Pokémon Go!

Chapter 20: Kozu Again! An Empty Clash

Narration: After an unlikely alliance with Team Dogma, Golen and his friends continue onto the last island before they reach Castelia City, Bond Island.

"Vanillite." Vanillite happily stated as it played with its trainer as the group relaxed in a forest. "Vanillite is amazing." Vlad said in awe. "I didn't expect it to be so nice considering how violent it was before." Carly admitted.

"Remember that the Pokémon from before were being possessed, so as a result their instincts were enhanced which caused them to behave like rabid beasts. I assure you that without that power that they are as helpless, harmless and….Ahhh!" Tom shouted as Swinub tackled him down. "Then again I could be mistaken." Tom stated before fainting. "Oh no, Professor!" Vlad shouted. "Wow that Swinub is a pretty aggressive Pokémon." Carly giggled as Vanillite let out a cold breath. "Hmm Vanillite is playful and Swinub is aggressive, so that must mean that Snorunt is…." Golen's face lighted up with joy at the thought of having captured an amazing Snorunt.

"Come on out Snorunt!" the black-haired lad eagerly shouted as he called out his newly obtained Pokémon. "Snorunt?" muttered the confused Snow Hat Pokémon.

"Alright Snorunt show me what you've got and let's battle!" Golen eagerly shouted. "Snorunt!" the Snow Hat Pokémon shouted as it fled from its trainer and hid behind a tree. "Eh? Snorunt?" Golen muttered, confused. "I guess your Snorunt isn't as awesome as you expected it to be." Carly chuckled to the goggles-wearing lad's chagrin. "That's a shame Mr. Golen." Vlad stated, trying to comfort his companion. "Why do I get the wimps?" Golen muttered as he sulked in the corner.

"So there's a force even stronger than Team Dogma?" Nichole asked in disbelief as the trio sat in a boat along with Duke's Archen and Nichole's Tirtouga. "Impossible." Zorua stated in disbelief.

"I hate to admit it but that appears to be the case." Duke told his teammates. "Could it be a reformed Team Rocket or even Team Magma?" Nichole asked. "Or it could possibly be a reformed Team Aqua, Team Galactic or even Team Plasma." Zorua added along. "Impossible, the core members of all those organizations were arrested decades ago. Besides of those choices only Team Plasma was ever active in the Unova region but even then I heard that the highest ranking members of the organization vanished fifteen years ago." Duke answered. "You see, that right there! If they vanished that could mean that they escaped and started building their strength up over the last fifteen years just to get their revenge against the Unova region." Nichole stated.

"But there's a problem with that theory. Team Dogma has complete control over the criminal underworld so there's no way that they could operate without us being aware of it." Duke answered much to the anger of his teammate. "Maybe it was that bastard Pokémon Hunter." Zorua suggested. "No, as much as we may hate him, he would never do something like that." Duke replied. "Besides whoever was behind that snowstorm incident was more than aware of our presence there yet still had no problem trying to kill everything on the island." Duke added along. "So not only are they more powerful than our organization but they also seem to have a grudge against us as well?" Zorua asked. "No, they probably hold no feelings of animosity towards us but it's more likely that they just don't view us as any sort of threat which is why they carried out their mission regardless of our presence on the island." Duke answered.

"A power greater than Team Dogma, I still can't believe it." Nichole said with a slightly frightened tone. "If whoever this force is wants a war, I promise that I'll wipe them out of existence." Zorua angrily declared. "It won't help us to overthink this, so let's just go on and continue working towards obtaining all pieces of the Accel Power." Duke told his companions as the group set out.

"Oh come on Snorunt, let's start training." Golen pleaded to the Snow Hat Pokémon who hid in a bush. "What a coward."Golen stated while complaining about Snorunt's lack of passion.

"The incompetence of the Pokémon is a result of the incompetency of the trainers you know." Carly told her companion who recalled the Snow Hat Pokémon. "Really? Well I guess that explains why you haven't won any battles yet, huh." Golen snidely replied to his companion. "Hey I have won a battle, I just don't need to battle as often as you do because my goal requirements aren't as simple and straightforward as yours are." Carly retorted. "Just for you guys to know I think Master Tom is still unconscious." Vlad stated as no one seemed to pay any mind to what he said. "Is that so? Uh wait, what are your goal requirements again?" Golen asked.

"I don't know." Carly said depressed. "How lame." Golen laughed. "As energetic as always, you people never change." a voice declared.

"Huh?" Golen and his friends looked back confused as they were surprised to see who it was. "Kozu!" exclaimed a surprised Golen. "It's been a while." Kozu casually replied. "Kozu?" Vlad muttered, confused. "He was a trainer we met back then in Corterra City." Carly informed her companion. "He was quite the potent competitor, he defeated Golen and Carly back-to-back." Tom stated as he suddenly got up to his companion's surprise. "He also beat you too Tom!" Carly reminded her companion.

