Pokémon Insighter: Platinum

by Espeon804

They were forced into world to alternate from their own: The world of Pokémon. They were told one thing: "Find The Insight". They have to journey through the Sinnoh Region to seek answers. They aren't the chosen ones, "The Inisghter" is. The twins are just disposable tools for the gods. However, they are kids with dreams, and EVERYONE has dreams.

10. Kids shouldn't be so involved

A/N: If you played Sword and Shield, you know what kind of person Leon is.

But… how was he when he was younger?

---

Befriend List:

-Lalinda

-Will

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- Chapter 10: Kids shouldn't be so involved -

Mia is a little jealous. She won't deny it.

Lalinda had an easier time against Gardenia, mainly because of her Monferno that tore through most of her team. Gardenia couldn't risk bringing out the sunlight. If she did, she probably would have been ran over.

In the end, Lalinda won. Gardenia wished them the best of luck, especially Lalinda, since she is representing all of Floaroma Town. Turns out not a lot of kids from there become Trainers.

The three just left the Pokémon Center after a quick recovery. They are heading for their next destination… the bicycle shop.

"The bicycle shop should be just ahead, right?"

Lalinda stares at her shiny new badge, completely missing Mia's question.

Will answers instead. "It is. I saw it while taking a look around town. It should be coming up just before the gym."

Mia smiles, petting the Eevee that rests on her head again. "I finally get to have my own bike! Borrowing Dawn's is okay, but… I get to have my own bike! Aren't you excited?"

"My wallet isn't," Will says. "I heard those bikes are expensive. How much money are you carrying?"

His Pichu tilts his head.

"I was always told to never tell anyone how much money I have," Mia replies.

"But I'm your brother."

"I said, no one."

"Not even-"

"No one."

Will lets out a sigh before picking up his pace. "Alright, fine."

The building they ignored times before finally has a purpose. It's a small little shop, decorated with a flowing sun guard. Bikes are chained and displayed on the side. The ground sign next to the building tells them everything they need to know.

Rad Rickshaw's Cycle Shop

Get On and Ride!

"That's it," Will says. "Who's getting one first-"

"I'm gonna get a green one!" Mia sprints past him and rushes past the automatic door. She nearly knocked him over in the process.

Once inside, she is impressed with the great amount of selections displayed on one side of the room. The bikes come in many sizes, colors, and models. Besides Will and Lalinda, a lone boy sits at the table, tapping the desk.

That blue cap is worn backwards. He seems to be wearing a dark blue jacket now. Everything else is still the same. The jeans, the shoes...

Mia recognizes him immediately. She walks over to him, curious. "Hey… didn't we battle at the Trainer's School?"

The boy quickly stands, but he is awkward. "Oh! Mia, right? It's been a while! I didn't think we would meet up here again!"

"Who is this?" Lalinda joins Mia's side. "You never told me you had another friend."

"Well, we met at the school. Johnny, right?" Mia has to make sure she doesn't get anything wrong.

"Yeah! It's me!" Johnny appears relieved to see them. "You got here just in time! I'm guessing you came for a bike, huh? No one is allowed to cross Bicycle Road without one. It's a crazy rule if you ask me."

"Yeah. I came for a bike. Well, we all did," Mia waves a finger at Lalinda and Will. She walks past Johnny, taking note that there is no one behind the counter. "Isn't someone supposed to be here to ring us up?"

"Well, that's what I was about to get to," Johnny's smile completely fades. His expression is almost grim. "Rad Rickshaw, you know… the person that runs this shop… he's not here."

From the tone of his voice, Mia can already tell something went wrong. "What happened?"

"Well, these strange group of people just came in. At first, they looked like they were shopping since they were looking at bikes, but they went to Rad and asked him about his Clefairy that was with him. I didn't pick up everything, but it sounded like they were trying to buy it from him or something."

"Buy it? Who would buy a Pokémon?" Mia is curious. She can only guess they are people working for the black market, but she hardly knows how it works.

"I'm not sure. But, one of them was aggressive. They shouted; 'Hand over that Pokémon! It came from space!'. Rad isn't a Trainer, see. He had no choice but to listen when they threatened to hurt him. I tried to step in, but I couldn't take on all of their Pokémon."

"Wait." Will steps in. "Do you have an idea on who those people could be?"

"Those people… I think they are called Team Galactic?"

"You're kidding," Lalinda says, almost growling.

Mia groans at this. Why is Team Galactic everywhere she goes? She just wants to visit one town or city without hearing their name being mentioned. "So… Team Galactic took his Pokémon?"

"Yes. They also took him with them," Johnny clarifies.

"What?!" Mia can't believe it. "But why?! He listened to them, didn't he?"

"I feel like they just like to hold hostages for no reason," Lalinda says. "I don't understand why they left you alone… Uh, don't take that personal."

Johnny sighs. "Well… they didn't see me as a threat for one thing. Also, it seems Rad knew something they wanted to know. My guess is that they took him in for questioning. I've decided to stay here and keep guard. I'm not strong enough to go after them."

"You did what you could," Lalinda says. "Don't worry. We'll beat them up for you!"

"We will?" Mia and Will look at her. The thought never crossed their mind. Mia personally doesn't like the idea of facing anyone related to that organization. After what happened in the Valley Windworks, she needs a major break from them.

Johnny appears relieved to hear. "Looks like he has a bit of help. Someone else came by here a little while ago. He was a boy a little older than you. I told him about what happened, and he just raced out."

"A little older?" Will tries to pull some more information. "What did he look like?"

"I didn't get a good look. I just remember he had yellow eyes, which is rare to see from anyone. He also had an accent. He speaks another language, because he was saying something on his way out that I couldn't understand. He didn't sound happy at all, so I guess he knows about them."

"So do we," Lalinda says. "Unfortunately."

"I think that boy ran after them…" Mia makes a note aloud. "He must be the one that gave me the Eevee. I haven't met anyone else who has his eye color."

"What? He's here?" Will asks her.

"Most likely. I could be wrong," Mia says. "This sucks. We can't move on without a bike. I don't even wanna deal with anyone from Team Galactic, but this is crazy… We might not have a choice."

"We could just ask Gardenia or Cynthia to help," Will says.

"I don't know. Gardenia usually leaves for Floaroma Town this time of day. We'll have to catch her," Lalinda says.

Mia agrees with a nod. "Okay. Johnny, we'll be going now. You stay safe, alright?"

"Same goes for you!" Johnny warns them as they head out the door.

- 0000 -

"Sorry. She left not long after you did," the gym greeter seems disappointed. He took his time to listen to the situation.

"Darn it. We missed her!" Mia feels a bit frustrated. However, his answer brings up a new question. "Wait. Do you have her number?"

"Me? Oh, goodness, no. You would think she would give it to me, but none of the gym leaders provide me with their numbers. They don't hand them out to anyone."

"But, you work here!" Lalinda shouts.

"I volunteer." He corrects her. "Maybe the gym Trainers have her number, but they all went home for lunch. Sorry to disappoint you."

"Great…" Mia drops her hands. "Now what?"

Lalinda asks the man another question. "Do you by chance have the Champion's number?"

"Really, dude?" Mia looks at Lalinda funny. That question was pointless to ask.

"What? You never know!"

The man almost laughs at this. "Getting the Champion's number is an honor. A normal guy like me will never see the day. Sorry."

"Well, we wasted time," Will says, even more disappointed now. "Let's just go. We might as well wait it out." He steps out the door.

"Wait it out?" Lalinda repeats this in a way that makes Will's statement sound insane. "You expect us to sit around and hope they'll just… let him go?"

"What else can we do?"

"Team Galactic doesn't let people go! I'm not making this up, because I experienced it myself!" Lalinda shouts. "They held my mother and the man who works there for so long. The only reason why they let them go was because Mia and I chased them off!"

"I sorta did lose, so I wouldn't count that," Mia says, following them down the road. She won't take credit for a battle she didn't win.

"But we took them down together!" Lalinda says. "Look. I bet if the three of us barge to wherever they ran off, Rad will be released in no time!"

"Their commander only lost because she lowered her guard." Mia reminds her. "What if she goes all-out this time? You know they like to play dirty! They don't follow the codes of a Trainer, because they aren't one at all!"

"She's right," Will agrees. "We should call the police."

"The police can't do anything, actually," Mia tells him, hating the fact. "They aren't well equipped to handle these guys. This region was peaceful, so they never had a reason."

Will is baffled at this point. "Wh-what kind of police force are we looking at? That doesn't make any sense!"

"At least you understand my pain." Mia is glad she can relate to him, but that is only natural.

"Look. Guys. Don't be so paranoid," Lalinda tells them both. She is surprisingly calm about this whole thing.

Will gives her a funny look. "How old are you?"

"What? Why does it matter?" Lalinda asks. "I'm eleven. Is there a reason why you asked?"

"And we're twelve." Will points between himself and Mia. "We are too young to do this crazy stuff!"

"Pokémon Trainers of all ages have taken down many harsh groups before!" Lalinda protests. "Just like I said, if we work together… we can do this. We just can't be careless about it. Let's hurry up and get this over with, because I don't even want to see their dumb faces. What choice do we have at this point?"

Mia looks at her brother, who places a hand in his head with a groan. They both hate this idea.

If only Cynthia is around. They'll be lucky to find her.

"You know where I think they are hiding?" Lalinda asks after they make their silent decision. She points straight ahead, at the strange building located decently far. "That building that doesn't belong, how much you want to bet they are inside that?"

"Cynthia did say it was recently built," Mia says. If Team Galactic wasn't a big thing in the past, then the pieces should go together.

They pick up the pace down the road, passing the bike shop and the Pokémon Center. After a few minutes, they stand in front of the property. Three small trees act as a barrier to keep people from going inside. Other than that, the area is lined with a fence.

Mia takes a look around for a ground sign. She finds it pretty quick.

Team Galactic Eterna Building

We Want Your Pokémon!

"Wow. They are very blunt," Mia notes. If the sign doesn't tell anyone what kind of people they are, what else would?

