Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Pokemon or any of the characters, except the OC Greg Grassman.

Author's note: Something I forgot to make clear in this story: Greg has shoulder length straight blonde hair and gray eyes. He wears clothes similar to the Gold/Silver/Crystal male player (apart from the hat), except they're mostly green and black.

Chapter 8: Holy shit, I'm psychic.

One month later, at the Blackthorn City Gym:

"Alright." Ash cheered, while holding up a small piece of metal shaped like a dragon's face. "I got…the Rising Badge!"

Somewhere in the vicinity, Pikachu could also be heard cheering.

Greg walked up to the Gym Leader slowly. "Um…Clair?" he asked hesitantly.

Clair turned to the boy. "Yeah, what is it?"

"Well, I was wondering, could we maybe have an unofficial battle now?" Greg asked. "I never really got to fight in a Gym, and I wanted to see what it's like."

Clair thought over the boy's suggestion for a moment. "I don't really see why not." She finally replied. "Granted, some of my Pokemon can't fight right now, but I have others that I could use." She smiled. "Ok, kid, let's battle."

Several minutes later:

"This unofficial battle between Clair the Gym Leader and Greg Grassman from Cianwood Island will now begin. Each trainer may use two Pokemon. The battle ends when all of either trainer's Pokemon are unable to battle. Begin!" The referee said.

"Ok, Dragonite, let's go." Clair exclaimed, throwing a PokeBall, from which came a big orange dragon. "As far as rare Pokemon go, my Dragonite is the rarest one I've ever seen."

"Then allow me to make your day." Greg smirked. "Celebi, you're on!" He threw a Luxury Ball with a leaf sticker on it.

Both the judge and the Gym Leader stared in shock at the green Pokemon hovering on Greg's side of the field.

Damn, this might be hard to win, Clair thought, then asked "Um, Greg, question. Did you ever lose a battle before?"

Greg smiled. "Lose? No, but I did once tie with Ash." He motioned to the boy on the sidelines. Ash waved.

Ok, might as well give it my all, The dragon user thought. "Dragonite, Ice Beam!" she yelled.

A sudden thought struck Greg. "Hmmm, time to try something new." He muttered, then thought to himself, Celebi, dodge and use Shadow Ball.

Celebi faltered visibly, turned back to its trainer with a look of shock, and then, to everyone's astonishment, evaded the Ice Beam and tossed a ball of dark energy at Dragonite.

Clair was too astounded by what happened to even notice Dragonite getting hit. The dragon grunted in pain but stood its ground.

"What was that supposed to be?" the surprised Gym Leader asked her opponent. "Did Celebi attack by itself?"

Greg chuckled. "No. Celebi and I can communicate mentally, although this is the first time I actually used that ability in battle."

Great, Clair thought. Make this even harder for me, why don't you?

Now, Celebi, use Psychic, Greg commanded his Pokemon.

Clair could only watch helplessly as blue energy enveloped Dragonite and slammed him repeatedly into the ground.

"Dragonite, try to break free. Use Dragon Rage!" Clair yelled. If I'm right, then Greg will order his Celebi to use Shadow Ball now. Then again, there's no telling what happening inside that mind of his.

Meanwhile, in Greg's mind: Celebi, Teleport and Solarbeam. Just like we practiced.

Clair watched as Celebi began absorbing sunlight and smiled. The loading time of a Solarbeam meant that Celebi was temporarily vulnerable.

"Dragonite, Hyper Beam! Finish it before that Solarbeam is ready!" Clair shouted.

Dragonite released a thick stream of orange energy straight at Celebi, but the Pokemon disappeared moments before the attack would hit.

"What the…" Clair trailed off as she saw Celebi reappear far from its previous place, still collecting sunlight.

"One of the first things I taught Celebi is how to use Teleport effortlessly. Celebi can now use Teleport almost subconsciously, kind of like we breathe. We do it, but we don't think about it." Greg explained. Now, Celebi, finish it.

Clair started as Celebi disappeared again, then jumped in shock when Celebi appeared between her and Dragonite and fired a stream of solar energy at the dragon's back. She closed her eyes when she heard the ominous thud of a heavy body hitting the ground.

"Dragonite is unable to battle. Celebi wins." The referee announced. "Will the Gym Leader please choose her last Pokemon."

Clair sighed. "Ok, Gyarados, let's go." She said, releasing the huge bad-tempered Pokemon into the lake on the field.

"I think I'll switch my Pokemon too." Greg said, recalling Celebi and taking a Luxury Ball with a thunderbolt sticker. "Raikou, you're on!"

"Gyarados, start things off with twister." Clair told her Pokemon.

"Dodge, Raikou." Greg said. "I wonder…" he trailed off, then thought: Raikou, use Thunderbolt.

Raikou's eyes widened upon hearing Greg's voice inside its head, but it sent a bolt of electricity at Gyarados regardless.

Oh, not again, Clair groaned, then ordered Gyarados to dodge and dive.

Greg stared in wonder at Raikou. "Holy shit, I'm psychic!" he suddenly exclaimed. "This is awesome!" He then attempted to run out and proclaim the news to the world, but failed when he crashed into the gym door and knocked himself unconscious.

Clair, Gyarados, Raikou, Celebi, Ash, Pikachu, Brock, Misty, and the referee all sweatdropped.

"Well, you gotta admit." Ash said after a small pause. "That was definitely interesting to watch." He motioned to the unconscious Greg.

Everybody cracked up. Greg chose that moment to return to the world of the living.

"What's so funny?" he asked, puzzled.

"You!" they all howled at the same time.

A few minutes later:

Raikou, use Thunder on the water, Greg mentally commanded his Pokemon.

Clair didn't get a chance to yell a counter-command before the electricity illuminated the water and a fainted Gyarados floated up to the surface.

"Gyarados is unable to battle." The referee said. "The Gym Leader is out of Pokemon. Victory goes to Greg Grassman from Cianwood Island."

"Goddamn it." Clair muttered. "I don't get good challengers for years, then suddenly two show up at once, and one of them has Legendary Pokemon and psychic powers. This was so not my day."

To Ash and Greg she said: "Nice work, both of you. Ash, good luck in the Johto League. Greg, your abilities will help you in whatever path you choose, so you don't need luck. Take care, all of you."

Outside of the gym, moments later:

"So, Brock." Greg asked the older boy. "Where are we headed now?"

"I know where you are headed." An unknown voice stated. "And that is with me."

The group started is surprise and turned towards a shadowy figure standing behind them.

"Nice to see you again, Grassman." The mysterious man greeted Greg.

"Hello." Greg replied without any trace of emotion in his voice. "Giovanni."