Welcome back to Holly Rising! No prompt this time, but have a longer chapter! As always, I do not own Pokémon, and see the author's notes for details. All prompts are the property of Wizardmonfan.

36. Meeting

Eventually, the sound of digging stopped, and Kris returned. Her Delphox was the only Pokémon still with her, so Holly assumed that whatever other one she had used had been recalled.

Holly could barely bring herself to meet Kris's face, and the older trainer showed no emotion.

What was going on inside of Kris's head?

What would she choose to reveal, if anything?

What would this mean for Holly and Anabel?

Anabel looked like she was about to say something, but Kris gestured forward.

"This is hardly a place to talk. There are still dangers on this route. Let's continue and find something safer, closer to the next city. I promise I will tell you everything then."

Holly glanced at Anabel. She thought perhaps the woman would protest. She did mention she had control over what Kris did right now, after all.

But Anabel simply nodded.

Holly shuddered. Anabel had seen what Kris could do. Perhaps she didn't want to have any more confrontation…

Not that Holly could blame her…

But then…

What type of power did Kris have that she could exert that type of control over Anabel? Especially when Anabel had tried to act like she was the one with power…

Would Holly learn the truth soon?

Did she even want to know?

These thoughts still occupied her as the group continued walking.

But there were soon interrupted when she saw more shapes on the horizon.

Holly shuddered.

Could there be more people and Pokémon in peril? She wasn't sure she could deal with any more after what she had just seen…

But neither Kris nor Anabel looked panicked. So Holly continued walking.

That is, until she could finally make out the shapes of what was on the horizon.

It was enough to make Holly stop dead.

Countless bicycles greeted her, their wheels glimmering in the sun. Holly remembered that there was a bike shop in Cerulean, but bikes there were rather expensive. Either these people were well-off, or they had gotten around the expense.

But it wasn't so much the bikes that caught Holly's attention as it was the riders.

They blocked the way forward, and there were so many Holly couldn't count them.

The bikers all had glares on their faces, and some of them even snickered. They all leaned forward on their bikes, and Holly was sure they would roll over them.

Holly gulped.

The bikers may not be a group of angry Pokémon, but they were every bit as dangerous.

And Holly was certain she could not take them on in a battle.

She glanced at Kris, realizing the older trainer was looking at the bikers almost expectantly.

Holly blinked.

Had Kris known the bikers would be here? Or did she know the people congregated normally in these areas?

With all the disabled Trainer's traveling, it could've been either.

Holly had no more time to think as the leader of the bikers began to speak.

"Battle us! If you think you are strong enough!" The bikers howled with laughter, and Holly resisted the urge to step away. She tried not to let the bikers see her burning face.

They were laughing at all of them, and they had to work as a team!

But it was still so embarrassing... At least no one mentioned the tether yet…

Rage glowed in Kris's eyes as she stepped forward. Her Delphox's flame burned brightly, and held it out menacingly.

Holly's eyes were wide as she remembered the terror on the bridge.

Was Kris going to do something like that again? Would she dare risk that with what happened with Anabel?

Yet Anabel quickly grabbed Kris's arm, shaking her head.

Holly let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Of course Anabel would have everything under control. She had promised that back in Cerulean.

The woman had a stern tone in her voice as she stated. "Why should we battle you? You didn't even ask politely."

The bikers continued to laugh, and the leader yelled. "Politeness? We don't need politeness! Everyone battles us, and they pay a toll if they lose. Unless, you want to pay the toll now."

By now the laughter was deafening, but none of the group gave an answer.

Holly gritted her teeth.

To be up against a bunch of bullies, yet to feel so powerless against them… It was beyond infuriating!

Holly glanced at Kris, noting the older Trainer still had a murderous gleam in her eyes. Surprisingly, she did not step forward. Holly guessed that despite her own ire, provoking Anabel's was last thing on the disabled Trainer's mind.

Anabel herself had clenched her fist, anger burning in her eyes. Holly shivered.

Was she going to make an arrest again? From what she knew, having a bunch of bikes in the area was not a crime.

But maybe it could be?

Holly didn't know the laws that well…

Before anyone could make a move, Holly heard a woman's voice ring out.

"I thought you thugs would pick on someone your own size!"

The voice was joined by a man's. "Those ne'er-do-wells... They never learn!"

Holly was alerted to the sound of two people running up, and before she knew it, they stood in front of the bikers.

Holly might not have known who the newcomers were, but the bikers certainly did.

Some of their faces went pale, while others shrank back.

One of the bikers whispered.

"It's an Elite Four member!"

Another responded.

"Two of them!"

Anabel whispered. "I think they must be Will and Karen of the Elite Four. I heard they are new additions from another region, but they are plenty powerful."

Holly's eyes were wide. The Elite Four were some of the strongest Trainers in all the regions! And they kept everything in order! Most Trainers were lucky if they encountered one of them, let alone two!

And if someone of such a high authority was here, then the matter must be grave!

Holly redirected her attention at the woman, who she guessed was Karen, nodded at the bikers.

"That's right. Let these Trainers pass…"

The man, Will, growled. "Or suffer the consequences."

The other trainers stared wide-eyed, frozen in their fear.

However, the leader somehow broke out of his stupor.

A smug smile entered his face.

"What will you do? You haven't even used any Pokémon…"

At that, Karen and Will's faces both became grave. Psychic powers surrounded the male Elite Four member, and Holly put a hand over her mouth.

The biker let out a scream as psychic power surrounded him. Both he and his bicycle were lifted off the ground as though they were feathers.

Holly could not letting out a gasp.

Would the bicycle and rider just hang there?

Would they both fall to their death or at least get injured?

The rider's eyes were as wide as saucers, and he screamed. "All right, I understand, I understand! Put me down and I'll get out of here!"

Will only nodded, and slowly lowered bicycle and rider to the ground. Holly wondered why he had released his target so quickly, but she supposed the Elite Four member knew the biker was defenseless.

The instant the psychic power left the biker, he let out another scream. His eyes still were panicked and wide, and he wasted no time fleeing the area. His comrades also had the same gaze, and the air was filled with their own screams. They fled so quickly that many almost bumped into each other.

Regardless, in a few minutes, they were gone.

Will and Karen both shook their heads, and turned towards Holly's group.

Now, Holly could finally get a better look at them.

Will reminded her of a magician, and she wondered if he could actually do magic. She couldn't see his eyes over the black mask he wore, and wondered if he could actually see. Most of his outfit was red, but he had some black shoes. He also had something else that was black with yellow stripes. Holly thought that it resembled a suit, but realized it couldn't be. There was purple clothing under it too, and that matched his hair.

Karen had an entirely different appearance. Silver hair matched her eyes, and bright yellow clothing flashed in the area. She had something else yellow on her belt, but Holly had no idea what it was. She also had yellow high heels, and Holly wondered how she had run in them. The rest of her clothing was a lighter shade of tan, and it almost blended in with her skin.

But Holly couldn't worry about their clothing. Instead, her eyes were drawn to a pair of matching rings on the Elite Four Members' hands.

Holly blinked. Were they married, or simply engaged? She hadn't heard of any ceremony, so maybe it was just some sort of friendship pact. Then again, Gym's Leader's adoptive daughter or no, Holly was just an ordinary trainer.

She probably wasn't privy to the personal information of someone as high up as the Elite Four.

But she supposed that it wouldn't be out of place to ask now.

Holly stepped forward, but before she could even open her mouth, Will shook his head.

"You're Holly of Celadon. I know what you did. The entire League does. I've nothing to say to you."

Holly clenched her fist as Karen's eyes grew hard.

"That's right. There's nothing to say to someone who willingly breaks the law again and again."

Holly gritted her teeth.

The Elite Four helped enforce the law in all the regions. Of course they would be tough on those who broke it.

Karen and Will were turning their gaze away from Holly, instead focusing on Anabel.

Will started. "Who are you? I don't believe we've met…"

Anabel nodded. "I'm Anabel, of the International Police Force. I come from Hoenn. I'm here in Kanto investigating some mysterious events, and to supervise Holly."

Holy noticed that Anabel had left Kris out of her sentence, and realized she could easily figure out why.

Punishment or not, Kris was an adult, so perhaps Anabel couldn't call it supervision.

Regardless, the pair's eyes fell on Kris. She met their gaze squarely, although her expression was unreadable.

Suddenly, Will cringed, and there was no mistaking the grave tone in his voice.

"A psychic monitor. I'm not going to ask what you did, because whatever it was must've been severe."

A disappointed tone also entered Karen's voice as she stated. "Oh, how far you've fallen, Kris…"

Holly blinked.

How did two Elite Four members know Kris's name?

