6: The Meaning of Elite

Each person whose name was called shows endless dread and panic as they march over to stand in a line before Marshall. Jamie, Vance, Billy, and Jack are all called by name to stand with eight others who clearly don't know how badly they must feel to get this far only to be faced with such terror.

"The twelve of you were assigned to me either because of your warrior spirit or your type-specialization! I assure you that unlike the others, I tolerate failure. It makes us stronger and harder. That being said, even with that knowledge I will not hesitate to drop you at a moment's notice!" Marshall's voice is so powerful that Luke can hear it from the back. "We four may be young but we are experienced! We all graduated from Elite Academies and we refuse to accept anything less but the brightest of minds, the bravest of hearts, the fastest of strategists, and the kindest of souls! I will fail all of you should you fail to succeed my requirements for true growth!"

With twelve shaking students unwillingly following him, he charges for a corner of the field and has them line up in formation. As the bookworm takes the stage and starts calling out more names, everyone becomes too nervous to even try to listen in on whatever Marshall is saying too loudly in the distance.

Among the names called by Shauntal are Taba, Vivian, and Emi. The more intellectually-gifted classmates make their way to Shauntal's corner. Taba shoots Billy and Luke a determined look as he holds his head high and marches to his own beat.

Luke wonders whether he'd rather be called on or be left to the last person by default. Caitlin takes the stage next and Skyla is the only person chosen for her group he recognizes. Somewhat disheartened by the fact he won't be moving further along with her, he instead turns to the man he'll be forced to impress.

The final member reaches the podium. Unlike Caitlin's general dismissiveness or Marshall's excitement, Grimsley is firmly subdued in every moment. As if he has no expectations for any of them, he lists off twelve names. "Reina. Richard. Ronnie. Nathan. Vicki. Ryan. Kayla. Missy. Regina. Jonas. Daisy. Luke." The twelve of them reluctantly follow Grimsley to the last corner of the arena and await more instructions.

Luke mentally curses Arceus for putting him in a group with Jonas of all the people he was familiar with. Wondering what the criteria are for their placements, he receives an answer to his prayers.

Grimsley maintains closed posture towards them with arms behind his back and a scowl firmly on his face. "Shauntal is an excellent choice for mentally-gifted trainers. Caitlin is all about efficient fighting that saves energy and maintains grace. Marshall is a man dedicated to shaping people to be attuned to their partners like Alder is."

All of his new charges listen to him enraptured by every word. Is he putting on a show for us or is this the kind of man he truly is? It's impossible for the selected few to know.

"I'm here to handle rejects." Grimsley's harsh tone carries weight. "The twelve of you in some way, shape, or form have been alerted to us as having a problem that holds you back. If it were up to me, I would fail you all instantly."

"You dare talk to us like that!?" Jonas's haughty attitude makes itself known.

Grimsley stomps into the dirt and his Pokémon appears behind Jonas with a clawed arm held at his throat. "Know your place."

Jonas's face turns a stark white and he loses his composure. "Please… My dad will never let you go if you hurt me."

"Is daddy going to take the tests for you?" Grimsley is a man with no wasted words. "You think you're worth anything to anyone? If your dear old father died tonight, who would even notice you were gone with him?"

"Hey! Screw you!"

Grimsley's partner grabs Jonas from behind and earns a screech from the boy before dropping him on his ass.

"You think so highly of yourself to talk down to one of the five strongest trainers in all of Unova." Grimsley's matter-of-fact assessment goes on. "My partner and I struggled against all odds. We've fought, nearly died, and dedicated years of painstaking effort to stand here. You caught yourself a little rodent or bat and think you're Arceus made flesh. If you don't remove the attitude, I'll remove you. Are we clear?"

"I…" Jonas is practically crying now.

"Are we clear or have you made it this far on daddy's money that you never learned to speak when spoken to!?"

"I understand, sir!"

Grimsley's dark eyes refocus on us. His cruel words belie something else that no one can quite identify. "First and foremost, raise your hand if you haven't completed your test yet."

Ronnie, Vicki, Missy, Ryan, Kayla, and Regina all raise their hands.

