus on taking them out first with ranged moves.


    I could swear the world went into slow-motion as a tiny brown dinosaur flew through the air, like it had been catapulted or launched, bearing down on Murkrow. I thought Murkrow could see it, could dodge in time, but they were so fixated on the tiny anti-air duo they missed the incoming¨C Wait, was it holding onto a giant rock like a club?


    <hr>


    Louis¡¯ Murkrow got chunked by the flying tyke, forcing me to divert Liepard to assist. ¡°How did you get hit in the air by a pokemon that can¡¯t even fly?!¡± I shouted at him, realizing that I was once again the best trainer in the group. ¡°Liepard, shut down that shrimp! Croagunk, keep stalling!¡±


    The Fraxure was being a pain, teaming up with that Gabite for the worst tag-team I could be up against. How the hell did these seven seem to coordinate so damn well? A glance at the door brought every thought to a screeching halt; she was just standing there, and that damn snake dragon wasn¡¯t even participating. I could vividly remember both times it had slammed my head so hard I blacked out. Hell, I should¡¯ve been DEAD!


    I was about to reach for my taser when I remembered that we had planned for this. As long as we got the Master Ball, we won. ¡°Raphael, swap! Croagunk, poison the two fighting Arbok!¡± I heard him give the matching call as our pokemon traded dance partners. If I could keep four of them poisoned, that should wear ¡®em down enough to buy more time.


    Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.


    <hr>


    As much as I hated Elise, she was on-point with the call. Having Arbok stall and apply status conditions to her already-poisoned two opponents was a good way to shake up the field. Though Golbat seemed to be having trouble with their single flier. My Golbat was faster, bigger, and hopefully stronger than the tiny wisp of a pink Noibat. And yet it was dodging every single attack we made. But it wasn¡¯t attacking or using any moves despite ample opportunities, just dodging¡­


    Looking back towards the ground, I noticed the artillery duo were focused on Swallot, using water attacks to keep the poison contained. Clever, but it meant their Noibat was the only one who¨C


    ¡°GOL!¡± I heard a shout, seeing Golbat lose altitude and struggle to recover. Had the little guy finally struck, or was it¨C


    Golbat flapped its wings hard to climb, barely avoiding a rapid projectile from the ground. It almost looked like a pebble? Following the arc, the brown dinosaur from earlier was standing apart from the group, seemingly letting the other dragon try to hold down Croagunk on its own. Orbiting it were two rings of tiny pebbles, almost like tiny asteroids¡­


    I saw one of the pebbles shoot out from the ring, barely grazing Golbat¡¯s foot. ¡°Elise, they got another artillery in the back!¡± I shouted, right before hearing a cry as my Arbok fainted. Recalling them, I clipped their ball back on my belt, gripping Golbat¡¯s and making ready for our exit. ¡°Just a little more¡­¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°They seem exceptionally well coordinated, beyond what I was anticipating.¡± Dragonair commented, watching the battle unfold from the rear. The two newbies were holding their own and meshing with the existing squad almost seamlessly. ¡°Maybe it was dumb of me to worry after all.¡±


    The Lady petted their head affectionately, enjoying the spectacle of a team battle. ¡°See? Everything can be fine if you just go with the flow.¡± The two continued to watch as the Team Flare side continued to fall like dominoes, until the final pokemon (a rather tough Swallot) was returned. Dragonair didn¡¯t even try to apprehend them, watching as the three activated their Escape Ropes and vanished in a cloud of smoke.


    ¡°Now, onward! To the President¡¯s office!¡± The Lady commanded, as the group of young dragons cheered, then stood in place expectantly. There was a momentary pause, until she finally asked: ¡°You don¡¯t know where it is, do you?¡±


    ¡°We always just followed Dragonair; they knew the way.¡± Noibat chirped, getting a supportive ¡®yea!¡¯ from the others.


    ¡°In my defense, the other times were just a single path; you couldn¡¯t get lost. But sure, I¡¯ll lead the way.¡± Dragonair volunteered, taking the point position as the group went deeper into the factory.


    <hr>


    Gaston had to admit, things were going fairly smoothly. Nobody in the team was attempting to prank the other members, there wasn¡¯t any infighting (yet), and the others were exceptionally friendly. Was this what it was like to be on a normal team?


    ¡°So what¡¯s your story?¡± He heard from his left, the other new member Deino asked while matching his pace. It was rather odd how Dragonair simply happened across these other powerful pokemon while traveling and they would just join up.


    ¡°I was holding my team back, so The Lady brought me along for a power boost.¡± He responded, as it was the truth in part. Nobody wanted to be the weakest link, especially if the others wouldn¡¯t admit you were. ¡°What about you?¡±


    The dark type seemed to focus on Dragonair, like they were some great mystery to be solved. ¡°My gut said that if I joined you guys, I¡¯d become the strongest Hydreigon in the region. And after barely a few hours I¡¯m already a full neck ahead of my hatch-mates.¡±


    ¡°Yea, barely one battle and it feels like I¡¯m overflowing with energy. At this rate I might even evolve sooner than I planned¡­¡± The metal cross-hatch walkway clanked and clicked as their talons each made contact, forcing the group into a double-file column as their leader seemingly knew exactly which way to go. Noticing their patron was nearby in her human guise, he attempted to ask the question discreetly. ¡°Dragonair is just like Chad, aren¡¯t they?¡±


    ¡°Whatever do you mean?¡± She asked, feigning innocence. She had that same expression Ginette wore when someone caught her doing something she shouldn¡¯t be.


    ¡°They have an aura that seems to attract others to them, to follow them. They know quite a lot, more than anyone else I¡¯ve met so far. And most importantly-¡± He trailed off, as Dragonair paused before a metal rectangle with human markings before turning right. ¡°They can read the human¡¯s language.¡±


    She put a finger to her chin, tilting her head in a pantomime of a human deep in thought. ¡°Seems like you already know the answer then. Does it change anything?¡± He left the conversation at that, because it didn¡¯t change anything.


    At least, not yet.


    <hr>


    Holding the purple and white ball in my hand, I marveled at the sheer power and ingenuity that had gone into this modification. A pokeball capable of capturing even the mightiest of legends. ¡°And how many more can your factory produce, Mr. President?¡± Bryony inquired, focused on the bonus part of our mission. One was great, but more was always better.


    ¡°I¨C I don¡¯t know; it¡¯s the first and only one we¡¯ve ever made.¡± He pleaded, well aware the answer was not ¡®none¡¯. My eyes slid over as a reminder that this man was neither young nor beautiful, and likely had no place in our future world. ¡°Please, it took us years to even get the energy containment field stable enough to¨C¡±


    ¡®THUD¡¯


    Bryony and I both focused on the door, where someone was attempting to break down the lock. We each gripped our Escape Ropes, ready to go at a moment¡¯s notice, but something in me stirred for a little more than a clean escape. We had won, and I felt like I deserved to gloat for a moment. Thus, when there was another ¡®THUD¡¯ and the lock gave way, allowing the door to swing outwards, I smiled at the sight; our greatest thorn and nemesis was right here to observe our victory.


    ¡°You were too late,¡± I informed, holding up the Master Ball for them to see. ¡°Now Team Flare will secure the necessary pokemon of legend to operate The Ultimate Weapon! But do not worry, you won¡¯t be around in our world of the future to regret your decisions.¡± I pulled the Escape Rope, as I saw the flying bat zoom towards the ball. No matter how fast they were, they couldn¡¯t¨C


    There was a flash of red, a flash of white, and when the smoke cleared revealing us in the safe zone with our other comrades¡­ the ball gave a cute capture chime. Stunned, I locked eyes with Bryony. ¡°We can re-use pokeballs, right?¡±


    She, equally stunned, frowned like someone had just claimed responsibility for her proof on a new theorem. ¡°No.¡±


    Chewing over the ramifications, how the boss might react, I released the pokemon the ball had ¡®captured¡¯, seeing the tiny pink bat from earlier appear from the light. It squeaked, seemingly laughing at our predicament. ¡°At least we can interrogate this one, maybe use it as bait to have that snake-dragon power the device.¡± I suggested, as the bat finally recognized their error.


    <hr>


    Dragonair was frozen in place, still processing what had happened.


    Team Flare had the Master Ball.


    Team Flare had escaped, with the Master Ball.


    Noibat had flung themselves at the Master Ball; and gotten himself captured.


    The Master Ball was worthless now¡­ but Team Flare had Noibat, and were likely very unhappy with his action. The world was spinning, ringing, none of this¨C


    ¡°Undo it.¡± Dragonair commanded, turning to face his Storyteller. ¡°Rewind, undo, whatever; just let us try again.¡±


    The woman¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach her eyes, which didn''t match her expression. ¡°Everyone, why don¡¯t you go make sure the President¡¯s safe while we have a discussion.¡± She suggested, waiting outside the office with a hand on the door. The other pokemon, unsure what had happened, went inside to make sure the former prisoner was happy and healthy. When it was just The Lady and Dragonair, she shut the door. ¡°We can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°What do you mean we can¡¯t? Chad said it himself, he got do-overs all the time!¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s the Narrator¡¯s main power, the Re-Shoot; not mine.¡± She clarified, her voice steady and solemn.


    ¡°There has to be something we can do. We can¡¯t just let them take him¡­¡± Dragonair¡¯s voice was wavering. ¡°What about the Narrator, I¡¯ll just ask him¡ª¡°


    ¡°His powers won¡¯t work on you, just as mine won¡¯t work on Chad.¡±


    ¡°I don¡¯t need them to work on me, just Noibat!¡± Dragonair shouted, as The Lady wiggled her fingers and a drape of shimmering air surrounded the two of them.


    ¡°I warned you this would happen¡ª¡°


    ¡°COULD happen, emphasis on the probability part! And I backed off, just like you told me to! Nobody else should have to suffer just because I was the one to lose my cool! Now bring him back!¡±


    ¡°I told you, I can¡¯t.¡±


    ¡°Fine,¡± Dragonair responded before slithering towards the exit. ¡°I know where they¡¯ll be next anyway.¡±

 Chapter 35: Stepping Up to the Challenge

    <Oh Bugger.>


    ¡°Something wrong?¡± Chad asked, looking up from the sizzling bacon in the pan.


    <Worst case scenario; don¡¯t fret just yet. We can address it after the gym battle in a few days.>


    ¡°Right. You do realize telling someone ¡®Oh it¡¯s just the worst possible scenario, no need to fret until after tea and biscuits¡¯ is not exactly the most calming thing you could say in this situation?¡± Chad commented, rolling the five omelets over to reveal a soft golden cook. "Just Keep Calm and Carry On?"


    <As I said, we can address it in a few days. Now, over the few days of downtime, everyone focused on their personal training and planning for the next two gym challenges. Chad managed to figure out Roost, Ginette got the basics of Water Shuriken, Lucielle mastered Metal Claw, Alexandre conquered Earth Power, and Keanu began to experiment with Confuse Ray and Hex.>


    <A few warm up battles along the way, giving the group some additional funds and practice, and the crew stood before the giant tree the gym had been built into. Not quite as magnificent as Ramos¡¯, but still elegant in its own way as the pink petals fell to the ground in a delicate dance.>


    ¡°Two tree-based gyms seems a bit odd, wouldn¡¯t you say?¡± Chad commented, adjusting his scarf before walking inside. The lobby was relatively empty, save for the front desk attendant and what appeared to be a gym trainer updating the bulletin board. Not waiting for a greeting, Chad pulled his trainer card and offered it to the attendant.


    ¡°Oh, you¡¯re Chad? Valerie is waiting for you past the doors on the right. Good luck!¡± She said, returning the ID with a smile. With a nod, he waddled through the hallway to find a vertical dollhouse complete with nine unique rooms. Though the lights for the odd structure were off, as only the dirt field itself was lit. On the far side of the field stood a theatrical stage with closed silken curtains.


    <The lights dimmed, as a singular spotlight shone on the curtains. Patterned with the falling leaves of the cherry blossom tree in which the gym was built, the silken veil parted to reveal a woman in an eye-catching pink and yellow dress holding a Kantonese paper fan.>


    <There was a twang of a stringed instrument, as the woman began her slow dance performance. Each movement was graceful and evocative of a story told through dance. Several petals fell during specific moments, adding set decoration and accentuating key poses. Upon the crescendo and finale of her performance, the woman struck a final pose before the audience burst into applause.>


    <¡±It is lovely to meet you, trainer. I have heard words of your feats spoken upon the winds of fortune. And now, with you joining me on stage, the two of us will demonstrate the true power of the fairy type.¡± She recited, almost poetically, as she strode towards the gym leader¡¯s box. A referee accompanied by a Gardevoir appeared near the midpoint.>


    <¡±This will be a four on four battle, with one switch permitted for the challenger. This match is between Laverre Gym Leader Valerie, and the challenger Trainer Chad. Trainers, are you ready?¡± She declared, her voice echoing inside the stadium. Valerie palmed a pokeball, signaling her status to the ref.>


    Chad stood within the trainer box, with Alexandre¡¯s ball at the ready. ¡°Ready,¡± he grunted, signalling to the referee.


    <Gardevoir held their hands together in prayer, as a psychic field came into being covering the field. ¡°On the count of three, both trainers will release their pokemon. 1, 2, 3, begin!¡± The ref shouted, as Valerie threw her pokeball, revealing a Mawile.>


    "Tonight" by Sunset Neon


    Unlike Alexandre''s previous theme about overwhelming might, this one more aligns with his personality.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7gVCzkuVFyN1YmiOfrrSVR?si=1cad1e2aa1b04d58</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUvvGf8T7wM</a>


    A gentle lob released the pink rhino closer to Chad, as he rolled his shoulders and stretched his neck muscles. ¡°Just as you practiced, remember you have the hard part.¡± Chad encouraged, watching as Alexandre¡¯s pink skin coated with a soft brown before his muscles increased.


    <¡±Iron Defense, then show them how dangerous a prepared fairy can be.¡± Valerie commanded with poise, Mawile¡¯s body gaining a shine as it coated itself with solid grey energy. The steel pokemon began to run towards its foe, as fast as its little legs could go.>


    ¡°Shit, steel type? It¡¯ll be immune to poison, stick with ground and fire moves.¡± Chad reacted, as Alexandre frowned at the borderline-order from the back line. Timing it, the pink rabbit increased his muscle mass one more time before clashing with the smaller fairy. His fist glowed with dark brown energy, clashing with the shining silver energy coating the odd toothy appendage.


    <Mawile, not missing a beat, pivoted to slide their giant toothy maw under and up to lock onto Alexandre with a darkness-encrusted bite, their teeth sinking into his forearm and grabbing hold tight. The action earned a slight cheer from the audience, eager to see the battle between the defensive titans.>


    ¡°Oh look,¡± Alexandre remarked, lifting the fairy off the ground to his eye level. ¡°Now I don¡¯t even need to hold you.¡± Mawile wasn¡¯t able to let go in time as it ate a blast of hot fire to the face, forcing it to panic and release its hold¡­ Only to fall onto the ground right as the giant rabbit landed a firm stomp, sending a surge of light brown energy across the field. The vibrations knocked Mawile off their feet, as they struggled to wipe away whatever heat remained on their smaller face.


    <Not ready to give up, Mawile¡¯s skin glowed with another shiny sheen, as it used its oversized jaw to push off¨C >


    Alexandre simply stomped on the ground again, this time the vibrations much stronger and knocked his smaller foe flat on their face. The fairy was completely still as he walked around to try and spot any hidden plans, only to see the dizzy eyes of a fainted pokemon.


    <¡±Mawile is unable to battle! Gym Leader Valerie, please send out your next pokemon!¡± The ref called, as Mawile vanished in the red recall beam. The audience gave a mild applause, showing some favoritism for their hometown hero. ¡°You may have beaten my toughest pokemon, but can you handle my trickiest?¡± She tossed out her next ball to reveal a Mr Mime. ¡°Shields up!¡± she called, as her psychic began to set up their defenses.>


    Alexandre leaned forward in a ready pose, as the earth broke below him, propelling a small platform forward towards the odd pokemon. ¡°I love this; I missed having an opponent who didn¡¯t fold like paper when I so much as touch them!¡± He shouted, his cocked-back fist dripping with a sickly purple goo. Mr Mime, in a panic, hurried to raise their defenses right up until the moment of impact. Alexandre broke clean through the first translucent barrier, fracturing the second as one of his spines poked through. The momentum carried forward, spewing the purple goo through the tiny hole and all over his opponent.


    <¡±Psychic!¡± Valerie called out, losing some of her composure. Mr Mime made a gesture with his hand, a matching magenta glove gripping around Alexandre, and he threw the massive rhino across the field to send him tumbling. It seemed to stumble for balance, the poisonous goo stuck to them.>


    Alexandre took a moment to dust himself off as he stood, shaking off having just been thrown across the room. ¡°Huh, that kinda hurt. Fine, dirty tactics it is.¡± With his claws practically vibrating with light brown energy, he leapt forward, vanishing into the earth as it rippled apart to accept him.


    <¡±Watch the ground, he has to come up soon.¡± Valerie warned, as the referee eyed a stopwatch. Mr Mime took the moment to replace one of its shields, but waited patiently.>


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    The ground beneath Mr Mime began to vibrate, and reflexively it unleashed a psychic punch against the dirt below it, compacting the ground and stopping the rumble. The crowd cheered in excitement at the massive move. Then, a sizzling purple projectile rocketed from the edge of the newly-formed crater, hitting the psychic square in the back of the head and sending them into an immediate dirt nap, silencing the onlookers.


    <¡±Mr Mime is unable to battle! Gym Leader Valerie, please send out your third pokemon!¡± The ref called, as the fainted pokemon was returned.>


    Alexandre resurfaced on Chad¡¯s side of the field, clearly having been clobbered by the final attack. ¡°I think that¡¯s it for me unless the lass drops the ball.¡± He admitted, leading to Chad signaling the use of his switch and recalling the injured Nidoking.


    <Valerie, feeling confident, tossed out a fancy premier ball, revealing an incredibly well-groomed Sylveon on her side of the field. Shouts and wild cheers arose from the audience, as the eeveelution was clearly a fan-favorite. ¡°It is good you recognize your team¡¯s limits. Now, show me what else you can¨C¡±>


    Chad released Ginette beside him inside the trainer box, catching a look from both the gym leader and ref. He unclipped the belt of pokeballs and handed it to her, along with the mega bracelet. ¡°Pretty sure they might get upset at this, but if so we can keep it in mind for future matches. Save the Mega Evolution for her fourth if you can.¡± He whispered before vanishing into his own pokeball on the belt.


    Ginette waved an apology, clicking the belt buckle as she draped it across her shoulder like a sash, before pulling an ultra ball to toss onto the field. As Lucielle solidified, the referee motioned for the battle to continue, with both combatants rushing forward. ¡°You can do it, Luci!¡± Ginette shouted loudly, her enthusiasm leading the audience to cheer in response.


    "She''s a Blast" by Beautiful Bodies


    I was originally planning to use this for her gym battle against Ginette, but I realized it was better for their first serious challenge as a team, and so here we are!


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/428x14AvuMoTmmO6pBeozu?si=06e9cbbae67c4383</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A48guW637mc</a>


    ¡°Please be careful not to damage my perm; one must always look their finest in battle!¡± Sylveon called out, dodging left to unleash a flurry of white stars that homed in on Lucielle. The jackal swung to reveal her signature bone staff, twirling it to demolish the incoming projectiles. The distraction was enough, as the pink fox used his ribbons to blow a kiss and a glowing pink heart that slammed into Lucielle. ¡°Now, how about we tone it down a bit, hmm?¡±


    The brown ki came and faded almost instantly, her muscles growing in a split second as she returned a knowing smile. ¡°Oh honey, sorry to burst your bubble, but you just aren¡¯t my type.¡± There was a supersonic crack in the air as Lucielle vanished before reappearing to take a swipe at the fox, followed by a swoosh as the same fox leapt backwards in a blur of white energy. ¡°And the last man who stood between me and my girlfriend wasn¡¯t walking for a while after I gave him a lesson.¡±


    <Valerie stood in silence, unable to give a command to her partner without it being seconds out of date, merely watching as the two zipped around in a high-speed game of Fox and the Hound. The audience was going nuts, not having seen their favorite gym pokemon get pushed this hard in a while.>


    Both eventually came to a stop, panting hard and struggling to move, the high speeds having depleted their stamina. Sylveon was unsteady on his feet, while Lucielle used her bone staff as a support. The ref wasn¡¯t using a timer on this one, granting both pokemon a brief reprieve until they both stood up straighter. ¡°It seems we¡¯ll need to rely on a contest other than looks or speed.¡± The fox suggested, as a cloud of white stars began to form behind him.


    ¡°Agreed,¡± Lucielle commented, holding her staff in one hand for defense as her off-hand¡¯s claws took on a shining silver hue. The two stared each other down, until a flick of an ear kicked off a literal barrage of white stars raining down on the jackal. Staff spinning as a makeshift shield, only a handful of the stars penetrated through to hit her, to which she repaid with a vicious slash with her claws and forcing the fox to retreat.


    <¡±She¡¯s limited to melee attacks, Sylv; just keep your distance and chip her down.¡± Valerie directed, covering the lower half of her face with the paper fan. Sylveon yipped in response, continually leaping backwards and throwing out homing stars.>


    ¡°I really need another ranged attack.¡± Lucielle grumbled, as she ran across the field in chase, focusing more on blocking or dodging the stars as she closed the gap. The sky kept falling around her, the shower limiting each step to be strategic and guided by the flare of white in her eyes. Sylveon smiled as she burst through, her shining claw streaking for him, ¡°Well played.¡± Catching her breath, Lucielle panted hard as everyone watched and waited.


    <¡±Sylveon is unable to battle! Gym Leader Valerie, please send out your final pokemon,¡± the referee instructed, as the white and pink collapsed pokemon vanished in a beam of red. ¡°Very well; most trainers would have earned their badge after defeating my Sylveon, but you are no ordinary trainer, and thus I believe one extra step is required in this recital¡­¡± Valerie monologued, withdrawing a scuffed red and white pokeball from her sleeve. ¡°Be prepared, for you have won the badge, and now you shall endeavor to earn my respect!¡± From the ball emerged a blob of white and pink, a menacing Wigglytuff which seemed to warp space around itself.>


    ¡°Go big or go home, let¡¯s show her the strength of our bond, Luci!¡± Ginette shouted while striking a pose, her mega bracelet shining bright with her resolve. Simultaneously, the Mega Stone mounted in a belt buckle around Lucielle¡¯s waist shone with a matching light, before enveloping the entire jackal as she shifted into her stronger self.


    <¡±I see, it appears you are endorsed by the Tower of Mastery; marvelous! Puffy, Korrina strategy.¡± Valerie called out, as the Wigglytuff¡¯s stance shifted slightly. The fairy conjured what appeared to be a puff pastry made of white energy before swallowing the construct whole.>


    Rocketing out of her evolution, Lucielle was across the field before Puffy could generate another of the odd powerups, knocking it out of his hand with a swing of her empowered femur staff. Before her follow-up of a swipe with the shining claws could make contact, the giant blob had shifted backwards just enough to avoid her attack by a centimeter. ¡°You must be exhausted, why don¡¯t you take it a bit slower?¡± His melodic voice suggested, as Lucielle¡¯s movements immediately began to slow down.


    She continued her assault, making frantic swings with both her claws and staff, each one slower than the last. Up until her final swing, which was so sluggish Puffy was able to stop it with barely any effort before the jackal outright collapsed forward fast asleep. Wigglytuff grinned in amusement as Ginette groaned in frustration. ¡°Sleep is always a nasty affliction, so hard to ward off, and yet so effective when an opponent has already worn themselves down.¡± He explained, mildly gloating as he created another cream puff and ate it.


    Ginette shut her eyes in resolution, her shoulders falling as she weighed something on her mind. ¡°Luci¡­ If you wake up tout de suite and win this¡­ We can do item twenty-seven on your list.¡± The frog offered, her smile soft as she noticed her girlfriend¡¯s ear twitch. The Lucario went from fast asleep to awake and alert in a split-second as she glanced back towards Ginette.


    ¡°Twenty-seven? Not twenty-six?¡± She asked with wide pleading eyes, startling Puffy with how quickly she had seemed to awaken.


    ¡°I¡¯ll upgrade to twenty-six if you can manage to keep yourself from falling asleep again,¡± Ginette offered after taking a moment to consider the request.


    Lucielle¡¯s gaze returned to Puffy, free of any hesitation or signs of recently being out cold; she was wide awake and seemingly wired out of her mind. ¡°If you avoid using that sleep move again, I¡¯ll avoid your face,¡± she offered to the fairy. He barely had the time to say ¡®No deal¡¯ before taking a knee to the center of his face, sending him rolling backwards.


    Another sonic boom echoed as she pursued, throwing punches and kicks with reckless abandon, unwilling to give her opponent so much as a breath¡¯s opening. But a breath was all it took, as a blast of sound forced her backwards through the air. Puffy made a swallowing movement, as his body began to glow with soft white energy, the majority of his injuries and bruises fading under the gentle illumination. ¡°Clearly, someone needs her naptime,¡± he called out, imbuing his voice with the same energy as before.


    Recognizing the trick this time, Lucielle swung the back of her hand into her side, grunting as the metal spike penetrated her skin to draw blood. Steadily moving her arm back into a fighting pose, her muzzle gained a maniacal grin. ¡°You first,¡± she offered before leaping in with a flying overhead kick which he easily side-stepped.


    <¡±It seems I was correct; there are very few Lucario who have their own unique fighting style. Once you¡¯ve seen Korrina¡¯s team, you have a strategy for every Lucario that passes through these doors.¡± Valerie commented with a humble-brag, seemingly disappointed with the current progress of the fight.>


    Ginette was watching for any suggestions she could offer, but straightened up like a light bulb lit up at Valerie¡¯s comment. ¡°Luci! Remember what Chad did at the other giant tree, with the sword? You need to try something similar with steel energy!¡± She shouted, the command forcing Lucielle to disengage to parse it. Puffy paused, almost as if he were waiting to see what would happen.


    Lucielle accepted the momentary respite, and examined her white femur staff, feeling the ki flowing through it. The staff began to change colors, from bright white to muted gray, as she slowly replaced the ki with steel energy. Things were going fine, up until the energy reached the middle of the staff, at which point it fractured in half; leaving her two halves which resembled metal rods. Lucielle swung one as a test, frowning at how it felt, injecting more of the gray energy into the constructs. Then, with a knowing smirk, two handles began to sprout perpendicular to the rods, allowing her to change her grip. Some swipes, swings, and elbows later, Lucielle stood ready to continue with her tonfa.


    <¡±Interesting, something novel; but will it be enough?¡± Valerie commented, as Puffy signaled his agreement with her. The referee, trying to be respectful of the moment but adherent to the rules, signaled for the fight to resume.>


    As Lucielle charged in once more, Puffy did his best to avoid the new weapons. Unfortunately for him, she was able to extend and shorten her range mid-swing, causing him to both dodge too far to respond with his own attacks, and to not dodge far enough. Lucielle traded blows with the pink balloon, doing her utmost to secure at least two of her own strikes for every one of his.


