"Raaaaargh!" Byron yelled with a might cry as he slammed his large pickaxe on the large rock before him. The pointy end of it hit the rock with a loud crack, while a large crack formed in it. A minute or two later, it cracked open and he set down his pickaxe and bent down to pull them apart. Inside he could see what looked like gold buried inside. "Ha, haha…I still have it in these old bones of mine!"

Ethan cleared his throat. "Err Byron?"

"Eh, what is it?" The old miner asked as he turned around. He noticed the pair standing behind them and he laughed. "Oh, haha! If it isn't my training buddy from Johto! What brings you out here again? You already took my badge!" He said. "And who is this?"

He put his arm around her shoulders. "This is my friend Roxie and we aren't here for your badge. I actually needed to ask you a few questions."

Byron lifted the pickaxe and rested it on his shoulders. "Okay, shoot. I'm all ears."

"We're looking for your son Roark, he was supposed to be at this concert with Roxanne but the two of them just vanished and we were trying to figure out why Roark might leave. He was looking forward to this concert for awhile."

"He's gone?" Byron asked and Ethan nodded. "Huh, that is odd. The guy wouldn't shut up about it, I can't imagine why he'd leave it."

Ethan nodded. "Yea but we just wanted to know if there would be any reason why he might."

Byron set the pickaxe down on the ground and leaned against it. "Not that I could think of. Well I guess if he head something strange was going on at the mines in Oreburgh, he might be torn away but they usually have things under control."

"Why would he need to worry about the mines?" Roxie asked.

"He helps run them. He's an expert with rocks and geology so they often depend on them."

"A regular hard rocker!" She said in a bubbly voice. Byron let out an audible groan at her poor attempt at a pun.

"Anyways, that's the only thing I could think that would tear Roark away. He's a very studious kid, not like I was when I was younger. I used to just steal away from the mines and spend time with my—"

"Ahh yes well thanks for letting us know! Maybe we could check the mines there and ask the people there," Ethan said, cutting him off before he could go on about the old days. Byron looked a tad annoyed that he got cut off but his eyes lit up as if he remembered something.

"Oh yea, there was one thing recently. A few days ago in fact. Roark came here and told me about some guy who showed up at Oreburgh. A tall bald guy in a trench coat and he had a Salamence with him."

Ethan's eyes grew wide. "So what happened?"

Byron frowned. "Well, the guy talked to him for a few and from what Roark told me, the guy threatened to do something to mess up the concert."

"Something?" Roxie asked.

Roark nodded as he kicked the rock to the side. "Yea but he didn't tell Roark what he would do so he was left in the dark. The guy left and well that's all we know."

"Drat, that doesn't help us much—"

"I did hear though about some guy hanging out at the Battle Frontier. Some trainer who had been crushing everyone with a Salamence. I mean it's not much but—"

"Battle Frontier? We'll go check it out real quick!"

Byron let out a grumble. "Might be a little tougher now. Carnival is going on there and well it is pretty crowded there. They do get the place all looking nice, not a bad place to take your lady friend if you can avoid the crowds. Ugh, just thinking about it gives me a headache—"

"But don't you work in a mine?" Roxie asked.

Byron chuckled. "You're a dainty girl so you wouldn't know but working in the mines is much different from that. It's a calming sort of noise, knowing it's just you, your tools and the earth."

"But…isn't it still noise?" She asked.

"You really don't get it…don't worry about it," he said with a chuckle.

"No what I get is that you're a f***ing numbskull," Roxie said under her breath. Ethan pulled her away and laughed.

"Thanks Byron, we'll check it out before heading to Oreburgh!"

They left him and walked back up the path into the center of town, bustling with activity as usual but no one seemed to pay the two of them any attention. "Why did he call me a dainty little girl?"

Ethan and Pitch exchanged a look. "Uh well, do you really want me to answer that?"

She shot him a look. "I'll seriously f*** you up if you do."

He smiled. "Well anyway, this Carnival sounds like fun."

"Fun? What about Crystal? She'll be ticked off if you—"

"We check things out and then we can check out the sights. We don't have to be real long," he said. Roxie smirked.

"Oh so you actually have a spine?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" He asked as he felt his phone buzz. She smiled again.

