'Speak of the banished.' Automatically, Janine was put on alert at the sight of the Oak boy, who irritably crossed his arms whilst sizing her up.

"You thought so," she repeated, making easy eye contact. "What did you think?"

Her eyes scanned his face as she spoke. He was annoyed, above all else, as though the sight of her was a button for disgust. Taking in his expression, she felt that taste at the tip of her tongue once more.

"You were with him, weren't you?" Gary grumbled.

"With who?" was her cool response, bringing her arms to her chest.

"Stop playing dumb," Gary's brow furrowed. "I saw you two together the other night."

"So what of it?" Janine's gaze turned steel and stoic. "Ash and I have been traveling together, as trainers going the same way often do. Are you bothered by that just because you lost to him yesterday?"

There was a twitch of his face, and broken eye contact for just a split second as Gary's face barely reddened. "...Barely. None of it makes sense."

Now Janine's brow furrowed, although her expression did not change. 'It feels as though I nearly predicted that response.' "He matched you blow for blow the entire battle. Would it have made more sense if you won?"

It was probably the thinly derisive tone mixed with her unshifting expression that reddened the Oak boy's face further. "That's the part I'm talking about, idiot." he snarled. "Not just the result, you wouldn't understand."

"I think I understand more than you realize, Gary." her gaze shifted into a glare, quickly mirrored by him. "You spent as long as you can remember being untouchable while Ash was the opposite, and now that he's no longer a helpless kid being walked all over, you've gone from feeling entitled to threatened and unsure of yourself, and naturally believe he's to blame." she lowered her arms. "Or, maybe you're just entitled and are simply upset you don't have a punching bag anymore. Sometimes it can be that simple."

Gary's legs shifted as the look in his eyes darkened. Who the hell did this girl think she was, talking to him so condescendingly right out of the gate? Fitting Ash of all people would keep such company, but some random outside party had no business weighing in as though they knew everything.

"If you really think you know that much," he spat. "Then you should also know it's that prick's own fault he was so 'helpless', as you try to say, or did he only feed you whatever would make you feel sorry for him?"

'I heard it from your own mouth already,' Janine thought with displeasure as she reached up to tug on her ponytail. "And what are you trying to 'feed' me? The opposite? Because you want me to feel sorry for you instead?" her eyes narrowed. "What was it you said… that your friend was an anchor, and you were afraid of him dragging everybody down? Cutting him off was easier than helping him, right?"

"Enough of the sarcasm, I'm not in the mood for it." Gary had almost growled, but spoke the words evenly. "I'm not going to be the guy coddling somebody who can't keep up. Wouldn't have done anyone much good once we were all on our own."

"He seems to be doing pretty fine now."

"After he spent five years flopping around like a Magikarp in a desert while I busted my ass day and night to be the best I could be." Gary retorted. "Does that sound equal to you?"

"Is it supposed to-"

"Answer my question!" he barked. "Or else you're better off minding your own business."

"I decide what my business is, thank you very much." irritation seeped through her stoic tone as she crossed her arms again. "And unlike you, I think most prefer to focus on the now rather than the then. How long are you planning to use 'five years ago' as an excuse now that he's already beaten you?"

"Winning one match by one hit doesn't make him the better trainer." Gary's retort was firm with a hint of venom. "He hasn't seen the last of me."

"And I'm certain he knows that," Janine started. Her voice lost the coolness, stoicism, and irritation all at once, instead growing even, neutral, and steady. "So what is it that you're trying to say? Do you think beating him again will somehow correct everything? That everything that does not sit right with you can magically go away just because you told it to? You're trying to convince me that five years can't be erased by one day, but one battle that happened yesterday will suddenly stop mattering?"

The Oak boy's knuckles tightened, his nose scrunching as he looked the poison-specialist over. 'What does she think this is, psychoanalysis?' "Stop acting like you magically understand everything. We've never met, and you're not even from Pallet. You're just some girl Ash ran into on the road by chance. You haven't known either of us your whole life, so stay out of it."

Janine took in a breath through her nose, arms falling to the side again as she looked over the Oak boy's reddened face. 'You would really like that, wouldn't you?'

She didn't know Ash her whole life. She certainly didn't know anything about this Gary kid until two nights ago. She did not even know if Ash himself would want her to be in this conversation right now.

…

She was, however. And she wouldn't be the one to pull out, either.

"And yet," she took a small step forward, but made no further advance. "I can already tell that you think everything around you revolves like a gravitational orbit around a planet, all because you spent most of your life in a Pallet Town-shaped bubble protecting you from everything else on the outside." his glare did not deter her. "I'm not sure how I should have expected you to be, but this is not how I pictured Samuel Oak's grandson."

"Samuel Oak's grandson," Gary parroted, almost parodying the audacity. "He told you that much, and you're still trying to turn your nose up to me?"

"Perhaps more people should have." she retorted. "And before you try crying foul on Ash again, he did not need to tell me who you are. I can figure things out myself."

"Oh really," Gary's voice was laced with derisive doubt. "And what, pray tell, gave me away? You better not feed me some cop out like 'I just guessed and you confirmed it by saying it after' that they do in movies and video games to make the hero look smart." his voice deepened with a comically exaggerated flare to emphasize the statement.

"You're from Pallet Town," Janine started, unfazed at the attempted mockery. "Your grandfather won the Indigo Conference in his youth, was looked upon by the public as a future Champion who very likely would have one day claimed the mantle if he chose to pursue it, but instead retired because he wanted to become a researcher." she shrugged. "Samuel Oak's storied career is common knowledge, even from before he became a professor. Almost anyone in Indigo knows those basic details of his backstory, and not many people share it, especially in a place as small as Pallet. Once I knew that, it was pretty easy to guess who your grandfather was. Problem?"

