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Pincers and Jaws pt 1

  The events of that night had never truly escaped Phenom's memory. It was before his first proper battle, before the team's first stay in Saffron City. He had still been so young, so small, just learning how to fight. Looking at everything else in awe as his teammates took on opponent after opponent, only two badges to their name, as the young Tyrunt's goal was solely to be a part of it all.

  It was on the way to Saffron when he had been abruptly woken by the team's newest recruit. That Krabby. Tempest had picked a fight with him out of the blue. Something in the dinosaur had flared that night, and looking back at it felt sort of cloudy. Some kind of adrenaline rush. He had been powerless, though, and helpless to turn the tides until the brawl was broken up. The water type was far too strong for him, and the encounter had been nothing but painful.

  The large water type was a bully. A brute who only cared about himself, and picking fights with others for no reason. The two of them had been kept apart ever since, and the young dinosaur's thoughts were never forced to linger on that night too much, but it had always been in the back of his mind. He always remembered why they were apart, and it was for the best.

  For the best is what he thought. At the time. As long as he avoided the Krabby, Tempest would not get in the way of his fun. He would not have to worry about being beaten up again. It was what he had thought for quite some time.

  Now, a thought such as that made Phenom growl in frustration. Why should he have to avoid Tempest or any other kind of bully just to be happy and enjoy having fun with his friends? It was because of all of that hard yet fun work training and battling that he was as strong as he was now. That drive had made him go from Tyrunt to Phenom. From baby to Phenom. Tempest did not need to be avoided, he needed to be confronted. To be made aware that the baby he had picked on for no reason had grown up, but not forgotten. He needed to be put in his place, but first, he needed to know who had their eyes on him. He needed to know ahead of time who was going to be the one to do it. And on the road to Lavender Town, he had looked Tempest in the eye to make sure that was the case.

  One day, they would fight. And the river crab was going to lose.

  Ever since leaving Lavender Town, however, things had become confusing. Frustrating. The events that had occurred in the tower were more than enough on their own, but… out of nowhere, Tempest of all Pokemon had saved him. And now, the young dinosaur could not stop asking himself why. That brutish Krabby was supposed to be nothing but a jerk. A violent, condescending jerk. That's what he had been the entire time, always looking down on him and the rest of his friends like he was better. Always causing trouble for no reason, just like when he had attacked him.

  Trying to make sense of such a thing simply led to the dinosaur's mind going blank. And that was frustrating. It was a frustration he did not allow to keep him down, however. Fuchsia City was their next goal, and Ash and Janine were always talking about it. About the weight of the next Gym battle that they would face. Throwing himself headfirst into training was a perfect distraction from the confusing frustration that stupid bully was forcing on him.

  Or at least it should have been, but the young Tyrunt was not the only one throwing himself headfirst in. So much had changed leaving Lavender Town, and it all started with Glaceon. The Eevee that Phenom had admired and adored was now so beautiful and strong. The way she mowed down her opponents was like her unstoppable tail was cleaving them in two. Every time she battled, his eyes could not leave her. The dinosaur's gaze followed her like a superhero charging in.

  But there was one member of the team who perhaps gave Glaceon even more attention. Tempest had doubled and tripled down ever since Eevee had evolved. Now, as they made their way to Benver's Lodging, the Krabby would throw himself into any fight he could get himself into. The brute was showing off.

  Phenom would never accept that. Now, all Tempest cared about was catching up to Glaceon. Of course he did, he only cared about himself, after all. He wanted to surpass her for his own gain. It was all that water type focused on.

  But Tempest needed to pay attention to him. Phenom had not forgotten, and he would not allow Tempest to forget either.

  /

  Life had been simple and aimless on the Cerulean coast. It had been so easy to feel content: Go out and find food, go out and find fights. The more things Tempest found to punch, the more he realized just how fun it was. Being lucky enough to find a particularly strong opponent made it better. The young Pokemon at that researcher's Lab were not particularly strong, but they were there, and breaking in to rough them up would always scratch the itch. For a while, Tempest had not imagined much else.

  The entire world had changed the moment Ash Ketchum and Pikachu had shown up. The feeling of being bested had overtaken the water type. Being caught was something he could not register at first. But in the next moment, it had been the best thing to ever happen to him. A trainer that could make him stronger. Traveling all across Indigo facing the toughest opponents possible, all for the goal of competing in the best tournament possible. Nowadays, Tempest rarely ever thought of the Cerulean coast. There was little attachment, little nostalgia. His eyes had been opened to how hopelessly bland life had been. The world he lived in now was bigger and better than everything that he had left behind.

  There was a downside, however, and it was the Pokemon he was forced to travel with. Tempest cared little for their approval; it's not like he ever needed friends to have fun. Fighting was not about friends, after all. But it was still annoying, the way the others looked down on him for indulging in what was fun. Valiant, the Kirlia that never stopped kissing the bottom of Ash's feat, was the most scrutinous of the bunch, but they all gave him the same look. He would give it right back to them, and let them know exactly how he felt.

  One of those five, however, had been a young Tyrunt. He was just a baby, no match for him. But there was something bubbling inside. An eagerness to fight. It had been impossible to resist; Tempest had spent all his time finding an opponent to fight whenever he saw the opportunity, and one opportunity was right there.

  The scolding he had received from Ash was still in his mind. As was the threat of being released. What's more, everyone looked at him far worse now. But Tempest allowed himself to care little. He would listen to Ash's instructions not to pick fights with teammates, and that would be that. As long as he could stay on the team, and feel the thrill of such strong opponents like the Gym Leaders, his trainer's terms were not a problem. Neither were the glaring eyes of Valiant and the others. Let them glare, they were of little concern.

  Ash always thought differently, however. For as much as Tempest respected his proven capable trainer, Ash's warning felt ludicrous. He tried to convince Tempest that he'd fall behind, and that Valiant and the others would all leave him in the dust together if he continued to do things alone in his own corner. None of that made sense. All five of his team "teammates" were so much softer than him. Too sensitive and irritating. What could he possibly have to gain from working with them? If anything they'd just drag him down. He had certainly held his own against Leader Erika well enough.

  Then the attack on the museum had occurred, and Tempest always did his best not to look back. His trainer and teammates almost getting killed, chasing after him. How he had been the cause of it. How that blasted Mr. Mime had held Ash at gunpoint. And in addition, Ash confronting him about it afterwards.

