Koga's office in the mansion was a lot different than the one he had in the Gym. This office was more of a private study area, which Janine knew her father had a history of retreating to when things were quiet. When she entered the room, she almost instinctively turned her head to the books on the shelf, as if suddenly remembering her poor attempt at a reading session.

  The Gym Leader was at his computer - reading, but not typing. The screen darkened as she closed the door, and the next thing she knew, he had risen from his seat, both eyes on her.

  Janine could feel herself shrinking as Koga assumed full height, walking from behind the desk to approach her. Silence was its own chamber surrounding him. The only sounds were his footsteps, and when he stopped in front of her, nothing could be heard until he spoke.

  "Good morning, Janine." His voice was one of perfect stoicism, not conveying anything except for the point he wished to deliver, as it always did.

  Janine's gaze was glued to his eyes, and the urge to take a step back was not acted on, her muscles instead choosing to lock themselves in place as she dared not look anywhere else. "Same to you, father. You wished to speak with me?"

  "Yes, sit." His hand may have been pulling on an invisible leash when it gestured to the seat, she moved to the chair at his desk the moment he made the motion. Soon, he was sitting across from her, and she found her eyes flickering to the folder in front of him. There were a couple of papers sticking out, a rare sight.

  "I wish we had longer to catch up," the Gym Leader confessed. "But my work this morning can't wait. So, the time we have should not be wasted."

  "I understand, father." she kept her focus on him even as her head nodded. The fluctuating clutter in her mind cleared out and vanished, settling her racing thoughts in exchange for a hint of the color on her face. A bit more of it disappeared when he looked at her directly.

  With a sigh, Koga spoke as though he wished he were talking about anything else. "I could think of more ideal uses for that time, of course, but preference does not equal importance." she watched him open the folder, with sudden apprehension that its contents were more specific than she realized. "Team Rocket has seen a disturbing surge since the start of the Season. Not just in activity, but in membership. And you, my daughter, have been involved in much."

  "Never by choice," she dared to speak without prompt. "We were attacked, multiple times. I was always in the same place as their target."

  "Indeed." it was the only response she received before Koga rested the papers on the desk between them, now free of the folder. "On Opening Day, after you left Fuchsia, a pair of Rockets attacked the Viridian Pokemon Center after dark."

  "They were nothing," her response was simplistic and blunt. "Merely a pair of delusional lackeys, you were there." The memory was more odd than frightening, now that it had been so long ago.

  Koga said nothing, but his eyes and nod told his daughter that he agreed with her. Then his focus returned to the papers, and the apprehension was back. "What was not delusion, was what took place in Celadon City. You were at the museum when it was attacked."

  Now the girl's tongue stiffened, but she knew she was expected to respond. "Yes, father. I was."

  "You were also at Lavender Tower," Koga's inflection did not shift. "You have met Rocket Executive Silver and the internationally wanted Pokemon Hunter, the Iron-Masked Marauder, face to face. Just last night, the Scarfist Company, known Team Rocket sympathizers, attempted to abduct you and your friends."

  Janine needed to hold her breath to keep it under control. For a moment, she looked to her side, wishing Ash was there, but quickly corrected herself and returned her gaze to her father.

  "Keep your eyes on me when I am speaking." he reminded her anyway.

  "Yes, father." she hoped her voice was not weaker than before.

  Breathing through his nose, Koga paused for a moment, and a second, as his eyes looked down on the papers in front of him. When they returned to Janine, she was perfectly still. "I could not have predicted these any more than you, especially to occur in succession. Of course, neither of us particularly care about the incident at the Center."

  "No, father." she truthfully shook her head, for as much as she preferred that was the prioritized subject.

  "You are alive and unharmed, of course, but I cannot neglect either of these." Koga's hands folded over the desk for a moment, and then his posture became perfect. When he sat back just right against the chair, he was as looming as when he stood.

  "I understand…" she inwardly cursed herself for trailing off, and straightened herself as though doing so would make it easier to speak. "I… being there was…" her eyes fell. "I cannot truly describe it. I saw a collection of our history smashed to pieces. A monument for burial was defiled."

  "Beyond abhorrent," Koga agreed. "How do you feel, Janine?"

  It took a moment or two, but Janine realized she was almost blinking back tears. She fought to keep her cheeks dry - without reaching up to touch her eyes. "I… saw a skeleton the night Lavender was attacked, and after leaving I realized that was just… one of many. I've been having dreams about that and Celadon. And last night, a lot of the ghosts that fled the town without a home, they were in… this thing that could've given them cardiac arrest." she breathed, and was worried to meet his eyes, but knew he would insist. "I don't stop thinking about it. I have plenty of quiet nights, but they always come back. I go to bed wondering if tonight is going to be one of those nights. And it lingers even after I wake up."

  He was studying her. Koga's expression changed a little after she was finished, but still carried the same immovable strength it always did and would. "I was not expecting you to see things like this in person so soon, but we as a League have done a poor job predicting their activity. For that, I assume responsibility." He was still studying her. She did not feel like shrinking this time, but she wished for the ability to move. To not be confined to a chair as the set of eyes across from her scanned her down to the muscle. "You being unharmed aside, I hope you have learned much from these ordeals."

  Documentary footage. Text from the books she had read. News reports. The events of the past month or so. All of them had a place in Janine's head when she gave a stiff nod. "Incidents such as this are what makes our role so important, is it not?" her eyes mildly darkened. "The thought of how much more could happen were it not for the League…"

  "Our family once contributed to such, many generations ago." Koga's sturdy expression was not as hollow as hers. "Our ancestors learned the worst of tricks and used them in the worst of ways. But a weapon's purpose forges its identity just as much as its capabilities. That is why we swore to use everything passed down to us in service of justice and order." With the papers returned, his hands removed the folder from her view. "You are very frightened, but do not make the mistake of forgetting as a result. Team Rocket will see retribution. Along with the supporters who aid them in their deeds, like the Scarfists."

  "Good." she shivered as she said it, but she meant it. "They are pigs with big heads that belong on an iron stick."

  "As I trust you will remember." he nodded solemnly. "I can offer nothing but my apologies for what has happened to you, and if it were up to me, it never would have until you were ready, which you are not." The last few words cut into her, and Janine was completely still again. "But you will be at a later time. You have admirably grown already, after all. To my confidence. That is why it is important for you to make use of this."

  "How… father?" he must have realized there was more that she was trying to say, because he did not speak even when the opening was there. "I… I don't know how to make it go away."

  "That's because it doesn't." His voice was gentler, but not soft. "I have told you before, to my regret. There are some things that don't get easier, no matter what. One merely becomes strong enough to handle them. And you, my daughter, are strong. You have a strong core, have found strong means of using it, and carry a strong drive to. What happened to you and your friends has already happened; there is no means of erasing it."

  "So what do I-"

  "I have not finished," she flinched; of course he was still talking, that should have been clear! "I have told you in the past, when teaching you about the worst of the world, not to forget any of what you learned. Do you remember that?"

  She swallowed her saliva, using the brief pause as an opportunity to ready her tongue, and speak with a steady voice. "Yes, father."

  Folding his hands over the desk, he leaned forward an inch, and she almost leaned back an inch. Just before he spoke, she mirrored his hands, but did not move otherwise. Neither pair of eyes dared to look anywhere else in the room, except at the other, the most important place in the building.

