Out on the field, Gary, Ritchie, Melody, Bianca, Lati and Shauntal all watch Lucian help Mia train with her Pokemon. Ashana stands with Lucian as his Bronzong lifts up several rocks into the air using its psychic energy. Mia stands with some of her Pokemon; Beautifly, Aggron, Flygon, Altaria, Whiscash, Milotic, Absol and Mawile. The rocks start to spin and whirl around in the air in front of the group.

"Alright guys," Mia tells them all as the rocks spin faster. "Get ready."

Lucian raises his hand for a moment then drops it. "Begin!"

"Fire!" Mia orders her Pokemon

All of her Pokemon unleash their long range attacks or closest equivalent, destroying several of the flying rocks. Some attacks missed, some were too weak, some rocks broke apart into even more targets to hit. They kept going until there were only pebbles left.

"Stop!" Lucian calls out. "Phase 2!"

Mia's Pokemon stop attacking as Bronzong brings up more rocks and surrounds Mia and her Pokemon.

"Now!" Lucian yells.

The rocks close in on them, Mia's Pokemon protect themselves with melee attacks and defensive measures. Mia herself covers her face from debris but does her best to watch her Pokemon.

"Stop!" Lucian tells his Pokemon.

Bronzong halts its assault and Mia's Pokemon relax their guard.

Mia wipes her forehead from sweat. "Phew."

"Did you see what you were looking for?" Lucian asks as he walks over.

"Yeah, that just makes it harder to choose."

"I don't think this is an effective way to pick your Pokemon," Shauntal provides critique. "All your Pokemon did well, and I imagine the rest of your Pokemon will do the same."

"I think you're right," Mia thinks. "I need to figure out another way."

"Stop making excuses for yourself," a mean voice rang the air. The voice belonged to a mysterious traveler, wearing blueish hoodie with a large hood shadowing the top half of his face, but dirty purpleish bangs can be seen.

"You're here," Ritchie

"I'm not surprised that you'd lose again, Weakest Champion."

"Ugh," Ritchie groaned.

"Who are you?" Mia asks.

"Just a travelling Pokemon Trainer," the trainer answers. "I challenge only the strongest trainers, and I know you're going to battle the World Champion Master."

"So you're here to battle me, is that it?"

"It was."

"Was?"

"You're not ready to battle against the World Champion. You're not worth my time."

"What?" Mia's voice raised up while her Pokemon bring up their guard. "Are you saying my Pokemon aren't strong enough?"

"It's not your Pokemon that's the problem," the trainer pointed his finger at her. "It's you."

Mia grits her teeth and clenches her fists. Ashana steps in front of them. Absol calmly walks past Ashana and glares at the trainer.

"I see," the trainer notices something in Absol's eyes. "I guess I'll challenge you after all."

Absol lets out a wail telling Mia that she wants to take this fight.

"Absol?"

Ashana walks up to Absol and they converse. Ashana nods and walks back to Mia.

"Alright," Mia acknowledges Absol.

Ritchie starts walking forward, but Lucian extends his arm to stop him. "Let me, there's something I'd like to see."

"It'll be a one on one battle, agreed?" the trainer laid down the conditions.

"Yeah," Mia nods. "Is there something we can call you?"

"Since you're preparing for battle against the World Champion, call me Dash."

"Dash?" Mia raised her eyebrow. "Who are you really?"

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Dash pulls out a Pokeball. "Ursaring! Stand by for battle."

"Fine, have it your way."

"Then it's agreed," Lucian calls out. "This will be a one on one battle between Mia and her Absol against Dash and Ursaring! Trainers ready?"

Mia gets into a ready stance, "Ready Absol?"

Absol barks in reply and goes into a stance.

Dash just stays silent while his Ursaring growls.

"Let the battle begin!" Lucian signals.

"Ursaring! Focus Blast!"

"Dodge it and use Night Slash!"

