They make it out of Union Cave four days later, the midday sun painfully bright after only having had their handheld torches to provide light for the better part of a week. They come out into a dry, harsh clearing, the forest receding away from the foot of the cave structure they step out of and yielding to the lack of rain on this side of the mountains. Near the northernmost parts of the minor range as they are, the effect the elevated landscape has on rainfall is particularly pronounced.

Both of them eagerly look for any interesting pokémon typically native to warm and dry climates, but after a few minutes of looking around they disappointedly agree that the area is likely too small to have formed its own tiny ecosystem. Still, congratulatory shoulder claps are exchanged at making it through their first proper challenge, before they continue on their way towards the distantly visible but distinct red roof of a Pokécenter.

As they draw closer to their destination for the day, however, they are interrupted by another trainer who steps out from behind a dip in the terrain.

"Well, well, well, looks like the early bird catches the worm!" A guy who looks only a few years older than them calls out. His appearance is largely unremarkable, except for the bulky glove on his right hand and lower arm.

"What's up guys? We usually don't see anyone coming out of the cave in this direction for a few more weeks at least!" The other guy asks with a grin, his gaze dipping to Ran and Spencer's belts and the three balls they each hold.

There's something about the guy that's recognizable to Ran, but he can't quite place it. The strange feeling delays his answer long enough for Spencer to speak up, "We're good, the Cave's pokémon are still pretty placid because there's not too much foot traffic inside just yet."

"Mmh, yeah, I get that." Glove-guy agrees easily enough, before humming in thought, "Bit weird to see guys your age traveling with three pokémon to their name at this point in the circuit though. You boys get an early start at the Azalea Gym? How'd you do against that fat old walrus?"

It's as Spencer starts to answer that Ran finally realizes what's familiar about the guy they're talking to. He's behaving like Tommy used to whenever new trainers were about to enter town. Right before reaching the Pokécenter he'd try and bait them into fights, after fishing for enough information to feel confident about his odds of winning.

Of course, with only a Ledyba to his name and no Gym badges of his own, Tommy still got beat more often than not, but this guy has a confidence and easy-going attitude that Tommy could only dream of.

"We didn't challenge at Azalea. Oh and the old man isn't in charge any more, Bugsy's taken over as Gym leader." Spencer speaks unsuspectingly, seemingly not on the same track as Ran.

"The guy that made the Final Four two weeks ago? You don't say." The other guy replies, expression becoming eager.

Before he can continue to steer the conversation however, Ran intervenes, "That's the guy. What about you, this is an interesting place to hang out in, did you already challenge for the Zephyr Badge?"

Finally, the other guy's expression sours, "Nah, I'm booked for next week. I used to be a Gym Trainer in Violet, actually. But Flynn's boy gave me the sack just days after taking over. Should've seen it coming too, lil' Falkner 's always been uncomfortable around me."

The mention of Flynn, until very recently the Violet Town Gym leader, has Ran wincing in sympathy. It's hard to hear that name without thinking back to his Elite Four challenge just a few months ago. Hopes had been high throughout Johto that, now that the Champion was one of theirs, they might finally gain even footing with the Kantonians in the League's upper echelons.

With Giovanni and Blaine announcing their retirements from the Elite Four in short order, a select few candidates had gotten to battle for the vacant positions. As Agatha the Crone from Lavender Town and Steel-eyed Gholam from Olivine both retained their positions despite almost being fossils of a different era at this point, optimism had been at a high point throughout Johto.

Lance had only ascended to the title of Champion recently after all, and now, for the first time since Oak's Unification, they had a real shot at outnumbering the Kantonians in the League's top 5. Unfortunately, Giovanni's proposed candidate, Bruno, a Fighting-type specialist, had pulverized everyone that stood in his way, including Gholam, to immediately jump him in the Elite Four's internal rankings, before finally faltering before Agatha, who remained the second strongest trainer in the entire League, officially at least, despite her advanced age.

But for the vacancy opened up by Blaine's abdication, there'd been real hope in Johto. Flynn, Violet City's Gym leader, was acknowledged as the strongest Gym leader in Johto, maybe excluding Pryce. There'd been a real sense of confidence when it had become clear that none of the Gym Leaders in Kanto would be challenging for the vacant spot, but then Lorelei had stepped up.

Their fight had been brutal. Unfortunately, it had also been brutally one-sided. By the time the dust had settled, Flynn's pride and joy, his starter Pidgeot, had suffered catastrophic and permanently crippling injuries. On top of having his starter's injuries to mourn, another two of his team members were rumored to also be permanently retired from competitive battling, due to the severity of the injuries they'd suffered.