    <The brawl continued until, in a near-cinematic final blow, Wigglytuff went down from a strike to the side of his head, and stayed down. ¡°Wigglytuff is unable to battle! Trainer Chad is the victor!¡± The ref shouted, as the psychic shield began to recede. The audience gave a standing ovation, having witnessed a trainer going above and beyond their normal sixth badge challenge.>


    Lucielle reverted to her normal form, falling to one knee as Ginette rushed onto the field. ¡°Twenty-six, and I¡¯ll hold you to it,¡± she promised between gasps. The frog gave her exhausted teammate a firm hug before returning her to the ultra ball, followed by releasing Chad from his own pokeball. The Charizard stretched out his wings, accepting the pokeball belt and mega bracelet back from Ginette.


    Before the victorious amphibian could return to her own ball, Chad found himself facing the gym leader, noting that she had literally deployed a roll-out red carpet onto the field before making her way across. ¡±Yes... That was a fine battle. I shall reward you for this great victory. This is the Fairy Badge. It is yours now. Its beauty is captivating, is it not?¡± She said, pausing to stare at the badge. ¡±Ah... Do forgive me. I was so captivated, I forgot for a moment that it is yours.¡± As Valerie handed over the pin, she eyed the open spot on Chad¡¯s belt. ¡°It may sound presumptuous of me, but I do hope to see a Fairy on your team in the Conference this year.¡±


    Chad watched her walk away, before shrugging and doing the same, heading for the door he had entered from with a vibrating Ginette beside him. ¡°So,¡± he began, an eye glancing down at the mischievous water type. ¡°What¡¯s number twenty-six?¡±

 Chapter 36: Clash of the Stories

    <Returning to the pokecenter, Chad was informed Alexandre, Lucielle, and even Ginette would require the remainder of the day (and night) to recover from their battle. Knowing that he was going to have a busy day tomorrow, Chad decided to tuck in early.>


    Chad sat on the bed inside the team¡¯s room, staring at the sun which hung high enough in the sky to be mid-afternoon. ¡°Yea, now I know you¡¯re worried¡­¡± He whispered, unclipping the remaining pokeball from the team belt and releasing Keanu, who appeared seated in the lounge chair.


    ¡°And he is right to be,¡± the owl commented, his voice laden with concern. ¡°I may not have a reality-adjacent omnipotent being sitting on my shoulder, but even I could spot trouble after barely a few minutes with that pokemon.¡±


    ¡°Alright, spell it out for me, because if these Team Flare are anything like Team Rocket were, I may support Dragonair¡¯s mission to wipe them out.¡± The dragon requested, leaning forward enough that Keanu wouldn¡¯t need to speak very loudly.


    <It began when the captives from their first operation escaped police custody, albeit because Team Flare has a few officers among their ranks. Nobody likes having their work undone, even if only partially. During the second operation, the criminals were able to take advantage of Escape Ropes to avoid capture entirely, and succeeded in their goals to siphon power for their project. Diminished victory, partial victory; however you describe the outcome, the young dragon took it as a loss.>


    ¡°And even at that point they were bordering on unhinged,¡± Keanu commented, steepling the feather tips of his wings. ¡°Even restoring the power to the city wasn¡¯t enough¡­¡±


    <Which brings us to Her latest operation, which was to prevent them from securing the Master Ball prototype¨C >


    ¡°Wait, the Master Ball? The ¡®Guaranteed Capture of Any Pokemon¡¯ MacGuffin? Purple and white pokeball with a little ¡®M¡¯ on the top?¡± Chad rattled off, now fully at attention.


    <Correct. Regrettably, Team Flare was able to escape with the prototype. However, in a daring display of self-sacrifice, one of Dragonair¡¯s team members got themselves caught by the MacGuffin to render it useless.>


    ¡°...You mean they can¡¯t just release them and re-use it?¡±


    Technically if this were a normal Pokemon story, yes. But this is more like a ¡°Oh shoot, my son/daughter deviously threw my only Master Ball at a Magikarp and saved the game¡± situation. So, no, it¡¯s useless now.


    <That¡¯s one less headache to deal with; Catching a Legendary would be a violation of the contract terms.>


    ¡°Contract?¡± Keanu questioned with a raised eyebrow.


    ¡°Long story, but yea he signed a contract with¡­ three of them?¡± Chad tried to remember, drawing a blank on his pokemon creation lore. ¡°Anyway, so my counterpart is likely off the deep end by now, I take it?¡±


    <At the bottom of the Marianas Trench, practically. The Lady was planning to just let the crew go and have a moment, but we need to be ready to intervene if things escalate.>


    Chad weighed the statement before falling backwards on the soft mattress that somehow was big enough for all of him to spread out (except his tail, which dangled the fiery tip off the flammable sheets). ¡°Then I¡¯m going to use the remaining time to create a plan. Can you get me the details on Dragonair¡¯s moveset? If I remember right, they should be vulnerable to dragon, ice, and this new fairy type. But since nobody has any ice or fairy moves, I guess that leaves things to me¡­ Shame there¡¯s nobody who can activate my Mega form.¡±


    <Dragonair appears to know Slam, Twister, Hurricane, Thunder Wave, Dragon Rage, Dragon Dance, Safeguard, Dragon Tail, and Thunderbolt. She is worried they may know others, but She could confirm that list at the least.>


    ¡°That¨C That is going to be an issue. Is their fighting style the same as mine?¡± Chad balked, hearing a dangerous mix of melee, ranged, and AoE moves.


    ¡°Yea, all-out offense. You couldn¡¯t convince me to battle them even for a king¡¯s ransom.¡± Keanu commented as he stood and moved to the door. ¡°I¡¯m going to take a walk around town before sundown.¡± He was gone before Chad could even ask what was on the odd avian¡¯s mind.


    <Left alone, Chad used his remaining time to plan and strategize, facing wall after wall after wall as each plan ran into a serious Achilles¡¯ heel. True to his word, Keanu returned with the sunset, as the two shared a dinner with their other three teammates. Chad took the moment to fill them in on his ideas, fielding any and all input he could. Upon the completion of dinner, the trio were remanded to the nurses¡¯ medical care as Chad and Keanu called it a night.>


    <The following morning, the team was reunited to celebrate their recent victory over breakfast. Ginette brought up the idea of simply flying over the route to the next town, suggesting simply using the extra time to battle other trainers near civilization. Chad, surrounded by three yays and one nay, relented and agreed to fly to Dendemille Town rather than spend three days walking and camping along Route 15.>


    <The skies were calm as Chad soared through the air, high above Route 15. The clouds were sparse, giving him a clear line of sight- >


    Chad, finding himself gliding through the air all of a sudden, dug into his training and stabilized himself before panic brought him into a free fall. ¡°Narrator..?¡±


    <Calem and Serena have been seen heading towards the Frost Cavern, north of Dendemille.>


    ¡°And that halted the time-warp because..?¡±


    <I''ve been locked out; you need to hurry.>


    <hr>


    I gently placed the metal instrument back on the tray table, careful not to let any of the blood drip onto my exposed sleeve. I can admit that torture serves no logical purpose, especially in situations involving so severe of a language barrier as our current one. But studying a live specimen and recording notes was science, and science was always logical. Bryony and Celosia had both failed and succeeded in their mission, a growing trend for Team Flare lately. Thankfully, while they worked on resetting the Master Ball back in the lab to be reused on a different pokemon, they left me a research subject for study.


    It was a touching gift; both of them remembered how I previously informed them of my desire to study a true dragon type. And what luck that a volunteer landed right into their hands! Well, maybe not exactly a consenting volunteer¨C I thankfully had been wearing ear protection when it attempted to render me unconscious. As a side bonus, the gag stifled the bulk of the screaming.


    Originally, my mission had been to study the local Abomasnow population, to document or determine why they were so rare in an area clearly suited to their biology. However, such research paled in value when compared to the subject currently on my examination table. Shame though, a Noivern would¡¯ve been enough justification to pull away either Bryony or Celosia to assist me. ¡°If only you had evolved before volunteering; research into Noivern biology is extremely rare to come by¡­¡±


    I felt a cold wind whistle through the cavern, blowing my beautiful blue bangs momentarily into my vision and sending a spastic shiver through my subject¡¯s form. Curious; we were deep enough that the winds did not penetrate this far. A glance to the entryway of this area was rewarded with the sight of the most beautiful pokemon I had ever seen. A long dragon, whose scales matched my hair and favorite color, eyed me with love. ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve finally come! My perfect pokemon, with you at my side Lysandre will never be able to decline my grant requests again!¡± I threw the ultra ball at the pokemon, excited to finally have a dragon of my own!


    The ball smacked into it, and fell to the ground without reacting. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re more powerful than you look. I had yet to meet a pokemon which could deny the capture function of a pokeball.¡± Then it shifted, and I realized it had not been looking at me, but the research subject. I also noted that the wheezing and labored breathing of the subject had become mysteriously quiet.


    When we locked eyes, the previously dimly-lit cavern went bright white.


    <hr>


    Calem and Serena were hiking north from town, following the tip about a Mamoswine that frequently assisted trainers with crossing Route 17. ¡°You know, I bet Alphonse could just fly us through the snow. Not like there¡¯s any trainers along the way.¡± Serena suggested, tugging her warm coat closer as her breath fogged in the mid-day air.


    ¡°I know he could, but I also know your Aerodactyl doesn¡¯t like me or any other man getting too close to you.¡± Calem whipped back, adjusting his snow gloves. ¡°And Ferdinand hasn¡¯t fully evolved into Flygon yet, so I can¡¯t just fly behind you.¡±


    ¡°Not much longer, I bet. Before you know it, we¡¯ll be zooming through the skies everywhere.¡± She boasted, leaning backwards to take in the wide open blue yonder that awaited above. ¡°I wonder how Chad¡¯s been. He wasn¡¯t that far behind us¡­¡± The two could see the entrance of the cave in the distance, the whole route being tranquil and quiet ever since they left town.


    ¡°Wait!¡± The voice came from behind them, from a familiar woman in a yellow sundress who was practically sprinting at them barefoot, her heels dangling from one hand. ¡°Don¡¯t go in there!¡± She continued, both under-dressed for the cold and completely devoid of her previous aura from their first encounter.


    Calem, skeptical, did as she bade and stopped in the middle of the road. ¡°Something wrong, ma¡¯am?¡± He asked innocently, eyes drawn to the six pokeballs forming a bracelet around her wrist.


    ¡°You two need to get out of here, before¨C¡± She¡¯s cut-off as a massive explosion blasts out of the cave, dozens of wild pokemon hurrying out in fright trying to escape. From the cloud of smoke, a lone Team Flare grunt is sprinting wildly away, off towards the forest east of the path. Before he can make the treeline, a white beam pierces the smoke in an upward motion, slicing through several trees in the background and atomizing the man where it makes contact. ¡°Before Dragonair leaves the cave¡­¡± The woman trailed off, slowly palming all six pokeballs at once.


    From the black clouds, a golden-orange and white biped strides out, with a pear-shaped body, a thick tail, two stubby little wings, and enough power to cow even the strongest of trainers. They carry the small form of a purple and black bat pokemon in their right arm, gently cradling the still form. Their sky-blue eyes flitter through a kaleidoscope of various emotions, locking in on disappointment upon spotting the woman in the sundress.


    <hr>


    Chad could feel the temperature dropping as he sped east, having already fully stacked Agility for maximum speed. ¡°Please tell me you can still at least rewind me if anything goes wrong?¡±


    <Within limits, maybe? I¡¯m locked out from changing anything.>You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.


    And this is why Storytellers are solitary; things become unstable when Stories intertwine.


    ¡°Just¨C I need to know how many attempts I have to save them.¡±


    Death is permanent; so just don¡¯t die.


    ¡°Don¡¯t die, he says; like it¡¯s a trivial thing when going against someone who drastically powerscales me.¡±


    <¡±Life is short. Do stuff that matters.¡± is an apt quote, I believe.>


    ¡°Yea, like make mine even shorter. Great quote for a two year old.¡± Chad grumbled, as he spotted the mountain, the road towards it, and most importantly his friends. Two pokemon, one red and one tan, were giving it their all to protect three humans behind them from a Dragonite¡¯s onslaught. To the degree he saw the tan one collapse, and no other pokemon come to take their place.


    ¡°Author, if Dragonite can¡¯t hear you, I really would appreciate your insights when fighting them. I really want to live long enough to fight in the conference.¡± Chad prayed before tucking his body close together, a spiral of light blue energy forming out in front of him. He began to dive towards his target, accelerating as the wind screamed from his passing.


    <hr>


    Claude was down¡­ I had nobody left¨C Dorothy was the only pokemon standing between the three of us and the mythical orange dragon that bore down on us. Miss ¡®Dommy Mommy¡¯ ended up being useless, with her pokemon refusing to come out. They were probably scared, I don¡¯t blame them.


    I just wish this wasn¡¯t how it ended.


    Dorothy was exhausted, having spent all of her energy just defending from this monster¡¯s attacks. The only pokemon I had left was Corine, and she was so new I wouldn¡¯t throw out the little Litwick here. Hugo, Katia, Marcelle, Dorian, Louise, Alphonse, Remy, Fleur, Fernand, and now Claude¡­ All taken down without even putting so much as a blemish on that impossible thing. I noticed Calem glance at Dorothy, before she shook her head slightly. ¡°Calem¡­¡± I called out, before offering him my hand. ¡°It¡¯s been great traveling with you.¡±


    His expression broke through the determination, as the fear finally set in, before he took my hand with a smile. ¡°Sorry, Serena; I was really looking forward to fighting you for the conference title.¡± I gripped it firmly, choosing to focus on him, on the most reliable idiot I¡¯d ever known. ¡°We never did get to break our tie, did we?¡±


    I felt the air whoosh by as I accepted my fate.


    After a second, I cracked an eye. Calem still looked just as handsome as when he was alive; his hand still felt warm in mine. It was like nothing had happened, the world was still in full color, and the road was just plain dirt. I guess it was painless, what a mercy¡­


    That was when I heard it, the sonic boom of when a flying pokemon broke the speed of sound. It was nearby, and loud¨C very loud? It was the last thing I heard before my ears began ringing. Though then I noticed Dorothy perk up in the corner of my eye, almost excited. Maybe we¡¯re not dead yet after all..?


    In front of the Dragonite, an orange blur was spinning so fast I couldn¡¯t make out any details, coated in the tell-tale blue of flying energy. The speed¨C was that an Aerial Ace?


    Eventually the pokemon who had come to our rescue stopped spinning, resolving into another orange-red dragon, this one with larger wings, and a familiar flaming tail. His fist was extended, having been caught by the Dragonite¡¯s own three-fingered grip. ¡°Chad¨C!¡± was all I managed to call out (I think) before he was swung around and overhead straight into the ground. When the dust cleared from the impact, it was clear even Chad didn¡¯t stand a chance.


    His neck was bent the wrong way, I could see a bone poking out from his right wing, the flame on his tail was barely an ember. Worst of all, he wasn¡¯t even moving. The sight seemed to drain Dorothy of her last stamina, as she fell to her knees.


    I didn¡¯t need my hearing to tell she was screaming.


    <hr>


    Even Chad was against me. I had to bury a teammate¨C a friend¨C one of my first friends in¡­ I can¡¯t even remember. All I wanted was revenge, and to protect the damn world from this handful of insane people who were dead-set on ending it. Ending it for pokemon, for other humans¨C for anyone who wasn¡¯t them.


    And somehow I was the bad guy?


    And then there was Her; The Lady. She could¡¯ve gotten me here in time, to save Noibat while he still held on. His body was still warm, a cruel reminder that I was just minutes too late.


    The two humans just down the road seemed to have lost the will to fight the inevitable, with only an exhausted pokemon standing between them and the inevitable. That damn vixen wouldn¡¯t even send out one of my teammates to protect them. Hell, I wonder if she was worried they¡¯d join me. No matter, a single Hyper Beam should¨C


    ¡®CRACK¡¯


    The sound brought my eyes down to Chad¡¯s corpse¨C no, his body; the flame was still lit. The exposed and broken bones slid and cracked back into place as he stood up before me. I could literally watch his neck go from a one-hundred-and-twenty degree bend to straight with a sickening sound. The damage from the impact, all of his injuries seemed to just¡­ Re-Wind.


    Back in pristine condition, the Charizard stood upright, his sky blue eyes level with mine. ¡°Ow,¡± was all he had to say, as he seemed to stretch and re-adjust his joints like they were stiff. I nearly killed this guy, and all he can say is ¡®Ow¡¯?!


    <hr>


    Just shake it off; like going to a chiropractor.


    <My boon has been reduced to mere regeneration; this is humiliating.>


    Chad tried to shake off the phantom pains from being re-assembled, sliding the flight goggles from over his eyes to his forehead as he glanced down at the lifeless purple body cradled in the crook of Dragonite¡¯s arm. ¡°Was he one of yours?¡± He asked innocently, avoiding any sudden moves. Slowly, the light-orange dragon nodded. ¡°Did you get revenge?¡±


    ¡°Only a handful, so far,¡± they replied, tone brokering no negotiation for dissuading them from the chosen warpath. ¡°Are you here to stop me?¡±


    Say No.


    Chad took the moment to stall, to breathe, before returning his gaze back up to the dragon he had been told he would get to enjoy the rest of his new life with. ¡°No, I¡¯m just here to save them,¡± he responded, motioning towards Calem and Serena with his horn. ¡°If our paths crossed any other way, I probably would have joined you; but right now my goal is their safety. I know Flare are a threat, but unlike Team Rocket I feel like you can handle this without me.¡±


    Dragonite narrowed his eyebrows skeptically. ¡°Why Rocket? What makes them special?¡±


    Be honest.


    Chad blushed before giving a light chuckle. ¡°I used to fantasize a lot about how I would raid Giovanni¡¯s labs and rescue Mewtwo. And maybe he¡¯d be grateful enough to join my team¡­¡±


    Dragonite didn¡¯t return the smile, letting the silence linger. ¡°Then it sounds like you need to defeat me for your goal.¡±


    Not possible. Gaston will protect them though, so go all-out.


    ¡°Nah,¡± Chad declined, his face falling into a determined resignation. ¡°I don¡¯t need to beat you to win, just survive until you¡¯ve calmed down.¡± He angled his head so his voice would carry backwards from the side of his mouth. ¡°Gaston,¡± he called, spurring the brown dinosaur to appear standing as a bulwark for the four. ¡°You¡¯re on defense, show me how you¡¯ve grown.¡±


    "I Really Want to Stay at Your House" by Rosa Walton


    If you know this song, you know what it signifies. The question is; who''s it for?


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/7mykoq6R3BArsSpNDjFQTm?si=ad974b8b0a1940d9</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KvMY1uzSC1E</a>


    Dragonite took that as the signal, throwing a punch coated with familiar purple flames in a left hook that sent Chad sprawling and rolling across the dirt. In response, Gaston raised several rocky barricades, creating a literal fort to protect his wards. There was a sickening crunch from the Charizard, as the dislocated bones of his jaw and skull snapped back into place. Chad¡¯s body surged with Ki, his head coated in magenta energy, as he slowly strode towards his opponent.


    Dragonite impassively extended their left arm, aiming at Chad as they snapped their fingers, sending a bolt of lighting at the flying type who writhed in agony. Undeterred, Chad buffed again with his ¡°Hearts and Minds¡± combo, to which Dragonite responded with another snap and zap. Breaking up the repetition, Dragonite snapped their fingers again, but instead of a bolt of lighting, the skies above darkened with black clouds as the winds picked up around them. The strong winds caused several tornadoes to touch down around the area at random, while occasional droplets of rain scattered across the open field and trees.


    Hurricane, MOVE!


    Chad¡¯s wings flared with fire, as a second pair separated from his organic set, thrusting him forward towards Dragonite with a roar of challenge. The two clashed, with the flaming energy surging off Chad and being blocked by Dragonite¡¯s one free hand. Up until the attack was deflected with a spin as the thick yellow-ish tail slammed into the orange ribs and sent the fire type sideways with a sickening crack, sliding through the dirt and grass to come to a stop several feet away. ¡°It appears your immortality is the only real strength you have. Just stay down and let me finish what I need to do.¡±


    Chad groaned, gently rubbing his side as the indent expanded with each rib popping back into place. ¡°Not immortal,¡± he grumbled, pushing up to his feet with the one arm that wasn¡¯t relocating back into proper shape. ¡°And I¡¯m not stopping you from leaving; you¡¯re free to go at any time.¡±


    Wrong answer¡­


    Dragonite, visibly displeased by the statement, turned their head towards the makeshift fort and let loose an instant beam of white energy that obliterated part of the fort, forcing Gaston to reinforce the structure to prevent it from collapsing. Luckily, the beam had only been aimed at a corner, rather than the center of the structure.


    Chad, incensed by the casual violence, gripped his left fire wing, reshaping it as he flew at Dragonite while swinging the familiar flaming sword. Catching the blade with one hand, Dragonite didn¡¯t even turn their head to acknowledge the fiery challenger. ¡°The one-winged angel? Odd choice for someone trying to play the hero,¡± they commented, releasing their grip as Chad leapt backwards to create distance.


    Your only chance to keep up at this point is Mega Evolution.


    Before Chad could retort with a smarmy comment, his backpack began to shine from the edges of the top flap, inspiring him to reach backwards with a free hand and withdraw a gently glowing orb from the extradimensional space. ¡°How?¡± He asked, feeling the energies surging within.


    <Surprisingly, we seem to have what qualifies as a ¡°strong bond¡±.>


    ¡°We¡¯re going to have a talk about this afterwards, but for now¡­ I appreciate it.¡± Chad declared, grinning as he triggered the evolution within the mega stone.


    The change was near-instant, as the new horns and spikes grew from his shoulders, elbows, back, and wings. His skin scorching itself pitch black while his belly flared up a brilliant blue to match his eyes. The fire sword shifted to a matching blue, humming with energy as it grew and solidified. With his now-free hand, Chad grasped the remaining fire wing, condensing it into a second sword before taking up a stance.


    Enraged at the sight, Dragonite charged up and blasted at the fortress with a full-fledged white beam again, which crashed into a stone barricade that had arisen in response. One by one, stone walls leapt from the earth to block the attack at the same rate they crumbled under the massive energy. Until the beam was finally stopped by the final wall, left cracked and crumbling from the force. Successful in negating the attack, Gaston grinned as he went about repairing the damage and working on additional defenses.


    Chad used the opportunity to close the gap, swinging each blade in alternating timings, forcing Dragonite to dodge and parry each attack; but with each parry, their skin began to singe and scorch from the upgraded blue heat. Noticing the stacking damage, they unleashed a point-blank blast of indigo flames to force Chad to retreat a step. ¡°You think watching anime gives you some sort of power boost here?¡± Dragonite taunted, coating their fist in the flaming indigo energy once more, this time shaped into a large three-clawed gauntlet.


    Chad shouted in rage before leaping back in, the clashes of his blades against the gauntlet sending sparks flying everywhere. But the force was too much, as his left blade fractured and shattered into a raw fiery explosion after yet another parry from the other dragon. Not missing a beat, he swung with the remaining sword as it flared with draconic blue might. The attack landed, smashing into Dragonite and sending them sliding as their claws dug troughs in the dirt. ¡°Just walk away!¡± Chad shouted, merging the broken and intact blades into a larger, singular greatsword.


    Dragonite emerged from the smoke, absolutely glaring at Chad as they removed their hand from the now-burned and bruised ribs. ¡°Why should I?!¡± The dragon raged, their voice echoing for miles and carrying across all of Kalos.


    ¡°Because today, you lost a good friend. And I¡¯m asking¨C no, begging you; don¡¯t become the reason I need to bury one of mine.¡±


    Dragonite practically deflated at the request, the burning rage having lost its fuel from the fight, as they took a sorrowful glance down towards Noibat¡¯s undisturbed body, still quietly resting in their right arm. Seconds stretched into minutes, as Chad slowly lowered the massive weapon, waiting for a response. Calmly, Dragonite faced Gaston, elevating their voice to carry through the stonework. ¡°If I leave those humans unharmed, will the rest of you join me in eliminating Flare?¡±


    The front of the fort fell away, as each dragon from the squad forced their way out of a pokeball and affirmed their support, some even directly walking over towards their leader. Fraxure was the last to emerge, looking expectantly at the woman in the sundress. ¡°Are you joining us?¡±


    The Lady undid the clasp on her wrist before passing over the pokeballs to the waiting dragon. ¡°Just for the funeral; after that, it¡¯s probably best if we parted ways. I¡­ I don¡¯t want to watch the climax of this Story.¡± She replied, letting her guise fall and reverting to a yellow vulpine form much to the two humans¡¯ surprise. The last to join them, Gaston leapt down from the roof with an earth-quaking shudder, his new and larger red form towering over the group. Even Dragonite seemed a little shocked, as the dinosaur was twice their height.


    ¡°When did that happen?¡± Chad inquired as his weapon dissipated into raw energy, admiring his teammate¡¯s successful evolution mid-fight.


    ¡°Right after the second Hyper Beam. It appears I have ascended to my prime self.¡± Chad reached down for the remaining pokeballs on his belt before the tiny red arm stopped him. ¡°I know they would love to celebrate, but it may be best to delay until we reconvene for the Conference.¡± He suggested, motioning towards the other group of dragons before moving to join them. Every step made the dirt tremble in fear, up until the titan and Dragonite¡¯s entourage vanished into their pokeballs.


    Their eyes flashing distrust at the Renamon as she signaled her request to ride on their back, Dragonite signaled their contingent permission to the Storyteller. With their rider, cargo, and wrist strap of pokeballs secured, Dragonite took one final sorrowful look at Chad. ¡°I hope you can forgive me,¡± they stated with remorse, before zooming away at unreal speeds.


    Chad let out a sigh of relief, right before being tackled by a fluffy glomp from behind, the assailant¡¯s two arms gripping him tightly. Her words were jumbled and hard to make out, but her warmth was familiar enough for him to gently pat the soft crimson arms. ¡°Hey Dorothy, glad you¡¯re OK too.¡± Her response was a garbled mess, completely intelligible. Turning around, Calem and Serena were waiting, still firmly holding hands like their lives depended on it. Their faces seemed strained and exhausted, justified by their earlier battle for survival. With a flick, he called out Alexandre, the rabbit furious at being unable to contribute. ¡°Alexandre, can you get everyone to the nearby pokecenter to the south, please?¡±


    Without complaint, the rhino accepted the belt from Chad and returned him, the team backpack falling to the ground as it suddenly experienced gravity. Calem returned his Delphox, as the two wobbled over to where Alexandre simply lifted each in one arm with a princess carry. With a sense of urgency, Alexandre took a stance as the earth below his feet began to slide forward. The stony surfboard accelerated towards town, leaving behind a snake-like fissure in the road. ¡°Everyone¡¯s so damn dramatic,¡± he grumbled.


    <Had they simply talked, and listened to one another, this would¡¯ve been solved in barely two paragraphs.>


    Yea, but who wants to read something like that?

