The weekend had been a blur. A sequence of battles they called round robins. Wins after wins after wins after wins. But then he'd lost to a boy called Harry, and he'd been so demoralised he'd lost another few after that. It was all so overwhelming and confusing, but Leslie had pulled him through, each and every time, always there to offer an encouraging smile or a strong and steady hand to hold. During the competition, Raphael and Raticate had formed such a strong team. After the round robins, there'd been a 'knock-out tournament' with the people with the highest scores from the round robin. Leslie said that meant if he lost one battle, he was out for good.

He hadn't lost a single one. If he won this battle, he won the tournament.

"Competitors!" cried the announcer. "It is time for the final battle. These two trainers have battled, scraped and clawed their way to this bout, but only one of them will emerge as the ultimate victor. So allow me to introduce to competitors. Standing to my left, we have Henry!"

A spotlight from above shone down on Harry and the crowd started cheering, making the young boy blush. He put up his hand, as if to ask a question. "Uh, sir? It's, uh, Harry. Not Henry. Harry."

The announcer looked confused for a moment, then smiled vapidly and continued.

"This skilled battler has proved his mettle time and time again, and has shown that he has the guts to take this entire tournament! But can he and his lightning Buttefree take down their last opponent? Who is that opponent, I hear you ask! Well, standing to my left, we have Raphael!"

Another spotlight shone down on Raphael, and cheers followed him as well. He smiled shyly, glancing at Raticate.

"How surprising that the two youngest competitors stand before you in the final! Well, just like Harry, I am not surprised that Raphael is here, with Raticate taking down foe after foe with little difficulty. But can the resilient Raticate take down the skilled team that is Harry and Butterfree? This could be Raphael's chance for redemption, as Harry defeated him in their first battle in the round robin! But it could also be the battle to cement Harry's place as top trainer!"

With a flamboyant gesture, the announcer produced a flag. "We will now find out!"

Harry locked eyes with Raphael. "Kinda embarrassing, huh?" His voice was so low that over the cheers of the spectators and the Announcer's spiel only Raphael heard it.

Raphael shrugged, trying to replicate the casual ease of Harry and his low whisper. "I guess."

Harry gave a fleeting smile, but it quickly faded, replaced by a mask. "Good luck."

Raphael was slightly taken aback. "Y-you too."

The two walked to their spaces at either end of the battlefield.

"What do you think?" Bruno tried to be quiet as he leant over to Lorelei, but his whisper was the volume of someone else's normal voice.

Lorelei didn't answer for a moment. She surveyed the battlefield below with narrowed eyes, examining the two boys. "If chance doesn't interfere, the one on the left should win." Her voice was cold and uncaring. "He has great skills with understanding of tactics and analysis of the battlefield."

"Harry?" Bruno said, voice back to booming. "Nah, I think little Raphael's got it! He's got the passion for battle! His belief will pull him through, you'll see!"

Lorelei didn't respond.

"Personally I have to agree with Lorelei," Lance said slowly. "Belief isn't enough against careful calculations and dedicated training."

"And he has a better win rate," Lorelei commented. "If you follow the numbers, Harry is more likely to win."

"Numbers? Pah!" Bruno slammed his hand down on his thigh, leaning forward. "Forget the numbers! We've all won uphill battles before! That's what's proved that we're great trainers! Raphael will—"

"Bruno, will you stop your shouting? You're killing these old ears." Agatha's voice held such a sharpness it made Bruno suddenly quieten.

"Ah, you've arrived." Lance smiled thinly at Agatha. Lorelei didn't smile at all, but simply nodded. Agatha sat down beside her.

"Do you have an opinion yet, Agatha?" Lance questioned.

"I don't care," Agatha grumbled, shifting in her seat. "I still think it's all unnecessary."

"Come on!" Bruno pleaded. "Help me convince these two that Raphael's gonna win!"

Agatha gave him a death glare. Bruno shut up.

"Quiet down and watch," she said crankily. "The match is about to start."

The announcer turned to Harry and Raphael, grinning widely. "Competitors, are you ready?"

Raphael looked to Raticate, a smile on his face. "You'll win this. I know it!"

"Rat!" Raticate clacked its teeth with a rodent-like grin. "Rati!"

Raphael smiled. He pumped his fist. "We're ready!"

The other boy scowled, glancing at the Pokémon by his side. The Butterfree lounged back in the air, giggling and generally looking spaced-out.