"They didn't even try to hide themselves," Lalinda says, shaking her head.

"They really aren't smart," Will says. "So, they are going to be here. We are about to step inside and… Johanna is going to throw a fit if she finds out about this."

"I know," Mia agrees. "I don't even want to go in there. But…

"I get what you mean."

"Gardenia said we are strong as a group, so we really shouldn't worry." Lalinda tosses in some encouraging words.

Mia really hopes that is the case. She isn't sure what they are up against even if they step inside. "Did Team Galactic retreat here after being pushed out the Valley Windworks?"

"Most likely. That means Commander Mars could be here…" Lalinda replies. "Come on. Let's get rid of that tree."

Mia sets her bag down, and she removes the disc Cynthia gave her from the front pocket. Once opened, there is text inside as the last HM had.

The foe is cut with a scythe or claw. It can also be used to cut down thin trees.

Mia pulls out her Pokédex. "Alright. Who can learn Cut?" Opening the device, a list is already displayed.

Razorleaf: Able.

Batty: Unable.

Aqua: Unable.

Sunshine: Unable.

She taps Razorleaf's option.

(Razorleaf already knows four moves. Should a move be replaced with Cut?)

After selecting her choice, the disc begins to glow. The move to be removed… she decided it would be Tackle.

However that works…

"Okay…" She unclips his Pokéball, and she tosses it in the air. "Razorleaf!"

The Grotle is summoned. He lands on the ground, just near the trees. His attention turns to Will, and he walks over to him, sniffing him. Will looks a bit uncomfortable.

"He's my brother," Mia tells the Pokémon. "He's really nice."

Will doesn't move, until Razorleaf nudges his hand. It is placed on his head. Will strokes the Pokémon gently, who seems to like him already.

"Razorleaf, come here," Mia calls him. "I'm gonna need your help."

Razorleaf heads for her quickly. He snorts as he waits patiently. The disc in her hand brings curiosity. He sniffs it a few times before deciding it's not edible.

Mia carefully positions the disc over his head. At first, Razorleaf moves back. After seeing it will bring no harm, he remains still and allows the item to rest on his head. The glow fades within seconds. She checks her Pokédex.

Cut, Withdraw, Absorb, Razor Leaf.

"There we go!" Mia steps away as she puts the items away. She points at the small trees. "Okay. I need your help getting rid of those trees. You should be able to cut them down, now."

Razorleaf opens his beak, and he tilts his head. It takes a few seconds for him to gather what was said to him. He turns to face the trees, huffing out a grunt.

"Let's try it out!" Mia shouts. "Razorleaf! Cut!"

Razorleaf jumps to his hind legs, and he swings one of his front feet, slashing the tree with his claws. It is sliced in half, falling to the ground.

The air ripples around the trees, high above, and around the entire building. A blue transparent wall is revealed, sinking to the ground before fading.

"Okay... I'm not even going to ask," Mia mutters as she steps forward. She easily walks between the two trees that are left. As soon as she stands in front of the building, she stops. Something tells her this will be no easy task.

She recalls Razorleaf back inside his Pokéball. She doesn't want to alarm anyone with a big Pokémon.

"Is there a reason why you stopped?" Will asks impatiently.

"Waltzing right inside a Team Galactic building. Tell me if that is something we should be careless about," Mia reminds him.

"You're the one who should be careful."

The automatic door opens, and she steps inside. They find themselves in a fairly small lobby. The people inside are… Galactic Grunts. Even the people behind the counter are Galactic Grunts. There are only a few people that are dressed in regular clothes. They stand around the counter, talking to the grunts.

This is their territory.

They look so similar, Mia thinks they had cloned themselves.

The grunts surprisingly don't pay them any attention. Perhaps they don't recognize them yet?

Mia turns to the small group. "Okay... now what?"

"We can find out who's behind this and beat them up," Lalinda suggests.

"No. It's not that easy," Mia says. "Commander Mars tore through me like I was nothing. She could be in here, and I'm not sure how well I'll handle another battle against her."

"Um... okay..." Lalinda mumbles. "Anything else that you want us to know that we already know about?"

Mia hates that she does that. Then again, she always has a point. "Looks like some people actually visit here. This place is clearly meant to keep out kids since they put those trees there."

"So, it's open to the public. Who's dumb enough to want to even talk to these guys?" Lalinda wonders.

"I don't think they know how bad Team Galactic is," Will says. "I'm surprised Cynthia hasn't got the word around."

"The Champion wouldn't want to spread panic, so she has her reasons."

Mia observes her surroundings. The building is pretty decent for a group of bad guys. Perhaps a little too decent.

"Psst!"

"Huh? What?" Mia looks around for the source of the sound, but all she sees are grunts just about everywhere.

"Psst! Over here!"

Who is calling for her? Her question is answered as she spots a male grunt waving both of his hands. Why is he trying to get her attention? She may be ignorant to most things here, but she's not falling for a low trick. She turns away to tend to her business.

"It is I! Looker!"

Mia finally gives him her attention. She is pretty shocked, looking at him up and down to see if it really is him. "Looker?"

"Shhh!" The grunt hushes her. His eyes dart around to see if any other grunt is listening. "I have startled you, yes? I am, after all, an officer of the International Police. It is only natural that I be a master of disguise."

Of course. It makes sense now.

It is his turn to look at her up and down. "What are you doing here, Trainer?"

"Well, we came here by request from a younger Trainer. Team Galactic was up to no good. They stole a Clefairy and took the bicycle shop owner hostage. We're gonna put a stop to it."

Her answer leaves him thinking for a few seconds. "...Incidentally, you are a first-rate Trainer. Of that, I am very aware. I therefore think you will be okay, but I must warn you to be careful anyway."

"I will," Mia says.

"Also, a word of advice. This building, it has two stairs. One of them, a trap it must be. But the crooks of Team Galactic, they do not appear, how shall I say, smart. There should be an easy way to tell the stairs apart!"

"There is?" Mia isn't so sure about that. "Wait. How do you-"

"Why are you talking to that grunt?" Will's voice cuts her off. He walks up to her side, with Lalinda close behind. "Is he bothering you?"

Mia has to explain quickly. "Well, he's actually not-"

Looker points to the two with her. "Who are they?"

She pauses. Looks like she'll have to work around that.

"The girl with me is my new friend, Lalinda. The boy with me is my twin brother William. We are traveling together now, and we are all going to pinch in into the rescue," she explains.

Will doesn't look so pleased Mia. "Why would you tell him that?! That's giving away everything we are trying to do!"

Looker chuckles. "Do not confuse me with them. I am Looker, an International Police Officer. I am here to investigate Team Galactic. As you can see, I dressed like them so that they won't suspect who I am. I see that you three are pinching into the case as well. I must say, you may be the help I need!"

Will is surprised to hear this. "Whoa. You look just like them!"

Lalinda smiles. "Okay. It's good to know that we have an officer on our side. No ordinary one either. It's best if we get started on this now."

"Let's just be careful," Mia reminds them.

"Now, I have been conducting my investigation into Team Galactic," Looker says. "But I have no clue as to who they are or what it is they wish to do. The minions, they appear ignorant of the intentions of their boss."

"That doesn't sound good," Lalinda notes. "How can they not know what Mars is up to? They looked like they were always around her."

"Dunno," Mia says. "Question is… how are we going to save that man? Looker, you're going to help?"

"I was studying before. However, since the situation is deeper than before… I'll see what I can do. Now, that is enough talk. Go on, before the wrong eyes see what should remain unseen!"

Mia steps back, and she turns to the other two. "Let's go."

All three leave Looker to his investigation as they continued their own. The grunts don't pay much attention to their presence. Perhaps it is because they are just a group of kids. No threat right?

Not until they either realize that they are Trainers, or as soon as they are informed of their unwanted presence by the commander. Mia can only hope she isn't here.

The first pair of stairs aren't too far. They are separated by a wall, so they lead to different areas. They decide to head for the first flight.

"Wait. So how are we going to do this?" Mia asks as she walks across the floor "We don't even know where he is held."

"Easy. We just… keep looking," Lalinda pauses, and she rubs her head. "That's not a very good plan, but we can't walk around here looking sneaky."

"Why haven't they tried to stop us yet?" Mia asks a more logical question.

"How do you think they get more members?" Will answers with his own question. "This place looks like a recruitment area. There's a few normal people here."

They reach the foot of the stairs, and Mia catches sight of movement up high.

Coming down are a pair of grunts. Mia begins to pull back, but they see her. Surprise and disbelief floods their faces as they pause, taking a moment to double-check.

"I swear, they are like magnets…!" Mia comments with a whisper.

"You've got to be kidding me! Why is that same girl always sticking her nose into our business?! She brought the same company along!" Dummy says, clearly irritated.

Will sighs, not pleased at all. "Great"

"Nice to see you again miss." Lalinda says, with a small grin.

"Please don't do that here…" Mia warns Lalinda. "You know where we are."

"Oh… right."

Mia feels Sunshine shifting on her shoulder uncomfortably. She too must be able to feel the rising tension.

Dummy's attention moves from her partner, to the Pokémon. She raises an eyebrow, impressed with what she sees. "Hm? Is that an Eevee? I haven't seen one of those up close."

Mia steps away again. "Hey. Don't get any funny ideas," she warns them as they give her wicked smiles. "If you lay a hand on Sunshine-"

"Sunshine?" Dumb almost laughs, interrupting her. "Hah. Trainers these days. I never thought I would run into a brat that gives such ridiculous names to Pokemon. It's pointless. Do you really call these creatures your friends? Go and find another Eevee to replace this one! It's not that hard!"

"Did you miss the part when I said Eevee is a rare Pokémon?" Dummy asks him.

"Don't do this to me, alright? I just want to go a week without messing up, but these kids here are the reason why we keep getting into trouble!" Dumb tells her. "You know what? We won't be nice. At the end of the day, they are just kids, right? Why didn't I try doing this earlier?"

"What?"

