Hello guys and girls. Well, I'm back with a new story this time. Well okay, not completely new. It's a re-write of one of my old stories by the same title. However, I think once you start reading this (which I really hope you do), you'll agree it's almost totally different to the original. It's been given a serious revamp and the plot's been given some serious changes. It's pretty much a new story in almost all respects, and one I intend to finish this time, however long it takes *crosses fingers*. I've got a bet with a really good friend concerning this, one I wanna win :P

Basic story information, this is set about one week after the Sinnoh League ends and starts in that blank period in-between Diamond and Pearl: Sinnoh League Victors and Black and White (after Ash goes home from the Sinnoh League, but before he goes to Unova to put it simply.) Paul, the main rival from Diamond and Pearl, and to a lesser extent his older brother Reggie, are the main characters here, but many others from the Pokémon anime will get an appearance and a role as the story progresses. This is my story of what happens to Paul following his defeat by Ash. I intend to keep everything canon. All this and anything extra will slowly get revealed as the story progress etc. You get the idea :P.

Well, really hope you like this. Updates will come roughly every week or two weeks. Sometimes maybe quicker than others, and probably at weekends. If anyone is curious about when a update is coming out, feel free to PM. I'm a pretty friendly guy and will always reply. You might even get a joke back too, if you're lucky :P And well, that's it!

Oh, one last thing. While I welcome any and all reviews, any person who finds a genuine mistake in any of my chapters (spelling or grammar mistakes) and puts it in a review will get a special mention in the AN of the next chapter. I'm no professional writer by any stretch and I welcome the chance to improve. That's what reviews are for, right? I have no doubt you'll find a few, so enjoy searching :P. And of course, any person who reviews will always get a reply back before the next chapter goes up, whether it be one person or (God help me) one hundred :P. Guest reviewers will get thanked on the next chapter itself.

Alright, so let's see how this goes eh? :P The first chapter's dedicated to that same good friend mentioned above. You know who you are.

X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X-X

Weavile span and leapt left and right. The dark/ice type looked as if it was in a dance as it performed around the much larger Pokémon, almost looking to any spectators that may be present as if it was trying to entice its opponent into a mistimed attack. Its grass/ground type opponent wasn't taking the bait though. In fact, Torterra had barely moved at all in the battle so far, emotionless despite its double weakness to the various Ice Beams and Ice Shards that had struck it many times over in only the last few minutes.

Seeing such a battling pair was indeed an oddity, especially here. Sneasel wasn't even native to this part of the world, their evolved form even less so. And Torterra was quite a rare Pokémon in its own right. Turtwig had long since fallen to near extinction in the wild, before conservationists had sought to save them, and Professors had introduced the idea of offering them as starter Pokémon in the Sinnoh region for beginning trainers in an attempt to boost their numbers. For such Pokémon to be together in the same place, here, let alone battling, indeed almost sorely indicated to the work of a trainer at some point. For powerful trained Pokémon such as these, probably indicated a skilled trainer.

These Pokémon were no exception.

Finally seeming to grow tired of its non-responsive opponent, Weavile jumped forward at its rival, both its claws glowing with a powerful dark aura, clearly intending to slash the Torterra directly across the face.

CRACK!

A multitude of thorny vines and roots burst from the ground. Weavile screamed as the green vegetation smacked it brutally backwards, sending it flying a good thirty metres into the base of a thick oak tree with such force, it shook many of the autumn leaves free as the creature slowly slid down the trunk to the grassy undergrowth with swirling eyes. Still in its original position, the Torterra gave a low grunt of satisfaction, even as it began to suck in deep breaths to regain its lost energy.

Standing off to one side, leaning almost casually against his brother's wooden two-story house, the trainer of both previously combating Pokémon grimaced, bringing one hand up to rub his forehead. But despite his obviously exasperated appearance, the trainer's narrowed black eyes never left his defeated creature, still laid unconscious next to the tree in his brother's backyard.

He hadn't even expected Weavile to win the battle anyway. Even with its huge advantage in terms of type over his starter, Torterra far outclassed his Johto-born creature in terms of both experience and raw power. The only reason he'd paired them together today was to give Torterra valuable experience battling an opponent that fought in a style alien and completely opposite to its own. Unlike some, he preferred to work his creature's weaknesses, rather than their strengths, and Pokémon such as Weavile would always be a Torterra's greatest weakness. But today, Weavile had barely presented a challenge to his starter. A training session proved pointless.

The trainer narrowed his eyes slightly, his calculating mind falling back into familiar tracks, tracks he's visited more than once over the last week and indeed the last few years.

Weavile had failed to perform for a while now in battle. Was it time? Should he just simply stop trying? It wouldn't be the first time he'd come to this conclusion about a Pokémon in his care, and besides, he'd given the dark type more than enough chances to prove itself by now, having trained it across across two regions. Sometimes, it just wasn't worth the time and effort involved.

But on the other hand, Weavile was a unique creature, one due to its typing and another due to its speed. Finding another like it wouldn't be easy, and it was important to keep Pokémon with varying skills to deal with any and every circumstance in battle.

And there was another reason, though this one less easy to define. A reason brought on by recent events. An uneasy feeling, a small quiet voice that whispered to him from deep within. What if this was another mistake?

No.

Suddenly coming to a decision, the teenager suddenly straightened up, pushing himself from the wooden exterior to stand upright.

"Fall in!"

At the sound of its master's voice, Torterra immediately turned and lumbered towards the sound of the noise as quickly as its four tree-trunk sized legs would allow. It wasn't the only one either.

From all around the meadow, all manner of creatures raced forward, instantly halting their own arduous training and converging at top speed towards the purple-haired teenager. Such was the number and the size of some of the creatures, even the ground seemed to tremble at their approach. On reaching each of their designated spots, the dozens of various monsters ground to a halt and lined up in three solid ranks, all sweating and panting, but now standing as straight and silent as possible. Creatures of vastly different size and build, some with two legs, others with four, some even with none at all. The ones unable to line up on the land due to their body's inability to walk or crawl or fly simply pushed to be as close as possible in the small water pool near the perimeter fence.

The teenager waited silently, eyes now closed and arms now crossed as he listened to the sound of his creatures shuffling into place, listening as the sound of their laboured breathing slowly grew softer, then as all finally fell silent, abruptly snapped his eyes back open and walked forward.

Loose gravel and dirt crunched underneath the young man's feet as he marched down his line of battlers. Torterra gave no reaction as he was passed without a word uttered. He was well used to his trainer's methods and attitude as his starter Pokémon after all.

Electivire barely managed not to flinch as its master approached. Despite once being the star of its trainer's team, it had constantly feared retribution during the past week over its recent failure. But yet again, its trainer simply walked by without a word uttered.

