"It's... not what I expected."

Miguel, Elizabeth and I were standing at the edge of Petalburg Woods. It's been six days since we left Petalburg the night after the festival, and I quite frankly was exhausted.
The past six days had been nothing but long walks, repetitive battles against bug catchers, what with Jess sweeping them all by herself, I had to let Odin in more and more merely because Jess was getting tired from winning so much. long nights texting Nyxie as she took a flight from Petalburg to Lilycove, one way ticket.
I got a picture the first day of her, Garth, her Machoke and Persian standing in front of the terminal, in Lilycove. It was a selfie, Nyxie flashing a peace sign, Garth mimicking her. Her Persian simply staring blandly at the camera, a slight grin on its muzzle, whilst her Machoke posed impressively, the "Welcome to Lilycove" words stamped on a large entranceway above them.
We talked regularly, both of us being busy and what not it was nice to have someone to regularly talk too.
I of course was no selfie master, and took about thirteen before I finally decided on a decent looking one to send back to her.
Regardless six days later, he we were at the end of the never ending forest, and what I expected to be a tranquil walk through fields and rivers up to Rustboro City... was squashed by the view of a large bridge, most likely a highway rolling all the way up to the city, huge support beams came down and penetrated the Earth, landing in the forest, the lakes, hell there was one in the middle of the route,

"Human consumption for you." Miguel shrugged as he walked on past me, "Wait till you see Rustboro itself."

I followed after him with a shrug of my own, "Why didn't we just take a car? It'd probably have been way faster."

"Where's the adventure?" Elizabeth chirped up from behind, "You're so boring. You wouldn't have got to train that way either."

Again I gave a shrug, "You're right... you're right."

The three of us continued small banter as we made our way along the Training route underneath the ominous overpass, the faint sound of cars rushing by overhead ever constant.
The last stretch of the route was seemingly void of Trainers. We were finally approaching the city, making our way across a river via a small wooden walkway that had definitely seen better days.
Just like in Petalburg, we returned our Pokémon, except for Cayde and started making our way through the residential districts to the inner city,

"Rustboro seems... Vacant."

Just looking around I could only assume which houses were inhabited and which weren't... and it was hard enough. Lots of the homes were run down, broken into, and I swear one was riddled with bullet holes... Rustboro was an empty City, there wasn't even a single person on the streets,

"That's why they say this is the worst city for a Trainer... except in the inner city, where trade from the Harbor is the only thing keeping it alive, the rest is the slums, and they're populated by the poor or criminals... mainly criminals." Miguel ran his hand through his hair before continuing, "They say this place used to be one of the most populated Cities in Hoenn, what with the first gym of the Hoenn league being here. Not anymore though."

"The gym still here?" I asked, walking around a broken down car,

"Yes."

It was a very dull response, and I'd soon find out why.
A few more blocks and things started to return to normality. People were starting to be seen walking along the streets, shops were open and populated by small amounts of people. It didn't feel quite as ominous as before.
Half an hour of walking we were in the true Inner City of Rustboro, tall glass buildings, cars driving around, and it was actually clean. You could smell the salt water from the harbor and you could see the Pokémon Center, the sign actually having all of its letters unlike in Petalburg.
Just one block from the Center... is when I saw my first Pokémon Gym.
It was a long building, couple large bay windows, most were cracked or shattered. There was graffiti covering almost all of the building, whether it was negative slurs or just wall art. The grass around the front was brown, most torn up and dirt littered across the walkway. It was completely ransacked,

"What the hell..."

"Yeah... come on, let's go get you your first badge."

Miguel tapped me on the shoulder and motioned for me to follow, "Wait what!? I'm not ready! I need to train more with Jess and Odin and... they could use some rest-"

"Come on man... it's not what you think."

I begrudgingly followed, walking behind Miguel up to the gym doors, Elizabeth heading to the center to reserve rooms for the night.
Miguel motioned for me to enter first, and I walked up to the large sliding doors that marked the entrance to the gym... they didn't open as I approached, and I just slowly climbed through the shattered and bent door.
The inside of the gym looked worse than the outside... what I assumed was themed to be a mountain range after what I knew the gyms theme was, that of rock type Pokémon, the rocks were all chipped and crumbled, sand covered all of the floor and only a few lights flickered when I came in,

"You already have your 'protection' money Santos, so I don't know why you-"

A woman came from the back of the gym, from a room opposite of the side I was on. Probably a solid five or so years older than me, She was wearing ripped pink leggings, with jean shorts over them, had a black t-shirt on that was also frayed in several places. Her hair was all knotted and sloppily hung over her shoulders, a single black choker around her neck... I knew who this was... or was supposed to be. The 1st gym leader in the Hoenn League, Roxanne.

