"Marill, use aqua tail!"
At the command, a veil of water tunneled around the pokémon's tail - ready to swing it at her opponent. Janina's onix was a behemoth in size, but Marill had a type advantage. Janina clenched her teeth, her ace would brace for the impact. "Onix, hang in there!"
She tossed a berry in the air. Onix caught the fruit with his mouth and swallowed it. A glow orbited his body, right in time when Marill slammed her tail. The barrier around Onix weakened the blow. Marill bounced off and landed a few feet away. Her bubble-like ball of a tail reversed back to normal. The other trainer smirked, discovering Janina's recent ploy.
"Using berries, huh? That's new!"
"I'm not gonna lose!" Janina cried. "Onix, sandstorm!"
Onix spun around violently, delivering large wind gusts of sand and dirt. The entire battlefield was overtaken by a violent cyclone, fogging out the two trainers and their pokémon.
Jasmine observed the ongoing match. This was a practice round for her apprentice, a test if she was keeping up with her training. She had a gist of Janina's strategy here. Her confidence was much more secure compared to the last time she was tested. Her opponent was a young woman of the lass class. Another trainer in the gym named Connie. Under Jasmine's direction, she was giving Janina the exam.
Marill's vision was blurred out by the high winds and sand – she could barely make out the setting. She struggled to move in the storm, with small rocks trashing her round body like darts. Sand had entered her lungs, affecting her wellbeing.
"Onix, use rock slide!" Janina commanded. A ring of large boulders flew out within the cyclone, pummeling Marill toward the gym's floor. She attempted to climb back up but twitched - impeding her reaction time. Janina pumped her fists up with excitement. Marill received a flinch, followed by the sandstorm chipping away at her health. "Yes!"
"Marill, hang on!" Connie shouted. Marill's tiny shadow was stunned, and Janina directed the next attack. "Let's finish this, Onix! Iron head!"
Onix's head crystalized, becoming hard like a diamond... and lunged toward Marill. Unable to move from the flinch, Marill was bashed by Onix's head dive like a wrecking ball. She was thrown a few feet across - crashing back onto the gym's floor. The sandstorm ended shortly after, revealing Marill's fainted expression.
"Marill is unable to battle!" Gentleman Preston called out, being the match's referee. He waved his flag at Janina. "The winner is Onix!"
"We did it!" Janina scurried to Onix with a hug, celebrating their victory. Connie returned Marill back to her capsule. "A loss is a loss. Take a good rest, Marill."
She beamed a hearty smile. "You were amazing! You have improved since our last match!"
"I agree," Jasmine added, giving her verdict on the match. "Janina, I see you have switched up Onix's moveset and applied some strategy. You did well, I am very proud of you."
"I sure did Miss Jasmine! I made sure to give Onix a passho berry so he would resist Marill's aqua tail! It really helped! Does that mean I passed?"
"Absolutely."
Preston tipped his hat in respect. "Miss Janina, you are becoming stronger each day. Keep at it and you will become Olivine City's next strongest trainer."
"You think so?" The young apprentice looked around at her superiors, all smiling and nodding in her triumph. She relished in the success with a large grin. "Thank you so much!"
"Look at our little Janina, growing up!" Connie pulled her into a hug. Janina giggled from the cuddle while feeling her hair being rumpled. Preston chortled from the heartwarming moment.
"You may take a break Janina," said Jasmine. "You deserve it after your hard work today. Be sure to come back to the gym in an hour, all right?"
"Of course Miss Jasmine! I'll be back faster than a jolteon!" Janina writhed out of Connie's grasp and ran out of the gym, waving.
"What a lively child," Preston commented. "I see great potential in our future gym leader."
"Yeah," Connie said. She gave the Olivine Gym Leader the elbow. "Better watch out Jasmine, Janina will steal your thunder someday!"
"I'm aware of that," said Jasmine. The Olivine Gym would not be under her wing forever. While she did like being a Gym Leader, she had other goals in life. The title would someday be handed to Janina, and she would be free to explore other interests in her life. Contests were becoming more popular, and the idea of a Pokémon Coordinator was an exciting objective for personal growth. The stage where trainers and pokémon could show their prolific bonds and dazzle the audience. Indeed, it would provide her with experience socially. But, only time would tell.
Hurdles remained. Lance and the incident at Mahogany Town still lived in her head. Difficult to forget given its precedence. Dratini guided her into a trail of dark secrets that she discovered a week ago. Seven days since that night, and its effects remained. Surprisingly, she did not hear from Lance, Pryce, or anything else since. She thought Lance would have contacted her by now, but nothing.
