So by pure word count, as well as content, this is the largest chapter I have written to date. There was a lot I wanted to do for this chapter, being a very important chapter for character development. Just keep reading to see.

Thanks as always to The King of Emerald for being better reader, and letting me use his characters, Jason and Em. And thanks to everyone who reads this story. Enjoy!

Wes:

Nayru the Kirlia (Friend Ball, shiny)

Faye the Cutiefly (Level Ball)

Zero the Type: Null (Luxury Ball)

Sakura the Milotic (Lure Ball)

Inigo the Torchic (Permier Ball, shiny)

Rose:

Bagon (Great Ball)

Brionne (Poke Ball)

Rockruff (Fast Ball)

Maple the Pikachu (Love Ball)

Riolu (Ultra Ball)

"…and thus, when magma rises from deep within the earth and explodes out of a volcano, it is called lava, and it cools quickly on the surface," Jason was explaining, gesturing all around them as he lead the class onto Wela Volcano Park, where they were surrounded by rocky earth. "Rock formed in this way is called extrusive igneous rock. It is extruded, or pushed, out of the earth's interior and cools outside of or very near the earth's surface. This igneous rock is all around us and makes up nearly the entire structure of Wela Volcano."

"Question," Wes instantly said, raising his hand, but not waiting for permission to ask anything. "How do you know that?"

"Because I'm the teacher, so shut up," Jason answered, causing Wes to lower his hand and grumble a little. "Anyway, our class today will be studying the Pokemon that inhabit this area." He gestured towards some cavern entrances, where a few Salandit, Fletchling and Cubone were observing the humans as they stopped and gathered. "Just from a simple look around you can tell what types of Pokemon you might find around this area, but your reports need to be more detailed then just telling me what you found here. Now, as a rule, no student is to ascend farther up the volcano then the base area."

"Why?" Rose asked, before suddenly raising her hand. Jason sighed, her already having asked why, but pointed to her anyway as if giving her permission to ask her question. "Is there a particular reason we must remain at the base, Professor?"

"I told you not to call me that," Jason hissed, before clearing his throat. "Yes, it is for your protection. The trial captain here, Kiawe, has two totem Pokemon. One we need not worry about, but he has informed me that the other one, a Salazzle, is being especially territorial today… might be mating season. Point is, due to that, we cannot ascend the mountain into her territory. So, it is safe for us to remain down here."

"I heard Salazzle are very aggressive to those it does not recognize or see as part of their pack," Jaun stated. "Additionally, only females exist, much like the Combee family."

"Well, you won't be seeing one anytime soon, thankfully," Jason stated, pointing to the Saladit. "Instead, observe their pre-evolved forms. As for me, I will be here to answer all of your questions, but don't bug me too much."

Wes sighed, stretching for a moment before taking out his Permier Ball, "Oh well, might be a good time to get some bonding in with you, Inigo. After all you're a fire type and should love it here!" Wes threw the ball into the air, releasing the shiny torchic inside of it. A few of the other students gasped in surprise, while a few others grumbled at the sight of Wes' second shiny Pokemon, however a simple clap of Jason's hands caused them to take out their notebooks and resume working.

"Let's work together," Rose stated, walking up to Wes with her notebook, holding Riolu in her arms, who was out to enjoy the mountain. Maple was walking by her side, looking uncomfortable with the ground types around. "After all, we're going to be coming back here tomorrow. We better get used to the place now."

"You think that Salazzle will be out of our way by tomorrow?" Wes asked, looking down at a rock and picking it up, pretending to be observing it. "Unless that's supposed to be the totem Pokemon we are going to be facing off against, in that case I would hate to battle her when she's supposed to be mating."

"I'm sure if the Salazzle is still acting up, Jason or Kiawe will handle it," Rose pointed out, writing down something in the notebook before looking at Wes with a glare. "Are you going to actually help me?"

"This… is a rock, and not a Geodude," Wes noted, pointing at the stone and looking at Rose with a serious face, causing the redhead to sigh and turn back to her notes. While they were working, Inigo and Riolu were playing, chasing one another around and running through the legs of the students. That's when it began to happen, Inigo suddenly flashed a greenish color, and began running faster, causing Riolu to look surprised, before turning to Rose and barking loudly.

