A/N- All right, here's where things start getting interesting and I have to admit that I had a lot of fun writing this one. I will go ahead and let you guys know that any OCs I haven't introduced will not be appearing for the next few chapters. I have my reasons, so sit tight and enjoy the show until then.

(I'm always anywhere from 6-10 chapters ahead of what I submit. For example, if I publish chapter 7, I already have the skeleton for chapter 13 written and so on and so forth. This prevents development hell and writers' block, plus having the story already planned out makes updating easy and not a taxing chore. I already know how the first story in the trilogy is going to end, connecting the dots to get to said ending is the challenging part)


Mason's boat continued skating in the sea as the group and their respective pokemon enjoyed themselves. Poochyena was curled up, asleep on the deck, Shroomish was playing with Zuli, Bella and Sunny. Zeno, Mat's Medicham, was meditating at the top of the boat, maintaining perfect balance. Kakuna did all he could do, which of course was staying put and doing absolutely nothing. Mat and K.R. sat in lawn chairs, watching their pokemon play. K.R. especially was taking in a lot of sun. A tan wasn't on the agenda considering how dark he already was. Looking at Mason however, K.R. saw that he had to be in the sun a lot considering his evened out tan. He was nowhere as dark as K.R. but, he was well on his way. The tan lotion on his nose could fool a small child into think he dipped his face into some vanilla ice cream. His blue collared shirt was identical to the sea his large boat skated through. The white stripes resembled the combination of clouds decorating the sky. His sense of matching was also noted with his khaki shorts, knee-high socks and blue shoes. Even though the morning was greatly relaxing, K.R. was ready to get his 2nd badge. "As long as I have Shroomish's Energy Ball, there's no way I will lose to anybody." K.R. said, beaming with pride

Mat shook his head. "It doesn't really work out that way..." he said before trailing off. He had seen trainers with K.R.'s mindset numerous times before. Instead of lecturing him however, he figured that K.R. was better off learning on his own. Meanwhile, he had some questions for Mason concerning last night but Mat decided he was going to wait until the right time.

"Dewford Island is up ahead!" Mat announced

"Finally!" K.R. said as he jumped up. He figured there was no need to sit around in his underwear anymore and slipped his clothes back on. He kissed the elegant silver Dragonair chain around his neck and slipped his pokeball belt back on and recalled his team. Mason's boat came to a stop as he docked at the tiny port. After letting down the anchor, the boys hopped off of the boat. Dewford Town was a lot smaller than K.R anticipated. He was expecting an island resort, with the 5 star hotel, a sauna and drinks with the little umbrellas in it. What he got instead was a few small houses, a small pokemon center and a nearby building which had to be the gym. Towering over the small island town was a mountain K.R. assumed was a dormant volcano.

"So this is Dewford Town." Mat said, also looking around

"Well first thing's first. I should head over to the gym." K.R. said

Just as he began to make his way over to the gym, K.R. saw a familiar face. "Wait a minute, is that Wakeland?"

The boy with the blonde ponytail glared at K.R. "Well what do you know..."

"Wakeland. I didn't think I'd see you here in Dewford Town, challenging the gym?"

"Already did. I won my 2nd badge, do you even have any badges?" he scoffed

"Yeah, one..." K.R. replied

"Pathetic. Well anyway, I'm out of here."

"Pathetic? I don't think so."

"So you're challenging me to a battle?" Wakeland asked

K.R. smirked and nodded


The boys stood on the beach facing each other. Mat was refereeing the fight. "All right, we have a battle between K.R. and Wakeland, you will use three pokemon each. The battle is over when all pokemon on either side are unable to continue. Begin when ready!"

"Okay Tailow, you're up first!" Wakeland shouted, tossing a pokeball

The pokeball opened as Tailow appeared. The young swallow pokemon chirped and flapped its wings. "Tailow Tay!"

"Alright, Kakuna you're first!" K.R. yelled tossing his pokeball

"Kuna."

"Tailow, Quick Attack!"