Jasmine pondered on Dratini. He was feeling better from the quarrel with Whitney's cleffa – but he remained averse around her. Most of the time he preferred to stay in his pool. Only popping out of the water when to be fed or for playtime with Amphy. He was the closest pokémon Dratini was comfortable with. Amphy was patient and gentle, even if the baby dragon was rough during playtime.
This attitude could not persist. Jasmine would have to recover his trust.
Outside of Pryce's residence, Lance chugged water from the bottle. His recent run around town left him at the end of his morning exercise routine. He jumped right back into the practice after his body recovered some strength. Only the second day since he started exercising again. He was starting slow until he could return to the full-length routine – beginning with simple sets of pushups to a small run.
Pryce stood behind him. He privately respected the dedication. Lance's own toned body and the amount of muscle he had reminded Pryce of training during his youth. The only difference was Lance was on the bulkier side, shown throughout his arms and chest.
The Champion gazed at the sky. The weather was perfect for flying conditions. Sunny with clear skies, a good workout for some of his dragon pokémon.
Dragonite was first to dive down, making two loops in the air before flapping away. After, came Salamence with a straight dive, making loops with precise movement. Altaria wasn't far behind, he was less articulate than Salamence with the flight pattern. His movements were graceful and floaty, trailing after the other two.
Lance smiled. Seeing his dragon pokémon with their distinct personalities creating a harmonized pattern was lovely.
Pryce was impressed. "You have trained them well."
"I have," Lance said. "It's amazing what dragon pokémon are capable of." It wasn't quite noticeable, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. A swelling pride over them as if they were his children.
Despite enjoying Lance's enthusiasm, Pryce changed the subject. "So, I take that when noon hits you will be leaving at last."
"Yes, I have overstayed my welcome," Lance answered. He looked at him with a fading smile. "Thank you, for everything you have done this past week."
"I can only hope you stay out of trouble. Hah, but that is not a wish even Jirachi can grant."
"If Mahogany Town still needs more reparations from last week I would be happy to – "
"Save that money. It's bad enough receiving funds from the grandson of an old friend," Pryce grumbled. "Don't forget to contact Jasmine."
"I'll give her a call now that things are better. But first, I should make a trip to Blackthorn City and see Grandfather. I am sure he must be – "
From his pocket, his pokégear rang. Lance dug it out and picked up the call. "Hello? This is Lance… ah… it's been a while."
Pryce wondered who Lance spoke to. He heard a young man's voice from the other end.
"Lance, I have some good news. I managed to hack into Interpol's database for the report on last week's incident in Mahogany Town. You should receive it soon. Next, I have a mission from the G-Men I believe you should take. It's the perfect starting point for you to go to Olivine City without much suspicion from our allies."
"Send me the coordinates," Lance ordered.
"Very well, you should receive it on the map on your phone. We've received reports over kidnappings of pokémon committed by Team Rocket's youth gang – which surprisingly, is still active. Their next target is someone that might be of importance to you," finished Factory Head Thorton. He was quick to send it.
He was one of the few in the Battle Frontier that worked for the G-Men, it wasn't news when Hall Marton Argenta was also a member. It was mostly kept between the Frontier Brains. Thorton with his exceptional brilliance and talent for building was recruited a few years ago. Mostly working in the cybercrime faction of the G-Men that he became a great asset.
"Do you know who the intended target is?" Lance asked.
"Yes, it's – "
Lance tightened his phone from learning of the name. "I will head there immediately. Thank you, Thorton."
"I wish you luck, Lance. Just take out the youth gang, and we'll handle the rest. Let me know if you need anything else."
The call ended and Pryce narrowed his eyes. "Is there someone else helping you in your vigilante work?"
His suspicions were correct when Lance refused to comment. His three dragons landed from the skies, where he welcomed them proudly. "You were all excellent. I could not be any more proud of you." He gave gentle pats to them, Altaria chirping the most when he felt Lance's hands caressing all over his cheeks.
When he reached Dragonite, he examined his body. His wounds and bruises from last week were healing quite nicely. It helped that Kaburagi had visited them for checkups. "How was the flight? Much better than last time?"
Dragonite nodded.
"Perfect. You've regained strength in flying, my friend. However, I ask you a favor. I need you to go to Blackthorn City and help out with the crisis for the time being. Tell Kaburagi that I sent you. I just need to take care of something first."
Dragonite was reluctant. Leave his trainer behind after their recent mission? What if Lance got into trouble again? Who would save him in a pinch?
"Don't worry Dragonite, I won't be alone." He looked at Salamence and Altaria. "Your other teammates will be with me. I just want to send you in my place – I am sure Grandfather will be happy to see you, and Tiamat. Do pay her a visit, all right? I'll meet up with you soon."