"What is it, Riolu?" Rose asked, before turning to look at Inigo, and sweat dropping as she watched the bird get even faster. "Uh, Wes? You might want to look at Inigo…"

"Why, is he doing a cool move?" Wes asked, dropping the rock and turning to Inigo, paling instantly. "Oh no… that's Speed Boost," Wes instantly took out the Premier Ball and rushed after Inigo, attempting to recall the chick.

"Speed Boost?" Rose asked, looking confused.

"An ability that gradually boosts the speed of a Pokemon," Nayru explained. "Normally it is an extremely useful ability in battle, but in the hands of a hyperactive baby Pokemon… well, you can see the results yourself."

"Inigo, stop!" Wes shouted, attempting to recall the bird again, but the chick pokemon jumped high into the air, spring boarding off Wes' head before dashing up towards the mountain path. Wes growled, instantly taking off after his fire type, attempting to recall it again.

"Master, wait!" Nayru shouted, running off after him.

"Hold on, you two!" Rose shouted, dropping her notebook and racing after them, followed by Riolu and Maple. "We can't go up the mountain!"

Jason was observing all of this and sighed as he watched the two trainers and their Pokemon race off. "I should be responsible and stop them… but at the same time I got a class to teach… eh, they're trial goers, what could go wrong?"

Wes continued chasing after Inigo, sending red beam after red beam from the ball, but the chick Pokemon was dodging them all, continuing to race up the cliff. Rose, Nayru, Maple and Riolu were fast on Wes' heals, though the fighting type baby Pokemon was panting heavily, and eventually collapsed in a huff.

"Riolu!" Rose shouted, turning around and recalling the tired Pokemon. "I'm so sorry, please rest." At that, Maple squeaked, and Rose turned back towards Wes, taking off in a sprint once again.

"Ok, that's it," Wes growled, pulling out his Lure Ball. "Sakura, stop Inigo!" Out of his ball popped the beautiful milotic, who landed in front of Ingio. The chick Pokemon halted, looking at the tender Pokemon for a moment, before zooming off in a different direction.

"Bagon, help Sakura!" Rose commanded, throwing her Great Ball into the air. Out popped the reptilian Pokemon, who rushed forward and attempted to cut off Inigo, causing the chick Pokemon to run a different way.

"Nayru, Confusion!" Wes commanded. Nayru closed her eyes, being surrounded by a blue glow. The blue glow surrounded Inigo, stopping the baby Pokemon in his tracks, and allowing Wes to finally recall the bird into his Premier Ball.

"Well, that sucked…" Rose panted, glaring at Wes as she caught up to him.

"How was I supposed to know he had Speed Boost?" Wes shot back, glaring back before putting the Premier Ball on his belt. "Doesn't matter, we got him back safely, so we should be good to descend down the mountain!" Wes took three steps forward before stopping, looking at the four branching paths and sweat dropping, turning to Rose and sheepishly itching his cheek. "Uh, which way leads down?"

"Figures," Rose sighed, glaring at him again and putting her hands on her hips. "Look, all we need to do is look for the path slopping down and climb down the mountain. We need to be careful though, and make sure we don't run into that Salazzle."

"Too late," Nayru muttered, paling as she looked in a different direction. Maple, Sakura and Bagon were also looking in the same direction, each wearing an expression of panic. Wes and Rose turned, and instantly they dawned the same expressions as their Pokemon. Standing there was a dark grey Pokémon resembling a salamander, with a thin dark grey body and a purple underside. The beast's head was dark grey with purple eyes and slit pupils, which were glaring at them in rage. Salazzle let out a low growl, revealing several tooth-like protrusions on the lower jaw.

"R-Rotom, p-please have some good news for us," Rose said, shaking her white bag to wake the PokeDex up. "M-maybe they're friendly deep down."

"Salazzle, the Toxic Lizard Pokemon," Rotom stated, pointing at Salazzle and bringing up a picture of the creature. "For some reason, only females have been found. It creates a reverse harem of male Salandit that it lives with. Filled with pheromones, its poisonous gas can be diluted to use in the production of luscious perfumes. It punishes Salandit that couldn't bring it food with a fierce slap of its flame-spewing palm."