Dumb jumps forward, and quickly snatches Sunshine by her ears. He pulls her from Mia's head and moves back. Ignoring Sunshine's cries of pain, he laughs. "She didn't even try to stop me!"

Mia didn't expect him to do that.

"Hey! Give her back!" Mia shouts, already reaching for a Pokéball. Should she send out a Pokémon? They don't even have their own out. It's against a Trainer's code to have a Pokémon attack a person, so what can she do?

Looking at Lalinda and Will, they are just as lost.

These grunts actually made a smart move.

"Sorry kid, but she belongs to me now."

Sunshine kicks her tiny paws in all directions as she ties to break loose. There is no success with her efforts. It only annoys the grunts further. 'Put me down meanie! Give me back to mommy now! Give me back to mommy now!'

"Oh! This one can talk!" The male grunt says with interest. "Hah! Not only is Eevee a very rare Pokemon, we got ourselves the special Eevee! Bonus!"

"Good thing it lacks battle experience. Otherwise, it would have gone free, and we could be in trouble, the female grunt says. "Take it to the commander. I say that we may get ourselves a promotion with this thing."

Mia feels her throat was burning, and it's hard to contain it. She takes a big step forward. "Leave her alone and give her back to me!"

The two look a bit surprised from her sudden change in attitude, but they shrug it off as they walk away.

Mia is stuck and hesitant. Her hand would reach for a pokeball clipped on the Pokébelt, and she would withdraw from the decision. It goes back and forth as her mind has a mental debate.

'Mommy! Mommy! HELP!'

Forget it.

"Give her back to me! Jerks!" Mia tosses a Pokéball, and Razorleaf is summoned, roaring at the two. This catches the attention of the other grunts, but she doesn't care. She is more concerned about the Eevee.

"What are you doing?! Are you trying to have a whole pack of grunts coming after us?!" Will snaps at her reckless behavior.

"Yeah! Good job!" Lalinda growls.

"They have my Eevee! I will not let them take her away from me without a fight!" Mia shouts back.

"Typical kid. Always getting in our way!" Dummy tosses her own Pokeball. "Glameow! Teach this annoying pest to stay out of my business!"

Dumb joins in. "Stunky! Make her wish she hasn't crossed our line!"

The two Pokemon are summoned. She frowns at the grunts for their choices. They just keep choosing the same two Pokemon for some reason. They try so hard, only to get the same defeat. "Two against one? You guys are hardly fair!"

"Might as well help!" Will reaches for his own Pokéball, but Mia places a hand in front of him. He gives her an odd look.

"I will handle them. Sunshine needs me. I want to make these grunts look bad anyway." Mia gives the duo a glare as she tosses another Pokéball. Batty is summoned quickly. "Batty! Use Wing Attack on Stunky! Razorleaf, you use Razor Leaf of Glameow!"

"Glameow!" Dummy shouts.

"Stunky!" The male shouts as well.

At the same time, they give their order. "Attack with Scratch!"

The Grotle crouches down as his two bushes unleash a storm of razor sharp leaves. It slices the Glameow and Stunky directly, but the enemies aren't going down as easily as Mia is expecting.

Batty spreads her wings wide, and rams them against the Stunky as she flies past. The Pokemon staggers back before regaining its footing.

Mia thought she had them. From the looks of things, it seemed that they got stronger. They must have been training their Pokemon after experiencing the last two easy defeats.

They laugh at her confused expression. They probably see her as an idiot at the moment.

Glameow and Stunky rush forward, extending their claws. Glameow lunges on Razorleaf's head and attacks the sides of his face until it is thrown off. Stunky lunges and swipes across Batty's body. It lands near its partner, hissing as Batty pulls back.

"Do you honestly think that you can defeat us quickly like you have done to us before, little girl?" Dummy asks. "We did some training while you were doing your kiddie things. If the commander hears that we have lost to you again, she won't be so pleased."

Dumb adds; "For a kid your age, you can put up a good fight. Your Pokemon have gotten stronger too, it seems. You could be a member of Team Galactic. Unfortunately for you, you're here to meddle, and we don't tolerate meddlers!"

"Besides, Team Galactic doesn't have room for kiddies!" Dummy says.

'Mommy!' Sunshine calls her again, extending a little paw towards her.

Mia growls. "Supersonic!" The second Batty has her confusing soundwaves going, she gives out her command to Razorleaf. "Razor Leaf!"

"Not this again!" Dumb growls as his Stunky staggers on its feet. "Why do you have to target my Stunky again?! Why not the Glameow!"

"I'm standing right here!" Dummy reminds him. She would go on, but a swarm of leaves swarm past her and her partner. She freezes at the sound of her Glameow's yowling. To her disbelief, the Glameow is on the ground. "What?! Already?! You're kidding!"

"Stunky! Focus!" Dumb scolds his Stunky, who is struggling to do as much as stand. "Attack the Grotle with Scratch!"

"Razorleaf! Cut!" Mia decides to see how well the new attack is in battle. She watches the Grotle charge for the confused Stunky. Just as the skunk lifts its claws, Razorleaf raises his own and slashes the Stunky across its face.

The Stunky squeals and falls on its side. It lies motionless. It is immediately called back inside its Pokéball.

Dummy calls her Glameow back, glaring at the Grotle that returns to his Trainer. "These Pokémon can't do much against that thing."

Mia has them cornered. She extends her hand. "Give me back my Pokémon."

Dummy growls as she clips the Pokéball back in place. She unhooks another Pokéball. "We aren't going to just give up, either!"

"They have more Pokémon?!" Mia asks as she looks at her brother. She might just need his help.

"I told you that we have gotten stronger!" Dummy says, tossing the capsule quickly. "Beautifly! Come out!"

"Standby, Dustox!" Dumb tosses his.

Summoned, are a pair of giant flying insects. From appearances, they are a butterfly and a moth.

The butterfly creature has a small and round black body, with stubby arms and legs. Its stomach and limbs are grey in color, matching its bigger head. It's wings are mostly black, with long yellow marks stretching across the top portion. The bottom of its wings have a long black strip hanging from the edges. A pretty blue and green marks the bottom. Its antennae twitches along with its long straw-like tongue.

It stares them down with its blue eyes.

The month creature has an oval-shaped purple body, and four red stubby legs. Its antennae are rounded and yellow, matching the color of its eyes, which apparently have three black pupils. Its wings are a light green, darker around the edges. Small red ovals mark its wings, two on each side.

"Okay… who are those Pokémon?" Will wonders.

His Pokédex responds.

(Sinnoh Number 050.

Beauitifly, the Butterfly Pokémon, and the evolved form of Silcoon.

Its typing is: Bug and Flying. Despite its looks, it is aggressive. It jabs with its long, thin mouth if disturbed while collecting pollen.)

It beeps again.

(Sinnoh Number 052.

Dustox, the Poison Moth Pokémon, and the evolved form of Cascoon.

Its typing is: Bug and Poison. Toxic powder is scattered with each flap. At night, it is known to strip leaves off trees lining boulevards.)

Lalinda unclips her own Pokéball. "You know what? This battle is becoming pointless."

"This battle isn't pointless! Kids really think they know everything, don't they?" Dummy snickers as she throws a hand forward. "Beautifly!"

"Dustox!" The male shouts.

Both grunts point at the children's Pokémon. "Gust!"

The pair of insects begin to flap their wings violently, strong enough to stir the air. Mia is forced to shield her face as the wind becomes almost too much to withstand.

"Razorleaf! Cut! Batty! Wing Attack!"

"Blaze! Ember!" Lalinda shouts.

"Richard! Thundershock!" Will orders.

"What?!" The grunts duck their heads as flying embers and electricity strike their Pokémon from flight. The Beautifly is knocked down by the attacking Zubat, and Dustox is struck down by heavy claws. The powerful wind no longer blows.

"Hey! We didn't even get a chance to show off our new Pokémon yet! That's hardly fair!" Dumb calls his Dustox back, and he glares at Mia angrily. "You can't just gang up on us like that!"

"Technically, we should have seen that coming. They won't go down without a good fight." Dummy is calmer about the situation. She calls back her Beautifly, shrugging her shoulders. "We did our part. We still won in the end."

"What are you talking about?" Lalinda asks them. Her Monferno growls as she goes on. "You have no more Pokémon that can fight!"

"The tables have turned. You're in our territory, now," Dummy says, waving her off. She turns to her partner. "Let's hurry upstairs. We have to make a report!"

"W-wait a second!" Mia shouts at them. "My Eevee!"

The two grunts take a few steps back before breaking a sprint up the stairs.

"Hey!" Mia sprints after them, but she is forced to stop as a Zubat dives past her head. For a second, she is prepared to see what Batty's problem could be. However, seeing a pair of Zubat flying her way means that it's not Batty who made the dive. She steps away, taking a look around.

Countless Zubat are surrounding her and her group. Mia is ready to throw instant orders, but electricity spews and strikes down the swarm of flying-types.

Mia looks back at her brother, who had his Pichu on the floor with his pink cheeks crackling with static, and Lalinda with her Shinx, whose paws crackle occasionally. Her Monferno bounces on his feet, huffing out smoke from the corners of his mouth.

"We'll handle these grunts," Lalinda announces, with determination behind her voice. "You go on ahead and find that commander."

"It's most likely that she has the Eevee in her possession! You better go now while you still have the chance!" My brother said this as a warning.

"What?! I can't take her on alone!" Mia tells them.

"We never said you should!" Lalinda says. "Just stay low! We'll clear these guys out as fast as we can!"

"We will catch up to you as soon as we can!"

Mia nods. "Thanks guys. I guess I should repay you in the future huh?"

"JUST GO!" They both yell at her.

Mia quickly turns and rushes to the next flight of stairs. A framed quote hangs on the wall next to them.

The path you chose leads to glory.

Upon arriving on the next floor, many of the grunts there are already in position to fight. Many Zubat, Glameow. and Stunky are there, and some grunts hold what could be a metal pole. Their faces fill with surprise. They clearly didn't expect to see a kid. It's proven further when some lower their weapons. The idea of trying to hurt a kid seems to not sit well with them.