  "Experience comes in a myriad of forms, many of which one does not ask for. I was never as young as you when I had them, but I have seen things in this world that are best forgotten. But for someone of my position, forgetting is irresponsible. It's ignoring an important lesson. And sometimes, our minds will not allow us to forget, regardless. Your experiences at the museum and at the tower will always have happened. And now they try to torment you."

  The pause did not feel like an invitation to talk, so she nodded at him. Maintaining eye contact did not require effort, and staring into his gaze almost sucked Janine in; nearly lost in thought wondering what was passing through his mind.

  "You have always been strong, my daughter, and you have only tapped the iceberg's tip. Do not let that be disrupted, or taken from you. Do not let experiences like that sap away your strength."

  "Endure them…?" Janine asked with caution.

  But Koga shook his head. "If all you do is try to endure something, it will chip away at you. Instead, you make use of it. Accept that you have it, but not that it exists. Make your bad memories an experience, and your nightmares a reminder. Turn your suffering into a lesson that will make you stronger and wiser."

  She blinked. "Like a weapon."

  "Of a sort," he answered. "You've been raised to know why the League, our clan, among other things, are necessary, and now you know firsthand. No matter how much something hurts, never forget. Just learn."

  "And how am I supposed to do that?" She kept her face even, but her purple eyes betrayed her as the image of a skeleton, of Marauder entered her mind.

  "It was never easy for me," Koga answered with a shake of the head. "It is a process that will not get easy, but that you will progressively be strong enough to handle, as I said." he reminded before taking a brief pause, allowing her a moment before continuing. "As I also said, you will be ready eventually. For the next Gym, for the Conference, and for… things such as this. The time when you are ready will come, but you should never wait for it. You work to prepare for it, long before. Do you understand that?"

  Janine stared into Koga's eyes. 'Make my nightmares a reminder. My suffering a lesson.' To learn, rather than forget. To know, rather than endure. To understand why she is among those who bear such an obligation.

  "Yes, father."

  "...Good…" she was relieved when he leaned back closer to his seat. "Now, outside of certain demons and pests, you have had rather the eventful journey so far, as I should hope. Three badges, an attempt at a fourth, and you've made it all the way back here, from the north instead of the west. The long and difficult way. Nowhere near halfway through the Season. It's a pleasing synopsis, I have to say. Your performance could not be commended enough."

  She felt the color in her face restore, and responded with a silent nod and a glint of pride in her gaze.

  "And you truly believe you are ready to challenge our Gym?"

  If Janine's posture could be any straighter, it was. All strength had returned to her eyes as she opened her mouth. "I am, father."

  "Hmmm…" the Gym Leader's fingers tapped the table. "Then I will hold you responsible for keeping that word. You have nine days, and how you use them is to your discretion. I do not need to tell you, but know that I will be as prepared as I expect you to be, as I always am."

  She nodded, her expression unchanging. "Of course."

  "That is good to hear from you," his tone was sincere and approving, until he moved on. "Before I dismiss you, I feel it is also appropriate to mention the guest you have brought into our home."

  Again, she stiffened. She knew that he would mention Ash sooner or later, but it had hardly been the dominating thought for either of them.

  "Ash Ketchum," she echoed. "He is from Pallet Town. We paired up back in Celadon and have been traveling together ever since. Our plans for the foreseeable future had been compatible, and we had also been through the…" her expression changed. "Museum, together."

  "I see." as the poison Master continued, his face and tone carried their neutral stoicism as much as ever. It was next to impossible to truly tell what or how the Gym Leader was thinking, even for her. "Not many first years could reach this point at this time. I've known that you were an exception, but the majority would be rather unassuming in that position. I am sure you could understand if I was taken aback. What would you have to say about him?"

  He was studying her again, but she was no longer stiff. Steel, but not rigid. Focused and not cluttered.

  "Ash is a treasured companion and friend." Janine's tone matched her face as she continued looking Koga in the eye. "As much as my own team. I have gotten to know him since we ran into each other at Suzie's salon. On the road, at camp, staying together at the Centers. His own journey has changed him, too. I watched him fight a battle that was very important to him, and win, independently. He was right next to me, going through the same things as me after the…incidents, and it's helped us understand each other." her lips cracked up, forming a tiny smile of affectionate confidence. "He is very strong, and he has a big heart." She finished with a nod. "And he is just as ready for your Gym as I am, father."

  He nodded along as she finished, expression still the same. "You certainly have a lot of confidence in him."

  "Ash is an extraordinary trainer, father." she affirmed. "He has four badges and made it all the way here just like I did. He did not need me to carry him along the way, he exceeds all expectations. I've seen his progress in real time, as both a trainer and a person."

  "Yes, you have." her father agreed. "And if your opinion of him is half as high as you insist, I will not ignore it." without warning, he rose from his seat, and Janine felt herself shrinking once more. "I will await meeting him properly for now; later tonight. Until then, it is about time I take my leave. You are dismissed as well."

  Rising to her full height, the girl offered her father a bow before turning to the door. When she was halfway through, his voice froze her. "Janine,"

  "Yes?" she looked back at him, hand still holding the door.

  "Remember our talk. Everything."

  She swallowed again, but did not look away. Never looked away.

  "Yes, father."

  /

  "Down this way, Leader Koga." The guard led Koga, Akira, and two women clad in black into the chamber.

  No longer in Shadowblood village, on a separate side of Fuchsia, a section of a prison. The walls were stone, and the lighting was dim. Beneath ground with no windows, one could enter and forget the sun existed. The moment Koga entered the room, his eyes were trained on the shirtless man suspended in an upright position just above the floor, the shackles on his wrists stretching his arms out in a tight grip. Four additional armed guards surrounded him, awaiting the Gym Leader's arrival.

  Caesar's large muscles were on full display, as were multiple scars. He was likely to leave with many more.

  Drenched in his own sweat, the exhausted prisoner sneered in their direction as Koga, Akira, and the two women entered the room. All eyes were on him, but his followed the poison Master, an avalanche of rage and frustration communicated in a silent gaze.

  "Caesar Faylist," Koga scanned the clipboard for a brief refresher before handing it to one of his escorts. "I would ask if you had a pleasant first night and morning, but all evidence to the contrary."

  "The demon Gym Leader in the flesh," Caesar smirked through grinded teeth. His hair was even more disheveled than usual. "Come to play with your food, as your kind often does?"

  "We are here for business," Koga stated, unfazed by the prisoner's words and expression. Stopping in front of Caesar, the poison Master crossed his arms, and his sword-like gaze pierced through the boiling pot of rage that were the poacher leader's eyes. "How easy or difficult it is depends on yourself. I hardly expect cooperation from somebody like you, but you are welcome to surprise me."

  "Tch, and what surprises would want from me, mighty ninja leader?" Caesar's voice was one of twisted, pained sarcasm. "I am certain I could never guess, it's hard to remember with me and my employees stuffed away like waste."

  Koga's static expression hid the disgust towards the poor excuse for a human suspended in front of him. "You made the choice to be a waste of space, thus you are dealt with as one." Unclipping a ball from his belt, Koga released a Beedrill close to him in height. The poison bee's red eyes glowed in the dim light as they narrowed at Caesar, and his stingers may have been twice the size of the average Beedrill. Caesar's chest turned, and the expression on his face twisted and shifted, but the anger and disgust in his gaze never fully left. Behind the dangling prisoner, Akira released Typho.