"I recall that encounter quite well." Tom replied as he recalled his Swinub before it tackled him down again. "He defeated all three of you?" Vlad asked in shock.

"To be honest he did it kind of easily." Carly admitted to her companion. "Amazing." Vlad muttered in disbelief.

"So you got a new companion?" Kozu asked. "Yeah, he's Vlad. We met him the day after we last met up with you." Golen informed his rival. "I see, so is he a trainer as well?" Kozu asked.

"I'm sorry to tell you but I'm not." Vlad nervously chuckled. "Kozu do you think you can battle me again? I've gotten much better than I was before." Golen asked the silver-haired lad. "Fine, let's battle." Kozu eagerly replied. "Hold on, if anyone's going to get a rematch it's me. Battle me instead, Kozu!" Carly declared while interrupting the two trainers much to Kozu's surprise. "Carly please calm down, as it will be I who battles Kozu." Tom declared. "Back off you guys, I'll battle him!" Golen told his companions.

"Yeah Mr. Golen's got this!" Vlad declared. "Yeah right, after all he's the one who was thrashed the hardest last time." Carly retorted as the group began to argue with each other.

"Look he's going for Gym Battles like me which means he's a reserved opponent exclusively for me!" Golen told his companions. "I am a Gym Leader so I am just as qualified to be his opponent." Tom replied. "Yeah and I was the first one who battled him before so I think I deserve a rematch most." Carly added along. "Well you can't argue with that." Vlad stated. "Yes we can!" Golen and Tom retorted.

"Instead of bickering how about you all just battle me in the reverse order of the order that you battled me before?" Kozu suggested being completely indifferent towards their bickering.

"Good idea! Which means I'll be first, then uh…." "Then Tom and I'm last." Carly stated, finishing Golen's sentence. "Any objections?" Kozu asked. "Nay." Tom replied. "None here either." Carly added along. "I'll be the referee!" Vlad declared. "So Kozu what kind of battle do you want to have?" Golen asked. "Let's have a 3-on-3 battle, the first one to get two wins is victorious." Kozu answered. "Sounds good to me." Golen replied excited to avenge his past defeat.

"Alright, this will be 3-on-3 battle between Mr. Kozu and Mr. Golen. The first one to win two out of the three rounds will be the victor. Let the battle, BEGIN!" Vlad declared.

"Cyndaquil, let's go!" Golen declared as he called out the Fire Mouse Pokémon. "Why's he using Cyndaquil again?" Carly asked. "Surely he could not have forgotten about the Piplup that Kozu has." Tom added along. "Though regardless of who he uses we should be cautious. After all we are still oblivious as to how powerful Kozu has become since our previous encounter." Tom stated as he and Carly looked on. "Someone who's beaten Mr. Golen and the others, I have to pay close attention to this battle." Vlad thought to himself. "Go, Rufflet!" Kozu declared as he called out a small avian Pokémon with a blue body.

A large white plume of feathers covered its head and three tail feathers extended from its lower back. The feathery ruff extended down past its neck, covering the upper third of its body. Its face was blue with five pointed tips, resembling a mask and crown in contrast to the white feathers surrounding it. Extending from its forehead was a large feather, which was red on the lower half and white on the upper half. The split between the two colors on the feather resembled a zigzag pattern. Rufflet's beak was short and wide, with large eyes on either side. Each eye had a thick black iris with a small white pupil. Its yellow legs and feet were large in comparison to the body. Each foot had four digits: one backwards, and three forwards. "Rufflet?" Golen muttered confused. "What does the Pokédex say about that Pokémon, Ms. Carly?" Vlad asked his companion who pulled out her Pokédex.

Rufflet, the Eaglet Pokémon. It stands up to massive opponents, not out of courage, but out of recklessness. But that is how it gets stronger.

"A Normal and Flying-type this time, huh?" Carly muttered. "He didn't use this Pokémon last time." Golen thought to himself. "Golen, the first move belongs to you." Kozu told the goggles-wearing lad.

"I won't lose this time, Cyndaquil use Dig!" Golen commanded as the Fire Mouse Pokémon dug a hole underground much to Kozu's surprise. "What's he doing? Surely he knows that a Ground-type attack like Dig has no effect on Flying-types like Rufflet." Carly stated, confused about her companion's strategy. "Stay focused, the only way to understand his strategy is by closely watching the battle." Tom told his companion as they all looked on. As Rufflet stared into the hole that Cyndaquil dug, Kozu looked on intensely. "Flamethrower!" Golen commanded as a stream of red-orange flames emerged from the hole.

"Dodge it!" Kozu commanded as Rufflet flew into the sky and avoided the Flamethrower. "You can only do so much as long as you hide underground." Kozu stated as the flames dispersed.

"Yeah, you're right." Golen smiled as Cyndaquil appeared in the sky to everyone's shock. "Cyndaquil, Flamethrower!" Golen commanded as the air borne Fire Mouse Pokémon nailed the Eaglet Pokémon with a powerful Flamethrower. "I get it, so he used Dig and attacked from under there with Flamethrower to make Rufflet lower its guard enough so it could make a direct hit from above." Carly said, impressed. "As expected of Golen." Tom added along also quite impressed with his companion's strategy.