Absol avoids the energy blast, charging forward her horn glows.

"Counter with Slash," Dash orders.

The two attacks collide, slicing through the air. Absol uses her speed to come in at all angles. Ursaring manages to defend itself.

"Your Pokemon are strong enough on their own," Dash says. "They don't need you holding them back."

"What are you talking about? If anything we're working together!"

"Are you really? Block," Dash calmly tells his Pokemon.

Ursaring blocks, halting Absol's movement.

"Now Hammer Arm," Dash follows up.

"Use Detect!" Mia calls out.

Absol sees Ursaring's arm coming, land her feet onto and kicks off with his momentum, creating a considerable distance between them.

"Bulk Up," Dash speaks and Ursaring powers up.

"Swords Dance!" Mia tells her Absol, spiritual swords appear around Absol. "Now Night Slash again!"

"Take the hit, and Hammer Arm."

Absol slashes Ursaring across the chest, the bear withstood the attack and countered with a brightly glowing arm. Absol is sent flying.

"Absol!" Mia cries out.

"You panicked," Dash notes. "Knowing that Bulk Up increases both attack and defense, you thought to increase your attack and use your Absol's speed to hit hard first, but you underestimated Ursaring's strength. Now your Pokemon is paying for it."

Mia watches as the bear walks over her downed Pokemon. Ursaring stomps closer and closer.

["Sis!" a very young Mia runs over to her fallen Eevee. "Are you okay Sis?" She holds the Eevee tight as the shadow of a large menacing Pokemon draws near.]

"Ah!" Mia's arm glows and causes pain, she drops onto one knee holding her arm.

"Hm?" Dash watches carefully, noticing the glow.

"What is that?" Bianca asks.

"I don't know," Melody answers.

Shauntal stays silent, observing intensely.

As the pain and the glow subside, Mia looks at the battlefield, Absol is struggling to get up as Ursaring stands over her.

"Finish it," Dash commands. "Hammer Arm."

Ursaring's arm glows, raising it above its head ready to bring it down on the defenseless Absol.

[The Pokemon looms above them with a menacing glow in its eyes as it readies to attack. "Sis!" Ione holds Eevee tighter.]

"Absol!" Mia calls out then shuts her eyes.

Absol jumps the attack at the last moment. Absol comes down with her horn glowing, she slashes Ursaring across the chest, causing it to stumble back a bit.

Mia opens her eyes. Absol, are you alright?

Absol nods.

"Synching," Dash comments. "It gives your Pokemon a power boost, but it's not enough. Ursaring! Slash!"

Detect!

Absol dodges Ursaring's wild and fast swings and creates distance between them.

Future Sight!

"Sooooool!" Absol's eyes glow pink and return to normal.

"Focus Blast," Dash commands.

Just stay back for now.

Absol jumps away from the blast.

Like that, we just need to wait for Future Sight and- "Aaah!" Mia feels a sudden sense of pain in her head, she holds her head tight.

"What's going on?" Bianca wonders.

"Feedback," Ritchie answers. "It happens when a synching trainer and a Pokemon aren't in tune with each other."

"It's even harsher on Mia because of her natural ability to synch with any Pokemon," Lucian adds.

"What are you saying?" Mia says out loud. "You want to attack? We can't. He's too powerful to attack directly. Trust you? I do but…"

"Now Ursaring," Dash interrupts. "Focus Blast, to the… left."

Ursaring fires off an energy sphere according to his trainer's directions. A purple blast materializes out of nowhere and crashes into Focus Blast.

"What?"

"I've been through a lot of battles," Dash explains. "If you had kept up your attack, I wouldn't have been able to anticipate Future Sight."

Mia stands silently.

"Ursaring, use Slash!"

Ursaring rushes forward with claws ready.

Absol use Dete- "Ah!" A sudden pain interrupts Mia. "The link… broke?"

Absol rushes forward with her horn glowing.

