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Goldenrod city, Johto.

Ezra and Karen made their way through the bustling streets of Goldenrod City a few days after all the excitement, the smell of food vendors selling freshly baked pastries and the sounds of shopkeepers haggling with the early bird customers filling the air. The city was alive with energy, the largest in Johto and it showed, and today's battle only added to the excitement in Ezra's case.

Even if it was against a normal gym, which he should really not have any issues with… That said, he couldn't push his general cheating trolling asshole move here, he actually liked Whitney.

And not only because she was… Enthusiastic in her affections.

That was just the cherry on top.

He usually found bubbly people to be the most annoying people to interact with, but somehow he didn't actually mind Whitney, probably in the way she was so earnest about it. There was nothing put on or over the top fake about her cheer and excitement.

Ezra was feeling a bit too relaxed for Karen's liking however, he noticed, his hands stuffed in his pockets, a small smirk tugging at the corners of his lips. Meanwhile, Karen was clearly less amused, her arms crossed, and her expression a constant scowl as they approached the gym. So… Typical Karen.

"I still can't believe you're just walking into a gym challenge like this," She muttered under her breath, her silver hair glinting in the sunlight as she shot him a look of disapproval. "It's cheating."

Ezra raised an eyebrow, glancing at her sideways. "It's only cheating if you're caught, Karen." His tone was playful, but there was an underlying sharpness in his words. Really, this was going to be her complaint? He did worse than this every morning when he pilfered the Pokemon centers shampoo and put it in his bag.

What could he say… They had some kickass shampoo.

Just because he was going to be filthy rich didn't mean he needed to be a perfect saint.

Karen glared, refusing to let it slide. "Whitney's gym has a two-week waiting list. Two weeks! And somehow, you're waltzing right in without even needing to ask properly. That's not just 'cutting in line', that's exploiting her gratitude. It's cheating."

Ezra let out a soft scoff, clearly dismissing her concerns. "Gratitude? If I used her gratitude to have her give me the badge without a fight, maybe then you'd have a point. But skipping the line for a battle?" He waved a hand, dismissively. "That's nothing. Inconsequential."

He suspected she was only really complaining because she was off kilter after her almost capture, the bloodbath, and then Whitney's… Aggressive thank you. Because this was kind of silly even compared to her usual ornery behavior.

Karen clenched her fists, clearly frustrated by his flippant attitude, or just generally frustrated. But before she could respond, Ezra continued, his smirk widening as he shot her a teasing look. "Are you sure you haven't been spending too much time around Agatha? You're starting to sound like an old lady." His voice was light, almost mocking.

If he wanted her out of this funk, well… Bully Karen is always his go to anyway.

Karen sputtered, her cheeks flushing slightly. "That's not it!" She snapped, her eyes narrowing as she shot him an indignant look.

Ezra shrugged, strolling casually beside her, Rider his Alolan Marowak keeping pace at his feet, the small ghostly flames on his bone staff flickering as he glanced around the city. Ezra's pace was lazy, but Rider's eyes were sharp, always watching, always calculating.

He patted Rider on the head, good boy, he thought, Rider preening slightly at the touch.

"Well then," He said easily, "Stop complaining about skipping the line. You've seen me do worse things, Karen. This hardly qualifies as 'cheating' in the grand scheme of things."

Karen's glare faltered slightly, her scowl softening just a bit, though she still looked annoyed. "I just don't want to see any more of your flirting with that… Woman!" She bit out, her voice dripping with frustration. "It's indecent!" She hurried out right after, probably realizing what that sounded like.

Heh, so that's your problem? He thought.

Ezra put on a mock-affronted look, his hand resting dramatically over his heart. "Me? Flirting? Karen, please, Whitney is the one flirting with me, not the other way around." He paused, his smirk returning in full force. "Not that I mind. She's a great kisser, you know. Very... Aggressive."

Karen's face reddened instantly, her glare intensifying as she practically growled, "That never happened." Her words were clipped, her fists clenched tightly at her sides as she tried to suppress her growing irritation. But her body language wasn't as stressed in her flushed state.

Ezra's smirk only widened, his crimson eyes gleaming with amusement. "If you say so," He said lightly, enjoying her reaction.

The rest of their walk was filled with idle chatter about training, Karen grudgingly focusing on her own team and their recent improvements. Her tone was still slightly agitated, but Ezra could sense the subtle shift in her mood. She talked at length about her Dark type Pokemon, how they'd grown stronger, faster, more responsive in battle.

"Honchkrow has been dodging attacks like nothing I've ever seen before," Karen admitted, her voice taking on a more thoughtful edge. "And Sneasel… I swear, her speed has doubled in the last week. Even Houndoom seems sharper, more in tune with my commands." Her eyes flicked toward Ezra, studying him carefully. "It's strange, though. They've always been strong, but lately... It feels like they've been pushing beyond their limits, listening to me without the struggle, the inherent need for dominance..."

Ezra gave her a casual glance, raising an eyebrow but saying nothing. He knew what she was getting at. She'd noticed the change, the subtle edge that came with being around him, but she wasn't sure how to ask directly, apparently - her Dark Pokemon were simply boosted by his aura, and more settled, but she wasn't aware of it like Agatha was.

It was definitely noticeable, he was surprised she wasn't outright asking though - although perhaps Agatha had made the right choice in keeping her ignorant, wanting her to figure it out on her own.

Oh well, that aspect wouldn't be the worst for her to find out eventually, Agatha likely held something similar, with how quickly she'd spotted it…

Karen pressed on, her tone more curious now, though still wary. "It's almost like they're feeding off of something. The closer we are to you, the more responsive they become. It's like they're being drawn to your… Presence." She glanced at him, her eyes narrowing slightly. "What's going on, Ezra?"

Ezra simply shrugged, his smirk never faltering. "Maybe I'm just that inspiring," He said, his tone light and playful. He wasn't going to give her a straight answer, not yet. She'd figure it out eventually, but for now, it was more fun to keep her guessing. "Or simply that good looking?"

Karen scowled, clearly unsatisfied with his response, but before she could push further, they arrived at the Goldenrod Gym.

The gym had a vibrant and welcoming feel. It was clear from the design that this gym wasn't just about battles, but also about fostering a community. Inside, the atmosphere was equally warm and friendly, with soft pastel walls and plush carpeting. Trainers of all ages were gathered around, some engaged in battle theory lessons from gym trainers - while others practiced or chatted.

As they stepped through the entrance, they were greeted by the same gym trainer who had escorted them the last time they visited. The young woman looked slightly embarrassed, her face flushed as she approached them with a polite bow.

"Ezra, Karen," The gym trainer greeted, her voice soft but filled with a hint of nervousness. "Welcome back. Please, follow me to the arena, leader Whitney is ready for your battle."

As they began walking, the trainer hesitated for a moment before speaking again, her tone apologetic. "I hope you won't judge the entire gym based on Leader Whitney's… Excessive behavior." She glanced sideways, clearly embarrassed by her leader's more… Exuberant displays.

Ezra's expression darkened almost immediately, his usual smirk vanishing as he shot the trainer a sharp, cold look. "She is your leader," He said bluntly, his voice low and firm. "You should not be disparaging her like this."

It didn't matter what she was doing or how she was appearing. This was her gym, she'd obviously made it a shining pillar in the community, her own trainers should not be talking like that. He scowled further, imagining his own reaction one day if his own gym trainers talked shit about him behind his back.

The gym trainer paled, her eyes widening in panic as she quickly waved her hands, her voice rising in alarm. "Ah, no! I didn't mean it like that! Please, don't take it that way!" She stammered, her face flushed with anxiety. "I only meant -"

Before she could finish, Karen grabbed Ezra by the hand and dragged him forward, scowling as she muttered under her breath, "Stop bullying the trainers."

Ezra, however, only grinned, his eyes dropping to their intertwined hands. "So our relationship has evolved to hand-holding, how ~lewd!" He teased, his voice lilting with amusement, dropping the trainer from his mind.

Karen refused to react, though the tops of her ears turned a distinct shade of red. She pressed forward with determination, her grip tightening slightly as if to keep him in line.

She'd have to evolve far further then hand holding if she wanted to keep him in line, he thought with some amusement, just allowing her to drag him forward.

They arrived at the arena shortly after, the large double doors opening to reveal a brightly lit battlefield. The gym's signature pink-and-white color scheme carried through, with soft lighting casting a gentle glow over the entire space. The arena was spacious, the floor marked with the familiar patterns of a Pokemon battle field. On one side, large bleachers sat empty, though they were clearly designed to accommodate large crowds. The air was filled with the faint scent of flowers and the hum of excitement.