 Chapter 37: I know you know I know what youre thinking

    <Calem and his team, Serena and her team, and Chad himself were all put on emergency medical observation upon arrival back in Dendemille Town. During their week-long stay, Ginette and Keanu honed their plans and stratagems for the upcoming gym battle in Anistar City. Lucielle and Alexandre used the time to get stronger, distraught at being relegated to the sidelines during the event. A helpful reminder from Ginette spurred the duo to head north, to practice amidst the cold and ice, especially against the native ice types.>


    <Calem and Serena were ¡®released¡¯ after two days, and were happy to work with Ginette and Keanu on their own plans for the upcoming gym battle. Corine, Serena¡¯s young Litwick, received heapings of personal tutelage in ghost moves from Keanu, spurring their growth and evolution into Lampent after only a few days. Meanwhile, the two trainers spent the next few days exploring about the city, discussing whatever came to their minds.>


    <Calem¡¯s team, Serena¡¯s team, and Chad were all kept within the same relative area, allowing the two groups to catch up the fire dragon on all that had happened since they last parted ways in Ambrette Town. Additionally, introductions were made of the relatively newer members, as well as rounds of congratulations on several evolutions that had occurred during their time apart. Dorothy, being cleared after a day of rest, spent much of her time assisting the others. Her bias towards Chad ended up the punchline of many a joke at the two¡¯s expense.>


    <Dorothy had achieved her final form as a Delphox, the spitting image of her mother, Reine du Feu. Fleur had evolved into a massive Venusaur, and used her mastery of scents to provide the room a pleasant aroma. Remy, now a bulky Pangoro, had seemingly warmed up to the group while paying attention to the conversations; even injecting his own thoughts on occasion.>


    <Introductions were in order, as a Kabutops introduced herself as Katia. The Vibrava named Fernand expressed his jealousy that Chad could carry a human around on his back while flying. Lastly, the tiny electric mouse named Dorian, whose cute whiskers and fairy typing made the Dedenne a nasty surprise.>


    <Across the aisle, Claude had bulked up into a Chesnaught and was deep into analyzing where the team had gone wrong with Hugo; who himself had grown up into a Blastoise. Louise was still a Nidorina, and Chad made sure to get a note to Serena about finding a Moon Stone for her.>


    <Then came the new faces for Serena¡¯s crew, as Corine the Litwick dropped by to visit on occasion, the younger ¡®mon still figuring out her place on the team. A cephalopod with dark tentacles, a Malamar, introduced themselves as Marcelle. Lastly, giving everyone the stink-eye over how heavily he was restrained, was Serena¡¯s Aerodactyl, Alphonse.>


    <Seven days of bedrest and medical care later, everyone was cleared to leave and continue with their adventure. Serena, seeing an opportunity, begged Chad to fly Calem to Anistar so they could avoid the cold. Before he could agree, the nearby nurse inquired if any of them had a flight license, to which a single orange claw hoisted the correct piece of plastic. One lecture on unsafe ideas and the danger of flying later, Chad volunteered to carry the both of them to Anistar. Serena¡¯s hug was enthusiastic, with plenty of ¡®thank you¡¯s for not having to trudge through the snowy pass for several days.>


    Chad eyed his two passengers, making sure they were secure on his back and wearing their warmest clothing. With a solid ¡®click¡¯ of the last buckle, Calem gave a thumbs up, firmly gripping one arm around Serena¡¯s waist while the other held on to Chad¡¯s backpack. ¡°How long do you think this trip will take by air?¡± He asked, securing his pair of flight goggles before tieing up his worn white scarf to cover his mouth and nose.


    ¡°I dunno,¡± Serena responded, leaning forward to lie flat against the fire type¡¯s back. ¡°Depends how fast Chad can fly.¡± Her own face protection secured, she gave a second thumbs up. Chad simply nodded, and with a simple flap began his ascent. Calem, fascinated and excited, looked over and down as the ground receded, taking note of a pair of magenta wings glowing on Chad¡¯s ankles.


    ¡°Does¡­ Does Chad know Agility?¡± He asked nervously, as the dragon in question looked back with a smug grin. Reading the response, Calem quickly tried to secure himself like his life depended on it.


    ¡°I hope so! Show us what you can do, Chad!¡± She shouted, securing her earmuffs for hearing protection. The trio gently ascended above the minimum safe altitude before a strong flap sent them forward. Sky blue energy began to trail off the large webbed wings as he pushed faster and faster; the endless white of Route 17 beginning to blur together.


    <The trio arrived in Anistar City barely over an hour later, whereupon both Calem and Serena staggered into a nearby cafe to order warm cups of coffee. While they had indeed avoided a multi-day hike through the snowy mountains, holding on for dear life while flying at high speeds was a stressful ordeal in itself. Sadly, the cafe was humans only, and Chad waved before walking into the pokecenter to once again try and reserve a room. Surprisingly, he was informed a room had been booked for him in advance by the local gym leader, and she had scheduled his match for early the next day.>


    <Weary of tomorrow¡¯s surprise, Chad and company threw themselves into last minute practice and battles before dinner. Chad finally managed to conquer Fire Spin, while Keanu mastered Confuse Ray and Hex. Ginette claimed to have an idea for something new, but wouldn¡¯t have it ready in time for tomorrow. Lucielle began working towards Flash Cannon, and Alexandre decided to just duke it out with others to alleviate his boredom.>


    <Over dinner, Calem and Serena rejoined the group, formally announcing they would be ¡®trying things out¡¯. With a warm reception, the three trainers took to the mini kitchen and managed to prepare an adequate dinner for their teams. The remainder of the evening was subdued, as Ginette and Keanu made last minute plans for the following day.>


    <The next morning, Chad and company departed for the Anistar gym, enjoying the peaceful crashing of the waves from the ocean in the background. The gym itself was certainly odd-looking, a little run-down from the outside, with few major hallmarks to identify it. As he stepped through the wooden door- >


    Chad glanced around the room, noticing the three humans waiting nearby with knowing smiles. At the center stood a woman with stylized purple hair, in a fancy black dress with a large cape that seemed to float and flutter on its own. On the inside of the cape was a scene of the night sky, with stars twinkling and shining. ¡°Welcome, Chad.¡± She greeted with a slight curtsey. ¡°I apologize for the subtlety but I foresaw the two of us needing to have a talk before your gym battle.¡±


    Chad glanced around before pantomiming writing something. ¡°No need, I can perfectly understand you. Please, feel free to speak your mind and give voice to your questions.¡±


    ¡°Pardon me for being skeptical, especially since this would be the first and only time.¡± Chad replied, crossing his arms defensively. ¡°I guess from the fancy outfit you must be Olympia?¡±


    ¡°Yes. Come, we will continue this conversation inside,¡± she suggests, as she spins to head towards the center of the room with a flourish of her cape.


    ¡°Chef de salle, avez-vous besoin d''autre chose?¡± One of the other two asked, as the woman gently shook her head no.


    ¡°How can I-?¡±


    ¡°Understand me? I always have a member of my personal team acting as a translator wherever I go. I find that by not relying on a shared vocabulary, certain concepts can be expressed and understood regardless of how well it could be verbally conveyed.¡± She interrupted, her words sounding relaxed and almost rehearsed. Upon reaching the center of the room, standing on a detailed circular pattern in the carpet, she vanished. Nervous, Chad followed behind, stepping onto the center of the pattern before he felt himself shift.


    Gone was the dusty odd house, replaced with a space that was borderline unnatural. The entire night sky was present here, both above and below, showing every star visible from the planet. Each layer of the structure was like a maze, with dozens of odd lights and cosmic shapes floating about through the air. ¡°Beautiful, is it not?¡± Olympia asked, waiting for him with pride. ¡°More importantly, this space is disconnected from our world. Which means it will not be able to interfere with your battle today.¡±


    ¡°It?¡± Chad asked, following behind the gym leader as she began walking the maze.


    ¡°The thing following you? Controlling your opponents?¡±


    ¡°Oh, him. The Narrator.¡± Chad clarified with a slump.


    ¡°I have reviewed the footage, spoken with the other gym leaders. Each has felt its touch, noticed the subtle pushes directed to them. Korrina is, so far, the only one of us to battle you without said ¡®encouragement¡¯.¡± She continued, before laughing. ¡°Clemont did try to argue for stripping his badge, but a quick quiz revealed that he would¡¯ve made the same mistake on his own. Alexandre, I believe his name was, is quite the actor.¡±


    Olympia waved at a gym trainer sweeping the floors as the duo passed by. ¡°This entity, I can see that they are not truly evil, nor are they good. Having your first gym battle against a two badge team was rather cruel. Thus, we concluded that you have earned all six badges so far, and you will be allowed to keep them.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s a relief. Did you know he¡¯s been making it hard for me? Like, intentionally pitting me against gym leaders instead of just gym trainers? In his opinion, if I don¡¯t defeat the gym leader, I haven¡¯t earned the badge.¡± Chad ranted without fear of repercussion.


    ¡°From today on, this ¡®Narrator¡¯ is forbidden from interfering with your gym matches, and from involving itself with the Conference; should you qualify.¡± She stated; a mixture between a command and a statement. ¡°Understand?¡±


    ¡°Yea; not looking forward to informing him of that stipulation.¡± Chad responded, noticing the two had reached the glowing blue battlefield at the top of the maze.


    I can handle that, don¡¯t worry. Just focus on the match.


    Chad nodded, as both trainers took their spots on opposite ends of the field. A gym trainer floated towards the referee position, accompanied by a pink fox with a red gem in its forehead and a split tail. ¡°As a final point, this battle will be a four on four match, with two switches,¡± Olympia stated, her expression hardening in focus.


    Immediately, the psychic barriers around the field began to rise, the ref taking up their customary stance. ¡°Ce sera un combat entre la championne du gymnase Olympia et le challenger Chad. Chaque entra?neur aura droit ¨¤ quatre Pok¨¦mon maximum et ¨¤ un ¨¦change. Dresseurs, au compte de trois, lib¨¦rez votre premier Pok¨¦mon. Un, deux, trois, c''est parti!¡±


    Keanu''s theme song, inspired by some of his namesake''s films, is "Clockwork" by Hyper


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4Zl87UYUFG5OJNPhzMTk20?si=b608ae9179e347d7</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pt7kmByAPxI</a>


    If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.


    Olympia¡¯s pokeball practically floated from inside her cape, landing on the field and revealing a black sphere flying with a pair of yellow wings, an odd yellow tail, and a singular eye. Chad tossed Keanu¡¯s ball first, as the ghostly owl appeared briefly before fading into the shadows. Immediately, transparent shields began to form around the flying pokemon. Echoing around the room, a bone-chilling deep chuckle resounded in response. ¡°Those won¡¯t save you,¡± Keanu¡¯s voice commented, as Olympia¡¯s pokemon began to charge its wings with light blue energy.


    In a split-second, Keanu appeared and fired a reddish laser at his foe, who launched their wind attack as several light blades scythed across the open field. The laser connected, dazing the flying type, while the blades seemed to harmlessly pass through where Keanu had been before vanishing again. The black ball began to wobble, throwing out a psychic blast almost at random, or another round of the wind blades, never making contact.


    Then the small chaotic orbs of malevolent energy began to fly out, impacting on the psychic¡¯s waiting shields and screens, chipping away at their durability. After the fourth hit, the shields shattered, causing the pokemon to send out a giant pulse of psychic energy around it, to no avail. Appearing below, in its shadow, Keanu launched a close-up of the chaos energy before unloading a few of his feathers in an akimbo-style repeated shots. The flyer, unable to respond in time, toppled to the ground unconscious. Keanu, taking advantage of the moment, pumped both of his arms forward, then back, then forward again causing several of his missing feathers to regrow.


    ¡°Crypt¨¦ro est incapable de se battre. Championne de gymnase Olympia, veuillez envoyer votre deuxi¨¨me Pok¨¦mon!¡± The ref called, as the fainted battler was returned to their pokeball.


    Chad rubbed the side of his head, frowning. ¡°I gotta say, having everyone speaking Kalosian is a bit jarring. I can guess the gist of what humans say sometimes, but that¡¯s only with context.¡±


    Olympia grinned, palming a great ball. ¡°I would think facing a trainer who only said ''Charizard'' is quite the similar experience,¡± she jested, lobbing the blue ball onto the field to reveal a pink biped with a red and white ruff and a massive greyish-blue hat. ¡°Roigada, tactiques anti-gu¨¦rilla.¡± She stated calmly, as the pink pokemon seemed to yawn.


    This time, Keanu didn¡¯t even bother hiding, immediately firing his feathers at the pink pokemon. Each one was caught or deflected by a psychic force, his foe completely nonplussed by the situation as its head began to glow with magenta energy. ¡°Apologies for dragging this out, I was awoken from a very nice nap,¡± Roigada apologized, turning their disinterested gaze upon the owl while closing their eyes. There was a slight puff as Keanu attempted to fire more feathers, but found his wings lacking any more. He managed to get a quick pump-reload before a piercing beam shot from his opponent¡¯s crown, coming within centimeters of his head.


    The two continued to exchange ranged shots, with Roigada¡¯s barely missing (likely due to being unwilling to see their opponent), and Keanu¡¯s shots being dodged with near-precognitive precision. Chad, noticing the water pooling at the edge of the arena, called out ¡°Careful, they¡¯re setting up a Surf!¡± Keanu didn¡¯t appear to take heed, as he dashed across the gap with a dark purple blade extending from his right wing. He managed to make contact, swiping the feather-shaped darkness straight through his opponent, before finding himself pinned by dozens of small hands made of translucent magenta.


    ¡°Clever, but this will be as far as you go today, young man.¡± The crowned pokemon turned to face Keanu, eyes still shut, as the water surged across the field. ¡°I look forward to our rematch.¡± Keanu vanished beneath the waves, held under as the bubbles continued to rise, slowly petering off until a single bubble announced the end. As the water receded, Roigada opened their eyes in shock, with there being no trace of the owl anywhere.


    ¡°No need for a rematch,¡± echoed from behind them, as two ghostly feathers penetrated the pink pokemon from the back. Going from stunned and shocked, to smiling, Roigada stood in place with an ingrained regality. Keanu was panting hard, his feathers completely soaked, coughing up water to empty his lungs. The avian slid backwards when a ring of water formed around the center of his foe, inspiring a ¡®tch¡¯ of frustration as the damage began to soothe.


    ¡°Daring, and quite risky. Did you believe a double advantage would be enough?¡± Eyes closed once again, the waters began to still, with a thin puddle covering the entire field. ¡°Now I do not need clairvoyance to know when you are coming,¡± he remarked with a gentle kick and a splash.


    Keanu¡¯s brows furrowed under his hood, as he vanished in a puff of ghostly energy, only for a series of splashes to betray his advance, allowing his foe to lean just far enough back to avoid a shadowy strike to the head. With a flap of his wings, the owl took to the sky, gliding around to try and strike at an unsuspecting angle. Eventually, at the height of his arc, Keanu came straight down on his foe, blasting out feathers on top of his opponent.


    No dodging this time, as the pink pokemon simply deflected the shots with a psychic barrier. Though they wobbled as a sphere of shadows, hidden amidst the barrage, slid past the barrier and made impact. Before Keanu could fall directly onto Roigada, he vanished in another buff of smoke, leaving a second orb to slam into his target at close range. Roigada, still calm, simply listened and stood up while tracking where the avian had vanished to; only to jolt upright as another pair of shadow blades penetrated his back. ¡°Quite slippery,¡± he commented, before falling face-first into the shallow water, unconscious.


    ¡°Roigada est incapable de se battre. Championne de gymnase Olympia, veuillez envoyer votre troisi¨¨me Pok¨¦mon!¡± The ref called, as Chad signaled he would be making a switch.


    ¡°I, can, keep, going¡­¡± Keanu complained, but a stink eye from Chad had him back down. Vanishing in the return beam, Chad gripped his first teammate¡¯s pokeball, waiting for Olympia.


    He wasn¡¯t kept waiting long, as the white and navy blue pokemon appeared rather quickly, the small feline had an air of unwavering confidence in her abilities. Chad didn¡¯t delay, calling out Ginette without fanfare. ¡°Int¨¦ressant, je ne vois pas ton avenir. Mistigrix, nous serons dans le noir ici, suis le plan A.¡±


    Ginette''s always embodied the ''fun'' in the team, so clearly her theme had to spark joy. "Electric Blue Supernova" by Interlunium


    Spoitfy: https://open.spotify.com/track/6RTOkDLsGObcguFlyKJQEw?si=7bbb393076c2472d</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiOT2EhZSuo</a>


    Immediately, both pokemon began to set up; the cat with magenta, Ginette with darkness. The frog threw out several white stars which streaked towards their target, using them as a distraction to create her illusory clones around the field. The feline was unmoved, using a psychic barrier to block the stars before coating her head in another application of magenta.


    Meanwhile, Ginette and her backup dancers finished their little show, drawing the attention of dozens of dark clouds overhead to block the night sky and cry upon the field. Frowning, the fluffball fired a ball of psychic energy at her foe, visibly upset over battling in the rain. With her entourage continuing to dance, Ginette seemingly vanished between the raindrops, leaving the ball to obliterate one of the clones.


    When she re-appeared moments later, her giant water shuriken was crashing against the cat¡¯s barrier, both pushing for the other to give out first. At least up until the amphibian grinned and stuck out her tongue, dropping an odd dark ball from her hands toward the ground. The feline was so incensed she barely caught the ticking time bomb, leaping backwards to barely escape the explosion of raw darkness in time.


    Ginette laughed mirthfully, coating herself in darkness again while her shuriken seemingly gained a white gleam to make it sharper. ¡°I know what you¡¯re thinking, it¡¯s written all over your face. ¡®Oh dear, how can this beautiful woman outclass me in everything? She¡¯s fast, trouncing my fuzzy butt, and not even cracking a sweat?!¡¯ Well it¡¯s your lucky day! Because the first thing we need to address is: when was the last time you had fun?¡± She monologed, launching another set of white throwing stars at the cat.


    ¡°That isn¡¯t any of your business,¡± Mistigrix bit back as the stars harmlessly plunked into her barrier. ¡°What would a mindless cretin like you know about fun anyway?¡±


    Ginette leaned sideways by almost forty-five degrees, tapping her chin with an evil grin. ¡°Oh, plenty! Like last night, I introduced my girlfriend to ________ ____________, which had her begging like nothing else. Between that, _____ ______, Doctor and Nurse, ____, ____ ______, and a whole other slew of things we¡¯ve been having fun almost every day!¡±


    ¡°You have no dignity!¡± The feline declared, extending her arm and launching a dazzling magenta beam at what appeared to be yet another clone, vanishing in a poof. A jet of boiling water sizzled and flared off her protective shield from her right, spurring the cat to turn and blast yet another clone with the beam attack.


    ¡°Oh, I have something better than dignity; I have someone who knows exactly how to ____ __ ___ ____ _____. And then when we ____ _________, she ________ like _____.¡± Ginette taunted, re-appearing to create both another dancing clone and a flurry of distracting white stars to speed across the field. Said projectiles plinked harmlessly off their target¡¯s defenses, but the twitch of an eyebrow indicated their successful distraction.


    ¡°How dare you sully these august halls with such language?!¡± Magistrix raged, glowing with all colors of the rainbow as she sent out a wide pulse of psychic energy, dispersing every cloud and clone. Breathing hard, her eyes scanning for her dastardly foe, she was smacked from behind as the water shuriken sent her across the field to delicately land in front of Olympia.


    ¡°I¡¯m done; I¡¯m going to need therapy after this.¡± Mistigrix demanded, causing Olympia to frown. Watching the cat walk off the field, the ref made the signal for her retreat from the battle. Frustrated, Olympia threw out her fourth, worn and scuffed, pokeball; appearing from the light was a golden and brown biped, wielding two silver spoons while his long mustache seemed to float of its own accord.


    ¡°Oh ho ho, I look forward to experiencing what you can do, young lass!¡± He called out, his voice clearly aged and likely wisened with experience. As a test, Ginette threw out a handful of white stars, which seemed to curve away and past her new foe. ¡°Come now, no need to be shy. This old man isn¡¯t quite as fragile as he seems!¡±


    Grinning like a madwoman, Ginette was across the distance in a flash, her signature shuriken generating sparks as it was blocked by the edge of a simple spoon. She continued the assault, swinging the weapon wildly and randomly as the Alakazam seemed to predict her every swing. ¡°If you¡¯re so sturdy, why not let me hit you to prove it?¡± She demanded, attempting to throw a surprise dark pulse in his face only to have it be hurdled to the edge of the arena by a psychic force.


    ¡°Oh lass, you need to earn that privilege. Show me something I can¡¯t see!¡± He called out, as one of the spoons floated on its own to block her attacks while he taunted her with a yawn. ¡°I must say, for a dark type, you sure are an open book.¡± Ginette frowned at the idea before a glint shone in her eye, and the wise master slipped as his spoon failed to move in time to block the attack. ¡°Oh ho ho, using my mind-reading against me now?¡±


    ¡°Oh no,¡± Ginette hammed it up, playing the distressed maiden. ¡°This old pervert is reading my every thought; how ever will I punish him for his peeping?¡± The facade vanished to reveal an evil predatory smile, or at least as evil as a toothless frog could do. His eyes went wide in shock, barely getting up a defensive shield before her shuriken sent him floating across the field.


    ¡°I see, you truly have found my one weakness. I suppose there¡¯s no need to hold back!¡± He shouted, as his spoons became a handle and hilt for a pair of magenta energy blades. He gave them a flourish before vanishing with a ¡®pop¡¯, only to appear behind her and swing as the blade swept through the frog. Barely a moment later, ¡®Ginette¡¯ lost her color, revealing to be a construct of water which collapsed to the ground. From behind him, the real Ginette leapt from the dark water, foiled as he vanished with another ¡®pop¡¯ leaving her only air to cut.


    ¡°Fine, old man. You¡¯ve forced my hand; don¡¯t say I didn¡¯t warn you!¡± She called out, her shuriken seeming to get even sharper with a fine white glow. Launching herself at the psychic grandpa, her attacks continued to be parried by the floating spoons, up until he faltered and an attack barely slid past his defense with a resounding ¡®thud¡¯.


    ¡°Yes, yes! Push harder!¡± He shouted in response, as his counter-attack went wide. With each hit that landed, Olympia and Chad grew increasingly uncomfortable. Chad motioned an apology, silently hoping the gym leader would forgive his teammate¡¯s conduct. Olympia pinched the bridge of her nose, waving it off as not his fault.


    After almost a minute of the beatdown, Alakazam was on his back panting, spread eagled while Ginette stood over him with her shuriken. ¡°You need a hobby, or a restraining order. Seriously, get help.¡± She suggested, as he smiled one final time before she smashed him across the head with her water weapon.


    ¡°Alakazam est incapable de se battre! Le challenger Chad est le gagnant!¡± The ref called, as the barriers around the field vanished with a pop. Frowning, Chad immediately returned Ginette before walking across the field. Olympia seemed to leave her fainted pokemon out, until both trainers were within a reasonable distance and he popped up like nothing was wrong.


    ¡°Sorry, Mistress. I was enjoying myself a bit too much and let it get ahead of me.¡± He apologized with a bow, seemingly fine and unharmed.


    ¡°I¡¯m betting he¡¯s from your personal team?¡± Chad inquired, as the psychic pokemon gave him a warm friendly smile. ¡°Yea, makes sense. We¡¯re at the upper levels of badge challenges, and you were unhappy with what the Narrator¡¯s been doing. Did we pass your test?¡±


    ¡°Yes,¡± Olympia responded, as Chad noticed psychic energy coming from the Alakazam, overlaid over what had likely been Kalosian speech. ¡°You truly are strong, even without a cosmic entity putting their finger on the scales. Now, the Psychic Badge; A testament of your team¡¯s skill, of your power.¡± She proclaimed, offering Chad the metal pin. With a purple sphere at the bottom, and a wisping winding golden smoke extending towards the top, it was certainly a unique design.


    ¡°Thanks,¡± Chad replied, holding onto the pin until he could place it in his badge case at the pokecenter. ¡°Any reason we didn¡¯t have an audience though?¡± He inquired, motioning towards the empty stands.


    ¡°I foresaw that it would be a bad idea. Your Greninja made that warning a reality. While not normally an issue for most trainers, I must remind you that many of these events have children in attendance, both pokemon and humans with some way of understanding pokemon.¡± She replied, as her sagely pokemon nodded in agreement, causing Chad to grimace as he visualized any child learning those words or concepts. ¡°As a reminder, your ¡®Narrator¡¯ is forbidden from interfering with any and all future formal matches. We will be assigning a psychic to monitor you at both the Snowbelle Gym, and the Conference.¡±


    ¡°That¡¯s fair; will I meet them or is this a silent guardian type situation?¡± Chad asked, before receiving a pat on the shoulder from Alakazam. ¡°Well that answers that, I guess. Do you have a name I can call you by?¡±


    ¡°If need be, you may address me as Rousseau. Though hopefully my intervention may be limited, if at all.¡±


    ¡°With that, I believe we are done here. Rousseau will escort you out and keep me apprised of your activities. If- no, when you make it to the conference, I wonder how far you¡¯ll go.¡± Olympia remarks with her parting words, giving a gentle wave goodbye as the psychic type floats the two pokemon. And with a soft ¡®pop¡¯ (and an indescribable experience twisting through the back-alleys of space), the two reappear outside of the pokecenter.


    <What happened? I was unable to see you once you entered the gym. I can see the badge, but who is this bloke?>


    ¡°Pleased to meet you, otherworldly one. I am Rousseau and I will be accompanying Chad for the remainder of his journey.¡± The Alakazam responded with a slight bow, leading Chad inside with a hand on his shoulder.


    <Rousseau? There¡¯s nobody on the team plan by that name¡­ nor a psychic type? Chad, explain.>


    ¡°He¡¯ll be following us to make sure you don¡¯t control anyone for our last gym battle, or the conference.¡± He responded, muttering something inaudible.


    <But why? My acting was phenomenal! Nobody could tell the difference between the normal gym leader and your matches!>


    ¡°Except the region¡¯s strongest psychic, and fortune teller. She specifically reinforced her gym so you couldn¡¯t get inside.¡± Chad handed over Keanu and Ginette¡¯s pokeballs to the desk nurse before relocating to the lounge area to continue the conversation. ¡°In any case, if you break that rule, Rousseau here is to report it to Olympia, and I¡¯ll be stripped of all of my badges and kicked out.¡±


    <Unbelievable! Here I am, just trying to tell a story, and now this woman gets the right to tell me no? This shall not stand!>


    ¡°By all means, feel free to walk into her gym to lodge a complaint if you truly feel it is unfair,¡± Rousseau provided with a ¡®what can you do¡¯ gesture. In response, the charged nature of the air faded, the two pokemon waiting in silence.


    I¡¯ll talk with him. Maybe use this time to check in on Calem and Serena?

 Chapter 38: Setting Boundaries

    Finding his favorite two humans (low bar) outside, Chad took note of their current training focus, as Marcelle and Remy appeared to be trading pointers on dark energy while Dorothy demonstrated her skills with psychic energy. In another area, Hugo and Katia appeared to be practicing against a bipedal polar bear paired with a quadrupedal living glacier.


