AN: Hello again guys! There's a couple of things I'd like to say before you read this chapter. First, I'm still hoping, and looking, for OCs for Aftermath, a story that takes place 8 years after this one. Second, I'd like to assure you that the Burst Affinity back a few chapters was not just a throwaway, but won't be brought up again for a while. Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy this episode!

Yancy POV

I wasn't really expecting the Gym to be easy, and I was right. It was moderately difficult, but nothing too hard.

I call Gaster, "Can I get an INCONSPICUOUS ride into Nimbasa?"

I hear him chuckle on the other side of the line, "I believe you're supposed to say please?"

"Right, right," I say, "May I please have a ride in something very inconspicuous to Nimbasa?"

"Is Phoebe fine with it?" he asks.

"She wants me to interview Elesa, of course she's fine with it."

"I meant being anonymous."

He laughs and I can just about see his wide grin from this side of the line. Well, I actually can. That's half of the functionality of an Xtransceiver.

"You're the chauffeur," I sigh, "You're the one that picks out the car, so if it goes wrong I blame you."

"Of course, of course," he says, hanging up.

"Sometimes I just can't with him," I say to my Spinda.

She nods like she understands.

Now I just wait for Gaster. I hear a knock.

"Speak of the Devil," I mutter under my breath and go to open the door.

As I swing the door open, he gestures to the car he brought. A slightly beat up, bright blue beetle.

I throw a glare in his direction, "Really?"

He smirks, "Why yes, my young lady, it is inconspicuous as you requested."

I don't say anything and just walk up to the car.

"You're going to be late!" Phoebe shouts, "You have 10 minutes and you just got to Nimbasa?!"

"I know, I know!" I force out running to the Gym where my changing room is, "I'll be there, bye!"

I try to shove my Xtransceiver into my bag as I run. I don't check if I succeeded or not because I don't have time, I just keep running.

As I burst into my changing room, gasping, I check the clock. Eight minutes. I breathe a sigh of relief and then rush to get my hair done and outfit on.

Nate POV

I yawn and look around the room. My Pokemon didn't wake me up with loud, blaring music today.

"That's a first," I say to the open air, "Time to pack up and head for Route 4."

I pull out my Poke Balls and notice that Watt Jr. is missing. I run to the window and scan the surrounding areas for a sight of him. Nothing. I throw myself towards the door and open it.

"You...remember me?" I hear a voice tearfully say.

"Of course I do," a voice I instantly recognized as Watt Jr's says, "But I cannot go with you. It pains me...but I must go with him now."

"I recognize that," the second voice says, "He understands you in every way but speech. However, that's where I've helped out, he has been able to understand what you say and he will even now."

"Watt Jr!" I finally call out.

He turns the corner of a corridor to my right and walks towards me.

"Hey!" a new voice calls out from my left: a hotel employee.

"Is that your Samurott?" he glares at me.

"It is, and it is also completely well-mannered," I say.

"This beast," he gestures to the quadruped sea lion Pokemon, "Is forbidden from walking the halls alone."

I return Watt Jr and send out Rio who pulls out a bone of aura.

"The only will we obey is Nate's," he says, telepathically to me and the man.

"If you want to start a fight," I say, "we would be happy to oblige, and it won't result well."

"Fine," he snarls after a minute of silence.

The second I stepped onto Route 4, I could tell it was in disarray. A sandstorm was and still is raging and now there are Crustle blocking my path.

"Dammit," I sigh, "We may as well add another member to the party."

I look at Rio, Iego, Toxtricity, and Watt Jr, "How would you guys like that?"

"It would be a fine strategy," Rio says in waves of aura.

Iego just wags his tail and looks happily at me.

"Fine," Watt Jr nods.

"When are you going to name me?"

I turn to Toxtricity, "That's the first time I've heard you talk. Would you mind explaining how Watt Jr?"

He looks a little nervous, "A strong connection with us Pokemon enables you to understand our speech methods and body language."

I look him over. I know that that isn't true based on whatever conversation he was having with whoever it was this morning, but I let it slide.

"Hmmm," I think aloud, "Your goal is to be the best battler, so how about Elite?"

He grins, "Nice."

I smile back at him when a Sandile walks up to me.