"Way to go Mr. Golen!" Vlad happily exclaimed as Kozu looked on, surprised. "Rufflet." the Eaglet Pokémon muttered being excited to continue battling. "Oh you really have improved." Kozu told his rival. "Of course, I wasn't able to fight at my full potential before but it's not like that anymore." Golen stated. "I also wasn't able to fight at my full potential before but seeing that you have improved I guess there's no harm in fighting you seriously." Kozu declared much to the excitement of the black-haired trainer. "Rufflet, Air Slash!" Kozu commanded as the Eaglet Pokémon flapped its wings, releasing multiple light blue glowing saw disc-like energy blades from its wings at Cyndaquil.

"Cyndaquil use Flame Wheel to counter the attack." Golen commanded as the Fire Mouse Pokémon ignited the flames on its back and began to roll in place as the flames shielded Cyndaquil from Rufflet's attack.

"Not bad, Rufflet use Air Slash again!" Kozu ordered once again as Rufflet once again attacked with Air Slash.

"If you're going to use the same attack so are we, Flame Wheel!" Golen commanded as Cyndaquil once again used Flame Wheel. As the Fire Mouse Pokémon spun in place the saws from the Air Slash instead attacked the ground under it, causing Cyndaquil to lose its balance. "No way!" Golen shouted in shock. "Shadow Claw!" Kozu commanded as Rufflet's claws became surrounded by a black aura with a purple outline. Rufflet dove down at Cyndaquil as it slashed at Cyndaquil and sent it flying into a nearby tree. "Cyndaquil!" shouted a worried Golen. "Cynda!" Cyndaquil stated as it shook off the damage it had just received.

"Golen it's no surprise that you and Cyndaquil are far more powerful than you were before." Kozu stated. "Why thank you." Golen boastfully stated as he began adopted a much more egotistical smile.

"But that doesn't change the fact that there's no spirit in your battling." Kozu declared. "What?" Golen asked, confused. "You told me before that you weren't fighting at your best but even now that you've become stronger your battling is as empty as it was back then." Kozu replied to the goggles-wearing lad's shock. "Aerial Ace!" Kozu commanded as Rufflet dove down at Cyndaquil and flapped its wings once. As it did so it was encased in a clear aura as it began to move so fast it became a blur. "C…Cyndaquil dodge it with Quick Attack." Golen stated as he slightly hesitated to order the attack while Cyndaquil was encased in a white light as it ran away from Rufflet. The two Pokémon soon ran deeper into the forest at an intense speed.

"Come on, Golen!" Kozu declared as he ran after their Pokémon. "Y…yeah!" Golen shouted as he ran after Kozu. "What about us?" Carly asked.

"You guys stay in place, we'll be back soon!" Golen answered as he was eventually out of sight from his companion's view. "Cynda, cynda, cynda." Cyndaquil stated as it continued to run away from Rufflet. "Hurry up Golen!" Kozu shouted to the goggles-wearing lad who lagged behind. "Who would have thought he was so extreme when it came to things like this." Golen muttered as he tried to catch up to Kozu. "Rufflet!" Rufflet wailed as it unleashed an Air Slash at Cyndaquil which stopped it in its tracks. "Cynda!" Cyndaquil stated as it attempted to attack Rufflet with Quick Attack. "Rufflet!" Rufflet shouted as it intercepted Cyndaquil's attack with Aerial Ace. As the moves cancelled each other out both Pokémon stood across each other awaiting the arrival of their trainers.

"A standstill, huh? Hmph Cyndaquil is impressive." Kozu stated as he arrived to the location where the two Pokémon were. "Rufflet!" Rufflet exclaimed.

"Hold on a second, we don't battle until Golen gets here." Kozu told the Eaglet Pokémon as the black-haired lad arrived. "*pant* *pant* I made it." said a tired out Golen. "Golen prepare yourself!" Kozu told the lad. "Uh oh yeah, Cyndaquil use Flamethrower!" Golen commanded as Cyndaquil once again launched a stream of red-orange flames at the Eaglet Pokémon. "Dodge it and use Shadow Claw!" Kozu commanded as Rufflet jumped above the Flamethrower and rushed at Cyndaquil as it prepared to strike it down with Shadow Claw.

"I won't let that happen, Cyndaquil use Dig!" Golen commanded as Cyndaquil quickly cancelled out its Flamethrower and proceeded to dig a hole underground. "I expected that, Aerial Ace into the hole!" Kozu commanded as Rufflet cancelled out its Shadow Claw and dove into the hole. "Hurry and use Flamethrower!" Golen urgently commanded.

From the ground emerged Cyndaquil who was driven right out of hole by Rufflet's Aerial Ace. "Cyndaquil!" Golen commanded as Cyndaquil fell to the floor.