Ursaring timidly growled as the boy suddenly paused before him, trying not to let its pain show in its expression. But the various bruises and cuts were obvious to anyone's eyes. Despite its best efforts, it had been entirely unsuccessful at even scratching its sparring partner of today, Metagross, while the latter had simply spent the last forty minutes battering the Hibernation Pokémon from one side of the clearing to the other. But to the great bear's relief, the teenager resumed his walking a moment later with a simple "hmph." One row back, Metagross uttered a low sneering robotic monotone.

Finally reaching the end of line, the boy paused. Then, almost seeming casual in nature, looked over to the right to the same spot as before. Weavile was still in the same position, laid by the base of the large oak, but had now regained consciousness, and was attempting to return to its feet, albeit clearly struggling, no doubt eager to join the others in formation. The teenager stood stock-still, watching its efforts silently for almost a whole minute, before he, still without any change in expression, slowly reached into his pocket with his left hand and brought out a small red and white sphere no bigger than a golf-ball.

"Vile?"

Weavile suddenly froze, statue-like, its eyes wide and now focused on the sphere. Its trainer wouldn't recall it now, not before the debrief of the morning's training. Not unless it had fallen unconscious and needed medical attention. And even then, more times than not, it would probably have to wait. It couldn't understand why its trainer was now holding its own personal Pokéball in his hand. But a suspicion was forming, a cold knot of dread. A fear Weavile had held onto for the last few months.

Still without any change in expression, still staring back at his dark type, the trainer flicked the centre button, causing the ball to swell to twice its size.

Weavile slowly looked up from the sphere to its master, the fear now clear and transparent in its eyes. The trainer paused again, meeting its gaze for yet another moment, then slowly, agonisingly slowly, adjusted his grip with his left hand so it gripped the bottom half of the capsule, and brought his right hand over to firmly grip the top half.

"Wea-vile!"

Suddenly Weavile began stumbling forward, half walking, half crawling as it clawed desperately towards its master. Its master narrowed his eyes coldly, then began to twist his hands.

"Wea-vile wea!"

Weavile was at his feet now, pawing at his trouser legs, eyes wide and terrified, tears tumbling down both its dusk-coloured cheeks. The boy paused for a moment in his action as he stared down at the creature cowering below him.

"I warned you this would happen."

"Vile vile, wea!"

"You've had enough chances."

"Weavile weavile wea!"

"It's always the same answer with you, isn't it? Well, it's too late. You've had your chance. And if you can't keep up, you get left behind." And with that, the boy took an abrupt step backwards.

This time Weavile didn't follow. The dark/ice type remained in place, kneeling, its entire body trembling, pawing uselessly at the ground as it blabbered senselessly in its species' language, even knowing as it said every plea and apology it could think of, it wouldn't make any difference. Its worse fear had finally come true. And the worst part of it was, it was all its fault. Its trainer said so, it had fallen behind.

The boy stared at it for one long final moment, hands still frozen in place. Then as Weavile brought its eyes up to meet his once again in one last attempt to beg, pleading now silently, he finally changed his expression into one of pure disgust.

"Pathetic."

And with that, the boy abruptly twisted and broke the Pokéball in two.

Weavile screamed in anguish.

"Paul!"

"Huh?"

The boy quickly span around. From round the side of the nearest wooden house, another boy appeared. This one was taller and looked older, although still in his late teens. Paul stared at his approaching brother for a moment, then turned back to look again at the creature kneeling on the grass. Weavile hadn't moved, but was now deathly silent. It remained in place, still kneeling and quivering slightly, its eyes now staring unblinkingly at the grassy ground just to its front.

"Reggie."

Reggie came up to stand beside the teenage trainer, staring from him to Weavile, and to the lines of Pokémon still unmoved locked in ranks to the their home's rear with a bemused expression on his face.

"What on earth is going on back here? This place looks like a war-zone Paul," Reggie said, raising an eyebrow at the upturned earth, the numerous trees smashed into two and the various shallow craters that littered the small meadow.

"Training Reggie. That's what's going on. Or have you forgotten what that entails? I wouldn't be surprised," Paul replied scathingly, still staring at the small kneeling dark-coloured creature. Reggie followed his gaze, a brief look of concern and greater confusion crossing his face as he took in Weavile's appearance for a second time.

"I got that much Paul. But do you have to be so, well, noisy about it? I have work to do, and looking after newly-hatched Kricketune is hard enough without the constant explosions and screaming."

"I thought you were happy I was home, Reggie? Didn't you say so only a few days ago?"

"Well, yes, but-"

"Well, if I'm here, then expect me to train. I don't waste my time playing nursemaid."

Reggie sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yes of course, but it's just so... constant. Why you feel the need to train so hard, day in day out, when the League was only a week and a half ago is beyond me. You know, there is such a thing as too much Paul. Maybe your Pokémon would benefit from a day off every now and ag-"

"You never have a problem when your little girlfriend trains here, yet you won't even let your brother. Why am I not surprised?"

"For one, Maylene doesn't ruin my yard. And two," Reggie sighed, looking exasperated. "She's not my girlfriend."

"Well, can't say I'm disappointed. At least you have the sense to not have such a weak Gym Leader as a girlfriend. And here I thought you were completely illogical. Honestly, it's embarrassing to live in a city represented by such a loser."

"You should really give her the chance of a rematch someday Paul. I think she'd surprise you now," Reggie replied in a slightly strained voice. "But you won't be in a fit state to battle anyone at all if you keep up this harsh training with no breaks."

"It's because of the League that we need to train so hard," Paul interrupted sharply, now turning to face his older brother with a frosty expression. "Forgive me if I don't follow your example, since it didn't grant you much success." Out the corner of his eye, Paul could see his brother suddenly grit his teeth. Reggie was losing patience.

It was the same game they seemed to play every few days. Reggie would come out to complain, Paul would return his complaints with stinging remarks, Reggie would give up and leave him in peace again. It wouldn't be long now before he again gave up and went back inside. Paul had used this tactic of needling Reggie several times already over the last week to get rid of his brother, and it had worked every time so far. It wasn't as if he necessarily disliked Reggie's presence, but the endless complaining and subtle hints were starting to get seriously irksome.

"Look, if you really need to train so hard, then at least try to keep the yard in one piece, yeah?"

But of course, Reggie was slowly becoming harder and harder to get rid of. His brother's resilience was growing at the same rate as the intensity of Paul's sneering remarks it seemed. Paul forced himself to relax, and let the building frustration simmer as Reggie didn't move and simply continued in the same calm voice.

"The house is crawling with all the Pokémon I need to care for, none of them dare come outside any more. Chinchou is still traumatised from what your Sharpedo did to it, and poor Arcanine still bears the scars from fighting over territory with your Houndoom. I don't know what I'm going to tell its trainer when he comes to collect it next week..."