  "I lived my life refusing to be controlled," the poacher leered with cautious hostility as Beedrill kept his focus on him, ready to raise a stinger at a moment's notice. "Did I fuck up? Yes, I fucked up by being caught. That's my only regret."

  "Ah, yes indeed…" Koga nodded in affirmation. "You have always had history with 'refusing to be controlled', founder of Scarfist Company." The two black-clad women silently stood on either side of the prisoner as Koga's pupils continued to be swords pointed in his direction, just as much as Beedrill's stingers. "Ever since you were a Gym Trainer."

  Caesar's eyes flashed. "Koga," he snarled like a dog. "You are treading on some rapidly melting ice, there."

  "Over two decades since your expulsion, and your obsession with illegal equipment and misuse is stronger than ever." Koga's gaze bore into the disheveled man with nothing but confident, fatal judgment. "You never stopped loving your experiments, or finding use for them, no matter how immoral. A trove of Pokemon, from common to protected species, sold on the black market to foul customers, no less Team Rocket." He shook his head for a moment, but nothing in his face nor voice changed. "Eighteen children of ages ranging four to nine years old, abducted by your gang and sold to the Rockets to be groomed into terrorists. At least two of those kids are dead now, and the number was just shy of becoming nineteen had yesterday gone as you intended. And yet, you only regret being caught before you had the chance to do more. Have I understood the details, Scarfist?"

  "You understand me just about as much as you can see out of your ass." Caesar flinched for a moment as Beedrill's eyes flared, but did not stop talking. "No historically educated mind in Indigo doesn't know about what your family has done, and continues to do to this day, only this time in service of a monopoly that decides people of my tastes don't belong."

  "I am not here to debate which of us is more educated, Faylist." Taking out a specially made white cloth, Koga turned to Beedrill, who nodded. The large bee leaned back in midair, exposing his abdominal stinger dripping in poison. Protected by his black gloves, the ninja master wrapped the white cloth around the stinger, applying gentle pressure as the cloth turned from white to pink. As he removed it, and Beedrill returned to his standard position, nothing dripped from the cloth.

  "After years of giving our land's scum worthy representation," Koga nodded to Akira as he spoke. "You are finally where you belong, as is half of your gang."

  Akira exchanged a look with Typho, the Tangrowth easily separated one of his vines from his body. Taking the vine in his hand, Akira straightened it out, and felt around it with his hands. It was long and sturdy.

  Caesar's eyes were locked on the pink cloth. The cloth that now carried Beedrill's most potent venom. "You want me to rat out the other half. Tell you where our hideout is so you can send your closest colleague to raid the place."

  "You were only caught last night," Koga walked around Caesar, standing directly at the prisoner's side. Beedrill remained alert, left stinger half raised in the direction of the poacher's abdomen. "We have a small window of time before the rest of your gang grows suspicious. That window will be used to take them by surprise and end the Scarfists for good."

  "You say that like I'll just cough it all up," Caesar's gaze remained fixed on the pink cloth in Koga's gloved hand. "Sell out to the League? Is that all?"

  "For you? Unfortunately not." Koga's voice remained unchanged as the guards eyed him with mild caution. The black-clad women were as still as statues. "As the leader of a gang in Team Rocket's good graces, I don't doubt you know things that we wish to know. It could be something as serious as the purpose of the Mt. Moon and Lavender Town attacks, or what they want with the Master Ball prototype and blueprints. Or something as trivial as a small bases' location. You know something, and we will be taking it. This is the only warning I am granting you, very much more than you deserve."

  Caesar's face was losing color, but his eyes had not lost all of their heat. He attempted to meet his captor's gaze, chewing his lip for a moment.

  He shook his head. "No."

  Koga's hand moved like lightning. The pink cloth pressed into the prisoner's naked back, and Caesar let out a guttural scream that would haunt the ears of many trained adults. The guards were steadfast, Akira and the black-clad women did not move.

  The criminal's howl filled the Gym Leader's ears, and the poison master's only reaction was to apply more pressure. His target shook against the restraints holding him, his attempts at freeing himself as violent as they were fruitless. Four vines from Typho binded him further, and Koga kept the cloth pressed against the man's bare skin, rubbing it across the middle portion of his back. Howls turned to broken up wails as Caesar struggled to find his voice, and catch his breath when Koga pulled the cloth away.

  The pain did not leave with the pressure, as the Beedrill poison continued to assault Caesar's skin. Eventually, the middle portion of his back would be scorched a disgusting mix of black and purplish blue. His eyes were wet, but nothing came out.

  "A Beedrill's strongest venom comes from their abdominal stinger." Koga calmly passed the cloth to one of the black-clad women, who took a step back to dispose of it. "Gwyniff's diary says this was one of her favorites, albeit they did not have equipment like this cloth back then, and they did it with whips instead of vines." Arms crossed against his chest, the Gym Leader felt very little looking at the writhing man dangling before him. "Are you really so eager to put yourself through this, Faylist?"

  "B-Bastards…" Between coughs, Caesar managed to get the word out of his throat. "You really think I haven't been burnt before!?"

  "Understand, Faylist," Koga's voice was static, never changing. Just as his eyes never left his prey. "That the inconvenience you force upon us is meager standing next to what you bring upon yourself. Your defiance will not save what remains of your gang. You were the only member fit to lead, without you steering the wheel the rest are a disorganized pile of thugs and you know it. Clients like Team Rocket will not be so willing to invest with you and half the gang out of the picture. They were put on life support the second you were arrested. If you have any dignity in your inhuman soul, you will know to pull the plug. "

  Mustering up as much saliva as he could, the criminal spat at the Gym Leader, who's gloved hand once again moved like a blur, deflecting the pointless offense. He broke his gaze only long enough to give a signaling nod to Akira, who was still holding the vine Typho had given him.

  Returning the nod, Akira straightened the vine once more, took a stance, and lashed it against the burning wound spread across Caesar's back.

  "GAAAAHR!" Caesar's screams returned louder than ever, only to become broken up as the strikes continued in succession. The hideous discoloration in the skin of his back became drizzled with red, and the tears building in his eyes flowed freely down his cheeks. After the first few lashes, Akira paused.

  "The location of your base." Koga repeated. "Do you know anything about Team Rocket's past few operations, and how they tie together? Who else in the underworld are you in contact with?"

  "F-Ffffuck you…" Caesar's snarl turned to a hiss midway through.

  Koga's arms lowered to his sides. "Every fifteen minutes, another captured member of your gang will be dragged in here, alongside yourself."

  The flogging resumed.

  /

  "It took longer than I admittedly expected," In the station's lounge, Koga sat in a cushioned chair against the wall, passing a treat to Beedrill. "But he caved in the end."

  "As always," Akira answered from his side of the small, circular table, slowly sipping a mug of steaming black coffee. "But he did not know the more… crucial secrets we want." Typho stood behind him, extending a couple of his vines to offer a snack to a patrol Growlithe across the room, which was accepted.

  "I never expected Faylist to have in depth details," the Gym Leader said. "But him being this in the dark is disturbing. The Rockets are guarding certain things very closely to their chest, more so than usual. Whatever overarching plan responsible for their past few atrocities is cause for even more alarm than suspected. Having said that…"

  He nodded to the female clan member standing near him. Though she still wore her black uniform, her mask-like scarf was down, and her headgear was off, revealing shoulder-length blonde hair. "We know the location of Scarfist Company's hideout now. Contact the Ecruteak Gym, preferably Leader Morty himself if possible. Give them the location and request that a raid be readied immediately. One day is likely all we have before they realize what must have happened to Faylist and the rest."