"Thank you for your honesty. Pack your bags and make for the bus. You don't have to go to basic worker school but you have no future with us." The casual dismissal of their dreams shocks every single participant to their cores. "If you can't produce results within three days to catch even the lowliest of experienced Pokémon, you won't survive this school. It will chew you up and swallow you. I have absolutely no time to waste for anyone that can't complete so simple a task."

As the six chosen teens wait for another word and Grimsley stands there with a small movement towards the gate behind them, they have no other recourse but to leave. As the other groups continue deliberating, Grimsley and Grimsley alone has halved his group.

Grimsley takes a moment to collect his composure once more. It mustn't be easy for him to act so viciously but having attended this school in particular; he knew what was at stake. "For the remaining six of you, I must congratulate you all for completing the literal most basic task imaginable. If you're patting yourself on the back for making it past this stage, get your bags ready because you're next."

"We didn't make it this far to give up now!" The girl named Reina sticks her fist in the air. "We won't disappoint!"

"I'm afraid you all already have." Grimsley's harsh tone kills the mood she tried to set. "Reina, Richard, Nathan, Jonas, Daisy, and Luke. I won't be satisfied if all of you make it. We need to cull these numbers a bit more."

"That's messed up." Richard speaks up as he hides his face with a pamphlet. "Don't you want us to succeed!?"

"Only the best succeed. There is ONE champion. Not six!" Grimsley loudly proclaims to them. "If you had to choose, wouldn't you select one champion over six washouts that can't beat a Gym?"

Richard's temple swells as does his temper. "Fine! I don't need someone like you!" Without another word Richard storms off and leaves five with the demanding Dark expert.

Grimsley can't help but smile a little. "See how easy it is to break you kids? All I do is say a few words and you're already throwing your own dream away because of feelings in the moment. It's sad that Amos called us out here for this pathetic display."

Silence falls and Grimsley stares down the remaining five with sinister intent.

"Reina."

Reina's eyes widen and she stands awkwardly. "Yes, Mister Grimsley?"

"Drop the prefix." Grimsley's tone lightens a little. "Since you said you passed the test, I must see proof of your actions."

With her right hand she rummages through her flowery bag and pulls out a single Premier Ball. With the toss of a frightened child she calls out for her partner. A bouncing Cottonee hops in place and stares up at Grimsley. As Grimsley smiles, the Cottonee jumps in fear and hides behind its master due to the scary thing it just witnessed.

Grimsley cracks his knuckles. "Cottonee, was that all you managed to find?" Reina nods without uttering a word. "The records show your original partner was a Purrloin. You have two Pokémon total and expect to become a Master. How presumptuous."

"You only use four, do you not?" Reina responds with a hint of anger. "Six is a max, not a requirement."

"You know the literal basics. Fantastic. Striaton City didn't even get that down pat." His weary tone and phrasing indicate to Luke that he had already run into aspiring Elites from other cities.

"Any further questions?" Reina's hanging question give Grimsley pause.

He sighs and relaxes only slightly. "You pass that easy test Amos handed out. Please be aware that our four tests are going to be significantly more difficult. We can't accept all forty-three of you."

"Sir!" Nathan calls out much like an army private. "Permission to speak!?"

"Granted." Grimsley's amusement leaks out rather easily at this odd display.

Nathan salutes him and asks his own question with force. "There were forty-eight of us in the courtyard. So far, only you have dismissed people. Would there not be forty-one left?"

Grimsley bites his lip. "Two of the students you attend here with come from further away. Some idiot tried to steal a bus sign and delayed their arrival." He waves his hand dismissively. "Mark and Kelsie will be put into my care, most likely."

"Lucky them." Jonas whispers.

"If you want to remain long enough to even meet them, show me your progress!" Grimsley's tightly-wound expression gives Jonas pause. "What did Daddy's baby boy catch!?"

Jonas can't hold his anger back any longer. "Alright; I'll show you, you evil-using arse! Suffer my true might!"

With a grin on his face, Jonas jumps back into the air from a powerful step back and throws out a Woobat, a Throh, and a Timburr. For some inexplicable reason, the Timburr wears a black jean jacket and a pair of sunglasses. He laughs at the look on Grimsley's face. "Timburr, Burr!"