    Serena noticed him first, waving Chad over to watch as Claude had a practice match with a recently-evolved green and red dragon with polygonal wings and odd red eyewear. Calem seemed to be watching Fernand intently, learning his new fighting style, while calling for a halt when he saw any specs of sand start flying. Serena appeared to be buzzing just as much as the flying bug was.


    ¡°New friend?¡± She asked, pointing towards Rousseau, who laughed and shook his head no. ¡°Oh, well how did the gym go?¡± Chad held up his shiny new badge, which got a thumbs-up from the excited young woman. ¡°Great! Maybe you can give some tips to Marcelle and Remy later. But first, can I ask you about that note you gave me back in Dendemille Town?¡±


    Chad grimaced, making a few odd gestures which appeared not to translate at all. ¡°Is¡­ is it like some secret you don¡¯t want to share in public?¡± He shook his head no, again with more odd gestures. ¡°I don¡¯t¨C Can you just grab your device please?¡±


    ¡°No, no I can¡¯t; it was destroyed,¡± Chad lamented, as Serena¡¯s eyes shot wide open in shock.


    ¡°Destroyed?!¡± Her voice rose, catching Calem¡¯s attention from nearby and putting the battle on pause.


    Chad studied her response in confusion, before remembering who stood right beside him. ¡°Thanks, Rousseau,¡± he whispered, as the benevolent psychic patted him on the back. ¡°Yea, it was destroyed back in Geosenge Town. Things have been¡­ rough since then.¡±


    ¡°I am sorry to hear that, Chad. It was always entertaining to see people react to it the first time.¡± Calem commented, having fully joined the conversation circle.


    ¡°Yea¡­ Anyway, about the note. As you¡¯ve met Alexandre, the note was about the evolution method for your team member, Louise. She requires a Moon Stone, which are fairly rare¨C¡±


    ¡°You mean like this one?¡± Serena says, pulling out a shining diamond of a stone, interrupting Chad¡¯s entire train of thought. He nodded, as she continued her inquiry. ¡°So, do I just use the stone on her, or are there other conditions?¡±


    ¡°Let her decide, it''s a big change. But otherwise, no it will be just like giving a Fire Stone to an Eevee.¡± Chad responded, as Alexandre chose that moment to appear from his ball.


    Serena called out Louise, holding up the stone beside her. ¡°You heard them, turns out we¡¯ve been sitting on a power boost for you for several days now. Want it, or would you rather wait, or just continue as you are?¡± She asked her pokemon, who was captivated by the glow of the stone.


    After a minute of thinking it over, Louise nodded, and reached out to touch the stone with a gentle tap. She grew, pushing herself up onto her rear legs, her muscles condensing and expanding. When the light faded, her appearance was similar to Alexandre¡¯s, with fewer spikes and almost a half of a meter taller. Serena smiled in joy, while Calem commented on the continually increasing food costs for her team.


    Offering his hand, Alexandre led Louise away to an open area of the training grounds, explaining his understanding of ground-type moves and things he had learned from his own evolution.


    <¡±So, are you going to stick around for-¡±>


    ¡°Knock that off, Narrator.¡± Chad demanded, as Rousseau¡¯s eyes flared. Serena shook her head, dispelling the foreign influence before shuddering.


    ¡°Yuck, always felt weird when he did that,¡± she admitted, as Claude pulled her into a protective hug; his massive body eclipsing her.


    <What, am I just along for the ride now? Just another member of the audience?>


    ¡°Yes.¡± / ¡°Yes!¡± / ¡°Correct.¡± Calem, Serena, and Rousseau responded simultaneously.


    Chad pinched the bridge of his snout. ¡°Author-sama filled you in on the rules; time-skips are still acceptable, but you need to leave people their agency. Especially the two I just risked my life for last week!¡±


    <My apologies, Serena.>


    ¡°You¡¯re lucky I can¡¯t punch you for that,¡± she quipped, gripping Claude¡¯s thick arms with a pout.


    ¡°Yes, he is very lucky he is merely an intangible presence who can be seen and heard, and not punished.¡± Chad affirmed, crossing his arms and nodding sagely. ¡°That said; Narrator, I believe the current plan is for the three of us to continue traveling together. These two are still not licensed to fly, and there¡¯s only one gym left in the journey anyways.¡±


    ¡°Our gym matches are tonight as well, so we could all leave in the morning.¡± Calem suggested, recalling Fernand and waving for Remy¡¯s attention. ¡°Any tips?¡± Chad side-eyed the undeclared gym pokemon beside him, who was twirling his mustache while amused.


    ¡°Just trust in your team; you two will be fine. I can even come watch if you want?¡± The fire type offered, to which both trainers signaled their consent.


    <Wonderful. To confirm, you wish you cheer them on during their gym trials, have a relaxing evening, then set out tomorrow morning?>


    ¡°Yes, although maybe after their matches, we can let Lucielle and I chat with their contenders for the Snowbelle Gym; a little brainstorming and sharing of ideas could go a long way. Oh, and Louise needs more time to practice with Alexandre.¡± Chad listed off, covering his bases for the major things which would need to occur.


    <Valid, and so it shall be. As the time drew near, all three trainers recalled their teams, enjoying the scenic view of the sunset below the mountains. The four made their way to the Anistar Gym, stepping inside the run-down house. I will assume that both Calem and Serena win their trials handily, as this city is prejudiced against magnificent beings such as myself, such that only corporeals are permitted on the premises.>


    <Reappearing with two more badges a little while later, Chad congratulates the two humans, commenting on their clever displays of techniques and their team¡¯s showing of power. Rousseau, deciding that he can trust the benevolent Narrator, waves goodbye- >The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    ¡°Narrator!¡± Chad grumbles, as Rousseau chuckles.


    <Right, yes, playing nice with others. The four enter the pokecenter, passing over members of Calem and Serena¡¯s teams for medical care, while opting to continue their discussions in the training field. Alexandre gives Louise a few extra pointers on her new ground typing, while Chad and Lucielle have a short meeting with Katia, Hugo, Dorothy, and Corine. The six trade tips and ideas for their upcoming challenge against Wulfric.>


    <One celebratory dinner and a good night¡¯s sleep later, the four pack up and fly south along Route 18. Rousseau, capable as he is, flies beside the trio under his own power while demonstrating superior maneuverability. As the route itself is rather short, Chad takes his time, gliding down for a landing near the mining caves when he spots something interesting.>


    With a flap of his wings, Chad and company gently touch down, as the ¡®something interesting¡¯ is revealed to be a Larvitar and Aron fighting over a berry bush. The two are clearly young, and calling it a ¡®battle¡¯ would be an embellishment. However, upon spotting a shared enemy, the two rock types end their feud and turn to face the challenger. ¡°Ours!¡± They shout in unison.


    Chad smiles, holding his hands up to display his unwillingness to destroy a pair of kids over some wild berries. ¡°That¡¯s fine, I just had a question for you both. Are your families nearby? I¡¯d like to talk with them if possible.¡± This caused the two to look around, and take on a worried aura. It was clear both were lost; having Calem and Serena dismount from his back only made them more frightened. ¡°It¡¯s alright, these are friends of mine. Why don¡¯t we go find your families together?¡±


    Both glanced between each other, the stranger, and the berry bush. With a gentle wave of his spoon, Rousseau removed all the ripe berries from the bush, separating them into two equal clumps, placing the food at both children¡¯s feet. After gouging on the offerings, the two tiny kids began to lead the way towards the mines, sharing stories about how powerful their parents were.


    It didn¡¯t take long to find the packs of other Aron and Larvitar being watched over by an Aggron and Tyranitar, though the two adults seemingly went on alert as the group approached. The other littles, smelling the berry juice smeared across both of their clutchmates, surged forward. The two troublemakers ran before their siblings could do much more, leading to a transition into a new game for them to play. ¡°Thank you for guiding them back,¡± Tyranitar stated, her voice gruff and curt.


    Aggron eyed the two humans in suspicion, then Chad and his belt of pokeballs, before asking her own question. ¡°What do you seek from us?¡±


    Chad perked up, standing tall to appear impressive but not threatening. ¡°I- ¡°


    No, Chad.


    He faltered, thinking, before catching his smile from fading and re-applying it. ¡°I just wanted to make sure those two got home safe.¡± Calem, with perceptive timing, placed a supporting hand on Chad¡¯s shoulder.


    ¡°Hmpf, those two get lost almost daily. I worry for the day we are unable to find them again.¡± Aggron replied, watching as the kids seemingly changed into playing a different game, teaming up and reenacting some sort of large battle (just without any real moves being used).


    ¡°Those two humans feel strong, which of them is yours?¡± Tyranitar inquired, straightening up and crossing her arms.


    ¡°Neither; I¡¯m my own trainer, we just happen to be traveling together.¡± Chad responded, motioning to the three belts. The two rock types nodded to each other, before squaring off with the travelers.


    ¡°If you seek to bring any of our children with you, first we desire a display of strength.¡± Tyranitar explained, as Calem and Serena caught on quickly, converging in a huddle.


    ¡°These two seem strong, but my mom would kill me if I bring home something like a Tyranitar,¡± Serena commented, keeping her voice low.


    ¡°Yea, same, though¡­ I don¡¯t think we¡¯d have to worry about them right away?¡± Calem offered, as Chad nodded in agreement.


    ¡°...Aggron was always one of my favorites growing up¡­¡± Serena trailed off, seeming to have come to a decision. Head held high, she moved to stand across from Aggron, palming a pokeball. Calem, with a shrug, moved opposite Tyranitar while holding a pokeball of his own.


    I think that¡¯s enough to explain the short stop; you may continue, Narrator.


    <Both Calem and Serena displayed their strength phenomenally, earning the respect of the two mothers. Hesitant but sure of their decision, Serena adopted the little Aron from earlier, while Calem took in the Larvitar. Both kids were excited to be able to explore even further, and promised to come back much stronger.>


    <Back in the air again, the four fly past Couriway Town, appreciating the aerial view of the scenic waterfalls. Continuing south, the group makes great time blasting over the boggy terrain of Route 19. The temperature seems to drop as the group approaches Snowbelle City, landing in the snow-covered town just before noon. As the group stretch out the stiffness from the flight over, everyone is seemingly thankful to have avoided spending two or three chapters just to smash other trainers¡¯ faces in for petty cash. That or another dramatic heart-to-heart between team members.>


    ¡°We get it, Narrator. Thank you for speeding us along.¡± Chad stated, following the two humans inside with Rousseau floating behind him.


    ¡°That is indeed quite handy,¡± he comments. ¡°Though I¡¯ll stick to teleportation if you don¡¯t mind. Instant, no travel time, and no reliance on an unknown entity to facilitate.¡±


    <It isn¡¯t for everyone, but the ability to montage a boring training session without any willpower on their part is potent for raising even the laziest of fighters.>


    Chad shrugged at the notion, passing over his ID after Calem negotiated for him to get a room. ¡°I¡¯ve always been more of a Paladin or Magus type anyway. Pure martials just rarely fit the gameplay I wanted to do.¡±


    <It is shockingly unsurprising you would play a Paladin. Moving along, the trio attempt to register for their final gym trials and battle, with Calem and Serena able to secure theirs in a few days¡¯ time. Chad, meanwhile, is relegated to a full week later. And thus the group was free to relax, plan, train, or socialize to their content.>


    ¡°Train?¡± / ¡°Train?¡± / ¡°Train!¡± The three trainers spoke simultaneously.


    <As Wulfric was typically the final stop in many trainers¡¯ journeys, the pokecenter was packed with tons of high-level opponents to practice with. And train they did, which allowed Lucielle to master Flash Cannon and Heal Pulse, while giving Chad the ability to finally learn Inferno. Additionally, Chad received a package in the mail, which contained a fancy metal pauldron with a distinctly-shaped socket for his Charizardite. The sender left only a cryptic message, ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting, with chocolate.¡±>


    <On the final day before Calem and Serena¡¯s trials, the three agreed to a short break, where the two went on a ¡°social outing as slightly more than friends but it isn¡¯t a date¡±. While Chad wanted to focus on training, his day was tossed sideways once every screen began to discuss the unprecedented event happening in Lumiose City. A few reporters declared themselves shocked by the sheer violence of the event, with others criticising the police force for allowing the situation to have gotten so out of hand. It was reported the assailant was still at large, with a hotline for calling in tips on their identity or location.>


    <The next day, Chad sat in the stands, cheering on his two friends as they handily won their eighth and final badges for their journeys. To celebrate, the group held an outdoor picnic, with Chad and Dorothy operating the grills while Katia sliced up the meat. It was a proper party, as Alexandre, Remy, and Hugo decided to have an impromptu drinking contest. Alexandre, being a poison type, won without contest¨C except from Chad who scolded the three for drinking so much.>


    <With their entry into the conference guaranteed, Calem and Serena spent the remaining days until Chad¡¯s own challenge pushing him to the limit. Up until the final day, when the group decided to rest instead. As the group laid about the lounge, talking with other trainers who had arrived both before and after them, a thought occurred to Chad which had been tickling the back of his consciousness since the three reunited.>


    ¡°How are Shauna, Tierno, and Trevor doing?¡± He asked, glancing at Calem and Serena. Calem had Dorian in his lap, grooming the small rodent, while Serena was looking at pictures on her Holo Caster.


    ¡°Pretty good, I think? Tierno and Trevor both have five badges, and are on-track to finishing by the conference.¡± Calem answered, Dorian preening under the gentle strokes of the small brush.


    ¡°And Shauna¡¯s been sending me these amazing pictures every week,¡± Serena added, showing a picture of their friend posing atop a mountain with an amazing sunrise in the background. ¡°She wanted to send them to you, but none of us know your number.¡±


    <Chad doesn¡¯t have a Holo Caster.>


    ¡°Oh¡­ yea I guess that makes sense,¡± Calem admitted, shrugging it off. ¡°But in summary, they¡¯re doing just fine. Maybe you should get a Holo Caster so we can include you in the group chat.¡±


    ¡°I can only imagine the chaos if he got access to battle net. Actually, that¡¯s something I kinda wondered; do you know why the League is suppressing all pictures and recordings of you?¡± Chad shook his head for no, wearily eyeing his silent guardian meditating within earshot. ¡°At first, there was chatter about you, as a Charmeleon, but nothing concrete. Any pictures got auto-deleted almost instantly.¡±


    She flipped the screen around to show what appeared to be a forum thread. ¡°Then, I think when you evolved, the League hadn¡¯t caught on yet, so a few pictures of you in Coumarine were being shared for about a day, until somebody noticed and updated the filters.¡± The thread continued to discuss the ¡®odd sightings¡¯, with speculation abound. ¡°You¡¯re basically an open secret, an unofficial one at least.¡±


    ¡°Huh, that¡¯s certainly odd; most trainers seem to ignore me.¡± The large dragon summarized, not keen on reading any further as the comments began to stray from reality.


    <After your last incident of being swarmed by others, I have gone to great lengths to gently nudge others from bothering us.>


    ¡°Is that why those cute girls are staying so far away?¡± Dorian asked with a high-pitched squeak, motioning to several female trainers around the edge of the lounge.


    ¡°No, Dorian; they¡¯re staying away because Serena has a potent Intimidate.¡± Chad jested, earning a solid punch to his unarmored shoulder for the trouble. He rubbed at the impact site, studying the mega stone socketed into the piece of armor on his opposite side. ¡°Hey, Narrator, is there even a point to me wearing this thing if nobody on the team can activate it?¡±


    <About that¡­>


    Chad watched in surprise as his teammate emerged from their ball. Grabbing the mega bracelet from the backpack at Chad¡¯s feet, they slid it on, causing both the bracelet and pauldron to glow a soft blue. ¡°Well, that¡¯s certainly a surprise,¡± the dragon remarked. ¡°Wulfric won¡¯t know what hit him.¡±

 Interlude 5: Operation Final Blitz

    The group stands arrayed around the burning pyre, paying their final respects on the mountain plateau to a dear friend. Off to the side, a yellow fairy vulpine stands beside an oversized red tyrannosaurus. ¡°There¡¯s something to be said for having a hostile relationship with your Actor¡­¡± She began, her fluffy tail waving in the gentle breeze. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt as much as having a positive bond go sour.¡±


    ¡°Not all things end poorly. Surely you have had one Story stay positive until the end?¡± Her stoic accompaniment offered, keeping his deep rumble of a voice low. She nodded, as he caught the motion in the corner of his eye. ¡°Then focus on those, the Stories where you succeed.¡±


    ¡°Thanks,¡± she responded weakly, watching as the fire began to die down; running low on fuel. ¡°Was it my mistake? Not interfering with things?¡±


    ¡°That depends on what you define as the mistake. Could you have done more? Certainly. Should you have done more? Who can say; but what I think you¡¯re asking is ¡®Could I have saved him?¡¯. And the response to that is entirely up to you.¡±


    The two watched as with the final fading embers, Dragonite stepped forward. ¡°Noibat was one of ours, a dragon who followed his heart, but leveraged his mind. He put himself in harm¡¯s way for others¨C for us. And those gutless humans used him for their sick fantasies, disrespecting his sacrifice for the world.¡±


    ¡°Tomorrow, we will be attacking their base of operations in Lumiose City. After that, we will be purging their secret base in Geosenge Town. Anyone who dresses like or claims affiliation with Team Flare shall be crushed and silenced. And that includes any pokemon who defend them.¡±


    There was a loud roaring cheer from the group in support, barring two individuals on the fringe who remained quiet. Dragonite then led a call and response of battling roars, the sounds echoing off the mountain. With the third round of shouts, each and every dragon was bathed in the white light of evolution, ascending into their final forms of raw power.


    ¡°Get some rest everyone. Tomorrow, our war ends.¡± Dragonite declared, as each of the freshly evolved dragons moved to find a spot to sleep. Haxorus gave her new red axes a test swing, slicing through the air with a swish. Salamance flexed his new wings, showing off to Dragalge who had gained the ability to float in the air with her tendrils. Garchomp flexed his new muscles, as Hydreigon¡¯s three heads chittered about their favorite new aspects of themself.


    ¡°That would be my cue to leave,¡± the fox mentioned, pulling a metal gorget from somewhere about her person and stringing it around the giant dinosaur¡¯s thick neck. ¡°Here, as a parting gift. I have a feeling you¡¯ll be needing that stone in the battle to come.¡±


    Gaston, withdrawing the mega stone hidden within his mane, slotted the orb into the socket. As if in heavenly confirmation, the orb pulsed a short glow, with a pleasant sound signifying something mystical. ¡°If only I had someone who believed in me to activate it.¡± He reminded himself with a sigh, looking south east across Kalos.


    ¡°I think you underestimate just how strong of a bond you have.¡± She teased, as the orb flashed once in concert. ¡°When you need it, the stone will activate.¡± She clarified, moving towards the plateau¡¯s edge. Gaston grumbled something about ¡®fairy magic¡¯ before stomping off to find his own resting spot.


    Dragonite, with a necklace of pokeballs, took note of The Lady when she stopped next to them, both looking out at the fading sunset to the west. ¡°Will this be goodbye?¡± They asked the mysterious woman.


    ¡°Yes,¡± was all she said, letting silence fill in the rest. Both were unhappy, visibly upset over how their time together was coming to an end.


    ¡°Do you have any regrets with how your story ended up?¡±


    ¡°I always do, it comes with the job.¡± She clarified with a somber tone. ¡°Just don¡¯t¡ª I know you two will be happy together, if you just give it a chance.¡±


    ¡°If we had been together, from the beginning¡­ would everything still have gone down the same?¡± Dragonite asked, almost hopeful.


    She giggled, outright laughed at the idea, drawing the powerful dragon¡¯s attention her way. ¡°Not even close. The two of you would¡¯ve just opened a ranch-slash-bed and breakfast in Vaniville. No journey, no battle with Team Flare, just a quiet life in the countryside.¡±


    Dragonite smiled, genuinely amused at the thought, before watching the final rays of sunlight vanish across the horizon. ¡°We probably would¡¯ve called it ¡®Double Dragon Bed and Breakfast¡¯. Well, there''s no reason we can¡¯t still make that happen. But first, I need you to help me get in contact with a certain dragon¡­¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°-junia was happily reunited with her lost Jumpluff and thanks the citizens of Lumiose City for all of their-¡­¡±


    ¡°Breaking news, Lysandre Cafe is under attack by unknown assailants! A golden dragon pokemon was sighted by eye-witnesses entering the famous Lumiose City cafe during business hours, before it tore down a china cabinet to reveal a hidden door in the back of the establishment. We go live to our reporter on the ground, Lili.¡±


    ¡°Sylvie, customers have been evacuating the cafe, but we can confirm everyone is safely out. Many have chosen to stick around the building, waiting to see what happens. After the golden dragon appeared, two more dragons were released inside the cafe, confirming that a trainer is involved in this situation. Witnesses have described the two new arrivals as a four-legged blue dragon with a white underbelly and bright red wings, and as a floating collection of seaweed.¡±


    ¡°Lili, have the pokemon attacked anyone or started any battles?¡±


    ¡°No, Sylvie; from what I have seen, the situation is tense but stable. We have heard what sound like distant explosions coming from the unveiled hidden door, and felt the occasional shake beneath our feet. But so far, the china cabinet is the only damage that has occurred here.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lili; please keep us updated as things change on-location. Here in the studio we have just confirmed that Gym Leader Clemont is organizing a response team with a group of Ace Trainers. We are currently working to identify these pokemon, as well as drafting safety tips for our citizens who may be in, or need to travel through, the affected area¨C¡±


    <hr>


    I could hear the alarms blaring their klaxons in my skull, thankful the screens still worked under the emergency red lighting that lit up the room. The progress bar on the screen steadily crept upwards, deleting years upon years of hard work and research. Lysandre had already run off for our emergency base with a backup, but we couldn¡¯t risk this data being exposed.


    ¡°Section A2 has been breached, I¡¯ve lost contact with Lyle¨C!¡± An admin called out, who was also working to delete data from her workbench.


    ¡°I¡¯ve lost visual in Section C1¨C¡± Another admin sounded out, as their pokemon hurried to incinerate a bin of shredded papers.


    ¡°Raphael is engaging target designated ¡®Red Axe¡¯ in section B4¨C¡± A third admin announced, as I took a breather to stand upright and assess the state of my team. Four admins and I working to purge the databases and all research documents, with two grunts posted by the only door in or out.


    The fourth Admin, fingers on her earpiece, ran up to me with a worried face. She didn¡¯t even wait for my permission to speak, though given the situation that was warranted. ¡°Aliana, Xerosic has just confirmed that Escape Ropes do not work. He theorizes that something is interfering with the spatial-warping properties.¡±


    ¡°And?¡± I demanded, watching the progress bar tick up another five percent. Internally, I was cursing; the Escape Rope was our best shot at escaping this place when we were done. What kind of idiot designs a secret base with no emergency exit?!


    There was a loud ¡®boom¡¯ from the right, from an adjacent chamber. ¡°He¡¯s detonating the research devices per protocol, and desires for all scientists to regroup at point Clefairy.¡±


    ¡°Section A3 has been breached¨C!¡± / ¡°Confirmed visual on target ¡®Trinity¡¯ in D1¨C!¡± / ¡°Raphael is down! Oh Arceus they¡¯re really¨C!¡±


    ¡°Does anyone have eyes on their leader?!¡± I shouted, silencing the three idiots, leaving nothing but the blaring alarm, the whirr of a paper shredder¡­


    And the ¡®thud, thud, thud¡¯ of three solid knocks at the thick metal door.


    <hr>


    Malamar shook their head no, and it took all I had to not fillet the useless floating calamari. ¡°Fine, focus on detection; I don¡¯t want to be surprised.¡± I grumbled, choosing to focus on finding a safe way to the exit. I could barely hear the alarms over the draconic roars of rage and defiance, thankful I had included a low-light setting for my eyewear.


    There aren¡¯t any psychic type dragons anywhere on record, so how are they blanket-blocking teleportation attempts..?


    A grunt nearly ran into me before throwing himself backwards into a salute, ¡°Xerosic, sir!¡± I immediately covered his loud mouth, shushing him like a child.


    ¡°Go find Bryony and Celosia, help them escape.¡± I ordered, as the grunt nodded and took off deeper into the base. Hopefully he¡¯ll distract the invaders long enough¡­


    Following the left wall, I eventually came to the door to my personal office, finding it closed and thankfully locked. A swipe of my keycard set the little light to green, allowing me access and possibly safety in the short term. ¡°Grab anything valuable you can,¡± I whispered to the squid, moving to my desk to withdraw my papers.


    This may be the end of Team Flare, but I could still get my work published once the dust settles.


    The emergency lights went out, as did the blaring alarms. They must¡¯ve gotten to the emergency power. Thankfully, my pocket torch still had enough charge to at least verify the titles of the documents as I stuffed the briefcase.


    That was when I heard a weird ¡®squish¡¯ in the center of the room. Aiming the beam of light upwards, I eventually found an odd puddle of black ink on the floor.


    Then it rippled, as a droplet fell into it.


    Slowly, I traced the beam upwards, until it illuminated a navy blue head with a black spikey cover. The head appeared to be chewing on something soft, with dangling purple tentacles.


    But how¨C?!


    The cowl split and lifted into several blood red spikes, revealing a glowing purple eye that bore into my soul.


    The corner of the nightmare¡¯s lips curled upwards, as it revealed an armory of sharp teeth.


    <hr>


    Bisharp and Manectric in the lead, I dragged my sorry teammate Celosia by the hand through the dark. ¡°This can¡¯t be just because we captured their friend, is it?¡± She whined, thankfully her voice low enough as to not give us away.


    The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.


    ¡°No, this is all Mable¡¯s fault. I never trusted that bitch; she always had a screw loose and had no sense of ethics if she could justify something as ¡®science¡¯.¡± I replied, careful not to step in and slide on the mystery puddles on the floor.


    My Bisharp threw up a blade, and per his signal we all stopped and crouched immediately. Manectric turned off their illumination, leaving us with just the strobing red lights, as we waited for the all-clear to keep moving.


    Up ahead on the right, the staff barracks door burst open as a dozen grunts¨C all barely dressed¨C ran towards the entrance of the facility. As the last one cleared the door, I watched as something leapt from out of the ground, the red light reflecting off its sharp knife-like teeth that were slung below a glowing golden eye, and disappeared around the corner.


    Then there were the screams, blood-curdling screams.


    ¡°We need to find a different way¡­¡± I whispered, as I felt Celosia go limp in my hand. I could hear her struggling not to wail or cry and divulge our hiding spot. We turned, heading for a different hallway away from whatever that was, when the alarms and lights finally went out. Manectric, in response, turned their light back on, providing a soft yellow glow enough for me to trace the outlines of where the hallway met the walls.


    It was quiet, completely quiet, as we did our best not to make a sound with a single step. But that was when I heard it¡­ a ¡®plop¡¯ as a droplet of some liquid hit the floor ahead of us.


    Bisharp again signaled for a stop, but this time they took up a battle stance beside Manectric. That was when I saw them, the glowing pair of red eyes in the dark.