"Crap… how do I get past these guys?!" Mia didn't think this through. She's in their base, so of course they would flood the place!

Batty screeches as she flies around Mia.

"Well… sorry about this." Mia looks at her Zubat. "Supersonic!"

Unable to understand the word that came out their mouth, they are left unprepared for the pitching sound that rings through the air. The attack has a spreading effect against people, it seems. The entire room is left dizzy and disoriented. Their Pokémon are confused, since they are left without an order.

"That works… I guess." Mia quickly runs past the confused grunts. "I'm really sorry! Sorry!"

After making her way through the room, she encounters another pair of stairs. Quickly, she takes the second one, only to come to a dead. A grunt sitting on a computer desk stands quickly, surprised to see her. She is quick to send out her Glameow.

Mia turns to her approaching Grotle. "Razor Leaf!"

The swarm of leaves cut across the feline, and it falls defeated instantly. The grunt is quick to step back with her hands raised. She gives up.

Mia turns and races back down the steps. Batty and Razorleaf are close behind as she makes a U-turn to the next flight.

Let us make progress together!

-Team Galactic

She's starting to see a pattern.

Her legs are also starting to get tired.

Entering the next room, she immediately heads for the stairs that have the next quote.

Question not and follow this path!

The road to success!

As soon as she enters the next room, she freezes.

The walls are sparkling black as if they are the stars seen in the midnight sky. It has to be the final room of the base since it is so huge.

Mia is very cautious. She may think she is alone, and that there is nothing to be worried about, but her gut feeling tells a different story. Her brain is screaming at her to get out of there… and fast. However, Sunshine is still missing, and she knows she has to save her.

But… something doesn't feel right. It's making her nervous.

Hrrrph?

Mia jumps, startled. It takes a second for her to realize that it was Razorleaf who made a noise. He is worried about her, and Mia is reminded that Pokémon can sense their Trainer's emotions.

She forces a straight face, and she places a finger on her lips. "Shhh…"

Someone has to be here. All the grunts fought in the previous floors had a reason to be there. Obviously, they wanted her in place, and to not go up. Since she made it up there and no one else is here… it has to be either a set up, or perhaps they already made off with Sunshine…

No, they couldn't have gone far so quickly. Mia forces the thought away and begins to take a few steps further in the room. By the time she is halfway through, her legs are shaking.

Maybe, this is a bad idea. Where is Will and Lalinda? They said they would catch up. They can't possibly still be fighting down there...

A wave of chills go through her body. Mia quickly looks around as her breathing starts to pick up. She steps back. Staying here is a bad idea. A really, really bad idea. Every part of her is screaming for her to get out.

At the entrance to a large room, the Team Galactic symbol is marked on the floor. The quote hanging from the wall hardly makes sense.

Working for world peace.

-Team Galactic

"Yeah, right," Mia nervously mutters to herself. She carefully steps inside.

She sees a red light coming close. It was strange… red and yellow light? Perhaps orange. It sounded like it was flaring… like a very strong gust maybe? It was getting very warm too.

Wait... gusty warmth?!

"Razorleaf! Out the way!" Mia knew immediately that shoving him to safety is impossible since he is obviously much heavier than her.

She makes a massive jump to the ground. As soon as she hits the floor, a massive trail of flames fly past the spot she was just in. Batty's screeches fill the air.

If she was a couple feet closer, she would have been burned.

Sitting up, she sees the Grotle getting back on his feet after taking her warning. She is thankful for that, considering that he is a grass-type. Razorleaf nods to assure that he is completely fine.

Mia slowly stands, and sharp hot pain blisters across her ankle. She immediately falls to her behind, hissing.

It can't be…

She tugs the sleeve of her right leg, and she instantly regrets it.

The skin of her ankle appears red, as if a layer was burned through. Just looking at it causes whatever adrenaline she had left to settle. She bites her lip, trying not to scream. It hurts a lot worse than a stove burn. She fears that if she makes another sound, she would have been spotted again, and dead for sure.

Razorleaf rushes to her side immediately. He lightly nudges her side, groaning in great concern. Batty flies around her, squeaking quietly.

Mmrrrr…

Mia holds her breath.

It sounded like a high-pitched and smooth-like voice, which was so dark at the same time. A shadow looms into the room. A figure enters within a few seconds.

Finally she sees it. It's a purple skunk-like creature with a cream zig-zag stripes going past its abdomen and tail, which rests on top it's back to its head. It has to be Stunky's evolution.

It thankfully doesn't see her yet, but it's searching.

"Who's that Pokémon?" Mia whispers to herself.

Unfortunately for her, the Pokédex heard her question and blinks to life. Mia grits her teeth and snatches the device, trying to find a way to turn it off.

(Sinnoh Number 085.

Skuntank, the Skunk Pokémon, and the evolved form of Stunky.

It's typing is: Poison and Dark. It attacks by spraying a horribly smelly fluid from the tip of its tail. Attacks from above confound it.)

The Pokédex entry sounds bad enough.

The fact that the Pokémon now sees her is even worse.

She quietly scolds herself. "Why do I keep getting caught this way…?"

However, the Skuntank turned its back on her, which leaves her confused. Maybe it just attacked on its own, and decided to leave her be.

It lifts its leg.

Mia believes it is going to spray her at first, but she remembers what the Pokedex read, so she is even more confused.

Fire is unleashed as a massive trail directly from its rear.

"O-oh NoooOOOOO!" Mia feels her stomach drop. Ignoring the pain in her ankle, she jumps to safety once more. The flames fly past, and she can feel the warmth of it blow past. Batty's panicked screeches are well heard over the roaring flames.

Razorleaf roars and moves back, ready to defend his Trainer.

"Did it just…. did it just shoot fire from its BUTT?!"

The Skuntank turns its rear towards her again.

"Razorleaf! Batty!" Mia calls as she forces herself to run. The Grotle and Zubat are after her quickly.

Her mind can't wrap around the logic of what is going on. She throws questions at the Pokemon. "How are you doing that?!"

More flames. Mia freezes and ducks in time to avoid it. She moves back before running again.

"How are you not hurting from farting out fire-"

Instant face pain. Mia ran headfirst into a wall. She falls on her back, covering her face. Batty flies over her, squeaking endlessly.

Mia hears strong footsteps. She sits up and turns quickly. There, the Skuntank looms over her, making her feel small and frozen. She can't move, so she does what any child would do at that point.

"Somebody help me!"

As if on cue, Razorleaf lets loose a roar of rage and rams the enemy Pokemon. He pushes it back against the wall, clawing at its head and body. The Skuntank cries out and pushes back, trying to break free.

Mia slowly stands, trying to catch her breath. For a second, she remembers how he tackled those Zubat off her in Ravaged Path.

He is so brave. Braver than she can try to be…

Batty soars to the scene, bitting and hitting the Skuntank with every opening she has.

The Skuntank is truly annoyed at this point. Its claws turn dark as night, and it slashes Razorleaf across his face, knocking him to the ground. It attacks Batty in the same fashion, slapping it to the ground, pinning it down.

Mia unclips Aqua's Pokéball in an instant. She freezes, seeing Skunktank's tail twitching. Her stomach sinks. She knows what that means. "No, please don't do that… please… don't!"

Unfortunately the fumes pour out and hit her. She is left gagging and coughing heavily from the overwhelming unexplainable stench. Her eyes watered out tears, her nose is burning. Her body is unable to tolerate it.

She thinks she hears Razorleaf's fading roar. She catches sight of him attacking the Skuntank again, but his image begins to blur.

Everything becomes a blur.

- 0000 -

A swarm of Galactic Grunts rush past one walking in the opposite direction. They have their Pokéballs in hand, shouting at once.

The lone grunt turns a corner, and he heads up a flight of stairs. After taking a quick look around, he quickly heads for a desk. He lifts papers and looks through drawers until he finds a manila folder. Setting it down on the surface, he opens it and begins to look through the many documents.

"Ah… please…"

The grunt freezes, and he turns to the source of the sound.

A man sits against a corner, apparently hiding. He can't go far since his arms and legs are tied by a rope. He scoots further, intimidated. "I already told you everything I know… just let me go…"

"Hm? You are mistaken. I am not one of them," the grunt removes his wig, revealing his brown hair. The hostage is more surprised than relieved. "I am a friend. Do you care to explain what happened?"

"Uh…" The man stares as Looker removes a dagger from his belt. It's coded green, so he finally calms down. "Y-yes… I'm just a bicycle shop owner… and they took my Clefairy…"

"Hm…" Looker nods as he crouches down and begins to cut the rope. "Carry on. I'm listening."

- 0000 -

Pain.

So much pain.

Even her nose is burning, and it is the worst thing ever.

"Aww… man…" The world is a blur. Everything is deformed. It is her body that she is concerned about. It is as if she took a bath in a sewer and dried herself up in cow manure.

…oh, that thought made her want to throw up.

Yep. Not helping.

She shakes her head to get her mind away from it, but it causes her to slam a hand on her splitting forehead. The headache is torture. "What did I do to myself?" She asks through a groan. She blinks, hoping that her eyes would get themselves together. "Razorleaf? What happened?"

No answer.

She rises to a sitting position as she rubs her eyes several times. Everything finally returns to focus. It takes a few seconds for her mind to register that she is still in the room she passed out in, but everything is positioned differently. She was relocated further in the room.

"What…"

Did the Skuntank leave her alone after blasting her? Trying to determine what happened after she passed out… it's too much to think about at the moment.

"Razorleaf… are you alright?"

There is no answer.

Taking a quick look around, he and Batty are nowhere to be seen.

Her hands feel around her waist, and she starts to panic.

Her Pokébelt is gone. Her Pokédex is gone.

"Crap!" She tries to stand, but her body isn't responding too well. Never was she blasted by a skunk. For her to be hit by a super-powered one is ten times worse. Now, she feels vulnerable. Without her Pokémon, the grunts can do whatever they please without facing any consequences.

She can't be alone.

"Will? Lalinda?" She calls them both, now feeling nervous. "Looker?!"

