"speaking"

"Thinking"

On with the story

The next day had come as Ken was training Gible with Aerodactyl

Aerodactyl soars into the sky as it performs Giga Impact

Gible runs fast before it jumps and got covered with the same purplish energy like Giga Impact

"just like that!" Ken shouted as Gible soar down still covered in the energy and made a direct crash on the ground

"you did it, Gible! You've learned Giga Impact!" Ken went to Gible as the Land Shark Pokemon smiled and then jumped towards Ken before taking a bite on his head

Ken wince in pain but he decided to let it be for this one occasion

Aerodactyl was about to fly down to them when a net fired at Aerodactyl and caught it in it

"Aerodactyl!" Ken shouted as Aerodactyl crashed down within the net

Ken and Gible runs towards Aerodactyl before a couple of Mightyena and some Crobats stopped them in their tracks

"what the!?" Ken exclaimed before a group of men in black surrounds Aerodactyl

"who are you people!? What are you doing to Aerodactyl!?" Ken shouted out at them but they didn't respond, rather they were dragging away Aerodactyl

"answer me!" Ken threw out Golurk's and Drapion's Pokeballs as they appeared on the field "Golurk! Shadow Punch! Drapion! Cross Poison!"

Golurk punches its fists forward as the Shadow Punch fired while Drapion crosses its pincers before firing the Cross Poison

The two attacks hits as the Mightyena and the Crobats dropped, knocked out and some men got blown away from it

"why you?!" one man pointed a gun as an orange beam fired at Drapion

"block it!" Ken shouted as Drapion crosses its pincers and the beam hits but it turned Drapion into a golden statue

"Drapion?!" Ken and Golurk looks in surprise as Drapion was turned into a statue

"next is you!" the man aimed his gun at Golurk as the target was locked on before it fired

"dodge it, Golurk! Don't let it hit you!" Ken shouted as Golurk jumps to the side and beam missed

"Gible!" Ken shouted as Gible digs underground before jumping out of the ground and bites the man's gun and crushed it

"wha!?" the man looks in surprise before Golurk appeared in front of him

"send him flying!" Ken shouted as Golurk grabbed the man before swinging him around

The man screams while turning dizzy before Golurk threw him up as he then falls back down but was caught by Golurk

The man looks dizzy and nearly barfed

Ken grab his collar and lifts him up

"you'll turn Drapion back to normal if you know what's good for you" Ken said while glaring at him hard with Golurk and Gible behind, looking to do some real damage to the man

The man shakes in fear as he swore that he had wet his pants


Drapion was still a golden statue before the Ogre Scorpion Pokemon was turned back to normal

"Drapion, are you alright?" Ken asked as Drapion nodded and made Ken smile "thank goodness"

The men in black and their Pokemon were being apprehended by Officer Jenny and the security forces as they were arrested one by one

"you have the rights to remain silence, any words you speak out will be use against you" officer Jenny said as she instructed her men to bring them into a police van

She continued on instructing them before turning her attention to Ken and his Pokemon

"is your Drapion alright?" Officer Jenny asked as Ken nodded with Drapion "we can't thank you enough for catching the Pokemon Hunter Remnants"

"Pokemon Hunter?" Ken asked as Jenny nodded

"a formerly notorious group of Pokemon poachers who catches other people Pokemons" Officer Jenny explained "their organization is falling but some of them are grouping up to bring it back"

"then these men are those remnants, huh?" Ken said as he looks to the captured men "are they all captured and arrested?"

