Kyouhei swung his leg, Krom lifting his elbow block it. He laughed, watching his friend giggle. The boys waited out side of the Driftveil Gym for Clay, the leader gone on business. Krom swung his fist, Kyouhei jumping back. Saria giggled, watching the boys spar. Kyouhei swung his leg, sweeping Krom's from under him. Krom smirked, placing his hand on the ground. He balanced on one hand, kicking at Kyouhei. The boy grabbed Krom's foot, and he smirked. He pulled back, and Kyouhei flew through the air. Saria used Psychic, balancing him on his feet. Krom spun, landing on his feet.

The boy's continued to spar, Krom gaining the upper hand. Kyouhei enjoyed fighting, as long as no one got hurt. Saria healed any injuries with Heal Pulse, the most severe a broken wrist Krom suffered doing a handstand. She giggled at them. Krom was a warrior, powerful and agile. Kyouhei was nimble, using more dance like movements to fight. They turned, seeing the short, stout older man known as Clay the Cowboy arrive.

"Krom Hitoawa? Nice to finally see you. I reckon it's time for our battle. Folla me." he said, thick drawl in his tone. Kyouhei decided to stay behind, enjoying the town. He liked the shops, and Z smiled at the assorted herbs and spices, being raised by shamans. He told Z to keep Grumpykins company, using his name for the Bastiodon. Handy followed Z, motioning to his hand and Z. He giggled, nodding. The two powerhouses headed back to camp, and Kyouhei headed south. He giggled at the sight of the workers at the Cold Storage.

He walked through the cold area, smiling at the sight of the workers and Pokemon. Vanillite and Cubchoo bumbled about, being watched over by a Vanillish. Kyouhei was happy, but then he heard a whimper. He turned, seeing a shivering Pansage. The Pokemon had a bow in it's hair, which made the boy think it was a girl. He grabbed her, taking her to the Poke-Center.

Krom squared off against Clay, who sent out a Sandslash. Krom decided to use Rufus, the mole smiling at his foe. Clay called for Slash, the armadillo charging the mole, claws glowing. Krom smiled, calling for Slash himself. The mole jumped forward, claws glowing the same. The armadillo came up, and the mole came down. Their claws interlocked, and Clay called for Night Slash, and Krom called for Skull Bash.

The armadillo came up, swinging it's claws. The mole slammed it's skull into the armadillo, who stumbled back, their claws disconnecting. Krom called for X-Scissor, the mole striking with his claws. The armadillo stumbled back, the mole's attack cutting into it's flesh. Clay frowned. He called for Stone Edge, the mole flinging out sharp stones. Krom called for Drill Run, the mole turning into a drill. The stones struck the mole as he spiraled, causing him to grunt. Clay called for Poison Jab, the purple claw striking the mole.

Rufus grunted, as he flew back. Krom called for Focus Blast, the ball of energy surprising the gym leader. "I reckon I've never seen a Drilbur do that befar." he said. Krom chuckled, the mole curling into a ball to avoid damage. Clay called for Rollout, the armadillo spinning to charge the mole. The attack struck Rufus, who flew back. The armadillo continued his assault, striking again. Krom called for Poison Jab, Rufus striking as a third Rollout defeated him.

Kyouhei entered the Poke-Center, Pansage in hand. He ran up to a Nurse Joy, pleading for help. She merely shrugged him off, growling in disgust. "We don't serve your kind." she said. Kyouhei frowned. He placed the Pokemon on a small operating table she wheeled around, slapping her in the face. "Help her." he said. She held her cheek, refusing. Krom growling, slapping her harder. "HELP HER!" he yelled. She refused again, and he frowned.

He grabbed her by the throat, slamming her head into a wall. He repeatedly asked her to help, and each time she refused, he slammed her head into a wall. Her skull was split, and she choked on her own blood, but she still refused. He roared, grabbing her temples and head butting her, cracking her skull more. She angered him, so he decided to hurt her for not helping his friend. He spun her face, snapping her neck and ending her.

