After Jack returned to consciousness, he found that Lappe and Forrest were both still well and unharmed. Forrest had released his Pokemon from their balls and were helping to wall off the city from Viridian. Officer Jenny had returned and was directing the injured away from the forest and off towards the Pokemon Center, her Arcanine had been fitted with a special saddle with two hammocks on each side for carrying away those who were injured to the point of immobility. The Pokemon flew between the forest and the Pokemon Center at amazing speeds yet still being as light as a feather, only barely touching the ground as it passed. Innocent people and Pokemon alike were hurried away and out of the forest and towards the Pokemon Center. Through the trees, Jack could see the outlines of glowing eyes - a great number of Pokemon were still loyal to the Republic in this area regardless of what amount of danger they'd been put in from the haphazard bombing.

"How long was I out for?" Jack walked over to where Lappe was sitting, rubbing the bump on his head caused by the flying rubble earlier on.

"At least two hours." Lappe looked down into his lap as he bit his lip. "Forrest was out for about an hour. When he came to, he immediately jumped into action. He sent a Sudowoodo of his off into the forest to retrieve Jenny who seems to have been seriously injured by a swarm of Ratticate… though I guess she's recovered… I had a lot of free time so I spoke to Nurse Joy and she said the policewoman hasn't fully recovered, but refused not to pitch in and help secure the city." The Pokemon fell silent for a moment as he looked off at the wall nearing its completion. "Joy said that the bones in Jenny's arm are completely crushed, almost to dust… it's unlikely that she'll be able to keep it, and yet here she is helping out in whatever way she can… I'm so fucking useless man, it's not even funny."

Jack wrapped his arm around the Pokemon and squeezed it tightly into his chest as they both began to cry silently. "It's okay man… I was afraid that I'd lost you…"

Lappe chuckled in between tears. "Don't think that I'm as weak as you dipshit. Even the weakest of us Pokemon has skin hundreds of times thicker than yours. A little exploding Pokemon or building isn't enough to do us in."

Jack laughed back, "I know, it's just… I'm glad you're still here. I wouldn't really know what to do if I lost you as well, y'know?"

The Pokemon nodded its head but remained quiet as it wiped the tears from its eyes. Jack stared off at the Gym Leader as he and his Pokemon worked together to move rocks of all sizes from one side of the city to the other. Pokemon from all over town had joined in to help in the efforts, but their trainers were constantly being warned and scolded by Jenny for getting too close to the barricade. If there were another attack, the Pokemon would be fine to get healed at the Pokemon Center, but the people of the city just weren't built the same. The elderly lady who'd been watering plants beside the police station slowly walked up to Lappe and Jack and sat down next to them.

"War is a frightening thing. I'd hoped I'd never have to live through another of them, but in this world it's nearly inevitable. If it's not one thing, then it's the other, you understand?"

The woman smiled halfheartedly at Jack as he nodded his head and turned away from her. He wondered if she'd already forgotten the day before when Lappe had badmouthed her. The boy watched the woman from the corner of his eye, noticing as she sat there that there was a Pokeball resting atop her cane.

"Is that a Pokeball?"

"Yes dear."

"So you were a trainer?"

"I suppose you could put it that way." The woman laughed softly as she leaned back and put her head in the grass. "At one time I was a very powerful trainer, at another a scientist, a soldier, a monster…" the woman closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "I've been many a thing in my life, and all of them have revolved around Pokemon. Some of the things I've done have been through my own power, but your friend reminded me of something just yesterday. In this world, we may pretend to have power of the creatures we call Pokemon, but we are truly subject to them. We are graced with the gift of life in this world which should otherwise be solely inhabited by them. When the very God who created all that you see around you is a Pokemon, some doubts should start to spread… but the youngin's these days play at being oblivious towards those facts. It's no wonder that Pokemon wants a revolution…"

"Are you saying that… you think what the Republic is doing is right?"

The woman laughed so hard that she began to choke and cough. She held a rag up to her lips and coughed even harder as she sat up from the ground. As she pulled the rag away, spots of blood could see staining the fabric which was once pure white. Her hand began to shake as she wiped her tongue across her lips and folded the rag back up, placing it in her pocket.

"No, these kinds of attacks are not right. However, I do see where they're coming from. Which is why I've resigned myself to staying here ever since the day they founded that organization."

Jack stared at the woman as she stood up and brushed off her dress. "What do you mean by that? You've resigned yourself to staying here?"

