DISCLAIMER: I don't own Pokemon, any of its characters or any of its place names. If I did, it would be full of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll and wouldn't be suitable for kiddies. This story is rated for occasional bad language, mild innuendo and a few references to drink, drugs and violence. It won't break your eyes, I promise.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Sorry this chapter is so long. It contains a lot of stuff, in terms of laying the groundwork on things, such as what Team Rocket actually is, and hints at a possible history between Kantaris and the Boss. I know that sounds Sue-ish but it's probably not what you're thinking, and in the future it'll become relevant for Giovanni's own back-story, so...I hope it's not too bad.


Chapter 2

Taking Flight

Despite her doubts, Kantaris was obsessed. For the week-and-a-bit that followed, she couldn't concentrate on anything else. It was affecting her efficiency as a Rocket – which, if she was honest, was not top-rate to begin with. Ideally, she would have liked to loiter at the Viridian City Gym where she could watch real battles taking place and maybe learn a thing or two. Or maybe, after seeing a dozen trainers getting beaten, she would come to her senses about the Gym Challenge and realise that it wasn't worth the hassle. If she ever asked Giovanni for his opinion, he would probably tell her to forget about it.

But the Team Rocket Boss was still not in the best of moods after what had happened at Silph. Kantaris didn't dare to approach him, especially not to ask if she could have a few extra joyrides to Viridian City. As far as he was concerned, her training had been completed long ago. She could handle herself in a simple battle and that was all the ability she needed as a low-level Rocket. If she wanted to improve, she would have to do that on her own; he didn't have the time to give her extra training. It had reached a point where they barely saw or spoke to each other at all.

To make matters worse, the word had already spread from the small group of Rockets who had been in the arcade that one of the Grunts fancied herself as a worthy opponent for the Elite Four's 'hotshot' Dragon Master Lance. It was beginning to become unbearable. But leaving her job as a Rocket – albeit temporarily – and embarking on the Gym Challenge was a big step to take. It was a big risk. Kantaris' own boredom and the scathing remarks from her teammates drove her further and further towards taking that risk, but she always managed to find some excuse as to why she wasn't actually doing it. Finally, all her excuses had been exhausted – except for one.

For the past few years, 'home' had been a grimy flat in the red light district of Saffron City along with two other Black Squad members. There was still some stuff that hadn't been unpacked. It just sat there in tatty cardboard boxes, lining the walls of every room, decaying, fading and gathering dust. The place was no luxury apartment. It had two bedrooms; Samantha and Janet had been friends since childhood and had agreed to share a room. Neither of them particularly wanted to share with Kantaris. She was possibly the worst roommate ever: noisy, inconsiderate and messy. She frequently set the fire alarm off, either by smoking – sometimes she would even fall asleep with a cigarette in her hand – or by burning whatever she was attempting to cook.

It wasn't as if any of the three girls owned much. By way of possessions, Kantaris only had a few drawers full of clothes, including two Team Rocket uniforms. In the pockets of her coat she always carried a lighter and some cigarettes, usually with the health warning scribbled out: she didn't like to be reminded that she was making herself even more unhealthy by smoking. Her handgun was Team Rocket property and was supposed to be used for official jobs only; nevertheless, Kantaris often carried it with her. While she was working, she would occasionally tuck the gun in her trainer belt which held her two Pokémon, even though it was against Team Rocket's policy of concealing all weapons and using them only as a last resort. She had never fired that gun, but after being hit across the face by a few Executives for how much she clung to it, Kantaris was beginning to become wary.

At this moment in time, the gun was resting on her pillow. Kantaris was rolling up her clothes and cramming them into her backpack. Samantha stood in the doorway, wiping her hands on a grubby kitchen towel. She watched her roommate for long enough to establish that she was planning on leaving.

"What do you think you're doing?"

"What does it look like I'm doing?"

"Where are you moving to?" Samantha pointed a finger in warning. "And don't say that you're moving in with the Boss. I won't believe you."

"I'm not moving to anywhere. I'm going on a trip."

"Oh, is it this business about the Gym Challenge?" Samantha rolled her eyes. "I heard that you'd been talking shit at the arcade last week."

"So, you know already. You don't need to ask me."

"I didn't think you were serious! This is so unfair of you. You didn't even think to tell us that you were going?"

"You never wanted me here in the first place. And Janet absolutely hates me – "

"That's not the point! What are we supposed to do about the rent?"

"What I find unfair is that I've been paying more than my share of the rent on this place. My math isn't too good, but I know when I'm being screwed over. I guess you and Janet will have to get off your asses and find part-time jobs. Or bring in one of your friends." Kantaris knew full well that those two had no other friends apart from each other; if they had, they wouldn't have let her move in with them. Then again, she was in the same situation herself. At least they had each other.

"You were only paying more on the rent because we've heard you earn twice as much as we do, what with all those bonuses. And don't think we don't know what those are for."

"You've been saying that ever since we joined Team Rocket, and you're still wrong."

Having finished packing, Kantaris stood up and put her coat on. She picked up her bag, slung it over one shoulder and walked out of the room, straight past Samantha who stared at her in sheer disbelief.

"You're going? Just like that?"

"I'm going to work!"

The bus was full and Kantaris had to stand up. There was nothing unusual about that. It was early morning and everyone was going to their jobs. So was she. It just so happened that her work was a little different. It wasn't that much of a secret, either. There were probably some people on that very bus who indirectly benefited from Team Rocket's dealings. Illegal activity was everywhere, and it was nothing to do with 'good' or 'evil'. Kantaris had learned that from Giovanni. She couldn't deny that he was a criminal in the eyes of the law, but she had never thought of him as being evil. She couldn't even think of herself or her teammates as 'bad people'. They were just making a living and contributing to Kanto's economy like everyone else.

Most of the general public still were still unsure what to make of Team Rocket. The police and the Pokémon League said that they were just a glorified gang, a shadow to the Mafia, and there were even some Rockets who believed that. But those who ever bothered to listen to the Boss knew that it wasn't true. 'Glorified gangs' didn't have spectacular aims like Team Rocket. They just wanted to cause trouble. Team Rocket was so much more than that. Kantaris preferred to think of herself as a member of a political and commercial organisation that was dedicated to bringing about a revolution – even though she understood nothing about politics or business. Team Rocket's crimes were merely a means to an end. Giovanni said that, one day soon, when they had reached their goal, Team Rocket would no longer be seen as outlaws. They would be the ones making the laws.

Rather different to that future glory, Kantaris' usual workplace was one of Team Rocket's countless warehouses. From here, stolen Pokémon that weren't strong or rare enough to be worth keeping were shipped off to other places all over the country where they were sold off in various ways – sometimes to Team Rocket's allies, sometimes to unsuspecting trainers, sometimes to scientists for experimentation. The warehouse also handled other things, but Pokémon trafficking was the main source of profit.

Kantaris had Giovanni to thank for that job, of course. He had supported her once upon a time, albeit in a way as narrow and twisted as a corkscrew, but his personal support and encouragement had dwindled a lot over the past two years. Kantaris knew that he was busy, but she couldn't help but wonder if he would support her this time. If he said no, it would probably be his final word on the matter. But she decided to chance it. As soon as she got to work, she hung up her coat and ducked into a closet before any of the others could see her and demand that she make coffee for everyone. She phoned the Boss on his private line.

He answered the call with in his usual way: "What?"

Kantaris wasn't offended. She was used to it by now. She was on a company phone which had a block on it, making the number untraceable.

"It's me. Are you okay?" She always began like that when she phoned him. She was sure that nobody else ever bothered to ask him how he felt, not even his closest advisers.

He didn't answer the question. "What do you want?"

"To talk. In person."

"You want to come to the Gym? Today?" Giovanni sighed loudly. "You'll have to find your own means of transport."

It was often the case that Kantaris could hitch a ride with any Rockets who were heading over to Viridian City. There was one guy in particular. He was good company. He was the only Elite Rocket who didn't treat her like she had something contagious. He didn't talk down to her. In fact, they rarely discussed Team Rocket matters. He had never asked her why she was always taking trips to the Gym. He'd never even asked her name; she didn't know his, either. Giovanni only ever called him 'the messenger'. But it seemed that he was unavailable today. Kantaris was disappointed, but she had to get to Viridian City.

"I'll get a coach." The train was too expensive. "See you around noon."

As soon as she had spoken, the line went dead. Kantaris still wasn't offended. He'd never been one for small talk or pleasantries. Neither did she pay any attention to the way in which her team-mates heckled her as she walked out of the door before work had even started. She used her usual excuse:

"Breakfast."

They knew by now that that was a pathetic lie. She wouldn't be back all day. She liked to take very long breakfasts. It was hardly surprising that there were some interesting rumours flying around, but Kantaris was either oblivious or simply chose not to say anything.

