"Oh come on," Alex whined, trying to coax some food to Absol. "You need to eat."

Absol swung her head away from Alex, ignoring the pokefood in her hands.

Clara laughed. "Oh, that's rich. I don't think she likes you much."

Alex glared at her and turned her back on her.

"Here," Clara said, swiping some pokefood from Robert's hands. "I'll give it a go."

She went straight up to Absol and held out the food. "Here you go."

Absol swiped her hand away, scattering the pellets.

Clara's eye twitched. "All right then mutt! You're asking for it!"

She grabbed a pokeball from her waist and held it up, only for Alex to grab her wrist, glaring at her. "Don't even think about it Acord."

Robert sighed and glanced over at me as he filled a bowl of water. "Was bringing her along such a great idea?"

"I don't know anymore," I groaned. "It seemed like a good idea at the time. Now I'm not so sure."

"I can hear you!" Clara snapped, yanking her hand free from Alex's grip, who resumed trying to feed Absol.

Clara jabbed a finger at me. "And when will you battle me!? That's the whole reason I'm travelling with you!"

"Yeah yeah," I got up from my spot on the stone ground, stretching. "You want to battle my old team, right?"

She nodded. "Of course."

"Maybe later," I said, grabbing some pokefood from Robert. "It's getting late anyway."

I filled up three bowls and walked over to where Arcanine, Froakie, and Riolu were resting. I set them down and they began digging in.

I held out my hand to Robert. "Have anymore bowls?"

He nodded and dug out five more bowls from his backpack and filled them up for me. I set them down in a circle. Then I let out my Alolan team, Decidueye, Lycanroc, Gyarados, Kabutops, and Mimi.

I listened to them eat as I stared around the cavern. We had headed into Connecting Cave and were setting up for the night when an injured Absol stumbled upon our group. Robert had tended to her injured leg and Alex tried to give her food, but that seemed to be an issue at the moment.

Alex finally sighed, leaving the food near Absol. "You win. Just make sure to eat."

She got some pokefood from Robert and began feeding her Ninetales, Litleo, Flabebe, and Combee. Clara ignored Robert's offer of pokefood and dug out her own. She let out her three Pokemon, Barbaracle, Scizor, and Heliolisk.

I sat down again, leaning against a smooth part of the stone wall. That battle with Eve earlier had left me drained. That Mythical, Zeraora, was a surprise for sure. I don't even know if I actually beat it. I looked at the Z-ring on my wrist and took it off, slipping it into my backpack. I don't know why, but it didn't feel right to use that here in Kalos.

Then I thought about the battle against Eve as a whole. It was much easier than battling Cassandra, despite Eve using the same Pokemon her mother owned.

"I guess the trainer really does make the Pokemon," I muttered to myself.

...

The next morning Clara forced me into a Pokemon battle before breakfast.

"We all battled in the Alolan League and he made it to the final match-up," Alex said, once again trying to get the Absol to eat. "Don't blame us if you lose quickly."

"Shut up," Clara growled, leading with Heliolisk. "Bring it on, Zeno."

I let Kabutops go first since he didn't get to do anything yesterday against Eve. "Alright then, let's show her how we did it in Alola."

Clara smirked. "A Water type? You do realize Heliolisk is an Electric type, right?"

I shrugged. "Looks like I have to show you type advantage doesn't mean everything. Kabutops, let's take the first move! Aqua Jet!"

Kabutops shot forwards, enveloped in a stream of water.

"Use Thunderbolt!" Clara shouted.

Heliolisk flared his frills and a bolt of electricity shot towards Kabutops.

"Up!" I shouted and Kabutops turned upwards sharply. The water faded from him as his feet touched the ceiling.

"Go!" I shouted and he launched himself towards Heliolisk. "Night Slash!"

Kabutops crossed his scythes and a dark wind swirled around them as he collided with Heliolisk and bounced away from him.

"Parabolic Charge!" Clara shouted and Heliolisk unleashed energy in all directions.

"Use Stone Edge to block!" I commanded and Kabutops slammed a scythe into the ground. Huge stones erupted from the cave floor, blocking Kabutops from the blasts of electricity.

"Aqua Jet!" I shouted and Kabutops flew over the rocks and zoomed towards Heliolisk, giving him to time to dodge as the Rock type slammed into him.

"I got you now!" Clara shouted with glee. "Thunderbolt!"

I smirked. "Sand Attack!"

Kabutops landed on the ground and swiftly swung sand into Heliolisk's eyes, making the Thunderbolt shoot upwards as the Electric type clawed at his eyes.

"Now finish with Earth Power!" I commanded.

He slammed his scythe into the ground and the area beneath Heliolisk erupted with fire and rocks. He fell forwards, fainted.