Albeit begrudgingly, Gary was about to say "fair enough" or "you have a point" for as much as he did not wish to. But as he opened his mouth to speak whatever words of resignation his vocal cords and brain would choose to produce for him, he paused, and nothing came out. Something about this girl's explanation did not seem right. Her information was certainly accurate, perfectly summarizing the barebones gist of it, but…

…

"So you're saying you pieced that together after Ash told you?" Janine did not say anything, simply bringing her arms back to her chest as the spikey haired boy's eyes narrowed at her. "Why would he tell you that without just saying by gramps' name outright? You said yourself that it's easy to figure it out, so why would he give you everything but?"

Janine's brow furrowed. '...I suppose I might have slipped up…' She kicked herself mentally, but did her best to brush it off. She couldn't take back her miscalculation, and there was no time to berate herself, even in her head. 'It can't be helped.'

"...Yes," her thumb brushed her neck as both trainer's mutually evened their gazes. "That is correct, but I never said I got that information from Ash."

Gary's eyes narrowed. "Now you're not making any sense. Who else could have told you…" the more the gears turned in his mind, the more his voice trailed off. Where else could she have heard…

…

"My gramps was the same way; after he won the Indigo Conference, he chose not to pursue the Champion's mantle, and walked away from the trainer's life for research."

… 'Wait, but… I said that!' He had said it to Ash; the night before their battle, while in the hallway.

As everything clicked together, Gary's face tightened. He felt a split-second tingle in his spine as his gaze deepened. An odd sensation of caution lined his stomach, and he cursed himself in his mind for it.

"You snooped." he huffed the word out like an engine spitting smoke. "You were eavesdropping on us, weren't you!?"

Janine took another light step forward. In spite of herself, she could not help the tinge of mild guilt that she felt at the Oak boy's accusation. She pushed it aside as quickly as she could, however. She wouldn't be judged, and if she was, it would not be by him.

"And?" she pressed. "Do you have any proof? My friend was acting off that night, because of you, I should add, and I followwd him out of concern. It's my word against yours if you're petty enough to hold that against me. Not that I'd put it past somebody so arrogant."

If Gary were a Pokemon, his glare could probably produce a Dark Pulse. "Me, arrogant? Have you even been listening to yourself? You're such a fucking hypocrite."

Her nose scrunched for a moment, and although her gut told her to retort, she paused at the last second. When she did speak, she instead stuck to her initial course. "It explains a lot, I suppose. All that unchecked praise from your peers, and probably the adults in your life as well, coupled with having such a great man's name. Someone like you was practically conditioned to see gold in the mirror. All talent, no discipline."

"What does a bitch like you know about discipline?" Gary spat.

"Enough to actually reflect when it's clear that deflecting goes nowhere," her tone of voice was tight. "The last time I showed half your ego, my father had my bare feet standing on ice cubes."

"Sounds more like abuse than discipline," Gary scoffed. "You sure your old man doesn't belong on a list?"

"It was for my own good," she replied, insistent and firm. "I'd rather be in pain for a few minutes than turn into a bully. And unlike you, I don't plan on playing a game of judge and jury with my peers. The real reason why Ash was able to beat you yesterday, even when it 'doesn't make sense', as you thought, is because your so-called 'judgments' never meant anything in the first place. You think your own so-called friends are yours to label for life, while you have the luxury of conveniently labeling yourself."

She took another step forward, and Gary found his fists clenching again. Something in her eyes was changing; the steel stoicism was coming back, but there was something else. Deep. Piercing. He almost took a light step back, but stopped himself as his leg tried to move, as though he had not realized it until it was happening. That tingle in his spine was beginning to come back, and he shut it down as quickly as possible.

"I don't think there's much more for me to say to you," Janine fixed him with a precise, focused glare. "But someone at least needs to say this: Whatever bite-sized kingdom you have back in Pallet Town is only a tiny corner of Indigo's map, and right now, you are miles upon cities away from it. Your obnoxious entitlement has no place with people who aren't willing to tolerate it."

Gary's lips stretched into a small but bitter smirk, but his eyes were growing hostile. "And you don't 'tolerate' it, so you wanna let me down easy before someone else has the chance?"

His sarcasm washed over her as her face darkened. "Don't misunderstand, Gary Oak. Letting you down easy is the last thing I'd do." Another step left little distance remaining between the two as her gaze pierced through his own. "I'll make this clear for you only once: I stayed out of things yesterday because it was Ash's fight, and it still is. He doesn't need to be coddled, no matter what you think." her finger stopped just short of his chest. "But if you ever step over the line with him again, it will be my turn next. He was the one who let you down easy."

Her gaze and voice were heavy, as though she was placing something on his shoulders instead of talking. This time, Gary was not able to brush aside the feeling in his spine until he broke eye contact; it was only after he did that he grew wise to the color that had drained from his face.

'Damn the Guardian, who the fuck is this girl?' When Ash grew confrontational with him, it was audacious. Insulting. Insufferable. When most people his age did, like an aggressive trainer on the road, or a spat in the cafeteria of a Pokemon Center, it was irritating, like an inconvenient obstacle that should not have been there, but certainly could be knocked down.

Where was this feeling of vulnerability coming from? She was a rookie like him. She had no high ground over him; not morally as a person, and certainly not as a trainer. What reason did he have to feel this exposed?

His knuckles whitened from the tight clenching of his fists. Had she noticed? The way his face had changed, the near-attempt at backing off, both of which had been quickly corrected? Had she caught onto them before he had? And how had it even happened in the first place?

…

Glaring at her, he exhaled through his nose. Forceful in attempt, but perhaps not as much in result as he had wanted. Her gaze had not left him, and for a split second or two, he wondered if he might shrink.

…

He broke away, turning entirely. "I don't have time for your mind games, there are better things to do. Tell your friend that this isn't over. I'll only warn him once, and I'm not waiting for him to be ready." He did not know if she wanted to respond, or if she wanted to continue, but he cared very little. Having spoken the final word, he walked off, away from her, and took whatever satisfaction she sought with him.