And there, standing in the center of the arena, was Whitney. The pink-haired Gym Leader was bouncing on the balls of her feet, her usual bright and bubbly energy practically radiating from her. She wore her typical pink-and-white workout outfit, her hair tied back in a high ponytail. Her bright pink eyes sparkled with excitement as she spotted them, her entire demeanor screaming anticipation.

Whitney waved enthusiastically, her grin wide and infectious. "Ezra! Karen! You made it!" She called out, her voice cheerful as she jogged over to meet them.

Ezra chuckled softly, giving her a nod as he approached. "Of course. Wouldn't miss it for the world, I'm looking forward to our battle." He said, trying to be smooth and confident.

By Karen's elbow into his side, and hissed, "No flirting!" He'd succeeded.

Whitney beamed, her energy practically vibrating. "I've been looking forward to this battle for like ~months! I can't wait to see what you've got!" She punched the air playfully, her competitive spirit shining through.

The gym leader behind them face-palmed, "You've only known him for a week at most." She muttered, exasperated.

Whitney beamed at her, "It's the thought that counts, Jessie!"

Said Jessie looked heavenward, "My thoughts never count…" She whined.

Ezra looked at her, still remembering her earlier comments, "That's because your thoughts don't matter." He said brutally.

Karen smacked him on the arm immediately, "I said stop it!" At the same time Whitney stared him down seriously, "Ezra, don't bully my cute trainers."

Jessie made a sigh of relief, only to bow her head in depression when Whitney added, tongue out and one eye closed, "That's my job, you know!"

Ezra couldn't help but laugh a little at that, giving her a small nod. Ezra tilted his head to the arena shortly thereafter, "Shall we?"

Whitney grinned and turned about, "Let's!" She agreed.

Soon enough, Whitney stood on the far side of the arena, her usual bubbly energy radiating from her as she gave Ezra a playful wink. "Ready to get physical, Kassian?" She teased, her voice echoing across the polished battlefield. Jessie, who had slotted in as the referee, stood to the side, in a shielded box, raising her hand to indicate the start of the match.

Karen, meanwhile, sat up in the stands, arms held out holding Ezra's Pokedex, which was recording the whole event at his request. Her expression made it clear that she wasn't entirely on board with this, but Ezra, as always, seemed unfazed with her complaints.

Jessie cleared her throat, addressing both trainers with the official rules. "This will be a six-on-six battle. Each side is allowed only two substitutions. This is a star challenge for the Goldenrod Gyms badge. Are the trainers ready?"

Ezra gave a sharp nod, his eyes narrowing with focus as he sized up Whitney. Across the field, Whitney twirled a Pokeball in her hand, her smile never faltering.

"We're ready already, let's goooo," She called, her voice light but tinged with determination. With that, she tossed her first Pokeball into the air, even though the challenger is supposed to go first... "Let's get this party started! Clefable, you're up!"

In a flash of light, Clefable appeared on the field, its round, fairy-like form bouncing slightly as it landed. The pink Pokemon stretched its stubby arms and gave a little twirl, its large eyes focused on Ezra. Ezra responded quickly, sending Rider forward, his Alolan Marowak. Rider announced himself with a low growl, spinning his bone club menacingly as the pale flames flickered at its tip.

"Clefable, use Odor Sleuth and BOUNCE!" Whitney ordered immediately, wasting no time as she examined Ezra's Ghost type. Clefable nodded, its body glowing briefly using the move that nullified usual immunity to Normal type attacks.

Rider had already been moving in for an attack, Ezra having suspected Whitney would have a way to ensure her Pokemon could hit, it would have been different perhaps if he'd come to the gym as a surprise, but now that she knew…

As Rider attempted to strike with Iron Club, Ezra's order prior to the match even beginning, Clefable was literally bouncing across the arena like some sort of demented rubber ball, never staying in the same place for more than a second.

Whitney knew she was at a starting disadvantage, as each of her Pokemon would have to pull off the same kind of move to hit his Ghosts, so theoretically, Ezra would have the advantage of the first hit. Except Clefable had managed to avoid that with some surprising speed and agility.

Whitney winked at him, "You didn't think it would be that easy to slide up my skirt and give me a buggering, did ya?" She tapped her nose, smiling smugly.

"Phrasing, please, leader…" Jessie said long sufferingly.

Ezra clicked his tongue, it was only to be expected really, it just meant a more long range battle for now, which Rider wasn't as suited for, he for a second debated blowing one of his recalls on this, but decided to soldier on, "Rider, Flamethrower."

The Alolan Marowak twirled around spewing flames, shooting out eerie blue flames toward a general area of Clefable's bouncing. The attack hit its mark, barely. The ghostly flames surrounding Clefable and immediately inflicting a burn. Clefable winced, its movements slowing slightly as the burn began to sap its strength.

Whitney's cheerful demeanor didn't falter, though. "Not bad, very hot! But let's see how you handle the power of randomness! Clefable, use Metronome!"

Clefable's stubby fingers wiggled mockingly in the air as it summoned the power of Metronome, a move that could become any Pokemon move, from the worst… To the best. Just random luck, the deciding factor. "Come oooon! Mama wants a Draco Meteor!" Whitney called out, at the same time as Ezra told Rider, "Go into a dodging pattern then Iron Tail."

The anticipation was palpable as both trainers watched, waiting to see what random move would emerge. Then, with a burst of light, Clefable fired off a Hyper Beam, the devastating energy beam barreling toward Rider with unrelenting force.

"Dodge it, Rider!" Ezra called out, his voice tense, a superfluous order, as Rider had already been moving about the Arena in a twisting hopefully unpredictable manner.

But the Hyper Beam was too fast, and Rider couldn't escape it. The beam struck the Alolan Marowak dead-on, sending him flying back across the field. Rider hit the ground with a hard thud, his body motionless as the dust settled around it.

Ezra's eyes narrowed, even with Hyper Beam, he should have survived one hit… How strong is that Clefable?

"Rider is unable to battle!" The referee, Jessie, announced, raising her arm toward Whitney's side of the field.

Whitney gave a playful wink, blowing a kiss in Ezra's direction. "Oops, did I overdo it? Guess that one wasn't up for a Hyper Beam after all." She pouted slightly afterwards, slapping her competitors box, "So boooring though, a normal type move? I could have just used that then!"

Ezra's eyes narrowed, but he kept his cool. Rider losing that quick was unfortunate and a bit of bad luck, but this wasn't over. Far from it. Without missing a beat, he reached for his next Pokeball. "Cheshire, your turn."

His Haunter, Cheshire, materialized on the battlefield, his wide, toothy grin flashing as he floated in midair, his eerie purple body phasing in and out of the shadows. He looked as though it was itching for a good fight.

"Cheshire, SSH!" Ezra said immediately, trying to hide what he was doing from Whitney.

Whitney immediately shot finger guns at her Clefable, who grinned and began bouncing again, slightly hampered by the burn, but still going all over the place, making it hard to pin down. "Sweet Kiss~" She added, winking at Ezra.

Clefable shot a pink heart at Cheshire, but by then he was already gone, the Clefable's minute stop to launch a technique exactly what he needed for Cheshire to perform his orders. Shadow Sneak, and Hypnosis.

Cheshire's glowing eyes locked onto Clefable as he literally grew out of its shadow, sending waves of drowsy energy toward the 'normal' type. Clefable, slower with the burn, couldn't dodge away in time. Its eyes fluttered as the Hypnosis took effect, and within moments, it was fast asleep.

Ezra saw his opening to hit it hard, knowing the burn could make it easier for the Clefable to wake up from the pain anyway, limiting how much time he had the annoying thing still. "Now, Shadow Claw to hold it, hit it with Shadow Ball!"

Cheshire sunk dark claws into the Clefable, making it wake up as it cried out, Whitney quickly calling out, "Light Screen!" trying to offset the damage coming.

Yet it was too late, as Cheshire had already formed a dark, pulsating orb of energy from it's mouth and shot it point blank at the already reeling Clefable. The Shadow Ball struck Clefable directly, knocking it clean out, with the accumulated damage it had already taken pushing it far enough the Shadow Ball took it the rest of the way.

"Clefable is unable to battle!" Their referee called out, sounding put out.

Whitney didn't seem too bothered by the loss. She returned Clefable to its Pokeball with a smile, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Not bad, holding me down like that and having your way with ~me. But I've still got plenty of surprises for you! Let's go, Dodrio!"