  Tempest had not been able to feel anything other than regret, and the regret frustrated him. Yet the frustration did not get rid of the regret, it only made it worse. All he had done was give chase. The blue haired kid, Damian, who had just tried to murder Ash in cold blood was getting away, and Tempest had not yet been satisfied. Chasing him was the logical thing to do. It had been a fight, and he decided when it was over. And the choice he had made that day had brought Ash even closer to death with the Mr. Mime than he had been with Damian himself, and everyone in their group, Janine and her Pokemon included, had almost died. Tempest had never regretted anything before, and he wished he never had. It wasn't adrenaline. It certainly wasn't a thrill. It was just a sickening feeling all around.

  Even now, Celadon had not left his mind. It was there in full when Ash had outright forced him to start working with his teammates, teaching Valiant Icy Wind, sparring with Eevee, accepting help from Tentacruel to learn Surf. Help that he had tried to insist to himself was not needed - was only being accepted because his trainer said so - until that battle. Surf had been the only reason he had not lost outright to that Metang. It was an annoying thought, but before long, he had found himself accepting it. The memories of Celadon had not left him, and had only grown somewhat stronger after yet another Team Rocket attack. He wasn't overly fond of his teammates, but what had happened had been his fault. He wasn't going to let himself put his trainer or teammates in danger again, but it wouldn't stop him from loving to fight.

  Nonetheless, Ash had been right: Being a part of a team was better than flying solo. Valiant had proved him wrong with the progress he had made with Icy Wind, and now Glaceon and her evolution became something to chase.

  The young Krabby could not quite pinpoint when or why he had come to like Ash so much. At the start, wasn't this supposed to be a means to an end for both of them? Ash would make him stronger and give him the chance to fight battles he never could have hoped to imagine back at the dull Cerulean coast, and in return, Tempest would be a strong asset for his new trainer's goals. The two of them had had their fair share of differences, enough to where the Krabby could not figure out what drew him to the boy personally. He told himself that he simply respected Ash, and his starter, for that matter, for beating him back at the Lab and proving he had the tools to deliver on his promises. It had never been personal, just a means to an end. But the water type's heart had nearly stopped when the Mr. Mime held his trainer hostage, an incident that would not have happened if it had not been for him acting as such a loose cannon. And even after that, Ash had given him a second chance he may not have deserved.

  …

  It was yet another confusing cluster of thoughts playing out in the Krabby's mind, but as time went on he found himself somewhat less concerned over it. It felt oddly silly, making a big deal of it. Perhaps some time ago, he would have thought differently, but it felt just as silly making a big deal of that as well.

  Right now, they were on their way to Fuchsia City for what promised to be the biggest Gym battle yet. Tempest's excitement was focused on that, and Fuji's statement that he would soon be ready for evolution. And when he did become a Kingler, he'd make a point to be Ash Ketchum's greatest asset.

  A new detail forbade those thoughts from being the only things on his mind, however. The Tyrunt, who now called himself Phenom, had been focused on him ever since they had left Saffron. Remembering what he had done to the dinosaur such a long time ago brought another sense of guilt to the water type, the youngest member of the team's newfound confrontational spirit bringing a long past memory back to the front of his mind. But Phenom was different now, compared to back then.

  Despite himself, Tempest could not fault the dinosaur's opinion of him, but now Phenom was attempting to upstage him. Glaceon's evolution and amazing power (which Tempest had quickly found himself on the receiving end of in a spar) had lit a spark in the Krabby's heart, and on the way to Benver's Lodging, he was now throwing himself into every battle that he could get involved in, digging in as deeply as he could to bring out what he needed to become a Kingler. The battles were getting harder, but so was he, and the thrill of each encounter had gone up with it.

  But Tempest was no fool: Phenom was doing the same. Had responded in kind. But his sights were not on Glaceon, they were on him. The Tyrunt was specifically trying to fight better than him. And as impressed as Tempest was to watch his teammate's Dragon Pulse finish off the staggeringly tenacious Flaaffy, he would not allow himself to be outdone by the upstart runt of the group. If Phenom was going to chase him, he'd simply go faster. Either way, evolution was on his horizon.

  /

  The remainder of the day blended together in somewhat weird, blissful fashion. Not even halfway to the machines, a euphoric Ash had been intercepted by Beth, Jordan, and Josh, and had been midway through being bombarded with what must have been fifty questions at once before Patricia had pulled the three away. Though the overwhelming onslaught had brought him back down to earth (and not too long after leaving, at that), nothing changed when he was finally given room to breathe once more, that same elation quickly returning to him in a more grounded form. The kind where your body and mind became devoid of pressure. It did not simply feel "light", it was hard for him to describe the feeling, but it was one of unrivaled contentment.

  A formal celebration of their victory would have to wait, as everyone on his team was in need of healing and rest; Nurse Joy's over the phone advice for the remainder of the day at the least. Glaceon was transported to the closest Center for more thorough treatment, having the worst injuries following her clash with Jolteon. Pikachu's body and mind had pushed themselves beyond what the electric mouse initially seemed capable of, and though he had almost certainly unlocked a new set of potential to delve into and grow until Ash could get his hands on a Thunder Stone (the true threshold standing in their way), the extreme exhaustion that now claimed his starter had led to him being transported as well.

  It felt very dissonant, being without his team even in the wake of such a victory, but Ash was not alone either, gratefully enjoying Janine's company for the rest of the day. It had all gone by in a snip, though. Although it was not the case, he couldn't help but feel like only an hour or so had gone by between leaving Gary at the battlefield and eating dinner with Janine and her team before turning in for the night. Nonetheless, he found himself resting easily, his already relaxed body finding its way to a pleasant sleep as naturally as a breeze of the wind when he closed his eyes.

  Elsewhere in the lodging, things were different.

  Gary's eyes were as open as they were at noon, and any attempts at closing them did nothing to summon sleep, even as he buried himself in his covers trying every position known to mankind.

  Finally, the Oak boy hissed, throwing the covers off of him. Half the blanket touched the floor as he climbed out of bed and rubbed his heavy eyes. He was tired, and yet no amount of fatigue in the world was allowing sleep to come his way. Turning on the light, his eyes stung for a second or two as the room lit up, contrasting the pitch blackness of the outside from the window.