He gave a quick pat on his back, assuring he would be fine with his other pokémon. Dragonite accepted with a low chuff and opened his wings. He launched himself into the sky, making a final glance at his trainer.
Lance made a nod and with that action, Dragonite flew away. His figure shrank as he went further east.
"You're going straight to Olivine City?" Pryce asked.
"Yes." Lance made his way back inside, Pryce following. "If what Thorton said was correct, then it's important I head there first."
"So the Factory Head of the Battle Frontier is in cahoots with you," Pryce spat. "Who would have thought such an intelligent young man would join your idealistic cause. Next, we'll see a cult that worships you as a paragon of justice. Do you see how dangerous that is?"
Lance took off his shirt and went into the bathroom for a shower. Cool air hit his skin, with scars all over his back muscles from the arduous years of crime fighting. The most recent injury on his chest remained covered in white bandages. Even so, it did not deter him. If anything, they would become another set of scars – symbols of his long war with crime.
He thought what Pryce said was ridiculous, so much that it vexed him. He was aware of those who abused their power and influence – corrupted by their own self-righteous beliefs on the world. It was one line he did fear crossing, he was already going behind the current laws just to fix problems that law enforcement wasn't enough for. For Pryce to rag on Thoron for working with him on his missions with the presumption that he was creating a cult was upsetting. Even if it sounded like bitter sarcasm.
Lance wanted to pursue his own beliefs, alone. He had no interest in gaining influence or power from it. If anyone wanted to join his crusade to help the innocent, that would be entirely under their decision.
"Thorton and I share similar beliefs," he muttered. "He has chosen to help me out of his volition. I thought you figured that out."
"This is my final warning," Pryce said. "Don't let your beliefs consume you, history has never treated vigilantism well. You may have good intentions Lance, but don't expect miracles. You tread a thin line... a life that could lead to no salvation or redemption. Only death."
Lance chuckled as the bathroom door slowly closed. Once shut, he gripped his shirt tight.
"I know."
The elevator doors opened, Jasmine entered the Light Room. She had some free time, another gym match wasn't scheduled until the evening. Her grandfather took over the Glitter Lighthouse's maintenance, leaving her to focus on Dratini… he had avoided her for too long. Instead, she trained with her steel-type pokémon much more usual than these past few days. She had given them their weekly polishes, with Bronzong due for theirs later tonight.
At the pool, Dratini swam around. He dove back into the water when Jasmine appeared. She sighed. When she arrived at the pool, Dratini swam to the other side. Jasmine pursued, and Dratini moved away again. Rinse, repeat.
"Dratini," said Jasmine.
No activity within the pool, she looked down. Through the water, Dratini curled up in a corner. "Dratini. Please… come out. It hurts to see you like this. I just… want to start training you properly."
Was there a lack of trust? Shame over his behavior a while back? It could be a myriad of things, but Jasmine wasn't willing to concede. Dratini would come back to her somehow, but did he need more time? She thought she had given him enough space.
She said softly, "Listen… I am not angry at you anymore. It's all right, what happened last week is in the past. I just want to get closer to you again…"
She hoped her words reached him and heard movement in the water. Dratini propped his head up, this was a first in a while.
"Everything is all right. Come out, Dratini," Jasmine whispered.
Slowly, Dratini rose his head out of the water. Jasmine attempted to reach her hand to pet, but Dratini sunk his head down again. It had been a while since their recent encounter. The last time he was in his capsule was from the trip to Ecruteak. She was only able to get him in the pokéball because Myron helped her. Like Jasmine, Dratini was socially awkward. Easily one to keep to himself, requiring a great amount of trust. Jasmine reclined her hand back out, unwilling to overwhelm him.
As Dratini's trainer, Jasmine would have to secure she was not a threat. She had to display that confidence, she assembled her own courage and touched his forehead. Dratini almost dunked back down, but he stayed and accepted the petting. It was a mutual exchange… one that Jasmine grinned brightly over.
The sweet moment paused when her pokégear rang. She pulled her hand away from Dratini and picked up the call. "Hello?"
"Is this Jasmine?" The voice was deep and stern, a sort of familiarity rung her consciousness over it.
"Yes… this is Jasmine. Who is this?"
"Jasmine, it's me... Lance."
Her heart jumped, Dratini perked up. Jasmine had anticipated this moment, but she felt unprepared even if her mind played scenarios about it. It was a sudden bombshell for Lance to contact her at this time. Thoughts raced through her head over what he would say.