  The blonde clan member bowed her head. "It will be done, Leader Koga." was all she said before swiftly turning to make her leave.

  Akira watched her go for a moment before turning back to Koga. "I am worried about a few of Scarfist Company's Pokemon that we have in our custody. From what we know, a few of them are not likely to pass evaluation."

  "Faylist's Zangoose in particular." Koga nodded matter-of-factly. "In all but certain likelihood, he will need to be put down. Make sure Janine's friend is not made aware of that: She naturally knows of the process, but for now it is best that Mr. Ketchum remains ignorant."

  "On some levels," Akira's frown was barely visible. "He is the cause of Zangoose's likely inevitable death, since he was the one who stopped Caesar in the end."

  "A fact that can only hurt him if he was to know." Koga's response was simple, and his cousin nodded in agreement.

  "Sensei! Leader Koga" The two and their Pokemon turned to see Len approaching them with uncharacteristic haste. They both rose from their seats before he had closed the remaining distance.

  "What's happened, Len?" Akira demanded. "Is Connie okay?"

  "Her parents just picked her up." Stopping in front of them, the brunette boy briefly bowed his head. As he straightened himself, his gray eyes came into view, mildly distressed. "At their request, Ace Trainer Aya enlisted a teleporter to escort them back to Sunnytown. But we have a problem."

  "Yes? Speak." Koga insisted.

  Len took a breath before pointing. "Out the window."

  The Gym Leader's eyes narrowed in curious suspicion before walking over to the nearest window and opening the blinds. Almost immediately, something was wrong. His gaze turned skyward, and then to alarm.

  "Cousin?" As Beedrill and Typho joined him and Len, Akira detected the shift in the poison master's mood. So did Beedrill. "What's happening outside?"

  "The sky…" Koga backed away just enough to offer them room. "It wasn't supposed to look like this today."

  On a day with a perfectly clear weather forecast, the sky above Fuchsia City was blanketed in thick, gray clouds. Just before looking away, he spotted a spark of lightning in the far distance.

  /

  Fuchsia City was gorgeous in the daytime. The countless weeks of travel had slowly given Ash a new appreciation for the outdoor world, in a way that he may not have fully realized until now. Nothing would ever beat the comfort of civilization, but he found himself admitting that nature had more than a little to offer. At the same time, for as overwhelming as the big cities were, there was also something to be admired about their level of grandiosity and scope, yet the modest familiarity of towns like Pallet and Lavender provided something far more simple.

  Being in Fuchsia City felt like the best of three worlds. It had the size, as well as sense of scale and importance of the other major cities, yet it did not feel nearly as overwhelming in spite of those qualities. Its atmosphere was missing something present in a place like Celadon or Saffron. What perhaps went hand in hand with that was how the city felt a lot more natural than the others. They were certainly in the middle of civilization, yet there was nature just about everywhere. It must have been the most unique town or city that he had been to thus far, apart from Lavender and its abundance of ghosts prior to an incident Ash dared not dwell over at a time like this.

  Today was supposed to be pleasant, after all. Fun but relaxing. It was what he and Janine were shooting for as she led the way through the city that she clearly knew like the back of her hand. Fuchsia dwarfed Pallet, yet it quickly became obvious to Ash that his friend had her home city just as mapped out as he had his hometown.

  Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

  Joining the pair on their "tour" were Ivysaur (who seemed to find certain spots somewhat familiar), Toxtricity, Pikachu, Valiant, and Tempest. Ash was a bit surprised the Kingler had not elected to stay behind and break in his evolution with light training, but silently wondered if the river crab preferred to do so with him present to coach and/or observe him. Or maybe his increased appetite had persuaded him to be around when the group took a lunch break. Fuchsia's respected cuisine extended to Pokemon food, and when they did stop, the water type seemed all too content enjoying a bowl twice the size of the others.

  They were currently taking their break at an outdoor restaurant that Janine had visited often before becoming a trainer. It did not take many bites of his dish for Ash to have an idea why; perhaps it was just the unique taste of Fuchsian food that made the dish feel new and exciting, but he was already starting to dread the fact that he would inevitably run out. Their Pokemon seemed to find equal enjoyment in their own food, particularly Tempest, who seemed more Munchlax than Kingler for the moment. The water type prioritized eating over talking, but was still fully listening to the light conversation as Pikachu, Valiant, Ivysaur, and Toxtricity commented on the surrounding area together, and would occasionally offer a word or two of his own before returning to his meal.

  Ash could see the content nostalgia in Janine's eyes as she sat next to him, exchanged words with a waiter she clearly knew quite well, and enjoyed her food. Watching her up close, Ash could not help the mild and perhaps immature envy creeping into him as she used her chopsticks as casually as he could ever imagine using a fork or spoon. He was grateful to the waiter for offering the utensils he was used to using, but seeing how effortless Janine made it appear gave him the urge to practice.

  The poison specialist probably would have been significantly more comfortable if it were not for the wandering eyes of the other patrons. Throughout the tour, occasional whispers of "she's back" "it's her" and "who's that she's with" were barely audible, and about halfway through, it became easier to tell she was putting in effort to ignore them. She thankfully appeared more at ease now, but the food could only distract her so much.

  It could only distract him so much as well. Ash would catch himself glancing back whenever it felt like somebody was looking his way, or more accurately, looking her way and noticing him there by extension. The whole group had been a magnet for subtle yet hard to ignore attention. The restaurant was not too crowded, which was fortunate in some ways and less in others. It made it all the more obvious when they were being looked at on purpose rather than by chance.

  Ash could have sworn he could feel the wind beginning to pick up, subconsciously raising a hand to grip his cap when a recent gust felt like it would be a strong one, but thankfully was not. He was about to return to his lunch (which was regrettably almost finished) when Janine spoke.

  "Aunt Aya isn't always around, since her Ace Trainer duties take her away from home often, but whenever available, she would take me out." she reminisced Sometimes just the two of us, and sometimes with Kris. This is one of our common spots. Everything is fresh and organic, and the cooks love experimenting with specials. I usually stick to the regulars, personally, but I don't know if I've seen Kris order the same dish twice."

  He offered her a friendly nod. "It's good. Although I feel like I'm the only one with a fork…" his cheeks turned the lightest shade of red.

  "It's not a big deal," she assured. "Most places in Indigo do not commonly use chopsticks anymore, so it's completely normal for someone from elsewhere to eat with a fork. Besides, chopsticks aren't all we use either, compared to the old days. We keep them around as a tradition."

  "Tradition," he echoed. "Fuchsia is known for being very traditional."

  "Mhm," she hummed. "And we are proud to be."

  A noise from Toxtricity caught his attention. Next to him, Janine purposefully did not look away from her food as he turned to look back at their Pokemon, already knowing what Toxtricity was commenting on. The pair that had just sat down across from them were the latest on the list of those who seemed to recognize Janine: A couple of teenagers with a Skitty between them. They accidentally made eye contact with him as he noticed them.

  In front of him, Tempest (who was also nearing the end of his meal) leered at the pair with a smirk and began clicking his pincers. The Skitty's face turned pale, hiding behind his supposed trainers' legs as the two looked away.

  Rolling his eyes, Ash reached over to tap the Kingler on the back. His shell was even harder than it looked. "Knock it off, big guy." Though he was mildly annoyed by the uninvited attention, he was hardly looking for a fight, for as much as Tempest (and Toxtricity, probably) would be open to one starting. The Skitty's reaction also made him feel guilty - Tempest had to be at least three times his size.