    ¡°Hax~ or~...¡± It seemed to chirp, as a pair of red glowing blades seemed to appear beneath the eyes.


    <hr>


    ¡°--now return to our reporter on the ground for an update; Lili?¡±


    ¡°Thanks, Sylvie. Just moments ago, we believe the incident ongoing here at Lysandre Cafe has come to a resolution, as the golden dragon pokemon from before¨C which experts have identified as a Dragonite¨C walked out from the cafe and took off without further action.¡±


    ¡°Lili, what is the League¡¯s current take on the situation?¡±


    ¡°A League representative has cordoned off the cafe while their personnel investigate the scene. Currently they offer no comment on the assailant, other than that they were last seen flying west from the city. Additionally, several eyewitnesses on-site have collaborated on two previously rumored pieces of information. The first being that the Dragonite did not appear to have a human trainer at the scene, and the second being a wrist-strap on the Dragonite which had six pokeballs attached.¡±


    ¡°Thank you, Lili. Please let us know if the situation changes. Continuing our discussion on the mysterious assailant is Professor Sycamore; thank you for joining us today.¡±


    ¡°Thank you for inviting me, Sylvie.¡±


    ¡°Now, based on the three pokemon spotted, your lab believes they might have a lead on who this Dragonite belongs to?¡±


    ¡°Yes, potentially. Dragon pokemon are very rare and difficult to train; the number of trainers who have more than one are even rarer. While the League is combing the trainer registry for a match, one of my lab assistants noted that this particular trio showed up at another major incident a while back. Do you recall the major police bust at Glittering Cave?¡±


    ¡°That was the fossil traffickers, correct?¡±


    ¡°Correct. My assistant noticed that the police report mentioned the operation being dismantled by a single trainer whose reported team at the time included a Dratini, a Skrelp, and a Bagon; the unevolved forms of the dragons from today¡¯s event.¡±


    ¡°Wow, sounds like someone deserves a raise, eh Professor?¡±


    ¡°Hahah, at the very least a reward from the League. But¨C and this is pure speculation at this point¨C but, if this is the same trainer, it might imply that Lysandre Cafe was potentially involved in illegal activity.¡±


    ¡°Wow, what a bombshell. When we return¨C¡±


    <hr>


    Dragonite studied the town from afar, attempting to burn the mysterious flower-shaped sculpture with their glare. Geosenge Town was a quiet place, but faint figures in red could be seen hustling about. Beside them, a man stepped forward, dressed in a ratty black sweatshirt, worn blue jeans, a loved seafoam green wool scarf, a fraying scarlet beanie, and an untamed wild mane of long white hair. ¡°You carry the weight of one who has lost and cannot move on,¡± he commented.


    Dragonite squeezed their eyes shut, relaxing as they exhaled firmly through their nose. ¡°Yea¡­ And the way to undo it is right in front of me.¡± They averted their gaze of the prize, to the hobo they had rescued from the base. ¡°Is it wrong to want someone to have another chance?¡±


    ¡°While I cannot grasp your words, I have understood your pain.¡± The man placed a supportive hand against the dragon¡¯s shoulder, as both shared in the pain of loss. ¡°But, as one who succeeded in reviving a friend, only to lose them again due to the decision¡­ It is better to mourn the lost, rather than sacrifice the living to claw them back.¡±


    The golden dragon, accepting the advice from the man whose shoes they now stand in, relaxed and let go. A strong gust of wind swept through the two of them, carrying away any tears from the griever¡¯s eyes before they could fall. ¡°Thank you,¡± Dragonite returned their gaze to the weapon. ¡°And now, we need to destroy it.¡±


    <hr>


    We moved out as soon as the tip came in; someone saw a gold flying pokemon north west of town. Real or hoax, we weren¡¯t taking chances; the League may have a strong information blackout for the public, but I saw the files, the photos. The eggheads were still combing through what research hadn¡¯t been destroyed, but it was evident whatever went on behind that cafe was so far beyond illegal we didn¡¯t even have laws against it.


    Our local squad of Gogoats weren¡¯t the fastest, but they¡¯d get us there faster than had we simply run. But what we saw first wasn¡¯t the target; it was the town¡¯s famous stone flower, a sculpture from ancient Kalos that somehow survived the ages.


    And it was moving.


    ¡°Look!¡± Agnes shouted, as I followed the point of her finger to¨C a massive red pokemon that stood between us and the flower. ¡°What are the odds they¡¯re just a wild pokemon?¡±


    Jerome lowered his spyglass, grimacing. ¡°Almost zero; it¡¯s wearing something metal around its neck.¡± Each of us unlocked our pokeballs, unsure of the threat level we were facing.


    Would the four of us be enough, if it came to a fight?


    As we approached, our Gogoats slowed down; everyone was weary and on-guard. Dismounting, I strode forward as the squad leader, our representative. Getting a closer look, this red dragon seemed young in appearance, with almost no scars marking their face. But the way they stood implied age and experience; ready to fight at a moment¡¯s notice, but without the tell-tale signals of aggression. A closer look at the metal gorget revealed a beautiful jewel inlaid in the metal, one that lightly pulsed with energy.


    Why hasn¡¯t it attacked yet?


    I felt the ground vibrate, as the sound of an explosion carried up the stairs behind the dragon, stairs leading down into the ground near the spinning flower. ¡°Margot,¡± I heard from behind me, as Blaise and Jerome took up my right side. ¡°We need to get inside,¡± Jerome urged, careful not to touch his pokeballs.


    ¡°What we need to do is keep them from leaving until backup arrives.¡± I reminded him, the large two-legged pokemon seeming content with my response.


    ¡°No!¡± Blaise shouted, as he ripped a pokeball from his belt and tossed it. ¡°I¡¯m not losing any more friends to these beasts today!¡± I watched as Jerome mirrored him, throwing out a pokeball of his own. That was when I noticed just how many pokeballs were on their belts, way more than the two that were registered in their profiles.


    Friends?! Then that means¨C


    A wall of stone leapt up, separating Agnes and I from Blaise and Jerome, the sudden appearance causing her and I to fall backwards. Surprisingly, a stone bench had somehow appeared behind the two of us, preventing an undignified appointment with the dirt. Stranger still, was how I felt the bench then shift, as it glided across the open ground to pull the two of us back and away from what was clearly going to be a battle.


    By the time the bench stopped moving, Jerome and Blaise had called out two pokemon each, beginning their attack while palming a third and fourth ball. The red dragon let loose a roar, as every incoming attack was seemingly blocked by a massive rock. Rocks jutting up from the earth, floating through the air¡­ ¡°Margot, what do we do?¡± Agnes asked, terrified and uncertain just as I was.


    I thought I saw the dragon stare at me with its right eye for a second, before returning their focus to the battle at hand. A look, and I understood what they wanted as I pulled out my personal Holo Caster. ¡°We witness and record everything; especially if Blaise and Jerome are involved with Lysandre.¡±


    <hr>


    "His/Story" by Takanori Nishikawa


    Thunderbolt Fantasy was/is one of my favorite series, especially for the effort and detail that went into physical puppetry. This single fight scene, while inspired by it, doesn''t do the series justice, and I highly recommend it.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/05qeaZGkvRJDvOfpPKmJbE?si=19374a8501ec48a3</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5jiN6pDKSM</a>


    A barrage of pebbles sends the Golbat crashing out of the sky, falling unconscious in the dirt. Another boulder shifts to intercept a bolt of electricity. Two large stones converge to intercept the path of a speeding pokemon before they can make contact. One versus two is a challenge, one versus four is difficult; but with two more pokemon forming near their trainers, one versus six was potentially the tipping point.


    Gaston¡¯s determination flared with draconic energy, as a boulder he flung towards another of his assailants was pulverized with a well-placed punch by the fighting type. It was a small miracle the two humans were too out of their element to issue commands.


    He heard an impact behind him, as one of his orbital defenses luckily swung around to intercept an attack from the rear. A tickle in the air led him to duck as a lightning bolt shot through where his head had been seconds before. A massive stone shot up on his left, intercepting a gush of flames before they could so much as singe his mane. Mightyena, using darkness to slip past the defenses, found their sneak attack rebuffed by the swing of a thick scaled tail. A floating slab swung down just in time to block a glob of sizzling purple gunk that flew in a slow arc through the air.


    ¡°Insolent whelps, so eager to destroy your rightful ruler you would dismantle your very homeland in your efforts. Allow mine august self to educate thee on why thine remain members of the peasantry!¡± The Emperor declared, his gorget flaring with a vibrant white glow which grew to encapsulate him fully.


    His golden head crest inverted, flipping around to have the five points give the facsimile of a crown. His stubby beard grew, blending together into a soft mid-length point that dangled beneath his chin. The spiky white mane extended backwards, billowing in the wind and merging together, creating a tattered cape that reached nearly the tip of his tail. His rough skin smoothed out, going from rough and rugged to polished and shiny. As a final touch, the golds and orange highlights of his hide shifted to a glowing, vibrant silver. His sheer presence gave the other combatants pause, power and authority absolutely radiating from his new form.


    ¡°What are you doing? Keep attacking!¡± Jerome shouted, ordering his Toxicroak, Leopard, and Houndoom out of their stupor.


    ¡°Stay spread, alternate your attacks!¡± Blaise added, returning his feinted Golbat while supplementing his Mightyena and Manectric with a newly-called Scraggy.


    As Gaston observed the six spreading around him, his brilliant white eyes flared for a second before every rock and boulder around him split with a loud chorus of cracks. The sound was enough for all six foes to flinch, observing as a silvery metal blade emerged from each rock, floating over to orbit their liege. ¡°Arms of the Kingsguard,¡± he whispered as the first attacker threw down their challenge, clashing with a high-pitched screech as the steel held back their ki-covered fist.


    The floodgates opened, as one by one the six challengers entered the fray, testing his defenses and working to slip past the floating defenders. Gaston held firm, his faith in his ¡®knights¡¯ unwavering as he stared down the two humans, daring them to make their next move. Meanwhile, all around him steel clashed with fang, fist, and electricity.


    Blaise, eyes wandering, noticed that Margot was recording him, recording Jerome, recording the whole fight. ¡°Damn bitch,¡± he grunted, releasing his own Leopard. ¡°Kill her before she exposes us!¡± The purple feline didn¡¯t hesitate, immediately rushing towards the onlookers.


    Gaston frowned, immediately moving towards his temporary wards at a run, gaining on the smaller cat while his thunderous steps shook the earth with fear. Ahead of him, a large metal object began to grow from the ground, with a suspiciously jaw-sized handle protruding from the top. Behind him, the other six continued to give chase, doing their utmost to bypass the floating knights.


    Without stopping, Gaston gripped the handle in his jaws, unearthing the massive blade almost the length of his torso, before being catapulted into the air with a ¡®whumpf¡¯ from a sudden jut of stone beneath his feet. Tucking into a roll, the oversized dinosaur spun, gleaming like a blender as he bore down on the speeding feline.


    The Leopard, their claws brimming with pitch black energy, leapt for Margot, as the police officer tried to call out her pokemon in time. But just as the cat was about to cross the threshold of her ¡®viewing box¡¯, a flash of white bisected the cat vertically, their malicious expression faltering. Margot¡¯s expression went pale white, as each half of her attacker flew past her, revealing a scarlet divinity wielding an ornate greatsword decorated with sparkling silver filigree and inlays.


    Watching as her captor-turned-guardian swung around, the tables quickly turned as the six attackers pivoted to defense. The dancing swords poked and prodded, forcing each into disadvantageous positions as one by one the giant dinosaur cleaved the remaining six pokemon with a single swing each. Margot¡¯s brain began to catch up with her mouth, as she whispered to Agnes: ¡°That¡¯s the Durandal¡­¡± She quickly re-oriented her Holo Caster to capture the visage of the iconic blade as it swept around in the sunlight.


    With the assailants down, the floating blades resumed their orbital vigil around their liege. Spotting the two humans fleeting for the base entrance, Gaston simply walked towards them, the very stone beneath their feet laughing alongside him. ¡°For crimes against your countrymen, for the indignity of your assault on the crown, and for the greater good of Kalos, I sentence thee to nourish the earth you have defiled and plundered for personal gain!¡± Gaston declared, as Blaise and Jerome were swiftly grasped by a pair of giant stone hands.


    The two shouted and struggled, slamming their fists against the firm stone, unable to reach their remaining pokeballs. ¡°May your eternal rest enlighten thee of thine follies.¡± Gaston recited, the two humans screaming and shouting profanities as they were dragged deep into the earth.


    Silence returned upon the sleepy field once more, the winds carrying their thanks as the flora danced in celebration. Satisfied his duties were complete, Gaston released the evolution, returning to his normal form as the floating blades immediately rusted and fell to the earth, disintegrating into mere dirt and rocks once more. The Emperor softly smiled, his faithful companion now returned and still gleaming in the sunlight. Taking notice of his temporary ward¡¯s approach, he gently slid the tip of the blade into the earth before facing them once more.


    Behind him, there was a ¡®whum¡¯ and shudder, as the massive flower petals began to fall to the ground, the device powering down to become a mere monument to history. ¡°It appears we have finally won,¡± he stated, relief flooding his expression.


    Before Margot could say a word, Agnes forced her forward into a deep bow. ¡°We apologize for our former coworker¡¯s behavior!¡± She shouted with gusto, visibly keeping both hands away from any pokeballs. The two held the defferential posture until the large dragon emitted a sound suspiciously similar to ¡®rise¡¯. ¡°Are you affiliated with the Dragonite who was seen in Lumiose City earlier today?¡± The woman continued, as Margot lifted her Holo Caster and continued to record imagery and footage of the gleaming sword protruding from the earth.


    ¡°Loosely; I required power, and they required followers.¡± He clarified as the human waited but received no answer she could comprehend. ¡°But with our success today, that affiliation shall come to an end,¡± he continued, as with perfect timing the remaining squad emerged from the staircase leading deeper into the facility. With Hydreigon leading the group, followed by an animatedly-chatting pair of Dragalge and Salamence, then Garchomp, Haxorus, and finally Dragonite.


    As the group strode over, bruised but victorious, Dragonite signaled to Gaston. The large tyrannosaur nodded, stomping once as the passageway began to collapse and fill in, burying the hidden facility once more. ¡°New friends?¡± Dragonite inquired, surveying the scarred fields.


    ¡°No, mere civilians who were caught in the crossfire. I believe they work with the local human authorities.¡± Gaston elaborated with a frown, studying the golden dragon as they hefted his birthright. ¡°While I am proud to wield the symbol of my authority again, regrettably I have no means of ferrying such a weapon with me.¡±


    Margot, recognizing the bracelet of pokeballs, stiffened up and raised her voice. ¡°Excuse me! As representatives of the Kalosian Pokemon League, we require that you either accompany us or remain here until an interpreter can take your statement!¡± She declared, catching the eyes of every dragon who stood before her. She faltered, ¡°Uhm, that is to say¡­¡±


    ¡°I can handle that, if you do not mind.¡± Approaching from the south was an old man, wearing a ratty outfit and a satisfied smile. ¡°They were only acting on my behalf, after all.¡±


    Dragonite nodded, returning each member of the squad one by one until only Gaston remained. ¡°If you want to keep it, I can just carry it until we get you a scabbard or something?¡± They offered, but Gaston was fully focused on the newcomer.


    ¡°Sir, I am afraid I will need more than that to approve such a¨C¡± Margot began, interrupted by a fingerless-glove covered hand.


    ¡°My name is AZ, and I was held hostage by Lysandre of Team Flare for months while they worked to uncover the secrets of the Ultimate Weapon.¡± He explained, as the officer chewed on her lip before signaling to the dragons they were free to leave. The old man and emperor shared a respectful bow, before one vanished in the red light of the pokeball.


    Dragonite gripped the massive greatsword, testing its weight and balance as they experimented with flight. Confident, they shot AZ a thumbs-up before zooming off into the skies. AZ himself smiled in appreciation, as the massive weight lifted from his shoulders.

 Chapter 39: A Story of Ice and Fire

    <Ah, that feels quite relaxing¡­>


    The team, sharing their breakfast together before the final challenge, eyed each other nervously. ¡°Feel like elaborating a bit, big guy?¡± Ginette inquired while stuffing more scrambled eggs into her mouth.


    <Everything has been resolved, which means the Sword of Damocles has been removed from our skies.>


    ¡°I think it might still be there,¡± Chad corrected with a mouthful of potatoes. ¡°Based on the news reports, I believe people may have noticed Dragonite acting as a trainer without a human.¡±


    <And? Plenty of other trainers have seen or interacted with you, what is your point?>


    ¡°Oh,¡± Lucielle¡¯s eyes lit up, seemingly having figured out the issue. ¡°You are worried the League may use it as justification against you?¡±


    ¡°Got it in one.¡± Chad complimented with a crumb-decorated smile. ¡°They¡¯re already cautious of what I can do, I have a feeling Dragonite¡¯s actions may have tipped the scales against me.¡±


    ¡°Nothing to it other than to just win today and crush the conference,¡± Alexandre supplied, aiming a seared sausage at Chad with a bite taken from the end.


    <Well said; though I am concerned about being effectively relegated to the sidelines, again. How are you going to win without my safety net? Without me to ensure that you properly earn that badge?>


    ¡°The same way every other trainer does?¡± Chad suggested with a half-hearted shrug. ¡°Honestly, Wulfric is remarkably kind from what I¡¯ve read. As long as we impress him, the badge is as good as ours.¡±


    <It sounds to me as if his standards are lower than mine. Are you certain I cannot¡ª >


    ¡°If need be, I can relocate this match to Olympia¡¯s gym,¡± Rousseau offered telepathically, grinning from ear to ear as several strips of bacon hung from his chewing mouth.


    <Noted but unnecessary, thank you. As the team finished their breakfast, Calem and Serena arrived with their own teams ready to help provide Chad his own personal cheering section. The walk to the gym itself was therapeutic, as the crunch of the soft snow underfoot combined with the supportive atmosphere from his friends allowed Chad to step back and recognize just how far he had come.>


    <Stepping into the gym¡¯s automatic double door entryway, The two pokemon and two humans¡ª >


    ¡°You must be Chad,¡± a large man asked, his neon blue puffy snowcoat hanging like a cape from his shoulders, revealing a big belly contained by a white t-shirt and a pair of thick black pants. A pair of thick, muscular arms are crossed before his chest, with a head of stylized white hair trailing down to an impressive white beard seemingly stylized like an Abomasnow¡¯s. ¡°I hope you can forgive my break with tradition, but as a trailblazer yourself I felt it was worth trying something new.¡±


    He offered a thick mitt of a hand for a shake, as Chad returned the offered physical greeting, opting to remain silent. ¡°Frostbite caught your tongue?¡± Rousseau jested, elbowing the fire type. ¡°Not every day one gets to speak with a gym leader.¡±


    ¡°I doubt many pokemon ever do, but having you translate would be no different than having the Narrator act on my behalf.¡± He responded, as Wulfric seemed to wait, glancing at the psychic every so often.


    Rousseau fiddled with his mustache, nodding in agreement. ¡°I see. Lad, while your stance is admirable, do keep in mind that you help no one by simply refusing a free treat on the grounds that others were not made the same offer.¡± Providing a final pat on the back to the challenger, the Alakazam led both Calem and Serena towards the audience entrance.


    Left alone in the lobby, the gym leader and challenger size each other up before heading for the other doorway. ¡°Just one reminder before we head inside; most human trainers who unlock Mega Evolution can only handle the shift once per day, barely for a few minutes. While I would enjoy facing you at full power, it would be a unique advantage if you were able to use your two stones.¡±


    Chad, eyeing his pauldron, nodded in agreement. ¡°Reasonable, unfortunate for us, but reasonable.¡±


    The final door to their battlefield slid open, as Chad immediately shivered from the drastic shift to the cold air blasting him. The gym was practically an ice box, just as cold inside as it was outside. Around the room, dozens of ice blocks forcibly kept the temperature down, while several had been carved into ice sculptures as functional decoration.


    As the two entered, the audience cheered, excited for the match that was about to be underway. ¡°My eight badge challengers always draw a crowd. Paltry compared to the conference, but lucky for you they aren¡¯t here to see me win. Every single person up there wants to see a triumph; earning eight badges is rare, more so in your first season.¡±


    Wulfric keeps walking, heading for his position on the far side of the field. ¡°I will be the final glacier between you and the conference; can you overcome the last obstacle?¡± He shouts, prompting another round of cheers from the crowd as Chad takes up his position in the challenger¡¯s box, his signature white scarf gently floating about in the arctic winds.


    Wearing white coveralls with several highlights of bright reflective orange, the referee steps up to the side of the field, releasing a Jynx beside them. ¡°Today¡¯s match is the Eighth Badge challenge, issued by Chad of Vaniville Town to our own Gym Leader Wulfric of Snowbelle City! This will be a four on four challenge, with two limitations. Both trainers will be unable to switch their pokemon, and the challenger will be limited to a single Mega Evolution!¡±


    There was a pause, as the crowd discussed what the conditions implied, while some had a knowing grin in amusement. ¡°Further, as a special condition, the challenger will only be allowed to have a single pokemon in the challenger¡¯s box at a time.¡± The ref continued, causing Chad to grimace.


    ¡°Shit. OK, we¡¯ll have to go with the rotating door plan then.¡± With a flash of light, Ginette appeared beside him, donning the belt-sash with a nod. ¡°You know the order, just be sure to send them out when you take the field.¡± A confirmatory nod later, Chad vanished inside his ball on the belt. The shuffle caused a few more whispers through the crowd, debating what was going on.


    ¡°Wulfric, are you ready?¡± The ref called, as the psychic barrier began to rise. The gym leader, palming a pokeball, nodded. ¡°Challenger, are you ready?¡± Ginette plucked an ultra ball off the belt, holding it up to signify her own affirmation. ¡°The match will start on the count of three. One, two, three, begin!¡±


    "A Little Faster" by There for Tomorrow


    If this sounds familiar to you, it''s because it used to be popular with AMV makers back in the Bleach era.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0YwqJeTUyviMJw70jRt9ET?si=247c6280cfaa4dd7</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Ukf_qYaTiU</a>


    As Lucielle materialized, across the field a giant quadrupedal iceberg let loose a roar of challenge. She used the opening few seconds to charge up a mass of silver light in her chest spike, before swinging both arms downward in a cross motion and unleashing the beam shot at her opponent. The steel energy crashed into the glacier, throwing up a cloud of white powder as the giant barely grunted in response.


    ¡°Set the stage!¡± Wulfric shouted, as the winds picked up with small snowflakes joining the freezing gusts. Lucielle didn¡¯t wait to find out what else was in store, strafing her foe as her muscles surged and grew with an application of brown Ki.


    ¡°Be careful about getting close; we¡¯ve seen what he can do in melee!¡± Ginette reminded her teammate, as Lucielle continued to fire off silver beams at her foe, probing their defenses. Each blast shook loose another burst of white powder which caught in the winds and seemed to chase her around the field.


    When the powder cleared, the audience watched as the damage literally healed itself, the ice reforming in real-time. Meanwhile, the jackal seemed to be slowing down, as pockets of frost began to cling to her fur. ¡°Sorry Lucario, Korrina was very clear; she wanted to see how strong you¡¯ve gotten.¡± Wulfric apologized, pointing to a camera in the corner of the building. ¡°So you¡¯re gonna need to dig a little deeper if you want to win this.¡±


    ¡°Oh cette salope, forget range! Turn that guy into a new sculpture!¡± Ginette shouted, as Lucielle applied another coating of Ki and flexed to break the steadily-growing cover of ice. With a sharp flash, her steel tonfa took shape before the canine vanished with a loud ¡®boom¡¯, reappearing above the flat-topped ice pokemon.


    Said flat surface immediately grew a hide of ice spikes, launching them one by one at the falling attacker as she swung her batons to shatter or deflect each oncoming attack. The series of crunches, crashes, and cracks accelerated with the closing distance until Lucielle was within striking distance. Before she could make contact, the entire field of spikes launched at once, the mass and force blasting her away to land against the ceiling of the barrier.


    The now-flat surface began to regrow the spikes, forcing her to change tactics and leap to the side as the sequential projectiles tracked her through the air until she fell below Avalugg¡¯s firing trajectory. ¡°No blindspots huh,¡± she vocalized, summoning a soft pink orb in her paw before shoving it in her navel, her body seemingly recovering near-instantly.


    ¡°At this level, the only blindspots are the ones your opponent creates,¡± Avalugg responded, his voice like ancient grinding stones and gravel. Around his feet, the ground began to freeze with a growing coat of slick ice. ¡°For example, you focus so intently on striking me that you fail to recognize my true role as the first of four.¡±


    Lucielle searched the field, taking note of the piles of snow accumulating around the periphery, of the patches of smooth ice beginning to conquer the field. ¡°I see, your goal was never to beat me, just to set up for your teammates.¡± She smiled, twirling her tonfa before locking them in place and lowering her stance. ¡°That¡¯s great, I was planning to take my girl ice skating when we won anyway.¡±


    She vanished with another ¡®boom¡¯, appearing beside the giant¡¯s rear right leg as a resounding ¡®thwack¡¯ announced her presence; a giant fissure appearing in the ice pokemon¡¯s natural armor. The two proceeded to play a game, where Lucielle attempted to out-damage her foe¡¯s healing, while Avalugg attempted to either land his own attacks or force her retreat.


    The slug-fest continued, with the living glacier landing occasional hits as the jackal¡¯s fur became covered in frost. But everything came to a halt when a resounding ¡®crack¡¯ sung through the air, with Avalugg collapsing to his belly, with both combatants looking worse for wear. ¡°It¡¯s over,¡± Lucielle declared, while the ice pokemon glared at her in defiance.


    Her opponent unwilling to admit defeat, she swung for a final blow¨C only for the attack to be blocked by a shield of white. He grinned, as an icicle leapt from nearby to impact her arm, drawing forth a shout of pain and rage as she swung her other tonfa around the barrier and struck him unconscious. Unsteady on her feet, she stepped back, examining her limp left arm before losing balance and collapsing to one knee. She conjured another pink energy ball, forcing it into her body, but the arm still hung limp.Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings.


    The audience cheered, with several shoulds of ¡®climb the wall¡¯, mixed with a few calls for a sweep. ¡°Do you want to keep going?¡± Ginette asked with concern, her girlfriend huffing as the two waited for Wulfric¡¯s next pokemon. Lucielle seemed to be waiting as long as possible, before she made her response when the pokeball revealed a floating snowflake.


    ¡°Only until you can come up with a counter plan for this one. I sense this will not be a simple matchup,¡± she explained, standing back up and lifting her one good hand into a ready stance in time for the referee to signal for the battle to continue.


    The crowd applauded in support, as it was apparent the jackal had given everything for her previous opponent, now burning her deepest reserves to give her team a better chance. She vanished with a crack, reappearing before the floating geometric pokemon with a ¡®boom¡¯ as her fist flew through and destroyed the illusion.


    A gust of cold air swept over her right side, creating solid ice on her remaining good arm and right leg. The wind shifted, pulling the growing freeze across her body until Ginette signaled the withdrawal of her partner. Lucielle was unconscious on her feet when the red return beam hit.