He walked, covered in blood, to the Pansage. He found a Full Restore, spraying the item onto the freezing Pokemon, who slowly recovered. He smiled, fling things across the building and finding an empty Heal Ball. He liked the pink ball, giggling as he caught the Pokemon. He thought about her, deciding to call her Petra. He kept her in her Pokeball, heading to the Cold Storage. He didn't want any more Pokemon to end up like her, so he went looking.

Sandslash fell from poison just as Krom sent out Haxorus. The Pokemon had trained with Granitwarf, and the Oozaru. His body was muscled, different from the thin, pasty dragon he adopted in Pinwheel Village. He wore an even larger set of axes, growling as he watched Clay send out Excadrill. The larger mole frowned, and Clay called for Drill Run. Krom scoffed, calling for Aqua Tail.

The mole flew at the dragon, who jumped, slamming his tail into the mole, flinging it into a wall and defeating it. Clay smiled, chuckling at the strength of the dragon. He sent out his Krokorok, who roared before glowing blue. Krom blinked, having never seen a gym leader's Pokemon evolve in battle.

The newly evolved Krookodile smiled, and Haxorus growled. The Krookodile was larger than normal by at least a foot, but Krom wasn't deterred. Clay called for Night Slash, and Krom called for Fire Punch. The croc swung his claws, which suddenly glowed blue, as he learned Dragon Claw. Haxorus leaned back, swinging his fist. The croc dodged, Krom calling for Dual Chop. The dragon came down, evading the Dragon Claw with his long neck. He sliced into the croc, cutting open his breast, and under his arm.

The Krookodile cried out, falling to the ground. Blood drenched the Pokemon's body and the field, his life fading slowly from his body. Clay gaped. Krom was in shock as well. The croc flailed one last time, exhaling one last time before the life faded from his body. Krom was shocked as the Pawniard appeared, taking the carcass off the field. Clay growled, sending out his final Pokemon, an Onix.

The snake growled at the dragon, towering over him. Kooky stopped, turning to the snake and yelling. He burst onto the field, shoving the dragon off. Haxorus looked to Krom, who chuckled as he returned the dragon. "Okay Kooky! Give it your best!" he called to the little ninjatic Pokemon. Clay called for Iron Tail, and the tail of the snake glew. He swung down as Kooky jumped up, using Dark Pulse to damage the Pokemon. The Onix was unfazed, coming down for a Headbutt. The Pawniard was aerodynamic, seemingly floating away, using Dark Pulse again as he landed.

The Pawniard laughed, wearing his Misty facemask as he jumped away from another Iron Tail. He kept using dark Pulse and Psycho Cut, neither attack doing any damage to the Onix. Krom growled, calling for Flash Cannon. He hoped the super effective move would do him some good, but it did naught. The beam struck the Onix, who used Iron Tail to avoid damage. Krom became annoyed, yelling to Kooky to switch out.

The Pawniard turned to him, pulling on his eyelid and sticking his tongue out. Krom gaped, watching the Onix Iron Tail the Pawniard. Krom watched the Pokemon hit the wall with a crash, his facemask left behind. Krom walked over, picking up the mask, handing it to Granitwarf. The dwarf shuddered, holding the mask at arm's reach. The Pawniard slouched in a corner, seemingly defeated. Krom pulled a ball from his belt, ready to have Twiggy end this with Leaf Storm.

But Kooky looked up, without his mask or helmet. Krom had never seen the Pokemon without either, finding his appearance interesting. His face was gray, similar to a Sneasel. But Kooky had a puckered scar in the shape of an X across his face. The Pokemon screamed, a sound Krom had never heard before. He launched himself into the air, landing on the head of the Onix.

Kooky glew silver, slamming his skull into the Onix. The Pokemon screamed in pain, falling to the ground, spraying dust and dirt everywhere. When the dust cleared, Kooky screamed over the body of the defeated Onix. Clay returned it, flinging Krom the badge. "Not bad young'un. I reckon you'd be a darn good champ." he said, smirking at the trainer. Krom smiled, waving goodbye to the leader.