"we've caught some of their groups but we still think that there is still some hiding" Officer Jenny replied before hearing a commotion behind them

One of the captured men, broke out as he started running away

"he's escaping!" the police shouted out as their Growlithe chased after the man

"you're not going anywhere!" Ken shouted as he was about to call out Starly to chase after the man but someone beat him to it

"Cacnea! Drain Punch!" someone shouted out as a Cacnea jumped in and sends a punch at the man and knocks him out

"who was that?" Ken asked before woman appeared with a Cacnea beside her

"looks like you're punched out" the woman said before she turns towards Ken and Officer Jenny

"Natane-san!" Officer Jenny exclaimed in surprise

"Natane? As in the Eterna Gym Leader?" Ken said as Officer Jenny nodded

"alright you" Eterna said as she lifts up the Pokemon hunter and pushes him to the authorities "off you go"

"thank you for the save, Natane-san" Officer Jenny said as she shakes hand with her

"it's all in a day's work" Natane replied before looking to Ken

"ara, you must be Ken, the amazing trainer who battled Shirona-san in the Indigo League" Natane said as Ken nodded "I've watched the match a hundred times, and I still can't believe someone like you managed to get a draw in a battle against Shirona-san herself and her Garchomp"

"I'm nothing compared to Shirona, she's much stronger and have a deeper bond with her pokemon" Ken said a bit embarrassed

"you're too modest" Natane replied with a smile


After bidding goodbye to Officer Jenny and the police as they were taking away the Pokemon Hunters

The two were walking around in the streets and were chatting with each other

"when I saw your Golurk getting hit with Garchomp's Dragon Rush, I thought that it was over but it wasn't!" Natane said as she recalled the Indigo League Final Match between Shirona and Ken "your Golurk was able to catch Garchomp's attack and put it on a grip hold and then the two of you bashed it out in a final attack against each other! It was so amazing!"

"it was a close match that time" Ken said remembering how the battle ended in a draw "if Golurk was a second too late in catching Garchomp's attack, i would've lost the match and Shirona would've been the winner instead"

"but it was a great match, wasn't it?" Natane said as Ken nodded with a smile

"that's why I want to go to the Sinnoh League and then challenge her again" Ken said as he takes out Golurk's Pokeball and looks at it with a smile "I'll battle her in her home region with Sinnoh's Pokemon and my Pokemon"

"very determined, aren't cha?" Natane said before the two arrived to the Eterna Gym and this time it was open

"man, I'm really sorry to let such a great trainer like you waiting for a gym battle" Natane said as she unlocked the door and open it for Ken "it's such an honor for a gym leader like me to have a battle with you"

"it's fine" Ken replied as the two heads into the gym and just like how it said in the Guide Book, the field was filled with trees and grass

"the last time I did such a thing was with a great trainer named Satoshi" Natane said as she turns on the lights and illuminate the field

"yeah, he is a great trainer and one who has a deep friendship with his Pokemon" Ken said as he and Natane stood at each position in the field

"looks like this world isn't as vast as we all thought" Natane said before a referee girl came to the stand

"it is vast" Ken said as he takes out a Pokeball "the adventures that is"

Natane smiles as she was excited to battle Ken

"The Eterna Gym battle between the challenger, Ken from Lavender Town and Eterna Gym Leader, Natane will now begin! Three Pokémon will be used, and the challenge's over when one side's Pokémon are unable to battle! Furthermore, only the challenger will be allowed to make substiutions!" the referee announced out as both readied their Pokemon

"ready Ken?" Natane asked as she tap the button on her Pokeball and it got enlarged "first stop! Turtwig!"

The grass turtle pokemon appeared as Ken called out Aron

"a Steel Type? Weird but interesting choice" Natane said as Ken smiles

"a Turtwig, huh?" Ken thought as he remembered the Grass Pokemon being one of the three starter Pokemon in Sinnoh "if I'm facing this one, I've got to see what tricks are up in its sleeves"

"you can have the first step, Ken" Natane said as Ken nodded

"Aron! Iron Head!" Ken shouted as Aron ran towards Turtwig with its Chrome head shining like silver

"Turtwig, Grass Knot" Natane said as Turtwig stomps its legs and a grass knot appeared and Aron stumbled upon it

"what!?" Ken looks surprise as Aron came rolling away before hitting a tree

"Grass Knot may sound harmless but clever thinking in using it makes it a very strong move" Natane said with a smile "Turtwig! Razor Leaf!"

Turtwig jumps before swinging its leaf head and dozens of razor sharps leaves came flying at Aron

"Iron Defense! Quick!" Ken shouted as Aron's body glowed silver and the Razor Leaf bounced off of its body

"not bad" Natane commented "Leech Seed!"