"Tell him if he raised it properly, then it might have escaped unscathed instead of the pathetic mangled heap it ended up in. Since it didn't have the sense to run away the instant my Pokemon looked at it, then it deserved what it got. I wouldn't expect you to know anything about powerful Pokemon, since you waste your time with pathetic babies that will never grow into anything promising, but since for the moment, I'm home, I expect you to stay out of the way and not to interfere!"

Paul paused for a moment to take a breath after his long retort, almost surprised at himself. Something seemed different this time, sudden unexpected anger was already bubbling at the surface, spreading all across his skin like an itchy rash. But no, he couldn't lose his temper. Not here, not with Reggie, even if his brother had a strange way of always irritating him without trying. No, with loss of temper came loss of control. And a loss of control would mean certain defeat. Paul had to remain calm and quick-witted to deal with Reggie successfully, if he ever wanted Reggie to leave him alone again.

"Now if you don't mind," Paul continued in a now even voice . "I'm dealing with something here and I'd appreciate it if you go back to your nursing. Real Pokémon trainers are at work out here," Paul finished with an air of finality. But with another surge of annoyance, Paul realised his brother still hadn't moved an inch.

"Paul, what's up with Weavile?"

"That's none of your business!" Paul replied sharply, putting extra emphasis on the 'none'. "Now, why don't you go and actually do your sorry excuse for a job... just like I'm doing mine?" He felt like snarling now, his patience seemed like a forgotten memory. It felt like his very blood was beginning to boil, but even almost consumed by that feeling, Paul still noticed how Reggie's eyes slowly moved from the Pokémon on the ground to the two broken halves of the Pokéball still held in either of his hands.

"Paul..."

"What do you-" Paul cut off his frustrated reply with a small yelp of surprise as Reggie suddenly grabbed his collar with one hand and ripped him bodily back round to face him again.

"What have you done to Weavile Paul!?"

Silence followed. Paul glared back up into his Reggie's furious eyes for a moment, only inches away, surprise quickly giving way to returning anger. But controlled anger now. Always in control, that was the key. Paul calmly pulled himself from Reggie's grip. Reggie didn't resist his attempts to free himself, but instead took a step forward, forcing Paul to stumble backwards slightly.

"Isn't it obvious?" Paul answered quietly.

"I thought we talked about this! I thought you'd-"

"You thought what?" Paul interrupted, now calm and expressionless. Even the anger was now fading somehow at the sight of his brother's face. It seemed the roles had switched between the pair. Now Paul felt relaxed, while Reggie looked livid. He would win this exchange yet.

"You thought I'd changed?"

"Well, I... yes! I mean, after the League, and everything that happened, I'd hoped you'd finally seen what you're doing, how you're treating your friends. I thought meeting-"

"You thought meeting Ash Ketchum would somehow change me?" Paul interrupted again in a slow mocking tone, almost enjoying his brother's shocked expression now. "You sound just like Cynthia, with her 'when one life meets another' garbage."

"Paul! You can't keep doing this. You can't keep treating your Pokémon like this, you can't just release them every time they make a mistake!"

"If they can't keep up, they get left behind. I won't waste my time with-"

"But, Chimchar. What about Infernape Paul?" Reggie interrupted sharply. "A Pokémon you discarded, which destroyed half your entire team!"

Both fell silent for a moment. Paul gritted his teeth in annoyance, the small enjoyment he had felt for a moment disappearing in an instant. Here it was, it was finally time for this argument. It wasn't unexpected. Part of him was surprised this hadn't come up sooner. He had been expecting this all week after all, ever since the League. This brother had finally brought his biggest weapon to their battle.

This could be difficult. The problem was, it was all the proof Reggie needed to finally prove his age-long argument, that there were other training styles that could potentially rival or even surpass his own. It had been the never-ending argument between them after all, Paul had half been expecting "I was right!" banners upon his return back to their house in Veilstone.

But he could still win this. This didn't have to mean anything. And if he stopped Reggie here, even using this, then Reggie would have nothing else to ever use against him.

"Infernape," Paul finally replied, "is why we need to train harder than ever," the boy finished, looking away back to the lines of creatures still stood in disciplined lines.

Another silence followed. Paul looked away, refusing to meet his brother's eyes, but feeling Reggie's gaze on him. He wouldn't give up that easily, Paul could almost guarantee it. Out of the corner of his eye, Paul watched as Reggie looked from him to the tree line to his front. Weavile was now back on its feet, slowly making its way towards the line of trees which signalled the edge of the forest that started at the meadow's end.

"Take Weavile back Paul."

"What?" Paul looked back at his brother incredulously, both eyebrows rising. He hadn't expected that. A senseless argument sure, but not a straight order. That wasn't usually Reggie's style. Almost now at the edge of the forest, Weavile suddenly paused.

"You heard me. Take it back."

"Why? What's the point?"

"Infernape. That's the point. It seems you haven't learned your lesson Paul. I've tried to be nice, and I'd hoped losing at the League would have shown you what I'm seemingly incapable of, but clearly I was wrong. So looks like I'm going to have to try again. And that starts with you taking your Pokémon back."

Silence followed again. Paul stared his brother straight in the eye, unflinching.

"No. I won't."

"Paul, you take that Pokémon back right now!"

"No."

"I'm not going to sit here and watch you do this again." Paul quickly suppressed the urge to step back again Reggie growled uncharacteristically. His brother had never been one for discipline, but this sudden character change was a little unnerving.

"Three Leagues now I've watched you return back here," Reggie continued, "after losing, watching as you train your Pokémon to near oblivion without any rest, then releasing them as soon as they fail your standards. I will not watch you do the same again now!"

"It's none of your business what I do with my P-"

"You think I'm gonna stand by and watch this? Now, take your Pokémon back Paul. Your losses are not their fault!"

Silence followed again. Paul stared at his brother, careful not to allow the shock to appear on his face as he coolly observed Reggie's heated expression, how his fists clenched. There was only a few times he could remember seeing Reggie like this, and the times he did remember, he could count on one hand. There was a small feeling a trepidation bubbling within now, Paul wasn't even sure exactly what a Reggie with his temper lost would look like.

No. Paul wouldn't allow this. Reggie had no place interfering, no ground to stand on here. Suddenly a part of Paul wanted to start yelling back. The anger was returning with that thought, and it would be a relief in a way to unleash the rage and frustration of the last fortnight upon his brother.

But instead, Paul did nothing.

That was his preferred style after all, in battle or otherwise. Wait, watch your opponent, let them show you their best moves, then when the timing is right, strike their weakness. And here, the weakness wasn't even hard to find.