  Tempest did not seem very apologetic, but obeyed without argument. Another gust of wind came on, this one lasting slightly longer than the first. It almost made Ash feel a bit cold.

  "Was it supposed to be windy today?" he asked, wondering if Janine had the answer.

  "No…" she replied, setting aside her finished dish for the waiter to collect. "It's a bit strange. Today was supposed to be a typical clear day."

  "I guess the forecast could have been a bit… off…" he almost trailed off when he spotted Pikachu from the corner of his eye. The mouse's fur was standing up, and his ears were twitching. "Buddy?" Then he noticed Toxtricity, whose body was oddly tense as his frills seemed to vibrate. "What are you two… feeling?" The two electric types looked around before their gazes fell on him. Confusion was written on Pikachu's face, and suspicion on Toxtricity's. As Valiant looked at them, the Kirlia grew just about as tense as they were.

  Turning to look at them, Janine's eyes narrowed in confused concern. "Normally that would happen in a storm," as Ivysaur began to ask Pikachu and Toxtricity what was wrong, his trainer's head slowly tilted skyward. "But there's not supposed to be one today…" After a moment or two, her eyes shone with alarm, and Ash grew alert.

  "What is it?" the little bit of his remaining food was forgotten.

  "Sky." her voice had changed like the flip of a switch, focused to an almost deadly degree. He followed her finger upwards, and blinked.

  Gray clouds were on the horizon. And the wind was picking up again.

  "That definitely was not in the forecast." The girl was out of her seat, and her behavior was beginning to catch the attention of the remaining patrons.

  On any other day, it may have felt weird to be anxious about the weather, but Ash's spine tingled. Any way one looked at it, this wasn't normal. "Should we go back?"

  Janine was about to answer when a new voice cut her off. "Janine! Ash!"

  The girl recognized the voice in an instant, and Ash recognized it the moment he turned to see its owner: Ace Trainer Aya was running toward them, her uniform overtaking her niece as the eye magnet.

  "Aunt Aya!" On a normal day, Janine likely would have looked thrilled to see the green-haired woman, but today, the girl's face and voice were as serious as someone her age could get. "What's happening?"

  Aya seemed more than a little relieved when she stopped in front of the group. "I was hoping you'd be here. We need to get you all back to the village, now."

  "Does this have something to do with that?" Ash pointed to the clouds, which suddenly seemed to be advancing faster than before. Unless they were always going at that speed…

  "Yes." The Ace Trainer's nod was as stiff as her face was steel. Right now, she was not the woman that Ash had befriended at Bill's place, or Janine's aunt. She was a soldier. And she certainly sounded like one when she turned to the rest of the people present, almost all of whom had their gazes fixed on her at this point. "Everyone! A storm of unknown origin is coming in from the north! Get to shelter immediately!" Her voice rose across the surrounding area, and Ash was shocked at how booming her volume could be without use of a microphone. Did the League teach that too?

  The frantic yet authoritative command of an Ace Trainer was not so easily ignored, especially in a city as unquestionably devoted to the League as Fuchsia. Not a single person questioned Aya's announcement, everybody moved.

  The next gust of wind was stronger than the ones before, and Ash did not have time to reach up and secure his cap. He cursed out loud when it flew off of his head, but Ivysaur's vines snatched it before the wind could sweep it away.

  Ash allowed himself a small sigh of relief - but nothing more - when Ivysaur wordlessly handed the cap back to him. "Thank you, Ivysaur." Ivysaur allowed himself a tiny smile and a nod, but nothing more than that. The exchange was forgotten a second later, as their focus returned to the matter at hand.

  "So much for dessert…" Janine's tone and face were a mix of seriousness and dejection.

  /

  The thunder had started crackling right as they got back to the village. It had thankfully taken surprisingly long for the storm to start producing rain, but the group was not as dry as they would have preferred returning to the mansion. The rain itself was barely even a side event, however. Ash would remember the storm for the lightning and thunder, both of which had steadily increased in frequency until the sky above had essentially become a lightshow of electrical fireworks - and just about as loud. The wind was not modest either, but thankfully capped sooner than the lightning and thunder.

  Aya had excused herself almost immediately after settling in. No doubt she had to meet with Koga and the others. Ash and Janine had asked her if she knew anything about the alarming storm, but the only thing anybody knew was that it had come from the north.

  Ash tried not to let the sudden anxiety of the mysterious storm distract him. Whatever it was, the League would figure it out. That would not stop the storm itself from being a constant distraction. Closing the curtains helped with the lightning, but he could barely hear himself think with the constant thunder, especially since it wasn't exactly quiet. Janine was the same, which had thankfully given her the idea to show him around the mansion's lower level.

  Ash always associated "lower level" with a basement. A dark, or at least dim, storage area beneath a house with an unmistakable smell to it. That's what it was back at home, anyway. The Kyo mansion's "basement", on the other hand, could not have been further away from that. It was essentially an entire floor of its own, and a fairly impressive one at that, complete with its own hallways and sections just like any other. And since they were underground, exploring it was a decent enough escape from the storm. Although the thunder was still audible, it was not nearly as loud down here.

  Ash recalled Koga saying that the mansion had its own built-in dojo and battlefield, in addition to the one located above ground, and this lower level was where they were. The arena was a standard, basic battlefield with no gimmicks, although the field was a unique color, being a darker blue. Apparently, it was estimated to be about halfway between the size of a Pokemon Center's battlefield and a Gym's battlefield. On either side was a small set of stands for people to sit in, although even with there not being nearly as many seats compared to what he was used to seeing in the Gyms, Ash wasn't sure how likely this arena would be to see a full house. It mostly existed for casual and training purposes, after all.

  Connected to the battlefield was the dojo, which was equipped to train both Pokemon and people (as Ash also recalled Koga saying). When they arrived, two clan members were sparring with katanas on one of the mats, while another was in the middle of throwing shurikens at targets, and almost every one hit perfectly - at least, that was how it looked to Ash's untrained eyes.

  The other section of the "basement" almost felt like a miniature museum of sorts. Hardly a dedicated one, the clan had that elsewhere in the village, but there were paintings and replicas recording some of the clan's most significant history.

  Such as the one she was showing him right now.

  The beautifully framed painting was hung on the wall in a spot that ensured it would be impossible to miss. It was of an armored woman, standing amidst a clashing backdrop that split the painting in half. On the left side of the painting, the scenery behind her was a field of grass and a starry night sky. On the right side, the background was a highly contrasting rocky landscape beneath a stormy sky lit up with lightning. The woman in question was facing to the left, although her positioning ensured she would be returning the gaze of whoever looked at the painting. Her hand grasped the hilt of her sword, which rested against the ground at the tip. She had a mane of black hair that looked like it was flowing with the wind, and purple eyes. By all means, she was a strikingly beautiful woman, but her face conveyed far more than just that. Her expression was the stoic, mild glare of a warrior who had fought a thousand battles, yet barely seemed fazed. Just ready.

  "Gwiniff Kyo." Janine stood next to him, head angled upwards in a mirrored position to his own as both gazed at the painting. Her voice was slightly somber, only just barely enough to be noticed. "The first leader of the clan, and my… ancestor." she went silent for a moment, and her eyes briefly fell on the plaque nearby. "It would probably be best if you heard the story at the museum. The full story. There is… a lot."