Away from the stuffiness, the complaints and the bitching that went on in the warehouse, Kantaris went to the coach terminal and paid for an intercity ticket to Viridian. She hoped that Giovanni would let her take the Gym Challenge or that she'd run into a stupid but rich trainer: she'd just spent the last of her cash and her wages weren't due for another two weeks. It was a good thing that she was used to living on next to nothing, and even less than that. The talk of bonuses was just a lie; she'd never received a bonus in her life.


Leaning against the coach window, Kantaris dug in her pocket and took out an ID card. She had to remind herself that this was her trainer card; up to now, she had never used it as such. She frowned at the bad photograph – which made her look like a criminal, in her opinion – and the pseudonym which still meant nothing to her, after all these years. The first name was her own, albeit with a different spelling, but 'Kantaris' had been given to her at the Rocket Academy without a hint of explanation.

She didn't mind the name in itself, but the question of whether or not she was Greek or Spanish, or half one or the other – but she was neither – became irritating sometimes. The next remark, after she'd said no, would inevitably be, Oh, but you look a little Greek/Spanish. Apparently everyone from the Southern end of Europe looked exactly the same. Lost in thought, Kantaris flipped the card over, ran a finger over the microchips embedded in the other side and continued to do this for the remainder of her journey.

When she reached the Gym, Kantaris saw that there were guards at the main door. The servants and Rockets who worked at the house and the Gym knew her well enough by now; the pair of guards let her in without a word. As she expected, the balcony over the battlefield was empty, its red curtains closed. She took the side door that was hidden at the other side of the battlefield and cut through the garage. She entered the code for the lock on the door and made her way to the office upstairs.

"Sophia." Giovanni acknowledged her without looking up from whatever paperwork he was doing. As usual, there was a glass of scotch on the desk.

"Long time no talk," she said cautiously as she stepped into his office.

"We talked this morning."

"We spoke to each other but we didn't really talk. We haven't talked properly since – "

"Since...?" Giovanni put his pen down, folded his arms and leaned back in his chair.

"Never mind."

"Say what you were going to say."

"It's been a long time, that's all." Kantaris swallowed hard. "But I can understand why. You must be angry about what happened at Silph. If my group could have gotten there sooner, I might have been able to take out a couple of that kid's Pokémon and – "

"You couldn't have done anything. If I failed to defeat that child, what could you have possibly done?"

"You're right. I couldn't – "

"It has happened before. No doubt it will happen again. But for now I have to concentrate on getting Team Rocket out of this financial and motivational rut. There was a lot resting on the purchase of the Silph Corporation. The failure to complete the deal has left a substantial deficit that we have to sort out somehow."

Kantaris felt a fleeting twinge of remorse. It must have been endlessly stressful to be in charge of an enterprise like Team Rocket. But she wasn't there to give Giovanni sympathy; she felt it, but she knew that he wouldn't want it.

"Why are you here?"

"I need to ask a favour."

"A favour?" Giovanni laughed. It was a genuine laugh, too. "It must be important if you're daring to ask at this time."

"It is." But Kantaris wasn't sure anymore. Next to the troubles of Team Rocket, her own progress as a trainer seemed petty and insignificant. She twitched nervously. "It seemed important up until now."

"What is it?"

"I'm thinking of travelling for a while."

"Are we talking about fieldwork?"

"Not exactly."

Kantaris cringed as she realised that he was making a dry joke. Her last 'fieldwork expedition' had ended in a run-in with the Pokémon Defence League, a group of Pokémon rights fanatics, vigilantes and bounty hunters who were not-so-secretly endorsed by the Pokémon League. There was a permanent souvenir of the occasion on her right wrist. Fieldwork was not something she intended to revisit any time soon.

"A holiday, then."

"No, Sir."

"No?"

"No. I'm thinking of..."

"What is it?" Giovanni asked impatiently.

"Sir, I want to take the Gym Challenge."

Kantaris could see that the Boss hadn't been expecting that. He had raised his glass of whisky to his mouth but hesitated to drink. He contracted the fingers of his free hand into a loose fist and there was a brief flicker of surprise on his face. Kantaris smiled to herself, enjoying the fact that she always noticed those little reactions. Of course, they weren't necessarily good reactions. Maybe he was angry. Maybe she was about to get put in her place.