"It means I thought Crystal had you wrapped around her finger but it seems you have a little bit of rebellious side in you. I like it that you—"

"Hold on a minute Roxie, I have to take this call," he said. He pulled out his phone and noticed who was calling. "Hello?"

"Ethan! Hey, it's Crystal. What are you two doing?"

"Well we just finished talking with Byron and we're headed out to check up on a lead he told us about—"

"A lead? What kind of lead?"

"It's not a big lead, just a lead—"

"A lead is a lead is a lead, right?" She asked and he felt like his head was spinning.

"Uh right…yes, it is a lead—"

"Then what is the lead?"

"Well Byron said some guy—"

"Some guy, what kind of guy? Was he old? Was he young? Was he white, black, brown or some other color? Was he even—"

"A tall bald headed guy with a Salamence. He supposedly threatened the concert and then left. He didn't say how he would attack, he just threatened to. Byron said there is word he might be at the Battle Frontier so we're headed there."

"Well it is a lead…not a good lead but it's a lead."

She was still debating if this was a lead? "So that's where me and Roxie are headed next."

"Roxie…I think you need to watch her."

"Huh, what do you mean by that?"

"I don't know, it's probably my keen Crystal senses but something—"

"I think you need to lay off the those sugary Olivine sweets, they mess with your mind and you start seeing things. Remember the time you ate one too many and thought you saw UFO's over the sea?"

"Stop changing the subject! I swear, that sweet and bubbly act is…well…an act!"

"Are you bored?"

"Well…that too. We haven't found anything here! No leads, not hints of a lead…not even a hint of a hint of hint of a lead! Nada! Now Lyra is just standing around, complaining about everyone's clothes or something."

"Well I'll keep you updated on what we find, if we find anything—"

"Hey can you tell me more about Roxie! I mean it's kind of rude that you would keep your big sister—"

"Big sister? You aren't my big sister, I'm older than you by—"

"A few seconds. You were born only a few seconds before me," he said, rolling his eyes.

"Point remains, it isn't fair you keep this kind of knowledge from me! What are you trying to hide?"

"Nothing! Why do you think I'm trying to hide something?"

"Well why have you been hiding a girlfriend from me? Don't you think that would be something I'd like to know about? I have to see if she's the right sort of girl for you!"

"I'm a pretty good judge of character—"

"Ethan, you're a guy, a good guy but a guy nonetheless. And I know how guys are, all a girl has to do is bat her eyelashes, sweet talk and suddenly they have the guy wrapped around their finger. And you're especially vulnerable."

How did this conversation get to this point? Shouldn't she be worried more about the missing singers? Suddenly Roxie snatched the phone away from him. "Hey Crystal, hehe, this is Roxie. I just wanted to tell you that we have everything under control," she said with a giggle. "Huh, what do I do? Um-mm well, I don't really do anything—"

He took the phone back from Roxie. "Crystal—"

"Ethan, are you dating a bum?!"

"She's not a bum—"

"She just told me she doesn't really do anything!"

"She's not a bum—"

"She's already got you wrapped around her finger—"

"I'm hanging up now," he said and he did. He put the phone away and looked at Roxie, who sported a mischievous look. "You know Roxie, this would be a lot easier if you just told her who you actually are."

Roxie put a hand on her hip. "And how do you think that will go?"

"Well—"

"I know what they say about me in Johto, how foul mouthed and perverse my lyrics are. How I'm a horrible influence for all the kids out there. If she were to find out, she'd go nutso."

"I guess it'd be too much to ask to—"

"If you want me to change my lyrics, f*** that. This is who I am, I'm a foul mouthed, perverse and horny b****," she said. She sighed. "Well what do you think?"

"Think, about you?"

"Yes!"

"Well I think you're pretty and all but I'm still getting used to you. We've only known each other for a short time."

"F***, you sure take your time on stuff."

"What's that supposed to mean? Do you know if you like someone as a friend so soon?"

"As a matter of fact, I do."

Pitch let out a chirp and he shot him a look. One of these times, that bird was gonna get him in hot water. "Well I promise not to make you wait too long Roxie."

The Battle Zone, a large island located to the northeast of Sinnoh, is where the Battle Frontier lay, along with Stark Mountain, a large volcano toward the back end of the island. He had been here a couple of times, usually dragged by Crystal to partake in some tournaments. Despite being as far north as Snowpoint, the island had a more tropical environment compared to Sinnoh and felt like an island that would belong in Hoenn instead.

