"Hey, I-"

"Congrats," her friend gave her a warm smile. "I saw it all on TV!"

"You-," Alex blinked. "You did?"

"Yep," he nodded, pulling himself up further on his bed. "The Alolan League was amazing! Your battles were thrilling to watch, especially that one against that Zeno guy." He laughed softly. "Shame you lost, but hey. You made it to the Quarter Finals! That's something to be proud of!"

He began coughing, nearly doubling over. Alex rushed over, but he held up his hand and gave a shaky thumbs-up. "It's okay, don't worry. I'm fine. I shouldn't be getting too excited like that, my bad."

Alex sat at the foot of the bed. "What have the doctors said about your condition?"

He shrugged. "They're still unsure what it is, but they are saying I'm getting better. At least I don't have to spend my time in the hospital and I can just stay here in my room."

Alex smiled sadly. "Were you mad when I left?"

He blinked. "No, of course not. I was happy for you, really." He nodded. "You wanted to get away from this place, I can understand that. I'm just surprised you came back so soon."

"So am I," Alex looked down. "Hartley... I think he holds a grudge. He knows I'm going to be leaving again. I tried making things right here, but I just can't..."

The boy leaned forwards. "Go then. Don't let yourself be held down or governed by what has happened here. You're your own person and you should follow your dream." He glanced sadly at an empty pokeball sitting on his desk. "I wish I could."

"And you will," Alex said, her voice filled with confidence. "I'm sure you will."

Chuckling, he said, "Alright, maybe I will. And when I do, I'll beat you in a battle." He stretched out one hand and spun the globe on his desk, pressing down his finger to stop it. "How about this region?"

"Huh?" Alex came over. "Which one is that?"

"Kalos," the sunlight peeking in through the opened window caught his hair, making the pale green color glow vibrant. "It's somewhere I've been thinking of going one day. Their Pokemon League is something to behold, not to mention the sights." He grinned at his friend. "Go, Alex. Follow your dream."

...

"My dream," Alex thought as she walked along the platform, watching as Clara did the same on the opposite side. "Is it to get stronger? Or to follow Zeno?" She gripped the pokeball in her hand tightly as she came to a stop. "Whatever it is, I will defeat you here, Clara."

"And we welcome our first Quarter Final contestants into the arena! Whoever wins this match will move on to the semifinals, where trainers will compete in full battles! But for now, it's the usual three!"

The field rose from the depths of the stadium, latching into place. It seemed to be modeled after a plaza in Lumiose, complete with a cafe and other various buildings. A cobblestone street separated Clara and Alex, tables with umbrellas set up on the side.

"And the first field of the day is the City Field! On one side we have the brutal brawler, Clara! And facing her, the girl with fiery determination, Alex! Who will stand victorious in the wake of what is expected to be a thrilling battle!?"

"The announcer sure likes his job," Alex rolled her eyes, tossing her pokeball in the air. "But he ain't wrong! Pyroar, let's go!"

The Royal Pokemon shook his large mane and roared. Clara smirked, tossing her pokeball in the air. Barbaracle appeared in front of her and took up a fighting stance, claws extended towards the Fire type.

"Oh, well now we know Clara ain't playing around," Robert clapped his hands together excitedly. "Time for the long awaited catfight!"

"Ugh," I groaned, rubbing my head. "What is wrong with you?"

Ash leaned forwards in his seat. "Clara sure is strong. I might even have to face her myself."

"Roar!" Alex shouted and Pyroar let out a deafening roar, powerful enough to send Barbaracle back into his pokeball, another one opening and releasing Heliolisk.

"Alex is playing it smart, switching out her opponent's Pokemon so Clara wouldn't have the advantage."

"Have it your way," Clara shrugged, thrusting out her hand. "Electric Terrain!"

Energy crackled around Heliolisk's frills, electrifying the whole field.

"Don't let her hit you!" Alex shouted. "Flamethrower!"

Pyroar shot jets of flames towards Heliolisk, who didn't even move an inch as the fire engulfed him. When they died down, Heliolisk still stood, frills extended.

"Now then!" Clara shot her hand into the air. "Rising Voltage!"

The electric field crackled and the electricity shot upwards, blasting Pyroar with energy. He was left panting, wincing at the pain he just endured.

Alex gritted her teeth. "Overheat! Incinerate the field!"

"Don't let her!" Clara roared. "Thunder!"

A blast of electricity arced towards Pyroar as he unleashed a wave of fire around him, burning up the electric field. Then the blast hit him, causing him to roar in pain. He collapsed, fainted.

"Pyroar is unable to battle, which means Heliolisk is the winner!"

"While the Electric Field was taken care of, Pyroar was still quickly taken out! They don't call Clara the Brutal Brawler for nothing!"

"Dang," Alex returned Pyroar. "That was not how I wanted to start."