"As strong as you have become, you won't be able to truly succeed if you don't regain your passion." Kozu told the black-haired lad. "What are you talking about?" asked a confused Golen. "I can see through your deception, after all those certainly aren't the eyes of a passionate trainer." Kozu replied much to Golen's surprise. "C…Cyndaquil end this with Flame Wheel!" Golen commanded as the Fire Mouse Pokémon ignited the flame on its back as it somersaulted into the air as it was encased in a flame cloak while it rolled at Rufflet. "Aerial Ace!" Kozu commanded as Rufflet clashed with Cyndaquil. "They're equal." Golen muttered. "Not exactly, Sky Drop!" Kozu commanded.

"S…Sky Drop!?" Golen exclaimed, confused as Rufflet grabbed onto Cyndaquil and flew into the sky. "No, Cyndaquil use Flamethrower!" Golen commanded as Cyndaquil didn't do a thing.

"What's going on?" Golen asked. "When a Pokémon is caught in the grip of a Pokémon who is using the move Sky Drop, they are incapable of attacking until the attack is finished." Kozu informed his opponent as Rufflet came diving down into the ground at a rapid pace as it released Cyndaquil which resulted in Cyndaquil getting smashed into the ground. "Cyndaquil!" Golen shouted. As the smoke cleared the Fire Mouse Pokémon lied on the ground having been knocked out. "You lose this round." Kozu admitted as he recalled the Eaglet Pokémon. "Thank you, I'll make sure to live up to the effort that you put into battle." Kozu stated as he thanked his Pokémon. "Thanks for your hard work Cyndaquil." Golen stated as he recalled the Fire Mouse Pokémon. "If I win this round then this battle is mine." Kozu declared. "I know that, which is why I'm not going to let that happen." Golen replied.

"Alright, then Round 2 begins now!" Kozu declared as he called out his Piplup. "Piplup? The only one who can defeat Piplup is this guy!" Golen declared as he tossed his Pokéball.

"Snivy!" Snivy shouted as it emerged from its Pokéball. "Snivy? I see so you plan on defeating me with a type advantage this time." Kozu said, amused.

"No, I didn't choose Snivy because of a type advantage. I chose it because I want to show you just how passionate a trainer I am." Golen declared. "Very well, if that is what you want then come at me." Kozu stated. "Snivy, Hidden Power!" Golen commanded as Snivy's tail began to glow. It then formed a purplish pink and black ball of energy at the tip of its tail as it launched the ball at Piplup. "Intercept it with Cut!" Kozu commanded as one of Piplup's arms glowed light blue and it sliced right through the Hidden Power.

"If that won't work then use Iron Tail!" Golen commanded as Snivy's tail glowed white before turning into iron as it struck at the Penguin Pokémon.

"Piplup, counter that with Drill Peck!" Kozu commanded as Piplup's beak glowed white and it spun like a drill as it jumped at Snivy and counter its Iron Tail. The two moves ended in a stalemate as the two Pokémon stood across each other. "This one's even stronger than the last one." Kozu said, impressed. "Of course, Snivy was one of my first captures." Golen confidently replied. "I see, but as strong as it is it won't matter if you can't respond to its will." Kozu told the black-haired boy.

"Yeah you're right. But the same applies to you as well, right Kozu?" Golen asked the surprised silver-haired lad. "What are you talking about?" Kozu asked, confused.

"Hmph well it's just a theory I have. If you're able to tell that I'm doubting my own abilities and am fighting without passion than I guess that you must be going through a similar experience to be able to do that." Golen told the silver-haired lad who remained silent. "To think that he was able to see through me like that." Kozu thought to himself. "So basically you can say that this is just an empty clash between trainers struggling to find their way." Golen declared. "Yeah, but just because it's an empty clash doesn't mean that there isn't any meaning behind it." Kozu added along.

"Bring it on Kozu." Golen said, determined to win. "Piplup use Ice Beam!" Kozu commanded as the Penguin Pokémon opened its beak and formed a light blue ball inside it. It then fired multiple light blue beams from the ball at Snivy. "Snivy dodge it and use Growth!" Golen commanded as the Grass Snake Pokémon avoided the attack as light green orbs began to appear around Snivy as it absorbed the orbs and began to glow.

"Now use Vine Whip!" Golen commanded as Snivy launched out two green vines at the Penguin Pokémon.

"Drill Peck!" Kozu commanded as the Penguin Pokémon avoided the vines and rammed itself into the Grass Snake Pokémon. "Snivy!" Snivy shouted as it fell to the floor. "Snivy!" Golen shouted in shock. "It seems that I've won again." Kozu declared. "But what's the point in victory if I don't even know my own purpose?" Kozu asked himself. "I won't lose, not until I redeem myself!" Golen declared to Kozu's surprise. "S…snivy." Snivy declared as it rose to its feet. "Heh you see this battle isn't over yet." Golen declared. "Golen….Ken, you are nothing like I expected." Kozu muttered to himself.