It had only been a few months later when word of Falkner's ascension as the new Violet City Gym leader had started spreading, his father taking a prolonged leave of absence to travel. Since then, there'd been no known sightings of Flynn and his son's Gym had gained a reputation for its wildly fluctuating challenge level, Falkner seemingly having difficulty finding the right degree of strength for each badge level.

Catching Ran's sympathetic wince, the other guy clearly misinterprets his response, as his next words are delivered with a glare, "Don't you go wincing bitch boy, at least I didn't have to run away from my own town with my tail tucked between my legs, like you two losers. Honestly, if you weren't even good enough to beat a Bug Gym for your first badge, it's a wonder you even made it through Union Cave in the first place."

The words sting, but the earlier comparison to Tommy rears its head again, tempering the flash of anger Ran feels just in time, before he can instinctively say or do something he regrets.

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Spencer has no such compunctions.

"We'll see about that! I challenge you to a battle!" The shorter boy cries out defiantly, the offense taken from the former Gym trainer's words clear in his bristling.

"You're on," The other guy grins eagerly, "As the challenged party, I'd like to settle on a two-against-two without substitutions, with the stakes at the no-badge maximum, unless you're willing to go higher?"

Ran can only let out a sigh, as Spencer furiously agrees pulling out some cash to slap into Ran's hand before striding away angrily to open up enough space for an impromptu arena. The other trainer smugly fishes out an equal amount, the total in Ran's hands almost enough to pay for a Great Ball, assuming one has the requisite three badges.

Stepping back dutifully, to give the two trainers squaring off plenty of room to work with, Ran watches with little surprise as the other guy raises his gloved hand whilst bringing his other hand to his mouth. He whistles sharply, only needing to wait a handful of seconds before, with a shriek, a Spearow comes diving down from its concealed roost atop a distant boulder. It alights gracefully on the outstretched glove, staring angrily at Spencer as it does so.

Watching passively, Ran notes the Flying type's sharp claws and, for its species, large build, clear signs that it's in fine condition and likely quite strong. Spencer doesn't seem worried of course, confidently sending Onix out to battle. With Pineco and Scyther both being Bug types, the decision is understandable, but Onix isn't at full health, leaving it as a subpar choice, especially as-

"ONIX!" The large Rock-type roars angrily, writhing in place for a moment before turning to glare furiously at Spencer.

-it hasn't forgiven Spencer for its capture yet.

Opposite Onix, the other trainer doesn't send out his Spearow yet, the small bird remaining in its position on his glove, as he throws out a Hoothoot with his other hand.

"Onix," Spencer appeals to his most recent capture hurriedly, "I get that you're frustrated and I'm sorry that we haven't made it to the Pokécenter yet, but I thought I'd get you something to take your frustrations out on!"

Onix' massive head swings through the air, shifting until its eyes zero in on Hoothoot, but the little bird appears unimpressed.

"Hoothoot, set up Reflect!" The other trainer barks out, clearly taking Spencer's talking to his pokémon as an informal start to the fight. It's a dubious call right at the start, but without a real referee and Ran not having been asked to fill the role, there's nothing he can do but watch quietly as Spencer gets caught with his pants down early on.

"Wha- Onix, stop it! Rock Throw!" Spencer hurriedly orders, compensating for getting caught off-guard admirably, but far too late, as the distinctive sheen of Reflect blinks into existence before fading away again.

"Up, Hoothoot, evade it!" The former Gym trainer barks, showing his experience as he times his order just right for Onix to be mid-throw, leaving too little time for the throw to be readjusted.

Hoothoot lifts straight up, but before either trainer can give another order, Onix lurches forwards. Everyone is caught off-guard, a desperate order for Hoothoot to dodge entirely too late as, with a devastating Smack Down, Hoothoot is slammed into the ground and doesn't get up again.

"Great, its instincts haven't even been broken yet," The bird trainer snarls disgustedly, as Spearow flutters forwards to take up its place in the arena, Hoothoot disappearing back into its pokéball in a red flash, "Whatever, Hoothoot did what he needed to."

Spencer is clearly unbothered by his opponent's words, nearly jumping for joy as he calls out to Onix, "Great job Onix! Didn't that feel good?! Together we'll have lots more victories like that!"

"You shouldn't be using trainer battles to work on getting your pokémon's obedience, kid." His opponent calls out threateningly, as Spearow hurriedly takes off and gains altitude, immediately getting out of Onix' direct range.

"I'm up a pokémon and Onix hasn't even taken a hit yet, why shouldn't I?" Spencer asks smugly, emboldened by his early success.