"Is that so?" Giovanni drank his whisky in one go and banged the empty glass down on the table. Kantaris nodded mutely and he gave her a hard gaze."This is rather unexpected," he said.

"I know. I'm sorry."

Giovanni smiled faintly as he realised that Kantaris really was sorry. Although she was trying to stay poker-faced, he could easily tell that she was nervous, maybe even embarrassed. She looked as though she wanted to change her mind, turn around and leave the office. She had no idea. She didn't know that he'd been waiting for her to say this for some time. Better late than never, he thought. But, although he was in favour of her decision, he didn't show it. She might be suspicious if he encouraged her outright.

"It's a lot harder than it looks. How often do you hear about a new champion, Kantaris? How often do you hear about a new Pokémon Master?"

"I'm not too good with current affairs, Sir."

"In that case, let me ask you something else. How often do you see me lose to challengers?"

Kantaris was baffled. She tried to think of a single occasion on which she'd seen Giovanni fail to win – not counting, of course, the fluke that had taken place at Silph. She could not remember ever witnessing a challenger win at the Gym. True enough, she was hardly ever there these days, but she expected that it would be rare at best.

"It's extremely uncommon," Giovanni said when she failed to answer. "Do you know why that is?"

"Because you're – "

"Because a lot of trainers don't make it that far. Every time you enter a Gym, there's always the risk that you won't make it. The higher you get, the bigger the risk." He rapped his knuckles on the desk sharply as if to show how solid it was. "You're standing in the best Gym in Kanto. By the time you get to this stage, the path has become terribly steep. Eight Gyms, and at each one, more trainers fall by the wayside. And then you have the League to deal with."

Kantaris was a little alarmed. She wanted to question his bitter tone of voice but decided against it. He was probably just trying to discourage her. It was true that the Pokémon League was Team Rocket's enemy, but Giovanni had well and truly pulled the wool over their eyes by becoming one of their trusted Gym Leaders. The League had always treated him well, naming him one of Kanto's most powerful and respected figures. They had no idea that he was in charge of Team Rocket, or if they did, they didn't dare to do anything about it. Kantaris could see no reason why he would be bitter. She knew that if she were in his position, she would be cheerfully laughing behind the League's back at every given opportunity.

"But if that is what you want, I'm not really in a position to stop you."

Kantaris was sure that she must have misheard. "You're not?"

"I don't legally own you. Even if I were your guardian, you're no longer a child. I can't stop you from following the path that you choose."

Legally. To hear the leader of Team Rocket using that word was surreal. Kantaris might even have laughed were it not for the uncomfortable atmosphere. Although she liked to think that she trusted Giovanni – and she made a mental note to ask about the 'guardian' issue some other time – she was sceptical. It was a cold, hard fact that few people got out of Team Rocket alive. Not for long, at least. Giovanni often told them that they could walk away. They often did walk away. It was just that they didn't get very far. There was a reason why the Boss kept a gun and a stash of bullets in the top drawer of his desk. Such a stark fate was reserved for Rockets who knew too much – but Kantaris knew that she fell into that category.

"What are you thinking, Sophia?"

"I'm thinking that I don't fancy being shot in the back as soon as I turn to leave."

Giovanni looked a little offended. "Well, at least you're honest. In some ways."

"And how about you?" she asked. "Are you honest?" I'm asking the leader of a crime syndicate if he's honest. Kantaris scratched her head and glanced at the floor. I must be insane.

"That depends on the question."

"Would you really let me take the Gym Challenge?"

"I already gave you my permission."

"I don't want to leave Team Rocket," Kantaris added hastily. "I just want to take some time to better myself. For the good of the team."

For the good of the team indeed. Giovanni placed both of his hands flat on the desk as if to prove that he was unarmed. "As I said, I can't stop you from following your chosen path."

"You could." Kantaris glanced towards the left drawer of the desk.

"After everything I did for you, you think I would terminate things so casually? Have you forgotten what I said about family, Sophia? You have a few strikes to go before I'd consider doing such a thing."

"Well, even if you just told me not to go, you know I wouldn't."

"As long as you stay under the Team Rocket banner, I will only stand in your way as the Leader of this Gym – and that's just a formality. But, I suppose, if you made it that far you would already be well on your way."

"Thank you." Kantaris wanted to sigh with relief, but she decided to save it until she was well out of harm's reach. "If you ever needed me anywhere, I would do as you ordered. I'm a Rocket before anything else."

