Thanks for checking in, everyone! The pace is about to pick up again, so read and enjoy! Again, we always appreciate your commentary and thoughts on the story.


A day had gone by since the report of the Team Rocket base, not too far north of Virdian City, had graced Silver's vision on the six o'clock news. Embittered by the sight of them, the red haired teen decided to perform another sweep of the gym. It hadn't been long that he had inherited the gym. For years, it had laid empty and trainers got their eighth badge from less prestigious gyms. Many secrets still lay within it.

So, naturally, Silver did not trust the place. Monthly, he committed himself to shunning challengers and sweeping the gym for trademark hidey holes the team used and other nefarious devices left behind. He'd once found a family photo album, which he had promptly burned. Another time, financial reports that he'd turned over to the authorities out of spite for his father.

Today, though, he was putting puzzle pieces together. As a child, before he'd become the runaway ex-heir of Team Rocket, he'd been privy to their operation stylings. Perhaps this was why they didn't pursue him; that, and a morsel of his father's love, perhaps. Regardless, with this knowledge, he'd calculated the days since the absence of his most boisterous challenger yet and, found the sum of his arithmetic telling.

His gym was either bugged, or there was a spy within Viridian City itself, operating in some essential role such as a nurse. He doubted the latter very highly, so that was how Silver found himself running a metal detector-magnet combination over the floors of his gym while his various pokemon also searched the place.

The search came to a poignant, crackling end when his Gengar approached him, something shiny and old within its phantom claws.

Silver grimaced, disgust coiling in the pit of his stomach.

"Damn them!" he yelled, crushing the camera under the heel of his boots. "Lift me up! I've got to make sure the rest of the wires are out!"

The new, unpleasant feeling of guilt had washed over him, as well. There was a certain Johto native he particularly begrudged for teaching him shame. Still, as Gengar lifted him and he grabbed hold of wires, tearing them from the wall they were buried in, he felt better.

They might have made him an accomplice once more, but they never would again.


The Ketchum house was buzzing with energy, an unspoken excitement keeping Delia and Mimey buzzing about with little sign of rest. That was, aside from the occasional pause to appreciate the pleasant scents that had long since filled the house.

Delia huffed in that luxury as she turned down the flame atop the stove, a smile spreading over her full, barely aged lips. Her creation lying inside the pan smelled scrumptious! "And, it's done~!"

"Delia, please," Professor Oak huffed, who sat at the dining room table, sipping on his ritualistic cup of tea. "Surely, there's something I could do to help? I'm feeling an awful lot like a Magikarp bringing Splash to a battle."

"Oh, don't be silly! You already made the tea and brought over plenty of pokemon food!" The matriarch slid the latest finished dish onto a plate atop the counter. "But, if you're really feeling guilty, maybe you could help Mimey set the table? That's one thing I haven't had time to do!"

"I'll get right on that!" The Professor stood, approaching the counter to carry the steaming dish that Delia had just set down, and a handful of silverware with it. "Here you are, Mr. Mime." He handed the kitchenware off, turning back to the next plate. "I have to say, you've put a lot of effort into this for a meal right in the middle of the day! I might have trouble continuing my research with such a full stomach."

"Well, with all things considered…" A dip in the woman's tone was evident, her heart tightening over the same malicious thoughts that had crept on her for the past week. "...I just wanted to show Ash and his girlfriend a warm and welcome gesture waiting for them at home!"

"You know, using those two words in the same sentence still leaves me dizzy," the elder man added, setting down the last of the glasses on the kitchen table. "Ash is a bright young man in many regards, but I never thought courtship to be one of them."

"It never really has been," Delia replied, turning the oven off after pulling the last of her baked goods out of the appliance. It wasn't as if Ash had never looked at or spoken of girls fondly before. But, he'd never seemed aware enough to notice he was doing it. "Well, it just means two things; that he's growing up, and that Dawn was a good fit!"

"Achoo!"

"Ash, I better not be catching a cold!"

"Don't look at me; we were just in an airport!"

"You just sneezed two seconds ago!"

"Yeah, well I… Mom! Professor!" Spotting the two familiar faces in the kitchen, Ash quieted mid-sentence, warmth swelling in his chest. He was just now realizing how homesick he'd felt!

"Miss Ketchum!" Dawn chimed, standing beside Ash in the doorway to the kitchen. "And, Professor Oak!?"

"Ash, honey! Dawn, and Pikachu!" Delia forgot her task in the blink of an eye, rushing to meet the small group. She was moments from pulling them into a hug when Ash and Pikachu flinched.

Delia's heart sank again. "Did I startle you? Is there something on my breath?" For once, she desperately hoped that the latter was the case.

Still tense, instinctively cradling the back of Pikachu's head, Ash shook his own. "We're still kinda jumpy," he'd admit with forced laughter. "Sorry."

"Pika-chu," Pikachu apologized, bowing his head before leaping into the mother's arms.

"You poor thing," she tutted, stroking Pikachu's fur. "But, hopefully this can make up for it~!" She stepped out of her son's way, gesturing to the table behind her. "Welcome home~!"

"Aw, no way!" Ash exclaimed, his troubles instantly melting away. Set out on the table was a delicious looking lunch; several platters of omelette rice lay set out on the table, and a large plate filled with takoyaki balls laid in the middle. He'd swore his sense of smell had died and gone to heaven!

"All to greet you three after your stay away," Oak added, leaning his elbow on the back of his chair. "Your mother put in quite the effort after hearing about your return!"