Ezra could only shake his head with amusement. It was your Pokemon, not you, but you do you, Whitney… He thought.

With a flash of light, the three-headed bird Pokemon appeared on the field, its long legs kicking several times at the floor as it stared down Cheshire with all three of its heads. Dodrio let out a screeching cry, its heads bobbing wildly as it prepared for battle.

Ezra immediately snapped out, "Acid Spray around it!"

Whitney at the same time, wasted no time with her own order, having no other choice on her first one. "Dodrio, Odor Sleuth, keep moving!"

Dodrio's three heads sniffed the air in unison, locking onto Cheshire and nullifying his Ghost type advantage for defense against normal type moves, it then immediately began moving, but this time Ezra had been quicker, the Acid Spray spewed out from Cheshire making the Dodrio yelp as it had to run through the poisonous move.

"Cheshire, use Confuse Ray!" Ezra ordered, as the Dodrio faltered slightly, Whitney calling out, "Agility!"

Cheshire's eyes glowed again, and a burst of chaotic energy shot toward Dodrio, except the bird Pokemon shot out of the way, two of the heads cackling as Whitney shouted out, "Now, Trailblaze!"

Ezra cursed mentally, even as he ordered Cheshire to, "Acid Spray right in front of you, now!"

It wasn't really meant to be a defensive move, but the Dodrio, who'd used a grass move that both dealt damage, and further upped its speed again, chose not to run headsfirst into a spray of acid.

Ezra had been working on Cheshire's poison moves lately, as he realized he'd underutilized its versatility, it seemed he'd made the right choice.

"Alright, that was kickass…" Whitney admitted, adding, "Baton Pass~!"

Ezra swore under his breath, Dodrio was fast right now, but also poisoned, so they could play things out, but Baton Pass would switch it out for another Pokemon, and pass any status changes on to the incoming Pokemon!

Notably, speed increases counted, for whatever reason, poisoning did not. "Cheshire, S2, Toxic Spikes." He ordered.

Whatever Pokemon came out would be fast, so he'd prioritize Cheshire getting out of the way, and then laying the field with Toxic Spikes, limiting movement. Unfortunately his double Shadow Sneak to avoid a super fast attack ended up useless, as Whitney had other plans.

"Delcatty! Odor Sleuth, ~Attract!" Whitney called out, throwing a Pokeball forward, a Delcatty appearing on the field, immediately performing the move Odor Sleuth, before catching Cheshire with Attract just as he laid a field of Toxic Spikes, the yellow and purple cat Pokemon winking and purring as it moved almost sensually across the field.

Cheshire got a tint of red across his cheeks, and Ezra's order of "Ignore the cat, Confuse Ray then Toxic!" Was completely ignored. He clicked his tongue irritably.

"Pound him hard, Delcatty, Ice Beam." Whitney said, eyes amused.

Jessie, the referee, moaned loudly, "Leader, please! We're being filmed!" Gesturing to Karen.

Whitney nodded firmly, even as her Delcatty moved, firing off a beam of ice. She glanced at Karen, and then pulled her top more snugly against herself, winking at the camera, "Thanks for reminding me, Jessie, gotta look good so that Ezra can watch me spank him ~over and ~over again!"

Ezra was focused on Cheshire, wincing as the Ice beam did a fair bit of damage, but not enough to be out of the fight. Thankfully 'chilling' him, seemed to have removed his impromptu crush. "Back off, use the Toxic Spikes to keep it away, fire Dark Pulses to herd it." He ordered.

If Cheshire had enough distance, he could dodge another Ice Beam, or simply Shadow Sneak around it, forcing Delcatty to come through his field of Toxic Spikes to get close.

Except of course Whitney had other plans…

"Return." She said simply, before sending Dodrio out again, not needing to add Odor Sleuth, "Fly, then Tri-Attack!" She ordered, completely bypassing his Toxic Spike field.

"The gym leader has used all her allowed substitutions." Jessie piped in with.

Ezra couldn't help but grin, his blood pumping, of all the battles he'd had so far, this was the first time he felt someone really did something other than try using overwhelming force as a means to deal with him. Whitney for all her teasing and cheerfulness, was tactical.

"Confuse Ray, hold your ground." He ordered. Cheshire could survive another hit, but he wanted the Dodrio down now. So confuse it, disrupt it's flying.

He'd either send it down to the Toxic Spikes, excarberating the poisoning it was already suffering from before… Or get another hit in and end it.

The move connected, and Dodrio immediately began wobbling in the air, its three heads bickering and bobbing in confusion. Cheshire looked a little bit more worn however, Dodrio's attack having hit right before.

Whitney frowned, but her cheerful attitude remained. "Come on, Dodrio! Snap out of it!"

But it was too late. "Cheshire, use Thunder Punch!"

Cheshire's ethereal hands crackled with electricity as it glared at the Dodrio, landing a powerful punch that sent the bird Pokemon sprawling across the field, rolling across the Toxic Spikes. Dodrio struggled to stand, its legs shaky and its heads still dazed, but it was too much, the poison ticking away at it, it fell down.

"Dodrio is unable to battle." Jessie called out, sending Ezra a small glare.

Ezra just rolled his eyes, this gym trainer should make up her mind already, he thought. Either she wanted to rag on her leader, or be her little snapping guard dog, she couldn't be both.

Whitney pouted, though there was a playful gleam in her eyes. "Aww, poor Dodrio! Guess I'll have to bring out something a little tougher!" She pulled out her next Pokeball, twirling it in her hand before tossing it onto the field. "Lickilicky, your turn!"

The large, pink, rotund form of Lickilicky appeared, its massive tongue hanging out as it gave a low grunt. The Normal-type Pokemon bounced slightly as it landed, its eyes locked onto Cheshire.

Whitney gave Ezra a playful wink. "I hope Cheshire likes licking games," She teased, her voice full of innuendo, Jessie just sighing, finally just giving up on trying to ride herd on her boss.

Ezra rolled his eyes, but he wasn't about to underestimate Lickilicky. It was bulky and likely hard to take down if anything he'd seen by Whitney so far held true. He had to play this smart.

"Lickilicky, use Odor Sleuth!" Whitney ordered,

"Cheshire, SP!" Ezra called out at the same time. Having an advantage as Whitney's Pokemon was stuck doing her necessary move.

Cheshire appeared in Lickilicky's Shadow with Shadow Sneak, a Dark Pulse already beginning to form, before he shot it straight into the back of the Lickilicky, which unfortunately didn't seem like it did overly much…

Was this her tank? He wondered, even as Cheshire was already backing off.

Whitney grinned. "Nice try! But you're too ~close, Lickilicky, Power Whip!"

Lickilicky's massive tongue lashed out, wrapping around Cheshire and slamming him into the ground with a thud. The impact was hard, and Cheshire winced, struggling to free itself from the grip of Lickilicky's tongue, the move managing to prevent just fading back ghost style.

Ezra however saw his chance for Cheshire to get something out of this setback. "Cheshire, use Toxic, point blank!"

Cheshire, still tangled in Lickilicky's grasp, formed a deluge of poison around itself and fired it directly into Lickilicky's face. The burn of the poison forced Lickilicky to release its grip, stumbling back as it felt the effects of Toxic spreading across its body.

Whitney didn't seem fazed. "Lickilicky, use Flamethrower!"

Ezra could do nothing but call, "Acid Spray!" Hoping Cheshire could get one more in, but the spray was subsumed as the flamethrower hit, Cheshire still right in his opponent's face, finally putting Cheshire down, but somehow not completely out. To his annoyance, Whitney then pointed at his Toxic Spike field, and the flamethrower cleared it while they waited on him to throw his next choice in.

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Ezra recalled Cheshire, whispering to the Pokeball, "You fucking nailed it, Cheshire." technically Cheshire wasn't out yet. He did have two returns to use, of which this was one, but he was really on the last legs, and unlikely to make a difference if he came back on the field.

"Challenger, pick your next Pokemon."

"Akuma, you'll have to work hard to show up Cheshire!" He said, sending out his Annihilape.

Akuma landed with a thud, his primal form crouched low, glowing red eyes glaring across the field at Lickilicky. A low growl rumbled from its chest, and Ezra could feel the fury bubbling beneath his calm exterior. "Vacuum Wave!" Ezra ordered.

Whitney raised an eyebrow, her usual playful demeanor softening into something more serious. "Ooh, scary! But let's see how tough you really are, big guy. Lickilicky, ~Earthquake!"