"I should hope so. And Team Rocket has taught you to be ruthless, has it not? Apply that attitude to the Gym Challenge and you'll go far. But never forget where you belong."

There was no going back now. Kantaris half-wished that she hadn't been so hasty in packing and leaving the flat, as much as she hated the place. As she walked through the Gym, she felt as though she was in a daze. Giovanni never made his feelings obvious, but it was likely and understandable that he would be miserable about last week's events. Of course, Kantaris knew that she was Giovanni's subordinate, and she never doubted that he was much stronger than her in every way, but sometimes she felt almost protective towards him, even from a distance.

Although Rockets were ordered to suppress their feelings, they tended to look out for each other, particularly members of the Black Squad. When they were alone with people they trusted, they could let off steam. Without that outlet, they would probably go crazy. Kantaris had learned to deal with things on her own, mainly because she had no real friends to confide in. But who was around to look out for the Boss? The Executives didn't care. Sometimes, Kantaris thought they looked more like a circling gang of vultures, squabbling over shreds of authority and status – but she was probably just jealous.


The country road out of Viridian City was strangely quiet. Kantaris paused for a few moments and looked around, feeling more than a little stupid. There was a trio of Pidgeys in a nearby bush but they didn't appeal to her. She wanted something more impressive. Something rarer and stronger. But there was nothing in sight. She hadn't thought about this, hadn't considered the long periods of walking, the silence and the boredom. The Gym Challenge was quickly losing its appeal.

She heard a rustling noise in the tall grass at the side of the road and released her Cyndaquil, who grunted in discontentment at being disturbed from its almost constant sleep. Kantaris stood poised with an empty Pokéball in her hand, waiting for whatever was in the bushes to show itself, while Cyndaquil walked around in tiny circles at its trainer's feet before flopping onto the ground. After a few moments, a cute Pokémon face emerged from the grass, twitching its nose. A brown and white bushy tail rose up behind its head.

"An Eevee!" Kantaris kicked Cyndaquil. "Tackle! Come on, stupid Pokémon, what are you waiting for?"

Her Pokémon was used to being kicked. It rolled over, stood up and yawned but completely ignored her order. Kantaris growled in frustration, wishing that she had brought her whip. Then a male voice made her jump. "Go, Totodile! Tackle that Eevee!"

A small blue crocodile rushed forward like a blur and toppled the bewildered Eevee just yards away from where Kantaris was standing. It followed its tackle with a sharp Water Gun attack. Before Kantaris had the chance to react, the Totodile's trainer ran into view, tossing a Pokéball smartly as he ran. The Eevee was swept up into red energy and captured inside the Pokéball.

"Hey!" Kantaris yelled. "I saw it first!"

Her hand automatically went to her coat pocket and her fingers closed around her pistol, but she forced herself to let go of it at once. Instead, she watched as the Pokéball wobbled and she willed the wild Eevee to break free so that she could have a shot at it. But it didn't. As the light went out, signalling a successful capture, Kantaris grimly turned to face the trainer responsible for this outright theft. He was perhaps the same age as her, maybe a little younger. His hairstyle and freckles made him look somewhat boyish. He certainly had a teenager's cheeky grin. He picked up the Pokéball and Kantaris was not amused.

"Don't you just hate it when that happens?" he asked.

"I sure do."

"No hard feelings, honey. Your Cyndaquil looks a little, uh...slow. I'm Ivan, by the way."

"Great."

"Aren't you gonna tell me your name?"

"Kantaris."

"Is that your real name?" Ivan asked sceptically.

"What's it to you?" Kantaris pressed the button on Cyndaquil's Pokéball and the Pokémon returned. She violently hit the Pokéball from above with a clenched fist, hoping that it might rattle Cyndaquil's brains.

"Hey, I recognise you." Ivan narrowed his eyes at her. Luckily, he did not mention Team Rocket. Instead, he scratched his cheek and said, "Weren't you at the Stadium last year?"

"Maybe. Why?"

"Yeah, that's right! You were there! You were that chick with the Misdreavus that knew how to use Thunder!" He pointed towards his chest with both thumbs in a rather grandiose gesture. "Don't you remember me?"

"No."

"We battled in round two!"

Kantaris could only remember the medal that she'd won. Maybe, if she thought hard, she could also remember the semi-final and the final. But the second round? She rolled her eyes. She couldn't remember this guy at all, ergo he couldn't possibly have been much of a a challenge. She suddenly felt impatient to carry on her way. But what Ivan said next annoyed her even further.