"Oh, that's real friendly," Wes muttered, clenching his fist and staring at the Salazzle. "Rotom, what type is it?"

"Posion and Fire," Rotom chimed out.

Wes looked at the floating device, before slowly turned back to the Salazzle, a grin etched on his face. "Buddy, you picked the wrong trainer to try and fight. Sakura, Scald!" Sakura obeyed instantly, firing a jet of water that had some stream coming off of it. It slammed into the Salazzle head on, causing the fire type to collapse onto the ground in a huff. "Well… that was easy."

But suddenly the Salazzle opened her eyes, getting up and glaring even more. With a loud roar, a yellow aura surrounded the Pokemon, causing her to grin, and Sakura to pale and back up.

"What was that about being easy?" Rose shot towards Wes.

"Hey, I thought she was done for, cut me a bit of slack!" Wes commented, glaring at Rose. Salazzle was having none of their bickering, though, and breathed in before unleashing a torrent of fire, which the two trainers and their four Pokemon dodged effortlessly, but Salazzle didn't let up just with that, before spitting out a purple glob of goo, which hit the ground hard, practically dissolving half of it.

"That was Toxic!" Nayru shouted. "Be careful, we get hit by that and we are goners!"

"Sakura, Scald again!" Wes commanded. Sakura slithered forward a bit and unleashed another torrent of water, which Salazzle dodged. Sakura continued shooting jet after jet of water, but the lizard Pokemon dodged them all, slowly ascending up the mountain before reaching a plateau at the top. Sakura unleashed another jet of water, which Salazzle dodged again, the water slamming into the rocks up above. For a split second, nothing happened, before suddenly a loud rumbling began, and the rocks began sliding down the mountain edge. As they came down, more rocks broke loose from the cliff side, broken off by Sakura's previous Scalds.

"RUN!" Rose screamed, taking off in the opposite direction. No one had to be told twice, with everyone scurrying away from the boulders. They slammed onto the ground with such force that they caused the very ground to quake and splinter, but it ended just as fast as it began. A mountain of rocks covered the land, with only two pathways opened on either side of the boulders. Wes, Maple and Bagon were on one side of the wreck, while Rose, Nayru and Sakura were on the other.

"Rose, Nayru, Sakura," Wes shouted into the rubble. "Are you three ok?"

"We're fine," Rose shouted back, looking around. "Where are Maple and Bagon?"

"They're over here with me," Wes stated, looking around as well. "Look, there is a pathway over here that might lead down. We'll take our chances and hopefully meet you at the bottom."

"Okay," Rose nodded, placing her hand on the rubble and looking worried. "B-be careful, Wes."

"You too, Rose," Wes said, before turning and beginning to head down the pathway with Bagon and Maple, while Rose walked in the opposite direction down the pathway on her end, with Nayru and Sakura following in her wake.

XxXxXxX

Jason turned, a slight look of concern on his face. That rumbling earlier did not do anything to ease his comfort in Wes and Rose being gone, and what was worse is they showed no signs of heading back anytime soon. As much as he wanted to either look for them on his own, or send one of his Pokemon to do it, most of the ones that could were in his PC Box, and with the students here he had to stay; he was their teacher after all.

"Hey, isn't that your girlfriend?" Lillie asked, pointing to the path that lead to Route 7. Jason turned, muttering an 'oh great' to himself.

"Hey, boo!" Em cheerfully waved, racing up to him.

"Em," Jason flatly muttered. "This is a class, and I thought I told you that I need to not be disturbed while I am working."

"But I'm bored just waiting in the hotel room for you!" Em moaned, sitting on a rock. "Besides, I have never seen you work before, and I thought it would be interesting."

Jason sighed, shaking his head and turning back to the class. "Fine, but I don't want to hear you complain even one time about you being bored, got it?"

"Got it!" Em cheerfully said, observing the class with interest. However, as time went on, that interest slowly turned into mild comfort, then into antsy boredom. Em went from lying on the rock, to observing the rock Wes had picked up earlier, to making faces at a wild Cubone (which didn't look to happy about it), until finally she had enough and signed loud enough for Jason to hear her, interrupting his answering a question. "I'm bored!"