Janine's eyes remained wordlessly planted on Gary's retreating form, and hung in place for a few seconds longer when he was out of sight.

Finally, she broke it off with a breath and a light shake of the head. "Inexcusable."

/

"So, how was your late night chat with Leader Erika?" Beth sat down in her seat as Minun snuggled up in Patricia's lap. "She didn't keep you up too late, did she?"

"These things happen," the teen brunette shook her head. "Things in Celadon may have wound down since that awful museum incident, but she's had her hands full recently since Lavender Tower was destroyed." she sighed through her nose. "It's been felt all over Indigo. The ghosts that resided in that tower were immeasurable in numbers, and now they're scattering all across the region in mass panic after the Marauder destroyed their home. There was an incident on Erika's turf last evening so it ended up being a late night for her."

"And for you by extension," Beth's nose scrunched with worry. "Couldn't you have just rescheduled the call?"

"We could have, but I wanted to speak to her anyway. We go back." she rubbed the back of Minun's neck. "Besides, I wanted to let her know that I was asked to start helping patrol this area for the time being, once the League caught wind of me being here. The ghost sightings have been happening almost everywhere in Kanto's mainland, but the League's hands are full flushing out the Rockets and reorganizing precautions for the S.S. Anne party. Not even they have infinite manpower. I told her I can be her eyes and ears around here if she was curious."

"And how did she react to you telling her you were working Fuchsia's border?" the younger girl pressed."

With a sigh, Patricia's eyes rolled. "I know what you're getting at, Beth. Those are exaggerations."

"About Leader Erika and Koga's dislike for each other?" at Patricia's concerned expression, the red head girl frowned somewhat guiltily. "Sorry, I just… got curious, given some of the hearsay I've heard. But you have the connections with her, so I thought you might have something a bit more…" she hesitated for a moment, looking for the right word. "...Concrete?"

The older girl appeared uneasy for a moment or two, looking around the currently empty lobby before sighing quietly. "...Just, keep this to yourself, please? I don't want to be the one inflating drama." at the younger girl's quick nod, she paused for a moment before continuing. "Not every Gym Leader in Indigo sees eye to eye. I know that's inevitable, but some cases are more notable than others. Leader Blaine has gotten plenty of criticism given his more recent practices are more about making a challenger's life difficult than actually testing them, but he gets by with seniority. Erika and Koga… have a history." she bit her tongue for another moment, feeling her thoughts second guessing before her eyes scanned the lobby again. Stille empty, but as if on instinct, she leaned forward, which Beth took as an invitation to do the same, before continuing in a slightly hushed tone. "It sort of started back when Erika was first promoted. Leader Koga… well, he always had his reservations. He was somewhat vocal about viewing her as unfit."

"Unfit?" Beth raised a brow. "Erika of all people?"

"Erika is a fantastic leader," Patricia said with a firm notion. "But, different standards. The fact that Cerulean is such a tame territory might be the main reason the sisters are able to hold their position, along with them being three people instead of one, although the ghost sightings will likely compromise that smoothness." she sighed. "And of course, Leader Whitney needs all the help she can get. As for Erika… from what I know, at least, Koga views her as soft. Lenient. She has massive approval, but in Koga's eyes, her leadership qualities and ways of doing things aren't Gym Leader material."

"And that's why she doesn't like him?" Beth scratched her cheek. The answer almost felt anticlimactic.

But Patricia shook her head. "Erika can handle criticism," she reassured. "She's… perhaps even more critical of how Koga conducts himself." her voice lowered further. "Please don't repeat this, but… in her opinion, his methods can border on police brutality. He was always known as one of the most ruthless of the League's Gym Leaders, and certain practices have her uncomfortable."

"Which might also be why he sees her as soft." Beth bit her lip.

"The recent attack on Celadon did not help matters." Patricia sat back in her seat with a sigh. Minun stirred from the motion, but did not wake. She gently caressed his fur. "I don't know the details, but something important was stolen from Celadon Gym. Koga was incensed. Worse, whatever was stolen was apparently supposed to be under his custody originally, but plans had to change for some reason. That's all I know, though."

Beth crossed her arms. Now she seemed somewhat uncomfortable too. "Hmmm… I, wasn't aware of that."

"Most aren't; I might even know more than I'm supposed to and I barely know anything about it." Patricia shook her head. "I'm not trying to color your opinion on either of them, just so you know."

"It's fine," after a moment, Beth offered her a small smile. "I'm the one who asked…" something on the other side of the lobby caught her attention. "Hm, is that Ash?"

Patricia turned her head as both girls watched the boy in question, leading a few members of his team outside. "Guess he's going out. Oh, that reminds me, how'd Jordan's battle with Janine go?"

The red head chuckled. "Well, that's a story…"

/

Although not unbearable, the silence was somewhat awkward as Ash led Pikachu, Valiant, Phenom, and Tempest away from the lodging. After finding Phenom and Valiant, Ash was somewhat alarmed by how tired the Kirlia was. Apparently, Valiant had been practicing his telepathic speech and worn himself out. Ash was going to recall him, but Valiant, likely determining that his trainer was planning something important, had convinced him to keep him out, albeit with the promise that he would relax and not push himself.

Had it not been for what was on his mind, Ash may have pressed the subject further. It wasn't that Valiant was wrong to practice his endurance, but if he was going to, Ash wished the emotion Pokemon had let him know ahead of time, just to avoid concern. Valiant himself had already apologized for that, however, and Ash certainly was not going to guilt trip his friend.

No one present knew what their trainer's plan was, and when Pikachu tried to ask, Ash simply reassured him that they would know soon. Although he did not stray too far, he nonetheless put a considerable distance between themselves and the building before stopping and releasing Nebula and Glaceon.

"This should be enough," he told himself as his team lined up in front of him. Turning back to them, the boy could not help but fall silent as he looked them over. The battle against Gary just the day prior was beyond fresh in everybody's minds, and he could not be more proud of his team. He could tell they felt the same as well, but the ecstasy from their victory did not change everything that was coming up, and he did his best to remind himself of that, just as much as the rest of them.