"Hello?" Dratini's fins twitched upon hearing Lance. He had the urge to jump out of the pool and grab the phone with his mouth, but restrained himself to listen.
"Jasmine?" Lance asked. Jasmine's thoughts were paused when she heard him. "Ah! Oh… C – Champion Lance… it's good to hear from you again..."
"Lance is fine. Listen, I need to make sure that your apprentice, Janina, does not leave the gym at this time."
Jasmine's eyes widened at the statement. This was out of what she thought the call with Lance would be like. "What do you mean? Is she in danger?!"
"Is she out of the gym?"
"Yes! I just let her go on her lunch break…"
"Team Rocket has a youth gang that has been kidnapping owned pokémon around Olivine City. Janina is their next target."
"Oh no..." There was panic in Jasmine's voice. "I have to find her!"
"No, you stay where you are," Lance warned. "I will find Janina."
"Are you insane?! I can't do that! Janina is my student! I – "
" - I am in Olivine City. We'll talk again soon."
The call ended and Jasmine growled. She refused to take orders from Lance over the safety of Janina. She was under her responsibility, what if she was already in the hands of Team Rocket? There wasn't time to waste. She dashed toward the stairs rather than waiting for the elevator.
When she made it to the first floor, she almost bumped into Myron. He was unloading some boxed supplies for the lighthouse. Next to him was one of his pokemon, a rhyperior who emptied boxes of his own. "Jasmine?! Woah, slow down! Where – "
"Janina is in danger!" She yelled, running out of the door. Myron dropped his box before his two horned pokémon caught it. He set the box aside when Myron ran after his granddaughter. "What?! I'm coming with you!" Rhyperior pursued his trainer to help.
Janina skipped merrily throughout Olivine City's quieter streets. She had treated herself to her favorite dish, curry udon - the restaurant just so happened to be in a lesser-known part of the city. She licked her lips when she reflected on the texture of the noodles, thick but chewable. Added with the flavorful curry broth, a meal well deserved over her victory.
"That curry udon was so good! It's a shame the restaurant isn't so popular - !"
Running footsteps from behind had Janina shoved to the ground. Prior to her reacting, gloved hands reached for her bag that slipped to her wrist. She saw the perpetrator wearing attire akin to a Team Rocket grunt. Realizing she was going to be robbed, Janina screamed and shoved the attacker to the floor. "No!"
The perpetrator – a boy no younger than her, clenched his teeth as he fell. Janina saw her cue to get up and run, clutching her bag for her dear life. Her day had made a complete turnaround from this.
The young grunt grabbed her wrist to prevent escape. Janina reacted with a direct swing at his cheek. The punch pushed him back down and she ran away. He cursed and called for support. "Get her!"
A gang of preteens arrived in Team Rocket uniforms adjacent to their adult counterparts. They chased their target. Some threw their pokéballs for their pokémon to join the hunt.
Janina ran through the streets, panicking. She was desperate to find a detour route to Olivine Gym by pulling out her pokégear. The map app was opened but loaded very slowly, the signal was weak. "Come on… come on!" She scrambled for the location on her phone.
"Rattata, use bite!" One of the young grunts yelled. Janina shrieked when the purple rat jumped and his fangs pierced her skin. She fell near an alleyway from pain radiating over the newly fresh wound, blood dripping from her ankle. She scrambled into the dark area, but it was enclosed. She was corned against a nearby dumpster as the gang closed in on her.
"Oh no…" She slumped down from the bite's sting.
"Pathetic," The main leader said, coming through. "So this is Olivine City's next gym leader? Thought you would put a better fight. For the glory of Team Rocket, hand over your pokémon!"
"Team Rocket…" Janina huffed out. She refused to lose to these thugs when her pokémon were on the line. A pokéball was pulled out of her dress pocket. This was her last line of defense, she tossed it in the air. "Onix… sandstorm!"
Her pokemon was released from the flashing light. Onix hollered a breaking cry at the gang and whipped up a tumultuous gust of sand and dirt. The group of boys and their pokémon shrieked over the large storm – making it difficult to find Janina.
This was another chance to escape, but the bite on her leg limited movement. The pain was increasing – almost debilitating her.
Through the sandstorm, Salamence's shadow emerged through, his trainer swooping Janina into his arms and flying away. Altaria sang with delight when she was brought to rest on his fluffy feathers. "Watch her Altaria. I'll get Onix," Lance ordered, before flying back. "Wait!" Janina called out. Her plea was fruitless, he ascended back into the sky.
Team Rocket's youth gang scattered out of the sandstorm. It was difficult to traverse through, but the storm was starting to clear. The team leader sneered over Onix being left behind. "She ran away, looks like she surrendered you! You belong to us now! Arbok, poison sting!"