"This is so nice, Miss Ketchum!" Dawn bowed her head, clumsily catching her sunhat before it hit the floor. "Ehehe…"

"You're both certainly dressed for a vacation," the elder man commented, as he got a good look at Ash and Dawn. "The button-up suits you, Ash! And, the visor."

"Oh, it's cute~!" Delia fawned, stepping over to get a closer look, this time making a slower approach to leave her son at ease. "Foreign fashion is so interesting… Oh, but it's stained!"

"Yeah, I kinda, uh…" Ash trailed off, tugging on the brim.

"If it weren't for Ash," Dawn butted in, "that stain would've been on my dress, instead!"

"Oh, what a gentleman~!" Delia teased, lightly nudging Ash with her elbow, and added a wink for good measure.

"Yeah, yeah..." Visibly flushed, Ash pulled his visor down further.

The scene gave Samuel a good-natured laugh. "Well, now, why don't we settle down and enjoy our lunch? We don't want it to get cold!"

"You don't have to tell me twice," Ash fled to his chair, only to come to a halt, much to his groaning stomach's protest. "...But, we should probably feed the pokemon, first. They haven't had anything to eat today, yet."

"Well, Samuel left lots of food for all of your pokemon, out in the yard! And, they can have a taste of our lunch, too!"

"Thanks, both of you!" Dawn clasped her hands together. After a moment, she quirked a brow. "But, there isn't enough food for all of them, is there? I'm sure Ash will eat a lot, as it is."

When Dawn looked over, Ash had looked away, whistling an oh-so-innocent tune.

"Well, there's not enough for a meal, but i'd feel bad if they didn't at least try what I've put together! And, Pikachu, of course, can have a rice omelette of his own! I laid on the ketchup extra, just for him!"

"Cha~!" Pikachu's beady eyes glimmered. She knew him so well!

"Thanks a lot, Mom." Ash stood, piling some of the takoyaki balls onto a plate. "I'd love for 'em to get a taste of the welcome party, too, since they'll be putting up a tough fight, soon."

Ash left through the back door with the morsels, and Dawn followed.


"Everybody, come on out!"

Ash and Dawn called out in unison, tossing all of their pokeballs into the air.

Their roster appeared, one after the next, spread out across the pasture that laid beside the Ketchum house's garden. While most of those present were calm and quiet, already used to Pallet Town to some degree or the other, two new members observed their surroundings.

Meema peered about, taken aback by Pallet's wide open fields. A home laid about here and there, but it was nothing like the big city, nor did it look like the dense forests they'd grown up in. It was… different.

Rura, on the other hand, wasn't so quiet. He scampered over to Dawn, tail wagging. ~Hey, where are we, huh!? This doesn't look like home at all! This is one small city you've got, here!~

"Well, it's not really a city," Dawn chuckled at the youth's innocence. "This is Pallet Town! It's where Ash grew up, and where all of his other pokemon live!"

~You mean there's mooore!?~ The Zorua blurted out, eyes competing in width with saucers.

"Sure are," Ash boasted, placing one of Delia's morsels atop every bowl of pokechow laid out for the group. "I've been on my journey a long time, so I've made friends with lots of different pokemon! Which reminds me," Ash stood, his eyes turning to his team at large. "I'm gonna need everyone's help soon. I let you guys down, with that last Gym Battle…"

An array of chattered protests were Ash's answer.

"Hey, it's fine! You guys were all great. I just slipped up a few times. But, that's alright. That's all part of being a trainer. Besides, today, we're going back to the Viridian Gym, and we're winning, this time!"

Cries of denial turned to victorious cheers, from Rosa's cheering, to Torterra's growl, to Pidgeot's shriek, to Kingler's roar, to Tauros' bellow. Pikachu even offered a modest chirp of support.

"And, we'll be rooting for you guys, all the way!" Dawn butted in with a wink. "I think I'm going to need my old cheer squad back for this one… Empoleon, Buneary? Whaddya say we root for Ash and his team, just like the old days?"

"Empol!" Empoleon squawked, pounding a wing against his puffed up chest.

"Bun! Buneary~!" Buneary hopped over to sit atop Dawn's head, raising an ear in support. Even if Pikachu wasn't up to battling, he'd certainly want to see Ash win! And, she was going to help!

~Ooh, ooh! I wanna cheer, too!~ Rura yipped, hopping on all fours.

~Rura, please.~ Meema approached her cub, pulling him in with her paw.

~Pleeeeaseee!?~

"Of course you can!" Dawn announced, her enthusiasm quickly wavering. "...If that's alright with Meema."

"Well, whaddya say?" Ash looked to his new companion. "Can Rura join us?"

~If you think it's alright… I suppose.~

~Woo-hoo!~ The Illusion Fox cheered, smiling wide as could be. ~I'm gonna be the best cheerleader ever!~

"That's the spirit! You'll get to root your mom on in her first ever gym battle!"

Meema blinked, as if she'd just recalled that fact. ~I'll do my best not to disappoint you, Leader.~

"Hey, you could never disappoint me," Ash assured. "You won't have to worry about that, anyway; You're gonna kick some…" The trainer's eyes flicked between the Zoroark and her young cub.

"...Tail! So, why don't you guys eat up and get pumped?"

"Ash's Mom left a treat for each of you," Dawn added. "That goes for my team, too. Enjoy it, guys!"

Loud cries of enthusiasm were almost universal, and Ash and Dawn's team turned to their bowls, each suited to their size and appetite. Within seconds, the feast began.

Hands on his hips, Ash smiled at the scene. He turned to head back inside. "Now, we've gotta refuel, too!"