"I've looked forward to retirement for so many years my child. I've seen so many faces, heard so many stories, known so many people… All I wanted was to move on, to forget those people and the things that they've said to me, the things that I've done… This is my retirement. Having just recently given up my position, it's only natural that I'd take over at least some of the duties of the one taking my place isn't it? Besides, so long as I'm here, nobody would dare to attack this place."

The elderly woman pulled an old photograph from her pocket, something that looked like a family picture. Jack stood up and continued to look at the woman until his eyes drifted down alongside hers towards the photo of a somewhat younger version of her, two teenage boys in red and blue, a much younger woman, two younger looking men and an older gentleman nearly the same age as her. Out of all the people pictured, the elderly man and the boy in blue seemed to spark something within Jack.

"Do I… do I know those two from somewhere?" The boy reached out his hand absentmindedly towards the picture, hoping to take a better look at it.

The elderly woman replaced the photo in her dress and smiled at the boy. "It's the youth who will lead the world in the times to come my child. We old people have already had our adventures. You must become stronger if you're going to do what your father could not Jack."

"Jack!" Forrest called out from the wall which was entering its final stages.

The elderly woman smiled at the duo and then turned away, slowly making her way back towards her house. Forrest rushed over to where Jack was still standing, completely confused by what had just gone on.

"Jack, I'm glad to see you're finally awake." Forrest was drenched in sweat and his clothes had been torn to shreds so that only shorts and shoes remained. "It's hard work moving these stones you know? It's actually a good thing you didn't get to leave yet though, I've got something for you." The leader held out his hand, an envelope stained yellow with sweat placed in it. "I'd forgotten all about it earlier after our battle. After you showed me your strength, I knew I had to make some sort of preparations for your journey ahead. While were fighting, I'd already been taken by the idea of sending a letter over to Kris in Cerulean City to up her effort in the fight against you. But since you're here, it's probably easier to just let you have it. I added a few more things in there from what I'd originally intended… given the situation we're in now I thought it was necessary."

"Forrest…" Jack looked at the leader's hand and then back over to the elderly woman struggling to make her way up the very slight incline back to her house. "Who is that old lady?"

"That? That's old Aggy, why do you ask?"

Jack shook his head. "She talked to me, but I didn't really understand. It was all really vague, but she knew my name for some reason."

"Hmm, well, Aggy's been around as long as I can remember. The past few years she's been giving Brock some sort of special training, but I never really found out for what. All I know is that she's extremely powerful, but in her old age it's really hard for her to get out and do things so she more or less just keeps a watchful eye over things around here. We used to have a really bad infestation of Team Rocket members in the area after they were disbanded the first time. I heard she dealt with them pretty handily, but I never got to see since that was when Brock decided to take me to Cinnabar for my first fossil."

"So, you don't really know her story then…"

"Not really. I mean, she's strong and she's been protecting this town for a long time so I welcome the help. I'm not really one to pry into people's business anyways. If she wants to talk to you, I'm sure she'd be able to find you regardless of where you are though."

"I see."

"Yeah, well, anyways you really should be moving on. There's no telling when the Republic will be making their next move, so you need to gain as much strength as possible for the time being. Also, learn to put more energy into your battles. Lappe is a pretty strong Pokemon, but we can only get so far with our strength as individuals. Where people and Pokemon truly become powerful is in teamwork." Forrest looked behind him and grinned widely. "Just look at that wall over there! Prime example!" The leader giggled uncontrollably as he ran over to one of Graveler and slapped its hand before pulling it into a strong embrace.

"Teamwork huh?" Jack whispered. "Lappe, how do you think we should work together? Half the time it's hard for me to really follow your movements anyways, so I don't really know what I could do to help… but…" an image of Jack's mother flashed across his mind and he began to chew on his nail as he grew worried.

Lappe jumped onto his friend's back and placed his hand on top of the boy's head. "Don't worry man. I kinda like doin' my own thing anyways. Like that old lady said, Pokemon are the strong ones. If you tried to help out I think you'd only really get in the way and confuse the shit outta me." The Pokemon began to chuckle lightly as it placed its head against Jack's.

The boy frowned and then sighed. "Yeah well, don't get too ahead of yourself. That was still just the first trial and we only won because Forrest was distracted." The image of Jack's mom lingered in the back of his head as he spoke to his friend. "We have to get stronger, no matter the means…"

Lappe looked worriedly at the sky and then nodded his head. "Whatever the means… hmph."