"I thought I said-" Jason hissed, slowly turning to her, however before he could say anymore Em got up, grinning from ear to ear, the class now observing them with mild amusement.

"Hey, let's tell a story!" Em cheerfully announced, causing Jason to instantly go wide-eyed. "So, this is the story of how me and Jason-"

"Hey, wanna know Em's favorite Pokemon?" Jason loudly said, glaring as he interrupted her. "It's Cinccino, especially a particular Cinccino that I happen to be carrying with me right now and has a knack for using the move Tickle." Em instantly paled at that, sitting back on the rock and just staring at the class like she had been silently observing the whole time, a slight blush on her face. Jason grinned at that, turning back to the class and muttering to himself, "That's what I thought."

"How are these two a couple?" Chloe asked Jaun. "They're total opposites!"

"Well, you know what they say," Jaun shrugged. "Opposites attract. Speaking of opposites, I wonder how Wes and Rose are doing? They're been gone quite a while."

"I hope they are ok…" Chloe muttered, looking up the path in worry.

XxXxXxX

"Oh, come on, Nayru!" Rose pleaded, looking at the psychic type. "I just need you to listen to me until we get back with your trainer!"

"Why?" Nayru asked, leading the way with Sakura close behind her, followed by Rose, who was looking at the two Pokemon with a mixture of annoyance and worry. "No offense, hun, but I don't really trust you."

"I'm smarter than your so-called Master, though," Rose muttered, glaring a little.

"Yeah," Nayru admitted, looking at her. "But what do you see me as?" That question caused Rose to look confused, so Nayru continued. "Wes sees me and his Pokemon not as Pokemon, but as friends. He doesn't treat me any differently just because I am a Pokemon. Sure, there are moments when our differences do collide, but that's not the point. Wes and I are partners, I am not a tool for battle and he knows it. I battle because I want to help him, not because he forces me to. You, on the other hand, are acting like I am just a Pokemon that has to listen to you because you're the only trainer around, and nothing more."

Rose blinked, looking at Nayru in shock before muttering to herself. "I don't really know much about you, don't I?"

"That's because we never talk," Nayru muttered.

"Well, let's talk now," Rose muttered, continuing to follow after them. "Uh…"

"Just talk to me like I am a normal human girl, Rose," Nayru sighed, rolling her eyes as she could tell Rose was struggling to think of something to talk about. "Not that hard."

"Do you… like chocolate?" Rose asked awkwardly.

"Yes," Nayru answered, but rolled her eyes. "This is going to be a long track, isn't it?"

"I'm trying here!" Rose commented, looking angry for a moment before sighing and looking down. "I'm not really the social type."

"You and Wes both," Nayru admitted, shrugging.

"What do you see in Wes, anyway?" Rose asked, looking at her with genuine interest. "I mean, there are times where I can tell he annoys you, yet you still stick by him. Why is that?"

Nayru stopped walking, causing Sakura to stop as well as Rose, both of them looking at her and awaiting her answer. "Wes… is different. Sure, he's hotheaded, cocky, a little dumb… but he has a heart of gold… ironically enough, I sense the same heart from you. You just cover it up with your little Tsundere act."

"I am not a Tsundere," Rose pouted, huffing as she crossed her arms and turned away.

"Sure, whatever you say," Nayru rolled her eyes. "Look, maybe just open up a little more, ok? You act all tough, but I know deep down you're a good person. You truly love Pokemon, I can tell…" Rose remained silent for a minute, unsure of what to say to Nayru. How did this Pokemon… no, that might be where she was wrong. Nayru might be a Pokemon, but she was like her own person as well. She had looked past Rose's shell and into her heart, something most others failed to do. Were other Pokemon like her as well? Did her own Pokemon see past her tough exterior as well. Rose turned to Sakura, who was looking at her with piercing eyes and a smile, almost as if she too could tell Rose was a good person on the inside, even with their first encounter.

"Hey, I found something!" Nayru suddenly shouted, causing Rose and Sakura to snap out of their staring contest and rush towards where Nayru was. Lying there was a Salandit, injured gravely, with what looked like slash marks on its lower belly.

"I think I got some potions," Rose immediately said, kneeling down and digging into her bag.

"See? Good person," Nayru smiled.