The announcer smiled at him. "Harry, are you ready?"

The boy nodded uncomfortably. He turned to Butterfree. It gave a little chirp. "Yeah. I am."

"Okay, then!" The announcer smiled. He held out a flag. "Send out your Pokémon!"

Raphael smiled. "Let's go, Raticate!"

But Raticate was already there, leaping into the battlefield with a joyous cry. It hissed, showing its teeth, the old ferocity flaring again with full force.

"Butterfree?" Harry looked up at the Pokémon. It ignored him in favour of floating around his head dreamily. "Argh! Butterfree, come on, the battle's starting!"

In response, the Pokémon settled itself on the boy's head.

"Damn it!" Harry grabbed the Pokémon and pulled it of his head.

"Butterfree…" the Pokémon pouted dejectedly.

"Come on," Harry smiled. "One more battle. One more battle and then we'll have all the time in the world."

Butterfree pulled the Bug-Type version of a pout. After a moment, Harry released the Bug-Type, and with a flash of sudden speed it zipped on the battlefield. Raphael cringed. He'd underestimated the speed the first time, as Butterfree were supposed to be slower than Raticate, and that had been his undoing. His memory flashed back to that battle, where Butterfree had completely destroyed them. Raticate, too, seemed to remember, hissing violently as it watched Butterfree zip through the air, almost lazily, as though it could go much faster if it actually tried.

The announcer smiled. "Battle begin!"

Raphael opened his mouth, but Harry beat him to the punch.

"Gust, go!" Harry swept his arms in a cutting motion. Again, Raphael was caught off guard by the pure pragmatism in his voice; the strength, the hardness, there without emotion.

"Free!" The Pokémon flashed forward, zipping above Raticate. With a powerful beat, a lash of air smashed into Raticate, throwing it back.

"Rati!" Raticate flipped and landed on all fours with a hiss. It didn't seem shaken at all.

"Hyper Fang!" Raphael called, taking control of the situation before Harry could continue his offence. Raphael did have a strategy. Raphael had kept track of Harry's battling after his loss, and he had found the pattern. The only two times Harry had lost, the same thing had happened; he'd lost the initiative. If Harry lost the initiative, his attack crumbled and he toppled easily.

Raticate burst from the ground, its fangs elongated and sharpening with a gleam. Harry nodded and Butterfree dodged seamlessly, flashing upwards. The announcer wasn't kidding when he'd said 'lightning Butterfree'. It was fast, faster than a normal Butterfree, and more powerful too. It was as though…

"Raticate!" Raticate fumbled, landing awkwardly on the ground. Its teeth receded.

"Confusion!" This was the moment Harry had been waiting for, and he seized it with alacrity. Buttefree didn't hesitate, it's eyes glimmering with odd energy. Raticate was blown back by a pulse of that same eerie energy, surprisingly powerful.

"Rat!" Raticate screeched, smashing into the ground and tumbling over, barely able to regain footing.

"Gust!" Harry kept the pressure up. Butterfree prepared to attack, drawing it's wings back.

"Quick, Raticate, Sucker Punch!" Raphael called. Raticate leapt up, dark energy building up around him, giving him an unnatural burst of speed to overtake Butterfree

"Dodge it!"

Butterfree thrust its wings downwards and shot up. Raticate landed straight this time, but was breathing hard.

"Poison Powder!" Harry called. Butterfree swirled lazily over to Raticate, and suddenly dove, thrashing its wings violently. Huge clumps of purple spores burst into Raticate, and the Pokémon screeched. A sudden burst of light flared around Raticate as its ability activated.

Raphael hesitated. Harry knew that Raticate had the Guts ability. What was he thinking?

Harry looked onto the battlefield with a creased brow. His eyes were sharp, calculating.

Raphael suddenly realised what he was doing. Harry was counting on keeping the initiative— playing to his strengths. As long as Harry kept attacking, kept the initiative, something he needed to do anyway, Raticate wouldn't have a chance to get a hit in. And if Raticate couldn't get a hit in, the extra attacking power from Guts wouldn't matter— Raticate would faint before they could use it.

Butterfly twirled away, chuckling maniacally.

"What power! The announcer cried. "And keep in mind, spectators, these trainers were given equally low-level Pokémon! Butterfree and Harry must have trained hard for this moment!"

Raticate let out a shriek as Poison-type energy crackled around it. With horror, Raphael watched as its health was drained.

