"Is that Rokkraw up ahead?" Moira asked.

"Yep. That's it," Scarlet replied.

Rokkraw was a small but bustling city nestled into the rocks and mountains directly to the east. The buildings were short, with very few of them breaking 2 stories. They all had a very metallic bent to them, the buildings being earthy or metallic colors as a whole.

The most notable building in town, which was visible even from Route 3, was the Rokkraw Gym, a large stadium which was not only built at a slightly higher elevation, but was 4 stories tall.

As the fields gave way to a more rocky landscape, Oliver was approached by another trainer, this one a girl with dark red hair, freckles, and dressed in green like Oliver was, and was carrying a large brown bag.

"Hey, would it be all right if I challenged you to a Pokémon battle?" She asked.

Moira huffed, a little miffed that Oliver was getting challenged all the time but she wasn't. But Oliver replied "I'd love… Actually, can you hold on just a sec?"

"Sure!"

Oliver turned to the other two. "Did either of you notice that one of those black briefcases is hidden in her bag?" he whispered.

Moira looked over to the trainer, who was busy looking between two Pokéballs to choose who she'd lead with so she didn't notice.

Sure enough, poking out of her bag was indeed that familiar black case.

"Aye… so what will ye do?"

"I'm going to fight her. With my entire team this time. Scarlet, I need you to write down all the moves that her Pokémon use so I can see if they actually match."

"Will do."

Oliver turned. "All right, I'm ready! You're on! Go, Tryote!" He sent out the Ground-type, who landed on the ground ahead of him.

"Go, Magmar!" The ducklike Fire Pokémon emerged right in front of Tryote.

All right, I'd better not let up with the Ground moves. "Use Sand Tomb!" Tryote immediately generated a swirl of dust that surrounded Magmar.

"Magmar, use Incinerate!" A burst of flames erupted from the sandstorm, lightly singing Tryote, who wasn't hurt too badly.

"Use Mud-Slap!" Tryote kicked dirt into the Magmar, who had forced its way out of the Sand Tomb. The dirt landed in Magmar's face, hampering its vision.

"Shake it off, Magmar! Use Scald!"

Oh, that's bullsh**, thought Oliver as Magmar- the Fire-type- spat out a considerable spray of boiling water, which not only compounded the burns Tryote already had but also did supereffective Water damage to Tryote. Oliver looked back at Moira and Scarlet, who clearly shared the sentiment (Scarlet poring over the Pokédex to see if there was some complicated breeding tree where that was possible).

Deciding to withdraw Tryote before he could be KO'd again, he recalled him and sent out Ralts, lamenting that Tryote was his only real counter to Fire.

"Use Confusion!" Ralts's horn glowed as a wave of Psychic energy gathered towards Magmar, disorienting it. This, combined with the wear and tear of Sand Tomb, brought Magmar down, the fire growing less intense as he collapsed.

The trainer recalled her downed Pokémon and threw the next one out. "Go, Mawile!" The little odd, toothy Steel/Fairy type entered the field.

"Ralts, use Hypnosis!"

"Mawile, use Iron Head!"

Mawile dashed towards Ralts headfirst, glowing with a silverish light as it rammed into Ralts at full force. Ralts was knocked out cold in just one hit.

Oliver recalled Ralts. Yeah, Ralts can dish out the pain like the best of them, but one strong Steel-type move like that and it's all over. Though I feel like Ralts could've hung on… "Go, Joltik!"

The Bug/Electric-type sparked, ready to take on Mawile.

"Use Electroweb!"

"Mawile, use Fire Fang!"

Joltik zipped around the field, charging electricity for the web. All right, Fire Fang will knock Joltik out cold, but Joltik can easily outspeed that thing and avoid-

The second Joltik got close to Mawile, it spun around with unnatural quickness and precision and bit down on Joltik with burning red fangs, before Oliver even had a chance to blink. Joltik was down.

How?! There's no way a Mawile can be this fast!

He sent out Karrablast, who was knocked out just as quickly despite being physically tougher than Joltik and Ralts. Oliver reached for his Pokeballs, but stopped. He only had his injured Tryote and Hoodlet left. He knew Hoodlet would get one-shotted by Iron Head and Tryote would get KO'd by pretty much anything, so Oliver just withdrew his downed Karrablast and said, "All right, I give up. You win."

After he paid out the prize money- I just got that, he internally sobbed- the trainer turned and left. Oliver went to a nearby rock and sat, looking a few different flavors of glum.

Moira sat down next to him. "It's just a losing streak, Oliver, dinnae let it get tae ya."

"It's not just that. If this was just a normal losing streak I'd just go train some more. But this… Why should I even keep going when everyone else is just gonna cheat their way to the top? What's the point?" He threw his arms up. "I give up."

Moira's eyes widened. "Ye- ye cannae be serious!"

Oliver looked at her. "No, I am serious. I'm gonna withdraw from the Gym Challenge."

"Oh wow, you're actually talking sense!" Said a familiar condescending voice in mocking surprise.