"Snivy use Hidden Power!" Golen commanded as Snivy released a barrage of Hidden Powers at Piplup. "Dodge it!" Kozu commanded as Piplup narrowly avoided all of the Hidden Power.

"Snivy use Growth again!" Golen commanded as Snivy once again increased its attack stats. "Increasing your attack to win the battle in one hit won't work on me." Kozu told his opponent. "We'll see about that." Golen declared. "Piplup use Ice Beam!" Kozu commanded as Piplup unleashed an Ice Beam at the Grass Snake Pokémon. "Snivy stop the Ice Beam with Iron Tail!" Golen commanded as Snivy smacked away the Ice Beam with its Iron Tail. "I get it, you aren't only increasing your attack so you can defeat us as soon as possible but you are also doing it to use your own attacks to protect yourself from our attacks." Kozu stated. "Yeah, as long as we can defend against your attacks we'll find a way to win the battle." Golen declared. "It won't be that easy." Kozu stated in response. "Hidden Power!" Golen commanded as Snivy released a barrage of Hidden Powers at Piplup.

"Intercept that with Hydro Pump!" Kozu commanded as Piplup opened its beak as its mouth began to glow blue while a blue ball of water formed in front of its beak. The ball of water then flattened and turned into a circle. Then, a powerful jet of water was fired from the circle at the Hidden Power. The Hydro Pump quickly cancelled out the Hidden Powers as an explosion engulfed the arena. "Another stalemate." Golen muttered.

"I can't afford to drag this battle on any further, Piplup settle this with Drill Peck!" Kozu commanded as the Penguin Pokémon rushed at the Grass Snake Pokémon at an impressive speed.

"Prepare an Iron Tail!" Golen commanded as Snivy stood in place and prepared an Iron Tail. "What are you up to?" Kozu thought to himself as Piplup nearly made contact with Snivy. "Now!" Golen commanded as Snivy narrowly avoided Piplup's Drill Peck and smacked it in the face with an Iron Tail. "Pi-plup!" Piplup cried as it was sent flying into the sky. "Now Hidden Power!" Golen added along as Snivy quickly nailed Piplup with a powerful Hidden Power. "Vine Whip!" Golen commanded as Snivy rushed up to a plummeting Piplup and attempted to hit it with one more attack.

"Ice Beam!" Kozu commanded as Piplup quickly caught itself in the sky and nailed Snivy with an Ice Beam. Both Pokémon landed on their feet, both determined to win the battle.

"Snivy use Iron Tail!" "Piplup use Cut!" the two trainers commanded as the two Pokémon ran towards each other.

The two Pokémon then clashed as they both stood on opposite sides of the arena. "Snivy." Snivy stated as it looked back while Piplup had fallen. "I…impossible." Kozu said in disbelief.

"Alright! Snivy won!" Golen happily shouted as he hugged the Grass Snake Pokémon. "Snivy." Snivy muttered, annoyed. "To think you beat the same Piplup that thrashed us before, you really are amazing Snivy." Golen happily told the Grass Snake Pokémon. "Were my feelings for victory not strong enough?" Kozu asked himself. "You were great, Snivy." Golen happily stated as he recalled Snivy. "I'm sorry Piplup, my own incompetence cost you the match." Kozu stated as he recalled the fallen Penguin Pokémon. "Heh now the scores tied." Golen stated. "Golen let's settle this!" Kozu declared determined to make up for his defeat.

"Let's go Kozu!" Golen happily declared. "To make this more interesting let's both use our most powerful Pokémon." Kozu told his opponent. "Uh? Strongest?" Golen asked, confused.

"Yeah, in this Pokéball is my most powerful partner." Kozu declared. "It has to be, Torchic?" Golen thought to himself. "Well? Aren't you going to call out your strongest?" Kozu asked Golen. "My strongest." Golen muttered to himself as he remembered his Emolga. "I can't use Emolga, it's not in the right condition for battle. But even so, I won't be able to beat Kozu's strongest Pokémon if I don't go all out." Golen thought to himself. "Mudkip or Trapinch would be good replacements for Emolga but a type advantage doesn't guarantee a win and it could be possible that Torchic isn't even his strongest Pokémon." Golen pondered on, questioning who to choose for the final round.

"Golen, rather than allowing your own doubts to cloud your judgment just come down to a decision based off of your desire for victory." Kozu told his rival.

"He's right. For the sake of victory I'll…I'll…" before Golen could finish his statement an explosion occurred from elsewhere in the forest. "What was that?" Vlad asked as he and the others looked at the smoke. "I assume it is from the battle between Golen and Kozu." Tom answered.

"What in the world is that?" Golen asked in confusion. "This battle is on hold. Come on, let's go!" Kozu declared as he ran off in the direction of the explosion. "Uh…Kozu!" Golen shouted as he ran after the silver-haired lad.