Before Pikachu would hitch a free ride back, though, he noticed something out of the corner of his eye, and hopped down from Ash's shoulder. He approached Meema and Rura.

The latter took a small, experimental nibble at the treat atop the pile of chow. His eyes momentarily doubled in size. ~Woah! That's… Wicked! It tastes like… So much!~ Unable to enumerate exactly what he tasted, but unable to care, he chewed on the takoyaki ball with a wagging tail.

Meema eyed the takoyaki ball, squinting before quietly nudging it towards her son.

"Pika! Pikachu?" Pikachu approached her, eyeing the food, but not daring to push it back.

Dubious, the fox stared at who she thought to be her superior. ~Have I offended a custom of yours?~

Pikachu shook his head. "Pika-Pika!" It wasn't that! But, that was hers! Rura already had his own.

~I just… feel that I should earn my keep, first. And, he's a growing pup. He needs it more.~ She eyed her young Zorua, who was tearing into the gooey mess inside the comfort food.

"Trust me, he's going to be full by time he finishes it. If he does." The sauce tended to be a little bit spicy, and he wasn't exactly pacing himself. "Give it a try? If you want it, at least."

"..." The Zoroark eyed Pikachu, the takoyaki ball, and then Pikachu again. ~If you insist, Pikachu.~ She reclaimed it, taking a bite. Her teal hues flickered.

~What is this, exactly?~

Pikachu shrugged. "I can never remember the name. It's a human food, made out of dough and, uh… I think Delia's said it has seafoad in it? And a little bit of vegetable." He'd sat in on the mother's cooking sessions quite a few times; it was fun to follow, and he often got to get sneak preview samples, or even lick the spoon!

~It has a kick, Meema observed. ~Humans are interesting.~

Satisfied, Pikachu smiled, a glimmer in his beady eyes. "I think you're going to like it here!"


"Thanks again for the great food, Mom." Ash adjusted his belt, and then the familiar red cap atop his head. "It really has us fired up! There's no way we can lose that match, now!"

"I'm glad you enjoyed it," Delia cooed. "Go, and make me proud! And, do come back soon!"

"As soon as we win," Ash promised, pumping a gloved fist. Wearing the jade handgear felt all too familiar, and at this point, natural. As eager as he'd been, and still was, to lay low, returning to his roots gave him an odd burst of confidence.

"...Right?" Ash turned to Dawn, realizing he hadn't thought to ask.

His companion nodded. "I've been keeping up on the latest Coordinator Monthly. The Grand Festival is a ways off, and I only need my fifth ribbon to qualify! Right now, let's focus on your match!"

"Right!" Ash grinned, turning back to Delia. "Then, it's a deal! Oh, and thanks again for the pokechow, Professor! You really came through in the clutch."

"It was my pleasure! But, if you would, you'll have to let me see your new pokemon, soon! This would be the first time I've seen a Zorua or Zoroark in person!"

"Deal?" Once more, Ash looked to Dawn.

"You can count on that! If that's really what you seek, a Zorua it'll be!" Dawn recited, a fist held proudly to her chest.

"...Ah, that was a poem! Very good, Dawn. You brought your own this time!"

"You think it was good!? Oh, thank you!" Dawn's eyes lit up like the stars in the sky. What an honor!

Letting out an amused chuckle, Ash opened the front door. "Now, let's get goin'! See you guys soon!"

"Pikaaa!" Pikachu waved from his trainer's shoulder, leaning to look in the doorway as Ash departed.

"We won't be long~!" Dawn added.

"Goodbye, honey," Delia shouted.

"And, good luck!" Oak was last.


"Well, here we are," Ash huffed, looking over the grandiose building that dwarfed him. "Viridian Gym" was spelled out over the huge double doors. The trainer took a deep breath. "You ready, bud?"

Pikachu gave a hesitant nod in response. His ears drooped. "Pikapi. Pikachu?"

"Hey, don't worry. You focus on getting better, and watch us win this, alright? You can get back to battling whenever you're ready!" Ash winked, scratching under his partner's chin. With that, he looked off. "I wonder why Dawn needed to make a stop at the pokemon center. Not like she's the one battling."

"Pika." Pikachu had a guess of his own, but it was just a guess.

"Well, sitting here thinking about it won't get us any closer to winning that battle," he supposed, as he pushed the doors open. The familiar royal blue walls, etched with impressive carvings greeted him. The battlefield was empty.

Stepping into the fray, Ash cupped his hands. "Hey, Silver! I'm here for a rematch!"

Footsteps echoed through the open chamber, and the familiar redhead made his appearance. Gray hues narrowed upon the young man's gutsy challenger. Ash could already feel his heart starting to race.

"What took you so long? You don't come off like the type to wait this long for a second try. It's been over a week."

"Pika…" Pikachu's grip on Ash's shoulders tightened.

Ash could feel his companion's discomfort through his jacket, and he shifted his feet. "I, ah… I've been busy," Ash blurted out, his voice cracking in the process.

Silver's lips creased into a frown, red brows pushing downward. "You were….Then, did you have something to do with the reports of the Rocket facility being shut down?"

Ash's fist tightened instinctively, held defensively over his chest. "I did, alright!? How'd you know!?"

"Figured as much," Silver spat. Ash came off as many things, but he certainly didn't come off as villainous. All he could've done, in that case, was initiate the team's embarrassing setback. "Pitiful," he huffed.

"What the hell's that supposed to mean!?" Ash snapped, suddenly fuming. "Do you have any idea what we-"

Silver raised a hand. "I meant Team Rocket is pitiful. Still a herd of cowardly weaklings… This gym won't be entrapping anyone else, Ash."

