Sam didn’t move out from behind the fallen pile of stones. Though he had been seen, hiding behind something helped settle the churning in his stomach that built as Clair approached.

She was like a storm, though that storm was constrained to the even march of an accomplished Gym Leader. Above her head, a sleek Dragonair followed, looking down at Sam’s small group with a gaze that felt unimpressed.

Ursaring’s hackles were raised, and he walked over to stand ahead of everyone else. He positioned himself at the front of the stones, letting loose a growl and flexing his claws. The Stantler was left behind, placed on the ground with Misdreavus floating above it. Haunter lingered in the deer Pokémon’s shadow, using the occasional Hypnosis to ensure it remained asleep.

Sam didn’t move, only watched, but Redi stepped out alongside her bear. Clair arrived, and she glanced over everyone here. She looked almost bored, in a way.

“I will not apologize, but I accept the blame for the attack. Dragonite evolved seconds before he split off, and I wasn’t—”

A flash of light came from her wrist.

Whatever she had in mind, she clearly hadn’t accounted for one of her Pokémon suddenly releasing itself. From a Pokéball hidden within a thick wristband, a second Dragonair appeared, this one smaller and moving with far less control than the one above it. It squealed its name excitedly and tried to jump at Redi, but Clair’s personal Dragonair flicked its tail to send the smaller Pokémon flopping backward with a sudden gust of wind.

The new Dragonair looked up at Clair and whined. Its goofy eagerness stood at odds with her attempt at a professional demeanor.

She pinched her nose, but it was Redi who spoke up in understanding.

“No way,” she breathed. “Don’t tell me that—”

“Of course, it’s you two,” Clair sighed.

The Dragonair pushed itself off the ground to move towards Redi once again. This time, it didn’t jump, but its movements still came out quick and excited. Its lack of aggression was obvious, and Ursaring was only willing to step aside when Redi put a hand on his arm.

The Dragonair brought up its head in front of her, and Redi slowly brought up a hand to place on its snout. The Dragonair’s eyes curved up alongside a cheerful smile.

“Sam. Sam! It is! You know! It’s the one—! Back from—!”

Redi squished the Dragonair’s cheeks.

Any sense of seriousness dropped from Clair. Now, the Gym Leader just looked exhausted after that display.

“So Dragonite recognized you. That’s why he came this way,” she said, rubbing her temples.

Sam looked at the Dragonair in front of Redi, gaining the courage to step out. A single glance confirmed the truth of the matter:

This Pokémon was familiar.

“You’re kidding,” Sam said. “You’re one of the Dratini from Goldenrod’s Game Corner.”

Dragonair winced when the location was named, but it still happily squeaked to affirm Sam’s statement. Clair looked annoyed, but she didn’t stop either it or Redi. Redi continued to pet and play with its face for several more seconds before it drew back. It squeaked a secondary greeting to Sam as it did, and he waved.

“I don’t need to explain its history if you two were there,” Clair said, not hiding her annoyance. “The three rescued Dratini were passed over to the Blackthorn Clan once recovered, as we are Johto’s foremost experts on the Dragon Type. They were originally captured from—”

Clair hesitated.

“Kanto’s Safari Zone?” Sam finished, though that statement earned him a glare from the Gym Leader. He stuttered as he tried to explain himself, struggling to find the right words for a believable excuse. “I, uh, heard a rumor that was a thing?”

“Yes,” Clair hissed, “but never tell anyone you know that. The three Dratini were poached from the Safari Zone, rescued from Goldenrod, and then given the choice of what to do. One was returned to its mother, but the other two wanted the strength to prevent anything similar from happening again. We negotiated with the Safari Zone, and I’ve been personally training them ever since.”

The smaller Dragonair brought up its head and coiled its body, going through what Sam had to guess was the equivalent of a flex for a serpent. Clair’s personal Dragonair sighed and covered its face with the tip of its tail. The smaller one sheepishly said its name and uncoiled.

It was clearly young, but Sam couldn’t get that image of it wrapping around the Dragonite out of its head. It might have been somewhat naive, but it still carried the strength that fit its Type.