"Oh. You're a Trainer. What a nice change."

Roxanne lazily sat down in a kind of make-shift throne of stone and hung her legs over the arms,

"Welcome to the first gym in the circuit for the Hoenn league," her voice was dripping with satire, "I am Roxanne! And I will be your opponent for your first gym battle!"

Miguel walked up next to me as she continued to rant on and on about how much of an honor it was to be here,

"Listen," he whispered in my ear, "This isn't gunna go how you think it is... you can win though, just asses the situation and act."

"What?" I was slowly spiraling deeper into confusion, "What do you mean?"

"Good luck."

"Now!" Roxanne was on the edge of her throne and smiling rather... oddly, "Send out your Pokémon."

I nodded slowly and released Odin, what with him being a fighting type he should have no problem-

"Good. Nosepass, Geodude,"

Two Pokémon appeared, a floating rock with two arms and a face, Geodude, the second a rock person duck looking... yeah, Nosepass. Both Pokémon looked... depressed, worn, physically worn as in they were chipped and scared.
Roxanne stood and spread her arms wildly, laughing manically before standing stock still, and almost whispering,

"Kill them both."

My jaw dropped and Odin let loose a cry of confusion,

"Wait- what!?"

Both Pokémon rushed Odin with a roar, their sad expressions changed to hell bent gazes of determination,

"Odin move!"

Just in the nick of time, Odin backflipped next to me as the geodude brought his arms down on the spot he was at seconds before,

"What the hell!" I yelled towards Roxanne who was clapping excitedly,

"Ohhh! You managed to get your companion out of harms way! Most just freeze up! You've already been in some sticky situations out there in the world haven't you!?" She laughed hysterically again, "The best Trainers always have! This is going to be great!"

Her two Pokémon rushed Odin... or me... or both of us this time and with a yell of surprise from both of us we ran off to the right, ducking behind one of the crumpling rocks.
This was too much... I had no idea that the 'Gym Battle' I was partaking in was going to be a fight to the death. I looked down at Odin who was looking around the corner of the rock with a look of fire in his eyes,

"Odin...?"

He looked up at me, his gaze set in stone, he looked angry, and he nudged my knee somewhat roughly with a nod and a grunt, before he turned around the corner and rushed the Geodude,

"Wha-!? Odin!"

I watched in horror as the Geodude turned to him with a roar and raised his fists.
Odin pivoted on his heel mid stride and sprayed sand into the Geodude's open mouth, causing it to spit and cough. Odin then let loose a yell of his own and punched it right in the jaw with a glowing fist, sending the Geodude rocketing into a stone pillar, whatever was left of it crumbling to pieces.
I was in shock. My Pokémon was fighting by himself, violently, with the intent to kill. I placed my hands on my head and spun in a circle,

"What the f- AH!"

The Nosepass had snuck up on me, a rock in its hand it jumped my way in an attempt to bash said rock against my head. I fell back onto my ass and yelled in fear, covering my head with my arms... there was a crack and a smash.
I opened my eyes to see Odin standing in front of me, breathing heavy, bits of rock scattered around us and the Nosepass on a knee a few feet away.
Odin spun his head towards me, his face still showing nothing but the fire burning in his eyes... and I realized he wasn't fighting just because, he was fighting to defend me, to defend himself,

"Fight back, idiot." Was all I could decipher from the look he tossed me as he took up an aggressive stance towards the two recovering Pokémon.
I stood and released Jess, a very worried look on her face as she took in the scene,

"I'm sorry to drag you into this girl." I was muttering through gritted teeth, "But they're trying to kill us!"

Jess merely barked and stood next to Odin.
I reached behind me and unslung my backpack, grabbing the cold Kevlar helmet and slapping it on my head, tying the chin strap and banging my fist on it twice.
As the Geodude and Nosepass rushed us again, Roxanne laughing hysterically and pointing mockingly at me, Miguel's advice flashed through my head,

"Asses... and act."

"Jess roast them!"