  Everyone on his team was resting overnight at the Center. Not all of them needed it (Jolteon certainly did), but he had needed to be alone. He now questioned that judgment whilst taking in the emptiness of the room, and the bubble in his chest turned to fire as his eyes landed at the clock, which read 12:42 AM.

  "ERAARGH!" He did not quite register the pain the first time his fist hit the wall, which led to a second strike that he regretted far more quickly. "Ack, damnit, Ash…!"

  He wanted to tell himself that the lack of sleep was simply because he was already dreaming, but he knew the fatigue in his eyes (and now, the pain in his left hand) was very much real. It had not been enough for that prick to plant unwarranted doubts in his brain back at Celadon. Doubts that were supposed to be silenced that afternoon. Now, all his brain could see were the images of Ash curled up, or teary eyed, or pale in the face, back in Pallet, and an almost looped replay of the Oak boy's first ever six on six affair.

  Everything about it was an insult. Ash had never been the one studying overnight to memorize every fine detail of knowledge that could be soaked in. He wasn't the one constantly sweating to perfect himself in preparation for the journey to come, and it had shown throughout their upbringing. None of this was deserved, for either of them. None of this was right.

  Gary's eyes aimlessly wandered around the room, finding nothing to land on before turning to the door and heading out into the hall. The sight of the bed was mocking him, reminding him of his inability to sleep. The hall itself was as quiet as the dead, the Oak boy imagining that he may have been the only soul awake.

  Could a failure like Ash really pass him up like this? He knew for a fact that was impossible, so what had happened? Was he the problem? How the hell was he supposed to achieve anything with someone like Ash Ketchum in front of him?

  …

  But then what had he done wrong? He had four badges, and not a single attempt at a Gym had ended in failure. Ever since he was five, he had done everything right, while Ash threatened to put his, Angelina, and all the others' dreams in jeopardy dragging them down to his level. Nothing made sense, no matter how his mind tried to link things together, and the whirlwind of confusion pressed against the fatigue in his head like a hammer grinding against steel.

  'This is his fault.' The venom filled his mind as Gary's knuckles whitened. Ash had been messing with his mind ever since Celadon, and he had been the one having to deal with it ever since. Maybe it was the exhaustion in his body and brain that forbade him from connecting the seemingly invisible dots, but that was Ash's fault too. He'd be sleeping just fine if it weren't for any of this.

  The sound of a somewhat hushed voice broke his attention away from the involuntary growling in his throat, his heavy legs slowly coming to a stop. In his sleep deprived state, he had not noticed that his unplanned walk had taken him beyond the lobby and near the calling room. A female voice he was too tired to fully make out was talking on a video phone, and Gary could not help but blink once or twice. He would be up this late just to make a call?

  As his thoughts died down, an additional wave of tiredness passed over him, almost like a second layer blanketing the first. For more than a split second, he wished he could sleep right there, even if it was on the floor, but instead summoned the strength to turn around and make his way back to his room, feeling his feet dragging along with each and every step as his eyelids developed the weight of a Snorlax.

  He was growing too tired to even think about the bastard, and perhaps that was the key to the rest he had been seeking all night long.

  Over in the calling room proper, Patricia rubbed her eyes while leaning to the side in her chair, wondering if she had simply been hearing things.

  "Is something wrong, Patricia?" on the screen, Leader Erika's tired face scrunched in concern, but subsided at the teen girl's reassuring grin.

  "It's nothing, I just thought I heard something. It was probably just someone on a late night walk."

  /

  'We won. We beat Gary.'

  Sometimes you wake up in the morning, it takes you a moment to process the current situation going into the day. Maybe it's the start of the week, and you slowly realize that you have five straight days of school ahead of you. Maybe something good is about to happen. Maybe something good already has.

  Those were the words that played in Ash's mind as he came to that morning. When the fuzziness of sleep began fading from his eyes and head, he was progressively treated to memories of the big battle from yesterday. From Valiant's opening bout with Meditite, to Glaceon's clashes with half of Gary's team, to Pikachu's final attack piercing through Wartortle's Torrent fueled adrenaline. As Ash remembered it all, that feeling from yesterday returned, and he felt a small smile to nobody in particular spread across his face.

  The five words felt like something insurmountable. As though he had achieved something impossible, not meant to be done. The idea of beating Gary had been exactly that for just about as long as he could remember. The Oak boy was an invincible presence untainted by everything else, and consistently so at his expense.

  But that had all ended yesterday. It did not erase everything else, but the present was different from the past. And the future would be too. From here on out, things were different. Everything was different, and it would stay that way. Because nobody could take yesterday away from him anymore than he could rewrite his own history and humiliation. Anymore than he could wipe away his faults and shortcomings that he had paid for multiple times over in the past. Yesterday would eventually be a part of that past itself, and it was a reminder of where he was going.

  The shadow casted by Gary Oak was no longer eclipsing the horizon.

  /

  "I take it you're feeling well?" Across the table they had claimed in the lounge for breakfast, Janine offered him a knowing grin as he took a second bite of his donut. Surrounding them, their teams ate in high spirits, the majority of Ash's team completely recovered (although Glaceon was told to take it easy for the following day).

  Now finally up and about once more, there was no member of Ash's team in particular who was not lively this morning, and Ash did not need to understand their language to know what they were talking about. All six chatted freely and brightly with both each other and Janine's team (all of whom proved open-eared) about yesterday's battle. Not separated from the others, Tempest was proudly sharing to Tentacruel and Skrelp how he had used Surf to escape from Weepinbell's hold on him twice, while the rest of the collective group mingled back and forth with one another. Nebula did a bit more listening than talking, but was still in a fairly decent mood despite her loss, the positivity proving a little bit too infectious for her to be overly disappointed in the moment; the time for reflection could come later, the next time training resumed.

  Ash took in the lively sight for a moment or two before nodding at his friend with a matched expression. "Doesn't seem like I'm the only one."

  "Indeed," she confirmed, lowering the piece of toast she had been about to bite into. "I hope to share a similar story at the end of the day. That obnoxious Jordan challenged me to a four on four battle on my way to bed last night, and I think your team's spirits are motivating mine."

  "Best of luck," though his voice was encouraging, Ash's face fell almost neutral for a brief moment. "By the way, any dreams last night?" He had almost forgotten to ask.

  Relief found a presence in his chest as she shook her head. "No bad ones. What about you?" The moment he shook his head, the subject ended, and everything was as it was once more. "So, do you have any plans yourself?"