"And what would you know about it, breeder?" the trainer asked, careful to keep a cool tone as he re-took his step back forward. Paul narrowed his eyes at his brother's outraged expression, waiting carefully, then as Reggie opened his mouth again, struck. "Where are all your Pokémon, eh? You were a trainer once, right? So where are they?"

Reggie faltered slightly. Victory.

"T-That's different."

"Oh really?"

"Yes," Reggie replied, a little firmer now after his initial stutter. "I stopped training, didn't I? I decided to become a breeder, so there was no point them staying with me, when they would be happier with others, others with who they could continue battling. It was better for them, that they left and-"

"So you gave them up too. You lost to the old man, and gave up on them."

"What? I didn't give up on anyone! I didn't abandon them! Not like what you-"

"Hmph." Paul sneered at his brother. "Don't act like it was their choice. At least I don't pretend I'm doing it for my Pokémon's own good."

"I-"

"Talk to me when you're not a total hypocrite, okay? Now I have training to do. Leave me alone." And with that, Paul took one last look at his brother's shocked, speechless face, then strode away. Just like a battle, in a sense. Strike the weakness, and leave your rival to crumble. And with Reggie, it was far too easy. And hopefully after this, he wouldn't bother him for a long time with his one-sided views.

"And I don't know why you're still here either," Paul called across to dark type as he walked back to his lines of creatures, spotting it still lingering by the outskirts of the leafy forest. Weavile gave itself one last miserable look at its once home, its family of sorts, then finally accepting its fate, turned and disappeared into the shadows behind it.

"No, wait Weavile!"

"Spare me," Paul spat without looking backwards. "It's not coming back."

The young trainer returned to the front of his lines of fierce-looking creatures, then spoke out to them in a loud stern voice. "That's what happens to Pokémon on my team who don't make the grade. You don't meet the standards, you don't deserve my time. I don't have time for anyone who can't pull their own-"

"Paul!"

Paul paused. Reggie still wanted to argue? While his brother wasn't completely spineless, he surely had enough brains to figure out this was one battle he couldn't win. Such things were pointless, unless there was a greater agenda. Paul gritted his teeth for a moment, then decided to continue on as if he'd heard nothing. Perhaps if he just ignored him. That tactic had worked too on occasion, once or twice. Reggie would eventually give up, he always did after all.

"-for anyone who can't pull their own weight, or who can't hold their own on the battlefield. That's why-"

"Battle with me, Paul!"

Paul stopped dead, the next words dying in his throat. No, surely not. Reggie did not just ask him for-

"What did you just say?"

"You know exactly what I just said," Reggie replied in a steady voice. The stern look on his face still lingering. "Unless you're afraid to battle with a pathetic breeder Paul..."

Paul looked at his brother with absolute disbelief. "You want to battle me?"

"Yeah, why not?"

Paul stared at his brother for moment longer, then huffed in derision as he turned away again. His brother had lost his mind completely now.

"Don't embarrass yourself Reggie."

"C'mon Paul... Don't tell me you're gonna turn me down. Not after all that talk about how to raise powerful Pokémon correctly. Maybe that's all it was, just talk."

"Maybe I don't want to waste my time on you!" Paul suddenly yelled, causing all his Pokémon to flinch badly. That was it, to hell with it. Something inside had suddenly snapped without warning, and now suddenly Paul was furious. To hell with being calm and collected! The calculating part of his brain, the part most affiliated with battling, was still trying to warn him. With the loss of his temper, he'd lose the upper hand. Reggie was calm now, Paul was struggling to hold onto tiny amount of self-restraint he had left.

But now he didn't care any more. He'd lost the League that had mattered the most, to a trainer just like the one opposite, what the hell was the point in staying calm any more? What did it matter, what did even Reggie matter?

"Always the same thing, and I'm sick of it! 'You should be nicer to your Pokémon', well a lot of good it did you! You still lost! And you think you can judge me? Now, shut up, and leave. Me. Alone!"

"Then here's your chance Paul," Reggie countered smoothly, only infuriating Paul even further. Paul wanted to run, to scream, to even attack... It was almost as if Reggie had known how this was going to play out from the start. He'd fallen right into his brother's trap.

"A chance to shut me up for good. Win, and I swear I'll never question your methods again."

The two brothers stopped for a moment, Paul still glaring, Reggie calmly waiting.

"Fine!"

So what if he was doing what his brother wanted? So what?! This was too good an opportunity to miss. And sometimes in battle, the only way to defeat your opponent was by sometimes beating him at his own game.

Besides, this was Paul's game anyway. He was the only trainer here now after all. Reggie was just some has-been.

Paul twisted to glare at his assembled Pokémon. "Make room!" he snapped.

Immediately, the creatures fanned out, forming themselves into a giant circle, closing themselves around their trainer and his brother. Paul took a few deep breaths, then realising it was doing nothing to combat his now foul mood, simply growled in Reggie's direction. Reggie, to his fury again, simply gave a wide grin back.

"Six on six?"

"Nah," Reggie replied in the same strangely playful tone. He seemed confident, a tiny part of Paul had to begrudgingly admit that much. The Pokémon breeder reached casually into his pocket, pulling out a singular Pokéball.

"Truth is, you may be right about me. I don't really have many Pokémon that can hold their own in battle any more. How about we just keep it simple and make this a one on one?"

"Fine by me," Paul sneered slightly. "I should have figured as much anyway."

"Hey, don't worry about it bro."

"Trust me, I won't," Paul twisted to stare at the creatures surrounding them, eyes searching. If he was going to do this, then he wasn't taking any chances. But it seemed there was no need for any command to be even given. Already Torterra had broken rank, slowly lumbering forward until it stood to its trainer's front. Paul nodded slowly at the sight. Torterra had always known what needed to be done, even without asked. A dependable partner, if one even existed.

Paul turned back to see Reggie smiling at the sight.

"Yeah, I figured Torterra. We always have the closest bond with our starter, wouldn't you agree Paul?"

"Spare me. Torterra has long since proved its worth, otherwise it would have gone the same way as Weavile long ago" Paul answered back sharply. "Now release your choice so we can get this over with."

"If that's what you want Paul." Reggie looked down to the Pokéball in his hand, holding it gently in his hand as one finger slowly caressed its shiny surface to press the button to its front where the red and white halves met. "Time to see if we've still got it buddy," Reggie smiled.

And with a loud "C'mon out!" Reggie tossed his choice forward, where it released its contents in a flash of blinding white light.

Paul ground his teeth again and suddenly clenched both fists, refusing to acknowledge the strange pang in his stomach as the white light took form.

"Infernape," he muttered simply to himself.

The fire type materialised with a loud cry, pounding its chest and the floor with its bony knuckles, before turning back to face its trainer. Reggie gave his creature a happy wave.

"Hey Infernape, how are you feeling?"

"Nape infernape!"

