This chapter is a little violent, just so you know.
Aaron and his Pokémon spent the rest of the day cleaning up the apartment; Aaron also had to order a few new things because some of the stuff that they trashed was unsalvageable. It was early in the evening; Aaron and his Pokémon were sitting on the couch trying to unwind when they heard a knock at the door.
"I wonder if those guys came back." Aaron thought to himself as he walked to the door and opened it. Abigail was standing there wearing jeans and a t-shirt holding a bag of food.
"Can I come in? I brought dinner." She said holding up the bag.
"Yeah, sure." Aaron said motioning for her to come inside.
"You doing okay?" Abigail asked scanning Aaron with her eyes.
"Yeah, we just finished up cleaning after those guys who trashed my place." Aaron said pointing at his Pokémon who were napping on the couch.
Abigail and Aaron shared the food that she brought. Afterwards, Abigail helped Aaron with the dishes even though he insisted that he would take care of them himself.
"You really do like to be independent don't you?" Abigail asked smiling at Aaron.
"It's only been me and my Pokémon, and it's been that way since I left my parents'" Aaron told her.
"Well, I think that you need to learn to let more people in." Abigail said smiling at him.
"That's something that I can't do. I only need to rely on myself and my Pokémon. If I let people in to my life then I might get hurt or most likely they will get hurt." Aaron said.
"What about your Pokémon? Did they agree to those terms?" Abigail asked.
"That's why we found each other. We knew that we needed someone in our lives to watch our back, and we grow stronger together, like all trainers." Aaron told her as he rubbed the head of his Linoone who nuzzled Aaron's hand affectionately.
Abigail told Aaron that she had to go. "I guess I'll see you around." Abigail said smiling at Aaron.
"Maybe." Aaron said closing the door on her.
"I hope that he'll be okay. Who knows, maybe he'll ask me out. If I see him again…" Abigail thought to herself as she left the apartment.
After Abigail left, Aaron's phone started ringing; the number was blocked, but Aaron answered it reluctantly. "Long time no see my boy." The low, menacing voice of The Boss said.
"What the hell do you want?" Aaron asked angrily.
"I suggest you show some respect to the man who can have you dead right now." He said slightly angered.
"Then why don't you do it already?" Aaron asked irritated by everything that The Boss did to him.
"If my associates had it their way, you would be dead, but I'm not my associates. I'm The Boss, and I kind of like you. So here's the deal. You will come to the warehouse a few doors down from The Fortress and battle me one on one. If you win, my associates and I will back off, if you lose I will kill you, and if you don't show up I will kill you. Am I clear?" The boss asked menacingly.
"Yes." Aaron said irritated by the games this man was playing with him. The boss hung up, and Aaron sighed knowing that he had no choice in the matter.
The next night, Aaron walked to the warehouse, but not before walking by the diner where Abigail was waiting for him.
"I know what you're going to do." Abigail said staring at Aaron.
"Are you here to stop me?" Aaron asked.
"No, but I did want to give you this. It's a Stamina Band. I thought you might need it." Abigail said handing the item to Aaron.
"Thanks, but I don't need your help." Aaron said walking off, but not before handing the band back to her.
Aaron made his way to the warehouse where two men motioned for Aaron to go inside. As soon as Aaron walked inside, the lights turned on and Aaron found himself standing on a battlefield; The Boss was on the other side staring directly at him.
"Sandslash, let's do this!" Aaron shouted calling out his Pokémon.
"Very well, Frosslass, my dear, let's show this boy who he's messing with." The Boss said as he called out his Pokémon. Aaron also called out his Linoone and whispered something in to its ear before it ran off.
"Telling your buddy to get help? That will not work." The Boss said chuckling maniacally.
"He'll get help." Aaron said smiling smugly.
The Boss started the battle. "Frosslass use Ice Beam."
Aaron countered. "Sandslash dodge it with Dig." Aaron's Sandslash burrowed underground narrowly avoiding the Ice Beam attack. "Sandslash jump high and follow it up with Gyro Ball!" Aaron shouted as his Sandslash leapt out from the ground and spun rapidly.
"Frosslass freeze him in his place with Blizzard!" The Boss shouted at his Pokémon. Unfortunately, The Boss's Frosslass was too slow and failed to use Blizzard before Aaron's Sandslash hit it with Gyro Ball.
"Now Sandslash, we're going to finish this guy off with our Shadow Claw!" Aaron shouted as the Sandslash rapidly slashed the Frosslass with claws made of darkness. The Frosslass fainted, and The Boss was not happy with losing.
Just then two goons grabbed Aaron from behind and The Boss walked up to Aaron slowly. "Kid, I don't like losing, and you have made me lose a lot." The Boss said before he punched Aaron repeatedly in the face and the stomach.
"Dishonorable trash." Aaron muttered as he spat blood at The Boss.
"I think I'll miss that fighting spirit the most." The Boss chuckled as he held a gun up to Aaron's forehead. Just then, Aaron's Linoone ran up and knocked the goons over as well as The Boss. The Boss was so stunned that he accidentally dropped the gun.
Aaron picked up the gun and walked over to the Boss who was pinned down by the claws of Aaron's Sandslash. "I thought that you might pull something like this, and I always come with a plan B." Aaron said staring at The Boss coldly. Aaron held up the gun to The Boss's forehead. "I think I'll miss nothing about you." Aaron said as he pulled the trigger.
Aaron looked around the warehouse at all of the startled men. "If I see any of you goons messing with me, my Pokémon, my friends, or anyone, you will pay. Take The Boss as your example. Now get lost before I have more than one example!" Aaron shouted as the men ran off.
"That dirt bag deserved it." Aaron thought to himself as he planted the gun in The Boss's hand, but not before wiping off his fingerprints. Aaron recalled his Pokémon and walked out of the warehouse. His troubles were over; for now.