She hears movement, and she silences herself immediately. Calling out for anyone is a bad idea, but it's too late to take back the words that came out of her mouth.

"Sounds like the kid finally woke up," the voice is coming from a distance. It's unrecognizable, belonging to a woman. "And you say she's the one that gave you the most trouble?"

Mia crawls back until her back rests against the wall. She wants to hide, but there is not one good place to hide. All she can do is pull her knees close to her chest, preparing herself for whatever is to come.

"Well, she's the second main problem," the responding voice belongs to Dumb. "The other one is some little teenager who got away with the egg in the first place. I don't know how this girl ended up with it."

Their voices are closer now.

"Does she know anything useful?" The woman asks again.

"She's just a noisy brat," Dummy replies. "I doubt she has anything we are looking for. Not like that bicycle shop owner."

Finally, they turn the corner and enter the room. The first thing Mia sees is her Eevee held inside a glowing cage. The second Sunshine sees her, she tackles the cage, which startles the trio arriving.

'Mommy! Mommy!' Sunshine calls loudly, trying to reach Mia someway.

Mia doesn't say anything. Skuntank is there with the pair of grunts, standing next to who Mia assumes is its Trainer. She's the one carrying the cage.

She's a tall woman with light-purple hair tied in three separate oval-shaped buns. One rests at the top, and the other two at the bottom. Her uniform makes it clear she is no grunt. It is tight against her body, bringing out her shape. Mia would compare her to a cartoon female spy.

Then again, one leg is actually bare, with only a few black rings around it. It doesn't seem… comfortable. At least the boots are still there...

She notices Mia staring after a while.

"Eh? Did you want something?" the woman asks. She goes on before Mia could answer. "How silly of me to even ask. You want to free the Pokémon. Yeah, that's gonna happen!"

No surprise there. Mia does bring up a question. "You're a commander…?"

"You are very observant," the woman says. "I am Commander Jupiter. And… unlike Mars, I am not as nice. She let you off a little too easy," Jupiter says. "Then again, you were lucky for not bringing out her explosive temper."

Jupiter walks over to a desk, and she sets the cage down. The grunts stand by her side, covering their noses now. The commander pulls out a large rectangular object from under the desk, and she sets it on the table. A lamp is switched on, shining blue light on the object.

Mia isn't sure at first, but seeing how worn down and old the object looks… she knows exactly what it is. "Hey! That plate belongs to the statue!"

"Too bad. I have it now." The commander waves her away. "And you reek. I think Skuntank overdid it a little, but at this point, I hate to admit I've grown used to it."

"We haven't…" Dumb mutters.

The commander points under the desk. "Then, deal with it. I don't exactly want to smell it all day."

Dumb immediately reaches down, and he pulls a large five-gallon bucket from under the desk. He drags it by the handle across the floor, reaching Mia in no time.

Mia feels herself shrinking. "Wh-what is that…?"

"If you keep your eyes close, it won't burn," Dumb replies, pulling open the lid.

Immediately, the burning smell of spiciness hits Mia's nostrils. The red color of the thick liquid makes her feel even more frightened. "Y-you're gonna pour that on me?!"

"Look at this kid," Dummy says, walking up to her partner. She places her hands on the bucket, and she helps him lift in from the ground. "Take away her Pokémon, and she remembers she's not so tough."

They start to tilt the bucket over, and Mia immediately shuts her eyes and covers her face with a shriek. The thick and chunky liquid splatters on the top of her head and pours down her body. She spits constantly, and it's worse as some of it gets in her mouth. It's burning her tongue worse than any hot sauce she knows. It's pointless to try to fight anymore from coming in. A desperate cry escapes her lips.

'Mommy… hurt? Mommy?' Sunshine is very concerned for her. Hearing Mia panic is making her scared.

"Relax, kid," Dumb says, setting the bucket down. "It's just Tamato Berry juice. Gets rid of the stench instantly."

"You're welcome," Dummy says, rudely.

"Why is it so spicy?!" Mia spits again.

"Because it is? Sorry that a Pecha Berry is useless, kid. I could have just left you to suffer. Our commander would have, really," Dummy heads her way back to Jupiter.

"I can't see why everyone is so interested in the legend," Jupiter says, taking a closer look at the plate. "Sounds too good to be true to me. But… if that is what he's looking into… this ought to be a piece we need."

What is she talking about? Mia wishes she can see, but she has to keep her eyes close to prevent her eyes from getting stung. Rubbing them isn't a good idea.

"Commander, we can't stand still very long," Dumb announces.

"I know she didn't come here alone," Jupiter says. "I've sent enough grunts to keep them fighting longer than we can. They should be tired by now."

Hearing that makes Mia feel a great deal of dread. She's deeply worried about Will's and Lalinda's safety. "You're not going to hurt them, are you?"

"You better hope I won't have a reason to."

She can't be serious about that...

Mia is impatient at this point. She rubs the juices from around her eyes, and she is bold enough to open them.

'Mommy is okay?!' Sunshine stands on her hind legs, pressing her paws against the bars of the cage. A fist slamming at the top of the cage makes her jump and crouch against the bottom.

"I don't know if I should thank you or not," Jupiter says, patting the top of the cage now. "A Pokémon that can talk… and a Pokémon that can understand our every word… it's a nice addition to Team Galactic, don't you think? I know you'll disagree. It did take a liking to you. It's a shame."

"Can you just give her back?" Mia begins to beg. "Please?"

"How about a fair trade?" Jupiter says, turning to face her now. "You let us keep the Eevee…" She extends a hand towards her Skuntank.

The Pokémon lifts its tail from its head, and Jupiter picks up Mia's Pokébelt and Pokédex from underneath. The Skuntank rests its tail again as it is stroked under the chin.

Sunshine tackles the cage again. 'No!'

Jupiter holds the items as an offering. "You can have these back. I'm not interested in keeping them."

Mia opens her mouth, but no words came out. What is she supposed to say? This commander is offering her Pokémon and Pokédex back, but she'll lose Sunshine forever. If she declines it, she'll lose everything.

"Speechless, aren't you?" Dummy is amused. "We warned you to stay out of our business several times, kid. Now look at where it got you."

Mia didn't even want to come in here in the first place. But… no matter how she looks at it, she really shouldn't have came in here. Why were they so convinced they can handle this?

Jupiter pauses, and she presses her fingers near her ear, listening to something through an earpiece.

The pair of grunts hear it too. They appear nervous.

"What? More people are tearing through the base?" Jupiter's tone doesn't sound so pleasant anymore. "I don't care how many there are. Don't let them reach this floor!"

Mia begins to feel a little more hopeful. So, Will and Lalinda are on their way, after all!

"There's some kid running through you?! How do you let that happen?! Doesn't matter! Use every bit of force!" Jupiter shakes her head as she takes the cage from the counter.

The pair of grunts know what to do. Dumb hurries to the table and take the stone plate. Dummy pulls a suitcase from the side, and opens it for Dumb to set it inside. They are on a rush.

"Well," Jupiter is annoyed. She turns her attention back to Mia. "You can thank your friends for making me change my mind. You can just be without a single Pokémon."

"Wait a minute…?! What?!" Mia can't believe what she just heard. She becomes nervous as several grunts and their Pokémon rush inside the room. The closest one is handed her Pokébelt. "You can't do that! Give them back!"

Jupiter laughs, as if what she said is a joke. "That's cute, but I'm afraid I can't just… hand them over. You see, kid… life isn't a fairytale. There is no happily-ever-after for you."

Mia is hoping someone would show up and help her out. Her brother… Lalinda… perhaps even Looker would be nice! But, she's beginning to doubt that would happen. She was on her own. What could a 12-year-old kid possibly do?"

Jupiter turns her back, and she starts to walk her way out. Her Skuntank walks next to her with heavy steps. "I'll see you."

This can't happen again. First with Mars, now Jupiter? She can't just sit by helpless like last time!

"No! Wait!" Mia gains the strength to get to her feet. Immediately, she is after her. Grunts step in with their Zubat flying around, screeching painfully in her ears. She is forced to cover them and stop. "Give them back! Those are my Pokémon… not yours!"

Sunshine extends her tiny paw through the bars of the cage she's trapped in. 'Mommy!'

Jupiter frowned. "Urgh. This Eevee is starting to get on my nerves. Skuntank, shut her up."

The Skuntank immediately turns its back on it.

"Stop it!" Mia screams at them. It's a pointless attempt to convince them to not carry it out. They won't listen. She knows they won't, but she can't help but scream. "STOOOP!"

"Charizard! Flamethrower!"

Mia understood those two words in an instant.

Grunts dive to the ground as a massive trail of flames fly in the room. Jupiter jumps back, startled as flames engulf the many Zubat. Their screeches fill the air, and they rain like flies, charred and smoking. Heat bathes over everyone's skin as the dark room is illuminated by the bright light.

This Flamethrower puts Skuntank's to shame.

After several heated seconds, the flames die down. Grunts immediately stand and step away. Some who have more Pokémon are prepared to send them out.

Jupiter growls, unclipping a Pokéball from her waist. "Skuntank!"

The Skuntank is in position to fight. A smaller figure walks into the room with a large Pokémon behind it. The orange beast jumps over and lands with its wings spread out, letting loose a roar that pushes the defenseless grunts back.

It's a Charizard.

"Pardon the intrusion," the intruder walks past the Charizard. Mia recognizes him in a heartbeat as he speaks. "But I had to barge in."

It's the young teen that gave her the egg. He looks different now.

No… Wait. He still has that red jacket with the faux cream fur along the hood… casual clothes… tennis shoes... the only difference is the fact that he wears a cap to match his attire.

But that's not what's really different.

That strong energy he carries…

He turns his attention to Mia, wearing a slight frown. "Sorry for taking so long, mate. This place has more branches than I was hoping for."

Did he know she was in here? No, Johnny said he ran off for this place before. They just crossed paths. Still, Mia can't help but think he also came to save her as well.

He has to save her.

She has to be saved. Again.