"You managed to catch three to come to a total of four. I'd say I'm impressed if they didn't lack experience." Grimsley whistles and his Bisharp quickly slides between the Throh and Timburr. Woobat faints from shock and Throh takes a fighting stance. Timburr shakes his head and spits at the ground between them without hesitation.

Jonas decides to use his knowledge for his own gains. "Bisharp there is extremely weak to these two. You understand that much, right?"

Before he can make any more false threats, Bisharp clocks his two Pokémon in the jawline, leaving both unconscious from a single blow. "Sharp."

"Type advantages mean little at your level." Grimsley replies confidently. "In a thousand years you can rematch me a single time."

"Why, you!"

"However!" Grimsley shouts over him. "You've certainly impressed with the test you were given. Daisy, you're next."

As Daisy displays her Tympole and Venipede and reveals herself as a Poison-Type expert that managed to catch them with her partner Trubbish, Jonas can't stop from beaming at the admittedly meager recognition of his labours.

"You remind me of another competitor in this year's tryouts. She's more a metal head than you, but it is funny how this worked out." Roxie would likely kill him for describing her so plainly. "Make sure to plan for likely counters. Single-type aficionados risk a lot by leaving themselves open to strong counters. Next we have Nathan. Demonstrate to me your newfound power!"

Nathan, a tall and lanky man with black sunglasses, a camo hat, a loose-fitting shirt, and worn jeans, steps back and drops his solitary catch.

The sparkling Klink reflects the sunlight as it rotates in the air while making noises that might have been words somehow. "Flyby helped me catch this in Chargestone Cave."

"You call your Emolga flyby?" Grimsley says his inner thought aloud.

"Klink was a necessary addition to my team, sir. It's no Magneton but it will suit me for now!"

"You're an Electric-type enthusiast?" That model girl had some competition herself. Even against his better judgement, Grimsley feels coy amusement well up within him.

Nathan places arms to his side and falls in line once more. "My father served with Surge in the war, sir! They are infamous for removing yourself from awful situations on the front lines, sir!"

With a slight acknowledgement, he nods. "Well, Unova unfortunately is more limited in species than other regions due to migration. I would strongly recommend exploring other options in the future."

"Sir, yes, sir!" Nathan salutes once more and stands stock still.

Grimsley slowly moves towards Luke and opens his mouth to speak. He is stopped short when a girl with bright green hair and pink streaks running from underneath and shines brightly every time she hits the ground at the sprint she's running at approaches them. By her side comes a young lad with square glasses and bright blue eyes at about the same height racing down trying desperately to catch up to her.

"Wait for me!" The girl, presumably Kelsie, tries to break her sprint and scrapes through the dirt as her body refuses to stop for several feet more than when she planted her feet.

Mark wipes sweat off of his face and cleans off his glasses as he pauses his gait by her side. "Mark Nitz; I'm reporting for attendance."

Grimsley focuses in on the two students before him. "I'm in the middle of inspections. Did you both manage to pass the test Amos set out for you?"

"Of course I have." Mark's whiny tone belies inner confidence as he flings out a regal Furfrou. The dog licks its paws and stares Grimsley down. "My partner Snivy and I caught this fine specimen near my childhood home. He was a tough fight to be certain."

Grimsley places a hand in front of the Furfrou and it sniffs him twice. The follow-up slobbery lick defies its regal air. "It's well-behaved, at least."

Kelsie takes her turn right after and her peppy Lillipup jumps around the field in excitement. Noticing the Furfrou, it runs up and barks excitedly at it. Furfrou responds in a way too deep voice for how it looks to the others. "Frou, frou."

"Tepig made this possible." Kelsie's pride for her partner that Amos had gifted her and Mark last year was evident in every word she said. "My little Bacon Bits can't be overcome!"

Grimsley has an existential crisis in his mind at the name she just spoke to him with such a serious expression.

"You two both only caught one?" Jonas's nature returns to form. "You and Nathan have something in common, then!"

"It's about quality, not quantity." Kelsie replies while sticking out her tongue. "Pupperoni and Bacon Bits will never lose to a jerk like you!"