Tailow glowed with white energy as it disappeared and reappeared, hitting Kakuna. Kakuna slid back a little but stood tall thanks to its strong defense. "Kakuna, use Poison Sting!"

Multiple darts fired from Kakuna's mouth and landed a direct hit on Tailow, it's body cackled with purple sparks. "Tailow has been poisoned by Kakuna's Poison Sting." K.R. said with a smirk

Wakeland however had a pokerface and did not seem shocked at this. "Wing Attack." he ordered as Tailow's wings glowed with white energy and in a blue blur, the Tiny Swallow slammed into the cocoon pokemon, knocking it out cold as the purple sparks caused it to yelp in pain.

"Kakuna is unable to battle! Tailow is the winner!"

K.R. recalled Kakuna as he reached for his next pokeball. "Okay Shroomish, you're up next!" he yelled as he summoned the mushroom pokemon

"Shroom."

"Tailow, Wing Attack again!"

Tailow's wings glowed as it took flight and slammed into Shroomish. Despite the damage it took, Shroomish did not back down. "Tackle!" Shroomish jumped into the air and slammed into Tailow, knocking it into the sand. "Finish it up with Energy Ball!"

The green orb formed in front of Shroomish's mouth as it shot it into Tailow, kicking up an explosion of sand and smoke. When it cleared up, Tailow was out cold. "Tailow is unable to battle! Shroomish is the winner."

"Hell of a job Shroomish! Thanks to Kakuna, the poison along with an Energy at close range gave us the win in spite of type advantage." K.R. said happily.

"Shroom."

Wakeland recalled Tailow. He did not seemed fazed at all. "Houndour, let's go!" The light shot out and materialized a black dog pokemon which resembled a hellhound. K.R whipped out his pokedex. "Houndour, the Dark pokemon. Houndour hunt as a coordinated pack. They communicate with each other using a variety of cries to corner their prey. This Pokémon's remarkable teamwork is unparalleled. "

"Shroomish, let's keep this up and use Energy Ball!"

Shroomish formed yet another Green orb in front of its mouth and shot the Energy Ball forward, hitting Houndour directly. "Houndour, Smog."

Houndour opened its mouth as a cloud of poisonous gas erupted, both K.R. and Shroomish's view was obstructed. "Damn, I can't see!" Houndour jumped out of the cloud of gas and opened it's mouth, baring its fangs at Shroomish.

"Ember!"

Houndour opened its mouth as bolts of fire pelted the mushroom pokemon. Covered in soot, Shroomish was out cold.

"Shroomish is unable to battle! Houndour is the winner."

K.R. recalled Shroomish and looked at its pokeball. "Thanks for your hard work Shroomish." K.R. sighed as he realized he had no other choice, he had to use him. "Here goes nothing, Poochyena go!"

The pokeball opened as the Bite pokemon appeared. He looked at K.R. then at Houndour. K.R. sighed as Poochyena ran forward and slammed into Houndour. "Houndour, Ember!"

Houndour released more fire bolt from its mouth as Poochyena jumped out of the way. Poochyena then let out an ear-shattering howl as it glowed with a bright orange aura. Poochyena ran forward and slammed into Houndour once more, defeating its adversary.

"Houndour is unable to battle, Poochyena is the winner!"


Wakeland recalled Houndour and looked at K.R. "You didn't give Poochyena a single command, I don't know how you won a badge, but your lack of skills as a trainer are showing."

"Whatever, you're a rookie too. I've only been a trainer for a couple of weeks anyway."

"Yeah but I'm a rookie that can actually control my starter pokemon. For example, Grovyle let's go!"

Wakeland's pokeball opened as a tall gecko pokemon appeared, it looked eerily familiar. "No way.." K.R. said, flipping out his pokedex.

"Grovyle, the Wood Gecko pokemon and the evolved form of Treecko.The leaves growing out of Grovyle's body are convenient for camouflaging it from enemies in the forest. This Pokémon is a master at climbing trees in jungles."

"I trained my Treecko and it evolved into Grovyle. It's that simple. Now use Quick Attack!"