Jess immediately let out a fairly large ember, the fire dousing over both Pokémon. I obviously knew it wasn't going to work, they're rock, but I needed said rock to heat up... so it could be cracked.
The two rock types jumped through the Fire, Odin meeting the Geodude mid leap and side kicking him backwards.
Jess rolled to the left as the Nosepass crashed to the ground, it looking up at me.
Without thinking I placed my foot on its forehead and pushed with everything I had,

"Yaaaaaarh!"

The Nosepass slowly tipped over and began rolling to its right to try and up itself, it's odd body structure not allowing it to stand right back up,

"Ember!"
Jess let loose another torrent of flames onto the Nosepass,
"Ember!"
Again, she continued to douse the Nosepass in fire as he stood,
"Ember! Ember! Ember!"

We kept a steady stream going until the Nosepass finally stood up with a roar, its rocky skin glowing pink.
A few feet away Odin had the Geodude in an arm bar, and used it's weight against it to toss it against the gym wall, a large hole forming in its wake,

"Odin!" I called, almost snarled, "Break this ones skull!"

That was the first time I asked my Pokémon to kill for me.

Odin snarled in response and rushed the Nosepass, still being covered in Jess's ember torrent. Just as Odin was preparing to jump up and deliver the fatal blow, the gym sprinklers came on, and a whistle was blowing.
Everyone stopped, Jess ceased her torrent of flames, Odin slide to a stop. The Nosepass flopped onto its back, steam erupting from its sides, and the Geodude stopped struggling to get back up and laid where he was by the wall.
Over the sound of the sprinklers the whistle stopped, and someone was clapping.
Roxanne was slowly walking onto the battle area, clapping slowly. Her hair was clinging to her face and water dripping off her nose, her dark eyeliner running... she was crying,

"Congrats." She said through a sniffle, "I'm- I'm sorry I had too..."

She broke into tears and clung to me, holding my shirt and yelling into my shoulder,

"It's not safe out there anymore!" She made a fist with her left hand and smashed it into my chest, "I can't just have a normal battle with you kids anymore, even with the age restriction! You need to be tested... your will to keep you and your Pokémon safe has to be tested, otherwise, all your deaths are on me for letting you go!"

She wrapped her arms around me continued to cry, a loud sobbing cry. I stood there with my arms at my sides, eyes wide, water drenching my clothes and my bag, droplets echoing off my Kevlar helmet.
Odin moved over to Jess and sat down with her, Jess already laying down. He looked at me, his face complacent, calm. Jess looked slightly worried but merely closed her eyes and rested.
Eventually Roxanne collapsed to her knees and cried into the floor at my feet as I stood there frozen... was this what Training had become? An endless fight to protect yourself and the creatures we befriended and formed bonds with? Is their power really so dangerous that we have to resort to using it to kill, only if it means we'll not be?
I knelt next to Roxanne and placed a hand on her shoulder, taking my helmet off with the other.
She looked up at me through watered eyes, her makeup making black pools around us in the water,

"I'm sorry."

That was all that needed to be said, as she wrapped her hands around my neck and began crying into my shoulder again.
I was sorry for her, yeah, to be given this task of seeing which Trainers would be able to make it in the world. So many hopefuls, sixteen and ready to try and be the best... only to be stopped and utterly crushed here in Rustboro, because if not here, it'd be theirs or their Pokémon's life somewhere else.
Not only that, I was sorry she had to put her Pokémon through the task of attempting to kill another Trainers Pokémon, or the Trainer himself only as a means of testing... it was an incredibly hard face to out on, and it's obviously taken its toll on her.
A few more minutes passed and she stopped crying. Another minute and she released me from her grasp, drying her eyes with her hands.
Once I helped her up, the sprinklers stopped, and we were left standing in a rocky, muddy, make-up filled puddle surrounded by our Pokémon.
I returned Jess and Odin without a word, and she did so with the Nosepass and Geodude,

"Here."

I turned to face the Gym Leader and her outstretched hand... in it was a small metal badge,

"Good luck out there... you're truly a strong person to want to be a Trainer at times like these."

Once I took the badge, she turned and headed back to her throne, sitting down in it and merely watching as I turned and walked past Miguel and Cayde, heading back onto the streets of Rustboro,

"What a funny one..." Roxanne muttered to an empty room, "Never seen anyone take part in the fighting before."