Lickilicky jumped into the air, landing with a harsh glow about it, getting hit by Akuma's attack as he landed, smacking into the ground, it's attack still going off, the field reverberating as Akuma suddenly had the ground beneath him splinter, crushing into him, doing a lot of damage. Ezra could only growl, Akuma's attack was a move that always went first, but in this case it hampered him, leaving him defenseless for the Earthquake, not in position to dodge in time.

It was a small consolation that the force of pure vaccum shot from Akuma's fist had slammed straight into his opponent and given the Lickilicky a full hit as well.

"Akuma, use Body Slam, pound it!" He ordered darkly, knowing that just like him, his Pokemon would be pissed right now.

Akuma's whole body glowed with an intense energy as he charged forward, dodging Lickilicky's tongue as Whitney tried to get it to use Power Whip to grasp Akuma, and slamming its whole body into the Normal type's large form. The blow landed with devastating force, knocking Lickilicky off balance.

"Akuma, finish it! Use Close Combat!" With how Toxic worked, the Pokemon should be sufficiently weakened now, he thought…

Akuma roared as his fists flew in a blur, landing punch after punch on Lickilicky's body. The Normal type Pokemon tried to defend itself, but the relentless onslaught of blows was too much. With a final strike, Lickilicky collapsed onto the battlefield, its tongue lolled out as it fainted.

"Lickilicky is unable to battle!" Jessie declared, raising her arm toward Ezra's side of the field, for once actually acting neutral.

Whitney let out a dramatic sigh, her lips curling into a playful smile. "Well, that was a smackdown. I guess I need to bring in someone who can take a spanking." She pulled out her next Pokeball, grinning. "Let's go, Ursaring!"

The massive bear-like Pokemon appeared with a roar, its eyes locked on Akuma. Ursaring flexed its claws, towering over the battlefield as it prepared to strike. Akuma looked if anything thrilled to be facing off against someone in its weight class.

Whitney didn't waste time. "Ursaring, use Odor Sleuth!"

"Akuma use Bulk Up!" Akuma's muscles tensed and expanded as it powered up, its body glowing with increased strength. The Annihilape's fury was building, and Ezra knew he had to make this next move count. He was fairly damaged, so he needed to make one good hit count.

Besides, for all that the fact Whitney needed to use Odor Sleuth just to be able to hit him with most of her moves, the normal types anyway… He hadn't actually been able to take advantage of it that well, so he might as well buff.

Whitney grinned, looking excited for the fight between the two tough looking Pokemon. "Ursaring, Hammer Arm!"

"Akuma Low Kick!" Ezra ordered quickly.

Ursaring's massive arm glowed with power as it rushed forward, arm swung down toward Akuma, aiming to crush the Ghost/Fighting - type with a devastating blow. But Akuma was just slightly faster.

Akuma darted underneath the strike, narrowly avoiding Ursaring's Hammer Arm. As the bear-like Pokemon stumbled, Akuma retaliated with a powerful Low Kick, its leg flowing with energy. The move hit harder the bigger the opponent was, causing the large Normal type to roar in pain.

Whitney's grin faltered for the first time in the battle. "Come on, Ursaring, use Stomping Tantrum!" She ordered, hand thrown forward beseechingly.

"Dodge back and Seismic Toss!" Ezra countered.

Ursaring roared again, its body glowing with a dangerous energy as it charged at Akuma, throwing its full weight into the attack as it stomped and threw itself around wildly. Stomping Tantrum stronger and more effective after a missed move.

Ezra could only sigh, as he recalled Akuma, who was stomped into the ground, already having taken too much damage from that first Earthquake.

"Akuma is unable to battle." Jessie announced, Whitney doing a little twirl, blowing her Ursaring a kiss.

To everyone's amusement, the Ursaring put its large paw out, mimed capturing the kiss, and pressing it against his chest.

What the fuck is she training her Pokemon to do? Ezra thought, shaking his head, before he released his next Pokemon. "Loki," He said, and didn't bother with pleasantries, "Shadow Sneak, Confuse Ray."

Unfortunately for him, at that exact time, Whitney showed she hadn't been sleeping through their fight, "Ursaring, behind you, Crunch!"

"Abort!" Ezra immediately called out, half a second too late, as Loki appeared behind the Ursaring, only for the bear to crunch down on his Banette, powerful jaws wafting of Dark energy savaging him. "Destiny Bond." He said, just as Ursaring followed Whitney's request to finish Loki.

The Ursaring slammed his claws into Loki, but Destiny Bond had been achieved, and they both fainted.

Ezra sighed, recalling Loki, that had been… Probably the fastest he'd failed so far, but at least he'd gotten something out of it.

Whitney sighed as well, with a smile on her face, snapping her fingers, "Thought for sure I had you bent over and begging on that one."

"Ursaring is unable to battle! Loki is unable to battle!" Jessie announced, waving her hands at both of them, "Release your Pokemon!"

"Go, Delcatty!" Whitney called out, returning the Pokemon that had so charmed Cheshire. At the same time, "Morrigan, counting on you." Ezra called out.

In a flash of light, Morrigan the Dreepy appeared on the battlefield, floating ominously above the ground. Its eerie form flickered in and out of the shadows, its sharp eyes locked onto Delcatty.

The sleek, cat-like Delcatty appeared on the field again as well, its large, violet ears twitching as it eyed Morrigan with a sly grin. Delcatty was smaller, more nimble, but Ezra knew better than to underestimate it after the first time.

Whitney raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a grin. "Ooh, spooky! Let's see how well you handle this! Delcatty, use Thunderbolt!"

Ezra's eyes widened. "Morrigan, dodge it!"

Morrigan darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the crackling bolt of electricity that shot from Delcatty's jaw. The Dreepy floated higher, keeping its distance as Ezra called out his next move.

"Morrigan, use Dragon Pulse!"

Morrigan opened its mouth, firing a beam of draconic energy toward Delcatty. The attack didn't hit its mark, the Normal type already dodging it before Whitney could even order it.

Whitney smirked, winking at him. "Delcatty, use Attract!"

Delcatty's eyes sparkled as it struck a cute pose, sending waves of charm toward Morrigan. The Dreepy hesitated for a moment, her movements faltering, but then it became infatuated with the feline Pokemon.

"What the hell? She's female! Cheshire was male! Attract shouldn't work on both!" Ezra cried foul. Mentally admitting Morrigan had probably been a bad choice for this battle, young and untested still.

Whitney frowned at him, wagging a finger, "Hey now, Mister! Don't disparage a Pokemon's sexuality like that!"

Pokemon can be gay? Ugh whatever, what the fuck am I even thinking? He thought. He cursed under his breath. He needed to end this quickly if Morrigan was to stand a chance. "Morrigan, snap out of it! Use Dragon Pulse again!"

He was hoping that calling on a draconic move would use some sort of dragon impulse or something, to break out of the Attract. And he really wasn't lucky today, it had about a fifty percent chance to work, but Delcatty had a hundred percent today in her two tries. One miss and it would have been a different battle.

But in the end, Morrigan was too distracted, her gaze locked on Delcatty as she floated aimlessly in the air.

Whitney grinned. "Now's our chance! Delcatty, use Thunder!"

The crackling electricity struck Morrigan before the Dreepy could do anything, not that she was going to try, infatuated as she was, sending her tumbling through the air. With a soft cry, Morrigan hit the ground, unconscious.

"Morrigan is unable to battle!" The referee declared. And yeah, there was the smugness, neutrality lost again.

Ezra's jaw tightened. Whitney was good - better than he'd anticipated. He'd also made too many mistakes today. But he wasn't out of the game yet. He reached for his next Pokeball, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Nyx, you're up."

The Spiritomb materialized on the battlefield, her eerie form swirling with dark energy. Her glowing eyes flickered as she let out a low, haunting wail. She floated ominously above the battlefield, her glowing eyes locked on Delcatty. Ezra could feel the tension in the air, knowing that Whitney was pushing him to his limits. But Nyx was tough, and he still had his tricks up his sleeve.

… As long as Nyx somehow wasn't into girls or something… Or was it that Delcatty was bi? Ugh, this was simpler in the games.

Whitney, ever playful, gave a wink. "I like this one! A little spooky, but cute in a creepy kind of way." She giggled. "Delcatty, let's not waste time! ~Attract!"

Well, Ezra couldn't blame her for trying the same thing again… It was fucking working after all… Arceus… Karen was probably laughing at him that flirting was putting him on the brink.

"Nyx, Skill Swap, then Attract!" Ezra commanded. Well, two could play that game.