Less furious than he was lost, Ash raised a brow at the Gym Leader. "What're you talking about?"

Silver's eyes scanned the high ceiling of the gym. "There was… Spyware in this gym, once. But, it's been dealt with."

"Then, that's how they…" Ash cursed under his breath. That's how they'd tracked him down at all. "Hey, hold on! I'm pretty sure Team Rocket used to run this place… How'd they miss a detail like that!?"

Bewilderment turned to disgust. Grimacing, Ash dug his fingers into his palms. The opposite hand cradled Pikachu. "Y'know, that's not the first time the league's put me in danger." Several of the gyms he's battled at had nearly cost him his life, now that he thought about it. Even the Indigo League did little to address how he'd shown up to his match with Ritchie.

Pikachu could feel Ash's grip tighten, and he licked Ash's hand. This was a disturbing realization.

"They've got some serious issues."

"Hm," Silver hummed in quiet agreement. "Sometimes, they prefer a messy peacetime over correcting their errors."

Ash's stomach was starting to turn, and the last thing he wanted to was lose the lunch his mother had worked so hard on. "Hey, uh, anyway… I'll be using the same team as before; with one exception. Pikachu's gonna be substituted with someone else." He only hoped he wouldn't have to explain the situation again.

Silver shook his head. Something told him that Ash wouldn't want to be pried. "That's fine. Then, you registered Pikachu as a support pokemon?" Using six pokemon, of course, would be problematic otherwise.

Ash exhaled, grateful the other trainer understood. "I did," he nodded, looking to his companion. "To tell ya the truth, we both need the support."

"You've made the right choice, considering your pokemon's needs before yours." Particularly, in his mind, considering that Pikachu appeared to be the strongest of Ash's pokemon.

"I always do," Ash protested. "I do push them, but only as hard as they want to be pushed, so they can get as strong as they can be. But, the last thing I wanna do is hurt them."

Ash's speech put a smile on Silver's face; Ash quietly found it a little unsettling, actually. "I get you, now. You're reckless, but you're not cruel. If you've learned from last time, you might beat me, now."

"Then, let's get started, and I'll prove I can!"

The tension that was beginning to flare was shattered when the doors to the gym burst open.

"I didn't miss anything, did I!?" In the blinding, afternoon light shining into the windowless gym stood Dawn, pom pom-clad hands stationed proudly on her hips. Boasting her hot pink striped cheerleader outfit, she was accompanied by Empoleon, Buneary, and Rura. The large penguin had parted with his outgrown outfit in favor of a ribbon on his crown, and pom-poms on his wings. Buneary retained her outfit, posing proudly, while Rura wore Piplup's old cheerleading outfit, sans pom-poms.

"Dawn!" Ash turned on his heels, gawking at his girlfriend. So, that's what took them so long!

Similarly shocked, Silver cocked his head, brows furrowed. "What the hell?"

Non-plussed by her audience, Dawn walked in, tossing her hair over one shoulder. "One, two, three, four, who's the guy that we adore?! Ash! Ash! Five, six, seven, eight, who is gonna battle great?! Ash! Ash!" Dawn and the rest of her team rattled their pom-poms. "Hehe! We're gonna cheer you on to victory!" she sing-songed.

Still unable to get used to this overwhelming presence, Silver snapped. "Why do you need her here?!" He pointed to the coordinator, looking to Ash for answers. Surely there was a reasonable answer for what was surely a headache on the way.

Pouting and posing, Dawn whined, not even letting Ash answer. "He doesn't need me! It just helps." Smirking, she put a hand up to her face. "Guess you've never had your own cheer team, huh?"

Not sure if he should be insulted or weirded out, Silver stomped a foot, shaking his head as if to try to move on. "Whatever, as long as he can focus on the battle. You hear me, Ash? No making eyes at your girlfriend!"

Ash blinked. "How'd ya know she was my girlfriend?"

"... Who else but your girlfriend would do this?!" he yelled.

As if prompted by the yelling, a young boy with glasses ran into the room. "Sorry I'm late, boss! I just got out of class!"

"It's fine, this isn't a scheduled match," Silver clarified. "Ash, this is my new underling. I'm finally getting help around the gym. He's going to be the match judge."

Ash nodded in understanding as the boy settled to one side of the battle field. Taking this as her cue, Dawn and her cheerleaders stood on the other side.

"Match, begin!" the young boy called.

With that, both trainers whipped out a pokeball. Pikachu leaped off Ash's shoulder, opting to stand by his trainer during the fray. Silver's Alakazam landed lightly, psychic energies buffering his fall. On the other side of the field, a Lucario touched down lightly, her tail twitching behind her as she stared intensely at her opponent.

Ash raised a fist, grinning. "Alright! Let's use Taunt!"

Growling, the blue pokemon raised a paw, gesturing for Alakazam to come at her. This angered the psychic type so much so that the mere thought of doing anything but attacking was unappealing. He wanted to punish her for her arrogance.

On his side of the field, Silver's eyes narrowed. He raised a hand, fingers spread wide and palm facing down. "Dunno what you're up to, but it won't help if we use… Psychic!"

Chuckling, Ash wasn't perturbed. "Night Slash!"

As Alakazam fired off a bright blue burst of psychic energy, it was met with a cruel, arching wave of dark energy. The two met in the air, wrapping around another. The blue dissolved as the black tore into it, eating up the psychic energy until they both dissipated like acid spilt onto dirt.

Suspicion glinted in gray eyes. "Kinda odd for a Lucario to know a move like that," Silver said, teasing to see what Ash would reveal.