"What was that explosion just now?" Golen asked himself as he and Kozu continued running onward to the location of the explosion. "Are we there yet Kozu?" Golen shouted as Kozu suddenly stopped in his tracks. "What's wrong?" Golen asked the lad. "Get down." Kozu replied as he and Golen hid behind a tree. "Who are those people?" Golen asked as a group of people in similar outfits showed up.

The group of people wore long dark green colored uniforms with large black stylized TD symbols across their chests along with white gloves and boots. "That symbol." Golen muttered surprised as he recognized their symbol from the Dogma trio's uniforms. "What's wrong, do you recognize them?" Kozu quietly asked the goggles-wearing lad. "Um well it's complicated." Golen answered. "Oh yeah? How so?" a man asked as he stood behind the duo. "Look out!" Kozu stated as he grabbed Golen and jumped out of the way of the man's pipe.

"Looks like I found some rats." the man stated as the grunts gathered around the two young trainers. "What are you people doing here?" Kozu asked. "It's none of your business you little punk." one of the people stated.

"Hey! Are you people Team Dogma?" Golen asked the group much to their surprise. "Team…Dogma?" Kozu muttered, surprised. "So a twerp like you knows about the great Team Dogma, huh?" one of the grunts asked. "Golen how do you know these people?" Kozu asked the black-haired lad. "I've never met these people in particular before but I have met a couple of Team Dogma members before." Golen answered. "Eh? So you met some other members? They must have been chumps if you're still alive." one of the grunts stated. "Hey take that back! As members of Team Dogma isn't it your duty to value your teammates!?" Golen asked the group. "The only duty that we have is to guarantee Team Dogma's place at the top of the world, any weaklings who can't even take care of kids like you are only a hindrance to that duty." one of the grunts declared.

"You no good…" Golen muttered to himself as Kozu looked over to see an injured group of Pokémon. A few of them were blue, bipedal Pokémon that had ovoid bodies. The lower half of their bodies were white with a white, bubble-like pattern above it. They had elongated, rabbit-like ears with red insides and circular blue eyes. Their arms and feet were short with rounded ends and no discernible digits. They also had a black zigzagging tail with a blue, bubble-like tip. The rest of them were small, blue bipedal Pokémon. They had a nearly spherical shape with a white underside, and had round ears with red insides. Their arms and feet were short and possessed no visible digits. They also possessed a zigzagging black tail with a blue, bubble-like ball on the end of it.

"Since you've spotted us we can't allow you two to live." one of the grunts declared. "It'd be unforgivable if we weren't able to take the both of you down." another grunt added.

"The only thing that's unforgivable is the fact that you no good criminals dared to harm innocent Pokémon." Kozu declared as he stepped up to all of them. "Kozu, what are you?" "Golen stand back. I'll settle this alone." Kozu stated as he interrupted the black-haired lad. "What are you saying Kozu?" Golen asked the silver-haired lad. "Your Snivy and Cyndaquil are already worn out and I don't want the rest of your Pokémon to tire themselves out fighting this battle." Kozu answered. "But Kozu, even if it's you it'll still be a challenge to take on these many opponents." Golen told his rival. "That's why I have to do this." Kozu declared to Golen's confusion.

"A doubt filled trainer without enough confidence in himself to even find a true purpose. If I can't win here then what point is there in fighting towards a dream?" Kozu asked Golen. "I understand." Golen stated understanding what the silver-haired lad was saying. "I intended to surprise you with this trump card but their actions have forced my hand." Kozu declared as he threw out the Pokéball.

From the Pokéball emerged a bipedal, chicken-like Pokémon. Most of its upper body was yellow, while most of the lower body was orange. An orange, pointed design adorned the center of its waist at the dividing line of the two colors. It had orange eyes, and a short, wide beak. There was a feather crest on top of its head with three orange points. Its tail was short and pointed. It had three, sharp claws at the ends of its long arms, and scaly, gray legs with well-developed thighs covered in shaggy yellow feathers. "What in the world is that Pokémon?" Golen asked in shock. "So you've got a Combusken, huh?" one of the grunts asked, amused. "Combusken? So that means Torchic evolved." Golen said in shock as he remembered Kozu's Torchic. "That doesn't mean a thing to us!" one of the grunts declared as they all called out an assortment of Pokémon, the Pokémon that they called consisted of Watchog, Koffing and Liepard.

"One against twenty." Golen muttered. "We win, Liepard, Night Slash!" "Koffing use Tackle!" "Watchog use Hyper Fang!" the grunts declared as the Pokémon all charged at the lone Combusken.

"Come on Kozu do something." Golen muttered, worried. "Combusken, Low Sweep!" Kozu commanded as Combusken swept its legs at its opponents' feet, tripping various opponents. "Now use Fire Spin!" Kozu commanded as Combusken avoided the attacks of various Liepard, Koffing and Watchog and pelted a Liepard with Fire Spin. From behind Combusken appeared a Watchog who prepared Hyper Fang. "Look out!" Golen shouted. "Low Sweep." Kozu muttered as Combusken kicked away the Watchog. "Damn it, this punk has some skill." a grunt admitted. "Everyone, prepare a long range attack this time!" a grunt declared.