    Ginette clipped the ultra ball back on the belt, placing her team on the ground sans one pokeball as she strode onto the battlefield. Lobbing the pokeball over her shoulder, Alexandre took up the trainer position. Grabbing and reattaching his ball to the belt, the pink rabbit slid the loop over his shoulder, letting it dangle as he took in the scene. ¡°Show us how it¡¯s done,¡± he encouraged.


    "ROCKSTAR" by TAK (and others)


    Never played the game, but the song is an absolute bubbly banger and totally on brand for our lovable gremlin.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/0yNYn7seSP4tRgsEdxZzTJ?si=2bd7e1530d9846d9</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5oaFytcRjw</a>


    The ref had barely called for the match to resume when Ginette was already duplicating. Her clones began to dance in sync, the steady snowfall beginning to mix with ice cold rain. ¡°Interesting choice, most trainers assume that water types are weak to ice. Ghost protocol,¡± Wulfric commanded, as visibility quickly dropped on the field. Meanwhile, the psychic barrier shifted, as the audience was presented with a view of the battle as if the ice and snow weren¡¯t there.


    Several images of Ginette were dancing about the field, while the real one appeared to be enjoying sliding across the icy surface. As she sped about the arena, leaving more images in her wake, she leapt into the air. One spin, two spins, three spins, before landing while facing backwards, raising a leg to balance parallel to the ice in an elegant pose. ¡°A triple axel?!¡± A woman shouted from the front of the audience, seemingly caught off-guard.


    Ginette, having regained her speed moving backwards, then proceeded to swing her lifted leg forward, launching her into the air for two spins before she landed on her previously-lifted foot, having swapped to have her now-free leg hang in the air behind her. ¡°And that was a double Salchow!¡± The same woman remarked, inspiring the audience to clap in appreciation.


    Before the referee could remind the challenger, the crowd watched as Wulfric¡¯s Cryogonal blasted one of the clones with a freezing white energy beam. Then they cheered as the ice pokemon was struck dead-on by a boiling rush of water from the performing amphibian. The two then engaged in a game of tag, each firing off attacks into the darkness, neither able to land a hit.


    ¡°Ginette, do you mind?¡± Alexandre grumbled, his arms crossed in frustration. ¡°Just use echo and wrap this up.¡±


    The frog made a comically-exaggerated show of frustration, before conjuring a shadow ball in her hand. ¡°Fiiine. Marco¡­¡± She trilled, holding the ball up as it exploded in a pulse of dark energy. A small protective shield protected the sentient snowflake from the pulse, and the follow-up blast of boiling water as she shouted ¡°POLO!¡±


    <I swear, Chad is a horrible influence on all of you.>


    The childrens¡¯ game turned battle tactic continued, as Ginette grew increasingly creative with her timings and angles, leaving Cryogonal constantly guessing where they would come from. The ice type, infuriated by the match, spun around with a glowing ice beam, freezing everything in its sight and clearing away the rain and hail to reveal a clear, icy battlefield decorated with statues of a certain frog in artistic poses. The clones shattered one by one, until the field was empty save for Cryogonal. It appeared confused, until a gigantic glowing water shuriken ripped up from the shadows, slicing clear through the ice pokemon.


    Ginette arose from the shadows beneath the snowflake, catching the giant weapon as it fell back down. ¡°Tu es d¨¦j¨¤ mort,¡± she declared, before repeatedly slicing through her opponent several more times. With a snap of her fingers, the floating ice type was on the ground unconscious while she did a small victory dance. ¡°Did I look cool, Alex?!¡± The rhino gave her a solid thumbs up, prompting both her renewed excitement and the crowd¡¯s approval.


    <When this is over, I¡¯ll need ensure my Actors never again infect my great works with such drivel as memes.>


    ¡°Seems like you¡¯re still pretty fresh, that¡¯s a surprise. But don¡¯t get complacent!¡± Wulfric remarked with amusement, as his third choice resolved into the form of a large white bear. Ginette threw her massive shuriken across the field, fading into the shadows below her. Beartic angled herself slightly to the side to let the spinning weapon pass her, before turning around as a sequence of three grabs happened simultaneously. First, Ginette emerged from the shadows to catch her weapon. Second, Beartic¡¯s left arm caught Ginette¡¯s wrist just below the water star. Third, the ursine swept her right arm in a hook, pulling Ginette¡¯s body close to her own.


    Everyone froze, waiting to see what happened next. Well, everyone except Ginette, who buried her face in Beartic¡¯s fur. ¡°Mmm, so soft and fluffy, and warm¡­¡± She mumbled, as her opponent smiled in amusement.


    ¡°If you forfeit now, I¡¯ll hold you just like this after the match¨C¡± She began to offer, interrupted as the frog shoved her free hand up and out of the hug, waving to signal the ref.


    ¡°Quit, forfeit, drop out!¡± She shouted, as the audience laughed at how easily she had thrown in the towel. She couldn¡¯t help but grin as Alexandre leveled a death stare at her from the challenger box. ¡°Sorry!¡± Her pleas fell on deaf ears as he returned the problematic frog, swapping her pokeball for another on the belt.


    ¡°You heard her boss, she said she¡¯s sorry for making you do all the work, again.¡± He jested, tossing the pokeball into the frozen field. As Chad¡¯s form resolved from the light, the audience went wild, as Claude, Calem, and Serena did their best to be heard over the others. Dorothy was practically her own cheering section, as if the vulpine had been waiting for him the whole time.


    "UFO Lover" by (you guessed it) T. Stebbins


    I had another song in mind for this, but the lyrics were a little too serious while this was meant to be more enjoyable and fun.


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/4r4wMq4BA6DjOzo0uzD1Lt?si=226b2d30ec394624</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqpn1z_BP_8</a>


    ¡°We¡¯ll punish her appropriately later,¡± Chad acknowledged while rolling his shoulders. Across the expanse, his opponent cracked her knuckles one fist at a time, visibly eager to begin. As the two titans walked towards each other, the fire type conjured and threw a miniature sun into the sky above, the heat forcing the Ginette-shaped statues to sweat.


    ¡°Not a fan of the cold?¡± Beartic inquired, throwing an exploratory swing with a right hook, slow enough for Chad to simply lean backwards to avoid it.


    ¡°Nobody seems to have noticed yet how lewd those statues are; I¡¯m simply removing a potential infraction before the League decides to disqualify me.¡± His explanation was flat and simple, as he responded by strengthening his muscles with a shimmer of brown Ki. The ursine glances sideways at one such statue, freezing in place once she notices. Chad, seizing the opening, spins to swing his tail as a sweeper, but the strike doesn¡¯t budge the planted stance of his foe a single millimeter.


    ¡°Huh,¡± is her only response, seemingly captivated by the melting ice. He uses the short reprieve to bulk up again, adding a pair of magenta wings on his ankles for good measure. ¡°I¡¯ll try to mention it to the boss; crop them out from the recordings.¡± Like a switch had been thrown, her eyes returned to her opponent, stance shifting from relaxed to battle-ready. ¡°Odd choice, we anticipated the bird would¡¯ve gone third.¡± She commented, as her ice-coated fist swung wide.


    ¡°He flat-out refused to participate in this one,¡± Chad admitted, spinning again to sling a gout of fire in a wide arc. The fire continued to cross the field, encircling the two combatants and raising the ambient temperature. ¡°And my buddy back there,¡± he jabbed a thumb over his shoulder towards Alexandre, ¡°despite his protests otherwise, would have a rough time here.¡±


    Whether through quick reactions, or a simultaneous thought, both combatants exhaled their respective breath attacks, the fire and ice clashing with fury as water droplets and steam exited from the poles of the cloud. ¡°You seem to be taking it easy; think I¡¯ll fall over that easily?¡± She taunted, firing a white beam through the cloud to impact the ground in the distance.


    ¡°Just trying to pace myself; I do have to face two of you, effectively.¡± He responded, throwing a pair of flaming tooth-shaped daggers through the cloud; each dug into the bear¡¯s chest and bicep with a hiss. The flaming knives were pulled out by the ursine, as she followed up by gathering a flurry of snow as an aura about her body.


    ¡°Unfortunate, but slow and sedate will not suffice.¡± Clouds began to encroach on the sun from all around, snow falling in a flurry under their guidance as the pillar of warm sunshine shrank down around the fire type. ¡°This is your final badge; earn it!¡± She shouted, as the freezing winds whirled around the shrinking pillar of heat, squeezing it shut. From within the compressed heat, an unfathomable blast of pure fire erupted to mirror the cold cyclone, consuming the white bear entirely as the waste heat radiated outwards to vaporize the nearby ice and snow.


    When both attacks faded, both combatants were revealed looking worse for wear; Chad panting with exhaustion, Beartic from the sudden surge in temperature as some of her fur tips had burnt black. The fire type, digging deep, began to charge up another blast when Beartic raised her hand, signaling her loss. ¡°I stand corrected,¡± she called out, as Wulfric reached for a new pokeball while aiming hers for a return. ¡°Show us what it means for you to go all out.¡±


    As she vanished, in her place appeared Wulfric¡¯s fourth and final pokemon, his revered Abomasnow. ¡°Bring it home, Chad,¡± Alexandre encouraged, hefting the shining mega bracelet on his horn high in the air. Likewise, as Chad¡¯s pauldron began to light up, so did the crowd¡¯s energy reach a new high. Revealing his black and blue mega form, Chad seemed invigorated as he called forth his signature fire blade, firmly gripping the handle with both hands and raising the tip towards his opponent in a ready stance.


    ¡°Hmm,¡± the grass type seemed to smile. ¡°You sure have gotten them fired up, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    ¡°I figured it wouldn¡¯t do for the final round to give you a chilly reception.¡± He responded in kind.


    The snowfall from Beartic seemed to pick up the pace as the clouds receded, bathing both combatants in a sunny winter wonderland. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t mind the cold; unfiltered sunshine can be a little too hot to handle.¡± He jested, gathering a green ball of energy in his hands before swinging his arm to underhand-lob the orb like a bowling ball.


    Chad, grinning like a madman, lined up his blade and evenly cut the attack in half with spot-on timing. ¡°Not at all! Your consideration really melts my heart.¡± He retorted, a pair of blue fiery wings sprouting from his back as he leapt forward in a charge, sword swinging through the air as Abomasnow sidesteps the head-on assault.


    ¡°Hah, what a spark this is! It¡¯s been far too long since one of you youngsters really ignited my passion!¡± He boomed, as the ice type threw a collection of sharp leaves and icicles at his opponent, who promptly incinerated them with a blast of his fire breath.


    ¡°Just don¡¯t freeze up on me, everyone¡¯s expecting quite the snow!¡± Chad bit back, pursuing the jolly green (and white) giant around the field. One would launch projectiles while retreating, the other would use their flames to bypass and decimate the attack. Slowly, the spinning ring of fire surrounding them constricted, reducing the amount of free space the ice type could flee to.


    The two continued to escalate as Chad¡¯s blade clashed with a pair of icy stalagmites Abomasnow had ripped from the ground nearby, as steam hissed violently from where the two weapons crossed. ¡°I always lava good battle, but are you worthy of victory?¡± He laughed as his white belly jiggled up and down.


    Chad leapt back, switching his stance to hold the sword upright and on his right. ¡°I may be biased, but I would argue yes.¡± He held the upright blade in front of him, as a mote of fire appeared at the tip. Swinging the blade in a complete circle, several other motes appeared arrayed around the arc, where upon completion Chad brought the blade backwards and up, holding it flat with the point aimed directly at Abomasnow directly in the center of the ring of tiny flames. ¡°And I believe, frost-thing tomorrow morning, you¡¯ll agree with me.¡±


    The fire motes began to spin in their circle, inspiring Abomasnow to throw up a white shield in preparation. ¡°First Dance, Sun¡¯s Grace.¡± Chad declared ritualistically, waiting until they were spinning at a sufficient velocity to twist his sword from blade-down to blade-up, sending the spinning fire ring straight at his foe. The ring made impact with the shield, exploding violently with an obscuring cloud of thick black smoke, and a split-second later Chad appeared rushing through the other side with his blade outstretched.


    When the smoke cleared, Abomasnow was still standing, now sporting a massive burnt strike across his front. With a smirk, he began to clap, inspiring the onlookers to do the same as the weather faded and the barrier began to come down. ¡°Abomasnow has conceded the round. Challenger Chad wins!¡± The referee called, as the applause launched into whistles and cheering.


    Chad immediately reverted to his normal form, looking back to find Alexandre on his hands and knees fighting to stay strong. Some choice words were offered from the rhino before he returned himself to his ball, the pokeball-laden belt falling to the ground and forcing the fire type to take a moment and re-don the iconic belt. ¡°Thanks, you did great,¡± he whispered to his teammate before returning to shake Wulfric¡¯s hand in the center of the field.


    Wulfric, eclipsing Chad¡¯s claw with his own meaty mitt, had other plans, holding the claw up high. ¡°Everyone, today we celebrate not only the achievement of another trainer earning their eighth badge in their first season¨C¡± A round of cheer went up briefly before calming back down. ¡°But today¡¯s achievement was earned by Kalos¡¯ first ever pokemon trainer!¡± More cheering, applause, and displays of support as Abomasnow flanked Chad to place his arm on the victor¡¯s shoulder opposite Wulfric.


    ¡°Chad, with today¡¯s victory you have earned my Iceberg Badge, a modest sum, and the ability to participate in the end-of-season conference, where the strongest trainers and teams from across Kalos will compete for prizes including the ability to challenge our esteemed Elite Four!¡± Modest applause continued, as Chad accepted the golden metal snowflake with a white mountain in the center.


    Wulfric leaned in, covering his mouth as he whispered into Chad¡¯s ear. ¡°I also have a small surprise I would like to show you tomorrow morning. Be here by nine.¡± He leaned back and continued to smile, backing away as Chad was swarmed by the audience members brave enough, while Dorothy ¡®gently¡¯ suggested everyone other than Calem, Serena, Claude, and herself keep back at least a meter.


    Narrator, are you doing OK buddy?


    <I¨C I believe I took damage from that final round¡­>


    Oh?


    <I didn¡¯t even know puns could hurt?!>


    I guess you could say it dealt ¡®puns¡¯ of damage.


    ¡­


    Narrator?


    ¡­


    Lighten up, it wasn¡¯t even very punny.

 Chapter 40: A Journey So Far

    <After well-earned levels of partying by the squad to celebrate their final gym badge, Chad woke up slightly earlier than was expected the next morning. The trudge back to the gym slowed as several people stopped him along the way for selfies together.>


    Out front of the main gym entrance, Wulfric was having a short discussion with two of his gym trainers, his coat fully on this time and not just trailing behind him. The crunch of snow under Chad¡¯s feet alerted the gym leader his appointment had arrived right on time. With a wordless wave, he signaled for the fire type to follow him, proceeding to walk south. For whatever reason, the locals opted to let the duo pass in peace as they moved through town.


    At the edge of town, Wulfric continued onwards, the snow fading away into the lush greens of a thick forest. There was no path, just a seemingly random route between the trees as the duo proceeded into the thick woods. ¡°I suppose an explanation was in order before any of this, but I believe you are uniquely qualified to bear this secret. Something I learned when I became the local gym leader, and something which I have yet to share with anyone else.¡±


    Their route continued to twist and turn at random, as the two lost track of time, with only unspoken landmarks affirming Wulfric¡¯s resolve to continue. ¡°As you¡¯ll understand, this is possibly the best-kept secret in Kalos. I¡¯ve done my best to keep even the League¡¯s greedy nose away from these pokemon. But maybe seeing you today might open a few minds.¡±


    The massive man swept away a branch, revealing a large pseudo clearing, with several large trees spaced out to provide cover from above without intruding on the space below the canopy. Within, several pokemon were walking and milling about, the scene reminiscent of a small human town. Just without any humans.


    Nearby amidst a field of yellow flowers, a mushroom with a split white and red cap wiggled, cooing at the sight of the two newcomers. ¡°Hey there,¡± Wulfric greeted with a warm smile, undoing his jacket to let it flutter behind him as a cape once more. ¡°Can you let everyone know I brought someone?¡± The Foongus whistled before hopping away as quickly as the little thing could manage.


    The shadowy fields seemed to dance as flickers of sunlight glimpsed through the canopy above, highlighting each flower as they danced in the shallow winds. Yellow as far as either could see seemed to frolic in the open sea of flowers. The Foongus¡¯ distant cries gathered the attention of the locals, as more pokemon took note of Wulfric¡¯s appearance in the hidden village. ¡°You¡¯re being uncharacteristically quiet, Narrator.¡± Chad mumbled, careful to keep the gym leader from hearing him.


    <It¡¯s just¡­ This wasn¡¯t in the packet, or the script, or anything. I had no idea this was even here. Something this unique never even crossed my radar.>


    ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is, this is a pleasant surprise for you, too?¡± Chad whispered, as the village seemed to be waiting to welcome them. Jigglypuff, Amoongus, a Noctowl up on a branch, Gothorita, Poliwhirl, some Lombre¡­ It was a full-fledged community of dozens of different pokemon.


    Surprise! I sort of wanted to preserve this easter egg just in case you ever decided to go hands-off.


    <You knew of this?>


    Narrator, I have access to so many spoilers. I wanted to keep at least a few things in the back pocket for possible rewards.


    ¡°Does Dragonite know of this place?¡± Chad inquired as he stood beside Wulfric, enjoying the moment while being introduced to everyone.


    Yes; they¡¯re practically a pokemon encyclopedia.


    ¡°Alright everyone, with that out of the way, why don¡¯t we have a small celebration today?¡± Wulfric announced with a clap of his hands, as his team emerged from their pokeballs and helped him unpack some odd gear from his definitely-space-folding backpack. Chad, recognizing the grill from yesterday, groaned with a smile. ¡°Sorry to put this on you so suddenly, but I thought if they could talk with you and your team, it might be nice for everyone.¡±


    <I can take it from here, Chad. Releasing his team to a variety of responses, the atmosphere soon became festive. With the fire type manning the grill, and the other newcomers socializing with the villagers, everyone took the chance to relax and simply be. Chad had to be reminded with a bonk to the head after a black bipedal fox emerged from the crowd and asked if they could eat similar food every day. Instead, Chad suggested they follow Wulfric back and learn more about life outside the village.>


    <After almost a full day of cooking for and interacting with the locals, Wulfric, Chad, and their interested vulpine headed back to Snowbelle the same way the two had come; through the winding path of the woods. Upon emerging at the edge of the city, Chad and Wulfric said their goodbyes as the mountain of a man returned to his duties at the gym while explaining the life of a trainer to his potential new project, while Chad made his way to the pokecenter. Inside, he sat down in the lounge and was immediately beset upon by Calem and Serena.>


    ¡°It¡¯s crazy to think how fast time flew by. Did you know most trainers are still working on their second and third badges right now?¡± Serena commented to the group, as a few hanger-ons mentioned they were here for their third badge.


    ¡°Crazy to think we completed everything in barely sixty-six days,¡± Calem added, his mischievous grin appearing when he eyed Chad. ¡°Meanwhile our buddy here managed to clear everything on the sixty-ninth day.¡±


    <Author¡­>If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.


    I swear, that was NOT intentional.


    ¡°Did we really beat all eight gyms in such a short time?¡± Chad asked with worry.


    ¡°I wouldn¡¯t fret over it, not like that¡¯s even a record,¡± a random trainer blurted out, holding up their Holo Caster to show some official record site maintained by the League. ¡°The current record is about fourteen days, set by Amelia a few years ago. Rich girl who basically had her whole team before the start of the season, pre-registered for every gym, and a flying license. She could¡¯ve gone faster but the League forced the pace out of concern for her pokemon¡¯s health.¡±


    ¡°Yea but she was a repeat challenger; what¡¯s the record among first years?¡± Calem countered, as the trainer navigated through the screen on their device.


    ¡°Thirty-eight days, by Luke whose starter knew Teleport, and his parents took the two of them around Kalos before the season. Instant travel, but lots of training.¡± The other trainers broke into sequestered chatter about how powerful instant travel was for cutting down time on the road. ¡°But, as a point of pride: Calem and Serena finished their eighth badges in the top five for the year.¡±


    ¡°Oooh, top five?! Are there any prizes?¡± Serena pushed, gently nudging the nerdy trainer.


    A different trainer laughed in amusement, likely the oldest in the group. ¡°Yea, the prize of everyone knowing your name, your team, and being able to study your matches for the conference.¡± Everyone but Serena and Calem laughed, some louder than others. ¡°But no, the real prize is knowing you have the remaining time to just train and work on new strategies.¡±


    ¡°Four months is a crazy long time to train for a tournament¡­¡± Chad supplied, though he grunted in frustration upon noticing Rousseau was not present. Motioning towards Calem, the boy caught on quick, passing over his Holo Caster opened to a notes app. The surrounding trainers slowly fell to silence as the fire type tapped away on the virtual keyboard, as Calem repositioned to read the screen.


    ¡°Chad wants to know what we want to do next, Serena. But I think we all know that.¡± He supplied as she lit up in joy. Using his wings, Chad made a light flapping motion, to which Serena violently nodded in joy.


    <That works out nicely; you still have a few things to do in Lumiose City as well.>


    ¡°Such as?¡± Chad inquired, continuing to type out his thoughts for the other conversation among his fellow trainers.


    <Reunite with Gaston, meet up with Degas, have that first date with Dragonite, sit down for an in-depth interview with Professor Sycamore¡­>


    Chad blushed, lightly fumbling the word he was mid-typing, as Calem and Serena locked eyes, having overheard half of the conversation. Moving to sit on the opposite side of Calem, Serena seemed to trap Chad in his place on the oversized couch. In an attempt to escape, he simply stood up and attempted to extricate himself from the ambush, only to be forced back down when a flash from his belt revealed the stoic Keanu standing in his way. ¡°No running,¡± the owl warned.


    Calem pursed his lips, glancing at the nearby random trainers. ¡°We can move this to my room, if it helps. But we have a lot of questions we want to cover, questions that need answers now that all of us have the time to just let loose.¡± Calem¡¯s eyes shone, bright with the desire to just help someone if they would trust him. Chad, making a decision, handed back the Holo Caster before returning himself to his pokeball, as Keanu scooped up the belt and motioned for the two humans to lead the way.


    The three entered Calem¡¯s borrowed room, the small one-bed shoebox barely enough for a human trainer and a moderately-sized pokemon, was absolutely cramped with the three of them. ¡°Ahem,¡± Keanu coughed, seemingly waiting.


    <Yes, yes, I know. The room was quite spacious for a single bed unit. Enough so that a trainer might be able to release their entire team inside for any sort of meeting or hang-out session, with a tall ceiling to accommodate most species native to the Kalosian region.>


    ¡°Thank you,¡± Calem mentioned, as the avian released the subject of inquiry in the center of the now adequately-sized room. Handing over the Holo Caster to the Charizard, Calem and Serena made a few quick hand gestures to debate something. Up until Calem gave a resigned sigh, and took center-stage. ¡°Chad, there¡¯s a lot we want to cover¨C¡±


    ¡°WITHOUT anything being summarized, skipped over, or fast-forwarded, thanks!¡± Serena added, pointing accusingly at the ceiling.


    ¡°But how about we start with something simple. Like, is this Dragonite the same one who raided Lysandre¡¯s Cafe last week?¡± Chad waited a moment before frowning and nodding his head. ¡°And you would knowingly associate with them? Why did they even attack Lysandre in the first place?¡±


    Chad used the keypad, summarizing everything in a simple sentence: [LYSANDRE WAS GOING TO END THE WORLD]. ¡°And what makes you so certain of that?¡± Serena pressed, unsatisfied with such a statement. To which, Chad simply pointed a finger at the ceiling. ¡°He told you?¡±


    <Not exactly; where do I even begin to¨C To be blunt, Dragonite is like Chad. They were brought here for a specific purpose. Lysandre and Team Flare were that purpose.>


    ¡°I highly doubt they got them all,¡± Keanu added in, roosting in the comfy armchair. ¡°Organizations like that, with plants in law enforcement bodies, take a long time and a lot of illegal means to purge.¡±


    ¡°Are you speaking from experience?¡± Chad questioned the owl, neither of the two humans able to understand the side discussion.


    ¡°I was part of the cleanup effort in Unova before I came here.¡± He stated with a solemn finality, as Chad seemed puzzled by the context before deciding to move on.


    ¡°OK, let¡¯s assume Lysandre is actually a bad guy. It still doesn¡¯t change the fact that the police haven¡¯t found any evidence to support that yet, and that Dragonite is a rare pokemon; rare enough that they can¡¯t just walk around Lumiose City like a normal person.¡±


    <Not quite; I¡¯ve made sure they found the important evidence. They¡¯ve just been keeping things mum as to cover up their own involvement.>


    ¡°BOYS!¡± Serena shouted, interrupting the serious discussion. ¡°We¡¯re getting off-track. The real, most important question is why Chad likes Dragonite.¡± Chad fidgeted with his fingers before typing out a short and simple explanation: [BLIND DATE].


    Serena threw up her hands in frustration as Calem laughed at her. ¡°Alright, if we¡¯re not doing serious questions¡­ One year ago, when Stanley got the top score on the essay assignment about proper care for a baby pokemon; how much of that essay did Stanley actually write?¡± Chad held up a single finger. ¡°A page?¡± He shook his head for no. ¡°A paragraph?¡± Another shake. ¡°...A word? No, wait, he only wrote his name, didn¡¯t he?¡± A nod triggered Calem into maniacal laughter.


    Serena waited a moment, before softly asking her next question. ¡°Was Stanley even real? He just, showed up one day, but his parents were acting like he had been there all along.¡±


    <No. Stanley was a simulacrum of a human boy. He was to be my stand-in for this tale.>


    The four sat and stood around in relative silence, some withholding questions on the tip of their tongue, others waiting to see what the rest of the group were thinking. Chad broke the stalemate, offering up his question digitally. [WOULD YOU HAVE PREFERRED TO TRAVEL WITH ME OR STANLEY?]


    ¡°You!¡± The two humans replied at once, giggling at the idea. ¡°Don¡¯t take this the wrong way, but Stanley was just so infuriating to be around! Like, all of our interactions were just the big guy telling me what Stanley was thinking, and how I should be able to read his mind or something.¡± Serena elaborated, her eyes fixated in frustration.


    Chad tuned out the two, as they reminisced about everything that had been wrong about the human meat puppet. ¡°Narrator¡­ I think you need to have a talk with The Lady.¡± Chad vocalized, putting his serious face on. ¡°I won¡¯t ask what happened, or why things ended up this way, but it¡¯s clear to even a loner like me that you would both benefit if you could just take some time to yourselves.¡±


    <...I will take that under advisement. Thank you for your concern.>


    ¡°You¡¯re welcome. Now, they said no fast-forwards, so I expect they¡¯ll keep me here for a while. Why don¡¯t we regroup in the morning when we set out for Lumiose?¡± Chad offered, as Calem and Serena continued their heated discussion, with Keanu smiling softly from his chair.