Its name is Pupperoni!? Why the hell is this happening to me right now!? I know I'm being harsh but Arceus, don't you forsake me like this! You get back here! Grimsley's twitching eye goes unnoticed as he remains silent.

Mark follows up Kelsie's remark with his own. "If that's the case, you must be like the sixth child your parents have had."

"Enough rousing each other for kicks." Grimsley feels like a parent telling his kids to stop finishing what he started and it was fantastic. "Luke. My records show you have no partner. How could you have captured anything?"

Luke ignores his petty jabs. He's aware he's one bad phrase away from pulling a Richard. "Unlike you, I'm competent without using others to do my work for me." He pulls out the first of his four hidden PokéBalls and releases Skittle onto the field.

Skittle puffs out his chest and tweets in a joyous chorus as he stands as tall as his diminutive stature allows. "Starly is a Sinnoh region local." Mark speaks similarly to Taba. "Migrating birds are common in these times now that society has advanced as far as it has."

"A trifling little bird won't be enough to survive these tests, young man." Grimsley even manages to avoid the chirping bird as it swings low for a swipe at his hair. "Amateurish attempt."

Before Grimsley can say another word, Luke lets the ball in his right hand fall to the ground. Torbital pops out and accidentally discharges, causing Nathan to duck low to the ground and shout. "Get down! I need cover fire!"

Grimsley's hair is stricken by the blast and the top of the front of his hair sags over his face. "Great. That's my whole day ruined."

"That's a Voltorb!? Where did you find that?!" Nathan asks as he returns to his feet.

"The Mistralton Forest. Just east of route seven, actually." Luke answers.

Nathan's eyes widen and he adjusts his hat. "Okay, that is bullshit. I searched for forty hours straight and I find a Klink in all of Chargestone Cave but you just walk into a forest and find THAT?"

Luke pats Torbital on the head. "Pretty cool, right?"

"Okay, you're at least at par with this group then." Grimsley's composure returns in force. "You can get back in line now."

"I'm not done." Luke's words aren't believed by Grimsley or Jonas until he throws out a Luxury Ball provided to him by Rubin. As Midnight descends from the capsule and quickly crawls its way onto Jonas's neck with a clawed hand pressed against his cheek, Grimsley realizes just what he's seeing.

"Glameow were introduced here seventy years ago when soldiers came back with locals from the lands of Kanto and Johto. After years of interbreeding with Purrloin, we've crafted our own regional variant." Grimsley announces to the group. "Unovan Glameows are a Dark-type that have a heightened speed and attack stat at the cost of their special abilities."

Mark opens up a Pokédex and begins inputting the data presented before him. "Are regional variants that easy to make?"

Grimsley's grimace knows no end. "A man your age just fifteen years ago asked the same. According to his research, breeding between Pokémon can quite easily make creatures somewhere between them. The more similar they are in terms of genetics, the easier making a regional variant or an intermixed creature there is. You didn't think an entire race of Pokémon were all the same, did you? Otherwise evolution itself would make no sense."

"To be fair, sir, it's not like professors are that willing to discuss these fringe sciences." Mark answers in tandem to his question. "It's a shame Reyvin died so young."

"Is he a common name?" Luke asks, now curious.

"Well, outside of Unova certainly not." Grimsley elaborates. "He was the Professor of Interbreeding, so they said. He would introduce similar species and record differences in their behavior. Sometimes he would let them loose in habitats to see how they took to different regions."

Luke realizes just the kind of accomplishment Amos had allowed him and can't stop his smile. "Then you'll be happy to know Amos directed me to this Full Moon Cat. This was Reyvin's partner once upon a time or so I'm told."

Grimsley grinds his teeth in silence. "I'll have to say I'm impressed. Even on the off chance you found just a descendant, it is proof his work is alive and well after he's gone."

Midnight's ears lower to the ground and his tail curls sadly against his body as he remains on Jonas's shoulder. Luke assumes no one had ever come back to tell him what happened to his missing master.

"Well, I'm left with my first partner, then." Luke drops the Friend Ball he had Aqua transferred into and out pops the blue Ralts with her entire body stuck in place from intimidation at all the eyes on her.

"My dude caught a Shiny!?" Nathan throws his hat on the ground and shouts into the sky.

Reina's sparkling eyes lead her to pressing her hand out. "You're so cute! Oh my god!"

"You're so well-behaved. I hear psychic types usually have strong personalities." Daisy compliments her as she inspects the poor girl.

"What the hell have you done…?" Jonas's hope crumbles into dust before his eyes. His accomplishment of catching three Pokémon was outdone by that country rube? Luke had the same amount of partners as he did but he had one-upped him. Even beyond that, every one of them was a regional variant outside of Unova and two of them were extremely rare on top of that.

"This isn't just the cutest thing you've seen since Skittle." Luke speaks with such pride of his partners in a way that touched everyone there in varying ways. "Aqua is the greatest accomplishment Reyvin ever achieved. She is proof of the unbreakable bonds between us and our partners!"

The others naturally assumed it had something to do with how she was the pride of his work. Only Grimsley shudders at the thought of what Luke must have meant. How much do you know? Is this the fabled final piece of his life's work? Grimsley wasn't as unaware as others in the world. Being the specialist of a questionable line of creatures in this world meant he encountered people from very dark walks of life.

Some Pokémaniacs had crossed a line. Records told tales of times long ago when human and Pokémon were indistinguishable. As humanity evolved to be weaker but specialized, they built cities, monuments to pride and vanity. They made love and war and scars of both littered the world they lived within.

Reyvin was a bold man but honest to a fault. His ideals of free love and understanding were met with criticism and disdain. Even though Grimsley personally knew people of his ilk, to say so would be controversial at best.

Deciding that Luke would be the biggest problem he would have in this tournament, he mentally prepared for how to handle him as he finally takes the stage. "I must ask exactly how you accomplished this herculean task of catching four Pokémon by yourself."

"Well, I found Skittle wounded and helped him. Aqua was lost in the woods where she was left and I couldn't leave her alone." Picking up his friend and holding her on his arm, Luke speaks on. "I came across Torbital while searching for Midnight and I guess you could say I battled them both myself. It wasn't easy but Skyla and Elesa can both vouch for this."

He has witnesses? Okay, guess this is my life now. "During the course of this test we will mark down your performances to better suit your needs and abilities once the test is over. Even if you fail a test, it doesn't necessarily mean you can't attend an elite school or even the one you're after. We've had people get injured in the line of duty and still make it in."

"Do people die during these tests?" Daisy asks aloud. "My older brother participated in the test six years ago and never made it home."

"Yes, that was a… an unexpected occurrence." Grimsley dances around mentioning the mysterious killings that had occurred within testing grounds. "Generally, we try to be extremely cautious. However, no matter how carefully we lay out a test, events can happen outside of our control. Before you begin the first major test, you'll be asked to sign a waiver."

Reina's face pales. "We could actually not make it home?"

Grimsley nods. "Why do you think I sent people home so fast? Unlike Marshall, I take this as seriously as I need to. I refuse to have lives on my conscience. Half the reason we're even the Elite Four is because the old guard retired after what happened six years ago."

Alder was the only one left of the generation that raised Grimsley. He refused to meet that same fate. With a dexterous movement Grimsley slides a piece of chalk from his pocket and bends over. The line he draws in a semicircle is perfectly symmetrical, as if he has rehearsed the motion for this day. Bisharp calmly walks into the center.

"I have a final assessment to make before we have you sign paperwork, receive your supplies, and go off to succeed, survive, or die." The matter-of-fact approach leaves Reina and Kelsie perturbed. Mark and Jonas fake bravery in the face of their fear and Daisy curls her lip. Nathan mouths 'no the fuck I'm not' to Luke which earns a laugh. "The rules are simple. You each are allowed one strike from one partner of your choice. Push Bisharp out of the circle, a feat that would require immeasurable power from you at this stage, and I'll sign the paperwork to let you into the school right now."

Jonas's confidence doesn't take control over him after the scorching he's received all day. "Yeah, if he hits back, my team is dead."