"She looks very injured, zzt," Rotom commented, flying over. "Salandit, the Toxic Lizard Pokemon. The males will do whatever the females tell them. They give the females most of their food. Due to malnutrition, the males can't evolve. Volcanoes or dry, craggy places are its home. It emanates a sweet-smelling poisonous gas that attracts bug Pokémon, then attacks them."

"If she's a girl, then why is she this banged up?" Rose asked, spraying the super potion on the Salandit, who opened her eyes weakly and looked at Rose with interest.

"The Totem Salazzle," Nayru realized, her eyes wide.

"Pardon?" Rose asked, continuing to treat the Salandit.

"She must be the queen of the pack," Nayru stated. "I heard that some packs of Salazzle and Salandit only have one ruler. Other females are driven out of the pack and forced to either live on their own or create a new pack. Since the Salazzle here is a totem Pokemon, I bet she wants to be the only Salazzle in charge, and thus will drive out the competition. Maybe that is why the Salandit population around here has a dwindling female population."

"That's terrible!" Rose gasped, finishing her treatment, the Salandit looked at her with glee, greatful for the treatment. "She has just as much of a right to live here as anyone else!"

"Now she gets it," Nayru said, grinning. "So, what are we going to do? We can't just leave her here. After all, she might be attacked again."

Rose thought for a moment before picking up the lizard Pokemon, which surprisingly didn't put up a fight at being carried by a stranger. "We will bring her to Jason. He might know what to do. Come on, let's find Wes before it's gets too late!"

XxXxXxX

"Bagon, Dragon Claw!" Wes ordered. Bagon obeyed without question, and slashed at a boulder blocking their way. Wes, Bagon and Maple continued on, finally having arrived at a large plateau on the mountain side. Wes sighed at his, looking down. "Hey, I think I see the base camp! It's a tiny speck, but if we continue going down this path, I think we can meet back up with Jason and the others!" Before he could say another word, however, Bagon and Maple both began tugging at his pants. Wes looked over to where they were looking and paled at the sight. Standing there was the totem Salazzle, who didn't look very happy to see them there. "Oh… f-"

She suddenly struck, sending out a torrent of fire, which Wes narrowly avoided, grabbing Maple and Bagon to pull them out of the way as well. Wes got up, adjusting his glasses as they had slid down his nose when he look his dive. "Maple, Surf!"

Maple obeyed, creating a torrent of water in her tail that was in the shape of an orb, and slammed it into Salazzle, who screaked in pain as she was hit. Salazzle angrily roared, creating another torrent of fire and sent it flying towards Maple, who was about to get hit, due to her being in the air.

"Sakura, Scald!" Rose's voice suddenly shouted. "Nayru, Psychock!" A torrent of boiling water went flying above Wes' head, slamming into Salazzle's mouth and cutting off the fire. At the same time, shards of psychic energy flew out and slammed into Salazzle, weakening it considerably.

"About time you showed up," Wes grinned, turning to see Rose standing there holding a Salandit. Nayru and Sakura raced up to where Maple and Bagon were standing, ready to battle. "What's with the Salandit?"

"I'll explain later," Rose stated, looking down as the Salandit seemed to press herself into Rose's chest, looking at the Salazzle in fear. "Mind if I get my Pokemon back?"

"By all means," Wes grinned, turning back to Salazzle. "Sakura, Scald!"

"Maple, Surf!" Rose commanded. Sakura unleashed another torrent of water as Maple charged up an orb of water in her tail. Both attacks went flying, slamming into Salazzle, who looked extremely angry after that. She leapt up into the mountain side and slammed her hand into the wall. Suddenly, much like before, boulders began flying down at them, and this time, they had nowhere to run.

"Nayru, Confusion!" Wes commanded.

"Bagon, Dragon Claw!" Rose screamed, panicked.

Nayru cried out as she caught several of the bounders with her psychic powers, and Bagon began hacking and slashing at the others, but both Pokemon were struggling, with Bagon even getting hit by a boulder and sent flying into the ground. That is when suddenly both Pokemon began to glow. Nayru became much larger, and when the glowing stopped she had transformed. Her body now resembled a flowing gown, white in color, but her hair, arms, and the underside of the gown were her signature shiny color of blue, her hair curled over her face and down the sides of her head. Behind her orange eyes were short spikes, resembling a masquerade mask. Her orange, fin-like horn now extended from her chest, and a shorter, more rounded horn extends from her back.

