We're getting to the end of their journey. We all remember who the eighth gym leader in Kanto is, right? Right. Lots of drama starting in this chapter!


"How many times have you flown on Ryu?" Serena questions as the dragon type stretches out his wings and Lance pulls out a sweater for himself.

"A lot of times, it's safe," he assures her. "Get a sweater on and let's go."

She does as told, pulling out a sweater and slipping it over her t-shirt and simple jeans. The weather in Cinnabar is still hot, but in the air it will cool down and they're heading north to Pallet Town. For the rest of the Kanto region, in the north at least, it's Fall and that means cooler weather than what the island has to offer. Serena hates having on the layers when it's humid, but it's better than being stuck here longer. With all that's happened, she's ready to move on with her life.

"Ready?" Lance asks Ryu.

In response, his wings spread out at his sides, reaching impossible length and size as if testing his own capabilities. Ryu's battle hardened face makes him intimidating. There's a knick in the scale above his right eye, a scar from something that never quite healed right and the scales are a bit lighter in color in his face, meaning they've been impacted a lot. It adds to his demeanor, daring anyone to face him head on and she can't stare for too long.

She wonders if Wynn will look that regal and powerful at the same time. There are limits, such as, the dragon type won't be over 7 feet tall. That'd be a stretch for her, being the runt has stunted her in physical size. Her strength may, one day, be comparable to Ryu though.

She follows Lance, using his outstretched hand to pull herself up onto the pokemon's back as he leans forward to help them get situated. Her legs settle next to Lance's, her arms wrapping around his midsection as the muscles in Ryu's back coil with his movement down and then release as he leaps into the air.

Just like the day they started their journey, the rush of air passes by her ears, nearly deafening her as they gain height with each flap of Ryu's wings. Serena's arms hold Lance tight as the pokemon stops climbing and hovers for a second. Her eyes open to find the island just a spec below them and fluffy clouds swirling by on a gust of wind. She grins at the sight before squealing and clutching Lance tighter as Ryu darts forward.

Lance's laughter bounces over the winds as they dive and climb around clouds as though doing an invisible dance. Unable to take her eyes off the sights, Serena can't wait for Wynn to evolve to fly on her whenever possible. She's sure her pokemon will get used to flying with someone on her back right away, at least with Serena begging to see the region at this height.

Everything looks so tiny below them. Swimmers look like dots at the surface, other flying types race above the sea, only visible because of the splashes they make along the way. The blue of the ocean is amazing enough she's tempted to jump off and dive into the waters below.

About two hours later, the two make it to their destination and land in a grass patch on Route 21. Ryu stretches once more before being returned to his pokeball and placed on Lance's belt for later use. All around them trees are already turning from green to variations of red, yellow, orange and brown. It's a strange sight so close to the ocean, but Serena marvels at it. She loves watching the transition from season to season in a natural setting.

She follows Lance to a marked path to Pallet Town while still admiring the forest.

Step by step, they leave the ocean behind and follow the river leading back to their destination. The sounds of the beach disappear, leaving the sounds of water running along the banks instead, the whistle of wind blows through the leaves. Serena can't help but skip part of the way, her back feeling great and her hair loose around her shoulders, as leaves cover parts of the path. A smile touches Lance's face as he watches her try to step on crunchy leaves. Her face either breaks into a wide grin with a good crunch or a disappointed frown at a bad crunch.

He never brought up the shield she created yesterday. The moment itself already a blurr in his mind. If he was honest, there was a strange prickle of energy in the air around her when she did that. Her eyes shined the barest hint of purple, and then it was gone in a flash. When talking about the night, she never mentioned it, or even the criminals. As though she wants to forget it happened, or as though she already did.

Whatever happened is connected to her uncle and as much as it pains him. He's in no position to do anything about it. Best thing is to file this away and bring it up when they're backing Giovanni into a corner. The thought brings a smile to his face and keeps his feet moving forward.

By lunch, the two settle for some sandwiches and hot tea to keep away the chill nipping at their fingertips. They manage a few training sessions with their pokemon, something to warm them all up, before setting out again. They discuss their plans for after the gym battle; go home, celebrate and then leave again to do more training on their own.