A small seed appeared on the tip of Turtwig's Leaf head before it fired at Aron and attached to it before roots spread out and started damaging Aron

"Aron!" Ken shouted as Aron let out a cry of pain

"finish it up with Tackle!" Natane said as Turtwig ran towards Aron and rammed it to the tree

Ken looks in surprise as Aron got knocked out

"Aron is unable to battle! Turtwig wins!" the referee announced as Ken calls back Aron to its Pokeball

"good job" Ken told to the Pokeball before taking out his next Pokeball

"how is my Turtwig, Ken? He's pretty strong, right?" Natane said as Ken nodded

"yeah, as expected from a Sinnoh Gym Leader's Pokemon, but…" Ken said before he threw out his next Pokeball and came out Drapion "we won't lose!"

"let the battle continue!" the referee announced out

"a Drapion, and by the looks of it, it's strong" Natane thought as Drapion pinched its Pincers multiple time "I know by hand how powerful a Drapion's claws are but if Ken can use tricks when fighting Shirona's Garchomp, I've got to be careful"

"Turtwig! Razor Leaf!" Natane shouted out as Turtwig fired its Razor Leaf at Drapion

"Block it and then counter back with Cross Poison!" Ken shouted as Drapion blocked the Razor Leaf before it fired its Cross Poison at Turtwig

The Cross Poison hits Turtwig and sends the Grass Type flying to a tree before it fell down knocked out

"no way!" Natane looks surprised as Drapion had just defeated Turtwig with just one move

"Turtwig is unable to battle! Drapion wins!" the referee announced as Drapion let out a victory roar

"good work, Turtwig" Natane said as Turtwig got called back to its Pokeball "get some good rest"

"as expected of the Indigo League Champion" Natane said "you and your Pokemon are strong"

"no, it's just Drapion" Ken said as Drapion swings around its Pincers while snapping them

"ok, let's continue on with Cherubi!" Natane called out her next Pokemon as a cherry like Pokemon appeared

"Cherubi.." Ken said as he takes out his Pokedex and got the Pokemon's info

Cherubi, the Cherry Pokémon. All of the nutrients needed for evolution are contained in its small ball. Cherubi becomes redder as it is exposed to sunlight, and is almost ready to evolve once the smaller ball buds

"you good to go, Drapion?" Ken asked his friend as Drapion nodded

"let's go! Cherubi! Magical Leaf!" Natane shouted as Cherubi jumped and a storm of glowing leaves flied towards Drapion

"block it and then use Hyper Beam!" Ken shouted as Drapion did as he was commanded

The Magical Leaf heads on to Drapion who blocked it before the Ogre Scorpion Pokemon fired a Hyper Beam at Cherubi

"dodge it and then use Solar Beam!" Natane ordered out as Cherubi jumped away from the Hyper Beam before charging up its Solar Beam

"Hyper Beam left Drapion unable to move and Solar Beam takes time to fire" Ken said as he looks to Drapion who nodded

"fire!" Natane shouted as Cherubi fired its Solar Beam at Drapion who stood in its spot

"now! Dig!" Ken shouted as the Solar Beam hit but Drapion was nowhere to be found

"unbelievable!" Natane exclaimed as Cherubi looks in surprise before the ground bellow it, cracks and shatters

Drapion came out and caught Cherubi in one of its Pincers

"now! Poison Sting!" Ken shouted as Drapion fired billions of Needles at Cherubi directly and caused an explosion that blew away Cherubi and knocked her out

"Cherubi is unable to battle! Drapion is the winner!" the referee announced as Ken won his next battle

"good job! Drapion!" Ken said as Drapion roared out in victory

"not bad, Ken" Natane said as she calls back Cherubi to her Pokeball "but there's still one more!"