She looked to Anabel, hoping the woman would have some explanation.

However, she was met with only shock.

Anabel rapidly questioned. "You know each other?"

A pained expression entered Kris's face as she replied. "I'm acquainted with them, at the very least."

Before Holly could ask what the disabled Trainer meant, Will was continuing to speak. "First, your aimless wandering, and now this... I can't even begin to say how disappointed I am in you, Kris."

Holly gritted her teeth.

Kris was supposed to be acquainted with Will and Karen, but they certainly weren't acting like they were!

Then again, Kris never said they were friends.

But still…

Holly continued focusing as she realized Will was speaking again.

"So much potential… And yet you continue to waste it… Why do you wait?"

Holly couldn't help but feel rage burning in her eyes.

What they were saying made no sense!

"What do you mean?" She shouted.

Anabel's eyes had also gone wide, but she made no effort to stop Holly.

Will and Karen ignored Holly as they continued to focus on Kris. This time, it was Karen who spoke. "You could be the strongest psychic ever. Magic comes so easy for you. And you could be the toughest trainer This world has ever seen. You could be the Champion. No, you could even surpass the Champion. You have so much power. And yet you don't do anything. Why is that?"

Despite the accusations, Kris meet their gaze squarely and firmly replied.

"You know why. I've chosen to spend my time training Pokémon as I travel."

Will fixed Kris with a severe look, and he kept a grave tone to his voice. "You should know by now that is not wise."

Before Kris could respond, Karen took over. "We know you've been hurt, Kris. The entire region knows. Who knows how many more times you will get hurt? Who knows when your Pokémon won't be able to save you? Who knows when any Pokémon won't be able to save you?"

She shook her head. "Why do you put yourself at risk like that? It's a miracle you're still alive."

Holly blinked, hand clenched into a fist.

Did these powerful Trainers come all this way just to insult Kris? That wasn't fair! They should know better!

Kris was still replying evenly despite what was happening.

"I don't mind the risks. And I am still young. I still have time to figure out what I want…"

Will's voice suddenly rose in pitch, and Holly tried hard not to back away from his anger.

"You may not have much time left, Kris! Someday your luck is going to run out, and it will all be because of a weakness you could've easily fixed!"

As if a spell was broken, Anabel stepped up. At last the woman spoke, voice matching Will's.

"She's doing well enough with her Pokémon!"

Yet the woman was ignored again as Karen simply eyed Kris. "What Pokémon do you even have anyway? You seem to get so many, I have lost count."

Kris coolly responded. "It's true that I have many Pokémon. But they all are capable battlers, and they all are capable of winning fights."

A look of horror crossed Karen's face, and Will grimaced. Surprisingly, Karen was the one who spoke. "Battling? Winning? Is that all that matters to you? Have you forgotten what it was like when you first started out?"

A slight look of terror crossed Kris's face, and Holly could see that the older Trainer's stoicism had finally been broken.

Holly's eyes went wide. What had Kris been like before, and how did Will and Karen know about that?

The accusation Holly had made on Route 4… And the idea that Kris treated Pokémon as tools on the bridge…

Was that all true?

Regardless, Kris began to speak, but she could not stop her voice from faltering. "I… It's been a long time, and of course I don't remember… I've lost so much since then."

There was no sympathy as Karen continued. "Have you? So much so that you've forgotten who you used to be? Forgotten who you are now?"

Kris looked like she was about to protest, but Karen left her no room to reply. "Your Pokémon… You used to be able to tell me everything about them… And now you can't even tell me one thing… Are they truly your friends? Or they just things? A means to an end?"

Holly couldn't help glaring, as she stepped up. "How dare you! Hurling accusations at another Trainer like this! I can't believe you two are Elite Four members!"

She threw up her hands. Couldn't Karen and Will see what they were doing to Kris?

Once again Karen and Will ignored the outburst.

Will simply stated. "She agrees with us."

Holly looked to the older Trainer, and was horrified to see that she was nodding.

Why was Kris agreeing with these bullies? She had to fight back!

But Karen now spoke. "You could've been so much. Yet now you're nothing, because all you do is wander."

Before Kris could respond, Will ominously stated. "Are you wandering because you're looking for answers? Or because you are afraid of them?"

The disabled Trainer had no answer, her face instead turning a deathly pale.

Karen narrowed her eyes, ominously speaking. "If you don't do something, Kris, your wanderlust will kill you. And there won't even be anything to mourn."