As Byron had said, the Battle Frontier area was pretty darn crowded with people. The main street leading down the small port city had been roped off. The streets had several large and colorful floats parked in the middle of the road and with all the music pumping through the speakers, it sounded like it was a real party going on. "What a racket."

"A racket? But aren't you a rock artist?"

"Punk, punk…let's get it right here," she said as she pointed a finger in his face. She realized what she was doing and put her hand down. "There is a difference between the two. What they're playing is just noise, pure and simple noise."

"I think it sounds kind of nice—"

"Are you just saying that to be disagreeable with me or do you really mean it?" She asked.

"I really mean it! It's not the kind of music I'd listen to everyday but it's nice to hear."

She shook her head. "So then what do you think of my music?"

Pitch let out a smart aleck chirp and he tapped him on the beak. "Err well…I haven't really listened to your music much."

"Well at least you can't say you hate it," she said in a low voice.

He looked over at her, for sure she had said something. "What did you say?"

"Nothing! Nothing at all…well I'm gonna have to perform for you when this is all said and done! What kind of music do you listen to?"

He laughed. "All kinds of music. I think the only kind I don't listen to are country and—hey, what's going on?" He asked as the festive music had came to a screeching halt but soon some other music started up, a loud and shrill sounding rock music. Pitch let out a horrified chirp and he nodded. "Man that is some awful music—"

"Those f***ers? It can't be!"

"Come again?" He asked as he tried in vain to cover his ears. She pulled his hands away and he grumbled. "That sort of defeats the purpose."

"Listen d***it! That f***ing song, it belongs to them!"

"Uh care to fill me in Roxie?"

She stomped her foot in the ground. "F***! That song belongs to this rival group of mine in the rock world, they call themselves the Rock and Squirtles."

"Soooo what? A group made of singing Squirtles and—"

"They often crash my concerts at times and a lot of their songs are covers of mine, they just demean me or just demean others! And everyone thinks they're a riot!"

He frowned. "Well they don't sound very nice but—" He didn't get to finish because she had already taken off for the street. He sighed and took out the Pokeball for Pitch, who wasn't at all pleased. He let out a string of angry chirps and Ethan shook his head. "No no no, enough of that. You've been out long enough and if there are battles ahead, Wiggler is more suited to them!"

Pitch chirped that he was perfectly capable of handling himself but Ethan wasn't gonna hear it. He summoned the bird back and let Wiggler out, who let out a loud squeak as he was released. Ethan ran past him and yelled at him to hurry up. "Come on, I'll explain later!"

He hurried down an alleyway, pushing and shoving his way through the throngs of people surrounding the street. For a bunch of concert crashers, the crowd didn't seem too displeased about it. In fact, he heard a lot of cheering going around. No one seemed to take to kindly to him pushing his way through and he felt himself pushed and shoved around as well. In fact, he got pushed and shoved around so much, he felt himself pushed back out of the alley. He dusted himself off and looked over at Wiggler. He flexed his muscle and Wiggler's eyes lit up. "Yep, I'm giving you the go ahead to flex those vocal cords and clear us a path!"

Wiggler hopped forward as he stepped back from the pink balloon. He sucked in a bunch of air before letting out with the most terrible, off tune and awful note you would ever hear! This was one of the variations of his Sing attack, the legendary one that could faint demigod Pokemon, legendaries and your normal, everyday garden variety…and everything in between. It only took a moment before the throngs of people before him collapsed and parted. He flashed a thumbs up to Wiggler as they ran through the crowd. He tried to leap over the roped off street but he didn't quite clear it and landed face first on the warm pavement.

"Hey, who just made that racket?"

It took him a few to regain his senses and he got to his feet. As he did, the shrill rock started back up and he grumbled. "Man I got up for this garbage?" He asked. He hurried around the large and colorful float, decorated like a tropical island. Each time the band struck a chord on the electric guitars, fireworks shot out of the makeshift palm tree tops and flew up into the sky, exploding in a shower of colors. Though it was too close for him to enjoy and sounded more like cannons going off over his head. He quickly ran around the float and came face to face with the band who had crashed the party.