Amber walked towards them, her blouse now graced by the Geode Badge, shaped like a black hexagon with a shimmering white square at the center. "I've been trying to warn you that you'd be demolished out there. You didn't listen, but eh, better late than never."

"Hey, it's not his fault, okay?" Moira shouted. "It's only because of-"

"Moira, please, stay out of this," Oliver said with a tired voice. He turned back to Amber. "Yeah, I'm dropping out, gonna train up a bit, come back next year-"

"Next year?" Amber snickered. "Oliver, you used your entire team on that girl and you STILL lost. On her second Pokémon! What makes you think next year will be any different?"

She poked him in the chest. "You're a failure this year and you'll be a failure next-"

She didn't finish that sentence, as during her little rant, Moira had strolled over to her and slapped her right across the face.

Amber didn't bother to look forward again at first, Moira's hand still hanging in the air. Finally she spoke. "Did… did you just-"

"Yer f***in' right I just did that, and I've got half a mind to do it again! So ye've got some fancy bred Vulpix, and so Oliver's havin' a bit of a losing streak. So what?! Aside from my Pokémon, Oliver's the first friend I've had in years and I'm not gonna stand for this anymore! Amber, I challenge you to a Pokémon battle! Right here, right now!"

Amber slowly turned her head to face Moira, glaring daggers, her cheek still stinging. "Fine. You asked for it."

Oliver started to panic. "Moira, y-you don't have to do battle her just because of me."

"Look. Oliver. Mate. I'm not going to just stand there and let her abuse you like that." Oliver shut up.

He couldn't help but watch Moira in awe and admiration as she took her place opposite Amber, one single thought dominating his mind:

I… I think I'm in love…

"Go, Vulpix!" Amber's star Pokémon emerged from her Pokéball, her snowy appearance a stark contrast to the dry grass around them.

"Go, Sobble!" Moira tossed out her own ace Pokémon, the Water-type looking around hesitantly before standing his ground, clearly remembering what Vulpix did to Joltik.

"Use Hail!" Amber shouted, as Vulpix once again summoned a hailstorm.

As Vulpix began to shimmer out of focus as a result of her Snow Cloak, Amber chuckled. But her expression fell when Moira began to smirk.

Time for that TM the old man gave me to come in handy! "Sobble, use Swift!" Sobble's hands glowed as glowing stars formed in them, then he flung those stars at Vulpix. Vulpix tried to dodge, its evasion boosted by the hail, but the stars circled back around and struck her anyway. Sobble was struck by hail but that wasn't much of an issue.

"Vulpix, use Moonblast!" Amber shouted, as an Ice-type move wouldn't do much to a Water-type.

As energy began to collect above Vulpix, Moira shouted "Quickly, Sobble, use Tearful Look!" Sobble looked Vulpix directly in the eyes and then began to softly cry, eyes watering.

Vulpix's focus wavered and the resting burst of energy wasn't as strong as it could have been. Sobble took the hit but wasn't knocked out just yet.

"Go fer another Swift!"

"Moonblast him again!"

Vulpix began to form another ball of light as Sobble launched another volley of star-shaped projectiles. The stars made contact just as Vulpix released the energy.

The Ice-type was knocked back but not done yet. Sobble, meanwhile, was exhausted and basically knocked out, looking ready to fall over any second.

"Ye did good, lad! Come back," Moira said, recalling the barely-standing Sobble. She pulled out another Pokéball, the one she got by trading Shroomish, and looked at it. Time to see what yer made of! "Go, Tyrogue!"

The small humanoid Fighting-type emerged and faced down Vulpix as the hail began to die down, Vulpix's shimmering coming to a stop.

Amber didn't seem to notice. She looked like wanted to laugh. "Tyrogue? Isn't that a baby Pokémon? Whatever. Vulpix, use Moonblast!"

"Tyrogue, use Mach Punch!"

Before Amber could even blink, Tyrogue had already cleared the ground between them, his fist planted directly in Vulpix's face.

Amber's jaw dropped. "What-?"

Vulpix was pushed back and hurt by the hit but it was uninterrupted in its use of Moonblast.

Amber's shock turned into a smirk. "That hurt, but not as much as this is gonna-"

"Tyrogue, use Protect!"

"ARE YOU SERIOUS?!" Amber shouted, losing her cool.

Tyrogue braced itself, a wall of blue shimmering into existence as the sphere of energy burst into a flash of light. When everyone's vision returned, Tyrogue was standing there unharmed.

Amber was standing there in shock.

Moira smirked. "Mach Punch."

Tyrogue zipped forward, punching Vulpix again. This time, Vulpix didn't get back up, laying unconscious where the punch had knocked her.

Amber was speechless. "Y-y-you…" she stammered, then she regained her composure and huffed. "Don't look so smug. I've still got two more Pokémon left."

Moira withdrew Tyrogue and took out Wooloo's Pokéball. "Let's see, then! Go, Wooloo! She threw it, the sheep taking its spot and kicking at the dirt like a bull.

"Go, Lotad!" Amber shouted. The Water/Grass type sat there on the ground. "Use Bubble!"

"Wooloo, use Headbutt!"