"Wha-!?" Clara looked shocked as Alex grinned from where Absol was staring intently at the now finished battle. "Told ya you would lose quickly."

Clara glared at her, then at me. "Fine. I accept my loss. Next time though, I will win, no matter what Pokemon you use."

"We're done already?" I was surprised. I had thought she would go on until all her Pokemon fainted.

"Yes," Clara said stiffly, grabbing a plate from Robert.

Robert stared at his hands. "Why is everyone grabbing things from me lately?"

"Don't think about it," I said, grabbing a plate from him. "When are we leaving?"

"As soon as we're all done eating," he replied. "Alex, what do you plan on doing about Absol?"

"Well we just can't leave her," She said, rubbing Absol's head, who looked annoyed. "Her front leg's still injured."

"Do you have any pokeballs?" I asked, swallowing my food, while giving some pokefood to Froakie who had gotten onto my shoulder.

She shook her head. "Forgot to buy some in the last town."

Robert tossed her a pokeball. "Here. I don't need someone swiping that out of my hands."

"Thanks," Alex turned to Absol. "It doesn't have to be permanent, but you'll need to go in here for a bit. We can give you to Nurse Joy when we get to the next town, alright?"

Absol growled at the pokeball, so Alex tossed it to her other hand and tapped Absol on the back with it. It rolled a couple times before flashing green.

"Lucky she was too injured to break free," I set my plate down near Robert. "Else this might've taken forever."

"Yeah," Alex latched the ball to her waist. "Let's get going."

We wandered through the cave for a bit before we found the exit. Once out in the sunlight, the cool ocean breeze hit us. Froakie made a sound like a content sigh as he stared at the blue sea.

"Ah," Robert held out his arms. "That hits the spot."

We were on a cliff overlooking the vast ocean, a sandy beach below us.

Clara pointed south. "There's Ambrette Town."

I looked and saw that just down a downhill path was a small town, with not a whole lot of houses, but it also had a few huge buildings, one that even led down to the beach.

Then we heard a beeping noise.

"I got it," Robert said, pulling out the Holo Caster, which had a blinking green light. Robert pressed a small button and a message floated up.

"It's a message," Robert said, squinting. "From Diantha."

"Diantha!?" Clara choked. "Why would she message you!?"

"We met her back in Lumiose," I said, then asked, "What did she write?"

"She says there's suspicious activity near the Glittering Cave," he said. "She wants us to investigate."

"Where's that?" Alex wondered.

I shrugged. "Don't know. But how did she even get our number?"

"Maybe from Sycamore," Robert suggested. "I don't know. But she did mention there had been trouble on the coast recently."

Clara glanced between us three, before sighing, irritated. "Look, why Diantha is asking you three for a favor is beyond me. But, the Glittering Cave isn't far. It's just past the town at the end of Route 9."

"That might take a while," I said, worried.

"I know a faster route," Clara said "But you're all gonna have to owe me."

"You can't just tell us out of the kindness of your heart can you?" Alex asked rudely.

"Nope," Clara said and she looked perfectly fine with her response.

"Fine," I said. "I'll owe you. Lead the way."

Clara grinned. "Follow me."

She led us down the path for about 50 feet before she turned left down a rockier trail leading upwards.

"This should honestly be a route," Clara said as we continued to go up. "But I think I'm one of the only people who know about this path."

"How do you know about it?" I asked, making sure I didn't skid on any loose pebbles as Froakie clung to my neck.

"I lived in this area for a bit of time," Clara responded. "I did some of my own exploring."

I waited for her to go on, but she didn't continue. I had a feeling she wasn't talking because she didn't want to.

After ten minutes, we had reached the top of the mountain, the ground mostly flat now.

"Mainly a straight path now," Clara said, wiping her forehead.

"Hey! What are you four doing up here!?"

A guy in a white lab coat hurried towards us, medium length blonde hair blowing in the wind. "You shouldn't be up here."

Behind him we could see other scientists working with huge machines, one which looked big enough to hold a Pokemon.

"What are you doing?" Robert asked, peering at all the machinery.

"None of your business," the scientist snapped. "Children such as yourselves shouldn't be up here. This is delicate equipment. Not a place for trainers."

Clara snorted, getting in the man's personal space. "On who's authority says we can't pass through here, huh? Tell me."

The man scowled. "You don't need to know. Now get out of here. Don't make me do it myself."

"Dr. Grant," someone yelled from behind him. "We need your help over here..."

He turned and we looked to see a woman with green hair walking towards us, wearing a red suit and shorts with a green tie. She wore red gloves as well as knee-high red boots, all her clothes lined with white. Her eyes were covered by a wide green screen with lines of codes running across it. On her lower stomach there was a sort of flame emblem connected to her belt, which also happened to be red.