"Come on then," Clara called out. "Don't tell me your fire is all burned out?"

"Not even close," Alex let out Ninetales. "Bring him in close with Extrasensory!"

Ninetales' eyes glowed and psychic energy surrounded Heliolisk and pulled him in fast.

"Parabolic Charge!" Clara shouted.

"Not so fast!" Alex threw out her hand. "Fire Spin!"

A cyclone of fire swirled up around Heliolisk, damaging him and stopping the Electric attack.

"Now Fire Blast!" Alex roared.

As Heliolisk was brought within five feet, Ninetales shot a ball of fire, which exploded in front of the Electric type. It formed a fiery symbol before blasting Heliolisk into a table.

"Don't let up," Alex ordered. "Flamethrower!"

As Heliolisk made to stand, he was blasted backwards once more by the flames.

"Thunderbolt!"

"Dodge and use Quick Attack!" Alex commanded. "Finish her off!"

Ninetales leaped to the side and the Thunderbolt hit the road harmlessly. The Fire type then took off at a run, slamming into Heliolisk. He broke a chair and collapsed amongst it, fainted.

"Heliolisk is unable to battle, which means Ninetales is the winner!"

"Once again fire prevails! But can she keep up the heat and finish off Clara's last two Pokemon!?"

"Come back out, Barbaracle," Clara sent out the Water/Rock type. "Let's finish her!"

"Speed and distance is essential," Alex warned Ninetales. "Extrasensory her into the air!"

Barbaracle was flung skyward, but Clara shouted, "Muddy Water!"

Dirty water gushed around Barbaracle and he used it to surf to the ground safely and towards Ninetales.

"Jump onto a table and use Quick Attack!" Alex shouted quickly.

Ninetales leaped on a table, nearly knocking it over in the process, and used it to fuel her momentum as she slammed into Barbaracle.

"Bad move," Clara smirked. "Razor Shell!"

Barbaracle swung out his blade, slashing upwards. Ninetales spun in the air, droplets of water scattered around her.

"Inferno!" Alex roared.

Ninetales' eyes narrowed and before she landed, she blasted fire at Barbaracle's feet and a column of fire erupted around him.

"Get behind him and use Fire Blast!" Alex shouted.

Ninetales sped around and blasted Barbaracle with a Fire Blast as soon as the Inferno died away. The eyes on the palms of the Water type rolled to look at the Fire type and narrowed.

"Stone Edge!" Clara yelled.

Barbaracle slammed his foot on the ground, stones jutting out of the road towards Ninetales.

"Dodge and use Flamethrower!"

Ninetales jumped out of the way, breathing jets of flames towards her opponent.

"Slice through it with Razor Shell!" Clara commanded.

Barbaracle lumbered forwards, swinging down his water blade, cutting the stream of fire in two. He raised his arm, slicing downwards on Ninetales.

"Now's the perfect time," Alex smirked. "Dazzle him, my beautiful Pokemon!"

Light emanated from Ninetales, blasting Barbaracle into the sky.

"Extrasensory!" Alex slammed her fist into her palm. "Drive him into the ground!"

"Stone Edge!"

As soon as Barbaracle slammed into the ground, huge rock formations broke through the ground and slammed Ninetales into the air before crashing back to earth. She got to her feet, panting, but still unwilling to throw in the towel just yet. Barbaracle meanwhile,

"Barbaracle is unable to battle, which means Ninetales wins again!"

"Who says type advantage is everything!? Ninetales proved that Fire vs. Water results in a fiery victory! However, one Pokemon left! But with the way things are going, things are looking in Alex's favor!"

"Don't push yourself, Ninetales," Alex rubbed her Pokemon's head. "But that doesn't mean you should let them win."

She barked in agreement, returning to the battlefield where Scizor had just been let out.

Clara sighed, snapping her fingers. "Scizor, Bullet Punch!"

In a flash, Scizor was in front of Ninetales, repeatedly punching her with his pincers.

"Flamethrower!" Alex shouted.

"Air Slash!" Clara yelled.

Scizor leaped back, slashing both pincers down, sharp bursts of air blowing the fire into the sky.

"Double Hit!"

Scizor went in low, smashing his left pincer into Ninetale's side before leaping and smashing his leg into the same side. Ninetales cried out in pain as she was sent crashing into the side of a building.

"Finish her with Flash Cannon!" Clara ordered.

"Flamethrower!" Alex yelled, but twin beams of metallic light from Scizor's pincers was enough to faint her Fire type.

"Ninetales is unable to battle, which means Scizor is the winner!"

Alex threw out Absol. "Let's not waste a single moment! Let our power and bond grow as we go beyond evolution! Absol, Mega Evolve!"

"Fury Cutter!"

Just as Absol finished mega evolving, Scizor slammed a pincer into her size, sending her crashing along the already broken ground.