  He nodded. He had not considered it too much prior, being here now had abruptly sparked his curiosity. Nonetheless, as an outsider who knew very little, learning with the full context was likely preferable.

  "It's a good looking painting." he said.

  She agreed. "Her brother in law was one of the greatest artists of the time, Seymour Sennfence. A lot of the most famous Fuchsian paintings of that era were done by him." her gaze then moved to the glass case near the painting. "And this…"

  Ash had briefly looked at the contents of the case when they had gotten to the exhibit. Just from that quick moment, he had felt unsettled. Now, really focusing his full attention on it had brought the entire winter season to his back.

  It was a mask, crafted in the shape of a crowned serpent with very real looking fangs. The mask's gaze was hollow, yet hostile. Calm, yet angry. As stoic and prepared to kill as the greatest predator. And it was to be worn on somebody's face.

  "This is Shadowblood's mask." Janine's expression and tone of voice did not change when looking at the mask. No twitching, and no voice cracks. She looked upon and spoke of it as though it were a jug of fresh milk. "Shadowblood was Gwyniff's alias, and is effectively just as much her identity as her birth name. During the Kanto Unification War, it was the name she was known as. What she was referred to as. And this is the mask she wore. To those on the battlefield, this was her face. And Shadowblood was her name."

  "She wore this?" Ash echoed. He knew that the Unification War had a collection of fascinating stories to it, most of all how it had ended with the founding of the Indigo League, Albert Seiza being blessed by the Guardian Mew himself.

  "Indeed. It is sacred and priceless to our family." Above them, the muffled rumbles of thunder could still be heard as Janine continued. "Of course, this one is merely a replica. The real mask is the exclusive property of the Clan leader - the Gym Leader. Only they are permitted to handle the true, original mask, just as Gwyniff allowed nobody but herself to handle it back then. It has become a treasure."

  'Treasure.' Ash repeated to himself. A treasure of Indigo's history, connected to the family that Janine came from. It may have been the strongest reminder he had received in the past twenty four hours. The feeling that he had stepped into a completely different world. And she had come from that world.

  /

  They had remained in the underground levels after the "tour" was finished. They spent most of that time simply relaxing. Talking. Commenting on some of the things they had a chance to see in the city before the storm had interrupted them. Hearing a little bit about some of the clan members he had not met yet.

  Right now, probably hours later, they sat together on the side of the battlefield while Tempest and Tentacruel engaged in light sparring activities. Valiant sat next to Ash, content to simply watch rather than participate himself.

  "He told you how he met that one, right, Janine?" They looked over their shoulders to see Aya approaching them. The hardened expression she had bore earlier was mostly gone. Though still in her uniform, she appeared far more casual and laid back than the other adults had been, and he found himself happy to see the green-haired woman's grin again. "Room for one more?"

  "Absolutely!" Janine's eyes lit up in pleasant surprise, quickly gesturing for her aunt to sit next to her. As Aya made herself comfortable, she patted the girl's head. "And do you mean how Ash met Tempest?" At the Ace Trainer's nod, Janine offered Ash a quick, acknowledging glance before redirecting her attention back to Tempest and Tentacruel, who were practicing Surf together now. "He was hired to catch Tempest by a researcher living on Cerulean's coast. The same place he met you."

  A split second chuckle sounded from Aya's throat. "Heh, I felt a bit nostalgic, I guess. I know that crab was a load of trouble back then, but from the looks of it, things turned out pretty well."

  Valiant must have known Ash was glancing at him, as he was quick to return his trainer's gaze before the two looked back at the Kingler. The Kirlia's arms were crossed, but he seemed fairly content. Ash patted his head for a moment,

  "There were… a lot of speed bumps," he admitted. "Some worse than others. But I'm happy with our progress. I'm glad it worked."

  "Just about every great trainer has one of those," Aya replied. "A difficult teammate, I mean. You'll see for yourself too one day, Janine." When the woman locked eyes with him, Ash's lips curved up, and it almost felt involuntary. The approval in those eyes felt… comforting, yet not coddling. "I'm proud you rose to that occasion, Ash."

  "Thanks, Aya." he said. Then he perked up. "So, did the storm…" it suddenly occurred to him that he had not heard any thunder for a bit, and if she was here now…

  Aya nodded, her face a bit more neutral now. "It passed by. We have power outage reports mostly coming from the northeastern side of the city, but thankfully nothing catastrophic. My brother is in touch with meteorologists, and early speculation is that the storm was losing strength on land prior to hitting the city. A couple of villages to the north…" she sighed. "Got it pretty bad. And now that the storm is on the ocean, it's going to be regaining strength."

  "Hopefully it doesn't hit the Sevii Islands." Janine frowned.

  "I feel the same," Aya nodded. "But… if I were you two, I'd do my best to keep your mind off of that. Stuff like this isn't something you should be stressing over unless you absolutely need to. Leave it to us, trust me."

  Ash was still a bit stressed, but even just hearing the news that the storm had passed through was enough to relieve some of it. So he nodded. "Alright, Aya. You know best."

  "I'm sure you'll get to the bottom of it." Janine agreed before realizing something else. "Speaking of… weren't you and Len with Connie?"

  Ash's eyes widened. Connie! How could he forget her? The sudden storm had thrown everything off, even more than he realized.

  Aya noticed the change in his expression immediately. "You don't have to worry, she's safe. In fact, her parents have already picked her up."

  Ash felt his expression deflate, as well as something inside his chest and stomach. "Wait, you mean…"

  "They already left?" Janine finished for him.

  Aya nodded sympathetically. "Yes… her parents were… in a state, honestly. I'm not sure I've ever seen people so relieved before. They wanted to get back home with her as soon as possible. And to be honest, that's probably for the best in hindsight. They just beat the storm."

  That was for the best, now that she brought it up, but Ash still couldn't help the empty feeling inside of him. Connie was safe and sound, and that was far and away what mattered to him the most, but she was also… just gone. Just like that.

  Aya's arm reached over Janine, resting a hand on him. "I know you wanted to see her off, Ash. But I promise, it wasn't anything personal. Connie's parents… Len told them what you did. They know." her other hand reached into one of her pockets. "And Connie wanted to say goodbye too, see?"

  She pulled out an envelope.

  "Here," Aya handed it to Ash. "She wrote this letter, and asked me to give it to you."

  Janine watched Ash open the envelope, but did not say anything as he pulled out the paper and unfolded it.

  Dear Ash,

  I'm sorry we didn't get to talk more. I was really scared, but mom says writing can be easier sometimes. Thank you so much for saving me from those bad people. I keep imagining myself back there, and it's really scary, but then I remember that you came and got me out. And you stood up to that scary boss man all by yourself. You and your Pokemon are amazing! I hope you get a hundred badges one day.

  From Connie.

  P.S. I'm really good at drawing, I hope you like it!

  A small heart had been used to dot the "I" in her name.

  Ash's eyes felt misty, and he wasn't sure if Valiant curling up against him in response mitigated or furthered it. He couldn't tell if the smile on his face was sad or content, either, and Janine was giving him a similar look.

  "You saved that girl's life, Ash." he felt her hand gently wrap around his wrist, and for some reason his cheeks were a bit wet now. "Just like Caleb."

  "Y-Yeah…" he couldn't stop them anymore, the tears were flowing slowly but freely, and Valiant snuggled deeper into him. Janine's free arm wrapped around him to pull him in.