The Pallet native kept his hand hidden, though. "Surprises are fun, too, you know!"

"Hm. Yeah. Focus Blast!" Silver figured that, if that dark type move got used again, the fighting type move would be the one to triumph this time. And, with all the energy this one packed, it'd go right through!

"Flamethrower!"

The bursting ball of fighting type energy met the stream of flame. The two ignited, expanding in a white hot ball of fire. On the side lines, the judge cowered and Dawn, Buneary, and Rura all hid behind Empoleon's protection, shielded from the rolling waves of heat. Ash even raised his hand to shield his eyes as Silver looked away, his curtain of hair billowing in the blistering heat.

When the explosion fizzled, there were two pokemon left: Alakazam, steam drifting lazily up from his body; and the black furred form of Meema, her illusion broken by the explosive collision of the two moves.

Finally, the coast was clear, and Rura hopped atop Empoleon's head, getting a proper view of the action.

As soon as he did, his eyes glimmered with pride. ~Yeah! Go, Meema, go!~

Satisfied that that mystery was solved, Silver adjusting his clothes, growing hot in all his garments. "Don't know what pokemon that is, but it's definitely dark type, and that's all I need to know. Focus Blast!"

"The jig's up," Ash lamented. "Watch out!"

With her young's encouragement in the back of her head, it wasn't even an option for Meema to get struck down by the encroaching burst of energy. A sprint on all fours carried Meema swiftly past the Focus Blast, barely paying it mind as it burst in a rattling explosion behind her. Her sights were set on Alakazam, blood red claws ready to strike.

And, Ash would give her that opportunity. "Good, now, Night Slash!"

A feral cry was all that could be heard, and streaks of violet slashed across Alakazam.

The PSI pokemon stumbled, letting out a groan of pain. It was all he could do to keep himself afloat.

Silver eyed the creature opposing him with suspicion. The vicious look in its eye was worthy of concern. He didn't like pitting Alakazam against an unfamiliar dark type to begin with. "Alakazam, return!"

That was their opportunity. "Pursuit, now!"

The Zoroark charged, pouncing upon her opponent with predatory reflexes. Alakazam was struck just as he began to turn immaterial. The red flash of light flickered before disappearing into its pokeball.

"Now, that's a first." Silver's eyes turned to the sphere in his hand.

"The success of Pursuit is inconclusive," the referee sputtered. "Will the Gym leader please call out his Alakazam for a proper ruling?"

"Fine," Silver agreed, tossing the pokeball.

Alakazam appeared in a heap, swirls in its eyes. "Zam…" it groaned, out for the count.

"Alakazam is unable to battle," the judge announced. "The challenger wins this round!"

"Score one for us," Ash boasted. "Great work, Meema! You got 'em good."

The Zoroark turned back towards her trainer, bowing her head in gratitude. There was even a hint of a smile; she'd done well for Leader. Rura's chatters heard from the sidelines boosted her morale further.

It was nice for him to see her triumph in a safe setting. No fears and no repercussions. She could get used to this.

Silver grunted, recalling his pokemon again. "I don't know if you planned that out, but well played. Just don't assume mind games will work after this." Another sphere was tossed, calling on Nidoking.

"Nido," the biped growled, stomping its toughened hind leg into the gym floor.

Meema reared into a more cautious stance. She'd never seen this species before, but it looked to be a formidable adversary. Not frail, like Alakazam, by any means.

"Let's keep this ball rolling," Ash resumed. "Flamethrower!"

A jet of flames launched from the Zoroark's mouth.

"Poison Tail," Silver countered.

"Nidooo," Nidoking grunted, swinging his tail in a faint purple whiplash. Hot flames were pummeled by the attack, dispersed into little more than embers. He brushed off his tough hide, quelling any heat that still clung.

Ash grimaced. "It didn't do a thing." Of course; Meema seemed formidable, but she probably wasn't half as experienced as most of his team. Her cunning and his own had sealed the last battle, but this would be one of brute force.

"Hm," Silver mumbled. So, this unfamiliar pokemon was more vicious than it was powerful. That was worth noting. "Nidoking, Earth Power!"

A brutish fist slammed into the battlefield, sending golden cracks through the floor.

Ash wouldn't dare forget how perilous that move had been, last time. "When it comes up, stop it with Night Slash!"

Teal hues followed the cracks, and a feral cry downward strike.

Shadowy wisps tangled with the brutal illumination, the former pressing down on the latter with every ounce of force the growling quadruped could muster. A blinding explosion ended the conflict.

The burst of energy sent the Zoroark soaring, and plummeting towards Nidoking. Both of her forelegs swung forward, ready to slash across the poison type without restraint.

"Brick Break!"

Incoming, razor-sharp claws were ducked by NIdoking, who retaliated with a rattling punch to the chest.

Meema was tossed across the field, hacking to regain breath. This pokemon… She'd never met one who could deal and receive blows with so much raw strength. She was left to contemplate that as she wiped her jaw with her paw, standing up on shaky hind legs.

"That had to hurt…" Ash winced, sympathetic. "Hey, Meema! You doing alright, over there?"

An affirmative growl, and a murderous gaze towards Nidoking was Ash's answer.

"Alright, cool! Uh… Just remember this is for sport, alright?" Her behavior while fighting Anima still crept in the back of Ash's mind.

"You'd better hope it does. Punishments for out of control pokemon aren't lenient, if things get too messy. And with the privilege you've been given, it'd be a shame if you lost it so quickly."

"That's not gonna happen," Ash argued back, a little bit insulted. "I have faith in her!"