While they spent half the year doing the challenge, the rest of it is prepping for the tournament next year. Lance wants to go back to Johto to train, travel as much as he can around the region before having to return for the tournament. He plans on roughing it in the mountains for as long as possible, pushing his pokemon to their limits to see how far they can go. The fire in his eyes blaze as he describes his perfect battle to Serena. She feels as though she's there, watching and sweating with the heat pouring from the field.

On the opposite end, Serena decides she wants to stay in Kanto per her original plan. She wants to delve into the cave on the Seafoam islands to train and explore. She'd like to return to Fuschia, disappearing into the forests of Route 14 and 15, and go back to Mt. Moon to train as well. She wants her pokemon to be familiar with all types of terrain and environments. She plans on battling a lot of trainers too to beat her nerves into cooperation.

The sunlight depletes as their conversation dies down and Pallet Town reveals itself just outside the forest with a short path leading up a hill. They see some houses on the horizon, greeting them and pulling them into civilization after a long day of travel. Without missing a beat, the two race up the hill, Lance a good few strides ahead of Serena. Their laughter echoes into the clearing as they reach the top and gaze at their path behind them.

Though the hill is low, they can see pretty far over the tops of the trees, not quite to the ocean, sadly, but enough to glean how far they've come. Serena leans her head on Lance's shoulder as they gaze at the sight. She can hardly believe their journey is half over, this was the biggest part and now there's more yet to come.

"Come on, wanna get dinner?" he rubs his stomach.

Lifting her head, Serena's eyes shine in the night. "I thought you'd never ask!"

October 20th

We've finally arrived in Viridian. I say finally because Lance and I puttered around Route 1 for way longer than we should have. The thought of being home again made our steps slow and the urge to train stronger. We got here last night and have looked up the gym leader, but the website hasn't updated their info. The league generally upkeeps the Leader sites so trainers can prepare ahead of time, but with the lax regulation not everything is right. I'll guess we'll be going all out to make it through this guy!

The walk to the gym is shorter than expected and Serena debates on walking through Viridian a second time to better prepare herself. However, Lance pulls her along, dragging her into the entrance and standing at her side as the assistant, a man dressed in jeans, a black t-shirt under a gray sweater and a cap snoozes at the front desk. Lance taps the desk a few times, startling the man out of his slumber.

He glares at the two. "What do you want?"

"We're here to battle the gym leader," Lance replies in the same kind of attitude.

"Gimme your licenses then," he grumbles holding up a scanner.

The two pass their cards to the man, wary he may try and run off with them when, instead, he snags them, scans them and tosses them back. Serena frowns as she receives Lance's and he has hers. The assistant stands up and gestures for them to follow him. Lance restrains himself from yelling at the guy as they walk down a short corridor with faulty lighting to a standard gym set up in the back.

"Wait here," the guy growls before turning and stalking back down the hallway.

Serena eyes the gym set up. It's dark and menacing with its audience seating on two levels and a large door at the back of the room where she presumes the leader will walk out from. The field is a standard dirt battlefield, a little bit smaller than regulation, she wonders if that has to do with the gym's size.

"Don't gyms get funding from the league?" Lance whispers to her.

"Yeah, I thought so," she replies in the same tone. "You'd think this guy would use it to renovate the place."

She opens her mouth to say more when the door across the way swings open with a loud creaking sound. Her eyes fly up to the door and widen as she watches a hulking, familiar figure approach them. The light from the room behind the man blocks out the details of his face as he steps out, but once he makes it to the field, the dark eyes of her uncle gleam at her.

"N-n-no," she mutters, stepping into Lance and grasping his arm. "It can't be."

"What?" Lance frowns at her.

He's never seen Giovanni, he doesn't know who it is, she thinks to herself, her eyes welling up as she stares at him.

"What's wrong?" her best friend begins to panic, his hands gripping her shoulders. "What happened? Do you know him?"

"Not only does she know me, boy," Giovanni's sharp voice echoes around the gym. "But we're related."