Raphael clenched his fists. Of course. Harry must have spent so much time training Butterfree that they'd grown beyond the level of the rest of their Pokémon; no wonder it was so fast. Each child had been given a Pokémon judged to be of the exact same skill level, so Harry had known he'd have a huge advantage if he trained his Pokémon beyond that skill level.

"Rati…" Raticate pushed itself up. Defiantly, it stood straight. "Raticaaate!"

"Yeah!" Raphael punched the air, determined. So what if Harry had trained? So had he. "Raticate, use Bite! Go for the wing!"

With a glower, Raticate leapt into the air. Butterfree, too absorbed in itself to react fast enough, screeched in agony as Raticate's powerful teeth snapped down on its wing.

"Yes!" Raphael pumped his fist. Harry had lost his bet.

"Oh my!" The announcer cried.

Harry's eyes took in the battlefield, calculating, assessing. He winced as Butterfree was slammed into the ground, eyebrows creased. In that one moment, he'd lost the initiative.

Raphael seized the opportunity. "Raticate, use—"

Raticate recoiled from Butterfree as the poison damage took hold, face locked in a grimace. Butterfree took the chance to get back in the air, but it stumbled in flight. Its wing looked severely damaged. Butterfree may've been fast and powerful, but it was a glass cannon.

"The tables seem to have turned!" The announcer cried out. "Does Raphael have a window of opportunity here?"

Harry gritted his teeth. "Confusion!"

As Butterfree prepared itself for the attack, Raphael snapped an order of his own. "Sucker Punch!"

Once more, Raticate leapt through the air, embroiled in Dark-type energy. But this time, Butterfree couldn't dodge fast enough.

"Butterfreeeee!" The Bug-type was slammed into the ground with a cry. Raticate stood over it, triumphant, breathing hard. Poison damage took ahold of it, but Raticate gritted its teeth and held on.

"You haven't won yet." Harry's gaze was set. "Butterfree, use Supersonic!"

"Dodge it!" Raphael cried. Raticate leapt away, but it was no use; the Supersonic hit.

"Raticate!" Raphael wanted to run over to it, but stopped himself.

"You aren't the only one with an ability." Harry crossed his arms. "I thought you'd know about that. Butterfree has Compound Eyes. Supersonic may have poor accuracy, but with Butterfree's ability it's much harder to avoid."

Raphael just stared helplessly as Raticate teetered on the spot, eyes glassy. It stumbled forward, as if trying to attack Butterfree, but tripped and landed awkwardly.

"It's over now!" Harry cried. "Butterfree, Confusion!"

Raticate pushed itself up, swiping at the air.

"Come on, Raticate!" Raphael's voice was filled with panic. "I know you're stronger than this! You have to dodge this attack!"

Raticate froze. It shook its head as though trying to clear it.

"You can do it, Raticate!"

Butterfree released its Confusion attack.

"Raticate!" Raphael cried desperately.

Raticate's eyes cleared. A cloud of dust erupted around Raticate as the Confusion attack pounded into the ground.

Raphael looked anxiously at the field, the dust settling slowly. He could hear the crackle of the Poison damage. Butterfree flew in jagged circles around the dust, notably much slower than before, a slight wobble in its flight.

The dust cleared.

The crowd burst into a roar, and the announcer cried out. "Would you look at that! Would you look at that, ladies and gentlemen! Raticate has dodged the attack!"

"Butterfree!" The Bug-Type recoiled, and Harry's eyes widened.

Panting, Raticate looked up at Raphael, and smiled.

"Yeah!" Raphael jumped up in jubilation. "I knew you could do it! Quick Attack!"

Raticate, determination in its gaze, burst up from the ground, enveloped in white light. It barrelled into Butterfree, knocking the Pokémon back.

"Put everything into this one! Use Bite!" Raphael cried. Raticate hit the ground and jumped straight back up. Butterfree tried to duck away but Raticate caught it in its jaws. With a final screech, Butterfree was brought down to the ground.

There was a moment of complete silence.

"Butterfree is unable to battle!"

Raphael stared, wide-eyed, as the announcer's words faded to the background. He had won. He and Raticate had actually won.

Raticate and Raphael ran towards one another, overjoyed. The Pokémon leapt into the four year old's arms, the two embracing.

"Thank you so much, Raticate," Raphael whispered. He buried his face in the small Pokémon's fur. "Thank you."