“So you’re telling me this Dragonair and that Dragonite were Dratini only a few months ago?” Sam asked. “You managed to evolve two Dragon Types in that short of a time?”

“Of course,” Clair easily answered. “Both Dratini evolved within a week. You’re correct to think Dragon Types take longer to evolve than the average Pokémon, but that just means more effort is required to maintain an equivalent pace. However, a Dragon Type’s final evolution can be... overwhelming. Neither was supposed to evolve into a Dragonite for a long, long time.

Clair’s hand twitched, and she rubbed her wrist. There were the start of bags under her eyes. If Sam had to guess, that Dragonite’s evolution would cause her more problems than just this attack.

She looked over to Sam and Redi, glancing between them and taking them in. Her eyes narrowed as she seemed to analyze them. Her mouth curved back into a frown.

“He knew this just as well as I did, and he should have had no reason to push himself to evolve,” Clair said. “But a Dragon Type’s eyesight is better than even a Flying Type’s, and we’ve been training in these parts for the past several days. This immediate off-route area contains the weakest wild Pokémon near Blackthorn City, and If he saw and recognized you two—”

“He was going after us and not the Stantler?” Redi exclaimed.

“He might have been trying to prove himself against you in a fight,” Clair reluctantly admitted. “You were the ones to signal the start of his rescue, after all.”

Redi opened her mouth but nothing came out. A Dragon Type had technically acknowledged her team’s strength.

Sam, meanwhile, was still stuck on Clair’s previous point:

Adding everything up, she had managed to bring a Dratini to a Dragonite in a matter of months.

Evolving a Pokémon was supposed to take a long time. In the wild, Pokémon could take years before they evolved even once. Being constantly trained and pushed in battles tended to cut down that time, but it still generally took most of a season for a trainer’s Pokémon to evolve twice.

But a Dratini was a Dragon Type. They took much, much longer to evolve even a single time. Yet, Clair had done so in a single week, and one had become a Dragonite only a few months later. Such a feat felt impossible to Sam.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

It was something only a true specialist could do.

He felt his hands clench. He couldn’t help it—he was jealous. He wanted that same level of expertise for himself. Not with the Dragon Type, of course, but he wanted to achieve the same results with the Ghost Type.

He’d make it happen, but he had more pressing evolutions to ensure, first.

“This wouldn’t have been possible without the right motivation,” Clair said, suddenly looking at Sam and recognizing the emotions crossing his face. “These two went through something awful that they never want to let happen again. They’ve thrown themselves into training with a ferocity not every Pokémon could match.”

The Dragonair on the ground held its head high, proud of its achievements. Redi silently stared in deep thought.

“So that's why they were given to you, a Gym Leader?” she asked.

“I was the best choice out of everyone in Blackthorn,” Clair said with a proud smile. “I’m an expert when it comes to Dragonair. My starter chose to stay at her mid-stage, as evolving into a Dragonite would see her lose her powerful weather control.”

The Dragonair above her head smirked, and the gemstones on its chest and tail glowed. A breeze picked up, and Sam braced himself to stay in one place. There was a certain bite to the wind that didn’t come from just the cold.

Redi rubbed her shoulder and moved a step closer to Ursaring. She glanced down at Clair’s wrist, looking at where the Gym Leader kept her Pokéballs.

“So then where is he going to go?” she asked. “The Dragonite?”

“To my cousin, most likely,” Clair answered. “He’s always looking for more help against Team Rocket, and fighting criminals like them would give Dragonite ample targets while working to get his Dragon’s rage under control.”

Clair then crossed her arms and sent pointed looks to both Sam and Redi. She didn’t need to say it, but that information was secret. They were only told this information due to Dragonite’s history with them.

“Oh.” Redi went quiet for a long while. “So they’re not letting you keep him, then.”

One of Clair’s eyes twitched. Sam barely resisted covering his face with his hands.

“Excuse me?”

“Your family. You’re not being allowed to train a Dragonite, I mean,” Redi said. “You were training them as Dragonair, but now that one’s evolved and you lost control, they want you to rely on your cousin, right?”