Holly clenched her fists, seething with rage.

Enough was enough! Punishment or not, she had to do something!

She yelled at the top of her lungs. "Stop, you tyrants!"

Anabel's eyes went wide, and Karen and Will clearly showed surprise.

Yet Holly could not focus on them as she continued speaking.

"You're adults, and some of the best Trainers in the region. You should know better than to treat someone like this! But clearly you don't, because you're acting crazy!"

Before Karen or Will could protest, Holly took a deep breath and continued.

"It's absurd to ask Kris to remember what it was like when she was younger, when you are so much older and you probably can't remember yourself!"

Holly could hear Anabel going to make a move, but she continued before the woman could do anything.

Instead, she continued to yell. "The Elite Four are supposed to protect and nurture all honest Trainers, but they must not be very good at their job because you two aren't doing that now!"

Will and Karen only looked at each other, expressions unreadable.

Holly resisted the urge to smirk. She had them on the ropes!

She heard the Elite Four were powerful and respectable Trainers, but they sure didn't seem like it.

After all, no respectable Trainer would use power to bully others!

Seizing the moment, Holly yelled. "What Kris does her business, and you have no right to tell her what to do! If she's happy wandering, then she should be able to wander! And if she doesn't want to become Champion, then she shouldn't have to! You can't put her down just because she chooses not to do something! What she does is her choice, not yours!"

As her anger blazed, Holly remembered all the times with Kris.

There was the incident with Cheyenne…

Kris talking about what happened after the fight on Route 4…

And the countless waves of pain Kris had directed at herself…

Holly continued to glare at the two Trainers as a realization hit her.

All those times, Kris had referred to herself negatively… And she had seemed so angry and sorrowful…

She didn't know what made Kris so enraged at herself, but she didn't need anyone else to make it worse.

Holly screamed. "Kris already has trouble with putting herself down. She doesn't need you doing it to her!"

Holly noticed Kris's eyes had gone wide, as if the disabled Trainer couldn't believe what Holly had just said.

Holly was drawn back as Karen tried to interject. "We are just concerned…"

Holly wasn't about to give Karen time to reply. She spat. "If you're so concerned, then why are you not helping her? Why are you not forcing her under the League's watch? Forcing her to learn those psychic powers? Forcing her to remember her younger days? You're two Elite Four members, and one of you is a psychic! I'm sure nothing that I just said is beyond your capacity!"

Karen shook her head, and Will simply shut his eyes.

Holly continued. "You might seem like high and mighty Elite Four members, but in the end, you're just big bullies! Shame on you both!"

Holy threw her arm to the right.

"You're just like those bikers, so get out of here!"

Karen let out a deep sigh, and Will didn't say anything. Kris and Anabel didn't dare move.

After what seemed like forever, Karen simply responded. "Fine. We'll leave."

Will quickly added. "But don't say we didn't warn you."

Holly fixed the couple with one last blazing glare as the two Elite Four members turned and walked away.

Author's notes:

So, prompt time! Well, sort of. When gathering data for Kris's story, I learned the RP had a change in Elite Four members. Will and Karen moved to the Kanto Elite Four, replacing Lorelei and Agatha. As for who took their places in their own Elite Four, this RP unfortunately does not say (since the creator did not make up replacements for them, and doesn't deal with much beyond Kanto). One of Kris's books will, however, since she deals with the other regions, and would remember the members switching out.

As for the chapter, itself…

-I chose to put Will and Karen in here in order to expand on Kris's history, and to help develop Holly's character. This is also a bit of a homage to the original, because, her original incarnation knew both Will and Karen. However, her relationship with Will was bad, and the one she had with Karen wasn't much better. She actually has a better relationship with them in this version, but it won't be seen in Holly Rising.

-Also, since I forgot to mention earlier, I should bring up magic in the Pokémon world. Magic is seen very much in the Pokémon world, but it is there. Many Ghost Pokémon Trainers mention magical powers, and one is shown being able to do magic by swiping the player's phone without even touching it to exchange numbers. Several Pokémon abilities are similar to magic, but I don't believe any are directly called that. Magic shows up a bit more in the anime, but not much. The biggest example was a witch that was gathering up Pokémon materials for magic spells, and accidentally turned Ash into a Pikachu with one of them. Magic has a greater role in this universe, but most likely not in Holly Rising.