The purple snake released a series of poisonous needles from his mouth. Salamence flew in as Onix's defense and dodged through the barbs. He charged at Arbok, biting into his neck, before tossing him. The arbok was slammed into the dumpster, crippled by Salamence's crunch, and fainted.
"What?!" One of the youth members called out. Salamence scowled at the group from above, intolerant of their petty behavior.
The youth leader recoiled in surprise, intaking who possibly intervened. He was warned of this dangerous trainer and his dragon pokémon by his superiors. Could he have known about their whereabouts? Was it truly...
…he fastened his hands into fists. This was a man that boiled his blood for the havoc he caused to Team Rocket. If he was here… then this was the chance for revenge.
"It can't be..." One member said, having a good idea of who the salamence belonged to.
"Lance is here?!"
"Oh no!"
"Let's get out of here!"
"No!" The leader protested at his teammates. "Don't be cowards!"
"Are you crazy?! Look what that salamence did to your arbok! We're screwed!"
"Fine, run then! I'm gonna fight this asshole!" He frantically scanned the perimeter for him. "Show yourself!"
The sandstorm disappeared, revealing Lance cloaked in his cape. A look into his icy glare had the rebellious group cower in fear – except for the leader. He readjusted his posture, standing tall against the Dragon Master.
"You," he hissed. "You have the nerve to show your face to us!"
Lance's eyes matched the young leader's, something about this was worrisome. Team Rocket was influencing and recruiting literal children into their cause, and it was working well. Just what were these young men taught? At such a young age, to steal and terrorize their homeland for the sake of greed and power? Were they led to believe a life of grandeur? At the expense of others and their suffering? Especially pokémon? It was twisted, so maddening he wanted to find the sick individuals responsible for the horrible creation of this youth gang. Nonetheless, he kept his stoic frown.
The leader laughed. "What's the matter? Don't want rumors of you beating up kids too? The people of Johto are on to you, you fraud of a champion. You got your ass beat by ten-year-olds. I bet you only got the champion title because that trainer left! Time to take that too! Go!" He threw his last pokémon for battle.
A gabite.
Lance's glare diminished, something was amiss about this pokémon. He was frail, with several bruises all over his body – most noticeably on his legs and stomach. There was a collapsed fin on his back. The gabite was also missing a tooth, and with tired eyes. How could his trainer allow the gabite to be in this condition for battle? Or... was it one of the pokémon they stole from an innocent trainer and abused him for this?
It was getting difficult to control his anger, this was his breaking point.
Lance withdrew Salamence, surprising the young leader. "What?"
His opponent spoke no words when he unleashed another dragon on the battlefield. The pokéball's light released a much larger pokémon that towered over the gabite. He was darker, much more mature with a bulky build, sharper talons, and a head shaped like a hammer. A few scars over his body marked turbulent horrors that he once endured in his life, now in the past with Lance as his trainer.
It was the final evolution of gible line.
Gabite's trainer frowned. "A Garchomp?! Show off! Gabite, dragon claw!"
Gabite rushed toward its final evolution with glowing talons. Lance watched his garchomp prepare for the clash. Gabite jumped, striking slashes at Garchomp's chest. Fortunately, the attack was nothing but a scratch – Gabite's claws were too dull for significant damage. Garchomp withstood, tanking the dragon claw that only pushed him several steps back.
"Gabite, again!" His trainer yelled. His pokémon repeated the move, with aggression. Garchomp blocked it with his arms, Gabite yelled as he unleashed more slashes. Each swipe was unable to rid of the wall Garchomp built with his sturdy arms. When he jumped back from his last attack, Gabite roared in frustration. Meanwhile, Garchomp was unfazed, keeping his defense.
His trainer exploded with fury, becoming desperate. He screamed, "AGAIN! TAKE HIM DOWN!"
With the final ounce of his strength, Gabite bolted toward Garchomp for one final swipe. Garchomp glanced at Lance, who closed his eyes and nodded. His pokémon pulled back his arms and waited for the right opportunity. When Gabite charged his attack, Garchomp slipped passed him. Gabite's eyes widened when he realized the trap he ran into. Large gashes hit his body from the glowing talons of Garchomp's own dragon claw.
Gabite lost all consciousness, falling down from the blow. A small puff of sand from the impact breezed through Garchomp. He brought his arm down, standing undefeated.
Lance opened his eyes. Most of the young grunts scurried like furrets – except the leader. He took several steps back. With his main pokémon down, he would have to concede defeat.