"Everyone," as he started, the six Pokemon (who had been lightly chatting amongst themselves while waiting for him to speak) immediately perked up, their undivided attention falling straight onto him. "I know we can all agree; there's a lot that can be said about our battle from yesterday." as his friends smiled in agreement, he took a moment to pause and consider his words. He would like to think that he was getting better at these announcements and speeches, but the pressure was still most certainly there. This was hardly the most difficult announcement he'd ever had to make, however, so things did not feel nearly as heavy. "I'm… proud of all six of you, and you should be proud of yourselves. The fact we're even at Fuchsia's border at all feels crazy, to be honest." Though his smile did not entirely fade, his overall expression did still turn more serious. "Of course, I've already told you all how big of a deal that is. We're going to be facing a lot. Not just on the way to Fuchsia City, of course. It's everything going on up to this point. Leader Koga is one of a kind, but he's hardly our last obstacle." as a memory flashed through his mind, his face tightened, but not for too long. "Once we've won the Soul Badge, we're returning to Vermilion next. When we do, we're going to have a rematch with LT. Surge."

He highly doubted such a declaration surprised his team. It was more like an inevitable truth finally being acknowledged; no longer unspoken. And the weight that came with it.

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

"I know he's a sore subject," Ash confirmed with them. "And that was my screwup. I was trying to at least test us, and gauge how ready we were, but… I miscalculated. We weren't ready at all, but we will be the next time we get there. And even he's not going to be our last challenge on the way to the Conference. There's still so much to do, even after everything we've already gone through, and sooner or later we're going to be recruiting new teammates. That means our team is going to be getting even bigger than just me and the six of you. And after everything we've done, you all will be leading the charge by example." he paused a moment or two to let everything sink in before continuing. "The point is, things are going to be very different once we start crossing this border into Koga's domain. From here, all the way up to the Indigo Plateau. Everything is going to be harder. More intense. Our opponents. The rest of you will be evolving, like Glaceon," his eyes fell on her for a moment, and his lips slightly curved up as she raised her head. "We're finally starting to enter that period where a trainer and their team is truly challenged, and we all need to be together if we're going to pull it off. So… before we leave, there's a reason I brought you all here."

His six teammates all looked at him with straight postures, their curiosity mixing in with loyal patience.

'Well,' Ash told himself. 'No time like the present.'

"Phenom, Tempest, come up here."

The two in question perked up in surprise, their responses somewhat delayed. Tempest shuffled over first, and Phenom's eyes followed the Krabby for a moment or two before doing the same as the rest of the team looked on. Ash watched their expressions carefully; confusion was collective amongst the other four members of the team, with Valiant seeming somewhat alert as his tired eyes attempted to decide between which of the two to focus on. Meanwhile, Tempest looked up at him in curiosity, while the Tyrunt's gaze remained locked onto the Krabby for a moment longer before finding its way to their trainer.

Ash's eyes scanned the observing four, falling back on the two of them as he began to speak again. "I don't need to give us a summary of the history between you guys, or any other incidents we've had in the past." His gaze briefly focused on Tempest, who's awkward expression only lasted a moment or two before he righted himself. "But I do know that things have started to change, even if it's happened slowly. That's why I want us to clear up our baggage as best we can. Now," he turned to Phenom. "Phenom, I know what you've been wanting to do. And Tempest," he turned to the Krabby next. "I know you wouldn't say no, so…" he nodded to both. "Get it out of your systems."

He was expecting the reactions. Everyone, even Phenom, was caught off guard by how… bluntly their trainer had given the green light. Looking at Tempest, not even he seemed to know what to think, even if neither he nor the dinosaur seemed to protest.

Pushing his hands into his pockets, he continued. "You've been indirectly getting into it since Lavender. Constantly trying to upstage each other. You pretty much ran yourselves ragged on our way here, and we all know why." with a breath, he looked back at Phenom. "You're angry, and I'm not saying you're wrong, but bottling it up isn't healthy. Neither is being careless about it, of course, which is why I felt like we needed to wait until the right time." he turned to Tempest next. "Normally, I wouldn't want to settle things this way, but… you guys are Pokemon. Pokemon fight, but there's a difference between a careless fight and a sanctioned battle."

To Ash's own surprise, his words were not accompanied by any real hesitance or doubt. He had been a little bit nervous on his way here, but when the time had come, he was confident in the choice he had made. Setting things up the way he currently was, was little different from simply organizing an official match. Phenom's grudge against Tempest, while far from unjustified, would only prove destructive if it continued to fester and bubble. The dinosaur was no longer a baby, and the aggressive and untamed side of his instincts that Ash and the group had previously worked to suppress were no longer so easily concealed. Elacia's notes had been very clear regarding the dangers of a Tyrunt whose temper could not be controlled, not too different from other dragons, Ash assumed.

Tempest was changing. Not changing himself fundamentally, but in ways that counted. Ash was proud of the river crab, but that alone would not solve the problem. Although no longer outwardly hostile, the hesitance to trust the water type was still understandably hanging within the rest of the group outside of Phenom. Phenom himself needed an outlet; a means to unleash this pent up aggression in a controlled environment where they could keep things from going too far if need be. And Tempest, Ash knew for a fact, would be completely on board with it.

After all, he never said no to a battle.

"Ash…?" Valiant's tired mental voice brought Ash's attention to the other four. The Kirlia was rubbing his head, clearly still a bit drowsy from whatever practice he had put himself through. Glaceon was fixing Tempest with a mildly distrustful gaze while Nebula's eyes cautiously rested on Phenom. Pikachu, like Valiant, was looking at their trainer with a somewhat unsure expression.