  "Just let it out, Ash." Aya encouraged softly.

  He wasn't fully sure why he was crying, but he allowed himself too. And for some reason, it almost felt relieving.

  "T-Thanks for giving me this…" he managed to say, when he was ready to stop.

  "Don't mention it," the Ace Trainer pointed at the envelope. "The letter's not the only thing in there, remember."

  Blinking (his eyes still felt a bit wet when he did that), Ash picked the envelope back up, and wiped his face with his shirt to dry some of the lingering tears. He pulled out a second piece of paper to unfold, unsure of its contents. The others looked at him curiously as he opened it up. A small, comfortable smile formed on his still somewhat wet face.

  It was a drawing of a Kingler.

  "She wasn't kidding," Janine's eyes twinkled. "That's a really good one."

  "She was really proud when she showed it to me," Aya reminisced. "She's a sweet kid."

  "Yeah…" Ash agreed. He stared at the picture for a few seconds longer before looking up to Tempest and Tentacruel. "Hey, Tempest!"

  The two water types paused for a moment, looking back at Ash curiously. Tempest shuffled over to the group, and Tentacruel followed but gave him some space.

  Ash's smile was stretched a bit wider when he held the picture in front of Tempest. "From Connie. It's you."

  The Kingler blinked, and his face was difficult to read, outside of the fact that he was clearly surprised. Next to Ash, Valiant chuckled lightly.

  "Excuse me, Mr. Ketchum."

  Akira was approaching them now, his expression even and tranquil as he observed the group. "My apologies for interrupting, but Leader Koga would like to speak with you in his office before dinner. Alone."

  It was sort of like someone had turned a knob inside of him. The river of emotions in Ash was slowly replaced by a new one, and he felt his hands tightening at the man's words. He looked back at Janine and Aya. The latter locked eyes with him again, giving him a small, quick nod that might have been difficult for Akira to notice. Then he looked back at Akira himself.

  He stood up, carefully slipping the letter and drawing back into the envelope. Janine offered to hold onto it, for which he thanked her.

  "Alright," he said. "I'm coming." Akira waited for the boy to approach him before turning around and beginning to walk.

  Janine watched them go, and did not catch onto her whitening face until Valiant looked back at her. She realized she was making eye contact with the Kirlia, and looked away - not too quickly so as not to offend him. Tempest gave the envelope in her hand another look before offering Valiant a quick nod and heading back to Tentacruel.

  She felt Aya's hand on her shoulder, and some of the tension in her muscles subside. She offered a small, mixed smile in response, which was returned more steadfastly by her aunt.

  /

  The trip to Koga's office was wordless. Ash briefly considered trying to start some small talk, but kept biting back his words, suspicious that it wouldn't have much of a point to it. Akira never looked back at him, as if the man already knew that Ash was following.

  Ash's stomach clenched as his escort came to a stop in front of a door at the end of a hallway. As Akira turned to face him, the boy could see the plaque on the door, unambiguously reading "Koga's Study."

  "Right this way, Ketchum." There was no hostility in Akira's voice when he stepped aside and gestured to the door. There was no encouragement. No reassurance. There wasn't anything in the man's voice, it was just a vehicle to deliver a message. There was no opinion to be expressed along with it, almost as if there was no room.

  "Thank you, sir." Ash lowered his head to the soldier before walking past him. His hand gently rested on the doorknob like it was fragile enough to crumble at the touch. Then he turned it. Once he was far enough into the room, the door closed behind him, with no ceremony.

  Koga was standing next to the bookshelf, reading something before his head raised. Like a homing missile, his eyes were locked onto Ash's without effort, and the boy felt stiff.

  "Ash Ketchum," when the Gym Leader closed his book, Ash felt his blood going cold as he spoke his name. Koga turned away just long enough to return the book to the shelf, before his undivided attention was back on him. For a moment or two, Ash wanted to look anywhere else. At the computer, even though it was off. At the bookshelf, even though he did not know what was on it. It was a fleeting desire; he kept his gaze on Koga, and wondered if the walls surrounding them were going to start coming closer.

  They were not on a battlefield, about to face each other for a badge. They were not in a lobby. They had no company. He was simply alone with one of the most powerful people in Indigo. A man who could probably reach over and kill him in roughly a dozen ways with no Pokemon or weapons involved. The look on Janine's father's face wasn't blank, but it wasn't clear, either. It was as though he had deliberately turned his face into a mask.

  The master gestured to the seat in front of his desk. "Sit, please." Ash obeyed, and Koga continued as he prepared to sit across from the boy. "Last night," he started officially. "We obviously never had the chance to properly be introduced. Regrettable, that is, but I think we have a window of downtime to have a proper word." He straightened himself in his seat, one hand resting on the edge of the desk while the other remained invisible. "Now, before either of us say anything else, I want to take the time to offer you both my thanks and congratulations for defeating Caesar. He was long overdue."

  "I…" Ash cursed himself for pausing after a single syllable. "It was my team who did it, too."

  "Yes, it was." The Gym Leader nodded. "Thanks to your collective actions yesterday, we now have the location of the gang's hideout, and a raid is already being put together to purge it."

  "Purge." Ash repeated. "As in capture, or…"

  "Whichever proves to be necessary." Koga's voice did not change, and the look on his face was static. He was simply stating a fact, there was no need for fanfare to go along with it. "By this time tomorrow night, Scarfist Company will be nothing more than a memory that only exists in the books. An attractive sum will be paid to your account as well, for your service, on my behalf."

  "Thank you, sir." Ash got the words out more evenly this time, and made sure he did not break eye contact. Koga's gaze felt like it was going straight through him, but even when he felt the Butterfree in his stomach, the boy would not look away.

  "There is nothing for you to thank me for," Koga's tone remained static, no signs of humbleness or reassurance. "I am repaying an important service that was done. You have done more than capture one man; Caesar "Scarfist" Faylist is no Rocket Executive, or even a Rocket at all. But to the Rockets, he had value, and his gang was an appreciated asset to their farce of a cause. His capture will lead to the entire group's downfall; the Rockets will have one less spoon to keep them fed, and Indigo's underworld will become slightly smaller." The poison master only lowered his head for a moment, but even in that self contained moment, it felt slightly wrong. "That is a debt the League rightfully owes you."

  The implications were a lot more clear to the boy coming straight from the Gym Leader's mouth. It was the kind of thing that was nearly impossible to consider in the moment, when he was fighting for his life, but Koga spoke of the domino effect as though it was second nature.

  "Moving on," and then Koga left the subject with no spectacle, removing his hand from the edge of the table to cross his arms. "You have come to my city seeking a Soul Badge, I would naturally imagine."

  Ash's eyes stayed locked on Koga's. "I have, sir."

  "Hmmm…" One of Koga's hands reached into the desk, and the next thing Ash knew, a folder was sitting in front of the ninja master. "I must confess I was rather taken aback to learn that a first year with your level of experience had made his way here from the north at this time of the Season. Had it not been for the incident with Scarfist Company, I may have entertained the assumption that you relied on Janine to do the necessary lifting on the way here. Had I not known better." His gaze was back to Ash's face. "I do, however. Meaning you can not plan on me underestimating you."

  His eyes were like swords again, and for a moment, Ash wondered if Koga was looking at his chest. A cold hand wrapped around his heart. "Okay."

  "Do you understand?"

  "I do, sir."

  Koga was silent for a moment. Ash wanted him to talk, to banish that silence. But he wasn't sure if that was what he really wanted.