Luckily for him, Nyx seemed unaffected by Delcattys flirting, and the skill swap took hold, giving Nyx, Delcattys skills.

It was… Odd, for all of them, to see Nyx try to be alluring. He supposed her usually haunting wail sounded… Slightly less creepy? And the dots that normally made up a creepy smile changed into a heart… So that was a thing.

Whatever, it worked. Even Whitney looked amused as Delcatty sat at attention, face slightly red as it stared dreamily at Nyx.

"Nyx, Thunder, and then just keep doing it until it's down." He ordered, shaking his head. It wasn't how he'd planned to fight this battle, but it was how he was going to win.

Nyx crackled with electricity, and in an instant, a large bolt of lightning shot toward Delcatty. The Pokemon wailed as electricity ran over its form, its fur standing on end, just to take a second Thunder straight to the face as it shook its attraction off, yet caught in paralysis, knocking it straight out.

"Delcatty is unable to battle!" The referee announced, raising her arm toward Ezra's side of the field. "Gym Leader Whitney is down to one Pokemon, Challenger Ezra is down to two." She added.

Ezra could hardly count Cheshire, so it was basically one on one right now…

Whitney pouted as she recalled Delcatty to its Pokeball. "Aww, poor Delcatty. Looks like I'm running out of playmates!" She glanced down at the Pokeball in her hand, her expression turning mischievous. "But don't worry, I've saved the best for last." She tossed the ball into the air, her voice full of energy. "Miltank, let's show them what we're made of!"

With a flash of light, Whitney's infamous Miltank appeared on the battlefield, its pink hide gleaming as it landed with a confident thud. It pawed at the ground, its eyes full of determination as it stared down Nyx. Miltank was known for being Whitney's ace, and Ezra knew this wouldn't be easy.

Whitney gave a playful wink. "Let's roll, Miltank! Use Odor Sleuth!"

Ezra's mind raced. Nyx was strong, but Miltank's bulk would be a problem. He needed to play this smart… The Skill Swap had ended after three moves, so Nyx had her usual skill set back. "Nyx, Curse!" When in doubt, go for status effects, and he did have a free hit pretty much with Miltank using Odor Sleuth, and not being as speedy as a Delcatty or Dodrio on dodging right after.

Nyx's eyes glowed, sending waves of chaotic energy toward Miltank. The move connected, and Miltank was now cursed. It was now a game of time. For every move Miltank used, it would lose twenty-five percent of its life. On the flipside, Nyx lost fifty percent to curse the Miltank.

So could the Miltank take out Nyx in under four moves, and then Cheshire as well? It was a gamble, but he felt it was the best way to handle her ace that gave him a chance. "Dark Pulse." He ordered, wary of using Shadow Sneak to get in closer, as it was becoming a little bit of a go to move, and Whitney had already caught it once.

"Miltank, Rollout." Whitney said at the same time as he gave his own order, a large grin on her face, not seeming to be bothered with the Curse.

Miltank tucked into a tight ball, rolling at breakneck speed across the battlefield, dodging the Dark Pulse as it barreled toward Nyx. The attack hit hard, absolutely barreling over Nyx knocking her down, as Miltank then rolled over her against crushing her into the ground.

Ezra stood there, just glaring at the ground, before he recalled the defeated Nyx, Miltank would have three moves left, against a completely weakened Cheshire. He was probably toast. Yet… It showed that he was still new to this, he wasn't as good as he thought, it wasn't his Pokemon that had failed him. He'd failed them.

He needed to be better. Less predictable. Less… Confident. Morrigan shouldn't have been in this fight for one. He'd misused Loki, one of his most powerful Pokemon had been down and out at first sight…

Even starting with Rider had turned out to be the wrong move.

"Nyx is unable to battle. Challenger, release your last Pokemon." Jessie called out.

"Cheshire… Do your best." He said, sending him onto the field, the Haunter slightly droopy, as he was on his last legs. He could only hope to dodge Miltank for three moves until it fainted now…

Maybe help along with one technique in passing.

At least its Rollout wouldn't grow more powerful, having been stopped by the change in Pokemon, instead of growing increasingly stronger every attack.

"Miltank, use ~Milk Drink!" Whitney singsonged.

Fuck…

Ezra clicked his tongue as Miltank used the healing move, regenerating fifty percent of its life, exactly what it had lost at that point by using its second move. She was good - really good. He was kind of fucked. "Confuse Ray, then Toxic Spikes." He ordered.

Another thing for him to work on, he'd known she'd had a Miltank, but because it was a normal type gym, he hadn't done enough research. He didn't have encyclopedic knowledge of Pokemon. He hadn't known it had a healing move. If he'd studied up, he wouldn't have wasted Nyx on using Curse…

He clicked his tongue again when the Miltank shrugged off the Confuse Ray, but at least the Toxic Spikes should cost it something if she..

Whitney's eyes gleamed as she watched Cheshire hover into the air. "You're not getting away that easily! Miltank, go back to using Rollout!"

Did that…

It would mean she would be locked in for that move if she hit as it would continue on, but if she hit… Cheshire was probably out…

Miltank, still spinning in its ball form, charged at Cheshire with terrifying speed.

"Cheshire, use Hypnosis!" Ezra commanded, face tight, as he glared at the oncoming Miltank.

Cheshire's eyes glowed with a hypnotic light as it stared down the rolling Miltank. The spinning Pokemon faltered for just a moment, its speed slowing as its eyes drooped - but then the Miltank just continued on, not quite pulled out of its move.

"Cheshire!" Ezra yelled at the Miltank impacted with his Haunter, who grasped and fought against it with Shadow Claw, snarling at the Miltank, refusing to give up.

Ezra sent as much as he could of his aura to Cheshire, hoping to boost him for just a little longer, knowing 'that' at least wasn't visible on camera. He could have done it earlier…

But he hadn't wanted to use it against Whitney, but in the face of a loss… He'd cheat one more time for victory.

Cheshire snarled again in the Miltank's face, being slowly pushed back, his Haunter seemingly growing bigger the more under pressure he was.

Wait…

Growing bigger?

Cheshire's usual mischievous grin had completely faded, replaced by a snarl of determination. The shadows around his form started to thicken, dark energy gathering at its core like a storm ready to erupt. Its glowing eyes narrowed, and a pulse of energy rippled out from its core, causing the very air around it to warp and twist. The arena lights flickered, dimming slightly as if in response to the raw power gathering within the Haunter.

Ezra felt it too, the air around him crackling with energy, pulling on his aura, had he done this by feeding so much into him? "Cheshire..." He whispered. His heart pounded in his chest as he watched, his eyes wide with anticipation.

The black mist surrounding Cheshire's hands began to coalesce, hardening into a tangible force as the Pokemon strained against Miltank's bulk. The two were locked, neither giving an inch now - until the air itself seemed to vibrate with a new intensity. Cheshire's form, which had always seemed so fluid and ghostly, began to change. It was no longer just a cloud of gas and shadow; its body started to solidify, growing more defined, more... Real.

A low, guttural growl escaped Cheshire as the transformation took hold. The Haunter's hands pressed harder against Miltank, his body expanding, becoming more muscular, more tangible. The gaseous trail he once had shortened, becoming a solid, rounded lower body, and his hands, once disembodied, now connected firmly to his newly formed torso. His grin, now wide and terrifying, stretched even further as his eyes gleamed with a fierce, new energy.

Cheshire was a Gengar now!

Whitney's eyes widened in disbelief as she watched the shift in power. "Miltank, pull back!" She shouted, but it was too late.

With a roar, Cheshire pushed forward with newfound strength, his shadowy aura exploding outward in a surge of dark energy. Miltank, despite its sturdy frame, was forced back, broken out of its Rollout, skidding several feet as it struggled to regain its footing. Cheshire, now fully evolved into a Gengar, stood before it - far more solid and imposing than ever before. His purple body gleamed under the lights of the arena, and his once playful grin had transformed into something more menacing, more assured.

He was also… At least twice the size of any Gengar he'd seen before.

Ezra's smirk was sharp, proud. "Good job, Cheshire," He muttered, his voice filled with satisfaction.

It might be an ass pull right now, but he'd take it. Victory was victory.

Cheshire's red eyes flashed as he bounced on his new, solid legs, ready for the next round. With a single, deep growl, he launched forward again, no longer a ghostly presence, but a full embodiment of power - Gengar had arrived.

Ezra's grin was vicious as he called out, "Sludge Bomb, Venoschock!" Capitalizing on Whitney's sudden silence as she processed the large menacing Gengar suddenly in front of them.