"Don't push yourself, pal." Ash reminded, walking over to them. "And none of you have to worry. I know this all started with their first fight, not too long after Tempest was caught, but that's why this is the best way to try and lay it to rest. Things are different now, Phenom is not the baby of our team. He's grown a great deal, and you've all seen it. He finished the job against Erika all the way back in Celadon, and on our way here he racked up a number of hard fought wins." smiling a bit, he nodded in approval at the Tyrunt, whose head slightly rose at the praise. "And how can we forget yesterday? Gary's Jolteon was something else, if Phenom hadn't beaten him, we might not have won. I couldn't be prouder; he's on his way to becoming a real powerhouse." He nodded at Tempest next. "And Tempest is tough enough to take it. This isn't a mismatch like the last time, and it's also not going to be a reckless fight. This is a battle, a match, and it's going to be fully supervised. Valiant's worn out, but if I ever think things are getting out of hand, I can recall them, or the rest of you can step in and put a stop to it. That's just an extreme, though. Either way, it's safe. No different from any matches we've had against other trainers." he looked back at the observing four. "You guys okay with that?"

Pikachu, Nebula, Valiant, and Glaceon exchanged looks for a few moments, clearly debating in their heads. The electric mouse was the first to step forward, offering his trainer an assuring, convinced nod that was soon mirrored by Nebula. Glaceon still bit her lip, somewhat narrowed eyes falling on Phenom before Valiant prodded her side. Looking at her best friend, she blinked as the Kirlia offered her a steady nod. She studied him for a couple of moments before turning back to Ash with an affirmative bark.

Ash smiled gratefully at his team, giving a quick thumbs up before turning back to Tempest and Phenom. "Well, how does that sound to you two? No building tension, no competition… why not just settle this with a match? It's what we do, right?"

Phenom and Tempest made eye contact. Clearly convinced, the dinosaur's eyes narrowed slightly, just enough to be noticed. The crab saw the challenge as clear as the blue sky over their heads, and after a brief moment or two, clicked his pincers while nodding back at Ash.

"Alright then, back up, both of you. Everyone else, give them some space."

Distance was quickly cleared between the group, Phenom and Tempest both positioning themselves several feet from one another across the grass while the rest of the team backed away a decent amount. The two soon to be combatants assumed their usual battle stances; Phenom was crouched, knees bent and head lowered with his teeth bared like a predator. Tempest's narrowed eyes fixed onto his opponent's as he held his clicking pincers in front of his face.

"Alright," Ash announced, backing away a few steps. "As a quick ground rule, this battle will not leave the immediate area. We don't want to startle or provoke any wild Pokemon. Apart from that, the rules are simple and exactly what you know. You'll fight until one side surrenders or is defeated. I'll call the battle off if I think things are going too far, but that's a last resort for if somebody gets too badly injured or if continuing feels dangerous for whatever reason. You don't need to worry about that unless I say so, so don't hold back." he backed away some more, making sure he was at an appropriately safe distance before raising his voice. "Alright then, you can start now!"

Phenom immediately moved. Eyes widening, the small dinosaur's legs shot him forward, sprinting straight for the water type with a loud cry erupting from his throat. Tempest fired a Mud Shot to intercept him, but the Dragon Pulse was already being let loose from the Tyrunt's jaws. The blast of draconic energy easily overtook the glob of mud, only slightly fazed by the collision. Hurriedly, Tempest crossed two Metal Claws together to block the blast, which exploded against him, pushing him back across the grass. Phenom continued his advance without slowing down, but as the distance between them began to close further, he suddenly stopped to smack the ground, sending an Earth Power Tempest's way. Unprepared, the Krabby cried out as the attack exploded underneath him, knocking him back more while Phenom broke into another sprint.

Tempest recovered quickly, taking aim at the rapidly approaching dinosaur to fire Frozen Bullets with his pincer. The barrage of frozen bubbles was quickly met with an onslaught of rocks fired from the Tyrunt's mouth. As they smashed into each other, the projectiles shattered, and Phenom continued to run even as he fired the Rock Blast, charging straight through the cold mist produced in the aftermath.

Now Tempest was beginning to run as well, ready to meet Phenom head on with a Metal Claw, swinging his other pincer. Phenom was ready for the strike, opening his mouth wide with a Thunder Fang, and clamping down on the Metal Claw.

Tempest instantly felt the force behind his dinosaur opponent's bite; Strong Jaw clashed with Shell Armor as Phenom's teeth ruthlessly squeezed against the metal coating protecting his pincer. Even with the solid metal layer, he could feel the force of the Tyrunt's grip, and could not help mildly wincing. The dinosaur's jaws binded his pincer with unfathomable strength, somehow growing even tighter still as he attempted to resist the hold and pull his pincer out. Phenom was almost pulled forward by Tempest's struggle to yank his appendage away from his teeth, but quickly fought back with a pull of his own, leaving both combatants stationary, and Tempest's pincer helplessly trapped inside of the jaws locked around it. It was not only the strength of Phenom's bite that was felt, however: the electricity from Thunder Wave made itself known as well, dancing along the Krabby's arm, which began to mildly numb.

Giving up on the effort to free his pincer by force, Tempest quickly opened his other, free pincer, prepared to fire a point-blank Ice Beam. Although Phenom's eyes widened, he either saw the counterattack coming, or responded faster than his river crab opponent could execute it. Releasing his hold on the metallic pincer, he let loose a point-blank Roar, the shockwaves knocking a startled Tempest over, and causing him to roll backwards, head over the grass in a full rotation before landing on his bottom. Some ice left his pincer as it happened, the now interrupted and thoroughly botched Ice Beam weakly releasing onto the grass, frosting them over. Phenom felt a mild chill as he lunged for the Krabby, but it was hardly enough to deter him. With another loud cry, he swung a Dragon Tail into the river crab's durable abdomen with as much force as his body could muster. The impact was forceful, and Tempest gave a pained grunt as he was knocked back yet again. Even as he was, however, Phenom took aim, planting his feet firmly against the grassy dirt and opening his jaws wide for a second Dragon Pulse, fired with just as much effort and vigor as the first. Tempest only had time for his eyes to widen before he was hit with the full force of the blast, crying out as the explosion launched him.