Grimsley laughs. "Finally, your ego gives way to logic." Jonas mumbles about hating this guy as he continues monologuing. "Bisharp won't hit back. I'm not trying to kill your partners before we get started."

"So why are you offering this option?" Kelsie's suspicions are contagious. "You would go this far to set up tests and then give us a pass? All we have to do is knock him out of that circle?"

"You children have never met a Pokémon with as much ability as ours. I assure you; only once has anyone ever managed such a feat. He's currently the Champion himself." Grimsley speaks of the story of how Alder joined a top school. "Alder's Larvesta was a rare find and one not known by his opponent. They underestimated him and his partner and paid for it."

Jonas comes up with a masterful plan. "So how do we do this? Are we taking turns?"

Grimsley bows to the seven students. "Try your hand, my protégés. Just try not to take failure so personally."

Daisy steps up and has her Venipede prepare a powerful barb of sickening poison. As the purple mist rises, she shouts to her partner. "Take them down with Poison Sting, my beloved Nightshade!"

Venipede slips down to the ground and its legs rotate as it scurries along the ground at a speed not easily followed by most of the trainers. Nathan, Luke, and Kelsie easily keep track of it as it charges ahead into danger, flies between Bisharp's legs and stabs into it from behind.

The stinger left behind falls out as Venipede jumps back.

"Are you an amateur?" Mark's callous side leaks out. "Bisharp is a Dark Steel type. It's immune to your poison."

Daisy's expression changes into one of malice for a moment before dropping. "Please don't insult my Nightshade, Mark. You should know that Salandit could poison that thing. It's not my fault I believe in my partner."

Bisharp shakes off the sting, having taken minimal damage. He faces the remaining six as if to ask who was next.

Nathan steps forward and unleashes Emolga's best option. "Emolga, use Volt Tackle!"

Emolga amasses a massive amount of energy by drawing from the air around it. As clouds form above its body, Emolga dives downwards and strikes Bisharp square in the chest.

Bisharp grumbles from the attack and his right leg slides through the dirt slightly before locking in place. Emolga finally falls away as its charge is expended and Nathan curses to himself as Flyby returns to his side.

"I'm amazed by your abilities, Nathan. It's rare for most attacks to phase my ace." Grimsley may have thought too poorly of a couple of them.

"Let me try!" Kelsie commands to her beloved Bacon Bits. "Hit that Bisharp with the strongest Ember you can manage!"

The Tepig stands before Bisharp and burns at a scorching temperature that destroys the water vapor in the air. Once the heat in the air resembles a sauna, Tepig opens his mouth and blasts Bisharp directly in the stomach with an Ember of epic proportions. Bisharp winces and reaches for his wound as the attack dissipates. A dark mark is left but Grimsley's best stands undefeated.

Grimsley nods as he appraises her. "Using type-advantages certainly makes battles easier, but the best trainers will have excellent setups to deal with that kind of play. Since you two are specializing, pay very careful attention to what members you use. Venipede and Emolga both can learn powerful counters to deal with their mutual Ground weaknesses. Always be on the lookout for foes that focus on that the most."

"People who think they have my type all figured out do pay for that mistake a lot." Daisy admits wantonly. "Just because people think they're all evil and mean doesn't mean you can't be surprised by how amazing they are!" She hugs her Venipede closely to the disgust of Reina and Kelsie.

Reina steps forward and stares at her Cottonee and Purrloin. Eventually she chooses Purrloin and commands her loyal partner. "Purrsalot, play with that mean 'mon!"

Purrsalot as it is called launches into the air by using its coiled tail to heave it high. Using its light weight to accrue maximum acceleration, Purrsalot drops from the sky into a Play Rough Attack that leaves it tearing into Bisharp's unarmored arm as it kicks and claws with fury into its side.

Bisharp shakes off the cat after a moment and leaves it dazed on the ground.

"Play Rough is a super rare Fairy move! Isn't Dark weak to that!?" Reina complains aloud.

Mark's response bothers her. "Yes, but Steel resists it. It's no longer super effective at that point. Purrsalot would have to be much stronger to defeat him with that move." Reina pouts at him, earning another response. "It's a smart play though. Very few Unovan Pokémon have or use Fairy type moves respectably, so it's not a bad attempt at all. Bisharp is just a dick with its typing."