Miltank, without a clear order, tried to dodge, but Gengar was fast. The force of the attack, combined with the poison, was too much. Miltank tumbled to the ground, dripping in purple sludge that burned it, and was completely unprepared for the Venoshock that knocked it right out.

"Miltank is unable to battle! The winner is Ezra Kassian!" Their referee announced, raising her arm toward Ezra, sounding absolutely shocked.

Whitney stared at her fallen Miltank for a moment, then let out a long, exaggerated sigh. "Oh, my poor Miltank! She never stood a chance against that cute little Gengar." She gave Ezra a playful wink, her smile returning. "Looks like I'll have to hand over the star studded plain badge after all!"

Ezra smirked, returning Cheshire to his Pokeball. But in the end, his team had pulled through. Mostly… Despite him, instead of aided by him… He definitely needed to work on not being too clever and getting set in patterns as well.

Whitney walked over, holding out a badge with the added stars to denote the holder as having defeated a gym at the highest level. "Here you go, Ezra. You've earned it."

Ezra took the badge, feeling the weight of his victory.

Then Whitney got up really close to him, her eyes twinkling as her lower lip trembled, "You big meanie, make it up to me for spanking me so hard!" She cried out, poking him in the chest, "Take responsibility!"

"Stop filming this!" Jessie screamed at Karen, not even trying to tell her leader off again.

Ezra blinked, "Alright." He could see where this was going… Nice.

…

Twenty minutes later, he sat with his arms crossed, glaring at her in an ice cream shop, Karen grinning at him as Whitney practically orgasmed over a milkshake the size of her head, with whipped cream, shaved chocolate, caramel syrup, two cherries on top, and three candy straws.

He definitely hadn't seen it going this way.

"...Can I have some?"

Whitney just shook her head rapidly, shoving all three straws in her mouth, and showing off quite some sucking power as she slurped up half the milkshake in one go.

Ezra twitched.

Not at all how he thought it would go.

Stop being smug, Karen!

----------------------------------------

That night, Goldenrod city, Johto.

Ezra walked silently through the dimly lit streets of Goldenrod City, the soft glow of the street lamps the only light as he made his way toward a quieter part of town. It was well past midnight, and most of the bustling city had gone to sleep. He wasn't too concerned about Karen - his Gengar - and wasn't that a treat to think on - Cheshire - had taken care of ensuring she stayed out of his business for the night. Cheshire's Hypnosis had worked like a charm, leaving her deep in sleep back at the Pokemon Center. She wouldn't be meddling in his business tonight.

Ezra arrived at a small room where Cecile was waiting for him. The teen was perched nervously on the edge of the bed, tapping away at a laptop, his thin frame illuminated by the faint blue light of the screen. His wide eyes flickered toward Ezra as he approached, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation etched across his face. Cecile had been hard at work since Ezra first recruited him a few days ago, and now the results were starting to take shape.

"So, what have you got for me?" Ezra asked casually. Loki on his shoulder, grinning darkly at his employee.

Cecile hesitated for a moment, then turned the laptop toward Ezra. The basic layout for the social media and video-sharing site Ezra had requested was already mapped out, a rough but functional framework. There were menus for battle highlights, Pokemon training tips, and a live stream option for real-time viewing. It was rudimentary, but Cecile had managed to pull it together quickly, and Ezra could already see the potential.

Of course this wasn't something which could go online right now, but it was the framework for how it would work. Still good work for a few days…

He could see why Team Rocket had kidnapped him.

Finders keepers.

"It's... a start," Cecile said quietly, nervously pushing his glasses up his nose. "I'm still working on the backend stuff - the algorithms you wanted to focus attention on specific types of battles and trainers, yourself specifically. But this... This is the skeleton of it."

Ezra studied the screen for a moment, his red eyes flicking across the various tabs and menus. He nodded approvingly. "You've done well," Je said, his voice low and smooth. "This is exactly what I wanted. We're on the right track."

Cecile blinked, looking slightly relieved but still uncertain. He hadn't expected Ezra to be so pleased it appeared. "It's... Going to take a lot more work before it's ready, though," He added quickly. "I need more time, more resources."

Ezra reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a thick envelope, handing it over to Cecile without a word. The teen took it, his fingers fumbling as he opened it. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw the stack of cash inside - more than enough to cover his needs for the next few months.

"What's this for?" Cecile asked, blinking in confusion. His gaze shifted from the money to Ezra's calm expression.

Ezra chuckled softly. "Money for food, clothes, whatever else you need. Can't have my 'employee of the year' starving now, can I?"

Cecile blinked again, his brain seeming to stall for a moment. "Employee of the year? I've only been working for you for, like, days." He protested weakly.

Ezra smirked, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall. "True. But you're my only full-time employee right now, so it's an easy title to win." He gave a slight shrug, his smirk deepening. "Besides, if we pull this off, you'll be set for life. You'll be my best employee ever - and that means you can have anything you want."

Cecile's face turned slightly pale as he gulped, looking down at the envelope of money as if it were suddenly much heavier. "I'm... I'm not very good with money," He admitted quietly, his voice faltering slightly.

Ezra chuckled darkly, his crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light, Loki chuckled along with him, Cecile shuddering at that. "Well then, it's a good thing I'll always have work for you. You'll never have to worry about going broke as long as you stick with me." He paused, then pointed to a set of tickets tucked into the envelope, which Cecile had only just noticed.

"What are these?" Cecile asked, pulling the tickets out and inspecting them. There were train tickets, ferry tickets, and coach tickets - an entire travel itinerary to get him from Goldenrod to Kanto.

Ezra's voice was calm and measured as he explained. "Those are your tickets to the coast. From there, you'll take a ferry to Kanto, and then a coach to Pewter City. That's where I'm set up right now." He tapped the side of his jacket, where another envelope was tucked away. "Also in there is my lawyer's business card and an employment contract, If you get to Pewter before I do, go see him. He'll have the Porygons ready for you, and give him the contract you will have signed." He handed over the second envelope, sliding it out of his pocket.

Cecile nodded slowly, processing everything. It was all happening fast, and the idea of being shipped off to another region, alone, weighed on him heavily. But he didn't voice any objections. He knew better than to argue with right now, especially when the stakes were this high.

"I guess... I'm going to Kanto," Cecile muttered, more to himself than to Ezra.

Ezra didn't miss a beat. "You're going to Kanto," He confirmed, his tone decisive. "And once you're there, we'll get this platform running. I already have a video ready to upload as soon as the first iteration of the site is live." He glanced down at Cecile, smirking. "Just say the word, and we'll get things rolling."

Cecile nodded again, though his mind seemed to be elsewhere. He was clearly overwhelmed by everything happening, but there was a quiet determination in his eyes. He was starting to realize just how big this could be.

Just as Ezra was about to say more, his Pokedex began to ring, the familiar buzzing cutting through the quiet night. Ezra glanced down at the screen, narrowing his eyes slightly as he saw the name flash across it - Professor Oak.

He hesitated for a moment, then smirked, glancing at Cecile. "Might as well do this now," He muttered, swiping to answer the call. He turned slightly away from the screen, angling his body so that Cecile couldn't see everything but could still hear.

"Professor Oak, to what do I owe the pleasure?" Ezra's voice dripped with sarcasm, though his expression remained neutral.

On the other side of the call, Professor Oak studied Ezra intently, his aging face thoughtful. "Mister Kassian," Oak began, his voice steady but firm. "I've heard many things about you as of late since our last call."

Ezra couldn't resist the urge to mess with him. "I swear, all those Nurse Joys were consenting adults," He deadpanned, his voice completely serious, though a playful glint danced in his eyes. Without turning fully toward Cecile, he winked at the teen, who was now gaping in shock.

Cecile's mouth literally hung open, clearly horrified by what he was hearing. Ezra couldn't help but stifle a chuckle at the reaction.

Professor Oak seemed caught off guard, clearing his throat awkwardly. "Uh... Yes, well... That's not why I'm calling," He managed, his voice wavering slightly. "I was actually calling about your Pokemon. One was entered into League records recently. You call it... An Annihilape?"

Ezra's smile turned sharp, and his eyes gleamed with amusement. He'd known he wouldn't be able to keep Akuma hidden forever, especially once he started making waves in battles. Still, part of him had hoped to surprise Agatha with a surprise raging monkey ghost to the face one day. But Oak? This would be fun. He gave a placid smile, raising an eyebrow. "Yes?" He said, his voice deceptively innocent.