"Aww, me too buddy! C'mere you," Reggie laughed as he took a step forward to give his flaming Pokémon a brief hug. Paul rolled his eyes in annoyance, pushing down a sudden urge to order Torterra to just attack them both in his irritation.

"Hey, since you went with your starter, I only figured it was fitting to go with mine! Is that cool with you Paul?" Reggie called over his Pokémon's shoulder.

"I don't care, so long as you don't spend all day petting it."

Infernape, had to be Infernape. Of course, he should have expected it, knowing Reggie. Infernape was naturally his brother's strongest, but Paul had a feeling Reggie would have sent Infernape out even if it had been his newest capture. Just the sight of Reggie's Infernape was everything Paul had once hoped for Chimchar, remembering seeing his brother's fiery fighter in battle had been what inspired Paul to capture the fire starter in the first place. He'd once hoped to raise it too to its final form, to form it into the powerful creature Reggie's once was and perhaps still is.

Into the the powerful creature Ash Ketchum's Infernape finally became. And Reggie knew that.

"Aww, but Infernape likes it, don't you buddy?"

"Nape," Infernape replied happily as its trainer rubbed the base of its fiery mane.

Paul swore under his breath, then looked to his own creature.

"Don't disappoint me Torterra. I want it crushed," Paul muttered quietly.

"Torr," Torterra murmured back. Paul could see his creature was utterly focused, mirroring its trainer and glaring back at its foe. While Torterra wasn't quite as dispassionate as Paul would like at times, he could tell Torterra found the level of affection still on display distasteful. Which was only right. A Pokémon should have more pride, after all. It shouldn't require constant affection to be strong.

"So, are we all ready?" Reggie asked, finally releasing Infernape and taking a step backwards.

"I've been ready for the last five minutes. Torterra, use-"

"Wait Paul."

Paul snarled again, this time completely audible in his impatience. "What now? I don't have all day!"

Reggie just smiled back.

"We've discussed what will happen if you win. But what do I get if I win?"

"Do you really think that's all that likely?"

"Well, I do have the advantage here..." Paul angrily opened his mouth, but Reggie held up a hand laughing slightly. "Yeah, yeah, I know, you're equipped at fighting disadvantages and I'm just a pathetic breeder that hasn't trained properly in years, I get it already. Just humour me Paul, eh?"

"Fine," Paul replied, slightly disgruntled that his words had been taken from his mouth before he could say them. "What is it you want, should by an impossible chance you defeat me?"

"What I want," Reggie paused, considering, then looked back over to the forest edge. "Well, should I win, you have to take Weavile back for starters."

Paul huffed slightly in derision. "Why bother? Besides, it's long gone now."

"No its not," Reggie replied evenly. "It's in a foreign country, and this is the only place it knows well. I doubt it's gone very far at all, it's probably feeling very confused right now. As for why you should bother, I think I've made my reasons very clear already. And secondly-"

"Secondly?" Paul repeated incredulously.

"Yes, secondly," Reggie paused again, "You have to do me a... a favour."

"A favour?"

"Yes."

"Like what?"

"That's for you to find out once me and Infernape beat you. Suffice to say, it's nothing bad, in fact, it may be just thing that's needed for all of us."

Paul stared at his brother a moment longer, frustrated. But knowing Reggie, he knew he wouldn't say any more. Paul had now acknowledged the fact he'd lost their verbal battle. Reggie had been clearly planning on this battle from the beginning, why else would he have conveniently had his starter's Pokéball in his pocket after all?

"Fine. But that's two things, and you're only offering one."

"Aww, well, good thing you're so confident about winning eh?" Reggie replied, in a teasing tone now.

"Whatever. Let's just get on with this. You want a referee?"

"Meh, who needs one, right Paul?"

"Fine by me. Torterra, Stone Edge!"


"Torterra, Stone Edge!"

At his Paul's first command, the Continent Pokémon raised its horned head and roared. And through using mysterious powers known only to Pokémon, two rings of razor-sharp rocks appeared around the grass type, orbiting its entire body for a moment and overlapping, forming an X-like shape to the front of its head. After taking another moment to focus its attack, by a hidden signal from Torterra, all rocks suddenly changed direction, heading towards Infernape at the speed and violence of half a dozen deadly missiles. However, as impressive and as perhaps frightening as such an attack might appear, Reggie couldn't help but grin.

"Parry them away with Mach Punch, Infernape!"

"Nape, Infernape!" With a pair of glowing fists, his fire type swiped at the first incoming rock with its left, smacking it away and behind it into the air, then twisted back and struck away the second into the ground with its right, the third off to one side, the fourth over its left shoulder, hopped over the fifth, then with both fists, obliterated the sixth into dust in mid-air.

"Rock type moves won't have much effect on a fighting type Paul. Weren't those your words once?" Reggie laughed.

Even with the distance between them, Reggie thought he see Paul growl under his breath. The truth was, he was right and Paul knew it. Torterra was probably lacking any effective moves to deal with an creature of Infernape's typing. Of course, there was always the chance Paul had taught his starter something new, but Reggie didn't think so. He'd spent more time than his brother probably suspected over the last week, watching his brother train from afar and wondering how to snap him out of this new yet depressingly familiar state. Usually, it would be solved by sending him off to a new region. But not this time. What had happened at the Sinnoh League was a chance Reggie couldn't miss.

Paul had never been overly-compassionate, it was true. But his old Chimchar, Ash Ketchum's new Infernape, had finally shown him that his training didn't always work, that his way wasn't the only way. Yet, instead of acknowledging this fact, Paul it seemed had chosen to ignore it and continue like before.

So Reggie was left with only one option. Force his brother to face the facts yet again. But he had to be careful. Even with his temper lost, Paul was never one to be underestimated. And Torterra was his strongest Pokémon after all.

"Torterra, Giga Drain!"

"Dodge it pal!" Reggie called.

This time long green luminescent vines shot from the evolved grass creature's back, racing forward in a high arch in an attempt to ensnare his fire type. But with a burst of fresh pride, Reggie watched as Infernape simply hopped, skipped and jumped out of the way, using its hands as often as its feet to escape harm.

It had been a while, years maybe since they'd been in a proper battle together. But Infernape hadn't lost any of its old skill. Reggie could only hope the same could be said for himself.

Paul growled again, then ordered Torterra to repeat the attack. His brother wasn't even making any attempt to hide his frustration any more. His brother was losing it, which was crucial to Reggie's plan. Paul's temper, while sometimes hard to crack, had always been his greatest weakness. An emotionless Paul was almost invincible, an angry Paul made mistakes.