"Liepard, Dark Pulse" "Koffing, Sludge Wave!" "Watchog, Hyper Beam!" the grunts declared as all of their Pokémon prepared their attacks.

"Now's my chance, Rock Slide!" Kozu commanded as Combusken slammed its claw into the ground. From the sky appeared multiple white rings of energy and large grey boulders come out of the ripples of energy. The boulders then fell down and rained over the opponents. "Amazing!" Golen exclaimed in awe. "No way, he nailed us all at once!" shouted a grunt in disbelief. "This is bad." another grunt added along as all of the Pokémon were knocked out by the Rock Slide. "This is over." Kozu stated as Combusken began to walk over to its trainer.

"Not yet, Hyper Fang!" one of the grunts commanded as a Watchog appeared from the rubble and attempted to strike down Combusken. "Fire Punch." Kozu muttered as one of Combusken's fists were encased in red-orange flames as it quickly struck down the Watchog. "No way." the grunts muttered in disbelief.

"That was awesome Kozu!" Golen stated while congratulating the silver-haired lad. "No this was nothing, just a reckless unofficial battle against no good criminals." Kozu replied. "Impossible, even though we're the lowest leveled grunts only higher up Team Dogma members and the Pokémon Hunter should be able to take us all out alone." one of the grunts stated. "Pokémon Hunter?" Kozu muttered in bewilderment. "Let's get out of here!" the grunts shouted as they ran away. "I didn't expect there to be a new villainous organization lurking about." Kozu stated as he recalled his Combusken.

"Thank you and I promise that I won't bring you out against low class opponents like that again." Kozu muttered to the Pokéball.

"Those guys were pitifully weak in comparison to the Team Dogma members that I have met." Golen stated. "I wish that I could have battled those members instead." Kozu stated. "Yeah." Golen muttered. "Team Dogma members besides them? I didn't expect Team Dogma to be such a large organization." Golen thought to himself. "It's getting dark, we should probably camp out." Kozu declared. "Yeah, but wait what about our battle?" Golen asked. "Hmph let's just settle the score on another day." Kozu answered. "Fine but just for you to remember I didn't lose!" Golen stated. "Yeah I understand." Kozu replied.

A while later it was nighttime as Golen rested in his sleeping bag. Elsewhere Kozu sat on a tree stump as he looked up into the clear night sky.

"Hey Kozu what are you doing here all alone?" asked Golen as he quickly woke up and walked up to the silver-haired lad. "Nothing really just looking at the stars in the sky." Kozu answered.

"Why are you doing that?" Golen asked confused. "No reason really, but looking in the sky helps soothe the doubts and worries I have about myself." Kozu stated. "Oh come on Kozu you don't have to be worried about anything. After all you're one of the most powerful guys I know, in fact with that Combusken you probably would have beaten me again." Golen admitted to the silver-haired lad. "Is that so? It's funny but even with all the power in the world I still don't even have the strength to believe in myself." Kozu told the black-haired lad. "Kozu." Golen muttered, surprised.

"Hey Kozu can I ask you a question?" Golen asked the lad. "What is it?" Kozu asked in response. "Why did you choose to battle me?" Golen asked to Kozu's shock.

"I mean I know that I gained a bit of fame for helping to stop that Museum Robbery but stopping low life punks didn't really make me look like much of a powerful competitor." Golen added along. "It wasn't for beating those crooks or even stopping the theft that I decided to battle you." Kozu answered. "There was something about you that really inspired me to try and battle you. The energy and passion you seemed to have really made me believe that through battling you that I could find a true purpose." Kozu added along much to Golen's shock.

"I see, well sorry that I didn't live up to the standards you had for me." Golen stated while apologizing to his rival. "It's true that you aren't how I expected you to be but you did exceed quite a few of my expectations." Kozu replied to Golen's relief.

"Hey Golen, tell me why are you aiming for the Unova League?" Kozu asked the lad. "I aim for the league because I want to redeem myself." Golen answered. "Why do you need to redeem yourself?" Kozu asked.

"I need to make up for my own weaknesses." Golen answered. "I don't know why I feel like I need to do that but it just feels like something that I have to do no matter what." Golen added along. "I see, we're both more alike than I realized." Kozu stated. "Really? Well why are you aiming for the Unova League?" Golen asked in response. "I was hoping through winning the Unova League that I would be able to find a dream of my own." Kozu answered. "I never heard of someone entering the Unova League for something like that." Golen said, impressed. "That's exactly what my brother said when I told him that." Kozu replied with a smile.

"You have a brother?" Golen asked. "Yeah, though it's almost been two years since I last saw him." Kozu answered. "Huh? How come?" Golen asked.