Oak twitched slightly, clearly expecting a bit more cooperation. "Can you share any details?" He wheedled, trying to mask his eagerness behind a calm exterior.

Ezra smiled wider, all teeth. "Of course, Professor," He said smoothly, watching as Oak perked up on the screen. "I named him Akuma. He enjoys long walks on the beach, posing and flexing, and isn't particularly fond of vegetables, or it might just be the color green honestly." He made a thoughtful noise, "I have yet to test if this extends to grass Pokemon."

Oak blinked, visibly thrown by the unexpected response. "I... I'm sorry?" He stammered. "I should have clarified - "

Ezra cut him off, his tone still casual but carrying an underlying edge. "Oh, did you mean information on how he evolved, the specifics of his species?" His smile turned darker, more predatory. "Have you changed your mind about making a deal with me, Professor?"

Oak's face fell slightly, a frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. He slumped a little, looking almost defeated. "No, I'm afraid not," He muttered, his voice carrying a hint of regret. "I don't give out my support easily, young man, not anymore, not after.. " He visibly took a deep breath, before continuing, "Nevermind that, ancient history."

Ezra shrugged, the smirk never leaving his face. "Completely understandable," He said sympathetically. "And, of course, you understand perfectly that I don't give out details on my Pokemon easily either, yes?"

You don't get shit for free, got it?

Oak was silent for a long moment, the tension palpable even through the screen. Finally, he twitched, his face betraying his frustration. "I suppose," He mumbled, clearly displeased.

Ezra's voice remained smooth, his smile never faltering. "I'm always happy to help, Professor. Just give me a ring when you're ready to meet me halfway." He delivered the line with a false cheeriness that only made the tension worse.

Professor Oak stared at him for a moment longer, his lips pressed into a thin line. Then, without another word, he ended the call, the screen going dark. Silence filled the room for a long beat before Cecile finally spoke, his voice trembling slightly. "That was... Professor Oak!" Cecile squeaked, his voice high-pitched and filled with awe, as if he had just seen a ghost.

Well… Perhaps that didn't work as a saying as much, Ezra thought, feeling Loki on his shoulder.

Ezra only smirked and preened at his comment however, his expression full of smug amusement. He gave a casual nod, leaning back against the wall as if what had just transpired was no big deal. "Yes, it was," He confirmed, his tone growing dismissive. "He's growing more and more interested in me and my methods." His eyes gleamed with amusement as he crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly toward Cecile. "Stick with me, girl, and you'll rise to the top."

Cecile blinked, looking even more flustered now. His cheeks flushed, and he shifted uncomfortably. "I'm a guy," He whined, his voice cracking slightly with embarrassment.

Ezra couldn't help but snort, his chuckle rich with condescension. "Not with whining like that, you aren't." He raised an eyebrow, giving Cecile a teasing glance. "Besides, Cecile is a girl's name, you know."

The teen slumped a bit, the weight of his complaint hanging heavy in his voice. "My parents wanted a girl," He muttered, sounding like he'd had to explain this far too many times in his life.

Ezra nodded affably, a devilish grin tugging at the corners of his lips. "And I'm sure they're happy they got one," He shot back, the teasing edge in his voice impossible to miss.

For a moment, Cecile just stared at him, speechless. Ezra, meanwhile, fought to suppress his laugh, enjoying the look of exasperation on Cecile's face. Maybe he should stop bullying his people so much. Then again, they just made it so easy.

Cecile shook his head slowly, still looking a little shell-shocked, but he didn't argue. He shoved the envelope of money and tickets into his backpack along with the second envelope, zipping it up and standing awkwardly. "I'll... I'll get to Kanto, then. Pewter City, right?"

Ezra nodded, satisfied. "That's right. Once you're there, my lawyer will get you set up with the Porygons you need. And don't forget, you're not just a programmer now. You're the architect of the biggest platform the Pokemon world's ever seen. Keep that in mind."

Cecile gulped, looking both excited and terrified by the prospect. "Yeah... I guess I am."

Ezra clapped him on the shoulder, a little harder than necessary, and smirked. "Good. Now I expect you gone in the morning. Do your shopping on the way."

Cecile chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "Right, whatever you say." He adjusted his backpack, glancing over his shoulder toward the door leading out of the small room. He hesitated for a moment, then turned back to Ezra, his voice soft. "Thanks... For trusting me with all this. It's a lot, but I won't let you down."

Ezra's expression softened just slightly, a flicker of something close to sincerity crossing his features. "I know you won't," He said, his voice low. "You're good at what you do, Cecile. Besides, I chose you, even if you dropped in my lap, and that automatically makes you better than other people."

Cecile nodded, looking more resolute as he turned and started to walk away. Ezra watched him go, his eyes gleaming in the dim light. Once Cecile was out of sight, Ezra pulled his jacket tighter around him and started making his way back toward the Pokemon Center, his mind already whirring with thoughts of what was to come.

For now, things were falling into place. Cecile was on his way to Kanto, the platform was coming together, and Oak's interest was piqued which would eventually end up with the man folding once even more evolutions came out. Everything was moving according to plan. He just had to stay ahead of the game, keep pulling the strings, and soon enough, the world would be his for the taking.

As he approached the Pokemon Center, a smirk tugged at his lips. Yes, soon enough.

He'd have all the power, influence, and riches he could ever want.

----------------------------------------

Undisclosed location, forest somewhere.

Shae pushed through the thick forest undergrowth, her steps light and unhurried, the damp earth soft beneath her boots. The forest was dense, the trees stretching high above her, their dark branches intertwining, forming a canopy that barely let in the moonlight. Shae moved with an ease that suggested she had walked this path many times before. The air was still, heavy with the scent of moss and damp bark, and the sounds of nocturnal Pokemon echoed faintly in the distance. A slight breeze ruffled her hair, but beyond that, the night was silent, almost too silent.

After a while, she reached a small clearing. Here, the trees opened up to reveal a cave, half-hidden by the surrounding overgrowth. Flickering lights floated in the air - small, ethereal candles that cast a soft glow over the area. They swayed gently in the breeze, their flames unnatural but somehow comforting in the otherwise dim forest.

Shae sighed, rolling her eyes at the theatrics. She crossed her arms and called out, her voice dripping with impatience, "Come out already, you old bitch."

The cave's shadows shifted, and after a few moments, an ancient woman hobbled out, her small frame barely reaching up to Shae's waist. Her back was hunched, her skin wrinkled like old parchment, and her wispy gray hair framed a face that looked like it had weathered centuries. Despite her frail appearance, there was nothing weak about the way she moved. She stomped forward with purpose, her gnarled hands clenched into fists. A massive Gengar hovered behind her, its wide, menacing grin glowing in the candlelight, casting sharp shadows across the clearing.

"Whaddya disturbing me for, brat?" The old woman growled, her voice raspy yet strong, filled with the irritation of someone dragged out of bed far too early. "Dontcha know I need my beauty sleep?" She stomped forward, her heavy steps crunching on the grass beneath her feet, the sarcasm in her voice almost palpable.

Shae gave her a look, one eyebrow raised, her lips curling into a smirk. "You'd need more than a hundred years of sleep to even start being able to call it 'beauty' sleep, Ma." The playful insult rolled off her tongue easily, her tone dripping with amusement.

The old woman scowled, waving a hand dismissively. "I ain't your mom, spoiled little shit," She grumbled, but there was a gleam in her eye that betrayed the warmth beneath her irritation.

"I know," Shae said sweetly, her smile widening. "But it annoys the fuck out of you when I say it." There was a glint of mischief in her eyes, and she could tell by the slight twitch in the woman's expression that her words had hit their mark.

The old woman let out a grunt of frustration but then allowed a small smirk to form on her face. "Hmph. I trained you too well," She muttered, almost to herself. Her gaze shifted to Shae's hands, noting the bundle she held. "So... Whatcha got?"

Shae tossed the bundle onto the ground at the woman's feet, the rough cloth barely making a sound as it landed. "Some information on some of the things you wanted," She said casually, brushing off her hands. "Team Rocket seems the real deal, even if they're totally Kanto dick suckers." She wrinkled her nose in distaste, clearly unimpressed by the organization.

To limits yourself to such an extent… Just sad.

The old woman clicked her tongue in disappointment, her Gengar floating closer, its grin widening as it eyed the bundle. "A pity," She muttered, prodding the bundle with her foot, "A more reasonable organization might've been worth speaking to." She glanced at the package, then at Shae, her curiosity piqued. "And about the other thing?"