The exchange between the two humans left Meema in a dizzy frenzy of looking between the two.

A pang of guilt quickly formed when Ash's status was threatened. "I can't afford to burden him like that."

When Ash spoke, guilt was replaced by something… unfamiliar. Total bewilderment, even. With her past behavior in mind, Ash trusted her that much!?

A growl of reassurance called out to Ash, in tandem with an awkwardly raised paw. She'd seen humans make a similar gesture with their opposable thumb, usually as a sign of optimism. Ash, in particular, did it often. It was all she could do to convince him that she'd live up to his expectations.

"We'll see," Silver agreed with a soft shrug of his shoulder. "Nidoking, Earth Power! Don't let them rest!"

"King!" Nidoking roared, pummeling the ground before him in what looked to be a ferocious tantrum.

Ash's heart began to pick up its pace. "Dodge that!"

Still recovering from Brick Break, Meema lunged to the side, landing just short of falling prey to an earth-shattering explosion beside her. "That could've been my head," she thought aloud, a bit dizzy at her growing desperation.

"There's more coming!" Ash shouted in warning.

She didn't have time to look. The faintest tremor and flicker of light out of the corner of her eye sent her sprinting, ears flicking when each attack drew near. Whenever one Earth Power subsided, she gave herself a moment to breathe.

"She's not even looking," Silver observed, cocking a brow. "She fights a lot more like a feral, wild pokemon than a domestic one." He didn't know a lot about the species, but he could venture to guess.

Ash watched on amidst the chaos clouding the battlefield, quickly absorbing what Silver meant. Quiet awe turned to loud pride, a smile spreading from cheek to cheek. "Well, she hasn't been with us for that long, but she sure knows how to fight her own way!" Ash couldn't take credit, but it was something else, all the same.

"Flamethrower!"

Red-hot flames shot across the battlefield, engulfing Nidoking in their wrath.

"A direct hit!" Dawn cheered. This match was off to a good start!

A guttural groan of pain could be heard within the roaring embers. Nidoking's horn glimmered from the center, shining brightest of all.

"Nidoking, Poison Tail!"

The hulking, purple biped charged out of Meema's attack, assaulting the dark type with speed that one would think impossible for a Nidoking. Nearing the Zoroark, he skidded to a halt, turning his body to whip her with his bulky, poison-laden tail.

"Meema!" Ash called out in panic.

Meema was sent skidding across the gym floor, knocked breathless. She clutched her hurting ribs with a paw, eyes shrinking to pin needles. Any coherent thought that came up blended with the last, and her vision turned blurry. Tried as she might to push herself up, the Zoroark fell unconscious.

The referee leaned over to check the pokemon's status. "Meema is unable to battle," he declared, none the wiser that 'Meema' was only a name. "The Gym Leader wins this round!"

"Brutal," Ash muttered. "Meema, return!" He recalled the Illusion Fox to her pokeball, taking a moment to stare at the device. "You were great. Thanks for putting up a good fight!"

"Don't worry, Ash," Dawn called out. "You guys are doing great! She really held her own."

Rura's ears drooped. She was tough, but she got beat up bad! The sight of Nidoking, still lively and formidable, made him shudder. ~I didn't know there were pokemon that big!~ Bewildered, he turned to Buneary. ~Can you eat them? Or, do they eat you?~

Buneary stared at her new teammate, at a loss for words. "Kid…." Open-mouthed silence lasted for several moments "What goes on over there, in Unova?"

"Thanks, Dawn. I know." Ash's smile returned. "Now, let's go! Rosa… I choose you!"

Appearing in a flash of light, the Lucario quickly took in her surroundings, swiftly raising her paws into a defensive gesture. She squinted at Nidoking.

"It's time for round two," Ash announced.

"Nido," Nidoking spoke, gesturing with a clawed paw for Rosa to come at him. They had unfinished business.

A bark was her answer, and she crouched further into her stance.

"You're going to send out the same pokemon against Nidoking twice? You do remember how this ended before?"

"That was then, and this is now," Ash argued. "It's because of that that I know Rosa's really gonna want to win, and she'll fight her best to settle the score! I wouldn't feel right not givin' her the chance."

"Car!" She yipped, raising a fist in enthusiastic gratitude. "I lost Papa's last Gym Battle. This time, I'm gonna beat the pants off ya, 'n make him proud!"

"That's Ash, alright," Dawn remarked, the familiar sentiment leaving her both nostalgic and concerned. "That strategy's got kind of a spotty record." Sometimes, it worked, like at the league. Others, it failed miserably.

"Empol," her starter agreed. Watching the battle at Lake Verity was a case of secondhand shame that he never wanted to repeat.

"But, that's just Ash. Besides, Rosa won't lose!" Dawn's quiet musings turned to adamant cheering, pom-poms raised. "Get 'em, girl!"

"Let's just make sure this is the real deal," Silver squinted. "Earth Power!"

Nidoking promptly struck the ground, starting another tremor.

"Dodge it, and charge in!"

A paw was swiftly held to the floor, aura feelers levitating. The energy coursing through the ground was promptly identified, and Rosa sprinted forward. A swift sidestep avoided the seismic disruption.

"Power-up Punch!"

Rosa jumped, throwing a blazing punch at her bipedal opponent.

"Poison Tail!"

The familiar crash of an armored tail smashing into her torso sent Rosa reeling, skidding across the arena floor. The unsavory feeling of her paws dragging along the ground made the Lucario shudder.

"Earth Power!"

By time her mind returned to the fight, cracks in the ground were heading her way.

"Use Aura Sphere to block that," Ash ordered.

