Jack: This is intolerable! We haven't met any new Pokémon since chapter five, this situation must be remedied.

Me: Don't worry, we'll find plenty of Pokémon soon, just be patient.

Jack: Humph, patience is not one of my strong points.

Jason: I balance you out that way.

Me: Maybe some training would help you pass the time.

Jason: Good idea, I knew there was a reason I liked you.

Jack: Oh no, did you have to start him off...

Jason: Come on you big softy, you know the saying; spare the rod, spoil the warrior. *drags Jack out of the room*

Jack: Help meeeeeee...*voice fades*

Me: He'll be alright. Now then, let's start the chapter.


The next day they started a new regimen of training, starting with meditation at 5:30 for Jack and Jason. Then, once the sun rose, all four of them read the Bible together until 7:30, and then took half an hour for breakfast. After breakfast, they all participated in two hours of physical exercises ranging from jogging, to push-ups, to shadow-boxing. At 10:00 sharp, they packed up, and hit the road.

At noon they stopped for a quick lunch, but were in for a surprise.

Jack bit a chunk out of a large berry. "Mmn, this is good! What kind of berries are these, Katana?"

"I don't know the name, but I know for a fact that they're good to eat."

As they were eating though, they heard a loud scream. Instantly they were on their feet and ready for anything. Jack and Jason scanned the area around them and found at least four distinct Aura signatures heading towards them; three of them were Pokémon, and one was human, and there was indistinguishable fuzz around the human that indicated full Pokéballs.

It wasn't more than thirty seconds before a young Kirlia and Dratini came crashing out of the undergrowth, and straight into Jack's leg.

"Oof," exclaimed the Kirlia, then she looked up. "EEP," she cried before tightly hugging the Dratini for protection. "Please, don't hurt us."

Jack slowly got down on his knees. "Shush shush, it's alright, I won't hurt you..."

Suddenly a Lairon crashed out of the bushes as well, the Kirlia screamed in terror. The large Pokémon roared at them, but a command came from the trees,

"Lairon, stand down."

Lairon instantly stopped roaring and stood still. A boy about Jack's age with dark purple hair walked out of the shadows.

"Who are you?" Jack demanded, holding the two frightened Pokémon close to him. "And why were you chasing these Pokémon?"

If the purple haired boy noticed Jack's appearance, he didn't show it. "The name's Paul, and I was going to catch them. Now get out of my way."

Jack stiffened at his superior tone. "I don't think so. If you want them, you'll have to go through me!" On the last word, he shot up straight and assumed a battle stance.

"If that's how you want it, then fine," Paul pulled out two Pokéballs, and recalled Lairon into one of them; the other he pointed at Jack. "A one-on-one Pokémon battle, winner take all."

Jack thought for a second, then shrugged. "Alright, but I'm still going to kick your behind. Jason, would you like to do the honours?"

Jason grinned savagely. "With pleasure."

Cap and Katana sat on the ground behind Jack, Jason stepped into the makeshift battlefield, and Paul sent out his Pokémon, an Absol.

The Absol looked pretty strong, but also looked like she had lost a few fights recently; there were scars and burns scattered all over her body, and her fur was not quite white, as if it hadn't been properly washed for a while. But the worst thing was her eyes; sunken and full of fear. Looking at her made Jack's fury overtake his judgement.

"One more thing," Jack said. "Winner gets the opponent's Pokémon too."

Both Jason and Paul looked at him in shock, but Paul was apparently either very dumb, or very confident. "I accept."

Jack hoped he was dumb.


Jason looked at the Absol, and made a silent plea to God. "Please, let us help this poor soul." Then the battle was under-way

"Absol," Paul's command was cold and emotionless; Absol winced, "Use Razor Wind."

Jason didn't even have time to think of dodging, the attack hit hard; it must have been Critical. He got to his feet, a little shell-shocked, and had just enough time to use Counter as Absol slammed into him with Slash. His inherent resistance to Normal Types decreased the damage, but it was still a powerful hit.

Jason aimed the riposte at Absol's feet, but was surprised to find that her feet weren't there anymore. From across the battlefield Absol fired another Razor Wind, which scored another direct hit. At this point, Jason was longing for it to be over, but this was one fight he couldn't lose.

He got up again just in time to see Absol charging in with another Slash, but this time he wasn't backing down. He met the attack with Metal Claw, and got hit in the side with Sucker Punch.

"Oof!" The hit knocked the wind out of him, and was soon followed up by another Slash. Jason was at the end of his rope.

Absol launched a brutal Psycho Cut and Jason knew that if it hit him, he wouldn't get back up. In desperation, he tried something new. Gathering all his remaining strength, he slammed a powerful Force Palm into the ground. The tactic proved more effective than he'd hoped, as the shock-wave blew Absol off her feet, and into a tree.

Before she could get back up, Jason rested his Bone Rush on her neck and said gently. "If you want to be rid of him, play dead."

"Get up," Paul demanded, "now!"

Absol flashed Jason a grateful look, then her head dropped and she stopped moving.

Jack smirked in satisfaction. "I believe the winners are clear; and to the winners, go the captives."

Paul pulled out Absol's Pokéball. "Fine then; I don't have time for a weak Absol anyway." He pressed a button on it and a beam of blue light hit her. "But maybe you can put it to good use."

It was then that Jack realized; Paul wasn't overly confident, or mentally challenged, he just didn't care about his Pokémon. He felt his temper rising again, and he found himself walking over to Paul.

"What did you just say?"

"I said that you might have a use for an Absol, even a weak one."

"I don't 'use' Pokémon, and I hate it when humans treat Pokémon like slaves."

Paul looked unconcerned by Jack's tone. "It's not like they have feelings, they're just animals."

Jason growled, low and menacing, and Cap and Katana bristled with anger.

"You just crossed the line," snarled Jack.

"You can't threaten me," Paul informed him. "Who do you think you are?"

"My name is Jack Storm," he said, grabbing the arrogant, selfish trainer by the collar, lifting him two feet off the ground, and slamming him into a tree; his eyes glowing pure gold. "Remember it."

Absol opened one eyelid and watched the show.

"If you want to live, then don't ever let me hear you call Pokémon 'animals' again." Jack threw Paul to the ground. "Now get out of my sight!"

Paul, all traces of arrogance gone, raced out of the clearing as though chased by ghosts. Jack breathed a sigh of relief; he didn't really want to hurt anyone, even Paul.

"Well, I'm glad that's over. You can stop playing dead now Absol."

She opened her other eye and got back up, but she still looked frightened. Jack wondered at this, why did she still look like she expected to be hit? He sighed, he supposed that she had been badly treated for so long, that the concept of freedom was unknown to her. She expected him to be as bad as Paul; the thought made him sick. But then he remembered what had started the battle in the first place. He looked at the last place he saw the two small Pokémon, but they weren't there.