As Roxie has said, there were Squirtle in the band, five of them in fact, each with a different style of shades and a different musical instrument. Standing in the back was a large Golem, manning an electronic keyboard and sat atop of him was one of the Elite Four members from Hoenn, Sidney. He was still sharply dressed but had ditched the small bit of hair atop his head for a bowler hat instead.

"Sidney? What are you—"

One of the Squirtles hit a loud tune on his guitar and Ethan stepped back as he covered his ears. "So are you the one who killed our music?"

"What, what are you talking about? Why are you crashing this festival?"

Sidney didn't answer him and the band began to play another one of their loud and shrill sounding songs. Ethan looked over at Wiggler and smiled. Wiggler hopped forward and countered Sidney's song with an awful tune of his own. Sidney shook his head as Wiggler finished. "So is this a battle of the bands? This isn't what I came here for but I never turn a battle down! Are you the only one? Not much of a battle then!"

Just then he heard the sound of loud drums being played behind them. He turned around to see another member of the Hoenn Elite Four, Phoebe. She was dressed in her traditional tropical outfit, flanked on both sides by a pair of ghost Pokemon playing some drums. One a Dusknoir and the other a Sableye. "Phoebe?"

"Hi! I couldn't just sit around and let you fight him all alone!" She yelled as the two ghosts pounded out a tune. "Phoebe at your service!"

"How touching, it's so nice to see my former Elite Four member in action! Do you have any other talent than looking pretty?"

"Wha-what?" She asked before he replied with another shrill sound from his band. Ethan hurried over to Phoebe and folded his arms.

"We're gonna have to do something about this guy."

"Well maybe voodoo—"

"What?" He said in surprise as he looked over at her. Phoebe smiled.

"Oh, not me. It's just I let the spirits take over and sometimes they—"

"I'm sorry I asked now," he said with a sigh. Seriously that sounded really weird, did she really just let the ghosts take over her body like that. "Do you really let them do that?"

"I trust the spirits!"

Wiggler let out a squeak, saying he wasn't too cool with this idea but he just pat him on the head. "Okay uh so—"

"How are you going to do a battle of the bands without me?" Roxie asked as she appeared. She dusted herself off and Phoebe glanced at her.

"Your friend?"

"Well I'm more—"

"Roxie, I think I have a plan. I don't know if that guy is still around here or not but he might be so here's what we're going to do…while me and Phoebe divert Sidney's attention with this battle of the bands, you and…Wiggler here, will go and search for that guy."

Roxie shot him a look and he sighed as he looked over at Phoebe. "Hold on just a minute," he said before he dragged her away somewhere private to explain.

"F***, there better be a good reason why I'm getting ditched for boobs here."

He sighed. "You aren't getting ditched. If you want to do the battle of the bands with Phoebe-"

She stuck a finger in his chest. "How about we do the battle of the bands together and let Phoebe investigate?"

He felt like rolling his eyes but that would only make her even more sour. "Roxie, she doesn't know anything about what is going on and do you think we have the time to explain everything to her?"

Roxie turned away, arms folded across her chest. "You're a f***ing fast talker, I'm sure you can explain it to her."

He put his hand on her shoulder but she seemed pretty annoyed still. "Look if you want to do the battle of the bands with her, I understand but I only suggested I do it because I figured you didn't want to blow your cover just yet."

"Yea but...are you sure that's your reason for it?"

"Yes that is the only reason Roxie. Stop worrying so much."

"I would if you weren't so f***ing friendly with girls so much," she said as she walked by him.

"Can you believe that guy?" Roxie asked Wiggler, who just gave her a confused look. She grumbled to herself before letting out her Koffing. "Look, can you talk with this guy? I can't understand a word he said!"

She turned away and looked over the edge of one of the buildings. Ethan had suggested they get a bird's eye view of the area while he was down below but so far she wasn't seeing the reason why she should be up here. "That little f***, I bet he's flirting all up with Phoebe and I'm-"

She didn't get to finished, interrupted by a loud roar. She turned and noticed a Salamence appear from a nearby building. Wiggler let out a worried squeak and her Koffing seemed a bit intimidated as well judging from its grunts. She grumbled. "You little babies, it's just a Salamence. We've beat them before."