"Who are they?" She asked and I noticed she had green lipstick to match her hair and tie.

"Trainers who should mind their own business," Grant said hurriedly, waving his hands. "I'm getting rid of them now."

"Like hell you are," Clara snapped.

"Agreed," I said, eyeing both the scientist and the woman as Froakie stiffened on my shoulder. "Besides, this seems way to suspicious now. Who are you people?"

"Looks like I ha-" Grant was halfway to pulling a pokeball out of his lab coat, but the woman put a hand on his shoulder, pulling him back. "Let me handle them."

She stepped in front of us, hands on her hips. "So I take it you four are trainers wanting to through this way."

I shared looks with my companions, then back at the woman. "Yeah, what of it?"

She smiled. "Good. You can pass right on through here wherever you're going to go."

Alex came to stand next to me, hand resting on her pokeball. "I think we're fine with where we're at."

Robert nodded, arms crossed. "You two wouldn't happen to be part of the disturbance we heard about in this area would you?"

Grant made a tch sound, looking annoyed while the green-haired woman smile. "Then it seems you four stumbled onto something you shouldn't have been looking for."

She stepped backwards, and Grant stumbled to avoid her backing up into him, as she spread out her arms slightly. "This is one of Team Flare's top secret research operations. Outsiders must not be permitted and will be dealt with accordingly. I, Team Flare Scientist Bryony, will see to that."

She snapped her fingers and several men and women came forwards, all wearing red suits and pants with black ties. They held pokeballs in their black-gloved hands, their red hair designed to look like flames. Like the green-haired woman, they all had flame emblems on their belts. They got into their positions, the three men having their left arm held back with their pokeball, their right foot put forwards. The women stood straight and tall, right hand high over their heads while their left crossed their chests. Along with their matching everything, they all wore red shades over their eyes.

"Team Flare huh," Clara said, undaunted as she taunted them. "With those tacky suits you don't seem very intimidating."

"Question," Robert studied the grunts. "How long did it take you all to practice getting in formation."

One of the guys sighed. "Man, you have no idea. It's hell on its own."

"Silence," Bryony barked. "Grunts, get rid of them!"

They all nodded and let out their Pokemon. A Houndour, Zubat, Scraggy, Croagunk, Poochyena, and Gulpin.

I flicked out Riolu. "Water Pulse on Houndour, Froakie! Force Palm on the Pooch!"

"Dark Pulse!"

Both enemy Pokemon fired dark beams of energy and one hit Froakie's Water Pulse, while Riolu blasted the energy away with his glowing Palm. He slapped Poochyena's face, knocking the Dark type away.

I saw Scraggy slam his knee into the ground where Robert's Chespin had just been, only for the Grass type to Vine Whip him onto his back. Zubat sunk its fangs into Flabebe, but Litleo blasted him away with a small Ember. Meanwhile, Clara's Scizor had thrown Gulpin aside and was advancing on Croagunk, who's hand glowed a sickly purple.

"Cut," I said. "Bullet Punch!"

Froakie got behind Poochyena and sliced upwards, making the Dark type cry out in pain. Riolu blasted Houndour with rapid fists, then ended with a fast kick swung downwards on his head. Both Dark types were scampering backwards, so I decided it was time to finish them off.

"Water Pulse," I said and Froakie obliged, blasting a sphere of water at them, fainting both of them.

The grunts ended up having to return all their Pokemon, disbelief on their faces.

Clara crossed her arms smugly. "You gonna fight us too, Bryony?"

The Team Flare scientist snapper her fingers, the grunts backing off. "No, I don't get into the habit of battling trainers stronger than a group of grunts. But," She turned her head to look at Grant, who was back cowering near the machines. "Dr. Grant! Fire up the machine!"

He nodded quickly and pressed a few buttons, the huge container shaped one glowing, the fog clouding the inside of the glass. When it opened, a looming figure could be seen inside. A grunt hurried forwards and threw something that latched around the large Pokemon's neck. It glowed red and the huge creature roared, stepping outside of the container.

It lumbered on two large feet, small beady eyes glaring at us atop a huge maw. Its tiny arms were almost comical, but those claws looked mighty deadly.

Bryony stepped aside, pointing at our group. "Tyrantrum, deal with the intruders."

Tyrantrum roared, stomping its great feet, before lowering its head and charging.

"Scatter!" I yelled and I ran right with my Pokemon with Robert beside me, Alex having run to the left. Clara stayed right where she was.

"Scizor," she said. "Razor Wind."

The Steel type held back his right claw, wind gathering at the focal point. He swung as Tyrantrum was feet away, connecting with the fossil Pokemon's head. The wind died away, but Tyrantrum had stopped. He glared at Scizor before lifting his head and roaring.