"Did you know an Infernape's ability to dodge attacks effectively depends largely on how much fun they had playing as a Chimchar?" Reggie asked, carefully keeping his voice casual, knowing it would only infuriate his brother even further as he watched his Pokémon continue to 'ape' its way around Torterra's repeated moves without any damage taken. "Yet another example of how being nice to your Pokémon can actually benefit you in the long run, wouldn't you agree?"

"Enough with the niceness garbage!" Yep, Paul had definitely lost it now. Perfect."Just get to the battle already!"

"Fair enough," Reggie grinned. Suddenly Reggie realised he wasn't even pretending to enjoy this. It was no longer a ploy to annoy Paul further. He was actually enjoying this battle now, Reggie couldn't help thinking to himself. To be fair though, it had been a while since he'd had a good battle. Perhaps he missed it more than he thought? Or was he just enjoying needling his brother a bit? To be fair, that wasn't something he got to do all that often, whatever the seriousness of the subject.

"Infernape, it's time to show Paul and Torterra what we can do! Flamethrower, let's go!"

As far as attacks go, there wasn't many as reliable as a good old fashioned Flamethrower, Reggie thought to himself. Highly accurate, above average power and in this case super-effective. And a Pokémon of Torterra's build could hardly dodge it.

"Stone Edge!"

Again, rings of rocks appeared around Torterra. Reggie frowned a bit, confused, but remained silent. Infernape also hesitated for a moment, but a moment later after hearing no further command from its trainer, continued through with its attack. From its mouth, bright orange flames poured forth, concentrated into a narrow jet and shot with great force towards its grass type adversary.

But what followed next surprised them both.

"Change Up!"

As the jet of flames raced closer, around the Continent Pokémon the rocks suddenly broke orbit, but instead of flinging themselves towards Infernape this time, hovered in air just to Torterra's front. Reggie watched, suddenly flabbergasted, his mouth open as the large jet of fire crashed into Torterra's makeshift stone wall with no effect, flames spewing everywhere but on Torterra, leaving nothing but a reddish glow in its wake.

"Woah..."

"Now go!" Paul demanded.

Having now played their defensive role, instantly, the stone wall blasted forward. Caught unprepared, Infernape took the full blast with a surprised howl, sending it sprawling backwards onto its rear.

"Ah, Infernape!" Reggie couldn't help but gasp.

Around the circle of observing Pokémon, a few murmurs of cheer broke out, only to be instantly silenced again as Paul quickly glanced in their various directions. To his front, his Torterra gave a low grunt, almost sounding like a quiet taunt as the fire type as it struggled back to its feet. In reply, Infernape uttered its name a few more times as it finally pushed itself upright, lifting a fist at the grass type as if to say "is that all you've got?".

Reggie observed for a moment longer, then closed his mouth, a slightly relieved smile appearing as he saw his Infernape was relatively unharmed.

"Wow Paul, that was pretty impressive. Using an attack for both attack and defence. And Torterra's ability to control its Stone Edge is as remarkable as ever," Reggie paused for a moment, then his smile grew even wider as another thought occurred to him. "But that move almost reminds me of Ash Ketchum's Counter-Shield technique, wouldn't you agree?"

Paul seemed to scowl a bit at that, but then slowly nodded back.

"I got the basic idea from him, yes," his brother admitted back eventually, albeit at bit sullenly. "I know a good idea when I see one."

"Shame that's all you learned from him it seems," Reggie replied back, resting one hand on his hip.

"Well, I don't seem to be lacking much at the moment do I? I'm winning, with a disadvantage! Pretty pathetic, even for a breeder. I expected more than this, even from you."

"Don't claim your victory just yet Paul," Reggie replied calmly back. His brother was attempting to taunt him back again, but this time the taunts were not having any effect. "We're not done yet, right buddy?"

"Inn-fernape!" Infernape cried, lifting both fists into the air as it sounded off its loudest battle cry yet. Paul's expression turned to one of scorn.

"Oh please."

"So let's try something different this time! Infernape, Flare Blitz!"

Reggie saw a look of sudden shock flicker across his brother's face. No doubt Paul was surprised his Infernape could still command such a powerful move. To his credit though, he didn't panic. Not that Reggie would expect him too exactly, but some trainers might try to intercept the attack with some ill-conceived move of their own. But such a play would be foolish, as Paul undoubtedly knew as Reggie heard him instruct Torterra to 'hold firm'. Infernape was far faster the Torterra, and without a priority move at its disposal, they could not hope to stop the attack. Even a Stone Edge Counter-Shield, if it could be constructed again in time, would more than likely just get smashed apart by the sheer velocity since it was only held together by Torterra's willpower.

The fire on Infernape's mane grew larger and larger until it consumed the fire type. Quickly the flames took over the creature's entire body, then as Infernape gave another battle cry and leapt forward, turned bright blue.

The two Pokémon collided with a huge flash of fire. Torterra groaned in pain as the fire type drove it backwards several feet, but then quickly dug its heels in and pushed back. Reggie couldn't help feeling slightly impressed, while disappointed at the same time. Sure, Torterra were renowned for their high defence, a trait distinctive to a group some affectionately called 'tanks'. But still, after a direct hit from Flare Blitz, he had hoped to see more damage. But then, that only showed how well Torterra had been trained in its various weaknesses by Paul.

"Infernape, increase the power of your flames!"

"Torterra, stay strong!"

"In-in-in-infernape!" Infernape howled briefly as it summoned up even more power, pouring it directly onto Torterra's outer shell. High defence or not, Torterra had to feel that.

"Better do something soon Paul," Reggie warned in a relaxed tone. To be honest though, as far as Reggie could see, there wasn't much Paul could do. Torterra was powerful, sure, but Infernape outclassed it in every way possible. Sometimes there was simply no denying the type advantage. "Although I have to say, it is nice to hear you give your Pokémon some encouragement now and again. I hope that's not just reserved to Torterra."

"You never change, do you?"

Reggie started slightly at his brother's suddenly sneering tone. Across the meadow, over the two contesting creatures, his brother was now glaring at him coldly.

"What?"

"You're just like him, charging straight in. You did exactly what I wanted you to do."

Reggie's eyes widened, looking back at the two creatures centre-field. But it was his Pokémon doing the damage here, not Torterra. Even if Paul had thought of some way of stopping Infernape, Torterra would still be heavily damaged. He'd gained nothing. Reggie raised his confused eyes back to his brother, and saw Paul smirk briefly as they resumed eye-contact.

"Giga Drain!"

"Ah!"

For the third time, luminescent vines shot from Torterra's back. But this time its opponent had no time to dodge. Infernape shrieked in panic as one vine grabbed it round the stomach, another two seizing each paw and forcing them back.

"Infernape no!"

"Inferna-" Infernape choked as the fourth vine wrapped around its neck, cutting off its reply to its trainer mid-cry.