"No…"
Lance slowly walked toward the boy. The boy's entire body quivered, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"St - stay back..."
His teammates abandoned him at this crucial point, leaving him alone with Lance. He hastily looked down at Gabite, who remained collapsed on the ground. Garchomp hovered over him while his trainer loomed over the boy. The large shadow had him feel trapped, a terrifying feeling that his eye pupils shrunk and his heart was palpitating at an alarming rate. He had heard of the stories the older members of Team Rocket faced from encountering this man. He could not relate to it, seeing it as an exaggeration that a sole person could take on armies of men.
That would change when Lance spoke three words.
"I'm still here."
The boy screamed in terror. He fled and knocked over a garbage can, abandoning his pokémon and admitting defeat.
He was no different from his allies. Cowardly and selfish – and they were young. Already poisoned with malicious hearts at a young age. Garchomp cradled the injured gabite in his arms. Was this part of the legacy Team Rocket wanted to leave behind? Lance thought then... how many more pokémon were stolen and abused under their reign?
Another mission was complete, but Lance made no plans to celebrate it.
Janina hissed when she washed the scathing bite using water from a bottle. Altaria dug into her bag, and Janina yelped. "Hey! What are you doing?"
She was met with a small pink box that had her accessories. "Oh… thank you! I knew I kept it in there…" She opened it. Altaria hummed while Janina attempted to fix her wound. She used cotton balls with a tweezer to wipe off the blood. "Ooh… that Team Rocket! Maybe next time I shouldn't venture too far out of the gym, ow!" She continued to dab the cotton ball over the bite. "What am I going to tell Miss Jasmine? I even got Mister Lance involved..."
"Do you need help?" Lance asked. He arrived at her aid with Garchomp. He climbed off and Janina lightly nodded. "Yeah... I don't think I'm good at patching wounds like Miss Jasmine."
"That's all right," Lance said, chuckling. His demeanor was calmer now, emotions settled as his mission had passed. Janina was saved, and Onix was in his capsule. That was what mattered. He presented her with it. "Here, your pokémon is safe."
"Onix!" Janina shouted, she hugged the pokéball tightly. "You're okay!" Her eyes watered, overwhelmed with joy that she was reunited with her dear friend. He was saved from Team Rocket. It was such a tender moment that Lance beamed lightly.
He dug around his belt for medical supplies. "Let's fix you up."
He put on gloves, then pulled out sterile wipes. Lance urged Janina to sit on the nearby bench. He held out her ankle and gently wiped over the wound. "Let me know if I am too rough."
"You're fine, thank you."
He examined the bite, the blood was stopping... which was a good sign. "It's not too deep. Shallow, I would say."
"But a rattata's fangs are known for being sharp!"
"Mostly on hard surfaces, skin is easier to pierce through. I'd watch for infection." Lance used a clean rag to wipe any remaining residue. When he applied some antibiotic ointment to the wound, Janina reminisced about the earlier conversation she had with Whitney a while ago. She remembered the bitterness in her voice, the annoyance she held whenever Lance was spoken highly of.
"Word of warning, Lance is an ass."
It didn't seem true when Whitney's words echoed in her head.
He's nice… Janina thought, Lance switched to applying bandages. He was soft enough to not apply too much pressure on her wound in case of pain. "I'm glad you're safe," he said.
He saved me.
She would have lost her pokémon if not for him, he was tending to her injuries too. Janina admitted she was lucky, and perhaps not just herself. The rest of Johto was, she believed... lucky to have a champion with a good heart. Even if there were horrible people out there such as Team Rocket, Lance was there to counter it with kindness. Her own rescue was proof of that, along with her newfound respect for him.
When he finished, he smiled. "All done, Janina. It hurts less, right?"
It was genuine, nothing like the vehement gossip from Whitney over his character. Janina truly felt fortunate.
"Whitney was wrong about you. Thank you, Mister Lance."
"What?"
"Oh! Uh…" Janina twiddled with her thumbs, Lance packed away his supplies. "You saved me… and I can't thank you enough! You're a hero, really!"
"I appreciate that. But, what did Whitney say about me?" Lance asked, now he was suspicious. Had she been gossiping? Janina stammered, "Ah – Just…"
"Just?"
"Erm… she said you were kinda mean. But… you saved my life, Mister Lance. So… I don't agree!"
Lance sighed, the muckrake had continued. Whitney was probably angry over the argument back at the department store. Or, was it even an argument...
"I'll have to speak with her," he muttered.
"B – but again, I don't think that!" Janina defended. "And I am sure Miss Jasmine doesn't either!"
"Hmm?"