"What?" Commander Jupiter is annoyed by this. "Who are you, kid?"

"Nothing of your concern. I'm merely protecting a friend," he replies. "People who hurt others with no care in the world… you are a pain to deal with. I already have my fair share to endure already."

Not only did he come to save her, he considers her as a friend? She hardly knows him! He did appear laid-back when she met him before. She didn't really have to save him back then…

"Whatever." The commander is done with him at this point. She carelessly tosses the Pokéball held in her hand, releasing her own Zubat. "Use Confuse Ray!"

The Zubat soars forward. The Charizard prepares to attack.

"So we start with playing defensive. No matter. Your choices will do you no good. It has done no good so far." The teen points forward. "Charizard!"

The Charizard jumps into the air, and it swipes the Zubat from the air with little effort. The Zubat smacks to the ground. It doesn't move after that.

The Galactic Commander is frozen. She blinks and calls the Zubat back. She swings her arm, shouting another order. "Skuntank! Night Slash!"

The Skuntank rushes forward. As soon as the gap is small enough, it springs to its hind legs. Its claws become dark as night, and it slashes the Charizard across the stomach. The Skuntank lands, and it takes a step back.

The Charizard lowers its head with a snort.

It didn't do anything?!

Leon crosses his arms. "Charizard says he's not impressed with that attack. He doesn't even want to fight anymore."

His words set well under Jupiter's skin. "How insolent. Take a bite of this, child! Skuntank! Toxic!"

The Skuntank's tail begins to twitch.

Mia is already having flashbacks. "Look out! It'll knock you out!"

Leon doesn't respond to her warning. His Charizard spreads his wings just as the poisonous fluid is unleashed. It strikes him square on the chest, and it spreads as a poisonous cloud. Charizard grunts and shakes his head, squinting his eyes as he struggles to breathe.

"You just took it?" Jupiter is genuinely surprised. "Are you an idiot or what?"

The teen ignores her comment.

"Charizard," Leon says. "I say we played around enough. They are no threat, right?"

Oh.

While the rest of Team Galactic is confused about what he just said, Mia is the only one that understood every word. The only thing that is different is his accent.

Definitely British.

"Hey! If you're going to talk, then speak the common language!" Dumb shouts at the teen. "What did you say? You don't want to share it with us?"

"Sorry," Leon says. "My Charizard unfortunately doesn't understand the common language. If you really want to know, none of you are a threat to me."

"What?! Don't get so arrogant!" Dummy shouts at him. "You didn't even fight back in Oreburgh! What makes you think you're so tough now! Look at your Pokémon! He's poisoned!"

"If I were to fight you back then, you would have been defeated in an instant," Leon says. "As for my Charizard, he's completely fine. This is nothing."

"What are you going on about?" Jupiter asks. "You know what? I'm through with wasting my time with you!" She throws a hand forward. "Skuntank! Night Slash!"

The Skuntank rushes forward. Charizard tosses his head around before roaring, stretching his wings. The poison on his body is shaken off, to everyone's surprise. The beast snags Skuntank's arm before its claws could make contact with his body. He holds it firmly as the Skuntank tries to pull free.

"This isn't worth finishing with any technique," Leon says.

The Charizard flaps his wings, lifting himself and Skuntank from the ground. Many eyes watch him reach the ceiling. Mercilessly, Charizard pulls Skuntank higher and throws it harshly. Grunts scatter out the way, and the Skuntank slams on the ground with a loud thud. It bounces and lands on its back.

"Skuntank!" Jupiter calls her Pokémon, who she reaches within seconds. Crouched over its unconscious form, she takes its Pokéball and aims it towards the Pokémon. "Losing to some child... Being careless cost me too much."

The Skuntank is sucked back inside its capsule. Some people look up, staring at the airborne Charizard that studies them carefully.

It's hard to believe. Skuntank was defeated without a single technique used against it. How much more disrespectful can that get?

Jupiter appears calm about it, but there is no doubt the way she lost has her feeling a great deal of fury.

Leon grins wide, almost laughing at this point. "You call that a Pokémon battle? Aren't you supposed to be one of their top commanders, or was all that just a story to make you look better? You're no different from the other one."

Jupiter growls at this.

"My Charizard hasn't even tried to battle hard. He's disappointed," Leon says. "Now, you have no more Pokémon that can fight. So then, everything you took that isn't yours… hand it over, and I mean all of it."

Instead of listening, Jupiter brings up a question. "Who exactly are you?"

"My name doesn't matter here. Turns out Sinnoh is rather relaxed compared to where I come from. Too quiet for me... but I think Sinnohans would prefer it to stay that way," Leon answers. "No more stalling. What I asked isn't an option."

"You think I'm just going to listen to a kid?" Jupiter proves to be stubborn. Her grunts begin to surround the teen as she takes the cage.

"I'm back to full strength, so I don't want anyone getting hurt. If you lot are wise, you'll release the Pokémon and leave peacefully," Leon says. "I'm not fond of resorting to violence."

"If we bend to your will, we might as well throw away everything we accomplished so far. I'm not taking that risk," Jupiter says. "How about you be a good child and show a bit of courtesy, by moving out the way?"

Leon doesn't budge. "There is no mercy for anyone who doesn't deserve it. People like them only hurt themselves. Sorry, miss, but I can't let you walk out what that Pokémon there, or anything important. You're the one who should show some courtesy. Don't choose the difficult path."

His Charizard lands nearby, snorting at the commander. The woman gives him a quick look.

"And if I don't listen, what will you do?" Jupiter challenges him. "You're a Trainer. You are true to The Trainer's Code, aren't you?"

Mia doesn't know where this is going, but she hopes this ends soon. All she wants is her Pokémon back, including Sunshine, and a way out of here. If she ever makes it out, she's going to take a long bath.

She's concerned for the young teen. What is he trying to do? Jupiter knows how The Trainer's Code works. She displayed that she doesn't follow it herself, but this teen on the other hand…

"Pokémon are not tools of war. I won't have my Charizard attack anyone in this room," Leon answers. "I'm asking you nicely to listen. It's not that hard."

"Since he won't use his Pokémon, take him," Jupiter says, shrugging. "He's no longer a concern."

"No! Leave him alone!" Mia is scared for him now. She would move, but the grunts closest to her are ready to stop her. She's completely useless right now!

A pair of grunts snags Leon by his arms, but he pulls himself free before shoving them out the way. He breaks through the crowd, who are after him immediately.

Leon sprints forward, and he springs high, kicking his legs out between two grunts. They are kicked aside, and he lands. He lunges and slams his hand against the chest of the grunt in front of him, shoving him back. His free hand snags the Pokébelt the grunt holds. He pulls it free and allows the grunt to hit the ground.

Jupiter is surprised by this, and it makes her angry. "You little- aaAH!" She is knocked down by Charizard'a tail. The beast catches the cage Sunshine is trapped in, and he snags the Pokédex from her hands. He jumps back with a massive flap of its wings and joins his Trainer, who takes the cage and Pokédex quickly.

"I'll be taking these back," Leon says.

The commander quickly stands, and she steps back. "Wait a second… you! Now I recognize you! I heard how slippery you are, and I see why. Whoever trained you did a good job."

"Seems I've grown a name for myself even here. That's good. So, you know who you're up against," Leon says, crossing his arms. "The best thing you can do is give up."

"Well, aren't you tough...?" Jupiter places her hands near her hips. She almost laughs at his attitude.

A grunt rushes to her side, and they whisper into their ear.

Jupiter sighs as the grunt steps away. She takes the suitcase from Dummy, and she waves a hand at Leon, dismissing everything that went wrong for her so far. "It's okay, though. Our official Pokémon-statue investigation is finished. Mars has collected energy from the Valley Windworks. We're pretty much finished here. I suggest you keep out of Team Galactic's affairs from now on. This is your last warning!"

Many grunts rush past, but the Charizard jumps in front of the only exit, spreading his wings to block them from going around him. He snarls at them all, pushing them back with his intimidating glare.

"You have something else that doesn't belong to you," Leon says. "It's in that suitcase."

Jupiter's smile slightly frowns. "You must think I am kidding when I said to stay out of the way. I'm not as nice as the last commander you ran over. Unlike her, I have no time for games!"

She snaps her fingers. Grunts toss their Pokéballs in the air, and several Geodude are summoned. There has to be around ten or more.

Mia can't grasp why they would have so many.

Leon's expression displays confusion for the first time. "What kind of Pokémon are those…?"

"Don't take it personal, kid. I tried to warn you," Jupiter taps her wrist. A transparent and blue blanket swallows her body. "This building is no longer a use for us."

Mia looks around, noticing the grunts are doing the same. She doesn't like what she is seeing. Something is going terribly wrong.

Dumb and Dummy throw a single hand in the air. "Explosion!"

Mia feels her heart skip a beat. "What?!"

"Are you mad?!" Leon yells at them all. "That's going to kill us!"

"We will be fine," Jupiter says. "But I don't know about you."

The air around the Geodude is pulling in. Their bodies begin to glow within seconds.

Leon growls, and he swings his arm. "Charizard! Flamethrower! Give it all you have!"

The Charizard doesn't hesitate. It jumps into flight, inhaling deeply. The inside of its mouth glows a bright orange before flames fly out as a massive blast. The entire room glows brighter than it did before. Several Geodude are caught in the flames. Team Galactic rush out of the room as the flames continue to grow bigger.

Mia shields her face with her arms. The temperature of the room is unbearably hot. Almost everything around her is caught in flames, and it's becoming hard to breath. She presses her back against the wall, wincing as something flaming hits the ground nearby.

As much as she wants to move, she can't!

The building is on fire!

"Hurry! Come with me!"

Mia looks up, seeing the extended hand of Leon. Under his arm is the Eevee, who is still unresponsive. When did he take the Eevee out?

Another loud crash makes her jump from her thoughts.

Leon grabs her arm, forcing her to her feet. He pulls her back, and he studies the wall in front of them for several seconds.

Smoke is filling the room. Inhaling it is a mistake. Mia begins to cough, feeling it sting her eyes and lungs.