Clara looked unamused. "Bullet Punch."

Scizor began punching Tyrantrum repeatedly, angering the Dragon type further. Meanwhile, Robert was looking up the Fossil's dex entry.

"Now?" I asked, grabbing Arcanine's pokeball. "At a time like this?"

"What?" he said innocently. "I need the data for Professor Juniper."

I sighed and let out the Fire type. "All right then buddy. See those machines with all the scientists over there? Wreck some havoc."

He growled and zoomed forwards, heat racing off of him, only for a Pokemon to slam into his side, skidding along the earth as Arcanine rolled away.

"You won't go any further," Bryony said, standing between us and the machines.

"Alex!" I yelled. "Take care of the machines!"

She gave a thumbs up from where she was at 20 feet away. Bryony let out a Liepard, who ran off to deal with Alex's Pokemon.

"Alright guys," I said as Arcanine padded up to my side, Froakie and Riolu in front of me. "Let's deal with her. Water Pulse, Force Palm, and Extreme Speed!"

Arcanine burst forwards, slamming into Bisharp, who was confused by a sphere of water hitting him in the face. Then Riolu was there, slamming his glowing palm straight into his face, the impact on the Steel type's metal sparking electricity.

Bisharp shook himself and blew Riolu away with Night Slash, leaping into the air to dodge Arcanine's Flamethrower. Froakie leaped into the air, slicing a dozen times in just a couple seconds with Cut, but Bisharp simply kicked the Water type away. He landed on the ground, blades glowing with dark energy.

I noticed Liepard was managing to keep Alex and her Pokemon at bay, but we needed those machines destroyed. I could tell they were trying to revive another fossil, which wouldn't be good for us.

"Don't worry," a voice said behind me. "For I am here!"

I groaned as Robert sent his Snorlax barreling into Bisharp, who was unable to dodge the large mass.

"Just," I sighed. "Just keep Bisharp busy. Arcanine, Heat Wave!"

Arcanine barked and turned to face the machines, which Bryony happened to be standing in the way of. Her lips parted slightly in surprise, before she began running out of the way. Arcanine roared and a wave of heat blasted into the machines, melting them into scrap metal as the scientists scattered in all directions.

Bisharp and Liepard disappeared into their pokeballs as Bryony ran down a path down the mountain and out of sight. I heard a loud thump and turned to see Tyrantrum laying on his side, a small dust cloud floating into the air, fainted.

Clara wiped her hands. "That's done. I hope you all got your jobs finished."

Alex didn't make a remark to Clara this time, as she was too busy being happy with her newly evolved Floette.

"Good job you two," I said to Froakie and Riolu, returning the Fire type as Froakie leaped onto my shoulder. Arcanine padded forwards, nudging me with his huge face.

I laughed and rubbed his huge head. "Yeah, you did a good job too."

He growled in content as I returned him to his ball, tucking it away.

"What do we do with Tyrantrum here?" Robert asked, looking down at the huge Pokemon.

"I can handle him."

We turned to see a woman in a black trench and hat walking towards us as she took off her sunglasses, a Gardevoir at her side.

"Diantha," Alex said, shocked.

The Kalos Champion winked. "Shh. I'm in disguise."

"Anyway," she got serious as she bent down to examine the collar around Tyrantrum's neck. "This Team Flare seems to be the one causing the problems. I'll have to start making this public. We can't have a group like them moving around freely."

As Gardevoir tore apart the device with psychic energy, Clara asked, "Where were you this whole time?"

If Diantha heard the rudeness in the goth girl's tone, she didn't mention it. "Observing. I wanted to see for myself if you all could handle yourselves. I would have stepped in if needed."

She stood and put Tyrantrum into an Ultra Ball. "I'll take care of Tyrantrum here, don't worry. You four might want to continue on your journey. If you see anymore of Team Flare, deal with them if you can and report it to me."

She turned, then smiled at us. "Good work out here trainers. I can't wait to see what your futures hold."

She walked away down a trail, Gardevoir floating by her side.

"Hmph," Clara crossed her arms when Diantha left. "Could've just stopped all this in an instant. She is the Champion after all."

"She probably doesn't want Team Flare to know the Champion knows about them," Alex suggested.

"Anyway," I said, scratching Froakie under the chin. "Me and Froakie here want to get our second badge. So let's hurry up to Cyllage City."

As we headed down the path we had climbed up, I got the vague sense we were being watched. I scanned the area, but turned up with nothing but rocks and sky.

"Felt like that time when I was in Vaniville," I muttered, but turned to follow my friends, and Clara.

Okay, maybe I'll get one more chapter up before school starts. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed Team Flare's introduction. Till next time, which is hopefully in under a week. Toodles