"Yea but have you taken on this Salamence," said an older voice. Appearing behind the dragon, was a tall bald man, wearing a dark trench coat which blew in the wind. He took one hand out of his pocket and pet the dragon on its head.

"What's the f***ing difference? It's a Salamence, I know what they are weak against. You think I'm some sort of g****** idiot?"

He shook his head as he and the dragon exchanged amused looks. "You sure are a loudmouth, what's your name?"

"Roxie, f***er! And what business are you trying to pull? Have you been the one causing trouble here?"

He shrugged. "Sure, why not?"

What kind of answer was that? "Are you just f***ing with me? I gotta tell you, I don't take too kindly to people just f***ing with me! It makes me want to punch their lights out with my-"

"I'm not screwing with you. I have been causing the trouble here and here's another tidbit for you little girl, I kidnapped Roxanne and Roark."

Her jaw fell open. Why was he even admitting all of this? He had to be messing with her! "You...what? Why the f*** are you telling me all of this? Isn't this something you would want to keep to yourself? What the f*** are you thinking?"

He chuckled. "I dunno, that's for you to figure out."

"F*** that, I'm gonna capture you right here motherf***er and find out what you're up to."

He shrugged. "Well if you want to do things the hard way. I'm a gentleman so I'll let you get in the first shot."

She laughed. "You're gonna regret that one sucker. Koffing, nail that dragon with Sludge Bomb. Wiggler...do whatever."

Koffing let out a loud belching sound as it spewed up a large gob of toxic muck from its mouth. Most people were usually sickened by the sight of it but she found it lovely. Why did everyone have to hate poison Pokemon so much. The Salamence didn't exactly take it to the face and flew up in the air a bit, avoiding the attack all together. "Hey I thought you said I got the first shot?"

"I never said I would let you hit me, just you could get the first attack in."

Wiggler waddled forward and pointed his little limbs at his head as a bright aura glowed around his body. It took her a few moments to realize he was using Metronome but why in the f*** would he go for that? Why not for something that wasn't a roll of the dice?

"I'm not exactly going to sit here and just let you hit me now. Salamence!"

The guy's Salamence wove its bulky tail around as it shined like it was made of steel, before he swung it in Wiggler's direction. "Jump you stupid-" She yelled before Wiggler cut short his attack and hopped over the dragon's tail. "Man you're about as dense as your owner."

Wiggler turned to glare at her, leaving himself wide open and the guy didn't let that opportunity pass. "Salamence, show them the business."

"Wait, the what? Koffing, use tackle!" She yelled. Her Koffing flew past her, aiming directly for the dragon's head. The Salamence saw it all the way and blasted Koffing with a blast of fire from its throat. The blow knocked the Pokemon out in an instant and her eyes grew wide. "Koffing!"

"Salamence isn't a slouch and you'd be wise to consider that."

She summoned Koffing back and took out another Pokeball. "I don't have to consider jack, only that I'm gonna take you down and hard!"

Wiggler suddenly jumped in front of her before unleashing a stream of ice in Salamence's direction. It hit the dragon before it could move and it let out a loud roar from the pain. It turned its head and growled at Wiggler. "The infamous Wigglytuff."

"Infamous? How the f*** can something like this be infamous?"

He chuckled. "So do you live under a Graveler or something?" He asked with a sneer. She stuck her tongue at him and he chuckled. "Our dear friend Gold has made a reputation in the crime world with his unorthodox team, led by this puffball."

"Stop treating me like I'm nothing!"

"You are nothing, I just beat your Pokemon in one move."

"How do you know the other Pokemon aren't even tougher?"

He yawned and gave her a smug look, a look she wanted to wipe off his face. Hopefully with her fist. "You mother-"

"But it seems like Sidney's act is all about wrapped up so it's time for me to shove off."

"You aren't leaving anywhere! Come back here!"

The Salamence suddenly leapt forward, landing nearby. It swatted Wiggler out of the way before leaning forward and growling in her face. She stumbled backwards and landed on her butt as it loomed over her. He appeared next to it and patted it on the back. "You know what Salamence enjoys for a meal? Pokemon. Especially ones from rash and foolish trainers like yourself who think just because they beat all the little kinds on the playground, that they're hot stuff. Then once they run into someone who knows their stuff, they crumble," he said. He looked toward the sky and laughed.

