Author's Note: It's a double update! Read chapter 11 first.


With the sandstorm cleared, Serena could now see her surroundings. She then realized there simply wasn't much to see. That is, until she saw a man sitting along a chain link fence, just a few meters away from the main road.

He appeared to be homeless, with ragged clothing and long, wily silver hair. It wasn't until she approached him that she realized just how huge he was. He must have been over 2.1 meters, considering he was almost at her level despite sitting down. She wore a smile that hopefully wasn't patronizing as she got his attention.

"Hi, Sir. Would you like some fresh water or some money for lunch?" She asked, already extending said items to him.

He looked up, allowing her to see his eyes. They were dark as black holes, absorbing years beyond him that told stories of pure misery. He took her offerings as he nodded stiffly.

"Um," Serena began again. "Are you okay? I mean, is there anything else I can do to help?"

His grumbled a frustrated noise in the back of his throat. "No." His voice was gruff and hoarse. "I've been helpless for years."

"Nobody is helpless," she countered. She offered her hand to him. "I'm Serena."

"AZ," he replied, shaking her hand. "Don't waste your youth on me. Your kindness is enough."

She hadn't the slightest idea what to make of his words, or how to respond. "Take care, sir," she decided was best. With that, she was back on track. Everything - from his black eyes to his cryptic words - his desolate aura would linger with her for a long time.

As she reached the entryway back to Coumarine, her Holocaster rang. As she played the hologram message, she nearly yelped when she saw it was from Calem.

A weak smile on his face, he spoke overly formal as if following a script. "I'm heading to Coumarine. I'd like to battle; meet me by the gym at 19:00, if you're in the area. See you soon."

Well, he was straightforward, to say the least. There was no rush to get to challenge the gym, really. Besides, she was always down for a friendly battle ….

Although battling with Calem hardly ever seemed to be "friendly."

She frowned at remembering the tension of their last couple of encounters. But he still called to battle her; that meant he at least didn't dislike her, right?

After a couple hours of recovery at the Pokemon center, Serena's team of four was brimming with energy once again.

The sun had set a couple hours ago and the moon up, masked by a thin veil of clouds. The marine breeze was chilly and the ocean air tasted even fresher than during the day.

Serena checked her watch. She thought she would be a few minutes early to the rendezvous, but Calem stood tall, already waiting for her at the doors to the gym.

"Hey," he greeted with a half smile.

"Hi. How are you?"

"Good. Let's get started."

Well he was sure ready to get to the point.

Calem drew his first Poké ball from his belt. "Three on three?"

"Sure," she hesitated, drawing her own ball. "Why only three?"

"I left Meowstic with Professor Sycamore. He couldn't - he wasn't performing as well as the rest of my team."

"What?" Serena choked.

Meowstic had been in Calem's family since before he started the gym challenge. She was sure he told her as much before.

Calem was determined and willing to put his career as a trainer first, but to dump a friend who had been with him from the beginning?

That was a bit much…

Serena waited, expecting him so burst into laughter, chuckling through him spewing words of "just kidding," or "did you really believe that?"

But they never came. Calem maintained eye contact with the gravel beneath their feet - his expression unreadable.

"It was most likely its inherent value limitations. If a Pokémon isn't contributing to my team," he started. "I just can't spend time catching him up to par."

"..."

It made sense from a competitive perspective.

However, it didn't make sense coming from Calem, who voluntarily took weeks out of his own training to help Serena practice for her rematch against Valerie. Calem was a strong and patient leader type.

She never thought she would see such a despondent look on her role model's face.

Without another word, his starter was on the field.

xXx

Calem must have found a new technical machine, and he was not afraid to use it.

Over, and over, and over again.

"Now!" Serena cried.

"Substitute," Calem retaliated.

Morgan let loose his aura sphere, which had an impressive impact with the substitution doll.

"Gah!" Serena groaned, stomping her foot in an uncharacteristic frustration. "Seriously?"

Calem wasn't fazed, if he heard her at all. Hurling his arm forward, he spat further command. "Use ember!"

"Dodge!" she pleaded.

They were each down to their final Pokémon. Serena had to send out her third before Calem did, so Morgan quickly growing tired.

Flames grazed the Lucario, searing him just enough to stunt his movements.

"Why aren't you mega evolving?" Calem asked with a fire matching his Charmeleon.

"I - this is just a friendly match… right?"

"I won't accept a victory unless you give it your all."

Lips tightened, eyes narrowed.

Calem winced at her change in expression.

Victory?

He thought he already won.

"Fine." she thrust her fist in the air, carrying out the careful choreographed steps. "Morgan, mega evolve!"

The light envelope surrounded Morgan, and Serena still exhaled a discrete sigh of relief each time she successfully mega evolved.

With the illumination of the battlefield during Morgan's transformation, the foe Charmeleon's face caught light.

Its face was blank.

It watched Morgan with intensity, caution, and readiness, but it didn't have the excitement she saw in all of her own Pokémon when battling - the excitement and passion that normally burned in Calem's Pokémon as well.

It seemed as though Charmeleon didn't enjoy battling.

But that wasn't for Serena to say. It's not like she could actually know what her own Pokémon were thinking, despite her efforts to communicate the best she could.

The substitute doll didn't last long, nor did the one after that, or still the one after that. With the power of mega evolution, Morgan got a few good aura spheres in despite significantly tiring himself out in the process.

The battle was close. Too close for either of the trainers' comfort. Beads of sweat pooled at Calem's hairline, matched by the trembling of Serena's knees as they both held their breath.

After the last dust cloud cleared, Morgan pulled himself to one knee. Battered and bruised, his aura radiated weakly as his strength was ready to give out.

Charmeleon's stamina just happened to give out first.

Serena exhaled the breath she had been holding. "Thank you Morgan, so much. Return."

Calem wrung his beanie in one hand before throwing to the ground. He returned his fallen partner without a word.

Nervously, she wanted to break the silence. "Thank you, Calem."

He looked at her, but had nothing to say.

"Y-you, your Pokémon," she began again. "They're really strong. I mean, even stronger than last time."

"Not strong enough, evidently." He talked through a sigh.

"I mean it!" Serena protested. "You can't deny that both of our teams have been growing stronger!"

"Strength isn't all it takes to be a trainer, you know," Calem spewed. "You may be strong, but that will only take you so far until another trainer learns to strategize better than you."

"What do you mean?"

He scoffed. "I may not be 'worthy' of having a mega ring, but if It were down to strategy alone, I'd have you beat."

Okay. This clearly wasn't a friendly match anymore, if it ever was to begin with.

"That's not fair. You told me to use mega evolution! Besides, I did win, you know." Her arms folded across her chest, mindfully trying to appear bigger than she felt.

"Well at least I never lost a gym battle, where the winning and losing actually matters."

"Hey!" Serena shouted, almost involuntarily.

He paused, clenching his fist as he cursed almost silently to himself.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have -"

"What gives you the right to say something like that?" Anger. She was more angry than she'd felt in a long time - since moving to Kalos, in fact.

It was not a good feeling on her.

"I know, I didn't mean that." He frowned, turning away. "Good luck at the gym. You'll do great."

Serena clenched her fist, grinding her teeth into her bottom lip. Anger flooding her brain and resentment overflowing her heart, she mindlessly moved forward. Busting out a few potions from her bag, she restored her team and stomped her way through the Coumarine gym doors.