Wooloo charged forward through the bubbles, not interrupted by their bursting as it collided with Lotad, knocking it around as well.

"Grrr… Lotad, Mega Drain! Now!"

Lotad began to shake as greenish energy began flowing from Wooloo to Lotad, healing some of its wounds, causing the Normal-type to stagger slightly.

"Okay lass, use Payback!"

Wooloo slammed into Lotad at full force, fueled by the pain of losing energy and knocking it out cold.

Oliver couldn't believe what he was seeing. Amber was absolutely demolishing her team!

Scarlet seemed to notice Oliver's awe. "Amber focused too much on training her Vulpix. Once her ace is taken care of, the rest should be child's play."

Scarlet spoke too soon, however. Amber grumbled as she withdrew Lotad. "You haven't won yet. I got one more Pokémon left. Try taking this one down! Go, Torkoal!"

The Fire-type tortoise stepped out onto the field, smoke pouring out of its shell. Moira's eyes narrowed. Wooloo was at a disadvantage here. True, her wool enhanced her defenses, but it was also quite flammable.

"Wooloo, use Headbutt!" She began to rear head back in preparation to charge towards Torkoal.

"Torkoal, use Flame Wheel!"

Torkoal cloaked itself in flame and slammed into Wooloo, the sheep taking damage from it and its wool being singed somewhat. Torkoal seemed unscathed.

"Go for another one, Torkoal!"

As Torkoal surrounded itself in flames, Moira withdrew Wooloo, not caring that its next attack would connect. In fact, she kinda hoped it would. "Go, Nidoran!"

Nidoran took the brunt of the impact of Flame Wheel, but its spines dug into Torkoal as it did so, infecting it with poison. The Poison Pokémon was dazed, but wasn't down yet.

"Sorry 'bout that, Nidoran! Use Double Kick!"

Slowed down by the poison in its system, Torkoal didn't react in time to protect itself from being kicked twice by Nidoran. It didn't do much damage, but compounded with the poison, Torkoal was weakening.

"Now use Horn Attack!"

"Use Ember, keep it at a distance!"

Torkoal shot a ball of fire at Nidoran who was charging headfirst with his horn forward, not seeing the approaching fire.

"Nidoran, dodge it!"

Hearing his trainer's voice, Nidoran swerved to the left, just barely avoiding getting burned again and jumped in the air, slamming his horn into Torkoal, managing to hit a weak spot in its shell.

Torkoal grumbled and collapsed to the ground, the smoke from its shell stopping.

Moira had taken out Amber's team and the only Pokèmon she lost was Sobble.

Amber stood there slack-jawed. "I… I lost? But I… I beat the Gym Leader before you! Vulpix was bred specifically for battle! How did I-" her expression soured.

"Hmph. The other two Pokémon didn't pull their weight. Lotad especially," she muttered, uncaring if the other trainers heard her. "I'm going to give them a serious talking to once they recover, maybe I should just release Lotad. Then I'm gonna train them so hard-"

"Okay, I think I have to step in now," Scarlet said, looking uncharacteristically angry. Cassandra looked at her trainer, somewhat concerned.

Scarlet stood over Amber, making them all suddenly aware of how tall she was, a fact they forgot as Scarlet tended to be a wallflower.

"Amber," she said harshly. "Your Pokémon fought as hard as they could. If they were weak, it's only because you did a lousy job training them."

Amber regained her composure. "Maybe. But some Pokémon are just inherently stronger than others."

Oliver stepped in. "That's true. But in the end, the skill of the trainer is more important than the strength of the Pokémon, isn't it?"

"Really?" Amber said skeptically. "Then a trainer with a Sunkern could beat a trainer with a Metagross if they're just really, really good?"

"Well that's hardly a fair comparison-"

"And if that's the case," Amber said, pointing at Oliver, "What's that say about you, as a trainer, needing someone else to fight your battles for you?"

Oliver shut up after that.

Amber put her Pokéballs away. "This isn't over." She turned on her heel and made her way to the Pokémon Center, though she mumbled "I guess I can give Lotad a chance…"

With Amber out of earshot, Moira turned back to Oliver, his expression unreadable.

Finally Oliver gave a slight smile, and spoke. "Thanks for kicking her off her mighty Mudsdale," he said.

"It was nothin' really. I've wanted to do that since we met."

"So… about what Amber said," Scarlet asked, "it doesn't bother you?"

"Of course not!" Oliver said. Then, after a moment, he sighed. "Well… I mean..."

He sat back down, Moira sitting next to him.

"She's right about one thing. I need to be able to fight my own battles." He turned to Moira, smiling confidently. "Once these guys recover, you and me are gonna spar. A lot. Need to be completely prepared when I fight the Gym Leader tomorrow."

Moira beamed. "So you're over that whole quitting thing?"

"What can I say?" he shrugged. "Seeing Amber eat some humble pie was invigorating."

So Oliver, his confidence restored, went into the town and made a beeline for the Pokémon Center, ready for the challenges that awaited him.

But the knowledge that there was some sort of cheating afoot remained at the back of their minds. As did the man in the surgical mask who was apparently behind it...