Bagon's change was also drastically different. No longer did she resemble a dragon, instead she now resembled a greyish white cocoon with four, grey legs, with an opening in front, revealing two yellow eyes, while the other opening is in the back that just looked like a grey hole. She looked very heavily and bukly, as if the cacoon gave her a ton of protection.

"Bagon and Nayru evolved into Sheldon and Gardevoir!" Rose gasped in awe. At that, Nayru let out a cry, able to effortless lift the boulders into the air with ease. Sheldon's eyes flashed, as she leapt into the air, effortless tearing through the boulders with ease. Salazzle landed on the ground, ticked off at the two newly evolved Pokemon.

"Wanna fight, do you?" Nayru grinned. "Good, I need to test my new powers!"

That's when the Saladit in Rose's arms suddenly jumped down, and walked in front of Nayru, letting out a loud screech. Salazzle looked down at the lizard Pokemon, clicking her jaw. Salandit began to do that same.

"Uh, translation?" Wes asked, turning to Nayru, who was now only a couple inches shorter then him.

"She's telling the totem Salazzle to back off," Nayru informed him. "That we do not mean any harm and are only trying to get back to the base camp." The message seemed to be delivered, as Salazzle turned around and began walking away, adding another jaw click to her message. "She also said that Salandit seems to already have found her new pack."

"What does that mean?" Rose asked, though she didn't have to look far for the answer, as Salandit was rubbing her face against Rose's ankle, looking at her with affection.

"I think it means you adopted a Salandit," Wes snickered.

"Well, I did need a fire type," Rose commended, grinning as she knelt down and pulled out a Luxury Ball from her bag. "What do you think? You might not be a queen in your pack, but with this Luxury Ball, you're sure going to feel like one." The Salandit seemed to enjoy the thought, tapping the ball with her nose and getting sucked inside, where the ball only blinked once before indicating a successful capture.

"So much for getting Jason to take her, huh?" Nayru grinned.

"Yeah, yeah, well that makes a full team under my belt," Rose yawned. "Let's head back, I'm beat…"

Wes couldn't agree more, as the two of them traveled down the trail with their Pokemon. Down at the base, Jason and Em seemed to be in a friendly bickering war, as several students were looking on. Chloe suddenly spotted Wes and Rose, and shrieked in excitement. "They're back!"

"What is going on?" Wes asked, looking confused between Jason and Em.

Jason turned to look at them, first noticing how dirty the two trainers were, then he noticed Shelgon and Nayru had evolved, then looked to see Sakura and Maple looked very tired as well. "Long story, I don't think you two have the energy to deal with it."

"That we do not," Wes and Rose said at the same time, grinning at one another in a tired manner.

"Well, as long as you two are safe and found Inigo, that is all that matters," Jason stated, turning to the class. "Class was dismissed ten minutes ago! You all need to go back to the hotel and work on your assignments! Now!"

"Oh no!" Rose gasped, panicking again. "I forgot about the assignment!"

Jason looked over at them, Rose was panicking hardcore, grabbing the notebook she dropped hours ago and crying about how they didn't have any notes, while Wes was staring at his teacher in exhausted defeat. Finally, he sighed. "You two are excused from the assignment… you got enough of a lesson on the mountain, did you not? Go to the hotel and get cleaned, and don't be late for dinner."

"Oh, thank you, Professor!" Rose said with relief, as she and Wes walked off, followed by the other students who were bombarding them with questions.

"They battled the Totem Salazzle, didn't they?" Jason asked, turning to a figure that had emerged from the cliffside.

"Yup," said the teen that had emerged from the rubble. He wasn't wearing a shirt, revealing his muscular, ebony skin, and had little more on then a pair of beat up red pants and a pair of red sandals. He had a necklace on which resembled something worn in a tribal ritual and had hair that looked like fire. He crossed his arms, and grinned as he watched Wes and Rose walking off, sheepishly answering what questions they wanted to answer. "She's a pain alright, but nothing compared to my second totem Pokemon… I can't wait to see how they do."