She opens her mouth happily, then closes it. Then repeats.

"Hey, little girl," I say, "Did our positivity infect you?"

"Dile! Dile!" she chomps down on my ankle.

I wince a little in pain, but hold back a laugh. My Pokemon instantly try to attack her.

"It's okay," I say, "She's just playful."

I throw a Great Ball down at my ankle and the Sandile enters it.

The Ball instantly flashes green, "See?"

They relax a little.

A man starts clapping behind me, "I see you are quite the charismatic for Pokemon. You bring out their potential quite well."

I turn around to see who it is that's talking to me.

He flashes a smile, "As I said when we first met, you bring out the potential of your Pokemon quite well."

"There's no way this is coincidence," I say, releasing the Sandile I just caught from her Poke Ball.

"Right you are," he bows, "I am Colress. Might I be entertained with a two-on-two battle?"

"What for?" I say, a little suspicious.

"That goes back to my bit about potential," Colress says, "The theme of my research is how does a Pokemon's true potential shine through. Seeing as you beat Burgh, I can tell your Pokemon have achieved part of that potential and I would like to see it first hand."

"And what is your conclusion so far?" I say, trying to decide who to use.

"So far," he starts, "Only that Team Plasma's original plan of "liberation" was the wrong tactic. Show me if that conclusion is acceptable."

I quickly formulate a name for the Sandile and turn to it, "Hey, does the name Kueia sound nice to you?"

She cocks her head.

"I'll take that as a yes," I turn back to Colress, "Make your decision."

"Gladly," he sends out a Magnemite

I pull out my Pokedex and take a quick glance at Kueia's moveset. I specialize in on-the-fly strategy, but I think this is a little bit extreme.

"Sand Tomb!" I make the first move.

Colress lets his Magnemite get hit and it's already weak and taking residual damage.

"For having just caught that Pokemon, you control it masterfully. I'm not sure science can even explain that," he throws his arm out, "But that doesn't matter, Magnemite, use Magnet Bomb."

"Bury yourself to avoid it!"

I shout this out, already hopeless since Magnet Bomb seeks out a target, but then an idea comes to me.

As the magnets whiz by the ground I yell to Kueia, "Jump behind Magnemite!"

Colress looks surprised by this and even more so when she jumps behind his Magnemite and an explosion hits it.

"Quite impressive," Colress says.

My Pokedex buzzes. Kueia would like to learn Crunch. I click yes and have her forget Mud Slap.

"Well, it's no wonder," Colress chips in.

"What?"

"Every time a new championship starts," he continues, "Juniper hands out three Pokedexes and three special Pokemon to the people she suspects of being amazing trainers or coming from families where someone is special, and every time one of the three ends up winning the Champion title."

I return Kueia, "Sounds like good luck for me."

"Possibly," he sends out his second Pokemon: a Klink.

"Watt Jr," I say, pointing a finger.

Again, Colress lets me make the first move. This is going to be his first and last mistake.

"Focus Energy! Then Scald!"

Watt Jr rushes forward and glares at the Klink. It tries avoiding his gaze and the moment it lowers its gaze, Watt Jr grabs it, launching blazing water at point blank range.

An instant KO.

He pulls the Klink back into its Poke Ball, "Splendid! Now that you have done something for me, I shall do something for you."

He presses a button on a device and snaps his fingers. The ground trembles as the Crustle wake up.

"I hope we meet again, fair trainer," he starts to walk away.

"Nate," I say while he's still in earshot.

I spent a lot of time training on Route 4. My team was mopping the floor with the wild Pokemon. The only one I didn't train was Kueia. I figure that brute force wouldn't be a good first impression to make on her even though our first experience was fighting Colress.

"I'll train her on the routes by Nimbasa," I say to myself.

"Sir!" a man a few years older than me says, "Sir! You're a Pokemon trainer, right!?"

I look at his frantic face which is eye level with me, "I am."

"How many badges do you have!?" his breathing is heavy too.

"Three," I respond, "Now let me ask you something, why do you care?"

"Please," he pants, "There's a Mega evolved Pokemon rampaging in the Desert Resort! I've been trying to tell people for the last half hour, but they just claim it's not their job and that I should find a real trainer."