Ash watched the Tyrunt sprint forward once more, not giving the Krabby any chance to recover (and potentially forgetting to catch his own breath first). He had not been completely sure what to expect from this battle or how it would turn out; only that it would definitely be hard fought. But the moment he had given the signal, Phenom had been like a living explosion. As the dinosaur leapt forward with another Thunder Fang (which Tempest barely blocked with another Metal Claw that Phenom's electrical jaws latched onto), he was rushing his water type opponent with a never ending offense that had Tempest shockingly overwhelmed. It was everything the river crab could do just to defend. Tempest, of all Pokemon…

Whatever game plan Phenom may have had, caution had been thrown to the wind, and the unrelenting burst of offense had forced Tempest onto the backfoot from the moment the light turned green. It was nothing like their first fight from so long ago, and the Tyrunt's speed, power, and tenacity were all on full display like a giant screen in the cinema. All of which the group had watched develop right in front of them throughout their travels.

Nobody could see that better than his teammates, however. Even in his tired state, Valiant's eyes were somewhat widening through their heaviness as he and the rest of the team looked on in a borderline trance. They had seen Phenom grow step by step, and had watched him fight battle after battle. But something about this was different, as though all of that progress had been unleashed in a single burst to open the fight, against the fighter of their team.

Once more, Tempest found himself wincing from Phenom's crushing grip, the Strong Jaw boosted force of the Thunder Fang grinding mercilessly against the durable but struggling protective coating of the Metal Claw. More sparks danced across the Krabby's arm as he once more tried to pull himself free, to no avail as Phenom pulled back in hostile defiance.

For a good moment or two, it was a second stalemate, and Ash wondered if Tempest would attempt an Ice Beam like last time, and if Phenom would counter it with another Roar. His heart skipped a beat when Phenom's eyes widened with a blaze, and…

Roaring through the clenched, electrical teeth still squeezing against the Metal Claw, Phenom reared back, hoisting a doubly startled Tempest over his head, and smashed the large Krabby down onto the ground behind him.

"HOLY-" Ash's hand shot to his mouth in amazement. It was almost like Phenom had suplexed Tempest… with his freaking mouth!

At his side, the rest of his team gaped in similar fashion and shock- except Glaceon, who was grinning.

As Tempest's side collided with the grassy dirt, Phenom, having released his hold, quickly turned and let loose a Play Rough, assaulting his opponent with a series of kicks and tail strikes before knocking him away. As Tempest bounced back from the barrage of blows, the Tyrunt prepared to lunge forward again, firing another Dragon Pulse. This time, Tempest, with fire in his eyes, recovered in time to launch an Ice Beam from his pincers, colliding with the blast of draconic energy and stopping it in its tracks. Even as it did, however, Phenom was stampeding across the grass with his jaws filled with lightning once more…

A pillar of water erupted from beneath Tempest's feat, swerving him to the side just barely enough to carry him out of the Tyrunt's path as the dinosaur lunged for him with a mighty bite. His powerful teeth chomped on air this time, and with the Surf being maintained just long enough to avoid the Thunder Fang, Tempest lunged off of the collapsing pillar with a shout. Pent up frustration and tenacity was expelled with a single Crabhammer that struck the side of Phenom's head and sent him somersaulting in midair, colliding painfully with the ground in a rough, wince worthy bounce.

Finally, there was a pause. With Phenom's momentum momentarily broken, Tempest shifted himself to take in a breath, eyes never leaving the Tyrunt. With a grunt, Phenom lifted himself up, this time not rushing in for another attack and finally taking a breath of his own to collect himself. Scanning the dragon's face, Tempest found a bruise on his head from where his Crabhammer had struck. The pincer that Phenom had bitten down on was not totally numbed, and was regaining whatever feeling had been lost prior; that numbness had compromised the water type's effort in the tug-o-war, allowing Phenom to lift him. Acting on the safe side, the Krabby altered his stance to point his other, currently better pincer in his rival's direction.

Phenom dodged a Scald, before advancing forward with a Rock Blast. The barrage was easily blocked, but the Tyrunt picked up speed, pushing Tempest back with a Brick Breakbefore sending another Earth Power his way. Tempest avoided the attack with another split second Surf, and responded with an Ice Beam that smashed into another barrage of rocks. Taking the initiative, Tempest ran forward, not as fast as Tyrunt, but still impressive for his species, shooting a barrage of bubbles from both pincers. The Bubble Beam pelted against Phenom's chest and sent him staggering, and he only just barely stayed balanced on one foot as his opponent closed in with a Night Slash.

The dinosaur's eyes flashed, recollecting himself just in time to swerve away from the strike. His eyes squeezed shut for a moment as the Night Slash still struck him, but no longer a direct hit, clipping his side. Powering through, he swung a Dragon Tail into Tempest's stomach, eliciting another pained grunt and knocking the Krabby back while the dinosaur turned to face him in full, firing another Dragon Pulse. Eyes widening, a slightly desperate Tempest launched an Ice Beam into the draconic blast, thankfully intercepting it before he could fall victim to a direct hit.

There was another pause in the action, and this time, Tempest took a bit longer to gather his breath than his opponent. At this point, his shell was bruised and slightly charred in certain areas, and though his tank was certainly not empty, he could feel the close call he had just gone through. Letting out an exhale, he sank back into a stance, and, almost involuntarily, felt a small smile forming on his face.

Phenom had collected himself as well; when he reassumed his own stance, the fire in his eyes, while still fierce, was not as raging. A bit more focused as he breathed through his nose. The two combatants studied each other once more as Ash and the rest of the team looked on, before electricity once more formed in the Tyrunt's jaws.

Ash watched as Tempest prepared a Metal Claw, moving to shield himself as the dragon pounced. Once more, the electrical fangs latched onto the metallic pincer, binding it without relent. After the previous exchanges had gone in Phenom's favor, what was Tempest's plan here?

He got his answer when Tempest summoned another pillar of water beneath his feet, and realization flashed across his face as Surf carried him upwards, Phenom still latching onto him. The dinosaur's eyes widened in surprise as he was lifted off of the ground without warning, the only warning he got before Tempest lunged off of the pillar and slammed the Tyrunt onto the ground. Tyrunt wheezed as his back roughly made impact, and a sharp pain shot through his jaw, forcing it open and freeing the Krabby's pincer.

It had only taken Ash a brief second to catch onto Tempest's strategy: It was somewhat similar to how they had utilized Surf against Gary's Weepinbell. An approving grin flashed across his face.

With Phenom grounded and still blindsided by the pain, Tempest snatched the dragon's sides in either pincer, forcing his opponent into a standing position before rearing back another Metal Claw and socking him in the still aching jaw. The blow roughly tossed Phenom a couple of meters away, but the crab's eyes widened as the dinosaur landed on his feet. The Tyrunt maintained a dull glare before stepping forward and charging another Dragon Pulse. Whether it was from fatigue or the pain in his jaw working against him, the blast took longer to fire this time, giving Tempest ample opportunity to cross two Metal Claws together and block the attack, but the move still sent him sliding backwards as it detonated against him.

A frustrated snarl escaped Phenom's throat as another sharp pain shot through his jaws. The force behind firing the Dragon Pulse had aggravated the aching left behind by the Krabby's stunt. His eyes flared as he stamped the grass before making another rush for his opponent.

"He's hurt," Ash commented out loud. He knew Phenom's pained growls when he heard them. He wouldn't stop the fight yet; some degree of injury was almost inevitable in high effort battles, but it was a reminder to keep vigilant and pay attention to the way things escalated.

The Tyrunt dodged a cleanly aimed barrage of Frozen Bullets while raising a glowing Dragon Tail. Tempest had not moved, instead waiting for the dragon to come to him before lunging forward with a Razor Shell. After a brief clash, the water blade shoved the Dragon Tail away and forced Phenom staggering backwards. Sensing an opening, Tempest fired a quick Ice Beam, only for it to be met with a Rock Blast that once more irritated the lingering jaw pain.

A desperate grumble left Phenom's throat as he barely escaped the attack, feeling a brief, cold blast of air rushing against him as the Ice Beam shattered against his rocky barrage. He was given little time to gather himself before Tempest drove a Metal Claw into his abdomen. The air left Phenom for a moment as he bent over from the blow, but as he saw the Krabby rearing back his other pincer for a second consecutive Metal Claw, a surge shot through his chest, and he lunged. Electricity filled his jaws once more as he latched onto the metallic pincer with yet another Thunder Fang.

Tempest's eyes conveyed surprise at the abrupt reaction, but as Phenom's jaws chomped down onto their target, the Tyrunt's eyes briefly squeezed shut as another surge of pain shot through his jawbone. Powering through the ache, he clenched down as hard as he could, but something did not feel right…

'If Phenom's jaw is hurt, his grip won't be as strong this time.' Ash told himself. No doubt a sore set of jaws would still be fairly powerful if his dragon friend was the one taking a bite, but against Tempest, the decrease in strength could make all the difference.

…

It did.

Tempest could feel the reduced force behind Phenom's bite this time. It was not comfortable, but it wasn't inescapable. It wasn't unrelenting. And as he pulled back against the dragon's efforts, his opponent had a harder time resisting him.

Gradually, Phenom was lifted off the ground, eyes flashing in surprise. It took him a moment too long to think to use Roar; with a passionate shout, Tempest hoisted the dinosaur fully over his head and suplexed him onto the ground. Phenom did his best to curl his body and prevent himself from landing face first, but the collision still shook him as his side struck the earth.

As his rival landed, Tempest's instincts forced him to take a breath, feeling an annoying wave of fatigue rushing through him. He forced it down as quickly as he could, turning around to fire an Ice Beam directly into the young Tyrunt's back. Phenom wailed as the icy blast struck him, and the frigid attack burned into his hide before his back grew somewhat numb. Crystals formed in a thin layer across the exterior, persisting the burning sensation as he hunched over. Feeling a follow up attack incoming, he forced himself up, only for Tempest's pincer to snatch him in a painful Vise Grip and shove into the grass, aggravating the back burning further. The Vise Grip held him in place as Tempest raised his other pincer, activating Crabhammer, the knockout blow seconds away…

…

…

…

The blow did not come.

Tempest's grip on his opponent remained hard and firm as he stared his opponent down, one strike away from ending the fight and standing tall. After what could have been a few moments or several, his grip slightly loosened, and he saw the gradual confusion pass over the Tyrunt's face as the glow from Crabhammer progressively started to vanish.

Finally, after some hesitance, he released his hold on the young dragon, backing away a step or two as Phenom's claw massaged his side where the Vise Grip had been holding him. With some difficulty, the Tyrunt rose into a sitting position, the aggressive eagerness replaced with bewilderment and curiosity.

Tempest's face scrunched for a moment or two as both Pokemon studied one another, trying to determine if the other would make a move. When none came, the Krabby scrunched further, before releasing the growing tension in his face with an exhale. With an awkward pit making itself known in his stomach, the water type lowered his head and mumbled an apology.

The young dragon blinked at the tone of the river crab's voice, and the foreign facial expression accompanying it. After a moment or two of processing his opponent's words, he caught onto the meaning, and his mind flashed back to that day once more. His face fell for a second or two, before perking up as the Krabby approached him. His grip wasn't painful as his pincers carefully latched onto the Tyrunt, pulling him to his feat. Phenom stumbled as he stood, still feeling in the burning in his back, and a general wave of fatigue going through his body, but Tempest, while catching a breath of his own, kept the dinosaur propped up.