Lance stares back at Serena, her eyes caught on Giovanni as he approaches them at a slow, regulated pace. Like a pokemon prepping to defend, Lance stands in front of her. He hunches forward with his arms raised back to hold her behind him with a glare on his face.

"What are you doing here?" he demands from the older man.

Giovanni laughs. "You're here for a battle with the Viridian City Gym Leader, are you not? Well, you're looking at him."

"No!" Serena shouts. "How? Dad's been looking for you forever."

"I got all the brains in the family," Giovanni cackles. "Do you want a badge or not?"

The two stare at him, Lance glaring with sharp golden eyes and Serena with her blue wide-eyed gaze. Lance springs into action first, he turns to Serena. "While I'm battling him, call your father."

"Go ahead, Serena," Giovanni shrugs and stalks back to his side. "Let's get this battle started then, boy."

"It's. Lance." he responds while stomping over to his side, Ryu's ball already out. He glances at Serena. "Run to the Center, I'll be fine here."

"No, need," Giovanni tosses something across the field. Serena catches the small cell phone in her hand and flips it open. "Just call him from there."

With a grimace, Serena dials her father's work number, waiting patiently as the two begin their battle. Giovanni releases a Rhydon, it looks powerful as it roars at Ryu and faces the pokemon down with no fear. The ringing in her ear seems endless as the fight commences.

"Who is this?" Aaron demands as he picks up.

Despite the tone, relief floods through Serena. "Dad, it's me!"

"Serena? Are you okay? What's happening?" relief floods her father's voice before being replaced with panic.

"I'm at the Viridian Gym and Giovanni is here," she speaks fast. "How can that be? He says he's the eighth Gym Leader, but wouldn't you have known that?"

Silence greets her on the other end as Aaron processes her words. "No, we wouldn't have. The Pokemon League and the G-men are separate entities. We don't work with the leaders, elite four or champion unless it's a region wide emergency. The only person that would see the paperwork and know he was there, and hide it from me, is the... director."

The disdain in his voice makes Serena flinch. "What do we do?"

"Stay put, I'm on my way. I'm going to let Wes know and we're going to figure out everything," he states in a firm tone. "Honey, be careful."

"I will, Dad," Serena's lip trembles as she hangs up and continues to watch the fight from the sidelines.

"Daddy's on his way?" Giovanni taunts as his Rhydon meets Ryu's body head on, their claws out and grasping each other's as Ryu tries pushing him backwards. He grins at his niece before turning back to the battle and calling out another attack.

It doesn't take long for Wesley to appear, using the league's Alakazam has its perks, and he appears on his own looking angry and resolute. Giovanni ignores him, continuing to battle his son as though a G-man hadn't appeared with the intention of stopping the fight. The air in the gym gets tense as the battle continues and Wes comes to stand by Serena.

"How are you?" his light eyes search her for any signs of injury.

"I-I don't understand," she shakes her head. "We've been searching forever and he's just here?" She jabs her hands around her to the gym. "You guys work at the league and didn't even know?"

"It's... complicated," he sighs and pulls her in for a hug. He glances up and shouts loud enough to echo across the whole gym. "This battle is over!"

Both pokemon ignore him, colliding once more in the center of the field. Dirt rises with the force of their collision. Both their trainers call it off with a wave of their hands. Lance glares at Giovanni as the man approaches his father with the ease of an old friend. There's nothing he's wanted more than to wring this man's neck for torturing his best friend and then popping up out of nowhere as if he put in the work to be a gym leader.

Wesley gives his son a nod, calm down, it says, and turns to Giovanni. "We see that you've had us under your thumb the entire time."

"I see it took you long enough to understand your place," the other man taunts with a sharp laugh. "Hendrick and I go way back, you see."

"You're under arrest," Wes growls back at the man, turning to push Serena behind him as he stands to his full height in front of the gym leader.

Lance rushes to her side, watching as she begins to tremble at the sight and proximity of her uncle, and holds her close. Her body feels cold to the touch as she struggles to remain calm and focussed on the problem at hand. Ryu saunters up and stands behind them, bringing forth a wing to wrap around Serena, she clutches it like a lifeline.