Bisharp glares at the boy.

"Excuse me mister half of the types barely work on me. Just because Arceus gave you a handicap means you earned your place in the world." Mark's killer response may not have physically harmed Bisharp, but emotionally the war was lost as it sinks its head in shame.

Grimsley's focus changes into one of curiosity as Jonas, Luke, and Mark remain.

Mark grins as he calls his Snivy to his side. "Sneak, you know what we're about. Vine Whip that foolish foe of ours."

Bisharp stands unamused as Snivy approaches the monstrosity that tanked every attack thus far as Snivy makes a vine slither along the ground like his kind often do. Bisharp prepares for a sharp slap and instead is pulled to the ground as the vines coil around his legs and pull harshly. Completely caught off-guard by the utilitarian maneuver, Bisharp remembers it can't strike back directly. With its armored hands, it digs into the dirt like an Excadrill and holds its arms down with immense pressure.

Sneak realizes quickly he can't overcome the strength difference between them and lets the vines go, leaving Mark disappointed. "It's okay, buddy. We were the closest to winning there was."

"Using an attack-styled move in such a creative fashion brings to mind both Shauntal's intelligence and Caitlin's strategical mind." Grimsley knows when it comes time to grading these students. Mark would certainly top the list in those respects. "Bisharp, you need to be on guard. We never can beat Alder if you don't expect such intriguing tactics."

Jonas turns to Luke with a devilish grin upon his liar's lips. "I've waited for this moment. When I get into that fancy school, I'll remember you as the rival that couldn't keep up."

Stepping forward, Jonas calls for Baron and points him at Bisharp. "Baron, you're going to use that move my daddy bought you, understand?"

Baron nods nervously and approaches Bisharp. Grimsley thinks of what Jonas could have meant and by the time he understands, the Flamethrower attack is already lighting Bisharp like a beacon in the sky.

As the other Elite Four receive failure after failure as trainers flail through Chandelure's body with fighting moves or bounce off of Mienshao's thick skin with weak attacks, the other three see the blaze of glory and experience sympathy for the poor bastard in the blaze.

Baron expends so much energy with the attack not meant for his level he nearly passes out where he stands. As the fire dissipates, a damaged Bisharp stands tall and shows noticeable signs of wear and tear.

Jonas walks up to Baron and in a moment surprising to both Grimsley and Luke, he gently picks up the dog in his arms and holds him tight. "See, buddy. I told you. You could use it if you tried. Dad can't call you useless now." He presses his partner close to his chest as he walks up to Grimsley. "I may have gotten this guy because my dad is connected, and I may have luxury balls because he spoils me, but I want to be a man on my own damn feet!"

Grimsley is taken aback by his sudden fervor.

"I studied for years! I was locked in my room for hours at a time until I could pass Father's tests! I was born to be the scion of the Alterra Family and I refuse to let him down!" Jonas's eyes water as he speaks from the heart. "My brother may be gone but I'm still here! I'll do what he couldn't and I won't let anyone, especially people like you who got to have time for friends, to ever look down on the path I've taken!"

With that moment of weakness behind him, Jonas returns to the side of the five that have attempted their best.

Perhaps you have hope to pass after all, kid. Grimsley can't stop but feel pride for that moment of clarity from the boy who had it all. Maybe the golden life wasn't glistening all the time.

Luke walks over to Grimsley and asks plainly. "I don't intend to try with my Pokémon. I was injured so I haven't had the time to properly gauge their strengths. I won't have them fight a lost cause for my sake."

"So we can move on?"

"I want to strike him myself." Grimsley's jaw hangs open. The others look at Luke with derision and confusion. "Unlike you guys, I never had a partner. I defended myself. If I am to accurately realize how strong your Pokémon is, I have to do it. That's the real point of this, isn't it? We need to see how far we have to go to ground us."

Grimsley pauses for a moment. Amos mentioned to him how Luke was very untraditional as a person but this was ridiculous. "If you think you can even strike Bisharp hard enough for him to register, I'll personally give you a reward. I'm that confident you can't."