"Psycho Cut, quick!" Alex shouted.

Absol slashed her head, three blades of energy shooting towards the Bug type.

"Fury Cutter again!" Clara commanded.

Scizor braced himself, slashing through each attack while also taking the damage.

"Not good," Alex winced. "Night Slash!"

Absol unleashed a fierce dark wind and it battered against Scizor.

"Ignore it!" Clara ordered. "Fury Cutter!"

Scizor's eyes flashed and he cut through the darkness, slashing his pincer towards Absol's head.

"Detect!"

Absol's eyes glowed green as she dodged every strike Scizor threw her way.

"Now use Razor Wind!" Alex commanded.

Wind blew up around Absol, forcing Scizor back a step before it carried him into the sky.

"This is starting to get annoying," Clara growled. "Scizor, Bullet Punch!"

Scizor switched tactics and slammed into the ground, battering Absol in the side.

"Psycho Cut!" Alex yelled. "We can't miss!"

"Grab it!" Clara grinned.

Scizor's pincer closed around Absol's one horn, making her eyes go wide.

"Now Fury Cutter!" Clara shouted.

Scizor landed 3 solid hits before Absol was able to struggle free, slashing Scizor in the chest with Night Slash, making him fall to one knee.

"Don't give up," Clara gritted her teeth. "Fury Cutter!"

"Razor Wind!" Alex shouted. "Keep her away!"

"Fury Cutter into the ground!" Clara roared.

Scizor brought up both pincers, slamming them into the ground. The resulting shock wave ripped apart the Razor Wind, but Absol was already leaping towards him.

"Sucker Punch!" Alex pumped her fist.

She slammed her paw into Scizor's head and he crashed into the road headfirst, creating a groove. As he struggled to get to his feet, Alex breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly, light burst from Scizor, a green hue of energy.

"Wha-!" Alex's eyes widened. "Absol, Night Slash!"

"X-Scissor!" Clara roared.

Scizor blasted forwards, pincers crossed. He cut through the dark wind, slamming into Absol. She cried out in pain as Scizor raised his leg, slamming it into her head before somersaulting over her, slamming a pincer into her back, and landed on his feet.

"Finish her!" Clara stomped her boot. "Fury Cutter!"

As Absol turned, Scizor was there. His yellow eyes glowed as his green aura strengthened, and he slashed downwards, driving Absol's head into the ground. Absol spread her paws, fighting to lift herself up, before she gave in and collapsed, her mega form fading away.

"Absol is unable to battle, which means Scizor has won! This also means Clara will be moving onto the semifinals!"

"Unbelievable! Just like before, Scizor proves to be a master at taking down Mega Evolved Pokemon! It seems the Brutal Brawler will move upwards, securing herself a spot in the semifinals!"

The crowd roared as Alex just stared, Absol unable to move from where she lay in the shattered cobblestone street of the battlefield. She gripped her fist tightly, then released it, her energy spent.

From the stands, I got up and left. Now outside, I looked around to see Alex entering the Hotel to get her Pokemon healed. I was prepared to run, but the huge screen placed outside the stadium indicated that I was due in the next couple of minutes.

"Alex," I whispered, then with deep regret, headed back inside the stadium.

...

"Thanks Nurse Joy," Alex said, smiling sadly before heading for a couch to sit on. Then she stopped, looking through the door into the call center. Making a decision, she headed into their and sat at a booth. Typing in a number, she waited a couple seconds before he picked up.

"Hey," the green-haired guy grinned, sitting up in his bed. "I watched the match. Tough break."

"Yeah," Alex said softly and echoed, "Tough break."

He brought his phone in closer, his image increasing in size. "You okay, Alex?"

"I... I don't know," Alex admitted. "I want to get stronger, strong enough to prove myself. But, I think I've been fooling myself with that."

He stayed silent for a minute, then asked "Alex, what is your dream?"

She opened her mouth, but what she had wanted to say wouldn't come out. Then it came to her. "The journey."

"The journey?"

"Yes," Alex breathed in. "With my friends and Pokemon. That's what I love. Battling is fun, but it doesn't quite compare to the actual journey itself."

"Then don't battle just for the sake of getting stronger or winning," her friend advised, smiling. "Do it so you can have fun."

Alex's smile widened. "I will!" She stood. "I should go watch the match now. My friend should be battling."

"Go on then," he laughed. "I'll be watching from here from the comfort of my bed."

"Oh, right," Alex said before she switched the call off. "Wally, thank you."

"Anytime," Wally grinned and then the screen went blank.

The Quarter Finals have kicked off with Alex taken out of the running. Clara moves up to the Semifinals while Zeno heads off to face his own match in the QF. Next chapter, "The King's Sorrow," a tall homeless man faces off against Zeno! Toodles!