"What Pokemon? And how did it Mega evolve without a trainer?"

"I-I don't know," he stammers out, "Please help."

I rush in the direction of the Resort, the man at my heels. As we get closer, I can hear the sounds of a Mega Aggron.

As we run, I ask the man, "Why were you even this far out here?"

He opens his mouth when a deafening roar breaks through and the Aggron is just about right in front of us. A flood of Trapinch run over in our direction as the Mega Aggron punches the ground.

One stays behind, attempting to distract the Aggron while the others make their escape. Even with its type advantage, the Trapinch is easily overpowered.

"Watt Jr!" I yell to my Samurott, "Keep him busy!"

Before the Mega Aggron could deliver the final blow, Watt Jr. slashed at it.

The hulking thing was somehow able to dodge and started grappling with my Samurott. While he kept it busy, I rushed in and scooped up the Trapinch. It tried to squirm out of my grasp to fight the seven foot giant.

"You're in no condition," I yell at it over the raging sandstorm and Mega Aggron's roars.

I turn and see Watt Jr slide back 20 feet.

"Razor Shell!" I yell to him.

He swings his seamitar just in time to block an incoming Iron Tail from the Mega Aggron.

"Try to burn it!"

Watt Jr understands and blasts a Scald in the Aggron's face.

It staggers back, trying to rub the hot water out of its eyes. How did this even happen? I try to rack my brain for anything that might show why.

"I'll help you," Colress' voice echoes in my brain.

Maybe, whatever he used to awaken the Crustle, also powered up this Aggron.

"At this rate," the man who brought me here says, "Your Samurott will win."

"Sadly," I growl, "I don't think he's enough. Kueia! Iego! I need you!"

Both scuddle up, awaiting directions.

"Help Watt Jr." I say, pointing to the Aggron, "Flamethrower! Then trap it with Sand Tomb!"

Right as the Mega Pokemon stopped rubbing its eyes and glared at Watt Jr, Iego launched a blast of fire so powerful, it was pushing it backwards.

Watt Jr saw the opportunity and used it to trip the Pokemon with Razor Shell until Kueia came in and trapped it with Sand Tomb. The Aggron tried to stand up, but the fire and sand tornado had weakened it enough.

"One more time!" I yell at them as the Mega Aggron is still, well, Mega.

The final hits do the Aggron in and it crashes to the floor, causing the whole ground to shake. I wipe the sweat off of my forehead and look back to the Trapinch. It's giving the most starry-eyed look I have ever seen a Pokemon give. It keeps looking back and forth between Watt Jr, Iego, and Kueia.

I kneel down to it, "Are you okay?"

It just turns up to me, looking even more starry-eyed.

I turn to my team, then back to the Trapinch, "Did you want to come with us?"

It puts on this fake "I don't want to go with you," attitude.

I roll my eyes and turn to the man, "Why did you need a trainer? You aren't one?"

His frantic look turns completely serious now that the Aggron is subdued, "I was."

I look at him, "What's your name?"

"I used to be renowned," he scoffs, "Just shows what a year disgraced does."

"Disgraced?" I ask.

"I was the Champion a few years back," he says, "My name is Hilbert."

Team Nate

Name: Watt Jr. | Species: Samurott | Level: 48 | Nature: Brave | Moveset: Razor Shell, Focus Energy, Scald, Blizzard

Name: Iego | Species: Growlithe | Level: 47 | Nature: Hardy | Moveset: Flamethrower, Flame Charge, Flame Wheel, Fire Fang

Name: Rio | Species: Lucario | Level: 46 | Nature: Mild | Moveset: Aura Sphere, Power-Up Punch, Metal Claw, Bone Rush

Name: Elite | Species: Toxtricity | Level: 46 | Nature: Bold | Moveset: Thunder, Poison Jab, Venoshock, Overdrive

Name: Kueia | Species: Sandile (?) | Level: 31 | Nature: Jolly | Moveset: Crunch, Assurance, Sand Tomb, Dig

(Maybe?)

Name: N/A | Species: Trapinch | Level: 32 | Nature: Sassy | Moveset: ?, ?, ?, ?

Hilbert? But the new champion is Valian? What could have happened and how much time has passed?