Jonas laughs as his mentor speaks that way. "You may just lose that bet."

"Kh!" Grimsley scoffs as anger crosses his brow. "Humans can't compete with Pokémon. It's preposterous."

Luke enters the circle and uses all of his excess energy to prepare himself for the strike of a century. "Most just never try like I do."

"This is idiotic." Mark wipes his glasses off. "I need to see this mess up."

"No way, dude. You see a man walk up to the smoke with hands in his pocket like that, he's packing heat." Nathan actually believes in Luke. "He ain't fuckin' around here."

"Language." Reina complains to her new companion. "We all had to fall from our hubris eventually."

"Speak for yourself." Daisy replies to her fair weather friend. "I will never falter in my beliefs. I'm simply built that way."

Bisharp assess the young man that has entered melee range with him. Bisharp was a mechanical marvel as much as he was a creature of the wilds and by the stance his foe takes, it was amateurish but certainly practiced. Admittedly, Bisharp was very intrigued by the thought of a Pokémon-fighting human since Marshall oft spoke of legends of Bruno, the man that threw an Onix.

Luke knows what they've all said. Bisharp is a dark and steel type. That meant Luke could overcome how powerful it was with one simple trick.

He just had to hit it. Really hard.

With his four new friends watching from the sidelines, Luke matches Midnight's gaze as he refuses to leave Jonas's shoulder and dangles his tail in front of Baron who attempts to grab it with a playful bite.

Luke lowers his body to the ground like the boxers he watched in those shows he spent watching on the couch with his father when he still had time for his son. Those memories well up in him as he moves in. Bisharp steels his face as Luke raises a fist to meet it but the punch never comes.

Bisharp's expert speed allows him to see the real punch coming. The punch comes at such considerable speed it could certainly qualify as a Mach Punch and though Bisharp can see it, he can't move as it flies directly into the spot the Ember and Flamethrower had hit.

Luke knew Jonas's plan from the start. That was what Jonas realized when he struck the Bisharp in the side. I was hoping they would weaken my foe enough to give me the edge and this bastard is doing it himself!?

The punch that changed the world of the eight people there to bear witness explodes into Bisharp. Luke's upward strike lifts Bisharp into the air despite its considerable weight and as Luke swiftly removes it, Bisharp falls to his knees from the quad effective strike.

Midnight thinks on how much Luke had held back against him. Torbital zaps into the air with excitement at how strong his Boss really was. Aqua finds her breath taken from her as her partner leans down and brings in the four of them for a hug. Her heart skips a little as she feels his straining-to-breathe body pressed against hers. Skittle chirps as if to mock the grounded elite Pokémon.

"Holy shit…" Nathan says the first words anyone can find. "Bruh really said even the elite four's Pokémon can catch these hands."

Reina can't help but give him credit. "If my Pokémon were capable of that, I'd be very fortunate indeed." Holding her Purrsalot close, she adds. "We'll reach that level soon enough."

"I may actually have competition this time." Daisy's mind falls onto last year's trials. She was the last member of her group and they ended up failing because of that stupid ice gym leader's challenge.

Mark struggles to bluster. "He only achieved that much because of all of our efforts. Let's say this was a team victory huh?"

"You gotta admit we're a damn good team then, huh?" Kelsie nudges him.

"Yes, I see our potential. Now I have to outshine you all without making bad blood in my wake." Mark sighs in exhaustion. If they were a bunch of assholes, I could do my best. It's hard to push against the dreams of people I can admire.

In a room with several monitors showing off every corner of the room, an older man with large and wild orange hair smiles as he sits in the chair placed in the center. "Now that is interesting…"

"Hahahahahaha!" Jonas laughs uproariously at Grimsley's gaunt expression. "That's the power of my rival, the Pokémon Brawler! He may be a wild and uneducated fool but he's got more heart than you could ever have!"

"I don't remember you being so proud of me in the past." Luke bites back.

Jonas gently scratches at Midnight's left ear. "Hey, having a rival worth a damn is what'll make me champion. That always works."

Grimsley sighs in relief. Maybe they were worth his time.