"For what? You have proof of nothing!" her uncle laughs again. It sends shivers down her spine and makes her head ache. "I've been here tending to my duties as a gym leader, which I earned years ago."

"Where were you in 1995?" Wesley demands.

"I was on vacation to the Sevii Islands," he shrugs flippantly. "Or at least I think so. That was a long time ago wasn't it?"

"You're not on any official record for being the gym leader," Wes tries again.

"You're so dense," Giovanni sneers. "Of course I am. Don't kid yourself, the G-men have no reason to be part of the Pokemon League."

"You being here is starting to make me change my mind. I will be bringing you in," Wesley shakes his head.

"Be careful," Giovanni responds with a sly grin, it makes Serena's stomach lurch at the sight. "Gossip spreads easily around Viridian, if they hear you've taken me into custody with no evidence or without warning, they will riot. I will have to be released and you and Aaron will be fired."

"That's a big jump," Lance mumbles.

Giovanni turns to Lance, his eyes sharp, making the young man freeze up under such a gaze. Serena glares back at her uncle, despite the shaking in her limbs, she straightens up and moves to stand in front of Lance. Ryu moves with her, lowering his wing to give her space while still close enough to protect. Channeling all her anger at him, she clenches her fist and sneers back at him.

"Don't look at him," she growls.

"Long time no see, " he relaxes despite the threat evident in her tone. "How are you?"

Her fists tremble as she shakes her head at him. "Why are you here?"

"I'm not going to repeat my title," he huffs in frustration. "Do you want a battle or not?"

Wesley steps in front of the kids. "They will come back tomorrow for a battle."

"I'll be waiting."

The indifference in his voice has Serena shaking as Lance tries to get her to leave with them. She stares at her uncle, her blue eyes keeping him in place as she thinks about all he's done to her and her family. In her mind, she knows she can't do anything because there isn't proof of his involvement, just family history pointed in his direction.

A smile grows on his face as though he knows what she's thinking, inviting her to do something.

"Something on your mind?" he raises a brow, trying to look innocent but it comes out menacing.

She feels her power rise and her fingertips tingle. Without a thought, she steps towards him only to feel a large hand encompass her arm. Wesley pulls her away, his voice soothing in her ear. "Don't do anything you'll regret."

If she attacks him, she'll get in trouble with the police and will have to find another way to get her eighth badge. She could just take an exam at the league to get it, it's difficult but she could do it. She'd face charges of assault... but, then again, she's 16. Would Giovanni let it get out if a teenager attacked him?

As long as it's nothing gruesome.

Worth it.

She feels the rage build and without thinking about it, she pulls away from Wesley while bringing up her left hand. Her fingertips glow a slight blue. Her hand arcs through the air in a straight line, a clean swipe towards him with no physical effect, but she can see the energy rushing towards him. The two behind her stare in awe as Giovanni gets pelted back by an invisible force, landing on his back with a whoosh of air leaving his lungs.

"Serena!" Wesley steps between her and Giovanni as the latter wheezes while trying to sit up.

"Impressive," he smirks, getting to his feet and dusting his pants. "Your gifts are truly rare and powerful."

"You did this to me!" she screams fighting her way forward but Ryu grabs her at Lance's command. The dragon types arms are like steel as she struggles against him.

"Don't you'll make it worse," Lance tries to soothe her as he walks beside his pokemon. "We'll get him, come on."

"You'll be hearing from us," Wesley promises Giovanni before stalking out after the kids.

She struggles against Ryu, tossing her body this way and that, trying to free herself. He drags her to a small clearing next to the gym where there are no onlookers before releasing her and letting her go against Wesley. Once on the ground, she turns to Wesley, her eyes welled up with tears and her chest heaving.

He stands there, arms crossed with a gentle look on his face. "As much as I would love to see you toss him around, I can't. It's for your safety."

She hugs herself, curling into her body as memories fight to the surface. "He's been there this whole time!"