"Because other people's pokémon are well-trained," The other trainer grins back, as Ran catches a disturbing silvery-gray glint to Spearow's wings from where its hovering high above the battlefield, "And we're under no obligation to wait for you to get ready."

As Spearow starts its divebomb towards Onix, Spencer finally catches on, hurriedly shouting out an order, "Onix, Dig!"

Onix clearly disagrees, throwing its head from left to right, before rearing up to meet the incoming Spearow with another Smack Down.

"Don't! It knows-" Spencer starts to say, only to be cut off in a moment of poetic justice for Ran, as for once he isn't the one to get cut off.

It's no comfort to Spencer and Onix however, as Spearow's dive accelerates even further at the last moment, Onix' attempt at a lazy Smack Down missing hugely and leaving it wide open for Spearow's glowing Steel Wing to cut deeply into Onix rocky exterior. The shrieking of steel on stone is unpleasant, but Onix' pained cry is no more pleasant to listen to, the large Rock type flailing around in pain, nearly catching Spearow in the side entirely by accident, before falling to the ground unconscious.

Unlike Spencer, the other trainer doesn't gloat, merely gesturing agitatedly for Spencer to choose his next pokémon, "Hurry up, hurry up, rules say you have to sub within thirty seconds after a knock-out!"

Spencer is clearly out of his comfort zone, Onix getting one-shotted obviously having hurt his confidence, which is why Ran forgives him for the look of surprise at the other trainer's seeming change in behavior. Unlike Spencer however, Ran hasn't forgotten about Hoothoot's Reflect, the timer of which continues to run down even if there's only one pokémon on the field.

"R-right! Scyther, I'm counting on you!" Spencer shouts, the green bug type materializing on the field.

The look of surprise on the other guy's face is gratifying, but again his experience shows through as he wastes no time whining or showboating, "Spearow, evade and weaken!"

"Don't let it, Scyther! Quick Attack! Keep it up!" Spencer orders hurriedly, as Spearow tries to fly straight up once more.

Scyther blurs forwards, his wings beating madly once he makes it halfway, the sheer acceleration he's capable of on land carrying through into his take-off, even as Spearow lets out a surprisingly deep growl. It doesn't manage to dodge the incoming bug in time however, both pokémon colliding heavily in mid-air before Scyther flies past.

The Bug type merely uses his wings to slow his fall down, touching back down on the ground before turning to line up another pass. Too much time is wasted in doing so however, as Spearow manages to arrest its own fall early on and stubbornly hovers in the air, another deep growl visibly intimidating Scyther, as, despite the size disparity, the Bug type's instinctive fear of Flying types is triggered.

"Don't let it buff up freely Scyther! Quick Attack out of sight and wait to line up another pass!" Spencer orders hurriedly, his second pokémon immediately obeying by blurring away and only briefly appearing in various spots around the battlefield.

Spearow spins in place, trying urgently to track its opponent, but unable to do so for more than a second at a time. Just as it seems like the bird type might give up on its attempts entirely, its trainer's orders provide new directions, "Two can play at that game! Aerial Ace, Spearow!"

Unlike earlier, against Onix, this time Spearow shows off its own impressive speed from the start, nose diving straight at the ground to build up speed before leveling off just a few feet above the ground and zooming through the battlefield in a makeshift crisscross pattern even as Scyther is clearly getting worn down by the constant use of Quick Attack.

Spencer seems to realize that his current approach can only lead to defeat, which is why he calls out a new order.

"Scyther, overpower it! Quick Attack right at it!"

Ran clenches his fists, watching anxiously as Scyther comes to a stop near the edge of the battlefield, pivoting in place to face Spearow, which turns on a dime despite its high speed. Scyther blurs forward and an instant later, green and brown blurs meet with a bang.

Neither one gets thrown back, nor do they halt each other's movements dramatically in the middle. Instead, after a fraction of a moment, green and brown pass each other.

But where the brown blur slows down to become recognizable as a Spearow again even as it slowly lifts off once more and regains height, the green blur turns into a rolling and tumbling Scyther, the wounded bug-type unable to keep his footing and crashing to a stop as he throws up a cloud of dust in his wake.

"Scyther!" Spencer cries out in fright, rushing towards his downed pokémon even as the other trainer grins in delight, strutting towards Ran and snatching the prize money away before Ran can even properly offer it to him.

"Thanks for the payday sucker, have a nice life." The older guy taunts, before walking off as he laughs gleefully. Spencer either doesn't hear him or doesn't care however, focused entirely on Scyther's wellbeing.