He thankfully did not need to for long; the sound of quick footsteps brought both of their attention to Ash, who jogged over to them with the rest of the team following him. He had two oran berries in his hands, which he quickly showed as he knelt down beside them.

"Hear, eat these real quick. Phenom, I have an Ice Heal in my backpack."

The two Pokemon gladly welcomed the blue berries, as well as the relieving feeling that came over them as they munched on the quick, refreshing snack. Though it stung, the crystals frozen over Phenom's back thawed off from the spray.

"There buddy, you feeling better?" the young trainer smiled as Phenom nodded back, rubbing the dinosaur's head. "You're gonna make a heck of a Tyrantrum one of these days, you know that?" his words got a small grin out of his friend, who closed his eyes to briefly lean into his hand.

Tempest watched the exchange, an annoying discomfort making itself known to him as the rest of the team's eyes fell on him. He felt somewhat relieved as Ash stood back up to speak.

"So… how are you guys feeling? It was a good battle, wasn't it?"

The Krabby shifted for a moment, before Phenom's eyes found their way back to him. An unreadable expression lined the Tyrunt's features; but it felt calmer. Standing up straight, the dinosaur nodded, making sure he was making eye contact with the water type when he did. Tempest blinked, before returning the gesture.

"Phenom," Ash's eyes comfortably fell on the dragon. "Your… instincts are a part of who you are. Just about any member of your species has them, and they can be quite the tool. I'd say someone wiser than me would say that you're starting to become a true dragon. And Tempest," he turned his attention to the river crab. "You love to fight, and for a Pokemon, that's good. It was never the problem on its own, it was always about control. As your trainer, I'm responsible for the poor job I did in the past. Letting this team be divided was never the right thing to do, it was just easy. But you all heard what I said before," he turned back to the rest of the team for a moment. "There is no "easy" way of doing things from now on. Not if we want to reach the Indigo Plateau. Certainly not if we want to make history in the Top 16. We're a family, brothers and sisters don't always see eye to eye, but out there, we're still one whole, and we're only complete working together. So…" he looked between them and Tempest. "I don't want to ramble or repeat myself too much, the important part is… our challenges are about to ramp up, whether we're ready or not. So to be ready, we should make this a fresh start, and go into Fuchsia as a complete team. Is that reasonable to you guys?"

His words sunk in as he spoke them, and as the team's eyes focused on the river crab, Nebula was the first to respond, raising a wing with an affirmative chirp. Encouraged by her gesture, Pikachu mimicked her motions.

Valiant remained focused on Tempest for a bit longer before giving Glaceon a curious look. She offered her trainer a nod; though it came slowly, her face seemed fairly confident as she did. He could feel the rest of the group's eyes landing on him next as his eyes studied the water type. A few memories flashed through his mind as he took a breath… before nodding as well.

Ash's expression conveyed gratitude before he redirected his focus back to Phenom and Tempest, the former approaching his legs as the young trainer signaled the latter over to him. "That's good… so, what do you two say?"

After a couple seconds of silence, Phenom sighed before taking a step to the Krabby. He raised an outstretched claw, holding it forward in offer. A moment later, Tempest mirrored the action, his much larger pincer meeting the claw as the two shook.

Tempest ate dinner with the rest of the group that night.

/

"Nice to see you guys confident," Patricia smiled. "Good luck out there, you two."

It was 10:00 AM the next morning, and after an early breakfast and a few final preparations, Ash and Janine were outside the lodging, finally ready to continue on into Fuchsia proper. Glaceon and Ivysaur stood next to their respective trainers, while Nebula carried Pikachu on her back above them, prepared to survey the surrounding area when it was time to set off.

"Thanks," Ash nodded, gripping the straps of his backpack. "And thanks for your suggestion about Grampa Canyon, too. I'll consider it."

"No pressure," the older girl assured. "But, I'll see you there if you decide. For now, focus on the Soul Badge."

"You keep it up too," Janine crossed her arms. "So you don't lose to your cousin."

"Heh, wouldn't dream of that."

After a few more quick words, Patricia was back inside, leaving the group out alone. Looking over to his best friend, Ash saw Janine's expression changing as she sucked in a breath of air. He had a feeling he knew what was on her mind; she was about to be in Fuchsia's territory for the first time since Opening Day, after all.

He wondered if he'd get a similar feeling when the time came to pay Pallet the visit he promised.

"You ready, Janine?" he lightly prodded her side to get her attention.

"...Yeah," she made eye contact before responding. "We should start right away, we have a lot of ground after all."

That was the understatement of his entire travels. The most efficient path did not stop at any settlements, meaning it would be a good while before they reached civilization once more if they stuck to it. Certainly the longest stretch thus far.

It was a stressful thought, and it would have been far more stressful at the start, back when he and Pikachu were walking into Viridian Forest all that time ago. But now, he had no choice but to welcome it. Just as Janine had said a good while back.

"Glaceon, you ready to head out," looking down at the ice type, he made eye contact with his friend. His lips curved up at her gaze; cold as she was by nature, her character was as hot as ever, and it was complimented with a confident nod from the quadruped. "Alright then," looking up above, he raised his voice. "Nebula, Pikachu! We're leaving now!" A loud chirp was let out in response, and the Staravia slightly lowered herself to circle around the group as they finally turned around to set off.

Benver's Lodging was a popular pit stop and trainer hangout built by a retired Gym Leader that even Samuel Oak had admired in his youth. The perfect place to regroup at the border of one of Indigo's most notorious territories.

But they had done more than just regroup. Now, things had changed.

/

"Excuse me, Gary Oak?" With a narrowed expression, Gary watched the group's retreating forms from a window before his attention was briefly stolen away by a staff member. "There's a caller looking for you, she said her name's Angelina."

He offered the man a quick nod. "Thanks, tell her I'll be there in a few minutes." As the man walked off, the Oak boy redirected his attention to the window, eyes piercing as their forms, his form, grew too small to recognize.

"Real happy for now, I'll bet. But just you wait…"