  "A few," he confirmed. "We'll be… setting off soon." It was far from the first time either of them had "set off" but speaking the words felt significantly heavier this time around. This time, the wilds of Fuchsia waited for them ahead, and the journey to the city proper would be far from short. Far from safe. Far from easygoing. "I'm going to call my mom, and Professor Oak if he's available. Some last minute advice from him wouldn't hurt, right?"

  "I concur." the young poison specialist replied. "I was going to see if aunt Aya was available myself. As familiar as I am with the area immediately surrounding the city, father never took me too far out. Although he might have if it was legal." According to her, Leader Koga would usually make use of the Safari Zone to bend the rules. It was a highly diverse yet ultimately controlled environment.

  Enjoying another bite of his donut, Ash's eyes found their way back to his team for a moment, swallowing before his gaze found its way back to Janine. "Also, I still need to…" leaning forward a bit, his voice softened as he nodded to the side. "Phenom and Tempest."

  Her eyes narrowed in understanding. "Right. I suppose Gary set that plan back."

  "He did," Ash admitted thoughtfully. "But… maybe for the best? Everyone's morale is really high now. We need that going into our journey through Fuchsia territory, but it also makes this a good opportunity."

  Looking over to the crab in question, Janine hummed lightly as she observed Tempest chatting with Tentacruel and Skrelp. "Well I, for what it's worth, think I've noticed a difference from when we first joined together. And I think you're right that now is probably the best time." making eye contact with him, she added, "Your morale is not exactly low either. That plays just as much of a role."

  He chuckled. "I suppose it does."

  The two ate in comfortable silence for a decent while after that, simply enjoying the cheerfully spirited sounds of their teammates while consuming most of their breakfast. Nearing the end, however, Ash couldn't help but read from the look on Janine's face that she was deep in thought. "Something wrong?"

  "Oh." the girl perked up. "I was just…" her tongue hesitated for a moment before locking eyes with him. "Thinking about our talk, the other night. Before the battle."

  The air around Ash changed just a bit, somewhat in surprise. "Oh, I see…"

  After a few seconds, she spoke again. "Listen, Ash…" shifting in her seat, her gaze fell to her plate for a moment before returning to her face. "I'm really sorry you were put through that."

  He stared back at her in silence for a few seconds. As he did, his mind returned to that night. The brief talk he and Janine had had, with the encounter with Gary still fresh in his mind.

  It felt foreign, to a degree, hearing someone his age say those words. But not nearly as foreign as it may have sounded in the past. Because…

  "I… appreciate it," he started, and his lips curved up. "But it's fine. That was a lifetime ago."

  /

  He was in the video phone room shortly after breakfast. A few trainers were seated in front of monitors already, but the one closest to the door was unoccupied, which Ash quickly claimed. Pikachu, Valiant, Phenom, and Tempest were all in his company as he spoke to his mother. Then conversation lasted a good deal longer than normal, with both knowing that this would likely be the last time they spoke for a decent stretch; until Ash reached Fuchsia City, most likely. To Ash's pleasant surprise, Trucy was also there with his mother, which also likely played its own role in extending the conversation.

  After saying goodbye to the two, Ash tried to get in touch with Professor Oak, who picked up just as the boy began to assume he wouldn't be available. As they began talking, Valiant excused himself, leaving the room to take a walk in the hallway. Seeing Ash's mother was always nice, but the Kirlia had found himself craving movement towards the end, and he knew there shouldn't be much issue with him wandering the lodging on his own. It was not though he planned to leave the building. So once Delia had hung up and Ash's focus shifted to the Professor, the young psychic decided that now would be the ideal moment to roam.

  A few moments after exiting the room into the hallway, he heard an all too familiar set of footsteps behind him, turning his head to see Phenom curiously following. He offered the dinosaur a quick smile before continuing down the hall, no true goal in mind other than the hope for stimulation. They passed a couple of trainers going through the lobby, but stayed mostly silent.

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Just as they were about to round a corner, however, Valiant halted, nearly bumping into the figure walking in his direction. The newcomer mirrored his reaction, taking a step back towards the other figure accompanying her as Phenom tensed in alert.

  It was Gary's Meditite and Growlithe.

  /

  "Slice n' Dice, Primeape!" On his side of the battlefield, Jordan breathed through his nose as he watched his fighting type partner rush Janine's Toxtricity with claws radiating from the shine of Focus Energy. Toxtricity was bruised and cut from previous exchanges, with some blood running down his left side. Some of Primeape's fur, meanwhile, was charred from electrical shock, and the pig monkey grit his teeth in an effort to ignore the gathering pain from the poison he had recently been inflicted with.

  Closing the distance, the fighting type's eyes widened with aggression while lashing out at Toxtricity with Fury Swipes. Although most of the strikes were avoided, the electric/poison type still growled in pain as a few of them cut into his skin. Before the assault could accumulate, Primeape wheezed when Janine's partner drove a Brick Break into his stomach, halting the onslaught.

  Knowing she might not get another opportunity, Janine let not a second pass before giving her command. "Screech, point blank."

  With his fist still buried into his opponent's abdomen, Toxtricity reached out his other arm and roughly yanked Primeape towards him. Before the fighting type could register what was happening, an unrelenting burst of agony exploded in his ears as Toxtricity let loose a horrible, seemingly deafening Screech directly into them. WIth his Punk Rock ability, the electric/poison combatant's sound based moves were all the more powerful, and this was a concentrated effort focused specifically on the opponent's ears. Jordan's face was the color of the ice his Piloswine had used earlier on in the battle as a guttural scream erupted from Primeape's throat, the fighting type's head throbbing with a fierce ache.

  Janine's expression did not change as the fighting type's hands shot up to grip his ears, but her heart pounded as the feeling of victory graced her fingertips. "Almost there, Venoshock!"

  Despite wanting to catch his breath, Toxtricity was as aware as his trainer how close they were to winning the match. Opening his mouth, he spat out the dark purple liquid, which burned against Primeape's body. The pig monkey let out another shout, his voice this time very uneven as his body registered the pain in his head and ears in addition to the burning of the poison, now amplified by the Venoshock itself. With his nerves overwhelmed, his legs gave out, collapsing onto his bottom. Toxtricity had to catch his breath now, but quickly began to charge electricity immediately afterwards-

  Primeape disappeared in a flash of red light. It took a second or two for Toxtricity to register the departure of his opponent, and the sparks he was preparing fizzled out in a huff of frustration before taking another deep breath and sitting down to rest.