"I heard what you did for her dratini. He's been doing better because of you," Janina explained. "You really helped Miss Jasmine out. Thank you for that too, Mister Lance."
"Ah."
"Janina!"
Jasmine hurried to her pupil. After what seemed like an endless time of searching, she had located Janina. She paused when Lance gazed at her. She had disobeyed his request to stay, not surprising. Their eye contact was direct enough that Jasmine veered away awkwardly.
She had met with him again, in person. He looked better than the last time she saw him, able to stand and respond to his surroundings. A sign he recovered throughout the week, that was a relief.
Her grandfather caught up shortly with Rhyperior. He ran out of breath and was on his knees. "Whew… I need to work out more! Where… is... Janina?"
"Miss Jasmine! Mister Myron!" Janina exclaimed. Myron regained his breath when he saw Lance. "Oh! You're…"
"You may call me Lance." He didn't need to be addressed as Champion here. It sounded pretentious but Myron bowed out of respect. "My goodness! The Champion of our region is in Olivine City?! My name is Myron, Jasmine's grandfather and one of the keepers of the Glitter Lighthouse. It's an honor to meet you. Did you save Janina? I heard what happened from Jasmine!"
"She's fine," Lance explained. "She received a minor injury but she will recover. Just watch over it."
"What – what happened?!" Jasmine exclaimed. She gasped at the bandages over Janina's ankle.
"Miss Jasmine, it's okay! Mister Lance saved me from Team Rocket! He saved Onix too!" She wanted to speak more but was brought into an embrace by Jasmine. "Oh Thank Arceus," She whispered. "I'm so happy you're safe."
"How can we repay you, Lance?" Myron asked.
Lance shook his head. "No need. However, I would like to speak with your granddaughter… in private."
Jasmine stiffened upon hearing that, knowing what it would be about.
"Oh… of course," Myron replied. He wondered what the conversation would be on.
"It's nothing serious," Lance clarified. "It's just something related to the Pokémon League." That itself was a lie, but it was a good enough excuse. No need for further scrutiny.
Myron nodded after the explanation. "I understand." The elderly man beckoned Janina to come back to the gym with him. Janina did not budge, Jasmine urged her to follow the request.
"It's fine," she said. "I'll meet back with you at the gym soon, all right?"
"Okay." Janina trusted her mentor but felt something was beyond the surface of the matter. What did Lance want with Jasmine? Was it about Dratini?
Nevertheless, she took her belongings and Myron's hand, both walking away. Jasmine made a small wave over their departure. Once they were out of sight… she stopped. Her attention was directed at the man she expected to encounter again.
Lance returned Altaria back to his capsule but kept Garchomp out in the open. Jasmine was surprised he had one, only aware that the Champion of Sinnoh had a garchomp as her ace during her visits to the region. Lance was a Dragon trainer after all. Jasmine left it at that, even so… she braced herself. She deduced what this conversation would entail. She trespassed on something that was beyond her control. The consequences would roll out now that she knew of Lance's vigilantism.
Yet, she wanted to get one thing off her chest. She was nervous about it, but expressed it fully.
"You've... recovered," she mumbled. "You also saved Janina, thank you."
"Think nothing of it," Lance said. "It's my duty to help those in need. Now, I'm sure you know what our conversation will be about..." His voice trailed off, walking toward her. Jasmine made little movement, more so over his height. He was taller, with a pressuring aura over her. He was somber this time compared to their last meeting. It was here she thought, she would get the ramifications of her involvement.
Instead, she heard something completely different.
"I'm sorry."
The apology was soft in tone, and the twinge of regret was visible on his face. Lance admitted his mistake. "You're not in trouble if you're wondering. What happened that night won't affect your position as Gym Leader. In fact, you shouldn't be facing any repercussions. If anyone is to blame for that night, it's me."
Jasmine stayed quiet as he continued. "I'm known as the Indigo League Champion, one of the most powerful trainers in the world. Not too far from who I am, I have always enjoyed the thrill of battle at a young age. So much I became sick with ambition, I wanted to become strong. That's why I became Champion. It was a dream I had, and I made it happen."
He chuckled. "Once I had the title, it wasn't enough. The truth is, I have a second dream. But the road I've paved for it has thrown me into a neverending crusade against crime. My loved ones see it as an obsession. Like an irresistible desire to act for the greater welfare of people and pokémon, but it isn't. I know what I'm doing."
"I see," Jasmine said.
"I had hoped to keep it to myself and only to those close to me. Unfortunately, I was overconfident. You should have never been involved with Team Rocket or found out about my other job. You went as far as to save my own life... it must have been frightening."