"Absol!" Mia calls out.

Absol and Ursaring exchange attacks.

"What are you trying to tell me Absol?"

XXX

"Is she going to be alright Nurse Joy?" Mia asks the Pokemon Center lady.

"She'll be just fine," Nurse Joy answers. "It a good thing you brought her to us, she was really hurt. I'd hate to think what would've happened if you didn't."

"Thank goodness."

"Where did you find her?"

"In the mountain road not too far from here."

"That's a major road for delivery vehicles coming into town."

"You got that right!" A rough man speaks up. "That Absol has been annoying anyone passing through. We tried chasing it away, but no one in town wanted to hurt it like that."

"Do you know why the Absol kept showing up there?" Mia asks.

"Nobody knows," the man shrugs. "It hasn't hurt anyone, it just keeps bothering people that pass through that road. I guess someone got really fed up with it."

"Hmm…" Mia thinks to herself. "Well, it should be fine now. I need to go and challenge the Lavaridge Gym."

"I need to make a delivery there tomorrow," the rough man tells her. "But it's too late in the day to start driving there. If you want to rest here tonight I can drive you there tomorrow morning."

XXX

"What's going on here?" the rough man gets out his truck to see a cluster of traffic jam on the road. "A jam? This early in the morning?"

"I don't think so," Mia gets out and sees a crowd in front. "Something's happening up there." Mia and Ashana jog ahead. "Excuse me, what's happening?"

"There's an Absol that's causing problems," someone answers. "It's not letting anyone through."

"An Absol?" Mia pushes forward, hearing the sounds of battle. "Did it escape from the Pokemon Center?" Making her way to the front, she sees Absol battling three trainer's Pokemon. Absol manages to redirect one mon's attack into another mon and then finish off the 3rd mon itself.

"Return!" the trainers call back their Pokemon. "It can't have much energy left, let's finish it!"

Absol and Mia's eyes meet for a moment, they stare at each other intently.

"Jol!" Ashana cries at Mia.

"I know," Mia closes her eyes. Absol… let me help you…

XXX

"No way!" several trainers lay defeated. "How is that Absol so strong?!"

"It's like it's been trained," one of them noted. "There's no way a wild Pokemon could battle this many trainers."

"It's not over yet!" another batch of trainers walked up. "Let's go."

"Wait!" someone cries out. "Do you hear that?"

The crowd rustles around, there was a loud rumbling sound in the air.

"Over there!" one of them pointed to the mountain ahead.

A large chunk of mountain collapses, it was an enormous landslide. It seemed as though the entire side of the mountain was falling down. After minutes of panic and awe, the massive landslide finally stops.

Quietly, the Absol leaves the shocked crowd.

XXX

"Hey," Mia greets a resting Absol in a grassy field. "Everyone's looking for you."

Absol doesn't respond. Mia and Ashana sits down next to her.

"You saved their lives, and they know it. They want to apologize and thank you."

Absol still doesn't answer.

"You're really something, you know. You fought against all those trainers, even though their Pokemon were pretty strong and they outnumbered you. Were you scared?"

Absol placed her paw on Mia's lap.

"You were scared," Mia smiles, stroking Absol's paw. "But that's okay, you held your ground and battled them all. Because there's something important you needed to do."

Absol looks up at Mia.

"That's why I'm here. You're a strong Pokemon, so I want to catch you. Will you battle me?"

Absol nods, then gets up to walk to another part of the field.

"Let's go Sis," Mia gets up with Ashana. "This isn't going to be easy. So let's give it all we've got!"

XXX

"Absol…" Mia closes her eyes. Let's do this. Together.

"Sol!" Absol nods and smirks.

Absol charges forward using Night Slash, pushing back Ursaring.

Dash watches silently until Ursaring's guard is broken and Absol readies for another blow. "Now! Hammer Arm!"

Detect!

Absol jumps away from Ursaring's incoming attack.

Now Future Sight!