  Though understanding her partner's dissatisfaction, Janine did not mirror it, taking a breath for a different reason while raising Toxtricity's Poke Ball to return him with a light smile. "Well done, now rest up."

  The battle between Ash and Gary the day before had triggered a change in how the older trainers looked at the two of them, and that reaction had extended to Janine herself for the most part. Nonetheless, Jordan was not an easy person to satisfy, and after getting over the initial shock, had demanded Janine put her money where her mouth was instead of simply living vicariously through her friend. An understandable enough demand to make, and though the blonde boy's characteristics would not likely inspire confidence from an outsider, it had not been reflected in the way he battled, and the poison specialist had found herself tested in every sense of the word. She and her friends had answered that test with one of their own, however, employing all the brutal tactics in their book to contest his team's strength. As Primeape disappeared back in his ball, that realization had quickly entered her chest: The feeling of winning an uphill battle. Unlocking previous limits to find new ones. She had not seen Ivysaur fight as hard as he had against Piloswine, and despite her loss, Skrelp had not permitted Sandslash to claim her without taking a piece from him first. Was this how Ash had felt after overcoming Gary? No, she'd surely be giving herself too much credit to compare the two side by side, but she had come out of the affair fully fulfilled.

  The pale expression on Jordan's face (along with his refusal to make eye contact as she approached him) gave her a different form of satisfaction, although a familiar voice in the back of her head caused her to flinch almost visibly at the girl's brow furrowed in disapproval at the idea of such vindictive gratification, but it was too late, for she had already felt it, and now her tongue felt sour.

  Beth, a third party looking on, spoke before either of the two could find their own words first. The red head did not try to hide the surprise on her face when addressing her, although unlike Jordan, she hardly appeared overwhelmed.

  "I have to admit, Janine, was it?" the older girl's fixed on her in thought. "There aren't many first years who… battle the way you do." As her gaze found its way to Jordan, her lips slowly curved up. "I suppose you'd know that more than me, now, huh? How's it feel?"

  It was either her words or the tone she spoke them in that snapped the blonde boy out of his stupor, a hint of red breaking through the paleness in his face. "Yeah, well- real easy for you to say, isn't it?" huffing, he still had not made eye contact. "She's just lucky I was using the B team." With a sigh, his expression returned to its normal color. "But… I am willing to admit you're the real deal." His tone was a bit begrudging, but he made no further comments while taking out his Pokedex to pay the prize money.

  After a few parting words, Janine was back in the building, placing her injured teammates' balls in the healing machine for treatment. She paused for a moment, considering where to go next. Ash may still be in the video phone room, and while she could drop in, they may be in the middle of a discussion that he wished to keep private. Professor Oak was from his hometown after all, and the grandfather of her friend's bully…

  A sting of bitterness laced her tongue, as though she had just tasted a droplet of a strong liquid. Ash had not told her that last detail, but she knew. She had been listening in, after all, unbeknownst to either boy, and it had not taken too long to piece those fragments together; how many famous researchers in Pallet had won the Conference and changed career pursuits shortly after?

  But Ash never seemed to speak ill of the Professor, whom Janine had never been given reason to not think highly of, yet did not know personally herself. That made such a situation a tad confusing, in a way that only Ash was likely to understand. And with the encounter with Gary fresh in her best friend's mind, there was no telling where a conversation with the Samuel Oak himself would go.

  It was best to leave him to it, then. She would return to her room for now, and do more reading. That was the plan in her mind as she turned to start walking, only to come face to face with a spikey haired boy that had been staring at her for the past few moments. It did not take too long to recognize him, and her eyes narrowed.

  "...Tch, I thought so." Gary's voice was bitter and exasperated.

  /

  "So," Professor Oak's expression was inviting on the other end of the screen. Next to him, Heracross (who, even on screen, Ash could swear was a decent bit bigger than last time) offered Ash a wave that the boy cheerfully returned. "You're really going through with this, huh? Diving right into Fuchsia's belly?"

  He nodded back, able to ignore the brief quickening of his heart. "The time to change my mind would have been a while ago by now, right?" Pikachu remained on the table next to him, having greeted the Professor with an enthused squeak. Tempest lingered behind, not participating in the conversation, but his directed attention made it clear that he was listening.

  "Of course," the Professor responded, patting the top of Heracross' horn for a moment. "Surely long before you reached the border."

  "Janine and I have thought pretty long and hard about the trip on our way here," Ash continued. "But, I was wondering if you had anything to add?"

  Oak nodded, assuming a more comfortable position in his seat. "I'm sure I do, but let's start with what you already know."

  "Well…" Ash started, replaying past information in his mind. "Let's see… I know Fuchsia's wilderness can be decently varied depending on what section you're traveling through. We're not planning on hiking through the mountains, but the path we're hoping to follow isn't too far from them. There might be some caves that could make for shelter, but we won't explore them. More prominently, the section we're heading in is supposed to have swamps and vegetation, and the wildlife is known for being territorial. It's not the easiest terrain to traverse or navigate, and going too far off course could lead us into a nest." he suppressed a shudder. "I know a fair amount of poison types call the place home, and a lot of those are known for being territorial or having defense mechanisms that kick in whenever they feel threatened. Leader Koga's forces are fairly on top of foreign Pokemon regulation, but they usually prioritize those that don't mesh very well with the ecosystem."

  "And because of that, certain species have settled down in such an area." Oak interjected.

  Ash nodded. "Right, Janine mentioned the Ariados line nesting in places where the vegetation is deeper, mostly where things are a bit more moist, like a swamp being nearby. And they go out after dark to hunt, so we'd have to camp somewhere they wouldn't feel provoked. Nidoking and Nidoqueen are the big ones, but from what I know, you have to go in very deep to worry about them."

  After a pause, Oak picked up on the silent offer to chime in. "Usually, Ash, but not always. The Nido line are known for being remotely nested, at least when still with their parents. This is because Nidoqueen are extremely cautious with caring for their young; They take extra precautions when sealing their burrows, and indeed do their best to isolate the nest. Having said that, if territory has already been marked, they may end up in locations more likely for a trainer to stumble upon by accident, usually taking extra measures to ensure protection, but nonetheless, they will be provoked by the thought of intrusion. The male members of the line are also less cautious; the young ones are sometimes known to wander, which will lead to parents or older siblings leaving the nest to retrieve them. And Nidoking…'

  Ash felt his spine tingling. "Their temper."