Redi had a thoughtful look on her face, and Sam understood that she didn’t mean offense at all. She was genuinely curious and even seemed sad to hear that Clair was being forced to give up a Pokémon.

It didn’t matter. Clair didn’t know Redi as well as Sam did. She was barely suppressing the scowl that threatened to appear on her face, and her hands tightened against her forearms from where they were crossed.

“I’ll have you know that I’ve trained plenty of Dragonite in the past,” Clair snapped. “This is simply an extenuating circumstance. If it wasn’t for Team Rocket—”

“Yeah, I get it,” Redi said. “He wants to fight.”

Something about being interrupted made Clair go utterly still. Sam had researched Ghost Types for long enough to recognize the sudden “danger” they were in.

“And what about you, hm?” Clair said sharply. “Trying to catch a mere Stantler? I imagine you were going to challenge my Gym. At what level? Sixth Badge? Seventh?”

“Fourth.”

“Fourth!?” Clair all but yelled.

“Uh, yeah?” Redi replied, speaking as if it were obvious. “I passed over Morty’s Gym ‘cause I wasn’t ready, and then Team Rocket pushed us out of Violet City earlier than we wanted. We helped capture that guy, but we haven’t gone back yet. I still need to fight Walker or whoever they send in their place, but I figured I could take on your Gym in the meantime.”

Clair’s jaw dropped. Above, her Dragonair wasn’t just offended—no, it was experiencing sheer and utter disbelief. Dragon Types were known to be proud, and Redi was talking about facing them as if it were just a casual matter.

Sam finally let himself smack his face. Clair ignored him, sneering. Any friendliness from before had vanished.

“Blackthorn Gym only accepts challengers with five Gym Badges or higher. We don’t even offer a Trial for lower-ranking trainers. Our Gym is no different from how Kanto’s Viridian Gym only accepts challengers for their seventh Gym Badge or above. It’s for experienced trainers.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I’d just take on your Gym at a higher level of challenge,” Redi answered.

A pause stretched out between them.

“No.”

“No?”

“I said badges, not stars,” Clair said. “I expect experience, not untamed strength. Who are you to think you’re ready to take on the Dragon Gym at your level? Who are you to think you can travel off-route at your level?”

Sam slowly brought his hand down, a cold calm creeping throughout him. Redi growled and stomped a foot. The larger Dragonair slithered down to leer at her from behind Clair’s shoulder, and Clair cupped the chin of her Dragon Type as she glared at Redi just as much as Redi glared at her.

Ursaring growled to support Redi in this ongoing standoff. The smaller Dragonair on the ground looked between them and whined. As for Sam...

He took a step forward.

“You accept challengers with five badges or more, yeah?” he asked, carefully controlling how he spoke his words.

Clair’s eyes snapped to him. Redi smirked as if the fact the Gym Leader looked away meant she won.

“You’re correct,” Clair said.

Sam smiled. If he had glasses, he would have pushed them back to let them reflect sunlight in just the right way.

“I have five Gym Badges. My Pokémon won a tournament. We helped take down a wanted criminal, and Redi’s team is just as strong as mine,” he said. “Fight us. Let us prove it.”

Clair frowned at his offer, but Sam did note that she no longer seemed as annoyed.

“Set up a challenge at my Gym—”

“Would you accept Redi’s challenge? You said it yourself that she doesn’t have enough badges,” he said.

Clair’s frown deepened, and Redi spoke up.

“I can take you on any day, any time!” she shouted. “Who cares about how many Gym Badges I have? I have plenty of experience from other things! I’m as good as any other trainer, and I can beat a five-star team, easy! Hey, my Pokémon could even beat a sixth-star team!”

“How about a seventh?” Clair asked.

“Yeah! A seven-star team, no prob!” Redi replied with a grin.

Wait, hold on.

“Redi—”

“Hah!” Clair barked out. “You really think your three-badge team is capable of something like that? You wouldn’t even be able to beat a freshly hatched Dratini with a day’s training! You know nothing about how Pokémon battles really work.”

“I know plenty,” Redi growled out.

Sam wanted to groan, but he could at least step in before things got worse.

“A seventh-badge challenge,” he said, trying to settle the matter, “for our Gym Battle. You get to use a stronger team, but we take you on in our way in exchange.”

Redi pulled back, looking at Sam, visibly impressed at his attempt to negotiate. Clair actually seemed to consider the offer, too. She rubbed her chin in thought.

“What are you thinking?”

“A double battle, Redi and I versus your seven-star team,” Sam answered. “Winning one of those requires more than just individual strength. No matter how strong a single trainer might be, double battles only work if both sides pull their weight and know how to apply strategy. I’d say it’d be more than enough proof of our strength, and this way, you’re at least battling one five-Gym Badge trainer while giving Redi the chance to fight you at the same time.”

Clair’s gaze was appraising, and Sam hoped she accepted his offer. He admitted that his plan was a little off-the-cuff, but it was based on what he’d seen in Hoenn. Double battles weren’t as common in Johto, but facing Clair in one would hopefully make her more willing to face Redi.

He also got the sense that she might have been a bit embarrassed. Her proud stature was taller than before, but it also seemed more forced—Clair probably recognized she’d just fallen for the taunts of a teenage girl.

But, more importantly, the Gym Leader had a greedy look behind her eyes. She had on that same, battle-hungry expression that Sam had seen dozens of dedicated trainers—Redi especially—gain many times before.

“I accept,” Clair said. “As Blackthorn City’s chosen Gym Leader, I have the right to create special challenges for trainers I deem worthy. For you two, you’ll face me in a double battle against a team of Pokémon I hand select. Does that work for you?”

“Easily,” Redi answered.

“Don’t get upset when you lose,” Sam said.

Clair smirked, and her Dragonair pushed itself beneath her feet. It lifted her up, bringing her high into the air as she stood on its back.

“When you arrive in Blackthorn City, head to the Gym and schedule a date!” Clair called out. “Any time will work for me, but take as long as you need to prepare!”

“Yeah? It’ll be less than you think!” Redi shouted.

Sam sent her a look.

“I’ll be looking forward to it.” Clair grinned. “And given your successes so far... I won’t need to hold back!”

Clair flashed her teeth in a predatory smile and patted the back of her Dragonair’s neck. The Pokémon called out its name and zipped off into the blue of the sky.

The Dragonair still on the ground sent Sam and Redi an apologetic look before taking off after her.

“...Wait, isn’t this where she offers us a ride to town?” Redi asked.

An audible smack rang out as Sam brought his palm to his face for the second time today.

“A seven-star team is going to be difficult, especially since she’ll have a dedicated strategy—unlike Petrel’s team,” Sam mused, bringing his hand back down. “I definitely think a double-battle is in our favor—which is why I proposed it—but she probably has some familiarity with them. They’re just not as common here as in Hoenn.”

As Sam talked, Redi paced back and forth, kicking up her feet as she did.

“It’s fine. We’ll make a plan,” she said.

Sam looked at her. He realized she hadn’t caught onto the extra requirement he’d accidentally forced on her.

“Redi,” Sam said slowly. “You do know that double battles involve six Pokémon per side, right?”

“Duh,” she replied.

“Then you should realize that since we’ll be fighting together, neither of us will be supplying those six Pokémon. We’ll be expected to use three Pokémon each.”

Redi froze mid-stride, and her mouth dropped into a tall “O” shape. She robotically turned her head toward Sam.

“I see,” she said.

She seemed to have trouble processing that idea.

Fighting in and planning for a double battle was one thing. Catching a new Pokémon and training it enough to keep up with the rest was another. Sam proposed this battle because he knew they could win, but Redi needed to catch the Stantler. It was no longer an idle desire, but a mandated task for if she wanted to face Clair.

Slowly, Redi turned to look at a point behind Sam, and Sam followed her gaze, staring at the space behind the pile of stones against the cliff. Red eyes opened in Sam’s shadow as Haunter looked the same way.

There was nothing keeping the Stantler asleep. Haunter had left alongside Sam. On the ground, the Pokémon stirred, and their real purpose behind traveling off-route began to wake.