"Rati!" The small Pokémon wiggled deeper into Raphael's arms. Raphael giggled, feeling the warmth soaking into him.

He looked over to see Harry, kneeling beside Butterfree. His balled fists were pushing into his knees, and his head was bowed. He appeared to be shaking. A tear fell on the ground in front of him.

Raphael began to walk over. In that moment, Raphael was conscious of them both; Harry looked like a darker version of Raphael. Darker hair, darker eyes, sallow skin, scrawnier and messier.

As Raphael approached, Harry reached out to Butterfree, cradling the Pokémon in his arms. Slowly, it awoke, sitting up.

"We both failed." Harry's voice cracked. "You were too arrogant to dodge that Bite."

Butterfree whimpered in his arms. "Butterfree…"

"It's my fault too," Harry bit his lip. "I should have gotten you to use Supersonic way earlier. I don't know what I was thinking..."

"Butter, butterfree, free free…" Butterfree looked dejected.

Harry's eyes were unfocused. "Maybe I trained you wrong…"

"Harry?" Raphael broke in quietly.

Harry's head snapped up. He cradled Butterfree protectively. "What do you want?"

Raphael was startled by the ferocity in the other boy's voice. "I-I just wanted to say thanks for the battle—"

Harry stood up and turned away from him. "Don't talk to me."

Raphael was at loss. Raticate snuffled in his arms, confused. "But I—"

"Shut up!" Harry hissed. "Because of you… Because of you... Everything's gone wrong!"

Butterfree could only curl up in Harry's arms, antennae drooping. It's eyes were filled with tears.

Raphael was confused. Why would Butterfree be sad…? It got to go home. It must've really hated losing.

He was about to ask when the announcer grabbed his wrist and held it up. "Our winner, ladies and gentlemen! Our winner!"

Raphael smiled, flushing proudly. The announcer gave Raticate a Pecha berry, and the Pokémon gnawed on it happily.

Raphael saw Harry turn tail and run from the battlefield. He felt a stab of anxiety, but it was replaced with the joy of winning.

"We worked hard, Raticate," Raphael said, leaning down to the little Pokémon. "I'm proud to have worked with you."

"Rati! Cate, cate, rat!" The little rat smiled up at him, equally proud to have battled and won.

Raphael glanced down at Raticate, smiling widely. "Come on," he said quietly. "Let's get out of this crowd.

Leslie rushed up to Raphael, shoving through the crowd, her face bursting with a smile of pure joy. "Raph! You won! Arceus, Raph, you won!" She scooped both boy and rat in a crushing embrace, her eyes filled with tears of joy. "I knew you could do it, kiddo," she whispered.

"Can't... breath…" Raphael complained. Leslie's grip loosened, and he hugged her back. With a coo, Raticate snuggled up between them, content.

"Let's go release Raticate," Raphael said quietly. Leslie nodded, but refused to set the boy down, carrying him from the stadium in her arms. Leslie spoke to some adults on the way, and when they got outside, no one else followed.

It was dark, almost-nighttime. Once could hear the rhythmic chirping of crickets in the background. Leslie set the boy and his friend down, walking them partway into the forest, holding on tight to Raphael's hand. When they came to a halt, Leslie brought out Arren and asked him to make some light.

"Go on," Leslie said quietly. "If you want, I don't have to watch."

"Stay," Raphael insisted, and Raticate nodded. Leslie smiled, standing beside them.

Raphael turned back to Raticate. He felt both warm and happy, yet sad. "So, this is it," he said awkwardly, swinging his arms. "Raticate… I'm never gonna forget everything you've done for me," he said quietly. "Thank you. For everything."

Raticate grinned. "Rati, raticate!"

Raphael laughed. "Yeah, you're awesome, being all other-ish like that!"

"He means selfless," Leslie corrected with a grin. "Opposite of self-ish."

"Yeah, that!" Raphael said with a smile. "Selfless! I wanna be just like you, Raticate; selfless. Selfless and, and a great battler, and, and, and awesome and strong and—" Raphael blew out a breath. "I could go on forever," he said with a sad smile. "But it still won't be enough to stay how much you've done for me."

Raticate smiled, nuzzling Raphael's ankle.

As Raphael released Raticate and watched the little Pokémon run off into the dark forest, the little boy couldn't help but have tears in his eyes. He hugged Leslie and Arran, and the two hugged him back.

"Come on," Leslie said, mustering a smile. "Your new life's waiting."