Paws were raised over the Lucario's head, quickly channeling a ball of spiritual energy. She hopped, tossing the blast overhand towards the ground.

A loud, booming explosion ensued, sending a shaken Rosa skyward. The worst of the damage had been mitigated, but the wisps of smoke trailing her body spoke for themselves.

"I know you can keep going," Ash encouraged. "Aura Sphere!"

Rosa growled, drawing an arm back behind her head. She focused through grit canines, conjuring a glowing blue orb that was lobbed towards Nidoking.

"Brick Break," Silver ordered in few words.

A hearty roar accompanied Nidoking, who dug his hind legs into the gym floor, preparing himself for the collision between his arm and the potent blast. He put his back into the push, feeling his arm growing numb.

A brief struggle ended in the Aura Sphere being smacked back.

"Rosa!"

"Yikes!" The air-stranded pokemon yelped, with terribly wide eyes. She crossed her arms for the worst.

Ash, Pikachu, Dawn, and the other pokemon present all winced. A loud, brilliant cyan explosion dropped

the struck jackal to the gym floor.

"Another Brick Break," Silver continued.

Nidoking charged his downed opponent, a glowing arm raised, poised to strike.

"You've gotta block it," Ash pleaded. "Use Power-up Punch!"

Rosa shook her head, still a bit dizzy. A purple giant was sprinting in her direction, fighting instincts bringing her competitive spirit to life. She pivoted to her feet, throwing a bunch with a raspy, high-pitched roar.

The collision of punches kicked up a brief gust, tossing dirt and dust across the fray.

Rosa grit her teeth, leaning her weight into her golden, blazing fist, struggling to push back Nidoking's overwhelming strength and bulk. Her forearm trembled against the other's large claws.

"Niiidd…" A low growl came with the poison type's efforts. Tried as he may to force his arm forward, that stubborn pup was putting every ounce of strength she had into her fist. His own paw was actually starting to singe.

"King!" He exclaimed, growing impatient. Easily able to hold his footing, he raised his opposite arm. Nidoking was ready to hammer this Lucario into the ground.

The secondary strike didn't slip by Ash. "Low Sweep, now!"

It was all Rosa could do to not squeak in fearful anticipation. Instead, she ducked, striking Nidoking's shin with a brutal kick.

A jolt of pain halted Nidoking's arms, bringing the mighty poison type to the ground.

"So, he taught her that move," the Gym Leader noted aloud.

"Good job," Ash praised. That'd keep them from dealing more damage! "Now, Power-up Punch!"

Still crouching, Rosa threw her weight into an uppercut, socking Nidoking in the jaw.

The fiery adrenaline provided by Power-up Punch gave her a rush of aggressive vitality.

Silver tutted under his breath. This was turning in Ash's favor. "Use Poison Tail!"

Nidoking held his jaw, head still pounding from the punch. As difficult as it was to move about, he had no issue throwing his tail around, intent on swatting the Lucario aside like a pesky Beedrill.

Ash saw this coming, and he hoped that Rosa had, too. "Counter that, with Close Combat!"

Sparring with Ash hadn't gone to waste. She hopped over the sweep, striking back with a roundhouse kick to the face. Satisfied with that, she struck Nidoking's head with her tail, followed by a punch to the gut.

Silver watched on with a dissatisfied sneer, as his own reliable pokemon was being pummeled by one punch after the next, helpless to retaliate meaningfully. A final kick to the chest sent Nidoking stumbling back.

Ash, on the other hand, was grinning, excitable as ever. "That's the way to do it," he exclaimed, pumping a fist.

But, all wasn't as well as it looked. Rosa staggered back with heavy, raspy breaths. Her chest was heaving, body winded by the fierce exchange of blows. She was pretty strong for her age; but, she was still young.

And, as she'd found, woefully inexperienced compared to her sturdy opponent. "Ahh… I don't feel so good," she whined.

And, there was their golden opportunity. "Now, Earth Power!"

The hunched over Nidoking had no trouble striking the ground below him, splitting it to make way for the powerful undercurrent.

"Rosa," Ash called out. "I know you're tired, but can ya push on just a bit longer? I know we've got this!"

~Y… Yeah…~ she relayed to her trainer. ~But, I'm gonna need another vacation after this!~

Ash chuckled, but he had no time for a witty reply. "You know the drill! Aura Sphere!"

A raging blue orb was formed overhead, tossed into the ground with vigor.

This time, Rosa was able to brace for the impact that sent her soaring.

With some difficulty, the Aura pokemon steadied herself in mid-air. She bared her fangs.

"And, go!" Ash roared, pulling an open palm back before thrusting it forward.

"Taaake… That!" Rosa echoed, forming an Aura Sphere over her head. It was chucked at Nidoking.

"This, again?" Silver squinted. "Brick Break!"

Defending wasn't difficult for the biped, even with a bad leg. Nidoking countered with a mighty swing, crashing his arm into the orb of energy. Aura Sphere bent and bounced, carrying almost gelatinous qualities.

The chance of it bursting right there left Nidoking in a sweat, giving him all the motivation to knock it back.

"Not this time," Ash insisted, pulling a fist back. "Two can play at that game! Power-up Punch!"

A quick look was spared to Rosa's trainer, and her confidence was bolstered. She imitated his punch, delivering a blazing, screaming haymaker to her very own Aura Sphere.

The blast plummeted back like a golden, blazing comet. Far too swiftly for Nidoking to guard against.

The bursting blast pummeled the field in smoke and winds, forcing all present to raise their guard.