Leon takes notice. He quickly carries out his actions. "Flamethrower!"

The Charizard snarls before unleashing a bigger mass of flames that strikes the windows, shattering them and destroying the frames. After several seconds, he stops sending them. A massive wall of fire is left to dance.

The teen sends his next order. "Air Slash!"

The Charizard takes a few steps back as he spreads his wings. They flap back and forth, pushing the air forward with every motion. The beat of his swings get stronger and faster, until a massive flap sends a ripple of air slashing through the flames. It extinguishes them at once, and it destroys the weakened wall. A massive and gaping hole is presented. Smoke begins to pour out.

This Pokémon basically behaved as a wrecking ball. It's unbelievable.

Mia is torn from her thoughts as soon as she feels a hand resting on her shoulder. She looks at the boy who points at the hole.

"Come on. We have to go," he says, unclipping one of her Pokéballs. He looks at it carefully before aiming it towards Sunshine. She is pulled inside, and he puts the capsule back in place. Afterwards, he hooks Mia's Pokédex on her belt loop.

"What?!" Mia is frightened. She coughs again before she speaks. "Go? As in go through the hole?! As in jump off a building that is a million feet high?!"

"Come on!" he urges her as he grabs her arm. He pulls her closer to Charizard. The Pokémon lowers itself to the ground to give him easy access to his back. He swings a leg over the beast and sits down, offering his hand to the girl.

"On his back?!" Now Mia is even more scared. As much as she wants to move, her legs won't listen to her. She is frozen in place, staring at the hand. "I… I can't. I'm scared…"

Can the Charizard even carry them both? He looks smaller than she imagined.

"I know you're scared, but if the fire doesn't kill you first, the smoke will," Leon warns her, trying to urge her to move. "I'm not afraid of fire. I know how to handle it. You can trust me."

Mia manages to take a step forward, and part of the ceiling behind her caves in and falls apart, making her duck and shriek. She covers her head, unable to move once again.

How hot are those flames to do so much damage already?!

The teen looks at his Charizard, and he nods in response. The Pokémon is careful with his blazing tail. The teen grabs Mia's arm and pulls her towards it.

A heavy knock against her legs makes Mia fall with a panicked shout, but the tail keeps her from hitting the ground. It swings upwards and knocks her up higher and falling against its backside.

She had forgotten about the burn on her ankle until now. It's stinging again...

"Hold on tight! This will be no easy ride!" Leon warns her. He pats his Charizard on the shoulder, speaking directly to the Pokémon now. "Take flight!"

Mia clings on, almost screaming as the Charizard begins to run. It's a bumpy ride already, until the beast lunges out the window. Wind heavily blows around her entire body, and her eyes are shut tight as she holds her breath. She's too scared to even try to look at where she may be.

The wind relaxes after several seconds. Charizard's roar fills her ears.

"We are flying now," Leon tells her. "I'll let you know when you can open your eyes. It's okay to feel frightened."

She wouldn't open her eyes even if he asked her to, anyway.

"What's your name? I never got to ask." He begins his small talk.

Mia is quiet for several seconds. Her answer comes out sheepishly. "It's… Mia."

"Mia, huh? Seems you got into a bit of danger. The fault could be mine. The Pokémon I gave you hatched sooner than I hoped. I'm sorry it gave you so much trouble."

"No… I-it's fine. Cynthia told me that the egg would hatch within a few days… so I was surprised. You wouldn't know. She wouldn't…"

"So, you personally know the Sinnoh Champion? She's nice, isn't she?" he asks. "I'm sure she helped you times before. She's always willing to help someone. It's why the Sinnohans love her."

"Y-yeah… I guess so-" Her words are cut off as she feels heavy movement. She is frozen, unsure of what happened.

"You can open your eyes, now."

Mia slowly opens her eyes. The first thing she sees are the orange scales that cover the Charizard's body. Lifting her head, she sees the teen looking at her, appearing a bit confused. Taking a quick look around, she recognizes she is just outside the building.

Leon slides off his Charizard, and he helps Mia down afterwards. "You are going to need a good bath to get this berry juice off. They really drenched you."

"I know…" Mia sighs. "Thanks for saving me."

He gives her a smile. "No need to thank me. I couldn't have possibly stopped that explosion on my own."

Mia is nearly knocked over by a push. She turns and meets eyes with his Charizard. "O-oh…"

"He's absolutely brilliant, isn't he?" Leon says with pride. "This is my partner, Charizard."

She really imagined it a lot taller.

Regardless, it's still intimidating to see. The beast snorts as it scratches its chin. "It's too bad I don't know much about it…" Mia says.

"Didn't you use your Pokédex?" he asks.

"It can only tell me about Pokémon native in Sinnoh."

"Hm. I get it now." He places a hand on Charizard's head. "Charizard is the Flame Pokémon. A Fire and Flying type," he begins to explain. "It spits fire that is hot enough to melt boulders. It may cause forest fires by blowing flames."

Or, it could burn a building.

"Here you go." Leon hands her back her Pokébelt. "I'm sure you would want this back."

Mia takes it eagerly. She never felt so relieved to have Pokémon before. "Thank you… really. I didn't know what to do."

"I understand. You never had such dangerous people around you before, huh? Then, you have me… who keeps finding trouble. I'm a mess."

"Wait. Are the hunters still after you?"

"They are, but they haven't caught me yet." Leon chuckles.

"You, child… are something else," a familiar voice speaks up.

Arriving to the scene is Looker, who slips off the light-blue bowl cut wig from his head.

"The sight of Galactic goons running away, an interesting sight it was. I overheard them, panicked about a Charizard," Looker says. He looks at the beast, somewhat intrigued. "This Pokémon… it belongs to you?"

Mia answers quickly. "N-no… It's not-"

"It belongs to me, actually," Leon says, now having his attention.

"Hm… your face… it's familiar. You are a Trainer, yes? Your Charizard has brought no harm to anyone, I will assume. I must ask, why did you feel the need to burn a building?"

"It wasn't planned at all. Team Galactic were about to blow us to bits with their Pokémon's Explosion. I had to attack before they attacked first."

"I see. Charizard was faster than they were prepared for," Looker says. "You aren't in trouble. No, not at all. You acted out of self-defense. Your friend here looks red, so I will take it that Team Galactic did that as well."

Mia begins to explain. "Well, you see-"

"Team Galactic is on the move, so therefore, I must be on my way!" Looker slips a hand in his pocket, and he whips out a pair of business cards. He hands one to each child. "This is my contact number. Only call me for emergencies, or for information about shady individuals! I can't stay very long, so do stay alert! I must scout around the city to assure no more wrong was done here!"

He leaves in a hurry, leaving them to watch him until he turns a corner leading to the statue. People are starting to crowd at the corner, pointing towards the building. Looking up is quite a sight.

"Wow…" Mia whispers, surprised by the amount of damage that was done.

The top portion of the building is smoking. From the cracked or busted windows, Mia can see the flames dancing inside.

"I think we overdid it a little…" Leon notes.

"Mia!"

She turns around, and already, a body hits her. She lets out a grunt and staggers, trying her best not to fall. From how heavy the hug is, and from the feel of it, she identifies the person as her twin. It seems he made it out long before she did.

"Will… I…" She feels him release her, and she looks at his face as soon as he steps back.

"Ew, what is this?!" Will looks at himself. His shirt is slightly stained from the drying juices. Looking back at Mia, he appears very concerned. "What happened to you?!"

She won't deny that she is still shaken up from all that happened. She doesn't want to explain, but a long look at her brother seems to send the message.

"You're okay now." Will is relieved. "Thank you."

"I'm glad she's reunited with you," Leon says. "We can finally breathe."

Will notices him immediately. "Who are you?"

"It's okay. He saved me," Mia tells him.

"Oh… thanks. Really," Will relaxes a bit. Looking at the teen, he takes note of his appearance. "Yellow eyes. That kid was talking about you?"

Leon is lost. "I'm sorry. What?"

"Leon! There you are!" The voice belongs to Cynthia!

Leon freezes in an instant. His expression shows a bit of discomfort. "Aw, no…"

Mia and Will both turn towards the familiar voice. Cynthia is by Lalinda's side, running towards them with Garchomp close behind. The woman smiles small, appearing relieved with everything. "Why do you have the habit of worrying me to death?"

Leon rubs the back of his head. "I'm sorry. I really didn't mean to."

She stops walking as soon as the gap between the groups are small.

"I told you to call me if you needed anything. You can't just leave like that," Cynthia reminds him. Before Leon could respond, she continues. "You are very reckless, but for once, I'm glad you actually didn't listen to me."

Leon replies with a small smile. "I can't leave Team Galactic to do as they please."

Lalinda crosses her arms. "Well… thanks. You really saved Mia's butt up there. Though was the fire really necessary? You kinda destroyed property."

"No need to fret. I'll pay for the damages," he says. "What matters is that Team Galactic's been driven out of town. They won't bother anyone here again."

Cynthia closes her eyes and sighs. She doesn't have anything to say to that. Maybe she expected this to happen.

"But… I've noticed something." Mia says what's been bugging her for a while. "Your pronunciation is a bit off… not trying to be rude or anything. You have an accent."

The teenager nods. "You hit the nail on the head. Sinnohan isn't my first language. So forgive me if I butcher some words. But, it seems you have the same thing?"

"Right… you must speak Unovan, don't you?"

"I speak Galarian."

"Galarian?" Mia assumes that's the Pokémon word's version to British English. "If you aren't from here… wait… your name. You never told me your name. I forgot to ask before you left that other time."

"Yeah. Who are you?" Will asks, now very curious.

Cynthia almost laughs. "Really? You haven't bothered to introduce yourself? That's not like you to forget. You would do it with every chance you get. Go on, I'm not stopping you this time."

The teen is nudged by his Charizard. He smiles and strokes the Charizard's head. "Really? Well, I might as well do a proper introduction."

He looks at the three, and he finally answers;

"I am The Unbeatable Champion, Leon of Galar."