Natane called out her last Pokemon as it was a Roserade

"a Roserade, huh?" Ken said with a smile as he had fought against Shirona's Roserade before and won, but he won't take the chance to underestimate it "Drapion, return"

Drapion was called back as Ken takes out another Pokeball and looks to it

"I've never thought that we would battle together again in Sinnoh" Ken said with a smile before he called out Aerodactyl to the field

Aerodactyl roared out as the Fossil Pokemon was flying above

"I believe that is the same Aerodactyl that had defeated Shirona's Roserade, correct?" Natane asked as Ken nodded

"let's go! Flamethrower!" Ken shouted as Flames spewed out of Aerodactyl's jaw

"dodge! And then fire Energy Ball!" Natane ordered as the Boquet Pokemon jumps away from the Flamethrower before charging up a green sphere and then firing it at Aerodactyl

"send it back with your tail!" Ken shouted as Aerodactyl swings its tail at the Energy Ball and flings it back

"use Drain Punch!" Natane shouted as Roserade dashed towards Aerodactyl before jumping up and then firing its Drain Punch at Aerodactyl

Aerodactyl let out a cry of pain as it can feel its energy getting drained away

"stand strong! Fire Fang!" Ken shouted as Aerodactyl's jaw spewed out fire before biting on Roserade and caused the Boquet Pokemon to cry out in pain

"Roserade!" Natane shouted out

"follow it up with Giga Impact!" Ken shouted as Aerodactyl flings away Roserade before dashing towards it with Giga Impact straight to the ground

"Roserade!" Natane shouted out as the attack caused a dust explosion

The dust subsides and revealed Roserade knocked out

"Roserade is unable to battle! Aerodactyl wins! Victory, goes to Ken of Lavender Town!" the referee announced as Ken won the battle

"good work, Aerodactyl" Ken said as Aerodactyl nodded

"you did great" Natane said as she called back Roserade to its Pokeball before going to Ken

"you and your Pokemon are a great team, Ken. If you ever go to the League and then challenge the Elite four and Shirona, we're rooting for you" Natane said with a smile while giving Ken the Forest Gym Badge

"yeah, you can count on it" Ken said as Aerodactyl let out an agreeing growl


After winning his Gym Battle against Natane, Ken was at the Pokemon Center where he got Aron healed up

Ken was now speaking with Fuji on the Video Phone as he was transferring back Aerodactyl to him

"alright" Fuji said as he got a Pokeball transferred to him and Aerodactyl came out "he got here safe and sound"

"good" Ken said "you all train hard, alright? When the League comes, I'm going to need every single one of your strength"

Aerodactyl nodded with a smile as Fuji smiled as well

"Well, Ken, good luck" Fuji said as the call got hanged up

After using the Video Phone, Ken walked back to the counter as Aron was healed up

"after a quick rest, Aron will just be alright" Nurse Joy said as she gave Ken, Aron's Pokeball

"I will, thank you" Ken nodded before he exited the Pokemon Center


Outside the Pokemon Center, Ken finds Natane waiting for him

"yo" Natane greeted Ken

"Natane?" Ken asked looking surprised

"i can guess that Aron is doing fine?" Natane asked as Ken nodded

"good" Natane said before she gave Ken a Pamphlet

"what's this?" Ken asked as he reads the description "Veilstone Fight Tournament?"

"yup, many Trainers comes from all around Sinnoh to participate in it and the winner gets an exclusive prize" Natane said "if you're interested, you should register for it"

Ken hummed in amusement as he sees that on the pamphlet that there was a picture of a Lucario sending an uppercut against a Machamp

"I guess I will. It may be good training" Ken said as he pocketed the pamphlet before shaking hands with Natane

"it was nice meeting you, Natane" Ken said as Natane nodded in reply

"likewise, Ken" Natane said before they heard what sounded like a stampede near them

They look to the side and sees a group of news reporter charging towards them

"yikes! Got to go! see ya later!" Ken said as he started running away while calling out Golurk

Ken got on Golurk's back before the Automaton Pokemon flied away

"see ya, Ken!" Natane waved goodbye as so did Ken

"after him!" the group of reporters shouted out as they chased after Ken

Natane smiles and had a short laugh as she can tell that Ken is going to one heck of a journey


That's a wrap!

Bye bye