    <That sounds acceptable; good luck.>

 Chapter 41: The Conference

    <After an intense grilling deep into the early morning, Chad, Calem, and Serena share a breakfast in Snowbelle City before flying off over Route 21 with a quick stop at Victory Road to register for the season¡¯s conference. With a little over four months to train up, and no rush to do so, the three continue over Route 22, Santalune City, and Route 4 at a leisurely pace. The sights from the air are pleasant, as the two occasionally wave at a trainer down below.>


    <Upon arriving back in Lumiose City, Serena drags Chad into an electronics store while Calem assists with brokering the sale of a Holo Caster. The attendant is confused, even after being provided Chad¡¯s trainer ID and the necessary funds. With their goal achieved, the duo help Chad set up his device, forwarding his number to the Vaniville group chat while adding their own numbers to his contacts.>


    <Holding up his self-assigned end of the deal, Chad forces Calem and Serena to register for flying classes, which would keep them busy for at least a week. Serena, reading the fine print about being able to take the class with another trainer¡¯s pokemon, begs Chad to help her with the tests. Chad attempts to decline her request when Calem then requests copies of Chad¡¯s tests and notes from when he earned his license. Turning the two down, he stresses how a pokemon like him, unable to communicate verbally with others, was able to ace the exams.>


    <Leaving the two to their studies and endeavor for true freedom, Chad pays a visit to Sycamore¡¯s Lab. Receiving a warm welcome from the eccentric and his staff, Chad uses his new Holo Caster to explain what he¡¯s been up to, some of his plans, and to ¡®return¡¯ the pokedex that he had found in his backpack. Sycamore, inspired by Chad¡¯s old device, showed off his invention of a button that would produce sound when pressed. He had recorded an assistant speaking the word ¡°Hungry¡± and set the button to play the sound whenever pressed. Supposedly, an experiment with the button and a rotating cast of pokemon living in the city have shown promising results, with plans to add other buttons and other words to build up a vocabulary to a functional level.>


    <Later that evening, Chad found himself standing outside of Eevee¡¯s Choice alone, having split up from the rest of the team to let them explore the city on their own terms for a night. The hostess, a familiar Sylveon, recognizes Chad and leads him to a table for two.>


    The establishment is mildly busy tonight, with half the tables empty while other small groups of various pokemon discuss a variety of personal and hushed topics. On the wall beside him hangs an oil painting in a solid black frame, the image of a bright and cheerful Noibat flying against a plain background. Chad notices the two black ribbons dangling from the top center of the frame and curving to the outside edges.


    ¡°I didn¡¯t know how else to honor him,¡± a familiar voice announced from behind him; a familiar gold and tan dragon standing nearby. ¡°Turns out these hands are just as great for drawing and painting as they are for punching someone¡¯s lights out.¡±


    Chad smiled warmly, using his tail to push out the other chair in invitation. ¡°Sometimes, you need to do a little of the latter before your hands are still enough for the former.¡± Another waiter stopped by, placing two glasses of water on the table before walking towards another party. ¡°How are you feeling?¡±


    Dragonite leaned back in their chair, eyes still drawn to the painting of Noibat. ¡°Still wondering what I could have done differently, what he¡¯d say if he was still here¡­ You¡¯ve lost someone close to you, haven¡¯t you?¡±


    Chad swallowed the gulp of water, his eyes flickering with a pang of regret. ¡°Several ways, but the most recent was my best friend and companion of thirteen years; my dog, Legoshi.¡±


    Dragonite bit back a laugh, sounding like they were choking. ¡°You named your dog after an old anime? I guess there¡¯s worse names for Huskies.¡±


    ¡°He wasn¡¯t a husky,¡± Chad smirked, likely retreading this conversation for the hundredth time. ¡°He was a Golden Retriever, and the only person left in my life who loved me unconditionally. It¡¯s why I was even at that place to begin with; I was picking up a massive oil painting I commissioned of him.¡±


    Dragonite perked up, their antenna twitching at the final sentence. ¡°You wouldn¡¯t have happened to have commissioned _____, would you?¡±


    Chad straightened up in shock, before his eyes flew up to the Noibat once more, recognition dawning on him. ¡°No way¡­ How did it come out?¡±


    Dragonite took a sip while smiling, their eyes elated at the revelation. ¡°It was my favorite piece, suitable for being my last. I was going to offer you a refund with the painting since I didn¡¯t really need money anymore.¡±


    The two sat in silence, as a flurry of emotions swam across Chad¡¯s face before he settled on one of hopeful optimism. ¡°Want to go on a date? There¡¯s an art museum in the city I¡¯ve been told is a must-see.¡±


    At the bar sat a yellow-furred bipedal vulpine, her tail swishing left to right listlessly until the bartender arrived to hand her a short glass with an orb of ice and a dark caramel liquor, and a tall shapely glass filled with a fizzing pink cocktail, complete with a tiny umbrella stuck in a floating slice of citrus on the top. She lifted both drinks, moving towards the back door and sliding it open with a hip-check before walking through backwards.


    On the other side, she emerged on the left side of a giant stage, watching as several pokemon walked off to the right while two ¡®dragons¡¯ remained in the center, pretending they were out walking the city while in the shadows the various setpieces of the cafe were replaced with standees with fake paintings. Smiling, and careful to neither grab the audience¡¯s attention nor slip into the orchestral pit, she strode towards the spotlighted podium behind which a man-shaped being wore a bespoke pinstripe suit and pants with a matching stylish hat.


    ¡°I hope I remembered correctly, it has been a while.¡± She confessed, offering him the drink. He seemed exhausted, but gently accepted the fruity pink glass while creating a space for it on his podium.


    ¡°Thanks. I can¡¯t remember ever having both the audience and actors heckling me at the same time, it¡¯s been a stressful tale.¡± He responded with a deep exhale, utterly exhausted and leaning against the podium for support.


    ¡°I figured, thus my little trip behind the curtain.¡± She empathized while gently rubbing him on the back. Each took a sip of their respective indulgences, watching as the two costumed humans on stage discussed a particular piece of art; a painting made by one of the set decorators. ¡°You know, maybe you should change it up next time? Join me on the other side?¡±


    A comically-proportioned canine-costumed actor entered from stage left, with white and brown fur while holding an oversized paint brush of a tail. The audience laughed, likely at a joke or witty line, or maybe just at the odd appearance of the costume. ¡°At the start of this Story, I would have called you crazy. But now, I think that sounds like a nice change of pace.¡± The Narrator admitted with a weak smile, seeming to gain a little pep back from his beverage.


    ¡°Hey, Narrator!¡± The orange fire dragon called out from the stage. ¡°Did Degas¡¯ painting really get put up on display before I got my final badge?¡±


    <Ahem. Ah, yes, Chad. Regrettably for your wallet, he did indeed win the wager.>


    ¡°Noo, my money!¡± The dragon wailed, spurring the audience to laughter.


    {I wouldn¡¯t fret over it too much, Chad. You should support your local artists.}


    The golden dragon pantomimed confusion before chiming in. ¡°Lady, is that you? I can¡¯t see you anywhere.¡±


    The Narrator¡¯s spotlight grew to encompass the pair, as The Lady¡¯s striking crimson low-cut skin-tight revealing dress drew a slew of wolf-whistles from the audience.


    {Yes, just catching up with an old friend for a moment.}If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.


    A light peck on the cheek was met with a round of cheers for the Narrator, as she sashayed back towards the stage curtain. Before vanishing behind the red silk completely, she blew a kiss towards the suited gentleman, who caught the gesture with a quick hand, gently placing it in his breast pocket.


    <After passing back Gaston¡¯s pokeball to Chad, and a lovely walk through the museum together, the two began to discuss how to spend the next four months. Chad was insistent on finding a way to keep his team fed, which meant earning money. And thus Dragonite offered a proposal; Chad could work at the cafe, earning funds for his team, while everyone was off training in his homeland of the Dragon Territories.>


    <hr>


    <Calem and Serena, now licensed to fly with their very own pokemon, stopped by the cafe to say their parting words to Chad until the conference. Both were returning to Vaniville town for a special gift and celebration with their families, but promised to keep in contact. Barely a day later, both sent the group chat a picture of fancy stones, strikingly similar to Chad¡¯s own. With a secretive direct message, he urged the two to head north to Shalour City, to visit Korrina, and show her the stones. Not long after, the two responded with their own cryptic messages, lighting a fire under Chad and company¡¯s training goals once more.>


    <Days sped into weeks, which jumped into months, as the six trained their hearts out in Dragon Valley. The ambient energies bolstered their strength, as Dragonite served as both mentor and training partner, continuing to push them all to their upper limits. Right up until the final day of the season, the week before the beginning of the conference, when Chad received the email he had been waiting for.>


    ¡°Trainer Chad, we congratulate you on a wildly successful season. Finishing all eight badges in your first year is a major triumph among trainers that we here at the Kalos Pokemon League celebrate and recognize. Blah blah blah, this year¡¯s conference, blah blah blah¡­ Unfortunately, for safety reasons, we cannot permit you to participate this year without a human trainer.¡±


    The mood around the room was bleak, as all six processed the words Chad had read aloud. ¡°This sucks,¡± Alexandre commented, kicking a cushion on the floor. ¡°Damned bureaucrats are afraid we¡¯d upset the status quo.¡± Chad¡¯s Holo Caster began to ping several times in rapid succession, both with messages and new emails. Ripping off the band-aid, he quickly responded in the group chat that he was not being permitted to participate in the conference.


    Flipping back to his inbox, the emails were from several gym leaders; Wulfric, Olympia, Korrina, Viola, Valerie, and even Ramos all wrote to him their apologies. Wulfric even included a copy of the email he sent to the League advocating on Chad¡¯s behalf.


    ¡°So that¡¯s it? No conference after all that?¡± Keanu asked, standing up to flex his wings and stretch. ¡°Rather anticlimactic way to end things. But I suppose that means our agreement is fulfilled.¡±


    <Keanu, while this may be an insulting outcome, the terms of the agreement were through the duration of the conference. Regardless of our participation, you will need to remain with the team through one more month.>


    ¡°Then I can go?¡±


    <Then I will have you ferried to your destination in Galar, as requested, quicker than you could fly yourself.>


    Grumbling and grouchy, unlike his namesake, the owl returned to his claimed seat and mumbled incoherently about his situation. Chad meanwhile, was eyeing the avian in suspicion.


    <hr>


    <Shauna tapped her foot impatiently beside Chad, the duo waiting outside the entrance as Tierno and Trevor ran towards them. ¡°Hurry up! If we miss either of their matches because you two were late, I¡¯ll make sure they know exactly who to blame!¡± She shouted, angrily gripping a pokeball at her belt. The two boys were out of breath when they got close enough, only for both to be dragged by the wrist inside the stadium. Chad waved as she went towards the humans-only seating area, while he sauntered over to the pokemon-friendly entry.>


    ¡°Rather frustrating, I imagine?¡± A familiar voice suggested, as Rousseau appeared floating behind him. Chad leapt a bit in surprise before huffing a small bit of fire to express his displeasure.


    ¡°Yea, but at least I won¡¯t be watching alone. Though, Gaston may need to take up a spot at the very back.¡± Chad responded, spotting something in the sky and waving. Dragonite gently landed in front of the two, with barely a light gust from their sudden arrival. ¡°Sorry though, Rousseau, I didn¡¯t get you a ticket.¡±


    ¡°Quite alright; I¡¯ll be watching from the VIP box with Olympia. Enjoy!¡± He cheered, before vanishing with a soft ¡®pop¡¯. Living in the moment, Chad led the way in, offering the attendant his ticket for 7 viewers. Cutting it close, they were barely able to find a place to release everyone, and ended up relying on Gaston¡¯s height to serve as their vantage point. The crowd begins to cheer as the opening ceremony begins, kicking off the multi-week event.


    <hr>


    <The qualifiers go by quickly, as Calem and Serena trounce their opponents while keeping their cards close to the chest. Both find themselves invigorated by the support from both their friends in the stands, as well as the ones in the ground-level pokemon corral. As if pre-ordained by fate, both were seeded on opposite brackets, delaying a match between the two until the finals; a fact which drove both to crush their challengers and climb to the very top. As the matches bore on, one stood out for a brief moment as a fighting specialist sent forth an Eevee, or rather an Eevee-lution? White taller and leaner than a normal Eevee, he had a tuft of red fur shaped into a headband, with billowing red ribbons from the back of the head, matching red fur covering the front paws. In addition, he had a stiff white coat of fur, almost stylized to resemble a fighting gi, which flowed back from his neck and down each leg, matching up with the tail to provide a pair of coattails. Remarkably, the stylized character pattern on the back appeared natural, representing the word ''fight''.>


    Did you seriously just cosplay an Eevee as Ryu?


    <Shush! And thus, on the day of the finals, did the lovebirds face each other once more, with an energy that infected the audience and riled them up even more. ¡°Welcome everyone, to the final match of the Kalos Pokemon League Lumiose Conference!¡± The announcer shouted into his microphone, speakers around the stadium echoing his enthusiastic voice. ¡°Today is going to be absolutely fantastic, as BOTH of our finalists this year are still in their FIRST year of the circuit!¡± A wave of cheers crashed down from the audience, hyped up for this tremendous moment.>


    <¡±First to enter the field, we welcome Calem from Vaniville Town!¡± Calem, wearing his signature blue tracksuit, walked out while waving and smiling at the crowd. ¡°And his opponent for this exciting match will be Serena, also from Vaniville Town! I can¡¯t believe it either folks; what are they feeding the kids down there?¡± The announcer joked, as Serena power-walked out in her iconic black top and pleated orange skirt.>


    <Both trainers moved to their respective boxes, separated by an open grass field with some rocks on the sides. ¡°Today folks, we¡¯ll be starting off with the Grass Battlefield. As a reminder, once three pokemon from the same trainer faint, we¡¯ll take a short break to change fields. The match will go until one trainer has no more usable pokemon, leaving us with our winner! Now trainers, are you ready?!¡± Both Calem and Serena lift up a pokeball each, signaling their confirmation. ¡°On the count of three, the first round of this final match will begin. One! Two! Three!¡±>


    <hr>


    <Several hours and two field changes later, Calem and Serena are down to their final pokemon each. Claude is already out on the field, lightly damaged from the previous knockout. Calem¡¯s final pokemon is revealed to be Dorothy, as the two starters square off across the cityscape-themed battlefield.>


    ¡°Calem, let¡¯s finish this with a final push, yea?¡± Serena suggested, lifting up an arm with an odd black bracelet. The embedded white stone seemed to either catch the stadium lights or glow on its own.


    Calem, lifting up an arm and pulling back a sleeve to reveal a similar, glowing bracelet, smirked like he was in on the biggest joke in the world. ¡°One last hurrah, one final tie-breaker; funny how it ended up being here.¡±


    Claude began to glow, as Serena held her bracelet high and shouted: ¡°Let¡¯s show them just how in sync we are, Claude!¡± The Chesnaught went pure white, his legs slimming down along with his tail, as six extra arms seemingly grew from his back. As the light faded, his poncho had inverted, with a long front and an open back; the rotation gave him a sort of martial arts gi, as each of the energy-based arms splayed out in a circle behind him. Each hand held a different pose, as the Mega Chesnaught seemed to be floating, his glowing green eyes shone with centuries of experience.


    ¡°Just because she¡¯s gotten stronger doesn¡¯t mean we slacked off! Dorothy, let¡¯s bring home that trophy!¡± Calem declared, as Dorothy took on her own white glow. Her wand grew out into a full wicker broom, her tail doubling in both size and fluff, but the biggest changes appeared when the light faded. A magenta-colored energy cone took residence floating above her head, growing a brim to resemble a witch¡¯s hat. Swinging the broom below her, she sat down as the cleaning tool began to float the two of them up in the air.


    <¡±I DON¡¯T BELIEVE IT FOLKS! CALEM AND SERENA HAVE SEEMINGLY REDISCOVERED THE MEGA DELPHOX AND MEGA CHESNAUGHT EVOLUTIONS NOT SEEN FOR OVER TWO DECADES!¡± The announcer shouted, as everyone in their stands¨C pardon the language¨C collectively lost their shit.>


    <hr>


    Wearing one of her iconic white outfits, Champion Diantha stood proudly atop the stage, as the top three of the Lumiose Conference walked onto the stage. ¡°What a year this has been. First to the stage, I would love to welcome and congratulate Jacques for securing third place this year.¡± She announced, as an older teen wearing a deep purple suit with sequins and glitter accents took to the podium, thanking the audience for their cheers while accepting the bronze medal from the Champion.


    ¡°And now, for the first time in our Kalos Pokemon League¡¯s storied history, we welcome both first-place finishers to the stage, having achieved the first and only draw for a finals match, ever! Please give it up for Calem and Serena!¡± The two trainers made their way up to the pedestal, holding hands while waving with their free arms. Diantha, noting the decision they displayed, offered the shining trophy which the duo gripped on either side, hoisting it together for the crowd to see.


    ¡°We¡¯re putting this on our mantle,¡± Calem commented, barely audible beneath the cheers of the crowd.


    ¡°Our mantle? You think I¡¯m gonna marry you just because you didn¡¯t lose to me?¡± Serena quipped back, staring at him for a response.


    ¡°Nah, I know I¡¯m gonna marry you, because without each other, neither of us would be standing here, right now.¡± He responded, as each sought out one another, eyes firmly locked on the true prize of the tournament. Together, they lifted the trophy, covering their faces for a brief moment of privacy, while cameras lit up like crazy attempting to capture the moment.


    ¡°And now, as I am certain many of you were expecting something flashy for our closing ceremony, I believe you are about to be quite satisfied.¡± Diantha announced, as the spotlight shifted from the victory pedestal to herself.


    Chad heard a small ¡®pop¡¯ behind him. ¡°Return your team,¡± an elderly voice urged, before a second ¡®pop¡¯ occurred. Looking around, the fire type noticed Dragonite was missing, as was the mystery speaker. Following the suggestion (with everyone¡¯s agreement on the suspiciousness of the timing), Chad returned his five teammates to their pokeballs on his belt.


    ¡°This tournament has shown us many promising young trainers, of which I implore those of you hungry for victory to come back again next year, stronger and ready for the challenge that awaits!¡± Light applause, including some cheers from those who hadn¡¯t made the cut to compete.


    ¡°Narrator, what¡¯s going on?¡± Chad whispered, noticing as a staff member ushered the three victors off the stage in the darkness.


    <I¨C I actually do not know. This wasn¡¯t in the script¡­>


    ¡°But for our closing ceremony, I want to highlight a trainer who did not grace this stage. A trainer who was being carefully watched, dutifully observed, and a hot contender for our gym leaders¡¯ prediction of the number one trainer of the conference!¡± The cheers were gone, the entire crowd was abuzz over the revelations. ¡°This year, our closing ceremony will be a showmatch, between myself and this very trainer. Everyone, please welcome one final trainer for tonight; Chad, of Vaniville Town!¡±

 Chapter 41.5: The Closing Ceremony

    A second spotlight flared up to illuminate the fire type in the crowd of pokemon, as the applause and cheers petered off into whispers and discussion. Save for three enthusiastic young adults up in the stands, and two more who stood off to the side of the stage. Nervously, Chad waddled forward through the crowd as the spotlight followed him, until a sufficient opening allowed him to leap into the air with a flap of his wings, the light glinting off his belt of pokeballs sparking a new round of cheers. As more lights came on, the stage was revealed to be a modern-styled white battle field, complete with an iconic pokeball in the center and four corner-based shield emitters.


    Flipping the switch on her earpiece off, Diantha offered a handshake to the dragon, who gently accepted. ¡°It was regrettable the pencil-pushers decided to exclude you this year. Thankfully, I have my own means of helping talented trainers.¡± She explained, before walking to one side of the field and clicking her microphone back on. ¡°This will be a set-style showmatch, six versus six, until either side has no remaining usable pokemon!¡± She announced with flair, as her challenger made his way to the opposite side. ¡°As a small reminder, Chad, a victory tonight will not earn you the title of Champion.¡± Everyone seemed to laugh, aware of the purpose of a showmatch.


    Before anything further occurred, Diantha tossed a blue great ball onto the field, revealing a battle-scarred Tyrantrum. ¡°As a handicap, I will even permit you to see my first pokemon and select accordingly.¡± The Champion declared, as Chad eyed the dinosaur before laughing heartily. Diantha watched as her opponent removed his belt, pulling off two pokeballs and dropping one in the box with him. As the iconic Nidoking appeared, the two had a brief conversation before Chad handed him the second ball, as the Charizard vanished in a red light.


    Alexandre tossed the pokeball up and down in his hand, sliding the belt containing his teammates over his shoulder and donning his ¡®crown¡¯, as the mega bracelet gripped his horn. ¡°Well, this is a nice surprise. Are vous ready to show her what a real Tyrantrum looks like?¡± The ball shook once in affirmation as the rabbit tossed him onto the field. The first reactions to Gaston were gasps and shouts regarding his size, as the massive dino was almost twice the size of his opponent. The second reaction was a mass craze of shouts as everyone realized the opener was a mirror match.


    ¡°Size isn¡¯t everything, youngblood,¡± the scarred Tyrantrum commented, his old voice rumbling with the might of a mountain. His scales shone brilliantly as they smoothed out, brimming with firm rocky energy. Gaston simply raised his left hand, signaling Alexandre as both the mega ¡®crown¡¯ and Gaston¡¯s own gorget began to light up.


    The change was immediate, as Gaston¡¯s crest inverted into a five-point crown, his mane growing out into a flowing cape along his back, his stubble-beard growing out to a singular soft body dangling from his chin. All over, his body¡¯s rough stony features smoothed out, the orange highlights shifting to a brilliant glowing silver. As the transformation faded, the flash of cameras coincided with the audience¡¯s raw energy. ¡°You should show your emperor the proper respect, child.¡±


    Several rents in the field split open, as dozens of metal longswords arose from the special platform. An especially big tear appeared near Gaston¡¯s feet, as an oversized giant blade arose handle-first, the iconic silver decorations declaring its name for all to witness. Gripping the large blade in his mouth, Gaston gave it a test swing, as each of the smaller weapons calmly orbited his personage. The smaller dragon barely had time to get his defenses up before his counterpart was upon him.


    <hr>


    It had been a few weeks since the incidents in Lumiose and Geosenge, and my report about Blaise and Jerome was still causing trouble for the League. Following the trail, we had been able to identify several more Team Flare collaborators, including my then-boss. It wasn¡¯t just a few low-level people, the League was finding these infiltrators at almost every level. Things got dicey once it was found they even compromised someone responsible for psych evals, which led to another round of discoveries and arrests.


    On top of that, the Royal Archives reported that the Durandal on display, the original sword of the late King Philip the Uniter, had collapsed into a pile of rust at roughly the same time I witnessed the blade emerge from the earth half a region away. There was still an ongoing debate about locating the pokemon from my recording and demanding they return it.


    As Agnes and I crowded around the small screen, a familiar Tyrantrum repeated the miraculous act, summoning the fabled blade in front of the entire region. Our outpost was quiet, as we sat on-call in case anything happened in our small town during the conference. Both of us were locked into watching the broadcast, as our Champion¨C the strongest pokemon trainer in Kalos¨C had her vanguard bruiser systematically dismantled in a mirror-match by a pokemon who could be argued to be the true heir to the throne.


    The battle seemed so one-sided, it was unbelievable. ¡°I guess you¡¯ll need to amend your report,¡± Agnes suggested with a smile. ¡°You¡¯ll need to clarify we were saved by the King.¡±


    <hr>


    I didn¡¯t need to look up to know Diantha¡¯s Tyrantrum had fainted first; the roar of the crowd through the thick viewing glass made that abundantly clear. My grandfather had been sending me messages ever since the final, but as my Holo Caster showed his final one, I put it away to watch the match. [Bring them here!] it said, clearly wanting a chance to study the three new Mega Evolutions he had seen today.


    ¡°Mega Evolution is truly something else,¡± my booth partner commented, as I smiled innocently at the boy who was my age.


    ¡°Yes, but it has its drawbacks,¡± I added, as I looked to the field in time to watch Chad¡¯s Tyrantrum, now in his normal form, freeze into a giant ice statue. ¡°It¡¯s a burst of power in exchange for long-term stamina. Great for a final push, not for the start of a fight.¡± The Tyrantrum¡¯s icon on Chad¡¯s status display greyed out as he was returned, having fallen victim to Diantha¡¯s second wall, her Aurorus.


    ¡°Then why is he starting with it? Wouldn¡¯t it be smarter to have saved that for the end?¡± Clemont queried, as I noticed a shuffle in the challenger¡¯s trainer box, seemingly a hand-off from the pink rhino to a familiar blue frog.


    ¡°It¡¯s a show match; Chad isn¡¯t trying to win, he¡¯s putting on the flashiest match he can.¡± Amidst my team¡¯s cheers when a familiar Lucario took the field, I heard Luca¡¯s growls beneath it all. A quick thought of his name caught his attention, long enough for me to motion him to sit next to me. ¡°Luca, I know you¡¯re still upset,¡± I began, as his ears flattened in shame. ¡°But she needed a change; she stalled out at the five badge level, and I took a gamble. Now?¡± I motioned to the field, where a Mega Lucario was absolutely demolishing Diantha¡¯s infamous ice wall. ¡°If a small change helped her that much, maybe it could work for you, too.¡±


    I could feel Clemont¡¯s surprise, likely unaware Chad¡¯s Lucario used to be one of mine. ¡°Speaking of change, Wulfric sent me a request the other day. He¡¯s looking to put together a team to help a new trainer, a special case.¡± I heard my team go wild, likely as their former teammate took down a Champion-level defender. ¡°What do you say, interested in trying something new?¡±


    <hr>


    ¡°You¡¯re certain?¡± I asked, the information absolutely damning if it was true. Smiling and confident, the Dragonite nodded in confirmation, as did Rousseau beside him. Feeling a headache coming on, I caressed my temples. ¡°Rousseau, take Roigada and anyone else you might need, I want the truth from Malva before this match is over.¡± My starter threw me a quick salute, as he and several of my team members vanished with a teleport.


    ¡°Do you trust them?¡± My box companion questioned, as Grant eyed us both with skepticism. I enjoyed his company, he was always clear about his expectations and what he wanted.


    ¡°It sounds like you haven¡¯t had a chance to read what they found at Lysandre¡¯s; all right under our noses too.¡± Returning to watch the match, I caught the final exchange between Diantha¡¯s Hawlucha and Chad¡¯s Lucario, the latter being exhausted and barely standing. I had to give the jackal credit, as it managed to ground the bird before falling unconscious, their icon on the status board greying out.


    I felt the couch tilt as the massive dragon sat next to me, holding a plate piled high with food from the buffet along the back wall. I heard Mistigrix groan, noting as the Greninja stepped forward from the trainer¡¯s box to face the roosting Hawlucha. ¡°A water dark type against a flying fighter? Seems like a poor choice,¡± Grant commented, as Dragonite nodded along with him.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.


    ¡°Shame Rousseau¡¯s missing this; she was one of his favorite opponents this year.¡± I added, smiling as the sneaky amphibian seemed to evade the fighter¡¯s every move while slowly chipping away at them with ambush attacks.