  The Gym Leader looked back at the folder, opening it without so much as a grunt. Ash did not try to read the paper that came into view - and even if he had, it was upside down from his perspective.

  "You scored a ninety overall on the Indigo League Qualification Exam," Koga looked back up at him. "A very respectable grade. It does not exactly represent your performance throughout school, however."

  Ash's knuckles tightened. He was glad his hands were not visible to the Gym Leader, in case he would have gotten the wrong idea.

  Koga clearly saw the twitch in his expression, though. "It seems a lot has changed about you, the sign of a productive training experience. I wonder if you've ever thought about what has spurred that."

  Confused, Ash raised a brow. "What do you mean?" It was true that he had changed a lot since leaving home. He was stronger now. Had made friends. Grew more confident. Was there some special answer Koga was looking for?

  "With that attitude you'll never figure it out." Koga's inflection was matter-of-fact, but Ash felt like he had just been handed a paper with a large red zero on it. The master closed the folder, setting it aside but not putting it away before making eye contact again. "You should know, Ketchum, this morning my daughter looked me in the eye and sang your praises."

  "She did…" Ash's foot tapped the floor a few times, but he stopped before it could go on. He felt grateful. Anxious. Curious.

  "Janine is a prodigy among the cream of the crop, but she is not incapable of recognizing the talents of others. She was taught better than to be dismissive." Koga's hands folded over the table in front of him. "That does not quite seem to be how she looks at you, however. There seems to be a myriad of forms her respect for you takes, far more than simple acknowledgement. And regardless of whatever statistics you and I are both aware exist, the fact remains that you are a trainer with four badges, and have earned both the privilege and burden of being looked at as one."

  Ash's hands clenched again. Pikachu scaling an Onix and sending him on an earth-shaking collision course with an Iron Tail to the head. Eevee bashing an Espeon into submission. Gary's Wartortle failing to rise from Pikachu's final attack. A Zangoose falling in defeat in front of Tempest. They were all scenes that replayed in his mind.

  "I will ask you officially, Mr. Ketchum. Do you believe you are ready to challenge my Gym?"

  His question was a needle, his voice a syringe, and Ash was reminded in a manner he would never forget, that the man he was talking to may have been the most dangerous person he had ever conversed with, Caesar long forgotten. And the father of someone who he had spent over a month traveling, eating, training, and doing everything with.

  The next path on the road to the Indigo Plateau went directly through this man.

  "Yes…" he knew before Koga even spoke that the Gym Leader would not be satisfied with his midway pause. Or maybe he had broken eye contact by accident, but he was not entirely sure. "I am."

  "You are what?" This time, Koga's voice was a weight. It pressed down against the boy's shoulders while entering his ears.

  Ash released his clenched hands. He focused his gaze, embracing the bladed gaze of the poison master's eyes. "I am challenging you for the Soul Badge, sir."

  Koga leaned back against his seat, but his posture remained mostly intact. "Then it is done. You did not, however, give me a satisfactory answer to my other question. So much progress you've made in over three months, but what really gives you your strength, Ketchum? Have you identified your foundation, and have you ever considered what would happen if something broke it?"

  "I…" Ash blinked again, but did not turn his head. Koga's presence demanded he not. "I'm afraid I don't entirely know what you mean by that, sir." he finally confessed.

  "Then think about it. I'll wait."

  Ash closed his eyes, hoping a break from the atmosphere would collect his thoughts. He made sure to open them before speaking again. "I have a wonderful family who's gotten stronger alongside me. They have helped me do things I never thought I could have done, and reach places I never thought I'd be at. Like here. And it makes me happy, and feel like I don't have to worry as much about what others might think of me. I know how I think of myself. I've earned my own approval."

  Koga studied Ash's face, and the boy could do nothing but wonder in what way the Gym Leader - Janine's father - was observing him. Was it approval? Plain observation? Judgment?

  "It seems you are capable of a partial answer,' the master finally spoke again, after what Ash suspected was not quite as long as it half felt. There was something in Koga's eyes that stiffened his muscles again, even if only to a tiny degree. Like he was thinking of the most effective way to slip a knife between his ribs. "But I am not sure if you understand everything you have said. If you have looked for any cracks in your outlook, or conversely any strengths that may reinforce it."

  It may have been the ambiguity of Koga's response that nerved him more than a straightforward criticism or rejection likely would have.

  "It is an answer that may come to you in time," the Gym Leader continued, pulling something out of his pocket. "I recommend you deconstruct yourself and your own journey, before I have the chance to do it for you." As if to prove his point, he did not provide Ash with the opportunity to allow those words to sink in. "You know of the Safari Zone, of course."

  "I-I do, sir." Ash tried his best to rediscover the sturdiness he had spoken with before. Koga's tongue had poked a hole in his bucket.

  "It is a rather special - and important, I might add - place, and one where a trainer's approach can never be quite the same." he held out the object he had removed from his pocket. It was a pass. "With my special permission, you will be permitted entrance. If you can make one visit with no prior experience going in, come out with an additional Pokemon, and prevail in my Gym, I will give a TM of great value to a trainer such as myself."

  Ash took the pass from Koga's hand, and stared at the Safari Zone logo. He was not sure what his mind should be racing about - what special move Koga was speaking of, what Pokemon he could find to add to his team, whether or not he'd walk away empty handed…

  He chose to pocket the pass. The racing thoughts could wait. "I accept," his preferred, sturdy tone of voice was back, and he bowed his head. "Thank you, sir."

  "That remains to be seen," Koga replied. Now he put the folder away. "Our battle will be scheduled nine days from now. In that time, you may do whatever you wish to prepare, and you will come to my Gym prepared for the longest day of your life." he spoke like his tongue was made of ice. "You are free to stay here as well, and make use of our training facilities and equipment. You are a guest of this family as much as a challenger of our Gym, and for as long as you are under my roof and looking to acquire my Soul Badge, you are expected to take both equally seriously."

  "Of course, Leader Koga." Ash made sure his response conveyed the utmost understanding. In this time, Koga had either kept his expectations of him entirely hidden - or Ash had failed to gauge what they were. He would leave this study, and this conversation, not knowing what he needed to do: to prove one of the greatest trainers - and figures - in all of Indigo right, or wrong. To not disappoint him, or to surprise him.

  …

  But he knew what he wanted to do, and there was only one way to do it. He would, and nine days was the allotted time to plan, discover, and figure out how.

  "Very well," Koga rose to full height. "And on that note, the dining room awaits us. Come."

  /

  This time, the large table in the dining room was mostly full when Ash and Koga arrived. Light chatter defined the mood of the room before all heads turned to the late arrivals. For a moment, Ash watched the Gym Leader, who made his way across the room and took his seat at the head of the table. On either side of him were Janine and Aya, sitting across from one another in chairs that had been empty for months. Akira was next to Janine, and Ash could see Len and Ruunia seated elsewhere.

  He found an open seat about halfway across the table, hand resting on the chair for a moment as he felt a couple sets of eyes on him. Silent, he sat down and pushed himself in.

  His eyes fell on Janine, who was speaking to Akira after giving a nod to her father. She saw him, and offered only a light smile before he looked away.

  The cooks brought out the food, and the chatter momentarily died down. Brooks was there, but did not go to his side of the table. Another chef was soon near him and the person next to him, setting down the dishes that had must have become ready less than five minutes ago, if even that.

  'We are in Fuchsia City.'