Room 103, first floor third room... there was only one Trainer staying in the Pokémon Center besides the three of us, and he'd gone missing two days ago, his reservation about to expire.
I released Jess and Odin and immediately went to the shower, both of them right on my heels. Even Cayde, who was barely fitting in the room, what with no Balcony only a bay window, was craning his neck in to see me.
I started the bath instead of the shower, and placed all my wet clothes and belongings by the door.
Once the bath was full I slide in it, Odin sitting on the edge of the bath, his feet idly dangling in the warm water, and Jess propped up on the outside, looking at me nervously.
I didn't say anything, rather just nodded to Odin after he worriedly glanced my way for the seventh time and began gently petting Jess.
After a time, I sighed and closed my eyes, the events of today flashing through them,

"Thank you guys." Both Odin and Jess turned to face me, "I couldn't have gotten this far without either of you... I'm sorry we got into that situation." I turned to Cayde who's head was peaking in by the door, "And thank you Cayde, for hanging around for so long. You not only saved me when we first met, but have continued to stand guard wherever we go."

He grunted with nod and retreated back to standing outside the window. Odin playfully kicked some water my way and Jess licked my hand,

"You guys are my best friends, and we're going to... well, I dunno. But we're gunna try and fix this." Nyxie's advice from the diner in Petalburg popped into my head as I laid there, "And if not... we're going to have one hell of a time."

"Vuuu~!"

"Hmph!"

I smiled and sunk deeper into the tub, not yet ready to face the realities of the world just yet.
Too bad they were ready for me. There was a triple knock on the door, which meant a Chansey was going to take my laundry,

"Hmmm... one second!"

I slowly got out of the tub and wrapped a towel around myself, opening the door,

"Hi! Sorry to bother you but you forgot-"

Roxanne was standing in the doorway with my Kevlar in her hands, blushing all the way red... I need to start using the peephole,

"Oh... I didn't even think about it."

"It's fine! Here you go!"

I grabbed the Kevlar and placed it next to the door on a small table, scooping up all my soggy clothes and handing it to the Chansey that appeared behind Roxanne,

"Did I interrupt anything?"

"Not really," I shrugged, "Was just, cooling off."

She nodded and smiled, "Do you mind if I come in?"

"Uh... sure. Lemme get pants on..."

After putting on my shorts and Tank top that were still somehow dry, I was sitting on the edge of my bed facing Roxanne the gym leader,

"What's up?"

"I was just curious..." She crossed her legs and leaned back in the chair, "I've been doing this gym leader thing since I was thirteen, before the war, and before Hoenn got messed up. I'm now twenty-two, and I wouldn't trade what I had for the world, it's still currently my duty to asses young Trainers."

"Right." Was all I figured I could say,

She continued, "Even within the last six years or so, when I started changing how I asses Trainers in my gym... Trainers were always just that, the Trainer. You however, joined in the fight with your Pokémon, I've never seen that before."

I shrugged, "I just... I dunno, they needed me as much as I needed them."

"Have you ever been around soldiers or been in fights or battles yourself? What did your parents do? I'm just curious to see why..."

Again I shrugged, "Only soldiers I have been around has been recently within the last two months, the western army guys and they've just been their rude selves. I don't know what my mom did for a living but my dad was a Trainer, he succeeded Brandon-"

"Your father was the Most recent Champion of Hoenn?"

I nodded, "From what I've been told."

Roxanne crossed her arms and shrugged, "None of us ever knew he had a son... that would explain with the Elite Four always has issues with him going away for weeks at a time..."

I smiled at the thought of that, my father sneaking away to spend time with my younger self or my mother,

"Are you like him?"

I looked at Roxanne confused, "Uh... my mother says I act like him."

She smiled, "Nevermind." She then stood, "Thank you for your time, I have only one last question... what do you plan to do on your Journey?"

I leaned back on my arms and gave yet another shrug, "I want to make a difference... I don't know how and I don't know if it'll be just in my life or in many people's... but I know that I came out here because I wanted to see that change."

Roxanne merely smiled and nodded, opening the door,

"You rather are much like your father."

And with that, she was gone, leaving me with my thoughts and my Pokémon.