Shae paused, a slow, smug smile creeping across her face. She ran a hand through her dark hair, pushing it back as if to preen before she spoke. "Totally is him," She said confidently, her tone carrying an air of finality. "No doubts about it - might have quibbled after the first meeting, but it's three times now, it's him."

The old woman stopped moving, her body going unnaturally still. Her sharp, piercing eyes locked onto Shae's, scrutinizing her with a gaze so intense it could have cut through stone. "You're sure?" She asked, her voice low, a hint of something dangerous lurking beneath her words.

Shae met her gaze without flinching. "Absolutely."

The tension between them hung in the air for a moment, thick and heavy like the forest mist. The old woman took a step forward, her face drawn with a mixture of contemplation and anticipation. Gengar's grin seemed to widen even more, if that were possible, its eerie red eyes gleaming in the candlelight.

The floating candles swayed again, casting long, flickering shadows on the cave walls as the ancient woman considered the news. She let out a long, slow exhale, the sound almost like a hiss. "Well now," She murmured, more to herself than to Shae. "It's been a long time since something from a myth crossed my path."

Shae watched her carefully, her smirk fading into a more serious expression. "You gonna tell me what the big deal is?" She asked, her voice casual but laced with curiosity.

The old woman didn't respond right away. She stared at the floating candles, lost in thought for a moment, her fingers twitching at her side as if she were calculating something. Finally, she turned to Shae, her eyes sharp again. "That one you found... He's more than just a… Being I suppose is a good enough word..."

Shae raised an eyebrow. "What does that even mean?"

The old woman nodded slowly, her wrinkled face set in grim determination. "That one's special. Dangerous, if the myths speak any truth." She narrowed her eyes. "And if he's what I think he is, we're going to have to keep a close eye on him."

Shae frowned, crossing her arms. "He's strong, sure, but why the interest? You've never told me what it is, just the signs to watch for…" She paused, a small smirk creeping back onto her lips. "Is the old hag finally scared of something?"

The woman let out a dry laugh, her voice cracking like old parchment. "I don't scare easy, brat. But I don't take chances either. You'd do well to remember that." She glanced at the Gengar floating beside her, its massive form almost blending into the darkness behind her, it almost looked like something else, just for a moment, then it was gone. "There are forces in this world, girl… And he might just be tied to them."

Shae's smirk disappeared entirely, replaced by a more serious expression. "Forces?" She glanced back at the bundle she had dropped, her own little offering, her curiosity piqued on what other meanings lay behind everything. "You think he's connected to something bigger? That's why he's important?"

The old woman didn't answer directly. Instead, she let out a long, slow breath and looked toward the forest beyond the clearing, her gaze distant. "You did well, bringing me this," Dhe said quietly. "But this is just the beginning." She glanced back at Shae, her sharp eyes gleaming with something unreadable. "Keep an eye on him. Don't let him out of your sight."

Shae chuckled, though there was an edge of unease in her laughter. "You're asking me to babysit? Come on, Ma. I've got better things to do."

The old woman's eyes flashed, her tone turning stern. "You'll do as I say, brat. Or you'll wish you had."

Shae rolled her eyes but didn't argue. Instead, she glanced back at the bundle on the ground. "Yeah, yeah. I'll keep an eye on him. But what's the play here?" She asked, her voice growing more serious. "What are we supposed to do with him?"

The old woman's smirk returned, though this time it was colder, more calculating. "We'll figure that out soon enough. But for now, just watch. And be ready for when the time comes."

Shae nodded, though she couldn't shake the strange feeling growing in her gut. She wasn't afraid of much, but the way the old woman was talking... it was enough to make anyone nervous.

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Goldenrod City, Pokemon Center, next morning.

Karen sat cross-legged on her bed in the Pokemon Center. The soft hum of the screen of her Pokedex illuminated her face as she stared at it, her fingers drumming nervously on the keyboard attachment. She had been staring at the blank screen for what felt like hours, her mind spinning with conflicting thoughts.

"This is way more difficult than it should be," She muttered under her breath, leaning back against the headboard, arms crossed. She had written reports for Lady Agatha before - tons of them, in fact - but none had felt like this. Usually, they were straightforward, clinical even. Just details about what she saw, what needed to be reported. But now... Now it was complicated.

She bit her lip and glanced out the window for a moment, her thoughts wandering. Ezra was making everything complicated. He had saved her. She didn't ask him to, but he had, and now the simple task of reporting on his Pokemon and activities felt... Wrong.

She scrolled down the screen, trying to find a place to start. "What am I supposed to write?" She whispered to herself. The standard report would cover his Pokemon, their abilities, maybe some tidbits about his battle strategies. Lady Agatha had asked her to keep an eye on him, after all. But what else? What did she leave out? What did she dare put in?

Karen sighed, dropping her head into her hands. Her thoughts drifted, unbidden, to Whitney's over-the-top thank you. Her face flushed bright red, remembering the Gym Leader's lips and tongue and how quickly things had escalated in that area. "Well, I'm definitely not reporting that." She muttered, shaking her head as if to banish the memory. No way she was telling Lady Agatha about that!

Karen leaned forward again, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. Her eyes flicked toward the door, half-expecting Ezra to burst in at any second, some smug comment on his lips. He was always so casual about things, like nothing ever fazed him. But that wasn't true, she knew it wasn't. She'd seen the look in his eyes back in that Rocket base. She knew what he was capable of, even if he tried to act like none of it mattered.

The horrors in that base had been real. She'd only caught a glimpse of the carnage - just enough to understand what Whitney's sister had gone through. But Karen couldn't help but think of herself in that situation. She'd only escaped capture thanks to Ezra. And sure, if captured, she would have only been there for a few hours before Ezra and that Legendary would have broken them out… But what would have happened to her in that time if Ezra hadn't sacrificed his strength to help her? The thought sent a shiver down her spine.

She knew exactly what would have happened…

She owed him. There wasn't a question about it.

Was it really fair to report everything? Lady Agatha had asked for details on his Pokemon, and his abilities, not on everything that had happened… And she didn't even really know anything about his abilities anyway. Surely she didn't care about their personal interactions. Lady Agatha wasn't the type to gossip about people's feelings. No, what she really wanted were facts - battle strategies, insights into Ezra's growing team.

Maybe she'd… Just skip her insights into Ezra himself. It had nothing to do with abilities or Pokemon really.

Karen began typing, her hands moving with newfound purpose. She wrote about the Pokemon he'd used in his battles - Rider, Nyx, Cheshire, and the rest. She detailed their abilities, their strengths, how they worked in tandem with Ezra's sharp battle instincts. She described their training sessions, making sure to emphasize how skilled Ezra's Pokemon had become under his tutelage.

While… Not going very heavy into details on some things… Like her own meteoric rise in success with her own Pokemon.

But when it came to the parts about Shae, about the growing tension with Whitney, about the way Ezra seemed to charm his way into any situation? Karen skipped over those. She couldn't bring herself to include the minor stuff. Lady Agatha didn't need to know about that, surely. Those details weren't important to the mission. Besides, after what Ezra had done for her, she owed him at least that much.

Satisfied with the balance she had struck, Karen reviewed the report once more, tweaking a sentence here and there. She smiled to herself, feeling good about the outcome. She had done her duty, fulfilled her obligation to Lady Agatha, but she hadn't betrayed Ezra. It was the best of both worlds. She hit 'send' on the email, her chest lighter now that the task was finally done.

"There," She said with a nod, sitting back on her bed. "All finished. I can sleep easy tonight."

As if on cue, the Pokedex screen flickered. Karen blinked, her brow furrowing in confusion. Suddenly, a familiar shape popped out of the screen, its jagged, grinning face looming in front of her. The damned Pokemon had just gone through her bed from underneath it, and through her Pokedex!

"Loki!" She shrieked, falling backward in her bed, hitting her head on the headboard as Ezra's Banette floated before her, blowing a loud raspberry. The ghost type cackled mischievously, its glowing eyes sparkling with mischief.

Karen's heart pounded in her chest as she scrambled to her feet, her pulse racing. "Ezra! I'm going to kill you!" She screamed, grabbing the nearest object - a pillow - and throwing it at the cackling Pokemon. Loki effortlessly dodged, his laughter echoing through the room as he phased through the wall, disappearing as quickly as he had arrived.

Karen rushed toward the door, fury bubbling inside her as she glared at the empty space where Loki had been.

Why did I ever want to do him a favor, CHA! She thought harshly, grabbing a Pokeball, intent on pounding some sense into him.

Head trauma could only improve his personality, right?

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