- 0000 -

Stepping out of the Pokémon Center's bathroom is something Mia never would imagine would feel so relieving. She was sitting in water for over an hour.

The cream Cynthia gave her to treat her burn is like magic. It soothed away the burning sensation, replacing it with a cooling feel.

With a fresh change of clothes, and a bandage for her burn, Mia feels like she can take on the day again. Entering the lobby, everyone stands from their seats to meet with her.

"How do you feel?" Cynthia asks. Her Garchomp walks over to Mia, sniffing her.

"A lot better," Mia answers, taking a step away from Garchomp. As soon as the Pokémon steps away, she combs her fingers through her hair. Her curls are fuzzy, but she'll fix them later. "The hard part was cleaning my ears…"

"At least they were nice enough to get rid of the stench," Will says, looking into the brighter side of things.

"Yeah… I guess." Mia doesn't even want to remember. Being sprayed by a Skuntank is the worst thing she has ever felt by far.

"I'm sorry. We really tried to reach you," Lalinda says. "But there were too many of them. After Will's final Pokémon got knocked out, we had no choice but to run outside for help…"

"We found Cynthia, who was looking for Leon," Will says. "We brought her over here in time to see the fire bursting from the upper floors. I would have ran in there if Cynthia didn't hold me back…"

His Pichu rubs his cheek against his as comfort.

"It was too dangerous," Cynthia says. "I saw the fire, and I heard the roar. I knew he was up there, and I knew Mia would be okay."

"That's a risky bet to put on someone," Will says with a frown.

Leon appears a bit embarrassed. His Charizard lightly nudges his head with a grunt. "Well, all I knew was that I had to stop the explosion somehow. If I didn't do anything, we probably wouldn't have made it out alive."

"They were willing to destroy all evidence of their work," Cynthia says. "And they would have taken you down in the process. I declare Team Galactic as an orange-level threat. As the Sinnoh Champion, I will have to investigate this threat personally. The rest of you should do your best to not get involved."

"We know…" Mia tried to avoid it the best way she could. This brings up a reminder. "Wait. We never asked for your number. If we had it before, we could have had your help."

"You didn't look at the back of the HM I gave you?"

"What…?" Mia takes the item out in a hurry. Turning it around, written in permanent marker is a number sequence. "For real….?"

Never before has Mia felt like a bigger idiot.

The healing jingle brings Mia's attention to the nurse at the counter. Mia immediately rushes to the counter just as the nurse sets the Eevee down.

"She is fully healed now. You won't have to worry about a thing," the nurse says.

"Sunshine! You're okay!" Mia offers her hands. The Eevee springs into her arms in an instant. "Thank you so much!"

The Eevee doesn't respond like she usually would. She still appears timid. It can't be helped.

"I can't believe they burned her like that…" Leon shakes his head. "They held that man hostage…"

"Oh!" Mia looks at him. "Wait! Where is he?! I didn't see him anywhere!"

Cynthia's Garchomp groans and lowers her head. She turns towards the door, tilting her head towards it.

"Looker found him," Cynthia explains, probably translating for her Garchomp. "He's unharmed, back inside his shop. He's a little shaken, but he'll be fine. You should stop by and check on him."

"That's what I plan on doing!" Mia says. She turns to her brother, who is already racing for the door. "Slow down! I'm coming with you!"

Will stops just before he could step out. He turns, and asks; "Anyone else coming along?"

"You know I am!" Lalinda jogs to the door.

Mia heads out the Pokémon Center, with Will and Lalinda close to her. Following them are Cynthia and Leon with their restless Pokémon.

It seems that the commotion outside hasn't died off yet. People begin to point towards Cynthia, but the Champion doesn't acknowledge them. Her attention is towards the smoking building. A large group of firefighters are battling the flames using their hoses and Buizel. "Gardenia is going to have a difficult time trying to calm down the residents. So much wrong has happened here in a short period of time."

"And we got caught up in it…" Mia sighs. "I'm sorry that you had to save me so many times…"

"You see why there are some things kids shouldn't involve themselves in," Cynthia says. "Even if you have your Pokémon, there is only so much you can do. You should put your focus on winning your way to the Pokémon League. Let the adults handle these things."

"Johanna said something similar…" Maybe they are right. Mia should have just waited. They all should have.

"That goes for you too, Leon," Cynthia says.

"Huh?" Leon looks at her. "I'm perfectly fine. I did save her from that mess."

"Yes, but the way you handled the situation wasn't very wise. There is no way they would resort to explosions if you didn't provoke them."

Leon shuts his mouth. She read through him very easily. It takes a few seconds for him to find words again, but his focus is on the three now. "I wish all of you the best of luck. You'll need it more than me," he says. "I would stick around, but I have to keep moving. Staying in one place too long may bring more trouble than help."

Mia sighs. "So, you're leaving. At least tell Sunshine goodbye. You did bring her to me."

Leon walks over to her. "See you, Sunshine." He reaches for her head slowly. Sunshine lowers her head, but as soon as Leon begins to pet her, she relaxes.

'See you…'

Leon freezes, staring at the Eevee. "So… you can talk. It's a good thing I took you when I did…"

"But you see where it got you. You can't keep going on your own, Leon," Cynthia says. "You have all these people after you. I know you are strong, but what are you without your Charizard?"

Leon laughs. "Come now. I'll be fine! They'll have to try a lot harder to catch me either way."

Charizard stands tall, spreading his wings with pride.

Cynthia crosses her arms. Her Garchomp snorts at the Charizard, who seems to carry the same attitude as his Trainer.

"Well then, I'll be on my way. It was nice meeting all of you!" Leon waves before he turns and heads towards Route 205.

"Are you sure you know where you are going? Bicycle Road is down that way." Will points down South, an entirely different direction from where Leon is heading.

Leon chuckles. "Of course I do! I was just going to stretch my legs a bit!"

"You're heading for Eterna Forest." Lalinda points out.

Leon freezes, appearing a bit spooked. "Eterna Forest?! That place was-" He notices everyone staring at him, and he clears his throat. "I have no business going there, of course! You know what? No need to fret. I'll stick around since you three might need an extra hand. If that hunter does come, she'll find herself terribly outnumbered."

Cynthia covers her mouth as she laughs softly. Her Garchomp appears just as amused.

Lalinda isn't convinced. "Really? Sounds more like you're sticking with us because you actually don't know where you are going."

Leon's smile falters for a second. He forces it back on. "Whaaat? Nonsense! I just find traveling alone a little boring! You seem like wonderful people!"

Lalinda crosses her arms now. Mia and Will just stare.

Leon drops his arms in defeat. He sighs and grumbles; "Alright, fine. You caught me. I'm a pants with directions."

"There you go," Cynthia says with a smile. She walks up to him, and she places a hand on his shoulder. "Don't hurt yourself out there. In fact, that goes for everyone. There are a lot of dangers you have encountered already. Team Galactic is one, the Pokémon Hunters, even that Shadowman."

"Shadowman?" Leon echoes the name, confused.

"I'll explain later," Mia says.

Cynthia goes on. "What I am saying is… all of you are still young. There is a huge future ahead of you. It doesn't matter what your destiny is… you have something else to accomplish, too. You are kids with dreams… and everyone has dreams."

Mia begins to believe that is a common saying here as well. Fate and dreams… Johanna mentioned them both times before.

"Just like me!" Leon says excitedly. "I want to battle every strong Trainer the world has to offer!" He points at Cynthia as he goes on. "The next time we meet… I want to challenge you to a friendly battle! My Charizard against your Garchomp! What do you say?"

Cynthia smiles. "This again? You keep challenging me, but I told you times before… you'll have to earn it."

"I said I'm not here to challenge the gym leaders!" Leon is almost disappointed by her response.

Cynthia shakes her head. "That's no requirement. I never said you have to meet me in the Pokémon League. How you'll earn the right to battle me… it's up to you to find the answer."

Garchomp snorts and turns away from Charizard, acting blunt compared to her Trainer.

Leon sighs, seeing no point in trying to debate. He offers his hand. "It's a deal then. One day… I will face The Fearless Cynthia."

Cynthia takes his hand, shaking it eagerly. "The same goes for The Unbeatable Leon."

The two Champions shake, and they step away. Cynthia turns and waves a hand, and she heads her way for the Northern part of the city. Her Garchomp gives the kids a toothy grin before following.

After several seconds, Mia brings up a question. "Why would she decline a battle against you?"

"Yeah…" Lalinda appears just as disappointed as Leon. "Cynthia usually doesn't turn down a request from a powerful Trainer. Especially from another Champion."

"Not sure. I can't see why I don't earn the opportunity to battle her yet. Maybe it's a Sinnohan thing. Maybe it's just her. She does have pretty high standards," Leon is a bit down, but it doesn't stop him from smiling. "Me? I'll take on anyone, no matter who they are. It's my way of showing everyone how exciting a Pokémon battle can be, especially against me!"

Mia can tell how eager he is. The strong energy he has is probably why he is a strong Trainer.

Maybe he's a bit too eager. She finds herself smiling awkwardly.

"So then, come at me! Regardless of who my opponent will be…" He balls his fists and swings one of his arms down against his side. He turns his body sideways, dramatically throwing up his other arm, and spreading three fingers while lowering his head. "We're going to have a real Champion Time!"

His Charizard lets lose a roar.

Mia just stares, before she asks strangely; "What's with the weird pose?"

"What…. the heck are you doing?" Lalinda asks. "You look crazy!"

Leon drops his pose immediately, looking at them as if they are insane. "What? That's my famous Charizard pose! Do you not know about it?!"

"It looks more like you're trying out for ballerina lessons."

Will covers his mouth, almost choking from his surfacing laugh.

Mia can't help but laugh. Will is worse, laughing loudly at what Lalinda said. Lalinda joins in, finding her own comment hilarious.

Leon looks at the three, lost on what to say at first. He clenches his fists and shouts over the laughter. "Oi! I do not look like a ballerina! Take that back!"

His Charizard shakes his head with a groan.

---

To be Continued in Chapter 11!