"I'm not just-"

"And then to sink the dagger further into their hearts, to show how useless they really are, old Salamence here enjoys a heart meal of living Pokemon."

"You don't really do that!"

"Salamence are known for being very violent Pokemon. It's how they are, the spent years and years, enduring hardships and trials to finally gain their wings and they don't get that way by being nice and sweet! They get there by fighting and clawing their way to the top. And sometimes I treat him with a healthy meal of trainers."

"Wh-what?"

He reached up and patted him on the head. "Salamence isn't picky, he'll eat Pokemon and humans if he so chooses. I don't limit his choices. You might be a bit bony but I'm sure he'll deal with that."

"Roxie? Roxie, what's going on up here?" Ethan said. Her beating heart began to slow down a bit and the man chuckled as he hopped onto his Salamence.

"Another time then perhaps!" He said, just as the dragon lifted up into the air. "Oh, I'm sure you'll be needing this to free your music buddies! They're locked up in this building here!" He yelled as he dropped a couple of keys down before he disappeared into the sky. A few minutes later, Ethan hauled himself onto the roof.

"Oh there you are! I'm sorry it took so long but Crystal and Lyra showed up and we were able to put an end to Sidney's act, so I decided to come up here...are you okay?"

"Okay? Okay? I'm just f***ing peachy." She said as she slumped to the ground. She felt his hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him. "Are you taking pity on me or something?"

He sighed. "You look you had a rough fight and I was trying to comfort you."

She blushed. "Oh...ahhh but why the f*** are you doing that?"

He and Wiggler shared a look and he sighed.

"So do you plan to explain yourself?" Crystal asked as the three of them stood around the sitting Sidney. She had been able to sweet talk the police into letting them question him and Ethan still wasn't sure how she did it.

Sidney shook his head. "No way toots-"

"My name isn't Toots, it's Crystal! Crystal, the expert detective from New Bark Town!"

"Detective? May I see your badge?" Sidney asked with an amused look on his face.

She ignored him and sat down in the chair facing him. She crossed her legs and began looking over the papers she had. "Well Sidney, I have a bunch of questions I want to ask you so we'll get the minor ones out of the way first. First off, who are you working for?"

That was a minor question? He looked over at Roxie, who could only shake her head.

"Who do I work for? I work for myself. Why would I work for anyone else?"

"You lie worse than you play the guitar!" Crystal yelled.

"How do you know? You didn't even listen to me play the guitar, you just pulled my plug! I'm trying to take it to the man and you-"

"I'm asking the questions here! So...we'll come back to that question later. Next, who was that bald guy on the roofs?"

Sidney gave her a dumb look. "Bald guy? There are a lot of bald guys at my concerts, you expect me to pick out a single-"

"A bald guy with a Salamence!"

He shrugged and folded his arms. "Toots, like I said, I don't know what you're talking about."

"So basically he paid you to keep your mouth shut," Ethan said.

"I did get paid a nice sum to crash the fun but that was someone else."

"Who was it?" Crystal asked.

Sidney shrugged. "Sorry Toots, I don't go around and outing my clients, especially when you get paid the dough I get."

"Why do you wear such terrible outfits on stage? Don't you know that pink is in season, especially for guys? I could hook you up with some-"

"Lyra, I'm asking the questions here!" Crystal yelled, cutting her short mid pitch.

"It's like the f***ing cops and Team Rocket in this place," Roxie whispered in his ear. While he wouldn't go that far, Crystal really wasn't doing a good job of questioning him. And there was still the serious questions she hadn't asked. "Is this what you have to put up with?"

"Yes."

"I see that you won't abide by my requests so it's time to get down to the nitty gritty, the soul searching questioning where I descend deep into your psyche and-"

"So you're a psychologist now?"

"Ethan, you're not helping!"

"And just what about the serious questioning?"

"I'm getting to that! Geez, why are you always trying to rush me! I thought you were supposed to be the laid back one?"

"I am but I don't think we're getting anywhere with these-"

"Now then Sidney, it's time we got down to business. Enough of these softball questions, time to throw some real hardballs."

He smiled. "Good, I'm tired of swatting all your softballs into the bleachers. Snorlax put in more effort then-"

"Then shut your yappers and answer my questions Sidney! First off, do you know the Muffin Man?"