It was now late evening, and I was walking through the courtyard of the Pokémon Center with a bag of restocked supplies from the Pokemart. I was wearing the 'city' outfit Nyxie had bought for me back in Petalburg, the Jean jacket blowing in the wind.
I smiled and waved to Nurse Joy as I walked past her, opening the door to my room and letting it close behind me.
Odin and Jess happily jumped off the bed and ran up to me as I entered, myself taking an immediate knee and digging through the items I bought.
Once I had my hands on the desired item, I pulled it out of the bag and tied it around Odins neck, his own red Bandanna.
He looked down at the red clothe around his neck and placed the end of it in his hands, running one side over it slowly... and then in a flurry of movement he jumped up on my knee and wrapped his arms around my torso as wide as he could,

"Awww, thanks bud. Glad you like it."

Jess and Odin proceeded to run around the room happily chasing one another and showing their Bandannas off to Cayde who seemed to be entirely not interested... he was good at faking it though.
I quietly made my way towards the door and stepped on out, letting it close softly behind me. I didn't normally go anywhere without my Pokémon... as a matter of fact, I have never been anywhere without my Pokémon since I caught Jess... but I needed some time away from everything at the moment.
Heading out from the Pokémon Center I started heading to the harbor. Ironically it was the reason we were here in Rustboro City to begin with, but I felt like it would also be a good place to clear my head what with the salty air and such.
Rustboro Harbor was a sight to behold, large cruise ships, lots of sail boats and some freighters, plenty of tugs and other sailing ships. Granted it had only been built within the past few years, but it was still a pretty awesome sight to behold.
I casually was walking down a pier with my hands in my pockets, Wingulls idly crowing and drifting by on the ocean breeze, Krabby's down along the rocks due to the current low tide. I smiled, all the Pokémon just lazily hanging around, it was a nice sight to see.
All the lights aboard the ships were illuminating triangles of light across the water, slowly rippling as the waves cascaded into the harbor docks gently. It was an entirely peaceful scene,

"Quite lovely isn't she lad?"

I turned to my right to see an old man wearing some clothes about a size too small for his stomach and a even older captains hat,

"Who?" I asked, smiling as the man walked over and leaned against the harbor railing with me,

"The sea, boy! She's lovely."

I smiled, "Yeah... she is lovely indeed."

"She can confound our deepest secrets and feelings within her vast waters... I can only assume you know what I mean."

I chuckled lightly and sighed, "Is it that obvious?"

The old man heaved a heavy breath and coughed, "Yes." He coughed again and continued, "I can tell your soul is troubled. So can she."

I smiled at the old mans faith in the sea, it was un-wavering, the sign that he had been at sea for the good majority of his life.
Looking back out at the triangles of light on the oceans surface. I watched as the waves gently plodded against the harbor docks, and was about to ask the old man what he meant by the fact that "the sea" knew I was feeling troubled as well... until i saw what he meant.
At first glance, you would see the waves cascading one after the other calmly. But at a wider view, you see the waves ripping on one another as they bump and move around the ships and dock supports, until they finally come gently crashing against their end destination,

"I suppose she does..."

"You're one of them Trainers, aren't you?"

I nodded, mentally preparing myself to bolt if needed, suddenly wary of the old mans pleasant nature,

"What have you accomplished on your journey so far?"

For some reason, I burst out laughing. It was uncontrollable, "What have I done!? God what haven't I done. I caught my own Pokémon in the midst of running away from home, was nearly shot at and accused of stealing, Met my first set of friends and traveling companions, learned how to train and what it means to be a Trainer," I took a breath, "I've battled strangers only to leave them with a smile, earned and spent money, been on a battlefield, seen life come and go, watched not only others but my own mind heal, reformed broken emotions with my mother, travelled to dangerous cities, flew above the world, reconnected with old girlfriends, fell in love again, became separated to the love I had just regained, learned of crime and how far a man will go, learned the value of having your friends back, trekked through forests and under overpasses, had to fight for mine and my companions life and basically gone where no sixteen your old should go."

I laughed again and leaned back against the railing, the old man smiling next to me,

"And yet, you still have so much more, don't ya lad?"

"Well Mister, I think you're right."

His smile never broke even through another cough, "My names Briney. I've been sailing these waters most of my life. And yet, there's always lads like you standing at the edge." He paused and looked towards the now rising moon, "What does it take to give you young folks the courage to stop worrying and standing on the edge, but get out there and wade through the toughest waters."

I turned towards the old man, Mr. Briney, and smiled once again, "It just takes an offer."

Authors Note:

Hey all. Any notes or just comments are greatly appreciated. Sorry for the long lapse in content, and finally, if anyone has tips on anything, please send them my way. Thank you for reading this little project of mine.
~Leaf