Reggie was in shock. How had he not seen it coming? Had Paul been simply waiting for Infernape to come into range? A cold suspicion began to form in Reggie's chest. Had it all been a trick? The apparent loss of temper, the random attacks, the Counter-Shield? All of it designed to tempt Reggie into ordering Infernape to move in on Torterra where the grass type could trap it in place?

"Paul, wait!"

"It's a battle Reggie. Have you forgotten what that entails?" Paul shouted back. Reggie snapped his gaze back to his brother, intending to reply back, or perhaps even give into an impulse to plead as Infernape squealed again, but his brother cut him off again.

"This is a battle Reggie," Paul continued coldly, speaking above the cries of pain. "You do whatever, whatever, you need to win." At this point, using its vines that still held its rival ensnared, Torterra lifted Infernape into the air. Both the ape's arms were held at right angles to either side of its body, the ones around its stomach and neck still tightly wrapped.

"If that means your Pokemon take a hit, so you can return a bigger one, then so be it."

"In-In-In," Infernape choked. Torterra responded by holding it even tighter in its crucifix position, still draining its energy constantly. Reggie suddenly felt helpless. Everything was going wrong, it wasn't meant to go this way.

"If that means saying the odd word of encouragement, or a threat, to ensure your victory, then so be it."

"But-"

"And if that means sacrificing a weaker member of the team, so the others become even stronger," Paul continued, slowly speaking louder and louder, "then so be it!"

"Paul, please!"

"Do you forfeit?"

Reggie hesitated. The cries of his Pokémon were agonising to hear. But this was his chance to finally show Paul his faults first-hand! If he lost now, he'd only be proving Paul right after all. What had started with Chimchar and the Sinnoh League would all be a waste. And what about Weavile? This could be his only chance to finally get through to his brother! He couldn't lose this!

Reggie stared back at Paul, frozen with indecision, watching as Paul's cold face slowly twisted back to its sneer.

"Figures. My big brother, the breeder, the one who loves to harp on about a trainer and a Pokémon's bond, can't put into practice what he teaches. Your starter's in pain, but you don't want to lose the battle. So, which will it be?"

Reggie looked back to his Infernape. Too far away for Mach Punch. The choke-hold wouldn't allow a Flamethrower. Too far away for Flare Blitz too, even if Infernape still had the energy left to use the powerful move. Perhaps he should give in. He'd failed his one chance. He'd been a fool, the battle he'd been planning since the Sinnoh League was a disaster. Paul was right, perhaps he really was a pathetic bree-

A huge explosion of fire burned through his thoughts.

"INFERNAPE!"

"What the-?" Paul exclaimed.

Still held up in the air, Infernape was utterly engulfed in flames. But Reggie could instantly see this was no successful attempt to just use Flare Blitz or any other elemental attack. Infernape's flickering mane had now grown to over three times its usual size, and its eyes now shone an electrifying red. Amazed, Reggie glanced over to his brother again, just in time to see his mouth form a single word, unheard over the Pokémon's feral cries.

Torterra grunted in pain, even backing up a few steps as Infernape's bodily flames burned straight though its Giga Drain vines, causing it to land back on the field on all fours. Around the edges of the makeshift battlefield, Reggie noticed the Pokémon as one all backed up a few steps. Electivire seemed particularly cautious, moving behind two of its comrades for extra safety.

"So," Paul muttered as Infernape turned its eyes back on him and Torterra, then beat its chest again and screamed. Reggie narrowed his eyes, then grinned fiercely.

"Deja vu, wouldn't you agree Paul?"

Paul muttered something quietly to himself.

"Didn't quite get that Paul. What did you say?" Reggie asked.

"I said, not this time!" Paul suddenly yelled, shocking Reggie and even surprising Infernape into silence from its feral cries.

"Torterra, Frenzy Plant now! Rip up the entire yard!"


Chaos.

Torterra hadn't held back much. Paul couldn't help but admire the carnage his starter Pokémon's most powerful attack had caused. Trees up-rooted everywhere, dirt-filled craters littered the entire yard from where the thorny roots had burst from the ground. Debris was everywhere. But at least Torterra had had the self-restraint not to destroy the house as well with the attack, Paul noted silently. Control was vital in everything, and none of his Pokémon knew that more than Torterra.

The surrounding creatures had scattered to a safe distance the instant the command was called, as well they should, Paul thought wryly. They had all seen just how powerful his starter could be. The Frenzy Plant that had finished Weavile in one hit had been a mere trifling compared to the destruction wrought here.

To his front, Torterra remained in place. Its breathing was laboured, but that would soon return to normal. The greatest drawback of the attack was the time it took the user to recharge its energy afterwards, leaving it vulnerable to a counter. But since few creatures were capable of surviving such an attack, let alone still being able to attack back afterwards, it was only a small weakness. And true to that, Infernape wasn't even anywhere to be seen.

"Paul?"

Paul looked up from his Pokémon. At the other side of the overturned yard, his brother was climbing back to his feet, coughing loudly.

"Paul... are you freaking kidding me?"

"I don't hold back," Paul replied simply. "If you learn anything today, learn that." The trainer gave one more sweeping glance of the yard. Still no Infernape. Well, it was hardly surprising, an attack of that magnitude might have very well tossed Reggie's Pokémon half-way across Veilstone City.

"We're done here Reggie," Paul continued. "But it looks like you'll be getting what you asked for anyway." Paul looked around him again. "I can't train here any more, this place is a mess."

And with a swift motion for Torterra to follow him, Paul abruptly turned and made to march from the once beautiful meadow.

"Paul!"

"We're done here Reggie. That was your deal," Paul answered without turning.

"No Paul, look..."

Paul growled to himself. Reggie was really pushing his luck today. But still Paul couldn't help but turn back one last time, noticing with some surprise Torterra had made no motion to follow him from the makeshift battleground. Instead, the grass Pokémon's eyes were fixated on a larger than most pile of turf and dirt that seemed to be... shaking?

"No..." Paul whispered. Reggie gave a whoop of pure joy.

"Yes! I knew you could do it! C'mon out Infernape!"

It was impossible! Infernape had managed to activate its special ability Blaze, which meant it had to be on the last verges of its health. And it had taken a direct hit from at least four of Torterra's twelve Frenzy Plant roots, probably more. Even factoring in the ineffectiveness of grass type moves on fire types, there was still no possible way Reggie's Pokémon could have survived. It made no sense. It was as if the final scene of his Sinnoh League was coming back to haunt him.

With a high-pitched cry of determination and anger, the mound of earth burst into the air. There stood Infernape, flames burning brighter than ever, battered beyond endurance, but still standing and screaming again at the top of its lungs.

"Unbelievable Infernape! And Paul!" Reggie called out, causing Paul to turn his shell-shocked gaze on him instead of his impossible Pokémon. "Since you haven't held anything back, I don't think we should either! You agree Napy?"