  "To put it lightly." Oak confirmed. "Few things can calm down a provoked Nidoking, but one consistent method: He answers to the calls of his mate. Nidoqueen are imprinted with such knowledge. If the bond is close enough, they can sometimes even sense their rampaging mate, and one of a Nidoqueen's natural instincts is to reign him in. Nonetheless, this could lead to both straying closer to where a trainer is more likely to be."

  Ash's hands clenched and tightened for a moment or two. Even if his team had fully evolved, a borderline berserk Nidoking was a situation he would rather avoid altogether. "Any advice?"

  "Of course," Oak's chuckle conveyed amusement, but his tone of voice soon after reflected an attempt at reassurance. "You didn't think I'd only give you reasons to be nervous, did you?" As Ash's expression lightened up, the Professor continued. Next to him, Heracross, though only hearing the subject out of context, seemed fairly content with paying attention to the conversation. "Your Glaceon, you're aware the Eevee line is something of a canine feline hybrid, correct?"

  "But mostly canine," Ash responded with a nod, curious as to where the Professor was headed with this point. Next to him, Pikachu's ears had perked up at the mention of his newly evolved teammate. "When they evolve, their biological characteristics lean more heavily into that; research and observations have ruled that foxes are the closest they come to an official categorization."

  The Professor's eyes and voice conveyed a small bit of pride, which was soon reflected in the pleasant feeling in Ash's chest. "Very good, Mr. Ketchum. Now then, what sort of detection skills are canine Pokemon known for, and for what reasons?" With an encouraging nod, he added, "You struggled with this for a good while in school, but on the Exam, you aced that explanation."

  Ash felt a surge of drive as he consulted his memories once more. 'Memories of the Qualification Exam.' "When in the wild, canine's utilize scents for a variety of survival tasks. Communication, finding prey, predators, potential mates…" his eyes widened slightly. "Oh…"

  "It sounds like you've answered your own problem." Oak nodded in praise. "You're Glaceon was found in the wild, she's not domesticated, and even if she was, some instincts are simply as natural as the way we draw a breath. She would be an effective method of staying on the lookout for marked territory and avoiding unwanted encounters. Your Pikachu could be of assistance as well. You mentioned caves being a potential shelter, and this could also determine which ones are safe. Or, which ones are safe as long as you do not venture too deep."

  Ash could not help his blinking. After all this time, how had he never considered a tactic like that? It sounded so obvious with how easily the words left the Professor's mouth.

  Nonetheless, his mouth curved upwards. "You're a genius, Professor! What do you think, Pikachu? I know I haven't had you do this before." Locking eyes with his starter, the electric mouse answered with a nod, clearly up to the task. And Valiant's sensitivity to emotions can gauge a wild Pokemon's hostility, right?"

  "You've picked up the momentum you need, I see." Oak responded, clapping his hands together once. "If only Gary could see you now."

  No sooner than the words had been spoken, Ash felt something shift in him, as though a pause button had been hit. Although it was not immediately obvious, Pikachu immediately detected the change, a brief spark appearing in his cheeks as his head turned in his trainer's direction. Soon after, Tempest was shuffling closer to his chair, looking up at the boy.

  It only took a little bit longer for Oak to pick up on it. Though surprised at first, his expression softened. "I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to-"

  "It's not that," Ash quickly cut in. Hearing the name now, straight from Professor's mouth, had almost been like a reminder, bringing the boy's mind to something that had been resting in the back of his head since Celadon. "It's just… I was wondering if I could ask you something?"

  Oak's brow rose, but the mild confusion did not reflect hesitation. "Sure, my ears are open."

  Ash nodded, but took a moment or two to speak. How did he word this in a way that did not sound accusatory…? Especially with how helpful the Professor was being right now, it almost felt wrong to bring the subject up right at this moment, but… for the same reason, maybe there was nothing to worry about. He just needed to say it.

  "You remember our talk on Opening Day, right? After my first battle with Gary?" the Professor nodded. "You really helped me out a lot that day. You said that we weren't defined by our starting points, and that even you started out unremarkable, yet didn't let that stop you. It was very reassuring to hear, given where I was back then. I'm not sure how things would have turned out if you hadn't told me that." He paused for a moment, placing a hand on Pikachu's head. The mouse closed his eyes for a second or two as Ash's palm rubbed against his yellow fur. "Thing is, I… ran into Gary, back in Celadon. He said a lot of things to me, and well… he seems to think you were always on top from the start."

  On the other side of the screen, Oak's face shifted in understanding, readjusting himself in his seat for a moment as Ash watched him. For a split second, the boy felt a tinge of anxiety in his chest at the Professor's silence, but it quickly evaporated as though it had never been there.

  It was mildly surreal to think that this had been on his mind for more than a month by now, but it no longer mattered, he had determined that just as long ago. No matter what answer he received, it was all the same.

  Finally, Oak broke the pause. "I suppose he does think that, you're right." Suppressing a sigh, his expression was even, but laced with a solemnity that was lost on Ash in the moment. "And it is likely my fault, I can admit. Truth be told, I never told Gary that detail about my past, and since it isn't common knowledge to the public, he never found out from other sources."

  Ash couldn't help the surprised brow that seemingly rose with a mind of its own. The Professor had shared that information with him of all people, but not his own grandson? Time and again Gary had parroted the countless stories that Oak had shared with him, and although a decent amount had likely gone under the radar (such as the Professor's past with Agatha as a teen), Ash had assumed that Oak had simply requested his grandson to keep some of the more private details under wraps. It was hard to imagine him keeping anything from Gary, even if it did explain things in such simple detail.

  Oak predictably detected Ash's surprise before it was even shown. "I know you weren't expecting to hear that, Ash." This time he did sigh, and the guilt was visible enough for Ash to notice. "I approached my grandson's ambitions with a faulty mindset. The only reason I opened up to you about that detail regarding my past pre-success was because of where you were at the time. You were struggling in multiple ways and felt like you would always be stuck in that dead end, and I knew from experience that that was not true. I told you what I did because I felt that you would benefit from the information."