    ¡°Admittedly, when I faced her, she was not very memorable.¡± Grant admitted, seemingly bored by the hit-and-run tactics.


    ¡°The first three badge levels rarely are, but that doesn¡¯t discount their importance on the journey.¡± I countered, remembering the few I had supervised this season. ¡°How has progress on your personal team been going?¡±


    ¡°Reliable; I should be able to start offering six and seven badge challenges next season.¡± The climber replied, as below on the field Hawlucha was dealt the final blow, knocking them out of the match and marking our Champion¡¯s third faint. Diantha wasted no time, immediately sending out her Gourgeist. ¡°Did you also receive that message from Wulfric?¡±


    I nodded, though I would not mention I was uncertain what pokemon would be appropriate to contribute. ¡°I am still considering it,¡± I admitted, watching the Greninja struggle to hit her opponent. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t been trained on how to deal with ghost types, not utilizing her dark type at all.


    ¡°I won¡¯t be participating. He¡¯s far too lenient with trainers these days, especially for a gym leader of his strength.¡±


    ¡°You would rather he acted more like our lovely Siebold?¡± I teased, lightly laughing as the stoic rock specialist beside me immediately responded with a ¡®yes¡¯. Down below, Greninja finally fell, marking the match as three-all, when Chad¡¯s fourth, the tan and green avian, took to the field. Their icon on his status bar was simply a question mark. ¡°I rather prefer the leniency; it allows him to spot trends, to cultivate an image that anyone can come to him for advice or help. Being a gym leader isn¡¯t just about strength, it also includes being a pillar of the community.¡±


    A soft ¡®pop¡¯ occurred behind us, as I rose from my seat. ¡°And sometimes, you need to be able to listen when the community says there¡¯s trouble.¡± Standing between Rousseau and Roigada, the pink-haired fire specialist glances between me and our dragon guest before flaring with anger.


    <hr>


    ¡°Is this what all high-level matches are like? It feels similar to the battles I see daily.¡± I wondered aloud, as Valerie gave a dignified guffaw.


    ¡°Viola, believe me, this is not representative of a true Champion-level match. If you¡¯ll notice, neither side is using buff or status effect abilities.¡± The dancer pointed out, as the cameras struggled to track the battle between the two ghosts. It was nice to see her without the fancy makeup, just being a normal person for these few hours.


    ¡°I wish I could offer higher badge level challenges,¡± I admitted, as my recently-evolved Scolipede rubbed their antenna against my arm in a show of support.


    ¡°You could,¡± the fairy specialist hinted, as the icon for Diantha¡¯s Gourgeist greyed out. ¡°What if you had a rotation? Where your bugs go up in badge ranking over the season? They certainly grow quickly, and it might allow you to offer a better challenge for more experienced trainers who likely don¡¯t encounter many bug types at their level.¡±


    The Champion threw out her second-to-last pokemon, a Goodra, and the match resumed. ¡°I guess I could try that next season; the hardest part would be attracting higher-leveled trainers. That plan can only work if I get a steady stream of increasing-badge level challengers.¡±


    ¡°I believe many of us are in favor of breaking up the ¡®traditional¡¯ route, as it¡¯s called. Let¡¯s float the idea at the next meeting, maybe the League will support a shake-up.¡± I watched as the owl pokemon seemingly threw everything it had at the dragon, which only seemed to grow stronger with each grass attack sent against it.


    <hr>


    ¡°See, they haven¡¯t figured it out yet, they¡¯re just wasting their energy and making things worse for their next teammate.¡± I pointed out, hand firmly on the shoulder of my protige. He had wild black hair with red highlights, sky blue eyes, and a loaner outfit declaring him one of my employees. ¡°You always need to be paying attention to your opponent in a fight, especially when it seems like your attacks do nothing.¡±


    Ramos chuckled in amusement, aware of the hidden ability of Diantha¡¯s Goodra which allowed her to utterly sweep his team last time they battled. My own little buddy smiled¨C sharp teeth¨C I gently closed their mouth before anyone noticed. ¡°Teeth¡± I whispered, as his eyes went wide in panic before nodding in apology. Below, Chad appeared in the trainer¡¯s box, as the Nidoking trod onto the field. ¡°That isn¡¯t a great plan,¡± I commented, as the status graphic showed those two as the only remaining pokemon on Chad¡¯s team.


    ¡°How so?¡± Ramos inquired, offering me a steaming cup of his renown herbal tea. I accepted, offering a taste to the child first (who declined, thankfully).


    ¡°If Chad goes last, he won¡¯t be able to Mega Evolve, and Diantha still has her Gardevoir.¡± The battle below devolved into a slug-fest, as Goodra quickly found itself on the back-foot; the buffs from the previous combatant seemingly meaningless against the pink powerhouse. ¡°That Gardevoir practically counts as one and a half pokemon, two if you factor the power boost of Mega Evolution.¡±


    ¡°Hmm, did you perchance review his match against me?¡± Ramos asked, his gaze firmly fixed on the field below as everything turned against the powerful dragon, resulting in Diantha¡¯s fifth knockout. ¡°That boy has a way of overcoming rather unfair odds, I would say.¡±


    Both of us sat in quiet contemplation, as Diantha sent out her final pokemon. The psychic type went to work immediately, shifting the battle into an endurance match as Chad¡¯s Nidoking seemed to stand up from everything she threw at it. ¡°Regarding your special project, I often find myself with young grass pokemon in need of a proper trainer, many of which I cannot field myself due to League rules regarding non-native species.¡± The old man eyed my protige with a searching gaze and knowing smile. ¡°Young lad, how would you like to raise a Treecko of mine?¡±


    <hr>


    I watched as the actor wearing the pink rabbit costume pantomimed his fainting before the light cut out and he ran off stage. The final climactic fight, and I had only just been given the new script as it began. Auspiciously, I had no lines until after it was over, but there was one line that ate at me.


    (Chad Loses)


    It didn¡¯t sit right; why go through the trouble of having this whole sequence if he was just meant to lose? I watched as the orange dragon stepped forward onto the ¡®battlefield¡¯, pulling the prop blade from the cleverly hidden compartment in his wing. Their battle commenced, as it became clear to me he was meant to lose, to demonstrate the sheer might of this D-list hack of an actress who couldn¡¯t even bother to attend the dress rehearsals. She was holding her damn copy of the script!


    I heard a clunk and ¡®crish¡¯, as the remains of my fruity escape leaked all over the script on my podium, utterly ruining the page. Which is when I remembered, this was my Story to tell. Retrieving the small prop from earlier hidden in a lower compartment, I slid the black bracelet on my wrist, flicking the switch to turn on the small light within the fake jewel. As it glowed, I was relieved to see the actor¡¯s own shoulderguard prop light up in response, thankful the stage hands hadn¡¯t yet turned it off.


    <Chad, faced with a greater challenge than ever before, stood tall as the power flooded into him. As the last one standing, it was up to him to clench his team¡¯s victory from the monstrous fairy that floated before him. Because after all, who could have a stronger bond with him, an unshakeable faith in his abilities, than the one who had been by his side from the very beginning?>


    I hoisted the glowing bracelet, letting the audience know that it was I who was interfering in this Story once more. ¡°As if any of you pompous writers could fire me anyway,¡± I teased, as the self-centered bitch playing the Champion swore up a storm and threatened to have me blacklisted from the industry.


    It seemed everyone else wanted to play along though, as the lighting designer flipped the switch, changing our hero¡¯s orange and tan skin to a black and vibrant blue. I needed to ensure whoever came up with that little trick got a bonus during the cast party.


    <hr>


    ¡°Dorothy¡¯s going to be so upset she missed this.¡± I remarked as Chad Mega Evolved on his own, forcing the Champion to do the same with her Mega Gardevoir. I could feel Serena¡¯s nervousness as she tightened her grip on my hand.


    ¡°Can you imagine if he got into the conference? I think we¡¯d have been fighting over the second place trophy instead.¡± She responded, both of us still holding onto the large golden trophy, together. It hardly seemed real, that our lives could change this much in less than a year.


    ¡°On the plus side, we get to watch our parents argue over who should¡¯ve won for the next few months, or years.¡± I jested, earning a giggle. It was surreal, watching a good friend practically go toe to toe with someone who we could end up battling in the future. Could we even do it?


    ¡°You know,¡± Serena began, as Chad¡¯s giant flaming sword crashed against Gardevoir¡¯s psychic barrier in an explosion of sparks and fire. ¡°I¡¯m not sure I¡¯d want to be Champion. Always having to be the strongest trainer, everyone working to challenge you for your job. It sounds¡­ stressful.¡±


    ¡°Yea, it does.¡± I agreed, right as Chad threw some odd fire attack which bypassed a barrier, detonating directly against Gardevoir¡¯s right shoulder. ¡°I was thinking, for the honeymoon¨C¡±


    ¡°Getting ahead of things, are we?¡± She teased, poking me in the cheek.


    ¡°For the honeymoon, how would you feel about just traveling? Seeing the world? I bet there¡¯s a lot of other cool pokemon out there, and plenty of skilled trainers to meet.¡±


    On the field, several flaming discs appeared floating in the air behind Chad, as a blazing weapon emerged from each and launched at Gardevoir in a barrage of projectiles. The fairy attempted to snatch and wield one out of the air before dropping it in pain, her hands visibly burnt black. ¡°I think I¡¯d like that. But we¡¯d need to learn the laws first! I don¡¯t want you getting arrested for poaching.¡±


    I laughed at the thought, ¡°Yea, I¡¯d totally botch things and accidentally capture a pokemon I wasn¡¯t allowed to.¡± Gardevoir, floating high in the air, seemingly conjured a large white moon, the sphere almost as large as the entire stage.


    ¡°Five Pokedollars says it¡¯ll be a fire type,¡± she teased, as we both watched Chad simply swing his sword and parry the orbital body before slashing it into burning pieces.


    ¡°Oh, you sound absolutely certain I¡¯ll poach a pokemon. OK, I¡¯ll call your bet; five Pokedollars says I catch it legally.¡± I bump her with my shoulder lightly, to which she responds in kind.


    On the battlefield, Chad raises his weapon, the flaming sword growing to almost ten times its size before crashing straight down onto the floating psychic type. ¡°You know our parents are going to insist on an engagement ring, and a wedding ring.¡± I groaned, knowing where this was going.


    ¡°And do you want one? Either one?¡± Gardevoir¡¯s icon went grey, as the crowd around the arena went wild. Neither of us could hear anything over the shouts and cheers. She shook her head with a smile, before mouthing two words.


    ¡®Just you¡¯

 Interlude 6: Operation One Last Ride

    <With the explosive end to the conference in their rear-view, Chad and company were confined to the Lumiose City primary pokecenter for over a week for recovery. During their enforced stay, the group received several visitors and well-wishers. The rest, random trainers, business representatives, and even a few reporters, were all dissuaded from attempting to gain entry thanks to the presence of a very stern Dragonite.>


    <Calem and Serena, their own teams confined to the same pokecenter for a few days, were the first to drop in for a visit. They spoke about plans for the future, made small talk about ¡®that minor show you did at the end¡¯, and even offered Chad the opportunity to be their best man / maid of honor. The two, still competing with one another, seemed to make it a contest to whose side he¡¯d take up. Dragonite offered the neutral suggestion of having Chad simply be the ring-bearer, which kicked off another argument as both humans were firmly against wearing ¡®gaudy pieces of metal¡¯.>


    <On the second day, Chad¡¯s favorite six gym leaders stopped by, congratulating the injured dragon and his team on his magnificent display. Viola requested a rematch with her strongest team when he was ready, breaking the floodgates as each proceeded to demand the same. This segued into a debate on the proper order, who went first, and other nonsense. Reminding them of their end of season duties, Wulfric waited until the other five said their goodbyes and left the room, before pulling out a dusk ball and releasing¡­ a human trainer dressed in one of his gym employee outfits?>


    ¡°I believe you two have already met, so I¡¯ll get to the point. Zed here was inspired after meeting you back at the village, and I¡¯ve been working with him to learn the ins and outs of human culture.¡± The beast of a man explained, ruffling the black and red hair of the smaller human. ¡°While you¡¯re stuck here, I¡¯d appreciate it if you could teach him as much as you can. And before you say anything¨C¡±


    ¡®Zed¡¯ pulled out a Holo Caster, hunt-and-peck typing a few buttons before a familiar buzz sounded out, [HELLO]. ¡°We took the idea of your text-to-speech device, and I¡¯ve had a buddy work on adding something similar to every Holo Caster in Kalos. As far as the public¡¯s concerned, this is an inclusive push to help mute individuals communicate with others. The keyboard version was simple, but until he can read we just made him a series of pictures in a menu system to find the correct pre-set message.¡±


    ¡°The pictures are easy to understand, so I know what it says,¡± Zed added, a set of sharp teeth flashing as he spoke.


    ¡°A little research on his species from Unova revealed that¨C with time¨C he¡¯ll be able to speak just like I can. But as that takes years of practice, he¡¯ll just have to bear with facing the same challenge you did.¡± Wulfric beamed with pride. ¡°So, what do you think?¡±


    Chad broke into a laugh, coughing after a pain in his ribs interrupted his expression of joy. ¡°I think if I had the ability to disguise myself as a human, I never would¡¯ve experienced any of those nights where I slept in my pokeball.¡± Wulfric looked confused, until the fire type motioned to borrow the Holo Caster. [I WILL HELP]


    ¡°You know, if I took him to Unova for a bit, I could drop him off with some Zoroarks living amongst humans? Would give him some valuable experience and expertise from his own people.¡± Dragonite suggested, flapping their wings with a smile.


    <As helpful as that would be, I believe you are going to be too busy for such a trip, Dragonite.>


    ¡°What?¡± / ¡°What?!¡± The two dragons asked together. ¡°But, didn¡¯t we both finish our stories?¡±


    <Things will be clear in a few days. And so, on the fourth day when several of Chad¡¯s teammates were set to be released, a familiar yellow vulpine did arrive with a frown on her face and dozens of pokeballs in tow.>


    ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem, and I need you to come back for one last ride, Dragonite.¡± She informed, as the mood quickly soured in the hospital room.


    ¡°Ooh, ooh hold on I¡¯ve always wanted to do this!¡± Dragonite exclaimed, practically bouncing in joy before grabbing a chair, facing the window, and dropping their voice a few octaves. ¡°I told you, I¡¯m retired. You¡¯ll need to find someone else to do your dirty work.¡±


    ¡°I¡¯ve tried; Yvetal, Solgaleo, the Regis¨C hell I even asked the big R himself. They all sent me back to you.¡± She rattled off, leaning into the bit.


    ¡°Damn, even Rayquaza? I guess you are screwed, huh?¡±


    ¡°Not completely. I managed to put together an elite team; the best of the best. All they need now is a leader, someone who knows how to unite and wrangle a squad of high-powered dragons.¡±


    Alexandre opened his mouth to complain, before being forcibly ¡®shushed¡¯ by Ginette who offered him a bag of popcorn from somewhere. Dragonite sighed in disappointment before standing up and pretending to crack their spine. ¡°Fine, I suppose I can help you out one last time; what¡¯s the target?¡±


    Renamon laid out a map on the table of an island, with a large red circle around the city of Hammerlocke. ¡°The main protagonists in Galar screwed the pooch; they failed to find the relics to summon the two legendary heroes, and now Eternatus is about to breach into our world. You won¡¯t be able to find the relics in time, just head for Hammerlocke and try to beat back that dimension-hopping bastard before it can gain a foothold here. Any questions?¡±


    ¡°Just two,¡± Dragonite drawled. ¡°First, are you up for joining me again, big guy?¡± In confirmation, Gaston¡¯s pokeball shook twice. ¡°Good, always reassuring when you have my back. The second question,¡± they began, drawing out the pause, ¡°is when are we leaving?¡±


    The room was silent for a moment before Dragonite, Renamon, and Chad broke into laughter. ¡°Oh god, that was great; peak cinema.¡± Chad commented with an upbeat smile.


    ¡°In all seriousness, I do need you and Gaston to come beat down an alien dragon before it can destroy Galar. I got the old crew together, along with a few new faces from across the globe.¡± She clarified, relaxing her shoulders and stance to be more casual.


    ¡°For something like that, we¡¯re gonna need a lot of firepower,¡± Dragonite hummed, before noticing the second wristband of pokeballs. ¡°Who¡¯d you manage to convince into participating?¡±


    ¡°Well obviously the old gang; Haxorus, Salamence, Dragalge, Hydreigon, Garchomp. But for new faces, I had to do a bit of travel. You may recognize some of them, but I¡¯ve got a few surprises you shouldn¡¯t know about as well.¡±


    ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take that challenge. Keanu, right?¡± Dragonite asked of the tan owl. ¡°A certain voice informed me you needed a ride to Galar; I can drop you off when we arrive?¡±


    The avian shrugged, plucking his personal pokeball from the belt. ¡°Chad, it has been an experience. Not necessarily one I would choose to repeat, but not one I regret having.¡±This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.


    The fire type nodded in understanding. ¡°I wish you luck in finding your trainer¡¯s grandson; hopefully he remembers you.¡± The owl¡¯s stern visage cracked for a moment, before he vanished in the red light of his pokeball. ¡°And you two! Don¡¯t get hurt so badly we¡¯re stuck in here for another week or more!¡± Dragonite gave a thumbs up, carrying Gaston and Keanu¡¯s pokeballs as they followed Renamon out of the room.


    Once outside, near a safe takeoff area, Renamon paused, withdrawing a small box from somewhere about her person. ¡°Feel free to say no, but as a safety measure I repaired this from Lysandre¡¯s possessions. For in case you can¡¯t push it back.¡± Dragonite lightly lifted the lid, allowing a smidgen of light to peek in and reveal a purple dome with an ¡®M¡¯ and two light pink bumps.


    ¡°Only as a last resort,¡± Dragonite ordered, closing the lid shut. As she clambered atop the golden dragon¡¯s back, the two were up and away, racing north to the Galarian shoreline.


    <hr>


    Soaring through the air, Dragonite spotted a few other fliers headed their way. Three were headed in from the west; a black dragon, a white wyvern, a green dragon, and an emerald wyrm which swam through the sky. From the east, another green wyrm and a white dragon were on approach. And from the north, a black and blue wingless drake zipped through the air while carrying something brown that was almost the same size as itself.


    Each group converged on the same spot outside the front entrance of Hammerlocke stadium, the opulent castle seemingly quiet and devoid of any humans or pokemon. As each of the other dragons touched down, Dragonite broke into an excited happy dance. ¡°Oh, My, Arceus! Kommo-o, Dragapult, Reshiram, ZEKROM?!¡± They turned to the ones from the east, then the two green dragons from the west. ¡°I don¡¯t even recognize these!?¡±


    Renamon laughed, ¡°Relax, I¡¯ll do introductions once our last team members arrive. Which is funny given they have no excuse to be late.¡± There was a buzz in the air, as a sphere of space seemed to twist on itself, fuzzing the view around it as a light blue head and a white head emerged from opposite sides, the two dragons stepping clear of the odd wormhole before continuing to yell and argue with each other as the odd transit method collapsed in on itself.


    With a nod, Renamon released the remaining team members from their balls, as well as Keanu before handing over his pokeball and wishing the owl good luck with his own personal mission. To gain everyone¡¯s attention, she gave a sharp clap that disrupted all chatter before stepping into the center of the circle. ¡°Greetings everyone, and thank you for your participation today. As a reminder, I have gathered you all here to help push back an invader who seeks to corrupt and destroy our world. Each of you are the pinnacle of your type, and while it may be short notice, you¡¯ll need to work together as a team.¡±


    ¡°Hai-hai, sillyehabnida!¡± The bipedal dragon shouted with a bounce, his excited face accentuated with a pair of off-white whiskers, wearing what appeared to be a traditional Korean hanbok with white floral patterns on a pink cloth. His white scales and pink eyes threaded the needle between ¡®fairy¡¯ and ¡®albino¡¯. ¡°Do you really need all of us? This feels like overkill.¡±


    ¡°Yes, Gippeum-ui, for plot reasons we needed to assemble a dragon of every type.¡± She responded, as Dragonite raised an eyebrow, scanning the crowd.


    ¡°Do we have all types? I definitely don¡¯t see a normal type¡­¡± They asked, being met with a harrumph from an absolutely ancient Drampa on their left. ¡°How did you do that..?¡± Dragonite whispered in a mixture of surprise and amazement.


    ¡°We do have all types,¡± she announced before going around the circle to introduce everyone. ¡°Drampa for Normal, Salamence for Flying, Dragalge for Poison, Haxorus for pure Dragon, Garchomp for Ground, Hydreigon for Dark, Tyrantrum for Rock, Palkia for Water, Dialga for Steel, Kommo-o for Fighting, Dragapult for Ghost, Zekrom for Electric, and Reshiram for Fire.¡±


    ¡°The ones you likely aren¡¯t familiar with are Serperior for Grass¨C¡± An emerald Serperior floated in the air, with two arms crossed to express their annoyance at having to socialize, their more draconic head frowning while looking away from the group. ¡°Flygon for Bug¨C¡± The light green dragon had two sets of fragile bug wings, as a set of compound eyes underneath the signature red goggles. ¡°Jihyeui Ryong for Psychic¨C¡± The forest green wyrm nodded, their wood-like horns soft and organic as a pair of whiskers wiggled in place. ¡°Gippeum-ui Ryong for Fairy, and Borealis for Ice.¡± The white dragon seemed to tower above several group members, with literal patches of ice forming armor at key points on their limbs and body.


    Above, the sky darkened, as a roar flooded out from above the stadium. ¡°That¡¯s our cue! Let¡¯s go save the world, again!¡± Dragonite cheered, as every dragon let loose a shout or roar together. Across the world, dragons everywhere felt the two echo in their souls. The first a demand to obey, to submit, promising untold punishment for resistance.


    The second was a reminder not to go gently into that good night.


    <hr>


    Dragapult, the first to arrive on scene, sped straight for the lone human, right where Dragonite had predicted they¡¯d be. They were certainly surprised at being grabbed with such speed, and seemed thankful when a massive purple claw crushed where they had been standing barely a moment ago. ¡°Thanks,¡± he offered, as Dragapult sped back around to drop him off with the yellow fairy.


    ¡°Everyone pair up! We have no cure for its poison, so focus on avoiding getting hit by anything. Pick a buddy, and keep each other safe! Stay at range if you can.¡± Dragonite called out, as the dragons self-selected their duos and ran off to destroy the invader. ¡°Except you two,¡± Dragonite followed-up, pointing at Gaston and Zekrom. I need you two to stick with me for something.¡± Reshiram laughed at their counterpart¡¯s misfortune, swooping off with an excited Haxorus in their talons.


    ¡°Sorry, but this is rather important. Gaston, I need you to make me as strong and sturdy of a platform as you can. Big Z, I¡¯m gonna need you to create the strongest electromagnetic field you can, preferably spinning¡­¡± Dragonite looked at their right hand, spreading their thumb outward and curling their remaining two fingers. ¡°Uh, clockwise?¡± A head-tilt from the black dragon led Dragonite to tracing the path with their hand in the air. ¡°Like that, just channel a ton of electricity in a circle in that direction, and when I signal you, push everything you can into it for power and speed.¡±


    ¡°What are we even doing?¡± Gaston asked, already working to reinforce the building¡¯s ceiling below them. Zekrom, with some difficulty, figured out what Dragonite wanted, and began to experiment with maintaining the circular shape.


    ¡°We¡¯re making the strongest cannon possible in the pokemon universe, and then using it to kill an invading legendary.¡± Dragonite explained, before shrugging. ¡°That, or we just hit it hard enough to catch it with a Master Ball. Either works!¡±


    <hr>


    "All of You is All of Me" aka "The Bullshit''s about to begin" song


    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6s2F4H8HYiKu65kt256VuW?si=5626550490f64eb4</a>


    Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJdPO74R_Uo</a>


    Gaston continued to throw up more and more rocks, building as solid of a backstop as he possibly could. To the degree he was raising stone supports from beyond the edge of the castle. Zekrom nervously stood before Dragonite, having learned the optimal position to support the spinning electrical ring was right beneath it, as opposed to somewhere safe like on the side. All the while, Dragonite continued to charge up a hyper beam brimming with power beyond any sane level.


    ¡°That¡¯s all I can do; any more and it may damage the castle or weaken the rest of the backstop.¡± Gaston announced, nervously watching as the rest of the dragons continued to harass the invader. He was visibly worried, as not even the gods of space or time seemed to be having much impact.


    ¡°And this thing¡¯s getting unstable if I try to push any more power to it!¡± Zekrom added, as Dragonite raised their arm, readying the pre-determined signal. Instantly, the bright white sphere seemed to be drawing in more energy like a Snorlax at a buffet.


    ¡°INCOMING!¡± Gaston shouted, forcing the attacking dragons to break off and clear the shot.


    With a grimace, Zekrom supercharged the ring, spinning it with so much speed and power it shot off several lighting bolts. Then, as Dragonite dropped their arm and fired, the beam went straight through the ring, which caused it to accelerate, thinning the massive beam into a surgical shot that slowly expanded as the spinning ring destabilized and collapsed.


    The shot went through Eternatus¡¯ core, expanding the opening as the beam grew, and eventually swinging upwards through their neck and head as the destabilized electrical ring redirected the overwhelming attack. The force of it pushed Dragonite back, crushing the stone barricades and supports setup behind them, crumbling over half of the stonework before the attack finished.


    Eternatus crumbled, disintegrating as it¡¯s component particles began to drift up and back through the tear in reality, spurring the assembled dragons to cheer for their victory. Dragonite, emerging from the pile of crushed stone and pebbles, dusted themselves off before walking forward, extending a flat open palm towards the yellow vulpine. ¡°Just in case he tries anything,¡± they said, palming the purple pokeball and continuing to move towards the open red rift in the sky.


    The celebrations were short-lived, as from within the rift came another draconic roar, promising untold violence and suffering, accompanied by a red and purple glowing five-fingered hand which struck out and crushed part of the ceiling. Eternamax, not accepting defeat, attempted to pull its larger amorphous body through the rift. Dragonite, hefting the Master Ball, shouted out to the alien interplanar traveler. ¡°Last Chance! Leave or Else!¡±


    Eternamax, screeching back with the non-verbal equivalent of several swears and slurs, seemed to pull harder to emerge in their dimension. ¡°Fine; I¡¯ll be sure to put you to good use.¡± Dragonite admitted, chucking the Master Ball faster than the oversized hand could dodge. With a familiar red light encompassing the giant invader, its massive size shrunk down, sucked into the purple orb before it closed and gave a soft chime of success.


    ¡°Could you have done that the whole time?¡± Jihyeui asked, dumbfounded and stunned.


    Picking up the purple and white ball, Dragonite locked and shrunk it. ¡°Yea, but I really didn¡¯t want to. Eternatus is cool and all, but I was kinda hoping to save this one for something like Necrozoma.¡± Someone asked ¡®who¡¯, but Dragonite waved it off, as Renamon handed them an empty magnetic wristband, to which the Master Ball clicked on and slid over the gold dragon¡¯s left wrist.


    ¡°Anyway, now that we¡¯ve saved the world, who¡¯s hungry?¡±