"Innnn- FERNAPE!"

"But how...? How could it-?"

"Because I believed Infernape could Paul," Reggie replied slowly. With another twinge of shock, Paul noticed his brother's expression had changed yet again. No anger, no enjoyment this time. Now Reggie looked almost sympathetic. It reminded Paul of the times he'd been little and in trouble. His father had always been the disciplinarian, but Reggie had always been sympathetic.

"-And Infernape wanted to win the battle for me, because it cared about me too," Reggie continued.

"But-?"

"No strategy, no sacrificing. No tricks Paul. Just belief in my Pokémon."

He had nothing. Torterra was still recovering from Frenzy Plant. Infernape had activated Blaze, making its fire type moves stronger than ever! Reggie could finish it right now!

"Infernape-"

"Wait..." Paul started.

"Use Blast Burn!"


Reggie stumbled forward amidst a wreck of burning embers and charred ground, coughing loudly. A thick fog of smoke hung in the air, Reggie rubbed his eyes free of tears as it slowly dissipated, revealing his Pokémon. Infernape sat on its behind at the epicentre of the blackened ground, panting slowly, its bodily flames now flickering dimly.

"Great job Infernape. You really surpassed yourself," Reggie whispered as he crouched down beside the fire type. Infernape gave him a tired smile as Reggie pulled out its Pokéball and withdrew it in a flash of red. "Now comes the hard part," Reggie muttered as he straightened back up, already looking for his opponent.

He hadn't liked ordering it. A Blast Burn powered up by Blaze would have defeated almost any Pokémon of equal level instantly, let alone one with a type disadvantage. Paul might even hate him for it, but if there was just a chance this might work, then it would be worth it in the long run.

Twenty metres away, Torterra lay, flat on earth with all four legs spread out in all four directions, unmoving. All its bodily leaves had been burnt straight off, the tree on its back was still smouldering slightly. Not a part of its body wasn't covered in soot, and its eyes were closed in the usual swirls that usually signified a Pokémon that had lost consciousness. Paul, Reggie noticed with a small surprise, was already knelt next to his fallen starter. His head was hung low, his long purple hair hiding his expression. His hands rested on his knees, still curled into fists.

Reggie watched them both carefully as he slowly walked forward. Torterra would be fine though. Infernape, while it hadn't trained for some time, had always excelled in its self-control. Even at this distance, Reggie could make out the grass-type's breathing, slow and regular. The great creature would probably wake up again in a few minutes, some time at the local Pokémon Centre would have it back to full health in a few days.

"Paul."

Reggie froze mid-step. At the sound of his name, his brother had shot to his feet. Fists now half-raised and utter fury on his face.

"It's okay Paul. Torterra's going to be fine, it just needs a few day's rest."

"You don't know that!" Paul suddenly yelled forcefully. Reggie felt the sudden urge to flinch as the trainer took half a step towards him, but quickly steeled himself against his brother's rage.

"I've been a breeder for quite some time Paul. And despite what your opinion might be, I'm quite good at my job." Reggie took in the grass type's appearance again. "It's unconscious for now, but it will wake up soon enough. The tree on its back won't take long to re-grow, and it should regenerate its all leaves within a week or two once it does. I'd recommend a trip to the Centre to treat any burn damage it might have taken, but it should be back to fighting fitness in no time at all."

Reggie took a step forward, attempting to side-step around Paul so he could check Torterra over more closely, but to his surprise, Paul swiftly stepped in-between and shoved him backwards with both hands, causing him to tumble onto the ground. For the first time, Reggie felt a twinge of fear as he looked up at his younger sibling glowering over him.

"You stay away from us," Paul said in a low dangerous growl.

"Paul," Reggie whispered, watching his younger brother with wide eyes as Paul turned, withdrawing another red and white sphere from his pocket and recalling Torterra back into the safety of its Pokéball.

"Wait, Paul," Reggie uttered more loudly as the trainer began to turn away.

"Paul, listen to me. Torterra's going to be fine. Paul!" Reggie half-yelled as his brother now began to stride away. "Paul, the only reason I did that was to see if you really do care about your Pokémon! And you do, don't you see?" Reggie scrambled back to his feet. "It's okay to admit it Paul! I know you do, deep down, why else would you react like that?"

Paul paused a few steps away. Reggie watched his back intently. His brother for a moment seemed like a living statue, rigid and unmoving. Then the young trainer slowly reached back into his pocket and pulled his starter's Pokéball back out.

Wordlessly, the sphere fell from the boy's fingers to land unopened on the charred grassy floor below. Reggie stared forward in complete shock. The world seemed frozen.

"You're wrong Reggie. I just don't care any more."

Paul began to walk away again, then before Reggie could react, broke into a run, leaving his most faithful defeated creature behind.

Reggie watched as Paul disappeared into the surrounding country at what looked like a full sprint, then after spending a good minute watching the bushes and trees move in the slight breeze, realised Paul wasn't coming back any time soon. Reggie slowly closed his mouth, then ran one hand though his hair, quickly deciding chasing after a furious Paul wouldn't be the smartest thing to do, even if that was what his heart was telling him to do right now.

"Well... I didn't expect that."

"Star!"

From round the corner of the house, a large hawk-like creature flew, closely followed by a shapeless purple goo-like creature. Reggie welcomed both with a tired smile.

"Staraptor, Swalot, what am I going to do with him?" Reggie asked sadly as the flying type landed gently on his shoulder and the poison type by his feet, looking again in the direction in which Paul had disappeared. "I just thought if I could make him see..." Reggie sighed. "Well it's too late now. What's done is done. I think it's best he have some time alone now. He's just angry. Maybe when he comes back, we can finally talk."

"Star!"

"I just feel so helpless you know? I just can't seem to ever get through to him, and Dad won't-"

"Swalot-ot."

"After the League, losing the way he did, I was sure he'd finally understand what he's doing wrong. But it's just the same as ever, even this encouragement he sometimes gives his Pokémon now is only so they will win their battles. He's starting to realise the difference it makes, but he's doing it all for the wrong reasons."

"Star-raptor!"

"That's true too I guess." Reggie sighed. The Pokémon breeder slowly walked forward and picked up Torterra's Pokéball from the ground. "Well anyway, Torterra's gonna need some treatment. And Infernape will sure need some rest too. Jeez, he sure did himself proud with that last attack huh?" Reggie muttered more to himself than his Pokémon as he observed the desecrated meadow again.

"In fact-" Reggie's eyes widened dramatically, "look at the house! C'mon guys we need to put that out right now!" the breeder cried as he ran forward, his two friends in close pursuit, towards his and his brother's and occasionally his father's home where a wooden overhanging from the roof was still crackling away merrily from the last attack.