Grovyle disappeared and reappeared slamming into Poochyena. He flipped but stood his ground. K.R. didn't even bother trying to give it futile commands. Standing there, he continued to watch his pokemon battle on its own.

"Grovyle, Leaf Blade."

The leaves on Grovyle's forearms glowed green as they fused into one long blade and slammed down onto Poochyena. It struggled to get up but soon regained its composure. "Leaf Blade again." Grovyle's forearms became sharp blades once more as it winded up for another swing. Poochyena dodged the powerful blades and opened its mouth, baring its sharp fangs. Poochyena's fangs glowed with white energy as it bit into Grovyle's shoulder.
"GROOOOOOO!" Grovyle shrieked in pain as Poochyena locked his jaws in place.

"Poochyena just learned Bite." K.R. said, astonished

"Grovyle, use Leaf Blade while Poochyena is still locked on."

Grovyle's forearm glowed green and formed into a scythe as it slammed into Poochyena with tremendous force. Poochyena's jaws freed its grasp from the Wood Gecko's shoulders. Poochyena was out cold.

"Poochyena is unable to battle, Grovyle is the winner and the victory goes to Wakeland!"

"Good work Grovyle."

"I guess your Shroomish is okay, but your other pokemon are just as bad as you. How can you even call yourself a trainer when your starter pokemon doesn't listen to a thing you say. You didn't even try to give it a command, this battle was a waste of time to be honest. I'm catching the next ferry to Slateport City."
Wakeland turned and left K.R. standing there dumbfounded. Mat knew this was going to happen but still, he knew K.R. had to figure a lot of this out through his own experience. "You need to bond with your pokemon, we can hang around for a while until you're ready to challenge the gym." Mat said, he figured the least he could was point K.R. in the right direction

"I think that's a good idea. I can bring out the potential in Kakuna and Shroomish, who knows I may even find another pokemon on the island while I'm at it." K.R. said, putting his hands in his pocket

"Poochyena too."

"No Mat. Not Poochyena." K.R. said abrasively earning a gasp from both Mat and Mason. Poochyena glared at K.R. as a result of his remark. K.R. was not in the mood and recalled Poochyena to his pokeball.

"What do you mean not Poochyena?"

"Look. I realized, it isn't me who has the problem. It's him, he is holding me back. If it wasn't for Poochyena, I would have beaten that bastard Wakeland, if it wasn't for Poochyena I would still have a tent. If I would have never chose Poochyena, I would probably have a REAL starter pokemon right now! I'm not one to have any regrets, but the one regret I do have is wasting my time with Poochyena." K.R. said walking off

"All Poochyena needs is some work." Mat said before getting cut off

"Like I said, I'm fed up with Poochyena! I don't want anything to do with him at this point onward!" K.R. removed Poochyena's pokeball from his belt and tossed the pokeball in the air, a blue light shot out from the pokeball instead of the typical white.

"Get out of my sight." he said coldly

Poochyena snarled at K.R. and bared its fangs. It raised up its fur as if it was going to pounce and rip K.R. to shreds. The rookie trainer felt his anger and frustration possess his body as he did not yield to the young wolf-like pokemon. He held up his other two pokeballs and continued looking at his now former starter pokemon. "K.R. don't do what I think you're going to do. You'll regret it later." Mat warned

K.R. glanced at Mat and put the other two pokeballs back onto his belt and he turned away from Poochyena and began walking up the beach.

"I'll be in the Pokemon Center if anybody needs me."

Mat and Mason both shot concerned glances at each other as Poochyena turned and went the opposite way up the beach. He had no idea where Poochyena was going to go and even he had to admit that K.R. suddenly releasing Poochyena came as a surprise to him. He and Mason followed K.R. to the Pokemon Center. K.R. who was almost at the door, put his hands behind his neck and yelled out a sigh of relief as he as ready for his next meal.

"I finally got rid of my burden. The road to the Hoenn League just became less stressful..."

A/N- And the plot thickens... R&R folks! I love reviews soooo much! :D