  "In a way that Gary wouldn't," Ash chimed in, a sense of understanding not-so-slowly sinking in. "He's always overachieved, ever since we were half our age now. He never needed any pep talks or encouragement apart from 'you're doing great' or 'keep up the good work', right?"

  "Yes…" Oak frowned before resting a gentle head atop Heracross' horn. The bug leaned into the touch, any mild confusion over the shift in tone of the conversation quickly replaced with an eager acceptance for the affection. "Had Gary struggled the way you did, I would have told him, in hopes of encouraging him, like I did with you. But he spent his entire time in the trainer prep course wowing and impressing in a way that the childhood me never could have hoped. I was so proud of him, and took pride in myself and my own legacy, for being the inspiration that drove him to excel as much as he has throughout all these years. I felt like I was a part of it, paving the way and setting the stage for the next fresh blood in my family to rise to the occasion. Sharing my past struggles in trainer prep never felt necessary to me, because he was not struggling. He didn't need the encouragement, or the reassurance, and it did not look like that would change." His second sigh was deep, as though derisively knocking down every word he had just spoken. "If Agatha were here, she'd whack me with her cane for that level of ignorance." He returned eye contact. "I was ignorant because encouragement was all that I thought that story was good for. Or, at least, it was the only lens I viewed it from in regards to Gary. There are other reasons to share something so important and personal, the lesson behind it can teach a variety of things that Gary was never taught, because I neglected to."

  "Like not to assume anybody was a lost cause…" Ash broke eye contact just long enough to pet Pikachu again. The mouse was staring at Oak's face on the screen intently, his eyes neutral but deep, and his ears absorbing every word.

  "Exactly." Oak's frown deepened. "I allowed my pride in my grandson to influence the way I guided him throughout his time preparing for his career, and I failed you in the process. It's been very… pleasant, to see the way you've turned yourself around in real time." A smile stretched across his lips. "And you should hear your mother sometimes. Calling her overjoyed is too simple to do any of it justice." Sighing again, he shook his head as Heracross glanced at him curiously. "But the past five years before that shouldn't have played out the way that they did. And certainly not any fault of your own; I was vicarious and allowed my own oversight to happen. I suppose that's another lesson; opposite to an underdog story, those on top are as human as everybody else. Of course, I'm not saying that as an excuse. In fact, I owe you an apology. Human or not, someone like me never should have been so neglectful."

  Ash stared at the Professor for what was likely only a few seconds, but the boy was staring hard enough to feel sucked in, his perception of time going with him. The sound of Tempest shuffling next to his seat broke him out of that trance. "Professor…"

  Gut instinct told him to accept the apology and be done with it. He certainly did not hold a grudge, not against Oak, at any rate. The Professor had been so helpful since his very first day as a trainer that it felt petty to blame him for Gary's bullying. Especially when he had done nothing to incite the other boy, not that Ash had ever suspected otherwise. But…

  …

  Ash didn't blame Professor Oak. Not even for a second. He could acknowledge the error, but that was fundamentally different from pointing the finger at him outright. If he accepted the apology, what would that be taken as? Forgiveness? Encouragement for the Professor to blame himself, for something that Ash himself did not hold him at fault for?

  …

  Ash's face steadied itself, keeping his eyes firmly on Professor Oak's from his side of the screen. "You don't need to tell me sorry, Professor. Back in Celadon, I learned how important it was to never forget the past, but it needs a balance, right? You still shouldn't focus on it, just use it for what's in front." his cheeks turned red, successfully suppressing a giggle as a small grin formed. "At least, that's how I started seeing it, I mean." His face turned a bit more serious, albeit not overly. "And for what it's worth, I don't think you are to blame for how long it took me, or… even Gary, entirely." his hand rested against his chest. "My mistakes are my own. Correcting them is my job. I'm a work in progress."

  "And how do you currently feel about your progress?"

  Ash couldn't help the smile. "Very good, Professor."

  "I thought so," Oak chuckled. "I appreciate your words, Mr. Ketchum, but I have my own corrections to make. I owe my grandson a year's late conversation, although whatever we say to each other belongs in a face to face discussion. I do not know how long it will be before he returns to visit Pallet, but that gives me time to make it really count, I suppose."

  'Returning to Pallet…' The words dawned on Ash as they came out of the Professor's mouth. It really did feel like a lifetime since he had left, and at the very thought of it, the boy suddenly felt a deep, near-unquenchable longing for his beautiful mother's embrace, her immaculate cooking, and Trucy's enthusiastic presence. Conversing with them from behind a screen did very little to replicate such a thing, especially when it came to his mother. Who knew when he'd ever get either of those things again?

  … It would be before the Conference, he told himself. How long before was to be determined, but sometime before the Conference. The Conference that he was one hundred percent going to make it too.

  But there was much to do on their way down that road. The never ending climb would not be stopping, or even slowing down, anytime soon. Right now the top priority was continuing to ensure that they were ready for anything. Speaking of which…

  "Thanks for everything, Professor." Ash patted Pikachu's head. "But speaking of time, I have some other stuff I need to take care of today. Things that need to get done before Janine and I leave here."

  "That's no surprise," Oak nodded in approval. "Your job is never done. I will leave you to all of that, then. Remember what we discussed regarding Fuchsia's wilderness, and best of luck going into this next stretch."

  After giving their parting words, Oak's face disappeared from the screen. For a moment or two, Ash allowed himself time to sit. That time was limited, and he was soon standing, turning to face Pikachu and Tempest, now both gazing up at him side by side on the floor. His eyes gravitated towards the crab, who seemed to realize that he was getting the brunt of the attention.

  "Tempest, Pikachu. Let's find the others and head outside."

  A couple of blinks from his two teammates, followed by the water and electric type exchanging curious glances. Without a word, however, they obediently followed their trainer into the hallway.

  /

  Phenom felt his muscles tighten as the new duo came into view. In front of them, Meditite's eyes had quickly lit up in recognition before Growlithe positioned herself in front of her. The fiery canine's tail stood alert as her eyes shifted between the dinosaur and Valiant. Sensing the gesture, a rumble slowly escaped the Tyrunt's throat, and he only had time to take a step forward before Valiant's arm was in front of him. The Kirlia's head was turned just enough to fix his eyes on Phenom when the dinosaur looked at him. A light, silent shake of Valiant's head caused the Tyrunt's face to scrunch in mild doubt, before nonetheless taking a pause and stepping back.

