"Who do you think you are?" One of the Black Empoleon thugs yelled. A girl with brown hair was standing opposite of them, her Pignite posed proudly. "You think you can come in here and mess with us?" Clay stepped outside of his gym, watching with mild interest. They'd knock out her pokemon, wasn't his problem.
The girl battled all fifteen of their members one at a time and crushed all of them.
"I'm Hilda." The girl was beaming. She turned her attention to Clay. "Aren't you the gym leader?"
"And If I am?"
"I'd like to battle you, of course." She somehow grinned wider. Clay grimaced.
"I don't feel like it." He walked back into his gym and shut the door. He'd only been the gym leader for a few months and he was already tired of it.
The previous Driftveil gym leader, Marshal, was enlisted into the Elite Four. He recommended Clay as the new gym leader and it was done.
The next day, he stepped outside again. Hilda was battling some more of the Black Empoleon gang. Again, she crushed them. As they ran away, she noticed Clay watching.
"Good morning, gym leader—" Clay turned and walked back into his gym, slamming the door behind him. He glared at her from the door window for a few minutes before she walked away.
The next day, he stepped outside again. Hilda was playing cards with some of the Black Empoleon thugs.
"I think I have a good hand," she said, nodding her head.
"Don't tell us that!" One of the thugs shouted.
"I wasn't telling you!" Hilda threw her cards down. "I was thinking out loud!" She noticed Clay watching. He returned to his gym.
The next day, Clay didn't go outside. He simply watched from his window. Hilda was talking with some Black Empoleon thugs, laughing and joking around. Clay stepped outside, Hilda snapped to attention, watching him.
"Hey!" One of the Black Empoleon thugs shouted. "You can't keep hiding. Hilda here wants to head out to Mistralton City! You should battle her!" Clay grumbled complaints under his breath. Hilda cocked her head.
"Fine, come on then." Clay begrudgingly led Hilda into his gym. Several of the Black Empoleon thugs followed, cheering her on. The battle lasted a few minutes.
Hilda won, easily. She returned her pokemon, grinning at her newly made friends. Clay watched as they gathered around her, shouting praise.
Clay sighed, sitting down on the floor. Hilda glanced over at him, she murmured something to the thugs and they left.
"You're a great trainer," Hilda spoke up. Clay scoffed.
"Don't coddle me. I shouldn't be here."
"What do you mean?" She folded her arms.
"I'm just a miner, I'm no gym leader." She stared silently at him as he continued. "I only accepted the job out of respect for Marshall." He took off his hat and set it down beside him. "I'll have to find a better replacement." Hilda glanced at the door before approaching Clay.
"I used to think I didn't have a right to be a trainer." She turned a Pokeball in her hand. "When I was younger, I was scared by a Lillipup. I hurt it with a stick." She stopped a few feet away from Clay, her eyes on her Pokeball. "Ms. Juniper was so angry when I brought it to her. She scolded me, threatened to hit me."
"You were just a kid, didn't know no better."
"I proved myself to her, by taking care of the Lillipup." She held out the Pokeball, smiling. She seemed satisfied with herself.
"Was I supposed to gain something from that?" Clay cocked his head. Hilda laughed.
"I don't know, but I do think you're a great trainer." With that, she left the gym.
With a long sigh, Clay picked up his hat and fixed it on his head.
It was a few months later when he heard the news. Hilda and N's battle at the Pokemon League. Their shared fate.
The trigger fell from Colress's hands. Nurse Joy was there, punching him in the cheek. He staggered, falling over.
Clay dove, grabbing up the trigger.
"You worthless idiots!" Colress yelled. "Do something!"
"Hey!" Nurse Joy hurled a bag at Andrew, he inspected it and found his pokeballs. Several Neo Plasma grunts sent out pokemon. Emboar roared, fighting them off.
"Give me that!" Colress went after Clay. Nurse Joy threw a Pokeball, releasing Clay's Excadrill. Excadrill jumped between Clay and Colress, brandishing its claws. Clay shared a look with Nurse Joy.
"Find the controls!" Clay ordered. "Get this thing on the ground!" Nurse Joy ran off. Clay turned to Colress. His hand trembled around the trigger. Thunder rumbled and the frigate shook in the air. Andrew was using Emboar and Musharna, putting the Neo Plasma pokemon to sleep and pummeling them. Zinzolin was shouting orders, apparently having no available pokemon.
"You threatened my city." Clay gripped the trigger, scowling. "You threatened my people." Colress faltered. "For what? Some sick power trip?" Colress had no words. "Answer me you cowardly brat!" Clay grabbed Colress's coat and yanked him forward.
The frigate careened to the side, slowly spiraling towards the ground. Clay let go of Colress letting him tumble across the deck along with several other grunts.
"Hang on, brat!" Clay yelled to Andrew.
A Reuniclus was sent flying towards Skyla. She dove out of the way and it tumbled across the ground. Thundurus landed on the roof of the poke mart, unleashing bolts of electricity.
"Run!" Bronius yelled. He and his followers scattered, fleeing from the poke mart.
"Rock slide!" Cheren ordered. Archeops unleashed a volley of stones and boulders, hurling them at Thundurus. Thundurus roared, electricity ripped the rubble apart.
"Take down!" Stoutland lunged, slamming into Thundurus. The two of them fell from the roof. Thundurus grabbed Stoutland and hurled it into a nearby building. Ron cried out, running after his pokemon.
"Now, Bouffalant." The new voice stunned Skyla. Alder was there, slowly walking from the Chargestone cave entrance. Bouffalant charged, knocking Thundurus into the poke mart.
Thundurus erupted from one of the walls, bringing the poke mart down. Alder threw a master ball, capturing Thundurus. He retrieved the Pokeball as the frigate slowly came down on the airport.
"What a mess this is."