"You're a mobster, right?"

"That's a pretty specific choice of word," she replied irritably. In fact, of all the words for what she was, 'mobster' was her pet hate. It conjured up black and white images of cigar-smoking, gun-toting Mafiosi – and it hit just a little close to home.

"But I'm right, aren't I? I saw you hanging around after the closing ceremonies with those Rockets. Friends of yours, were they?"

"It's really none of your business."

"Heck, I gotta hand it to you!" he exclaimed, giving her an unwanted pat on the back. "You thrashed me! I couldn't believe it when you won! But you thought you were real good. You're just like all the other Rockets."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"You just got lucky, that's all. That's the problem with you Rockets, isn't it? You gang up on law-abiding trainers, throwing your weight around, thinking you're tough. But once you have to stand on your own two feet without your little mob, without using other people's Pokémon, you're all pathetic."

Mob? Kantaris was silently fuming. How did he know that those Pokémon hadn't been hers? She had controlled them well, they'd listened to her and everything had gone as perfectly as possible. Oh, but she had a trump card. One of those Pokémon had been her own – and still was.

"That tournament meant everything to me," the boy continued. "I wasn't good enough to battle for real outside the Stadium. I worked my ass off that summer but instead, it went to the person who deserved it least: you."

Kantaris yanked the first Pokéball from her belt. "I hope you're ready for another ass-kicking. You've earned it."

"Oh, a battle?" Ivan laughed. "I'll be using my Eevee to start, then."

Kantaris gave him the dirtiest look that she could muster and threw her Pokéball up into the air with a flick of her wrist. "Stella! It's time to meet an old friend."

Ivan's eyes glazed over a little when he saw Kantaris' Misdreavus. So, that one really was hers, unless she had stolen it from somewhere. Impressive, he thought. Kantaris caught Stella's empty Pokéball as it descended.

"Let's start with a Confuse Ray!" she ordered, shielding her eyes as Stella launched a glittering ray of light upon Eevee.

"Quick Attack!" Ivan commanded, hoping to land an attack before the confusion set in.

Kantaris gave no order for Stella to dodge the attack; she merely smiled in amusement as Eevee ran and leapt, passing straight through the ghostly Pokémon without leaving so much as a mark. The Misdreavus giggled.

Ivan looked as though he was racking his brain. "Leer...?"

The Confuse Ray had set in by now. Eevee's eyes glowed as it prepared to perform a Leer attack but the glow flickered and died as the Pokémon fainted. Ivan withdrew it with a grumble. Hovering a few feet in the air, Stella performed a small victory dance. Kantaris couldn't help but laugh. What kind of trainer would send a weakened Pokémon into battle when none of its attacks would even work against the opponent? The same kind of trainer who'd lose in the second round of a beginners' tournament.

Ivan's Totodile was dancing around beside him, raring to go. Now he nudged it forward. "Water Gun!"

Totodile sprayed Stella with a quick but weak stream of water. Stella did not have time to dodge the attack but she shook the water off. Her eyes flashed angrily.

"Psywave!"

Only too happy to oblige, Stella let loose a wave of purple, green and blue energy that was scarcely visible. Totodile fell backwards as the attack hit but recovered quickly and got back on its feet. Kantaris had run out of patience.

"Finish it off with Thunder," she ordered.

She wished that she had done that in the first place: she could have wiped that Totodile out with one hit. Sparks of electricity flew through the air and hit Totodile full on. It collapsed without a sound and the battle was over.

"How can a ghost Pokémon use an electric attack? You're a cheat!"

"Ever heard of TM moves?"

Ivan reached into his pocket and took out a heap of change. "Here. I know the rules. It's all I have."

Kantaris snatched it out of his hand. "Just stay out of my way." Beckoning Stella, she began to walk away with her Pokémon beside her; she wanted the company.

"Stay out of your way?" Ivan followed Kantaris at a safe distance. "You're on the Gym Challenge, right?"

"You're starting to freak me out." I never told him that I was on the Gym Challenge, did I?

"I'm on the Gym Challenge, too!"

"How nice for you."

Kantaris exchanged an amused glance with Stella, who was pretending to fall asleep in mid-air. They quickened their pace with no intention of turning around again. Soon enough, Ivan gave up and stopped following them.

"You can't avoid me!" he called out with an air of finality. "We're rivals now!"

Stella turned around and pulled a face at Ivan. He didn't see it. He was already going back the other way. The wrong way.