  Across from them, Meditite's hand rested against Growlithe's side, prompting her friend to move over and allow her to step in front. The fighting/psychic type's eyes deliberately found their way to Valiant's own, and the emotion Pokemon did not fight her attempt to lock gazes. Her eyes only narrowed slightly while he studied her, and for a good moment neither side made a noise.

  Meditite finally spoke. Because of their trainer, Gary had not been the same since yesterday.

  Now Valiant's eyes narrowed, crossing his arms as he shifted himself to face her in full. That better not be her way of blaming them, he responded.

  Growlithe's gaze somewhat darkened at the Kirlia's reply, prompting a mirrored expression from Phenom, but both psychics remained in front of their teammates.

  Meditite mimicked Valiant's posture, cooly raising her chin just enough to be noticeable. It wasn't just because of yesterday, Ash had been on Gary's mind ever since Celadon, and it was concerning.

  That's not Ash's fault, Valiant answered firmly.

  A few more moments of silence as both parties stared one another down, neither making a move. Meditite opened her mouth to verbally respond… and then closed it, her arms dropping down to her sides as her gaze grew more fixed. A step forward cleared some of the small distance between her and the duo, but she quickly paused as Phenom lowered his head, baring his teeth with another growl just before Valiant's arm appeared in front of him again. Going silent, the Tyrunt stared her down for a moment or two longer before making eye contact with the Kirlia. Valiant offered a subtle gesture of the head, and after a moment or two of consideration, Phenom eased himself. Meditite took a moment or two herself before taking another step, raising an arm to signal Growlithe not to follow her before relocking her eyes with Valiant, who's arms remained crossed.

  "It's also no thanks to him."

  Valiant blinked. The cool-headed, female voice, he quickly realized had not spoken out loud, but in his mind. Only his mind. He glanced back at Phenom for a split second, the young dragon none the wiser to the sudden switch in communication. As he quickly refocused himself on Meditite, his arms slowly lowered from their position across his chest, and recognition shone in his eyes.

  That had been a challenge.

  He made a quick signal to Phenom, who blinked in mild confusion, but remained silent, watching the Kirlia take two steps forward. He and Meditite were directly in front of one another now, gazes locked with the same commitment a Pokemon must carry with them to the battlefield.

  "Whatever your trainer is going through is not our trainer's problem." Valiant's voice was only heard within Meditite's head. Neither yet had the ability to speak to more than one person at once, and from Phenom and Growlithe's perspectives, both were simply staring each other down. It would not take too long for the fiery canine to catch on, however.

  "I disagree." Meditite responded simply. "'Ash Ketchum' has been in the back of Gary's mind for a while now, and he's been increasingly on edge because of it. Or do you accuse me of not paying attention to my own trainer?"

  "No accusations," Valiant's words were more for clarification than reassurance. "But I don't appreciate you trying to shift the blame."

  "That's an accusation." She answered coolly. "And I think the blame belongs to the source of my trainer's troubles, is that not fair?"

  "And what of my trainer's troubles?" Valiant could feel the effort of maintaining this conversation; one that would be as simple as speaking from the mouth for experienced, veteran psychics. "Your trainer is petty and vindictive. We should not have to say sorry to you for that." Behind him, Phenom's head had tilted in confusion, but understanding was beginning to show on the young dinosaur's face.

  "Do not insult my trainer," Meditite's reply initially carried a slight edge to it before her voice returned to normal. "I met Gary when he helped carry me to a safe place after my leg was fractured. You don't get to act like you know him."

  "You don't know Ash any better," Valiant suppressed a frustrated hiss as he felt the first, tiny signs of sweat on the side of his face. "When we first met, he saved me from a trap in the forest when I was in a state of panic."

  "What I do know of your trainer is how he has gotten himself under Gary's skin." Meditite pressed. "He has managed it up until now, and I do not want that to change."

  "It's his own fault if it does." Valiant managed to get the sentence out without strain as a bead of sweat rolled down Meditite's face. "It sounds to me like your trainer cannot take a loss. What has Ash done to him, apart from being the better man yesterday?"

  "Gary is superior."

  "Yesterday begs to differ."

  "There will be a rematch one day."

  "And if you… lose that one too?"

  Both psychics began to feel that familiar sensation in their mind. The one that came when the desire for rest or sleep began approaching. It tensed both their muscles.

  "We won't." Meditite continued, conviction undeterred. "That outcome… will not be in the cards."

  "I've beaten you twice."

  "We've beaten you three times."

  Valiant cursed under his breath as he felt his eyes going heavy, but he successfully fought back any attempts they made to close, even for a brief moment. "Does that make you… stronger, to you?"

  "What if the roles were… reversed?"

  "Ash has…" Valiant was forced to pause. "Picked himself up from numerous… losses, these past few months. Would Gary… be able to do the same…?" Behind him, Phenom's eyes narrowed in concern, but Valiant's arm rose to halt him as the dinosaur took a step forward.

  "He'll come back from… this one." Gesturing an arm to signal Growlithe not to do the same, Meditite blinked, but she strained herself to lift her eyelids back up as more sweat appeared.

  "You want that to… be at Ash's expense." Valiant's lips scrunched together, feeling his own sweat forming on his face, and his eyes growing tired.

  "I am simply… concerned for my trainer." Meditite's firm gaze was suppressed by a growing weight in her eyes.

  "Then don't take… it out on… us…" Valiant fought against his own mind, the urge to lie down and close his eyes growing stronger and more tempting. Hissing, he forced them open, glaring into the opposing psychic. "Nothing's more important…"

  "Important…" Meditite's blinking mildly quickened. "Important to me…."

  She stumbled, body swaying as her head drooped, slowing the pace of her telepathically spoken words. Her balance gave way shortly before her consciousness did, the fighting/psychic type's legs tilting to send her falling forward. She would have taken Valiant down with her had he not fought his own fatigue just enough to catch her in his arms. The Kirlia's face heated up as her exhausted form drifted to sleep against him.

  Growlithe quickly moved, closing the little distance between them with a trot. Gently pressing her head against her teammate's side, she lifted Meditite onto her back as Valiant passed her over to the fire type. He staggered to the side, feeling a brief rush of growing tiredness attempting to claim him, but kept himself upright just long enough for Phenom to arrive at his side and support him. He muttered a quick thank you to his friend before their eyes landed on Growlithe, who returned their looks with mild caution before turning back in the direction she and her teammate had come from.

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