The inevitable conclusion came when the debris settled. Rosa landed on all fours, and Nidoking laid in a crater, unconscious.

The referee squinted through the dust. "...Nidoking is unable to battle! The challenger wins the round!"

"Hm," Silver huffed, recalling his pokemon. "Not bad. You don't seem much stronger, but you have a better understanding of your opponent." Another pokeball was thrown, calling upon Weavile.

"Weav," the dark type hissed, raising its sharp claws. It, like its opponent before it, had a score to settle.

"Way to go, Rosa!" Dawn cheered, waving her pom-poms. "You've got 'em right where you want 'em!"

"Rio!" The Lucario yipped, turning and waving to her mother figure. Even if she was aching, the warm and fuzzy feeling the praise brought made it worth it!

Silver, already grinding his teeth, snapped. "Stop goofing off and pay attention to the battle!"

Rosa flinched, shrinking with a low whine. That was so loud! Had she really been that bad!?

"Hey, don't yell at my pokemon!" Ash snapped back, teeth grit and showing.

"Pikaaa!" Pikachu echoed his trainer, ears standing up. The nerve!

"Then discipline them, and focus on why you're here!"

"I don't believe in disciplining them like that!"

"Oh, shocker."

Dawn fumed, stomping her foot. "Is this really how a Gym Leader's supposed to act!?"

Silver's eye twitched. "You know, I have half a mind to throw you all out."

Ash swallowed, quickly losing his edge.

The redhead sneered. "Lucky for you, I'm enjoying the battle too much."

"Then, let's get on with it!" Ash shouted, quickly losing enthusiasm when he looked back at his sniveling companion. The sight of his frightened hatched pokemon made the trainer's heart sink.

"You ready, Rose? I know you still have some fight in you."

A curt nod was his answer. As much as she hated the yelling, it was nice to see Papa defend her.

~Don't worry. We'll make sure to kick his butt real bad for that.~

A smirk was shared between the two over the quick mental relay.

"Now, Aura Sphere!'

Rosa drew her paw back, charging another sphere to lob forward.

"It can't be dodged… Block it, with Ice Shard!"

"Weav… Vile! Vile!" A slab of ice was chucked at the fighting type move.

Aura Sphere bounced, but didn't quite break upon being struck.

A second and third shard, however, made it burst loudly.

Ash's brows lowered. "Power-up Punch!"

A fleet-footed sprint narrowed the distance between the two, and the Lucario's fist lit up once more.

"Icy Wind, now!"

"Weav!" Weavile grunted, unleashing a bitter gust upon its dangerous foe.

Rosa shuddered, doing her best to brave the climate. But, frost clung to her fur, and a faint numbness slowed her pursuit. She resisted, throwing a spirited Power-up Punch.

The attack struck Weavile's face, sending it stumbling backwards.

It regained its footing, however, sporting a devious grin.

"It didn't work!?" Dawn's mouth gaped. She was sure Rosa had this in the bag!

"But, how!? That move's really super effective!" Ash was at a loss.

"When attack loses its momentum, it's not going to hurt much," Silver explained. "This time, the loss in speed will put your Lucario down for the count. Ice Shard!"

"Vile!" Only several feet away, the dark type chucked another slab of ice.

"Close Combat!"

Rosa spun on her heel, delivering a roundhouse kick that shattered the shard into miniscule bits.

Weavile found himself on the receiving end of a persistent barrage of punches and kicks, afterward. The Lucario swung at him with vigor, a determined glimmer in her eyes as one haymaker came after the next.

This time, though, he was dodging handily. The punches were sluggish, weighed down by frost and fatigue. Weavile gleefully ducked and sidestepped each punch. The sharp eye and predictive capabilities that his opponent had boasted last time were weary. From the looks of things, she'd gone into this fight tired.

Weavile was more than happy with that. Now, he's just slash down that mangy-

Smack!

Rosa delivered a high kick to the jaw - one the underhanded Weavile clearly hadn't seen coming. The sucker punch - or kick, rather - was followed up by several swifter kicks to the abdomen.

"Ha! Rah! Heeeyah!" The Lucario cried, finishing her short combination with a backflip that nailed her opponent in the jaw.

She expected to land with style, but she fell to her knees in a heap. Maybe that was a bit too much showing off…

Silver gained an unnerving grin. "Low Sweep!"

Ash gasped. "Get up, now!"

A paw pushed Rosa off the floor, and the other leg would come next.

It would have, if not for the leg crashing into the back of her knee.

The Lucario yelped, knocked flat on her back.

"Good. Now, Ice Shard!"

"Weeeaaave…!" Weavile cried gleefully, forming another frozen shard above his head. He enjoyed it oh-so-much when he got the opportunity to smash the attack into his downed opponent.

"Rosa!"

Frost and water vapor clouded the battlefield, and everyone on Ash's side winced.

Little was left to question when Rosa could be seen. She laid out, motionless.

"...Lucario is unable to battle! This round goes to the Gym Leader!"

"Pikachu…" Pikachu's ears drooped. Talk about a brutal end. He couldn't help but shudder.

A red flash of light retreated into Ash's palm. The trainer drew a heavy sigh. "Thanks, Rosa. You put up a great fight," Ash concluded, placing her sphere back on his belt. His gloved hand fumbled for another under his jacket, finally grasping it between his fingers.

Ash pursed his lips, staring down at the red and grey orb. 'This is about where I started losing control of the battle, last time… I've gotta start taking it really seriously from here on out.'

The pokeball was wound up behind Ash's head, clutched tightly between his fingers. He leaned into a heavy toss.

"I choose you!"