"It was…" Jasmine murmured. "…but I had to stay strong. It's not like I intentionally wanted to be there, I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. My dratini went missing so I – "
" – but how did you know about the Team Rocket base?" Lance finished. "Did they capture him?"
"No, I had my skarmory track his scent and it lead me to the shop in Mahogany Town. There was an entrance opened from the ground, so I went through there… thinking it was a nest."
Lance chided himself that he should have closed the entrance to the secret hideout, but then he would have died if Jasmine didn't come. "Is that it?"
"Yes… I have no reason to lie," Jasmine answered. She hoped Lance believed her, and he did. He detected no deception in her body language. While he didn't know her personally, the impression she gave was that she was honest. She also saved his life, what else was there to prove?
He took her word. "I know you stayed at my clan's estate given the weather that night. Perhaps Dratini wandered out of the estate. They can be quite curious of their surroundings and venture far, especially when not near water."
"Interesting..."
"Which makes him vulnerable… given Mahogany Town isn't too far from Blackthorn City. He must have been captured by Team Rocket for experimentation."
"That… would make sense…." Jasmine trailed off in her sentence, there was the conversation with Executive Petrel at the base. Dratini was about to be a test subject and she remembered that scientist presenting the serum behind the poisonings. Yet, Dratini affirmed he wasn't kidnapped when he was asked about it. Perhaps, he was drugged and did not remember himself being whisked away?
"Do you know something?" Lance asked. "If you do, tell me."
"Well…"
"Spill it, I'm a bit behind on things. If you know anything else about what happened that night... I'd appreciate it."
It took a good couple of minutes for Jasmine to explain her story. Lance listened intently, from the meeting with the tortured muk in one of the rooms to the encounter with Petrel and Gideon. The more he listened, the more he had to keep the grievances to himself. Added this along with the recent mission on Team Rocket's youth gang… it was insane that they were that desperate and ramping up their crimes even after their initial collapse. And most of it seemed like revenge, on him.
When Jasmine finished, Lance thanked her for the information.
"I'm amazed Team Rocket is that committed to terrorizing the Johto region even with Giovanni gone," he said. "They've poisoned and killed innocent pokémon because of me. Now they resorted to kidnapping again, they probably targeted Janina because of her connection to you. Since you managed to fend yourself from them back at the hideout, there is no doubt they will come back for you. Are they that… ugh…"
He rubbed his temples in frustration. "…bastards. All of them. They won't stop. If that is the case, neither will I. I'll thwart down their every move."
"Cham – I mean… Lance…" Jasmine noticed he was getting heated, but he halted her.
"This is the path I've set myself up for," Lance said. "It hasn't been merciful and I don't expect it to be anytime soon. What I don't like is you're now a potential target if they came for Janina. I don't want to see you involved with Team Rocket again, especially at my expense. We're lucky enough to have survived. You deserved much better during your visit to Blackthorn City than being caught in my own mess. Allow me to fix this."
He inched closer to her. This was it. The task Lance needed to do on the side. In return for Jasmine's honesty and bravery during that time, along with the added benefit of security over Johto. He would take Pryce's ideas into action.
Jasmine blinked in surprise. "Fix?"
"Fix." Lance's answer was affirmative.
"What... do you plan to do?"
"After what happened today, and seeing you're possibly under Team Rocket's radar... I have no choice but to keep watch on you and Olivine City. Just for the time being."
Jasmine's eyes widened at that proposal, her face turning slightly red from that idea. "What?! But you're also the Champion! You're already such a busy man that - "
"I can make it fit in my schedule."
"You can't be serious. You couldn't possibly - "
"I am."
He was deadset on this, the determination he held out was something Jasmine would have a difficult time shooting down. How would the ordeal even work? Would people not find it suspicious if he was with her often?
"How... how will this work?!" She exclaimed.
"Simple," Lance issued. "I'm going to help you raise Dratini."
A/N: This was long due for an update... I know, but it's here. Finally.
This chapter was actually much longer, but I didn't want to overwhelm you with something over 10k words. So I had to split it, what remains will be in the next one.
Let me tell you that despite slow updates, this story is always on my mind. I suppose my issue is that I suffer from perfectionism when it comes to creative works. It stops me from updating more frequently because I am constantly tweaking and rewriting chapters. I'm just never satisfied. I have a rough outline written for this story and I constantly change it! Maybe that's a good thing...
I wanted to showcase some of Lance's other pokémon here - based on his rematch team in HGSS. I think they deserve some love aside from Dragonite. He's still the main ace, so don't worry!
With this beginning arc wrapping up, I'm really excited. Much more is to come from here out, so keep your eyes peeled. Until next time, be well.