"Right under our noses," Wesley nods. He stays put and shakes his head at Lance when his son tries to step toward Serena. "Trust me, we're all angry about it. Your father has called a meeting with the director, which was my idea. I came here because I would not have been able to fight you and your father to not attack that douchebag."

She sniffles, her grip tightening on her arms as she feels another wave of energy rise in her body. It emanates from her scars as if something was reaching out, something urging her to go back to the gym and give Giovanni a piece of her mind. Just as expected, an ache begins to grow along her spine and she must fight for control.

"H-he did this to me," she cries and closes her eyes. "He's got his job, but he did this to me."

At her softening tone, Wesley takes a step closer, recognizing her attempts to keep herself calm and controlled. "I know, sweetheart. I hate that we can't go in there and toss him in jail, but we have to do it the right way and we have to get proof."

"I-It hap-happened so lo-long ago," she shakes her head. "What proof can we get now?"

Wesley doesn't know how to answer, but it's Lance that steps in. "Because you're here and you may not be able to now, Rena, but you'll find the answer. He's not going to stop being evil, he's not going anywhere anytime soon."

She accepts this, feeling the anger and power seep away from her, though a voice in her head seems to whisper something. It's at the edge of her senses, as though someone was on the other side of a glass talking. A frown forms on her face as she strains to hear it...

Look for me...

"Serena?" Wesley's voice pulls her from her thoughts.

She glances up to see him standing just a few feet away, his hands out as if expecting her to make a run for it. She wipes her eyes, though more tears keep coming. "I want my dad."

"He'll be here soon," the older man relaxes. "Let's get a hotel for the night, mm?"

"I want to go to the Pokemon League," she shakes her head. Lance nods along with her, knowing what she wants to do. "I want to know what's going on there."

"You're not allowed to."

"Why not?" she raises a brow.

"You're not a G-man. You have no statement to give and, quite frankly, your stunt could get you in trouble," he raises a brow back wondering how it is that he has a son but still finds himself arguing with his best friend's daughter. "We have to wait until your father gets here so we can figure out our next steps." He holds out his hand to her then. "Come on."

The walk to the hotel is silent, her hand in Wesley's as though she's a child with Lance on the other side holding her other hand. Her emotions swirl around her mind, her uncle is the eighth gym leader of Kanto. Was he here working while she was off who knows where? Had he been here controlling everything that was happening to her?

He gave her Espeon as a gift to take on her journey, knowing that she would one day come to face him. He wanted to see her, he waited for her this whole time, knowing how she would react. The thought makes her stomach lurch, he planned all of this, he wants something to happen. Either for her to suffer or for her to make a big deal and toss the G-men into a bad light, which they're already in. It would tear apart the Kanto region and put her father in danger.

Her hands squeeze theirs as they approach the hotel. The two share a worried glance over her head. Wesley gets them checked in and rushes them up to their room without delay.

Serena pulls a chair to the window and faces the city of Viridian without a word, or a glance in their direction. Her back stands stick straight, her expression unchanging as tears threaten to spill down her face.

"Rena?" Lance approaches quietly. He takes a seat next to her, a mug of tea in hand he places on the windowsill in front of her. "What can I do?"

She shakes her head. "I don't know."

It's tense for another hour until Aaron barges into the room. He waves at the other two before gathering his daughter in his arms and squeezing her tight. His muscles are tense and he smells of caffeine and sweat. Serena leans into him, wanting to curl up and disappear in his embrace forever.

"How are you?" he pulls away, cupping her face. Only a sob escapes as she stares up at him, he wipes her tears away with his thumbs and presses a kiss to her forehead. "I know, honey, I know. I'm so sorry you had to walk into that."

"There's no way we could have known," Lance states. "I looked up information on the gym leader before we got there. There's nothing on him."

"Well, there's one way we could have known," Aaron responds to him but is staring at Serena. "And I think your father was right all along, Lance."

"What?" the red head frowns up at his father.

Wesley's face grows grim. "You can't be serious."

"I am," Aaron nods, lifting his face. "The director of the G-men, our liaison with and co-president of the Pokemon League, works for Giovanni."