"It's nothing really, it was just that he was too young to start his journey so he had to stay behind while I wandered the region trying to find a purpose." Kozu replied. "Around now he'd be about twelve years old." Kozu added along. "It sounds like a bummer that he was left behind but there's always a strong bond between siblings no matter how far away they are from each other or how they may treat each other." Golen stated. "It's the same with me and my sister no matter how much she hates to admit it." Golen added along. "Siblings really are something. I remember that my brother gave me this." Kozu stated as he pulled off his one of his gloves and revealed a golden bracelet. "What is that?" Golen asked confused.

"It's a bracelet that my brother gave me before I headed out on my journey. I promised him that when I proved myself as a True Pokémon Trainer I would return to him with that bracelet." Kozu answered.

"True Pokémon Trainer? What's that?" Golen asked. "It's an elite among elites, someone with endless courage and the heart to look towards the future, a trainer who no matter what the circumstances will value the lives of their comrades above their own. At least that what's I believe it is." Kozu answered. "Now I get it, well doesn't that count as a dream to look forward to?" Golen asked.

"It would be but even if I know what it is to be a True Pokémon Trainer it doesn't mean that I have what it takes to achieve that status." Kozu replied while doubting himself once again.

"Oh come on Kozu, just believe in yourself. You have what it takes to become a True Pokémon Trainer." Golen stated as he reassured the silver-haired lad. "Thanks for that." Kozu said as he thanked the goggles-wearing lad. "No problem, you know I really wish that we got to know each other better when we first met. It really was a bummer since I wasn't really in the right state of mind back then but I'm glad we got to know each other better now." Golen cheerfully told his rival. "I feel the same. But Golen why is it that even now you aren't as filled with passion as you were before we met?" Kozu asked the lad.

"I…I'm not sure." Golen solemnly replied. "Well regardless of that I know that you'll regain what you lost." Kozu reassured the lad who smiled in response.

A while had passed as it was eventually morning. "Well Kozu, it was a blast." Golen stated as he prepared to bid farewell to his rival. "Yeah, it was. Let's have a rematch the next time we meet." Kozu suggested. "Yeah, I look forward to it." Golen replied as Kozu bid him a farewell. "Hold on, take this!" Kozu stated as he tossed a black tube at Golen. "Huh? What is this?" Golen asked as he opened up the tube and was shocked to see Kozu's bracelet in it.

"Your bracelet, but Kozu…" "Keep it." Kozu stated, interrupting the black-haired lad's objection. "Hold on to that bracelet until I can prove myself as a True Pokémon Trainer, if I can't prove myself through that at the Pokémon League then I'm not worthy of that bracelet." Kozu stated to Golen's shock as he accepted Kozu's bracelet. "Until then." Kozu stated as he left the area. "Kozu….well at least now I know that the Pokémon League will be even more fun than I expected it to be. A True Pokémon Trainer against the next Legendary Trainer, I can't wait to see which one prevails at the League." Golen enthusiastically thought to himself.

"But before then I have to win my 3rd badge at the Castelia Gym." Golen thought to himself. "I heard that it's a Bug-type Gym but I wonder what kind of Bug-types they use?" Golen thought to himself as he remembered that Larvesta he had met at Resort Island.

"Well regardless let's go!" Golen stated as he left excited to get his next badge.

Narration: After another encounter with Kozu, Golen finds himself even more motivated than ever. But will this motivation lead him to victory?

"He left us." Carly said upset as she and the others remained in the same place that they were in before. "Oh come on, Mr. Golen wouldn't forget about us." Vlad stated trying to reassure his companions. "I feel so neglected." Tom stated as he awaited the arrival of his companion. "...I can't believe he forgot us." Vlad stated, depressed.

Major Events (8/10/13-8/11/13): Golen and his friends meet up with Kozu again with Vlad meeting him for the first time.

Golen battles Kozu again but their battle is left with no result.

Kozu learns about Team Dogma and a Pokémon Hunter with Golen discovering the existence of members outside of the Dogma trio.

Kozu is revealed to own a Rufflet while his Torchic is revealed to have evolved into a Combusken and to have learned Low Sweep, Rock Slide and Fire Punch while his Piplup is revealed to have learned Cut and Drill Peck.

Kozu reveals his desire to prove himself as a True Pokémon Trainer at the Pokémon League and as a result gives Golen his bracelet.

Characters:

Golen

Carly

Tom

Vlad

Kozu

Nichole

Duke

Team Dogma grunts

Casey (flashback)

Pokémon:

Emolga (Golen's, fantasy, flashback)

Zorua (Team Dogma)

Snivy (Golen's)

Cyndaquil (Golen's)

Snorunt (Golen's)

Vanillite (Carly's)

Swinub (Tom's)

Combusken (Kozu's, debut)

Piplup (Kozu's)

Rufflet (Kozu's, debut)

Torchic (Kozu's, flashback)

Tirtouga (Nichole's)

Archen (Duke's)

Liepard (Grunts', multiple)

Koffing (Grunts', multiple)

Watchog (Grunts', multiple)

Marill (wild, multiple, debut)

Azumarill (wild, multiple, debut)

Larvesta (Casey's, flashback)