He met Kyouhei outside of the gym, noticing he had a Pansage on his head, wearing a bow. He smiled, noticing the hands of the trainer. He rubbed his hands, seeming upset. "What's wrong?" He asked Kyouhei. The trainer grumbled, grabbing Krom's hand and leading him to the Cold Storage.

They walked inside of a storage container. The place was abandoned, and colder than the rest of the complex. Kyouhei pointed to the back of the container, and Krom looked at where the boy pointed. He saw a huge block of ice, larger than the Poke-Center outside. Krom pulled his hand away, looking down at it. His hand was coated in blood, and he noticed Kyouhei's was too. He shrugged it off, walking closer to the ice.

Krom gaped. Within the ice was a sixteen foot tall, likely over half ton, less rounded Mamoswine. He smiled, telling Granitwarf to break the ice. The dwarf walked up, slamming the hammer into the ice. The ice cracked, the cracks spreading until it fell away from the mammoth Pokemon. The Pokemon roared, and Krom laughed. The Pokemon glared down at him, and he stood his ground. The Pokemon raised on two legs, slamming down and roaring. Krom stood still, his hair billowing as he was roared at.

The mammoth stopped, curling up and laying down. Krom laughed, picking up a Pokeball and capturing the mammoth. The Pokeball popped, and he cheered. Kyouhei laughed and clapped, and Saria smiled.

Krom had called Simba, the Luxray arriving within the hour. Krom told him to take a box to Homika at the next meeting, sly smirk on his face. He also told the Luxray to take some of his Pokemon, as he felt they would be better off in the village. Rocky, Rufus, Clera, Nibbles and Emolga went back, leaving Krom with Granitwarf, Infernape, Haxorus, Golurk, Twiggy, Castle Face and the newly caught Mamoswine, who he named Mahmut. Simba chuckled, laughing as he ate Krookodile Nuggets, applauding Kooky for his choice in dipping sauce.

The leaders congregated, and they all frowned at Simba, who took residence in Misty's place. He handed Homika a gift wrapped box. "Krom wanted you to have this." he said. She smiled, pulling the wrapping off and opening it. She smiled again, pulling out a Krookodile skin jacket in her size. She pulled a note out, reading aloud. "Had some extra skin after making the wife a jacket and a pair of boots. Thought of you and Kooky did the rest. Hope you like it. Krom Hitoawa." it said. She smiled, flinging the jacket over her shoulders. She smiled, a light dusting of pink across her cheeks.

Simba smiled. "Krom Hitoawa thinned his team out. The lesser threats, Rufus, Nibbles, Clera, Emolga and Rocky have been sent back to my home." he said, watching some leaders smirk. Simba laughed. "However, they were replaced by Mahmut, an ancient Mamoswine twice the size of modern ones." he said. They all seemed confused. "Saw the fucker myself. Bastard's sixteen feet tall, over half a ton, and not as rounded as normal. Who knows, maybe he'll come into Mistralton on his back. Being an Ice Pokemon, he'd destroy Skyla." he said, smirking at the pilot leader.

She frowned, and he turned to Homika. "You know, Sable has this pair of Sawsbuck skin pants she dyed black that would go perfect with that." he said, gesturing to her jacket. She smiled. "Sable doesn't fit into them. She put on weight carrying the litter." he said. He blinked, looking in front of him. He brought Sanatika, the Sableye baby having walked off. He heard her giggle, and turned to see her and Damien place firecrackers under Chili's chair.

They went off, causing the leader to yelp and jump up. The two laughed, and Simba chuckled. "Sorry about that, she likes to play pranks." he said. He grabbed the baby, holding her in his arms. "I must be off. I need to tell Sable to pack those pants, and tell the wife about how much fun it is to piss you all off." he said, leaving. The baby used Disable on the chair, watching it fall into pieces as Chili went to sit down.