"Absoool!"

"I don't think so! Focus Blast!"

Ursaring roars, it fires off an energy orb at Absol. Absol finishes preparing her attack but could not get way from the attack and is engulfed in an explosion.

"AAAHHH!" Mia feels pain all over her body, she drops to one knee, panting. Now! Swords Dance!

Absol blows away the smoke by calling forth spiritual swords into itself.

"Ursaring! Bulk Up!" Dash commands.

Ursaring strengthens itself up.

"Now Slash!"

Let's do this! With everything we have! Night Slash!

The two Pokemon furiously exchange blows once again. The damage that Absol took earlier slows it down enough for Ursaring to keep up.

Mia knows that they need a decisive blow, Absol can't last much longer. However she notices Ursaring having difficulty guarding its lower body. Absol! The legs!

Absol dashes away for a moment, readying itself for another charge.

"Hammer Arm! Aim low! On my signal" Dash calls out.

Ursaring raises one arm above its head.

This is it. GO!

Absol dashes forward, keeping low to the ground. Her horn glows brilliantly.

"Now!" Dash orders.

Ursaring brings the arm down, Absol swings her head. The two attacks clash. Absol and Ursaring growl and roar to push each other back. Absol's Future Sight appears behind Absol and slams into Ursaring's face causing it to stumble back and get hit by a rising Night Slash.

One more time!

"Ursaring, your other arm, attack!"

Absol jumps ready to take another swing, Ursaring finds his footing and swings his arm. Both attacks hit.

"Gwak!" Mia nearly crumbles over, holding her gut.

Absol is sent flying away, her body crashes onto the ground. Ursaring stumbles around for a moment, then it gives out a triumphant roar to the skies before falling backwards, knocked out.

"Both Pokemon are unable to battle!" Lucian calls out. "This match is a draw!"

"Uncle," Mia says softly. "Absol fell first."

"It was called a draw and that's what it is," Dash tells her as he calls back his Pokemon. "But keep this in mind, this is the kind of power that the World Champion Master has, if you can't match that, then just give up." Dash starts to walk away.

"Hold on," Mia calls out, causing Dash to stop. "Before my match with Ash, will you battle me again?"

"You're not withdrawing your challenge?" Dash asks.

"No," Mia shakes her head. "There's something I need to do. And I'm going to fight. Even if he's too strong for me, even if I have no course but to lose. My whole journey was for this chance, I can't just give up now."

"Hmph," Dash silently waves a hand, then walks off.

After some distance, Mia collapses.

"Mary!" Lucian rushes over. "She's exhausted. Her sync with Absol must've been very strong to drain her this much."

"Will she be okay?" Bianca asks.

"She just needs rest," Lucian answers. "And perhaps a doctor to look into the damage she took. How's Absol?"

"Absol's completely knocked out," Melody reports. "But she'll be fine with some treatment and rest."

"That's good to hear," Lucian says as he picks up Mia. "Let's go Ashana. Ritchie, can you get Absol, please?"

"Sure."

"And Gary, can you take care of her other Pokemon?"

"On it, I'll calm them down and have them roaming around for the rest of the day."

"Thanks, I don't think Mary will be in any condition to train again today."

Shauntal watches everyone head back to the hotel, thinking to herself. "There was definitely some story going on between Absol and Mia. But what was that light in Mia's arm? And that Dash, it seems like he knows Ash. Ooooh the mysteries are piling up! I hope she'll be willing to share it with me soon."

XXX

Author: So, that's one Pokemon down XD. What's really funny is that originally my choices for Mia's team included Milotic, however when writing this chapter I started to lean towards adding Absol to the team. So I had to think about who to cut out, unfortunately Milotic was it. Mainly because the backstory I was thinking of for it wasn't that great (essentially just Mia trying to capture a shiny Pokemon, a wild Feebas jumps into the Pokeball, and it evolves in a Team Comet situation).