Kenya had been wandering around the ruins for at least an hour. She'd let out Darumaka to walk with her. Darumaka had its hand on fire, lighting up the tunnel. Kenya noticed a small shell scuttling across the floor.

"Darumaka, use fire punch!" Kenya whispered urgently. Darumaka jumped at the Dwebble. The Dwebble shrieked and jumped out of Darumaka's way. Darumaka punched the floor, crushing it. The entire floor collapsed under them. The two of them fell into a large cavern. There were torches lit along the wall. Kenya noticed a stairway leading to the surface, a man was standing beside it. She recognized him. It was the champion.

"Are you alright?" Alder approached Kenya and helped her onto her feet. Darumaka paced angrily searching for the Dwebble. Alder smiled tenderly.

"I'm fine." Kenya looked Alder up and down. "Aren't you the champion?" Alder's smile faded.

"Yeah. That's me."

"You trying to catch a pokemon, too?" Alder looked over to the large pile of sand.

"No. I'm just being nostalgic. No matter how far I go. However much time passes. I always find myself back here." Kenya didn't have anything to say about Alder's strange comment.

"Well. Since you're here. What kind of pokemon do you think I should catch? I need a third pokemon for the Nimbasa tournament. I'm thinking I need a pokemon that can cover my water type weakness. Darumaka can't handle a water type and most water types have ice type moves that are strong enough to hold Druddigon off." Alder listened quietly as Kenya rambled on about what kind of pokemon she was looking for. He pointed behind her.

"What about that Dwebble?" Kenya turned, noticing the Dwebble sitting a few feet away.

"You know those things are weak to water, right? I need something that can beat a water type." Alder shook his head.

"I used to think like that. You're not wrong, of course. But type advantages are not the only determining factor of a pokemon's strength." Kenya gave him a skeptical look. Alder sat down. "It looks like its been waiting for you. You attacked it on the floor above, right? Perhaps it's looking for revenge."

"Fine, then." Kenya returned Darumaka and sent out Druddigon. "I'll pummel that bug into the ground." Druddigon marched up to the Dwebble.

"Good luck!" Alder called out. Kenya twitched.

"Outrage!" Druddigon roared, steam coming off of its body.

"What? What are you doing?" Alder seemed genuinely shocked. Druddigon raised its foot and stomped Dwebble into the floor. The cavern rumbled from the impact. Some of the torches fell down from the wall, going out. Druddigon backed up, looking at Kenya. Kenya scoffed, turning to look at Alder. Alder was walking over to her. "That Druddigon…"

"Yeah," Kenya crossed her arms. "It's pretty strong isn't—"

"Are you an idiot?" Alder grabbed Kenya's shoulders and shook her. "You would harm your own pokemon just for dumb power? How naïve could you be?"

"Dumb power?" Kenya pulled away from Alder. "Its pure power, did you see that Dwebble you were so obsessed with? It didn't stand a chance!"

"Is that so?" Alder gestured to the Dwebble. Dwebble was still standing. Kenya watched the Dwebble slowly approach Druddigon. "Watch out," Alder warned. The Dwebble's body started to glow.

"What's it doing?" Dwebble raised a trembling leg and tapped Druddigon's foot. There was a flash of light, Druddigon collapsed. "Druddigon!" Kenya knelt beside Druddigon. Druddigon was knocked out. Alder picked up the injured Dwebble, using a potion on it.

"Sturdy, it allows Dwebble to endure any single powerful attack. Apparently, this Dwebble is also able to use counter." Alder set the Dwebble down, it skittered away into a corner of the cavern. "What do you think?" Kenya returned Druddigon.

"I think that you think I'm supposed to be learning something from this." Alder shrugged his shoulders.

"Whatever the case." Alder started walking away. "Your pokemon should be treated as an equal."

"I do treat my pokemon as equals!" Kenya yelled.

"You're right. I misspoke." Alder stopped and turned back to Kenya. "Your Druddigon is strong. That's a fact. you're probably a decent trainer as well. But, you will kill that Druddigon before you ever defeat me." Alder walked away, heading to the stairway. Kenya looked at Druddigon's pokeball, Alder's words bouncing around in her head.

A/N: I'd been considering shifting pov for some chapters for a while now. There are certain scenes I felt that could've been improved if written from a different pov but I'm not gonna go back and change anything. Well, imma be doing it progressively more often. (Professionalism be damned) wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooop.